Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9: Theah / Swashbuckling Chapter 3 Subject: AAE9T: Mobius' Trips On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 19:38:19 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012632 >On Fri, 29 Jul 2005 18:47:18 -0700 >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012624 > >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012621 >> >> Karma blinked, then snapped her fingers and hopped off the top of the >>carriage, which looked clean enough of the soporific to be safe for the >>crew to handle. >> "Spinner! I gather you don't like seeing other things hurt. Would you >>take this carriage and hurl it perilously _close_ to the men manning the >>cannons in the fort on the farther side of the bay?" She gestures as she >>speaks, pointing at the fort she had in mind. > >*"Certainly."* Spinner says as the carriage 'lifts', seemingly >effortlessly, from the deck. There is a tremendous sonic boom over the >bay as Spinner and the carriage quickly accelerate to hypersonic speeds. >Half way across the bay Spinner 'releases' the carriage, which continues >its journey as an instant ball of fire. "Sacre bleu!" Men (and a few women; Theah's 17th century is a little more egalitarian than Earth's was) flee with alacrity as the carriage literally explodes towards them. While Spinner's consideration ensures that no one will die from the attack, _they_ don't know that, and for all that no one gets hit, the effect is much like tenpins knocked every whichway. Gunpowder explodes just after the Discie throws the guns into the drink. In short, the place looks like Captain Morgan Adams or the X-Men have been through (aka "you can tell where they've been by following the mess"). >> "Captain, if that works, we'll want to get as close to the other fort >>as we dare before we're in range of their guns, then hop that chain as >>fast as we can. They'll line up their shots for our approach, thinking >>they can bounce their rounds along the deck and take out our rigging >>with chainshot, but won't expect us to go up and over their sights. By >>the time they've repositioned, we can be in the clear." Two seconds after Karma makes her pitch, a strange whine hums in midair nearby, soon bursting out with a "whump" of expanding air. A devastatingly handsome Egyptian man (the locals will 'mistake' him for a scholar of the Crescent Empire) bearing strange clockwork devices appears out of the mini-explosion. He wears fine Arabian garb with some motifs drawn from some fantastic variant of Ancient Egypt...albeit one that would be foreign even to the Nile Empire. "Ah! I was wondering how long it would take to adjust my Science to these strange axioms...mmm." He smiles broadly at Karma, who instantly recognizes him as the former Pharaoh of the Nile Empire, Mobius aka Madib Al-Hebpsa aka Sutenhotep. "My dear lady Karma, I wish our reacquaintance were under more pleasant circumstances, but being of heroic 'inclination' now, I thought I would try my hand at the last-minute rescue," he continues, his gaze shifting to the approaching ships before he adds, "though I would rather that the 'last minute' portion have been a bit less literal. My handlers were reluctant to permit me to..." Dr. Mobius shakes off the dour expression that had threatened to overtake his face, grinning again as he starts reconfiguring the gears, plates, and aether coils secreted away on his person. "Let's see...magnetic resonance...implosion...wait." He stops, cocking his head to one side, clearly listening. "Is that...for all the world, it sounds like someone trying to strangle a Skyjammer Engine to death." -- Doctor Mobius, formerly Pharaoh Mobius I "She blinded me with SCIENCE!" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9T: Mobius' Trips On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 18:12:45 +0100 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012634 Doing a bit of shuffling to get this in a workable order... To begin with... >On Fri, 5 Aug 2005 08:07:38 +0100 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012626 > >>On Fri, 29 Jul 2005 18:47:18 -0700 >>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012624 >> >>>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012621 >>> >>>>On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 17:25:49 -0700 >>>>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012609 >>>> >>>>*"If you need this object to 'fly' I can accomodate you."* Spinner >>>>offers. >>> >>> Karma blinked, then snapped her fingers and hopped off the top of >>>the carriage, which looked clean enough of the soporific to be safe for >>>the crew to handle. >>> "Spinner! I gather you don't like seeing other things hurt. Would >>>you take this carriage and hurl it perilously _close_ to the men >>>manning the cannons in the fort on the farther side of the bay?" She >>>gestures as she speaks, pointing at the fort she had in mind. >>> "Just watch out for the sails and rigging," she adds, pointing those >>>out, "And if you can, make it bounce or skid when it hits," making a >>>bouncing and a skidding gesture. "If it can scatter the men away from >>>the cannons, that's good enough. If it can knock the cannons over or >>>something, so much the better. >>> "Captain, if that works, we'll want to get as close to the other >>>fort as we dare before we're in range of their guns, then hop that >>>chain as fast as we can. They'll line up their shots for our approach, >>>thinking they can bounce their rounds along the deck and take out our >>>rigging with chainshot, but won't expect us to go up and over their >>>sights. By the time they've repositioned, we can be in the clear." > > "Just a second, Spinner, I need to unhook the horses and collect our >belongings." Karma does that, putting the team's possessions on the deck >and removing the horses from their harnesses. > "Okay, go ahead." > >>*"Certainly."* Spinner says as the carriage 'lifts', seemingly >>effortlessly, from the deck. There is a tremendous sonic boom over the >>bay as Spinner and the carriage quickly accelerate to hypersonic speeds. >>Half way across the bay Spinner 'releases' the carriage, which continues >>its journey as an instant ball of fire. The men manning the cannons only >>see a tremendous ball of fire headed directly at them, and scatter like >>roaches when the light goes on. The carriage only being wood, iron and >>brass does little damage to the curtainwall it hits, directly between >>two cannons, but the apparent explosion as the wood burns up instantly >>is enough to keep the men scattering. *"I am assuming you would like >>those 'cannons' rendered useless?"* Spinner asks as he 'lifts' the line >>of cannons off their carriages enmass, and 'drops' them into the middle >>of the bay. To which... >On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 19:38:19 -0700 >Roland X Said > As CAoL Message # 00012632 > > "Sacre bleu!" > Men (and a few women; Theah's 17th century is a little more >egalitarian than Earth's was) flee with alacrity as the carriage >literally explodes towards them. While Spinner's consideration ensures >that no one will die from the attack, _they_ don't know that, and for all >that no one gets hit, the effect is much like tenpins knocked every >whichway. Gunpowder explodes just after the Discie throws the guns into >the drink. > In short, the place looks like Captain Morgan Adams or the X-Men have >been through (aka "you can tell where they've been by following the >mess"). And then... >On Fri, 5 Aug 2005 08:07:38 +0100 >Mike Knight Said > As CAoL Message # 00012626 > > Karma stares at the pyrotechnics, then nods dumbly before coming to >herself and saying, *"Yes."* > *"Okay! Spinner, would you disable the other fort's cannons like you >did just now, and move our ship over to the other side of the chain >across the harbor? I've got a couple other things I'd like you to do once >we're out of the gun range of those forts, one of which is putting those >guns back, and the other is taking these horses ashore."* But then... >On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 19:38:19 -0700 >Roland X Said > As CAoL Message # 00012632 > > Two seconds after Karma makes her pitch, a strange whine hums in >midair nearby, soon bursting out with a "whump" of expanding air. A >devastatingly handsome Egyptian man (the locals will 'mistake' him for a >scholar of the Crescent Empire) bearing strange clockwork devices appears >out of the mini-explosion. He wears fine Arabian garb with some motifs >drawn from some fantastic variant of Ancient Egypt...albeit one that >would be foreign even to the Nile Empire. > "Ah! I was wondering how long it would take to adjust my Science to >these strange axioms...mmm." He smiles broadly at Karma, who instantly >recognizes him as the former Pharaoh of the Nile Empire, Mobius aka Madib >Al-Hebpsa aka Sutenhotep. Karma whirled around, olive coat swirling about her legs. She'd buckled it closed, being rather wet with sea water from washing off the soporific the captain of the Garde Noir had released in front of their carriage. She smiled broadly as she saw the former High Lord. >"My dear lady Karma, I wish our reacquaintance were under more pleasant >circumstances, but being of heroic 'inclination' now, I thought I would >try my hand at the last-minute rescue," he continues, his gaze shifting >to the approaching ships before he adds, "though I would rather that the >'last minute' portion have been a bit less literal. My handlers were >reluctant to permit me to..." Karma covered her mouth as she let out a light laugh. "I imagine they were." Karma then turned to follow Mobius' gaze, withdrawing a brass spyglass. *"Spinner,"* she said with a frown, *"Don't do what I just said about lifting the ship over the chain. We've got bigger problems."* > Dr. Mobius shakes off the dour expression that had threatened to >overtake his face, grinning again as he starts reconfiguring the gears, >plates, and aether coils secreted away on his person. "Let's see... >magnetic resonance...implosion...wait." He stops, cocking his head to one >side, clearly listening. "Is that...for all the world, it sounds like >someone trying to strangle a Skyjammer Engine to death." Karma chuckled despite herself, gesturing toward Captain Roger Sparrow. "I suspect that would be Captain Sparrow's Mr. Crusher, lest it be young Wesley making that noise. "Captain, may I suggest we're actually in a better position within the bay to remove these pursuit ships? If Spinner removes the cannons from the remaining fort, we can try sinking those ships here in the harbor, then hop the chain with impunity." She turned to the rest of the CAoL. "With Kanto and Eric gone, can we risk coming within boarding distance? Boarding's are costly in manpower, and we'll likely need to keep most of the _Black_Phoenix's_ crew aboard to keep their men at bay. That means, it'd be just us and maybe a few men from the _Phoenext_ boarding and attempting to either take over or sabotage those ships. And anything we can do to keep them from sailing that can be done at a distance would also be good." Karma looked at Erin and Veren with a mischievious grin as she said, "Like, a flaming arrow or ten in their sails." Turning that grin on Roger, she added, "And Captain, if you've got any cards up your sleeves, now'd be a grand time to play them." Winking at Mobius, Karma finished with a smile, "And I can't tell you how much I would love a rescue right about now. I'm rather new to this hero thing myself." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9T: Mobius' Trips On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 18:18:09 -0700 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012635 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012634 > Karma chuckled despite herself, gesturing toward Captain Roger >Sparrow. > "I suspect that would be Captain Sparrow's Mr. Crusher, lest it be >young Wesley making that noise. > "Captain, may I suggest we're actually in a better position within the >bay to remove these pursuit ships? If Spinner removes the cannons from >the remaining fort, we can try sinking those ships here in the harbor, >then hop the chain with impunity." *"OK. Be right back." Spinner says. There is another sonic boom as the discie races across the bay, just above the water raising a sixty foot rooster tail, to the designated fort. Momentarily stopping above the fort, the fort's cannons raise up to join him, and seconds later they are dropped to join the cannons from the other fort on the bottom of the bay. There is more than a little consternation from the men manning those cannons, as Spinner had forgotten to maintain his invisibility field in the excitement of the moment. > She turned to the rest of the CAoL. "With Kanto and Eric gone, can we >risk coming within boarding distance? Boarding's are costly in manpower, >and we'll likely need to keep most of the _Black_Phoenix's_ crew aboard >to keep their men at bay. That means, it'd be just us and maybe a few men >from the _Phoenext_ boarding and attempting to either take over or >sabotage those ships. And anything we can do to keep them from sailing >that can be done at a distance would also be good." > Karma looked at Erin and Veren with a mischievious grin as she said, >"Like, a flaming arrow or ten in their sails." Turning that grin on >Roger, she added, "And Captain, if you've got any cards up your sleeves, >now'd be a grand time to play them." > Winking at Mobius, Karma finished with a smile, "And I can't tell you >how much I would love a rescue right about now. I'm rather new to this >hero thing myself." *"I could do with the men on those ships what I did with those cannons, putting the men on the shore of course, if you like."* Spinner offers, having returned to float just above the main mast of the Black Phoenix. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9T: Mobius' Trips On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 22:50:08 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012636 >On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 18:12:45 +0100 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012634 > > She turned to the rest of the CAoL. "With Kanto and Eric gone, can we >risk coming within boarding distance? Boarding's are costly in manpower, >and we'll likely need to keep most of the _Black_Phoenix's_ crew aboard >to keep their men at bay." "Pfft," said Marivale. "I defeated the captain, what makes you think I fear a few lackeys?" "Umm, Milord?" Geoffery looked just a bit uncomfortable, but plowed gamely on. "The crew of several ships amounts to more than just 'a few lackeys.'" Marivale shrugged irritably, not _quite_ conceding the point. >"That means, it'd be just us and maybe a few men from the _Phoenext_ >boarding and attempting to either take over or sabotage those ships. And >anything we can do to keep them from sailing that can be done at a >distance would also be good." > Karma looked at Erin and Veren with a mischievious grin as she said, >"Like, a flaming arrow or ten in their sails." Erin looked at Veren. "Frog-crotch oah flamin'?" Veren considered the question for a few seconds, then responded "flaming. Last I knew, you were better informed about ships than I am." With that, he pulled a bow out of his quiver and stared at it for a moment until it seemingly burst into flames. He then turned to starboard and started firing arrows at their closest pursuers, each arrow bursting into flames as it left the bow despite the fact that Veren seemed to feel no discomfort. Meanwhile, Erin nodded and turned to port, taking a little longer between shots than Veren, but snapping lines with appalling regularity. Within a minute, the closest portside pursuer's mainsail lay sprawled across the deck in an ungainly heap. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9T: Mobius' Trips On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 11:17:36 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012637 >On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 18:12:45 +0100 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012634 > > "Captain, may I suggest we're actually in a better position within the >bay to remove these pursuit ships? If Spinner removes the cannons from >the remaining fort, we can try sinking those ships here in the harbor, >then hop the chain with impunity." > She turned to the rest of the CAoL. "With Kanto and Eric gone, can we >risk coming within boarding distance? Boarding's are costly in manpower, >and we'll likely need to keep most of the _Black_Phoenix's_ crew aboard >to keep their men at bay. That means, it'd be just us and maybe a few men >from the _Phoenext_ boarding and attempting to either take over or >sabotage those ships. And anything we can do to keep them from sailing >that can be done at a distance would also be good." "I like that plan," Kell notes, "but why hop the chain? Can't Spinner just slice it into sewing needles or something?" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9T: Mobius' Trips On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 20:38:11 -0400 David McMillan Said As CAoL Message # 00012638 >Michael Knight wrote: >> Two seconds after Karma makes her pitch, a strange whine hums in >>midair nearby, soon bursting out with a "whump" of expanding air. A >>devastatingly handsome Egyptian man (the locals will 'mistake' him for a >>scholar of the Crescent Empire) bearing strange clockwork devices >>appears out of the mini-explosion. He wears fine Arabian garb with some >>motifs drawn from some fantastic variant of Ancient Egypt...albeit one >>that would be foreign even to the Nile Empire. Teleporting onto a pirate ship engaged in combat is *not* the best idea going, especially in a millieu where the enemy employs teleportation-equivalent means. Quite a few guns start to come to bear on this newest arrival with startling speed -- and halt even more quickly at an upraised hand from Sparrow, who is suddenly standing close-but-not-too-close behind the Egyptian gentleman, fingering his cutlass lightly but not gripping it. >> "Ah! I was wondering how long it would take to adjust my Science to >>these strange axioms...mmm." He smiles broadly at Karma, who instantly >>recognizes him as the former Pharaoh of the Nile Empire, Mobius aka >>Madib Al-Hebpsa aka Sutenhotep. > > Karma whirled around, olive coat swirling about her legs. She'd >buckled it closed, being rather wet with sea water from washing off the >soporific the captain of the Garde Noir had released in front of their >carriage. She smiled broadly as she saw the former High Lord. Sparrow makes a sutble 'all clear' gesture and returns to his previous preoccupation -- namely, getting the _Phoenix_ out of the harbor. He's not quite desperate enough to employ the Discie's assistance, but he's getting there... >> Dr. Mobius shakes off the dour expression that had threatened to >>overtake his face, grinning again as he starts reconfiguring the gears, >>plates, and aether coils secreted away on his person. "Let's see... >>magnetic resonance...implosion...wait." He stops, cocking his head to >>one side, clearly listening. "Is that...for all the world, it sounds >>like someone trying to strangle a Skyjammer Engine to death." > > Karma chuckled despite herself, gesturing toward Captain Roger >Sparrow. > "I suspect that would be Captain Sparrow's Mr. Crusher, lest it be >young Wesley making that noise. OOC: Ah? "Young Wesley" *is* Master Crusher. A crossover between TNG and _The Princess Bride_, gah -- the mind boggles. "AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" "And *that,* Mobius adds, wincing at a sudden sonic assault on his ears, "sounded like a man pushed nearly past the point of his endurance." Sparrow stalks past them, fingers plugged into his ears and muttering something under his breath about "REVERSE the POLARITY, ye gods and St Rose..." Karma snags the erstwhile Pirate Captain's sleeve before he gets too far. > "Captain, may I suggest we're actually in a better position within the >bay to remove these pursuit ships? If Spinner removes the cannons from >the remaining fort, we can try sinking those ships here in the harbor, >then hop the chain with impunity." > She turned to the rest of the CAoL. "With Kanto and Eric gone, can we >risk coming within boarding distance? Boarding's are costly in manpower, >and we'll likely need to keep most of the _Black_Phoenix's_ crew aboard >to keep their men at bay. That means, it'd be just us and maybe a few men >from the _Phoenext_ boarding and attempting to either take over or >sabotage those ships. And anything we can do to keep them from sailing >that can be done at a distance would also be good." Sparrow pinches one end of his mustache, looking glum. "A boarding action'll be more dear for *them,* I can swear to it. But no loot, no booty, not even any--" he stops, feeling Councillor Troy's optical dagger in his back from ten meters. "But needs must, when the devil drives, as they say." He raises his voice deliberately. "And I daresay this basket of bad eggs is all but *spoilin'* for a good little fight by now -- what say you, men?" The muddled general response boils down to, approximately, an enthusastic "AARRR!!!" "Not a terribly articulate lot, true," Sparrow confides to Karma and Mobius _sotto_voce_, "but handy in a fight." > Karma looked at Erin and Veren with a mischievious grin as she said, >"Like, a flaming arrow or ten in their sails." Turning that grin on >Roger, she added, "And Captain, if you've got any cards up your sleeves, >now'd be a grand time to play them." Sparrow looks wounded. "Up my sleeve? Lady, you *wound* me -- what kind of man do you take me for?" As he presses one hand dramatically across his brow, several playing cards fall out of his poofy sleeve. "...a pirate?" Karma smirks. Sparrow ignores the cards, and her comment, with the grand indifference of a man too well-bred to be embarrassed by such trifles. "Up my sleeve, nothing," he declares, exhibiting his (now) empty sleeves to good effect. "Under my deck planks, now..." he stomps one bootheel, and grins in a *very* piratical way. "MASTER WHARF! TO THE GUN DECK -- LOAD SPECIAL CHAIN! MASTER PIKER, MASTER MARTIN, PREPARE TO REPEL BOARDERS!" > Winking at Mobius, Karma finished with a smile, "And I can't tell you >how much I would love a rescue right about now. I'm rather new to this >hero thing myself." "Not to impugn the good doctor's intentions, or his capacity," Sparrow says, languidly waving one hand in Mobius's direction. "But I've never yet needed anyone to rescue my ship, and--" he pauses to inhale a pinch of snuff-- "I've no intention of starting today." He eyes the ships straggling away from the docks. "They're coming on all pell-mell, no formation. Which means we can engage them in detail. Typical." He sniffs disdainfully. "After today, they'll strike their colours and huddle in port whene'er they hear the name of Captain Sparrow, the Dread Pirate Roger." Mobius extends a hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Captain. I don't believe I've heard of you, before -- are you new to this world as well?" Sparrow looks crestfallen. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9T: Mobius' Trips On Sat, 27 Aug 2005 16:17:48 +0100 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012639 >On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 20:38:11 -0400 >David McMillan Said As CAoL Message # 00012638 > >>Michael Knight wrote: >> >> Karma chuckled despite herself, gesturing toward Captain Roger >>Sparrow. >> "I suspect that would be Captain Sparrow's Mr. Crusher, lest it >>be young Wesley making that noise. > > OOC: Ah? "Young Wesley" *is* Master Crusher. A crossover between >TNG and _The Princess Bride_, gah -- the mind boggles. OOC: Yes, I know. Karma's saying the one strangling the engines is Sparrow's engineer, Wesley Crusher. And Wesley is trying to get them to work before Sparrow strangles him. >> Karma looked at Erin and Veren with a mischievious grin as she >>said, "Like, a flaming arrow or ten in their sails." Turning that >>grin on Roger, she added, "And Captain, if you've got any cards up >>your sleeves, now'd be a grand time to play them." > > Sparrow looks wounded. "Up my sleeve? Lady, you *wound* me -- what >kind of man do you take me for?" As he presses one hand dramatically >across his brow, several playing cards fall out of his poofy sleeve. "One who's hopefully prepared for problems like a flying ship that won't fly?" Karma said hopefully. >> Winking at Mobius, Karma finished with a smile, "And I can't tell >>you how much I would love a rescue right about now. I'm rather new >>to this hero thing myself." > > "Not to impugn the good doctor's intentions, or his capacity," >Sparrow says, languidly waving one hand in Mobius's direction. "But >I've never yet needed anyone to rescue my ship, and--" he pauses to >inhale a pinch of snuff-- "I've no intention of starting today." "Who said anything about rescuing the ship?" Karma asked. > He eyes the ships straggling away from the docks. "They're coming >on all pell-mell, no formation. Which means we can engage them in >detail. Typical." He sniffs disdainfully. "After today, they'll >strike their colours and huddle in port whene'er they hear the name >of Captain Sparrow, the Dread Pirate Roger." > Mobius extends a hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Captain. I don't >believe I've heard of you, before -- are you new to this world as >well?" > Sparrow looks crestfallen. "Rumor spreads a bit more slowly without the internet, I guess," Karma mused. =========================== Subject: AAE9t: Trips, Traps & Tropes On Fri, 02 Sep 2005 21:43:25 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012641 >On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 22:50:08 -0700 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012636 > >>On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 18:12:45 +0100 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012634 >> >>"That means, it'd be just us and maybe a few men from the _Phoenext_ >>boarding and attempting to either take over or sabotage those ships. >>And anything we can do to keep them from sailing that can be done at >>a distance would also be good." >> Karma looked at Erin and Veren with a mischievious grin as she >>said, "Like, a flaming arrow or ten in their sails." > >Erin looked at Veren. "Frog-crotch oah flamin'?" > >Veren considered the question for a few seconds, then responded >"flaming. Last I knew, you were better informed about ships than I >am." > With that, he pulled a bow out of his quiver and stared at it for >a moment until it seemingly burst into flames. He then turned to >starboard and started firing arrows at their closest pursuers, each >arrow bursting into flames as it left the bow despite the fact that >Veren seemed to feel no discomfort. Several cries of "Mon dieu!" and some examples of rather stronger French echo from the ship as sailors rush desperately to douse the fires (seemingly) bursting to life all over the ship. >Meanwhile, Erin nodded and turned to port, taking a little longer >between shots than Veren, but snapping lines with appalling >regularity. (GM Note: Translated from the French...er, Montaigne) "What _are_ zey doing?" the captain asks in a bored tone. "Ze woman seems to be firing at our rigging, Capitain," a sullen officer replies. The captain pointedly ignores the disgusted glare. "How absurd! What can she possibly hope to accomplish?" the captain laughs derisively. "Even Robin Goodfellow _himself_ could not--" >Within a minute, the closest portside pursuer's mainsail lay sprawled >across the deck in an ungainly heap. "Ermph!" the captain cries, unable to be more coherent (or move very well) with an entire mainsail on top of him. "I believe I 'ave just been promoted," the officer 'replies' with a smirk. "Mr. Dulac! Pull in that jib! Miss de Winter! Bring us about!" "But sir," de Winter replies, "We'll lose the Phoenix." "Oui. A pity the capitain's incompetence will mean that," the new captain quips, "but we will manage wi'out him, I am sure." All three grin. Then... >On Sat, 27 Aug 2005 16:17:48 +0100 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012639 > >>On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 20:38:11 -0400 >>David McMillan Said As CAoL Message # 00012638 >> >>>Michael Knight wrote: >>> >>> Karma chuckled despite herself, gesturing toward Captain Roger >>>Sparrow. >>> "I suspect that would be Captain Sparrow's Mr. Crusher, lest it >>>be young Wesley making that noise. Mobius laughs. It is a surprisingly healthy sound. "Then I suppose I'd best make sure the 'dread pirate' Roger does not kill young Wesley...what?" Mobius looks genuinely baffled by the grins and chuckles his remark elicits. >>>"And Captain, if you've got any cards up your sleeves, now'd be a >>>grand time to play them." >> >> Sparrow looks wounded. "Up my sleeve? Lady, you *wound* me >>what kind of man do you take me for?" As he presses one hand >>dramatically across his brow, several playing cards fall out of his >>poofy sleeve. > > "One who's hopefully prepared for problems like a flying ship that >won't fly?" Karma said hopefully. Mobius nods. "I'd best get below, then." >>> Winking at Mobius, Karma finished with a smile, "And I can't >>>tell you how much I would love a rescue right about now. I'm rather >>>new to this hero thing myself." Mobius smiles warmly, albeit with...subtext...but before he can reply, Captain Sparrow has his own comments to make. 8^) >> "Not to impugn the good doctor's intentions, or his capacity," >>Sparrow says, languidly waving one hand in Mobius's direction. "But >>I've never yet needed anyone to rescue my ship, and--" he pauses to >>inhale a pinch of snuff-- "I've no intention of starting today." He > > "Who said anything about rescuing the ship?" Karma asked. Mobius' smile broadens, subtext, erm, growing. "Perhaps I would do more good up here, after all." >>eyes the ships straggling away from the docks. "They're coming on >>all pell-mell, no formation. Which means we can engage them in >>detail. Typical." He sniffs disdainfully. "After today, they'll >>strike their colours and huddle in port whene'er they hear the name >>of Captain Sparrow, the Dread Pirate Roger." >> Mobius extends a hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Captain. I don't >>believe I've heard of you, before -- are you new to this world as >>well?" >> Sparrow looks crestfallen. > > "Rumor spreads a bit more slowly without the internet, I guess," >Karma mused. Mobius chuckles, then begins to comment. At that moment, from a great distance, there is an almost gentle whistle of "incoming." Something small splashes in the water nearby. Mr. Wharf doesn't so much query as grunt in response at the sight of something about the size of a silver dollar make a moderate splash in the water. "GET THAT COIN!" Mr. Piker roars as second coin 'plinks' impressively on the deck. The Montaigne are faster, however -- a bleeding hole of *nothing* screams open just as a crewman dives for the coin. He ends up halfway in, and screams even worse than the hole for a fraction of a second just before vanishing. Then Montaigne marines begin to pour out of the hole. It's a bit like the opening sequence in the first Star Wars movie; guns are already trained on the hole and the marines have to keep their eyes closed until they're clear, but enough of them get through to create a "beach head" of sorts. "I do believe," Mobius says darkly, "that _that_ is my cue. You did want a rescue, after all..." Turning a set of gears into a pseudo-Egyptian short sword with a flick of his wrist and grasping a rod made of deep red metal in his off hand, he roars and charges towards the marines. "Keep firing!" he roars, plowing into the soldiers. The first Montaigne parries the blade with his rapier, and sneers as only a Montaigne Villain can. Then Mobius glares at the man and holds up the rod, and the Villain blanches as sand begins to pour out of the tip. And swirl. And take form. And surround him... ...and work its way towards the coin. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Trips, Traps & Tropes On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 00:45:01 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012666 >On Fri, 02 Sep 2005 21:43:25 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012641 > >> With that, [Veren] pulled a bow out of his quiver and stared at it >>for a moment until it seemingly burst into flames. He then turned to >>starboard and started firing arrows at their closest pursuers, each >>arrow bursting into flames as it left the bow despite the fact that >>Veren seemed to feel no discomfort. > > Several cries of "Mon dieu!" and some examples of rather stronger >French echo from the ship as sailors rush desperately to douse the >fires (seemingly) bursting to life all over the ship. (OOC: no seemingly about it. The arrows are on fire. For that matter, the bow is flaming, it's just that the enchantment is such that the wielder--and _only_ the wielder--takes no damage from the flames.) One arrow strikes a white bag lying next to a cannon. The bag, being full of gunpowder, promptly explodes, knocking several sailors over: two of them over the rail and into the drink. Veren looks puzzled at this, but decides to experiment by shooting another white bag, which also explodes. Whereupon he grins with savage glee and starts targeting every ready charge he can see--which, given his eyesight, pretty much covers that half of the harbor. > "Ermph!" the captain cries, unable to be more coherent (or move >very well) with an entire mainsail on top of him. > "I believe I 'ave just been promoted," the officer 'replies' with >a smirk. "Mr. Dulac! Pull in that jib! Miss de Winter! Bring us >about!" > "But sir," de Winter replies, "We'll lose the Phoenix." > "Oui. A pity the capitain's incompetence will mean that," the new >captain quips, "but we will manage wi'out him, I am sure." > All three grin. That ship having been dealt with, Erindrea concentrates her efforts on the next. And the next. And the next... > "I do believe," Mobius says darkly, "that _that_ is my cue. You >did want a rescue, after all..." Turning a set of gears into a >pseudo-Egyptian short sword with a flick of his wrist and grasping a >rod made of deep red metal in his off hand, he roars and charges >towards the marines. "Keep firing!" he roars, plowing into the >soldiers. The first Montaigne parries the blade with his rapier, and >sneers as only a Montaigne Villain can. Then Mobius glares at the man >and holds up the rod, and the Villain blanches as sand begins to pour >out of the tip. And swirl. And take form. And surround him... > ...and work its way towards the coin. Marivale plows into the thick of the Montaignes, parrying thrusts and disarming fools as he goes. Another whistling sound heralds the arrival of another "coin." Or it would have, had Marivale not casually batted it overboard with his rapier while it was still in flight. A female marine tries to take advantage of Marivale's seeming distraction only to realize that the master swordsman has already moved on and her picture-perfect lunge just hit a fellow marine right in Scarpa's Triangle. As she stares in shock at her rapidly exsanguinating friend, a sharp blow to the back of her knees sends her pitching backwards into the hole in reality. For all the carnage left in his wake, though, Marivale's main purpose is to get the Montaignes tangled up and slowed down so that Messers Piker and Wharf can organize a counter-charge. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Trips, Traps & Tropes On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 23:58:19 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012681 >On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 00:45:01 -0700 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012666 > >Marivale plows into the thick of the Montaignes, parrying thrusts and >disarming fools as he goes. Another whistling sound heralds the arrival >of another "coin." Or it would have, had Marivale not casually batted it >overboard with his rapier while it was still in flight. Mobius grins and salutes as sand...wraiths?...attack the Montaigne marines. At the same time, he plows through them with his strange, wondrous blade, while one of the assailants curses, "Damned Crescent sorcerer!" Meanwhile, the crew of the Black Phoenix does what they do best, giving better than they get. As Mobius shouted, they keep firing, figuring any damn fool who gets between them and their targets knows about flying bits of lead. And indeed, Mobius -- or rather, Sutenhotep -- does, since sand comes out of the wounds rather than blood, the bullets going on to hit soldiers as the sand flows back into the now-good Doctor's body within seconds of each hit. At the blanched faces of the invaders, Mobius' grin broadens. [I'm beginning to like this hero business. Now I know why Rocket One enjoys her work so much.] >A female marine tries to take advantage of Marivale's seeming distraction >only to realize that the master swordsman has already moved on and her >picture-perfect lunge just hit a fellow marine right in Scarpa's >Triangle. As she stares in shock at her rapidly exsanguinating friend, a >sharp blow to the back of her knees sends her pitching backwards into the >hole in reality. "Non! Mon dieu, NONNN!!!" she screams from half-within the Porte hole. Her legs kick in desperate horror as _something_ drags her in, her cries becoming more shrill and gut-churning until her feet vanish...and then she is silent. One Montaigne actually stops fighting long enough to cross himself (with a strange curving gesture at the 'top'). Meanwhile, one ship seems to be resisting the archer's devastating attacks better than the others. A trio of the blood sorcerers are blocking the arrows with their own bodies, _catching_ the arrows with their space-ripping powers and sending them into whatever Abyss their sorcery comes from. "Captain Sparrow!" Mobius shouts, looking around and not liking what he sees. "Permission to go below and help young Wesley with that Skyjammer Engine of yours!" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Trips, Traps & Tropes On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 02:37:05 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012684 >On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 23:58:19 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012681 > > "Non! Mon dieu, NONNN!!!" she screams from half-within the Porte hole. >Her legs kick in desperate horror as _something_ drags her in, her cries >becoming more shrill and gut-churning until her feet vanish...and then >she is silent. One Montaigne actually stops fighting long enough to cross >himself (with a strange curving gesture at the 'top'). Marivale's expression never changes, [So _that's_ why we were warned to keep our eyes closed!] but his rhythm falters just long enough to let a slash through to his left arm. [Ow! Enough woolgathering.] With an improbable cross-hand move, he parries an incoming attack to his right side while his rapier carves a bloody chunk out of the shoulder of the man who wounded him. > Meanwhile, one ship seems to be resisting the archer's devastating >attacks better than the others. A trio of the blood sorcerers are >blocking the arrows with their own bodies, _catching_ the arrows with >their space-ripping powers and sending them into whatever Abyss their >sorcery comes from. "Geoffery!" "Milord?" "Do something about those twits, will you?" Marivale jerks his chin briefly in the direction of the ship in question, then ducks a backhand slash and parries the return stroke while he opens a long bloody cut just over his opponent's eyes...but only because his opponent ducked. "As you will, Milord." Geoffery ponders the ship and its sorcerers for another moment or two, then shrugs and makes a grabbing gesture with both hands. A light sweat beads his brow as he frowns slightly and twists his hands in opposite directions. The ship's mainmast starts to crack about six feet above the deck. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Trips, Traps & Tropes On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 19:45:13 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012687 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012681 > > "Captain Sparrow!" Mobius shouts, looking around and not liking what >he sees. "Permission to go below and help young Wesley with that >Skyjammer Engine of yours!" Kell has been watching the battle, trying to find an opportunity. As Marivale and Mobius cut down various foes, he sees it - an open line to the Porte. Throwing himself into motion, he races through the melee, taking a few cuts as he goes, and plowing into an arriving marine. [NOTE: The rest of this post was retconned and has so been removed.] =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Trips, Traps & Tropes On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 00:02:05 -0700 Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012690 Ferrar was just managing to suppress the weird double vision. He was still aware of his other self, but it was in the background. Then the sounds of battle started up on deck. He muttered "I'm going to regret this, I know it." as he dug into his pockets. One hand came up with an L-shaped flashlight. The other with a pistol. He flicked a switch and light sprang forth. "Good, at least that works." He started towards the door and stopped. "Better safe than sorry." He clipped the flashlight to his belt, and dug a second .45 automatic from a pocket. Opening the door cautiously (and thanking whoever had put a lever style "knob" on it) he stepped out into a cramped passageway. He spotted stairs up and headed for them, still scanning for trouble. Before taking the steps that'd put him on deck, he switched off the flashlight and put it back in a pocket. No point drawing extra attention. Upon reaching the deck, a quick glance showed that the ship had been boarded. And somehow, the boarders had that indefinable "bad guy" signature. Not that most of the crew of the ship didn't look more than a bit disreputable. He moved to put his back against a wall, and took a shot at a nearby boarder. Who promptly went down. One of the targets buddies started for Ferrar. And was promptly shot himself. The sharper sound of Ferrars pistols drew attention. And more headed for him. One in the lead yelled "He's shot both his pistols! Get him!" Ferrar smiled as he realized the mistake the attackers had made. He shot several of the charging figures. "Anyone else feeling lucky?" he inquired as the survivors stopped in shock. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Trips, Traps & Tropes On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 20:12:30 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012693 Retcon level zero (cf. Zero Hour): >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012687 > >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012681 >> >> "Captain Sparrow!" Mobius shouts, looking around and not liking what >>he sees. "Permission to go below and help young Wesley with that >>Skyjammer Engine of yours!" > > Kell has been watching the battle, trying to find an opportunity. As >Marivale and Mobius cut down various foes, he sees it - an open line to >the Porte. Throwing himself into motion, he races through the melee, >taking a few cuts as he goes, and plowing into an arriving marine. As Marivale cleans up the deck, Kell holds the line, doing his best to keep the marines from exiting the Porte, but losing ground inch by inch. "Half a minute, fancy-pants! Get a move on!" =========================== Subject: AAE9t: The Seven Skies On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:23:59 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012694 >On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 02:37:05 -0700 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012684 > >>On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 23:58:19 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012681 >> >> Meanwhile, one ship seems to be resisting the archer's devastating >>attacks better than the others. A trio of the blood sorcerers are >>blocking the arrows with their own bodies, _catching_ the arrows with >>their space-ripping powers and sending them into whatever Abyss their >>sorcery comes from. > >"Geoffery!" > >"Milord?" > >"Do something about those twits, will you?" Marivale jerks his chin >briefly in the direction of the ship in question, then ducks a backhand >slash and parries the return stroke while he opens a long bloody cut just >over his opponent's eyes...but only because his opponent ducked. > >"As you will, Milord." Geoffery ponders the ship and its sorcerers for >another moment or two, then shrugs and makes a grabbing gesture with both >hands. A light sweat beads his brow as he frowns slightly and twists his >hands in opposite directions. The ship's mainmast starts to crack about >six feet above the deck. "Mon dieu!" "C'est imposible!" Montaigne sailors scramble around, trying to save the mainmast, while the sorcerers dive below the railing, their further movements a mystery. The ship's movements become somewhat erratic, lurching a bit like a punch-drunk fighter. Then... >On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 00:02:05 -0700 >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012690 > >He moved to put his back against a wall, and took a shot at a nearby >boarder. Who promptly went down. One of the targets buddies started for >Ferrar. And was promptly shot himself. > >The sharper sound of Ferrars pistols drew attention. And more headed for >him. One in the lead yelled "He's shot both his pistols! Get him!" > >Ferrar smiled as he realized the mistake the attackers had made. He shot >several of the charging figures. > >"Anyone else feeling lucky?" he inquired as the survivors stopped in >shock. "Merde! An Explorer!" one of the marines snarls. "Maybe he just _stole_ the artifact," another notes helpfully. "Shut up!" the first marine roars. "Get the sorcerer! Let's see how well his Syrneth gun works against a woman who can send his shot into the Abyss!" Then... >On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 20:12:30 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012693 > > As Marivale cleans up the deck, Kell holds the line, doing his best to >keep the marines from exiting the Porte, but losing ground inch by inch. >"Half a minute, fancy-pants! Get a move on!" With Mr. Piker and Mr. Wharf blunting the advance as well, the marines look at their chances...and choose the better part of valor. "Back! Back! Back through the hole!" the lead (surviving) marine shouts, and they retreat in surprisingly good order, picking up their wounded and making a chain to lead one another back out of...wherever they passed through to get on board. Elsewhere. "Well?" Vincenzo Caligari, Prince of Vodacce and High Lord of Theah, asks a veiled woman sitting before a loom. "Are they coming, Beatrice?" "No," she replies mechanically, her voice echoing. "Their magics and skills hold off the Montaigne, but the Engine you desire has ceased function. Your puppet Emperor has sent too many forces against them, and with their Porte, they can summon a hammer of storms to splinter the Black Phoenix. They will not escape if their machine is not repaired." "Then fix it," Vincenzo orders, a snap in his tone. "I will show you how." "The threads cannot undo this fate directly," Beatrice whispers, ghost-like. "The machine is too powerful and intricate for me to manipulate its parts correctly, even with your instruction." "DAMN that boy and his tantrums!" Caligari roars. "I WILL have that ship! Can you make the boy repair it?" "...yes, but his mind will be damaged." Caligari paced. "No...no...I want that genius of his...only as a last resort...MOBIUS!" His cackling laugh was like a mad inferno. "He _wants_ to repair it, he _can_ repair it, affect _him!_" Beatrice permits a single tear to roll down her cheek. She had hoped to save them by some other means, ensure that her uncle did not grasp them...but even her power is not sufficient to openly defy the great mistresses of Sorte that bound her to his will. Then she sees a way. She _can_ obey Vincenzo...yet give them a chance to escape and triumph in the end. Her smile broadens beneath the veil, safe from his sight. "That will work exactly as you envision, my Lord." [For the moment...] "Do it!" Mobius hears as the marines retreat. It _sounds_ like Captain Sparrow, it _comes_ from about where Sparrow is standing...but something feels odd about it. "Eh?" Mobius looks up for confirmation, punching a marine that mistakes his redirection for distraction. "GO!" he hears in 'confirmation.' Mobius nods -- what are the odds, really? -- and dives below, finding Mr. Crusher locked in mortal combat with the Black Phoenix's flying engine. "Great Ra, boy, what _are_ you doing?!" "I'm trying to reverse the polarity of the Leyden jar--" Wesley begins. "You're WHAT?!" Mighty Sutenhotep actually clutches his heart. "May the God of Cliches preserve us. Let me have a look." The two of them argue for a solid minute, going back and forth in technobabble too horrific to describe, but pertinent bits include "...destabilized the coils..." "...reconfigure the Montgomery matrix..." "...reset the core..." "Okay, lad, one side," Mobius finally orders, wiping grease and sweat from his brow. "Why are _you_ going to restart it?" Wesley asks defiantly. "Because if it kills me, _I'll_ get better," the former Pharaoh replies prosaically. "oh." Wesley steps to one side. Mobius flips the switch. On the docks. "Capitaine du Charouse!" a Garde Noire rider races up to the order's beautiful and deadly leader. "The Navy's forces are suffering significant losses, but the Black Phoenix is still trapped in the harbor, and we have permission to bring the Laerdom mercenaries through! Once we have their weather runes at our disposal..." Dominique sighs exquisitely. "The Phoenix will go down in flames, never to rise again. A pity." She wipes her mouth delicately. "I was so hoping to meet that Avalon swordsman with the strange name again...Marivale, I believe? He danced _so_ divinely." Slowly, imperceptibly at first, the great Black Phoenix rises from the water. Its keel actually scrapes the chain at first as it sails past the barrier, but it picks up speed both up and away as the spelljammer takes full effect. Montaigne crews scramble like madmen to turn their ships about, desperately trying to avoid running up afoul of their own trap. Dominique smiles hungrily. "Oh, magnifique. We shall play again _after_ all." Spinning dramatically on one heel, she beckons her lieutenant. "Come!" "B-but where, mon capitaine?" "To Caligari, of course," she replies breathily. "They are heading there...so _we_ are heading there. Or would you rather report your failure to l'Empereur?" "M-MY failure?" the lieutenant gasps. "Well, if I am not there to behead, do you think the dauphin will wait patiently to throw his tantrum?" Dominique laughs as she strides to her horse, the lieutenant following quickly after a very brief backward glance. -- Sutenhotep "The 'Glory of Invincibility' is not, as they say, 'all it's cracked up to be.'" Pharaoh Mobius I (abdicated) =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: The Seven Skies On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:46:37 -0700 Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012695 >On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:23:59 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012694 > >>On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 00:02:05 -0700 >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012690 >> >>Ferrar smiled as he realized the mistake the attackers had made. He shot >>several of the charging figures. >> >>"Anyone else feeling lucky?" he inquired as the survivors stopped in >>shock. > > "Merde! An Explorer!" one of the marines snarls. > "Maybe he just _stole_ the artifact," another notes helpfully. > "Shut up!" the first marine roars. "Get the sorcerer! Let's see how >well his Syrneth gun works against a woman who can send his shot into the >Abyss!" Ferrar shoots the first one. And fires off another shot at the one heading for the sorceror. All the while thinking "Giving orders makes you a priority target, stupid." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: The Seven Skies On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 06:40:52 +0100 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012704 >On Fri, 02 Sep 2005 21:43:25 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012641 > >>>>Michael Knight wrote: >>>> >>>> Karma chuckled despite herself, gesturing toward Captain Roger >>>>Sparrow. >>>> "I suspect that would be Captain Sparrow's Mr. Crusher, lest it >>>>be young Wesley making that noise. > > Mobius laughs. It is a surprisingly healthy sound. "Then I suppose >I'd best make sure the 'dread pirate' Roger does not kill young >Wesley...what?" Mobius looks genuinely baffled by the grins and >chuckles his remark elicits. Karma shrugged, unsure herself. She somehow never saw that particular movie. Though 'Dread Pirate' niggled at the back of her mind. She never knew a Wesley, nor what that sword David gave her (and Moonstone recognized) was about, but she was beginning to think she'd better see that film when she got back. Had someone made a movie about her past life? > At that moment, from a great distance, there is an almost gentle >whistle of "incoming." Something small splashes in the water nearby. >Mr. Wharf doesn't so much query as grunt in response at the sight of >something about the size of a silver dollar make a moderate splash in >the water. Karma looked perplexed. "A coin? But wh--?" > "GET THAT COIN!" Mr. Piker roars as second coin 'plinks' >impressively on the deck. The Montaigne are faster, however -- a >bleeding hole of *nothing* screams open just as a crewman dives for >the coin. He ends up halfway in, and screams even worse than the hole >for a fraction of a second just before vanishing. "MERDE!" Karma swore at the familiar scream of reality being torn a new hole. Her parrying dagger and wooden flute were in her hands again, stepping back to shield Counsillor Troy. "Can you fight?" Karma asked. "No, not really," Troy admitted. "Alright, stay low and keep behind me." Troy did so, crouching a bit, her hands on Karma's shoulders. "Heh," Karma said, "I will need a little room. Get under the stairs leading up to the poopdeck." Troy looked around and spotted the place under the stairs Karma had indicated. Taking cover there, Karma stepped in front of that gap and readied herself. > Then Montaigne marines begin to pour out of the hole. It's a bit >like the opening sequence in the first Star Wars movie; guns are >already trained on the hole and the marines have to keep their eyes >closed until they're clear, but enough of them get through to create >a "beach head" of sorts. > "I do believe," Mobius says darkly, "that _that_ is my cue. You >did want a rescue, after all..." Turning a set of gears into a >pseudo-Egyptian short sword with a flick of his wrist and grasping a >rod made of deep red metal in his off hand, he roars and charges >towards the marines. "Keep firing!" he roars, plowing into the >soldiers. The first Montaigne parries the blade with his rapier, and >sneers as only a Montaigne Villain can. Then Mobius glares at the man >and holds up the rod, and the Villain blanches as sand begins to pour >out of the tip. And swirl. And take form. And surround him... > ...and work its way towards the coin. Karma gives a warm, if wan, smile, "Not quite what I had in mind." >On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 23:58:19 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012681 > >>On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 00:45:01 -0700 >>Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012666 >> >>Marivale plows into the thick of the Montaignes, parrying thrusts >>and disarming fools as he goes. Another whistling sound heralds the >>arrival of another "coin." Or it would have, had Marivale not >>casually batted it overboard with his rapier while it was still in >>flight. > > Mobius grins and salutes as sand...wraiths?...attack the Montaigne >marines. At the same time, he plows through them with his strange, >wondrous blade, while one of the assailants curses, "Damned Crescent >sorcerer!" > Meanwhile, the crew of the Black Phoenix does what they do best, >giving better than they get. As Mobius shouted, they keep firing, >figuring any damn fool who gets between them and their targets knows >about flying bits of lead. And indeed, Mobius -- or rather, >Sutenhotep -- does, since sand comes out of the wounds rather than >blood, the bullets going on to hit soldiers as the sand flows back >into the now-good Doctor's body within seconds of each hit. At the >blanched faces of the invaders, Mobius' grin broadens. [I'm beginning >to like this hero business. Now I know why Rocket One enjoys her work >so much.] Karma threw a marine overboard. She wasn't liking this hero business, the quiet life was far more appealing. A high-kick worthy of a Rockette connected with another marine's jaw as he had been trying to get the drop on her. She glanced over to Troy under the stairs, who pointed behind Karma. Karma's head turned, followed by the rest of her, as a roundhouse kick took the marine down again. She grabbed him and tossed him overboard as well. >>A female marine tries to take advantage of Marivale's seeming >>distraction only to realize that the master swordsman has already >>moved on and her picture-perfect lunge just hit a fellow marine >>right in Scarpa's Triangle. As she stares in shock at her rapidly >>exsanguinating friend, a sharp blow to the back of her knees sends >>her pitching backwards into the hole in reality. > > "Non! Mon dieu, NONNN!!!" she screams from half-within the Porte >hole. Her legs kick in desperate horror as _something_ drags her in, >her cries becoming more shrill and gut-churning until her feet >vanish...and then she is silent. One Montaigne actually stops >fighting long enough to cross himself (with a strange curving gesture >at the 'top'). Karma paled again. "What the hell is in there?" "Hell," Troy said, "Literally, from what I've gathered from the crew. To look while you're in there is to never come out again." [And to think I was considering getting closer to that thing to send them back in as they were coming out,] Karma thought, then shuddered, [Those screams.] >On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:23:59 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012694 > >>On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 00:02:05 -0700 >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012690 >> >>The sharper sound of Ferrars pistols drew attention. And more headed >>for him. One in the lead yelled "He's shot both his pistols! Get >>him!" >> >>Ferrar smiled as he realized the mistake the attackers had made. He >>shot several of the charging figures. >> >>"Anyone else feeling lucky?" he inquired as the survivors >>stopped in shock. "Welcome to Marsailles," Karma said with grim humor, "Though, the French were more hospitable when I was here last." Of course, that was another world, though for once, not another life. > "Merde! An Explorer!" one of the marines snarls. > "Maybe he just _stole_ the artifact," another notes helpfully. > "Shut up!" the first marine roars. "Get the sorcerer! Let's see >how well his Syrneth gun works against a woman who can send his shot >into the Abyss!" >On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:46:37 -0700 >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012695 > >Ferrar shoots the first one. And fires off another shot at the one >heading for the sorceror. All the while thinking "Giving orders makes >you a priority target, stupid." Karma sent yet another soldier overboard. >On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:23:59 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012694 > >>On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 20:12:30 -0700 (PDT) >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012693 >> >> As Marivale cleans up the deck, Kell holds the line, doing his >>best to keep the marines from exiting the Porte, but losing ground >>inch by inch. "Half a minute, fancy-pants! Get a move on!" > > With Mr. Piker and Mr. Wharf blunting the advance as well, the >marines look at their chances...and choose the better part of valor. > "Back! Back! Back through the hole!" the lead (surviving) marine >shouts, and they retreat in surprisingly good order, picking up their >wounded and making a chain to lead one another back out of...wherever >they passed through to get on board. [Good, get out of here. We don't want prisoners,] Karma thought, [And take that -thing- with you.] =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: The Seven Skies On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 06:40:52 +0100 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012704 >On Fri, 02 Sep 2005 21:43:25 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012641 > >>>>Michael Knight wrote: >>>> >>>> Karma chuckled despite herself, gesturing toward Captain Roger >>>>Sparrow. >>>> "I suspect that would be Captain Sparrow's Mr. Crusher, lest it >>>>be young Wesley making that noise. > > Mobius laughs. It is a surprisingly healthy sound. "Then I suppose >I'd best make sure the 'dread pirate' Roger does not kill young >Wesley...what?" Mobius looks genuinely baffled by the grins and >chuckles his remark elicits. Karma shrugged, unsure herself. She somehow never saw that particular movie. Though 'Dread Pirate' niggled at the back of her mind. She never knew a Wesley, nor what that sword David gave her (and Moonstone recognized) was about, but she was beginning to think she'd better see that film when she got back. Had someone made a movie about her past life? > At that moment, from a great distance, there is an almost gentle >whistle of "incoming." Something small splashes in the water nearby. >Mr. Wharf doesn't so much query as grunt in response at the sight of >something about the size of a silver dollar make a moderate splash in >the water. Karma looked perplexed. "A coin? But wh--?" > "GET THAT COIN!" Mr. Piker roars as second coin 'plinks' >impressively on the deck. The Montaigne are faster, however -- a >bleeding hole of *nothing* screams open just as a crewman dives for >the coin. He ends up halfway in, and screams even worse than the hole >for a fraction of a second just before vanishing. "MERDE!" Karma swore at the familiar scream of reality being torn a new hole. Her parrying dagger and wooden flute were in her hands again, stepping back to shield Counsillor Troy. "Can you fight?" Karma asked. "No, not really," Troy admitted. "Alright, stay low and keep behind me." Troy did so, crouching a bit, her hands on Karma's shoulders. "Heh," Karma said, "I will need a little room. Get under the stairs leading up to the poopdeck." Troy looked around and spotted the place under the stairs Karma had indicated. Taking cover there, Karma stepped in front of that gap and readied herself. > "I do believe," Mobius says darkly, "that _that_ is my cue. You >did want a rescue, after all..." Turning a set of gears into a >pseudo-Egyptian short sword with a flick of his wrist and grasping a >rod made of deep red metal in his off hand, he roars and charges >towards the marines. "Keep firing!" he roars, plowing into the >soldiers. The first Montaigne parries the blade with his rapier, and >sneers as only a Montaigne Villain can. Then Mobius glares at the man >and holds up the rod, and the Villain blanches as sand begins to pour >out of the tip. And swirl. And take form. And surround him... > ...and work its way towards the coin. Karma gives a warm, if wan, smile, "Not quite what I had in mind." >On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 23:58:19 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012681 > >>On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 00:45:01 -0700 >>Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012666 >> >>Marivale plows into the thick of the Montaignes, parrying thrusts >>and disarming fools as he goes. Another whistling sound heralds the >>arrival of another "coin." Or it would have, had Marivale not >>casually batted it overboard with his rapier while it was still in >>flight. > > Mobius grins and salutes as sand...wraiths?...attack the Montaigne >marines. At the same time, he plows through them with his strange, >wondrous blade, while one of the assailants curses, "Damned Crescent >sorcerer!" > Meanwhile, the crew of the Black Phoenix does what they do best, >giving better than they get. As Mobius shouted, they keep firing, >figuring any damn fool who gets between them and their targets knows >about flying bits of lead. And indeed, Mobius -- or rather, >Sutenhotep -- does, since sand comes out of the wounds rather than >blood, the bullets going on to hit soldiers as the sand flows back >into the now-good Doctor's body within seconds of each hit. At the >blanched faces of the invaders, Mobius' grin broadens. [I'm beginning >to like this hero business. Now I know why Rocket One enjoys her work >so much.] Karma threw a marine overboard. She wasn't liking this hero business, the quiet life was far more appealing. A high-kick worthy of a Rockette connected with another marine's jaw as he had been trying to get the drop on her. She glanced over to Troy under the stairs, who pointed behind Karma. Karma's head turned, followed by the rest of her, as a roundhouse kick took the marine down again. She grabbed him and tossed him overboard as well. >>A female marine tries to take advantage of Marivale's seeming >>distraction only to realize that the master swordsman has already >>moved on and her picture-perfect lunge just hit a fellow marine >>right in Scarpa's Triangle. As she stares in shock at her rapidly >>exsanguinating friend, a sharp blow to the back of her knees sends >>her pitching backwards into the hole in reality. > > "Non! Mon dieu, NONNN!!!" she screams from half-within the Porte >hole. Her legs kick in desperate horror as _something_ drags her in, >her cries becoming more shrill and gut-churning until her feet >vanish...and then she is silent. One Montaigne actually stops >fighting long enough to cross himself (with a strange curving gesture >at the 'top'). Karma paled again. "What the hell is in there?" "Hell," Troy said, "Literally, from what I've gathered from the crew. To look while you're in there is to never come out again." [And to think I was considering getting closer to that thing to send them back in as they were coming out,] Karma thought, then shuddered, [Those screams.] >On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:23:59 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012694 > >>On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 00:02:05 -0700 >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012690 >> >>He moved to put his back against a wall, and took a shot at a nearby >>boarder. Who promptly went down. One of the targets buddies started >>for Ferrar. And was promptly shot himself. >> >>The sharper sound of Ferrars pistols drew attention. And more headed >>for him. One in the lead yelled "He's shot both his pistols! Get >>him!" >> >>Ferrar smiled as he realized the mistake the attackers had made. He >>shot several of the charging figures. >> >>"Anyone else feeling lucky?" he inquired as the survivors stopped in >>shock. "Welcome to Marsailles," Karma said with grim humor, "Though, the French were more hospitable when I was here last." Of course, that was another world, though for once, not another life. > "Merde! An Explorer!" one of the marines snarls. > "Maybe he just _stole_ the artifact," another notes helpfully. > "Shut up!" the first marine roars. "Get the sorcerer! Let's see >how well his Syrneth gun works against a woman who can send his shot >into the Abyss!" >On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:46:37 -0700 >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012695 > >Ferrar shoots the first one. And fires off another shot at the one >heading for the sorceror. All the while thinking "Giving orders makes >you a priority target, stupid." Karma sent yet another soldier overboard. >On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:23:59 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012694 > >>On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 20:12:30 -0700 (PDT) >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012693 >> >> As Marivale cleans up the deck, Kell holds the line, doing his >>best to keep the marines from exiting the Porte, but losing ground >>inch by inch. "Half a minute, fancy-pants! Get a move on!" > > With Mr. Piker and Mr. Wharf blunting the advance as well, the >marines look at their chances...and choose the better part of valor. > "Back! Back! Back through the hole!" the lead (surviving) marine >shouts, and they retreat in surprisingly good order, picking up their >wounded and making a chain to lead one another back out of...wherever >they passed through to get on board. [Good, get out of here. We don't want prisoners,] Karma thought, [And take that -thing- with you.] =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: The Seven Skies On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 15:38:47 -0700 Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012706 >On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 06:40:52 +0100 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012704 > >>On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:23:59 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012694 >> >>>On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 00:02:05 -0700 >>>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012690 > > "Welcome to Marsailles," Karma said with grim humor, "Though, the >French were more hospitable when I was here last." Of course, that >was another world, though for once, not another life. "Marsailles has changed since my last visit" >>On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:46:37 -0700 >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012695 >> >>Ferrar shoots the first one. And fires off another shot at the one >>heading for the sorceror. All the while thinking "Giving orders >>makes you a priority target, stupid." > > Karma sent yet another soldier overboard. [ooc: target priority list, courtesy of a former US Army sniper I know: 1. leaders 2. radio operators (or runners in this situation) 3. heavy weapons operators (in this case, probably sorcerors)] (Assuming the bad guys hold off a bit) "What I wouldn't give for a tommy gun and a few magazines right now." Ferrar complains. He continues picking off targets, but only with one pistol. He drops the other into a pocket. And he looks for something to duick behind when it's time to reload. Finding a fortunately located barrel, he takes cover. These mooks aren't firing back very effectively, but that can't last. He removes an oval object from an inner pocket and places it in an outer pocket, so he can get at it *fast*. Somehow, he thinks he'll need the grenade sooner rather than later. [ooc: I'm hoping the bad guys try to charge in a group. ] =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: The Seven Skies On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 21:17:03 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012713 >On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 06:40:52 +0100 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012704 > >>On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:23:59 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012694 >> >> With Mr. Piker and Mr. Wharf blunting the advance as well, the >>marines look at their chances...and choose the better part of valor. >> "Back! Back! Back through the hole!" the lead (surviving) marine >>shouts, and they retreat in surprisingly good order, picking up >>their wounded and making a chain to lead one another back out of... >>wherever they passed through to get on board. > > [Good, get out of here. We don't want prisoners,] Karma thought, >[And take that -thing- with you.] As if in response to her thoughts, the hole snaps shut as the last surviving marine plunges through it. A swirl of sand catapults the coin overboard just as Mobius returns to the bridge, a pirate's smile on his face (appropriately enough). "So. What did I miss?" Far below, the last echoes of cannon fire fade away. A clean getaway. Mobius looks with distaste at the crimson stain on the deck where the hole in space was. Okay, so maybe 'clean' isn't the exact word for it, but any firefight you can fly away from... ;^) -- Dr. Mobius Thebes 6-5000 Science Weirded, Damsels Saved and Schemes (De-)Plotted =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: The Seven Skies On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 17:11:56 +0100 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012716 >On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 21:17:03 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012713 > > As if in response to her thoughts, the hole snaps shut as the last >surviving marine plunges through it. A swirl of sand catapults the >coin overboard just as Mobius returns to the bridge, a pirate's smile >on his face (appropriately enough). "So. What did I miss?" > Far below, the last echoes of cannon fire fade away. A clean >getaway. > Mobius looks with distaste at the crimson stain on the deck where >the hole in space was. Okay, so maybe 'clean' isn't the exact word >for it, but any firefight you can fly away from... ;^) Karma quietly took the doctor's hand, staring at the bloodied planks. "A wise retreat when faced with superior firepower." Glancing back at Ferrar, she announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Ferrar, a friend from Cairo." She gave Sutenhotep's hand a faint squeeze. "Ferrar, this is Erin, Veren, Merivale, Geoffery, Kell, Captain Roger Sparrow, Mr. Piker, Mr. Wharf, Councillor Troy of Casablanca, Spinner, and... Doctor Mobius, our group's newest ally." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: The Seven Skies On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:22:35 -0700 Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012717 >On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 17:11:56 +0100 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012716 > > Karma quietly took the doctor's hand, staring at the bloodied >planks. "A wise retreat when faced with superior firepower." > Glancing back at Ferrar, she announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, >this is Ferrar, a friend from Cairo." > She gave Sutenhotep's hand a faint squeeze. > "Ferrar, this is Erin, Veren, Merivale, Geoffery, Kell, Captain >Roger Sparrow, Mr. Piker, Mr. Wharf, Councillor Troy of Casablanca, >Spinner, and... Doctor Mobius, our group's newest ally." Ferrar looks a bit startled at the "newest ally". But doesn't say anything. Then he pulls himself together. He picks up dropped magazines, sticking them in a hard to get to pocket. "Pardon, me, I'm not sure how I got here. And I'n not entirely here for that matter." "If things are going to be clam for a bit, I need to check something." (assuming a positive response) He concentrates for a moment and Baraka is standing in his place. She stares about for a minute. "That did *not* work properly..." she mutters. And Ferrar is back. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: The Seven Skies On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 20:40:14 -0000 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012732 >On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:22:35 -0700 >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012717 > >Ferrar looks a bit startled at the "newest ally". But doesn't say >anything. > >Then he pulls himself together. He picks up dropped magazines, >sticking them in a hard to get to pocket. > >"Pardon, me, I'm not sure how I got here. And I'n not entirely here >for that matter." "I've been feeling similarly," Karma says with a wry grin. >"If things are going to be clam for a bit, I need to check >something." Karma nods soberly. "I think with the coin off the ship, and us airborne, we should be good for a while," Karma says, "It should take a bit of time to mount a pursuit from Marsailles, or to get word to other ports of our last known heading." >He concentrates for a moment and Baraka is standing in his place. She >stares about for a minute. > >"That did *not* work properly..." she mutters. And Ferrar is back. Karma asked tentatively, "Didn't work properly, not entirely here. You're... colocated... then?" She couldn't imagine what that -- wait, yes she could. And it sounded headache-inducing. "If it becomes a problem, let us know. We'll find some way to arrange transport out of here." Karma rubbed her eyes with a hand. "In the meantime, welcome to the party." =========================== Subject: AAE9t: Diabolo Ex Machina On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:32:47 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012733 >On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 20:40:14 -0000 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012732 > >>On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:22:35 -0700 >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012717 > > Karma nods soberly. > "I think with the coin off the ship, and us airborne, we should >be good for a while," Karma says, "It should take a bit of time to >mount a pursuit from Marsailles, or to get word to other ports of our >last known heading." Mobius frowns, but says nothing. Instead, he checks what looks like an exquisite clockwork astrolabe...with a strange, sepia-toned screen on one section of disc. (see http://nicolas.brodu.free.fr/common/creation/photos/grand/astrolabe.jp g for a gorgeous example of what Mobius might have used as the basis for his strange device. Warning: HUGE picture.) >>He concentrates for a moment and Baraka is standing in his place. >>She stares about for a minute. >> >>"That did *not* work properly..." she mutters. And Ferrar is back. Mobius looks from Baraka to his...that thing _can't_ be an actual astrolabe. Or at least, that's not all it does. He turns a few knobs and hook-like switches. When Ferrar appears again, he hits it in a way that would make Quantum Leap fans think of Al and his Ziggy remote. The device even squawks in a familiar way. > Karma asked tentatively, "Didn't work properly, not entirely here. >You're... colocated... then?" She couldn't imagine what that -- wait, >yes she could. And it sounded headache-inducing. > "If it becomes a problem, let us know. We'll find some way to >arrange transport out of here." > Karma rubbed her eyes with a hand. > "In the meantime, welcome to the party." Mobius gives up, shrugs, and puts the device away. "Indeed," he says in a friendly tone. Then he returns his attention to Karma. Time passes. (This time follows the rule of "whatever is most dramatically appropriate." Wounds are tended to, ship damage is patched, and strange engines of arcane power are mollified with large amounts of 'loving' attention.) Mobius strides up to the bow, looking pensively into the sky around them. [Something feels...wrong. This is too easy.] He suppressed an urge to check his cosmolabe. [If I were Caligari, what would I do right now?] He'd been a villain all too recently, but it gave him a unique insight into their foes, particularly his (former) fellow mad scientist. He thinks. He hopes. [...I would do something bold. _Dramatic._ Something...unexpected...] The former Pharaoh peers suspiciously at the dense cloud cover ahead. "Captain Sparrow!" he calls out, but whatever advice he would have given dies aborning as the cosmolabe goes berserk in his pouch. He yanks it back out, stares at it with wide eyes, then looks up. An entire island emerges from the clouds above them, massive downward spires of rust-red metal echoing with the tremendous clanking of gears the size of small houses. "INCOMING!" Mobius roars, then vaults downward, looking for Karma. If he spots her, he tries to catch her and grab hold of the nearest rigging, though a lifeline will do. Fortunately, the Nerezza comes even with the Black Phoenix just as the mismatched foes collide. The Phoenix comes "aground" against one of the island's docks. (Tag Roger: you can decide how much damage the Phoenix takes, but she ain't going anywhere for a bit.) The dock is the worse for wear; the Black Phoenix is one tough customer. Regardless, however, the heroic pirates are firmly attached to the island for the nonce. As the screaming and fleeing of the locals dies down, another voice cuts through the chaos. "Well well," an unpleasant voice laughs. "I'll have to tell Great-Uncle Vincenzo that we have guests." Coming across the docks is a devilishly handsome Vodacce (Renaissance Italian) man with a whip made of the same crimson metal as the island's underside extending from the palm of his left hand. Behind him, a horrifically motley crew of mechanically...enhanced...crew members chuckle and brandish their devices. A dwarf with Arabian features cracks the knuckles on hands at the end of clockwork arms. A Spaniard (Castillian) over twice the diminutive danger's size seems to be flesh and blood, aside from the glowing red tattoo covering his entire face, but he bears a moaning jet-black sword in his right hand and what looks for all the world like a violet-colored version of Han Solo's blaster in his left. Two Vodacce women round out the leaders. One of them wears a colorful outfit and holds three knives in each hand, though none of that is as disturbing as the strange crystal sphere she has in place of her left eye. The other appears entirely human, but under a black dress that covers every inch of skin, most notably the spiderweb veil that hides her face, what secrets she conceals are anyone's guess. A band of more ordinary-looking cutthroats gather behind them, laughing in anticipation. "It would be impolite of me not to introduce myself," the leader says in a silky-deadly voice. "I was born with the honor of being named Arturo Caligari. You may know me better as the Iron Butcher." He draws a cunning-looking saber with his free hand. "Do commend me to Legion when you meet him in the Abyss." (Insert counter-quips here ;-) Arturo's smile vanishes. "Perhaps I will take my time killing some of you." He scans the group briefly, then opens his mouth, ready to continue the verbal fencing. "ATTACK!" He roars instead, using the prehensile "whip" to grab onto a broken spar and swing towards the heroes. The others scream the classic "ARRR!" and follow suit. All except the woman behind the spider-web veil... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Diabolo Ex Machina On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:08:44 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012741 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012733 > > Fortunately, the Nerezza comes even with the Black Phoenix just as >the mismatched foes collide. The Phoenix comes "aground" against one >of the island's docks. (Tag Roger: you can decide how much damage the >Phoenix takes, but she ain't going anywhere for a bit.) The dock is >the worse for wear; the Black Phoenix is one tough customer. >Regardless, however, the heroic pirates are firmly attached to the >island for the nonce. Kell measures his length on the deck, sliding under Marivale. Marivale evades the out-of-control warrior without even thinking about it, leaving Kell to stop against the railing. As he picks himself up, Kell glares at the island, giving the impression that it is to blame, and how dare it get in the way of a ship. > "It would be impolite of me not to introduce myself," the leader >says in a silky-deadly voice. "I was born with the honor of being >named Arturo Caligari. You may know me better as the Iron Butcher." >He draws a cunning-looking saber with his free hand. "Do commend me >to Legion when you meet him in the Abyss." Kell shakes his head. "Been there. Killed that. Got the breastplate," he says matter-of-factly. > Arturo's smile vanishes. "Perhaps I will take my time killing some >of you." He scans the group briefly, then opens his mouth, ready to >continue the verbal fencing. > "ATTACK!" He roars instead, using the prehensile "whip" to grab >onto a broken spar and swing towards the heroes. The others scream >the classic "ARRR!" and follow suit. All except the woman behind the >spider-web veil... Kell mentally tags each of the attackers as they charge, using terms familiar to him - spiked chain man/leader, dwarf wrestler, swordsman, knife thrower, and mage. Then he makes a note to adjust his guesses as necessary, before deflecting three knives with his own blades. The fourth blade hits him in the shoulder. [I hope it's just poison...I can deal with poison.] =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Diabolo Ex Machina On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 03:52:05 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012743 >On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:08:44 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012741 > >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012733 >> >> As the screaming and fleeing of the locals dies down, another >>voice cuts through the chaos. "Well well," an unpleasant voice >>laughs. "I'll have to tell Great-Uncle Vincenzo that we have >>guests." Coming across the docks is a devilishly handsome Vodacce >>(Renaissance Italian) man with a whip made of the same crimson metal >>as the island's underside extending from the palm of his left hand. Veren gives the Vodacce a once-over. [Joy. Inbred twit, (1).] He glances over at Marivale and smirks. [Make that Inbred twits, (2).] >> "It would be impolite of me not to introduce myself," the leader >>says in a silky-deadly voice. "I was born with the honor of being >>named Arturo Caligari. You may know me better as the Iron Butcher." Marivale looks blank. >>He draws a cunning-looking saber with his free hand. "Do commend me >>to Legion when you meet him in the Abyss." > > Kell shakes his head. "Been there. Killed that. Got the >breastplate," he says matter-of-factly. Erin eyes Arturo askance. "Now, Unca Kell, that wasn't verra nahce: it's obvious the poh boy only asked 'cause he's homesick." >> Arturo's smile vanishes. "Perhaps I will take my time killing >>some of you." He scans the group briefly, then opens his mouth, >>ready to continue the verbal fencing. >> "ATTACK!" He roars instead, using the prehensile "whip" to grab >>onto a broken spar and swing towards the heroes. The others scream >>the classic "ARRR!" and follow suit. All except the woman behind the >>spider-web veil... Marivale now looks bored as he draws sword and parrying dagger, closing with Arturo as he does so. "The Iron Butcher, you say? Not much of a sobriquet, really..." Marivale smirks as he declines Arturo's first feint. "After all, butchers merely chop up inert bodies." A swift clash of blades results in Arturo having to catch his saber with his whip before it can fall over the side. "So, young calamari, can you handle a body that fights back?" Veren and Erin, meanwhile, are scrambling back toward the poop deck, the better to get a vantage point from which to shoot. And Geoffery had the presence of mind to grab the Black Phoenix's keel in a TK grip, else he would be paying his respects to St. Rose right now instead of trying to figure out how to get himself back aboard. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Diabolo Ex Machina On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 23:08:09 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012746 >On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:08:44 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012741 > > Kell measures his length on the deck, sliding under Marivale. >Marivale evades the out-of-control warrior without even thinking >about it, leaving Kell to stop against the railing. > As he picks himself up, Kell glares at the island, giving the >impression that it is to blame, and how dare it get in the way of a >ship. Well, it _did!_ ;-) Not a lot of islands floating around in the sky, you know... >> "ATTACK!" He roars instead, using the prehensile "whip" to grab >>onto a broken spar and swing towards the heroes. The others scream >>the classic "ARRR!" and follow suit. All except the woman behind the >>spider-web veil... > > Kell mentally tags each of the attackers as they charge, using >terms familiar to him - spiked chain man/leader, dwarf wrestler, >swordsman, knife thrower, and mage. Then he makes a note to adjust >his guesses as necessary, before deflecting three knives with his own >blades. > The fourth blade hits him in the shoulder. [I hope it's just >poison...I can deal with poison.] There is no poison. The blade burns with a strange, blue light -- and the burning _hurts_ -- but there are no side effects unless Kell regenerates/casts healing magic, in which case the wound proves stubborn. Her knives, however, returns to her hands. She smiles like a hungry wolf and throws again, three blades darting at crew and the other three at Kell. Then... >On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 03:52:05 -0800 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012743 > >>On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:08:44 -0800 (PST) >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012741 >> >>>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012733 >>> >>> As the screaming and fleeing of the locals dies down, another >>>voice cuts through the chaos. "Well well," an unpleasant voice >>>laughs. "I'll have to tell Great-Uncle Vincenzo that we have >>>guests." Coming across the docks is a devilishly handsome Vodacce >>>(Renaissance Italian) man with a whip made of the same crimson >>>metal as the island's underside extending from the palm of his left >>>hand. > >Veren gives the Vodacce a once-over. [Joy. Inbred twit, (1).] He >glances over at Marivale and smirks. [Make that Inbred twits, (2).] OOC: ROFL! ;^) >>>He draws a cunning-looking saber with his free hand. "Do commend me >>>to Legion when you meet him in the Abyss." >> >> Kell shakes his head. "Been there. Killed that. Got the >>breastplate," he says matter-of-factly. > >Erin eyes Arturo askance. "Now, Unca Kell, that wasn't verra nahce: >it's obvious the poh boy only asked 'cause he's homesick." OOC: ROFL^2! The Spaniard has to force down a chuckle, though Arturo doesn't actually seem bothered by the comment. (A laugh, on the other hand, might annoy him.) >>> "ATTACK!" He roars instead, using the prehensile "whip" to grab >>>onto a broken spar and swing towards the heroes. The others scream >>>the classic "ARRR!" and follow suit. All except the woman behind >>>the spider-web veil... > >Marivale now looks bored as he draws sword and parrying dagger, >closing with Arturo as he does so. "The Iron Butcher, you say? Not >much of a sobriquet, really..." Marivale smirks as he declines >Arturo's first feint. "After all, butchers merely chop up inert >bodies." "That," the Butcher replies, "is all most flesh _is_ to me." >A swift clash of blades results in Arturo having to catch his saber >with his whip before it can fall over the side. Actually, no. There are three elements to take into account when attempting to disarm someone. The first is, of course, skill, and if that alone were the deciding factor, then Marivale's encounter with Arturo wouldn't be so much a duel as a dismemberment (c.f. Arthur vs. the Black Knight, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"). Not only is Arturo just _not_ in Marivale's league, he has no footwork to speak of. While fast in short bursts, he is...methodical is the kindest way to put it. This, however, is explained by the other two elements. The second is the contest of strength, and Arturo's grip on his hilt makes rigor mortis look limp-wristed. A Titan might be able to pry his fingers off the saber. Maybe. If strength is too great a problem, however, it is always possible to simply remove the offending limb. Well, on most people. Arturo's 'parry' is almost as much punch as deflection, and Marivale's sword slashes through the skin on all four fingers. Beneath that skin is a strange, clanking, ticking metalwork that looks for all the world like the inside of a particularly arcane clock. All the metal is the same rust red as the underbelly of the island... >"So, young calamari, can you handle a body that fights back?" Arturo's smile briefly becomes one that resembles actual joy, rather than sadistic fury. "You don't know who I am," he says, his tone one of psychotic glee. "You genuinely do not know who I am!" He laughs maniacally and charges at Marivale, ignoring all slashes, leaping forward and spinning in a crimson whirlwind of death... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Diabolo Ex Machina On Thu, 02 Mar 2006 23:46:35 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012747 >On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 23:08:09 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012746 > > This, however, is explained by the other two elements. The second >is the contest of strength, and Arturo's grip on his hilt makes rigor >mortis look limp-wristed. A Titan might be able to pry his fingers >off the saber. Maybe. If strength is too great a problem, however, it >is always possible to simply remove the offending limb. Well, on most >people. Arturo's 'parry' is almost as much punch as deflection, and >Marivale's sword slashes through the skin on all four fingers. > Beneath that skin is a strange, clanking, ticking metalwork that >looks for all the world like the inside of a particularly arcane >clock. All the metal is the same rust red as the underbelly of the >island... Marivale's eyebrows rise slightly as he takes this in, but that's all the expression he allows himself as he sheathes his rapier and pulls a dagger out from the small of his back. >>"So, young calamari, can you handle a body that fights back?" > > Arturo's smile briefly becomes one that resembles actual joy, >rather than sadistic fury. "You don't know who I am," he says, his >tone one of psychotic glee. "You genuinely do not know who I am!" He >laughs maniacally and charges at Marivale, ignoring all slashes, >leaping forward and spinning in a crimson whirlwind of death... "Other than a jumped-up construct with delusions of grandeur? No. I neither know nor care who you are. Your technique is sloppy," Marivale says as he tries to disembowel Arturo with his hold-out. He looks mildly annoyed when nothing happens beyond a second slit in the Butcher's skin, but he continues dodging or parrying every attack against him. "Your footwork is execrable," he says as a quick foot sweep sends Arturo crashing to the deck. "And you place too much confidence in your supposed invulnerability." "Let me see if I have the story right from your point of view: you, the invulnerable villain, are free to do whatever you please while we, the heroes, attempt to restrain you without killing you, thus severely limiting our options. I have two points that you seem to have forgotten to take into consideration. First, that heroes find a way to win despite their limitations. That's what makes them heroes, after all. Second," and Marivale steps up and grabs Arturo by the shoulders, "I'm not a Hero, I'm a Scoundrel. Give my regards to St. Rose." Marivale rolls onto his back, pulling Arturo with him, then kicks powerfully as he lets go, sending the Iron Butcher over the rail. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Diabolo Ex Machina On Sat, 4 Mar 2006 11:26:12 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012748 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012746 > >>On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:08:44 -0800 (PST) >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012741 >> >> Kell mentally tags each of the attackers as they charge, using >>terms familiar to him - spiked chain man/leader, dwarf wrestler, >>swordsman, knife thrower, and mage. Then he makes a note to adjust >>his guesses as necessary, before deflecting three knives with his >>own blades. >> The fourth blade hits him in the shoulder. [I hope it's just >>poison...I can deal with poison.] > > There is no poison. The blade burns with a strange, blue light -- >and the burning _hurts_ -- but there are no side effects unless Kell >regenerates/casts healing magic, in which case the wound proves >stubborn. Her knives, however, returns to her hands. She smiles like >a hungry wolf and throws again, three blades darting at crew and the >other three at Kell. Kell grins back. [Normally, I leave the fancy tricks to the lordling over there, but...] He deflects the three knives flying at him, then tosses his weapons in the air, and draws a pair of plain steel blades from over his shoulder, and tosses them at the knife-user, before catching his daggers again. [...sometimes I can't resist.] The other three knives are left alone; Kell's too used to working with people who can take a dagger or two to think about such things as a problem. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9t: Diabolo Ex Machina On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 17:06:15 -0000 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012752 >On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:32:47 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012733 > >>On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 20:40:14 -0000 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012732 >> >> Karma rubbed her eyes with a hand. >> "In the meantime, welcome to the party." > > Mobius gives up, shrugs, and puts the device away. "Indeed," he >says in a friendly tone. Then he returns his attention to Karma. Karma smiled, tightening her coat around her. "If you both will excuse me, I need a drier set of clothes." --- Karma had changed into a simple white shirt with matching stockings, olive breeches, a brown vest with embroidered doves and olive branches, and returned to her brown belt and shoes. Her wet garments had been hung in an out of the way spot to dry. She paused as she considered meditating. Had she made any decisions she wasn't proud of? No. Now that the action was over, she found the time she spent just changing clothes had given her time to calm down. The flurry of past lives that rushed before her mind's eye had seemed to settle into place now. In fact, was there any reason to meditate at all right now? No. She smiled to herself. It flickered for a moment as she remembers the other thing she had wanted to do and why. [When I get home,] she thought, frowning, [I'm going to look into teaching dance instead of making a mockery of it in some club in Times Square.] That set in stone in her mind, she paused only a moment to close her eyes and clear her mind of negative thoughts, then smiled and returned to the main deck. --- > Mobius strides up to the bow, looking pensively into the sky >around them. [Something feels...wrong. This is too easy.] He >suppressed an urge to check his cosmolabe. [If I were Caligari, what >would I do right now?] He'd been a villain all too recently, but it >gave him a unique insight into their foes, particularly his (former) >fellow mad scientist. He thinks. He hopes. > [...I would do something bold. _Dramatic._ Karma paused in playing a jaunty tune on her long, wooden flute. Sliding it into the pack next to her, she withdrew first a compass, which she gave a cursory glance, then a watch, and finally a spyglass. Putting these away, she put a hand to her stomach and grimaced faintly. [It can't be this soon, we're not due there for some time yet. But it's just like in the palace...] >Something...unexpected...] The former Pharaoh peers suspiciously at >the dense cloud cover ahead. "Captain Sparrow!" he calls out, but >whatever advice he would have given dies aborning as the cosmolabe >goes berserk in his pouch. He yanks it back out, stares at it with >wide eyes, then looks up. [Unless they decided to meet us halfway,] Karma realized, getting to her feet and striding toward Mobius to see what the former Pharaoh's instincts are. > An entire island emerges from the clouds above them, massive >downward spires of rust-red metal echoing with the tremendous >clanking of gears the size of small houses. "INCOMING!" Mobius roars, >then vaults downward, looking for Karma. If he spots her, he tries to >catch her and grab hold of the nearest rigging, though a lifeline >will do. Karma went pale as she caught her first glimpse of a more solid shape within the clouds. She stopped momentarily as Mobius caught her up, her mind suddenly filled with the image of another island, far different from this one, a tree at its center, whose people left it for the plains of the world below. "Funny," she said, staring, "Now that I see it, I realize I've seen it done better." > "ATTACK!" He roars instead, using the prehensile "whip" to grab >onto a broken spar and swing towards the heroes. The others scream >the classic "ARRR!" and follow suit. All except the woman behind the >spider-web veil... [No sense staying here,] Karma thought, [Swashbuckling, eh? Okay...] Karma grabbed her pack, sliding it on, and a line leading up into the rigging. She swung out over the side, arcing through open air toward the island. ===========================