Difference between revisions of "Holes/Session 34"

A fragment of the Garden of Remembering
(Rest of it)
(Format and prune)
Line 1: Line 1:
<pre>
{{#CSS:
Gaurav: <>
.sp-shot-heading {
"Frezak (GM): Gravy would steal the bits of beard that got stuck to the table."
font-weight: bold;
When this game restarts, I insist htat "bits of Radek's beard" go into Gravy's inventory
}
it might be important
}}
Apheori (GM): Chat has been archived to: http://wiki.zaori.org/wiki/Holes#Sessions
<screenplay>
This will eventually be formatted and some of the random chatter removed, but the originals will remain in the page histories.
EXT. Horrible nightmare realm - space
Frezak: Per guarav's request, I added 'bits of Radek's beard' to your inventory (since you'd said you'd pick them up). Feel free to remove them or whatever if that's wrong.
 
Frezak (GM): I need some... honey.
Rhu has tumbled out into space and is just sort of drifting now. Largely catatonic, not really dead or alive. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.
Apheori (GM): Oh?
 
Frezak (GM): To stick the beard to my face.
Sometimes he'd pray. He'd meditate. He'd sing songs. He'd tell stories. He'd start talking a LOT to himself, except mostly in his head, because of the whole no-air thing. ''(rolled 21 religion)''
If i'm going to be Acting Grump
 
Gaurav: They should have honey in the bar, I guess.
He hears laughter from time to time. It sounds a bit like Hazz.
Or you could fall through the floor and stick the beard on with all the gunk in the basement I fell into.
 
It's very squishy.
Suddenly Amadi is sitting on Rhu. He doesn't necessarily notice right away.
Frezak (GM): Somehow that is not an appealing proposition.
 
Apheori (GM): Rhu tumbled out into space.
AMADI
I don't recommend it.
Wheeeee!
Does he go insane?
 
Gaurav: It's very relaxing.
Amadi does some stuff to make the spinning go faster.
How long has he been out in space for?
 
Apheori (GM): Forever.
RHU
Gaurav: I think he'd be more likely to go catatonic.
HEY!
No hunger, no metabolism, no fear, no change.
(confused)
Apheori (GM): Okay, a few hours.
Gaurav: He'd wait, and wait, and wait.
He'd pray. He'd meditate. He'd sing songs. He'd tell stories. He'd start talking a LOT to himself, except mostly in his head, because of the whole no-air thing.
Apheori (GM): When Ellemerr gets back, I propose Amadi sit on him.
Gaurav: Rhu'd protest if he could, but how would he protest? He's all out of farts.
Oh, you know what?
No metabolism, no hair growth. No hair growth, no beard.
So he's neither mad nor bearded.
(Yet.)
Frezak (GM): I forgot that Rhu was undead.
Gaurav: ... so did I, actually. I thought that was the basement.
Apheori (GM): He isn't.
Frezak (GM): Damn.
Apheori (GM): Is he?
Frezak (GM): When you were blind I should have just gotten some fresh eyeballs.
Gaurav: o.0
^- from two different people
or like, one from a cat
no metabolism, no immune system, no organ rejection
brb
Apheori (GM): No organ taking, either. Things need to heal together.
Gaurav: Hmm
I feel like Radek could fix that
with chewing gum and chicken wire
Apheori (GM): EVERYONE.
BEGIN.
Rhu is tumbling through empty space in some weird nightmare plane, not really dead or alive.
Gaurav: How long has Rhu been floating in space for now?
Apheori (GM): And I am arbitrarily decreeing that Amadi is sitting on him.
Ellemerr: I can do that.
Apheori (GM): I'ma go with a long time. Several days at least. Long enough for his mind to basically shut down.
Gaurav: Ooo
When did Amadi appear?
Apheori (GM): Rhu: Amadi is suddenly sitting on you.
You may or may not have noticed right away.
I don't know what she's doing. Is she doing anything?
Gaurav: I only have two points of time reference: when I passed out from under the Giant Arm, and then when the Giant Blob disappeared in the distance
Ellemerr: I'm slowly spinning head-over-heels, I think.
Amadi: Wheeeee
Amadi does whatever to make the spinning go faster.
Rhu: HEY!
Wait. Am I shouting in my head? Ow.
Wait. Am I shouting in my head? Ow.
You up there. Stop shouting "Whee". I'm trying to sleep.
You up there. Stop shouting "Whee". I'm trying to sleep.
Amadi shouts "Wheeeee" very quietly.
 
Gaurav: I assume Rhu hasn't bothered to open his mouth or attempt to take a breath given, y'know, space. I also assume that this doesn't matter.
AMADI
Ganelon: Where and when are the rest of us right now?
(very quietly)
Rhu turns around to look
Wheeeee!
Rhu: You.
 
Of course it had to be you.
RHU
Where's Dave?
(turning around to look)
Ellemerr: Where's Dave?
You. Of course it had to be you. Where's Dave?
Apheori (GM): You all are probably in the guardhouse. Gravy was sleeping, Radek was doing worky stuff, and Greibel was... also doing something resembling sleep. But now it's morning.
 
Dave is... elsewhere.
AMADI
Actually I have no idea.
(whispering)
Should I be concerned? Are you concerned?
Elsewhere.
Amadi whispers "Elsewhere."
 
Ganelon: About Dave?
RHU
(To Amadi): Also Rhu has to be dead and not in any living realm or you wouldn't be able to sit on Rhu like this.
Hmm. I guess that makes about as much sense as anything.
Ellemerr: Works for me! :P
 
Rhu: Hmm. I guess that makes about as much sense as anything.
At this point, Rhu is just sort of talking in his head. Trying to talk. Knowing what he means to say, but no words coming out. Whereas Amadi is actually making words, but it's not quite clear how. Regardless, both can 'hear' each other.
Ganelon: Dave is so far beyond Radek's ability to control that she might as well be dubbed the Quantum Godling.
 
(To Amadi): Considering he doesn't have the key, and all.
AMADI
Gaurav: Incidentally, Rhu has been praying every few hours when he remembers to. He remembers less often these days, but I'm going to roll his last religion check just to see how his intergodal relationships are progressing.
(still whispering)
Frezak (GM): You can control Amadi?
Whyyyy are you trying to sleeep? They say you don't need to sleep when you're dead.
Apheori (GM): Also Rhu is just sort of talking in his head. Trying to talk. Knowing what he means to say. But no words coming out. Whereas Amadi is actually making words, but it's not quite clear how. Regardless you both can 'hear' each other.
 
You're, like, in a vacuum or something.
RHU
Amadi whispers, "Whyyyy are you trying to sleeep? They say you don't need to sleep when you're dead."
There wasn't anything else to do until you came along. I don't know how long it's been. There was a giant blob monster, but it's gone away now.
Ganelon: Okay, fair enough, but clearly quantum entanglement is at work here.
 
Gaurav:
Amadi bonks Rhu on the head. The bonk causes Rhu to start spinning the other way, breaking several really very important laws of physics in the process.
rolling d20+9 religion check, but Rhu's long past the point of actually asking Hazz' for anything: it's just a general prayer of blessing for the world or something.
 
(
AMADI
12
Why're you here in the first place? Silly place to be, really.
)
 
+9
=
21
Rhu: There wasn't anything else to do until you came along. I don't know how long it's been. There was a giant blob monster, but it's gone away now.
Amadi bonks Rhu on the head.
Amadi: Why're you here in the first place?
Silly place to be, really.
Apheori (GM): Rhu: You hear laughter from time to time. It sounds a bit like Hazz.
Gaurav: The bonk causes Rhu to start spinning the other way, breaking several really very important laws of physics in the process.
Ellemerr: Psha, important laws of physics. I've no patience for them!
Rhu thinks for a bit. Given Amadi and Rhu's current state of weirdness, this might be minutes or hours or days.
Rhu thinks for a bit. Given Amadi and Rhu's current state of weirdness, this might be minutes or hours or days.
Radek: Alright!
 
Apheori (GM): Gods, it's dry here.
RHU
I had yo spray superglue with water just to get it to set.
I guess I could say that it started when you handed me the mask, but it didn't really, did it? In some way I've been heading here my whole life.
Sorry.
 
Rhu: I guess I could say that it started when you handed me the mask, but it didn't really, did it? In some way I've been heading here my whole life.
He waves at the darkness and the void.
Rhu waves at the darkness and the void
 
Gaurav: Oh oh, sorry, I meant to ask but I forgot: this place isn't like Midnight, in that I can't make this appear by thinking about them, correct?
Ellemerr clambers over Rhu's head to dangle her own in front of his face, peering at him through narrow eyes.
The Gravedigger: Wasn't me!
Amadi clambers over Rhu's head to dangle her own in front of his face, peering at him through narrow eyes.
Amadi clambers over Rhu's head to dangle her own in front of his face, peering at him through narrow eyes.
The Gravedigger: It was totally someoene else that sole your hair.
 
Amadi: This about Hazz, is it?
AMADI
Apheori (GM): Yeah, it's more... real. Or less.
This about Hazz, is it?
Did Gravy actually attach the beard bits to his head? >.>
 
Radek: Stole my-
Radek does a quick, desperate beard-check.
Frezak (GM): No, he just has them in a bag.
Ellemerr: I'm imagining this whole head-business in chibi style, by the by.
Gaurav: Ellemerr: bear in mind that Rhu's face is (1) blind, so maybe his eyes look weird, (2) but he's wearing the mask you handed him, (3) but it's covered in the remains of some globby viscous fluid with scratch marks in it, and (4) has a faint hint of puke about the lips. So, enjoy.
Does Amadi look hairy to Rhu?
Rhu nods.
Rhu nods.
Ellemerr: Amadi won't have any problems with that.
 
Rhu: I think I've worked it out. I think this is a dead end. My dead end. Maybe The dead end. I don't know. I don't think I want to know.
 
Apheori (GM): She's a lot less hairy.
INT. Guardhouse - morning
Radek: ...Never mind! I'm not accusing anyone this morning. Not unless George sees fit to keep us waiting any longer.
 
Rhu: What I want to know is .. what happened to Azariphale?
The rest of the party (Greibel, Radek, and the Gravedigger) are all in the guardhouse. Gravy was sleeping, Radek was doing worky stuff, and Greibel was... also doing something resembling sleep in the next room. But now it's morning.
Apheori (GM): She's hairy.
 
Ellemerr: ... Azariphale? Is this something I've missed or forgotten?
RADEK
Gaurav: Rhu probably doesn't remember exactly how hairy things looked earlier, so he wouldn't notice the difference.
Alright!
Ganelon: Forgotten, most certainly.
 
Apheori (GM): Aziraphale was with the party at the initial village and hole (the one in the sinkhole with the tree).
THE GRAVEDIGGER
He wound up going mad and diving into the hole, never to be seen again.
Wasn't me! It was totally someone else that sole your hair.
Ellemerr: Ooooh!
 
Right.
RADEK
Rhu: And that cat. The talking one. And the other one in the capsule.
Stole my-
So many loose ends. The story can't end with loose ends. And yet, here I am.
 
Amadi: Well what are you sitting around here for, then?!
Radek does a quick, desperate beard-check, but his beard seems to be fine.
Rhu: Well, here *we* are. Unless I'm imagining you.
 
Amadi: That's just stupid.
RADEK
...Never mind! I'm not accusing anyone this morning. Not unless George sees fit to keep us waiting any longer.
 
 
EXT. Horrible nightmare realm
 
RHU
I think I've worked it out. I think this is a dead end. My dead end. Maybe The dead end. I don't know. I don't think I want to know.
What I want to know is .. what happened to Azariphale?
And that cat. The talking one. And the other one in the capsule. So many loose ends. The story can't end with loose ends. And yet, here I am.
 
AMADI
Well what are you sitting around here for, then?! That's just stupid.
 
RHU
Well, here ''we'' are. Unless I'm imagining you.
 
AMADI
Hm? Oh, I'm here because you're here.
Hm? Oh, I'm here because you're here.
Rhu tries to poke Amadi, except he seems to have forgotten how arms and fingers work.
Rhu tries to poke Amadi, except he seems to have forgotten how arms and fingers work.
Gaurav: When are you guys meeting George?
 
Amadi: ...Though I'm not here because you're here in the same way as I would if Greibel was here.
AMADI
...Though I'm not here because you're here in the same way as I would if Greibel was here.
 
Amadi nods sagely to herself.
Amadi nods sagely to herself.
Rhu squints at Amadi, then stops and sighs.
Rhu squints at Amadi, then stops and sighs.
Radek: Where's Greibel?
 
Rhu: Where is Greibel? And the others? Are they okay? Have they figured out how to cure the Holes yet?
RHU
Ganelon: Unintentional!
Where is Greibel? And the others? Are they okay? Have they figured out how to cure the Holes yet?
Frezak (GM): I think I dragged the druid into a room to recover.
 
Amadi gives a long snrrrk, trying not to sound too judgemental.
Amadi gives a long snrrrk, trying not to sound too judgemental.
Radek: I would ask about Rhu as well, but he has a tendency to /show up/.
 
Amadi: They're um, getting there. Probably.
 
INT. Guardhouse
 
RADEK
Where's Greibel? I would ask about Rhu as well, but he has a tendency to ''show up''.
 
In answer to the question, Greibel gets up and starts smoking more stinky hallucinogenic plant. The place begins to really smell awful.
 
Radek takes a moment to blaspheme Hazz in Rhu's absence. Firstly, he starts with an utter lack of reverence for the guy. Talking him down like he's Radek's old college roommate - and like the only way in which he exceeds mortal limits is in his capacity to be a wretched nuisance. Possibly throwing around a few assertions about how "being inconvenient and frustrating" is the "worst domain" and it's not even respectable like a lot of the actually evil gods out there. And so on.
 
Greibel starts singing ''Push It To The Limit'' and makes trucker horn cord-pulling motions. ''(rolled 23 to sing)''
 
Radek gives Greibel weird looks.
 
GREIBEL
(singing)
PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT! WALK ALONG THE RAZOR'S EDGE! SOMETHING SOMETHING WORDS!
 
RADEK
Come on, we have someone useful to meet. And keep singing that, Greibel. It's quite inspirational.
 
GREIBEL
(still singing)
OPEN UP THE LIMIT, PAST THE POINT OF NO RETURN, YOU'VE REACHED THE TOP BUT YOU STILL GOTTA LEARN
 
'''''Ganelon''': I'll try to incite a Wizard of Oz style musical march to the tavern (in the morning no less - aren't WE hardcore).
 
'''''Bear Soup Guy''': We march on!
 
All in all, they head out the door.
 
 
EXT. Horrible nightmare realm
 
AMADI
They're um, getting there. Probably.
 
Rhu nods.
Rhu nods.
Apheori (GM): Yeah, Greibel's on a bed sleeping it off. Unless Gravy left him on the floor.
 
Frezak (GM): I doubt it'd be any effort to pop him onto a bed.
AMADI
Given my manly muscles.
So, do you intend to just stay here, or...?
Gaurav: I've always thought of Greibel as more of a smoking-it-off kind of guy.
 
Amadi: So, do you intend to just stay here, or...?
Rhu sighs.
Rhu sighs
 
Gaurav: And I just want to clarify that all these sighs are in his head, because no air.
RHU
Rhu: That's what Dave asked me back in ... that place. Arah. She was very upset that I wanted to wait for the others.
That's what Dave asked me back in ... that place. Arah. She was very upset that I wanted to wait for the others.
Apheori (GM): He's sleeping off what he smoked.
 
Ellemerr: And the nodding is... also in his head, eh? :P
AMADI
Bear Soup Guy: He'll gladly partake in some hair of the dog though as well :P
Well, it IS pretty disappointing, I must say.
Amadi: Well, it IS pretty disappointing, I must say.
 
Gaurav: It *is* his head!
Rhu stops trying to poke Amadi and tries to shrug instead.
Rhu stops trying to poke Amadi and tries to shrug instead.
Rhu: I don't want to try. I don't want to fail. It's peaceful out here. Peaceful and quiet.
 
RHU
I don't want to try. I don't want to fail. It's peaceful out here. Peaceful and quiet.
 
Amadi raises her eyebrows, giving Rhu the "Really? That's your excuse?" look.
Amadi raises her eyebrows, giving Rhu the "Really? That's your excuse?" look.
Rhu: There's so much time to think. It's all I've been doing, thinking. And sleeping. And dreaming.
 
Gaurav: Has Rhu been dreaming? If not, he's only been imagining it.
RHU
Apheori (GM): He's been imagining it.
There's so much time to think. It's all I've been doing, thinking. And sleeping. And dreaming.
Amadi: Dreaming? Here? Don't make me laugh.
 
Apheori (GM): Unless, of course, this is a dream.
AMADI
Radek takes a moment to blaspheme Hazz in Rhu's absence.
Dreaming? Here? Don't make me laugh.
(To Amadi): For all I know that's how you've managed to show up.
 
Gaurav: haha
Apheori (GM): Radek: Could you give specifics? I want specifics.
(From Amadi): Yeah, but that still makes the idea of dreaming ridiculous.
Frezak (GM): I'm cool with blashpemy.
Gaurav: "Thank fucking Hazz' Rhu's not here"
Bear Soup Guy: XD
Apheori (GM): BSG: By hair of the dog, do you mean Greibel smokes more of the really stinky hallucinogens?
(From Gaurav): oh, you asked me to remind you that Greibel should be able to see into the future or something
Bear Soup Guy: Indeed
A small amount
Apheori (GM): Gravy: The place is really starting to smell awful.
Gaurav: A pick-me-way-up
Bear Soup Guy: heh heh
Ganelon: Well, firstly, he'll start with an utter lack of reverence for the guy.
Talking him down like he's Radek's old college roommate - and like the only way in which he exceeds mortal limits is in his capacity to be a wretched nuisance.
That might not be blasphemy, mind you.
Gaurav: Hmm, I wonder if Hazz' has an ego.
Amadi outlines the mask with a finger against Rhu's skin, grinning slightly.
Amadi outlines the mask with a finger against Rhu's skin, grinning slightly.
Amadi: Would you like to dream again? Properly?
 
Rhu squints at Amadi
AMADI
Rhu: No.
Would you like to dream again? Properly?
Yes.
 
Maybe.
RHU
Apheori (GM): Also, guys, I have to apologise. I just got a new tablet pen in the mail and it's really distracting me.
(squinting at Amadi)
Rhu: I don't know.
No. Yes. Maybe. I don't know.
Gaurav: Nice!
 
Amadi gives an exasperated harumph.
Amadi gives an exasperated harumph.
Frezak (GM): Even the godlings have little respect for gods.
 
I think you can blashpeme as much as you like.
Rhu closes his eyes.
You need a god-killer bomb.
 
Apheori (GM): I don't even know what is blasphemy around Hazz.
RHU
Frezak (GM): "I SURE DO LOVE ME SOME CROSSROADS"
Is there really a way back?
(To Ellemerr): Especially since Hazz' great joke is that his entire domain doesn't actually exist.
 
Rhu closes his eyes
AMADI
Rhu: Is there really a way back?
Do you actually want one?
Apheori (GM): Greibel:You're in another room from the other two, right?
 
Amadi: Do you actually want one?
Ganelon: He'd possibly throw around a few assertions about how "being inconvenient and frustrating" is the "worst domain" and it's not even respectable like a lot of the actually evil gods out there.
Apheori (GM): Heee.
Rhu shuts his eyes tightly, and is silent for a while.
Rhu shuts his eyes tightly, and is silent for a while.
Rhu: I would like that. I would like that very, very much.
 
Rhu opens his eyes
RHU
Amadi grins again, widely and devilishly.
I would like that. I would like that very, very much.
(From Amadi): What effect does the mask have on him? Would it help or harm to take it off?
 
Apheori (GM): Greeeeibel.
Rhu opens his eyes.
Bear Soup Guy: I can't remember what building we're in
 
Apheori (GM): You're in the guardhouse.
Amadi grins again, widely and devilishly. Rhu grins along with her, although he's clearly not sure why.
Bear Soup Guy: So I'm in another room if the beds are in another room
 
Rhu grins along with her, although he's clearly not sure why.
AMADI
Apheori (GM): I guess you're sitting on the floor smoking now or something?
So... this dead end is a complete waste of time? Right? And dreams are much better. Well, of course they are.
Bear Soup Guy: Makes sense
But what we want riiiight now...
Amadi: So... this dead end is a complete waste of time? Right?
Out. Outoutoutout.
Bear Soup Guy: Sorry, I'm being distracted by Windows not knowing how to handle speakers and apparently being unsatisfied with my activation key
 
Gaurav: If nothing happens for long enough, Rhu's grin with turn hollow and confused and wrong.
Amadi suddenly tears off Rhu's mask and puts it on herself. Somehow this makes a copy, but despite the original mask remaining on Rhu, the copy pulls off like the tearing of flesh. His face feels raw with out it, exposed.
Apheori (GM): Ahahah windows... wait, I was being distracted by it being too sensitive.
 
Quicky: Greibel: Do you do anything besides smoke?
Rhu screams in surprise, then gasps at the rawness of his faces. He reaches up to touch it, and though his arms still aren't working properly, he gets there in the end. ''(rolled 14 heal to see what's going on with his face)''
Greibel sings Push It To The Limit and makes trucker horn cord-pulling motions
 
Amadi: And dreams are much better. Well, of course they are.
He feels the shape of the mask still there. It just also feels missing. His face, that is, or perhaps the mask? Rhu looks at Amadi in confusion and fright.
Radek gives Greibel weird looks.
 
Amadi: But what we want riiiight now...
Ganelon: Wait wait wait.
How GOOD is his singing?
Apheori (GM): What's a skill to roll for singing?
Amadi: Out. Outoutoutout.
Greibel: WALK ALONG THE RAZOR'S EDGE
Bear Soup Guy: Charisma?
Apheori (GM): Right, roll to sing, add charisma modifier and half-level or whatever.
Rhu starts grinning again at Amadi's evident excitement
Apheori (GM): Or is that already in the modifier?
Ganelon: It doesn't exist anymore. There used to be Perform (various stuff) skills.
Apheori (GM): >.<
Amadi suddenly tears off Rhu's mask and puts it on herself. Unless she takes a copy of it and it actually remains. I'll leave that detail to the GM.
Ganelon: You'd roll 1d20+1/2 level+Cha+(5 if 'trained' in singing)
(To Amadi): Mask lets him see, but turns everything hairy. I dunno what else it does. That's up to you.
Bear Soup Guy: For now I can just do like, 1d20+modifier+half level, can't I?
Apheori (GM): The mask comes off Rhu like the tearing of flesh. His face feels raw with out it, explosed.
Do it.
Gaurav: Aren't you trained in singing? I can't imagine that Greibel has never been in a band.
Bear Soup Guy:
rolling 1d20+2 PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT! WALK ALONG THE RAZOR'S EDGE! SOMETHING SOMETHING WORDS!
(
16
)
+2
=
18
Apheori (GM): Is he trained?
Bear Soup Guy: In singing?
Rhu screams in surprise, then gasps at the rawness of his faces. He reaches up to touch his face, and though his arms still aren't working properly, he gets there in the end.
Rhu:
rolling 1d20+12 heal check to see what's going on with my face
(
2
)
+12
=
14
Apheori (GM): Rhu: You feel the shape of the mask still there. It just also feels missing. Your face, that it. You're a bit confused.
BSG: Yeah.
Bear Soup Guy: I don't see "singing" on my character sheet, so...I assume not?
Ellemerr: I think you decide on that right here and now.
Apheori (GM): That. It's backstory.
Bear Soup Guy: Well then
Ellemerr: I know Amadi is trained in it.
Bear Soup Guy: Greibel was in a band in college, and he has sung in many a dank and dirty bar
Rhu looks at Amadi in confusion and fright
Ellemerr: What does things look like to Rhu now?
Apheori (GM): Hairy and weird. With the queen of the hairiness sitting on top of him.
Radek: Come on, we have someone useful to meet. And keep singing that, Greibel. It's quite inspirational.
Gaurav: He knows exactly which plants to smoke to make his voice smokey, deep and rumbly.
Ganelon: If only my gloves included Ghost Sound.
Gaurav: Oh, so Rhu is no longer blind?
Amadi slowly disappears, leaving her grin, Cheshire style.
Amadi slowly disappears, leaving her grin, Cheshire style.
Apheori (GM): He's still weaing the mask.
 
Gaurav: oh, right
RHU
Apheori (GM): I don't know if he's wearing his FACE anymore, though.
Um. Okay.
Greibel: OPEN UP THE LIMIT, PAST THE POINT OF NO RETURN, YOU'VE REACHED THE TOP BUT YOU STILL GOTTA LEARN
 
Rhu: Um. Okay.
Rhu waits for... minutes? Hours? Days? And then he sighs again.
Apheori (GM): Greibel: Fortitude to not fall over.
 
Er, not fort.
Amadi's grin edges slightly to the side.
Strength or something?
 
Rhu waits for ... minutes? Hours? Days? And then he sighs again.
AMADI'S GRIN
Amadi 's grin edges slightly to the side, whispering enticingly, "Are you coming?"
(whispering enticingly)
Rhu: Oh. Er. Yes?
Are you coming?
Rhu reaches out towards the smile
 
Ganelon: I'll try to incite a Wizard of Oz style musical march to the tavern (in the morning no less - aren't /we/ hardcore).
RHU
Bear Soup Guy: Uh, strength roll, right
Oh. Er. Yes?
rolling 1d20+1
 
(
Rhu reaches out towards the smile.
13
 
)
It pulls him in. To something. Something different, twisty, and full of hair.
+1
 
=
'''''Gaurav''': I gotta ask: am I literally being pulled into the smile, in between the lips, or is the point of the smile, at one end, tearing a hole in space and yanking me through it?
14
 
Gaurav: Acrobatics? To fall over and catch yourself?
'''''Ellemerr''': I think it might be both. The smile tears a hole, and keeps it open with... itself.
Apheori (GM): Gravy, Greibel: Do you go along with Radek's musical march?
 
Bear Soup Guy: We march on!
Through leads into weirdness. He catches a glimpse of Amadi, then suddenly he's somewhere else.
Ganelon: Oh, Radek's not signing. Not unless you tell me he's like Christopher Lee as well as being a brilliant scientist.
 
Apheori (GM): Rhu: You feel the smile pulling you in, to something. Something different, twisty, and full of hair.
Somewhere else entirely, Amadi makes childish "I won" sort of noises at Hazz.
Greibel falls over. This may or may not interrupt his singing.
 
Rhu goes with it.
 
Gaurav: I gotta ask: am I literally being pulled into the smile, in between the lips, or is the point of the smile, at one end, tearing a hole in space and yanking me through it?
EXT. Town street - day
 
The party is heading toward the inn. Greibel is still singing. It's kind of a musical march thing, but too disorganised.
 
Greibel suddenly falls over from an unexpected and invisible weight. ''(rolled 14 strength)'' This doesn't interrupt his singing.
 
Radek sighs.
Radek sighs.
Radek: Could you at least stick to the narcotics that leave your motor functions impaired, Greibel?
 
Ganelon: That don't*
RADEK
Sorry, big distinction there!
Could you at least stick to the narcotics that don't leave your motor functions impaired, Greibel?
Apheori (GM): Amadi: You'd have the best answer to that.
 
Ellemerr: ER.
GREIBEL
Apheori (GM): Greibel: It feels like a somewhat large weight just fell on you.
Well, I prefer to keep an open mind.
Greibel: Well, I prefer to keep an open mind
 
Frezak (GM): If he has no motor control he can't get into trouble!
'''''Frezak''': If he has no motor control he can't get into trouble.
Greibel: Oof!
 
Apheori (GM): You're not sure where the weight actually is.
Greibel tries to get up and fails and winds up just sitting there, still singing. ''(rolled 4 strength to get up)'' Gravy winds up picking him up instead, making exertion noises. ''(rolled 15 strength)'' Greibel seems heavier than usual.
Ellemerr: I think it might be both.
 
Apheori (GM): But it knocked you over.
Then Gravy goes to prop Greibel against a wall and suddenly finds himself holding not just Greibel, but Amadi and a rather sticky Rhu as well. This finally interrupts the singing.
You can get up by rolling strength again.
 
Ellemerr: The smile tears a hole, and keeps it open with... itself.
AMADI
Greibel:
Wheeeee.
rolling 1d20+1
 
(
GREIBEL
3
Oof!
)
 
+1
Rhu looks forward, then over this shoulder, then down at the floor. Then he slides off the heap like a felled ox.
=
 
4
RADEK
Ellemerr: Or something.
...
Apheori (GM): Greibel fails to get up.
 
Ganelon: Gravy, could you?
Rhu gasps for air, then just lies there.
Frezak (GM): NO
 
I CANNOT
YOU HAVE SEEN WHAT MY STR ROLLS DO
Apheori (GM): Rhu: You're pulled through into weirdness. You catch a glimpse of Amadi, then suddenly you're somewhere else.
Gravy, don't be a wuss.
Frezak (GM): I'm just going off precendent!
Amadi makes childish "I won" sort of noises at Hazz.
Frezak (GM): Athletics?
Gaurav: ^-- see, that's how you blaspheme Hazz'
Ganelon: Foul recriminations are the best I've got!
Ellemerr: To be fair, Amadi has had a lot of time to practice.
Apheori (GM): Athletics, then.
Does Gravy pick up Greibel?
Gaurav: Greibel: try rolling the weight off yourself?
Bear Soup Guy: a 4 on strength dictates that I failed rolling the weight off of myself, I think
Apheori (GM): Gravy: Do you ignore him?
Frezak (GM):
rolling 1D20+8
(
7
)
+8
=
15
Hrrrrg
tbrrrlt
Apheori (GM): What do you do?
Is this to pick him up?
Ellemerr: I think it is.
Apheori (GM): Okay.
Gravy picks up Greibel. He feels slightly heavier than usual.
Frezak (GM): Yeah.
Prop him up against a wall.
Apheori (GM): Gavy goes to prop Greibel up against a wall and suddenly finds himself holding not just Greibel, but Amadi and a rather sticky Rhu as well.
Amadi: Wheeeee
Greibel: Oof!
Rhu looks forward, then over this shoulder, then down at the floor. Then he goes down like a felled ox.
Radek: ...
Rhu gasps.
Rhu just lies there.
Amadi clings to Gravy, hoping for more fun riding around times.
Amadi clings to Gravy, hoping for more fun riding around times.
Radek: I should have taken /bets/.
 
Rhu flops around like a dead fish.
RADEK
Gaurav: Err, dying fish
I should have taken ''bets''.
Ganelon: Of WHAT SIZE?
 
Gaurav: Rhu-sized.
Rhu starts flopping around like a dying fish.
The Gravedigger drags Rhu and Amadi to the nearest water source
 
Rhu mutters "I'm okay ... I'm fine ... I can walk ..." while being dragged, while clearly being only barely able to move
The Gravedigger drags Rhu and Amadi toward the nearest water source - it turns out to be a well in the middle of town with a bit of a pool behind it, for whatever reason.
Apheori (GM): There's a well in the middle of town. A bit of a pool behind it, for whatever reason.
 
Amadi goes "Wheeee"
RHU
Radek practices his spiteful grumbling.
(while being dragged)
Gaurav: Okay, by all rights Rhu should now take several hours or days to figure out how to move again given all the time he's spent in space doing nothing, but since that would drag the story down unnecessarily, can we come up with a good/funny reason for this not to be a problem for him?
I'm okay... I'm fine... I can walk...
Ellemerr: Amadi could give him a massage?
 
Massages do wonders to me.
It's clear he's only barely able to move, however.
And she IS part god.
 
Gaurav: (y)
AMADI
I thought God was part her?
Wheeee.
Ellemerr: Er... Let's leave that open.
 
Why are we being dragged to the well?
Radek practices his spiteful grumbling, but then follows and takes samples of the crap on Rhu, as well as some blood samples.
Gaurav: I think 'cos Rhu is gross and covered in strange crap. Not sure why Amadi is being dragged along also.
 
I wonder how Rhu's crap will interact with the silvery stuff we found way, way earlier.
RHU
Ganelon: Oh, he's covered in strange crap?
(mumbling)
I take a sample!
Ouch.
Also a blood sample!
 
Gaurav: On his face. Unless he left it behind when jumping through Amadi's smiles.
RADEK
Rhu: (mumbles) Ouch.
Oh, suck it up. These aren't even my big needles.
Radek: Oh, suck it up. These aren't even my big needles.
 
Apheori (GM): He still is gross and stuff, yes.
RADEK
Ellemerr: So we're dumped in the well or the pond? :P
So where were you ''this'' time? Not the barkeep's cellar, I imagine.
Radek: So where were you /this/ time?
 
Not the barkeep's cellar, I imagine.
AMADI
Gaurav: Rhu is going to ignore all questions until getting Gravy stops dragging him.
He was dead and gone! I got him back! I'm really clever. MUCH better than Hazz.
Amadi: He was dead and gone!
I got him back!
I'm really clever.
MUCH better than Hazz.
Not DEAD dead, mind. But dead-and-gone.
Not DEAD dead, mind. But dead-and-gone.
Gaurav: I think Rhu is going to give up worshipping Hazz' and start worshipping Amadi instead. This is the second time she's saved his life, not counting the time she saved us all from out of Midnight.
Gaurav: I think Rhu is going to give up worshipping Hazz' and start worshipping Amadi instead. This is the second time she's saved his life, not counting the time she saved us all from out of Midnight.
Ellemerr: I'm not sure she'll appreciate that.
Ellemerr: I'm not sure she'll appreciate that.
Gaurav: Eh. I'm not sure Hazz' appreciates Rhu much right now, either.
Gaurav: Eh. I'm not sure Hazz' appreciates Rhu much right now, either.
Ellemerr: Heh...
 
Frezak (GM): Sure, I'll put you guys down by the well.
Gravy leaves Rhu and Amadi by the well and starts bringing up some buckets using manly strength.
And start bringing up some buckets using manly strength.
 
Rhu continues to flop around, looking strangely happy to see everybody and everything.
Rhu goes back to floppin around, looking strangely happy to see everybody and everything.
Radek: So what's the difference between "dead" and "dead and gone"?
 
Amadi gives Rhu a stern look.
RADEK
Amadi: We're not fishes, you know. Not for the time being.
So what's the difference between "dead" and "dead and gone"?
 
AMADI
(she gives Rhu a stern look)
We're not fishes, you know. Not for the time being.
(turning back to Radek)
Emptyness.
Emptyness.
Gaurav: Heh. "Close your mouth please, Rhu, we are not a codfish."
(she nods to herself)
Ellemerr: Yeeees! ;D¨
Mostly emptiness.
I love Mary Poppins a lot.
 
Gaurav: It's an awesome movie!
Rhu splutters politely.
Ellemerr: It is! :D
 
Amadi nods to herself, then repeats to Radek, "Mostly emptiness."
RADEK
Rhu splutters politely
I see.
Radek: I see.
 
Radek plainly does not see.
Radek plainly does not see.
Amadi has long since given up on explaining anything to Radek.
Amadi has long since given up on explaining anything to Radek.
Frezak (GM): DO YOU WANT TO SEE?
 
Ganelon: Worlds apart, these two.
Frezak (GM): I CAN SHOW YOU THE WAY
Ganelon: No that's cool.
Frezak (GM): I can perceive science.
Gaurav: That's what having Gravy vision will get you
Rhu is still flopping about, but his flopping seems more coordinated. He tries to take a sip of water, but winces. He reaches up to feel his face.
Rhu is still flopping about, but his flopping seems more coordinated. He tries to take a sip of water, but winces. He reaches up to feel his face.
Apheori (GM): Greibel: d20, please.
 
Greibel:
Greibel, however, does see. He knows what Amadi is talking about. ''(rolled 20)''
rolling 1d20
 
(
'''''Apheori (GM)''': What was Amadi talking about?
20
 
)
'''''Ellemerr''': The... difference between... being dead and being dead-and-gone. Gravy has been dead. Rhu was dead-and-gone. And those are different. Clearly.
=
 
20
'''''Gaurav''': Gravy has been dead?
Gaurav: Well.
 
Bear Soup Guy: \o/
'''''Frezak''': I... don't think I've been dead?
Apheori (GM): Dammit.
 
Greibel: You know what Amadi is talking about.
'''''Ellemerr''': You got holed, buddy.
Amadi: What are you talking about?
 
Ellemerr: Er...
'''''Frezak''': B..b... BUT
Ganelon: Oh noooo
 
Ellemerr: The... difference between... being dead and being dead-and-gone. Gravy has been dead. Rhu was dead-and-gone. And those are different. Clearly.
'''''Gaurav''': I was wondering how we'd all survived for so long. Evidently, the answer is ... that we didn't.
Gaurav: Gravy has been dead?
 
Ellemerr: *shifty eyes*
'''''Ellemerr''': *cackles*
Unless it was Greibel. Or both. I think they both might have had some death experiences.
 
Which would make it simpler for Greibel to understand what she's talking about.
Thus Greibel is aware of all of this, and the insight also includes a bunch of nature of the universe/multiverse stuff tacked on. The deadity, it's another reality. Lots of realities, really, all layered on top of each other. That one had emptiness where Rhu was, and this one has emptiness elsewhere, but everything, really, is mostly emptiness. But some of them, you're dead. Some of them are death. Something something. CHALK.
Frezak (GM): I... don't think I've been dead?
 
Ellemerr: You got holed, buddy.
Rhu has sort of got fine motor control back now, and is feeling his own face to see if he's still got a mask on. He does.
Frezak (GM): B..b... BUT
 
Ganelon: It's hard to tell when someone dies!
Then Gravy dumps a bucket of water over him. Rinse and repeat.
Like when Radek blew up a hole from inside his portable hole.
</screenplay>
Did he die there or just escape the boundaries of the universe?
Gaurav: I was wondering how we'd all survived for so long. Evidently, the answer is ... that we didn't.
Ellemerr: *cackles*
Apheori (GM): Heeee.
So Greibel: All of that, with a bunch of nature of the universe/multiverse tacked on. The deadity, it's another reality. Lots of realities, really, all layered on top of each other. That one had emptiness where Rhu was, and this one has emptiness elsewhere, but everything, really, is mostly emptiness. But some of them, you're dead. Some of them are death. Something something. CHALK.
I drew Amadi.
Ellemerr: You did?
Gimme!
Apheori (GM): I dunno hooooow.
Ellemerr: And yeah, I'm not sure how well Amadi grasps the difference between being IN death and being dead.
Since she cannot do the latter.
Gaurav: But she understands that we can be dead?
Otherwise she'll just take us to one of the Death Universes and, oops. End of campaign.
Ellemerr: She knows it's bad, yeah.
Apheori (GM): http://wiki.zaori.org/wiki/File:Amadi_counter.svg
Ellemerr: She MIGHT not be entirely clear on NEVER GOING BACK EVER.
Apheori (GM): Terrible, I know. >.>
Ellemerr: Whee ^^
She looks so happy
Apheori (GM): Isn't she?
Ellemerr: Most of the time, she totes is! :D
Gaurav: Aww, cute!
Apheori (GM): Er, so Rhu gets washed by Gravy? Is that what's going on?
Gaurav: Rhu has sort of got fine motor control back now, I think.
He's feeling his own face to see if he's still got a mask on.
Also I'm not sure if he's blind again.
Apheori (GM): Rh got massaged by amadi/
?
Is he wearing the mask?
Ellemerr: He can.
Frezak (GM): Not so much washed as having a bucket of water dumped over him
Rinse and repeat.
PUNS FOR YOU, GAN
FOR YOUUUU
Ellemerr: Heehee
Ganelon nods approvingly.
Gaurav: Amadi ripped the mask off his face before he left the Other Place, but could still feel it there. I'm not sure how that's changed, if at all.
Ellemerr: I think the GM said it was still there then.
So I actually ripped off something else entirely, turned it into an exact copy of the mask, and put it on. :P
It could happen!
Apheori (GM): Yup.
Gaurav: Oh! I read that as you ripped the mask off, leaving behind an invisible mask that I could feel over my face.
Apheori (GM): Spoiler: It was Rhu's face.
Gaurav: Which mask was Rhu's face?
Or are they all Rhu's faces now?
Apheori (GM): Nothing, nevermind.
Gaurav: Okay. So. Is Rhu competent enough to walk after -- weeks? months? -- floating in space, or will he need more recovery time/Amadi-intervention?
Also: I should probably leave soon, as I have to be somewhere in about an hour. But I guess Rhu could be put into bed and ignored if need be.
Apheori (GM): I apologise for this not getting anywhere.
Gaurav: ... except for Rhu, who managed to get himself rescued out from an Void Without End.
Ganelon: Nah, it's cool. I'm half-asleep anyways just because of scheduling stuff.
I've been awake for over 24 hours now, I think.
Gaurav: Woah!
How much longer do you have to keep going for?
Ganelon: This session.
Apheori (GM): Man, and I thought I was out of it.
Bear Soup Guy: And I apologize for being many kinds of distracted today
I'm also very grouchy but you can't tell :P
Gaurav: Is that 'cos of the Windows thing or do you have other reasons?
Bear Soup Guy: There's Windows things and I have a cold
And I want to turn the air conditioning on but my mom won't let me
Gaurav: Ugh, sorry to hear that.
Bear Soup Guy: Ain't no thang
Ellemerr: So um. Are we sleeping now?
Well. Am I sleeping now? And Gan, and whoever else needs it?
Frezak (GM): Pffft sleep
Gaurav: I have to eat lunch and then attempt to save this presentation from the depths of despair
Apheori (GM): I had to take out my air conditioner last night because it was in the only not-locked window.
Apheori (GM) shakes a fist.
Apheori (GM): Also man, I think...
Um...
Sleep.
Ganelon: Calling it, then?
Apheori (GM): Yeah, sorey.
sorry
Ganelon: Nah, it's fine.
Usually my sundays aren't this busy.
Ellemerr: Sleeeeep.
Sweet nightmares all. Thanks for the game.
Gaurav: See you all next Sunday at the usual time?
Ellemerr: Er, no.
I am visiting Frezak. Frezak is being visited by me. *shifty eyes* Or actually we might be back here on sunday. But still... no game.
We MIGHT put you off for all of october, but we'll let you know after that first weekend. Don't expect too much, though.
Apheori (GM): Blimey.
Ellemerr: Yoop.
Gaurav: We could shift off weekends for the month, then, or something.
Or Saturday.
Ellemerr: I'm not promising that would help, though it's certainly possible. :P
But we'll come back to you on it. Promise. Just... nothing for this week.
Apheori (GM): You'd better.
Gaurav: Okay, I gotta run. Let's discuss alternate dates on Skype over the course of the week?
Either way, thanks for the game and see you all when we meet next!
Bear Soup Guy: Bye everybody!
</pre>

Revision as of 04:41, 29 September 2014

EXT. Horrible nightmare realm - space
Rhu has tumbled out into space and is just sort of drifting now. Largely catatonic, not really dead or alive. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.
Sometimes he'd pray. He'd meditate. He'd sing songs. He'd tell stories. He'd start talking a LOT to himself, except mostly in his head, because of the whole no-air thing. (rolled 21 religion)
He hears laughter from time to time. It sounds a bit like Hazz.
Suddenly Amadi is sitting on Rhu. He doesn't necessarily notice right away.
AMADI
Wheeeee!
Amadi does some stuff to make the spinning go faster.
RHU
HEY!
(confused)
Wait. Am I shouting in my head? Ow.
You up there. Stop shouting "Whee". I'm trying to sleep.
AMADI
(very quietly)
Wheeeee!
RHU
(turning around to look)
You. Of course it had to be you. Where's Dave?
AMADI
(whispering)
Elsewhere.
RHU
Hmm. I guess that makes about as much sense as anything.
At this point, Rhu is just sort of talking in his head. Trying to talk. Knowing what he means to say, but no words coming out. Whereas Amadi is actually making words, but it's not quite clear how. Regardless, both can 'hear' each other.
AMADI
(still whispering)
Whyyyy are you trying to sleeep? They say you don't need to sleep when you're dead.
RHU
There wasn't anything else to do until you came along. I don't know how long it's been. There was a giant blob monster, but it's gone away now.
Amadi bonks Rhu on the head. The bonk causes Rhu to start spinning the other way, breaking several really very important laws of physics in the process.
AMADI
Why're you here in the first place? Silly place to be, really.
Rhu thinks for a bit. Given Amadi and Rhu's current state of weirdness, this might be minutes or hours or days.
RHU
I guess I could say that it started when you handed me the mask, but it didn't really, did it? In some way I've been heading here my whole life.
He waves at the darkness and the void.
Amadi clambers over Rhu's head to dangle her own in front of his face, peering at him through narrow eyes.
AMADI
This about Hazz, is it?
Rhu nods.


INT. Guardhouse - morning
The rest of the party (Greibel, Radek, and the Gravedigger) are all in the guardhouse. Gravy was sleeping, Radek was doing worky stuff, and Greibel was... also doing something resembling sleep in the next room. But now it's morning.
RADEK
Alright!
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Wasn't me! It was totally someone else that sole your hair.
RADEK
Stole my-
Radek does a quick, desperate beard-check, but his beard seems to be fine.
RADEK
...Never mind! I'm not accusing anyone this morning. Not unless George sees fit to keep us waiting any longer.


EXT. Horrible nightmare realm
RHU
I think I've worked it out. I think this is a dead end. My dead end. Maybe The dead end. I don't know. I don't think I want to know.
What I want to know is .. what happened to Azariphale?
And that cat. The talking one. And the other one in the capsule. So many loose ends. The story can't end with loose ends. And yet, here I am.
AMADI
Well what are you sitting around here for, then?! That's just stupid.
RHU
Well, here we are. Unless I'm imagining you.
AMADI
Hm? Oh, I'm here because you're here.
Rhu tries to poke Amadi, except he seems to have forgotten how arms and fingers work.
AMADI
...Though I'm not here because you're here in the same way as I would if Greibel was here.
Amadi nods sagely to herself.
Rhu squints at Amadi, then stops and sighs.
RHU
Where is Greibel? And the others? Are they okay? Have they figured out how to cure the Holes yet?
Amadi gives a long snrrrk, trying not to sound too judgemental.


INT. Guardhouse
RADEK
Where's Greibel? I would ask about Rhu as well, but he has a tendency to show up.
In answer to the question, Greibel gets up and starts smoking more stinky hallucinogenic plant. The place begins to really smell awful.
Radek takes a moment to blaspheme Hazz in Rhu's absence. Firstly, he starts with an utter lack of reverence for the guy. Talking him down like he's Radek's old college roommate - and like the only way in which he exceeds mortal limits is in his capacity to be a wretched nuisance. Possibly throwing around a few assertions about how "being inconvenient and frustrating" is the "worst domain" and it's not even respectable like a lot of the actually evil gods out there. And so on.
Greibel starts singing Push It To The Limit and makes trucker horn cord-pulling motions. (rolled 23 to sing)
Radek gives Greibel weird looks.
GREIBEL
(singing)
PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT! WALK ALONG THE RAZOR'S EDGE! SOMETHING SOMETHING WORDS!
RADEK
Come on, we have someone useful to meet. And keep singing that, Greibel. It's quite inspirational.
GREIBEL
(still singing)
OPEN UP THE LIMIT, PAST THE POINT OF NO RETURN, YOU'VE REACHED THE TOP BUT YOU STILL GOTTA LEARN
Ganelon: I'll try to incite a Wizard of Oz style musical march to the tavern (in the morning no less - aren't WE hardcore).
Bear Soup Guy: We march on!
All in all, they head out the door.


EXT. Horrible nightmare realm
AMADI
They're um, getting there. Probably.
Rhu nods.
AMADI
So, do you intend to just stay here, or...?
Rhu sighs.
RHU
That's what Dave asked me back in ... that place. Arah. She was very upset that I wanted to wait for the others.
AMADI
Well, it IS pretty disappointing, I must say.
Rhu stops trying to poke Amadi and tries to shrug instead.
RHU
I don't want to try. I don't want to fail. It's peaceful out here. Peaceful and quiet.
Amadi raises her eyebrows, giving Rhu the "Really? That's your excuse?" look.
RHU
There's so much time to think. It's all I've been doing, thinking. And sleeping. And dreaming.
AMADI
Dreaming? Here? Don't make me laugh.
Amadi outlines the mask with a finger against Rhu's skin, grinning slightly.
AMADI
Would you like to dream again? Properly?
RHU
(squinting at Amadi)
No. Yes. Maybe. I don't know.
Amadi gives an exasperated harumph.
Rhu closes his eyes.
RHU
Is there really a way back?
AMADI
Do you actually want one?
Rhu shuts his eyes tightly, and is silent for a while.
RHU
I would like that. I would like that very, very much.
Rhu opens his eyes.
Amadi grins again, widely and devilishly. Rhu grins along with her, although he's clearly not sure why.
AMADI
So... this dead end is a complete waste of time? Right? And dreams are much better. Well, of course they are.
But what we want riiiight now...
Out. Outoutoutout.
Amadi suddenly tears off Rhu's mask and puts it on herself. Somehow this makes a copy, but despite the original mask remaining on Rhu, the copy pulls off like the tearing of flesh. His face feels raw with out it, exposed.
Rhu screams in surprise, then gasps at the rawness of his faces. He reaches up to touch it, and though his arms still aren't working properly, he gets there in the end. (rolled 14 heal to see what's going on with his face)
He feels the shape of the mask still there. It just also feels missing. His face, that is, or perhaps the mask? Rhu looks at Amadi in confusion and fright.
Amadi slowly disappears, leaving her grin, Cheshire style.
RHU
Um. Okay.
Rhu waits for... minutes? Hours? Days? And then he sighs again.
Amadi's grin edges slightly to the side.
AMADI'S GRIN
(whispering enticingly)
Are you coming?
RHU
Oh. Er. Yes?
Rhu reaches out towards the smile.
It pulls him in. To something. Something different, twisty, and full of hair.
Gaurav: I gotta ask: am I literally being pulled into the smile, in between the lips, or is the point of the smile, at one end, tearing a hole in space and yanking me through it?
Ellemerr: I think it might be both. The smile tears a hole, and keeps it open with... itself.
Through leads into weirdness. He catches a glimpse of Amadi, then suddenly he's somewhere else.
Somewhere else entirely, Amadi makes childish "I won" sort of noises at Hazz.


EXT. Town street - day
The party is heading toward the inn. Greibel is still singing. It's kind of a musical march thing, but too disorganised.
Greibel suddenly falls over from an unexpected and invisible weight. (rolled 14 strength) This doesn't interrupt his singing.
Radek sighs.
RADEK
Could you at least stick to the narcotics that don't leave your motor functions impaired, Greibel?
GREIBEL
Well, I prefer to keep an open mind.
Frezak: If he has no motor control he can't get into trouble.
Greibel tries to get up and fails and winds up just sitting there, still singing. (rolled 4 strength to get up) Gravy winds up picking him up instead, making exertion noises. (rolled 15 strength) Greibel seems heavier than usual.
Then Gravy goes to prop Greibel against a wall and suddenly finds himself holding not just Greibel, but Amadi and a rather sticky Rhu as well. This finally interrupts the singing.
AMADI
Wheeeee.
GREIBEL
Oof!
Rhu looks forward, then over this shoulder, then down at the floor. Then he slides off the heap like a felled ox.
RADEK
...
Rhu gasps for air, then just lies there.
Amadi clings to Gravy, hoping for more fun riding around times.
RADEK
I should have taken bets.
Rhu starts flopping around like a dying fish.
The Gravedigger drags Rhu and Amadi toward the nearest water source - it turns out to be a well in the middle of town with a bit of a pool behind it, for whatever reason.
RHU
(while being dragged)
I'm okay... I'm fine... I can walk...
It's clear he's only barely able to move, however.
AMADI
Wheeee.
Radek practices his spiteful grumbling, but then follows and takes samples of the crap on Rhu, as well as some blood samples.
RHU
(mumbling)
Ouch.
RADEK
Oh, suck it up. These aren't even my big needles.
RADEK
So where were you this time? Not the barkeep's cellar, I imagine.
AMADI
He was dead and gone! I got him back! I'm really clever. MUCH better than Hazz.
Not DEAD dead, mind. But dead-and-gone.
Gaurav: I think Rhu is going to give up worshipping Hazz' and start worshipping Amadi instead. This is the second time she's saved his life, not counting the time she saved us all from out of Midnight.

Ellemerr: I'm not sure she'll appreciate that.

Gaurav: Eh. I'm not sure Hazz' appreciates Rhu much right now, either.
Gravy leaves Rhu and Amadi by the well and starts bringing up some buckets using manly strength.
Rhu goes back to floppin around, looking strangely happy to see everybody and everything.
RADEK
So what's the difference between "dead" and "dead and gone"?
AMADI
(she gives Rhu a stern look)
We're not fishes, you know. Not for the time being.
(turning back to Radek)
Emptyness.
(she nods to herself)
Mostly emptiness.
Rhu splutters politely.
RADEK
I see.
Radek plainly does not see.
Amadi has long since given up on explaining anything to Radek.
Rhu is still flopping about, but his flopping seems more coordinated. He tries to take a sip of water, but winces. He reaches up to feel his face.
Greibel, however, does see. He knows what Amadi is talking about. (rolled 20)
Apheori (GM): What was Amadi talking about?
Ellemerr: The... difference between... being dead and being dead-and-gone. Gravy has been dead. Rhu was dead-and-gone. And those are different. Clearly.
Gaurav: Gravy has been dead?
Frezak: I... don't think I've been dead?
Ellemerr: You got holed, buddy.
Frezak: B..b... BUT
Gaurav: I was wondering how we'd all survived for so long. Evidently, the answer is ... that we didn't.
Ellemerr: *cackles*
Thus Greibel is aware of all of this, and the insight also includes a bunch of nature of the universe/multiverse stuff tacked on. The deadity, it's another reality. Lots of realities, really, all layered on top of each other. That one had emptiness where Rhu was, and this one has emptiness elsewhere, but everything, really, is mostly emptiness. But some of them, you're dead. Some of them are death. Something something. CHALK.
Rhu has sort of got fine motor control back now, and is feeling his own face to see if he's still got a mask on. He does.
Then Gravy dumps a bucket of water over him. Rinse and repeat.
Retrieved from ‘https://wiki.zaori.org/w/index.php?title=Holes/Session_34&oldid=1109’

Well, excuse me for having an unhealthy obsession with a cold, emotionless encyclopedia dedicated to borderline unreadable nonsense.