Session Start: Fri Sep 15 22:23:04 2006 Session Ident: #lunar-iog2 * Logging #lunar-iog2 to 'logs\#lunar-iog2.log' * TheStoryteller changes topic to '-= Chapter 26: Uranus Unleashed | Location: Vulcannon Lab Complex | Pools: 2861 §, 1 MXP =- http://storen.rpgcafe.net/IoG/' == SESSION START == * Gayo is now known as Angie We rejoin the group as they don some handy hard hats and head into the corridors leading into the Geothermal Power Station, led by CEO Chrissy. All around you can see people working, as the corridors here are not finished, and wires ands tubes run along the cieling to various automated devices and supplying power to the lights. Niri and Leah follow along, ooh-ing and ahh-ing appropriately, as Shiro bounds behind them a little nervously. * Angie reserves dangerously little attention for watching where she's going, preferring to examine the countless tubes and devices. * Vytor recognizes some of the machines and devices, but this isn't an area he's used to seeing * Trune is unusally quiet, apparently in deep concentration as he follows the group. He seems to have enough sense to watch where he's going, at least. * Saki looks utterly laughable; stalking along, serious and composed, in a karate outfit with a hard hat on top. [Chrissy] Alright... pardon our appearance from here on out, everyone. This leads into the excavation site. How long have you been working in this area? * Mikel whistles a tune as he follows along, not minding the hard hat or anything as he rests the staff on his shoulder. I don't think we're too worried about the way this place looks. It's the fact that large rocks will be hitting us in the head soon that makes me nervous. * Vytor looks rather at home in his hard hat, "Keep your hats on then." Sure enough, a bit of dust from the settling cieling lands on Tanan's hat. Too bad my hat is way too big. I mean, who has a head this big? Unatural, I tell you. Why didn't you pick a smaller one? [Chrissy] It's been awhile Angie.. few months now. WE've only recently made progress to the deeper levels, where the workings of the turbines are. * Tanan glances up. "That wasn't what I had in mind, but it's nice to see the scenery is dramatically aware." * Saki frowns and peers out into the darkness, trying to watch for any internal sign of an Elementalor. [Chrissy] It was amazing that they were still operational, if a bit degraded in efficiency. There were none left. Well, there was one but it was too small. Such is my luck. Well, keep in on nontheless Was planning on it. I like my head to be non-mashed. Smart man I really don't think a hard hat is going to help much. Every ruin we've been to has been at least halfway functional. They built stuff to last back in the day. "We're trying to reassure him, Tanan." * Trune eyes Tanan, "Man, and I thought I was a cynic." A hard hat'll help a lot if it doesn't fall on you directly. You eventually cmes to a juncture. The walls that had sheets covering them are now solid rock, held up by impressively strong and well shaped brackets. The conduits on the cieling continue, but the makeshift ones are joined by much more ancient arteries of pressure. The ambient sounds of hissing steam and gas releases is heard. This corridor would be without light, if it were not for the overhead lanterns hanging. Let's not assume we're going to die just yet. We haven't even so much as poked the Ellermantlyier yet. * TheStoryteller changes topic to '-= Chapter 26: Uranus Unleashed | Location: Geothermal Power Station | Pools: 2861 §, 1 MXP =- http://storen.rpgcafe.net/IoG/' Oh, we're not going to die. But he IS going to pelt us with large rocks. We know how these things go. Well then make sure they only clip you, and you're fine! If he pelts us with sand I'm going to laugh at you. Watching the lanterns, you notice them start swinging, a low rumble issuing forth from the mine shafts. Rock shifts for a second. Well, so far we've been attacked by one and a third of them, out of three. So statistically we have a better-than-even chance of not! Chrissy stabilizes herself, as the small tremor passes, mumbling. * Saki 's frown deepens a little more as she casts aside the room; she's keeping her composure more than usual for a ruin-dive, but that is lost as the landscape creaks around her. Instantly she's looking more hunted than anything. * Angie stops talking abruptly as the earth shifts. She takes an uneasy look around, then continues forward. Can you hear him, Trune? I'm counting Neptune as an attack. And Mercury still pitched us all over everything. That's 3 out of 3 as far as I'm concerned. Look, if this place comes down, we're all dead anyway. No sense getting hinky over something we can't prevent. * Mikel stumbles for a moment, letting his staff come down to help maintain balance. "...thank you, Vytor." * Angie crinkles her nose. "'Hinky'?" * Trune gulps as the earth moves for a moment. He starts to look a little creeped out, "Just...breathing. Heavy breathing." * Vytor glances at Angie, "Its a technical term." * Saki shivers very slightly, and gives the world in general a baleful glare. [Chrissy] It'll take more than those to stop our work. We can handle it. It's waiting for the 'Big One' I'm worried about. ....The tremors, Trune? Those're /breathing/ ? No...I don't think so. There's someone here. I can feel it. It's good to have confirmation. Sort of. * Joe_Chin (Joe_Chin@24-181-228-246.dhcp.oxfr.ma.charter.com) has joined #lunar-iog2 [Chrissy] Two levels down is that door I was mentioning. The special gold one? [Chrissy] Would you like to see it? That's the plan. Wait...he's sleeping...It's restless...and...*pauses, and puts a hand to his head* He's telling us to get lost. * Saki takes a deep breath; releasing it, she looks a little better, if slightly unfocused. "... nm. Definitely one here." Friendly fellow isn't he? Chrissy gives Trune a sideways glance. The Elementlors seem to be rather shy to warm up to people. This is nothing new. * Tanan sighs deeply a bows his head, slumping forward a little. "Big rocks. Really big rocks." It's new that he's aware of us already, isn't it? Well...huh. Now that I think on it...maybe you're right. Probably pointy ones. Let's summon Jupiter or Mercury or someone and send them in first? * Angie quickens her pace, keeping both eyes on the ceiling as she walks. "The others were sleeping. From the activity he might be awake." * Mikel shakes his head. "Didn't we try to establish the fact they are people too?" Deeper down is the sound of work being done. A latern lit path leads to a lift of sorts, likely the way down into the excavation proper. Youc an also go right or left, though nothing about each of the paths catches your senses immediately. They're people, but they're also on the moon. They can't actually die this way -- at least, I don't think so. It just hurts a lot. * Saki staaaalks after Angie. "... think you're right. It's--" She waves her hands for a moment, trying to convey an idea, then twitches just a little and shakes her head. "--stronger." * Vytor glances between the two options before the group * Angie stops, looking back at Saki with a twinge of concern. She pauses ontil the other woman catches up with her, then heads for the lift. * Ryllan lets himself slow long enough to be next to Saki, then asks in a quiet voice, "You up for this, Saki?" * Vytor figures the lift is as good a direction to take, and heads after Angie He's probably also a lot less likely to attack one of his brothers than us * Saki pulls up short, and makes a face. "... doesn't anyone use /stairs/?" A quick glance back at Ryllan, and she lightly taps a jewel around her neck. "...nn. This helps." "Still not convinced." I mean, if I were grumpy and my brother woke me up, I'd probably be friendlier than if it was strangers. if I had a brother. We can try it, yeah, but they always seem a little irrational when they first come to. So far that's two reasons to send one of them in to say hi first to zero for not doing it. I mean, worst comes to worst they can just vanish Yeah, I guess you're right. * Mikel eyes Tanan. "If they ask why we decided to subject them to pain I'll let them know it was you." He lets out a sigh. "If you knew it would hurt but not kill you would you want to get shoved in there?" * Ryllan nods at saki, then continues over to the lift. * Vytor waits for the others in the lift >> Also, entering an area of strong Earth energy! The ECC is boosted for Mercury, flawless for Uranus while impeded for Venus. No, but given that it could hurt AND kill us it's sort of a practical necessity. I'm not terribly interested in discussing the morality of potentially hurting someone who will recover in a day or so versus killing someone. There's not a whole lot to say there. * Mikel offers a shrug. "Still doesn't sit right with me." You want to go first, Mikel? * Angie whistles. "Hoo. The energy is a lot stronger here than in the other places. This must be the most active of the elemental nodes we've visited." "Fine." I'll take your word for it Angie I wouldn't really recommend that, Mikel. Seriously. * Saki lurks in one corner of the lift. She reaches up to try to drag a hand through her hair; the resulting 'bonk' as knuckleduster meets hard hat, to her credit, only blackens her mood a little. Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, horrible sentient weapons are people too. But least risk in a lot of ways beats someone maybe dying Chrissy walks over and chats with an employee next to the lift a bit, waving you on. "I'll let you handle things from here on out - just go to the second basement and report back with what happens. We'll be waiting here incase you get overwhelmed by this Elementalor." *rumble* *creak* Another tremor. It is once again mostly ignored by the excavators, who dig tunnels and take rreadings as if nothing is happening. Don't be afraid to get out of here if the tremors get worse...and judging from this guy's mood that wouldn't surprise me. I think you guys need bigger hard hats. Frosty crew you got down here Doc You begins to notice some Alpha-series sentries around, as well as other more utilitarian droids helping. A good deal of firepower on station * Mikel taps his staff on the ground once, stepping onto the lift. "He's that pissed, Trune?" * Angie chuckles flatly. "Nice of you." She steps onto the lift and stretches, folding her hands behind her head and lifting her arms. "Nggh. Not going to soil yourself with the hole affair, eh?" She straightens up and pulls out her gun. [Chrissy] Thanks Vytor! But we really need to stop these quakes. We can't go any deeper if things aren't stable... "...that was... augh." Groan * Mikel grimaces. Angie. Probably, yeah. Also, Angie, you suck. [Chrissy] If The place can be fully repaired, it would provide limitless power for the Lab for free! And maybe even take it via cable to other cities. Very handy * Saki paces in her corner, glancing around her then down at the floor then leaning over as if to sit down then thinking better of it, a flow of restless energy. Leah laughs at Angie's brand of humor. * Angie 's composure collapses the instant she gets a response; she breaks down giggling. "Let's hope we don't lose ground." * Tanan looks at Angie. "No wonder he doesn't want to see us. People probably always make fun of his name." Angie, quit! Angie, quiet * Vytor represses a smirk The lift awaits your operation. A simple lever moves it up and down, which a grate slides open and closed to prevent falling accidents. We ready to go down? Ready as we're gonna get. "Let's do it." * Ryllan throws the switch. It is secured by a steel (not silver) cable to a high horsepower Lovelace engine. The black pit below that you can see appears to have 8 floors or so, judging by the light patterns at shaft entrances. *BUZZZZZZ* goes a warning klaxon as the gate sldies closed on the group! Ryllan's push caused it to descend at an even pace. * Angie gravitates to the middle of the lift, eager to minimize the risk of surprise amputation. Heh, this is kind of neat. Down we go into the depths of hell, I guess. Man. * Tanan looks around. "These things make me nervous. It doesn't seem right, trusting an elevator to a grinding thing like that." Like I said, depths of hell. Chrissy waves, yelling down. "Watch out for the occasional critter if you go too far in!" Would you rather trust it to magic that can be interfered with with a wave of my hand? Complete with gaping maws and grinding gears and the real possbility there is more than one way for us to go splat. * Angie smiles nervously. "You wanna walk?" She shrugs. "Trune." Just keepin' it real. "I'm tying you to the Destiny's bumper." * Saki settles for crouching, staring down through the mesh and slats at the passageways below in silence. Hah! You /wish/! To be honest if I was looking at embarrasing ways of getting my ass kicked, I like Saki's benchpressing idea more. * Vytor seems upretrubed at the elevator "She can benchpress you and then tie you to the bumper?" She can /try/! The lift clacks rythmically along it's path. The first floor passes by. It seems to be filled with a lot of people, huddled around something that is sparking. "I'd be she succeeds, too." Ooo, the lingerie section, telephones, and half-price car insurance. *ding!* «ooc: ... :D » << ... >> It's hard to interfere with a well made willforce elevator, Ryllan. I mean, I guess another passenger could stop it or make it start going up or something. A few random pipes crawl along the metallic walls here and there, as the facility buried for a long time begins to show itself to the adventurers. Second level, what might've been the top most floor at one point, comes into view. There is a bit of a deserted landing here, with a red sign that reads "HAZARDOUS AREA AHEAD". Tanan, interfering with willforce is my specialty. * Tanan peers at Ryllan carefully. "Can you even operate those things?" * Angie taps a handful of bullets out of her ammo case and loads them into the pistol. "Ready?" * Mikel nods once, tapping another finger on his staff. * Ryllan pushes the switch back into neutral, "Whenever we're ready, then. ANd of course I can, Tanan. It's only idle curiosity that makes me wonder what would happen if I cut the proverbial strings. * Joe_Chin (Joe_Chin@24-181-228-246.dhcp.oxfr.ma.charter.com) Quit (Quit: ) Another tremor rocks the shaft of the elevator, making it sway to and fro, but it's weight ensures stability is maintained. It halts a bit below the stopping point, forcing you to step upwards to reach the second floor. * Trune is quiet now, holding his head in concentration. * Saki exhales shakily, and hauls her body up to walk forward and pull the gate aside with a clatter. "... I'd hurt you," she points out, before stalking along the passageway. To the /lift/, Saki. * Ryllan follows. * Mikel follows Saki, humming a tune cheerfully. * Vytor keeps up with the group * Tanan steps up off the elevator, looking a little more comfortable off it * Angie clambers up into the shaft, then presses her back to the wall to give the others room to pass by her. Only once everyone else has started down the hall does she follow. * Trune steps off as well, beginning to look a little worried. Saki weaves past a little red tape barrier near the sign, finding the corridor here to be rough hewn and partially buried. There is noone manning the stations here, and the floor seems cracked in several places, like a minature fault line. * Trune stops for a moment and mumbles "Persistance...what the hell...?" * Mikel glances at Trune. "Eh?" Trune? * Angie navigates carefully around the cracks. This time she keeps her eyes forward, focused on the darkness ahead. * Saki frowns, and pulls up short again; taking it carefully she kneels by some of the larger cracks to examine them and test the ground with a careful foot and hand «ooc: +. » Ngh...He senses us. He's awake? Or... aware? "Better yet, is he angry or happy at us?" At least aware enough to know we're coming. I don't think he's gonna make it easy, either. I've had a hunch he's pissed that people are digging in an area that he sleeps in. As Saki test the ground there's another tremor.. this one is not distant, but in fact right under her feet! With a grinding of rock, the floor ahead of the group rises up! "Rig- oi!" Oh shit! Hoi! ...Okay, we find another route. The corridor ahead seems to shift and move and rearrange itself. What once was a straight path is now a jagged & broken maze of rock when the dust settles. * Saki makes a short and choked noise of surprise, falling backwards in a rather ungainly fashion and staring wide-eyed at the new path. I think that was a hint I think it was an anvil. I wish there was some way to talk to him. One of the lanterns blinks on and off erratically, barely hanging off a severed wire. If I could talk to him, I would. But I don't know how. "So... what now?" * Angie backsteps several paces. Any trace of humour is gone, and her chest is pumping like a jackhammer. "Maybe we should go back," she says. From the tone of her voice it sounds like more than a "maybe." [Leah] I don't know.. it seems we could walk through there... ...Try, Trune. Focus on him and on what you want to say. I can, but you're gonna be dissapointed. * Vytor considers Shiro growls down into the 'maze'. * Saki blinks up at the party in feared surprise for a moment, then apparently recovers herself, pulling herself to her feet to survey the damage. She's somber as she picks out a potential path. * Trune closes his eyes and focuses his thoughts. We're already assuming you'll fail, so we can only be pleasantly surprised. Not to knock you, just that's how these things seem to work No...offense taken. * Angie hangs back and takes a long, yearning look back toward the lift. "This is starting to seem like a bad plan. Maybe we should regroup and come up with something better than 'charge in blindly.'" Any ideas, Angie? If we could somehow drain the earth energy from the region, it'd dampen his power a lot. Otherwise, we could try digging a hole directly into the chamber, or something. "How do we manage either without prompting him to smush us?" * Trune stops and his eyes become as wide as saucers, "Holy shit!" We're underground near a big geothermal thingie though. We might as well try to empty a lake using a spoon. * Mikel turns to looka t Trune. "What?!" He heard me! That crazy little motherfucker heard me! Whoa * Trune sounds rather excited and cleary does not care about profanity at this point in time. Saki bravely ventures ahead as the group plots. She finds that a path, while narrow and winding, does exist. It leads to the east, before brancinh out into two, one northwest, the other, north. Oh no that did not sound good. Trune? What's u-.. he did? That's great! Except that you're calling him a 'crazy little motherfucker', which is probably minus points. Unfortunately he doesn't believe me. Hence the crazy motherfucker. But hey, progress! Is there any way we can have the doctor talk with him? Try mentioning Webbly? And the places where we found the others? * Mikel shakes his head, peering ahead at Saki. I mentioned his brothers and he said he didn't feel them. Details like that are hard to fake, unless he doesn't know them too. So more than likely he won't believe anything I say unless I show him in person. Somehow I wonder if we can reach Webbly all the way down here ...Can we call one, then? Can't hurt to try Can we summon one? That might help. Anything earth or air related should penetrate this place fine, if I understand at all how this works I can try it. Maybe Mercury... If you don't want to risk losing contact one of us can do it, but if you're sure you're probably the best at it Nah, it's cool. I'll give it a go. * Saki takes things very carefully, cautious of some of the more pointed and craggy outcroppings; as the party debate behind her she turns north, apparently too restless - and, possibly, reckless - to stand still. * Mikel nods. "Alright..." * Angie rises up on the balls of her feet, peering past the heads and shoulders into the darkness beyond. She sighs and lets herself drop back on her heels. "I'm not sure if it's the same having them projected that way." Maybe not, but it can't hurt to try. And they must know about the projections, none of them have been surprised when Webbly mentioned it Well, since Uranus hasn't yet tried to kill us, we may yet have some bargaining room left * Trune pulls out the ECC and begins to concentrate once more. A small flux of energy begins to circle the strange contraption, "Mercury...if you can hear me..." Well, surprised that it was still working maybe, but not that it exists [Mercury] *bzzt* ...Hey, it's you! What's going on? * Vytor watches Saki's agitated figeting [Mercury] I'm manning the lines this morning. Interesting location I'm pegging you at... isn't that the node of my annoying brother? * Trune grins, "Hey, Merc. No offense to your brother Uranus or anything, but I told him you were coming and he didn't believe me. He's kinda being a twit and we're sort of fearing for our mortal lives. Think you can help us?" Annoying brother? Aw man. Does he get along well with any of you? Somehow, he doesn't strike me as the sort who wins friends and influences folk. Maybe he just needs a hug and a cup of cocoa. I donno, the fact that he could drop the ceiling on us is a pretty big influence. Moon chocolate? [Mercury] No, just us. We all have our little peeves. He's too pragmatic and uninteresting for me! <> Will he trust you, if he can talk to you? [Mercury] Of course he'd trust me. A lot better than some nosy human scientists. [Mercury] ..no offense or anything. None taken. * Mikel snickers. Question is, can he hear you from here, or are we gonna have to get close and personal with him? * Tanan laughs "I barely trust us sometimes, can't blame him." Saki, heading down the noth passage finds a large boulder blocking her way forward! It seems ot have a few weak points that might be exploited by her "technique". [Mercury] You'd have to get at least to the 'Seal'. The seal? The door, I imagine. [Mercury] Just a fancy name fo the impregnable doorway that seals each of our sanctums up. [Mercury] Well, "cells" is more like it.. *grumble* Well.. he probably won't kill us before we let him out then. I mean, if he was going to drop rocks on us he would have probably just done it. * Tanan sounds vaguely hopeful * Angie looks up, then sidles over to the nearest support beam. "It could be we need to get closer before he can use that much power, too." We won't know for sure unitl we get there I suppose Right, so much for it being easy. Might as well book it, then. Angie. * Saki frowns, trying to concentrate through her slight wobbliness before driving a couple of quick, strategicly placed punches into the thing together with not an inconsiderably small prayer. * Mikel lets out a sigh and nods. "Press onwards, then?" Saki works her magic, creating a nice pile of pebbles! The place is disturbed slightly, but no rockslides cometh, thankfully. Saki! * Vytor hears the wexploding rock, and looks over with concern * Ryllan jumps at the sound of shattering rock Saki? You OK over there? * Saki calls from around the corner. "... I'm alright." * Angie cups her left hand to her mouth and calls into the darkness. "Was that you?" * Mikel shakes his head, beginning to make his way over. "What's going on now?" Saki is hitting things again. Beyond the rock is a section of the corridor she identifies from before. It stretches a short ways before a large spike of rock forces her around to the left or right of it. * Saki doesn't reply at first; there's a notable pause before she answers Angie. "... it may have been." She starts picking her way along the corridor again, edging carefully around the spike. I suppose something was in her way Saki? Is punching things here wise? I mean, not that it doesn't work, but... Calm down Tanan. It all depends on what she punches. * Angie swallows her anxiety and jogs past the group, heading for the sound of Saki's voice. Something begins crawling out of the pile of rock in her wake, a slitherly body that crawls along it's belly on the floor after her. What....is that? Ok, that you can punch! What is what? * Saki stumbles backwards as the thing /moves/, nearly tripping over a crag of rock; a quick startled 'gha!' before she calls down to the rest of the party. "Monster!" * Vytor hears 'monster', and charges in Saki's direction with weapon drawn * Angie sees Saki in her combat stance before she sees the reason; nonetheless, it's enough to bring her skidding to a halt. She hangs back, aiming into the darkness. * Trune draws his athames and steps to the back, "No doubt this little...big...whatever the hell it is is gonna have backup if it's hostile!" Another monster appears at the base of the spike, burrowing from a hole in the rock itself. It is an eyeless worm with teeth like miniature drill bits. Maybe they're friendly? Another!! What is that thing? And maybe monkeys will fly out of my ass, Angie. It is easily bigger than Shiro, and looks angry! Maybe! I'm not taking bets though. Giant mutated mole? * Trune is actually heading towards where Saki is, but he picks up the pace a bit. * Ryllan dashes forward, "Well? Let's go save our poor strongwoman." * Saki grits her teeth, flicking her eyes up to Angie's position before cracking her knuckles and trying to keep tabs on both of the worm-things. "Come on, then!" They lunge at Saki, as she barely dodges the predatory diggers. They mean business! * Angie edges forward until she has a good shot. >> COMBAT! >> Saki and Angie are caught in a surprise attack! * Saki goes on the defensive immediately, watching the worms carefully. >> Ally Up Front: Saki - Enemy Middle: Boreworms A & B, Ally Rear Guard: Angie >> Round 1 >> Declaration Phase. Session Time: Sat Sep 16 00:00:00 2006 >> Battle Phase. >> Saki's action. * Saki slows down, moving her hands in wide sweeps; placing her feet carefully on the rocky ground she instantly looks far more sure of herself, and interposes herself in the worms' way. >> Saki slips into water stance, trading power for speed! >> Angie's action. * Angie hesitates. This is a little closer than she likes to be to the action, but after a second's thought she seizes the opportunity. She rushes forward, skidding to a stop a few feet away from one of the worms and blasting it repeatedly in the maw. >> Angie attacks with Hard Rain! 2 strikes slam into the first Boreworm, cutting a hole in it's hide for 59 and 61! «ooc: It's 3 attacks. » «ooc: or did one miss? » << rolled one missed. >> << lucky worm! >> >> Boreworm A chases after Saki, trying to dig into her arm hungrily! But it misses by a mile, as she flows like water! >> Boreworm B impales istelf into Saki's leg guards, boring through her armor! Stamina -50%! >> Round 2 >> Reinforcements Arrive from behind Angie! Hurrah! >> Declaration Phase. * Trune quickly draws a pattern in the air with his athames, and left behind is a strong yellow wake, "Sorry 'bout the wait." * Mikel raises his staff, lightning already beginning to play across it. "Let's make up for lost time then, eh?" >> Battle Phase. >> Saki's action. * Tanan raises a hand with light gathering around it, then frowns and lowers it. "Earthen enemies..." * Saki whirls from the first worm in silence, not even registering the group; the thing clinging to her is dashed against a stalagmite to knock it off before she darts forward to intercept it in midair with two quick punches then an almost casual spin that bats it into a side wall with her palm. >> Saki goes full offense on the worms, punching them much like she would the rock itself! 39, 50, 41, 49, 40! >> Boreworm A is barely hanging onto it's little life! >> Mikel's action. >> Mikel awaits his partner's move! >> Vytor's action. * Vytor alters his angle of attack, not wanting to hit anything other than the worm, and opts for a quick underhand swing to catch one of the worms under its head as it lunges! >> Vytor cracks the wounded worm upside the head for 83 damage! It squirms one final time and shrieks >> Boreworm A is KO'd! >> Angie's action. * Angie stands her ground, pumping shot after shot directly into the worm's face -- or at least its front end. The click of the hammer signals that the gun is empty; Angie mutters a curse and jumps back, fishing out the ammo case and tapping a few bullets into her palm. >> Angie proceeds to discharge round after round in a Hard Rain upon the remaining crawler. 46, 39, 51, 46, 49! >> Trune's action. Highway of the storms, fist between the clouds! Begin your howling dance of destruction! Vortex Wing! * Trune circles his arms wide and outward, then spins them back around and forward with plams facing out. As he does, he creates a whirling vortex of air that explodes forward and slams into his target with concussive force! * Angie blinks, distracted from her task. "Do you know a spell for /every/ element?" >> Trune unleashes a new trick upoon the Boreworms, to which they prove a spiteful audience. Weak to Air! 340 damage! It's no more! >> VICTORY! Heh! Sweet! * Mikel blinks a couple of times. "...not bad." * Ryllan twirls knives, then sheaths them, "Heh. Guess you didn't need me after all." * Vytor raises an eyebrow at Trune, "New trick?" Yeah. Whatcha think? I like it. Let's use it lots. Potent * Trune winks at Angie, "What, are you complaining?" * Angie waves a hand at him. "Don't do that, it's creepy." >> The worms, cut open from the wind magic and bulletts have something inside their bodies. It looks like silver, eaten from the Lab machinery nearby. * Mikel prods one of the corpses with his staff. "Huh..." * Trune smirks and shakes his head, "You did ask." >> All party members present gain 500 silver! * Angie exhales a hiss of air through her teeth, finishes loading the gun, and flips the cylinder back into place. "Well, I suppose it's nice to have a change of pace." * TheStoryteller changes topic to '-= Chapter 26: Uranus Unleashed | Location: Geothermal Power Station | Pools: 3361 §, 1 MXP =- http://storen.rpgcafe.net/IoG/' Huh. Usually people stick to a couple they're better with. Maybe that has something to do with why these guys talk to you. Or vice versa. You don't seem to have any real affinity one way or the other. * Saki pats herself down, taking the time to examine the punctured armour plate; the frown is back, but she's evidently feeling a little better for that as she straightens up - just a little smugly - before continuing along the corridor she was poking down. This time she's keeping an eye out. * Angie kneels down, poking gingerly at the silver with one fingernail. "Eugh. Who wants goopy money?" She pulls out a twisted hunk of tarnished silver, dripping with worm offal. If it good silver I'll take some. I dunno, I just felt that limiting myself isn't the way to go. I dunno if i'll ever be the master in every element, but it's a lofty goal to aspire to. * Mikel shrugs. "I can't use much else besides water and thunder aligned magic, so." * Angie tosses the goopy metal to Vytor. "You be the judge." While slimey, most of it is idneed servcieable for a forge, by Vytor's analysis, Silver is silver. Hrm. Well, maybe. It is kinda nice. Wish I could do it reliably. This is good quality stuff. Just a little filtering is all it needs to be completely servicable So long as you don't tell anyone it came from the guts of a bloodthirsty worm. "Our own little secret." Eh. Wouldn't bother everyone Might have collector's value Up ahead, Saki, emboldened by her victory, finds an area where the floor has fallen out in several spots, leaving a pit. slabs of stone remain standing in a strange display of stability, creating a sort of leapfrogging path ahead towards an archway. beyond it, there is a warm glow. Could it be...? * Angie flicks the safety back on and catches up with Saki. She looks down into the pit and makes a sick groan, like air escaping from a balloon. "I could do without this," she moans. * Trune stops and gawks, "Oh man, we have to hop across that?" * Saki repeats the ritual from before - kneel down, check the footing, take a good look, with added bonus 'try to see the bottom of the pit'. With an incline of her head she motions to the light ahead. "... over there?" Looks like. Oh geez. I'm not good at this stuff... * Mikel peers out, frowning. "...I think... maybe." * Vytor grunts unenthusiastically AS the party complains, another quke rumbles through the area, and the precarious perches across the chasm shift themselves to a very disorganized pattern. Saki can't quite see the bottom, but presumably a fall leads to a rather harsh landing on a lower level. * Tanan points at the slabs. "I call bullshit." I concur! * Saki grunts, and stands up; watching the platforms, she starts to count under her breath in case they shift again. "...right, I need a flight spell sometime." Well, I'm not going first. Someone's gotta go. * Mikel shakes his head, beginning to edge forward. "Screw it, I'll give it a shot." * Vytor goes for it Mikel, note I wasn't honestly that serious or anything! Seeya at the bottom. Careful! Vytor steps to the first crag, noticing the following layout. (o indicate a platform raised you can stand on, . one that has sunken down and inaccessible.) % . o o o o . O . o O . O X << er first X start point. you can hop to either middle two >> * Tanan gives Vytor a good hearty shove from behind. <<...ok not really.>> * Mikel shoves Tanan in after him. << ditto >> >> Shvoed or not, Vytor finds purchase on one of the pillars. Steadying himself, more rise and falla round him! * Saki 's frown deepens as she locks onto the movement of the pillars and starts her count from 0 again to double-check if it were Vytor's jump that caused the change. * Vytor steadiest himself, before preparing his next move OK Leah cheers on Vytor! * Vytor jumps diagonal up-right from his current location >> Vytor stablized hismelf as the platforms switch yet again. A path to the door seems to be closer. * Vytor wobbles a bit as he lands Almost * Vytor steadies himself, and just diagonal up-right again >> More platforms rise to tempt him, though the left most one leads clsoer to the golden glowing exit beyond. * Vytor sidesteps to the left >> Vytor's final leap lands him with a clear view of the path beyond at last, the way back across devoid of stepping stones! Thankfully as he makes the journey across, the quakes begin again and all the platforms arrange themselves in a neat row, creating a bridge for everyone! "...Convinent!" Whew! Kickass, Vytor! Thanks! You saved me a bloody end. Very nice, Vyt. Coulda done it a bit more elegantly, but your way worked. Please tell me that was not a horrible horrible pun, Trune Come on, let's keep moving ...Actually no. Damn. It's all Angie's fault. I'm just going to wait a minute longer to see if anybody dies. * Tanan breathes a sigh of relief. "Sorry I doubted you. I can't tell anymore sometimes. Somemore anytimes?" Have fun by yourself, Angie! The glow perciveed earleir is coming from a few wire lanterns still functioning, throwing shadows off a golden door, the Seal upon the Elementalor of Earth's resting place. It appears to be cracked, but still intact. Any ideas? The shaft rumbles again in response to your approach. * Tanan crosses the bridge and knocks on the door. * Mikel follows Tanan, snickering. "Polite, at least." Nice to meet you too, Venus. Er, Uranus. * Saki keeps her distance from the seal, already wary enough. <. * Angie follows across only after everyone else has made it to the other side. Her eyes dart from one wall to another, and she holds her hard hat down with one hand. * Trune pulls out the ECC once more, "You guys are going to have to cover me for a moment while I contact Mercury, okay? I'd rather not die in th attempt. That'd just suck." * Vytor nods, and gets ready * Mikel nods, glancing around. * Ryllan draws his knives out once again, "Alright, fun." * Saki pulls herself away from the wall where she's been lurking, and prepares to position herself in front of Trune. * Trune points the ECC towards the door, "Open, seasame." As trune fiddles with the device, he notices it's energy signature resonating with the door, the two synchronizing. A few magic words later, the barrier of the ancient Adepts breaks into a curtains of phantasmal rocks, suspended in midair like a natural bead curtain. << er first curtain = sheets >> Awesome. Now here comes the merry magical fun. So far so good * Saki raises a skeptical eyebrow, and pokes the curtain. * Angie points her gun at the darkness beyond the sheet of rocks. The curtain is made of the matter that composed the door,, slightly out of phase with reality... but in this form roughly intangible. * Trune cautiously begins to step forward. * Vytor follows Trune in * Mikel follows the two in, amused at something. * Saki flanks Trune cautiously, or at least that's the plan; she instantly begins to lag behind, clearly starting to get her usual jitteryness set in. Beyond the door is a hallway lined with pipes and what looks like a gigantic engine/dynamo at it's center. The rush of air pressure through it's metal viens and the hum of it' spin seem menacing and also relaxing in some manner. * Angie takes up the rear, brushing a hand through the curtain as she passes. * Ryllan walks forward, a little curious, but also very much on edge. Beneath this energetic pillar, sitting crosslegged, is a well-built man with green hair and pointed ears. He is dressed in a familiar white robe and has eyes closed, meditating...? Is that him? Must be... * Saki holds fast barely a step or two past the door, one hand clutching at the side of her hard hat as if it would help. Yep, that's our guy. * Trune begins concentrate, the ECC once again humming with a familiar energy. There are bits of discarded cabling strewn on the floor. Some bits and peices you recognize as what would have restrained the Elementalor. Not fara way is even a broken coffin-like container. Hey Mercury, time to rise and shine, bud. We need ya. Hello? The concentration of TRune causes the being to open an eye drowsily. "mmm?" * Angie kicks a loose cable with her foot as she steps into the room. She sweeps the area with her gun, expecting every shadow to attack. Hey, Uranus. Remember how I said your brothers were coming and you didn't believe me? There is soon a surge of fresh air from somewhere unknown as a ball of the wind itself coaslesces out of nothing. Unfolding it's gusty arms, it becomes the Elementalor Mercury! His projection is as smart-alacky as ever, giving a wry smile at whom the group has found. Here's proof! [Mercury] ...it's been awhile, Brother. Miss me? «ooc: hee! » * Saki looks about ready to jump out of her skin, pressed up against the wall. The meditating Elementalor opens the other eye, standing to his full height and taking a deep breath in. His eyes open and refocus for a moment upon the Aerokinetic. * Vytor throws a concerned glance at Saki, but refrains from saying anything [Uranus] Brother Mercury. So you live. [Mercury] Not just me either. The moon is waiting for you. «ooc: Really, ST? TO THE MOON ALICE! :| » [Uranus] Moonbase...? I vaguely recall. So, the others? * Ryllan moves over to Saki, resting a hand very lightly on her shoulder, "(q) You wanna go stand guard outside?" [Mercury] Brother Jupiter and Neptune, and soon Sister Mars. The rules are changing, and the war is over! [Uranus] So you are saying these people are not my enemies? [Uranus] I was going to punish them for disturbing my domain. * Saki gives Ryllan the Glare, even through her panic; "No," she adds bluntly, "... rocks aren't nearly as dangerous as everyone in here." * Mikel groans. [Mercury] Just come with me alright? The Doc will explain everything to you. Uranus folds him arms, then looks over the group of heroes a little codly, particularly Trune. * Trune keeps an even gaze back at Uranus. Do you really want to stay here? He seemed content to do so before we showed up [Uranus] I can feel a great power in your minds. Have people advanced that much? The door wasn't open, I remind you, Vytor. You could say so. We lost a lot, but we've gained a bunch too * Angie lets down her guard a little, allowing the gun to drop. "It's been a long time," she says. "More than that's changed." Yeah... * Mikel falls silent for now, watching Uranus. [Uranus] I have a request then. I will join my siblings in the sanctum far above the world, but first... I would like a demonstration of your power. To see for myself. * Trune 's face falls, "...Do we really have to go the cliche route here?" * Vytor winces "You're kiddin' me, right?" [Mercury] Is this really necessary? You were always the stubborn one. [Uranus] Brother, this goes for you too! I haven't forgotten our last exercise together. * Angie buries her face in her palm. "Why are they all psychos?" * Tanan watches Uranus for a few moments, before breaking into an uncharacteristic smile. "Why not? He's in his element here, but we can show him what humanity's learned while he slept. Is a friendly little spar really so bad?" I mean, I figured we'd have boulders dropping on us by now. At least he's formalizing it * Vytor sighs I was hoping we could avoid this Lovely. Bloodletting and pain it is. Fine. Let's get this over with. [Mercury] Oh, is that what this is about? Fine! Energy boyd or not, I'll show you that wasn't a fluke! << er body >> * Saki growls under her breath, pushing herself off the wall she's been huddled against. * Ryllan sighs, "Always, always always." Niri and Leah look a bit pained, but begrudingly agree to smash some face in a friendly way. [Uranus] There will always be wars... and to defend something important. Show me what you fight for in this day and age! == SESSION END == Session Close: Sat Sep 16 02:06:58 2006