Umeida V

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12a8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <B> </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Missiledine's Archives</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Missiledines Archives"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida"><U>Umeida</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida II"><U>Umeida II</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida III"><U>Umeida III</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida IV"><U>Umeida IV</U></A>   |   <B>Umeida V</B>   |   <A HREF="id267.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida VI"><U>Umeida VI</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id297.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida VII"><U>Umeida VII</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id309.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida IIX"><U>Umeida IIX</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id327.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida IX"><U>Umeida IX</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Missiledines Archives"><U><B>Archive Directory</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>Umeida V</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 PC POST 85</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Freya, meets the eyes of the Goblin in a friendly manner and nods: "Yes, I believe thats</div> <div>  them."</div> <bR> <div>  Then she says to the girl: "Thank you for sharing this information with us."</div> <bR> <div>  After which she turns her attention back to the Goblin, smiles and winks an eye: "I</div> <div>  think we will need some privacy to discuss this further, yes?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 GM POST 86</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The Goblin looks uncertain. "The Gateway..." He repeats in a worried tone. "What do THEY</div> <div> want down here?"</div> <bR> <div> The slave girl keeps her eyes averted from the goblin, but she darts fearful glances at you.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 PC POST 86</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Freya, maintaining confident expression and indicating the girl with her</div> <div>  arm: "Listen, she is a slave, and only a child at that - She needs not to trouble herself with</div> <div>  any of this, so let her through first, then you and I can talk about what the soldiers from the</div> <div>  Gateway are doing down here, okay?" Freya turns towards the girl and asks in a friendly,</div> <div>  reassuring manner: "Tell him again young lady, where are you supposed to take these buckets</div> <div>  now?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 GM POST 87</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The Goblin looks confused. The Slave girl bobs her head at your words. "Yes, M'Lady. The water is</div> <div> for the Master. As he commanded."</div> <div> That seems to bring the Goblin back to reality.  "For the Master? Come here."  He leads the girl</div> <div> to the door and draws a second key, which you did not see before, and unlocks the door, pulling it</div> <div> open and stepping back for the slave.</div> <div> "Get a move on." He commands harshly</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 PC POST 87</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    After the girl has gone and the door is closed again, Freya gets back to her conversation with the</div> <div>    Goblin. Smiling, she guides the Goblin back to his stool: "Lets get a bit more comfortable before</div> <div>    I tell you whats going on, shall we - Please sit down." If the Goblin agrees, she then sits on his</div> <div>    lap sideways, puts her arm around his shoulders and looks at him with interest in her eyes;</div> <div>    "But first, handsome, please do tell me what is your name?"</div> <div>   </div> <div>    After he answers, she goes on;</div> <div>    "Why is it that you are so worried about the men of the Gateway, I can see that you are a lot</div> <div>    more formidable warrior than they are?"</div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 88</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Without looking at either of you the slave girl hurries through the door.  You dimly hear music in the</div> <div>   distance before the goblin closes and relocks the door and pockets the key.</div> <div>   When you start to guide him back to the stool, he grabs your wrist and pulls you to him. His clawed</div> <div>   hands are strong and his grip is tight as he holds you close and leers down at you. "Who are you?" He</div> <div>   demands. "I have not seen you before."</div> <div>   (Adapting your strategy to the situation... asking his name)</div> <div>   "I am Gorthag of Ghul-Ahglet-Yuh. Who do you belong to?"</div> <div>   (Ghul-Ahglet-Yuh is one of the largest and most powerful of the Goblin clans. It means 'clan of the</div> <div>   Great fighters'  It's Chieftan holds the title of Kha-Ghul or 'Great Chief')</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 88</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Freya smiles, hugs Gorthag with her free arm and looks at him with no fear: "It is both a</div> <div>  pleasure and an honor to meet you, Gorthag of Ghul-Ahglet-Yuh.. My name is Freya and I am a</div> <div>  freelancer, a free person, I do not actually belong to anyone. I just came here to ask for your help,</div> <div>  Gorthag, because I can see that you are a man of honor and courage, a Great Warrior and handsome</div> <div>  too.. A whole bunch of impolite soldiers are hunting for me, they want to kill me - You are my only</div> <div>  hope, if you promise to help me travel the Road of Sorrows to the Ruhts of humans so that the</div> <div>  soldiers wont find me, I shall make it really worth your while.." She takes a deep breath and as she</div> <div>  finishes her request, her voice gets a tone which no mortal man can hope to resist: "Will you save me,</div> <div>  will you be my hero?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 89</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Gorthag looks down at you with a puzzled look. "Jhurtha ruht? (Jhurtha = human) Which one?"</div> <div> Your not sure, but you think you hear distant barking wending its way up the stairwell. Gorthag either</div> <div> hasn't heard it or doesn't pay attention to it.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 89</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    Freya: "Jhurtha ruht from which the sky can be seen. It will be my way out into better tomorrow, and it</div> <div>    could also be yours if you so decide and take a rope and climbing equipment with you.."</div> <div>   </div> <div>    "Listen, it sounds like they are already coming up the stairs with their dogs - The soldiers will kill me</div> <div>    if they can find me, they are many and they fight with no honor.. Please, hide and protect me from</div> <div>    them now, help me escape along the road of sorrows." She looks Gorthag into his eyes in a way</div> <div>    which  makes saying 'no' just about impossible: "My life is in your hands, great warrior Gorthag,</div> <div>    will you be my hero?"</div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 90</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>   Gorthag grins, "The Jhurtha have no honor.." He agrees.  "You want to see the Saar (sun?) Gorthag show you the  way. But what will you do for Gorthag?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 90</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Freya, with a smile: "I wish to show you what real love is like, Gorthag - I shall do everything and more for my hero, who cares about me so much that he wants to go through the trouble of saving me.."</div> <bR> <div>  "Sounds like they are getting closer - Shouldn't we be somewhere else when the soldiers and their dogs reach  that gate over there?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 91</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> "Love?" Gorthag repeats, as though it were a word he has never heard before.  When you mention the soldiers he frowns, steps over to the gate and listens. "Hmmph...." He grunts contemptuously.  "Come." He commands and leads you to the gate at the end of the tunnel. Unlocking it he steps through and waits till you pass before he relocks it.</div> <div> While Gorthag works the gate, you look up and down the corridor.  To your left as you come through the gate the tunnel goes about fifty feet and ends with a set of double doors of oak and iron. To your right, the tunnel curves away into the distance. Gorthag will head this way. "Come." He says again.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 PC POST 91</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Eagerly Freya follows close and walks on Gorthags side, letting him set</div> <div>   the speed. She trusts her companions decisions because he is a local and</div> <div>   propably knows the place  like his pockets, but she cannot help but wonder where they are going.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   As they proceed, she continues the conversation quietly: "Love. Love is</div> <div>   a very pleasant and unique emotion. Love is caring about someone special</div> <div>   as much as oneself  and enjoying the feeling. Love is that, and more.."</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 GM POST 92</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   The tunnel is lit at intermittent distances with oil flares set in the</div> <div>   walls.  The hall is dark and gloomy but it does look like it is used</div> <div>   frequently. There are no cobwebs, except high near the vaulted roof, and</div> <div>   little dust on the floor.</div> <div>   Gorthag strides along confidently. He listens to your explanation of</div> <div>   love and snorts derisively, "Jhurtha nonsense." He laughs. He thumps his</div> <div>   chest "Gorthag is Ske-Ghul (Great Warrior) no need for Jhurtha</div> <div>   simpering."  He continues leading the way without hesitation. "What</div> <div>   Gorthag wants is not love."</div> <div>   The tunnel is beginning to wind downwards. Gorthag stops at an</div> <div>   intersecting tunnel and listens for a moment. Grunting in satisfaction</div> <div>   he turns right, off the main tunnel, into the dark side passage.  He</div> <div>   leads you a shortway and stops at a plain wooden door. Unhesitatingly he</div> <div>   opens it and ushers you in, following closely and closing the door and</div> <div>   putting a bar in place.</div> <div>   The room is totaly dark, but you sense a weak magical presence to your</div> <div>   right. A second later Gorthag has pulled a cloth off a piece of stone</div> <div>   that glows dimly from a weak continual light spell.  You can see that</div> <div>   this is a small chamber, maybe 10' x 10' tho irregular in shape. It is</div> <div>   clearly someones living quarters, presumably Gorthags. There is a rude</div> <div>   bed of furs and blankets in one corner and a chest that serves as a</div> <div>   table and a stack of weapons, shields, bits of armor etc thrown</div> <div>   carelessly into a heap.</div> <div>   Gorthag leans his morningstar against the wall. "Now, what Gorthag</div> <div>   wants.".</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 PC POST 92</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  While they proceed through the hall, Freya replies: "Relationship</div> <div>  without love is like a painting with no colors, you do not even know</div> <div>  what you are missing." she smiles: "But perhaps I can open your</div> <div>  eyes a bit.."</div> <bR> <div>  After they are safely in the room, Freya sets down her shield and starts</div> <div>  to remove her weapons and armor, placing them ontop her shield: "I</div> <div>  guess what you want is quite close to what I want.. Lets just be a bit</div> <div>  more careful than usual, I dont want to reopen my wound and bleed</div> <div>  all over your apartment - Be nice to me and I will be very nice to</div> <div>  you.."</div> <bR> <div>  During the following hour or so of sexual activity Freya does her very</div> <div>  best to satisfy them both. She does not really care that Gorthag is a</div> <div>  goblin, she has not had a man for a long time.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 GM POST 93</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Goblins are not known for gentleness. Goblin females are almnost as rough and</div> <div> tough as the males.  Even your demonic frame finds the action tiring, bruising</div> <div> and seemingly unending. Gorthag will go on for more than three hours before he</div> <div> seems sated. You cannot help but wonder at the fate of captured human</div> <div> slaves....  It's not that Gorthag is deliberately violent, he's probably being</div> <div> as gentle as his nature allows; but by the time he is done you feel like you</div> <div> have been through a battle.</div> <bR> <div> Finally the big Goblin seems ready to rest a bit, and even engage in what</div> <div> passes for conversation with his kind. "Why you want to go see Saar?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 PC POST 93</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Freya: "If I make it to the topside alive, I might survive by</div> <div>  disappearing  into the wilderness. Down here, any hour could be my last one - There</div> <div>  are  too many nasty people around who want me dead. As I have no family nor</div> <div>  clan, it would be a suicide for me to stay."</div> <bR> <div>  She gives Gorthag an exhausted but very friendly smile and says: "You</div> <div>  really did the work of more than two dozen men, I have never had a lover</div> <div>  like you - An ordinary jhurtha would not be able to walk for a week</div> <div>  afterwards, but fortunately I am not ordinary.. Even so, I would like</div> <div>  to rest for a while and drink some water before we go up - In case I</div> <div>  need to fight on my way out, I want to be at my best."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 GM POST 94</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> Gorthag listens to your answer and shrugs as though to say 'suit yourself.'  He</div> <div> leans back and half closes his eyes. "No water here. We go when you ready."</div> <div> He adds, as an afterthought. "There three ways to outside that Gorthag know...</div> <div> Through the Gateway on the Road of Sorrow..  In Khun Dhagra at end of Road of</div> <div> Sorrow... And a secret way... Gorthag show you that."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>              PBEM Series 2 PC POST 94</div> <div>              PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>    Freya: "Secret way, yes, I think that would be best."</div> <div>   </div> <div>    She starts to prepare for leaving, at first by cleaning herself up as good</div> <div>    as she can and then slowly putting on her armor. She then combs her</div> <div>    hair with her fingers and gets a glimpse of how worn she looks in the</div> <div>    mirror image on her shield.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    Freya: "I think I am ready now. But if you want to rest a while longer,</div> <div>    thats okay too."</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>              PBEM Series 2 GM POST 95</div> <div>              PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Gorthag grunts, gets up and gathers his weapons and gear. "Follow." Is all he says when</div> <div>   he is ready.  Out the door he takes you down the dark, narrow tunnel rather then the</div> <div>   dimly illuminated main passage.  He moves along confidently, like one who knows his way</div> <div>   and has been there a hundred times.   This is a good thing since you now seem to be in</div> <div>   veritable maze of narrow tunnels that cross, merge, split and intersect in seemingly</div> <div>   random fashion. You would guess that these passages are the byproduct of centuries of</div> <div>   mining. The search for some elusive and meandering vein of ore resulting in a maze of</div> <div>   tunnels.</div> <div>   Gorthag does not seem inclined to talk as he leads the way and at several points he</div> <div>   stops to listen intently before moving on.  Several times you hear distant sounds...</div> <bR> <div>   tapping, thumping... at one point screaming.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>             PBEM Series 2 PC POST 95</div> <div>             PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Freya moves quietly and stays close to Gorthag. She has plenty of questions for</div> <div>  Gorthag, but understands that this is not a safe place to speak. Although she knows</div> <div>  this is propably in vain, she tries to memorize the route they use.</div> <bR> <div>  After she has heard the screaming, Freya takes her wooden sword and holds it in</div> <div>  her right hand so that its blade rests against the back of her forearm.. If something</div> <div>  attacks from the darkness, she wants to be ready to defend herself. She looks</div> <div>  questioningly at Gorthag for a while, but says nothing as she follows him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>             PBEM Series 2 GM POST 96</div> <div>             PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> Though Gorthag seems to be listening intently for something, the screaming apparantlt isn't</div> <div> it. He takes no more notice of the sounds of agony then a farmer pays attention to the</div> <div> birdsongs in his meadow.</div> <div> Suddenly he stops in his tracks and then grabs you and pulls you into a darkened corner,</div> <div> pressing a hand to your lips to silence any questions.  A few seconds later, from out of the</div> <div> darkness, moving in utter silence, materializes a line of short, pale skinned and seemingly</div> <div> hairless goblins.  These are much smaller than Gorthag, and are true Mountain Goblins who</div> <div> spend almost their whole lives underground.  They appear lightly armored, leather tunics at</div> <div> best, and carry long slim knives that are called 'dekt' or 'fangs' and the infamous spiked</div> <div> maces or 'sketh.'  A larger version of which Gorthag carries.  There are eight of them and</div> <div> they vanish into another tunnel as silently as they appeared.  Gorthag waits a minute before</div> <div> he leads off again.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 96</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     As she did not hear the approach of the patrol, Freya smiles</div> <div>     appreciatively at Gorthag for his quick actions - seems that the big goblin does care about her,</div> <div>     despite himself. She waits patiently and silently untill Gorthag starts off again.</div> <div>    </div> <bR> <bR> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 97</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     You continue through the seemingly unending maze until Gorthag stops at</div> <div>     an otherwise unremarkable point. A place lake anyother in what must be</div> <div>     miles of tunnel. He unerringly touches some point on the wall and a</div> <div>     crack appears, opening into an even deeper darkness than where you are.</div> <div>     He steps through, drawing you silently after him. He closes the door and</div> <div>     there is a pause, then the area is flooded with light.</div> <div>     Gorthag is holding a leaf shaped dagger, that you had not noticed on his</div> <div>     person earlier. The blade glows with a pale white light. The</div> <div>     illumination is in itself quite weak, and probably wouldn't even be</div> <div>     noticeable outside on even a moderately overcast day. But here, in</div> <div>     almost stygian darkness, it seems as though a ray of sunlight is at</div> <div>     hand.  After a few moments, when your eyes have adjusted and it no</div> <div>     longer seems dazzling, you see that you are in a narrow twisting passage</div> <div>     that angles down sharply to your left and up to your right.</div> <div>     Gorthag turns left and leads the way down.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 97</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    At first Freya wonders why a way to the topside would turn so steeply</div> <div>    down at this point, but then understands that there propably is more</div> <div>    labyrinth ahead, that she really has no choice but to trust Gorthag on</div> <div>    this all the way. She still tries to memorize the route they are taking,</div> <div>    and has her sword handy in case something leaps at them from the</div> <div>    darkness. She stays close to Gorthag.</div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 98</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   You go downwards for quite a ways.. after bit you hear the sound of rushiing</div> <div>   water ahead. Gorthag slows his pace, listening intently and even sniffing the</div> <div>   air as though to catch a scent. He puts away the knife, plunging everything</div> <div>   into the absolute darkness you are becoming accustomed to, then he reaches</div> <div>   back and puts a finger to your lips as he pauses for what seems a long, long</div> <div>   time. Then he begins a cautious advance again.</div> <div>   The darkness ahead seems less intense and the sound of the water seems to</div> <div>   increase in volume.  The passage around you begins to open up into a chamber</div> <div>   and then the noise of the water seems to diminish. You realise that the</div> <div>   acoustics of the rock walls had served to enhance the noise of the water and</div> <div>   that Gorthag had taken advantage of the same acoustical anomaly to eavesdrop</div> <div>   on the area ahead.</div> <div>   In the darkness you can see the faint phospherescent glow of churning water</div> <div>   just ahead of you and you realise that you are on a cold, wet, shingled shore</div> <div>   of slippery rocks and cobbles.  On this treacherous beach lay three boats.</div> <div>   Shallow draft dugouts of some dark stained wood.  Leaning against the wall are</div> <div>   half a dozen paddles.</div> <div>   Gorthag cautiously peers out of the cave mouth and looks left then right along</div> <div>   the waterway, then upwards.  Peering after him you see an underground river,</div> <div>   maybe the samew you saw before. It is about forty feet wide here and the roof</div> <div>   is about seventy feet above you. You don't see anyone about.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 98</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Freya leans closer to Gorthag and whispers into his ear quietly: "Is the water</div> <div>  safe to drink? Are we going to take a boat?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 GM POST 99</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> Gorthag grunts an affirmative, "Water safe. You take boat. Gorthag go no further."</div> <div> He picks up a paddle and hands it to you. "Let river take you.  Go to the second</div> <div> split. Not the first. Go to right. Must paddle hard. Lay flat in boat in that</div> <div> tunnel. Roof very low.  Water is rough and way long. Water comes out side of high</div> <div> cliff. Much water. When you see end, paddle to right. Land before opening on ledge.</div> <div> Land or go over and die. Stay quiet until after split. Many jhurthaand Ske (Goblin</div> <div> warriors) along river."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 99</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Freya replaces the sword on her belt, takes off her helmet and turns to face</div> <div>  Gorthag, she speaks quietly: "You are a very good friend, Gorthag, I feel</div> <div>  sad to part ways with you.. But I can see that you cannot come with</div> <div>  me." Then she hugs and kisses him intensively for a long while, and after</div> <div>  she has caught her breath again, she says: "Thanks for everything you</div> <div>  have done for me. I will always remember you, my love." She just</div> <div>  stands there for a while in silence, half expecting Gorthag to say</div> <div>  something, half trying to see what moves beyond the eyes of the big goblin.</div> <bR> <div>  Then she turns away, quenches worst of her thirst from the water, puts</div> <div>  her helmet back on, and takes off on one of the boats, following</div> <div>  Gorthags directions.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 100</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The Goblin's face is impassive and expressionless as you say your farewell.  Goblins are</div> <div> not known for their grasp of the finer feelings, even amongst their own kind. It is</div> <div> difficult to determine what, if anything Gorthag is thinking or feeling at the moment.</div> <div> At last he speaks, "Stay quiet and low. Show no light. The Road of Sorrow follows river</div> <div> and crosses it." He pauses for a moment. "Gorthag will remember you, Jhurtha."</div> <bR> <div> The water is palatable, but has a strong mineral taste to it and is surprisingly warm.</div> <div> The dugout is small, it would be a tight fit for two people. There is a coil of rope,</div> <div> perhaps fifteen feet long, on the bottom and you see that there it a place on the bow for</div> <div> a light. A rusty, wrought iron bracket that could hold a thick candle or small torch.</div> <div> The only other point of note is an iron ring set at the stern.</div> <bR> <div> Gorthag helps you push off, a shove of his muscular leg sends you darting out to the</div> <div> center of the stream where the current immediately takes you.  Looking back you can dimly</div> <div> see his form standing on the flinty shore for a few moments, until the darkness and an</div> <div> outcrop of rock cuts off the view.</div> <bR> <div> You soon realise that the current will do all the work, all you are obligated to do is</div> <div> steer.  There is little light, even by your standards, but at the moment things seem safe</div> <div> enough</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 PC POST 100</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida does her best to follow the directions, she keeps on looking for the second</div> <div>  split, but keeps a low profile, stays quiet and if at all possible she will not ignite her</div> <div>  lamp, at least not untill well after she has taken the second split.</div> <bR> <div>  She stays alert even if the situation might seem safe - This underworld seems to be</div> <div>  full of surprises..</div> <bR> <bR> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 100</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> Floating along in the darkness it is very hard to judge speed or progress. It seems to you that</div> <div> you are moving very quickly, but that might be an illusion.  The deep gloom makes it tricky to</div> <div> see the walls and the sudden out crops often force you to paddle hard to avoid a collision.</div> <div> After a couple scrapes you realise that the heavily made dugout is probably the only type of</div> <div> small boat that could survive such a passage on a regular basis.</div> <div> From a change of air and sound, you realise that the tunnel roof is now much closer, but</div> <div> otherwise it is almost impossible to see.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 PC POST 100</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Umeida stays flat in the boat, peeking over the boats edges in order to</div> <div>   avoid obstacles and in the hopes of noticing any splits. She concentrates on both trying to</div> <div>   see in the darkness and into listening for any changes in sounds. She will take the second</div> <div>   split she notices.</div> <div>  </div> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 GM POST 101</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   You float along for what seems like forever in an unending tunnel of</div> <div>   darkness.  Suddenly you see a glimmer of light being reflected off the</div> <div>   water ahead. The tunnel roof is rising steeply above you and you can see</div> <div>   ahead, on your right side, a ledge, from which the light of oil flares</div> <div>   is shining down. You realise immediately that it is the road some twenty</div> <div>   feet above you.  Though you are too low to see who or what is up there,</div> <div>   you can see that several of the light sources appear to be moving.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 PC POST 101</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida stays very quiet and low, hoping to get past unnoticed. Those</div> <div>  above on the road are undoubtedly these underworlder slavers, and it</div> <div>  seems that there are many of them there. She tries not to stare directly</div> <div>  at the lights, in an attempt to maintain her nightvision.</div> <bR> <div>  No splits off the main river yet, she wonders how long this journey will</div> <div>  take, and exactly where does the topside exit lead to.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 GM POST 102</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> You pass the group above you without anyone seeming to notice you.  It's not</div> <div> time to relax though, the road and river continue to run parrallel and soon</div> <div> you can see, up ahead, a bridge. A second road emerges from a tunnel,  crosses</div> <div> the river and joins the first at  a T intersection.At the moment the bridge</div> <div> appears empty and you pass underneath easily. Looking up, in the dim red light</div> <div> of the distant flares above, you can see that there are bats sleeping</div> <div> underneath.</div> <div> As you clear the bridge and continue on you hear the tramp of feet echoing out</div> <div> of the tunnel... clearly some one, a lot of some ones, will be crossing the</div> <div> bridge in just a few moments. The question is, will you be out of sight when</div> <div> they emerge from the tunnel?</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 PC POST 110</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Working swiftly, Umeida grabs the upper cable and using her legs pushes</div> <div>  the boat over the lower cable, repeating the procedure for passing the other cables. If this</div> <div>  does not work, she has to start swimming and dragging the boat along (which is not really good idea,</div> <div>  because even though she may be immune to fire, she can drown in water, especially with the</div> <div>  strong currents around).</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 GM POST 111</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> Glancing to your left you see that the men working on the shore are</div> <div>  looking around, but they haven't spotted you yet....</div> <div> You clear the first cable with some effort and immediately hang on the</div> <div>  second.</div> <div> From above you, in the darkness, you hear a familiar voice ring out...</div> <div> "Stop her!" It is the ominous fighter who' accompanied the cleric back</div> <div>  at the entrance.  "You will not escape! Do you hear me bitch!  I will</div> <div>  have you!" Then, apparently to the men on the shore. "She's in the river</div> <div>  you fools! On the other side... Get boats and nets... I want her alive!"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 PC POST 111</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Umeida works her way past the second lines and then starts to paddle</div> <div>  for speed. She has to get away and quick, for surrender is not an option</div> <div>  worth considering with these people - Umeida realizes that her only</div> <div>  alternative to escape is suicide, which would mean an instant return</div> <div>  ticket to hell.</div> <bR> <div>  She saves her breath and does not shout anything back at the Talon,</div> <div>  instead concentrating entirely on making her getaway..</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 GM POST 112</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> As you push your way across the second rope, you see to your left that the men</div> <div> on the bank are scrambling to drag boats to the water. You see two men lunge</div> <div> for the same set of paddles and run full tilt into each other. It would be</div> <div> funny if it weren't so grim.</div> <div> From the darkness above you hear the Talon roar, "It'll be the Pens for you</div> <div> all if she escapes!"</div> <div> Then there is the snap and twang of the crossbow again. You have no idea where</div> <div> that bolt went, but it was nowhere in your vicinity.  You hear the Talon roar</div> <div> again, "Give me that, you fool!" There is a panicky shriek, followed shortly</div> <div> thereafter by a loud splash somewhere behind you.</div> <bR> <div> You are over the last barrier now and paddling hard. You hear the Talon again,</div> <div> presumably yelling at you... "You'll pray for Hell when I get my hands on you!</div> <div> There is no escape! Do you hear? NO ESCAPE!"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 PC POST 111</div> <div>  PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Umeida smiles briefly as she continues picking up speed - Talon is</div> <div> getting desperate, which is a good sign. With a swift move she slides her left</div> <div> arm into her shields straps, and continues paddling with her shield partially</div> <div> covering her from above</div> <div> (Talon propably is a better shot than his henchman).</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 GM POST 112</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Ahead of you the tunnel roof closes down again and you are plunged into</div> <div> darkness as you pick up speed. You can still hear the men on shore</div> <div> splashing about as they struggle to launch the dugouts, but you can no</div> <div> longer see them. Fortunately the Talon cannot see you either.</div> <bR> <div> Time will tick by as you peer ahead and listen for sounds of pursuit</div> <div> from behind... Yes! That was an odd splash... That was wood knocking</div> <div> wood.... You hear a muffled curse... They are definately behind you.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>  PBEM Series 2 PC POST 112</div> <div>  PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida continues paddling for speed. If/when it gets too dark to see</div> <div>  anything with nightvision, she makes a very brief attempt to light her oil</div> <div>  lamp - Other than that, she just follows the flow of the river and tries to</div> <div>  stay ahead of her pursuers, relying on hearing if she cannot see.</div> <bR> <div>  She grins as she thinks of the waterfall 'exit' which Gorthag mentioned,</div> <div>  towards which she is travelling with all speed she can muster. Some</div> <div>  beings are born with wings, others are not..</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 GM POST 113</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> You paddle hard for a a few minutes, then it really is too dark to see by...</div> <div> Fumbling in the dark and spray it is impossible to light the lamp without an</div> <div> extended effort that might allow your pursuers to close ground, so you give up</div> <div> and return to paddling.</div> <bR> <div> Paddling hard in complete darkness, while concentrating on the sounds around</div> <div> you for a clue as to the form and shape of the river is no easy task.. The roar</div> <div> of the water, echoing off the walls and roof is almost mind numbing... Suddenly</div> <div> the boat slams into something with a teeth rattling blow! You have hit an</div> <div> submerged rock!  The current immediately carries you away, but now you are</div> <div> turning counterclockwise in the current and it will take you a minute of hard</div> <div> paddling to get the boat straightened out.  Is there more water in the boat?</div> <div> You can't be sure, there have been cup fulls splashed in regularly since the</div> <div> water roughened back before the ferry. You have been kneeling in wet for some</div> <div> time and you can't tell if the extra water was shipped by the impact, or if</div> <div> there is damage to the hull.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 113</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  For a short while Umeida tries to throw away some water with her</div> <div>  shield, but she does not waste much time for that effort - Stubbornly</div> <div>  she refuses to give up and continues paddling on. Hopefully her</div> <div>  pursuers are not doing much better..</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 114</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> You paddle on... the noise is too great to hear anything of the pursuit and so</div> <div> far you don't think the water level in the boat has increased any apprecaiable</div> <div> amount.  Suddenly you realize that the noise level is actually increasing!</div> <div> There is a new roar of white water and even in the almost total darkness of</div> <div> the cavern, you can just make out a crest of foam ahead!</div> <div> Almost to late you realize that the water is impacting on a rock, or series of</div> <div> rocks almost directly ahead. The stream is flowing around it to both sides...</div> <div> Is this the split you've been waiting for or just another obstruction?</div> <div> Either way you have only seconds to alter course, one way or the other, to</div> <div> avoid being dashed onto the rocks ahead!</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 PC POST 114</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida paddles to the right as hard as she can.. (However, this is the first</div> <div>  split she finds - She was supposed to take the second split to the right.)</div> <bR> <div>  Well, at the moment she is content to survive just a bit longer, and to</div> <div>  continue her escape.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 115</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> Paddling franticly you graze by the rock wall as you veer to the right.  You are so</div> <div> close you have to fend the boat off the wall with the paddle at the last second to</div> <div> avoid another hull bruising collision!</div> <div> A few yards of wet rock pass you on the left, when suddenly the rock wall is gone</div> <div> again and the divergent streams reconverge, causing the small vessel to pitch madly</div> <div> for a few tense seconds, then you continue on, into the darkness with the roar of</div> <div> the whitewater receeding behind you.</div> <div> Did that count as a split? You can't be certain.  The minutes seem to stretch on</div> <div> forever... then you hear the sound of raging water again!  This time you have a</div> <div> little more warning to decide what to do...</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 115</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida stays more on the right side of the stream, and is ready to maneuver rapidly</div> <div>  once she gets a better idea of what lies ahead. She tries to see through the darkness,</div> <div>  and tries to imagine the shapes of the rock walls around her by listening to the</div> <div>  echoing sounds.</div> <bR> <div>  Unlike greater demons, she does not possess full gift of dark vision. Umeida thinks</div> <div>  that in the future she would do well to invest in a magical lightsource of some kind..</div> <bR> <div>  -</div> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 116</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The roar grows louder... Ahead you dimly make out a broader band of foaming water crashing</div> <div> into the rocky walls... This must be a true split, the break is too wide to be anything</div> <div> else... The question is, is this the correct one?</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 116</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida thinks for a short moment, and comes to the conclusion that this is the first split,</div> <div>  earlier whitewater place was only an obstruction.. So she will try to go straight with the main</div> <div>  stream "Second split to the right" -Gorthag said earlier.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 117</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> It takes considerable effort to work your way to the left, but you manage it just in time to</div> <div> pass the split safely.  You continue on into the darkness for sometime... Suddenly you notice</div> <div> that the area ahead is brighter, as though illuminated. Looking back over your shoulder you see</div> <div> a light, then another... They appear to be some time of enclosed lantern, like a bullseye</div> <div> lantern, but the light inside seems too bright for mere flame.  The beam's glare makes it hard</div> <div> to see who is behind it, but it isn't difficult to guess.  The combination of the current and</div> <div> the extra paddlers has allowed your pursuers to close the distance.</div> <div> So far you don't think they've spotted you, but it's only a matter of seconds!</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 PC POST 117</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Umeida takes a few good breaths, cocks her stonebow (so that it can be</div> <div>   swiftly loaded if the pursuers close the remaining distance) and then sets onto paddling</div> <div>   as rapidly as she can. When/if it becomes possible, she takes the next split to the right.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 118</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   The light seems to steady...  You hear a man's voice "There! There she</div> <div>   is! Faster!"</div> <div>   Several tense moments go by, then a voice yells "Shoot her!"</div> <div>   You don't hear, see or feel anything, so presumably they missed by a</div> <div>   wide margin, hardly surprising in the up and down tumult of the rushing</div> <div>   water.</div> <div>   "Forget it!  Just catch her!" The voice yells again as their leader</div> <div>   comes to the conclusion that crossbows aren't the solution.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   One plus out of all this, the light shining ahead of you, tho dim by</div> <div>   human standards, gives you excellent vision and enables you to see a</div> <div>   series of half submerged bouders coming up rapidly on your right.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 118</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Umeida tries to skirt the edge of the boulders in such a manner</div> <div>  that her pursuers with worse sense of sight would have problems</div> <div>  avoiding them and so might lose time or could even crash into</div> <div>  the boulders, blinded by the chase.</div> <bR> <div>  She works very hard to escape, optimistically thinking that the</div> <div>  second split might be just behind the next corner..</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 GM POST 119</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Your getting pretty good at controlling the boat and are able to edge into</div> <div>  the rocks without getting too close...</div> <bR> <div> The accoustics of the tunnel bring sounds of pursuit to your ears... Though it</div> <div> is not possible to make out everything, you can hear your pursuers arguing..</div> <bR> <div> "Don't bother... can't hit her from here..."</div> <bR> <div> "...faster... bastard will send us to the Pens for sure..."</div> <bR> <div> "...be gettin away...... down there...."</div> <bR> <div> You can also hear the men panting and grunting with the effort they are making</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 119</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>  If possible, Umeida makes use of the boulders for visual cover and</div> <div>  proceeds with quiet efficiency on her search for the second split.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 GM POST 120</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  The boulders do not project far enough out of the water for cover and you are soon</div> <div>  past them... A few moments later you can hear several of the men cursing</div> <div>  furiously, then the sound of wood on stone echoes through the passage... One of</div> <div>  the boats has slewed around and the two men in it are fighting hard to stay</div> <div>  upright.... the other boat, with it looks like three men, is still coming on  and</div> <div>  slowly gaining on you.</div> <bR> <div> Suddenly you see it, the second split!  It's narrower then the last, but as long as</div> <div> there are no hidden rocks or projections you should be able to clear it.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign </div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 PC POST 120 </div> <div>       PC: Umeida </div> <div>    </div> <div>    As she moves towards the split all due haste, she shouts to her pursuers </div> <div>    with a voice full of defiance; </div> <div>    "You sons of thousand fathers, break off now or follow me to your  deaths!" </div> <div>    </div> <div>    She recalls that there was a waterfall coming out from a mountain wall </div> <div>    in the end of the tunnel system - Death for most, freedom for one. </div> <div>    </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign </div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 121 </div> <div>       PC: Umeida </div> <div>    </div> <div>    "Give it up you bitch! You can't get away!" Someone shouts back </div> <div>    You hear the snap and twang of a crossbow and the bolt skitters off the </div> <div>    low roof above you, they are getting a bit better! </div> <div>    </div> <div>    It takes only a few extra strokes and you are in the passage to </div> <div>    freedom.... The boats are following you... Maybe they don't know about </div> <div>    the waterfall? Or maybe they know something else? </div> <div>    </div> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign </div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 121 </div> <div>     PC: Umeida </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Freedom or death.. She wont give up as long as she still lives, Umeida </div> <div>   decides. She guides her boat into the split - She has no choice but to </div> <div>   trust the advice of a goblin, no time to think about anything else. </div> <bR> <div>   When the roof gets real low, she takes lower position in the boat. </div> <div>    </div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign </div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 GM POST 122 </div> <div>     PC: Umeida </div> <div>  </div> <div> The roof drops steadily, if it keeps up like this you'll have to lay flat in the bottom to clear and that means you won't be able to paddle.  The only comfort is that the</div> <div> men behind you won't be able to paddle either. </div> <div> From the sounds behind you, you judge that they are really putting their backs into it!  The Talon must have truly inspired their fear!  There are no more crossbow</div> <div> shots, no more shouts or threats, they seem to have settled into the grim buisness of closing distance.  One boat is clearly in the lead, it has three men on board and</div> <div> they are all paddling hard.  The second boat lost posistion after the encounter with the boulders and is trailing well behind the leader.  That first boat is a problem</div> <div> though.... With three men paddling hard it is inevitable that they catch you, its only a question of time.... With only an occaissional glance over your shoulder, you</div> <div> judge them to be less then three hundred feet behind you and closing. </div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 122</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>  First boat is still too far away from effective shooting range of her</div> <div>  stonebow.. Umeida paddles at more leisurely</div> <div>  pace, recovering her breath and letting her pursuers draw closer. When</div> <div>  they are no more than 135 feet away, she sets aside the paddle and opens fire with her stonebow, lying low in</div> <div>  the boat, bracing the stonebow and aiming her shots carefully (4 seconds of aim for each shot) - She cannot</div> <div>  afford to miss many times.. She intends to reduce the number of effective paddlers down to one or less</div> <div>  before she starts paddling away again.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 123</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div> At first they don't seem to realize what your doing, either they can't make</div> <div> it out in the gloom, or they are too busy concentrating on what they are</div> <div> doing. They continue closing the distance as you draw a bead on the first</div> <div> man in the boat.  Just as you squeeze the shot off, the man at the bow seems</div> <div> to come to his senses and ducks suddenly even as he calls a warning.  His</div> <div> reflexes save him, not so for the poor bastard seated directly behind him.</div> <div> You can't tell how badly you hurt him, but you hear him cry out in pain and</div> <div> he seems to go backwards into the man in the stern. As a result of all the</div> <div> confusion, there are a few seconds in which the dugout is not being paddled.</div> <div> Unfortunately, since both boats are moving in the same current, and neither</div> <div> one is under power, you don't gain any distance.</div> <div> As you reload you can see the men sorting themselves out and it looks as</div> <div> though a crossbow is passed up to the man at the bow. He sets to work</div> <div> loading it.</div> <div> The second boat has made up a little space during this lull, but it is still</div> <div> beyond the leader.</div> <div> As you settle in to take aim, the man at the rear is beginning to paddle</div> <div> again. The second man, who has already been hit, seems busy tending himself</div> <div> and isn't paddling at the moment. You can hear him hiss a warning to the man</div> <div> in the bow...</div> <div> "Look sharp! The bitch is loaded!"</div> <div> The one in the bow hunches a bit more as he tries to minumize his profile</div> <div> and still load.</div> <div> Taking care to aim at the crossbowman, you shoot... You see him flinch, but</div> <div> that is all he does. Presumably it was close enough for him to hear.</div> <div> He is ready now and is taking time to aim, "Hold it steady!" You hear him</div> <div> snarl and the one in the rear pauses his paddling..... 'Snap'  The bolt is</div> <div> short but splashes water in your face.</div> <div> The shooter begins to reload, the rear man starts paddling again.</div> <div> From the second boat someone yells, "We're suppose to take her alive!"</div> <div> A voice from the first boat, that sounds like the injured man yells, "You</div> <div> take her alive, you stupid..." He trails off into an incomprehensible growl</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 PC POST 123</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <div>       </div> <div>        Umeida shouts: "Ha, you will never get me alive! Come closer so I can</div> <div>     see the look in your eyes as you die, honorless bastards!"</div> <div>    </div> <div>     She places her shield in front of her (ready to block by simply ducking</div> <div>     behind it) but otherwise ignores the more-difficult-to-hit crossbowman and</div> <div>     concentrates rest of her fire (she has what, six lead pellets left?) against the</div> <div>     paddlers who cannot do their job without exposing themselves.</div> <div>    </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 GM POST 124</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <div>       </div> <div>        The crossbow crouches a bit as he works to reload.  The injured man</div> <div>     behind him will resum paddling, but it is clearly uncomfortable for him</div> <div>     and his enthusiasum for the task has waned.  The third man is still</div> <div>     paddling hard though and the dugout is now about a hundred feet off from</div> <div>     you.</div> <div>     The second dugout is now closing ground as well, the two in it are more</div> <div>     cautious in their approach, straining to keep a small profile even as</div> <div>     they paddle. You would judge the second boat to be 150 to 170 feet</div> <div>     behind you, not quite optimum shooting range for this shot.</div> <div>     You turn your attention to the lead boat, taking careful aim at the rear</div> <div>     most man who is the main source of propulsion..... As you squeeze off</div> <div>     your shot, the crossbowman is bringing his weapon to bear...</div> <div>     'SNAP!'  Damn! You missed the third man but you hit the second one</div> <div>     again!  From the way he slumps down it seems unlikely that he'll be</div> <div>     paddling anything in the near future!</div> <div>     The crossbowman shoots 'Thwang!' It riccochetts off your shield!  That</div> <div>     was his best shot yet... By the time this is over, presuming the bastard</div> <div>     lives through it, he might actually be pretty good.</div> <div>     You work quickly to reload your prodd, the damn dugout is getting</div> <div>     close!  You have one, maybe two more shots before it'll be time to think</div> <div>     about switching to your sword.  (Do you want to continue shooting at the</div> <div>     paddler or try and take out the crossbowman or switch your attention to</div> <div>     the other boat?)</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 PC POST 124</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <div>      </div> <div>    </div> <div>    Next shot is aimed very carefully to hit the crossbowman (as the boat</div> <div>    comes closer, usefulness of crossbowmans cover will get reduced).</div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 GM POST 125</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <div>      </div> <div>   The crossbowman is franticly reloading, switching his attention between you</div> <div>   and the task at hand... When he sees you drawing a bead on him, his eyes widen</div> <div>   and his hands falter at the task. You can see him looking side to side for a</div> <div>   place to hide, but there is nowhere to go.  The only armor he is wearing is a</div> <div>   light leather jerkin, he has no shield or helm. "Go back!" He shrieks "She's</div> <div>   gonna kill me!"</div> <div>   No sooner the words were out when you shoot.  It was a good shot! Right</div> <div>   through the heart! His words were prophetic and he tumbles sideways into the</div> <div>   river, all but capsizing the boat in the process. The remaining man is</div> <div>   fighting to keep the boat upright, the slumped middle man is hanging half over</div> <div>   the side, dragging the boat to the right across the current sending it off</div> <div>   towards the wall where it hits with an audible 'Crack!'  It seems as though</div> <div>   that boat is out of the running for now!</div> <div>   The second boat is coming up fast though, the two are pouring it on in hopes</div> <div>   of closing the danger gap as quickly as possible.  You begin quickly</div> <div>   reloading, you have time for one last shot before they are too close!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 125</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>     </div> <div>  While she loads and starts aiming, Umeida resumes her natural form (with</div> <div>  smaller wings than usual). Without fear she rises up a bit into optimal firing</div> <div>  position, her catlike eyes gleam eeriely at the light projected from the boat</div> <div>  and her fanged mouth opens in a wicked grin as she growls in very</div> <div>  frightening demonic voice: "Come here mortals, I shall drink thy blood</div> <div>  and feast on thine souls!" She does this in the hopes that in the current</div> <div>  situation they would mistake her for a far more powerful demon.</div> <bR> <div>  Wondering how much longer the battlemorale of the bastards is going to</div> <div>  last, she aims carefully and waits untill the other boat is close enough, then</div> <div>  she fires at the bastard in worst cover.</div> <bR> <div>  When/if the two boats meet, depending on how many men are left and</div> <div>  whether or not they are armed with nets, she proceeds as follows;</div> <bR> <div>  If 2+ men are armed with nets (no chances to win), then she commits</div> <div>  suicide with her knife. The bastards will go to the pens, as she and her</div> <div>  gear will vanish into air as smoke. Getting captured alive is not an option,</div> <div>  not with these people.</div> <bR> <div>  If 1 man is armed with net, jump off the boat and dive away underwater.</div> <div>  There is the slight chance that Umeida can outmaneuver the thrown net</div> <div>  while she is diving underwater, and even if caught by the net, she can</div> <div>  still commit suicide by drowning.</div> <bR> <div>  If none of the remaining men are armed with nets, she might have some</div> <div>  chances in defeating them with her shield and wooden sword.</div> <bR> <div>  How close is the roof?</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 126</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>     </div> <div> (The roof is about five feet over your head at the moment, it has been going up and</div> <div> down, but the overall inclination is down.  The ceiling is not smooth tjough, there</div> <div> are many stone projections and small stactites. Standing up straight with your back</div> <div> towards where you are going is an invitation for a split skull)</div> <bR> <div> As you rise into a crouch, completing your transformation even as you bring the</div> <div> prodd to bear, the lead man in the fast approaching boat leans backward a bit and</div> <div> begins to back paddle hard!  The second man, who either has not noticed your change,</div> <div> or doesn't care, snarls, "What the fuck are you doing!"</div> <div> The lead man shakes his head, "Uh, uh!" Is all he says.</div> <bR> <div> The best target is the man in the bow of the rapidly slowing dugout and you draw a</div> <div> bead on him.</div> <div> From your slightly elevated posistion you can see a net in the bottom of the boat</div> <div> between them, it only looks like one net, but its hard to say for sure.</div> <div> Also, on top of the net, is a crossbow, that appears to be loaded and cocked (a</div> <div> serious safety no no!)</div> <bR> <div> The other boat has now turned completely around so that the man who was in the stern</div> <div> is now in the bow and is gingerly turning himself around to try and regain control</div> <div> of the dugout.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 PC POST 126</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <div>      </div> <div>  After aiming carefully and firing at the man who is not scared yet (careful to not hit</div> <div>  the scared one), Umeida shouts in demonic voice: "No mortals, dont go away! I</div> <div>  want thy blood!"</div> <bR> <div>  She takes no pleasure in killing and fighting, so she actually hopes that the men</div> <div>  would give up the pursuit.</div> <bR> <div>  (If she is succesfull in distracting her pursuers, she starts paddling away again.)</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 GM POST 127</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <div>      </div> <bR> <div> The man paddling forward, your target of choice, sees you taking aim, and you can see him</div> <div> tense in expectation of the shot... He is clearly keyed to try and duck or twist his upper</div> <div> body clear, fat lot of good it will do him sitting in that narrow boat!</div> <div> The man's reflexes are excellant though, and he does twist and duck just as you squeeze</div> <div> off the bolt. All it accomplishes though is to change the point of inpact from his heart</div> <div> to his side.  As for him, he heaves once, drops his paddle overboard and seems to go</div> <div> still.</div> <div> At this moment, though there are two uninjured men, there is no effective pursuit. You lay</div> <div> aside your prodd and begin putting distance between you and them.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>