Road Trip
Chapter 24

Session Start: Sat Oct 23 22:56 1999
Session Close: Sun Oct 24 01:13 1999
Elapsed Time: 2h, 17m
Total Elapsed: 106h, 35m

Cast (In Order of Appearance)
  • "Windstar" as Salah Paria-Tirulian
  • Nicole "Lucca" Dinner as Audrey Nanshete
  • Jeremy "Bahamut" Baker as Miriamele
  • "Andrew" as Finn MacGovray
  • Travis "Enygma" Saucier as Lamont Lockeheart
  • J. Desorme as Will Dosyani
  • Richard "RPG Storen" Gregario as Lynna Handred
  • Supporting Cast: Pseudo-Lynna, Pseudo-Cassandra, Woman/Priestess Esmi, Lyle, Priestess Margory, Ramus, Preistess Daria, Priestess Virginia
  • Enemies: Vampire Audrey, Vargomere

    • Lava Flats, Marius Zone

    [Storyteller] We last left the party back up on the lava flats, just outside the Red Dragon's cave. With the departure of the Dragon, the volcanic activity has ceased, rendering the landscape around just as cool as the rest of the continent during these winter months.
    * Salah sighs.
    Audrey ... So... what now?
    * Miriamele hmms.
    [Miriamele] No clue... ^^;
    [Finn] I guess... we look for the next piece of equipment?
    * Lamont looks at the red dragon shield
    [Lamont] ... I'd guess so.
    [Miriamele] Where to next, then?
    [Salah] The Blue Dragon Helm?
    [Lamont] The Blue Dragon Cave is the closest.
    [Finn] Hmm, yeah... But in the meantime, what do we do with the piece that we have?
    * Will looks at the shield, thinking...
    [Lamont] Well, Finn, I suppose you should use it...
    * Audrey fingers the shield.
    [Audrey] It's as pretty as ... wow... "
    [Finn] Well, I'm not so sure.
    [Lamont] Why aren't you?
    [Will] But... you don't have one, do you, Lamont... ?
    [Finn] You have as big a chance as I do of becoming the Dragonmaster...
    [Lamont] I don't have a shield no... but I doubt that I'll be using this shield in the future. I'm not really strong enough.
    * Salah takes a few steps away from the party.
    [Finn] ... what do the rest of you think?
    [Psuedo-Cassandra] Don't start that "I'm not good enough" shit again, Lamont.
    * Audrey sighs...
    [Will] You shouldn't say that... both you and Finn are supposed to be capable enough. And if you're going to be using a sword instead of claws...
    * Audrey steps back too.
    [Audrey] It's not my deciscion.
    [Salah] .oO (They act just like brothers... )
    [Will] I think you should settle it among yourselves. It's really not for us to decide...
    [Pseudo-Lynna] Just make it quick, alright?
    Audrey ... It's cold in here...
    [Lamont] then if I suppose we'll have to do this in a fair way...
    [Pseudo-Lynna] Paper-Rock-Scissors?
    * Miriamele looks like she's paying attention to something else entirely.
    [Lamont] That was my thinking.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] You aren't serious?
    [Lamont] ... unless you can think of something else,Cassandra, I don't know
    [Finn] It's as good a method as any.
    *Pseudo-Cassandra shakes her head.
    * Lamont nods, "Simple and easy."
    * Finn shrugs
    * Will looks at Audrey.
    [Will] It is... ? Are you sure you're all right?
    [Lamont] Are you ready, Finn?
    [Finn] Yeah.
    [Lamont] OK...
    [Pseudo-Lynna] Dragonmaster Rock, and Dragonmaster Paper... Where's Dragonmaster Scissors?
    * Lamont shakes his hand, "I can't believe I'm using a kids' game to decide such an important matter... "
    * Pseudo-Lynna walks away and waits.
    Audrey I'm okay...
    [Lamont] OK let's go.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Ready?
    *Pseudo-Cassandra shakes her head...
    Audrey I'm either cold or hot lately... probably... a... flu... yes...
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] 1... 2... 3...
    [Storyteller] Lamont puts down... Rock! Finn puts down... Paper!
    * Lamont balls up his fist to show rock.
    * Finn stretches his hand out flat.
    [Lamont] Oh well.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Two out of three?
    [Will] You can have my coat or these spare clothes to put over if you want... :)
    * Lamont hands Finn the shield, "You'll probably end up using it anyway."
    Salah oO(All of them act like they've known each for years... )
    [Lamont] No Cassandra, it's okay.
    *Pseudo-Cassandra shrugs.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Fine.
    [Finn] Don't be so sure, Lamont... We'll divide the equipment up equally as we go along. The helmet is yours.
    [Lamont] I have a feeling... That we'll know who's in and who's out before long... Anyway...
    [Storyteller] Finn gains the Red Dragon Shield... Finn enables Red Dragon Vigor.
    [Lamont] Let's go to the Blue Dragon Cave.
    * Will scratches his head... "Um... do you know where that is... ?" ^^;
    Salah Where what is Will?
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Back the way we came, past Meryod, right?
    [Lamont] ... I think I do.
    * Lamont nods to Cassandra.
    [Lamont]That's where I heard it was.
    [Will] The Blue Dragon Cave... Past Meryod...
    [Salah] According the story... it's supposed to be in Linton?
    [Finn] Alright...
    * Will unfolds his handy map and sets it down on the ground, placing some lava rocks on the corners to hold it down.
    [Will] Could you mark it down here... ?
    * Audrey follows the others, keeping quiet.
    [Audrey] . o O ( I'm so cold... again... but I was warm... and I feel so... empty... what's going on... ? )
    * Miriamele flicks her tail and turns back to the group.
    [Miriamele] So... it's to this Blue Dragon cave, is it?
    [Finn] I suppose so. Off we go, then?
    [Lamont] We're not far from it.
    [Will] Lamont? Could you mark the spot in my map? ^^;
    [Lamont] Oh... sure...
    * Lamont points to the supposed position on Will's map.
    [Lamont] I've never been there... but I think it's around in this area... up the river past Meryod.
    * Will looks at it intently...
    [Will] Hm...
    [Lynna] Lovely... back to the boondocks for us.
    [Lamont] Finn probably knows the area better than I do.
    * Finn shrugs...
    [Finn] Sort of. It is the area where I grew up.
    * Audrey sighs.
    [Audrey] Let's hurry before it gets too dark... or too cold... or...
    * Will takes out his compass.
    [Miriamele] I feel so useless. This is all so... foreign... to me.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Let's just go then.
    * Audrey sighs and whispers. "What's wrong with me... "
    [Will] If we're here... and the Cave is here... then we should go that way...
    * Finn starts walking.
    * Lamont nods to Cassandra.
    [Lamont] Let's move it.
    [Finn] Hey Audrey...
    [Audrey] ... Finn?
    [Finn] Are you feeling worse?
    [Storyteller] The rest of you would note that your current attire does a sufficent job of keeping you comfortable.
    [Audrey] ... Yes...
    [Finn] What are you feeling?
    [Audrey] ... Cold... Empty... and very tired... like all the energy is being sucked from me. I'm hungry though... but my mouth hurts so much...
    * Lamont appears quite calm and collected.
    [Finn] Do you want to wear my cape for awhile?
    * Will folds his things up, looking at Finn and Audrey...
    [Finn] To try and warm up?
    [Storyteller] The group starts walking, 'cause if they don't, they'll never get anywhere.
    [Audrey] ... Sure...
    [Lamont] Hmm...
    * Finn drapes his cape over Audrey's shoulders.
    * Audrey thanks Finn.
    [Finn] No problem...
    [Lamont] A new Dragonmaster... This problem we're facing must be serious...
    * Lynna walks along, pondering silently to herself.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Yeah... I think impending destruction of every major city is serious...
    [Lamont] That's not what I meant...
    * Finn keeps walking.
    * Will looks at the ground ahead of him, thinking...
    [Lamont] There being a new Dragonmaster is... big...
    * Finn nods silently.
    [Audrey] Very big...
    [Lamont] . o ( Which is how I know it's not me. )
    [Storyteller] Your path eastward eventually leads you off of the Lava Flats and back into the rough hills.
    [Miriamele] I'm not too up on all this stuff, I'm afraid... In all my life, I'd only ever heard of the one Dragonmaster. Up until this started, I couldn't have even told you that there had been more than one...

    Hills, Marius Zone

    [Lamont] I hope we get there soon.
    [Miriamele] They weren't talked about much out on the Frontier...
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] It won't be any faster than it was the first time, Lamont...
    [Lynna] I don't even know why I'm following along in this Dragonmaster hoopla...
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Speaking of which, are we gonna stop in shithead's town... I mean Baroton?
    [Lamont] ... If you want, Cassandra, I'll go with you.
    [Miriamele] Is it on the way to the cave? My Geography sucks.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] And have to deal with that barbarian staring at me? I think not.
    * Lynna snickers.
    [Lamont] ... well... I'll stop...
    * Audrey shivers.
    [Audrey] Anywhere you want to go...
    [Lynna] I suppose we can pay Mr. Criz a visit...
    [Lamont] Oh... that barbarian...
    * Finn grimaces.
    [Will] I wonder how they're doing...
    [Lynna] Not like I want to.
    [Audrey] Criz...
    [Finn] Well, he did help us out a lot.
    [Audrey] ^^; He liked to um... draw... a lot...
    [Lamont] Don't worry Cassandra... I'll make sure everything's OK...
    [Finn] And he was part of our group...
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Yeah... You... Naked.
    [Audrey] . o O ( With pictures of me naked... Sick sick sick... )
    * Audrey jumps!
    [Audrey] I didn't say that out loud, did I? ;_;
    [Lynna] And people say I'm blunt.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Say what?
    * Pseudo-Cassandra wistles innocently.
    [Lamont] ... I don't draw naked women.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] No, but Criz does.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] And I bet you would if somebody asked nicely.
    [Audrey] Hey now...
    [Lamont] ...
    [Audrey] Leave him alone...
    [Storyteller] You come back down out of the hills, below you in a valley is a small Shrine to Althena.

    Valley Shrine, Marius Zone

    * Audrey smiles at the Shrine...
    * Lamont goes silent.
    [Audrey] Like home...
    * Will shades his eyes.
    [Storyteller] The building is very similar in design and construction to the main Shrine in Katarina Zone, although a great deal smaller.
    * Lynna looks down into the valley...
    [Will] I didn't know there were more...
    [Finn] Let's make a pit stop in there, for Audrey...
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Not on your map, Will? They're all over the place.
    [Lamont] There are alot of shrines...
    * Will nods...
    [Will] You're right, Finn...
    [Audrey] No, you don't have to...
    [Miriamele] Only on this side of the barrier, Lamont. ^^;
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Why would there be shrines in the Frontier?
    * Lamont goes back to being silent...
    [Miriamele] There's not.
    [Lamont] There's one...
    [Audrey] Please... don't... you don't have to worry about me...
    [Lamont] But it doesn't matter... let's go...
    * Salah looks pretty tired.
    * Finn heads for the shrine and goes inside.
    * Lamont follows silently.
    [Storyteller] The doors of the shrine are barred shut, but you can see the glow of lanterns and torches inside.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Should we knock?
    * Will follows to the door.
    * Finn knocks.
    [Lamont] Shrines are supposed to be open to all weary travelers...
    * Lynna just stands there, looking the shrine over, and thinking back...
    [Storyteller] You feel eyes on you from someplace up above, in the overhang of the door. Then, a bell rings three times and you hear the movement behind the door.
    * Miriamele looks up inquisitively...
    * Audrey smiles.
    [Audrey] Like... home...
    * Salah leans against the wall beside the door to the shrine.
    * Lamont traces the shrine's inside with his eyes.
    [Storyteller] The door cracks open, a wizend old woman stands there, dressed in the formal robes of a priestess.
    [Miriamele] Hello?
    [Woman] You seek solace?
    [Finn] Yes.
    [Salah] Yes...
    * Will nods.
    [Storyteller] She steps out of the way.
    * Lamont nods.
    [Lamont] Yes Ma'am.
    [Miriamele] Well... uhm... only if it's no trouble. ^^;
    [Finn] And we have a very sick priestess with us...
    [Finn] I think you should look at her...
    [Woman] Enter quickly...
    [Salah] And a soft bed...
    * Salah quickly enters the shrine.
    [Storyteller] She grabs the closest person by the arm and pulls them in.
    [Lamont] Quickly...
    [Woman] Quick... Quick...
    * Lynna hesitates a moment...
    * Audrey enters...
    [Miriamele] What's wrong?
    [Lamont] Why so fast... ? Finn... hide the shield...
    * Will enters the shrine too.
    [Lynna] I hate these places...
    * Miriamele looks around behind her...
    [Miriamele] Is something out there?
    * Finn looks quizzically at Lamont and mouthes "Why?" before entering the shrine.
    [Woman] The Vile Tribe is further up the valley. Quick.
    [Lamont] ... I don't like this...
    * Miriamele takes one last sweeping look at the terrain before entering.
    [Woman] You won't like it when they eat your entrails either!
    [Lynna] I bet they won't like it when I rip them out.
    [Storyteller] She ushers everybody through the door. When she touches Audrey, she screams and pulls away.
    [Miriamele] Aud? You okay?
    [Will] What... ?
    [Woman] You bring a Tainted One to the Shrine!
    * Miriamele looks at the priestess, concerned...
    * Lynna notes the scream.
    [Lynna] What are you blabbering about.
    [Will] Tainted One... Audrey?
    [Miriamele] ... Tainted? ... one?
    [Lamont] She's sick...
    * Salah nods off a little but jumps at the scream...
    [Audrey] W... What?
    [Woman] Her! A Tainted One! She's not sick... She's...
    * Audrey blinks... going pale.
    [Audrey] It's not true... It's not true...
    * Salah looks at Audrey for a moment...
    [Will] But she's a priestess of Althena! What do you mean?
    [Lyle] Shut the hell up ya' bag o' bones! I'll vouch for her.
    [Finn] Lyle?
    * Lyle smiles, pushes the door closed, and rebars it.
    [Lynna] Well look who got dredged up. :P
    [Miriamele] ... she's what? Ms.Priestess?
    [Lyle] Alive and kickin'.
    [Finn] Nice to see you...
    [Woman] Stay! Don't enter any further! I'll have to consult the Sister Superior!
    * Lynna folds her arms, staying by the door.
    [Storyteller] She scuttles off into the depths of the shrine.
    [Miriamele] I hate not getting answers... -_-;
    [Audrey] ...
    [Will] Audrey... do you know what's happening?
    [Audrey] ... I... I...
    [Lyle] Look who the cat dragged in...
    [Lynna] Hmm...
    * Lyle punches Lamont on the arm.
    [Lyle] And your still taggin' along with this punk, Cass?
    [Lamont] Oh... hi Lyle...
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Yeah? What's it to ya?
    [Lynna] Audrey... this wouldn't have anything to do with Vargomere, would it?
    [Audrey] V... Vargomere...
    [Lyle] Who's Vargomere?
    * Audrey suddenly shudders once more, her eyes roll up into her head and she quietly collapses...
    [Will] Vargomere... ? In the... you don't mean... Audrey!
    [Lyle] Woah nelly...
    [Salah] ...
    * Lyle runs and catches Audrey.
    [Salah] She's turning into a vampire.
    * Miriamele catches her to lessen the fall.
    [Miriamele] Aud?!
    * Will kneels beside her.
    [Lyle] Easy there... She's what?
    [Lynna] That must be why they say she's tainted. She was bitten in the fight.
    [Salah] A vampire...
    [Will] I remember now... when we arrived...
    [Salah] Or almost...
    [Storyteller] The cause of the pain in her mouth is now somewhat obvious... She is indeed turning into a vampire... She has a set of sharp incisors... not quite fangs, but getting there...
    [Finn] Oh gosh...
    [Lamont] So that's why she's been so pale...
    [Finn] What can we do to help her?
    * Audrey shudders, still unconcious.
    * Will strokes her cheek, looking at her pale face...
    [Lamont] ... perfect timing.
    [Lynna] Well, since he was dead I didn't think anymore of it till now.
    [Will] I can't believe... that Audrey of all people would... not her...
    [Storyteller] Two women run to the group, one of them the old woman from before, the other somebody most of you vaguely recognize.
    [Margory] Oh my dear! It's Audrey!
    [Storyteller] The younger woman kneels down beside Audrey.
    [Margory] Lyle, you boob... Get a stretcher.
    [Will] Who are you... ? Do you know Audrey?
    [Storyteller] A fat, pudgy man walks out into the hall. He's dressed in an expensive cashmere bathrobe.
    [Ramus] Yaaaaaaaaaaaaawn... What's all the commotion?
    [Lamont] ... who are all these people...
    [Margory] Of course I do...
    [Salah] Ramus!
    * Ramus walks up to Lamont.
    * Lynna blinks.
    [Lynna] Where's the big surprise party? Heh.
    [Ramus] Ramus the First... CEO, Ramus Industries.
    [Lamont] Ah... your name is well known... My father is a merchant as well.
    * Ramus turns to Salah.
    * Audrey shudders in the arms of whoever is holding her...
    [Ramus] Hello, little one.
    * Margory looks around to the group...
    [Margory] What happened?
    * Lynna ignores most people, and goes to help Lyle with Audrey.
    * Lyle returns with a stretcher and sets it down beside Audrey.
    [Will] She was bitten by a vampire...
    * Salah waves, somewhat awake now with Audrey's condition in dire need.
    [Margory] That horrid Vargomere?
    * Will helps set her in the stretcher.
    [Will] Yes...
    [Salah] Is there anyway we can cure her?
    [Margory] I don't know...
    [Woman] Are you sure this is wise, Sister Superior? Bringing the Tainted One into the Shrine?
    [Finn] Shut up, you.
    * Finn glares at the woman.
    [Margory] Yes, Esmi... Go... Go peel potatoes or something.
    [Esmi] Yes, Sister Superior.
    [Lamont] Well, I suppose it's OK to take the shield out now, Finn...
    [Audrey] Tainted...
    * Audrey moans.
    * Esmi tawdles off...
    [Lyle] Help me get her on the stretcher, Lynna...
    * Lynna helps Will and Lyle with her.
    * Salah looks extremely worried.
    [Ramus] That Vargomere chap is behind this?
    [Lamont] Yeah, but he's dead...
    * Lyle grabs one end of the stretcher while Margory picks up the other...
    [Lamont] So shouldn't Audrey be fine... ?
    [Finn] I never actually hid it, Lamont, I thought they were just being cautious...
    [Margory] Dead or Dead-Dead?
    [Salah] He's gone for good.
    [Lynna] He's ashes on the four winds by now.
    [Ramus] I'll be damned...
    [Lamont] ... oh...
    [Margory] (softly) Then how is this possible...
    [Storyteller] Two other familiar faces pop out of the main chamber...
    [Lynna] I've heard killing the one responsible would stop an infection... but I guess that's a lie, isn't it.
    [Daria and Virginia] What happened?
    [Margory] I guess so...
    * Will shakes his head.
    [Will] But then... what will? What can we do?
    * Lamont walks over to a corner of the room and starts to draw.

    Inner Sanctum, Valley Shrine

    * Finn d'ohs quietly.
    [Margory] I need you all to leave the room...
    [Daria] (softly) Oh, Audrey...
    [Will] Do you have anything I can do? Anything? I'm... I'm good at repairing things...
    [Margory] I don't think so, Will...
    [Lynna] I'm not going anywhere.
    [Daria] Can you all please wait outside...
    * Lamont looks up...
    [Lamont] Sure...
    [Ramus] I think it would be best to do as the Priestesses ask...
    [Lyle] Don't screw with that one...
    * Lyle points to Margory.
    [Lyle] She's a killer when she's angry.
    [Salah] oO(Audrey... fight it... )
    * Lamont walks outside... takes a seat in another corner... and goes back to drawing.
    [Will] Isn't there anything I can do... ? Please... ?
    * Lyle makes himself scarce.
    * Finn sighs and goes outside.
    [Lynna] Then you obviously haven't seen enough of me, Lyle...
    [Finn] Hey Lamont... what are you drawing?
    [Margory] We'll let you know, okay... What was your name?
    [Will] William... Will...
    [Lamont] I don't know yet...
    [Lynna] I don't trust the clergy one bit.
    [Lyle] If you can call down the wrath of a goddess, you win... Come on.
    * Lyle grabs Lynna by the arm.
    [Miriamele] I think, Will, the best thing we can do... is co-operate...
    [Will] If you say so, Miri...
    [Margory] Wait outside, Will...
    * Miriamele smiles.
    [Miriamele] She'll be okay. We haven't come this far to lose her now.
    * Lynna growls at Lyle.
    [Margory] Please.
    [Lyle] Stuff the cat act, Lynna.
    [Will] I... I hope you're right...
    * Will leaves the room slowly.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Give it a rest, Lynna.
    * Pseudo-Cassandra walks out.
    * Lyle lets Lynna go and follows.
    [Daria] Miss Lynna, ma'am... Please?
    * Salah closes her eyes.
    * Miriamele takes his hand and escorts him out, flicking her tail.
    [Miriamele] Who are we kidding? I know I'm right.
    * Lamont looks at Cassandra, then back down at his pad and draws.
    * Lynna points to Daria.
    [Lynna] I'm holding you responsible for whatever happens.
    * Lynna storms off.
    * Will smiles in spite of himself.
    [Will] Miri...
    * Salah reopens her eyes and walks over to Audrey on the stretcher.

    Main Altar, Valley Shrine

    * Audrey is pale and shivering wildly...
    [Storyteller] The trio of priestess, Margory, Daria, and Virginia poor over arcane texts...
    * Salah kneels down beside the stretcher. She gentely puts her hand on Audrey's forehead.
    [Daria] What are you doing?
    [Margory] Miss Salah?
    * Salah ignores them and closes her eyes, letting her mind into Audrey's

    Audrey's Mind

    [Storyteller] You find it difficult to push your way past the maelstrom of confusion, fear, aand anger that swirls around the outer layers of Audrey's mind. But your skills have increased manyfold since the last time you tried this. You manage to push the emotions away and dig deeper.

    You find yourself in the study room of the old shrine in Katarina... There are priests and priestess scattered about, thier noses pressed deep into various tomes of learning. You see Audrey sitting at a table up ahead, intently studying... The priest-in-training across from her slides out of his chair, falling to the ground with a dull thump.

    You see Audrey stand up and rush over to the priestling... She attempts to bend over to help him, but is suddenly yanked up.

    * Salah walks over to Audrey quietly, looking at the book. Suddenly remembering she can't read in dreams...
    [Storyteller] You realize you can't hear either. Audrey looks up, yelling and screaming at something.
    * Salah whirls back looking at Audrey.
    [Storyteller] Suddenly, your sense of hearing comes to you.
    [Audrey] Stop it! What are you doing?! Let me go!
    * Salah scans around looking for whoever is holding Audrey.
    * Audrey struggles.
    [Audrey] Please... stop it... !
    [Storyteller] You realize, it's up...
    * Salah looks up.
    [Storyteller] You see a huge visage of Vargomere looking down through the roof of the dollhouse shrine. Audrey's limbs are attached to strings, running up to his fingers.
    * Salah looks narrows her eyes.
    [Storyteller] As you look closer... the face changes... To Audrey's own... She drops to the ground and looks straight at you, her face gone pale, her lips ringed with blood.
    [Vampire Audrey] Get out of my mind!

    Boss Battle!! Round One!

    Enemy: Vampire Audrey
    Ally: Salah

    [Storyteller] Vampire Audrey slowly turns, raising her arms above her head.
    * Salah sings a song of the spirit as two bright red glowing orbs circle Salah protecting her from harm.
    [Storyteller] Salah's DP increases, Salah gains Counter-Attack!
    * Vampire Audrey stretches out her arms, tendrils of black energy reaching out to Salah's chest.
    * Salah holds out the staff to shield her from the blow.
    * Vampire Audrey lifts the smaller (yet better endowed) girl up in the air. Her mouth opens and she breathes in. The black turns red and flows into her mouth.
    [Storyteller] Salah takes 42 damage!

    Boss Battle! Round Two

    Enemy: Vampire Audrey
    Ally: Salah

    * Salah closes her eyes, with sudden burst of wind and light, a strange circular pillar of wind encircles Salah and her target. She throws her hands into the air and the pillar stretches upward as does the target, and in a flash the wind becomes a faint blue shield that wraps closely around the target.
    [Vampire Audrey] Your mind tricks are pathetic, Salah! Get out of my mind!
    [Storyteller] She thrusts the palms of both hands at Salah, throwing her far across the chamber.
    [Storyteller] Salah takes 21 damage!

    Main Altar

    [Daria] The body is willing by the mind is weak...
    [Margory] What is Salah doing... Salah...
    [Salah] A... u---u... d... re... y... fi... gh... t... i... t...

    Audrey's Mind

    Boss Battle! Round Three

    * Salah closes her eyes as a bright yellows light eminates from her forehead, and in a brillant, blinding flash of light, arcs of blue light enter, healing her!
    [Storyteller] Salah regains 63 HP!
    [Vampire Audrey] You violate my thoughts without asking! You speak my mind unbidden to the others! Get out of my mind!
    [Salah] Fight it Audrey! Don't let Vargomere's power control you!
    * Vampire Audrey crosses the room in an instant, much faster than any person should rightly move. She grabs Salah by the neck with one arm and pushes her up the wall, chocking the life out of her...
    * Salah coughs.
    [Storyteller] Salah takes 40 damage.
    [Storyteller] The notes of Salah's song return, searing Vampire Audrey's ears...
    [Storyteller] Vampire Audrey takes 100 damage!
    * Vampire Audrey reels back, stumbling over the corpses of the dead dream priest...

    Boss Battle! Round Four

    * Salah throws her hands in the air as a chilling gust of wind circles the area. A blinding bright blue beams shoots down into Salah's outstretched hands, as she closes them together as the gust of cold air blows harder. Salah extends her hands, creating a stream of blue energy from one hand to the other, and in a brillant flash, the stream of energy becomes a massive sword made of ice and flies toward Salah's opponent at a blinding speed.
    * Vampire Audrey knocks the ice missile aside, filling the air with a cloud of mist.
    [Vampire Audrey] Use your powers inside my mind and I'll send them back at you tenfold!
    [Storyteller] She crosses her arms, the mist reforming into the ice spike, throwing it back at Salah.
    [Vampire Audrey] Get out of my mind!
    * Salah holds out her staff hoping it'll absorb the magic.
    [Storyteller] Salah takes 22 damage!

    Boss Battle! Round Five

    * Salah closes her eyes and begins singing a sweet song, and at the climax of the song her voice reaches a high pitched sound that sends waves of light energy at the creature.
    [Vampire Audrey] Ah... the sound... the song... make it stop... make it stop... Get out of my mind!
    [Storyteller] Vampire Audrey takes 100 damage!
    * Vampire Audrey clumsily grabs a book from the table and slings it at Salah. It hits a nearby table, totally missing...

    Boss Battle! Round Six

    * Salah closes her eyes and begins singing a sweet song, at the climax of the song her voice reach a high pitch sound that sends waves of light energy at the creature.
    [Vampire Audrey] I said make it stop... make it stop make it...
    [Storyteller] She arches backwards, then colapses, the song reducing her body to convulsions... she stops moving...
    [Vampire Audrey] You can't have her... It's my mind!...
    * Salah whispers quietly.
    [Salah] You have no right to be...
    [Storyteller] The voice changes as does the body. The voice lowers as the limbs stretch...
    * Salah yells.
    [Salah] You have no right to be here! Get out of Audrey!
    [Storyteller] The figure stands up, no longer Audrey, but...
    [Vargomere] You killed me! I have every right!

    Boss Battle! Round Seven

    [Salah] If you won't leave quietly... then...
    * Salah studies her opponent carefully, then with a sudden burst of bright green energy, light arcs emerge from Salah's forehead and swing into his head.
    [Vagomere] Get out of my mind! Get out... get... get... mine... she... mine...

    Victory!

    Valley Shrine, Marius Zone

    [Storyteller] Everybody outside sees a blast of whitish green light shoot out through the cracks in the doors. Then you hear smashing noises as something heavy gets thrown across the room.
    * Lynna spins, drawing her claws!
    * Miriamele looks up.
    [Miriamele] !?
    * Lyle pulls his sword.
    [Lyle] I'm with you on this one, Lynna. Ladies first?
    [Lynna] Gladly.
    * Lamont tosses his pad into the corner.
    * Lyle lifts his foot and kicks the shrine door open.
    * Lamont kicks up and draws his blade.
    * Finn draws his sword.
    * Lynna leaps inside the room at the forst possible second.

    Inner Sanctum, Valley Shrine

    [Storyteller] Everybody rushes into the room. All you can see is Audrey lying on the stretcher... The three priestessses kneeing around her, panting and heaving, wet with perspiration...
    [Lynna] What's going on!?
    [Storyteller] And Salah... in the middle of a group of knocked over pews... Rubbing a growing welt on her ass and a matching one on her head...
    [Will] What happened!?
    [Miriamele] Wait... don't disturb them... Salah, are you okay?
    [Daria] I think...
    [Salah] Oooh...
    * Margory pulls herself up off the ground, slowly walking over to Salah...
    [Margory] You were in her mind, weren't you?
    * Lynna edges over to Audrey.
    * Salah nods slowly...
    [Lamont] ...
    [Storyteller] Audrey is breathing normal, the color restored to her face. The sharp, pre-fang incisors are still present however.
    [Will] Salah... what did you see? What was inside her mind?
    [Virginia] Did we do it?
    * Lynna puts her weapons away.
    [Lynna] Maybe... maybe not.
    * Salah slowly stands up, but collapses on the floor as soon as she takes a step.
    * Margory helps Salah up, setting her on one of the upright pews.
    [Will] Salah...
    * Finn is tense and edgy, looking around...
    [Salah] My... head hurts...
    * Audrey moans softly.
    [Salah] But... I'll be okay... I hope.
    * Miriamele says cautiously and worriedly.
    [Miriamele] Audrey?
    [Will] Tell me... is she going to be all right?
    * Lynna looks down at Audrey.
    [Lynna] You conscious?
    * Daria slowly stands up...
    [Salah] V-vargomere was in her... in her mind.
    [Daria] We did the best we could... She'll be okay... for a while...
    * Audrey mumbles softly and opens her eyes...
    [Finn] For a while?
    [Margory] We heard her screaming...
    [Audrey] ... Everyone... ?
    [Virginia] We did the best we could... Which would have been nothing if Salah hadn't distracted...
    [Daria] Nothing short of Althena herself can truely heal her...
    [Miriamele] ... Are you okay, Audrey?
    [Will] Audrey... !
    [Audrey] Hi...
    [Lamont] How about ... holy water...
    [Will] Are you all right? Are you feeling well? Audrey?!
    * Lynna stands by her, silent.
    * Virginia gestures to the empty glass flask...
    * Salah yawns, barely able to keep her eyes open.
    [Lamont] ... this is not good.
    [Audrey] ... I'm... hungry... But... I'm... not so cold...
    * Miriamele smiles.
    [Miriamele] So'm I.
    [Daria] It's the best we could do...
    [Finn] Audrey...
    [Virigina] Even in death, Vargomere is strong...
    [Will] ... Audrey...
    * Audrey smiles at Will...
    * Miriamele grins.
    [Miriamele] And don't worry about the teeth thing. I have a fang too. ^^;
    [Salah] Vargomere was... too strong...
    [Will] I'll get you something to eat! We can eat together. :)
    [Audrey] I... am...
    [Finn] It's okay, Salah, you did a great job.
    * Audrey sighs...
    [Margory] You did good, Salah... We couldn't have done it if you didn't lock him away...
    [Lynna] Too bad I can't kill Vargomere a second time...
    [Audrey] Thank you, Salah... I had such a strange dream... you were in it...
    [Finn] I second that, Lynna. Running my sword through his black heart was a distinct pleasure.
    [Will] I'll be back in a second... !
    * Salah slowly falls into dream-filled slumber.
    [Audrey] ... I'll... try to fight this...
    [Audrey] There's... hope...
    [Lamont] Hmm.
    [Audrey] Hope...
    * Margory catches Salah.
    * Will exits the room quickly.
    [Ramus] Let me...
    * Lynna stares through Audrey...
    [Daria] Yes, there's always hope.
    * Will combes back in...
    * Ramus carries Salah off to the priestess' chambers to rest.
    [Will] Where... is the kitchen?
    * Miriamele's tail is wagging a bit.
    [Miriamele] Of course there is. We've got this thing licked, I'm sure of it. ^^
    [Lamont] . o O (I feel so helpless... there's nothing I can do... )
    * Finn sighs.
    [Lynna] Audrey, I know what it's like to question who you are. Don't give up and let him win.
    [Audrey] Even... Even... if it's not... I understand... that... I won't become Vargomere... I won't... ever...
    [Margory] Come this way, Will...
    [Will] H-Hai!
    * Daria remains silent, not daring to tell Audrey the truth...
    [Miriamele] Don't be so gloomy everyone... we've had too much gloom lately. We came out of the cave okay, and Audrey's trouble has been staved off.
    [Miriamele] Smile folks. ^^
    [Virginia] She's right...
    * Audrey smiles softly.
    [Audrey] Miri...
    [Lamont] ...
    * Lyle walks over to Lamont...
    [Lyle] (softly) It's good to see you've kept them all safe...
    [Lamont] ... ? *w* Me?... keeping anyone safe... I think it's more like the other way around...
    [Lyle] (softly) You ain't foolin' me, kid... There isn't half an ounce of sense between the seven of them.
    * Audrey falls asleep.
    * Lynna walks out the door to the room, into the hallway...
    * Pseudo-Cassandra follows Lynna.
    * Miriamele looks at Audrey.
    [Miriamele] I think that's a great plan. ^^;
    [Lamont] *w* ... I don't know... I just go along... do what I think is nessessary...
    * Margory leads Will back from the kitchen with a platter piled high with food. Enough for everybody.
    * Miriamele wanders on over to a pew and tries to get comfortable on it.
    * Audrey then is awoken by the smell of the food.
    [Audrey] Any meat in there? ^^;
    [Lynna] Demons... it seems noone can escape them.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] You know from experience?
    * Miriamele mutters something about how impossibly uncomfortable these things are, and gets up to have some food. ^^;
    [Will] Tons! Let me find some...
    [Daria] You don't need to sleep in here, Miss Miriamele... Unless being near the staute makes you more comfortable...
    [Lynna] Cassandra, you know what I mean... the way I was giving everyone the inquisition back on the ship.
    * Audrey smiles and sits up. :)
    [Audrey] You're going to have some too? That's great...
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Everybody has their darkside. Suck up and deal.
    * Pseudo-Cassandra shrugs.
    [Lynna] For once we're in agreement.
    * Lamont heads back to drawing.
    [Lynna] But I want more truth before I just accept something...
    [Lyle] (softly) But you doin' the right thing pulled their asses out of the fire more than once I'd bet, huh kid? Don't get so down on yourself.
    * Lyle laughs softly.
    * Will takes out a plate with what looks like roast beef, and gives it to Audrey.
    [Will] W-well...
    [Lyle] (softly) And don't keep stickin' you're head in that art book... You got a beautiful lady to spend time with...
    [Miriamele] Well... I'm pretty used to sleeping in places worse than on a pew, but I don't want to hog bed space any. Though I guess I also don't want to look like a bum, sleeping on your pews like that. I'll crash where you want me to. How's that sound? ^^;
    [Will] I guess so... :)
    [Lynna] Maybe I sympathsize with Audrey... maybe.
    * Lynna says this very matter of factly to Cass. ^^
    * Audrey smiles... :)
    [Audrey] Thank you, Will...
    [Daria] Whatever you'd like...
    * Audrey digs in.
    * Lamont blinks.
    [Lamont] I don't know what you're speaking of, Lyle...
    [Margory] You're all guests here.
    * Will takes out some food for himself, sitting down near the statue.
    [Lyle] (softly) Cassandra, man... You must be blind, man...
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Let's go get some food... I'm fuckin' starved...
    [Lamont] ... not blind... no. She's got other things in her life... besides me. I don't want to be a pain.
    * Miriamele consumes her food ravenously, lending truth to the rumored monsterous appetites of beastmen & women.
    [Lyle] (softly) Like what? Meribia is gone. She's got no job. She wanders with you slugs... What better does she ahave?
    * Lynna nods... and goes to eat.
    [Lyle] (softly) Besides... I've found a new place here... I'm not chasin' her tail any more...
    * Finn eats politely but hungrily.
    [Lyle] (softly) As far as I'm concerned, she's all yours.
    * Miriamele looks up at Lyle at the mention of someone's tail, but goes back to eating shortly after.
    * Pseudo-Cassandra gets some food, sitting by the statue with the others. She occasionally glances over towards Lamont and Lyle.
    * Audrey finishes her food, then falls back on the pillow for some more sleep. Sleep is good.
    [Lamont] ... you nore I can make up her mind for her, Lyle...
    * Miriamele lets out a satisfied burp, blushes and covers her mouth before getting up to find a small out of the way nook to sleep in.
    [Lyle] (softly) Don't be such a whimp, Lammer... If you want a woman like her, you gotta ask. She ain't just gonna leap into your arms.
    * Will leaves his empty plate in the pile of china, looking at the room...
    [Lamont] ... but I can't force anyone to do anything...
    * Pseudo-Cassandra finishes her food and finds her own corner to snooze in.
    * Lynna doesn't eat too much...
    [Lyle] (softly) Her least of all, man... Grow some balls.
    * Miriamele wedges herself between the statue and the back wall, and drifts off to sleep...
    [Lyle] (softly) If you gotta be a girly man, draw a picture of her and give it to her or somethin' like that.
    [Lamont] ... I'm so not good at this...
    [Storyteller] The priestesses clear out.
    * Finn stretches out on the floor and drops off to sleep.
    [Lyle] Who the hell is man...
    [Lamont] Lyle... I just don't know what to say or do...
    [Lyle] Well... Lemme give you a piece of advice...
    [Will] Maybe we should have gone to different rooms... well...
    [Lyle] "Nice shoes, wanna fuck" does not work for her.
    [Lamont] ... that never crossed my mind.
    [Lyle] Don't try "If I told you ya had a nice body, would you hold it against me" either... That one doesn't work...
    * Miriamele stifles a laugh at overhearing the man-to-man talk.
    * Will settles down in a back corner, using his pack as pillow, and closes his eyes for the night.
    [Lyle] Orrrrr... "Wanna go back to my place for pizza and sex?"
    [Lamont] ... Don't worry... I don't really use... pick up lines...
    * Lynna just finds a dark corner, and half disappears from sight...
    [Lyle] Especially avoid "That's a nice outfit, I think it'd look better on my bedroom floor"... She hit me for that one.
    * Lamont snickers.
    [Lamont] I can see your method is very well rehearsed.
    * Lyle snickers...
    * Miriamele throws her cloak over her head to to muffle out the litany of Lyle's failed lines. *
    [Lyle] Hey, it worked on that Margory girl... Did you get a look at her... nevermind... Anyway... The point is... Just talk to her.
    [Lamont] I do talk to her, Lyle... a lot.
    [Lyle] Tell her how you feel man... Women love that shit.
    [Lamont] ... she'd kill me...
    [Lyle] Or she'd fuck your brains out... Either way...
    * Lyle stands up, smiling.
    * Lamont sweatdrops.
    [Lyle] I'm off to bed. I have a prayer reading in the morning.
    [Lamont] ... good night then... I'll be... here...
    [Lyle] (softly) Yep... And unless you grow some balls, she'll be over there...
    * Lyle shrugs and walks out.
    * Lamont sweatdrops.

    The next morning...

    [Storyteller] The priesteses gather everybody in the dining hall the next morning for breakfast. Again, Audrey eats what is possibly more than her body weight in food before the group leaves the shrine. The priestesses bestow on you a bag full of healing herbs and other medicinal items for your journey, along with a good supply of food and water.
    [Finn] They were really kind...
    [Margory] Head east over the hills...
    [Lamont] Indeed...
    [Daria] If you go up the valley, the Vile Tribe'll getcha...
    [Ramus] Safe path...
    [Virginia] May Althena watch over you...
    [Will] Thank you for everything... May... Althena protect you too.
    * Miriamele smiles.
    [Miriamele] Thanks for bein' so kind and helping us. Take care.
    [Audrey] Thank you!
    [Storyteller] The preistess all hug Audrey one at a time.
    * Audrey hugs them back, looking not 100% better, but better than yesterday, at least.
    [Lamont] Thank you, kind ladies...
    [Lynna] What a turnaround this is.
    [Margory] (softly) Hurry back soon...
    [Audrey] I will...
    [Daria] (very softly) I'm sorry about how I treated you back in the Main Shrine... I... I was wrong.
    * Audrey puts a hand on Daria's shoulder.
    [Audrey] It's all right...
    [Lamont] So we're still going to the cave... ?
    [Finn] Yep...
    [Lyle] The Dragon Cave? Sounds like fun...
    * Margory walks over and takes Lyle's hand.
    [Lyle] Remember what I told you, right, Lamont?
    * Lamont nods.
    [Lamont] I do...
    * Pseudo-Cassandra looks back and forth between Lamont and Lyle before falling into step with Lamont...
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] Let's go, people...
    [Priestesses, Ramus, and Lyle] Goodbye...
    * Finn waves to the priestesses and starts walking
    * Lamont nods.
    [Lamont] Cassandra is right... let's go... we have much to do...
    * Miriamele falls in by Finn.

    Hills, Marius Zone (Heading East)

    * Audrey falls by Will.
    * Will says good-bye one more time, then turns around as well and follows Finn.
    [Lamont] ... I hope everyone slept well.
    [Will] ... you look better.
    [Lynna] I still don't like sleeping in shrines.
    [Pseudo-Cassandra] What were you and Lyle talking about anyway?
    [Lamont] ... nothing major, Cassandra... he wants me to work on... my confidence level.
    * Pseudo-Cassandra nods...

    Last Modified: Sunday, 17-Sep-2006 21:11:11 CDT
    http://www.privateworks.com/sft/logs/chapter24.shtml