Frank Yang.

[josephkerr]

It's a pleasent night out on the tour, a few mild storm clouds to the west, but with the direction of the wind, it seemed it would stay nice. Frank Yang, the tour guide smiles contently to himself, the extra pay was what he lived for. It was during these special week long tours, that the speed of his life would change drastically. As Frank pointed out different species of bird, rattling on about their origins, color variations, and more a strange light filled the night sky. It streaked through the sky before imbedding itself into a nearby mountain. An ear shattering sound shook the area, followed by a force that knocked both the wind and feet from everyone.

As Frank regained his sense of balance and a good steady breath, his hearing still ringing, he made quick check of everyone, going through any injuries that may have be sustained and then roll call.

3 people missing, a guide named Richie and 2 kids. Frank quickly called out the name of his fellow co-worker, but no reply. After an interrogation of everyone, Frank discovered that Richie had taken the kids up to the very mountain that had just be struck by, what was presumabley a meteorite. Leaving strict intstructions to the 3rd and last Guide, he picked up his pack and started trekking up the mountain. Now, many would say Frank wasn't much of a social man, but Richie was the energetic go getting guy that had made connections with everyone in his own way, Frank felt obligated through that strange bond and so he hoped that Richie, and the kids, were alright.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Frank cursed a little under his breath. Though most of the time he was a kind type of fella, growing up in poverty drastically lowered the threshold for obscenities. He looked around and tried to find the quickest path up the mountains.

"Dammit, Rickie. We stay together, we don't take kids off, and we sure as shit stinks don't go up a peak that got hit by spacerock. Aw, fuckin hell." Frank felt like beating the crap out of Richie, but he knew that he would have hell to pay if he didn't come back to base with Rich and they had to send out a helicopter. And it sure would scare people if a tour guide didn't come back. Oh, and he guesses it's sort of the right thing to do.

To pass the time, as Frank went up the mountain, he started thinking that maybe the meteorite was a nuke and everyone was going to mutate into living fish. Somehow Cameron Diaz got involved in the middle.

[josephkerr]

More time passes, Frank begins to think about the mountain he's on, or in reality, a small series of mountains grouped together creating a sorta enclave or what have you in the middle. It was an odd area, that geologist and the sort have every now and then set up camp for months on end to study. Apparently, it showed signs of being a volcano, but other evidence has created inconclusive answers.

As Frank's mind wanders to the imaginary lava that accompinied his thoughts, he was abruptly brought back to reality when the smell of fire and smoke filled his senses. Up ahead, over a rocky hill, he could see the visible shape of a pillar of smoke.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Well, being a native of Great Samoa, Frank isn't as concerned about volcanoes as dumb Anglos, but since he's a biochemist and not a geologist, he doesn't want to wager about the influence of a meteorite on a mountain. He tries to recall general science, and the bits that come up are not promising.

Then came the smoke. Whether that's a meteor, a flash fire, or a volcano, it's not good. Since he's downhill of rushing fire. Frank looks to see where a large firebreak might be, an area with gravel or dead grass or a lot of rocks or something. Running downhill is a really dumb idea in comparison, but it's better than nothing, so he'll do it if he has to. He just hopes he doesn't. (Oh, and checking the wind. That too.)

[josephkerr]

He spots a series of dead spots that look promising. The wind is blowing strangely fierce to the east, up the mountain.

Roll perception as you scoped the area out.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

D100? 57.

Head to a dead spot to the west and away from the flame's current arc. Call 9/11 on my cell.

[josephkerr]

It's a d20, and i think i'll make the minor rolls to keep the game going a bit more smoother and so such.

Heading back down the hill a bit, you get to the clearing of dead grass. Trying your cell phone, you discover absolutely no service. An attempt on the park radio also reveals static strangely. Perhaps the meteorite had some sort of radiation effect? As your silently curse multiple times a sound suddenly perks at your ears. A voice crying out for help on the other side of the hill.

Note: You have seen no actual fire, only a strong pillar of smoke on the otherside of the hill, which may be causing any fire to travel down with the winds.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

OOC: Where there's smoke, there's fire. And it's not like smoke is happy warm fun time!

IC: Frank looks at the phone. Then he looks back at the tour. Then up at the smoke. Then where there is a voice. He then rushes, almost without thinking, with an incredible burst of preternatural speed, in the safest path he can towards the voice.

[josephkerr]

OOC: Where's theres fire, there's a bear wearing a hat & pants, and menacingly telling you things whilst wielding a fire axe.

IC: As Frank rushes up the hill, making sure to keep himself wary of a possible wild fire, he starts to hear a strange noise. Even though his mind is buzzing with possible scenarios involving a large scale fire, a trouble making guide, and two kids, he realizes it sounds alot like the noise wind makes during a storm, a whistling wooshing sound.

As he breaks the top of the hill, what lay before him sends him almost into a awed state. Sitting near the bottom of the enclave, a swirling mass combined both wind & fire towers above the few tree's below. Frank instantly spots the 2 kids, one looks unconcious while the other seems to have a broken leg. The boy still concious spots Frank and yells out a desperate plea of help, yet it is drowned in the growing noise of the vortex.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Frank doesn't see any way he can help without nearly killing himself in the process... but he has to try. He looks for the proverbial eye of the flame, where the wind is cooling the flame enough so he can run along with its growth.

[josephkerr]

As Frank searches for the eye of the flame, a burst of fire spouts from the vortex and over Franks head, igniting the hill behind him.

A displaced voice then echoe's though the noise. "Burn, burn those of life, ashes soon to bear my tread, bathing in the worlds strife, gluttony of the sins be fed. Forever shall these words hold stead - burn the world, rape the dead!"

As these words hit Frank, a sudden and intense heat causes him to reel away from the hill, which seemingly has formed a wall of flame atop it. When he turns back to the vortex, he can do only but stare in horror as the silhouette of a humanoid being appears in the swirling inferno.

The being leaps forth, but before Frank can get a good look at whatever it is, its body bursts alive with flames obscuring it in intense blaze and glow. "So then warrior of light, can thee stand against my might?"

Frank's mind is not sure what the hell is going on. Warrior of light? What the crap? Not to mention the fact whatever this thing is seems to be on FIRE.

Notes: Failed HF roll.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Frank says, "Who the hell are you and why do I care?!" He starts backing up, planning to run away when he gets a chance.

[josephkerr]

The being glides towards Frank, waving what can be guessed as arms in elegant sweeps, twisting and turning in motions like a dance. "Hehehe.."

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Frank draws up, looking for a way around the beast to get the kids. "Go back to wherever you came from! You're not welcome!"

[josephkerr]

"Go back? But my dear mortal, i have just arrived! And i have no plans of ever leaving! Hahaha!!" He twists around, the flames growing larger and brighter as he throws up his arms, screaming into the sky above "Finally! We're free once more after eons of entrapment! This world will once again know the full fury of my power and rage!" At this, he proceeds to send out bolts of fire, which cascade down all around you.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

"Yeah.... You're gay.", Frank says, too irritated and taciturn to say much else. He attempts to dodge past the bolts of fire to get to the trapped children.

[josephkerr]

As the bolts rain down around Frank, something strange happens, as the ground itself seemingly comes alive and swallows the being, leaving an eery silence as the last of the bolts shimmer and cease to be.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Frank says, "Huh. Normally I would... Whatever." He decides it's futile to talk to himself. He avoids the area where the thing was and gets the lost party. As he does so, he thinks about the mystic significance of the blessed earth swallowing up devilish fire, and he makes a point of looking at the place where the creature was swallowed.

[josephkerr]

As Frank goes about gathering them up, glancing back reveals that there is intense activity beneath the ground. The ground ebs and heaves at certain points, and smoke begins to rise from hot glowing areas.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Frank leads the group around it, then says, "Do you think you all can get back to the group safely if I give you careful directions?"

[josephkerr]

OOC: Remember, 1 kids unconcious the other has a broken leg. The other guide is no where to be seen.

The kid still awake, but in a great deal of pain fights back tears, "I..i dont think so"

At that moment a bolt of lightning cascades directly down into the molten area, followed by a gargantuan thunderclap. This makes the kid almost hyperventilate, and you yourself. Roll Vs HF.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

19. Frank says, "All right, get on my back! Quickly!" Frank remembers his training for dealing with thunderstorms and gets away from any easily ignitable grass and away from any place that might be a ground and thus attract lightning.

[josephkerr]

As the kid clamours on back, and Frank grabs the other up in arms, another series of lightning bolts frantically strike the same spot.

Frank quickens his pace while trying to make it easier on the kids, but manages to get to the top of the hill. A last glance over his shoulder reveals that the bolts have made a crater-like impression in the ground, which is starting to cool off and reharden. As Frank turns to continue, he is almost sent back onto his butt and kid, as a figure in robes stands before him, further down the hill. As Frank studies the robed figure, he noticed the tightness of the kids grip slightens, and a slow but steady snore begins to come from him.

"I've put him under a sleeping enchantment. His and his brothers life are not to be forfitted in the coming battle, and as such i request you allow me to send them away, back to the group. You however, have a bigger part in this, and as such i require your assistance."

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Frank is torn. Part of him wants nothing to do with this. Part of him thinks that if this is a comc book power-giving story that he can do some ecoterrorism and help the Earth. Part of him is reminded of a part of him from Samoa that respected the spirits and the old beliefs. "Thanks for the help... I'll listen. You have ten minutes. Go."

[josephkerr]

The robed figure nods, and then approaches as he speaks. "10 millenia ago, a powerful dark army was on the verge of conquering countless worlds. This very planet of yours, was at the forefront of those worlds. Here, with it's vast untapped mystical potential, and abudance of lifeforms, was perfect for the taking. However, a group of native warriors fought back, utilizing the power of ancient artifacts. They managed to defeat the evil, sealing it away in another dimension where it could no longer do anyone harm. However, it seems that seal has broken, and the evil is spreading. Again the final battle will be fought on this planet, and another group of warriors will need to rise up to defeat the evil. I believe you are one of the chosen. You see, over that hill is a General of the Dark Army named Okami, a malicious spirit with the ability to possess bodies. In that same area, is one of the artifacts. I believe somehow his spiritual energies was drawn to this area when he was released, though i doubt he knows. You need to retrieve the artifact and fight off Okami. This will be the starting point of the battle, and this planet needs you. Will you do it?"

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

"Sure, I'll bruise some faces for the planet. But how am I supposed to adequately vanquish a ancient general?"

[josephkerr]

"Well, when Okami possesses a body, the host is granted supernatural abilities, but they haven't fully manifested themselves, so at this current moment he isn't at 100%, and is vulnerable to being driven off."

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

"I've done far more suicidal. Where do I sign up?"

[josephkerr]

"Let me send the children away, and then all you'll need to do is retrieve the artifact. To do this you will need to concentrate, and rely on your feelings, they will lead you to the resting place of the artifact."

After you describe your action's give me a perception roll.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Frank will look around the landscape. He doesn't know so much about all this intuitive crap, but he does know that nature will tell him things: the path that animals take up and around this hill, if something doesn't belong in the area, where an item would be hidden... He uses the best "thought" process, though it is really far more intuitive than he gives himself credit for, to begin to explore and find the item, being mindful of any dangers like colossal flame beasts or demon overlords.

D20? If so,I got a 19.