Answers, rulings, and comments on posts
Anabstercorian
<< Ilsensine! You have always guided me, and I have always followed your will. Oh great brain! Oh, infinite mind! I beseech you, in your endless intelligence, grant me and my select chosen the right to enter Common Ground, the meetingground of the gods! For our power is like unto that of the lesser gods, this cannot be denied, yet we find ourselves thrust against powers we cannot stand against. Let us speak, and prevent us from violence, oh indomitable will! >>
ANSWER:
Ilsensine's Avatar appears in Anabstercorian's mind, and speaks:
The illithid are among the greatest of all who think, and even the United Commonwealth of Toril acknowledges this.
You are among the greatest of illithid, Anabstercorian.
Do you profess to be less than you are?
Do you profess to be less intelligent than you were made to be?
Do you proclaim yourself less wise than you have learned to be?
I must rebuke you, Anabstercorian, for your lack of self esteem, lack of trust in yourself, lack of faith in your own abilities, and lack of belief that your intellect can solve any problem that you face.
As I speak these words, a human by the name of Hazen is overcoming the Dark Powers.
A human.
Do you profess to tell me, Ilsensine, that you are less capable than the race of humanity?
Ilsensine shrugs:
If the Dark Powers entrap you, you will find the key to freedom.
The Dark Powers are very great, but the conscious, thinking mind, is greater and stronger than they.
Ilsensine smiles at Anabstercorian, then disappears.
- - -
Mr. Draco
Well, I'm working on my speech for the Torillian Reporters. One quick question (the cornerstone of the speech relies on your answer) has Kas completed the Cydian Metamorphoses?
RULING: Yes, he has. The reporters are curious about that, too.
- - -
Sollir Furryfoot
Hrm, my post didn't seem to go earlier. Anyways:
Melkor, E-mail me exactly what is your red army project, if it isn't what I think it is (simply converting people to the red goo and setting it free with negative energy).
Tokiwong, expect an email tomorrow probably.
Waiting on the reply from the Lich Queen...
ANSWER: Sollir, my pardons. I did not realize you had asked her a question. Can you repeat your question on these boards?
- - -
William Ronald
A Light in the Darkness
Hazen also adds this statement:
(rest of article deleted)
ANSWER:
You won, William. Hazen overcame the Dark Powers, and came back to himself. He gained many levels and much internal strength in so doing.
There aren't many beings that have ever accomplished what Hazen just did.
If you are pulled into Ravenloft, I do believe the Kevellond League stands, perhaps, the best chance of not only surviving, but becoming Ravenloft's first ever Good Domain.
- - -
Tokiwong
World Forum
Mitsurugi watches the chaos with glee, his eyes narrowing upon the Humanoid party… he leaps down his blade not drawn until he lands behind his foes… as he attempts to cover the escape of his fellows, the dignitaries and emissaries of the Eternal Empire… once escape is secured he will follow with the use of their own 11th level magic to escape the World Forum leaving behind the chaos… with a smile…
ANSWER: I would daresay the Dark Powers are also watching the World Forum with glee ... Melkor, you just killed the Speaker of the Humanoid League. Your NPC swept his head off with one good swipe of his sword.
Mitsurugi is not able to escape THAT easily!
It would appear someone has thrown up 11th level barriers all around the World Forum, to prevent anyone from escaping.
Who is doing this?
Well now ... the Chosen of Mystra (run by Kaboom) appear to have involved themselves in this little fracas ...
Iuz and the press…
Iuz reclines in his crimson throne Talindra seated by his side on a similar yet smaller throne…
Talindra watches the reporter enter after their tour of the grounds of Chorazin, a floating city in the Plane of Elemental Fire. The city is a splendor of crimson marble and walls that twinkle with flame… The press is show the highest esteem and their needs are seen to at all times… murals décor the walls of the exploits of the Pantheon of Darkness… especially Iuz, Master of the Pantheon of Glowing Darkness…
The reporters seat themselves and prepare for the interview, Iuz smiles reclining in his throne, and speaks softly, “I hope the tour was pleasant… and I trust the attentions of the various ladies of my court were to your liking… I, am Iuz, Master of the Glowing Darkness… a deity of Life, Change, and Conflict. I would like to extend a hand of greeting to you, I am very much honored by this occasion, to speak with the press.”
ANSWER: The press listens respectfully to this well-mannered, dignified demipower from the world of Oerth. They are very impressed by Iuz.
Talindra smiles as well, as Iuz continues, “The world is lurching towards conflict once more, I am sure you are of the bloody fighting brewing in the World Forum, born of words said in truth. It is no secret that I feel that Forrester should be punished for his actions… you may ask how can I, the harbinger of destruction be so hypocritical? I did what I had to do out of love… love for a world that I was willing to die for… I took upon me the host of the Red Scourge in my ignorance I felt that such an action would unite Oerth in a single devastating strike against a foe that threatened to consume all… I was as I said ignorant of the power and the majesty that is the Red Scourge… nor was I prepared for the actions of Forrester and his frank callousness to condemn a world to utter destruction…”
Talindra added in, “But condemn he did…” she continues, “but in that act of villainy milord was enlightened… and he plumbed the secrets of the Red Scourge… he delved into its majesty… and incorporated its voice… its vision… we shall give it shape… we shall mold the Red Scourge into a weapon to prevent such destruction from ever coming to pass to this world…”
Iuz nodded, “What is the Red Scourge, it is as I have said before… the rage of a world suffering in pain… in agony from an oppression of powers that wish to keep the people from their divine destiny. It is our birthright, Oerth’s gift to her children… a gift can be used for both acts of creation and acts of massive destruction… many call me a villain, a demon, and worse, I am all those things, and more. The Pantheon of Glowing Darkness seeks to elevate all life to a state beyond the normal ken… we seek to spread our message and bring the glory to all beings… and free them from the oppression of their masters…”
The reporter nodded somewhat puzzled by the words as Iuz continued
ANSWER: They are not puzzled. They are, however, very attentive.
“Pain is a weakness of the flesh… suffering a weakness of the state… and death a weakness of the spirit… I shall make them distant memories… you ask if I am a villain… I am a villain of the worst type for I seek to have all peoples free… to seek the path… and open their minds to the majesty of the Glowing Darkness… that is my goal, freedom. Freedom from this suffering, and the enlightenment exists in the mystery of the Red Scourge. Its pranas and koans of pain and suffering hide the kernel of peace that so many have longed for… before I can begin the Golden Path before… I can eliminate these weaknesses I must first destroy the old order…”
The reporter nodded and turned to Lady Talindra, “And what is your place in this Pantheon milady?”
Talindra smiled almost wickedly, “I am his Empress… I am his confidant…” she smiled sweetly,
“I support my husband, my lord, and my master. He has the brunt of many nations against him, for Freedom and the dissolution of corrupt orders is never a popular stance… but I believe in his words… and his actions…” she touches his arm lightly, “he will bring a new age to the infinite worlds…”
The reporter nodded and looked to Iuz, “And Milord… reports have come in that there is a tenuous alliance between your own power and that of the Eternal Empire of Toril… what do you have to say to that?”
Iuz smiled, “The tenuous alliance is strong, we have like philosophies and they have impressed me with their culture and their dedication to bring Forrester to justice. I have been so impressed that our alliance has strengthened immensely, and I hope it shall continue. Even now temples have begun to appear in their lands… I am much pleased about this…”
ANSWER:
The Reporter asks: Lord Iuz, Lady Talindra, what would you say to Erika Lesage if she were here now?
Would you ally with the United Commonwealth?
What are your plans for Realmspace?
Do you have any plans concerning Krynnspace?
What is your reaction to the news of the alliance of Melkor and Rajaat?
- - -
Forrester
I'm so flattered!
You guys just can't stop talking about me! I blush.
I'd step back in and correct Edena's RP'ing of the Humanoids -- he's doing a horrible job -- but things are just too silly.
ANSWER:
Well then, Forrester, you should play them! After all, you are the one who made the humanoids legendary!
Heh, my job is horrible, eh? Oh well ...
I could have had the humanoids denounce Forrester as a criminal too, eagerly brownnosing before the elves and others who want Forrester brought to justice, slavishly stating how well they would cooperate in the hunt for their hero ...
I will say two things:
1) About ten thousand twenty-megaton bombs were used against the Elder Gods and the Red Army. They don't seem to have harmed Oerth in the least, of course, because nobody speaks of them. How nice!
2) On the other hand, some sun-stuff gets thrown at the Red Army, destroying their 100,000PL-ness, and somehow Forrester is to blame. Riiiiiiight. And somehow, I managed to kill a bunch of other armies and a bunch of Angels (who are immune from twenty-megaton nukes, I also hurry to point out.) I also must remind you that it was Edena, not I, who insisted after the fact that this attack somehow tore Oerth apart beyond the repair of 11th level magic.
Because if 11th level magic could repair all the damage, this really wouldn't be an issue, would it?
ANSWER: I never said Oerth was beyond repair by 11th level magic. I have repeatedly said it could be repaired by 11th level magic. Of course, these repairs need to be done uninterrupted by attacks - and I do believe Melkor, Rajaat, and some others intend to do a wee bit of attacking on Turn 7.
Heh, and I the DM never blamed you Forrester.
I have defended Forrester the PC, when pretty much everyone else has attacked him. That is my job.
And yeah, I'm the one who ruled the bombardment tore Oerth apart.
Carry on. I have little doubt that it is Edena's goal to reduce the Humanoids to the savages that they originally were, not to mention knock them back into the rubble. Have at them.
ANSWER:
Well, they can do that, of course. But I have made it clear, time and again, what hate, anger, and fear leads to.
They can smash the Humanoid State, execute the humanoid emissaries - hey, they can do anything they want.
But there is always a price for deeds done. Always.
The Dark Powers are not interested in excuses, justifications, or rationalizations (or, for that matter, even legitimate reasons.)
They only look at deeds.
- - -
William
Hi, Forrester:
(rest of article deleted)
ANSWER:
Thank you for the support, William.
I am not biased against Forrester.
I am not biased against anyone.
However, I reserve the right to put everyone through the wringer. Such is my fate, as DM, to do evil things to my hapless players ...
- - -
creamsteak
Hey Forrester,
(article partly deleted)
I won't beg you to come back into an IR that continues to present new and impossible opponents constantly for the sake of "entertainment." I just want you back here because the excuses for why Forrester is gone are fake. They don't seem real, they don't have a feel to them. They are fake. They are not the IR. They are not the story.
You understand what I mean? Filling in a Plot hole is an anti-motivation factor.
Get back, send in a template, and post once per thread. Thats not difficult. Ignore the nuisance if you want. Hell, post as if you are ignoring everything that is happening if you don't agree with it. Just say what ever the hell you think you should say.
Example:
Edena: "Toril is being burned by the Union of Oerth and there new ally: The entire multi-verse!"
Forrester: "Sitting down at a table eating brunch with Anabster and using the recently enslaved Elf, Sanctus Punitor's, bones as a spoon."
Am I coherent? Hell I don't know.
ANSWER:
Heh. So, you think I am throwing new and impossible opponents at you, just for entertainment purposes?
And you think my story for how Forrester departed is empty and hollow, eh?
Hmmm ... I can rule that Forrester is still around. I can rule that he is arrested, chained up, dragged before the Supreme Court of the UC, brought up on charges of atrocities and war-crimes.
But I won't.
I won't rule any such thing.
If you people want to go after Forrester, hunt him down, and capture him, as if he were a criminal, you do that on your time. Not mine.
As for my new and impossible opponents ...
You don't think I'm going to leave you in peace, do you?
You don't think I'm going to leave you alone, do you?
I must be the annoying, aggravating, unreasonable, and impossible DM. Such is my fate.
For what it's worth, I have let you (and all the others except William) off easy, so far.
I do not think Melkor will do so, if he wins this IR.
If Melkor wins this IR, and he just might - I am totally neutral on the matter - then he will teach you a new definition of the words unreasonable and impossible.
- - -
Mr. Draco
That would be nice. Well, would the entire multi-verse like to ally with the Union of Oerth? Somehow i don't think so...
ANSWER: You never know, Mr. Draco.
- - -
William Ronald
Mr. Draco:
Has the Union rid itself of all Red Steel? If people work together to heal Oerth, we can keep this IR from going to Ravenloft. The fate of the IR depends on its players.
ANSWER: The Union of Oerth has rid itself of it's Red Goo and Red Steel, yes.
But it has not rid itself of the dragons and trolls produced with the help of the Red Goo.
- - -
Mr. Draco
William: the union rid itself of all red steel, and any part of our armies that was created/maintained with red steel
ANSWER: Ah. Ok. You have done so. The Red Goo Rating of the Union of Oerth falls to 0.
- - -
Kalanyr
OOC- Well since we don't even get to open our own conference and have the entire point of holding it in an interlude removed I may as well make the best of it. (Weapons are confiscated at the door. The entire conference room is under an antimagic shell. May not mess with Demigods or greater but at least it will stop some mass death.)
(If we can hold this place on Common Ground we will do so, they have the funny feeling only Gods can actually get there. Hmm some of the PCs have a measure of divinity (Chosen,Avatars and Gods).)
Kalanyr stands, a golden glow shining from him and a sense of hope radiating from him in all directions. He stands and bows to all in attendace.
"Welcome, representatives and media personal of Athas, Dreipner, Mystara, Krynn, Oerth, Toril, The Astral Plane and other places throughout the Multiverse. to this Conference. It gives me great honour to formally open this conference to all.
Feel free to ask questions and settle important issues that is the reason why the Coalition of Light and Shadow and the People of Ishtarland have decided to hold this meeting.
Key topics that I suggest people pay attention to is the Blight known as Red Goo and the baneful attentions of the Mists of Ravenloft.
It is my belief that as Red Goo is an unnatural corruption of the worlds brought on by the hatred and death that was wrought it should be cleansed as soon as possible and I will be doing everything in my power to see to it.
We have all heard of Ravenloft and the baneful beings who rule it the Dark Powers, however it is my theory the Dark Powers are similar to the Red Goo and the fiends they are merely the hatred, darkness and evil inside all beings, while such things persist they cannot be defeated but if steps were taken against such hatred they would be weakened.
That is the reason for this meeting to resolve our conflicts without pulling us all into Ravenloft or strengthening the scourge that is the red goo."
Kalabyr resumes his seat and waits for others to speak.
(great part of article deleted)
OOC - (When this conference is going to close could you give me 24 hours notice if possible Edena, I have something In Character to do just before it closes.)
ANSWER:
Will do, Kalanyr. And no, it cannot take place in Common Ground. It can take place on Oerth, and that is where is taking place.
- - -
Venus
Yay!
With a swift stroke, Angelika removes the dust from her robe. "You see, my friends, what we have done here can be done on a much larger scale. Remember what happened to our homes? Remember how they looked only a little while ago? Oerth hasn't abandoned us. Oerth has helped us, even though it is in pain. Oerth noticed us. Oerth gave us strenght. Oerth gave it's blood, which made us survive."
ANSWER: That is true, literally.
With small steps she walks up to an altar, covered with bushes, overgrown by green.
Flowers bloomish, animals cuddle their young. Humanoids of every kind follow Angelika as she steps up to the altar, and they wait when she turns around to speak to them again.
"Our ally, Hazen, is in trouble. He is in pain, in pain with himself. There is nothing we can do to help him at this point, nothing. He must do what is good, what is right. And he must do this alone. The only thing we can do, is pray. Pray that he does the thing his hart tells him to. Pray that he doesn't think what he should do, yet sense it. I trust him. Now, let us pray."
ANSWER: And he triumphed. Hazen, triumphed.
Angelika starts the prayer, her people following her as she speaks. Angelika knows Hazen is in deeper than she has said, and he might not be able to get back. She shivers as she thinks of what could happen to the powers of good if even Hazen can not resist the force of evil. She shakes her head, reopening her eyes.
"Now my people, go back to your jobs. We shall soon make our move. It is now my task to speak to the world, and I shall do this soon. But this isn't my first priority. Go now, I will soon inform you on what we will do.
As her people move back from the altar, Angelika walks towards her chambers.
"So, you are sure you're taking this step?"
"Yes, I have to. I hope you and your army can help me. My own people will not be able to resist it. I already sense the fear in them, they doubt my words. I need proof. I need to show that my words aren't just words. I will go soon. I cannot order you to follow me, as I will not force anyone into a possible death."
"We shall follow you Angelika. We have chosen to follow you before, we shall do it again.
I sense your worries for your people, for Oerth. It is true. The Angels shall follow. We will equip ourselves soon. Have you spoken to your people about this?"
"Not yet. They don't know what my plans are, yet they might have a clue. I mustn't delay to much. They must be moved from this place, as it doesn't seem safe anymore. They will be safe in our hiding worlds. I do believe in Oerth, yet I do not trust everyone on it.
Oerth must be cleansed and that is what we shall do. I will only need you and my mages, who indeed know what's going on."
"Alright Angelika, you have made your choice. I will inform the rest of my kind. We will be ready to move out when you are."
"Good. Now, I must speak to the press. They are waiting in the darkness. I shall enlighten them. May the light shine on you!"
ANSWER: The DM is rather curious as to what Venus is going to spring on everyone also ...
(The DM chuckles, sadly.)
A lot of very kindly, nice posts about me up there, folks.
Hmmm ... such friendliness is a real inspiration for me to carry on, deal with the pressure, issue fair rulings, try to enable people to have fun.
A real inspiration.
(The DM regards everyone)
In 72 hours from now, Turn 7 starts.
If you have questions about the Attack/Defense rules, ask them on the boards, and read the answers.
Learn the Attack/Defense rules if you wish to survive.
I am breaking my own rules for the sake of Dagger and Zelda, who alone among all of you do not have 11th level magic.
They do now.
Mind you, there is NO escape from a Coup de Grace.
It does not matter where your Power has gone, what it has done, or how it could have somehow survived.
If you are the subject of a 100 percent kill in a Coup de Grace, you have only one remaining option:
Get down on your knees IC, and beg for mercy from the victorious enemy, for your Player Character.
Or spit, IC, in that enemy's face, and defy him or her to the bitter end.
