Kanna OOCly takes a deep breath. Righto. Onward the Kanna Korps goes a-riding. Said Korps currently consists of : Kanna, Beowulf, Shinobu Minor, Moonshade, Sumire, Kozue, Touga, Mia, Vash, Misaki, Lily, Mitsune, Gabrielle, Drake. What day are we on, currently? Kanna OOCly says, "Oh, and the little Chibi-Dinoguy has become our mascot, unless Mitsune felt it'd be better for him to stay back in the reformed Dinosaur World. Unless that'd be cruel." Kanna OOCly says, "(as he's smaller and more intelligent than most of the critters -there-...)" Mitsune says, "Mitsune thinks it's best to take the little guy along, as she lacks the knowledge to teach him to survive there." Kanna OOCly says, "Ookidoke. Yay! He's cute." Beowulf says, "OOC raise 'em right and they're yours for life? :)" Mitsune asks, "OOC Okay, so what you gonna do?" Beowulf asks, "OOC Wanted to ask Drake what it was like being in the construct... was he aware? How much of his mind/memories could the construct tap, or was it just his skills and abilities?" Mitsune says, "OOC Drake has no idea. HE was in a haze the whole time and only has the vaguest idea of what it could extract." Kanna OOCly says, "Actually, Kanna's curious as to what his intentions were when he walked the pattern and dropped out, first, and how he got captured by the Cyberpope." Beowulf says, "OOC Right. Was hoping he might be able to give us some idea of whether Wakaba would let it recognize me on sight and dispell any little toys I have on sight." Mitsune says, "OOC Drake doesn't want to talk about what he was doing, but he tells you that he got suckered by the Cyberpope, who managed to take control of Drake's spikard and poisoned him." Mitsune says, "OOC As he walked into a trap shadow set up by the man." Beowulf asks, "OOC He have any idea how the Cyberpope was able to take control of his spikard?" Mitsune says, "OOC Drake tells you that most likely if their foe has any sense at all, he's already rifled through Wakaba's brain in some manner." Mitsune says, "OOC Drake tells you that like any artifact, spikards are vulnerable to appropriate magic, and he hadn't learned enough magic to know how to fight it off." Beowulf OOCly nods. Beowulf says, "OOC Something to think about." Kanna OOCly apologies, and thwaps the net connection about. The_Prof pages, "So looks like I'll have to worry about instant dispell on my items. :p Oh, well." to you. Mitsune says, "OOC Kozue and Touga tell you that they both know enough to try to hack into a spikard, but it's a rather dangerous exercise, as most people who have spikards will notice hacking unless you are much more subtle than they. This makes Drake frown a bit." Beowulf asks, "OOC Hmmm. Could they teach you how to detect/stop hacking, in the event that we do pick up a spikard?" Kanna OOCly Figured as much for Uncle Drake, but that's good info, yes. Kanna digests this info, but hopefully the inclusion of Mia and Misaki will add a bit of an unknown variable. And truthfully, I'd advise NO wearing or use of spikards that get found/picked up. No wear, no risk. Beowulf says, "OOC No wear until they're thoroughly checked out, yup." Mitsune says, "OOC If you have enough sorcery to detect the hacking, you'll know how to do it already. If you don't have sorcery, you can't really prevent a spikard you're wearing being hacked,." Kanna OOCly tries to think of other issues to worry about while they're moving out and stuff. Hopefully Mikage 'n Falme will be trumping to join 'em... doubt we'll need to call in Misato now, given the massive group of people we've got already. Beowulf says, "OOC Was wondering if anyone present had any Elder Sign objects, as they might be needed to destroy the construct; was what finally whacked Ebenscrux. Or, alternatively, whether anyone had any better way to nuke it than hacking on it with patternblades. I'd suspect Sumire's blade might be able to make a dent on it, and Drake's pblade, but not sure what else here would." Beowulf says, "OOC Though since Bey's acid and explosive paintballs are at least made with alchemy instead of conjuration, at least they can't be dispelled." Mitsune says, "OOC Touga points at the Eye of Metal that Gabrielle is carrying. "If that can't destroy it, then we're all dead anyway."" Beowulf OOCly grins. "Point." Beowulf says, "OOC Though the acid balls, at least, might be helpful for zapping shackles/etc. at a distance when trying to release folk. Depends on how this construct is put together." Kanna OOCly says, "Actually, right, couple things. Does Uncle Drake have a TRump Deck? If not, time to get him an updated new one." Mitsune says, "OOC HE needs a new one; his old one is lost." Kanna OOCly says, "Time to get Gaby to give 'm a new one, then." Kanna OOCly says, "I could also have Gaby trump me one of those Elder Sign crossbows again, though as advised from her before, it isn't a hyper-potent item. Hackmaster can help in general killing, but as it's still conjoured, well... If it goes pif, it goes pif." Kanna OOCly says, "Good question, what was the interior setup of Ebenscrux, or did you not see that part?" Beowulf says, "OOC Are the Elder Sign crossbows conjured? Still, if they've got elder signs on 'em, would be hard to dispell with Outsider sorcery." Kanna OOCly says, "(ie, relation of center of construct and the part where folks get strapped in, etc.)" Beowulf says, "OOC By the time I got there, it was already gone. I heard it was like a giant cross, with the captives crucified on the crossbar, IIRC." Kanna OOCly says, "I believe they were built over long periods... I've never been clear on the specifics, not conjured up. MAgic was a part of their construction, tho, I beleive." Beowulf says, "OOC Therefore I don't believe we'll find something similar here. :) John did tell Drew that he could have used his high warfare to shoot out the nails holding the captives in place." Kanna OOCly says, "Right. A lot of this, I suspect, will be playing by ear. *wl*" Mitsune says, "OOC Hehe." Beowulf asks, "OOC Well, if they weren't conjured up, I doubt they could be dispelled... John?" Mitsune says, "I think they're not conjured." Beowulf OOCly nods. "Right. Can't depend on 'em utterly, but they should be OK." Kanna OOCly nods. Get gaby to provide a few of those, though of course we can't overdepend, either, and there's only so many hands we've got. Oh yes, one other thing while we're on the thing of equiment -- the rings, bracers, and gauntlets Kanna snagged after taking out the KoDT. After having gotten them analyzed, who among our group would benefit from using them the most? Beowulf says, "OOC And anything with an Elder Sign on it should make the Outsiders' day unhappy. :)" Mitsune says, "OOC I don't have my notes on those items handy, unfortunately. ^^;;;" Moriya OOCly says, "Bad GM. No biscuit." Mitsune says, "OOC Given the number of NPCs I'm going to have to handle, giving them more items is only going to likely make me forget more things, unfortunately. ^^;;;" Beowulf says, "OOC Awwww. ^_^" Kanna OOCly says, "Pfeh. Well, figure they get distributed as needed if warranted. :) That about settles things for that then... guess we ride out. What day are we on, now? (riding is currently nigh-Hellride speeds (given the # of folks), towards the Tenjou Trio now. Break for breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc, as needed.)" Mitsune says, "OOC Gimme a second to go play with the Timeline." Kanna OOCly nods. Beowulf says, "OOC Don't forget to stop just at the edge of the shadow it's in, so we can decide whether to try that sorcerous contact idea or not." Kanna OOCly says, "Well, yes. I figure we may even get a bit of early-warning, if the place around the thin-guy's shadow has the same black-sand/drained-energy shadow perimiter effect." Beowulf OOCly nods. Mitsune says, "OOC Day 37" Kanna OOCly says, "Okay, so my estimates were a few days off. So we reached DinoWorld the 36th, then?" Mitsune says, "OOC Yes." Mitsune asks, "OOC What was your estimate?" Kanna OOCly says, "Figured we'd gotten there at day 35." Kanna OOCly says, "I'll shuffle my personal timeline a lil' bit, then. What day was the ninja attack?" Mitsune says, "OOC Nope. Beowulf doesn't leave Chaos until the 36th, so it would be rather tricky for you to get to Dinoworld before he left Chaos to join you :)" Beowulf says, "OOC Oops. ^-^;;" Kanna OOCly says, "Ah-hah. *wl* Righto. Okay. Neg Probs." Mitsune says, "OOC day 36." Kanna OOCly says, "Guess that means the folks didn't get out and started until day 35, then. I can work with that. Makes sense, especially with Drake joining the group." Mitsune says, "OOC Since you waited to leave until news of the Ebenscrux fight, and since that was day 34, but the news wasn't reported until morning of the 35th..." Mitsune says, "OOC IIRC, anyway." Mitsune says, "OOC Though maybe it was late 34th when you got the news." Kanna OOCly says, "Yup. It works out." Kanna OOCly says, "Kanna got the news late 34th." Mitsune asks, "OOC So what's the plan for heading to find Utena?" Kanna OOCly says, "As Bey was still pretty beat up." Beowulf says, "OOC Well, we could either shadowwalk to the place Utena was teleported to, or to the place she's at now. o.o" Kanna OOCly says, "Basically, at the moment, as mentioned... near Hellride speed to reach the Tenjou Trio, heading off into Shadow from DinoWorld, unless folks have better ideas on how to approach this." Beowulf says, "OOC That was one good thing about Ebenscrux... we had a fair amount of advance intelligence about the shadow from Anno." Kanna OOCly says, "As I'm operating under the assumption that they'd be grouped together to be plugged in together, Hellride to get there quick, BUT willing to cut speed drastically if it looks like we're about to get into trouble. AS we do have the problem we have no idea where they -are- or what the shadow'll be like." Mitsune says, "OOC Righto. " Beowulf says, "OOC Works for me." ======= ======= You take off hellriding, then. ======= ======= Mitsune says, "OOC Well, near-hellriding :)" Kanna OOCly says, "Oh, that's a good question for Bey. Where 'zactly -was- Ebesncrux in relation to Amber/Chaos, approx believed travel time, anyway?" Kanna OOCly says, "As Dinosaur World was 2 weeks/Two DAys out from Amber." Beowulf asks, "OOC Good question, since IIRC we trumped in pretty close to it, and trumped back out to Gainax. John?" Mitsune says, "OOC Ebenscrux was at about the mid-point 'tween the realms." Kanna OOCly nods. Right. Mitsune asks, "OOC Okay, ready to ride?" Kanna OOCly nods. Into the Valley of Weirdness, rode the fourteen.... Beowulf OOCly takes off Spending Time in Preparation and puts Live in Baghdad back on. ======= ======= The first day takes you through endless rainforests and seemingly endless rain. Kanna weathers the rain stoically. She's a Princess of Ember, with a good 4-6 decades of Shadow Travel under her belt. She does mutter occasionally good-naturedly about it, though. Beowulf shrugs and smiles slightly, having been through it quite a bit before himself. On the second day, the rain slacks off. The full moon hangs high in the sky, and wolves howl in the distance. ====== ====== Kanna OOCly says, "Do they sound hostile, or just generic wolves and stuff?" ====== ====== As you ride along, Drake announces, "We're being stalked by werewolves. They're likely going to try to herd us into a shadow trap." Beowulf hmms. "Should we just go ahead and take care of them first, then?" Kanna raises an eyebrow at that, and wordlessly draws her Caine Dagger, shifting it to crossbow form. Can she pick up where the werewolves are from her Lore Of Arden skills? Beowulf checks the watch to see what powers are active. All powers work here, time is one minute = one Amber Minute. ====== ====== Beowulf asks, "OOC Or Bey, from his 'at-home-in-shadow' skills?" ====== ====== Packs of werewolves are in front of you, behind you, and to the left. Many, many packs. There's probably some two hundred wolves or werewolves out there. The rest of your group draw weapons and ready spells. Drake says, "We need to draw a few of them out so we can tell how tough they are, so we know whether to fight or run." Beowulf nods. "Hmmm, who's the fastest runner in the group? Or do you have a better suggestion?" ====== ====== Kanna OOCly says, ".... whooooboy. WHat'd be a good way to draw 'em out?" Mitsune says, "OOC Send someone out alone who can run fast so they try to pick them off. " Mitsune says, "OOC Who can then lead some of them into sight of y'all." Kanna OOCly says, "Eeeehhhheh." Kanna OOCly says, "Iiiii get a feeling I know who -That- is gonna be..." ====== ====== Kanna continues to look thoughtfully around the dark landscape. ====== ====== Mitsune says, "OOC Or find a way to yank some with magic to you." Kanna OOCly says, "Though try the magic option, first. Those with telekinetic spells, raise yer hands." You page, "Why do I get the feeling, with Kanna's Mad Strength, she's the fastest runner in the group? *wl*" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "You'd be right." to you. ====== ====== Mia spends a few minutes casting a spell to try and yank a werewolf to her. She concentrates, and then a hapless werewolf comes flying towards you through the trees. ====== ====== Beowulf asks, "OOC How far away is it? Far enough to try and stun it with the whip?" Mitsune says, "OOC Since she has the poor thing pinned telekinetically, she can move it to whatever range you want." Beowulf says, "OOC Right... let's see if we can stun it and do a little mind-read." Kanna OOCly says, "Oooo. Let Bey whip it to try and stun first. If not, Kanna can move in and clock it over the head with her fist, and -then- they try the mind-read." Kanna OOCly says, "Oh, patternsight it for Chaos blood and stuff, it it possibly has it." ====== ====== Kanna dismounts, ready to shoot at it with crossbow or to get in close for sword or staff or grapple. Beowulf cracks his whip at it. It goes limp. When you hit it, of course :) ====== ====== Kanna OOCly says, "Whee!" ======= ======= Beowulf asks, "Ahh... not too strong or tough, it appears. Care to do a little brainscan?" Drake cocks his head. "Sounds like they've decided that if we can do that, they might as well overrun us now." Soon you can all hear the sound of LOTS of wolves coming. Beowulf says, "Hmm, right." Kanna facepalms, and sighs. "Righto. Time to make the donuts. Places, people..." She gets back up onto her horse. "I get the feeling heading to the right will -not- be what we want to do in this case..." Beowulf says, "Well, we could either try to shift shadow to avoid 'em... or have us fighting types form a circle around the magi, so that they don't get hurt." ======= ======= Mitsune says, "OOC Brief pause for GM to start dinner cooking." Kanna OOCly says, "(200 wolves/werewolves -- 14 amberites. That comes to about 14 wolves per amberite.)" Tybalt wakes up. Kanna OOCly says, "'lo, Merc. Just in time to make Dog Chow, as it were." Gabrielle says, "OOC: Yay! I can burn things, and then burn them AGAIN." Beowulf says, "OOC Well, we've got werewolves, make of that what you will." Motoko exclaims, "OOC: You've Got Werewolves!" Moriya OOCly says, "Like getting email. Except your mail doesn't try to eat you." Beowulf says, "OOC WOL -- Werewolves OnLine. ^_^" Beowulf says, "OOC Though it's damp jungle, Merc, so you may not have much luck with the burning bit." Kanna OOCly says, "It's not raining, though." Kanna OOCly says, "But this is true, yes." Gabrielle says, "OOC: Oh, ye of little faith." Kanna OOCly says, "They're apprently trying to herd us into a shadow trap, given their arrangement, but on the flip side, one of Bey's whip-cracks knocked one out. So... we shall see." Gabrielle says, "OOC: I take it John has gone abreak." Beowulf says, "OOC Though since they're werewolves, hopefully a few folk have got silver. ^_^" Kanna OOCly Grins, and hefts her crossbows. Yup. Beowulf says, "OOC Though depending on how many we just knock out, and their strength of mind... might be fun to send a few back on their master." Gabrielle asks, "OOC: Anything else interesting happen?" Mitsune returns. Beowulf says, "OOC Not particularly yet." Kanna OOCly says, "Mostly Discussion on Plans Of What To Do When We GET to the thin-guy, etc. I'll fwd logs later." Okay, what's the plan? Kanna OOCly says, "How do Beowulf's ideas sound, given the intention of the wolves to herd us into a Shadow Trap." Mitsune says, "OOC You think running might well send you INTO the trap, since the only way to run is probably the direction they want to herd you." Beowulf OOCly nods... ayup. Mitsune says, "OOC Drake thinks the circle idea is best. " Beowulf says, "OOC How far away do they sound? Might be worthwhile to see if the magi can set up some outlying firetraps/etc., if there's enough time." Mitsune says, "OOC You don't really have enough time." Kanna OOCly says, "Right. Given the numbers of critters though, our general kickassness of our group, and our mages and stuff... Looks like wagon-train time. Fighters arranged to protect mages, mages ready to provide long range smiting (Mages == Mia, Touga, Lily, Gabrielle. Sumire is border-edge, so is Kozue and Mitsune, really.)" Beowulf says, "OOC Right. Well, circle the wagons, folks." Kanna OOCly says, "Righto. Oh, what's the terrain/environment around us... still rainforest, or has that changed? How big of a clearing, if any? Forest cover with us and outwards?" Beowulf says, "OOC Touga isn't much of a warfare person? " Kanna OOCly says, "He's good warfare, but his body isn't -quite- up to snuff anymore. :)" Mitsune says, "OOC What Phil said." Beowulf says, "OOC True. :)" Kanna OOCly says, "He's prolly border, if at that." Jacqueline says, "OOCly maybe he can talk them to defeat :)" Mitsune says, "OOC Touga took mega-losses on Strength and Endurance when he had a new body made for him." ======== ======== Beowulf hands Touga one of his airguns, if he doesn't have something similar. "The long-range weaponry might help." ======== ======== Beowulf says, "OOC As that'll let him use his warfare at a distance. :)" ======== ======== The magi quickly release protective spells for themselves. And then the wolves boil out of the trees. Gabrielle guestures with the EoM. "Damn Lycanthropes." Kanna opens up with a two-handed crossbow salvo first off (silver-head ammo, whee!), and then shifts to melee combat when it's time for things to go close-in. Beowulf uses the whip to try and catch as many of 'em in broad sweeps as he can, then switches to the jitte when they get too close. Then several rocks burst out of the ground, turn a silvery color, and explode into shrapnel. Beowulf blinks. "Well, that's one way to do things." Kanna leaves Gabrielle to her fun, as the silver-shrapnel won't get ALL the waves of werewolves. Drake points Greyswandir at the oncoming hordes and shouts what mages would recognize as lynchpins. Flames erupt from it at some of the onrushing werewolves. The damp forest fails to catch fire. Your mages begin raining down lightning and fire on the werewolves. Various of you fire crossbows, hosing down more werewolves with silver. ====== ====== Kanna OOCly says, "Werewindle." Kanna OOCly baps the GM. Mitsune says, "OOC AAAAHHH. Doh :)" Kanna OOCly says, "While I don't doubt Drake would like BOTH blades...." Beowulf OOCly says, "...that woudl be a bit piggish, wouldn't you agree? :)" Kanna OOCly says, "THis is uncle drake, who had a rivalry with uncle Derith on who deserved their patternblade more. :)" ====== ====== Many werewolves die, and then the front wave crashes against the line of warriors. Unfortunately for the werewolves, you're all stronger than they are, better fighters, and have many nasty nasty weapons. Kanna goes to weapon-against-werewolf, Hackmaster in one hand, staff in the other. She lays the smack down, righteously. Beowulf goes at them with the jitte. ====== ====== Kima pages, "Best make sure none escape, since the fact that they were stupid enough to attack head-on means that they likely didn't know who you were--but if any get back to the Gaunt Man, he'll know you're coming." to you, Mercutio and The_Prof. You page, "Righto." to Kima, Mercutio and The_Prof. ======= ======= Most of your horses get gutted, but the remaining werewolves die horribly, except for a few who manage to flee into the woods, or who face Beowulf and get knocked out instead of chopped to kibbles. None of you take more than a few annoying scratches. Gabrielle aims a few firebolts at the fleeing wolves. ====== ====== Beowulf asks, "OOC What are the chances of getting the ones who fled?" Beowulf asks, "OOC Say, with one of the semi-sentient chasing spells, like Mitsune's jello spell?" Mitsune says, "OOC In general, the ones who get away are running while you're still fighting the braver ones hand to hand." ====== ====== Kanna curses at the fleeing wolves, and estimates her chances of anybody getting the runs who've decided to run off. You think it would be too risky to split up to chase them in all the differnt directions they ran. ====== ====== Moriya OOCly says, "Getting the what? o.o" Kanna OOCly says, "GEtting the ones who've decided to run off." Moriya OOCly says, "Ah. That makes much more sense." Beowulf OOCly drats. Kanna OOCly says, "What about the homing-spell option?" Moriya OOCly says, "Leave them already. :) You've got more important things to do, and you've captured a few to interrogate." Mitsune says, "OOC Your mages in general don't have anything very useful for that racked, and by the time they cast it, it would be too late." Lucien OOC Howdy Beowulf asks, "OOC How many of the knocked-out ones are there?" Mitsune says, "OOC Howdy, Jeff." Beowulf OOCly waves to Jeff. Mitsune says, "OOC Hmm. Let's say 10 knocked out ones." Kanna OOCly says, "DArn. Righto. We'll need replacement conjured horses to replace the ones we lost... time for the mages to eat Werewolf brains, as it were." Kanna OOCly says, "How many do we estimate managed to get away?" Beowulf says, "OOC Right. And send 'em back... think we should send 'em to attack, or to spread contradictory stories? :)" Mitsune says, "OOC Maybe 20 or so. There's over a hundred and fifty corpses littering the ground." Kanna OOCly mmms. Depends on how intelligent these yahoos are as it is. ====== ====== Your mages scan werewolf brains. They believe you are all a horrible offense to the forest spirits, and therefore had to die. As you are evil humans. ======= ======= Beowulf asks, "OOC Anything about the homing/trap aspect?" Mitsune says, "OOC They were trying to herd you off a cliff." Kanna OOCly says, "WEll, that wasn't particularly polite of 'em." Kanna OOCly says, "Who're the forest spirits?" Beowulf says, "OOC Or at least what *they* thought was a cliff. :)" Mitsune says, "OOC Your basic animist nature spirit set." Mitsune says, "OOC They see themselves as protecting the nature spirits from evil humans who destroy everything that lives." Moriya OOCly says, "Pity you didn't have Shizu along with you. o.o" Kanna OOCly sighs, and nods. Any way we can get a scanning spell off towards the right, see if there's a cliff there off a ways? ======= ======= Your mages cook up a simple scrying spell. They report there is a cliff off that direction. ======= ======= Beowulf OOCly shrugs. "Time to move on, I suppose." Whatcha going to do with the ones you knocked out? Kanna OOCly says, "Righto. So it's 50 percent chance this was random shadow occurance, and 50 percent that they were set up to try and trap us. Or the shadows around our destination have been shifted and changed to make this stort of occurance more probable as a 'natural' defense." Kanna OOCly is seriously tempted to have somebody summon up ear tags and radio collars, but drops the idea. :) Mitsune says, "OOC HEh." Beowulf says, "OOC We've gotten about as much out of their brains as we're likely to... Hmm. Could we mind-control 'em enough to use 'em as canon fodder? :)" Kanna OOCly images us getting home, and Corrine going. "Kanna! You and your pets!" Mitsune says, "OOC Yes, you could turn them into Cannon Fodder." Beowulf says, "OOC Any objections? Or d'you think it'd be safer to just let 'em go with a compulsion to treat future visitors nice? :)" Mitsune says, "OOC IF you're concerned about niceness, letting them go would be better." Beowulf says, "OOC Well, right, right... they did attack us, but I suppose it was just their nature." Kanna OOCly says, "Works for me, though there's always a risk of the mind-control being negated. In that case, let 'em go back home to their wives and cubs and stuff (with an admontation to be nicer). Get injuries healed, fresh horses conjoured, and ride off once more, to a point for rest and food." ================================== ================================== Kanna OOCly says, "As it is time for me to head off and hopefully get enough sleep in RL to actually be fully functional at work tomorrow. *wl*" Mitsune asks, "OOC Ahh, so we cut here, Phil?" Motoko says, "OOC: Night, Phil." Mitsune says, "OOC I guess we'll continue this tomorrow, then :)" Lucien says, "Night Phil" Moriya OOCly says, "Sounds like a good idea, Phil, given how things are going for you. o.o G'night, man. Rest well." Beowulf OOCly bliks. "Well, then... sleep well. I know how it is to go with too little sleep, but I'm not smart enough to just cut it off. :)" Kanna OOCly says, "We'll continue this up to a point where before we go to the smitage, which may mean friday/sat when we can pick up again... we'll see. *wl* Anyway, G'night, folks." Kanna OOCly says, "... you too, Travis? ^_-;" Kanna OOCly waves.