[05] Dungeon Crawl

[Merc]

Session Start: Sun Nov 29, 2009

<Merc> Once upon a time, there was a merry band of do-gooders from a bustling trade town known as Ferune. They joined together for a most noble cause, to save a kidnapped boy, the prince of their kingdom, in fact. Quickly they succeeded, and a great celebration was to be held in their honor. (OOC - more)
<Merc> It is most unfortunate then, that their great triumph has led to great tragedy, the king poisoned as he prepares to offer a toast in their honor. And thus we find these heroes, surrounded by quite a many unfamiliar faces, many showing great suspicion. 'An assassin! Is it he? Is it she?' they must think. Quite a dilemma, you see.

* Anassia looks around at the number of unfamiliar faces, equally as suspicious of them as they're no doubt of her. She does, however, not do anything untoward to attract attention to herself.
<Merc> "The apothecary! Quickly! We need a doctor!" Kheldar calls out again, as most of the nobles present stand in shock at the sight of their king's blood, splattered on the table and dripping down his mouth. His cry seems to alleviate a few faces of their guarded suspicion, though not all. Still, the call seemed reasonable, as some of the guards closest to the door start running to do just that.
* Elise is too shocked to do much of anything, not that she could do anything to help a poisoned man anyway. The best she can do is scan the crowd around the king for anyone looking suspicious.
* Maya stares a bit in shock.  "Someone poisoned the king's wine?"  She'd heard that nobles had to deal with a far greater number of threats...but she hadn't really seen it ever before in person.

<Merc> "Father!" the prince cries out as he moves closer to Kheldar and the king. "Stay away from them, your majesty! They must have done the deed!" a nervous looking noble call out accusingly, although his face doesn't show he's entirely certain of his accusation. Still, it causes some mutterings, some of the other guards lookign at each other, and grasping for their weapons.

* Maya glances and quickly calls out, "That is nonsense.  It's clearly a plot by the same people that kidnapped the prince.  If he was still gone, just think about what would've happened!"
<Maya> roll 1d20+10 diplomacy
<Penuche> Maya invokes Penuche's magic: < 12 > [d20=2]

<Elise> "We only came here to return the prince!" Elise protests. "We weren't even with him for most of the evening. How dare you accuse us falsely! Bearing false witness is a sin and an offense unto god!"
<Elise> roll 1d20 aid another (diplomacy)
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 20 > [d20=20]

<Anassia> "Yes, clearly," Anassia says flatly, glancing towards the noble in question.  "Those who travelled from their home to deliver the prince are to be under suspicion," she says, shaking her head slightly.  Nobles.
<Merc> Maya's words don't seem to have a lot of effect at first, but Elise's argument makes a few of them nod their heads. Thankfully, it appears most of the guards are convinced, or at least they're not letting doubt cover their faces. "Then who did it?" one of the nobles calls out accusingly, a different one this time.

<Maya> "Think who has the most to gain, and there you will probably find your answer," Maya simply returned. "Shouldn't we be worrying about saving the king?"
<Elise> "Yes, we should! Where is the doctor?"
<Merc> "Someone should see if they can find the one who brought the king his wine. Did anyone see their face?" Kheldar suggests, as the prince fusses over his father, waiting for the royal doctors to show up. Nobody seems to really have a good idea of the servant's face or even gender, but a few guards start heading towards the servants' area to check there.
* Maya tries to remember, not thinking she got a good look, but being close to the king at the time.
<Merc> Jack seems to hesitate, but offers "I have some medical training. I don't know how much good it'll do, but I can try and help," the scoundrel offers. "Out of the question!" some nobles sputter at the suggestion, but the prince steels in resolve. "Shut up! Mr. Jack, please, if you can help..." the youth says as he grants his permission.

* Anassia glances towards Jack at his offer, somewhat surprised. "Be careful," she says softly, glancing towards the nobles again; yep, they're looking for anyone to blame.
<Merc> roll d20+8
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 14 > [d20=6]

<Merc> Jack is limited in what he can do, not really having medical supplies with him, as he tries to help the king. A few minutes pass, and he shakes his head. "I have no idea what poison it might be, but it was definitely ingested," he says.
<Merc> "Is...is that all?" the prince asks, shattered and disappointed.
<Elise> Elise is pretty much out of helpful advice here. This isn't really her element. "Poison...Only the lowest of weaklings use poison to achieve their goals!"
<Maya> "Hopefully the royal doctors can help...Poison is really dangerous," Maya admitted.
* Nama-away is now known as Aleph
<Aleph> "That's the understatement of the year." Aleph interjected
<Anassia> "I'm sure they'll be able to help,"  Anassia says softly.  "This is what they're here for, afterall..."

<Merc> As if summoned by Maya's words, the doors slam open, the guards that left earlier reappearing, with the doctor in company. The elderly doctor looks like he's hastily dressed and been rushed to make it here. "Where is the king?" he demands, quickly being pointed to the fallen monarch as he stamps over to the group.
<Aleph> "There's no guarantee of it." Aleph speaks, his tone serious for once.  "It's...actually rather jarring, this feeling of being unable to do anything."
* Maya moved back and out of the way, letting the doctor through.
<Anassia> "Mh," she says to Aleph in... agreement?  Either way, she glances back to the doctor when he appears, giving him the space he may need to work his magic.
<Elise> "No one else has fallen ill," Elise thinks aloud, "so the meal itself must not have been poisoned during preparation, only the king's portion? Which means the criminal had to have been near him sometime tonight. So our suspects are whoever came close enough to the king to directly poison his food or drink..."
<Aleph> "It'd take forever to go through all of the suspected servants."
<Elise> "But we must! An attack against one's own lord cannot go unpunished!"

<Merc> The doctor clucks his mouth, and hums as he checks the king, ignoring all the goings around him. Jack shares what little he could discover of the poison, and the poisoned cup is also looked at as the doctor does his duty. He looks more and more grim, and he sighs. "Dark Reaver Powder. Very deadly stuff, and worse, hard to get hands on," he mutters.
<Elise> "Can he be cured?"
<Merc> "But you can save father, right? You know what it is..." the prince asks, agreeing with Elise. The doctor shakes his head. "No, it's not certain. That's the horrible thing about this poison. My apothecary does not even have the plants needed to counteract it..."
<Aleph> "Dark Reaver Powder?  Do you know where it's from, at least?"
<Maya> "Where are the plants...maybe we can go get them?"  Maya asked the doctor.

<Merc> He shakes his head again. "No, it wouldn't be possible. As far as I know, the plant only exists in the jungles of Farvona, and there's no possible way we would be able to make it there and back before the poison runs its course."
<Maya> "Maybe if we find who did this, they may still have some on them...could that be used?" Maya wondered, worried at the fate of the kingdom with the king on his deathbed.
<Aleph> "...hard to say.  He could've just taken it in advance to handling the poison..."
<Anassia> "And there is no alternative?"  Anassia asks, looking to the doctah.
<Elise> "He WILL survive!" Elise insists. "The righteous are always favored by Hapshulam. God himself will speed us on our way to retrieve the antidote, either from the jungle or from the assassin himself."
<Merc> "Given how deadly this thing is, I would be surprised if the assassin does not have the antidote..." the doctor starts to say. "...but with the deed done, how long will he hang on it?" Jack interjects with a frown.
<Aleph> Aleph looks crestfallen.  The nice man who had given him free food and wine for rescuing his son had been poisoned. "Heh.  I wish I had your faith in this," he comments to Elise.
<Merc> The doctor nods. "Find the assassin, quickly! Before he can get rid of it. That is the only way the king might be saved."
<Elise> "I can instruct you better in the ways of the lord if you wish," Elise says to Aleph.
<Aleph> "Err, not what I meant," Aleph responds quickly to Elise.

* Maya nods.  "Has anyone left the castle?" She asked to the guards.  "If the assassin escapes the building, it may become impossible to track them down."
<Elise> "But if you have no faith, where else is it to come from?"
* Aleph looks to the doctor. "There's one other issue as well. He may very well put up resistance to being caught, and we don't have any weapons on our persons for such an instance..."
<Merc> "The castle should have been put into lockdown. Nobody going in or out," the guard states with a grim face. "The assassin will have a hard time escaping."
<Maya> "Let's get our weapons and search.  We need to question everyone.  Anyone who could've gotten near the wine or food.  The guards can like handle the nobles and the servants, but if there's someone hiding, they could just wait it out?"
<Aleph> "Precisely what I was thinking.  Break, now."

* Aleph does indeed head off toward where he left his weapons. And was forcibly dressed into this immobile pain-in-the-ass gaudy suit
<Elise> "But assassins are skilled at escaping! They are cowards, and stealth is their way of life. We must hurry to search the castle before anyone can get away. Let us arm ourselves and go forth!"
* Elise also returns to her room to change into her normal clothes and armor, and retrieve her weapon.
* Anassia will wait for the others in a like pre-determined locale, have neither weapons to grab nor particularly caring about the attire.
* Maya does as well, slipping out of the fancy dress and into her normal dancing outfit as she grabbed her blade, meeting the others near the castle entrance.
* Aleph returns only with minimal weaponry...for him. Quivers, longbow, knife, and unusually, a weirdly-filled flask hanging from his belt.
* Aleph meets without the armor. It'd take too long to change into that well enough.
<Merc> The group soon meets up again. Guards are already searching, people trying to find the missing servant with what few clues they have.

<Maya> "Let's check places folks could hide.  The highest floors, the basement.  The guards will take everywhere obvious," Maya suggested.
<Elise> Elise is visibly more comfortable in her plain, roughspun shirt and pants. "Where shall we begin? Search the walls for someone climbing down, or search the lower floors in case of secret exits?"
<Aleph> "Right.  Let's pair off, at least." Aleph comments.  "We could get more done that way, while being more than easily capable of subduing a single assassin."
<Aleph> "One of the pairs will take the high routes.  The other, low."
<Elise> "Anassia, shall we search the basement?" Elise offers.
* Anassia nods slightly. "Of course. The basement. Exactly where I want to search in a castle," she says wryly.
<Elise> "Then let's go!" Elise responds, missing any and all sarcasm directed her way. she marches off for the nearest stairway without looking back.
<Maya> "Alright then.  Meet back here in a half hour if you haven't found anything," Maya nodded. "Come on Aleph, let's go see whats in the attic," She lead up the nearest stairs.
<Aleph> "Moyamoya.  Guess we're together, then." Aleph says, nodding toward Maya.  "Time to check the high route, then."
* Aleph follows, the sight distracting him slightly from his dedication to the task at hand. Only slightly, though. The nice king doesn't deserve to die.
<Anassia> "Be careful, you two," Anassia says, giving then a faint smile before moving to follow Elise, keeping an eye out for assassins.

---

<Merc> roll 1d2 who gets to face off the dastardly assassin
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 2 > [d2=2]

---

* Maya hurries up the stairs, moving along as she looked around for any signs of trouble, people hiding, or routes into the attics or storage areas.
* Aleph also moved along as he looked for anything that looked suspicious. With one or two glances at Maya as he followed. Stairs are convenient for that sort of thing
<Merc> Aleph gets to enjoy the view as the two head into the upper floors of the castle to conduct their search. It seems some guards had a similar idea, as there's a couple of guards visible here and there, searching rooms. "Halt! Who goes there?" One of them calls out upon seeing the two.

<Maya> "We're the ones that rescued the prince.  Any sign of the assassin up here?" Maya gave a pleasant enough smile.  "We're trying to help find him too.  We can't just sit around and let the king die."
<Maya> roll 1d20+10 diplomacy if relevant
<Penuche> Maya invokes Penuche's magic: < 18 >12 [d20=8]

<Aleph> "Yeah.  He was far too nice to us for us to let him just get killed like that."  Aleph cut in.  It was something he could do, at least.
<Aleph> roll 1d20+1 UNTRAINED DIPLOMACY
<Penuche> Aleph invokes Penuche's magic: < 18 >12 [d20=17]

<Merc> The guard frowns at Aleph's words, but seems to take them at their word, taking a few seconds to recognize them somewhat. "Please do not joke about such things," the guard states, before answering Maya. "No signs of anybody suspicious yet. You two are the first unfamiliar faces to be seen."
<Aleph> "Like hell I'm joking." Aleph mutters.
<Maya> "Has there been any new guards in the last couple of weeks?" She wondered.  "are there any attics past here?"
<Merc> "Not that I am aware. Look, we are searching in that direction. If you want to assist, we can have a few men join you to start searching down that corridor," the guard states as he points down one direction. "Be quick in your searches, but make sure not to miss any important signs, and call out if you spot the intruder."
* Aleph nods. "We definitely intend to do just that. Should we engage the would-be assassin if he runs or attacks?"
<Maya> "Thanks," Maya nodded, heading down the corridor instead, starting to check the rooms.  At least the guards were thorough.  Maybe if they were lucky, they'd not even have to deal with the assassin.
<Merc> The man frowns as a few guards approach. "Use your best judgement, primarily keep him from escaping or destroying anything that could save King Fardune," he states before filling in the other guards.
* Aleph nods.

* Aleph follows Maya, aiding in checking the rooms. He spent time watching things for details out of place...every now and then. It'd help for this, at least...
<Maya> roll 1d20+5 spot
<Penuche> Maya invokes Penuche's magic: < 10 >12 [d20=5]
<Maya> roll 1d20+5 listen
<Penuche> Maya invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 >12 [d20=12]
<Aleph> roll 1d20+7 spot
<Penuche> Aleph invokes Penuche's magic: < 15 >12 [d20=8]
<Aleph> roll 1d20+7 listen
<Penuche> Aleph invokes Penuche's magic: < 9 >12 [d20=2]
<Aleph> roll 1d20+5 search
<Penuche> Aleph invokes Penuche's magic: < 20 >12 [d20=15]

<Merc> The searching group is thorough as they search the rooms. Nothing really seems to stand out. A few rooms are occupied, but the group does not let this deter them, as they continue searching, but not finding anything in the rooms so far. One room, however, has a nervous young man, half-dressed. Given Aleph's sixth sense for the sort of thing, he quickly finds a fairly naked young lady hiding, which leads to some awkward questions.
<Aleph> (Cue nosebleed.)

* Maya continues on, her worry about an assassin in the building almost sparing the couple from a few lewd jokes at their expense.  Almost that is.
* Aleph continues on before things get more awkward. Hot, but awkward...could easily describe that.
<Aleph> "Well...that was unusual.  The girl was hot, but that was still...unusual." Aleph commented to Maya rather bluntly after they left that room.
<Aleph> ...completely unaware of the two trails of blood down his face, at that.
* Maya glanced over a bit.  Didn't say anything directly, wondering how long he'd go without noticing...and how much fun it'd be telling the others about Aleph's problem.
<Aleph> "Eh.  I hope we or the others find him soon, anyway."

<Maya> "Not hope, we have to," Maya kept going, heading all the way to the end of the corridor.
* Aleph follows, knowing that he could be hiding...well, anywhere, just about.
* Aleph still hasn't noticed the blood yet, anyway.
* Maya glances at the others.  "Could I have a word with you guys?" She wondered, pulling back away from the thug/assassin.

---

<Merc> Anassia and Elise quickly scamper around the castle, getting lost a bit but eventually finding some stairs towards the basement, where the dungeons are to be found. It's kind of smelly.
<Elise> Bad smells don't bother Elise (at least, within limits). Baths were never very common in the Taylor household, after all.
* Anassia wrinkles her nose slightly at the smell even as she moves to enter the dungeon; the one thing she'd hoped to never see.
<Merc> Chains rattle as some prisoners begin to mutter about the presence of women. There's nobody around except for a guard, his head zonked out on the table, snoring. How shameful.
* Elise takes the lead to protect her friend(?) and teammate, just in case any desparate assassins attack!. She proceeds down the dungeon hallways with her weapon drawn, looking carefully into every corner and shadow. Then she notices the guard. "Sleeping on the job? Disgraceful!" Quite casually, she leads her hammer fall on the table not far from his head.
<Elise> *lets
* Anassia gives the prisoners in question a brief glance before looking back to Elise when she drops the hammer, jumping slightly. "Did you /have/ to do that?" she asks, flatly.
<Elise> "What? He needed waking."
<Merc> "W-wha?" the guard jumps as the table jumps from the impact, and the sound cracks in his ears. His eyes widen at the sightof the weapon so close to his head and he stands. "Intruders?!?" he exclaims, as he fumbles for a weapon.
<Anassia> "Calm down, we're not intruders," Anassia says quickly, lifting her hands in front of her.
<Elise> "Take heed! Were we intruders, you would not have woken at all! Sleeping at your post...despicable! We are here to FIND an intruder and it is your duty to do the same! An assassin walks the castle halls and we come looking for him."

<Merc> ooc: roll diplomacy to convince him. or intimidate if you prefer.
<Merc> ooc: well, Elise can intimidate there. Anassia only gets to diplomafy cause she's not being scary right now.
<Elise> roll 1d20+5 Elise doesn't do diplomacy, she just scares people by being herself
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 10 > [d20=5]
<Anassia> 1d20+10 Diplomacy, ho!
<Anassia> roll 1d20+10 Diplomacy, ho!
<Penuche> Anassia invokes Penuche's magic: < 23 > [d20=13]

<Merc> The man nods at Anassia's words, believing her and looking a tad sheepish at Elise's accusation. "I see. What's this about some assassin anyhow? I've not heard word of no assassins."
<Elise> "The king was poisoned at a feast. We must find the assassin before the king expires, should the villain possess the antidote."
<Anassia> "I don't assume you've seen anyone suspicious?"  Anassia adds, glancing deeper into the dungeon.
* Elise assumes the guard hasn't seen anyone.
<Merc> His eyes widen at that declaration. "King Fardune's been poisoned?" the guard declares before shaking his head. "No...nobody's been down here all day that I could tell. Who'd want to, really? All we have are prisoners."
* Elise looks at the cells. "And all of your prisoners are still present and accounted for?"
<Merc> The man frowns as he starts walking down the cells, counting heads.

<Anassia> "It's somewhere to hide out," Anassia says towards the guard, moving to follow behind him.  Free meatshield, hurrah.
* Elise walks along and glances into the cells as she passes by, just in case any of the prisoners look especially villainous.
<Merc> Most of the prisoners jeer as the girls and guard walk down the passageway, mostly making cat calls at the girls as the guard checks his prisoners. "Wait a mi..." he starts to say as he passes one of the cells, before the cell door slams open, knocking the guard towards the outstretched hands of some of the other prisoners who grab the guard. "...the hell?!? Mrph...!" he yells as he struggles.

***

<Merc> ooc: Init
<Elise> roll 1d20+2
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 > [d20=15]
<Anassia> roll 1d20+2
<Penuche> Anassia invokes Penuche's magic: < 13 > [d20=11]
<Merc> roll d20+5
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 13 > [d20=8]

* Merc changes topic to 'Elise (17) > Assassin (13) = Anassia (13)'

***

<Merc> ooc: Elise

* Elise takes a break from reprimanding the prisoners for their rudeness to race down the hall to face off against the guard's attacker! She gets to the door of the opened cell before-- (OOC: probably I can reach them and attack both this round, right? Would be nice to know who/what I'm seeing inside the cell, though.)
<Merc> The likely assassin stares at the two girls and sneers. "Bright girls, aren't you? You'll be dead soon and I shall make my escape!" he exclaims. It's a pretty non-descript man, which probably explains why nobody really remembers him, with dusty wild hair, a sword and shield in hand that he made appear quickly once he was revealed. (ooc: sorry, there you go.)

<Elise> "TRAITOR!" Elise roars as she swings to shatter the man's weapon.
<Elise> roll 1d20+8+4+2 Child of Faith bonus
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 30 > [d20=16]
<Merc> roll d20+8
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 13 > [d20=5]
<Merc> ooc: hit
<Elise> roll 2d6+7+4 damage (1/day Faith bonus)
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 22 > [d6=6,5]

<Merc> The weapon cracks heavily, making the man's eyes widen. "Holy..." the man exclaims as he stares at Elise, realizing this wasn't going to be the pushover fight he expected. His blade dances out as he strikes at Elise.
<Merc> roll d20+8
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 11 > [d20=3]

<Merc> The cracks in the weapon make his swing go wild, however.

<Merc> ooc: Anassia

* Anassia jerks back slightly in surprise as the guard is grabbed before looking to the assassin, scowling eyes doing their now-familiar change. "We're going to give you one chance to surrender," she says, hoping being potentially deprived of a weapon might make him more... /pliable/. "Come with us quietly if you want to live." [Move action for AC boost, Standard for intimidate.]
<Anassia> roll 1d20+14
<Penuche> Anassia invokes Penuche's magic: < 23 > [d20=9]
<Merc> roll d20+9
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 24 > [d20=15]

<Merc> "...are you kidding? I attempted to kill the king. Surrender is death, babe," the assassin replies.

<Merc> ooc: elise again, anyhow

<Elise> "Surrender may be death, but resistance is DAMNATION!" Elise takes another swing at the man's sword. Maybe he'll stand down once he's unarmed.
<Elise> roll 1d20+8+4 sunder again
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 23 > [d20=11]
<Merc> roll d20+8
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 27 > [d20=19]

<Merc> Hapshulam is not with Elise's righteouness this swing, as the assassin ducks from the swing, protecting his blade, as he attempts to stab her once more.
<Merc> roll d20+8
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 21 > [d20=13]
<Merc> roll d8+5
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 7 > [d8=2]
<Merc> ooc: roll your DR
<Elise> roll 1d3 (unless we changed this?)
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 2 > [d3=2]

<Merc> His sword cuts against Elise's side, drawing a decent amount of blood.
<Merc> ooc: Anassia
<Merc> ooc: rabid undead squirrel attack, go! =p

* Anassia takes a 5'step back into the hallway seeing Elise get stabbitied, taking care to keep from the cells lest any prisoners attempt to intervene. From her mouth flows strange words and syllabels, her hands moving into arcane gestures. Transmutation: Damage da sword!
<Anassia> roll 1d20+2 v 7
<Penuche> Anassia invokes Penuche's magic: < 22 > [d20=20]
<Anassia> Save is... Will v. 15
<Merc> roll d20+3
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 21 > [d20=18]

* Elise ignores the wound and keeps on swinging. "I am a rock, and you will be ground to dust before I move!"
<Elise> roll 1d20+8+4 sunder again
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 22 > [d20=10]
<Merc> roll d20+8
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 > [d20=9]
<Merc> ooc: hit
<Elise> roll 2d6+7 damage
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 12 > [d6=2,3]
<Merc> The sword shatters, making the man scowl deeply. "You'll pay for that..." he mutters as he attempts to rush into Elise, to push her into the hands of the other prisoners to make it easier to fight.

<Merc> ooc: You get an AoO
<Elise> roll 1d20+8
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 20 > [d20=12]
<Merc> ooc: hit
<Elise> roll 2d6+7 damage
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 > [d6=5,5]
<Merc> roll d2+3
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 4 > [d2=1]

<Merc> The man grunts as he takes the hit, but continues in his course of action.
<Merc> ooc: opposed strength check
<Merc> ooc: one sec to see if there's any modifiers to be aware of
<Merc> ooc: nope, just strength check. he's not charging, you're not a dwarf, and you're both medium size.
<Merc> roll d20+5
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 13 > [d20=8]
<Elise> roll 1d20+5
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 16 > [d20=11]

<Merc> Elise is an unmovable rock, the assassin finds, unfortunately.

<Merc> ooc: raging undead squirrel attack!

* Anassia frowns when her spell fails (again; seriously, these assholes need lower will saves!), crackling energy coming into existance around her hands to be thrown at the now-unarmed assassin.
<Anassia> roll 1d20+5
<Penuche> Anassia invokes Penuche's magic: < 10 > [d20=5]
<Merc> Anassia's magic sputters sadly.

<Merc> ooc: Elise

<Elise> "I broke only an object. Next I break your legs, then your hands, until you submit!"
<Elise> roll 1d20+8+1 (weapon token spent; I should have two from hitting twice)
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 24 > [d20=15]
<Merc> ooc: hit
<Elise> roll 2d6+7
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 13 > [d6=2,4]
<Merc> roll d2+3
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 4 > [d2=1]

<Merc> The man grunts as his side literally bends from the impact, but he does not stop. "Submission is death! I will never submit!" he declares as he attempts to push Elise again.
<Merc> ooc: another aoo
<Elise> roll 1d20+8
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 14 > [d20=6]
<Merc> ooc: miss. opposed strength
<Merc> roll d20+5
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 21 > [d20=16]
<Elise> roll 1d20+5 uh-oh
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 19 > [d20=14]

<Merc> The man smiles grimly as he pushes Elise towards the grasping arms of the prisoners, who gladly start pawing at Elise, trying to keep her in their grasp. One of the prisoners even licks at her neck.

<Merc> ooc: You have to make a strength check to try and act on your turns now. They're holding tightly enough to not let you move away, but you can still act with a strength check. If you succeed by enough, you could get loose however.
<Merc> ooc: go for the nuts, Anassia!

* Anassia starts as Elise is thrown into the cell and grabbed. In a burst of inspiration she reaches down to the always-present beltpouch, scooping out its contents and flinging it towards the assassin's /face/.
<Merc> ooc: *snorts*
<Anassia> roll 1d20+5
<Penuche> Anassia invokes Penuche's magic: < 7 > [d20=2]

<Merc> The assassin ducks again, as a squirrel flies from Anassia's hand and right past his face. The assassin briefly looks at Anassia incredously as he tries to wrap his brain around what was just thrown his way.

<Merc> ooc: elise

* Anassia blinks a few times as she misses before sighing and giving the assassin a faint shrug, although she does take care to give a mental command to the squirrel.
* Elise squirms and struggles in the grasp of her captors. She's on a mission here, she can't be held back by petty criminals! "Unhand me or my righteous fury turns on you next!"
<Elise> roll 1d20+5 STR check
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 22 > [d20=17]
<Merc> roll d20+2
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 15 > [d20=13]

<Merc> ooc: You can act, but you can't take move actions. The assassin is still within range to hit though, since he bullrushed you last turn.

* Elise swings with the intent to finish the man with one more blow!
<Elise> roll 1d20+4+2 (-4 for trying nonlethal, using both weapon tokens for +2)
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 23 > [d20=17]
<Elise> roll 2d6+7 assuming that's a hit
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 13 > [d6=2,4]
<Merc> roll d2+3
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 5 > [d2=2]

***

<Merc> ooc: also...
<Merc> roll d20+2 init for squirrel!
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 20 > [d20=18]
<Merc> ooc: ...lol
<Anassia> ooc:  I <3 that squirrel.

* Merc changes topic to 'Squirrel (20) > Elise (17) > Assassin (13) = Anassia (13)'

<Merc> ooc: I'll have it act next instead of assassin.
<Merc> ooc: direct it
<Anassia> ooc: Attack!
<Anassia> ooc: Specifically, not the nice, scary girl.

***

<Merc> The undead skeleton squirrel makes a chittering noise as it scampers towards the assassin, and attempts to bite and claw his legs.
<Merc> roll 1d20+4
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 18 > [d20=14]
<Merc> roll 1d2-1
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 0 > [d2=1]
<Merc> ooc: I'll assume that means 1 damage
<Merc> ooc:actually, given the guy's armor, he's probably just a nuisance regardless.

<Merc> "...The hell is wrong with you, girl? Seriously, I make a living out of murdering people, but this is just wrong," the assassin declares as he kicks at the squirrel before putting some distance between himself and the crazy hammer girl.
<Merc> roll d20+5
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 7 > [d20=2]
<Merc> ooc: actually should be +7, but eh, he'd miss anyhow.
<Merc> His attack misses the agile squirrel!

<Merc> ooc: anassia
* Anassia frowns slightly. "Yeah, I'm really comparable to /you/," she says, power crackling around her hands again, before being thrown. And dice bots are wonderful, kind and generous.
<Anassia> roll 1d20+5
<Penuche> Anassia invokes Penuche's magic: < 11 > [d20=6]
<Merc> ooc: Penuche really hates you, man.
<Anassia> ooc:  I even sucked up.  Do I need to, like, wear a lower-cut shirt?
<Aleph> ooc: Naah.  This is...well, this is how I felt in the first fight

<Merc> The squirrel decides it can better assist Elise as it scampers to try and bite some of the prisoners!
<Merc> ooc: Elise, strength check again
<Elise> roll 1d20+5
<Penuche> Elise invokes Penuche's magic: < 14 > [d20=9]
<Merc> roll d20+2
<Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 > [d20=15]

<Merc> Elise struggles, but is unable to act this time, as some of the prisoners grasp more of her body in spite of the squirrel attempting to distract them.
<Elise> "Villains! Lecherous curs! I will break your fingers in retribution once I'm free!"
<Merc> The assassin is moving away from the group, heading towards the desk of the guard. "I was planning on just sneaking out once things quieted a bit, but a prison break might work in my interests too..." he says, with an evil smile. "I'm sure the prisoners will be happy to entertain you ladies as well."

<Merc> ooc: anassia
* Anassia scowls towards him again, power cracking yet again. "You are not going to leave here alive," she seethes, moving towards the door as well [move action] even as she yet again throws the bolt of magical energy towards the assassin.
<Anassia> roll 1d20+5
<Penuche> Anassia invokes Penuche's magic: < 20 > [d20=15]
<Merc> ooc: hit
<Anassia> roll 1d6+4
<Penuche> Anassia invokes Penuche's magic: < 7 > [d6=3]

<Merc> The assassin took Anassia's danger for granted and turned his back at the wrong time, as a ball of energy goes right into his back, eating right through his armor, and knocking him unconscious.

<Merc> ooc: That is just so wrong. Dammit Penuche.
<Merc> *** combat end, timeskip, ho! ***

***

<Merc> A bit of time passes, as Elise and the guard finally free themselves, Anassia ties up the assassin, and the others all join up to interrogate the pissed-off assassin. Thankfully, a search found a vial with what was hopefully the antidote while he was still unconscious, which was quickly given to the doctor.
* Anassia has hidden the squirrel away once again in the belt pouch once the assassin was safely disposed of, and scowls down to the assassin, bound in the chair, arms crossed.
<Aleph> "At least one of the groups found him." Aleph comments, blood trails still running down his face from his nose.
<Maya> "Thank goodness you two got lucky.  Are you both okay?" Maya wondered, having come down the stairs a little earlier.
<Merc> Elise is slightly wounded, an obvious cut on her side, but probably most wounded is her pride. Her earlobe and neck look a bit wet, and her hair is in disarray.
* Anassia glances over towards the two arrivals, nodding, although she furrows her brows slightly at Aleph. "...what happened to you?"
* Elise gives the cell bars a good hard *bang* with her hammer (if anyone's fingers get caught in the way, that's too bad) and glares at the prisoners. "Filthy devils, helping a criminal to escape while your king lies dying!"
<Kheldar> "I'm glad to see you both unharmed. I wish I had been there to aid you." Kheldar kicks the assassin in the shin. "You've caused a lot of trouble, you bastard. If the King dies because of you, I'll personally tie the noose around your neck."
* Elise spots Aleph's condition as well, and she looks surprised. "What happened to you? Were there two assassins?"
<Aleph> "Huh?  What do you mean?  Nothing happened to me." Aleph responds, with a quizzical look on his face.
<Merc> "You would have to stand in line. There are a lot of people that will want to tie the noose," a guard states after Kheldar's declaration.

<Elise> "But there's blood on your face! Did you not notice?"
<Aleph> "Wait, what?"
* Anassia points up to her nose, brows lifting to Aleph. "And I say we hang him regardless."
<Kheldar> "Do you have any interrogation chambers? I suspect that our good friend here will be in need of one fairly shortly." Kheldar smiles grimly down at the unconscious figure.
<Elise> "Evildoers must be punished," Elise agrees. "But better to learn who he worked for first."
* Aleph wipes under his nose with his sleeve, notices the red, and then wipes the rest. "...I have no idea how that even happened."
<Merc> "Oh, he'll certainly hang for this. We need some answers though," the guard present states. The assasin looks defiant. "You think I'll talk? I'm a dead man, might as well make sure you guys are left with trouble after my passin'..."

<Elise> "Are you ill, perhaps? I am sure the king's doctor could examine you once his majesty is restored to health."
* Maya snickers.
<Aleph> "...I don't feel sick at all."
<Maya> "We ran into well..  a couple that was copulating while we were searching the rooms and it turns out Aleph is more shy than any of us gave him credit for," she snickered more as she told the story.
<Aleph> "..."

* Kheldar glances at Maya in mild amusement. "No doubt they were a bit put out at being interrupted."
<Maya> "More than a bit...  It was a pity we had to interrupt them, but it was totally worth it to see the look on Aleph's face, staring at the poor girl."
<Elise> "'Copulating?' I don't understand, is this activity dangerous? Was Aleph wounded somehow?"
* Maya blinks. "You can't be that innocent...  A guy and a girl, making love?"
* Kheldar bends down and looks the assassin square in the eye. "You might not talk, but I rather think that there are many...talented questioners in the King's employ. I hear they can keep a man alive for days, just on the very cusp of death."
* Anassia blinks a few more times up to Maya as she recounts the tale, smiling softly, before giving Elise a long look. "...wow," she says softly, before turning toward the assassin. "You will talk," she says simply, smile fading.
<Elise> "Oh!" Elise says with a nod. Then. "...Oh."
<Kheldar> "At least by talking, you might spare yourself what will surely come if you don't."
<Aleph> "Oi, oi.  I've got just the thing to make him talk, actually."

<Elise> It's pretty obvious Elise knows as much about this as she might about, say, arctic exploration.
<Elise> "What's that?" she asks Aleph, eager to ignore the previous subject.
* Aleph grabs the flask he had on his belt the whole time. "This. From what I've heard about it, it's got some uses, though not the typical sort for this..." he grinned.
<Anassia> "Given that you've no doubt had the most experiance of anyone here, Maya, I think it falls to you to teach Elise," Anassia says, offering a soft smiling towards the gypsy, although Aleph earns a glance.  "A drink?"
<Merc> "I'm dead if I talk, I'm dead if I don't. What honestly could make me say anything?" The assassin states.
<Aleph> "Trust me, you don't want to drink this."
<Kheldar> "What manner of potion is that, Aleph? A truth serum? It would be most useful."
* Maya whistles and ponders giving Elise the talk later on.
<Maya> "...It's hard ale, isn't it?" She guessed.
<Anassia> "I'll take your word on it." Anassia says, regarding the skin curiously.
<Maya> "Probably, Anassia," She winked back at the younger girl.
<Aleph> "So," Aleph walks up in front of the bound assassin.  "You say you don't want to talk?  Well, they just want to hang you.  From what I've heard...it's a rather simple thing.  They're pissed that you tried to kill their king."
* Maya kneels down. "You could at least sell out your conspirators.  I mean, why not have them suffer too since you got caught.  What do you owe them anyhow?"

* Anassia smirks slightly at Maya's reponse, before glancing to the assassin. "Wouldn't you rather a quick and... relatively painless death, beside?"
<Aleph> "I, on the other hand, am pissed because you've tried to kill one of the ten or so people who've been nice to me more often than not.  So, talk.  Who sent you?"
<Merc> The assassin spits at Aleph.
<Aleph> "Is that it?  Well, then." He glares death.  He'd had enough of people he liked, people he cared about getting hurt.  The insult was laid, and with that, he thumbs the stopper on the vial, before grabbing the assassin on the chin...and pouring a few drops' worth of the alchemical substance--aiming for one of the eyes.
<Maya> Maya glances at the others.  "Could I have a word with you guys?" She wondered, pulling back away from the thug/assassin.
* Elise follows Maya, though she keeps a wary eye on the assassin (you never know what they're capable of!) "What is it?"
* Kheldar steps back a bit to hear, but keeping an eye on Aleph's proceedings.
<Anassia> "Hm?"  Anassia asks, moving over with Maya.  "Yes?"
<Maya> "I..." She glanced at what Aleph was doing. "I REALLY think we should leave the rest to the guard.  I understand we're all a bit...well, high strung at this, but I don't think it's our place to torture him..." She looked somewhat uncomfortable with the notion, surprising for someone who cuts people in two.
* Elise nods. "The guards likely have more practice, so they may be better at it."

<Anassia> "...with all luck, we won't have to," Anassia says softly, glancing back towards the assassin
<Maya> "Also, if there's an accident, well...I really don't want to be tangled up in this.  It's bad enough folks were eying us as assassins," She nodded. "I want to make sure the king is alright and get out of here really."
<Merc> The guard present doesn't seem particularly bothered by the idea of Aleph's torture, not reacting as the assassin screams, though he is being observant. Whether to stop Aleph from going too far or what, he is still currently allowing Aleph to take his course of action.
<Merc> "...torture...won't make me....talk," the assassin pants, although he's lookign significantly less confident about having the upper hand in the situation.
* Kheldar nods reluctantly. "I can't say I wouldn't like to string up the man who attacks my king and has such a callous disregard for life. If he talks, then that is good. If he doesn't talk...then I will do what I can as a King's man to help."
<Aleph> "So.  Ready to talk, or would you rather drink the rest of this?" he motioned to the rest of the flask.
<Merc> "Do your worst..."

<Anassia> "I won't do any torture," Anassia says simply, glancing back to the assassin and Aleph.
<Maya> "I...think I'm going to head back to our rooms." She eyed what was going on, not wanting to be anywhere near it.
<Aleph> The pressure got to him.  The anger...he was being taunted to do it.  And yet...this wasn't him.  This felt wrong.  Disturbing, even....he didn't want to...and yet he was still angry for what transpired...
<Aleph> He was conflicted...he had killed before, but at a distance.  It was something completely different from forcing someone to die in an agonizing way, up close...and yet, progress was being made.
<Aleph> ...he felt conflicted.  On the one, he could get closer to the root of this!  ...but it felt...wrong.
* Maya heads off, going back to the quarters.
* Elise seems remarkably unconcerned about the harshness of the proceedings, but Maya did have a valid point about the guards being better trained for this kind of work. She heads for the stairs, but stops by Aleph and the guards before leaving. "You don't require assistance, do you?"
<Aleph> ...he settled for dropping a few more of said drops on his face, getting closer to the assassin's mouth.
* Kheldar says softly. "My father once told me that if I ever loved the feel of a sword in my hand, that I should throw it away and run as fast as I can in the opposite direction." Kheldar looks at Aleph. "Take care you do not come to love the feel of the blade in your hand, boy."

<Anassia> "Now look here,"  Anassia says, moving back to the assassin as Maya leaves, her eyes shifting back to their normal, rich color.  "You help us, and we'll be able to help you.  A little information here and you might not have to spend to long being... questioned.  But if you don't help us, we'll have no option but to turn you over to them," her voice drops slightly.  "And there's no telling how long they might deign to keep you alive..."  she trails off with a shrug.
<Merc> The assassin continues to squirm against his bonds and stare at the group defiantly, even as he does his best to supress his screams, and failing.
<Anassia> roll 1d20+10 -- Using Bewitching
<Penuche> Anassia invokes Penuche's magic: < 29 > [d20=19]
<Aleph> "...Now, talk."

<Elise> "What a strange thing to say?" Elise says in regard to Kheldar's advice. "Shouldn't a warrior rejoice in dispensing justice?"
<Merc> "I...I will not betray my contractor, but I will tell you this much, for having bested me in my overconfidence. It was not the king's brother. He is being set-up," he states, before biting his tongue deeply.
<Kheldar> "There is a difference, Elise, in dispensing justice in righteous anger and coldly torturing a man in cold blood for what is in his mind. Whether or not he is evil is not for us to judge. What we do is the lesser of two evils, in order to save the King."
* Kheldar leaps forward and pries the man's mouth open. "Don't you dare try to choke on your own tongue!"

<Merc> ooc: str check to try and pry his mouth open.
<Kheldar> roll 1d20+1 Live damn you, live!
<Penuche> Kheldar invokes Penuche's magic: < 8 > [d20=7]

* Aleph turns around. He had gotten something. Prevented a plot against the royal family, even...but it felt horrible. In anger he threw the vial down on a wide, clear portion of the floor, before starting to walk off, looking morose and downcast.
<Merc> The assassin is not willing to let them get more out of him, as he slowly starts to choke on his own blood, which combined with his injuries and torture, soon have him dying.

* Elise just shrugs, apparently not suffering from any deep moral crises as a result of this incident. She heads upstairs to join the others and let the guards clean up the mess.
<Aleph> "...I'll be in my room if you need me." He says back to the others in a solemn tone as he walks off, head hung, breath ragged, and less than pleased with himself.
* Anassia jumps back from the assassin when he starts to bleed, moving to follow behind Aleph and Elise out of the room. "Are you alright?" she asks, directed to the both of them.
<Elise> "Why wouldn't I be? The prisoners were very unpleasant with their grabbing, but they did no lasting harm."
<Aleph> "...Do I look okay?"
<Anassia> "That's good to hear," she says to Elise, smiling softly, before blinking to Aleph, smile fading.  "I'm sorry," she says softly, glancing to the side.

<Aleph> "I'm not exactly comfortable with myself, you know.  I just nearly poured the entirety of that down his throat."
* Kheldar slings the blood off of his hands in mute disgust, noticing that the est of his companions have fled.
<Anassia> "But you didn't."  Anassia points out, simply.
<Elise> "He's an assassin. He would do the same to anyone as long as someone paid him. You were only trying to do what would help the kingdom."
<Aleph> "No I wasn't, Elise."
<Kheldar> "Perhaps I should be mindful of my father's advice." Kheldar looks down dispassionately down at the dead man's face. "Duty Before All, indeed."
<Elise> "I don't understand, Aleph. Why else would you do it?"
<Aleph> "I was angry.  And he was a convenient outlet.  I wasn't far at all from making him suffer something horrible."
<Anassia> "He won't be suffering anymore," Anassia says softly, blandly, glancing back momentarily.  "And you didn't do it.  You stopped yourself."
* Elise just shrugs again. "He was guilty. The king's guards would've done the same if you hadn't."
* Kheldar looks at the guard standing in the corner. "I think it's imperative that the Captain hears of this. If you can direct me to him, I'll take word of what has happened here."

<Aleph> "At least they would've done it for a 'noble' reason.  I don't want to think about it anymore..." With that, he started off, slowly walking toward his room.
* Anassia sighs softly when Aleph leaves, glancing to Elise. "That assassin was an asshole." she summarizes.
* Elise nods. "He was, but that's no call to use profanity."
<Anassia> "...you really are sheltered, aren't you?" she asks slowly, faintly bemused smirk coming to her face.
<Elise> "My father simply wanted to make sure I wasn't exposed to any unhelathy influences."

<Merc> ----- OOC ------

[Merc]

Session Start: Wed Dec 02 20:22:37 2009

<Maya> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<Maya> A knocking is heard on Elise's door.
<Elise> "Enter," Elise says.
* Maya opens the door, and smirks a bit at the younger girl.  "Already getting ready for bed?"
<Elise> "Well, yes. It's dark outside and I had an eventful afternoon. Shouldn't I go to bed now? How else am I to wake at sunrise?"
<Maya> "That is an early bedrise, but come on out a while," She smiled enigmatically.  "You'll miss things if you sleep now," She swayed to the next door, knocking on it as well as she gathered those who were still awake.
<Elise> "What would I miss? Nothing important happens at night."
<Aleph> "Hm?  ...Come in."  A relatively somber voice comes out of the next door.
<Aleph> The door, notably, is unlocked
* Maya opens it and leans in, "Hey, lazy boy, come on out on the town," She smiled and turned back to Elise. "Only folks who've never been out can say that."
<Aleph> "...why?"  Aleph is notably sitting on the bed in his normal getup, still looking rather...down
<Elise> "I've been out," Elise says, feeling challenged by this statement. "I go out to buy wood or materials sometimes twice a week."
<Maya> "Because, you need a drink," She smirked at him.  "And they're on the royal budget anyway," She smiled widely at that.  "That and you won't get to make batty eyes at Elise if you don't,"  She knocked on Anassia's door as well. 
<Maya> "That's very cute...  but at night, you get to hear things people won't tell you during the day," She fluttered her eyelashes.  "And meet those you'd never otherwise see."
<Aleph> "...fine." Aleph gets up, walking out the door at a slow pace, to say the least...
<Anassia> Anassia opens the door after a moment, glancing out.  "Hey Maya," she says,not having expected visitors; she is back in her usual garb, the gown lying over the back of a chair.  "What's up?"
<Elise> "Will any of them need smiting?" Elise wonders, groping for familiar ground.
<Maya> "Possibly.  But let me handle those, alright?  Come on out kiddo, we're going to at least have a party of our own."  She smiled and walked ahead with a sway, leading down the halls and toward the exit to the castle, a jingle in her step.
<Elise> "I don't really understand the point of this excursion, but..." Elise follows anyway. Her companions have shown themselves to be willing to fight for righteous causes despite their personal faults, so it might not hurt to spend time with them and get to know them better.
<Aleph> "..." Aleph followed in silence.  Events of the day had still weighed heavily on him, regardless of anything else...
* Anassia blinks a few times before shrugging, following Maya out. "A party?" she asks, curiously, and gives the other two a smile.
<Elise> "Parties involve...much revelry and excessive drinking? I hope that isn't the kind of evening you have planned for us, Maya."
<Maya> "The others seem too sleepy to join in.  Oh hush, Elise.  You can drink what you want...you do drink, don't you?"  She smiled, turning. "It'd be quite rude to refuse the kind gesture from the guards," She lifted up a noticeable pouch giving it a shake as the sound of coins was heard within.  "And Aleph definitely seems too dour for words.  Maybe saw something in himself he'd rather not acknowledge."
<Elise> "What kind gesture? I...drink water. And milk. If there is cider I might have some of that."
* Anassia glances to the pouch. "I am not going to ask how you convinced the guards to hand over their gold," she says, glancing over towards Elise for a moment.
<Aleph> Aleph dropped back at that remark.  He didn't want to think about that again.
<Aleph> "...can you not bring that up?" He stated quietly, before falling silent.
* Elise looks at Maya (something she usually doesn't do, to avoid being reminded that she's travelling with an exotic dancer). "Why did the guards give you money, Maya?"
<Maya> She smiled beautifully up at the younger girl, "They were very grateful for our work today," she gave a sway leading out and through a few darkened alleyways, moving without fear, confident through empty streets as she turned and opened the door to a midsized tavern by the name of the Iron Blade, a few seen inside in the king's finery.  "and recommended a nice place where they don't water down the drinks," She lead in, gatheri
<Maya> ng to a table not too far away from the bar.
* Anassia glances about curiously; it's not as grimy as she'd been lead to believe. And there aren't people actively hitting eachother with chairs. She does, though, take a seat at the table. "I wouldn't mind watering down too much," she comments.
* Aleph follows, seating himself quietly. "Well, okay. Even if I still don't think I deserve it."
* Elise looks around the bar cautiously, as though sizing up the patrons to asses their moral fortitude (or lack thereof). "Maya, this is a place men congregate to imbibe alcohol and behave inappropriately. We shouldn't come to a place like this!"
* Maya doesn't quite sit though, smiling as she walked behind Elise and gently pushed the stronger girl in a seat.  "Just relax...look over there, that's the king's guards," She gestured at another table, giving a quick wave and a wink.  "How terrible could such a place be that's serving the king's own men?  You shouldn't be so harsh or the barkeep might take offense at your rude behavior," She smiled playing off her morals.  "
* Aleph looks around from his seated position. "Less so than myself, anyway."
* Anassia glances up to Elise, unable to help smiling at the comment, although it dims faintly at Aleph's statement, glancing over to him.
<Elise> "...Well, alright...But I will only drink water!" Elise insists. "That way I can protect you all if a drunkard attempts anything untoward."
<Anassia> "Who would try anything untoward to us, Elise?"  Anassia asks, glancing back to the other girl.  "We've practically saved the entire royal family."
* Maya pretends not to hear, ordering some spicy potatoes for them, a pint of ale for Aleph, some apple cider for Elise and Anassia, encouraging the barkeep to spice it up a bit and slipping him a gold coin for the first round and some, swaying back over toward the table and sitting down, smiling at the others over candlelight as their drinks arrived.  "Fate it seems has tossed us together, and the least it seems we can do is s
<Maya>  seems we can do is share a meal and some tales together."
<Elise> "Men are not themselves under the influence of strong drink, Anassia."
<Aleph> "...if you insist."
<Anassia> "I'll pass on sharing tales of my life; would hate to bore the lot of you," she says, smiling slightly.
<Aleph> "..." Aleph lets out a short sigh.  "...why did I do that, anyway..."
<Elise> "Aleph, you have been very sullen all evening. I don't understand why. Didn't we help to thwart a threat to the kingdom?"
* Anassia glances to Aleph. "You shouldn't be so hard on yourself," she says softly, reaching toward the cider. "Happens to the best of us."
<Maya> "Really, and what about women?" She wondered at Elise with a smile, pouring herself some wine.  "You went overboard, Aleph.  It's a very different thing to cut a man down in a fight then to torture him.  Not something I have the stomach for really," She sipped at her wine.
* Elise makes her stance on women and drinking quite clear by examining the cider critically and at length before risking a sip.
<Aleph> "And I don't exactly enjoy the thought of what I nearly did, either.  That stuff I used...well, it's meant more for a quick fix in fights."
* Aleph stares at his drink
<Elise> "But you killed people to protect our town, didn't you? There isn't much difference."
<Aleph> "There's a large difference, Elise."
<Aleph> "Fighting to kill, and going out of your way to make someone suffer are two very different things."
<Maya> "Drink up, it'll relax you," She smiled at Aleph and swatted him once on the head.  "Don't do it again."
<Anassia> "Why not talk on more cheerful topics?"  Anassia says, taking a sip from the cider, mulling over the flavor momentarily. 
<Elise> "I don't really understand feeling reluctance over something done to protect innocents. But I also can't pretend to know what was in your heart at that time." Elise shrugs and tries more of her drink.
* Aleph downs a mouthful of the ale. "Like what?"
<Anassia> "I'm sure our gracious host has amusing tales of her adventures," Anassia says, glancing towards Maya.
* Aleph seems to have continued in his drinking
<Maya> "Oh, you wish to hear of the teasing of men?  I haven't journeyed far outside Havenford like my mother did in her prime, so I have little stories to tell but those that have been told to me.  Of the lands far off and the people that live there," She smiled, leaning in as she lit a long pipe, taking a slow whiff.  "Though, didn't you say earlier...you knew not of men and woman, my religious parakeet?" She smiled at Elise in won
<Maya> der.
<Maya>  "Though, didn't you say earlier...you knew not of men and woman, my religious parakeet?" She smiled at Elise in wonder.
<Elise> "What? I--I don't know what you mean."
<Anassia> "...parakeet?"  Anassia asks Maya, tilting her head slightly.  "That's an odd thing to call someone."  She continues to sip on the cider.
<Aleph> "..." Aleph gets a slightly amused smirk for Elise's reaction
<Aleph> "This...should be interesting"
<Maya> She gently twirled her pipe, "How, for instance, do children come about?" She smiled, leaning forward as she took a slight puff, her eyes matching Elise's closely as the two sipped on the slightly spiked cider.
* Anassia grins a little at the question, leaning back in her seat slightly to watch.
<Elise> "Why do we have to talk of such things? I thought you wanted to celebrate or something?" The confidence Elise shows while facing down an enemy in battle is notably lacking. She finishes off her glass of cider, perhaps for an excuse to not look back at Maya.
<Maya> "Because it might be fun, and I could tell you if you want..." She smiled, "Only an offer, we could talk about something else," She sipped her wine. "Though it might be late for children to be up."
<Elise> "Well, er, a man and a woman lie together and...well, that's it..." Elise looks slightly panicked. "Can I have more cider?"
* Anassia continues to drink her own cider, amused at the proceedings before her.
<Maya> "Sure," She smiled and waved the barkeep over to refill their mugs.
<Aleph> Aleph snickered.  It was both rare and amusing to see Elise lose her composure in this manner.
<Aleph> ...as he downed more of his ale.
* Elise looks relieved to have another drink in her hands, as if something tangible is now a necessary distraction. Hopefully the inquisition is over.
<Maya> "Well, what else...?" She wondered, smiling at Elise, not quite giving her a break, almost curious to see how someone so unused to actual drinking would do a bit tipsy.
<Elise> "What do you mean? I told you everything!"
* Aleph snrks
<Maya> "Oh, you're adorable," She smiled, sipping her wine.  "Lying in bed is just start of their night you know?  It begins with kissing, tender stroking and caresses," She teased Elise with a gentle stroke of her cheek.  "They do not need to be in love, but of a moment of lust they are they only ones to each other, as they fiercely pull their clothes off, cleaving together, their sweat pooling as..." She smiled teasingly, pausing f
<Maya> or a smoke.
* Anassia blinks at the abruptly... descriptive description, taking a drink from her cider.
<Aleph> "...Oookay...a bit too much information..." Aleph comments as he starts chugging.
* Elise starts suddenly and stands up, knocking her drink over in the process. "Stop it! This is not appropriate conversation for friends having dinner! Did you ask me here just to assault me with vulgarities?"
<Maya> "Surely you've been there, Aleph," She smiled deeply, was she teasing them?
<Aleph> "Woah, woah, calm down there, Elise, calm down."
* Anassia glances towards Elise's abrupt rise. "Calm down, Elise," she says, glancing around the bar.
<Elise> "Didn't either of you hear what she was talking about? It's not proper to discuss such things!"
<Maya> "Look at you, Elise, you've spilled all over the nice table," She stood up, and waved a finger. "I won't go further, But it's the time after the sun goes down...  when better to talk about such things?  It's just a discussion between mature women," She smiled, waving the bar wench over to wipe up the mess.
<Anassia> "You're too worried about propriety," Anassia says, finishing off her cider, glancing towards Elise again.
<Elise> "There's no need to discuss it! When it's time, for people to have children they just, well, they figure it out!" Elise sits down, though she's watching Maya like a snake that's about to bite.
<Aleph> "While a bit...awkward..." Aleph commented, "I...don't quite see how bad this actually is.  Or are you just scared?" He smirks.
<Anassia> "I hear it's not just for children, either," Anassia says, glancing back to the others.
<Elise> "What could I be scared of?" Elise replies with some heat in her voice.
<Maya> She smiled, leaning back and stretching, playfully reclining in her chair. "Oh, that is so sad...those who figure it out then...well, they are unable to show their lovers they really love them.  They fumble about clumsily, and leave broken hearts behind.  But I really shouldn't...  it's not like I'm saying anything you three aren't experienced with."
<Aleph> "..." Aleph becomes flushed, and then finishes his ale.  "Hey, another ale?"
<Elise> "Of course I'm not--Maya! Do I look like a harlot to you?"
* Anassia glances to Maya. "There is a reason I asked you to discuss it," she says simply, faint flush to her cheeks. "And, yes, next round."
<Maya> "Who said anything about Harlots?  Do you think only whores kiss men?"  She smiled her eyes wide at Elise.  "You have been a very sheltered girl.  You will have trouble finding a man to make you happy like so," She nodded and finished her wine, enjoying the rich flavor.
<Maya> She waved over the bartender for refills.
<Elise> "I don't NEED a man to...lie with. I have a purpose." Another drink would be great right now, Elise thinks.
<Anassia> "Do they have to be so exclusive?" Anassia asks, leaning back in her chair again.
<Aleph> "...Well, need and want are two different things." Aleph notes out loud, waiting for his refill
<Maya> The bartender came over and gave everyone a refill, their third drink in fact.
* Maya leans in, "Oh Elise, it's not need at all," She smiled breathing out a circle of smoke.  "To travel the world afar alone would be a very lonely thing."
<Elise> "Well, there are a lot of things I don't want or need," Elise says, trying to sound definitive. Her head's starting to feel a little...floaty. It's a sensation she's not really familiar with, but it's easy to chalk it up to the blatant confusion and discomfort this conversation's caused. "There are other ways to avoid being lonely!"
* Anassia starts drinking her drink again, herself starting to feel the affect of the drink as well.
<Maya> "Oh!  I never took you for THAT kind of woman, Elise," She giggled a bit, sipping her wine, easily used to such things.
<Aleph> "...That kind?"  Aleph started drinking more of his ale, the flushing becoming a bit more...permanent
<Elise> "Well, now you know!" Elise frowns. "...Wait, I don't understand. What kind?" Since Maya's apparently made it her mission to make fun of Elise this evening, whatever she actually meant can't have been very tactful.
* Anassia glances curiously to Maya as well, brushing some hair from her face idly.
<Maya> "The kind that..loves their equipment very much?" She leaned back a bit.
<Aleph> "...somehow, I don't see her doing that..."
<Elise> "Well, I keep all my tools in perfect condition. I don't understand what that has to do with anything, though. That's just what any responsible working man or woman should do."
<Aleph> "..."
* Aleph takes this time to get a drink of his ale
* Anassia blinks a few times at Elise's responce, before taking another drink of her drink as well.
<Maya> "Well, maybe I'm just hearing things," She smiled.  "So what will all of you do now that this mess is wrapping up?" She wondered.
<Aleph> "...No idea.  I might just leave the town for good, really."
* Anassia shrugs slightly. "Dunno," she admits softly. "Maybe travel s'more. Wondering if I could make it to Dalewyn..."
<Elise> "I don't know," Elise says, obviously quite grateful for the change in subject. "I thought I would be content to live out my life waiting for signs of a greater calling, but...maybe that's what these past few days have been? Fighting for the village has felt very rewarding. Maybe I should find another way I can help people."
<Maya> "Well, I wouldn't mind some company," She smiled. "I was planning on seeing where the roads would take me anyway...and it may be safer traveling together."
<Aleph> "Doesn't sound like a bad idea to me.  I seem to like it a bit more when my life doesn't consist of being yelled at by old guys telling me to work harder."
<Anassia> "That would be more fun than alone," Anassia admits, nodding.  "Won' yer parents miss you?" she asks, glancing back to Maya.
<Maya> "Anassia, traveling is in a gypsies blood," She smiled.  "It was only a matter of time.  My parents will miss me very much, and I them, but a road that leaves town does not mean one that never returns."
<Anassia> "True enough," she says softly, glancing down to her cup (or other drinking implement) for a moment before taking a long drink.
<Elise> "Your parents will miss you too," Elise assures Anassia.
* Aleph drinks some more. Mainly because he can
* Anassia makes a noncommital noise in her throat in responce to Elise.
* Elise looks distracted as she dredges her memory for something. "Oh, that's right, there was something I wanted to ask you: what was that creature you threw at the assassin?"
<Anassia> "Huh?" Anassia asks, glancing back to Elise.
<Elise> "It...*looked* like an animal brought back to life by dark magic...but I know you wouldn't dabble in a vile art such as necromancy, would you?"
<Anassia> "...of course not," Anassia says, glancing off to the side; apparently drinking makes her into a terrible liar.
<Maya> "It's awful hard to keep secrets traveling, but does Anassia look evil to you, Elise?" Maya smiled.
<Elise> Fortunately, Elise is terrible at detecting lies. She's also drinking for the first time in her life. "No...but evil sometimes assumes an attractive appearance, the holy book says. I know Anassia to be trustworthy by her deeds, though."
* Anassia lets out a low sigh, continuing to drink the cider, cheeks remaining flush from the drink.
<Maya> "Well, if she's good and trustworthy, any magic she's using can't be evil," She charmingly suggested.
* Aleph finishes his third glass, looking notably flushed...
<Anassia> "Yeah, let's go with that." Anassia says, nodding to Maya's statement.
<Elise> "If she uses it to benefit others, her skills can't be evil after all," Elise agrees. She pushes back her chair and stands up, teetering a little as she does so. "Oh my...I must have been wounded more than I thought today. The room seems to spin a little around me...I must go back to my room and rest."
<Aleph> "Ahh...perhaps once again I will get a glorious view..." he stated, slightly slurring and with a rather goofy grin on his face
<Elise> "Oh, did you two climb atop the castle walls during the search?"
<Maya> "I'll see you back, Elise.  Might as well call it a night," She leaned over and tapped Aleph's head. "Up and at 'em little boy.  The walls?  No.  Why do you ask?"
<Aleph> "Indeed we did.  The stairs make it particularly easy, you know."
<Elise> "But Aleph said...the view..." Elise just shakes her head. "I need to rest. Let's head back to the castle."
<Maya> "He's drunk.  You can tell he's not much of a man by how he holds his liquor," She teased, helping them back, seemingly unaffected by her wine.
* Anassia grins at Aleph slightly, shaking her head to Elise. "Yes, holding drink is so important." she replies to Maya.
<Aleph> "Ahh...a different view from what you mean, Elise."  He giggles
<Aleph> "One that you...may not realize the true significance of, at that."
* Maya smiles, "We'll see..."
<Elise> "Well, I guess you'll just have to show it to me some time."
<Maya> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~