HT Alias/Player Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- R1.John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar Ma ??.Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma R4.Tom Corckett..........Caladan...........Wizard Normal/Human Ma W2.Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human Ma W3.Ryan Torres...........Farseeker.........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma --.Tobie Bonahoom........Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry Fe R2.Mark Murtha...........Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human..Ma Do.David Sanders.........Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human Ma R4.J H Hooten............Raban.Usherwood...Bard....Normal/Human..Ma W2.Robert Maxwell........Strie'bog.........Bard....Normal/Human..Ma W4.Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human Fe ...Thomas.Magann.........Whitney...........Scholar.Normal/Human..Ma R1 John.Stowman..........Will..............Hunter..Normal/Human..Ma R4.Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human Fe R1 NPC...................Zhou Kiwat........Noble...Normal/Human..Ma Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Tef'wo (Horse) Ben'dar, Cover Story Info: [HD- House member, F-Foreigner, N-native non house] Arawn aka Arawn as Teacher to daughter [F] Ben'dar aka Bu Da as Horse expert [F] Caladan aka Ca Lu as Guard/Archer [N] Chion aka Capt. Chu Mai as Sailor Trustee [HD] Farseeker aka Fu Sa as Guard [F] Fremea aka Lin Mong as Noble child [HD] [Disguised] Kell aka Swan as Trader [F] Kiet aka Kiet Sunan as Zhou's servant [F] Raban aka Toban Nu as Entertainer/Guard [F] Strie'bog aka Sun Zhu as Entertainer [N] Unali aka Tun Au as Zhou's wife [HD] Whitney aka Whitney as Herbalist/Tailor [F] Will aka Sun Tzu as hunt master [F] Z'leyra aka Kakita Junami as Healer [F] Zhou aka Zhou Wa as Baron Noble [HD] Game Web Site - http://www.furvert.net/longshotgm/pbem/index.htm Public posts/actions to pnpgm@abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list) Private emails (not public actions) to longshotgm@netzero.com Game Update #98 in sequence (file #760) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Admin Notes: Header above changed with website and email address. ----------------------------------------------------------------- [Recap] From Z'leyra: [Re: Actions] Z'leyra will let the spells go and will stick around looking after the injured while others go to rescue the children. She ponders the possibility of casting dark sight then insubstantiability in order to look inside where the coral is inside the body. But considers the likelihood of this helping as low. Perhaps if the coral was removed and a regeneration spell was immediately cast.... What does the coral do? Perhaps controls them? Not sure. GM: Ack. Interesting use of spell. Might work for internal view. ----------------------------------------------------------------- [New Stuff] [Julis 26th, 1634TH] [Location: Middle Katai Plains, Shantou Province] [ 20 Miles south of Shantou City ] [ Old Shantou Carnival Grounds ] [Time: 2:44:00pm] In just 20 minutes the party arrived at the carnival grounds and fought several short and quick battles. In just 20 short minutes the Flyer attacked and was taken down. The ambush at the barn was handled and won by the party. Then the house battle was done. Some are already feeling the adrenaline leaving their body and thus starting to feel exhausted. It seems like hours but it has only been 20 short minutes. Now the group has teleported a large force far away to some childhood place of hiding. Also the group has a Vong prisoner who willingly accepted the deal of being prisoner. Inside the wagon Z'leyra floats but still has no mass. She helps Arawn try to inspect the woman. It is clear just a quick simple search and examination won't cut it. It may take some time to figure what is happening to her. On the second floor of the house Will watches the caretaker male sob over his wife. But his fatherly instincts kick in and he realizes the kids are missing. He seems to just accept that Will is not a threat to him. Maybe after being tortured by the Vong strange beings sight of a human isn't a shock. The middle-aged man asks where the kids are and Will replies with a stone face. "I don't know but we can try and find out... what are there names?" The man simply moves past Will shoving him to the side with ease as if his own adrenaline makes the father a powerful force when his kids are involved. "Jaing and Jusik." He quickly says and heads across the room to check the other bedroom. He exits within seconds and heads to the stairs as if not even the least concerned about the dead female Vong inside the other bedroom. Outside the Vong prisoner stares at Fremea with her wings outfolded. He finds her fascinating but only for a brief few seconds. it is as if he is used to strange beings. Fremea ignores the Vong and turns to face south toward the other buildings where the kids must be now. Her anger is boiling and she shifts her bow and prepares to take to the air. But she soon realizes that the Vong could get a lucky hit and kill her fast. She will need allies and intelligence. With clenched jaw and fists she turns realizing there is little time. She speaks in Unali's general direction but not to anyone in particular it seems. "We must go there now, leave two behind to guard the prisoners. The kids must not be harmed." She looks at Unali and waits for her to instruct them to go. Everyone can tell she not being patient this time. From past conversations and encounters it is clear Fremea has a softer spot for children and threats to them. With the human achilles spot makes them weak few know that Faerry can be taken with the right spot between the wings on the back. But for kids this spot is secondary to her weakness it seems. some find it enduring but for battle hardened warriors like Ben'dar and Farseeker it seems a weakness that can be fatal to her. Caladan begins to ask Chion why he teleported such a group with such a powerful blast of mana. surely the Katai might have detected it. But Chion simply says with all the spells cast here in the past few minutes it is likely not a big difference. Hearing this Zhou speaks up. "The Katai leader told me they detected magic on the wagon or around it. They got it from close contact or distance. So are not part of those groups that can detect long range." Chion simply explains that the group will likely be long gone before any group gets here. It took 2 hours or so just to get here from Shantou. From 100 feet or so away the yells of the caretaker is heard from inside. It seems to be moving. The group turns to watch the house. Then they recall that Chion did find a person alive inside and realize it must be him. The man runs outside and looks around soon to be followed by Will behind him. The man blinks as his eyes adjust to the sun. This few seconds gives Raban a chance to block Fremea. It would do no good for him to see Fremea in her full glory. Raban urges Fremea over to the wagon with help from Zhou who suggests to get her dress slipped on at least. Upset by this interruption but not wanting to endanger the group she goes behind the wagon to the other side to get her dress. The man continues to look around and yell for his kids. He then bolts toward the party. He seems to care little that there are dead Vong and strange tall and non-Katai looking people here. When he sees the Vong prisoner he charges toward it. "What have you done to my kids!" But Farseeker and Ben'dar stop him. "I do nothing! Was leader! I can help." The prisoner pleads in his awkward sounding Katai voice. As the man struggles to free himself to take the Vong down the noble Zhou approaches. "You must be the caretaker. We came here for business but we found these demons here. We slaughtered them and wish to help you find your kids. This one here," he points to the Vong, "has said he will help us. Once that is done we can decide his fate. Okay?" The man seems to calm down. "They are just 8 and 12. They don't deserve this." Fremea comes around the corner with her dress on to listen to the man. As he calms down the warriors release their grip but ready to grab him again if needed. The man shakes his head. "They simply arrived and attacked. They first killed the help and took us to rooms and did things. If they have done....they killed my wife...." Some figure he is in clear shock now and likely logic is not his strong side at this point. "Yes. We must find them." With hands secure and tied the Vong prisoner steps forward. The Shaper separated them. You must understand the things we do ...they do...are for the gods...our gods. You call it torture we call it the Embrace of Pain. It is the way of our culture. Warriors routinely cut off limbs and have them replaced by artificial ones. Slicing skin, lips or doing implants is a rite of passage." He looks to the ground. "That is for those whoa re allowed. My caste has to earn what the warriors have by birth-rite." Farseeker steps toward the Vong and raises a gloved hand to silence him. "We don't care about your gods or your culture. Where are they!?" The Vong points with a finger to the next building to the south. The caretaker turns and nods. "The visitor house?" he begins that way but Zhou stops him. "Can you describe the place?" Zhou asks. the man looks frustrated but realizes it might help. He nods and draws an imaginary box in the grass below for a mental picture. "It is for visitors who come to visit to rent the grounds and sleep. Not for every guest but for the more important ones. It is about 80 by 50 feet. There are four small bedrooms here on the north side. On the south side is small bedroom in the west. Beside it is a small bathing room, small dining area and a open living room lounge area with couch and fireplace." "Exits and windows?" Farseeker asks. "One exit here in the east the front door. There are a couple of windows in the west wall here and some in the south wall for the two west bedrooms and east bedroom and living room windows. But here on the north are none. They can't see us from here." He then stands and dusts his hands. Farseeker turns to Unali for orders but finds she has gone quiet again. Maybe the pressure of taking on her own people might have distracted her a bit. "Fine. We'll attack. We could use two archers at these windows on the west wall. They can break the window if need and fire inside. The rest will go inside. We can use...", he glances to Fremea, "an archer on the roof. The rest will go in the front door." "I can go first. I can tell them to come out to see the leader!" The Vong speaks quickly eager to help. Some turn to Unali and then Zhou. Zhou nods. "It makes sense. It'll distract them and if the female Vong is their leader it can get them outside for easier dealing." "But if they remain inside and hurt kids." Strie'bog states. "No. Like I said The Embrace has to be endured not quickened. A quick death is not a good one. It would be a last restort." The Vong stammers. "Resort?" Zhou shakes his head as the Vong tried to speak the human language by that worm bug in his ear it seems. "If he is right we'll have a chance." Zhou has seemed to take over for the moment. "Arawn stay here in the wagon with Z'leyra and tend to the noble. I will remain here to protect the prisoners with Whitney and Kiet to tend to them as guards. The rest should go now to rescue the kids if they can be helped." Ben'dar, Caladan, Chion, Farseeker, Kell, Strie'bog, Unali, and Will remount or turn their horses around. Raban mounts on his own horse and Fremea remains on the ground. The man asks to mount up with Caldan and he rides behind him. Fremea knows he'll be distracted enough and worried that he won't see her fly to the house roof. She will wait a few seconds for them to leave and then take to the sky. [Time: 2:46:17pm] The rescue times gallops off toward the house. The Vong prisoner is put onto one of the Katai horses and towed to the other house while surrounded by others. The Vong clearly is awkward on the horse and bounces to the side back and forth. [Time: 2:46:40pm] The group gets to the north end of the house and slows down. From here it is clearly seen there are no windows. It is actually a odd design but maybe the buildings are so small space is limited for glass? Fremea by now has arced up and down to the Visitor house roof. Landing there ahead of the group and not seen she gets to the front of the house and waits for the group to act with her bow prepared. Farseeker waves Strie'bog, Caladan and Kell to the rear windows to act once things go into motion. With the others hiding on their horses or off the horses at the north side of the wall the Vong prisoner is let off the horse and untied. Farseeker grips him by the shoulder. "Betray us and the Embrace of Pain will seem like a day at the beach." "Beech?" The confused or maybe just stupid Vong is shoved forward and Farseeker waves him on. The Vong goes to the door and opens it. He sticks his head inside and finds a Vong warrior there. The warrior steps outside and towers over the shorter Vong. The warrior barks at the other Vong and the Outcast Vong begins to speak in their Vong tongue. He doesn't wave but his head points to the direction of the other house. Those around the house clearly hope the Vong is not saying something to save his skin. Not knowing their language the group waits. They could've done the usual scout and recon but even Z'leyra's sling or Will's bow couldn't take on a full group before the Vong could do harm to the kids. The Outcast Vong steps back a few feet to draw the other Vong outside. Soon two other warriors leave the house and have amphistaffs drawn. This is when the Vong look north and sees the battle site and wagon. From the south side of hte house the other three have approached the window. Kell peers inside and notices one Vong in the hallway. The Vong soon realize something is not right and begin to move slowly north. One moves toward the Outcast who seems to lose his spine and falls to the ground like a doll with no strings to pull it up. This is when Fremea fires her bow and the others charge around the corner. Fremea's arrow flies down from the roof and hits the first Vong right in the center of the back of the head. The initial damage is massive at 16 points shattering his skull and the rest of the internal damage kills the Vong instantly. Ben'dar and Unali round the corner on their horses and charge the other two Vong. Unali swings both daggers with her and only the magical dagger hits Vong #2 the blade slices the left arm of the Vong doing about 12 points to him. Ben'dar charges with spear but fails to hit the 3rd Vong. Chion, Farseeker and Raban charge around the corner and attack the Vong. Raban and Farseeker miss in their strikes but Chion hits but fails to penetrate the Vong's armor with his sai. Vong #2 thrusts at Chion hits but fails to penetrate the wizard's chainmail. Vong #3 swings at Ben'dar but fails to hit the warrior. Will charges toward the Vong to help while the caretaker seems to wait watching the battle with no weapon in hand. HE swings his Tulwar at Vong #2 and hits doing a minor wound. Both Unali's daggers fail to hit the Vong. Ben'dar's spear thrusts and impales Vong #3 in the lower chest doing a massive 22 points of damage to the Vong warrior. Chion and Raban miss in their swings and punches. Farseeker hits with his sword but fails to penetrate the Vong's armor. Vong #2 fails to hit Farseeker but #3 thrusts at Raban and does a minor wound of a couple points to his chest. Will does hit the Vong #2 but fails to penetrate the armor. Unali swings both daggers at #2 and the magical dagger hits the warrior in the upper chest doing a stab wound of over 20 points killing the warrior but in her awkward position the normal dagger goes flying from her hand and fumbles to the ground. Ben'dar fails to take the final Vong out with his spear. Chion and Raban fail to hit the last Vong but Farseeker impales the warrior with his large sword doing the final damage to the Vong. Meanwhile inside Caladan, Strie'bog and Kell attack from outside the one Vong inside. They look to the other doors to ensure no other Vong leave the rooms. Kell breaks the glass and quickly throws his spear through the large hole toward the Vong. The spear impales the Vong about 10 feet away in the lower back and does massive damage. From outside the window Strie'bog and Caladan fire their arrows. Strie'bog hits the Vong in the right upper shoulder and does massive damage killing the Vong. Seconds later the party enter the house. A quick search pattern is done for each room. It is quickly learned the Vong are just 4 in total here. Now all are dead. Inside one bedroom on a small desk is a young girl about age 9. She is dressed in simple cloth peasant clothing and looks typical Katai. She is laid over the desk and tied at the ankle and wrists by rope. The rope pulls her small body together so her wrists are touching her ankles. This leaves her body to dangle over the desk back down and head hanging down. The hands and feet are up in the air raised to the ceiling like a dead pig in a butcher shop. By now Caladan, Strie'bog and Kell enter the house to help with the recovery. The girl is checked and finds cuts and abrasions but when her pulse is checked by Unali it is learned she is dead. Her body feels a bit cold in this warm house which seems to imply she died from what must be shock some time ago. In the bathing room the small metal basin is where the boy is found. The bathtub normally filled with water is filled with dirt from outside almost to the top. The boy is laying back down face upwards. His arms are tied to each side of the tub tied taunt by leather ropes pulling his wrists at an non-normal angle almost looking like they will break any second. With the bottom of his arms facing upward his hands are angled in the opposite direction to the floor. his feet are tied to the bottom of the top and pulled tight so that he can barely move. The topes are then tied to the bottom and all together. This is so it seems if he struggles one limb will affect the other limb in pain. But the true horror is inside the tub his torso and hips are all submerged in the brown soil. His head facing upwards is as if he is trying to breath. In fact he is gasping for air as dirt covers his mouth and but only his nose is free to the air. The dirt is pilled onto his body and must be giant pressure for the boy. The dirt is also crawling with bugs and ants and must be doing something to him as they crawl over his arms and face. But the boy is simply trying to gasp for air not paying attention to bugs biting his face. Farseeker, Raban and Will examine the tub. They know if they cut one rope it might affect the others. So they quickly decide to cut the very bottom to loosen things up. Soon the other ropes are cut. Raban then uses his strength to tilt the tub likely weighing 300 pounds now with the dirt to the side. The dirt and boy tumble out. The boy who is about 4 feet 5 looks to be maybe 12. he is completely naked and scraps and cuts are all over his body. The bugs are cleaned off and he is taken outside into the hall to be helped. Upon seeing his daughter the caretaker screams in rage and goes outside only to see his son who seems alive being helped. He sees the nearby dead Vong and rushes over. Picking up Kell's discarded spear he begins to stab at it a few time sot get his rage out. The boy is given water and a blanket as he is so weak he can't even talk. He seems to have no coral on him like his dead sister but bite and cut marks. The outcast Vong is taken prisoner by Chion and tied up again. He is lured away from the enraged father for now. The father tends to his son's side and holds him as tears stream down his face. To lose a wife and daughter is just not right. [Time: 2:48:36pm] Inside the wagon Z'leyra finally become solid and begins to examine the female noble with Arawn helping. Inside the dining room of the Visitor house the servant is found. The man in his 30s looks to be a hard worker with a toned body and calluused hands. He is dead from huge bite marks that look like those from amphistaffs in snake form. It seems they gave this man a less honorable quick death by stabbing him as he must've struggled to fight back. Actions? Comments? Next Update...Friday... GM: Ok. Old ISP dead. Current one working for now and will likely change once I have time to shop around (though have an idea now who I want) once my vacations start in September. The old game site (and my personal website :<) died. This weekend I got word from folks offering their servers and such. This is much appreciated. I went with John Hooten aka Raban's server. So the game site (not my personal site as I didn't want to overstep my bounds) is back up. You can check out www.furvert.net/longshotgm/pbem/index.htm assuming the URL is right. I've updated the top header with this info as well. I may add a simple navigation page as well later on. All files are there but there are case sensitive stuff. If a thing doesn't load it may be due to upper/lower case issues. Let me know and I can fix it. I'll test these links myself in a few days to ensure all working. Thanks John! Thanks also to Tobie and others for help and suggestions. I appreciate it. If I weren't such a neutral non-caring God I'd shed a tear. So I'll just beat the dwarves and make them cry a bit is that good? :) So use new website URL and send emails to longshotgm@netzero.com only. Anything sent to the old @cybermax has been lost for the last couple weeks if I'd guess. GM: Took some liberty with the rescue since no plan was done. This speeds up the battle a bit and not bog it down into new updates. Hope this is good for you guys. GM: Roll call! Ben'dar - Been a bit quiet lately. Hope things are going well over there across the pond? Kell - Mark seems AWOL. I've not heard from him in some time. I hope its good news based on what his situation has been. Rather have it a good change than just going missing. I suspect he'll return or send word when he can. Kiet/Raban - I know you guys are still around. Unali - I know Wout gets busy with travel and such. So I'm sure he'll react when he gets time. GM: Arawn - Got your email on god's eyes. I will do that in next update when the rest return to the group or the group heads south to join the others. What material do you use for the spell? I think the way I designed it you need to view through one source. Something like ignore stone to see through stone castle walls. That sort of thing. Tired and late now to check the spell. GM: Spells still active - Active spells - No other spells active. Raban - Bless * Carnival Grounds layout Scale - 1 Column - 200 feet /I\ North 1 Row - 200 feet Grounds shown below - 3300' x 1 2 3 4 5 6 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345 A __________ B | | C | C | F D | | ` E |___/____| F ............. G [A] H [A] ` X ` I G caretaker house J E party position K /c.310' G to H ____/_____ L G <- | | M H` <- B ` | D | N I \ | | O Visitor house |________| P X - Symbolic center of Carnival grounds ` \ Tent area boundary . = Dirt road going east to main Highway (2.5 miles to highway) ` = Water well (only 50 feet from Building H) A - Building - 300' x ??? x 22' feet high B - Building - 50' x ??? C - Area -1600' x 800' D - Area -1600' x 800' E - Building - 200' x ??? F - Building - 50' x ??? G - Building - 65' x ??? x 22' feet high H = Building - 60' x ??? I = Building - 45' x ??? Building scale may be off actual scale slightly due to rounding. Notes: There are small foot dirt paths that lead from building to building. There are signs of holes in the ground likely where torch stands have been at one point. Distance between actual buildings - A to E - 150 feet space E to G - 250 feet space G to H - 310 feet space H to I - 200 feet space