Ice Dungeon, Part 5

<DM> -=QUEST CONTINUE=-
<DM> *Recap! Last time, after hitting the end of the ice slide, you ended up in a hallway (East Hallway on the map). You encountered a rather strange and Shady-like being, except far more insane. Her name is Fraaz, and it turns out her, Shady and Blaaz were all best friends in the past. After rambling on, and somehow causing Sephiroth to become frozen from mentioning the name Bloodwind, you went to the next room and encountered a series of puzzles, which is where we stopped.*
* Fraaz is no longer considered an "it". Yeah, decided to just say "screw it, Fraaz is a she, and she's psycho".
<Fraaz> What the? Why did the darkness go away suddenly? Feels like it's been a frigin' week!
* Sephiroth kicks Fraaz out the window.
* Sephiroth has kicked Fraaz from #zurpg (You have been kicked out the window and you landed on the roof! «15,772»)
<Fraaz> Ack!
<Fraaz> I thought I couldn't be hit by anything, what the frazzle was that?!
<Alucard> Calm yourself, It will do us no good to lose ourselves to fear now.
<DM> *It appears Fraaz is not immune to the dangers that the fourth wall presents, namely a series of boots that rotate in an out of existence.*
<Fraaz> -_-
<Fraaz> 0_0
<Fraaz> Teeheehee!
* Alucard meditates and remains calm
<DM> *The number "3" appears above your heads, and the room shakes again.*
* Alucard stands back up and quickly looks around the room for any changes to it.
<DM> *A mirror appears on the wall, flashing red periodically. A thick, solid wall of dense ice floats in front of it, and on all other sides of the mirror, a ring of blue fire floats around it. On the adjacent wall, there's another mirror at the center of the wall, but it's not flashing.*
<Fraaz> Whaaa?
<DM> *The "3" goes to float over the flashing mirror.*
<Alucard> Interesting. This illusion may yet be the most peculiar one I have witnessed in my long life.
<DM> *A voice echoes from behind Alucard...
<DM> [???]: Oh really? Then I'll be sure to create some more.
* Hal scoops up some blue fire
<Alucard> In the name of my Mother, who goes there?!
<DM> *The ring of blue fire dissipates slightly.*
<DM> *The voice isn't deep, but it reverberates, as if it were a speaking bass drum.*
<DM> [???]: Hmm, who am I? I'm curious to know that answer too.
<Fraaz> Am I high or did that guy voicy just say he wants to know what his name was?
* Alucard draws his sword, he suspects that this is a trap.
* Fraaz looks behind Alucard. There's nothing there physically... except air?
* Hal continues scooping up the Blue Fire, scooping up two more bottles.
<DM> *You scoop up two more bottles of Blue Fire. The remaining blue fire extinguishes, sizzling with spikes of ice appearing where it was.*
<DM> [???]: Interesting. You draw your sword. I am nothing more than a voice... I think. Actually, what am I?
<Fraaz> Why don't you.... why don't you show yourself so you can uhhh... look at your... ummm... self....
<Fraaz> I'm confused.
<Fraaz> Hey, someone punch that flashing red mirror thingy from the side.
* Hal fires a sword beam at the red mirror
<Hal> $49d10
<Navi> Hal: You rolled 49 Dice with 10 Sides. Result: 8, 6, 8, 1, 2, 10, 6, 3, 1, 1, 6, 9, 1, 4, 9, 9, 10, 8, 2, 5, 5, 3, 9, 6, 4, 1, 10, 8, 5, 1, 8, 3, 2, 10, 9, 2, 7, 8, 7, 3, 3, 9, 7, 10, 8, 1, 5, 4 and 5. Total: 272. Successes: 35.
<Alucard> You have not given me any reason to trust in you, for all I know you may very well be leading me into a trap. I am here with these adventurers trying to figure what went wrong with Shady, a reliable contact of mine.
<DM> *Your beam bounces off the red mirror and instead hits the other mirror. It then bounces again and hits the wall opposite from the red mirror, splashing against the wall of ice.*
<DM> [???]: Shady? Oh... I think I know that guy. Isn't he that Kokiri that fell from the sky?
<Hal> (Fran)
<DM> (I didn't typo.)
<Hal> (I pefer Fireblast to say anything about Fran)
<DM> [???]: Hmm, I recall... yes, I recall commanding his sister to kill Fraaz. Such tragedy. It's a pity I couldn't see it for myself, the look in Shady's eyes when he saw his friend fall to his sister's hands. That pure despair, such... beauty.
<DM> *The voice drops in behind Sephiroth's ears, and he whispers...*
<DM> [???]: Shall I give you... despair?
<Fraaz> Hey, furry guy, that sword beamy thing you did.... what happens if you shoot the other mirror first?
<Hal> Might try that.
* Hal fires a sword beam at the other mirror.
<Fraaz> Screw that voicy thingy, it's just someone screwing with us.
<DM> *Your sword beam bounces off the other mirror and then slams into the flashing mirror. The mirror flashes green before imploding on itself.*
<Hal> That might be Blood...
<Fraaz> Huh? Blood is speaking to us? Whaaaaa? Man I thought I was crazy....
<Fraaz> I mean, not- ooh yay, it exploded!
* Mew kicks Fraaz out the window.
* Mew has kicked Fraaz from #zurpg (You have been kicked out the window and you landed in the space jam! COME ON AND SLAM! WELCOME TO THE JAM! «15,773»)
* Hal stops himself before he mentions the whole name in an effort to stop Sephiroth from being frightened.
<Fraaz> ._.
* Mew is now known as Sephiroth
<DM> *100 Rupees drops on everyone as the number "3" changes to "4".*
* Sephiroth is still frightened anyways.
* Hal grabs the rupees.
* Alucard examines the rupees carefully, making sure that they were not cursed before pocketing them.
<DM> *The rupees are not amused by your examination, but they smile cheerfully for your wallet anyways.*
<DM> *Another box with a button arises from the ceinter. This time, it has a flashing word above it - "Continue?"*
<Hal> (Is this a save spot?)
<DM> (It might be.)
<DM> *Oddly enough, there's no button to say otherwise.*
* Alucard breathes in and calms his nerves.
<Fraaz> Umm, I can't fight, so uhhh.... I'm coo' with puzzles.
<DM> *The flashing gets faster and faster as time passes.*
<DM> [???]: Is that a flashing button? You should press it.
<Fraaz> No, don't listen to the voice, it'll make you think of raisins and bloody sandwiches!
<Alucard> I guess we have no choice.
* Alucard reluctantly goes up the flashing button and presses it.
<Alucard> (*up to)
<DM> *The button lets out a sigh of relief, and the box returns to the floor. The "4" flashes briefly, at the room rumbles yet again.*
* Alucard quickly looks around the room to see what has changed
<DM> (hang on, had a brain explosion for a tick)
<DM> *A mirror appears on the North Wall. In the mirror itself, flames of blue fire burn continuously, yet there's no blue fire in the room at all. On the West Wall, a red mirror coated in red ice appears, but it's surrounded by clear ice. On the South Wall, a mirror appears, and inside of it appear to be shadows, moving from one side of the mirror to the other.*
<Fraaz> Man, who designed these puzzles? It's like whoever lived here was bored in their spare time and......
* Fraaz suddenly shuts up.
<Fraaz> SO... frozen guy... *phasing through Sephiroth* ... how's YOUR day been?
* Alucard heads towards the north mirror, and attempts to push his hand against the suface of the mirror, expecting to be able to reach in and get what's in the mirrror.
<Fraaz> It's like, your FEAR is COOL man! Yeah! ... Furry guy, what's uuuuuup~?
<Alucard> this is an old illusion my father liked to trick intruders with.
<DM> *You push your hand into the mirror. It seems to reach in slightly, but it's pushed back with twice the force. You end up knocking yourself to the floor lightly.*
* Alucard dusts himself off
<Alucard> My suspictions are confirmed. the items we need to solve this puzzle are on the "other side" of these mirrors
<DM> [???]: This is fun to watch. By the way, I keep hearing this weird high-pitched voice from near you, but I don't see what it's coming from. Don't tell me I'm NOT the only one haunting and laughing at you.
<Fraaz> Huh? Is that voicy thing talking about me? I thought I was ignoring it! Why am I suddenly compelled to listen to the crap it's spewing out?
<Alucard> I can only hope Sephiroth pulls out of this state soon.
<Fraaz> Come ooooon you stupid frozen guy, you're like worse than that tea-drinking thing back... where'd that gal go?
* Alucard examines the mirrors for any possible arcane barriers preventing him from entering them or to see if they have to be entered in a certain order.
<DM> [???]: Perhaps I should help out.
<DM> *The reverberations stop, and the voice seems to disappear entirely.*
<DM> *There are no arcane barriers, as far as you can tell.*
<Alucard> strange..
<Fraaz> Hmm, well, furry guy, you bounced something off the mirror earlier, right?
<Hal> Yes?
<Fraaz> Why don't you guys try bouncing something off these mirrors?
<Alucard> what if I applied more force in my attempt to enter the mirror.
<Alucard> ?
<Fraaz> Hmm, I dunno. I can't touch things, I wouldn't know, blargh!
* Hal fires a sword beam at the mirror that shows the reflection of the red ice.
* Alucard attempts to re-enter the north mirror the second time with more force (roll power)
<Alucard> $32d10
<Navi> Alucard: You rolled 32 Dice with 10 Sides. Result: 4, 9, 8, 7, 2, 8, 2, 5, 4, 6, 2, 5, 3, 10, 1, 2, 6, 7, 5, 9, 3, 3, 3, 3, 7, 3, 10, 4, 6, 1, 7 and 4. Total: 159. Successes: 18.
<DM> (There is no mirror that has a reflection of red ice. There is a red-flashing mirror that is covered by red ice surrounded by clear ice.)
<DM> *The force pushes back...
<DM> $36d10
<Navi> DM: You rolled 36 Dice with 10 Sides. Result: 10, 4, 8, 9, 1, 9, 7, 4, 2, 8, 8, 1, 6, 5, 1, 1, 7, 4, 5, 5, 3, 1, 5, 4, 5, 6, 4, 1, 8, 3, 8, 2, 3, 2, 5 and 6. Total: 171. Successes: 20.
* Hal fires a sword beam at the ice showing the reflection of the Blue Flames
<DM> *Alucard is fired across the room, but he manages to land on the ground and recover before taking damage.*
* Alucard stands back up and dust himself off.
<DM> (Hal, what angle are you firing at it? Directly or from the side?)
<Hal> (Off to the side)
<DM> (kay)
<Alucard> If I cannot "enter" the mirrors. then maybe Fraaz can since he is not among the living.
<Hal> <DM> *A mirror appears on the North Wall. In the mirror itself, flames of blue fire burn continuously, yet there's no blue fire in the room at all. On the West Wall, a red mirror coated in red ice appears, but it's surrounded by clear ice. On the South Wall, a mirror appears, and inside of it appear to be shadows, moving from one side of the mirror to the other.*
<DM> ehh, I should've phrased that better... I used "coated", implying exterior, but... guess that didn't come out right, my bad
<Alucard> Fraaz, would you be so kind as to attempt to enter one of the mirrors?
<DM> *The sword beam enters the reflection of blue flames. A moment later, it comes out, and it's hurled towards the red-flashing mirror. The beam itself is covered in blue flames, but it dissipates as it comes in contact with the clear ice.*
<Fraaz> What? Me? Oh please, this won't do crap...
<Fraaz> Umm, which one?
<Alucard> The south one since the other two seem to have been dealt with
<Fraaz> Okay Mr. Cool Guy!
* Fraaz rushes into the south mirror.... and disappears.
<Fraaz> Uhhh, I don't feel any different.
<Hal> Hmm... Shadow magic can phase through ice.
* Alucard suddently gets a bright idea
<DM> *Her voice is echoing from inside the south mirror, though she continues to illude your sight.*
<Hal> Alucard, can you try firing at the red-flashing mirror off to the side.
<DM> *elude, bleh
* Alucard summons a spirit and commands it to enter the the north wall and grab a piece of blue fire
<Sephiroth> $42d10
<Navi> Sephiroth: You rolled 42 Dice with 10 Sides. Result: 7, 2, 2, 10, 9, 7, 6, 10, 2, 10, 8, 9, 7, 7, 4, 10, 4, 7, 7, 2, 3, 7, 1, 3, 9, 6, 6, 2, 4, 3, 2, 8, 10, 3, 10, 9, 6, 4, 6, 7, 6 and 4. Total: 249. Successes: 32.
<Alucard> 9m
<DM> *Sephiroth's sudden dice roll causes the fear to wear off... partially. He is now able to move.*
<DM> *The spirit enters the north mirror. It catches fire, but the spirit itself is dissolving quickly.*
<Fraaz> Meh, I don't feel any different, so uhh....
* Alucard commands the spirit to rush to the south mirror and deal with the red ice
* Fraaz rolls back out of the south mirror and reappears in the room.
<Alucard> (err I meant west)
<DM> (kay)
<DM> *The spirit passes through the clear ice like nothing, and the red ice melts to the cool touch of the flames. The spirit itself dissolves before it can go any further, but the red-flashing mirror is no longer covered by anything.*
<DM> *The barriers of red ice and clear ice are slowly reforming from the edges.*
* Hal quickly fires a blast of magic at the mirror off to the side.
<DM> (which mirror?)
<Hal> $54d10
<Navi> Hal: You rolled 54 Dice with 10 Sides. Total: 295. Successes: 35.
<Hal> (The one with the regrowing ice)
* Alucard attempts to enter the west mirror before the ice reforms (roll power)
<DM> *The blast bounces off the mirror, doing nothing. Remember the last puzzle? Hitting the red ice directly doesn't do anything.*
<Alucard> $32d10
<DM> *the red mirror, not red ice
<Navi> Alucard: You rolled 32 Dice with 10 Sides. Result: 9, 9, 2, 2, 9, 6, 1, 2, 3, 3, 5, 9, 8, 8, 6, 8, 10, 7, 6, 4, 2, 10, 6, 4, 7, 4, 3, 7, 4, 8, 4 and 2. Total: 178. Successes: 20.
<DM> *You push against a solid wall of red mirror, doing nothing.*
* Hal fires a blast of magic at the mirror with the blue flames off to the side.
<DM> *The blast of magic enters the mirror, and then it comes out covered in blue flames. It slams into the west mirror before the barriers are able to reform. At once, the "4" shatters along with the thick walls of ice that have been blockading the walls and exits of the room.*
<Alucard> T'is would seem that the architech of this puzzle room had anticipated such a possibility of one attempting to brute force their way inside
<DM> *As the south mirror shatters, falling mirror fragments made of shadows fall from the ceiling.*
* Sephiroth does nothing, yay.
<DM> *They seem to be conglomerating on one spot, directly behind Sephiroth.*
<Sephiroth> (My blast of magic did absolutely nothing.)
<DM> (all I saw was you rolling dice)
* Hal looks to the shadows behing Sephiroth
<DM> (I'm guessing the internet phased your action declaration out)
* Alucard draws his sword, anticipating a terrible monster
<Sephiroth> (Yes. Yes it did. Well fuck me. Back to frozen.)
<Hal> Sephiroth, watch out.
<Hal> (Loading screen?)
<DM> *The shadows form together to form a humanoid being, wearing a dark red and gray robe. His hood is up, though where his face should be is instead an eternal abyss of darkness. Not even the glow of his eyes shine through it.*
<Hal> (No!)
<DM> [???]: Greetings.
<DM> *His voice matches the voice you heard earlier, without the weird bass-like reverberations.*
<Fraaz> Wait, I know that guy now!
* Fraaz tries phasing through the shadowy being, but she bounces off of him.
<Fraaz> !??!?!?
<Fraaz> B-b-b-b-b-ut h-how?!
* Sephiroth feels the presence of something behind him and quickly scurries towards the north wall.
<DM> [???]: My, running away from me? Why is it you run?
* Hal stands still in fear.
* Alucard smirks a rather smug smirk in the voice's direction
<DM> *The being turns towards Alucard.*
<DM> [???]: Hmm? I don't recognize you. And where is that squeaky voice coming from?
* Sephiroth kicks Fraaz out the window.
* Sephiroth has kicked Fraaz from #zurpg (You have been kicked out the window and you landed in a pool of sharks! «15,777»)
<Fraaz> %_%
<Alucard> Bloodwind I presume?
<DM> [???]: My, how did you know?
<Alucard> Your words were the givaway
<DM> *Both of his arms appear to be intact. Seems he recovered from when Smithy lopped his arm off a while back.*
<Bloodwind> I see. But, we have never met. I'm wondering how you should know me...
<Alucard> I have many eyes and ears across the lands.
<Alucard> and as for who I am, let's just say I am the son of Dracula and leave it at that.
<Bloodwind> I see.
<Bloodwind> Would you care to join me, then? I am in need of those with your... expertise.
<Hal> (No!)
<Alucard> I am afraid that I will have to decline.
<Bloodwind> Hmm, that is saddening. Oh well.
<Alucard> My father has caused much unneeded grief and sorrow.
<Bloodwind> Oh, has he now?
<Alucard> And I have sworn to oppose my Father and any who think like him.
<DM> *For a brief instance, you see a wide, bright red smile where Bloodwind's face is.*
<Bloodwind> I'd like to meet him.
<Bloodwind> Could you... take me to him?
<Alucard> I do not know exactly where he is right now and even if I did know I would never take you.
<Bloodwind> But...
<DM> *As he speaks, the instance of that devilish smile flickers across the darkness of his face.*
<Bloodwind> ... your memory.... knows, right?
<Alucard> For you alone are stepping into the same pitfalls as my father
<Alucard> "for what profit is it to man if he gains the world, and yet loses his own soul?"
<Alucard> The Gospel according to Matthew. chapter 1, line 16
* Bloodwind begins to slowly walk towards Alucard. As he walks, his shadows lag behind him, making it seem like he's wearing a cape of darkness blowing through non-existent wind.
<Alucard> I was hoping it would not come to this
* Alucard draws his sword
<Hal> (Silvio... He has joined that psychotic jerk)
<Bloodwind> Intriguing. If I gain the world, then I gain the world's soul, do I not?
<Hal> Alucard, I highly reccomend not to start a fight here.
* Bloodwind stops as Alucard draws the sword.
<Alucard> You clearly do not understand the meaning of those words. You are doomed to fail as long as you cannot love or feel love.
<Hal> (Oh dear)
<Alucard> You may seeming fearsome and mighty, but what I see is a souless husk.
* Bloodwind begins laughing. His laughing echoes and bounces around the room, with the echoes never fading away, until the entire room is filled with thousands of his maniacal laughs.
<Alucard> A souless husk who's hunger cannot be satiated
<DM> *The laughs stop suddenly.*
<Bloodwind> I like you. Your words are wise, and your eyes see the truth.
<Alucard> Don't you see? you will never be satisfied.
<Bloodwind> But the only truth you see is the truth that you yourself can accept.
* Bloodwind holds his finger up. It's not bathed in darkness, but it's covered by black gloves.
<Bloodwind> Now, what if... oh, what if I don't wish to be satisfied? What if I have no hunger for conquering?
<Alucard> oh, but you do. I see it in your eyes, I sense it within you.
<DM> *Alucard, roll Wisdom vs. Bloodwind's Wisdom to see if you can confirm that.*
<Alucard> $40d10
<Navi> Alucard: You rolled 40 Dice with 10 Sides. Result: 1, 2, 3, 6, 1, 2, 8, 8, 5, 9, 9, 4, 8, 9, 8, 6, 4, 3, 7, 4, 4, 10, 1, 9, 4, 10, 8, 4, 4, 4, 5, 7, 6, 8, 8, 9, 5, 3, 4 and 8. Total: 228. Successes: 25.
<Bloodwind> $75d10
<Navi> Bloodwind: You rolled 75 Dice with 10 Sides. Total: 400. Successes: 48.
<Hal> (If he decides to attack us, we are screwed)
<DM> *You attempt to see into his eyes, what should be eyes but is instead darkness. You fail to see through the veil of darkness, and what you sense turns to nothingness, as if he wasn't there.*
<Alucard> As I thought. You are merely a souless husk with an insatiable hunger.
<DM> *Yet he appears visibly before you. No aura, no intent. Purely a shadow cast before your eyes.*
<Bloodwind> Keep thinking that, my friend. Perhaps I am. Perhaps I am not.
* Alucard chuckles to himself.
<Bloodwind> Well, I shall keep following and observing you through this dungeon. Carry on, I shall not interfere.
<Alucard> Fare thee well, may we not meet again.
<Bloodwind> Oh, I didn't say I was disappearing! I'm just... going to follow along, as a member of your group. A shadow, if you will.
<DM> *Reminder of the map - http://i.imgur.com/4CcPCtr.png
* Sephiroth promptly begins making his way towards the dungeon exit.
<Alucard> Your actions have not given me much of a reason to trust one such as yourself and your reputation doesn't help at all. regardless, farewell.
<DM> *You're in the Atrium. There's an unlocked door to the south wall, an unlocked door to the east wall (the one you came through), the boss door to the north, and the west door which is covered by a wall of red ice.*
<DM> *Dungeon exit as in... south? That would be the fastest way, Sephiroth.*
* Hal uses one of his bottles of blue flames on the red ice.
* Sephiroth goes to the south.
<DM> *The red ice melts to your blue flames, unconvering the west door.*
<Alucard> We cannot split up now. If we do so, we run the risk of getting picked off and killed, if bloodwind's abilities are to be believed.
<Sephiroth> "Do what you want, I'm outta here."
<Alucard> T'is better we stay together and if neccesary, stand our ground.
<DM> *Sephiroth, you head south and enter a long hallway with a river running through the center of it, with a small bridge over it. An icy figure floats above the river. Across the bridge, to the west is an unlocked door, and to the south (across the bridge as well) is an unlocked door.*
* Sephiroth ignores Alucard's words as he exits to the south..
<DM> *The river seems to be running through vents on both walls.*
* Bloodwind follows Sephiroth.
* Hal follows Sephiroth
<Bloodwind> My dear Sephy, don't leave just because of me! I implore you, I mean no harm, I really don't!
<Hal> (I don't trust him, but we need to get to the bottom of this)
<Hal> (and he might just be the key to getting it done)
* Fraaz follows along behind you all.
<Fraaz> Umm, guys? This Bloodwind guy... I bounced off him! That shouldn't be possible, I'm a ghost!
* Sephiroth still continues to go southward, heading for that dungeon entrance. Ignoring anything that could possibly be in his way.
<Bloodwind> Ugh, just WHERE is that VOICE coming from?!
<Alucard> Sephiroth, You cannot run from your fears anyone. I learnt that the hard way when I eventually had to fight my own father with Trevor Belmont
<Hal> Bloodwind, can you see a being that is like Shady.
<Hal> With us?
<Alucard> my old friend Trevor, Sypha and Grant would tell you the same thing.
<DM> *You cross the bridge, the icy floaty thing above ignoring Sephiroth passing through. You head through the south door and end up in the Water Control room.*
* Sephiroth heads straight for the door leading to the south hall.
* Bloodwind remarks to Hal.
* Alucard goes after Sephiroth
<Bloodwind> Oh my. I guess he's leaving. I'm not even really here, I'm just watching for fun.
<Alucard> SEPHIROTH!
<DM> *Sephiroth reaches the south hall. The doors to the south and north are both unlocked in the South Hall.*
<Alucard> Pull yourself together!
* Sephiroth continues heading south.
<Alucard> Are you just going to allow everything to fall apart because of your fear?
<DM> *You get the dungeon ice. At the south wall is the door out. It's open, just as you left it when you came in. You can see the fountain of the Temple of Seasons just through the door.*
<DM> doh
<Alucard> You and I both know you can't run from Bloodwind forever. He will find you and kill you unless you stand you ground.
<DM> *You get to the dungeon entrance.*
<DM> *theeeen follow with the south wall is the door out line, derp
<Alucard> would you rather die a coward's death or die with some dignity
<Alucard> SEPHIROTH!
* Sephiroth exits to the south.
* Alucard follows after him
<DM> *Sephiroth has left the Ice Dungeon! As has Alucard...*
<DM> *You're in the Temple of Seasons. The door that was ajar for the Fire Dungeon is now closed and no longer blinking.*
<Alucard> Sephiroth, LISTEN TO ME GODDAMNIT\
<DM> *You appear to have left Fraaz and Bloodwind in the dust.*
<Alucard> THE LONGER YOU RUN FROM HIM, THE STRONGER HE WILL GET. YOU MUST STOP RUNNING AND STAND YOUR GROUND GODDAMNIT!
* Sephiroth turns to Alucard and pulls out a bomb. "Are you going to continue to be a thorn in my side?"
<DM> (hahahahahah)
<Alucard> You and I both know we can't run from our fears forever.
<Alucard> You have to stand your ground against bloodwind. Just like I stood mine against my Father
* Silker walks in
<Sephiroth> "There's nothing here about fears. I do not wish to have anything to do with this guy, and that will remain as-is. There's nothing you can do to change my decision."
<DM> *From the entrance of the Temple of Seasons comes Silker.*
<Sephiroth> "Good day."
* Sephiroth exits the scene.
* Silker turns towars Alucard
<Alucard> Tell me this, Sephiroth. How long do you think you can run from him?
<Alucard> He will find you.
* Alucard goes after Sephiroth
<Silker> May I have a moment of your time?
<DM> *Sephiroth, you exit the scene. As you leave the Temple of Seasons, you notice that Subrosia Village is no longer covered by the barrier of solid fire, but the sky is still frozen in ice.*
<Alucard> Goddamnit, Sephiroth.
<Silker> I don't think it is worth chasing him now.
<Alucard> So you're just going to leave Hal there to die?
<Sephiroth> "You did too, to chase after me."
<Silker> Is Hal in there?
<Sephiroth> "Now get out of my hair."
<Alucard> No matter. If you won't stand against him then I will.
* Alucard stomps off
* Alucard then heads back to the ice temple
* Silker follows Alucard
* Sephiroth heads to Subrosia Village, and exits to Hyrule.
<Silker> Hey there, may I ask who you might be?
<Alucard> Bloodwind!
<Alucard> Show youself, you sinful bastard!
<DM> (Okay, so party split, primary action... I'm rolling with Ice Dungeon side for now, Sephiroth, I'll get somethin' specially for ya later, and trust me, it won't be Bloodwind related)
<Alucard> In the name of my mother, show yourself!
<Sephiroth> (That's fine. Just consider me done with the Ice dungeon quest overall.)
<DM> (Alrighty)
<DM> *The shady Bloodwind leans on Alucard's shoulder from behind.*
<Bloodwind> Oh hello there! Sinful you say?
<Silker> (Um, I've asked Alucard about his name)
<Silker> (He hasn't responded)
<Bloodwind> I've only killed uhh.... hmm, who have I killed?
* Bloodwind starts counting on his fingers.
<Alucard> Now I'm mad.
* Alucard draws his sword
<Alucard> $init 1d10
<Navi> Alucard: Your initiative roll has been entered. You rolled: 3.
<Silker> No!
<Bloodwind> Let's see, there's my party, then there's those bandits I made nice paintings of blood... and I suppose if you count my order to have Fraaz killed, theeeeen-
<Silker> Bloodwind, may I ask where Hal is.
<Alucard> If we don't stand up to him now, then will never be able to stnad up to him.
<Bloodwind> He's right where you all left them; I haven't done a thing.
<Silker> And where might that be.
<DM> *Hal is... actually, where was his last action?*
* Silker really wants to go and help Hal
<Hal> (I should be in the Atrium)
<DM> *Hal is still up in the Atrium.*
<Alucard> You go on ahead. Bloodwind and I have some unfinished business.
<Bloodwind> Wait, but I don't wish to fight at all, why should I battle you?
<DM> (Since Bloodwind is refusing to enter the $init, Alucard, you are welcome to get a free attack in)
* Silker runs off to the Atrium
<DM> *Silker, you reach the Atrium and find Hal.... doing whatever it is he was doing.*
* Alucard uses warp slash on bloodwind (roll courage)
<Bloodwind> I'm just a poor, lonely observer. You shouldn't mind me, you really shouldn-
<Alucard> 7m
<DM> (..... you need to actually roll you know)
<DM> (attack roll generally goes first)
<Silker> (How much init roll increase does Level 20 Nature's step get?)
<DM> (lemme look)
<Alucard> $41d10
<Navi> Alucard: You rolled 41 Dice with 10 Sides. Result: 2, 6, 4, 3, 1, 5, 9, 7, 1, 1, 6, 4, 1, 3, 6, 9, 8, 4, 7, 8, 8, 10, 2, 9, 10, 3, 10, 4, 9, 6, 4, 2, 6, 6, 8, 4, 8, 3, 10, 4 and 9. Total: 230. Successes: 27.
* Silker enters the Atrium and spots Hal
<Silker> HAL!
<Alucard> (+5 due to warp slash)
<Hal> Silker!
<Hal> What in the fairy are you doing here?
<Silker> I was just worried about you.
<DM> *Your warp slash cuts straight through Bloodwind, severing him in half. Where you sliced, nothingness remains, and the rest of his body remains in tact. In fact, when you sliced, you felt nothing as the blade passed straight through him.*
<Bloodwind> See Mr. Father issues? I don't want to fight precisely because I cannot fight.
<Bloodwind> I'm only an illusion, sir... oh, I never got your name. What was it?
<Alucard> Alucard.
<Bloodwind> Yes, Alucard. But you see, you... hmm... you keep throwing assumptions at me. Why? Why do you insist on doing so when you've never met me before?
<Alucard> Alucard Farenheight Tepes.
<Alucard> I have heard of your reputation and of the evil you have commited. In many aspect, you are just as evil as my father.
<Bloodwind> Oh that's unfair. You've heard of me but I haven't heard of you.
* Alucard gives a brief recap of his personal history (Let's keep the flow going, shall we?)
<Bloodwind> Ooh, death. I like that.
<Alucard> that man may have been my father once, but not anymore.
<Alucard> He has let sorrow and hatred comsume his soul.
<Alucard> *consume
<Alucard> You on the other hand, you have seemingly no reason for being evil other than a twisted pleasure in other people's suffering
<Bloodwind> What can I say? It's fun to watch.
<Alucard> My mother would not forgive monsters such as you.
<Bloodwind> Meh, why should I care for forgiveness?
<Bloodwind> In fact, why should I care for anyone I haven't met?
<Bloodwind> Though I am still intrigued by what you say of your father, he sounds quite interesting indeed.
<DM> *Meanwhile, Alucard and Bloodwind are still in a chit chat.*
<Alucard> In the name of my Mother, I shall send you back to the fires of hell and you shall no longer terrorize men like you. I never thought that I could meet someone just as evil as the count, until I met you I refuse to believe what I heard about you but I see that my own assuptions are wrong
<Hal> *Hal and Silker enter the room from South Hall*
<Bloodwind> Evil. Why am I evil again?
<Sephiroth> (Because your face is evil)
<Bloodwind> Is it because I killed some things... oh, that's right, I shouldn't be the only evil one here.
<Bloodwind> How many "things" have you killed, Mr. Hal?
<Alucard> No, you are evil because you killed innocent and defense people simply to entertain youself
<Sephiroth> defenseless*
<Alucard> People who barely even had a chance to fight or flee
* Sephiroth runs.
* Bloodwind continues facing Hal and Silker.
<Bloodwind> Alucard, what are you talking about?
<Bloodwind> I said my party, which was an accident in the first place, and bandits. Bandits which attacked me first. I'd hardly call that innocent.
<Alucard> Because you terrorize people and make their existances more difficult to deal with by spreading fear
<Hal> I have killed many creatures.
<Hal> Mostly those that have attacked me.
<Bloodwind> Ahh, so you speak the truth, Mr. Hal! And it seems, we are one and the same.
<Bloodwind> We kill those that attack us. That makes us... justified.
<Hal> It is mostly self-defense.
<Alucard> So do I, but I do not take pleasure in it.
<Bloodwind> Did you TRY to speak it out with them?
<Hal> I don't take pleasure in it either.
<Bloodwind> No, you just... killed them. That poor Gel, those Tektites, the Darknuts, the Wizzrobes... they attack you... but why?
<Hal> I felt horrible having to cannibalize on a Wolfos.
<Silker> You did what?
<Bloodwind> They attack you because YOU *pointing his finger at Hal* ... needlessly attack them. Everyday. You, and all other adventurers like you.
<Bloodwind> You head out across the land, getting what you need, what you want, and these creatures are simply "in your way". Have you ever thought about it? Thought about why you kill each other in this senseless bloodshed?
<Hal> (He's trying to get underneath my skin. Most monsters have attacked me before I attacked. I'm positive))
<Bloodwind> Here. I'll summon a... oh, that's right, I'm just an illusion, I can only speak and follow you. But, the rest of this dungeon, there are still creatures in it, yes?
<Hal> (Stay calm, avoid picking a fight with him and most of all prevent him from changing me)
<Bloodwind> Why don't you try speaking to one? Talk it out. That.... the hallway, there's an Ice Keese there. It's ignored you so far. Maybe you should kill it before it hits you!
<DM> *In the Long Hall, you've passed by a floaty icy thingy. That's the Ice Keese. It HAS completely ignored you so far.*
<Alucard> Okay, then riddle me this: Why have you allied yourself with a known group of bandits, especially a group of keatons who terrorize people and steal their goods?
<Alucard> *who have
<Bloodwind> Bandits? Oh... that guy. Thoughter was his name, I believe.
<Bloodwind> To be honest, I'm not fond of him. But alas, I don't lead the Underworld, so I can't kick him out.
<Alucard> You have no one to blame but yourself for your choices and actions
<Bloodwind> I'm not really "allied" with him at all.
<Bloodwind> You're right! I don't blame others.... but you do.
<Bloodwind> You claim righteousness, claiming what you fight is evil. Have you... ever thought about from THEIR point of view? Those you kill, have you ever tried looking at it as if you were them instead?
<Hal> (Bloodwind is quite psychotic, but who in even a remotely sane mind would touch something as dangerous as the Whispy Sword, as Leroy says)
<Hal> (Other than he while he wearing special gloves)
<Alucard> You don't know me or the struggles I been through
<Bloodwind> Likewise, sir Alucard. You don't know me or the struggles I been through
<Bloodwind> I am only throwing assumptions at you because you throw them at me. Isn't life so fair?
<Hal> (I understand Bloodwind's dislike towards Thougther)
<DM> (there's not a single one in the Underworld other than Thoughter's bandits themselves that like Thoughter, lol)
<Bloodwind> In fact, Alucard... didn't you attack me first?
<Alucard> Regardless, when I do find you, we will settle this score once and for all.
<Bloodwind> I wonder who here really is evil....
<Bloodwind> Oh, I have no score to settle with you.
<Hal> (Bloodwind does have a valid point. We have killed many creatures)
<Alucard> I was I suppose to know that you we're not really there. For all I know you would have killed us all when we found what you were looking for
<Alucard> and so I did the only brave I could do, which was to fight you.
<Alucard> I would not allow you to instill fear into those who I was travelling with
<Alucard> nor would I allow you to kill them, not without me taking you down with me.
<Bloodwind> Assumptions. You assume that this whole time, I've been wanting to kill you or have been capable of doing so. Capable, possibly... surviving it, most definitely not.
<Hal> Alucard, Bloodwind does have a valid point.
<Bloodwind> But.... I want to kill you? Why would I want to do that? I simply said I wanted to observe you, nothing more!
<Alucard> I have to assume. I cannot leave anything to chance, for I learnt that in when I was training in the dark arts
<Hal> You have been making assumptions the whole time and we have killed many creatures.
<Bloodwind> Dark Arts? Ooh, please, do tell me!
* Sephiroth kicks Bloodwind out the window.
* Sephiroth has kicked Bloodwind from #zurpg (You have been kicked out the window and you landed in outer space, where you crash into the moon where Sephiroth casts Super Nova and blows up the moon instead of the Earth. «15,784»)
<DM> (oh crap, that actually happened)
<DM> (lol, nice kick)
<Sephiroth> (lol, indeed. Randomized too. >_>')
<Hal> I belive Blood's main point with his creatures argument is the fact that we have killed many enemies and not why.
<Alucard> You do not even begin to realize what I am. My powers at their fullest form is too dangerous for me to remain amongst the awakened.
<Bloodwind> And I've killed... non-creatures. But do you know what? Hylians, creatures... they're all living beings. Why should one be so different and justified from the other?
<Hal> That is a valid point.
<Bloodwind> And do you know what, sir Alucard? I shall allow you to awaken them.
<Hal> (No)
<Bloodwind> Because I do not wish to kill you.
<Hal> (That does not sound good)
* Alucard puts his sword back.
<Alucard> We will meet again, Bloodwind.
<Bloodwind> Huh? What... I told you already, I'm still going to stay here and observe you!
<DM> *You notice that where you slashed, he has not "recovered".*
<Hal> Alucard, I think we should continue getting to the bottom of this mystery.
* Alucard calms down
<Alucard> Indeed you are right, Hal.
<Hal> With or without Sephiroth.
<Hal> If he wishes to leave, then so be it.
* Sephiroth already left, Hal.
<Bloodwind> Ooh, what mystery do you speak of? I'm real curious now.
<Hal> It is the freezing over of Subrosia.
<Bloodwind> Why the devil is that happening?
<Bloodwind> Oh right, mystery.
<Bloodwind> You know, I really don't know why that's happening. Will you allow me to follow you and, well... see why?
* Bloodwind tries to tap Hal on the shoulder, but his hand phases straight through Hal.
<Bloodwind> Oh right, I'm not actually here, silly me...
* Alucard heads back to the atrium
<Hal> *Hal and Silker follow Alucard*
<DM> *You all head back to the Atrium, but as you attempt to go across the in Long Hall, the Ice Keese descends before you, blocking your path.*
<Bloodwind> Uh oh, it's an Ice Keese! I hear they're quite vicious. You should kill it before it kills you.
<Sephiroth> across the in long hall.
<DM> doh
<Sephiroth> I love that grammar.
<DM> *but as you attempt to go across the Long Hall
<Sephiroth> so the long hall is now just a bridge?
<Silker> Maybe I could try to trap it.
* Alucard attempts to head onward, just to spite bloodwind
<DM> *You attempt to go across the bridge in the Long hall, but the Ice Keese descends before you, blocking your path.*
<DM> *Long Hal
<DM> lrelgaeu
<DM> oh
<DM> oh wow
<DM> Long Hal
<DM> -=DIES LAUGHING=-
<Hal> (Highlight for the win)
<Hal> (...or loss)
<DM> (just.... just gimme a moment)_
<DM> -=KAY I'M BACK=-
<DM> *Long Hall
<DM> *Alucard, you try moving fowards, but the Ice Keese flies directly in front of your path.*
<Silker> Let me try.
* Silker steps to the Keese
<Silker> *over
<DM> *The Keese is not on ground level, you know. It DOES fly. And it's floating about 4 feet above the ground.*
* Alucard attempts to fly over it via using his bat form
<DM> (ooh, nice one!)
<Bloodwind> What the? You can do that?!
<DM> *In your bat form, the Keese ignores you completely.*
<Silker> So we have a vampire here.
<Bloodwind> That's really cool. But what about your comrades? What will they do?
<Alucard> 5m
<Hal> Yeah.
<Hal> We need some way of getting past it.
<Bloodwind> Well it's easy, you just kill it!
<Hal> We can avoid killing if possible.
<DM> *The Ice Keese flutters just over the bridge, preventing anyone from walking across it... unless they want to get frozen.*
* Hal searches for a hookshottable area past the river
<Alucard> Bloodwind, sometimes it is not that simple. There is a concept that my father taught me about during my teenage years. Have you ever hear of "Neccesary Evil?"
<Hal> (Hold it! I must not let him get under my skin!)
<Bloodwind> Oh this should be good. Your father, you say? Yes, please... delight me.
<Hal> Actually, I think we might just attack it.
<DM> *All you see is the icy stone walls that this dungeon is made of. And the steel-frame door to the north.*
<Hal> (I don't care about what he has to say about our morals)
<Hal> Silker, should we attack it?
<Bloodwind> Totally. Just kill it. It's in your way.
<Alucard> For instance, there is this giant ice keese seemingly hell bent on preventing you from getting across? Maybe it really is evil, maybe it isn't, but regardless since it won't let you across since it's not smart enough to do so. then this is where "Neccesary Evil" comes into play. Sometimes you must crack a few eggs to make an omelet
<Silker> I think we should. There isn't any other way
<Bloodwind> Crack a few eggs... there goes some grown-up cuccos. Those poor things, not even knowing what hit them.
<Bloodwind> Have you tried speaking to it?
<Hal> Okay.
<Bloodwind> There you are again, assuming it's stupid!
<Bloodwind> So maybe it should just die, like all stupid creatures should!
<Hal> (Must remain strong! I must not let him get underneath my skin!)
<Alucard> That is not an option, these are merely creatures controlled and influnced by darkness.
<Alucard> I can see it within them.
<Hal> (I DON'T FREAKING CARE about what Bloodwind has to say about our actions)
<Alucard> A different one but still one all the same.
<Bloodwind> Darkness. Tell me, Alucard... is darkness bad? Is light good?
<Hal> Okay, Silker, ready to go?
<Silker> Yes Hal.
<Alucard> Neither are truly good or evil, it's merely a matter of how they are used or misused
<Hal> Okay, time to attack!
<Hal> (Icekeese, roll inits)
<Bloodwind> Exactly! So why do you assume this... creature... is so evil because of some... darkness?
<Hal> $init 1d10
<Navi> Hal: Your initiative roll has been entered. You rolled: 9.
<Silker> $init 1d17
<Navi> Silker: Your initiative roll has been entered. You rolled: 16.
<Silker> (Woah!)
<DM> (hang on, transferring stats- HOLY INIT BATMAN)
<DM> http://zurpg.sephiroth.ws/thread-347-post-738.html#pid738
<Kefka> ZURPG: 11-13-13: In the Frozen Mind's Eye
<Hal> By the way Alucard, Bloodwind does have valid points.
<Hal> (Is Icekeese going to roll it's inits?)
* WindStrike is now known as IceKeese
<IceKeese> $init 1d10
<Navi> IceKeese: Your initiative roll has been entered. You rolled: 3.
<DM> lulz
<DM> (Alucard, you joining on the battle or nay?)
<Alucard> So far you may have stumped me but maybe, just maybe have you considered that your perspective apon things may be flawd
<Alucard> nay
<Hal> (Okay)
<Hal> $init s
<Navi> The battle has begun!
<Navi> ROUND 1: Silker (16), Hal (9), IceKeese (3) and Alucard (3).
<Navi> Bonus Turns: Silker (16).
<Alucard> (I'm still trying to wind a philsopichal battle)
<DM> (hahah, wind as a verb... ahahahahah)
* DM runs.
* Silker throws a bomb at IceKeese (Roll power!)
<Silker> $37d10
<Navi> Silker: You rolled 37 Dice with 10 Sides. Result: 4, 10, 10, 3, 7, 9, 4, 2, 4, 6, 9, 3, 2, 5, 8, 9, 8, 1, 10, 5, 6, 2, 5, 1, 6, 2, 3, 7, 7, 10, 8, 2, 2, 9, 5, 7 and 9. Total: 210. Successes: 27.
* Sephiroth giggles at Alucard's inclusion to the init.
<DM> (oh he did roll, wut, lol)
<DM> (OH)
<DM> oh god I know what happened
<DM> .... you entered init from way back when but we forgot to reset it, lol
<Alucard> $removeme
<Navi> Alucard has removed theirself from battle.
<Navi> ROUND 1: Silker (16), Hal (9) and IceKeese (3).
* IceKeese uses its Ice Layer to override the defending stat with Courage.
<IceKeese> $66d10
<Navi> IceKeese: You rolled 66 Dice with 10 Sides. Total: 339. Successes: 41.
<DM> *The bomb eliminates the Ice Layer, as it is unable to absorb into the Ice Keese.*
<IceKeese> ??h, ??m | Ice Layer inactive
<Silker> $endturn
<Navi> Silker has ended their turn.
<Navi> ROUND 1: Silker (16), Hal (9) and IceKeese (3).
<Navi> Bonus Turns Over! Round 1 Begins Now!
* Silker throws yet another bomb at IceKeese
<Silker> (Roll Power)
<Silker> $37d10
<Navi> Silker: You rolled 37 Dice with 10 Sides. Result: 8, 7, 7, 1, 5, 4, 1, 6, 5, 6, 3, 9, 6, 4, 1, 3, 9, 6, 8, 4, 3, 2, 6, 6, 1, 5, 2, 1, 8, 2, 2, 6, 4, 4, 6, 1 and 5. Total: 167. Successes: 19.
<IceKeese> $5d10
<Navi> IceKeese: You rolled 5 Dice with 10 Sides. Result: 5, 9, 1, 7 and 2. Total: 24. Successes: 3.
* IceKeese just explodes. Period. It doesn't even attempt to justify its existence as KEESE AND CO. now seeks defensive measures against genuine terrorism against its kind.
<IceKeese> $removeme
<Navi> IceKeese has removed theirself from battle.
<Navi> ROUND 1: Silker (16) and Hal (9).
* IceKeese has quit (Quit: Leaving)
<DM> $init r
<Navi> DM: The bot has been reset.
<Bloodwind> Kablooey!
<DM> +30 EXP
<DM> +$30d8 Rupees
<DM> (to Silker and Hal only, fyi)
<Hal> $30d8
<Navi> Hal: You rolled 30 Dice with 8 Sides. Result: 4, 3, 8, 6, 3, 4, 1, 5, 7, 1, 5, 4, 8, 4, 7, 5, 6, 3, 5, 7, 5, 5, 3, 7, 4, 7, 8, 8, 2 and 2. Total: 147.
<Silker> $30d8
<Navi> Silker: You rolled 30 Dice with 8 Sides. Result: 4, 6, 3, 6, 6, 4, 8, 1, 7, 5, 4, 4, 4, 8, 5, 2, 6, 3, 1, 7, 5, 3, 6, 3, 3, 3, 8, 1, 1 and 2. Total: 129.
<DM> $1d8
<Navi> DM: You rolled 1 Die with 8 Sides. Result: 1. Total: 1.
<DM> *The explosion phases most of Bloodwind's illusion, leaving only his feet and his head remaining.*
<Bloodwind> Oh... touche.
<Bloodwind> Well, it was nice talking to you all. I enjoyed watching... watching you destroy, part from each other, become angry... and yet, I have not hurt you one bit.
* Bloodwind is slowly dissipating, his remains turning to nothingness over time.
<Bloodwind> I suppose, if you really do wish to seek me out, to chat again, I would be more than glad to... but nothing more. I do not seek to kill, so if you wish to kill me, I shall not appear. Good-bye, and good luck with the mystery of this dungeon!
* Bloodwind fades away completely.
<Hal> Alucard, should we now get Sephiroth?
<DM> -=QUEST PAUSE=-