She's just a cute kitty.

A long time ago I had the notion that the (it's been a while) "Pool of infinite lives" was rendered useless because the "Stone of Eons" which gives that and several related pools their power, had been stolen.

At first terrified by their own track record, Crushed and her party stay home. But it does take long for a second party of adventurers to take up the challenge. Crushed is immediately taken by that party's apparent leader, Gyro the Kick Wizard, and unconsciously opts to follow him. Her party follows as well after some discussion about what they were going to do for a living if they don't go adventuring.

Note: I have had experiments of "Cultural Remixing", that is taking existing characters and seeing how they would play out envisioned for a different cultural setting. In this case and group of martial arts space heroes, become medieval fighters of the sword and sorcery type.

Gyro the Kick Wizard, Shohq the Thunderfist, Janis the Rapid , Clahn the Miniature Maniac, Tierri the Grips of Lust, and Lanmi the healing touch, Lead the way and Crushed's Party, with Gnaw, Purity, and Red (I think her name is) steadily gain confidence and not dying, because if they did they would stay dead, along the way.

Crushed gets closer to Gyro who is growing fond of her in return. At one point Gyro makes Crushed promise him she will not die. She makes that promise.

After several near misses and violent exchanges in which both parties reveal great strengths and abilities of their own, the final conflict with the main bad guy, "Mad Bad Joe", boils over as MBJ's plot falls apart to make himself the only renewing figure in the realm.

The Stone of Eons must be replaced to restore the temples and pools of infinite lives around the realm. Purity and Shohq manage to use their strength to heft the huge stone back into place, but during the fight MBJ corners Crushed and Gyro at the edge of a cliff overlooking a lava stream. Crushed manages the killing blow just as the stone of Eons is restored to its place, but just as Gyro slips and falls with MBJ into the lava stream.

Crushed is crushed and has to be carried most of the way home. She does not so much a hold a sword from weeks.

Sitting in a tavern, she just stares at an ale. A figure walks in in a traveler's cloak and wizard's hat. The figure sits next to Crushed.

"Hi there. I see you kept your promise..."

"What?"

"Not to die. Remember?"

Crushed looks to see it Gyro. In a moment of elation and joy, Crushed jumps onto Gyro in a hug and the two share a very passionate kiss. What happens afterward was not for public review.

** All characters are property of their owners. I think that's a given. If not, Crushed kitty and her party © Drakefenwick, Gyro the Kick Wizard and his party © DCAshmore.