The RuinStone

[itches]

Description
The Runestone sits on the altar - a small, irregularly shaped gem. It is a deep green, the center seeming almost black. As she stares at it, Shade becomes aware of the peculiar way it refracts the light. Within the depths of the gem, she can see a dazzling, swirling array as though the stone itself were a deep sea filled with visible currents.

[Gralhruk]

So, I had sort of thought that the ruin stone might be what talked Ben into killing the rest of his mercenary group. That is, his merc buddies had been charged by the Citadel to transport the stone - which they did. But it took over Ben and had him cut them to pieces.

[red_dr4g0n94]

So does that mean I get to go on anot--er, I mean, on a completely first-time murderous spree now? Or would you rather Ben start hearing voices in his head?

[itches]

If you don't mind others contributing to/meddling with your character's backstory then having Ben start to hear voices could be interesting. However I'd rather like to avoid a massacre, Nicos spend too much of his time healing as it is. :\

[Gralhruk]

I don't know exactly how it should play out. I'd been thinking that it has a hold of Shade now, although some sort of Ben/Shade confrontation over the stone itself could be interesting.

[Gralhruk]

In lieu of other input (and since the game seems less than fast moving these days), I think we're headed toward another fast forward.

Shade is going to abscond during the night with the stone, headed with all speed back to the Citadel. Once there, I'm thinking she gets intercepted by Gemoud and the stone is forcibly taken from her.

Then, their defense grid smashed and defeat inevitable, Ysene's group sends a terminator back through time to eradicate Shade's mother.

[itches]

That started out almost helpful

[Gralhruk]

Alright, maybe I got a little carried away - clearly they'd be sending the terminator after Cadogan's mother.

[itches]

Your death will be both swift and stabby.
Shade sneaks off to the wizard place
She gets caught by the evil wizard lady, and the stone taken off her.
The rest of the band rocks up and asks where Shade is. Evil wizard lady and fake-cadogan pretend innocence
Gemoud finds where Shade is being held with the real Cadogan and rescues them
The drummer notices that fake-cadogan can see! It turns out that it's someone shape changed to look like him
A fight breaks out, a few rounds into which Shade and the others burst in
The band gets back together!
In a desperate move, evil wizard lady puts the key into the cube of evil thing ... and nothing happens.
We win and real-cardigan explains that he hid the real cube somewhere else; the fake one has Candy in it.
We get some angst in here
New Chapter!

[red_dr4g0n94]

Yah! Candy!

[itches]

I'm taking that as you having no problems with it.

[red_dr4g0n94]

Pretty much, though I would like to know who this "drummer" guy is.

[itches]

I was thinking Blarth would fit well in that role.

[Black Plauge]

Beat drums! Drums beat!

[itches]

Gral has a new plan for getting Shade free, so I'd suggest changing point 4 to having Gemoud captured and held in the same room as the real Cadogan. Then when we free them they can tell us the truth about things.