Into Darkness
Chapter 1
Session Start: Sat Sep 26 1998 22:16
Session Close: Sun Sep 27 1998 02:20
Elapsed Time: 4h, 4m
Total Elapsed: 12h, 12m

[Storyteller] It was one of those erie kind of nights. Even down in the wine cellar (where you'd spent the three hours since dinner cleaning), you could feel it. Something was certainly amiss. Of course, it wouldn't do you any good to mention it to anybody. There was a reason you were down here cleaning the wine cellar after all.
Ever since you started talking to people about your concerns over Imogene, you'd been getting the cheap ass assignments. "Audrey, go light all the lanters... Audrey, sweep out the kitchen... Audrey, go clean the wine cellar."
Just as you sit down for a brief repast (damn did the shrine have a lot of wine!), you hear a knock at the top of the stairs.
~ Knock! ~ Knock! ~ Knock! ~
* Audrey jumps.
[Audrey] Who's there?
[Storyteller] Above you, the door creaks open.
[Morgan] Audrey? You down there?
[Audrey] Y-yes Morgan. Is something the matter?
[Morgan] Imogene wants you upstairs right away.
* Audrey finishes polishing a wine bottle, puts it away, and sighs.
[Audrey] I thought she would...
[Audrey] I'll...I'll be up right away.
[Morgan] Make it fast. The weather has put her in a foul mood.
[Audrey] Where is she right now?
[Morgan] In her chambers.
* Audrey nods, and walks up the stairs, like someone who has been condemmed to hell..or at least something unpleasant.
* Morgan looks her over quickly.
[Morgan] I'd suggest you clean up first, but she's rip-roarin' mad.
* Audrey sighs again. "I understand."
[Morgan] Well... Be on your way. I'll finish up down there.
[Audrey] Thank you, Morgan..
* Morgan descends the stairs, closing the door behind him.
* Audrey walks off to Imogene's chambers, sighing under her breath.
[Audrey] Well, guess this is it...guess this is where I lose everything....sorry mother....
[Storyteller] When you get to the door, neither of the two regular attendants is present.
[Audrey] ...That's odd....
[Storyteller] In fact, the temple looks quite deserted.
[Audrey] I wonder where everyone is.....?
* Audrey knocks softly on Imogene's door.
[Imogene] (Yelling) Who is it?!
[Audrey] It's me.
[Audrey] You wished to see me?
[Imogene] Yes! Come in, come in!
* Audrey calms herself, says a quick prayer, and walks inside.
* Imogene sits on a chair next to her private prayer altar. She looks Audrey over, frowning.
[Audrey] Is something wrong?
[Imogene] Well, you certainly paint an excellent image of Althena's servants... But nevermind... I have a task for you.
[Audrey] A....task?
[Imogene] Yes, a task. Do you think you can handle it?
[Audrey] Whatever it is, I'll do it...but what is this task?
[Imogene] It's really very simple. I'm sure you'll be up to it.
* Audrey relaxes slightly, but is still on guard.
[Imogene] I'm leaving the shrine for a few days. Most of the priests and priestesses are coming with me. You're going to stay here and run things while I'm away.
[Audrey] Oh...
[Imogene] Do you think you can handle that? Or shall I select somebody else?
[Audrey] No, I can handle it, Ma'am.
[Imogene] Very well then. Go on and clean yourself up. The rest of us will be leaving within the hour.
* Audrey nods, and quietly exits the room.
* Imogene rises from her chair, grabs a cloak off of a rack nearby and heads in your direction, toward the door.
[Imogene] Oh... There are two people in the guest quarters.
[Audrey] There are?
[Imogene] Whatever you do, don't let them out.
[Audrey] ...Why? Are they robbers?
[Imogene] They're wanted in Meribia for murder, thievery, and destruction of property.
[Audrey] Oh! Well, then, I'll make sure they don't escape.
[Imogene] Very well then. Good bye. And try not to burn the place down.
[Audrey] Eh?...oh...of course not.
* Audrey bristles a bit.
* Imogene strides off, her long blonde hair billowing behind her.
[Imogene] (Yelling) Morgan! Gather the others! We're leaving!
* Audrey 's face breaks into a sly grin the second Imogene is out of sight. She whispers to herself.
[Audrey] Not let them out? Ha...that's the first thing I'm going to do.

Basement - Paria Inn, Meribia

[Storyteller] The three slowly walk down the stairs into the darkened basement. In one corner, a few candles flicker. Clustered around the candles are Salah's mother and younger siblings.
* Salah quietly calls out.
[Salah] Mommy?
[Mom] Yes, darling... Over here.
* Salah walks over to her mother
* Cassandra looks around.
[Salah] Are you okay?
[Storyteller]
* Mom ignores Cassandra's sly remark, then looks at her daughter.
[Mom] Of course. Are you?
* Salah nods.
[Salah] I'm fine, but these two people I met...
* Salah gestures to Miri and Cassandra.
[Salah] ...were hurt protecting me.
* Miriamele glances around the room.
[Cassandra] I wasn't protecting her, really. I just needed to get out of this damn city, and your brat decided to follow me.
* Salah takes her headband off and uses it to tie her hair up.
[Mom] You have a foul mouth, young lady. If you're hurt, I'll share our herbs with you. But do not refer to my daughter as a brat.
* Miriamele looks at Cass.
[Miriamele] We were more or less kinda thrown together by fate, truth be told.
* Mom rises from the ground with two bundles of herbs in her hands. She passes one to Miriamele, then gives the other to Cassandra.
* Miriamele accepts the small gift.
[Miriamele] Thank you.
* Cassandra rolls her eyes.
[Cassandra] Thanks, lady...I guess. But I still think she should've helped us instead of not doing anything.
* Mom looks Cassandra in the eyes.
[Mom] You may do whatever you please, but my daughter is not about to start a fight, nor participate in one. Right, Salah?
* Salah glances at her bow in her hand.
[Salah] Sorry, but I-I didn't bring my bow with me. I didn't think I would need to use it.
[Cassandra] Do you mind not staring?
* Salah nods to her mother
[Mom] Good, well... Why don't you join us over here by the candles.
* Mom goes back to the twins.
[Cassandra] This place is going to hell. Either she learns to fight, or she'll be dead very soon.
* Mom spins to face Cassandra again.
[Miriamele] Cass... she's just a kid. She doesn't have to do anything.
[Mom] I will not tolerate that kind of language!
* Salah walks over to her twin brothers and kneels in front of them.
[Salah] How are you two doing?
* Cassandra smirks and says sarcastically.
[Cassandra] Excuse me.
[Mike & Chris] Just fine... Is Dad out kicking ass?
* Mom glares at the twins, then looks back to Cassandra.
[Mom] See what kind of an example you're setting?
* Salah snickers.
[Salah] Yeah, he is.
[Storyteller] Suddenly, there is a large boom overhead. The ceiling seems to shake, then dust pours down off the rafters. The trapdoor at the top of the stairs slams open. A figure steps through, then it quick slams shut again.
* Salah looks up.
[Miriamele] I don't like this any..
* Salah backs up holding the twins closely to her.
[Roy] Holy shit, Mom! Somebody just blew up the general store!
[Mom] Roy Paria! Watch your tongue!
* Cassandra snickers.
[Cassandra] What happened to tolerating language?
[Salah] Ramus' store?
[Roy] Yeah, Ramus'! Blew the place to hell!
[Mom] Roy!
* Cassandra laughs.
[Salah] I hardly see this as funny. B-but Ramus' store, was he...?
[Storyteller] The whole room seems to shudder. The far end of one of the rafters breaks free and collapses. It swings down, barely missing Cassandra, but still nocking her to the ground.
[Cassandra] Holy shit!
[Mom] (yelling) If you don't stop swearing, I'm going to take you over my knee and tan your ass myself!
[Salah] Mom!! Everyone! Just calm down!
[Cassandra] Excuse me? What was that about swearing? I think maybe you're the bad influence on your children, lady.
* Salah walks over to Cassandra and offers her hand.
[Miriamele] I think now isn't the time or place for this conversaion!
* Cassandra looks at Salah's hand and pushes herself up.
[Roy] The whole place is gonna come down on our heads I think.
[Mike & Chris] And our asses are gonna get smooshed flat!
[Miriamele] Yeah... I wouldn't stay here any longer than we have to.
* Salah nods.
[Salah] W-we can't stay here.
* Salah walks over to the basement door.
[Storyteller] Looking around, you notice a minor technical difficulty... The falling rafter crushed the stair case. There simply is no way back up.
[Cassandra] You know what? We're screwed.
[Salah] How are we gonna get out?
[Storyteller] The roof above shudders again. Both of the twins run across the room to hold onto thier mother.
[Cassandra] Human ladder?
[Miriamele] Climb up the rafter, maybe?
[Salah] I doubt that'll work.
[Roy] Well... What if there were a secret passage into the sewers?
[Roy] I mean... It's possible, isn't it?
[Salah] Roy, what did you...
[Cassandra] It's possible...But don't look at me to lead you all. I'm not one to go rummaging around sewers.
[Miriamele] Secret passages... sounds ridiculously far fetched, if you ask me.
[Salah] But what about Daddy?
[Storyteller] A light shines from the far wall.
[Voice] Not totally far fetched.
* Salah looks over to the far wall upon hearing the voice
* Cassandra looks towards where the voice came from.
* Miriamele turns in the direction of the voice.
[Storyteller] The light silhoutes a rather short and rotund figure.
[Salah] Ramus?
[Ramus] At your service, dear girl.
[Cassandra] If it isn't pleasantly plump to the rescue.
[Ramus] You never came to pick up that lost bag of silver you found in the store.
[Ramus] I told you you could have it if nobody came back for it.
* Salah looks at Cassandra.
[Salah] Can't you be nice, at least once?
* Salah nods to Ramus
[Cassandra] No, not really.
[Storyteller]
* Roy looks at Cassandra again and shudders a bit. .oO(Sexy and saucy... I'm in loooooooooove!)
[Miriamele] Well, enough talk. Let's get a move on, before this place is brought down around our ears.
[Ramus] A very prudent idea.
* Cassandra looks at Roy.
[Cassandra] You want me to teach you something kid?
[Roy] .oO(Anything you want, baby!) Um... Thank you...
* Salah aproaches the short, cubby man.
[Salah] Lead the way.
[Miriamele] He'll agree to your offer later, Cass. Provided we all get out of this alive.
[Storyteller]
* Mom picks up the two kids and makes her way toward the exit.
[Cassandra] It's called masturbation. Why don't you try it out?
[Storyteller]
* Ramus steps back out into the sewers, holding the lantern up.
* Cassandra follows the others.
[Mom] Roy, come here. Take your brother... And stop oogling the nasty woman.

Meribian Sewers

* Salah follows Ramus into the sewers
* Miriamele glances around at the urban subterrain.
[Ramus] Let's go...
[Storyteller]
* Ramus starts walking, then stops...
[Ramus] Wait a second...
[Miriamele] Forget something?
[Salah] What is it?
* Ramus looks back and forth, seemingly confused...
[Cassandra] Great, chubs forgot the way...
[Miriamele] Lost?
[Ramus] No, of course not.
* Ramus walks back over to the entryway into Salah's basement and picks up a large sword that he had rest against the door frame.
* Salah glances at the sword
* Ramus slings the sword over his shoulder, then head the opposite direction from the way he picked orignally.
[Miriamele] You sure you know where you're headed?
* Salah quickly follows Ramus.
[Miriamele] You were headed the other way..
[Ramus] Oh! Right you are!
* Ramus turns around and leads the group the other direction.
[Miriamele] You know much about who the attackers are, mister, uh, Ramus?
* Salah sighs and continues to follow Ramus.
[Ramus] Sorta reminds me of the stories Alex told 'bout the Vile Tribe... 'Least they fight like 'em...
[Miriamele] The Vile Tribe... to me they were practically campfire stories...
[Salah] Vile Tribe?
[Salah] But those ships....
[Ramus] What ships?
[Salah] They looked... they looked.... advanced.
[Salah] Black ships.
[Salah] They didn't have any sails.
[Miriamele] It's how they attacked... from the sea.
[Ramus] Like my steamship, eh?
[Cassandra] Big, black, rock-lookin' ships.
[Salah] Or decks.
[Storyteller] The group continues to slog through the sewers. Mom and Roy fall silent, totally preoccupied with carrying the twins. Time passes. It seems like you've been down here for hours.
[Cassandra] Are you sure we ain't lost, big guy?
[Miriamele] Uh, where is it we're going exactly?
* Salah believes she'll need a nice long bath after this. Mid thought, she stops dead.
[Salah] Someone's coming!
[Ramus] Where?
* Miriamele listens.
[Miriamele] Shush..!
[Salah] I-I don't know... Just, someone's coming.
[Storyteller] There isn't a sound, other than the water slowly flowing past.
[Cassandra] It's your imagination.
* Salah sighs.
[Salah] I-I guess it was....
[Cassandra] You're just getting paranoid from being down here too long. You think you're hearing things because of the nasty smells of this sewer.
[Miriamele] If there is... we'll just have to move faster... I don't wanna have to run into anything. :/
[Cassandra] The fumes are getting to your head.
[Roy] Lets just get going.
[Mom] Yes... Please...
* Salah nods.
[Salah] S-sorry.
* Ramus looks around, then heads down the right-hand tunnel.
* Salah quietly follows.
* Miriamele takes a quick glance down the left shaft first.
* Salah looks around, staying quiet but alert.
* Miriamele catches up with the rest of the group.
* Cassandra keeps her hand near her whip, just in case.
[Storyteller] Just as Cassandra puts her hand to her whip, something wizzes past her. It puts a nice scratch across the back of her hand, then plunks into the water far down the tunnel ahead of you.
[Cassandra] What the hell was that?!
* Miriamele spins around!

~~~ Combat! Round One! ~~~

* Salah looks at the men.
* Miriamele flicks her wrists, and a few small daggers slip into her grasp.
[Cassandra] That is some phat shit, Miri. I'm gonna have to get me one of those.
[Miriamele] Great in situations like this, I must admit.
* Miriamele charges the robed man, unleashing a volley of the small daggers to clear her path as she charges in to deal two quick blows to the man! Flipping back out of the range of rebuttal, she finishes up with another volley of throwing knives!
* Cassandra sucks some blood from her hand as she looks at the men.
[Storyteller] 3 damage! 2 damage! 2 damage! 4 damage!
* Salah looks at Miri, noting her talent for fighting.
* Crossbowman A quickly reloads his cross bow and takes a shot at Salah. He hits Salah for 6 damage.
* Salah falls on her knee and clutches her wound.
[Salah] Ow!
* Salah winces at the pain.
* Crossbowman B gets down on one knee, and fires off a bolt at Ramus. It klinks against something under his clothing. 0 damage!
* Cassandra chuckles.
[Cassandra] Fat makes good body armor, huh Ramus?
* Magician raises his his arm. The sleeve of his robe slides down, reavealing and intricate pattern of diamond & snake tatoos along his arm.
[Magician] "Rock Javelin!"
[Cassandra] Those are cute, really.
[Storyteller] Shards of rock rise from the water and form a long spike. It races forward and strikes Cassandra. Cassandra takes 7 damage from Magician's spell.
* Cassandra creeps up behind Crossbowman A, like a shadow. With a slight chuckle, she moves as fast as lighting, trying to steal his weapon right from under his nose! With a satistied grin, she returns to her comrades.
[Storyteller] Cassandra rips the weapon from his hands, but drops it at his feet accidentally.
* Cassandra chuckles.
[Cassandra] Oops. At least it leaves him unarmed for a bit.
* Salah stands pulls up her bow and aims at the first man, but holds back...
[Storyteller] Despite her attempt to minimize the damage, the arrow drives right into his side. Critical Hit! FS_Scout takes 10 damage.
* Salah lowers her head.
[Storyteller] Ramus draws the sword from behind him, holding it aloft. It begins to glow softly as he mumbles...

~~~ Combat! Round 2! ~~~

* Miriamele practically performs a repeat of her earlier attack, covering her entry into melee range with the initial thrown volley, slashing at the mage twice, but this time leaping over his head and landing behind him, finishing with her last thrown volley!
* Magician takes 1 damage! 2 damage! 2 damage! Critical Hit! 10 damage!
* Crossbowman  A turns on Miriamele, takes aim and fires. He hits Miriamelle for 4 damage.
* Crossbowman  B fires at Salah. Critical Miss! The arrow flies past and strikes somebody behind them with a wet thunk.
* Miriamele clutches her arm where the bolt grazed, following up with a thick volley of expletives.
* Salah turns around to see who it hit.
* Crossbowman A turns to Miriamele, and swings at him barehanded. He hits Miriamelle for 2 damage.
* Miriamele deftly blocks the brunt of the attack!
* Magician raises his cane... He swings it in a wide arc.
[Magician] "Rockslide!"
[Storyteller] The ceiling above shakes...Large chunks of it fall free... Cassandra takes 5 damage from thes spell. Miriamelle takes 5 damage from the spell.
* Cassandra looks up and tries to move away from the chunks.
* Salah looks up and tries to dodge the fallen debris.
[Storyteller] Salah takes 0 damage from the spell. Ramus takes 4 damage from the spell. Roy takes 19 damage from the spell and dies!
[Salah] Roy!
[Storyteller] Mom takes 24 damage from the spell and dies!
[Salah] Mom!
[Storyteller] Mike takes 7 damage from the spell and dies! Chris takes 9 damage from the spell and dies!
[Salah] NO!!
* Cassandra blinks.
[Cassandra] I... I'm so... I'm so sorry that happened to... I'm so sorry that happened to your family... Salah...
* Salah glares at the mage with tears in her eyes.
* Salah crosses her hands and begins to chant as a cold wind begins to blow, she thrusts her fists forward as daggers of ice are hurled toward Magician!
[Storyteller] Her tears seem to freeze on her face as the magic forms the shards of ice before her.
[Salah] MURDERER!!
[Storyteller] The silvers launch forth... Thousands of microscopic needles of ice piece the body...
* Cassandra blinks at Salah.
[Cassandra] Holy shit. A psycho is born...
[Storyteller] FS_Mage takes 15 damage from Salah's spell and dies!
* Salah lets herself fall to the ground.
* Ramus swings the sword above his head.
[Ramus] "Sword of Dyne, bring forth the light of the first of the Four Heroes of Old! Radiant Light!"
[Storyteller] With a nearly audible woosh the glow increases by about a hundred orders of magnitude. When the light dies down, the three enemies bodies glow briefly then fall to the ground, dead.
* Salah cries.

~~~ Victory! ~~~

[Miriamele] You okay, Salah?
[Salah] W-w-why did they have to-to die?
* Cassandra searches all of the bodies for anything of value.
[Storyteller] Ramus leans against the side tunnel, the spell having seemed to drained a lot from the chubby old man.
[Ramus] (softly) Salah... I'm so sorry...
* Salah looks pleadingly at her mother and brothers.
* Miriamele retrieves her knife collection, scattered about the battle area.
[Salah] I-I...
[Storyteller]
* Ramus pulls himself back up...
[Ramus] (softly) Come on... Lets go... There's an exit outside the city walls further ahead...
[Salah] I-I'm not going.
 

Lighthouse, Katarina Zone

[Storyteller] Finn: You both woke up a few hours later. You felt refreshed after your long nap. Down on the ground floor, Finn was awoken from his sleep by a cold, damp draft coming from the open door. Upstairs, Cobia is awoken by a loud crashing sound up above.
* Finn mutters and slowly gets up, stretching his arms...
* Finn walks over to the door, slowly awakening...
[Storyteller] The cold chill air washes over you from the direction of the door. It swings loosely on it's hinges, back and forht from the wind.
* Finn grimaces and steps outside...
* Finn looks around.
[Storyteller] There's nothing out there, just more darkness. It's black as night... In fact, you no longer see the light shining from up above.

[Storyteller] Cobia: The sound of the wind outside picks up. You hear some scraping noises upstairs.
* Cobia wakes abruptly.
[Storyteller] The wind wistles past the shutters of your room, sending a peculiar shiver down your spine.
* Cobia gets to his feet and caresses his blade to ease the tension.
[Storyteller] Up above, the scratching sound continues. For a brief instant, the wind dies down as does the scratching. But soon, both pick back up.
* Cobia heads towards the stairs, then contiues up.
[Storyteller] You reach out and quickly grab the railing, not expecting the stone stairs to be covered with water.
* Cobia waits at the top of the stairs.
[Storyteller] The trap door is shut, but water seeps around the edges.
* Cobia pushes the door lightly at first, then harder as it seems stuck.
[Storyteller] With a pop, it swings up, water cascades down on you. The wind whips your hair around. The scratching sound is now accompanied by a metallic twanging.
* Cobia decides to head upstairs and search for the noise.
[Storyteller] Just as you get to the top, your reflexes kick and and you dive to the ground... A long stand of metal wire swings over your head. If you'd been any slower, you would have lost it. The wire wraps itself around one of the railings around the light chamber and stops moving.
* Cobia grabs his neck, making sure that his head is still attached.
[Storyteller] The large glass enclosure of the light is shattered. The floor sparkles with wet shards of it. The light itself in the center of the room is toppled over. Sparks occasionally burst from the hole in the floor.
* Cobia takes out his machette and follows the disturbance.
[Storyteller] A few odd looking cables run up from the hole to the toppled light. A half severed one is the source of the sparks.
* Cobia looks down the hole in the floor.
[Storyteller] It's only about six inches deep. The cables run though a smaller hole. It's exactly the shape of the light unit.
* Cobia looks towards the light unit.
[Storyteller] It looks like it was ripped clean from it's moorings. The only thing still connecting it to the lighthouse is those sparking cables. It's plain to see that the wind and water shattered the lighthouse and knocked it over. In fact, you're getting soaked to the bone by the stinging rain.
* Cobia decides that he better find the rest of the rag tag party.
[Storyteller] The cable explodes in one last surge of sparks, then goes dead.

[Storyteller] Finn: You hear strange noise up on top of the lighthouse.
* Finn walks back inside and walks up to try and find Cobia.
[Storyteller] Near the base of the stairs is a small table. Resting on the table is a neatly penned note.
* Finn raises an eyebrow and picks up the note...

[Storyteller] The note reads:

I've left the lighthouse to continue on toward Meribia.
I have important business to deal with there.- Rei

[Finn] How nice.
* Finn pockets the note and continues upstairs.
[Storyteller] You make your way up the stairs. Finding nothing but a few empty rooms on the second level, you continue upwards. On the third floor, you noticed that the air is rather damp, as are the floors.
* Finn frowns slightly...
[Finn] Hey, Cobia! Where are you?

[Storyteller] Cobia: From downstairs...
[Voice] Hey, Cobia! Where are you?
* Cobia homes in on the voice and goes towards it.
[Storyteller] Cobia comes down the stairs, closing the trap door behind him just as Finn reaches them.
[Finn] What's going on?
[Cobia] I am not certian, where is your lady friend?
[Finn] Rei is NOT my lady friend.
[Finn] Read for yourself, though...
* Finn hands Cobia the note.
* Cobia reads the note.
[Storyteller] The note reads:

I've left the lighthouse to continue on toward Meribia.
I have important business to deal with there.- Rei

[Cobia] And what of the light keeper?
[Finn] I have no idea... Why is it so damn WET up here? Did someone smash a window?
[Cobia] Well, you could say that.
[Finn] Please, elaborate...
[Cobia] The top of the lighthouse blew off in this terrible storm.
* Finn blinks.
[Finn] Wow. Er...hmm. What are we going to do?
[Cobia] I think we should wait at the bottom of this lighthouse. Those damn walls must be 15 feet wide down there, and wait out the storm.
[Finn] What about going after Rei, to Meribia? I mean... She's not going to fare well by herself in a storm like this.
[Cobia] Well, if you think your wench might not survive the storm...then we might as well follow her.
* Finn bristles.
[Finn] She is NOT my wench. Okay?
[Cobia] Whatever you say.
[Finn] We just have an obligation to her as a human being.
* Finn walks downstairs and out the door.
[Finn] Let's go, the faster we get this over with the faster we'll get this over with!
* Cobia follows behind Finn.
[Finn] You're the navigation expert, right? Which way is Meribia?
[Storyteller] Around the long, gentle curve of the bay, you can actually see a faint glow. Meribia lies in that direction.
* Finn starts a slow run towards the glow.
* Cobia points to the light.
[Cobia] I'd say it would be that way.
[Finn] Stupid girl...
[Storyteller] Were the light house still active, it could probably be seen with ease from the city.

Wilderness, Katarina Zone

* Finn continues running, looking around for Rei...
* Cobia watches Finn slip and fall into the mud.
* Cobia follows behind.
* Finn starts calling loudly.
[Finn] Rei? REI?
[Storyteller] A voice calls out from ahead...
[Voice A] Who?
[Finn] Is that you, Rei?
[Voice A] (closing) Who?!
[Finn] It's Finn and Cobia!
[Voice C] (more off to the side) Who?
* Finn turns toward the voice.
[Finn] FINN AND COBIA!
[Storyteller] Two people step out of the fog in front of you...
[Voice A] Who?
[Finn] Er...hmm. Shit.
[Cobia] Great, Now look what you've done kid.
[Storyteller] Two more come out of the fog off to the side.
[Voice C] Who?
* Finn unsheathes his sword.
[Finn] Well, you're a huge sailor type guy, I'm sure we can take 'em no problem, right?

~~~ Combat! Round 1! ~~~

* Cobia slashes at the second target.
[Storyteller] Cobia hits for 11 damage.
* Cobia takes his machette, a silver highlight gleams off of the blade as the it is swung towards the seconds man throat.
[Storyteller] Cobia hits for 14 damage.
* Finn rushes at the first target, deftly making two slashes at its throat area, then drives his sword hard into each of its legs.
[Storyteller] Dagger: 4 damage. 4 damage. Sword: 13 damage. 12 damage.
[Finn] Sorry for un-brightening your day...
* WereOwl A turns to look at Finn, his eyes growing large... He seems to swell... then his clothes burst... Feathers sprout all over the formerly human body... With a burst, the man turns into some sort of owl/human hybrid!
[Storyteller] All HP restored!
[Finn] Eh...lovely...
* WereOwl B, directly to his left, does the exact same thing, turning into some hideous mockery of bird and man. All HP restored!
* Cobia eyes up the turkey men.
[Storyteller] With another group of sickening snaps, crackles, and pops, the other two turn into the same form.
[WereOwl D] WHO?!

~~~ Combat! Round 2! ~~~

* Cobia runs up to the second owl man and unleases a fury of chops to its chicken legs.
* WereOwl B takes 34 damage from Cobia's weapon skill.
* Finn slashes twice with his dagger at the first WereOwl, and follows with two vicious thrusts from his sword.
[Storyteller] Critical Hit! WereOwl A takes 34 damage. Critical Hit! WereOwl A takes 32 damage. WereOwl A dies!
* Finn wipes the blood off his sword.
[Storyteller] The first two attacks slay the beast, so he moves on to another...
[Storyteller] Finn hits WereOwl B for 10 damage. Critical Hit! WereOwl B takes 36 damage. Were Owl B is dead!
* WereOwl C rises up in the air, slash it's claws at Cobia's face. Critical Hit! Cobia takes 21 damage.
* WereOwl D rushes at Finn. Finn deftly dodges out of the way, sending the owl sprawling to the ground.

~~~ Combat! Round 3! ~~~

* Cobia runs towards the owl man and spins twice, hitting the target both times.
[Storyteller] Cobia hits WereOwl C for 11 damage. Cobia hits WereOwl C for 15 damage.
* Finn stabs WereOwl twice in succession with his dagger, then swings down twice more with his sword.
[Storyteller] Finn-S hits WereOwl C for 7 damage. Finn hits WereOwl C for 4 damage.
[Storyteller] Finn hits WereOwl C for 11 damage. WereOwl C is dead!
[Storyteller] Finn turns to catch the one lying on the ground on the backswing... Finn hits WereOwl D for 12 damage.
* WereOwl D leaps up and slashes at Finn with it's razor sharp wing feathers. Critical Hit! Finn takes 20 damage.
* Finn gasps and stumbles backward.

~~~ Combat! Round 4! ~~~

* Cobia dives onto the remaining owl man and slashes towards its neck.
[Storyteller] Cobia hits WereOwl D for 15 damage. Cobia hits WereOwl D for 15 damage. WereOwl D dies!

~~~ Victory! ~~~

Shrine of Althena

[Storyteller] After a short burst of hustle and bustle, the entire Shrine seems empty. True to her word, Imogene did take most of the priests with her. Both Lynna and Criz could here some activity going on in the main chambers, but locked up, they really couldn't do much about it. With almost everybody gone, the shrine is quite... dead quiet.
* Audrey quietly sneaks out of Imogene's room, a gold key dangling from her hands.
[Audrey] ...I don't even know why I'm being so sneaky...everyone's gone....
* Lynna moves closer to the door of her room, suspecting something is up from all the noise
* Daria walks around the corner...
[Audrey] Ah!
* Audrey stuffs the key into her pocket.
[Daria] What were you doing in Imogene's room? And what was that in your pocket?
[Audrey] She asked me to take care of things while she was away. I needed the key to clean up the horse stables upstairs. They're locked up in stormy weather. It's just the key to get inside.
[Daria] You're going to free those two people she's got locked up in the main hall, aren't you?
[Audrey] No. Of course not. Not after what Imogene told me.
[Daria] What did she tell you?
[Audrey] Just that they're dangerous. I don't want to deal with dangerous people tonight.
[Daria] Okay... Well... If you do... Come find me. I've got the key for both of those doors.
* Daria turns and walks away...
[Audrey] ....but I thought I had the key....
* Audrey takes it out and looks at it.
* Daria stops and turns back.
* Audrey puts it away just in time.
[Daria] Nope... But listen... I half agree with what you've been saying about Imogene...
[Audrey] You...you do?
[Daria] She has been acting wierd...
* Audrey smiles.
[Daria] You know Lucinda, right?
[Audrey] Of course.
[Daria] I haven't seen her since dinner two nights ago...
* Daria actually looks slightly upset.
[Audrey] Daria...
[Daria] I mentioned it to Imogene... She got really angry...And then today... Those two travellers were wounded.
[Audrey] She asked you to lock them up, didn't she?
* Lynna tries the doorknob unsuccessfully several times, making some loud clicking noises that echo down the hallway...
[Daria] We gave them some herbs, but she had us lock them up...
[Audrey] ...Daria...you know what we have to do...we have to let them out.
* Daria pulls the key out of her pocket...
[Daria] But we'll get in trouble...
[Audrey] We could dissapear next...
[Daria] I'll probably ge... What?
[Audrey] Don't you get it...how she distrusts me, but leaves me to look after the place...she's up to something...
[Daria] Maybe we should let them out then... Maybe they know something...
[Audrey] My thoughts exactly...
* Daria turns to head toward the central hall.
[Daria] But what happens if we get kicked out. Althena will never let us pass through her tower when we die...
[Audrey] I don't know...I've been wondering that all week... But Althena...she'll know the truth... She knows all things...
[Daria] But isn't Imogene supposed to be the voice of the Goddess? She is the High Priestess after all.
[Audrey] No..she isn't. Jessica is.
* Audrey grins.
[Daria] She... What... But Imogene said she was...
* Daria pushes open the heavy door that leads out into the central hall.
[Audrey] See what I mean? She's taking the power she has to do harm. We have to investigate it...
[Daria] But if Althena didn't want her to have the power, she wouldn't have it... Would she?
* Daria shakes her head...
[Daria] Oh, I'm so confused...
[Audrey] ...That I can't answer...
[Audrey] Everything will work out Daria, if you believe it will!
* Criz starts to bang on the doors fiercly, as the banging echoes throughout the hall.
* Lynna gives the lock one final turn, then gives up on it... Maybe she could break it down...
[Audrey] Hello?... Where are they?
[Daria] All the way down the end... Unless they moved them.
* Lynna hears some footsteps, and decides to give yelling a shot.
[Audrey] I doubt it. They were in such a hurry to leave.
* Criz throws himself at the door only t0o be send down to the ground and him holding his arm.
[Criz] Ouch..
[Lynna] HEY! ANYBODY THERE!
[Audrey] Yes!
[Criz] (Screams) HELLO...?
[Daria] Yes! We're coming... Hold on.
[Audrey] Don't worry, we're coming!
* Daria walks down, quickly trying each knob...
[Daria] Damn me and my stupid head...
* Lynna breathes sigh of relief, and listens as the steps come closer.
[Audrey] Bang on the doors! That way, we'll know where you are!
[Storyteller] SLAM! The heavy main entrance door shudders.
[Audrey] ...Oh no...what was that...
* Lynna slams her unclawed fist into the door of her room.
* Audrey mutters.
[Audrey] Please let it be the wind...please...
* Audrey finds Lynna's room.
[Lynna] Daria! Over here...
* Lynna mutters under her breath.
[Lynna] If I spend one more minute in this place...
* Criz bangs the door.
* Daria runs over with the key.
* Audrey smiles, takes the key from Daria, and opens Lynna's door.
[Criz] (Hollars) OVER HERE!
* Lynna watches the door open, obviously not in a good mood..
[Storyteller] SLAM! The heavy main entrance doors shudder again... This time, you can hear the metal hinges squeeking as they begin to buckle.
[Audrey] ....My god...we'd better hurry....something's wrong..
[Lynna] It's about time...
* Audrey picks up her skirts and runs in the direction of Criz's yelling.
[Daria] Ma'am... I'm really really sorry... I was just following orders. I didn't want to get kicked out of the church you see...
* Lynna glares at Daria icily.
[Daria] My mother would have a fit... She'd disown me... Please tell me you understand?
* Audrey finds Criz's room, and opens the door.
* Criz looks at Audrey as he eyes her up and down as he stands at attention and then comments on his stay.
[Criz] Well, it's about time for room service, what kind of 5 star hotel is this? We get locked up, no food, and...where's Lynna?
[Audrey] Don't worry, sir. You're safe now.
[Lynna] I understand..but that doesn't make me feel any better about it.
* Lynna walks out into the hallway.
* Criz notices Lynna and walks over to her.
[Storyteller] SLAM! The heavy main entrance doors shudder yet a third time. The center of the doors bulge, but they hold fast.
[Audrey] I'm sorry you got locked up, sir...I tried to find you as soon as I could...but we'd better go...
* Lynna smirks at Criz, seeing he's ok.
[Daria] Audrey! Look... The bar isn't in place!
[Audrey] ...It's not?
[Criz] Go..where to?
[Audrey] Is it even here?
* Lynna turns her head towards the obvious sounds.
[Criz] Ok...will someone tell me what's going on here?
[Daria] No! It's just locked... They'll break it down in no time...
[Audrey] Who'll break it down? Monsters?
[Storyteller] SLAM! The wood starts to break.
[Audrey] That Imogene...so this was her plan...
[Daria] How am I supposed to know?!
* Criz looks for his bo-staff.
[Lynna] Imogene..was that the High priestess's name?
[Audrey] Don't panic. Help me find something to bar the door!
* Criz searches all over for it and doesn't find it, he runs into his room and comes back out with it in hand.
[Audrey] Please!
[Criz] My bo-staff.
[Storyteller] SLAM! The door shatters inwards, showering you all with a hail of wood chips.
[Audrey] Too late!
[Lynna] I'll make sure to thank her later....