[pnpgm] Game Update #89 - File #477 - Fog/Fire and Books
Chris & Karen Wells
ckwells at gmail.com
Tue Nov 11 15:39:11 CET 2008
Ben'Dar helps take the books and scrolls out to the main room where Z'leyra
is. He also gives her some of the tea from earlier. "Nothing in this place
but magical traps! We are saving these scrolls, I guess. Not sure why...
Anything unusual happen out here?"
If the party wants to continue exploring the place, Ben'Dar will not object,
though he would rather return to question the woman and report back to the
Elder wizard, rather than continue to stumble through magical traps. If the
party wishes to continue exploring, he has no preference as to whether to
explore the secret trap door and whatever is below this floor, or to go up
to the next higher level.
OOC: I am fine with you taking the reins with our characters as much as you
feel the need to move the adventure forward. The trouble with PBEM games in
general is that they move so slowly. I like the way you're moving things
along. Keep up the good work!
On Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 3:05 PM, Scott Adams <longshot at darktech.org> wrote:
> s
> HT Alias/Player Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex
> -- -----------------------------------------------------------------
> R1 John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar Ma
> ?? Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma
> R1 Tom Corckett..........Caladan...........Wizard Normal/Human Ma
> W2 Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human Ma
> -- Tobie Bonahoom........Fremea............Sidh....NormalFaerry Fe
> Do David Sanders.........Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human Ma
> R? J H Hooten............Raban.Usherwood...Bard....Normal/Human..Ma
> W4 Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human Fe
> R4 Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human Fe
> Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Boyzdar [Wolf] (Strie'bog),
>
> Game Web Site - http://www.funport.com/longshot/pbem
> Public posts/actions to pnpgm at abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list)
> Private emails (not public actions) to longshot at darktech.org
>
> Game Update #89 in sequence (file #477)
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Admin Notes: None.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> [Recap]
>
> From Ben'dar: [Re: Actions]
> Ben'Dar swears angrily in Zen'dali, then yells at Raban, "Get
> out of there!" As Raban steps near, he'll pull him through the
> doorway, then he slams the door shut. "Let it burn," he mutters
> darkly.
>
> "There is nothing left in this place but magic traps! We have
> killed our enemies. Let the wizards below deal with this place
> now."
> GM: Ack.
>
> -----------------------------------
>
> From Raban: [Re: Actions]
> <Mean little dagger! That stung.>
> <Not a lot to do in Raban's areas of expertise> Raban is happy he
> managed to save Frema from possible serious harm, even though he
> took some himself. But fires and fogs are not something he knows
> how to handle, so he will watch carefully and help where he can.
> GM: Ack. Nasty dagger indeed boosted by magic. :<
>
> -----------------------------------
>
> From Z'leyra: [Re: Actions]
> If Z'leyra hears the commotion she will go investigate.
> GM: Ack. Not through 3 sets of doors and walls. :<
>
> -----------------------------------
>
> From Raban: [Re: Actions]
> I may loose internet access again since my bill is due on monday
> and I have not been paid yet.
> Cash flow has been a major problem this year If that does occur
> I will try to use a friends computer or the office as needed.
>
> So if the characters effected suddenly stare into space and
> drool, you know why ;)
> GM: Ack. I understand. Economy has been bad for all. :< I
> should know well enough now how to run Raban if needed.
>
> -----------------------------------
>
> From Fremea: [Re: Actions]
> As Fremea is taken out of the way and starts to see the library
> go up in smoke, she looks in and wonders why anyone would be so
> stupid to burn what they think was important.
>
> "Just let this whole damn place burn down. It is not even worth
> it to try and get anything out of here. These people, whoever
> they were do not deserve even the death we bring to them. Lets
> finish getting what ever it is we came here for and get back to
> what matters most."
>
> From now on, Fremea will not walk into any other rooms with out
> first having everything scanned as much as she can and have Arawn
> tell her he has done the same.
> GM: Ack.
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> [New Stuff]
>
> [Ma 2nd, 1633TH. 5th Day of Adventure #4.
> [Location: Chaos domain, Dark Lands, 9 Miles up, Flying Island]
>
> [Time: 11:14am]
>
> [Two seconds after the door is opened and the room goes up in
> flames and spells...]
>
> [Ben'dar from his angle west of the door notices flame sparkle
> on the east wall and fog shooting everywhere. He swears angrily
> in Zen'dar and yanks Raban out of the door just as Raban pulls
> Fremea to safety. Rather Ben'dar tries to do that. Ben'dar
> finds it is like moving a mountain. But lucky for Ben'dar,
> Raban is already moving and rolling. Ben'dar yells out as
> Raban hits the ground and Ben'dar figures he is still in an
> angle of attack.]
>
> Ben'dar: "Get out of there!"
>
> [As Raban rolls Ben'dar slams the door shut with his left foot
> and mutters in a dark frustrated voice.]
>
> Ben'dar: "Let it burn, There is nothing left in this place but
> magic traps! We have killed our enemies. Let the wizards below
> deal with this place now."
>
> [As Raban gets to his hands and knees he sees the fire and fogs
> inside the library just as Ben'dar slams the door. He shakes his
> head in confusion as to why anyone would want to set a trap to
> destroy the contents. He is glad he was able to save the frail
> one but he took a nasty hit himself in doing so. He quickly gets
> to his feet and looks to the others for suggestions or ideas,
> knowing this type of thing isn't his main area of experience.]
>
> [Fremea becomes dizzy at the sudden rush of being in the doorway
> one second and then twirled around and pushed into the hallway the
> next. Confused she looks around to find herself looking up at the
> towering giant. The next instant she feels a sharp impact in her
> back and then Raban dives and rolls. She turns around just in time
> to see the library in flame and fog for a second before Ben'dar
> slams the door. She has seen many library of the Humans. In
> Donara some were visited her when her masters needed certain
> knowledge, rather needed books stolen. Some libraries were
> guarded by a old man or young boy or old lady. Most never had
> fire anywhere near it aside from a closed candle lantern or such.
> Fire and books just don't mix. Confused she has no clue why
> anyone would want to trap the library to destroy itself upon
> entry?]
>
> Fremea: "Just let this whole damn place burn down. It is not even
> worth it to try and get anything out of here. These people,
> whoever they were do not deserve even the death we bring to them.
> Lets finish getting what ever it is we came here for and get
> back to what matters most."
>
> [Fremea grunts and has learned her lesson. This place seems to
> love traps. But they seem to be defensive and protective. She
> wonders why Arawn didn't try to warn her or others. Did he sense
> the magic? Even if he did was there enough time to react and do
> anything about it. After all a trap isn't good if it lets those
> it traps time to react. Fremea knows that lesson as well. Having
> broken into certain homes in Donara, forced by her masters to do
> so, she has encountered mundane and elaborate traps but nothing
> quite this style. Then she wonders about Raban who seemed a
> second before Arawn reacted to be alerted. She wonders if he
> has some skill or ability to detect traps more than she?]
>
> [Ben'dar nods curtly at Fremea's response and realizes that she
> is like him about this place. To the Zen'da books and scrolls
> are useless. Stories and important information is handed down by
> word of mouth generation to generation. It is frustrating all
> this magic. Ben'dar rather fight monsters and men not these
> magical hard to see things. It isn't honorable and isn't fair.
> He'll see this place burn down before he sees more of
> his friends wounded by other magic.]
>
> [Chion isn't so frustrated by the use of magic in this place. He
> has seen many wards and many such traps in the Dark Lands. Some do
> it to stop thieves while others to protect treasure and
> information. Clearly this library holds some ancient information
> that A'kril, or others, don't want just loose on the world. If
> they can't let that happen they'll see the stuff destroyed. It
> is ironic that most humans fall prey to wards. Yet this party
> have Sidh who can sense magic. But even the best detectors can
> fall victim to quick wards. In that balance he has found there
> is no defense against everything. Some wards will go off with
> or without knowing about them.]
>
> [Fremea grabs her wound and find it light but near her wing. She
> can't understand why humans collect treasure. Faerry society is
> known to hoard treasure but mostly for society not their own
> personal use. This idea of personal wealth and power is useless
> against skills, status and magic. As she speaks the words above
> she wonders if she shouldn't have said them. Curiosity gets the
> better of her and she wonders if there is some ancient magic there
> in the library that could help or harm this world. Could it
> contain cures to the woes of mankind? Could it contain spells to
> find the thing she seeks greatest in life? A twinge of regret
> hits her as she considers her next move.]
>
> [Kiet standing in the hallway sees the last 4 seconds of opening
> the door and then seeing Raban and Fremea wounded. Confused he
> isn't sure why a library calm one second now is suddenly in some
> form of magical fire and fog? Could it be illusions or some trap
> set to stop thieves? It just seems wrong to set fire to books.
> His mind flashes to one town his family visited where a small
> library of only a hundred books and many scrolls suddenly went
> up in flames. The town's records and life stories were lost in
> one 5 minute fire. Kiet wonders what all could be missing
> knowledge wise from this fire. He reaches for his rope and
> wonders if he could pull books but books are hard to lasso. Even
> so it would take too much time. He could leap in and grab books
> but that fog seems a bit odd to him. For a second or two Kiet
> becomes leery of any action.]
>
> [Raban get to his feet as Ben'dar slams the door and Fremea ends
> her quick speech. He dusts off his hands and touches his wound
> to check it is light but seems to have stopped bleeding. He feels
> sad he couldn't have warned the others a second before the daggers
> went off. His height did help to detect their movement but if he
> wasn't there then maybe Fremea could've been hurt alot more.
> Raban's memory goes to several noble homes he has entertained in.
> Many such homes had libraries of books of the mundane poetry to
> the richly coveted magical or historical tomes. He then recalls
> this door had to be unlocked. Obviously a room that had something
> important in it. It seems A'kril the noble who didn't act very
> noble like, didn't want anyone to take his books or enter the
> library.]
>
> [Unali seeing the danger looks back down the hall to ensure this
> isn't some elaborate distraction. But she sees no one coming
> or going. The security on this door is very lax with only
> one key that Balrog could've probably picked with his eyes closed.
> Why would A'kril keep books here and not in some vault? It
> could be this contains less priority books and scrolls of
> magical or historical nature. From her angle she didn't see
> the blades fly but sees the smoke and fog. Fog she has seen
> before, Choking Moisture, the same that Z'leyra and others
> have used in the past. That would make the room hard to enter
> even without the fire. Unsure of what to do she helps Ben'dar
> secure the door and looks to the others for activity.]
>
> [Caladan is shocked to hear Fremea and Ben'dar. He could expect
> it from Ben'dar. It is in the Zen'da way. But Fremea a person
> of magic should respect tomes and books? He glances at both with
> a confused look. If the High Elder needs information it is duty to
> save it. He steps forward and approaches the door. He glances at
> Raban and wonders why he didn't charge into the room to get books.
> He saw the flames but they could be avoided. After all a wizard of
> fire like himself isn't afraid of fire. But the smoke or was it
> fog looked different. That could be tricky depending on what it
> was. Caladan considers his actions and spells. He could change
> into a large winged beast and stop the spells that way or
> just case some spell.]
>
> [In a blur Arawn sees the daggers fly toward him and stab lightly
> into him. Then he is pulled away by someone, he doesn't know
> away from the door and the next instant the door is slammed shut
> by Ben'dar. In the second it took for that he saw flame and the
> fog. Clearly 2 of the wards he detected are those spells. That
> might leave one or two wards not seen or detected or blocked by
> the visible effects of the other spells. Shock from the damage,
> doubt from lack of detection, grief for not reacting so fast,
> sadness for the destruction and finally anger tears through
> Arawn's being in an instant. The rage inside him becomes dark
> like a thunder cloud in his mind and soul. This isn't right!
> Who would destroy books in such a careless fashion? A'kril didn't
> want these things found and looted. Either he was too paranoid
> to let the information loose or with his death this room self
> destructed. But why now and not then? Clearly when the door was
> opened and some magical word or threat not given the wards
> activated. Faster than even his reflexes could have done anything
> about. He glares at Ben'dar with disbelief and then confusion at
> Frema's comments. He has to teach her that anger and rage will
> only lead to bad things. Yet in the back of his mind he knows he
> has crossed the line with his own rage in this event. His parents
> wouldn't approve but this situation is critical. Inside the room
> could be thousands of years of lost information that society could
> use. If that knowledge was good or bad would be second to just
> the information. The information in those dusty old books could
> be more valuable than any vault or armory. He considers his
> actions and knows he could try various spells. All have some
> form of working but would they get all the books? The books are
> facing the east and west walls not the south wall to the door.
> So any chance of those spells would be difficult without entering
> the room itself to perform them. The risk to the party is too
> great to enter and attack the spells. With Z'leyra not here to
> help dispel the chance is slim of avoiding the magic. How long
> would they last, minutes could destroy the entire set. No, Arawn
> must act now.]
>
> [Arawn recalls what his parents have always told him. That he is
> special and unique. He thought it was his Alfar status but odd
> things happen even to him in his life. He recalls the time he was
> chased by some beast in the Slow Lands near the Balance Marshes.
> It chased him to a rift in the ground 20 feet wide. But one minute
> he is looking back to hear the howl of the beast and the next he
> is across safe. He always thought it was gods helping him. But
> he knew that gods were limited in their powers even in the Upper
> World. There were rules to apply to all and not all powers
> applies in every region. In the instant of the memory flash he
> recalls how he got this place. His memory was vague there as
> well. He wonders if there is some connection there. But there
> will be time later to think on that. Now he must save the books
> from those who would see them destroyed. He tried before to
> pray to his parents for help and blessing in this place. He
> isn't sure he can reach them here with this purified place of
> magic. In the great archives of some of his cosmology teachings
> he has learned that some people, rare ones, can do anything.
> His parents always said some gods allow them to do things as a
> wish for them or a whim on the gods. But Arawn doubted even
> that. The rumors of the multi-verse are disregarded by the gods
> mostly but Arawn believes there is more to life than his parents
> and teachers have told him. Now he wonders if that doubt will
> help him in this situation. To risk the very lives of the party
> around him is it worth these old books?]
>
> [Arawn closes his eyes and tries to concentrate as the others
> seem to plan their next move. He begins to draw away his
> senses. The smell of the others goes away. The vision behind
> his eye lids fade to darkness. the hearing of others seems to
> fade to whispers and then nothingness. The touch of his wound
> and armor fades. Arawn becomes one with his surrounding but also
> becomes no where at all. He clears his mind, a trait his
> Druid teachers have taught him before. He then forms a picture
> of the library in his mind's eye. The layout of the room. The
> books where they should be. His mind wanders to the thought
> of betraying A'kril and his death. The regret he couldn't do
> anything then but maybe he can do something now. He tosses
> that thought aside and begins to mentally chant some arcane
> words and prayers. Time seems to slow around him and yet
> speed up at the same time. His mental layout of the room
> is guess work but seems to clarify when his mind's eye shifts.
> He sees books and scrolls on shelves and the flame roaring
> through the books. Most are already destroyed. But there
> is something else in the room. It seems books are also losing
> shape as if disintegrating to other magic. Arawn wonders
> if it is a destruction spell. Foul and cruel magic indeed.]
>
> [Arawn desires and wishes the fire stop burning the books and to
> safeguard the books. He wishes them to move from their location
> to safety. He wishes only good things for the scrolls of
> information. He pleads for his parents to help him redeem
> himself by saving A'kri's past and maybe the Middle World's
> future. Doubt fills his mind as he wonders if by saving these
> books he'll free some foul magic not known to humans that could
> destroy them. Could Arawn be the link in the prophecy to unleash
> this great plaque?
>
> [All these mental things go through Arawn in the span of nano
> seconds. In real life only 4 more seconds pass. Arawn grips
> his hands in a tight fist to release the energy he is trying
> to convey to the gods. The instant his hand tightens the
> instant he collapses to the floor.]
>
> [As the others look tot he door to wait out the spells they hear
> Arawn hit the ground. All turn around in shock as if Arawn is
> wounded by some poison. Raban, Unali and Fremea rush to his side
> and find his body is warm as if from some radiant heat. Fremea
> blinks in confusion as his normal aura has changed. It is a dark
> black blue. Fremea has seen that aura on those who would be evil,
> magic casters and normals alike. What has happened to Arawn to
> cause such anger and darkness?]
>
> [From behind Unali a gush of air is felt. She twists thinking it
> is Raban moving near her. But when she looks behind her she gasps
> in surprise. The others also look toward the south wall and on the
> carpet are dozens of books and scrolls. They just suddenly appeared
> there and some are on fire.]
>
> [Confused by this new sudden turn of events it takes a full second
> for folks to react. Leery it is another trap a connection between
> Arawn and the new books seems to dawn on them. Some grab cloaks
> and blankets and begin to draw them out. But Caladan who has
> planed his own move has built up spell energy. He had hoped to
> open the door and push back the magic with the spell and let the
> others enter and grab as much books as they can. But now for some
> reason he doesn't understand they seem to be here in front of them.
> He draws his hand up and finishes the magical words. Suddenly from
> his hand a great wind blows and toward the south wall. Unali is
> knocked back flat on the ground and rolls to the side. Fremea is
> tossed forward and begins to flap wildly toward the right side of
> the wind. Raban stands still but hair of everyone else begins to
> blow wildly. Suddenly the powerful wind flips books and scrolls
> open. The wind pounds the flames down and down. Two seconds later
> the flames are all doused out. Raban helps Unali up and with
> his strength guides her to the north wall to stand and wait out
> Caladan's wind spell duration. Arawn remains on the ground
> unconscious. Twenty seconds later the wind begins to die down as
> well as the fire but now a cloud of dust seems to float down tot
> he floor as some books seem to have gone to dust.]
>
> [Five seconds later Arawn's eyes open after some water is given
> to him. By now his heat has died down and he sits up but
> in a much weakened state. He feels drained of energy. Fremea
> looks at his aura again and finds it normal. He looks around
> a bit confused and wonders what happened. When he sees Caladan
> smile and point behind him he looks and smiles. It seems his
> prayers were answered but at a price to his life energy. He
> could've killed the party with some big failure but they
> don't need to know that.]
>
> Caladan: "Sorry about that folks. I figured we could get the
> flames and fog up against one wall maybe and we could
> go in and get them. But somehow they got here. Now what
> the heck happened and how did they get here?"
>
> [Ben'dar shakes his head and doesn't like this new turn of magical
> events. Give him a book to kill but not one that suddenly
> appears in front of him.]
>
> [The party approach the books slowly and inspect them and the
> scrolls. They seem delicate and old. Some have burnt marks.
> Some are completely destroyed by fire. Others are blotted by
> ash and smeared. Others when picked up oddly disintegrate into
> dust as if the paper is so ancient it can't exist anymore.
> That or some foul magic destroyed them. Some are intact but
> the majority is gone forever. The intact ones are gently bagged
> up and gathered. A couple minutes later the crackle of fire
> isn't heard from the library. Caladan cracks the door open
> and look sin. It seems the fire and spells are gone. As the
> others gather up books he opens it further and ready to jump
> away stands in the door. But nothing happens. Fremea glances
> over and walks over. She senses nothing magical in the room
> anymore. The smoke and dust cloud is intense. The fog seems
> gone and the spells have ended. It seems the wards are over.
> Fremea stays put but Caladan gently enters. Fremea tries to
> warn the bold Zen'da but he continues. He walks up and down
> the aisles and looks grim.]
>
> Caladan: "Ashes, Dust. Tattered pages. Nothing is left. It
> seems either this room was empty or those outside are it.
> I don't understand how they got out there. What a great
> loss to this world.
>
> [Caladan looks around and finds the library devoid of anything
> else as Fremea remains in the threshold. The room's magic is
> gone and now are the treasures.]
>
> Actions? Comments?
>
> Next Update...Friday...
>
> GM: Thought this was going to be a small update. But I was able
> to fill it up. I was impressed with Arawn's emailed actions.
> The mechanics he could explain but its not my place. I only
> gave what was seen or thought. A very unique alternative
> indeed. Because the books were more or less saved there was
> no need for further actions for this room. The deal is done.
> So I'd like to figure the books would be taken to the main room
> and left with Z'leyra. If anyone doesn't want this then let me
> know. This means the first level is fully explored. This would
> mean that the lower level could be explored before going up (I
> assume the lower was the next objective?). So for friday's
> update I'll move the party toward the lower level and stop when
> needed if this is acceptable.
>
> GM: Now a word on the last update. With a PBEM one is limited on
> time. We could spend literally weeks on a 2 second game
> time span wondering what to do. I could've stopped at the
> locked door and asked what then. Actions done. Depending
> on those then the door opened and nothing found without
> looking in. Day later the door opened and the spells
> activated. Little would've prevented them and because
> of that I went where I did. I know caution can only do
> so much and that would take time. I figure all the actions
> could've sent us to the end of this month just figuring
> out alternatives to this room. But that to me slows
> things down. I accepted all actions but do we need to
> spend weeks on figuring out something that would likely
> not have been stopped? I figure as GM I have to move
> the action a bit as best I could. In a table game we
> would have the time to do it in brief time. But in a pbem
> time takes weeks and months. Some of us recall the summer
> spent on Clima with just an hour's of action? A bit
> long for a guy that would be later killed. :) So as GM
> I have to move up to a point that players can react without
> going nano second by nano second. This speeds up the
> time and adventure to a level I think is better than
> bogging it down. I hope this is acceptable style. If
> not give me feedback. I'll accept it. I know that
> folks would be cautious more than now but I also can
> accept pre actions for rooms. Just keep that in mind
> of caution for next time. Fool me once. Fool me twice
> won't happen and I won't expect that of the characters
> now. So we'll move on as this room is pretty much solved.
> Good work Arawn!
>
> GM: I'll go into detail on the books and scrolls later. I
> had actually planned treasure of a less amount. But this
> unique solving might have gotten more than I originally
> planned. So need to go and redo that part of the treasure.
> Of course nothing could be read as the language is quite
> unknown to anyone in the party. So the contents and
> details could take years to learn anyway.
>
>
>
> 1 2 3 4 5
> 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890
>
> I--------------------------------------------------I Row
> 1 2 3 4 5
> 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890
> Rm A. Rm B. Rm. C Rm D. Rm. E
> I--------------------------------------------------I Row
> I [**] I [*...*] I [**] I [**] I ## ## I A
> I I I I I ## ## I B
> : : ###I * I* * * I ## ## I C
> I * * * I $ #I *###* I### ## I ## ## I D
> I ##### I $ #I ### I### ## I ## ## I E
> I ##### I ###I *###* I* * * I ## ## I F
> I * * * I@ @I * I I ## ## I G
> : oI@ @I @I@ I I H
> I# oI@ @I\ @I@ I@ I I
> I#___/\___I____/\____I_\__/\__I__/\_[--]I___/\_____I J
> I Library I K
> : North Hallway : L
> I_____/\_________/\_________________/\_______/\____I M
>
>
>
>
>
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