Re: EXALTED time again!
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:26 pm
Session Log 5
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> PREVIOUSLY ON EXALTED: "Oh hai I'm a big scary demon." "NOW YOU'RE MY BITCH, SON!" "Oh god pain pain argh I am dead" "lol i has a new gauntlet" "Fuck you, Mother of Sorrow." "ur just jelly" "Oh hai, I'm a robot." "QQ don't kill autobots D:"
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> And now we resume.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> So, the fancy robotic suit of armor continues sitting on the altar in front of you all, staring at Chroma with eyes that glow green, essence whisping from them like smoke.
* Chroma holds her hand up to forestall the others. "You are to be relocated for your immediate task. Your 'overall task' is not to be accomplished at this time. What is your designation?"
* Isaac` is helpfully trying to avoid confusing the thing by not saying anything else!
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> "I have only one task." The suit of armor informed her, as if it couldn't even fathom having another, "I was given the designation 'Resolution'."
* Solenn simply stands near the door, keeping an eye on the room outside.
<Leona> Leona also holds her tongue, not wanting to add to the confusing noise going around
* Mother_of_Sorrow get at the back of the group, letting Chroma defuse the situation SHE caused.
<Chroma> "Your task is complex. At the moment you are to be relocated, but you are not to do anything I haven't authorized, for not all elements in the overall plan are in place." Chroma felt rather nervous, but every Champion is taught how to give orders.
<Leona> Leona casually reaches out and yanks Mother's ear towards her, preventing her from worming out of her mess.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Resolution went perfectly still for a moment, its glowing green eyes locked on Chroma, and she could almost see the complicated workings of its 'brain', ticking and sending signals back and forth, before it responded, "Your statement is false. You are not authorised to give me orders. Seeking authorised personnel." It rose to its feet and started to walk towards the door.
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Then who or what is 'authorised personnel'?"
* Chroma spins towards Mother, whispering 'Delay it!', before slinking slowly around the mechanoid.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> "Emissaries of the Neverborn." Resolution replied, continuing to stride forward purposefully, straight towards the door and potentially right through the party.
<Leona> Leona attempted to call out in her loudest ordering voice "HALT MACHINE."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Resolution ignored Leona and continued to step forward, slow but determined.
<Chroma> Lenses fold over Chroma's eyes, highlighting the probable structure of the machine, as she walks around it, glancing it up and down
<Leona> She raised a eyebrow "hrmm... need to work on that." she grumbled to herself quietly, unsheathing her sword in case this was going to turn nasty
<Leona> She looked to Chroma "... Tell me if you need me to strike somewhere..." she said quietly
* Mother_of_Sorrow reveal her caste mark at the machine. "I am Mother of Sorrow and Torments, a deathknight and...servant...of the Neverborn."
* Mother_of_Sorrow glance at the others subtly, to indicate she's going to try to buy them some time.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Resolution halted, staring at Mother Of Sorrow for a moment, "You speak for the Neverborn?"
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Yes."
* Mother_of_Sorrow glance at the others again.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Resolution stared intently at Mother Of Sorrow, "Is it time to carry out my objective? Or was I woken early?"
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Your awakening was an unfortunate mistake."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Resolution considered that for a moment, then nodded, starting to walk back to the Altar, "Please reset the mechanism so I can be awoken at the appropriate time to complete my objective, then." It informed them.
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Is it possible to change your objective?"
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Resolution didn't respond to that question, sitting on the Altar again.
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Answer me."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> "Negative." It stated flatly.
* Mother_of_Sorrow turn to Chroma. "Can you reset its mechanism? I'm aware why you would prefer an alternative, but right now it is the only option we have."
* Chroma raised a hand, which segmented into hundreds of little pieces and formed into various tools for fingers. "I'd prefer to reset more than that."
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Do as please, just ensure it awaken as late as possible."
<Leona> "Just don't piss it off Chroma, I'd rather keep my legs so I can go examine that 3rd tomb." she said, watching cautiously
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Resolution's eyes faded, the glowing green dulling down to nothing as it went into its equivalent of 'sleep mode'.
<Chroma> Taking a deep breath, Spark walks over to the mechanoid, and starts trying to open up an access panel in the chest, cutting it open if needed.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Resolution remained still and silent. There was no obvious method to opening it, and Chroma found that there were several safety mechanisms that fortunately she didn't trigger when she started to cut it open.
* Isaac` sighs with relief as the thing dropped into sleep mode, watching as Chroma starts poking at it. "...this is going to end well."
* Chroma looks at it carefully, examining ways to disarm it.
<Leona> Leona stood a bit nerviously "... so what do you intend to do with this thing if you can shut it off?" she asked
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Resolution was quite possibly one of the most powerful and advanced pieces of magitech that even Chroma had ever seen, and even fathoming some parts of its construction proved impossible, but she saw several methods which she thought might permanently put it out of comission. All of them would take several hours to complete, however.
<Chroma> Getting back to her feet, she walked to the others, her hand continually shifting the tools in her fingers in frustration. "I can break it. But it'll take me hours. I don't know what you all want to do." Her voice is rather flat and quiet, but a soft buzzing comes from her body, sounding rather irritated.
<Leona> She blinked "Um... well can you do it by yourself down here?" she asked "or are you going to need me to stand guard?"
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "I would like to remind there is still a third tomb to explore."
* Isaac` nods. "If we try and move it, it'll probably wake up again. We should have time for you to work on it before that guy makes it back to Thorns, but I wouldn't trust him either. We could split up and check the other place out while you work, I guess?"
<Leona> "I am aware" she said flatly to Mother of sorrow
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> It took a little more looking, but Chroma quickly realised two things. Resolution had many defense mechanisms and failsafes, and any of the methods she attempted might alert it to her tinkering. And there was another method, which wouldn't permanently disable it, but would put it in a feedback loop, leaving it in standby mode indefinitely. She could probably do that in a minute.
* Solenn turns his head towards Chroma, his face still unreadable from behind his mask of stone. "Do what you must." He steps just outside the doorway, resting his hammer on his shoulder and watching the stairs.
* Chroma looks from person to person, slowly smiling. "I...appreciate it. Thank you, all of you."
<Leona> Leona shrugged "No problem, I can understand how it must feel to have your ... patron threatened... I'm assuming mine is too if that symbol on the last tomb is any indication." she said
* Chroma nods. "Good luck."
* Isaac` shrugs lightly and starts for the stairs. "Come on, we don't have forever."
<Leona> Leona nodded "Likewise, if it sets off, don't do anything stupid, just run and get the rest of us unless you can handle it..." she said, then jogged off and up the stairs, glancing to solenn before walking over to the 3rd tomb, looking it over
* Solenn looks back into the room, rocking for a moment, before walking after Leona and Isaac
<Leona> (Did he air guitar with his hammer?)
<Solenn> (Yes, yes he did)
* Mother_of_Sorrow follow along at the back of the group.
<Solenn> As Solenn finally arrives at the other tomb, he looks at the rest of the party, before again pushing on the doors of this one.
<Leona> Leona helped him start to push the door out of the way.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Chroma didn't have too much difficulty putting Resolution into that feedback loop, infact it took her less time than expected. Meanwhile, the tomb with the Black Sun waited for the others, and to Solenn and Leona's surprise, the large door slid open easily. Very, very easily.
<Solenn> "That was far too easy" Solenn grumbles, stepping through the door.
<Leona> She blinked "... that was easier then last time... that's worrying" she murmured, peering carefully into the door, looking for traps at the very begining
* Isaac` watches as the two push the door open much more easily than before. "Should I keep watch out here while you guys check it out?"
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Unlike the other tombs, this one was completely dark, the steps and walls smooth, black-grey stone with little exceptional about it.
<Leona> "... probably, with that cut on your chest that'd probably be the best idea, I think Solenn and I can handle this." she said, following Solenn down cautiously and looking around, blinking at it's uninteresting'ness "Solenn can you see in this or am I ging to have to light up?"
* Solenn is currently glowing like a torch for the others to see. "Darkness is no issue for me." he sets off down the stairs cautiously.
<Leona> "Hopefully... I guess this is some kinda neverborn irony... tomb for the unconqured sun... dark as the hour before dawn" she said, following after him, also cautiously
* Mother_of_Sorrow laugh loudly at the joke.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> As they make their way down the stairs, they see an old, dried bloodstain, and further down, a blackened skeleton, and when they reach the bottom of the stairs, they stepped into a round room with one door opposite them, and an orichalcum plate in the shape of a sun in the center. The door is open, the plate is motionless.
<Leona> She blinked "... looks like some other poor fool tried to get in before us... looks like he was burned to death or somthing." she said stepping cautiously forward
<Solenn> "That does not bode well." Solenn looks back at the others, motioning them behind him as he advances towards the open door.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Beyond the open door, there was nothing except an Altar with nothing sitting upon it and a few very old, dried up bloodstains. This part of the tomb was as old as everything else. There was a recessed portion of the Altar in which a large sword had once rested, but it was empty now.
<Leona> She blinked "... oh hell, someone already took it... goddamnit!" she yelled before taking a deep breath and sighing, looking around to see if it was completly absent or if the dead fool had carried it before dying
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> It was nowhere to be seen. A few swords and daiklaves and bodies littered the floor, but whoever had been here before them had come some time ago, and was long since gone.
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "It seems we aren't the first here."
<Leona> She sighed again "... shit... that's... this is bad." she murmured, crouching down to examine the discarded daiklaves, at least they might not leave empty handed
* Solenn looks at the items littering the floor "Anything on the bodies showing who they are?"
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "I'm looking into it as we speak."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Between Leona and Mother working together, they're able to determine from the bodies that there were likely two factions actually involved in the seizing of this sword, along with its guardian. One group was obviously Wyld Hunt, and the other was likely the forces of one of the Deathlords. Possibly The First And Forsaken Lion, based on an insignia found on one body. Sadly, there was no way to determine which group ultimately took the sword.
<Leona> She bit her lip sighing again and shaking her head "I don't know who this other group is but ... wyld hunt is bad news... not the first group I want to cross swords with... godsdamnit..." she said frustratedly
* Solenn steps over to the Red Jade weapon, before picking it up and inspecting it. Plates of rock separate around his waist as he shoves it in his belt, before closing up around it. He turns to the others "I don't think theres anything to learn here, lets get back to Chroma and see how she is progressing."
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "The First and Forsaken Lion, it seems." Mother of Sorrows take a deep breath. "This mean the weapon may still be in the clutches of a Deathlord, not that the alternative is much better."
* Solenn starts to walk back out of the tomb.
<Leona> "... the wyld hunt at least isn't interested in plunging the world into destruction. I'd rather it be in their hands for now..." she said aggrivatedly "Yeah I guess we should... at least she gets to protect her patron... guess I got to make a few trips." she said, following after Solenn
<Solenn> As Solenn leaves the tomb, he walks over to Isaac "Someone has beaten us to this one it seems, either the Wyld Hunt or the First and Forsaken Lion... Definately not a good sign. I'm going to head back down where Chroma is" He looks down at himself "I'm not the most subtle person at the moment."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Removing the black core of the robot proved the most difficult part. There were many failsafes, and it appeared to be designed to either detonate or activate - she wasn't sure which - if it were forcefully removed. However, Chroma's fingers are so dexterous that she's able to remove it very carefully but without killing everything.
<Leona> Leona turned towards the village, pondering before walking over to the village, looking for someone who looked like they might know somthing or know someone who knew somthing, or were in charge
* Isaac` appears to have been lost in thought when the others return. He frowns at the news. "That's... not good. For once, I hope the Wyld Hunt got their hands on it. Maybe."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> It was really more of a town than a village, and they were still technically in it, though the tombs were far from the rest of the buildings.
* Mother_of_Sorrow silently follow behind Leona, like some creepy stalker. Maybe.
<Solenn> "Lets just hope it isnt a weapon that the Realm can abuse." Solenn mutters to Isaac, before turning towards the other tomb.
<Leona> She turned and looked back to mother of sorrow "we're going to find someone in charge or someone who looks like they know somthing interesting and we're going to ask some questions" she said before turning her gaze back to the front, heading away from the tombs and into town
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "I figured as much. You and I both want this weapon out of anyone's hand. For different reasons, I'll agree, but we have a common goal."
<Leona> "I'm sure" she said flatly and perhaps a bit sarcasticly "Do you know where to go here?" she asked
* Solenn as Solenn walks away, he turns to Isaac "Are you going to stay up here?"
* Isaac` nods. "For now... I could head back to the ship and make sure we're ready to leave by the time the rest of you get back though?"
* Mother_of_Sorrow hand over her cloak to Leona. "Here."
<Leona> She blinked "... I'm not your coat rack, sling it over your arm." she responded, looking for inns, town halls probably weren't the best place to barge into
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Thats not what I meant, I just want to avoid making the same mistake twice."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> There was only one Inn. It was a pretty large one, and seemed to be doing plenty of business right now.
<Solenn> "I don't know if it is wise to head off on your own, it is hard to tell when it is safe to cross the boundary." He nods, before walking off.
<Leona> "... i don't know what the hell you mean but fine." she took the cloak, heading for the inn then
* Mother_of_Sorrow walks in, Leona following behind.
<Leona> She looked around as she stepped inside
* Isaac` siiighs. "I guess." So much for that plan. Might as well stick outside and make sure nobody interrupts the delicate work downstairs then.
<Leona> Leona put on the cloak before stepping inside
* Mother_of_Sorrow take a glance at Leona. "You'll stand out less."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Inside, the Inn was doing brisk business, though the atmosphere was subdued. The atmosphere in the Underworld was usually subdued. There wasn't really much to be happy about. Mostly, people sat around at tables, quietly talking and drinking, a general air of if not gloom, than at least crushed acceptance filled the room. Except for at the bar, where one person stood out. Flayer Of Hope was instantly recognisable, and apparently thoroughly drunk, laughing and banging his fist on the table, "Oh man, and then... and then... I cut her face off! It was hilarious!" He appeared to be half-way through a story, which the bartender was listening to in silence.
<Leona> She blinked and approached Flayer, grimmacing as she heard a bit of his story "Hi there, got a minute?" she asked flatly
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Flay looked up, grinning toothily, his features unmistakable. It was hard to forget a guy with no skin, "Sure. Always time for a... pretty lady." He said, somehow managing to sound lecherous and terrifying at the same time.
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Then how about two ladies?"
<Leona> "I imagine, but here's probably not the best place to talk about the subjects I wish to, is there a more private place?" she asked
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> "Well, then it's a party, ain't it?" He said it Mother of Sorrow, grinning and nodding to Leona, "I've got a room upstairs." He said, idly tossing something to the bartender and getting up, his cloak of stitched together faces swirling around him as he gestured for them to follow him upstairs.
* Mother_of_Sorrow follow along.
<Leona> She cringed a bit more as she saw his cloak of faces up close but followed as directed, her cloak held tightly around her
* Mother_of_Sorrow chuckle and give Leona a slap in the back.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> He lead them into a private room, moving to sit down at a table there, indicating for them to close the door behind them. His cheerful, happy demeanor faded into a look of irritation, "So, what are you interrupting my fun for? You know how pissed Winters is going to be about how much I'm delaying as it is?"
<Leona> "I was hoping you'd know why the tomb of the black sun was empty before we got inside it, looks like the realm and ... who was that you said the other group belonged to Mother of Sorrow?" she asked, looking to her ... companion deathknight
<Leona> Mothers attempt to slap Leona on the back probably hurt her hand, on the account of Leona's hardness and her armor
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "First and Forsaken Lion, I believe."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> "... What." Flay said flatly, staring at Leona, then at Mother, "It was empty? It had been raided by... by the Realm AND by The Lion's people?" He asked in disbelief, "Oh my. Boss will definitely want to know that."
<Leona> "They killed eachother but someone made off with the blade inside... that blade is... very much of my interest... so you wouldn't know who made off with it then?" she asked
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "The tombs where likely important, so someone MUST know something about it."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> "And what about the other tombs? I assume you lot raided them both?" Flay asked, then shook his head slightly at Leona's question, "No idea. I don't think anyone here knows. If they did, someone would have reported it. They must have been very sneaky about it... how long ago did it happen? Could you tell?"
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "We didn't look into them."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> "Bullshit. I saw you open the one with the Black Dragon. That's the one you came for." Flay replied, frowning, "Hey, I'm trying to work with you guys here. Be honest with me."
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "We found each tomb guarded by traps and where unable to proceed any further."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Flay stared at her, seeming a little dazed for a moment as he was hit by that charm, then he nodded his head slowly, "Alright... yeah, that makes sense." He mumbled, looking to Leona and Mother, "I'll let the boss know about the Black Sun tomb, then... and since you guys didn't touch the others, I guess I can forget about it... so, how long ago was the Black Sun tomb raided?"
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Each tomb is a complex network of traps, each one more deliciously devious and insane than the next. We tried another one, the one with the black sun on it. When we reached the bottom, out of sheer luck, we found that the place had been turned into a battlefield and its content missing."
<Leona> "It looked like awhile ago, the blood was very dry." she added "All the fires had long since died down, all the ashes scattered..."
<Leona> she sighed irratatedly
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Whoever came in did so long before any of us did. Now, clearly your boss didn't notice."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> "Clearly..." Flay murmured, nodding, "Thanks for letting me know. I'm sorry I can't help either of you. The Mask Of Winters is going to be most displeased with The Lion."
<Leona> "No problem, thanks for being cooperative on the matter yourself, I imagine he won't be... I guess theres no point in asking anyone else if the mask doesn't know about it already."
<Leona> she sighed aggravatedly again
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Leona, what do you know of Realm's activity in this...lovely corner of creation?"
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> "Mmhmm. My apologies." Flay said, rising to his feet, "I should go. No time to delay at all. The Mask will want to know about this. It's been a pleasure meeting you lovely ladies. I hope to see you again soon." He said with a toothy grin, before moving to leave, "Help yourselves out."
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "Charming fellow."
<Leona> "Errr likewise." she said, watching him leave, stepping outside afterward and leaning against the wall "... yeah I guess you could say somthing like that."
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "I say we should leave at once."
<Leona> "Yeah... sounds like a good idea." she responded, nodding and moving downstairs and outside unless interrupted
<Mother_of_Sorrow> "We have two leads on where this weapon went. Either is a good start, I suppose. Certainly better than nothing."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Alright then. After everything is done, the group got back together again and headed out of the Underworld and back to the airship. It was a long walk, but they managed it without any difficulties or encountering any problems, and the airship was still waiting for them when they arrived.
<Leona> Leona sighed and looked for her men's quarters, she figured they'd want to know she was okay and what happened
<Solenn> "Shall we head back to Innerosia straight away then?"
<Chroma> Spark merely shook her head as she got on bored, going to a secure part of the ship. She sealed the black sphere along with the scraps of magical materials she found in a vault, and wearily made her way to the bridge. "Sapphire, what's new?"
* Isaac` nods. "The sooner the better." He seems to have almost completely recovered from the earlier scuffle, too. "He may not have known about the other vaults, but he'll probably not like hearing one of the other devices is missing."
* Mother_of_Sorrow is nowhere to be seen.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> Leona's men were waiting for her, and seemed fine, if irritable that they didn't get to come. Jalen saluted her and smiled, "Glad to have you back, Veronde." He murmured fondly. Sapphire turned to Spark, whirling brilliantly, an orichalcum core with glowing blue essence in the center, "Very little, fortunately. I was concerned, being so close to a Shadowland."
<Leona> "Glad... very glad to be back and out of that place... it seems my decision was a correct one though... lets just say some business went down back there..." she said, sighing and dropping into a chair "And it looks like I have more leads to chase after."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> "Leads?" Jalen asked, dismissing the other men and moving to sit next to Leona, resting a hand on top of hers.
<Leona> She blinked and blushed a little at him touching her but said nothing of it "well there were 3 tombs... apprently all 3 contained devices to kill various... powerful figures... one was for the ebon dragon... the second for ... chroma refered to him as the great maker, and the last was for... the unconquered sun."
<Leona> "We disabled the one meant for the maker, stole the one for the dragon... but someone took the sword meant for our patron before we even got here... it was either the wyld hunt, one of the many deathlord's minions... or a 3rd party..."
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> "That... sounds bad." Jalen murmured, looking concerned, "Come on... lets have a drink and relax, huh? Spending that long in the Underworld can't be good for you." He said, getting up and smiling at her.
<Anna|CardgamesOnWarstriders> And end.