Outside XXI

[Reinholdt]

This place is just as it sounds. It's outside.
Want a change of scenery? Go outside.
Always wanted to visit the beach? Come outside.
Looking to have a climatic fight on clifftops? Attempt outside.
Secret meetings being held where there's no cameras? Try outside.
Want an ambush without nasty base defenses? Yep. Outside.

Any and all are welcome here. There are no NPCs unless you bring them in. The major exception is the creepy eyed squirrel. The creepy eyed squirrel does not interfere with anyone. The creepy eyed squirrel is everywhere outside. The creepy eyed squirrel is always watching. The creepy eyed squirrel never sleeps. The creepy eyed squirrel can not be damaged, manipulated, or killed by anyone. The creepy eyed squirrel will eat anyone's very being who attempts to do so. Anyone can god-mode the creepy eyed squirrel. You may pet the creepy eyed squirrel at your own risk.

Other NPCs currently include:
The menacing crabs. These intimidating creatures are usually found by the shore.
The non-existant duck. You'll miss every time you shoot at it.

There is very little you can't do outside. However, like always, please follow the forum rules and general rules of conduct. Private conversations can be held outside. If it seems like a private (secret) conversation, please respect that. Those having such a conversation should do their best to indicate it as such. Otherwise, other characters may stumble upon you. Those desiring to spy in on private conversations should first PM those holding the private conversation, more out of courtesy than anything else.

There are many areas outside, and people can be in multiple places outside. In order to keep areas outside separated so there's no confusion, consider bolding your outside location at the start of each of your posts, like so:

The Fields

Reinholdt sets up various targets and practices his sharpshooting. All these events recently has made him a bit rusty. To his left, he notes the creepy eyed squirrel. Giving him the heebie-jeebies, Reinholdt decides to head somewhere else.

The Cliffside

Calublufiok broods over his latest scheme as he flies over the cliffs. The creepy eyed squirrel is watching him again. He finds occasionally landing and telling the creepy eyed squirrel his plans helps him find holes in his plotting.

Note Reinholdt and Calublufiok do not interact because they are in different areas outside. They could interact, if Reinholdt moves to the cliffside. Of course, various things like telepathy help bypass this. Also, please note outside has no major buildings, though minor ones crop up from time to time.

And most importantly, enjoy outside. That's what this is all about.

Outside now contains various Outside locations! Such as...

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[Dead Pine Lake]

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This lake lies in the middle of the forest. On the eastern shore, woodpeckers feast on the dead pines that give the lake its name. Sometimes one can find Lady Death here, the Aspect of Eve also known as The Grandmother, or Jedwiga.

(Please PM happyturtle if you wish to interact with Jedwiga.)

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[The Islands]

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An island cluster forms an archipelago along the coast. Some of the islands are settled, some not, but most are at least occasionally visited by the fishermen who work these waters.

[Gersemi's Island]

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Gersemi the seighkona lives on a small island in the archipelago with a single hut and a few sheep. Inside the hut, there is a single room, and a fireplace. A loom rests in one corner.

(Please PM happyturtle if you wish to interact with Gersemi.)

[Redbrick Falls]

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A mountainous, cliffy region with a prominent waterfall. A large quarry once was worked in these cliffs. Now, only a few scattered villages and solitary dwellings remain.

[Norosa, Great City of the Elves]

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A Lawful Evil city with an incredibly strong military and a very charismatic leader (Archmage Tyrion Lannister). It has a few CG resisters, but, otherwise, it is a city of peace and law, despite its evil nature.

[Brillian's Baneful Bestiary]

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A secret series of caves where a mad scientist lives. A mad scientist who creates mutant attack creatures. These can be purchased for the right price.

[Auxiliary MagCave]

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A relic from the days of the Age of Apocalypse, this abandoned cavern was once used by the infamous cyborg Magtok as a back-up laboratory and underground fortress, should Calublufiok have ever stormed the primary MagCave.

[The Katz Motel]

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Located in the middle of Nowhere, our roadside motel is the only decent place for miles near the Taverna that has a bed. Run by a suave anthropomorphic cat, there is a strict No Dogs policy.


A bellhop by the name of Bates is always ready to assist in carrying your luggage. Please ignore his constant mutterings about his mother. Other more unsavory employees can occasionally be found. Please try to avoid eye contact with them.

We at the Katz Motel wish to ensure you have a splendid stay. Any inconvenience due to randomly locking doors, giant spiders, secret passages, vampires, creepy paintings, and the occasional possession and subsequent exorcism are incredibly rare. Just look at our complaint cards! Not a single one mentions dying horribly in their sleep or becoming food for the monster in the basement.

And if you get bored, the owner will always be up for a game of sport, old boy.

((The Katz Motel is a horror filled place with the highest casualty rate of any motel in the Nexus area. Checking in is usually pretty easy and pleasant. Checking out is rare. Anyone can play the Motel and the NPCs within, free to invent their own horror. The NPCs within that can die usually only suffer death temporarily, the supernatural force causing the disturbances bringing them back to life for its own nefarious purposes. PCs get no benefit from this.))

[The Troll Cave]

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A cave in a craggy hill. The undergrowth outside is trampled completely flat, and there's not much wildlife. There's a burned patch where a fire is sometimes there. Inside are a few large caves, linked by surprisingly smooth tunnels that look like something big has been regularly pushing through them.

[Blind Cat's Bluff]

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A sheer cliff dropoff that travels straight down into the water, this is a favored point of people who commit suicide, romantics wanting to watch the sunset and anyone looking to get rid of evidence. The drop is pretty far and there are rocks at the bottom that spell almost certain doom, so watch your step.

PM Whoever's posted the current Outside thread if you wish to add locations to Outside.

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech

Din screams. it's in her thigh by now "I was lucky! I'm begging you. i'll let you do anything, if you'll let me live for now..."

"I'm sorry, Din, but only one being has that power. And that being is not me." It's Dalachrech.

[iElf]

Din keeps on screaming and sobbing for another half hour, without saying anything. then...

"..will it go through my heart?"

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Altar Room

"No. It will avoid your heart and your spinal chord. It wants your brain alive when it arrives." The beetle continues up her body.

[iElf]

"how fast will it grow there?"

[VampireRot]

Earl's Fortress- Armoury

"I don't know how!" Running might be the best option. Or throwing it in a hammerspace and hoping that stops it.

Reinholdt summons his rusting wand. He bought it from Erin's Emporium some time ago. As such it probably won't be as effective as the one Ermine found. It's probably factory made.

But he fires a shot at the axe.

And then he deadtimes.

Earl's Fortress- Armoury

The rusting wand is not as effective as it might be. It works in weakening the power of the visions, but it isn't actually damaging the axe. Perhaps more rusting wands would do the job.

Ermine, seeing Reinholdt's wand, remembers her own. Even though she just got it. Images of you killing your best friend tend to make you forget some things. She pulls out the rust wand and points it at the axe too, willing it to activate and turn the monstrous metal to dust.

[Earl of Purple]

Earl's Fortress- Armoury

You haven't been missed Rot, I'd rather wait for Rein to post in case there's something he'd like to do first.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Altar Room

"Don't worry. After it reaches your brain, you'll be dead by the time it burrows through your optic nerve and out your eye. That happens ten minutes after it reaches your brain." That's still quite a long time. Good thing the brain can't feel pain. Simple reason: If your brain hurts, it's too late for pain.

[iElf]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Altar Room

"Don't worry. After it reaches your brain, you'll be dead by the time it burrows through your optic nerve and out your eye. That happens ten minutes after it reaches your brain." That's still quite a long time. Good thing the brain can't feel pain. Simple reason: If your brain hurts, it's too late for pain.

Din continues to cry, the bug now moving up her torso

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Altar Room

Elezibethele watches the brainbeetle grub as it works its way up Din's torso with interest. Lots of interest. Otherwise, there's no reaction from her.

[iElf]

Din sobs "...Angela...Carrie...anyone...please....save me..."

Lauretta still has a chance to see Din suffer

[happyturtle]

Hermitage

Lauretta is there, watching, though her face has been concealed.

She lowers her hood. "Only my Lord Dalachrech can save you." Din says coolly.

[iElf]

Din shakes her head...and slowly goes into a state of waiting for everything to go black

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech

Elezibethele continues to watch the beetle as it burrows its way through Din's nervous system to her brain. Elezibethele nods at Lauretta's words. "When it reaches your brain, not even Dalachrech can save you. If you wish to be saved, you need to do it soon." 'It' in this case meaning 'Pray to Dalachrech'.

[iElf]

Din swallows her pride, and begins praying and pleading like mad to dalachrech....

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Altar Room

If Din's praying in her mind, or she doesn't mean them (because she is convinced that Angela/Carrie will help instead) nothing happens and the brainbeetle continues up her body.

If Din's prayers are verbal and honest, truly to Dalachrech and no other diety enters her thoughts, the brainbeetle burrows out of her body and is deftly caught before it jumps to anybody else by Elezibethele who puts it back into its jar, which is then sealed. If this occurs, Elezibethele will say something. "Earlier, you offered to be my slave. Is that offer still extant?"

[iElf]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Altar Room

If Din's praying in her mind, or she doesn't mean them (because she is convinced that Angela/Carrie will help instead) nothing happens and the brainbeetle continues up her body.

If Din's prayers are verbal and honest, truly to Dalachrech and no other diety enters her thoughts, the brainbeetle burrows out of her body and is deftly caught before it jumps to anybody else by Elezibethele who puts it back into its jar, which is then sealed. If this occurs, Elezibethele will say something. "Earlier, you offered to be my slave. Is that offer still extant?"

Din closes her eyes in relief "....do I have a choice?"

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Altar Room

"We all have a choice, Din. We don't always like the choices, but in this instance there's four. You can be my personal slave, you can be Lauretta's personal slave, you can be a slave here at the Hermitage or you can serve as Dalachrech's slave." The last option will involve the beetle. Elezibethele also makes no move to untie Din yet.

((And now, I Deadtime))

[Reinholdt]

Ermine, seeing Reinholdt's wand, remembers her own. Even though she just got it. Images of you killing your best friend tend to make you forget some things. She pulls out the rust wand and points it at the axe too, willing it to activate and turn the monstrous metal to dust.

Earl's Fortress- Armoury

You haven't been missed Rot, I'd rather wait for Rein to post in case there's something he'd like to do first.

Yeah.
He'd like to fire his wand five more times at that thing.
Shame that it actually has charges I have to keep track of.

[Murkus]

[Corn Field]

Though Lenore seems to be walking slowly, she always stays elusively ahead, no matter how quickly you try to chase her. Eventually you have reached the other side of the cornfield, where a dirt road runs between corps.
Lenore is visible 20 yards away, where two dirt roads cross. She stares longingly at the ground near where she stands and then fades away.

You can hear that Faith is coming running behind you as well now.

Adir has an immediate thought as they reach the crossroads, frowning. "You know, we could talk to someone here who speaks to the dead. Just to learn a bit more, maybe?"

[Shadowcaller]

[Corn Field]

"Or even better, someone who could banish the dead." Faith comments as she with surprising speed managed to catch up with them.

Adir however, will find a wooden platform where Lenore once stood before she disappeared, it's about seven feet square, set into the ground in a concrete frame. It's hinged on one side and padlocked closed.

[Reinholdt]

[Corn Field]

"The dead's already speaking to us. I don't think we need a specialist."
Reinholdt follows Adir.

[KerfuffleMach2]

((Sorry, didn't see this till after I posted in the old one. ))

It's probably not a good thing, then, that it excites them. One leaps for the ring mail man's trailing foot as he is dragged along and latches on, screaming the song at the top of it's wooden lungs. It's painted on mouth doesn't move, but bite marks start to appear on the leg.
DEEP bite marks.

Silva will run over and try to kick it away. A good, hard kick, aimed right for its face.

The others may notice that the blade of her dagger is now on fire.

Wait a minute...was it a dagger? Now it look more like a short sword...

[iElf]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Altar Room

"We all have a choice, Din. We don't always like the choices, but in this instance there's four. You can be my personal slave, you can be Lauretta's personal slave, you can be a slave here at the Hermitage or you can serve as Dalachrech's slave." The last option will involve the beetle. Elezibethele also makes no move to untie Din yet.

((And now, I Deadtime))

Din thinks a while looking for the least evil in the list of choices... "...I don't know. one of yours. you choose..."

[happyturtle]

Hermitage

"I have no use for her," Lauretta says with disdain.

[Earl of Purple]

Earl's Fortress- Armoury

The axe starts to corrode under the combined power of two rusty-wands. As the rust takes hold, the images receed and fade from the minds (but not memories) of Ermine and Reinholdt. Eventually all that is left is an axe-shaped rust stain on the floor.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Altar Room

"One of mine? OK then. Jeanell, Darstul, untie her and take her to the Punishment Room. Chain her arms above her head and wait for me." The wood elf and the high elf slaves nod and untie the bindings on Din's ankles and wrists. They will try to pick her up and carry her through many corridors until they reach the Punishment Room. They'd let Din walk on her own, but the nerves in Din's legs haven't been regenerated yet. Turning to Lauretta, Elezibethele ignores Din. "Are you sure you don't want your own slave? They can be very useful."

[happyturtle]

Hermitage

"I couldn't handle her whining," Lauretta says. And though the orb: And having betrayed her own goddess, she'll certainly betray Dalachrech the first chance she gets. Be careful.

[iElf]

Din will be dragged then...wondering if she should have just let herself be killed after all

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Altar Room

"If she whines too much, I'll cut her tongue out. If you're sure you don't want her, I'll go and mark my property." Elezibethele is smiling.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Punishment Room

The two slaves will take Din to a pair of shackles dangling from the ceiling. They will shackle her wrists. Elezibethele won't arrive immedietely, and the two slaves are waiting nearby. Din has enough time to look around. These chains aren't the only ones dangling from the ceiling, and there's more bolted into the walls. There's a rack of whips, rods, switches and knives all along one wall, and in one corner is a rack. Next to where she is dangling is a brazier, which the high elf lights and begins stocking it. There's several branding irons in the brazier. Also nearby is a metal boot lined with spikes.

[iElf]

Din winces ...she remembers this... branding was one of the worst experiences in her life...she tries to heal herself a little, the one of the only things she can do without her hands

[happyturtle]

Hermitage

Lauretta takes her leave, and goes back to the temple to work on her prayer book.