DTC, Planar Crossroads and the Taven Grounds, New Lich

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Denthe: *About to put her dead things in the dead things part of the barn*

Heartstone: *comes out of the stable after talking to Ratchet about Shadowwraithe. Sees Denthe* Oh, I was looking for you.

Denthe: Hm? What's up?

Heartstone: I need to find Stoic. Have you seen him?

Denthe: Not lately... I've been mainly exploring the Planar Crossroads....

Heartstone: Ohh. But I need to find him. Will you help me?

Denthe: Sure... Just lemme put Fluffy in the barn... *moves to shove one of her deadthings back into the barn with the rest of her dead things*

Undergoth: *walking towards the Tavern in the distance. He's alone.*

Heartstone: *looks past the tavern and notices the undead. Blinks, recognizes him and runs toward him*

Denthe: Hey, wait up! *hurries after Heartstone, quickening her pace when she sees the Undergoth*

Undergoth: *perks some when he sees them coming* Need help...

Heartstone: Is... *flails as she forgets her brother in law's name again* Is he hurt?

Denthe: Where was Stoic exploring?

Undergoth: Crossroads. Portal. The others scattered without Stoic to control them...

Heartstone: I'll get my horse. *turns to run back to the stable*

Denthe: ... *Wraps her cloak around herself a bit more and heads off. Yes, she left her deadthings, but she suspects that Stoic would appreciate it if his deadthings were rounded back up, and she also figures it will be easier to keep track of only one pack of deadthings*

Undergoth: *looks worried, but follows Denthe.*

Heartstone: *is a sound of galloping as the jeweled winged horse comes running out. She's bridled it and has a dagger, but didn't saddle her mount or stop to put her armor on* The man in the robe is telling Chagrin where I am.

Denthe: *Still has her armor on, and is fully armed* *terse nod, quickens her pace to the point that she's running* The sooner we get there, the better!

Undergoth: *nods at that* Don't like this, not at all...

Heartstone: *to the Undergoth* Do you need a ride, so we can go faster?

Denthe: We'll find him. *Leaving no room for argument. Even with an XP debt, her resolve will not waver.*

Undergoth: *nods to Denthe, then to Heartstone* Faster is better...

Heartstone: *pulls the mare up and offers the Undergoth her hand, fingers wiggling commandingly*

Denthe: Go. I'll meet you there. *Running full-tilt*

Undergoth: *grabs Heartstone's hand, and is pulled up*

Heartstone: *surprisingly strong, and feels strongly of Light. Soon has the undead being seated behind her* *as the mare dances excitedly* Hold on!

Denthe: *Is almost out of sight*

Undergoth: *yes, very much holding on. Might be undead, but falling hurts!*

Heartstone: *trills to the mare and braces herself against the sudden leap and rush of air, and then they're hurtling through the icy skies over the racing Necromancer below them*

Denthe: *Doesn't even look up, issarunnin'!*

Undergoth: *is a clinging! Does NOT like heights!*


Planer Crossroads, some time later


Heartstone: *lands the mare and looses her dagger in its sheath* Where now?

Denthe: *Focusing her energy and trying to locate Stoic's deadthings* Give me a few moments, Heartstone....

Undergoth: That way, that's where the portal opened.

One of Stoic's Crusaders: *over there!*

Random Adventurer: *attacks it!*

Undergoth: O.O *hide on Heartstone now!*

Denthe: *calling the Crusader over to her, intends to deal with the adventurer personally* *And eeesh, she's even more creepy when she uses her abilities than normal, isn't she?*

Heartstone: *looks around quickly, and then calls a knightly challenge to that adventurer before doubletaking slightly as she realizes that 'Elvis' is doing his 'All Shook Up' on the base of a monument just over there*

Undergoth: *trying to wave Elvis over to them* The others... I bet they got picked off...

Heartstone: *protective hand toward the dead man in white as he runs over and offers the Undergoth a handful of loose change* Oh no, poor Stoic won't like that.

Undergoth: No, he won't...*takes the loose change and sticks it in a pouch on his belt*

Denthe: I'll help him get new dead things. *Is trying to extend her energy to locate Stoic, and any of his dead things that may have survived*

Waay over there: *something that MAY be Stoic, but it feels 'undead'*

Heartstone: *takes a swipe at an elf that thinks she looks like an easy target, neatly persuading him otherwise. Then jumps off the mare and holds her* Here, help him up. *points to Elvis*

Elvis: *is shook up*

Denthe: *is hurrying over to what she sensed, shoulder-checking a Reaver out of her way*

Reaver: *Cusses at Denthe, but decides she'd rather not muck with a Necromancer in the Planar Crossroads and heads off in a different direction*

Undergoth: *helping Elvis onto Heartstone's mare*

Stoic-feeling: *down that dark alley*

Heartstone: *and now she's staring at a burly skeleton that she's SURE isn't one of Stoic's* Um... hello?

Skelly: Want master. Nice new master.

Heartstone: ...I'm not a dead thing keeper.

Skelly: *points to the Undergoth and Elvis* Muster point?

Denthe: *Hurrying down the dark alley, calling Stoic's name*

Stoic: *moves some in the darkness, deeper, though his glowing purple eyes can be seen*

Denthe: Stoic... *Moving to approach, concerned* Let's get you home...

Stoic: *pauses, then the sound of someone standing* Denthe? *Being a neromancer and a denizen of the Deadlands, Denthe might recognize the type of undead-feeling Stoic's gving off, as well as what that gem Stoic is clutching tightly is...*

Denthe: *Does indeed recognize the type of undead-feeling Stoic is giving off, and the gem. It surprises her, but she moves forward without fear* Let's get you home... *will offer support* Elvis and the Undergoth seem to be the only deadthings of yours around...

Stoic: *growls at that, then shakes his head, and puts his hand on Denthe's shoulder* It's been years...

Denthe: *Small frown* But you've only been missing for a little while... *is confused, but doing her best not to let it show, will move to guide Stoic out of the alley*

Stoic: *follows* Trapped. No..no living thing could get out. Tried. Tried many times.

Denthe: *Soothingly* Well, you're here now... and soon, we'll all be back at the tavern...

Stoic: *turns away at that, a deathgrip (ha!) on his soul gem.*

Undergoth: *sees him. WAVE! ...gasp!*

Elvis: *waving too*

Heartstone and Skelly: *busy having a DISCUSSION with a big blond War Master and his louts. It's not going well for the War Master or the louts*

Denthe: *Going to act a bit impulsively, and do like she did when she first made her interests known... Stoic, you're going to be snogged now.*

Stoic: *is gonna be almost surprised enough to drop that gem. ALMOST.*

Undergoth: o.o *faint giggle*

Elvis: *finally realizes something unusual is happening. Frowns at his master, and then laughs softly* Heee's aaaall shookup!

Heartstone: *just owned that big blond War Master with her bare hands. Look at his remaining louts run!*

Skelly: *rattles his bones and waves his sword after them with a mindless roar!*

Denthe: *Finally stops to breathe, and to tell the skelly to settle down*

Stoic: *gasps, then stares at Denthe* ...You...kissed me?

Skelly: *settles*

Heartstone: *looks around as she realizes Elvis is singing again and that the mare just whickered as though to a friend* Stoic. *turns to smile at him, but then gasps* Stoic?

Denthe: I did. I'll do it again when we get back to the tavern... *a bit impishly* But if you want me to do it again now, just say so.

Stoic: *clutching his gem tightly* Rather not...not...not here. *turns to Heartstone, and looks sad.* I..had no choice. Not if..if I wanted to leave...

Undergoth: He needs to get home. He looks tired...

Heartstone: *hands over mouth, but then steps forward and tugs gently on her brother in law's arm* Chagrin's worried about you.

Denthe: Let's go... *will stick close to you, Stoic*

Stoic: Chagrin...*nods at that.*

Undergoth: And we'll get your gem in a safe safe place.

Heartstone: *calls softly to the mare, who comes obediently, bringing her load of undead. Catches the bridle once she's in reach* *to the Undergoth and Elvis* Hold on tight.

Elvis: *hugga Undergoth*

Skelly: *confused sound, though he's sticking close*

Heartstone: Someone grab him? He wants to come.

Denthe: *Calls to the skelly, using a bit of her power to show the undead where to go*

Undergoth: *holding on tight to the mare*

Stoic: *looks sad again*

Heartstone: I'm going to use my go home necklace. Is everyone ready? *gets reins in same hand as the arm she's hugging Stoic's arm with, then grasps her Amulet of Recall*

Denthe: *Stumbles slightly, hadn't ever traveled that way before. Once she's steadied, she's looking around to see if there's anyone around who can help*

Undergoth: *blink blink BLINK, then getting off Heartstone's mare, and helping Elvis do likewise.*

Stoic: *heading for the dead things barn.*

Heartstone: No no, Stoic. I'll put the dead people away. Chagrin needs to know you're alright.

Denthe: *will move to guide Stoic towards the blockhouse after telling the skelly to follow Elvis and the Undergoth*

Stoic: Chagrin. Yes. *will be guided towards the blockhouse.*

Undergoth: *going to his corner.* ^^

Heartstone: *gently guiding the confused Elvis as her mare nose bumps the skelly along*

Blackout: *steps out of the tavern as Denthe and Stoic turn the corner, her hand going out to the male Necromancer's shoulder*

Denthe: *Watching Blackout warily, but knows the dragon won't hurt Stoic* We found him... We need to let Chagrin know...

Stoic: I...hope he understands...

Blackout: *soft snort* Your brother's a living shadow. *then gives Denthe a knowing smirk*

Denthe: *sticking her chin out just a bit, even as a faint blush colors her pale cheeks*

Stoic: Livinig Shadow? *looks worried now*

Blackout: *those black eyes with crimson depths flick from Denthe back to him* Well, he was a shade. Then I bound him to life.

Denthe: *just went a lot paler than she was before... how that's possible is a mystery*

Stoic: *gasps at that*

Blackout: *arms cross over her chest* And I can see that you need the same treatment.

Denthe: *Concern grows as her attention goes back to Stoic*

Stoic: *looks away, embarrassed* It was the only way...was going to die anyway, at least this way I could walk out...

Blackout: Do you want to be fixed or not? *slaps backward as Skywarp goes into a fit of the snorting sniggers behind her*

Denthe: *Quietly, to Stoic* Whatever you choose, it will be your choice and yours alone....

Stoic: *nods to Denthe, then to Blackout* If you can fix...this...I'd be grateful for it.

Blackout: *nod* Not out here. *points toward the blockhouse* You're going to want your bed. *slight smirk again as Skywarp yelps in surprise*

Skywarp: *will now chase Requiem into the tavern for putting snow down the back of his pants*

Denthe: *Attention going towards Skywarp and Requiem for a few moments* ... *Small headshake and a murmur of what might be "Idiots..."*

Stoic: *nods to Blackout*

Blackout: *growls at Denthe for insulting her husband and daughter, a trickle of smoke coming from her nose*

Denthe: *eyes flashing with a bit of annoyance. She didn't survive this long and make it to level 50 just to be intimidated by a dragon*

Stoic: *Looks a bit nervous* Denthe...don't antagonize her...

Blackout: Did I insult anything of yours, Necromancer? *eyes bore into the pale woman's*

Denthe: *Has faced down Shadowmaw and made him flinch. Unlike her Name Sister, this Deadland denizen is not intimidated by you, Blackout* No, but none of mine have risked injuring others on the tavern grounds.

Stoic: ....Denthe...

Blackout: This from the woman who plays with what she kills instead of eating it? *hand goes out too quick to see* And your running around with an XP debt that heavy is more dangerous than my husband and child playing. *blow is light, she's only trying to wake the human up to reason*

Denthe: *Startled sound, and then she's sitting on the ground. It's likely that if she didn't have the XP debt, she'd have kept her footing*

Stoic: *is now facepalming*

Blackout: You were saying, human? *arms once more folded over her chest*

Denthe: *Quietly* Point taken...

Stoic: *will help Denthe up, though he's feeling weak himself* Told you...

Blackout: And...? *waiting for an apology*

Denthe: *As she's helped up* I'm sorry.

Stoic: *looks a little less nervous now*

Blackout: *relaxed and looking at Stoic now, waiting for him to lead the way to the blockhouse*

Denthe: *Trying to get the ringing in her ears, which she's been ignoring, to stop*

Stoic: *turns towards and walks toward the blockhouse, hand still clutching his gem*

Blackout: *herds Denthe after him, though she knows that no persuasion is needed*

Denthe: *Nope, no persuasion needed here*

Stoic: *has lost many of his items, but still managed to hold onto his house key. Will open the doors now*

Blackout: *standing and watching as he gets the outside door open, and then steps in behind him, still herding Denthe*

Denthe: *Looking around, surprised at how dusty the blockhouse is, but also surprised and quite pleased to note that it seems pretty cozy, despite being so small...* *Wonders to herself where Chagrin, the Entings, and Mushi are*

Stoic: *also remembers the keycode to open the inner door*

Blackout: *very light shove to Denthe as she pulls the outer door closed behind her* Keep up.

Denthe: *another slight stumble, moves closer to Stoic* *Surprised sound as she realizes Stoic's unlocking a section of the wall*

Stoic: *up goes the eyebrow, opens the inner door now, and heads inside* Try not to stop and stare.

Blackout: *doesn't stare, but she does look up at the big globe inside the top of the dome and smile at it*

Denthe: *Boggling as she follows Stoic, and then an explitive slips out before she can stop herself*

Stoic: .... *ever so faint smirk at Denthe*

Blackout: *eyes go from the globe to the bright evening sunshine making patterns through the massive stained glass windows, and then she turns her head and nods to something that only she can see* They both need help.

servant: *big invisible hand gently taking Denthe's elbow* Let me help you.

servant 2: *another big invisible hand offering support to Stoic* Do you need your bed, master?

Denthe: *Startles, nearly dropping her Planarshard Orb of Obedience*

Stoic: *nods lightly* Yes, I do. And someone to tell Chagrin I'm home.

servant 3: Yes, master! *sound of hooves trotting away rapidly toward the next room*

Blackout: *smirks at Denthe* There's the boot mat. Don't track up the foyer.

Denthe: *Brain-broken expression is a go* Foyer...?

Stoic: *already removing his boots. Carefully, and with a happy sigh*

servant: *gentle pat for Denthe's arm* Lady?

Stoic's boots: *whisked up to be cleaned, though the servant waits to get Denthe's too*

Denthe: *moving to remove her boots, still looking quite brain-broken*

servant: I'm going to help you, alright? *big hands now help Denthe with her boots*

Mushi: *is that echoing squeak through the door on the far side of the foyer*

Stoic: *wants a bath. Is afraid of one, though.* *perk* Mushi...

servant 2: Yes. Mistress left him alone earlier, and he's still angry.

Denthe: *Still quite brain-broken, and probably feeling the effects of her XP debt more now that she's not out running around and being fueled by adrenaline*

Stoic: *will facepalm at that* He's always angry. *faint smirk* One would think he had Chagrin's genes...

Blackout: *slight snerk*

servant: ...Master's not that angry.

servant 2: Are you ready to come upstairs now, master?

Stoic: I am...

Denthe: *Wonders to herself whether she should also remove her armor, since she's mostly managed to get her boots off...*

servants: *will now gently guide the weary people across the huge foyer, and into a second room just as large and ornate, though graced at the far side with a sweeping twin staircase of broad marble steps. Between the entrance and the staircases, a blanket-swaddled Mushi seems to be floating in mid air as an invisible servant baby dances him*

Mushi: *SQUEAK!* *getting tired, but HE'S STILL MAD*

Denthe: *Slight start as she hears Mushi squeaking*

Stoic: *chuckles.* It's good to be home.

Mushi: *just made the vaulted ceiling ring!*

servants: *help Stoic and Denthe up the left hand stair case, which leads to a gracefully arched hallway which tinkles softly with the sound of the seep fountains on the walls in between the mushroom baby's squeaks*

servant 3: *is back* Do you want me to bring anything to your room, master? Lady?

servant 2: *gently leads Stoic right past the doorway to his suite*

Denthe: *Headshake* *quietly* Just want to rest....

Stoic: I... just need rest as well. *he's still got that gem, and he's not letting go*

servant 3: Yes, master and lady. After your bath.

Blackout: Just get him someplace he can lay down so I can work.

Denthe: *blink blink* Bath?

Stoic: *freezes at 'bath'--he's afraid of things that he wants to keep falling off at this point--then nods towards Blackout.* What she said.

servant 3: One of the warmed marble massage slabs in the bathing room?

Blackout: It'll do.

servants: *lead right to the end of the hall, and then through an arch that leads to a place of warm steam and the biggest indoor pool of water that Denthe's probably ever seen*

Denthe: *surprised by the sheer size of the pool of water, is doing her best not to stop and stare*

servant 2: *will lead Stoic toward the slab, murmuring encouragingly as he goes*

Stoic: *heading for the slab now*

Blackout: *goes with Stoic, her expression impassive and a bit bored*

servants: *start to gently undress Stoic and Denthe, talking about comfort and resting and how nice warm water feels*

Denthe: *reaching to undo some of the ties on her clothes. As the undertunic gets removed, some of the bruising she's gotten while adventuring becomes visible, standing out quite noticeably on her almost alabaster skin*

Stoic: *isn't sure if he should get entirely undressed yet... though he's got little to remove*

servant 2: *senses his hesitation* Master?

Blackout: *quirks an eyebrow at him*

servant: *has Denthe disrobed and now leads her over to a warm marble block so that she can sit and be washed before going into the pool*

Denthe: *glad for the help. Even if the bruising looks worse than it feels, she's still pretty achey, and the warmth of the room is comforting*

Stoic: *sighs, then gives in* Be careful... I don't want to lose anything...

servant 2: Yes, master. *gently finishes undressing the weary Necromancer, and then helps him onto the towel that's been spread on the warm slab* I'm stepping back so that the lady can work now. *sound of footsteps backing away*

Blackout: *steps over, a look of concentration on her face as she gathers and focuses the right power* Brace yourself.

Stoic: *nods lightly, hands still on his gem, and he closes his eyes*

Blackout: And get that as far away from your chest as you can get it.

Stoic: *opens an eye, and then puts his hands to his side. He's still loathe to let go of it, even if he knows he's safe here. Then...* Should I keep hold of it?

Blackout: *puts a hand on him* You can let go of it now. *holding him in place, so to speak*

Stoic: *lets go of the soul gem, letting it sit beside him*

Blackout: *picks it up and looks at it, but then closes her eyes and lets loose that lightening bolt of life from her chest. No dragon, only life. Life that repairs the damage to Stoic's body and skin, leaving him with skin pale and leathery and hair inclined to maybe stand up more than it had, but with skin, with hair, with nose, and eyeballs... alive though looking like a well-preserved lich still and bearing their powers*

Stoic: *keeps his eyes shut until he feels its done*

Blackout: *looks at him with satisfaction, and then turns to leave the room* Oh, and you're mine now.

Denthe: *is that soft, surprised sound over on the other slab. This isn't what she was expecting, though she did hear Chromia mention lightning and Blackout awhile back....*

Stoic: *wasn't quite what he was expecting either as he sits up* Yours? Like Honeyfuggle is?

Blackout: *from the other side of the arch and down the hall* Like your brother is.

servant 2: Would you like to wash now, master?

Denthe: *Just about faceplanted as she moved to get up, clearly intending to make good on her promise of giving Stoic another kiss*

Stoic: Oh... and yes, please. *looks over* ...Denthe? Are you going to try the kissing thing?

servant: ...Kissing?

servant 2: *moving to help Stoic over to one of the smaller stone blocks so he can sit and be washed*

Denthe: *A bit sheepish as she steadies herself against the servant's arm*

Stoic: *then stops* The gem! *turns to get it... and realizes it doesn't quite feel the same to him anymore. Important, but not existence-threatening if it was damaged.* ...Could one of you take this to my room?

servant 3: Of course. Where would you like me to put it?

servant: *whispers to Denthe* You're not wearing clothes. You might embarrass master.

Denthe: ... *BLUSH. Even her ears are red now*

Stoic: Someplace safe. Just in case. *glances over at Denthe with an eyebrow raised*

servant 3: I'll put it in the little box on your desk. *takes the gem and carries it away*

servant: *normal volume* Would you like to go into the pool now, lady?

servant 2: *getting Stoic parked on a block*

Denthe: *More blush when she realizes Stoic's looking at her, nods to the servant*

Stoic: *gonna look THAT way now as he's sat down*

servant: *gently lifts Denthe in burly arms, and then carries her over and lowers her into the warm water of the pool. Will let her float or sit up on the ledge along the side*

Denthe: *Content to float, hair fanning out as she's lulled into a near-sleep state by the warmth of the water*

servant 2: *wash a Stoic, clean his hair, rub his back, give him a warm facecloth to scrub with himself if he likes*

Stoic: *if he could purr, he would so be purring.* Oh, I needed this...

servant: *watching over Denthe, is just a funny unmoving swish in the water*

Denthe: *is completely relaxed, and has her eyes closed. It's quite a contrast from her usual almost harsh expression*

servant 2: *gentle rinsing with warm water poured down his back and over his shoulders* Hmmm, should I scrub with the rough sponge, master? *thinks there's dirt he missed*

Stoic: Yes, please. *He thinks there probably is too*

servant 2: *gets the sponge and sets to work, has the foaming cucumber wash too*

servant: *softly* Lady, do you wish to retire?

Denthe: *Absently, is almost asleep right now* Hm? *barely opening her eyes for the moment*

servant: *still gentle* Bed?

Denthe: *Small nod, blinking back sleep, or trying to*

Stoic: *is finally going to be CLEAN after he has no clue how many years*

servant 2: *vigorous scrubbing, and then gives Stoic's hair another wash too* Ah, that's the colour I remember this being. *pleased*

Stoic: *chuckles, then realizes Chagrin hadn't come. Decides he must have been sleeping.*

servant: *lifts Denthe from the water and wraps her in a thick, fluffy white towel, then carries her over to the slab next to the one that Stoic had lain on and dries her back, hair and feet gently and carefully before putting some scented oil on her feet, which look dry to him. This done, he'll help her on with a white sleeping gown of heavy silk*

Denthe: *quiet sounds of contentment, has slipped into a light doze*

servant 2: *another rinse and a satisfied sound* Do you wish for the pool now, master?

Stoic: *frowns lightly. He's feeling quite tired* If it's possible, I'd... rather just rest tonight.

servant 2: *as his fellow servant carries Denthe from the room* Alright. I'll get your gown.

Stoic: Thank you.

servant 2: *clothes him in another white sleep gown, and then picks him up and carries him to his room, there to be tucked into the soft pile of pillows and left to rest and recover from his ordeal*

((co-written with random_xtras and swindle_blitz))