3 - 025: Can You Keep a Secret?

[K Man]

SEA GREEN

Madrigal does his best to respond.



"The giants do have a King yes, but in the sense that you would understand. The giants hold a contest, once every 100 years and only amongst their own kind. The winner of this contest is annointed the proclaimed ruler of the giants for the century to come. This ruler does not oversee all giant lands, but is consulted with and considered the head of giant affairs in neutral lands."

"Currently, the King is Lord Amassu...a cloud giant of immense propoertions with a penchant for destruction. It is said he is only happy when something is being brought to rubble. Most of the wind storms that ravage this region are his doing."

"Lord Amassu is not above granting an audience, but rarely does he speak with the lesser races."

When Gro-Bug calls out to the giants once more, Madrigal cringes. Already once has he come close to giving them cause to hurl boulders, now here was this crazy Half-Orc pushing his luck once agin.

The stone giant looks up and scowls.

"We know they sought an artifact...and now we know which one."

"They may come again, but they will not find us lacking in protection. Let them come and batter against our shields and clubs."[/b]

The giants proceed to beat the ground around them with thunderous effect. The rumbles are felt even deep in the middle city where a few people scream and head for cover. The giants have made their proclamation, they do not fear more intruders.

Clearly they underestimate those of 'The Masters' ilk.

Henrick shakes his head. He doesn't need to say it, his eyes speak volumes on their own...we're doomed.

---

---

DARK RED

Wanderer -

Unable to resist her smooth lips, you willingly walk towards the demon that Illyianna has become.



"Yes...come to me."

She presses herself against you, holding her burning body to yours. Despite the pain, despite the absolute torture of your own soul being pulled through your throat, you can't help but feel compulsed to give yourself to her.

{1 more Negative Level, another WILL DC 21 please.}

The Demoness pulls back, licking her lips greedily, feeding on your essence. She doesn't say anything, merely letting her wicked teeth show through the wry smile. Her tail flicks excitedly, like a housecat on the hunt for a mouse...unable to defend itself...

{Gildas arrives for next round. See Init. order}

[Iniatives: Wanderer (17), Gildas (15), Illyianna (14)]

---

Tyrano, Lief and Horace -

Horace grunts, his mate using all her strength to roll him around. The pair bashes into a tree, knocking several pinecones off in all directions. When you raise the copper bone high, he shoots you a concerned glance. A reverse head-butt from his mate has him immediately retracting the idea of subtle intervention.

"DO IT!"

You bring the club down with two hands, cracking the were-horse soundly. She goes limp, only for a second.

She lays there, for a second, panting with her mate Horace. Eventually the were-horse looks up and all around.

She looks confused and dazed but not under whatever strange effect that might have been.

---

Gildas -

You race through the woods, passing the area where Horace's mate ran off from. Noticing Wanderer and Illyianna are not there, you press forward and make for the camp. You come busting out of the woods as though a devil were on your heels.

The first thing you notice is a Wanderer and a decidedly nude woman in passionate embrace. The two roll around beside the fire, clearly enjoying each others' company. Firelight dances and play on the womans' bare skin, basking it in a healthy orange glow; a supple mound of flesh crumpled on your traveling companion.

You spin around the for sake of deceny. Clearly these two have noticed nothing wrong...if they have noticed anything outside of their merged fleshball at all. Just as you prepare to quietly march back into the woods and re-emerge, only with more sound and fury to disrupt, something catches your eye...

At first you think it might be a snake. It is long, dancing slowly back and forth, but it's head is flatened like a spade ending in a point. No snake you have ever seen bears a resemblance to this. Also, this snake bears no markings, nor does it possess fangs or even eyes. Out of instinct and curiousity, you follow the snake's body with your eyes. It sways and dances, idly flicks this way and that, but your eyes trace it to the smooth and shapely lower back of the woman on Wanderer.

It's not a snake, it's a tail!

The woman atop Wanderer has not only the snake-like tail, but a pair of leathery wings that beat softly, fanning the fire and you swear you see the tips of yellowed horns on her head. The demon spins around, finally noticing your presence. She hisses, eyes like molten pools of lava scowling in anger.

{See init. order above.}

---

LENNY -

The old man crosses into the underbrush, keeping a wary eye to the woods where Vorkal disappeared. He extends a gauntleted hand to help you up.

"I know, I know. Your friends here told me everything." The cleric points to the shapeshifters, both in human form now as they respond with a wink. "They told me you had been attacked by shadows. My name is Lockheart."

Upon noticing your weakened state. "Goodness, those shadows really did a number on you didn't they! Here," He roots around in his satchel, producing a vial of clear sweet-smelling liquid. "Drink this, it will help you feel better."

{Potion of Lesser Restoration should you choose to drink it.}

"How on in the seven heavens did you get mixed up with those shadows?"

[TheUdjat]

[Will Save @ -1, now.]
[dice=20]
Total: 5

---

Wanderer goes in for more sweet, sweet level draining, unable to stop himself in the face of the succubus's demonic influence.

[And hey, I rolled high enough on initiative to get a third negative level before Gildas can intervene. Hoorays ][rand=24261581017433714351880971287377160116769137565811974542123591327726]

[Wicksy]

Gro-Bug wanders back to the group. He shrugs "Well, now they know what the master seeks. Whether that is good or bad i dont know. At least they'll see it defended from harm. There is little more for us here now unless you wish to speak with this king of giants. Best i keep silent i think"

[Fangor the Fierce]

Taking the potion in his hands, Lenny's mind is brought back to the situation quickly by the cleric's last question.

"That is a long story indeed, and one that will be told when the time allows. For now, I need to see as to the safety of my allies."

[VemuKhaham]

Gildas almost fell to his feet as he buried his heels deeply in the earth to halt his great pace with which he had emerged from the bushes, only to behold such a scene as would only have been possible in his own dreams, with his own Madilèn. Quickly realizing that he is interrupting on something, he indeed turns around, ready to start condemning the time and situation in which Wanderer has decided to give in to his passions, perhaps more out of jealousy this time, but certainly also out of a more practical consideration.

Then there was the snakelike thing, and the sudden realization that what had just been the most beautiful female figure had now turned into a serpentine monster, a demon, or a succubus, as they had sometimes featured in the legends of Tertia, of heroes lured by beautiful women only to fall to their demise with the bliss of the intimate embrace.

Then she hissed at him, and apparently he had been noticed. Dropping his spear, he began to step forward at ever quickening pace and took from his back the large sword he carried, only to raise it high behind his right shoulder with both hands. Seeing Wanderer, totally enchanted, lean in for another deadly kiss, Gildas charged ahead and shouted at the top of his lungs: "WANDERER!!!"

The edge of his sword comes sweeping down upon the treacherous monster...

Charge Attack @+11
[dice=20]=26

DMG:
Greatsword
[dice=6]
[dice=6]
Skirmish
[dice=6]
[dice=6]
+4str=17dmg

AC: 17-2charge+2skirmish+1dodge=18
HP 55
And should you need my will save next, it's +4. ][rand=7480536039575636938063562026980237473919628632696624361747925036]

[Rojito]

"If only there were some way to beat the Lord in a match of the style with which he won his crown. If one of us could challenge him and beat him i doubt even he could avoid granting us a boon to take the artifact. The question is, what would it take to beat him, and would he accept the challenge?" Sean, the lover of stories, obviously thought that this would work like it should in a story.

[Wicksy]

Gro-Bug nods and smiles "Aye, but as strong as i am i could not defeat a giant in a test of strength. I doubt i'd beat him a match of wits either but thats not to say anyone else could try...."

[Japic]

Taken back by Sean's suggestion Ella nearly laughs before she realizes that he wasn't joking. The smile fades from her face as she addresses the bard, who obviously thought this was a good idea.

"You are aware then that this giant is the strongest of all the clans and the most feared and respected among them, right? What makes you think that any one of us could take the least of their race in single combat, much less the greatest of them?" She shakes her head at the silliness of the thought. "No, we must come up with another solution."

"I wonder if we could scout their lands from far above and get a sense of what to expect. If the Giants have turned aside one attempt, the Master's forces may well be mounting an army to take the bone. Perhaps we can provide useful services for the Giants if this is so. It is a far hope, and not one I put much faith in."

[ryngo]

"Stay with her," says Tyrano, already mounting upon Lief, "She should be well enough when she comes to, but she'll need protecting until that time. I need to return quickly to Wanderer and Gildas. My suspicions are becoming more confirmed every moment."

And with that, he races on back toward the camp. He hates having been right this time. He would much prefer that he were actually paranoid once when he gets a bad feeling in his gut, but damn it, those bad feelings keep playing out.

She knew the entire plan. If she had any way of contacting anybody else about it, Lenny may already be dead.

[Rojito]

"Who said it had to be at normal strength? surely Caelith would have spells that would enable us to defeat even the strongest of the giants. An Enlarge, combined with Bull's strength, combined with what ever other spells he may have available could possibly turn the tide, but the problem is that the Cloud Giants are known for their own magics as well. With the right setup, though, even you, little one, would easily best a giant, the problem lies in obtaining the right capabilities." sean had thought it through, but still couldn't figure out how to get past the idea that there would be other giants who could cast spells as well.

[TheZebraShakes™]

Natsumi could not help but agree with Sean's idea of participating in a giants' contest. After all, she had foreseen this coming a few posts back.

"Who says it has to be a contest of pure strength. Giants also pride themselves on their speed, wit, and most everything else. They are far from the most humble of creatures. In many stories of the past, many have managed to take advantage of the giants' pride, using it against them to fashion contests that the giants could never win, as they would never dream that a non giant could possibly defeat them, and consequently focus on their own might, failing to realize the quick wit and cunning of their opponents that ultimately leads to the defeat of the giants."

"Of course, it is not an easy task to think up one of these contests where we will undoubtedly prevail."

"Whatever the case, we cannot leave this place without the bone."

[Wicksy]

Gro-Bug hangs back and glowers. He had caused this new problem....politics and negotiation. The words were like curses to him. He negotiated with Snaga.....this now required a more delicate touch. Tactics aswell were required. Sneaking about...cloak and dagger as the human's called it. It wasnt his way. There was little honour to it and worse still he had no ability for it. But it had to be done so he would follow and be ready as needed.

[TheZebraShakes™]

Natsumi tosses an idea out there.

"What about a rock tossing contest. The one whose rock soars the highest and for the longest is the victor."

She glances over in the direction of their giant bird.

She doesn't know if this brand of contest takes into consideration the seriousness of the situation, but it seems remarkeably humorous in her opinion, and something which a giant might appreciate.

Perhaps not the cloud giant though.

At least she had made the effort.

[Rojito]

"a contest of strength, won by a chance of Wit? Natsumi, i do believe you may have something. the question is, who would challenge the Cloud Giant King? a Human would probably be a bit too humiliating... but Ella... someone the size of his toe... She could issue the challenge without dictating who would be participateing from our side... I like the idea, there is no way in hell they would ever imagine that she would win." Sean was likeing Natsumi's idea more and more, it truelly did sound like a story, and if it wasn't already one, he and Natsumi would soon make it one.

[BluSpecs]

"I think this contest idea does seem the way to go. I think the giants would be too insulted to be honorable were Ella to defeat them in a challenge. it seems to dangerous.

Scouting the land via the Roc also provides an opportunity to learn about the masters movements as well as the lay of the land. How can we make her stealthy becomes the question