Battle Royale: Knightmare

[Automatum]

*Automatum closes in on Hordriss*

[Hordriss de Confuseur]

*As soon as he heard the whirring approach of the Automatum, Hordriss unties the thread and loops it slackly around two trees close to the edge of the cliff, but still part of the forest. Although his invisibility is fading he is still hard to spot if he remains still. Crouching nearby, he tears open with the sharp knife until it is one sheet with straps dangling, then he snaps a large, slightly rotten branch off another tree [OOC: which is why an old man can break it off!] and waits. In his other hand he holds a scroll... He must time this exactly right....*

[Young Grimwold]

*Noting that Lord Fear's knapsack is empty, and Ursula's is gone - perhaps lost, perhaps in the care of Hordriss - YG splits his remaining rations with the other two. Realising how long it is since they've had or needed any sleep, he speculates that the rations contain some kind of potent stimulant - yet another tarnished facet of the Old One's game.*

*YG spots smoke in the sky, rising from the fire where Hordriss burned The Devil's Snare and Lady Morgan within it.*

There's smoke, rising from over there. Hordriss no doubt passed that way. But according to my map, we can get to the cliffs quicker if we head this way. The Automatum may be there, waiting for us - with any luck, Hordriss' invisibility potion is helping him evade the thing, and buying him some time.

*YG fears that he is thinking out loud a little too much.*

Are we ready to go?

[Automatum]

Target aquired: Hordriss
ERROR: VISUAL CONFIMATION REQUIRED
Scan mode.......
Scan Compleate: Vital sighns detected
Analyze......
Subject useing visual impearment potion.....
Processing......
Data compleate.....
Charging main laser weapon.....
Action.....
Sweeping spread of area....

((OOC: Kully I'll let you decide on what affect this has))

[Ursula]

*Ursula drops back a few paces once she is sure that Lord Fear will not make any sudden attacks, and starts searching for her knapsack. Unfortunately it seems to be lost, and as she cannot remember it falling off, she has no idea where to start looking. She shrugs with a grunt of annoyance, followed by a low growl as the movement makes the thread around her neck pinch. Scratching at her neck with her claws, she realises that it has worked its way under her thick fur to her skin... there is little time left indeed*

*A familiar, threarening scent starts to reach her nose, and she growls more harshly as she detects the smoke, her hackles rising instinctively at the sign of fire. Looking in the direction Young Grimwold has indicated, even her poor ursine eyesight can make out the column of smoke.*

*The mention of the Automatum provokes a yet-deeper growl, the metal creature is one that Ursula has no qualms about killing... as it is not exactly alive to begin with, it cannot exactly die. But she is worried about Hordriss; since the BOUNCE spell wore off so quickly, the one concealing Hordriss could do the same. It is difficult to convey her thoughts in this form, but in the current situation she has no wish to return to her human shape and its dulled senses. She jerks her head in the direction Hordriss took with an urgent grunt, scratching a lopsided arrow in the ground as an afterthought*

[Hordriss de Confuseur]

*Hordriss sees the beam of light arcing around the area, and realises that he must act before it reaches him. Springing up, he flings the leather sheet (the knapsack he cut up) over the Automatum's head, hoping it will break the beam, or at least confuse the creature.* [OOC: I'm assuming that the laser beam emitter is part of the Automatum's head.]

*Having closed in on Hordriss earlier, the Automatum is standing in front of the thread that Hordriss had tied between two trees. Hordriss was never one for a straightforward plan, and hopes that everything will come together, as he opens the scroll - Ursula's spell scroll.*

Spellcasting: W-R-A-P!

[Kully]

*Suddenly the Automaton begins to groan. Not a vocal groan but the agonised creak of bending metal. The welded seams of the shining armour begin to peel away and fold in on itself...essentially the Automaton is being wrapped up in its own casing.

Within a few seconds, the Automaton is merely a neatly packed cube of metal on the dusty floor. He will stay there until his owner comes to collect him.

He may be back, but not in this game.*

[Hordriss de Confuseur]

*Hordriss stares in shock at the Automatum's new form. Unsure whether it still poses a threat, he tries to push the cube towards the cliff edge; but he hasn't the strength. Convincing himself that the creature has been neutralised, he sits on a tree stump (from a tree burned away by the Automatum's laser) and waits.*

*Time passes... Hordriss, who has returned to full visibility, hears leaves rustling and twigs cracking, as three figures appear. Hordriss is relieved to see two of them; but is vexed to see the third.*

Young Grimwold, Ursula, one is pleased to see you. Yet, one can't help wondering why you have allowed this tyrant to accompany you. When last I saw him he was launching an attack on us.

[Young Grimwold]

*YG is concerned to see Hordriss' reaction to Lord Fear's arrival. However, he retains some confidence in his negotiating skills.*

There's no need for concern, Hordriss. We have convinced Lord Fear that it is better for us to work with each other to escape this arena, and not against each other. Of course, he saw the logic in this.

*YG looks to Lord Fear, hoping that his subtle compliment helps matters.*

Lord Fear, perhaps you could confirm your desire to co-operate with us? I'd hope that any old scores you and Hordriss have elsewhere will not stop us from pooling our resources and regaining our freedom.

*Coming from a race which so often never bothers to use words, YG hopes very much that he has found the right ones to ease possible tension. He's concentrated so hard on this task, in fact, that he has failed to register the laser-charred vegetation around him, and the metallic cube.*

[Lord Fear]

"I am co-operation with you all, just until we can get out of this place, it's starting to smell like Slyvster Hands, anyway, lets get rid of that thing before it somehow comes back to life" said Lord Fear gesturing to the cube that was the Automatum.

[Ursula]

*As she enters the charred and smoking area, Ursula snarls again, her neck-fur almost standing on end as she fights the instinct to run. Instead, she quickly pads around the area struck by the laser, scraping dirt over smouldering embers to ensure that there will be no chance of a forest fire*

*Once she is sure there is no danger to the forest, Ursula turns back to her companions, (mentally recoiling at the thought of Lord Fear as a 'companion' and notices what remains of the automatum for the first time. With a snort of surprise, she jumps back slightly, the alien metallic scents making her hackles rise again. Approaching the cube again, she gives it a pre-emtive swipe, flipping it over. After a few more blows, Ursula is satisfied that the Automatum is now harmless, and turns her attention to her companions once more*

[Hordriss de Confuseur]

Ah yes, One must thank you, Ursula, for it was your WRAP spell that allowed the threat of the Automatum to be... compressed. However, your knapsack itself is no more: cut open to form a sheet, thrown at the mechanical man to blind him, and now part of that cube you see. One had concocted a rather ingenious ambush to despatch the Automatum into the Dunnfalls; but of course, magic prevailed without the need for primitive weapons, over the Automatum's... *Hordriss searches for the mot juste, and upon glancing at Lord Fear, finds it* ...technosorcery. If you wish to dispose of the cube, and have the collective strength, then do so; though one rather suspects that the threat has been terminated. In the meantime, one returns your items to you.

*Hordriss unties the long thread, and gives it to Ursulam, along with her potion and some of her original rations; he hands Young Grimwold his small but sharp knife, taking back his longsword as he does so. Then Hordriss turns back to Lord Fear.*

Lord Fear, one is heartened to hear that you have offered us your co-operation, and have not let pride render you intransigent. One believes that we will benefit from your ambition and incisiveness. However, perhaps you will understand that in the light of your manifold past misdemeanours - one could mention several attempts made be you upon my life - complete trust must be earned. One looks forward to this and supports the current truce. This area, scorched as it is, holds no herbs for your arm wound; but we will look out for some elsewhere.

One recovered a number of belongings from abandoned knapsacks and thereabouts while making one's way to the cliffs, which one will reveal to you in due course.

Now, if one might be permitted to make some suggestions regarding what happens next? One idea is to try and break through the energy barrier at the border of this arena, using the spells and potions that remain among us, and bid farewell to this fetid battleground. One has renewed confidence in our magical possessions now.

Alternatively, we seek out the circle from where we began the battle, and beseech the Old One to find a non-lethal way of choosing the winnder, if winner there must be.

What are your thoughts?

[Young Grimwold]

*While listening to Hordriss, YG has found himself drawn back to the edge of the precipice, where he looks down to the waters, and reexperiences his memories of Tom Troughton's death with nausea rising from his stomach to his throat like an earthworm writhing to the surface from below. Then he spots something... returning to the others to grab Hordriss' branch, he lies down, stretches his arm out, and unhooks Tom's knapsack, which was dangling off a rocky outcropping just within reach. The rotten branch then breaks and YG drops it. Not pausing any longer, YG goes back over to his companions. He decides not to mention how close they are to Tom's place of death, so as not to upset Ursula.*

Sorry for disappearing like that - I found this. From... one of the other contestants. Can I suggest we take stock of what we now have: objects, spells and potions?

*Each person presents their items, both original and found.

In Young Grimwold's possession:
Sharpened piece of wood
Small but sharp knife
Mirror
'Spin' potion
Shot-put
SLIDE spell
'Grow' potion

In Hordriss' possession:
Longsword
CHOICE spell
Electromagnet
'Bubble' potion

In Ursula's possession:
Strong thread
'Quench' potion*


[OOC: I thought this list would be useful at this stage, and I will obviously correct any inaccuracies pointed out in it.]

Perhaps, by combining all of these things in the right way, we can break the invisible walls? Then again, with our minds working together we may be able to talk the Old One into showing us mercy. We could try using the items against him, but I doubt that would work.

*Looking at Ursula and Lord Fear* What approach do you favour?

[Lord Fear]

"I suggest that we should try and challenge that old thing to a final battle, I don't want this happening to me ever again, I've been humiliated for the last time, now It's time to get medievil on his butt." said Lord Fear.

[Hordriss de Confuseur]

Might one remind you of a comment made by the Old One at our initial gathering?

'Me? I'm nothing but the messenger. A lower force than the wise one himself, but still high enough to keep you under control.'