The Journeyman from Ryu-Kyu

[RangerShade]

Death decides to check #void.

[Brian]

All of the ops seem to be missing, except for Slacker.  Who is, predictably, AFK.  Some of the regs are there, though.

[RangerShade]

Death quits IRC and checks his e-mail again, wondering if there is any new information about the others. If there is nothing new then Death will just have to go back to work on his fanfics.

[Brian]

Code Select Expand

Perception check:
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> {4}
You notice, while the nurse is dusting the table beside you that she's got:
A. Decent cleavage, which is odd, considering the normal nurse's uniform doesn't display that at all.
B. A necklace, which looks like a cross with four extra (smaller) spokes radiating at 45 degrees from the main crucifix itself, and the base of which is jagged like a lightning bolt.
C. A hypodermic needle in her other hand, which she probably thinks is juuuust out of your sight.

[RangerShade]

Pretending that he didn't see anything, Death quietly closes the laptop and reaches for the remote with the tv remote and nurse call button on it with one hand. The other hand calmly grasps the half empty glass of water and a chopstick held inbetween the thumb and index finger, narrow end facing out and away from him.

While keeping tabs on the nurse in the room (not directly looking at her) Death will press the call button and turn the room's television on at the same time.

[Brian]

You are now holding a cup (half full or empty, depending on your point of view), a pair of chopsticks (still connected), and press the 'Call Nurse' button.  The 'nurse' in the room (given the lack of a badge, at this point you have doubts) seems not to notice, until the TV clicks to life.  She glances at it briefly, as an afternoon news program comes on.  Her attention quickly shifts from that, to your adrenaline drip, however.

Standing at the head of your bed, such that you would have to make it obvious you were looking at her to watch, she reaches for the bag of antibodies that's being trickled into your system.

[RangerShade]

Death turns to face the nurse.

"Excuse me, could you get a bucket or something for me quick, I really need to take a leak."

If she goes for the bag of antibodies, then I'll pull the drip from my arm.

If she goes for me and I have initiative to act first, I'll try to throw the water from the glass in her face.

If she's got the initiative, I'll block with the laptop. (Yeah I know its an expensive piece of equipment, but I can always buy another one ^_^')

And if she's just going to talk, I'll be quite happy to stall her until help arrives.

[Brian]

Shade awaits the nurse's reaction
<Brian> Shade: You are currently turning to look at the nurse and ask her question.  She flips the hypo around in her hand and nods non-chalantly, setting it on a nearby tray (just barely out of your reach, unless you're willing to lunge), and moves around the bed to collect a bedpan.
Shade quickly snaps the chopsticks open and uses them to try to grab the hypo
<Brian> Please make a dex check, at 3d6
<Shade> when she bends down to get the bedpan
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> I assume you're applying your +1?
<Shade> yep
<Brian> Your attempt is not perfect.  You don't actually snag it, you end up launching it towards you, but you're able to catch it in your other hand (nearly dropping your cup in the process) without sticking yourself.
<Brian> She says, "Ah, here it is," and turns around to face you.
Shade turns the hypo so the point faces *away* from me
<Brian> Are you trying to hide it?
<Shade> yes, using the laptop as cover
<Brian> This is relatively easy.
<Brian> There is a catch, that being that it will most likely be uncovered by the actual use of the bedpan.
<Brian> However....
<Shade> "Say, what happened to your ID badge?"
<Brian> The nurse looks momentarily flustered.
<Shade> "I thought it was a rule or something for hospitals"
<Brian> Kaori chooses this moment to appear, calling out, "Sorry for the delay, Ta-  Ah, excuse me, who are you?"
<Brian> She's looking at the mystery nurse in confusion.
<Shade> Does the mystery nurse look back?
<Brian> At you?  No, she's turning to face Kaori.
Shade will take this wonderful opportunity to jab the hypo in her back and inject her
<Brian> Kaori looks upset and skeptical at the appearance of the other nurse.  Mystery Nurse looks less than pleased to see Kaori.
<Brian> This will require a bit of a lunge from your point.
<Brian> You may attempt it, however.
Shade will attempt it
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> Okay, please roll 3d6
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Mystery Nurse acts first, stepping out of your range, and right into Kaori.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Er, no, I was rolling, not saying you should. ;)She slams a palm into the Kaori's surprised
<Brian> Ack.
<Brian> She slams a palm into Kaori's surprised face.
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}
<Brian> Kaori makes a pained noise, and falls down.
<Brian> The Mystery Nurse looks furious, and steps out into the hall.
Shade yells "Murderer" loudly
<Brian> A moment later, she re-enters, glaring at you, and grumbling under her breath -- you catch a reference to money, but that's about it.
<Brian> "Save your breath," she snaps.
<Shade> how far away is she?
<Brian> From where you are?  4 meters.
<Brian> She motions to someone in the hall, and a larger figure (probably a few cm taller than you) steps into view.
<Brian> He's wearing black fatigues, and carrying a baton.  "Clear," he says in a bored tone, in unaccented Japanese.
<Shade> is it a standard baton or does it look like a techie one?
<Brian> Collapsible, but doesn't look like a stun baton, no.
<Shade> "All this over one thief?"
Shade says in disbelief
<Brian> Mystery Nurse nods to him, kneeling to examine Kaori momentarily.  "How long until evac?" she says, completely ignoring you.  The man does not, however, eyes boring into you relentlessly.
<Shade> "Sorry, not interested. You aren't my type" to man
<Brian> "Five minutes, give-or-take," he replies.  "And kid, shut up.  Your money, meat, not a value."
<Brian> "You're worth just as much with your hands shoved into your mouth."
<Shade> "And you're stupid, picking on a cripple and a crook, all in all I think I rate higher then you in the grand scheme of things" in reply
<Shade> "And you're a
<Shade> "crook"
<Brian> The Mystery Nurse eyes him, rises, and pulls a small PDA from her pocket.  "Be nice," she chides the man.
<Shade> "He wouldn't know nice if it bit him on his vasctemy scars"
<Brian> He grunts, and turns his back to you.  Mystery Nurse actualy snickers at the comment.  "Got bite, doncha?"  The PDA is turned on, though she maintains her distance from you for the moment.  "Oh, sweet mother of -- Jack, he reads P-9.  We're fucking rich!"
<Brian> "Check again," Jack retorts.  "I betcha anything he didn't see this coming."
<Brian> Shade: You see Kaori twitch slightly, though only one hand moves.
<Shade> "When that guy told me he saw beautiful women in my future, how was I supposed to know that dumb gorillas came in the same package?"
Shade eyes Kaori out of the corner of his eye
<Brian> "Guy?" Mystery Nurse asks, looking up from her PDA, and stepping closer.  "What guy?"
<Shade> how close?
<Brian> She's still about three meters back.
<Shade> "The one in my dreams"
<Brian> She frowns.  "Oh, well, good for you."  She turns her attention back to the PDA.
<Brian> Kaori's hand is very, very slowly moving across the floor, towards her hip pocket.
Shade raises his voice to keep attention on himself "He also warned me that Death would stalk the footsteps of those behind me"
<Brian> "Tell me something I don't know," she says in a bored voice.  "He's been behind both of us for years."
<Brian> "What's taking so long?" Jack says looking back in annoyance.  Kaori's hand freezes.
<Shade> "Really? because the one following me blows large holes through things"
<Brian> "The damn thing ... it's not reading right," Mystery Nurse complains, shaking the PDA. "I'm getting two signatures here."
<Shade> "Like beds, rooms, doors, people...."
-Dracos- I admit, I just played that amv for the 'howwwwww appropriate' line.
<Shade> "Ah, he found me sooner then expected"
<Brian> "What's his E-rating?" Jack asks, looking away from you.
<Shade> "If you have a poison pill, I suggest taking it now, it'll save you a lot of pain and suffering"
<Brian> "Um ... zero.  And 16.  It's not reading right."  Mystery Nurse looks up sharply.  "Can the crap, kid, where's your friend."
<Shade> "I wouldn't call him a friend, more like...a shadow"
<Brian> Now annoyed, Mystery Nurse steps closer to you, another meter.  "I know you're BSing, so tell me who's the second signature."
<Brian> There's still one meter between you and her.
Shade breaks into a coughing fit and bends over slightly
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> Hmm.
<Brian> Kaori whips a pocket-knife from her pocket and suddenly lunges for Jack's ankle.  Maybe he saw it coming, and maybe she was just at a bad angle -- but she missed.  Jack spins around, baton held high, and Mystery Nurse whirls, incidentally jumping next to you to avoid her.
Shade jabs the hypo into her
<Shade> and injects it
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 to attack
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> You get her.  You don't know what the clear liquid is, but you slam the needle into her back, and the stopper follows a half-second later.  Whatever it is, she doesn't like it, and she shrieks, clawing at the hypo.  Jack's eyes widen, and he steps back in alarm, as Kaori staggers to her feet, holding her little six centimeter pen-knife up menacingly.
<Shade> how far is Jack?
<Brian> Just past the doorway -- 5 meters, and Kaori's between you.
<Shade> "I did give you fair warning" to Jack
<Brian> He ignores you, and steps forward, lashing at Kaori with his baton.
<Shade> "Of course, its not us you should be worried about"
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Ouch.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Kaori tries to deflect the baton, but the pen-knife is just too small -- it doesn't work.
<Brian> roll 8#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 8#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Brian> She stumbles backwards at the same time Mystery Nurse collapses, and Kaori staggers.  The blow on her shoulder leaves her clinging to your bed-rails for support.
<Shade> how close is jack now?
<Brian> He's about 3 meters away.
<Shade> "That's all you're good for, beating up women? What, you get your kicks out of stealing candy from babies too?"
Shade whispers to Kaori "Stay down and wait for it."
<Brian> "Screw off, kid," he growls.  Stepping forward menacingly.  With a whimper, Kaori slips to the floor, her little pen-knife laying on your bed.
Shade knabs the pen-knife
<Shade> how heavy is it?
<Shade> nabs even
<Brian> Not very.  It looks pretty sturdy, all things considered, but it couldn't weight more than .4 kilos.
<Shade> "I can't, your mom was too loose to get a decent grip."
<Shade> how close is he now?
<Brian> You will get a chance to attack him first, if that's what you're asking.
<Brian> But he's definately going to beat on you with that baton.
<Shade> is his attention focused on me, split or focused on Kaori?
<Brian> On you.  He's pretty sure he's got her beat, and he's probably right.
Shade will switch his chopsticks for the glass of water, penknife in the other hand
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> Are you going to attack first?
<Shade> is he in range?
<Shade> how far is he?
<Brian> He's within striking distance, and he's about to smack you with the baton.
<Shade> toss the water in his face
<Brian> Okay, roll 3d6
<Shade> (Oh, btw I forgot to ask, what kind of cup is it?"
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Well, it's water.  You hit his hex, which accomplishes the effect.  He doesn't really seem to care, though.
<Shade> "You're all washed up"
<Brian> "Shove it," he says, as he swings at you.
<Shade> Use the laptop to block and then make a lunge for his throat with the penknife.
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 to block
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> You did better than him.  Let's see how well your laptop fares.
<Brian> roll 8#1s6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 8#1s6 --> {1}, {1}, {1}, {1}, {1}, {1}, {1}, {1}
<Brian> That'd be nice, but....
<Brian> roll 8#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 8#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
<Brian> Shade: Please roll 2#1d6 for luck
<Shade> roll 2#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 2#1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> That's a bummer.  Your laptop saves you, but is toast.  A shower of components and circutry sprays over your head as you let go of it, and lunge with your knife.
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 for your ego check
<Shade> roll 3d6 for ego check
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 for ego check --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> You can use one half of your strength for this attack.
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 to attack
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> Jack's no fool, and after smashing your laptop, he steps back, growling.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> roll 5d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5d6 --> [ 5d6=19 ]{19}
<Brian> Er.
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> He does not, however, step out of range of Kaori's footsweep, and he goes down.
<Brian> She wastes no time, and is on him instantly.  You can't quite see what's going on over the edge of the bed.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> roll 5#d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#d6 --> error: malformed expression
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> roll 8#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 8#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
Shade will yell "Why can't you Japanese Police bring GUNS instead of those stupid clubs?"
<Brian> Yeah.  It sounds like you're missing a pretty awesome fight, but when it's all over, Kaori staggers to her feet, blood trickling down her face.  "Don't fuck with my patients," she growls, kicking, and eliciting a meaty 'thump'.
Shade applauds
<Brian> She smiles at you, and checks your equipment briefly, adjusting your IV and making sure everything is in order.  She also takes her pen-knife back.  Once that's done, she presses an intercom button on the far wall, and calls for assistance.  "And to think, they were moving in on my take," she sighs.
<Shade> :_;
<Brian> "Rest well, Fujinaka-san," she says, on her way out.  Shortly thereafter, security personel swarm onto the scene, and haul away Jack (still breathing) and Mystery Nurse (starting to recover).
<Shade> "Why can't I get a nurse not trying to sell me off?"
<Shade> Hospital Security?
<Brian> The security ignores you, and you're left alone.  The TV's still on, though.
<Brian> So.  You're in a hospital, and the staff seems intent on selling you to the enemy.  What do you do, in your weakened condition, now that your laptop is a pile of components?
Shade takes inventory, what's left in the room?
<Brian> Well, your IV, the remote (which weighs almost nothing), and ... that's it.
Shade checks himself, is he strong enough to move without spilling his innards all over the floor>?
<Brian> To make the movements?  You doubt you could get far.  You are stapled together, of course.  Moving would hurt quite a bit, you have no doubts about that.
Shade checks the bed, is it the kind with wheels?
<Brian> Yes.
Shade tries to peer over, anything keeping those wheels in place?
<Brian> They've got those wedge-shaped build-ins that you have to step on to lock/unlock.  Looks like they're locked right now.
Shade will try to slip over enough to get one foot down to unlock it
<Brian> Go ahead and roll 3d6 for ego check.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> Okay, you steel your resolve, lever yourself up, slide over the edge of the bed, and put one foot on the lock.  It gives, but slowly, and isn't exactly kind to your feet.  You nearly slip in a smear of blood on the floor, which ignites a line of fire across your abdomen, and makes you whimper in pain.
<Brian> But.  You manage to undo one lock, and get back into the bed to catch your breath and recover.
Shade will rest a little until the pain stops and then try with another lock
<Brian> That was intensely sapping.  You feel you may doze off if you rest too long.
<Brian> While you're looking around, trying to stay alert, your attention is drawn again to the room number.
<Brian> 'Four'.  Please roll 3d6 for your knowledge skill: Japanese Culture.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> Hospitals often don't use that number.
<Brian> It's a bad omen, as the number four is also 'shi', which is a word for 'death'.
Shade notes that no modern hospital knows that number
<Shade> er, uses that number
<Brian> That is correct.
Shade decides perhaps no pain, no gain
Shade will resume attempting to unlock the locks
<Brian> Indeed.  It's a slow and painful process, each lock hurting a little more than the prior, until you're actually immobilized with pain on the fourth one.  But you have succeeded, even if you wish they'd given you morphine.  Lots and lots of morphine.
Shade unplugs from the IV drip
<Brian> Make another EGO roll.
<Brian> Or, are you leaving the permanent IV in your arm, and just disconnecting the tube?
<Shade> the tube
Shade knows better then to mess with things stuck in the body
<Brian> Oh, that's fine, then.  The antibiotic drip is disengaged without too much fuss.  A relief after the locks.
Shade checks to see if anything else is holding the bed in place
<Brian> Nothing you can see.
Shade will use his arms to push off from the wall to the doorway
<Shade> less power then using legs, but less strain on the abdomen
<Brian> Easy as pie.  Aiming is a bit more difficult.  But you manage to get yourself through the doorway, and into the hall.  Currently, it's deserted, though you can hear muffled speech echoing from various corridors.
Shade checks the hallway, what's in here?
<Brian> A few pieces of stray medical equipment -- IV stands, empty beds.  What you're really looking for is probably a wheelchair, and none of those are in sight.  You see a few posters advertising various medicines, a few of puppies, and some doors to other rooms.
<Shade> no fire alarms?
<Brian> Now that you're looking?  One right beneath the 'floor four' sign.
<Shade> fire exits? Exstingishers, hoses, axes in those "break glass" compartments?
<Brian> Just a lever.
<Brian> "In case of fire, pull."
<Shade> There are no fire doors or exit signs in this hallway?
<Brian> Exit signs, yes.  Down the hall and left, or the othwer way, and right.
<Brian> Fire doors, none are visible.
<Brian> You hear approaching footsteps.
<Shade> how far is the fire alarm?
<Brian> Hmm.  A good, strong push might take you to it.  Anything else would probably leave you stranded in the middle of the hall without leverage.
Shade will risk using his legs to push off for the fire alarm
<Brian> Turning around to make this attempt is doing to be pretty painful.  But you've come this far, why back down now?
<Brian> Your push carries you a little further than planned, and you bounce off the wall (though not out of reach of the fire-alarm) a bit.
Shade pulls the alarm
<Brian> The alarm ... is pulled.
<Brian> It takes a second, then the alarm cranks to life, blaring out a noisy warning.  Also, a jet of paint coats your hand.
<Brian> roll 2#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Shade> roll 2#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 2#1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Brian> No, I'll ask you to roll if you have to.  (Trust me, you want my roll instead of yours.)
<Shade> ah
<Brian> And, apparently (luckily!) this hallway, or maybe the entire building, is NOT wired to activate sprinklers.
<Brian> There's that, at least.
<Brian> A nurse you haven't seen yet rounds the corner, panicking at the alarm, sees you, and says, "Don't worry!  I'll take care of it!" and immediately begins trundling your bed down the hall.
Shade lies back for the ride and does his best to keep his hands out of sight
Shade keeps his eyes open for an opportunity
<Brian> You round a corner, and are quickly stowed in an emergency elevator with another bed-ridden patient (this one unconscious).  The nurse frets for a minute, then sends the elevator down, and dashes outside before the door closes.
<Shade> any blankets on this patient?
<Brian> Yep.  But you've got blankets of your own.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> And, hey, look, he's got a medical chart on his bed, just like yours.
Shade will try to switch the charts
<Brian> make an ego roll
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Oh ... that did NOT feel good....  You think you may have loosened a staple.  But, you did get the job done.
Shade will smear some of the paint on his hands on the bed ridden patient's palms
<Brian> It's stuck to you like glue.
Shade nods
<Brian> The elevator reaches the bottom of the shaft just about the time you settle back into your bed, hoping, perhaps, to never have to move again.
Shade hides under the blanket
<Shade> his hands
<Brian> It opens, and a pair of nurses enter, one grabbing each bed.  The one with your bed glances at the chart, frowns slightly, and wheels you on.  The other stares at your old chart for a long moment, then nods decisively, and wheels him down a different corridor.
Shade makes groaning noises
<Brian> In short order, you find yourself (awkward as this is) with a number of other patients in the parking lot, while firemen rush in side to investigate.
<Shade> what kind of patients?
<Brian> You're abandoned quickly, three nurses watching over about fourteen beds.  Hopefully none of these other people have communicable diseases....  It's uncertain.  Injury patients, it appears on a casual inspection.
<Brian> Arm in a cast.  Leg bandaged.  Burn marks.  Most likely that's what's going on ... a few of the others APPEAR healthy, but....
<Shade> but?
<Brian> You never really know.
<Brian> There's a swiftly growing crowd of onlookers.
<Brian> One of them looks familiar.
<Shade> how familar?
<Brian> Holy shit!  It's the box-cutter kid!
<Shade> O-O
<Brian> He sees you, and blinks in surprise.
<Brian> Immediately thereafter, he vanishes into the crowd.  A sense of uneasiness washes over you....
Shade considers his options, any wheelchairs in sight?
<Brian> Nope.  The wheelchair bound appear to be placed elsewhere.
<Shade> how busy are the nurses watching over us?
<Brian> Not terribly, but it's going to be pretty hard to manuever a bed away what with a whole crowd of witnesses.
<Brian> However, of more pressing concern, the crowd is trying to advance past the beds to get a better view of something, and someone's whipping the crowd up into a mob.
Shade actually wants to know how hard it would be to get the attention of one of them
<Brian> At this point, it's getting increasingly more difficult, as people start running between the beds, towards the building.
Shade keeps an eye out for the box cutter kid
<Brian> In a moment of surreality, four indentically-dressed Yakuza-likes surround your bed, as the crowd begins to push the nurses away from the beds, lift a corner each, and start hauling you away.
Shade sighs and decides to lie back and rest
<Shade> might as well save my energy now
<Brian> Ah, nothing like a peaceful summer vacation.  Making noodles.  Getting cut open with a box-cutter.  Kidnapped by Yakuza.  What was so alluring about Japan again?
Shade decides a quick nap is in orddr
<Shade> order
<Brian> But first....
<Brian> You end up seeing the box-cutter kid in a bit, as you're loaded into the back of a van.  The bed is (in its entirety) wheeled in.  The Yakuza-likes crowd around you, a fifth in the driver's seat.  The door behind you closes, and Box-Cutter kid climbs into the passenger seat.
<Shade> "It figures."
<Brian> "Looking good," BCK advises you.  "Nap for a bit, and we'll have you talk to Dad."
Shade naps as he has nothing better to do
<Brian> You do.
<Brian> You awaken in a similar environment ... at a casual glance.
<Brian> You're in the bed.  The same bed.  You've got an IV hooked up to your arm (thankfully, still not pennicilin).
<Brian> But this room is lavishly decorated.  Yakuza lavish.  There's nice wallscrolls and everything.  The window looks out to about mid-level for the branches of a tree, and you can hear birds chirping.
<Shade> "The view's a lot nicer this time around"
<Brian> "Thank you," a gruff sounding voice says in slightly accented English.
<Brian> When you turn to look, you see (standing in the doorway) the stereotypical Big Yakuza Boss, right down to the complex and massive tattoos on his forearms.  He's dressed in traditional Japanese garb, his arms clasped behind his back.  On either side of him, two larger men in dark blue suits (wearing sun-glasses) stand impassively.
<Brian> He meanders into the room at a leisurely gait, looking at the window, until he reaches the foot of your bed.  From there he turns, examining your chart.  "I see you have yet to pass your kidney stone," he remarks, raising his eyes from the chart to meet yours, and smiling very vaguely.
<Shade> "Mixups happen all the time"
Shade smiles politely
<Brian> "You're clever.  Resourceful, too.  And my son owes you somewhat for the ... incident.  I am interested in a ... business proposal for you, hmm?"
<Shade> "I'm listening, though I suspect I don't really have a choice now, do I."
<Brian> "It's a good deal, I think," he insists.  "But where are my manners?  I'm Namida Tatsoya.  It's nice to meet you."
<Shade> "Fujinaka, Takeshi. I am honored by such a gracious host. And one with elegant taste" Death inclines his head around the room
<Brian> He laughs good naturedly.  His goons glance between you and he curiously, but remain silent.  "Thank you, you are too kind.  My son is, shall we say, rash?  He does things he should not, and he does them sometimes ... poorly.  But he is young.  This sometimes happens.  I would like to offer you my hospitality until you recover, if, in exchange, you were to find it in your heart to forgive him for the misundersanding at the temple of Kannon."
Shade nods, "I hold no grudge against him from our last encounter. And I will gladly accept your offer in the spirit it is given."
<Brian> He claps his hands together.  "I am pleased we could come to an accord!  I would like to speak with you again, soon, but I understand that you are wounded.  Your day's activities must have tired you ... I shall leave you to rest.  He bows to you, deeper than an acknowledgment of an inferior, and holds it long enough to indicate that he means it.
<Brian> His goons echo the bow, and hold it a fraction of a second longer.
Shade does his best to return the courtesy.
<Brian> It's painful, but also clear that they understand the difficulty.  After the bows, the yakuza clear out, and a woman dressed in standard house-wife wear enters, bearing a thermometer and a stethescope.
<Brian> "Before you go to sleep, we need to ensure that your ... activity hasn't aggravated your wounds," she says in a very quiet voice.
<Brian> After the checkup, you're left alone, and you're tired ... really tired.  It's kind of strange, but you feel much safer with the yakuza than you did at the hospital.  Though, you kind of miss the laptop.
<Brian> Well, rest is good for healing.  You drift off to sleep ... and you dream.
<Brian> I will set the scene here.  Dracos, Rez, you are asleep.
<Rez> OK.
<Rez> ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz . . .
Dracos snores.
<Brian> Death, unfortunately, your actions at the hospital have cost you.  They've aggravated the wound on your chest, and you did, in fact, get an infection.  You quickly fade into delirium, though you are dimly aware of the yakuza-nurse and a few doctors injecting you occasionally with something that seems to help.
<Shade> ;_;
<Brian> You've completely lost track of time due to the haze of illness, though.  You no longer know what time it is, what day it is, or are you entirely certain of where you are ... but you drift off to sleep.  And you dream.
<Brian> You find yourself standing on one edge of a grassy clearing, your senses preternaturally sharpened, your mind entirely free of the fog that's been building in it from pain-killers and delirium.
<Brian> Outside of the clearing is a grainy, black-and-white forest of thickly packed fir trees.
<Brian> The grass is green, the sky is blue.  No clouds or sun in sight, but it's brightly lit nonetheless ... in the clearing.  It's hard to see through the forest any distance, but it's much darker there.  A stream leads to a small pool near your feet, and a path leads the opposite direction.
<Brian> You're wearing the clothes you had on before you encountered Box-Cutter Kid, and have all of your things with you, except the bicycle.
Shade looks into the pool
<Brian> It's clear, and looks to be perhaps ankle deep.  Near the far end from the stream there's a half-meter wide well that descends into darkness.
<Brian> You see tiny fish flitting about through the light filtering towards what you imagine is the bottom, out of your sight.
Shade avoids the well and investigates the path
<Brian> It leads off to ... well, you don't really know which direction.  It leads away from the clearing at an angle, and curves out of sight; the plants immediately bordering the path are lush, fully colored.  But beyond the edges of the path, they fade to black and white, again.
Shade goes back to the pool and takes a drink
<Brian> The water is clear, and cool.  It seems miraculously pure for some reason.  From here, you can see that the stream is probably about ankle-deep, too, if not shallower in places.  The forest on either side of the stream, as you look up it, is lushly colored, like the path.
Shade follows the stream up by walking on the bank
<Brian> Well, splashing through the stream is going to be an inevitability if you want to go far, but you can get to about a bend in the stream by stepping carefully on rocks and roots.
Shade does so
<Brian> From your new vantage point, you can see that the stream widens, large, flat rocks scattered across the surface.  You don't think you could reach any of them with a standing jump, though.  It looks about eight meters to the nearest one, though from there, you could probably jump along all the others.
Shade wants to know if he can follow the stream's path by walking on the forest side
<Brian> The banks are steep.  You could try it, but you don't really know that it'd work too well.  The roots look pretty slimy, and the rocks looks pretty dry by comparison.  You could still try, though.
Shade cautiously tests the footing in the stream
<Shade> itself
<Brian> It soaks right though your shoes.  And it's cold.  Other than that, it's about 6 CM deep here, and moving really sluggishly.
Shade walks to the first flat rock
<Brian> You do so.  However, as soon as the water touches your skin, you hear a crash, and the sound of hundreds of birds taking flight behind you.  You get to the rock only needing to get about 12CM deep in the stream.  When you look back at the clearing, the trees seem to have shifted, thick clumps of branches blocking the way back.
Shade nods at this sign and continues forward
<Brian> You do so.  The rocks seem randomly placed, but provide excellent traction, even with your wet shoes.  The branches seem to thicken overhead momentarily, as birds, it really does look like hundreds of them, fly outward from the clearing in a spiral.
Shade takes a moment to see if he can get some idea of what kind of birds they are
<Brian> They look like crows.
Shade has a bad feeling
Shade decides to quicken his pace as fast as safely possible
<Brian> You probably get another 30 meters down the stream, which is deepening, when you round another bend and see three things.
<Brian> One, the stream splits from where you're headed, to a smaller stream on your right, without any rocks, though it looks much shallower, and the skies above it are exposed without the benefit of the concealing tree-branches you have right now.
<Brian> Two, the stream has widened (even though you're going upstream) and deepens.  Your rocks are now stone pillars, probably a good 3 meters tall, though the water isn't moving very quickly.  Looking back towards the smaller stream, you see that the riverbed rises in a sharp shelf, so that the new stream is only a few cm deep.
<Brian> Three, if you continue on the wide river across the rock-tops, you're going to enter the side of a cliff-face, though there's enough light filtering in to see where it's going, and there's room enough for you to jump.  One of the rocks ahead is different from the others, looking more like a proper boulder than the platform stones you've been traversing.
Shade stays with the left stream.
<Brian> You draw near the boulder, and will have to pass near it on your way into the cliff face.  As you draw near, it stirs, and you realize it is not actually a boulder, it's that massive wolf, curled up and sleeping on a platform stone.
Shade freezes.
<Brian> The wolf stirs, yawns, and rises, looking at you sleepily before it scratches the back of one ear with a hind-leg.
Shade continues to watch it quietly
<Brian> It blinks, then stares at you, watching curiously.
<Shade> "Hello."
<Brian> Well, if a wolf can smile, this one does.  It starts panting, tongue lolling out, and makes a motion with its head, a though to usher you into the cliff-face.
<Brian> *a as
Shade slowly moves to the cliff face
<Brian> The wolf watches, moving to follow a few stones behind you once you move past it.
Shade keeps an eye on the wold as he moves
<Brian> It follows you docilely.  Once you pass under the face of the cliff, you see that it opens into a massive underground grotto.  There's a gargantuan flat boulder in the center, like a stage.  The guy from that dream ... the one who ran on clouds is inside, sitting in the lotus position on the middle of the stone.
<Brian> Light seems to be filtered in through veins of crystal on the sides of the grotto, though it's still pretty dim.  The wolf hops ahead of you by some of the stones, then pauses before leaping to the stage, and looks back at you questioningly.
Shade moves toward the boulder.
<Brian> The man blinks, seeming to come out of a trance, or to have just woken up.  He nods at you, climbing to his feet after unfolding himself from his meditative position.  There's a sheathed sword beside him, and he quickly picks it up, belting it in place.
<Shade> "Well, trying to stop Gin from freeing the wolf was a bust."
<Brian> He stares at you blankly, then smacks himself on the forehead.
<Brian> A black bird flies in through the entrance to the cavern, wheels around once, caws loudly, and flies away.
<Brian> "Firstly, you shouldn't have spoken here, of all things, you'd think we taught you that much.  Secondly, the wolf was sent to protect your friend."
<Brian> The man looks annoyed.  You hear a distant sound, somewhat like the noise of a drum, and the buzz of an insect, melded together into something ... strange.
Shade looks apologetic.
<Brian> "Time is short.  The wolf will guide you -- I will stall the foe.  Listen carefully.  You must seek out Ezmereth.  Remember this name.  Ezmereth."  With that, he leaps forward, jogging across the air above the stream, and vanishing through the tunnel entrance.
Shade nods and turns to the wolf
<Brian> The wolf bounds over to your side, then leans low, as though to get you to climb onto its back.
Shade gets on
<Brian> The wolf takes off like a rocket -- you barely hang on, but it's careening off of any surface you can see.  You're half certain a few of its bounds are off of the top of the water itself.
<Brian> The second you emerge from the cave, you see that the sky is darkened, thick with crows.  Your friend is fighting them with a sword, and he's fast.  Inhumanly fast.  But there's crows as far as the eye can see, and dozens of them are streaming after you.
<Brian> "I bet you can't wake up," a voice says, as you and the wolf fly through the forest, quickly scaling a ridge, and running across the top of it.  The birds are still behind you.
Shade remembers not to talk this time.
Shade decides to test one of those theories about dreams.
Shade bites his arm.
<Shade> Not hard enough to break the skin.
<Brian> A: You probably should have hung onto the wolf with that arm.  B:  OW.
<Brian> Luckily, you don't fall off the wolf, though you hear a voice snickering at you.
<Brian> Now, something you remember far, FAR too well.  The woman who looked at you before -- the one who was riding a giant black bird.  That bird, and the woman, show up seemingly from nowhere, and are right behind you.
<Brian> "You can't escape," she yells at you.
Shade thinks 'Never stopped me before'
Shade attempts to wake up
<Brian> You don't wake up.  This is more than a little freaky.
<Shade> is she above behind me or behind behind me?
<Brian> Above and behind.
<Brian> "We've got your partner," she warns.  "I will find you."
Shade decides to hang on tight and hope the wolf has an idea.
Shade thinks 'News to me, I didn't know I had a partner.'
Shade thinks 'Thank you for telling me about them.'
<Brian> "You can talk now," your advising voice chides you.  "Kannon can't help us now, so fix this image into your mind, and try to make us go there."  Your mind briefly fills with a grecian temple, at night.
<Brian> Then the image is gone, and the wolf is drawing upon the edge of the ridge -- indeed, on the edge of what looks like this entire world.  A steep cliff and endless fog sweep out below you forever....
Shade fills his mind with the image of that temple and yells back at the woman "Thanks for the help!"
<Brian> The world fades around you as the wolf leaps into nothingness.
<Brian> You come to your senses rolling across a twilight lawn, the wolf landing gracefully beside you.
<Brian> Faster than you can blink, two entirely spectral Grecian warriors hold lances to your respective throats.  "Why are you here?" the one confronting you barks.
<Shade> "That
<Shade> "That's a very good question, one I'd like to know myself actually."
<Brian> Both of the guards look away from you, towards the temple, and vanish.
<Brian> Now that you can look around, you're on a large, gently sloped lawn.  Downhill is a pool, lined with lit torches, and uphill is a series of marble stairs, leading up to a column-lined temple face.
<Brian> In the distance, is only quiet blackness, and stars, save a single mountaintop, glowing slightly red.
Shade looks at the wolf and asks "Got any ideas?"
<Brian> The wolf shrugs, and says, "Go ask the oracle for advice," looking towards the temple.
Shade nods and starts walking to the temple
<Brian> You hear a voice from the temple, a woman calling out, "And as ever, I am called."  She comes into view, stepping out from behind a column before you enter the temple proper.
Shade pauses
<Brian> You recognize her -- she's the woman from the dream that was taken from the Vatican by the man with a golden right hand.
<Shade> "My lady." Death bow
<Shade> bows
<Brian> She nods, but doesn't smile.  "I am no lady, merely a voice ... a conduit to something greater than myself.  Tell me, questioner, what you wish to know."
<Shade> "What do I need to do?"
<Brian> "What do you wish to accomplish?" she asks.  "All questions have beginnings ... but a vague question will only ever yield a vague answer."
<Shade> "What is the darkness in San Francisco? And why was it after Ginrai?"
<Brian> "The darkness ... the darkness that is the hearts of men ever contaminates the waking world, corrupting it as man reshapes the world to suit itself."
<Brian> She pauses, considering something.  "Ginrai?" she questions, cocking her head to one side.
<Shade> "The one in Albany"
<Brian> "I don't..." she pauses, considering things.  "You are being followed," she says quietly.  "Can you wake?"
<Shade> "I have tried. I cannot wake on my own
<Shade> "Who hunts me?"
<Brian> "A woman ... a woman who hunts those who I would protect," she says quietly.  "Are you Shade?"
Shade nods "yes"
<Brian> "I see."  She considers something for a moment, then nods decisively.  "I will try what I can, perhaps we have an opportunity."

[Brian]

This thread briefly combines with Hazy Shade of Winter.

[Brian]

<Brian> You wake up, dizzy, confused, and ... MAN does your wound ITCH.
Shade looks down at his wound
<Brian> There's a pink scar running from your rib-cage to your thigh.  Also, a bunch of staples in your bedclothes.
<Shade> "Impressive."
<Brian> Getting rid of the staples scattered across you lessens the itching a bit.
Shade takes a look around
<Brian> You're still in the Yakuza stronghold, though now that you're awake, you feel more clear-headed.
Shade wonders how long he was out
<Brian> By the clock and calendar, about two and a half days.
<Brian> It's light out, but only just.
Shade does a low whistle, that's pretty quick healing alright
Shade checks to see if he's strong enough to get up
<Brian> The nurse sweeps in to inspect you, and blinks at the wound you're still inspecting.  "Feeling ... better?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
<Shade> "Much."
<Brian> "Well, are you feeling up to getting out of bed?  The Boss has something for you, if you're feeling better," she says.  But the capital "Boss" still stands out.
Shade checks to see if he is strong enough to get up and move around
<Brian> You feel like a million bucks.
<Brian> Like you woke up that day in the noodle-shop.
<Brian> Hmm.  Hope this doesn't get to be too regular.
Shade inquires with the nurse "Could I impose for a change of clothes and a quick shower to clean up first? This (indicating the bedclothes) doesn't seem appropriate to meet him in."
<Brian> "Oh, certainly."
<Brian> She ducks out, and comes back with a change of clothes for you.  Nice, high quality, traditional stuff.
<Brian> After she hands you that, and a bucket of bathing supplies, she guides you to the furo.
<Brian> Man.  This guy ... REALLY knows how to live.
<Brian> And he's got money.  Money means power.  Hmm.  It's probably a good thing that his son gutted you, instead of the other way around, all things considered.
Shade cleans up quickly and gets dressed
<Brian> Comfy clothes.  You could get used to this.
<Brian> After that, the nurse reappears, and asks you to follow her.
Shade follows quietly
<Brian> You are led to a dining room.  It's also traditional, as is most of the rest of the house (though, they did have a pretty modern-looking hospital bed).
Shade tries to make an internal estimate of the money we're talking about for furnishings here.
<Brian> Easily millions, and most of it's tasteful, too.
<Brian> You see the Boss, Box-Cutter Kid, someone you expect is Boss's Daughter, and someone else that should be the Boss's Wife.  Boss is wearing traditional clothing.  BCK is wearing a school uniform, as is Boss's Daughter.  Boss's Wife is wearing a power-suit, making her look somewhat like an OL.  Four goons are standing at the corners of the room quietly, hands clasped behind their backs.
Shade bows to the boss.
<Brian> He bows to you, too, then motions you to take a seat at the table.
<Shade> are they already sitting?
<Brian> On cusions on the floor.
<Brian> But yes.
Shade takes the seat offered
<Brian> After you sit, you're served the traditional breakfast.  Miso, rice, etc.
Shade waits until the cue is given to eat
<Brian> It comes shortly.  And man, this stuff is good.  REALLY good.
<Brian> Then again, you haven't had anything but bland soup and water for half a week.
Shade takes time to savor the meal
<Shade> and observe the boss and his family as well as the 4 goons
<Brian> The goons are unremarkable.  They act like normal people, passably attentive, but also a bit bored.
<Brian> From what you can see, BCK and his sister are both obedient children, who only do what their parents tell them.  This is proven when Boss finishes his breakfast, and puts down his chopsticks.  "Ahh," he sighs.  "Wonderful."  He turns to BCK.  "Did you bring the present?"
<Brian> BCK nods, and reaches under the table, pulling out a cloth wrapped bundle the size and shape of a book, and handing it to Boss.  Boss accepts it, turns it over, and then hands it to you.
Shade bows and accepts the gift with a soft "Thank you."
Shade carefully unwraps the bundle
<Brian> He says, "It's the least I could do, since my son failed to find you before the Enemy."
<Brian> Woah.  It's a new laptop!  Not the same as your old one, but beggars can't be choosers, right?
Shade quirks an eyebrow. "The Enemy?"
<Brian> The Boss nods pensively.  "There are friends, and there are enemies.  People often forget their spiritual roots."
<Brian> He turns to BCK, and says, "Some seek to take that which is spiritual, and meant to be free ... and turn it into a tool, or a weapon for their own usage, forgetting why we have spirituality in the first place."
<Shade> "And perhaps even seek to exploit such?" Death inquires.
<Shade> "Ah."
<Brian> "Exactly," BCK says, whipping the box-cutter from his pocket, and setting it on the table in front of him.
Shade eyes the boxcutter
<Brian> Boss's Daughter rolls her eyes, and holds her hand out over the table, palm down.  Box-Cutter Kid slaps the box-cutter with his palm, and you see the weapon drop from the daughter's palm.  She catches it, then rolls it across her knuckles, and pockets it.
<Brian> BCK looks mildly annoyed.  Boss just shrugs.
<Brian> The weapon on the table is gone.
<Shade> "That must come in handy"
<Brian> "Of course.  And potentially useful," Boss says.  "Imagine how useful that would be to someone else.  But this spirituality ... it is not meant to be harnessed -- it is a gift, made for the people who have it to enjoy."
<Shade> "All gifts bear responsibilities as well."
<Brian> "Of course, which is why we wanted your attention," Boss says, looking at BCK sharply.
<Brian> The kid looks sheepish.  "Sorry," he says quietly.
<Shade> "The bicycle was a diversion?"
<Brian> "Well, I was told to get your attention, and you looked like the fiesty type," BCK says defensively.  "I figured you'd chase me with your bike, as opposed to me running up to you and saying, 'Woah, like, I know you've got some freaky magical power, and you can totally trust me, so come on over to my father's yakuza stronhold and hang out with me.'"
<Brian> He shrugs.  "After you threw the salt, I thought I'd cut you a little, then run.  Guess I just didn't know my own strength."
<Shade> "And what made you think I would be in any mood to talk after chasing you?"
Shade asks curiously
<Brian> "That would be after you were on the compound and surrounded by a bunch of big guys, and hey, you know, I'm not the best planner, I just kinda ... tried.  Anyway, the point is you are here, now, and not in the hands of the people who want to chain you to a machine, or use your powers for their own benefit, right?"
<Shade> "Had you simply asked, I think you would have been more pleasently surprised by the result."
<Brian> "Anyway," Boss says, overriding BCK, and cowing him into submission.  "We'd like to make our apologies, and see you on your way."
<Shade> "Since you went through such grat trouble to gain my attention, I would be amiss not to listen."
<Shade> great
<Brian> "Of course," Boss says.  "And we're glad to hear that ... but in all honesty, we have nothing to offer you.  Instead, we owe you an apology."  He shrugs.  "You must have things to do ... and I feel it would be poor of us to ask you a favor after that display."  He looks at BCK meaningfully.
<Brian> BCK bows his head.
<Shade> "It does not hurt to ask."
<Shade> "We seem to share a common enemy, and the enemy of my enemy is at the very least one I would like to avoid hindering at worst, and aid at best."
<Brian> Boss looks like he's considering it for a while, then shakes his head.  "While you are correct, we have deflected that enemy's hostility upon us.  We will fight them, and you need not get drawn into our conflict."
<Shade> "I suspect I already am a part of it."
Shade tells the Boss about the PDA that detected him
<Brian> "You may be," he allows, climbing to his feet, after listening to the speech.  He paces across the room, and then back, deep in thought.
<Brian> "No," he finally decides.  "You might be a liability.  You require a partner, or someone else to help you in your endeavors.  Someone who compliments your skills...."
<Brian> "That, I cannot spare."
Shade nods
<Shade> "Although, should I acquire such a partner...."
<Brian> "If you had that, then we could use another complete team to fight our enemy," he allows.
<Shade> "I would be honored."
<Brian> "Until then ... you must be careful.  Is there anything I can do to help you?  Anywhere you need to go?
Shade considers carefully
<Shade> "My...talent has allowed me to know that I must find a place in Hokkaido, where an ancient tree rises at the juncture of three rivers."
<Brian> Boss nods, and claps his hands more loudly.  "We shall find this place for you, and see that you get there, then."
<Shade> "Thank you."
<Brian> "Until then, your own belongings have been retrieved from the hospital.  That was my son's task."  Boss eyes BCK.
<Brian> "Would you like them back?"
Shade nods
<Shade> "Yes, please."
<Brian> In short order, you're brought your things.  In even shorter order, he's got a crew of goons combing maps of hokkaido for a three-river juncture.
<Brian> They find three likely matches within an hour, one far enough south to still be 'river' at this time of year, instead of frozen.  Boss is gone, but Bosss Daughter thinks you can get there by the end of the day, if you're willing to take a helicopter.
Shade will take the helicopter
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> The chopper is a sleek, black affair, piloted by one of the nameless goons, and naviguessed by another.  You're sitting in the back, which is relatively spacious, along with an amiable, shades-less goon (he's the chaperone) and Boss's Daughter.
<Brian> She introduces herself as Yukari.
Shade introduces himself
<Shade> "Fujinaka, Takeshi."
<Brian> She smiles, and makes small talk with you until come into sight of Hokkaido.  You stop briefly to stretch your legs at a local airport, and get some more fuel for the chopper.
<Brian> Yukari picks up some boxed lunches -- one for each of you.  The chaperone is the slightest bit distraught over this, consoling himself with a cup of instant noodle.
<Brian> After that, you're airborne again, though you can't suppress a certain anxiety....
Shade studies Yukari
<Brian> She's kinda cute, in that, "look at her too hard, and her father's goons will flay you" kind of way.  She's got long hair, doesn't die or curl it, and looks pretty, even without makeup.  She's also dressed in her school uniform, still, which is a plus for some fetishists.
<Brian> She's also almost always smiling.  The kind of smile that suggests she knows something you're about to find out, and it's going to be great.
<Brian> Eventually, just before the sun reaches the horizon, you come into view of the valley you've been striving to reach.  It indeed does contain three rivers -- one of which is pretty big, and two smaller ones.  This place is way up in the mountains.  It's got to be almost 65 km to the nearest town.
<Shade> "This is the place."
<Brian> There's a titanic tree at the juncture of the three rivers.  Either it was on an island, or just raised the ground around it while growing.  Yukari looks thrilled to see it.  "I can't wait to see what happens!"
Shade takes this opportunity to study the terrain from the air
<Brian> This is inhospitable and rugged ground if ever there was any.  The hillsides are half raw stone, the remainer scrub brush and thin pines.  They're also quite steep.  There's a small spot with a collapsed section of the mountain having fallen into the lake, which the goons make for as a landing site.
<Brian> Outside of that, it's the three rivers, with the tree.
<Shade> no signs of anyone else around?
<Brian> You see a rabbit running off, but really, that's all.
<Shade> no smoke, vehicles, or flashy or shiny things that should not be here?
<Brian> Just the helicopter, which you're in.
<Brian> The goons set down, and you can see the area -- fairly well.  Looks like you're going to need to get across about 160 meters of icy water to get to the base of the tree.  And man, is that thing HUGE.
<Brian> We're talking at least a hundred meters high, and ... you have no idea how wide.  But it's big.
<Shade> "Interesting."
Shade asks the goons if they brought a raft
<Brian> The pilot-goon and naviguesser-goon begin to inflate a portable raft, grumbling all the while.  You're currently on a shelf composed of rocks that have fallen down the side of the mountain, and then been reduced to sand by repeated freezing and thawing of the lake.
Shade studies the water
<Brian> It's blue.  It LOOKS cold, even without ice.
<Shade> anything under the water?
<Brian> Rocks.
<Shade> anything moving in the water?
<Brian> The angle of the sun isn't too cooperative to seeing through the water, though.  It's going to get dark pretty quickly.  Not that you can see, actually.
Shade checks the sky for birds
<Brian> You see an eagle.
<Brian> It cries something, then dives at the surface of the lake.  Comes back up with a big fish, too.
<Shade> how big?
<Brian> Hard to say, but judging by the distance, it's fair sized.  Got to have a really respectable wingspan.
<Brian> Yukari scampers to the edge of the water, her concession to the cold being a scarf.
Shade is impressed
<Brian> The sun's almost set by the time the goons finish with the raft, then produce two paddles.  The raft has enough room for two people comfortably.
<Brian> It seems obvious that you're going to go, but Yukari wants to go with you.
Shade wonders what the goons are going to do
Shade decides as he has no real official status here, its Yukari's party
<Brian> The goons motion you to go; it's your friend you're going to meet.  But Yukari invites herself to join you in the raft.
Shade looks at the goons
<Shade> reaction
<Brian> They don't seem to like the idea of her doing this, alone, with you ... but she is the Boss's Daughter.
<Brian> They're not going to put a stop to it.
Shade decides if they can't stop her, he sure as hell can't
Shade accepts her offer
<Brian> Alrighty.  You feel amped, after all that healing, and row the raft across the surface of the lake.  This entire area feels completely ... natural, and undespoiled.
Shade does his best to enjoy the scenery as he rows
<Brian> It's easy going.  But the scape seems off, for some reason.  It makes sense that the tree gets bigger, as you get closer, but it's getting bigger much faster than the parked chopper is getting smaller.
<Brian> *scape -- scale
<Brian> Anyway, you get to the base of the tree, and damn if there isn't enough room on the island for a chopper or three to have landed easily.
<Shade> "Hmmm"
<Brian> It just didn't look that way from the air.  The branches of the tree spread wide, covering what looks like half of the lake, and you see an eagle playing about the branches overhead.
<Brian> As soon as you set foot on the island, you feel warm ... comfortable.  You feel sleepy.
Shade turns to Yukari
<Brian> She claps her hands together in excitement and stares up at the tree.  "It's beautiful!  Where's your friend, though?"
<Shade> "That's what I'm going to find out."
Shade lies down under the tree as the oracle told
<Brian> It takes you almost NO time to fall asleep.
<Brian> You fade instantly into a dream.
<Brian> You're now sitting on the shore of a lake, and you can feel the warmth from where you sit.  There's a skillfully built teepee to one side, a fire crackling in it.  A man sits by the side of the fire, looking at you, and the sky is filled with stars that are flowing across the sky in a broad river, complete with currents and eddies.
Shade studies the man
<Brian> He looks ... young.  But at the same time, it's like you get the feeling you're looking at an older model of a human.  Not a cave-man, just someone ... ancient.  He's dressed in animal skins, various scraps stitched together with leather cord.
<Brian> "Why are you here?" he asks you, furrowing his brow in confusion.
<Shade> "I seek Ezmereth."
<Brian> He stands up, and you see he's thin, and has a tall build ... but he's shorter than you by a hair.
<Brian> "That is I," he replies coldly.  "And you are of man, the ways of man come confused and worthless.  Why do you come to bother me?"
<Shade> "I was directed to come here by the oracle of Delphi."
<Brian> "Ah," Ezmereth says, grimacing.  "Her."  He seems pensive for a minute, then turns to look at you curiously.  "What would you have me do, young Man?"
<Shade> "She mentioned a key in your possession."
<Brian> "No," he says shaking his head.  "I do not carry a key.  I am a key.  And the door I unlock requires a number greater than three."  He nods.  "Very well.  If Man's hand is to be stayed, let it begin here."
<Brian> You wake up.
Shade blinks
<Brian> It's light already, sun trickling in through the tree branches.  Yukari is cuddled up with you, her head resting on your shoulder.
<Shade> "Answers that always lead to more questions, the story of my life....."
<Shade> "Ara?"
<Brian> She wakes up, and blinks at you tiredly.  "Good morning!" she chirps.  "Where's your friend?"
<Brian> "Friend?" Ezmereth asks, seeming to emerge from the tree to one side of you.  "Indeed," he snorts, narrowing his eyes.
<Shade> "Its not my fault."
<Shade> "And this is not what it looks like"
<Brian> Yukari scrambles to her feet, eyes wide.
<Brian> "What isn't what?" Ezmereth asks, completely bemused.  You can see he's hefting a bladed club with one hand, which he didn't have in the dream.  Otherwise he's dressed identically.
<Shade> "Never mind."
Shade scrambles to his feet
<Brian> "Well, you found your friend!" Yukari enthuses.  "That's fantastic!"  She rushes forward to give you a hug.
<Shade> "Um, yes it is. I think."
<Brian> Her arms wrap around your neck.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> And you have the point of a gun pressed to your temple.
<Shade> is it hers?
<Brian> She's holding it, as far as you can tell.
<Brian> "Good work," Yukari chirps.  "Now, both of you just sit tight, while the boys come to pick us up."
<Shade> "Why, why does it always have to be the cute ones." ;_;
<Brian> "'cause we're the smart ones," Yukari reasons.  You can see the yakuza on the shore rowing another pair of rafts towards the island, and someone near the chopper is set up with a sniper-rifle pointed towards you.
<Shade> "Does your father know about this?"
<Brian> "Of course," Yukari says sweetly.  "It was his plan."
<Brian> Ezmereth sighs, and shakes his head.  "The Wanderer did not release me to become a prisoner again," he tells Yukari apologetically.
<Brian> "Now, now," she says.  "We won't hurt you, as long as you work for us."
<Shade> "If you surrender now, I won't feel bad about this later." To Yukari in a regretful tone
<Brian> Shade: Ezmereth looks at you consideringly, then nods.  You get an image, in your mind, of you clutching a dagger in your right hand.
Shade feels with his right hand
<Brian> You're actually holding it.  Grip is cool, feels like stone.  Serious weight to it, for a knife.
<Shade> what are our positions?
<Brian> "Ta-chan, sweetie," she says, "I really do like you.  And we're not going to hurt you either.  If you behave, I might even play with you once in a while."
<Brian> You're standing about three meters from Ezmereth.  Yukari is directly behind you, one arm across your throat, the other holding a gun to your head.
<Brian> To your right, two yakuza are rowing in, though they're minutes away, at best.  Beyond them is another yakuza with a sniper-rifle.
<Brian> You see the muzzel-flash from the sniper-rifle.
<Shade> "So why do you people want me anyway?"
<Brian> We'll enter combat time here.
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> First off, Shade, you feel like someone strung you up, scraped you out of your body, and filled it with angry infantry-men.  Lots of them.
<Brian> Secondly, you feel like your bloodstream is pumping raw combat drugs.
<Brian> Now.  You can see (at this point) the guys you missed before, already hidden on the island.  Maybe they came over while you were asleep.  You're not sure.  But there are six of them, and you get the idea that they're normall somehow invisible, but you can see them.
<Brian> So.  We'll go in speed order.  First, speed sixes.
<Brian> Shade: That's you.
<Shade> wait, what do these guys look like?
<Brian> Like yakuza thugs with funky electronic mesh across their ghillie suits.
<Shade> and where are they in relative positions?
<Brian> They're arrayed around you in a semi-circle, on the side away from the tree (towards the lake).
<Shade> armaments?
<Brian> They're holding tazers, or guns that look blocky and plastic.
<Brian> Dart-guns, since you have the KNO skill to recognize them.
Shade goes limp and sags his dead weight in Yukari's arms
<Shade> falling to the ground
<Brian> She pulls the trigger.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> ...and the side of the dart bounces off the top of your head.
<Shade> Ow
<Brian> Phase 4, speeds 3 and 6.
<Brian> Dex order.  Shade, you're first.
Shade tries to trip Yukari's legs and keep her between him and the sniper
<Brian> Make your attack roll.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Please roll 5d6 for your damage.
<Shade> roll 5d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 5d6 --> [ 5d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Er.
<Brian> 5#1d6, I meant.
<Shade> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
<Shade> 0_0
<Brian> You slam her to the ground.  Technically, she's between you and the sniper, but she's lying prone.
<Brian> Next in dex order: Yukari.
<Brian> She recovers from being dazed.
<Brian> Next in dex order: Ezmereth.
<Brian> He steps towards one of the Yakuza thugs and yells something primal, swinging the club high.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> roll 2d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{7}
<Brian> roll 1d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6+1 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{5}
<Brian> The blow from his bladed mace tears off a lot of skin, and the knockback flings the thug into the water.
<Brian> Next in dex order:  One of the yakuza thugs bleeds into the lake a bit.
<Brian> The thug farthest to your right brings his gun to bear, and attempts to shoot you.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> He misses.
<Brian> Another thug (this one right next to the last) tries the same.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> He misses just as badly.
<Brian> Phase 6.  Speeds 2 and 6.
<Brian> First: Shade.
<Shade> did Yukari drop her gun?
<Brian> No.
<Brian> And you're already holding that knife.
<Shade> how close are the two who shot at me?
<Brian> About 3 steps away, each.
<Shade> grapple Yukari and use her as a human shield against these guys, try to get her gun away from her hands too
<Brian> Well, she's still on the ground.  So you'd have to pick her up.
<Shade> I couldn't roll her over?
<Brian> You could try that; it'd probably be easier to just kill them all, what with the boost you've got right now.
<Shade> Hmm, point
<Shade> okay
<Shade> Take the one farthest to the right, belly stab
<Shade> Yakuza to the right
<Brian> Oh, easy.  Roll to attack.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> You hit.  Roll 1d6 and 1d3 for your damage, and 1d5 for your stun multiplier.
<Shade> roll #1d6#1d3#1d5
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : #1d6#1d3#1d5 --> error: malformed expression
<Shade> roll 1d6#1d3#1d5
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d6#1d3#1d5 --> [ 1d3=1 ]{1}, [ 1d3=1 ]{1}, [ 1d3=1 ]{1}, [ 1d3=2 ]{2}
<Shade> >_<
<Shade> roll 1d6 1d3 1d5
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d6 d3 1d5 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
<Shade> >_<
<Shade> roll 1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Shade> roll 1d3
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d3 --> [ 1d3=1 ]{1}
<Shade> roll 1d5
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d5 --> [ 1d5=3 ]{3}
<Brian> You stab at the thug, but he leaps backwards.  You've cut him, but not as effectively as you would have liked.
<Brian> The other yakuza act now.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=17 ]{17}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> Two miss you; one misses Ezmereth.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Something from the shore fires into the side of the tree,.
<Brian> Segment 8, 3s and 6s.
<Brian> Shade: You first.
Shade slashes at the gun arm of the other thug on the right
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 to attack.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> You hit.  Roll your damage.
<Shade> roll 1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
<Shade> roll 1d3
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d3 --> [ 1d3=3 ]{3}
<Shade> roll 1d5
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d5 --> [ 1d5=2 ]{2}
<Brian> That arm flies cleanly off, as though it were surgically severed.  The thug stares at it in horror, and shrieks like a little girl.
<Brian> Yukari's move is to hobble back to her feet.
<Brian> Ezmereth moves to the next thug, and attacks, ignoring the one he knocked into the lake.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> He hits (barely).
<Brian> roll 2d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> roll 1d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6+1 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{4}
<Brian> This guy is smacked right atop the head, and also knocked down.  Not dead, but he's not getting up for a while....
<Brian> The first thug on the right (that you stabbed) shakily levels his gun at you.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> He misses.
Shade goes for his gun wrist
<Shade> when its my turn
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Sniper's shot goes wide.
<Brian> Phase 10, speed 6s.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Hit.
<Brian> Please roll da... no, this guy's toast.  You killed him.
<Brian> Your dager's heavy, and he was already beaten up.
<Brian> Phase 12, everyone gets to go.
<Brian> Shade, you first.
<Shade> who's left?
<Shade> 2 yakuza of six left in fighting condition, one dead, one in the lake, one missing his arm
<Brian> Three thugs, and Yukari.
<Brian> Er, 2.  And the sniper.
<Shade> What's Yukari's condition?
<Brian> She's wavery, but furious.
<Brian> Probably better call off the wedding.
<Shade> Kick her down
<Brian> Make your attack roll.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> Again, 5#1d6 damage.
<Shade> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> You break her leg -- she goes down.
<Brian> Ezmereth's move.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> roll 2d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{9}
<Brian> roll 1d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6+1 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{6}
<Brian> This thug tried to dodge, and got the mace swept across his neck for his troubles.
<Brian> He dies.  Pretty gruesome.  1 thug standing, and he turns and runs.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> Sniper goes wide.
<Brian> Post segment 12.  Everyone who needs a recovery gets one.
<Brian> Combat is effectively over ... except for that sniper.
<Brian> So.  What do you do?
Shade grabs Yukari and tells her in a quiet serious voice "Call that sniper off."
<Brian> She whimpers and nods.
<Brian> We'll drop out of combat time.
Shade hoists her as a shield between himself and the sniper
<Shade> btw, what about the 2 rowing in?
<Brian> She produces a cell-phone in her empty hand, while Ezmereth squats, inspecting one of the downed yakuza.
<Brian> They're a long way off, still, though they're now rowing furiously.
<Brian> Rising Ezmereth says, "We should be away."
<Brian> * Rising,
<Shade> "That's sorta problematic at the moment
<Shade> "Unless you know another way off this island?"
Shade keeps a close eye on Yukari's hands
<Brian> "Oh, I do," he says, putting two fingers in his mouth and whistling shrilly.
<Brian> Hey, it's that eagle you saw a while back, flying down from the tree-top....
<Brian> Yukari makes a cell-phone call (you're kind of surprised there's reception out here, honestly), and calls the sniper off.
Shade binds and wraps her hands tightly
<Brian> A strip of her skirt serves that purposes suitably, though she seems kind of worried about her shattered leg, really.
<Brian> The eagle swoops down, and you see now that the scale of this tree is seriously weird.
<Brian> It's HUGE.  This is a passenger eagle, if ever there was one.  It has to land on the edge of the island, as its wingspan is too great to allow it any closer.  We're talking about thirty meters, at least.
<Brian> You dimly remember a physics lecture about a cube-square law ... and figure that if you mentioned it to this bird, it would just tell physics to sod off.
Shade will check Yukari's leg
<Brian> Looks like someone broke it.
<Shade> broken as in joint out or broken as actual bone in two?
<Brian> Bone is split.
Shade sets the leg as best he can
<Brian> You do what you can.  Ezmereth ignores you, and climb's onto the eagle's back.
<Brian> Once he's there, he whistles for your attention, and motions you to join him.
Shade grabs Yukari
<Shade> Yukari's gun
<Shade> "In a sec" to Ezmereth
<Brian> It's a dart-gun.  Loaded with tranq rounds.  Looks like it's got six shots in it.
<Shade> "Just tying up some loose ends"
Shade looks down at Yukari
<Brian> "You don't have much time left," Ezmereth warns.
<Shade> "You really should have surrendered when you had the chance" to Yukari sadly, then shoot her once.
Shade grabs his stuff and climbs up after Ezmereth
<Shade> discarding the gun
<Brian> It's a bit tough, at first, but the feathers seem to grip onto your shoes.  Once you're behind Ezmereth on the eagle, it takes off.  And you pass out instantly.

[Brian]

You wake up on a rocky island, rife with tiny plants.  The eagle looms above you, on a massive boulder, but it looks like it's asleep.

When you sit up, you think you're on a small island, but all you can see is ocean, no other nearby islands.

Also, when you sit up, you feel dizzy.  It's almost like you lost a portion of your strength in that push in Hokkaido.  Ezmereth is nearby, looking at some of the foliage intently, and the sky overhead is gray and cloudy.

Your island, if you stand up and look around, is perhaps 500 meters long, and about 300 wide, narrowing as it goes to the end furher from you, like a giant teardrop.  At your feet is a coconut someone split into two perfect halves.  Your new knife is lying to one side, all shiny and stone.

"Fish," Ezmereth says, breaking the silence.  "There aren't enough fish."

[RangerShade]

Death waits for a little while for the dizziness to pass.

"Depends on how picky you are actually."

Death eats one coconut half and then gets up and looks around.

Specifically looking at the shore and shallow tidal areas of the island.

[Brian]

It's easy to find.  The island is curved, making it somewhat like a comma, when you look at it closely.  The interior of the curve is the lower area, but before you get there, Ezmereth says, "I wonder how many fish are gone now?"

When you turn back to look at him, his eyes are distant.  "What does man do to his world," he sighs.  "Less and less ... we should take none of them, for now.  The plants, here, are plentiful.  Let them sustain."  He turns and focuses on you.  "And you ... you must be tired after your exertion."

As soon as he says it, you realize it's true.  Even after all that sleep, your body feels weak.  He gestures to the remaining half of a coconut.  "Drink, and rest," he instructs, turning to stare across the sea moodily again.

[RangerShade]

Death takes his advice and eats and drinks the rest.

Once finished, Death decides to question the brooding druid.

"What was that back there, anyway?"

Death struggles to find words to describe the sensation.

"That...boost? It felt savage, wild, like Rage given life itself."

[Brian]

"Imagine, if you will," the druid intones, turning to look at you, "that you were to compress a season of your life into a handful of moments.  Imagine, then, what you could do with the power, the patience, and the strength of a season ... stuck in that grouping of heartbeats."  Ezmereth nods to himself.

"Imagine, also that the power to do this, to take a year, and live it in a heartbeat was granted to you by a world angry at the men who treated you so poorly ... and imagine the payment she would expect for your in exchange for that bargain."  He shrugs.  "Or, perhaps, you can think that for a moment, you were stronger, and far more powerful ... but with a breath of the earth, that strength wanes."  He smiles.  "Ours is not always to question, hmm?  Rest, and heal."