Turn 53 - The God-MobGronok looks at the spot where Onon was a second ago. He isn't there anymore. All Gronok can hear is giggling coming from seemingly everywhere.
"Well, let us get some rest. We'll be at the city tomorrow, after all," he tells the moon, who seems to have stopped shivering.
"Not a problem, buddy," he says, winking. Gronok walks up to a nearby dancing tree and starts to climb.
[Climbing roll: 1-->3]
The tree throws him right off and looks at him sternly.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? I don't know about where you came from, but in my day people didn't just jump on the first stranger they meet. They had standards, you know."Gronok would answer if he wasn't too busy trying to fight off the pain lizard currently biting his head.
"Get out of here, lizard! There is nothing for you here!""I beg to differ! There's your head! It clearly isn't ringing quite enough! Let me fix that!"The lizard slithers into his ear and invites all of its friends to a party, line-dancing on his gray matter until it's all jumbled up and disjointed. A crooked-looking ogre strolls up to him.
"Whoa," it wisely observes as Gronok's eyes spit lightning at him.
* * * * *
Phiali considers the fact that he seems to have been rewarded for stealing this amazing bucke-erm, receptacle. He heads to the well and fills the receptacle right up, then pours the rest into the bucket that's full of holes.
Naturally, the bucket, being full of holes, lets most of the water right out in a matter of minutes. How interesting.
* * * * *
Lars, seeing that his flock has gathered and is ready to burn these ungodly heathens, leads a charge into the temple after grabbing a spare torch from one of the mob members. It's time to burn stuff!
"Well done, children of the New God! Now we must fulfill our purpose! Take your torch and bring cleansing fire to this heretical abomination on the land! Forward, brothers, and CHARGE!Heading into the temple, the group finds about 5 guards standing right next to a priest of Kezilam, who appears to be wielding a large sword. 55 villagers against 6 representatives of Kezilam!
"What is going on here?" the priest asks, visibly surprised.
"Change in management!"[God-Mob vs. Guards and Priest: 5+
2+
1 vs. 1+1+
1]
The guards charge into the mob thoughtlessly, hoping to suppress them like on any ordinary day.
Unfortunately for them, this is hardly an ordinary day. Extremely unfortunately for them, they are wearing ceremonial Kezilamite temple guard robes.
After the five are quickly set on fire and thoroughly trampled, the crowd howls with delight. Only the priest, who seems to have wisely stayed behind, is still alive!
"Hm. This isn't good."While the crowd is busy setting drapes on fire, he makes a run into one of the side passages. He's pretty quick, Lars has to admit. However, that still won't save the temple from destruction!
[Templewrecking roll: 2]
The crowd is disappointed to find out that there isn't much around here to set on fire, regrettably, beyond a few tapestries. And even those are really small. Kezilamites sure are frugal. Takes the fun out of destroying everything, you know.
* * * * *
Elizas, observing that his crowd is of the silly sort, tries to dispel any ill-conceived notions the sordid lot might harbor.
"Azza-who? No, I speak of the new true God who was contacted me! Let me tell you of his greatness!"[Elizas vocal performance roll: 5+1]
He steps on the table and strums a few chords on the guitar to get both the crowd and himself in the mood.
"Somebody throw me a bottle!"Somebody does - it's a bit too close to his face for his liking, but he catches it nonetheless. Taking a swig from it, then returning it via a similar throw aimed at the generous provider's face (after all, wouldn't want to go against custom), he begins to sing.
His voice, marinaded in delicious wine, causes the people around to turn their heads and listen in a generally enraptured fashion. Like Elizas previous work, "The God of Alcohol and Polygamy is the God For You and Me", this song is also expository in its nature. It starts out with the tale of a bunch of people kept in the hold of poor alcohol, diseased women and, as a consequence, very uncomfortable STD's that generally all make things uncomfortable. This discomfort is accented through strategically used dissonances that also serve to attract the attention of any drunks still oblivious to the musical number.
Then Elizas changes the tune a little, making it more upbeat as he explains that, despite all this, there is still hope! Oh yes! There is a way to cure one's ailments, to improve one's booze, to have a better, more joyous life! And this way lies in the worship of the One True God, the God of Booze and Many Women! In the soaring chorus that follows the verse, Elizas explains that the God of Booze and Many Women dwells in the mythical River of Endless Enjoyment, the stream that flows from the divine heights of heaven to the minds and hearts of all that accept it. And that we all should make room for the River of Endless Enjoyment within our hearts, as it is the spice of our life, the only meaning one can possess in their lifetime.
The next verses grow more and more optimistic, and the catchiness of the chorus soon infects the entire audience - by the fourth time the chorus is played, the whole lot is singing along, having memorized the words by heart at this point. After the entire 8-verse song (it gets into more detail as it goes on, elaborating on the more aggressive parts of the faith, such as setting zealots opposed to fun on fire) is done, complete with impressive guitar solos, the crowd is completely enraptured, the Ballad of the River having taken a special place in their minds. Once Elizas finishes playing, he is met with wild applause and admiration. These people love him. They really love him!
* * * * *
Shashari, noticing the witches in the clearing, is a bit disturbed. After all, there's so many of them around. This place must be pretty magical.
"Huh. Well, looks like I was right to look around... um, but yes! What's here, and where's Hazutiim?""Why, he's right there."The heathen walks into the center of the clearing, then strolls over to the tree. Yeah, there's definitely something off-putting about its shape, Shashari finds. The heathen presses his ear to the trunk, then sticks his head into a hollow on one of the sides. A minute later, he pulls it back out and walks back to Shashari, looking slightly sad.
"Hazutiim doesn't like the idea of betraying Shamiil. Shamiil's been good to us, he says. Hasn't flooded the area lately. Wouldn't be wise to tempt her wrath is what he's saying."Gronok: 0 MP
Phiali: 1 MP
Lars: 4 MP
Elizas: 3 MP
Shashari: 5 MP