Of Sound Mind III

[Jarval]

Reassured by Seraphina, and by Gholog's own words, the 'voice' settles back down to a more relaxed tone.

If you take me home, my mummy would let you use our bath. You're smelly. The crystal sounds delighted with this idea, and laughs quietly.


(I've waited, but it doesn't seem like Other Guy's going to post. Looks like we're down to just two players... :/ What do you guys want to do? We're not far from the end of this adventure, so recruiting new players might be a bit tricky. If you're OK with me running the rest of the group as NPCs, we can finish off Of Sound Mind, or if you'd like to do something different, I could start up a new game. I'm happy to do either, so it's up to whatever you'd prefer.)

 

[GnomeWorks]

I think that we're fine as Seraphina and Gholog, so long as we do things intelligently. Of course, if it gets more difficult from here on out, we might need one or two of the others NPC'd.

I think that we should try to finish it, at least. We're too far into this to leave it now.

Seraphina looks to Gholog. "Well, shall we? If we wait around here any longer, something bad might happen - and I'm out of useful spells."

 

[Zhure]

Gholog

"Ready? It was my idea to beat a retreat right away." Gholog will gladly lead the way out, with one child in tow.

I recommend we keep the others around as NPCs until we get out, then try to recruit one or two fill-in players to play new characters for another assault into this deathtrap.

 

[Jarval]

You make your way back out of the dragon, Gholog now laden down with the blue crystal, to rejoin your companions on the outside. Aided by Jason's last remaining spider climb spell, you make quick progress down the mountainside, and start for town.

The two conscious children are subdued as you walk through the forest, Aiden having used a minor healing spell to dissolve the crystalline shard in the feral boy's forehead. As you break the edge of the woods, you can see Bellhold below you, a pleasant sight under the spring sunshine.

As you pass through the fields around the town, the farm workers stop to watch you pass, a few cheering your return. Several down tools and follow you from a respectful distance, the sight of returning heroes a rare one even in the most metropolitan of cities.

On reaching the town's outskirts, as if to herald your arrival, the Wyrmcall starts to ring the noon chime, and the crystal in Gholog's arms glows brightly.

Ahhhhh! It screams in pain at the sound of the bell. That must STOP! The voice echoes, now lacking any childish quality. An intense flare of sapphire light floods out from the crystal, spreading away from you at high speed. The bell's call fades as the light reaches the town sqare.

"Good, at last I have presence again!" The voice says gleefully. It no longer 'speaks' to your minds, but rather from many voices behind you. Turning, you see your honour guard of farm workers speaking simultaneously, each one talking with the crystal's voice. The effect is disturbing, to say the least. Looking closer, Seraphina notices another detail: each of the labourer's eyes has gone blank, and is now starting to glow with a faint blue radiance...

 

[Zhure]

Gholog

"Uh. Dang it."

Gholog drops the child he's carrying, grabs Seraphina and breaks into a dead run. He's going to try to cut cross-country at first, hoping to lose most of the villagers as quickly as possible, then make for the central belltower at top speed.

 

[Other Guy]

I had been waiting for things to pick up again and didn’t think you guys were waiting for me to post, but obviously I was mistaken, I’m very sorry. I’ll make more of an effort to write responses, if only to avoid that from happening again. I don’t want to go ghost, especially not so close to the end of our adventure,

“Hey, stop fleeing without me!” Jason calls out to Gholog, chasing after they two as the dash towards the belltower.

 

[GnomeWorks]

"Their eyes are glowing!" Seraphina cries as Gholog picks her up. "Maybe we should get to the belltower, it doesn't seem to like the bell ringing!"

She considers the crystal for a moment.

"Wait! Maybe we should break the crystal!"

 

[Jarval]

Dumping the unconscious girl on the ground, Gholog grabs Seraphina and takes off across the fields, quickly followed by Jason. The farm workers start to chase after you but their movements are lurching and awkward, as if they were not in full control of their bodies. You easily put some distance between yourselves and your pursuers, before turning and starting into the town.

"They are making for the belltower! Stop them at all costs!" Voices ring from the buildings and streets around you. The crystal glows again, and Gholog feels a pressing weight on his mind.

Put me down and leave Bellhold. The crystal's voice suggests. There's nothing for you here now. Gholog's grip on the crystal start to loosen, then he feels the crystal's will slide harmlessly over his own mental defences.

"Damn it!" An angry cry comes from all around. Rounding the corner into the next street, you're confronted by four townspeople lumbering towards you. A glance behind reveals another six slowly making their way down the street after you, blocking the way you just came.


(Gholog only barely made his save against the crystal's suggestion, but managed to fight off the influence.

Initiatives:
Jason 20
Gholog 14
Seraphina 6
Townspeople 2.)

I had been waiting for things to pick up again and didn’t think you guys were waiting for me to post, but obviously I was mistaken, I’m very sorry. I’ll make more of an effort to write responses, if only to avoid that from happening again. I don’t want to go ghost, especially not so close to the end of our adventure,

OoC: Hey, no problem. Glad you're still with us

 

[GnomeWorks]

"Gah! Put me down!" Seraphina cries, grabbing for her light crossbow.

Once set down (assuming she is), she pulls out her light crossbow, and loads it.

Draw crossbow, load crossbow.

 

[Zhure]

Gholog

Sensing Seraphina wants free, Gholog will drop her without breaking stride.

"I think the answer is the bell. Ring it at all costs." Gholog continues running.