Vampire Queens in Bondage (suprisingly *not* starring Roxy Hurrah)

A back and forth battle wages on the slippery, storm-racked stones of the Spiral Jetty. On one side is the malign and towering cloud of Cybelle the Matricide, once spiritual leader and iron-fisted ruler of the Hemophagic Demesne of Enkiil Isle. On the other is an alliance between the Eldarin magician Titus, two of Lord Dandy's Bailiffs, and a strike force from the Church of Treasure including its leader, its Pope, and its chief deviant.

Pætros has just freed Titus from the grasp of the a possessing demon, itself recently freed by Cybelle from one of the many lesser spirit traps covering the spiral. Titus, in turn, demanded anyone present and able lend him their magical strength. Pætros aided him with potent, if not quite kosher energies. Unfortunately when Odanais did the same, we found out the manna from his universe is DC, not AC.

The infinitely-miffed possessor demon recently evicted from Titus's soul by the magical Hat of the Porcophant hovers around the magician, who ignores it in favor of attempting to get the binding ritual under control. The demons very existence in this realm creates a thought-splitting psychic noise, the same nonsense phrase shouted endless through your heads. It reminds Odanais of several recent and terrible psychedelic experiences.

OOC: anyone starting their turn within 2 squares of it (and, currently, Titus and the Porcophant), is Dazed

Those of you not lending a hand of glory to Titus can deal with the demon, or help out in other ways. Attacking the stratocumular mass of Cybelle directly seems a wasted effort. However, she did seem powerfully distracted by real blood, as evidence by Pætros cutting himself and then causing holy pig's blood to shower down from whatever heavenly abattoir reigns above the Porcophant.

Note also that Cybelle has been directing most of her actions towards wrecking Titus's network of spirit traps, which dot this end of the Jetty.

Will Cybelle be bound anew -- in a vessel prepared by and keyed to Titus? Will she rage forever on this lonely, suicide-strewn beach? Will she turn on the Port like a spurned blood-sucking lover?

Hmmmm....

OOC: Go! (you have 1 failure and need 3 more successes)

Pætros raises his hands to the sky, and wails something in his painful-sounding native tongue. The swirling clouds begin to assume a shape resembling a truly enormous porcine snout...or perhaps it's a descending cyclone?

Whatever the case, the Porcophant switches to the lingua franca of the Port as he continues. "Oh, Glorious Treasure of the Heavens, Who Tramples the Heathen Underfoot And Carries The Faithful To Paradise Upon Her Broad And Comfortable Back! We is to be imploring you! Is to be lending Her strength to faithful, so can be smiting ectoplasmic harlot!"

OOC: Religion: 16

The member 'Rolzup' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'd20' : 6

Rolzup wrote:

OOC: Religion: 16

Thanks to the psyche-splitting ætheric noise emanating from the demon, Pætros's prayer comes out garbled and unanswerable. Meanwhile, the Bailiff's fire wildly on the demon and miss. They're clearly having trouble keeping up with the rapidly-evolving battlefield situation. The demon fares no better as it fails to scratch Pætros with an ectoplasmic claw.

Unfortunately, the demon follows up with a psychic shriek that fills Pætros with pain and rage, which he tries to alleviate by punching Titus in the face. Perhaps his hand was stayed by the calming cloven hoof of Treasure because his swing goes wide.

OOC: Pætros takes 14 psychic damage and is Dazed. You have 2 failures and require 3 more successes to bind Cybelle.

The member 'Mallus' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'd20' : 2, 4

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#2 'd6' : 2, 3

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#3 'd20' : 8, 5

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#4 'd6' : 4, 5

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#5 'd20' : 8, 1, 10, 6, 19, 13, 18, 6

OOC: oops, forgot about Lizzie...

Sensing that the possessor-demon is partially undead --how he came to this distinction is a mystery since he also believes it's totally unreal-- the League's stout, realist dwarf attempts to abjure it with a blast of concentrated materialism.

OOC: Lizze's abjures undead... and the demon takes 26 damage and is pulled 3 squares towards Lizzie. Currently no one is inside it's disruptive aura, ie no one is Dazed.

While this doesn't count as a success, it removes one failure, seeing as it clears Titus's head and buys you more time. So the counts is 1 failure, 1 success, 4 required.

The member 'Mallus' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'd20' : 11

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#2 'd10' : 5, 5, 8, 3

OOC: So is the skill challenge that we're trying to distract it long enough for Titus to finish his ritual?

gridley wrote:

OOC: So is the skill challenge that we're trying to distract it long enough for Titus to finish his ritual?

OOC: the goal of the challenge is to complete the binding ritual. Distracting the loose demon is one way to help. Titus requested the magically-inclined among you 'aid him'.

Mallus wrote:

Titus requested the magically-inclined among you 'aid him'.

OOC: Right. Distract, it is!

Cybelle!" yells Odanais. "Leave those dried-out old men alone and I shall deliver unto you a far more succulent feast: the Petitioners Guild themselves! Yes, those spoilsport warlocks from beyond the sea who stole your life and imprisoned you in that awful mask! Calm your wrath just a few moments and I shall deliver them right to your mouth, ripe for your revenge and juicy with blood!"

Bluff: 21 (because these forums hate bluffing!)

The member 'gridley' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'd20' : 2

gridley wrote:

Bluff: 21

Towering Cybelle looks down upon the talented Mr. Dare. Though his words are as transparent as the vampire queen's form, it must be said that Odanais Dare is pretty. Very pretty. Even sporting a goatee.

And his pretty mouth just mouthed the word 'succulent', which is irresistible to the hemophagic kind when spoken by the living. Cybelle extends a massive, ghostly arm and wraps fingers dainty as white birch branches around the lying sorcerer.

Odanais feels a familiar exhilarating-yet-draining sensation. However, Cybelle's attention is no longer on Titus or his spirit traps.

OOC: Odanais is Restrained, losses 2 Healing Surges, takes 15 damage, and 15 Ongoing damage. However, you gain 1 Success.

Mallus wrote:

gridley wrote:

Bluff: 21

Towering Cybelle looks down upon the talented Mr. Dare. Though his words are as transparent as the vampire queen's form, it must be said that Odanais Dare is pretty. Very pretty. Even sporting a goatee.

And his pretty mouth just mouthed the word 'succulent', which is irresistible to the hemophagic kind when spoken by the living. Cybelle extends a massive, ghostly arm and wraps fingers dainty as white birch branches around the lying sorcerer.

Odanais feels a familiar exhilarating-yet-draining sensation. However, Cybelle's attention is no longer on Titus or his spirit traps.

OOC: Odanais is Restrained, losses 2 Healing Surges, takes 15 damage, and 15 Ongoing damage. However, you gain 1 Success.

Sweet!

After Lizzie lures the demon away from Titus and the Porcophant with the promise of intense ideological debate (and promptly smites it with the same), the Bailiffs again shoot at it with the their man-portable arbalests...

... and by shoot 'at it' what was meant was 'in their general, cardinal direction'. All they manage to hit is the Aster.

As it stands, Titus is devoting all his attention to the ritual, which is nearing completion. Already wisps of Cybelle are beginning to flow into the vessel the Eldadrin has prepared for it.

OOC: shil, what's Artichoke doing? You need 2 more successes.

The member 'Mallus' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'd20' : 1, 5

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#2 'd6' : 5, 5, 4, 4

Mallus wrote:

OOC: shil, what's Artichoke doing? You need 2 more successes.

Unsurprisingly, Artichoke makes sure to stay well away from Cybele, since it seems getting close isn't going to achieve anything. Also unsurprisingly, the bald 'leader' of the group actually has a fair idea what Titus is doing despite his personal lack of arcane ability. I guess the extra study is paying off. Ignoring the psychic distractions and raising his voice, Artichoke yells, "Titus - watch out! Those two traps," he stabs a finger at two of the remaining spirit traps, "Are about to overload!"

OOC: 28 in Arcana. Also moves to stay a good 5 squares from Cybele.

The member 'shilsen' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'd20' : 17

shilsen wrote:

Also unsurprisingly, the bald 'leader' of the group actually has a fair idea what Titus is doing despite his personal lack of arcane ability.

OOC: Artichoke's like a 2-lobed man in the country of the lobotomized.

Quote :

"Titus - watch out! Those two traps," he stabs a finger at two of the remaining spirit traps, "Are about to overload!"

OOC: 28 in Arcana. Also moves to stay a good 5 squares from Cybele.

A startled Titus looks to where Artichoke is pointing and immediately floats over a channel of surging Aster water to attend to the traps. Neither they, nor the Eladrin magician, explode.

By now a significant portion of Cybelle's vaporous mass has been pulled into the containment vessel.

Swaying a little, and coming dangerously close to falling into the Aster, Pætros levels his staff at Cybelle and calls upon the Power of Pig.

"Into vessel, shameless ectoplasmic hussy!" His voice is somewhere between a roar and a squeal....

OOC: Use Cloak of Awe. Pray a little. Intimidate 23.

The member 'Rolzup' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'd20' : 9

Cowed by the Porcophant's thunderous and partly porcine words, the spirit of Cybelle the Matricide relinquishes its last hold on freedom and accepts her fate bound to another magical artifact. This time her irredeemable soul's lonely prison is a plain beaten copper amulet rather than a fancy ivory mask.

Magister Titus carefully removes the amulet from the center of the arcane diagram in which it lays. He places it around his neck. Nothing overt happens, except, perhaps for the slightest of smiles creasing the Eladrin wonder-worker's mouth. With little more than an incomprehensible word and a curt gesture he forces the free possessor-demon into one of his traps.

"Shall we repair to Lord Dandy's estate? Or have you changed your minds about me being your enemy?" asks Titus drolly. Dandy's Bailiffs, like most of their kind, are devoid of humor. At Titus's words they raise their giant crossbows as if in warning.

OOC: now what?

Mallus wrote:

Cowed by the Porcophant's thunderous and partly porcine words, the spirit of Cybelle the Matricide relinquishes its last hold on freedom and accepts her fate bound to another magical artifact. This time her irredeemable soul's lonely prison is a plain beaten copper amulet rather than a fancy ivory mask.

Magister Titus carefully removes the amulet from the center of the arcane diagram in which it lays. He places it around his neck. Nothing overt happens, except, perhaps for the slightest of smiles creasing the Eladrin wonder-worker's mouth. With little more than an incomprehensible word and a curt gesture he forces the free possessor-demon into one of his traps.

"Shall we repair to Lord Dandy's estate? Or have you changed your minds about me being your enemy?" asks Titus drolly. Dandy's Bailiffs, like most of their kind, are devoid of humor. At Titus's words they raise their giant crossbows as if in warning.

OOC: now what?

"Our part perhaps unfinished," says Odanais, ""we shall see how this all plays out."

The Porcophant seals the still bleeding gash in his hand with a harsh word and a brief flicker of flame. "Am willing to listen," he agrees with Odanais. "To estate, wash taste of Aster from mouth with cheap mortal wines, talk like civilized peoples. Be violent later, if need to."

gridley wrote:

"Our part perhaps unfinished," says Odanais, ""we shall see how this all plays out."

Rolzup wrote:

The Porcophant seals the still bleeding gash in his hand with a harsh word and a brief flicker of flame. "Am willing to listen," he agrees with Odanais. "To estate, wash taste of Aster from mouth with cheap mortal wines, talk like civilized peoples. Be violent later, if need to."

Artichoke thoughtfully rubs his stubbled chin, wondering if he wants to end up inside Lord Dandy's estate with all the Bailiff's guards present. But it seems there's little other option other than attacking Titus now, so he reluctantly says, "Yes, we'll accompany you, Titus. And while we do that, how about telling us exactly what's going on with you and the mask and the Petitioners?"

shilsen wrote:

And while we do that, how about telling us exactly what's going on with you and the mask and the Petitioners?"

"The Petitioners? I have no business with them now. As I've already explained the Mask, that is, the spirit of Cybelle, is to be used as part of a treatment for the young Lady Dandy's... affliction. Any further discussion of the matter will occur before his Lordship. I have been acting solely as the Lord's agent and will not be led into betraying his confidence".

You make your back across the a storm-wracked shore, dotted as it always is with lovers, suicides, and reckless opportunists. Magister Titus floats across the sands. He doesn't dirty his boots with earth until you reach the outskirts of the Port. Soon after, a dark shape wings down out of the rain to alight on Titus's should.

"Say no more" quoth the raven, who's name is Lazlo and acts as the magician's legal counsel.

It's a relative quick trip by undead-pulled streetcar from the edge of the Shambles to the Lord Dandy's iron gate in the Sway of Medallion. Servant let you in and no more than minute passes before you're seated before Lord Dandy, who flanked by two enormous Bailiffs.

"The binding succeeded, your Lordship" says Titus.

"Good. What are they doing here?" says Dandy, with a cold economy which suggests not so much displeasure as the skyrocketing price of words.