"Who you callin' dentally challenged, herbivore," the metal-toothed half orc sneers, but his answering blow is easily blocked by Woe's shield.
(miss. Woe is no longer marked or slowed.)
“Technically we’re both omnivores, Tusks-for-Brains. Frankly, I’m surprised you even know which end to eat with.”
Tander watches, dumbfounded, as Palindrome is reduced to a heap of lifeless flesh by the motes.
"Palindrome?" he says, childlike.
The chill of the motes strikes Tander severely, and he almost collapses as well. But on some level he barely notices, his mind consumed with his fallen comrade. Tander's failure.
"Palindrome?"
“Tander? You guys alright? I don’t hear no senseless ranting or see any joyful globes of fire…”
Realization sinks in and Woe’s damaged hand spasms wildly with excruciating pain. He loses his grip and the shield goes dangling momentarily, only held in place by the strap.
Flashes of Dylanthas, murderous elves, and butchered friends fill his mind. Corex, Byruck, and Jaera are all looking disappointed at him. He did it again. He left a buddy behind and now that buddy is dead. He…
[sblock=In Woe’s Mind]
“Oh no you don’t!”
There’s a poof and Woe takes a solid slap to the face. A solid yet metaphysical slap. From a tiny, lewd, and devilish black-haired femme fatale with bat wings, barely clothed in dark red tight-fitting leather.
“Don’t you dare go soft on me! Dod’s toadie is dead! You know, the one who hated your guts, tried to steal your payment, and killed your latest employer before you were paid! Karma merely headbutted his nasal bone through his skull with furious justice, and now it’s time to capitalize!”
“Who’re you? And what’s with the succubus-look? Wait, are you my Evil Conscience?”
“… I prefer Naughty Conscience myself.”
There’s another poof and a tiny, angelic, but no less randy blonde has appeared on Woe’s other side, pursing her lips and posing in her skimpy white dress, framed by feathered wings.
“Hey, that mage may have been an evil, horrible, murderous bastard but he was still a Pal to Woe. A pal like Corex and Balkahir. I’ve been talking to Woe’s Subconscious Mind a lot lately and we’re not sure he can handle losing many more of those.”
“Then you must be the Nice Conscience. Veeery nice, in fact.”
“Are you kidding? That wizard tried to have our man killed and basically sabotages any initiative that doesn’t start and end with him. Pry your payment from his cold dead fingers, Woe!”
“Haven’t you been paying attention, Naughty? Big W is getting more and more erratic, he needs to deal with what happened at Dylanthas and that’s pretty much the opposite of celebrating the death of his allies!”
“Woe, stop drooling and watch out!”[/sblock]
Woe blinks and just narrowly avoids an overhead axe chop from Goldtusk, fumbling to retain the grip on his shield.
[sblock=Back in Woe’s Mind]
“Pull yourself together, Nice, or you’re going to get our man killed. You do know what the mage would have done if the tables were turned? I should teach you a lesson!”
Naughty lashes out at Nice with a black riding whip. Somehow Nice blocks the blow with her breasts, tearing up her clothes to the point where they barely cover anything.
“You senseless tramp! Woe needs to deal with loss and mourning, or he may lose it completely!”
Nice retaliates with a slap at Naughty. Naughty turns and ducks, which by some strange twist results in her butt being hit instead and prompting a moan of pleasure.
The two consciences begin to fight and wrestle, but somehow they end up kissing and groping instead…
“Wait, wait, wait! Hold it! Did my mind seriously just turn a potential personal tragedy into a sex fantasy?!”
Naughty and Nice break off from the lustful festivities, look at each other and shrug.
“Well, I guess your Subconscious Mind figured that this was the easiest way to distract you from dealing with it on an emotional level.”
“Woe, regardless of what you decide, you need to get your act together, get the corpse, and get out of here.”
Naughty starts feeling Nice up.
“But teach that orc goon a lesson first!”[/sblock]
Woe shakes his head and dismisses the fantasy for now.
“Hey Tusk-Tool, I got a message from the Tooth Fairy. She wants her gold back and I’m here to collect!”
With his shield hand relaxing again, Woe gets back in proper form and lunges out. The incident has left him too shaken, however, and the thrust goes wide. He backs up a bit to inch closer to Palindrome’s corpse.
[sblock=Actions]Woe attacks with Comeback Strike and shifts to Z6.
Natural 2 (*sigh*). Since Comeback Strike is reliable, its unspent.
Woe Chinua - Human Fighter 2
Passive Perception 12, Passive Insight 12
AC 20, Fort 19, Reflex 17, Will 14
HP 26/40, Bloodied 20, Surge Value 10, Surges 8/11
Speed 5, Initiative +3
Action Points: 0,
Second Wind
Powers:
Cleave,
Crushing Surge,
Tide of Iron;
Pass Forward;
Spear of Myrdroon's Shard;
Steel Serpent Strike;
Comeback Strike,
Inspiring Word;
Spear of Myrdroon's Shard
[/sblock]
[sblock=What actually matters]
No, you guys stay in character, and don't get sentimental on me! We've been doing a hell of a job RP'ing this adventure, and I'd be dissappointed if y'all broke character to bring him back to life.
Screw in-character justifications - if you want to keep playing Palindrome, we’ll find a way and excuse to raise him. I respect ending his story like this though.
Causing trouble with him has been fun, if at times frustrating – looking forward to what character you’ll cook up next.
Nerdytenor and Atriden, your PCs are almost in range for an Inspiring Word, if need be.[/sblock]
