((Edit: Dang it, just missed the update. That's what I get for proofreading.))
((Never fear! The GM is always here! Well, except for about 9 hours from this point onward.))
Philip, having thought carefully about Skip's words, finally speaks up.
"I don't think a demon would be any steps up from a necromancer. It would probably be easier to get Bernard to free us than trick an unholy spawn into helping us without collecting our souls afterward.""Heh, you obviously don't know Bernie very well. But seriously, though, demons aren't all that bad, from what I hear. According to the myths, the Five Gods themselves were demons or something, and even so, they weren't the only ones that weren't half bad."There is a brief pause. Philip seems to realize something.
"Wait, you could mind control him? Why in the gods names haven't you made him less evil? Maybe helped him get over his crush so he could move on with his life?"Well, if I just went around pacifying what I believed to be totally harmless assholes, I wouldn't be a very good person myself, now would I? And this is the first time I've heard of any crush he's had on anyone, to tell you the truth. Didn't think old Bernie had it in him to like anyone, let alone have a crush.""Yes, and it would probably be soul control to remove a crush, anyway.""Not entirely, crushes usually involve momentary impulses of very little importance and as such are really easy to control. It's when you try to change the essence of a man when you're veering into soul control.""Well, couldn't you pacify him? Make him catatonic or something? That wouldn't be soul control."Skip thinks for a moment.
"You know, you might be on to something there."He strokes his beard thoughtfully.
"That would totally work! That is, if you distracted him and brought him out into the open. Then I and my friends could probably make him calm as a summer breeze in Naranja. Couldn't hurt a fly then. It wouldn't last forever, obviously, but perhaps you could find a way to free yourself of his power while you're not under immediate duress.""If you could truly pacify Bernard, I would be forever grateful. I also wouldn't have to try to kill you, which would probably fail anyway, considering how new I am to the whole ghost thing. Oh, where are my manners? I am Philip Zander, former guard of... I can't exactly remember whose castle I guarded, just that I died in the line of duty. I'm hoping that's normal for a ghost. Anyway, I'd shake your hand if I could, but I do seem to have a bit of an intangibility problem."Skip takes a bow.
"Pleased to meet you, Philip. I am Skip Rogers, soon to be a graduate of the College of Illusion in the University of Magic. And this is my significant other and all-around great woman, Tammy Rutkowski," he says, pointing to the unusually attractive dark-haired woman.
"Hi! I'm very pleased to meet you." Tammy smiles charmingly.
"You're the one Bernie has a crush on," Bruce points out.
"Really? I guess I should feel flattered or something. Bernie's pretty silly. For a complete psychopath, you know.""Seems like we have a plan here. Anything else you'd like to ask?""Is soul binding illegal?""Very. It's powerful magic. Nigh-unbreakable as well. You'd need some kind of powerful artifact to cast it these days, I think.""So, what would happen to us if we die?""Not sure. I don't think you'd proceed to any afterlife if you did, being soulbound to Bernie. Where he goes, you go. And between you and me? He sounds like prime angry ghost material."Back at the forest...Jordan is getting really tired of this bear keeping him from moving on with his wretched unlife! He decides to swing for the bear's neck!
"I SAY, GIVE ME BACK MY FLESH!"[Jordan vs. BEAR: 6+1 vs. 5-1(rage and distracting pain from grazed nose)]
The axe sweeps across the bear's neck, cleaving through its flesh, making it stagger backwards and bleed profusely! However, it is not out just yet!
[BEAR vs. Jordan: 6(injured) vs. 4-1]
It makes a desperate lunge for Jordan's abdomen, tearing out his heart with its teeth! If Jordan actually needed his circulatory system, he would be in great trouble indeed!
[Bear saving throw versus awful taste: 1]
Although Jordan is briefly saddened at the loss of his heart, he gets it back almost immediately! For the bear vomits the putrid organ
and the zombified chunk of flesh along with a whole lot of other things straight out at him, the sudden flood of intestinal juice having been triggered by a two-pronged attack of belly-flesh aftertaste and rotten heart flavor! The bear unsteadily stands for a second, then vomits again! And again! And again!
"Was it really that bad?" Jordan can't help but ask.