Session Start: Sat Jan 05 17:18:16 2008
Session Ident: #castlevania
* Logging for #castlevania started
<Holmes> [The intrepid party stands in the middle of the Stavograd
street, deciding what to do as time slips quietly away.]
<Roland> It would be prudent, Lady Natalia, for us to gather all
available personnel from the camp and invade the tunnels, post-haste.
* Nyyx continues rushing toward camp as they speak. "Coincidentally,
that's exactly what I'm planning to do."
<Roland> That's not a coincidence.
* Roland hurries along after Nyyx.
* Charlotte hurries!
* Rudyard is now known as Skip
<Holmes> [The party charges out of the west gate and turns south
toward the Seven Temples camp.]
* Nyyx heads for the druid camp.
<Holmes> [Soon, the party crosses the mile of plains between the camp
and the city.]
<Holmes> [The survivors from Stavograd can be seen milling about with
the members of the Seven Temples trying to maintain control.]
<Holmes> [The camp has effectively doubled in size and chaos reigns
as the wounded search for aid and citizens try to find loved ones.]
<Roland> I hope you're feelinig persuasive, Lady Natalia.
* Nyyx shrugs. "I can threaten violence if necessary, but I can't say
persuasiveness is my forte."
* Roland puts two fingers to his mouth and lets out a piercing
whistle.
* Nyyx stands by.
<Holmes> [The crowd convulses at the sound and looks at Roland in the
camp's torchlight.]
<Roland> Attention, priests of the seven temples!  This area is in a
state of emergency, and you are called to the aid of Lady Natalia
Ruthven.
<Holmes> [Two familiar individuals who were arguing near the party
turn and look.]  "So, you're alive."
* Nyyx turns to face the familiar individuals and examines them.
* Roland mutters to Nyyx, "You're on."
<Holmes> [They are the leading representatives of the Pelorians and
Clergy of Nerull.]
* Nyyx looks like perhaps some of what little color she has in her
face drains out at the prospect of giving a speech, but she shrugs
and steps up. She nods to acknowledge the two priests. "We have
killed the creature haunting the graveyard and the dragon in the
tower. Now we have pinpointed the source of the plague and will need
all of your help to destroy it."
<Holmes> Gorrish: "And we should use any means necessary!"
<Holmes> Arrus: "I will not have you defiling this town any further!"
[Turning to Nyyx.]  "What do you recommend Lady Natalia?"
* Nyyx nods. "The beast lairs underground and is devouring the city
from beneath. Roland the seer has seen it in the plane of shadow,
where it manifests itself as a monstrous tree, with your fellow
townspeople hanging from its branches. We must go underground and
destroy this abomination by whatever means necessary."
<Holmes> Gorrish: "Defiling?  Many of our spellcasters are not even
prepared to fight on short notice.  What are we supposed to use?"
<Nyyx> Whatever you have on hand or can prepare quickly and can use
effectively. We unfortunately don't have much time.
* Roland mutters to Nyyx, "The tunnels will be cramped enough without
trying to put pelorites in close quarters with undead."
<Holmes> Arrus: "NO!  I will not stand by for this!  We can muster a
wealth of resources without resorting to that.  If that is not
enough, it is better that we fail."
* Charlotte frown
* Nyyx bows her head and whispers to Roland. "You have a point."
<Holmes> [Several agents of Boccob and Kord run up to the yelling.]
Cleric of Boccob: "What are we walking into?"
<Holmes> [Villagers and priests use the relative peace of the debate
to move through the crowd and find the wounded.]
<Nyyx> Arrus, you have a point. And the tunnels may be narrow. We
must keep practical considerations in mind.
* Roland raises his voice a little. "The situation is this: Somewhere
in the tunnels beneath the center of the city, there is a great evil
draining the life out of the area. If it is not stopped here and now,
it will attain full power, and we will all come to a very abrupt
end."
<Holmes> Cleric of Boccob: "Is there anything more you can tell us
brother?"
<Roland> There is some potential for lycanthropic resistance.
<Holmes> Cleric of Boccob: "Lycanthropes?  What breed?"
<Roland> Unknown.
<Roland> Bring every bit of power and magic that you can muster.
<Holmes> Arrus: "Really?  Well, we have silvered weapons."
<Roland> In any case, as much as I normally favor the use of undead
shock troops, it simply isn't practical in this case.
<Holmes> Gorrish: "We'll need a few minutes to coordinate.  I say we
muster in an hour.  That will give you time to brief us."
<Roland> Our task will be difficult enough without clogging the
tunnels with minor undead, especially in close proximity to the
Pelorans.
* Nyyx nods. "Thank you. We meet in an hour, then."
<Holmes> [Arrus and the Cleric of Kord nod.]
<Holmes> Arrus: "Agreed.  Let us coordinate within our own churches.
All of you need to brief us and then rest up.  This is going to be a
hectic night."
<Holmes> [Each of the clerics calls out to their own agents to
converge on their sections of the camp.  A large section of the crowd
disperses, but many of the villagers and priests remain.]
* Nyyx lets out a deep breath. "Well. I hope that was persuasive
enough."
<Roland> You did well enough.
<Roland> You may wish to prepare yourself for the possibility that
you may need to seize control of the siphon.
<Holmes> [Arrus turns to the clerics of Kord and Boccob.]  "We need
the other Temple masters summoned to the central tent immediately."
<Roland> I am going to search for any relevant knowledge.
* Roland goes to consult with the clerics of Boccob.
* Nyyx nods absently, deep in thought.
<Holmes> Gorrish: "We need to head to the central tent.  We can plan
there."
<Charlotte> Right.. but how much time do we probably have?
<Nyyx> Every minute is borrowed time, Charlotte, but at least a
little planning is necessary.
* Nyyx turns to Gorrish. "I'll sit in on the meeting, if you don't
mind."
<Charlotte> Yeah...
<Holmes> Gorrish: "It is my intention that all of you attend."
* Nyyx nods and heads to the central tent.
<Holmes> [The central tent is still lightly occupied when the party
arrives.  Only the representative from the Church of Wee Jas is
present, looking over the model of the city quietly.]
* Skip approaches the large model of the city. "Do we know where to
find any of the tunnel entrances?"
<Holmes> Jassian: "I suggest starting at the destroyed tower."
* Nyyx nods. "Everything started collapsing from that point. It
wouldn't be a bad starting place for seeking out our target."
<Charlotte> So we just go striaght to that point?
* Skip looks around, "It looks like we were among the first ones to
get here. I wonder what's keeping everyone."
<Holmes> [After several minutes, the heads of the Temple factions and
the druids wander in and surround the table.]
<Holmes> Arrus: "Temple preparations are moving along well for us.  I
hope everyone else is proceeding similarly."
<Nyyx> I'm glad to hear that.
* Nyyx glances around the table expectantly. "How are preparations
going for the rest of you?"
<Charlotte> I'm afraid I don't have any silvered weapons.
<Holmes> [Various clerics speak shortly, claiming that they will be
ready within the hour.  The Jassians and Nerull spellcasters are very
limited on spells at the moment and the servants of Pelor, Heironious
and Kord are focused on the villagers.]
<Charlotte> Aside from that, i'm as ready as I can be.
<Holmes> Gorrish: "Of course, I trust the '
<Holmes> children' of Heironeous have some."
<Holmes> Cleric of Heironeous: "We can help you, madam."
<Nyyx> Well, Charlotte, it looks like your problem is solved.
* Nyyx bows to the cleric. "Thank you, sir."
<Holmes> Arrus: "What else do we need to concern ourselves with?"
<Holmes> Jassian: "Well, We were discussing where we should begin our
hunt."
<Holmes> Gorrish: "We still need whatever weapons we can raise..."
* Nyyx nods. "Our current plan is to begin at the center of the town,
by the tower where the town began to collapse. Do you have any
additional suggestions?"
<Holmes> Arrus: "Can we breach the city like that?"
<Nyyx> There may be openings to the underground in that area,
considering the collapse, but you may be familiar with better ways to
access the areas under the city.
<Holmes> Arrus: "I mean, what of the monsters in the city.  How much
interferrence can we expect."
<Holmes> ?
<Nyyx> Ah. No need to worry on that count. We've cleared the area of
all monsters but this one.
<Holmes> Gorrish: "Really?  I am impressed."
<Holmes> Arrus: "Then we take our forces to the center of town
straight away.  How far down do we need to go?"
<Nyyx> We don't know yet, since we haven't gone to scout out the
area, but hopefully we can determine that once we get there.
<Holmes> Arrus: "How are we going to descend?"
<Nyyx> We may need to bring rope, excavation equipment, and such.
Also, last I returned to the tower, the area was thick with dust that
made it impossible to breathe or see using ordinary vision, so we may
have to take precautions.
* Charlotte nods
<Holmes> Cleric of Boccob: "We have various scrolls that may help
with the air quality."
* Nyyx smiles. "Excellent. That's wonderful news."
<Holmes> Gorrish: "The druids sent giant eagles into the city
recently.  Can we use those?"
* Nyyx looks toward the druid representatives.
<Holmes> Druid: "Perhaps.  Only a dozen or so at a time could be
carried without magic."
<Holmes> Cleric of Heironeous: "We can provide some weapons and armor
for the cause.  They may react negatively to those of dark intent,
however."
<Nyyx> Do we have equipment capable of helping us descend at least
one hundred feet? I believe the pit is at least that deep.
<Holmes> Arrus: "Ropes and climbing gear should be available."
<Nyyx> Wonderful. We should bring that with us.
<Holmes> Gorrish: "What about summoned aid?"
<Holmes> Jassian: "While many of our spellcasters are currently
depleted, we will be bringing nightsticks and rods with us to
supplement."
<Holmes> Arrus: "Be prepared to use whatever summoning spells you
have available."
<Holmes> Arrus: "Alright.  What else do we have?"
<Holmes> Arrus: "If that is everything, let us depart in ten minutes.
Move out!"
<Charlotte> Right!
<Holmes> [The various leaders turn and depart quickly.  Gorrish all
but runs out of the tent.]
* Nyyx nods. "I think everything we currently know has been covered.
We will see you there."
* Nyyx leaves the tent and looks for her companions.
<Holmes> [The party converges on the north side of camp.]
* Roland walks up at the head of a small group of priests, a mixture
of Boccob, Wee Jas, and Nerull.
* Roland bows deeply to Nyyx, "Lady Natalia, may I present the
advanced magical theory group?"
* Nyyx looks over the group of priests.
<Nyyx> Advanced magical theory?
<Roland> We're going to attempt, possibly with your aid, to dismantle
the shadow siphon.
<Roland> If you do try to seize control, we'll be trying to keep you
intact while you do it.
<Holmes> [They bow deeply.  It is a motley crew of eccentric
Boccobites, Dour Clerics of Nerull and two shy Jassians.]
* Nyyx nods and returns the group's bow. "Thank you for your help.
I'll do what I can."
<Roland> ( Every single one of them has a pocket protector. )
<Nyyx> ( Haha! )
<Holmes> [The intrepid party falls in with the forces of the Seven
Temples and begins the march north to Stavograd.  The Beast awaits.]
<Holmes> [Approximately one-half of the camp stays behind to tend to
the villagers and pray.]
<Holmes> [After about ten minutes, the militia finds itself before
the ruined West Gate of Stavograd.  The pale moon offers ample light
but little comfort.]
<Holmes> [END OF SESSION.]
Session Close: Sat Jan 05 21:55:58 2008