[00:06] <@Clarence_Mage> It's the morning after the kinda-glorious battle against the owls, which Gandr blended to a stinking rotting pulp. The night before, everyone unanimously voted that Gandr should clean up the mess he made, because no-one should have to sleep in a cave with the stink of stryx zombie tarblood & guts.
06[00:06] * Soul probably helped dissect a couple of the more intact ones, though.
[00:07] <@Clarence_Mage> From the dissections, Soul finds out that holy shit their blood is made of tar what the fuck this crazy disease is crazier than you thought.
06[00:08] * Relain rubs his back, grumbling "damnable buzzards."
06[00:08] * Kris bounces lightly on her toes. "That was... Interesting."
[00:08] <@Clarence_Mage> Relain is perfectly mundane and normal and does not like being around anathema.
06[00:08] * Gandr breaks off a large-ish tree, one with lots of leaves, and uses it as an ad-hoc scrubber.
[00:08] <@Clarence_Mage> Perfectly mundane and normal.
06[00:08] * Gandr cleans the cave. A little.
06[00:08] * Gandr The leaves leave a leafy scent in the air. It's nice and homely.
[00:09] <Soul> "...How long did you say it takes for this disease to set in before symptoms appear, again, doctor?"
06[00:09] * Soul addresses this query to Shi, as he examines some of the pieces of Stryx he extracted. Or is that estrxted.
[00:09] <Kris> "I remember Chei saying something about 3 days, but I could be wrong."
06[00:09] * Kris couldn't help but overhear
[00:09] <@Clarence_Mage> Dr. Shi looks up from his pipe, which is blowing purple smoke. "Three weeks, more like."
[00:10] <Kris> "Ah well."
[00:10] <@Clarence_Mage> "Chei isn't the best with times. He doesn't even keep a calander."
06[00:10] * Shim is sat in a corner meditating, practically lighting up the small corner herself.
[00:10] <Soul> "So, we'd all better hope that either we are, in fact, immune to this disease, or that we just didn't get infected in the course of this...messy affair."
06[00:10] * Kris looks around.
[00:10] <Kris> "Where's Lemy?"
[00:10] <Soul> "Mmm? I think he's exploring deeper into the cave. I asked him to."
[00:11] <Kris> "Oh, Ok."
06[00:11] * Gandr grumbles as he tries to get a particularly nasty spot out of the carpet.
[00:12] <Soul> "By the way, if it wasn't apparent already..."
06[00:12] * Soul turns and addresses Relain specifically. "All those who AREN'T Anathema, please keep away from the infected tissues. Just in case."
06[00:12] * Gandr summons his ancestral fighting spirits of the elementaphallic poles of wood, endowing him with the strenght and extra arms he needs to properly quadruple-wield four leafy trunks of wood to clean the cave.
06[00:13] * Gandr Raising himself into an erect position, he begins to spin on the spot, his wooden implements whirling faster and faster around him.
06[00:13] * Gandr Every spot in the cave is touched and cleansed by divine leafy radiance, as are his companions.
06[00:14] * Kris sparkles
06[00:14] * Relain nods eagerly "I wouldn't touch that thing if I /was/ anathema."
[00:15] <Kris> "Hmm... Did we actually confirm these creatures were proper undead?"
[00:16] <Soul> "Well, they were being EATEN alive by the undead. If you can call this alive. Which I guess is the question."
03[00:16] * Gandr is now known as Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid
[00:16] <@Clarence_Mage> When Gandr's around, all things just keep getting better. His whirling Solar-inspired hygiene protocols bring out the best in all of you. All things just keep getting better~
[00:16] <Soul> "And this..."
[00:17] <Relain> "Was anyone else confused as to why they were attacking us while being eaten?"
06[00:17] * Soul holds up a stick, with some of the tarlike blood. He scooped it up from a puddle earlier, but the puddle is gone thanks to Gandr.
06[00:17] * Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid slowly winds down, the glowing, snake-chain-like tendrils of pure Solar energy retreating, leaving a lasting sheen, which sparkles ever so slightly.
06[00:17] * Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid Forever.
06[00:17] * Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid points to a Solar dustbin.
[00:17] <Soul> "It almost looked like they STOPPED in confusion when those things got knocked off. Maybe they were being controlled? Like, they were being used as mounts?"
[00:17] <Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid> "It's all in there, Soul."
06[00:18] * Soul nods. Not ALL of it, mind, he's isolated a few dissected pieces for study.
[00:18] <Kris> "I noticed that some of them had zombie-hanger ons, and those were chewing on exposed brain matter... That makes me think something was going on."
[00:19] <Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid> "Yeah, I remember that. One of the zombies caused its host-owl to botch around.
[00:19] <Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid> "
[00:19] <Relain> "...You aren't honestly suggesting this disease has some sort of mind control property, are you?"
[00:19] <Soul> "Depends on how mundane this disease isn't. Which, given what I just say..."
[00:19] <Soul> "I mean, LOOK AT THIS."
[00:19] <Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid> "Maybe not mind-control - but the disease DOES cause berserk anger."
06[00:19] * Kris shrugs. "I'm not suggesting anything, I'm only pointing out what I saw. A zombie chewed on the strix brain, the strix turned."
06[00:19] * Soul points to the stick. "This blood...it's so thick that..."
[00:20] <Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid> "And these owls attack humans even under normal circumstances."
06[00:20] * Kris looks at the blood covered stick. "How does the heart even pump that stuff?"
[00:20] <Soul> "That's what I'm wondering. You'd have to have ALL your muscules working to pump blood to get this stuff going."
[00:20] <Relain> "But that would have to mean this disease was... Engineered, wouldn't it?"
[00:21] <Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid> "Engiwhatnow ?"
[00:21] <Relain> "Nothing natural makes blood do that, it can't."
06[00:21] * Kris shrugs. "I'm a dancer, not a doctor."
06[00:21] * Kris turns to Gandr. "He means someone made the disease to do specific things."
[00:21] <Soul> "He means it's artificial."
[00:22] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy walks back in from THE DARKNESS OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAVE. L: "Hey, Hey Soul! I explored the cave like you wanted!"
[00:22] <Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid> "Oh."
06[00:22] * Soul stands up a little more. "And?"
06[00:23] * Soul had a hunch...
03[00:23] * Gandr|Chain-ChanMan-Maid is now known as Gandr
06[00:23] * Kris turns to face Lemy, waiting for him to elaborate.
06[00:24] * Gandr deposits the slightly dirty used cleaning trees in the Solar dustbin in the corner.
06[00:25] * Kris blinks, remembering. "Gandr! Thanks, again, for earlier. Both the lift and the save."
[00:25] <@Clarence_Mage> L: "The cave goes for a long, long way, but it eventually leads outside, really close to wear the Broc Flower grows."
[00:26] <Relain> "Well, that's /some/ good news."
[00:26] <Soul> "Heh. Looks like my sense of direction hasn't dulled after all."
[00:26] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy puts a finger to his chin. "This reminds me of the time I had to look for the tree of Inifuss..."
[00:26] <Soul> "Speaking of which..."
06[00:26] * Soul saddles down next to Dr. Shi.
[00:27] <Soul> "About this flower. And the other ingredients you mentioned." He takes out his notebook
[00:27] <Soul> "This flower...the Uisi Root...and Opal Wreaths..."
[00:27] <Gandr> "This dustbin ..."
06[00:27] * Gandr is trying to be helpful.
06[00:28] * Kris agrees, Gandr is very helpful.
[00:28] <Soul> "They're all used in traditional wardings to protect against the undead for nearby villages. Often in funeral rites. You did know that, I assume."
[00:29] <Gandr> "Yes."
06[00:29] * Gandr didn't know that.
06[00:29] * Soul was talking to Shi, but he WAS talking out loud
[00:29] <@Clarence_Mage> Dr Shi blows a constellation out with his smoke. "Traditional Wardings against the undead, you say?"
[00:30] <Soul> "Yes. Probably stemming from their effectiveness against lesser forms of the Contagion."
[00:30] <@Clarence_Mage> Dr Shi blinks. "That's... An impressive comparison."
[00:30] <Soul> "Just noting. Are you SURE a disease has been claiming the Broc Flower? Have there been diseased samples?"
06[00:31] * Kris wanders over to listen in on the two doctors.
[00:32] <Kris> "Uhmm... Are you refering to the Contagion that has the word 'Great' in front of it?"
06[00:32] * Shim is still sat in her corner, blissfully oblivious to those around her.
[00:33] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy: "Unfortunately, there arn't any diseased samples. The disease that targetted the Broc Flower practically burns them from the inside, leaving it looking like nothing but brittle, black flakes of ash."
[00:33] <Soul> "...close enough. This is worse than I thought."
06[00:33] * Soul gets up again and starts pacing around. He almost seems...worried.
06[00:33] * Relain waves a hand in front of Shim's face "Ms. Moonbeam? I think we're going to be moving soon..."
[00:33] <Soul> "...if this disease is engineered...and ANOTHER disease is affecting plants that may be relevant to it..."
06[00:33] * Kris turns to Lemy. "That... I don't like the sound of that."
06[00:34] * Gandr perks at the mention of double-engiwhatnows.
[00:34] <Gandr> "Then wouldn't it be better to cut it at the source ?"
06[00:35] * Kris nods. "It'd be good if we did so, but stopping the source doesn't stop the disease itself, not often at least."
06[00:35] * Shim half opens her eyes, which is the normal for her. "Oh, like, cool." She nods.
[00:36] <Soul> "This is bad. If the Uisi Root and Opal Wreaths are also being targeted by a disease, we should extract samples of THEM too. This disease probably isn't random; whatever made THIS..." he motions to the diseased (dustbinned) remains "probably is responsible for this as well, in an attempt to prevent us from curing it."
06[00:36] * Relain offers a hand to help her to her feet hesitantly, knowing full well anyone present could tear it from its socket
[00:36] <Gandr> "But stopping the sickness won't help if whoever cooked it up can just unchain another."
[00:36] <Soul> "Maybe, who knows. But I was contracted to stop this disease, and that's my job."
06[00:36] * Kris nods again. "That's correct, we have to stop the source AND cure the diseases. Simple as that."
[00:36] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy bites his lip. "Don't give up hope, Soul."
06[00:37] * Shim grasps the hand and lethargically pulls herself up.
[00:37] <@Clarence_Mage> L: "I know you can do it."
06[00:37] * Kris sweeps some non-existent cave dust from her dress (thanks Gandr~). "Well, we're not going to accomplish anything if we stay here in the cave."
[00:38] <Soul> "Let's not waste any more time. Let's get samples of that flower-live samples, that we can replant once we return..."
[00:38] <Relain> "I'm all for whatever gets me back to the city faster."
[00:38] <Relain> "Nice, safe walls, no zombies or giant birds trying to eat me..."
[00:38] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy suddenly looks a bit more... Ill. He grabs at his chest and doubles over.
06[00:38] * Kris grins. "I agree with Relain, I'm better suited for civilization."
[00:39] <Soul> "Whoa, what-"
06[00:39] * Gandr considers. Gandr could *probably* throw Relain back to the city.
06[00:39] * Gandr Probably.
06[00:39] * Soul attempts to catch Lemy before he hits the ground
06[00:39] * Kris blinks rapidly. "Lemy?" She moves over quickly.
[00:39] <Relain> "Oh dear."
06[00:40] * Soul doesn't reach Lemy in time, and scrambles over to his side
[00:40] <@Clarence_Mage> Kris catches Lemy with her quick reflexes.
06[00:40] * Soul looks up to Kris and nods
[00:40] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy with a tiny bit of effort stabilises himself.
[00:41] <Soul> "What happened? You don't look so good."
[00:41] <@Clarence_Mage> Whatever the cause of what just happened, Lemy seems to be fighting with every single ounce of his being to hold it back.
[00:41] <Relain> "...Has he been infected?"
06[00:41] * Kris keeps silent, keeping him steady.
[00:41] <Kris> "I don't think so, Three weeks doesn't happen in ten minutes."
06[00:41] * Gandr stands at attention warily. Despite his earlier chopping shenanigans, he doesn't feel like being caught unawares at a time such as this.
[00:41] <Gandr> "They do in the Wyld."
06[00:42] * Kris blinks. "...Point."
06[00:42] * Soul is too busy examining Lemy to respond to anyone
[00:43] <Soul> "...this isn't right..."
[00:43] <Relain> "Could've come in contact with the virus earlier."
[00:43] <Relain> "He helped handle that wolf, didn't he?
[00:43] <Kris> "I don't like this..."
[00:44] <Soul> "Whatever this is...it's beyond mortal medicine."
06[00:44] * Soul is suddenly VERY worried.
[00:45] <Relain> "/lovely/"
[00:45] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy grabs Soul's collar, and pulls himself up.
06[00:45] * Gandr flows a little more; combat ready.
06[00:46] * Kris keeps him steady.
[00:47] <@Clarence_Mage> "D-Don't worry, I've had this happen to me for a while."
[00:47] <Soul> "...Lemy...you...haven't had contact with the disease before, have you?"
[00:47] <@Clarence_Mage> "It's..."
[00:47] <@Clarence_Mage> "..."
[00:48] <@Clarence_Mage> "I can't say that I havn't had contact with it before..."
[00:48] <Soul> "...how long ago."
[00:48] <Relain> "How long has it been happening?"
[00:48] <@Clarence_Mage> He glances around, and pushes himself away from Kris & Soul.
06[00:48] * Gandr is becoming rather agitated.
06[00:49] * Gandr destroying owls is one thing. Putting down a rabid travelling companion is something else.
[00:49] <@Clarence_Mage> "It's... been, um, happening for, two weeks? Yeah, two weeks."
06[00:49] * Kris stands back.
[00:49] <Relain> "...Right then."
[00:49] <Relain> "Nobody panic, this can be a positive."
06[00:49] * Soul looks at Shi, as if to get him to say SOMETHING, then looks back at Lemy. "You SURE?"
[00:50] <Relain> "All of you, you're immune to this disease, I believe someone mentioned?"
[00:51] <Kris> "We hope we're immune."
[00:51] <@Clarence_Mage> Dr Shi looks... quizically at Lemy. "I've only been in contact with him again for one week... Though he has been rather sickly ever since I've known him."
[00:51] <Soul> "We don't know that. And Lemy isn't...I mean, I assume..."
[00:51] <Kris> "Uhmm.. Like i said, I'm not the doctor, mundane sicknesses can't take hold of us, supernatural diseases though..." She shrugs helplessly. "Your guess is as good as mine."
[00:51] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy: "Look, how about we just get through this tunnel, okay?"
[00:52] <Relain> "Lemy will be ok either way, but we must act quickly to ensure he remains ok."
06[00:52] * Kris gives Lemy and uncertain look, but nods. "Sounds like a plan."
[00:52] <Soul> "All I know is whatever's affecting you ISN'T mundane. That has me worried."
[00:52] <Soul> "I'd like to get you back home as soon as possible so I can observe this better."
06[00:53] * Relain addresses Lemy, keeping his distance as they walk "Lemy, this may sound a bit... Grim, but it's a lot more positive than other possible solutions..."
06[00:54] * Gandr moves along with them, attention divided between the cave and the group.
[00:54] <Relain> "If it turns out you are... Infected, would you consent to being restrained? You could be our first humanoid... Err... 'sample' for study, just behavoiral, no surgery or anything of course."
[00:54] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy practically glares at Relain.
06[00:55] * Relain grimaces "I know it doesn't sound all that pleasant, but would you rather be up and running around when we found the cure or strapped to a table where we could get it to you easily?"
06[00:55] * Soul facepalms at Relain's incompetence.
06[00:55] * Kris frowns mightily.
06[00:55] * Soul turns around. "Being a mortal is no excuse for horrible bedside manners."
[00:55] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy doesn't answer, and moves back with Dr Shi, somewhat at the back of the group.
06[00:55] * Gandr likes Relain's honest forwardness. Finally something he can relate to.
[00:55] <Kris> "Let's just keep walking, alright? Who's taking the lead? Gandr?"
[00:56] <Gandr> "I can - but I don't know these caves. I do better in open areas."
[00:56] <Gandr> "But if Lemy can vouch for it being open, it won't be a problem anyway."
[00:58] <Relain> "Look, I know it's... blunt, but it's better to get it out of the way so /IF/ the situation arises we know how to handle it immediately before it gets out of hand."
[00:58] <Soul> "Kid, seriously, shut up."
06[00:59] * Shim begins to glitter radiantly, arcs and waves of light pouring out of every part of her body. It sends the cave up in a brilliant light that illuminates it beyond the few sparks flying around between everyone.
[00:59] <Relain> "This is to maximize chances of survival, not to get a new ginea pig."
06[00:59] * Kris claps happily. "Wonderful, we can see now!"
06[00:59] * Shim nods.
[00:59] <Soul> "If you want to maximise your OWN chances of survival you'll stop pouring salt into the wound."
[00:59] <Soul> "Lest you become MY guinea pig."
06[01:00] * Soul rubs his blade between his fingertips as if to make a point
06[01:00] * Relain grumbles "You're the doctor, I suppose."
[01:00] <Gandr> "I don't mean to be a chainbreaker, but ... as it stands, if you turn into a zombie, I'll put you down myself."
06[01:00] * Shim leans on Relain and cocks her relaxed face at Soul, her guitar knocking against a heal as if to give a friendly warning.
06[01:00] * Soul rolls his eyes, grumbling to Lemy and Shi within earshot "thought he'd never shut up..."
[01:00] <Gandr> "I'm not trying to be harsh."
[01:01] <Gandr> "Now can we please get moving ?"
[01:01] <@Clarence_Mage> THE PARTY GETS MOVING.
06[01:01] * Relain jumps a little "W-when did you get there?"
06[01:01] * Gandr may not know a lot about people, but he knows that doing something - ANYTHING - can take the stress off of people.
06[01:03] * Soul turns to Lemy. "You haven't lied to me about anything...have you?"
[01:03] <@Clarence_Mage> The trek through the cave takes a little while. Lemy shirks away from Shim's Shimmering Shimlights as they walk, and half an hour to fourty five minutes later, they pop out of the other end of the cave. And this is a rather different change of scenery.
06[01:04] * Shim turns her head to face Relain then pats him on the back, "Yeah." She states in her special way.
[01:04] <Kris> "Wow."
06[01:04] * Relain frowns, deciding to make an attempt not to anger the strange woman
[01:05] <@Clarence_Mage> It's dank, it's musky, and it's a... swamp. A swamp in the middle of the eastern forests.
[01:05] <@Clarence_Mage> This is baffling to say the least.
06[01:06] * Kris sniffs and makes a face. "Gandr, are swamps supposed to spell like this?
[01:06] <Gandr> "Spell ?"
[01:06] <Relain> "The hell's a swamp doing here?"
[01:06] <Gandr> "I don't know how swamps are supposed to ... spell."
06[01:06] * Kris blinks. "I meant smell, Gandr, I misspoke."
06[01:07] * Soul looks around
06[01:07] * Gandr likes his jokes.
06[01:08] * Soul 's face turns a bit pale
06[01:09] * Kris looks sick
[01:09] <Kris> "Is this what i think it is?"
[01:09] <Kris> "Please, tell me this isn't what I think it is."
06[01:09] * Gandr sniffs the air and grimaces.
[01:09] <Gandr> "This place is rotten."
[01:09] <Gandr> "Like ... real rotten."
[01:09] <Soul> "I think it is."
[01:09] <Gandr> "Dead-for-five-days-in-the-sun rotten."
06[01:09] * Relain suddenly looks very pale
[01:09] <Soul> "DEAD is right.'
[01:10] <Gandr> "Dead ?"
[01:10] <Gandr> "Wouldn't say dead."
06[01:10] * Shim looks around and shudders a bit, "Nature is like, inversed here." She whispers, "It's like, fucking freaky."
[01:10] <Soul> "We'd...better leave this place."
[01:10] <Relain> "You can't honestly tell me you've brought me where I think you've brought me."
[01:10] <Gandr> "Still nature, after all."
[01:10] <Kris> "Uhm... I think this is a Shadowland."
[01:10] <Soul> "I think you're right, Kris."
[01:10] <Gandr> "I mean -- wait, what ? Shadowland ?"
[01:10] <Kris> "I don't want to be right..."
[01:10] <Gandr> "Shadowland ?"
[01:10] <Kris> "It's a place where the Underworld overlaps with Creation."
[01:10] <@Clarence_Mage> Dr Shi furrows his eyebrows. "Shadowland? In the middle of the eastern forests?"
06[01:10] * Gandr turns to face Kris fully.
[01:11] <Gandr> "This is a Shadowland ?"
[01:11] <Soul> "Doctor, how close are we to our objective?"
[01:11] <Kris> "I really wish it wasn't, Gandr."
[01:12] <@Clarence_Mage> Dr Shi looks to Lemy. Lemy: "We're very close."
[01:12] <Soul> "Then let's get moving. IMMEDIATELY. Point the way."
06[01:12] * Soul motions forward, a bit hurriedly, as if to mush Lemy along.
[01:13] <Kris> "Lets get moving, this place makes my skin crawl."
[01:13] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy picks up his pace, and starts walking forward and moving through the swamplands like no-ones business.
06[01:13] * Shim has her eyes open a little wider than usual, it's still not wide enough for her to look normal but she appears comparitively shocked.
06[01:14] * Relain starts moving as quickly as he possibly can oh god anathema oh god abyssals oh god undead this is not good times
[01:16] <Soul> "An influx of the undead...diseases that kill off plants to treat sicknesses of death...and now pockets of the shadowland appearing..."
06[01:16] * Gandr has his chains up in a bunch - if anything, he looks even more incredibly dangerous than usual.
[01:16] <Soul> "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that the Underworld itself was...invading. And I guess I don't know any better..."
06[01:16] * Gandr moves to keep up with the others, keeping all his eyes and everything else on alert.
06[01:16] * Kris takes a deep breath... Regrets it upon inhaling the foul stench of death, and follows along.
[01:17] <@Clarence_Mage> Everyone follows Lemy through this, dank, dark Shadowland, and feelings of intense unease course through them. Shadowlands arn't very nice places, at all, and are the very embodiment of death & decay in creation. Be thankful it's daytime.
06[01:18] * Relain mutters a little "I did not sign up for this" mantra
[01:19] <Relain> "How do you people even /DO/ this?"
[01:19] <Relain> "More importantly, WHY?"
[01:19] <Soul> "How? We're infused with power from the gods. Why? We signed a contract from the Guild."
[01:19] <Gandr> "No."
[01:20] <Gandr> "More importantly is, 'how do we kill it ?'."
[01:20] <Relain> "Not... This... THIS!"
[01:20] <Soul> "What, you mean wade through a pocket of death in the forest?"
06[01:20] * Relain waves his hands around at the swamp frantically
[01:20] <@Clarence_Mage> As you're all led on, the Swamp starts... Gurgling.
[01:20] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy: "We're real close now."
[01:21] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy: "We're approaching the waterfall..."
[01:21] <Soul> "Well, our objective is this way, and we're not in THAT much danger long as we keep moving, so we keep moving."
06[01:21] * Relain points jat the gurgling mud and water and tar and whatnot "THAT! RIGHT THERE!"
[01:21] <Soul> "...Honestly, just because you're a mortal doesn't give you a license to be so cowardly."
[01:21] <Relain> "What in the name of all five bloody dragons purpose does making land do that serve and how the hell do you manage it?"
06[01:22] * Soul snorts a bit and shakes his head before facing forward again and hoping to catch a glimmer of non-shadowland ahead
[01:22] <Gandr> "Can we focus on moving along, and worry about the decor later !?"
06[01:23] * Relain nods, breaking into a slow jog "I'm not here, this is a bad dream, I'm not jogging through a pit of death right now with a bunch of anathema, not at all, that's just silly."
[01:24] <@Clarence_Mage> And the group arrives at the waterfall... .... Well, less waterfall, and more twigs-and-bush-and-deadleaves-and-alligatorfall. It's a very unsettling gurgling, slopping, splooshing sound that the thick, chunky waterfall makes, and the sun does little but accentuate the greyness of it all.
[01:24] <@Clarence_Mage> And on a little plateau in the middle of the waterfall, there grows a lone flower.
06[01:25] * Soul crouches down in front of the flower. "This..."
06[01:25] * Kris kneels down next to Soul.
[01:25] <Kris> "Is it?"
06[01:25] * Soul examines the area around it. "Why is there only one? Why aren't they ALL dead?"
[01:26] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy: "That's the last one."
[01:26] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy: "They arn't all dead... yet."
[01:26] <Soul> "But look at it." He stretches his hand out to point to the flower, as if a miracle. "It's too...perfect...this isn't natural."
[01:27] <@Clarence_Mage> The crackling of bones,  flesh, & sinew can be suddenly heard all around.
06[01:27] * Kris whirles
06[01:27] * Relain 's face drops "Oh hells."
06[01:28] * Shim raises her guitar into the air and gives a flurry of jerky head movements to look around.
[01:28] <Gandr> "I was getting worried that this place didn't have any way to great visitors."
[01:28] <Soul> "...TOO perfect."
06[01:28] * Gandr mumbles. "I know I am. What are you ?"
06[01:29] * Relain draws his flamepiece and loads it "Wonderful day, wonderful day."
[01:29] <@Clarence_Mage> Out from the ground & waterfall, straw hats poke out along with gangly limbs that struggle to break them out of the ground. They reveal long, skeletal snapping snouts as five, ten, TWENTY of the things claw their way out of the ground, and draw their swords. But, they don't move forward.
[01:30] <Gandr> "Wonderful day for a fight."
[01:30] <Gandr> "Coulda picked a better spot, though."
06[01:30] * Kris stiffles a giggle.
06[01:31] * Relain begins scanning his surroundings for advantageous terrain "River, trees? No, that's silly, island..."
[01:31] <@Clarence_Mage> "I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds this absolutely hilarious." A voice no-one has heard before rings out in the trees. Male, 20s, mid-range in manliness.
[01:31] <Gandr> "Your delivery was pretty bad, though."
[01:32] <Gandr> "We've been waiting for the joke ever since we got here."
06[01:32] * Kris turns to face the voice.
[01:32] <@Clarence_Mage> Suddenly, presumably the source of the voice kicks out of the ground and shows himself infront of the group, trailing dark, necrotic essence.
06[01:33] * Gandr has a target now. All worries melt away; now there's just furious muscle locked into readiness.
[01:33] <@Clarence_Mage> Long, white, whispy hair trails off of the head of an unsettlingly attractive face, whose mouth upturns in a smile as he crosses his arms. From what he's wearing, he seems to be a martial artist.
[01:34] <@Clarence_Mage> "I have to say, this has gone far, far too well."
06[01:35] * Kris hunkers down. The feeling this man gives off is for lack of a better term, Revolting.
[01:36] <Gandr> "No, we're not in Well. We're in the Eastlands."
03[01:36] * Rale (Ralewyn@sux-C30920A4.hsd1.ma.comcast.net) has joined #clarencexaltedic
02[01:37] * Relain (Ralewyn@sux-C30920A4.hsd1.ma.comcast.net) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
[01:40] <@Clarence_Mage> The martial artist shakes his head at the tribal simpleton. "Really, I couldnt've done it without your help, Lamenting Florist of a Fang Once Loyal. Your acting..." he makes a handgesture denoting perfection. "...Impeccable. You even had me fooled for a moment there."
[01:41] <Soul> "
[01:41] <Soul> "You don't mean..."
06[01:41] * Gandr ...
06[01:41] * Soul turns back to Lemy
06[01:41] * Gandr .. Lamenting Florist.
06[01:41] * Kris blinks rapidly.
[01:42] <Rale> "Oh bloody hell."
[01:43] <Gandr> "I can admire a man who reveals his best card and still expects to win."
03[01:43] * Rale is now known as Relain
[01:43] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy glances around to the party, the martial artist, then to Soul, then back to the martial artist. "My NAME is LEMY!"
[01:44] <@Clarence_Mage> The man sighs and drops his arms. "Not anymore it isn't. Remember the deal you broke with the boss?"
06[01:45] * Kris keeps her ears open, but looks around at the sword-wielding... Things, surrounding them
[01:45] <@Clarence_Mage> "You are the Lamenting Florist of a Fang Once Loyal, and I am the Overseer of Glory Unsurpassed." He smugly cracks his neck, by moving his chin with his hand.
[01:47] <@Clarence_Mage> Overseer: "And you played your part very, very well."
[01:47] <Soul> "His...part...this was all a trap, wasn't it."
[01:48] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy: "I... I'm... No, Soul, I, I didn't..."
[01:48] <Soul> "...Shi Xa, were you PARTY to any of this?!"
01[01:48] <Shim> "That is like, not cool! Y-you don't like, do that to your circle mates!
[01:49] <@Clarence_Mage> Shi: "I had absolutely no idea."
06[01:49] * Kris grimaces. She doesn't have words for how truly uncomfortable she's feeling.
[01:49] <Relain> "Then if you could explain yourself before the skeletons attack that would be /wonderful/."
[01:49] <@Clarence_Mage> The Overseer smacks his forhead and laughs. "HA! Oh, Lemy, are you still trying to lead a normal life again?"
[01:50] <Soul> "...Lemy what did you DO."
06[01:50] * Relain continues scanning his surroundings, flamepiece raised
[01:50] <@Clarence_Mage> "By the Abyss, you're stupider than I thought."
[01:50] <@Clarence_Mage> *Overseer:
[01:52] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy: "I... Soul, Shi, Everyone, I'm so sorry, I didn't want to do this."
[01:53] <Gandr> "It's not too late to not get horribly murdered in a swamp, Lemy."
[01:53] <Kris> "He's gloating. Overconfident."
[01:53] <Soul> "Didn't want to do WHAT? Because I have a feeling this is no ordinary trap you've led us into."
06[01:53] * Soul is starting to sound very...annoyed? Dissapointed?
06[01:53] * Kris nods to Overseer
[01:53] <@Clarence_Mage> The Overseer: "Oh yes. Yes it is." He snaps his fingers, and the zombie alligator raptor ninjas pounce.
[01:54] <Soul> "Oh, well then."
[01:54] <Gandr> "... fack."
[01:54] <Soul> "And here I was WORRIED that this might be part of an even MROE elaborate plan."
06[01:57] * Kris growls, baring her teeth. The gold disc on her forehead burst into radiance, drowning the shadowland in the height of noonday sun. "When I changed, He spoke to me. The Unconquered Sun Himself told me in no uncertain terms what I am and what I do... And What I do is make things like you BURN."
06[02:08] * Relain suddenly grins as all the tumblers fall into place, he waves his hand dramatically "This pathetic creature's plans will fall, and we will be victorious. I want Ms. Moonbeam, Soul, Gandr and Kris in the front on the river bank, three yard spread." he cocks his flamepiece
06[02:09] * Kris moves into position, noding smartly.
06[02:09] * Gandr moves to the spot.
06[02:09] * Soul assumes the position, although oddly enough his sword is still sheathed...
[02:09] <Gandr> "Smart guy says, jump. I ask, how hard."
06[02:10] * Shim scrapes over to her spot, twisting and turning to look all around her.
[02:10] <Relain> "Our oponent has made the fatal mistake of forgetting to pack any form of ranged weaponry, his forces will need to cross the river in order to reach or harm us. As they cross, they will be unable to defend themselves."
[02:10] <Relain> "This will allow everyone on the riverbank to cut them down easily as they approach, meanwhile our ranged forces, myself and Shi, will target their commander."
[02:11] <Relain> "This creature goes back to his master in shame this day."
[02:11] <@Clarence_Mage> Overseer: "Cute."
06[02:11] * Relain aims his flamepeice
[02:11] <Gandr> "I don't wanna second-guess you, but ... have you ever fought Exalted before ?"
06[02:11] * Gandr spares a glance over his shoulder.
[02:11] <Relain> "I haven't had the pleasure, it'll be a learning expirience."
06[02:11] * Relain smirks
[02:11] <Gandr> "Presuming you survive."
06[02:12] * Gandr tenses for combat. No nerves, just focus - cold and hard and final.
06[02:12] * Kris lets out a grim chuckle. She decides to forgo weapons this time around.
03[02:27] * Clarence_Mage changes topic to '[Tick 0: Vorsh], [Tick 1: Relain], [Tick 2: ZN1, Soul, Kris], [Tick 3: ZN2, ZN3, ZN4, Gandr, Shim], [Tick 4: ZN5, Lemy, Shi]'
[02:32] <@Clarence_Mage> The Overseer places his hands together, and his forhead splits open, a grim mimic of a caste mark cut into his crown. He assumes a martial arts stance which resonates death, unholy agility, and verocity.
03[02:32] * Clarence_Mage changes topic to '[Tick 1: Relain], [Tick 2: ZN1, Soul, Kris], [Tick 3: ZN2, ZN3, ZN4, Gandr, Shim], [Tick 4: ZN5, Lemy, Shi], [Tick 5: Vorsh]'
[02:34] <Soul> "Mortal, I hope I don't have to tell you that that mark on his forehead would make an excellent target..."
06[02:34] * Relain grimaces and rolls the chamber of his flamepiece, aiming carefully across the way with one eye closed at that black void in that crown... How fitting for a king ripe to be taken. "Come at me then, anathema. Face your humiliation." He pulls the trigger
[02:42] <@Clarence_Mage> The Overseer deftly steps out of the way of the flame, setting his sights directly on Relain.
03[02:44] * Clarence_Mage changes topic to '[Tick 2: ZN1, Soul, Kris], [Tick 3: ZN2, ZN3, ZN4, Gandr, Shim], [Tick 4: ZN5, Lemy, Shi], [Tick 5: Vorsh], [Tick 6: Relain]'
[02:45] <@Clarence_Mage> A Zombie Ninja charges at Kris, stabbing at her with two sais!
[02:46] <@Clarence_Mage> It trudges through the water, but as it is a Zombie Ninja Alligator, it swiftly trudges.
[02:47] <@Clarence_Mage> BUT TRUDGES NONTHELESS
[02:49] <@Clarence_Mage> It makes a stab at Kris, but his arms arn't long enough to reach her. Weak.
[02:53] <Kris> Kris glows brighter by a fraction, concentrating for a brief moment. Her sleeves shimmer and crease. She raises her arms and takes a low back stance, Her attacker moments away from being in range... When it's barely an inch away from her right toe, she strikes!
[02:58] <@Clarence_Mage> It's skull cracks backwards, it's torso severs, and explodes black tar from the wounds.
06[03:00] * Soul , meanwhile, figures Kris can handle herself, and focuses his attention on the group of zombies approaching, focusing in particular on whichever one is the closest one. He still has his hands in front of him, though, unarmed.
03[03:03] * Clarence_Mage changes topic to '[Tick 3: ZN2, ZN3, ZN4, Gandr, Shim, Soul], [Tick 4: ZN5, Lemy, Shi], [Tick 5: ZN6, Vorsh], [Tick 6: Relain], [Tick 7: Kris]'
[03:11] <@Clarence_Mage> The three zombies ninjas get in formation, and decide to team up against Gandr. One's wearing fighting gauntlets, another's wearing fighting boots, and another's wearing a sword decorated with a scorpion inset(but it for some reason is wearing rather elegant noble clothing). They give off the aura that this group of talented zombie assassin have been to the depths of the hell and back, and mean business.
[03:17] <@Clarence_Mage> The attack one after another, but their best efforts are reflected by chains upon chains upon chains
06[03:18] * Kris grins and calls to the Overseer. "Quality help you have here."
[03:19] <@Clarence_Mage> The Overseer snaps his fingers, as more and more pop up. "Quantity has a quality of it's own."
[03:19] <Gandr> "You must be saying that a lot."
06[03:21] * Soul has nothing to say, as he's been too busy waiting for an opening, which he now has. The zombie he's had his eye on is within reach, and suddenly, with the snap of his fingers, his blade comes flying out of its scabbard on his back, and flies into his hand with a swift arc. Using that momentum, he continues the arc into the back of his enemy, who thankfully is facing Gandr and not him.
06[03:29] * Relain mumbles "He alters his tactics, he is trying to force a hole in the wall, as long as the wall holds our victory is assured."
[03:30] <@Clarence_Mage> Overseer: "You forget one thing." He makes a motion, bringing himself closer to the ground, and moving his leg back. "I am greater than any of the walls you can muster."
[03:31] <@Clarence_Mage> The zombie that Soul attacked gets a rather large gash in it's back, and it would've continued further, but the chains keeping it's arms bound stop the sword from doing more damage.
[03:32] <@Clarence_Mage> Why a zombie would focus on kicking and keep its arms bound with chains is anyone's guess
[03:32] <@Clarence_Mage> If anyone was confused, the Overseer is crouching, But cooler.
[03:33] <Gandr> "How many times do I have to tell you, they're NOT WALLS !"
[03:33] <Soul> "I'm a doctor, not a wall."
06[03:33] * Kris smirks
06[03:36] * Relain braces, how this creature's action plays out will decide the course of the battle, no matter what happens, however, it will end in his downfall... All he must do is remain alive after that die is cast.
06[03:37] * Shim heads towards the ones attacking Gandr, she lifts her guitar over her head and spins, bringing her guitar down like a golf swing into one zombies legs, ploughing through them like a hot knife through butter. On the way up her guitar catches another zombie in the chin knocking it's head clean off as she swings gracefully, finishing off a perfect twirl as her guitar rests by her side.
[03:41] <Relain> "Your armies crumble, wretch!"
06[03:42] * Gandr flips one chainhook into the closest zombie, snagging it under the ribcage. Then, heaving with one arm and pulling with the other, Gandr brings the zombieflail crashing like a moaning, rotten meteor-sun into the ground - and again, and again.
[03:48] <@Clarence_Mage> IT'S FUCKING DESTROYED
03[03:50] * Clarence_Mage changes topic to '[Tick 4: ZN5, ZN7, Lemy, Shi], [Tick 5: ZN6, ZN8, Vorsh], [Tick 6: ZN9, Relain], [Tick 7: Kris, Gandr, Soul], [Tick 8: SHim]'
[03:50] <@Clarence_Mage> More and more zombies crawl out of the shadowlands, and dash into the fray.
[03:51] <Soul> "Hey, Gandr. Remember that thing you did with Kris?"
06[03:51] * Gandr grimaces at zombies dashing. They didn't do that when Gandr was young and everything was good.
[03:51] <Gandr> "Yes."
[03:51] <Gandr> "Speak quick. Time is zombies."
[03:51] <Soul> "Get me over there."
06[03:52] * Soul jerks his thumb to the Abyssal.
[03:52] <Soul> "And anyone else you can send."
[03:52] <Gandr> "Arright."
06[03:55] * Relain mutters to Soul and Gandr NOT LOUD ENOUGH FOR THAT FRUITY ASSHOLE ACROSS THE WATER TO HEAR OVER BATTLE AND ROARING RIVER "I don't believe this will be necessary, he will come to us."
[03:55] <@Clarence_Mage> Two zombies pop out and start clawing themselves at Shi. He fails to get his Firewands up and ready in time, and is assaulted by the two zombies, grabbing and clawing at him. Lemy reacts quickly, and kicks both of the zombies off of Shi, and they fall down and off of the cliff.
[03:55] <Relain> "Very soon, I believe... Be ready."
06[03:56] * Soul scoffs, as if to say he doesn't believe Relain.
[03:56] <Kris> "Whatever happens, be ready."
03[03:58] * Clarence_Mage changes topic to '[Tick 5: ZN6, ZN8, SZN10, SZN11 Vorsh], [Tick 6: ZN9,  Relain], [Tick 7: Kris, Gandr, Soul], [Tick 8: SHim], [Tick 9: n/a], [Tick 10: Shi, Lemy]'
[03:58] <Relain> "Come on then, Anathema! Show me your so-called might!"
[04:02] <@Clarence_Mage> The Overseer's lungs split with blood and thunder, a piercing, unsettling scream amplifies his unnatural leap; along with two zombie ninjas and two zombie ninjas that seem to be far meaner.
[04:05] <@Clarence_Mage> Trailing blood & despair, The Overseer breaks through the air and directly into the center of the solar circle, and claws directly at Relain with unholy grip.
[04:05] <Soul> "...guess he was right. Unfortunately."
[04:06] <Soul> "...unfortunately for HIM..."
[04:06] <Kris> "Relain!"
[04:11] <@Clarence_Mage> With barely any effort, The Overseer carries through and throws Relain off of the cliff face, sending him plummeting down. "Have fun with your little strategies while the pig boys play tag." He turns, and delivers a kick to Shi's back...
[04:13] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy intercepts, and stares The Overseer directly in the face as he struggles against his foot. The Overseer, sends a pimpsmackkick alongslide Lemy's face...
[04:13] <@Clarence_Mage> And Lemy is sent facefirst into the ground, put in his place.
[04:14] <@Clarence_Mage> The Overseer turns to the rest of the party, and makes a 'Bring it on' gesture, obviously confident in his ability
06[04:14] * Relain meets his assailant with a grin before being knocked clear of the cliff, he shouts as loud as he can before he's out of earshot "CONVERGE ON THE KING, DESTROY HIM AND THE ARMIES CRUMBLE!"
[04:14] <Soul> "THAT WAS THE PLAN, YOU FALLING DUMBASS!"
06[04:15] * Kris turns to the undead master with a snarl on her face. "You'll BURN for that."
[04:15] <@Clarence_Mage> The Overseer almost looked surprised for a moment, but then Soul's comment revealed that Relain was just bluffing. A shame, the Mortal could've actually proven useful if not for his meddling.
[04:16] <@Clarence_Mage> The Overseer smirks and points behind Kris. "You may want to take a look at what's coming from behind you."
06[04:21] * Kris doesn't turn to look, but she hunkers down and listens, The fetid breath, deceptively quick steps and muted clink of armor are all too easy to percieve. She felt the strike coming, an moments before it hit, she stepped out of it's path!
[04:24] <@Clarence_Mage> Overseer: "I meant the other one."
[04:25] <@Clarence_Mage> KRACK, Kris gets a helping of Zombie foot directly into her back.
06[04:29] * Kris tumbles forward, already feeling the bruises form on her back.
06[04:29] * Relain spreads his arms, his adrenaline kicking in as he soars through the air, he must act quickly, tuck and roll, he pulls his limbs into a tight ball and begins to spin, if he can hit the ground with enough momentum to absorb the shock... Then just avoid the zombies
06[04:35] * Gandr takes a step back, takes a step forward, hammers his forehead into the zombie. Crunch-bonk.
06[04:36] * Soul effortlessly dodges one of the zombies attacking him, but almost falls prey to the other...until he flips down that zombie's stupid big straw hat which blocks his vision. What a waste of a hat. Why would you wear a hat like that? Now you can't see me dodge your attack.