Present
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| Geryon pondered |
- Abellinut "Able" Ugwistan, 31, Moor Arian Fighter from Septum – Jeff
Brave Jose "BJ", 22, Arian Visigoth Fighter from Astigi – Jamie - Fabius Cato, 26 Roman Nicene Temple Fighter from Rome – Richard
- Luigi Abundus Bertolini, 23, Roman Nicene Priest from Ravenna – Chris
- Merkel, 24, Vandal Arian Temple-Fighter from Gades – Kevin
- Hawk-Eye, 22, Arian Visigoth Barbarian from Astigi – Shane
- Velito Rosso, 24, Roman Nicene Barbarian from Venice – Darryl
- Victor Koshenko, 24, Alan Arian Thief from Gades – Ian
- Sister Sarah, 22 Arian Visigoth Priestess from Hispalis- Steven
by Jeff
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| Geryon's halls of lava |
It was a shame that the two promising Gades prospects hadn't lived up to their potential and abandoned their spear. It still made him mad that they had even buried it deep in the ground in the middle of nowhere, but he would find them and get his dues!
Geysers of molten rock erupted from the pools of lava surrounding his rocky throne as his temper grew. Damn that Elia Ildaria, Vanker Polyester, and Aulius Decanter, their souls would be his eventually!
He calmed down somewhat as he considered subsequent events, and the lava pools subsided again.
Geryon didn't consider it luck that those Eulalian nuns had stumbled across the spear, it was fate. He was becoming a true power in the world again at last.
If only it wasn't so difficult to influence those petty humans, always concerned about their faith to this one true god. Some fell under his sway immediately, some wavered for a period before aligning their faith with his, and others, well they were so under the sway of their one true god that his mental suggestions had no influence at all and were even rejected outright.
Take that bumbling beekeeper for example, so dedicated to his supposed god that he had ignored the power that I had offered, indeed even working against my influence on his companions. I nearly had that woman, Justina, but the beekeeper had fought and even overcome my convert.
The lava pools swirled and bubbled as his temper slowly climbed once more.
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| Able the faithful |
Geryon chuckled; and my convert there also started the whole schism between the loyal followers. That feud should last for years he felt. More death and despair for him to harvest.
Feeling better, Geryon turned his attention to the present, and focussed on his inner connections to all his prospects. Tuning out the thoughts of the many, he brought the simple mind of the new prospect to the fore and commandeered his sensory input.
The senses of Victor Koshenko opened up to Geryon, and he stared out through Victor Koshenko's eyes as the sounds and smells of the world above flooded his mind. A blissful sigh echoed around the lava cave as Geryon soaked in the real world.
Victor Koshenko was walking behind a group of women, all ridiculously dressed in fake nun's habits, and following them up the true left of a river, no doubt still the Baetis, on the way to Corduba. Velito Rosso and Hawk Eye were between him and the women, while Brave Jose paced along just to his right. Out in front of the cluster of women were three armed guards, and then leading the group strode the black, Abellinut Ugwistan, and Merkel.
No sign of the others though. Geryon wondered where Fabius Cato, Victor Koshenko, the bumbling beekeeper, Luigi Bertolini, and the traitorous woman Justina had gone.
Wait though, something was happening further up the path, out in front of Abellinut Ugwistan. Velito Rosso rushed forward, leaving Victor Koshenko behind. It was hard to see from Victor Koshenko's position there at the back, but Velito Rosso was yelling angrily at someone. And was that a burnt out and overturned cart on the side of the road just up ahead of the group?
"Step out from the cart" yelled Velito Rosso, with no response.
"We see you there, step out" yelled Velito Rosso again.
Three arrows arced up from behind the cart and plunged down around Velito Rosso. One ricocheted of Abellinut Ugwistan's armour, a new set of studded leather noticed Geryon, and then Abellinut Ugwistan drew his sword and charged.
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| Merkel takes an arrow |
Four more arrows arced up from behind the cart. Merkel slowed briefly as one arrow smashed clean through his leather armour and pierced his chest. [A critical hit and 11 points of damage] Another struck Abellinut Ugwistan in the arm. A third hit the thigh of one of the three guards, while the fourth arrow fell to the ground in front of them all.
YES, thought Geryon, BEAUTIFUL CARNAGE!
Geryon watched delightedly through Victor Koshenko's eyes as the charging figures engaged with five sturdy looking guards in the livery of Corduba. YES, he thought, SLAUGHTER THEM ALL.
But after just one flurry of strikes, Abellinut Ugwistan yelled out.
"Halt" he called, and everyone stepped back from the battle.
Everyone except for Merkel that is.
Merkel continued to fight, swinging wildly at one of the Corduba guards.
YES, thought Geryon, TAKE HIM DOWN.
But it was not to be. Merkel took a light blow on the shoulder and collapsed to the ground unconscious.
The fight was over, no slaughter, no carnage, and only one figure on the ground.
Geryon watched from Victor Koshenko's position at the back of the party as emotional words were spoken between Abellinut Ugwistan and the Corduban officer. Hands were shaken, First Aid was administered, and Merkel awoke.
OH BOTHER, thought Geryon.
Shortly after, a Corduban rider hastened off back along the track towards Corduba,
Then the Corduban guards tentatively approached and peered at the Spear.
GO ON, TOUCH IT, Geryon hoped.
"Donna touch it" exclaimed Velito Rosso, waving his arms expressively.
"It-a make-a you evil" he continued.
Geryon quietly fumed, but unfortunately, he could only watch.
His influence over Victor Koshenko was minimal at best. If only Victor Koshenko had held the Spear for longer, but alas, it had been a very cautious handling with cloth wrapping and ropes.
And Brave Jose hadn't even touched the Spear directly, just via the ropes. But that had been enough to plant a seed into Brave Jose's subconscious mind. With such limited contact, only minor subliminal influence could be exerted, and only while their will was supressed. While sleeping for example, or seriously injured. But if someone actually grasped the wooden Spear, then a proper influence might be exerted.
"Is this the Spear that the witches were carrying when they burnt down Corduba?" asked the leader of the guards.
"Si si, but it OK, we-a kill all dose witches" boasted Velito Rosso.
"Now we take-a dis Spear to da Church in Corduba" Velito Rosso continued.
"You can't do that!" exclaimed the guard.
_________________________________
Meanwhile, up ahead in Corduba, Luigi had been lounging up the bell-tower of the Nicene Church Our Lady of Shining Grace (Nuestra Senora de la Gracia Brillante) where they had taken refuge with the disguised Lady Florinda and her minimal accompaniment of two ladies-in-waiting (Lady Isabella de Arvandus and Lady Elvira Juliana).
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| The miltia left Corduba |
"Elena, please follow those soldiers and see what is happening" Luigi politely asked.
[Elena is the NPC woman picked up in Astigi, and had been the handmaid of the personal guards of the Beggar King there. She had been "rescued" and had been most helpful to the party in the Undercity of Astigi]
She was soon back and reported to Luigi that the soldiers were heading down the river path towards a cluster of people some two kilometres from the city. It looked like there were a bunch of nuns being restrained there, and various guards. "I think it is the rest of your group" she surmised.
Some thirty minutes later, a rider flashed through the city gates and rode at haste for the Cathedral of Corduba, the Sanctuary of Luminous Virtue.
"Now why would they be summoning the Arian Church?" wondered Luigi.
"Ah, perhaps they need the Bishop" he thought.
"It must be the Spear!" he concluded.
Fifteen minutes later a large ornate and gilded coach rumbled out through the city gates, accompanied by a flat-bed wagon and a troop of white-clad church guard.
"He he" chuckled Luigi, "That will be interesting. So glad we are here in the city already."
Thirty minutes later Luigi spotted Velito bustling through the city gate, looking around in confusion.
"Elena, please pop down to the city gate and fetch Velito back here" Luigi politely asked.
She was soon back, Velito in tow.
"Is everyone OK? asked Luigi.
"Si si, everyone-a fine. Well, maybe not-a Merkel, he-a not listen and fall-a over"
"But, more important" continues Velito, "You not-a believe what happen".
_________________________________
Geryon watched on through Victor Koshenko's eyes as the Corduban militia arrived and Centurion Ricardo questioned Abellinut Ugwistan about the whereabouts of the Lady Florinda.
"Is the Lady Florinda not travelling with you?" Centurion Rodrigo asked.
"Nope" grunted Abellinut Ugwistan.
"Well, where is she then?" continued Centurion Rodrigo.
"Dunno" grunted Abellinut Ugwistan.
"What do you mean? Don't you know where she is?"
"Nope"
"Well then, you won't mind if we make a quick search?"
"Nope"
The Corduban militia spread out and conducted a search of the party and the ladies' tent for Lady Florinda.
"Are these ladies not then the ladies-in-waiting of the Lady Florinda?" asked Centurion Rodrigo.
"Ah... what? replied Abellinut Ugwistan.
"Are these the Lady Florinda's ladies-in-waiting?"
"Ah... yes"
"Well, where is the Lady Florinda?"
"Dunno"
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| The Spear of Geryon |
"Si si, but is OK, we-a kill all dose witches" boasted Velito Rosso.
"Now we take-a dis Spear to da Church in Corduba" Velito Rosso continued.
"You can't do that!" exclaimed Centurion Rodrigo.
"Si si, the Church destroy it and-a banish all it evil"
HA, chuckled Geryon to himself, LET THEM TRY.
"Why you not-a bring da Bishop already?" Velito Rosso boldly asked the Centurion.
"That's a good question" muttered Centurion Rodrigo.
Immediately thereafter a horseman was dispatched towards Corduba, and everyone settled down to wait.
Geryon rubbed his hands together in anticipation every time one of the militia drifted inquisitively close to the Spear.
"No no, you no touch-a" Velito Rosso yelled every time, "It-a make you much-a evil"
I WILL KILL HIM, fumed Geryon.
If just one of them ever got close enough and touched it, Geryon could potentially capture his mind and influence him to wield the Spear and kill Velito Rosso, and all of them. Geryon grinned. He was patient, he had waited centuries already, what was a few more hours, days, or even weeks. Nothing, that's what. But now would be better!
Geryon let his focus slide away from Victor Koshenko; nothing would happen there for a few hours he figured, he would check some of his other prospects and make sure they were heading in the correct paths. Focussing his attention to another thread of consciousness, Geryon commandeered the senses of his Toledo prospect. His eyes opened to the stately walls of King Roderic's castle in Toledo.
_________________________________
Able was watching the river track when a large ornate and gilded coach trundled into sight some hours later. Following the coach were a squad of white liveried soldiers, with a flat-bed wagon bringing up the rear. All the Corduban militia leapt to attention and formed a short honour guard on each side of the track.
The coach pulled up just in front of Able, and an extremely fat and richly dressed gentleman squeezed out through the door of the coach, assisted by three sturdy coachmen, and waddled across towards the Spear.
"Is this it then?" he asked, reaching out to touch the Spear.
"No no" screamed Velito, leaping in front of the man, "You no touch-a that, it-a make you evil!"
Drawing back his hand, Bishop (fatty fatty) Javier Scumeritso looked up at Velito disdainfully.
"Is this the witches' Spear?" he repeated.
"Si si, but-a you no touch-a. It-a very evil, it-a capture your soul-a"
The fat bishop looked over his shoulder at the wagon.
"Sister Sylvia" he commanded, "Come!"
A stunning vision of loveliness gracefully disembarked the coach and swayed sexily across to the bishop.
"Go hold the Spear" he commanded.
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| Victor dives at Sister Sylvia |
Velito was so awed by the scrumptious sister Sylvia that he forgot to protest.
Velito, Victor, and Able all stood with open mouths as sister Sylvia sashayed across to the Spear, bent forward with her skimpy nun's habit stretching tightly across a firm and deliciously rounded derrière, and grasped the shaft.
As her eyes began to glow, she whispered "I do love a firm shaft"
It was Victor that recovered first. With a quick shake of his head, he dived forward and bowled the scrumptious sister Sylvia to the ground. Initially landing on top of her, he made sure the Spear had been knocked out of her hand and then gently assisted her to her feet.
"My apologies Sister" he stuttered, "You should not touch that thing!"
The fat bishop interrupted, "What did you see?"
"Fire, Flames, Torment, Deviants" she moaned.
"Si si" interjected Velito, "It-a evil, you must-a destroy it"
"Well, we definitely cannot take it into the city" exclaimed the fat bishop.
"Si si, you keep-a it safe-a somewhere else and destroy it-a good" Velito confirmed.
"We will definitely work to destroy it" agreed the fat bishop.
"But sooo much power" he quietly whispered to himself.
"Luigi know all-a about dis Spear" stated Velito, "You-a ask him, he-a tell you"
"Who is this Luigi?" queried the fat bishop.
"Luigi is-a great Nicene brother" replied Velito, "He-a in the city of Corduba, just up-a dere"
Victor and BJ assisted the guards as they loaded the Spear carefully on the flat-bed wagon, using the ropes, and secured it down onto the bed of the wagon. Velito made sure the ladies were all safe, and then hurried off to Corduba in advance of the rest of the group, "To-a find-a Luigi" he called out as he left.
The much-enlarged group then proceeded towards Corduba. The Corduban militia led the way, followed by the fat bishop's entourage, and then our main group including the ladies, the Lady Florinda's few remaining guards, and the rest of us. Able brought up the rear.
The flat-bed wagon stopped just short of the city gates, and the fat bishop assigned a number of church guards to protect the wagon while he arranged matters in the city. Everyone else files through the city gates and into Corduba. Inside the gates, we found Velito, Fabius, and Luigi waiting for us to arrive.
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| Bishop (fatty fatty) Javier Scumeritso |
"Where is the Lady Florinda? asked the fat bishop, his head popping out of the coach's window.
"Ah" replied Luigi, "Of that I am not exactly certain"
"Follow me" he commanded, "We go to the Cathedral. I have questions"
Everyone followed the fat bishops coach to the Arian Cathedral, the Sanctuary of Luminous Virtue, where Luigi explained the whole history of his association with the Spear, well slightly edited and embellished to maintain our good name and reputation. Starting at the church in Gades, the strange occurrences and seeming possessions, miraculous revelations, poisonings, the Spear found in the church well, religious persecution, our role to protect the great Lady Florinda of Septum, mysterious powers, lightning and flame strikes, and not to forget, Saint Vanker of the Mince.
"Great power indeed!" drooled the fat bishop, unconsciously rubbing his hands together.
The fat bishop packed us off after that. The Arian members of the party, excluding Lady Florinda who still was in hiding, stayed at the Cathedral and were assigned quarters. Fabius and Luigi headed back to their Nicene church, but wisely decided to stop in at a different church (Our Lady of Blooming Virtue) so Velito could check for followers. Velito discretely followed them and noted two church guards also following them, and quietly let Fabius know. Fabius and Luigi begged sanctuary in the church and stayed for the night. Fabius kindly sent out supper for the two guards after sunset. "I feel sorry for them" he commented.
Velito slipped away out the back to communicate with all the dispersed members of the party, and eventually made his way back to the Shining Grace church where Hawk-eye and the undercover Lady Florinda were staying.
A mid-day gathering of the party was planned for the following day, and Velito made sure all the party knew where and when, and that everyone should be aware of the fat bishop's watchers.
The night passed uneventfully, although Victor and BJ discover that they both had suffered from a similar nightmare. From a birds-eye vantage they had both witnessed the flat-bed wagon, still holding the Geryon Spear, parked up inside the walls of an old stone castle. Strange red lights flickered and pulsed from the Spear, and distorted skeletal figures danced around the Spear on top of the bed of the wagon.
"It must mean something" whispered BJ to Victor.
"And nothing good either" confirmed Victor.
Thes strange nightmares were shared with the fat bishop.
"The Spear has been secured in the old Manse outside of town" he responded.
"But, you best take one of my men and get down there for a look" he commanded.
And off they went, a white clad church Centurion in tow.
One hour later they arrived at the Manse, which looked exactly like the one from the nightmare.
Passing under the arch in the perimeter walls, they spotted the wagon, sitting in the centre of the courtyard, just like in the nightmare. But there were no strange figures, the wagon looked fine, the Spear was still strapped down to the deck, and the two guards were alert and well back from the wagon. No red or glowing eyes! Phew, false alarm!
So, back to Corduba to report to the fat bishop. Who made them all take a Holy Water bath, "just in case".
Around midday, the party gathered from their respective places of dwelling to the Aquatic Oasis, an Inn located somewhat central in the Corduba business district, for a discussion regarding their next steps. Much was said, but in the end it was decided that Lady Florinda would be consulted as to what her plans were, and we would support those plans. Velito and Fabius were sent to inquire of Lady Florinda.
Being aware of the likelihood of church watchers, Velito scouted around the Lady's Shining Grace church and spotted watchers both at the front and at the rear of the church. Wanting to keep the Lady's location hidden from the church watchers, Velito devised a plan to distract the watcher at the rear so Fabius could slip in.
"You!" yelled Velito in his best parade ground voice.
"You are supposed to be hidden back here, not lounging about being obvious"
"Even I could spot your pathetic attempt. You'll be on a charge you slacker!"
Then he turned and ran.
The watcher started after him, and Fabius slipped inside, unnoticed.
The Lady Florinda wanted to get to la Real y Rolliza Universidad Visgótica de Corduba (the Royal Corduban Visigothic University), "to study there for a period". Apparently, her lodgings were already booked at the residences there, and she would be happy to slip in using an alias. Perfect.
As Fabius, joined by Velito who had slipped the watcher in the nearby streets, left the church, the two church guards out the front didn't even give then a glance.
"Only looking out for the Lady then" concluded Fabius.
Reporting back to the party at the Aquatic Oasis, plans were developed to scout out the University the next day, and then plan an appropriate way to get Lady Florinda there and settled in.
"Who at the University is she to report to?" asked Sister Sarah.
"Um, I didn't ask" replied Fabius embarrassedly.
That night, Victor and BJ both had another common nightmare. Very similar to the previous night they saw the Spear resting on the wagon in the courtyard of the old Manse, but this time there were only two figures dancing on the wagon and cackling. And it was them! Victor and BJ were on the wagon dancing around the Spear.
"What about the scrumptious Sister Sylvia?" wondered Victor, "She touched the Spear too"
Sure enough, the scrumptious Sister Sylvia had had the same nightmare where she had been dancing naked on the back of the wagon in the courtyard of the old Manse.
"Wish I had been there" drooled Victor.
Fabius was sent off to see Lady Florinda again, and this time actually find out who and where she was expecting to meet at University. Which he did. The Rector Pablo Cassals at the University Registry! He should be expecting Lady Florinda and two of her ladies-in-waiting. All the others would need to be released, or freed in the case of the slave girls. Appropriate funds were obtained from Lady Florinda to take care of all that business.
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| The river gate to the Royal Corduban Visigothic University |
"Bring her to the river gate by boat" suggested Rector Pablo, "It's much more discreet"
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