After listening to the story, I turn over the offer in my mind for a brief moment. I agree to have her come with us. I return to my comrades to help assist with securing transport.
[RPG] Sword and Sorcery Play-by-Post
(Just want to pop in to say "YAY, action tennis!". Keep it up, this is great stuff.)
EDIT: (Oh, and I've been introducing dragons in alphabetical order: Atticas, Bankraz, Cecette. So you can rest easy about ARSONIUS, he won't be making a physical appearance [he's dead, Jim!])
For now we leave ARSONIUS out of the plot. He may make an appearance later with a different name though, that is up to [MENTION=39330]CJC[/MENTION] discretion though.
Granberia
I stop by the timber store, and ask for 50 pounds of wood.
"Umm miss that's quite a heavy load. Are you sure you need that much. I understand it's winter, but being a fire dragon..."
I put down a bag of gold. His eyes go wide at the site of it.
"Pleasure doing business with you maam"
I take the wood smile, and use my sense of smell to teleport onboard the Paladin's ship. I hide out of site.
"Hehehe, CECETTE; soon you'll meet your demise and that crimson stone will be mine."
@Tamamo
I am not sure what to make of this Granberia. I did not sense any trace of aasimar in her but there was something odd in her bearing. What she might know about my blades is of little concern--masterwork, yes, but they have no magical enhancements. But I do not know to what "red stone" she is referring. The false stone she took from me was of a green (viridian) color.
If she is going to be on the ship, she must be the other client the pirate woman mentioned. I turn back to her to see what she might have to say about the exchange, but it appears she did not notice--she is busy conversing with Goldleaf about the enchanted sword he offered her.
Deleted
[MENTION=56506]Tamamo[/MENTION]
(OOC: Are you implying that Granberia is the pirate woman? If that is the case, it was not made clear to me. If that is not the case, then who is offering you a magical sword? Certainly not one of my characters)
[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Nevermind I misread 😛
Fixed
=====
[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Zataka, you board the ship with the barmaid, who tells you her name is NAVINE. She's not sure why she's following you; the conversation you shared with the celestial entity ALISIA inside of her seems to have evaded her perception. After Navine is aboard, you go back to the dock and transport your rations onto the ship. While the celestial being said she would take care of matters you feel it never hurts to be safe. You already paid for them, after all.
[MENTION=56506]Tamamo[/MENTION]
Granberia,
You teleport aboard the ship by slicing a wyrmhole into the air. Hopping through it, you find yourself amidships in the bay, immediately between two barrels of gunpowder. Since you're a stowaway you decide to wait here until the boat leaves dock, as that will make the ensuing brawl more exciting. Or perhaps you'll play helpless and try a diplomatic approach. You haven't decided yet.
Still, you know you need to go west, and the crimson stones of D'ARSONIUS will draw your prey to you.
(I had a change of heart, D'Arsonius will be next. Beware the crimson dragon of the flame!)
Alisia,
You feel your deal with the Paladin has improved your grip on this world. Navine has formed a small lump on her left shoulder. While you can occupy various spaces within her body you feel that this lump is distinctly YOURS. It's a piece of you, taking shape on the young witch.
Unfortunately, your agreement with the succubus LILITH seems to have had an equally strong impact; there is a similar lump on Navine's right shoulder that you cannot access. This is a worrying prospect. Still, if you can get Lilith to emerge while the paladin is near, he can use the banishment technique to de-rez her back to her underhell where she belongs.
Navine boards the boat with the paladin.
[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Goldleaf,
You know it's generally not a good idea to put all of your eggs in one basket, so you decide to ask the other two boats at dock if they would be willing to ferry passengers. The first is a large merchant vessel.
"Ferry across the Mael ocean? Sorry, no can do. We're actually tying the ship down for winter."
You ask why they wouldn't sail during the winter.
"It's these waters. It might seem like we're far from glacial interference but the icebergs pop up out of nowhere during the winter. Only the desperate try to cross this ocean before spring."
You try the other boat at dock. It's a fishing boat, and the story is corroborated: they don't sail further than the coastal shelf between the first snow and the thaw.
Still, the two you are travelling with seem fairly desperate. If icebergs are the biggest concern, perhaps you might be able to scry them and prevent a crash.
You board the ship.
Sancireph,
You watch Zataka board the vessel with the BARMAID. It seems the paladin has figured the negotiations went well. Since the CAPTAIN doesn't stop them from boarding, you ask and she agrees that the terms are acceptable.
"I'm only sparing three cabins, though. If you want to drag along other people, they're going to sleep on the floor."
You board the vessel. As you ascend, you try to remember what happened in the prisons at AUDAMAR. You had intended to slip the dragonkin a glass copy of the veridian stone. You even remember preparing one. But when you think about it, you're certain the stone you handed her was a CRIMSON STONE, just like the ones you saw at Telivar's mansion. How would you have even been in possession of such a stone? PROBABILITY is a strange thing.
=====
[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION] [MENTION=56506]Tamamo[/MENTION] [MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Under the cold salty air of the winter coast the great vessel raises its sails and anchor and slowly makes its departure from the harbor.
The crew is a rather unsavory lot; they still appear to be hung over from the previous night's revelries. Many of them are interested in NAVINE, and wonder why she's sailing with them. ALISIA, Navine seems uncomfortable around these sailors; you search her memory and some of them were harassing her the night before you arrived. You wonder how she will cope with this discomfort and whether or not you should intervene.
The cold air on the forecastle is especially harsh, whipping snow at the deck crew. ZATAKA, while standing watch at the starboard side, you note that the snow isn't actually touching you. It bends around your body, forming a dry pocket. The amulet around your neck feels unusually cold, though, and on investigation you see it has frozen to your chest. You go below deck to see if the warmth of the galley will thaw it.
Up in the crow's nest, a somber navigator stares through his scope at the waters ahead. He shouts bearings down to the crew to warn of upcoming threats. GOLDLEAF, you sit next to this man staring into a hot cup of tea, watching the leaves swirl around the surface and noting how they mirror the ice in the water below. There is a recurring image of a serpent in this vision, which worries you.
Below deck, the cabins rock back and forth uneasily to the choppy waters of the winter sea. SANCIREPH, you press a waterglass against the wall of your room to eavesdrop on the captain. She's discussing the purpose of the trip with her first mate, who is complaining about the stragglers (no doubt referring to you). It sounds like some kind of excavation, and there's mention of a map to a buried stash. Suddenly they go quiet, and you hear the captain depart.
In the hold, rats scurry from barrel to barrel looking for sustenance. GRANBERIA, you catch one and stare into its eyes. That hedge wizard had rats running all about his mansion, and you wonder if these could be little spies for his bidding. No, there is no magic behind the gaze. You incinerate the little pest and skewer it on one of your swords.
You may be at sea for some time. What are your goals--if any--while aboard the KATRIEN'S GLORY?
NInja'ed
[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Alisia:
I head to Zataka's Cabin and knock on his door. "May I come in."
I enter the door after hearing an response. I sit down on his bed and stare across the room at him.
"As you can probably tell by now, I am fallen. But not all falls from grace are equal. I made a simple mistake that is all."
I explain what happen with my past lover and how I was Kicked from my dimension for it. She turns her head to the side, a tear from her eye. She is completely transparent and vulnerable.
"Sorry, I need to go. I... I can't do this right now. I..."
She blushes and attempts to hurry out of the room. But trips and falls into your arms. She looks up at you.
What do you do Zataka?
Granberia
I sit in the hold shivering... "so cold, i hate winter. Wrapping myself in a blanket" I look over at the the crimson stones and realize they are glowing.
"It has been a while Granberry."
My eyes open wide. "That voice, it can't be!"
My memories flash back to an old castle in the far east now in ruins. The princess I was sworn to protect and had loved, bleeds out in my arms. Maniacal laughter of a desert dragon chimera with a crimson stone in it's chest who grew a 2nd head as it blasts the castle with sand and burns everything to ruins as it slaughters everyone without reason lusting for more blood. My face goes white as a ghost.
"Indeed it is, D'Arsonius. No matter what you do child of that stupid snake that called himself a Dragon, this time I will be returning. I'll even bet my soul on it this time. And there isn't you or anyone can do too stop me!"
"YOU BASTARD!" I swing my sword at the direction of the voice hoping it stops and it ends with maniacal laughter and screams of women and guards being torn apart and burnt. I fall over into the fetal position and begin to shake with my hands over my ears.
Moments later the noise has attracted a pirate with a cutlass. And he is quite shocked by the state he sees. He sees Granberia trembling on the ground in a pool of blood. She is in shock. Doesn't look like she was cut anywhere though.
"My god, I need to tell the captain."
Granberia is slapped across the face.
"Wake up. Nap time is over missy."
I look around and try to get my bearings I realize that SACRIEPH and that MAGE I saw back at the port are in the room with me with a bunch of pirates. Looks like I was caught. I'm tied up and who appears to be the captain is staring down at me angrily.
"Who are you and What the hell are you doing on my ship!" The Captain shouts.
"I don't care much about ethics, that's why. If I want to hitch a ride on a pirate ship. I am going to hitch a ride on a pirate ship. And now I want that stone more then ever. Once I have all three I'm resurrecting him Then I'll make him feel the same pain my entire kingdom felt 2 years ago. I've been hunting D'Arsonius down for 2 long years. And now I finally have him within my reach. He will die by my hands. Even if it costs me my life."
"Are you nuts, it took an entire cabinet of archmages to seal away that mad dragon!"
"Perhaps I am, driven by emotion and vengence. That's why I have this."
I stand up and the ropes fall off. "you suck at tying knots"
"GET HER"
I scretch out my hand to the right and a portal opens and the smell of death and decay fills the room and blade slowly passes through.
"This is the WYRMKILLER, this is the one sword that is strong enough to kill even the most powerful dragons. Many have joined their friends by my own hand in the graveyard. But finally the time has come to take on one of the worst of their kind. The dragon of the bloody flame himself."
* D'Arsonius sounds a lot like The Arsonist. Coincidence? Meh. :shrug: *
[MENTION=56506]Tamamo[/MENTION]
Holding Alisia in my arms, I am reminded briefly of my wife, Milani, who is waiting for me in me home dimension. I help her to her feet and offer to escort her to whatever cabin she is staying at. However I let her know that I am a married man and despite the span of dimensions between us, my heart belongs only to my wife. I cannot do anything for you about your past, no matter how hard I tried. I apologize if my words offend you, but I can only offer my condolences.
[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Alisia
I smile and nod, "You are a true gentleman, despite my vulnerability you refused to ravage my body. I thank you for this."
Assumption you would go and inform the others "they're pirates and can handle themselves." and not take her on by you yourself
On our way there Sacrieph and Goldleaf run up to us and inform us that the crew is in danger. "Shit I knew she would attack us eventually, takes us there immediately I shall lend you my Holy Blade?"
We rush back into the room and the following scene unfolds.
Granberia
All of sudden the blade begins to glow brighly and begins shouting. "THAT IS ENOUGH!" The blade whirls white light around itself that reach out and touch everyone who is wounded and fills their body's with warmth and their wounds heal instantly. Granberia drops it in shock. "Fire is a double edged sword my child of the Qin Dragon, although you may think it won't have no effect against D'Arsonius since it brings ruin to that which touches it there is another side to it. It provides warmth during the cold winter months and can burn away that which is unclean. It can cauterize wounds as well as what I have just showed you. Use your new powers wisely my child."
"I see so that is it. Fire isn't just anger and vengeance. It's love, happiness, and all emotion. That is what I was missing. I have been misguided my friends, and I plea for your forgiveness. " She falls to her hands and knees and bows her heads. Alisia is the first to approach stepping forward bending downward with a smile.
"Have you finally realized your sin and wish to atone it humble warrior?"
"Yes, Wrath. That was my sin."
"I see, Zataka if you would."
Sacrieph, Zataka, Goldleaf: Alisia faces all of you what do you do?
I attempt to persuade the pirates to leave Granberia's fate to us, as we have business with her. I ask Alisia if now is the appropriate time. If so, I will proceed to cast the spell as planned.
[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Alisia
I send Zataka a telepathic passage to explain that we can only banish her during the transfer otherwise it will consume the host. The Dragonkin seeks atonement for her sins I am not in a position to give her it as you know unfortunately.
Granberia
I grab some of the wood and begins carving stakes with a knife. Why the hell would she need stakes CECETTE is certainly not a vampire, but the look in her eyes is one of terrible fear and resentment. They're also quite big, about 2 feet in length. What is she planning.
[MENTION=39330]CJC[/MENTION]
How many do I manage to craft?
Accidental Post, combined with above.
I abstain from using the spell, as that would be of terrible consequence at this time. I inquire what the stakes are for. Surely they can't be used against a dragon. The thought of the dragon from the earlier vision reminds me. Once I am done speaking with Granberia, I inquire with the pirate captain on any other passengers than myself and my comrades. If this boat is truly the one that the completed stone is on, then we could perhaps find it and do something about it before the dragon attacks.
[MENTION=39330]CJC[/MENTION] I made the assumption dragons were mortal if they're naturally immortal that is the reason he can bask in sunlight with minimum affliction
Granberia
Granberia finishes carving her first stake and tosses it over too you with a smile. It's for my friend D'Arsonius. The dragon is three things: A Murderer, A Vampire, and also Batshit Crazy. If he found a drained lake he would slaughter his own brethen and drain their blood just so he could take a bath while singing about trees. That is the psycho that resides inside her chest and these stones I carry. As Alisia said, he needs to be destroyed once and for all. I'm worried though, sunlight should have an adverse reaction on here by now. Yet she has shown no sigh, perhaps he has something else keeping him immoral and that was why he was sealed.
Granberia pulls out a locket from out of her armor and begins speaking.
"It's time you know the truth. About who I am and why I have hunted dragons for the last two years. I once served in a royal army of a kingdom in the Far East, the princess had came of age and we we're holding an banquet at nightfall to celebrate. That is when it happened. A VERIDIAN DRAGON from the west with a red stone in it's chest came and grew a 2nd head with scales and eyes as red as blood. It destroyed the castle and began it's slaughter laughing maniacally, we tried our hardest to kill it, but even after dispatching the first head the dragons its' blood lust only grew. It spilled the blood of everyone in the castle that night except for me, including the woman I loved who happened to be the princess herself. Ever since that day I vowed to kill every dragon and trained to become a true dragon slayer. The Wyrmkiller reached out to me from the Dragon's Graveyard and it told me the truth of D'Arsonius and the only way to kill him was to pierce his heart with a stake. This locket is the only memento I carry of the once great kingdom, it belonged to the princess. My nights have been restless and filled with the same nightmare, a CRIMSON dragon roosting on a ruined spire laughing maniacally the smell of burnt corpses and spilled blood mixing into the air. And the woman I loved dying in my arms. That is the reason I have become who I am."
===========================
Setting Elaboration
Creatures of the Night: Vampirism
Vampirism is the result of an overexposure to Gourmand magics. This overexposure can be caused by self-indulgence or by infection from a current vampire.
When someone's body reaches critical mass from the void energies of gourmand magic, it causes all foods ingested to turn to ash (this is why eating results in nausea). The only material capable of sustaining the vampire is thus pure life energy, which they extract from the blood of their victims. However, while the void energy destroys everything entering the body it preserves the physical form as well, creating the agelessness and manipulating whatever magic the undead abomination can muster.
The void energy is depleted by the energy of the planet: wood, stone, and metal each deteriorate a vampire in a different manner. Wood incinerates a vampire's organs on contact, which is why stakes are fatal. Stone wards against the void energies surrounding a vampire which is why they cannot cross thresholds uninvited (to do so would freeze them in place). Metal (or rather Silver) severs a vampire's nerve connections, causing limbs struck by the material to go limp (as if electrocuted).
Finally sunlight (which is a combination of these three forces, untainted by mortal drive) banishes the void energies within the body, causing the natural aging process to resume. Since the void was the only thing keeping the vampire alive, resuming aging results in swiftly developing welts and festering until eventually the creature is reduced to ash. Theft of lifeforce counteracts this damage, repairing the vampire.
When the void energy enters the body but is insufficient to squelch the natural functions of the host, the victim instead becomes D'hampir, a half-living abomination with an insatiable appetite. D'hampir must consume life just as vampires do, but their consumption need not be in the form of blood. Rather they eat everything (generally the flesh of other living things) in an instinctual effort to counteract the void energies growing in their body. If a D'hampir has a steady source of food they can maintain this half-dead state indefinitely. However, if subjected to starvation a D'hampir will eventually transform into a regular vampire.
========================================
Tamamo has correctly assumed that dragons are mortal beings. However, Cecette's partial fusion with D'Arsonius (the crimson dragon, one who happens to be a vampire) has resulted in her becoming a D'hampir rather than a vampire, which is why sunlight is not harmful to her.
Cecette is not currently attacking the ship. Rather, Granberia is preparing for the fight she knows is coming.
...But you'll have to wait for the next update and see what happens.
I just realzied I never posted a picture of Alisia I guest I should.
Image
Character Goals while aboard the KATRIEN'S GLORY
Granberia: Shove a giant stake though D'Arsonius 😊
Alisia: Save Nadine, check your PM CJC.
Sancireph:
I draw my blades and approach Navine. I sense the demonic presence inside her and am prepared to battle it once it emerges. I will try not to harm the girl in the process, but the demon must be destroyed. The dragons will come when they come, but when Zataka casts his spell I need to be ready to attack before it can find a new host--I will have only minutes.
Goldleaf:
I notice Sancireph standing over the barmaid with his blades ready, but he does not appear to be threatening her--it's more as if he is waiting for something. Meanhile, noting what Granberia has said about the dragons, I use a nearby pail of water as a scrying mirror to see if I can divine where the dragons are, and if they are coming here.
Granberia: Granberia finishes crafting the stakes and walks over to Goldleaf and hands him one of the CRIMSON STONES. "That is scrying magic is it not, it's part of a set of three and one of them is inside CECETTE's chest."
Alisia: I step between Sancireph and Nadine and tell him not to be rude to our guest and follow up with a telepathic message. "Me and Zataka, have plans for her. Worry not the barmaiden will survive." This allows you to see her for what she truly is and she immediately blocks you again. Her heart is black, and she is plotting something sinister.
Goldleaf:
I touch the stone for a moment but do not take it. In my mind I see an image of D'Arsonius, but he appears to be injured. But how? And by whom? If he is controlling Cecette, what will happen to her if he dies? I remove my hand from the stone and the vision fades. In the water I see Cecette. (@Tamamo, fill in here what I see Cecette doing).
Sancireph:
"Do not attemot to deceive me. I know what you are." The edge of one my blades is now pressed against her throat. "Make one wrong move and your head leaves your neck." One of the ship's crew then proceeds to bind her hands, then blindfolds her, standing guard over he with his own sword, as I await the emergence of the demon.
Deleted
(OOC: Some things I would like to clarify as well.
First, earlier posts mentioned Sancireph sensing a demonic presence in Navine. Why are you only now saying that she is blocking him? This was never stated before.
Secondly, Sancireph, being an aasimar, has an innate ability to sense celestial and demonic presences. It's not something that can be "blocked." He may not be able to tell who or what (ie, he doesn't know it's a succubus or that it's Lilith), but he knows it is there. Thus, he is prepared to battle the demon, whatever form it takes. You may have noticed that I never mentioned the demon's name in any of Sancireph's actions.
Thirdly, I apologize for forgetting that you no longer control Cecette. That was an oversight on my part.
Lastly, Goldleaf was only able to scry D'Arsonius when he touched the stone Granberia offered him. That is the only reason he could see him. The injury was to add a new element to the plot as I don't recall the D'Arsonius character being specified as locked. If he is, then you can disregard that)
Deleted
I'm just going to retire Alisia, it's not worth this scuffle and I don't see characters with intercharacter personality development and multiple outcomes working out except in death. I'm bringing back the vampire romance plot, but it has changed quite a bit. I also did this.
GRANBERIA INFO
[spoiler]
Name: Granberia
Race: Dragonkin "Jade Empeor""
Class: Heavenly Knight / Cursed Swordwoman
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 300 lbs of muscle
Alignment: Lawful Good "back to the straight and narrow!"
Equipment: Wyrmkiller, Mithril Great Sword, Mithril Breast Plate, Soldier’s Insignia "Officer Rank), Purple Cape, Giant Stakes, Dragon’s Tooth "it's a memento from my first battle with a dragon.", Two Crimson Stones
Origin: Abandoned Child
Personality Trait: I’ve lost too many friends, and I’m slow to make new ones.
Ideal: For someone who one lost everything dear to them I care nothing for ideals, but I have one goal in this life. Kill the bastard vampire dragon that ruined my life.
Bond: I’ll never forget the terrible defeat we faced at D’arsonius wrath and the friends that died that die.
Flaw: The monstrous dragon that left me as the only survivor of my kingdom still leaves me quivering with fear. I relive the events in the form of a nightmare every night.
Beliefs: I have done many bad things to get where I am today. But I believe I am now heading in the right direction thanks to the Holy Warrior.
Story: I have hunted dragons for the last two years. I once served in the royal army of a kingdom in the Far East. The princess had come of age and we we're holding a banquet at nightfall to celebrate. That is when it happened. A viridian dragon from the west with a red stone in its chest came and grew a 2nd head with scales and eyes as red as blood. It destroyed the castle and began its’ slaughter laughing maniacally, we tried our hardest to kill it, but even after dispatching the first head the dragons its' blood lust only grew. It spilled the blood of everyone in the castle that night except for me; including the woman I loved who happened to be the princess herself. Ever since that day I vowed to kill every dragon and trained to become a true dragon slayer. The Wyrmkiller reached out to me from the Dragon's Graveyard and it told me the truth of D'Arsonius and the only way to kill him was to pierce his heart with a stake. This locket is the only memento I carry of the once great kingdom, it belonged to the princess. My nights have been restless and filled with the same nightmare, a crimson dragon roosting on a ruined spire laughing maniacally as the smell of burnt corpses and spilled blood mix into the air while the woman I loved dying in my arms.
[/spoiler]
ROSE & CARMILLA INFO
[spoiler]
Name: Rosaria “Rose”
Race: High Elf (Vampire "Noble due to Red's Heritage"😉
Class: Ranger (Huntress)
Height: 5’4”
Weight: 120 lbs
Alignment: Unaligned
Equipment: Leather Armor, Two Sai (silvered), Explorer’s Pack, Longbow and Arrows (Silvered), Cloak of Midnight, Ruby Ring, Blade Hat, Kiseru, 3 vials of blood for emergencies. Picture of Red "I still miss her, even if I turned my back on her traitorous ass."
Fighting Style: Two Weapon Fighting
Favored Enemies: Undead, Lycanthropes, & Beast
Origin: Orphan
Personality Trait: I was, in fact, raised by wolves.
Ideal: Live and let live, that is the way I choose to live by.
Bond: I am the last of my tribe, and it’s up to me to ensure the Rakshasa and that vampire who seduced me will both pay for what they have done in full measure.
Flaw: I feel regret for every life I have taken to this day. I also seemed to have developed a habit.
Beliefs: Immortality is not a gift, it’s a curse.
Story: I was born in an Elven village that was slaughtered by an assassin hired by the village’s sworn enemy who we made harmless with his own forbidden magic. I was then sent to an orphanage where I was adopted by werewolves who turned me into one of their own and raised me in the wild. Many years pasted until I met a vampire very different than the others I’ve slain. She was a druid and she seduced me into a new world of bloodshed and madness. We fell in love, and after that she separated the werewolf from my body and turned me into what I am now a vampire. But then I discovered the truth of what happened 100 years ago when I was yet a child, she killed them all with her magic. It was my lover. She was hired by the Rakshasa and he’s still out there and aware of my existence. He’s out there, and I won’t be free until he is dead.
Notes:
1. I am currently on a Crab FIshing Boat with some hobgoblins who I have charmed and. They are not acutely fishing they are trying to get back home across the sea. After ship wrecking near SIEGBERT, they decided to steal it. And I hitched a ride.
2. My hat functions just like Kung Lao's from mortal kombat. "what I wanted something cool"
3. Red has a Yandere complex now, Surge is recruiting the entire pack and then plans to set sail for me, the wolf spirits status and where abouts are unknown.
4. I have the following abilties: Bat Form, Mist Firm, Gaseous Form, Charming Gaze, Hunter's Gaze, Domineering Gaze, and can climb walls and ceilings easily.
5. I made an interesting discovery, I can not only sustain myself off of the blood of other vampires but also steal their powers if I desire! Not only that but if I don't inject venom I don't have to worry about turning someone.
[/spoiler]
NPC Pictures
[spoiler]
Carmilla (Red) Von Redmon
http://api.ning.com/files/c2nk1pk6akTt5ekqdzZAydnDeedyYxcMdBt-eH9t4yXM5HIxN4W-glH0hfjjc1OTt822B-L448N2eEUfbGPyF5y0x3p*zWFo/373143_gotika_polnolunie_kladbishhe_vampir_krov_1452x984_www_GdeFon_ru.jpg
D'Arsonius
http://orig00.deviantart.net/4f31/f/2013/051/c/5/vampire_dragon_by_verehin-d5vlmhd.jpg[/spoiler]
=====
[MENTION=56506]Tamamo[/MENTION]
Alisia,
The paladin sympathized with your plight. Was it simple respect, considering your angelic history? Or was he sincerely empathetic to the situation? You sense that he too has been parted from someone he loves, and he affirms this when he says his heart belongs to his wife, even if dimensions keep them apart.
You admire his strength in an unbearable situation and wonder if you should change your plans.
Sancireph draws his blades and approaches the barmaid. You reach out to him with your mind and tell him to wait. He is not backing down.
You feel Navine's body is directing its energy towards that stump on her right shoulder. It is growing; this situation is giving Lilith strength. Perhaps if the tension were extended she might be able to be amputated. You decide to push the matter further to make such an option viable, but you are suddenly interrupted by the harsh rocking of the ship. Something has slammed into the hull. The others run towards the deck, but Navine does not.
[indent]Lilith opens up to you.
"Poor little wounded bird, longing for your plundered egg."
You ask how she could know such things.
"You should play your cards closer to the vest. All those telepathic manifestations let me read you like a book. The valkyrie a mother? Hilarious! No wonder they stole it away."
You are overwhelmed with rage. You manifest your sword in Alisia's hand and hold it to her neck.
"Don't be dramatic. She dies, you die, I die. But you don't have the heart to do it. You don't have the DARKNESS. At least... not yet."
You ask what Lilith wants.
"I want what anyone wants in this world. Form. A body to call my own. This little witch is a fine halfway house but she's no four-star hotel. I need a form which I can shape in my own image."
You offer yourself.
"That's sweet, but you aren't exactly in any shape to make such a deal. You're in the same boat I am. You too require form, form which you lack. But I've been watching, and I know what we can do."
You ask what Lilith means.
"That bump on the left shoulder... I can't touch it. I can feel it, though, faintly. The light inside of it tingles, like acid eating away. It's a wing."
A wing?
"I've got one too. The lump that's just me. And that little scuffle with the fighter made it bigger."
You ask where she's going with this.
"I heard your little thought to amputate me. If you want to plot, you need to quell your emotions before you do it. Especially when you're sharing a body."
You tell her that you hate her and you won't hear any more of this.
"Oh, you will. It's really quite brilliant. We'll go ahead and let me be amputated. You as well. Just not yet."
She takes control of Navine's hands and makes a shadowpuppet butterfly on the wall.
"As the darkness passes through this hapless witch, it gives me strength to grow. When there is enough mass, I can separate from her body and take my own form, independent of a mortal's pestering conscience."
She depicts one wing of the butterfly being ripped off.
"You can benefit too. With enough mass you could gain a physical form. And such a form here would be of unimaginable power back home. Have this witch grow you a body and then take your vengeance."
You ask what Lilith wants.
"Easy. Encourage the darkness while you encourage the light. We'll both grow strong, we can leave the witch in peace, and then we'll part ways. It's a win for everybody."[/indent]
The sound of combat rings from the deck above. You guide Navine up the stairs to see what is going on.
Granberia,
Thinking back on your capture, you recall that the BLUE MAGE was puzzled as you spoke of your hunt for the CRIMSON DRAGON OF FLAME. You can read his lips muttering as he adds numbers in his head. Your statement of a two-year hunt doesn't seem to agree with him.
In a fit of rage and feeling trapped, you begin to lash out at the crew, painfully disarming them in sprays of blood and leaving them as crumpled heaps on the floor. The heat of your rage grows as you fight, until you are interrupted by a blinding flash of light. You see a VALKYRIE standing before you, ethereal. Your instinct is to stab at her, but as your mighty WYRMKILLER touches her form she grabs it, and great waves of green flame burst forth from the blade. These rings of fire envelop the injured crew and seal their wounds, leaving only slight marks where the sword had maimed them.
You nod to the figure, exclaiming that you understand the meaning of her appearance. Fire need not always be a force of destruction.
Knowing your task, you proceed to craft giant stakes. D'ARSONIUS is currently infesting CECETTE with his undead presence. From the feel of the two stones in your hand, you suspect the third is the manifestation of his BODY. Working the wood with your flaming blade and ignoring the crew gathering around you, you manage to craft SEVEN giant stakes. If you can use the wild energy of the wood to kill D'Arsonius' body, perhaps Cecette can be salvaged.
Rose,
You've been sailing with this pack of charmed hobgoblins for about a week now and the limitations of the fishing boat are starting to get the best of you. Glaciers are constantly bombarding the sides of the vessel and it is only a matter of time until the damage sinks the ship. You decide it is probably best if you switch vessels; these little monsters should be strong enough to take any merchant cruiser you happen across. To your advantage you see one ahead of you. It looks a little better armed than you'd like, but you should be able to take it with the element of surprise.
You take the form of mist, surrounding the fishing boat as you approach and creating a smoke screen. As you draw near, though, your form is broken when a two-headed dragon erupts from the water. It seems set on attacking the vessel you were going to steal.
You're close enough to climb to the deck of the ship, though you doubt the hobgoblins will be able to scale the hull like you can. As such, you leave them behind to sink in their clunker and you board the deck.
=====
[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Zataka,
Recalling the conversation with the angel residing inside the barmaid, you begin to wonder what triggered her fall. She spoke of her mistake, but you sense something else. She is desperate; a piece of her has been stolen away and she is straining to acquire the power to retrieve it. What did she lose? Not her light... even now you can feel it despite her presence as an inhabiting spirit. What could be more important than that to a valkyrie? Then you think of your wife, and you finally understand. The thing she lost wasn't some component of her angelic self, it was someone she loves.
You then think back to Granberia's change of heart and your conversation with her. She was making unusually large stakes, for D'ARSONIUS THE CRIMSON FLAME. She describes the sacking of a kingdom by a two-headed chimera of RED AND GREEN, the fall of a princess and the incineration of a palace. Some of the details seem askew... you wonder if perhaps she has combined a memory of the past with a vision of the future.
Putting that thought aside, you ask the crew if they've seen a veridian stone.
"Well, I haven't heard of anything like that, but the treasure's always divvied out by the captain. You should ask her. I think she's on deck right now."
You make your way to the deck, but as you reach the top of the stairs the boat shakes violently. Something seems to have struck the hull. An iceberg? You rush on deck to see what is going on.
=====
[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Goldleaf,
When the stowaway spoke of the dragon D'ARSONIUS, she mentioned she'd been hunting him for two years. You swear you heard one of the crew mention that the dragon was sealed by a cabinet of archmagisters... but that can't be possible. Perhaps your magic is bleeding into your senses, because the RITE OF DRAGON DISSOLUTION is not common knowledge. What's even stranger is that the subject being referenced--D'ARSONIUS OF THE FLAME--is a literary figure. He's mentioned in children's stories but you've never encountered any evidence he actually exists. Even if he did, the stories are very old, it would have had to have been centuries ago.
Later she shared her own origins, of a draconic CHIMERA attacking her home and destroying the kingdom. The tale is almost identical to the children's story, but more detailed and with a different ending. You try to recall the fable.
[indent]There once was a woman said to be so beautiful that simply looking upon her would bend the fabric of reality. Good things always happened to those around her, and so her mother brought her before the people and on the site of a single blooming rose they built a great nation. The princess was placed in a towering spire, where her beauty could settle like morning dew over the land. But beauty has its price, and the princess caught the attention of a terrible monster. D'ARSONIUS. He saw her from afar and coveted her power. Three times he came to the great city. The first time he offered his great hoard of wealth for the princess, but the Queen refused. The second, he offered to destroy all of the nation's enemies, but the Queen refused. Finally, on the third visit he resolved to simply take what he wanted. He wreathed the kingdom in a barrier of flames which would incinerate everything they touched. With the citizens as his prisoners he demanded the princess in exchange for their release.
The princess climbed to the roof of her spire and stood before the mighty dragon, facing him for the first time. When he saw her beauty directly he was so stunned he could not speak. Closing his eyes, he kindly asked if she would come away with him.
The princess said nothing. Instead, she raised her hands to the sky. A great storm formed above her, putting out the flames around her kingdom. Black smoke filled the sky, obscuring the spire. The kingdom looked up on their princess with hope that she had defeated the monster, but when the smoke cleared there was no one there. No princess. No dragon. They had vanished without a trace.[/indent]
When you learned the fable in your training, you recognized it as a warning about the great risk of PROBABILITY, the wrath of math magic spiraling out of control. Yet the stowaway spoke of the matter as if she was there. The kingdom had not been spared the wrath of the monster, and the princess had died in her arms. Does that mean Granberia is herself centuries old? But she spoke as if the event was a fresh wound. How could such a thing be possible?
You shake away such contradictory ideas and focus on the task at hand. Sancireph and Zataka seem to be focusing on the barmaid, so you decide your energy is best directed towards the threat of the dragon. Using a pail of water to form a mirror, you scry on the location of CECETTE.
She's submerged, the salt is burning her skin and she is moving towards a light source. Wait, there's an object in the way. What is that? It's made of wood. Oh... oh no.
Your vision shatters as the boat is violently bashed by a large mass. The dragon is here already. You can hear fighting from the deck, so you rush to their aid.
Sancireph,
While your focus had been on the stowaway Granberia, the approach of the barmaid draws your attention. You feel the flash of celestial light and infernal darkness as she approaches. You ask what they're doing here, but before Zataka can answer you have a vision of a VALKYRIE. You immediately identify this as the celestial presence, but something is very wrong. She is wreathed in flames, the wrath of vengeance is about her. You fret what she might do. Still, she tells you that the intent is to extract the evil from the barmaid and then banish it. You cannot trust that she has not been corrupted by the dark force within the body, though, so you raise your blades as if to strike, calling her out for her infernal intentions. You hear an unfamiliar voice escape through the barmaid's lips: "Kill me and she dies too".
The ship suddenly shakes violently and you can hear shouting from above. The fallen angel will have to wait. You hurry to the deck.
=============================================
@Everyone
On deck, you see the pirates fighting the VERIDIAN DRAGON CECETTE. Half of her scales have turned red and she is now sporting a second head, which is munching on one of the crew. The captain draws her new enchanted sword and speaks the word of power, setting it ablaze with holy light. She tries to slash at the dragon but it knocks her overboard into the icy water.
The green head launches a bolt of lightning, tearing down the mast. Meanwhile, the red head swallows its meal and sets the deck ablaze. The green head bites at the neck of the red head, as if trying to dislodge it, but the red head rams its with its horns and the green head falls limp.
You note that the red head is missing its left eye. It looks like it has a fairly significant blindspot.
What do you do?
(Characters Present:
Navine
Granberia
Rose
Zataka
Goldleaf
Sancireph
So... essentially everybody)
I tell some of the still living crew to tend to the wounded and try to rescue the captain from the waters. I enchant my blade with fire to use as a means of acting as a shield from the fire while enchanting my armor with wood so that I may use its increased reach to harm the red head. As I approach, I use every once of my skill and abilities to get to the red head's left eye so I may plunge my blade into it (which I will enchant just prior to doing so with a wood enchantment).
Granberia
The dragon begins speaking in lunacy
"Oh Granberry I'm home! Let's have a cook out honey! It'll be great, I'll eat everyone and burn down the ship. It will be one hell of a crazy party just like last time!"
"SHUTUP YOU BASTARDS!" Granberia's body is wrapped in Green flames as she summons the radiant powers of the WYRMKILLER within.
"Oh don't be like that, Granberry don't you want to just sit by and watch like you did all those years ago. How long has it been. Too long I believe!" He laughs maniacally as he slowly lowers a screaming pirate into his mouth, slowly chewing it to death."
CECETTE cuts in as he enjoys his meals slowly fading screams.
"Don't you love me Granberia, you should join us and hand over the stones honey. You'll make a great Vampire, or would you rather become a Dhampir like me?"
"I...said... Shut... UP!!!"
Granberia's eyes turn emerald as she rushes forward with all seven stakes pointing towards D'Arsonius and revolving around her.
"Did you tell them how it all happened, how you led them like sheep to there own slaughter. How you told me where the castle was just so you could prove to them you were the strongest warrior in the world!"
The green flames vanish and the stakes fall around her, she crumbles down to her knees white as a ghost, "No, your wrong."
"You killed her Granberia, you killed them all! YOU LET THEM DIE! You just stood by and watched as your friends and even your lover died! They would all be alive."
She covers her ears at this point and shuts her eyes.
"You're a nothing but a murderer Granberia, you and I are very much alike."
She screams bloody murder and the ship goes quiet. Then she collapses on her side in a pool of blood, white as a ghost. The wyrmkiller vanishes.
Rose
"Well look who we have here, a vampire who has lost her way and now feasts among her own kind? How delightful! You and I are very much alike. Why don't we become friends."
"Why don't you go back to your crypt and stay there, you Leech Maggot."
I take to my bat form and move quickly to the crimson wing and stab him in the joint with both of my Silvered Sais.
"Oh now you've made me angry! You're gonna regret that you stupid elf!"
I do a back flip off his wing and assume a battle stance, and smile.
"So says the dragon, who I can't fly."
He acts in madness as he does a somersault in the air screaming something in Draconic and smashes me against the deck with his tail and rolls over back onto his claws laughing.
edit: The reason I disabled Granberia for this battle is cause when we Fight D'Arsonius in his true form, we will need rest to be at full power. Plus he fills me with fear and I wanted to add that in some how. But something is going to change that when she sleeps next time.