Patchwork Universe

Jones · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 3:10 pm Post subject: Midnight at Midday

Outside it was black. Jones and Jack slipped quickly through the door and stood outside back to back, looking out for any sign of monsters. Captain Magpie and the pirates followed and the rest of the party made their way out gradually after them.

"The cottages are north and west of here," Jones said. "The stables close to them. Everyone be alert."

Jones · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:35 pm Post subject:

"If it's all the same to you, Mr Jones, me and my men will have a scout about in the other direction," Magpie announced. "There seem to be a few of us out here, and we're lookign for a fair few people... and a horse. We can take care of ourselves, don't you worry."

Indeed the pirates seems quite capable of it and Jones didn't raise any objection as they sloped off round the corner of the pub heading south. He wondered if Magpie was using the opportunity to make his escape but he had his own crew to take care of and Jones could hardly complain.

His attention was distracted by movement coming from around the other side of the building.

ooc: Pirates now leave this thread. Remaining members of the search party include: Jones, Jack, Jessica, Trubshawe, Violetta, Michael and John Angelis. Note to JA: I thought you were with us, I didn't mean include to sound limiting! If I've missed anyone else out don't worry we'll assume you were standing behind someone tall...

John Angelis · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 7:29 pm Post subject:

John, sword and pistol at ready, took a position ready to recieve whatever was coming.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Zoo

Trubshawe was attempting to hold a position just behind Kalyndis' shoulder. Either the man was justified in his belief that he was a dragon (and now that Dr Jewel was a ghost, it seemed anything at all was possible), or else in his delusional self-belief he would at least absorb the impact of the first wave of attacking beasties before they reached the Head Zookeeper. Either option seemed reasonably acceptable.

He reached into his inside pocket and felt the reassuring weight of his weapon holstered there. He flashed a tight smile that he hoped was grave-yet-dashing at Lady Violetta, and then turned back to scan the horizon for whatever was to come.

Jones · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 7:54 pm Post subject:

Balked of their quarry the Phantoms had circled the pub, seeking some means of ingress. Fortunately for Dr Jewel the ward that protected the building from phantasmal beings had allowed her to pass through the walls but the monsters that prowled outside had no such luck. Melting back towards the Wraith they had set to waiting instead and now their perseverance was rewarded.

* life * thought the Phantoms. * hearts beating, blood surging, breath hot and quick *
* PREY * answered the Wraith and all three coiled around the corner of the pub, coalescing out of the misty substance that formed them to show sharp rows of fangs and long hooked claws.

John Angelis · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 7:54 pm Post subject:

Angelis stepped off to the side, and began to hold his breath. He circled around the incoming predators, searching for any sign that they could detect him...

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 8:54 pm Post subject:

Lady Violetta noticed Trubshawe grinning at her in a somewhat disturbing fashion. "Poor man," she thought. "I think he must think he's on some sort of day trip. I suppose I'd better try to make sure that he doesn't get hurt."

"Look," she shouted, pointing at the incoming monsters. "Unholy terrors from beyond the grave. If only I had a bell. And a book. And a candle. Will hitting them with the sword do any good, do you think, Mr. Jones?"

Father Michael · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 7:03 am Post subject:

Grasping his rosary firmly in his right hand, and raising it so that the crucifix faced the oncoming creatures, Father Michael opened his breviary and began to chant. First he concentrated on building a protection for his friends. Then he began to concentrate on the undead creatures in front of him, imagining divine light tearing their shadow-bodies apart.

levavi oculos meos in montes unde veniet auxilium mihi
auxilium meum a Domino qui fecit caelum et terram
non det in commotionem pedem tuum neque dormitet qui custodit te
ecce non dormitabit neque dormiet qui custodit Israhel
Dominus custodit te Dominus protectio tua super manum dexteram tuam
per diem sol non uret te neque luna per noctem
Dominus custodit te ab omni malo custodiat animam tuam Dominus
Dominus custodiat introitum tuum et exitum tuum ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum

He hoped it would be enough.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Zoo

Trubshawe, who was not the sort of man who had much time for prayers, rolled his eyes and withdrew his weapon from his pocket.

It was a curious sort of bulbous gun, apparently made of bright red plastic and perspex, and adorned with numerous fins, flanges and other architectural adornments. With his thumb he flicked a dial onto the setting he judged appropriate for the task at hand, and trained the weapon on the creature he judged to be the greatest danger to himself personally.

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 144 Location: Kerya

If Phantoms and Wraiths could read human expressions, they would have observed on Kalyndis's face one of profound embarrassment.

He said loudly over Father Michael's chanting, "Jones! I find myself unable to resume my natural form. Is there some sorcery laid on this place, and if so, can it be lifted?"

Jones · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 8:16 am Post subject:

The Phantoms writhed horribly as Michael began his prayer. Jessica had closed her eyes and was whispering softly under her breath, a soft golden light emanating from her snake head ornament. Jack had taken an aggressive stand, brandishing his broadsword in the face of the monsters.

The Wraith undulated, creeping back from the priest and endeavouring to find some way around the group. It was looking for the weakest link in the party and it began to ooze its way towards Trubshawe and Lady Violetta.

In response to the group's questions Jones called out.
"Edged weapons will take a long time to have an effect, if any, but the prayer's working well. Keep it up, Father!"
To Kalyndis he added. "There's magic throughout this place for all that we try to keep it under control. Perhaps a spell..."

Shrieking horribly, the Wraith chose that moment to launch itself forward.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Zoo

Trubshawe was taking no chances. The moment the wraith made its sudden move he squeezed his weapon's trigger, causing an incandescent bolt to shoot from the tip of the gun into the dead centre of the creature. For a split second the wraith lit up like a Christmas tree - and then blew away, like a column of smoke hit by a sudden gust of wind.

"Much as I expected," said Trubshawe. "An ectoplasmal being like this, if subjected to a sufficiently intense energy pulse, can be made to decohere instantaneously. Take care though - given the chance it will start to reform. And whatever you do don't let them attach to you, Lady Violetta. Parasitically draining energy from other lifeforms is how they hold themselves together in the first place."

He frowned at the display of his gun, which was now blinking rapidly. His attack had been effective, but it would take a while to recharge sufficiently to make another one like it...

[OOC: I hope this is acceptable - my understanding is that as the Zoo is only next door, Trubshawe can get away with enforcing his own paradigm on the local situation. If not, just slap my wrist and retcon me without mercy!]

John Angelis · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 11:05 am Post subject:

There was an earsplitting *BANG* from off to the left. Suddenly obvious now, Angelis was holding a smoking gun.

The effect had been interesting. Whilst a slug of lead had likely done very little to the wraith, the superheated contrail of air following the bullet as it crudely tore it's way through the wraith had dragged a cone of ectoplasm with it, spreading the wraith over a wide area.

Angelis nodded approvingly at Trubshawe.

"Gotta love science."

With that, he took another deep breath, and slinked back into the gloom.

[OOC: Since we're being all experimental, I thought I'd see if this one flies...]

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 12:18 pm Post subject:

It was probably a good thing that others had taken decisive action because Lady Violetta had taken none at all, being quite overawed by the spectre that had almost enveloped her. Thanks to the precipitious action of others, she was almost entirely uninjured. The single exception to this was the slight bruise to her toe sustained by the object that dropped to the floor as the wraith dissipated.

"Ow! That hurt!" Replacing her gun carefully her bag, she bent down to examine the object, and found herself in possesion of a rather worn leather bound book. "Now where on earth did that come from? Where could he have been keeping it?" Opening the cover, she studied the tome intently, with a level of concentration possibly quite inappropriate to the immediacy of their peril. "I do believe it's a spell book of some description," she commented as she flicked through the pages.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Zoo

"As in a child's ABC?" snorted Trubshawe. "Fascinating that an ectoplasmal should have acquired such a thing, of course, but is this really the time to peruse it?"