Sunday, April 8, 2012

Furry Friends, Part 3

The party ventured forth from the Valley of Sorrow and in the direction of the compound of the Knights of Genetic Purity.  On the trail, the party realizes they are surrounded by a small army of inbred hillbilly soldiers.  They are taken captive.  With the exception of Vagabot, the party is bound and blindfolded.  Vagabot, who appears to be a perfect human, is merely guided along by the soldiers.

The party is taken to an arena-like coliseum inside the Knights' compound.  Most are tied up to poles and prepared for execution, while Vagabot is taken to a wooden stage.  On the stage is Ivan, Imperial Wizard of the Knights of Genetic Purity, and Vagabot's father.  He harps to the audience about the benefits of 100% baseline humans, and decries the party's impurity.  He presents Vagabot to the audience, and asks why she as a pure human would travel with such "genetic trash."  As the crowd boos, Ivan turns to see that Vagabot his actually his daughter.  Although he is taken aback, he carries on with the charade.  Vagabot, however, challenges Ivan; she calls him out on his hypocrisy, given that his daughter was born with a crab-claw.  Audible gasps can be heard from the crowd.  Ivan attempts to propagandize and hide the truth from the audience by bringing out an impostor daughter, but Vagabot reveals her identity as Ivan's true daughter.  The audience reels in surprise.  Trying to regain control over the situation, Ivan orders the execution of the captives and attacks Vagabot.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party struggles to free themselves from their shackles.  As they do so, they notice that another traveler, a male yeti named Khali, has been fit for execution as well.  As the executioners approach, all are able to free themselves, with the exception of Defendomax, who struggles vainly against the shackles.  The executioners fire repeatedly upon the party and dish out significant damage.  However, the party quickly regroups and takes the fight to them.  In the midst of battle, Khali dives forward and takes a shot intended for Professor Cuddlepunch.  Cuddlepunch, enamored with Khali and touched by the gesture, assists him in dispatching the armed foes.

On the stage, Vagabot battles her father.  His powerful swings take Vagabot to the edge of death, but Ivan is distracted when Duke rushes the stage.  Duke retaliates and places Ivan on the defensive.  Between the two of them, they are able to defeat the leader of the human supremacists.  Simultaneously, on the ground below, Defendomax and Nyridius mop up the human executioners.

Throughout the bizarre spectacle, the crowd's favor for the adventurers has risen and fallen.  The simple folk in the stands are impressed with epic tell-offs, but are displeased with the use of inhuman powers.  By the time Ivan is defeated, their favor rests with Vagabot, who quiets the crowd and announces that she has assumed Ivan's mantle.  The crowd roars with approval!  Vagabot has defeated her father, and resolved the "daddy issues" that led her to transform herself into a nanobot.

As the stands clear out and the audience disperses, the party gathers to plan their next move.  Defendomax asks Khali to join the party, but Khali declines.  He states that he has commitments to fulfill, and must complete his quest before he can join the party.  Professor Cuddlepunch, captivated by the only other yeti she's met outside the Valley of Sorrow, decides that she will accompany Khali on his quest.  This leaves Vagabot, Duke, Defendomax, and Nyridius to plan their next move.

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