[Taocow PBEM] Chapter XVIII - Into The Heart Of Darkness

[Alex Bayne]

[Sia]
Sia seems distant and deep in thought as she stands near the felled  
rock creature.  Then suddenly she snaps to attention, her eyes wide  
with alarm, as Ted starts getting sick.  She runs to his side.

"This scratch," she says, pointing to a barely noticable mark on the  
lizard man's face, "how long have you had it?"  She gulps.  "There's  
some kind of force, like a shadow, creeping from this wound into his  
body.  I don't know what it is but I think he may require an exorcism  
as well."  She casts Sense Evil to get a better sense of the damage.

"What's more, we've got a problem.  My familiar just spotted our guide  
Maiea from the air- she's dead.  And from the looks of the body it  
looks like they sacrificed her to drain her psychic energy.  I don't  
know how these pieces fit together yet, but we'd better get moving."

"I have an idea... this might be a little crazy but if Ted and I ride  
in one ATV and the rest of you go in the other, I might be able to  
remove whatever taint is in the wound while en route.  You'd have to  
keep your distance from us while driving though unless you want a  
repeat of what happened to Om.  Do you feel up to driving just a  
little further Ted?"
[/Sia]


On Mar 3, 2009, at 5:15 PM, Aaron Clausen wrote:

>> [Talas]
>> Talas gets out of the ATV and walks over to the demon. Upon seeing  
>> that
>> its arm is growing back Talas pulls out his rail gun and at point  
>> blank rang
>> fires a bust into the demons chest. (The gun has depleted uranium  
>> rounds.
>> Stops all regeneration, as long as the rounds are in the creatures  
>> body.)
>> [Strike: Natural 20!]
>> [/Talas]
>
> [GM]
> Talas levels a perfect blast against the demon [Damage: 60MD].  Much  
> of
> the torso of the creature is split in half, and all regeneration
> stops.  Incredibly,
> it is still moving, however, vainly flailing against the magic net.
> [/GM]
>
>> [Talas]
>> Talas takes out his Katana and proceeds to decapitate the  
>> abomination.
>> [/Talas]
>
> [GM]
> The head falls of the demon, and finally it stops moving and seems  
> quite
> dead.
> [/GM]
>
>> [Talas]
>> Talas then turns his attention to the overturned ATV and asks if  
>> every
>> one is safe. And if he is needed to turn it right side up.
>> [/Talas]
>
>> [Ted]
>> "I think we are all right," Ted stated, climbing out of the  
>> overturned
>> vehicle. "If everyone can get clear, I might be able to tip this  
>> thing right.
>> Sia, Talas, can either of you make it a little more weightless for  
>> me?"
>> [/Ted]
>
>> [Koba]
>> Shaken and a little stunned, the ringing in his ears finally settles.
>> Clutching his left hand there is a sharp pain running down his arm as
>> he makes a fist and the shoulder looks a little deformed. While the
>> ATV gets the once over from those who know how to drive them, Koba
>> sits down a a log on the side of the road. Pulling out an e-clip from
>> his belt, Koba squeezes it tightly in his good hand. Immediately
>> feeling the rush of energy pulse from the clip Koba feels that same
>> warm feeling rush over him. Shortly thereafter, his arm feels back to
>> to normal and the pain resolves
>> [/Koba]
>
>> [Talas]
>> After dealing with the demon, Talas heads over towards the overturned
>> ATV. And in response to Ted's request says "Mr. Ted I believe I can  
>> do
>> more that make it a little lighter." With that Talas walks up to  
>> the ATV,
>> and assuming everyone is out of it proceeds to pick up the ATV and
>> sets it back on it's wheels.
>> [/Talas]
>
>> [Sia]
>> Sia hauls herself of the ATV before Talas rights it with his  
>> incredible
>> strength.
>> [/Sia]
>
>> [Owen]
>> Owen approaches those that were in the overturned ATV and ask, "Is
>> anyone injured, or in need of healing help?"  If there are any in  
>> need,
>> Owen uses Healing Touch on the injured.
>> [/Owen]
>
>> [Sia]
>> "I took a little lump," Sia tells Owen, pointing to her swollen eye.
>> "See if you can do anything for it."
>> [/Sia]
>
>> [Ted]
>> "Me, too." Ted replied, surveying his body for injuries. Psychic  
>> healing
>> beat waiting around for the body to recuperative natural any day.
>> [/Ted]
>
> [GM]
> Owen's healing touch makes Ted's and Sia's bruises and scrapes simply
> disappear.  Within a minute they are as good as new.
> [/GM]
>
>> [Sia]
>> While waiting for Alister to make the necessary repairs, she has her
>> familiar scout the area by air and see if there are any other threats
>> approaching.   Somewhat fascinated by these creatures, she also walks
>> over to the corpse of the one Talas felled and examines it to see if
>> she can gain any information.
>>
>> In passing, she comments to Talas in Elven, "Somewhat lacking in
>> subtlety, but effective.  Well done, Kindred."
>> [/Sia]
>
> [GM]
> The demon, possibly related to elementals, is quickly collapsing, the
> controlling spirit either destroyed or fled.  There's an odd scent  
> coming
> from it, almost like burning bricks.
> [/GM]
>
>> [Koba]
>> Walking back over to the ATV, Koba slips inside and checks the
>> function of the turret after that flip. "I guess we have to keep a
>> better look out for anything now. Apparently the rocks themselves are
>> chasing us. Either way, we should keep going as soon as we can."
>> [/Koba]
>
> [GM]
> The turret motor has been heavily damaged and seized.  The turret can
> still fire, but cannot be aimed, save by the driver.
> [/GM]
>
> [Alister]
> Meanwhile, Alister is busy making sure that everything else about the
> vehicle is ship-shape.  After about ten minutes he pulls his head  
> out of
> the hood and declares "It will run.  Bit bent up, but nothing a day  
> or two
> and a few spare parts couldn't fix.  A few more days and I could make
> some additions.  The turret is going to have to wait, the bearings  
> are shot
> and I don't think we have time to pull it off."
> [/Alister]
>
> [GM]
> As the company is wiping off the dust and getting ready to go, a  
> somewhat
> faint and scratchy voice comes through their comm sets.
>
> "Osiris, I think I have encountered him but there is something  
> wrong. He
> is not conscious".  It is their wilderness scout companion, Alex.
>
> In the midst of that, Ted suddenly doubles over and starts vomiting.
> [/GM]
>
> -- 
> Aaron Clausen
> mightymartianca at gmail.com
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