Invasion, Part 4 - Soul Searching

<DM>	*LAST TIME ON ZURPG!*
<DM>	*Kirran and Hal, the two of you were about to set out on your royal mission to save Gustaf, when Kakariko became under attack by Bokoblins and chaos-ified Boars. The two of you stayed to fend off the attack, saving several villagers, and causing possibly a bit much on the collateral damage while trying to kill an Iron Knight.
<DM>	*In the end, there were some casualties, and the Sheikah had to evacuate the residents of Kakariko to Goron City. You bid farewell to Impa and the others, and you considered going with them, when Princess Zelda sent you a worrying message - Lord Gustaf stole the Medallion of Light, as well as a certain something else. With that in mind, the two of you headed off into Hyrule Field, straight into the heart of the enemy.
<DM>	-=SESSION START=-
<DM>	*With a bittersweet sendoff to Impa and the Sheikah, the pair of you start your trek to find Gustaf. You're currently climbing through the rubble that was once Kakariko's entrance. There's no enemies around, though as you climb to the other side, you start to get a greater view of Hyrule as a whole.
<DM>	*Grey skies have overrun the skies, with the pure black cloud over Lon Lon Ranch gradually turning Hyrule Field to night. Between you and Lon Lon Ranch, there's well over a hundred enemies, varying in size. You can't make out the small ones from your view, but you can see the rotating rings of Patras, multi-headed Gleeoks slowly stomping forwards, and platoons of dark knights.
*	Kirran makes a low whistle.
<Hal>	As expected. Launching ourselves right in would be suicide. There must be another way into Lon-Lon Ranch.
<Kirran>	They're going to have to bring out more than that to take down the Sheikah once and for all. But it's a good start...
<DM>	*Looking across to the west, in the far mountains of Gerudo Valley, there's a lightning storm that's tearing the cliffside apart. To the south, where the greenery of Kokiri Forest should be, fire, smoke, and ashes blocks your view. Oddly, to the north, where Hyrule City is... nothing's attacking it.
<Kirran>	We could try taking the underground grottos and tunnels Hal.
<Kirran>	But no one's mapped all of them.
<Kirran>	Or even most of them, really.
<Hal>	That's what I was thinking.
<Hal>	(Would anyone have access to some sort of compass?)
<Hal>	A compass might help find our way to the ranch. If we can find one.
<DM>	*Looking ahead of you, you can spot one, just beyond the Zora River. Though, there's a few Stalfos and Stalchildren between you and that hole, and not far behind it is a group of Gleeoks and Dodongos, slowly making their way towards your direction.
<Hal>	Looks like we can dive into that grotto. We want to act swiftly and quickly. I don't think those boneheads would be very smart.
<DM>	*Well, in theory, Lon Lon Ranch is west and slightly to the south. You can see the plateau it's resting on from here, also denoted by a giant chaos-fied Argarok standing in front of it, just barely towering the plateau itself.
<DM>	*Although the skies are gradually darkening, there's still some dulled daylight, giving some shadows to the boned warriors.
<Hal>	Shall we roll?
*	Kirran looks around for sneaking opportunities.
*	Hal does the same.
<DM>	*Courtesies of the blast that Hal triggered at Kakariko's entrance, some of the rocks and rubble has spilled outwards. You can probably sneak by to the river, though those Stalchildren are fast patrollers.
<DM>	*Alternatively, you do have access to the Shadow Medallion's ability to turn into a shadow...
<Hal>	(What's the count?)
<DM>	*You spot... 4 Stalfos, 6 Stalchildren.
<Kirran>	(What's the pathway look like if we shadowjump?)
<DM>	*The closest shadow to the hole looks to be a Stalfos next to the river. Or the hole itself, though... without the ability to see the exact shadow being cast down there, you're having trouble locking onto it.
<DM>	[Raine]: Ooh, those little gremlins are fast! I wonder if they've ever experienced their hollow existence torn inside out by cilantro and cucumbers.
<Hal>	So, shall we sneak close to the Stalfols and then turn shadow to make the final stretch to the grotto?
<Kirran>	Sounds like the speediest option.
<Hal>	10 enemies patroling the hole is a tall order
<DM>	*You're pretty sure the pair of you wouldn't go down easy, but it's the Gleeoks and Dodongos slowly approaching that worry you a bit more...
<Hal>	(Yup)
<Hal>	(We'd have time to take them out but if we cause a ruckus they will be onto us quickly)
<DM>	*Alrighty, I take it you two roll on down to the edge of the rubble?
<Hal>	(Correct)
<DM>	*The two of you Sheikah hop from one rock to another, stealthily and silently. You reach the edge, and from your position, you can spot several planks of wood that might be a good point to jump to, but there's a Stalchild sniffing the area out.
<DM>	*Not just that, but using its only two arms, it crawls across the ground, scouring between the blank space and the planks of wood with surprising alacrity.
<DM>	*It's like a really fast spider. Made of bones. And only has two legs- err, arms, really.
<Hal>	(Is there an area between the planks we can safely jump to?)
<DM>	*How it's sniffing the area, you're not sure, given where its nose should be, it's just hollowed bones.
<Kirran>	(Is there an area near it that isn't occupied by something else?)
<DM>	*There's some rocks to the side, but they're not exactly person-sized...
*	Kirran sticks some bait on a metal arrow
<Kirran>	Let's see if he can sniff this.
*	Kirran fires the arrow off to the side where the rocks are.
<DM>	*Your arrows hit the rocks with a ding. The instant it hits the rocks, 4 of the Stalchildren quickly skitter over there. They each claw at the bait, trying to hound it from the other. It doesn't... look like that bait will last long.
<DM>	*On the plus side, your route to the planks is open.
*	Kirran signals to move on.
*	Hal ninja-jumps over to the planks
<Hal>	(to the shadow of course)
<DM>	*The two of you dive across. As you pass from the rubble you were hiding behind, you end up sneaking behind a Stalfos. Thankfully, it doesn't turn around.
<DM>	*You hide in the shadow side. As you're scouring your next move though, you hear some skittering from the direction of the bait.
<DM>	*A single Stalchild happens to wander into the shadow side of the broken wall, its bony fingers brushing against your fur, Hal.
<DM>	*It stops rattling for a moment and looks up at you, cocking its head to the side.
<Hal>	(How low is its Wisdom?)
<DM>	(Uhhh... Zip. But it's good at finding stuff.)
*	Hal silently knocks out a Phase out on the Stalchild
<DM>	*Before it can rattle any more sound, your Phase Out strikes it, and you see what little of a soul it was clinging onto silently fade into the air.
<Hal>	21h 15m
<DM>	*You hear more skittering... but it passes by your position.
<Hal>	(What next shadow points can we take?)
<DM>	*Up ahead, there's a pair of Stalfos patrolling the area between you and the river. After that, you could probably dive straight into the hole.
<DM>	*They have not noticed you. The two of them meet for a moment, clashing shields against each other, then belting off slightly demonic laughs before returning to scouring the area.
<DM>	*Both of them, at the moment, have their backs turned to you.
<Hal>	(Waiting on le Dark Link)
<DM>	[Raine]: Aww, looky at them, one bony guy to another. They can be brobones- wait, I got it. Brofos! Teeheeheeheee...
*	Hal again ninja-hops over to the shadow by the river while the stalfos have their backs turned
<DM>	*Roll your Courage!
<Hal>	$14d10
<Navi>	Hal: You rolled 14 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 2, 2, 7, 6, 2, 8, 5, 6, 8, 10, 8, 9, 1 and 3. Total: 77. Successes: 10.
*	Kirran waits until they clash shields again, then throws a deku nut at one of the shields while they're banging together.
<DM>	(err, I guess that should've been Wisdom...)
<Hal>	(Can I roll Wisdom now?)
<DM>	(yeah, go nuts)
<Hal>	$31d10
<Navi>	Hal: You rolled 31 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 6, 4, 6, 7, 5, 5, 7, 4, 6, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 2, 9, 7, 4, 1, 4, 9, 2, 2, 3, 8, 9, 3, 5, 8, 4 and 8. Total: 169. Successes: 19.
<DM>	*Hal, you tumble across a bit, but right then, the Stalfos clash shields... with an unexpected flare.
<DM>	*Both the Stalfos are dazed, and the snapping of the Deku Nut attracts all the Stalchildren to the yard- I mean to where the Stalfos are.
<DM>	*Hal, you get across, rolling into the river. The snap of the Deku Nut thankfully blocks out the sound of you splashing into the water.
<DM>	[Raine]: Ooh, now that they're all bundled together, we should bake them. Into a pie. It'll have a lot of calcium, for sure!
*	Hal treads out of the water, playing an Illusion of Sound imitating the Deku Nut snapping behind the Stalchildren, before diving into the hole.
<DM>	*Kirran, would you like to make the leap across now, or do something while all the enemies are bundled in one spot?
<Kirran>	(Do I know how much HP they have?)
<DM>	*The Stalchildren are pretty easy to nuke. The Stalfos... between the shields and their larger structure... you're not sure they'd go down easy, or even at all.
<Kirran>	(Going with the sneaking then, I think)
<DM>	[Raine]: Pst. Kirran. Furry guy made it into the hole. Wanna just shadow hop, or you wanna let loose a big bang on 'em all, teehee.
*	Kirran whispers back. "Why not both?)
<DM>	*Raine smiles back at you, both with joy and sinister intentions.
<DM>	*Hal, you dive down, it's a 50 foot drop, you die from neutral damage- I'm kidding. Lemme resolve Kirran's... whatever madness he's about to pull.
*	Kirran straps a big bomb onto a black arrow, fires it, and then shadow jumps to the hole.
<DM>	*As you strike the flame that sets a sizzle on the big bomb, all the Stalfos look around, and by the time they notice you, you've launched a big ol' black fire bomb in their direction.
<DM>	*Roll the arrow!
<Hal>	(Excellent. And it should hit all, doing 20 damage to all... If Kirran's Shadow Jump makes it in)
<Kirran>	$45d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 45 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 4, 8, 3, 10, 3, 8, 7, 6, 4, 9, 9, 10, 7, 9, 2, 6, 6, 6, 6, 9, 5, 8, 1, 8, 5, 9, 10, 10, 6, 4, 7, 10, 2, 10, 10, 4, 7, 6, 9, 1, 5, 8, 1, 1 and 7. Total: 286. Successes: 40.
<DM>	(holy-)
<DM>	yeah I ain't even rolling to defend that, ain't no way they blocking that
<DM>	*The Stalfos is about to open its mouth to rattle to the other bony fellas nearby when all a sudden, a big ol' red bomb lands square between its skull and its hanging jaw.
<DM>	*It tries to spit it out, only to chomp into it and taste the blissful pleasure of explosive powder, black flames, and its own bones turning to powder.
<DM>	*There's a final crackle before the Stalfos just explodes from its skull, its bones shooting outwards into all the other Stalfos and Stalchildren. Between the force of the explosion and the black flames, all the Stalchildren shatter to pieces, with the other Stalfos keeling over.
<DM>	*Thanks to that, you're able to take the time to switch to Shadow Form (a reminder, it takes a 1 Action Charge, so it's not instant), and make your hop on over! Though, as you do, you notice all the Stalchildren slowly reforming, and the Stalfos recovering, even the one that exploded.
<DM>	*To answer your question - It seems they're quite tanky.
<Kirran>	Well, it was worth a shot.
<DM>	*Thanks to your innate connection with Hal... beat 10 Successes on a Wisdom roll.
<Kirran>	$27d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 27 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 2, 7, 2, 8, 2, 10, 2, 10, 1, 9, 4, 9, 9, 4, 5, 3, 10, 4, 4, 10, 4, 8, 7, 9, 6, 7 and 3. Total: 159. Successes: 19.
<DM>	*You make the 3 Magic Cost sacrifice, and an instant later, you've appeared in Hal's shadow, who's... now dripping water from his wet fur onto you.
<DM>	*For some reason, even though you know Shadow Hop costs 3 Magic... you notice an extra Magic missing.
<DM>	*Raine materializes from your shadow and looks perplexed.
<DM>	[Raine]: That's odd, it's like something bit at us as we Shadow Hopped. Just a nibble though, so my hamburgers are still safe.
<Kirran>	I think we'd better be carefully using shadow magic under these clouds Hal.
<Kirran>	I think something or someone has got enough control to be sapping our magic in the darkness.
<DM>	*With the clacking of bones from above as the Stalfos and Stalchildren try to search for their attacker, the two of you, meanwhile, are now down in one of Hyrule Field's many grottos. There's a dim light from above, with a mystical air to the light itself. You've heard simply entering this returns you to the world above, so... it might not be the best choice.
*	Hal looked into his shadow to find Kirran inside of it. He nodded as... Windstrike resolves whatever is meant to happen next.
<DM>	*There's no WindStrike here, only an observer from beyond the 4th Wall.
<Kirran>	Want I wouldn't give to have Dampe around about now. I bet he knew these passages.
*	Kirran also returns to corporeal form.
*	Hal scans around the grotto, looking for passageways and to see what the heck is ahead.
<DM>	*Looking around, it's pretty damp and musty down here, not to mention dark... then again, seeing as both of you have both lived and traveled in the dark for the past several quests, you're kinda used to it by now.
<DM>	*You can hear water droplets dripping into the pools on the side. Up ahead, there's a branching path.
<DM>	*One that turns and heads to the west, and the other that leads to a dead-end to the south.
<DM>	*Thanks to your Spirit Vision, you can't see any enemies in the immediate vicinity.
<Hal>	We should probably go westward. We don't have time to waste.
<Kirran>	Agreed on both counts.
<Hal>	(How many rounds would it have been?)
<DM>	*A quick peak to the south dead-end reveals some old graves. If the circumstances were different, you'd take the chance to explore, but you've got a Gustaf to save, and maybe a world while you're at it.
<DM>	(Lessee, probably... 4?)
<Hal>	(So Hal would have full Magic again)
<Hal>	21h 21m
<DM>	(Yep)
<DM>	*You continue treading down the westward path when it splits off again. South leads to a light, looks like you can get topside with that. Other route is to the north, though you notice some purplish lookin' souls further down the path.
<DM>	*Looks like it eventually veers west, based on the direction of the souls.
<Hal>	Do we fight what we know will be enemies or do we surface where we may potentially run into enemies?
<Kirran>	Tough call.
<DM>	*Oddly, your Spirit Vision doesn't seem to extend to topside. Come to think of it, you're not sure how far down exactly these grottos extend. All you know is dropping into a hole suddenly puts you into the grotto, and jumping into the light takes you back up.
<Kirran>	I don't feel like we've traveled far enough, but you also never know where these grottos pop out at.
<Hal>	The last thing we want to alert the monsters above to our presence. They will follow.
<Kirran>	What I find odd is that we've seen no Gossip Stones. They're usually all over the place down here.
<Hal>	Maybe if we engage these ones here we won't have an army following us down.
<Kirran>	Also sometimes cows.
<Kirran>	>_>
<Hal>	... I have no words.
<DM>	*You hear a moo echo from the north path.
<Hal>	Hm... maybe Lon-Lon Ranch is down the north end.
<DM>	[Raine]: Master, master, hark, do you hear it? That's the sound of burgers, ready to be made...
*	Kirran shrugs.
<DM>	(So north it is?)
*	Hal carefully treads north, looking for a better view on the Purple souls.
*	Kirran decides to carefully pop out of the exit, take a look, and pop back into the grotto.
<DM>	*You slow your pace, padding your footsteps with the damp dirt. Not quite wet enough to be mud, but enough to keep your footsteps quiet.
<Hal>	(quick brb_
<DM>	*Kirran, meanwhile, you enter the light, and YOUR EYES, IT BUUUUURNS- err
<DM>	*You appear topside, and while there are no enemies in the immediate area, it appears to be completely dark around you, as if it were a moonless night.
<DM>	*Looking around, you see Lon Lon Ranch, and you've definitely gotten closer...
<Hal>	(back)
<DM>	*Suddenly, there's a bright swirl of red and purple energy, swirling about from the black cloud over Lon Lon Ranch. Something's descending from it, but from your angle, the cliffside blocks it a bit. Though, something's familiar about whatever just appeared...
<Kirran>	o_O
<DM>	*Do you stick around, or are you calling it quits and jumping back down?
*	Kirran jumps back in the hole.
<DM>	*You decide not to tempt fate, and catch back up with Hal.
*	Kirran tells Hal about what he saw
<DM>	*From the description, you're pretty sure the Mask Man's doing his work, but you're not sure what exactly he's spawning in, at least not from that vague description.
*	Hal uttered to Kirran. "Understood. That must be the darned Mask Salesman doing whatever"
<DM>	*As you chat it out, you wander further up the tunnel, and there's another grotto room. From behind a fallen shelf, you peek over it to see a pair of Poes, hovering around the area.
<Hal>	(knew it)
<DM>	*You're in what appears to be some sort of... shop? There's fallen shelves all around, shattered glass, and a few in-tact bottles, each containing... souls.
<Hal>	(Since they are aligned with Fierce Deity, would it be possible to drag Poes out into a firefight with Masked Man's forces? Just asking for now)
<DM>	*Looking at the Poes, they've got beady little yellow eyes. It doesn't seem like they're anything more than just, well... Poes.
<DM>	*You're not sure of their alignment, actually.
<Hal>	(What are the souls of?)
<DM>	*One of the Poes picks up one of the bottled souls, peering at a bluish green one with a close, glowing eye. He snickers slightly, then pops the cork annnd downs the soul!
<DM>	*The Poe goes inert for a moment, just... floating there. You can see, through your Spirit Vision those, its own soul merging with the bluish green soul, intertwining about, before switching back to a purplish hue, albeit a bit more vibrant than before.
*	Kirran whispers "Whatever we're going to do, we'd better do it quick before they power up too much."
<DM>	[Poe1]: Ahh... that hit the spot!
<DM>	[Poe2]: What'd ya find, anythin' good?
<DM>	[Poe1]: Ehh, nothin' real big, just a nice, calm, normal life. Some Zora, I think? I dunno.
<DM>	[Poe2]: Any violence in there?
<DM>	[Poe1]: Come on man, it's Ghost Hunter's old war shop, you really think there'd be any bloodstained souls here? They all got gobbled up by the Lizalfos during the war, dude.
<DM>	[Poe2]: Aww, but I really wanna taste some bloood!
*	Kirran hatches an absolutely terrible plan.
<DM>	(uh oh)
<Kirran>	First of all though, how big is the room?
*	Hal looks around for spots where he can clawshot in the room past the poes.
<DM>	*The room's maybe... 20 by 20 ft.? It's not big, but it's sizeable enough to get around. There's also multiple fallen shelves, which you can easily hop behind.
<DM>	*There's also a passageway to the west, beyond the room. You could sneak by, but... there could be some interesting insights here.
<Hal>	(I am pretty sure the poes are a significant threat here even if you shadow hop)
<DM>	*Also, looking around with your Spirit Vision, you can see... there actually are some potentially blood-stained souls, hidden under some of the fallen shelves. Swirls of red and orange, and even strands of black, taint these souls.
<DM>	*Poe2 takes out a Soul Lantern. He's trying to light an ethereal flame, but he's getting a bit edge from blood-stained soul withdrawal, and is having a bit of trouble.
<DM>	[Poe1]: Hey, what are you doing? You can't light one of those in here!
<DM>	[Poe2]: Why not? If I do, I can see all the souls here, instead of relying on my stupid normal vision.
<DM>	[Poe1]: Yeah, but... come on, man, there's some good ol' tranquil souls in here. I don't want them flying off into the sky and put to waste.
<Hal>	(Waiting on Kirran's... plan)
<DM>	[Poe2]: Well, start gobblin' them up! Ugh.. can't light this darn thing. Too damp in here!
<DM>	[Raine]: Uhh.. Kirran? I think uhh... if he lights that lantern, they'll see us.
*	Kirran casts illusion of creation to make a poe in an area where he can also hang his poe lantern to heighten the effect.
<DM>	*Poe2 looks up to find Poe3, who's just... hangin' there. Sup.
<Kirran>	Hey there. You guys find anything good?
<DM>	[Poe2]: Oh hey, dude, didn't see you there! Where'd you come from?
<DM>	(Are you mimicking the Poe's voice?)
<Kirran>	(A poe's voice, more or less)
<Kirran>	Back that way. Nothing back there really though.
<DM>	*You've been on enough shenanigans with Darte to know how to imitate a slightly squeamish, giddy and devilish voice- I mean uhh...
*	Hal readies a clawshot in one hand and his Warlock Blade in his other... Keeping Quick Switch at the ready.
<DM>	*Roll Wisdom vs.... hmm, Poes got decent Wisdom.
<DM>	$40d10 Poe2
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 40 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 4, 7, 4, 10, 9, 10, 1, 6, 2, 1, 7, 1, 1, 6, 5, 10, 4, 8, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 7, 2, 7, 3, 10, 3, 10, 3, 7, 6, 7, 6, 4, 7, 7, 10 and 8. Total: 242. Successes: 34.
<Kirran>	(Also hanging with Shady a lot)
<DM>	(Indeed!)
<Kirran>	(Hmm, I can't beat that roll at all)
<DM>	(Got any rerolls?)
<DM>	[Raine]: Hang on, I can help you out.
<DM>	*Raine sneaks on into your Poe Illusion, giving it a bit of movement.
<DM>	*Roll Wisdom... with +10 Dice!
<Kirran>	$37d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 37 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 8, 6, 8, 9, 2, 2, 8, 6, 10, 3, 2, 7, 1, 2, 3, 2, 8, 6, 2, 1, 5, 5, 7, 1, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 4, 5, 7, 10, 3, 6, 1 and 5. Total: 181. Successes: 24.
*	Hal rerolls Poe2's roll
<DM>	$40d10 Poe2
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 40 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 3, 6, 4, 5, 7, 10, 6, 8, 3, 7, 6, 8, 8, 7, 3, 2, 3, 4, 2, 6, 8, 9, 5, 1, 4, 2, 10, 6, 7, 10, 10, 10, 5, 3, 5, 2, 2, 10, 9 and 5. Total: 231. Successes: 32.
<DM>	*Poe2 squints at the now-possessed Raine-Poe.
<Kirran>	(Don't suppose the added lamp counts for more convincing?)
<DM>	*Add another 5 Dice.
<Kirran>	$5d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 5 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 6, 5, 3, 4 and 1. Total: 19. Successes: 2.
<DM>	*Whelp, so much for all 10s.
<Kirran>	(Can't win them all...)
<DM>	[Poe2]: Hmm... I don't think I like the way you're lookin' at me.
*	Hal whispered to Kirran. "Plan B then"
<DM>	*While the Poes aren't particularly sold on your Poe performance, they are focused on the illusion.
<DM>	[Poe2]: What way did you come from?
<DM>	[Poe1]: Okay, NOW light that lantern, I wanna see what souls our new friend ate.
<DM>	[Poe2]: I agree!
<Hal>	(What would I get on a Sneak Up vs them?)
<Hal>	(Or Stealth Strike or whatever)
<DM>	(Uhhh, a good +10 dice. Though... yeah, they got some decent Wisdom.)
<DM>	*Poe2 finally lights the lantern.
*	Kirran sneaks up and punches one of the poes.
<DM>	(actual Sneak Up or just straight to punching?)
<DM>	*An ethereal, almost seethrough flame lights up the area, applying a greenish hue on the other whole area. Before the Poe can inspect your illusion's soul though...
*	Hal augments his robe and goes for a Stealth Strike on Poe1 with his shield out before the lantern is lit.
<Hal>	Stealth Strike
<Hal>	    RESTRICTIONS: Target cannot know you are there. Otherwise, this will automatically result in IF FAIL.
<Hal>	    DESCRIPTION: Try to sneak up on a target in an attempt to cause a pre-emptive strike!
<Hal>	        EFFECT: Bonus Attack Dice & Defense Dice are disabled for both the attacker and defender in this attack.
<Hal>	        Roll your Wisdom dice vs. targets' Wisdom dice
<Hal>	            Damage: None
<Hal>	            IF SUCCESS: You're able to immediately follow-up with any attack or action on the target.
<Hal>	                If it's an attack, it gains Dice equal to the difference in successes from the Sneak-Up. It will also initiate official combat (everyone rolls initiatives).
<Hal>	            IF FAIL: Target becomes aware of you and automatically gets the chance to use Escape or initiate official combat (everyone rolls initiatives).
<Hal>	$48d10
<Navi>	Hal: You rolled 48 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 5, 5, 4, 8, 7, 9, 6, 6, 4, 6, 9, 6, 5, 4, 2, 5, 3, 2, 10, 5, 7, 1, 7, 6, 10, 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 4, 9, 10, 8, 7, 7, 7, 2, 2, 10, 7, 10, 6, 2, 3, 8, 6 and 6. Total: 272. Successes: 37.
<Kirran>	(Eh, straight to punch I guess.)
<Kirran>	(I'm not beating that wisdom score, even with courage)
<DM>	(Alrighty, roll the punch, only +5 on the Dice)
<DM>	$40d10 Poe1
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 40 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 9, 6, 1, 5, 6, 8, 1, 5, 9, 3, 8, 2, 8, 2, 10, 7, 9, 6, 3, 5, 7, 5, 5, 4, 4, 10, 5, 7, 7, 1, 2, 6, 6, 3, 1, 2, 10, 1, 6 and 8. Total: 213. Successes: 29.
<Hal>	(Which Poe Kirran?)
*	Hal gains 8 Dice...
<DM>	*Hal, you're successful!
<Kirran>	(Poe 2?)
*	Hal then goes for a Warlock Blade STAB on Poe1!
<DM>	(Double dippin', I see.)
<Hal>	Stab:
<Hal>	    Roll your Power +20 dice vs. targets' Courage dice
<Hal>	        Damage: None
<Hal>	        EFFECT: If it hits, steal Hearts (stat) equal to the difference in successes.
<Hal>	            If this results in the target dying, recover to Full Hearts.
<Hal>	        IF FAIL: Target can Counterattack you, regardless of CONDITIONS.
<Hal>	$48d10
<Navi>	Hal: You rolled 48 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 4, 4, 10, 1, 5, 9, 8, 4, 5, 10, 9, 2, 4, 3, 5, 8, 3, 10, 4, 10, 10, 6, 5, 6, 9, 6, 7, 8, 7, 3, 6, 10, 6, 6, 10, 1, 5, 7, 5, 9, 7, 3, 10, 1, 6, 5, 9 and 8. Total: 299. Successes: 43.
<Kirran>	(+5 on the attack, or +5 on the roll overall?)
<DM>	*Seeing as Poe1 doesn't quite have his Soul Lantern up and lit.... oh yeah, that suckah's ded.
<DM>	(+5 Dice, not Successes)
<Kirran>	$45d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 45 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 4, 3, 8, 4, 8, 3, 10, 6, 8, 6, 4, 4, 9, 10, 3, 4, 5, 3, 5, 9, 10, 9, 8, 7, 1, 8, 8, 7, 2, 6, 4, 6, 8, 2, 9, 6, 4, 8, 2, 1, 4, 5, 5, 2 and 5. Total: 253. Successes: 30.
<DM>	$20d10 Poe1
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 20 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 8, 6, 10, 1, 1, 9, 10, 9, 6, 7, 10, 4, 4, 6, 5, 10, 10, 10, 7 and 1. Total: 134. Successes: 21.
<DM>	*Huh, Poe1 actually got a good roll. Doesn't matter though.
*	Kirran throws a reroll at the ridiculously lucky roll
<Hal>	(How many Hearts did it have?)
*	DM rebounds your reroll for it would be wasted.
<Kirran>	(Wait, nevermind.
<Kirran>	(Thought that was my attack)
<DM>	*With a sage's power, your Warlock Blade strikes Poe1 perfectly from behind, impaling it onto your blade. You feel a slight weight added, but it's hardly anything from such a lightweight.
<DM>	*Before it can make a sound, its entire being just dissolves, causing that soul he ate earlier to pass into you.
<DM>	*Meanwhile, on One Punch Man...
<DM>	$5d10 Poe2
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 5 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 9, 3, 4, 7 and 4. Total: 27. Successes: 2.
<DM>	*Poe2, with the lantern lit, uses it to override the defending roll!
<DM>	$40d10 Poe2
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 40 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 5, 10, 9, 10, 2, 3, 7, 8, 2, 7, 8, 10, 7, 6, 6, 3, 6, 9, 7, 1, 4, 6, 10, 4, 3, 1, 2, 5, 5, 8, 8, 9, 8, 6, 8, 10, 9, 5, 7 and 10. Total: 254. Successes: 36.
*	Hal hucks a reroll on Poe2 again
<DM>	$40d10 Poe2
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 40 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 1, 4, 10, 8, 10, 5, 10, 6, 4, 6, 6, 7, 2, 6, 10, 4, 7, 2, 9, 1, 10, 6, 9, 7, 2, 7, 6, 10, 1, 3, 10, 2, 6, 9, 9, 6, 3, 9, 2 and 6. Total: 241. Successes: 34.
<Hal>	(...really Navi?)
*	Kirran also throws a reroll.
<DM>	$40d10 Poe2
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 40 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 5, 8, 3, 6, 3, 3, 10, 9, 4, 8, 9, 3, 4, 8, 9, 6, 5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 4, 7, 3, 3, 6, 9, 5, 4, 10, 1, 8, 7, 4, 4, 10, 6, 4, 9 and 10. Total: 240. Successes: 30.
<DM>	ROLLOFF
<Kirran>	$45d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 45 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 2, 8, 2, 6, 5, 1, 1, 10, 5, 6, 5, 2, 10, 2, 5, 2, 7, 3, 7, 1, 3, 8, 9, 9, 1, 3, 9, 7, 6, 7, 6, 8, 4, 8, 3, 9, 8, 4, 9, 3, 9, 3, 4, 9 and 5. Total: 244. Successes: 29.
<DM>	$40d10 Poe2
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 40 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 8, 10, 2, 1, 7, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 5, 3, 10, 2, 9, 7, 8, 6, 1, 5, 9, 10, 2, 2, 8, 5, 1, 1, 9, 9, 5, 7, 9, 6, 7, 5, 8, 10, 9 and 8. Total: 226. Successes: 30.
*	Kirran facepalms
<DM>	*Oof. Just barely.
<Kirran>	(Hang on, I didn't actually add the +5)
<Kirran>	$5d10
<DM>	*You try to punch Poe2, but at just the last instant, a barrier forms around the Poe. The barrier shatters, but Poe2 comes out unharmed- oh-hoh?
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 5 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 1, 4, 10, 1 and 6. Total: 22. Successes: 3.
<DM>	*Poe2 turns around to see Kirran and Hal. He's about to retaliate, when suddenly, the 3 Successes kicks in and knocks him into the wall behind him.
<DM>	[Poe2]: Ouch! That hurt, jerks!
<DM>	Poe2: 18h, 20m
<Hal>	(How many Hearts did I absorb from Poe1?)
<DM>	(Oh right, that's a heart gain, isn't it)
<DM>	(22 Hearts)
<Hal>	43h 17m
<DM>	*With the greenish light now in effect, some of the souls in the area, particularly the visible ones, start to pass through their bottles and gradually hover towards Poe2's Soul Lantern.
<DM>	[Poe2]: I dunno what you two are up to, but with these souls in effect, I'm about to gain more power than you can even imagine! Buddy, let's-
<Hal>	(is he about to attack?)
<DM>	*Poe2 looks to the side where Poe1 can be, and only sees Hal's Warlock Blade instead, feasting on Poe1's soul.
<DM>	[Poe2]: ... Buddy?
*	Sephiroth pokes the Poe2 and dissolves back into the fourth wall.
<DM>	*The usual joyous expression you see on Poes and its devious thoughts fade away. Poe2's eyes glow brighter, and you feel a weight to the air.
<DM>	[Poe2]: You killed him.... you killed HIM...
<DM>	*Round 1 over!
<Hal>	43h 19m | +22 Hearts (Stat)
<DM>	*The souls have not quite absorbed into the lantern. Looks like you got a bit of time before they do.
<DM>	*Poe2 looks over at Kirran, the one who punched him. He whirls around his lantern, and charges at him!
<Hal>	(Is there any way I can set up a spirit barrier to delay the souls from entering the lantern?)
<DM>	(Sure, go ahead)
<DM>	*Roll Courage to defend!
<Kirran>	$1d3
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 1 Die with 3 Sides. Result: 3.
<Kirran>	Nope.
*	Kirran dodges the Poe.
<DM>	(improvisin' here, I haz no Poe profiles. I has no... Poefiles. Eh heh heh heh)
<Hal>	(what would be good at creating a spiritual barrier?)
<DM>	(don't you have a scepter that can create a wide barrier?0
<DM>	*Poe2 whisks right at.. and... through you Kirran.
<Hal>	(That I do, but I also need to enlighten it first)
<DM>	*Poe2 ends up on the other side of the room, where... two of the souls already are.
*	Hal casts an Abyss Barrier between Poe2 and the Souls and then casts Enlighten on the barrier
<DM>	*One's a pure green, the other's a gaseous blue with some yellow in there, along with hints bloodied orange. They're about to absorb into the lantern, when your Abyss Barrier blocks out the ethereal light spawned from the lantern.
<Hal>	Those souls are not your property.
<Hal>	43h 5m | +22 Hearts (Stat)
<DM>	*Followed up by it, your Enlighten turns a bright, sunlike light inwards towards the Poe, causing it to fall to the ground. The lantern has been hushed out, and now Poe2 is defenseless and shaking on the ground.
*	Kirran fires off a metal tipped arrow at the poe
<DM>	*He turns towards the two of you, no longer floating.
<DM>	[Poe2]: W-w-w-wait, don't kill me! I can get you to Lon Lon Ranch!
*	Kirran holds
<Kirran>	And how would you know that's where we're going?
<DM>	*He's got a bit of a terrified expression as he tries to respond.
<DM>	[Poe2]: Umm, uhh... well... you guys are uhh... adventurers right? Off to kill the big ol' Mask Man, and stop him at the heart of the conflict, yeah?
<DM>	[Poe2]: You've got some uhh... pretty powerful gear.
<DM>	*He seems to be admiring your Golden Gauntlets and that shiny Warlock Blade.
<DM>	[Poe2]: Y'know... you could sell those for more than a pretty penny. We Poes are lookin' to fetch a good business off this new war and all...
<Kirran>	So you're an opportunist? A war profiteer...
<DM>	[Poe2]: Well, what can I say? We Poes are survivors. Stuck around even after our ol' masters were vanquished.
*	Hal holds back his sword arm.
<Kirran>	I am well aware. Met more than one of you, although some have been nicer than others.
<DM>	*Hal, that soul you absorbed earlier is finally kicking in. You're seeing memories of a... Hylian child. He lived a fair life outside the walls of Hyrule City, in a village you don't quite recognize. He was raised well, and was primed to become a potential knight. But before he could train for it, his life was cut short by a Gerudo attack. At the end of his life, you could see others duking it out: Hylian Knights, Goron Warriors,
<DM>	Moblins... It was the Hyrulean Civil War.
<DM>	[Poe2]: Well, now that we're on friendlier terms... how bout let me float on back up and I lead you to the Mask Man directly?
<DM>	[Poe2]: We Poes know the ways of these grottos. The straight path is often misleading, y'know. Gotta weave in and out a bit to get where yer goin'.
<Kirran>	Why would I believe you'd go anywhere near where the fighting is, much less someone you intrinsically loathe as much as him?
<DM>	*You see a slight smile creeping on his face. You're not sure if that's just how Poes are, or if he's hiding something...
<DM>	*Poe2 raises a quizzical glowing eye.
<Hal>	(If only we could do a sense motive check)
<DM>	[Poe2]: Huh? Loathe? What're you talkin' 'bout?
<DM>	*Hal, the Soul Lantern on the ground, you recall the Poes were saying it could be used to check someone's soul.
<DM>	[Poe2]: We've got good business deals with the Mask Man. Why would we hate him?
*	Kirran tosses my lantern to Hal.
<Kirran>	What kind of deal?
*	Hal takes the Poe Lantern and uses it to check his soul
<DM>	*You light it up, and bringing it closer to the Poe, you can see him shivering a bit. He's... telling the truth, but he's definitely hiding something.
<DM>	*Poe2 very slowly rolls away from your lantern flame.
*	Hal snuffs the flame out.
*	Kirran picks up the other lantern, just in case.
<DM>	*Kirran, you notice the other lantern is a bit heavier. It also seems to connect to your soul, just by touching it, even though the flame is out.
<DM>	*We'll refer to this as Soul Lantern v2
<DM>	[Poe2]: Well, you know, we collect some Souls from previous conflicts and this new one, and sell him some of the good stuff. That with all that Chateau Romani he's drinkin', oh man... he's packin' some serious power!
<DM>	[Poe2]: Meanwhile, we get a cut of some of the souls from the corpses the Stalchildren haul back.
<DM>	[Poe2]: See? Good deal!
<Kirran>	Up until he eats your soul once you've powered up enough.
<DM>	[Poe2]: Whaaa? Nah, he wouldn't do that. That tactic there, that's an Interloper tactic. Screw our old masters, Mask Man's the best!
<DM>	*His eyes squint slightly.
<Kirran>	I've already seen him do it before.
<DM>	[Poe2]: Err... whoops. Guess I shouldn't have said uhh... that last part.
<DM>	*He puts a hand over his mouth.
<Hal>	So if that's the case, then why are you going to lead us to the Masked Man?
<DM>	[Poe2]: Well... I can't quite see your souls...
<DM>	*He gets a devious grin.
<DM>	[Poe2]: But you two must have some real good lookin' stuff. And that fairy behind you... I sense the Mask Man would really enjoy some of that.
<DM>	[Raine]: You could not have worded that creepier, soon-to-be-devoured one.
<Kirran>	Did you know Dark Link?
<Hal>	Surely if you think we are here to destroy your master, you wouldn't be leading us to him.
<DM>	[Poe2]: Hmm... Dark Link.... is that the guy that kept breaking all the pots- OOOOH THE DARK ONE, yeah, the Interloper douchebag!
<Kirran>	Yeah, that's right. The leader. The powerful leader.
<DM>	[Poe2]: A little bit. He was kinda, y'know, forceful.
<Kirran>	Do you know what one of the last things he saw was before he died?
<DM>	[Poe2]: Though, last time I met him, he seemed more lax. Dunno what that was all about.
<DM>	[Poe2]: No, I don- wait what?!
*	Kirran makes a fist.
<Kirran>	This.
<DM>	*Poe2 stares at your Golden Gauntleted fist.
<DM>	[Poe2]: Uhh... a fist?
<DM>	*His Wisdom stat kicks in, and suddenly, he starts trembling and tumbling backwards a bit.
<Kirran>	So I think you'd better be telling the truth, before you get to experience the same thing.
<DM>	[Poe2]: H-h-hey now, there's no need for such violence. Uhh...... what truth do you wanna know?
*	Hal keeps his Warlock blade drawn.
<Hal>	What do you really want to do with us once you lead us to the Masked Man.
<Kirran>	What is the Mask Man really up to and what do you really get out of all this, other than to be a snack in the end?
<DM>	[Poe2]: Uhh.. umm.. well... uhh...
<Hal>	Or, more accurately, do you plan on leading us into an ambush or a bad position?
*	Kirran puts up five fingers and slowly lowers them one at a time.
<DM>	*You both see his soul flickering. Wildly now, as Kirran starts the countdown to doom.
<DM>	[Poe2]: A-a-alrighty, I- I'll tell you, stop counting, stop counting!
*	Kirran pauses at about three
<DM>	[Poe2]: The truth is... it's...
<Hal>	(cue loading screen)
<DM>	[Poe2]: I'M OUT, SUCKERS-
<DM>	*SHUNK!
<DM>	*Before Poe2 is able to move, something's materialized into his chest.
<Kirran>	o_o
<DM>	*Looking down at it, it seemed to be an embroidered lance, with the crest of the Royal Family on it.
<DM>	[Poe2]: Where'd... that... come from...
<Hal>	(Gurloz)
<Kirran>	Rokan?
<DM>	*Poe2 dissolves into nothingness.
<Hal>	Gurloz?
<DM>	*A gruff voice from behind cuts in. It's not from Gurloz either...
<DM>	[Gustaf]: That old thing's not telling you.
*	Kirran turns, somewhat annoyed.
<DM>	*From that passageway, you can see the man you were sent to stop: Lord Gustaf, formerly of the Hylian Knights of Light and of the Royal Family. He holds his hand out, and the lance is recalled to him.
<Kirran>	Knowing something would have been a damn sight better than knowing nothing.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Look around, doofus. He was stalling for time.
<Hal>	The Poe told us he was going to lead us to the masked man, but he was planning on leading us into an ambush.
*	Kirran realizes that he's addressing royal blood and lets his anger go.
<DM>	*A quick glance around with your Spirit Vision, and... from further down either tunnel, you see more purplish souls, gradually floating your way.
<Kirran>	Forgive me, Lord Gustaf.
*	Kirran makes a quick bow.
<Hal>	Forgive too. Lord Gustaf.
*	Hal follows up with a quick bow
<DM>	*Focusing on Gustaf, he's an older fella, well into his 50s and starting to grey. He holds a tight muscular grip on the lance, and from beneath gaps in his armor, you can see countless scars.
<Hal>	Looks like we are going to have company. We might want to find a way out of this place before the poes overwhelm us.
<DM>	*Speaking of the armor, it... looks a bit... shiny. Like, it's normal plating, but one look with your Spirit Vision sets off all kinds of warning sensors. You notice you can't actually see his soul from under that armor.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: No. We're going to stand and fight.
<Hal>	(Yuuup. He's got that Crystaline Armor)
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Kirran, and Hal, I presume? You guys got some pretty good stories 'round the land about you.
<Kirran>	We've come here looking for you.
<DM>	*He returns a cynical look.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: And with this war, what would you gain from looking specifically for me? You should be helping the civilians to their eventual doom, like Zelda and the rest of her goody two-shoe Sages.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Or... are you here to help me take down the Mask Man?
<Kirran>	It was she that sent us to you Lord Gustaf.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Really now...
<DM>	*He raises the lance a bit defensively in your direction.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: And you're just going to blindly follow her like the Sheikah dog you are...
<Kirran>	She's foreseen your fate if you stay this course. She dearly wishes you to avoid that fate at all costs.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Hah! My fate? She's not looking at the bigger picture!
*	Sephiroth face-palms from beyond the fourth wall.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: HYRULE is going to fall. And the only way to stop it is to take the battle to its source. Take down the Mask Man, and you stop the invasion.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Say... you're a nice Sheikah dog. Maybe Hal as well. If I give you a direct order to help me... you'd have to obey, wouldn't you?
<Kirran>	I...
*	Kirran is sorely torn in his obligations.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: You're loyal to the Royal Family, right? Or are you about to prove that... maybe...
<DM>	*You hear a familiar indistinguishable whisper, coming from the direction of Gustaf.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: The Old Sheikah were right, all along?
<Kirran>	Listen, Lord Gustaf, how do you plan to take on the Masked Man yourself when it took an entire army of the Twilight Realm and some of the strongest heroes of this one just to slow him down?
*	Kirran focuses his senses on the whisper.
<Hal>	We are loyal to the royal family... but you do not seem to be yourself. Why would you speak so highly of the Old Shiekah when they plotted to overthrow the throne.
<DM>	*You focus on the whisper, like something told him about the Old Sheikah, whispered right into his ear. You eyes end up focusing on the shiny armor, where you can see a reflection of yourself, but one that's a bit... power hungry.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Did they now? I didn't...
<DM>	*There's another whisper.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Ahh... My apologies. I wasn't aware.
<DM>	*You've definitely heard that voice before. Not from an Interloper....
<DM>	*Back in the Twilight Realm, when you were messing with one of the Twilight Mirror shards.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Well, I admit, maybe my plan was a bit foolworthy. But maybe, with such powerful fellows as yourselves by myself...
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Alright. I'll trust you. But will you trust me?
<Hal>	You seem to be under the control of something else.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Control? Nonsense. I've just got a little aid, telling me about things the Mask Man fears, what he's weak to. He's quite... helpful.
<Kirran>	HIM...
<DM>	[Gustaf]: HIM? Oh? Do you know this fellow?
<DM>	*There's another whisper.
<Hal>	What you are under the control of is the Fierce Deity. Something much worse than the Masked Man.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: So you know him, eh...
<Hal>	Even if you destroy the Masked Man, the war will not end. Instead, he will command you to turn against Hyrule.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Ah... I guess you're not the best of friends. Well, it's not like there's anything to worry about. All of his minions have been wiped out. And yet he's generously offering his power to me, full knowing that... even if he does take control of me, surely it'd be after the Mask Man's demise, and there'd be plenty of you to take me out.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: You killed him, right? Dark Link, and all of the Interlopers.
<DM>	*He holds out his other hand.
<Hal>	Never underestimate what he is capable of doing. He is more than capable of swinging back into full force from nothing.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Come now. Join me. Together, we can fight the Mask Man, take him down, and end this war before it ends us all!
<Kirran>	Lord Gustaf, even if you were able to kill the Mask Man, there wouldn't be enough of us in all of Hyrule to take you down.
<Kirran>	The deities exist in balance, and were that balance to tip to either side, the result is the same.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: What, you're afraid of one man?
<Kirran>	This is what Zelda foresaw. Hyrule destroyed, not by madness and darkness, but by overwhelming power, might, and light.
<DM>	*He pulls his hand back.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Well then... if you're afraid you can't stop me...
<Hal>	And dark fairies
<Kirran>	I'm not afraid I can't stop you, I know that I cannot. Not with the unleashed power of the Fierce Diety behind you.
<DM>	*He taps the armor with his lance. Suddenly, the illusion fades, and revealed beneath it is the Crystalline Armor, the one that's supposed to be under Gurloz's safekeeping, but it seems while he snuck out to help you at the Shadow Temple, a certain Gustaf snuck in and grabbed it.
<DM>	*Hanging around his neck is a necklace, holding the Medallion of Light. You can see an energy from it, wrapping around him, though it is... slowly fading.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Then I guess you won't help me. A pity... with the three of us combined, we could surely take him down. But I guess I'll just have to do it alone, as you suggest...
<Kirran>	Zelda fears for your life, and were you to fall here, and especially in such a way, I do not think she'd have the strength to carry us forward.
<Kirran>	Without you, and without her, Hyrule truly will have lost all it's light.
<DM>	*Gustaf tightens the grip on his spear. You see him shake, just for an instant, and you hear him whisper back...
<Hal>	(And I am betting that the armor is soulbound to him)
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Calm down. He hasn't taken control of you yet...
<DM>	*The light gains its energy back around the Crystalline Armor, restricting Fierce Deity's influence on him.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: You're.. you're right. I.... I'm sorry, I just thought... after the last wars I've endured, I... This war could end before it's taken its toll.
<DM>	*His defensive stance drops, and he eases up.
<Kirran>	I think it may be too late for that. We fought a fierce battle at Kakariko, and drove them off, but we need you to help us make a stand and drive them back before we spearhead forward.
<Kirran>	Your strength and presence would inspire so many more there than your absence and martyrdom ever could.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Kakariko, eh? They must be trying to trying to gain a foothold to Death Mountain...
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Alright then. We'll do things your way.
<DM>	*He holds out his hand.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Deal?
*	Kirran bows deeply.
<Kirran>	Deal.
*	Hal bows with Kirran
<Hal>	Its a deal.
<Kirran>	Getting back is going to be hellish though. I doubt we can use the grotto we used to get in here.
<DM>	*He keeps his hand held out a bit longer, but after a few seconds of your bows, he breathes a sigh of relief, then joins your side.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: What kinda force are we talkin'?
<Kirran>	A lot of bones and a bunch of tanks.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Hmph. Child's play.
<Kirran>	He's pulled out all the stops on the large monsters.
<Kirran>	I think if we can narrow their charge on the cliff faces around Death Mountain, we can actually whittle away quite a lot of their support.
<Kirran>	The fliers are going to be the worst.
<DM>	*He spins the lance around. You notice the gems in it give off a particular shine, one befitting a former Knight of Light and of Royal Lineage.
<Kirran>	They've got Petra and Argaroks.
<DM>	(Patra)
<Kirran>	Patra, sorry. Been a while since I've seen one.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Well then, what are we waiting for?
<Hal>	Let's CHARGE!
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Lead the way, Sir Kirran and Hal Hunter!
*	Kirran looks around at the souls in the room.
<Kirran>	Is there any way to seal this place off.
<Kirran>	?
<DM>	*With some arguments, you've managed to sway Gustaf and his strength back to your side. Before you leave though, Kirran, you feel something from the new Soul Lantern v2 you picked up.
<Hal>	(cue loading screen)
<DM>	*Would you like to light the flame?
*	Kirran shrugs and gives it a try.
<DM>	*You light the flame, and the green hue returns. All of the souls in the room slowly leave their bottles and gradually gravitate towards the flame.
<DM>	*Gustaf puts a hand on your shoulder.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Go ahead. Let it.
<DM>	*Do you trust Gustaf's words and let the souls reach the flame?
*	Hal picks up the Poe's Lantern v2 Poe2 dropped
<DM>	*Hal, would you like to contribute to the Poe Lantern shenanigans?
<Kirran>	(The only other option being to leave them there, might as well...)
<DM>	*You decide to trust Gustaf's words, and let the souls conglomerate into the lantern. A glass cage suddenly entraps them.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: You'll have to...
<DM>	*There's a pause.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: You need to bring the lantern to the night, under a decent moon. There, you can let the souls out.
<DM>	[Gustaf]: Well then, let's get a move on now, shall we?
<Kirran>	Sure thing.
*	Hal looks at the other Poe Lantern. If I find any more souls to salvage, I will use this lantern
<DM>	*He pulls his hand off you. With some souls ready to save, and a Death Mountain about to attacked, the three of you head off into the darkness...
<Hal>	(NOW cue Loading Screen)
<DM>	*You expect to find a loading screen there, but instead, there's just darkness. Endless darkness...
<DM>	*And then, you see him...
<DM>	*Out of the corner of your eye, you spot him.
<DM>	*THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEA-
<DM>	-=LOADING=-
<DM>	-=LOADING=-
<DM>	-=SESSION END=-