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[ZEITGEIST] The Continuing Adventures of Korrigan & Co.
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<blockquote data-quote="gideonpepys" data-source="post: 7897938" data-attributes="member: 79141"><p><strong>Session 254, Part One </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Somewhere in the Yerasol Archipelago</strong></p><p></p><p>Uru was the only unit member to find himself transferred into a heavy-duty, solid Pemberton Industries duplicant. The duplicants designed by Wondermaker employed the kind of new-fangled, half-living, ‘bio-tech’ approach made possible by the new world bond with Mojang. Unoccupied, they looked like twisted wire mesh in a vaguely humanoid form. They responded more subtly to occupation, but provided less protection than the metal exoskeleton of the Pemberton model. </p><p></p><p>So Uru was slightly less stealthy in duplicant form, but as his abilities relied as much, if not more, on a magical manipulation of shadow itself, the difference wasn’t major.</p><p></p><p>Little Jack had not transferred with him. Objects and items did transfer, but Little Jack had been badly damaged by Pemberton, and Uru hadn’t had time to fix him. However, his ghostly occupants had transferred – Winkin, Blinkin & Nod, and the many other spirits whom he had rescued during their travels throughout Lanjyr.</p><p></p><p>Just as he had during his test run, Uru heard gnollish voices. He took to the ceiling of the cave he occupied and made his way towards them (answering Leon’s unintended question about the rats in Cherage as he went). There was a group of gnolls in a rough stone passageway, clustered tightly in the dim glow of rudimentary spark-gap lighting similar to that Pemberton had employed in his volcano lair on Isla dolas Focas. They were very still, and chanting the same phrases over and over. Uru might not have been able to understand them, were it not for the help of a Beran spirit who knew their guttural language: “It is best for the master. It is good for the master. This is a sign of our loyalty. It is best for the master. It is good for the master…” They were clearly locked in a hivemind. </p><p></p><p>Uru let them be and crept on through a network of tunnels and side-rooms full of supplies, passing more clusters of gnolls, all chanting in the same way, until the tunnels eventually opened out into an enormous, echoing chamber, which Uru took to be a hangar of some kind. It echoed to the sound of an argument:</p><p></p><p>Gradiax the Steel Lord, in his great, draconic form, lay belly-up in the centre of the hangar, limbs, neck and tail chained. The great beast was more-or-less unconscious, but twitched and moaned spasmodically. Around him were four senior ghost councillors, all of whom Uru recognised: Shuman Larkins and Glaz du Sang Magi focused their efforts on a huge, sharp shaft of steel that now hovered, suspended telekinetically, some distance above the restrained dragon’s breast: a failsafe, no doubt, lest he escape. The other two councillors were bickering loudly: they were Charles Ormond, who bounced around excitedly, yelling at Uru’s old host, Gran Guiscard, who he had last seen running screaming into the night on Mutravir. How he had met his end was not clear, but he was now objecting in the strongest terms to Ormond’s insistence that he join the host of ghost councillors that had already occupied Pemberton’s brain. Also standing by, looking disconsolately at his restrained master, was Pardo – the real Pardo this time, not a duplicant.</p><p></p><p>“When I agreed to continue my service to Nicodemus despite my <em>condition</em>,” Guiscard opined. “I was assured that I would not be required to undertake any services that compromised my dignity. I have no intention of squeezing into a confined space with dozens of other councillors!”</p><p></p><p>“You would not be <em>squeezing</em>, you fool!” cried Ormond. “You are a ghost! An infinite number of us could enter his mind and there would still be room for more! He has not yet succumbed to our satisfaction; he still resists; Nicodemus would have him turned. Will you be the one to say you failed him?”</p><p></p><p>“Why should I go next? I don’t see any reason why you can’t get in there.”</p><p></p><p>“My skills are needed out here! What use are you? I have no idea why Nicodemus even offered you a place on the council, you jumped up troubadour! Do as I say or face the consequences!”</p><p></p><p>While this argument raged on, Uru assessed the situation, wondering how best to deal with it. He checked out the chains binding the dragon. They looked solid. He looked for machines in the hangar that could be put to good use, but all he found was welding equipment and the control panel for an enormous hatch overhead.</p><p></p><p>He turned his attention back to the ghosts. Would he have enough authority over these spirits to free Pemberton? He had been able to free Cyneburg, but not Harkover. He decided to start small: stole close to Pardo and said, “Pardon me, Pardo!” before he banished the councillors possessing the gnoll. It worked! They could not help but do his bidding.</p><p></p><p>Simultaneously, he released the <em>ghostly entourage</em>, to shove the steel spike aside, out of harm’s way. Larkins and Magi gave a cry of anger and alarm, and they and Ormond prepared to attack. But Uru was faster. His crossbow could only load three shuriken at a time – one for each of them. He hoped to injure them all and then hide, but things went better than expected: Three shots; three wails; three vanished ghost. Guiscard recognised Uru as his erstwhile tormentor, gave a high-pitched scream and ran away all over again (failing to grasp the possibilities now open to him).</p><p></p><p>Uru turned to Pardo and said in gnollish, “I have come to free the Steel Lord. Help me with these chains.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="gideonpepys, post: 7897938, member: 79141"] [B]Session 254, Part One Somewhere in the Yerasol Archipelago[/B] Uru was the only unit member to find himself transferred into a heavy-duty, solid Pemberton Industries duplicant. The duplicants designed by Wondermaker employed the kind of new-fangled, half-living, ‘bio-tech’ approach made possible by the new world bond with Mojang. Unoccupied, they looked like twisted wire mesh in a vaguely humanoid form. They responded more subtly to occupation, but provided less protection than the metal exoskeleton of the Pemberton model. So Uru was slightly less stealthy in duplicant form, but as his abilities relied as much, if not more, on a magical manipulation of shadow itself, the difference wasn’t major. Little Jack had not transferred with him. Objects and items did transfer, but Little Jack had been badly damaged by Pemberton, and Uru hadn’t had time to fix him. However, his ghostly occupants had transferred – Winkin, Blinkin & Nod, and the many other spirits whom he had rescued during their travels throughout Lanjyr. Just as he had during his test run, Uru heard gnollish voices. He took to the ceiling of the cave he occupied and made his way towards them (answering Leon’s unintended question about the rats in Cherage as he went). There was a group of gnolls in a rough stone passageway, clustered tightly in the dim glow of rudimentary spark-gap lighting similar to that Pemberton had employed in his volcano lair on Isla dolas Focas. They were very still, and chanting the same phrases over and over. Uru might not have been able to understand them, were it not for the help of a Beran spirit who knew their guttural language: “It is best for the master. It is good for the master. This is a sign of our loyalty. It is best for the master. It is good for the master…” They were clearly locked in a hivemind. Uru let them be and crept on through a network of tunnels and side-rooms full of supplies, passing more clusters of gnolls, all chanting in the same way, until the tunnels eventually opened out into an enormous, echoing chamber, which Uru took to be a hangar of some kind. It echoed to the sound of an argument: Gradiax the Steel Lord, in his great, draconic form, lay belly-up in the centre of the hangar, limbs, neck and tail chained. The great beast was more-or-less unconscious, but twitched and moaned spasmodically. Around him were four senior ghost councillors, all of whom Uru recognised: Shuman Larkins and Glaz du Sang Magi focused their efforts on a huge, sharp shaft of steel that now hovered, suspended telekinetically, some distance above the restrained dragon’s breast: a failsafe, no doubt, lest he escape. The other two councillors were bickering loudly: they were Charles Ormond, who bounced around excitedly, yelling at Uru’s old host, Gran Guiscard, who he had last seen running screaming into the night on Mutravir. How he had met his end was not clear, but he was now objecting in the strongest terms to Ormond’s insistence that he join the host of ghost councillors that had already occupied Pemberton’s brain. Also standing by, looking disconsolately at his restrained master, was Pardo – the real Pardo this time, not a duplicant. “When I agreed to continue my service to Nicodemus despite my [I]condition[/I],” Guiscard opined. “I was assured that I would not be required to undertake any services that compromised my dignity. I have no intention of squeezing into a confined space with dozens of other councillors!” “You would not be [I]squeezing[/I], you fool!” cried Ormond. “You are a ghost! An infinite number of us could enter his mind and there would still be room for more! He has not yet succumbed to our satisfaction; he still resists; Nicodemus would have him turned. Will you be the one to say you failed him?” “Why should I go next? I don’t see any reason why you can’t get in there.” “My skills are needed out here! What use are you? I have no idea why Nicodemus even offered you a place on the council, you jumped up troubadour! Do as I say or face the consequences!” While this argument raged on, Uru assessed the situation, wondering how best to deal with it. He checked out the chains binding the dragon. They looked solid. He looked for machines in the hangar that could be put to good use, but all he found was welding equipment and the control panel for an enormous hatch overhead. He turned his attention back to the ghosts. Would he have enough authority over these spirits to free Pemberton? He had been able to free Cyneburg, but not Harkover. He decided to start small: stole close to Pardo and said, “Pardon me, Pardo!” before he banished the councillors possessing the gnoll. It worked! They could not help but do his bidding. Simultaneously, he released the [I]ghostly entourage[/I], to shove the steel spike aside, out of harm’s way. Larkins and Magi gave a cry of anger and alarm, and they and Ormond prepared to attack. But Uru was faster. His crossbow could only load three shuriken at a time – one for each of them. He hoped to injure them all and then hide, but things went better than expected: Three shots; three wails; three vanished ghost. Guiscard recognised Uru as his erstwhile tormentor, gave a high-pitched scream and ran away all over again (failing to grasp the possibilities now open to him). Uru turned to Pardo and said in gnollish, “I have come to free the Steel Lord. Help me with these chains.” [/QUOTE]
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