Day 2
With the sudden change in Othello's attitude towards the whole of the guild, her trying to convince everyone of her superiority and all, Kemlar took a small number of the group for a personal conversation. While Othello had been gone, Kemlar had run across an old friend in Rugtia. Gordney Ladderr and his raven Philip, both of whom Kemlar had had a brief history with earlier in his own life, was gladly accepted into the ranks of The Legion of Dungeon Misfits. Gordney was one of those on this private meeting. Celestia, Bryn, and the Succubus also accompanied them at Kemlar's request.
The reason for the walk and talk meeting was quite simple, but the conversation was to be nothing but. Kemlar regarded Othello's denouncement of himself to be against both the policy of The Legion and his moral codes that he lived by. He admitted to them that he was indeed a Werewolf, a very odd one at that, but the only reason it mattered was that Othello wanted a good reason to hunt him down, like a Lupin was trained to. It was a shame that she could not seem to see it any other way, so she had made her decision. All that need be decided was the decision of the others of the group. Kemlar explained that he did not tell of his condition, which his wife and Gordney already knew about, in hope to win favor with the group, but to prevent this conflict between Othello and himself from igniting. That conflict, as it seemed, had happened none the less.
By this time, what Kemlar really wanted was the support of those he had brought with him on this meeting today. He wanted their word that they trusted him as their Guild Master in hopes that it would sway everyone else to see the wickedness of what Othello was making with this. With the massively controlling aspect of Othello's personality showing through, it was unanimous amongst them that Kemlar was the most fit for the title of Guild Master.
As they were about to turn back, Celestia heard cries of sorrow coming from the woods just up ahead. Kemlar decided that there was no problem with an investigation, so they pressed on forward, Celestia in front. As the canopy darkened the forest floor and the ground began to moisten, they could see a multitude of tall creatures standing amongst the trees and large mushrooms. They were surprised to find out that these creatures, about six feet tall, were of plant-like attributes. Each one resembled the essence of a mushroom as they moved about slowly and silently.
Celestia moved up to one with Kemlar behind her, his sword drawn. She attempted to communicate with it, channeling her Druidic powers, but was unable to make much headway with the mushroom being. All it did was begin to pet her arm very softly, and mumble under its breath in what was assumed to be Sylvan. A few more of the creatures began to surround Celestia, and pet her in a similar way. As Kemlar watched over Celestia, who was currently a tree, ensuring no harm came to her from these strange creatures, the Succubus and Gordney moved further into the trees, aiming for a very small clearing. Once the Succubus was within view, Gordney, whom had been stopped by one of the mushroom people did not make it as far, could tell that there was a table in the middle of this miniature clearing.
Once at the table, she could see that on top of it lay a large shining sword. As the Succubus picked it up, she could feel a searing pain coursing up her arm. Throwing the sword toward Kemlar with all of her might, she turned to the table in rage and proceeded to flip it. Before the table hit the forest floor, it paused in midair. Righting itself, it returned to its original position. The Succubus headed back to the rest of the group to tell them of her discovery.
Back where Kemlar and Celestia were, the mushroom creatures were starting to ask about "shinies" or something. The became increasingly agitated and began to slap Celestia, demanding "shinies." Kemlar, of course a moderator of peace, did not want to cause unnecessary harm to these creatures. He asked Celestia to cast a light spell on his sword. As she attempted to do so, there was some miscommunication, and instead of Kemlar's sword receiving the light spell, it was his newly bough cloak that began to glow. Grasping the sword that the Succubus had hurled in his direction after he had confirmed that it was not evil, he could feel the radiant energy flowing from it. It was time for him to use his training sword for its intended purpose, to be used in the name of Bahamut to defend and slay for all that is proper. Sheathing his new sword, he placed a light kiss on the blade of his old sword, knowing that this vessel for the spiritual energy of his sword had not failed him and that he wished it good tidings. He held out his old blade to the creatures, offering it to them. Ever so cautiously, they grabbed his old sword from him and moved away, petting it similarly to the way they had Celestia. From behind, another one of the mushroom beings tugged Kemlar's now glowing cloak clean off of its clasp. Kemlar gave no resistance as it bundled itself under the shining cloak.
Gordney was having his own confrontations with the beings. He was studying one of them when it spoke briefly to him in Elven. Gordney couldn't remember exactly what the mushroom said, only that the sheer magnitude of the word that the creature uttered threw him into a blind mind frenzy. He channeled his spasm of word fear by drawing his short sword and taking a swing at the long-word utterer. Before he could injure it anymore, Kemlar moved up, grabbing him by the collar, and continued to drag him deeper into the woods, where the Succubus was coming from. On the way past the table, Bryn somehow managed to fit the magical mahogany table into her expanded bag of holding.
When Gordney complained of his lost opportunity to strike at the creature, Kemlar told him that he was not going to waste his one-sided bargaining with the creatures just so Gordney could take out meaningless anger out on an innocent creature. Gordney was salty but understood Kemlar's personal sacrifice for the good of these creatures and the group. As fewer of the creatures could be seen and the trees thinned out into a large clearing. After some brief investigation, a small stone base was able to be seen in the center of the grove and Kemlar was convinced that something important belonged there. In addition to the constant "shinies" babbling, he believed that they were searching for something or wanted something back. Bryn decided to make an attempt to answer the question. What were these things deal and what was really going on?
I turned out, that when Bryn entered the mind of one such creature, that Kemlar's hunch was very correct. At one point these creatures were all once very intellectual. It was only when a pumpkin from their pumpkin patch suddenly rolled away one day, puncturing itself with their magic pickle thing in the center of this grove and taking it with it. It had since gained self consciousness and began to take over the woods, killing everything in its path. The magical object provided these creatures with their intelligence and their mating rituals. As it turned out, this evil pumpkin overlord thing that had stolen their magic object, was not too far down their path.
Just before Celestia moved trough the trees and was able to get very close to the entrance to the pumpking's dead tree grove, Gordney had to satisfy his fern dependence. The others moved up behind her and peered in. They could see the beast in plain sight and it seemed as if it was sleeping, a large green crystal shard lodged into it near its top. It's main pumpkin head was slumped to the side and the roots that sprouted up from the ground were limp on the ground. Celestia snuck into one of the near corners with her wolf. Celestia was to take out the nearer roots with her wolf, while Gordney took out the ones in the center. The Succubus would burn the ones on the side opposite to Celestia. Finally, Kemlar would clean up any vines on his way to the pumpking before striking the pumpking himself with the help of everyone, especially the Succubus' fire emanating bosom.
Gordney readied his bow as the Succubus snuck into her position, but of course, once Kemlar attempted to sneak in between the roots in the center, the pumpkin awoke. Celestia and her wolf began to tear apart the vines near them before Gordney took out both vines around Kemlar. Most of the other vines burned quickly under the cone of fire from the Succubus' cones. Before the pumpking could react, Kemlar was upon him, issuing his Divine Challenge of honor and battle onto it. Unable to damage or stop Kemlar, the pumpking was very lucky to swat away Kemlar's mighty sword at the last second.
With most of its vines either burned, pierced, or severed, the pumpking attempted to retaliate against Kemlar. Unfortunately, Kemlar was able to dodge its vine whip and quickly retaliate himself, first, drawing upon the power of his Fire Bloodline, he shot a bolt of fire from the burning roots at the creature itself and followed up by burying his sword deep into the pumpkin's soft hide. The Succubus came around and continued to launch cones of fire, burning the pumpkin into a heap. Grabbing the pedestaled crystal thing, they went back to the grove and placed it back onto the stone platform. A deep glow began to emanate from it as the creatures began to congregate around them.
One, much older than the others moved forward to the group. Speaking in full Elvish, a language each of the group could understand, he thanked them for their service to his people. Their intellectual advancement was returning and they could soon repopulate their dwindling numbers. After he was done, Kemlar held out the sword from the table to return it to the elder mushroom, stating that it was an honor to be of service and to wield such a blade for them to rid them of such an evil. The elder told him to keep it, they had no use of it fortunately.
On the edge of the group of mushroom people, they could see one wrapped in Kemlar's old cloak, no longer glowing. Nearby, one was holding Kemlar's old sword, and as Kemlar himself saw it, he felt an evil intrusion in the air around him. Dark energy, it seemed, was trying to worm it's way into his mind, and it seemed to be coming from his old sword. Luckily, it soon passed, with no ill side effects, only the slight worry that something such as an empty sword could so quickly and easily become a danger to him or someone else.
That's when the Succubus realized that she had not yet expended any of her seductive powers during this outing. As quick as she had realized this, she began to strike poses and do whatever to took to woo those around her. After Kemlar used everything that he had to try to prevent Celestia's loss of her own actions. However, it was just short of the Succubus' whims. Somehow, even with her moral codes, marriage, child and aid from her husband, Celestia still could not resist against the Succubus' influence. Kemlar shook the hold on Celstia momentarily, tossing her the Unicorn Tapestry so she could move away from the Succubus who was currently holding into the single string that held up her entire outfit.
That is the moment when the God of Whimsy descended upon our inappropriate event due to its sheer extremities after the Succubus resumed her dominance on Celestia. The Succubus was temporarily and randomly blessed with incredible speed. So, really before Kemlar knew what was even happening, the Succubus was procreating with Celestia on the edge of the clearing. Meanwhile, Gordney was playing patty cake with Philip out of sight of this act. The moment that Kemlar found his bearings, he drew his sword as he charged the Succubus. He was only able to get one strike on the Succubus, leaving a long bleeding wound across her back, before she sped off into the skies. Unfortunately, in his daze of the Succubus' looks, he had been distracted for too long and was at this point, too late. Kemlar practically forced himself to feint when he saw the baby in Celestia's arms.
When he came to, which was not long at all, he accepted this dark fact that the Succubus had laid upon him. Celestia asked what we should name her, Kemlar response was asking whether she was asking for the baby or the Succubus, whom he had a few choice names for her at this moment. The Succubus had taken the other child, a boy, leaving the girl to Celestia. Kemlar muttered a curse to the Succubus in despair, trying to prevent her from ever having another child. The curse was only half effective, greatly reducing the Succubus' ability to have kids, not completely eliminating it, but it was enough for him.
Celestia and Kemlar named her Elizabeth, at Celestia's request. The Succubus was nowhere to be seen as Kemlar broke the news to Gordney. Kemlar continued to beat himself up over the fact that he could not do more to fight the Succubus' influence for Celestia. However, what was done was done, and revenge could not change anything. They moved out of the woods back to Rugtia, and as they exited the tree-line, the Succubus descended from the sky with Bryn behind her. Before either was able to say anything, Kemlar explained to the Succubus, that if she even though about eating either one of Celestia's children for an instant, he would have now trouble slaying the Succubus. He also reminded her of the mark on her back that he was able to give her so easily.
The Succubus told him that she had no plan to eat her children, she just wanted half demon, half holy angel babies. Kemlar was awestruck, wondering why, oh why, the Succubus had just not gone out and looked for someone in the city, and why she had to pick his wife. The Succubus took a minute to understand. Once she got it, she began to feel really regretful about what she had done, saying hat her and Kemlar had been outside of each other's cycles. Kemlar retorted stating that this was very true and that the Succubus should have stated her motives beforehand.
Nevertheless, they had bigger problems to deal with back at the future Guild House. By the time that they got back, Othello's true colors were being shown, and not in a good way. It was then that Kemlar and the others made their way to where Othello was trying to get the rest of the group to side with her. Arnold and Laurentius quickly reiterated the situation to Kemlar, telling him how Othello was talking about treachery against him. Kemlar of course, did not approve of this continued behavior from Othello, knowing that he must make sure that she too knew that he did not approve. He stated to Othello that she was a traitor to The Legion of Dungeon Misfits and was to be exiled immediately, with any resistance leading to the shedding of her own blood.
Flabbergasted and distraught, she accepted her chance to escape, teleporting her and all the dragons away with her, disappearing from sight. Kemlar asked if there were any other objections to his leadership, even with the fact of him being a Werewolf standing true, allowing that fact to be accounted at this time. No objections were made.
No comments:
Post a Comment