Re: The NEW Vanguard TEAM UP! Haunt Issue #14 with special guest star Steeplejack!

DavidMcMahon Sat Mar 18 2023, 21:21

Admin wrote:
OOC Sorry I was waiting for Dave to reply as the questions seemed in character but from a mechanics point of view Haunt uses Dex to attack with and doesn't get his usual mountain of dice to roll because his Weaponry Skill applies only to melee weapons. If he wants to use that he needs to get up close and personal (and close to that acid).

I'll see if I can move this on later on. Work are busting my butt a little this week with long shifts

So flying drill machine into the stomach sounds the best way to go, of course, psych trauma will pile up but that's after he gets his buddy in the monster's stomach. tongue

Steeple_jackuk Mon Mar 20 2023, 12:26

DavidMcMahon wrote:
Admin wrote:
OOC Sorry I was waiting for Dave to reply as the questions seemed in character but from a mechanics point of view Haunt uses Dex to attack with and doesn't get his usual mountain of dice to roll because his Weaponry Skill applies only to melee weapons. If he wants to use that he needs to get up close and personal (and close to that acid).

I'll see if I can move this on later on. Work are busting my butt a little this week with long shifts

So flying drill machine into the stomach sounds the best way to go, of course, psych trauma will pile up but that's after he gets his buddy in the monster's stomach.

OOC: I'm good with this, just hope Haunt won't crumble

Sj

Admin Sat Mar 25 2023, 09:04

OOC Long overdue update for this. Sorry about the delay chaps, this week has been a grind. I'm away next week in Lanzarote but expect to be able to update several times (bringing laptop). Only thing I won't have access to is the character creation program unless I bring the old battered laptop I'm posting on which is still an option.

Haunt formed into a kind of 'drill' machine, complete with tracks and rotating screw drill.

"Amazing." muttered Holmes with hand on chin. "Every time I see you use your powers I am reminded that despite all of the wonders of the world there are many more we know nothing about."

"What can we do?" asked Savage. "Our weapons are useless against that thing. Even high explosives would be laughed off."

Starky scowled. "Don't I know it! I've been jury rigging stuff together that could flatten an elephant and this thing pops elephants into its mouth without touching the sides!"

Mina spoke up. "If our friends here cannot achieve our aims with their plan, it falls to us to find some other way."

Anjali added "Captain Nemo may have the resources and scientific know how to create a weapon that can stop such a creature."

As they watched the thing - now twice or more larger than the castle - thrashed about and smashed a huge chunk of the castles stone walls away with just a swing!

"Good luck." stated Holmes. "If this fails... you will not be forgotten!" he said, offering a hand to shake of Steeplejack and Haunt.

The others added their own handshakes or hugs, even Mina who seemed reluctant to avoid human contact for fear it would trigger the blood lust.

OOC The normal method of combat is to line up a fist and let go with a critical blow or devastating attack against such a creature (which is easy to hit but hard to damage). However this may require a more ... subtle... approach. Perhaps a Critical Blow and a Trick Shot to aim at a specific part.

Where are you aiming? That will affect the difficulty and may also cause the creature to notice you and attack!

This one is on Haunt. The acid bath and surviving long enough to apply the grail enchanted water will be up to Steeplejack. Obviously if the creature gets too close to Haunt he's going to freak out because Flashbacks...

DavidMcMahon Mon Mar 27 2023, 15:30

The abdomen is probably the weakest spot and where it's stomach is, I hope, so that's where I will be aiming for. So let's crit blow and trick shot it, using any HP I might have left - usually don't - to make it work. If it fails, fallback plan is to get swallowed by it.

Admin Tue Apr 04 2023, 18:00

OOC Hoping (fingers crossed, rabbits foot, four leaf clover, prayer beads etc) my internet holds out enough to update!

Haunt has 181HP so can comfortably throw in a pile of HP to (hopefully) ensure he hits...

CRIT BLOW and TRICK SHOT
AV11 + 5 Dice (cost 40HP) + 7d12+0 11,1,10,6,2,3,10+0 = 20 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 8,9+0 = 37 (48) vs
OV4 + Crit Blow 4 + Trick Shot +4 + Time Dilation 4 + 2d12+0 2,4+0 = 6 (22)

Success +7

EV15 +7 (EV22) vs RV 30 -6 Crit Blow (RV24)=No Damage!

Turning on his tracks Haunt speeds towards the leviathan which now Dwarfs the huge Castle Dracula had once called home...

He took aim at a point on the belly that seemed to be straining at one point. In truth any part of the thing looked as vulnerable as any other - that is to say, impregnable!

The hero launched into the air with a spinning nose/drill and inside that, encased in hardened earth was his friend Steeplejack. This crazy plan just might work ... IF he could pierce the things skin!

He sped along and hit a rise on the earth with a burst of speed... his aim was good! This was going to work, this would...

BOING!

The Octopus like body acted like a trampoline to Haunt as the hero/vehicle sprung off and tumbled through the air!

The creature barely noticed, turning its head at the impact but seeing no threat. At the same time dozens of tentacles grew and stretched out from its body to grasp at cultists. There was no protection by being undead - the creature simply grasped them, squeezed... and they ceased to exist!

Haunt was superhuman agile and formed back into his white humanoid form to land in swampland, sinking into the sludge up to his thighs. In his hands he held the gigantic earth bullet with his friend inside.

Steeplejack punched the tip off, expecting to be inside the creature... and glanced about. Clearly that hadn't gone to plan.

The pair turned to see the vast creature turning slowly, then starting to move...

"It's heading towards the nearest populated settlements, I'd wager my reputation on it!" shouted Holmes as he turned to the others to gather Watson and trudge after the creature. Though 'slow' its strides were over one hundred feet apart and faster than any human could keep up with...

Humans, yes, Superhumans...?

OOC HAUNT is on 141HP

The creature is on the move. It may require a devastating attack to harm this thing. Had that been a Dev Attack last time it would have broken the skin (not much damage but enough to deliver the Steeplejack bullet).

If you attack from the front this thing will get an attack on you!

Steeple_jackuk Tue Apr 04 2023, 20:33

[quote="Admin"][quote]OOC Hoping (fingers crossed, rabbits foot, four leaf clover, prayer beads etc) my internet holds out enough to update!

"It's heading towards the nearest populated settlements, I'd wager my reputation on it!" shouted Holmes as he turned to the others to gather Watson and trudge after the creature. Though 'slow' its strides were over one hundred feet apart and faster than any human could keep up with...

Humans, yes, Superhumans...?

OOC HAUNT is on 141HP

The creature is on the move. It may require a devastating attack to harm this thing. Had that been a Dev Attack last time it would have broken the skin (not much damage but enough to deliver the Steeplejack bullet).

If you attack from the front this thing will get an attack on you!

OOC: [i]OK if help or add HP to the attack then we can do this again, but lets get on with it because that town will only feed this thing and wreck time for generations to come.

Sj

DavidMcMahon Sat Apr 08 2023, 06:18

"Once more into the breech," The Haunt orates. "Stick your head back in. I'm going to try this again. Plan A sub-plan 1. And if it doesn't work THIS time, then it's time for Plan B!"

ooc: Max out everything I can to hit and damage it using HP as well. Plan A, sub-plan 1 is not to go for its stomach but try ... another possible entrance. One a bit lower and at the rear. Just remembered I have a colonoscopy to do this coming September. No reason the monster can't have his earlier than mine! Exclamation

Admin Wed Apr 12 2023, 20:12

OOC Sorry had to chuckle at that! Not something which would pass the comics code authority!

DEV Attack and TRICK SHOT
AV11 + 6 Dice (cost 51HP) 8d12+0 5,5,3,12,3,1,12,1+0 = 24 (BOOM!) Double plus 2d12+0 4,10+0 = 38 (49) vs
OV4 + DEV ATTACK 8 + Trick Shot +4 + Time Dilation 4 + 2d12+0 5,1+0 = 6 (26)

Success +7

EV15 +7 (EV22) vs RV 30 -12 DEV ATTACK (RV18)=4 Damage!

HAUNT ON 90HP

Holmes, genius that he was, deduced what Haunt was up to when the weird white tracked vehicle spun up and crashed/bumped over the marshy ground around and behind the awful leviathan...

"Ladies! I implore you!" he shouted "Cover your eyes!"

Mina and Anjali were both made of stern stuff of course but even they winced as Haunt increased speed and hit a bump, launching through the air to attack from below and behind...

SQUELCH!

Despite the ultra accurate strike and unusual method of entry the Haunt didn't penetrate far (!)

Enough though to 'open' his drill bit and launch the Steeplejack earth shaped suppository (!!!) deep into the creature!

It immediately shrieked and hopped forward, the resultant ground shattering quake enough to collapse the remains of the Castle that had been home to Dracula!

As the adventurers ran for cover from falling rocks the hero inside the bowels (!) of the beast felt the launch forward and collapsed his Earth bullet. It was too dark to see thankfully but the stink was...

=========

Haunt returned to human form and ran over to where the Adventurers were sheltering from falling stones and rocks thrown up by the vast beast and it's earthquake.

That attack had been below the belt (!) and Haunt squirmed a little as he realised that his friend Steeplejack had a messy job now.

Something started to rumble from inside the beast.

"COVER YOUR EARS!" shouted Holmes. "THIS WILL GET LOUD! ...AND MESSY!"

Another 'eruption' went off, this time of a messy, stinking unpleasant kind and the blast was the equivalent of a full force Hurricane! Even forming his body like a wind break Haunt gagged and sagged against the foul stench and staggering wind.

Trees uprooted, rocks the size of cars flew through the air, water and earth tore up all around and the group huddled together with only the efforts of the Haunt to save them!

OOC AV14 +5 Dice + 7d12+0 10,5,3,9,6,5,3+0 = 10 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 4,6+0 = 20 (34) vs
OV12 + Time Dilation 6 + 2d12+0 5,12+0 = 17 (35)

FAILED!

Steeplejack actually fails an acrobatics check!!!

Despite his otherworldy agilty and acrobatic prowess the time dilation once more thwarted Steeplejack as he exploded backwards from the erupting beast! He tumbled through the air, crashed into the floor and rag dolled end over end hundreds of feet away, mixing with earth, water, rocks and... something else.

OOC EV15 + Time Dilation 6 + 2d12+0 3,12+0 = 15 (30) vs
Steeplejack RV 9 + 2d12+0 1,3+0 = 4 (13) Ouch

Success +6

EV21 (incl Time Dilation) vs RV9=12 RAPs

Steeplejack must absorb 4 points (10HP leaving Steeplejack on 32HP) to stay conscious!

There came a rumbling then... a horrible ear shattering gurgling sound and Haunt gathered all up within the folds of his weird and fantastic body and formed an airship, taking off!

He scanned about with telescopic peepers and... there!

Wincing, he swooped the white airship down with the adventurers clinging onto the gondola underneath. Starky, using a jury rigged gas mask spluttered "The smell! It's... it's unearthly!"

"Grab Steeplejack!" spluttered Holmes through a handkerchief. His eyes were streaming and the worlds greatest detective could barely remain conscious due to the overwhelming forces assaulting the senses!

With a shock wave building, the growling/gurgling sound grew louder and louder...

Savage reeled but was made of stern stuff and unwrapped the rope crossed across his chest. "GRAB ON!" he yelled whilst gagging...

Covered in... Steeplejack gagged to think what it was ... reeled. He was stunned but alive. Something in his hand was obscured by foulness so he reached up with his other hand. Despite how slippery the... stuff was, the hero grasped the trailing rope and was slurrrrpppped up into the air as the weird white airship flew overhead!

Haunt gained height and distance as quick as he could.

Behind the gurgle had turned into a roar and rumble...

Even the trees and mountains seemed to be shaking as they flew overhead and birds took to the air in a panic.

RummmmbllllleeeeeeROARRRRRRRRRRR!

BOOOOOOOM!

The explosion sent out a shock wave that sent Haunt tumbling end over end! Had he been any closer even he would have felt the blast which went off like the bomb used in World War II...

The Adventurers clung on, Steeplejack being flopped about underneath like a rag in the wind on the end of the rope...

Huge house sized chunks of flesh rained down from the sky and the airship struggled to fight against the blast wave, finally riding it out and nestling in the clouds which had cleared in a circle around the scene of a miles wide crater!

Water rushed in from the nearby river and would go on to form a lake but it would be decades before animals braved the place.

As it was, the Adventurers came to rest with Haunt reforming into his humanoid shape to help Steeplejack who was mostly covered in head to toe with... well, that didn't bear thinking about. The dazed hero coughed, spat something out and wiped himself on the grass as the others looked on, handkerchiefs over mouths at the sun breaking over distant mountains and showing the devastating basin/crater that would over weeks fill to be a vast new lake.

The stinking foul flesh and other... stuff... would in time fade but this would be a no go zone for animal or human for years.

Still... it was done.

Haunt helped Steeplejack up and the hero wiped the sludge and slime from the object still grasped in his hand - the Holy Grail.

They'd done it.

ADVENT had been thwarted, presumably Moriarty and his cronies had been caught in the blast and the world had been saved from the threat of a beast which weapons could not harm, which would devour every soul it had come across and almost bested the efforts of the time travelling heroes.

"We need to celebrate." coughed Holmes. "By taking a bath." he spluttered. "Then we'll head home, get that cup back to where it belongs..."

Admin Wed Apr 12 2023, 20:19

OOC Probably the most unusual post I've ever written for any game! Novel solution but... messy. Don't remember reading about that in any comic book!

it took all my (limited) time (I'm about to go to work on another night shift) so your other update (for Ultrahumans) be tomorrow, sorry. I do try and update every day but time is the enemy (and trying to get some sleep, do laundry etc etc blah blah)

Steeple_jackuk Thu Apr 13 2023, 08:39

Admin wrote:
OOC Probably the most unusual post I've ever written for any game! Novel solution but... messy. Don't remember reading about that in any comic book!

it took all my (limited) time (I'm about to go to work on another night shift) so your other update (for Ultrahumans) be tomorrow, sorry. I do try and update every day but time is the enemy (and trying to get some sleep, do laundry etc etc blah blah)

OOC: I had meant to write to say, no way - surely not. But matters at home overtook me. But in any case, yes I will absorb damage with HP as suggested and please, please get me to water where I can bathe and wash the grail as well. Then I guess its as fast as Haunt can take us back to Britain and return the Grail to where it belongs. Wow, what a trip it's been so far. Your (ahem) novel solution actually paid off David, well done. Talk about thinking outside the box I don't want to ever talk about this again though

Sj

DavidMcMahon Sat Apr 15 2023, 16:14

It's only after I read you guys' posts that I thought, "Hey! Wait! I could have tried going up his nose instead!" tongue

But then again, he would have seen me coming much easier and have a better shot at stopping me. So .... yeah, not really comics code. Though in manga, they do the two finger blast up the butt a bunch. WOW! I just googled it and it actually has a name!

Kanchō
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Diagram showing how the action is performed
Kanchō (カンチョー) is a prank performed by clasping the hands together in the shape of an imaginary gun and attempting to poke an unsuspecting victim's anus, often while exclaiming "Kan-CHO!".[1] It is a common prank among children in East Asian countries such as Japan.[2] In Korea, it is called ddongchim (Korean: 똥침).[3][4] In China, it is popularly called qiānnián shā (千年殺), which was derived from the jutsu technique in the manga and anime series Naruto, in which it is known as 千年殺し (sennen goroshi, meaning "one thousand years of death"). The word "kanchō" is a slang adoption of the Japanese word for enema (浣腸, kanchō).[5] In accordance with widespread practice, the word is generally written in katakana when used in its slang sense, and in kanji when used for enemas in the medical sense.

In English-speaking countries, the term “goosing” generally refers to a comparatively mild grabbing of the buttocks with the tips of the fingers and thumb in imitation of a harmless bite on the butt from a goose. However, the kanchō prank may also be known as goosing.[3]

Steeple_jackuk wrote:
Admin wrote:
OOC Probably the most unusual post I've ever written for any game! Novel solution but... messy. Don't remember reading about that in any comic book!

it took all my (limited) time (I'm about to go to work on another night shift) so your other update (for Ultrahumans) be tomorrow, sorry. I do try and update every day but time is the enemy (and trying to get some sleep, do laundry etc etc blah blah)

OOC: I had meant to write to say, no way - surely not. But matters at home overtook me. But in any case, yes I will absorb damage with HP as suggested and please, please get me to water where I can bathe and wash the grail as well. Then I guess its as fast as Haunt can take us back to Britain and return the Grail to where it belongs. Wow, what a trip it's been so far. Your (ahem) novel solution actually paid off David, well done. Talk about thinking outside the box I don't want to ever talk about this again though

Sj

Steeple_jackuk Mon Apr 17 2023, 09:24

DavidMcMahon wrote:It's only after I read you guys' posts that I thought, "Hey! Wait! I could have tried going up his nose instead!"
But then again, he would have seen me coming much easier and have a better shot at stopping me. So .... yeah, not really comics code. Though in manga, they do the two finger blast up the butt a bunch. WOW! I just googled it and it actually has a name!

OOC: Too much information Dave ;-)

Sj

Admin Wed Apr 19 2023, 22:57

OOC Been nearly a year since we started this chapter

Dr Watson received a drink from the Grail, no sign of John Carter who was left on the rooftop of the castle as far as I remember - if different please remind me! The castle which was destroyed by the leviathan!

"I can't believe it." muttered Savage as he saw Watson sat on a rock rubbing at his neck and otherwise looking alive and well.

"It's a shame we couldn't get the grail to Carter." said Starky. "Perhaps it might have..."

"He was gone Starky old boy." replied Savage. "There must be limits to even what magic can do..."

=========

Elsewhere....

The red planet earned its name well. John Carter opened his eyes and blinked against the sun, shielding them. Where was...? Of course. Die on Earth wake on Mars. There would be a time limit before he could return and he knew that his friends - the companions with amazing abilities - would prevail. At least he hoped so. He'd obviously paid the ultimate price and been reborn on Mars. Again.

It would niggle at him, needle him. It would be galling and perhaps he would never know what happened. With a sigh he climbed to his feet, made sure everything worked and looked about. First things first.

The White Apes thundering towards him had detected him somehow and thought to have a quick easy meal! He grinned. Hoping his companions had triumphed and achieved their goal, he gave a salute in what he thought was the direction of Earth and turned, leaping away with gigantic distances covered as he headed towards the mountains! He was a long way from home and his beloved Princess. His new friends on Earth would be fine - somehow he knew it - but he himself would find it a struggle to get home in one piece! He grinned anyway. This was life! He was alive and whilst he was he would always fight and enjoy himself whilst he did, for all life was a fight and only when you surrendered did you truly lose!

=========

The white airship drifted above the clouds.

Haunt (the airship) maintained a speed which would have been unthinkable for such a craft in the day but still the journey would take hours upon hours to get back to France then cross the channel as a boat. The timeline would be ruined completely if people were to comment on white airships that sped across the sky almost as fast as a jet liner!

The companions were 'aboard' in the gondola below the heroes air balloon and enjoying the ride. With wounds patched up and food in their bellies as well as having taken the time to bathe and wash clothes, they felt human again.

Mina sat apart, distraught at her nature and what she'd done. She'd suggested that she drink from the grail, to 'cure' her but Holmes had frowned, suggesting instead that it would destroy her due to her dark nature. Even then she'd offered to drink from the thing despite being unable to look at it and feeling repelled. Something about her ultimately helping to recover the Grail had 'bought her a pass' with the magical nature that kept creatures of darkness at bay but it wouldn't last.

Steeplejack and Haunt had a decision to make about the Vampire. Let her leave the group and make her own way in the world or destroy her, and end her cursed existence once and for all. As heroes they sat uncomfortably with the choice but as she wasn't truly alive did that mean their consciences would be clear? Thinking of all the potential victims of her bloodlust that they might save?

Anjali had requested to be dropped back to where Nemo and his crew would take her back on board. She'd adventured in the world at large and would have takes to tell the others but needed to find her own way. Until that moment being back on the Nautilus is what she preferred to do.

Starky and Savage had contributed in their own ways but even the weird and wonderful steampunk inventions of Starky had been of no effect against the huge creature. Both were relieved to have survived the experience and would remember the quest until their dying days, hopefully many years in the future.

Watson and Holmes were speaking quietly to one another and the great friends would soon present the Grail back to her majesty the Queen to be taken once more into safe keeping. The magical artefact would protect the realm of Britain from the likes of Vampires, Werewolves and dark sorcery for decades to come. They weren't to know about the 'Great War' in 1914 and how that would lead on to the Spanish Flu. Perhaps the Grail in situ might help protect the realm, or not, but it was better in its resting place than with Moriarty.

The villain must have perished in the castle but Holmes had his doubts. He had allied himself with great, dark powers and as a result nothing was assured. He had failed though - the heroes had the grail and were heading back to England.

The airship chugged on through the night sky...

OOC Feel free to add any other posts, last one from me upcoming in a day or two and there might yet be a twist in the tale...

Steeple_jackuk Mon Apr 24 2023, 11:09

[quote="Admin"]The airship chugged on through the night sky...

OOC Feel free to add any other posts, last one from me upcoming in a day or two and there might yet be a twist in the tale...

Steeplejack was pleased to have washed off the filth of the creature he had been forced to dispatch in unconventional terms. It didn't bear thinking about, the smell would live on for sometime. But now they had the chance to relax, his mind turned back to England and a certain young English Rose, Penelope he'd grown quiet drawn to. He had to wonder what future they had, or indeed did she have or could have with him?

Her presence remaining in England had in someway restrained evil, and in the light of the grail's absence made some difference. But it remained the case that the Alien collective that they were facing, had not given up. He wondered where next they'd be taken to face them and how close they'd be to getting home? Could he bring Penelope with him, should he? With no real powers of her own save something supernatural, would bringing her forward change the timeline, and worse cause her to be put in harms way?

Steeplejack continued to mull these thoughts over...

Sj

Admin Tue May 02 2023, 15:45

OOC Aside from long work shifts had my son all (long) weekend and a work reunion (25 years driving trains!) so it kind of threw my plans out somewhat. On top of that I needed to read through past posts to pick up on some of the names of characters you have encountered seeing as it's more or less three years since we started this time travelling caper... Hopefully I haven't messed any details up!

On the shore of France the group gathered.

The chill night air only affected some of them. Others were beyond mere heat and cold and it was they who conversed now whilst Holmes, Watson, Savage and Starky hopped about to stay warm.

Mina Harker, Vampire, looked out across the English Channel at night. The Airship/Haunt had travelled high up, sticking to cloud cover where possible and where not he had altered his appearance to copy the sky above them. Anyone looking up might have seen a 'ripple' but would have doubted their eyes!

Holmes raised an eyebrow at the statement Mina had made.

"You cannot return to England and so... you wish to be 'released'? Madame you are not, and never were, our prisoner!" said Holmes.

"Already with the Grail close to its 'home' I feel its power repelling me sir." said Mina. "Once on those shores the power will increase until it is back in the hands of the Monarch. From there its power will be undeniable and will repulse me for the damned blood sucking leech that I am!"

"Holmes!" spluttered Watson. "We cannot possibly release this... this thing to wander of its own accord!"

"Have a care sir!" said Savage. "She is a lady, and a companion!"

Watson winced. "I... misspoke, but she is no longer the charming young woman of her life previous, I bear the marks of that!" he said, pulling aside his collar.

"No you do not old chap. Drinking from the Grail saw to that!" said Starky.

Watson felt at his neck and harrumphed. "Nonetheless we all know of Miss Harkers nature! She will feed, MUST feed, in order to continue her damned existence!" he added.

Holmes frowned, chin in hand. "She has the charm that Madame Constance and Mr Lucas (Thoth) gave her. That will keep her vampire nature in check, no? Tell me madame, must it be of human kind that you prey on or are there ... lesser... creatures that you can use for sustenance?"

"Holmes!" spluttered Watson. "You cannot mean to free the ... the... thing!"

Savage bristled but as a gentleman he was honour bound to stay his tongue and fists. However he spoke again. "Twice now you have spoken out of turn my good Doctor. I am aware you bear grievance against the lady and it is perhaps justified to some extent but manners are all! You will look back upon this evening with shame in days to come!"

Watson reddened and nodded, shamed. He turned away, then back with a sigh. "I misspoke. Not once but twice. My sincere apologies Ma'am. I feel that it is our responsibility to ... to cure you madame..."

"There is only one cure for what I am." said Mina, looking at the Doctor then at everyone else.

"I intend to return to the Nautilus." said Anjali. "I could... ask his highness Prince Dakkar (Nemo) to accommodate her?"

Starky laughed out loud. "The worlds most powerful fighting vessel overrun by Vampires? I suppose given what we have encountered I shouldn't be surprised!"

"I would not!" started Mina.

"I am ... not of your kind." said Anjali. "Madame Mina would not be able to ... sup... of us as she might the rest of you."

"What then would happen to her?" asked Savage.

"Captain Nemo has made it his lifes work to purge Pirates from the ocean. Against those... for whom death is the only meaningful punishment... there would be a nigh on limitless supply of..."

"Enough!" said Watson. "All this talk of leeching blood from the living unsettles me!"

Holmes patted his friend on the shoulder and turned to Nick Carter and John Gibbs. "What say you my friends? We have the Grail on the cusp of return to the shores of England and then only hours to the safe keeping at the palace, assuming that Colonel James Beauregard DeHavilland (formerly a Lore Knight) has made arrangements for it to be more... secure this time."

Aside from the forces of darkness there was also the matter of the Order of Protective Sorcerers (OOPS) that wanted to take and use the Grail 'for the greater good'. Haunt and Steeplejack had bested a team of them but they must surely know, surely feel the return of the Grail was close.

Technically they were on the same side but factions inside that secretive organisation would have their own agenda that might not align with the country of Great Britain and her vast Commonwealth!

Mina turned to Haunt and Steeplejack. "What say you gentlemen? The only cure for me is death - true death by sunlight! You two have the power to make it so. We are less than an hour from the golden orbs rise. My fate lies in your hands!"

DavidMcMahon Tue May 02 2023, 23:06

"You know, I've heard that vampires don't have souls, they are just undead bodies brought back to life with most of their memories of their past life but committed to feeding and not caring about right or wrong of their actions," the Haunt puts in, stretching his head down to converse with everyone more comfortably. "The way you are agonizing over your fate makes me think that bit of vampire lore isn't totally correct. So I'm going out on a limb here and say you have a soul just as much as the rest of us do. So killing you isn't something I will agree to right now. If I ever catch you killing and drinking the blood of the innocent or infecting them or anyone with vampirism, then ... that option may have to be looked at more closely."

"I'm also not a fan of suicide. Believe it is wrong to do that. God gives each of us a certain number of days to live. We can't extend that number but we can use our Free Will to curse God and choose to shorten the number of days HE allocated to us. And I had many a suicidal thought when Advent had captured, tortured and experimented on me for over a year! It was that belief that suicide is wrong, that it's giving up something precious, that helped keep me mostly sane and willing to continue to live, until I was finally rescued. So I'm not going to support you going out and standing in the sun and turn to dust."

"I honestly don't know what our options are here. I have one very crazy idea though. Maybe it is suicide, maybe it isn't. I hope it isn't because that would mean I assisted you in suicide, something I think is akin to committing murder."

Hard to tell his facial expression with his full mask on, even his eyes are covered in white. But the more perceptive can tell he is uncomfortable with what he is about to say, grappling with something in him, as well as uncomfortable discussing his spiritual/religious beliefs.

"Have you thought of praying? Confessing your sins to God? Begging for his forgiveness and asking for salvation? Accepting the salvation HE offers to everyone of us? If you really and truly do so in your heart of hearts and not just pay lip service or try to bargain with God then, I think, no I believe, HE will forgive you."

He pauses a bit.

"And then, maybe just maybe, you drink from the Cup. We know it has great healing properties. Even can bring back the recent dead. So maybe it would cure you of your curse."

"It's all I can think of right now."

He pulls his back up into his blimp form though still listening to the others.

Steeple_jackuk Wed May 03 2023, 08:06

DavidMcMahon wrote:"You know, I've heard that vampires don't have souls, they are just undead bodies brought back to life with most of their memories of their past life but committed to feeding and not caring about right or wrong of their actions," the Haunt puts in, stretching his head down to converse with everyone more comfortably. "The way you are agonizing over your fate makes me think that bit of vampire lore isn't totally correct. So I'm going out on a limb here and say you have a soul just as much as the rest of us do. So killing you isn't something I will agree to right now. If I ever catch you killing and drinking the blood of the innocent or infecting them or anyone with vampirism, then ... that option may have to be looked at more closely."

"I'm also not a fan of suicide. Believe it is wrong to do that. God gives each of us a certain number of days to live. We can't extend that number but we can use our Free Will to curse God and choose to shorten the number of days HE allocated to us. And I had many a suicidal thought when Advent had captured, tortured and experimented on me for over a year! It was that belief that suicide is wrong, that it's giving up something precious, that helped keep me mostly sane and willing to continue to live, until I was finally rescued. So I'm not going to support you going out and standing in the sun and turn to dust."

"I honestly don't know what our options are here. I have one very crazy idea though. Maybe it is suicide, maybe it isn't. I hope it isn't because that would mean I assisted you in suicide, something I think is akin to committing murder."

Hard to tell his facial expression with his full mask on, even his eyes are covered in white. But the more perceptive can tell he is uncomfortable with what he is about to say, grappling with something in him, as well as uncomfortable discussing his spiritual/religious beliefs.

"Have you thought of praying? Confessing your sins to God? Begging for his forgiveness and asking for salvation? Accepting the salvation HE offers to everyone of us? If you really and truly do so in your heart of hearts and not just pay lip service or try to bargain with God then, I think, no I believe, HE will forgive you."

He pauses a bit.

"And then, maybe just maybe, you drink from the Cup. We know it has great healing properties. Even can bring back the recent dead. So maybe it would cure you of your curse."

"It's all I can think of right now."

He pulls his back up into his blimp form though still listening to the others.

OOC: Go, Dave, never thought of this...but the point you made about a soul is a well-founded one. Those who are most likely to be in hell are those who feel they've a right to heaven, without ever asking just assuming it's a given. That Mina has agonised and shown remorse is itself incredible. Maybe she isn't all vampire, maybe she isn't all dead. She isn't a creature of instinct - in which case killing her would be taking someone made in the image of God. Steeplejack, unlike me, isn't opposed to this but isn't sure what he believes in this dept, unlike me. The curse of vampirism being a curse, is something that Jesus died to save people from - all curses when He became a curse for us Galatians chp 3 v13. So that through faith in Him, those who were doomed to die, (suffering the effect of the curse) will now live (though differently since this body still decays - hence resurrection) forever. In other words, what we were due, Christ received, in order that through Him, what we receive is what He was due. Moreover, it's likely Mina was or had at least some Christian faith being of the period she is in. She is a victim of another's sinful charm, not of her own volition. So within the context of this world, it's entirely possible she could be 'cured' and restored. Like Lazarus brought back from the dead, only not yet resurrected - but this way she will die a 'normal' death awaiting the resurrection with us all.

Steeplejack scratched his head, this was all new to him in some ways and way beyond what he might have remembered from Sunday School when his dad insisted he goes to the local Baptist church down the road. But Haunt had a good point, unlike the creatures he killed in that pit who were full of blood lust and were beyond reason, Mina has shown remorse, and contrition, she had agonised about herself and hated what she'd become. In other words, she had shown her own sorrow. Moreover, the whole thing with vampires was that a crucifix could ward them off and the grail with its associated power linked to Jesus. There clearly is power in the grail and there is power in the cross. As has been demonstrated so often in this time.

Steeplejack still unsure said "Mina I don't know if Haunt is right, but you have shown a side to vampires I didn't know existed. Whatever the grail does to evil, it might do to you. But if its power comes from Christ and God is merciful, then maybe it will work to cure you, not kill you. Or at least relieve you of the terrible curse you are under. Either way, could it be any worse. But its your choice, if you lack the conviction to go for this then I would say taking up with Nemo might be your best option otherwise. But we'll not harm you, you've proven to be a worthy ally. Even, dare I say, a friend.

Sj

Admin Fri May 05 2023, 00:27

With tears brimming her eyes, Mina sniffed a little then nodded.

She spent time in silent prayer, wanting to hold onto a cross offered by Starky but unable to, the Vampire nature of her being reacting with fear and loathing in equal measure at the holy symbol. When she'd finished, she turned to the group and stood up straight. "I will drink from the Grail my friends!" she declared.

Savage moved forward. "Now hold on a minute! The Grail is an unknown power! We should not so lightly use such a ..."

Holmes calmed the fellow with a gentle hand on the shoulder. "Our heroic friends from ... far off places... make a good and valid point and the decision is the ladies, surely?"

Savage raised an eyebrow at that

(OOC Remember we are in the late 1800s here...)

but didn't argue.

With Watson pouring water from trembling hands into the cup he offered it to the Vampire. "For what it's worth lady, I don't blame you for what you did to me. This accursed nature that has befallen you seems wholly to rest on the shoulders of that fiend Dracula and I hope that he is buried deep within the ground ne'er to rise again!" he shuddered.

Mina nodded thanks then took the cup...

Instantly her hands began to sizzle, as if the thing were scorching hot!

Starky moved forward "No! You'll not be able to..."

Again Holmes calmed him and Mina raised the cup to her lips, drinking the water from the Grail.

She gasped! Then she smiled, and her eyes changed from blood red to natural blue, and her skin became pink and rosy cheeked again. Indeed she was a vision of beauty and the men gathered could not help but admire such a lovely woman.

"My friends!" she gasped, looking at the back of her hands and tentatively feeling her now shrunken teeth. "I am saved! I feel a weight has lifted, and distant eyes no longer watch me! It is all thanks to you, and whatever happens now, I can rest in peace knowing that I shall never harm another soul! I am freed!" she sobbed with happiness.

And with that, Mina Harker instantly collapsed into dust and bones, the dress and clothing falling about her.

The cup fell to the ground beside her remains and a wind picked up, blowing the dust away gradually.

Watson reached for the remains of the Vampire but once again Holmes restrained him. "You knew! Youo knew and yet you let her drink from the cup!" spluttered Watson.

"She knew, dear friend. Mina was a smart, intelligent, lovely woman who was afflicted by a curse that could not be cured. This way was painless and gave her soul some release. It also spared countless lives across the span of centuries for the beast within her would not lie quietly within! Sooner or later she would succumb to its insistence and she would be forever damned. Now, now she is at peace, at rest and I hope that she looks down on us and thinks not unkindly, for despite the curse she carried she was one of us and shall always live on in our hearts and in our minds."

"Let us bury her, here on this spot." said Savage, reaching in his pack for a shovel.

"I'll fashion a headstone." said Starky, looking about for a suitable rock to fashion.

=========

Soon after with the sun rising the group said a prayer to the memory of Mina Harker and wished for her happiness in a life beyond her tortured existence.

With that done Haunt fashioned himself into a boat and the group set off across the channel to follow the coat and head towards London, and there, the end of their quest... Anjali had left an hour or so earlier, thanking all for the adventure she'd shared and vanishing beneath the waves to join with the crew of the Nautilus who were a few miles out to see. Her shapechanging abilities made it childs play to grow gills for breathing and webbed hands and feet for swimming.

"Wonders will never cease!" spluttered Watson as they watched her wave and disappear into the English Channel.

OOC More in a day or so - you aren't quite done with the Grail yet!

Steeple_jackuk Tue May 09 2023, 13:42

Admin wrote:"Wonders will never cease!" spluttered Watson as they watched her wave and disappear into the English Channel.

OOC More in a day or so - you aren't quite done with the Grail yet!

OOC: That was unexpected. I guess it might have been appropriate to say a few words. But it seems as if the way Paul wrote it that she got some sort of release. OK lets get this done.

Sj

DavidMcMahon Tue May 09 2023, 19:20

The Haunt, when he gets a chance to get Steeplejack alone leans over and whispers, "Guess we better start thinking of how we are going to go forward in time. The Grail maybe? What about the guy from H.G. Wells' Time Machine novel? Do you think he actually exists?"

ooc: And as we wind down this adventure, in the next 4 to 8 months. Laughing

Where or should I say "When" do we want to go next? WW1, The Pulp Era and run into our pulp heroes or WW2? rabbit

Steeple_jackuk Wed May 10 2023, 14:21

DavidMcMahon wrote:The Haunt, when he gets a chance to get Steeplejack alone leans over and whispers, "Guess we better start thinking of how we are going to go forward in time. The Grail maybe? What about the guy from H.G. Wells' Time Machine novel? Do you think he actually exists?"

ooc: And as we wind down this adventure, in the next 4 to 8 months. Where or should I say "When" do we want to go next? WW1, The Pulp Era and run into our pulp heroes or WW2?

OOC: WW2 sounds like 'fun' more so than WW1 I have to say. And its good pulp fiction. But I am happy to go wherever Paul has us land.

Steeplejack nodded who knew what was ahead of them. But until the grail was back safely the knew they weren't finished here yet.

Sj

Admin Mon May 15 2023, 11:03

The group chugged up the English Channel, albeit slightly faster than a conventional ship might do.

Mindful that any action they take which was out of the ordinary would be seen and catalogued and perhaps change future events the Haunt kept his speed to 'a bit' faster than ships of the time.

Every now and again he would take a good look about with those amazing peepers of his, sending them far and wide like pseudopods and when the coast was clear the ship eased forward, lifting out of the water at times like a speedboat!

Mostly there were fishermen to steer round and the English Channel was a busy shipping lane, so he had to 'behave'.

=========

A few hours later...

The Thames estuary signalled the group were close to home. Time was ticking on but it was hard to tell. A deep, cloying fog hung in the air and gave an eerie feel. Haunt had to give a blast on a self made foghorn but despite all the warnings he blasted out, they passed no other ships when they got close to London.

"Odd. Shouldn't there be more traffic Holmes?" asked Watson.

Holmes nodded, peering into the fog whilst smoking his pipe. "Indeed there should be, my good Watson! Peculiar. Most peculiar." he said, looking about.

The fog got so thick that Haunt was forced to reduced his speed.

Some time later they slowed from their crawl to a speed which drifted up against a jetty. Other boats were here, moored, though they'd passed some adrift in the Thames on the strangely flat water where a tide would normally be.

All were empty, not a soul aboard.

"My dear fellow." suggested Starky under his breath to Haunt. "Do you suppose it would be asking to much of me that you venture out and coral all those boats? They float about like jetsam. Someone will miss them at some point and they will certainly prove a hazard." asked the inventor. He'd already fashioned a pair of thick glass, leather and brass goggles onto a leather cap that allowed him to see heat sources in the fog. He'd reported seeing nothing.

Not even rats.

When he reported it Savage scowled. "We thought something amiss. Now we know it! What deviltry is this?"

Climbing onto solid ground Steeplejack adjusted for a moment and looked about. The Earth gave a reassuring feel to his mind and soul, connection reformed to provide the majority of his abilities once more. He couldn't see any better than anyone else through the fog but his Danger Sense gave him a fraction of a second warning that allowed him to avoid bumping into things with his astonishing reflexes.

Walking along the jetty and onto this section of the docks, the adventurers stuck close by. Holmes and Savage had their revolvers to hand, Watson clutched his medical bag fearfully and Starky adjusted his goggles constantly, advising the others to hold onto his coat tails and follow closely after Steeplejacks lead.

Meanwhile in the Thames Haunt felt about with tentacles from his boat body and snagged astray boats. He'd grabbed three up, two small and one medium, a trawler, and started to head back to the jetty when he (his boat body) bumped into something.

Despite the near zero visibility he noted that it was a body of a man, floating face down in the Thames.

=========

"Ah!" said Starky. "Movement up ahead!" he declared. "People! Several people, though... though it seems they've been hitting the grog rather hard from the way they shamble about!"

Steeplejack peered in that direction but of course he couldn't see.

OOC Danger Sense 10 + 2d12+0 12,2+0 = 14 (24) vs
OV4 + Time Dilation 6 + 2d12+0 10,3+0 = 13 (23)

Success +1

EV10 +1 (EV11) vs RV4 +6 (RV10)=1 RAP

Just enough to tell Steeplejack that there is danger in the fog! Distance wise, some twenty feet and closing slowly, and coming from every direction in front and to the sides!

=========

Haunt stretched a tentacle with an eye out and peered closely at the body.

Then it moved! It reached a hand out, grasping at his tentacle, still face down but turning in the water!

Steeple_jackuk Mon May 15 2023, 12:17

[quote="Admin"]

"Ah!" said Starky. "Movement up ahead!" he declared. "People! Several people, though... though it seems they've been hitting the grog rather hard from the way they shamble about!"

Steeplejack peered in that direction but of course he couldn't see.

OOC Danger Sense 10 + 2d12+0 12,2+0 = 14 (24) vs
OV4 + Time Dilation 6 + 2d12+0 10,3+0 = 13 (23)

Success +1

EV10 +1 (EV11) vs RV4 +6 (RV10)=1 RAP

Just enough to tell Steeplejack that there is danger in the fog! Distance wise, some twenty feet and closing slowly, and coming from every direction in front and to the sides!

OOC: Me thinks the we're facing more of the restless dead!!!

Steeplejack backed to where the others where and indicated in a quiet voice that danger was closing in on them, so they'd best be at the ready.

OOC: I will deploy myself appropriately taking whatever counter measures seem appropriate. If, as I suspect, we are facing off against undead then it might be time to make use of the cup. Perhaps filling it with water to splash about. But in the meantime making ready to create barriers or blast with soil and rock if I need to take offensive action.

Sj

Admin Tue May 16 2023, 13:51

OOC was going to update but will wait for Haunts response so we don't get too far ahead...

DavidMcMahon Sun May 28 2023, 11:12

ooc: Sorry, brain burnout for a bit. Back now.

"Please don't be a zombie. Please don't be a zombie. Please don't be a zombie," The Haunt mutters to himself while he lets go of the smaller of the boats to grab the body grabbing him.
ooc: His body is on stretching defense.

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