Author Topic: Part I: Boy Scouts Have the Right Idea  (Read 69895 times)

Offline Tshern

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Re: Part I: Boy Scouts Have the Right Idea
« Reply #320 on: March 21, 2012, 12:44:14 PM »
The origins of shaking hand, the display of honesty and honourable intentions, were antithetical to the very core of the original Sith teachings of betrayal, cunning, and personal might through those means, so he refrained from extending his arm to greet Bracken. In a situating rife with the looming presence of danger, however, Bane knew better than to alienate himself from sentients who might eventually be in the position to save his life. Trust was, after all, a tool that could be utilised just like any other concept. Acknowledging this, Bane turned his attention to Bracken, meeting his eyes with the merciless countenance of his sickly eyes of yellow colour all the while making an effort to slightly soften his face that was perpetually accentuated by features of resigned loathing. As his intense features softened to a degree that was hardly noticeable he addressed Bracken with his typical style that was the product of being tempered in the maelstroms of countless battles "I indeed am Lord Bane, or Darth Bane if you prefer." Letting his words sink he concentrated on putting up an appearance devoid of weakness and signs of constant agony, after which he continued "You look at battle in a very realistic manner. While the magical support is welcome and invaluable, it is of no use unless we know how to use it effectively. For that reason everyone needs to have a solid grasp of the area they are to defend."

At the end of his reply, Bane already looked significantly stronger as he had stopped leaning to the wall and straightened his massive body in order to give his words, and himself, a more authorative bearing. However, the seeds of self-doubt and foreboding still crawled in the recesses of his mind... "The presence of the dark side cannot overwhelm me for I am its purest manifestation!" he thought, secretly hoping for the invasion to happen soon so he could give in to the fury that was boiling within him.
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Offline sirpercival

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Re: Part I: Boy Scouts Have the Right Idea
« Reply #321 on: March 25, 2012, 06:50:44 AM »
Arkesh nods.  "Why don't we begin our preparations, then?  We'll break into our teams (so we're ready when the enemy arrives), and while we're constructing the defenses, we can examine the surroundings."

((I'll put together area descriptions in the next post))

EDIT: ((Actually, I'll compile the descriptions I've already handed out, and add the new ones, and put it all in the Combat Bookkeeping Thread, for easy access.))
« Last Edit: March 25, 2012, 07:19:26 AM by sirpercival »
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Offline sirpercival

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Re: Part I: Boy Scouts Have the Right Idea
« Reply #322 on: March 27, 2012, 09:09:20 AM »
As you are all going around making preparations, Arkesh speaks with Thrash and shares the conversation over the link.

Thrash: "What are your plans regarding the deployment of the Marauders in the Warrens?"

Arkesh: "You'll place them in stasis in the large central cavern, and release them as necessary.  I won't put up a Forbiddance, so we will have alarms just in case the enemies move in here directly.  I would also suggest that you prepare whatever that snow effect was, to mess up enemy sight lines."

Thrash: "Certainly.  May I make another suggestion?"

Arkesh, grudgingly: "I suppose..."

Thrash: "...thank you.  I think I should have the Marauders create some straight tunnels through the Warrens, to give them and us more mobility.  They can consume the stone here with little trouble, and should be able to create several tunnels over the next couple of days."

Arkesh: "'Consume?'"

Thrash: "Yes.  They'll eat it just like they eat everything else, if I let them."

Arkesh, after a long pause: "...Fine.  Do it."
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Offline Tshern

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Re: Part I: Boy Scouts Have the Right Idea
« Reply #323 on: March 29, 2012, 08:35:40 AM »
During the Arkesh's telepathically linked conversation with Thrash, Bane strolled around the room fiddling nervously with the hild of his lightsaber remembering the previous bout with a single Marauder. The idea of allowing several of those beasts to roam all but freely around the compound seemed like an exercise in stupidity. Being a Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Bane was a crafty deceiver and could not help thinking of all the possibilities for betrayal.

Even if they killed off the attackers, why would we trust Thrash to stop them afterwards? Do we have the capabilities to stop all of the Marauders if Thrash betrays us?

Shaking his head slightly Bane turns to Arkesh asking "How many of these Marauders are we going to unleash? Do we have a contigency plan assuming that scumbag Thrash decides to turn on us again? I don't enjoy the prospect of fending off a few dozen Marauders after taking care of the first wave of attackers."
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Offline sirpercival

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Re: Part I: Boy Scouts Have the Right Idea
« Reply #324 on: March 29, 2012, 10:54:20 PM »
Arkesh smiles slightly at Bane.  "I trust Thrash about as much as a Tarrasque in a china shop.  I fully expect him to turn on us again, if he gets the chance.  So, here's my plan.

First, we need to know how many of those things he brought.  We'll see how many he uses to create the tunnels, and add a few to that.

Second, anything that's eating rock for the tunnels will hopefully be less hungry when it comes time to try and eat us.  Worth a shot, right?

Third... is complicated."


Arkesh sighs, seeming troubled. "It seems more and more clear to me that Gruumsh One-Eye is trying to extend His influence beyond Acheron, starting with this deal with the Great One.  But Gruumsh is the mold from which all Orcs are made, so we can expect Him to be the ultimate double-crosser.  I have to warn you, we may have a very big problem after we're done here on this job. We may have to stick together for a while longer to make sure we all survive whatever comes next, because if Gruumsh One-Eye is behind it, it won't be healthy.  While He may be stupider than many of the other gods, He's still divine, and has had an eternity to nurse his hatred and plan.

I told you there is a lot going on, a lot more than you know. I don't want to distract you from this job, but we may have to talk more afterward.  There is one other thing that I will tell you now, though.

I think the Great One brought Thrash in specifically to kill Star Feather, and that Thrash believes he'll succeed... right after he kills me, of course.  But the scum has no idea how far out of his depth he is with that mage.  Star Feather is probably the most unpredictable enemy any of you will probably ever face, and she can do things he can't begin to imagine.  She holds power over countless Elven worlds all across the Multiverse.  Even the Illithids are terrified of her -- why do you think they hired you instead of facing her themselves?  Why else would the Great One would risk bringing in the Marauders?

So if something strange is happening, it's probably her.  Unless you want to get your head handed to you, you'd better leave Star Feather to me.  You don't want to get hit by the sunsword she carries... it's not like a regular sunsword, it's made from the core of a sun. She went inside one to get it. 

So the last wrinkle of the plan is this: once I 'take care' of Thrash, I'll draw Feather to me and then I can finish this, face to face."


Then Arkesh suddenly grins, wild and bloodthirsty.  She seems more dangerous and unpredictable in this moment than she ever has before.  "And as for cleaning up the Marauders afterward... well, that'll be fun.  We'll still have all our defenses, and I'm sure the enemy will probably destroy several of them for us during the attack.  Besides, we have a crack team of elves stashed in a portable hole.  We'll point them at the Marauders and pick up the pieces afterward."
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Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Part I: Boy Scouts Have the Right Idea
« Reply #325 on: March 29, 2012, 11:14:43 PM »
Hearing this latest news, Gabriel begins questioning whether it is worth the risk to his survival to expose himself to such an enemy. He's taken many precautions to insure his own survival in almost any circumstance, but against such a foe, even he might be destroyed.

Then he wonders to himself <If this Starfeather is as dangerous, unpredictable, and influential as she says... why does Arkesh not fear to face her? Does she have a death wish? These others were drawn into this likely not knowing the magnitude of enemies we would face, but she has obviously known from the beginning.

When we first encountered Arkesh, I thought she was an illithid, and so of course had no reason to doubt that she'd willingly die serving their interests. But now... I wonder why she is even here. What is she getting out of all of this?>


He considers just asking her, but decides against it. Such a powerful motivation is rarely honestly revealed, but is also difficult to hide. Perhaps she is simply insane, or a zealot of some kind. She seems the type. He's certainly not unfamiliar with fools willing to throw their lives away for some cause or another. He pushes such thoughts from his mind, as he returns to placing effects to prepare for what sounds like it will be an apocalyptic battle. Still, he glances at the others and wonders if any of them will be alive in a week's time. But he's sure he himself will be OK. He's a survivor, and he's prepared.
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Offline ShadowViper

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Re: Part I: Boy Scouts Have the Right Idea
« Reply #326 on: March 30, 2012, 07:34:08 AM »
He was not worried about his own death, he was quite confident that'd he'd survive. After all, there was still so much ahead of him, so much left to accomplish. So it wasn't hard for him to focus upon the task at hand, scouting out the river. Before leaving the conference room he did offer this.

"Cleaning up the Marauders will not be a problem for me, all I require is a large open area with plenty of room to move. The only assistance I may need, would be in keeping each Marauder in position while I proceed to kill it."

Once at the river he would adopt the form of a rather large crocodile, leaving most of his equippment behind in a secure place upon the bank. The buckles doing their job in allowing the humanoid specfic equippment to fall loose from his changing and expanding form without being damaged. He wasn't going to reveal his Ace just yet, so the form of a crocodile would suit this scouting mission just fine. Of course he would take care to perform the Somatic and Verbal components required by the Polymorph spell before starting the change. Best to always assume you're being observed after all.

Once the change had been completed, he would simply slip into the river and proceed to lazily swim it's length. Taking great care to find positions in which he could make his natural form literally disappear in the river, in order to set up an ambush/s.

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Offline Tshern

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Re: Part I: Boy Scouts Have the Right Idea
« Reply #327 on: April 02, 2012, 08:40:54 PM »
Regarding his words, Bane looked at Throisar with a casual look that had the slightest touch of contempt in it, almost as if Bane believed Throisar did not quite grasp the gravity of the situation. A few seconds later Bane sighed and said "It is certainly hopeful that if the Marauders turn on us, they will remain in the exact area we want them to. I would not, however, count on that."
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