Session 29 2014-01-27
29722XP each making 110000XP Total for each Party Member - Level 11 (next level 145,000)
Hero Point awarded to Kul'theras for convincing roleplay of his motionless, marionette form.
Someone Is Home After All
Just as Tharin, Landra and the Hand of Kali are considering going back to The Comet Arms, they hear a voice in their heads.
"You come to deliver yourselves? How interesting..."
They call out, asking who is there, but as a figure steps out of the darkness his voice in their heads tells them that all can be explained, but first he needs to take them somewhere. In an instant of impossibly fast motion the figure is no longer at the edge of the light cast by Tharin's spell, but a mere 10 feet away. They can clearly see the maggots now, making up his body, his face a writhing shape within the hood of his cloak, each finger of his hands made up of the slithering creatures crawling over each other seemingly at random yet retaining the same essential form.
They have little time to process this, as the devils which have appeared behind them are muttering fiendish incantations. Landra manages to fight off the sickening tendrils gripping her mind even as her companions suddenly stop moving, and she brings her rifle to bear on the strange creature before her. She blows a sizable hole through the "stomach" of the thing only to find that he barely acknowledges the injury before muttering an incantation of his own which she barely has time to register blasting through her mental defenses before her flesh transforms to stone.
Tharin and the Hand of Kali watch, imprisoned in their own bodies, as the creature produces three sets of manacles. They can see the exceptional workmanship, beset with strange markings, as he clamps a set over each of their arms, fastening the third to the statue that was Landra. As quickly as their paralysis came on, they find themselves able to move freely again, but with no thought of attempted escape. Likewise Landra's stony form reverts to flesh and blood as the maggot-faced creature dismisses his demonic assistants and begins a new ritual...
A Sanctum Defiled
The three companions find themselves in a huge, dark space; the ancient but precise workmanship of the worked stone floor seeming somehow familiar. A constantly squirming mass of maggots which forms a hand holds aloft a tapered cylinder with several fins of different sizes around it's circumference. It's somewhat hard to look at, they realize it doesn't seem to be reflecting any of the dim light at all, instead occupying space as if he's handling a hole in reality.
As they watch him handling the cylinder, they realize that there is a pattern to fin size, each one being bigger than the one before it, with the largest of them next to what would seem to be an empty space where a fin would be. It reminds Landra of something in particular but she can't quite make it out at first... Then she remembers a motif she saw in the ancient Halfling artworks collected by Ingixia Tasalt.
Noticing Landra watching him, the creature approaches her, tracing a squirming fingertip down the curve of Landra's cheekbone. "Aaaah Iresillandra, under all that bravado you really are quite lovely. Of course, with a mother like that..." he tapers off. When Landra stiffens at his touch, the creature continues "I am sure that in time you will learn to respond more favourably to your father's touch.", the maggots making a strange clucking/glugging sound which might approximate chuckling. Landra withdraws into herself, her face emotionless as what he is saying sinks in.
Their captor asks where "The Dwarf" is and then demands that Landra use a magical item similar to the Sending Gem given to them by Sever when they were sent to destroy the Terraken. He has a precise script which he demands Landra read, and she complies.
"We are captives. He says to return home immediately, to the secret temple. Any delay will result in undesirable consequences. You are being watched."
The Prettiest Princess
Kul'theras and Munt, having emerged from the Diamond Gate and as expected they find themselves subject to a few strange metnal effects. Kul'theras in particular finds himself eager to accomodate any request. When a woman approaches the pair and asks "Can I help you?" they quickly find themselves with accomodation. As soon as they have set foot in their room Munt requests that Kul'theras play Pretty Pretty Princess Dress-Up Board Game with him... Several games are completed before someone knocks at the door to ask if they can interest the pair in some food, which the eager to please Kul'theras graciously accepts.
Meanwhile, several hours having passed, Magni goes in search of the others, based on what he heard Tharin describe of the sewer he planned to investigate. On getting no response to his calls through the grating, he enters the City of Rest seeking Kul'theras and Munt. He makes short work of this as people have no trouble remembering such an odd pairing, and just as he comes to their room receives Landra's Sending.
Magni Responds to the message "I'll try to do what I understand you to mean but do you really want me to go back to my home that's a long way away?", however he receives no further reply and decides that the only thing to do is to head to Mount Thuun with his addled companions in tow.
After no small amount of concern as to whether the aged cleric Herbert can recall the correct mountain (and a great deal of prodding from his compatriot Cuthbert) Magni arranges a teleportation for the trio, paying for Munt out of The Freet Mangol Memorial Airship Fund. He warns both Kul'theras and Munt that his clansmen are not forgiving of strangers and that they will need to be on their best behaviour.
Fire On The Mountain
On arriving at Mount Thuun at first Magni is sure that he's in the wrong place. Then he wishes that were true.
The entire village is strewn with the corpses of his clansmen, many of the buildings are on fire, others already burnt out. He heads for his family home to find it almost completely destroyed, though there is no sign of his brother or father.
As he charges through the town in a hopeless search for survivors, he sees many injuries similat to those he's seen before, inflicted by their age-old enemies the giants, and he makes out their tracks also. However he does not believe they could have mounted such an effective assault, not without significant help.
Then he sees it. A lone Ice Giant, making its way along the slope alongside the village. It's hardly worth calling the following conflict a battle, as Magni and Kul'theras quickly incapacitate the creature, Magni knocking it out rather than landing a killing blow.
The Ice Giant is all hate and bravado, sneering and bragging as the heartbroken warrior demands answers. He mentions their new ally, a worm-man who colluded with Okin, leader of the Ice Giants, to destroy their hated dwarven enemies.
After Kul'theras beheads the giant, Munt cremates it.
Family Ties
Back in their cavernous prison, Landra asks their captor for his name, to which he responds that she can call him Father. Tharin asks if he can call him Father too, which seems to amuse the creature who responds "Soon enough."
When the creature asks Tharin to activate the strange cylinder he has, passing it to the Halfling, Tharin instinctively understands the method of allowing the object to drain some of his arcane energies into itself. He does this willingly, to Landra's dismay, though Hand of Kali remains stoic.
Soon enough Magni, Kul'theras and Munt reach the entrance to the chasm which leads into the ancient temple they guard. Finding the nearest watchtower guards slaughtered and the signal not yet activated, Magni sets it off, watching for a response from other towers but eventually accepting that none is coming.
He leads his companions into the freezing chasm, and on arriving at the entrance to the icy cave system which holds the temple itself, they find the two enormous statues guarding the entrance toppled and destroyed. Between them are the scorched remains of at least a score of dwarves, but it is difficult to properly estimate their numbers as they have been so badly damaged and the weary dwarf soon gives up on the task, swearing to avenge his fallen brothers and pressing on in the slimming hope of finding some sign of his father.
When Veur comes shambling out of the darkness, struggling along despite heavy injuries, Magni collapses to his knees, overcome as he realizes that the zombie that his father has become doesn't recognise him.
While Kul'theras tries to slow the shambling former Thunderlord, unwilling to strike at Magni's father, the dwarf haltingly rises, drawing his sword. Whispering "Father I'm sorry, but I know you wouldn't want this." he lunges into action, decimating the monster his father has become and sending it crashing to the ground trailing flames from Munt's bombs.
Getting The Band Back Together
Almost as soon as they enter the temple, both Magni and Munt fall prey to a trap which puts them instantly to sleep. Kul'theras manages to resist the effects and is left with a difficult decision when the robed figure in the middle of the room beckons and he hears a voice telling him to drag the dwarf closer. He stalls for time, suddenly bringing his bow to bear only to find the arrow he draws clattering through his fingers.
The voice roars through his head "WRONG MOVE!" as the shape gesticulates and Kul'theras falls to the floor, having been transformed into a marionette version of himself.
With a fresh set of manacles fitted, Magni finds himself being brought awake by the maggot-man who requests that he take the now-glowing cylinder and use it to open the seal set into the wall behind the alter. When it is revealed that Tharin activated the key, Magni asks incredulously why he would help the being that has been hunting them. Tharin's response is succint; "There comes a point in your life when you realize that you really don't want to be a doll."
When Magni refuses to take key the creature entreats him to do this willingly. Magni is steadfast. The creature attempts to force the issue with an enchantment, and Magni resists with extraordinary effort, quietly growling "I am Magni Veursson. I am the last of my people, and I will see your end."
The creature gives up on all premise of co-operation and casts another, mightier spell. This time even Magni Veursson must yield, and soon the glowing key has retracted its fins and is inserted into the wall, which changes suddenly to a featureless black surface before dissolving before their eyes. The room beyond is strange, clad all in metal, with metal benches dominating the space.
Kul'theras hero point nomination earned here.
Into The Belly Of The Beast
After shepherding his manacled prisoners into the strange room, the man-shaped mass of writhing maggots moves further into the room, disappearing behind some kind of strange sculpture. Shortly after this, an explosion is heard, and then not much beyond a strange low hum that seemed to be resonating from all around them.
A small argument takes place, with Landra and Magni questining the wisdom of Tharin's willing assistance of their captor. Tharin insists that as they are apparently at his mercy the only reasonable course of action is to ingratiate themselves with him. Tharin suggests that perhaps Magni should pray to Thor as this is apparently some kind of temple in his honor, and a skeptical Magni somewhat grudgingly mumbles a prayer to his god. No sooner has the prayer escaped his lips than a long, low whooping sound is heard, which causes Tharin to exclaim that he might consider taking up worship of the Thunderlord after all, with such an impressive response time, just as an odd voice addresses the group in common. Though the owner of the voice could not be seen and had a strange accent this one at least did not sound as if it was originating within their own heads.
Power restored. Scanning...
Unauthorised presence detected... Destruction of native fauna authorised... Deploying Pacification Drones. ... Pacification Drones Destroyed. Primary Control Hub Isolated. Access obstructed. Resuming diagnostic scan. Captain candidate: Identified. Warrior Caste: Identified. Local Fauna: Identified. Protocol Romeo Echo Tango Uniform Romeo November initiated.
The air flickers with sparkling motes of light which coalesece into a flickering image of a strangely dressed Halfling who resembles Tharin, almost as if he was a statue in the room with them. Something about the bearing of this stranger suggests that he is proud, competent and daring. While The Hunted gawk at the striking resemblance, the voice resumes.
Captain candidate, prepare for invasive physical confirmation.
A metal sphere rolls up behind Tharin and extends a many-jointed limb with a stinger of some kind at the end, plunging it into the base of his spine.
Spinal tap complete. Analysing... Sample match within mission parameters.
The metal sphere positions itself before Tharin almost as if it is regarding him, extends another strange limb which makes a strange sound before shooting some kind of ray weapon at Tharin's manacles, breaking the chain which links them though leaving the devices still clamped around his wrists. The voice then addresses him.
Welcome Captain. Please advise status of life-forms accompanying you.
Tharin thinks on his feet and introduces each of his companions to the sphere, instructing it to free them from thier bondage also.
Eventually they ask the name of he sphere, to their consternation it replies:
This unit designation L1118585234.
Around this time Kul'theras is transformed from his marionette form to his full size and biological makeup. The voice of L1118585234 continues to drone on about things that mostly don't make any sense to The Hunted as they begin moving cautiously down the corridor which their captor followed.
Primary Control Hub has been invaded by local fauna designation LF001 and is now inaccessible. Multiple Internecivus Raptus quarantines have been jeapordised. Specimens on the move, mission critical stasis has been disrupted. Captain, fauna designation LF001 has negotiated activation of the primary drive systems with the local sub-system.
Internecivus Raptus
As The Hunted step past a set of scorched metal doors at the end of the corridor, a creature attacks, lunging out of the darkness at them with a hich-pitched shrieking.
Requestion authorisation to initiate protocol Foxtrot Uniform Bravo Alpha Romeo Sierra Delta.
When Tharin asks what this protocol is, he is informed it involves the destruction of the structure they are in. This raises some concerns within the group as to whether they can survive the destruction if they're present. The sphere's voice degrades even further as it makes a suggestion as follows:
Proposal. Retrieve back-up data core. Drop shielding and make way to sub-orbital craft. Install on sub-orbital craft and initiate self-destruct sequence. Separate from main craft and attempt to remotely restore shields. Manoeuvre sub-orbital beyond minimum safety margins. Survive.
As the acid continues to hiss away, the sphere's voice is now nothing more than incomprehensible buzzing. A moment before this ceases altogether, small green lights appear set along the bottom of the corridor walls heading south. With no clearer information to go on, The Hunted assume that this is some kind of trail marking provided by their spherical ally and set off in that direction.
They're Coming Out Of The Walls
As The Hunted follow the lit path, they encounter more creatures, presumably the Internecivus Raptus mentioned earlier. They fight the creatures off, though their numbers swell faster than The Hunted can kill them, even with Tharin's fireballs.
It is Landra who first catches sight of the end of the path, which blinks out when she approaches a sphere similar to the one that helped them earlier. It glows gently and addresses her as she takes it from the socket it is resting in, telling her that it has "dropped shields" and that she must take it to the "sub-orbital craft". A newly lit pathway appears at her feet, heading back the way she came.
As Landra comes running back past her comrades, yelling at them to follow the new path and punch a hole through the ranks of the sinister Internecivus Raptus blocking their exit. Tharin has the creatures held at bay temporarily by use of his Black Tentacles, giving The Hunted a chance to organise themselves, with Landra entrusting the sphere to Munt so she can use her rifle. The goblin decides to keep the sphere safe by stuffing it underneath his clothing, giving the appearance of a comically exaggerated belly on a creature so small.
When the tentacles withdraw, The Hunted fight a running battle through the ship corridors, at one point helped by a door suddenly slamming shut, closing off a corridor full of hissing monsters and allowing our heroes to gain a valuable lead.
Out Of The Frying Pan
Munt is the first to burst free of the corridor and into a cavernous space filled with huge metal containers, racing between them on the path to a door which he can make out straight ahead at the far end of the room. When he comes to the end of the containers though, he pauses with a yelp, the cause of which Landra learns moments later as she catches up to him.
The two towering beasts captivate the senses as they turn to direct their attention at the new arrivals, slimy saliva dripping from their jagged teeth as they part their jaws and their deafening roars filling the space. Tharin and Munt make a break for the door on the far side of the room, sprinting between the twin monstrosities as they lunge down towards their diminutive prey. By some miracle Munt manages to avoid harm, but Tharin is not so lucky, one of the beasts catching him with a vicious swipe of it's claws, immediately knocking him to the ground, on the brink of unconsciousness.
Friend or Foe
There's a sudden pressure and a strange WHOOOMP noise, accompanied by a blinding ball of light 10 feet tall. It disappears, or perhaps it would be more correct to say it dissipates into the decking, electricity arcing between surfaces as it dances crazily across the metal plates. Those of the group who saw the flash blink at the after-images blocking their vision as they make out a humanoid figure standing where the ball of light once was.
The figure is facing away from them, but they can see that it is wearing golden armor with what Magni, Landra and Hand of Kali recognise to be an Asgardian motif. This armor is topped with an ornate helm, two large horns emerging from the brow and sweeping up and back in your direction, and the figure wields some kind of long-hafted weapon. Almost as if becoming aware of their presence, the figure turns its head a few degrees, giving them their first impression of a face, terribly scarred by some now-healed injury. The figure suddenly whirls and addresses them.
"By the Thunderlord - am I happy to see you!"
Tristopher joins the battle against the two Xenomorph-Rex specimens, suggesting that he'll hold them off while The Hunted escape. Magni rejects the idea of leaving the cleric to face these monsters alone and attacks with renewed vigour as the others make their way out of the hanger and down the corridor.
The Tough Get Going
The rest of the group race through the corridors ahead, and very soon catch up to Munt who is impatiently dancing from foot to foot before a set of doors. The slightly muffled voice of the sphere urges them inside, advising that this is the craft that will facilitate their escape. Munt runs ahead again following directions the sphere provides, going down a hatch only to emerge a few seconds later without the sphere and continue upwards through another hatch. Tharin follows the goblin, the others staying in the middle level, watching the doors close behind them, guided by some unseen hand.
Windows that were black as if covered with thick dark draperies suddenly show a view of the sky, and there is a shudder through the floor. Some of the windows appear to be showing some kind of scrying, and they ascertain quickly that the massive object they appear to be moving away from is the "Main Craft" the sphere mentioned. This craft is itself riding a massive column of fire, rapidly gaining altitude even as huge chunks of the remains of Mount Thuun slide off the structure to tumble down to the distant surface.
Suddenly every window flares bright white, it seems that the light is even somehow permeating the walls as a thundering boom the likes of which they have never heard leaves them reeling. Then they realize that the floor beneath them is actually shaking violently, contributing further to their discomfort. The floor regains its composure after only a few moments, and the windows slowly reveal the edge of what seems to be a huge crater in the earth, crowned by a mind-numbingly huge cloud of smoke and debris.
Going Out With A Bang
The Xenomorph-Rex split its attacks between Tristopher and Magni in a flurry of claws, teeth and tail even as more of its smaller cousins swarmed into the room. The two warriors danced around the beast raining down powerful blows as if they had trained together for years, each instinctively understanding the intent of the other. Magni struck the final blow, bringing it crashing to the floor and following through fluidly to decimate the first ranks of the vicious swarm of smaller Xenomorphs that came crashing down onto them like a tidal wave.
As they fought they moved slowly but surely towards one another, positioning themselves back to back at the center of a deadly maelstrom, clubbing and slashing at chitinous armor, both now towering 10 feet tall roaring defiance back at the screaming horde that seemed only to be growing even as their caustic fluids melted through the deck plates and the dead slipped through to lower decks in a macabre mockery of a burial.
Through the thunder of battle and the blood pounding through his ears, Magni could make out a voice announcing a count-down, words he recognised (destruction... shielding... lethal...) mixed in with nonsense words (radiation... ablation cascade... quantum...) He put them aside. They didn't concern him. Not now. Not after all he had seen, not when he had the fire of battle in him, these abominations to focus his rage on. It was a final, gloriously physical consummation of his sworn duty to keep these horrors from escaping; he felt sure now that this was why his people had kept others away from this metal hell for so long.
His dagger was gone, he'd buried it in the skull of a shrieking monster that dropped onto him from above before he threw it aside. He could see more creatures swarming in, another of the hulking brutes that had struck Tharin down dropping in from a hatch in the ceiling overhead and shrieking hatefully as it came closer, yet another landing behind it.
So be it.
He'd sell his life to them at a dear price, he'd already struck down a multitude and continued to do so, swinging his greatsword with one hand and his father's longhammer with the other. His blows landed with strength and precision even as the decking under him groaned in protest, pock-marked and dissolving. He could hear the counting getting very low now, and he roared with maniacal, furious laughter as he slaughtered his enemies; drunk on his own prowess, knowing that he would surely he will take an honoured role in Ragnarök.
Wait... More words.
One of the words was important to him once. A name? Did he know it once? How long ago? How long had the rage held him now? A day? A thousand days? A thousand years? Time was meaningless to him here... But that word... He had known it once. Revered it...
Thor.
The god who had charged his people..
Laughter. Slashing. Splashing. Lightning. Was the laughter his?
Had charged them with protecting this world from... From these. These things.
Has he not already given all to his lord? More than even he had to give? Had he not earnt his place at the table yet? Beside his father...
Aye. He had. He could go now. He could rest and toast with those who fell. Honour did not require him to fight on.
But love did require it. His father had said they did not do what they did simply for honour, but for love. Love of their lord, love for each other. But above all, for their love of the world.
They must be strong that others may be weak and yet live.
For each brother that falls he must remember the thousand whose lives were bought by that sacrifice.
He must be strong that others may love and live without loss.
The words were formed and waiting for an eternity before a second had passed. Finally, a voice... His voice bellowed "AYE! FOR VEUR! FOR THE THUNDERLORDS!"
And then as time slipped again, he saw it come. The bloom of the light. The heat and the force and then... Nothing.
