To Scorn the Gods- Episode 6: WHY NOT TO DIE

(8:29:47 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...As Aelitethe's prayer of song ends, all present are silent, in awe once more. There seems to be a sense of peace...
(8:30:33 PM) ***Aelitethe looks down at the ground and sighs with relief.
(8:31:33 PM) ***Bellezza_Felutia is.. completely.. at peace, standing close to Aelite..
(8:32:25 PM) Ulyssa: Thankfully, Ulyssa isn't there to question that! She's still taking the time to relax, however.
(8:34:49 PM) Aelitethe: "I hope that everything here turns out alright."
(8:35:46 PM) Aelitethe: "I'm going to see how the others are."
(8:36:09 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "-Ah... Aelite, wait.."
(8:36:42 PM) Aelitethe: "Yes?"
(8:37:17 PM) ***Bellezza_Felutia reaches over and... hugs her.
(8:39:04 PM) Aelitethe: "...Ah."
(8:39:12 PM) ***Aelitethe blushes faintly, before returning Belle's hug.
(8:39:31 PM) ***Bellezza_Felutia smiles. "Be safe."
(8:41:08 PM) Aelitethe: "Thank you."
(8:41:17 PM) Aelitethe: "I'll go back and check on the girl."
(8:41:21 PM) ***Bellezza_Felutia nods, letting her go.
(8:42:05 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe goes back inside the church, and heads off to check on the girl to see how she's doing.
(8:45:51 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...The girl actually looks like she's in a bit less pain! She definitely should be okay to move by tomorrow morning.
(8:46:02 PM) ***Aelitethe smiles.
(8:46:59 PM) Ulyssa: Ulyssa was certainly still there, and she seems pleased about that as well~
(8:48:27 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis was also there, checking in on the girl, glad to see she's coming around.
(8:48:33 PM) Aelitethe: "She looks like she's getting better."
(8:50:18 PM) Kineth: "Definitely. Seems like everything's going to be fine, at least."
(8:50:24 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "Mhm.."
(8:50:55 PM) Artemis-XE: "Indeed. She should be fine soon."
(8:52:58 PM) Aelitethe: "Okay... I guess we should continue on our way?"
(8:54:11 PM) Artemis-XE: "Sounds about right. Everything should be okay here, now."
(8:54:16 PM) ***Kineth nods.
(8:54:34 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Aelitethe, Belle, and Ulyssa WERE traveling for the better part of the day. It might be a good idea to rest... Then again, perhaps it would be best to make what progress they can toward the eastern forest this day.
(8:55:14 PM) Aelitethe: "Ulyssa, Belle, are either of you tired?"
(8:55:20 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "Just a bit.."
(8:55:31 PM) Ulyssa: "We've got places to be...a little. But not too much."
(8:56:06 PM) ***Aelitethe nods.
(9:06:33 PM) Aelitethe: "Well, should we move, then? Or take a break?"
(9:07:47 PM) Ulyssa: "I'm OK with moving...you seem OK with moving, so does Bellezza...so we should, right?"
(9:07:57 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "Mhm."
(9:12:19 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "Ah, so you're leaving tonight then... Safe travels! W-well,  as safe as they can be in the circumstances..."
(9:12:59 PM) Aelitethe: "We'll try."
(9:16:10 PM) Ulyssa: "...We'll be careful!" REALLY REALLY CAREFUL.
(9:17:44 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: And so the group leaves, making its way to the eastern forest... There are actually a lot of tracks by the undead, so it would have been easy to figure out to go that way. ...A LOT of tracks. You'd think an actual army came through.  You saw that there were quite a lot of corpses and bones in the village, but the tracks themselves indicate that... Well, the wave Artemis and Kineth dealt with were small.
(9:19:28 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Other than that observation however, the rest of that first day is quite uneventful!
(9:19:30 PM) Kineth: (Oh boy, 40 being small.. Yeah this is going to be fun.)
(9:21:05 PM) Ulyssa: (60 tons of fun.)
(9:21:50 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...That in itself is enough to hammer home what's being dealt with here, however. That village isn't the only one in the area, and what Artemis was told about the situation indicates it wasn't the only one attacked... Just how many undead are wandering around? Most of the zombies didn't even look particularly rotted either. Does that mean the ranks are growing?
(9:25:33 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis ponders for a moment. "Everyone. We could be dealing with a lot more than we initially thought."
(9:26:14 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "..Really?"
(9:27:18 PM) Ulyssa: "...We went over this."
(9:27:48 PM) Artemis-XE: "Well, the village we were just in wasn't the only one in the area... and from what I was told, there were a few more attacks as well."
(9:28:07 PM) Aelitethe: "We could potentially be dealing with an army of undead."
(9:28:21 PM) Artemis-XE: "Precisely."
(9:28:33 PM) Kineth: "I don't think it's exactly a 'potentially'."
(9:28:40 PM) Kineth: "More like we probably are."
(9:28:57 PM) Ulyssa: "This is what they sent us to suicide on. So...yeah."
(9:29:19 PM) Artemis-XE: "..."
(9:29:25 PM) Aelitethe: "That makes no sense, unless they know something about one of you that we don't."
(9:32:18 PM) Aelitethe: "...That said, should we keep going?"
(9:32:49 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Looks like the sun's going to be setting soon... Might not be a bad idea to set up camp.
(9:33:01 PM) Kineth: "No... Best to stop for now."
(9:33:42 PM) Aelitethe: "I'm alright with this."
(9:34:02 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "Mhm.."
(9:34:11 PM) Artemis-XE: "Sounds like a good idea. I'm starting to get a little tired, myself."
(9:35:16 PM) ***Ulyssa nods. She's fine with stopping! Was kinda tired to begin with, and now even he's getting tired. Good ideas!
(9:35:32 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: You all set up camp. Ulyssa gathers more firewood than anyone else, as always, (where does she find this stuff?) and soon enough you all have the tent and a campfire set up. You have a chance to talk, or you can just eat and head to sleep.
(9:35:42 PM) Ulyssa: The entire tree.
(9:36:59 PM) ***Bellezza_Felutia sits close to Aelitethe, even though he's busy staring at the campfire..
(9:37:29 PM) ***Aelitethe blinks and faces Belle. "Something wrong?"
(9:37:39 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "Ah.. nothing, really.."
(9:40:50 PM) ***Ulyssa is...well, writing. Occasionally she looks at the pair, but shrugs it off and continues.
(9:40:50 PM) Aelitethe: "If you say so!"
(9:42:04 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "Though.. remember the couple of times you sang, Aelite?"
(9:42:50 PM) Aelitethe: "Yes?"
(9:43:15 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "I.. thought I was somewhere else, with someone.."
(9:44:41 PM) Aelitethe: "Eh? Somewhere else, with someone?"
(9:45:07 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "Y-Yeah. I know it's a bit weird, but uh.. that someone could've been you, for all I know.."
(9:48:16 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Come to think of it, Aelitethe, there almost seemed to be a strange sense of familiarity and of being protected when Belle changed into that wolf form the other day... You aren't sure how that could be though.
(9:48:46 PM) Aelitethe: "Well... I mean, when you... turned into a wolf. I felt like... you were protecting me... But could it be...?"
(9:49:45 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "C-Could it be.. what?"
(9:50:01 PM) Aelitethe: "...No... It's nothing."
(9:50:23 PM) Ulyssa: Ulyssa's speed slightly increases!
(9:50:30 PM) Ulyssa: Her hand speed. For writing.
(9:50:46 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "Please tell me, Aelite.."
(9:51:13 PM) Aelitethe: "A kind of familiarity that I only feel when... mother is nearby...? I don't even know..."
(9:51:18 PM) Aelitethe: "It was strange!"
(9:51:32 PM) Kineth: Kineth raises an eyebrow as he hears Aeli's comment. "...Turned into what?"
(9:51:44 PM) ***Bellezza_Felutia blinks. "When.. your mom is nearby?"
(9:52:29 PM) Aelitethe: "Kind of. And I think Mr. Kineth has a question for you, Belle."
(9:52:57 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "-..A-Ah."
(9:53:12 PM) Artemis-XE: "You turned into what now?" He interjects.
(9:53:56 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "A.. uhm... wolf."
(9:55:36 PM) Kineth: "That's... possible?"
(9:55:38 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis thinks to himself. Strange? Of course. But he probably shouldn't push the issue.
(9:56:28 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "Y-Yeah."
(9:57:04 PM) Ulyssa: "...well, we've seen magic before, so..."
(9:57:45 PM) Kineth: "...I suppose. Still, though. Certainly something new, to say the least."
(9:58:11 PM) Artemis-XE: "Yep."
(9:58:19 PM) Aelitethe: "Does it matter?"
(10:00:15 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "At least I'm protecting her."
(10:00:18 PM) Kineth: "...Do you really need to take that tone over me making an observation?"
(10:01:16 PM) Aelitethe: "S-s-sorry..."
(10:01:52 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "..no, don't be sorry. At least we're not the ones that are questioning people."
(10:02:24 PM) Artemis-XE: "It just isnt something you see every day is all."
(10:02:41 PM) Aelitethe: "I'm just... It's not really a problem..."
(10:02:47 PM) Kineth: "Well, I apologize for being curious."
(10:02:56 PM) Artemis-XE: "It's not like we're trying to judge you."
(10:03:54 PM) ***Aelitethe sighs.
(10:05:10 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe simply lowers her voice and looks at the campfire with an expression of melancholy.
(10:05:20 PM) ***Bellezza_Felutia ..hugs Aelitethe..
(10:06:48 PM) Kineth: Kineth sighs as he goes to stand watch, making sure nothing that nothing catches them off guard.
(10:08:09 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis decides to join Kineth, because two heads are better than one, not to mention he's used to it anyhow.
(10:08:09 PM) Aelitethe: "..."
(10:08:45 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "Aelite.."
(10:10:44 PM) Aelitethe: "...Yes?"
(10:11:28 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "..don't be sad.."
(10:11:43 PM) Aelitethe: "...I'll be okay. I'm used to it."
(10:11:52 PM) ***Bellezza_Felutia sighs and keeps hugging her..
(10:14:06 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe subconsciously huddles up to Belle.
(10:14:51 PM) Bellezza_Felutia: "..mm?"
(10:15:45 PM) ***Aelitethe falls asleep.
(10:16:41 PM) ***Bellezza_Felutia pets..
(10:27:26 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The group sleeps, and awakens the next day... They continue on their way after packing the tent up once more. The forest approaches closer, and closer... It's within sight, and then it looms before them. A tower shows above the trees in the distance, and the forest seems deathly silent...
(10:27:51 PM) Aelitethe: "...Tower?"
(10:28:36 PM) Ulyssa: "...Ttthat's probably the place!"
(10:28:47 PM) ***Kineth nods "Looks like it, yes."
(10:29:05 PM) Artemis-XE: "Yep, looks like it. We'd best be on our guards."
(10:29:07 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Aelitethe doesn't really know anything about this area, so it's  hard to say from this distance whether it's new or ancient.
(10:29:29 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: No one else really knows anything either
(10:34:01 PM) Aelitethe: "..."
(10:34:21 PM) Aelitethe: "Well, let's keep going. Unfortunately, I don't know too much about this area."
(10:34:43 PM) Kineth: "Seems none of us do, so... yes. Let's keep our guard up, then."
(10:35:05 PM) ***Ulyssa ...keeps going! HEAVEN OR HELL. DUEL 1! LET'S...NOT DIE.
(10:35:28 PM) Artemis-XE: "No, cant say I know anything either. But yes, we should proceed with caution."
(10:36:33 PM) ***Kineth walks along with Ulyssa. Let's get this show on the road.
(10:36:48 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Before the group can enter the forest however, the bushes suddenly rustle, and an animal emerges from the woods! It's a quite obviously very unhappy grizzly bear!
(10:37:30 PM) ***Aelitethe stares.
(10:38:14 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...It looks scared, and NOT in any state where it's going to ignore anything in its way.
(10:41:14 PM) Artemis-XE: "This bear looks positively terrified."
(10:41:27 PM) ***Kineth nods. "That it does."
(10:42:04 PM) Artemis-XE: "Maybe I should see what I can do..."
(10:42:18 PM) Kineth: "Mind if I help?"
(10:42:18 PM) Aelitethe: "Careful..."
(10:42:41 PM) Artemis-XE: "Actually, yeah, I could use the assistance, thanks."
(10:43:33 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis walks over to the bear, slowly but deliberately, and attempts calming it down, somehow. [Roll? Handle Animal]
(10:44:46 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Despite their efforts, the bear is not to be calmed down! It swipes toward the two, though it doesn't hit.
(10:45:52 PM) ***Kineth sighs "Well, we tried..."
(10:46:52 PM) Artemis-XE: "And I really didnt want to do this needlessly, too."
(10:47:07 PM) ***Aelitethe squeaks.
(10:47:08 PM) ***Kineth nods in response, readying his greatsword.
(10:47:35 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis readies his sword.
(10:48:10 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Kineth isn't taken aback at all, and is ready before anyone else!
(10:48:52 PM) Kineth: Kineth rushes the bear, going to try and tear into it with a fearsome swing of his blade! (Power Strike)
(10:50:54 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Kineth gets a strong hit onto the bear's arm!
(10:51:08 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Aelitethe!
(10:52:30 PM) ***Aelitethe steps back and sings a simpler song this time around. [Inspire Courage]
(10:53:13 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Belle!
(11:05:10 PM) Bellezza_Felutia left the room (quit: Ping timeout: 240 seconds).
(11:09:11 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Shifts into wolf form and charges forward, tearing into the bear with incredible ferocity! In an instant, the bear is covered in blood as half its face is simply... Gone. It collapses to the ground without even sound
(11:11:25 PM) Kineth: "...That went rather smoothly."
(11:11:48 PM) Artemis-XE: "That it did."
(11:12:06 PM) ***Aelitethe blinks.
(11:12:30 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Not as smoothly as hoped! You can see an unnatural black aura rise up from the ground, infusing itself into the bear...
(11:13:22 PM) Kineth: "Spoke too soon, it seems..." He gets into stance, greatsword still at the ready.
(11:13:41 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The bear suddenly lurches to its feet, and tries to tear into Kineth!
(11:15:40 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Kineth tries to dodge, but one of its claws rakes across his chest, and then its full weight SLAMS into him! It... Hurts. A lot.
(11:16:31 PM) ***Aelitethe blinks and fidgets...
(11:16:56 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis is visibly shocked by that display.
(11:17:14 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Ulyssa! FEEL LIKE DOING ANYTHING AGAINST THIS UNHOLY ABOMINATION
(11:17:38 PM) Ulyssa: YES. On seeing everything that just went by, clearly CUTTING IT APART IS THE ONLY OPTION.
(11:17:41 PM) Ulyssa: And stabbing.
(11:17:43 PM) Kineth: Kineth stumbles from the force of the blow, letting out a yell of pain as the bear lays into him with its' might... He's still alive though, albeit considerably battered.
(11:19:07 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Ulyssa's shortsword bites right into the creature's head! ...Unfortunately, it barely seems fazed
(11:19:47 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ARTEMIS
(11:21:33 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis regains his calm demeanor, and decides it'd just be better to keep Aelitethe safe. He assumes a defensive stance near her.
(11:21:50 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: And with that, back to Kineth!
(11:22:10 PM) Ulyssa: ...ZOMBIES. Considering it got back up after dying, she's not surprised. At this rate, she'll never be surprised again!
(11:28:27 PM) Kineth: Kineth takes a deep breath, once again charging the bear, going to tear into it with another fearsome swing, wanting to make sure it stays down (Power Strike.)
(11:31:39 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Unfortunately, he stumbles on a tree root, and his blade becomes very well-acquainted with the dirt
(11:31:40 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: AELITETHE
(11:32:02 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe worriedly pitter-patters over to Kineth to cast Cure Light Wounds on him.
(11:36:37 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Kineth's wounds are actually healed a bit! ...Not near enough, it seems. That one didn't work well...
(11:43:22 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Belle tears into the damn thing AGAIN. In the blink of an eye it suddenly looks like it's barely standing even WITH unholy power on its side
(11:43:24 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: What IS she?
(11:43:49 PM) Ulyssa: A laguz.
(11:44:22 PM) Aelitethe: Teehee!
(11:44:54 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: And due to her player being awesome, Ulyssa intercepts the bear before it can do its absurd overpower again and cuts it into about ten thousand pieces.
(11:45:35 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Wait, that sentence should only have the second half
(11:47:28 PM) Ulyssa: "...So. This is...even more important than it was before now."
(11:47:47 PM) Ulyssa: "No one die? Please? I don't really want to have to..."
(11:47:54 PM) ***Aelitethe sighs.
(11:48:26 PM) Artemis-XE: "Dont worry about that. It wont happen."
(11:49:07 PM) Kineth: Kineth slowly gets up, grumbling. "Remind me not to say anything for the next while."
(11:49:54 PM) Ulyssa: "...Alright."
(11:52:09 PM) Aelitethe: "I'm sorry..."
(11:53:12 PM) Kineth: "It's alright."
(11:53:39 PM) Ulyssa: Nod nod.
(5/19/2012 12:03:23 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The group sets up camp one last time before entering the forest. As the campfire burns, Belle sits next to Aelitethe once more...
(12:04:05 AM) Ulyssa: Write write write.
(12:05:10 AM) Genshuku [~Genshuku@Rizon-3227C6A1.hsd1.il.comcast.net] entered the room.
(12:05:48 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe just stares at the campfire, her hands held tightly on her chest.
(12:06:01 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "...Aelite."
(12:06:36 AM) ***Kineth is just... resting at the moment, still a bit battered from that mess with the zombear.
(12:07:29 AM) Aelitethe: "...Yes...?"
(12:07:40 AM) Artemis-XE: Artemis isnt doing anything in particular. Just peering into the sky, really.
(12:07:54 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "...You worried about something?"
(12:08:06 AM) Ulyssa left the room (quit: Ping timeout: 240 seconds).
(12:10:20 AM) Genshuku is now known as Ulyssa
(12:15:06 AM) Aelitethe: "..."
(12:15:10 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe shakes her head.
(12:15:13 AM) Aelitethe: She's just upset.
(12:15:27 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "Good..."
(12:15:39 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: There's a moment of silence, and then suddenly, Belle speaks again.
(12:15:46 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "...You don't need to be. I'll protect you..."
(12:16:49 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "...Actually, I had a question. Um..." She seems strangely hesitant.
(12:17:05 AM) Aelitethe: "...Yes?"
(12:17:28 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "Would you mind if I... If I stayed next you as... Um... As a wolf?"
(12:19:08 AM) Aelitethe: "I don't mind!"
(12:19:11 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe smiles.
(12:20:27 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "Thank you. It may seem odd, but I..." She trails off. Rather than finishing, she shifts, and then folds her wings against her back before nuzzling Aelitethe.
(12:22:46 AM) Artemis-XE left the room (quit: Read error: Connection reset by peer).
(12:22:54 AM) XephyrEnigma [~MobileXep@Rizon-76C5DD72.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com] entered the room.
(12:23:57 AM) XephyrEnigma is now known as Artemis-XE
(12:24:35 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe cuddles with Belle once she shifts into a wolf. "Good girl~"
(12:27:00 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Belle contentedly stays near Aelitethe for the rest of the night. When it's time to sleep, she just curls up still in wolf form right next to Aelitethe. The next day, she still doesn't shift back even after waking up... It seems she actually sort of likes this form.
(12:30:46 AM) ***Aelitethe yawns
(12:31:36 AM) ***Kineth stretches out
(12:32:21 AM) ***Artemis-XE also stretches
(12:33:31 AM) Ulyssa: And Ulyssa wakes up as well, having slept as lightly as she possible could.
(12:33:55 AM) Ulyssa: Possibly, even.
(12:34:08 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Belle sits loyally next to Aelitethe, eye out for anything that could be a threat.
(12:34:27 AM) ***Aelitethe ruffles Belle's fur.
(12:35:48 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Belle presses against Belle's hand as she pets, getting the most of it. She stays right next to Aelitethe as the party continues through the forest, toward the tower.
(12:37:09 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: *against Aelitete's hand
(12:37:39 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The forest seems incredibly devoid of life, not even the noises of insects or birds remaining. It seems nearly everything has fled. Fortunately there don't seem to be very many undead in the forest either... No more than a stray one or two that are easily taken down.
(12:37:52 AM) Aelitethe: "..."
(12:38:37 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Eventually, the tower is approached... Except that it's on top of a hill, with no apparent way to get to the top. There IS a cave in the side of the hill, however...
(12:39:52 AM) Aelitethe: "We have to go through this cave?"
(12:40:09 AM) Artemis-XE: "Looks like the only way."
(12:42:22 AM) Kineth: "Seems like it..."
(12:44:17 AM) Ulyssa: "Either that, or just scale the hill..."
(12:45:12 AM) Aelitethe: "..."
(12:45:44 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: It doesn't look like it'd be easy to scale. It's not really solid rock or anything, so it may not be solid enough to try and climb.
(12:46:44 AM) Artemis-XE: "Yep. Gotta use the cave entrance."
(12:47:01 AM) Ulyssa: "Alright, then." ONWARD.
(12:47:07 AM) Kineth: AND ON THROUGH THE CAVE WE GOOOO
(12:47:10 AM) Aelitethe: "No choice... And do you think I look like the sort who could scale a hill? o.O"
(12:48:16 AM) Ulyssa: "With what can be in these caves, it's worth a shot to see!" Shiver. MITES AND SPIDERS.
(12:48:36 AM) Aelitethe: "..."
(12:51:54 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Belle sniffs the air a few times, and growls, pointing into the cave.
(12:51:55 AM) Artemis-XE: Artemis begins the walk through the cave.
(12:53:07 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: There doesn't seem to be any source of light in the cave, so it's not possible to see very far inside. It DOES look like there may be some worked stone further in, however...
(12:53:07 AM) ***Kineth follows the group along.
(12:53:26 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: But then Ulyssa gets out her lantern, and you can see clearly!
(12:53:44 AM) ***Ulyssa finally snapped, and used her lantern!
(12:54:54 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Yes, this was definitely man-made. Parts are broken and cracked from age, but the walls, floor and ceiling are all made of stone.
(12:57:53 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe decides to cast Dancing Lights.
(12:58:02 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The area is lit even further!
(12:58:35 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: As you go inside, you soon see... Yes, there are undead here. In the first room you encounter, there are four skeletons, with varying levels of equipment...
(1:00:22 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Before the group can ready themselves, a skeleton with a large sword charges in, aiming at Ulyssa!
(1:00:35 AM) Ulyssa: Aaaa.
(1:01:05 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Instead it falls flat on its face, and is immediately torn into pieces by Belle
(1:01:54 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Artemis!
(1:05:29 AM) Artemis-XE: Artemis pulls out his hammer, says a prayer, and delivers a blow to Skeleton #2's head. [Activate Smite Evil]
(1:08:34 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Unfortunately, Artemis barely even manages to touch the front of its breastplate, much less actually hurt it.
(1:08:42 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Aelitethe!
(1:13:56 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe clears her throat and steps back, singing another song. [Inspire Courage; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7UUQdITN2U ]
(1:18:21 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Skeleton 2 turns and attacks Belle, slashing viciously right across her back! Belle lets out a howl as it strikes her.
(1:18:30 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Ulyssa!
(1:19:21 AM) Ulyssa: ALREADY CHOSE HER ACTION. The skeleton might not have a weapon, but she'll be likely to hit it where it hurts. SO SHE'LL HIT IT. WHERE IT HURTS.
(1:21:40 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Ulyssa's swords slash through one of the skeleton's arms, and the arm crumbles to pieces! ...Unfortunately, the rest of it doesn't
(1:22:32 AM) Ulyssa: Meanwhile, Kineth gets two in one turn. MAYBE!
(1:24:30 AM) ***Kineth takes a deep breath, before deciding to let loose. rushing S1 as he attempts to wreck it with a brutal swing, potentially using the momentum to do the same to S2 (Rage -> Power Attack -> Cleave on successful hit)
(1:32:35 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Kineth tears right through the skeleton's platemail, turning the armor to scrap and the bones to dust! The second skeleton is just SLIGHTLY more lucky. It just gets its sword arm and one of its legs cut off.
(1:36:29 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The group swiftly cleans up the skeletons, while Belle heals herself!
(1:37:58 AM) Kineth: Kineth checks out the greatsword one of the Skeletons dropped, looking it over, trying to get a good idea of its' quality
(1:40:44 AM) ***Ulyssa grabs the shortsword. Why not?
(1:41:00 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The greatsword is... Actually of very good quality! Very good quality indeed....
(1:42:18 AM) ***Aelitethe fidgets.
(1:42:22 AM) Kineth: "Yes, wonderful. This is certainly a step up from what I have, so..."
(1:42:55 AM) ***Kineth puts his old greatsword away, now wielding the fallen skeleton's blade.
(1:45:33 AM) Ulyssa: ...Because she's looting the dead. There's a tinge of guilt now, but considering how things have ended up...well. "...Let's hurry up. The longer we let this stand, the worse things could end up..."
(1:47:09 AM) Kineth: "Indeed. We've wasted enough time here."
(1:50:13 AM) Artemis-XE: "Couldntve said it better myself.."
(1:50:48 AM) Aelitethe: "Yeah."
(1:50:57 AM) Ulyssa: ONWARD THEN.
(1:51:15 AM) Aelitethe: I CAST MAGIC MISSLE INTO THE DA(ry
(1:51:20 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: After Kineth snaps on the shiny new breastplate on the other skeleton, THE PARTY MOVES ON
(1:51:46 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: [s]you fail your "transcend class spell list" roll and lose your bard powers[/s]
(1:51:59 AM) Aelitethe: =(
(1:53:19 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: And in the next room... Three more skeletons!
(1:53:32 AM) Ulyssa: Aaa.
(1:54:09 AM) Artemis-XE: More of em. Of course, he does what he must once again. Smashing time.
(1:55:13 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Skeleton with longsword charges in and unsurprisingly fails to hit Artemis at all
(1:57:17 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Belle then tears apart that skeleton as per normal
(1:57:27 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Artemis!
(1:59:48 AM) ***Artemis-XE catches a glimpse of the glaive wielding skeleton. The choice is clear. Protect Aeli. Defensive stance nearby her.
(2:00:42 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Aelitethe!
(2:06:25 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe coughs and decides to find a place to stay safe for the meanwhile.
(2:07:18 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Ulyssa!
(2:07:48 AM) Ulyssa: An unarmored skeleton still stands! She'd really like to be able to take it out in one go for once!
(2:08:23 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Two of them still stands! Thus, she goes after the more dangeous one
(2:08:28 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: *still stand
(2:08:58 AM) Ulyssa: Well, isn't one armored? Point still stands!
(2:09:23 AM) Ulyssa: ...No, wait. I'm bad. Go on
(2:10:12 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Yeah, you know what
(2:10:24 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: How about I just list loot for the rest of the skeletons and we call it a day? :V
(2:10:38 AM) Ulyssa: Did she actually GET this one?
(2:13:43 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: She tears it apart! In fact, the group tears apart the rest of the skeletons quite easily!
(2:14:27 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: By the end of it, through the rest of the tunnels, there's the stainless longsword, the stainless glaive, the VERY high quality magical chain shirt, and a magical shortsword.
(2:14:49 AM) Ulyssa: She didn't actually tear it apart though. She finds it rather disconcerting! BUT NOT A REASON TO COMPLAIN.
(2:15:04 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Crushes it apart. Regardless!
(2:15:25 AM) ***Artemis-XE casually exchanges his longsword for the stainless variant. "This could prove very useful."
(2:16:13 AM) ***Kineth would hand Aeli the chain shirt, feeling that she'd benefit from it the most.
(2:17:57 AM) ***Aelitethe blinks.
(2:18:00 AM) Aelitethe: "Can I wear this?"
(2:18:07 AM) ***Kineth nods.
(2:18:21 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe hides herself from the others and puts it on.
(2:18:31 AM) Ulyssa: ...until she actually eyes the magical shortsword, which she nabs up! ...and now she has three kinds of shortswords. Woop woop woop.
(2:19:03 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Finally, the party makes their way through the tunnels, and up through the tower, before finding themselves before a large pair of doors... A dark, powerful presence can be felt beyond it...
(2:19:26 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: They need to prepare themselves for this.