Scion - Rada Campaign - Guest Appearance 2-4
Okay...so we think we know exactly how to stop the centipede plague! Yay! (^_^) But we have to go into Crom Cruach to do it. Booo! (>_<). It's all icky and disgusting in there. But...sometimes you gotta get your hands dirty. Anyway, lemme 'splain how we figured it all out.
First, off, last I wrote, we were exploring the cave complex where the centipedes seem to have originated. Eventually, we reached a large cavern that opened up into a shallow pit below us. There was a passage on the opposite side of the chamber, and it was sealed with a thick wall of slimy mucus or something. Eeew. (>_<) There were loads of centipedes and zombies crawling around and a swarm of weird winged centipedes flitting about.
When we saw all of that, Helena went into total OCD mode and donned a neat white surgical mask. So I pulled out a Sharpie marker and drew a wicked mouth full of sharp teeth on it. She froze and patiently let me finish, which just proves she's a good sport. She looked totally awesome with her chompy mouth. I should get her a set of designer surgical masks with all sorts of cool designs on them. Mercy and Ophelia wear those things all the time, so I know exactly where to get them. (^_^).
Anyway, the passage was a gate to Crom Cruach, which definitely explained where the plague was coming from. But we weren't sure exactly how to seal the gate to stop the plague. Sam suggested that the menehune might be able to help us. So we decided to retreat for the time being. And on our way out, Jacob warded the cave entrances to keep the centipedes in, while Sam and Carina laid down a gauntlet of khaibit traps.
On the way out, Cesar asked why I seemed to have such as issue with the caves, since, you know, I like dark creepy places. So we had a short discussion about the different kinds of dark and creepy. I don't really like the gross and slimy dark and creepy. I like the dry, misty, cold, and spooky dark and creepy, where spiders skitter in the corners and ghosts shimmer on the edges of your vision among the twisted branches of leafless trees that claw at the moon like boney hands reaching from their graves. You know, like graveyard at midnight kinda dark and creepy. Somehow this ended with me giving a little TMI about the way Yi and I enjoy making love in pitch dark places...but Cesar didn't seem to mind the details.
Eventually, we exited the caves and headed back to the hotel to rest. I mean, it was pretty late, and none of us really needed rest, but the menehune probably wouldn't have appreciated night-time visitors. Also, I was really disappointed when Jacob dispelled his heavy metal armor. I don't think he knew quite how to handle the sad kitty look I gave him. (^_^)
Back at the hotel I got cleaned up and ritually purified myself (well, as much I as I can purify myself without eliminating the shikome taint) and then settled in with Amaterasu and Echo to help each other relax after the long day of work. I got the details on her meeting with Ra. Sounds like it's going well. (^_^) Ra's forces should be able to help oppose the activities of the chaos creatures that have been causing us so many problems.
Miko stayed with the menehune kids to help babysit them, which was good because Kimiyo (their other babysitter) was having a good night with Melvin in his room. You go Kimi-chan! ^_^ Unfortunately, Miko and the kids got a little freaked out the next morning when Machete showed up to wake them. He's not so good at being gentle and friendly. But that's pretty much what I'd expect of the high priest of Cesar's cult.
Minor freak-out aside, we were able to get the kids loaded into Cesar's badass SUV and headed out to track down the menehune. Between the children and Carina's tracking abilities, we found the main village without too much trouble. It was located in an out-of-the way corner of the island. As we approached on foot, though, our way was blocked by a group of ephemeral beings made of smoke and mist. The vague, misty shapes held tribal spears and shields, and glared at us with fierce eyes that stared indistinctly from within their vaporous bodies. Helena informed us that the creatures were called nightmarchers, and they served the menehune as guardians.
So Jacob and I stepped forward and introduced the group. They nightmarchers became more guarded when I introduced myself as Hikage-no-Mikoto of the Amatsukami. Yep, the menehune aren't getting along with us so well right now...
In any event, we were taken into the village to see the tribal chief, Ali'iku'awki. Since his people haven't been getting along with the Amatsukami well, I took the lead and told him I was there to try and make peace. I mean, I'd really like to improve relations between our people if I can, and he seemed open to that. actually, he was really nice and respectful. Well, he certainly wasn't going to be disrespectful to a bunch of gods, anyway. And he totally knew who I was! Being a god is awesome.
We discussed the plague with Ali'iku'awki while his people prepared a big feast for us (which was absolutely delicious, by the way - and lemme tell ya, Storm can put away the food!). He was able to answer a lot of our questions. See, the menehune have traditionally been responsible for keeping the gate to Crom Cruach sealed. However, since the gate lies in Hiwalani's hunting territory, it's become too dangerous for them to go there and maintain the rituals that keep the gate sealed. As a result, the gate opened and the next thing you know, centipedes.
Fortunately Ali'iku'awki was able to tell us how to reseal the gate. Unfortunately, it means we'll have to go into Crom Cruach and seal it from the other side. Good thing Sam can teleport us right out once we're done. Of course, the rituals necessary to close the gate are pretty intensive and they'll take some time, so while I'm taking care of that, Storm and the others are going to have to protect me from the horde of enemies that are sure to show up to stop us. Sound familiar? Good thing I've got a lot of experience with this kind of scenario. >_<
And I guarantee you that Omukade himself is going to join the fun. Fortunately, I have no doubts that Storm, Cesar and the others can put him in his place. ^_^
So, before we perform the ritual, though, we're going to have to hunt and kill a legendary centipede with human eyes lurking somewhere in Crom Cruach. We'll then need to burn its eyes as part of the ritual. Easy enough, right?
The chief also dropped another useful bit of info. He and his people have been worried about Puanani. She's one of the only youkai they like since she's always been nice to them. They saw her get infected, and assumed she was dead. The fact that she isn't sick reinforces our suspicion that the plague is using her without her knowledge. We'll have to try and heal her soon. Hopefully it will be as easy as healing other infected victims, but I kinda have my doubts... Well, at worst, I suspect I'll have to use a purification ritual on her.
Anyway, as part of our negotiations, I agreed to intercede on the menehunes' behalf to get the youkai to leave them alone. I also promised to chastise Yoshi for destroying their village like he did.
But the most important thing was to convince Hiwalani to stop eating the menehune. Honestly, I think Storm and Jacob just wanted to kill her, and Cesar would have done it in a heartbeat if they gave the word. That would seriously piss me off. I mean, sure, eating the menehune is bad, but she's a jorougumo. It's kinda what she does! Kinda like my shikome.
So we went back to Hiwalani and called her from her cave to have a chat. I explained the situation with the gate the Crom Cruach and made her vow never to hunt the menehune again. She wasn't happy about that because they are apparently delicious (which really doesn't surprise me, but maybe that's my shikome side talking). She did ask if normal mortals were still on the menu, and I said sure. I mean, I don't want to starve her, and jorougumo have always preyed on humans. I think Carina more-or-less understood that (what with her predatory kitty-cat nature...meow! =^.^= pounce! kill!), but Jacob was absolutely appalled! (_>) The important thing is that Storm and his crew are willing to let Hiawalani be as long as she stops eating menehune. Whew. I'd be upset if they killed her.
Besides, Hiwalani has offered to help us fight during the ritual, and I think we can probably use her help. After all, she's proven that she's tough enough to withstand the infection, the more skilled fighters we have with us, the better our chances of success. Wish us luck!
First, off, last I wrote, we were exploring the cave complex where the centipedes seem to have originated. Eventually, we reached a large cavern that opened up into a shallow pit below us. There was a passage on the opposite side of the chamber, and it was sealed with a thick wall of slimy mucus or something. Eeew. (>_<) There were loads of centipedes and zombies crawling around and a swarm of weird winged centipedes flitting about.
When we saw all of that, Helena went into total OCD mode and donned a neat white surgical mask. So I pulled out a Sharpie marker and drew a wicked mouth full of sharp teeth on it. She froze and patiently let me finish, which just proves she's a good sport. She looked totally awesome with her chompy mouth. I should get her a set of designer surgical masks with all sorts of cool designs on them. Mercy and Ophelia wear those things all the time, so I know exactly where to get them. (^_^).
Anyway, the passage was a gate to Crom Cruach, which definitely explained where the plague was coming from. But we weren't sure exactly how to seal the gate to stop the plague. Sam suggested that the menehune might be able to help us. So we decided to retreat for the time being. And on our way out, Jacob warded the cave entrances to keep the centipedes in, while Sam and Carina laid down a gauntlet of khaibit traps.
On the way out, Cesar asked why I seemed to have such as issue with the caves, since, you know, I like dark creepy places. So we had a short discussion about the different kinds of dark and creepy. I don't really like the gross and slimy dark and creepy. I like the dry, misty, cold, and spooky dark and creepy, where spiders skitter in the corners and ghosts shimmer on the edges of your vision among the twisted branches of leafless trees that claw at the moon like boney hands reaching from their graves. You know, like graveyard at midnight kinda dark and creepy. Somehow this ended with me giving a little TMI about the way Yi and I enjoy making love in pitch dark places...but Cesar didn't seem to mind the details.
Eventually, we exited the caves and headed back to the hotel to rest. I mean, it was pretty late, and none of us really needed rest, but the menehune probably wouldn't have appreciated night-time visitors. Also, I was really disappointed when Jacob dispelled his heavy metal armor. I don't think he knew quite how to handle the sad kitty look I gave him. (^_^)
Back at the hotel I got cleaned up and ritually purified myself (well, as much I as I can purify myself without eliminating the shikome taint) and then settled in with Amaterasu and Echo to help each other relax after the long day of work. I got the details on her meeting with Ra. Sounds like it's going well. (^_^) Ra's forces should be able to help oppose the activities of the chaos creatures that have been causing us so many problems.
Miko stayed with the menehune kids to help babysit them, which was good because Kimiyo (their other babysitter) was having a good night with Melvin in his room. You go Kimi-chan! ^_^ Unfortunately, Miko and the kids got a little freaked out the next morning when Machete showed up to wake them. He's not so good at being gentle and friendly. But that's pretty much what I'd expect of the high priest of Cesar's cult.
Minor freak-out aside, we were able to get the kids loaded into Cesar's badass SUV and headed out to track down the menehune. Between the children and Carina's tracking abilities, we found the main village without too much trouble. It was located in an out-of-the way corner of the island. As we approached on foot, though, our way was blocked by a group of ephemeral beings made of smoke and mist. The vague, misty shapes held tribal spears and shields, and glared at us with fierce eyes that stared indistinctly from within their vaporous bodies. Helena informed us that the creatures were called nightmarchers, and they served the menehune as guardians.
So Jacob and I stepped forward and introduced the group. They nightmarchers became more guarded when I introduced myself as Hikage-no-Mikoto of the Amatsukami. Yep, the menehune aren't getting along with us so well right now...
In any event, we were taken into the village to see the tribal chief, Ali'iku'awki. Since his people haven't been getting along with the Amatsukami well, I took the lead and told him I was there to try and make peace. I mean, I'd really like to improve relations between our people if I can, and he seemed open to that. actually, he was really nice and respectful. Well, he certainly wasn't going to be disrespectful to a bunch of gods, anyway. And he totally knew who I was! Being a god is awesome.
We discussed the plague with Ali'iku'awki while his people prepared a big feast for us (which was absolutely delicious, by the way - and lemme tell ya, Storm can put away the food!). He was able to answer a lot of our questions. See, the menehune have traditionally been responsible for keeping the gate to Crom Cruach sealed. However, since the gate lies in Hiwalani's hunting territory, it's become too dangerous for them to go there and maintain the rituals that keep the gate sealed. As a result, the gate opened and the next thing you know, centipedes.
Fortunately Ali'iku'awki was able to tell us how to reseal the gate. Unfortunately, it means we'll have to go into Crom Cruach and seal it from the other side. Good thing Sam can teleport us right out once we're done. Of course, the rituals necessary to close the gate are pretty intensive and they'll take some time, so while I'm taking care of that, Storm and the others are going to have to protect me from the horde of enemies that are sure to show up to stop us. Sound familiar? Good thing I've got a lot of experience with this kind of scenario. >_<
And I guarantee you that Omukade himself is going to join the fun. Fortunately, I have no doubts that Storm, Cesar and the others can put him in his place. ^_^
So, before we perform the ritual, though, we're going to have to hunt and kill a legendary centipede with human eyes lurking somewhere in Crom Cruach. We'll then need to burn its eyes as part of the ritual. Easy enough, right?
The chief also dropped another useful bit of info. He and his people have been worried about Puanani. She's one of the only youkai they like since she's always been nice to them. They saw her get infected, and assumed she was dead. The fact that she isn't sick reinforces our suspicion that the plague is using her without her knowledge. We'll have to try and heal her soon. Hopefully it will be as easy as healing other infected victims, but I kinda have my doubts... Well, at worst, I suspect I'll have to use a purification ritual on her.
Anyway, as part of our negotiations, I agreed to intercede on the menehunes' behalf to get the youkai to leave them alone. I also promised to chastise Yoshi for destroying their village like he did.
But the most important thing was to convince Hiwalani to stop eating the menehune. Honestly, I think Storm and Jacob just wanted to kill her, and Cesar would have done it in a heartbeat if they gave the word. That would seriously piss me off. I mean, sure, eating the menehune is bad, but she's a jorougumo. It's kinda what she does! Kinda like my shikome.
So we went back to Hiwalani and called her from her cave to have a chat. I explained the situation with the gate the Crom Cruach and made her vow never to hunt the menehune again. She wasn't happy about that because they are apparently delicious (which really doesn't surprise me, but maybe that's my shikome side talking). She did ask if normal mortals were still on the menu, and I said sure. I mean, I don't want to starve her, and jorougumo have always preyed on humans. I think Carina more-or-less understood that (what with her predatory kitty-cat nature...meow! =^.^= pounce! kill!), but Jacob was absolutely appalled! (_>) The important thing is that Storm and his crew are willing to let Hiawalani be as long as she stops eating menehune. Whew. I'd be upset if they killed her.
Besides, Hiwalani has offered to help us fight during the ritual, and I think we can probably use her help. After all, she's proven that she's tough enough to withstand the infection, the more skilled fighters we have with us, the better our chances of success. Wish us luck!