DM Carl Tuesday July 2nd, 2019 10:32:48 AM Kezzem declares shadow-walking to be out, but there's no reason for it to be. They're no longer in Scald's domain, nor by any huge lakes of Woldsblood. The terrain here is far too mountainous for Rumpus to be useful unless she's a secret pegasus.
Murphy suggests they travel by tree. That's a novel idea, for sure. The area around him is mostly solid rock, but a small amount of travel reveals suitable earth where two peaks have slowly ground into each other. It won't be hard to find this place again; there's not another tree in sight anywhere.
Pressi believes Murphy is scarier than she is. High praise...
Talia is excited about the possibility of seeing the dwarves again. Murphy correctly points out it's not a short detour. The party spent half a day in a swan boat travelling down a rapidly moving river, then got shunted almost half a mile away from that when they came out of shadow walk. The druid has no way of knowing if Jack or Hobie have told the dwarves, or what time frame is involved if they have. Murphy suggests haste is necessary. He's not wrong.
Succotash agrees they need to return home, but has a list of vacation destinations in mind for after.
Bliss becomes Bliss again and checks to make sure they completed their side quest. They have the spores, they just need to look for the giant yellow question mark when they get back to town to hand it in.
***
Murphy's plan is sound. Travelling via tree is done instantaneously, and within half a minute or so, our party is on the outskirts of home!
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 136/136, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 53/62, CMD 24 Tuesday July 2nd, 2019 1:04:40 PM
"Yeah, we're back!" says Kezzem. "And nobody tried to kill us that time."
"However, for some reason, I am wondering if Rumpus is a pegasus. Secretly, I mean. Man, my pony's be holding out on me! But where would he be hiding those wings? I don't know, just a random thought. Now you know what it's like in here."
Kezzem points to his head.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 95/101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 41/61, CMD 23 Tuesday July 2nd, 2019 4:08:21 PM
"So I guess the thing we all learned is... So, to wrap up... Hhm. Actually, I can't even wrap anything up for this mission. Weird things just happened. I didn't even get to use the power I tapped into. Oh well."
Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) Medium Earth Elemental AC 30 HP 92/116 Tuesday July 2nd, 2019 4:13:15 PM
Oak Tree Network Once it's agreed to try the Oak Tree Network, Murphy drops out of wild shape back to his halfling self, and once they reach the small area where soil may be found, he removes a particular feather out of his pants pocket, asks his friends to stand back a few feet, then casts the feather towards his chosen landing spot, himself jumping back.
As the feather touches down, a huge oak tree suddenly springs into being. He invites whoever wants to be among the first group of three or four to join him, invokes transport via plants from his sling staff, and the group of them are whisked via oak trees to one of the larger oaks a stone's throw from Mayor Bumbleluck's dwelling. "Step a bit away, friends, to make room for the next group," he instructs.
He casts the spell this time from memory, and returns to the remaining three. "Touch me, or touch someone touching me, and it's your turn to travel by tree." He recasts this last time, and away they go, with perhaps a bit of woody fragrance clinging to them as they emerge in the town's woods. Murphy gives Pressi a kiss. "Now that I can do that without getting dirt all over you," he grins.
"Hmmm, Kezzem, I've known Rumpus a long time. Let me know if he does sprout wings. Stranger things have been known to happen here in the Wold."
Finding Tiana "Let's get the gems to the Iron Giant immediately. Who wants to warn the Mayor of the Giant forces gathered against us in the south end of the Scab? Bliss, you have the gems, right? Say, since that's the Mayor's house there - let's tell him so he can talk with others about preparations, then head up to the giant. Hopefully Tiana will be there. And, whether she is there or not, we can place the gems back within the Encompassing Mind, no? No, likely we should make certain she is there - it might help her understand whatever it is she needs to understand by being there. We can ask the Mayor if he knows where she is at the moment."
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 34/20/33 CMD 31 HP 76/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 86/96 Tuesday July 2nd, 2019 6:16:32 PM "Hey Murphy, why don't you and whoever wishes to join you go talk to the major, while some of us start heading to the Iron Giant with the gems", Succotash offers.
Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) Medium Earth Elemental AC 30 HP 92/116 Tuesday July 2nd, 2019 8:38:05 PM
"Sure, Succotash - go ahead with whoever wants to go," Murphy agrees. "We, or I, will catch up! Do, please, wait until Tiana shows up before inserting the gems, though, all right? Say hi to any members of the BadApples, and ask them how things have been going. And carry concealed, eh?"
Bliss (Cayzle) HP124 of 124, AC30 Tuesday July 2nd, 2019 9:07:34 PM
[OOC: Have we had a chance to heal up? Bliss uses enough cures to get himself to full, if need be. Let me know if you need this rolled out, please]
Bliss laughs at the idea of flying Rumpus. "Yeah, you should get him some magic horseshoes, Sir Kezzem! Your animal friends deserve sweet gear too!"
Then Bliss is quiet, thinking of Mookie.
[OOC to DMs: Highlight to display spoiler: {The witch rules say, "If a spirit cauldron or spirit companion is killed or destroyed, the witch may not bind another for 30 days or until he gains a bloodwitch level, whichever comes first." Can Bliss dismiss his magic pot and (after he levels up) call for an animal spirit companion? Bliss misses Mookie. IF SO, he'll dismiss his pot now, before going to seek out Miss Tiana. Don't worry, I don't want to ride him around or polymorph him into a gnome (for using wands and rods) or anything bogus like that.}]
=====
Bliss is happy to deliver the magic gems to Miss Tiana -- with Sir Succotash? -- and he also gives her back her compass.
He waits and watches if she looks them over right away.
"What do you think, miss? Can you power up the giant? Can you bring it close to the Tower to fix it?"
After a moment of watching, Bliss has a dreadful thought. "And please, Miss Tiana, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not power it up without us! Just in case!" He will not leave until she promises NOT to start it up or even tinker with it until the whole party is there. THAT kind of nonsense is how the Tower got blowed up in the first place!
The idea of promises makes something twitch and tickle in his mind, so he goes in search of the party's collective memory. "Mister Murphy, did we promise the Iron Giant Spirit that we would help it smoehow or other when the giant got woked up again?"
In actuality, Bliss is choosing to mangle his syntax and grammar today. He really said "smoehow" for some reason.
Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 32 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 87/90 (Temp HP =29) d20+7=8 ; d20+20=26 ; Tuesday July 2nd, 2019 9:26:22 PM
Talia wil go to see Ms. Tiana with the rest of the gang and the gems of course. Talia will hover over the ground like her way is to do. While hovering to their destination, nothing catches her eye here.
Spells in effect: Spectral Hand: 10 of 12 minutes left Mage Armor: 708 of 720 minutes left Overland flight: 703 of 720 minutes left
Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) AC 25 HP 92/116 d20+32=35 ; Wednesday July 3rd, 2019 12:10:48 AM
Promise to the Encompassing Mind "Yes, Bliss, thank you for reminding me. Indeed, we did say we be there with her as she revived. Now, once already we tried that - and learned it could take over 30 years. Tiana explained to us it was because these gems were so drained. This time, it should take much less than that. Let us endeavor to keep our word, as we can."
Words before the party splits "Look, I don't expect to be with the Mayor more than 5 minutes - 10 minutes, tops. I just want to give him a brief rundown - he needs to know, to help notify key leaders here in town, and to prepare the people.
"So, please, wait until we can all be there before the gems are placed - but I don't mind if you leave a few minutes before me - before us."
"Pressi, would you come with me to meet with the Mayor and May Greenbottle, his wife? You have insight and perspective I lack, and it may be well for them to benefit from both." Responding to her earlier comments, Murphy says, "Yeah. I tend to agree with Succotash on a relevant matter. Let's us someday return to the grotto. And then you could tap into that power once more - and be prepared to channel it as you desire, scary lady.
"We did, however, learn of the gemological work of the dwarfs, the breeding customs and battle tactics of some large nasty spiders, the location of a rare mushroom tree, the bellicose plans of a large population of giants, the joys and possible perils of riding a swift underground river, the beauty and power of a particular grotto, and the pent-up wrath of a long-imprisoned Power."
Of course Murphy welcomes any others who want to join in. The local druid knocks on the front door. ========== Perception 35
DM Carl Wednesday July 3rd, 2019 11:56:34 AM Kezzem entertains a random thought. One has to assume many of his thoughts are random.
Pressi reflects on the odd series of events they just went through. She still has access to higher magics for the next several hours if there's something she wants to try.
Everyone else discusses going to the mayor's house and getting the gems back to Tiana.
Bliss, Talia, and Succotash head off to the Iron Giant, with the intention of making poor Tiana wait even more to start things back up.
Murphy invites Pressi to come with him to Mayor Bingo's residence.
***
The Iron Giant is just where you left it, obviously. Inside the chamber of the Giant's heart is Tiana. She has made herself right at home, going so far as to raid the paper and ink supply closet to take copious notes on her studies.
It's kind of a mess, if we're being honest.
Tiana practically vibrates with anticipation once the gems are shown to be charged, and takes the news that she has to wait a little more very hard. "I've waited for daaaayyyys, Bliss. DAYS. Time goes kinda slow when you don't sleep." Still, she agrees.
***
Meanwhile, Mayor Bingo answers the door himself, eyes smiling when he seems his town's chief protectors are back where they can help protect it. "Murphy! Pressi! Glad to see you're back." Married life appears to agree with the Mayor; he appears a little fuller around the middle already. He stands aside to invite the couple in. "So, anything new going on out in the Wold?"
***
I'm fine with you getting Mookie back, Cayzle. Pull her (him?) out of your cauldron and be done with it. You're about to gain another level anyway...
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 136/136, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 53/62, CMD 24 Wednesday July 3rd, 2019 1:03:08 PM
"Ooo, now there's an idea, Bliss. Kezzem starts to sing, "Magic horseshoes...clovers, and blue moons. They're magically delicious!"
To Tiana, he asks "Have you tried sleeping? It's quite relaxing. People always say that they can sleep when they're dead, but as a paladin or Gargul, I can assure you that's not the case. He snores."
Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 32 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 87/90 (Temp HP =29) Wednesday July 3rd, 2019 8:17:51 PM
Talia, asks, Ms. Tiana,"What's ya' been up to since we left? What are all thes notes you have made?"
Bliss (Cayzle) HP124 of 124, AC30 Wednesday July 3rd, 2019 8:29:20 PM
"Miss Tiana," says Bliss, concerned, "why aren't you sleeping? When you are tired you make mistakes. You gotta take care of yourself!"
He gets busy tidying up, and makes her eat a meal out of his magic elven lunchbox.
=====
"but as a paladin or [of?] Gargul, I can assure you that's not the case."
Bliss stares at Kezzem. "You're a paladin of ... Gargul? Are you sure that's a good idea, Sir Kezzem? That guy only treated me and my mom bad, you know."
=====
Bliss's cauldron starts rattling. "Oh, yeah, I forgot I had this thing." he sets it on the ground, and it cracks open. A big black raven rolls out.
"I've heard of hatchlings, but this is ridiculous!" says Bliss.
The bird sits up, shakes like a wet dog, and laughs. "The Kid with a zinger! My life has not been wasted."
Bliss hugs the bird -- he is about the same size as Bliss is. "Mookie, I missed you."
The big raven ruffles Bliss's hair with his beak. "I know, Kid, that's what brung me back."
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 95/101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 41/61, CMD 23 Wednesday July 3rd, 2019 8:46:56 PM
Pressi listens to the laundry list of things we learned. "And if you told a story about the events as a whole, the theme would be... what, exactly?" She shakes her head. "Now, the iron giant, there was a story with a tight arc."
Moving on, "I would be glad to accompany you towards the mayor house. Let me remind Harper not to eat any of Bliss' new pets and we will be on our way."
She lets Murphy answer the question of what is new in the world.
Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) AC 25 HP 113/116 d8=1 ; d8=4 ; d8=4 ; d8=4 ; d8=5 ; d20+30=47 ; Thursday July 4th, 2019 1:18:00 AM
Reflecting upon story arcs After Pressi likens the recent series of events to a story, and the Iron Giant as a distinct story, Murphy considers. "Huh. Is that the sort of thing you learn from knowing that Shakespeare fellow?" he asks. "But, Pressi, the 'Iron Giant' story - aren't we still in the middle of that... arc? I mean, the approach, infiltration, assault, and victory were part of the story. But our taking the gemstones back to the source of power which enlivens the giant, letting them fill up again on that power, then placing the same back into the heart of the giant - is that not yet another part of that story? Perhaps, what do they call it in plays? Another act, in a multipart play?
"I think the broader story arc is not over. The acts are smaller arcs, upon which the greater story is built. And us halflings, facing repeated threats from those who are of greater size than we, who use our own small selves to overcome these larger threats - is that not a recurring thread in this tapestried links of stories?"
Meeting with Mayor Bumbleluck Smiling large at the Mayor's warm greeting, Murphy steps aside to allow Pressi to enter first. Telepathically he says to her, "I'm letting you go first in case there are any hazards inside," then follows her in.
"Thank you," he says, offering his hand to shake. "It's good to see you, Mayor Bumbleluck. I trust that May is doing well?"
After brief pleasantries are exchanged, he launches. "Sir, I wish we had a bit more time to spend with you, but you'll understand our urgency in a moment.
"Humble's Sword headed north at Tiana's request to recharge the core gems of the Iron Giant - she believes once that is done, she can use the repowered giant to get the Giant Tower working again!
"Glimstone dwarfs - who would like to engage in trade with us, providing fine gems on their part - showed us hospitality, and we rested among them. The morning of the next day, however, less than an hour through underground passageways beyond the gem mines, we came upon perhaps 300 giants or so making preparations for war against us here in the valley. We were able to observe them without them being aware of our presence.
"Fire giants, stone, and hill giants I saw, and Bliss glimpsed, too. They spoke of coming against us now that the towers no longer prevent their entry. They spoke of how sweet halflings taste, and how much they shall feast. I watched their fire giant smiths making swords, spears, clubs and such.
"They may be ready to leave within about two days, more or less. Now, good Mayor, do not panic - listen to this:
"Just four minutes ago the balance of our team headed up to the Iron Giant to deliver what Tiana needs to re-energize that construct, and then, if her thoughts are borne out, to use it to bring the Giant Tower back into working order.
"Surely, once you have let our militia and key people know about the renewed threat from the north, I trust in your wisdom and leadership to help prepare the people, and with other good heads here to devise some defensive measures." He reminds the mayor of detailed defensive plans he wrote out many months ago, and gave copies to him, to the constable, and some of the outsiders who were helping. [OOC: I will try to find those instructions in our archives in the next day or so.] "There may some ideas worth implementing there. I think, in particular, we may want to focus on defenses around the area of the tower, and adjacent, plus near and in town.
"Word needs to go immediately to the rest of the valley. You are the first who has been told, as I infer that neither Jack nor Hobie was able to get word to you. I pray for their welfare.
"If you have questions, ask now. We must be present up in the Iron Giant within the next few minutes with Tiana and our friends to assist with and witness the procedure."
Murphy tries to respond as best as possible to the Mayor's queries, and expresses his confidence in the politician to rise well to the occasion, as he has so many times in the past.
Then, after providing brief responses, he excuses himself and Pressi, with the parting words, "Really, sir, once things have settled down, you must do us the honor of joining us with your wife at our little sanctuary for a nice teatime."
Hustling northward back to the Kneeling Giant Once they are able to leave, he asks Pressi, "Wanna race?" and takes off running to rejoin their friends. Though longstrider is still in effect on him, he does not outpace his fiancée, but rather plays at the race. If she rides upon Harper - he asks both if he may ride as well. He is happy to be back to his halfling form, and loves to be close to her, and to ride together.
Within the Iron Giant Back in the giant, Murphy retrieves the gems he wore earlier, and places them upon his bracers to gain their benefits. [Wisdom, Strength, Constitution, +3 on each] If it is available, he also puts on the cloak that allows for teleportation within the immense construct.
Going up to the level of the gem heart, he gives Tiana a hug. "Oh, it is so good to see you. Are we ready to try it? We promised the Encompassing Mind to be here when the gemstones were put inside."
Then, "MOOKIE!!!" The druid is overwhelmed with joy at the return of Bliss's raven friend.
And, as some point, he uses his wand of cure light wounds 4 times to heal himself up. =========== Perception: 48
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 136/136, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 53/62, CMD 24 Thursday July 4th, 2019 1:19:37 AM
"Well, I died and Gargul let me come back to protect you guys," says Kezzem, serious for a moment. "That's a great gift and not one I take lightly."
"Mookie! Long time no see. How long has Bliss kept you hiding in his pot?"
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 34/20/33 CMD 31 HP 76/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 86/96 Thursday July 4th, 2019 8:57:50 AM
Succotash can hardly contain his anticipation. he really likes Madam Gem, and kinda misses her. he doesn't say much, but he keeps his eyes on the action. When Bliss pulls Mookie out of his cauldron, He is more then a little shocked, and takes a few steps back. He quickly regains his composer when Kezzem and Murphy seem to know the bird. When Mookie talks, Succotash decides to make his introduction saying, "Succotash Slenderstick at your service, we haven't met, but Bliss has mentioned you on multiple occasions, good to finally meet you".
DM Carl Thursday July 4th, 2019 11:10:03 AM Kezzem and Bliss both suggest rest and food to Tiana, but she waves both away.
"Don't need them in here, remember? Tried sleeping, but it didn't take. After you left, I would absently sip on tea while I worked, then realized nothing was...well, nothing was coming back out."
She produces a scroll with a line drawn vertically down the paper. The words 'input' and 'output' are written in the two columns. A series of 10 hash marks are on the 'input' side with nothing on the 'output' side.
"I'm a little concerned about what's going to happen when I leave, if we're being honest."
Talia asks what Tiana's been up to.
"Oh, I explored a bit. There's an old, heavily damaged construct that I tried to get working, but too many of its parts are broken. Without those gems you won't let me install, there's not much I can do here."
Bliss sorts out his things as he waits for his companions, and is delighted when Mookie comes popping out of his cauldron.
Pressi and Murphy discuss recent events before warning the mayor about the giants they discovered in The Scab, draining poor Bingo's face of color in the process. Murphy's reassurances do little to bring any of that color back, but he takes a breath and stands.
"Right. Right...the valley. I will get Roscoe to activate his militia." He pauses, gathering his thoughts and formulating plans. "May and Blossom can head to Angel Springs. You two should go take care of the Giant." He stands and shoos the two out the door. He can be heard calling for his wife and daughter as the door closes behind our two heroes.
They race back to the Giant, where Succotash waits anxiously. Mookie's appearance does little to calm that anxiety.
"Finally!" exclaims Tiana when the whole gang arrives. She grabs both gems, setting the DPAA aside for now. She gently places them inside the open space in the giant, pink heart of the Iron Giant. The little door open in the heart closes, and about two seconds pass before the heart erupts with blinding pink and purple light. Tiana actually squeals a little when the conduits that criss-cross the entire interior of the Giant start glowing and pulsing with energy. A low hum starts somewhere above the party, growing in pitch quickly before either stopping or growing too high to hear.
As before, the surface of the giant pink gem ripples and writing appears on its surface. It's still not a language anyone can identify, but everyone's able to read it.
Encompassing Mind initialization continuing. Estimated time to completion: 32 years, 4 months, 3 days, 19 hours, 8 minutes, 34 seconds.
Re-calibrating
Estimated time to completion: 10 years, 2 months, 12 days, 4 hours, 1 minutes, 0 seconds.
Re-calibrating
Estimated time to completion: 1 years, 1 months, 22 days, 16 hours, 4 minutes, 38 seconds.
Re-calibrating
Estimated time to completion: 5 months, 6 days, 7 hours, 8 minutes, 14 seconds.
Re-calibrating
Estimated time to completion: 20 years, 8 months, 3 days, 20 hours, 47 minutes, 31 seconds.
Re-calibrating
Estimated time to completion: 1 second.
Encompassing Mind startup checks initialized.
Aetherial/Mechanical couplings check: Successful Pilot interface check: Successful Organic need neutralization field check: Successful
Encompassing Mind personality prismatic matrices check:
WARNING! BLUE PRISMATIC MATRIX NOT DETECTED. ADVANCED DESTRUCTIVE ABILITIES NOT AVAILABLE.
6 known halfling crew members present. 1 unknown halfling crew member present.
Crew check successful.
Pilot check:
WARNING! NO IRON GIANT PILOTS ARE AVAILABLE.
Pilot check unsuccessful. New pilot needed.
Encompassing Mind Crew Interface Personality check:
"Successful! Hello halfling crew. I have missed you." "Even if it's only been a few seconds for me. "You all look well! I am glad to see the past three decades have been kind to you." "A little too good. You still look like children." "That was not a short joke. Promise! "Why aren't you older, and why do I feel so new? What did you monkeys do?"
Tiana is stunned. Her hand covers her mouth and her eyes flicker quickly back and forth between our heroes and the gem. She is breathing very fast.
Sense motive, DC 12, Highlight to display spoiler: {She's waiting for an introduction.}
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 34/20/33 CMD 31 HP 76/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 86/96 Thursday July 4th, 2019 12:11:58 PM "Madam Gem!!!!! Succotash squeals with delight, "I missed you, even though it has only been a few months. Let me introduce you to Tiana, she's the one who helped us bring you online so soon. Oh and Tiana, this is the Encompassing Mind!"
Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) AC 25 HP 113/116 Thursday July 4th, 2019 1:29:16 PM
Murphy watches the recalibrations, growing excited, then momentarily dismayed with the penultimate estimate. When it begins marching through the various startup checks, his heart begins to race, and likely his face flushes.
When she speaks, he claps his hands, and dances in a circle. "You're back, you're back!"
Succotash introduces Tiana to the Encompassing Mind. He is so polite a paladin. Murphy likes him. "Yes, yes, Tiana Taithen - Encompassing Mind, she is a member of the local wizards group, the Second Dinner Club, and quite brilliant. We love her." He laughs - why is he so emotional about a construct? "And Succotash is right - it's not been years, but only a few weeks.
"We saw it was going to take over thirty years for you to come back fully. Tiana figured out that placing your heart gems back at the power source, where they were created, would greatly empower them. She devised a dual-prismatic aetherial amplifier using the gems which led us to that source." Surely able to babble on indefinitely, Murphy manages to restrain himself, giving air to his friends so they can tell more of the story.
At some point though, he interjects, "I would love to try piloting Iron Giant." He does, though, not wish to be greedy for the pilot's seat. "Although, if another so wishes, perhaps another. But I would love trying!"
Others might explain about the giant tower, and the imminent threat from the giants out of the Scab, and that halflings don't get much larger than we are, and...
------------------ As others respond and interact, a thought occurs to Murphy. After a bit he communicates telepathically to Pressi. "We may need to consider the possibility of placing the blue gem back on its pedestal, not immediately, but before the giants approach. We should ask her about that. Encompassing Mind seemed to have a distaste for that segment of the - the system."
Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 32 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 87/90 (Temp HP =29) d20+2=14 ; Thursday July 4th, 2019 1:33:47 PM
Tali gigles as that word of the Ms. EM! "Silly Emcompassing Mind, we speeded up your boot processes!" "Oh, how silly of me, Ms. Encompassing Mind, this is Lady Tiana, Lady Tiana, this is the Conciousness that controls the Giant...kind of it's operating system...that ever that is!" laughs Tali!
Skill Checks
Sense Movtives = 14
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 95/101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 41/61, CMD 23 Thursday July 4th, 2019 7:29:35 PM
Pressi is characteristically unenthusiastic about the mind being awakened. I thought we were just powering this thing enough to walk it to the tower. I’d tell you how lousy turning this thing on is, but I bet she’ll make a better case.
Pressi moves a tad closer. “What is your current primary command? Do you remember anything from our last conversation or during your time inactive?”
Bliss (Cayzle) HP124 of 124, AC30 Thursday July 4th, 2019 11:32:24 PM
Mookie bows low when greeted by Murphy, Kezzem, and Succotash.
Murph, just the same as ever, I see.
Kezz, boy have you changed!
"Nice to meet ya, new guy," he says to Sir Succotash.
Then all the Encompassing Mind awakening stuff happens!
"Kid," says Mookie, "ya got yourself into something here, for sure."
"Wowsy, yeah," says Bliss. But he is distracted by Murphy.
"Mister Murphy, please don't jump in to pilot this! The last guy to do it lost his soul and killed his own son. Let Miss Tiana investigate it first!"
"Please Miss Pressi, tell him!"
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 136/136, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 53/62, CMD 24 Friday July 5th, 2019 1:35:31 AM
"Murph, are you okay there?" asks Kezzem. "Don't start going all 'my precious' on the Iron Giant. I don't want to have to explain to Pressi that I had to smite you."
Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) AC 25 HP 113/116 Friday July 5th, 2019 2:26:40 AM
Oh, and Murphy thinks to extract pen and paper to jot down the words and numbers that the Encompassing Mind had been displaying. He in particular writes the model numbers of the drones and constructs and their status.
As the druid takes in the rebukes of his friends, Murphy looks at them. "What is it that makes you think I'm likely to become a murderous mushbrain?"
"Yes, let us consider ramifications, and talk things over with Tiana and Encompassing Mind and each other." He continues to write as he speaks. "The Iron Giant will need a pilot to move. It would be wise for more than just one person to learn how to pilot. Giants will soon be on the march. The more options we have at hand for both defense and offense, the better our chance at victory.
"Defense: A working network of Giant Towers "Offense as needed: The Iron Giant "Tell me it is foolish to consider these things. Or go ahead and smite me, Kezzem."
He turns to Bliss. "You jumped into the pilot seat, Bliss. I would guess your soul is still intact." He gives him a wink. "But, do let us learn more, and consider well what we do. A wise carpenter learns his tools."
Bliss (Cayzle) HP124 of 124, AC30 Friday July 5th, 2019 9:26:16 AM
"Oh yeah, Mister Murphy, but it didn't take because the batteries were dry."
Mookie tilts his head and looks at Bliss.
"Okay," Bliss says, "you have my blessing to try, but be careful."
"Miss Tiana, please tell Mister Murphy exactly where he is supposed to put the giant down."
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