From: Paul, Brett Subject: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night Standing near the swamp, trying to decide which direction you wish to go, you hear crashing sounds coming through the woods to your east. Something is coming through the woods, though at night, it is difficult to see anything. Whatever it is, it is making a lot of noise. At this, you take your cue to find hiding places in the nearby woods and cover, wishing you could sleep. Dana eyes a tree near where Greg has found to hide, and places her hand on the bark. In an instant, she has run halfway up the tree, finding handholds where none apparently exist! After a moment, she turns over in the tree and points herself head-down. Looking at the rest of you, she smiles, thinking this is fun. She flips herself around by scrambling on the tree, and climbs back up to a little more than halfway up where she will be hidden among the leaves. Greg seems to be concentrating quietly as he hides among the trees. As the source of the noise approaches, your ears home in on it. Slowly, your attention turns upward. You realize that the source of the sound is not on the ground, but rather coming from something in the sky, probably near the treetops. As it gets close, you have all found hiding places within the forest, and are remaining quiet, listening to what sounds like a flying bear ripping through the forest! Dana slinks slowly back down the tree, until she is just below half-way up. The noise grows louder and louder, until you can see the treetops nearby moving and swaying. As you sit and wait, hoping that whatever it is does not notice you, the top of the tree that Greg is hiding under moves and sways. Dana holds tightly to the branches near herself as the tree she is clinging to sways with the force of impact above. Looking up, a twinge of fear crosses your body, sending chills down your spine, as you see the barnacle-covered underside of the ghost ship emerging from the tops of the trees, flying directly over your heads! A strong, high branch scrapes loudly against the hull, emitting a high-pitched scream-like sound that drives deeply in your head. The wooden hull fluctuates wildly, illusion-like, filling your vision. From this angle, it is as if you are looking up through water at the bottom of the ship, and it seems even larger than it had before. As the hull of the huge ship passes over you, about 25 feet off the ground, a rain of leaves falls down on your heads, playing lightly on a mild breeze, after having been ripped from the trees by the ship's rough underside. As the leaves settle soundlessly to the ground, the ghost ship continues its now-silent flight westward, passing over the beginning of the swamp. After a few moments, it comes to a stop, hovering over the swamp, about 300 yards from your hiding place. The wavering, rippling effect at the base of the hull seems to slow, and suddenly stop. You behold an odd transformation. The hull of the ship seems to quickly repair itself, as do the sails. The hull looks completely intact, and the ship begins to settle down onto the swampland ahead. From where you are, you can hear the *squish* of the swamp's murky waters clearing out under the hull as it settles completely to the ground. Once the ship settles into the swampy water ahead, you can faintly hear voices issuing from the ship, giving orders. Listening more closely, you realize that you only hear one voice, definitely feminine, carrying on the breeze to your ears. Most of the words are lost in the distance, but the last thing you hear of those orders is, "they had better be DEAD!!" On the port side, you see a smaller craft being lowered from the side of the tall ship. As it nears the ground, you can see a half-dozen figures onboard. Once they get into the swamp's waters, they begin rowing southward. On the other side, a similar scene plays out, and the small boat rows northward. None of the figures in the rowboats seem to be feminine. From the time that the rowboats hit the water, they frequently disappear from your view. Dana is able to see and track them, though, and they are heading for the shoreline of the swamp-water, both north and southwest of your location. [The ball, as they say, is in your court. :) ] - Brett ---------- From: gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com[SMTP:gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night Hmmm, what I tried is really the sort of thing that you can only test by whether or not it fails. The end result, I guess, is to tell if I'm more tired than I would expect to be. Greg ---------- From: Paul, Brett Subject: RE: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night As far as you can tell, nothing seems to have happened. Yes, it really is something that you have to test to see if it failed... :\ You don't feel any more tired (though you *are* tired), nor did you notice any sort of energy rush or twinge. - Brett ---------- From: gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com[SMTP:gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night Hmmm, what I tried is really the sort of thing that you can only test by whether or not it fails. The end result, I guess, is to tell if I'm more tired than I would expect to be. Greg ---------- From: gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com[SMTP:gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night > From Brett_Paul@kne.com Tue Aug 5 18:27:51 1997 I get up slowly and whisper up to Dana, "Cool, Dana. I like the squirrel trick. Ever try to swim like a dolphin? :)" I'll whisper to the group. "Looks scary. Sounds like she means business. Hopefully we only have to wait until dawn, and they'll be gone. I'd say our best bet is to set guards and try to get some sleep. We're going to need 2 people on at any given time. Is anyone thoroughly exhausted?" Greg ---------- From: Saif[SMTP:saif@xmission.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night <> Saif whispers back "I've got a few things I'd like to try, so I'll take one of the first watches. But I have a feeling they are going to find us sooner or later." Saif ---------- From: Saif[SMTP:saif@xmission.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night > [The ball, as they say, is in your court. :) ] Saif shakes his head, not liking this situation. While we are waiting for the searchers to either walk away or get closer he is going to experiment with a few things. In each test below he will try to do it two ways. First he will concentrate, focus internally, and try to draw the power from himself. Second he will try to "sense" and then tap in to any power external to him (like an AD&D mage) and use that to power the experiment. In all cases if they work he will only hold them for a few seconds. He doesn't want to exhaust himself. First, he examines the foliage he is up against. He tries to change his skin color and then texture to match the foliage. Second, he will try to construct a small illusion, like a small bush right in front of him. Third, he will try to sense the life forces / auras of those around him (the party members). He will see if he can "mute" those auras so we might not be quite so detectable. Finally, he will try to create a small spark and then a small flame between his hands as he holds them about 4" apart. He'll make sure to shield the light (should be very small) from the searchers. If at any point during this he gets a bad headache or starts feeling very tired (hopefully I'm keeping these small/simple enough that I can try a few before this happens) he'll stop and rest. Saif ---------- From: gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com[SMTP:gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night From saif@xmission.com Wed Aug 6 17:07:46 1997 > Saif whispers back "I've got a few things I'd like to try, so I'll take one > of the first watches. But I have a feeling they are going to find us > sooner or later." "I guess I'll take second watch. Anyone want to go with me?" Greg ---------- From: Animalz@aol.com[SMTP:Animalz@aol.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night Very cool, that tree climbing bit. I always envied the way squirrels do that. :) Very uncool, that flying ship bit. I really don't like the looks and sound of this. Especially that "better be dead" part. I think we should try to get away from here as quickly as we can. If we stay in one place trying to hide, I think they'll find us. And I don't know if we can take them on if we get face to face again. Of course, that's assuming they are the same ghosts. This ship seemed like it became solid before landing. I don't remember the other one doing that. It just sailed right through the island, too, not over it. Maybe these men are "solid", too, ie flesh that can be hurt. And we never heard that female voice before, either. Could be that _these_ are Medizar's friends, not the ghosts. But at any rate, these folks are out for our hides... or our souls? While I'm up in the tree and can see the rowboats and the ship, I'll try to peer into the distance and get a better look at them. "Eyes like and eagle" or something like that. Umm, well, considering that its nightime, maybe eyes like an owl are more appropriate. :) Maybe I can catch a glimpse of the female captain or whatever she is, and the guys aboard the boats to see how skeletal they look. It seemed like something happened to the sword that John "enchanted". I'm hoping, too, that the effect may last to use it on the bad guys. Keep trying things, John. You never know what a clever GM will come with for special powers. :) Do you ever still daydream about what your secret fantasy super power might be? Or you, Greg? Keep trying things that may be related. If the decision is to stay and fight, which I don't recommend, I will still try to summon creatures from the woods or the swamp (bears or snakes) to go after our uninvited guests, hopfully while they are still some distance away from us. Dana ---------- From: gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com[SMTP:gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night > From: Dana > Very cool, that tree climbing bit. I always envied the way squirrels do > that. :) So now we find out that Secret Squirrel's secret identity is really Dana? :) > Very uncool, that flying ship bit. I really don't like the looks and sound > of this. Especially that "better be dead" part. I think we should try to > get away from here as quickly as we can. If we stay in one place trying to > hide, I think they'll find us. And I don't know if we can take them on if we > get face to face again. Of course, that's assuming they are the same ghosts. > This ship seemed like it became solid before landing. I don't remember the > other one doing that. It just sailed right through the island, too, not over > it. Maybe these men are "solid", too, ie flesh that can be hurt. And we > never heard that female voice before, either. Could be that _these_ are > Medizar's friends, not the ghosts. But at any rate, these folks are out for > our hides... or our souls? There are two ways to look at it. If we stay put, they'll probably find us eventually, but we'll have gotten some rest. If we move, we're going to be tired, and there's a chance that they'll still find us. Of course, we could always go back toward the beach... > While I'm up in the tree and can see the rowboats and the ship, I'll try to > peer into the distance and get a better look at them. "Eyes like and eagle" > or something like that. Umm, well, considering that its nightime, maybe eyes > like an owl are more appropriate. :) Maybe I can catch a glimpse of the > female captain or whatever she is, and the guys aboard the boats to see how > skeletal they look. Good idea! > It seemed like something happened to the sword that John "enchanted". I'm > hoping, too, that the effect may last to use it on the bad guys. Keep trying > things, John. You never know what a clever GM will come with for special > powers. :) Do you ever still daydream about what your secret fantasy super > power might be? Or you, Greg? Keep trying things that may be related. Mine's going to require access to some kind of formal text, I think. Always was too analytical. :) Maybe an old man type mentor. See any of those around? > If the decision is to stay and fight, which I don't recommend, I will still > try to summon creatures from the woods or the swamp (bears or snakes) to go > after our uninvited guests, hopfully while they are still some distance away > from us. If we decide to run, I'd recommend putting Marshall out front to scout with me and Brady in the back (sole missile weapon and sword). I'm beginning to think running might be a better idea, although we're going to have to sleep half the day tomorrow to recover--being rested is as important as anything else when you're facing some kind of fight. And if we go back to the boat, we might be able to sail across to the other land mass that looks like it may have a town on it... Greg ---------- From: Adequis@aol.com[SMTP:Adequis@aol.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night Since it sounds like we are staying, I will take take second watch with Greg, I want to try something on him. I also will ask anyone to wake me immediately any thing gets close. I can probably send them away again, or destroy them or send holy fire from heaven on them or something. What I would like to try on Greg is I will pray to God for insight into Greg future and destiny. This ofcourse with Greg ascent. This could be pictures or a voice or a feeling, but if a reply came on this it could help Greg on finding his purpose and power. If this starts taxing me too much I will stop since I want to be able to affect the ghost thingys. Brady P.S. Can I be a squirrel too? PLEASE!!!! ---------- From: Saif[SMTP:saif@xmission.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night > never heard that female voice before, either. Could be that _these_ are > Medizar's friends, not the ghosts. But at any rate, these folks are out for > our hides... or our souls? OOC: I had assumed that this ship was the same one we saw before. Brett? Are they different? That does change things a bit. Saif ---------- From: gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com[SMTP:gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night > From Brady: > Since it sounds like we are staying, I will take take second watch with Greg, > I want to try something on him. I also will ask anyone to wake me > immediately any thing gets close. I can probably send them away again, or > destroy them or send holy fire from heaven on them or something. > > What I would like to try on Greg is I will pray to God for insight into Greg > future and destiny. This ofcourse with Greg ascent. This could be pictures > or a voice or a feeling, but if a reply came on this it could help Greg on > finding his purpose and power. If this starts taxing me too much I will stop > since I want to be able to affect the ghost thingys. I think I already know the power. It seems that everyone else is driven by what they fantasize about in our 'real' world. Mine is magic--used in defense of other people more than anything. Like visualizing the constellation Orion with the sword and bow, and imagining that those are available for me to use. The trick is that all of this is very similar to how wizards cast spells in AD&D, which means I need some kind of formal training--a book or mentor or something. So if we run into Merlin, don't kill him, please. :) If you think your divination might give some insight into how this can be achieved, by all means, you have my permission. Just don't tell me if you see my body impaled with my head on a pike. :) Greg (private to Brady--late night conversation) ---------- From: Paul, Brett Subject: RE: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night >OOC: I had assumed that this ship was the same one we saw before. Brett? >Are they different? That does change things a bit. Are they different? No. The ship is the same as the previously-sighted one, as you all remember seeing it. However, the original sighting was when the ship went across the land, seemingly through the land (though it didn't leave a mark), and this time, it flew over your heads. I think that is why some may have thought it was a different ship. Just to confirm, it was in fact the same ship. - Brett ---------- From: gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com[SMTP:gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com] Subject: RE: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night > You don't feel any more tired (though you *are* tired), nor did you > notice any sort of energy rush or twinge. Hmmm, any random books lying around in the swamp? Maybe a 10" x 18" brown-leather bound tome with a lot of thick pages in them. Maybe some scrawling handwriting or spidery runes? :) Greg ---------- From: Jeff Willis[SMTP:thor@bji.net] Subject: RE: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night >Are they different? No. The ship is the same as the previously-sighted >one, as you all remember seeing it. However, the original sighting was >when the ship went across the land, seemingly through the land (though >it didn't leave a mark), and this time, it flew over your heads. I >think that is why some may have thought it was a different ship. Just >to confirm, it was in fact the same ship. HHHmmm... and this time it hit the trees... definately solid. NRPG: Oh and by the way... all of you feel free to pity me... *Grin* My hard drive was wiped out three days ago... I'm back though... :) Couldn't keep me away for long. *Grin* ---------- From: gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com[SMTP:gdinkelm@ccs.lmco.com] Subject: RE: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night > From Jeff: > >Are they different? No. The ship is the same as the previously-sighted > >one, as you all remember seeing it. However, the original sighting was > >when the ship went across the land, seemingly through the land (though > >it didn't leave a mark), and this time, it flew over your heads. I > >think that is why some may have thought it was a different ship. Just > >to confirm, it was in fact the same ship. > > HHHmmm... and this time it hit the trees... definately solid. Sounds like the "Flying Dutchman"...Don't recall the libretto for the opera, although it is Wagner, and has an awesome french horn solo. :) At any rate, what we really need is some information. I'd argue for going toward the nearest city we can find and learn what we can about Medizar and the ghost ship. Greg ---------- From: John D. Proulx[SMTP:dewelar@ix.netcom.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night Paul, Brett wrote: > Once the ship settles into the swampy water ahead, you can faintly hear > voices issuing from the ship, giving orders. Listening more closely, > you realize that you only hear one voice, definitely feminine, carrying > on the breeze to your ears. Most of the words are lost in the distance, > but the last thing you hear of those orders is, "they had better be > DEAD!!" Feminine, you say? Is it possible that Cassandra has joined the ranks of the undead? > On the port side, you see a smaller craft being lowered from the side of > the tall ship. As it nears the ground, you can see a half-dozen figures > onboard. Once they get into the swamp's waters, they begin rowing > southward. On the other side, a similar scene plays out, and the small > boat rows northward. None of the figures in the rowboats seem to be > feminine. From the time that the rowboats hit the water, they > frequently disappear from your view. Dana is able to see and track > them, though, and they are heading for the shoreline of the swamp-water, > both north and southwest of your location. Well, I guess we trapped ourselves. I don't like the idea of being surrounded, but our only other choice is to go back the way we came. In the meantime, I'll have a go at giving us a bit of protection. I'll stand first watch, and during it, I recite these lines: 'Nature's power, hear my call, Form around this group a wall. Let not undead pass through its force, But leave us free to keep our course.' Not the best construction, I suppose, but worth a shot. John Proulx ---------- From: Paul, Brett Subject: RE: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night > What I would like to try on Greg is I will pray to God for insight into Greg > future and destiny. This ofcourse with Greg ascent. I hope you meant "assent." Ascent implies you're going to send him to meet his maker. :) I know you're religious, and all, but that's a bit extreme. > This could be pictures > or a voice or a feeling, but if a reply came on this it could help Greg on > finding his purpose and power. If this starts taxing me too much I will stop > since I want to be able to affect the ghost thingys. Very well. You begin to pray over Greg quietly. Thus far, you have not seen the "ghost thingys" come this way (assuming this is happening during your watch). Greg and Brady both share a vision - one of a classroom from home. You see a printout of the classes you took during your freshman year of high school. It lists each class individually, with a blank line next to each. Then, some blank lines have check marks placed next to them. Then, it's gone, as quickly as it came. - Brett ---------- From: Marshall T. Vandegrift[SMTP:marsh@intrlink.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [18] Getting tired late at night (OOC: Sorry I've been so quiet lately. I'm still here though.) "I'm all for heading toward the town. I do think that we should check it out carefully before barging in. John, neat bush! Do you think you could do that every night?" As we walk along I'll try to keep up a steady breeze blowing from the sea, past us, and toward the town. I'd also like to try (again) getting atuned to how the area is naturally and watching to see if it changes. Marshall T. Vandegrift