"Until Bob Gets Back" Gaming

[ascieszl]

Sept 21, 2022 8:49:22 GMT -12 @arkinneas said:

"No! Not Rimmon. Vermin, like her, but different vermin. I regret to inform you, guttersnipes, that the treasure you perhaps wished to shamelessly loot is long gone."

On the contrary, the spirit doesn't seem regretful at all. If anything, it appears quite smug and seems to be basking in a sense of superiority.

"Did you rule this place in life spirit? Or only in death?"

[Niachi]

Zeekir nods with a wistful eye at the crater and all that history -then snaps back to the conversation:

"Yes alliance! You see, my traveler, once-competing factions of our kingdom no longer backstab each other under the Shadow King's wisdom and benevolence! (that last word sounding perhaps a bit unpracticed) We are an ancient culture now united in mind, the elements, and other magics. To your knowledge, have there been refusals of your great Changer's offer?"

[Deleted]

Xyn'iia snaps its jaw several times. "I have been told that the lords of this region and my lord do not get along because of a dispute in the far ancient past. Perhaps the mend can be healed--perhaps not. I am uncertain."

The spirit seems somewhat agitated by this line of questioning. "I ruled nothing in life but my army. This place was to be my undisputed domain, if only I should conquer it. Conquer it I did! The blood of their men, women, and children flowed through the streets like the greatest rivers. Zhackals defile the graves of the Grand Wizards of Bodach! At the very last moment, they obliterated every last thing in the city with a carefully-prepared dwoemer, including themselves. If I cannot have the city, no one can! My will animates the dead of both sides, and once the sun sets, I will set them upon you like wild dogs and hang your corpses from the gate by your entrails! My forces will hold this city until the end of time itself!"

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- After listening at Xyn'nia's talk and pounding Bharnag's words, Hwasa's eyes turn towards the spectral apparition - "Your endless combat might just find another purpose" - Hwasa's voice is sweet, clear, firm - "As my Husband, the King ruler of Nibenay, would be interested in making an alliance with someone of your skills, determination, experience and force of will" - She makes a short recess to let the words drop into the spirit's mind before continuing - "I am not him but it is my hand to offer you such privilege, mutual I would say, to work together to repel those hineous that attempt to do in Nibenay same as it was done here. My Lord needs a strong and experienced army to protect the city, at least for a determined period of time.

Would be a great recognition and maybe the beginning of a long-lasting mutual alliance, wouldn't be?"

The templaress, in a polite and courteous manner but still determined and clear in her talking -"Please state your terms so I could deliver them in your behalf. Perhaps help to gather information of the whereabouts of the Zackals you spoke a moment ago to restituye the name and honour of the Great Wizards of Bodach?.. Because I think that's something that should be punished too!" - and stops, awaiting the specter's reply

[Deleted]

The spirit cackles. "Nibenay? Who is this Nibenay of which you speak? I am not aware of him, whoever he is, and I do not see why you bother me with words of him!"

[Niachi]

Zeekir ignores the failed ruler's petulant ignorance with a dismissive tail twitch. He keeps the spirit in peripheral vision and awaits the hooded one's reply.

[Deleted]

"I do not know." Xyn'iia shrugs its shoulders. "If this is not the first time my people have contacted others, I do not know of the other occasions or how they turned out. Certainly, I am not aware of any allies we presently have. I was to believe that this was the first."

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- "Nibenay is the ruler of the city who took his name to baptism it, its sorcerer-king, in the same way that I want to believe that Bodach had their own. A conqueror, ruler, diplomat and a scourge in the past, perhaps Gallard might sound more familiar to you.." - in a bit more serious tone, as the words of the unknown knowledge of her husband took her by surprise - "Surely you might recall his name now"

[Deleted]

The spectre stomps his armored boot against the floor of the crater, the impact producing no sound as the spirit is non-corporeal.

"Gallard, indeed! That wretch always took himself to be the smartest one in the room. The whelp was charged with the cleansing of one of the most pathetic races of Athas. I know not if he succeeded, but the one thing I am certain of is that his charge was vastly less difficult than mine. But I succeeded in the destruction of a much mightier, much prouder race at the side of my master while he was still playing at vermin exterminator. I am sorry to hear he still lived, for if I had taken this city, I have no doubt that it would have been my crowning achievement--quite literally. All I had to do was capture this city and it would be mine by right for the remainder of eternity! But of course that's not the way it happened! Of course, those damnable wizard-lords--may mekillot dung fill their corpses--obliterated me in my moment of triumph! Now that weakling Gallard can gloat over me for the rest of time! No! Never! Never, never, never! I will not have him see me like this! If I cannot have the city in life, I shall rule it in death. Each night my minions comb the ruins for any sign of an artifact capable of returning me to life. My return shall be marked by blood and conquest! I'll show Gallard! I'll show them all!"

The apparition shakes its fists, stamps its feet, and shouts as it speaks, unable to harm the party but clearly angry enough that it would if only it could. The sheer fury exuded by the impotent spirit is palpable, and its screams ring in the party's ears.

[ascieszl]

Sept 23, 2022 7:30:23 GMT -12 @arkinneas said:

Each night my minions comb the ruins for any sign of an artifact capable of returning me to life. My return shall be marked by blood and conquest!

"What could possibly make you think such an item was located here? Surely those who outsmarted you would have removed such an item from the city?"

[Deleted]

The spirit sputters and stamps his feet furiously.

"Wh--?! There has to be! There has to be! It was a city ruled by wizards! Of course there's going to be something in here somewhere that can fix this! There has to be!"

[ascieszl]

"But, I mean, it's not like they ruled from a particular location or anything, right? Sure they wouldn't be so foolish to store their most powerful items in a central vault or something - those who out maneuvered you?"

[Deleted]

This line of questioning seems to only infuriate the spirit more and more.

"They didn't out-maneuver me! I destroyed each and every one of their armies! I threw down the walls of their mighty city! I put each and every man, woman and child in their care to the sword and watched them drown in their own blood! The only thing the wizard-lords did was wait until I stormed their palace and BLEW ME UP!"

[ascieszl]

"You culled their weak - doing their jobs for them. When they we done with you, you went where they wanted you like a moth to flame: pathetic."

"And now, centuries later, they still best you - hedging your minions out of their storehouses and vaults, and you don't even notice!"

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- "None is taking your glory away, and what happened here wasn't your fault, so it's nothing to be ashamed of" - making a pause - "Your experience and knowledge will be valuable, and as you both had a goal imposed, there is and there was no rivalry. You both had a grandious goal, both were trusted and both succeeded.
Tell me, would not you help a comrade to achieve a common goal? Should not that be the focus of it?.."

- A bit of a longer pause preceeding - "A favor with a favor is paid, and I don't know why him would oppose to help you in your gathering. Don't think about him as a source of anything else but a helpful hand in your path to recover your glory.
High Lord, besides that, he could also feed you with all the news and events that happened since the dramatic event you just mentioned"