Log:Post-Apocalyptic Dwarves, Scene 5

Post-Apocalyptic Dwarves 2020/03/06 Ascendant Artemis Fauna Ghost Moonshadow Titan Thunder Firebeard The Mountain Stoutheart Stick-in-the-Mud Palanir 5

Ascendant grumbles to Titan, "I grow tired of toy soldiers. Let us make quick work of these minions so we may climb that mountain." He thrusts his Soulbound Spear at the Mountain but charges the mud-flinging villain who's desperate for his attention.

He obliges by attempting to bring his weapon across the side of his target's skull.

"A mud pie should know its place. Take heart Elemental, I shall return you to the Urrth." He says boldly.

The mud constituting Ascendants target just splits about his blow and rejoins.

Stick-in-Mud tries once again to choke her attacker.

But he proves no less elusive than she.

The five soldiers, trusting that their giant is bigger than yours, concentrate their fire on Ascendant.

"You are certainly a wily mire, Elemental but Godflora do now bend, break or ooze. We are the Firmament given breath." The Ascendant Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx says to SitM.

The Ascendant's alien martial art keeps him in motion- but here its almost as if he's predicted where the blasts would go and when they come he's already changed psoitions.

Hypervelocity rounds impact the ground all around him but the Doj'on stands proudly.

Titan nods to Ascendant, "The gun toters have to go first. The giant can wait." He flies over to one of them...and more importantly, getting into their midst... and attempts to slug his target.

Titan slugs the dwarf, sending him to the ground, where he bounces a couple of times before coming to a rest.

The Mountain starts chasing Titan, once again bringing her warhammer on his head.

Titan is struck...and he sails downward...striking the ground again, making a 'dirt angel'. He sighs, "You'll get your turn. Don't worry."

Ascendant back flips and sails into the air. He shouts back to SitM: "I'll be back for you, Oozeling!"

He charges another of the flying soldiers with another blunt side spear attack.

The spirtual weapon spins throught he air like a helicopter blade as he crosses the gap & then he strikes it on his target hoping to give as good as Titan got.

Ascendant back flips and sails into the air. He shouts back to SitM: "I'll be back for you, Oozeling!"

He charges another of the flying soldiers with another blunt side spear attack.

The spirtual weapon spins throught he air like a helicopter blade as he crosses the gap & then he strikes it on his target hoping to give as good as Titan got.

Titan springs to his feet agian...and once more chooses to ignore the giant. After all, those gun-toting dwarves have a fair amount of fire power, and they're dangerous in numbers. He flies up...and goes to strike the closest one.

Ascendant's blow strikes true and cracks against the pre-squished soldier. The dwarf drops like a small, husky man in heavy dwarven made armor.

Nohrbor immediately sets his sights on anotehr target.

Titan manages to strike one of the flying dwarves, sending his target careening. "It's only a matter of time. Surrender now! We will tear through you all!"

Stick-in-the-Mud changes tack and chucks a *large* amount of quick-hardening mud at Ascendant.

Ascendant dodges the mass of mud.

The three soldiers fire at Ascendant while he's off-balance.

One soldier's aim is true enough. It pings off the will-wrought flesh of the Godflora. He laughs.

The Mountain sees her comrades fall, and realises it's do or die. So she forces herself up to her former gargantuan height and SMASHES. Titan. Hard. Even though it means striking one of the soldiers as well.

In the big crater where the warhammer hit are two smaller craters, one containing Titan, the other a dwarf.

Stick-in-the-Mud once again tries to choke Ascendant, while the two remaining dwarves fire on him.

Ascendant laughs the whole time he waves between mud & electromagnetically accelerated rounds with the grace of some unworldly eagle.

"Fools! You face the Bloodlit Ascendant, born on the steppes of Doj'on Prime, hewn from the Living Stone of the City of the Archons in the Valley Ascendant. Born to be the ultimate soldier of Keter, the Emanation of the Crown Most High, reforged to be a mighty keeper of peace. Expurgated & rarefied in the fires of countless worlds, hammered in the deepest dungeons, & relentlessly honed in the gladiatorial pits of more than twenty-three dozen worlds! Cower now while you find yourself capable." He shouts, moving to strike down the last soldier.

His spear cuts the air and lunges it at the dwarf soldier.

The remaining dwarf, unnerved, empties his gun at Ascendant.

The Bloodlit Ascendant's spear swings true and the blunt side strikes with all the whirling fury of a typhoon. His soulbound spear cracks loudly against the dwarven forged armor and a gasp escapes the soldier as he falls limp.

He is sent careening into the cliffside, cracking it breaking large chunks of stone loose to fall with his target towards teh ground.

"I have given you ample warning. If ye not the heart to face me in single combat than I will hold back no more!" He exclaims.

The dwarf is so terrified, however, he can't even shoot straight.

Stick-in-the-Mud goes for the choke, once more....

The Bloodlit Ascendant should perhaps learn not to gloat until the day is won. As he continyes his berating rhetoric he is caught, mouth wide and throat open by Stick-in-the-Mud's mucky blast. He finds himself at a loss for words, perhaps for the first time in many cycles.

The Mountain uses every ounce of her willpower to stay huge and slams the warhammer down on Ascendant.

.. then passes out from the exertion, shrinking as she falls.

One by one, you come around. You feel battered, bruised, sore and generally uncomfortable. Your weight is hanging from your wrists. It's hot and dark in this room.

Titan comes to reasonably quickly, and he blinks a few times, looking around.

Ghost awakens. Shows no sign of it. She remains seemingly limp and unresponsive. Setting free her astral spirit she starts to massess the situation.

Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx stirs slowly, murmuring something about cutting the top off a mountain and crushing it into pebbles with his bare hands.

He feels the weight of his body around his wrists and jolts awake, fearing he's found himself in Duod Dalux's clutches once more.

"Althea! Althea! Are you here, Sister?! Do you hear me?! Wake up- we have been captured." He says through the pounding behind his eyes.

Suddenly wide awake he feels jsut how uncomfortable he is and even with his new form's impressive healing abilities he is still hurting.

THe warm walls of this room seem to be made of obsidian. The heroes are all here, each chained to the wall, wrist and ankle, with bonds of some Unknown Metal(TM). The room has but one door - and that is up by the ceiling.

The sharp-eyed among you will notice eventually that there is a camera watching you.

Titan doesn't immediately try to get free. Instead he just assesses the situation, looking to see if he can tell who is here...and who is not. Are the members of the party they were trailing nearby?

It's just the members of you own party here.

Having assured herself that all, except of course Charm and Moonshadow, are here in the room and largely unhurt - well not bleeding to death - she goes walk around, making a mental map of the area around the prison. Looking for other captives. Location defences, concentrations of dwarves, etc..

Titan can't shrink to get out of the chains, sadly. And growing might be problematic. So he tries to pull on the cuffs, attempting to get his arms free. The chains might hold...but will the stone?

Artemis is slow to rouse, her injuries still severe, but not mortal thanks to Ghost's healing. Her eyes blink open slowly at the sound of her true name being called by her Bloodbound. With a rattling cough, Artemis answers raggedly, "I am here, Brother, bound to you and the ceiling, I think."

Ghost hurriedly returns to the room and her body. Opening her eyes she tells the other prisoners, "This chamber is surrounded on all sides by magma. The only way out is up. Don't break the walls unless you want to swim in a magma poll."

Titan sighs. "Ah. Well, I guess I better not try again, then. I'd be okay with the magma, but it's not just me."

Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx begins to hover and then he concentrates on a new form for his will-wrought flesh to take. He imagines himself as a comfortable chaise lounge with velvet upholstry & a dramatic curve to the back.

"Magma? Oh! So this is yet another challenge?! Perhaps it was a great boon to find ourselves thusly." The Ascendant Doj'on says with untempered glee.

A distant alarm can just be heard seconds after Ascendant slips from his bonds.

Ghost adds, "I've located some of the others. There's more chambers like this I haven't checked yet."

The Highborn Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx's body slips free of the bonds as he takes the form of a comfortable chair hovering in place. His chains clang against the wall emptily.

"So Guardians of Earth and the Fae Realms what say you? Shall we charge the door above or do ye have some crafty plan in store for these Mortals.

"OOh or perhaps more excitement will find us here!" Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx says as he considers returning to his bonds for the show.

An Ashildr, captured in defeat and without their weapons rather than dying on the battle field? Artemis is ashamed and outraged. She strains against her bindings with whatever strength she can muster while injured. She handles her captivity with more rage than her Bloodbound brother.

Titan looks to Norhbor, "Best take care of that camera. And then...any chance you know how to pick locks?"

Fauna's weight isn't too much, and her arms shift first to become more massive compared to the rest of her, shoulders changing to bear the relatively light weight. She lets a yawn, not terribly upset by the situation, leaning to look about and see everyone is relatively alive. Some more than others. She offers a hopeful-sounding chirp.

Nohrbor nods, summoning his spear to the arm of his chair-body. "Then is shall be done Titan of Hollywood, and then we will talk about this Lockpicking! Ha-HA!" He shouts as he gallop-flies at the device, spearpointed at his target.

The camera is easily enough broken. The alarm continues to sound.

Ghost sighs quietly. oO(My fault. I should have remembered I'm not working with Fae of the Intelligence Service, nor even only those of the Princess Guard. Now the alarm has been triggered my task will be that much harder.)

The very sharp-eyed hear the plodding feet of heavy-booted dwarves marching, growing closer.

Moonshadow has returned to the scene of the battle to find that everyone has disappeared. She's currently following a maglev line she found behind the doors in the cliffside, dodging the occasional train. And she's invisible.

Ghost says, "Dwarves inbound."

The Godchair air dashes towards Titan and then says, "I fear that while few may keep secrets from the Godflora, this one does not walk through thresholds as the Janusi. But surely ye, Titan of Hollywood have not found bonds stronger than thee? Let me quell my Sister's wild heart and we shall find another way to set thee all free."

The Ascendant Chair floats to Artemis, "Still thine might Sister. This is merely the game of Tauborn. Duod is realms away and as ever, Althea- we endeavor." He says gently, setting his hand on Artemis' shoulder. He seems totally unconcerned with their current plight beyond soundly defeating the challenge with the sportsman-like zeal of a true Champion of the Gladitorial arenas outside of the Tau Spring.

Ghost adds, "I make it about a dozen."

Titan nods. "If I try to break free, I suspect the chains won't break. The wall will. And the magma outside...then comes inside. So...that's bad."

The marching stops, and a series of clangs ensues from the door: heavy locks being undone, no doubt.

Artemis finally relents at Norhbor's advice, sinking back down to hang from her manacles. "At least he's far from these realms," she rasps. She's in better shape than she was lying on the battlefield, but still not in top fighting shape. Biding her time, she tries to recover her strength to prepare.

By the time the dwarves enter, Fauna is no longer hanging from the manacles. She's perched on the wall, similar to a spider.

The door opens - and a dozen dwarves fly into the room, keeping close to the ceiling, railguns at the ready. In the doorway two figures remain. One is, from his insignia (and massive beard) clearly a ranking dwarf. The other is fae. To be precise, Palanir. "Good morning," he says, in perfect English, with an amused smile. "Your captors would like you to return to your bonds, or rather some improved ones they've found for you. If you don't comply, I believe they'll fire at you indiscriminate. You know what angry dwarves can be like."

Titan sighs as he sees the former Duke and Warmaster Palanir. "I see. So, instead of the Forsaken fae doing your bidding now, you have dwarves doing your bidding. I guess I shouldn't have been that surprised."

Wearing a derisive look, Fauna makes a sound that sounds something like a whining dog and a goat. Then she sticks her tongue out and blows a raspberry.

Ghost speaks, in the Fae tongue, "War Leader Palanir. Do your hapless minions know you have instigated a war against four worlds? You at least know how small a force we are. Only Titan is of our warrior class. Next time there will an overwhelming force. But you'll be gone by then won't you. Abandoning these to their fate as you have done to the Goblins of Wyrmwood and the Grey Fae."

Artemis lifts her head to glare balefully at their captors, her hands gripping the chains connected to her wrists.

The Bloodlit Ascendant chaise lounge frowns. "Thoust has a head full feasting licebears if ye think you can goad a Godflora thusly. I will pull this cell and this whole cellblock into fiery elysium- and ye with it. Then I will rise again. And again. And again. Endlessly as is the way of we born along the Arc of Creation. Nay fools. I think not 'War Leader Palanir'." He says boldly, using the Fae's title for him in their own tongue.

"It sounds as if we Godflora would bring a great gift, ending your followers thusly before they are betrayed as their forebears." He says, pointing his spear at Palanir. Really he is hoping to buy time for the others to free themselves. He will rise again if need be- so his goal is to cow his enemies with his force of personality.

"My bidding? Oh no. I merely offered my services when they wanted help driving intruders from their land. I fear I have been forced to such measure by Zoramin's unlawful stripping me of my titles. I am a mere counsellor - and translator - here." He goes on to Ghost, in the fae tongue, "It is true, I may be forced to take my services elsewhere soon enough. But I have achieved most of what I set out to do. My wife is returned to me. It is true that I had hoped to catch a certain Harper as well, but at least now the truth of the matter is confirmed. It was very careless of you, spymistress, to let me see how important it was to get her to safety. I wonder if your companions would like to know who she really is."

Palanir says to Ascendant, "Bah! I know not who these Godflora are, but the fae recognise no so-called gods. There are no being above us!"

Fauna starts defiantly gnawing on her chains.

Artemis grits her teeth at this taunting. "You would be wise to watch your tongue rather than bring down the wrath of the Undying Godflora." She starts to pull on her chains. Not to break them, but to break the wall and rock they're bound to. Nohrbor may be bluffing, but the Ashildr are lost on such things.

Ghost shrugs as best she can in the chains. "I have an oath bound duty to see the Harper to safety. Unlike you, Palanir, my oath means something to me. She is out of your grasp. There goes the leverage you expected. Good luck binding the Princess to your will. You do remember the Witch of the Marsh? You have caught a hand grenade. Soon the pin will work loose."

At the mention of 'liking to know who Charm really is', Titan stares at Palanir and smirks. "Yes, yes...you hide again. This time behind someone else. I can't say I'm surprised. And they...instead of actually talking to us...attacked. So...if you're done gloating, you can be on your way. Unless you'd like to tell us what you're going to do with us?" Even while Artemis is struggling mightily to get free, he keeps his voice even and controlled.

Artemis grips her chains tight and tries to pull them free from the rock, but she's still recovering from her wounds. It doesn't make her any less determined, though.

Titan stares at Palanir and smirks. "Yes, yes...you hide again. This time behind someone else. I can't say I'm surprised. And they...instead of actually talking to us...attacked. So...if you're done gloating, you can be on your way. Unless you'd like to tell us what you're going to do with us?" Even while Artemis is struggling mightily to get free, he keeps his voice even and controlled.

Fauna persists in gnawing on her chains, with natural weapons that form as she needs them. In this case, teeth like a rat.

Palanir nods to Ghost. "I know. Even when I had her very heart, still she was not mine. But she was stripped from me, as was my title, unlawfully. Honour demands that I get both back, though it be but in name."

Titan glances over toward Ghost as he starts to understand waht's being said. "Thank you."

"Do not worry, Palanir- we are wise enough not to trust a blind man to tell us of the Sun's rise. Your belief is not required for our Immortality." The Divine Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx says calmly- still trying to keep their attention on him. Ghost seems to have the same idea so he only intercedes with words after she & Titan finish.

He laughs. "Your feeble minds thought our wills weak?! It is a mistake that will find you in Oblivion's bosom. Still, you beleive yourself 'Highborn'? Let us see." He returns to his previous humanoid form and then assembles his hands into a complicate mudra.

Artemis takes a deep breath and struggles at her chains again, relentlessly tugging on them.

Titan snorts and rolls his eyes at Palanir's mention of 'honor'. He mutters, "He wouldn't know honor if it bit him on the ."

Palanir shakes his head at Titan. "Is it their fault if you are such an oaf as not to understand their tongue? You had invaded their land, as had the expeditions before them. Why, they might have killed you for your intrusion had I not told them I had knowledge of you. They *are* rather paranoid you see. And hate the fae, back to the Dragon Wars, when they stayed to defend their homes and treasures, greedy little things that they are, while the fae abandoned them. Well, so their histories tell it. Of course, once they at last defeated the great dragons - no small feat - they then became jealous of each other, until they fought wars with unspeakable weapons that devasted all but their deepest caverns. Weapons that led to mutation of even stubborn dwarven genes, as you have seen! It is no surprise that they are paranoid. Indeed, I excelled myself in showing myself their friend!"

Titan just blinks at Palanir says he might have been killed. Like...it clearly never crossed his mind. And...the thought really still isn't.

Finding even her most reliable efforts fruitless upon the chains, Fauna simply waits to try her next, much less pleasant-seeming tactic, and resumes mocking Palanir with unflattering animal sounds. She knows quite a few of them!

Palanir looks at Titan. "As for honour - if I had none, you would not be alive. You fought well and bravely, crude though you are. That is why I persuaded my... allies, let us say, to let you live."

Ascendant is growing tired of these Tauborn games. He cannot find a single reason why any one- Mortal or Immortal would play such games.

"This bores me. Prove your words with deed- convince these tiny mortals to free my compatriots. Your sick tongue has fallen upon deaf ears, 'War Leader'. You speak of Honor yet show none." He says impatiently, and with so much glib annoyance he makes the Fae title sound lowly.

"No, I think not," smiles Palanir. "Honour demands that I give you what I believe humans call a sporting chance. But not that I ensure your survival. And some of you have been thorns in my side." he says, looking at Ghost. And others," he looks at Titan, "obnoxious nuisances. Even my wife bastard half-breed daughter could see she was too good for this one." Yeah, he hasn't forgotten being humiliated by Titan.

Titan smirks, "I'm not saying you have no honor, Palanir. I'm saying you don't know what it is. Heck, I'll be honest here. You...are a coward."

Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx is naturally entertained by the idea of sport. That's why he's here! "Well surely you'll do that then. But it is clear, this is not that. Bound to these walls thusly- what is sporting about that? Surely you have better games than the shooting of fish in barrels?!" The Doj'on says, taking the bait.

"A coward, you say! Hah! You who would fight those that have not the hair of a chance again your might. You it is who have not a jot of honour in you, body or soul!"

Titan chuckles. "So you admit you're my lesser. Got it."

Palanir says to Nohrbor, "Indeed, I have better games to play. I should attend to my wife - and find her errant grandaughter. For yes, know that that harper you crudely call Charm is a princess of Undermoon!"

Ghost tells Palanir, "Be on your way then. A word of advice, Warleader. Keep looking over your shoulder."

Palanir nods. "If you will. Of course, I cannot translate for you to your captors if I leave you with them. And I suspect they might insist on answers most strenuously."

Palanir then exchanges a few quiet words with the ranking dwarf.

Ghost smiles, "Lucky then they don't speak our tongue. I wonder what they would have thought of you calling them greedy little things?" she says. Believing as least a couple were in range when she can the Gift Fae Language spell.

Titan had hoped to rile Palanir more than he has. Apparently the former noble is more even tempered than he thought.

After this conversation, Palanir bows (but not deeply) bids you farewell, and turns to depart.

Only then does one dwarf fly over to have his own quiet word with the leader!

The leader goes quite red-faced. And starts barking things into his communicator.