E 001

[Corwin]

> "Let's swim down and look for a place to stay first and see what's going on," Darlina offers. "We can rest a little over a meal of fresh fish and kelp?"
<Alicia> Alicia does her best not to look queasy as she smiles and nods. Certainly fresher than fish has any right to be on her dinner plate, but if it's good enough for Darlina it'll be good enough for her. "Lead the way, then," she offers, gesturing forward.
> Down into the places you go! The sound of bubbling chatter fills Alicia's ears, as well as other things. There is a steady undercurrent of eerie, baying music. It's deep and disturbing, yet ever so gorgeous.  On the sea floor a few sea elves argue with a blue skinned, fish bottomed and human topped male with a trident. A few sahuagin lug baskets full of seaweed and shells along. A school of fish swims by as you go to a stone hut, Darlina taking the lead. INside of here is wide open space with asoft, sandy floor that comfortably suits your feet. Here, sitting down, are all you've seen and more, chatting, eating and in some cases sleeping.
> Darlina taking the lead. INside of here is wide open space with asoft, sandy floor that comfortably suits your feet. Here, sitting down, are all you've seen and more, chatting, eating and in some cases sleeping.
<Alicia> Since chances are she doesn't understand any of the language, Alicia is content to follow Darlina's lead unless Marie alerts her to overhearing anything terribly interesting. She does mark the merman's form as something she could try to replicate herself - it might be a better swimmer than a sea elf. "Nice to see everyone getting along," she observes as the trio settle down.
> Marie can hear conversational fragments, but none of it's overly interesting offhand. Darlina leads you to a clear spot in the sand, sitting. "Let's just rest here," she gestures. "Someone'll be along with food soon. Don't worry, it's free. Oceanoholm offers hospitality to anyone that makes the journey."
<Alicia> "That's nice of... them," Alicia nods, initially smiling before she looks a bit confused. It seems like there's a completely seperate political landscape beneath the waves, which she's completely ignorant of. "Who's in charge here, anyway?"
> "Well, that Sahuagin lord I mentioned has a lot of pull. Our village, not so much. We've been a little too caught up in the bay, or so Oolu says." Smiling upwards, Darlina stops as a fish headed, small, almost dwarflike man approaches with one large bowl. He says something in Aquatic(Marie can tell it's, 'Eat well, the tuna's fresh, and so are the fish roe.'), to which Darlina thanks him in Aquatic. Then, "Let's eat," she says, grabbing what looks to be some uncooked fish. "Oceanoholm itself...) (More)
> Then, "Let's eat," she says, grabbing what looks to be some uncooked fish. "Oceanoholm itself...) (More)
> "There were some nasty border wars for it between various factions, like most trade cities. Oolu says he heard that most in this area have an independant govenor by agreements. The one here is Lord Sawr."
* Alicia delicately nibbles on her fish, worried that she'll choke on a bone. Marie eschews the food entirely as she flutters up a bit to perch herself over the back of Alicia's head while curiously taking in the surroundings. "Is Lord Sawr a sea elf or a...?" the paladin asks, deigning not to acknowledge her familiar's... familiar, position.
> "He's a half sea elf, half merman. He looks like one of us with more gills and a fin instead of feet, but with semi vestigal legs instead of one sealed fish botton." Darlina has no such hesitations, tearing in. "Interbreeding's fairly common in trade towns and rare otherwise, according to Oolu.  He says it's because we're all a bunch of stick in the muds now." With a faint smile, "Oh yes, I meant to ask you. Is it true that all of you really saved him from a waterless cavern city?"
> "Oh yes, I meant to ask you. Is it true that all of you really saved him from a waterless cavern city?"
* Alicia shakes her head. "Not me, it was Seira and Demedais that did that," she replies. "I first met Oolu in the Elemental Plane of Water when we asked him to come over to visit your people." She leans forward a bit, causing Marie to slide slowly down her back. "You forgive us, right?" she asks, half-joking.
> Smiling as she reaches over to act to catch the poor, displaced familiar, "Oh, I like him. He's been wonderful for us, but...My Gods, he is certainly different than the stories. Yet he's always working 'to make it better for us', like he says. He's so...dedicated." Darlina blushes a little.
<Alicia> "He seemed nice," Marie chirps, flicking her fins to float over towards Darlina.
<Alicia> "Yes, he's very... friendly," Alicia agrees, smiling faintly. "Very friendly."
> Her blush deepens. "Ah...yes. Very friendly." She decides on that, going back to her food and starting to idly pet Marie's head.
<Alicia> "You know, I look a lot cuter, normally," the water mephit informs Darlina as she submits to the petting. "It's a pity Alicia doesn't know any nice aquatic outsider forms to turn me into instead of this... watery imp thing."
<Alicia> "We're not here to win any beauty contests, Marie," Alicia primly reminds her familiar, setting aside her lightly chewed tuna. "Anyway..." she cocks her head at Darlina, "Any clues at all what we should be looking for?"
> "You're cute like this, like a baby Oolu," Darlina chuckles as she holds the familiar. "I want to go talk around and gather information, ideally. For that, I just need you to look menancing if anyone starts trouble."
<Alicia> "I can do menacing," Alicia nods, putting on her most charming and inoffensive smile.
<Alicia> "I'd rather look like a little sea elf - I already look like a little elf with wings, normally, so that'd be way better," Marie opines.
> "Let's go then," Passing Marie back to Alicia, "Let's get started."
<Alicia> Floating up, Marie elects to swim for herself while the faux-sea elf also rises, happy to follow Darlina's lead. This is her big quest, after all, and Alicia's just here for support.
> roll 1d20+8 gather info check
* Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+8 gather info check and gets 17." [1d20=9]
> A few hours of work pass. Darlina goes about, talking to all sorts of creatures. The relevant points, translated by Marie, are:
<Alicia> OOC: Marie and I can aid
> OOC - Okay, you can roll for it if youw ant.
<Alicia> roll 1d20+12 Alicia
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 Alicia and gets 17." [1d20=5]
<Alicia> roll 1d20+8 Marie
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 Marie and gets 27." [1d20=19]
> 1. The sahuagin lord has been flexing his muscles later. Rumor has it that he wants to get a grip on Oceanoholm personally.
> 2. A thief was found in Lord Sawr's home two nights ago. He waits for a hearing, though his prospects are grim. Lord Sawr is not particularly kind to thieves.
> 3. Recently, a group of sahuagin from the frozen sea came. They caused trouble, as they tried to chill the section they stayed at. Lord Sawr's guards had to resolve it and prevent a nasty fight. They're still in town, but under orders to stay low.
> 4. A sea elf named Kortuni has been splashing around goods the past few weeks, looking toe xpand into Oceanoholm. He's making moves to buy out one of the permanent merchants here.
> Once you get all of those, Darlina rests in the shadow of one of the huts. "Hm...there's a fair bit going on, isn't there?"
<Alicia> "Yes, but nothing that seems to point to this mysterious object Deep Sashelas wants you to find," Alicia replies, before eyeing the sea elf curiously. "Any feelings or hunches that we should investigate something in particular?"
> "The best thing I can think of is to see if that thief was stealing something important? It's a long shot, but perhaps what he was stealing is related to what I'm looking for? If it's valuable, it would make sense for the lord of the area to have it, yes?"
<Alicia> "But that also means you're going to have trouble getting it, if you want it," Alicia points out. "Still, in the absence of any other leads, there's no harm in asking about it. We might even be able to make an arrangement with Lord Sawr if he's having trouble with a certain Sahaugin Lord."
> "It could be so," Darlina starts to swim forward now, "I think his housea nd office are down this way."
<Alicia> "Hmm... since we might be here a while, know if there's any caves with air pockets or anything like that nearby?" Alicia asks. "I could use the brine potion if I have to, but I'd prefer to save it for an emergency."
> "There's one of the houses that has one, but they charge since it's rarely used," Darlina says. "For those times you occasinally need dry air to do something."
<Alicia> "Well, I have money now, don't I?" Alicia notes with a sidelong glance at her familiar. "If it's rarely used it shouldn't cost too much, at least. Anyway, can worry about that later, I've got a while left before I start to run out of spells."
> "Yes, let's go then," Darlina starts to swim away in a good pace. OOC - Move along?
<Alicia> OOC: yep
> Lord Sawr's house is a three story building of stone, with the entrance on the top floor. It's made of gray stone with shells mixed in, rather pretty. Armed guards - mermen and sea elves, as well as a few sahuagin, swim about and keep patrol. AT the entrance, four of them wait. "Hello and goo dday," one says in Aquan. "What business do you have with Lord Sawr?"
<Alicia> Marie whispers the translation into Alicia's ear, but otherwise the two are content to provide silent backing for Darlina.
> "I wish to meet with Lord Sawr. I come from the south, from the Lord Oolu. May we please see him?" Darlina makes a gracious bow, to which the guards listen and then, "Enter."
<Alicia> Assuming no one molests them, Alicia and Marie follow!
> Inside you come to a a large sitting room. Here a sahuagin and a few mermen and women sit in wait, while guards stand at the far door. It's nice enough, one supposes. One of those guards speaks as you enter. "Lord Sawr will see you soon. What is your reason for meeting with him?"
* Alicia defers to Darlina!
> Darlina says back in Aquan, "We wish to talk to him about a criminal," she says, then sits. There's a slight murmur,bu tnothing immediately happens.
* Alicia looks around in confusion for a moment before Marie helpfully translates, then, assuming they just have to wait their turn, she takes a seat next to Darlina, while Marie settles once more on her head.
> About a half hour passes. Oh, the party gets a few looks as people are called in, but nothing unusual. At last, however, "Ma'am," the guard intones, "The Lord will see your party now. Come."
* Alicia follows Darlina inside. This bodyguard stuff doesn't really suit her, but the language barrier is a great obstacle to her usual take charge demeanour, even if she did want to step on Darlina's toes.
> Inside you find two more guards and Lord Sawr. He is as described - a muscular man from torso up, with his lower body being scaly legs molding into a fin at the bottom. HIs eyes are strong, as he stays afloat just above the ground and gestures you in. "Aaah, you've come from Oolu? What is it you wish?"
> For a moment, "Excuse me," in Aquan, "But do you speak the native language of the elves? My friend here has difficulty with the language of water."
<Alicia> Marie remains perched on Alicia's head, leaning a little bit over the side as she whispers sweet nothings in her mistress' ear. "She's asking if they can speak elven because you're ignorant of their language," she helpfully informs her, sweet as can be.
* Alicia resists the urge to roll her eyes, instead essaying a smile towards Lord Sawr.
> In heavily accented but understandable elven, "Alright," he says, Alicia at last understanding. "You're interested in a criminal? The thief, I imagine? Do you know him, perchance?" His mood darkens, his body tensing. "He has not even given us his name."
<Alicia> "It's less the thief and more what he was stealing..." Alicia begins, before glancing to Darlina to elaborate the nature of her quest.
> Darlina nods. "Yes. I am on a vision quest from the Lord of the Deep, Deep Sashelas. What I seek is in this trading town; I have reason to suspect it may have been what the thief was trying to steal. If you would be so kind, could you tell us that so we can ascertain if this is true or not?"
> With a dour face, "What he stole has nothing to do with religion. It has nothing to do with your quest, I am sure."
<Alicia> "Forgive me, I am simply a guardian and protector for my friend on her quest, but if I may?" Alicia begins respectfully. "Just because something lacks an obvious ceremonial aspect, does not necessarily mean it lacks importance. Deep Sashelas may not have sent Darlina simply to find an object related to his worship, it may have some other significance. Could you at least tell us what the item was?"
> "Please. I would be extremely grateful, m'lord," Darlina bows deep and low.
<Alicia> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 36." [1d20=18]
> "...mmm." Lord Sawr listens long, before he at last speaks. "Very well, I suppose it will do no harm - if you give me an oath that you will not discuss what it is with anyone else."
* Alicia blinks in faint surprise, wondering if maybe they've wandered far off track. Still, if this is the avenue Darlina wants to pursue... "You have it," she promises for herself.
> "Guards, take them to the first floor," he instructs. Two of the guards approach, "Come with us."
* Alicia obligingly follows the guards, though she still hovers protectively close to Darlina.
> The trip to the first floor is without incident. Here you stand in a sim ple antechamber, while the guards leave you and go deeper in. Darlina waits, swimming around a bit. "I wonder if this is it..." she asks aloud.
<Alicia> "Well, we'll see once we see it?" Alicia hazards, her curiousity somewhat piqued. Though not as curious as Marie, who studies their surroundings for any sign of magic that could hint of what's to come.
> "Indeed," Darlina lingers closer to Alicia, and after a moment, half leaning on her shoulder. "I'm so excited but so worried. What should we do if this isn't it?"
* Alicia smiles slightly. "Then we just have to look for something else. Don't be discouraged just because you got it wrong on the first attempt," she offers supportively.
> "You're speaking wisely," Darlina smiles, squeezing Alicia's shoulder. "Thanks."
<Alicia> "You're welcome," Alicia replies warmly. "Besides, even if this isn't anything to do with our quest, I've got a feeling it'll be interesting, regardless."
> Shortly thereafter, the two guards return. They carry a human sized lead box, using ropes to drag it in. There are a few locks on it, keys taken to undo them one at a time.
* Alicia leans forward in fascination at the layers of security, while Marie does likewise, only barely hanging onto Alicia's head at this precarious angle.
> Darlina does the same, as four locks are removed. Then, carefully, a single word of Draconic is uttered, then the case is opened! Inside lies two things - the first is a purple gem the size of a basketball, carved and gorgeous. The second is a long, tapered spear. Frosty mists gather around the head, the water near it starting to ice over in a tiny radius. The two guards are tense, readied, one hand on spears for the each of them.
> ne hand on spears for the each of them.
> "Oh...oohhh..." DArlina murmurs, eyes going as wide as dinner plates.
* Alicia keeps her hands behind her back, clearly making no move to grab the items or anything, while Marie checks over their magical auras. After a second, the paladin glances at Darlina. "Well?"
<Alicia> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 13." [1d20=6]
> "I...Don't think so," she says at last. "But...what marvelous treasures! IT is a small wonder a thief that knew of them would strike."
<Alicia> "Well, we won't spread that knowledge around, anyway," Alicia drifts back half a step, nodding to the guards.
> The guards shut it and redo the locks, uttering another sharp word before dragging it back. As they're gone, "So a dead end here," she murmurs. "Any ideas now?"
<Alicia> "Well, lets thank Lord Sawr for indulging our curiousity, then... well, if you don't have any other ideas, we could just explore the town a bit and see if anything pops up?" Alicia hazards.
> Thus the two are escorted back to Lord Sawr. "Are you contented now?" hea sks in his accented Elven.
> Darlina bows deeply to him, "Thank you for allowing me to see that. You were correct, but I can now safely rule that out."
* Alicia echoes the bow. "Magnificent treasures though they were, it seems Deep Sashelas intends us to look elsewhere. You have been most gracious for indulging our curiousity, Lord Sawr," she agrees.
> "Very well." He lightly inclines his head forward, "Do remember that betraying this oath is a crime in Oceanoholm. Otherwise, good day to you."
> Darlina bows again, turning to go out.
* Alicia likewise heads out, Marie fluttering along beside her. "It would be nice if we had some sort of clue to go on," she muses as they exit the undersea manor.
> "
> "Well, from what the town said? The other things going on are the sahuagin lord, those ice sea sahuagin and that merchant muscling in." Darlina ticks them off your fingers as you swim out into the open ocean again. "You thrashed around those lackeys of Gluark...but you also said itw ouldn't be something I couldn't do myself, and I think you're right. Tangling with them...I couldn't do that." Darlina shakes her head. "So perhaps if it's not that, it's one of the other two or something we haven't caught yet?"
> Darlina shakes her head. "So perhaps if it's not that, it's one of the other two or something we haven't caught yet?"
<Alicia> "Mmm... well, the question about the Sahaugin is how are they making the water cold? Perhaps they have some artifact that could have other uses?" Alicia suggests. "As for the merchant... well, maybe he has the item, but I can't imagine it would be as simple as buying it."
> "Mmm. What about you, Marie?" Darlina asks. "Any bright ideas while we're at it?"
<Alicia> "Well... what exactly did Deep Sashelas say to you?" Marie asks, "If you got it in words, anyway. Back in Dweomerheart I had to pass along cryptic messages now and then, so maybe if I heard it word for word I might notice some meaning you've missed," she suggests.
> "In Oceanoholm I will travel with a knight-errant who comes from afar. In Oceanoholm lies the destinies; a relic that must be found in My Name, Deep Sashelas."
<Alicia> "The destinies?" Marie repeats that part, a thoughtful expression on her face. "That could actually be the name of the object itself - we could ask around for something with a name tied to destiny or fate. OR!" she holds up a clawed hand to forestall action on her suggestion, "It could be a trick clue, and we should look for a fortune teller or someone like that who would then lead us to the relic."
> "I could ask around about th-" Darlina gets that much out, before going silent at Marie's stoppage. "A fortune teller? You mean a seer?"
<Alicia> "Yeah," Marie nods. "Most are just fakes, you know, since that actually takes really powerful divine magic to properly tell the future, and powerful priests have more important things to do than read palms or whatever, but you never know! Deep Sashelas could be working in a mysterious way," she concludes brightly.
> "That's true..." Darlina considers this, bowing her head. "Yes, it's something to look into. Perhaps these approaches will free up some more information? Let's go back and try that, then."
<Alicia> "Sounds reasonable," Alicia nods, giving her familiar an approving pat on the head.
> OOC - Move along here?
<Alicia> OOC: sure
> roll 1d20+8 gather info GO
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 gather info GO and gets 10." [1d20=2]
<Alicia> OOC: Marie will also roll
<Alicia> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 26." [1d20=18]
> A few hours pass. Darlina talks around with fishmen, mermen, sahuagin, sea elves and more and has no luck. However, Marie finds out some choice information in contrast. One wizened old sea elf eyes the mephit, "Hmph, you're a curious little creature," it says. "I used to read palms back in my youth."
<Alicia> "Really?" Marie brightens, before grabbing Darlina's hand and yanking her forward. "Can you read hers?"
> Blinking as she's dragged forward, Darlina nods. "Ah...please?" she says, eyeing Alicia a moment.
> The old elf chuckles warmly, gesturing. "Why not? It's been centuries." He reaches out, taking Darlina's hand and peering at it intensely.
* Alicia shrugs in response to Darlina's look, allowing Marie her eccentricities.
> "You're going to live a long life..." he begins, "The second vein and the third wrinkle...hm, hm, hm, hm!" He turns Marie's hand up and then back palm up, "You have a theme of life, growth and development to you. Aaah." Letting her hand drop, "That was fun, it's been too long."
<Alicia> OOC: Darlina's, right?
> OOC - Yes, blah.
<Alicia> "Nothing about holy quests or sacred relics, though?" Marie asks, resisting the urge to decry the old elf as a fraud.
> "Not a thing." A shake of his head, "I could try your friend if you're looking for something like that. Second time's the charm?" He offers with an easy look, "It's all on the house anyway."
> "Life, growth and development, eh?" Darlina murmurs, thinking.
<Alicia> "No harm in it, I suppose," Alicia smiles slightly, taking off one of her gloves and presenting her slightly webbed hand to the palm-reader.
> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 54." [1d100=54]
> "Mmmm. Your hand..." He peers at Alicia's hand, bringing it close to his eyes, raising it up. "I..." Suddenly the poor man shivers, dropping Alicia's hand quickly.
* Alicia starts, reaching out to steady the shivering sea-elf. "Are you alright?" she asks worriedly.
> "I...I've never..." he licks his lips. "The stench of it's all over you. I...your fate's really tied up," he tries with a weak chuckle. "A black skeleton that...Gods," he start sto shake and cry, sobs of anguish.. "It's going to consume you. It's going to consume everything. Nothing will be left by emptiness..."
<Alicia> "Wh-what?" Alicia looks appalled. "You really saw that? Mystra preserve me... did you see how? When, or where?" The fact that he just sort of described Agares means she has to treat this with some degree of severity.
> "It's..." Between his sobs, the man breathes deeply. "I don't know. I just say it...Whatever it was...it was..." He shudders, before wiping at his eyes, trying to gather himself. "It was terrifying."
> *saw it
> Darlina stares with her mouth trying to work, but no words come out. Instead she looks to Alicia, putting a hand on her shoulder. At last, working hard, "A...Alicia?"
* Alicia sighs softly. "Marie, pay the man." Her familiar seems about to protest, but a look at Alicia's expression convinces her otherwise, and she reaches into the sack liberated earlier from the fallen Sahaugin, handing over a pearl to the sea elf. Barely waiting long enough for that, Alicia turns to depart.
> Darlina looks startled but follows. As they depart, "...Alicia?" Darlina tries once again, softly.
<Alicia> "The future isn't set in stone. Anything could happen," Alicia observes dimly. "Just because he saw that, doesn't mean there's no way to avoid it."
<Alicia> "Didn't I say earlier, fortune tellers are fake," Marie pipes up, though she doesn't sound entirely convinced. "He just got a lucky guess with the black skeleton bit, the rest was all junk."
> "Of course, but..." Darlina's face is apprenhensive, "Do you...want to talk about it?" she tries at last.
* Alicia shrugs. "I've got a lot of enemies, he just described the most dangerous... that I know of, anyway," she briefly recalls the mysterious 'M'. "It's not like I lead a very safe lifestyle, I suppose. Hmph, for all I know I could get stabbed to death by a Sahaugin tomorrow, so I'm not going to put too much stock in that fortune."
> Darlina reaches out and gently touches Alicia's shoulder warmly. "Okay." She takes a breath, "Then...what he saida bout me? Life, growth and development. Any ideas?"
<Alicia> "Well... growth and development are natural parts of living. It could be applied to anyone..." she cocks her head and smiles slightly while putting her glove back on. "Though considering I'm marked for death by a devil who represents entropy and decay, there's an intriguing symnetry."
> "Mmmm. What does this all mean, though," Darlina thinks, before starting to swim. "C'mon. Let's go look sit down somewhere and think about this a bit?"
* Alicia and her familiar both follow along, with varyingly perturbed expressions. "I'm not sure if it has anything to do with your quest, though," the paladin manages.
<Alicia> Only to be immediately undone by her familiar. "Maybe it's an egg!" Marie blurts out.
> Darlina frowns, "An ...egg? I don't follow," she confesses.
<Alicia> "Well think about it," Marie grins as the two sea elves turn their attention on her, "It could be another cryptic clue - what's a symbol of life and growth and development? An egg! It might not even be a real egg, it might even be some sort of figurative egg, but I think it's as good a lead as any."
> "Soo...." Darlina blinks again, "...we're going to either look into fish eggs or look for figurative eggs? Like a child or a pregnant woman?"
<Alicia> "Uh..." Marie's enthusiasm falters as they get into the nitty gritty. "Or something like that - it might even be something that just *looks* like an egg. Uh... you guys aren't buying this at all, are you?" she concludes, deflating.
* Alicia looks dubious, but on the other hand... "It's not like we have a surplus of clues, either way..."
> "Well...Alicia?" A look to the poor female paladin, "Does it make sense to you...?" She begins, before Alicia speaks herself. "How about we hit this fresh in the morning then?"
<Alicia> "It is getting late, and I'm running low on spells," Alicia agrees. "Lets try to find that place with fresh air you mentioned?"
> "Right," Darlina says, leading Alicia along. It's a heavy stone building, three stories and stacked like giant slabs of sentimentary rock. You enter in the bottom, a bored looking sahuagin smothering a yawn and floating in the water like it's lying down. "Ho there. Are you here for the open air room or are you just looking around?"
<Alicia> "We need an open air room for the night, please," Marie asks as the designated translator.
> "A little mephit?" The sahuagin croaks out, peering at it. "I suppose so," he shrugs. "What do you need it for?"
<Alicia> "To sleep in!" said mephit chirps.
> "...uh huh. Got a landbreather friend coming over?" The sahuagin laughs roughly. "Well, regardless, sure thing."
<Alicia> "How much does it cost?" Marie asks, looking into her sack to see how much currency she has on hand.
> There's the tree token as well as 3 pearls left in there. "What do you got?" he asks them.
<Alicia> "How about this?" Marie asks, presenting one of the pearls.
> "Damn, that'll do," he says quickly, "That'll really do, sirs. Go ahead," he gestures behind him, to a stone stair way.
<Alicia> Marie obligingly tosses the pearl over as the trio head up the stairs.
> Upstairs you find the water ends at the midpoint of the second floor. The entire third floor is airy with a table and chairs. It looks like quite the pleasant place to rest.
* Alicia promptly reverts herself and Marie to their natural forms, before casting prestidigitation to dry themselves off. "I hope you don't mind spending the night like this, Darlina, but I wouldn't be a very effective protector if we didn't stick together," she offers as apology to her ward.
> "I can..." Sniffing the air and coughing al ittle, "I can just go back into the water occasionally." She looks tired herself, "Let's just rest and tackle this in the morning."
<Alicia> Taking off her armour and gloves/boots, Alicia sits down and starts brushing her hair to remove all the tangles a day under the sea has accumulated. "Hopefully we'll have better luck in the morning," she agrees.
> Thus the night passes in deep rest. Come the morning, Darlina stretches. "Well then...do you want to look for information or look into anything we have? Any ideas spring up overnight?"
<Alicia> "I'm afraid not," Alicia shakes her head as she gets dressed to meet the day. "Perhaps we could investigate that merchant?" Giving her familiar an indulgent look, she adds, "See if he has any eggs for sale."
> "Sure." Darlina agrees, "I'd really hope it's not those ice sahuagin, I hate the cold," she scowls, "So he was my next suggestion too. He's trying to buy out a merchant in town, so we can go ask him and see if he knows where he is?"
<Alicia> Having fully dressed herself, Alicia takes a deep breath of sweet, sweet air, before she casts Alter Self to bestow aquatic forms upon herself and Marie. "Lead the way," the now elven paladin nods.
> THus the party swims out into the sea once more! You head for a single storied stone house, with a few huts of seaweed attached to the rear. Wide doors are kept open, denizens of the deep inside. Here they browse various goods, stacked on shelves of coral.  A tall, thin man walks between them all, pointing out things and coming to the three as they enter. "Welcome and let me know if you need anything."
> "ARe you the owner of this place?" Darlina asks right away.
> "I am. Dresdon's the name," he offers, his skin like a normal humans and not blue or green. "What can I do for you?"
* Alicia silently backs Darlina up while Marie casts her eyes about for anything especially egg-like. Or anything else that screams out growth/development/life. She's sure she'll know it when she sees it.
> Marie sees that most of the things sold fall into three categories. There are carvings and artistic works, often of sedimentary rock, a strange glazed green pocelin, or a vibrant, purple gemstone carved into tiny figurines. "I'm looking for Kortuni and I've heard you've had dealings with him?"
> "I know him," Dresdon agrees. "He's trying to buy my shop, as a matter of fact. If you want him...hmph." Shaking his head, "He's out of town right now. His wife's having a child or some such, but he left an aide in case I take the offer. I can direct you to him."
<Alicia> "Oooh! Oooh!" Marie makes some excited noises as she bobs up and down behind Darlina upon overhearing that little titbit. "What'd I tell you? This is a big clue!"
> Darlina blushes, "Ah, ignore her, she's just excited," she bows quickly. "If you'd be so kind as to point us along?"
> "Certainly," He eyes Marie without comment, "He's staying as a guest of Lord Sawr."
> "Thank you," Darlina bows her head again, "Excuse us."
> Thereafter Darlina hurries outside. Once out, "I wonder if you're right," she says to Marie.
<Alicia> "We've got nothing else to go on, do we?" the mephit retorts. "Unless... are you getting some sort of bad feeling from this, like deep down you sense that we're on the wrong track? Because I think we should listen to any feelings like that."
> "Not really, no," Darlina shakes he rhead. "It would be prudent to go take a look at the least. Unless you can whip up one of those fancy auguries you were talking about yesterday, Alicia?"
* Alicia shakes her head. "Not my area, I'm afraid," she replies. "Still, though, I'm not sure about this... I mean, you can hardly take someone's baby away, can you?"
> Darlina pauses there, "That's a bridge I'll cross when I get to it," she says. "If by that you mean that what we're looking for is the baby itself...?"
<Alicia> "Surely it can't be that - but maybe it's symbolic or a clue? Like by following up this angle we'll actually make our way closer to the real goal. Whatever that is," Alicia reasons hesitantly. This really is troublesome.
> "Indeed." With that, Darlina and company head back to Lord Sawr's abode. A simple question of the guard reveals that the aide in question is staying in an outlying seaweed hut, which Darlina heads for. It's on the very edge of town and pleasant, the underwater sounds a soothing, gentle melody. Near the entrance, "Hello, is anyone here?" Darlina calls.
> "Come in," A pleasant male voice calls back.
> Darlina thus heads in, glancing at Alicia once before she enters. Inside is a simple interior with a soft, sandy floor. A merman inside is whistling a pleasant tune, using his hands to skillfully dissect a few fish he has in a bowl. "I'm just sitting down for a late breakfast. Want to join me," he offers.
* Alicia gives Darlina a supportive smile at that glance, following the sea elf inside with her familiar in tow.
> "No thank you, I'm not hungry. Alicia?" She asks, but before she answers, "I heard you work for Kortuni?"
> He works away at the fish, whistling despite being underwater. It makes a ghostly sound, bubbles coming from his lips. "I do. I'm watching in his stead while his wife gives birth to his second child."
<Alicia> "I'm fine, thanks," Alicia demurs after Marie provides the requisite translations by whispering in her ear.
> "My congratulations to him," Darlina smiles warmly. "I have need to talk to him on matters. Do you know when he'll return?"
> "It shouldn't be very long. Perhaps today, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps a day or two longer on the outside?" He answers, "Oh, Guldu is the name," he says after a moment, "Sorry, where ARE my manners?"
> "Darlina, and t his is Alicia," Darlina goes on. "Could you send word to me when he returns then?"
> "I will," he says cheerfully, "Oh, and that's a lovely mephit you have with you. Are you interested in selling it? My master's wanted one for a long while. He'll offer very good coin for it."
> Darlina glances at Alicia there, mouthing in Elven, "He just offered to buy the 'mephit'," she says with a bit of amusement.
<Alicia> Marie doesn't translate that question. "I'm not for sale!" she cries indignantly, before blushing. "Lovely?" she repeats, looking down at her, in her own opinion, freakish current form.
<Alicia> "Uh..." Alicia just shakes her head, hoping the gesture is universal.
> "You're lovely for a mephit," He smiles widely, "I apologize for the question. How about this, lovely mephit: My master Kortuni will offer you excellent wages and benefits if you come to work with him. A mephit can be very useful and he's more than willing to compensate you for that."
> "Regardless of that, our business with Kortuni is important. Perhaps," Quickly cutting in, "We can discuss the mephit matter as well when he returns?"
> Darlina clears her throat after, casting a look to Marie.
<Alicia> Marie obligingly shuts up at Darlina's prompting.
> "IO'
> "I'll pass it onto him," he promises warmly. "Good day then."
> "Good day to you," Darlina inclines her head respectfully, turning to head out. Once she's out, she laughs a little bit.
<Alicia> "Some people have weird taste," Marie just shakes her head as they depart. Alicia simply looks mystified at the whole thing.
> "Well..." Darlina shakes her head, laughing a little more, "At least you're popular, Marie?"
<Alicia> "Only when I'm in disguise," she huffs indignantly, while Alicia attempts to restore some order.
<Alicia> "Be that as it may, it looks like we've stalled on this line of inquiry - what are we going to do, now?" she asks, getting back to business.
> "Let's look at what we have again," Darlina t hinks, walking a bit before starting to simply float in the water. "From listening, we know about the thief, Lord Sawr's treasure, the buyout and about some ice sea sahuagin. From the vision we know that you'll join me, that we'll find destinies here and that we'll find a relic in the name of Deep Sashelas. From the palm reader, we have the stuff about a long live, growth and development. We also have your less than happy vision."
> growth and development. We also have your less than happy vision."
> "There has to be some way it all ties together, yes?" Darlina goes on. "Or some pattern within that points to our goal."
* Alicia pushes off the seabed as well, floating alongside Darlina. "Well, we've still to really investigate the ice sea sahaugin - maybe they're the missing link that ties everything together?" she hazards. She doesn't sound fully convinced, though.
> "Maybe. But if we're just missing a link...I'd like to think we can still put the rest of it together in the meanwhile," She says slowly. "Maybe...maybe you tie into it as well since you're here? I'm here to find this, but you're my protector here. What does that mean to you?"
<Alicia> "Well, I have this really evil sword that makes me feel sick whenever I wield it," Alicia gestures to the sheathed sword of grief, not actually touching the hilt. "If I fulfill my side of the quest, the evil in it should be expunged, turning it into something worthwhile," she explains.
<Alicia> "Hmm... it's called the sword of grief, and it can inflict terrible wounds that won't heal - that's why I can't heal mine while on this quest, too. That's sort of the opposite of your life, growth, and development message, isn't it?"
> "I see." Darlina thinks, "If it is...does something that is the opposite of that have anything to do with it, or a threat to it?" Considering this thoughtfully, "Perhaps a life or the relic itself is in some danger?"
* Alicia nods. "Using the blade to safeguard the innocent is the best way to redeem it," she agrees. "Although I'd thought that protecting you would be the extent of my involvement, perhaps things are more tightly linked than that..." She drums her fingers on her breastplate while thinking. "So... someone or something's in danger, and it's up to the both of us to protect it so it can grow?"
> "Something that grows...something innocent...something that needs to be protected..." Darlina thinks. "What fits all of that?"
<Alicia> "A child," Alicia answers automatically. "But it could be more abstract - like Oceanholm itself. This place seems like a bastion of tolerance compared to some of its neighbours, we know its threatened by Gluark or whatever his name was, and as a trading post it could potentially grow a great deal if given the chance."
> "That's true...so Oceanoholm or..." Thinking, "A child...or a baby as well?" Darlina looks to Alicia. "Both of those are sound enough answers, too."
<Alicia> "That's the problem; lots of potential answers but nothing conclusive," Alicia answers gloomily.
> "I don't know. It's either a threat to OCeanoholm or Kortuni's child, at least in my eyes," Darlina observes. "Both are the best fits to what we have."
<Alicia> "But Kortuni's child isn't here, and your quest did seem focused on Oceanholm in particular. Unless Kortuni brings his child with him when he returns?" Alicia muses.

[Corwin]

> So the party leaves, Rin sniffing the air a bit more but staying calmer now...
* Shamal pets Rin, kneeling down and taking out a scroll. "It's a pity I can't have this spell ready all the time... we really don't talk enough, Rin," she smiles a moment, before reading off the magic and clearing her throat. "What did you smell earlier, Rin?" she asks now that they can understand each other verbally.
> "Master..." Rin says slowly, rubbing up against Shamal's hand. "A bigger non packmate one."
<Shamal> "Was it that man, Febras?" Shamal asks. "He smelled like a dog?"
> "Like our cousins more, the really big ones," Rin informs you, voice a little hesitant.
<Shamal> "Like a wolf?" Shamal asks, suspicion formulating. "The kind I sometimes summon? And the one you killed in the forest when we fought those goblins?"
> "Yes," Rin nods, "I think so, Master."
* Lyselle (dragomirst@225-52-77-204.sptc.mnscu.edu) Quit (Off to class. -=SysReset 2.53=-)
<Shamal> "I see..." Shamal frowns. He couldn't have gotten that scent merely from associating with wolves, not in the city. So that leaves... "Mielikki save us, just who has Seira gotten us mixed up with, now?" she briefly hugs Rin. "Good girl, Rin. Come on, let's go catch up with her, shall we?"
> Rin licks your hand, ready to go. OOC - Seira, right?
<Shamal> OOC: yep
> The trip to the Temple of Waukeen goes without incident again. You enter into a grand place of tall pillars and inlaid gold, traders and merchants doing business. Even a few Malmuthian uniforms can be seen, but the altar is empty right now. No sign of Seira on first glance, either.
* Shamal looks around to see if she can get the attention of any of Waukeen's clergy. She also makes sure her purse is tightly secured.
> Oh, there are a few walking around. It would be easy to go after one.  There's even a youngish one, just finishing a chat with a few merchants and going away. Nice young woman, brown back in a pony tail and somewhat plain robes worn.
<Shamal> Since the cleric is currently unoccupied, Shamal quickly moves to intercept her before someone else distracts her. "Excuse me, might I have a moment?" she asks, her voice soft out of respect for the gods. Even the goddess of commerce deserves consideration in her own house.
> Her brown eyes light up, coming over. "Of course, m'lady. What a fine animal you have there! I have something that would help them, brewed by our own Temple Master Gilartal himself. An sacred enchantment to even toughen the hardest fang or claw."
* Hotaru (dragomirst@225-52-77-204.sptc.mnscu.edu) has joined #terrorofdunes
* ChanServ sets mode: +qo Hotaru Hotaru
* Hotaru is now known as Lyelle
* Lyelle is now known as Lyselle
<Shamal> "Oh, that's quite alright," Shamal smiles, petting Rin idly, "I know that spell myself, anyway. Actually, I was wondering if you've seen a colleague of mine stop by here in the last ten minutes or so? She's a half-elf with black hair, and would have been wearing an insignia like mine," she gestures to the Crimson Guard emblem on her jacket.
> "Oh. It's one of you - yeah, Seira." The womand eflates a bit, but smiles nonetheless. "I saw her go back with the Temple Master. Looked like serious business."
<Shamal> "Oh, right, I suppose I'll wait here for her, then. Thank you," Shamal ducks her head in a respectful nod, smiling.
> "Well then, in the meantime? You said you can cast spells? I recall that Seira can, but I dont' think I've met you. What can you cast?" She lingers, pushing back her brown hair.
<Shamal> "Oh, yes," Shamal nods, happy to while away the time talking shop. "I'm a student of the arcane like Seira, although that's not my real focus. My connection to nature and the blessing of Mielikki provide most of my magical talent," she explains as Rin settles down between them, happily wagging her tail. "In fact I only just recently unlocked the mysteries of the second druidic circle!" she concludes, showing some excitement.




> Laika is happy. Quapeth follows. That sums up a few days of travel. Through the forest you go, taking your trip back...OOC - Elaborate how you're marching generally and so forth.
* Shamal takes a few days getting to know her new companion, hunting and speaking with the benefit of magic to explain her tactics and the effects of certain spells she uses - they won't have the same natural understanding and bond she shared with Rin, but perhaps in time...
<Shamal> For the journey itself, Shamal takes the direct route back to Balmuria, heading through the denser parts of the forest with little difficulty now that she doesn't have to worry about the horses.
> Quapeth, for his part, travels closer to you now. The forest is harder to use, and thus it's a boon to stay closer together. So the days pass in conversation, a half week gone. But on one evening as you set up to rest, you begin to hear howling in the air, not so far away.
* Shamal idly pets Laika as she prepares their camp. "Not to worry, so long as we keep our fire going then wolves are unlikely to bother us," she reassures both, for all that Laika can't currently understand her.
> Quapeth nods once, "It's not uncommon to hear them," he remarks, as the howling continues. But you note it's rather persistant, getting closer.
<Shamal> "That said, they do appear to be coming this way..." Shamal can't help but note, deciding to cast Mage Armour to protect herself and Laika before gathering up her quarterstaff. "I hope they are not as disturbed as the last wolfpack we encountered... this forest has seen enough madness of late."
> Quapeth casually checks his longsword's hilt, ensuring it's loose and ready. AFter a moment of thought, he withdrawns it and begins cleaning the blade. "Yes. Even with the source of th eproblems neutralized, the forest may need time to recover from it's disturbance...or disturbances. It was not the only strange thing we found."
> The howling continues to get closer, sounding like it's starting to close in.
* Shamal casts another spell, this one on Quapeth. "Strength of the oak, buttress my allies against harm..." she murmurs her brief incantation, hand glowing green for an instant as she rests her hand on his shoulder. "I will try and calm them if they approach. But if they seek violence, we must be ready," she explains, before heading to the side of their camp closest to the noise, Laika dutifully following.
> Quapeth carefully stays a little in front of Shamal, sword ready. They're coming formt he north - no the ea-west? South? You can begin to tell that it's four howls at once, becoming distinct and pointed.
* Shamal decides to try and confuse matters a little, hoping to give the creatures pause before they launch an immediate attack. Murmuring a brief spell, she causes another wolf howl to sound from the trees ahead of her, to the Northeast.
> Two of the howls break off - the north one and the east one. But the southa nd western ones continue! Quapeth smiles a moment at that, blade ready but not saying a word. Meanwhile, you can hear the howls - there within about twenty five feet now, in the bush and coming closer.
* Shamal waits warily, Laika swishing her bushy tail pensively beside her new mistress as she keeps an eye on the opposite direction from which Shamal watches as they wait in tense readiness.
> Quapeth stays in the middle between them, sword ready - but you don't hear an attack. Instead, two wolves slowly walk out of the bush, staying at the perimeter of the camp - one from the south, one from the west. They howl mournfully then stop.
* Shamal relaxes her posture slightly, gesturing to the wolves to come closer and making a soft purring/growling noise of her own as she tries to calm them, at the same time trying to see if these are the same wolves that followed Grauwf or whatever he was called.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+4 wild empathy
* Shamal sets mode: +v Reiko-chan
<Shamal> roll 1d20+4 wild empathy
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+4 1,0wild empathy --> 1,0[ 1d20=4 ]12,0{8}
> The wolves act relatively calm. They sit there, just a pair of wolves. Perhaps a bit familiar looking on it, but you've see a few wolves lately.
* Shamal casts a spell to shed the barriers of language between human and beast. "Hello," she greets them, Laika now watching the opposite direction where the other howls were heard until Shamal's distraction. "What brings you here?"
> "We meet again," the one from the south calls, "Your deed with the great bear is done?"
<Shamal> "Yes..." Shamal looks away in shame. For all that she's dealt with her grief as best she can, Rin's death still burns raw inside her. "Much as I now regret it... a price was paid by one most dear to me."
* Setsuna is now known as Makoto
> "Your packmates are gone,"  the western wolf inquires.
<Shamal> "I let them leave... none of them knew Rin as I did..." she sighs deeply, before looking on the wolves again. "Why have you sought me out?" she asks.
> "Dreams." The word is short, this one coming from the north. The other two wolves return, "We dreamed of you, and felt anger. A mindless anger, burning."
<Shamal> "Ahh," Shamal looks immensely weary as she hefts her quarterstaff. "So you seek to avenge your packmates after all?" she asks, eyes beginning to glaze over slightly under the weight of her despair. Death, death... always death, it seems.
> "...no." The easternmost wolf returns, quietly padding along. Quapeth sees the motion, readying his sword and waiting defensively. "As strong as the anger was, it was not correct. For us, it did not last."
<Shamal> "Then why?" the blonde asks, allowing herself to relax slightly. "If you do not have your anger any more, why seek me out?"
> The one at the north speaks clearly, "When we resisted the rage, we felt it's anger directed at us as well, indiscriminate."
<Shamal> "The same rage you and the trolls felt from Groawr?" Shamal surmises, slowly turning around to take all four wolves in her gaze. "And still my question goes unanswered."
> "We are not sure, but..." The westernmost wolf speaks this time, "If you are strong enough to defeat Groawr, you are strong enough to be able to help us stay safe."
<Shamal> "Ahh," Shamal nods slowly. It makes sense - wolves are social creatures, and four dogs does not make a pack. "Very well," she nods, eyes glinting with a steel that is rarely shown, "I will be your new Alpha. But we must journey far, and you will have to do as I say - where I live you will not be able to hunt freely."
> "We accept - we're...terrified of whatthat was," the last murmurs, from the north again. "It felt very malicious."
<Shamal> "I will protect you as best I can - as will Laika," she gestures to the silver-furred husky by her side, "She is my Beta. You will find me to be a stricter Alpha than Groawr was, but if you can abide my rules, we will all prosper."
> The four wolves approach, keeping down and cautious. Quapeth looks to Shamal, "Problem or not?"
* Shamal smiles and shakes her head at Quapeth. "We rest for the night - tomorrow we will begin our journey, and I will train you as we go. You must learn to understand my commands when I am not using this spell, and do exactly as I say."
> Quapeth sighs in relief, tenseness leaving as he sits down. "Very well, Forest Guardian."
> The wolves agree, obeying...
* Shamal bids the wolves to rest as she herself settles down. "They will travel with us - we have a long journey still ahead, so let us rest while we can," she encourages Quapeth. Remembering something else while she still has a few seconds left of the spell, she holds up her fluffy white rabbit, "Also you do *not* eat Flopsy," she tells the wolves in an extremely stern voice.
> For her part, Flopsy stays warm in Shamal's hands. One of the wolves licks it's maw and lips, but they all assent. "Yes, Alpha."
<Shamal> OOC: Flopsy is a boy rabbit!
> *his
> OOC - Anyway, you good here and that amusing rabbit note?
<Shamal> OOC: Yep. I'll use the travel time as we travel back to Balmuria to begin teaching the wolves a few tricks so that I can order them around without magic, but basically we'll just be heading home directly.
> Okay. They're four SRD standard wolves with one exception, they have int 3(This ignores any rules about magical creatures, ect The boost is from prolonged command/contact with a more intelligent mind every day.) Go ahead and note them somewhere on the sheet, as well as what tricks you're teaching them.
<Shamal> OOC: If they have int 3 then that means they're as smart as a stupid human, so there's really no limit to the tricks I can teach them, and they should be able to learn them with little trouble. Hell, they could even learn common.
> The speaking isn't biologically possible with those mouths, but yes, they're quite sharp for wolves. Tricks shouldn't be hard. Common's a bit of a stretch, but you coul try to teach it to them.
<Shamal> Well, they could learn to understand common, not speak it. Quite a few animal-type magical beasts have that facility.
> Aaah.
<Shamal> So I will teach them as much as I can so they can basically understand people, which negates the need to teach them any other tricks, since they'll understand any commands given.
> Yeah, you could try to teach it to them. They're not as dumb as the average wolf.
* Kotono nods.
<Shamal> There's also some awesomely overpowered animal training I could do from Monster Manual 2, but I plan on asking to do that for Laika after a couple of levels once she starts to fall behind the power curve, since it'd make her and the wolves pretty uber at the moment compared to us.
* Kotono nods.




<Shamal> [20:39] <Shamal> Scratching Ringo around the scruff of the neck as they walk along, starting to head towards the docks so she can show Quapeth the bay, Shamal considers her response. "I suppose... it's a cold way to think like that, though. Since I got involved so far, I'd feel bad if I just left things at that."
<Shamal> [20:50] <Kotono> The bay's wind is blowing in, the scent of sea and sea elves in the air - or perhaps the last part is mere fancy? "True, it's still good," Quapeth murmurs "Still very good indeed-hm? The smell isg etting stronger, are we near the ocean?"
<Shamal> [20:55] <Shamal> "That's right," Shamal smiles, "The docks are just down this way, and past them the bay - I don't know if you've seen the sea where you live, but the Bay of Sparkling Stars is a most unusually vibrant green colour. I'll bet you've never seen anything like it."
<Shamal> [20:57] <Kotono> "All the ocean we see is what flows into the swamps - since we have to chase trolls there on occasion." So you head along - the sea is busy and vibrant! The green waters ripple and stir, ships coming and going. Business is all over here, noise as deckhands haul around valuable cargo.
<Shamal> [21:00] * Shamal walks along the edge of the water, idly glancing down. "I doubt we're likely to see Tynave, sadly - it's forbidden for Sea Elves to come this close to land, I think, and they live much farther out into the bay," she goes on conversationally.
> "A shame," he murmurs, looking down at the green, emerald water. "Could you go and meet her yourself, Forest Guardian? I remember tales of those that can turn water to air, or even grow gills."
* Shamal shakes her head. "Such magic is currently beyond me," she laments, before adding, "And what did I tell you before? Just call me Shamal."
> "Sorry, Shamal. Just..." He looks out to the ships, tall browed and expansive. Going to faraway lands, or returning with cargo. Smaller ships, city ships and merchant liners that keep to the coasts. Seamen with tans and pouches of pay, golden coins stamped in lands away from any comprehension.
<Shamal> "Are Forest Guardians common in Elven lands?" the blonde asks curiously, moving on from there as they stroll along the harbour.
> "Magic...regretfully, no." Quapeth shakes his head as Quapeth continues to look down into the deep green sea. "Magic is rarified. You won a fortune when you were born with the gift."
* Shamal chuckles slightly. "Rather, my parents did," she replies, though not overly bothered. Her distressing youth is far enough behind her for it to lack any sting. "It's funny, though, since most people think of the Elven Kingdoms as being home to the most powerful and rarest high magic, with wonders beyond human comprehension. It's actually reassuring to hear it isn't so different from our own existence."
* Hotaru-chan (~dragomirs@c-24-245-45-18.hsd1.mn.comcast.net) has joined #terrorofdunes
* ChanServ sets mode: +qo Hotaru-chan Hotaru-chan
* Hotaru-chan is now known as Lyselle
> "Legends often can distort things. I had heard of a city of rough barbarians, the gate to a land of complete distaste." Quapeth now just chuckles to himself. People pass by you, a few sailors and common men. WHile you're getting looks, it's not that bad right now.
* Shamal smiles a bit at that description. "I suppose it's only natural when all you have is rumour to go on." Heading towards the road out of the docks, Shamal starts to head towards Lord Salman's Academy. "I'll show you the Academy next. It's where my friends and I trained before we joined the Crimson Guard."
> Quapeth slows and stops, "Aaah, I would rather stay here a time." He looks back out at the sea, "The wind, the feeling of the breeze, the moving sea. I find it strangely appealing."
<Shamal> "Oh, that's fine, too," Shamal stops. "We can walk around the edge of the harbour wall, if you like - the air's fresher there, and it's more peaceful as well."
> "Please," Quapeth says, as you begin to walk. OOC - Spot check.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+8 --> 1,0[ 1d20=6 ]12,0{14}
> roll 1d20+5
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+5 --> 1,0[ 1d20=10 ]12,0{15}
> So you walk down the harbor wall. The breeze is bracing and flecked with sea foam, the sunshine above meeting it on your faces. Quapeth walks to the very end and sits, "It's...strange," he murmurs.
<Shamal> "What is?" Shamal asks, primly sitting down herself.
> Quapeth looks forward, silent. "I don't know. I just like it here. The sea, that is. It's not like the marshes on the rims of the forest lands. Something about this place..."
<Shamal> "It's nicer than the swamp," Shamal admits, "Although I prefer the deep forest over the sea, as relaxing as it can be at times."
> "Mmm. Sea elves..." Quapeth's voice is low, looking down to the sea. "It is relaxing." Quapeth murmurs, "I wonder how far I could swim..."
<Shamal> "The sea isn't like a river or a lake," Shamal cautions, even if she feels like she's being a bit condescending, she really doesn't know the extent of Quapeth's aquatic experiences. "Leaving aside the waves on the surface, there are powerful currents and undertows that can toss you around like a ragdoll if caught unaware."
> "..yes of course." Quapeth suddenly turns to you, eyes clear. "That's true."
<Shamal> "I make it sound perhaps worse than it is," Shamal admits with a small shrug, "But the sea deserves respect, regardless."
> "Yes...yes." Quapeth suddenly stands, "Such a strange, alluring thing."
* Shamal glances up, "Ready to move on?" she asks curiously.
> "Y...yes," Quapeth smiles, but then just shakes his head. "...If you would, may I take my leave of you here? I can find my way back to your hut."
<Shamal> "Yes..." Shamal slowly stands up, eyeing Quapeth a bit oddly. "Are you alright? You seem a bit... distracted," she observes.
> "...I suppose I am," he says, looking back out at the sea.
* Shamal follows his gaze for a moment herself. "Nothing you want to talk about?" she asks, rather puzzled at his change in demeanour.
> "...Forest Guardian..." he murmurs, "Shamal. I feel pulled."
<Shamal> "Pulled where? To the sea?" the blonde asks, blinking. Is this some strange elf thing?
> "It's strange," Quapeth licks his lips. "Just that the sea is...the sea."
<Shamal> "Um... yes, it is," Shamal nods, not comprehending all that well. "If you'll pardon me saying, you're acting almost like you've been enchanted."
> "I don't know." Quapeth finally gets up, "I think I'm alright, just that this sea is...strange. The deep green sea."
<Shamal> "Yes, well, I'd feel terrible if you drowned while my guest... or at all, even," the blonde looks a bit sheepish as she has to add that last part. "Perhaps we should move on?"
> "...Mmm. I think I'll stay," Quapeth smiles, "I promise not to drown."
<Shamal> "I suppose I'm not your keeper," Shamal relents, getting up herself and patting Ringo to follow her. "Please don't do anything reckless, however."
> "I will not. Thank you," he murmurs, transfixed as he stares out at the ocean.
* Shamal departs to do her shopping so she can have those scrolls ready for Mia tomorrow, before heading home.







<Demedais> "Busting... chops?" Demedais asks, a bit puzzled by this slang.
<Demedais> <Koaway> Biggs idly tosses his spear on the floor, going to sit and lean back in his chair, splayed out. "Bleh. First day around and you're bustin' chops with Seira?" he asks flat out.
<Demedais> > "Busting... chops?" Demedais asks, a bit puzzled by this slang.
* Shamal (WinNT@user-54400c95.l5.c3.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #terrorofdunes
* ChanServ sets mode: +o Shamal
> "Giving us a hard time," he drawls out, sighing deeply. "See, Shamal's the nice one. Seira just...oh, what's the word? Oh yeah, busybody. Getting in my way..." Biggs glares, looking notably unhappy.
* Demedais shrugs. "In all honesty, I'm not sure what's going on. All I know is that she, ah, "outranks" me while I work with the Crimson Guard, so I do what she says."
> "Yeah, same here." Rubbing the back of his head again, "Damned woman. If she'd just let me do what I want do, I'd guard this better than anyone." At that,  he stands up and starts to pace. "Can you let me go back now?"
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<Demedais> "Afraid not. Besides, Seira is succinct; she should be done with all this quite quickly." Demedais replied, leaning on the wall next to the door.
> "Grr." Going back to sit down, "Maybe I should put inf or a double shift after this," he ponders out loud. "I'm still not tired and we're still short."
<Demedais> "That
<Demedais> "That would be a good idea, and probably greatly appreciated by the guard." Demedais noted, eyes staring a bit off into space.
> "Yeah...say, you just got in town, didn't you?" Biggs walks up to Demedais, looking him in the eye. "You see anything funny?"
<Demedais> Demedais returns Biggs' stare. "Other than the events of yesterday, very little." He closed his eyes, thinking, before opening them again and shaking his head. "It would not surprise me to learn that this is overcautiousness on Seira's part, due to the events of yesterday. Relax, for now. Save your energy for your double-shift later."
* Sierra_Mikain (~Melanchth@pool-71-163-224-246.washdc.east.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
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> "Yeah, yeah." Biggs looks at the chair, but instead keeps pacing. "This just really pisses me off. I should be guarding, not wasting my time here. What if someone gets to it?"
<Demedais> "The gate will be fine." Demedais rumbles.
> "Yeah, but I should be protecting it." Biggs waves his hands into the air, "It's what I do, yeah? It's what I'm good at - I can protect it."
* Demedais vaguely eyes the young man, but says nothing. *...I think I understand, Seira.* he thinks as he waits.
> "It's just..hey, I heard about it. You're supposed to protect something important, too? That's part of being a paladin, but it's ideas and good instead of something solid? You get that?" Biggs cocks his head towards you, as he keeps walking.
<Demedais> "Indeed. But part of being truly vigilant is knowing when you must leave your duties in someone else's hands, even if only for a time." Demedais responded.
> "Bah, forget that. I know I can protect it all the time. I'm not even tired." Pounding his chest with a fist, the clang of metal armor sounding, "It's inspiration, I've felt better and better lately. I'll protect it and make it. I know I can."
<Demedais> "What else do you seek to protect?" Demedais inquired. "What drives your heart?"
> "You know what it is!" Biggs mutters, going back and forth. He stops to pick up his spear, "I just have to protect it. I know, I can do it...I see it." Looking upward, "It's easy and natural to do. It's not even hard. They don't even need to be fresh, you understand."
<Demedais> "What does not need to be fresh? The soldiers?" Demedais frowned. This muttering was getting less intelligible.
> "Hm?" Biggs stops and blinks, "Uh..." He sits, "Erm, yeah, the soldiers."
> He pauses a moment, shaking his head before splitting nito a yawn. "...damn. Yeah, the soldiers have to be fresh."
* Demedais makes no note that the soldier has said anything wrong. "How have your dreams been?" he asked suddenly.
> "Dreams? Oh, dream of a cute girl or something like that. Y'know, Balmuria has some nice ladies. Heck, even Captain Shamal's cute." Nodding to himself at that, "Lucky you?"
> After that he yawns again, deeply.
<Demedais> "If only my vows let me." Demedais smirked for a second, before carefully considering the soldier before him.
> "Heh." Smirking as well to himself a moment, "Yeah, she'd do fine, too. Dunno about Seira...eh. Dunno." He shakes his head at that, "...hmph. Yeah. Shamal...I wouldn't want her not to be fresh, either."
* Demedais says nothing, content to listen instead.
> His head falls into his hands, spear let drop. He sighs deeply, ruffling his face and hair. "Yeah. Dammit. This just isn't right. I need to be there. I can feel it, y'know? I NEED to be there. I can get them, no matter what."
* Demedais nods vaguely.
> With a sudden movement, Biggs gets up. He takes his spear, kicking the chair he sits on! It goes flying, shattering into the wall at rocket speed. "...yeah, gotta get going," he mutters, turning to the door.
* Demedais grabs Biggs' shoulder, clamping on hard. "You can wait just a little bit longer, friend." he rumbled, with just a hint of threat in his voice.
> "Grr..." Shaking his head, he grabs Demedais' hand. "Move," he says, trying to push the paladin away! OOC - Opposed strength checks for this on the fly, it's simpler and I don't feel like grapping is needed immediately for this.
<Demedais> roll 1d20+3
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Demedais rolled :1,0 1d20+3 --> 1,0[ 1d20=18 ]12,0{21}
> roll 1d20+4
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+4 --> 1,0[ 1d20=2 ]12,0{6}
> Biggs is strong, his grip like iron. However, Demedais isn't moved in the least. As this happens, Shamal and Seira come in, throwing the door open!
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<Shamal> "What's going on here?!" Shamal demands in alarm at the sight of the two apparently grappling with each other.
* Shamal sets mode: +o Seira
<Demedais> "See? I told you they would be in here momentaraily." Demedais nodded. "Now. Relax."
> As the two enter, they see Demedais and Biggs together, the paladin holding the young guard down by the shoulder. Biggs looks frantic, eyes wild. "But I have to get going," he mutters fiercely, looking up to the others. "Tell them, Shamal!"
* Seira chants, her eyes making contact with Biggs's. "Captain Shamal for you," she tells him firmly, her spell activating.
<Shamal> "What's so important that you'd have to fight your way past your fellow guardsmen to get it?" Shamal asks incredulously, still hoping he's not too far gone.
> roll 1d20+4 OOC - DC, Seira?
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+4 1,0OOC - DC, Seira? --> 1,0[ 1d20=8 ]12,0{12}
<Seira> OOC: He failed it!
> "It's...I have to go guard it," he nearly drawls, relenting. "It's important and I can't stop guarding it, you see."
<Shamal> "Guarding *what*?" the blonde asks firmly, stepping closer.
<Seira> "Yes. It is really in your best interest to answer our questions," Seira adds, stepping closer.
> Blinking as he looks towards Seira after she chants, Biggs actually smiles at her. "Shamal...it's Shamal, yeah. It's just...I don't know. I see it, I can do it. Somewhere dark and quiet, and they don't ahve to be fresh. I can do it and guard it."
* Demedais keeps him held. "We can help you, Biggs. We simply must know what you guard, and then we can help."
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<Seira> roll 1d20+16 diplomacy~
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+16 1,0diplomacy~ --> 1,0[ 1d20=7 ]12,0{23}
<Shamal> "Start talking sense!" Shamal demands worriedly, leaning over him as Laika lingers protectively besides her mistress, "What doesn't have to be fresh? What do you have to guard?"
<Demedais> roll 1d20+14 assist Seira diplomacy
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Demedais rolled :1,0 1d20+14 1,0assist Seira diplomacy --> 1,0[ 1d20=5 ]12,0{19}
> "They don't have to be fresh! You know, the bodies. I just have to touch them and it'll happen." Nodding to himself, "He gets it," Looking to Demedais with a sloppy, glazed eyed smile, "You get it too, Shamal, since you're going to be fresh?"
<Seira> "Who did you touch? Where and when?" Seira questions him.
* Sierra_Mikain (~Melanchth@pool-71-178-115-169.washdc.east.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
<Shamal> "Okay, that's it, this'll prove it once and for all," Shamal announces with a heartfelt sigh, before she reaches over and puts a glowing hand on Bigg's shoulder. "Cure Light Wounds," she proclaims matter of factly as she channels positive energy into him.
<Shamal> roll 1d8+5
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d8+5 --> 1,0[ 1d8=4 ]12,0{9}
> "Not yet. If I can get going I can go do it and guard it!" Biggs exclaims fiercely, before Shamal casts on him.
> roll 1d20+4
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+4 --> 1,0[ 1d20=19 ]12,0{23}
> Biggs goes rigid, arcing up. A cry escapes from his throat as he falls over to the ground like a board.
> "Uuuugh..." he mutters, shivering all over, convulsing.
* Seira casts another spell of undead detection, keeping her eyes focus on Biggs.
<Shamal> "I didn't want to believe it..." Shamal whispers, staring sadly down at the poor former-man.
> "Shamaaaal..." he groans, "Ow. Why'd you do that? It hurt! Didn't feel good." OOC - Caster level check, Seira.
<Seira> roll 1d20+3
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+3 --> 1,0[ 1d20=11 ]12,0{14}
* Demedais eyes. "I suspected as much. Would a Remove Disease assist at all?"
<Shamal> "It was a healing spell. It hurt you because... because you're not alive." She shakes her head, appalled, "Mielikki save us, you don't even know it, do you?"
> It's easier to see now. It's a moderate aura now, but flickering. "Hey, what the hell are you talking about?"
<Shamal> roll 1d20+9 religon
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+9 1,0religon --> 1,0[ 1d20=4 ]12,0{13}
<Demedais> roll 1d20+7 religion check
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Demedais rolled :1,0 1d20+7 1,0religion check --> 1,0[ 1d20=17 ]12,0{24}
<Seira> "Tell us everything about that which you guard," Seira command Biggs.
* Shamal decides to cast detect magic to see if that reveals anything affecting him besides negative energy, while Laika growls softly at the downed not-man.
> "Ugh..." Rubbing where Shamal touched him, "...I guard...it. It's supposed to be dark, isolated, secluded. The bodies...ugh." Shaking his head, "Why the hell am I saying that??
> Shamal notes that there is faint magic around him now. OOC - Spellcraft it if you want.
<Seira> "Because we are your superior officers. Cooperating with us is your sworn duty," Seira responds sternly. "Where are the bodies?"
<Demedais> "This is unusual, for an undead." Demedais states softly. "I suspect he's still human, but something corrupt is excersing its will on him."
<Shamal> OOC: taking ten for 23~
> "No not that...but...why do I want bodies? I don't want to do that!" Suddenly shivering all over, "...Captains, it's not right. I can see it, though. It's just touching them and it'll happen. I'll concentrate after I get one andi t'll happen. Even if it's just bones."
<Seira> "Who is making you do that? Who is responsible?"
> "...I don't know. It just is!" Looking up at Seira wildly, "It's just in there, like all my other memories.
> "
<Seira> "The bodies," she repeats. "Where can we find them? How many are there?"
> "I don't know." Shaking his head again, "No, I do, but...it's not that. I gotta go get them and find a place for them, then guard them. Heh, I can do that, I know it. I can guard them, it's what I do." Biggs rubs his head warily, looking away. "I..."
<Shamal> "He is affected by a faint aura of necromantic magic - it normally does not linger once the corpse has been animated, so perhaps it's a spell that makes him adopt some aspects of being undead?" Shamal muses distantly. "We should take him to Al-Lamar to see if he knows of any remedy."
<Seira> "I would rather keep him contained here," Seira objects. "Perhaps we could trouble the priests into coming to us?"
> "Why can't I?" Biggs mutters, "It's just a blank, then..." He starts shivering, only to be broken by a yawn that nearly splits him apart. "...tired now.." he murmurs. "Blan...mmm, tired."
<Shamal> "I'll go get him," Shamal volunteers, before abruptly departing along with Laika.
<Demedais> "Seira. I have manacles in my bag, if one of you would care to grab them?" As Biggs yawns, he looks at him. "Although it may not be necessary."
> So Shamal goes off, heading along with Laika at a rapid pace!
<Seira> "Who did you come in contact with the past few days?" Seira questions him in the meanwhile.
<Seira> Nodding at Demedais, she searches for the manacles in question.
> "Just people coming and going...I think. It's just a blank there, though. Blank, empty, nothing. Nothing happened..." Muttering that as he looks down, "Captain, Seira...you can help me? I don't feel right."
<Demedais> "We're working on finding a way to help you. Don't worry." Demedais nods.
<Seira> "You are here so that I could help you," she assures him, smiling slightly. "All you need to do is keep your calm."
> "Hey, good..." Smiling a little, "Where's Wedge? I'll try?"
<Seira> "What do you guard? Whom do you guard it from?" Seira asks instead of answering his question.
> "It's...it's them. You know what they are, you've fought them. I don'tw ant to say it, it makes me feel like it." Biggs casts his eyes away, "It's just...find somewhere dark and I can make them and hide them. Guard them. Guard them from being found. They're going to grow, better this time."
<Seira> "It is of the utmost importance that I find them. I know you're guarding them, but that's from outsiders, not your fellow guardsmen, right?" Seira asks him, tapping her fingers against the doorframe.
<Demedais> "Found the manacles, Seira?" Demedais asks.
* Seira lays them across the table silently.
> "Heh...I want to, but...I haven't made them yet. Do you get that?" Shaking his head, "But I want to. I want to go out. I know I can do it and find them." Shaking his head back and forth, "A cellar? An old warehouse...there's an empty one by that bakery, isn't there? Ugh."
<Seira> "Why did you really fight with that man?" Seira asks him curiously. "Did you want to 'make' him?"
* Demedais nods and grabs the manacles. "Hold still." he tells Biggs as he takes Biggs' hands behind his back and clasps them together. "A bit uncomfortable, but they should help you relax." He considers, then turns to Seira.
> "No, I don' tknow, just...I can't let anyone in." Looking down at the floor, curling up a bit as he's bound, "I didn't like him. Looked too muchl ike someone who would want to try and get in."
<Seira> "Get in where? That cellar?"
> "Where I need to hide them," Biggs almost hisses. "I want to go find that, it's getting stronger."
<Demedais> "Perhaps we can use him as a bloodhound of sorts?" Demedais proposed to Seira. "I dislike the idea, but to track down a source of this plague would be a good idea, and he seems... pulled to at least one location."
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<Seira> "My thoughts exactly," she agrees. "But first, I would like to hear from Al-Lamar. I would not sacrifice one of our men needlessly, if this would do him harm."
<Demedais> "Certainly." Demedais nodded in agreement.
> It's not long for Al-Lamar to come with Shamal. He's a young man with an intense face, wearing armor and unscarred. He looks immediately to Biggs as he enters, "That's the one," he murmurs.
* Shamal nods wordlessly.
<Seira> "He is pulled to a place where more like him may reside," Seira tells the priest. "Would it be safe to take him there with us, or should he be treated right away?"
* SierraRulesTheWasteland (~Melanchth@pool-71-191-22-25.washdc.east.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
> Al Lamar ponders a moment...
> roll 1d20+10
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+10 --> 1,0[ 1d20=10 ]12,0{20}
> "..mmm. It doesn't make sense for him to be like this and still undead. Not at all. You speak of it as some sort of affliction?"
<Shamal> "Necromantic magic still clings to him - ordinarily once the spell to animate a corpse is cast, the magic is no longer necessary," Shamal points out.
<Seira> "Are you familiar with the gems of imbuing?" Seira asks the man. "Perhaps similar magic was responsible, here."
<Demedais> "That is what it seems like it may be." Demedais responded. "He still seems to possess vestiges of humanity, but he's... possessed, almost feels like the best word."
> "Not directly, no." Chewing his lip as he thinks, "Oh, the best would be to..." he murmurs a moment, magic cast. "Yes, I see. Magic indeed. Dispel Magic, Remove Curse or the ilk may be best."
> Biggs meanwhile just keeps his head down, quiet. You notice his arms struggle a bit, however, even held.
<Shamal> "Are you able to cast any of those spells?" Shamal asks hopefully.
<Seira> "You can remove curses, Demedais, correct?" Seira asks, hearing that.
<Demedais> "I can remove disease." Demedais says. "Shall I try that?"
> "DIspel magic," Al-Lamar nods after just a moment, "I can try that as well."
* Demedais shrugs. "I cannot cast that. It's up to you folks."
<Seira> "The only question remaining, then, is whether we wait and see if Biggs takes us to others like him."
* Demedais considers. "I would think it a good idea, so long as we can prevail upon your help to purify him once we reach our destination, sir."
> "...hey. I don't want to become like that," Biggs speaks up at that.
<Shamal> "He doesn't seem cooperative. We should do what we can to heal him before it's too late - we don't know what he's been afflicted by, or how it might change him given time," Shamal dissents!
<Demedais> "Seira, you heard his talk. Do you think you know where the place is?" Demedais questions?
<Seira> "Wedge asserts that he had been like this for days already. Would an hour really prove crucial?" Seira then glances at Biggs. "Believe it or not, the best chance of curing you lies in stopping those who would merely try to taint you again at the same time."
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* Sierra_Mikain (~Melanchth@pool-71-191-22-197.washdc.east.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
<Shamal> "Why can't he tell us about the place he had to guard after we fix his head? He might even be more helpful, that way," Shamal points out, ever the voice of caution.
<Seira> "He is feeling the pull, but he cannot be specific when talking about it," Seira says with a frown.
<Demedais> "His human side does not seem to remember what this curse is doing to him, although that may simply be an effect of the curse." Demedais notes.
> "Hey...Maybe Shamal's right. Maybe you should just try and heal me?" Biggs speaks up, "I don't want to feel like this. I don't want to be thinking about how to make those...things!"
* Demedais considers. "Seira. Do you have any idea where the place he spoke of is?"
<Seira> "Then we'll take our chances with what we already know," Seira decides. "I might be able to locate it." She turns towards Al-Lamar. "Please help the private, Sir."
<Demedais> "We have the Detect Undead, and I suspect they'd find this hotbed. If you can give us a general location, we may as well heal him and then search for it."
<Shamal> "Can you tell us where the thing you want to guard is?" Shamal asks, crouching down next to Biggs. "Anything at all could be helpful, so please try to think."
> He nods, beginning to cast. "Warbringer, I ask you to bring the savage battle to the weave of magic. Shatter apart the forces of mystic imbued on this person!"
> roll 1d20+5
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+5 --> 1,0[ 1d20=20 ]12,0{25}
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* Seira focuses on Biggs as the spell is being cast.
> Biggs begins to speak, but instead he stops. He stops hard as the magic is cast, falling over.  There is an audible hissing and shattering, Al-Lamar nodding with a viciously pleased smile. "Tempus has provided."
* SierraRulesTheWasteland (~Melanchth@pool-71-191-18-83.washdc.east.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
* Shamal catches Biggs as he falls, looking him over to make sure he's okay. "Biggs, are you alright?" she asks, waving a hand in front of his face.
> The private murmurs something unintelligable, eyes half opening as he looks up. "...hey. It's going...going." With that he smiles, letting his eyes shut. "Just tired now...though."
<Seira> "He has, indeed," Seira confirms. "At least now we know the course of action to take in such cases." She frowns, then, and asks Al-Lamar, "Would you be willing to take a look at a hostess of a certain inn for me? She had similar symptoms, and I would like to rule this out."
* Demedais nods in appreciation. "I should continue my studies toward becoming a Cleric someday..." he mused, chuckling a bit. "It is too bad that being a paladin distracts from the path of magic so much."
> "On the morrow, certainly," he says with agreement, "Allow me to pray and setup for such."
* Seira nods. "In the meantime, we should try and find the location Biggs was speaking of earlier." She glances at the private. "Do you remember the past several days?"
<Shamal> "Come on, Biggs, I'll get you to the barracks and you can sleep there," Shamal offers, putting one of his arms over her shoulder as she helps him upright.
> "Mmm..." he murmurs, voice soft. "Yeah, it's all kinda hazy. Started ...heh.... nearly forgot about it. Morning wasn't so dull after all. Damn guy...never even thought..."
> Biggs comes along, leaning on Shamal heavily.
<Seira> "What guy?"
> "Snuck up on us like it wasn't a thing. Looked at both of us and went to me. Just my luck, eh?" Yawning after as he shuffles along, "Couldn't even see his face with his hat in the way, but he said I'd do for now. Said I'd be a good one while he was gone. Keep 'em busy."
* Shamal stops cold. "That... bastard!" she swears uncharacteristically.
<Demedais> "I take it it's the same person?" Demedais asks.
<Shamal> "There's only one person I know who acts suspicious and wears a ridiculous face-covering hat all the time," Shamal replies unhappily. "Febras."
<Seira> "At least we have enough to hold him, now, when he returns," Seira adds just as unhappily.
> "Is that person the one behind this matter?" Al Lamar inquires, curious.
> "Mmm..." Biggs murmurs something as he leans into Shamal all the way, using her as a standing body pillow. His eyes close, breathing starting to slow.
<Shamal> "We'll find out soon... he said he's gone, but I bet he'll be back," Shamal frowns, before continuing onwards. "Come on, let's get Biggs to bed and then we can check out, what was it... around the bakeries?"
<Seira> "That is quite improper, you realize," Seira comments.
<Shamal> "He's half asleep, I don't think he cares," Shamal replies to Seira with a faint smile as they make their way to the barracks.
* Seira returns the smile as she follows, stopping only to collect Wedge.
<Demedais> "Really. Hardly a sin to Arouse Dead, anyway." Demedais quips a bit. "Even if he's no longer dead. ...isn't that how it's supposed to work, anyway?"
* Shamal winces. "Nobody's getting aroused!" she fires back insistently, picking up her pace.
> So the party goes to the barracks. Biggs is dropped off. Wedge follows along, but stays with Biggs. After, the party heads towards the bakery. Roald and family can be glimpsed inside if one wishes, the scent of the sea carrying frmo over the buildings. It's a pleasant day now, people talking. You can hear the gossip on the streets, talk about the attack on the garrison.
* Seira steps inside and goes to buy some delicious bread from Roald!
* Demedais isn't hungry, so he stays outside while Seira buys stuff.
> Inside the smells of the place are quite strong. Bread, cookies, cakes andmore all tease your nose. Roald is working the front, waving to Seira as he sees her. "Go ahead to the side," he looks away from the six person line. "I'll be with you in a moment."
* Seira nods, and steps aside to wait.
> It really only takes a moment. As the current customer is finished with, peasants and city dwellers glance at Seira with envy. Roald ignores that, wiping his hands on his apron. "What can I get you today?"
<Seira> "Surprise me," she says, asking, "How's business, lately?"
> Stooping down to go get some bread, "Really good. It's not as good as the hill was, but we're doing fine." Coming up with a few small loaves of fruit topped bread, he wraps them and presents them to Seira. "On the house - the money of you and your friends is no good here still."
* Seira nods. "Thanks. Since I'm here, I'd also like to ask you for your help. Do you know Private Biggs?" she asks, quickly describing the man.
> "Biggs...Biggs...oh yeah. Seen him once or twice, I suppose." Roald ponders that as he thinks, "Mmm, yeah. Usually gets anything with apples and he mentioned you and the others a few times when it came up."
* Hotaru (~draomir@75-161-144-30.mpls.qwest.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
<Seira> "When was the last you saw him? We are trying to trace his steps over the past week or so."
* Reiko-chan (~Hola@75-161-144-30.mpls.qwest.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
> "MMmm." Considering that a moment, "Hasn't been for a little while. I'll ask the other two, though. Hold on." He goes,t alking to his mother and brother. They all smile and wave at you as they do, amid working. But it doesn't take long, Roald just shaking his head. "Not within the past week or so, no."
<Seira> "I see," she says, disappointed, before describing another man. "And him? He goes by Febras, and is really hard to miss, I believe."
> "Him? Oh yeah, once. It was around the time that warehouse a few doors down had that incident. I think you were invovled if I remember right?" Roald asks with an easy smile. "Yeah, he's distinctive."
* Seira nods. "Thank you again for the bread, and the information. It'll help with my investigation." Waving at the family, she steps outside where Shamal and Demedais wait.
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* ChanServ sets mode: +qo Loligoth|AFK Loligoth|AFK
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> Outside people continue to go. A few people are looking at the party, one or two even smiling and waving, a few calls. "Keep it up, Crimson Guard!"
<Shamal> "Thanks for your support," Shamal smiles and waves back, before seeing Seira's return. "Ready?"
* Demedais nods at Seira, looking relaxed.
<Seira> "Yes," she says, handing one of the fruit-topped loaves to her. "It seems that Febras visited a warehouse nearby, so it may be our target." With those words, Seira calls upon the powers of her pearl, activating her magical sight the third time in a day and taking a look at the bakery itself.
<Shamal> "Thanks," Shamal smiles, taking the loaf and having a bite, breaking off a chunk to feed Laika as she follows the half-elf.
> The bakery has no undead aura around it.
* Seira begins traveling towards the warehouse in question, looking around along the way.
> There doesn't seem to be any aura of undeath around this area at all as far as Seira can see. The warehouse is closed, no sign of activityin it since the Guard broke up a fateful ring and scheme there with Irenes.
* Seira tries to open it, asking Shamal, "Was there any cellar found in this building?"
> The door has a chain and a semi old sign saying that it's not to be opened without permission from the Guard. Howe3ver, it's not locked.
<Shamal> "I don't recall one being found when we searched it," the blonde replies.
* Seira steps inside, searching for any trap doors and cellars, or any spikes of undead auras. "Do you still have your spell of magical sight? It could prove handy, here."
<Shamal> "I only memorised it once I'm afraid," Shamal shakes her head sadly.
* Demedais follows behind, saying little.
* Seira activates her own, then, despite wishing to save it for later.
> The warehouse has a front room leading to a large storage area. As found before, there is a secret door that leads to the side alley, but otherwise little of note. No magic, no undead auras, no secret doors. Just a few rodents and bugs, really.
<Seira> "Well, this was a bust," she comments after the search. "We should try examining the city map for old warehouses, preferably near bakeries, in remote locations. Unless you have a better idea?"
* Shamal shakes her head. "The idea is sound," she agrees.
<Demedais> "Sounds good." Demedais agrees.
* Seira leads the way to the library, using her spells for as long as they are worth along the way.
> Seira sees nothing of note on the way back.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+1 aid gather info
* Seira sets mode: +v Reiko-chan
<Shamal> roll 1d20+1 aid gather info
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+1 1,0aid gather info --> 1,0[ 1d20=18 ]12,0{19}
<Demedais> roll 1d20+2 aid gather info?
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Demedais rolled :1,0 1d20+2 1,0aid gather info? --> 1,0[ 1d20=8 ]12,0{10}
<Seira> roll 1d20+13 don't fail!
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+13 1,0don't fail! --> 1,0[ 1d20=9 ]12,0{22}
> Gathering information takes a few hours. On the conclusion, you find that there isn't really anywhere that fits. Most of the warehouses are near the docks, and most of the bakeries aren't quite on the docks. It's just not good syngery - the best cases are in the trading streets, where neccessity meets money.
* Seira frowns. "We'll just have to question Biggs and the innkeeper tomorrow, then."
<Shamal> "Why not now?" Shamal asks.
<Seira> "Al-Lamar said he needed time to pray for that spell."
<Shamal> "But we could at least verify if she is afflicted, and then incarcarate her until a remedy is supplied," the blonde points out.
* Demedais considers the situation. "We may as well check, yes." he finally says.
* Seira relents.
> So the party heads to the Dawn Pointe. The inn has a few weary travellers heading in, the innkeep smiling and laughing as she helps them check in at the front. It looks quite pleasant, the front door open.
* Seira doesn't come in this time, opting to get an update from the guards watching the hostess.
<Demedais> "Well, then. Shall I cast the spell and see?"
<Shamal> "Place looks busier than usual," Shamal can't help but note, before nodding to Demedais. "Go for it."
> They wait in the alley, dice game pausing as one hands over a few coppers to the other. "Sir?" he nods to Seira. "Nothing today, the innkeeper has been lively."
* Seira nods. "It is very important that I be informed the moment Febras is spotted," she tells them, before settling to wait on Shamal and Demedais.
* Demedais nods. "Alright, then." He chants the words softly as the Detect Undead spell settles over him.
> OOC - Caster level check, Demedais?
<Demedais> roll 1d20+3
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Demedais rolled :1,0 1d20+3 --> 1,0[ 1d20=11 ]12,0{14}
<Demedais> "I see nothing here." Demedais reports.
* Shamal nods. "Of course, neither of us could see any problem with Biggs as well, so that's not conclusive. I'll go have a word with her." With that, the blonde heads inside!
* Demedais hesitates for a second, then follows her in.
> Inside, the innkeep waves to Shamal and Demedais as she works. "Go ahead and go upstairs," she tells them, "We'll finish this at dinner." As teh group wearily moves on, the innkeep smiles. "You just keep coming back. What can I help you with today?"
<Shamal> "I apologise for disturbing you," Shamal ducks her head briefly towards the woman. "Unfortunately a former guest of your establishment has bestowed a most perverse affliction on a member of the town guard, and we needed to make sure no one else has been similarly affected."
> "Oh?" The innkeeper pauses her smile, shuffling. "Sure thing. What do you need?"
* Demedais glances around, making sure he's not missing anything.
> The inn's front room is pleasant but plain. The desk where the reservations are made is solid and well kept. There are stairs going up, which the new residents of the inn are trudging up.
> Demedais notes no undead auras.
<Shamal> "A simple cantrip will be sufficient to test for the affliction," Shamal smiles reassuringly to the woman as she approaches. "Please do not fear - this is merely a precaution for the sake of the city's health."
* Shamal does idly glance at Laika to see if she seems to be ill at ease with anything here.
> "Alright," she nods, as Laika sniffs the air a bit. But she lingers close to Shamal, panting.
* Shamal proceeds to cast her spell, announcing, "Cure minor wounds," for her audience's benefit before touching the innkeep's hand.
> The innkeeper smiles as it's cast. "Magic?" she murmurs, "My."
* Shamal smiles and withdraws her hand. "It's a simple healing spell - had you been affected by what Febras did to the guard, it would have caused some minor pain. I'm pleased to say that you appear to be completely normal, however."
> AT that name, the woman goes pale as a sheet. "Oh...oh. I see."
<Shamal> "I don't suppose you noticed anything strange... or, well, strang-er, about his behaviour before he left, did you?" Shamal asks, resting a hand on the front desk as she talks.
> "Aaah..." The innkeep shakes her head, looking down as she holsd a hand to her bosom. "No...not particularly."
<Shamal> "I'm sorry, I realise this must be a shock to you," Shamal looks down. "I admit, perhaps we trusted him too much... did he say where he was going, or when he expected to return?"
> "He said he was going to find someone for Captain Seira of the Crimson Guard. She's the one who comes here a lot, too." Casting her eyes downward, the innkeep stays quiet.
<Shamal> "Really?" Shamal's eyes widen. "She never mentioned that... Well, anyway, if he does return it would be best if you did not confront him about this - there's no telling what he's capable of, really, and it may not be wise to provoke him."
> "...yes..." The woman murmurs, keeping her head down. "Of course."
* Shamal sighs, reaching over and gently squeezing the innkeep's hand. "I'm sorry, it seems I only ever bring bad news around here... I should let you get back to your customers."
<Demedais> "One other thing... If you see anyone who is acting restless and yawns constantly, please notify the Guard." Demedais interjected, before giving a brief smile. "There should not be that much of a problem, but it would be wise all the same."
> "...No, I...He tried, you know. But some people aren't meant to walk the night, it's what he said." She l

<END OF LOG>

[Corwin]

* Shamal coughs delicately. "I guess I can just remember what it's like to be a lowly cadet? It was only, what... a month and a half ago?" she replies, not responding to the part about her living arrangements.
> "It's really amazing. If Seira's so talented and Shamal's so personable, I guess it's no surprise?" With a nod at that, Biggs settles back in.
#terrorofdunes You need voice (+v) (#terrorofdunes)
* ChanServ sets mode: +o Anastasia
> "It's really amazing. If Seira's so talented and Shamal's so personable, I guess it's no surprise?" With a nod at that, Biggs settles back in.
<Seira> "In any case," Seira continues, "if seeing me in a different setting than work is causing all these troubles, you are now cordially invited to the grand opening of my inn over the weekend. Feel free to bring a date." She turns towards Shamal. "You're invited as well, of course, as well as our new paladin friend."
<Demedais> "You're opening an inn?" Demedais peered out from around the corner, eyebrow raised.
* Seira nods proudly. "The work on it is finally finished."
> "Alright," Biggs nods, "After this, something nice would be good to take the pressure off."
<Shamal> "Why not," Shamal shrugs with a grin. "I could do with some relaxation after the last few days."
* Demedais nods. "Excellent. And the name?" he inquires.
* Kotono (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Operation timed out)
<Seira> "HC SVNT DRACONES," Seira says in elven. "It felt appropriate."
<Demedais> "Hicks want drag cones?" Demedais asks, puzzled.
* Shamal blinks. "What's that mean?"
> "Something about a dragon?" Biggs ventures hesitantly.
<Seira> "You'll see when you get there," Seira says with a smile, which replaces the scowl she sends Demedais.
<Demedais> "Whaaat?!" Demedais scowls. "That's what I thought you said!"
* Demedais grumbles something about people needing to explain other languages, blast it all







> The quarters Shamal are given are nice. They look to be fit for a lieutenant or captain, a large if hard bed and a few decorations. Most importantly, there isa  breath or two of space, enough room to walk around or just not feel boxed in. So the impossible, forbidden time of the Astral is perceived, Shamal waiting as one only can in a timeless void. OOC - Ball's in your cuort this moment if you want to do anything or wait long enough to redo spells or whatever.
> redo spells or whatever.
* Shamal does take some time to study her spellbook and pray to Mielikki, readying herself for whatever trials await... Something doesn't sit quite right with the Githyanki's help being offered so readily, but at the same time, she's bereft of other options...
> As Shamal studies, she finds her spells refreshed in due time. On looking up, she finds someone knocking on her door.
<Shamal> "4Enter,1" the blonde calls in Ignan, rising easily to her feet after performing her devotions.
> The robed Githyanki enters, hands hidden inside his robe. 4"The portal you seek should be found ...soon. Tell me," He waits, meeting Shamal's eyes with his own, lulling. "I wish to hear more of your world."
<Shamal> "4I already gave you a summary,1" Shamal replies, trying not to show her own wariness, "4Perhaps you could narrow down your interest?1"
> 4"Tell me if your homeland and of the dragon that you oppose." His voice shows no weariness, only interest.
<Shamal> "4My homeland is the United Baronies, a young nation which recently earned its independence from the old Empire of Malmuth - I live in the city of Balmuria and serve in the guard, there,1" Shamal gives a brief overview. "12The dragon is named Kondrux, an old blue wyrm, somewhere close to a thousand years old. Apparently he had been sleeping for most of that time, and was only known of in ancient histories until his recent reappe
<Shamal> OOC: oops, red for that, not blue
<Shamal> OOC: let's just assume Ignan is said without bothering to colour text from here on?
> OOC: Sure.
> "Misfortune," Agreement comes from the robed Gith, "How equipped are you do deal with this menance?"
<Shamal> "The city's defences are more focused around holding off an army, not a fast moving airborne threat such as this - aside from the possibility of massed ballista fire, conventional defences are of little use against a dragon," Shamal shakes her head sadly.
<Shamal> "As a last resort, we have considered employing a deadly poison that resists magical healing and may be capable of overwhelming even a dragon's constitution, but it is not assured. If it came to battle, we have some talented spellcasters and more experienced warriors, but no one has even seen a dragon in hundreds of years - it's far beyond what we usually face."
<Shamal> OOC: recent reappearance." <-- from above with the blue text
> "Hmmm." The robed gith smiles a little more, "Then perhaps we can come to something that will aide your defenses. Our race knows and deals with red dragons often; we know much dragon lore as a result."
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<Shamal> "We don't wish to 'deal with' it, we wish to kill it," Shamal replies with uncharacteristic severity. "However, if your lore can assist in that task, then we may indeed have much to talk about," she nods, expression softening.
> "The most difficult feat to defeating a dragon is surviving it's breath weapon," The robed gith goes on, rustling in his robes, "A single exhalation is fatal to even a hardy, well protected opponent."
* Shamal nods. "From what the survivor told us, all three of her companions were slain instantly when the dragon surprised them with its lightning breath," she agrees, trying to gauge the Githyanki's demeanour. Something just... doesn't sit right, even if he seems helpful.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10 sense bullshit
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 sense bullshit and gets 25."12 [1d20=15]
> "I have a special dust of our kind, enchanted," Taking out a small vial of glittering gray dust, "It is designed to reduce the damage a dragon's breath weapon does."
<Shamal> "And it works with any dragon?" Shamal asks thoughtfully.
> "It does," So promising, "The dust is enough to effect one person."  Holding the vial in his long nailed, yellow hand, "A valuable component in any dragon warrior's collection."
<Shamal> "A shame that a dragon's breath often affects many targets," Shamal notes. "I happen to have some interest in alchemy myself, however... how difficult is this dust to create?"
> "Difficult," he allows, "But not impossible."
<Shamal> "And is your interest worth sharing in such lore... you know, I just now realise I never got your name," Shamal observes. Phew, she feels like she's dancing on the head of a pin with this conversation, but there's so much at stake, and the Githyanki aren't to be taken lightly themselves...
> "Geatroth." He answers once, needle like tongue licking his lips. "My interest is a profitable trade."
<Shamal> "And how do you wish to profit from me, Geatroth?" Shamal asks baldly, meeting his eyes and openly studying his reaction as he answers.
> "You have magic. I wish to see what magic you have and see if you have anything..worthwhile." He licks his lips again, not even blinking as he grins. A toothy, sharp grin, stretching his skin too far.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10 sense-are-you-sure-that's-all?
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 sense-are-you-sure-that's-all? and gets 20."12 [1d20=10]
<Shamal> "My magic has kept me alive so far, so I'd say it's worthwhile," the blonde replies, smiling. "Let's not beat around the bush, Geatroth?" she suggests pleasantly, "I want help slaying a dragon, you want something in return - that's perfectly fair and reasonable. So what do you want? A demonstration of my skills? A magical item I own? Simple but perhaps uncommon knowledge?"
> "The second one is a good course to pursue," he begins, "What items do you possess?"
<Shamal> "I'd be surprised if you haven't already spotted every magical aura on me," Shamal replies, vaguely amused. "This ring," she holds up her right hand, a golden ring with a shiny white stone around her ring finger, "Offers some protection from attack, for example. And my necklace," she taps her pendant, "Increases the potency of my conjuration spells and can summon a riding horse every day."
<Shamal> Her pose seems to relax somewhat, "And there's a few other things you've probably guessed at. The question is; What interests you, Geatroth? For all your vague answers, you strike me as the focused type - you probably knew what you wanted before you even walked in that door, am I right?"
> "Very good." His hands go back into his robe, hidden. "Your necklace interests me. It's gem is unusual."
<Shamal> "Yes, it serves as a nice item, but the gem within, if properly prepared and ingested, would allow a person to summon the horse I mentioned at will - with no need to prepare a spell or carry an item. Such gems were a specialty of the now extinct Gnomish people," she frowns thoughtfully as she toys with the pendant, "I don't suppose your people ever had any dealings with them?"
> "Not that I know of," he admits as his eyes settle on the pendant. "Hmmm...."
<Shamal> "I happen to like conjuration spells, so this is a very useful item to me - moreso than the ability I'd gain simply by consuming the gem," Shamal admits. "However, I may be persuaded to part with it for sufficient aid in dealing with my dragon problem."
> "Such as..." He goes on, smiling as he leaves it open.
<Shamal> "Your dust is a promising start," Shamal inclines her head to the vial he holds. "It offers some defence against one of a dragon's many forms of attack. What other lore do you have in the ways of dragonkind, and how to defeat them?"
> "They have a single weak point. For all the toughness they have, they are not...dexterious at all. If you can damage that, they will become immobile and helpless." He smiles at those words, "Of course, such a deed is inifnitely easier said than done."
<Shamal> "I know a spell that can reduce a target's dexterity but can't cripple it completely - perhaps I can hope you may know a solution to my dilemma?" Shamal asks, smiling hopefully.
> "The best way is...poison, I suppose," the gith considers as he thinks, "The most potent and simple way of damaging the ability of a victim."
<Shamal> "Except that dragons have exceptionally hearty constitutions," Shamal counters. "It takes a very rare and special poison to have much chance of giving a wyrm pause."
> "It's not easy," he agrees after a moment of his own consideration. "Plus you'd need a good dose to affect a dragon. I admit, this is not a speciality of mine, only good advice."
<Shamal> "And appreciated as such," Shamal admits respectfully. "You may recall I mentioned a poison we do have that may prove fatal by itself. A problem would be tricking the dragon to consume it, however - any suggestions as to how that could be best accomplished?"
> "Trickery," he agrees with his own leering smile, as he considers. "Get it's confidence up and try to make it eat it?"
* Shamal nods. "Our thoughts align." She idly wonders if she should be concerned at thinking like a Githyanki, but when all's said and done, a good idea is a good idea. "The dragon demanded tribute from our city, so stuffing a cow or two with poison for it to feast upon as it robbed us had occured to me. Hmm... but if it does come to battle, can you offer anything physical besides the dust you mentioned?"
> "Beyond that, prepare with all your might," he allows after a few moments of thought. His smile grows, "Of course, unless you have more to trade..."
<Shamal> "What you have offered..." Shamal lets her hand fall away from her pendant, "Is not worth such a prize. Especially when I will need all the help I can get against the dragon. However, I get the feeling it's the magic behind these gems, and not the pendant itself that interests you, am I right? The ability to have magic on call with no physical crutches or limitations on preperation?"
> His smile turns into a guarded look, calm and without mercy. Not at all, as, "It is," he speaks with an agreeableness that is noteworthy despite the way he looks. He steps back, going to rap against the door as he does. "However...I should remind you of your situation, human."
* Shamal smiles, chuckling softly. "You misunderstand, Geatroth," she shakes her head. "I require this particular gem for the secondary effect it gives, but there are others - ones that may have spells of more interest to you than summoning a simple horse."
> The door opens, four Githyanki with greatswords behind it. "Then speak," he goes on, "I grow tired of this."
<Shamal> Shamal's heartbeat quickens, realising that she is in a pretty bad situation - if they attacked her this close in, she'd be torn apart before being able to do much. But she attempts to maintain a calm facade even as she inwardly prays to Mielikki.
<Shamal> "I could see to it that you were given a gem with a more appropriate spell after I return to my city - assuming you have some means for me to deliver it to you. As a show of good faith, I'm even willing to give you some fragments from a gem that bestowed the Scorching Ray spell upon the one who consumed it."
> The robed gith lets his hands out of his road, as he begins to smile again. All teeth this time, all white, sharp teeth. "Let me see them now," he insists, "Let me see if those fragments are worth much."
* Shamal reaches around for her haversack. "And in exchange, you will tell me how to create the dust you showed me?" she asks guardedly.
> "I will give you the recipe for both types," he agrees, calmly. "If you renege...well..." he just smiles.
<Shamal> "These are fair terms, and I would have agreed to such without such unpleasantness," Shamal shoots a meaningful look at the goon squad before she reaches into the haversack, visualising the fragments before pulling them out of her magical nondimensional space.
<Shamal> Holding them up for inspection, "I had been holding onto them in hopes of using them to enhance a gem with a similar spell if I ever found it - the magic of their crafting was likely lost with the Gnomes."
> "Very well..." Taking out the vial again, he passes it over, "Here."
* Shamal accepts the vial and passes the fragments to the Githyanki's hand. "I'm going to cast detect magic," she warns, "Just so there's no misunderstandings."
> "Of course," he allows, putting the fragments into his robe, hidden away.
<Shamal> With but a word, Shamal casts her spell and studies the vial.
<Shamal> OOC: taking 10 on spellcraft for 25
> The vial radiates moderate abjuration.
<Shamal> OOC: Can I ID it like I can with a potion, or would it need an identify spell?
> OOC - Identify. It's foreign to you.
<Shamal> "And the method to its creation?" Shamal asks after she concludes her scrutiny, not incidentally taking in whatever other magical auras are visible around her.
> There is some magic around the gith, a few moderate auras. "You take..." he begins, starting to talk. OOC - PM.
<Shamal> OOC: taking 10 for 25 to ID whatever I can see








> So the lesson progresses. When it is done, the robed gith stands. "I will alert you when we arrive," he speaks, departing.
* Shamal looks rather pleased after Geatroth has finished explaining the process for creating their Dragon's Dust - almost enough to ignore the fact that there are four nearby Githyanki with big swords who look like they'd like to use them on her. Almost. "My thanks," she nods respectfully as the wizard leaves.
> A curt nod is all Shamal gets, the door closed and the druid alone again.
<Shamal> Left alone, Shamal takes the time to scribe the crafting process down on paper, since this will need to be disseminated among all the alchemists in Balmuria once she gets back - it's not the easiest thing to create, so they'll need to get as many people working on it as possible.
> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 40."12 [1d100=40]
> roll 1d20+50
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+50 and gets 63."12 [1d20=13]
> Events happen, 'time' passing as it only can when there is no time at all. At some point you find that a thought floats in your mind: 'Thinking just like a gith'.
* Shamal blinks at the foreign voice in her head. 'Who is this?' she asks warily, putting away her writing materials.
> Nothing happens. The thought fades away as all thoughts tend to do.
<Shamal> Frowning, Shamal casts detect magic and has a look around. If someone's messing with her head, she'd like to do something about it.
> Shamal does not detect any other magic beyond what should be there from her own items.
<Shamal> Taking out her spellbook, Shamal decides to refresh her spells, if she can. No telling how much time has actually passed since last time she did so...
> Shamal is able to do so. As she finishes this, her door opens. The robed gith stands there, guards behind him. "It is time."
<Shamal> "Good, I only hope I haven't been gone too long," Shamal smiles a bit tiredly, despite her lack of physical fatigue - this whole experience has been mentally draining, to be sure. "Do you have a method for me to send the gem of imbued spellcasting to you, or will someone come with me to get it?"
> "We'll be investigating," The gith smiles humorlessly, beckoning for Shamal to come. "There is a little more ahead of you, regardless."
<Shamal> "Such as?" Shamal asks as she guardedly follows.
> "Getting to the portal." As you  head out and past a simple hall, you go up the stares to the deck. Ahead is a cluster of lots of chunks of rock, dirt, broken buildings and the like. A thick fog of it ahead, "The portal to your realm is ahead, but..." he waves, to chunks of forest, bits of tundra, fragments of castles, all obscuring the way. "Taking the ship through without scouting is not an option."
> On the deck is the plainclothes gith and lots of normal githyanki, in battle positions. As the robed one goes on, "Curious indeed."
<Shamal> "If it could even fit through that mess..." Shamal murmurs quietly, before speaking up, "So from here on I'm on my own?" she surmises, peering into the distance.
> "Yes, our mission has been delayed long enough," The robed gith speaks in the words of flame.
<Shamal> "Very well," Shamal lifts off a few feet from the deck of her ship. "On behalf of the Crimson Guard, and Balmuria, I thank you for your assistance thus far. If I do not hear from you after the dragon has been dealt with, I will investigate on my end how to send the agreed payment to you." She could probably get Uatu to help with that, most likely.
> The robed gith raises his hand in acknowledgement, watching as Shamal floats up. The rest of the gith stay on guard, peering at and ahead of Shamal.
* Shamal gives a wave before ascending far enough to clear the sails and then changing course to fly into the malestrom!
> OOC - Spot check, as a general rule here, I think.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 and gets 19."12 [1d20=9]
> So Shamal flies along! A ruined castle parapet, a great field of growing wheat. She passes by both, up and down.  Slowly she heads inwards, above her some scattered rocks. Below her is a gap with nothing immediately of notice, and ahead is a chunk of trees and forest, alive and full of pines.
<Shamal> "This feels more like Limbo than the astral plane..." Shamal mutters as she flies past free floating and incongruous scenery. Once she's some ways in, she glances back the way she came to see what the Githyanki ship is doing.
> It's glimpsed, the ship heading away. As you pass, you can notice that you hear a sort of small roar from the forest.
* Shamal decides to go investigate - besides, it's nice to see some greenery, here. Flying over, she touches down in the forest, and starts moving towards where she heard the roar.
> The trees are supported with a thin layer of dirt and ground to stand on, coated with pine needles. As you descend, you see it come out from a tree. A black bear, looking about, sniffing.
<Shamal> How the heck did a bear get here? Rather surprised, Shamal carefully approaches the animal, posture low and unthreatening as she reaches into her haversack for some jerky - she should probably eat something herself, on reflection, since her hunger will no doubt catch up with her as soon as she returns to the prime. "Here, bear..." she carols softly, holding up the dried meat. "Hungry?"
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10 wild empathy
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 wild empathy and gets 23."12 [1d20=13]
> The bear sniffs the food, looking on at Shamal warily. OOC - Listening check.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 and gets 24."12 [1d20=14]
> OOC - Carry on.
<Shamal> "It's safe," Shamal encourages gently, setting the food down and then stepping backwards to give the bear room. "A pity I didn't expect to see any animals today, or I'd have prepared a spell that would let us talk."
> The bear goes and talkes the food once it's set down. It goes down in a bite, the predator staring at Shamal. Staring patiently. Not an overwhelmingly huge monster of a dire bear, but merely a normal, handleable bear.
* Shamal is content to wait a little while and earn the animal's trust - if it accidentally blundered through the portal into this realm, she feels obligated to bring it back with her.
> OOC - Listening check again.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 and gets 12."12 [1d20=2]
> The bear freezes cold, before starting to growl at Shamal! It's hesitant acceptance turns into feral anger in seconds!
<Shamal> Maybe it's growling at something behind her! Shamal glances backwards with just that hope.
> OOC - Spot check.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11."12 [1d20=1]
> Shamal doesn't see anything behind her at all.
> Meanwhile, the bear growls again!
<Shamal> Turning back to the bear, Shamal begins to back away - but perpendicular to her previous direction, so that she can see if the bear follows her or continues to growl at something unseen behind her previous location. "Shhh, it's alright, I won't hurt you," she continues to try and soothe the savage beast.
> OOC - Initiative first, I think. SEe if the bear has any chance on closing at you.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+2
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+2 and gets 21."12 [1d20=19]
> roll 1d20+1
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 and gets 20."12 [1d20=19]
> OOC - Go.
<Shamal> OOC: Doing what I said, readying an action to fly up if I get rushed.
> The bear does indeed charge at Shamal as she readies her action!
* Shamal springs upwards, flying up fifty or so feet in the air and looking sadly down at the bear. "Why?" she murmurs, not liking this situation one bit.
> The thought again idly plays through your mind, a memory repeating. 'Just like a githyanki.' Meanwhile the bear looks on, roaring but unable to follow at anything approaching Shamal's speed.
<Shamal> Shamal looks very unhappy. Someone is in her head! Casting detect magic, she moves far enough away from the bear that it can't charge her but still within 60 feet, before looking at the bear and all around for the source of this wackiness.
> There is moderate magic down below in the forest, somewhere out of your view. OOC - Spot check again witht hat, if you like.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 and gets 17."12 [1d20=7]
> You can see a shadow somewhere in the forests, a vague hidden outline of a humanoid.
<Shamal> "I can see you!" Shamal calls down accusingly at the shadow.
> There is a pause, before, "Peace." You hear Shad's voice, the githlike creature slowly floating out from amid the forest.
<Shamal> "Something very strange is happening," Shamal counters, continuing to pace the bear and keep out of its range. "How do I know you're not responsible?"
> "I am." He admits this without hesitating, "I come on a mission from my god."
<Shamal> "And what mission does your god send you on that involves me?" the blonde asks, eyeing him suspiciously.
<Shamal> OOC: taking 10 on spellcraft for 25 to ID magic effect
> OOC: Enchantment and transmutation.
> "To talk to you if you detected me, champion of Balmuria." THe gith floats closer, "If you wish, I will guide you to the portal home."
<Shamal> "And if I hadn't detected you?" Shamal asks, still suspicious and keeping her distance. "It was you that enraged the bear... and I never told you where I came from, Shad."
> "My God has been generous with the information. Your apperance in the Astral Plane generated interest." Shad speaks evenly, without excitement or anger.
<Shamal> "Why?" Shamal asks simply.
> "Your apperance on a plane that is not distant and restricted allows a chance to talk to you more directly." Shad smiles, but a strange, humorless smile. Yet not vicious at all. "Helm is not the only god moving."
<Shamal> "And what God do you represent, pray tell?" Shamal returns dubiously.
> "Cyric." He says it as very matter of fact, before smiling. "Before you run, allow me to say that all the Gods struck the gnomes down, not merely one side of them. Our God also has an interest, if you are willing to listen."
<Shamal> "You know, I've never even met a worshipper of Cyric before," Shamal can't help but note, voice flat. Then again, she can count the people she knows that venerate Mielikki on one hand. "Very well, I will listen to what the Prince of Lies has to say." She glances over to the enraged bear still vainly chasing her. "*After* you stop tormenting that poor bear."
> The moment you say that, the bear falls over, confused. "Very well," Shad drifts closer to you. "Shamal Velka, our God has watched Balmuria and the exploits as you explore. One of the groups finding the distant past and all the power that sleeps under the ground."
<Shamal> "I would've thought he'd be more interested in groups besides mine," Shamal observes dryly, thinking of Irenes.
> "Cyric sees all," Shad smiles as you fly by a snowy field, white rabbits blending in as they hop around. "He sees and knows all the secrets you chase after, the answer to every question you have. He invites you to come with me, to his realm, where he will accept your loyalty and grant you the knowledge of the past." Shad's look becomes intense, "The Pact of Fire you held is but the very beginning. The secret to creating true magic, contained in small gems. The location of each of the legendary Resorts. The answers to your problems; where the death sword Arondaaq lies; what each person you met hides."
> true magic, contained in small gems. The location of each of the legendary Resorts. The answers to your problems; where the death sword Arondaaq lies; what each person you met hides. Everything the people of your world vie for, in the palm of your hand."
* Shamal chuckles ever so softly. "You truly believe I would turn my back on the Forest Queen?" she asks incredulously. "This is not a serious offer."
> "Then..." Chuckling right back, "Will you turn away from how to slay Kondrux?"
<Shamal> "If it means betraying Mielikki? Of course," Shamal replies firmly. "I may make compromises to deal with the dragon - I'd be a fool if I didn't know exactly what the 'people' I just negotiated with are all about - but some things are inviolable."
> "Still...come. Take my hand, Lord Cyric will give you a taste of what you are forsaking." Extending his hand out, voice sweet, "At a crucial time in the Prime Material's existance, you have brought it to the Githyanki's full attention again. Do you not wish to know the ramification sof that, either?"
<Shamal> "I have an idea," Shamal replies cooly, her own hands down by her sides. "Events are picking up pace, perhaps making the Prime more like it was before the Gods and magic retreated - for good and for ill." Cocking her head, "I'm curious, though - you've spoken much of what Cyric offers, but little of what he wants, besides nebulous desires of my loyalty." Settling a firm gaze on Shad, she concludes, "Tell me what your God wants, Shad."
> "Cyric wishes to see the world return as it should be. What any god wants, no more, no less. The gifts he offers you further that cause..." Smiling again, keeping his hand out, "You've felt power, Shamal Velka." He meets her gaze right back, unblinking. "Would you like to feel the power, the true power? Bow to Lord Cyric, and it shall come to you as your goals will be one."
<Shamal> "Cyric's goals," Shamal translates flatly.
<Shamal> Shrugging, she goes on, repeating, "'As it should be' - what does that even mean? You continue to be evasive, Shad - even if I was so weak willed as to be tempted, your manner can't fail but arouse suspicion. As far as I can tell, you've simply offered me the chance to be a high powered but brainless puppet to carry out Cyric's mysterious plans. It would take a special kind of fool to accept such a bargain."
> "...very well." Shad approaches forth, "If you wish to see the glorious future and the goals to be, Lord Cyric will show you. SEe for yourself the world Lord Cyric desires."
* Shamal takes a moment to cast Protection from Evil on herself to make sure that she won't do anything besides see whatever Shad's about to show her. She's quite obvious about it, too, since she actually says "Protection from evil," in common as part of the casting, not looking at all apologetic as she finishes.

> Withdrawing his sword, Shad holds the hilt vertical to his face, blade pointing towards the endless silver sky. "Lord Cyric, in these endless wastes, show Shamal Velka the truth!"
<Shamal> It's all Shamal can do not to snicker at the concept of the self proclaimed Prince of Lies showing her 'the truth'.
* Demedais (~ferixstad@adsl-75-41-17-230.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #terrorofdunes
> The silver sky twists! The Astral Plane's up transfixes into a grand mural of what is to come, or what may come! In larger than life sizes you see it, Balmuria swelling. The city expands a dozen times over, around ruins as great treasures are brought up. Shamal oversees each, as more and more treasure comes out. The city is transformed - elementals walk under the command of countless humans. Wizards congregate freely, magical gems in shops. Shamal makes them, learning and learning. She can almost taste the power, page of countless arcane tomes showing. In the palace - her palace - she sits on a throne of the purest riches.  WIth a gesture Shamal can bring forth magic and potency. Dozens kneel before her - wizards, clerics of Cyric, Demedais, Seira, Command Oberuth, dark men whom you cannot make out beyond that. (More)
> Wizards congregate freely, magical gems in shops. Shamal makes them, learning and learning. She can almost taste the power, page of countless arcane tomes showing. In the palace - her palace - she sits on a throne of the purest riches.  WIth a gesture Shamal can bring forth magic and potency. Dozens kneel before her - wizards, clerics of Cyric, Demedais, Seira, Command Oberuth, dark men whom you cannot make out beyond that. (More)
> dark men whom you cannot make out beyond that. (More)
> It whispers in her ear, the fragments of knowledge. She can almost see it in the books, the pages turning and filling the sky. So many secrets, so manyp aths to power, just out of her vision's sight.
<Shamal> "That's it?" Shamal asks flatly after the vision ends. "Clearly you and your God know nothing about me."
> "Do I?" Shad smiles as he lowers his sword, the imagesf luttering away in the winds of the Astral. "Do you seek everything below to help others? No. You seek all the power because you want it. Tell me that the lost secrets under the soil have not sung their siren song to you. Tell me you do not want to go again, to find more power." With his sword lowered, Shad looks on guard now, cautious.
<Shamal> "And what a sterile place Cyric would have me create with that power... I may have developed an appreciation for civilisation in recent years, Shad, but I've never forgotten my roots. Cities, even nations and empires, are transient things. But nature endures, and it is that which will always have my first loyalty," Shamal counters. "Nothing you have shown can compare with Mielikki's blessings."
> "Even..." Shad smiles evenly again, "What of when you hold the Last Resort in your hand?"
<Shamal> "Even then... that's what this is about, isn't it?" Shamal smiles slightly herself. "Last time Daa-vid was a wildcard none of the Gods could afford, so they all set aside their differences to strike him down. But now - Cyric doesn't mind a new deity ascending, so long as he gets to pull the strings, am I right?" she asks knowingly.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10 sense bullshit on his answer
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+10 1,0sense bullshit on his answer --> 1,0[ 1d20=3 ]12,0{13}
> "The offer is there," Shad doesn't blink, his face rigid and unyielding.  "It's just within your reach. Lord Cyric sees your nature and understands it. You need not lie to the Prince of Lies...come to him." His hand goes out again, expectant. "Go back not to that empty, choked world, but come to your true calling."
<Shamal> "I will not," Shamal replies sternly. "And I have heard enough."
> "Then..." Shad's sword lowers, pointing at Shamal. "You will never find the past or the future; you will find a cold eternity here!"
> OOC: He's going offensive, so initiative.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+2
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+2 --> 1,0[ 1d20=17 ]12,0{19}
> roll 1d20+6
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+6 --> 1,0[ 1d20=1 ]12,0{7}
> OOC: Go.
* Shamal glides backwards a bit, throwing out one of her hands at Shad as several lengths of thick rubbery kelp jet out to ensnare him!
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 ranged touch
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+5 1,0ranged touch --> 1,0[ 1d20=20 ]12,0{25}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+11 grapple check
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+11 1,0grapple check --> 1,0[ 1d20=19 ]12,0{30}
> roll 1d20+15
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+15 --> 1,0[ 1d20=6 ]12,0{21}
> The jets of kelp lash out, coming from nowhere to lash around him! His hands are restrained, his body held! But he does attempt to break the grappling hold!
> OOC: Opposed grapple checks.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+11 come on, Kelp!
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+11 1,0come on, Kelp! --> 1,0[ 1d20=10 ]12,0{21}
> roll 1d20+15
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+15 --> 1,0[ 1d20=2 ]12,0{17}
> But he is held fast, unable to escape the seaweed doom, much like a sea elf! OOC - Shamal.
<Shamal> "As you can see, Mielikki's power is quite sufficient for my purposes," Shamal tells him, before calling out another spell, "Proud hunter with eagle's ferocity and horses tenacity, I call upon you - strike at my enemy!" At her words, a hippogriff appears between Shamal and Shad, promptly tearing into him with teeth and claws!
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+8 --> 1,0[ 1d20=13 ]12,0{21}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+8 --> 1,0[ 1d20=10 ]12,0{18}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+3
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+3 --> 1,0[ 1d20=7 ]12,0{10}
> OOC - Allb ut the last hit.
<Shamal> roll 2d4+12
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 2d4+12 --> 1,0[ 2d4=2 ]12,0{14}
> The hippogriff ravagaes the grappled Shad, his cries angry as his flesh is torn! Minor wounds, but enough to show damage, his sides ripped! "This pwoer...is nothing to me!" he screams, attempting to break out!
> roll 1d20+15 opposed grappling time.
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+15 1,0opposed grappling time. --> 1,0[ 1d20=20 ]12,0{35}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+11 why
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+11 1,0why --> 1,0[ 1d20=11 ]12,0{22}
> This time, with a surge of his muscles, Shad is able to break free, stumbling out of the seaweed grasp! "The power of your God is nothing compared to Cyric!" OOC - Shamal's up.
<Shamal> "We'll see," Shamal's expression hardens as she casts another spell. Nobody talks bad about Mielikki on her watch!
<Shamal> roll 1d4+2
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d4+2 --> 1,0[ 1d4=1 ]12,0{3}
<Shamal> And suddenly there are four of her!
<Shamal> After casting her spell, Shamal retreats full speed while her summoned ally continues its attack!
<Shamal> OOC: moving 180ft away, plus whatever distance we were already apart by
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+8 --> 1,0[ 1d20=13 ]12,0{21}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+8 --> 1,0[ 1d20=2 ]12,0{10}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+3
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+3 --> 1,0[ 1d20=6 ]12,0{9}
> OOC - Say ten feet.
> OOC - First hits.
<Shamal> roll 1d4+6
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d4+6 --> 1,0[ 1d4=2 ]12,0{8}
> As Shamal falls back, she goes past an expanse of snow, white rabbits hiding in the chunk of land! Past this are the ruins of what looks like a defensive wall, floating about in several pieces, with lots of tiny chunks. Meanwhile, Shad falls back a little, tearing into the hippogriff!
> roll 1d20+16
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+16 --> 1,0[ 1d20=4 ]12,0{20}
> roll 1d20+11
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+11 --> 1,0[ 1d20=20 ]12,0{31}
> roll 1d20+11 crit check
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+11 1,0crit check --> 1,0[ 1d20=10 ]12,0{21}
> OOC - AC of hippogriff?
<Shamal> AC 15
<Shamal> OOC: 31hp
> roll 3d8+30
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 3d8+30 --> 1,0[ 3d8=10 ]12,0{40}
> The hippogriff is torn apart, the raw fury of Shad transforming him! His calm vanishes, a martial terror falling over him! His eyes burn with anger, as he stands over it's vanishing corpse! "YOU WILL BOW TO THE POWER OF CYRIC!" OOC - You're 190 ft away, your action.
<Shamal> Deciding that turning into a werereat wouldn't help her too much at this juncture, Shamal sacrifices her last 2nd circle divine spell, summoning a crocodile directly in front of her, that Shad would have to move around to reach her.
> OOC- Doing anything else?
<Shamal> OOC: actually, slight amendment to my line.
> OOC: Okay, since the Astral does all that quickening stuff I'm usually making sure you're done first
<Shamal> Deciding that turning into a werereat wouldn't help her too much at this juncture, Shamal flies over to the ruins of the nearby wall, using some of the chunks for cover as she sacrifices her last 2nd circle divine spell, summoning a crocodile directly in front of her, that Shad would have to move around to reach her.
> Shad rushes ahead, devoting all his energy to moving! He just about reaches the crocodile, but not quite, about ten feet away. "There is still time to surrender!"
<Shamal> "I'm just getting started, Shad," Shamal promises, as all four of her shoot forth a beam of coruscating negative energy, intended to sap away at his strength and make him easier prey for her pets!
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 ranged touch
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+5 1,0ranged touch --> 1,0[ 1d20=4 ]12,0{9}
<Shamal> The crocodile then shuffles forward to attack, having some difficulty moving in the astral while Shamal soars away another two hundred feet perpendicular to where she was going before, keeping enough distance that Shad can't easily reach her.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+8 --> 1,0[ 1d20=8 ]12,0{16}
* Sierra_Mikain (~Melanchth@pool-71-191-18-214.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #terrorofdunes
> As the crocodile misses, Shamal soars up! Up above the ruined wall - past it she can see as tretch of desert land, surrounded by floating chuckls of minerals. Meanwhile, Shad dodges and strikes the crocodile in his way!
> roll 1d20+16
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+16 --> 1,0[ 1d20=5 ]12,0{21}
> OOC - Croc AC?
<Shamal> OOC: 15, 28hp
> OOC - He can full attack it anyway since it movedi nto melee him.
> roll 1d20+11
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+11 --> 1,0[ 1d20=16 ]12,0{27}
> roll 2d10+20
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 2d10+20 --> 1,0[ 2d10=6 ]12,0{26}
> The crocodile is torn up, it's jaw nearly severed and it's tail sliced off! It only lives by a small miracle of fate, on the verge of dying! OOC - Shamal and summon.
<Shamal> Bravely, the crocodile continues to attack this evil foe and buy some time for its mistress to... do something. Hopefully she has a plan, right?
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+8 --> 1,0[ 1d20=17 ]12,0{25}
<Shamal> roll 1d8+8
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d8+8 --> 1,0[ 1d8=5 ]12,0{13}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8 improved grab grapple check
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+8 1,0improved grab grapple check --> 1,0[ 1d20=9 ]12,0{17}
> roll 1d20+15 grapple it could roll a 1!
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+15 1,0grapple it could roll a 1! --> 1,0[ 1d20=8 ]12,0{23}
> The bite tears a chunk of Shad's shoulder away, bloodflow coming from a successful strike! It does seem to be a considerable wound, another hit on the angered godservant! OOC - Now Shamal.
<Shamal> Meanwhile Shamal takes out her wand of lightning bolt, readying an action to shoot him as soon as he comes within its 120ft range and then move back.
> Seeing the crocodile weakened, Shad goes for the kill!
> roll 1d20+16
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+16 --> 1,0[ 1d20=19 ]12,0{35}
> roll 1d20+16 crit check
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+16 1,0crit check --> 1,0[ 1d20=18 ]12,0{34}
> roll 2d10+20
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 2d10+20 --> 1,0[ 2d10=9 ]12,0{29}
> It's brains are chopped up twice, it's head several fragments as it's slain! With that one stroke, Shad begins to advance, coming within 120 feet!
<Shamal> As soon as he floats into range, all four of the Shamals let loose a devastating barrage of lightning bolts, zeroing in on Shad as she flies back another hundred feet, keeping him from getting in range!
<Shamal> roll 5d6
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 5d6 --> 1,0[ 5d6=21 ]12,0{21}
<Shamal> OOC: wands use the minimum DC, so that'd be 14
> roll 1d20+7
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+7 --> 1,0[ 1d20=6 ]12,0{13}
> The bolt arcs into Shad, shaking him up! He convulses in the magic, stricken! Yet he lives, even if singed! Taking his chance now that Shamal has acted, Shad falls back, floating back and away!
* Shamal is faced with a quandary. If she pursues, she risks getting into range for him to retaliate. On the other hand, she simply can't let his insults against Mielikki and attacks against her pass. Deciding not to leave him to come after her again, she flies towards the debris surrounding the desert area, using it as cover while she fires another quad-lightning bolt at him!
<Shamal> roll 5d6
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 5d6 --> 1,0[ 5d6=14 ]12,0{14}
> OOC: What's the range on that?
<Shamal> OOC: 120ft
> OOC - He stopped at 120 ft when he got zapped, and he's fleeing back now. You're fleeing back to the desert, the numers don't work.
<Shamal> OOC: I asked for cover within 120 feet of him, you listed that as an option. <_<
> OOC: Oh, I missed that. My fault. The walls could be within range, the desert not so much.
<Shamal> OOC: strike my line
> OOC: Fair enough.
* Shamal is faced with a quandary. If she pursues, she risks getting into range for him to retaliate. On the other hand, she simply can't let his insults against Mielikki and attacks against her pass. Deciding not to leave him to come after her again, she flies back towards the ruined wall she used as cover previously, easily overtaking Shad and settling herself within its protective stony embrace, lightning wand held at the ready.
> Shad continues to fall back, going out of range. He falls back to the first forest, getting well out of range. He can be seen landing there, going into the cover and...
> roll 1d20+13
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+13 --> 1,0[ 1d20=3 ]12,0{16}
> OOC - Spot check.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+10 --> 1,0[ 1d20=1 ]12,0{11}
> With the distance and cover both considerably in his favor, Shad hides himself.
* Shamal swaps the lightning wand for the magic missile one, before she takes off in pursuit!
> roll 2d8+3
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 2d8+3 --> 1,0[ 2d8=14 ]12,0{17}
> As Shamal races in, about 100 feet away, she sees Shad fly out! His wounds no longer looks quite so overwhelming, as he soars up straight up, away from Shamal!
<Shamal> OOC: how far away is he from me after his move?
> OOC: 200 or so.
* Shamal moves forty feet closer before casting Glitterdust, surrounding the evil Cyric worshipper with blinding sparkling motes!
<Shamal> OOC: DC 18 will save or blinded
> roll 1d20+7
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+7 --> 1,0[ 1d20=4 ]12,0{11}
> The dust obscures Shad's vision, clouding his eyes! He whips his head around a few times as he struggles in it, before trying to continue to fly straight up!
* Shamal casts produce flame, before flying to within 100 feet of him and using her wand to loose off a trio of magic missiles at him!
<Shamal> roll 3d4+3
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 3d4+3 --> 1,0[ 3d4=8 ]12,0{11}
> Struck by missiles and blinded, Shad changes his course! Instead he dives in desperation at Shamal, liek a falling eagle attempting to spear her!
> OOC - Strike.
> Shad, so blinded, and struggling with his eyes, he continues to fly straight up and away!
<Shamal> OOC: how far is he from me after his move?
> OOC: 200 ft - you fired at him from 100 ft.
* Shamal flies after him, closing the distance to 35 feet before she hurls a ball of flame at him and swiftly casts a summon spell to conjure a dire rat next to him. Squeaking ferally, it lunges to bite on with disease-ridden teeth - on the off chance he gets away, it'll give him an unpleasant reminder of the encounter.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+4 dire rat attack
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+4 1,0dire rat attack --> 1,0[ 1d20=3 ]12,0{7}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 fireball ranged touch
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+5 1,0fireball ranged touch --> 1,0[ 1d20=20 ]12,0{25}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 fireball ranged touch crit check
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+5 1,0fireball ranged touch crit check --> 1,0[ 1d20=9 ]12,0{14}
> OOC - Rodent misses, critted.
<Shamal> roll 2d6+10 fire
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 2d6+10 1,0fire --> 1,0[ 2d6=6 ]12,0{16}
> The fireball strikes him directly, scorching his skin! His body begins to burn, merry torched by Shamal's magic! Roaring in agony and pain, "I'll kill you for Lord Cyric, so you can sit at his mercy for eternity!" This wild scream follows, as he strikes back out at the rat before flying straight up.
> roll 1d20+16
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+16 --> 1,0[ 1d20=5 ]12,0{21}
> roll 1d100 concealment, 1-50 is a miss
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d100 1,0concealment, 1-50 is a miss --> 1,0[ 1d100=77 ]12,0{77}
<Shamal> OOC: AC 15, 7hp
> roll 1d8+10
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d8+10 --> 1,0[ 1d8=7 ]12,0{17}
> The rat is split in two, slain instantly by a frenzied, lucky stroke! OOC - Shamal.
* Shamal paces, hurling yet another ball of fire at his back as she stays within fifty feet. Technically there are four fireballs, but he's in no position to count.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 ranged touch
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+5 1,0ranged touch --> 1,0[ 1d20=7 ]12,0{12}
> OOC - Hit.
<Shamal> roll 1d6+5
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d6+5 --> 1,0[ 1d6=2 ]12,0{7}
> Shad continues to burn! His flesh turns to an ashy white and charred black, hints of red all over!
> OOC - Gah.
> Shad continues to burn! His flesh turns to an ashy white and charred black, hints of red all over! Snarling in agony, he slips backwards and touches himself!
> roll 1d8+3
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d8+3 --> 1,0[ 1d8=6 ]12,0{9}
> The magic that comes mends Shad's flesh somewhat, making it only a partially ruined hsuk of a being! OOC - Shamal.
<Shamal> "I think I have more fireballs than you have cure spells," Shamal taunts, loosing off another fireball as she follows, also summoning up a small viper directly above him, which hisses and strikes with venomous fangs! "More allies, too."
<Shamal> roll 1d6+5 fiery touch
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d6+5 1,0fiery touch --> 1,0[ 1d6=6 ]12,0{11}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 should've done that first
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+5 1,0should've done that first --> 1,0[ 1d20=7 ]12,0{12}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+4 snake attack
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+4 1,0snake attack --> 1,0[ 1d20=10 ]12,0{14}
> OOC - Hits.
<Shamal> roll 1d2 snake DC 12 fort save or poisoned
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d2 1,0snake DC 12 fort save or poisoned --> 1,0[ 1d2=2 ]12,0{2}
> roll 1d20+10
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled :1,0 1d20+10 --> 1,0[ 1d20=8 ]12,0{18}
> Burned and bitten, Shad looks on death's door! His body is nearly falling apart, more red and bloody-burnt than intact! Yet somehow he continues to float, before at last just flying back as fast as he can!
<Shamal> roll 1d20+4 snake AoO
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+4 1,0snake AoO --> 1,0[ 1d20=1 ]12,0{5}
> The snake bites at Shad, but misses altogether!
> OOC - The druid grrl is up.
* Shamal continues her relentless pursuit, another fireball thrown for good measure! "As you return to Cyric, just remember that it didn't have to be this way - you forced this battle," she sternly lectures.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 fireball
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+5 1,0fireball --> 1,0[ 1d20=16 ]12,0{21}
<Shamal> roll 1d6+5
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d6+5 --> 1,0[ 1d6=6 ]12,0{11}
>  With that fireball, Shad bursts into flames altogether! His body and clothing are consuemd, sword smoking! He screams, yet he gets this out even as he is consumed..."Shamal...Velka....Seira....Demeda...Helm is not the only one watching. Tell them that...one side or another will receive our blessings. If you turn away from the Gods again...heh..heh...."
<Shamal> "I believe I've aptly demonstrated that Mielikki's blessings are enough," Shamal counters, launching another fireball at him to hopefully shut him up for good!
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 fiery death
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+5 1,0fiery death --> 1,0[ 1d20=13 ]12,0{18}
<Shamal> roll 1d6+5
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d6+5 --> 1,0[ 1d6=6 ]12,0{11}
> He burns alive! His body is ravaged, possessions aflame! No words, just a floating pyre in the Astral Plane!
* Shamal floats up to the now dead Gith and takes his sword, stuffing it away in her handy haversack. "May Cyric reward you as you deserve," she tells the corpse, before flying back down to the forest where she met him, looking for that poor bear.
> The forest is found, the bear in the bushes and peering out fearfully.
* Shamal gently settles down on the ground, making soothing noises as she gestures for the bear to come forward. "It's alright, you're safe now," she encourages softly.
> OOC - Wild Empathy, I reckon.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+10 --> 1,0[ 1d20=15 ]12,0{25}
> Cooed by Shamal, the bear slowly emerges from it's hiding place. It's hesitant, but approaches.
* Shamal gives the bear some of Laika's doggy treats, while eating some dried jerky herself as they calm down from recent events, waiting until the bear seems more comfortable before doing anything.
> This is done easily enough, the b ear calmed by the food and Shamal's druidic powers. The food tastes well enough otherwise.
<Shamal> Once the bear seems more compliant, Shamal takes the time to convince the bear it should follow her, helping it to get the hang of airborne movement here in the astral.
<Shamal> OOC: taking 20 on handle animal for 26 to 'push' the bear so it can perform the 'follow' trick
> This is done very slowly, the bear needing time to adapt. But eventually it can fly, even if it's nowhere near Shamal's pace.
* Shamal doesn't mind, matching the bear's pace as it follows her while she begins to search through his morass for the portal back to the prime.
> As the bear is prepared and ready to go, sound is heard. "Shamal, can you hear me!" The voice of Demedais echos, carried on a streak of mist.
<Shamal> "Demedais? Is that you?" Shamal calls back in confusion, looking around for the source of the voice.
> Shamal sees that to her side a swirl of mist is gathering.
<Shamal> "Come along, mr bear," Shamal gestures for her new friend to follow as she slowly makes her way to the mist, keeping pace with the animal.
* Shamal sets mode: +o Demedais
<Demedais> "Yeah, it's me!" Demedais replies. "I can't see you, but I can hear you. Follow my voice - I'm at Uatu's!"
> The bear follows along, confused but obeying Shamal.
> The mists ahead swirl, a small circle of mists outlining the way. Dimly, Shamal can see Demedais.
* Shamal waves to Demedais once she can see him, continuing on through the mists. So convenient!

> The mists ensweep Shamal like an old lover's caress, chilling her as the distance and calmness of the Astral Plane dilutes. The debris covered path to a colored pool fades into misty indistinctness, Demedais and a grand sharp white quartz chamber ahead.
* Koaway is now known as Kotono
* Demedais nods at Shamal as she approaches. "Good to see you. For a while Seira thought you were trapped in the Plane of Water."
<Shamal> "Come along, mr bear, almost there," Shamal urges her companion on as they traverse the mists back into... well, it's not quite the Prime Material, is it? But it's close enough! "Not quite," she tells Demedais, her voice sounding awfully relaxed. "Portal mishap sent me to the Astral Plane instead - I was actually just about to find a portal back, but this is more convenient."
<Demedais> "Yeah, Seira learned from Oolu that you probably got dragged to the Astral Plane. She exhausted herself trying to reopen the portal, it sounds like." Demedais nods. "I came here to Uatu, figuring that you were trapped. Mmm." He rubbed his head, a bit nervously. "You always do find work to do no matter where you go, don't you?"
> Soon the Astra is left behind, Shamal fully in this misty, neboulous chamber.  It is chilly here, potent but silent. Uatu glows briefly as Shamal enters, before the platform it is on slowly drifts back.
<Shamal> "You don't know the half of it," the blonde shakes her head, waving gratefully towards the crystal that brought her back. "I'll have a lot to report back at the city... how long have I been gone?"
<Demedais> "Um. About a week total." Demedais says.
<Shamal> "Oh, I expected to feel more hungry... guess that last meal must have helped," Shamal briefly smiles at her ursine companion. "Anyway, we should get moving, pleasant as it is, here. I take it the dragon hasn't returned, yet?"
<Demedais> "No, but I've been gone for two days so it's possible it's returned. I hope not, though." Demedais turns to Uatu. "Thank you... thanks, friend Uatu."
> Uatu continues to drift away, fading into the mists. As he does, behidn you a path of white, sharp steps appear, leading upward.
* Demedais lowers his head in thought. "I think we get to walk and ride back." he comments to Shamal drily after a second.
* Shamal winces at how sharp those steps look, glancing down at her own bare feet, then looking over to the equally bereft Mr Bear. "Careful, careful..." she murmurs, gesturing the bear to follow as she gingerly advances.
> As they progress, despite teh sharpness of the steps, Shamal and the bear are both able to walk about safely. Always just missing anything dangerous, soon enough out by the guardian again. As they leave, the feeling of opening passes, a new eye closing again.
* Demedais inhales sharply, nodding to the guardian as they pass.
<Shamal> "It's something of a relief, to be honest," Shamal admits, guessing at the reason for Demedais' reaction. "The longer you stay like that the more tempting it gets."
<Demedais> "Uatu is breaking apart the distance between our realm and the realm of the gods." Demedais says simply as he continues walking.
<Shamal> "It seems with every day the world returns more to how it was before the Gods withdrew... and more and more of them are reasserting their interest in events, here," Shamal nods thoughtfully. "Tell me, Demedais, how familiar are you with Cyric?"
* Demedais bows his head in thought again. "Mmmmmm..."
> OOC


<END OF LOG>

[Corwin]

<Alicia> [21:18] * Alicia only gives the Erinyes a vicious snort in reply, not sparing any further words on the fiends.
<Alicia> [21:19] <Kotono> "What good fortune..." Looking on at the two of you, "You shall not have the rest of the Resorts! Your lives, your city and your hopes end here!"
<Alicia> [21:20] * Alicia intends to keep him alive just a little bit longer so they can ask about that cryptic comment. But not until he's been taught a lesson in respect. No more words, now, Alicia moves to attack!
* Retrieving #terrorofdunes modes...
> The first thing that comes forth is the Hellcat! With a bullheaded charge it pounces at Alicia, unwinding like a slinky spring at her, a flurry fo claws and bites!
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 14."12 [1d20=1]
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 33."12 [1d20=20]
> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 11."12 [1d20=3]
> OOC - AC?
<Alicia> OOC: I totally AoO it. AC 24
> OOC - Oh yeah, I forgot you have reach. Unload.
<Alicia> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+11 and gets 24."12 [1d20=13]
<Alicia> roll 2d6+7 good~
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+7 good~ and gets 16."12 [2d6=4, 5]
> roll 1d20+13 crit check
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 crit check and gets 26."12 [1d20=13]
> roll 2d8+12
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+12 and gets 19."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> Alicia and the devilish cat exchange blows! One is a strike into it's now visible thanks to magic side, while Alicia's chest gets a nasty gouging! Meanwhile, the Erinyes smiles at Commander Oberuth! "Oh, that's a big special toy you brought. I'll have to take it from you!" she cries,  before firing arrows at him!
> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 23."12 [1d20=8]
> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 27."12 [1d20=17]
> roll 2d8+12+2d6
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+12+2d6 and gets 23."12 [2d8=2, 2][2d6=6, 1]
> Flaming arrows fire, riddling the Commander! DEspite this he's barely even slowed down, as flaming wood sticks out of his leg and stomach! OOC - Alicia.
<Alicia> roll 1d100 wraithstrike
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 wraithstrike and gets 97."12 [1d100=97]
<Alicia> Trusting the commander to keep the Erinyes and Bone Devil busy, Alicia focuses on eliminating the hellcat before moving on! "By your will, my foes are undone..." she prays briefly to Mystra as her blades turn into diaphonous but no less sharp smoke, the paladin laying into the hellcat with a fury!
<Alicia> roll 1d20+7 -4 power attack melee touch
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 -4 power attack melee touch and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
<Alicia> roll 1d20+2 -4 power attack melee touch
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+2 -4 power attack melee touch and gets 3."12 [1d20=1]
<Alicia> OOC: wtf
> Both of Alicia's blows billow like the wind, yet miss the hellcat! As she recovers from that, the Bone Devil seems to concentrate, the pattern on the floor starting to glow!
> roll 1d100-25
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100-25 and gets 57."12 [1d100=82]
> Yet nothing comes, nothing happening besides a feeling of illness in the air! Commander Oberuth continues on to the Erinyes, closing in and charging with his hammer!
> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 31."12 [1d20=13]
> roll 1d8+10
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+10 and gets 15."12 [1d8=5]
<Alicia> OOC: 2d8!
> roll 2d8+10
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+10 and gets 21."12 [2d8=7, 4]
> With that blow the Erinyes is staggered back, form shifting several times! It's pristine body looks wrong now, it's voice wavering. "You...you..." This is followed by somethign in the fiend's own languague, glaring in rage at the hammer! OOC - More, sec.
> The hellcat faces off with Alicia, face a feline mask of devilish rage as it strikes out at her!
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 21."12 [1d20=8]
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15."12 [1d20=2]
> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 10."12 [1d20=2]
> Yet Alicia is able to parry all of it, standing safe and unharmed! Meanwhile, the Erinyes screams in rage, before stepping back and repeating her arrowing peformance!
> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 34."12 [1d20=19]
> roll 1d8+6+1d6
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+6+1d6 and gets 15."12 [1d8=8][1d6=1]
> roll 1d4+1 forgot this last round for the Erinyes
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+1 forgot this last round for the Erinyes and gets 5."12 [1d4=4]
> Despite another arrow sticking out of him, Commander Oberuth isn't slowed! As his the flesh of his shoulder merrily singed, he hefts his hammer and pursues the Erinyes back!
> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 29."12 [1d20=13]
> roll 2d8+10
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+10 and gets 17."12 [2d8=1, 6]
> roll 1d4+1
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+1 and gets 2."12 [1d4=1]
> OOC - STrike. What the fuck was I thinking?
> OOC - It's your turn, Alicia.
<Alicia> OOC: I figured he was AoOing her for attacking him with a ranged weapon when he has reach
> With another overhanded blow, Commander Oberuth caves the creature's chest in! IT lives yet, but it's screaming piteously, shaking! The attack of range did it's job, wounding the creatuer that shot at him! OOC - Alicia.
<Alicia> roll 1d100 wraithstrike pz
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 wraithstrike pz and gets 40."12 [1d100=40]
* Alicia continues her assault on the hellcat, desperately trying to force it down so they can focus on the leader!
<Alicia> roll 1d20+7 -4 power attack melee touch
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 -4 power attack melee touch and gets 9."12 [1d20=2]
<Alicia> roll 1d20+2 -4 power attack melee touch come on you absolute fucker of a hate filled bot
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+2 -4 power attack melee touch come on you absolute fucker of a hate filled bot and gets 11."12 [1d20=9]
> Despite Alicia's full on fury, the Hellcat is not impressed at all! IT dodges and swerves, Alicia unable to hit anything! He tunrs to Oberuth, "Capture them alive," he commands in open Common. "Capture the Hammer of the Shard!" With that he glows again, the circle underneath pulsing!
> roll 1d100-25
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100-25 and gets 70."12 [1d100=95]
> But once again, nothing happens! Commander Oberuth grins sickly, "You'll have to take it from my dead body!" he roars, pressing the Erinyes back, fully unloading on her!
> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 29."12 [1d20=13]
> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 29."12 [1d20=18]
> roll 4d8+20
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+20 and gets 35."12 [4d8=1, 7, 5, 2]
> roll 2d4+2
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4+2 and gets 6."12 [2d4=3, 1]
> With a pair of slams, the Erinyes is maimed! It's body rocks, covered with several massive broken bones from the hammer! It's only alive by it's dark power and little else!
<Alicia> With her very last spell (sans cantrips), Alicia gives her all, praying that luck will provide where her skill has sorely proven lacking!
<Alicia> roll 1d100 wraithstrike
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 wraithstrike and gets 15."12 [1d100=15]
<Alicia> roll 1d20+7 can it be crit time nao plz
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 can it be crit time nao plz and gets 14."12 [1d20=7]
<Alicia> roll 1d20+2 can it be crit time nao plz
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+2 can it be crit time nao plz and gets 15."12 [1d20=13]
> OOC - Uh, Alicia, it's not your turn.
<Alicia> OOC: wow, dunno why I thought it was... er, ignore that!
<Alicia> OOC: sorry!
> OOC - The hellcat is up, Oberuth just went. Trust me, I know how that goes, though!
> The hellcat continues to face off against Alicia, backa nd forth furies of attackings!
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 27."12 [1d20=14]
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 31."12 [1d20=18]
> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 15."12 [1d20=7]
> roll 2d8+12
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+12 and gets 23."12 [2d8=5, 6]
> As Alicia is openly mauled and bloodied, the Erinyes screams and runs back, going down the dark stairs deeper in! But despite this, Commander Oberuth just grins sickly, taking the chance to strike at her back!
> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 30."12 [1d20=14]
> roll 2d8+10
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+10 and gets 16."12 [2d8=3, 3]
> With that heavy blow, the Erinyes is put down, it's body slumping down next to the first stair! OOC - Alicia.
* Alicia breathes deeply and raggedly as she finds her skills simply aren't up to the task against these fiends. Despite all her pride in her blend of martial and arcane arts, nothing she does seems to have any effect... But she cannot retreat, cannot surrender, not as a holy knight. And so, crying out her defiance, the paladin of Mystra closes her eyes and swings wildly at the hellcat, trusting the Weave to guide her!
<Alicia> roll 1d100 wraithstrike
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 wraithstrike and gets 98."12 [1d100=98]
<Alicia> roll 1d20+7 -4 power attack
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 -4 power attack and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
<Alicia> roll 1d20+2 -4 power attack
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+2 -4 power attack and gets 6."12 [1d20=4]
> The weave leads her to a pair of strikes that fail! One is simply a complete miss, the other clinking off the Hellcat's claw and failing to penetrate! The Bone Devil stands up at this, "Enough. Then I will take the hammer myself!" The bone devil advances onto Oberuth, biting at him with those huge, monsterous jaws!
> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21."12 [1d20=7]
> roll 1d8+5
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+5 and gets 12."12 [1d8=7]
> AS the Commander is bitten, Alicia can hear something clattering on the stone walkway, well above! As this happens, Commander Oberuth returns fire, smashing at the bone devil!
> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 21."12 [1d20=5]
> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 21."12 [1d20=10]
> Btwo blows, but neither is effective, the two facing off! Meanwhile, the Hellcat continuesi t's steady, powerful assault!
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 23."12 [1d20=10]
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 18."12 [1d20=5]
> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 14."12 [1d20=6]
> But Alicia is able to just dodge each of it, swaying out of the way! OOC - Go, Alicia.
* Kotono changes topic to 'Hellcat>Alicia>Bone Devil>Oberuth>Sound'
* Alicia decides to ignore the hellcat for the moment, tumbling past it and moving to attack the bone devil on its flank opposite Obureth with a horizontal cutting slash!
<Alicia> roll 1d20+12 DC 15 tumble
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 DC 15 tumble and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
<Alicia> OOC: FUCK
<Alicia> OOC: that could have been my attack!
<Alicia> roll 1d20+13 -3 power attack smite
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 -3 power attack smite and gets 20."12 [1d20=7]
<Alicia> OOC: +2 for flanking, but not enough...
> Alicia unloads at the Bone Devil...but misses! The holy smie whizzes past it, missing by a hair!  The Devil turns, sneering at Alicia and Oberuth, before attacking! The first claw is at Oberuth, the second at Alicia, and the bite at the commander!
> roll 1d20+14 bite
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 bite and gets 21."12 [1d20=7]
> roll 1d20+12 claw A
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 claw A and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
> roll 1d20+12 claw O
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 claw O and gets 17."12 [1d20=5]
> roll 1d20+12 claw A crit check poor Paladin.
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 claw A crit check poor Paladin. and gets 24."12 [1d20=12]
> roll 1d8+5+1d4+2
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+5+1d4+2 and gets 15."12 [1d8=4][1d4=4]
> roll 2d4+4
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4+4 and gets 9."12 [2d4=3, 2]
* Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-202-32.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #terrorofdunes
> A fury of swips and attacks, both warriors wounded! Even through this, Commander Oberuth stands toe to toe, hammer striking out!
> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 20."12 [1d20=4]
> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 31."12 [1d20=20]
> roll 1d20+11 crit check
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 crit check and gets 18."12 [1d20=7]
> roll 2d8+10
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+10 and gets 17."12 [2d8=1, 6]
> roll 1d4+1
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+1 and gets 3."12 [1d4=2]
> The blow is a heavy one! The bone devil's form seems to shift, shimmering with chaotic energies! It's call is not words, but primal pain! Meanwhile, the sounds from above get closer, then the Hellcat circles around towards the Commander, but does nothing yet! OOC - Alicia.
<Alicia> Accuracy by volume! Alicia spams attacks with both sides of her sword, mounting frustration throwing away all attempts at discipline and focus!
<Alicia> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 and gets 26."12 [1d20=17]
<Alicia> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 and gets 21."12 [1d20=12]
<Alicia> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+4 and gets 18."12 [1d20=14]
<Alicia> OOC: fuck you. Just fuck you, man.
<Alicia> roll 6d6+12
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6d6+12 and gets 33."12 [6d6=5, 1, 6, 6, 1, 2]
> Vulnerable, the Bone Devil is torn into like a soft animal! It's hard bones are shattered about with comical ease, Alicia finding no resistance whatsoever! The bone Devil seems disoriented, but attacks again, focusing the same as it did last round!
> roll 1d20+14 bite
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 bite and gets 24."12 [1d20=10]
> roll 1d20+12 claw A
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 claw A and gets 17."12 [1d20=5]
> roll 1d20+12 claw O
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 claw O and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
> roll 1d20+12 claw O critcheck
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 claw O critcheck and gets 20."12 [1d20=8]
> roll 1d8+5+2d4+4
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+5+2d4+4 and gets 25."12 [1d8=8][2d4=4, 4]
> Commander Oberuth is torn up, bleeding! Still stnading despite his wounds, bleeding badly, "Is...taht it?" he huffs out, swinging his hammer two more timse!
> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 26."12 [1d20=10]
> roll 1d20+11
<Alicia> OOC: oh, hey, my damage should've been +15. Forgot the strength bonus
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 30."12 [1d20=19]
> OOC - Okay.
> roll 4d8+20
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+20 and gets 46."12 [4d8=5, 8, 7, 6]
> Despite bleeding horrifically, Commander Oberuth swings the Hammer of the Shard! It slams into it's head twice, the first staggering it and the second shattering it into a rawhide covered skeletial pipe bomb! The entire creature falls apart, slaughtered! THe hellcat hisses at this, creeping away quickly up the walkway! OOC - Alicia.
<Alicia> "The Hellcat's going back outside," Alicia observes, as much for the benefit of Seira and company via the message spell as Obureth, as she takes out her wand and steps closer to heal the commander. "I apologise for being so little use, sir," she adds shamefacedly. Devils are just a different tier entirely from the bandits and demihuman savages she's more used to dealing with, for all that they are what should concern her far more...
<Alicia> roll 1d8+1
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+1 and gets 8."12 [1d8=7]
> "Who cares?" Commander Oberuth grins from ear to ear, blood stained even as he heals. "See?" Pointing up at the walkway, "The one with the glaive and the cat are running. If we hurry we can kill them, too!"
* Alicia nods. "Let's catch them before they escape to cause more trouble," she agrees, giving pursuit.
> Up the walkway Alicia and Oberuth run! As they come out, they see the Bearded Devi running to the woods! (Alicia sees the Hellcat just a few feet ahead of it). They're about 80 feet away or so, running into the foliage.
<Alicia> OOC: can I act?
> OOC - Sure.
* Alicia charges the bearded devil. "For Mystra!" she cries, leaping high and then crashing down with a massive overhead swing!
<Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -3 power attack COME ON
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 -3 power attack COME ON and gets 22."12 [1d20=12]
<Alicia> roll 2d6+13
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+13 and gets 20."12 [2d6=3, 4]
> OOC - You an make it 80ft in one round and attack?
<Alicia> OOC: speed 40. Charge.
> OOC - Okay.
> Running forth, Alicia slams into the bearded devil! Her strike deals solid damage, tearing ito it! Commander Oberuth follows, not as fast, but still racing to them! The hellcat continues to run at a good clip away, whilt ehe Bearded Devil is pinned! OOC - Initiative.
<Alicia> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+4 and gets 13."12 [1d20=9]
> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 24."12 [1d20=18]
> roll 1d20+1
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 and gets 18."12 [1d20=17]
* Kotono changes topic to 'Bearded>Oberuth>AliciahatesHatbot'
> The bearded devil has little choice but to return the attack onto Alicia!
> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 11."12 [1d20=2]
> But it fails, msising her entirely! Commander Oberuth finishes running up and attacks it boldly!
> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 18."12 [1d20=2]
> But he narrowly misses it, htiting the ground at it's feet! OOC - Alicia.
<Alicia> "I'll leave this one to you!" Alicia tells the commander, before ducking and rolling past it before springing up and pursuing the hellcat - there's no telling how many innocents it could kill if left to roam unchecked.
<Alicia> roll 1d20+12 DC 15 tumble
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 DC 15 tumble and gets 16."12 [1d20=4]
> So Alicia runs off, as Oberuth and the devil square off! OOC - I'll do this offscreen since you're cat chasing. SEc to look up some stuff.
> OOC: How much is the duration on detect inviz?
<Alicia> OOC: 30 minutes
> Alicia gives chase! The hellcat keeps a steady, loping pace ahead! It runs with easy speed, keeping pace away! Through the forest the two sprint!
<Alicia> OOC: what's my distance from it?
> 80 ft at the moment. Both of you are running and moving. Chance to do something else or tr something if you like.
<Alicia> OOC: Fuck it, I guess I'll hope for a crit...
* Alicia risks falling behind a bit further as she reaches for her last tanglefoot bag and pauses for a second to hurl it forward at the cat!
<Alicia> roll 1d20+3 ranged touch attack
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+3 ranged touch attack and gets 4."12 [1d20=1]
<Alicia> OOC: man, I'm stupid and gullible
> Alicia stops and throws her tanglefoot bag! Howpever, she misjudges, the bag hitting a branch and splashing away to the side, totally errant! Meanwhile, the hellcat keeps on running!
* Alicia follows a bit more slowly as she uses her borrowed wand to blast a few magic missiles at the cat, now. At least they won't miss, although whether they'll beat its spell resistance is another matter...
<Alicia> roll 1d20+5 SR check
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 SR check and gets 22."12 [1d20=17]
<Alicia> roll 3d4+3
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d4+3 and gets 8."12 [3d4=1, 1, 3]
> A few missiles braise the evil feline, wounding it as it continues to run!
<Alicia> Not wanting to be left behind entirely, Alicia resumes sprinting now, hoping the terrain will force the cat to slow down soon enough so she can shoot it some more, or close to melee.
> Eventually the cat stops! A river is ahead, about twenty feet wide. After a few moments...it attemps to leap it!
> roll 1d20+21
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 41."12 [1d20=20]
> With ample speed it clears it, keeping it's pace up on the other side!
* Alicia jumps as well!
<Alicia> roll 1d20+24
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 39."12 [1d20=15]
<Alicia> OOC: wait, if it stopped can't I catch up and whack it/shoot it?
> OOC - Oh yeah, you could.
* Alicia charges the cat as it loiters on the riverbank!
<Alicia> roll 1d20+11 -2 power attack
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+11 -2 power attack and gets 20."12 [1d20=9]
<Alicia> OOC: aaaaah!
> Despite her quick movement, Alicia misses! Seeing Alicia in range, the cat steps back against the water and slashes at her!
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 14."12 [1d20=1]
> But if ails completely! OOC - Initiative now, I thin.
<Alicia> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+4 and gets 5."12 [1d20=1]
* Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia>Hellcat'
> OOC - Oh wait.
> OOC - That was it's attack, not it's...oh. I clearly suck.
> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 24."12 [1d20=15]
* Kotono changes topic to 'Hellcat>AliciaARGH'
> The cat views it's options, making a single attack against Alicia first...
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 30."12 [1d20=17]
> roll 1d8+6
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+6 and gets 12."12 [1d8=6]
> With a flick of it's claws, Alicia is wonded again! After that, it falls back against the bank of the river!
<Alicia> OOC: hay, mirror image!
> OOC: Oh yeah.
<Alicia> OOC: 5 of me!
> roll 1d5 1=hit
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d5 1=hit and gets 5."12 [1d5=5]
> OOC - Strike that, then.
> With a flick of it's claws, Alicia loses a double! After that, it falls back against the bank of the river!
<Alicia> Not wanting to give it room to pounce at her, Alicia presses forward to attack!
<Alicia> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+11 and gets 31."12 [1d20=20]
* Seira (~Corwin@bzq-88-154-153-97.red.bezeqint.net) has joined #terrorofdunes
<Alicia> OOC: goddammit
<Alicia> roll 1d20+11 crit check
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+11 crit check and gets 25."12 [1d20=14]
> OOC - Crit.
<Alicia> roll 4d6+14
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d6+14 and gets 29."12 [4d6=6, 3, 4, 2]
> Slashed hard, the hellcat is wounded fiercely! Dazed by the attack and hurt, it attacks Alicia with all it has, as Seira begins to approach from above!
* Kotono changes topic to 'Hellcat>AliciaARGH>Seira'
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 22."12 [1d20=9]
> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 25."12 [1d20=12]
> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 13."12 [1d20=5]
> roll 1d4 attack 1
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 attack 1 and gets 4."12 [1d4=4]
> roll 1d3 attack 2
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d3 attack 2 and gets 1."12 [1d3=1]
> roll 1d3 attack 3
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d3 attack 3 and gets 3."12 [1d3=3]
> OOC - AC?
<Alicia> OOC: 24
> roll 1d8+6
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+6 and gets 14."12 [1d8=8]
> The images are shredded, as Alicia takes a gouge to her leg, making her bleed more! OOc - Alicia.
* Alicia falters, realising that this might be the end... but recognising that she can't retreat quickly enough, now. All she can do is hope this last flurry is enough to end things first, laying into the hellcat with everything she has!
<Alicia> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 and gets 15."12 [1d20=6]
<Alicia> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 and gets 10."12 [1d20=1]
<Alicia> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+4 and gets 17."12 [1d20=13]
> Yet despite her energy, Alicia cannot land a blow! They splash about, wounded parties doing battle! OOC - Elfgirr.
* Alicia sets mode: +o Seira
* Kotono sets mode: +ooo Loligoth|AFK Reiko-chan Taishyr
<Seira> Approaching swiftly from above, Seira lets her regular arrows speak for her, announcing her presence to the pair of combatants!
<Seira> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 and gets 31."12 [1d20=19]
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+12 --> 1,0[ 1d20=13 ]12,0{25}
<Seira> roll 1d20+12
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+12 --> 1,0[ 1d20=1 ]12,0{13}
* Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 and gets 26."12 [1d20=14]
<Seira> roll 1d20+12
<Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+12 --> 1,0[ 1d20=18 ]12,0{30}
* Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 and gets 18."12 [1d20=6]
* Alicia sets mode: -o Reiko-chan
> OOC - STrike those and choose a bot. D'oh.
<Seira> OOC: The bot of hate whom I always rant at?
<Seira> roll 1d8+1+2d6
* Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d8+1+2d6 and gets 10."12 [1d8=4][2d6=1, 4]
<Seira> roll 1d8+1+2d6
* Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d8+1+2d6 and gets 16."12 [1d8=6][2d6=3, 6]
> roll 1d100 1-50 miss via concealment boost for invisbility attack 1
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 1-50 miss via concealment boost for invisbility attack 1 and gets 3."12 [1d100=3]
> roll 1d100 1-50 miss via concealment boost for invisbility attack 2
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 1-50 miss via concealment boost for invisbility attack 2 and gets 64."12 [1d100=64]
> With a final bevy of arrows, two splash down! One misses, but the other hit! The hellcat collapses into the water, slain!
* Alicia staggers backwards and sits on the riverbank, looking appreciatively up at her benefactor. "That's twice I've been saved, today..." she observes wearily.
* Seira touches down next to it, and outlines its corpse with a sickly green. She holds out her remaining potion, that of cure medium wounds. "Need a pick up, Alicia?"
<Alicia> "Please," Alicia gratefully accepts the potion and chugs it down, before letting herself shrink to her normal size. "I think that was the last of them, assuming no problems on your end?"
<Alicia> roll 2d8+3
* Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+3 and gets 12."12 [2d8=6, 3]
<Seira> "Donald was too fresh. I made a mistake taking him along." Seira seems upset. "I'll bring him back to Balmuria, to have Elle reincarnate his soul. I'm not quite about ready to give up on training him, yet."
* Alicia sighs and looks down. "We shouldn't have split up... but, is such magic really possible?" she asks, surprised.
<Seira> "I have a scroll of it," Seira admits. "It's not something I advertise."
<Seira> "In any case, the opposition should be taken care of, and I found out why they were coming, and how to stop them. Let's regroup with Commander Oberuth and Pollyanna, and see to that."
* Alicia is silent for a long uncomfortable moment before she clambers to her feet. "I suppose not," she agrees, before starting back to the dome.
* Seira matches her speed, following on foot warily.
> So they return to the portal. By now they find it smashed, Commander Oberuth whistling with a merriness as he continues to bring the Hammer of the Shard down. A rain of blows, over and over and over. The ground is good and pulverised, ruined.
<Seira> "Sir, please put the Hammer down and step away from it," Seira tells him in a commanding tone of voice.
* Seira continues observing the area for any traces of magic, and asks Alicia, "Do you see a change from before in the aura?"
* Alicia wearily looks on, studying the evil taint suffusing the area as she leans on the wall, battered and bloodied.
> Alicia sees that the evil is gone now.
<Alicia> "No evil at all," Alicia confirms after a moment, groaning slightly as she shifts her weight.
* Seira continues to observe the magic until she is absolutely certain it has left the world. "Very well," she speaks. "I will take Donald back, and use magic to travel faster. I could take one other. Alicia, would you come along?"
<Alicia> "What about the commander and Pollyanna?" Alicia asks. "I don't like the idea of us being seperated, even if we have killed all the devils. We're not in great shape even if some wild animals or goblins attacked us, right now."
<Seira> "I believe a full retreat in the face of such threats would be warranted," Seira responds. "And the Commander is very strong, while Pollyanna represents an opportunity to project force from a distance. In fact, as I would be burdened on this trip, and out of my strongest spell, it makes sense for my ranged abilities to be complimented by someone capable of fighting in melee."
<Alicia> "Then why not simply retreat together? Will an extra few days getting back to the city really matter?" Alicia reasons. "As a group, even as diminished as we are right now, we can defend ourselves - even moreso tomorrow once you and I have our spells back. We might as well stick to each other." Besides which, Alicia's faith in her combat skills is at an all time low, right now.
<Seira> "The more time I have to work on the scroll of reincarnation, the better," Seira admits quietly, only for Alicia's ears. "It's not easy to activate, and I cannot do this here, in the woods."
<Alicia> "Ah..." Alicia nods slowly. "Well, we'll have to stay together until you prepare new spells. Lets get moving and we can split up tomorrow?" She looks to see if Pollyanna and Obureth are amenable.
* Seira nods, and glances at Pollyanna herself, to see if she needs any healing.
> Pollyanna smiles faintly, while Commander Oberuth at last stops and nods. "Fine. Let's rest and make surethis is disposed of."
> ---
> So Alicia and Seira rush back to Balmuria, Donald's remains in hand. To Stronger's spellshop, where you find her fanning herself with a fan and drinkign cold water. "Back again," she calls, "How'd your trip out go?"
* Alicia has a rather obvious cloth wrapped body shaped object in a fireman's carry over her shoulder as she follows Seira's directions to the shop.
<Seira> "We sealed the portal, so they won't be coming back any time soon," Seira responds, keeping her cool this time around. "Elle, I know we couldn't do anything about Shamal, but could you try the scroll again on Donald? I can't quite let go of someone I'm responsible for, and he clearly needs more training, so he can't leave just yet."
> "...not again..." Countess Stronger looks away, "Alright. I will." Quietly she gets up, going to get it. Coming back a few moments later, "Here I go. Let's pray that..." Closing her eyes for just a moment, Elle begins to concentrate.
> roll 2#1d20
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2#1d20 and gets 17."12 [2#1d20 = 11, 6]
> Elle tosses the scroll into the air,c hanting! The room around her begins to shake, power coming forth! "I call the eternal cycle to give forth another chance! Bring back to order this soul at it'sheight! Create for him a new body..." The scroll lingers in the air, floating down as it glows! "And restore his natural order!"
> There is a crack of lighting from the clear sky outside, the ground shaking! Then...
> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 15."12 [1d100=15]
* Alicia murmurs a quiet prayer to Mystra as she watches the proceedings. "Mother of Mysteries, please guide this brave soul back, that he may have a second chance at doing good in his life..." she prays fervently.
* Seira is very frightened on the inside, but covers it well as she gives off the appearance of calmness.
> SLowly it beginst o form, as chanting goes on! Elle does not stopa fter a minute, or even five! "Goddess Milekki! Breathe the natural order on! God Lathander, shine your light down onto a new life! God Kelemvor, release your hold on this soul!" Each chant makes the scroll glow brighter, starting to fade. Another crack of lighting, making everything shake! But besides Donald's body, another begins to form. Slightly shorter, finer. With pointed elven ears...
>  Slightly shorter, finer. With pointed elven ears...
<Alicia> Alicia's words trail off as she stares in awe at the proceedings. Of all the magic she's seen... none can compare with this.
* Seira tackles Elle as soon as the spell ends, hugging her tightly. "Thank you!" she tells the older mage brightly.
> At last the spell ends, time having passed in a daze. But lying there is Donald, pointed elven body and all. Elle falls back after it, barely held up by Seira. "...ow." she says distantly.
> The scroll is gone in a final wink of light, a gush of cool air coming. Then a moment of silence before, "...ow." This time it's Donald that says that, however.
<Alicia> "We..." Alicia swallows, her throat suddenly dry. If she had this sort of magic... But no, such things shouldn't be dwelled upon. "Welcome back," she gets out hoarsely.
> "Alicia?" Donald mutters, voice finer, a little higher and musical. He blinks and sits up, "Seira? What...?"
<Seira> "This is your only chance," Seira tells him, trying to be stern but failing, in Elle's arms. "I'll train you harder than ever, so this won't recur!"
> "...wow." Elle licks her lips, "Find another of those even if you have to search a thousand gnomish ruins," she says, "That was...wow."
<Seira> "Anything," Seira tells her quietly. "I think this qualifies for a favor I can't repay, so I'll give it my best."
> "Chance?" Fuzzily blinking, "What the hellare you talking about?" Donald looks about, holding his head in his hands. "Funny...what happened?"
<Alicia> "It's a chance vanishingly few ever have..." Alicia mumbles, her eyes glistening faintly as memories rise unbidden to the surface. Sniffing and forcing herself to focus on the present, she tries to firm up her voice, "Don't you remember what happened, Donald?"
> "No. I remember fighting and then I'm here." Looking at Alicia in a dim confusion, "From one to another."
<Seira> "You died. And from those stupid, weakling devils to boot," Seira informs Donald. "We brought you back." She tilts her head. "I suppose Lathander approved of your efforts, if not the final result. Thus the extra training you're going to do."
<Alicia> "You're probably not the only one that needs to train," Alicia mutters, looking away and flushing slightly.
<Seira> "Elle," Seira speaks suddenly. "Could you gather information on any legends of portals or planar gates that used to be in these parts? We closed the one we know about, but there could be others, and we can bet Baator won't stop trying."
> Donald shakes his head, looking down...and freezing. He looks at his hands curiously, then holds his head..andf reezes altogether, tugging on  his ears.
* Seira has one in particular she knows about, which is likely the cause for all this trouble, but she decides to put off visiting it before she has a clearer picture.
<Seira> "Don't do that, they're sensitive," Seira chides him, like one would a child.
> "Once I lie down, sure," Elle agrees, looking on. "Just..." With a shake of her head, "Don't go getting yourself killed again, alright?"
<Seira> "I have not been killed yet," Seira tells her, with a cocky smirk now appearing. "I am starting to believe that I am immortal."

> The path to Seira's inn passes without incident. Once inside, a drink is procured(And water for Alicia.) Once the two of you sit at a table, "So..." Donald begins, breathing out, "You wanted to talk about Lathander?"
<Alicia> "No, you did," Alicia corrects not unkindly, rearranging the sword strapped to her back slightly as she sits down. "I offered to listen, so..." she trails off leadingly.
> "Oooh. Yes," Smiling winsomely at that, "Oh, here," he offers a hand, "Do you want me to put your sword up while you sit down?"
<Alicia> "It's fine," Alicia waves it aside. "It doesn't really get in the way unless I sit in an armchair or something like that."
> "It's impressive," Donald looks on at it, "Where'd you learn to use a weapon like that?"
<Alicia> "Back home in Kelara," Alicia replies. "Before discovering Mystra's blessings I trained to be a blademaster... I had thought that combining martial skill with magic would create a more potent whole, though now I wonder if diluting my focus was a mistake..." she briefly looks troubled, before scowling and shaking her head. "Bah, nevermind that. Why don't you tell me about Lathander?"
> "Kelara, eh? It sounds interesting..." Trailing off as Alicia speaks, Donald smiles. "I don't know - aren't you good at magic AND fighting instead of just magic?" But after a moment he goes on, "Like how a cleric of Lathander should be decent at fighting and at casting magic?"
<Alicia> "That was the ideal I espoused, yes," Alicia admits, taking a gulp of her water. "And it works to a terrifying degree against the likes of bandits and orcs and similar rabble. But facing the forces of hell made me see that I have a very long way to go..."
> "Well, not like I can say much..." Donald scowls darkly, "But you did better than I did. You'll learn from that and get better. Besides..." After a moment, Donald smiles and shrugs, "If there weren't demons, devils or undead? There wouldn't e much point to training as a paladin."
* Alicia exhales sharply and nods. "Indeed. I certainly never imagined giving my services to Lord Salman would be this dangerous... and yet, if the forces of darkness are amassing themselves against this city with such a fury, it behooves me to stand against them no matter what."
> "Heh, it was like that for me...I think." Frowning, "I came to Balmuria chasing the undead. Have you heard of a man called Febras?" Donald continues on, leaning back and idly reaching up to tug on an ear.
<Alicia> "Seira told me much about him," Alicia agrees with a disapproving look.
> "HE turned out to be why Balmuria had ghoul problems. Funny, I came here to fight that and I ended up fighting that and all sorts of other things. Kind of got stuck on here." Another frown, Donald, "Because came from Valandia and...bleh. Regardless of why, bad things like this city. WE have to stop that."
<Alicia> "Indeed. What occurs here will have ramifications far beyond the borders of one small nation," Alicia nods, before cocking her head slightly, "So you are from Malmuth, originally?"
> "Not quite," Donald smiles thinly, leaning back. "No, I come..." Donald blinks and frowns, "...shit. You know what?"
* Alicia blinks as well. "You've... forgotten your home? Entirely?" she asks, somewhat shocked.
> "Of course not! I forgot the name - I can remember the place, what my mother looked like, the grassy hill behind the granaries, that sort of thing. I just can't remembe the name!" Donald mutters.
<Alicia> "Well, can't you remember where it was on a map and work it out from there?" Alicia asks, honestly having trouble wrapping her head around this concept.
> "Probably," Donald bites his lip as he thinks, "Grassy hill behind the granary, that little uprise from the earthquake when I was a baby that we played...!" Donald perks up. "Tenogan! Before I left, anyway."
<Alicia> "Never heard of it," Alicia replies blankly.
> "That's the name of the town," Donald goes on, "I left when I went to try to train to become a paladin," Going on quickly now, pace increasing, "That part didn't work out, but..."
<Alicia> "Ahh. What country was... wait, you trained as a paladin? What went wrong?" she asks, wondering if maybe he cleaved to a different faith before Lathander pulled him away.
> "Well..." Scratching the back of his head, "It just never clicked. My instructors liked to say I was too brash...bah. They're just stupid old men." Taking a long pull from his drink, "Great at fighting, that Donald. Not so much otherwise."
<Alicia> "Hmm... I suppose I was fortunate that the priests I knew were only too happy to take me in and provide guidance. Still, I was touched by Mystra even before I set foot in the temple. Perhaps Lathander has different plans for you?" she offers, trying to sound comforting in spite of the vague self importance of her words.
> "Oh, sure. It doesn't meanI can't be irritated." GLowering again, "Still, I know I've done good, so no regrets there. Whenever FEbras returns, he's dead. Again."
* Alicia nods grimly. "His actions warrant such," she agrees. "As for the rest of it? Yes, you've done good - does it matter if you've done it with a sword rather than a spell?"
* Sierra_Devourer is now known as Sierra_OHGODTHELIGHTTHELIGHT
> "Not at all," Donald says strongly, "You know that as well as anyone - I bet you'd cut apart a ghoul with that sword as easily as burning one."
<Alicia> "At least ghouls *can* burn. That was one of the worst things about fighting those devils, so much magic simply fails to bother them. I'll need to improve myself greatly if I face their like again," Alicia scowls.
> "It's like hitting an ooze with a weapon," Donald reaches over to gently pat Alicia's shoulder. "But if you first don't get it, do it a lot stronger and harder."
<Alicia> "Not that bad. At least the devils didn't split into two devils when you hit them," Alicia snorts, finishing off her water and ignoring the patting gesture, even if she vaguely disapproves. "So, has the captain started her promised training, yet?" she asks, changing the subject.

I completely understand Alicia's angst about devil immunities. We all do.

<Alicia> [22:04] <Alicia> "At least ghouls *can* burn. That was one of the worst things about fighting those devils, so much magic simply fails to bother them. I'll need to improve myself greatly if I face their like again," Alicia scowls.
<Alicia> [22:11] <Kotono> "It's like hitting an ooze with a weapon," Donald reaches over to gently pat Alicia's shoulder. "But if you first don't get it, do it a lot stronger and harder."
<Alicia> [22:16] <Alicia> "Not that bad. At least the devils didn't split into two devils when you hit them," Alicia snorts, finishing off her water and ignoring the patting gesture, even if she vaguely disapproves. "So, has the captain started her promised training, yet?" she asks, changing the subject.
> "Not yet...but it will be soon." Donald laughs a little bit, looking away. "I guess I need it now, though."
<Alicia> "Yes, we're not exactly dealing with small things, anymore. Mistakes can't be afforded," Alicia nods. "Even moreso if you have to get used to a new body..." she admits.
> "I'll learn. I'm faster now," Donald admits thoughtfully, "It's like my nerves are quicker. I can use that...and maybe my brain a bit." A deep thought, "I can learn stuff quite well."
<Alicia> "Have to fill in those blanks somehow, right?" Alicia observes. "But yes, elves are renowned for being especially nimble... and correspondingly frail." Her expression turns harder, "You're going to need that speed, Donald."
> "It's not like being able to take a blow helped last time," Donald agrees with a vaguely irriated, angry look playing over his face. "Damn. A bastard sword's far from anything fast and finessey, though."
<Alicia> "I noticed you use one of those - why not a shield as well?" Alicia suggests. "If you're going to wield it two-handed, you'd be as well going all the way with a greatsword."
> "I used to use one. I had a silver greatsword that..." Donald starts to frown, "I lost it somehow, but then Shamal and the city loaned me the bastard sword I have now, which is enchanted. It swings like nothing else, so I've been learning to use that instead." As Donald goes on, his eyes light up, "I hadn't really gotten to the point of using a shield with it, though."
<Alicia> "It does require special training to use a bastard sword one-handed... much the same as my blade is difficult for a common warrior to pick up and use," Alicia nods as she stands up. "You should work on that, Donald. You'll thank yourself for it, I think."
* CC (~Corwin@bzq-88-154-98-126.red.bezeqint.net) has joined #terrorofdunes
> "I will. Say, Alicia," Donald says as the warrior woman stands, "Could you show me how to use that double sword of yours sometime?"
* Seira (~Corwin@bzq-88-154-153-97.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by CC))
* CC is now known as Seira
<Alicia> "Ah... I could try," Alicia hesitates briefly, glancing at her weapon. "It's easy to hurt yourself with it if you're used to swinging a single blade around."
> "I can handle it. I'd like to learn another option from you, if you don't midn teaching me," With his own easy smile, "When you have some time, Alicia?"
<Alicia> "You'll find me at the garrison more likely than not," Alicia shrugs. "Until then, I'm glad you're doing well," she gives him a brief nod before striding out of the inn.

> Lord Salman is found sitting in the converted room of the garrison. With guards outside the room and in, he greets Seira. "What is it you wish to discuss with us, Seira?"
* Kotono sets mode: +o Seira
<Seira> "I want to take the pesky border area no one wants as the land you offered me, Sir, and set a tower there," Seira responds primly. "Buff the defenses, naturally, that sort of thing. Perhaps build a few farms, because farms are key."
> There is a pause as Lord Salman rests his head on his hand, watchign Seira with deep eyes. "Your request is an unusual one. The borderlands past Balmuria are dangerous for twofold reasons - Malmuth and what lies beyond in the Barbarian Lands."
<Seira> "Oh, the Barbarian Lands, about that...." Seira smiles at him. "Sir, I believe it would be possible to civilize them in due time. I would even be happy to help in that area, thus expanding the Baronies!"
> "Seira...." Lord Salman speaks as he leans back, voice rich, deep and thoughtful. "It may be. Costs of that aside for the moment, the matter you propose is not one to be blundered into lightly. The Barbarian lands are something of an unofficial barrier between three countries. Intruding into them on that scale is not done lightly."
<Seira> "I understand, Sir," she returns, speaking reasonably and nodding in all the right places. "In fact, I have given this much thought. However, you must admit that it would be an interesting move, especially at this time of change. Malmuth would think twice before they invade, because if they know anything about me is that I would invade back and they would not like it. And the elves may well appreciate someone to bring the goblins
<Seira> who can't seem to stop harrassing their borders all the time under a heel. Yezrut did that, and while stupid, he showed that it is possible to focus groups of goblins. And if the elves should find themselves bordering with anyone, perhaps someone of elven blood would be more acceptable than a barbarian, kobold or human?"
> "It would also be the front line of any invasion along with Balmuria. If Balmuria fell, your land would be isolated and pocketed, or it would be focused on first. While there are hopes of peace, nothing is certain." After that, he listens to the rest. "It may well be that they appreciate that - yet if they wanted it destroyed, would they have not done so already?"
<Seira> "Sir," Seira says gently, "you may be giving the elven council too much credit. They have come together on the times they dealt with us, yes, but normally, elves would deliberate for centuries merely because they could, and no agreement would come of it. Besides, their behavior until present was clearly, even by their admission, isolationist. This precludes any ventures outside their territory to expand it, Sir." She smiles, then,
<Seira>  suddenly. "And Malmuth might rethink their invasion if we picket our mutual border with devil heads on pikes. Sir."
> "Hmmm." Lord Salman thinks over those words, "Seira, what would you build on those lands?"
<Seira> Besides farms? Seira considers the question. "A school of magic, Lord Salman," she responds, using his name this time. "It is a gift that must be shared. I am not the only one who thinks so, clearly... thus, would it not be best that we were the ones who shaped impressionable young minds, and not Irenes, away in Malmuth?"
> "A school of magic..." Lord Salman continueslong on that, "While we possess a few mages in this city - yourself, Alicia, Stronger, Mihail and a few clerics - we have no means of directly attempting to make more. Such a school could be valuable..."
<Seira> "Book magic comes from training, so anyone smart enough to crack a tome open, especially without prodding, can be taught to harness it, Sir," Seira says. "The percentage of potential mages amongst the population is surely higher by an order of magnitude or several than the actual amount of mages active in our society."
> "We can hope. The gift is magic is not a common one. If you were correct..." Lord Salman ponders those words a time, "Yet I do raise a concern. I find the thought of having such a successful school in danger of being on the front line worrisome."
<Seira> "Perhaps not if we open it to Malmuthian applicants," Seira muses. "It would seem wasteful for them to bring it down, while they could use it to learn of our plans and knowledge. That time would, of course, be used to further impress our values on our neighbors, as we do the same, only better." She frowns. "I'm not certain that an assault of a mage tower would be smart, however, Sir. It will be full of nasty defenses of nastiness,
<Seira>  as are all magely towers."
> "You propose as much risk as reward," Lord Salman speaks after that, "Yet you are determined and you are one of the people We trust the most. Is there anything else you wish to say on your proposal?"
<Seira> "I will succeed, naturally," Seira states. "Yet not due to some arrogance, but because I enjoy the aid and support of strong, confident men and women serving the Baronies, Sir."
> "Very well. We need to deliberate on this matter and consult. When we have reached a decision you will be called back, Seira." Lord Salman speaks once more.
* Seira inclines her head. "Yes, Sir," she says obediently, and leaves as she is dismissed.
> ------
> OOC: You wanted to chat with Polly?
* El-Cideon (~Melanchth@pool-71-191-16-113.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #terrorofdunes
<Seira> OOC: Sure thing
> OOC: Sure, just a sec, RL slowed me.
> Pollyanna can be foudn in a new and exciting way! She's at the garrison today, and with good reason. For her practice she has a few soldiers helping her - they have buckets of water, periodically quenching the fires that start from flaming arrows. But she works, determined.
<Seira> "You're on fire, today," Seira deadpans, coming up behind Pollyanna quietly. And remaining dexterous enough to duck should the archer girl inexplicably turn around in fright and shoot at her.
> Pollyanna doesn't even slow, even as her helpers nearly drop their water buckets to quickly salute at Seira. "Trying. This bow's amazing..." she murmurs, a steady stream of burning arrows.
<Seira> "Yes, it is," Seira agrees. "I like your calmness and concentration. But at the same time, I feel jealous that you're not feeling the burden of command, so I think I'll promote you."
> Polly fires off a few more arrows before a momentary pause, glancing at Seira. "Hm?"
* Seira shrugs. "Responsibility. Why should I be alone having it? We archers should stick together, and promote a strategy of hitting the enemy with sharp pointy things and setting them on fire before they even think of closing in to melee range. Interested?"
> Pollyanna fires one more arrow before stopping, securing her bow on her back. "What's the actual proposition, beyond just 'promotion?'"
<Seira> "Rumors reached my ears, of an elite squad being nurtured by Demedais, sponsored by his temple. Well, I don't have the full backing Helm behind me, but I sure want to try this elite squad idea, and I can think of no one better to head it."
> "...alright." Pollyanna smiles just a moment, "The same squad as Demedais?"
<Seira> "Where is the fun in that? We're trying to nurture talented men and women, and there is only so much finite talent in a given person." Seira's tone gets more serious, and she speaks quietly, only for Pollyanna's ears. "I would like you to take my place, protecting this city. I get the feeling that I would not be able to dedicate it as much attention in the days to come, perhaps never again, as certain local and global forces becom
<Seira> e more and more involved."
> "Where are you going,"Pollyanna lowers her voice respectfully, turning to Seira fully.
<Seira> "An important conference that is highly classified about everything in it, including its existence," Seira responds. "Avant-garde magical research. A project to change the face of the world for good, and without relying on the gods for strength we already possess. Even a barbarian lands campaign in the not too far future, perhaps." She steps closer to Pollyanna, circling her until the archer no longer needs to glance sideways at h
<Seira> er. "Of course, if you would rather work with me on any of those instead...."
> "Let me think about it..." Pollyanna considers, "And...I want to talk to Demedais when he gets back..."
<Seira> "He's involved by default," Seira says immediately, stepping back, and the atmosphere seems to change in a flash, the mood becoming lighter. "But be my guest. It's nothing illegal or immoral."
> "I know, just...it's personal with him," Pollyanna smiles, a moment of niceness before she blushes.
* Seira rolls her eyes. "Mixing business and pleasure, may it work out for you. I'll be waiting for an answer."
> "It's not that far along," Pollyanna shakes her head, the blush quickly fading. "Just...I'll let you know, alright. I'm interested, but I want to deal with that first before commiting."
<Seira> "I think we'll give you that promotion, then, and see how things develop as they do," Seira concludes. "I'll go handle the paperwork with the Commander, now."

Deme stuff.

> Demedais walks down the streets. As he does his business at the garrison done for now, he is distracted in the busy streets. Pollyanna comes out of a side road, wearing her quiver of arrows as per always. She takes a moment to smile and wave at him.
* Demedais pauses as well for a second, waving back to Pollyanna.
> "Demedais," she calls as she approaches, "Are you done for the day?"
<Demedais> "For the most part." Demedais replies. "I need to go speak with Engan, but other than that..."
> "Yes, same here. I've been at it since just past dawn. "STretching her arms back, "It's good practice for myself, as well as the soldiers."
* Demedais nods wryly. "Engan's been putting me through the wringer lately... I worry on occasion that the help I give to the students at the Crimson Academy is subpar as a result."
> "Mmm." Pollyanna is quiet a few moments, chewing on her lip. "How are things?"
<Demedais> "They don't sound good." Demedais says, looking out to the east with a frown.
> "I noticed..." Pollyanna muses, "You're going to be careful until the others return, aren't you?"
<Demedais> "Seira and Alicia? They did today. Their report confirmed it." Demedais nods. "Seira'd probably like to see you at some point today, idly, but since she's probably going to be relaxing, there's no hurry."
> "I'll go...hm." Pollyanna smiles a little at that, "Still, good. It's like everyone's on edge still now, though."
<Demedais> "It'll be like this until the army's at our gates, I think... and then it won't be much better. You know?" Demedais chuckles, beginning to walk slowly to Engan's house and beckoning her to follow.
> Following along, "Oh, I know..." Pollyanna smiles nonetheless, picking her pace up to get in full walk with Demedais. "Worried?"
<Demedais> "Quite." Demedais says. "There are a thousand things to be done, and yet all of them may not yet be enough... It will be dangerous."
> "It will," Pollyanna smiles, but pats Demedais on the back as they head towards the garrison, where Engan stays. "How's thet raining?"
<Demedais> "Exhausting." Demeedais shakes his head. "I think I'm finally beginning to get the hang of what he's talking about... and it feels like Helm approves of this path, too; I think I managed to focus enough to fortify my blade a few days ago.
> "Good!" Pollyanna smiles ear to ear, "How is it now?"
<Demedais> "It's sharper, pretty much." Demedais chuckles. "Notifying Engan of that's only made the training even more difficult, which is proving to be slightly irritating. I'm used to constant motion in battle, not holding a stance for over ten minutes..."
> So the garrison is reached, as the two laugh over the problems of holding. Engan rests in his room, the door opened on a knock. He nods politely to Pollyanna first, hol


<END OF LOG>

[Corwin]

> "...No, I...He tried, you know. But some people aren't meant to walk the night, it's what he said." She laughs a little bit, a bitter sound. "I will. I know that already..."
<Shamal> "He tried?" Shamal's head snaps upwards, looking dead on at the other woman. "What did he try? What did he do to you?"
> She shakes her head back and forth, "I'm still entirely human. You don't need to look at me funny. Every time he didn't have it linger long. It just left me tired, but it never took."
<Shamal> "I know that - the guard who was affected returned to normal after we dispelled the effect. But what exactly was it he did?" the blonde presses. "And why?"
> "Magic. How should I know?" There's a little, unhappy laugh at that, "He just, I don't know. He seems interested in Seira and the rest of you, though. It's what he talked about when he did talk."
> "It's just...he seems to focus, he draws you into his eyes and..."
<Shamal> "He didn't explain what he was doing at all?" Shamal asks. "Never told you what the purpose behind it was? You didn't ask?"
> "He said that I'd be...special after that. Different, stronger. I knew what he was doing, but all of them looked so powerful and vital. You think I didn't know about the butcher ahead of time?" A snort from her, unhappy.
> She pauses after, a breath. "Give me a moment," she says after.
<Shamal> "All of them? There were others?" Shamal stares a moment herself, rather shocked at hitting the motherlode so suddenly. "Of course, take all the time you need," she nods slowly.
* Demedais hesitates for a second, then steps outside and gestures Seira in.
* Seira enters, frowning.
* Demedais gestures to Seira to keep silent.
> She sits down, heavily plopping. "I didn't do anything wrong that I wanted to do. Just...you have to understand, I'm not bad. I'm not a monster or anything, just that he...has his way." She keeps her gaze away from your eyes, looking at anything but the party members. "After he first came, we were talking that night after I cleaned up that damnable mess. I don't know how, but the subject came up of his travels and that he'd seen a lot of things. I said he was lucky, not being stuck in a boring job day after day. He just started to laugh."
> lot of things. I said he was lucky, not being stuck in a boring job day after day. He just started to laugh."
* Shamal takes a seat herself, wordlessly nodding and letting the woman continue her tale.
> "He said that boredom was the worst thing in the world. The way he said it, I think he really understood it. We talked awhile, and it got to how I wished my life was more interesting. That's when he did it. He stood up and took off his hat and looked me in the eye. He rubbed that ring of his and...it was like frozen liquid water. It just seeped into me, it was very black. But it didn't stay but a moment - I was tired but..."
> "For whatever reason, it didn't stick. He was a little surprised, but he said the spark of magic must be weaker in me than usual. So he ...he kept trying, every night."
<Shamal> "Did he explain what it would have done to you if it had... stuck?" Shamal asks slowly.
> "He said...he'd make me better than the others, more like him; that he was learning how to control it." She laughs a little, looking up to Seira. "He said I'd be a good test run for you or one of the others in time, once. That if he could get it to stick to me, that he'd be able to do something amazing to any of you."
* Shamal just shakes her head. "Blessed Mielikki, just what have we gotten ourselves into, now?" she wonders, rubbing her head for a moment before going on, "What about the others you mentioned?"
> "The first one...I don't know what it was. He mentioned it was very rough. The second...well...you saw him yourself. I don't think he has full control over what it is, from what he's said. Like he's learning." At this, she frowns all the way.
<Seira> "We did?"
<Shamal> "The butcher," Shamal states flatly.
> "The butcher." It's said bluntly.
<Seira> "Is the first in Balmuria?"
> "There was the crypt and what he did there, the butcher and...myself." She shrugs, "Guess I'm the lucky one?" At that, she laughs bitterly again.
<Shamal> "And Biggs makes four..." Shamal shakes her head slowly. "Right under our noses the whole time... I always knew there was something off about him, but I never imagined it went so far... He was behind all of it, the whole time. And we even asked him for help!"
<Seira> "There are no others?" Seira attempts to ascertain.
> "That's what he liked about you..." The innkeeper speaks up at that, "He does, too. He said you were on the way up." At Seira's question, her head is shaked. "Not that I know of."
* Shamal shivers in distaste. "I could do without such admirers, I think."
<Seira> "It's a shame we couldn't trip him up while he was still in our jurisdiction," Seira says, frowning once more. "But the opportunity would likely appear again, eventually."
<Seira> "Did he ever speak of Malmuth or Irenes?" she tries asking of the innkeeper.
> "No." A shake of her head again, repeated dully. "The name Irenes came up once or twice, but about the matters with Lord Salman. He said that he at least helped prevent the worst from happening with it, and that the rest of you did your jobs after."
<Seira> "How exactly was he involved in preventing it?" Seira asks, curious now.
<Shamal> "He showed up when Lyselle and I were pursuing the assassin and told us which way she went," Shamal supplies.
* Seira nods. "Suspicious to the last."
<Shamal> "So I always thought," the blonde nods.
> A nod from the innkeep, "He can...I don't know. He can smell, move, hear, all of that, better than I could ever have imagined. It's 'natural' for him."
<Seira> "We should probably look in on Biggs and then report to the Commander," Seira proposes.
<Shamal> "Rin once said he smelled like a wolf. I thought he might have been a lycanthrope, but was never able to test the theory." Shamal sighs heavily and stands up, "You're right, we should."
> The innkeeper just nods, looking down. "I don't think he wants to hurt you directly." she adds, quietly.
<Seira> "The feeling is mutual," Seira muses. "Though he may not think so if he ever catches up to Dad."
<Shamal> "His motivations are inscrutable, but considering what happened to the butcher, I really don't want to subject myself to whatever he has in mind," the blonde witch states firmly.
* Sierra_Mikain (~Melanchth@pool-71-191-16-2.washdc.east.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
> So that evening the party returns to the barracks. The day has gone by in a flash of work and investigation, and now Biggs has finally awoken. He lies in a single room, placed there away from others. He sits up in the bed as you approach, yawning - until he sees the party, blushing and looking away.
<Seira> "Any lingering desires to consume brains, Private?" Seira asks him, approaching.
> "No." He says this and looks away even more, "I feel better now. Thanks."
<Shamal> "Do you remember anything about what you wanted to guard?" Shamal asks as she comes into the room.
* Sierra_Mikain (~Melanchth@pool-71-178-114-152.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #terrorofdunes
* Demedais follows behind the two, lagging a bit due to being lost in thought.
> "Yea..yeah. Sorry, Shamal..." He mutters quickly, a momentary heartfelt look. "I...I wanted to create something, to get to the bodies and make them alive. Then I'd find somewhere for them and keep them safe."
<Shamal> "It's not your fault - no need to apologise," Shamal smiles reassuringly. "What was it you wanted to create? And how would you have done so?"
> "Those things, ghouls." He shivers at that, but looks at Shamal with a slow, hesitant smile. "I think I told the new guy a lot of this, from what I remember. "I felt if I could get to the bodies, no matter how decayed they were, I could make them. I don't know how, just that I could."
<Demedais> "You did say something like that, although it was in far vaguer terms. It makes sense now, in retrospect." Demedais comments.
* Shamal nods slowly. "Probably part of the magic Febras imprinted on you. At least you're back with us, now, though," she reassures, going over to pat his shoulder. "Hopefully that also means we won't have any undead problems until Febras returns... and we'll stop him when he does."
<Seira> "It seems you were stopped before you could reanimate any corpses," Seira comments, adding, "But I would like to take a look over the place you intended to use to store them nonetheless, to be on the safe side."
> "IT was mostly impressions," Biggs looks up at Shamal, smiling. "Thanks. A few places stood out, a warehouse in particular. Safe and probably going to be empty."
* Seira nods. "Take the time you need to recover," she tells Biggs.
<Shamal> "Yes, you've been through a lot. Take a few days to relax," Shamal agrees.
* Demedais nods in agreement.
> "I will. Heh." Smiling a moment, "Guess I owe you guys. Just...thanks. Being some sort of undead pest? Ugh."
<Shamal> "Be grateful Seira's so stubborn," Shamal notes with an admiring glance at the half-elf. "I probably wouldn't have done anything until it was too late, myself."
> "Um..." Blushing, "Yeah...sorry, Seira. You're not bad like I said you were...heh, heh." Biggs rubs the back of his head, hair splayed about as he blushes. "Just...would it kill you to relax just a little?"
<Seira> "No matter how much you want to solve a problem, if you don't go out and try to find a solution, your chances of achieving that are zero. It was worth a try to look around the city based on what we knew," Seira responds simply, nodding at Shamal in thanks. "Relax... a little?" she asks Biggs in confusion.
<Seira> "No matter how much you want to solve a problem, if you don't go out and try to find a solution, your chances of achieving that are zero. It was worth a try to look around the city based on what we knew," Seira responds simply, nodding at Shamal in thanks. "Relax... a little?" she asks Biggs in confusion.
> "You're just so uptight!" Biggs blurts out, "Captain Shamal's wonderful and nice, but you're just so...so...not that."
* Seira twitches.
* Demedais quickly ducks behind the nearest thick wall.
* Shamal blushes. "I wouldn't go that far, I mean, we all have our virtues..." she demurs. "Besides, Seira is just maintaining proper military discipline. I think that's commendable," she nods as authoritatively as she can.
> "Just...well...that's fine and all, but does everyone have to be so military and proper. It's nicer to see Shamal or be like that." Blushing himself, "I mean, it's just my opinion, but..."
<Seira> "You have a lot of admirers," Seira tells Shamal. "It must be a waste living outside city walls."
* Demedais coughchuckles from behind the wall.
* Disconnected
* Attempting to rejoin channel #terrorofdunes
* Rejoined channel #terrorofdunes
* Topic is 'The room of occasional sceneage, peerages and the rare sighting of Loligothica drone armies.'
* Set by Kotono on Thu Mar 29 15:14:13
* Kobreakfast is now known as Anastasia
* Shamal coughs delicately. "I guess I can just remember what it's like to be a lowly cadet? It was only, what... a month and a half ago?" she replies, not responding to the part about her living arrangements.
> "It's really amazing. If Seira's so talented and Shamal's so personable, I guess it's no surprise?" With a nod at that, Biggs settles back in.
#terrorofdunes You need voice (+v) (#terrorofdunes)
* ChanServ sets mode: +o Anastasia
> "It's really amazing. If Seira's so talented and Shamal's so personable, I guess it's no surprise?" With a nod at that, Biggs settles back in.
<Seira> "In any case," Seira continues, "if seeing me in a different setting than work is causing all these troubles, you are now cordially invited to the grand opening of my inn over the weekend. Feel free to bring a date." She turns towards Shamal. "You're invited as well, of course, as well as our new paladin friend."
<Demedais> "You're opening an inn?" Demedais peered out from around the corner, eyebrow raised.
* Seira nods proudly. "The work on it is finally finished."
> "Alright," Biggs nods, "After this, something nice would be good to take the pressure off."
<Shamal> "Why not," Shamal shrugs with a grin. "I could do with some relaxation after the last few days."
* Demedais nods. "Excellent. And the name?" he inquires.
* Kotono (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Operation timed out)
<Seira> "HC SVNT DRACONES," Seira says in elven. "It felt appropriate."
<Demedais> "Hicks want drag cones?" Demedais asks, puzzled.
* Shamal blinks. "What's that mean?"
> "Something about a dragon?" Biggs ventures hesitantly.
<Seira> "You'll see when you get there," Seira says with a smile, which replaces the scowl she sends Demedais.
<Demedais> "Whaaat?!" Demedais scowls. "That's what I thought you said!"
* Demedais grumbles something about people needing to explain other languages, blast it all

<END OF LOG>

[Corwin]

> The quarters Shamal are given are nice. They look to be fit for a lieutenant or captain, a large if hard bed and a few decorations. Most importantly, there isa  breath or two of space, enough room to walk around or just not feel boxed in. So the impossible, forbidden time of the Astral is perceived, Shamal waiting as one only can in a timeless void. OOC - Ball's in your cuort this moment if you want to do anything or wait long enough to redo spells or whatever.
> redo spells or whatever.
* Shamal does take some time to study her spellbook and pray to Mielikki, readying herself for whatever trials await... Something doesn't sit quite right with the Githyanki's help being offered so readily, but at the same time, she's bereft of other options...
> As Shamal studies, she finds her spells refreshed in due time. On looking up, she finds someone knocking on her door.
<Shamal> "Enter," the blonde calls in Ignan, rising easily to her feet after performing her devotions.
> The robed Githyanki enters, hands hidden inside his robe. "The portal you seek should be found ...soon. Tell me," He waits, meeting Shamal's eyes with his own, lulling. "I wish to hear more of your world."
<Shamal> "I already gave you a summary," Shamal replies, trying not to show her own wariness, "Perhaps you could narrow down your interest?"
> "Tell me if your homeland and of the dragon that you oppose." His voice shows no weariness, only interest.
<Shamal> "My homeland is the United Baronies, a young nation which recently earned its independence from the old Empire of Malmuth - I live in the city of Balmuria and serve in the guard, there," Shamal gives a brief overview. "The dragon is named Kondrux, an old blue wyrm, somewhere close to a thousand years old. Apparently he had been sleeping for most of that time, and was only known of in ancient histories until his recent reappe
<Shamal> OOC: oops, red for that, not blue
<Shamal> OOC: let's just assume Ignan is said without bothering to colour text from here on?
> OOC: Sure.
> "Misfortune," Agreement comes from the robed Gith, "How equipped are you do deal with this menance?"
<Shamal> "The city's defences are more focused around holding off an army, not a fast moving airborne threat such as this - aside from the possibility of massed ballista fire, conventional defences are of little use against a dragon," Shamal shakes her head sadly.
<Shamal> "As a last resort, we have considered employing a deadly poison that resists magical healing and may be capable of overwhelming even a dragon's constitution, but it is not assured. If it came to battle, we have some talented spellcasters and more experienced warriors, but no one has even seen a dragon in hundreds of years - it's far beyond what we usually face."
<Shamal> OOC: recent reappearance." <-- from above with the blue text
> "Hmmm." The robed gith smiles a little more, "Then perhaps we can come to something that will aide your defenses. Our race knows and deals with red dragons often; we know much dragon lore as a result."
* Amonet (~corwin@bzq-82-81-234-150.cablep.bezeqint.net) has joined #terrorofdunes
* Corwin (~corwin@bzq-82-81-234-150.cablep.bezeqint.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
<Shamal> "We don't wish to 'deal with' it, we wish to kill it," Shamal replies with uncharacteristic severity. "However, if your lore can assist in that task, then we may indeed have much to talk about," she nods, expression softening.
> "The most difficult feat to defeating a dragon is surviving it's breath weapon," The robed gith goes on, rustling in his robes, "A single exhalation is fatal to even a hardy, well protected opponent."
* Shamal nods. "From what the survivor told us, all three of her companions were slain instantly when the dragon surprised them with its lightning breath," she agrees, trying to gauge the Githyanki's demeanour. Something just... doesn't sit right, even if he seems helpful.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10 sense bullshit
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 sense bullshit and gets 25." [1d20=15]
> "I have a special dust of our kind, enchanted," Taking out a small vial of glittering gray dust, "It is designed to reduce the damage a dragon's breath weapon does."
<Shamal> "And it works with any dragon?" Shamal asks thoughtfully.
> "It does," So promising, "The dust is enough to effect one person."  Holding the vial in his long nailed, yellow hand, "A valuable component in any dragon warrior's collection."
<Shamal> "A shame that a dragon's breath often affects many targets," Shamal notes. "I happen to have some interest in alchemy myself, however... how difficult is this dust to create?"
> "Difficult," he allows, "But not impossible."
<Shamal> "And is your interest worth sharing in such lore... you know, I just now realise I never got your name," Shamal observes. Phew, she feels like she's dancing on the head of a pin with this conversation, but there's so much at stake, and the Githyanki aren't to be taken lightly themselves...
> "Geatroth." He answers once, needle like tongue licking his lips. "My interest is a profitable trade."
<Shamal> "And how do you wish to profit from me, Geatroth?" Shamal asks baldly, meeting his eyes and openly studying his reaction as he answers.
> "You have magic. I wish to see what magic you have and see if you have anything..worthwhile." He licks his lips again, not even blinking as he grins. A toothy, sharp grin, stretching his skin too far.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10 sense-are-you-sure-that's-all?
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 sense-are-you-sure-that's-all? and gets 20." [1d20=10]
<Shamal> "My magic has kept me alive so far, so I'd say it's worthwhile," the blonde replies, smiling. "Let's not beat around the bush, Geatroth?" she suggests pleasantly, "I want help slaying a dragon, you want something in return - that's perfectly fair and reasonable. So what do you want? A demonstration of my skills? A magical item I own? Simple but perhaps uncommon knowledge?"
> "The second one is a good course to pursue," he begins, "What items do you possess?"
<Shamal> "I'd be surprised if you haven't already spotted every magical aura on me," Shamal replies, vaguely amused. "This ring," she holds up her right hand, a golden ring with a shiny white stone around her ring finger, "Offers some protection from attack, for example. And my necklace," she taps her pendant, "Increases the potency of my conjuration spells and can summon a riding horse every day."
<Shamal> Her pose seems to relax somewhat, "And there's a few other things you've probably guessed at. The question is; What interests you, Geatroth? For all your vague answers, you strike me as the focused type - you probably knew what you wanted before you even walked in that door, am I right?"
> "Very good." His hands go back into his robe, hidden. "Your necklace interests me. It's gem is unusual."
<Shamal> "Yes, it serves as a nice item, but the gem within, if properly prepared and ingested, would allow a person to summon the horse I mentioned at will - with no need to prepare a spell or carry an item. Such gems were a specialty of the now extinct Gnomish people," she frowns thoughtfully as she toys with the pendant, "I don't suppose your people ever had any dealings with them?"
> "Not that I know of," he admits as his eyes settle on the pendant. "Hmmm...."
<Shamal> "I happen to like conjuration spells, so this is a very useful item to me - moreso than the ability I'd gain simply by consuming the gem," Shamal admits. "However, I may be persuaded to part with it for sufficient aid in dealing with my dragon problem."
> "Such as..." He goes on, smiling as he leaves it open.
<Shamal> "Your dust is a promising start," Shamal inclines her head to the vial he holds. "It offers some defence against one of a dragon's many forms of attack. What other lore do you have in the ways of dragonkind, and how to defeat them?"
> "They have a single weak point. For all the toughness they have, they are not...dexterious at all. If you can damage that, they will become immobile and helpless." He smiles at those words, "Of course, such a deed is inifnitely easier said than done."
<Shamal> "I know a spell that can reduce a target's dexterity but can't cripple it completely - perhaps I can hope you may know a solution to my dilemma?" Shamal asks, smiling hopefully.
> "The best way is...poison, I suppose," the gith considers as he thinks, "The most potent and simple way of damaging the ability of a victim."
<Shamal> "Except that dragons have exceptionally hearty constitutions," Shamal counters. "It takes a very rare and special poison to have much chance of giving a wyrm pause."
> "It's not easy," he agrees after a moment of his own consideration. "Plus you'd need a good dose to affect a dragon. I admit, this is not a speciality of mine, only good advice."
<Shamal> "And appreciated as such," Shamal admits respectfully. "You may recall I mentioned a poison we do have that may prove fatal by itself. A problem would be tricking the dragon to consume it, however - any suggestions as to how that could be best accomplished?"
> "Trickery," he agrees with his own leering smile, as he considers. "Get it's confidence up and try to make it eat it?"
* Shamal nods. "Our thoughts align." She idly wonders if she should be concerned at thinking like a Githyanki, but when all's said and done, a good idea is a good idea. "The dragon demanded tribute from our city, so stuffing a cow or two with poison for it to feast upon as it robbed us had occured to me. Hmm... but if it does come to battle, can you offer anything physical besides the dust you mentioned?"
> "Beyond that, prepare with all your might," he allows after a few moments of thought. His smile grows, "Of course, unless you have more to trade..."
<Shamal> "What you have offered..." Shamal lets her hand fall away from her pendant, "Is not worth such a prize. Especially when I will need all the help I can get against the dragon. However, I get the feeling it's the magic behind these gems, and not the pendant itself that interests you, am I right? The ability to have magic on call with no physical crutches or limitations on preperation?"
> His smile turns into a guarded look, calm and without mercy. Not at all, as, "It is," he speaks with an agreeableness that is noteworthy despite the way he looks. He steps back, going to rap against the door as he does. "However...I should remind you of your situation, human."
* Shamal smiles, chuckling softly. "You misunderstand, Geatroth," she shakes her head. "I require this particular gem for the secondary effect it gives, but there are others - ones that may have spells of more interest to you than summoning a simple horse."
> The door opens, four Githyanki with greatswords behind it. "Then speak," he goes on, "I grow tired of this."
<Shamal> Shamal's heartbeat quickens, realising that she is in a pretty bad situation - if they attacked her this close in, she'd be torn apart before being able to do much. But she attempts to maintain a calm facade even as she inwardly prays to Mielikki.
<Shamal> "I could see to it that you were given a gem with a more appropriate spell after I return to my city - assuming you have some means for me to deliver it to you. As a show of good faith, I'm even willing to give you some fragments from a gem that bestowed the Scorching Ray spell upon the one who consumed it."
> The robed gith lets his hands out of his road, as he begins to smile again. All teeth this time, all white, sharp teeth. "Let me see them now," he insists, "Let me see if those fragments are worth much."
* Shamal reaches around for her haversack. "And in exchange, you will tell me how to create the dust you showed me?" she asks guardedly.
> "I will give you the recipe for both types," he agrees, calmly. "If you renege...well..." he just smiles.
<Shamal> "These are fair terms, and I would have agreed to such without such unpleasantness," Shamal shoots a meaningful look at the goon squad before she reaches into the haversack, visualising the fragments before pulling them out of her magical nondimensional space.
<Shamal> Holding them up for inspection, "I had been holding onto them in hopes of using them to enhance a gem with a similar spell if I ever found it - the magic of their crafting was likely lost with the Gnomes."
> "Very well..." Taking out the vial again, he passes it over, "Here."
* Shamal accepts the vial and passes the fragments to the Githyanki's hand. "I'm going to cast detect magic," she warns, "Just so there's no misunderstandings."
> "Of course," he allows, putting the fragments into his robe, hidden away.
<Shamal> With but a word, Shamal casts her spell and studies the vial.
<Shamal> OOC: taking 10 on spellcraft for 25
> The vial radiates moderate abjuration.
<Shamal> OOC: Can I ID it like I can with a potion, or would it need an identify spell?
> OOC - Identify. It's foreign to you.
<Shamal> "And the method to its creation?" Shamal asks after she concludes her scrutiny, not incidentally taking in whatever other magical auras are visible around her.
> There is some magic around the gith, a few moderate auras. "You take..." he begins, starting to talk. OOC - PM.
<Shamal> OOC: taking 10 for 25 to ID whatever I can see

> <Shamal> OOC: Can I ID it like I can with a potion, or would it need an identify spell?
> > OOC - Identify. It's foreign to you.
> <Shamal> "And the method to its creation?" Shamal asks after she concludes her scrutiny, not incidentally taking in whatever other magical auras are visible around her.
> > There is some magic around the gith, a few moderate auras. "You take..." he begins, starting to talk. OOC - PM.
> <Shamal> OOC: taking 10 for 25 to ID whatever I can see
* ChanServ sets mode: +o Shamal
> So the lesson progresses. When it is done, the robed gith stands. "I will alert you when we arrive," he speaks, departing.
* Shamal looks rather pleased after Geatroth has finished explaining the process for creating their Dragon's Dust - almost enough to ignore the fact that there are four nearby Githyanki with big swords who look like they'd like to use them on her. Almost. "My thanks," she nods respectfully as the wizard leaves.
> A curt nod is all Shamal gets, the door closed and the druid alone again.
<Shamal> Left alone, Shamal takes the time to scribe the crafting process down on paper, since this will need to be disseminated among all the alchemists in Balmuria once she gets back - it's not the easiest thing to create, so they'll need to get as many people working on it as possible.
> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 40." [1d100=40]
> roll 1d20+50
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+50 and gets 63." [1d20=13]
> Events happen, 'time' passing as it only can when there is no time at all. At some point you find that a thought floats in your mind: 'Thinking just like a gith'.
* Shamal blinks at the foreign voice in her head. 'Who is this?' she asks warily, putting away her writing materials.
> Nothing happens. The thought fades away as all thoughts tend to do.
<Shamal> Frowning, Shamal casts detect magic and has a look around. If someone's messing with her head, she'd like to do something about it.
> Shamal does not detect any other magic beyond what should be there from her own items.
<Shamal> Taking out her spellbook, Shamal decides to refresh her spells, if she can. No telling how much time has actually passed since last time she did so...
> Shamal is able to do so. As she finishes this, her door opens. The robed gith stands there, guards behind him. "It is time."
<Shamal> "Good, I only hope I haven't been gone too long," Shamal smiles a bit tiredly, despite her lack of physical fatigue - this whole experience has been mentally draining, to be sure. "Do you have a method for me to send the gem of imbued spellcasting to you, or will someone come with me to get it?"
> "We'll be investigating," The gith smiles humorlessly, beckoning for Shamal to come. "There is a little more ahead of you, regardless."
<Shamal> "Such as?" Shamal asks as she guardedly follows.
> "Getting to the portal." As you  head out and past a simple hall, you go up the stares to the deck. Ahead is a cluster of lots of chunks of rock, dirt, broken buildings and the like. A thick fog of it ahead, "The portal to your realm is ahead, but..." he waves, to chunks of forest, bits of tundra, fragments of castles, all obscuring the way. "Taking the ship through without scouting is not an option."
> On the deck is the plainclothes gith and lots of normal githyanki, in battle positions. As the robed one goes on, "Curious indeed."
<Shamal> "If it could even fit through that mess..." Shamal murmurs quietly, before speaking up, "So from here on I'm on my own?" she surmises, peering into the distance.
> "Yes, our mission has been delayed long enough," The robed gith speaks in the words of flame.
<Shamal> "Very well," Shamal lifts off a few feet from the deck of her ship. "On behalf of the Crimson Guard, and Balmuria, I thank you for your assistance thus far. If I do not hear from you after the dragon has been dealt with, I will investigate on my end how to send the agreed payment to you." She could probably get Uatu to help with that, most likely.
> The robed gith raises his hand in acknowledgement, watching as Shamal floats up. The rest of the gith stay on guard, peering at and ahead of Shamal.
* Shamal gives a wave before ascending far enough to clear the sails and then changing course to fly into the malestrom!
> OOC - Spot check, as a general rule here, I think.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 and gets 19." [1d20=9]

> So Shamal flies along! A ruined castle parapet, a great field of growing wheat. She passes by both, up and down.  Slowly she heads inwards, above her some scattered rocks. Below her is a gap with nothing immediately of notice, and ahead is a chunk of trees and forest, alive and full of pines.
<Shamal> "This feels more like Limbo than the astral plane..." Shamal mutters as she flies past free floating and incongruous scenery. Once she's some ways in, she glances back the way she came to see what the Githyanki ship is doing.
> It's glimpsed, the ship heading away. As you pass, you can notice that you hear a sort of small roar from the forest.
* Shamal decides to go investigate - besides, it's nice to see some greenery, here. Flying over, she touches down in the forest, and starts moving towards where she heard the roar.
> The trees are supported with a thin layer of dirt and ground to stand on, coated with pine needles. As you descend, you see it come out from a tree. A black bear, looking about, sniffing.
<Shamal> How the heck did a bear get here? Rather surprised, Shamal carefully approaches the animal, posture low and unthreatening as she reaches into her haversack for some jerky - she should probably eat something herself, on reflection, since her hunger will no doubt catch up with her as soon as she returns to the prime. "Here, bear..." she carols softly, holding up the dried meat. "Hungry?"
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10 wild empathy
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 wild empathy and gets 23." [1d20=13]
> The bear sniffs the food, looking on at Shamal warily. OOC - Listening check.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 and gets 24." [1d20=14]
> OOC - Carry on.
<Shamal> "It's safe," Shamal encourages gently, setting the food down and then stepping backwards to give the bear room. "A pity I didn't expect to see any animals today, or I'd have prepared a spell that would let us talk."
> The bear goes and talkes the food once it's set down. It goes down in a bite, the predator staring at Shamal. Staring patiently. Not an overwhelmingly huge monster of a dire bear, but merely a normal, handleable bear.
* Shamal is content to wait a little while and earn the animal's trust - if it accidentally blundered through the portal into this realm, she feels obligated to bring it back with her.
> OOC - Listening check again.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 and gets 12." [1d20=2]
> The bear freezes cold, before starting to growl at Shamal! It's hesitant acceptance turns into feral anger in seconds!
<Shamal> Maybe it's growling at something behind her! Shamal glances backwards with just that hope.
> OOC - Spot check.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11." [1d20=1]
> Shamal doesn't see anything behind her at all.
> Meanwhile, the bear growls again!
<Shamal> Turning back to the bear, Shamal begins to back away - but perpendicular to her previous direction, so that she can see if the bear follows her or continues to growl at something unseen behind her previous location. "Shhh, it's alright, I won't hurt you," she continues to try and soothe the savage beast.
> OOC - Initiative first, I think. SEe if the bear has any chance on closing at you.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+2
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+2 and gets 21." [1d20=19]
> roll 1d20+1
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 and gets 20." [1d20=19]
> OOC - Go.
<Shamal> OOC: Doing what I said, readying an action to fly up if I get rushed.
> The bear does indeed charge at Shamal as she readies her action!
* Shamal springs upwards, flying up fifty or so feet in the air and looking sadly down at the bear. "Why?" she murmurs, not liking this situation one bit.
> The thought again idly plays through your mind, a memory repeating. 'Just like a githyanki.' Meanwhile the bear looks on, roaring but unable to follow at anything approaching Shamal's speed.
<Shamal> Shamal looks very unhappy. Someone is in her head! Casting detect magic, she moves far enough away from the bear that it can't charge her but still within 60 feet, before looking at the bear and all around for the source of this wackiness.

> There is moderate magic down below in the forest, somewhere out of your view. OOC - Spot check again witht hat, if you like.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+10 and gets 17." [1d20=7]
> You can see a shadow somewhere in the forests, a vague hidden outline of a humanoid.
<Shamal> "I can see you!" Shamal calls down accusingly at the shadow.
> There is a pause, before, "Peace." You hear Shad's voice, the githlike creature slowly floating out from amid the forest.
<Shamal> "Something very strange is happening," Shamal counters, continuing to pace the bear and keep out of its range. "How do I know you're not responsible?"
> "I am." He admits this without hesitating, "I come on a mission from my god."
<Shamal> "And what mission does your god send you on that involves me?" the blonde asks, eyeing him suspiciously.
<Shamal> OOC: taking 10 on spellcraft for 25 to ID magic effect
> OOC: Enchantment and transmutation.
> "To talk to you if you detected me, champion of Balmuria." THe gith floats closer, "If you wish, I will guide you to the portal home."
<Shamal> "And if I hadn't detected you?" Shamal asks, still suspicious and keeping her distance. "It was you that enraged the bear... and I never told you where I came from, Shad."
> "My God has been generous with the information. Your apperance in the Astral Plane generated interest." Shad speaks evenly, without excitement or anger.
<Shamal> "Why?" Shamal asks simply.
> "Your apperance on a plane that is not distant and restricted allows a chance to talk to you more directly." Shad smiles, but a strange, humorless smile. Yet not vicious at all. "Helm is not the only god moving."
<Shamal> "And what God do you represent, pray tell?" Shamal returns dubiously.
> "Cyric." He says it as very matter of fact, before smiling. "Before you run, allow me to say that all the Gods struck the gnomes down, not merely one side of them. Our God also has an interest, if you are willing to listen."
<Shamal> "You know, I've never even met a worshipper of Cyric before," Shamal can't help but note, voice flat. Then again, she can count the people she knows that venerate Mielikki on one hand. "Very well, I will listen to what the Prince of Lies has to say." She glances over to the enraged bear still vainly chasing her. "*After* you stop tormenting that poor bear."
> The moment you say that, the bear falls over, confused. "Very well," Shad drifts closer to you. "Shamal Velka, our God has watched Balmuria and the exploits as you explore. One of the groups finding the distant past and all the power that sleeps under the ground."
<Shamal> "I would've thought he'd be more interested in groups besides mine," Shamal observes dryly, thinking of Irenes.
> "Cyric sees all," Shad smiles as you fly by a snowy field, white rabbits blending in as they hop around. "He sees and knows all the secrets you chase after, the answer to every question you have. He invites you to come with me, to his realm, where he will accept your loyalty and grant you the knowledge of the past." Shad's look becomes intense, "The Pact of Fire you held is but the very beginning. The secret to creating true magic, contained in small gems. The location of each of the legendary Resorts. The answers to your problems; where the death sword Arondaaq lies; what each person you met hides."
> true magic, contained in small gems. The location of each of the legendary Resorts. The answers to your problems; where the death sword Arondaaq lies; what each person you met hides. Everything the people of your world vie for, in the palm of your hand."
* Shamal chuckles ever so softly. "You truly believe I would turn my back on the Forest Queen?" she asks incredulously. "This is not a serious offer."
> "Then..." Chuckling right back, "Will you turn away from how to slay Kondrux?"
<Shamal> "If it means betraying Mielikki? Of course," Shamal replies firmly. "I may make compromises to deal with the dragon - I'd be a fool if I didn't know exactly what the 'people' I just negotiated with are all about - but some things are inviolable."
> "Still...come. Take my hand, Lord Cyric will give you a taste of what you are forsaking." Extending his hand out, voice sweet, "At a crucial time in the Prime Material's existance, you have brought it to the Githyanki's full attention again. Do you not wish to know the ramification sof that, either?"
<Shamal> "I have an idea," Shamal replies cooly, her own hands down by her sides. "Events are picking up pace, perhaps making the Prime more like it was before the Gods and magic retreated - for good and for ill." Cocking her head, "I'm curious, though - you've spoken much of what Cyric offers, but little of what he wants, besides nebulous desires of my loyalty." Settling a firm gaze on Shad, she concludes, "Tell me what your God wants, Shad."
> "Cyric wishes to see the world return as it should be. What any god wants, no more, no less. The gifts he offers you further that cause..." Smiling again, keeping his hand out, "You've felt power, Shamal Velka." He meets her gaze right back, unblinking. "Would you like to feel the power, the true power? Bow to Lord Cyric, and it shall come to you as your goals will be one."
<Shamal> "Cyric's goals," Shamal translates flatly.

<Shamal> Shrugging, she goes on, repeating, "'As it should be' - what does that even mean? You continue to be evasive, Shad - even if I was so weak willed as to be tempted, your manner can't fail but arouse suspicion. As far as I can tell, you've simply offered me the chance to be a high powered but brainless puppet to carry out Cyric's mysterious plans. It would take a special kind of fool to accept such a bargain."
> "...very well." Shad approaches forth, "If you wish to see the glorious future and the goals to be, Lord Cyric will show you. SEe for yourself the world Lord Cyric desires."
* Shamal takes a moment to cast Protection from Evil on herself to make sure that she won't do anything besides see whatever Shad's about to show her. She's quite obvious about it, too, since she actually says "Protection from evil," in common as part of the casting, not looking at all apologetic as she finishes.


<END OF LOG>

[Corwin]

> Withdrawing his sword, Shad holds the hilt vertical to his face, blade pointing towards the endless silver sky. "Lord Cyric, in these endless wastes, show Shamal Velka the truth!"
<Shamal> It's all Shamal can do not to snicker at the concept of the self proclaimed Prince of Lies showing her 'the truth'.
* Demedais (~ferixstad@adsl-75-41-17-230.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #terrorofdunes
> The silver sky twists! The Astral Plane's up transfixes into a grand mural of what is to come, or what may come! In larger than life sizes you see it, Balmuria swelling. The city expands a dozen times over, around ruins as great treasures are brought up. Shamal oversees each, as more and more treasure comes out. The city is transformed - elementals walk under the command of countless humans. Wizards congregate freely, magical gems in shops. Shamal makes them, learning and learning. She can almost taste the power, page of countless arcane tomes showing. In the palace - her palace - she sits on a throne of the purest riches.  WIth a gesture Shamal can bring forth magic and potency. Dozens kneel before her - wizards, clerics of Cyric, Demedais, Seira, Command Oberuth, dark men whom you cannot make out beyond that. (More)
> Wizards congregate freely, magical gems in shops. Shamal makes them, learning and learning. She can almost taste the power, page of countless arcane tomes showing. In the palace - her palace - she sits on a throne of the purest riches.  WIth a gesture Shamal can bring forth magic and potency. Dozens kneel before her - wizards, clerics of Cyric, Demedais, Seira, Command Oberuth, dark men whom you cannot make out beyond that. (More)
> dark men whom you cannot make out beyond that. (More)
> It whispers in her ear, the fragments of knowledge. She can almost see it in the books, the pages turning and filling the sky. So many secrets, so manyp aths to power, just out of her vision's sight.
<Shamal> "That's it?" Shamal asks flatly after the vision ends. "Clearly you and your God know nothing about me."
> "Do I?" Shad smiles as he lowers his sword, the imagesf luttering away in the winds of the Astral. "Do you seek everything below to help others? No. You seek all the power because you want it. Tell me that the lost secrets under the soil have not sung their siren song to you. Tell me you do not want to go again, to find more power." With his sword lowered, Shad looks on guard now, cautious.
<Shamal> "And what a sterile place Cyric would have me create with that power... I may have developed an appreciation for civilisation in recent years, Shad, but I've never forgotten my roots. Cities, even nations and empires, are transient things. But nature endures, and it is that which will always have my first loyalty," Shamal counters. "Nothing you have shown can compare with Mielikki's blessings."
> "Even..." Shad smiles evenly again, "What of when you hold the Last Resort in your hand?"
<Shamal> "Even then... that's what this is about, isn't it?" Shamal smiles slightly herself. "Last time Daa-vid was a wildcard none of the Gods could afford, so they all set aside their differences to strike him down. But now - Cyric doesn't mind a new deity ascending, so long as he gets to pull the strings, am I right?" she asks knowingly.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10 sense bullshit on his answer
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+10 sense bullshit on his answer --> [ 1d20=3 ]{13}
> "The offer is there," Shad doesn't blink, his face rigid and unyielding.  "It's just within your reach. Lord Cyric sees your nature and understands it. You need not lie to the Prince of Lies...come to him." His hand goes out again, expectant. "Go back not to that empty, choked world, but come to your true calling."
<Shamal> "I will not," Shamal replies sternly. "And I have heard enough."
> "Then..." Shad's sword lowers, pointing at Shamal. "You will never find the past or the future; you will find a cold eternity here!"
> OOC: He's going offensive, so initiative.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+2
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{19}
> roll 1d20+6
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{7}
> OOC: Go.
* Shamal glides backwards a bit, throwing out one of her hands at Shad as several lengths of thick rubbery kelp jet out to ensnare him!
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 ranged touch
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+5 ranged touch --> [ 1d20=20 ]{25}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+11 grapple check
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+11 grapple check --> [ 1d20=19 ]{30}
> roll 1d20+15
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{21}
> The jets of kelp lash out, coming from nowhere to lash around him! His hands are restrained, his body held! But he does attempt to break the grappling hold!
> OOC: Opposed grapple checks.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+11 come on, Kelp!
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+11 come on, Kelp! --> [ 1d20=10 ]{21}
> roll 1d20+15
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{17}
> But he is held fast, unable to escape the seaweed doom, much like a sea elf! OOC - Shamal.
<Shamal> "As you can see, Mielikki's power is quite sufficient for my purposes," Shamal tells him, before calling out another spell, "Proud hunter with eagle's ferocity and horses tenacity, I call upon you - strike at my enemy!" At her words, a hippogriff appears between Shamal and Shad, promptly tearing into him with teeth and claws!
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{21}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{18}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+3
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{10}
> OOC - Allb ut the last hit.
<Shamal> roll 2d4+12
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 2d4+12 --> [ 2d4=2 ]{14}
> The hippogriff ravagaes the grappled Shad, his cries angry as his flesh is torn! Minor wounds, but enough to show damage, his sides ripped! "This pwoer...is nothing to me!" he screams, attempting to break out!
> roll 1d20+15 opposed grappling time.
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+15 opposed grappling time. --> [ 1d20=20 ]{35}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+11 why
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+11 why --> [ 1d20=11 ]{22}
> This time, with a surge of his muscles, Shad is able to break free, stumbling out of the seaweed grasp! "The power of your God is nothing compared to Cyric!" OOC - Shamal's up.
<Shamal> "We'll see," Shamal's expression hardens as she casts another spell. Nobody talks bad about Mielikki on her watch!
<Shamal> roll 1d4+2
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d4+2 --> [ 1d4=1 ]{3}
<Shamal> And suddenly there are four of her!
<Shamal> After casting her spell, Shamal retreats full speed while her summoned ally continues its attack!
<Shamal> OOC: moving 180ft away, plus whatever distance we were already apart by
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{21}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{10}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+3
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{9}
> OOC - Say ten feet.
> OOC - First hits.
<Shamal> roll 1d4+6
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d4+6 --> [ 1d4=2 ]{8}
> As Shamal falls back, she goes past an expanse of snow, white rabbits hiding in the chunk of land! Past this are the ruins of what looks like a defensive wall, floating about in several pieces, with lots of tiny chunks. Meanwhile, Shad falls back a little, tearing into the hippogriff!
> roll 1d20+16
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+16 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{20}
> roll 1d20+11
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{31}
> roll 1d20+11 crit check
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+11 crit check --> [ 1d20=10 ]{21}
> OOC - AC of hippogriff?
<Shamal> AC 15
<Shamal> OOC: 31hp
> roll 3d8+30
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 3d8+30 --> [ 3d8=10 ]{40}
> The hippogriff is torn apart, the raw fury of Shad transforming him! His calm vanishes, a martial terror falling over him! His eyes burn with anger, as he stands over it's vanishing corpse! "YOU WILL BOW TO THE POWER OF CYRIC!" OOC - You're 190 ft away, your action.
<Shamal> Deciding that turning into a werereat wouldn't help her too much at this juncture, Shamal sacrifices her last 2nd circle divine spell, summoning a crocodile directly in front of her, that Shad would have to move around to reach her.
> OOC- Doing anything else?
<Shamal> OOC: actually, slight amendment to my line.
> OOC: Okay, since the Astral does all that quickening stuff I'm usually making sure you're done first
<Shamal> Deciding that turning into a werereat wouldn't help her too much at this juncture, Shamal flies over to the ruins of the nearby wall, using some of the chunks for cover as she sacrifices her last 2nd circle divine spell, summoning a crocodile directly in front of her, that Shad would have to move around to reach her.
> Shad rushes ahead, devoting all his energy to moving! He just about reaches the crocodile, but not quite, about ten feet away. "There is still time to surrender!"
<Shamal> "I'm just getting started, Shad," Shamal promises, as all four of her shoot forth a beam of coruscating negative energy, intended to sap away at his strength and make him easier prey for her pets!
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 ranged touch
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+5 ranged touch --> [ 1d20=4 ]{9}
<Shamal> The crocodile then shuffles forward to attack, having some difficulty moving in the astral while Shamal soars away another two hundred feet perpendicular to where she was going before, keeping enough distance that Shad can't easily reach her.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{16}
* Sierra_Mikain (~Melanchth@pool-71-191-18-214.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #terrorofdunes
> As the crocodile misses, Shamal soars up! Up above the ruined wall - past it she can see as tretch of desert land, surrounded by floating chuckls of minerals. Meanwhile, Shad dodges and strikes the crocodile in his way!
> roll 1d20+16
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+16 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{21}
> OOC - Croc AC?
<Shamal> OOC: 15, 28hp
> OOC - He can full attack it anyway since it movedi nto melee him.
> roll 1d20+11
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{27}
> roll 2d10+20
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 2d10+20 --> [ 2d10=6 ]{26}
> The crocodile is torn up, it's jaw nearly severed and it's tail sliced off! It only lives by a small miracle of fate, on the verge of dying! OOC - Shamal and summon.
<Shamal> Bravely, the crocodile continues to attack this evil foe and buy some time for its mistress to... do something. Hopefully she has a plan, right?
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{25}
<Shamal> roll 1d8+8
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d8+8 --> [ 1d8=5 ]{13}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+8 improved grab grapple check
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+8 improved grab grapple check --> [ 1d20=9 ]{17}
> roll 1d20+15 grapple it could roll a 1!
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+15 grapple it could roll a 1! --> [ 1d20=8 ]{23}
> The bite tears a chunk of Shad's shoulder away, bloodflow coming from a successful strike! It does seem to be a considerable wound, another hit on the angered godservant! OOC - Now Shamal.
<Shamal> Meanwhile Shamal takes out her wand of lightning bolt, readying an action to shoot him as soon as he comes within its 120ft range and then move back.
> Seeing the crocodile weakened, Shad goes for the kill!
> roll 1d20+16
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+16 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{35}
> roll 1d20+16 crit check
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+16 crit check --> [ 1d20=18 ]{34}
> roll 2d10+20
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 2d10+20 --> [ 2d10=9 ]{29}
> It's brains are chopped up twice, it's head several fragments as it's slain! With that one stroke, Shad begins to advance, coming within 120 feet!
<Shamal> As soon as he floats into range, all four of the Shamals let loose a devastating barrage of lightning bolts, zeroing in on Shad as she flies back another hundred feet, keeping him from getting in range!
<Shamal> roll 5d6
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 5d6 --> [ 5d6=21 ]{21}
<Shamal> OOC: wands use the minimum DC, so that'd be 14
> roll 1d20+7
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{13}
> The bolt arcs into Shad, shaking him up! He convulses in the magic, stricken! Yet he lives, even if singed! Taking his chance now that Shamal has acted, Shad falls back, floating back and away!
* Shamal is faced with a quandary. If she pursues, she risks getting into range for him to retaliate. On the other hand, she simply can't let his insults against Mielikki and attacks against her pass. Deciding not to leave him to come after her again, she flies towards the debris surrounding the desert area, using it as cover while she fires another quad-lightning bolt at him!
<Shamal> roll 5d6
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 5d6 --> [ 5d6=14 ]{14}
> OOC: What's the range on that?
<Shamal> OOC: 120ft
> OOC - He stopped at 120 ft when he got zapped, and he's fleeing back now. You're fleeing back to the desert, the numers don't work.
<Shamal> OOC: I asked for cover within 120 feet of him, you listed that as an option. <_<
> OOC: Oh, I missed that. My fault. The walls could be within range, the desert not so much.
<Shamal> OOC: strike my line
> OOC: Fair enough.
* Shamal is faced with a quandary. If she pursues, she risks getting into range for him to retaliate. On the other hand, she simply can't let his insults against Mielikki and attacks against her pass. Deciding not to leave him to come after her again, she flies back towards the ruined wall she used as cover previously, easily overtaking Shad and settling herself within its protective stony embrace, lightning wand held at the ready.
> Shad continues to fall back, going out of range. He falls back to the first forest, getting well out of range. He can be seen landing there, going into the cover and...
> roll 1d20+13
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{16}
> OOC - Spot check.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{11}
> With the distance and cover both considerably in his favor, Shad hides himself.
* Shamal swaps the lightning wand for the magic missile one, before she takes off in pursuit!
> roll 2d8+3
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 2d8+3 --> [ 2d8=14 ]{17}
> As Shamal races in, about 100 feet away, she sees Shad fly out! His wounds no longer looks quite so overwhelming, as he soars up straight up, away from Shamal!
<Shamal> OOC: how far away is he from me after his move?
> OOC: 200 or so.
* Shamal moves forty feet closer before casting Glitterdust, surrounding the evil Cyric worshipper with blinding sparkling motes!
<Shamal> OOC: DC 18 will save or blinded
> roll 1d20+7
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{11}
> The dust obscures Shad's vision, clouding his eyes! He whips his head around a few times as he struggles in it, before trying to continue to fly straight up!
* Shamal casts produce flame, before flying to within 100 feet of him and using her wand to loose off a trio of magic missiles at him!
<Shamal> roll 3d4+3
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 3d4+3 --> [ 3d4=8 ]{11}
> Struck by missiles and blinded, Shad changes his course! Instead he dives in desperation at Shamal, liek a falling eagle attempting to spear her!
> OOC - Strike.
> Shad, so blinded, and struggling with his eyes, he continues to fly straight up and away!
<Shamal> OOC: how far is he from me after his move?
> OOC: 200 ft - you fired at him from 100 ft.
* Shamal flies after him, closing the distance to 35 feet before she hurls a ball of flame at him and swiftly casts a summon spell to conjure a dire rat next to him. Squeaking ferally, it lunges to bite on with disease-ridden teeth - on the off chance he gets away, it'll give him an unpleasant reminder of the encounter.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+4 dire rat attack
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+4 dire rat attack --> [ 1d20=3 ]{7}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 fireball ranged touch
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+5 fireball ranged touch --> [ 1d20=20 ]{25}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 fireball ranged touch crit check
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+5 fireball ranged touch crit check --> [ 1d20=9 ]{14}
> OOC - Rodent misses, critted.
<Shamal> roll 2d6+10 fire
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 2d6+10 fire --> [ 2d6=6 ]{16}
> The fireball strikes him directly, scorching his skin! His body begins to burn, merry torched by Shamal's magic! Roaring in agony and pain, "I'll kill you for Lord Cyric, so you can sit at his mercy for eternity!" This wild scream follows, as he strikes back out at the rat before flying straight up.
> roll 1d20+16
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+16 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{21}
> roll 1d100 concealment, 1-50 is a miss
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d100 concealment, 1-50 is a miss --> [ 1d100=77 ]{77}
<Shamal> OOC: AC 15, 7hp
> roll 1d8+10
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d8+10 --> [ 1d8=7 ]{17}
> The rat is split in two, slain instantly by a frenzied, lucky stroke! OOC - Shamal.
* Shamal paces, hurling yet another ball of fire at his back as she stays within fifty feet. Technically there are four fireballs, but he's in no position to count.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 ranged touch
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+5 ranged touch --> [ 1d20=7 ]{12}
> OOC - Hit.
<Shamal> roll 1d6+5
> Shad continues to burn! His flesh turns to an ashy white and charred black, hints of red all over!
> OOC - Gah.
> Shad continues to burn! His flesh turns to an ashy white and charred black, hints of red all over! Snarling in agony, he slips backwards and touches himself!
> roll 1d8+3
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d8+3 --> [ 1d8=6 ]{9}
> The magic that comes mends Shad's flesh somewhat, making it only a partially ruined hsuk of a being! OOC - Shamal.
<Shamal> "I think I have more fireballs than you have cure spells," Shamal taunts, loosing off another fireball as she follows, also summoning up a small viper directly above him, which hisses and strikes with venomous fangs! "More allies, too."
<Shamal> roll 1d6+5 fiery touch
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d6+5 fiery touch --> [ 1d6=6 ]{11}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 should've done that first
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+5 should've done that first --> [ 1d20=7 ]{12}
<Shamal> roll 1d20+4 snake attack
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+4 snake attack --> [ 1d20=10 ]{14}
> OOC - Hits.
<Shamal> roll 1d2 snake DC 12 fort save or poisoned
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d2 snake DC 12 fort save or poisoned --> [ 1d2=2 ]{2}
> roll 1d20+10
<Reiko-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{18}
> Burned and bitten, Shad looks on death's door! His body is nearly falling apart, more red and bloody-burnt than intact! Yet somehow he continues to float, before at last just flying back as fast as he can!
<Shamal> roll 1d20+4 snake AoO
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+4 snake AoO --> [ 1d20=1 ]{5}
> The snake bites at Shad, but misses altogether!
> OOC - The druid grrl is up.
* Shamal continues her relentless pursuit, another fireball thrown for good measure! "As you return to Cyric, just remember that it didn't have to be this way - you forced this battle," she sternly lectures.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 fireball
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+5 fireball --> [ 1d20=16 ]{21}
<Shamal> roll 1d6+5
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d6+5 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{11}
>  With that fireball, Shad bursts into flames altogether! His body and clothing are consuemd, sword smoking! He screams, yet he gets this out even as he is consumed..."Shamal...Velka....Seira....Demeda...Helm is not the only one watching. Tell them that...one side or another will receive our blessings. If you turn away from the Gods again...heh..heh...."
<Shamal> "I believe I've aptly demonstrated that Mielikki's blessings are enough," Shamal counters, launching another fireball at him to hopefully shut him up for good!
<Shamal> roll 1d20+5 fiery death
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+5 fiery death --> [ 1d20=13 ]{18}
<Shamal> roll 1d6+5
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d6+5 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{11}
> He burns alive! His body is ravaged, possessions aflame! No words, just a floating pyre in the Astral Plane!
* Shamal floats up to the now dead Gith and takes his sword, stuffing it away in her handy haversack. "May Cyric reward you as you deserve," she tells the corpse, before flying back down to the forest where she met him, looking for that poor bear.
> The forest is found, the bear in the bushes and peering out fearfully.
* Shamal gently settles down on the ground, making soothing noises as she gestures for the bear to come forward. "It's alright, you're safe now," she encourages softly.
> OOC - Wild Empathy, I reckon.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+10
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{25}
> Cooed by Shamal, the bear slowly emerges from it's hiding place. It's hesitant, but approaches.
* Shamal gives the bear some of Laika's doggy treats, while eating some dried jerky herself as they calm down from recent events, waiting until the bear seems more comfortable before doing anything.
> This is done easily enough, the b ear calmed by the food and Shamal's druidic powers. The food tastes well enough otherwise.
<Shamal> Once the bear seems more compliant, Shamal takes the time to convince the bear it should follow her, helping it to get the hang of airborne movement here in the astral.
<Shamal> OOC: taking 20 on handle animal for 26 to 'push' the bear so it can perform the 'follow' trick
> This is done very slowly, the bear needing time to adapt. But eventually it can fly, even if it's nowhere near Shamal's pace.
* Shamal doesn't mind, matching the bear's pace as it follows her while she begins to search through his morass for the portal back to the prime.
> As the bear is prepared and ready to go, sound is heard. "Shamal, can you hear me!" The voice of Demedais echos, carried on a streak of mist.
<Shamal> "Demedais? Is that you?" Shamal calls back in confusion, looking around for the source of the voice.
> Shamal sees that to her side a swirl of mist is gathering.
<Shamal> "Come along, mr bear," Shamal gestures for her new friend to follow as she slowly makes her way to the mist, keeping pace with the animal.
* Shamal sets mode: +o Demedais
<Demedais> "Yeah, it's me!" Demedais replies. "I can't see you, but I can hear you. Follow my voice - I'm at Uatu's!"
> The bear follows along, confused but obeying Shamal.
> The mists ahead swirl, a small circle of mists outlining the way. Dimly, Shamal can see Demedais.
* Shamal waves to Demedais once she can see him, continuing on through the mists. So convenient!
* Sierra_Mikain is now known as Sierra_Noir
> Demedais can see Shamal in the distance now.
* Demedais waves back, being careful not to move too much and disrupt the mists before Shamal gets there


<END OF LOG>

[Corwin]

> OOC - KnowledgE: Religion if you want info there.
<Demedais> roll 1d20+7
<Reiko-chan> Demedais rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{19}
<Demedais> "Just the basics of what they taught me in the temple." Demedais confessed. "Prince of Lies, Asshole Supreme, all that.
<Shamal> "I met a servant of his on the Astral Plane - one who was very well informed on current events involving Balmuria and the Crimson Guard," the blonde explains, occassionally prodding the bear to keep up with them and avoid distraction, "He wanted me to go with him to Cyric's domain and swear my loyalty to him."
* Demedais turns and eyes Shamal for a second, before continuing to walk. "And let me guess, he was attacking the bear."
<Shamal> "Actually he enchanted it to attack me," Shamal replies, frowning. "That was even before he spelled out his offer, trying to tempt me with all the power and prestige I'd get as a servant of the Prince of Lies." She shakes her head a bit, "Really, with a name like that, how can he expect anyone to take his deals seriously?"
* Demedais nods. "Indeed. It creates great problems in that regard. I still can't believe it, tho."
<Shamal> "As he told me, Helm is not the only God to have an interest in these events," Shamal shrugs. "What concerns me most was what he said about assisting others if I refused his offer..." she then looks thoughtful, "On the other hand, he also said he was only able to contact me because I was on the Astral, which implies an inability to have influence on the Prime, so it may have been an empty threat."
<Demedais> "Huh? Oh, yeah. It makes sense that Helm isn't the only one involved on this plane - after all, the God King Dude's trying to reawaken. Why wouldn't they move to bring him down?" Demedais nods, before turning to Shamal. "How do you do it?"
<Shamal> "Do what?" the theurge asks, cocking her head curiously.
<Demedais> "Always find an animal to rescue!" Demedais throws his hands up in the air. "First the tiger, then this bear... what next, a dire celestial weasel?"
<Shamal> "If I saw one that needed rescuing," Shamal replies, perfectly straight-faced. "Although technically, a dire celestial weasel would be a magical beast, not an animal. It's an important distinction."
<Demedais> "Whatever." Demedais says as he turns back, continuing to walk. "You know what I mean, I think."
<Shamal> "Maybe it's just Mielikki's hand guiding me to where I'm needed?" Shamal rationalises. "Even if she's never broadcast herself in the way Helm and Cyric have, I feel her presence with me, all the same."
<Demedais> "Quite possible. Just as Helm guides me..." Demedais lets the rest of the sentence trail off as he thinks.
<Shamal> roll 1d20+1
<Reiko-chan> Shamal rolled : 1d20+1 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{5}

<END OF LOG>