Session XIV - When Death Walks

Organiser's Comment

Quite grim and depression session. Ah, lovely.

You'll note that the Best of the Rest is notably shorter than what it has been, I think this is partly due to the plot being as grim as it was.

Oh, and check out Faelnon 'Brooding and not giving a care' Trovo'kren.

Plot Summary

The 'train arrives in a small town after the loss of Shandor and Ariea. They get off and are lost in a flood of people having some sort of fair. A man finds Faelnon - Foilae. The old friend was summoned after Shandor disappeared. The group go to a small inn to have a drink while Foilae explains what the fair is about. It is about the destruction of an old, 'evil', cathedral. He goes on to explain that there has been some odd activity above where its ruins are. The group go to the house above the ruins to find no-one there. They go inside to find the house empty, apart from a rug concealing a trap door. The group carefully begin down it. They reach the end to find a mammoth cathedral with several robed figures at the base of each of the pillars that form the main structure. There is another one sitting on a throne at the end. The group carefully approach when the man suddenly dies. His corpse, however, doesn't feel like giving up just yet - a spectre forms out of it, much larger than the body and picks up Faelnon, throwing him thirty feet away with a flick of his wrist. The figures launch themselves at the group and seem extremely easy to kill, but each one of them forms another spectre. These spectres cannot be hit, but can hit. Faelnon is thrown through a stained glass window to witness someone complete a ritual. Everywhere across the world, one death brings one spectre. The group are forced into a hasty retreat. They are forced to get the 'train going as several spectres tear apart the fair, hurling carts and people like they were nothing.

Full Log (See Below for 'The Best of the Rest')

<@Narrator> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< The 'Quest' III ~ When Death Walks >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<@Narrator> The 'train has travelled for three days before coming across a small village. There is a fair currently on there, and all the village people are dressed up, laughing, drinking and dancing to cheerful music.

<@Narrator> The day is rather dark, a heavy blanket of cloud cover, with a light wind. The 'train stopped merely once, in a village smaller than this, and only for an hour. That stop was the only time Faelnon has emerged from his cabin since the death of Ariea, and the disappearance of Shandor.

<@Narrator> Bright banners and decorations adorn the streets as the village people flock down them.

øùú Faelnon looks out of his window. He sighs briefly before getting off his seat and crossing to the door. He unlocks it and heads outside.

øùú Faelnon quietly climbs off the 'train and disappears into the crowd.

øùú Gilth tries to gain some conformability

øùú Mihndrid stands quietly by the open door, watching as Faelnon walks off.

øùú Gilth steps off the train, and stretches

øùú Gilth looks at his depleted purse sadly

øùú Dytalorien spies Faelnon within the crowd, follow him, and taps him on the shoulder. Grinning, he states, "It's been awhile."

øùú Faelnon realises that he probably seems to be a black hole to the joy of the day. He shrugs, and continues, deeper into the crowds.

øùú Mihndrid mutters to herself, "Everything's so bright and gay down there, can't they manage to cheer up even a little...?"

øùú Tengu disembarks from the train, having rather haggard look.

øùú Faelnon pauses and looks around he sees the familiar face, 'Dytalorien, so it has. How have you been?'

øùú Dytalorien grins, "Likely better than you've been," and falls into stride along Faelnon.

øùú Faelnon looks down at the ground and remains silent.

øùú Gilth pulls his hood over his golden hair and enters the crowd

øùú Dytalorien blinks, "I spoke in jest, perhaps too lightly?"

øùú Faelnon simply nods as he continues to walk.

øùú Mihndrid still stands by the door, very unwilling to step into the crowd, knowing very well she'll get lost in a mass of people taller then her.

<@Narrator> Someone is shifting through the crowd towards Faelnon, but staying out of his line of sight. He nears him quickly and quietly, wielding his weapon in one hand, he is nearly upon Faelnon.

øùú Dytalorien furrows his brows.

øùú Faelnon looks up at one of the banners.

øùú Gilth continues through the crowd, looking at fruit stands

<@Narrator> The figure reaches Faelnon.

øùú Faelnon snaps around to look at the figure. He looks him up and down before saying, 'You got my message then?'

<@Narrator> Foilae, leaning on his staff, looks back at Faelnon. The two seem to have changed people, Foilae looks rested and youthful than the last time the group saw him - Faelnon on the other hand looks positively terrible, 'Indeed I did.'

øùú Gilth decides he cannot stomach the happy crowd, and returns to stand beside the train

øùú Faelnon says half-heartedly, 'This is Dytalorien, have you met?'

øùú Kittri steps out from behind a rather small stand, quite covered with an array of turnips...some bigger than the gnome himself. He takes a deep breath and closes the little wooden door behind him.

øùú Dytalorien nods, "I believe I was there when your castle was attacked."

øùú Foilae studies the face for a moment, 'Ah yes.'

øùú Foilae returns his gaze to Faelnon

øùú Foilae smiles slightly, 'So tell me, what awful tragedy could have possibly happened that it would bring the verbose and articulate Faelnon to his literary knees?'

øùú Dytalorien stands a bit apart and listens to the ongoing conversation.

øùú Faelnon looks at the ground before muttering, 'Ariea is dead...'

øùú Foilae is taken by surprise by this, his eyes go wide for a moment before he asks tentatively, 'How is Shandor?'

øùú Dytalorien blinks.

øùú Tengu scans surroundings for the few seconds, sighs and enters the crowd.

øùú Faelnon says, 'He's gone, too. Not dead, just... gone. He disappeared the night it happened.'

øùú Foilae remains silent for a few moments, 'Oh gods...' he says at last.

øùú Faelnon seems desperate to change the topic, so he asks both of them, 'How long have you been here?'

øùú Gilth grimly steps up to the group, "Who killed her...?"

øùú Faelnon shuts his eyes for a moment, his mind taunting him with the exact face of the killer, 'Shandor.' he states.

øùú Kittri sees through the crowd a fellow gnome, a smile lights his face as he practically bounds toward her. "Hello there, my cousin! I don’t believe I’ve seen you here before...I am Kittri, adventurer and turnip salesmen extraordinaire!"

øùú Gilth nods

øùú Foilae is, again, taken back. His mouth opens for a few seconds before it closes again.

øùú Gilth asks "Is there no way to seek vengeance?"

øùú Dytalorien blinks and looks somewhat distant.

øùú Mihndrid looks a little taken aback by Kittri's sudden appearance, but not wanting to seem rude, she steps down from the train's doorway and says politely, "A pleasure to meet you, Kittri, and a lovely lot of turnips you have there indeed."

øùú Faelnon chooses not to answer that question.

øùú Foilae answers, also to change the topic, 'A few days.' He adds as an explanation, 'Planar travel is a wonderful thing if you know how to use it.'

øùú Gilth nods again

øùú Faelnon smiles a brief, fake smile trying to cheer himself up, 'I remember the time when you ended up on top of a tree in A'lure...'

øùú Tengu strolls through the crowd, no emotion seems to affect his weary face.

øùú Dytalorien realizes the question was addressed to him as well, "Long enough."

øùú Kittri cuts across the girl's speech, quite happily continuing to rant on. "There aren’t many gnomes around here you see, not often we see a new face! Uhh I don’t believe I caught your name?"

øùú Faelnon sees a stall with a wide selection of flowers. He mumbles, as if it just occurred to him now, 'I should appoint someone to look after Ariea's plants, so that they don't-' He stops before he says the word.

øùú Foilae nods slowly.

øùú Faelnon looks around the smiling faces, again searching for a different topic. He finds, a rather obvious one, 'What's the fair for?'

øùú Dytalorien scans the area, looking quite uncomfortable.

øùú Mihndrid blinks, most of the words going right over her head, but eventually she says rather idly, "Um, oh, yes, I'm Mihndrid. Mihndrid Finnembrali."

øùú Foilae says, thankful for a death-free topic, for the moment at any rate, 'Now that is an interesting topic.' He shudders as a trumpet is blasted next to his ear, 'Would you mind if we went somewhere a bit quieter?'

øùú Faelnon nods, 'Of course, do you know anywhere?'

øùú Foilae says, 'Yes, I went to a little tavern that seems in a state of infinite silence, this way...' He bravely takes off into the fast-flowing crowd.

øùú Faelnon quickly stops him, 'I think we should round up the others first.'

øùú Kittri perks up, which surprisingly is yet possible. His tone even cheerier than before. "The Finnembrali's of Frimblir?"

øùú Foilae nods.

øùú Gilth says "I will meet you all at the tavern in a few moments

øùú Gilth disappears into the crowd

øùú Faelnon heads back towards the 'train.

øùú Dytalorien follows along, a little behind.

øùú Faelnon looks for anyone familiar.

øùú Mihndrid looks up past Kittri as she sees Faelnon approaching, and gives him a wave.

øùú Tengu slowly paces from the train, scanning surroundings.

øùú Gilth goes and buys some dried meats, and several bolts before returning to the train

øùú Faelnon crosses to Mihndrid, 'Hello, found a friend?'

øùú Gilth walks up to Faelnon

øùú Foilae gives up on that one, noting that both of them are strangers to him.

øùú Mihndrid gives him a slight smile, and gestures towards Kittri, "This is Kittri, adventurer and turnip salesman extraordinaire."

øùú Faelnon says, 'That must be a... difficult profession.'

øùú Tengu notices the familiar faces in the crowd and leads his steps towards them.

øùú Foilae shrugs, 'He might have a monopoly on it.'

øùú Kittri looks up at the rather taller figure of the elf, his neck craned right upwards. "I do, I do! Although adventuring is where my heart really lies!"

øùú Gilth smiles kindly, "I would like to buy a turnip"

øùú Faelnon says, 'Oh really?'

øùú Faelnon says, 'Well, perhaps we could discuss this at the tavern Foilae mentioned?'

øùú Kittri chuckles. "Yes, why just last month I braved the depths of Uncle Slappy's cellar, I tell you...there a dragons that wouldn’t dare head down there!" his attention however is very quickly drawn to the potential customer. "Certainly! Now I have all kinds for you to choose from...each has a specific soil and year it was grown in.."

øùú Gilth says "A small, plain turnip would do fine"

øùú Mihndrid can't help but grin at Kittri's excited and joyous nature, thinking he's really just what they all need to cheer up a little."

øùú Gilth withdraws a gold coin in offer

øùú Dytalorien smiles slightly at the gnome's antics.

øùú Faelnon looks at Kittri and grimaces at the cheerful tone.

øùú Kittri looks a little disappointed at the lack of interest in selecting a REALLY special turnip, but excuses himself and scuttles over the stall, selecting one before returning.

øùú Gilth asks "will this be enough?" as he bends down to the gnomes height

øùú Faelnon motions for Foilae to move towards the tavern, wherever that is.

øùú Kittri waves a playful hand. "Oh! I couldn’t possibly charge you for that, not when your all such good-natured bigfolk. You look like the adventuring type though...perhaps we'd trade a few stories in payment?"

øùú Foilae nods and begins off into the crowds again, hoping the others follow.

øùú Faelnon thankfully follows and listens to the frenzied havoc off the crowd's voices mingling in with each other.

øùú Gilth says "I may have a story or two" grinning, flips the coin to Kittri anyway

øùú Dytalorien follows behind the rest. A silver flute slips into his hands and he twirls it, as he keeps pace with the others.

øùú Gilth says "Come little one," and follows Foilae

øùú Mihndrid watches the three begin to walk off and, curious, steps lightly off behind them, also marvelling quietly at Dytalorien's flute.

øùú Foilae finally arrives at the tavern and heads inside.

øùú Faelnon follows.

<@Narrator> The tavern is how Foilae described it, apart from two regulars, it is completely devoid of life. The building itself was rather small, only one small bar area and a storeroom in the back. The barkeep seems surprised when a whole hoard of people enter.

øùú Kittri peers at the large human. "Little one? I’ll have you know I’m at least four inches taller than most gnomes..." he chuckles however, clearly too good natured to take offence and practically runs to keep up.

øùú Dytalorien looks about the exterior the tavern, before entering.

øùú Foilae goes over to the bar, 'These are my friends, if you are curious. And the usual for me.'

øùú Faelnon asks, 'You've been in this place enough to already have a usual?'

øùú Foilae says quietly as he leads the way towards a table in the corner, 'Trust me, anyone who has ever come here instantly has a usual just because they've ordered something.'

øùú Faelnon nods and takes a seat.

øùú Gilth walks in, and flings his cloak off to reveal his armour and weapons, and flowing golden hair

øùú Mihndrid quietly seats herself nearby to Faelnon, still taking in the surroundings.

øùú Faelnon says, 'You have a tale to tell about the fair, I believe.'

øùú Gilth orders a ale, some spiced potatoes, some spiced turnips, and then seats himself in a corner, giving the turnips to the gnomes

øùú Kittri potters in, looking about at the interior with a beaming smile. "I’ve never been into 'this' bar before.."

øùú Foilae nods, and decides not to wait for the drinks.

øùú Foilae begins his little explanation, 'The fair is in celebration of the old village. The old village is directly underneath the new one. It was buried, or destroyed, something like that, and it is all in near-perfect condition, the tallest building's roof starts a few metres below the surface.'

øùú Mihndrid , not being very fond of turnips, just gives Gilth a thankful smile.

øùú Faelnon says, 'Fascinating, but not really worth the trip to here...'

øùú Foilae puts his finger up, 'Ah ah, there's more.'

øùú Faelnon sighs, 'Of course there is.'

øùú Mihndrid mutters musingly to herself.

øùú Foilae says, 'Apparently, there was a large cathedral that was buried along with, very pretty, apparently. Rumour has it, someone has been digging near that area, and there's been a new building set up just above it. Now, the cathedral was the reason the village was destroyed, attacked, buried, whatever, in the first place.'

øùú Tengu is content with a bowl of rice and a mug of water.

øùú Foilae says, 'Supposedly, it was not a light and well-mannered place, it caused all sorts of trouble and dealt primarily with reincarnation and necromancy. According to Bill over there-' He gestures to a human slumped over at the bar, nursing a mug of ale -' the people who ran it were doing 'ungodly' experiments.'

øùú Foilae says, 'I don't know what these experiments were, but if people are trying to use it again, at this stage, chances are, it has something to do with the End.'

øùú Kittri grins as he clambers up onto the seat, feet peddling away at the air before he can pull himself onto it. "Why thank you big-fella, you didn’t tell me your name by the way"

øùú Faelnon says, more a confirmation on what Foilae is about to suggest, 'Investigate?'

øùú Gilth Says "Its Gilth." he turns to the elves, "What is The End?"

øùú Foilae says, 'Indeed. With the fair going on, no-one will notice us slipping into the new building and finding a stairway down, or something, to the place.'

øùú Mihndrid sighs as Faelnon says 'investigate'. She wasn't very eager to go exploring an evil underground cathedral.

øùú Faelnon turns to Gilth, 'The End of All, the End of the World. The thing that has destroyed Borwin, Viirnial, and will destroy a lot more.'

øùú Tengu mutters, 'Why not let the dead rest in peace.'

øùú Gilth mutters "End of world? Then, you may count on my sword in your investigation!"

øùú Faelnon hears what Tengu says and momentarily wonders how Shandor is handling the death.

øùú Foilae nods to Gilth.

øùú Mihndrid mutters softly, mostly to herself, "Leaving Hirmfel was -the- most stupid I have ever done..."

øùú Kittri hears the comment about the dead and peace and turns around, spiced slice of turnip in hand. "You never met Uncle Slappy's mother-in-law, she came to yell at him for not hoeing the turnip fields six months after she died!"

øùú Gilth laughs at the gnome

øùú Dytalorien blinks.

øùú Faelnon stands up abruptly, 'Perhaps we should go investigate now before anything bad happens.'

øùú Gilth says "Sounds like a plan"

øùú Mihndrid rolls her eyes, "Before? What makes you think nothing bad has happened already?"

øùú Foilae says, 'Think whoever is doing whatever is going to try something today?'

øùú Faelnon says, 'It is the celebration of the cathedral's destruction, can you think of a better time?'

øùú Faelnon turns to Mihndrid and says, 'There would be more screaming, and more blood.'

øùú Gilth loosens his sword, and places a bolt on the crossbow slot, ready for cranking

øùú Mihndrid ignores Faelnon, staring off to the side.

øùú Kittri looks a little bewildered at the speed by which the group has arrived, and now seems to be leaving the tavern. Popping the slice into his mouth the entire plateful promptly disappears into a pouch on his belt. "Where are we all off too?"

øùú Faelnon sighs and says, 'To save the world. Or at least slow down the End.'

øùú Gilth realizes how Kittri can shake off any battle mood he might have

øùú Foilae crosses to the door and heads outside.

øùú Mihndrid snorts, "Yes, let's go save the world. Always wanted to do that."

øùú Gilth follows Foilae

øùú Dytalorien grins, "I believe we've already that."

øùú Faelnon follows with no complaint, he adds towards Mihndrid, 'We have done, already. The world is very demanding though.'

øùú Mihndrid slides backwards in her chair and stands up, raising an eyebrow at Faelnon and Dytalorien as she walks past them towards the door.

øùú Tengu says more to himself, 'Fighting the inevitable, as usual.'

øùú Faelnon sneaks through the crowds towards the newest looking building.

øùú Dytalorien grows somewhat more serious and exits the tavern behind the rest.

øùú Foilae rolls his eyes and points Faelnon in the opposite direction, 'It is over there.'

øùú Kittri jumps off of the chair, which seemed a shame considering how much effort there was to get on it and looks to the paladin, whispering at him "Has she been without turnip juice for too long? Something seems to be upsetting her."

øùú Mihndrid follows close behind Faelnon, not particularly eager to get lost in the mass of people taller then her.

øùú Faelnon proceeds to head off that way.

øùú Foilae arrives at the building first and peers through a window, no-one there, in fact, nothing there apart from floorboards and walls.

øùú Tengu strides after the others.

øùú Faelnon tries the door, unlocked.

øùú Foilae says, 'They obviously haven't heard of nosy neighbours.'

øùú Faelnon shrugs and steps inside.

øùú Gilth follows into the building

øùú Foilae follows Faelnon inside and begins taking a quick glance in each room.

<@Narrator> The house is completely empty, apart from one room with a large circular rug in the centre.

øùú Gilth un-slings his crossbow, and cranks it

øùú Dytalorien blows a stray wisp of white hair from his visage as he gazes about.

øùú Foilae looks at the rug with a sort of disgust, 'How unoriginal can these people be?'

øùú Mihndrid looks around, "Well, at least the decorating is better then at Kalrian's place."

øùú Faelnon stands beside Foilae and shrugs.

øùú Faelnon winces at the mention of Kalrian.

øùú Foilae turns to Faelnon, he asks, 'What's wrong with Kalrian?'

øùú Faelnon gives Foilae a look before returning to the rug.

øùú Tengu steps inside and thoughtfully looks around.

øùú Foilae says sadly, 'Oh...'

øùú Gilth looks around, crossbow ready

øùú Mihndrid sighs, quietly remembering, and gives Faelnon an apologetic nod.

øùú Faelnon kicks the rug away, revealing, unsurprisingly, a trapdoor.

øùú Faelnon lifts it up, it leads to a dark stairwell down.

øùú Gilth asks "Who takes point?

øùú Faelnon shrugs to Foilae before heading down first, he mumbles, 'Me, I guess.'

øùú Gilth says "Someone with a sword first, I will follow up with the bow"

øùú Foilae follows carefully, he would suggest to bring a torch of some kind, but doesn't.

øùú Dytalorien replaces his flute and draws a long curved sabre, following behind.

øùú Gilth follows Faelnon

øùú Kittri follows along behind the Paladin, quite unarmed and apparently unaware of the possibility of danger.

øùú Foilae turns back and half-shouts, 'Come on down.'

øùú Mihndrid searches through her pack for a moment and produces what looks like a very old and forgotten torch. But, after several attempts to light it she gives up and follows after the group.

øùú Gilth gives Kittri a small knife

øùú Tengu descends down the stairs grinning at something.

<@Narrator> The bottom of the steps open up onto a huge structure. Considering the location, the place is considerably bright, everything has a bluish tint, provided by the torches with a bright blue flame which are on the arches that run along the structure, from ceiling to floor. The archways section off a wide, shallow corridor running up both sides, Broken or destroyed pictures hang along the outer wall.

øùú Kittri looks at the knife and back to Gilth. "While I don’t mean to spurn the gift, what is this for?"

<@Narrator> The main floor of the cathedral is sunken in a few steps, pews have been knocked over, or smashed to pieces all the way along. The main floor leads up to a series of steps up to, not an alter, but a throne. Behind the throne is a wall, which goes from floor to ceiling. The centre of the wall is completely consumed by an intricate stained glass window, arched at the top.

<@Narrator> At the base of each arch is a figure, clad, in what seems to be the current fashion, entirely in black. On the throne sits a frail old man with a long curly, grey beard.

øùú Gilth sights the x-bow on the man

øùú Foilae gets to the bottom and stands beside Faelnon.

øùú Faelnon says quietly to the group, 'Get ready to fight, but don't engage until I give the word.'

øùú Mihndrid tugs her flute from her pack and looks around, commenting lightly, "Pleasant place."

øùú Faelnon carefully moves down the few steps into the sunken area. He, seeing nothing wrong, moves along, stepping over fragments of pews.

øùú Kittri looks at Faelnon, the first signs of concern on his face since the party met him. "Fight? Who are we fighting?"

øùú Dytalorien scratches his and looks about nonchalantly.

øùú Foilae follows a few steps back.

øùú Faelnon says, 'Anything that moves and isn't us.'

øùú Kittri thinks, "What about rats?"

øùú Foilae thinks that is a slightly odd method considering he is meant to be a Healer, but then remembers the situation.

øùú Gilth asks "Shoot anything that moves, that is not us?"

øùú Foilae says, 'Not the time for this...'

øùú Mihndrid smirks, and pats Kittri on the shoulder, "You never know, the critters could be dangerous."

øùú Faelnon reaches the steps on the opposite side. The old man doesn't look at him. None of the dark figures have moved.

øùú Faelnon stands on the middle step up towards the throne. He says, 'Greetings.'

øùú Kittri nods. "Oh yes! While I was down that cellar of Uncle Slappy's there were rats the size of dragons!"

øùú Foilae looks around the place before turning to Kittri and glaring at him.

<@Narrator> No reply from anyone.

øùú Gilth places his finger on the trigger

øùú Mihndrid rubs her forehead, gripping the flute as Faelnon steps down, "Yes, yes, now quiet down a smidge."

øùú Gilth whispers, "I have your back Faelnon"

øùú Faelnon looks at Foilae, who, no longer glaring at Kittri, shrugs, 'Well, er, we were just wondering... if you... er, have been here long?'

øùú Foilae looks at Faelnon curiously.

øùú Kittri looks embarrassed. "Oh I’m sorry, I do tend to talk a lot..."

<@Narrator> The old man's head slumps down a bit, he has just died.

øùú Dytalorien blinks.

øùú Gilth says "I didn't do it!"

øùú Faelnon looks rather surprised, he looks to Foilae, returns his gaze to the man, frowns, then looks blankly at the figures before frowning at the man again, 'Was it something I said?'

<@Narrator> The man gasps suddenly and a glowing entity emerges from him, it is twice as big, it doesn't appear to have any legs, it just floats. It has some type of clothing covering most of the body, two arms, constructed entirely of bones, stick out. Its face looks cold and shocking. One might call it the stereotypical version of a ghost.

øùú Faelnon looks rather worried at this, he states very quickly, 'Hi, how are you doing?'

<@Narrator> The creature tilts its head sideways before reaching an arm out. It picks Faelnon up and lifts him high into the air. It pauses for a moment before barely flicking Faelnon away. Faelnon, as a result, flies down most of the main floor area and crashes into one of the pews that was still upright.

øùú Gilth nearly shoots the image out of surprise

øùú Mihndrid smacks her forehead, saying to herself, "Faelnon, you idiot..."

øùú Gilth fires the crossbow

øùú Foilae takes a few steps back from this "ghost", deciding it best not to turn around to see if Faelnon is okay.

øùú Tengu says, 'It doesn't look conversable.'

<@Narrator> The bolt passes straight through the being.

øùú Mihndrid says, "Nor does it look hypnotizable. Oh dear."

<@Narrator> The dark figures launch themselves from the pillars.

øùú Kittri looks at the ghost quite quizzically. "Hey now! That’s not how to make friends!"

øùú Gilth flings the bow across his back, draws his sword

øùú Dytalorien shrugs, lifts his saber and engages one of the dark figures.

øùú Gilth fights guarding the gnomes

øùú Foilae swings his staff defensively, it catches one of them by the face, his neck snaps with extraordinary ease.

øùú Gilth shouts "Dytalorien! Help Faelnon!"

øùú Foilae looks at the corpse of his attack in surprise for a moment, but then suddenly, it becomes another of those "ghosts".

øùú Foilae gulps before swinging the staff at the ghost. It passes straight through.

øùú Gilth fights three beings, protecting the gnomes

øùú Dytalorien yells, "Kinda busy at the moment!," and dodges a swipe from a nearby figure.

øùú Mihndrid rolls her eyes at Gilth and puts her flute to her lips, blowing out a shrill, piping tune. After a minute, a stream of fire emits from the instruments and swirls towards the newest ghost.

<@Narrator> The ghost attacking Foilae looks moderately amused at his attempt at an attack, it picks the staff up (Foilae with it) and throws them into one of the arches. All of the group's kills here are becoming more of those creatures.

<@Narrator> The fire goes through the ghost, it, too, looks amused and begins towards Mihndrid.

øùú Mihndrid shouts, "Stop -killing- them you idiots! The ghosts are worse!"

øùú Gilth shouts "We have to retreat!"

øùú Faelnon groans and looks about.

øùú Dytalorien curses and back-pedals, attempting to reach the rest of the group.

øùú Gilth says "Gnomes, go back to the stairs!"

øùú Mihndrid looks up at ghost starting at her, flute steaming her hands from the use.

øùú Tengu says, 'Hmmm... "What kills me makes me stronger"'

<@Narrator> A few of the figures form a semi-circle in front of the stairs.

øùú Mihndrid barks at Gilth, "STOP PITYING ME BECAUSE I'M SHORT."

øùú Gilth charges the stairs, trying not to kill any

<@Narrator> The ghost nearing Mihndrid tears the flute from her hands and strikes her over the head with it.

øùú Foilae shouts, 'I thought ghosts couldn't touch people!'

øùú Gilth mutters "So much for not pitying..."

øùú Mihndrid glares at the ghost as it whacks her with her own flute, and rather indignantly snatches it back.

øùú Faelnon gets to his feet, taking his staff with him and looks curiously about.

øùú Gilth shouts "group up!"

øùú Mihndrid gives the ghost a look, much as irritated gnomes do.

<@Narrator> A ghost picks up Foilae and throws him into Kittri.

øùú Dytalorien mumbles and he dodges another swipe.

øùú Tengu is pulling back, not engaging the ghosts knowing the futility of any such attempt.

øùú Faelnon begins towards one of the ghosts.

øùú Mihndrid ducks away from the ghost near to her, clutching her flute, wondering what to do with herself.

øùú Faelnon says to Foilae, who is currently reeling on the ground, 'Have you a spell for this?'

øùú Dytalorien shouts, "I don't suppose anyone has any ideas?!" as he deflects an oncoming blow.

øùú Gilth strikes a ghost with his holy blade. A sword of god also passes through the ghost

øùú Foilae grumbles sarcastically, 'But of course, I always have a 'Get the Tarkna away from me you ghosts!' spell with me.'

øùú Gilth is cornered by four beings

øùú Kittri ducks

<@Narrator> The ghost attacking Gilth seems positively delighted at the futile attempt.

øùú Mihndrid sighs and puts the flute to her lips again, blowing out a soft, pulsing tune which seems to hum and waver through the air.

øùú Mihndrid thinks to herself, "Who knows? Dead ears may work just as nicely as live one's."

øùú Dytalorien stumbles back as a swipe gazes his shoulder.

øùú Gilth backs off the ghost to return the the gnomes side

øùú Faelnon shrugs at the futility of it and swings his staff at the first ghost, at least, he thinks it is the first ghost, they are all identical.

<@Narrator> The first ghost catches Faelnon's staff and throws him over its head.

øùú Faelnon is flung through the air, he crashes into the stained glass window, shattering it completely and sending large chunks of it to the ground.

øùú Mihndrid abandon’s the hypnotist's tune and looks silently around the mayhem of the room.

øùú Mihndrid groans, "This is USELESS, can't we just run?!"

øùú Gilth says "We cannot win! Concentrate our efforts on the stairs!"

øùú Foilae points at the semi-circle of figures at the stairs, 'Through the-soon-to-be-ghosts?'

øùú Faelnon looks up at the back area where he landed. It is a plain room, there is an odd object in the centre of it which is whirring and glowing. Its operator grins at Faelnon.

øùú Gilth shouts "Yes!"

<@Narrator> Before Faelnon can do anything, the operator of the machine finishes what he was doing. The machine whirrs particularly loudly, vibrating the chamber. After a few moments, it fades away, with no obvious effects to the group.

<@Narrator> However, outside, the fair is continuing and everyone is merry, apart from one family. The father and husband of said family is dying, he was severely injured in a farming accident and was brought immediately to the healer in the town, who, sadly, cannot help him.

øùú Gilth charges to the stairs, fighting the beings

<@Narrator> His wife and children at his side, he slowly fades away into a peaceful death. A few seconds later, his body releases another one of the "ghosts", it begins a rampage and breaks out into the fair, viciously attacking anything and everything. The machine affected every place on this world.

øùú Mihndrid smacks her forehead again, "This is just weird."

øùú Faelnon climbs out off that room as the operator collapses, dead.

øùú Foilae helps Faelnon out and says, 'How about that nice tactful fleeing for our lives?'

øùú Faelnon voices no complaint as he sprints along towards the stairs.

øùú Gilth shouts "Help me break through!"

øùú Gilth clashes with the dark beings

øùú Mihndrid sees Faelnon running for the stairs, and, knowing every well its the smartest thing anyone has done all day, darts after him.

øùú Faelnon hollers, 'Forget that! You are only making more of them. If in doubt-' he stops as he dives into two of them, shoulder first, -'Knock them down.'

øùú Foilae sprints over Faelnon and heads up the stairs.

øùú Faelnon gets to his feet and follows Foilae, not sparing a moment to check if the others are following.

øùú Dytalorien sighs and charges for the stairs, dodging the dark figures and he moves along.

øùú Mihndrid smacks one of the figures with her flute and jumps past him to the stairs.

øùú Gilth cuts down two and runs up the stairs behind the group

øùú Tengu says, 'I call it "to wear down the enemy with running".'

øùú Foilae gets to the surface first, he goes outside to see a cart of toys and prizes go flying over the building and it crashes into the ground and shatters - thrown by one of the ghost creatures.

øùú Foilae continues running, this time towards the 'train.

øùú Gilth reaches the surface and curses

<@Narrator> The ghosts pop up through the ground in an eerily calm manner, trying to catch the group before they get to the 'train.

øùú Gilth shouts after Foilae, but goes to help the injured

øùú Dytalorien remarks, "Oh this can't be good..."

øùú Faelnon emerges at the surface and doesn't give up running until he is on the 'train. He hollers at the drivers to get away, anywhere, as soon as everyone is on board.

øùú Mihndrid emerges after Gilth, but sees the ghost come up from the ground and runs after Foilae

øùú Gilth curses, realizing everyone is abandoning the town

øùú Dytalorien sprints along, weaving and dodging the ghosts as they appear.

øùú Tengu accurately hits a figure at the head with his staff and rushes towards the exit.

øùú Mihndrid jumps up into the train, with much effort due to her size and tired state.

øùú Gilth pulls two injured people to his shoulders and runs for the train

øùú Faelnon curses under his breath at those who haven't gotten to the 'train, 'Get on this 'train now before they take a fancy to it and throw it like that cart...'

øùú Kittri follows as fast as he can.

øùú Gilth shouts, "Help me!" he struggles under the weight of the two injured people he is carrying

øùú Dytalorien moves to help Gilth.

øùú Foilae thinks up an idea. He goes into Shandor's cabin and looks for any magical trinket that could delay them.

øùú Mihndrid groans as she sees Gilth and jumps off the train again to help support him, despite her small size.

øùú Faelnon watches as a few ghosts shift their attention to the 'train.

øùú Faelnon closes his eyes, 'Oh Tarkna.'

øùú Gilth and Dytalorien run for the train

øùú Tengu dodges another ghost while sprinting towards the train.

øùú Faelnon climbs onto the roof of the driver's cabin and waits.

øùú Gilth shouts "Start moving! I will get a horse!"

øùú Gilth runs for the stables

øùú Mihndrid rolls her eyes at Gilth and runs back to the train again, hopping aboard.

øùú Dytalorien struggles but manages to jump on the cart.

øùú Faelnon hits the roof with his staff as a signal to get going.

øùú Gilth is smashed by two ghosts, and falls to the ground, just short of the stables

<@Narrator> The 'train wastes no time as it picks up speed, the dozen or so horses could barely stay there as long as they did.

øùú Dytalorien looks for a suitable place to lower the injured persons on his shoulders.

øùú Foilae comes outside with no results. He believes he doesn't need them now that the 'train is moving swiftly away.

øùú Dytalorien finds a place and lowers them.

øùú Mihndrid walks quietly to her cabin and collapses on her bed, "When I jumped on this train after the soldiers chased me over the hill, I had no idea what a stupid idea it was..."

øùú Tengu embarks on moving train, jumping on the footstep.

øùú Gilth manages to escape the ghosts, and is riding just within sight of the train

øùú Faelnon collapses onto the roof.

øùú Foilae climbs up to the roof of the driver's cabin, 'Are all your days like this?'

øùú Faelnon shrugs, 'Pretty much.'

<@Narrator> The 'train rattles past a graveyard as it goes, it seems completely undisturbed.

øùú Kittri drags a stool over to the door and clambers up, poking his head out of the window. His manner is unchanged despite the recent horrors of the town. "My my...Gilth is following us!"

øùú Faelnon comments, noticing the graveyard and the lack of ghosts anywhere near, 'Those who are already dead do not become those spectre things.'

øùú Gilth spurs his lathered horse faster

øùú Foilae adds, 'Even so, the End is going to kill a lot of people, for each of the "good guys" who die, there will be even more bad guys. I'd say things just got a whole lot worse.'

øùú Faelnon nods before saying, 'Try working on something that will stop it. Perhaps something that could stop it from happening in within a certain area. A lot of blood will be spilt from here on in, and I would rather not kill every enemy to have one of those things pop up.'

øùú Foilae nods, 'I'll see what I can do.'

øùú Mihndrid sighs as she shuffles around the train, "I don't -want- to save the world..."

øùú Faelnon sighs and looks behind him, he spots Gilth and signals for the drivers to slow down.

øùú Kittri pulls his head back inside, hair now somewhat frizzy from the wind. "I hope Uncle Slappy's O.K..."

øùú Foilae climbs to his feet and goes to find a vacant cabin.

øùú Gilth spurs his horse, yet even so he seems to fall behind

øùú Gilth finds his horse reach its max burst, nearly in reach of the train

øùú Faelnon sighs, watching the sight, and orders the drivers to stop completely.

øùú Gilth flails, barely finding the railing, and drags himself up

øùú Gilth collapses on a cabin’s floor

øùú Faelnon sees Gilth is on the 'train and orders the 'train to continue.

øùú Mihndrid looks to the side as Gilth collapses and says quietly, "Oh. Glad you made it."

øùú Gilth cannot yet breath

øùú Faelnon looks at the dark sky sadly and silently heads to his cabin.

øùú Mihndrid sees Faelnon and with a hesitant sigh, walks over to him, saying quietly, "Hey, wait up a minute..."

øùú Gilth finally stands up

øùú Faelnon pauses, he turns to Mihndrid, 'Yes?'

øùú Kittri looks at the exhausted paladin. "Are you alright there my friend? Have some turnip juice, its very refreshing!"

øùú Gilth asks "How are we ever going to kill these things? any ideas?"

øùú Faelnon says, 'None.'

øùú Mihndrid sighs again, and says in a quiet, jerking tone, "At..the next town we stop in...do you think..er..you could..drop me off?"

øùú Faelnon says, 'Why not? You can join all the others in the waiting game for the End. If that is all...' He steps into his dark cabin and shuts the door, locking it as well.

øùú Mihndrid watches him go into his cabin and sighs again. "So sad."

øùú Gilth shrugs at Faelnon's abusive behaviour, and goes to check on the injured they managed to save

øùú Foilae overhears this, 'Faelnon's under a lot of stress at the moment. As we all are.'

øùú Gilth replies "Aye..You are a healer, right? Could you help me with them?" He gestures to the bleeding people laying in the cabin.

øùú Foilae says, 'He is right about one thing though, there are only three types of beings left within this world those trying to stop the End; those trying to speed up the End; and those who are unwittingly waiting for it to happen.'

øùú Mihndrid looks back at Foilae, "I didn't say he was wrong in saying it. I just said it was sad, that's all..."

øùú Foilae says, 'I am no Healer, merely a mage.'

øùú Foilae nods to Mihndrid.

øùú Mihndrid sighs, "I can't...I just can't."

øùú Tengu smiles, 'At the eve of the upcoming End no place is safe. But some people find certain pleasure in resisting their destiny.'

øùú Gilth shakes his head, and proceeds to help the injured people by himself

øùú Foilae nods slowly, 'It hasn't done us many favours. We thwarted one End, only to have another one pop up for us.'

øùú Foilae sighs and finds an empty cabin to call his own.

<@Narrator> As night falls on the 'train, it is heading through a rather dense forest, everything seems peaceful here.

<@Narrator> The group are sleeping, and even Foilae, who swore he would stay up until he found a solution, has fallen asleep over his desk. The relative peace of this scene is shattered when something else shatters - glass.

øùú Faelnon , who appeared to be awake already, emerges from his cabin, curious as to what the noise was. He looks down the length of the 'train, and up it. The sound came from further up, so that's the way he goes.

øùú Faelnon stands at the side of Shandor's cabin, the window has been smashed. He heads around to the door and pulls a key from his pocket, he unlocks the door and goes inside.

<@Narrator> The room is a mess, empty drawers are scattered on the ground, the wardrobe seems to have been raided, and Shandor's chest of weapons and various things has had its contents strewn across the floor.

øùú Kittri is utterly undisturbed in his sleep and the gnome continues to snore away quietly.

øùú Foilae yawns, ending up standing beside Faelnon, 'What's-' he yawns again, 'going on?'

øùú Faelnon steps aside and lets Foilae see inside.

øùú Foilae views the room, 'What happened?'

øùú Mihndrid listens quietly to Kittri's snores, an ear also focused on Foilae and Faelnon elsewhere in the train.

øùú Faelnon looks down the sides of the 'train, then peaks over along the roofs, 'I have no idea...'

øùú Foilae sighs, 'Not much we can do then...'

øùú Faelnon looks at the room before slowly closing it and locking it again, 'I guess not.'

øùú Foilae nods silently to Faelnon and heads back to his cabin.

øùú Faelnon looks into the woods for a few moments, before giving up and shuffling back to his cabin.

øùú Tengu opens his eyes but doesn’t stand from his bed, listening to what’s going on.

øùú Mihndrid watches Faelnon go by, having fallen asleep leaning against the wall somewhere nearby.

<@Narrator> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< The 'Quest' III ~ Signing off >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.



'The Best of the Rest'



øùú Kittri looks at Faelnon, the first signs of concern on his face since the party met him. "Fight? Who are we fighting?"

øùú Faelnon says, 'Anything that moves and isn't us.'

øùú Kittri thinks, "What about rats?"

øùú Mihndrid smirks, and pats Kittri on the shoulder, "You never know, the critters could be dangerous."



øùú Gilth says "Gnomes, go back to the stairs!"

øùú Mihndrid barks at Gilth, "STOP PITYING ME BECAUSE I'M SHORT."



Yeah! Short people have feelings too. Hey wait a minute, Mihndrid, how’d you get out of the garden? And where’s your novelty and humorous fishing rod?



øùú Faelnon says to Foilae, who is currently reeling on the ground, 'Have you a spell for this?'

øùú Foilae grumbles sarcastically, 'But of course, I always have a 'Get the Tarkna away from me you ghosts!' spell with me.'



<+Mihndrid> OOC Haha, Gilth your horse sucks XD

øùú Gilth flails, barely finding perchase on the railing, and drags himself up

<+Gilth> OOC What do you expect? It was stolen!

<+Mihndrid> OOC Excuses, excuses



<+Mihndrid> OOC Besides, the ghosts killed all the people anyway XD

<@Faelnon> OOC ghosts rule :)

<+Mihndrid> OOC w00t



<@Faelnon> OOC as I'm sure Mihndrid will be thrilled to hear, there is a timewarp if everyone is ready to move on?

<+Mihndrid> OOC ...you hate me don't you x.x

<@Faelnon> OOC Yep... here's your fishing rod...

<+Mihndrid> OOC Oh just hush up and get it over with O.o