TIME'S CHAMPIONS: THE FINALE (STORY THREAD)

[Lord_BoNes]

At seeing the situation unfolding in front of him, Aurek spoke to the Trolin King "Sire, I know that things haven't exactly gone completely to plan, but now that things are working like we expected... we can move on to more active measures. And about the altar, if it is tainted with chaotic energies, then we may only get to use it this once... without it affecting the body that is placed here. They might come back wrong, and my even create more problems than solutions. Have a look at this man... he's choking... isn't that a sign in itself? We're here to help him right now, but that may not always be the case."

Then he spoke to the air elementals, "Can you please move back from him a little? He can't breathe. You'll have many chances to examine him. Many thanks."

[raixel]

Petal jumps away from the altar as everyone rematerializes in the room and Helm starts coughing. At the kings outburst, she gives Westian a look as if it say "See?"

"Power that strong, give to that beast, I would not." she says quietly as soon as the trolins are gone. "Go, just let them. Perhaps killed they will get themselves. "

[ian_scho]

Haynuus scratches his nose, not really sure what to say. He wanted to chase after the king and shout that they should all follow him, but perhaps it was better if they let them go...

"Ameena, Helm! I'm so glad that you are back. Now we have a NEW plan!" he beamed. He looked over the bedraggled human and decided that recovering from death could take a while - the thief was not about to participate in a fight unless they shoved 5 VI bottles in his mouth. "We can follow not far behind the trolin king and let him open a breach in the defenses. With the blackskulls distracted perhaps we could get to the leaders while they concentrate on the trolins?" One small problem. What would he do with them anyway? "Westian? Pullack, Uumack and Guree - we can still work together to stop this evil and sidestep the king's own plans."

OOC - Ohhh hate to try it but... Persuasion (1d20-2=13).

[beowuuf]

The Trolin King paused briefly when the usually silent paladin directly addressed him. The fact that Helm raised already coughly noisily, and not looking that healthy, seemed in some small way to curb his calculating. Still, a lot of the damage had already been done. "Pullack! Make sure altar destroyed as they say, and bad as say! Or else not show your face!" The King still shook his fist at the group. "You cower here, we fight battles for you. I will make sure everyone know who beat blackskulls, and cowered in rooms with words and magicks!"

With that, the king departed.

Pullack, stood down from actively trying to direct his men do anythign with the altar, much to the relief of Uumack, and even the rest of Pullack's Trolins. Afetr all, there had been lights and a man had come back to life but apparently coughing badly and then speeches about Chaos being in the stone, and the fire throwing tiny flying creature seemed angry. Best not to stand in anyone's way. After all, Westian, Haynuus, Aurek and Falkor had all developed a reputation, and Falkor's disappearance and reappearance right before the human was ressurected probably cemented it.


Meanwhile, back with Helm, the man seemed confused and bewildered as a furry shape sudden'y jumped on top of him and started throwing a stream of words in his face. Aurek's petition to the air elementals helped the thief gather his composure and thoughts. "A-Ameena?" he said, confused. "Wait, I think I...I think I dreamed you telling me all this. I...wait, the gnome!" he shifted, then looked around. "We were captured - the gnome had us, except he'd killed you, hadn't he? he said to Ameena, while shaking his head. Awkwardly but with growing relief he tried to return the odd hugs from the murafu, while looking aroudn the room. "The gnome...he's...he's dead, isn't he?" asked Helm, tryign to work out why he knew it.

Deephold had come forwards, no less happy than the murafu, but it was obviously he was just better at being reserved about it. "Good to see you back, how do you feel?" asked Deephold.

"Back?" said Helm, confused, and looking around the surroundings. "Where did I...?" He seemed to realise that it was probably best not to think to much about that question, and quickly moved back to speaking to Ameena and Deephold, and then Haynuus as the half-orc came forwards again. "I have this pressure in my chest. IT's like..." Helm then turned to Ameena. "I knew you didn't abandon me," said Helm, though there was an odd look in his eye that he perhaps had thought exactly that, and was now relieved that Ameena had come for him. "The...where you went. The blackness. We tried to go in to it, and I had this pressure there, I think. Then we were back out of it, and...it was strange. The soldiers came down here, that's how the gnome got me. I don't know what it is. And weak, I feel weak, like I've been sleeping on my limbs and am trying to get them to work again."

Deephold said some platitides that really didn't mean anything, but Helm seems happier to be distracted by the affectionate murafu, still a little embarrassed by it but also apparently happy for it.

Haynuus ocntinued, bringing Pullack in on the conversation. Westian had been giving Petal a neutral look regarding her proof on the Trolins. Wether he did not believe her, or simply did not wish to discuss the matter further with a group of Trolins still present was uncertain. Of course, the King had in a way called Petal'#s bluff. Clearly, the pixie was expected to destroy the altar as far as the King had been concerned. Whether the remaining Trolins were expecting it was unclear, as Haynuus started muddying the waters.

Uumack looked a little hesitant in following the king, saying that the bulk of the Trolins were deliberately not where the main leadership would be, and were causing a distraction. Pullack, however, seemed to pick up on some of Haynuus's words. ""The king had his own plans? Not in defeating blackskulls? What he really planning! Is this a move against me!"

Pullack looked to Uumack and Haynuus, as if looking for confirmation of his paranoia. And, of course, next he would probably want some way to move against the king.


Lol, and we shall leave it there. So yeah, Trolins not goign for altar anymore, and you might be able to persuade the remainign Trolins to go with you. You know, if you lie about what the King's doing (or suspect the King is doing something suplicitous anyway). Of course, you might just end up sending this group of Trolins agaian their fellows. Who knows with this suspicious lot.

And yeah, Helm is not in good shape - no active player help will do that - but did come back without any sacrifices on the player's part, which is what Ameena and Falkor's choices led to. So that's cool. Yeah, Vi altars knock you a little physically, Westian side stepped this when you guys were really cool and co-ordinated last time activating it and he also brought himself back so well. This time Helm's a little less better off. Don't worry Ameena, he's not going to drop dead. I'm just pointing out that he shouldn't be expected to be the front line guy, and you might want to spend some time getting him healthier to survive to the end!

Ok, so hopefully in the next day or two you guys will be able to move forwards again!

[Ameena]

OOC - Pff, Helm's a Rogue - I wouldn't expect him to be a front-line guy anyway . And yeah, he's been dead for a while, I wouldn't necessarily expect the rigor mortis to disappear straight away . But it's okay, he will get lots of huggles now he has a sort of murafu barnacle attached to him for the forseeable future (or until he asks her to get off him ).

BIC - "Soorec's not here." explains Ameena to Helm, still sitting on him and making sure he gets the message she has no plans to let go of him any time soon. "He's...well, dead. Do you know about...umm...the person we're not supposed to think about? He controlled the grak-graks and made them...well, turn against Soorec. But we're not in Soorec's area now. We're in the area of...that person. I don't know whether you know who I'm talking about, but talking about him is bad so what you need to do is not think about him at all or he gets inside your head. Think of good things and don't be afraid. The...dream...you had, that was...I suppose it was sort of a dream now. I went with Falkor and spoke to your spirit to tell it to get inside your body again, which it has, because here you are. You were dead, yes, but not any more. I was nearly dead, but I don't think I was dead enough, that time, because someone woke me up with a healing potion. Oh! Here, do you want one?"
She reaches inside a pouch and offers Helm one of her healing potions, making sure she keeps attached to the human with as many feet s possible at all times, gripping his clothing or his arms though not so tightly that she accidentally digs her claws in so that they hurt him.
"There are things we still have to do." she says. "But...whatever happens, I don't plan to leave you again. Well, I didn't before. You know that, don't you? I went into that darkness, and...met someone."
She gives her now-usual involuntary twinge, twitching her right forepaw slightly.
"Someone big and...dark, and...with enough magic to destroy the world." is all the detail she gives, recalling that thinking about such things makes her feel uneasy and might cause strange things to happen in the world around her.

OOC - Ameena offers Helm one of her two 3d6 healing potions, since I don't think anyone else has done so yet and anyway it's the kind of thing she would do .

[raixel]

Petal moves away from the altar and the coughing man upon it. She goes to where the king left the rom and looks into the passage, as if it verify that the kin g really left and wouldnt be waiting around to ambush the party later. Percept (1d20+5=10)

[ian_scho]

OOC - Hmm, not sure what to add this this mess Welcome Back from the honeymoon!

In replying to Uumack's words "I don't understand the king's motives, and there is something that he really wants but I can't see what it is. Be sure though." He then points to Helm. "This way would be a good route back out after the battle is finished." He wanted to say more but he had already attempted to persuade the trolins to follow them. Perhaps someone else could have a go.

He moves over to Helm and pats him on his shoulder "Ameena has dedicated the last few days trying to get you back and alive again. It is only thanks to her persistence that you are here now. I'm sure that you will thank her in your own way."

Next up was Westian and the others. "Good work chaps. I will never understand your magicks and your Gods but you possess great quantities of both in your loins[*]." He pauses a moment and pretends to think hard about his next statement. "Should we go after the king and persuade him to return with us? I know not of the details of your plans, Westian. So I am willing to help either way." And with that he gave a nod to Deephold.

And finally Petal... Who he greeted with a raised eyebrow. He wasn't happy that the trolin king was gone, despite the fact that he didn't actually trust the king.

[*] An orcish saying, a way of praising the receiver. To be honest, however, you could have great quantities of custard in your loins if you were dapper juggling with eggs, an excitable yak and an orcish whisk so the saying was falling out of use due to misinterpretation.

[raixel]

*head explodes at the loins comment and the following footnote* LOL

[oh_brother]

Westian refocused on the room now that Helm seemed to have recovered. It still was an amazing site, a corpse brought back to life by pure magical energy.

But there were more urgent matters to attend to. Listening to Petal he responded in elvish. “I do not agree with them having such power either, but remember that whatever they think they can claim will be lost as soon as we bring the Grey Lord back. They think they will rule the mountain, but in the end they will have whatever he wishes them to have. No more, no less. And I agree we should not trust them, in fact it is good that you and others are watching them closely. But I think they are the lesser of two evils.”

Haynuus’s odd mention of people’s loins grabbed his attention, and he listened to the half-orc speak. His eyes opened wide as he mentioned going after the king, and the full implications of what had happened as he had been focused elsewhere. “You are right” he said, and ran suddenly into the doorway.

“Do not be so hasty, your majesty. Remember the power of this altar. If one of your lieutenants falls, would it not be useful to be able to call them back to serve you once more?” He did not mention that it could also be useful if the king himself fell, since he knew the king would publicly brush aside such fears as impossible. But he hoped that he might think about that himself. “You will need priests capable of channelling its power, the same priests that you are now so quick to cast off as allies. We have enough enemies already, together we can defeat them. We swarm the room where the leaders lie, and wipe them out. What do you say?”

[beowuuf]

Hmm, I'm torn between not undoing your hard work in absentia, and of course being an evil DM. Can you roll me some diplomacy if you are around? I'll update later this evening either way...dun dun dun...

[beowuuf]

Helm looked relived that Soorec was dead - recalling or gatheringthta was the gnone's name. Still, he did look a little guilty towards Deephold, as if not sure if she should be so happy regarding a death, no matter who it was. Deephold of course simply gestured for him to drink the offered VI potion with no judgements. While some colour returned to Helm's now noticeably pale complexion, he still seemed to carry some of the tension in his chest he spoke of before. Indeed, coughing badly again after finishing the potion. Deephold's look was neutral. Meanwhile, Helm's relief and thanks were a brief reaction, because confusion and shock and terror seemed to strike him when Ameena indicated his actual death, and then hinted at a shadowy figure stalking them.

"In...in this room? Thisis his room? Should...should we leave?" asked Helm, moving a little and seeing if Ameena would let him stand from the altar. Hel;m then seemed to realise there were Trolins around, and his eyes widened even more. Ameena's final words seemed to be misunderstood as if describing the Trolin king, however it is only after Hyanuus comes over, and indicated everythign Ameena has tried to do, that he lthinks on her words again and realises she might have meant something "Ameena?" he asked, all his own concerns and fright forgotten as he noticed Ameena's own discomfort. "Ameena, are you alright?" he asked again.

In Ameena's mind, the vague shadowy figure, and that strange memory, seemed to be consumed in a burst of white, bright light. The odd ache in her right side seemed to subside-

Spoiler

and then suddenly a black, clawed hand was visible in Ameena's mind's eye. It swept sideways as if pulling the white light side like a curtain. There was laughter, cruel and mocking. "No, you will not erase me...you will free me.."

. The vision subsided for the murafu. Partially because she could hear the rumbling of the moutnain again. Luckily, she stopped thinking upon thigns that usually caused this, very quickly. It took a moment to realise that did not seem to be helping.

Meanwhile, even as Petal sees thatthe King has probably not departed far enough that Westian cannot catch uo, suddenly in Petal's head something distracts her.

Spoiler

"I can hear him!" said a sad little voice, not even a hint of arrogance. It sounded defeated. "He'll come again. Then take me in to him. And I'll be gone!" Then there was anger. "Or you'll leave me! You'll leave me or hell come for me! Either way, I'll die!" Then there was a feel of anger in Petal's mind, a terrible presure. "I CANNOT DIE! NO!" There was a feeling of a figure petulantly stomping its foot. "You keep saying you won't leave, but you will! You know it! You want to destroy anything with His stain!I won't let you!" Petal could see the small figure dimly, doing something as if coiling up a rope. Or given his size, more like a child pulling his mother's ball of yarn apart. His arm motions were wide and wild, and he got loops of the blakc wool-like substace twisted on his horns as well as around his arms. And then, suddenly, Petal felt a yank on her leg, right where she had seen the strange black string. A yank that was trying to pull her directly out of the blocked door.

Deephold had been giving Haynuus a wide eyed stare at the mention of loins too. Enough that it took a moment for Deephold to realise the chamber was still shaking. Deephold then noticed that all the Trolisn in the room - even Uumack and Guree, were backing away from the altar, their eyes wide. "What is happening?" asked Deephold, finally looking aroudn to the altar. Or, more importantly, above the altar...

Meanwhile, Westian had rushed down the corridor. Depsite his words to Petal, and in defense of his last sentiment, he still wished to keep the Trolin King on side. The King's gaurds raised weapons as Westian approached. Of course, Westian's opening words immediately struck Karda's ears, and he gave his KIng a suspicious look, wondering if the King was trying ot ensure his own lieutenants could not come back. The King looked ambivalent. Clearly, the pixie's words - backed up by Aurek's reasurance that the altar was tainted - meant he did not believe the altar was a viable method of coming back.

Still, the reminder of mortality was a powerful one...

"Not priest, but all others try to trick me! Your little insect casts doubt on our honour, your elementals threatene us, your armoured man runs away and you all heal your own men then tel lus lies about altar not being m- my men back! How trust you when you say one thing, then only say different thing when we leave? "

The King raised his hand as if in anger, and for a moment Westian thought he might be struck. However, the Kign was actually shielding himself frm what he saw - down the corridor - back in the room. Westian could see it too, the thing that terrified all the Trolins.

The glowing white crack was back.The tip of it had apparently extended down through the ceiling form way above, and was now in the room with them.


And we'll leave it there! Yeah, so the crack has followed you, apparently. Who knwos what's happening upstairs, and if everyone's ok! The crack is right beside the altar, apparently in the wall by it. Weirdly, this concept pre-dates the new Doctor Who episodes, and yet now it seems to be very, very similar. I daresay some of that's contaminated all this. Still, how much, who knows. Dare you approach the crack? Do you run? Who knows that, either!

[Ameena]

OOC - Did Helm take/refuse/drink the healing potion Ameena offered? No mention has been made in your last post.

BIC - Ameena flinches at the vision, but attempts to fill her head with thoughts of her latest happiness concerning Helm's return, just in case. However, on this occasion she isn't entirely sure which Dark and Scary Figure it is which seems to have shown itself in her mind. Either way, she decides, not thinking about it is probably a good idea.
She remains close to Helm as the human moves to stand up, trying to keep some kind of physical contact with him if she can yet for now remaining perched on the altar. When everyone's eyes seem to move to a particular point, she turns and stares at the crack which has now appeared in the wall.
Did I do that? she wonders frantically, while at the same time not really knowing what to do about it. Run? Hide? Throw something at it? Talk to it? With all these options whizzing through her mind and with no idea which choice to make, Ameena instead remains motionless with a combination of fright and indecision.

[beowuuf]

Sorry, knew I forgot something - will edit the fact he drank it in to the post above!

[raixel]

Spoiler

"Calm down!" Petal yells at the frantic Chaos. "No one is going to take you anywhere! Or me, for that matter. We need to work together to stop him, not fight amongst ourselves. If we sit here arguing, then He wins, without even a fight. And yiou dont want that, do you? You'd cease to exist. So we have to work together. Lets figure out a way to stop Him."

She holds out her hand to the small creature reassuringly. Steppingg toward him, she gently untangles some of the black string from his horns. "I wasnt ever going to destroy the altar. I just wanted to make a point to the others that those trolins are going to turn on us at the first opertunity and are only out for themselves. Don't worry."

"Now, lets work together to try and figure out a way to stop this crack. For starters, do you have any idea what it or this string is? To me, it seems to be a tie to Him affecting both of us.

Diplomacy (if needed) Base roll = 11 Diplomacy (1d20+4=15)

[Ameena]

OOC - Hehe okies, I see the edit now . Is Helm keeping the flask or giving it back? Just for the sake of inventory accuracy on my character sheet .

[beowuuf]

Giving it back

[Ameena]

OOC - Okies

[ian_scho]

With mouth open Haynuus stared at the newly formed crack in what was the wall. "Lets go. Really, we need to go." He tried to piece together just what had happened. He didn't understand exactly what had caused the crack to appear, as had happened last time in the large cavern. They had resurrected Helm, which maybe was not the right thing to do if you were a nuclear physicist worried about breaking the space and time continuum but fuck it - the guy deserved a break from a cruel universe. He wondered, however, if it was really linked to Ameena and not Helm after all. "Why did you ask if she was all right?!" he shouted at Helm during the confusion of the quake. He took him by the arm. "What happened?" He lowered his voice. "I'd like to know." He ushered Helm out of the room, direction of a rapidly retreating trolin king.

[beowuuf]

@Raixel:

Spoiler

"I'll ceased to exist no matter what!" said the voice of the figure. It sounded strange, the voice stranger and not just from the crying. The little chaotic figure stamped its feet, and then shrugged its shoulders as if trying ot get free of something. The cloak of fire around it detacthed and fell to the ground oddly. Despite the string around its hands, the figure managed to finally pull the trapped helmet free thanks to Petal's earlier efforts, throwing it on to the ground too. At the same moment, two wings unfurled, and Petal was looking at a dark version of herself.

Sorry to 'kill off' mini-Chaos like this. In a way he was only alive in the dream region anyway *sniff*. I'll miss him!

"I don't know about the light! Not if you don't! Not unless you you give in to His power," said the figure. While in some ways it could be Petal except sooty and dirty, the burning red eyes and sulphuric tears were unnatural. Also, when the figure was sad, it still looked like Petal. However, when it grew irritated with Petal, there were edges and shadows and Petal felt it was a perfect immitation - using her face - of the expressions of Lord Chaos as he had destroyed her village. "You're tied to the mirrior! You can't leave it, not unless you destroy His power! Only the Grey Lord can do that, and then I'll be gone because I'm just the mix of Him and You. If you win, I go, if He wins, he pulls me back and you too." The figure cried more, tears flowing freely. Then it tugged on the thread with anger, again pulling on Petal. "Unless I pull you back with me! If we're sleeping again, maybe He will leave us alone! Maybe we can sleep forever and dream!"

Petal realised that her mad existence that still seemed a nightmare was what the figure meant. She realised the figure was some fragment of herself still wrapped up and trapped by Chaos's power. She had no - truly - escaped the mirrior. By embracing, in a way, Chaos in a way the High Lord could never have expected, she had gained her freedom. However, she had not completed the process. Her mind could not fully take on the taint of Chaos, even though by consuming it, she could fight it like a disease, destroy it. However, that could instead destroy her, destroy not only what was aready wrapped in it, but spread to the rest of her being too. Make her like those mummy creatures they had just killed, or warp her like the dragon whose parts she still carried. And could she really embrace fully anything that was of Chaos? The only alternative was to sever the connection, destroy the string now she was aware of it. Willingly destroy a part of herself to free herself from Chaos finally. Like cutting a limb off, she would not have her full powers again, that she possessed before entering this place, but she would be untouched by His dark powers.

A tough choice!

AS Petal was frozen by something she alone could see, the rest reacted to the crack in their own ways. Ameena froze in uncertainty, while Haynuus reacted with characteristic determinations and semi-violent action, grabbing Helm. He looked terrified. "She looked sad! And hurt! I realised she's risked a lot to come get me! I...why! What is that thing? Is it because of me?" Somethign occurred to Helm. "It's liek the darkness, but the wrong way around. The darkness at the front door!"

So saying triggered a memory in Haynuus. A benign memory, of a time yesterday when the group had first awoke in this place, together. Of waving a torch in to the darkness beyond the grate, and yelling 'coo-eey'. The darkness at the front door. The front door where, in the other memories he tried not to think about, they had faced a figure they tried not to think about, then somehow had woken up in the almost same place at the wrong time. Or the right time, maybe. The darkness had sucked at Haynuus's light, and Haynuus's voice. Now, here seemed to be an odd light trying to get at them. Was something trying to get through? Was the future they had experienced trying to come inhabit this past? The circlet seemed to be growing weary of throwing out odd whispered suggestions, and then was silent as it became apparent it did not know.

Shoudl they run from it, try to make the new future they were forging the correct one by their swift actions? Westian was up ahead with the king, and already the scared Trtolins were starting to move with Haynuus.


Weird sleep and the need to get up early tomorrow means I've moved Haynuus and Petal (and Ameena) forward a little in their own narratives, without fully moving the grouop forwards. So money, OB and LB (and Ameena) you can still indicate what you wish to do! I might move the full narrative forwards assuming everyone fiollows Westian tomorrow, though.

[ian_scho]

Haynuus looked up from Helm in contemplation. Suddenly the world was quiet, and he had almost forgotten how it sounded. The cracks were perhaps akin to the white and chaos lords that had ruled here before. Only by joining them would the world be at peace once more. But how?... Or who? He cast a glance over to Ameena, and then back to Helm.

"I think we should leave anyway. Come Ameena, unless you know what is causing that, then we should go." He felt an unnatural pull to the source of the light, but was not sure if it was good or bad. If it would leave him in another reality in another dungeon. He wasn't sure.

[Ameena]

Ameena looks uncertainly at Haynuus.
"I...don't know." she says. "It might have been me, but I'm not sure. I don't know what we should do about it. Is there anything we can do?"
She fidgets about restlessly, hopping from foot to foot, still perched on the altar but ready to jump down should Helm move away from it.

OOC - Whatever Ameena does, assume she stays as close as possible to Helm without actually tripping him up .

[oh_brother]

Westian was not sure what the crack was, but it did not look natural. And it was expanding quickly, who knew what would happen if it engulfed them.

He hesitated for a few seconds, unsure what to do or what to think. Then, deciding that action was needed, he tried to sound confident and authoritative, though he felt neither.

"We need to move. Quickly. Your majesty, move onwards as we agreed. Everyone else follow closely. Don't get near the crack. Keep moving." He eyed the heavily armoured paladin nervously, hoping that the crack was moving at a slow enough rate to allow escape. "If anyone is falling behind let the group know."

Sorry about the lack of updates, things were a bit hectic over the weekend and yesterday!

[Lord_BoNes]

Aurek jumped back alittle when the crack became noticable. When Westian ran after the King, and threw him an unexpected glance, he looked around making sure that no-one was in any immediate danger from the crack.
Then the usually quiet paladin spoke up, "We NEED to stay away from that thing, whatever the hell it is! Everyone keep back, and don't touch it... who knows what might happen."

After making his point known, he stuck his head out the open door and checked on Westian and the trolins... before making his way after them.

[beowuuf]

Cool, got a good spread of people! Might just hang on to see if Raixel will post to move Petal from the room. Not a deal breaker, will update later either way for the main runnign away cowards :p

[ian_scho]

OOC - Haynuus is happy to move along after them, too.

[beowuuf]

The King still seemed wary of Westian, however the rest of the party rushing as fast as they could away form the glow seemed to seal that, for the moment, they were all still necessary for each other.

"King magnanamous! He still protect you all even as you speak half truths and cast lies at TRolins!" said the Trolin King as the group gathered. Clearly though, the white crack startled him. After all, even the air elementals above had been afraid of it. The young air elemental with the group were jittery, rushing around Aurek demanding to know what the crack was in speech almost too fast to understand.

Any looking back would perhaps see that the white crack did not advance any more. In fact, it could have even been said to have receeded. Still, it could be a trick of the mind as they had rushed away.


Up ahead where the Trolin King had been caught was a crossroads. Westian and Aurek - from maps they had seen - knew that the right hand path led to another decision point that would lead to both the priest's area, but also the main gathering hall of the Blackskull leaders. Well, so it was supposed. The Trolin maps could have been incorrect.

Karda, the small leader of the scouts seemed to be checking the corner of each part of the crossroads. "My men go left and forward look for other Trolins!" he said to the King, giving Pullack coming form the rear, and the rest of the group, equally suspicious looks.

Westian and Aurek knew that to the left, eventually, should be the other entrance to this level. An entrance where the main Trolin force was atacking. Where the forward path went, none could exactly recall. Irritatingly, fro mthat forward path could be heard the faint sounds of combat.


And we'll leave it there to see if Petal is noticed to be missing/catches up wit hthe party, and also to give you a boring but necessary decision point. Which way to you go? Do you all go? Do you start throwing skill checks around to confirm some of the large assumptions in the overall plan? Etc!

[raixel]

Spoiler

Damn, I had a use for him in my campaign too. I was kinda hoping there'd be a big reveal where the other PCs found out who exactly Petals "friend" was. Let me think about this one for a min

Petal looks around and realizes the party has moved on. The crack was too close for comfort, and she turns from it to flee after the others. She is so lost in her own thoughts taht she barely notices when she runs into the party.

"Go where, we do now?" she asks the others, strangely distracted and seeming to not care at all.

Spoiler

I can't make that kind of decision... she thinks to herself, still seeing the tortured figure in her mind's eye that wore her face. "Hm. If you are a part of me, and I of you, then as long as one of us exists, we both exist, right? So if I cut the link to Chaos, wouldnt we just become one? she asks the sobbing figure, trying to comfort him as much as possible.

[Ameena]

While the group pauses at the junction, Ameena, keeping as close to Helm as she can without accidentally tripping him up or getting trodden on herself, remembers something. She glances around at the forest of legs which currently surrounds her, and wonders whether mentioning this would be a good idea at this time, what with the group being on the move and everything. Sitll, it seems they're deliberating over which way to go. She could offer to sniff ahead, she knows, but is still feeling too emphatic about staying close to Helm to offer to do so. She leans a little closer against his leg instead.

[oh_brother]

It would be easy to get side-tracked into fighting the blackskull army, but that was not the plan. The plan was to take down the leaders, which meant going right. The scouts could go left to see if they could link up with the main force. They could send more scouts down the centre route, but that would mean a very dispersed group. Better to keep a critical mass together, and just ignore whatever lay down there.

The rest of the Trollin army shoudl be there" he said, ageing with Karda as he pointed left. "Unless they have got around here somewhere" he continued, pointing straight ahead, hoping that Karda would take the hint and explore there if he found no one on his first route.

The fact that the Trollin army was in the opposite direction to where they wanted to go was probably for the best - the rest of the group was none to keen on the Trollins they had already, never mind a whole new bunch. "If we go right we should be heading towards the leaders. The dark priest, and others. I think we should go that way immediately. What say the rest of you?"

[raixel]

Petal nods at Westian. "To get bogged down in fighting an army, I do not wish. To decaptiate the snake, it kills the body. Amongst themselves, let the kraat fight."