Session Start: Sat Apr 28 16:59:39 2007
Session Ident: #castlevania
* Logging for #castlevania started
<Holmes> [The intrepid party takes stock of its situation while
waiting to see what comes from the figure descending out of the
castle.]
* Nyyx is standing right outside Jordan's smithy, staring up at Skip
perched on a nearby roof. "What is it?"
* Skip yells to Nyyx, "I'm not sure, but it came down from the tower
and landed in the forest below the castle. It seemed to be humanoid."
* Nyyx moves somewhere where she can get a better look at the figure
from a safe distance.
* Biff has a seat at Skip's feet.
<Biff> Ffft.  Impatient people.
* Siobhan sticks close to Nyyx.
* Skip points to the location where the figure landed, "He came down
about there. I lost him in the woods."
* Skip looks at Biff, "Well, him, or it, or whatever."
<Nyyx> Hm.
<Nyyx> You couldn't see any details? What did the
person...thing...look like?
<Siobhan> So exactly why is it we can never catch a break around
here?
<Skip> It was tall and dressed in black. Definitely some kind of
humanoid...thing.
* Nyyx shrugs. "It's not necessarily hostile, I guess. -We- came from
the castle not too long ago."
<Skip> True. But it would be a good idea to set up a watch. And maybe
have some kind of signal.
<Siobhan> Like scream when the horrid undead take your soul?
<Skip> I was thinking more like a whistle or chime.
<Siobhan> Oh.... ummm.....
<Siobhan> I can't whistle...
<GM> Kleppen: "When you have a moment, Theodore, I have some
spellbooks you should see."
<Biff> ...I am NOT a bird.  I categorically refuse to even -try- to
whistle.
* Skip turns to Biff, "Well, do whatever, but take this watch for me,
I have some things to take care of."
* Nyyx raises an eyebrow. "Where are you off to?"
* Skip climbs through the open window and disappears into the inn.
* Skip sticks his head back out and yells to Nyyx, "I need some
potions made. You busy?"
* Nyyx shakes her head. "Not particularly, no. Just looking into
fixing up some equipment."
<Skip> I'll be right down.
* Nyyx nods.
<GM> [After some long minutes of nervous activity, a sextet of
figures appears on the path leading from the village to the castle.
One is clad in black.  The other five are wearing grey robes and one
of them is quite small.]
<GM> [The group walks into the middle of the vilage and then stops.
The four grey-robed figures of human height ring the smaller figure
and the one in black.  They wait patiently.]
<Siobhan> "I guess we should go say hello."
<Biff> Let's go, toots.
* Biff hops up, walks a quick circle, and walks slowly, deliberately,
towards the robed guys.
<Siobhan> You get one of those cat.
* Siobhan follows Biff.
<GM> [The figure in black removes its hat, revealing a bleached skull
beneath.]  "Which of you are the adventurers?"
* Biff has a seat about ten feet away and watches skull-man, licking
his chops.
* Siobhan shoulders her hammer and looks around with a puzzled
expression on her face.
<Theodore> I suppose that would be us.  What do you want?
<Siobhan> You mean you can't tell?
<GM> Figure in black: "I would hate to presume.  With Stephen Kleppen
departed, I am Gregor's new herald."
<Siobhan> How nice for you.
<Theodore> I see.  I assume there is a pay raise in that, maybe extra
days off?
<GM> Figure in black: "Cute.  I have missed sarcasm after all of
these years.  I have a message from Gregor."
<Siobhan> And...?
<Theodore> His laundry is late?  I can explain, you see we have been
in a demi plane and there was this old guy who...
<GM> Figure in black: "Gregor wishes to make amends.  You helped him
greatly in the plane and he would value your assistance."
<Theodore> Assistance?  With what?
<Siobhan> Yes, and I would value it greatly if he stopped killing
innocent people.  I don't think either of us will get what we want.
<GM> Figure in black: "While he believes that he impressed upon you
the severity of the situation if he does not finish his work with the
plane, he was disapointed in your response to his requests for help
with his work."
<GM> Figure in black: "What if he didn't kill innocent people?"
<Siobhan> I'm supposed to believe you because...?
<Lucas> We shouldn't. But we can hear him out, and attempt to discern
the truth ourselves.
<GM> Figure in black: "This has very little to do with believing me.
First, if you help him, you will be deciding what methods are used.
Gregor is rather fixated on results and if you can deliver without
the loss of innocent life, then he is not opposed."
<Siobhan> And what if we don't believe that Gregor's results are as
pure as he claims?
<GM> Figure in black: "Pure?"
<Siobhan> Good, then.  Gregor is planning something other than what
he tells us.  I do not trust him, nor his motives, nor his ends.
<GM> Figure in black: "Gregor plans the rejuvenation of the
background cosmology that makes life on this world possible.  Past
that, does it really matter?"
<Theodore> Rejuvenate the cosmology?
<Siobhan> Asking me that question makes me wonder what comes after
Gregor has succeeded in his rejuvination?
<GM> Figure in black: "The rules surrounding this world's physics and
arcane dynamics are failing.  Gregor would put them back in place.  I
am not certain what happens next.  The only promise I have secured
from him is that my people will be safe."
<Siobhan> Well, I feel better about his motives already.  Not to
mention the fact that I'm sure he'll keep his promise.
<Theodore> restructuring the universe when he can't control his
castle.  oh yeah, I feel much better
<GM> Figure in black: "There are ways to require him to keep his
promises, of course.  Although admittedly, my people and I have less
to lose trusting him."
<Siobhan> And more to gain I would imagine.
<Lucas> And if we would help, he would abandon the castle, leave
these lands, and never again affect the lands here? We seek nothing
less, and he likely already knows this.
<GM> Figure in black: "We all have much to gain."
<Theodore> You are also the worst envoy I have ever met.  You speak
so highly of him.
<GM> Figure in black: "Those are your demands?"
<Siobhan> Demands?  There are no demands.  We don't accept the offer.
<Theodore> Lucas, careful.  He is restructuring the universe.
Leaving the castle is no good if he alters reality.
<GM> Figure in black: "He has no more business here if you choose to
help him."
<Theodore> Sure.  Of course then there is no country as we know it
either.  I don't think helping Gregor is such a great idea.
* Biff snorts. "Always read the fine print before you sign."
<Siobhan> Gregor may or may not be telling the truth about the state
of things, but even if he is we will go about solving this in our own
manner.
<Lucas> What proof can Gregor offer of his claim?
<GM> Figure in black: "How so?  Proof?  You have met him.  You have
seen his demiplane.  Do you wonder about his conviction for justice,
then?"
* Nyyx is sadly not here to witness any of this conversation, as she
is at Kleppen's house.
<Siobhan> Gregor's justice is not mine, messenger.
<GM> Figure in black: "And where are the rest of you?  Where is the
one who is part dead?"
<GM> Figure in black: "Then add your justice to his cause."
<Siobhan> So that it may be perverted to his will?  I think not.
<GM> Figure in black: "So you consider yourself so readily
corruptible, then?"
<Siobhan> No, I consider him incapable of altruism.
<Biff> Oooh, that was a good one.
<GM> Figure in black: "That is a shame.  I know better.  Perfect, he
is not, but he is far better than you."
<GM> Figure in black: "And better than your absentee landlord of a
deity."
<Siobhan> Are you here to deliver a message or debate theology?
<GM> Figure in black: "I have delivered my message.  You will serve.
At least this way you had a choice as to how.  Now, where is my
step-daughter?"
<Siobhan> You tell me, I'm not the keeper of your children.
<GM> Figure in black: "Where is the swordswoman in black?"
<Siobhan> Why do you wish to see her?
* Lucas leans to Siobhan, "He mentioned, I think.  The step-daughter
thing.  I'll go and see if she wants a family reunion, you take a
moment and decide whether Pelor wants us to do a little righteous
smiting.  Don't start without me, though."
<GM> Figure in black: "I've had enough of you."  [The figure starts
towards the Mayor's house, apparently ready to go over the paladin's
head.]
* Siobhan moves over to block the figure in black's path.
<Siobhan> Your desires were never my concern.
* Lucas turns and hurries to the Mayor's house, hoping at least to
beat the figure there.
<GM> Figure in black: "Are you sure about this, woman?"
<Siobhan> Sure that you can wait here?  Yes.
<Siobhan> Sure that I can force you to alone?  No, but it will be fun
to try.
<GM> Figure in black: "I will wait, but interfere any further and
your life is forfeit."
<Siobhan> Interfere any further with what?
* Lucas arrives inside Kleppen's house, and interrupts the ongoing
potion making with news of the figures, glossing over the planar
metaphysics and mentioning that some guy in black claims to be Nyyx's
step-father.
<Skip> What?
* Nyyx puts down the alchemical equipment she was working with.
"Step-father?" She frowns. " I wasn't aware I had a step-father."
* Skip turns to Kleppen, "Is any of that stuff ready to use?"
<Lucas> He's not seeking custody, and it's probably too late anyway,
but he does want to visit.  He doesn't seem like a pleasant fellow.
Last I saw, he and Siobhan were threatening each other.
* Nyyx frowns again.
<Nyyx> I'm not looking forward to meeting this fellow, but I don't
think I really have much of a choice, do I?
<Lucas> You can stay here. Siobhan has things handled, I'm sure.
* Lucas chuckles.  "Just rush in if you hear us losing."
<Nyyx> That's exactly what I'm worried about. She's a bit hotheaded.
I'd rather not lose another comrade.
<Lucas> She's perfectly safe.  Cosmically speaking, there's nothing
that connects her to our fallen comrades.
* Lucas turns his head to the left, breaking the fourth wall.
"Nothing at all."
* Nyyx smiles a little and shrugs. "Well, you're the priest."
<Lucas> Well, you three enjoy your potions, and don't blow yourself
up.
<GM> Kleppen: "It will need to simmer for a while, yet Skip."
* Lucas exits and leaves the house.  When he is near the crowd
outside, he yells, "She doesn't want to see you, now go away!"
<GM> Figure in black: "Fair enough." [He turns to the five figures in
the distance.]  "You are all hereby banished from Gregor's domain for
crimes against the people of the south.  Return and be executed."
<Siobhan> By whose law?
* Nyyx sighs. "Skip, I'm going to go see what's going on out there.
Coming?"
<GM> [The figure in black looks Siobhan in the face closely.]
* Skip hops down from the table he was sitting on and falls in behind
Nyyx, "I'm literally right behind you."
* Siobhan returns the stare.
* Nyyx runs out of the mayor's house and toward the rest of the
party.
* Skip follows.
* Nyyx stops when she reaches Siobhan. She looks over the robed
figures, and her glance finally falls on the figure in black, whom
she studies for a moment.
<GM> Figure in black: "It don't care what the five of you do, but
never return."  [Toward the party.]  "Consider this an act of good
faith on Gregor's part.  These are the ones who caused the southern
plagues."
<GM> Figure in black: "Lydia's daughter, I presume?  Yes, you look
like her."
* Nyyx blanches.
<Nyyx> Who are you?
<Biff> He's your father.
<Biff> I must say, there's no family resemblance at all, though.
<Biff> You definitely take after your mother's side.
<GM> Figure in black: "I am called His Emminent Remains.  Lydia sends
her love.  It will do her well to hear you are healthy."
* Nyyx glances at Biff for a moment, then looks back at the figure in
black. She hesitates. "How...how is she?"
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "She is well.  She has become a full
vampire since you last saw her and a leader among our people."
* Skip moves within twenty feet of the five robed figures. "Can you
speak?"
<GM> Graycloak: "Of course, halfling, we can speak."
<Skip> Is there a cure?
<Nyyx> Who are your people?
<GM> Graycloak: "Cure?  To the plague?"
* Skip nods.
<Skip> Were any spared?
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "Our people are the dead of the castle.
As Lydia's daughter, you are welcome among us."
<GM> Graycloak: "I am certain that some lived and some were merely
injured by the plague, but agriculture and hunting being what they
are, they likely starved or joined another tribe if any would take
them."
<Skip> What did he promise you? Gold? Power? For what price did you
bring ruin to my world?
* Nyyx shivers and pulls her cloak tighter around her shoulders.
"What is it that you're trying to achieve? Are you all aiding Gregor
in his afterlife plan?"
<GM> Greycloak: "Price?  I could claim that we did it for Gregor, for
the world.  Would that help?"
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "Yes, I am helping Gregor.  I believe in
his plan and have sworn loyalty to him as his vassal."
<Nyyx> Is there another way to create this new afterlife without more
plagues and unnatural deaths?
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "As I understand it, unnatural deaths are
wholy unnecessary."
* Skip looks up at the high tower of the castle and whispers,
"Gregor." He returns his gaze to the five banished creatures, "You're
a handful of puppets." Skip turns to rejoin his comrades, but stops
and looks back over his shoulder, "What will you do now?"
<GM> Greycloak: "I'm not sure.  We could go anywhere."
<Nyyx> So the afterlife can still be built without doing any further
harm? No shortening of lifespans, even through disease?
* Lucas whispers to Skip. "You mentioned once that these folks that
plagued your land were undead, yes?"
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "Yes.  All it takes is death, whatever the
cause."
* Skip peers at Greycloak, "Heed my advice: Stay out of the jungle."
Skip walks back to Nyyx and Siobhan with Lucas in tow, "Yes, Lucas,
but they are only puppets and their master has cut their strings. I
don't care about them anymore."
<Nyyx> But Gregor...what is it he would have us do in the
hypothetical situation that we were to agree to help his cause?
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "My master is not the only player in this
games.  There are others either attempting what he is doing,
benefitting from damage to the failing cosmology, or simply mutated
in dangerous ways that threaten chaos over the world."
<Siobhan> He wants death Nyyx, and he doesn't care who dies so long
as there is a lot of it.
<Nyyx> Who are the other players?
<Lucas> You don't, eh? Probably for the better, then.  Here I was
going to offer to let you channel a little divine power and turn the
greycloak to ash.
<Lucas> You sure you don't need undead dust for your potions?
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "I don't know them personally.  The
churches of the West.  There have been some disturbances to the East.
* Skip turns to Lucas, "If you're really in the mood, be my guest. I
have your back."
* Nyyx thinks on this. "What more can you tell me about them?"
<GM> [The five figures start moving out of town.]
<Biff> Hey, are we gonna kill 'em or not?  They're sorta makin' a run
for it.
<Lucas> Gregor claims that he will destroy them, at least so says the
herald.  If he lied to us, we'll remove their stain eventually, but
perhaps it's good that Gregor be given the chance to make some show.
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "Gregor has the details.  The churches out
west might be trying something similar to what Gregor is trying here.
The rest are distorted creatures bent by divine forces.  Unstable.
Unpredictable."
<Biff> Um, exile doesn't usually imply hunting them down and killing
them.
* Biff extends the claws of one paw, sketches a large circle in the
dirt, and says some sexy mystic words, and drops a wall of fire
around the fleeing undead. "Stay."
<Biff> I -hate- it when my food tries to run away while I'm deciding
to play with it or not.
<Biff> You guys wanna make up your mind?
<GM> [Greycloak waves his arms in a wide circle and then begins to
float into the air.]
<Biff> Oh, for Mouser's sake. 
<Biff> Make up your minds, people.
* Biff waves a paw and the wall of fire forms a dome.
* Siobhan heads towards the wall of fire.
<Siobhan> Anyone else coming?
* Lucas steps parallel with Siobhan.
* Skip looks at Lucas, then at Biff and rolls his eyes, "I'm not
going to object." He runs after Siobhan, weapons at the ready.
<GM> [Graycloak casts dispel magic at the dome.]
* Nyyx glances over at the ring of fire and undead, then turns back
to His Eminent Remains. "Why is Gregor punishing the people who
followed his orders and helped him with his plan?"
* Siobhan charges Graycloak.
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "His orders were to help stabize the
demi-plane.  How was left up to them."
<Nyyx> He didn't agree with their means?
<GM> [The dome falters out of existence.]
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "You people didn't.  He's doing this for
you."
* Biff sighs as the dome drops.
<Biff> Look, he's sacrificing a pawn in hopes of getting on your good
side.
<Biff> It's a pretty basic tactic.
* Nyyx looks surprised. "Why? Why does he want us to join him so
badly? It seems like he already has plenty of help, and Graycloak's
methods seemed to serve his purposes just fine."
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "I believe that he finds you more
valuable.  Greycloak's methods can only work so far."
* Siobhan charges Graycloak as the flames dissipate.
<Biff> That, or you have the power to thwart his plans, and he finds
this another potential avenue of neutralizing you.
<Nyyx> What is it he would want us to do, exactly, that Graycloak
couldn't accomplish?
* Nyyx nods toward Biff.
* Biff looks up at the fleeing Greycloak and flings an outspread paw
in his direction, throwing a dispel at him, almost literally.
* Skip stops in mid-stride and listens more closely to what His
Emminent Remains and Biff are saying, "Wait, this seems all wrong.
Are we just being played? Does Gregor want us to fight?"
<GM> His Emminent Remains: "First, pass through the breach in the
demiplane and survive.  Second, you are honorable and brave, traits
that the Riders lacked.  Third, his plans require much traveling
abroad which the undead can only do with some difficulty.  Fourth,
you could help us forge a partnership with the living."
* Lucas stands his ground, wrapping a long set of prayer beads around
one arm, attempting to channel divine power.
* Nyyx tilts her head noncommittally. "I'll think it over."
<GM> [END OF SESSION]
Session Close: Sat Apr 28 21:44:27 2007