046.3 Muirfinn and Ellese

[Corwin]

[19:48] <Kotono> Rest. It's a chance to recover and restock, for reading and other things. A quiet message from Elena gets both Muirfinn and Afina to come, as well as Balyss and Hanna. Awaiting you is Elder Magi Tepen, in the library. "Thank you for coming," Tepen announces.
[19:49] <Muirfinn> "Ah, Tepen. How are you feeling? Everything well?" Muirfinn asks.
[19:49] <Afina> "It's no trouble," Afina shakes her head, taking in the others present. "What do you need?"
[19:53] <Kotono> Balyss murmurs something quietly, while Hanna crosses her arms beneath her chest, "Three healers," she observes, "You aren't having problems, are you?"
[19:55] <Kotono> "I'm fine," Tepen holds his hands up, "Magi Ellese, now...Afina, you helped rescue her. She is not unknown to me," Lowering his voice and sighing, "We met a few times over professional matters. She was a vibrant, intelligent young woman possessed of strong gifts of sorcery. Now..." Tepen merely shakes his head. "I seek advice on how to help her."
[19:56] <Afina> "Oh," Afina blinks. "I'd actually hoped the opposite - the similarity in your titles didn't escape me, so I thought you might be able to help her," she admits.
[19:56] <Muirfinn> "I'd heard mention of a young elven woman who had been seen around, but I'm afraid I don't know much about her situation. Could you elaborate? I hope I can help."
[19:59] <Kotono> "I hadn't heard," Balyss admits, while Hanna shakes her head, "I had. I'd visited her briefly." Her color turns pale, "She was broken and abused in mind, body and spirit. Her devil captor sought to turn into an obedient dog - and that is to be taken literally, I'm afraid."
[20:00] <Kotono> Tepen closes his eyes and exhales through his nose, "Yes, that's right. Suffice to say she has endured every indignity and misery this devil could concoct, and some that is it best we do not consider."
[20:01] <Afina> "She barked when we met her, but was still able to call for help to get our attention. Healing made her coherent, but that's about all it did," Afina supplies. "As sickening as it is to think about, it's something best remembered should we ever be in a position where capture is likely," she adds for Balyss and Hanna's benefit.
[20:03] <Kotono> "Selune..." Balyss gently sighs, "That's not easy to repair. Recovering from that can be a task of a lifetime - and often far more than it." At this Balyss smiles grimly, "Suicide is unacceptable in Selune's church, but I was offered a special dispensation if capture is inevitable."
[20:04] <Kotono> Hanna picks up from there, "Worry about that if you are to be taken hostige," she speaks up, "More importantly, I can tell you this much. Helping Magi Ellese will be a long, hard and bitter road. One that is worth walking, but know well the difficulties."
[20:04] * Muirfinn closes his eyes and shakes his head. "Must these devils corrupt everything they come across? I do not understand them." he sighs. "Very well. This will likely take some time, then. We must teach her what it means to be who she is, all over again. Was she badly injured when she was found? Visible scarring or deformities?"
[20:05] <Afina> "Physically she *looked* in perfect health," Afina tells Muirfinn. "Below the surface is another story. She's been tainted from her blood to her bones, in some ways she could be considered half fiendish by now. They used her to..." she winces, really not wanting to talk about it even with her famous lack of reserve, "Incubate, lemures."
[20:06] <Muirfinn> "...incubate?" Muirfinn looks both incredulous and disgusted, eyes wide and mouth agape.
[20:07] <Afina> "Its exactly as it sounds."
[20:09] <Kotono> "...yes." Tepen's voice cracks quietly, "Itis a monstrous violation."
[20:09] * Muirfinn shakes his head as if to banish mental images. "This...this will not be simple. So foul."
[20:10] <Kotono> "Oh Selune!" Balyss visibly winces, "That is...that is..." she fumbles with it, color going from white to green with a startling rapidity. She puts a hand to her mouth a moment later, stumbling away and being violently ill. Meanwhile Hanna watches on, eyes narrowing at all of that. "Extreme measures and patience will be required, of that I have absolutely no doubt."
[20:15] <Muirfinn> "Even so, she will still have to live with the memory of it all." Muirfinn says grimly. "Perhaps...please do not be offended as I suggest this. Consider the mercy it would be for her. Perhaps a properly worded wish would allow her to repress or forget the more vivid memories of her captivity."
[20:18] <Afina> "It would be up to her, but it's worth suggesting," Afina accepts that. "Otherwise there's no easy fix, and we can only offer her our friendship and protection as she deals with her horrors in a safe and caring place... her physical condition's another story, of course."
[20:19] <Kotono> Here Tepen looks away, before sighing and shaking his head. "That is not an option," he says, "I was about to speak of her abilities, but I suppose this leads into it."
[20:24] <Kotono> "After regaining my soul," Elder Magi Tepen continues, "It shames me to admit that I tried exactly that - without even asking her. Better to forget and live again than to be crippled under that. It worked for about ten minutes," He glances then, "We spoke - at first lighthearted, and I thought it worked. Then she smiled and thanked me for trying. Inquisition lead her to explain how she
[20:24] <Kotono> managed to keep some fragment of herself during the torment. A mental defense, squaring part of herself away in memories and happy places, a place that would not and could not forget. She developed it during her torture to try and keep herself and now...?" Tepen helplessly shrugs.
[20:25] <Afina> "I wasn't counting on an easy solution anyway," Afina shrugs.
[20:26] <Muirfinn> "Now it keeps us from quickly helping her. A blessing and a curse." Muirfinn says. "It kept her sane enough to get to us as well as she is, no doubt. We will have to do it the hard way then."
[20:28] <Kotono> "Afina!" Elena appears before you, "Oh sorry to interrupt, but this is important!"
[20:30] <Afina> "Yes, Elena?" Afina turns quickly to the little blue girl in question.
[20:32] <Kotono> "Queen Ilsenine and Crystal have returned," Elena dutifully reports, "They're bringing over friends, too."
[20:33] <Afina> Well, whether the fey spurn her or not, she is still a leader of Aurora so they'll just have to deal with her. "Will you four excuse me? There's not much more I can add to this discussion anyway, I'm sorry."
[20:34] * Muirfinn nods at Afina. "Best of luck, Afina."
[20:35] <Kotono> "Thank you," Tepen nods, "Go. I invited you since you had familiarity for her."
[20:37] <Afina> "I'll check in later," Afina says as she takes flight, fluttering to a portal to go and see how well her Queen's diplomacy paid off.

[Corwin]

[20:46] <Kotono> Once Afina is gone, Hanna speaks up, "I've heard of that sort of defense. It is as rare as a sainted fiend, but a courre born retains their life because of that manner of mental training. The conditions to bring about that mental power are uniformly miserable, so much so that they engrave themselves into their soul, safe from any and all."
[20:48] <Kotono> "So we can't wipe the table. Fine, we'll clean up the mess," Balyss states, wiping her lips clean as she comes to rejoin the group. Her color is still greenish, an unhealthy pallor to her gold-tinted skin. "She needs people willing to stay with her, to guide her, to wade into the hell she endured and share it with her." After just a moment, "I can do it."
[20:48] <Muirfinn> "I'll assist you in any way I can." Muirfinn adds.
[20:51] <Kotono> "I'll help as needed," Hanna speaks up, "Muirfinn, if you're serious about this Father, training your mind to deal with senseless cruelty may give you added strength to withstand him. For what is one of his type but senseless cruelty?"
[20:53] * Muirfinn nods. "I am, and the thought had occurred to me. I am loathe to subject myself to such in order to gain the mental fortitude to strike at him. Hopefully there is another way."
[20:59] <Kotono> "Still," Tepen speaks, "Shall we go see her now?"
[21:02] * Muirfinn nods.
[21:17] <Kotono> Thus the group goes to the officer's quarters. Here a pair of soldiers stand at attention at one of the many doors. Tepen nods to them as you approach, and they step away. "She's in here," he announces, "She may or may not be clothed, she claims they don't feel right on her anymore. Such damage..." Tepen sighs and shakes his head.
[21:25] * Muirfinn shrugs, heading inside. "If more mammals thought that way, I'd understand them more."
[21:25] <Kotono> Balyss nods, opening the door and coming in. As the door is opened, you see her. She kneels on the bed on all fours, staring at the door. She is nude save for a leather collar around her throat, body terrifically scarred all over. All manner of scars, speaking of many and myriad miseries. She is at least clean, her purple hair cut off to a stubble atop her head.
[21:26] <Kotono> Tepen comes in as well, and in a gentle voice, "Ellese," he says, "Would you wrap yourself up again?" he asks.
[21:27] * Muirfinn raises an eyebrow at the scars. He'd been told that there were none!
[21:42] <Kotono> Ellese slowly takes her blanket and wraps it around herself, "Who are all of you?" she asks, staring in particular at Muirfinn.
[21:42] <Muirfinn> "I am Muirfinn, of the tortle tribes of Lifasa." Muirfinn bows at the waist.
[21:44] <Kotono> "Balyss of Selune," Balyss introduces herself as Hanna does the same. Her gaze sweeps about, staying on Hanna, "Would you come here?" she asks Hanna.
[21:45] <Kotono> Hanna steps forward, "Yes?" she asks, voice calm, gentle and soothing.
[21:47] <Kotono> Ellese reaches out, standing to touch Hanna's left wing. She runs a finger over it, "So soft," she marvels, "Soft and warm. Not hard and rough like bird feathers."
[21:50] <Kotono> Hanna's smile is all warmth and love, "They are," she begins, as Ellese moves like lightning! A hideous CHOMP is heard as she takes a big - too big - bite out of Hanna's wing, tearing away feathers and chewing them, mouth filled to overflowing! Hanna winces visibly, stepping back, "You bit my wing!" she declares in open shock.
[21:55] * Muirfinn looks on for a moment, then palms his face.
[21:57] <Kotono> Chewing away as Balyss quickly murmurs a minor spell, the wound on Hanna fading, "Chicken," she says, "Like birds and chicken." Ellese says, "I don't get hungry often, but I want to eat. Isn't it strange?"
[22:00] <Muirfinn> "Right. This is probably something you should have mentioned, Tepen."
[22:00] <Kotono> "Shh," Hanna murmurs thanks to Balyss and then, "I've been eaten far worse than that," she says with a wry smile, going to sit next to Ellese. "No more of that. You're an elf, not a dog."
[22:00] <Kotono> "She hadn't..." Tepen murmurs, "I didn't think she'd do such a thing!"
[22:04] <Muirfinn> "Well, you know now!" Muirfinn says, looking at the woman. "Why on earth would you feel compelled to bite someone?"
[22:09] <Kotono> "Tastes good," Ellese replies, and then quieter, "When I got hungry, Master made me eat my fingers. Made me eat all sorts of things. A good dog eats whatever her master puts out."
[22:13] <Kotono> "I don't recall putting my wing out," Hanna's voice is dry, "Besides, your master isn't here anymore."
[22:15] <Muirfinn> "Indeed. It's...impolite to eat someone." Muirfinn says wryly. "We have a cafeteria for that."
[22:18] <Muirfinn> "And you're not a dog."
[22:19] <Kotono> Tepen goes to sit on her other side, "Ellese, we're here to help you."
[22:25] <Kotono> "That's right," Balyss hangs back, "You want revenge on Hell, don't you?"
[22:26] <Kotono> Ellese looks at them, "I do," she confesses.
[22:37] <Kotono> "Then you'll need to let us help you. That includes no eating us," Hanna says firmly.
[22:39] <Kotono> Ellese hangs her head, "I know cannibalism is wrong," she admits right after, "In my mind I know it. It doesn't matter. It feels right to me in every other way. I've eaten every part of my body before." With a grimace, "I even attempted to eat my innards, to stop the lemures. My blood sang and burned when I ate you."
[22:40] * Muirfinn nods. "We can provide you with the opportunity. We will also try to help you with this problem you have."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Muirfinn," Elena peeks into the room, "Oh, you aren't busy, are you?"
[22:47] <Muirfinn> "Somewhat." Muirfinn says. "Do you need something?"
[22:52] <Kotono> "Oh no, I just wanted to let you know that Crystal and Queen Ilsenine are back. I was listening when you talked about needing to talk to them about that Glasae Queen," Elena pipes up. "That's all."
[22:53] <Muirfinn> "Ah good. I'll speak with her when we both have time."

[Corwin]

[19:46] <Kotono> With that Elena slips away. In the meantime Hanna is going on, "You aren't a dog. Should you be acting like one?"
[19:53] <Kotono> "No, but it still feels good," Ellese admits, "The blood, the acid...it feels good."
[19:56] <Muirfinn> "Wait...what does acid have to do with it all?"
[19:59] <Kotono> "Acid?" Balyss echos, her smile straining a little bit.
[20:00] <Kotono> "Acid," Ellese asserts, "A good dog can digest anything with enough acid. Acid storms, acid fire, acid ice." She lists them off, "I feel the acid inside of me."
[20:03] <Muirfinn> "Acid." Muirfinn looks at Tepen a bit helplessly.
[20:04] <Kotono> "Acid." Tepen repeats with a suffering wince, "It sounds like your spell specialization is acid?"
[20:05] <Kotono> "Yes," Ellese replies, "Fire Storm becomes Acid Storm. Wall of Ice becomes Wall of Acid. Cone of Cold becomes Cone of Acid - or I combine both together."
[20:06] <Kotono> "Like Simmer or Afina with fire?" Balyss speaks up, "That's not so bad. Acid can kill devils easier than fire, anyway."
[20:07] <Muirfinn> "Oh, I see! that makes more sense, yes."
[20:13] <Kotono> Ellese nods, and swiftly reaches out to cover Hanna's face with her hand! Before Hanna can even get a word of protest out, a great green gout of foul, sizzing acid erupts from Ellese's hand, splattering all over Hanna's face! Yet the angel's face does not burn or decay, and she sighs and licks her lips. "I'm going to guess you knew angels cannot be harmed by acid."
[20:14] <Kotono> As Balyss winces, "Yes," Ellese confirms, "That was Scorching Ray in close - it becomes Acid Ray."
[20:14] <Muirfinn> "I certainly hope so!"
[20:17] <Kotono> Hanna puckers her lips as she shakes her head, "It tastes sour like acid," she seconds, "If that wasn't acid it's close to it. All of your magic changes like that?"
[20:18] <Kotono> "All of my elemental magic," Ellese confirms, "Dark magic and nightmare magic does not."
[20:18] <Kotono> "Nightmare magic?" Balyss says, "Magic to cause nightmares, or something else?"
[20:19] <Muirfinn> "Dark magic and nightmare magic? That doesn't sound good." Muirfin muses, then says abruptly, "No demonstrating!"
[20:22] <Kotono> "Yes, no demonstration," Tepen agrees, "Tell us about them instead."
[20:23] <Kotono> "Nightmare magic is...bad things." Shivering and going to put her knees up to her chin, sitting on her bed and clinging to her blanket, "Makes eyes explode in acid, or turns creatures into aberrations. Sometimes it can hurt the loved one of an opponent or...when you eat someone, you get stronger and tougher." OOC: You can make K:A here.
[20:23] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+22
[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+22 and gets 41." [1d20=19]
[20:28] <Muirfinn> "These spells you speak of...are horrendously evil." Muirfinn says. "So evil, they cause corruption in the caster. They are vicious and vile things."
[20:28] * Muirfinn looks somber. "The devils taught you these things? Made you use them?"
[20:29] <Kotono> Ellese looks down at this, "No. After...after the lemures were done and the bearded devils came out..." She looks down and away, "They were in my mind. The spells."
[20:33] <Kotono> Elder Magi Tepen goes on from that, "Likely some sort of mana pollution," he opines after some thought, "The evil nature of the fiends merged with you, including your magic."
[20:36] * Muirfinn shakes his head. "What happened to you is an abomination, but that does not mean that you must adhere to it. I encourage you to rise beyond this magic and decline to use it. Such magic is devious, and can turn you to evil."
[20:39] <Kotono> Here Ellese smiles. It's not a kind smile, "Watch this and analyze the craft of it," she says, as she chants a few words. Abruptly the air smells good - like warm bread and vanilla. OOC: Spellcraft.
[20:39] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+49
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+49 and gets 60." [1d20=11]
[20:44] <Kotono> At this Hanna's expression turns to a fierce scowl, "Those bastards," she mutters low. Meanwhile Tepen bows his head, "That simple cantrip is infected with evil? Does this extend to all of you rmagic?"
[20:45] <Muirfinn> "Evil! A simple spell, befouled!"
[20:51] <Kotono> "Corrupted to the core of the dweomer," Hanna grimly shakes her head as Tepen speaks up, "The corruption must have completely saturated into your magic. This is...problematic," he finally states, "I doubt the power of your magic is changed, strictly speaking. Your fireballs will burn just as well as another's. But the energy it channels and the effects it will have on others and yourself?"
[20:56] <Kotono> Here Ellese doesn't respond, and Balyss clears her throat after a moment. "I have some ideas about that. We'll fix it," she speaks up, "Anything the devils did can be undone in the name of the moon and Selune."
[20:58] <Kotono> "Thank you," Ellese says quietly, as Tepen rises. "You rest for now - this is but one of many ways we'll help you. I'll have someone bring by a meal shortly."
[20:58] * Muirfinn nods. "We shall of course make our best efforts to repair the damage your captors did you."

[Corwin]

[02:28] <Ko-HellisCodecs> An inquiry to the Court of the Lifasan fey gets you escorted to see Queen Ilsenine. She sits alone now at her court, Lady Skye leading you in. Said Lady kneels before the fey queen, "This one has questions for you, Your Majesty."
[02:32] <Muirfinn> Bowing courtly at the waist, Muirfinn says. "Queen Ilsenine, greetings. We have not yet met, I don't believe. My name is Muirfinn. I am a member of the tortle tribes of Lifasa, our mutual home. I come before you with a request. Would you hear me?"
[02:34] <Ko-HellisCodecs> "I will hear you," Queen Ilsenine states primly, the small fey speaking with the regal grace of a monarch, "Speak."
[02:38] <Muirfinn> "As you may have heard, some time ago the Aurora was infiltrated by a creature most foul. An emisary for a demonspawn called 'Father.' I have done my due dilligence, and in my research, I have turned up more and more disturbing information." With this, he pulls a fresh, rolled sheet of paper from his pack and offers it to the Queen. "I have here a copy of the fragment I found, and was hoping
[02:38] <Muirfinn> that you could help me make sense of it." OOC: Copy of the scroll Tannin brought me.
[02:39] <Ko-HellisCodecs> OOC: What were the contents of that scroll?
[02:46] <Ko-HellisCodecs> The scroll is read, a few moments to scan over it, then several more to study it anew. "Most of this is meaningless to me," Queen Ilsenine states, "Save for the Glasae Queen. Of her I know much."
[02:48] <Muirfinn> "Wonderful!" Muirfinn smiles. "What can you tell me about her?"
[02:52] <Ko-HellisCodecs> "A fey imprisoned for her own arrogance," Queen Ilsenine states, "She is life, vitality and energy. She is the apex of summer, of life's full bloom that will not be denied by anything. Few other than fey care to know about her."
[02:56] <Muirfinn> "Hmm..." Muirfinn says, rubbing his chin. "I wonder then why she was mentioned here, in relation to such an abominable thing."
[03:01] <Muirfinn> "Can you tell me if ther is wisdom in seeking her out, in order to ask her what she knows?"
[03:01] <Ko-HellisCodecs> Tapping the scroll with one finger, "This tells the story of how this Father was born - as a rotting tumor on this Demogorgon. The anti-thesis of life giving life, compared to the Glasae Queen? The Glasae Queen willed herself to exist, bringing life from nothing. Perhaps they are similar in that respect?" A pause at that request, "Seeking her is a dangerous affair. You must seek her in her
[03:02] <Ko-HellisCodecs> prison palace, no light task."
[03:06] <Muirfinn> "Assuming I could get there, assuming she's amenable to speaking with me, and assuming I have means of getting back here." Muirfinn says, shaking his head. "Lady Skye said much the same thing. She advised me to acquire a fey guide there if I was determined to go, but now I am less so. I had thought that she might have some way of defeating the beast, but  what you say makes sense."
[03:12] <Kotono> "Gate magic should draw you close to her palace. Beyond that will reside on your power to endure the maze," Queen Ilsenine states.
[03:20] * Muirfinn sighs. "Thank you for your advice on this matter, Queen Ilsenine. I will take it into account if I choose to go on this mission."
[03:22] <Kotono> "If you do, take at least Crystal with you. One fey is essential." Queen Ilsenine states. After a moment, "Also. Long ago, a traveling doctor came to the Court. He worked with magic and knew much of the human body. He spoke of wondrous things and of the meaning behind them. Of tumors, he called them rampant, uncontrolled life that destroys the normal life and only brings death. It may not
[03:22] <Kotono> be that they are similar, but dissimilar."
[03:29] * Muirfinn nods slowly, tapping his beak and staring off into nothingness. "Tumors...hmm. Father was born from a tumor, so said the scroll. If that's true, then the Glasae Queen may directly oppose him..." A moment, then he comes back to himself. "Yes, my thanks. If I do choose to go, I will ask Crystal to join me. I may take others as well."
[03:30] <Kotono> "It is not conclusive either way. If this is only a fragment, finding the full truth of this tale would be paramount." After a thoughtful moment, "Should you find such, I shall desire a copy."
[03:34] <Muirfinn> "Of course. It would be my pleasure. If there is no completely truthful document, then I shall pen it myself." Muirfinn says. "With that, then, I will bid you good day. I have much to think on."
[03:35] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, any next immediate move then?
[03:38] <Muirfinn> OOC: Not really.
[03:42] <Kotono> A short break leads Muirfinn a chance to eat lunch. After finishing that and heading back to the library for studies, he finds Sage Vul'lath intercepting him. His face is dour as always, "Muirfinn," he begins without preamble, "Aurora's nanny has an interest in you."
[03:44] <Muirfinn> Sarching his mind for a moment, Muirfinn asks, "Oh. I see. What is a nanny?"
[03:46] <Kotono> "A surrogate parent," Sage Vul'lath says shortly, "Sometimes also a wet nurse, if the child is particularly newborn. In this case I meant it in the figurative sense, as Elena came to me."
[03:47] <Muirfinn> "I see. What does she need?"
[03:49] <Kotono> "Stripped of meddling, she wonders why you aren't off finding a scroll about the Father." With a very slight wince, "She was particularly fervent about it, and went into some detail about what she thought of the Father. Her command of the language involving lurid terms is advanced."
[03:54] * Muirfinn lets out a hissing laugh. "Indeed, I'm sure. I could be doing just that, but it would require some heavy adventuring into lands mostly untouched by mortals. Ever. Not a prospect that I wish to leap into lightly."
[03:59] <Kotono> "Yes. One place she mentioned was in the Abyss, and another involved a deity's realm," Pausing to glower, "She found it quite reasonable to disturb my studies and involve me instead of confronting you directly."
[04:01] <Muirfinn> "Yes, I rather don't know if she likes me or not." Muirfinn shakes his head. "Rest assured that I'm not storming the Abyss any time soon, though I was unaware of the diety's realm. Unless she refers to the Glasae Queen. Hmm. I'll have to speak with her."
[04:03] <Kotono> "Please." Sage Vul'lath steps away, "I have no desire to play intermediary, as if Elena was a blushing stripling and you were her paramour."
[04:05] * Muirfinn waves at Vul'lath as he passes on by. "Have no fear, I will set her straight."
[04:06] <Kotono> With a grunt, Sage Vul'lath walks away.
[04:08] <Muirfinn> OOC: Guess I'll go find Elena then.
[04:12] <Kotono> It takes some doing - you eventually find Elena with Adrian. His arms are crossed as you approach in the Courtyard, "-the instructions are given fully." Adrian says, as Elena nods along in the right places.
[04:15] * Muirfinn steps up to the two, nodding at them.
[04:18] <Kotono> Adrian returns that nod, as Elena smiles quickly, fake as a copper gold piece. "Hi Muirfinn! Funny meeting you here!"
[04:20] <Muirfinn> "Indeed, Elena. Vul'lath tells me that you have been...speaking with him. Perhaps you should speak with me instead?" Muirfinn looks amused.
[04:23] <Kotono> "Well I mean wait wait wait!" Elena coughs, "I mean, I was just remarking to Vul'lath that...um..." Spluttering and floundering, "Well, don't you think you get along better with Vul'lath and you two are so smart, so if you work together you'll figure it out?"
[04:24] <Kotono> Adrian pauses before pinching the bridge of his nose and exhaling, "Right. I'm sure that made some sort of sense to someone, but that someone wasn't me."
[04:27] <Muirfinn> "It's about this Father thing, Adrian." Muirfinn gives Elena a kind-if-exasperated look. "Elena, I understand your desire to help. It's admirable. Please, if you have anything to say about it, though, bring it to me. I'm not involving many others for a reason. Also, talking to Vul'lath is somewhat tricky. He is a gith, and is naturally prickly. I would encourage you to leave him out of it
[04:27] <Muirfinn> all together."
[04:29] <Kotono> "Um well..." Elena looks down and kicks at the ground, "I thought it was a good idea at the time?"
[04:29] <Muirfinn> "Commendable, but in the future, please ask me before going to others on it. There is a reason I have not involved Vul'lath or Tepen."
[04:33] <Kotono> "Oh. Sorry," Elena looks down a moment, "But I figured you could use some help! There's that Abyss archive Annalise knew about, and I have a few other ideas."
[04:33] <Kotono> "Aren't you being helpful," Adrian drawls, "Why are you being so active instead of reactive all of a sudden?"
[04:33] <Muirfinn> "...Abyss archive?"
[04:37] <Kotono> "You have a giant creature made of mouths run all over the demiplane you're connected to and see how you like it!" Elena retorts, shivering, "At least most problems stay out of Aurora. Anyway, there was this library that Annalise knew about in the Abyss. It's called the Terminal Archive and it's supposed to be relatively safe and have a lot of information in it."
[04:39] <Muirfinn> "A library? Did she say what level it was on?"
[04:59] <Kotono> "Not offhand, but it shouldn't be hard to figure out," Elena says, brightly enough.
[05:02] <Muirfinn> "Ohhhhkay." Muirfinn rubs the long edge of his beak. "Vul'lath mentioned that you also know of a diety that might know something?"

[Corwin]

[19:26] <Kotono> "Um well, Sylvie reveres Oghma, and he's the deity of knowledge, right?" Elena continues on, bright and cheerful. "Wouldn't that make sense?"
[19:30] <Muirfinn> "...that's a good point. I hadn't thought of it." Muirfinn says, tapping his beak. "It sounds saner than venturing blindly into the Abyss at least."
[19:31] <Kotono> "Doesn't it?" Adrian drawls again, arms crossed. "If you two have this in order, I have to see to more of that Lannark business."
[19:32] * Muirfinn looks over at Adrian. "Ah, yes. We sould finish that first, shouldn't we? Where are we on that?"
[19:37] <Kotono> "Diplomacy," Making an open face, "I'm having Morniel help me with that part. The lillend confirmed they hvae the Chauswyrm, but it's more complicated than that. The Chauswyrm isn't strictly an artifact, but a dragon's egg. It's sealed with powerful wards, and within it is said to be a dragon of pure chaos. Unhatched and warded it functions as a magnifier for chaotic dweomers, but if the
[19:37] <Kotono> wards are destroyed and the dragon is allowed to hatch? The lillend are deadset against that. Right now Morniel's going back and forth with Vivantha between Lannark and the lillends. He's hoping to broker some sort of compromise peace while perhaps gaining insight into what the Lannark Imperium wants with it. If they want to hatch it, the negotiations are going to collapse."
[19:39] <Muirfinn> "Something like Baleruk, then?" Muirfinn asks.
[19:42] <Kotono> "Could be." Adrian goes on with the faintest scowl, "I haven't been provided details. The lillend are being cagey with the finer details of that egg. I had Kascha do some legwork on the Chauswyrm. The lore's inconclusive, but it hints at some sort primordial creature of chaos."
[19:42] <Muirfinn> "Less like Baleruk, then. Sounds more like a slaad dragon."
[19:43] <Muirfinn> "You know, Baleruk might actually know something about it. Has anyone asked him?"
[19:43] <Kotono> After a moment Adrian ruefully laughs, "Yeah, that's what I thought. That's two things I never wanted to see combined. Oh, and don't mention it to Baleruk. The last thing we need is his deciding that it's his egg. Anyway...The hardest battles in this are fought with my ass falling asleep from being seated too long. Diplomacy is a hell of a way to wage war."
[19:46] * Muirfinn nods. "It's certainly easier than watching men die."
[19:48] <Kotono> "Give me a battlefield," Adrian finally admits, "I know you're right, but clashing steel and bleeding bodies I understand. Diplomacy is far harder than that."
[19:49] * Muirfinn claps Adrian on the shoulder. "Battles won off of the field mean that the real ones on the field have a better chance of success."
[19:52] <Kotono> "Morniel said much the same," Adrian laughs again, helplessly so. After clearing his brief lived mirth away, "I'll be needing you for when I to get invovled again, assuming negotiations don't collapse. I'll call for you when - it may be a few days, depending on how fast Morniel works."
[19:55] <Muirfinn> "Let me know when you need me, then." Muirfinn nods.
[19:57] <Kotono> "Right," Adrian leaves that, leaving you and a quieted Elena by yourselves now.
[19:59] * Muirfinn sighs. "Alright. I won't have the time to go and look into either of those situations right now; it'll have to come after we are finished with this Lannark nonsense. Dragons." Muirfinn shakes his head.
[20:46] <Kotono> OOC: Going to wait on that then?
[20:47] <Muirfinn> OOC: Yesh
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 34." [1d100=34]
[20:59] <Kotono> Three days pass without much happening. Early in the fourth Elene comes and summons you to Adrian's side. He's pacing back and forth in the library, "Right," he says as you approach, "Vivantha just got back with Morniel."
[21:00] <Muirfinn> "It'll be what it'll be, Adrian. Fretting will do nothing but wear a hole in the floor." Muirfinn says, standing calmly. "We'll deal with this however we must."
[21:06] <Kotono> Grunting, before glancing around and lowering his voice, "I have something personal weighing on me, too. Miserable damn timing, and it's all my fault."
[21:07] <Muirfinn> "Oh?"
[21:20] <Kotono> Adrian is about ot answer, but Morniel and Vivantha arrive. Adrian slightly shakes his head after seeing them, "Another time," he murmur sto Muirfinn, as Morniel says, "The saying is, 'Do you want the good news or the bad news first?'"
[21:20] <Muirfinn> "Bad news!"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Whichever way makes the most sense," Adrian retorts, "How'd it go?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "The bad news is that Lannark has appended its demands. The good news is that they've gone to lengths to demonstrate they aren't interested in hatching the Chauswyrm." Going on from that, "It seems that Aurora has caught their fancy now."
[21:30] <Muirfinn> "...lovely."
[21:30] <Muirfinn> "What do they want?"
[21:33] <Kotono> "Figures. I suppose throwing our weight around did get noticed," Crossing his arms, "What do they want?"
[21:34] <Kotono> It's Vivantha who speaks up, looking to Muirfinn, "Brave hero, they want to know more. They have found out it was Medicant and curious about such a marvel."
[21:36] <Muirfinn> "I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Giving our information to an army that has a penchant for random conquest makes me uncomfortable."
[21:38] <Muirfinn> "I'm not saying that it's out of the question." Muirfinn says, holding up a hand to forestall argument. "I'm saying it's something we need to discuss."
[21:41] <Kotono> "A note," Morniel speaks up here, "One of the negotiatiors for the Imperium made reference of our tendency to gather allies when the lillends came up. They are reasonably well informed of planar matters - it may be nothing more than a wise wizard who keeps up on such things, in any case. Regardless, I believe they've guessed at our motives for intervening. Moreover, now that they have,
[21:41] <Kotono> gathering information on Aurora would simply be wise of them."
[21:47] <Muirfinn> "We have no current desire to go in and wage war against them, if that's their concern." Muirfinn says. "Though our past actions against dragon-kind may refute that."
[21:50] <Kotono> "Indeed, and if we support the lillend, we could become their enemy," Morniel agrees, "In any case, there's going to be a sit down round of negotiations with the lillends, Aurora and the Lannarks within a week's time."
[21:54] * Muirfinn nods slowly, thinking. "Yes...A precarious situation."
[21:58] <Muirfinn> "Allying ourselves with the Lannark isn't something I believe is presently in our best interests, though."
[21:59] <Kotono> "Then it's a matter of who goes," Adrian murmurs, "The wise and diplomatic sort. Of course you'll go, Morniel. Muirfinn, you could be  useful, especially if things go afoul. Kascha as well, I think." After a moment, "I agree completely. We don't need that sort of aid, from an empire willing to engage in such reckless acts."
[22:00] * Muirfinn nods. "Any aid that I can render will be yours, as you need it.
[22:00] <Muirfinn> "
[22:04] <Kotono> "A week's time," Adrian says, "Be ready in a week. Until then," Waving a hand, "Attend to what you will. I know you're looking up the Father. As long as yo udon't get too involved in that, carry on."
[22:09] <Muirfinn> "I'll look into Oghma then. Getting myself killed in the Abyss would be inconvenient."
[22:11] <Kotono> OOC: Going to go find Sylvie then?
[22:13] <Muirfinn> OOC: That's the plan!
[22:20] <Kotono> Sylvie is found with Balyss. The latter looks exhausted, slumping down in a chair in the library. She mutters something to Sylvie, who looks far more chipper. She sits back, speaking as Muirfinn comes into hearing range, "...that's your choice." she says with a shrug, "Go take some time, I can manage by myself."
[22:21] * Muirfinn nods at Balyss and then looks to Sylvie. "Sylvie, hello. I was wondering if you might be able to assist me with some scholarly matters."
[22:26] <Kotono> "Sure. Balyss needs a nap, so we'll go over here," Sylvie says, leaving the Lunatic behind.
[22:26] <Muirfinn> "Excellent. I was wondering if you could tell me how to reach Oghma's library."
[22:34] <Kotono> "Oh, that's easy." Sylvie says, tapping her lips with a finger. Winking after, "You spend a life revering Oghma and working to serve knowledge. On your death you'll reach Oghma's library."
[22:43] <Muirfinn> "I'd prefer a method that would get me there...sooner."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Do the same and go die in battle against devils?" Sylvie considers that, "Mmm, that would make getting back hard, too. Oh, I know." A fist into her hand, "Head to Oghma's realm, the House of Nature. We can try and find it in one of the many libraries or seek the Spring of Knowledge. As long as we avoid Gond's area of the House. There tend to be explosion sand strange things of mechanical
[22:46] <Kotono> means seen naught except in Mechanus."
[22:49] <Muirfinn> "Sounds better than finding the library in the Abyss." Muirfinn nods.
[22:52] <Kotono> "Much safer," Sylvie says, "But. There's catches."
[22:53] <Muirfinn> "Catches?"

[Yuthirin]

[11:50] <@Kotono> "First of all, the House of Nature has a few quirks about getting there." Sylvie explains, "Since every bit of information ever can be found there, you can't just gate or plane shift to a particular point. You'll always come out somewhere random unless you take the Arvandor portal, but it goes to a public, common place anyway. Often finding the information you need is an adventure of its own."
[11:51] <Muirfinn> "Do you think a week is anough time to accomplish my goals?"
[11:52] <@Kotono> "I can't be sure," Sylvie admits, "Stories vary wildly. Second of all, the House of Nature is no quiet library. Not that there aren't libraries, but there's many other ways of storing knowledge. The most common is enchanted pools of water, somewhat like scrying pools. There's also valleys of wind, that endlessly replay the knowledge of sounds, for example."
[11:57] <Muirfinn> "Hmm...I'd really rather do this than tromp into the Abyss at random, but doing so will take time. I fear I might miss the next meeting between the Lannark and the lillend." Muirfinn muses. "Perhaps waiting would be better after all."
[12:00] <@Kotono> "Suit yourself. The House isn't going anywhere." Sitting back, "I'll almost certainly be here when you're done. I have something else I'm working on for Jaela and Afina, but it's taking time."
[12:01] <Muirfinn> "Oh? What's that?"
[12:11] <@Kotono> "Researching my home world," Sylvie explains, "There may be something there that can aid us."
[12:14] <Muirfinn> "I can assist you, if you like." Muirfinn points out. "Having an outsider can occasionally provide a viewpoint that you may have otherwise missed."
[12:16] <@Kotono> "It's not a bad idea," Sylvie admits, "I've been meaning to go back," she begins, "But Balyss has been so busy with her duties here. She's been relying on restorations to battle away her fatigue, but it leaves her mind raw." Sitting back with an annoyed huff, "She's overdoing it, but won't admit that she needs to slow down."
[12:19] <Muirfinn> "Well, what's she doing? I hadn't heard anything about her."
[12:23] <@Kotono> "Religious duties for Selune," Sylvie explains, "She spends a lot of time with the lycanthropes, as well as preaching to the enlisted men. She also takes time to help women with female problems and considerations. Normally that's not much of an effort, but there's a fair few women here and most of them don't want Stille helping them with this those things, despite the fact he's technically qualified.  Then she runs herself ragged praying and helping me, adn there's not enough hours in the day."
[12:30] <Muirfinn> "That's...quite a lot, really. Perhaps I can take her place?"
[12:32] <@Kotono> "It shouldn't take a week," Sylvie murmurs, "Balmuria's cosmopolitan for a mortal city, so you should be alright there without magic. Though you'll stand out, nothing too untold should happen."
[12:35] <Muirfinn> "I can blend in if necessary." Muirfinn says.
[12:36] <Muirfinn> "I must ask, though, if you are prepared to go back there. I recall Balyss' spirited greeting of you when she first joined us. I imagine one or more of your past compatriots might react the same way."
[12:37] <@Kotono> "Yeaaaah," Sylvie winces, "That's why I'm going to be going in disguise. At least the first time as we gather information."
[12:38] <Muirfinn> "Ah, I see. A wise choice." Muirfinn nods. "I would be pleased to accompany you then. Do you think they would react well to Chok, or should I leave him behind?"
[12:40] <@Kotono> "You could get away with it, but it would get attention. Balmuria's safe. Fiends can't get in past the Arch of Peace and the mythal." Sylvie stretches, "There's no place safer on the Prime than Balmuria, especially from devils."
[12:41] <Muirfinn> OOC: Are mythals common knowledge?
[12:41] <@Kotono> OOC: K:A.
[12:42] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+22
[12:42] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+22 and gets 31." [1d20=9]
[12:51] <Muirfinn> "A mythal? Impressive, and a good way to keep out devils." Muirfinn nods.
[12:53] <@Kotono> "It was one of the last acts of the goddesses Seira and Alicia," Sylvie notes, standing up now. "Well, no sense in waiting," she half mutters, "Let's go."
[12:54] * Muirfinn nods, sending Chok off to run about on the grounds. "Let's."
[12:56] <@Kotono> Thus the duo head outside of Aurora. Here Sylvie takes a breath, "By the way," she says, "Don't tell anyone about this disguise I'm going to use."
[12:58] <Muirfinn> "I won't lie, Sylvie...but I doubt anyone's going to ask about it and I'm not about to give it to Barachiel to announce to the High Heavens." Muirfinn says. "Just try not to use it to deceive members of the Aurora, or to do harm to good people."
[13:18] <@Kotono> "It's not that, and I culdn't use it to deceive if I wanted to," Shaking her head, "It's a tribute to a fallen friend. It's not exact, but Balyss would know what it is. I'd rather she didn't." With a murmur of magic, Sylvie grows a few inches taller, her clothes tighter on her - save in the chest, with lessens a bit. Her hair becomes a neck-length fiery red, like burnished copper a shade
[13:18] <@Kotono> brighter than should be possible. Vibrant green eyes look out from beneath her bangs, as she crosses her arms. "Her name was Andrea."
[13:46] * Muirfinn nods. "I see. Very well." Muirfinn does something similar, taking the form of the rumpled man from the time he helped out Tannin.
[13:51] <@Kotono> "Hold my hand," Sylvie says, "It'll be a two spell trip, so be on guard in case the plane shift puts us somewhere strange."
[13:54] * Muirfinn takes her hand. "I am ready."
[14:00] <@Kotono> With that, Sylvie takes your hand and intones the words of power!
[14:00] <@Kotono> roll 5d100
[14:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d100 and gets 227." [5d100=35, 40, 11, 82, 59]
[14:01] <@Kotono> roll 1d8
[14:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 and gets 5." [1d8=5]
[14:04] <@Kotono> You appear in mountains. On a mountain trail, the air slightly thin. The sky is bright and blue, the air on the cool side. Dotted about are various blue-green lizards, sparkling with purple electricity. They lie on the path or scurry up the walls, yet as you appear, they stop and stare at both Sylvie and Muirfinn! Dozens of sets of eyes are on you, "Damn, this must be the Galkass Mountains.
[14:04] <@Kotono> Shocker Lizards." Shortly replying, "Hold on, one teleport coming up!"
[14:05] <Muirfinn> "I AM a druid." Muirfinn points out.
[14:08] <@Kotono> Keeping her voice low and even, "There was a member of the Crimson Guard who was a druid. She died by them. They're relentless predators."  Meanwhile the lizards all gaze at the party, an oppressive sense of pressure on you as the scent of ozone fills the air.
[14:10] <Muirfinn> "I believe I am safe from them, but if you like, take us away."
[14:12] <@Kotono> OOC: Roll init, Muirfinn.
[14:12] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+18 Sylvie
[14:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 Sylvie and gets 35." [1d20=17]
[14:12] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 lizards
[14:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 lizards and gets 21." [1d20=15]
[14:16] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+12
[14:16] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+12 and gets 15." [1d20=3]
[14:19] <@Kotono> Acting with dizzing agility, Sylvie barks out arcane words and traces symbols in the air! As you begin to blink away, you see great gouts of lightning bursting around you! Yet the teleportation was faster, saving you a fried fate! OOC: More.
[14:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[14:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 94." [1d100=94]
[14:21] <@Kotono> You appear within a well kept hedge maze. Everything is neatly trimmed, as Sylvie looks about. Slowly she shakes her head and closes her eyes, silent. "Not where I was planning, but it was what cameto mind under pressure. We're in the Western Reaches of Balmuria, nearby an expensive country manor. We'll need to do some walking to get into the actual city."
[14:32] <Muirfinn> "We do?" Muirfinn twinkles an eye at Sylvie as he shifts into the form of a seagull.

[Yuthirin]

[14:10] <@Kotono> > Acting with dizzing agility, Sylvie barks out arcane words and traces symbols in the air! As you begin to blink away, you see great gouts of lightning bursting around you! Yet the teleportation was faster, saving you a fried fate! OOC: More.
[14:10] <@Kotono> > roll 1d100
[14:10] <@Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 94." [1d100=94]
[14:10] <@Kotono> > You appear within a well kept hedge maze. Everything is neatly trimmed, as Sylvie looks about. Slowly she shakes her head and closes her eyes, silent. "Not where I was planning, but it was what cameto mind under pressure. We're in the Western Reaches of Balmuria, nearby an expensive country manor. We'll need to do some walking to get into the actual city."
[14:10] <@Kotono> <Muirfinn> "We do?" Muirfinn twinkles an eye at Sylvie as he shifts into the form of a seagull.
[14:11] <@Kotono> "Fine, I do," Sylvie shakes her head with a wry laugh, pausing to look around the hedge maze. She sighs lightly before taking off, "We're not far from the exit. This way...or just fly over it all, whichever."
[14:12] * Muirfinn takes wing, flying up to get a good look around the maze and the surrounding grounds.
[14:19] <@Kotono> It's a moderately sized hedge maze. Nothing too complex as the duo heads out. Past it are well kept lawns and a large manor. No one's out and around here, Sylvie deftly making her way out. Past it are open spaces, lots of space here, and a path.
[14:23] * Muirfinn lands next to her and transforms into human form. "Nobody's around that I could see."
[14:24] <@Kotono> "Good," she says, "We'll follow this path. The Western Reaches are large and outside the city walls. It's mostly farms and expensive homes this way."
[14:24] * Muirfinn nods. "Very well."
[14:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[14:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 39." [1d100=39]
[14:28] <@Kotono> You walk for a goodly time. The weather is fair and warm without being hot. You pass by goodfolk, well fed and clean, seemingly in fine health and shape. Even the simple wagoneers look to be well off, passing by several heading east as you are. In time you come to a small, tucked away fortress just off your path. Here Sylvie stops, "Moonholm," she announces, "The base of the Lunatics in Balmuria and the church Balyss serves."
[14:31] <Muirfinn> "She spent much of her time here, I'm assuming."
[14:34] <@Kotono> "Yeah," Sylvie stops, looking at the open gates. "We met her just inside those gates. We'd been investigating a werewolf outbreak, if memory serves." As she speaks you see the walls glisten silver, like moonlight. The gate is enscribed with stars and crescent moons. "Ended up getting a run around back to the Helmites. It was one of our first jobs as a group. With what happened to Wayland, perhaps it was also an omen."

[Yuthirin]

[21:33] <@Kotono> > You walk for a goodly time. The weather is fair and warm without being hot. You pass by goodfolk, well fed and clean, seemingly in fine health and shape. Even the simple wagoneers look to be well off, passing by several heading east as you are. In time you come to a small, tucked away fortress just off your path. Here Sylvie stops, "Moonholm," she announces, "The base of the Lunatics in Balmuria and the church Balyss serves."
[21:33] <@Kotono> <Muirfinn> "She spent much of her time here, I'm assuming."
[21:33] <@Kotono> > "Yeah," Sylvie stops, looking at the open gates. "We met her just inside those gates. We'd been investigating a werewolf outbreak, if memory serves." As she speaks you see the walls glisten silver, like moonlight. The gate is enscribed with stars and crescent moons. "Ended up getting a run around back to the Helmites. It was one of our first jobs as a group. With what happened to Wayland,
[21:33] <@Kotono> perhaps it was also an omen."
[21:34] <Muirfinn> "Wayland is another friend of yours?" Muirfinn asks as he walks on.
[21:37] <@Kotono> "Was." Sylvie lingers a few moments by Moonholm, her left hand on her right elbow, wrapped around her front. Her gaze is ahead at Moonholm, "He died against that werewolf but came back. He lasted awhile longer until he fell again."
[21:40] <Muirfinn> "Fortunate he is then, to have been granted another chance at life." Muirfinn nods. "Was he a good man, then?"
[21:44] <@Kotono> "Yeah. Pulled a couple of thugs out and tried to set them straight." Looking on at the moon decorated fortress, biting her lip a moment, "They died before him when part of Whimsical Sweets was cast into Hell. We pulled a rescue mission with what little magic and skill we had." Laughing a little bit, "The only reason we succeeded was absurd amounts of luck, no Blood War battles nearby and
[21:44] <@Kotono> the fact we were too weak to even think twice about."
[21:47] <Muirfinn> "Again with Hell." Muirfinn sighs. "Was he at least successful in saving their souls?"
[21:49] <@Kotono> Sylvie nods, "They moved on safely. It wasn't like it was with Aurora. We were just some mortals who had bad luck. No scryings on us, no great notice." Turning away from Moonholm then, Sylvie begins to walk once more. "It could have been the Abyss or Limbo. Hell was completely coincidental. They were cast there as a result of a magical mishap."
[22:01] <Muirfinn> "Better Hell than the Abyss, I suppose. Devils can be bartered with, after all."
[22:03] <@Kotono> "It involved some fast talking," Sylvie says as you travel along. "It's not too far to the western gate into the New City."
[22:07] * Muirfinn nods, heading along. "Tannin mentioned this place last time we were on this plane. Said it was nice."
[22:11] <@Kotono> "The New City's all been built within the last twenty years, and the city makes an effort to keep it clean. It's nicer than most other cities. Wide streets that are trash and mud free and it doesn't smell so miserably city-like. You can actually smell the ocean when the breeze is blowing right." Smiling a little bit, "I didn't really appreciate it until I visited a bunch of less fortunate
[22:11] <@Kotono> cities. It's not fantastic in the way planar cities tend to be, but it's nice."
[22:16] <Muirfinn> "So not quite Brightwater then?" Muirfinn needles with an overly-toothy grin. "Relax, Sylvie. I'm not going to judge your city harshly. It's better than what my people spent our history living in. We lived in reed-and-driftwood homes, or none at all."
[22:19] <@Kotono> "Why not build something better?" Sylvie idly asks, as the path begins to become wider, better trodden. Behind you can hear the squeal of wagon wheels approaching, along with the neigh of a horse. Birds fly about in the air as a faint, salty breeze blows.  To your left side is a small farmfield, being tended by a young man and woman. "Plant matter and old wood sounds like a firetrap."
[22:20] <Muirfinn> "We had no reason for more." Muirfinn says simply.
[22:20] <Muirfinn> "When you live next to the ocean, little catches fire for long."
[22:23] * Merc is now known as Merc-zzz
[22:24] <@Kotono> "That's either earthy or lazy," Sylvie's lips twitch with the first hints of a smile. Shifting gears and keeping her voice conversational but quiet, "In any case, we'll get an inn room and then start our search."
[22:26] <Muirfinn> "Take it either way." Muirfinn says airily.
[22:30] <@Kotono> Thus the duo advance along! Soon you come to the city gates. An archway into the city, of stone with clean and unscarred stone walls. Within are clean, straight and wide streets. The buildings are all well kept, generally devoid of weather damage and wear. There are several guards at the gate, but none stop you as you enter. Once in you head in it's a short trip to Pirate's Cove, a small,
[22:30] <@Kotono> comfortable inn. A pair of rooms are purchased, and the two of you end up in Muirfinn's. Sylvie goes to lie on the bed a moment, "Alright," she begins, "First of all I want to spend today getting up to date on local stories and events. If something's happening that could interfere with this, I'd like to know. Are you any good at that sort of thing?"
[22:32] <Muirfinn> "What, gathering information? I picked up a fair bit of skill at it when I was seeking the Aurora."
[22:34] <@Kotono> "Good." Sylvie lies there af ew moments before springing to her feet, "We'll meet back here in 3 hours. I'll bring dinner," she says, "Just gather up all the information you can on local and current events. We'll compare notes after. Keep an extra ear open for the Crimson Guard in case anything comes up with them."
[22:37] * Muirfinn nods, heading out.
[22:38] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+25 GI
[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+25 GI and gets 33." [1d20=8]
[22:38] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+33 (+18 CI) Sylvie and skills yadda yadda
[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 (+18 CI) Sylvie and skills yadda yadda and gets 39." [1d20=6]
[22:38] <@Kotono> Muirfinn and Sylvie split up, and Muirfinn listens well. He learns the following information:
[22:39] <@Kotono> - The price of grain is up this year. The harvest was a bit down and shipments of grain to the west are spiking high. The war between the nations of Kelara and Nodlitz is blamed by most. (More)
[22:41] <@Kotono> - Instability continues in the Desert Fiefdoms (a nation to the west, Muirfinn can infer) due to the death of the reigning Pasha. Common talk in the inns are that investments are temporarily moving out of the Fiefdoms while this sorts itself out, as the new Pasha is vigorously taking steps against instability. Of course, this creates a certain instability until finished. (More)
[22:43] <@Kotono> - Archbaron Ubaldo Baluth's recent visit is still a topic of discussion in the taverns. Apparently it went well, as Commander Hellman Oberuth was seen in public for the first time in a several months. Word is that the war hero is looking older and older with every passing apperance, and many speculate his time is running out. (More)
[22:45] <@Kotono> - A scandal involving the mayor and a pair of lovely twins is being bandied about by a few. Apparently it's the hot but quiet rumor that he was caught with his pants down with the pair. Opinions vary wildly on it, from amusement to praise to moral indignation. (More)
[22:46] <@Kotono> - The holiday of Dweomer's Rise is approaching. The buzz is that a powerful magical creature will be revealed that day - some even claim a djinn prince has been bound and will grant wishes to all who come that day! (More)
[22:47] <@Kotono> - Story is that the treaty between the sahuagin and the sea elves is straining, to the surprise of no one who mentions it. Near as anyone can tell, theyjust don't like each other much. (More)
[22:49] <@Kotono> - Word on the street is that the Crimson Guard recently intervened in the Frozen North regarding the Ice Ships. Not much is known here, but the rumor seems persistent enough. (More)
[22:50] <@Kotono> - The buzz is that a diplomat from a far away land is staying at the Church of the Golden Flames. Reports are really thin here, but Muirfinn hears it twice. Something about fantastic riches and breath-taking beauty.
[22:55] * Muirfinn heads back with all of this bustleness!
[22:57] <@Kotono> You find Sylvie awaiting. A spread of a creamy fish stew, salad and candied bread awaits you, along with a bottle of some sort of clear fluid. Sylvie's lying on Muirfinn's bed again, "How'd it go?" she tilts her head towards him.
[22:58] <Muirfinn> "...Balmurians talk too much."
[23:01] <@Kotono> "Really." Dryly she raises an eyebrow, "I take it that means you were successful?"
[23:02] <Muirfinn> "You could say that." Muirfinn says, taking a deep breath. "Want a full report, or just the highlights?"
[23:03] <@Kotono> "Highlights. I'll ask for details if needed," Sylvie says. She gets up, "We can eat and talk, it should still be warm. You're fine with fish? There's some elf bread if you aren't."
[23:08] <Muirfinn> "Fish is fine." Muirfinn says, serving himself. Local commander by the name of Oberuth sounds like he's about ready for retirement. The Crimson Guard was mentioned in an event regarding ice ships in the Frozen North. Not much information there. Lastly, there are rumors of a foreign diplomat visiting the city, supposed to be staying at the Church of Golden Flames. The words 'fantastic riches' and breath-taking beauty' were bandied about."
[23:13] <@Kotono> "I didn't hear the one about the Golden Flames," Sylvie says, "But it doesn't seem immediately relevant." The food's good, warm and fresh. She goes through her stew quickly, leaning back after and nibbling on a bit of bread. "The Crimson Guard one doesn't sound important, either. The Frozen North must have made itself known, but nothing that screams an immediate connection." Sighing lightly
[23:13] <@Kotono> as she nibbles away, a look of pique forming, "Okay, assuming they aren't all busy with that ice thing..." Sylvie hums to herself a moment.
[23:20] <Muirfinn> "There were some other minor things like the sea elves and the sahuagin not getting along, ut nothing I found particularily relevant.
[23:20] <Muirfinn> "
[23:21] <@Kotono> "Well, we found out that there's nothing immediately distracting," Sylvie remarks, "Unless we want to meddle in politics, and we may end up needing to, there's nothing too revealing. Alright."
[23:25] * Muirfinn shrugs, eating his stew.
[23:25] <Muirfinn> "How is it you keep your food in your mouths?"
[23:25] <Muirfinn> "Your lips move all over the place and I keep dribbling it down this ridiculous chin."
[23:27] <@Kotono> "Practice," Sylvie remarks absently, "Watch a baby eat sometime." At that a distinct half frown comes to her face, "Damn it all, Balyss," she mutters to herself. "I'm going to go out. It's personal. We'll pick this up in the morning."
[23:32] * Muirfinn shrugs. "Suit yourself. I'll wander around for a bit. Maybe I'll hear something else."

[Anastasia]

> OOC: Going to go out and gather more info?
<Muirfinn> OOC: Just to see what I can find. She's playing Me-Time, and I have no desire to chill in the room for howeever long it takes for her to decide what we're doing.
> OOC: Okay, make a GI check.
<Muirfinn> OOC: Think I can take a 20 if I'm gonna be at this long enough?
> OOC: Sure, but you will attract attention.
<Muirfinn> OOC: She didn't say I shouldn't attract attention!
<Muirfinn> OOC: Did she?
<Muirfinn> OOC: I don't think she did.
> OOC: Okay then.
> OOC: What's yoru total?
<Muirfinn> OOC: Fuck it. LEt's get dangerous. 45.
> roll 1d100+15
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100+15 and gets 65." [1d100=50]
> roll 1d100+15
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100+15 and gets 81." [1d100=66]
> Muirfinn searches. He ends up in a tavern, asking about. "Current events?" The barkeep is a foppishly dressed man, standing out with a riot of colors. "G'sir, see over there," he points. The tavern itself is normal enough - no real theme, just the name of the Broken Wing.
<Muirfinn> "I see, thanks." Muirfinn heads that way.
> Sitting by the fireplace is a pretty blonde - by fleshy human oid standards, anyway. She wears a gray cloak and form-fitting leathers, the sort that show just a bit more than is properly decent. She has a scythe resting near her, as she sips a glass of wine and looks out at the sunset. Her expression is faintly pensive, a few reddish rays of the setting sun splashing over her.
<Muirfinn> Ah, a fire. Nothing like warming the old reptile blood, even if he doesn't look the part today. Muirfinn takes a seat near the fireplace as well, nodding at the young woman. "Hello."
> OOC: Refresh me on how Muirfinn looks real quick?
<Muirfinn> OOC: Vaguely similar to Tannin, with shaggy brown hair and similar eyes. Went for the unremarkable look.
> The woman's pensive look vanishes into a smile, "Hiii!" she greets, voice energetic. "Like, hello there! Did someone send you my way?"
<Muirfinn> "I...think so. A man wearing far too many colors to be sensible." Muirfinn says, nodding.
> "Oooooh!" Smiling now, "So what do you want with me?"
<Muirfinn> "Well, I'm looking for interesting goings-on in the city. Anything out of place."
> Blinking a moment, "Oh, I totally thought you meant something else!" Sipping her wine, "Whoops! So like, let's see. All the merchants are complaining about grain, but that's so boring! Oh, there's the scandal with the mayor - he got caught with the Vesemuth twins! Do you believe it?! Like, I can't believe it! He's so old and wrinkly!"
* Muirfinn nods along. "Yes, I heard that. A lot of people are upset about it."
> "I know! They could do so much better!" The woman giggles, "Oh, and there's all that noise about the north. It's so cold there without magic, like, you nearly freeze off! It's like the Amaryl mountains, except there's more people."
<Muirfinn> "Mmh. That's too far away anyway."
> "Oh totally," The blonde agrees, bubbling along, "So like, things out of place? That's sort of specific, isn't it?"
<Muirfinn> "Yes, it is. If I knew what I was looking for, I suppose I could tell you. Anything interesting going on with the Crismon Guard, maybe? They do interesting things, I hear."
> "
> "You know," The blonde smiles now, "That's a suspicious question you're asking. You're probably a foreigner and you come in asking about unusual things about the Crimson Guard."
<Muirfinn> "Do I look like the kind of man out to cause trouble?" Muirfinn asks honestly.
> "No, which is the point," The girl's smile has a warmth to it, "Which means you're my contact!" Lowering her voice, "Right?"
<Muirfinn> "Er...I suppose."
> The blonde smiles even more, "I don't have a contact," she says cheerfully, standing up. A hand is on her scythe, casual as can be. "Say, I wonder if there's a bounty on you? You wouldn't happen to be a Sharran, would you?"
* Muirfinn looks offended. "I should say not!"
> "Not a Sharran? You aren't a succubus thrall, are you?" Asking next, "Oooh, how about an infiltrator from Sanaxt or a Kelaran agent?"
<Muirfinn> "Why would you think I was a Sharran?" Muirfinn looks at himself.
<Muirfinn> "What!? No!"
> "Well, if you were one," The blonde goes on, "Like totally you'd deny it!" Snapping her fingers, "But don't worry, I can prove it one way or another. Just hold on a moment, I'm going to cast a spell."
<Muirfinn> "Ehhh..." Muirfinn hesitates, then shrugs. "...alright."
> A few words are cast, as...OOC: Any divination blockers?
<Muirfinn> OOC: I am an open book.
<Muirfinn> OOC: READ ME!
> A few moments and then the blonde relaxes. "Oh like, you're clean!" she nod-nods, sitting back down. "So like, what do you want to know?"
<Muirfinn> "I could have told you that." Muirfinn says amically. "I'd like to know if there are any goings on locally, especially in relation to the Crimson Guard or anything that could be dangerous."
> Taking her wineglass again and working on it, "Mmm-hmm. Well, there was totally that miserably cold ice thing, and like if yo uspent too much time there you'd turn into an ice statue, but only sort of. But after the Ice Boat something had to, like, be done."
<Muirfinn> "Problems with elementals, then?"
> "Huh, like, it's just really cold there," The blonde goes on, "Then, like, the Crimson Guard's looking into the ruins again," she continues, "Which is I bet warmer than all that totally cold north."
<Muirfinn> "Ruins?"
> "Oh, the western ruins. Like, they're really dangerous and hard to get into," The blonde replies, "Sort of like a chaste succubus, like dangerous and hard to get into!"
* Muirfinn just looks at the woman.
> "Or like, is it getting hard but hard to get into. Unless you catch the lesbians, then it's wet and hard to get into," The blonde begins to frown, "Like, if you're a demi-lesbian, then..." sh emurmurs, counting on her fingers. "Eight plus four is twelve, right?"
<Muirfinn> "...what's a demi-lesbian?" Muirfinn looks massively confused. "And what's math got to do with it?"
> "Like if you're not a lesbian, but you totally touch one you might get infected with the gays, and you end up sort of a lesbian, but liking guys too?" Yuria explains, "Everyone knows you can catch it that way."
<Muirfinn> "Infected with the..." Muirfinn shakes his head. "Nevermind. What's in these ruins?"
> "Dunno," she admits, "Like, they've been around for a generation and are still really mysterious, but I hear the Crimson Guard's been involved with them from the beginning."
<Muirfinn> "Hmmm...could be worth looking onto, then." Muirfinn nods slowly. "Got anything else?"
> "Mmm-hmm. Like down south old Purinn got desposed," A frown comes to the blonde's face at that, "I heard the Guard cleaned it up."
<Muirfinn> "I heard that too."
> "Oh really?" The blonde smiles, leaning forward as Muirfinn feels something brush against his leg. "You know some stories too? Like, could yo utell me?" Her smile grows as she gives you a cutely pleading look, "Please?"
* Muirfinn looks at his leg.
> Glancing down, he can see her leg brushing against his as she leans forward.
<Muirfinn> A human custom, perhaps? Maybe something local? She seems friendly enough, anyhow. "Stories?" He awkwardly taps his nose for a moment before blinking and looking at his hand. He chuckles a moment and says,  "What kind of stories would you like to hear?"
> "Oh, anything interesting about where you come from?" The blonde asks.
<Muirfinn> "Where I come from..." Muirfinn trails off for a moment. "Where I come from, depending on who you ask, is either a beautiful or a terrible place."
> "Oh, so you come from the Fiefdoms?" The blonde asks, "Like, all those deserts?"
<Muirfinn> "Not quite. Much further away."
<Muirfinn> "...you know, I never caught your name, girl. Before I dig in and tell this story, I think introductions are in order."
> "Oooh, from the Wastes?" Asking that as her leg brushes yours again, "Or the jungles?" Blinking at that, "I'm Yuria, nice to meet you!"
<Muirfinn> "I am Muirfinn. It's truly a pleasure. Now, the story." Muirfinn settles in, leaning forward.
<Muirfinn> "Imagine a place where, for the most part, everyone is happy. A place where poverty is nearly a myth, and there is no national war or strife. A paradise, where the biggest news is neighbors squabbling over a horse. You with me?"
> "Uh huh," Yuria leans in, closer, almost face to face. Her breath smells of wine and you can feel the warmth of her body and her leg against yours. "That sounds like the old Empire."
* Muirfinn snorts loudly. "Our entire WORLD was like that, once. Not so long ago, in fact."
> "Oh really?" Yuria asks, "Like then what happeneD?"
<Muirfinn> "Devils." Muirfinn scowls, leaning back and steepling his fingers together. "Devils came, led to a paradise by foolish mortals craving power far beyond their station. The devils destroyed nearly everything. Millions of people died in the first hours, and millions more either died or were enslaved in the coming days after. The earth itself was perverted agains the world that rested upon it;
<Muirfinn> the forests, mountains, and seas turned against the people. It was...a nightmare."
> Yuria blink-blinks as Muirfinn goes back, before she eeps. "Oooooooh. Ooooooooooh. Like...ooooooh." Settling back herself now, "That's bad. Really bad."
* Muirfinn nods. "That's where I come from. Some of us made it out alive. Most didn't. We've organized a resistance movement and are moving against them where we can, but against all the legions of Avernus, we are not so many. Not yet. We are mostly aasimar, celestials, elementals, and like-minded mortals who want to kill devils for one reason or another. Most of our operations are guerilla
* Muirfinn movements." Muirfinn shakes his head, then grins ruefully after a moment. "I don't suppose that you know anyone willing to see the wonders of the planes with a desire to kill devils, would you?"
> "Oh um, well..." Yuria blinks a tthat, "Like, that's really heavy. I don't really know anyone like that ,though."
* Muirfinn nods. "It's one of the reasons I'm here in Balmuria. We're always recruiting people who want the chance to make an incredible difference and someday save an entire plane of existence."
> "That's...wow." Yuria concludes, "That's like what Balyss went off after."
<Muirfinn> "Oh!" Muirfinn blinks. "You know Balyss?"
> "You know Balyss?" Yuria banters right back, "Like yeah, before she ran off because Selune talked to her."
<Muirfinn> "Yes, I know Balyss." Muirfinn smiles. "She joined up with us and has been a big help."
> "Ooooh." Yuria blinks, "What are the odds..." she murmurs as she counts on her fingers, "Like, I mean, I do this a lot. Listening and spreading the rumors since it gets us jobs, but still."
<Muirfinn> "Yes, we have another friend of hers as well. Did you know a dryad named Simmer?"
> "I've heard of her," Yuria replies, "But like she was before my time."
<Muirfinn> "Ahhh, I see." Muirfinn says. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to join up as well, then?"
> "Well, that's the problem," Yuria says, "Like Ves and maybe me or Lyris was going to come along, but Balyss got told she had to come alone by Selune. Apparently she was like really specific in an augury and that's rare."
<Muirfinn> "Oh. Well, if told by divine word, I suppose she has to listen. You were told you couldn't go, then?"
> "That's it," Yuria nods, "Some of us really wanted to go, and we had the most incredible going away party, but..." Yuria shrugs. "Later on I paid a friend to do a divination and it said woe would come if we went too. Then Aaeru had Kroger do one and the result was the same. I get the impression we're, like, supposed to man the fort here."
<Muirfinn> "Ahhh. Well, at least you know you are where you're needed, yes?"
> "Well, like yeah," Yuria nods along to that, "Aaeru and Whirric and Arachiel were talking about it, and then Arachiel totally said that means we must be needed here for something important." Twirling a bit of blonde hair around her finger, "Like when you're in just the right place to trip a scoundrel running away, or someone saves you from being introduced to a demon so you don't become a demi-fiend."
<Muirfinn> "Demi...yes. That's exactly right. Being in the right place at the right time when you're needed."
> Twirling her hair 'round and 'round her finger, "So anyway, you're kinda cute." She gives Muirfinn a cute smile, "Do you think I'm totally cute?"
<Muirfinn> "...what?" Muirfinn looks confused for a moment, then laughs loudly. He looks mildly startled with himself immediately after for another moment, then says, "I'm not human, Yuria. I mentioned that I was from another plane, yes? Perhaps I should have expanded more. This is merely a disguise so as to not alarm the locals."
> "Oh...OH! Like, Oh my Emperor!" Yuria gushes, and loudly declares, "You're an angel, aren't you?!"
* Muirfinn shakes his head. "No. Not even close."
> As several sets of eyes fall on the party, Yuria recoils, "Like, if you aren't an angel and fiends can't come here...you're a reptile-frog thingy! A slaad! EW!"
<Muirfinn> "I'm not a chaos-spawn, either, though I do know one. It's...not as bad as people think." Muirfinn says. "And keep it down, you're scaring the locals."
> Yuria lowers her voice at least somewhat, down to conversational levels, "Um so..." scratching at her head with an intense look of puzzled concentration, "OH! I know now. You're an efreet!"
<Muirfinn> "You're not going to guess it. From what I gather, my kind are rare among the planes."
> "Oh." Yuria deflates, "So you can't grant me a wish or anything, can you?"
<Muirfinn> "It's not within my direct power, no."
> "Oh well." Yuria snaps her fingers, "So like...now what?"
* Muirfinn shrugs, rubbing awkwardly at his chin. That's not quite right either. He sighs. "I suppose I'll wind up looking into the ruins nearby, then. Can you tell me where they are?"
> "It's to the west a bit - it's a little vague," Yuria admits, "I mean, it's not like anyone can just go."
<Muirfinn> "Oh? Are there magical means keeping people out?"
> "I'm not sure," Yuria says, "That's all."
<Muirfinn> "Well." Muirfinn says, pushing himself to his feet. "It was lovely meeting you, Miss Yuria. I'll let Balyss know you said hi? Unless you wish to join me, I'll be on my way."
> "Tell her I said hi," Yuria chirps, "We all miss her."
<Muirfinn> "I will." Muirfinn says.
> OOC: Going back to rest now?
<Muirfinn> OOC: Yeah. I'm not about to tackle those ruins alone if I need to.
> The next day dawns without incident. Sylvie comes over to your room after breakfast. She looks a bit on the tired side, going to sit once in. "You awake and ready now?" she asks.
* Muirfinn nods. "I did a bit more digging last night. Met a friend of Balyss'. A young woman named Yuria. Do you know her?"
> "...yeah, yeah I do," Sylvie says, after a moment of hard blinking. "What did she say? "
<Muirfinn> "That she was attracted to me, and that the Crimson Guard has been investigating a set of ruins nearby lately." Muirfinn chuckles.
> That draws a full on double facepalm, Sylvie sighing aloud. "Okay, ruins. Ruins are good. Assuming she's right. The problem is that between a leftover bowl of fish stew and Yuria, the fish stew is smarter and quicker on the uptake."
<Muirfinn> "Yes...I gathered that she was a bit scatterbrained. She seemed to have difficulty focusing on the question at hand."
> roll 1d20+38
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+38 and gets 43." [1d20=5]
> "Which means I don't take anything she says at face value," Sylvie crosses her arms under her chest, "Nor should you. Which means we should verify before going off on any sort of ruins hunt. That said, I think I know the ruins she's talking about. They're not too far from town, just hidden away."
<Muirfinn> "She mentioned that they were difficult to get to, though she didn't know why." Muirfinn says. "Judging by that, she's likely going by second-hand information on this and has not seen these ruins for herself. If she heard it from somewhere, we can too."
> "Makes sense," Sylvie says, "If that doesn't work we can at least try the ruins I'm thinking of." OOC: Good to go search for that?
<Muirfinn> "If they're to the west, they're probably the right ones."
<Muirfinn> OOC: From there!
> OOC: Make a GI check then?
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+25
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+25 and gets 37." [1d20=12]
> roll 1d20 Sylvie'll aid
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Sylvie'll aid and gets 5." [1d20=5]
> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 79." [1d100=79]
> A few hours of talking leads you along. Eventually you end up in a dim bar in the Old City, near the docks. Sitting to you is an old, gray bearded man, nursing a tankard of ale. In a quiet voice he asks, "The ruins?" in reply tin you rown queries. "Eh?"
<Muirfinn> "Yes, the ruins. What can you tell us about them?"
> He nurses a drink, "I knew once...oh, I'm trying to remember..." Snapping a finger, "I can't recall!" With a gusty sigh, "A bottle of Captain Hamilton's Special Batch usually jogs my memory."
> Sylvie looks on at him, before glancing at Muirfinn. "Could you?" she murmurs.
* Muirfinn looks at the bartender. "How much?"
> Going over to the barkeep, the answer is, "One of those? That's a damned fine brew. 50 marks."
<Muirfinn> "I've paid less for drinks on Radiance!" Muirfinn looks appalled.
> "That's the price, sir," The barkeep says, an older gentleman with a limp as she shuffles behind the bar. "It's the best brew we stock here."
* Muirfinn looks at Sylvie. "That's insane."
> Sylvie shrugs her shoulders, "It's not that much money for us," she says, before tapping her lips, "I suppose we could offer a trade instead."
<Muirfinn> "That's actually more than half of all my money." Muirfinn points out.
> "Really?" Sylvie raises one eyebrow, but turns, "Muirfinn, why don't you offer him some magic then?"
* Muirfinn turns to the drunk, wide-eyed and waggling his fingers. "Want some magic?"
> "You're a wizard?" Widening his eyes, "Can you conjure up a bottle of Captain Hamilton's Special Batch?"
<Muirfinn> "I'm not a wizard. I'm a druid!" Muirfinn says. "I can't make you any drunker, but I can probably make you sober!"
> At this Sylvie sighs and rubs the bridge of her nose, "Fine, if you're so hung up on it I'll buy you one." Fishing into her pockets and coming out with a handful of heavy coins, "Here."
> Coins are exchanged and a bottle is gotten. Once he has it, "Druid, wizard, whatever," THe old man says, "So what do you all want to know about the ruins?"
<Muirfinn> "Whatever you know."
> "Start from the beginning," Sylvie agrees, "Pretend like we know nothing about it."
> "Wellllll," Leaning back and putting the bottle of booze aside, "Did good in the little war that knocked ol' Ferdi into a grave. I got an easy prestige assignment as a result - guarding some old ruins outside town. Real important things. It was boring and cushy, but we had to be trained and ready for anything. Go in and things are dangerous as hell. Took the Crimson Guard's best to go in and come out in one piece."
> "Okay," Sylvie nods slightly at that, "Go on."
> "Now you spend enough time there and you pick up things. People talk and sometimes your orders have to tell you things so you can do your job," Resting back now, "What I know is this. First of all, there's a dragon in those ruins. His name starts with an A. Aran, Ajan, Ajax, something like that. A red dragon if I recall right. Second of all, what's in those ruins is important enough to have permission to kill anyone who tries to sneak in or get past us. If there's a dragon in there, why? Never made much sense to us, a dragon can take care of itself, right?"
> "Hm." Sylvie makes a little murmuring noise, nodding occasionally as he speaks. "What else?" she asks.
> "Third of all, eventually entrance was fully forbidden except to the Crimson Guard. Really a formality at that point, but they took over guarding the ruins themselves. Before we left, heard they were using magic to protect the entrance on top of sentries." He keeps his voice down at this, "Whatever's in there's big. Really big. What's more, back when the Gods started coming back is when the ruins were explored. Same time frame. You ask me, I think it's the portal to Paradise and they can't have just anyone going there. The dragon? He's guarding it. Divine mission, which is why he's not raising hell like old Kondrux did, or that one in the desert a few years back."
* Muirfinn looks at Sylie, who would likely know more of the local lore here.
> To this Sylvie smiles, "Interesting. Anything else to add?" She sends Muirfinn a brief glance, but focuses on the man for now.
> "That's about it," he says, going to crack open his bottle of booze. He takes a chug from from the bottle, shivering, "Oh, that's good, by the Gods."
<Muirfinn> "It's just alcohol. It's not even good." Muirfinn mumbles.
> Sylvie rises, "Thanks," she says offhandedly, getting out to go.
* Muirfinn follows as well.
> Once outside Sylvie heads towards the docks, around all the ships, several loading or unloading. Weaving around sailors and going to stand at the end of one quay, "He was telling the truth, generally. Also, he had relatively little sins around him." Keeping her voice even a bit on the quiet side, "So I see two ways we can do this. We can try to sneak or force our way in past the defenses. This shatters our chances at diplomacy, but keeps the element of surprise, especially if diplomacy fails. Alternately, we can try and work something out with the Guard. It's less violent, but it fails they know we're interested, and more forceful means are ruined." Glancing at Muirfinn, as a bit of wind blows her hair, "Any thoughts or opinions of your own? If you can think up a better third way I'm all ears."
<Muirfinn> "I would much prefer to ask and talk our way in. I'm in no mood to assault people who are doing their jobs. However, I have reservations. This dragon he mentioned reminds me of Kascha's god. I believe her name is Seira? Did she not originate on this plane? If one of her minions is guarding that gate, I'd rather not upset her. It could cause rocky or lost relations with Kascha or her god.
<Muirfinn> Not something we want, at the moment. Also, what is it precisely that you wish to accomplish in all of this?"
> "Yeah," Sylvie says, "Seira's it." Stopping a moment, "You don't know?"
<Muirfinn> "...is this about your lost man again?"
> "No!" Sylvie blushes and mutters, crossing her arms under her chest and staring out at the sea. "Fine. Do you want the compressed version or the long version?"
<Muirfinn> "I think the long version is best. We have time."
> Sylvie goes to sit at the edge of the dock, watching seagulls swoop over the green waters. Behind you is the hustle and bustle of the docks, but no one seems to be coming out this far to bother you. "May as well sit down for this," she offers.
* Muirfinn nods.

[Anastasia]

* Muirfinn also finds himself a seat!
> "Well, I've been carrying 21 for awhile now," Sylvie begins, "First of all, I'm certain that 21 and the Gods are incompatible. 21, the Guardian and the Three Incarnations are wholly disagreeable with divine power. I just know it, something I know without being able to prove any of it. It's the truth." Quietly shrugging her shoulders as she brushes a stray lock of blonde hair back, "Whatever 21 is isn't just anti-evil. It's anti-divine. By extension so are the Guardian and the Three Incarnations. Follow me so far?"
* Muirfinn nods.
> "You've become at least passingly familiar with the creatures of madness from beyond Creation?" Sylvie continues, pensively staring out at the rolling waves of the bay. "I'm certain 21 and all of that is connected to them. The Far Realm and everything there breaks down Creation when exposed to it. So...if the Three Incarnations are what made Creation, why? Why make it? The question bothers me and I can't dismiss it. I want to know why."
<Muirfinn> "...so what is it precisely you're planning on doing?"
* Muirfinn looks confused.
> "I'm getting to that," Sylvie replies, a hint of waspishness in her voice, "I'm getting to it! Have you been around when I've mentioned my world has a heavy destiny?"
<Muirfinn> "Yes, I recall that." Muirfinn nods.
> "When I sleep at night, I dream of others with 21. Jaela, Afina, Ithea, Adrian and others. I can't help but have a sense that this isn't where I was meant to be." Kicking her feet as she looks out, "I wasn't supposed to be here. I was supposed to live a quiet life instead of walking the planes and stumbling onto 21. My presence in Aurora wasn't supposed to happen. But because of my world, I got drawn into it all."
<Muirfinn> "So grant it to someone else, or return it to the Guardian." Muirfinn says. "Why not live your life the way you were meant to live it? You DO have a choice here. After all," Muirfinn waves his hnd at the buildings and sea before them, "it's all still here."
<Muirfinn> "And I doubt any of us would begrudge you this choice."
> "I want to carry 21 now," Sylvie says, "Besides, my life here died at the hands of a twisted nymph empowered by the hate of a bitter bitch of a Goddess." With a note of disdain coming into her voice, "I don't think what gives this world a heavy destiny has any part of Aurora's story, either. But at the same time, it's powerful, and like 21 and the Blade of Endings, it could help us against Hell. That's why we're here. In the past 20-something years, our world went from a backwater forgotten by the Gods and nearly devoid of magic to a near-mythical age. Our greatest champions rose up to join the Gods in ruling over Creation. The power behind all of this and our world..." Here Sylvie stops, "It could help Aurora greatly, and I can't help but hope it may give me answers."
<Muirfinn> "So we're here to ask for divine help and answers?"
> "Or whatever the power behind my world is," Sylvie nods, "It makes sense to start here, since Balmuria is where it all happened." Now she gets up, "That's why. For the rest of you, it's about gathering more power to fight Hell. For me it's about answers and maybe, just maybe, finding some meaning behind what my life became. So," Brushing her legs off, "Is that enough of an expository speech for you? I think I covered everything."
<Muirfinn> "Well yes, that's fine. What I'm thinking, though, is why all the convoluted efforts to get there? Why not just plane shift or gate in?"
> "To where, the ruins?" Sylvie asks.
<Muirfinn> "Sure. Or the divine realms. Or anywhere else we want to go."
> "Because," Sylvie drawls this slowly, "Even if that old drunk was right and it's a portal to the divine realms? If it's so important, I doubt it's somewhere in the Heavens we can just gate to. Further, if he's wrong, and I suspect he is, that means that what's in there may be what we're looking for."
<Muirfinn> "Alright." Muirfinn stands, "I'm in, on the condition that we do our level best not to harm anyone guarding the place."
> "Oh good." Sylvie sighs, "I was going ot challenge you to try gating into Selune's bedroom if that didn't take." With a momentarily smile replacing her dischord, "I wonder if Gods have bedrooms, actually. Hm. Nevermind." Shaking her head past it, "That puts pains to forcing our way in, so likely it's best if we try negotiations then."
<Muirfinn> "It'd be fun to find out! Imagine the books you could write on the subject."
> This draws a full out snicker from Sylvie, "I suppose we could ask Kascha. She's close to Seira and she'd know." Shaking her head, "Ebony's a favored servant of Alicia as well. Of course, they're new deities so they may not be the norm. Then again," Pausing fully, "I suppose they could create a bedroom in an instant."
<Muirfinn> "I'm more interested in the contrast between Selune and Shar's bedchambers." Muirfinn says. "I'd bet entire volumes could be written."
> That gets a full stop, before Sylvie shudders, "I'll not entertain that particular thought any longer! Moving on!" Quickly clearing her throat, "So if we're going to try diplomacy, we need a way to get noticed and not brushed off." Here Sylvie sighs, "Unfortunately, I suspect I know how to do that. Say, are you in the mood for candy?"
<Muirfinn> "And here I thought you'd ask me to drop my disguise." Muirfinn says. "Sweets? I'm not hungry right now, unless you want me to look like your elf friend again."
> "That's my backup plan if we fail. We drop our disguises and make some noise at Highwatch Fortress." Sylvie says, "Unless you want to try to impress a few hundred soldier"
> OOC: Gah.
> "That's my backup plan if we fail. We drop our disguises and make some noise at Highwatch Fortress." Sylvie says, "Unless you want to try to impress a few hundred soldiers."
* Muirfinn nods.
<Muirfinn> "Works for me."
> Thus the two of you head to the Commerce Quarter. Clean streets and prosperity are all around you - until you come to a red and white candy striped, two story building. Painted on the front glass window is WHIMSICAL SWEETS in bright red and white letters. The front door is alsy shiny glass, showing hints of display cases of various candies within. Sylvie takes a long breath and stands outside, "I'm going to try and diffuse this as best I can," she says, "Hopefully they're all out on jobs except for the person I need to see."
<Muirfinn> "Good luck! Want me to stay outside or come in in case you get slapped too much?"
> "May as well come in," Sylvie sighs, "Just follow my lead and drag me out if things get completely out of hand."
<Muirfinn> "Sure."
> Thus the duo go in! Within Whimsical Sweets is one half-elf - rotund and clad in white, designed to look like a bowl. Everything up to his chest is a bowl, and his shirt is cut there, just below his 'heaving bosom'. Everything from above there is painted to resemble strawberries and cream, as he turns, "Ah good day, good day, I give you fond salutations and the warmest tidings as I welcome you to Whimsical Sweets, a candyland of wondrous things and deft problem solving all combined together into one glorious, united whole!"
> Sylvie stops. She just stops and stares.
* Muirfinn peers carefully at the elf. "...I think I got the ears wrong last time."
> Facepalming with both hands, "I'm so sorry, Muirfinn." Exhaling, "Spare me, Josa. I need a favor - a big favor." Pausing a moment as she dismisses her shape change, resuming her natural shape, "We need an in with the city or preferably the Crimson Guard. And yes, it's nice to see you again and no, I'm not staying around long."
> "Why, it's Sylvie!" Gasping visibly at the duo, "At last you've returned to us, on the wings of need and desperation!" So Josa declares, coming forth and sweeping Sylvie into a big, bare-chested hug - before Sylvie pushes off, looking really rather waxen. "Right. This is important and there's a lot of people depending on us. Does Whimsical Sweets still have good relations with that one captain?"
> "Such haste and such ill manners, truly you must be at the highest tide of sincere need to do such!" Grandly gesturing, "We are still in fond friendship with Captain Wedge, and asking for a meeting in our name shall go splendidly!" Turning to Muirfinn, "Good sir, may I catch your name, by chance, as I do not recall you nor do you resemble the point of Sylvie leaving us."
* Muirfinn is giving Sylvie a look when Josa speaks to him. He turns and bows at the waist, stumbling a bit and blinking in surprise. "I...am Muirfinn. And poorly-balanced." He turns to Sylvie. "Be nice."
> "Come, come, come," Josa gestures, as meanwhile from a set of stairs in the back a small figure comes down. A pixie with silver hair and a matching dress, "Oh," she calls, "You're not dead. Welcome back."
> Josa waves a hand, "Balance is an overrated thing, as true motion requires only will, desire and gusto, much like skilled candymancy!" Josa declares, "Now come! We shall celebrate!"
> "...later, alright?" Sylvie closes her eyes and sighs, "What did I just say about this being important?"
<Muirfinn> "Huh. Another pixie." Muirfinn wonders.
> OOC: What's the CL on your true seeing effect?
<Muirfinn> OOC: Uhhhhhhhh. Sec.
> OOC: Make a CL echeck on it.
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+10 and gets 12." [1d20=2]
> The pixie comes over, giving Muirfinn a full look over, "Aren't you boring?" she declares, as she goes and flutters back upstairs. Josa goes to open his mouth again, but Sylvie speaks up, "Later. I promise, alright? I'll come and you can invite damn well everyone and get it over with. But for now, we really need to do this." Turning, "Let's go, Muirfinn."
* Muirfinn turns to look at Josa. "She's adorable. She'd fit right in with the rest of us."
> "Ah," Coughing into his hand, "Good sir, I must confess that Silver has a most quarrelsome personality, one lacking in the finer social mores that polished gentlement such as yourself and myself commonly expect as a natural part of discourse; nay, I cannot recommend such a course of action."
<Muirfinn> "You don't know the people I spend time with." Muirfinn points out.
> "Perhaps so," Gesturing grandly about, "Still, I am honored to make your acquantence."
<Muirfinn> "Indeed. I've heard much about you from Sylvie and her friends."
> "Indeed, indeed! We shall have to confer with one another at a later date!" Josa declares.
<Muirfinn> OOC: Moving on then?

[Anastasia]

> Once out Sylvie sets a brisk pace ahead, "I'd have warned you more, but nothing can prepare for that sort of outfit," she adds with a long-suffering sigh.
<Muirfinn> "He is quite an engaging individual. This candymancy he speaks of is interesting as well. I wouldn't mind learning more about it."
> "He makes candy from all sorts of things - including defeated enemies. It's candy and magic," Coming to the end of the street and a turn, Sylvie points up. Ahead on the horizon is a rising hill, tucked away into the Commerce Quarter. A gleaming white fortress sits atop the hill, a long, winding path ascending up to it, connecting to one of the streets closer to it. "Highwatch Fortress. It would be alot easier to fly, but we'd risk getting arrows shot at us, so we'd best just walk."
<Muirfinn> "There's nothing wrong with a good, steady walk." Muirfinn points out.
> With that the duo walks on. Deeper in the Commerce Quarter, passing by rich mortals of all types. Humans predominate, but you see several elves and a handful of dwarves as well, and the occasional golden-skinned aasimar type, or stranger yet. Once you reach the winding path up to Highwatch, it's closer to solitude. Pennets fly in the wind atop the fortress towers, as you can see a flag on display - a field of crimson with a white map in the center. On reaching the gates you find them open, but several soldiers are at attention. "Hail and identify yourselves!"
<Muirfinn> "I am Muirfinn!" Muirfinn waves a hand.
> "I am Sylvie," Sylvie calls, "We're here to see Captain Wedge on behalf of Whimsical Sweets," she calls. To these greetins the guards step aside, with one coming before you, "Follow me."
* Muirfinn strolls on in!
> You are escorted inside to an office. Here is a fairly simple soldier's office. A table, chairs and a desk with a window with a nice view of outside. Within here is an older, mustasched man, clad in light armor and rising slowly from his chair. "Whimsi-oh well, I haven't see you in a long time, Miss," The old man says, "So what does Josa want?"
* Muirfinn opts to let Sylvie handle that.
> "It's not Josa who wants something." Sylvie sits, smoothing herself over before sitting up straight. "We're here from another group - I haven't really been a part of Whimsical Sweets for years. By chance, are you familiar with the extra-planar fortress known as Aurora?"
> "Never heard of it," the captain replies, "What does it have to do with anything?"
> "The Crimson Guard deals with something we'd like to deal with," Sylvie replies, "We'd like to meet with a representative. If you pass on about Aurora, I'm fairly certain they'll be interested."
<Muirfinn> "It really is at the heart of the matter." Muirfinn adds.
> With a distinct glower and a sigh, "So you're using me as a prybar to get in." Shaking his head, "This is above my pay grade. You two stay here." Standing up, picking up a bit of stray cloth and cleaning ink-stained hands, "I'll pass word on up."
> "Thank you," Sylvie inclines her head once more.
<Muirfinn> "Yes, thank you."
> Once up and gone, Sylvie rests back in her chair, one arm resting atop the back rest. She closes her eyes, seemingly content to wait. You do indeed wait - three hours and a little more to spare. Soldiers come by with water roughly halfway, but otherwise your wait is without incident. Your wait is finally broken as the door to the office opens. The woman who enters looks youthful without being young, her entire posture and face radiating a regal bearing. She wears a flowing red dress that seems to slightly move on it's own and a golden circlet atop her head. Brown hair is worn long and she wears several rings. She sweeps into the room, taking the chair the captain sat at. "I am Abagail Aryn," she introduces herself, "You are?"
<Muirfinn> "Muirfinn." He rises, bowing. Lots of introductions today.
> "Sylvie, formerly of Balmuria and now a part of Aurora," the blonde introduces herself, rising and bowing as well.
> "Sit," Abagail Aryn waves a hand, "You two are from Aurora? We have heard of it - we have no particular love of devils, either. So tell me, what does Aurora want?"
<Muirfinn> "You want the long version or the short?"
> "As many details as you think are needed," Lady Aryn replies.
<Muirfinn> "Now would probably be a good time to outline your plan, then." he says to Sylvie.
> "In short, we need power," Sylvie admits, "There's a great power in this world, a power the Crimson Guard likely got tangled up in. A power that may well be in the nearby ruins or similar. A power that gave the Baronies a rebirth and sent two mortal women to divinity," Sylvie admits, "We need that power to avenge the world of Lifasa, sacked and enslaved by the devils."
> Here Abagail Aryn's eyes narrow ever so minutely, her voice becoming calmer. "Quite the request," she admits quietly. She's silent for a few moments, "Muirfinn, would you step outside a few moments?"
* Muirfinn looks at Sylvie as if to ask her if she's alright with this.
> Sylvie pauses a moment, "I'd have to decline that," she says, "Aurora sticks together. In unity comes strength."
> Abagail Aryn hms ever so mildly, barely audible. "Fine. Muirfinn," she says, "Sell me on why we should entertain Aurora's offer and why you shouldn't be rejected out of hand."
<Muirfinn> "Have you ever seen Celestia? The Seven Mounting Heavens?" Muirfinn asks in return.
> "Yes," Abagail replies, "I've been there before."
<Muirfinn> "So you know the sense of ultimate peace they provide to a person. The sense of love and belonging. The innate, passive sense that everything will turn out alright, yes?"
> "Yes," Here Abagail smiles, brightening her face. "Yes I do, very well."
<Muirfinn> "Our world was like unto a small fraction of that. No war, no hate. It was a golden age, felt at all corners of the world no matter how removed from civilization. Evil had been vanquished. We were riding straight into the arms of utopia, and everything was grand. I would not doubt that we may have wound up merging with a celestial realm in a few centuries. A small handful of individuals
<Muirfinn> ruined everything. Nine men and women of different races, all fell to infernal whisperings. They craved power above all else, and somehow enacted a ritual that allowed the forces of Hell to invade. And so, devils swept across Lifasa, our world, like a black plague, twisting, perverting, and killing. We lost...I don't really even know. Millions, maybe more. Lives snuffed out. Humanity scattered,
<Muirfinn> fey expelled, elves enslaved, and so on. My own people have been driven nearly to extinction. We were not prepared. In time, we have rallied and are making movements, but they still seem so small compared to our enemy. We seek to overthrow infernal control of an entire plane, and all we can do is lead skirmishes." (more)
<Muirfinn> Shaking his head, Muirfinn looks at Sylvie. "Have you met the elf woman that Jaela and Afina brought back from one of their raids?"
> "No, but I've heard the story," Sylvie replies, "Unfortunately."
<Muirfinn> "I strongly advise against seeking her out. She is unsettling." Muirfinn says, turning to Abagail. "Allow me to explain, for she is an excellent example of the treatment devils have shown Lifasans."
> Abagail nods, waving a hand, "Go on."
<Muirfinn> "She was taken prisoner by a devil who, instead of destroying her, turned her into a pet. He broke her mind, convinced her that she was a dog. He cut pieces from her body and fed them back to her. Forced her to eat her own flesh. He forced her to bear lemures within her womb, forced her to incubate them and give birth to them, all while PRAISING her. For being a good dog. She is broken.
<Muirfinn> Her life is a living nightmare, one we cannot help her ever forget. All we can do is avenge what her life could have been. All we can do is throw the devils off of Lifasa some day. We are trying. We could use help, though."
> Here Abagail listens, until the end when she holds a hand up. "Enough," she says, "I've dealt with devil atrocities before. The miserable details of another aren't needed." Taking a breath, "The fact that devils need to be exterminated isn't in question." Lowering her hand, "That means it's a matter of testing the two of you." Drumming her fingers on the desk, "I believe I have a good first step to that. Whimsical Sweets recovered a curious artifact a few years ago, known as the Infinite Codex. According to the records, Sylvie's already read from it...but it's a fine test for you, Muirfinn. Go read from it and obtain some gift, and we'll continue from there."
<Muirfinn> "If you so desire." Muirfinn says, standing. "Tell me were I must go."
> "My magic will take you where you need to go," Abagail rises, "We've moved the Book to a more secure location recently. Come here. When you're done, return to the magic circle and you'll return here."
* Muirfinn nods, moving.
> On reaching Abagail your hand is touched and reality melts around you. You stand in a simple, sunlit room. There's no door in and out, only hazy windows that admit plenty of sunshine. Within is a huge book, suspended by dozens of chains, and a single tall stool before it. You stand in the middle of a magic circle, inlaid with iron and silver.
* Ithea (~androirc@129.7.255.126) Quit (Quit: AndroIRC)
* Muirfinn steps up, examining the book.
> It's a huge book - and as you look at it, it opens up! OOC: Going to read?
<Muirfinn> OOC: nothing ventured and all that! \
> OOC: Int check with a +11 bonus.
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+6+11
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+6+11 and gets 34." [1d20=17]
> Muirfinn reads and reads and reads and reads some more! Knowledge of all types flies by, hour sand hours of it! When at last he emerges, secrets of war float in his mind like ambrosia! OOC: PM.
<Muirfinn> After hours of staring at the ridiculously-large book, Muirfinn leans back, rubbing at his human eyes wearily. He shakes his head and rises, heading back into the circle.
> On your return, the office is dim. It seems night has fallen during your long reading session. Lamps on the wall have appeared, shining with a gentle candlelight-gold glow. Sylvie sits and waits, as does Lady Abagail. The former is sipping a glass of some sort of wine, while the latter is patiently awaiting as Muirfinn once more appears. "Right on time," she announces.
* Muirfinn sighs wearily. "That was surprisingly taxing. What is next?"
> "You go rest for the night," Lady Abagail says, "Tomorrow...there's a training ground we've created for the Crimson Guard. Your goal will be to clear it."
* Muirfinn nods.
> Sylvie matches that nod, "Where should we report to in the morning?"
> "Here's fine," Lady Abagail replies, "There's a few rules that you should be aware of. Teleportation of any kind is sealed within the training grounds. Don't bother trying. You're allowed to destroy anything within except the outer walls - they're sky blue and I'll show them to you when we get there. Destroying those walls will result in a disqualification. Each section of the trials will have unique challenges of all types, as well as unique conditions. You may or may not be informed of the conditions in each area before reaching them. All the creatures within are simulated with powerful magic - so worry not about killing them. Further, the maze is enchanted to prevent fatal wounds, so your lives aren't in direct danger. Finally, exiting the training grounds in any way before clearing the trial results in a disqualification. Questions?"
<Muirfinn> "Ah, no flight then?"
> "Flying within the bounds of the maze is allowed," Abagail explains, "It's a building, so as long as you're within it there's no problem."
<Muirfinn> "I see. Will it be timed?"
> "You'll have the entire day. It shouldn't take you that long. If you take until sunset you'll be disqualified, though I can't imagine how you'd take that time without considerable amounts of pointless stalling," Abagail explains.
* Muirfinn nods. "I have no further questions."
> "I'm fine," Sylvie says, and with that you are dismissed. OOC: Anything to do, or are you going straight to rest/prepare?
<Muirfinn> OOC: Misotired.
> OOC: Okay, any spell prep or anything noteworthy before this?
<Muirfinn> OOC: I'll precast the standard defensive barrage before I go in.
> OOC: Okay, note it in thecauldron.
<Muirfinn> OOC: Noted

[Anastasia]

> As you and Sylvie approach, the gates open up! They crack apart 10ft, enough to let you pass. Ahead you can see a vastly long hall, with a long red carpet leading in, as wide as the gate and with 50ft tall suits of armor lining either side.
> Whistling low, "Hope they aren't animated," Sylvie murmurs.
<Muirfinn> "If they are, we will deal with them." Muirfinn says.
> With that the two advance further in. You walk a good ten minutes, past each titanic suit of armor and ahead. Finally you reach the end. Ahead is another huge gate, sealed shut. Far away on the left hand wall, hundreds of feet of away, is a smaller gate. On the floor before the huge gate dead ahead are eight square slots in the floor, about a foot by a foot. The first one from the left as a tile set into it - that of a starry sky. Stacked up to the side of that tile are seven other tiles.
> Sylvie hums lightly and heads to the tiles, lifting one up and putting it aside, then another, looking at each one. "Four of the sun, one of a half moon facing right, one of a full moon and one of a half moon facing left," she announces, "Looks like an astronomy puzzle to me.
<Muirfinn> "Perhaps it is a cycle of the sun and moon?"
> "That's my running guess," Sylvie murmurs, "Too bad Balyss couldn't make it. She'd know this for sure." Humming lightly as she drums her fingers in one tile, "If it's a cycle, that means the even panels will have suns." Going about and placing it so that it's stars-sun-blank-sun-blank-sun-blank-sun, Sylvie holds up the two half moons. "Know which one should be which off hand?"
<Muirfinn> "Going from the new moon clockwise, left-full, full, right-full I believe."
> Sylvie nods, "That sounds right," she says, placing the tiles just like that! On placing the last, a chime is heard! A moment later, the gates ahead of you crack open 10ft, enough to proceed onward!
<Muirfinn> Muirfinn strolls on to the next challenge!
> Whistling as you go on, "That was an easy warmup." Ahead you find more carpeted hallway, stretching on. To either side of it the floor crackles with electricity, arcing out and above, but never crossing over the red carpet ahead. Straight ahead on the carpet - each 10ft by 10ft segment of the ceiling slams down in a pattern, row after row of staggered, patterend smashes. "I think we've reached the athletic section of our trial," she announces.
* Muirfinn nods, fishing a small pearl out of his pouch and popping it into his mouth. "Let's do this."
<Muirfinn> He waits for Sylvie to ready himself as he shifts into an airy elemental form, gaining size.
> Sylvie lifts off the ground, "I'm fairly sure I can dodge any arcs of lighting that go up," she says, "If we hurry, flying over the lightning field is probably safer than trying to navigate a maze of crushing ceilings. Agree?"
<Muirfinn> "Oh yes." Muirfinn replies, his voice a whirly whisper. "I can simply ignore the arcs of lightning altogether. If you feel you can pass as well, let's move on."
> OOC: Immune to lightning in that form?
<Muirfinn> OOC: Electricity, yes
> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokoko rolls 1d100 and gets 34." [1d100=34]
> Thus the two fly on and around! As you fly by, arcs of lightning dazzle past both of you, putting you in peril! OOC: Ref saves, though Muirfinn's immune so no point for him. Sylvie only.
* Muirfinn glides smoothly on, acrs of lightning passing through him as though he were not even there!
> roll 1d20+37 (+12 insight) ref evasion
* Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+37 (+12 insight) ref evasion and gets 53." [1d20=16]
> With speed and grace, both avoid the lightning and come to th eother side, a good long flight of several minutes. But at the end you find unsmashing ceilings once more and another closed gate. On the floor is a carving in the shape of a large scroll. Written on it is the following: "I turn my head and you may go where you want. I turn it again, you will stay till you rot. I have no face but I live and die by my crooked teeth. What am I? Speak what I am aloud."
<Muirfinn> "A key." Windy but audible.
> "A-" Sylvie begins, "Beat me to it." At that the scroll shifts, new words appearing! "A precious gift, this. Yet it has no end or beginning, and in the middle nothing. Speak what I am aloud."
<Muirfinn> "You can get this one." Muirfinn says, returning to human form after some concentration.
> "A ring," Sylvie says immediately, and to which the scroll shifts, new words appearing! She smiles a moment as you read, "A shimmering field that reaches far. Yet it has no tracks and it is crossed without any paths. Speak what I am aloud."
<Muirfinn> "A lake, pond, or otherwise body of water."
<Muirfinn> "Or perhaps an ocean."
> "I was going to say the ocea-" Sylvie begins as the scroll shifts! New words appear, "Look in my face, I am somebody. Look at my back, I am nobody."
> OOC: Gah.
> "I was going to say the ocea-" Sylvie begins as the scroll shifts! New words appear, "Look in my face, I am somebody. Look at my back, I am nobody. Speal what I am aloud."
<Muirfinn> "A coin?"
> The scroll sinks into the ground and vanishes. A moment later a 10ft slab of stone in front of you slides away, revealing a staircase going down into darkness.
<Muirfinn> "Onward!"
> Onward you two go, into darkness! With darkvision is this no problem - the stairway goes down 10ft into a narrow tunnel, carved out roughly from the sky blue stone. The tunnel goes ahead - but 30ft ahead you see red eyes - a rat as big as the tunnel, bigger than you are, looms! Teeth the size of daggers flash as it starts to stalk ahead towards you!
> "Giant rats," Sylvie mutters, cracking her knuckles, "Too bad Ithea's not here, eh? Feel like reminding it we aren't a snack?"
<Muirfinn> OOC: How tall;'s this tunnel?
> OOC: 10ft tall.
<Muirfinn> OOC: Fark
* Muirfinn snorts, looking about. "Too small in here for an elemental form."
> OOC: Init then since the Rat is advancing.
> roll 1d20+18 Sylvie
* Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+18 Sylvie and gets 24." [1d20=6]
> roll 1d20+7 rodent
* Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+7 rodent and gets 15." [1d20=8]
* Retrieving #evildunes modes...
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+12 and gets 25." [1d20=13]
* Kokokokokokoko changes topic to 'Muirfin(25)>Sylvie(24)>Giant Rat(15)'
> OOC: Go Muirfinn.
* Muirfinn calmly awaits the approaching beast. For a moment, he considers attempting to reason with it, but remembers then that according to Abagail it is a soul-less construct. OOC: Held action
> roll 1d20+48 (+12 inspiration on attack and damage 8/10 left, stunning fist)
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+48 (+12 inspiration on attack and damage 8/10 left, stunning fist) and gets 62." [1d20=14]
> roll 3d10+35
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d10+35 and gets 60." [3d10=9, 6, 10]
> Sylvie charges in, landing a direct hit that makes the giant rodent recoil back, staggering and yet somehow not bleeding from the blow! OOC: Going to act or let it act, Muirfinn?
* Muirfinn raises an eyebrow. "Tough rat." He steps forward quickly, leading with a mighty fist!
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+27
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+27 and gets 46." [1d20=19]
> OOC: Hit.
<Muirfinn> roll 2d6+7+2d6 holy +1 con damage
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 2d6+7+2d6 holy +1 con damage and gets 29." [2d6=6, 5][2d6=6, 5]
> With that second blow, the rodent crumples up and vanishes! Ahead the tunnel continues another 40ft before it comes to a T intersection. OOC: Free act.
<Muirfinn> "Not so tough rat."
<Muirfinn> "Let's see what's ahead, yes?"
> "No staying power," Sylvie murmurs as she advances with Muirfinn, "Would have been a solidly pitched battle for Whimisical Sweets."
<Muirfinn> "Really?"
> "Balyss has advanced surprisingly far," Sylvie speaks up, glancing back at Muirfinn as you come to the T intersection. The path to the left advances 20ft before coming to a dead end. The path on the right advances 20ft, coming to a dead end with a hole in the floor, a ladder leading further down. "Back before I left, Josa was a master of the third circle of magic and no more. Aaeru had about the same, as did the others. Honestly," Casually looking about, "I wasn't expecting Balyss to have improved as much as she did.  She managed to keep herself busy, though."
<Muirfinn> "Many strive for our level of skill, but few ever reach it. Even so, some among us take it for granted." Muirfinn says, coming to the T-intersection and looking left and right.
> "I read some good books about it," Sylvie goes on as Muirfinn looks about, "Mortals advance fast but usually find a relatively low ceiling. Spirits and immortals advance slowly but have a much higher ceiling, if they have one at all. But every once in awhile, you'll find a mortal who manages to have a high ceiling or disregard theirs, or an immortal that advances fast as a mortal. Most of Aurora's mortals fit into that category. In Balmuria, I was the fastest learner I knew of, maybe the fastest in the city or the Baronies. In Aurora I fit in. It's disconcerting when you think about it, but I suppose only the best can endure in the planes."
* Muirfinn nods. "You are in good company with us." He waits a beat, then, "Preference on left or right?"
> "Well," Sylvie taps her chin a moment, "Both are dead ends and only one has an obvious way to advance. Unless you feel like searching for secret doors?"
<Muirfinn> "We could tunnel our way through." Muirfinn muses.
> "If you want to," Sylvie shrugs, "Just don't dig through any sky blue stone. Oh wait." Tapping the nearest wall, "Sky blue stone. We're not supposed to dig into that."
<Muirfinn> OOC: All the surrounding stone is sky blue?
> OOC: Yes.  It was described as being carved out of sky blu estone.
<Muirfinn> "I suppose we're searching for hidden doors then."
> OOC: Make a search check?
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+13 and gets 24." [1d20=11]
> roll 1d20 aid see if I need to look up what stat it runs on
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 aid see if I need to look up what stat it runs on and gets 12." [1d20=12]
> Searching about, Muirfinn finds a hidden button on the far wall going to the left.
<Muirfinn> "Button!" Muirfinn presses it!
> The button is pressed! The far wall slides away, revealing a huge room ahead. It looks like another hall - this one is like the others, save that it has no floor except for the red carpet connecting the two gates. Far ahead at the next gate lies a book, sitting on the carpet. Looking down, you can see that it's a straight drop down about 50ft, until puffy white clouds.
<Muirfinn> "You know, if I were afraid of heights, this would probably be crippling." He eyes the carpet, resting a foot on it to see if it's solid in the air or just treacherously floating there.
> The carpet is quite a ways away - at least a good 100ft. "I'd be afraid if I couldn't fly," Sylvie lightly starts to fly forward. OOC: What's yoru range on true seeing?
<Muirfinn> OOC: 100 ft
<Muirfinn> OOC: No
<Muirfinn> OOC: 120 ft
> Muirfinn can see that there are shimmering fields of invisible force 50ft down, preventing a further fall into the sky.
<Muirfinn> "Oh. That makes things safer, I suppose." Still, he's a seagull all of a sudden, keeping pace with Sylvie.
> Thus you fly ahead to the next gate. A book sits there as you saw, open to one page. Several large words are written but nothing else. Written in it is the following, 'The path ahead opens when the sins that opened the gate to the underworld are corrected.'
* Muirfinn looks at Sylvie with vague avian confusion.
> "Hm," Sylvie murmurs, crossing her arms under her chest. "The sins that opened the gate to the underworld. That make any sense to you, Muirfinn?"
> "Oh right. Can you change into an air elemental again so we can talk this out," She appends a moment later.
* Muirfinn does so. "There. Lacking a proper mouth makes things difficult. As for the underworld..." OOC: Check?
> OOC: None apply here.
<Muirfinn> "...I have no idea."
> "The Gate to the Underwold...that's no help at all," she begins, "At least literally. Figuratively now...hm." Humming lightly, "Didn't we just come out from underground tunnels after finding a trapdoor leading us below?"
<Muirfinn> "Well yes...but unless I miss my guess, there were no sins involved."
> "A sin is wrong, isn't it?" Sylvie asks back, "If we opened a gate to the underworld, what did we do wrong?"
<Muirfinn> "I don't think we really did anything wrong so far. The only thing we did that MAYBE could be construed as wrong would be going through the lightning, and that's only assuming that there were rules in place to keep us on the path."
> "I didn't hear about any, and we haven't broken any rules that I know of," Sylvie continues, "So let's start at the trapdoor opening and work our way back. What did you do before the trapped door opened?"
<Muirfinn> "What, back in the corridor?"
> "No." Sylvie takes a breath here, "I'm pretty sure what it's alluding to is that we went to hell - the underground or underworld - because we did something wrong, like the answer to those riddles, probably the last one you said was a coin but maybe one of the others too. After all, didn't you t hink it was odd it opened a trapdoor instead of the next gate forward?"
<Muirfinn> "Hmmmm....that's a good point. No, I actually thought that the gate was a method of continuing forward for anyone who could not solve the riddles."
> "When we solved a puzzle in the previous room, the gate opened up. Why would it change?" Sylvie hums now, "So if we're supposed to call out the answer to what we got wrong, let's start with the last one and work our way back. Any other ideas besides coin?"
<Muirfinn> "...a mirror, perhaps? Let's go back and read the riddle again."
> After Muirfinn says that, a chime is heard and the book rises up! The gates ahead crack open, revealing a path ahead! "Oh." Sylvie stops here and scratches her chin, "Guess it was a mirror. Good work."
* Muirfinn snorts. "Indeed."
> Thus you advance on! It's a tiny little 5ft space, with a door on the far wall. A plaque rests on the door, reading, "Ahead all wings are clipped. Find the bell and ring it, and repeat until the way forward appears."
<Muirfinn> "...so no flight."
> "Looks like it," Sylvie seconds, "I'd bet you good gold that we're going to end up climbing or something like that."
> Humming a moment, "It makes sense. Someone on this path has largely used their brains. They're likely a wizard, so they'd want to switch things up for them."
<Muirfinn> "We'll see."
* Muirfinn heads inside!

[Anastasia]

> Ahead is a vast room - hundreds of feet wide and long. It's an oversized living room. A fire place with a bonfire ablaze in it and a gilded mantle above that is covered in urns, several cushy chairs four dozen feet tall, a bookshelf that looms over you like a mountain and with books taller than the each of you, a wooden cabinet with huge bottles of brown liquer, a bearskin rug from a bear that could've wrestled a house and won based on size. Atop one of the four chairs's backrest is a golden bell, floating in the air.
> Sylvie takes a good long look around, before starting to smile. "Suddenly, I feel like a child again."
<Muirfinn> "Oh?" Muirfinn is looking for ways to access the bell.
> The armrests are about 30ft up. The  actual seat is only about 10 to 15ft up or so. The actual top of the chair, where the bell rests, is about 50ft up all told. "Climbing around the house when you're bored. I remember when winter when my I had to make my own entertainment, and I'd try not to touch the floor all day." Pausing in her memories, "It was fun until I broke the nice chair by jumping on it one too many times."
> *one winter
<Muirfinn> "Ahhh, children's games." Muirfinn nods. "That reminds me of my own children. Their antics were always amusing."
> Sylvie doesn't reply to that, instead looking on. After a few moments, "Can you climb at all?"
<Muirfinn> "I'm not the best climber, but I get by.
<Muirfinn> "
> "Let's see about that then," Sylvie says, heading over to the edge of the chair with the bell.
* Muirfinn assumes an earthy elemental form, reaching upward as well to climb!
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+15 climb go
<Muirfinn> OOC: Hatbort.
-obsidian.ab.ca.lunarnet.org:@#evildunes- Kotono invited Hatbot into the channel.
* Hatbot (~Net_Smart@cpe-66-69-212-179.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+15 climb go
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+15 climb go and gets 30." [1d20=15]
> roll 1d20+13 Sylvie
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Sylvie and gets 20." [1d20=7]
> The chair's material is soft and has a bit of give, making it superior for climbing. The duo make it up to the seat without incident. "Armrests, or just a straight shot up?" Sylvie asks.
<Muirfinn> "We can take a break if you need to."
> "I don't need a break," Sylvie replies, looking at Muirfinn curiously, "
> OOC: Gah.
> "I don't need a break," Sylvie replies, looking at Muirfinn curiously, "We climbed up maybe a dozen feet. I can smash giants up with my fists and travel to other planes with my magic. I don't think a dozen feet of climbing are enough to send me panting."
* Muirfinn shrugs big, rocky shoulders. "Let's continue on then."
> OOC: Climb echecks again.
> roll 1d20+13 Sylvie
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Sylvie and gets 33." [1d20=20]
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+15  and gets 35." [1d20=20]
> The scurry up to the armrests is easy. From here you're only about 20ft below the top! Sylvie starts to continue the climb immediately, grabbing a fistful of upholstery. She has a fond smile on her face as she continues climbing. OOC: One more climb check.
> roll 1d20+13 Sylvie
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Sylvie and gets 24." [1d20=11]
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+15  and gets 32." [1d20=17]
> Thus a final scurry brings the trio to the top! Sylvie stands and dusts her hands off, "Go ahead," she gestures.
<Muirfinn> Time to ringa da bell! Muirfinn reaches up and rings!
> The bell is rung! The bell has a deep timbre, ringing once before vanishing! 40ft away on the next chair a bell appears atop it! Also besides it is a man clad in leather armors and with a face mask, a bow and arrow at the ready! Immediately, arrows start coming your way! OOC: Init here.
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+12 and gets 14." [1d20=2]
> roll 1d20+18 Sylvie
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 Sylvie and gets 34." [1d20=16]
> roll 1d20+10 archer
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 archer and gets 17." [1d20=7]
* Retrieving #evildunes modes...
* Kotono changes topic to 'Sylvie(34)>Archer(17)>Muirfinn(14)'
> Sylvie gestures briefly, uttering five arcane words! A bevy of magic missiles follow, soaring to the archer!
> roll 5d4+5
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d4+5 and gets 15." [5d4=2, 2, 4, 1, 1]
> They pelt the archer, who fires back a storm of arrows despite being struck over and over with missiles!
> roll 1d20+18 Sylvie
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 Sylvie and gets 27." [1d20=9]
> roll 1d20+18 Muirfinn
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 Muirfinn and gets 21." [1d20=3]
> roll 1d20+13 Sylvie
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Sylvie and gets 14." [1d20=1]
> roll 1d20+8 Muirfinn
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 Muirfinn and gets 25." [1d20=17]
<Muirfinn> OOC: Dude can't hit me unless he crits.
> Arrows fly, but they bounce off Muirfinn's shell and Sylvie casually side steps the ones coming her way! OOC: Go Muirfinn.
<Muirfinn> Muirfinn rushes forwarf, a thundering storm of rocks smashing together! OOC: Charging since why the fuck not?
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+36+2
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+36+2 and gets 51." [1d20=13]
> OOC: You do realize there's a 40ft gap between chairs, right?
<Muirfinn> OOC: I do now!
<Muirfinn> OOC: Strike then
* Muirfinn shifts out of his elemental form, raising his hand as stones and dead tree limbs abruptly fall from the sky! OOC: Deadfall. No
<Muirfinn> OOC: No SR. Reflex or fall prone.
> roll 1d20+10 ref
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 ref and gets 11." [1d20=1]
<Muirfinn> OOC: Full damage, prone if alive
<Muirfinn> roll 20d6
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 20d6 and gets 61." [20d6=3, 2, 3, 3, 6, 2, 2, 6, 4, 2, 5, 2, 5, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 5]
> The barrage of stones and branches utterly plummels the archer, who is knocked off the chair and plummets to the cushion! He bounces off it a good five feet, up and down even as he vanishes away! OOC: Free act.
<Muirfinn> "Well."
<Muirfinn> "Shall we move on to the next chair?"
> Sylvie begins to nod, but looks down, "You know," she says conversationally, "He bounced off the seat there."
<Muirfinn> "What are you thinking?"
> "Oh, just something like this," Sylvie promptly leaps off, falling a good 30ft to the seat! She bounces off it what must be a good ten feet, "AH!" she cries with a huge smile, doing a flip and landing again, a lesser bounce and another and another, until she lands in a crouch. Laughing and brushing aside her hair from her face, "That's incredible!"
* Muirfinn rubs his chin.
<Muirfinn> "That gives me an idea."
> Going to sit back and look up, "What idea?"
<Muirfinn> "I think I might be able to make the jump from one chair to the next."
> "Oooooh," Sylvie calls, "That's a long one. Good luck!"
* Muirfinn backs up, shifts to the form of a cheetah, and then takes off at a sprint, leaping into the air at the end of the chair!
> OOC: Jump check.
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+24 I believe
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+24 I believe and gets 27." [1d20=3]
<Muirfinn> OOC: BORKED
> Muirfinn leaps like a cheetah! Unfortunately his back paw catches as he leaps, strangling his distance! He's coming up short short sh-WHAM! Muirfinn hits off the side of the armrest, bouncing off and plummeting to the ground, landing in a shell heap 10ft away from the far chair! OOC: Fall damage incoming.
> roll 3d6
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d6 and gets 9." [3d6=2, 6, 1]
<Muirfinn> OOC: Down to -5 hp. Reroll time.
> OOC: Anyway, react.
* Muirfinn stands up, shaking his head in a feline fashion as he glares balefully at the oversized chair. He shifts back into elemental form and quietly begins to climb again.
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+15 and gets 30." [1d20=15]
> roll 1d20+13 meanwhile
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 meanwhile and gets 22." [1d20=9]
> Muirfinn climbs up to the seat of the next chair! Meanwhile Sylvie climbs back up to the armrest of the last one, legs dangling off the edge. "Shout if you need help," Sylvie calls over. 
<Muirfinn> "Oh yes, ha, very clever."
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+15 nother climb check
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+15 nother climb check and gets 33." [1d20=18]
> OOC: Roll another one real quick.
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+15 nother climb check
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+15 nother climb check and gets 23." [1d20=8]
> Sylvie's laughter is warm and rich as you climb up ot the armrest and the top of the second chair.  She cheers and claps as Muirfinn reaches the top, "That's the way! Good job!"
<Muirfinn> "Great! Now you make the jump!" Muirfinn says cheerfully.
> "Fine," Sylvie begins to climb up to the top of her chair!
> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 23." [1d20=8]
> OOC: -2, excuse me.
> Making it to the top she murmurs a few words of power, a moment of magic rippling around her! After that she grins and takes a running start, going for the leap!
> roll 1d20+39 (+4 GH, +18 inspiration)
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+39 (+4 GH, +18 inspiration) and gets 42." [1d20=3]
> Sylvie gets a running start and leaps! Despite a stumble she gets good, long air, soaring through - and just making the landing! Standing up and walking over to Muirfinn, "Tada?" she says, warmly smiling.
* Muirfinn gives her a flat, stony look.
* Muirfinn reaches up and rings the bell.
> Idly brushing her hair back into place, still smiling, "I'm good at picking up things fast," she says casually, "So's Ithea. If you spend some time around us, maybe you'll pick it up." Meanwhile the bell is rung! Above the fireplace, atop the center urn there, a golden bell appears! At the same time, the bonfire in the fireplace expands! A massively huge fire becomes a fire elemental, looming over the both of you, even atop your chair! It spares not a second, throwing a huge fist at the two of you! OOC: Init.
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+12 and gets 23." [1d20=11]
> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 29." [1d20=11]
> roll 1d20+13 elemental
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 elemental and gets 30." [1d20=17]
* Kotono changes topic to 'Elemental(30)>Sylvie(29)>Muirfinn(23)'
> Before either of you can react, one massive flaming fist comes down at the both of you!
> roll 1d20+26 AC both of you?
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 AC both of you? and gets 29." [1d20=3]
<Muirfinn> OOC: 61
> But Sylvie darts to the side, rolling out of the way of harm! Meanwhile Muirfinn just ignores the attack, bouncing off his myriad defenses! A moment later Sylvie is chanting, a cone of pure icy cold coming from her to the elemental's arm!
> roll 1d20+23 ref
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 ref and gets 33." [1d20=10]
> roll 15d6
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 15d6 and gets 57." [15d6=6, 4, 1, 6, 3, 1, 6, 6, 6, 1, 2, 3, 1, 6, 5]
> The blast of gusty cold dims the fire of the elemental's arm, as it hisses like a popping flame quenched in water! OOC: Muirfinn.
<Muirfinn> Muirfinn shifts out of elemental form as well, making a few motions and pointing at the elemental's chest. Abuptly a burst of crimson water explodes directly in front of the elemental! OOC: Red Tide, SR, Reflex and Fort save
> roll 1d20+23 ref
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 ref and gets 24." [1d20=1]
> roll 1d20+14 fort
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 fort and gets 18." [1d20=4]
> OOC: Pretty sure it failed both hard.
<Muirfinn> OOC: DC 32
<Muirfinn> roll 20d6 damage
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 20d6 damage and gets 70." [20d6=2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 6, 2, 5, 2, 6, 6, 2, 4, 1, 1, 4, 6, 6, 3]
<Muirfinn> roll 3d6 strangth damage, adds nausea. This damage is negated if immune to poison
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 3d6 strangth damage, adds nausea. This damage is negated if immune to poison and gets 9." [3d6=2, 4, 3]
<Muirfinn> OOC: Nausea sticks
> Battered by cold and water, the elemental is swept back by the red tide! It crashes back into the fireplace, quenching in the waves! From the remnants of the elemental metal is seen - cooling iron that forms a gravity defying stairway from the chair you are on to the top of the bell-urn on the mantle! OOC: Free act.
<Muirfinn> "That
<Muirfinn> OOC: GLEFJSWDFKDS
<Muirfinn> "That's convenient." Muirfinn sats, stepping out onto the stairway.
> Dusting herself off, "Now that was fun." Sylvie's all smiles, "Mom would be proud, we're dominating this." Thus the duo walk to the next bell without incident. "We're really outclassing the challenges here, aren't we?"
<Muirfinn> "Thus far, yes. Don't get too cocky. The elemental was significantly stronger than previous challenges. It looks like they're ramping it up against us."
> "Hopefully," Sylvie replies, going to ring the bell. Once rung, the stairway shifts and becomes a stairway to the ground! Meanwhile, the fireplace below you begins to radiate light fro mwithin, a gentle white glow. However, you can't see what's shedding it from atop the mantle.
<Muirfinn> Onward! We shall see what this brings!
> The two climb down! In the now fire-less fireplace, a magic circle glows in the ashes, shedding that light.
<Muirfinn> "Looks like our ticket to the next event."
> "Shall we?" Sylvie asks.
<Muirfinn> "Indeed."
* Muirfinn steps into the circle.
> Thus two step into the circle! The groudns around you shift and shake - and after a moment you stand in a comfortable, cozy chamber. It's like the previous room, only sized right. Sitting before the fireplace is Abagail, sipping a glass of cognac. Floating in the air next to her is a crystal ball, going dim as you appear. "Cheers," she greets you, putting her glass down after a bare sip. "Occasionally, we have a recruit that's so overqualified that further trials are a waste of resources. Please, sit down and join me."
> "Canidates," She appends after a moment, "Be that as it may."
> Sylvie takes a seat, resting back. "Were you listening in?" she asks, a pointed glance at the crystal ball.

[Anastasia]

> <Muirfinn> "Of course she was. You really think we were not observed?" Muirfinn looks askance at Sylvie. "I'm more surprised that you didn't throw something over the top at us, like a dragon of some sort."
> > "Not at all, but it's nice to ask," Sylvie shrugs as she rests back.
> <Muirfinn> "It was assumed."
> > "This isn't meant to be that challenging. The fire elemental only comes out if the challenger excels above and beyond. I usually expect perhaps the 4th circle of magic to be in play. You," To Sylvie first, "Improvised a 5th circle spell while you," To Muirfinn, "Cast an 8th circle spell properly. It could have gone on, but what's the point? Your minds are sharp and you have the brute force to overwhelm the challenges here. This is a testing ground for blooded recruits, not grand masters." Going now, "If I may ask, how do you compare to the rest of Aurora?"
> <Muirfinn> "The soldiers are not as strong on average, but they are by no means weak. They were sufficient enough to lead a large-scale raid onto Lifasa and conduct a rescue mission, saving nearly a thousand souls from a floating devil prison." Muirfinn says. "There are many others on par with ourselves, however."
> "Impressive." Abagail returns, "There's no profit in running you around like adventurers or mercenaries, proving yourself against whatever monstrous pest exists. So let us get to brass tacks."
* Muirfinn nods. "Let's."
> "Ultimately, the final authority to arbitrate your request does not rest with me." Going on, "I primarily deal with the physical and mental aspects of recruitment. You've passed those."
<Muirfinn> "So what's next?"
> "A spiritual test. We have learned harshly that a wise, mature spirit is as important as all the temporal might that you can muster."
* Muirfinn nods. "Indeed, a wise addition to have on this test. Who shall administer it then?"
> "Not I. I will take you to the Skywatch Monastery." Abagail rises, "Would you like a drink before you go? Living conditions there are minimalistic."
> Sylvie ever so slightly winces, but shakes her head. "I'm fine." She rises as well.
<Muirfinn> Reaching into his backpack, Muirfinn pulls out a blue jug of water. "I'm fine. You sure, Sylvie?"
> "No, but I'd rather go into this with a fully clear mind," she replies.
<Muirfinn> "Suit yourself." Muirfinn utters a word as clear water starts pour from the jug, into his mouth. He drinks for a moment and then halts it, putting it away.
> "I do warn you," Abagail says as she offers a hand to each, "Skywatch is cold."
<Muirfinn> "Despite appearances I am not human. I will be fine."
> Sylvie sighs lightly, "I'm ready," she says, sounding resigned.
* Muirfinn eyes Sylvie. "Is something wrong?"
> "Abagail knows we're powerful mages and still warns us that it's cold? Either it's going to be superhumanly cold or there's some sort of catch to it," Sylvie says, crossing her arms. "Maybe we'll meditate on glaciers or sing hymns on the Para Elemental Plane of Cold?"
<Muirfinn> "Sylvie." Muirfinn looks a bit disapproving. "She is merely being kind in warning us, most likely. Try not to read into this too far. These are obviously good people, or you wouldn't have wanted to speak with them. Please just accept it and move on."
> "Oh, I'm planning to, but you asked. I can't lie, remember?" Sylvie retorts, a hint of annoyance coming into her voice.
* Muirfinn nods. "It's why we get along so well, I think." He turns to Abagail. "When you are ready."
> With that, hands are taken and reality melts away! You stand in under a bright blue sky. It is cold - intensely cold, well below freezing. Immediately shivers come to you! You stand on a mountain path, the air thin and brittle to breathe, not enough for your lungs. Ahead of you, built into the snowstreaked mountain ahead fo you, with great heaps of snow against the walls, is an outer wall. The outerwall of a courtyard perhaps, hiding all within. It's a good 30ft tall. The gates are ahead, closed shut. They are coated in ice and made of rough gray stone. Engraved on the gates are gaunlets with an eye watching. OOC: K:R can be made here.
<Muirfinn> OOC: Is it damagingly cold?
<Muirfinn> roll 1d20+22
* Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+22 and gets 42." [1d20=20]
> The cold and thin air are both brutal - it's not an immediate danger, but being out here and hour or two could be troublesome.  The symbol is that of Helm, one of the three Gods of the Triad and ever so unbeloved of Jaela.
<Muirfinn> "This will be interesting." Muirfinn muses.
> Sylvie looks about, "Mountains...too tall for Galkass," she says, "The Amaryl Ranges?"
> "Yes," Abagail advances to the gate, pressing her hand into one of the gauntlets. The ice around it pushes in with her, as a deep DOOOOOOOONG sounds from within! "They will come and open the gates soon. They will know why you are here. Now, I take my leave of you. Good luck."
> "Thanks," Sylvie says as she goes to stand before the gates.
> A moment later Abagail is gone - and a few moments later the gates between to open! They open with a scraping of rock, moving aside little rills of snow. Ahead is a courtyard, but only glimpsed. Standing right before you is an older man, completely bald and well built. He wears only a sack-cloth robe with a belt of rope. He speaks in a strong voice restrained into a contemplative wondering. "Hail to the Eternal Watcher. Hail and well met, seekers."
<Muirfinn> "Well met." Muirfinn bows.
> "Ahead," He gestures, "Magic matters not. Be aware of this and do not be surprised."
* Muirfinn nods. "Of course."
> Sylvie winces but nods as well, "Right."
> "Now enter," The bald man says, stepping inside.
* Muirfinn enters!
> The moment you step in you feel the Weave part around you. Magic crumbles as...OOC: All spells and SLAs are suppresssed/impossible to cast. Supernatural abilities and magical items are likewise suppressed. Artifacts are not if you have any. Go ahed and react to atht since it gets your faces ability.
<Muirfinn> Muirfinn's form ripples and abruptly fades, his pinkish skin and clothing melting away to show scales underneath. His back morphs into a solid, colorful shell, his pack resting ff to the side instead. His eyes shift and separate, changing from a dull brown surrounded by white to a deep glowing azure throughout. He stretches his neck, extending it far beyond the normal human range and eliciting
<Muirfinn> a series of popping cracks from within before settling back into the ridge of his shell. "That really is so much better. I don't know how you humans get around so well like that. No shell to counterbalance. No tail. That short neck." He removes the now-useless spectacles from his beakish nose and pockets them. "Let's see what this is about then."
> Sylvie doesn't change much as she enters, save for starting to shiver. "Cold..." she hisses low as the bald man turns back. He gives Muirfinn a passingly curious glance but doesn't comment. As you walk in the viciously coldness and thin air, lungs burning and freezing with each breath, you see the courtyard is plain. Several large rocks are strewn about, several with bald men in sack cloth robes sitting atop them, eyes closed. Far ahead is a rather large building, all made of red brick. It's a single story, save for a bell tower that rises from the back of it.
<Muirfinn> "Mightily cold, but no less a beautiful place for it." Muirfinn remarks to the man.
> "The beauty is in the severe cold. Pretentions are stripped away and all that remains is reality," He says as you head towards the building. A side door is the one he aims for, tucked away.
<Muirfinn> "A sobering thought. One many could use once in a while."
> "I s-suppose," Sylvie manages as she begins to rub her arms, bunching her shoulders together.
* Muirfinn looks at Sylvie, then shucks his robe, draping it over her shoulders.
> Thus the door is opened! Within is a plain, austere hall with several doors. It's warmer here - not truly warm, but above freezing. The air is thicker here as well, far more breathable. Your guide goes to the closest two, "Within are the outfits all here wear. You may leave your other possessions there without fear, for they will be safe." Meanwhile Sylvie quickly curls into the robe, "Thanks," she says, smiling.
* Muirfinn divests of the few remaining items on his person, placing them into his pack. He places the pack in the designated spot.
> Within the room is a selection of sack-cloth robes and rope belts. There are even ones big enough for Muirfinn, and bigger ones yet.
* Muirfinn dons a robe!
> Once done Muirfinn emerges. Sylvie does likewise, wearing naught but the sack-cloth robe and a belt. It's a bit tight on her, moreso around the chest. "Your first day here will be a day of reflection and meditation against the elements."
* Muirfinn nods. "Is there a specific place for this? On those rocks, perhaps?"

[Corwin]

[19:42] <Kotono> "The rocks," The monk confirms, as he leads the two of you back out. "Get on one, sit on it and meditate. Are both of you familiar with the it?"
[19:43] * Muirfinn nods. "I am. Meditating on nature was part of my training."
[19:44] <Kotono> "I do." Sylvie muffles a sigh, going over to a rock and hopping on up.
[19:45] * Muirfinn clambers up onto a rock and settles himself.
[19:47] <Kotono> OOC: Make a wis check and a fort save (Unless you're naturally resistant/immune to cold as an extrodinary power. If you are, just the wis check.)
[19:48] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+9-3 Wis
[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+9-3 Wis and gets 12." [1d20=6]
[19:49] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+33-3
[19:49] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+33-3 and gets 41." [1d20=11]
[19:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5-3 wis Sylvie
[19:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5-3 wis Sylvie and gets 7." [1d20=5]
[19:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20 see if this is close one way or another before calculating her current fort
[19:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 see if this is close one way or another before calculating her current fort and gets 6." [1d20=6]
[19:52] <Kotono> Muirfinn finds it easy to block out the numbing, consuming cold. So focusing, he finds a calm serenity taking him over. It is a natural one-ness with everything, from the icy rock he sits on to the chilled winds to the shivering and quietly grumbling blonde nearby. Muirfinn's head begins to swim in the thin, cold air, and yet he preserveres. He endures long in the freezing, windy courtyard
[19:52] <Kotono> ,  until at last the sound of two hands clapping rouse him back to his numb, frozen body. (More)
[19:53] <Kotono> roll 3d6 cold damage Sylvie full
[19:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d6 cold damage Sylvie full and gets 11." [3d6=3, 6, 2]
[19:53] <Kotono> roll 1d6 cold damage Muirfinn full
[19:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 cold damage Muirfinn full and gets 3." [1d6=3]
[19:54] <Kotono> "Awaken," The monk's voice breaks into your revere, "Awaken from the cold sleep."
[19:55] <Kotono> "Y-y-yeah," Sylvie's voice chatters audibly, as she stiffly stumbles off her rock, pale and shaking so.
[19:56] * Muirfinn opens his eyes, looking about as he cocks his head, working some of the stiffness out. "Indeed."
[19:56] <Kotono> Sylvie wobbles back and forth, as your guide claps his hands, "Let's return inside now," he says.
[19:58] * Muirfinn leans over, sliding off of the rock and landing on his feet. He stretches grandly, grimacing. "This weather is highly distracting."
[20:01] <Kotono> You are escorted back inside - into another room near the changing rooms. Here is a mantle and fireplace, warmed by a roaring fire. Sylvie darts to it in a split-second, warming her hands in front of it. "The cold exhausts you and shrives away physical distractions to the spiritual." The monk doesn't bother to go to the fire, instead standing, "Your focus is good, Muirfinn."
[20:03] * Muirfinn nods, eschewing the fire as well. "I'm had some hundred and seventy years of practice. It's just been a while since I was in such an environment without magical aid. I will adapt."
[20:04] <Kotono> As Sylvie sighs in contentment and warms her feet before the fire, "For you, there's no need for further meditation on the rocks. You'll come with me now." With a look to Sylvie, "You'll have an hour in here to warm, as well as a hot meal, then you'll have to go out and try again on the rocks."
[20:05] * Muirfinn nods and turns to Sylvie. "You will be fine."
[20:06] <Kotono> That draws a full on slump from Sylvie, followed by a soft whimper. "If I don't..." she mutters something else too low to hear, as your guide clasps your shoulder before heading out, awaiting Muirfinn.
[20:11] * Muirfinn waves her off as he follows the man.
[20:19] <Kotono> You are lead into a quiet room, plain and undecorated. Here sits a single man - old and weathered, slender and wearing the same sack cloth as the others. He sits on a hard stool, one opposite him. He looks up, "Come in, turtle," he greets, "Sit down a spell with me."
[20:21] <Muirfinn> "Greetings." Muirfinn says, sitting opposite the man. "I am Muirfinn."
[20:22] <Kotono> Your guide steps out, closing the door behind him. In this chill room, just a bit above freezing with your breath misting out, "I am Aluth." Inclinding his head a moment, as the old, sturdy stool bears Muirfinn's weight without groaning, "What is right?"
[20:30] <Muirfinn> "What is right?" Muirfinn muses, tapping his beak. "Rightness is something defined not only by one's self, but by those around you. If you were to ask an angel, he would joyfully tell you that rightness is defined by actions that benefit all around you. That these actions bolster not only the goodness and honor of yourself, but for all. A devil, on the otherhand, would gleefully tell you
[20:30] <Muirfinn> that it is right to enslave, corrupt, and damn those around you for your personal betterment. So, rightness is subjective in that way. If you are asking me what I believe is right, it is the former. To bring harmony to both one's self and thos around you, be it human, animal, or even plant, is rightness. It requires forethought, but it is a lifestyle worth living." He trails off for a moment,
[20:30] <Muirfinn> then raises his right hand. "Unless that was not a philosophical question. In that case, this is my right hand."
[20:32] <Kotono> "Hmmmmmmm...." Peering at that right hand for a few moments, "If that is right, what is good?"
[20:43] <Muirfinn> "What is good, is not always right, and what is right is not always necessarily good." Muirfinn says, putting his hand down. "Rightness is judged on individual moral principle. Idealistically, rightness and goodness would coincide, but that is not the case. In my previous example, the rightness I used cannot be applied to everyone around you in a realistic fashion, unless you surround yourself
[20:43] <Muirfinn> with like individuals. In the end, someone will be put out, inconvenienced, or otherwise disabled. Idealistically, goodness is something that is inherently good; something done with love for another, whether it be the love of comraderie, familial love, or any one or more of a dozen different kinds. These things, done out of love and caring, can indeed be misguided. There are men out there
[20:43] <Muirfinn> who believe that what they do is right, and good. Indeed, their actions are good, but the methods they use to go about them are not right. They are unfortunately not always the same, though they can be if care is taken."
[20:46] <Kotono> "Mmmm," Rubbing his chin now, "So how do you choose between doing what is right and what is good, when you cannot do both?"
[20:51] <Muirfinn> "Weigh the three options carefully, for there are three. Doing what is right, doing what is good, or doing nothing. Determine the cost and benefit of each action, then choose. If you can, manipulate events in such a way to minimize or eliminate the potential harm. Think carefully, but not too long. An opportunity to change the world for the better can be lost in a poorly-timed moment's
[20:51] <Muirfinn> hesitation. It is best to have a solution before physically approaching the problem. Sometimes, there is no easy decision."
[20:58] <Kotono> "But is doing nothing neither right or good?" he asks back, "For evil to triumph, all that must be done is for good men to do nothing. Is that ever truly a choice?"
[21:07] <Muirfinn> "Sometimes, the best way to trump evil is not to be manipulated by its plots." Muirfinn counters. "I have known evil's intrigue and machinations. It can convince you that you do both right and good, even as you play into its hands. To break the cycle, sometimes the best choice is to simply not act, to save both life and face. Sometimes, it's the easiest choice, and that's how you know it's
[21:07] <Muirfinn> the wrong one. Doing nothing can provide both salvation and damnation. It must be carefully considered."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Mmmm..." The old man considers this for a goodly time, "You speak of wisdom and choices. Above all, what guides your choices and what is the font of your wisdom?"
[21:18] <Muirfinn> "I was granted wisdom by the Mother Ocean at my birth. She blessed me with the wisdom of water, and I strive to live up to the gift she gave to me. She is both a protector and giver of life to my people, and I endeavor to be her physical aspect with my people. It is by no means easy, and saving a dying species is by far the hardest thing I have ever done. Still, it is a blessing. My people
[21:18] <Muirfinn> will rise again, and we will regain our home. So, what inspires my wisdom is the tenacity of my people, and my guide is the Mother Ocean."
[21:22] <Kotono> "Interesting," At this the old man stands slowly, "Come with me now."
[21:23] * Muirfinn stands as well. "As you wish."
[21:25] <Kotono> You are lead deeper in. At the end of the hall is a turn and then another, dimly lit here as you travel deeper. You eventually come to a door with the same eyed gauntlet as the iced over main gates, "Knock on this door. The Master of Skywatch Monastery is in there."
[21:26] * Muirfinn nods, reaching forward to knock upon the door.
[21:26] <Kotono> On knocking, a strong male voice calls, "Enter!"
[21:27] * Muirfinn pushes the door aside and enters!
[21:30] <Kotono> Within is an office. It is spartan and functional - desk and chair, table and several drawers for papers, neatly labeled. A window gives a breathtaking view of a gleaming, ice blue cavern. Within here is a man in his middle age, hale and hearty. He wears armor and helm of crystal, a sheathed sword at his belt, one that leaps with lightning from the pommelstone. He has white hair and trimmed
[21:30] <Kotono> beard. Emblazed on the front of his armor - that seems to swim with mist as you gaze at it - is the same eyed gauntlet as before. "Muirfinn of Aurora," he rises, offering one hand out. "Well met. Eudard of Helm."
[21:34] * Muirfinn steps up and clasps the man's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Eudard of Helm."
[21:35] <Kotono> His handshake is strong and firm, "Abagail was right - you went right through all of this. What about the young woman with you?"
[21:36] <Muirfinn> "She is younger, but resolute. This was her idea. She will be along once she completes the tasks set before her. She is tenacious."
[21:37] <Kotono> "Tenacious and frozen," he says with the barest hint of amusement, "I know you follow the path of the divine, but I'm not clear on what deity you serve."
[21:48] <Muirfinn> "The four gods of my people are relatively unknown to humans and other mammals. I follow the Mother Ocean, she who guides and protects us."
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+51 (+15 DI)
[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+51 (+15 DI) and gets 56." [1d20=5]
[21:52] <Kotono> "Along with Father Earth, Brother Shell and Sister Grain, I believe?" Eudard replies after a moment.
[21:53] <Muirfinn> "Indeed." Muirfinn nods with a smile. "You know of them, then?"
[21:57] <Kotono> "The Triad has seen it fit to send me about this world and to worlds beyond this one," Eudard replies solemnly, "I have met and seen much."
[21:58] <Muirfinn> "If I may be so bold, then, where did you hear of them? Was it from some of my people? Do you know where they are?"
[22:02] <Kotono> "A traveling minstrel," Eudard explains, "On another world, as fair as this one." He answers, "I'm sorry, I don't know anything more. I've not met your kind face to face until this meeting."
[22:05] * Muirfinn sighs. "Such is fate, I suppose. We are rarer and rarer." He takes a moment to collect himseld and then smiles. "So, what can I do for you?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "You've passed all but a field test for the Crimson Guard - and frankly, it would be a waste of time," Eudard says, "These trials aren't meant for someone of your advanced magic and wisdom. So tell me again about your goals here? Abagail's words were rather short and to the point."
[22:12] <Muirfinn> "Well, bear with me. I may not have all of this accrately, as it was Sylvie's plan. This is her home plane, and she is the most familiar with it. I believe it relates mostly to the ruins ouside of town, and getting access thereof. I believe she wishes to petition the gods directly for assistance."
[22:14] <Kotono> "Hmph." Eudard doesn't really frown at that, but he doesn't look thrilled. "It's her plan? Let's go see how she's doing now."
[22:14] * Muirfinn nods. "Let's."
[22:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2
[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2  and gets 20." [1d20=18]
[22:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 42." [1d20=20]
[22:17] <Kotono> roll 1d6 cold damage Sylvie
[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 cold damage Sylvie and gets 5." [1d6=5]
[22:20] <Kotono> You find Sylvie on the rocks, sitting indian style. Her eyes are closed and she sits in perfect rapture, despite the blue tint to her skin and wind blowing. It's starting to snow, flakes raining down like a gentle serenade into numb oblivion. Eudard stands before this a few moments, "She did it this time, it appears. Sylvie, awaken!"
[22:21] * Muirfinn nods with a smile. "Good job, Sylvie."
[22:22] <Kotono> "...mmm?" Sylvie's voice is a faraway croak, eyes half opening. "Cold..." she says, kittenish and tired, "Sleepy, Muirfinn. Hypothermia."
[22:23] <Muirfinn> "Oh. Right. Mammals." Muirfinn pulls her off the rocks and into his arms. He turns to Eudard. "Let's go inside, yes?"
[22:23] <Kotono> Eudard reaches out, touching Sylvie! He murmurs words to the Triad, as color returns to her cheeks and her eyes open wide. She stands right up, "I'm awake," she says, starting to shiver, "It's still freezing out here! Yes, inside, now!" Sylvie makes a quick jog back towards inside.
[22:23] * Muirfinn chortles as he ambles after her.
[22:25] <Kotono> You end up in yet another room - a big fire with hard wooden chairs around it. You are served steaming warm glasses of tea, Sylvie happily drinking hers down once you settle in.
[22:28] * Muirfinn takes a seat, calmly sipping his tea. "So, Sylvie. This is Eudard. Tell him what your plan here was."
[22:29] <Kotono> "Could you give me a moment," Sylvie says, "My brain's still thawing out. Besides," Giving Eudard a look, "You look familiar."
[22:31] <Kotono> "You do as well, but I can't place where," Eudard seconds after a taking a single sip of his tea and putting it aside. "Perhaps around Balmuria?"
[22:31] <Kotono> "Probably," Sylvie says as she does just that - thaws. She warms her hands and feet in front of the fire, making little happy sighs, "I can feel my toes again!"
[22:32] * Muirfinn snorts.
[22:35] <Kotono> Eudard waits patiently, and after a little while longer, "Miss Sylvie, I'd like to know what you're planning. Muirfinn told me you have interest in the ruins west of Balmuria."
[22:39] <Kotono> "Yes," Sylvie straightens up, "We're part of Aurora. Are you familiar with it?" After a brief nod from Eudard, "We need power for our goals. The same power that's lead to the Crimson Guard, and the heavy destiny that's elevated two mortals to divinity."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Your quest..." Here Eudard shakes his head, "It's a fool's errand. You may need power, but you have no idea of what you're meddling with."
[22:50] <Kotono> "No, but I've meddled in worse," Sylvie says, "Did you know I'm bearing something that's completely ignored your anti-magic field here? Something that can kill the divine? We know one thing very well - power."
[22:51] * Muirfinn closes his eyes and sighs quietly.
[22:53] <Kotono> Eudard sends a glance at Muirfinn, "Does she speak the truth, bluntness aside?"
[22:55] <Muirfinn> "Yes. The power she carries has a side effect of preventing her from lying. There's more to it than just what she said, though. It can kill the divine, but only if they are evil. It is a tool designed to dissect and understand evil. It is mostly just effective at destroying it."