Narratives

      Everybodies eyes are glued to the scene through the apparatus. The nearest tuft of purple plant-like stuff turns, looks out through the same gateway and blinks. A few oohh's and aaahs rise from the crowd. Some of the people back away while other more academic folk move closer for a better view. Then shouting begins from different parts of the crowd, as people notice the black disk arcing towards the device.
      Some people look back to where the disk originated, which is a little difficult. However, in the general vacinity there are two people leaving in different directions.
      Nina watches the disk as it approaches the device with a confused expression, followed by a look of dread and she turns to flee. From the crowd somebody yells about getting out of the way and somebody else is yelling to get down. Another object flies up from the crowd to intercept the black disk, but misses. As Professor Vedissallian runs to the edge of the stage, the crowd descends into general panic and bedlam.
      Then the black disk reaches the Trans Dimensional Relative Gazing Apparatus. A slight cracking noise rolls througout the commons, much like the pop of glass breaking. Following in its wake, all ambient noise stops or is somehow dampened. The yells and howls of the crowd, the background chirp of birds and even the more distant whistling and marching from Hawkwood college's parade ground is missing.
      In the void of silence some people start to duck to the ground, their mouths shaping out words of warning and fear in silence. Others turn to watch the device. The black disk has impacted with the edge of the spinning sphere, and is being sliced into chunks which are cast off in random directions. The rings slow a little each time, and the image being suspended in the center shudders. Halfway through the black disk a slice careens into the image, followed by a brilliant flash of light.

              *                     *                     *

Judge:
[ooc: Meanwhile, back in the college of Autgarius]

      Before the student helper can reply to Qucalion, there is a subtle crack noise emanating from the commons, followed by unnatural silence and a brilliant flash of light. Immediately following that a growing rumble can be heard outside.
      Qucalion turns towards the exit, "By Corelleon's Scabbard, can't these people do anything right?" and then runs out to investigate the commotion.

              *                     *                     *

      As the flash ebbs sound returns, most notably is the loud thundering and clanking of the apparatus tearing itself apart. Expanding out from the apparatus is what appears to be some sort of energy horizon, already past the crowd. Before it reaches the edge of the university grounds there is a loud gong and the air suddenly polarizes. The sky takes on a yellow hue and is distorted as a barrier is formed around the university.
      Chunks of machinery rip from the apparatus and fly at great speeds across the commons. Some arc overhead and impact with the walls of buildings, tearing gaps in walls. The crowd is hurled backwards by the explosion, others by bits of machinery breaking apart. As the last bit of of the apparatus tips and falls to the ground, the commons are silent again, except for the quiet hum of the barrier overhead. Somebody coughs, and others begin to moan and pick themselves up from the ground.

              *                     *                      *                      [ thread: Rudyard's Horse and the Hawkwood Cadets ]

- Rudyard:

      Rudyard feels the blast role over him but is protected by the Grace of Heironeous as he watches two figures flee from the crowd. He longs to chase them down, for he is certain one is to blame for the destruction. Unfortunately, he sees those in the crowd behind him now bleeding on the ground and knows his healing touch could save dozens. With a thought, Rudyard directs Storm to bring back the fleeing figures and turns the crowd lying at his feet. His face is furrowed with sorrow and he whispers, "Heironeous, when shall the day arrive when you will let me suffer in their place as I have asked? I have seen my kingdom bleed too long." But he quickly smiles and strides regally through the crowd easing fears with gentle words of encouragement. Where broken bodies lie that cannot hear his words he bends and a simple touch stops the flow of blood and life.

      Rudyard's horse turns and carefully picks its way out of the crowd before beginning a gallop after one of the individuals. Unfortunately, they appear to be heading in different directions, one to the east and one to the south west. Storm has selected the one to the east, and is quickly gaining ground.
      The fleeing individual runs towards the crowd of cadets, some who are wandering without order, others who are picking themselves up. The drill master is looking over one cadet who is lying on the ground with an apparent head wound. The individual heads directly towards the drill master and immediately begins telling him something between breaths, just as Storm arrives galloping into the area. The sergeant peers at the horse for a moment, notices the livery and a grim look crosses his face, "Very well, we appear to be graced with the presence of Lord Rudyard, I believe he can sort out these matters without much problem."
      He then points to one of the cadets, "Soldier Robins, you are responsible for those hurt who will remain behind", then bellows loudly, "caDETS FALL IN! DOUBLE TIME!" and then starts a jog towards the stage, with about half the cadets following him in an orderly double line.

              *                     *                     *                      [ thread: Nina's Remains ]

- Rudyard:
      After Rudyard assures himself that none will die, he leaps up onto the stage and turns to the crowd.
      "Citizens of Nyrond, in the name of the King, I call upon you to remain calm and steadfast against our enemies. I, Lord Rudyard von Flessern, assure you that you will be kept safe and the miscreants brought to justice! I see the sky above us has changed hue and I suspect the university is briefly cut off from the King's justice without, but I and Sir Barok, both Knights of the Realm, with the help of the Licensed Adventurers I see before me, shall protect you. Let none fear that the Justice of Heironeous shall be brought down at the feet of the murderer once found. I call on you, Licensed Adventurers, to earn this day the trust our King hath placed in you, and discover who has done this and why! Let us act with the speed of Farlaghan lest the villains strike again! "
      Rudyard pauses for a moment, not from his usual weariness, for his eyes are flashing like lightning in the heavens. He looks at the assembled adventurers.
      "You there, with the symbol of the Gamboge on your chest, art thou a ranger? If thou canst track our quarry, which even now my steed may outpace, then leap to the edge of the crowd, there and there, lest someone cover the tracks!"
      Rudyard steps to the edge of the stage and motions the adventurers forward, inviting them to formulate a plan of action.

- Qucalion:
      Qucalion limps out into the commons, his leg drenched in his blood, but at least the bleeding has stopped. Looking about the chaos he looks for Professor Nina or the other academians responsible for this . . . device. Limping about, still wincing slightly at the pain, Lord Rudyard's speech reaches his ears.
      "Oh, great. What will that senile, meddling oaf wreak now?" says Qucalion to himself. As he listens to his 'plea' for organizations, Qucalion nods. "Well, at least the doddering fool can ask for help," thinks Qucalion. Qucalion limps over to the stage, climbing it's steps.
      "Have we found any of the professors who built this thing?" Qucalion visbly winces as he puts weight on his still wounded leg. "While finding those responsible is a excellent idea. We may want to aslo find out what we do about that thing." Qucalion indicates the barrior at the gates.

- Rudyard:
      Rudyard steps forward and Lays Hands upon Qucalion's leg, letting the Grace of Heironeous flow until the wizard-warrior can stand straight again.
      "Indeed, princeling, I must confess that rare are my visists to this place of learning. Perhaps thou wouldst consult with thy fellows who are skilled in the arcane arts and seek to unravel that mystery whilst those of us with more mundane talents seek to uphold the Laws of Nyrond even beneath this alien sky."

- Dustick:
      Dustick jumps to his feet and rushes closer to the stage, ready to stabilize with lay on hands or attempt Heal checks to try to keep anyone from dying. He will spend some time rummaging through the wreckage of the stage to make sure that nobody is in the Dying condition.
      Once he is satisfied that there is no one to help, he will try to scan the crowd looking for anything or anyone that looks out of place.

Dustick regains his feet and works his way towards the remains of the stage, also looking to help those in need, which is unfortunately quite a few. Surverying the area to find those most likely to survive, he notices somebody crouched over a body to the side of the stage (about 40 feet away). At first Dustick figures nothing is unusual, the man is just helping another victim, but then he stands, looks around furtively and briskly walks away.

      Dustick points at the man and shouts at the top of his lungs in what he hopes will be a yell that can be heard over the crowd and bring him assistance, "HOLD, CRAVEN ONE!!!!! STAND WHERE YOU ARE!!!!"
      As much as Dustick wants to pursue the fleeing suspect, helping the injured is more urgent. Believing that the man is unlikely to stop because of his command, Dustick tries to commit the man's facial features and attire to memory.

Dustick yells after the man, who does not react but continues walking briskly away while holding his hands to his head. Dustick then walks to the body the man was with, to find Professor Nina Vedissallian laying on the ground, unmoving. A quick check finds her quite dead, but the cause is more of a surprise to Dustick than anything--a dagger of quite unusual design is stuck in her back, perfectly piecing her heart.

      Dustick once again raises his voice to the top of his lungs:
      "MURDER!!!! STOP THAT MAN! SOMEBODY STOP THAT MAN!"

- Qucalion:
      "The professors may be able to tell us if this is the expected result of it blowing up. Then whoever was responsible knew what would happen. Then that might lead us to know who would know this. If this result is entrely random, then they wouldn't know this would happen as opposed to leaving a steaming crater." Qucalion returns Lord Flessern's gaze. "In which case, we're lookng for someone different."

- Rudyard:
      Rudyard nods his head in the direction of the recently expired professor. "I fear this one has passed on to a plane from which she will return less easily than we may hope to. But mayhap thou canst find others within these halls who know of her work. Again, I must confess that I am more at a loss than usual when thou dost speak of the finer details of planar catastrophes. Yon dagger in the heart speaks more clearly to me, and I shall leave the Planar Mysteries to you. Be so kind as to report what thou dost discover, as I shall likewise do. When we have solved both the worldly and other worldly puzzles, perhaps the two together shall make a whole."
      Rudyard bows to Qucalion and returns his attention to the scene before him.

      Flexing his leg, Qucalion nods his thanks. "Maintaining order is an excellent goal, and my expedite our investigations... I was following the person she was arguing with. Perhaps we can find someone who knows him, and we can find him." Qucalion turns and calls out, "Are there any associates of the Professor here?"

- Lahrneh:
      Lahrneh gets out from under the tree limb that fell on him, looks around to see if there is any threat [spot check, but presumably not], and then sets to work with 1st aid for himself and/or those around him.
      After checking for immediate danger (and finding none), Lahrneh binds his arm, which is broken. He then heads towards the wounded in the crowd, clutching his arm to one side. While helping somebody to stand and regain their footing, a cleric of Heironeous steps up to him, "My son, you appear to be wounded, if you would allow, I can administer the healing powers of Heironeous in your favor."
      Lahrneh finds that working with a broken arm is both painful and ineffective. So he quickly accepts the offered cure. "I thank you greatly, kind Father. I fear a one armed archer is worth very little." He starts to add more, but the priest has no time to listen.
      Lahrneh starts to return to helping with the wounded, but Lord Rudyard's speech gets his attention, as does the reference to the strange sky. What does this mean? He can think of a dozen possibilities, all undesirable, and he is only a novice mage.
      Well, the old man's appeal for adventurers makes some sense, and Lahrneh is not much of a healer, so perhaps he should help there?
      His thoughts are disturbed by yelling near the stage, "HOLD, CRAVEN ONE!!!!! STAND WHERE YOU ARE!!!!" Followed a moment later with, "MURDER!!!! STOP THAT MAN! SOMEBODY STOP THAT MAN!"
      Ops, something that looks more immediate. Time to find out exactly how well the cleric did at healing his arm.
      Lahrneh pulls an arrow and shoots, aiming a little ahead of the fleeing figure, so to warn, not harm, this time and yells, "Halt or Die!"

- Bandric:
      With lightning fast reflexes of a skilled rogue, Bandric tumbles into his Norker friend, shielding him from the damage.
      Bandric: You okay Nar?
      Narthos: Uh, yeah. You're adventuring life is sure dangerous. Bandric: It is. (He looks around at the strange result of the explosion) Hmm, you would think after traveling to the dust world and back I'd be familiar with planar weirdness.
      He gets up slowly, his body wrecked with pain from the impact. Nar gets up and dusts off his armor.
      Narthos: What now?
      Bandric: I don't know. I think we've been knocked out a few seconds.

- Rudyard:
      Rudyard peers at Bandric.
      "You there, the woodsman with the evil lackey! Come to thy senses, cease consorting with that goblin, and look for signs of recent passage yonder!"
      Rudyard points to the spot at the edge of the commons where the mysterious figure who might have thrown the disk left from.

- Bandric:
      Bandric turns to salute the Knight. "Sir Rydyard, I'll check for signs immediately. Also, Nar here is not as evil as his kin. I am teaching him the ways of good folk. In fact, my other charge is grimlock. Ehlonna has put these charges into my care and under my tutledge. We should not question her wisdom."
      He adjusts his goggles and begins to search for tracks. "Hmm, this way."

- Barok:
      Sensing the explosion a second before it actually hit Barok braces himself and is merely knocked to one knee. Unfortunately this also made him an excellent target for the flying debris and Barok is struck by several pieces of the contraption. As the concussion passes he immediately rises and tucks his left arm into his belt to keep from aggravating the wound in his side where a piece of one of the rings has embedded itself.
      He immediately draws his trusty wand and begins tending to those fallen around him who can still be saved. Seeing Lord Rudyard doing the same he continues tending to the fallen.
      As Barok continues to make his way among the fallen, tending to the wounded, it becomes evident that he is badly wounded himself. His left arm hangs loosely with his hand tucked into his belt, and a sheen of blood coats the left side of his silver armor from his left armpit down to his knee. Barok begins organizing a field hospital, until he notices the priest assisting in healing..
      "Brother Heironian," addressing the priest of Heironeous, Barok raises his left arm to expose the piece of the contraption embedded in his side "If you would please help me in extracting this piece of the machine." After the priest assists in his efforts and Barok is healed, he says, "I'm leaving you in charge here. Consider this your field hospital, and be prepared as we may be sending more injured your way as we discover them," then pointing to the cadets that are arriving, "Ask the Sergeant of the cadets for any help that you may need."
      Barok then makes his way towards Lord Rudyard, who is speaking with Bandric, "What now my lord?"

              *                     *                      *                      [ thread: Aria, Eriador, Two Shadows ]

- Two Shadows:
      [back before the explosion]
      The tall scholars head whips to the side as his eyes track the flying black disk. Reacting almost as if he knew if was coming, his hands begin to move and arcane words tumble from his mouth. The frantic movements cause the student robes to slip, revealing heavy armor underneath.
      The raven squawks in glee, "Ain't gonna work. You gonna die!" as he hops around to use Two Shadow's head as cover from the expected blast from the stage.
      [the object continues on its course]
      His frantic casting efforts in vain, Two Shadows turns towards the stage. "I wasn't fast enough." he berates himself under his breath. "I never am. It's always the same. This is happening just like the dreams."
      [the machine starts to collapse]
      Two Shadows eye's dart between the rapidly failing machine, the people already beginning to panic and settle on an open space a few feet away. His face settles into a mask of determination. "This is gonna hurt!" He exclaims quickly stepping a few feet to one side into the open space. He turns back towards the stage expectantly and draws a deep breath.
      The raven claws have a death grip on the back of his head and it begins to chortle.
      [the machine explodes]
      The air flies out of his lungs in a whoosh as he is thrown to the ground.
      The raven takes flight as he falls.
      Had he not moved the ring would have missed him by inches. As it played out the ring lost most of its force hitting Two Shadows and rolls to a stop nearby.
      Landing on the now still ring the raven laughs, "Looks like my dreams may come true as well!" as he waits to see if Two Shadows will get up.

- Aria:
      Aria shakes her head, trying to clear it, as she comes out of being stunned. "Wow! That was kinda neat!" she says enthusiastically, but sort of under her breath. As her vision clears, she looks around at the destruction caused by the device and that magic disk when they impacted. "Whoa. I missed out on seeing some cool stuff." And then she looks up: "I've never seen the sky yellow, before, how awesome!"

[ooc] Any way Aria can have an idea what happened, using any of her knowledges? [/ooc]

She is a little light on the arcane knowledge, but her bardic knowledge tickles something about how two dimensional magic objects coming into contact with each other has variable and potentially disastrous effects. This was heightened by the odd machine contraption portion of the device, as is evidenced by the large iron beam embedded halfway through the stone wall to the west.

      But then she starts to pick out some of her friends in the crowd. "Goodness! Eriador and Two Shadows look really hurt! I don't remember seeing them here before! Silly boys for getting themselves in the way of the blast!"
      As she stands up, steadies herself, and heads over toward her two severely injured friends, she hears someone call out to Lord Rudyard and then go running off. "Lord Rudyard's here? How did I miss him?" Confident that Lord Rudyard will handle whatever troublemakers did this, she continues to head over to her bleeding friends, starting with Eriador. She sings a small song and touches her him with a cure light wounds spell.
      Aria then purposefully heads toward Two Shadows, intent to minister the same healing, but also keeping an eye out for anything else important that might be happening.

- Eriador:
Moans of the injured and prone are the first things that Eriador hears, as his vision and hearing slowly recover from the explosion. He blinks repeatedly, trying to shake off the grimy and dusty feeling that comes from being caught in such a violent reaction. As he gains his bearings, he looks out over the devastation and weakly calls out to the crowd.
      "Horizons! I think I've got pieces of that engine in my chest! Is anyone else hurt?" He looks to the status of Islamach as he calls out, readying his curative wand.

      Eriador clutches the wound in his side while standing and looks around for his horse. After a moment of looking he notices it has run beyond the edge of the clearing, and is standing by a large tree looking around the area skittishly, but apparently with no major injuries. He then peers around the crowd, looking for others also wounded. Aria steps up to him and sings a little, touches his side which begins to feel better.

- Eriador:
An overwhelming feeling of faintness that at first seems due to blood-loss, but lingers as Aria touches Eriador and heals his wounds, envelopes Eriador in a warm blissful cocoon. Mumbling out an inadequate "Thank you, Aria...", Eriador feels flushed and whistles to Islamach to come to him.

              *                     *                     *               [ thread: chase ]

- Deimos:

      Deimos begins to chase down the suspected culprits of the mayhem. He urges the good Lord Rudyard with a quick hand motion to follow.

Deimos realizes the two people are heading in different directions, but is quick to notice Storm heading to east after one individual, and opts to follow the one runnig to the south west instead (straight towards the Wadroll School

- Uttara:
      FLASH!!!!Followed by a blast of energy pushes Uttara to the ground. As she shakes off the effects of the blast, she sees the two men leaving the commons. Hoping to catch up with them, she begins her chase.
      From the corner of her eye she see's a large piece of one of the rings come flying through the air towards her direction. ((Mouqol's luck be with me)) She thinks to herself as she starts to tumble, when mid flip she's hit...Then darkness.
      Uttara moves the cloak that covers her face to look at the damage. Blood, bone and bits of flesh were everywhere and the weight upon her chest unbearable. Pushing the dead body of the scholar that knocked her down off her and rising. The chunk of machinery had hit him and was now stuck in his chest. Turning back to the two she was originally after, she notices two others taking chase after them also. (Deimos and Rudyard?) Bruised and battered but no worse for wear, Uttara sees the blood stains on her coat. An anger wells up inside her as she curses to herself. ((Damn, it's gonna take forever to get these stains out.)) With that she sprints through the crowd after them.

After checking her clothes, she scans the area to see the two people she was originally chasing. She immediately notices Deimos who ran by her a moment ago, and is chasing somebody to the south. She immediately begins pursuit.

[Deimos casts web]

              *                     *                     *               [ thread: misc ]

- Serenia:
      Serenia, seated on the ground, and a little confused at how that is possible as she was standing a moment ago, shakes her head and winces slightly. Looking over to Deimos, she smiles, and gives a nod to the two men she was just talking to.
      "Run, please," says the female elf. "I shall tend to the wounded, with others of their faiths." There is a slight pause, as Serenia then looks upwards with a frown. "And I shall contemplate ... that," she says flatly pointing to the sky and the barrier above.

Judge: [knowledge Arcana: d20=13+5=>18]
Serinia spends some time helping those that can be helped. During this process she contemplates the sky above, and also notices the same barrier at both exits to the university. It doesn't appear like any single spell, but rather some sort of grouping of multiple spells. It even has a mix of some arcane and divine. Very unusual.

- Pierre:
      Pierre rank towards the stage, hoping to intercept the portable hole, but he just wasn't fast enough! The hole slammed into the spinning object on stage and the world exploded. A giant hand cut the sun from the universe, snuffed out every light, leaving Pierre starring wide eyed and blind into the darkness. As the darkness engulfed him, he saw without seeing -- stars spinning and dancing, wheeling int he glare of primordial fires. He heard a great noise of wind, as though the world's exhalation rushed past him, propelling him into the stratosphere. And then, it all faded away into a gentle blackness and his mind was overwhelmed with one concept. Pain. Stark keening agony so strong that it required everything he had merely to whimper.
      Pain so overbearing, so overwhelming, that when Pierre opened his mouth to scream, ihs loudest shriek came out as a soft mewing, like that of a young kitten. He lay huddled on the hard-packed dirt, waiting for the pain to reside. Surely the pain would fade soon -- surely the glowing fires would bank themselves and die out -- surely the dancing stars would retreat into the darkness and he would be able to see again! A long shuddering eternity later, Pierre lay there, panting. The fires had gone out, and the memory of the pain was receding into the dim recesses of his memory. Still shuddering slightly, Pierre rolled over onto his back.
      The memory of the pain almost forgotten by now, Pierre clumsily rolled onto his knees and stood up. He fingered his clothes and weapons and found them . . . miraculously unharmed. But, why, then . . . as his groping hands found the large gash along the side of his head Pierre realized why he had experienced what he had. Sure, he'd heard of people seeing stars before after a blow to the head, but he'd always thought that nothing more than a metaphor. That someone's brain would actually conjure up images of stars and fires when struck in the head . . .
      Pierre wanted to explore this avenue of thoughts more, but seeing the shimmering curtain that stretched above and around the stage area, he knew that he would have to postpone further inquires until a later date. As his hearing returns Pierre becomes aware of the chaos that has erupted around him. Some person is standing up yelling something about murder, and some elf is shooting at people -- luckily the elf missed. Pierre backs up against the stage, warily eyeing both the milling crowd of onlookers and those taking more direct lines of action. Thankfully, King's troops have arrived. Being the curious sort that he is, Pierre starts to casually walk up behind the officer in charge of the troops to hear what sort of orders he's issuing to his troops.