[Day: Tuesday, June 21st. Time: 1:40 a.m.] [Lazar and Chomei are outside of Mt. Taishan! The driver who brought them there is waiting with the van a short distance away. There's a path that goes up the mountain, but they need to find a cavern within it. The hunt for the paoxiao beast is on!] [Mini start!] * Chomei shakes his head. "Okay. We gotta find this 'Paoxiao' thing. Spread and search or work together?" * Chomei blinks at Lazar. "Wake up, Lazar." * Lazar shakes his head. Sorry. Just bit... what phrase? Off game? ... Right. Yeah, I guess so... So, what do you think? I okay. Still no near full recovered from fight with stupid cursed sword... make it hard to concentrate sometimes. * Lazar frowns. "Definately no split up. That always lead to trouble." * Chomei nods. "Let's get searching then. The more time we waste... Anyways, yeah. Search." * Chomei starts looking for caverns and shit, making sure Lazar's keeping up with him (or in front of him). * Lazar nods, and heads up the path. "Keep eye out for... goat tracks, I guess. Silly demons in China." Hey, not all demons look like the Transilvainan ones. Oh, there silly demons in Transylvania. Just... why body of goat? No seem very intimidating... *shrug* Because they ran out of other animals. * Lazar blinks. "... not that i complaining. Just saying." [You head up the path. The mountain is... Well, Zeeg probably knows more what it's like than I do.] Not everything makes sense when you look at it, you know. I seen three headed were-sheep, Chomei. I know. (Hmmm... Typical mountain in China? Looks a lot like the applicains here, unless it's populated, where there will be terraces across the mountain.) No worry. I been on demon hunt before... no am best tracker, but know enough to get by. [The path your on actually has stairs every now and then. At the top of the mountain is a temple. The mountain isn't entirely rock, but has occasional patches of grass and trees. In the daytime, it probably makes for a nice bit of scenery.] * Chomei keeps going and searching, smirking slightly. "Glad you're along then. I'm not accustomed to searching the wilderness for demons." [Actually, you pass a number of minor temples as you go, too. you even come to a river with a bridge across it.] Good. Is better. No should have to spend childhood learning proper arm angle for what stake vampyre. What, you don't think I know that? ( Give me wilderness tracking checks (spec: mountain) ) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6-2) and gets 5. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6) and gets 5. [You keep walking up. You spot a cave!] ... should probably check out. You have light? * Chomei searches his person and finds a flashlight. He also pulls out some nightvision goggles. "Yeah. You need?" No think they work. I no really have eyes, remember? No, do you need light? * Chomei pulls the goggles over his eyes. Yes. No know quite why, what with no eyes... you use goggles, I hold flashlight for now. Sure. *tosses the light to Lazar* * Chomei makes sure nobody's watching, then summons Rownal. "You first?" * Lazar catches it, turns it on, and heads into the cave. "If main thing demon has is sharp teeth, then you probably okay if stay behind me. If werewolf no can bite through golem, goat-man no can." Of course. Just hope those sharp teeth aren't cursed sharp teeth. [Into the dark, dark cave you go.] [I'd have said deep dark, but it turns out it's not really that deep, and you come to a dead end shortly.] Man, we don't have time for this... Head back. * Lazar looks around, and checks the walls quickly before following Chomei out. * Chomei walks out and continues, making sure Laz isn't getting caught up in anything as he does so. [The walls are sturdy and solid. Looks like there's no monster here.] * Lazar follows Chomei out, and starts looking around for any other caves/tracks/etc. "You right. Last thing we need is search through many dozen caves." Yeah. We need to find that beast... * Chomei looks for tracks too. Maybe ask at temple? Be my guest. ... but no speak Chinese. * Lazar facepalms. "I really is out of it." ... Well shit. Let's just find some tracks. [The mountain stretches upwards beyond the clouds. And considering it's nighttime and you can't really see the clouds, that says something. Point is, it goes up for quite a while yet.] Dammit... We need Peter here. *Now*. Keep going. Only real option. Yeah... * Chomei keeps going. ( Wilderness tracking (mountain) ) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6-2) and gets 7. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6) and gets 8. [You spot several more caves as you head upward. It's impossible to tell how deep they go from the outside.] Well fuck. Only one thing to do... * Chomei starts checking caves. <.< * Lazar nods, leading the way. [You check out the caves. Some are shallow, some run pretty deep, but there's no sign of the monster in any of them. After about thirty minutes of looking, you come up empty.] [The mountain continues upwards.] * Chomei curses at each dead end profusely, then continues upwards. ... no worry, Chomei. We find it. Chie be up, about, dying you hair, and making kissy faces at you in no time. (*cackles*) ( You go into another cave. You encounter Dracula! ) ... Lazar, now is *not* the time to talk about that. ( Let's have more wilderness tracking (mountain) rolls! ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6) and gets 10. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6-2) and gets 6. ... sorry, Chomei. Just trying to help. [You pass yet more caves! But the mountain still looms upwards. There's a long way to go, and time is precious. Do you check these caves, or do you continue upwards?] * Chomei grits his teeth... "Ya think he's here?" [Time: 2:25 a.m.] ... no know. We need save time... split up to check caves. No like, but need to hurry up. ( I nearly forgot to calculate the time you spent walking, too ^^ ) * Chomei nods and does so. Let's split up, gang! Meet out here if you find something. Do *not* engage the demon. Or beast. Or whatever it is. * Lazar lumbers as fast as he can to the caves, giving Chomei a thumbs-up as he does to indicate he heard that last bit. * Chomei starts searching. d2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Brett (d2) and gets 2. ( Lazar! Wilderness tracking (mountain) ) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6-2) and gets 6. [Lazar checks several caves some long, some short, all ending in dead ends... almost. One of the caves has a small crack in the wall which, upon inspection, leads to a much larger cavern.] [The beast may or may not be there, he has no way of knowing. And he needs to decide whether to get Chomei or not.] * Lazar pauses for a moment, then tries to squeeze through the crack. ( acrobatics (flexibility) ) * Lazar finds he can't. Cursing, he heads back out, calling for Chomei to come over. "Chomei! Maybe found something!" [It takes a few minutes, since Chomei also found a fairly long cave himself, but finding it empty, he gets outside eventually.] * Chomei *almost* doesn't hear him, but then looks over as he starts going for another cave. He runs over to wherever Laz is. "Did you find something?" Cave have crack in it, lead to bigger area. I no can fit through without maybe breaking through... wanted to get you before do that. * Chomei nods. "Let's go then." * Chomei heads in after Laz leads the way. * Lazar leads Chomei to the crack. "Is big enough for you to fit through?" ( Acrobatics (flexibility) -2, Chomei If you try ) * Chomei eyes the crack. "Yeah, I bet I can get thru." What about you, though? [Time is about 2:50 a.m.] I try hit enough to make room for me. * Chomei shakes head. "Yeah, that's right. We could just blow the hole if we need to." * Chomei tries to squeeze through the crack. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6-3) and gets 4. [Chomei gets through without too much trouble. He even manages not to hit his head.] * Chomei looks for signs of the beast. (Not that it would probably cause much damage. ;p) (Hey! <.<) (Sorry, with no Rei here, somebody's gotta do it. ^_~) [Gimme wilderness tracking (mountain) Chomei] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6) and gets 4. [Chomei sees some sort of tracks on the ground.] ( biology (zoology) check ) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6-3) and gets 5. [The tracks are larger than a rats, but Chomei can't be sure of what kind of animal they belong to.] You see anything? There's definetly tracks in here... And they're not rats, either. Yeah. You need help getting thru? * Lazar narrows his eyes and tries to pound the crack wider with haymakers. [Lazar makes the crack bigger without much trouble.] * Lazar steps through, and examines the tracks. Do they look like something with hooves made 'em? [The area of the cavern is wide, with a ceiling about 12 feet high. It's got a number of large stone pillars supporting it.] ( Lazar, biology (zoology) roll ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 6. [With the low light provided by the flashlight, Lazar can't really tell.] ... can't tell what they are. But it first good lead we have. Need check out. Remind me to get a stronger flashlight. Yeah, lead the way. * Lazar leads, trying to follow the tracks, and looking for anything that might point towards a living creature of some sort. ( hearing checks! ) * Chomei follows, doing the same. 2d6+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6+3) and gets 12. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 6. [Nothing so far.] [But the cavern sure is roomy.] * Lazar keeps on truckin'. "Come on... cave too big for this to be badger." [There's actually some light coming from up above. Looks like a small opening in the ceiling.] [It's not enough to help your search, however.] [Awareness checks!] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6) and gets 9. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 9. [The two notice nothing special so far, but there's a lot to explore here.] * Chomei keeps looking. [Hearing checks!] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 6. 2d6+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6+3) and gets 10. * Lazar growls softly. [They walk onwards, following the tracks. But without warning, part of one of the pillars collapses on them.] ( Acrobatics (tumbling) ) 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6-1) and gets 6. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6+2) and gets 12. [Chomei dives, rolling out of the way, but Lazar is burried under a pile of his own kin.] Dammit! Lazar, you okay down there? * Chomei starts moving rocks, trying to help Laz out of the mess-o-rocks. * Lazar growls, and pushes the rubble off of top of him. "I fine. But I have feeling that no accident..." *picks up a big chunk of rock to use as a club* * Chomei nods. "I *bet* it's that P-thing." ( mechanics (traps) check! ) (P-Chan? *gasp* I knew that pig was up to no good!) (...?) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 10. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6) and gets 7. [There's no way of knowing whether this was intentionally set up, or whether it was caused by Lazar's weight.] Still, we play its game until we can find it. * Chomei considers giving Laz a hand to help him out, but realizes that he'd just get pulled in. ( Wouldn't you just love me if I said "You get to the end of the cavern. It's not here! Back up the mountain! ) (I think Chomei would shoot you.) ( If by love you mean 'prison love', then yes. ^_^ ) ( Hearing checks! ) (Yes Brett. We would. But then you'd be asking for pain... Lots of pain.) 2d6+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6+3) and gets 7. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 10. (Your rescue attempt is LAME!) * Lazar stomps out of the pile. "Keep looking... it here somewhere. Has to be. Pillar no just fall on own." Yeah... *starts looking *very* carefully around the room. For any sign of that thing.* [Chomei sees something near the ceiling... but he's not sure what.] * Chomei eyes the ceiling, trying to get a better view. He says quietly to Laz: "Shine the light up at the ceiling." * Lazar does so, panning it across the breadth of the roof. [There's a squeaking sound, followed by several more, then a rush of flapping wings, as the bats swoop down and fly around the room frantically. Chomei gets swatted with one's wings.] [The bats eventually find their way to the opening in the ceiling and fly out of the cavern.] * Lazar doesn't even flinch, dragging Chomei out of the bat swarm to keep on looking. ( Biology (zoology), Lazar! And Chomei, too ) * Chomei gets smacked, but doesn't phase too much. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6-3) and gets 8. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 7. ( The acrobatics (flexibility) -2 ) * Chomei keeps searching, dammit! * Lazar does so, too, scanning back and forth with the flashlight. [You finally come to the far end of the cavern. No sign of the beast so far.] (And a lot of other useless skills that never get used, either. :P) ( Hearing check and biology (zoology) check ) 2d6+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6+3) and gets 10. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6-3) and gets 3. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 3. [At the end of the wall, you find something interesting: The remains of two bats. They've been torn apart and mostly eaten by something with rather sharp teeth.] * Chomei spins around immedeately on instinct, half-expecting to find something he didn't hear. [Chomei sees only darkness. And walls, and stuff.] ... okay. This promising. Whatever eat bats have very sharp teeth. Yeah. It's in here... somewhere. ... now just need to find it in huge, dark cave. * Lazar keeps on looking. * Chomei keeps looking, too. Does this thing fly? I no think so. It goat man. Goats no fly without catapault. True. [The ceiling is only 12 feet high.] * Chomei scratches his head, looking all around again for signs of movement. ( Hearing checks! ) 2d6+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6+3) and gets 8. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 7. ( I might as well be deaf. =P ) (I *am* deaf.) [A rather large rock smacks Lazar upside the head.] (Really, each shot you have a 1/6 chance of hearing this thing. I have a 1/36 shot.) * Lazar flinches, then turns to the direction it came from and shines the light. [Nothing there!] ( What angle did it come from? Downward? Straight? ) [Felt like straight, but you don't really know. You just know you got hit with it.] ... feel like it come from straight angle. It somewhere around here. On ground, I think. Hiding in shadows. * Chomei nods. * Lazar shines the light all around, and keeps on looking. * Chomei continues searching. ( Gimme sight and hearing checks. ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 10. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6-4) and gets -1. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 6. 2d6+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6+3) and gets 8. [Chomei spots something dart between columns to his right side.] * Chomei spins and aims Rownal above the something, quickly firing an energy bolt *above* the thing's location. * Lazar starts at Chomei's sudden firing, but figures there must be something there, and charges in the direction Chomei fires, flashlight panning left and right. [The energy bolt sticks in the ceiling.] [Lazar, however, sees nothing as he pans the flashlight.] * Chomei frowns. "Where's a flood-light when you need it?" ( Lazar, sight check at +2 ) 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6+2) and gets 11. [Nope, Lazar sees nothing.] ... really wish Rei father mentioned it expert at stealth. ( It's not. You guys just suck. :P ) * Lazar keeps looking. o/~ Yeah... d2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Brett (d2) and gets 2. [Lazar! Another awareness check!] * Chomei keeps looking, but tries to keep himself hidden while doing so. It's harder to keep hidden if you don't know someone's watching. ~_^ 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 2, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "Fight! For everlasting love and peace!" [Lazar notices just in time and leans back, letting a rock fly past his head from the left side (the direction you were going before turning). He sees a large shadow dash behind a pillar in that direction.] * Lazar charges that pillar, chucking the rock at the opposite side of the pillar (where it would emerge from behind the pillar if it went straight), shining the light directly at it as he does. ( Gimmie a thrown weapons roll at -2 ) 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6-4) and gets 1. * Chomei hears Laz's charging (Who doesn't) and readies a shot at whatever he's aiming at. [The paoxiao beast (it must be a paoxiao beast, because it looks exactly as Rei's dad described), darts out into the light, only to be clunked with the rock. It cries like a baby, quite literally, then rears back and faces you.] ( roll init ) d6+8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (d6+8) and gets 10. d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (d6+7) and gets 12. [Lazar, then Chomei, then the monster.] [Lazar's turn!] * Lazar tries to grab it in a bearhug-type dealie, to keep it from darting off into the darkness again. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6-3) and gets 1. [Lazar grabs ahold of the thing. It struggles, though, and Lazar is (probably) surprised to find something else Shig niglected to mention: it's also very strong. Still, Lazar has a grip for now.] [Chomei's turn] ... strong goat-baby-man-thing! The monster cries, "Whaaaaaa!" in response. * Chomei eyes the monster, then quickly aims/fires one of Rownal's energy bolts at most thing's (supposed) vitals... The head. Let's get this over with. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6-2) and gets 3. (That was a called shot, btw.) [Chomei shoots it in the head!... That doesn't stop it.] [The monster tries to get free from Lazar. Lazar, body roll!] 2d6-8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6-8) and gets -1. [Lazar keeps a good grip on the beast.] [Lazar's turn!] * Lazar tries to squeeze the thing into unconciousness, much like he did with the werewolf. Only without trying to eat it. (Yummy!) [Lazar begins squeezing! That sounds funny.] [Anyhow, Chomei's turn] (I'd guess goats, or goat-things, probably taste better than werewolves, though.) (Weregoat?) * Chomei fires another shot at the goat-thing! 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6-3) and gets 5. [Chomei shoots it in the side, making it emit an ear-splitting baby scream. It tries to get free once more!] ( Another check, Lazar. ) 2d6-8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6-8) and gets 1. [The goat thing breaks Lazar's grip and starts to run!] [Lazar's turn!] * Lazar tries to grab it back in the bear hug before it gets away! 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6-3) and gets 3. [And he does!] [Chomei's turn!] * Chomei nods and shoots at the thing's legs, hoping it'll keep it from running, if not slow it down. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6-2) and gets 5. [Chomei puts an arrow through its leg. It screams and tries to bite Lazar. Unless he lets go, it's gonna succeed, too.] * Lazar doesn't let go. [The sharp teeth rip a chunk out of Lazar's shoulder, but the thing doesn't seem too happy that it just bit into a lump of rock.] [Lazar's turn!] * Lazar squeezes s'more, adding in some headbutts for effect. "Stop... struggle... already!" [Lazar crushes its skull, and it stops.] * Lazar drops it. "... if knew I only had to ask, I would have done sooner." * Lazar falls to one knee. Com'on Laz... I can't carry you back, you know. ... I okay. Just... no was in good shape to begin with. * Lazar reaches over to the thing and tries to rip a leg off its corpse. * Chomei walks over to the Paoxiao. "Neither was I, otherwise this thing would have given us a lot less trouble..." [Lazar finds some trouble in just ripping it off, but eventually he manages to vice it between some rocks, and it tears off.] [It smells funny] * Lazar gets to his feet slowly, and starts lumbering towards the exit, flashlight in one hand, leg in the other. "Come, Chomei. No waste more time..." * Chomei nods to Lazar. "Let's get this back, then... You sure they didn't ask for a *specific* bone?" They just say bone... True enough... Let's go. Call when get out of cave. If need specific bone, we come back and get. * Chomei heads out following Lazar, pulling out his cel as he does so. [And so they hurried back to save Chie. Later, Chomei spilled lemonade on Rei's harness and Lazar got a starring role as the Thing in the Fantastic Four movie... But that's a story for another time.] [Mission accomplished. (this means end!)]