[Day: ? Time: ? Location: Somewhere in Hell] [You followed Natascha to hell, where she doublecrossed you and shot Alysha before fleeing. Attempts to chase her were halted when a giant stone demon showed up. Then when you killed it, four more showed up, along with a fancily-dressed, fully armed woman.] [Aight? Aight.] [Start!] ( And roll init! ) 2d6+6 Sonia rolls 2D6+6: 4 5 +6 = 15 2d6+7 Gordo rolls 2D6+7: 4 4 +7 = 15 2d6+8 Montana rolls 2D6+8: 2 1 +8 = 11 2d6+5 Nigel rolls 2D6+5: 3 4 +5 = 12 2d6+11 Shiho rolls 2D6+11: 3 2 +11 = 16 [Order is: Woman, Shiho, Sonia, Gordo, Nigel, Montana, Rock Demons] [The woman grins ferally at you. "Finally," She says, her voice deep and clear. "It's been too long since I've had a good fight!"] [And then she immediately turns and charges at one of the demons, driving her spear into its gut. It parts the thing's thick skin with little effort. She jumps, sticking it in the eye, and it crumbles into a pile of bits. Even as she falls, she lets go of the spear, drawing and flinging her sword in one quick motion. It strikes another one in the shoulder, cleaving a chunk from the beast as it ricochets off it. The woman catches the sword before landing, sheathing it and retrieving her spear.] ( Werds. ) [Shiho!] * Shiho stays between Alysha and the demons and fires a shot at the mouth of the wounded demon. 2d6+5 Shiho rolls 2D6+5: 5 5 +5 = 15 [Shiho hits it right it the mouth. It staggers back, snarling.] [Sonia!] * Sonia looks for an escape route. "Who the hell are you?" [Being in a wide open field, there's plenty of ways to run.] (Full defense for the moment.) [Gordo] * Gordo raises his gun into position and fires two more shots at the wounded one's mouth. 2 2d6+6 2d6+6 Gordo rolls 2D6+6: 2 6 +6 = 14 2d6+6 Gordo rolls 2D6+6: 1 1 +6 = 8 ( ._. ) (Ah the critfails are back) ( I'm at a loss :X ) [Gordo slips as he raises his gun, accidentally dropping it.] [Nigel!] * Gordo stumbles as his wounds get the better of him for a moment! * Nigel aims and fires a blessed bolt at the wounded one's mouth. (Is the penalty -2? I forgot) ( I think it was -3 ) 2d6+4 Nigel rolls 2D6+4: 2 2 +4 = 8 (-3, reduced to -1 if you've deadeye) (sigh) (On the bright side, not aiming for the mouth wouldn't have helped. And I'm out of DRs) [Unfortunately Nigel's bolt misses.] [Montana!] (Oh, oops. I was doing-2 for some reason) (That's what Brett said before we actually dug out the rules. ^^;) (Aaah) (And discovered that penalties are -1,-3, or -5) ( Was it? ) (Yeah) (Yes; you had decided it was -2, then we dug out rules.) (IIRC I was running no penalty on dead eye, as I had asked at the time.) ( -1, -3, -6 ) * Montana vanished! But apparently he decides that with the woman on their side, staying is more wise than running; he reappears with a shot at the wounded one's mouth. 2d6+6 Montana rolls 2D6+6: 2 6 +6 = 14 [Montana hits! The monster's legs wobble, barely keeping it up.] *** Sonia has quit IRC (Ping timeout) ( @_@ ) 3d7 Brett rolls 3D7: 6 7 6 = 19 (Yay, Gordo doesn't die) [One of the demons throws a fierce punch at the woman, but she catches it on her shield. The impact digs her heels so far into the ground she leaves grooves, but she appears unharmed.] [Another demon spits tiny stone shards at her, but she spins her spear with her free hand, deflecting them.] *** Mechazoom (Mechazoom@50-197-117-9-static.hfc.comcastbusiness.net) has joined the channel [The 3rd one gestures, and the ground rises up in an earthern tidal wave towards Alysha.] (I'm using my defense to protect Alysha, unless new lady's doing something.) ( Ok ) ( It's a -3 for a defence or a +3 to just take the damage instead. ) (I took levels of defense specifically to protect Alysha, I still have a negative modifier?) ( Umm ) (Sorry, this has not come up often despite us being bodyguards.) (He's saying -3 to your normal roll to protect you both, or +3 for you to just soak her damage.) (Ohhh) (Thanks!) (I'll just take her damage, then.) 2d6+10 Shiho rolls 2D6+10: 2 4 +10 = 16 (Mecha, get into character?) [Shiho grabs Alysha and dives out of the way with Alysha, protecting her from the avalanche] *** Mechazoom is now known as Sonia [The woman charges at another demon. She leaps high into the air, jabbing it twice in the eyes in a single leap, killing it instantly. Then she flings the spear at the remaining unhurt one. The spear seems to turn into a bream of light, and strikes it in the mouth so hard it bursts out the other size, leaving a huge hole before the it topples.] ( And yes that was a crit :P ) [Shiho!] * Shiho helps Alysha stand again and keeps an eye out for any more danger. (full defense) [Sonia!] * Sonia ::continues defending:: [Gordo!] * Gordo wobles, but picks his gun back up. ( You can shoot, too :P ) * Gordo attempts to shoot the remaining rock thing in the mouth! 2d6+6 Gordo rolls 2D6+6: 5 4 +6 = 15 [Gordo hits it square in the mouth, and it collapses in a pile, dead.] [With all the demons dead, the woman turns to approach you, her weapons disappearing in flashes of light. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment, Alysha Johnson." She pauses, then adds, "that is what you call yourself, yes?"] * Montana blinks behind is mask. He looks back at Alysha. [Alysha's response is a grimace.] * Gordo limps forward. "Ifn it isn't too much trouble, could ya introduce yourself?" [The woman glances from Alysha to Gordo. "Oh yes. Sometimes I forget how fragile mortal bodies are." She gestures casually, and Alysha, Gordo (and Montana too!) are healed. "I've been given many names by your kind. You may call me Athena, or Minerva. Whichever suits you."] * Shiho stands solidly between Alysha and the woman. *** Sonia has quit IRC (Read error: Connection reset by peer) * Gordo blinks down at himself as he's healed and experementally moves his right arm. "Y've my thanks for the doctoring. But thisn't the best place ta be making friends." [Alysha blinks a couple times, lifting her shirt to look at her newly healed side. "Um...?"] *** Mechazoom (Mechazoom@50-197-117-9-static.hfc.comcastbusiness.net) has joined the channel * Montana shakes his head a little bit. Not mortal, okay. "Pleasure ta meetcha, Athena. How'd you know Alysha?" *** Mechazoom is now known as Sonia * Nigel bows to Athena and smiles. "Athena... Brilliant. It's lovely to meet you." ["Nonetheless, I have precious little time. This will have to do." She glances from Alysha to Montana. "She's not told you yet?" She glances back at Alysha. "Or she couldn't."] * Sonia sighs and says, "Time's ticking, lady. We're on a rescue mission." [Alysha nods. She grins at the rest of you. "Remember?"] (His player doesn't!) * Nigel hits his head with his palm. "Oh! That's what you couldn't tell us!" [Athena glares at Sonia. And her glare is Unsettling, to say the least. "Listen carefully, mortals. Your world is in danger again, and weak as it is from the last time, it may not survive another change to the mandala. That is what the one calling herself Alysha couldn't tell you. That is what your enemies seek."] Not sure we're the most qualified ta deal with something like that, but go on. * Nigel tilts his head at Alysha. "The one calling herself Alysha? Are you also a goddess?" He scratches his head... trying to think of what goddess she could be. The what now? [Alysha shakes her head rapidly at Nigel. "Hell no!"] * Shiho looks at Nigel like he's nuts. ( Sorry, roomate's watching TV. It's distracting :X ) * Nigel shrugs. "It's always possible... What is your connection to our recently acquainted goddess of wisdom here, then?" * Montana is thankful he has a mask over his face. ["The mandala. The fabric of your world. So powerful is it that only the gods and mortals who are aware of it may speak of it. He who controls the mandala controls the world."] Uh... huh. (...resisting the urge for Nigel to make a joke about Dune) * Montana doesn't sound doubtful; obviously this lady is badass and may very well be a goddess. But he's having a hard time wrapping his head around it. (Whatever, Nigel's the biggest nerd and only reads ancient stuff.) (Dune is pretty ancient at this point!_ * Shiho remains stone-faced and keeping an eye out for danger. * Gordo 's a little sceptical. * Nigel nods. "That makes a certain amount of sense... That kind of taboo on words for things of great power is not unheard of." ["Many have become aware of it, and now seek to use its power for various means." She gestures, and images of familiar goat-headed people appear. "The fomori would use it to destroy humankind and inherit the earth."] * Nigel nods. "And the Bringers of the Tenth Night would use it to ressurect Apep, I take it." [She nods, and Tehma J'mail and the shadowman's visages appear, along with two others: a burly man and a woman. "It is as you say."] (Resurrect is probably the wrong word. Maybe change to "summon?") * Gordo eyes the newcomers. "You've two of ours?" [Then some old guys appear. "And there are those who would ensure their rule from the shadows would persist forever." (Gimme business rolls if you like).] [They don't respond, being only images and all.] 2d6+7 Nigel rolls 2D6+7: 4 1 +7 = 12 2d6+5 Gordo rolls 2D6+5: 5 6 +5 = 16 [Athena closes her fist, and the images disappear. "But they, all of them, are unprepared for the rise of the Whore of Babylon. Make no mistake, mortals, you have precious little time left."] * Gordo blinks and points at one of the men. "Oi, I've seen his face before. One of the magazines on the ship." Yeah? Might need to take that vacation I've been kinda considerin'. [She looks at Alysha. "You know where it is. You know where you have to go. You must find the keys. One of them is in the hands of my brother." Another image appears, annnnnd.... gimme mind rolls. Memory, culture, business, etc all work.] 2d6+5 Shiho rolls 2D6+5: 1 2 +5 = 8 (Cultural Arts works? If so does History apply?) 2d6+5 Gordo rolls 2D6+5: 2 1 +5 = 8 ( I'll say yes. ) (Hahah) 2d6+11 Nigel rolls 2D6+11: 5 6 +11 = 22 (Hey!) (I have CA, too, sweet!) 2d6+7 Montana rolls 2D6+7: 3 4 +7 = 14 [The man who appears looks six feet tall and wearing camo-fatigues. He's bald, with a long burn scar down the side of his face, and looks quite muscular.] * Montana lets out a vague 'huh' as the guy's identity occurs to him. * Nigel blinks and hmm... "Lady Athena, I was aware of nine of your brothers, and I was not aware that Istvan Thane was one of them." [Another image appears, of a spikey-haired Asian man. "The last is in the hands of this man." Sonia, Gordo and especially Shiho recognize him from the hotel in Dubai."] Oh not that again. [She looks at Nigel. "Istvan Thane is the name he chose for his mortal guise. His real name is Ares. Did you not think it peculiar that a country could be so wrapped up in war on itself?"] * Nigel nods and sighs. "It makes sense, yes. Appologies for not thinking of that sooner, Lady Athena... It should have occured to me." Oh, for the love of... [Alysha says, "That explains a lot about Cathanza and Krasmia though."] * Nigel nods in agreement. "It does, yes..." * Gordo digs out his tablet and starts looking for the article he saw that guy in, but there's no internet in hell. * Nigel looks up at Athena. "So... being the goddess of tactics and wisdom, what do you suggest as our next move?" [Athena looks up suddenly, as if hearing something. "My time is short. Father has forbid us from interfering in this matter on Earth. My brother only gets away with it because he isn't seeking to directly influence the mandala."] [She glances at Nigel. "Find your way out of here. Find the keys. Get to the mandala before the others." She nods at Alysha. "She will guide you."] * Nigel shrugs. "If you believe so, Lady Athena, I will trust your judgment... Bad things tend to happen to those who don't, as I recall." [She grins, echoing of Alysha. "You are well learned, mortal." Athena draws her sword and tosses it to the ground, where it sticks point down. "As we are not on earth, I may offer you this gift. Take it, and go with my blessings."] [And then without even saying goodbye, she vanishes in a reverse-lightning bolt that's peculiar to watch,] Yeah, but- dammit, she didn't tell us how to get the fuck OUT of here. * Nigel glances at the sword and motions to Shiho. "By far Shiho is our best sword user." Why -us-? (wielder? Wielder.) (What kind of sword is it?) ( It's a short Xiphos. ) ["My fault," Alysha raises her and, grinning faintly. "I dragged you guys into this. Sorry."] So, that was a Roman goddess. I'mn Hell and that's still weird. * Nigel shrugs. "This is the first day that has seemed like normal work for me since we started." ["I've got a lot to tell you," Alysha says. "But if it's okay with you, let's wait til we find Julia and get out of here."] * Shiho says to Nigel, "I guess, but..." She draws her jian half out of its scabbard for a moment before replacing it. "They're -completely different swords-." * Nigel shrugs. "If you would rather I take it, I could..." He looks down at his own sword. "I am trained, but I believe it would serve you better." [Alysha looks back and forth between them. "Well one of you take it! It's a gift from a goddess!"] (Gah, what's the name of the other friend that Alysha's missing right now? Because there's two of them. The one we came in here after and the one that dissapeared with Gordo's pistol) ( Sara ) ( Also give me hearing rolls. ) Sara too. (Sonia is 0.3 seconds from taking it herself.) * Montana just double takes at Nigel. Normal? What? He sighs and goes to pick up the sword. He can always give it to someone later. 2d6+5 Gordo rolls 2D6+5: 3 3 +5 = 11 (Sorry, I yoinked it, being the thief!) (Does someone actually want it, or are you going to be discussing?) (jerk) 2d6+7 Shiho rolls 2D6+7: 2 1 +7 = 10 (HELLS YEAH I AM) [Montana picks up the sword. As he does, it turns into a circa 1820s American infantryman's sword.] [Albeit one made of a fancy blue metal Whoa, what in the hell. Which is where we are, but STILL. (At least it isn't a calvery sabre!) * Montana tries swiping the air. Maybe he can cut it in half. * Nigel glances to Montana and holds out his hand. "Let me see that for a moment." [The sword makes a swoshing sound, cutting the air in half! Maybe? That's probably what it would sound like anyhow.] * Montana hands it over to Nigel. * Nigel takes the sword and holds it out in front of him. ( I'm waiting on hearing rolls :P ) 2d6+7 Nigel rolls 2D6+7: 4 6 +7 = 17 (Oh!) 2d6+6 Montana rolls 2D6+6: 5 2 +6 = 13 2d6+7 Sonia rolls 2D6+7: 2 1 +7 = 10 [As Nigel takes the sword, it morphs into a longsword similar to the one he has now. Extremely similar. In fact, identical, save again for the odd color.] ... Yeah, I'm thinkin' training ain't a problem. * Nigel hms. "I don't think the type of blade is going to be an issue, Shiho." ( Sonia got a 10 on a hearing roll? o.O ) (She rolled a three. D:) Ah. Well, in that case. * Shiho takes the sword from Nigel. * Nigel tosses it to Shiho. [Nigel impales Shiho. D:] (She's good enough to catch it! =P) [Nah. But when Shiho takes it it turns into a rubber duck.] [I mean] [When Shiho takes it it turns into a sword just like the one she already has.] [Only light blue] Sweet. * Shiho keeps it in her hand, since she doesn't have anywhere else to put it. * Montana rubs at his wrist. "Y'know," he says, thoughtefully, "I don't think training's an issue in general." I never really used a sword in my life, and I felt like I knew how to use that thing. (thoughtfully) [Alysha grins. "Maybe you're a natural."] * Montana snorts. "I'm a natural at a lotta things, ma'am, but that ain't one of 'em." Well, it's not like I don't already have a sword. Any of you want it, you're welcome to it. I'll stick to m'guns thanks. * Nigel looks up at noise. "An eagle..." * Gordo looks up. "Eh?" [Alysha looks at the sword thoughtfully. "May I?"] [Sure enough, there's an eagle circling overhead. In hell. Kinda odd.] * Shiho hands Alysha the sword. * Nigel thinks for a moment. "Could be a message from Zeus. It's his symbol." * Nigel shrugs. "We should probably get going, though... He's not too keen on the whole helping mortals thing, usually. as Lady Athena pointed out." [Alysha takes it -- briefly. Before hissing and dropping it. By the time it hits the ground, it's a French smallsword from the late 1600s. "Damn it."] Whatever. This place ain't got any safer. * Montana moves to pick it back up. "What's wrong, ma'am?" You alright? You okay, boss? * Nigel smiles slightly at Alysha... "How old... are you, Miss Johnson?" He raises an eyebrow. [Alysha grins at Nigel. "Technically I'm nineteen."] * Nigel doesn't look too convinced. "You sure you aren't like..." He looks at the sword. "Four-hundred and nineteen?" [Alysha glances up at the eagle, which flies off some distance before circling again. Then she looks back at Nigel. "No way! Look, I've kept some things from you, and I'm sorry. But I'll tell you about it later. For now, just know that I'm as human as the rest of you. Just.... A lot's happened."] Right then. Yer supposed to guide us, so pick a direction an we can talk about yer crazy family life on our way, yeah? * Nigel nods a bit. "Let's go then... I want to finish this so we can get an explanation. Also, this hell is not my favorite." [The eagle suddenly comes back and swoops down behind a rock.] * Nigel looks back at the eagle, but starts walking. [Then Sara pokes her head out from behind it. Her shoulders are bare, and presumably so is the rest of her. She points in a direction and calls. "Hey! Can't you guys take a hint?"] * Nigel blinks. "Um... Apologies..." He hurries to take off his jacket and tosses it to her. * Gordo blinks. "That was YOU?" (And now we know why she lost her clothes the first time.) * Montana tries to find a place to put this now 1820's sword he's holding. Oh, scabbard, that'd help. He grabs it and slides the whole thing into a long pocket down one leg. Once it's in, it looks like he isn't even carrying it. If she's Zeus, I give the fuck up. To be fair, we did just meet Athena, it seemed a likely assumption. [She keeps pointing. "The rest of my sister's crew are a mile that way. GO!"] * Gordo turns to Alysha. "Be off then?" ( Then Sara turns to Montana. "Is that a sword in your pants or are you just happy to see me?" ) (Pffft) * Nigel heads in that direction. [Alysha follows in the back, not keen on getting hurt again.] * Gordo goes thataway, hopefully this isn't some sort of demon trap. * Shiho stays with Alysha. * Montana jogs off, then, getting ahead - as is his tendency - but not too far ahead. [You head off "that way". Which is along the cliff wall, heading towards another hill. It's a bit of a walk, what with it being a mile and all, but as you approach the hill you hear gunfire.] * Gordo unslings his sniper. "That never ends well." * Nigel nods and draws his crossbow. * Shiho draws her own sword. ( And as you reach the top of the hill, a red skinned monster comes flying over it. It vaguely looks like a horned pterydactyl. It's screaming in pain or anger, hard to tell which. On its back is a blue-haired woman in a sports bra and leather pants, clutching its horns and lauhging hysterically. "Haha! I feel like an American Cowboy! Yeehaw!" ) ( That should be brackets :X ) (For real? For real.) [And as you reach the top of the hill, a red skinned monster comes flying over it. It vaguely looks like a horned pterydactyl. It's screaming in pain or anger, hard to tell which. On its back is a blue-haired woman in a sports bra and leather pants, clutching its horns and lauhging hysterically. "Haha! I feel like an American Cowboy! Yeehaw!"] ( Fix'd ) (That is a thing that just happened.) * Sonia squints behind her glasses. * Nigel blinks and nods. ["I...." Alysha stares. ".... I think that's Klara Romanova."] ... Friend of yours? ["One of Julia's bodyguards," she says. "Formor MMO employee until Stanley Mason recruited her to our side. Psychotic tendancies, heavy drug use and smoking, rampant sex life and..." Alysha pokes her fingers together and glowers, "Large boobs."] [The monster passes back over the hill, where you hear more gunfire.] So, help her then. * Gordo raises his gun as he walks, waiting for the flying thing to come back into view. [Alysha follows. "....... I think I hate her already."] (So, does genemodding just not work on Alysha, or is she too young to get something like that done without a guardian's permission?) ( You could ask her o/~ ) (Gordo's too sober to wonder that out loud.) (Time to get drunk.) (Which I think would be good after a trip to hell, anyway.) (GOD YES) * Nigel follows as well. * Sonia says, lowly, to Alysha, "Jesus, girl, you have a thing about tits. Try focusin' on your good legs." * Sonia heads along. YEAH GOING PLACES. * Nigel sighs and keeps going. "You're a lovely young lady, Miss Johnson, but now is probably not the time to be concerned with body image." There is enough of that hell figuratively back on earth when we are not LITERALLY in Hell. (Nigel objects to the official change to the definition of "literally" made 48 years ago in all major dictionaries.) [As you reach the top of the hill, you see a white-haired guy in a leather jacket, jeans and a sweatshirt. He's wielding some bizzaire weapons: two pistols with short blades extending from the tops of the barrels, making them short blades as well. Short, awkward looking blades. But he seems to be handling them well, emptying bullets into one of those stone demons.] [Not far away is another guy in a blue vinyl jacket, his black hair done in a pompadour style. He's only got one pistol, but is taking his time aiming at the demon. Which leaves him open to attack, but he doesn't seem to care.] [Sure enough, the demon sends a large rock flying at him, but it passes right through him harmlessly. The whitehaired man (who's wearing a mask), mutters "Jeez, you can at least look like you're trying, man."] [Anyway whether you want to help or not, they finish off the beast quickly so we don't get bogged down in another combat.] (yay) [Shortly after, the flying demon plows into the ground next to them, dead. Klara hops off it, laughing. "That was fun!"] ( Did I say white-haired? Because it's supposed to be blond. ) ( It's totally blond yo. ) (Yo) Glad you enjoyed yourself? Anyone know how to get out of here? ( ANYHOW. Do we wanna stop here? ) (It's as good a spot as any!) (i advise it) (Yeah) [END]