Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Chapter 4- The Second Invasion)

[Blarkon Dragonslayer]

Nikolos looks faintly disgusted, probably with himself, and turns back towards the ghost. "I don't know whether or not you can understand me, Locusi. I think we can free you and yours. If we do so, and your curse is lifted, then I hope that you will pass on to whatever afterlife awaits you. If you remain as you are, but are free to leave this place, then you will find orcish lands not so far away. I want your solemn agreement to limit your activities to those orcish lands, till you or the orcs are no more. Either way you will be freed of your long imprisonment, which Master Barok is correct in stating has lasted far longer then the winged elves intended."

 

[Deuce Traveler]

The ghost doesn't seem to understand Nikolos, but simply looks at the priest in silence and disdain.

 

[Blarkon Dragonslayer]

Nikolos looks at the ghost for a moment, then shrugs and turns away, moving to the next globe, and wrapping his hands around it.

 

[Nephtys]

OOC: Barok might be of an ambiguous alignment and sometimes detrimental to the rest of his party, but he is entertaining.

ooc: Detrimental? Who? Me?
Thanks, I try my best. To be entertaining, not detrimental (Unless it would be entertaining to be detrimental. )

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Nikolos moves past Barok and gives the orb a go, touching it and freezing in place as his consciousness seems to leave his body...

Nikolos
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You find yourself inside a corridor whose walls are made of wooden panels, and also aflame. Although you seem to have teleported here, all your equipment is still in your possession. A number of humans run past you in desperation, their flight taking them at the end of the passage where a flickering yellow cylinder of light glows on the ground with a pulsing magical aura. As each human enters the cylinder they disappear, as if transported away, but the yellow light grows weaker with each fleeing person. As you turn you can see what they fear... a small group of gnolls charges down the flaming corridor with raised clubs. You quickly move to follow the crowd and flee the creatures, but find yourself trailing the group and by the time you get to the glowing circle the magical teleporter seems barely functioning, its light flickering weakly. You doubt it has more than one more charge of magic left, and as you look you see that there are only two humans left. Yourself, and a small and scared five year old boy... the gnolls are now only 50 feet away.
[/sblock]

OOC: No, you've been great, but you have to admit that your character's moral standards are not... ummm, in pace?... with the rest of the group. I find it entertaining, but if Barok ever got a royal position under a King Dartis it would only be a matter of time until he was removed for embezzlement or some such. Good fun.

 

[Blarkon Dragonslayer]

DM
[sblock]
"Well, a new adventure every day. Interesting to note that gnolls were rotten and ill-mannered sorts even in the days of winged elves and the Locusi. If I survive this, perhaps I'll write a monograph on what I've seen." Nikolos shakes his head, and then pushes the boy into the golden ring. Then he turns towards the gnolls, hefting his heavy mace in two hands, and awaiting the onslaught.
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[Deuce Traveler]

Nikolos and the sphere seem to react slightly to one another while he is in his trance-like state.

Nikolos
[sblock]
The child leaves successfully with a smile, and the teleporter fails as he passes through. You are on your own, and raise your weapon to strike at the first gnoll. As the creature comes close you swing your mace and... the scene flickers and you hear a scolding voice say, "No, you have chosen wrongly man of the Locusi." With a jerk that makes your heart skip you find yourself once more among your companions.
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Nikolos returns back to his normal consciousness, but the orb underneath his hands is still a mass of churning white and black mists.

 

[Nephtys]

Barok grins at Nikolos, "Bloody elves, eh? So, what did you do wrong?"

 

[Blarkon Dragonslayer]

Nikolos returns the grin. In some ways, he feels closer to Barok's mindset then some of the others might realize. "I was insufficiently pacifistic, I believe. Still, I expect that a solution is at hand, now that I have leisure to consider one."

He reaches out again to the orb, closing his hands around it.

DM
[sblock]
If the orb allows him back in, and it is the same test, this time he will scoop up the frightened child, and take both of them through the teleportal at the same time.
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[Deuce Traveler]

Nikolos
[sblock]
As you enter the teleportation circle with the child, the magic begins to quickly fade from the stress of two people entering at the same moment. Instinctively you place the child down and back away, or else the power would have faded and stranded both of you. You have once again saved the lad, but now you are in a familiar dilemma as the gnolls are charging at you from behind...
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