Log:Post-Apocalyptic Dwarves, Scene 11

Post-Apocalyptic Dwarves 2020/04/17 	 Artemis Ascendant Charm Citatl Ellbeth Fauna Liandere Moonshadow Titan The Mountain 11

The heroes have escaped the dwarven city through a portal, together with the fae captives and their gear! They are now close to where large obdidian cell Titan flew out of the dungeon is sitting, and have collected Ghost's body. Back on the volcano, the Mountain is standing - and she has just noticed the escaped prisoners... 

Moonshadow sees Ghost's body, "What happened to her?"

One of the fae says, "She is not there. That is merely her body."

"She is apparently in a coma. We believe that she projected herself astrally, and never returned to her body. The worry is that if we depart... she may not be able to find her body to return to." offers Citlali in a mildly more wordy description than the fae give.

But she notices that -they- have been noticed, and frowns, "It looks as if we are not... as they say... out of the woods yet."

As if on queue, the Mountain roars a warcry, and grows, and grows, and GROWS....

Moonshadow says, "Maybe I could go look for her," She notices the Mountain as well, "...later."

Titan looks to the others. "Can you gate out of here? I can hold her off."

Moonshadow says, "I could take one, but what about Ghost?"

It seems 'the Mountain' is not such hyperbole after all. Well, she's still a lot shorter than the volcano. But 120m tall is pretty big, even at this distance....

The Bloodlit float arm in arm at a casual pace, keeping up with the mortals easily. Artemis' limp form held aloft on telekinetic strings.

"Have these Dwarves not been embarassed enough on thsi day? Do they have an insatible hunger for our wrath?" Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx says, sounding truly surprised by this turn of events.

He releases Artemis and lets he rbody drift into a comfortable position nearby, protected by soem large boulders.

Then the Ascendant laughs. "I had hoped for another chance to fell this mountain." He says boldly, sounding as if he really has been looking forward to this.

A wordwalker shakes his head. "There are no correspondence points here. The closest is half a league yon, and that would not take us back to earth...."

In a cold and quietly angry voice Ellbeth says, "The bigger they are..."

Moonshadow says, "Indeed."

Titan sighs. "Moonshadow, how quickly can you evac people?"

The Mountain begins running toward the heroes, the ground shaking beneath her massive feet....

"Battle is not always the way to approach things." suggests Citlali, the tech weenie of the group. "Perhaps we could talk to this one, buying time for escape?" she offers.

Moonshadow says, "I can take one back easily. But getting back here for the next one may take longer. I say we fight."

Titan nods to Citlali. "I'm willing to try. But that didnt' go so well last time. We'll see. Let me take hte brunt of whatever attack is coming.

Moonshadow concentrates on her spell list for a moment.

Ellbeth turns toward the charging Mountain and her eyes glow a brilliant sapphire blue.

Titan grows to his full eight of 8m, and flies up to meet the Mountain. Even though it is coming to him.

"I have no interest in entreating with cowards & cheats. Only returning their dishonor in kind interests me." NNS says with a stern grumble before thrusting his hand into the sky and summoning his spirit brand to his hand.

"I will be the spear to your shield Titan of Hollywood." He says firmly, sliding into place at Titan's side with a glowering stare locked on the oncoming Mountain.

Moonshadow takes to the air, flying toward the Mountain.

Sighing softly, Citlali shakes her head. In her arms, she cradles Ghost's limp form, and she looks down at the form, and then up to her new friends flying off to engage in a hopeless battle. "Or we could fight I suppose." she mutters. "That never turns out badly."%TBut she turns to the nearest fae, "Okay, where -does- the nearest point take us? It must be better than -here-." she says with a jerk of her chin towards the approaching Mountain.

Ascendant does the same thing- charging, preparing to strike at the first opening Titan or Moonshadow's magics open up.

Titan gets to within shouting range, "We jsut want to leave! Let us go, and you can go about yoru business!"

Ascendant charges the angry Mountain with a face of focused determination. He uses Titan's large size to cover his approach but he does not strike, offering peace a chance to give Honor to Titan's words.

Fauna reattaches to Titan's back, as headpoking assistant listener.

Moonshadow mirrors the Stranger's actions, though she falls behind a bit

Titan shouts his statement and gets a little closer. Otherwise, he pauses to make sure he's prepared.

Titan says to Fauna, with a sad tone to his voice. "You're going to want to get off my back. You really are."

Titan says to the otehrs. "Spread out! If I get a chance, I'm going to fly up her nose or down her throat. This is going to end one way or another!"

Fauna extracts herself from Titan's back, scampering behind the group to the left slightly, measuring her distance to them to have striking similarities to her reach.

A number of the fae ready bows, others spells...

Ellbeth continues to stare at the Mountain with her eyes glowing bright sapphire blue as she calls out, "If blind rage drives you, then be blind."

The Mountain, charging wildly at the heroes swinging her great hanmer, is suddenly blinded...

Ellbeth feels the massive mind, threading her way thought the synapses to the visual cortex. Then with an effort of will she shuts that part of the Mountain's brain down temporarily.

Though blinded, the Mountain knows roughly where the heroes were when last she saw them. So she throws herself prone on the ground, hoping to squash them beneath her....

Titan flies forward to try to catch...or at least slow the falling giant mutant dwarf.

Fauna's relatively tiny body becomes suddenly much less tiny, taking on the monstrous form she has helped Colonial Bay understand exists within its limits a few times. She watches the hammer coming down and moves to push it to the side and to a much less dangerous location!

Ascendant - Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx sees what's coming and attempts to throw himself headlong into danger- though consideirn the Mountain's size he isn't so sure he can pull it off.

Fauna uses her massive size along with slightly not so massive brain to come up with a protective plan that involves less brute force but still brute force! She scoops up the non-moving heroes and relocates them to a place where hammers do not fall!

Well, the falling behemoth makes Citlali sigh once more. She shakes her head and turns. She realizes she'd never be able to get out of the affected area in time. So rather than trying and failing, she merely curls her body.. energy charged skin placed between the falling monstrosity and Ghost's body that is being carried in her arms.

The mighty giant crashes to the ground, but knocked by Titan and Ascendant off to the side of ther heroes. The ground shakes beneath the mighty fall....

The Ascendant Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx sees what Titan is attempting and so he twists in mid-air- thrusting his free hand towards his ally & reinforcing him with his telekinetic might- supporting titanic muscles, sinew and bones to give his ally the might necessary to deflect and turn the monsterous Mountain. He can maintain such a state for long, but Titan roils with telekinetic force long enough for the job to be done.

"Haha! Excellent work Titan of Hollywood, Feller of Mountains!" He exclaims cheerfully.

Titan is breathing a little heavily after helping to redirect the falling body. "Not yet, I'm not." He's still injured from the fight inside the city, and hasn't have time to recover yet.

Ascendant considers putting his soul brand spear straight through the hand of the Mountain as she lays there. With a flare of his nose he reconsiders, thinking it unsporting.

He tosses his spear into the air, catching it with a different grip- one better for aiming and throwing. The he hurls the spear at the Mountain and it slips away from the physical world- gliding across the astral in search of its target with a veiled lie packaged just for her.

Moonshadow flies closer and invokes the Blood Moon upon the Mountain.

Blood bursts from the Moutain's various orifices - mostly her nose which she landed on.

The system shock proves to much for the Mountain, already straining to her utmost to maintain the huge size.... she abuptly shrinks...

And in moments is just an ordinaty-sized Dwarf.

The kaboom. Where is the Earth Shattering Kaboom? Citlali opens her eyes and looks around, only to see the giant being bloodied. "That is... unexpected. Perhaps we should take this chance to depart?"

Titan blinks...and has no idea how tough she is when small. He hesitates...not wanting to kill anyone. Even if she does deserve it. "What happened?"

"I would like to take this chance to string this one up upon a banner and march this haughty Mortal right to the gates of their hermit kingdom and set them ablaze..." NNS says angrily but he turns and looks to his fallen sister. "But alas- I have a feast to prepare for." He seems to agree with Citlali now that the battle seems over with.

Moonshadow says, "I invoked the Blood Moon - pulled blood from her body."

Moonshadow says, "She'll recover, though."

The bloodied dwarf is barely conscious - and in very rough shape.

Moonshadow flies back to where Citlali is holding Ghost. "Time to see if I can find her..."

The dwarf mutters to herself.... <>

"No good and noble warrior. You served well. There is no shame in failure. Only in failing to try." offers Citlali aloud as she nods to the Ascendant. "We only wish to leave. We wish no harm upon you and yours. Live and continue to serve." That said, she turns to regard the others, "Where do we go now?" She asks.

Ellbeth is secretly pleased to see the Mountain reduced to size. Turning to the Fae world walker who spoke previously she asks, "Where is the nearest way path leading to either Undermoon or Earth? I can open a gate to close by."

Moonshadow says, "I'm off to find Ghost. Can you wait until I return?"

Mechanical noises from the direction of the volcano serve as reminders that there is still a city of angry dwarves nearby....

"There is a difference between being able to wait, and being able to wait ... right here. I suggest we do this away from here." offers Citlali.

Titan nods to Ellbeth, "Please..help evacuate everyone we can. It would be nice to find Ghost, if we can. But I don't want to risk more of our numbers than we have to."

Ellbeth shakes her head. "No. No, we cannot. They'll be launching more nukes soon. We must leave."

Moonshadow says, "My fear is that a dimensional jump might damage Ghost's connection to her body, perhaps even sever it. I'll be as fast as I can."

"The path to Colonial Bay, where we entered, is the closest direct route. It is half as far again to the way to Undermoon. Or we could pass through the nearest portal, some half a league that way, and try to find our way from there, but I cannot tell where it leads."

Ellbeth looks to the Fae and their second sight to confirm what her mental scan has told her. "I'm sorry. There is no mental link to her body from a soul."

"Perhaps it is not meant for all of us to return to the realms Fae." The Ascendant says. "I will remain with this one and protect this vacant body." He points to Moonshadow and Ghost's body. "In return- you return my Sister with those evacuated and see that she is cared for in time for her awakening. Make sure the casks we agreed upon are nearby and a goblet is in arms reach for the occasion- and hopefully there will still eb time to prepare a feast after Ghost's spirit is returned." He doesn't really sound like he's asking.

Moonshadow says, "If her cord has been severed, then she would be dead, no?"

A fae magician nods. "This is but a shell. Mayhap one day she can find the shell again, but for the moment there is no connection.?

Titan nods solemnly. "If there's no connection...I think we have to go. Everyone. Come on."

Ellbeth says, "I'll open a gate to the Colonial Bay way path. We can wait there as long as it is safe to do so."

Moonshadow says, "Still, I shall go search for her, try to lead her back."

The fae nods to Moonshadow. "She is, as you would say, dead. A ghost, perhaps, if her spirit lingers. But it does not linger here."

"Once we are at the gate, I think we would be safer to search. There is no harm in searching. But I believe that Titan is correct. We must save some rather than linger overlong and save none." suggests Citlali. "Just the same, if she can be found, there is no reason not to try."

Wrapping herself in her cloak, Moonshadow jaunts to the Astral Plane.

Ellbeth opens the gate for those who wish to use it.

The fae start making their way through the gate - even as huge tanks begin emerging from the city gates....

Nodding her head, Citlali steps through the gate, still holding Ghost's body in her arms. "We will search for her spirit once we reach relative safety." she suggests.

Titan follows the others through the gates taht are made, though he makes sure he's one of the last through, just in case.

MegaFauna glances at the approaching war machines, a growl sounding from her. There is a nudge for Titan to go through.

Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx looks loathe to leave, but with Moonshadow vanished and Ghost's body taken through to teh otherside he escorts his Bloodbound Sister through the gate as well.

"KNOW THIS DWARVES_ YOUR DISHONOR SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN!" He exclaims before stepping across the threshold. "I SHALL RETURN!"

The portal takes everyone (or everyone who didn't stay) back to the old bridge where the heroes forst arrived on this world.

Titan gets through the gate and waits for the others, "Come on, people! Let's move it!"

Floating silently through the portal, Citlali reaches the other side. Ghost still limp in her arms. "I will protect her body. She must have a vessel to return to." she offers Titan.

The highest-ranking worldwalker promptly opens the path between worlds - for him it's an easy thing to open and hold it open for the entire company....

Titan nods to Citlali, "I think we'll need to take her to the Undermoon Embassy. They might be able to do something."

"Lo!" says one of the fae archers, looking into clear sky. "Missiles pursue us!"

Titan nods. "Everyone through the gate to Earth! Let's go."

"Go. Take her body." suggests Citlali as she holds out Ghost's form. "I will follow but not until all others have passed through." She states as she begins to charge up her eyes... turning towards the oncoming missiles. Her plan? To be a mobile point defense station, trying to shoot down missiles to buy time for escape.

Everyone scrambles through the fae path, leaving but Citlali. "Come! I cannot close the path till all are through!" yells the worldwalker.

A few blasts lance out at the missiles, defensive doctrine playing a part. But the Citlali glances over her shoulder, sees everyone having passed through the gate, and she nods.. turning to fly through herself.

Titan shouts at Citlali, "MOVE! We can close the gate after you're through!"

The missiles appraach the ground - then vanish from sight as the worldwalker hurriedly closes the path!

Titan sighs. "Let's get back to the Undermoon Embassy. We need to return everyone we can, and have them look at Ghost's situation."

The worldwalker sighs. "It is done. The path is closed - forever closed. This way is blocked."

"Blocked?! Did you not hear my vow before we depearted? Surely ther emust be another way there?" Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx says as if he's been physically accosted.

"I wager that the way was severed by whatever they had aboard their missiles." says Citlali as she reaches out to take Ghost's body back. "But Titan is correct. We must deal with the immediate consequences, and then attempt recovery."

"Be at peace. Assuredly there are other ways to reach that world, as there are to leave this - but longer ways. We must seek them out."

The worldwalker nods. "My understanding is that their missiles harness the smallest particles of being to cause great devastation. Doubtless they have annihilated the other end of this path."

Titan has already gone back to his normal size before going through the portal. "I kept trying to talk to them. Like an idiot. Not once were they really willing to talk. Not once."

Another fae - noble, to judge by her clothes - nods. "All dwarves are stiff-necked," she says, "but those are as no others. They have not a jot of trust in them..."

"Good- Good! Thank you Noble World Walker- I shall leave you to find them and in time I shall return to barter for passage back so I might give those dwarves more of the same." NNS says before laughing & clapping the Fae on the shoulder.

He turns to TItan. "You di dwell by your world's standards. The Multiverse is as mad as it is wise and there ar emany who would have blood before reason." He says to Titan with a sympathetic smile. "You have brought home many who will see their loved ones once more. You are a hero on this day just like those that will follow." He claps him on the shoulder, much more forcfully, knowing he can take it.

The group walk, wearily but gladdened by their escape, across the bridge to the Embassy.

Titan finds himself realizing...that most of the Fae-related races have a similar issue. There was no debating withe the Fae of Undermoond when it came to Lorelei. There was no peace talk with the dwarves here. Or with the dwarves in the park who started the recent rift crisis.

Carrying Ghost the whole way, Citlali remarks, "I find that I may have questions for these fae. Mostly about their technology." she admits.

Titan. o O (And Palanir, while he has lost his standing...will not change. He's an honorless . He caused this. Next time I see him, I won't spend time bantering. I'm just going to crush him.)

Titan nods to Nohrbor after he's clapped on the shoulder. Sure enough, he's tough enough to deal with the forceful slap.

The noble says, "The embassy is here not least that our peoples may come to understand each other better. If you wish to learn of our technology, you may find assistance there."

"Bring the Bards! We have Fallen to remember, Victory to celebrate & Vengence to plan!" NNS exclaims as they enter the Embassy. "The Godflora seek a return to that world with Hell riding at our back!"

At the embassy, Princess Liandere is there in person to welcome the returning fae - and thank the heroes formally for the rescue. Indeed, she offers gifts to each of the heroes, asking what they would have.

Titan says to the Princess, "I want nothing for myself. I deserve nothing for myself. I would just like to make sure that Ghost is looked after. Her spirit may yet return."

Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx's requests are easy. He says, "You Honor us indeed Princess Liandere. The Godflora would feast with lots of wine, food & courtesans. And I- personally, would ask for passage back to that world as soon as a path is found by your World Walkers. I am called to sow divine vengence upon those honorless dwarves." He says clenching his fist at the end- clearly still a bit incensed by whatever they suffered.

Liandere nods gravely. "That shall be done."

Titan nods to the Princess, "Thank you."

Liandere smiles. "A feast there shall certainly be, with much wine and food. Courtesans, if I understand what you mean aright, I cannot provide, but it may be you will find those who wish to join you in that manner of celebration. And we shall find a way to return you to that world."

Charm says, "I would ask something."

Liandere turns, perhaps with a hint of surprise, toward Charm. "Speak."

Charm says, "I would have my own form back. There is no longer threat of civil war. The threat of Palanir remains, but he has divined my identity. Even should you give me a new disguise, I will not be safe from him, because he will expect such deception. And I have finished high school, and have no more need of mortal guise. Why then should the pretence be continued?"

Liandere frowns. "This is a serious thing you ask, and your parents are not here to consult. I must think on it."

Atop the rocky cliff near the end of the bridge stands the tiny "fairy tale" castle that serves as the Undermoon embassy. It's no larger than a large house, and its great front gate (with drawbridge to cross a decorative moat) is only the size of a normal door. Its slender towers are topped with graceful spires from which fly pennants of many colours and designs, but chiefly of purple and silver. Over the main gate hangs a rectangular flag of the same colour.

That's the outside. As soon as one passes through the gate it's another story - the castle is vast, the walls tall, the spires tower above the courtyard! Various buildings of the same graceful architectural style are found among the gardens of exotic flora, and the place is busy with staff, both human and fae.

Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx knows when to be silent. He bows out of the way with most of his requests fullfilled. A few mortals should not be difficult for the divine Doj'on to have as he and his Sister's +1s.

He watches Charm make her plea and nods, finding her boldness appreciable.