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Post by Young Grimwold on Jul 7, 2004 0:33:38 GMT
*Young Grimwold looks silently at Ursula: her eyes, her limbs, the blood leaking from her. He glances at the other two in turn, without blinking; then walks out of sight among nearby trees.*
*A minute or so passes... then come the sounds of ripping, wrenching, splintering, thudding. Further minutes pass... YG reappears. He is slightly out of breath, his hands are covered with tree-bark and blood, his face is blotted with tears. He looks at the others again, vaguely apologetic, but mostly inscrutable.*
Erm... can we bury her, please?
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Post by Ursula on Jul 7, 2004 1:05:25 GMT
(OOC: I know she's already been declared dead, just elaborating slightly)
*Through her rage and growing dizziness at the slow strangulation, Ursula hears Hordriss' words, and dimly realises that he is right. With a last swing at the barrier, she stands still, making no attempt to claw at the choking necklace*
*Ursula's last moments are surprisingly calm, and when she finally blacks out, her huge Crinos form simply crumples to the ground with a dull thud. Upon death, her body reverts to its natural form, shrinking down to become an ordinary grizzly bear*
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Post by Lord Fear on Jul 7, 2004 7:11:16 GMT
*For the first time in his life, Lord Fear stands losed for words as he can't think of what to say, If he gloats he'll be next*
"Well... what shall we do now?"
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Post by Hordriss de Confuseur on Jul 7, 2004 16:41:19 GMT
One is... so dreadfully sorry.
Master Grimwold, were we to bury our friend, one fears that her corpse would only disappear as those of the other contestants have, spirited away by the Old One, most probably. One observed that they were missing on the way to the cliffs.
*Hordriss sees in YG's face that he is far from satisfied with this response. Hordriss reminds himself of just how dangerous an ogre can be; how dangerous an ogre with repressed rage can be; and how dangerous such a person would be in this situation.*
However, she deserves rest. Let us inter her.
*A secluded patch of the Forest is found with a dip in the ground caused by nearby root growth, which the men deepen and widen by digging with their hands and large branches. When it is large enough, Ursula is carried over and lowered in. Hordriss considers trying to remove her thread necklace to reinstate some of her dignity, but fears a backlash from trying to do so, and leaves it regretfully. Ursula is covered over with twigs and foliage.*
Grimwold, do you wish to speak?
*YG's face shows that a cacophony of emotions is keeping him silent.*
One does not wish to be verbose under such circumstances, but will attempt to mark this occasion with some words.
One suspects that none of us knew Ursula as well as we wanted to. Under the most extreme of circumstances, she displayed both fortitude and wisdom, rather than the inner conflict which could so easily have been present in such a creature. This is something for us all to be inspired by and to hold in our minds. Ursula's passing has come in a way that she did not deserve; yet, even if we are presently unable to sit at a meal-table and toast her eminence, perhaps we can pick crumbs of comfort from the fact that her death has liberated her from an horrendous battle, and brought her closer to Nature. Rest in peace.
Forgive me, gentlemen - I do normally get quite so emotional.
*Hordriss is quiet for a while.*
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Post by Lord Fear on Jul 7, 2004 19:05:44 GMT
*Lord Fear keeps to himself and doesn't not speak nor does he shead a tear*
"What shall we do now? try to break the barrier again?" said Lord Fear in a quiet but audable voice.
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Post by Kully on Jul 7, 2004 22:12:44 GMT
*Ursula finds herself once more in the enclosed circle with the Old Man. He shakes his head at her with a small smile.* Old Man: Such strength! Such determination! You could have had it all, my dear. Now you have lost the game...but though the way I shall see it might be...who will now protect your friends from the Lord of Fear...or each other? *Ursula blinks, and she is in a dank room within the Dungeons.* [ModNote: Link added.] |
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Post by Lord Fear on Jul 8, 2004 17:23:57 GMT
"Is any of those items a sword of anything, because I have a Feindish Idea that might just break the barrier"
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Post by Young Grimwold on Jul 8, 2004 23:10:33 GMT
*YG glares at Lord Fear, showing little patience.*
That old bastard and his bloodthirsty superiors just used the barrier to torture Ursula to death. Are you really prepared to risk a repeat of that? Would you not rather track down the Old One - like you said you wanted to before?
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Post by Hordriss de Confuseur on Jul 8, 2004 23:12:14 GMT
*Hordriss, almost slipping into meditation, is roused by Lord Fear's comment. So far, Lord Fear has not been allowed to hold one of the group's weapons; and Hordriss is unsettled by the technosorcerer's use of the word 'fiendish'.*
Indeed, Lord Fear, I have a longsword here, and Grimwold has a knife. One must confess to some concern over your intent: one profoundly hopes that you do not wish to break ranks and observe the instructions of the 'choice' scroll, taunting you as it did?
'You have two choices in this situation -
Kill yourselves or fight.
The first path will get you nowhere now
So the second path is right.'
Perhaps you could explain your 'fiendish idea' to us?
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Post by Lord Fear on Jul 9, 2004 17:22:53 GMT
"I will, the ogre will throw the sword at the barrier as hard as he can and as fast as he can, If it works, which I know it will, the barrier should shatter let alone at least give it a few cracks."
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Post by Young Grimwold on Jul 9, 2004 17:34:35 GMT
[OOC: I'm going to assume that the men have wandered out of sight of the graveside, so that they don't see or detect Ursula being transported away by the Old One. Kully, please feel free to edit any of my posts if you wish to express this differently.]
I think the barrier is unpredictable. When I threw that sharpened piece of wood, it passed through. But when Ursula touched the barrier... we saw what happened. If anything, it seems to show no reaction to contact by projectile objects, and a quite horrendous reaction to us.
You seem to have confidence, Lord Fear - something I lack at the moment. I could throw the sword (or the shot-put from Tom Troughton's knapsack) if you think it will make a difference; but wouldn't you rather see it held to the Old One's throat, making a difference that way?
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Post by Lord Fear on Jul 9, 2004 18:52:09 GMT
"Indeed I do, we'll keep the sword for the old one, do you have anything like a stone that weights alot?"
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Post by Young Grimwold on Jul 9, 2004 20:07:33 GMT
Yes, as I mentioned, I have a shot-put that I found in Tom Troughton's knapsack.
*YG shows Lord Fear and Hordriss a hefty, black metal ball. His hand drops a little as he holds it.*
I expect it will pass through like the piece of wood did. Although if that barrier decides to change, the shot-put could rebound, and one of us could be saying goodbye to our skull...
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Post by Lord Fear on Jul 9, 2004 20:54:16 GMT
"Perhaps if I we're to touch the barrier at the same time that ball hits the barrier then it might do some damage, even though I might share the same death as that shapechanger, I'm willing to do so."
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Post by Hordriss de Confuseur on Jul 10, 2004 0:32:09 GMT
*Hordriss is about to caution Lord Fear against this action; but he feels a darker morality surfacing, one he thought lost when he aligned himself with the Powers That Be. Lord Fear's death would effectively spell the downfall of The Opposition, greater security in Wolfenden and beyond, and a cathartic vengeance for Hordriss and many others. Not that Hordriss would consider dealing the death blow - especially not here and now, since he would be giving the Old One the bloodshed he craves if he did so - but Hordriss can't help contemplating the benefits of Lord Fear's demise...*
Very well. One would not seek to patronise you - you are aware of the risks, Lord Fear, and no doubt have extensive experience of energy fields. Should you not survive, Master Grimwold and I will salute your bravery and ingenuity.
One would suggest that you stand over there, a little way along from where Ursula was when she touched the barrier; and Master Grimwold, if you position yourself there, then the shot-put should reach the barrier with sufficient force.
*Hordriss points to the two positions.*
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