Log:These Boots Were Made for Worldwalking, Scene 4

2013/04/19 	 Ghost-2 Scrapper Lorelei Elion Lia Titan Sukeban Ellbeth Palanir 4

Champions Mush - Friday, April 19, 2013, 12:15 PM

Scrapper is sitting in another part of the castle, preparing for her return to the Embassy. Away from the princess' favor, nobody is hurrying to do anything with Scrapper and she is pretty much left in a parlor until somebody has time for her.

First a white rabbit appears. That's just a trail-blazer. A few moments later Ghost's hazy astral form appears close by, "Hi, Jo. Got a moment?" She asks.

Scrapper smirks at the rabbit. "More than one. What's up?"

Ghost squats, putting her head at much the same level as yours. "A while back we had a conversation about the leadership of the Guard. You told me you should be the leader because the team members trusted you. Trust works both ways, Jo. You wanted the Princess and us to trust you. But you don't trust us. I don't know the full story by any means, but from things you're dropped I suspect you were betrayed by someone close to you? And that's left you distrustful? If you don't trust the Princess... trust me. I will never lie or mislead a member of my team. And by 'my team' I meant a team I'm a member of. Not necessarily a team I lead."

Scrapper sighs, "I trust the princess. She is both an island of sanity and tolerance in a group known for intolerance and bigotry. She also has a remarkable ability to attract like-minded people to her. For example, the librarian Stephanie introduced us to, whose name escapes me - no insult to her - is a pleasure to work with. But when we mugged that old goblin and stole his shoes, the guide reminded me that Princess Stephanie and her friends are the exception, not the rule. Overall, the fae see Princess Stephanie's open-mindedness as an obstacle to overcome and I fear that ..." Scrapper shrugs. "It doesn't matter. She made her decision."

Ghost says, "You haven't been to Sorryswood, Jo. You haven't seen the graves. Spoken to the wounded, the maimed, the limb lost. Not just Fae soldiers, but woman and children from the villages and farms. You haven't yet seen the dungeons of Newport. The prisoners in there who are horribly tortured. The Fae may be all you say, especially since I firmly believe it's a Fae who is driving this new level of hostilities, but the goblins are no innocent victims. They act with a savagery that is sickening. I want the team to stop the raids. And to rescue the prisoners from the Citadel. We'd have a much better chance of doing that with you then without you."

Scrapper nods, "I want to help, especially since it is obvious the princess is going to go through with this regardless of my opinion, but, as I said, she has made her decision."

Ghost says, "What decision? I heard her ask you to go. Then order you to go. That doesn't sound to me like someone who has decided you can't go."

Scrapper says, "She also ordered me back to Earth when I held firm on my suggestion that we verify popular support before looking like bullies and possibly *escalating* the conflict. I'm waiting for my ride home now."

Scrapper frowns and adds, "I'm just not convinced that all brown fae are evil just because they are brown and are as hateful as those closer to my skin tone."

Ghost says, "If you ask the Princess if you can go on the mission I'd bet you a month's pay she'll say yes. Conversely, do you think anyone will nay-say you if you just got in the carriage and went? And, Jo, I can't speak for all Fae. I can speak about the Goblins of Newport. No-one with any slightest thread of decency would treat prisoners as those in the Newport dungeons have been treated. With you along there's a reduced chance that one or more of our team could be seeing those dungeons as an involuntary visitor. The team needs you, Jo. Are you one of us or not? Are you the leader this team need or not?"

Scrapper hops up. "Okay, a rescue mission I can wholeheartedly support. Care to fill me in on what you have seen while I figure out how to appropriately apologize without changing my opinion?"

On the way back to the princess, Ghost describes the dungeons and the state of the prisoners. Describes some of the horrific scenes of injury and dismemberment she saw at Sorryswood, reminding Jo that cold iron woulds cannot be cured by the Fae magic. ... those children will be missing limbs for the rest of their lives. Which is a long time....

Scrapper growls sourly, "Enough with the heartstrings. I already said I'd go. I want a tactical assessment, you softie."

Ghost says, "I've watched ships burn in the night off Harmony, Scrapper. Softie? Yeah. Maybe. The primary objective at Newport is still the boots. It has to be. Because with the boots in Goblin hands there will be more Sorryswoods, more dead and maimed children. There are four trainees leaning how to use the boots in the Citadel courtyard. An older Shaman teaching them. The prisoners are down in the dungeons. There's only the one door down there that I can see. So that area can be held while the prisoners are rescued and you all teleport out."

Scrapper says, "Open courtyard to the sky like the embassy? Well, that will make things easier for those of us that can fly. Any other anomalies I should be aware of, Ghost?"

Ghost says, "In the tower to the left facing away from the gates. There's a young looking goblin in guest quarters. He speaks Fae to himself when he thinks nothing can here. I think he's Fae under a glamour. If so he may be a mage of some skill."

Scrapper says, "So three goals then. If you were there in person, is there any chance you could oversee the boot capture with the bulk of the team and *also* keep the fae engaged long enough for the team to assist you without him escaping while Lia nd I rescue the prisoners?"

Scrapper strides into the Princess' presence just as Lia is having her 'what did I say' moment, trailed by a white rabbit. She drops to one knee next to Lia and says, "Your highness, it has been brought to my attention that I may have caused a fatal oversight. With your permission, I would like to take Lia to rescue the fae prisoners. This should allow the rest of the team to continue the original mission and retrieve the boots."

Lorelei nods to Scrapper. "Of course - I'm glad you're willing to do your part."

Sukeban shrugs, "Doesn't matter to me. Come or don't come."

Lorelei thinks. o O (They don't trust me. Or don't trust my judgement, at least. This could be a problem....)

Lia just kind of stands there for a moment, expecting some type of harsh judgment or words to be thrown at her. "I uh..." Lia starts, but doesn't finish. Lia glances to Scrapper, considering. Lia seems /way/ out of her comfort zone right now.

Scrapper nods and rises, sweeping Lia along with her in her energy (literally, if Lia doesn't move on her own). To Ellbeth, she asks, "can you open the portal in the room with the suspicious goblin? From there, we should all be able to both see him and get to the courtyard through the overlook he has. If it is warded, can you put us in the air over the courtyard where we can perhaps see him as we drop?"

Scrapper thinks .o0 (Let him try to weasel his innocence with an entire Court of Sighted fae looking at him.)

Lia makes no effort to resist the whole getting-picked-up thing. She seems kind of relieved that Scrapper is dragging her along, it would seem. She still doesn't speak.

Scrapper steps up to Titan, "Miss me? This is new, me playing cowboy. I'll try not to get used to it." She looks about, nods to Sukeban and says, "Do you two think you can get the boots alone if he (with a jerk of her head toward Elion) doesn't work out?"

Titan shrugs, "Sure. He's coming along to really just identify our mystery goblin, from what I understand."

Sukeban shrugs, "I could do it by myself if I had to."

Scrapper thinks .o0 (Easiest way to get a noble to fight like a demon: sting his pride.)

[To Lia] Scrapper says, "Your job is to follow me and watch my back. I'm going to try and run through this place as fast as possible."

Scrapper says, "I plan on teleporting often, but will try to keep the ports in a straight line so I don't lose you."

The portal opens onto the battlements, facing a tower, the one from which the suspect has been walking on occasion. He's not to be seen currently, but the door isn't fully closed, as if he might reappear at any minute. The crash of waves can be heard below on one side, the shouts of the senior shaman on the other in the courtyard below.

"I could just come with you during your teleports, without the need of me 'catching up to you'." Lia notes, "It would be the easiest solution unless you cannot teleport while carrying others."

Lia sounds somewhat deflated and shaken.

Flames lick out from her body and swirl around her as Sukeban launches hereself through the portal, trailing fire behind her as she flies.

Scrapper says as she steps behind Titan so that he can stay with Sukeban. "I don't want a mystic net hitting us both. You are my partner on this not my burden."

Lia nods, and sighs. Her wings lift her into the air, as she gets behind Scrapper. "Understood." She says flatly.

As Sukeban emerges from the portal in less than stealthy manner a cry of alarm goes up from one of the watchtowers.....

Sukeban spots the shaman, and grins as she snaps her fingers. A spark flies out and lands near them, blossoming into a roaring inferno!

All five shamans are caught in the flames. One passes out on the spot, two more yell in pain and try frantically to extinguish their flaming clothes. But one instead swells up into a massive ogre-like creature, and the head shaman seems to take little damage, as if the flames are parting around him.

Titan leaps down into the courtyard and attempt to wrestle the shaman who shapeshifted into the ogre. The ogre doesn't get a chance to take a breath before Titan has him in a bearhug.

Elion rushes straight through the half-open door to get a look at the suspected non-goblin - after all that's what he's here for.

Elion gasps, and cries out, "It's Palanir, once duke of Westmarch!" he cries out in dismay.

Elion leaps backwards into the doorway again, away from the slash of a sword unseen by the others.

Scrapper pops the door Elion is fighting near (whether to force it open or damage it isn't clear), then flies strait at the tower door leading to the dungeon, but teleports prior to hitting it. Just inside the door, she sidesteps, looks around wildly, and pauses for Lia.

The light in the tower is dim. Voices can be heard drifting up the spiral staircase, of the guards at their post one floor down. They sound bored, unaware yet of the alarm.

Lia turns invisible, and tries following Scrapper as best she can-including teleporting past that door.

 Scrapper says, "coming?"

 Lia says, "I'm here, just invisible."

 Scrapper says, "okay. just tell me if I get too far ahead ... or behind."

 Lia says, "Will do. But, I'm not sure exactly where we're supposed to be going, other than to the dungeon, so, following you."

The archers have no real targets but Sukeban and Titan - and Titan is tight in with the shamans, so they're not inclined to fire at him. So all eight turn their attention to the fiery menace....

 Scrapper says, "I'll do my best to not slow you down then."

The chief shaman distorts his face monstrously at Titan and makes unearthly screeching....

Sukeban cracks her neck two arrows are deflected by her flames, and the last nicks her cheek, "Yer goin' to have to do a lot better than that, if ya want to stop me, the Mouka no Arekuruu!"

The shaman's attempt to summon a spirit of fear seems to have failed. The effect in fact is more comic - at least to one of Titan's presence.

Elion's lunge at Palanir is easily blocked, while the deposed nobleman's blade finds its mark with ease. Luckily, the blade is deflected off Elion's armour!

Sukeban grins evilly as she flies to above the exact center of the courtyard. She holds out her arms at her sides as flames spiral around them. Then, the air itself around her ignites in storm of flame. "Burn."

Elion yelps at the flames catch him by surprise - he was half out of the tower. The flames part around the chief shaman but the others howl in pain.

All the goblin but the chief shaman are knocked off their feet. Elion barely keeps his.

The archers knocked off their feet but catch themselvess on the battlement - all but one who is left dangling over the side.

Titan shifts his grip to just hold the wrist on the 'ogre' shaman that he's holding, and swings him around to attempt to clock the chief shaman with the arcing body.

The seems to have put the 'ogre' down for the count. And it knocks the chief shaman into the castle wall.....

But somehow the chief still seems functional - though the flames seems to be licking closer to him now....

Scrapper flies down the stairs, sometimes literally and sometimes running on a wall if she has to take a corner too tightly. When she reaches the guards she doesn't slow down and again teleports just before running into something. It looks like Scrapper is going to try and make this rescue a race (or perhaps for the goblins with the keys an obstacle course) instead of a fight.

Lia follows behind, as quickly and quietly as she can.

 Scrapper says, "How's it going up there guys?"

Lia teleports through the door, arriving on the other side, still flying.

The archers on the towers all scramble down trapdoors to get away from the flames - except on the highest tower where the one tries to help the otheer to safety....

.. and the dangling goblin indeeds manages a panicked climb back onto the tower roof.

Scrapper laughs as the surprised goblins are caught totally flatfooted and she appears past them and the dungeon door to appear at the top of a straight staircase leading on downwards, dug into the ground.

The shaman chieftain stands and casts a desperate spell at Sukeban.

Sukeban looks at Titan and the Ogre, a little confused, shrugs.

 Scrapper says, "guys?"

 Sukeban says, "What? Oh, fine, fine. No problems."

Elion staggers backward out the tower door, clutching at his stomach, as a red stain spreads across his tabard.

Lia flies ahead, as far as her wings will take her until she finds a door or something else of interest.

Lia comes to a grim chamber, filled with instruments of torture, some made of cold iron. Three fae, including one woman, are chained up here, in cold iron fetters.

The fae are in bad shape. Some have had parts cut off. they're likely to need help getting out even once free.

Scrapper zooms into the room. She winces when she sees the fae, but struggles to keep her mind task-based. Grabbing the closest, she lifts it in her arms and tries to roughly calculate how deep she is. Over her shoulder, she says, "Lia. Guard the other three till I get back. I can't be certain those goblins guards don't have orders to kill them rather than let them free."

 Lia says, "...Got it..."

Scrapper vanishes from the dungeon.

In the courtyard above, Scrapper appears in an Inferno.

 Scrapper says, "This is 'fine'!?"

Titan takes the unconscious shaman that he's holding, and tries to scoop up another booted shaman before leaping back up to the portal.

Sukeban flies in and blasts the head shaman. The protective spirit that had shielded the shaman flies off before the inferno, and the shaman is defeated at last.

Lia just continues floating there, invisible.

Elion has barely recovered from the shock of the last stab before Palanir, exiting the tower, attacks him again!

Titan looks down at where he's hit, and cracks his neck side to side. "Palanir. Good to see you again. Care to take on someone who's more of a challenge? Or are you going to flee? Again."

Palanir looks back coldly. "I see your time with the princess hasn't improved your manners. But now she's tired of you - well, there's not hope that will change."

Lia hears the door above being unlocked and booted steps on the stairs....

Lia mutters to herself, "[Censored] me..."

Sukeban flies to grab the remaining booted shamans.

Scrapper yells as a purple field appears around herself and the prisoner and she flies toward (hopefully) waiting healers, "Suke! Turn this d*** thing off before you fry us all!"

Sukeban points out she can't stop it till it's run its course.

Lia nervously flies into seeing-distance of the goblins, trying to get a feel for just what she's dealing with.

Lia suddenly becomes visible. "Hi there. Nothing to see here." And suddenly, a fire is conjured up around her, then shot /straight/ towards the Goblins.

The goblins hardly have time to look surpised before the collapse and topple down the stairs, clanging on each step as they go.

The fireball roars as it hits its mark, leaving Lia giggling-of all things.

Lia continues giggling for a bit, then sighs. She fades from sight once more, becoming quiet.

Palanir says, "But it seems this game is up. Give the princess my regards, will you, when you next see her. If you see her." And with that he leaps over the battlements to the deep waters of the harbour below!

Titan shakes his head. "My prediction was right about the fleeing. Coward."

Elion, still grasping his deep wound, says, "May I withdraw from the field?"

Titan nods to Elion, "Please do. Get through the portal to a healer."

Elion withdraws though the portal.... and then it's just a matter of getting everyone else through too. Sukeban keeps the archers under control with (literal) covering fire, while Titan can manhandle the shamans. Lia's surprise attacks defend the stairway till Scrapper can recover the other prisoners.

After this, it's a simple matter to collect the remaining boots, much as the first ones were collected - especially with the goblin command in confusion with Borbornogjent's disappearance.

Scrapper pauses at the portal as they prepare to leave. Hopefully, the prisoners survived the fire but she is in no position to check, certain they were removed long before she finished. Turning to Lia, she says, "Have fun while I played pack mule?"

"I like casting magic." Lia offers, shrugging at Scrapper, "Especially fireball for some reason. Something about warping my mana into a fire-making substance..."

Ellbeth closes the gate to the Citadel and opens a gate back to her laptop, left behind to act as a marker or the return trip. She hurries, wanting to get the injured to healers as soon as possible.

There is no magical treatment for cold iron wounds, but fae healers understand mundane surgery as well. Elion is stabilized - though it may take some time for him to recover fully.

Scrapper nods, "I'm just glad goblins are more durable than humans. There is no way we can spin this as a 'surgical' strike.

Titan shrugs. "I think it went pretty well, all things considered."