Start of #Sharn buffer: Wed Oct 28 22:47:34 2009 [17:54:43] [Wir?, Dravago 11th?, The year should still be 998 Y.K., right?] [17:54:43] [The party discovered that Xev and his entourage, who left Stormreach earlier the same day they did, has been lost for weeks, despite the party finding him only two days later.] [17:54:43] [The Traveler's Curse has seem to affected Xev more than the party, and if Pardrengo Swiftstalker is to be believed it is because Xev hired a guide not native to Xen'drik. However, the party has no way of telling how resistant to the Curse's effects they are just because of their native guide.] [17:54:43] [However there's little time to discuss the fact, since Phanos's attempt to trick information out of Xev ended in abrupt failure, with Xev sicking his bodyguard, Shezna, on them.] [17:54:43] [Luckily, only Phanos, Mauz, and Johen are out in the open, leaving the rest of the party free for an ambush at the start of hostilities.] [17:54:44] [Session Start] [17:55:21] * NovaSeaker changes topic to 'Suprise Round: Aurora, Mari, Par, Temper' [18:05:57] * Aurora peeks out from the bushes and summons a wall of silver flame to reinforce her allies with its holy power. [18:06:04] [Pardrengo and Temper burst from the brush the second Xev orders Shezna to attack.] [18:06:11] [Init] [18:06:41] 1d20+13 [18:16:02] * NovaSeaker changes topic to 'Init: Xev, Pardrengo, Phanos, Whatshisface, Shezna, Mari, Temper, Aurora, Mauz, Wayfinder, Johen' [18:21:22] [Phanos's Turn] [18:22:59] [Xev's entourage is taken aback by the ambush and Shezna seems to hesitate to assess the situation. Xev scowls and shouts a single syllable of some language only Phanos's has ever heard of. Mari, Johen, and Phanos are left blinded by the word's power, and then Xev fades away from everyone's view.] [18:35:37] * Darkheart (lol@fl-67-235-250-99.dhcp.embarqhsd.net) has joined #Sharn [18:37:19] * Darkheart is now known as Mauz [18:40:32] [Mari's Turn] [18:41:23] [Shezna shouts as she is hit with whatever Phanos casted on her. She steps forward slugishly, but still rather deftly, and begins whirling her battleaxes around her in a deadly, brutal dance, hacking at Phanos several times.] [18:42:01] Take them alive if you can. [18:42:18] [Back by the tent, the meak, unassuming manservant cringes as Phanos's invocation reaches his ears. He grimaces and holds his hands to his head and screams for help, and the air before him shimmers, making him hard to target.] [18:43:00] * Phanos laughs as a haze fills the air around the ankles of his opponents, gripping them at the shins and slowing their movements. [18:47:26] * Marianysa curses as everything goes dark, but she still manages to stagger towards Shezna and catches her with a surprisingly accurate slash of her sword. [18:47:50] [Aurora's Turn] [18:53:38] * Aurora fires off a beam of light at a patch of ground, hoping Xev is there, but to no effect. "Careful! He's behind you guys somewhere." [18:54:07] [Shezna looks over her shoulder at the screaming servant.] "DAMMIT THOMAS! HELP US OR ELSE!" [18:54:24] * NovaSeaker changes topic to 'Init: Xev, Pardrengo, Phanos, Shezna, Mari, Temper, Aurora, Thomas, Mauz, Wayfinder, Johen' [18:55:17] [The screaming, frightened man, meekly holds out a hand and nods. He looks absolutely terrified, from what you can see beyond the wavy veil. Light from the ground channels into Shezna, healing the majority of her wounds.] [18:56:04] [Mauz's Turn] [18:57:36] * Mauz 's eyes narrow, and he knows exactly who he needs to deal with. "You're a nasty bastard. GET OVER HERE!" He first damns the barbarian bitch, then flicks his wrist in the direction of the cowardly healer... [19:00:25] * Mauz then proceeds to miss. Snarling, he slips back from the fight and is swallowed is quivering darkness. [19:00:38] [Thomas seems to calm down after deciding to aid Shezna, and then he feels Mauz's arcane reach touch him and he screams again, cringing in stark terror, and the wavey veil envelops him once more.] [19:00:52] [Johen's Turn] [19:01:34] [The Wayfinder guide takes his shortsword out of its sheath and takes a step back, shaking his head and raising his off-hand in a placating gesture.] "Woah! Woah! What's going on here?" [19:04:13] [The Wayfinder blinks.] "Wait, Pardrengo Swiftstalker? Wh-what is this? I know we're in competition...." [19:04:36] [Pardrengo snarls.] "Your wards attacked mine first!" [19:06:08] "Then both of you step out of the fight!" [19:10:34] * Johen chants, glaring at Shezna, and her wounds re-open. Blood pours from them encasing her in a thick, clotted mass, forcing itself down her throat and choking her. [19:13:05] [Phanos Disappears] [19:14:39] [Xev steps out of the ether as his rapier skewer's Pardrengo's shoulder.] "Kill their guide. Thomas, they hurt Shezna. They hurt your family. Kill them." [19:16:08] [He turns to the rest of you and shouts another word in supernal, though even Phanos doesn't understand this one. It compells Johen to kneel, but Mari, Phanos, and Temper weather the compulsion, suffering horrid headaches and ear bleeds.] "THE TRUENAME OF XEV DEMANDS OBEDIENCE! KNEEL!" [19:17:06] * Johen goes to one knee, gritting his teeth. [19:17:20] [Pardrengo's eyes go wide and he retreats, firing a shot that knicks Xev.] [19:18:38] * Marianysa turns to look at Xev, scowling as she wipes away the blood. "I don't kneel to anyone. Least of all trash like you." [19:19:54] [Xev smiles calmly.] "We shall see." [19:21:34] [Shezna grits her teeth in a sadistic grin as Xev order's Pardrengo's death. She bursts through the party in an effort to reach her target, swinging away madly, ignoring the acidic slime eating away at her.] [19:21:39] [Mari's Turn] [19:21:43] Heh. You know, if you weren't such a dick, I might like you. [19:21:57] * Marianysa suddenly appears next to Shezna. "And I'm not done with YOU yet." She slashes her across the back. [19:23:26] * Marianysa pivots and brings her sword around for another blow but hits nothing but air this time. [19:24:12] [Aurora's Turn] [19:24:48] [Temper speeds around in an arc, close to the fight and them slams Shezna in the kidney while her back is turned to deal with Mari.] [19:28:16] [Xev feels Aurora about to press into his mind and he turns to where she's standing admist the vines and foliage. He shouts another word of some language and remains unaffected while Aurora is thrown back into the jungle.] [19:29:46] No, YOU KNEE- AUGH [19:34:03] [Mauz's Turn] [19:34:30] [Xev sees Thomas hesitate more.] "Thomas! Your family is in danger! Are you going to let us die like you did your last family!" [19:34:50] [Thomas cringes and holds his head with his hands.] "No! No!" [19:34:59] [Xev scowls.] "THEN KILL THEM!" [19:35:17] * Johen grimaces. "The woman's harmless! Kill the dop, and it all falls apart!" [19:35:29] [Thomas shouts and a gout of flame streaks from the center of his forehead to Pardrengo, badly burning his shoulder.] [19:37:20] Okay, that is quite fucking enough! [19:37:27] [Pardrengo screams and shuts his eyes.] "Whe-where did he go?! I.. I can't see!" [19:38:20] [The concealing veil around Thomas drops as he unleashes his attack.] [19:39:18] * Mauz points in the direction of Shen. "Deal with her quickly!" He focuses his hatred on her, and calls forth the clawing, chilling darkness from below to deal with her. [19:43:42] * Mauz growls as his calling seems not to be enough... and even as a bit of blood trickles from the corners of his eyes, he casts searing, damning death in the direction of Thomas. "May the dead stars eat your tongue!" [19:44:17] [Johen's Turn] [19:44:38] [The Wayfinder shakes his head.] "Dol Dorn's teeth!" [19:44:44] [He flees into the jungle.] [19:47:50] [Thomas screams in anticipated pain and terror as Mauz's curse streams toward him, slamming through the returned hazy veil.] [19:48:16] What a coward... [19:49:35] Get what you pay for, huh Xev? [19:50:38] [Xev shrugs calmly] "Apparently so. His absence will cause me no more harm than his presence." [19:54:47] * Johen conjures a pile of gold, and Xev and Shezna find themselves drawn to it. Xev begins to compulsively stuff his pockets with the treasure, realizing only too late that the coins were a vast pile of horde scarabs, that begin to gnaw at his flesh as he empties them from his pockets [19:58:02] [Phanos's Turn] [19:59:29] * Phanos reemerges in thr form of the beast, his form spikes with flecks of gold, glinting as he stands within the wall of light, lashing out at Xev. [19:59:33] [Xev shakes the last of the beetles off as he moves to engage Johen.] "Fascinating. A worthy adversary." [He engages in some truely masterful fencing, when compared to the vast legions of warriors of Khorvaire. Except Johen seems to read through the feints and comes away scott free.] "And more capable than you appear as well." [20:00:09] * Johen smiles. "If you surrender now, I won't humiliate you in front of your cadre." [20:00:56] Great, now just keep 'em there... [20:01:04] [Xev just smirks knowingly.] [20:03:03] Oh just lay the bastard low already! [20:03:06] * NovaSeaker changes topic to 'Init: Xev (OG 5), Pardrengo, Phanos, Shezna, Mari, Temper, Aurora, Thomas, Mauz, Wayfinder, Johen' [20:03:45] [Xev frowns slightly at the beast snapping its jaw at him.] "Shezna. The guide." [20:10:46] [Mari's Turn] [20:11:05] "We an' I gon' tear outchas throat, mon." [20:11:20] [Shezna once again barrels through the party to reach her target: Pardrengo. She opens up with a waylay of axestrikes, drawing blood.] [20:13:16] * Marianysa appears once again beside Shezna. "You're attacking the wrong target, coward." Her sword leaves a deep gash in Shezna's side, bleeding freely. [20:13:44] [Shezna starts laughing insanely as she gets her first new scar of the battle.] [20:13:55] "Hahaha! NO I'm NOT! MY TARGET DIES!" [20:14:30] [Shezna comes down with both axeheads simlutaneously on Pardrengo's chest, shattering his ribcage and throwing him to the ground.] [20:15:37] ... well, shit. [20:18:37] * NovaSeaker changes topic to 'Init: Xev (OG 5, OG 5 Fire), Pardrengo, Phanos, Shezna, Mari, Temper, Aurora, Thomas, Mauz, Wayfinder, Johen' [20:20:01] * NovaSeaker changes topic to 'Init: Xev (OG 5, OG 5 Fire, Weakened except vs Mari), Pardrengo, Phanos, Shezna, Mari, Temper, Aurora, Thomas, Mauz, Wayfinder, Johen' [20:21:23] * Marianysa grits her teeth, tossing a vial of something to Pardrengo, then rushes towards Xev. As she raises her sword, the blade turns black, but fire also bursts from it. "Hey, Xev! You said something about kneeling!" She slashes across his chest, fire spreading from the black wound left. [20:22:22] * Johen laughs good-naturedly and smiles at Xev as Pardrengo's bones right themselves. "Really, was she the best you could find? How hard did you look? I picked my expedition up *on a boat*. *On the way here*. They were practically an afterthought, and they're still making a joke of your goons." [20:24:12] [Xev] "They are rather disappointing. AREN'T YOU THOMAS?!" [20:24:22] [Aurora's Turn] [20:25:12] [Temper sees an ally go down and his eyes flash. He barrels into Shezna with a fury of devestating punches, ending with a double-fisted downward hammer-blow to her head, pounding her into the dirt.] [20:25:39] [Xev looks back at the Temper/Pardrengo/Shezna situation.] "And Shezna... well she tries her best." [20:27:34] * Johen nods. "As I tell my students, sometimes your best isn't good enough. It seems this is the case." [20:27:47] * Aurora concentrates. She raises her hand, bathed in silver flame. Her armor flashes, and all of her allies find their wounds eased. [20:28:14] [Xev looks to Thomas.] "Tend to your family, Thomas." [20:28:23] Thomas, was it? Do they talk to you like this all the time? [20:28:56] [Thomas nods as his concealing haze fades again.] "N... not suppose to talk t-" [Xev] "THOMAS NOW!" [Thomas cringes and heals Shezna.] [20:29:55] [He concentrates harder, spreading healing to Xev as well.] [20:30:04] [Mauz's Turn] [20:33:48] [Johen's Turn] [20:34:00] * NovaSeaker changes topic to 'Init: Xev (OG 5, OG 5 Fire, Weakened except vs Mari), Pardrengo, Phanos, Shezna, Mari, Temper, Aurora, Thomas, Mauz, Johen' [20:34:19] * Mauz attempts to lay into the wild woman with that damned darkness of his, but she seems to not pay it much mind. He snarls, then coughs faintly. "The things I do for you..." [20:38:35] * Johen ducks back and, as Xev opens his mouth to speak, a strange orb of light pushes its way out of his throat and takes Johen's place. He doesn't seem to be harmed, or even concerned [20:42:29] [Xev concentrates for a moment and utters come incantation of that weird language. He continues to burn and bleed, but doesn't seem to mind so much. He snakes past most of his enemies to reach their damndable guide, ready to kill him himself.] [20:46:05] [Mari's Turn] [20:51:46] * NovaSeaker changes topic to 'Init: Xev (OG 5, OG 5 Fire, Weakened except vs Mari), Pardrengo, Phanos, Shezna (3 damage if end turn not next to Mari), Mari, Temper, Aurora, Thomas, Mauz, Johen' [20:51:57] * NovaSeaker changes topic to 'Init: Xev (OG 5, OG 5 Fire), Pardrengo, Phanos, Shezna (3 damage if end turn not next to Mari), Mari, Temper, Aurora, Thomas, Mauz, Johen' [20:52:39] * NovaSeaker changes topic to 'Init: Xev (OG 5), Pardrengo, Phanos, Shezna (3 damage if end turn not next to Mari), Mari, Temper, Aurora, Thomas, Mauz, Johen' [20:56:49] Sorry in advance, Temper! [20:57:34] *Temper nods. "Do what you must!" [20:58:59] [Aurora's Turn] [20:59:00] * Marianysa swings her sword in a wide arc in front of her, shards of metal breaking off and digging into Shezna. She then turns to Xev. "Get lost." She casually points in his direction with her sword, sending him flying to land rather ungracefully. [20:59:13] Alright, Xev. Now, YOU kneel. [21:00:10] *Temper is knocked to his knees by the backblow of that blast, but he rises quickly enough, racing toward Xev and slamming a fist into his malleable face just as the changling begins to look up and respond to Mari. [21:02:35] Well, at least this trip's been exciting! [21:03:26] [Xev snarles] "THOMAS! KILL THAT DAMN DOG NOW!" [21:03:58] [Thomas whimpers and concentrates, another bolt of fire searing out of his mind and toward Pardrengo.] [21:04:49] What kind of family is this? [21:05:58] * Aurora steps a litte closer to the melee, then explodes into a silver flame that sears her enemies and provides healing to her allies that need it the most. She grabs her head, then a translucent soul wreathed in silver flame appears next to her foes. [21:07:09] [Mauz's Turn] [21:11:44] [Johen's Turn] [21:12:24] * Mauz sends a rolling line of bluish suffering towards Shezna... and she simply ignores it. Mauz makes a face, but holds his tongue. [21:17:01] [Xev sees the benefit Pardrengo is recieving from the holy ground and puts himself at great risk to deny him it.] [21:20:45] * Marianysa teleports again, striking unsuccessfully from behind Shezna. [21:21:07] [Mari's Turn] [21:24:30] [Aurora's Turn] [21:25:11] [Xev] "Thomas if you don't get into this fight in earnest, you'll be alone again. Is that what you want?" [21:25:26] [Thomas trembles.] [21:25:31] Hey, Thomas, you're better off without these guys! [21:25:44] We just want Xev, you can do whatever you want. [21:26:04] * Aurora steps a little closer to Pardrengo, raises a hand wreathed in silver flame, and touches his shoulder, easing his wounds considerably. [21:26:04] Hell, we'll even let you tag along back to the city. [21:26:17] Look what we're doing for Pardrengo here. [21:27:44] [Thomas's shaking stops and he looks at Mari deadly serious.] "You. Can't. Take. Him. FROM ME!" [He starts to shake again, his dirty matted cloak russling as he trembles in building anger.] [21:28:22] [Xev takes stock of the situation.] "Now isn't the time, Thomas. Leave." [21:28:26] We're not TAKING anyone. [21:28:30] ...okay, maybe that was the wrong approach. [21:28:42] [Thomas instantly goes slack with shock.] "L-leave?" [21:29:05] * Mauz eyes Thomas, then Xev. "You're up to something, smoothie." [21:29:08] [Xev nods.] "I'll be with you shortly. Go!" [21:29:27] [Thomas nearly sobs and nods, then turns to run into the woods.] [21:29:41] You're not going anywhere until we get what we want to know from you. [21:29:45] Hey! Those woods are dangerous! [21:29:46] [Mauz's Turn] [21:33:16] [Johen's Turn] [21:33:57] * Mauz watches the coward dash off, and tries to dig into Xev a bit more, but once again, it seems that the stars aren't right for him. The look on his face, aside from being bloody, is one of sheer rage. [21:36:54] * Johen smiles at Xev. "Come now, I don't think you REALLY want to go anywhere, do you?" He chants a syllable of command, and Xev feels his body become sluggish and unresponsive [21:39:47] [Xev quickly chants some more of that strange, powerful language, overriding Johen's compulsion.] "Hrm. Afraid so, friend. Shezna, do you best to cover my retreat, wont you?" [21:42:22] [Shezna blinks] "What? You're just going to leave me like that?!" [21:42:42] [Shezna waits.] "....XEV?!" [21:43:11] [Shezna howls in rage.] "YOU CHOSE THOMAS OVER ME?! YOU SAID I HAD A PURPOSE! XEV?!" [21:43:40] You wanna help us pound him? [21:43:47] Quiet. [21:44:02] If we listen, we can hear his footsteps. And then we can beat him unconscious and drown him. [21:44:20] [Shezna wheels on Johen.] "DON'T YOU TOUCH HIM!" [21:44:40] [Pardrengo takes this as sign to attack her.] [21:44:56] * Marianysa points her sword at Shezna's throat. "He said be quiet." [21:45:01] Hey! Hold it. [21:46:56] [Shezna snarls at Mari and barrels into her, axes swinging.] [21:47:11] Dammit. [21:47:18] * Mauz blinks a bit, but just tries to make sure nothing foul's going to befall him. "Oh come on!" [21:47:28] * Johen grimaces. "Don't kill her. She can still be useful." [21:48:05] I'm not going to _kill_ her. [21:48:13] * NovaSeaker changes topic to 'Init: Xev (OG 5), Pardrengo, Phanos, Shezna, Mari, Temper, Aurora, Thomas, Mauz, Johen' [21:48:16] I'm just going to hurt her. A lot. [21:48:34] Mauz, don't do that... thing you do. [21:48:54] Carry on, then. [21:51:10] If you mean murdering, I seem to be incapable of that at the moment! [21:51:24] * Mauz says as much with delightfully reddened teeth. [21:51:55] [Aurora's Turn] [21:52:04] * Marianysa slides a thumb along her sword, extinguishing the fire on the blade and replaces it with a sickly green hue. She cuts deeply into Shezna, seemingly very casually. [21:52:22] You can't win. [21:53:04] [Shezna pauses in her whirwind, breath heaving.] "It doesn't matter anymore." [21:53:08] Your allies are trying to sacrifice you to escape. [21:53:27] [Shezna scowls in rage.] "IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE!" [21:53:37] * Aurora releases a beam of holy light which goes wide. [21:53:49] [Mauz's Turn] [21:53:52] Calm down, or we will MAKE you calm down!... you're not gonna listen, are you? [21:54:10] THEN WHAT THE HELL MATTERS? YOU THINK YOU'RE GETTING SOME GLORIOUS DEATH IN BATTLE? [21:54:23] Well, if an end is what you want! [21:54:25] We're just going to beat you down until you can't fight anymore. [21:54:58] Then you're gonna tell us what the man who just stabbed you in the back is up to. [21:55:10] [Tears streak down Shezna's dirty, ugly, scarred face.] "You think I'm in this for glory? YOU KNOW NOTHING!" [21:55:43] * Johen laughs. "Well, I bet we'll find out very soon, won't we?" [21:55:49] * Mauz grins, darkly, complete with a little droplet of blood dripping from his nose. He doesn't look terribly... sane at the moment. "Darling, you have two choices. Stand down and calm yourself down... or I'll give you a tiny little taste of what goes on in my head." [21:56:18] I imagine you're aren't caught between Siberys and Kybher's whims and fancies. *I AM*! [21:56:23] If it's not glory, then what? Don't tell me you love the fucker who abandoned you. [21:58:04] So. Weapons down? Or something far, far worse than death and humiliation? CHOOSE. [21:58:54] [Shezna flinches away from Mauz's gaze and lowers her axes. She sobs, her saddness making her even more ugly than her anger. She drops her axes and begins weeping into her hands.] "You wouldn't understand..." [21:59:01] Believe me, you aren't the first person Xev's fooled. [21:59:17] You would be amazed. [21:59:32] * Marianysa shrugs and sheathes her sword. [21:59:41] * Mauz takes a deep, shuddering breath. "We all have burdens, darling." [21:59:46] [Shezna drops to the ground.] "Just kill me." [21:59:53] Later. [22:00:20] *Temper turns to Johen, tilting his head slightly. [22:01:38] * Johen frowns. "She's an enemy combatant, in a jungle where we need all the food we can get to ourselves, and we're racing a bastard to the finish. Either we kill her, or we leave her here and she dies. But that happens after we get our answers." [22:02:10] The bastard isn't getting far. [22:02:33] We don't work like that, Johen. But yeah, let's deal with this after. [22:02:43] Even if he finds that useless guide...well, he's still useless. [22:02:45] And I don't think we have any issues with food. [22:03:17] * Johen laughs. "Of course we don't! How silly of me." [22:03:44] * Mauz goes about carefully wiping his face clean with a rag. Better to not get it on his gear -- he's Mauz the White, not Mauz the Bloodspeckled. [22:04:24] * Aurora sighs. "Right. So. Shezna. Where're you from?" [22:05:13] [Shezna looks at Aurora, a self-loathing snear on her face.] "Just do it." [22:05:24] Should we pitch camp? I suppose Xan may not be getting far on his own, and frankly, I'm feeling rather tred." [22:05:41] All in good time, my dear girl. All in good time. [22:05:49] [Session End.] [22:06:02] * Marianysa is now known as Yon [22:06:08] * Aurora is now known as Demota [22:06:12] * Johen is now known as Charles [22:06:22] [450 XP] End of #Sharn buffer Wed Oct 28 22:47:34 2009