Dawn of a New Day: Eve of Peace

A small gout of steam escaped from the Primarch's jawplate. "THANK YOU. That is precisely what I, the Primarch, had been asking. Logically, this suggests that the source of whatever was affecting the Orks is this river.

"Rivers have been known to toxify in the past by exposure to veins of minerals normally toxic to organics, such as arsenic. This river originates from the mountains to the north; it is theoretically feasible that the elements have naturally exposed the river to a previously unknown vein, thus causing this massive toxification effect.

"Unfortunately, this also suggests that the Solar entity must remain here and continue detoxification until the vein itself can be located and neutralized. I, the Primarch, apologize, Miss Solar, but immediate detoxification effects are somewhat beyond our personal abilities. As for this plan of action: suggests or comments from my fellow delegates?"

Aowyn looks surprised by this knowledge. "Indeed, I apologize as well, I had no idea the extent of the calamity that you were attempting to avert, friend. I agree now that your best course of action is to purify this river of whatever poison has corrupted it. Do you know if the source of this poison is continuing to infect this river? If so, we should move immediately to find the source and eliminate it."

"They come again... in greater numbers...growing ever stronger... my number is the same... but growing ever weaker..."
She whips her attention between the greenery around you and the place where the representatives are, even the ones not out in the open.
"Please... Please! Not for me... for those for whom so much has been sacrificed, of whom another must not be asked! Aowyn, please! "

Aowyn is beginning to get a little tickle on her evildar...

"PLEASE! Aowyn! Yla! Alexia! Teppic! I cannot any longer... My time is coming soon... Please! They must not defile further... Helspeth! Inquitego! Dun! I call on you... for all that go after... Primarch! Arlensul! Setoph! The waters, the lifeblood, it must not be infected, it must be clean, the ultimate price must not fall upon these the long-suffering souls..."

She is incoherent.

Aowyn's Ohshitometer goes off at about this point. That's a LOT of undead. Weak... but a LOT.

Arlensul sighs. And then casts a quick sending to the Governor.

Spoiler:

She speaks to the wind and it does not answer. Her followers refuse to come so near the angel.

Yla looks towards the water. She seems a bit perplexed by the whole situation, and is deep in thought.

[size=9]"Huh. So, if it's poison, it's not the zombies. It also wasn't the Orks, unless they like poisoning themselves... So was it someone else poisoning the river?"[size]

"We need to fix the source of this taint. I propose we move quickly now, I sense a large number of undead approaching us. While they may be weak, they are very numerous. ... I propose we move immediately." Barring any objections, Aowyn begins moving in the upstream direction, trying to plot a course through the swamp that is least dense with undead.

A trickle of steam flows out from the Primarch's jawplate. "...Oh good grief. Lieutenant Thunderstorm!"

An enormous, roiling ball of air, like a massive dust devil, spinning in three different directions at once, roared out of the swamp and into the sky overhead. It began circling the Solar, picking up any zombie that managed to migrate into its range.

"I, the Primarch, have instructed Lieutenant Thunderstorm to remove all zombies that approach the Solar from the vicinity of the river. That should provide us with a larger margin of safety. Now, let us make haste."

"Oh no you don't." Arlensul rolls up her sleeves and stomps off in the direction of the zombies.

Helspeth turns and says to Yla, "I am not sure what they hope to accomplish by walking off in a direction. I don't think that we could personally walk to the source and fix anything. Would it not be best to seek a professional opinion?"

The Primarch turned back around. "Very well. What do you propose?"

"It's a good point... However, I'm not a terribly big fan of leaving..." He waves his hand at the whole area..."This whole... situation... alone. We are about one straw short of the excrement camel falling into the fan, as it were."
He ponders for a moment, and then flips through his book. Then he smiles, and taps on it.
"Ah, just the thing. Hokay, first, a quick message... "Hello Miss Abernathy, Inquitego here, we need a poison specialist ASAP, 18/12. Teleport preferred, please. Okay, now... As my father would say, "No sense in expecting the complex without first checking the simple. I dunno a thing about geo-poisonary thingies... But this here'll let me check upriver for a more obvious problem in the mean time."

He begins concentrating... it seems as if his attention is elsewhere.

"Right. A solid plan of action, Professor. As such, I, the Primarch, shall focus my efforts on stalling the zombie onslaught. First off, however... Certain nearby solar entities have earned their continued operation, and as luck would have it, I have something that will assist."

The Primarch pulled a long, thin scrollcase from his pack, and, with a clanking of metal digits and a few mumbled statements, waded into the river and poked the Solar with a Neutralize Poison spell.

The Primarch wades into the river, and tromps towards the Solar. The Solar, seeing no hostility, sees no reason to resist him.
The Primarch pokes the Solar, gingerly, with a Neutralize poison. The Primarch is then in for a double whammy.

One: The Spell goes off... But does not appear to have helped the Solar any.

Two: The Primarch feels something he has never felt before. The Primarch feels... Sick.

Primarch takes 2 points Con damage.

The Primarch's eyefires flickered. "System error detected. Hardware damaged. Low level effect... type as yet unidentified. Processinginginginging... What in the Nine Hells?"

He took a running jump out of the middle of the river. "Strike that. Whatever has contaminated this river is not a normal form of poison, as it has apparently slightly damaged my internal hardware. I, the Primarch, shall attempt to examine its magical effects."

[detect magic]

His jawplate dropped. "Unidentified alteration magic, of power far beyond the normal range of spell effects. Bloody Abyss... My experience with spells of this nature is theoretical only. This effect evidences the sort of power I, the Primarch, last experienced under Galbarix' charge. We are not dealing with a normal caster, ladies and gentlemen."

The Primarch dropped a hand into his pack, and pulled out another scrollcase. He then pulled forth the scroll, and began wiggling his fat metal digits, and muttering in a tinny voice.

[Force Wall on one side of the river, designed to form a shoulder-high line, concave towards the river. Essentially, a shoulder-high, C-shaped "net" to catch the zombies charging towards the Solar.]

[At least ten seconds have passed. Break Enchantment contingency takes effect.]

Yla looks off to the swamp.

"Well, yeah. It's not like I'm going to go solve one poison problem, when another is coming right for you. One at a time, yeah? I'll do what I can, but uh, I'm not sure I can quite pull off the power in a fight that some of you can. Still, though."

Yla pulls out her Mithril holy symbol, and wraps it to the back of her claw.

"It's been a while since I've been able to get a good workout."

Her claws glow slightly.

Seeing how the others have decided to stand and fight, Aowyn turns and draws her sword. "Very well then, we'll remove this threat immediately." She then moves towards the nearest hostile undead to dispatch it.

The undead threat is being well contained. With Arlensul containing a whole front, and Yla and Aowyn stopping any that attempt to slip past the Primarch's wall, the undead don't stand a chance of infecting the waters.

The Solar does not look any better for the relief, however. Although still standing, her guard has dropped significantly.
"Arlensul."

She pauses. She looks supremely tired.

"Arlensul! I...
I..."

She seems to be having a hard time with speaking.

"Arlensul... I thank you for your sacrifice...I thank you for your understanding... Arlensul... the time is coming. It is so near. Arlensul! You are forgiven... Your prejudices..."

She begins faltering to its knees, but supports itself on its sword.

"Aowyn... Proud Aowyn, Brave Aowyn. You walk in wisdom, you pass judgment in Verity. The gifts you are granted are a seal... a show of approval in the face of your Wisdom. Bear them with pride! Do not Fear! Your path is Righteous..."

She begins to slip down to her knees.

"Helspeth! ...Arlensul. I cannot... fulfill every duty. You must carry my burden, my message. It must reach his ears! Arlensul...Helspeth... Carry it for me... 'despite your actions... you walk without transgression... for the sins of the present... are outweighed by the promise... of the future. You must continue your path! Continue! Continue! For the sake of all souls! Continue! Of all kin, of all life! Continue! Continue! Continue!'"


She looks very pointedly at the Primarch, before her gaze swings low.

"'Betcher... Exalted. You walk before the gaze of the gods. You have not been found wanting. The gods are watching. Do not Disappoint.' "

Kneeling in the river, a fine tracery of what appears to be stone is etching around her skin... its interweaving webs thickening all over.

Yla slams a zombie with her fist, and her holy symbol glows. There is a quick green flash, and several of the zombies in front of her turn to ash. Given a brief respite from her action, she turns to the dying Solar. Besides the grit of combat, there is a sympathetic look to her.

"Is there anything we can do for you now? Any last things for comfort?"

Aowyn stops for a moment as well, during lulls in the fighting. "We've done all we can for her in this situation. Even the Primarch seems unable to prevent the poisons from taking their toll." She looks back at the Solar. "We can only comfort her and honor the sacrifice she is making."

On hearing her name, Arlensul turns, listens, and stares. Her now rather dirty and tattered veil hides her thoughts completely. Soon the horde demands her attention again, but a gesture of respect passes from her to the ailing angel.

Helspeth takes a clipboard from her briefcase and writes down every word of the Solar's message.

"We must do what we can." Helspeth looks to her guards briefly while writing. "I humbly ask that you also do what you can."

"Your Ladyship," One elf says, not to Helspeth but to the Solar, "We will not forget you. Grant us your name that it may be recorded." While his companion goes to aid Yla, the more talkative Undying Soldier approaches the Solar respectfully.

The Stone effect seems to have slowed from its first thrust... Like a large crack in a window slowly spreading. It looks extremely painful.
In spite of this, she smiles at Teppic.





"Teppic.... Child of the future...form born of perfect patience. I am ҉ ҉҉̡̢̡̢̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑ ͡҉҉ . ͡҉҉ ̵̡̢̛̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠͇̊̋̌̍̎̏̿̿̿̚ ҉ ҉҉̡̢̡̢̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑ ҉ ҉҉̡̢̡̢̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑ ͡҉҉ ͡҉҉ ̵̡̢̛̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠͇̊̋̌̍̎̏̿̿̿̚ ҉ . ... but history will speak of me as 'Martyr.' I thank you... for your care."


She winces as a crack begins trawling up her chest.
" I purify... cannot forever... Source is upriver... I know not how far... it must be stopped... before I am. Yla...Aowyn...Teppic... comfort in knowing... trial not in vain... stop the taint... for the long...suffering...souls..."

The noise of the stone spreading is like a mix between a ice cracking and nails on a chalkboard.

Dun hasn't until now said much, but simply had a look of disbelief on his face. As the truth of the situation dawns on him, his usually cheerful face is left solemn.

"This seems impossible, that all of us together can do nothing for you. I swear to you, on my honor as a Dun, that I will strengthen myself until I am strong enough to stop this next time, and so your sacrifice is not in vein."

She seems unable to lift her head.

"Dun...Dun...young Dun, pure Dun...innocent, forgiven... yours is verity... but corruption...eats away the most pure... scratching, defacing... Dun... remain pure... alert for evil...denounce it...and a great throne will be yours... embrace it... and you will be known...Beware...but be brave..."

Inquitego seems to snap from his distraction.

"Sweet jumping Tree Tokens! Did you see... No, obviously, you wouldn't have. EVERYONE! I found the source! Unfortunately, the source found me too! We got to move fast! All aboard the Teleport Express, it's leaving in 1 minute! C'mon if you're coming!"

He begins canting.

Yla turns to Inquietgo

"Wait, what? What is it? Are we going there to take it out or what? Augh! Now you're casting! You jerk. Well. I can't leave after hearing you go on about what all a mystery it is!"

Yla mops up the last couple zombies then goes to stand next to Inquietgo.

"Judging from Professor Inquitego's reaction, I, the Primarch, suggest that, whether we are going to it or not, we should prepare for violent conflict. Conflict that may be more dangerous than the rogue zombies we have been facing. Weapons drawn and eyes open, brave comrades."

The Primarch marched over to the professor, steam whispering out from behind his jawplate. He turned, and glanced back at the young dwarf. "Prince Dun: If we are to assist the Solar at all at this point, we must stop whoever poisoned the river first. Until he/she/it is stopped, we cannot assist the Solar further. Stand by the Professor and I, and prepare for teleportation; I, the Primarch, promise you that the Solar's sacrifice shall not be in vain, nor left unavenged."

The professor tears himself away from the cant for a moment.

"Almost ready! Last call, any takers?"

(Shake heads if no)