Date sent: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 20:33:19 -0500 (EST) From tbutler@birch.net Sun Mar 31 15:15:42 2002 Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 16:21:25 -0600 From: Travis Butler To: aerianne@eyrie.org Subject: [Amber/UnS] The Conclusion to the Rites [Phil wanted a log since he'd missed a lot of this, and sending it your way in case you need it, John.] [[Edited Of Much Sex Version -- Original was 82 K, Edited is 58 K -- go figure. -- PJM]] Windir> Michelle has arrived. Windir> Nanbara asks, "OOC Hmm, Drew, you logged last night, right?" Windir> Thunder Dragon Kaede OOCly says, "Yes." Windir> Nanbara asks, "OOC Can you spoof the last few poses then?" Windir> The whirling rapiers transform into a man armed with two swords who comes at Kunou in a screaming frenzy. Kunou is forced back. Kodachi and Hiko begin building up a large spell and the Heart of Flame pulses.Nausicaa continues to concentrate, and sends Kaede a message, 'Just a little Windir> Thunder Dragon Kaede OOCly says, "Oops." Windir> Nausicaa continues to concentrate, and sends Kaede a message, 'Just a little more time...just a little more time...' she tells him over the mindnet. Yuki continues to struggle, but her struggles grow weaker. Kaede triggers his ring to release a spell on her, as he tries to avoid being beaten to death by the winds. A lesser man would be unconscious by now, but Kaede didn't spend years standing in waterfalls, letting logs crash into him, being electrocuted, and Windir> Thunder Dragon Kaede OOCly says, "Beeyatch." Windir> so on for nothing. His exercises prove their worth as he remains conscious. Formorian would have dispelled the spell Kaede released, except that Eowyn now attacks his tail, hacking at it with her blade. He starts to burn on his tail, then smacks her around with it, followed by trying to wrap it round her to crush her. The spell lands on Yuki, who shouts a power word, and then manages to break free of the tendrils, then takes to the air, flying desperately and trying to fend them off from grabbing her again. Windir> Eowyn gets tangled in Formorian's tail, struggling to break free. Formorian whips around, and his mouth opens wide. Atleby screams like a baby as Formorian swallows Nausicaa and himself whole. Yuki runs along the top of the Logrus Tendrils desperately heading for Formorian's head. Kaede struggles against the winds battering him and unleashes a white hot lance of light from his ring. The spell arcs down at Formorian...and fizzles away just before it hits him. He continues to try to throw lightning, but his aim is thrown off by the winds battering him. Windir> And then the giant metal bull leaps onto the roof and charges at Hiko and Kodachi. Kunou tries to disengage from his foe, but is unable to do so without risking being horribly wounded by the two-sworded man. Loewen charges, a Logrusfoil in each hand, and begins to drive back the bull, whose horns seem to be made out of Logrus. Windir> There is a shimmer, and then the huge man in the headdress appears next to Morgan. Morgan spins and parries his first blow. He shouts loudly, and as he strikes at Morgan, a character appears in the air. Morgan screams in surprise, and is flung right off the roof. The man stalks towards Kodachi and Hiko, who spin, casting desperately. Windir> Lord Alars does his 'suddenly I cross half the screen because I AM SUPER TWINK' attack. Unfortunately for him, Kodachi and Hiko suddenly vanish, reappearing on the far end of the roof, next to Kamitari and Cho. Kamitari moves to guard them, while Cho tries to keep the people climing the walls off them. Kaede suddenly vanishes as well. Alars blinks, then continues his charge, coming at Loewen from behind. Usui suddenly pops up and shouts, "No one is allowed to kill Loewen BUT ME!" He then thrusts his spear at Lord Alars, who catches the spear and pulls Usui closer, then rams his sword through Usui's gut. Usui's blood ignites and he falls to the ground clutching his bleeding gut. Alars stomps on Usui's head and moves on towards Loewen. Windir> Loewen, who had pressed Suroth almost to the edge of the roof, now is forced to turn to confront Alars, backing off to one side as best he can. "Anji, engage Suroth!" he shouts. Suroth turns and charges towards Anji, who sprouts Logrus Tendrils, as does Suroth. They rush towards each other. Windir> Then Hiko and Kodachi dump firery atomic death on Suroth. Suroth somehow backflips and cuts the spell to ribbons with her Logrus Horns, but doing so sets her up for Anji to smack her around with Logrus Tendrils, then jump on her while she's now on her back. Windir> Kunou manages to disengage from his foe and head for the roof, but the two-sworded man is chasing him. Yuki reaches Formorian's head. She shouts a power word which doesn't seem to do much, then leaps down into Formorian's jaws, driving her Naginata into the roof of his mouth, pinning his mouth open. Windir> Oh, yes, Eowyn struggles to break from Formorian without much luck. Windir> Unfortunately for Anji, Suroth suddenly shifts, and now is a six-armed female minotaur holding a Logrusfoil. Which she plunges into his back. Anji screams, growing more arms to pin hers. He rolls around desperately, trying to restrain her. As he does so, Dara turns and charges to Anji's aid, her blade held high. Half a dozen Wu grunts break through the point she was defending when she does this, and chase after her. Windir> Their charge as Wu is cut short when Morgan pops up onto the roof behind them and cuts down two of them. The other four turn and attack her, and she starts cleaving them; Morgan looks somewhat wobbly, but is still going. Windir> Slowly, Loewen begins to drive Alars back in a hideous, lethal dance. Loewen is just ever so slightly better than Alars, who is being pressed very hard. However, Loewen's eyes are starting to bug out a bit, and he seems to be under severe strain. Windir> Kamitari and Cho continue to defend Kodachi and Hiko as they begin another spell. Hordes of Wu pour at them and are driven back by whip sword and twin-chain-linked scythes. Windir> High above, Yuki charges down Formorian's throat and vanishes from sight. Eowyn gurgles as she is being crushed, struggling to get loose without much luck. Then Kaede appears, right behind Formorian's head. Windir> Kaede stabs Sansacure into the back of Formorian's head. The blade penetrates, though not easil. Blood erupts from the wound, bursting into flame. It forms into a snakey flame creature which attacks Kaede. However, Kaede then vanishes, leaving it to look around confused. Windir> Kaede blinks in further down Formorian's body, stabs him, and then blinks out. He does this three times before on the fourth time, logrus tendrils wrap around him, grappling him. Formorian thrashes about in the sky, howling in agony. Windir> There is a flash of light, and Eowyn appears down on the roof, next to Suroth. She, Anji, and Dara all attack Suroth desperately, as Suroth slaps them around as best she can with Logrus tendrils and her huge strength. Windir> Hiko and Kodachi begin another spell, chanting desperately, as Loewen continues to fight Alars. His eyes bug out more as he continues to press Alars back. Kunou now charges to Loewen's aid, only to be intercepted by two mostly naked women in black leather with logrus whips. One is red-haired with a pony-tail, the other is short with short black hair. He boggles at them for a moment, then desperately uses his secret technique. A wave of air from his bokken sends the black-haired one flying back out of his way. Windir> Kaede tries to use an ofuda on the tendrils. While he's successful, tendrils slam into his remaining ofuda, zorching them all. However, this pretty much zaps all the tendrils around him, freeing him for other actions. Windir> A huge pillar of wind slams down on Anji, Dara, and Eowyn, flinging them all way from Suroth, who struggles to her feet and goes giant bull again. Loewen and Alars continue to fight. Loewen continues to strain, but is still going. He and Alars inflict the tiniest of scratches on each other, which with their weapons produce ugly wounds. And then Logrus tendrils erupt out of the Nine on Alars forehead and grapple Loewen, pinning him in place. Windir> Kunou now drives his logrus foil into the dark haired woman, looking very not happy about having to do this. She falls down and he charges to Loewen's aid, only to get his foot caught by her whipping at him as she struggles to not die. He turns and hacks at her whip, trying to get it off his foot. Windir> Formorian thrashs about, randomly spurting flaming blood out of various wounds. He doesn't look very good at all. He manages, however, to shift his mouth enough to spit out Yuki's naginata, which begins to plummet towards the armies below. Windir> High above, Kaede vanishes. Windir> Morgan finishes off her chud foes and rushes at Suroth. Suroth rushes at Morgan. Morgan plunges his sword into Suroth's left eye. Then the eye becomes a mouth and sucks the sword into Suroth. Morgan's arm is pulled in too. Which Morgan doesn't seem to mind because as Suroth bites down, she discovers that is Morgan's SILVER arm. Unfortunately, this puts Morgan into a position for Suroth to drive a Logrus horn through an eye socket into Morgan's brain. Morgan screams as his brain catches fire. Suroth tries desperately to spit out the silver arm. Windir> Hiko screams in absolute rage at this, and raises the Heart of Flame high. She begins to shout something, and massive energy gathers around it. Kodachi hurls a massive bolt of lightning at Alars. Alars casually parries it with his logrus foil while keeping Loewen pinned in place. He turns to strike at Loewen and then.... Windir> And then Formorian explodes as hurricane force winds erupt from inside him. Chunks of burning Lord Formorian rain down from the heavens onto the armies. A small black sphere, perhaps some six or seven feet in diameter, made out of Logrus, plummets out of the remains towards the plaza below. Windir> For a moment, Lord Alars just stares up in shock. During this moment, Kaede appears next to Kunou and drives Sansacure into the woman who whipped his foot. She shrieks and dies, and Kunou launches himself in an all-out, no holds barred, take all risks assault on Lord Alars. Windir> Lord Alars casually swats Kunou aside like he was a bug, ripping Kunou's chest open with a hideous wound and sending him tumbling. Fortunately for Kunou, he has no Blood of Order and thus doesn't go up in flames. Windir> Eowyn now rises over the edge of the roof, and charges towards Alars, blade outstretched. Windir> Eowyn dives down, dropping out of sight below roof level again. A massive Thunder Dragon forms around Kaede as he charges towards Alars, spitting lightning. Alars spins, using Loewen as a bodyshield to suck up much of the attacks coming from the Thunder Dragon. Strangely, Loewen doesn't look as hurt from the attacks as one might expect. And then the Thunder Dragon bellows in rage at Alars. It sounds somewhat like.... "OHHHHH-HAAAAAA!" Windir> Kodachi blinks out, blinks in, grabs Kunou, then shouts, "PEOPLE WHO VALUE THEIR LIVES, MIGHT WANT TO GET CLEAR!!!!", then blinks out again. Windir> Suroth now charges right at Hiko, who shouts, "COME AND GET ME, YOU STINKING PIECE OF CHAOSIAN SHIT! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" Kamitari moves to try to block Suroth's charge, but is trampled. Cho looks at Hiko, looks at Suroth, then sprouts wings and flies HIGH into the air, arcing towards Lord Alars. Windir> And then Eowyn rises up from below Roof Level and drives her sword into Alars back. Windir> The plunging black sphere turns into huge wings and two tiny specks can be seen flying towards the roof, one of them using the big black wings to fly. Windir> Aerianne has connected. Windir> Damasq says, "OOC: Hey, Phil. Welcome to the party." Windir> Loewen begins to fold in half backwards. Alars keeps Loewen in the path of Thunder Dragon Kaede's blasts while turning to hack at Eowyn, who desperately backs out of range. Alars takes flight and chases her as Kaede rushes in on him. Then he suddenly turns and charges at Kaede. Kaede attempts to bluff Alars by hiding inside the claw of his Thunder Dragon, but Alars is too wily for him and hacks the dragon apart with his logrus foil, and gives Kaede an ugly arm wound that renders his left arm not very useful. Fortunately for Kaede, he fights with his right arm, and he successfully parries the follow up blow with Sansacure. Eowyn tries to attack Alars from behind and gets back kicked in the face and tumbles away from him. Windir> And then there's a kerblink, and Yuki appears about twenty feet away; she's being carried by Atleby. She points at Alars and shouts something in Frostspirean. And then a sphere of ice forms around Alars head, blinding him. Atleby extends logrus tendrils towards Lord Loewen, wrapping them around Loewen's right hand for no apparent reason. Windir> Suroth leaps at Hiko. Hiko shouts, "AKIRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" And then a massive blossom of flame begins to erupt in all directions from her. Windir> Kaede releases a spell and vanishes, leaving Eowyn, Yuki, and Atleby locked in combat with Lord Alars. Flames rush across Suroth, who burns to ash. The Temple blossoms into a huge ball of flame as the Akira rushes outward. Windir> Lord Atleby screams in terror as the flames rush in on him. But he keeps his head enough to tap Hide of the Dragon. His Logrus Tendrils and Wings suddenly balloon in size, wrapping around himself, Eowyn, Loewen, and Yuki to form a strangely shaped and twisted bubble of Logrus. And two of them turn and shove Lord Alars into the path of the blast, so that HE can help suck up the blast as it comes at them. Windir> Alars screams in fear as the wall of fire rushes over him, and he and the people near him vanish inside it. Windir> Meanwhile, Kaede re-appears a quarter mile away. The wall of fire is rushing towards him, and he finds himself in one of the streets of the city. A dozen Wu stand over Nausicaa's body, which looks horribly acid-burned. One of them is now wearing Winds of the Dragon, and trying to get the hang of it. Windir> Kaede screams in rage and charges forward as the Wu charge at him, except for the one with the ring. Kaede then dives and grabs Nausicaa and tries to shadow shift out with his air powers, only to discover to his horror that the Wu with Breath of the Dragon just blocked his escape. Desperately, he dumps a healing spell onto Nausicaa and calls on his fire mastery to protect them both from the Akira as best he can. Fire rushes over him in an agonizing wave and then unconsciousness takes him. Windir> For a time, there is nothing but fire in a great blossom around the chapel. Windir> Nanbara says, "OOC I can do this either of two ways:" Windir> Nanbara says, "OOC I can show you what the NPCs do now." Windir> Nanbara says, "OOC Or I can cut to run what is happening with the Rites. ^^;;;" Windir> Thunder Dragon Kaede OOCly says, "Tell me what happens." Windir> Okay, here we go... Windir> And then flame vanishes. A fair number of those on both sides survived by throwing up Logrus Shields; if they had strong enough wills, they didn't die. For them, the battle resumes. Windir> The outer walls of the Chapel of the Serpent are vaporized. But the shield over the rites holds, thanks to being tied into a Patternblade and a Logrus foil, and having been woven using a Spikard of Order and a Spikard of Chaos. Windir> Suroth is reduced to a few dust particles which drift into the Abyss. Windir> Hiko is gone as if she had never existed. Windir> A vast horde of creatures which poured out of the Abyss at EXACTLY the wrong moment all drift back into the Abyss as dust particles. Windir> The Abyss pirates they were fighting sit in the Abyss and laugh because the spell didn't touch them. Windir> Lord Alars hangs in the air over the shield, still holding his Logrus foil. Horribly scarred and burned, he yet lives, thanks to his spellbreaker and his thinking to call up Logrus Defense. However, most of his clothing has burned off him, and the 'Nine' on his forehead is gone. Windir> To make matters worse for him, Logrus Tendrils no longer grip Loewen, whereas, Atleby, tapping Hide of the Dragon, how holds Alars in place as Loewen demonstrates the horrible things you can do with twin logrusfoils to a pinned victim. Windir> Alars struggles desperately, but he is fairly well fucked. Windir> Down next to the shield, there is a kerblink, and Kodachi appears with a healed Kunou. Windir> Kodachi bends down and picks up Suroth's Logrusgoil and hands it to Kunou. Windir> LOGRUSFOIL Windir> Kodachi weaves another spell. A ring flies out of the rubble, across the battle field into her hands. She opens a small black sphere and pops the ring inside it, then closes and seals it. Windir> Loewen finishes turning Lord Alars into Kibble as the battle rages on. Windir> Then Yuki asks Atleby, "Where's Nausicaa and Kaede? I can't reach them on the mind spell!" Windir> Atleby asks, "Mind spell?" Windir> Then Loewen's hand starts talking. No, wait, it's the Hide of the Dragon. NAUSICAA AND KAEDE ARE ABOUT TO BE TAKEN BY WU-ANNO TO BE TURNED INTO WU, AND TO USE WINGS OF THE DRAGON TO ATTACK ME. YOU MUST STOP HIM. Windir> Atleby stares at Loewen's hand. "By...Wu...ANNO?? Windir> Atleby vibrates like a...a thing that vibrates that the DM can't remember the name of. Windir> Damasq says, "OOC: Epileptic tuning fork." Windir> Loewen barks, "Kodachi, Kunou, join us! We go now!" Windir> Loewen barks to Atleby, "Carry us all with the Logrus." Windir> Loewen says, "Kunou, you can't possibly use both of those at once very well. Give one of them to Eowyn, she's going to need it." Windir> Kodachi and Kunou fly up to join Loewen. Atleby forms a platform and directs his tendrils to seek Nausicaa and Kaede in shadow. He grits his teeth and tries not to scream and zooms forward. Windir> Loewen says, "Simply put, we can't hope to fool Anno. He wears the Mind of the Dragon. We also can't afford to go nuclear, or we'll kill the people we're trying to save. Don't even bother trying to unleash psychic assaults, he will laugh at you." Loewen passes one of his foils to Yuki. Now, everyone except Kodachi and Atleby are carrying one. "He is almost certainly going to mindshift himself and gain all of Wu-Alars fighting skills. At the same time, he has a mind which can crush ours like bugs. Expect him to anticipate your every move. Kodachi, you will have to try to force him to use his spikard to counter yours and the Heart of Flame." Windir> Loewen turns to Kunou, Eowyn, and Yuki. "I will engage him from the front. If he mindshifts to Alars, I can match him. Then you three must flank him and kill him if possible." Windir> Atleby says, "What about me?" Windir> Loewen says, "You must use your link to Hide to shield me from being grappled by Logrus Tendrils. It will likely be beyond your strength to restrain him completely, but give it everything you have." Windir> Atleby says, "What if he uses Primal Chaos on us?" Windir> Loewen says, "Then the Serpent will surely gather us into his arms and honor us for our valorous death in pursuit of his commands. Unless someone present failed to inform me they're good enough to control Primal Chaos?" Windir> As they fly, Atleby begins calling up extra tendrils, tapping hide for strength to create an ever growing number of small black falcons which fly along with them. Windir> For a short time, they fly in silence. Atleby is sweating like a pig, and looks to be about to break down crying at any moment. Everyone else looks grim. Yuki's expression of cold hatred could probably smash mountains if it turned into energy. Windir> Loewen's brigade flies along in silence. Lord Atleby sweats like a pig, and looks about ready to cry. Eowyn practices with the Logrusfoil, trying to get the hang of it. Loewen looks sombre and is quietly praying. Yuki paces with Logrus foil in one hand, naginata in the other. Kunou paces nervously as well. Eowyn stares off intently at the battle in progress. Then she turns and whispers to Atleby, who scratches his head, then taps Hide for a spell. She whispers to Kodachi, who stares at her, then smiles. Kodachi begins a spell as well. Windir> Then Kodachi's voice booms over the battlefield like the foghorn from hell. "HEY, SHAFT! I HEAR WU-ANNO IS HAVING HIS WAY WITH YOUR WOMEN!" Windir> There is an awful silence, as virtually everyone looks up. Windir> And then a voice shouts through the stillness. "FIRST FUYUTSUKI AND NOW ANNO! GEEZ, THEY'RE GETTING WORSE THAN ME! ANNO, I'M GONNA FUCK YOU UP ANYWAY!!!!!!" Windir> And then a horde of horny patternghosts turns and begins charging through everything in their path, heading the same direction Loewen's crew is going. Windir> Atleby pours more sweat, and then the Mitsune fire-angels rise into the sky, and start to flock in the same direction as Loewen's crew as well. He gives a great sigh of relief. He then begins weaving another spell. Windir> And then they spot hundreds upon hundreds of giant prophesy bears made out of Logrus which have moved in and occupied a stretch of street. And in the middle of them, Wu-Anno is directing Logrus tendrils to pick up Kaede and Nausicaa, who lay curled up to each other like a human ying-yang sign. The Horny Patternghosts crash into the Giant Prophesy Bears and begin to hack through them as best they can. Some of both begin to explode. The Fire Angels dive down at the bears. Windir> Loewen shouts, "THIS IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE!" Everyone nods, except Atleby, who pretty obviously doesn't think this is a good day to die AT ALL. Loewen says, "Atleby, take us in!" Windir> For a moment, Atleby looks about ready to just flee for his life, then he glances over at Yuki. Atleby . o O (I'm going to have to hire someone to put a contingency spell on me which locks me in a cell for a hundred years the next time I think about trying to impress a woman. TWO HUNDRED years.) Atleby says, "IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DIE! DIVE!" And then the platform dives towards Anno. Windir> And then a huge barrier goes up around Anno. Kodachi and Atleby rain down fire and death on it as best the can, but it bounces off even with the Heart of Flame backing them up. The logrusfoils bounce off it like they were made out of tinfoil. Loewen shouts, "UP! ATLEBY, TAKE US UP!!!!" Windir> And the platform zooms upwards. About thirty feet. And then Logrus tendrils erupt out of the shield, grabbing at everyone's feet and pulling the platform down. More tendrils rise up to attack. Windir> The Logrus-foil weilders hack at the tendrils, but Anno MADE the Logrusfoils. They bounce off the tendrils backed by his mind and spikard. Tendrils begin to crawl up everyone's body. Windir> Atleby . o O (If I live, I'm going to go drop a nuclear weapon on Mimr's FUCKING WELL! Save the universe, my ass! Finally know the love of a woman, my ass! DAMN YOU WELL!! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!!!) Windir> And then there is a cloud of dust in the distance. Windir> Something blurs through the troops which stands in its way. Windir> Closer, closer. As it runs, the tendrils creep up the struggling people on the platform. Windir> Atleby draws more power from Hide of the Dragon and tries hurling a spear of Logrus down into one of the Horny Patternghosts. It explodes, but the explosion isn't strong enough to disrupt the super-strong Logrus tendrils. Windir> And then Soujiro emerges out of the cloud of dust, charging at the logrus field. It would be a heroic moment if the tendrils didn't immediately grab him and begin bashing him to death against the ground. Windir> Kodachi mumbles , and power builds up around her and the heart and her spikard. Windir> Yuki is shouting in Frostspirean to the heavens, which don't say anything back. Eowyn struggles frantically. Loewen grimly struggles, but without much luck. Windir> Yuki mumbles something about wishing she could at least seal a gate with her death. Windir> And then Loewen's eyes light up. Windir> Loewen says, "What exactly do you mean by gate?" Windir> Yuki says, "Unfortunately, I don't think I can perform the Rite of Sealing while my arms are pinned to my side and...NO, NOT MY UNDERWEAR!!!!!" Windir> Eowyn and Kodachi both wince in unison. Windir> Loewen looks disgusted. Windir> Soujiro grunts a lot as he gets bashed up. Windir> And then Kodachi dumps a huge ass spell on the dome. It shakes slightly, but the spell basically bounces off it. The tendrils crushing our gang mostly protect them from the explosion. Windir> And then Kodachi's eyes widen as something hits her. Windir> And then Kodachi says, "Atleby, touch me with a Logrus tendril!" Windir> He stares at her for a second in confusion, then sprouts one which touches her. Windir> Kodachi . o O (All of the Dragon Spikards connect to the Serpent! Use him as a router to jump us all inside the shield using WINGS of the Dragon as our destination! And let's pray Anno can't listen in on this.) ^^^;;;; Windir> Atleby prays, and quickly weaves a spell, then shoves it into Hide. Windir> The world wrenches. Windir> Soujiro manages to wiggle free and runs for cover, as Anno turns his attention to thwarting this effort to break in. Windir> However, with the Serpent hanging in the sky over them, Anno isn't successful in time, since much of his will was diverted elsewhere. Windir> The group appears inside the shield. Wu-Anno has tendrils around Kaede and Nausicaa's throats like nooses, and he thrums with power from the ring upon his hand, and from his every pore. Windir> Wu-Anno says, "Surrender now, or I will kill them both!" Windir> Loewen laughs in Wu-Anno's face. "Then they will be gathered into the Bosom of the Serpent! ATTACK!" Windir> Kodachi concentrates on her spikard, trying to pin down some of Wu-Anno's attention by hacking his spikard. Eowyn, Kunou, Loewen, and Yuki launch themselves at Wu-Anno. Windir> Wu-Anno swings Kaede around to block Yuki's attacks. He swings Nausicaa around to block Eowyn's attacks. They both hesitate, unwilling to strike through them. Windir> Meanwhile, he fights desperately to fend off Loewen from in front. Logrus tendrils erupt out of the ground to fence with Kunou, though they're having a hard time of it. Windir> And then Atleby gestures with a Logrus tendril, and pulls Wings off Nausicaa's finger and onto his own. Windir> Then he brings his hands up, and taps Hide and Wings at the same time, and pours all the psychic strength he can into his Logrus tendrils, and scoops up a huge hunk of dirt, and jams it into Wu-Anno's face, holding it there with the tendrils. Windir> And then Yuki, Loewen, Eowyn, and Kunou all stab into Wu-Anno at once in the few seconds it takes him to call up tendrils and batter away Atleby's attack. Windir> Wu-Anno says, "Very clever." Windir> Wu-Anno says, "This was one of the best Logrusghosts I ever made." Windir> He begins to turn staticky along the edges. Windir> Time slow to a crawl. Windir> And then... Windir> And then Loewen says, "Atleby! Kodachi, Yuki, pool your strength, SHIELD US NOW!" Windir> Wu-Anno turns more fuzzy. Windir> Kodachi and Yuki pool their psychic strength and that of the Heart and Ouroubous into Atleby, who draws power from Wings and Hide like a crack addict smoking a line. Windir> All present can feel massive energies building inside ' Wu-Anno ' Windir> And then Atleby, crying and screaming in terror, yanks everyone he can save over to him and forms a huge Logrus Shield. Windir> Yuki and Eowyn both hurl Heavenly Spear Thrusts, which damage the Tendrils enough for them to quickly yank Kaede and Nausicaa loose and dive behind the shield. Windir> And then Fake-WU-ANNO explodes in Primal Chaos. Windir> A wave of destruction rushes over all and sundry Windir> And a tiny triple-spikard reinforced bubble floats in the sea of destruction. Windir> Loewen says, "I'm afraid we're going to have do something probably suicidal now." Windir> Atleby twitches. "More suicidal?" Windir> Loewen says, "If we don't kill the real Wu-Anno, he is going to keep pouring Primal Chaos on us until we crack or until everything is annhilated. What has he got to lose?" Windir> Atleby says, "And how exactly do you propose we get to him?" Windir> Loewen says, "I haven't quite figured out that part." Windir> Then Atleby slaps his forehead. "Hah! HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!!" Windir> Everyone looks at him like he's snapped. Windir> Atleby says, "Oh god, they're going to hate me. But it's the only way to survive." Windir> Atleby says to Kodachi, "They've got a Patternblade in the chapel, right?" Windir> Kodachi says, "Yes, our house's blade, Withy..." She looks at him. "It'll destroy the spell around the rites if we take it!" Windir> Atleby says, "And they've got...A DRAGON SPIKARD! AHAHAHAH!!!!!" And then he gestures and there is a FLASH, and the group appears inside the field inside the chapel. Windir> Mercutio updates Mercutio's @doing: Venice is sinking, it's beauties religion... Windir> Nanbara says, "OOC I need to pause a second to refill my glass." Windir> Okay, we have to rewind in time a bit. Windir> Because the events outside have moved ahead in timeof the events we'd run inside. [[Editing Start here]] Windir> Motoko asks, "OOC: Okay, ready. Want me to pose the last line?" Windir> Nanbara says, "OOC YEs. " [[Prelude Sex]] [[Spammed Sex]] [[Repeated Sex]] Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: There we go." [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[Sex]] [[More sex]] [[More meaningful sex]] [[Really, it's meaningful sex.]] [[Hey, it's the high summer rites, you better beleive there's sex]] [[Yet more sex]] [[And more sex]] [[And dancing sex]] [[And singing sex]] Windir> Mataka begins to pace, carefully not looking at anyone else at all. Everyone else looks very restless as well, except for Andy, who seems quite mellow, perhaps due to the amount of Sipping Logrus he's consumed in the last half-hour. Windir> There is a huge explosion, but you barely hear it through the shield, though the shield shakes. [[You know, this is starting to sound like the Loveliner from LEXX, which is Not A Good Thing, though at least this has sex.]] [[And, of course, sex]] [[And yet more sex]] Windir> Mataka stares up at the ceiling. "That was either very good or very bad," she says softly. Windir> Lincoln replies, "Well, I feel enlightened." [[Okay, you're probably tired about hearing about the sex]] [[But we're not done with the sex yet]] Windir> Mitsune and Narya continue their dance, in reality and in their minds. Windir> Moonshade rolls Motoko onto her back, and goes to work. As he watches this, Morgenstern curses because the tape just ran out. Windir> By the time he manages to get a fresh tape in, Mitsune and Narya have finished with each other, and so have Motoko and Moonshade. Morgenstern shouts his rage over untaped porn to the heavens. [[And isn't it shameful how Morgy tapes people's sex acts?]] Windir> It is at this moment that there is another huge distant explosion and the ground rocking. [[Running sex]] [[Altar sex]] [[And some more sex]] [[Oh, and wrestling sex]] [[Jaqui must be proud of all the sex]] Windir> Mataka walks over to one of the pillars of the chapel and wraps her arms around it like it was the only thing in the universe holding her up. [[And more altar sex]] [[More wrestling sex]] [[Rolling sex]] [[Mental sex]] Windir> And then there's a flash of light between the Altars, and Loewen, Atleby, Yuki, Kodachi, Kunou appear, carrying an unconscious Nausicaa and Kaede. Windir> Motoko turns her head to the side and, in between moans, asks, "Are you... evil duplicates... sent to kill us...?" Windir> And Eowyn is there too, as the DM was just reminded. Windir> Moonshade pins Narya again, but his joints painlessly dislocate and he slides out of her grip again, wrapping round her like a snake. They seem too caught up in their struggle to notice the arrival. Windir> Eowyn shouts to Motoko, "I used to be an evil duplicate, but I got better!" She sounds ever so slightly hysterical. Windir> Loewen strides over to Mataka and begins talking to her. "Wu-Anno will almost certainly attempt to drop us into the Abyss." Windir> Mataka boggles, then says, "And how exactly am I supposed to stop that?" Windir> Kodachi calls Nixon over, then Nixon huddles with her, Yuki, and Atleby around Withywindle and Trust on the floor. They lay the other logrus foils on the ground (except one which Loewen keeps), and then begin a magical working as best they can. Kodachi also turns and throws the Heart into the middle of the star which shines in the center of the temple. It swells in size, and the power from it visibly grows. Kunou kneels by Nausicaa and Kaede, tending their wounds as best he can. Eowyn tosses healings from her ring onto them. [[More mental consoling sex]] [[And more considerable sex]] [[And more grappling sex]] [[singing sex, anybody?]] Windir> More power flows into the shield, and other workings build as well. Those who can't cast spells pace in nervous panic. Windir> Far away, Not-Wu-Anno frowns, and turns to the Logrus. "Can we send reinforcements in time?" Windir> The Logrus replies, "I ThInK thERe Is No CHOiCE. I WilL DeFEnD MySElF. Go, FIgHT him." Windir> Not-Wu-Anno nods and vanishes riding a Logrus tendril. [[Dare to be sexual]] [[These sexual scenes brought to you by House Olympus and the Monks of Kundali]] [[Trainers of sex]] [[Educators of sex]] [[Should Kallisti ever find out about this place and their sexual antics, we'll never hear from her again.]] Windir> The temple rocks. Unseen by those inside, Not-Wu-Anno appears on the Serpent's back and whispers it into its ear. It turns and dives, and the Wu-Serpent gives chase. [[Up the down sexual staircase]] Windir> The others in the room run about, casting spells and fretting with great power. [[Mindsharing sex]] Windir> Far outside the Temple, Wu-Anno begins firing Logrusfoils at the Serpent and Not-Wu-Anno as they dive at him with the Wu-Serpent, now growing weaker, in pursuit. The Serpent, guided by Not-Wu-Anno, twists and bends and dodges them all, and they begin slamming into the not so good at dodging Wu-Serpent. [[You guessed it, more sex]] [[Have you tried Sex today?]] [[Even during this dire circumstance, we have sex]] Windir> There is a wink, and Wu-Anno, far outside, vanishes. Windir> Not-Wu-Anno frowns, then whispers to the Serpent and vanishes as well. The Serpent turns on the ever-weakening Wu-Serpent and attacks in a berserkergang. [[Revelatory sex]] [[And you're one sharp cookie. Sex]] [[Aren't you tired about reading about Sex yet?]] [[But then again, popular culture has always been of two minds about Sex.]] Windir> And over the city of Rebma, Wu-Anno appears. Windir> Kodachi casts a spell, and Nausicaa and Kaede quietly vanish, sent away to safety via her spikard. Windir> Yuki looks up at the shining star, and begins to breathe heavily, then turns and gazes at Lord Atleby. Her hand comes down to her belt, and begins to tug it open. Her face set, she advances on him. Windir> And then Wu-Anno descends like a rocket at Lucien, even as a giant Gabrielle tries to rise up out of the palace and discovers that trying to do this underwater...DOESN'T WORK WELL. Windir> Motoko sits up, taking Mitsune's hand in hers, heaving out great breaths. She stretches out her other hand towards Moonshade and Davros. "Now," she says huskily. "All of us together, to bring life again to this world." Windir> Kanna OOCly notices the time, glrgs, and head out. night. Windir> Atleby fails to notice the incoming Yuki, until the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Windir> Eowyn sees this, and begins breathing hard herself. Her eyes track over the men in the room, and then she spots Kunou. She leaps over in a single nimble leap, then gazes into his eyes. He stares at her like a deer in headlights for a moment, then smiles and pulls off his belt and pulls her into an embrace. Windir> Taking each other by the hand, Moonshade and Davros quickly sprint over to Motoko's altar. [[And well, from here, you can probably guess the subject matter in the Temple of the Serpent. Three letters, starts with an 'S', ends with an 'x'. Yup, it's SEX!]] [[Shapeshifting sex]] [[Discussing sex matters]] [[Carrying sex]] [[Desperate sex]] Windir> And then Kodachi sees all this, and says softly to the sky, "My husband, I hope you will not take offense at this. I will always love you. But I must do this, or go mad. It has been so long..." She shivers, and then she turns and strides over to Loewen, who is trying very intensely to not watch any of this. She slides a hand along Loewen's arm. "Lord Loewen, would you join with me? Let us be in unison, as our houses have long been allied." [[talkin' bout SEX!]] Windir> Mataka wimpers. "Hoji. Hoji. Only think of Hoji. I'm going to go mad AND DIE! HOJI, WHY DIDN'T YOU COME WITH ME?????" [[similies about Sex]] [[Yet more allegory about sex]] Windir> On the Rebman battlefield, Lucien pulls his sword out from a dead Wu. He blinks, then, as from somewhere high above comes the strains of 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again'. Frowning, he looks up. Windir> Above him, Wu-Anno, straddling a huge bomb, whoops and waves his cowboy hat over his head. And plummets. Very, very quickly. [[Yet more mental sex]] Windir> Loewen says softly, "It has been decades, Lady Kodachi. And your husband is so recently buried. And you see what I have become." He holds out his arms. "I am no fit partner for a beautiful woman like yourself." [[Differences in technique sex]] [[and clarifications on sex]] Windir> Kodachi says, "Lord Loewen, my husband used to turn into a whirling cloud of razors. Do you turn into a whirling cloud of razors at odd moments, reducing the bed to ribbons?" Windir> Lord Loewen says a little nervously, "Not that I know of." Windir> Kodachi undoes her belt and opens her robes. "Then let us forget our pains and loss together. For I have been a monster, and love redeemed me. And you still bear your scars, but I do not care, for I will not flinch to show you mine." Windir> Loewen gives a groan, and tosses his Logrusfoils to Lincoln. "I expect to get those back, Lincoln!" and then his eyes flash and he pulls Kodachi into a passionate embrace. She gestures with ehr spikard and his clothing flies off. Windir> Yuki's naginata flashes, slicing off Atleby's clothing. He stares at her in shock, and then she's onto him. [[Martial people and their sexual desires]] [[Next time on the Chaos News Network -- ressurecting the universe with sex]] [[Aren't you tired hearing about sex now?]] Windir> Nixon turns and looks at Grant. Grant says, "HELL NO. Stay away from me!" He starts backing up as Nixon advances towards him. Windir> Jackson has more sipping Logrus. "Good thing I'm not a randy drunk," he observes. Windir> Mataka shouts, "DAMMIT! I NEED HOJI AND I NEED HIM NOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!" [[At least there's comedy beats among the sex]] [[And it's sex for a good purpose. Really.]] Windir> Many other couples now writhe on the floor. Windir> Mataka begins shouting at the spikards, "IF ANYONE CAN HEAR ME, SEND ME HOJI NOW!!!!!!!" [[Would we lie about... SEX?]] [[At least I'm not a robotic head stuck with repressed sexual desires for eternity.]] Windir> And then you hear the voice of Morgenstern. Windir> Morgenstern says, "Is Hoji that kinda weasely dude?" Windir> Mataka shouts, "I don't know who you are, but he is NOT WEASELY!!!!!!" [[Though at this point, 790's Sexual drives are a moot point.]] Windir> And far away, outside of New Rebma, Wu-Anno shines like the sun. [[It's near the end of the sex scene, really.]] [[Light on our feet sex]] Windir> Morgenstern says, "Right, hold on, lemme see if I can find 'em." [[Starry sex]] Windir> A wave of destruction races over the armies towards New Rebma. And the power of the Water Jewel rises up to meet it. [[Group sex]] [[Let's face it, it's the most massive sex orgy I've ever seen.]] Windir> And then Hoji pops out of Ouroubous, and lands on Mataka, shouting, "No! Lord Loewen-sama said I had to lead the defenses of...Mataka, what are you doing here?" Windir> Mataka grins a hungry smile. Windir> Mataka says, "Three guesses, and the last two don't count!" Windir> And then she demonstrates how fast someone with high strength can get a man out of a suit. [[Unison sex. Coming up on the grand climax! (sorry about the pun)]] Windir> Chaos meets Order at the gates of New Rebma, and Chaos rages its madness, tainted by the Abyss. Order calls upon the strength of the tides, the mysteries of the seas. And Chaos begins to recede. Windir> Couples writhe together all around them, passion feeding into the star which shines high above. Windir> The star grows brighter and brighter. The sign of Kundali around it writhes in abandon. Windir> The four on the altar feel their minds dissolving, their oppositions uniting to form the whole, the passionate embrace of Order and Chaos which shields the world from the darkness which lurks outside it. The creative union of opposites. [[And --- YAHTZEE!!! HAH! you thought I was going to mention SEX, were yo---drat!]] Windir> The star builds, brighter and brighter and brighter. Windir> Narya spreads his arms wide and becomes Mitsune becomes Moonshade becomes Motoko becomes Davros becomes Isiewen becomes Isillome becomes Melokewen becomes Loewen becomes Kodachi becomes Atleby becomes Yuki becomes Kunou becomes Eowyn becomes Hoji becomes Mataka becomes... Windir> Order drives forth from Rebma, driving back Chaos, driven by the power of the Blue Knight and by Nagisa, who sweats bullets as he holds the Water Jewel and Gabrielle holds him and they pour everything they have into it. Windir> And then the world of the dead rises in your sight. Windir> A parched and barren land, for its Serpent has fallen to darkness, and it has been tainted and consumed and turned into a world of the undead. Windir> And you all become part of the star, and the star rises into the sky, and the Wu-Serpent howls, and falls to the coils of Siva Windir> And Siva joins with the star. Windir> And then the Star goes nova, and the power of the Serpent washes over the land. Black and white and grey bloom into color. Windir> And the world is reborn. The power rushes out across shadow in a great wave, a shadow storm that brings life instead of death. Windir> And the fallen Wu-Serpent's skin begins to writhe Windir> And to fill itself once more. Windir> Motoko glides over the remade world, a wave of light, resisting for the moment the tug back towards her body, revelling in the magnificence of what has been accomplished. Windir> And all the world is born anew. Windir> And far, far across shadow, the wave meets another wave, a wave of newborn Pattern, and collides with it, and they embrace. Windir> And the armies of Wu-Chaos are transformed, falling unconscious as their Wu-souls burn away, then reviving as their old souls are released from their imprisonment. Windir> All the minds of those within the rite glide across the land. For a moment, something which might have been Davros gestures at a certain lonely desert, and it blooms with flowers, and a pillar appears. Windir> A part of a part that might be Motoko casts down a spear upon a barren space of blank sea. Islands rise, teeming with green life. Windir> The last tides of Chaos recede, and the folk within Rebma steel themselves to gaze on the battle field. Windir> Mitsune tweaks the fabric of shadow, and a pleasant beach house arises. Windir> Moonshade sings the Ainudaile, and Arda is reborn as the Ainur join her song. Windir> And then, the souls are drawn back to their bodies, having seen the world reborn. Windir> Motoko gasps as she flies back into her body and sits up on the altar. Windir> Moonshade cuddles up to Motoko. Mitsune twists to sit in Narya's lap, cuddled up to him. Windir> Motoko puts her arm around Moonshade and kisses her cheek. "We did it, Isillome," she says softly. "We did it." Windir> Many other couples groan and sit up together. Grant finally smacks Nixon upside the head, saying, "STOP CALLING ME DESMONDA!!!!!" Windir> Andy Jackson says, "The boss is gonna regret he missed seeing this." Windir> Lincoln says, "I regret no one told me to bring my wife." Windir> Morgenstern . o O (Don't find my cameras yet...don't find the cameras yet...) Windir> Motoko hops off the altar and lands delicately on the floor, looking quite unashamed of her nakedness. "Thank you, all of you," she says formally, but with great joy. "The Serpent has blessed our efforts and made his light to shine upon us. May he shine even brighter upon those who made the ultimate sacrifice to bring us to this point." A wave of sadness passes across her face for a moment. "Death has no dominion here any longer." Windir> Motoko says, "Let us cleanse ourselves, and go out to the new world." Windir> Motoko says, "There is still much work to do." Windir> Narya, Mitsune, and Moonshade jump down and join Motoko, smiling brightly. Narya takes Motoko's hand, then Mitsune's, then grows a third arm so he can take Moonshade's hand too. "Yes, let us cleanse ourselves so we can go forth." He glances at all the other couples. "Before the line forms." He winks. Windir> Motoko murmurs, "You're the one with the spikard, dear Narya." Windir> Narya laughs. Then he gestures at the 'bathhouse' which was set up earlier. Hot soapy water rises up and settles down on everyone, and starts scrubbing people of its own accord. Windir> Kodachi smiles and gestures, and Ouroubous flies onto her hands. And then she gestures and cold water begins to fly about, rinsing in the aftermath of the hot soapy water. Windir> Motoko giggles and turns from side to side, quickly cleaning herself. Then she begins pulling on her regular clothing. Slowly, she begins to look around. At all the people in the Chapel with them. "A bit more of an audience than I expected," she says softly. She looks around at them again, then says, with some sadness, "Number the fallen for me, please." Windir> Motoko says, "And name them." Windir> Loewen stands, holding Kodachi with one arm. Or perhaps she stands, holding him up. Then Loewen says, "Too many to list by name have fallen. So I will speak only of those who I know you know, and who I know for sure have perished." Windir> Loewen says, "Suroth felled Morgan. She died fighting, in the way of a true warrior." Windir> Motoko closes her eyes. "It was how Morgan would have wanted it," she says quietly. "Though I would rather she had not fallen at all." Windir> Kodachi says softly, "Princess Hiko sacrificed herself to defeat Suroth." Windir> Loewen says, "The blood of Chaos flowed in their veins. They both died bravely, fighting against the enemies of the Serpent. Whatever their past sins, I am sure the Serpent has gathered them into his Nest, to hold and comfort them until it is time for them to put on new flesh." Windir> Mataka says, "Buchanan, Taft, Roosevelt, and Coolidge all gave their lives helping us to defend the chapel after we had secured it." Windir> Loewen says,"I fear some of my Ten Swords have fallen, but I was not able to confirm any deaths." Windir> Motoko shudders at the news of Hiko's death. "Both of them... I can't..." She turns and leans heavily against Davros. "I am sure they fought valiantly," she says softly. "I am only sorry I could not have fought beside them." She nods to Mataka. "I will remember their names as well, Mataka." Windir> Motoko takes a heavy breath. "Let us go up and see what this world has become, then, my friends." Windir> Atleby says, "We managed to save Kaede and Nausicaa, but it was REALLY close." Windir> Motoko pauses and looks over at Yuki and Atleby. "I know everyone here but you," she says slowly to Atleby. Windir> Davros embraces Motoko firmly. "The Serpent will hold them and comfort them, my love. All those who fell." Windir> Motoko whispers fiercely, "I will remember them. All of them." She shakes with repressed grief and fury. "What am I to tell Aunt Juri?" she says, with something close to despair. Windir> Atleby wilts slightly under the gaze, seeming to suddenly realize he's naked with a muscular blonde half curled around him. He says softly, "I am one of Lady Kodachi's retainers, Bride of the Dragon. I am a third cousin..." He pauses. "Or maybe it's a second cousin once removed. Anyway, I am a distant relation of Lady Talia, through her father, Lord Alars. Umm, anyway, I am Lord Atleby of House Alars. It's...a pleasure to meet you. Windir> Mitsune's fox ears pop up at the name. Windir> Davros holds Motoko tightly. "I do not know, beloved. But we can tell her together. I fear this is not the end of the fallen." Windir> Motoko looks over at Lord Atleby and smiles. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Alteby," she says. "I saw a little of your work from the walls. You were most valiant." She looks at Yuki and winks. Windir> Yuki blushes. "Tir'na'nog knew better than we thought, I think. Windir> Mitsune says, "Going to write a book about all this, hmm, Lord Atleby?" Windir> Lord Atleby says, "Hmm, a book. That could be fun. I always wanted to write a book." Windir> Motoko asks, "So it seems." She begins to walk towards the main doors of the Cathedral, arm in arm with Davros. "Be sure to put some clothing on before you come outside, all right?" Windir> Mitsune says, "Time to unnaughty the diorama." Windir> She giggles. Windir> And the four of you stride out into the sunlight as behind you, many people get dressed desperately. Windir> Motoko says, "The night is over." She pauses. "For us, at least." Windir> You can see ex-Wu Chaosians staggering confusedly to their feet, as the survivors of your army gaze about in wonder. Windir> Davros says, "And for many others as well. They are finally free, after four hundred years of slavery." Windir> Motoko says, "Though for some, no new day will ever dawn. At least not in this world." All the same, she looks about in wonder, searching especially for faces she knows. Windir> Davros says, "I know, my love, I know." Windir> Mitsune sniffs the air. "You can smell the flowers," she says softly. Windir> Motoko sniffs as well, looking rather dazed. "Indeed. You can." She starts searching for Dios. Windir> You spot Dios, standing in the center of the Plaza of the Serpent, his hands held up to the sky, gazing upwards with a look of incredulous joy on his face. Windir> Motoko moves towards him, smiling. Windir> Dios turns and sees the four of you approach. He smiles broadly. "Princess Motoko. Princess Moonshade. Davros the Stylite. Countess Mitsune. Welcome and well met you are." Windir> Motoko says, "Dios-sama." She looks up at the sky and says, softly, "This day has been a long time in coming." Windir> Dios says, "My nightmare is finally over. I can hardly believe it is all real." Windir> He says, "To finally see my land restored after four hundred years." Windir> Motoko says, "It was..." She looks around at her partners, smiling. "It was the most incredible experience of my life, what we just did. The power of it... and everything coming free... four hundred years of winter put to end..." Windir> Davros says, "To think we were a part of it..." Windir> Mitsune says, "We came, we came, we kicked ass and took names." Windir> Motoko says, "I feel very relaxed right now. Very good." She looks down at a rainbow-coloured flower sprouting from between the cobblestones of the Plaza of the Serpent. "In a little while it will hit me fully how many have died that we might do this, and then I know that a very dark grief will descend upon me, but right now..." She turns her face back upwards, to feel the sun upon it. "Right now, I feel very good." Windir> Dios says, "You have restored the land to which I have dedicated my life since I was born, Motoko of Amber, Bride of the Serpent. I owe you a debt I fear I may never be able to repay." Windir> Dios says, "You have been told of Jacqui's success in drawing a Primal Pattern?" Windir> Motoko stares, then shakes her head. "No... no, we had not." Her smile broadens. "That is wonderful news." Windir> Dios says, "Apparently, they slew nine or ten of Hel's Wu without suffering a single casualty of their own leadership." Windir> Motoko winces just slightly. "They seem to have done better than we did, then," she says softly. She bows her head and says something under her breath, too softly for anyone else to hear. Windir> Dios says, "There was a glorious victory by your parents at Shamber as well." Windir> Motoko says, "We heard of that as we performed the Ritual of Cleansing." She takes a deep breath. "I do believe we are winning." Windir> He continues, "Hel's forces are reeling. And I believe Drake has already unleashed his forces to try to strike the death blows. Very soon, it will all be over." Windir> Moonshade says, "Woo woo! My sis kicks ASS!!!!!!" Windir> Motoko nods. "With her hold on Chaos broken, she has lost a great deal of her strength. All those who wage war against our Courts must now be free as well." Windir> Dios nods. "Exactly. We can turn the strength of Chaos, refreshed by those now redeemed, upon her remaining armies of enslaved Amberites. She cannot hope to stand against us." Windir> Motoko says, "This does not mean we can be idle, however." She shades her eyes against the sun with one hand. "Storms still are coming, and we must prepare to meet them." Windir> Dios nods. "Yes, we must gather our forces and prepare to march." Windir> Motoko asks, softly, "Upon Hel's Amber?" Windir> Dios nods. "Yes. Although I suspect there's a large chance that Drake and Jacqueline will finish off Hel before we even get within eyeshot of her." Windir> Motoko says, "Yes. It will be too long a march for us to reach it in time to be of use, I imagine. A small group via magic or trump, perhaps, but all the army..." She looks around at all the intermingled Chaosians, former Wu and those who fought against them. "Look how swiftly they have come together as brothers and sisters, when just minutes ago they fought each other desperately," she says softly. "Surely this is the Serpent's miracle at work, the rebirth we were promised." Windir> Dios says, "No one can resist the Serpent's love." He smiles. "Even before Hel came, we were rarely this happy." Windir> Mitsune says, "I'll never forget this day." Windir> Davros says, "In the Serpent, all become one, and one become many, ever changing and flowing into and out of each other. For we are many children, but with one Father." Windir> Motoko laughs softly at Dios's words. "I don't think it will last. It never does. But for now, we can enjoy the moment." She puts her arm around Mitsune. "Neither will I. What a... well... what an experience." Windir> Mitsune grins. "What an experience. I wonder if it'll be this good NEXT year when we do it again." Windir> Davros says, "Hopefully, we won't have to do it as armies rage around us." Windir> Motoko says, "I very much hope I shall never again have to perform sex acts in a combat situation, yes." Windir> Motoko says, "Unless it's against some kind of strange monster that can only be defeated by sex acts." Windir> Moonshade says, "Ack...I just realized that diorama is still set up in my room in Castle Amber where the staff will find it." Windir> Motoko says, "As I know they must exist in Shadow somewhere." Windir> Davros says deadpan, "The great beast Selibasse." Windir> Motoko pales slightly. "But we unnaughtied it, didn't we?" Windir> Moonshade says, "I can't remember!" Windir> Motoko begins to look panicked, then takes a deep breath and relaxes. "Well, it could hardly remain a secret for long, considerng the audience we had, and the fact that Morgenstern was likely filming everything." Windir> Davros says, "I can't imagine how Morgenstern could have reached through and watched, though." Windir> Mitsune says, "He probably somehow tapped Breath and used it as a camera." Windir> Motoko says, "I'll make a fuss over it later, when I go back to being my usual uptight self." Windir> Mitsune kisses Motoko's cheek. "You're cute when you're uptight. But it's kind of neat to see you relax for once too." Windir> Motoko says, "I feel very relaxed right now. Actually, I feel like..." Windir> Motoko whispers into Mitsune's ear. Windir> Mitsune whispers back to Motoko and grins. Windir> Motoko giggles and looks ashamed of herself. Windir> Moonshade says, "C'mon, share the naughtiness, Motoko." Windir> Davros says, "We have to wait until King Dios isn't watching to share our naughtiness." He laughs. Windir> Motoko says, "Er. Yes. For purposes of propiety. Ahem." She adopts a stiff posture. "No public naughtiness. It is very inappropriate." Windir> Dios smiles. "If you need to writhe in abandonment some more, don't let me keep you." He makes little shooing gestures. "We could all use a little R&R." Windir> Motoko looks tempted for a moment, then shakes her head. "No. No writhing in abandonment until this is all over. What we should do is go and prepare spells to help defend against the Shadow storms that will otherwise sweep over the armies on their march to Amber and do great damage to them." Windir> Dios nods. "I will consult with Loewen, and we will prepare all of the Logrus masters to do their part as well." Windir> Motoko says, "What we did, I will not deny it was a great pleasure for us all. But we did it as part of the battle. It was our war effort. Until this war is over..." She nods. "I expect you may find him somewhat more agreeable than usual." Windir> Davros says, "More spell racking. Well, if it must be, then let us be to it." Windir> And you go to it, as the DM must stop for MASS! Windir> EXTREME CATHOLIC MASS ACTION!!!!! BABY!!!!!