Scene 1, Week 7: An After Dinner Mint
NMRC camp, edge of the Digital Desert ; Lerris' Tent.
Lerris is still covered in pudding, but in relatively high spirits. What Yet May Be is laughing, and much less coated than Lerris.
<What Yet May Be> I'll have to make meals more often, if they're as much of a blast as this one.
<Hunter Lerris> It's a nice gesture, What Yet May Be, but...
<What Yet May Be> It hits a little too close to home?
<Hunter Lerris> Exactly.
<What Yet May Be> ::sighs:: You're going to have to get over this eventually, Lerris. You can't shut everyone out forever.
<Hunter Lerris> Watch me try.
<What Yet May Be> Lerris! You know exactly what I mean. Why must you be so difficult?
<Hunter Lerris> What is with everyone? They keep telling me to stop being difficult! Do you want me to be easy? Isn't that a bad thing, being easy?
<What Yet May Be> But those refer to different things.
<Hunter Lerris> Really? Are you so sure?
<What Yet May Be> Yes! 'Being easy' refers to dating and---
<Hunter Lerris> And isn't that what's driving everyone nuts? That I'm playing hard to get?
<What Yet May Be> What!! Now, wait a second here. Are you implying that the entire Net is out trying to pick you up? That's rather conceited! And it's not like you have an email box full of pick up lines, either. You NEVER get mail.
<Hunter Lerris> It's not like that, but...
<What Yet May Be> Then what is it like, oh infinitely wise and attractive one. (mutters under her breath) Gag!
<Hunter Lerris> I heard that. Funny how you were acting all defensive about the subject, when a few minutes ago--
<What Yet May Be> We have to keep you away from those psychiatry books. They're giving you--
<Hunter Lerris> Extreme insight?
<What Yet May Be> Try 'paranoia'.
<Hunter Lerris> Book 3, pages 41-64 inclusive.
<What Yet May Be> What?
<Hunter Lerris> That's the section covering paranoia. I memorized the pages, in case I ever needed them.
<What Yet May Be> Great. You're paranoid about paranoia.
<Hunter Lerris> What can I say?
<What Yet May Be> Nothing. Shut up and let me finish. That will make things easier for both of us. ::pauses to see if Lerris will keep his mouth shut:: Alright. Lerris, have you had any other champions before me? If you try and joke your way out of this one, I'll hate you forever. Understood?
<Hunter Lerris> ::nods: Crystal clear. ::turns slightly away:: You're not the first.
<What Yet May Be> I thought so. What was she like?
<Hunter Lerris> Not much different from you. A little more feminine and delicate, very nice, and a little less vocal. She seemed perpetually happy. Infinitely graceful, too. How did you know she was a female?
<What Yet May Be> I know your personality type. It was painfully obvious. ::pauses:: You know how you always treat Security Nodes special, and are looking for them?
<Hunter Lerris> Yeah?
<What Yet May Be> What happens if you find one of your lost friends? What happens to us? ::pauses nervously:: (shakily) What happens to me?
<Hunter Lerris> This isn't like you, What Yet May Be. Normally you're much more self-confident.
<What Yet May Be> I know, Lerris. But this is something I have to know. Forget Leandr, forget whatever else you think may be triggering this, and tell me.
<Hunter Lerris> Well----
A Digital Fire Mage flies through the tent wall.
GB-622394 attacks Arimas with Napalm Mint..
Arimas is strong against the attack! 3 damage!
<GB-622394> Sir! We have problem!
Arimas uses the skill The Becoming.....
Arimas will become more powerful each turn!
<Arimas> Ah.. It would appear I have found you, mortal Hunter. You and your pathetic band have been trekking across my desert. In ancient days dwelt a culture that rightfully worshipped me, and you dare to attempt to pass through without an offering, let alone permission?
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Scene 2, Week 6:
Offerings
<Hunter Lerris> Um.... Apologies, your.... godliness. What Yet May Be, can I talk to you for a minute? ::pulls his Champion aside:: (whispering) Get Pidedis in here NOW. Get every decent Phantom NetMonster clustered around the Fish pond. This is one of Shade's bosses. I'll stall for time. Go! ::turns to face Arimas:: I was not aware we had trespassed into your litterbox-- I mean territory. This is a bit late, but would you grant us leave to pass through it?
<Arimas> No! All who pass through here must die! And don't think I'm not aware of your purpose, Hunter . All who oppose Shade must also die. You shall be honored, pathetic one. I am obligated to kill you twice. Perchance I shall torment you in the Afterlife.
<Hunter Lerris> Um... There was mention of tribute?
<Arimas> Ah. Yes. Tribute. ::stretches out lazily:: What will you present before me?
<Hunter Lerris> Well... I've never met a god before. I'm not exactly sure what would please you. (muttering) Pidedis, where are you?
<Arimas> Gold, gems, rare incense, priceless treasures.... That sort of thing. Blood sacrifices also work nicely.
<Hunter Lerris> Really.
Pidedis enters through the hole in the tent wall.
<Hunter Lerris> Ah.... Pidedis, can I have a word with you?
<Pidedis> What in the name of Thor is going on here? Isn't that Arimas? Well, there's more than one way to ski---
<Hunter Lerris> Pidedis, a word? ::jerks her off to the side:: (whispering) If you fed me the last of our "Holy Kitty" Cat Food, I'm going to kill you.
<Pidedis> (whispering) I think there's still some left.
<Hunter Lerris> (whispering) Alright. Get it and I'll stall for more time.^* Now, your Lordship, I hear the ancient Egyptians were very into games of strategy and cunning. ::pulls out the Data Node chess set:: Perhaps I may provide you with a new game of strategy to play with your fellow gods. This piece is called a pawn. They're the mortals of the game, very expendable.....
^* I can't believe I'm so ill-prepared!! Usually I go hunting for the bosses, not the other way around.
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NMRC Camp, Edge of the Digital Desert ; Food tent.
A variety of NetMonsters are lined up, dishing out food to waiting NetMonsters. Pidedis bursts through the scene, panting.
<Pidedis> I need "Holy Kitty" Cat Food. Now! Gimme all of it!
<Food Server Ghost> Come on, Pidedis. Leave Lerris alone. You already fed him Angst O's. Don't try and pretend Joc was working on his own.
<Pidedis> No! This is important! I've got direct orders from Lerris. Hand it over now!
<Food Server Ghost> If I find out this is another one of your practical jokes...
<Pidedis> ::grabs the food and runs:: Later! Gotta save Lerris!
<Food server Mech> That's so romantic... It sound like something out of a story book....
<Phantom Ghost> Ugh.. Don't say that. Gimme some Angst O's before I start feeling sick.
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NMRC Camp, Edge of the Digital Desert ; Lerris' tent.
Arimas is still playing chess with Lerris, as Lerris stalls for time.
<Hunter Lerris> You can't do that. Remember how bishops.. er.. High Priests move?
<Arimas> You dare tell a god what they can and can't do?
<Hunter Lerris> Er.....
<Arimas> Check mate. My, this is fun.
<Hunter Lerris> Not check mate. You see, I can still-- ::stops as Arimas sends a withering glance:: Yes. You win. How nice.
<Pidedis> Lerris! I've got the---
<Hunter Lerris> The offerings. Set them down in front of his Lordship.
<Pidedis> Okay.........
<Arimas> ::sniffs the "Holy Kitty" Cat Food:: Hmm... ::takes a careful nibble:: How delicious. What a pity I must kill you. Mmmmmm....
<Hunter Lerris> Pidedis, hit him with Needle Bomb! Now!
Pidedis attacked Arimas with Needle Bomb....
103 damage!
<Arimas> You dare challenge a god?
<Hunter Lerris> Pidedis, run! To the Fish pond**!
** Okay.. Watering hole. It's a desert, okay? Where do you expect me to find a lake?
<Pidedis> What?
<Hunter Lerris> Run! Trust me!
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Scene 3, Week 7 Chip off the old block
NMRC Camp, Edge of the Digital Desert ; Fish 'pond'.
Phantom Netmonsters line the shores of the oasis in a loose order. What Yet May Be stands on the tips of her toes, looking for any sign of Arimas.
<Hunter Lerris> ::runs toward the congregation of Phantom NetMonsters:: Fire! Fire! I don't care what! Just fire!!
<Pidedis> I can take this guy! Why are we running, Lerris?
146 Phantom Netmonsters let loose a slew of attacks on Arimas......
938 damage!
<Arimas> Oh my..........
Arimas was defeated!
<Pidedis> I could have taken him! Whatever happened to honorable one-on-one battles?
<What Yet May Be> Yeah. That wasn't exactly nice.
<Hunter Lerris> I panicked. Sorry.
<What Yet May Be> And why did you have us meet at the Fish pond. This isn't the most defensible position.
<Hunter Lerris> The rest of you are dismissed. Good work. ::waits for the Phantom NetMonsters to disperse:: Take a look in the bottom of the pond.
<What Yet May Be> That's Leandr's Knowledge Crystal ! I've been wanting to get my hands on that for the last few weeks! Hey, Berokuko, go get it for me, okay?
<Hunter Lerris> What's Berokuko doing here?
<Pidedis> This is the Fish pond, remember, Lerris?
<Hunter Lerris> Oh.
<Berokuko> Here you go, What Yet May Be.
<What Yet May Be> Alright! I want to merge with this thing and see what kinda power I can get! ::concentrates:: This isn't working... ::frowns and examines the crystal intently:: This thing is chipped!
<Hunter Lerris> I know. ::points at a white shard thread through a string around his wrist::
<What Yet May Be> You jerk! What did you do that for?
<Hunter Lerris> That's what she offered me.
<Pidedis> Who?
<Hunter Lerris> Leandr. She offered to merge with me.
<Pidedis> Is that possible?
<What Yet May Be> Search me. I haven't the slightest.
<Hunter Lerris> Might be. She was crazy, but seemed to know what she was talking about.
<What Yet May Be> So you ruined my chance because of your own fears?
<Hunter Lerris> Do you know what might happen if you merge with her?
<What Yet May Be> What are you talking about? This is just her Knowledge crystal, not her.
<Hunter Lerris> And you're sure of that? Do you know how far the roots of the insanity go?
<Pidedis> You two have totally lost me.
<What Yet May Be> I can take care of myself.
<Hunter Lerris> And what if you are wrong? Could I ever get you back?
<What Yet May Be> Look, I'm not her. I don't even know what the name of your first Champion was, anyway.
<Pidedis> Now I'm confused....
<Hunter Lerris> Her name.... is immaterial. I'm not going to argue this point. I'm going to go get a snack.
<Pidedis> Come to think of it, why does this always come back to food? And why are you covered in pudding?
<Hunter Lerris> ::blushes:: That's complicated. And it comes back to food because I was once one of the Monks of Lunch*. They believe that, as lunch is the center of one's temporal day, so lunch should be the center of one's spiritual day. ::leaves in a huff::
*Stolen with no regret from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Life, the Universe, and Everything)
<Pidedis> Okay...... Hey Lerris, wait up! ::runs after Lerris::
<What Yet May Be> Stupid Lerris. He's such a jerk. I'm the only one who gets anything done around here. ::inspects the spot where Arimas fell:: Ah.. Here's the Decryption Key**. And a Lottery drawing? My, wasn't that thoughtful of him. Or very overconfident. **1 out of the 84 parts of the Decryption Key needed to enter Shade's Tower, attainable by firing one of his bosses.
Combo: Plant-Bird-Mech Level: 40
<What Yet May Be> Lerris is still a jerk. You'll agree with me, right? It's all his fault that nobody won.
Will Lerris ever find one of his original NetMonsters?
Can one issue of NML go by without a mention of food?
What else is left to happen to Lerris on Fridays?
What section of the Net will the camp move to?
Can Lerris get back on good terms with his Champion?
What was the name of Lerris' first Champion?
What will become more important: the Past or the Future?
The answer to these exciting and intriguing questions next edition of NML !!!
