Do you wish to do anything else during the day, and are you planning to eat hot dogs or something else for your meals?
Given the general destruction here, how do you plan to locate a functioning Goth club?
--M. J. Young
Did Some Get the Number of that Lizard?
(219 posts) (4 voices)-
Sun Nov 25 2007 11:19 pm #
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Edward
MemberWell, surely this can't be the entire city. We need to move to a more intact part of town. And somehow, I have a feeling the clubs are going to be fairly busy, if any are intact. After all, a lot of people will probably be pretty happy to be alive. Even those who dress all in black.
Besides, all this devestation, but nobody is dead? It's a miracle! (insert choir music here)
I smile at that thought as I move towards a slightly less devestated part of the city. I don't have time to eat, I've got to get a move on.
Mon Nov 26 2007 2:47 am # -
Tadeusz
MemberI stride alongside him.
How to break this to him....in the end, I decide to let reality do its job for me. We walk....
And he might be right about the clubbers. One commonplace in near-death experiences is the desire to share with others. Going against that everyone is sick. And some people in some cultures....it really boils down to What Will These People Do? I know some cultures that certainly would party, and I know others that certainly would not.
If we pass some sort of rock shop, or crystal shoppe, I want to stop and buy any crystals with beneficial vibrations for psionic device creation. Which is not something I do that much, and so I might have to be doing some winging it. Happily, I have read some notes on the subject.
The power levels I am eventually considering could be real scary. But, start small, and make double sure before doing anything is going to be my motto.
Eric
Mon Nov 26 2007 4:30 am # -
Edward
MemberI'll second any motions to purchase crystals, with the advice to use his power as little as possible, or at least keep the effects small and low-key.
"No insult intended, but I'd rather not repeat today. I like being alive."
In fact...(ding! light bulb over head), any shop that sell crystals and such would be a fantastic place to begin the search. Many New Agers who visit those places are tree huggers, Goths, or both, exactly the crowd I'm seeking right now.
"You are a genius." I tell Tadeusz.
Tue Nov 27 2007 4:05 am # -
You move through the city together; the area of devastation seems massive.
You pass a window, and to your surprise there is a television operating. This is apparently an electronics shop, and they've got a sign next to this four thousand dollar wide screen television that says Virtually Indestructible!.
Apparently one of the Columbus stations is on the air, and carrying a feed from a national news organization.
The report is grim. All reports indicate that the devastation is worldwide, that some sort of total planetary quake has destroyed housing and infrastructure everywhere. There is concern for the populations of such inhospitable places as McMurdo, where the damage to facilities is likely to prove fatal. Remarkably, although billions have been brought to critical condition, as if by miracle very few have died; many report having had out-of-body experiences in which they were visited by a powerful warrior angel that commanded death to release them--and descriptions of the angel are remarkably similar (a composite drawing looks quite a bit like Eric).
Medical teams are taxed to their limits; doctors and nurses were not immune to the disaster, and the few who are not themselves critical care patients are in serious condition at best.
There are also shortages of food and medical supplies, and in some places water supplies have been disrupted by breaks in lines or damage to filtering systems.
In the midst of this, there is an ad for a goth club downtown, announcing that it is open and hoping to see many of the regulars to celebrate the disaster. It is hoped that The Godzillas, who started there, will come back from their road trip to play in honor of the death of their namesake.
A bum on the street who apparently survived the blast comes up beside you while you are watching. "Networks," he scoffs. "Never could trust 'em. Wait 'til PBS is back on--then we'll get the truth of the matter, instead of this alarmist tabloid television."
Most of the crystals in the shops around here are shattered from the explosive force. It may be that precious stones such as diamonds and other hard carbon tetrahedrons have survived, but these have been either looted or stashed by this time.
--M. J. Young
Tue Nov 27 2007 4:14 am # -
Tadeusz
Member"Well yes." I allow. Its true, after all. I've had four centuries to improve my thinking skills. I now register as a genius on most such tests.
"You personally might like your next world better than this trashed place. I feel a sense of responsibility to it. You, on the other hand, didn't really have a hand in messing it up."
Eric
Tue Nov 27 2007 4:15 am # -
Edward
Member"Bah." I'm not thinking on crass fury now. "I stood by when I should have acted. I'm partly to blame, and thus I'll help clean it up. Besides, it's not like I've got anything better to do."
I look at Tadeusz and at the TV picture of the angel. "Uncanny resemblence. You may have to beat the crowds back with a stick."
Normally, my reply would be something akin to 'somebody else's problem.' But let's face it: none of this can be really real. Besides, I just killed Godzilla, and I'm feeling larger-than-life.
"So the Goths are celebrating the end of the world, and PBS is considered a reliable news source." I'm thinking aloud right now. "This is going to be an interesting ride, huh?"
I pause as one of his statements registers with me. "What do you mean by 'I'll like my next world better?'"
I just got one of my patented bad feelings. I remind myself this is NOT Eric, regardless of appearance, and his actions are therefore not as predictable as I might like. Not that I could outfight a demigod if it came down to it, but I'm willing to fight bravely and die quickly if it comes down to it.
Tue Nov 27 2007 4:20 pm # -
Tadeusz
Member"I said 'you might', not 'you will'. Your next world might see you landed in The Web of Evil Lights, or in a Haunted House with real ghosts. I've heard of two of those. One with a Voodoo priestess, and the other with some maniac poultergeist out for murder. I've heard of another with a Maniac Poultry-Geist, an undead chicken, but I think, I hope, that was a joke.
And there are places that are worse than that. But chances are, it will be better. On the other hand, you might live here for centuries." I shrug.
"I need to test something." I turn to the bum, and smile. "Sir, I'd like to help you. There may be some risk tho'. And..." I pull out a small silver coin. "If it works, with you, I might be able to help a lot of other people. What do you say?"
If he agrees, I'm going to Pray for the Protection and Blessing of the Archangels which will aid the next miracle, and reduce the chance of botch as separate but cumulative effects. I will then pray to make sure I am in the Will of God.
Then, I will take some oil, anoint the man on the forehead (just a dab), anoint my own hands. With one hand on his heart, and the other held high, I will speak in Latin and in English.
"Let the God of all mercy heal you of your injuries."
Time: One minute.
2@1 Paladin healing (one version thereof).
Tue Nov 27 2007 6:00 pm # -
I'm reminding that we have a flatlined mag bias in this world; I do not see a prayer for protection and blessing coming in below M1@6, so unless you can show me a skill that is @1 I'm not going to roll that. I'm having more trouble with the prayer to be in God's will, for which I might manage to stretch M7@2 Detect Truth to cover it, but that won't work either. They are moot in this case, as I'm assuming a 3@5 SAL for the Paladin Healing, and that puts you over the top.
The man immediately straightens up. "Hey," he says. "You're that angel people saw, the one that was on the television! I thank God that He sent someone to help us. And you," he turns to Ed, "are you an angel, too?"
--M. J. Young
Tue Nov 27 2007 11:33 pm # -
"Oh, but you're workin' with the angel, right? That counts for somethin', right? Are you a preacher, maybe?"
"Oh," he turns back toward Eric, "an', thank you, sir, for your kindness to me. I'm feelin' much better for it."
He stands there, as if waiting for one of you to say something else.
--M. J. Young
Fri Nov 30 2007 1:57 am # -
Edward
Member"Well, uh, technically I am a priest, so yes."
I'm using Scripture as my basis, as of this little warp of reality, I hadn't set one foot in a church for over two years. Considered most of them dens of corruption, deceit and political petty gameplaying under a thin veneer of self-righteousness. I'd rather deal with Goths; they don't have as many illusions about their standing with the Almighty.
Fri Nov 30 2007 2:33 am # -
Tadeusz
Member"Edward, and ..." I look at the guy asking him his name with my face. "I'm not an angel, but I am a servant of God who has been given power. I do make mistakes. In fact, that why things are so messed up. But I'm trying to fix things, and I could use your help."
I tell them what I need, which is largely, to find a woodland church, and a pastor at this moment. After that, its the Goth club.
And I hand Ed the plasma cannon.
"I've reviewed some notes, and prayed a bit. I need you at this church we're going to find with our new companion's help more than an hour before dawn with this plasma cannon, and the Uzi. Be ready to fight off demons or black mages. And you'll be cranking up the cannon for a serious bit of firepower. And if things work out, then the planet will be much better off by 24 hrs. after that."
Fri Nov 30 2007 3:23 am # -
Edward
MemberI recall knocking out Godzilla with this weapon. Granted it took a few shots, but that's more than what I saw missile salvos do to him in the movies.
"What kind of a being would require this kind of firepower?" I asked Eric incredulously. "This thing is overkill against anything shy of a tank or massed infantry."
The plasma cannon will be difficult to conceal, but technically, there are no laws which designate a plasma launcher as a weapon. It is not covered by any anti-gun law to my knowledge.
Of course, I'll go with him. I'm kind of curious as to what he has in mind. It can't be worse than...well, nevermind that train of thought, because it can always get worse.
Sat Dec 1 2007 4:24 am # -
"I'm Greg Haus.
"A chapel in the woods, you say? Can't say I know one. But I'd ask Father Casey down at St. James'--it's only a few blocks from here, and Father Casey would know whether the Archdiocese has anything like that. He's been with the Lord's work for a long time, and he'd probably like to meet you, whatever you are."
--M. J. Young
Sat Dec 1 2007 5:29 am # -
Edward
Member"Right. Sounds like as good of a direction as any to go."
Great. I have my prejudices, and I'm not shy when I say most organized faiths are quite corrupt. Still, as long as I approach this Casey fellow as an individual, not a representative of his church, I can deal with it.
Still, he's really Eric's problem, not mine. "You sure you need my help for this one? We could split up. If we can contact these envirogoths before our beloved corporations of global doom can assess their own losses or probable lack thereof, we can maintain the initiative and bring the fight to the real foe on our terms."
Mon Dec 3 2007 2:30 am # -
Tadeusz
Member"I want to try to heal nearly everyone on the planet while making them take an oath of protecting the Earth....it fails, and millions of people will die. I hate to impose on you, but a Planetary Full Heal is ordinarily way beyond what I'd try, and I sure could use some help. For one thing, the only way I know how to gather enough faith is to drag some of the Greater Reality into the Lesser....which is practically an engraved invitation to Minions of Chaos and Darkness. I hope I don't end up breaking some Seals of Creation which would prove....interesting for certain values of the word."
I let him see what I rarely feel, and even less rarely show. Fear.
Mon Dec 3 2007 4:34 am # -
Edward
Member"Ah. In short, you are going to be drawing a lot of attention from beings that like things just the way they are, and on top of that, said beings have the right to tear you into little ribbons for messing with the natural order. And since you are going to be wrapped up in spellcasting, you need my help."
I think a moment. "I'm not sure how I feel about that oath. Not everyone contributing to the planet's destruction feels like they are doing the wrong thing. Personally, if the only way I could feed my family was to slash-and-burn the rainforest or to hack down those pines or to process that waste into the nearest lake, well, it's beautiful, but so is my family. Bye-bye trees and lake."
"Just heal them, oath or not. A second chance at life won't mean much to those who can't make anything of it."
"Besides," I smile at Eric. "I think such an indiscriminate act of mercy would irritate those demons hunting you even more, and I have no problem with that whatsoever."
"I'm ready when you are."
Tue Dec 4 2007 8:52 am # -
I'll assume you head to the church, where you meet a priest in his late fifties, obviously suffering but still working to help others. There are lines of people filling the church, but he immediately notices the two of you. For one thing, you don't appear to be suffering; for another, you're carrying some odd objects one does not usually see on the streets, never mind in church.
He comes over.
"May I help you?" he asks. He gets a puzzled look on his face as he turns to Eric, and adds, "You look familiar; have we met?"
--M. J. Young
Tue Dec 4 2007 11:12 pm # -
Tadeusz
Member"Ok, Ed, then 'be a good steward to the Earth'. Because these people have layers of problems. And I'd like to peel back two at once if I can." I sigh. I do need his help, and who knows, he might be right. My mind is not very clear right now, and I do have a streak of 'dealing with problems' that's earned me the name of 'Sledgehammer of Justice'. After all, if there is a 90% chance that one bomb will destroy the tank, then why not use two, or even three, just to be really sure.
Mercy does not come easy to me.
"You decide Ed. Just keep in mind that mass polution like I'm seeing generally means that everyone has to some degree or another bought into the reigning ideology. DuMartin's Demons would not have operated without the support of the people...." I pause. Oh yeah, that was not from Earth. Earth...."OK. Nazi's need good Germans. Suicid bombers need Palis. Idiots need their support networks, and for idiocy this big, well...it might be everyone. But its up to you."
======
"Pastor, I intend to try to heal the sick the following dawn. I need a woodland chapel of God, and I need your blessing. No, I am not an angel, at least as commonly understood. Neither is Ed. But we do occupy an unusual position that does not fit into your ordinary categories, and I hope to be able to pass on some chicken noodle soup from Heaven's kitchen."
Wed Dec 5 2007 12:36 am # -
Edward
Member"I've got to oppose this one. If God meant for people to have no chance of defying Him, he wouldn't have left the option open. Let these people learn the worth of the planet the hard way. Few appreciate what they have until it is in serious danger. And I don't think these people are going to remain dumb forever. Have some faith. The Germans tried to kill Hitler at least once, and not all suicide bombers were volunteers. A combination of torture, brainwashing, and threats to loved ones are very effective. I don't think all suicide bombers were praising Allah or the Emperor of Japan with their dying breath."
I think about what I just said and how much of that I honestly believe. " Although, if you must do something, give them the truth, unsullied and uncorrupted. Even some of the corporate bigwigs will stop what they are doing after a dose of that. Even a base creature won't kill himself for money."
Hopefully, this issue will resolve quite peacefully. Apparently, I'm travelling with an agent of the Apocalypse, and may want to be careful how I suggest any ideas that occur to me. Hopefully, he'll remember that humans do human things, and will stay his hand on that thought alone.
"Anyways, I'll shoot anything clearly unholy which tries to kill you over this. That much we can agree on."
Wed Dec 5 2007 7:03 am # -
The priest gives you a pinning look. "You're not an angel, you say; but you're not a doctor. Who are you? Are you Elijah, returning in the days of the Apocalypse? I confess, I've never been terribly good at eschatological studies, but was that the Beast coming out of the Sea this week? Is this the end of the world? What happens next?"
But he sighs, and continues. "No, don't tell me. There are things we were not to know, or we would have been told. I cannot fathom why you need a chapel in the woods; however, there is a monastery about a hundred twenty miles northeast. If you have transportation I can show you the way; I've not been there in about twenty years, but they had a lovely chapel on wooded grounds pretty far from anywhere, and I can give you a letter of introduction, or introduce you if you take me along. I'm sure they won't mind."
Just to be clear, I'm assuming that we're moving along two time tracks at the moment--the discussion about the spell taking place (in Greg's presence) while walking to the church, the conversation with Father Casey following that. Feel free to advance along both tracks, as desired.
--M. J. Young
Thu Dec 6 2007 2:41 am # -
Tadeusz
Member"All right, Ed. So be it." I think back to see if I think that will work.
========================
My first reaction is to stare back hard. When I'm in the zone, I can get pretty hard-core. But then I blink at his question as it sinks in.
"I hope not. I'm just trying to straighten out a mistake, and keep you people from turning your world into a chemical waste dump."
Transportation...hmmm. Thats a problem. I think back over my psionic skills to see if I think I can tow a semi-rig trailer up there with TK or something in time to arrive by the dark....cause I'm pretty sure a lot of vehicles suffered major damage.
Thu Dec 6 2007 3:06 am # -
Edward
MemberOOC: I'll work with whatever is going on. Presently I'm just trying to check everyone's favorite Prophet of Destruction from going overboard. Like not using a grenade launcher to go duck hunting. (Although I must admit, when I played Knights of the Old Republic, I did occasionally use Force Persuade on some unscrupolous sorts to insure they did the right and moral thing. It should be noted the act usually killed any Light Side gain I would have otherwise made and I actually agree with that.)
IC: I get ready for pretty much anything. The plasma weapon: I've readjusted the contents of my bag to carry it. It's still sticking out, but it's less awkward for me than carrying it in my hands, and frees them up.
The bizarre dream I'm in certainly hasn't spared me any moral quandries, although I seem to be in good shape so far. I'm just wondering when this dream is going to throw moral conflicts at me that I'm a little more ambiguous on; such as what I like to call ruthless pragmatism. Kinda like what Eric here has in mind, (which he might still do anyways, it's certainly in his ability) only a little smaller in scale and more subtle. Like disregarding the .01% of people who are found posthumously innocent in death sentence cases. Admittedly, accepting 99.99% is rather callous here.
The Uzi I've concealed to the best of my ability. Beyond that, my thoughts have turned inwards.
Thu Dec 6 2007 7:54 am # -
Yes, a lot of vehicles suffered major damage, and of course ordinary healing spells will work on animals, but not usually on machines.
On the other hand, damage that would kill a man wouldn't do much to a tank, generally speaking and for example, and although at forty miles an hour it will take three hours to cross the distance, there's not likely to be much traffic (other than the obstacles left by damaged vehicles which were on the road at the time). You might even find some vehicles that tough that have better maximum velocities--although again, there's the problem of finding gasoline and the bigger problem of finding a pump to move it.
--M. J. Young
Fri Dec 7 2007 3:15 am # -
A tank was an example. There are other vehicles with similar durability which might have survived the blast.
Also, you might ask about the local military. There are some rumors around.
--M. J. Young
Sun Dec 9 2007 11:24 pm # -
Edward
Member"Hey," I get an idea. I turn to Eric. "What about an abandoned riot vehicle? It wouldn't be stealing if we could find one, or maybe you could just persuade the driver of such a vehicle to help us, or rather you, out. You know, for saving his life."
Such a vehicle would probably have been deployed for dealing with people panicking/looting during the Godzilla incident. In fact, several would have been.
Mon Dec 10 2007 2:27 am # -
Eric nods at the idea of an abandoned riot vehicle. He closes his eyes for most of a minute, then speaks.
"That way," he says, pointing. "It's several blocks, but there is one there. Apparently they were trying to clear people out of the path of the oncoming monster."
You round the corner and walk down a few blocks, and there is a vehicle, well shielded and large enough for six men. It appears to have stalled, but starts right up; it's got three quarters of a tank of gas, if the gauge can be trusted.
"You ever drive anything like this before?" Eric asks. If you say yes, he suggests that you drive, and that you head back to the church to pick up the priest and Greg Haus. "I don't know what Haus is going to do for us, but the Lord seems to have given him to us, so there's probably a reason somewhere."
--M. J. Young
Tue Dec 11 2007 5:40 am # -
Edward
Member"No, I've hardly ever driven anything." I forget this is not the Eric who knows me. "I want to get somewhere I walk there. You drive. I call Shotgun." I get in.
I'm not sure as to Haus's goals, but what the heck. I'm not sure how we went from communication with Goths to this side track, either. In fact, the only stopping me from leaving both of these guys in my shadow and heading of to do my own thing is the simple fact that my help has been requested, and the planet will be here tomorrow.
Tue Dec 11 2007 7:08 pm # -
Well, this Eric knew you in what was about a decade ago for you and a millennium or two for him, so he can't really trust what he remembers.
What you know about Haus is that he is probably the only indig (person indigenous to this world) who is in full and complete health, and that he thinks that the two of you have been sent by God to "fix what's broke", as he would put it. He's a street beggar, but no one has asked his story; he apparently knows and respects Father Casey, although whether he is/was Catholic or simply a beneficiary of Catholic charities no one has asked.
Eric takes the controls and spins it around like a demolition derby driver, speeding down the street toward the church. He seems annoyed by the lack of response he's getting from the vehicle, but it seems to be a pretty decent piece of equipment to your perceptions.
You pick up Haus and Father Casey, and Eric says, "Which way?"
"You'll want to pick up the Interstate north," Father Casey answers.
"I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific than that," Eric says. "We're not from around here."
"Right. Sorry. Make a left at the light."
In this way you start picking your way through the rubble of the streets of Columbus, trying to find your way out of the city and north toward a chapel in the woods.
--M. J. Young
Wed Dec 12 2007 12:20 am # -
We seem to have a bit of confusion on the characters here.
Greg Haus is the beggar from the street; Eric healed him to test a healing skill, and brought him to full health. His reason for being healthy is that the "angel, or whatever he is, healed me."
Father Casey is as injured as anyone; he's just a tough old man. eighty percent of the human population of the earth was brought to death, and the other twenty percent was severely injured but still surviving. He falls into that twenty percent. He's in a lot of pain, and in any other circumstance would be in the hospital, but since he knows there are worse than he and he is able to do something for them, he's trying to do what he can do.
He's also interested in your story.
--M. J. Young
Wed Dec 12 2007 11:40 pm # -
Edward
MemberOOC: Got it.
IC: "Well, I was killed, at least I believe I was, and I woke up here in a place were apparently mutants and aliens are matter of fact. That might not make a lot of sense to you, but it doesn't make any to me either. I guess that means I'm not insane."
Thu Dec 13 2007 11:22 pm # -
"Really?" Father Casey looks a bit perturbed. "I would not have expected anything like that at all."
"Nor should you," Eric says. "Ed and I are versers. It's kind of hard to explain, really, but in our worlds, scientists started experimenting with something we call Scriff, and companies started using it in things--mostly consumer electronics--before figuring out that it wasn't really safe. God apparently allowed that to happen; the result of it is that a few people, such as Ed and I, got infected with this substance, and now we don't age and we don't really die. We disintegrate in one universe and reintegrate in another.
"Personally, I think God needed a few good men--and women--to help out here and there as we are able. I don't think it fits my original theology, either. Most people who die go directly to God, I would guess; a few of us get the dirty work of going back to help. That doesn't make us angels, really; but we're not really mortal, anymore, either."
He pauses, trying to find a way around the debris of a collapsed building, then continues.
"I wouldn't let it rewrite your theology too drastically, if I were you, Father. It might be that there has never been anyone like us in this universe before this year, and maybe when we're gone it will never happen again. But you guys were well on your way to an ecological armageddon, and I think Ed and I and a few other people might have been sent to prevent it. Our efforts haven't exactly been completely positive to this point, but everyone's got their bad days."
--M. J. Young
Sat Dec 15 2007 3:47 am # -
Edward
MemberYeah. No bad day is complete until you accidentally kill off everybody on the planet. Then it's a bad day. Slowly poisoning the planet over the course of decades, now that's a crisis.
I'm having a hard time grasping what my rush is supposed to be. Not Godzilla, I know what the rush there was. Not right now, I know why we are on a time limit, or at least I think I do. I just don't understand why he feels the need to force people to do the right and moral thing. Most people I've met don't need coercion; they need reminders.
Besides, I don't age, which means I don't need to change the world overnight.
I jerk myself out my own musings. Time will do what time does. I've got my own theory as to what the scriff is, but it's close enough to Eric's defination for the time being to be irrelevant.
I mentally ready myself for the upcoming fight. I'm picturing something right out of DOOM.
Read: Plasma cannon or not, I'll probably be testing that "Immortality" bit, and that's presuming this whole isn't one crazy dream after all.
Sat Dec 15 2007 11:55 pm # -
You ride for a few hours; then the machine sputters and rolls to a halt.
"Out of gas," Eric says. "I was thinking of filling it up, but I didn't really see any service stations along the highway that looked operational, and I hoped we'd make it."
"We nearly have," Father Casey says. "We're only maybe five miles out, maybe less. It's this exit right ahead, but they're a couple miles off the main road, of course. So I guess we walk from here. Can someone give me a hand out of this thing? I'm not so spritely as the rest of you."
"My fault, that," Eric says. "I should have attended to your condition sooner." He repeats the same thing he did with Greg Haus, and Father Casey smiles.
"Yes, that's much better, thanks. Apparently you're saints--at least, you seem to be working miracles."
You're all out of the vehicle in a minute, with Father Casey pointing the way up the road to an exit in the distance.
I see the four of you walking the rest of the way without incident, but if there's anything you need to add before we reach the monastery, now's the time.
--M. J. Young
Sun Dec 16 2007 10:17 pm # -
Neither of your local companions brought water, but Eric has a canteen that holds a gallon, and he shares it. Father Casey, the eldest, is slowest, but you manage the trip in about one and a half hours.
There are then some protocols, introductions to the Monsignor, who extends his hospitality in this difficult time. Many of the monks are out in the surrounding areas trying to help the wounded, and others are bedridden here, too wounded themselves to be much help to others.
"These two men," Father Casey explains, "seem to have been sent by God to do something about our world. They say they need to use the chapel to pray; they particularly said they needed a chapel in the woods, and I thought of you."
"Also," Eric adds, "I think it would be wise if your people withdrew from it, and found a place to pray nearby, perhaps in your dining room. There are spiritual forces of wickedness that are likely to array themselves against us, and we'll need the support, but I don't want anyone too close if it gets bad."
--M. J. Young
Mon Dec 17 2007 10:25 pm # -
Edward
MemberI just do some thnking about what I'm about to be facing. The walk has warmed me up, and I'm still getting ready inside. Demons, what do I know about them? Well, if I'm lucky they'll use something other than brute force; in fact, history has demonstrated that is usually the least desirable tactic to them. Usually they like to turn people against themselves. In Eric's case, they would probably appeal to his righteous fury. Not directly of course; if I were a demon, I'd give him a bit of inspiration that appeals along those lines. Inspiring him to do what he is going to do, but "improve" on the idea somehow.
So how would I appeal to someone like myself? What are my weak points? Pragmatic evil, for one. Machiavelli (OOC: I'm certain I mispelled that.) and I tend to see eye to eye on a few of the viewpoints I encountered that were attributed to him. In addition, I tend to be somewhat lazy; it's hard to motivate me into rushing on anything, even when it is in my interests to do so. I have some serious anger management issues, most of the time I curb it, but every once in a while my temper just gets the better of me, although the manifestation is subtle.
Of course, that's presuming they don't just use the DOOM approach. Under those conditions, I'll just shoot them. That's why I haven't given the issue much thought. I need to know my battleground first.
Thu Dec 20 2007 3:06 am # -
The elderly monk leads your foursome to the chapel. It is indeed very much a chapel in the woods--the five rows of pews with center aisle could squeeze forty people, maybe fifty if they were all slender, and the raised dais could be charitably described as rustic. It is some damaged from the disaster, but the monks have already made some simple repairs to it, and it is surprisingly intact all things considered.
As the head of the monastery retreats to organize his people for prayer, Father Casey and Greg Haus are standing in the back of the chapel.
"What should we do?" Haus asks.
Eric looks at you, and shrugs. "Whatever he says, I guess. I needed him to help me, so I guess he has you to help him."
--M. J. Young
Thu Dec 20 2007 5:15 am # -
Edward
MemberI get to work. "If you two are staying for the ritual, barricade those doors. If anything wants to break in, they can find a way around it or spend a bit of time crashing it." I start moving the pews. "These should be set up as a maze work. Moving in a straight line should be difficult without moving them. Again, everything is about buying time. I'm going to be commanding the door side of the dias, Tadeusz will do his work behind me."
"If they have wings, teleport, or are incorporeal, I might have a hard time dealing with them, so any measures you can put into place to prevent such infilteration will help immensely. I can't kill what I can't delay."
I hate defensive operations. I usually succeed by driving back the enemy to the source and cutting them off, but I simply do not have the power to do that. Namely, it's me against the horde. I start setting up the pews in a zig-zag formation around the door. I don't want to stop all movement, just make it difficult as possible. I find myself wishing I had kept some explosive with me.
I don't have the heart to tell these guys I'm about to destroy their church defending Eric here.
Thu Dec 20 2007 5:05 pm # -
Eric sets up a few things, and then stops.
"What time is it?" he asks.
"Don't look at me," Greg says. "I don't own a watch."
"Mine broke in the disaster," Father Casey says.
"Anyway," Eric says, "it's still daylight. I've been in such a hurry, I almost overlooked a critical point: for this spell to work, I've got to start about an hour before dawn.
"I guess that means we've got to find a way to make sure we're awake an hour before dawn, and then we all have to get some rest.
"Oh, Ed--I neglected to tell you this part. While I'm doing my part over here, you have to--this is going to sound pretty stupid, and if you're still thinking this is all a dream, it's going to make it seem more like a dream. The way this spell is designed, your job includes firing that Plasma Cannon into the sky repeatedly, until either it dies or I finish the ritual. The ritual will take about an hour. So you'll probably want to open a window and stand near it, so you don't have to blow a hole in the roof right away." He gives a somewhat sardonic smile.
"All right, everyone, let's get some rest." He takes off a few pieces of equipment and settles himself on the bare floor. "I'm setting my internal clock to wake me; hopefully it's adjusted itself to our location, and I'll be up at a good time."
The others look at each other and you.
"I'll see if the brothers can spare a bit of food and drink," Father Casey says.
"I'll give you a hand with it, if you like," Greg says.
--M. J. Young
Fri Dec 21 2007 6:41 am # -
Edward
MemberUntil...IT...dies...
Fantastic.
"Well, that sounds lovely." I get settled down for the sleep I can get until I'm needed. "Well, I can shoot the Old Ones until one us dies. Heck, I could probably look him in the eye with no ill effects. You can't destroy a pile of rubble."
"Anyhow, wake me up when we are almost ready. I've done all I can."
I'm getting some sleep until then. I want to be rested.
Sat Dec 22 2007 2:58 am # -
You awaken in darkness; Eric is prodding you.
"The brothers apparently have provided breakfast--we have bread, fruit, and juice. Father Casey and Haus are both asleep, but in about fifteen or twenty minutes I'm going to start the magic. I'll need you ready then. If you need them, you'd better wake them up."
--M. J. Young
Sun Dec 23 2007 8:09 pm #
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