Session Start: Sat Nov 10 21:25:36 2007 Session Ident: #lunar-iog2 * Logging for #lunar-iog2 started * TheStoryteller changes topic to '-= Chapter 59: Death & Rebirth | Location: Eden Project | Pool: 1 MXP =- http://storen.rpgcafe.net/IoG/' == SESSION START == As Xavier combines his soul with his long departed lover Elrika, the shard of Saturn, a shadowy figure reappeared... Prophetess, thought delayed by Johnathan, suddenly arrived to sieze the now perfected Seeker Soul the ferret turned human now had. Saturn, recovering as well, tries her best to protect him, but right now the group is all that stands between the ghost and her next victim. Thanks to Mikel's mindlink with demonic Emili, he is the first to act as the rift opens and gives everyone enough warning to plan a defense before she fully manifests! * Saki looks up at the Prophetess - it's not a cold stare, or her usual anger, but rather a resigned and resolute alert. One hand dips to a pocket quickly. >> COMBAT! * Angie throws open her coat, producing her gun in one hand and a book in the other -- the blank book of Ien. "Where's Johnathan?" she asks, repeating Niri's question. * Niri growls under her breath at first, but then slowly grins. For once she's not going to let the Prophetess get the jump on her. She begins singing under her breath, infusing herself with energy. >> Encounter with the Prophetess -- Surprise round! * Tanan (~Nehn@dynamic-acs-24-239-125-230.zoominternet.net) has joined #lunar-iog2 * ChanServ sets mode: +o Tanan >> Mikel Jolts ahead to act first! * Mikel is simply engulfed in the storm of willforce he had summoned, though this time not even a pained shout can be heard. A crackle of lightning and a splash of water and hints of both starfire and of shadow and the deed is done. * Mikel and his watery counter part step forward from the whirlwind of Water and Thunder willforce. A snap of a finger summons a brilliant staff of lightning to his hands, and as a whole he seems a tad... brighter than before. Not to mention crackling with more willforce. "Full power. No holding back!" * Mikel` on the other hand resembles the shadowy depths of the ocean given human form, staring at the Prophetess as a staff of black ice materializes in his hands. "So. Going to run again after we take you down, or can I finish the job and kill you?" >> Mikel shifts into Gemini Storm, as the brothers of water and lightning stand resolute >> Saki's action. * Saki pulls out a lengthy shard of black, wrapped in cloth: clutching it around her fist, she rotates her shoulder not having taken her eyes off of the Prophetess. "... you won't stop me here. Not this close, Pandora. ... sorry, heh. Your turn, Rachel." With a faint smirk, she bunches her muscles ready to go on the attack as the shard begins to react. * Niri grins as Mikel splits. * Etir (~Nehn@dynamic-acs-24-239-125-230.zoominternet.net) has left #lunar-iog2 * Niri mutters under her breath, however, "If you die, I'll kill you." >> Saki loses 78 HP, as her Soul Taker reactivates, Rachel ready to fight as one with her host! >> Vytor's action. * Saki almost lolls her head as Rachel comes forth, gritting her teeth in pain; then they've snapped back together, whoever-it-is's eyes flashing with anger. "--let's go!" * Vytor slams his hammer into the ground, cracking it open. Pulling his hammer back, he draws up a ribbon of silver from out of the ground. He spins his hammer around him, letting the ribbon forge itself into a protective barrier around him. >> Vytor uses Will of Silver! Stam and Will up 37%! >> Niri & Tanan's action The spectre of the long dead magi, a compounding of the dead Prophets, solidfies further. "So, you intend to stop me? You are fools." You're the one looking like a ghost. >> Niri uses Crescendo on herself! Muscle and Tal up 37%! * Niri unsheathes her sword as she begins to sing, quietly at first. The song grows louder as the blade emerges from its scabbard, as if the sound were spilling out along with the weapon. The music swirls up and around her, filling her with energy. The music inside me will rise to any challenge! Crescendo! * Niri assumes a battle stance, practically vibrating with enthusiastic power, ready to face the Prophetess. >> Tanan echoes her song, upping her power even further! >> Angie's action. * Niri closes her eyes for a moment, her music echoing with reflected harmonics and strengthening her further. << correction. Tanan uses Tenuto, stam, & will raised on Niri >> * Niri nods her thanks to Tanan and fixes the Prophetess with a glare and a strange smile. * Angie complements Niri's magic with a restorative spell. >> Angie's Healing Ring restores 303 Hp to Niri! Thanks, Angie! >> Trune acts in conjunction with Ryllan! Eyes front, kiddo. Let's do it right this time. Voices in the Night, Whispers from Beyond. Spirits of dark, be a source of power.. Mimir's Well! * Trune holds his athames out to his side, curls of shadowy energy swirling about his body as a spidery string of arcane words slips from his tongue. He then holds his athames outwards, and the shadowy energy draws inwards and then dissapears. * Ryllan raises his dagger, as shadowy waves split off from Trune's spell to wrap around him and both instances of Mikel. >> Trune's Mimir's Well is expanded to Ryllan and the twins of stormy doom. Tal and Will up 50%! * Trune spins one athame in his hand and has a wicked grin on his face, "I think you're about to hurt REAL bad in a minute." * Mikel smirks as he simply crackles with even more barely restrained power. [Saturn] Who.. who is this? Is it here for Xavier's soul? I.. can't allow that... >> Saturn revives and prepares to join the combat. "You have a strong Plant affinity. Is that how you got in so easily...?" >> End prep round! * Trune overhears Saturn and hms. Now fully solid, the shadowy seer grips her staff tightly, as the horns extending from her head glow with a malicuous force. "It's not you I want, ancient weapon... now step aside. You are still of use to this dying world that should not be." >> Round 1 >> Declaration Phase. * Trune traces a pattern in the air with his athames, the wake left behind is a dark purple color, "I'm sick of you getting the upper hand in everything! This time, it'll be different!" * Angie 's eyes flash with furious energy. "So you want to build a new world on the backs of the dead? Fuck you! We beat you once; if you're not smart enough to accept defeat graciously we'll do it again. I'm not afraid of you any more, and I can't forgive you for the trouble you've caused!" * Saki remains stock-still, the blackness flickering around her. Her eyes are closed. >> Prophetess lifts her hand and prepares to Accelerate! Prepares to Mystic Vigor and Truth Reaver! Mystic Vigor prepares Magic Mirror, Dematerialize, Magic Wall, and Lethargy on Angie! You've played around with us enough, Prophetess. Now it's your turn. * Niri prepares to sing in retaliation. >> Saturn prepares to draw in energy and replenish her EP! * Tanan quietly shifts, small spikes forming along the lengths of Niri's arms as he turns a shade of green. * Ryllan growls, "No. I won't let you." He prepares to help Mikel's spells, even as he pulls something from his Bandolier, grasping it tightly. * Mikel lets his staff float in the air, gesturing as it shifts into two balls of crackling electricity. * Mikel` lifts his free hand, swirling water gathering around him. >> Battle Phase. >> Tanan applies a burst of GDV and acts first! * Tanan flashes bright green for a moment, the small spikes on Niri's arms extending rapidly, weaving themselves into a series of dark crystal bars surrounding the prophetess, each covered with spikes pointing inwards. They expand briefly, then squeeze in on her. "Ah-ah. Not so fast. We're not going to let you just do this unopposed..." >> Casts Lattice on Prophetess before she can gather her defenses! Muscle and React down 50%! * Niri grins. "Nice, Tanan!" Mm. >> The Lattice deals 234 damage as well! [Prophetess] Curse you, construct! You should fall into place like your master! Ha! She's right here, shade. * Trune 's face pales upon hearing the Prophetess' words, "Fall into place...you didn't...?" * Vytor grimaces * Niri frowns a little. >> Mikel's action. * Mikel snaps his fingers, sending the two orbs zipping through the air to impact against Vytor and Angie. A crackle of electricty flows around them as both of their minds are quickened! "Somehow I have trouble believing she did." She can't have. We'd know, wouldn't we? >> Thought Impulse raises Tal of both party members! * Mikel` gathers the swirling ball of water into his hand... but then holds, watching the Prophetess carefully. "Better to not waste this..." (Delay until after she puts up Magic Mirror, preferablly before she puts up Magic Wall) * Vytor nods to Mikel >> water Mikel is delaying! >> Saki's action. * Saki looks up, tossing her head with wild eyes as the lattice surrounds the Prophetess: "--come on!" yells Rachel, or perhaps Saki, or perhaps both. Her muscles bunch then she's rising at the airborne Prophetess in a mad leap, a mid-air shoulder barge. Rachel almost seems to however as she drives fist after fist at the magician's body, slamming the mage against the latticework as her own blackened aura sears her body. << also sorry, should have been faster. >> >> Saki sacrifices 144 HP to MP and rages out with a Torrent of Blows! >> 62! 64! 59! 62! Prophetess bats away the strikes of her former servant. "You still refuse to see your true place..." >> Prophetess's action. >> Accelerate! First action: Mystic Vigor is cast... cast 4 spells at decreasing react! Magic Mirror is cast first... reflecting 3 spells! * Mikel` narrows his eyes, watching the Prophetess's motions carefully. "Now!" * Mikel` gestures, sending a stream of water suddenly bursting forward as the first series of barriers begin to erect themselves. The stream pushes on, attempting to engulf the magi and wrap around back towards Mikel. * Ryllan doesn't move his feet, but slashes Misogi once, as a wave of unseen power flows from him to smash into the prophetess. He slashes again, and his power meets hers with another audible Crack. He stabs, and the power is visible this time, a blue bolt of light rocking forward to drill into the magical force, letting the waves of water through! >> Mikel uses Thieving Tides! Ryllan's metamagic gives it punching power, destroying the 3 Magic Mirror charges! She resists Water due to Shadow effect... 45 damage! >> Mikel manages to steal the illusionary Staff of the Prophets fropm her hand! o_O * Mikel` whirls it about as he plucks it from the stream. "Thanks for the donation." [Prophetess] What...?! you have come a long way to pull such parlor tricks with reckless abadon... >> Vytor's action. You're a pretty good motivation, witch. Here goes! He kind of specializes in reckless abandon. * Vytor runs forward and slams his hammer onto the ground, causing an explosion that sends the Prophetess screaming into the sky! Vytor leaps past her, and then spins over into a massive overhead strike! She plummets to earth like a suicidal meteor, with Vytor not far behind. As he lands, Vytor slams his hammer once again with earth-shattering force! He leaps away, leaving the Prophetess half-buried in the ruined ground. * Mikel simply gives his watery self a thumbs up. >> Vytor's mega Press is deflected, but not before wounding her for 144! Damn... >> Niri's action. * Niri gathers power to herself, singing softly...then her eyes widen as she lets loose an explosion of sound and power, her voice clear and strong. The music rushes through the room like a sonic hurricane, the notes penetrating to the core of the Prophetess' being as the harmonics echo and vibrate along the crystal strands that imprison her. You won't interrupt the music of the spheres so easily! It stands all tests of time and will continue to sing forever - Musica Universalis! >> Niri sings a cosmic song as the Prophetess shadow form roils with pain. Weak to Star! 310 damage! * Niri grins. "Take that, Prophetess!" [Prophetess] Ugh. Save your voice for the real demon, songstress... but for that, you will be punished in due time. >> Angie's action. The real demon is going to get his share, never fear. You constantly doing this isn't helping though. * Angie snarls at the Prophetess' big words. "You keep getting in our way!" She holds out her hands: gun in one, book in the other. Her right hand opens, and the gun drops to the ground with a clatter. "But this is the end of that! Knowledge the real weapon." She brandishes the book angrily. * Angie holds out the book as if offering it to the Prophetess, and it falls open in her hand. The blank, yellowed pages begin to seep with ink that flows into the whorls and flourishes of elegant cursive; within seconds the pages have blossomed into writing. * The pages begin to turn, faster and faster, a furious whirl of paper. "I was always in awe of your power, yours and John's," says Angie, voice rising steadily. "But now I know your secret: it's not hard at all!" She rises up on her toes; she is alight with energy. "It's not about talent or power or anything like that; it's just about understanding. And I finally understand!" * The last page turns. The rear endpaper of the book is a spiderweb of lines and orbits surrounding an infinity symbol. Angie's hand pulls away from the book and it rises into the air by its own power, glowing and crackling with energy. "I see the wires! I've got the hood up! And I'm not impressed any more." * With a flick of her hand, she turns the book to face the Prophetess. A reality-bending cone of force explodes outward, swallowing and twisting the stubborn amalgam. Bubbles of past rise and burst on the skin of reality, affording glimpses of things as they once were: another world, another time, prophets separated and truly alive, daring the unknown. * That time is long gone, but now, just for now, let's remember what was... Prophetess looks quite stunned as she holds the book out. "How did you... the Treatise is the only..." I'm Angie Baker and I have seen the machine! You're through fucking with this world! * Angie sort of went crazy there. You might want to back off a pace or two. >> Angie casts Reduce on Prophetess! the waves of the past trying to reassert themselves disrupt the harmony of her spirtual syncronicity as the souls begin to waver and be less cohesive. Level down 2! [Prophetess] Impossible! Only Johnathan is worthy of our legacy! You are playing with forces you cannot comprehend in scope! * Vytor slackjaws at what Angie just did ...I, Angie, holy /shit/. * Trune 's jaw drops, "Angie...oh...oh /man/." >> Prophetess second spell action: Dematerialize! Avoiding 3 physical strikes! * Niri stares at Angie, as if seeing her in a whole new light. She wide eyes, visibly impressed. >> Ryllan's action. * Saki beams broadly - a wild, crazy rictus of a grin - at Angie's manipulations. * Ryllan flings a hand behind him, sending a collection of shimmering lights to float around Xavier's body. Never taking his eyes off the prophetess, he says, very clearly, "Noah. You're in there, and I know some part of you knows what you're doing isn't right. Fight her. Stop this." >> Ryllan uses Infusion and Magnifies a Light Barrier! The still Ko'd Xavier gets a Magic Block for 4 hits! >> Trune's action. Bring forth the void betwix the stars. Rise and Hunt! Ebon Eye! * Trune opens his eyes wide, blazing white hot, bathing his target in light! Its shadow lengthens, then rears up like a monster from behind, savaging its host with terrible claws! >> Trune's Ebon Eye pierces the shadowy form of the seer, blasting her for 266 damage! [Prophetess] Your power... there's something else behind it... I won't hold back anymore. There's nothing behind it besides our desire to really, really kick your overconfident ass. >> Third spell action: Magic Wall! Blocking 3 spell attacks! * Mikel` smirks. "If you didn't want this, you should have been a bit more thorough." By now you should know us well enough to know NOT to hold back in the first place, too. >> Prophetess summons the power of life and death, attempting to drain Xavier's soul away... but it is blocked! 3 blocks left. Lattice constricts automatically, but her Dematerialize nullifies it. 0 MP drained. 2 blocks left. [Prophetess] Hmph! first, see a true master of temporal magic! >> Prophetess casts lethargy on Angie! She can now act only on odd numered rounds (3,5,7 etc)! Lattice constricts.. but is blocked again. 1 block left. 0 Mp drained. >> Saturn rests and recovers her Ep to maximum! 1158/1158 * Angie reels backward with an eerie, fluid slowness, as though underwater. [Saturn] Now. Since you have seen fit to disrupt the natural order, I must show you the wrath of Nature! >> Round 2 >> Mikels each regen 17 Mp! * Angie begins casting a spell, but she is pushing against the Prophetess' spell; she's not going to finish anytime soon. * Saki falls to the ground lightly from her first attack, and slowly rises up from the crouch. [Prophetess] You are defintiely not the same as you once were. But this is meant to be... this world will be saved one way or the other. I do not intend to stop until every Truth Seeker essence is mine. * Niri flourishes her sword and holds it out horizontally in front of her, closing her eyes in concentration. * Trune quickly draws a circle in the dusty ground with his athames, and then places both athames at opposite corners of the circle. He begins to concentrate, and the circle surronding him begins to softly glow with a myriad of colors, "Yeah, well, I have not intention of stopping until you go the fuck away." «ooc: not = no » >> Prophetess prepares to accelerate! Vortex is prepared on all party members but Angie! Mystic Vigor is also cast... preps Truth Reaver 4 times on Xavier! * Ryllan growls, "Tanan! Can you keep her back! Just a little time..." ...understood... Thanks, Tanan. She's used one cheap trick too many...nah, make that about eight too many. * Mikel narrows his eyes, gathering another sort of thunder around him. * Ryllan holds Misogi up, "Rachel! Incoming!" Even as he focuses on Water Mikel's spell, "Hit her hard..." * Mikel` lets the stolen staff hover around his electric self for now, his own staff disappearing as he holds out a hand. "...and fast." * Tanan again shades green, a distortion forming in the air. >> Battle Phase. >> Tanan pre-empts again! * Tanan flashes green yet again, the space around Xavier and Saki - or is that Rachel - blurring. >> Tanan Phase Barrier's Saki and Xavier! << -' >> >> Saki's action. >> Saki delays! * Saki delays! >> Water Mikel's action * Mikel lets out a low growl as the dark waters within him stir and swirl, crouching as he holds a hand out to the side. Black ice suddenly starts growing outwards, taking the shape of a serrated blade as sparks of blue gather at the tip. The moment it finishes he's off like a bullet, blasting past the front row and thrusting with the blade towards the Prophetess. "Your time has past! Cold Blood!" ...He brought the sword. *Niri rolls her eyes, muttering slightly* * Ryllan holds a hand forward, as if a holy man parting a sea, and the Prophetess' magical barriers part for him as Mikel's blast moves through. >> Cold Blood hits for 328 damage, breaking through her resitance! * Mikel lodges the blade into the magi, offering her a cruel smile as blades of ice begin to grow. "Payback's a bitch, ain't it?" With that he's left it lodged in her as he springs back, leaving the blades to continue growing and shearing. << Er dammit, both of those should have been on Mikel'. ANYWAYS >> * Mikel smashes his hands together, sending waves of electricty towards the Prophetess even as his alter ego springs out of the line of fire and back. "Just stay still and be a witness this time around!" [Prophetess] I think not. Feel the fury of all the elements as they betray you! Vortex! >> Prophetess Accelerates! First action... casts Vortex! << Stor! >> << TMikel wasn't delaying >> << oh. >> >> rewind. Thunder Mikel! >> With her barriers once again shattered, Expecting a Shock deals 240 damage despite being resisted! * Stelas is now known as iyaaaan * iyaaaan is now known as Stelas << ...Expecting a Shock's the Freeze spell, not thunder attack. >.> >> << Ok dover >> >> Prophetess resists Thunder! But the Vuln spell manages to FREEZE her for the round! Extra actions cancelled! << no Vortex. >> * Niri 's jaw drops....then she recovers and slowly grins. Mikel, that was fairly awesome. * Mikel flicks back a strand of electrical hair. "Bring her down!" The ancient magi is frozen ever so slightly, her spell energy disappating before it is released * Niri readies her sword. "Time to make the most of it!" Nice! * Trune bites his lip and stares at Mikel for a moment, then goes back to the task at hand. [Saturn] Let lfie be your shield, and the earth your armor. Be strong Xavier! >> Saturn burns 100 EP to engage Bramble Barrier on Xavier. He is now evading the next aggressive action, which will be countered in kind... >> Xavier's action. The unconscious Ranger mumbles, still exhausted to defend himself. >> Vytor's action. * Vytor throws himself at the Prophetess, trying to smash as many of her defenses as he can! >> Vytor's strike bounces off, but her form solidifies. 0 blocks left. >> Niri's action. * Niri sings softly, coaxing a steady hum into her blade. It vibrates, faintly echoing the music, as she darts toward the Prophetess. She slashes with multiple strikes in a steady rhythm, flowing like a dance. Let the music take you! Harmonic Strike! >> Niri strikes with musical fury, disenchanting the Prophetess versus Thunder! 228 damage also is delt. >> Angie is unable to act this turn due to Lethargy. Ryllan's go! * Ryllan holds Misogi up, and it flashes brightly, two motes of starlight leaving it to swirl around and sink into Saki's gloves, "Take her down." Ryllan orders, voice cold. >> Ryllan hands of Misogi to Saki! The sword seems reluctant to join with her battle, but the lesser of two evils takes precedence >> Saki's action! * Saki raises her head; behind her, the two motes swirl into an image of the Misogi, shooting towards her. * As the image of the Misogi whips towards her, Saki remains stock-still with her eyes closed. At the very last second a black-shrouded hand whips out, catching the sword neatly by the hilt and sweeping it around in front of her twice, leaving twin trails of white light and blackened scars in the air around her as she holds the sword up, eyes flashing with eagerness. * Saki chuckles, snorts once, then laughs loud, Rachel's voice clear and bright. "--Interesting! Interesting! Then let's see what this can do! Come, Misogi!" She sweeps it around her twice, two more trails hurtling around her, and then throws it overarm at the form of the Prophetess, blasting off after it almost immediately. The sword crashes into the Prophetess, and in a sudden blur of form Saki is there, grasping the hilt, her glare low and dangerous. * Time hangs, just for a moment; then Rachel tugs the sword out of the Prophetess' body without restraint, and then becomes a whirl of shining light and glowing darkness as the Misogi bites into the woman repeatedly. At the end of it all she draws back, spins the sword in her hands, and ends with an enormous punch, powered by the hilt of the blade. >> Saki attacks with a starry sword and her Torrent! Prophetess is weak to Star! 122! 130! 119! 126! 124! >> She suffers 144 HP in damage! >> As she tries to pull the sword out, it remains stuck fast in gut of the ghostly woman, who cries out in agony... staggering backwards! [Prophetess] Ghaaah... you... the seal... it's....! * Saki stumbles two steps back as the Misogi locks in, then lifts herself up to her full height. "..." * Niri 's eyes widen. "What...?" * Mikel` frowns. "What's happening?" ...Is this a good thing? It...might be? ..? >> There's the sound of demonic wail of anger and sadness that suddenly fills all of your ears, the air becoming dark and heavy. The Misogi's blade glows with a holy light as it bites into her ectoplasmic flesh, though it is beginning to seem like it is fighting a superior foe, the energy flickering madly. So that's... be careful! Tanan, what's going on?! >> trune's action. * Niri covers her ears instinctively. "What's happening?" * Trune covers his ears, but gathers his wits and keeps on the offensive for now. Silver eye of the night sky, soldiers of rainbow in eras past, let my will be your portal. Advance! And attack! * Trune takes a step backwards, and as he does, an inky sphere of darkness opens behind him. From the darkness, glowing eyes of rainbow hues appear, and then suddenly the elementalors are on the offensive! * Angie jerks forward in a spasmodic lurch as the Prophetess' time control momentarily lapses, allowing Angie a moment of unrestricted movement before the spell reforms around her. * Saki seems to come back to herself somewhat; it's somehow more Saki, the way she hops backwards to the front line to regroup. * Saki blinks and blanks out for the briefest of moments, then yells hoarsely. "--get down!" * Mikel` doesn't ask. He hits the dirt. * Mikel likewise. * Niri follows suit and crouches low, watching warily. * Vytor throws himself on the ground, not quite sure why. * Angie ducks under crossed arms, but she moves too slowly, hampered by magic. * Ryllan isn't stupid enough not to listen, holding onto the real Misogi tightly. >> trune calls forth the Elementalor Drive! The army of 7 ethreal weapons of the primal forces of the past appear and one after the other repeat the attack from Machpelah on the staggering opponent. The souls of the Prophets each are struck, neutralizing each until only Pandora is left - 317 damage! ...it's just her! Then that means...This is our chance! All right Trune! * Niri stares at Trune. "Oh...wow. Trune. Wow. Oh man, that was awesome." * Saki ... doesn't follow her own advice. Instead, she's shifted clearly back to Rachel, watching in silence with her teeth gritted. ...oh man, nice. >> Just as it seems victory might be at hand again, the phantasmal Misogi begins to falter, and the green haired ghost of Pandora screams! The black aura gathering now enshrouds her with it's infernal force, as the copy of the sword aburptly shatters with a whine and a crash! .../not/ nice. Crap. Erk o_O >> Ryllan's real copy of the blade seems to also scream and it shatters in response to the overwhelming darkness that assault it! Misogi is destroyed! ...son of a /bitch/! ...What?! No way! * Saki wavers back, then slumps forward, clutching at her head. "... it's coming! Her demon!" * Trune 's face falls, "..." Her /WHAT/? Demon? ...the prophet of the demons, Pandora. Be ready! Pandora on the other hand begins to warp and morph... her humanoid body grows larger and black skin replaces her milky white ones. The horns grow large and curved, and her face turns into an empty abyss... * Niri straightens, holding her sword up defensively. What the hell? * Trune shakes his head as he realizes he may have just really, really screwed things up. * Mikel` ...growls, staggering to his feet. "C-Careful! She's got a ton of power behind her!" >> Pandora reflexively uses Arawn Visage! She is now in Demon Form! * Mikel does the same, holding a hand up to his head and muttering. "Calmdowncalmdowncalm/down/, dammit." * Ryllan tucks the hilt away, a hint of remorse in his face, "Just /focus/! We can take her now, just as we could before." * Vytor gets to his feet again, gritting his teeth in frustration. >> Round 3 * Angie slips back into stance with the eerie grace of the timefucked. "I can deal with this," she says; she says it to herself, like a mantra. Is it true? Well, it's time to find out. * Saki shivers bodily - even Rachel quails for a moment. Then she's pulled herself up and is glaring balefully at the thing in front of her. "... it's not 'her' any more. ... we're going through, Pandora." [Pandora] Argh... the pain..,. the emptiness... I will have ALLL your souls!! Just you try it, witch! << Oh, regen. wee >> >> Pandora begins to Accelerate! Prepares an unknown effect on the battlefield! Prepares to Mystic Vigor, with 4 unknown spells! * Saki sweeps her hands around her, eyes flaring. "--come on! You won't hold me back!" * Ryllan holds up a hand toward the crackling Mikel, "Hit her again!" * Mikel holds out a hand, the same crackling thunder taking shape. "Got to restrain her, dammit." [Saturn] This energy... it feels like Zophar. i must try to neutralize it.. * Vytor hefts his hammer and gets ready to charge. * Trune quietly traces another pattern with his athames, but keeps his eyes downward. * Mia_Leveling (~n@pool-71-162-77-127.bstnma.east.verizon.net) has joined #lunar-iog2 Session Time: Sun Nov 11 00:00:00 2007 * Niri begins to sing, the low hum of her voice filling with power. This is it, guys...better make it count. Don't give up Trune, we're not beaten yet. * Mikel` just holds out his hand again, focusing. Yeah, I know... That isn't my only trick...but I don't know if I can do this more than once. * Angie opens the blank book and summons forth the starlit text once again. >> Battle Phase. >> saki's action. * Saki tosses her head, and is moving in an instant; racing up to the black shape, she drives a fist into it's midsection and uses the impact to propel upwards. One axing kick lands, the push from it sending her even higher, then she's facing the head. "--for your sake, we're going straight through you!" A trio of kicks slam into the thing's neck, and Saki falls away, landing heavily. «ooc: striiike » >> Angie uses Celestial Conjunction: all attacks this round are pre-emptive! * Angie whips out her arms to either side, fingers splayed, stance confident. Her face betrays her fear, but she pushes it aside, and with it, she pushes aside the world. The party are cast into a black void peppered with stars. Varicolored planets circle them in a slow dance, and there is a music behind that dance. * The sounds of battle have faded away, and once the party gets its bearings, they see that the Prophetess is immobile, frozen in the midst of a menacing incantation. This is one perfect moment in the endless march of time. * Angie sweeps her free hand through the air, and the heavens dance at her behest. "Destiny lies in my hands! Stop movement! CELESTIAL CONJUNCTION!" Wow o_O ...Damn, Angie. Impressive. >> Saki attacks with Torrent of Blows at the cost of 144 HP! Capitalize! Hit her with everything, before she can react. * Niri takes a deep, slow breath, her eyes closed, as she smiles. "Beautiful, Angie." The dance of the universe is so familiar to her, and her song grows even stronger... U--understood! >> 42, 45, 43 40! >> Mikel's action. * Saki staggers as she lands, getting a couple of steps away from the thing before she almost crumples, hand on her chest. She's sweating heavily and looking pained, but has the presence of mind to get clear. * Mikel snaps his fingers, sending waves of thunder pulsing forward towards the warped visage of the Prophetess. "Roll of thunder, hear my cry! Restrain and bind!" They lash out, attempting to catch hold and keep her in place! * Mikel` grits his teeth as another blade of obsidian ice takes shape. Once again he's dashing forward on the heels of his alter-ego's attack, blade growing as he springs up and brings it down in a overhead slash. Upon impact blue light flashes out as the spell seeps into the demon, freezing all in its path and ripping free. "You're not getting past us!" * Ryllan holds out his now empty hand towards the prophetess, more thundering chains leaping from his hand, wrapping around Pandora's Demon and plunging into the floor! >> Expecting a Shock is Magnified and manages to slow down the Demonic Prophetess for a little while longer! Freeze for the round! However, her battelfield effect seems to not be affected. It's still... Damn. Kill her now! >> Watery Mikel's Cold Blood hits for 277! * Mikel leaves his blade lodged in her as the spell continues, scrambling back as he stares. "Bloody...!" << ...DAMMIT. :P >> * Mikel` leaves his blade lodged in her as the spell continues, scrambling back as he stares. "Bloody...!" >> Saturn attemps to make the creature's acting difficult... but her attempt to Poison & Mindrot Pandora fails! >> Vytor's action. * Vytor dashes in behind Mikel's assault, whipping himself up and over into the Prophetess' exposed chin with all his might! >> Vytor attempts to mega Press, but he boucnes off the infernal hide.. 167! ...brace yourselves if we don't kill her. That spell of her's.. * Vytor lands solidly a few feet away from the Prophetess, not liking how this is panning out. Pandora's paralyzed form is surroudned by the void even further as it expands and pushes back the Plant energy of the lab and engulfs the battlespace in a huge black nothingness. It's so empty, sad sad... it drains away your willforce as it leaves your finegrtips... << er so sad >> * Niri gasps for breath, trying to continue building the song as she reaches for the stars' energy. Ah... ah shit, not good not good >> Pandora invokes Abyssal Nexus! All spells cast now heal the HP & MP of the intended targets! << There's still pre-emptive actions left! >> >> The field will atke effect in all following rounds until Pandora is defeated. >> Niri's action. * Saki , already fatigued, hits the floor on her knees and hands, grimacing in pain as the nothingness wears at her. "nng..." << also not up yet, due to premting >> * Niri struggles to release her magic despite the power of the void... /me sings with all the power of the stars, infusing her blade with her magic as the music swirls around her. She adjusts her glasses and holds her sword out toward Pandora. The stars wish for their revenge on you! You aren't going to screw around with us anymore! MUSICA UNIVERSALIS! * Mikel` goes to his knees, his watery form warping for a couple of moments. "Guh... that... was bad." * Niri sinks to one knee for a moment, panting for breath. She straightens then, looking around at the others worriedly. She frowns at the Mikels. "You okay?" >> 337 damage from Musica Universalis! >> Tanan's action. * Tanan starts to glow, speaking quietly and sadly. "And you expect to remake this world... like that?" Light runs up the thin lines of crystal connecting him to the lattice. The spikes shine brightly, each firing a beam of light into the prophetess' demon form. >> 340 damage from Solar Ray! * Mia_Leveling is now known as Mia_Ausa >> Angie's action. << er no >> >> Ryllanj's action. >> Trune's action. [Pandora] You.. have.. broughyt this.. upon yourselves... << Somewhere on the other side of the world, some guy named Ryllanj gets to act. >> Bring forth the void betwix the stars. Rise and Hunt! Ebon Eye! * Trune opens his eyes wide, blazing white hot, bathing his target in light! Its shadow lengthens, then rears up like a monster from behind, savaging its host with terrible claws! >> Trune once again uses Ebon Eye! 265 damage! No...You're the one who brought this on yourself! We didn't ask for your fucking revolution! You thrust it upon us! I won't let you screw everything up just because you didn't like how things went! Get over your goddamn self! >> Mikel twins regain 17 Mp each! and over again because I forgot it last time. >> Round 4 >> Declaration Phase. >> Pandora's field effect of Abyssal Nexus intensifies, coming to full effect. All heals now are also reversed, dealing damage! * Vytor gets ready to attack, not sure what else he can do that would be useful. * Mikel frowns, forming a crackling bolt between his hands. "...we can still work with this!" * Trune frowns, "So you put up some kind of freakass barrier, huh? I can work around it." * Saki painfully draws herself back up to her feet, working off pure willpower from two people. Disgusting... * Mikel` swings a hand, blade of black ice taking shape. "...brace yourself, Ryllan! This /should/ help you." * Trune traces another pattern in the air, this time the wake left behind is a bright white. * Ryllan holds off until after Mikel works, "This had better work..." Saki! I'm giving you a bit of a charge! (w) This is either going to work beautifully, or I'm gonna look like the biggest moron ever... * Niri readies her blade, no magic swirling around her this time. >> Pandora is freed of Freeze and prepares to Accelerate! She prepares two mysterious strike enhancers on random targets... >> Battle Phase. >> Saki is delaying.. Mikel! * Mikel gestures, sending a blast of electricty into Saki. "Here's hoping!" * Mikel` simply throws the blade of dark ice at Ryllan, willforce keeping its aim true as it pierces him. "No kidding..." ..? >> Mikel's spell nails Saki for 714 damage.. or it would, but she is instead healed for that amount and gains 24 MP! Phew! * Niri lets out a held breath in relief. * Vytor boggles * Saki physically jolts as the spell hits her, then as the energy flows through her, she's back up to standing and ready to act in a second. "--wh--!" >> The Cold Blood instead rejuventaes Ryllan for 532, and restores 60 MP. * Ryllan looks down at the ice sticking out of him, and pulls it out and casts it to the side, his hands crackling blue, "I wasn't finished with you yet." * Saki gives Mikel a long, cool stare for the moment, serving to remind him he just blasted the Prophetguard. Then, angry or not, she's streaking off after the main target, whirling around the black creature in a long series of kicks. * Mikel smirks. "Sorry, Rachel." >> Saki's torrent strikes true, but hurting such an ancient demonic entity taking over her form is tough... 37, 42, 40, 42! >> Pandora Accelerates! First action... >> A lameting dirge shakes the room as the hulking Arawn does something you never thought you'd see the seer do: it attacks the slowed down Angie viciously and without mercy! Dark claws rend and tear at her flesh, attempting to find the soul to drink of... * Niri wide-eyes. "Angie!" Angie! * Mikel grimaces. "Oh hell." No! * Angie 's eyes widen, but in her lapsed state she has no time to react. >> Pandora uses Soul Feast! 142, 140 148, 138 146! Angie also loses 129 MP! >> Vytor's action. * Vytor attacks the Prophetess directly, hoping to find some weak spot to exploit. * Angie reels back and dozens of black scars appear across her chest. Her white coat, reduced to tatters, peels away from her body and falls to her feet. She seems smaller without it. >> Vytor swings madly, trying to do some harm, but even his hammer is thwarted. 32! 26! Damn! >> Prophetess is constricted for 168 damage. Niri regains 84 MP << correctoon. 28 Mp >> >> Niri's action. * Niri darts forward, her blade sweeping out from over her shoulder in a smooth, round motion, striking at the Prophetess with all the force she can muster. >> Niri attacks with heroic style! The demon manages to flinch as her sword opens a small wound that closes slowly, oozing black blood. 51, 45! Pandora hisses in anger >> Tanan's action. * Tanan defends! >> Ryllan's action. * Ryllan throws a bottle of silvery essence to the floor, smashing it with his boot as the liquid inside takes flight, wrapping around him, Niri, Trune, and one of the Mikels. >> All of Ryllan's targets regain 250 Mp! * Niri grins, feeling refreshed, and gives Ryllan a thumbs up. >> Trune's action. Mark of morning, the defiant dawn, rise from the horizon and grant us your strength! Kiss of Dawn! * Trune opens his clasped hands and a wash of sunrise pours out to envelop Prophetess! ...This had better work! * Ryllan raises a hand, and for a moment, the sun itself seems to rise behind the party, shining it's light upon Pandora, even without a source. It should, based on the previous spells. This whole effect... was a bad idea on her part, really. >> Trune uses his healing incantation to cause 146 damage to the entity! >> Rather, Magnified 365 damage is delt! >> Both Mikel regen 17 Mp >> Round 5 << er >> << she had a second action. >> >> But not before the rampaging demon continues past Angie tearing into the back row, this time finding the Water Mikel! Oh heeell ...Crap! * Mikel` lifts his watery arms in an attempt to block the worst! This is not exactly helpful. >> Soul Feast rends the apparition limb from limb... 155, 160, 158, 162, 169! Lost 349 MP to the hungry beast... Water Mikel is KO'd! Gemini Storm broken. Thunder Mikel dispelled! Mikel reels from the feedback, with 228 HP remaining! << now round 5. >> [Prophetess] Yess... you who consort with the bastard child... die painfully. I will have Xavier's soul... >> There is a long and pained howl as the watery alter ego of Mikel is for lack of better term rent into a watery mess, splashing across the floor. There's a loud CRACK as the electric one suddenly collapses, shifting into a formless wave of thunder willforce that shoots towards the puddles. They start to reform into the adept on his hands and knees on the ground. * Mikel simply remains where he is, eyes wide as blood drips from multiple gashes in him. Along with the blood blue and yellow light seeps out of his wounds. He gasps for air, getting to his feet with a wide-eyed look that just affixes itself on the Prophetess. If he sees anything else he doesn't acknowledge it, one hand clutching the wounds that both blood and willforce flow on his chest. from while the other grips his staff. * Mikel` (Zack@DORMS-90-213.loyno.edu) has left #lunar-iog2 (blarg) >> Prophetess prepares to Accelerate and Mystic Vigor twice! She prepares to Truth Reaver Xavier 8 times over, intending to force her way past the barriers! Mikel! Are you all right? * Ryllan bends down, taking the broken shards of Misogi into his hands, he clasps his hand around them tightly, and a small bit of red liquid drips down from his hand, "...If this works. Run." * Mikel doesn't respond, simply taking a step forward towards the Prophetess. "Y-you... no...." >> Saturn tries to defend Xavier with her body. "I won't let you take him!" * Trune glances back at Ryllan, "...Don't do anything that'll get you killed." "... No promises." Ryllan! Vytor, out of the way. I've got this one. I hope. * Niri reaches out to grab Mikel's arm and pull him back. * Vytor slides a glance at Ryllan, nods once, and resumes his assault. * Mikel actually recoils at the contact, turning his wild eyed gaze towards Niri. * Niri winces at the look and takes a step back, releasing him. "...Be careful..." * Saki remains resolutely on the attack, not particularly prepared to give an inch. * Trune traces the same pattern in the air once more, "Man, we've come this far...I'm not backing down just yet!" Saturn! Can you shield him again, once your barrier is down? Ryllan! Can you strength that? * Ryllan nods once, still clasping the fallen shards of Misogi to his breast. [Saturn] I can maintain the barrier, yes ...gh, no, stop.. * Mikel shakes his head, staggering back a few steps, gesturing wildly with his staff. Nothing much happens though with the adept's focus turned inwards. >> Battle Phase. >> Mikel focuses! 46 HP/35 MP restored. >> Saki's action. * Saki launches into the creatures again, trying to turn it's attention away from Xavier. She ends up halfway up the thing, tearing claw-like at it's back. >> Saki bleeds away 144 HP once more as she continues attacking with a nearly similar dark rage... 48, 44, 47, 39, 42! >> Mikel's action. << er not >> * Mikel is currently psychotic! >> Prophetess Accelerates! First action... casts Mystic Vigor! Truth Reaver however is nulled by the thorn barrier, which returns no effect to the caster and fades. >> Vytor's action. * Niri is concentrating to restore her energy reserves. She moves closer to Mikel, keeping a worried eye on him. * Vytor attacks again, throwing his entire body into a vicious uppercut! >> Vytor's Mega Press lands for 152 damage. But he does notice the beast is beginning to slow down a bit and become winded.. >> Niri's action. >> Niri uses Catalysis,, refilling Tanan's AP to 6! * Niri uses Catalysis, concentrating to restore Tanan's AP! << that happens later. >> >> Angie's action. << Okay, scratch that then >> * Angie clasps her palms together and blows into them. When she unlocks her fingers, the gust has transformed into a howling gale that blasts her backward, along with everyone nearby. She is sent flying backward, slams into a wall, picks herself up, and feels considerably better. Magic is strange that way. * Mia_Ausa is now known as Mia_draws >> Angie uses Tempest in a Teapot! With no MP, the spell is free and a whirlwind rampages through the back row healing all it touches. +393 Angie, +226 Trune, +264 Mikel >> Prophetess casts Truth Reaver a second time! But it dispels Tanan's barrier on Xavier! >> Prophetess casts Mystic Vigor again as well, and another Reaver is stopped. 2 magic blocks left. * Mikel straightens a bit, the physical wounds sealing up even as willforce continues to leak out. He doesn't seem to be quite with it still just yet. >> Ryllan's action. * Ryllan raises a hand toward Saturn, "Well now, you ready?" >> Ryllan combines forces with the Plant Elementalor to replace 4 charges of the Bramble Barrier on Xavier! [Saturn] This should hold her off... >> Trune's action. Mark of morning, the defiant dawn, rise from the horizon and grant us your strength! Kiss of Dawn! * Trune opens his clasped hands and a wash of sunrise pours out to envelop Prophetess! >> TRune damages the Prophetess with healing power for 135 >> Prophetess proceeds to go nuts trying to suck the soul of the Truth seeker, but her effects are constantly thwarted! 4 Bramble Barriers go down! 2 magic blocks are nulled! but just when the path appears to be clear... >> Tanan's action. * Tanan distorts the space around Xavier again. >> Xavier once again gets a Phase Barrier! Niri also recharges Tanan's AP for 50 MP! << and the contricts deal.. >> >> 166, 145, 170, 160, 159, 155 (955 total) - Niri regains 159 MP! [Prophetess] I... WILL.. NOT... REST... UNTIL.. I HAVE IT! Our redemption! * Tanan makes a sound halfway between a growl and a hiss, his voice snapping out angrily. "This world is ours! OURS!" He's right! The future doesn't belong to you anymore! This... isn't working. Any other bright ideas? Only one. * Mikel grits his teeth, reaching towards the sheathed blade. "I... sorry, with it now. What are you planning?" If it works, take him and go. Promise me that. * Vytor has no idea what else to do, and moves in to attack again. >> The Prophetess continues to build up more and more energy, trying to ram her demonic form through the barreirs, ignoring all else with ehr remaining strength. * Niri frowns at Ryllan, but doesn't really see any other choice. "She's weakening!" shouts Angie. She seems frantic, angry, galvanized, straining against the bonds that hold her back. * Niri glances at Mikel as well, still frowning worriedly. * Trune looks lost on what to do, knowing full well he can't keep this up much longer. * Angie claws her way through the fetters of slow time, and in a flash, she's free. She stumbles forward blindly and takes a second to regain her balance. * Ryllan opens his hand, and the bloodstained shards of Misogi, now glowing with a scant fraction of the former power, whirl around him, obscuring him from view in the flashing, whirling metal. >> With the damage youv'e caused the distorted reality field begins to breakup and skills function as they should * Ryllan steps in front of Xavier, waiting, holding his hand toward the Prophetess, "Come on, you murderous bitch. Come and get me." * Niri watches Ryllan uneasily, then glances again at Mikel. Frowning, she inches closer and puts a hand firmly around his upper arm. "Don't do anything stupid." * Saki looks tapped, drained and tired. As the field dissipates she slumps down, basically spent. [Saturn] Stop! Get back you abomination of-- ack! ...how about together, then. One last hurrah and all. >> Saturn is swatted aside by the creature, hitting the lab wall and cracking the glass with a thump * Niri blinks at him. "But..." She looks very tempted, though. * Mikel draws the sword with his free hand, blue sparks gathering at the tip of the blade. "Because I'm sure as hell not letting her go without something to remember us by." ...Saturn! * Trune whirls around in alarm, "Saturn!" * Vytor refuses to give up, and charges at the Prophetess. * Tanan flares again, sending another pulse of light along the lattice * Niri shakes her head and tightens her grip. "No." Let's see if Ryllan comes through. * Angie flips the book open and passes one hand over it, coaxing its secrets to life. She fixes the prophetess with a steely glare, but says nothing. * Mikel grits his teeth, lifting the blade as he switches to a backhanded grip. "...if he doesn't, no promises." Tanan's pain wracks the demonic form of the seer, much like Emili's chains did to her. But she advances through the clatter of blades and magic, until she's right up in front of the defiant Ryllan. The shards of his sword want to fight, but lack the strength to do so. * Niri nods to Mikel. "Deal." "One last shield." Ryllan speaks to the metal whirling around him, "That's all I ask." [Prophetess] This time.. there's no.. second chances for you. * Niri takes a step forward, gritting her teeth. Keep away from Ryllan! * Vytor skids to a halt, not wanting to interfere with Ryllan's efforts, and waits for an opening. The Prophetess extends a huge clawed hand that pusles with chaotic force and stabs it right through Ryllan. o_O NO! ...Shit! No! * Niri lets go of Mikel and darts forward Dammit! The barrier of the holy sword cannot stop it, and once penetrating his form, grabs the soul of Xavier frocefully from behind the hero. * Mikel starts forward like a gunshot, actually outpacing Niri for a moment as he levels the blade, his free hand wrapping around the hilt as black ice engulfs the tip of the sword. "You're not taking anyone else, you fucking witch!" * Ryllan grabs onto the arm behind the clawed hand, grinning fircely, "NOW!" The shards of Misogi, animated one last time, bite into the horrendous creature, "GO!" He roars in a pained order. * Vytor resumes his charge at the Prophetess! * Angie falters but does not stop weaving her spell. If this doesn't work, she needs to be ready. She averts her eyes, looking away from Ryllan, toward the Prophetess. * Niri is right there behind Mikel, drawing her own sword and charging for the Prophetess as well, ignoring Ryllan's order. Ryllan suddenly holds the demon there with his own body weighing her down as the fragments of consecrated metal jab into her abyssal face and explode in light. * Trune quickly chants words under his breath, making motions and patterns with his athames. He'll strike the Prophetess with what he does best. >> The manic grin still hasn't left Ryllan's face, and a tint of red begins to stain his teeth. The ranger Xavier howls once as his soul is drained, and it flows into the Prophetess... but at the same time she's beset upon all sides by a furious attack! The willforce and the group all begin to hack and blast mercilessly at the warped woman! [Prophetess] Gragrh... destroy my body if you like! But our legacy can never die unless Truth itself is slain!! * Mikel drives the sword as deep as he can, letting the spell explode from it once more even as the thunder enchantments woven into it crackle. "Your 'truth' isn't needed! RELEASE THEM!" I don't care about your freakin' legacy! *She says this through gritted teeth, tears on her cheeks. * Just leave my friends alone! Your legacy means nothing to me! Release them all! Suddenly the damage takes effect and the demon reverts back into what appears to be a rotting corpse, slumping to the floor, it's hand still embedded in Ryllan's abdomen as he defiantly grins * Niri slashes at the Prophetess, singing with a wavering voice as she does to infuse it with the song of hte stars. * Tanan almost methodically fires another blast of light at the downed body. * Saki just manages to look up, panting on the floor. Then, at length, she hauls herself back to her feet. "--let me," says maybe one or both of them in concert. * Angie has lost some of her fight. She's just resigned now: coldly dedicated to stopping Pandora. "You said it yourself: no second chances." She thrusts out a hand, scanning the scene with her mind's eye, searching for the enduring spark, the little piece of soul that survives the death of the body. Your soul dies here too! It's over! * Ryllan falls to the floor, no longer supported by the mad demonic form. Ryllan! * Niri rushes over to Ryllan's side >> the continued song and magic attacks nearly disintegrate the undead body of the fallen beast, as the soul escapes into the blackened miasmaic air * Mikel hacks at the rotting corpse some more, panting. "...no, dammit, you're NOT getting away!" * Trune hurries to Ryllan's side, his hand already glowing with healing energies. * Saki looks bizarrely lost as the body tears itself apart, taking two steps towards it and holding her hand out in confusion. * Niri adds her own healing song to Trune's magic Forget... Get her... * Angie resists the urge to follow Niri to Ryllan's side. A second's hesitation could let her get away. That's not going to happen, not this time. Angie throws the book into the air and the pages begin to turn again, faster and faster, rushing to the inevitable end of the story. "You killed Ryllan. You can't get away. You can't get away this time...you just. don't. have. time!" * Niri shakes her head in defiance, continuing to try to pour healing into Ryllan. * Vytor growls in frustration, and turns his fury on the dizzolving Prophetess. Angie can clearly see Pandora's conglomerate soul already trying to flee, and as she concentrates the time magics begin to slow down the entity, which reels in surprise. * Mikel lifts his blade again, looking back towards Angie as she starts again and then spinning this way and that for any sign of the Prophetess, thunder crackling around the sword. "Point me towards her!" * Angie rushes at the black knot of smoke that is the soul of the dead prophet, and time stops. The lot of them are suddenly hovering in space, stuck in the endless void between seconds. * The spell was only meant to last a second. But a second isn't enough. Angie grits her teeth, pours her energy into it, wills the universe not to move until the Prophetess is dead. >> Ryllan is meanwhile healed of the wound, but something seems to be wrong with him. His eyes are glazed over and his body appears to be very pale. What the hell did she do to him? Ryllan! Ryllan, what's going on? Answer me... * Tanan fires again at an odd angle from Niri, aiming at the escaping soul. I...I don't know, Trune! * Trune places a hand over his chest and concentrates, seeing if he can feel anything amiss within (besides the gaping wound on his chest, of course). * Mikel simply charges with another shout, slashing once with the same imobilizing spell he put to use before. This is quickly followed up by a normal slice with the enchanted blade. "Dammit, die!" * The stars and planets that hover in the void begin to turn again, begin to slip out of Angie's grip. She redoubles her effort, choking on her own fury and burning with cold intent. The stars slow, almost stop, and then something jerks, something snaps, and they begin to whirl faster and faster. Angie's eyes flash open wide, and she opens her mouth, and she shouts out, " His willforce is all screwed up...It's like he's got a lot of water affinity in him all of a sudden. * Niri grits her teeth, frustrated. She seems to have done all she can for Ryllan at the moment. She turns to see if she can help stop the Prophetess...then stops and stares as Angie casts her spell. * Vytor can only watch now, completely out of his league on both fronts of the crisis. >> Angie tries to control the timestream and stop the spirit with ehr own trick; Just as she is about to utter the final incantation, the power she is shaping goes amiss, tapping into a well of energy she did not expect. It turns out the Prophetess also was causing this distortion, and in the resulting release of forth both vanish without a trace!! Angie?! Oh for fuck's sake! * Trune pounds a fist into the ground! ...no! * Niri just stares >> When time normalizes, ANgie is nowhere to be seen, her tattered lab coat left on the floor. What the...Angie, you crazy.... Angie! * Mikel drops the sword in mid follow up swing, going to his knees. "...no! Goddess dammit, no!" * Tanan sounds surprising mild, considering the situation. "That... was unexpected." [Saturn] ...uhh... X..Xavier.. * Niri shakes her head, tears in her eyes once more. * Ryllan opens his eyes, "...What? ...Ow." He sits up suddenly, looking down at himself, "Oh for...! He did it again?" It...yes it was. I....where did she GO? * Niri whirls. "Ryllan! Are you all right?" * Trune looks surprised as Ryllan suddenly comes to. * Mikel punches the ground, then blinks as he stumbles to his feet. "Oh... oh man, how are you..." He's breathing, anyway. I can't tell you more than that. What did he /do/? * Saki looks sharply at Ryllan for a very long moment. ... * Niri blinks and stares at Ryllan. ....Wait, what? What are you talking about? * Mikel reaches down and grabs his sword again, starting forward. * Saki then just covers her head with her hand and groans, deciding that sitting back on the floor would be an excellent plan. "... Hi." * Vytor settles onto the ground, dropping his hammer and looking stunned. * Ryllan looks at Saki, a little startled, "...Hi." * Niri just...sits down, blinking. You're... back in there, aren't you. He did it agai-... oh no. * Niri facepalms. * Saki lays back and waves a hand in midair, and it's Rachel's voice that's airy and sleepy and drifting off as she speaks. "... someone get him up to speed. Someone that isn't me." * Trune blinks several times, then finally groans. ...are you still on her side, or are you at least waking up to some sense? Please tell me Ryllan's in there somewhere with you. Well. ...That's complicated. Summarize. Ultimately, the world has to be saved... But Pandora... Something may have gone very wrong. You think? * Saki , apparently not asleep yet, mutters something indistinct. ... You, sir, are the master of the fucking obvious. As for your friend... He /is/ still in here. He also is under the impression that he, at least, is dead. * Niri stares. ....Can you possibly disabuse him of that notion? ....I can't find them. Ryllan is? Can he be reached at all? What can we do? Wake him the hell up then. * Mikel grimaces for a moment, wavering. Then he's straightened against with the sword still held. I'm sure he'll notice he's still moving around sooner or later. He's had a bit of a shock. In the meantime, what are /you/ planning to do? * Saki bolts upright. "/We/ are going to follow up on Zophar, since he's both of our enemies, and /we/ are going to follow up on how to split ourselves, because now 4 people could use it." Rachel's voice doesn't brook much dissent. ...She...they...have a point. Lazarus, then. Which means back to Bluetooth. * Ryllan chuckles, looking up at Rachel, "You've thrown in your lot with them, then?" ...Maybe we should head back to Lazarus, then. «ooc: er bluetooth, even. » * Mikel sheathes the sword, retrieving his staff. "I don't suppose you have a link to Pandora like Emili does?" * Saki looks sulkily off to one side. "... good question. Don't ask." With a huff of breath she looks for Saturn. I should. I would. She's left this moment, however, and I don't have the capability to follow her. Or track her beyond it. Saturn finally gathers up her strength, healing the fatal wound rapidly, faster than any human possibly could. SHe races over to Xavier's side, sniffling. :/ [Saturn] Just when he had finally found happiness... * Trune looks down, "...I'm sorry." Which means that's hepling drive Emili nuts right now. Goddess dammit, I'm killing that woman a dozen times next time. << helping* >> ...Noah. What happened to Johnathan? * Niri waits anxiously for the answer to that. He remains in posession of his soul. As does his wife. He has, however, stopped his battle. Explain. * Niri blinks. * Mikel turns to face Ryllan again. * Niri listens, but goes over to Trune. * Niri whispers, "Trune, can you talk to Saturn?" * Trune nods, "Yeah, sure." Thanks. * Niri goes back to listening to Ryllan - Noah - with a frown. * Ryllan shakes his head, "I don't handle interpersonal relationships for the Prophetess. That's usually Pandora." * Trune heads over to Saturn's side, talking quietly with her. Their words are not overheard, at least for now. What, you don't talk it out over tea? * Saki 's voice is rather cool. "It doesn't exactly work that way." I know that they- we- came to some form of understanding. ...leaving her to... ... * Saki shakes her head, and when she speaks it's softer; back to Saki, and it's kind of getting confusing at times. "If we're headed towards Bluetooth, we ask them on the way." I'm going to throttle Johnathan. ...He'd better have a seriously good explanation for all this. And I STILL owe him a punch in the face for...other things. There isn't a good enough one for that. Hmm. Why would he... No way in hell. ... ...unless... he isn't sure we'll succeed. * Mikel glances over at Tanan, blinking. * Ryllan suddenly grabs his chest, his voice becoming weak and thready, "...Ow." He states quite clearly, "...Did we get her?" * Niri frowns, troubled. ...Ryllan! ...no, she's gone. Angie too. * Mikel slumps to a seat, gripping the staff he swiped from the Prophetess and giving it a rather hateful look. * Saki goes right back to watching Ryllan carefully, then rakes her hair with a hand, turning away. ...Great. I don't suppose you... *A quick look behind him confirms his suspicions* Damn. * Niri sighs I'm sorry, Ryllan. It happened again. But at least you're not DEAD. Well, of course I'm not. * Niri blinks at him. You got stabbed through the CHEST. What do you mean of course you're not? * Ryllan has the audacity to sound annoyed, "I had the dam-" He looks down at his finger, and sees the Angel Ring, whole and unbroken, "And apparently I had something else, too." ...I regret ever giving you that blasted thing. * Niri blinks, a bit confused. * Trune is still talking quietly with Saturn. Occasionally he'll glance back at the group, but for the most part he seems focused on Saturn. Technically, she just reached right through you and took him. Still... something's happened. She basically dissolved, and Angie... did something to take them somewhere. And your passenger seems much more coherent this time. * Ryllan waves his hand in the air, "It'll protect me. Once. Why it isn't expended..." * Vytor hasn't yet looked up from what must obviously be a very interesting spot on the ground. Noah's in you again, that's why, I bet. Saturn chats with Trune. SHe looks somber but nods calmly. ...Oh, yes. I think I got all of him this time. ...My head hurts. ...all of him. * Mikel shakes his head. Where'd the rest go? So his soul's no longer split in too? Good to hear. Maybe he'll be less angry this time around. * Ryllan tilts his head, "...Says he doesn't know." * Niri glances around and catches a glimpse of Vytor. She edges closer to him. You okay? * Mikel just sighs before looking towards Niri, his attention focused on Tanan. "So....Johnathan doesn't think we can do this, apparently? That's why he called it off?" ... Oh. In a while, maybe he'll know. But Angie did... something, and it's got everything crossed. * Vytor doesn't respond at first. He slides a glance at Niri, then returns his attention to the floor. "...I don't think so, no." >> Also, 15 MXP for humbling the mighty Prophetess, who's summoned body remnants rot on the floor of the Lab, dissolving to dust as you chat. * TheStoryteller changes topic to '-= Chapter 59: Death & Rebirth | Location: Eden Project | Pool: 16 MXP =- http://storen.rpgcafe.net/IoG/' The question is, I guess, do we wait here, in hopes that Angie might come back to where she left, or leave, and trust her to find her way. * Niri sighs, then puts a hand on Vytor's shoulder. "We have a lot to sort out right now...but later on, let me know if you need to chat. This is all...ugh. What a mess." N... o. I don't think that's necessarily it. He might doubt, though. Hedging his bets. * Mikel deadpans. "Reassuring." If we do fail, Pandora may be this world's best chance. I wouldn't blame him. We can't even stop /her/... And this buys him time, if he's not being hunted. ....Not a pleasant thought there * Mikel lets go of the staff, burying his face in his hands with a sigh. * Tanan sounds regretful. "...I'd forgotten that. I shouldn't have." ...she's no one's best chance, not like that. Tanan, we're not GOING to fail. That was worse than when Emili cut loose. So we don't need to worry about resorting to the Prophetess' plan. Mikel notices his newly acquired Staff of the Prophets twinkle with the residue of mighty magis of the past. Ryllan too also feels a familiar aura about it, even if the straight black cane is partially phased out from reality. * Mikel raps a knuckle on the staff. "...maybe I can put this to use, at least." ... Maybe. So, professor. You're the closest thing we've got to an expert on Time magic at the moment. Thoughts? We can't follow them. Trune and Saturn eventually step back towards the growing discussion, as the place once more is filling with the vibrant tendrils of life energies. * Tanan hesitates for a second. "Even if we could, it wouldn't be wise." We can't afford to be absent when he returns. The place where Xavier's form lies grows a few flowers, watching over his endless sleep. * Ryllan inclines his head, beginning to look at the place where the now-disintegrated body sits. * Niri glances at Trune questioningly * Mikel slowly gets back to his feet, holding both staffs now. "...we can't, huh... well then. Do you think that the barrier around the mainland's still up?" Not much left but dusty residue and the last peices of the hand that impaled him That's a good question, Mikel. And if it is, where do we go from here? Can we sail back, you think? If Johnathan believes that hunting the prophetess isn't the priority, we... well. We'll have to prove that we can do this. Then we can worry about everything else. We can do this, but I don't fault him for wanting a backup plan. M...aybe There are also scattered remnants of holy metal from Misogi's katana, forever broken. Or is it? The hilt still is intact a bit. * Niri sighs. * Trune looks at Niri with a confused gaze, "What did the headmaster do? He's alive?" * Ryllan gets to his knees, gathering up metallic shards from the ground, and pulling the hilt from where it was tucked away. I think you're right, Tanan. In any case, I doubt the Prophetess is going to be bothering us anytime soon. * Trune apparently missed most of the conversation. He's... cut a deal with the Prophetess, or something. * Ryllan stands, and walks over to Vytor, "Vytor." * Niri shrugs to Trune. "Apparently he - yeah. What Mikel said." * Trune /stares/, "...What?" * Niri does not sound happy about this at all. ...yes? Hedging his bet, or something. * Saki looks over towards Saturn once she's done talking to Trune. "... I need to talk to you." * Ryllan places the shards and hilt into his hand, "Reforge it, or make something with it. I don't care. But it's tale doesn't have to end here." [Saturn] Yes? Are you injured? * Vytor looks at the broken shards, then nods in aquiescence. But...why? That...that sounds...He'd sell the world out so easily? Have so little faith? Thank you. * Saki chuckles, looking wan. "... somewhat. ... but it's about life energy, and Lazarus, and--... things." * Tanan sounds a bit harsh now. "What's selling the world out, should we fail? Letting Pandora remake it, or letting Zophar consume it? Those will be the choices." * Ryllan sighs, turning back to Trune, "It doesn't take a lack of faith to want an alternative plan. Just intelligence." But he... *shakes her head* It won't COME to that, Tanan. ...Is Pandora even herself? Yeah, I understand WHY he's doing it. It doesn't mean I like what he's doing. Niri - Can you tell me that with one hundred percent certainty? You saw what happened there. She lost it. No, Ryllan, but you all lack FAITH. Care to condemn Rachel and Saki too then, Mikel? * Niri stomps her foot. "Do you think I'd come this far, lose this much, only to FAIL? Do you really think that? Any of you?" I don't think if you had a choice, you would. [Saturn] I've regained most of my control over the energy here, so it depends what you're asking for. I have some time before I'll join my Brothers & Sisters and let them know what's happened. But you can strive as hard as you can... and sometimes, you'll still fail. * Ryllan looks at Xavier's body pointedly. [Saturn] As for Lazarus... I dreamt of such a thing.. it created lfie.. but without life. * Niri looks away. "All of you. You're all the same." * Trune looks suddenly angry, "Hey." * Mikel grits his teeth. "Pandora and that demon is not like... hell with it." You have no HEARTS. You have no belief. You're just...just cold, and calculating, and...and... * Saki ignores the side discussion with the expertise born of years of carefully avoiding people. "... mostly information. Possibly opinions on theories. Anything you can remember about Lazarus." Tch! Stop being a child. Have you examed every variable, every possibility? Would you trust the world to a tightrope without a net? Can you be certain? Absolutely certain? How many lives will you stake on that certainty? Because the answer you have to give is all of them. Every man, woman, and child. Everyone. Did I say I would, Tanan? No. Backups make sense. I know that. I'm just SICK of the cold-blooded way you people treat everything. It's not the decisions you make, it's your attitude. I'm so tired of it. * Mikel works his hand for a moment, twitching. * Trune speaks softly, "A destroyed world is a horrible fate. But a world in which many will die for some twisted ideal? I dunno if I'd want to trade one horrible fate for another. I'd rather stop either from happening. I won't fail this." * Tanan sounds almost enraged, his own anger and Niri's feeding off each other. "We must! How dare you." * Mikel snaps his fingers. Something akin to a sonic boom sounds. "ENOUGH!" And how dare y- * Niri goes silent in surprise. * Vytor flinches This. Is. Not. The. Time. * Saki keeps discussing quietly with Saturn, not even batting an eyelid. * Niri compresses her mouth to a thin line. Mikel is right, but she can't seem to quell the fury very far. Saturn looks over the argument with a frown. * Tanan falls silent, going dark. We can't afford to start like this now. Not at this point. * Saki pays attention to the talk only when Saturn does, and takes three steps over. "Are you done? ... you, and you," she starts, pointing at just Niri. "You could use some time not having to deal with each other all day every day. While we head back, get some /rest/." * Vytor quietly stands and exits the chamber, feeling the need to be alone for a moment. [Saturn] It looks like you all could use some real rest. And time to think. Plan. Dream...with the 8 restored, the time is coming when all will be right. * Saki continues without much prompting. "Niri. We'll get you patched up then trained. Ryllan. I need many, many words." She glances at the door after Vytor a second, then huffs out another breath. * Niri stares at Saki for a moment, then hangs her head, nodding almost imperceptibly. * Mikel looks at Saturn. "All will be right?" Yeah. I think we do. But later. All will be right? What do you mean? * Vytor (DNW@c-67-180-33-225.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) Quit (Quit: ) >> Ryllan notices a change in his perceptions that permeates his mind. Impose is sealed! In its place, he gains the ability Dissonace - Stop enemy's skill entirely, abosrb its casting cost in MP. [Saturn] ...oh.. it... when things and people who exist outside of the chain of life will be gone. ...Yeah. * Saki sighs again. "For better or for worse, huh. ... let's take a room over. There's space, and no-one's really in the mood to move." * Trune rubs the spot on his forhead between the eyes, "Yeah, sleep sounds good." << rather, DIssonace is a double cost of enemy skill. silly me and not taking better notes. >> * Niri nods, not speaking. She is also silent to Tanan. She lingers to see if everyone appears to be all right, but gazes around, wondering where to go to look for crash space. ...mm. I'm going to poke around a bit. Don't care to sleep now. * Trune looks slightly unerved for some reason, glancing at Saturn for the briefest of moments. * Mikel without much more todo starts for the exit of the chamber, still gripping both his own staff and Pandora's rather tightly. * Saki just sighs yet again, lamenting being one of the most sane members. * Saki (~arpee@192.168.0.51) Quit (Quit: ) * Ryllan pulls himself over to a nice patch of green, where he settles against a tree. * Trune shakes his head, and heads off deeper into the complex on his own. He has a lot to think about, suddenly. Saturn adopts a strange look for a moment as she watches Trune walk off. It's a mix of concern and a realization of something she does not voice... instead keeping a vigil over Xavier for a moment more. * Niri shakes her head to herself and leaves...going to find a place to lie down. And so in the Cradle of Life, some die a little death, and others a sleep eternal. But all the while the true threat to all living things bides its time in the pits of Lazarus, and its servants preparing the way in all corners of the globe yet to be seen. == SESSION END == >> 25 XP! Session Close: Sun Nov 11 03:40:09 2007