Session Start: Sat Jun 28 21:48:18 2008 Session Ident: #lunar-iog2 * Logging for #lunar-iog2 started * TheStoryteller changes topic to '-= Chapter 76: The Serpent & The Rainbow | Location: Jerusalem, Outer City | Pool: 9 MXP =- http://storen.rpgcafe.net/IoG/' == SESSION START == As the results of the unstable teleportation fade, the group is splintered over a small area on the outskirts of the ruined city that was once the capital of the world government. A tall temple towers like a black skyscraper over the collection of delapidated buildings, as a swarms of demonic and artifical AI guardians patrol the concentric rings that make up the city. The blasted area on the fringes is lightly guarded, as they had zoomed past the first line of defenders controlled by Emiria. Getting farther in will prove a challenge indeed, but first the matter fo collecting themselves in this one way trip appears the msot pressing. Trune and Vytor have apparently landed near to each other, as well as Niri and Mikel, each in the shell of a former place that once housed the common folk. Saki and Ryllan, hwoever, seem to have been seperated a bit more, finding themselves in a pile of rubble where a wall of a store collapsed. The shadows of ominous dead echoes hover in the air, giving a bleak impression to this place of Zophar's rebirth. There seems to be an oppressed holy presence here as well you can't quite ignore either, as even in the pit of Hell on Earth this could be there is some salvation. * Mikel hauls himself up on the edge of something, peering out from behind cover to make sure the coast is clear. Niri's been instructed to stay down as he hangs from the edge of the half collapsed wall. * Saki and Ryllan's pile of rubble stands motionless for a few minutes, then in a shower of pebbles one of the larger cross-sections of ruined wall is shoved roughly aside, then for good measure thrown away as Saki rises from the wreckage. * Niri waits below. "What do you see?" * Vytor risks a quick look from around a partly demolished building. Once he's sure the sentries have moved on, he signals to Trune and makes a dash for a ruined outcropping not far from where he is now. Horrible decorating, for one thing. The coast is clear for the moment, as this region is desolate and lightly patrolled. You can't shake the feeling that the spirits of dead soldiers in an army forgotten and scourged from the world linger and watch you. * Niri manages a wry grin and shakes her head. Clear. Go. * Mikel drops down, already scampering to the next ruined building. * Niri nods, hurrying just behind Mikel and keeping down as much as possible. As Saki throws aside the rubble into a nearby wall, she thinks she sees someone nearby, but it dissapates as the dust settles. The only thing remaining is what looks like a piece of graffitti on the broken fragemnt of the cenderblock divider. * Vytor hunkers down beneath the outcropping, checking for patrols and looking for the next likely hiding place. "This place is huge. How the hell are we going to find the others?" It's easy tos camper about using the shadows of the buildings for cover. Though the sun should be shining, the clouds here are low, grey, and angry-looking. The land itself seems to be uneasy with what is about to happen at the summit. * Mikel leans up against a solid looking wall, gripping his spear tightly with one hand. "This is ridiclous. Maybe we should risk the radios." * Saki darts several steps after the figure, then slows quickly as she realises the dangerous situation. She checks Ryllan is alright, mostly by lugging another hunk of stone out the way, then eyes the graffiti as she holds a quick mental planning session. Vytor catches a glimpse of Mikel's form flitting between the ruins a good distance away. Is that...Mikel? What are the chances of our signals being intercepted if we did? Ryllan is well, though a little daze, following Saki closely for the moment as he gets his bearings. Probably pretty damn high. Razgriz's got her minions out here too. * Vytor looks around for a few moments, considering his options, then decides to risk it. "Come on Trune, I think I just saw Mikel." * Niri nods. "How easy would it be for them to pinpoint our location, though? I mean, they HAVE to know we're here, even if they don't know where. The markings Saki glimspes is a simple arrow pointing donw a corner. What's strange about it is the colorful hue, in stark contrast to the drab and downright bleak environs. * Mikel bites his lip, thinking for a moment. "Argh, lemme think for a moment... I think it depends on how many of them pick it up and if they are communicating with each other." * Vytor grabs Trune's wrist and begins a speed run towards where he saw Mikel a moment ago. Sonyele explained it to me once when I was just starting. Something about being able to find me if I got myself nearly killed, funnily enough. * Trune follows behind Vytor, ducking down low as he approches the others. * Niri raises an eyebrow. "Well. Maybe we should try that as a last reso- hey, whos that?" Seeing a flash of movement, she ducks down. * Saki regards the arrow for a long moment. "... well, we've come this far on improbable coincidences," she snorts, then with Ryllan in tow stomps off without pause or subtlety in exactly the direction it points. Three or so steps, however, and Rachel has peeled away from her form, intangible but less so than usual, to begin scouting around them. * Vytor slides to a stop behind some rubble, then risks a look once more to get his bearings. * Mikel steps in front of Niri, already swinging his spear into position and tensing. * Niri puts her hand on the hilt of her sword. Following the direction the odd arrow is pointing, Rachel, who's scouting ahead and intangibly going through some objects, catches another arrow. This time there's something else written down. * Trune risks standing slightly to get a better look, then quickly ducks back down again. OK, we're almost there. Ready for the next run? "GO IN HERE (SERIOUSLY NOT A TRAP GUYS)" is scrawled on the wall, indicating a very non-descript entrance to a cellar of some sort. The mageguard shadow can detect a high concetration of sacred powers coming from this area. * Trune sucks in a deep breath, nodding, "Yeah, let's book it." * Ark (~Ark@ppp118-208-124-102.lns4.bne4.internode.on.net) has joined #lunar-iog2 On three then. One, two three! * Vytor dashes ahead of Trune! * Rachel smirks broadly at Saki as she points out the second marker. For her part, Saki just looks... crest-fallen. "... you're kidding." "Not a chance!" crows Rachel in answer, "Let's do it." * Trune follows closely behind, pumping his legs as hard as he can to keep up! A random floating drone hovers overhead, as a light beam slowly starts scanning over the ruins. Vytor and trune barely miss being caught by it. Shit, watch out for that flying toaster, Vytor! * Mikel swings forward on the flicker of movement, already drawing his spear back as blue light gathers aroun- then he's suddenly throwing himself to the side so he doesn't skewer Vytor. "Althena above you sc- dammit." Then he's scrambling back and gesturing for Niri to get out of sight too. * Vytor slides to a stop where Mikel (and apparently Niri) are, and pulls Trune to safety once he's there. * Saki considers Rachel's proposal for a lengthy moment, then nods to herself. Two steps take her to the cellar door, and a swift kick nearly sends the portal off its hinges. She and Rachel, re-merging as they go, barrel through almost immediately, aiming for an entry at least intimidating, if not hostile. What-? *Niri blinks, then ducks back with Mikel, breathing a sigh of relief.* Vytor, Trune! You're safe, good. * Trune gets yanked inside, falling forwards with a yelp! Hey guys. Nice to see you again. * Mikel makes a shushing motion at Trune, leaning up against the wall and trying to watch where the drone goes. "Any sign of Ryllan and Saki?" Not far from the four heroes, they hear the smash of Saki making an entrance to a particualr building. Not a glimmer. ... Well, then. * Mikel spares Vytor a look, frowning. "...you look horrible. Niri, Trune, healing spells." * Niri looks Vytor up and down in distress. "....He's right." She immediately summons her song magic. Sorry, I know. I haven't had time to really assess his injuries. We've been dodging these bastards right and left. ...that sounds disinctly like the sound of galvorn ore smashing into a rusted metal door. * Niri spares an appraising glance at Trune for a moment as he speaks. * Trune makes a quick willforce symbol with his finger, and his other hand glows a soft white. Saki, maybe? * Trune , too caught up in his willforce incantation, doesn't notice Niri's glance. * Mikel glances at Trune for a moment, nodding and holding back a frown. "I'd bet my next paycheck on it. Once you're all together we'll move." The martial artist easily goes through a rusty metal door in a simple, diurect manner, landing inside a basement of the structure. It is vastly different than the outside, a room made entirely of extremely strong metal. There is no furniture or anything else, beside a gigantic computer mainframe standing before the woman. Right. Vytor, hold still, okay? Right. * Niri 's magic washes over Vytor, restoring him somewhat * Trune places his now glowing hand on Vytor, concentrating. * Saki skids to a halt in a cloud of dust and metal particles, and very nearly goes fist first into a bulkhead of the mainframe as a natural follow-up move. "... I hope that didn't alert anyone," Rachel muses idly as Ryllan comes down after her. * Vytor exhales, "Thanks, I needed that." It is apparently working also... the screen lights up as it detects the presence of someone, the dull humk echoing throughout the spartan chamber. * Trune nods, standing up, "Sorry it took so long to do it." * Niri nods, looking at the others. "Are we ready to keep going? We should check out that noise and see if it really is Saki." We had other priorities. Besides, getting into a fight right now is the last thing we need. * Vytor stands, "Let's go." * Vytor starts checking to make sure the coast is clear >> Niri tries to quietly sing a Song of Healing! Her and Vytor regain 1124 HP. * Niri breathes a sigh of relief herself as new energy washes through her. She was apparently unaware of her own injuries. * Vytor checks once, twice, and then dashes towards the sounds of forced entry! * Mikel snickers at Niri. "Told you you were a bit beat- gah." He takes off after Vytor. Vytor has to time his movements carefully to avoid the watchful eyes in the sky, but they are predictable, and can be moved past with some patience. * Saki blinks, suddenly awash in terminal light. Heedless of technology, she moves aside without prompting, letting Ryllan have a closer look as she takes up a guard position at the foot of the stairs into the cellar. Man, he's on a tear today. He hasn't stopped once! Sshh * Trune blinks a moment, as if realizing something. A hand goes to his throat, "...Right, sorry." * Vytor slides to a stop beneath another outcropping, looks around, and then waves to the others to follow. The mainframe computer's screen slowly comes to life, illuminating the chamber with a flourescent cool light. It goes through some mnyriad lines of code as some sort of program begins to run of its own accord. After awhile of lines of indecipherable machine code scrolls by, the screen flashes and then a simple text on a black background appears. "PRINCESS: ENTER BIRTHDAY (MM/DD/YYYY) TO SEE IF YOU WIN A PRIZE" * Saki whirls on the spot as Ryllan relates the message. "You know, so far this week I've fixed several doors, an engine or two, and a humanoid machine that lost it's head, all by punching them. I can go for a fourth category /just for you/." * Niri hurries after the others. * Mikel keeps moving, eyes and ears alert as he heads for where the sound of forced entry occured. * Saki hisses in irritation as Ryllan starts trying random numbers; she leaves him to it, back on alert. * Trune follows behind the group, quiet now. * Vytor waits for the others to arrive, then starts checking again for sentries. The rest of the group is able to proceed carefully to the cellar that Saki broke into, seeing the huge computer at its core. * Niri looks around appraisingly once they get inside. * Mikel looks around the place. "You're /kidding/ me, right?" This is...really weird. * Trune speaks in a quiet voice, "Princess...see if...? ...Niri, you're up!" * Saki blocks the way, looking resolute. "Pay the toll." * Mikel looks at Saki, considering. "I'll do dishes for a week." * Vytor waves to Saki and Ryllan. * Saki shrugs, and steps aside as she nods at Vytor. "... works for me. I was just trying to see if you'd believe my turning evil on you. Ah, 'again', I suppose." * Niri raises an eyebrow at Trune. "Oh, come ON, you can't seriously think that would work!" She sighs though and shrugs. "Guess it can't hurt to try, though." She steps forward. * Mikel snickers. "No cook as good as you could do that..." He glances over at Trune for a moment... then double takes and points at the Spire. "Where'd the ECC go?" Well, you /are/ the Princess. Who knows? Maybe Zophar gets his jollies at bad nicknames. * Vytor pulls the ECC from his pocket and waves it at Mikel. Oh! Hmm. Good idea, that. It was Trune's idea. * Trune looks back at Mikel and Vytor for a moment, expression unreadable, before finally forcing himself to face forward. * Niri tries entering her birthdate on the computer system, just for kicks and giggles. * Mikel nods, tossing Trune a half salute as he goes back to poking around the place. "Good, good... so why is this place lit up with sacred magic?" Got me. As Niri htis the Enter key there's a little sing noise. << er ding >> "Welcome to Jerusalem, moon princess! Let's play a game. If you answer all these questions correctly, you'll win something good!" * Saki shakes her head. "Who knows? ... it's making me itch." She frowns at Vytor, scrutinizing him. "So are you normal again? All parts accounted for, or maybe slowly making their way back at least?" ...w-what. Moon...Princess... Moon Princess... * Niri blinks, staring. "Are you guys hearing this too, or is it just me? Has the stress made me lose my mind?" Moon...FUCKING...princess... * Trune can't help it! He doubles over, laughing quietly to himself! * Vytor tries reallt hard NOT to laugh! * Niri eyes Trune out the corner of her eye, then sticks her tongue out at him. * Saki smirks over one shoulder, Rachel showing her teeth. "... do it. Something led us here. It wants to help, it's just playing games with us first. Situation normal." I'm sorry...I know...gotta put on my serious smack a god bitchface. Right...sorry...Moon P--Princess. * Trune snrks in laughter anew! * Mikel just... sighs. "I give up. Let's kill a dark god or two and call it a day." ...I'm NEVER going to live this down, am I? No. I have...snrk, fodder for the ages. Anyway, sure, lay the questions on me. After a short period of time passes... the text scrolls by and in its place: "What international organization makes its home in Jerusalem?" * Saki pokes Vytor with one black-clad finger. "And you need to answer my question." The cursor blinks, awaiting an input. * Niri blinks, then glances at the others. Hm? * Mikel holds up a finger, thinking. Normal? Well...as normal as I usually am. I don't feel any different. * Trune looks up, laughter suddenly stopping, "United nations." * Niri nods. "Oh yeah, I remember now." She enters this answer in. * Mikel nods. *ding* It's correct again. Right, on to the next one. * Saki nods in satisfaction, and retreats a short distance up the stairs, sitting down halfway up the flight. "I'll watch from here." In a strange twist, the next question presents itself: "What substance is burnt over custard to produce creme brule?" * Niri looks a little impatient. Sugar. * Mikel buries his face in his hand. Niri quickly replies, and sure enough it's spot on. ...and the point of all this is....what? Next, a technical quiz: "What is the melting point of silver?" Vytor? That somewhere deep inside Zophar is a twit and likes insipid games? ...If he made this, that is. He's a bastard. I bet he did. The most accuracte form would be in terms of Kelvin, so 1235 kelvin. *ka-ding* The answer is accepted. Niri's eyes catch the next one: "What is the fifth note in a C harmonic series?" * Saki slowly starts to smirk as the questions come past, then barks in laughter at the latest one. "--it's checking we're us! Hah! That's some confirmation method." ...so who the hell beat us here, then. Does that mean a C major scale or a harmonic c minor scale? Then you don't know how glad I am Zophar doesn't think I'm a Moon Princess. Although really it'd be the same in either case. The dominant is G. So what will it ask Rachel, I wonder. Sorry Saki, I think I took your question. Niri shows her prowess with a another ltitle ding. * Saki waves a hand, still grinning amusedly. "It's fine. I'll smash it to pieces when it's done, that way everyone wins." Lastly, a strange one: "What was the cat's name?" * Niri blinks, then looks at the others. Unless its intended function requires it to continue working. I bet they built it with that in mi... Trune, what'd you name her? Molly? This is getting really bizarre. * DooM_GazE (~doomgaze@d75-155-19-93.abhsia.telus.net) has joined #lunar-iog2 * ChanServ sets mode: +o DooM_GazE ...They made my question about Molly? Oh man! He didn't even /try!/ ...Yeah. Molly. * DooM_GazE is now known as Ryllan * Etir (~Etir@dynamic-acs-24-239-125-230.zoominternet.net) has joined #lunar-iog2 * ChanServ sets mode: +o Etir * Saki barks another quick laugh. "Really? We're not even sure when this was written." Since Trune confirms it, the comptuer dings one final time. The screen goes blank for a moment without another question. Then a bunch of stars appear. "Congratulations! Enjoy your visit to the Holy Land. Please proceed down the stairs to meet with your tour guide." Yeah, I'd like to know how an ancient computer system has all the right questions to ask us. You know. If I didn't know better. A tour guide? I'd say it was Webbly. ...Oh goddess please. Just. No. * Tanan (~Etir@dynamic-acs-24-239-125-230.zoominternet.net) has joined #lunar-iog2 * ChanServ sets mode: +o Tanan Apparently an illusion active int he chamber is dispelled, and where the floor was a moment ago appears a disgusied hatch leading further down. * Mikel blinks, reaching down to pull up the hatch. "It makes sense, though." * Saki stands up and saunters her way over. "Bodyguards first," she remarks as Niri pulls the cover, craning over to look down the shaft. But...that would mean he's working with...wouldn't it? ....Wait, Webbly? Admittedly, it DOES sound like his sense of humor... << Since when do I have purple hair and a craving for sugar >> * Vytor moves into typical bodyguard position. * Niri looks slightly disgruntled but lets Saki go first. «ooc: you do now Saki's got a hold of you » << shit >> * Saki beams happily, apparently enjoying herself. "Doing down? 'Totally not a trap'," she quotes, then steps off the side of the hatch, falling down the shaft for an empty moment then grabbing onto the rungs of the ladder and sliding straight down. There's a ladder leading down, and some lanterns to light the way. * Mikel is right on Saki's heels. * Vytor follows after. * Niri heads down after Vytor. * Trune follows behind the others, doing his best to keep up. * Ryllan brings up the rear, watching for the inevitable ambush. Rather anti-climactically there's little but a long metal lined corridor running underneath the building. It seems to stretch on a good ways before it reaches an end father in. It must go under several rings of the city, judging by the end being beyond your sight. * Saki steps away from the ladder's bottom, and starts walking along the passageway, frowning in disappointment. Man, we're skipping all the defenses. I need to warm up before we tackle Zophar. There's not much other than the mechanical lights positioned at even rows along the sides, and the echo of your footsteps on the hardened flooring. * Mikel keeps moving. You know...if this is helping us...maybe it /is/ Webbly. Careful what you wish for. Let's not jumps to any conclusions yet. Just stay sharp. Nnn. How would Webbly have gotten access to these machines? He's only been active for a few months now. They used to all be tied together, right? Maybe when they pulled that stunt with Venus's stuff. I...I don't know, but who else would know so much about us? Yeah, good question. I'm still suspicious. Maybe some part of that is still working. Shiro plods along, sniffing the floor here and there. It looks like he's got some kind of scent, woofing to Niri Alternatively, it's Emiria and this whole place is actually iron. Which doesn't end very well at all. * Saki cracks her neck, staying at the head of the group. In the gloom of the tunnel, shadows flicker around her and for a disorienting moment, Rachel's ghostly face stick out from her back, together with an admonishing finger. "Please! You're still not used to the whole bizarre preordained shit by now?" * Tanan hmmms. "Well... I don't think Zophar is clever enough to come up with 'seriously not a trap'" What's that, Shiro? Trune fell down the well? But Webbly would be.... << Scratch that >> The lining is definitely not of silver make, more a tempered steel alloy that is no longer made. It certainly is strong, seeing as how it is uncorroded even after all this time. * Tanan sounds remarkably unconcerned «ooc: Aww! I had a comment! » * Saki turns a little, walking backwards a few steps as she responds with a shrug, ignoring Rachel's complaints that she can't see. "Webbly's better than alternatives. Better benign than dangerous." What is it, Shiro? If it's a trap, it's just the slightly less obvious one. If it isn't, then that's just a bonus. * Vytor represses the urge to check out the unusual alloy in the walls. Clop clop clop... you traverse the corridor for quite awhile. Up ahead, there appears an end to the monotony. The hallway's end looks like a square room, with something in the center of it. * Mikel keeps moving, giving Rachel an amused look. "Somewhat used to it, but it's still odd." There's the strange glows of more monitors and the hum of advanced technology within. The temperature has also dropped several degrees too. * Saki and Rachel both grin in the exact same crazy rictus, then Saki answers as Rachel disappears back into intangibility. "... from the feel of this place, you haven't seen anything yet." * Mikel doesn't seem to mind the cold, one hand holding onto his spear as he keeps looking around. "Hmm..." * Niri examines the room carefully. She doesn't seem to mind the temperature change much either. * Trune shivers a little, rubbing his shoulder in an attempt to stop. Drawing closer, it becomes clearer: these displays have text and readouts much like the Elementalors did. They are monitoring lfie functions. And at the far end of the room is a very similar statsis pod to the one the Director had in Lazarus. The glass is opaque, however, fogged up from centuries of a deep freeze of it's mysterious occupant. ..? * Saki blinks once, then deadpans. "Taking bets now." The object in the dead center of the room is a podium, of the type one would use to make speeches and presentations. It's got a layer of fine dust on it. Taking bet-.. ooooh. Oh my. What is it, Tanan? * Mikel scratches the back of his head. "What are the options?" The dust is covering a rather large red button, the only feature of note on the mundane furnishing. Hmm. Red button. That's....subtle. ...Please tell me we are not pushing the jolly red button? You ever read comic books? Bad things happen when you do that. Whoever is inside is definitely alive, by the signs of a heartrate and green lights. ....Granted I haven't read a comic book since I was twelve but there you go. * Vytor looks the machines over out of raw curiosity. * Niri approaches the pod, attempting to see inside. That sounded an awful lot like "Please press the button" to me, didn't it to you? * Saki smirks. "Taking bets, Trune. What do you /think/ we're going to do?" Shiro shiffs around and goes up to the pod, bumping his nose on it and wagging his two tails. * Trune looks a little abashed, "....okay fine I admit it I want you to push it." Worst that happens, we bring the place down. * Ryllan shrugs. I think I'm okay with that. * Niri blinks at Ryllan, then gives him a wry look. * Saki hops up to the podium. "Indeed!" crows Rachel, "And we can bring the place down any day we like. Frequently do, in fact. Shall I do the dubious honours or would you rather the sane people do it?" Dibs. I think- dibs? Hey now. * Saki frowns. "I'm not sure you count for either option." There's still that sense of strange magic here. Ryllan finds it familiar. Like the Ien island, but different. * Vytor shrugs. "I say go and open it." * Mikel jumps up next to Saki. "Precisely. I'm the dark horse." No, no, the place won't come down. * Mikel pushes the button. * Tanan pauses. "Well. Probably." * Niri waits, just a bit tensely. She eyes the pod warily. Mikel pushes the big red button!! Nothing happens at first. * Trune gives the podium a quizzical look as nothing happens, "...Letdown of the century?" Wait. * Vytor watches and waits. "Patience Old machines." If it opens the pod, it'll take a minute or two. * Saki goes right back to deadpanning. "... I'm the embodiment of an Anti-Zophar soldier that uses demonic powers and a worryingly high degree of psychoses to make my way through the world. You have a lot to learn about dark horsing. You can't even make your mind up which you are." Sur eenough, a long dormant system revs up, and the gears of the pod grind to life. The gas keeping the person in stasis starts escaping and the temperatures normalizing between inside and outside. * Mikel waves a hand. "I sample both pies. One's bright and sugary and the other has a rather dark yet tantalizing flavor to it." * Niri gives Mikel an odd look. * Gayo is now known as Angie * Angie lies asleep inside the tube, changed but still herself. She seems older, and has a thin horizontal scar on her forehead. Instead of her familiar outfit she is wearing a padded cloth vest and light brown pants. He hands are crossed over her chest, like a mummy in a sarcophagus, and she wears a large, bulky metal bracelet. But improbably, impossibly...she is still herself. Oh holy /shit/. Angie? * Trune drops his athame, his mouth doing a wonder impersenation of a fish. «ooc: athame = spear. » That may have been the worst analogy ever, Mikel. And ahh, there we go. Seriously not a trap. Clever. Well I'll be damned for sure. * Saki blinks twice, then barks in laughter; it quickly turns into a dead-on howling whoop. "--there it is! What did I tell you all along?!" * Tanan sighs. * Vytor blinks, then breaks into a wide grin. A...aa....aaa....An...whaa...? * Niri 's eyes widen. "Angie? ANGIE?" She slowly breaks into a wide grin. * Angie stirs at the sound of the voices of friends. Her eyes flutter open from a very long sleep, and they seem changed -- pale, glassy eyes. She stares up at the ceiling and very calmly unfolds her hand, tapping the large bracelet. "Vega, I need eyes." * Trune 's train of thought compeltely derails! Someone's been having adventures without us, I see. Mornin' Angie. How was the distant past? >> The bracelet snaps off and extends around the bulbous protrusion like wings. it hovers into the air with a soft hum, peering at the group through a glassy eye. Angie smiles as she sits up. * Saki sits up on the podium, just watching; she's lost her exuberance, but is watching interestedly. My. You've changed. Good to see you, Angie. Always good. * Niri just shakes her head, but she looks better than she has in a long time, the color coming back into her face. She grins, although she seems very slightly uneasy. * Mikel takes a step off the podium, bouncing from foot to foot. * Angie doesn't answer right away. She feels her way to the edge of the pod and gingerly climbs out of it, limbs creaky from disuse. The flying drone follows her every movement intently, focusing on her hands and feet as she emerges. She licks her lips, takes a deep breath, and then hugs Niri. Tanan's spikes poke into her, but she doesn't seem to notice. Always good. * Trune glances at Niri, a small smile appearing on his face. He still can't quite form words yet. You're insane, you know that? Absolutely /insane/. * Niri hugs Angie back tightly, grinning. "Angie, I KNEW you were out there somewhere. It's so good to see you! Are you okay? How have you been?" Nice to see you again, Angie. I was worried about you. Foolish, I know. Y...yeah. S'good to see you, Angie. * "So what's it like having eyes at the back of your head? I've always wondered," answers Rachel for Saki, who in turn just snorts. I'm sure you have a few weeks worth of stories to tell. I'm sure we all want to hear them too, but we're on a tight schedule now. We can certainly wait long enough for you to get your feet under yourself, though, and most of us are willing to listen if you have anything important to say. I can't even... how'd you... * Tanan trails off and mutters "seriously not a trap" again. "It's been about a month, for us." Ryllan offers, "In case you needed your bearings." * Angie holds Niri for a long time before releasing her. She surveys the group, and it looks like she wants to hug everyone, but she restrains herself. "Ryllan's got it. I went a long when away. I've been...well, a lot's happened. When the book comes out, I'll send you all a copy." Deep breaths. "It's a little odd," she admits. The drone spins around to star at her and she waves at it. "I might be able to duplicate the implant here, once we' once we're done." She taps a small metal antenna embedded in the side of her head. "We're not done, right? You didn't kill Zophar without me?" Would we do that? He's more-or-less above us, in one of the servitor bodies. Nope! You're welcome to kick ass with us. And.. and.. he's dumb * Saki shakes her head with a smirk. "Not yet. ... can you see me okay?" Really dumb. It's amazing good fortune. * Niri nods, gripping the Sword of Althena tighter. "Now that you're here, we're ready to put an end to Zophar." We've got this in the bag. * Trune sounds confident in this. Tanan's right about that. * Mikel jumps forward, scooping up Angie in a bear hug and almost swinging her around a bit. "No more giving heart attacks, alright?" He gives it a moment or two before stepping back, looking sheepish. * Vytor looks like he has a million things he wants to talk to Angie about, but knows better than to do it now. * Angie grins broadly. Once Mikel sets her down she dusts herself off. "I've been watching that smug son of a bitch for ages. He used to be smart, but he gets really careless when it looks like he's winning. You're probably stuck on the defense grid, right? We built it pretty tough." ...You built this!? We had a bit of help getting in, at least. Impressive. * Trune lets out a low whistle, "Well, yeah, but still." Totally. By which I guess I mean no. But I helped! More particularly... *She pushes ahead of the group, drone following parallel to her.* -let's walk and talk. You didn't happen to bring a key, did you? * Saki nods. "That'd be about right, though we could do with a reliable way to put down servitors permanently, if you know how." She pushes off the podium, taking up position at the head of the group once more. * Tanan sounds surprised. "Can't you smell it on her? She's in a suspension body, looking more like.. like the prophetess or John than anyone I've seen, and you're surprised that she was invovled in something here?" * Ryllan follows, shaking his head, "Not everyone has a nose for that sort of thing, Tanan." * Vytor follows Angie and listens, figuring she's got a lot to fill the group in on. When you think about it, I suppose it isn't that surprising. I wasn't much involved with the servitor project -- that was the US, and they were really careful about who they let in. But I think I might have a trick or two up my sleeve. I had a lot of time to work on tricks. * Mikel keeps moving as well. * Saki blinks, and turns back to Tanan with a sort of wounded pride. "... hey. She can't look more like Pandora than /me/," Rachel whines. Hrmph. You people need fixing then. What exactly did you do, anyhow? You're like a geomantic flatline. You guys have changed a lot, too. It's... been a bit of a trip. That's putting it midly. Would it hurt you so much, Rachel, if I told you that you don't really have too much time-stink? Well.. not stink. This smell metaphor is getting confusing. * Mikel frowns, eventually letting out a bit of a sigh as he walks. * Angie barks out a dry laugh. "Tell me about it. Holy shit, this hall is really long, huh?" * Vytor chuckles, "Its been busy since you left." * Saki starts walking again, waving a hand idly. "I suppose. I'm the new and improved combo version, I suppose," she replies, then Saki cuts back in to respond to Angie. "We're a demonic heresy zophar-killer, or something like that. I can't really put it in words." * Niri is quiet for a bit, just listening. >> The drone turns around to inspect Saki as she speaks, but it turns back in time to prevent Angie from bumbling into a wall at the next bend. There's a mainframe up top here I can use. You didn't blow it up or anything, did you? Hey, I just answered the trivia questions. Nah, we were busy calling Niri a Moon Princess. No, we d- Did we? * Saki smirks in something like pride. "Amazingly, no. Nearly, though. You must have realised 'totally not a trap' was coming close." Saki wanted to, but we decided on using it as intended. * Mikel waves a hand. "We restrained ourselves. This is... well, I got mucked with some more after you split and this is the result. Another trick of mine." ...Oh man Angie you came up with the BEST nickname for her, ever. I'll buy you a present to congratulate you on that. * Niri thwaps Trune lightly on the head and sticks her tongue out at him. * Trune ows, rubbing his head, and gives Niri a lopsided grin. * Angie claps at her own genius. "Wasn't it awesome? I mean, this is where Zophar lives, I had to be careful." She pauses. "For select values of 'careful'?" Here's the ladder. She grabs hold and quickly scampers up. Let's try not to strike Trune in the head too much, please. He seems to be actually on top of things now. Even if Vytor does have his leash.. I guess nothing's really changed for me. Except maybe this. *Niri hefts the Sword of Althena* * Mikel follows after Angie, snickering. "I can't see you and careful that well." * Niri nods to Tanan and follows Angie up the ladder. In the computer room up above, it appears a defensive illusion has appeared where the door was, making it look outside like nothing has changed, even though Saki had destroyed the entrance. * Trune 's jovial expression melts like ice cream on a summer day, and he looks down at the floor I'm totally careful. I didn't die, right? You've got a point there. * Saki blinks up, then darts up after Angie. "... what kind of a range does that helper thing have, anyway?" Stop sulking. It's good that you're in control. * Vytor throws a glare at Tanan, but says nothing. ...Right. Sorry. Stop apologizing! It's good that you're.. not.. apolog- I forget where I was going with this. Just carry on! Except don't. * Niri chuckles a bit. * Angie walks up to the computer, strokes it like a mother, and then gives it a swift kick. Nothing but a dull "THUNK". "Solid! Isn't that amazing?" She cracks her knuckles and begins typing up a storm, the Vega glancing back and forth between the keyboard and screen. "The Vega isn't designed for long-range, but it can be modified for that in a pinch. Right now it goes about 100 yards before it starts to break up." You're losing it, Prof. * Vytor watches Angie work. * Mikel watches as well. "So what'd you do with that crazy book?" * Saki smirks, covering the entrance again. Prossibly. I should be stabbing Zophar right now, it's a bit hard to focus on other ideas. Soon, Tanan. Focus. He's a moron. We'll take him down soon enough. * Tanan murmurs "are we there yet?" but falls silent * Mikel snickers. * Niri chuckles again. Her mood seems markedly improved. * Angie stabs the Enter key triumphantly, and the console beeps. "Welcome to Jerusalem!" she shouts out "Please forgive the mess, we're renovating to serve you better. My name's Angie and I'll be your tour guide." She spins around with a predatory grin. "His toys are broken. Shall we?" * Trune 's mood seems to have plummeted, but he keeps his eyes forward. I'm ready! Let's do this. * Saki tugs at her gauntlets, then hunkers ready for a runner's start. "... just say the word." I'm all for wrecking his day even more. I'm dying to know what's up with you guys. It's...it really has been a long time. *For a second she stumbles, but she quickly finds her enthusiasm again.* But I haven't died /yet/, so I can wait a bit longer! How about you show don't tell? After we deal with this we can go hit a bar and run through it all. We have a lot to tell you, but we can show you if you prefer. Seriously though, did you figure out that book? ...I think I'll have a virgin drink this time, though. I think we're going to NEED to hit a bar. * Trune says this more to himself. Outside the shelter there's the sudden sound of crashing in the distance. ..? The hoevering survelliance drone has apparently fallen right out of the sky in a messy flaming crash. ...Nice, Angie. Very nice. * Angie leads the way over the ruined door and out into the dust-swept streets of ruined jerusalem. "I learned a lot. There are still things in the book I don't quite understand, but...time will tell." They haven't changed that m-... actually there's not a normal human among the group anymore, is there. * Mikel moves after Angie. "Niri." Aah... you'll need to share afterwards. I'm as normal as I ever was, thank you very much. Er. I'm not sure I count either, what with the whole Vile Tribe thing. They say travel changes people...I didn't really think it was that true. She's like three quarters at best. * Angie produces her gun as she speaks, a single fluid reflex. Clearly the stiffness has passed. It isn't the same gun -- it's a large, gunmetal affair, totally enclosed with no moving parts save a large toothed gear where the hammer should be. This spot is stillr elatively quiet, but in the distance dark horizon there's a positively chaos situation beginning as a lot of the automated defenses start shooting at their own patrol drones. I'm more or less vanilla mortal, aside from my passenger. Nice weapon. Your design? Wait, what's.. that's.. I'm not sure I qualify after I got fixed.. * Saki remains near the head of the group, though out on the open streets she makes a point of staying out the way of Angie's little view-drone. With the air rippling with chaotic force, it barely requires a wave of her hand and Rachel peels away from her to pace next to her, flickering. * Mikel frowns, thinking about this for a moment. Okay, talking later. What's going on out there? Angie brand chaos, it seems. Shall we? I don't think I've seen a more beautiful sight. * Angie passes the gun to Vytor. It isn't like anything he's ever seen before. It's hard to even see how it works, but he can sense the power in it. "Not mine, sadly. But maybe someday." She takes a quick look at the drone and clucks her tongue. "It's kind of a shame. We worked really hard making these." * Niri nods. "Let's go." * Angie makes grabby gestures at Vytor. "OK, give it back now. I need to shoot stuff." * Mikel snickers. * Vytor looks the device over, then hands it back with a nod of approval. Very nice. * Niri draws her sword and moves forward cautiously. There's quite a lot of black alsers streaming out into the sky, and somewhere deep inside the complex Emiria must be screaming bloody murder right now as the weapons of war are sabotaged by an ANgie-created virus she saved just for this occasion. Somewhere, I bet Zophar is screaming like a grandmother. And it makes me feel really, really good. Cannot. Wait. To see Emiria's face. She's going to be so pissed. * Saki hops a piece of rubble. "--then, how about the return of an old competition. Who can cause the most havoc? Your home ground advantage vs. my two players." Let's get going, this chaos won't last indefinitely. No offense, Angie. The demonic armies are likely unaffected, but with them being shot at by their allies, breaking through the ringed grid should be easy. The first wave of smeller fiends claws through the wreckaged, infuriated and looking for the source of this panic. << smaler >> * Mikel swings his spear back onto his back, instead dropping a hand to the hilt of the sword as they start to move. "Winner doesn't have to pay for their drinks, then. Let's move!" * Vytor hefts his hammer. * Saki blasts forward as Mikel ends his sentence, from saunter to out-right charge in a matter of instants. Rachel flickers once then follows at speed, roaring in joy. * Niri is close behind, charging forward with sword at the ready. * Mikel starts running as well, swapping back to his spear for now. * Angie hangs back. She takes aim with her gun, purses her lips...and puts it away, striding unarmed toward the fiends. * Trune follows behind the others, pulling the eightfold spire from it's resting place on his back. It's not far before this desolate field buts up against a large wall of black stone. presumably to keep the people inside from harm or to trap them is up to debate: but now it's got a bunch of black, slithering tentacle creatures swarming over it in a bunch as lines of cannons take potshots at them. * Vytor hangs back a bit from the initial charge, waiting to ensure no enemies bypass the front line without being challenged. * Ryllan pushes forward, his weapon sparking to life after several seconds of sputtering. ...Oh man, that makes me slightly suck to my stomach. Tenticles. Ngh. «ooc: suck = sick. Bwahahahha » They are darting hungrily at the party as they form up for a charge, frothing and burbling madly with tothy mouths. ...Disturbing. * Saki leaps an outcrop of rubble and twists in midair, spinning a devastating kick into a fallen cross-section of wall; it lifts from the impact in front of her and the second spinning impact sends it flinging towards the front line of enemies, a few of their number disappearing under sudden airborne rubble. ...Really, really disturbing. Damn, you win first strike then Saki! Saki's spinning kick delivers a chunk that flattens a good section of them with a gooy *spulrch sound* as the laser turrets splat a few more of them, the air filled with heat. * Rachel leaps over Saki and then they're both moving straight for the front line. "If you've time to talk, you're going to lose!" * Mikel streaks forward, taking full advantage of the confusion caused by Saki's opening salvo to jump into the thick of it. "Like hell!" The spear starts spinning, leaving contrails of white and black as he starts driving through the enemy's front line. The power of his combat form shines, as Mikel rends and jabs the nightmarish mutants, forming at last a path to the wall itself.. "Tell me about it." Angie gestures with a sweep of her hand and the Vega drone darts forward. Its hum loudens into a bee-swarm crescendo and a laser leaps from its glass eye! "Get out of here, you! You're relics of dystopia lost! This is Earth 2.0!" * Niri attacks as well, slashing great swaths into the line of fiends. As Angie's alsers sear more in tandem with the gun emplacements, you can see the spirits of tortured ancient humans arise from where the monsters are destroyed. These must be souls a lot like Rachel's trapped here and enslaved to a dark fate. * Saki impacts the front line with something of a squelch; she disappears in the midst of the enemies before in a burst of black power a large number are sent flying straight upwards, scattering in all directions. Many of them are intercepted midair by Rachel, doing a mad aerial dance of kicks and vicious slamming throws. * Trune traces willforce symbols in the air as he runs, a yellow wake left behind as he goes. * Mikel kicks off one fiend, leaving iwth with an angry slash across the face as he lands near Niri. "Just like when we're sparring, now!" He leaps back into motion, covering Niri's blind spots and letting her cover his. * Niri looks at the fading fiends, realizing what's happening and what they really are, and she makes a face, feeling a bit sick. She attacks with all the greater fervor though. * Vytor cannot manage the kind of martial prowess that Saki makes look so easy. Instead, he rips a large supporting collum from the ground and barrels into the mass of demons, swinging the pole around and around and cutting a swath through them like a tornado! Niri's sword hums and destroys the abominations, freeing them with its holy power from their bondage. * Niri nods and works with Mikel. "Right! Careful though, don't leave yourself too open!" * Niri slashes out at the fiends, back-to-back with Mikel, then whirling away for a few moments before coming around again to fight next to him. Vytor runs out of monsters to whirl through and instead smashes directly into the barricade, sending a gigantic section of it flying with a slam into the ground. The way deeper in is clear! * Trune finishes his incantion as a huge vortex of wind suddenly spins from behind Trune. It pivots around him as if it had a mind of it's own, and barrels towards the enemy! * Angie cups her hands and blows into them, then unlinks them to cast out a howling gale that sweeps across the battlefield. * Vytor drops the shattered remains of his former weapon, and starts looking for the next obstacle in the group's path. * Mikel clears out his chunk of them, half springing up in over Niri to cover her back as she turns about again. Fiends thinking they've escaped the Sword of Althena are instead met with the Meteoric Lance. * Rachel dives into the melee where Saki is doing an excellent job of creating a widening clearing; they start to move as fluidly as one, cutting a bloody swathe through the battle in Vytor's rough direction. Nothing comes close, as between them their mad dance around each other covers all corners. As soon as the breech opens up, the guns on top apparently overload and explode as well, the damage from the virus too much to bear. At the same time, on the other side advances a more formidable group of winged humanoids, skin all blackened and empowered by dark magic. Incoming! Some of them try to avoid Trune's attack, taking to the air and countering with bolts of negative energy aimed at the mage in venegeance! * Angie takes her time, sheltered in the wake of the party's swath of destruction. She moves with a slow and steady pace toward the stronghold, scattering any foes who trouble her. This pilgrimage will suffer no intervention. * Vytor again picks up the rubble he was using, and hurls it like a javelin at the winged beasties! * Saki darts to one side, throwing out a hand in the way of the dark spell to block for Trune's sake: the magic crashes against her then tears itself in two around her, creating a safe cone behind her. * Trune steps to the side in order to avoid the countterattack, muttering another incantation under his beath. Vytor's huge projectile screams through the air and bludgeons the larger of the demons, as it howls and falls to earth before it can complete its spell, it's skull smashed apart. * Niri slashes out at the nearest winged creature, dancing back to avoid a counterattack. * Mikel springs up again, kicking off another demon and simply streaking straight up into the air to lance another one of the winged creatures. Niri and Mikel go on an aerial melee, parrying the shots of negative eneegy as they trade blows with the claws of the agressors. * Trune finishes his incantion at a much faster rate this time, and traces a quick sigil into the air, which burns with a red fury. He snaps his fingers and points upwards as a huge plume of fire suddenly explodes from his fingers towards the enemy! Some of the demons on the ground open their mouths in tandem and begins to gather force for a gigantic beam attack aimed at the group! * Saki draws herself up high as the magic twists around her, absorbed and nullified; Rachel re-merges with her, then something in her aura changes, becomes a little... older. With the Chaotic force all around her, she's running on all cylinders. "--you think you stand a chance of stopping me? In a city of the dead?!" * Niri knocks one of the creatures back, then spins in a one eighty to attack another, vaulting over it as it falls and using its shoulders for purchase as she reaches for the next one. She strikes a winged creature on its way down after it was stunned in midair by Mikel. Watch it! They....just keep coming! We have to keep pushing through! * Mikel drives his lance into it, swinging himself up on top of it before he wrenches it out and finishes it with another jab to the back of the neck. "Incoming!" With that he jumps from that one to the next as his ride descends. It is treated to the same. A quick and efficent speartip to the back of the head. * Vytor tears another pieces of scenery from the ground and hurls it at the massing enemies. * Saki stands completely unafraid of the mounting attack, remaining directly in it's path. One of the twisted spirits flanks her; then another, and another. "You think you could stop us when we have an /army/ at hand?!" * Niri 's sword sweeps through a demon attempting to attack Mikel from behind, before she pivots to take out one of the group preparing the beam attack. * Mikel nods his thanks to Niri, jumping onto another one near her and dispatching it the same way. This one though he tries to direct the fall off, aiming right for the enemy group. << of* >> You think you can stop us? We are a TEAM. Zophar's going down, once and for all! Out of our way! willforce and blades and spears and even the scenry fly, as a powerful battle rages! Several fo the beasts are again stopped mid blast, but others manage to get their attack off, though it is deflected into the ground, creating an explosion that sends several members in opposite directions for a moment. Saki manges to dodge it, as the dead ghosts powering the fallen monsters start to colesce into a phantom platoon * Vytor gets tossed through the air like a rag doll. * Trune cries out, flying through the air for several feet before hitting a lone beam left behind from some forgotten building. Kindred spirits in a way, they look angry and ready to rush at their oppressors with phantasmal assault rifles and what appear to be wicked scythe-swords and riot shields. * Mikel finds himself soaring through the air, blinking once before righting himself even as blue light gathers around the spear. "Not happening that easy, bastards!" He lands on a ruined wall, running across it before springing back into the fray with a flash of lethal blue light. Multiple spears formed of ice whirl about him, guarding his flanks. * Angie is shielded by the rest of the party, but even she is knocked to her feet. The drone spirals backward a few meters before it regains its stability and buzzes back over to help her rise. * Niri braces herself against the wave of the attack, gritting her teeth. Once the worst has past, she pauses for a moment, gesturing with a hand. "Heavens hear my call - Musica Universalis!" * Vytor crashes into the roof of a small structure, which immediately collaspes on top of him in the process. * Niri casts a fairly high powered Musica on the demons that attacked her friends, the harmonic resonance rippling through their ranks. Niri's holy voice rends the twisted flesh from the demon's ranks, as they burn and howl before expiring. * Ryllan throws his hand to the sky, and Niri's song echos, growing and twisting to encompass even more of the demons. * Saki is lost amidst a sea of dancing lights and spirit-forms; the dark laser merely bends around her, then she is all too visible as she streaks off from her position, ahead of the massing spirits. As if connected to her by gigantic rubber bands, they begin to pick up speed of their own... then there is a ghostly army, feet pounding on stone, charging at full tilt. * Trune pushes himself to his feet, wiping a bit of blood that is seeping from his mouth, "That's it? Psh. I crap better magic attacks than that!" * Niri spares a brief nod of thanks to Ryllan before darting forward, the Sword of Althena still vibrating with the echoes of her spell. She slashes out in a flurry of strikes, echoing the movements of a conductor's baton, taking out any demons still standing near her. Beyond them is the sight of another large barrier, this one not far from the foot of the temple's entrance, rising above the battelfield like an omen. At its apex, swirls of dark magic are gathering, even as the AI battles in the sky, wreckages landing all about and some crashing into the obelisk. There's the finish line! I've picked his locks, but I can't do as much about the magic. Leave it to me. Yeah, we've got it. * Vytor erupts from the rubble, still looking ready to fight. He takes a moment to geat his bearings, and then he's in the fray once more. Session Time: Sun Jun 29 00:00:00 2008 * Niri looks around. Seeing the attacks have been staved off, she glances at her allies, checking for any serious injuries. * Saki crashes into the latest flank of monsters fist-first, once more disappearing quickly into a scrum of melee; behind her, roaring to wake the dead, dozens of angry spirits join her fight. Saki's army of the dead rushes forth with an otherworldy battle cry, just as it's opposite garison appears before you. the two forces clash! Trune, Vytor, you all right? * Trune nods, "I'll be fine." * Trune wipes the last bit of blood from his mouth. Takes more than that to stop me. * Niri nods, bracing herself for the next wave of enemies. It is heavily outnumbered, even with Saki's direction, and needs to be removed before you can breech the second wall. * Vytor charges for the enemy forces, intent on clearing a path. Lurking beyond that wall, Mikel feels a familiar evil rpesence... * Vytor slams into the enemy lines, and simply doesn't stop. He moves through their lines as if he were a steamroller! * Mikel suddenly crackles, his spears carving him a free patch of land as he stares at the barrier. "Oh. Oh. That's perfect." Then he joins the charge. * Saki yells commands to her impromptu army even as she punches spirits in the throat and sends reams of them flying with massive roundhousing kicks; some of them are absorbed with wailing cries, others dissipate, others simply become more fodder for her unit. Zombie shades of the old UN army trade assault rifle shots and slashes with the advancing group, as clangs and shouts echo into the air above. the laser turrets up ahead are firing at something on the other side, but a large arcane blast explodes the defenses like paper. * Trune charges forward once more, tracing sigils into the air. The sigils burn a hazy emerald. * Angie simply follows along. Every so often she hurls out a gust of willforce or her drone pierces a demon with a ray. The wall itself half collapses from the attack onto the army guarding this checkpoint, as a group of ten fiends stands there. they tower over the other ones, moving on several legs and seeming almost reptilian. You have seen these monstrous demons once before - one of their nubmer was the murderer of Emili. * Niri rushes forward, slashing out with a spin attack that takes out several of the enemy in one go. * Mikel tchs, waving a hand. "Mine! Mine! I've got these." * Vytor keeps chewing through the small fry, moving closer and closer to the fiends. * Trune cuts into the sigil with the tip of his spear, and suddenly thin, snaking vines spring up from under the ground! They reach towards the enemy, entwining and constricting them! A few of the vines do not wrap around the enemy, instead they spear through the enemies, like lancets! [Arch-Fiend] Humans, how dare you defile this unholy place! You will be a sacrifce to the dark lord of all! Yeah, yeah. Heard it before. * Niri doesn't even bother to respond to its taunts, simply stabbing the fiend in the chest and cutting off its words. Shove it, you goddamned pansy. Your leader will soon be dirt under my boot! Trune's magics stymie the enemy garrison, as the others make short work of it. Saki's ghostly army begins to discoporate, satisfied with the slaughter they have comitted. * Saki streaks forward from her army, body low, heedless of Mikel's dibs. "--tell that to the /humans/!" Can't take 'em all at once, Mikel. * Ryllan mutters, "Can't defile an unholy place." Oh yes I can. Watch me. Want a hand? WOn't need it. I've got old friends. * Niri eyes Mikel, just shaking her head and staying near him, attacking anything that comes close. * Mikel suddenly kicks up onto a ruined wall, gesturing for the rest to hold back as he drives his spear into the stone next to him. In one fluid motion he's drawn Ghaleon's sword, spinning it around once before gripping it with both hands. There's a crackle of willforce as bright light starts flaring up around it, conflicting with the natural shadow of the blade. * Mikel swings the sword once, the star and shadow magics whirling about him as an ominious rumbling echoes from the skies. "Sorry, Zophar. Piling furniture in front of the door isn't gonna save you from the payback I have in store." Another crackle of willforce as he murmurs something. "You'll be avenged too. It's fitting this works for it." * Niri stops as Mikel jumps to the wall. "Mikel, careful!" Niri's holy sword impales the fiend for his warning, but the others are not destroyed so easily, roaring and preparing to destroy the intruders, aglow with overwhelming hatred. ....He's going to do something horribly flashy again, isn't he? * Mikel breathes out a final sigh as the gathering willforce hits breaking point. "Heaven's judgement." A dragon's roar. "Hell's wrath." The angry scream of demons. "Storm's comin'. Let's put on a show." One more swing and the combined bolt flies up to the skies, disappearing in the clouds. >> The skies shatter, with out a lack of better term. From all intents and purposes it looks like it falls upon the barriers and the fiends, the pieces taking the shape of bolts of the two. The destruction engulfs the entire area even as cracks start to form across the sword. << for a lack of* >> * Vytor plows into the first Fiend in his path, and starting beating it into the ground like a tent peg. ...Yep. Flashy. ...He's got to teach me that someday. >> Mikel shatters the sword of Ghaleon, unleashing Shaterred Skies! * Angie steps back, uselessly shielding her eyes. The Vega darts around in confusion, momentarily blinded by the overwhelming elemental release. * Mikel gives it one last swing, the blade of the weapon that's cause so much trouble shattered once again into so much as dust. "This time it won't be restored, either." A flash as the hilt dissolves into the same, sunlight streaming through the broken clouds. >> From the dark heavens a storm of overwhelming force grows and growls, drowning out the puny screams of the demon army. A literal hail of metal and lightning falls upon the wicked, embedding tiself into the bodies of the arch-fiends and the last barricade. It rends them in pieces, blasted to dust in the tempestous wind that blows them away. * Vytor eeps as he suddenly find himself doging metal shards and lighting bolts! * Niri shields herself, throwing her arm up in front of her face as the willforce blast surrounds them. Along with the wreckages of the UAV drones that fall all around you, one would almost think it was the armageddon itself all over again. * Saki stands amidst the destruction, even willforce of this level bending around her. As it clears, she has her own side-effect; a little of the essence of the spell crackles around her gauntlets, grounding around her as she and Rachel hold the pose. "--anyone else?!" Mikel's attack destroys the entire gatekeer force. The final wall is breeched and the stairways to the top of the monument is clear! << gatekepper* >> * Angie is ill-equipped to dodge the assault, but her frail-looking armor proves the equal of the attack, and she's left prickling with shrapnel but no more than scratched. * Trune 's voice sounds strangely determined, "Let's finish this." [Arch-Fiend] H-H.. w-ill.. destroy.. everything! ..yeargh! * Niri nods, darting for the stairway. * Mikel yanks his spear free. "That's just a preview of what I've got in store for you, bastard. Now I just need to cram her spear down your throat." Then he's kicked off, rejoining the charge. * Vytor ends up looking a little fried and cut up by Mikel's efforts, but keeps moving. It's too late for that. Zophar's time is up. * Trune turns to the arch-fiend, his face stony, "No. He won't" He jams the spear into the monster's head, cutting off it's final words! >> After a few seconds, the Vega resumes its normal holding pattern, and Angie's shoulders slump with relief. She picks her way through the wreckage where the arch-fiends had stood. "'Unholy place'," she mutters. "I'm blind...what's their excuse?" It is still a fair distance to the top of the altar that rests atop the obsidian monument, but nothing else impedes your path as the defenses inadvertantly cover any ascent you make. * Niri rushes up the stairway, her green boots almost glowing with speed. * Vytor keeps moving, watchful for trouble. The presence of Zophar is much more palapable now, as a pillar of black light arises from the top. A voice echoes through the battle. * Trune 's breath quickens, and a hand goes towards his head for a fraction of a second. He then lowers his hand and places it on the Eightfold Spire, venturing forth into the maw of hell. * Saki smirks, low and dangerous. "A moment centuries in the making, huh," she remarks to herself, though it's not idle introspection: she's making for the altar. "Time to finish a lot of people's work." * Ryllan rushes forward, glancing back at Angie with a flicker of worry. * Mikel keeps running, swinging the spear back as there's another flash of willforce. Then he's simply normal Mikel again, gripping the Gemini Staff as he keeps forward. The star dragon diamonds set into it begin to whine. [Zophar] Haha! So you seek to challenge the lord of nothingness for this world? Come then..! * Angie picks up on the comment and smiles; her smile is totally different, gentle and a bit wistful. "And a cast of thousands." She draws her gun again. Ahhhh, at last he speaks. Talk, Zophar! Enjoy shaping words. You'll soon lose even that. If he's the Lord of Nothing then technically isn't he not a Lord at all? * Saki picks up speed, roaring to midair. "--/fuck/ the world! I'm just here to finish Pandora's job! To finish /my/ job!" she yells gleefully. * Trune laughs, "No, he's nothing. A pretender, he is." * Ryllan remarks, quietly, "And if he was at all intelligent, this would be the point where we'd be hit by about a hundred nuclear weapons. all at once." You're FINISHED, Zophar. It's time for you to pay for what you did to us! To Leah, to Emili, to my parents - for everything! As Ryllan remarks, the storm clouds up above start to part and there's the sight of a metallic object far, far above. Ut oh. * Trune looks up as the clouds part. For a moment, Trune's stoic face melts and he gives Ryllan the look of death, "I hate you so fucking much right now. You had to say that. HAD TO." * Niri blinks, then moves faster. "RUN." * Mikel glances up. Then /curses/, doubling his pace. "Faster! Looks like he's got eyes in the sky!" The computers that line this ascending corridor start to begin some kind of a countdown. There's dull mockery fo Emiria's voice on a few screens * Saki ramps to full speed. "--keep moving, then! If we're going to catch anyone with the damn blast, let it be him!" Enuma Eilish. From on high... * Trune runs as fast as his legs can carry him, "(w) Maybe...I underestimated him just slightly." Marduk. * Vytor starts sprinting! * Niri 's boots glow brighter as she races ahead of the others. * Ryllan redoubles speed, "Let's go! He's lucky to have Razgriz." * Angie moves with a steady and unconcerned stride, her face a mask of calm. "You can't scare me with numbers. Numbers are my friends." A hint of something plays across her face, like light cast by rippling water. "I have all the time in the world." [Emiria] Curse you! I don't know how you hacked into my systems, but your victory means little. The Marduk is operational. In several minutes, the colonies will be vaporized... ...You wish, Gadget girl! I'm going to break your FACE, but your master comes first! It seems like Emiria is possibly aboard the satellite itself, jusdging by the background in a cracked display. * Angie catches a glimpse of Emiria as she climbs upward. One glass eye stares at another; Angie's expression falters, even if her steps stay steady. [Emiria] This is the new order - fight it and you'll be destroyed as well! * Saki leaps briefly off the path to, without even the slightest bit of pomp or circumstance, put a fist through a nearby screen of Emiria's face. The momentum carries her back, and she keeps going as if nothing had happened whatsoever. * Vytor bites his tongue as Emiria keeps taling. There's always some future in which we win. All we have to do is focus on that future. Still betting against us, Emiria? You should know better. * Tanan speaks calmly. "If that fires on the colonies, Emiria, I promise you I'll spend centuries dissecting your soul." He will, too. The formerly beautiful face of the inventor grimaces a moment, hesitating briefly, and then she looks away. "....... Calibrating targeting systems..." Saki's fist ends the visage. Upwards you go as the last vestigaes of a defense grid give way and explode. The path behind you collapses partially from damages suffered with the crashing of a large unmanned aerial vehicle. ...Well, no easy way back now. * Tanan actually laughs. "Back? There's no need for that." Forward or nothing. * Trune looks at Tanan for a painfully long moment. Finally you come back iunto open air, and above you looms the figure of Rogar at the center of a vortex of truly dire forces, the polar opposite of Niri's sacred weapons. All there is now is defeating Zophar. Ah, there you are. * Niri points the Sword of Althena at Rogar. "Are you ready to die?" He is cleary the same body, but the man's spirit and mind have been warped, and his skin a sickly color, the veins throbbing like tendrils of demonic power flow through them. Payback time. The purple tinged hue replaces the drab pin skin, and he wields his hatchet with a grin. * Trune 's stoic look returns, and he brings the Eightfold Spire to bear, "This ends. Now." "Not quite the Zophar I remember," comments Angie, as much to herself as to anyone else, "but I guess time changes everyone. You got rid of that mole, anyhow." [Zophar] So, you've finally come. To try to finish the work of your msierable mother and father, Nirika. Ahhhhhh, not going to run again? Scurry off and buy yourself a few precious more seconds of life? * Saki and Rachel skid to a halt, because even Saki has to appreciate proper dramatic convention sometimes. They lead the group, and move to cover the mages. Psh, why Tanan? I want this fucker dead. Zophat then notices Angie and gives pause. "...you! What are you doing here, with them!" You aren't even a shadow of what they are, Zophar. I'm honored to be able to finish what they started. * Mikel laughs. "Oh man, you really are stupid." * Vytor pulls out the ECC and starts fiddling with it. << Zophar* >> * Angie shrugs. "I'm the tour guide." She raises her gun, and the Vega looks at its own reflection in the gunmetal. Grey glass eye. "I had a friend who was just dying to meet you." [Zophar] I should have destroyed you when I had the chance, traitor. Fitting I now shall remove the final mistakes all at once! There is no Althena to save your souls now! Fool! There's no Althena to save you from me! You won't be sealed off this time. There's a lot of things you should have done, Zophar. I guess there's a lot of things we all should have done. C'est la vie, huh? [Zophar] This superior body will be more than enough to erase you from the record of existence. And then your friends as well. As the Prophecy said, this Utopia ends by my hand. Venegance for my humilation will be done. * Mikel sets himself, watching Zophar with a maniac grin. "Like the lady says. Let's settle this." Zophar, you are going to pay for what happened to Leah, and to all the others. Live or die, we are not backing down. * Saki smirks, Rachel taking up position just behind her. "... we've never relied on Althena. Nor anyone but ourselves." Never put much stock in prophecies. They're so easy to break. * Trune laughs, "Oh man, are you seriously that pathetic? Althena, your precious mission to wipe out humanity? Let me tell you something, Zophar. You're nothing but a whiny, insipid child. You had power, you got stupid, and you want to take everyone out with you because you're some sad, angsty loner. But you're flawed. Horribly flawed. You failed twice. You will fail again. Zophar twirls the axe with a sadistic grin and takes a combat stance as the dark aura intensifies and the deadly satellite somewhere in the heavens begins powering up. * Vytor continues fiddling with the knobs and switches on the ECC, trying to get a signal. Vytor establishes a channel to the Moonbase! * Trune holds the Eightfold Spire inches from his face, the crystal already glowing with willforce energies, "Shall we dance, /Damien/?" * Vytor talks into the ECC as if it were a walkie-taklie. "Hello moonbase? Any Illermonternars on duty?" [Zophar] *purple face glares at Trune* ...you will be the first to die. I'm not follish enough to know who you're working for. << er not know >> Heh, well, if I go to hell, you're coming with me. After all, you've been there before. You can show me around! [Mercury] Hey, what's going on? is this it? Give me the array request, ASAP. over. Vytor! Get Jupiter or Neptune down here. You ignore me at your peril, Zophar. *She begins humming softly, building the resonance to cast strengthening magic.* * Saki begins to gather power; in as pervasive a chaotic place as this, it's plainly obvious to see as she becomes enveloped by a corona of her own energy. Hello, Mercury. Are Jupiter or Neptune near? If so, can you arrange to have one of them join us, please? Like a flash there is a rumble from above and a shaft of light explodes before Zophar, forcing him to back up a moment and shield his eyes [Jupiter] Zophar! You are hearby branded for termination! Trune, let us execute this order. Yes, this is it! This ends today! Thanks for joining us, Jupiter! Let's end this! * Vytor blinks as Jupiter arrives in a flash, then turns his attention back to the ECC, "Thank you, Moonbase. We'll let you know how things turn out when we win." [Zophar] Hah, you rely on such beings for power? I'll swat you all aside! Hey, Jupiter! You're gonna love what's coming up. Jupiter. It is.. good to see you! [Mercury] We're all on standby... ! You will see how well we operate, Destroyer. [Zophar] Haha, yes. Destroyer. I will show you to fear that title. Come! >> Zophar Battle - Phase 1! I fear nothing, least of all you. * Vytor puts the ECC away, and readies his hammer for battle. >> Zophar in the guise of the mortal body of Rogar, begins to gather the dark power around him! Hell Wave round 1/3. >> Rogar aims a Megaton Cleave at Trune! * Trune begins to trace willforce symbols in the air, one of which glows with a dark purple aura, and the other glows softly with all the colors of the rainbow. Trune then takes the eightfold Spire and traces a circle around himself, and that circle pulses with power. * Vytor moves to defend Trune, but not being at full power his capabilities are limited. >> Jupiter begins to gather a storm of his own, centered on Rogar. * Mikel gathers himself, even as his faithful Jolt fires off. >> Ryllan dematerializes! Mikel Jolts! >> Trune scans, and finds his enemy hasn't changed much... yet. >> Battle Phase. >> Vytor defends Trune from the attack! >> Mikel * Mikel crackles with willforce, gripping each half of his staff with a hand. There's a twist and pull as it is seperated into the two seperate parts, water and lightning engulfing him. "All or nothing! Gemini Storm!" And then the two Mikels stand, each holding their half of the staff. * Mikel` (Zack@cpe-66-75-58-152.san.res.rr.com) has joined #lunar-iog2 * Mikel sets mode: +o Mikel` 'fraid this is still the same old deal, Angie. * Angie doesn't reply right away. She's busy preparing her own willforce. >> Saki's action. * Saki does nothing but hold up a fist to midair; the aura around her ignites, and it can only be called a bright black around her. Rachel coalesces fully, looking as real as Saki, and their power turns tangibly that of their enemy. * Trune (~lucca@staff.lunarnet.org) Quit (Connection reset by peer) >> The dark soul of the prophetguard rises up, granting the warrior a similar power to her nemesis... Epoch Install! stats up 30% and chaos soul. Magic block enabled. Willforce draining on! Prophetguards's Cry attracts the souls of the damned to her cause while 350 willpower ebbs away into the fury. * Trune (~lucca@astound-66-234-193-219.ca.astound.net) has joined #lunar-iog2 * ChanServ sets mode: +o Trune [Zophar] still standing in your 'brother's' way, Vytor? >> Rogar uses Feint! His Megaton Cleave instead finds its mark... on Thunder Mikel! [Zophar] .. but You're still a predictable, obsolete fool.! Tch! This is going to suck. A lot. * Trune snarls, "Cheap shot!" >> 832 damage! Thu8nder Mikel is struck down by the cheap shot! His storm ends as quickly as it began! * Niri snarls in fury. >> Then there's one Mikel again as thunder is scattered, standing there as blood flows from a deep gash across his chest along with blue and yellow willforce. Sorry, Mikel. * Mikel stares at Rogar for a few moments, fury starting to rise up... then it calms as there's the slighest crackle of both shadow and star and then nothing. "Focus." Temporary setback. Nothing more, Mater of Nothing. Keep dancing, Zophar. Keep dancing. >> Mikel si reduced to 372 HP from the breaking of the storm. Keep it together, Mikel! A boost is on the way. >> Niri's action. * Niri holds her left hand aloft, gathering swirls of power in it as the air seems to hum around her. "Eternal harmony, grant us your protection and strength!" With that, power surges down into her body from the pool collected in her hand, rippling outward to her allies. * Niri is imbued with renewed strength and agility. Lure's boots glow emerald green as Crescendo and Tenuto take hold, triggering a burst of speed in their wake. * Tanan creates a series of tones that harmonize with Niri's song, enhancing her defenses. As he does, a web of willforce springs from him and wraps itself around Jupiter. "I'm sorry, but this is important. Trune gave me a gift when he handed me your commander... I'm pulling rank!" The web constricts around the elementalors, siphoning his energies away, as the song echoes itself again, focusing this time on Angie ...What the hell are you doing!? ..? * Trune looks absolutely livid. * Angie looks confused. The drone's eye snaps to Tanan, and Angie's shaping almost falters. * Mikel starts as the enchantments lay themselves upon him, suddenly reaching into the wound and drawing out a blood stained hand. He doesn't notice Tanan's actions just yet, casting his hand as blood sigils appear on himself and then on Angie and Trune. "Something I learned from the East..!" What does it look like! >> Niri and Tanan combine their talents to use Crescendo and Tenuto on herself! With Ryllan's command of metamagic, the notes wash over to Mikel, Vytor and partially to Saki & Ryllan as well. Defensive and & offensive stats are raised 50%. Mikel echoes the song of defense to Trune and the offense to Angie as well, for a price of his own willforce. * Trune 's look of pure anger doesn't leave, "After this, we will have words, /Professor/.". Gh.. damn, should have watched her work more carefully... the hell, Tanan? >> Tanan's strange new powers manifest as Jupiter is suprised when a portion of his EP (-30) is siphoned off to boost Angie defensively as well. * Tanan laughs again, a joyful sound, as lights play under his surface. "If I survive this you can say anything you like, and if I burn myself out here then you can talk into the abyss!" [Jupiter] What... is this? ...I'm sorry, Jupiter. When I asked you to come here that wasn't what I had in mind. ...you're scaring me, Prof. Eyes front, girls! Hair-pulling comes later. >> Jupiter tried to ignore it and focus, casting Thunder Justice on Rogar's body! >> He shrugs off the attack, as it scratches him for 384 damage. Jupiter loses 72 EP. >> Angie's action. * Mikel blinks once... then smiles. It's a very cruel smile, highlighted by the fact he's still bleeding willforce and blood. "Oh. Ohoho. You can't..." >> The Vega's lens buzzes and twists, focusing on Zophar. Her face knits in concentration...and nothing happens. At least, the eye sees nothing. To an adept, the surge of her diagnostic spell's willforce is clear as day. >> Indeed the dark god seems to have lost Rogar's innate ability to block the elements. Angie follows up with the aptly named Angiogram and seeks to learn more secrets! Angie, what've you got? "I was watching you before you were anybody," she says, quietly. "I was always there. Do you know why the world fell into line, Zophar? Because you're BORING. The world was scary and people wanted stability. Well, times have changed. And I appreciate the new look, but you just haven't." >> Rogar-Zophar 9516/9900 HP 420/450 MP, 300/300/150/225/300/195 React 495. No weakness/immunities. No items. (more) * Angie reaches up to cup her antenna impalant in her hand and closes her eyes. She looks as though she's listening to headphones. "Heh." After a moment, she looks up again. "He's got a big hit coming. Should be something to see! Careful if you go after him directly -- he'll hit back." >> Angie's Forearmed Skill is engaged after her scan! I see the real you in there. Let's strip aside this shell to cut out the rot! >> trune's action. Voices in the Night, Whispers from Beyond. Spirits of dark, be a source of power.. Mimir's Well! * Trune holds his spear aloft, curls of shadowy energy swirling about his body as a spidery string of arcane words slips from his tongue. He then holds his weapon outwards, and the shadowy energy draws inwards and then dissapears. * Trune spins his spear over his head, as the circle of willforce surrounding him suddenly explodes with energy. He holds up eight fingers, and each pulse with color; a different element on his fingertips. Suddenly, the energy bursts outwards, twisting around Trune into a rainbow-hued cone of shimmering elemental energy! [Zophar] Haha... that eyeful will be your last! Indeed it will! There won't be anything left to look at soon! >> trune casts Eightfold defiance... the elemtns themselves protect him from physical and magical harm! >> The adept follows it up with Mimir's well upon himself, as the dark figure of Pluto gives him access to her arcane secrets of power projection. Tal/Wil/Dex Up! >> Ryllan recovers 28 Mp! >> Round 2 * Angie loosens up, slipping out of her combat stance. Her arms fall to her side, and she begins to pace slowly about like a woman lost. The Vega points straight up, and out of habit her head too is craned back, scanning the sky. * Saki and Rachel remain stock-still. [Zophar] Hah, is this all you have, heroes? * Mikel smirks. "Encore." >> The black vortex is growing larger, the ground beneath your feet pulsing with power, like a gate to the abyss is about to swallow you. >> Hell wave 2/3 You will soon see what I'm capable of. Keep prattling, if it makes you feel confident. I will /end/ you! We're just getting /started./ * Ryllan pulls a small crystal out of his bandolier. It begins to fill with an azure light, as Ryllan's brilliant sword dims. >> Rogar prepares to use Ground Zero on Niri! Just try it! * Trune traces a willforce symbol with his fingertip. The wake left behind pulses with dark energies. >> Jupiter girds himself as lightnign encircles his fists, rushing to the attack. >> Battle Phase. >> speedy Saki! >> Ryllan prempts even her to use an enhanced item! * Ryllan tosses the crystal behind him, sending the blue light flurrying around the battlefield, until it finds it's targets, seeping into their eyes and mouths. >> Ryllan extends his Mana Crystal as Ryllan/Trune/Vytor regain 150 MP! Saki regens 450 WP! * Vytor nods to Ryllan his thanks. >> Saki's action. * Saki suddenly blurs - in an instant she has vanished from her spot and materialised behind Rogar, fist burning black. She spings, impacting Rogar's back with a spiked elbow and then a shoulder and then she pushes, the momentum sending him stumbling direct into Rachel and a wild flying kick that, as she impacts and arcs downwards, turns into a series of raking strikes. * Saki charges in from behind, and both Rachel and Saki simultaneously smash Rogar upwards into the air. She follows, further tearing into the airborne Rogar and tearing apart his defences with another brutal series of midair kicks; finally she twists, kicks him away and then lands down on him feet first, momentum bearing him to the ground in a massive slam. >> Punching Apocalypse. Aptly named, she takes a fierceness to his hide that the resurrected god is hardpressed to entirely deflect. 250, 259, 250, 261, 265! Nice one, Saki, Rachel! >> Saki regains 129 WP. >> Snarling, he coutners with Hex Hatchet! 216, 206, 201! >> 72 Wp drains away! >> Niri's action. >> Niri draws upon Tanan's expertsie to engulf Rogar's form in a Lattice! >> 810 damage. React and Muscle down! He is contricted! [Zophar] Curse you and that armor! The first step, Zophar! The first step! * Niri strikes out with a crystalline extension of Tanan. She merely nods to Zophar as he snarls his response. "You're welcome." >> Zophar counters with Hex Hatchet! But with his muscle reduced the axe is barely a nuisance to the moon princess. 98, 99, 87! You picked a horrible host. That's adorable. Struggle! I'm going to enjoy this. Adorable is right. What was that, a mosquito bite? >> The Lattcie also squeezes.. 390 damage. 39 regained. >> Tanan's action. * Tanan shines as Niri manipulates his spikes into position. "These people are my allies, Zophar! You won't harm them so easily. We're through playing your idiot games!" The air wavers, coalescing into a barrier around his wielder and a number of the others, and the spectral web of force again bites into Jupiter, siphoning energy away. We'll protect you as well, Jupiter. I'm not totally heartless! When all this is done I promise you you'll be able to take a nice long rest. Hell, I'll buy you a beer or something, come visit. Until then though, I'll use anything I can! Hmm, Tanan and Jupiter in a drinking contest... that's something to lay bets on. >> Tanan drains his AP pool to summon a Phase Barrier around all allies but Saki & Trune! He siphons off the energy to refill himself from the bewildered Elementalor, refilling himself. (-60 EP) >> Mikel's action. * Mikel snaps his fingers as the staff spins. The battered adept disappears, replaced by the twins yet again. Both of them stronger than before, both of them defended thanks to Tanan's willforce shaping. >> The Mikels comes back and better than ever! * Mikel` stretches, already starting to gather up shadowy waters. * Mikel bounces from foot to foot, looking at Zophar. "That /stung/ you son of a bitch." >> Jupiter uses Shocking Grasp! "Feel the fury of the heavens manifested in my bare hands!" >> Jupiter attacks - 78, 66, 99! After each hit a shiver of electricity travels through the opponent, enervating Them. Dex reduced by 50%. >> EP down by 20. << er 30 >> >> Rogar's body breaks free and tries to slam the Elementalor in response - hex Hatchet! 89, 82, 88! >> The Lattcie constricts... 365 damage. 37 Mp abosrbed to Niri! >> Vytor's action. * Vytor charges Zophar, testing his defenses against an old-fashioned whupping! >> Backup - JUptier evased the counter, but Phase Barrier falls! >> Vytor decides to test his mettle against his lost brother... 2 hits! 187, 166! >> Zophar counters with Rogar's axe.. HH! But Vytor laughs it off. 43, 49, 52! * Vytor hrmphs, shaking off the work of Zophar's efforts. >> The Lattcie draws ever tighter... 377! 38 MP absorbed! >> Angie's action. So, honestly, how does it feel? How long until we start getting deep? You're working him over pretty nicely. Save some for us, will you? But this is so much FUN. >> Angie is weaving what looks to be a time magic spell, her position in the timestream becoming fuzzy. >> trune's action. * Trune smiles a hostile smile, eyes narrowing to almost slits, "Like I said, you are a Master of Nothing, and nothing more than a pathetic man pretending he's a God..." *Trune's voice becomes soft, and deadly, "Dance some more for me, won't you? I will enjoy seeing you writhe." 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 eviscerates the servitor's body, dealing an even 1500 damage! Whoa o_O * Niri gives Trune an approving nod. [Zophar] Grr, the nightmare.. is only beginning, boy... Very nice! Excellent technique. Now let's see... No, /YOUR/ nightmare is beginning! >> Rogar counters with Headhunter! His hatchet is tossed at the agressor aiming for his neck >> Trune's Physical Block is down! * Trune stands calmly as the ax bounces harmlessly off his elemental shield, "Is that it? That's all? Pathetic!" * Angie points confidently a part of the sky like any other. Her fingertip marks a line through the thick clouds to a single star. Of course, that's how it was. It could hardly be otherwise. She smiles as the last tumbler turns. .snrut relbmut tsal eht sa selims ehS .esiwrehto eb yldrah dluoc tI .saw ti woh s'taht ,esruoc fO .rats elgnis a ot sduolc kciht eht hguorht enil a skram pitregnif reH .rehto yna ekil yks eht fo trap a yltnedifnoc stniop eignA * .yks eht gninnacs ,kcab denarc si oot daeh reh tibah fo tuo dna ,pu thgiarts stniop ageV ehT .tsol namow a ekil tuoba ylwols ecap ot snigeb ehs dna ,edis reh ot llaf smra reH .ecnats tabmoc reh fo tuo gnippils ,pu snesool eignA * >> The Lattcie squeezes again as the weapon returns to its master like a boomerang. 386 damage. 38 Mp restored * And it ever was so. * Angie uses a Mana Crystal on Trune! >> Angie's Predestination kicks in, as it's hard to tell if she is coming or going to the particular moment in time. But Trune recovers 150 MP sure enough. * Mikel` looks at Angie. "The hell was /that/?!" * Trune nods to Angie in gratitude. Interesting trick. * Angie smirks, a little pleased with herself. "There's only one future I'm interested in." * Ryllan glances at Angie, eyes narrowing, as if against a sudden brightness. >> Rogar struggles, as Zophar's spirit rages, aiming for Niri. But his attack bounces off her Phase Barrier. >> The lattcie digs into the artifical human's skin, the spikes drawing dark blood. 370 damage. 37 Mp! * Niri smirks as the attack fails completely. Just let us know when you give up. >> Ryllan's cape returns 28 MP. She has a compelling point! If you give up now we'll kill you. But kinder than we would otherwise. How many bodies have you had, Zophar? Don't you want to do something special for the last time? Let's have a look at what's under there. [Zophar] ...pathetic wretches. I'm going to show you the true power of what you face. Look upon the abyss and despair! >> Round 3 Right. Sure, get right on that. You first, Damien-dear. >> Hell Wave 3/3. The maw of the dark world is about to be cast on all targets! * Mikel glances at his watery counterpart. "So, think we can manage it?" >> Rogar's drained stats recover by 25%! I'd say so. The theory behind it makes sense, from our point of view. * Saki crows. "I was born there, you fool! I was /made/ to take you down! Fire for fire!" A hop and a step pull her and Rachel back, then they launch forward on the attack once again. >> Rogar adopts a defensive posture, in order to shape the chaotic energies. Jupiter! Prepare to capitalize on this! * Mikel` hefts his half of the Gemini Staff, star dragon diamond beginning to glow in conjunction with the Thunder Mikel's. * Trune traces another willforce sigil in the air; the wake is still dark and delicious. * Vytor gets ready to attack again. [Jupiter] Right. Let's not give him his chance! Anyone with thunder or water willforce prepped, wait until we get this out there. * Angie traces two fingers along her bare arm, and writing springs to life along it. She stares at the clock and breaks into a grin. 133 seconds. "133! Semiprime, 7*19!" Words play across her skin in spidery script penned in starlight. English and other languages; lines of text flow across her as if they ran through her veins. The unobscured snatches of text look oddly familiar; perhaps this is the answer to Mikel's question. * Mikel` turns to look at Angie, staring in amazement before resuming his own shaping. "You... holy shit." * Angie thrusts out her arms and arches backward, contorted in the grip of energies a bit beyond her means or understanding. Her skin is checkered with script until she is hardly visible beneath it, but suddenly, all the text stops, and like a moire sliding into place, it all makes sense. >> Every line reads, "YOU'LL HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE." And the world stops to rest. ... we definitely need to talk after this, Angie. Whoa. >> Angie uses Celestial Conjunctio! While she herself is trapped in temporal stasis, the threads of fate that enable her decisive actions shift onto her allies, who are infused with super speed for an instant! * Ryllan winces and looks away, hands already beginnning to glow with a familiar azure aura. * Niri blinks and stares. Mikel, I think Angie is giving you a run for your money. * Mikel` chuckles. "You have no idea." The diamonds begin to hum. Let's do as she suggested and cut him out of that miserable shell, then, shall we? Ryllan! Jupiter! Anything you two can spare will be... wonderful. >> Jupiter preapres to delay his biggest spell until the perfect moment. Right. No holding back, now, Tanan. >> Battle Phase. * Niri throws her energy into the joint attack she is preparing with Tanan, granting him as much power as she can. >> The Hell Wave begins to build with unholy speed, but Angie spell supercedes it's demonic force for the split second needed to act. Saki! * At the very moment the world stops, Saki is moving again. She blasts into Rogar shoulder-first, twisting immediately. One of her arms grabs one of his, the hatchet held away from her; a swift hooking kick takes out his legs, then Saki pushes and they're airborne, laterally somersaulting before Saki drives Rogar's face into the ground in a complicated throw. Disengaging involves a pirouetting handstand then a vicious kick, sending Rogar up into the air anew * Rachel intercepts; blazing in from the sky, she uses momentum and sheer force and power to drive a sequence of kicks into his midriff, then she lazily flips and brings both knuckles down, hammer punching him back to the original martial artist. * Saki * Saki grabs Rogar roughly by the neck, her trademark move accompanied by a shining blaze of power. Her gauntlet ignites with it, searing Rogar's skin, then she tosses him up in the air like a ragdoll, rears back, and with a final yell delivers a thrusting punch that sends him scattering across the floor. >> Saki once moee attacks the deteriorating shell of Zophar's choosing, as he defends desperately. 156, 172, 167, 160, 159! >> Saki siphons 81 WP! Rogar counters with his Hex Hatchet, but it does little to stop her assault. 66, 59, 63! >> 72 Wp lost in the attack >> Lattice squeezes again.. 369! 37 MP! >> Niri's action. * Niri strikes out with a rapid flurry of repeated strikes on Zophar, unrelenting in its speed and ferocity. * Niri moves swiftly, almost a blur, the spikes still piercing into Rogar's body. She attacks from all sides and all directions, moving faster than seems quite real. << Scratch that, delaying >> >> scratch that. >> Niri delays! >> Mikel's action. >> The two Mikels start moving in complete synchronization, the whine of the Star Dragon diamonds reaching new heights as they flare with blue and yellow light. Willforce starts whirling about them, forming streaming water and crackling thunder as the whine continues to grow as if they're about to break. >> They swing their halves out, barking out a laugh. Copies of Emili's diary appear in front of them, pages fluttering quickly. "Eternal storms from the frayed edges of time where none dare to tread, break free! Mikel Sayeld commands you, come forward and engulf! Avenge your mistress!" Tears seem to open in the fabric of reality around them for just a moment... before water and lightning come streaming forth. >> They whirl about the entire battlefield, encasing it in a sphere that leaves both enemies and friends within the maelstrom. The scene drastically changes within, water and thunder whirling everywhere as everyone finds themselves on platforms of water (which is still flowing even as it holds them) and thunder. >> The area around Zophar is suddenly engulfed in the same. Blades of ice, explosions of thunder, flowing water. It assails him. At the same time it saps at his soul as the power of both Water and Thunder begin to overflow, infusing the entire area. The Mikels speak in stereo, cocksure and smirking. Their voice echoes from the sphere itself. "This is what I am, what I will always be. An Unrelenting Storm." >> Mikel unleashes a combination with himself! >> The Unrelenting Storm engulfs the altar of the black temple, as Water and Thunder begin to writhe and manifest in chaotic patterns, the raw energy flowing through Mikel and outwards through the spirits of his foes. >> Water/Thunder Field Effect boost! Mikel now has MP damage on spells! * Mikel and his counter part reach out, closing the book with a nod and tucking it away with a nod. Took long enough... ...but it's perfected, now. * Niri looks rather impressed. >> Zophar is also struck for 1169 damage! He loses 110 MP, his reserves gone! He cannot coutner attack! He's dry! Finish it! Thanks, Mikel! Okay, Zophar, time is UP. >> Jupiter lashes out... Thunder Justice! The field amplifys the result.. 682! >> -72 EP << Niri, Tanan, going now, etc. >> >> Niri may act! * Niri brings the Sword of Althena up before her. "It's time for you to meet Althena's legacy, Zophar. Farewell." In a burst of speed, she rushes forward, striking swiftly and repeatedly, darting in from seemingly all sides at once. * Niri falls back after the initial barrage of attacks, but before Zophar can recover, she strikes with a final blow, the Sword of Althena glowing with celestial power and humming softly in a resonance that seems to faintly echo the music of the stars. * Tanan shines brightly, forcing energy into Althena's sword as Niri assaults Zophar. The light of the blade increases as the attack continues, shining brilliantly as it ends. There's a pause, long enough to accept the energies of Ryllan's technique. The sword, now almost too bright to look at, leaves a burning trail in the air as it brought back around one last time, the released energy exploding in an incandescent display of w * Tanan crackles with lightning drawn from Jupiter as the light from the attack fades. He laughs, shouting "Once more!" in a joyful tone, the remaining energy drawing back out of the sacred blade and joining with the energy infusing him from the elementalor. Another shining pulse emanates from Niri, and the light drains from her form, pulsing through the lattice digging into Zophar, entangling him and driving the shining spikes >> Niri prepares to give Rogar's shell the coup de grace... Flurry! The holy sword cuts into the servitor's skin as he manages to dodge some but holes begin opening up wherever it slices and a dark blood seeping out that burns the ground. 156! 144! 162! 160! << display of wrath, shining spikes deeply into his body. >> Zophar in the body of Rogar breathes heavily, not completely defeated. The power is still building. * Ark (~Ark@ppp118-208-124-102.lns4.bne4.internode.on.net) Quit (Quit: PC necromany) >> Tanan follows it up with Empowered Strike! His Lattcie closes in on the evil creature, as the body howls in agony. Ryllan only aplifies the apparent deathblow. 1592 damage! >> Rogar's body continues to function. Invicible Conqueror! He surives with 1 HP. You're going to so regret getting back up... >> Tanan is not satisfied and extends a tendril to Jupiter, draining his willforce to coup de grace! Empowered Strike! Pah, you only prolong your end! >> 902 damage! Jupiter is drained of 25 EP * Tanan shifts tones now, the amusement gone and his words coming out seething with hatred and rage. "Come out of that shell, you worthless creature! Come out and face oblivion! I was born for this moment and I promise you there is no escape!" [Zophar] G.haha... this vessel.. has already.. served its.. purpose It's time to face your fate, Zophar! >> 132. Come out, then, Damien! Let's play one more game! * Mikel glances around, his voice echoing again throughout the sphere. "So, what's next, Zophar?" I can't say I was born for this moment...but I waited 3000 years to kill you. You can imagine I'm kind of antsy. * Mikel` chuckles. "Do we get to drag this out some more?" >> Rogar's body begins to break up... as it does so the time distortion begins to slip away and the wave of shadowy force races upwards from the ground beneath your feet. * Mikel and his counterpart cast their arms out, working to maintain the storm raging around them. "What's this, now?" * Trune looks down in alarm, "The miasma beneath out feet...look out! It's coming!" * Niri braces herself ..! >> Rogar's face begins to get ripped to shreds, like the rest of his corpse as the mealstrom of chaos magic rips Zophar's spirit free, briefly becomign one with the rush of underworly force into the sky. * Tanan sounds delighted again, manically shifting between extremes . "Yes! Come and die, fool!" Finally. >> Tanan's Phase Barrier encases the party in a bubble that is buffeted byw ave after wave of screaming tortured souls from the depths of Hell itself. Trune hides behind the rmeantns of his barrier as well! Saki in contrast, finds herself entirely unaffected, bathing in the Hell Wave like a fish in the sea. << remnants >> >> Saki regains 666 WP! * Mikel` narrows his eyes, shadowy core pulsing in tune with the storm even as the barrier protects him from it. "Well then." Somehow I bet that wasn't the result he was hoping for. * Niri squeezes her eyes shut tight, not liking this one bit. She's feeling very unsteady, barraged by Tanan's exuberance and her own fear. * Mikel on the other hand looks rather unnerved, starlight glowing from within. * Trune stands fast in the swirling chaos, even as the barrier begins to buckle and sway, then slowly crack, "Come out, you bastard! Let's end this!" * Ryllan stands, even as gashes open along his bare arms and face. They are shallow wounds, barely even bleeding, "A scratch. That's the best you can do?" >> Ryllan however, finds himself all along in the current of evil, surviving the mental and physical flaying by his sheer willpower. 1001 damage! His magic is now temporarily tainted... * Ryllan falls to his knees, suddenly, spitting blood to the crackling ground, "Oh. Aftershocks." * Angie is shielded by faith, where faith = Tanan.\ Ryllan! ..! After the wave subsides, the dark spirit of the Destroyer reappears. << Stor, see OOC >> In the place of the servitor is a tall purple skinned montser, his arms and legs replaced by four gigantic scaled serpents. My, but aren't /you/ pretty? * Trune snarls, once again holding the Eightfold Spire inches from his face. The crystal tip begins to glow with willforce energies, "I will end you." >> Suddenly, Ryllan flashes, a dark wave rushing over him as a dragon roars. * Ryllan stands up, wounds filling in with dark energy and fading without a trace. You are one ugly son of a bitch, Zophar. >> Ryllan suddenly finds himself healed up magically as the Shadow Scale he carries dissolves to dust You all right, Ryllan? * Mikel` ...smirks. "All that effort paid off, back in China." * Niri turns back to Zophar, grinning humorlessly. "So, are you done hiding behind your meat shield?" * Ryllan looks at his arms, a bit perplexed, "Apparentl- Oh. Hah. Amazing the things you forget." No kidding. This world probably won't even remember you in a decade, Zophar. The four heads and Zophar's own warped face glare, as they writhe in unison, fangs open wide. You'll just be another fading scar. One, two, three... Oh, good. There's enough for all of us. [Zophar] Gaze upon the face of your Destroyer, and dispair. Your puny tricks will no longer save you from the coming annihilation. Oh, they'll remember. They'll say, "Wow, remember that pathetic fucker named Zophar. Couldn't do anything worth a damn." You had your chance to destroy the world, Zophar. No retakes. * Tanan sing-songs. "You have it baaaaackwaaaards." * Mikel` barks out a laugh. "Puny?! Right then, buddy. Now you've gone and insulted my professional pride." Oh goddess, you had to do that. Now he's going to take you apart. Can we get on with this circus act? [Zophar] I once sought to rule this world, but humanity is unfit for even that! I will scourge you all from this planet, and destroy it instead, as I should of long ago. My father KILLED you, Zophar. And he didn't have the weapons that I do. You haven't got a prayer. The broken viewscreen sputters to lfie not far from the altar... So in other words you're going to be a big, whiny baby. Like I said. You idiot. [Emiria] What? Master Zophar... you are going to destroy it all? If you do that there will be noone to worship you! * Mikel cracks his neck, then glances back at Emiria. "He's the /DESTROYER/, Razgriz. What did you /think/ he was going to do?" Haven't you been /listening/, Razgriz? Hi, Emiria. What, you're only just now figuring that out? He's been talking about this since before you joined up. * Trune laughs loudly, "Oh goddess, you're just figuring this out NOW? You know how to pick them, Destroyer!" Goddess, woman, did you go stupid along with insane. Wake up! You've known him for how many millennia and you haven't figure out that he's a freaking genocidal psychopath? Emiria please! Stop this while you can! I know you don't want to see the world destroyed! [Zophar] Haha, that's right. It will all end. I'll exact your venegance on all of the human race. This world is naught but ash. And your weapons have aided me in doing so. Boy don't you feel stupid now. * Mikel shakes his head. [Emiria] I didn't want them all killed -- this was not part of the bargain. Damnit, you used me. Well no SHIT shirlock! * Niri just stares at Emiria, and shakes her head. * Mikel` can't offer a response. He's buried his face in his hand. Hey Razgriz! Turn some of the firepower on him and I think I can get you down for a nice light prison sentence somewhere instead of a brutal execution! Zophar must have liquefied her brains to jelly. [Zophar] I've been using you ever since the war, Razgriz. Now, continue the firing pattern. Or join your friends here on the execution pyre. Don't do this Emiria! Please! [Emiria] ..*turns away and starts to try to override the sequence* * Mikel breathes out a sigh. "Decision time, Emiria." Don't be a fool! This crreature doesn't have the power to follow through on his threats, Emiria. Even you, it's not too late. [Zophar] I figured you'd have second thoughts -- but I'm afraid it's too late. Even if he does. Die now, or die later. What a choice he offers. * Angie stands atop the ruined temple and looks at the gun in her hand. "I dunno, man. You spent so much time watching the earth; you should have looked at the stars. You come back over and over in some way or another and yet it always had to end this way. But I guess in the end, it wasn't your fault any more than it was anyone else's. White moved first and black had already lost." The screen shows one panel exploding in the control center as she is thrown into a wall and knocked out. Emiria! Damn. ...Damn! Fine, let's finish him and then deal with that. * Trune looks up towards the sky. For the first time since the battle started, there's slight fear in his eyes. 'ey, Jupiter. Can your comrades up above do anything? The dark god snickers to himself as the serpent look hungrily at them, the dark light gathering in space intensifying. Damn you, Zophar... [Jupiter] We'll try to jam it... Get moving. We can clean up down here. [Zophar] It's useless... as is your pathetic goddess! This eternal struggle we have waged is at an end. Come, and taste doom! Go. Go help the others. This is an order! * Trune turns back to Jupiter as he says this. Jupiter nods, as he defers entirely to trune and the avatar vanishes for the moment Jupiter! If you go, send down another! The focal point is here. Even if you stop the satellite it's all meaningless unless this battle is won! We'll be fine, Prof. Don't worry, they aren't done yet. We are not done yet. >> phase 1 - battle end! Start phase 2! * Mikel` stretches, setting himself. "This is it, after all. All that time, all those battles, all the people we met. This is where it all comes to." You're living on borrowed time, Zophar. You have minutes left. Come on, let's end this. * Trune twirls his spear, pointing it straight at the Dark God, "Final thoughts, Destroyer?" In response to Niri's challenge the dakr god hovers in the air, his appendages emboying the spirit of the destruction of all life. She can see for a brief moment the similarity of he and what was dipicted upon the stained gladd at the Spire. And she, like the angel of yore, now wields the weapon that will end his tyranny once and for all. << glass* >> == SESSION END == >> 29 xp! Session Close: Sun Jun 29 03:45:23 2008