[pnpgm] Game Update #240 - File #1469 - Talks fall...err..fail

pnpgm pnpgm at comcast.net
Fri Aug 3 07:00:12 CEST 2012


   HT Aliaver/Player          Character Name    Type    Status/Notes  Sex
   -- -----------------------------------------------------------------
   R1.John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid  .Normal/Alfar  Ma
   ??.Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human  Ma
   R4.Tom Corckett..........Caladan...........Wizard  Normal/Human  Ma
   W2.Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human  Ma
   W3.Ryan Torres...........Farseeker.........Warrior.Normal/Human  Ma
   --.Tobie Bonahoom........Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry Fe
   R2.Mark Murtha...........Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human..Ma
   R1.David Sanders.........Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human  Ma
   R4.J H Hooten............Raban.Usherwood...Bard....Normal/Human..Ma
   W2.Robert Maxwell........Strie'bog.........Bard....Normal/Human..Ma
   W4.Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human  Fe
   R1 John.Stowman..........Will..............Hunter..Normal/Human..Ma
   R4.Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human  Fe
   R1 NPC...................Zhou Kiwat........Noble...Normal/Human..Ma
      NPC...................Captain.Lin.......Warrior.Normal/Human..Ma
      Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Tef'wo (Horse) Ben'dar,

      Game Web Site - http:/nrgcomputers.com/pbem/
      Public posts/actions to pnpgm at abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list)
      Private emails (not public actions) to pnpgm at comcast.net

      Game Update #241 in sequence (file #1469)
      ----------------------------------------------------------------

      Admin Notes: None.
      -----------------------------------------------------------------
      [Recap]

         From Z'leyra: [Re: Actions]
           Z'leyra, pondering the thought that the gods might be trying
           to 'clue her in' decides that a slight delay in attempting to
           destroy the portal may be wise. Instead she casts Sending EL0
           to attempt to contact the Brain and try to convince it to throw
           off the yoke of Vong servitude and help in defeating them. If
           needed she will follow up the Sending with a Communicate spell
           in order to speak the same language.
         GM: Ack.

      --------------------------------------------------------------
      [New Stuff]

          [Augado 10th, 1634TH]
          [Location: Middle Katai Plains]
          [          Mountains west of Pamau]

          [Time: 2:59:07pm - Turn 4: Phase 2]

            Will turns back to the brain and decides his original plan
          should be investigated just as a backup.  Once Z'leyra goes
          to destroy the portal he'll need to distract her from the Brain.
          She builds magical energy for the limited spells he can do.

            Fremea sees the first second of the Vong being trapped and
          raises her bow to fire again at the Vong.  As the six arrows
          shoot from her bow the 6 impact on the event horizon of the
          Kotothi portal with a sheen of white as six of the magical
          arrows disintegrate.  The true arrow penetrates and flies
          through the portal.  But Fremea blinks her eye from the flash
          of light and notices the Vong are gone. In a literal blink
          of an eye the Vong are out of the sight.  The arrow is seen
          faintly on the ground on a femur bone of some human.  it
          seems the Vong are trapped somewhere in the Kotothi realms
          of the upper world. She knows the time dilation in the upper
          world is at times 1 middle world days to 40 upper world days.
          But it does depend on realm and the god.  In the same of the
          few seconds she watches the portal the Vong scattered and
          moved on.  In that time it might be 5-10 minutes have passed?

            Will casts his spell so he can levitate through the barrier
          and see if he doesn't die.  Will's mass-less body slowly lifts
          up like a ghost.  If he could gulp he would draw in a breath
          and hope for the best.  There is so sudden threat of mental
          energy as he penetrates the invisible barrier.  Will leivates
          a bit further into the mass of brain and goo.  Who would have
          though he would be a brain healer.  He isn't the smartest in
          the group but he is the one treating the brain!  He has seen
          brains before in the woods on slaughtered animals.  Even in
          battle when fighters take massive head wounds.  But never in
          this graphic detail.  he can't help but to lower himself into
          the mass of nerves and reddish flesh.  He could stand from
          the bottom of the brain and his head would not penetrate the
          top.  He could out stretch his arms and spin around in a sphere
          but never reach the sides.  But to Will's untrained mind there
          is no central "kill here" spot.  It all seems to be the same
          watermelon like material.

            Another barrel lifts off the ground in the north east corner of
          the cave and goes flying toward Z'leyra.  It slams into her left side
          and shoulders splashing water and wood again all over her.  This time
          though the damage is protected by her armor.

            Z'leyra decides that things can't get much worse in the situation.
          She can still get to the portal but realizes that the group may
          be right in some ways.  She decides to change her plan to contact
          the brain like Alfar tried.  OF course she would never admit that
          the druid might be right.  His ego is big enough.  But in order
          to make contact she has to touch the brain.  This gives her
          something to consider as she has to get close through the barrier or
          just take a hold of those slimy tentacles even if it is just for a
          few seconds.  She moves forward into a storm of tentacles that extend
          out through the barrier.  She grabs one with both hands. Now she
          only has to cast the spell.  Z'leyra tells the small group of those
          she contacted she has made contact with the brain.

            Raban turns around to head back to the group.  It seems they are
          climbing the stairs and must've killed the Brain.  But Raban is still
          worried as he can't spot the tiny one.  Raban is the first to feel
          the tingle of the Battle Mind ebb away as the spell ends.

            Unali realizes the Battle Mind spell is over.  At the same time
          Z'leyra tells her she is shaking hands with the Brain.  She
          growls at no one wondering if the Battle Mind spell might have
          warned them that was a bad idea.  She hesitates and wonders if
          she should rush down to physically stop Z'leyra.  But she knows
          it would take a few seconds and the Healer might be dead by then.
          She has to talk to Lin first.

            Farseeker and Ben'dar haul Chion up the stairs more and Ben'dar
          begins to breath a bit harder from the strain.

            Arawn has no clue what Will and Z'leyra are exactly planning.
          But the last thing he knows from the Battle Mind spell is that
          both may be on a gray trail full of bloaters.

            Kell ensures Kiet is behind him as the acrobat needs some
          protection and climbs the stairs.

            Lin reaches the next level and finds the next cave entrance.
          He climbs back down and waits for the others.

            The living earth seems to make good pace with the party going up.

            Caladan reaches Lin and looks him closely.  "Explain what is
          going on please.

            Kiet realizes that something is missing.  As he considers this
          he is fuming wondering why isn't the so called high and might
          Elder isn't here doing clean up.  Then he realizes that Chion
          has something to contact him.  Kiet tries to recall what it was.
          That necklace thing?  No.  It was his staff.  Then Kiet realizes
          that the staff wasn't on Chion's back sling holster.  Kiet looks
          around the stairs but sees it no where.  Kiet then realizes he
          must've lost it in the battle when he was knocked out. "Kell...
          Hold up.  We're missing something."  Kiet turns around not even
          waiting for his friend and heads back to where Chion was found.
          That staff needs to be there somewhere.  It's time for Kiet to
          make his displeasure known to Ki'ama.  He runs down the first flight
          of steps and runs toward the brain cave entrance.  He skids to a
          halt and looks around.  He realizes even the elemental is missing
          and he is the only one here.  Great this makes him a sitting duck
          for the brain.  But he isn't a threat so maybe he'll just be
          a very acrobatic tumbling duck.  He glances over and notices
          a group of 10 tentacles seem to moving fiercely around the left
          side of the brain for some reason.  He also notices a lump of
          wood at that area that was probably a barrel?  but he sees no
          one there.  Maybe the brain is just thirsty.  Good maybe that
          will distract him from attacking him.  Kiet glances around the
          area and to his left he notices a pound of sand.  Peering a bit
          more closer he sees a piece of white sticking out one side and
          realizes it looks like a piece of wood. But the top hilt seems
          to be distinctive and soon realizes it is the Gnarish Staff.  It
          is buried in a bit of sand from the earthquake.  This likely explains
          how Kell and Unali missed it in passing.  That or they just didn't
          care to stop to get it.

            The Brain does a quick SitRep in less than a eight of a second.
          From his genetic history of other ancestor Brains he knows that
          some long dead Commandos on some planet used talk like SitRep
          for a situation report.  It seems only timely to use the same
          language in battle if this is a battle.  To his mind this is
          still a one sided encounter.  His brain can see the past and
          future in one seamless thread.  Some would consider it
          probabilities rather than the future.  But if one runs the
          calculations right there is certainty.  The Brain determines
          the 3 big events around him.  There is that small human in the
          entrance who is just standing there.  But the Brain can easily
          penetrate his thoughts and realize he is no threat.  Something
          about a missing item.  Some item could not be a threat.  So the
          brain ignores the human. But the two closer ones seem to have
          a higher threshold of harm.  The one that is sensed but not
          sensed to be there through the absence of electromagnetism seems
          to move into him.  The brain is baffled briefly by his mental
          shield not working but then realizes there no matter to block.
          The Brain can't seem to pinpoint the thoughts of the one-without=
          mass.  It takes concentration almost a full quarter of a second
          for the Brain to reflect from the afterthoughts that from the
          human's brain.  But this isn't enough him to consider the odds
          of a threat.  Then the one that actually grabs his tentacles.
          Intrigues he could easily strangle the human.  From the field
          of energy the Brain can determine this is the one that just cut
          off a couple of his tentacles moments ago.  Why this human
          would now do this is a bit confusing.  He could easily kill the
          human in a single thought but finds the threat to be less than
          42%.  Fascinating the brain waits for an eternity to find out
          what the one plans.  The Brain can't read her mind so this seems
          a bit hard to pinpoint.


                                         ---------------

          [Time: 2:59:10pm - Turn 4: Phase 3]

            Z'leyra is amazed she isn't dead yet.   But it is better not
          to tempt fate.  She builds up energy to make contact with the
          Brain itself.

            The poltergeist figures the human is well protected.  So decides
          to do a more active role.  It extends it's ethereal tendrils to
          grasp the Gnarish staff on the ground some 30 feet away.  It
          flings the debris and staff toward the Shaman read to bash the
          back of the skull.  But as the staff twirls toward the Healer
          like some insane brute flashing a whip, a cloud of energy shoots
          from the Brain and slams into the staff in mid air.  The energy
          flings the staff backward and to the ground deflecting it to the
          ground some 32 feet away toward the entrance.

            Z'leyra casts her Sending spell and as she does she realizes
          the Brian does have a high resistance.  Maybe the Brain will
          consider this helpful?  Maybe if she lowered her mental shield
          she could convey this peace to it.  But as she casts the spell
          she realizes it can't be worse then flying barrels.  But
          the second she finishes a buzzing sound is heard.  Looking
          around she notices a swarm of 15-20 flying stinging insects
          swarm around her in a 2 foot radius.  The bugs dive in and
          out stinging her doing 15 points of damage.   she then realizes
          the spell must've failed very badly again.

            At that instant the 3 milliseconds after the female utters
          those strange words the Brain realizes a magic spell was cast
          upon him.  The odds were it was a direct assault of some kind.
          Not able to perceive the thoughts of the human the Brain quickly
          determines to act.  It is still intrigued but the sudden appearance
          of these bugs confuse it further.  Tired of these games the Brain
          collects in the span of 4 tents of a second energy to act on.  It
          then floods the area around the invisible human with this energy.
          Mot wishing to kill her just yet he is tired of the human like
          a fly is to a human.  The Brain uses his mental strength to push
          the invisible human outward and away from the Brain.  Quickly
          pushing and draining strength the human is locked in a electro-
          magnetic field that surrounds the human not allowing her to even
          flex her fingers.  The tight field is seen faintly as a gray
          cloud but seem sot be all around her.  With a great shove the
          Brain pushes the Shaman toward the cave entrance.  The Brain
          pushes the human past the other human and toward the stairs.
          Quickly gaining speed the field pushes the human toward the
          edge of the steps and with a final shove pushes her over the
          side of the railing.  As Z'leyra fails she realizes she still
          can't control her body as the field holds her in place.  She
          quickly surmises that things have indeed gotten worse.  Not only
          things are hitting her but a swarm of insects that look nasty are
          swarming around her.  If that doesn't kill her then the lack of
          movement on impact on the ground might.  But at least that's
          something to worry about for another few seconds as its a good 300
          feet down.  At least the lava that is on the ground now is 
not below but
          more to center of the ground.  She might break all her 
bones but at leas
          she won't burn up.  That is a good thing.  All this to 
shake hands with
          a Brain!  If she lives in the next minute maybe she can 
deck Arawn for
          trying to talk to it and giving her the idea.  Now if only the field
          would collapse and she could simply levitate and balance.

            Fremea turns around knowing the Vong are days in the past or is
          that the future or is that now? Time stuff confuses her.  She'll
          ask Arawn which it might be.  She notices Raban flying back toward
          the stairs.  the other flyer seems to be gone.  Fremea heads back
          toward the stairs as well to catch up.  She begins to hum to herself
          some odd song she heard in a bar.

            Raban flies back toward the stairs not even aware that the
          invisible silent Z'leyra is falling to the ground.  The Giant
          flexes his iron hand and wonders if he could take down another
          one of himself if he was a double.

            Unali gets to the level where Lin is finally.  She glances up to
          see the entrance of a cave one flight of stairs up.  She looks
          to Lin for an explanation.

            Farseeker and Ben'dar haul the limp magician up to the same level
          as the others waiting for instruction and a break from the task.

            Kell turns around and sees Kiet dart away.  Forgot something?
          The trader realizes that the acrobat is not one for running head
          first into a battle site.  Kell grips his spears and runs as fast
          as he can to catch up.  He will have to protect or help Kiet.
          Kell gives a mental command to the elemental slow and actually
          descend a bit.  If they need to they will need to get the rock
          to act as a shield.

            Lin raises a hand and flexes as if to grab air, "It can be
          controlled."

            Caladan asks the obvious question.  "How?"

            Back inside the brain cave Kiet is a bit dazed by the scene.
          First the Gnarish staff is buried.  Then it suddenly lurches
          up and out toward the Brain.  Then at the last instant it was
          deflected and thrown back his way.  Is the brain that bored enough
          to play a game of rock bat?  Some stupid kid game the kids on
          the island play with tree limbs and rocks.  Trying to hit
          the rock toward others.  But the thing did land even closer
          now to him.  Could the Brain want him to get it?  Kiet looks
          back but doesn't see Kell but decides he needs to get the staff.
          Kell will catch up he is sure.  Running the 30 feet he kneels
          and grabs the staff in his hand.  At least in this position if
          he is hit by a energy wave he'll not fall much.  Now what to
          do with the staff?  He seems to recall the sailor-wizard held
          it and concentrated.  Looked a bit either constipated or worried
          as he closed his eyes.  Did he speak or just think the words?
          Did it act on him or he act on it?

            Will notices Kiet now in the cave holding some staff.  He is
          unsure what the one who does that smoke magic is doing.  Maybe
          he will flame the Brain.  Oh great.  If the spell ends and he
          is lit up in a blaze he'll kill the acrobat.  Will considers
          his options.  He knows firing a spelled arrow outside the
          field will become solid.  Could he drop some object to kill
          the brain?  What could he do that large?  His boots?  His sword?
          Then he picks up a sudden burst of panic through the sending
          spell with Z'leyra.  It seems she is falling toward the ground.

            The Brain's nerves ring with a new heat that pulses with what
          humans term exhaustion.  Tossing that woman out the cave took
          a bit more than he planned.  Under him the water trough is getting
          low and he needs a supply of water.  Lucky Nom Amor gave details
          on the three big spells that could harm him.  In the flash that
          was contact - a full 1,000th of a second he knew what the girl
          had plans or was going to do.  Destroy the portal.  That could
          not be allowed.   He may need Vong reinforcements.  He should
          have killed her there.  But he needs to know the details of
          her allies and their plans.  If he can break her mental shield
          further away from that physical contact he could gain that
          intelligence.  But that will require the helmet to be off
          her head.  It was a rash move he knows.  He should've just
          bashed her head up against the ceiling.  But the humans
          seem to call it a flight or flee reaction.  Maybe he'll
          bring her back and just bash her helmet off.  Then the
          Brain realizes the other human in the cave.  His mind is
          open and reeking in thoughts.  He doesn't need her anymore.
         The brain begins to concentrate on the human but in his
         weakened state it may take a bit of time.  Maybe he should
         force the human to get him some water first.

                                 --------------------

          [Time: 2:59:10pm - Turn 4: Phase 4 - Current/Next phase]

          Actions? Comments?

          Next Update....Friday?

          GM: A short update.  That was a bit of fun as well.  Raban
              could save Z'leyra but can't see her.  Right now with
              the field she can't move.  I had originally planned to
              do Will but he changed his plans so this Ace in the hole
              was changed to Z'leyra. :)  Sorry.  Will would've been
              a rock falling.  Still will do 2 phases only until things
              resolve. Lin's info will trickle at 6 seconds each.  Mana
              report not updated yet.  Will do later.  Its mainly
              the new spells cast. I'll give info on where all the
              folks are position wise at the bottom of the update.   Anyone
              spot my tribute to Indy jones? :)

          GM:  Kiet - Want to use the words you posted in your email
                or something else? :) For a change your not the center
                of the action.  Will find that email again.

               Will - Let me know of any new actions.

               Z'leyra - There is a big reason for the failures.  But
                 now you are the falling star.  Sorry a Diablo reference
                 and I've playing it too much.

          GM: Spells active

              Will      - Armor Transmutation, Mind Shield, Invisibility
                          Insubstantialability*
              Raban     - Bless (OCV), Fist of Battle
              Farseeker - Bless (OCV), Fist of Battle*
              Unali     - Mind Shield, Sending
              Arawn     - Bless (OCV)
              Fremea    - Mind Shield, Sending, Multi-Arrow
              Z'leyra   - Mind Shield, Sending, Invisibility,  Levitate

              * = Soon to end (next update?].  I may NOT post this
              info unless I remember to do so. :)

          GM: Maps

              ----------------------------
              Mount Side View -
                Scale - 1 Column = 15 feet
                        1 Row = 50 feet  North=wall facing screen
              [Looking from one wall to the other wall.  Toward North
               wall with back to south wall.  Looking east/west.]

                             1         2         3         4         5
                    12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890
                   ____________________________________________________
                   I###              Fake Vong ceiling             ###IA
                   I#                                                #IB
                   I#                                                #IC
                   I#                                                #ID
                   I#                                                #IE
                   I#                                                #IFCave
          Cave 1-> `#                                                #`G<-#4
                   I#                                                #IH
          Cave 2-> `#                                       Party -> #`I<-#5
                   I#                 Fremea->T           Position-> #IJ
          Cave 3-> `#                                R               #`K<-#6
                   I#                      Cave #6 World Brain -----/#IL
                   I#                                                #IM
                   I#                 @ <-Portal (Kotohi)            #IN
         Mount     I#T                                              T#IO
         Ground --?I#]A_A_A_A_A_A_A_A____......._______V__V__V__V__V[#IP
                   I                       Y<X \                      IQ
                   I                      Z     Lava (. points)       IR



              I = Rock wall, #=Vong ladder structure
              ` = Entrance to cave [open mostly]
              _ = Rock floor (Row P) ground floor
              A = Vong Bowl Home (10' high)
              V = Vong flyer
              T = Vong Tower (30' high)
              ],[=Base of Vong tower (wooden)
              X = Rabbit Hole opening 30' wide below cavern to tunnels
              Y = Tunnel of Treasure/Sentry cave (under ground floor)
              Z = Pit/Lake caves below elevation of Treasure cave tunnel
             1-6= Side caves on east/west walls

    * World Brain cave

          1           2         3         4
   12345678901234567890123456789012345678901
   %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%/      A   %% = Rock Wall
   %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%\%%%%%\__    B
   %%\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \%%/  \__ C
   %%/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/%%\__/   D
   %%\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \**** \%%/  \__ E
   %%   \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/ ***_/%%\__/   F
  ,,,\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \_ ** \%%/  \__ G
  ]]]/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/ *\__/%%\__/   H
  ```\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__*  \%%/  \__ I
   %%/  \__/  K__/  \__/ @@@ /  /__/%%\__/   J
   %%\__/  \__/  \__/   @@W@@  /   \%%/  \__ K
   %%/  \__/  \__/  \__/@@@@@ / \__/%%\__/   L
   %%\__/  \__/  \__/  \_@@@ /  /  \%%/  \__ M
   %%/  \__/  \__/  \  /    /   \__/%%\__/   N
   %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%###%%%%%%%%%%/  \__ O
   %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%\__/   P
            1         2         3         4
   12345678901234567890123456789012345678901

            1         2         3         4
   12345678901234567890123456789012345678901
   %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%/      A   %% = Rock Wall
   %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%\%%%%%\__    B
   %%                               %%/  \__ C
   %%                               %%\__/   D
   %%                         ****  %%/  \__ E
   %%                          ***  %%\__/   F
  ,,,                            *  %%/  \__ G
  ]]]                          *    %%\__/   H
  ```                           *   %%/  \__ I
   %%         K          @@@        %%\__/   J
   %%                   @@@@@*  /   %%/  \__ K
   %%                  .@@W@@  /    %%\__/   L
   %%                    @@@  /     %%/  \__ M
   %%                        /      %%\__/   N
   %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%/  \__ O
   %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%\__/   P

            1         2         3         4
   12345678901234567890123456789012345678901

    Portal - Center is L29 going diagonal bottom left to top right.
             30' wide and 30' high shimmering portal
    World Brain = @@ 25' by 20' wide.  Tentacles are 15' long
    * = Wooden Barrels

    ],'= Stairs ledge to stairs

   As always if map messed up see website.

   Map Legend

   Party is off map to west on the stairs. on side map would be K50
   ------------------

   Exact positions -

   Arawn    - I60 [Side Map] 10' below Cave entrance #5 - Stairs
   Ben'dar  - I60 [Side Map] 10' below Cave entrance #5 - Stairs
   Caladan  - I60 [Side Map] 10' below Cave entrance #5 - Stairs
   Chion    - I60 [Side Map] 10' below Cave entrance #5 - Stairs
   Farseeker- I60 [Side Map] 10' below Cave entrance #5 - Stairs
   Fremea   - J27 [Side Map] - 355' away from Stairs
   Kell     - K50 [Side Map] 10' from level ground to cave #6-30' to cave
   Kiet     - J12 [Brain map] facing east [Cave #6 side map]
   Raban    - K34 [Side map] - 240' feet from stairs
   Unali    - I60 [Side Map] 10' below Cave entrance #5 - Stairs
   Lin      - I60 [Side Map] 10' below Cave entrance #5 - Stairs
   Will     - K24 [Brain cave] Inside brain / Insub
   Z'leyra  - K49 [Side map] Not shown - about 10 feet from stairs falling
              About 300' from ground.

   Keep in mind the scales for both maps.







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