Silver Insanity

Precious, Valuable Madness
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PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2007 9:29 pm 
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Prismatic Pangolin

Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:50 pm
Posts: 2283
"Yes, but that's not our first priority. Our first priority is finding a temple and procuring the appropriate magics to safeguard our sleep. I don't suppose you can manage to cast a spell from a scroll? That would make things ever so much simpler..."

"After that, well, we've got at least a year before they can do anything dangerous with the items I left behind. I'd like to find out more about what I have - at least enough to make sure that I'm not going to set anything off by accident."


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PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2007 9:43 pm 
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Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:35 pm
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"No," I say, "I'm afraid I can't."

After a brief rest and maybe a bite, we go back out to find an appropriate temple. I let Lauren take the lead on that, and keep an eye out for her pursuers while playing the part of her bodyguard (great excuse to keep scanning the area...).


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PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2007 10:38 am 
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Prismatic Pangolin

Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:50 pm
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Lauren asks a few pointed questions of the innkeeper, and then sets out. She does not, however, head for the obvious temple district in the middle of town, instead turning to the north.

The stone wall around the inner city is guarded, and as you pass by, one of the six guards clears his throat.
"Milady, you might not want to... The outer city can get rather... rough, at night. If you wait a few minutes, I'm sure we could gather a proper escort." He looks around at his fellow guards, slightly nervously. None of them are willing to meet his gaze.

Lauren pauses for a moment.
"While I thank you for your concern, it is, in this instance, misplaced. I am quite certain of my bodyguard's ability to handle a few thugs."
And with that, she sweeps confidently onwards. Five of the guards look relieved; the one who spoke has a look more in common with a kicked puppy.

As the two of you proceed down the (now quite empty) road, Lauren explains, "A temple in the rougher areas of town is more likely to have someone experienced enough to manage the level of magic we need. It's also more likely to actually need - and be able to put to good use - the normal price of such magic."

A few bends in the road, and Lauren enters a plain building marked with Selene's holy symbol. The priest looks calmly up from his book - and does a double-take at the obvious class of his guests. Then he carefully adjusts his glasses, and says, "I must warn you, we don't..."
"Do love potions," Lauren finishes. "I know. And before you start jumping to any other conclusions, let me explain why I'm here..."

The conversation quickly devolves into magical terms that go completely over your head. All you can really follow is that the priest's attitude has rapidly gone from one of hostility to one of professional respect. Eventually, however, he says, "Yes, I think I can manage that. It will take me a few minutes of meditation to prepare the spell, of course."
Lauren nods. "I'll use that time to get to sleep, so we can be sure we actually hit whoever's been casting these." And with that, she stretches out on one of the couches that line the edges of the room.

Fifteen minutes later, you've had plenty of time to (depending on your personal level of prudishness) either study or scrupulously avoid studying the numerous depictions of Selene (goddess of love) that are scattered about the temple's main room. Lauren is sleeping soundly, and the priest finally stands up from his meditations.

"Huh. It certainly doesn't look as if she's been targetted by a nightmare spell... But she seemed so certain it was coming. I wonder..."
He mutters a quick incantation, and then looks at Lauren again.
"No, definitely not. Well, I guess we wake her up and send you two on..." He trails off, staring straight at you.
"There's nothing around her... But you've definitely got an evil aura floating around you. I can't tell for sure if it's a nightmare spell, of course, but whatever it is, well, I've got the right spell ready, so let's get rid of it, shall we?"

Without waiting for you to answer, he starts casting another, more complicated spell.


Last edited by Wyvern on Mon May 14, 2007 3:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2007 2:03 pm 
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Needs a Guide

Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:35 pm
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On the way into the outer city, I give the guards a "what can you do?" shrug and smile as I walk past.

I follow Lauren into the temple, and spend her conversation with the priest bored, looking at the pictures. Unfortunately, they are not particularly interesting either, so I begin cleaning the lint from my claws (retractability does have its drawbacks, alas). I continue doing so while the priest talks, until he starts casting his spell. Then he finds my razor-sharp left claw millimeters from his throat.

"Good sir, I do believe you seem to have forgotten your manners. It is generally considered rude to cast a spell on one without asking permission." If he doesn't stop chanting on his own, I stop him, and just in case I have my right hand on my sword.


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PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2007 7:36 pm 
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Prismatic Pangolin

Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:50 pm
Posts: 2283
The priest stops.
"You weren't paying any attention at all, were you? First, that spell would have been a two stage effect; the casting merely gathers the energy into a usable form. Second, even when directing that energy, it would not have been targetted at you, but at the evil spell that somebody else already cast on you, presumably without your permission. However, thanks to your disruption, the magic is quite wasted. You'll just have to live with it."

By this point he's turned his back on you and is heading to go pick up his book. He hasn't stopped talking, either, and is unlikely to do so unless interrupted.


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PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2007 8:51 pm 
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I smile and speak calmly. "Now, let us remain calm, good sir priest. Please try to understand my own position. The young Lady is being pursued by persons unknown to me, and says they have placed a curse upon her. Now you, a stranger, tell me that my Lady has no curse upon her, and then begin casting a spell on me without warning? That is not only rude but hazardous, good sir. A man more rash than I would have allowed his claws to go those few millimeters further." I turn, walk over to Lauren, and nudge her awake. "Excuse me, my Lady, but we must go. The priest says he was unable to find a curse on you."


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PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2007 9:35 pm 
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Prismatic Pangolin

Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:50 pm
Posts: 2283
Lauren wakes up quickly this time. "Huh. He's right; no nightmare at all this time. I wonder why they stopped? Oh, well. I'm still somewhat tired; let's get back to the inn." She tosses a few coins into the donations box, calls a thank you over her shoulder, and heads out.

The street outside is just as empty as when you came in. Unfortunately, as you make your way back towards the inner city, it does not remain empty.

You're only a single corner away from the inner wall when the ambush is sprung. Three rat-like figures saunter confidently out of alleyways to take up position in front of you, eyes and daggers gleaming in the moonlight.

"Your money or your life!" squeaks one of the were-rats.

From behind you another rat speaks (squeeks?) up. "Or? When did we become so generous?"
Five more were-rats have taken up position behind you.

And, chittering gleefully at their own joke, the eight of them attack.


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PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2007 10:08 am 
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I draw my sword with such speed it seems to fly to my hand, glittering silver in the moonlight. "Gentlemen," I say, dodging their attacks, "please. I have no wish to harm you, but if you persist in behaving so foolishly I will be sorely tempted to instruct you in proper behavior."

I parry and dodge, all the more easily since their numbers and short blades make it difficult for them to stay out of one another's way. I spend the time watching them and judging their skill. Is there any threat at all here? How are they armed? Any of them seem better than the others? Also, I take a look at Lauren -- are they attacking her as well? Is she doing all right?


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PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2007 10:54 am 
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Prismatic Pangolin

Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:50 pm
Posts: 2283
Any threat? To you, no. You could keep this up until you or they dropped from exhaustion. The skill level of the five of them you're fighting is about even between them, and while they are not incompetent, they simply don't come close to your expertise.

Lauren is not doing quite as well. She's conjured up a nearly invisible glass-like shield, and has so far been able to hold off three were-rats, her back to a wall. Still, you can see gaping holes in her defenses, and it's only a matter of time before one of those three manages to land a hit. She whispers to you, somehow making the faint noise carry over the sounds of combat:
"I know you don't like killing, but I can't exactly strike with the flat of a spell... Can you deal with these, or shall I start setting them on fire?"

The were-rats, for their part, do not seem at all discouraged by your evident skill. They attack fearlessly, seemingly secure in their own visions of personal invulnerability.


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PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2007 11:02 am 
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If I were alone, this would be a simple matter, but protecting Lauren takes priority. I drop smoothly from my previous duelling stance (standing straight up, with my sword extended in front of me) into a crouch, then with a hiss I blur through the air, directly into the nearest of Lauren's attackers. My sword strikes him first, then I follow with a savage claw to the throat before doing a reverse midair somersault off him.

I land lightly on my feet, back in the duelling stance. My hat, of course, is still perfectly straight.


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