I've got a bad feeling about this...

[Dracos]

OOC: Continuing on from last adventure's fight.

Jan 19 19:35:53 <Kotono_Ibis>   The eighth Xorn reels from the assault, turning to try and chomp and claw Mari into oblivion!
Jan 19 19:35:59 <Kotono_Ibis>   roll 1d20+10 bite
Jan 19 19:36:00 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+10 bite and gets 25." [1d20=15]
Jan 19 19:36:03 <Kotono_Ibis>   roll 1d20+8 claw
Jan 19 19:36:03 <Kotono_Ibis>   roll 1d20+8 claw
Jan 19 19:36:03 <Kotono_Ibis>   roll 1d20+8 claw
Jan 19 19:36:04 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+8 claw and gets 23." [1d20=15]
Jan 19 19:36:04 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+8 claw and gets 13." [1d20=5]
Jan 19 19:36:04 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+8 claw and gets 28." [1d20=20]
Jan 19 19:36:06 <Kotono_Ibis>   OOC: AC Mari?
Jan 19 19:36:08 <Kotono_Ibis>   roll 1d20+8 claw crit?
Jan 19 19:36:08 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+8 claw crit? and gets 28." [1d20=20]
Jan 19 19:37:07 <Kotono_Ibis>   OOC: Mari? AC?
Jan 19 19:37:37 <Mari>   OOC: 26 still, I think.
Jan 19 19:38:31 <Kotono_Ibis>   roll 2d4+2 claw crit gets through, nothing else. Avoided the bite of doom by 1.
Jan 19 19:38:32 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 2d4+2 claw crit gets through, nothing else. Avoided the bite of doom by 1. and gets 6." [2d4=2, 2]
Jan 19 19:38:53 <Kotono_Ibis>   Amid the storm of blows, a claw scrapes across Mari's arm! It leaves it's own jagged trail of blood across Mari! OOC: Kam.
Jan 19 19:40:09 *   Kamvakua moves to aid the beleagured drow, a step forward bringing his pike in easy reach as he moved to down Xorn 8 and remove its threat.
Jan 19 19:40:33 <Kamvakua>   roll 1d20+16 touch attack to trip
Jan 19 19:40:34 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kamvakua rolls 1d20+16 touch attack to trip and gets 32." [1d20=16]
Jan 19 19:40:49 <Kamvakua>   roll 1d20+14 opposed trip attack
Jan 19 19:40:49 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kamvakua rolls 1d20+14 opposed trip attack and gets 33." [1d20=19]
Jan 19 19:40:54 <Kotono_Ibis>   roll 1d20+3
Jan 19 19:40:54 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+3 and gets 17." [1d20=14]
Jan 19 19:40:59 <Kotono_Ibis>   OOC: Down it goes, continue.
Jan 19 19:41:03 <Kamvakua>   roll 1d20+16 against prone
Jan 19 19:41:04 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kamvakua rolls 1d20+16 against prone and gets 24." [1d20=8]
Jan 19 19:41:07 <Kamvakua>   roll 1d20+16 against prone
Jan 19 19:41:08 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kamvakua rolls 1d20+16 against prone and gets 19." [1d20=3]
Jan 19 19:41:12 <Kamvakua>   roll 1d20+11 against prone
Jan 19 19:41:12 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kamvakua rolls 1d20+11 against prone and gets 12." [1d20=1]
Jan 19 19:41:18 <Kotono_Ibis>   OOC: One hit.
Jan 19 19:41:48 <Kamvakua>   roll 3d6+10+1d6 WHAM
Jan 19 19:41:49 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kamvakua rolls 3d6+10+1d6 WHAM and gets 27." [3d6=5, 2, 5][1d6=5]
Jan 19 19:41:56 *   Kotono_Ibis has changed the topic to: Michum(27)>Adail=Mari=Xorn 7(15)>Nikkolai>Kamvakua(8)>Knight(6)>Xorn 6(4)
Jan 19 19:42:27 <Kotono_Ibis>   With a rushing, trippling blow, Kamvakua impales and lies eternally prone the eighth xorn! Only two remain in the carnage! "Keep at 'em!" Michum calls, "Finish them off and earn yer pay!" OOC: Knight.
Jan 19 19:45:12 <Knight>   Knight smashes the Xorn that tries to attack her with the hilt of her rapier, and then follows it up with another pair of lightning-fast thrusts!
Jan 19 19:45:35 <Knight>   roll 1d20+19
Jan 19 19:45:36 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Knight rolls 1d20+19 and gets 27." [1d20=8]
Jan 19 19:45:37 <Knight>   roll 1d20+19
Jan 19 19:45:38 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Knight rolls 1d20+19 and gets 37." [1d20=18]
Jan 19 19:45:40 <Knight>   roll 1d20+14
Jan 19 19:45:41 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Knight rolls 1d20+14 and gets 26." [1d20=12]
Jan 19 19:45:48 <Knight>   roll 1d20+19 crittage
Jan 19 19:45:48 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Knight rolls 1d20+19 crittage and gets 33." [1d20=14]
Jan 19 19:46:06 <Knight>   roll 4d6+44
Jan 19 19:46:07 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Knight rolls 4d6+44 and gets 59." [4d6=3, 3, 6, 3]
Jan 19 19:46:12 *   Kotono_Ibis has changed the topic to: Michum(27)>Adail=Mari>Nikkolai>Kamvakua(8)>Knight(6)>Xorn 6(4)
Jan 19 19:47:21 <Kotono_Ibis>   In a flurry of rapierwork, the seventh Xorn is punctured and bleeds out into a puddle of stony blood! The sixth Xorn looks about, before burrowing into the Earth! The ground collapses behind it as it burrows away for dear life! Michum snaps off a hellfire shot at the retreating Xorn, but it's not in his range! OOC: ADail and Mari are up if you care to try and do anything about the retreat.
Jan 19 19:48:56 <Mari>   OOC: I'll spare them the wrath of my godly 1d6 non-FA damage today
Jan 19 19:49:52 <Kamvakua>   "Is everyone unharmed?" Kamvakua asked, his sweeping pike not yet acknowledging their retreat.
Jan 19 19:50:43 <Mari>   "Xorn, xorn, xorn," Mari grips. "Always XORN. They're like rats on this plane. And I'm alright, Kam. Just a scratch."
Jan 19 19:50:48 <Mari>   *gripes
Jan 19 19:50:49 <Kotono_Ibis>   OOC: Go ahead and freeact then guys. IF one of you wants to try and chase feel free.
Jan 19 19:51:11 <Nikkolai>   "Better Xorn than a Dragon." Nikkolai mutters, glancing about for any other errant attackers.
Jan 19 19:51:13 <Kotono_Ibis>   Michum looks up, looking about the carnage, his wife and allies all about. "Hmph. Fucking Xorn." He spits. "You're right about that. Nothing but pests."
Jan 19 19:51:35 <Knight>   "These are trivial wounds," replies Knight, dismounting Bellerophon and walking to squint down the hole. "They neither sought to make off with goods nor made demands. Were they simply bent on our destruction?"
Jan 19 19:52:52 <Nikkolai>   "I don't really care what they were after. I'm just glad we managed to kill almost all of them. Hope the last one doesn't bring any more friends..."
Jan 19 19:53:05 <Mari>   "I bet KING XORN sent them to eliminate anyone who could spread the true story of his humble origins," Mari says. "Let's get moving before they come back with more friends?"
Jan 19 19:53:15 <Kotono_Ibis>   The hole is a tunnel of collapsing thick earth. The Xorn has retreated with quite a lot of abandon and haste.
Jan 19 19:53:44 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Yeah, pack up and we'll move a ways down before remaking camp." Michum says, "Move, move, move! Faster we go, faster we avoid a second round!"
Jan 19 19:54:18 *   Mari doesn't have to be told twice, of course, and vacates the area with all due haste.
Jan 19 19:54:36 <Knight>   "Perhaps if we simply slew enough of them, no more would come," replies Knight, but she doesn't press the matter, and soon gathers up her things.
Jan 19 19:54:45 <Nikkolai>   For once, Nikkolai does as he's told with nary a word of complaint.
Jan 19 19:55:09 *   Kamvakua gathers his things, slipping on his armor before following.  Better to have something in the way, in case they get close again.
Jan 19 19:57:32 <Kotono_Ibis>   Thus the party hurries along and then rests. The ninth day thereafter passes without incident. The tenth day begins easily enough, but about an hour in, you come ahead. The Dimblock Road is ahead, but cracks and small cave ins are everywhere. There are mostly filled in holes in the ground here and there, quite large. Farther ahead in this long zone of ruin, you can see some sort of remnants. OOC: You guys heal for the time passed and rech
Jan 19 19:57:40 <Kotono_Ibis>   OOC: You guys heal for the time passed and recharge spells, note that. I assume Adail passed out heals as well.
Jan 19 19:58:12 <Kotono_Ibis>   Michum raises his hand, "Woah! Halt!" He stops before it as the ruin comes into view.
Jan 19 19:59:17 *   Mari does so, peering ahead but waiting for their fearless leader to share whatever his thoughts on all this rubble might be.
Jan 19 19:59:35 *   Nikkolai silently halts, waiting patiently.
Jan 19 20:00:52 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Ground's been torn up ahead. Could be a buncha things." Stretching his neck out as he peers, "Earthquake, Xorn, Elementals, various native life...but look at that. Couple of you go scout and head and see what that mess ahead is."
Jan 19 20:00:53 *   Kamvakua remains toward the rear of the caravan, waiting for the gruff merchant to get moving again.
Jan 19 20:01:40 *   Mari points ahead. "Hey Nik, go do some recon."
Jan 19 20:02:24 <Knight>   "Come on, Bell," nudges Knight, guiding him along. "Let's see if this was an accident or by design."
Jan 19 20:03:13 *   Kamvakua steps toward the middle of the caravan, keeping an eye on both directions since there was no one in front for now.
Jan 19 20:04:07 *   Nikkolai snorts. "Very well. Stay here and be safe."
Jan 19 20:04:15 *   Nikkolai trots after Knight.
Jan 19 20:05:16 *   Kamvakua eying the two, he said nothing.  They were more than enough to handle themselves.
Jan 19 20:06:18 <Kotono_Ibis>   Knight and Nikkolai go ahead. The ground is solid if ruined. Ahead you can see what looks to be the broken remnants of wagons. A few boxes are broken, shattered earthenware pottery and well polished metal daggers leaking from the boxes.
Jan 19 20:07:11 *   Knight heads past the wagons and looks around the scene of destruction for any corpses that might be in evidence.
Jan 19 20:07:58 *   Nikkolai summons 4 globes of light, and sends them questing about in random directions, hoping to spot anything interesting.
Jan 19 20:08:15 <Kotono_Ibis>   No corpses. Nikkolai does spot something glittering in the light, near one of the broken wagons. Something purplish?
Jan 19 20:08:45 <Nikkolai>   "Hmm? What's this?" Nikkolai creeps cautiously towards the purple-y, glittering thing.
Jan 19 20:09:46 <Kotono_Ibis>   Lying on the ground is wha tlook sto be a mostly purple scale - however, clumps of earthy rock grows through it in places, like veins of mold through fancy cheese.
Jan 19 20:10:37 <Nikkolai>   OOC: Anything I can roll to identify it?
Jan 19 20:10:50 <Kotono_Ibis>   OOC: Arcana and Planes. Both of 'em.
Jan 19 20:10:57 <Knight>   "There are still goods here. These wagons were destroyed, and little was stolen," remarks Knight. "It looks as though they were caught in some disaster, and the wagoneers must have fled."
Jan 19 20:11:22 <Nikkolai>   roll 1d20+13 K:A
Jan 19 20:11:22 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20+13 K:A and gets 29." [1d20=16]
Jan 19 20:11:42 <Nikkolai>   roll 1d20+8 K:P
Jan 19 20:11:43 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20+8 K:P and gets 22." [1d20=14]
Jan 19 20:13:53 *   Nikkolai pales and gasps slightly. "Ah, Knight?" He calls softly.
Jan 19 20:15:05 <Knight>   "Yes, Nikkolai?" asks Knight, glancing over her shoulder. "Is something amiss?"
Jan 19 20:15:35 *   Nikkolai beckons her over, taking care to point out the purple scale on the ground.
Jan 19 20:16:26 *   Knight peers at the scale, looking rather bemused. "The sign of some beast's passing, perhaps?"
Jan 19 20:17:50 <Nikkolai>   "Speak softly. This is the scale of a giant purple worm. It's large enough to eat entire divisions of soldiers and slip away silently through the earth as if it were water." Nikkolai speaks softly.
Jan 19 20:18:12 <Nikkolai>   "I think we should move slowly, silently, and find another way through."
Jan 19 20:18:51 <Knight>   "You think the beast is still near," presumes Knight, and she starts heading back to the group.
Jan 19 20:19:18 <Nikkolai>   "It's possible." He says in a quiet tone as he follows. "I would rather be safe than eaten."
Jan 19 20:20:03 <Mari>   "What's up?" Mari asks on their return. "Hey, Nik, you look pretty scared. Did Knight just confess her undying love?"
Jan 19 20:20:53 <Knight>   "Nikkolai is worried about a large worm," replies Knight.
Jan 19 20:21:20 *   Nikkolai rolls his eyes at Mari. "Yes. One large enough to eat this entire caravan and *still* not be sated."
Jan 19 20:21:22 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Worm?" Michum look sto both of them, "What sort of fucking worm?"
Jan 19 20:21:35 <Nikkolai>   "I suggest we find an alternate path."
Jan 19 20:22:28 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Shit." With a stare at Nikkolai, "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! No shit we should!" Michum exhales raggedly, "We'll have to go back to Hardsoil. Last time one of these showed up, it shut down trade for half a year until some lunatics were able to kill it."
Jan 19 20:23:11 <Nikkolai>   "...half a year?"
Jan 19 20:23:22 *   Nikkolai looks rather uncomfortable with that idea.
Jan 19 20:23:55 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Yeah." Running a hand over his face, "Turned out a bunch of mercs wanted the tail to sell for a good pile of gold and hunted it down, then double dipped by collecting the bounties on it."
Jan 19 20:24:13 <Mari>   "Hells. All the way back to town? You don't know any other way to get where we're going from here?"
Jan 19 20:24:17 <Knight>   "So, to understand this, there is no sure way to proceed unless we are prepared to vanquish the creature?" asks Knight, seeking confirmation.
Jan 19 20:24:37 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Not without goin back to Hardsoil, it's the central hub here." Michum says, "If you're desperate and suicidal you can keep going, but it'll be without the caravan."
Jan 19 20:25:27 *   Gatewalker (~strikerul@c-98-210-201-139.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
Jan 19 20:25:52 *   Nikkolai looks at his companions. "I think we are strong enough as a party to take it down if we move swiftly and with care."
Jan 19 20:26:01 <Mari>   "Well, you know, it'd be tough to go on without your charming personality to inspire us all. How much farther would it be, anyway?"
Jan 19 20:26:59 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Less than a week to Gandtock for the rest of this leg," Michum says.
Jan 19 20:27:03 <Kotono_Ibis>   OOC: Gah.
Jan 19 20:27:08 <Knight>   "Are we?" asks Knight, tapping the side of the rocky wall. "Does it travel through the same tunnels we must, or does it make it's own path?"
Jan 19 20:27:33 <Kamvakua>   "Purple worms are nothing to take lightly.  They can be as bad as dragons in their element, which this certainly is.  Are you sure, Nikkolai?"
Jan 19 20:27:40 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Less than a week to Gandtock for the rest of this leg," Michum says. "Week to Shineshale, then a week through the Dao tolls. Roughly."
Jan 19 20:28:08 <Mari>   "Yeah, you know, I'm personally not that eager to take my chances with something that eats whole bands of soldiers."
Jan 19 20:29:35 <Nikkolai>   "It would be...difficult. But are you willing to go several weeks out of our way just for safety's sake? If we can avoid the tail and simply keep moving, it's rather ungainly when it's above the surface. I think, at least.
Jan 19 20:29:36 <Nikkolai>   "
Jan 19 20:30:22 <Nikkolai>   "If we concentrate our attacks...we have a good chance of finishing it off quickly."
Jan 19 20:31:35 <Knight>   "If we had some way to lure it out, or to set the terms of any battle, I would not have any objection," replies Knight. "But otherwise, it feels as though there is too much chance for an uncertain gain."
Jan 19 20:32:11 <Mari>   "You know, if we can move on AND avoid it, I'm all for that. I'm not picking a fight with this thing if we don't have to."
Jan 19 20:33:19 <Knight>   "I'm not sure it's up to us. The earth plane is... some creatures can move freely through it, with no problems. Like the Xorn, or perhaps the Wurm. We have enough strength that for some creatures, such advantages do not close the gap between us."
Jan 19 20:33:30 <Knight>   "This time, however, it may not be the case."
Jan 19 20:34:16 *   Gatewalker is now known as Adail
Jan 19 20:34:37 *   Nikkolai nods at Mari. "I agree whole heartedly, Mari. I don't want to fight where I don't have to. However, faced with the prospect of wasting several weeks of time, and facing a worm that I also believe that we're capable of defeating..."
Jan 19 20:35:10 <Nikkolai>   "I don't want to go back. I don't want to return to Hardsoil to find that something...nasty has arrived there before us."
Jan 19 20:35:45 <Kamvakua>   "While it would be good to clear the road, I do not think we are prepared to do it."
Jan 19 20:36:08 <Mari>   "I guess that's the question, isn't it? Is this worse than whatever might be back at the other end of the road? Since we already made Mr. Big run off once, I'd guess not."
Jan 19 20:37:32 <Knight>   "You do not believe we could defeat your pursuers?" asks Knight, squinting at Nikkolai. "But you do think we could handle this?"
Jan 19 20:38:21 <Nikkolai>   "...I think that what she sends next will simply be worse than what we've defeated." Nikkolai murmurs. "If she simply doesn't come herself."
Jan 19 20:38:35 <Nikkolai>   "I pray it doesn't come to that."
Jan 19 20:39:43 <Mari>   "Hey, at least this time we know to expect something. That alone makes us better off than we were last time."
Jan 19 20:40:16 <Nikkolai>   "But I will accede to your wishes. I simply think that this is something we can overcome. I do admit that my desire to not go back is perhaps clouding myj judgement..."
Jan 19 20:40:51 *   Adail twitches his whiskers, "Hmm, how intelligent are these wurms? Is there any chance that I could attempt to reason with it? We guardinals can speak to nearly any living creature, after all."
Jan 19 20:40:56 <Knight>   "Sooner or later, I wish to go back, and that will likely mean going through your hunters," replies Knight, forthrightly. "And we have at least one ally in Hardsoil."
Jan 19 20:43:56 <Kamvakua>   "I have not heard of any speaking with one.  I am not sure you could get its attention, Adail," He admitted to his mousey compatriot.
Jan 19 20:44:07 <Nikkolai>   "Unfortunately, they are of base animal intelligence, Adail. I don't know if that's enough or not..."
Jan 19 20:45:10 <Mari>   "Really think we're better off turning back, Nik. Anyone else shows up to drag you back home, we'll just stab 'em somewhere inconvenient until they go home again."
Jan 19 20:46:03 *   Nikkolai nods, inwardly disappointed. "If you think that's best."
Jan 19 20:46:31 <Adail>   "Well, I am quite used to speaking with animals. If I can manage to get it's attention at all, I can try to assure it that we are too dangerous a meal and that it would be better off looking elsewhere. Most animals are simply ruled by base instincts, after all. The desire to stay alive cheif amoung them."
Jan 19 20:47:17 *   Adail shrugs, "Mind this is only an idea. Some animals are more reasonable then others, and I have no idea where these creatures fall on that scale."
Jan 19 20:48:30 <Knight>   "If it even gives us time to negotiate," adds Knight, dubiously. "This terrain is too constrictive..."
Jan 19 20:49:06 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Made up your minds yet," Michum calls, "If you're coming, c'mon. If you're going ahead, good luck not ending up food."
Jan 19 20:49:25 <Adail>   "That would be the 'if I manage to get it's attention at all', yes."
Jan 19 20:51:34 <Knight>   "I believe we should return. This gamble is too..." replies Knight, taking one last look ahead before wheeling around.
Jan 19 20:52:21 *   Nikkolai sighs. "Let us hope that I'm simply borrowing trouble."
Jan 19 20:52:21 *   Kamvakua nods and heads back as well, joining the caravan once more.
Jan 19 20:52:37 *   Nikkolai follows, returning to his place in the middle of the caravan.
Jan 19 20:53:26 <Mari>   "Hey Nik," Mari says quietly enough for their host not to hear, "at least if someone's waiting for us, they get Michum too?"
Jan 19 20:55:22 *   Nikkolai murmurs back just as softly. "I do not know. If he leaves swiftly, or if I disavow all knowledge of him, he and his own may be able to flee."
Jan 19 20:55:54 *   Adail nods and scampers up to the front of the caravan as usual, "Very well, backward and downward I suppose."
Jan 19 20:58:31 <Kotono_Ibis>   Thus the party turns back for Hardsoil. Three days of travel pass without incident - you meet one caravan coming ahead, bu ta few words from Michum sends them hurrying back with all due haste. Three days out from Hardsoil, the party continues along. As they do...(More)
Jan 19 21:02:22 <Kotono_Ibis>   The trip along is currently without obvious incident. It just winds along...
Jan 19 21:02:35 <Kotono_Ibis>   Michum looks about once or twice but continues on. "Hope the worm doesn't get this far," he mutters.
Jan 19 21:04:57 *   Knight clutches at her head, and pulls her hand through straggled, barely-visible hair. "Michum," she states, with a faint voice. "Have you ever heard of a 'Gruesome Ruby'?"
Jan 19 21:05:38 <Mari>   "Uh...Knight?"
Jan 19 21:05:47 <Kotono_Ibis>   "The hell?" Turning his head back, "Heard of it a time or two 'round drinks. Why the question out of nowhere? Going daft or have you been nipping from a bottle outta sight?"
Jan 19 21:06:05 <Mari>   "She hasn't been," Mari assures their employer.
Jan 19 21:06:24 <Knight>   "It's just something I heard about," replies Knight, in a voice that would barely fool a child. "It piqued my curiosity."
Jan 19 21:06:56 <Mari>   "Riiiight. Heard about where, I wonder?"
Jan 19 21:07:04 *   Kamvakua glanced over, wondering at their companion's odd behavior.  Well, he'd ask later.  No reason to involve the elf more than needed.
Jan 19 21:07:25 *   Nikkolai eyes Knight warily, keeping his peace for now.
Jan 19 21:09:07 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Uh huh." Crossing his arms now and rubbing his temples, "Girl, I ain't paying you to rumor monger. But hell." As you continue on down the Dimblock Road in reverse, "Bunch of slaad found a ruby the size of a great wyrm's head once, or so the tale says. Slaad being slaad they thought it was boring and hid it away in Earth. Gruesome part comes from the people that found it - legend says that anyone who finds it dies within a day, so it's never been brought back."
Jan 19 21:09:58 <Knight>   "So where is it?"
Jan 19 21:10:31 <Kotono_Ibis>   "No one's sure. See the part about no one bringing it back and it being cursed?" With a shrug of his shoulders, "I ain't particularly looked for it. Sounds like a fool's errand."
Jan 19 21:11:11 <Knight>   "If nobody ever came back from looking for it, nobody could have spread the rumour," points out Knight.
Jan 19 21:11:35 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Ain't it the damnest thing?" Blandly saying just that without breaking a beat, "Makes you wonder, don't it?"
Jan 19 21:12:06 <Nikkolai>   "Indeed. But I've found that there's always an element of truth in rumours."
Jan 19 21:12:18 <Nikkolai>   "Particularly ones about death and mutilation."
Jan 19 21:12:24 *   Nikkolai grins wryly.
Jan 19 21:13:05 <Kotono_Ibis>   "True enough of those in the Planes." With a grunt, Michum leads the caravan along. OOC: If any of you want to privately grab Knight or chat with her, feel free or whatever the party is gonna do.
Jan 19 21:13:46 <Nikkolai>   OOC: Anyone want to handle the interrogation?
Jan 19 21:13:53 <Kamvakua>   OOC: I'd ask.
Jan 19 21:13:55 <Knight>   "If there is any truth to it, I am sure the explanation is more prosaic," murmurs Knight.
Jan 19 21:14:09 <Nikkolai>   OOC: Feel free, Kam. It's your show.
Jan 19 21:14:38 <Kotono_Ibis>   That night, the party breaks and makes camp. Everyone is about, eatinga nd preparing to rest..OOC: Ball is in your courts.
Jan 19 21:15:31 *   Kamvakua sat down near knight, leaning back as he ate.  "Curious in legends of lost treasure?" He wondered at the exotic warrior.
Jan 19 21:16:36 <Knight>   "If we find the Gruesome Ruby, we will find Gem, my brother," she replies, firmly. "He told me so himself, just earlier. I don't know what method he used to communicate, but.. well, we are always connected."
Jan 19 21:20:03 <Kamvakua>   "You heard him...ah, some kind of mystical message to you directly?" He nodded.  "Can you sense what direction he is in?  Perhaps he is close for you to hear him now."
Jan 19 21:21:42 <Kamvakua>   He shifted about, "We should talk with the others.  They are probably wondering as well at your sudden interest in jewelry," he glanced down picking at his food.
Jan 19 21:21:59 <Knight>   "Down," replies Knight, indicating such. "This is the plane of earth... you might be right. But as mazey as it is, we can be close, and still far." She picks restlessly at her food, and seems quite agitated. "He is not with the ruby itself, but rather, with a slaad who is searching for it in the guise of an ogre mage."
Jan 19 21:24:40 <Kamvakua>   "The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.  It must be frustrating to feel them close, but at the same time, to know they are close and not infinitely far away can be thought of as a blessing.  Perhaps this other path will lead us closer."
Jan 19 21:26:47 *   Adail twitches an ear and then moves over to where Kam and Knight are sitting, nodding at them both as he has a seat himself, "Perhaps it would be wise to seek the aid of those who can travel in a straight line even here in Earth?"
Jan 19 21:26:49 <Knight>   "Perhaps it will. Or perhaps it will take me distant. When we reach Hardsoil again, I must make enquiries," replies Knight. "The slaad may not stay on this plane forever, and what's more, what is to say he would relinguish Gem easily? It may be a finite opportunity."
Jan 19 21:28:02 <Knight>   "Oh? Do you have something in mind? I don't, ah, think the xorns are likely to aid us..."
Jan 19 21:28:32 <Kamvakua>   "They're not the only ones in the plane that can tunnel.  Though hiring an earth elemental for instance would be...costly."
Jan 19 21:30:01 <Adail>   The musteval shrugs, "Perhaps not the average one, but I recall the one xorn spellcaster who was able to rid Mari and Nik of their bracelets. He may be willing to deal, if we show this Xorn King or whoever he serves proper respect. And Kamvakua is right, there are others. I would guess no few creatures have such an ability on this plane."
Jan 19 21:30:15 <Adail>   "Perhaps that can be one of the things we ask about in Hardsoil."
Jan 19 21:30:21 <Mari>   "Well, uh," Mari says, listening in. "If going the other directino keeps Knight from crazy--crazier--I guess it's for the best. I mean, I'm only trying to figure out why a mysterious stranger gave me a piece of jewelry. Nothing important!"
Jan 19 21:31:17 <Kamvakua>   "It'll flavor the mystery, won't it Mari?  We'll hardly leave without going there, and isn't anticipation the best spice?"
Jan 19 21:31:38 *   Adail half grins at Mari, "I have a feeling that will be more important then you think, at some point. But perhaps not right this moment."
Jan 19 21:31:48 <Mari>   "No," Mari says, not overflowing with patience.
Jan 19 21:35:20 <Kamvakua>   "Well, we have two impatient women then," He smiled at Mari's sharp retort.
Jan 19 21:36:11 <Knight>   "When there is something you must attain, it is difficult to appreciate the labours you must take to gain it," replies Knight, with a shrug. "At this moment, they are obstacles."
Jan 19 21:36:18 <Mari>   "Look, if going after what Knight wants keeps her from going all floaty in the head, I guess it is the best idea. Better than having her stop to talk to walls in the middle of a rumble."
Jan 19 21:36:59 <Knight>   "I am capable of utmost focus! You need not worry about such, um, distractions..."
Jan 19 21:38:10 <Kamvakua>   "There are always things to attain, higher glories, necessary kin, forgotten treasure.  You will ever spend more time chasing it then you will the slight instance of success.  If you don't find a way to appreciate the road, it certainly will be a cold companion."
Jan 19 21:39:45 <Kotono_Ibis>   Thus, sleep comes. The next few days are mercifully without incident. You return to Hardsoil at last, the city still serene and free! As you ride into it, "End of the line for this. I'll pay you for the trip two and back. It was about 20 days, so 300 gold for each of you. Come by my inn room tonight and I'll have it."
Jan 19 21:40:35 *   Adail nods, "Very well."
Jan 19 21:40:36 <Knight>   "It's a shame that you weren't able to complete your journey," voices Knight.
Jan 19 21:41:14 <Nikkolai>   "Indeed. If you are planning on going the alternate route, perhaps you could hire us on again."
Jan 19 21:42:11 <Mari>   "Granny better not have done anything terrible with my face on," Mari grumbles. "Or at least anything I would've liked to be there to see. Maybe I should ask around town and see if I got up to any trouble."
Jan 19 21:42:44 <Kotono_Ibis>   "We'll see," With a nod to each of them, the caravan and Michum head away and into Hardsoil. OOC: Ball is very much in your courts this moment.
Jan 19 21:43:40 *   Adail scrambles up to Kam's shoulder, "Well, what's the first order of business then?"
Jan 19 21:43:52 <Knight>   "We could ask her directly, couldn't we? I must ask about this relic, and she seems a good place to start."
Jan 19 21:43:54 <Kamvakua>   "Well, you'll know if she did, and you can scowl her in return," Kamvakua nodded.  "Meanwhile, we have a path blocked, and a reroute down.  Perhaps we should ask if anyone knows anyone traveling down the direct way."
Jan 19 21:44:57 <Mari>   "I guess we'll have to ask around again, given we're going a different direction this time."
Jan 19 21:45:58 <Adail>   "Granny Tam does seem the obvious place to start, I suppose."
Jan 19 21:46:31 *   Nikkolai shrugs, noncommital. His mind seems to be on other things.
Jan 19 21:49:06 <Kotono_Ibis>   The trip to Granny Tam is without incident. As you enter in, you hear her chuckling. "Oh ho ho. Missy and her assortment of marvelous friends are back already!  Did you change your minds?"
Jan 19 21:49:44 <Nikkolai>   "Not precisely."
Jan 19 21:49:56 <Kamvakua>   "No, but it seems a journey passes through your shop more than once."
Jan 19 21:51:15 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Well why don't you tell Granny about it?" Granny Tam's laughter is heard here and there, no sign of her.
Jan 19 21:51:39 <Mari>   "not exactly. But hey, I *was* wondering if you ran around town blackening my reputation while I was gone. Because, you know, that's my job."
Jan 19 21:52:39 <Nikkolai>   "We ran into a rather large obstacle. An earth worm, to be precise." Nik paused. "Naturally, we felt that a rapid retreat was best."
Jan 19 21:55:13 <Kamvakua>   "Nikkolai missed his chance to ride the worm," Kamvakua dryly let out.  "I was wondering if you knew a quick way...downward."
Jan 19 21:55:39 <Knight>   "Or if you knew the whereabouts of the Gruesome Ruby," Knight feels compelled to add.
Jan 19 21:56:22 *   Adail is largely content to let others do the explaining and asking at the moment.
Jan 19 21:56:27 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Oh, nothing too serious." Chuckling even more, "Oh, a worm, hm? Quite a problem. Nasty things and they like to eat first and ask questions to the bones later. Hm, hm, hm, but how does the Gruesome Ruby tie into that?"
Jan 19 21:57:12 <Mari>   "I think it's Knight's brother or something," Mari says. "I wasn't real clear on that part."
Jan 19 21:57:25 <Knight>   "It's very important that I find it," replies Knight. "I heard one of my relatives has been dragged into a search for it."
Jan 19 22:00:25 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Oh, now that's a problem." A woman strolls out ahead of the party. Her upper body is clad in a silk shirt, but her lower section is bare. This isn't obscene in the least - for from her stomach down, her lower body is a snake! Bright green scales slither! "Legends say that anyone who finds the Gruesome Ruby will die."
Jan 19 22:01:00 <Adail>   "Yes, Michum was able to tell us that much at least."
Jan 19 22:01:18 <Knight>   "So they do. Do you know anything?" asks Knight, quite forcefully.
Jan 19 22:01:21 *   Nikkolai merely raises an eyebrow at Granny Tam. "That's an interesting look for you. And if everyone who finds it dies...how are all these rumours floating around about it?"
Jan 19 22:01:48 <Mari>   "Legends aren't always right. And nice look. Not sure I could get on without legs, myself."
Jan 19 22:03:57 <Kotono_Ibis>   Her hair is tied back in a ponytail, a distinct shade of dark blue. She slithers ahead, "That's the rumor. If it's true," she wavers a hand back and forth, "Well, let's just say the jury's still out on that one, Missy."
Jan 19 22:06:05 <Kamvakua>   "What do you believe of it, Granny Tam?" Kamvakua wondered.
Jan 19 22:06:24 <Nikkolai>   "True or not, I think that we could use any knowledged that you have of it, if we're to aid Knight in finding her brother."
Jan 19 22:07:08 *   Mari shrugs. "Well, I guess it's something to try out if I ever get tired of the shape I'm in."
Jan 19 22:08:58 <Kotono_Ibis>   "You make too good a drow, Missy!" Waggling a finger at Mari before going on, "I believe that it's either real or something wants people to believe it's real. If you're going to go after it, I'd be careful! If it's cursed you're in trouble, and if someone's luring explorers into a trap you're in real trouble!"
Jan 19 22:09:33 <Mari>   "Well, you know, we can just have Nik pick it up first to find out."
Jan 19 22:09:44 <Nikkolai>   "Trouble? I think that perhaps we should go looking for it this time, as it seems to find us all too often."
Jan 19 22:10:13 *   Nikkolai glares at Mari in exasperation. "Really, girl. When are you going to grow up?"
Jan 19 22:10:32 <Knight>   "It's not the gem itself I'm interested in," reminds Knight. "I just need a place to start looking. My guess is that it's somewhere below us, but that covers a lot of ground."
Jan 19 22:11:22 <Kamvakua>   "A little teasing is good between friends," He ruminated, "Luring folks in with treasure seems more reliable than luring folks in with death."
Jan 19 22:11:25 <Adail>   "Well," Adail can't help but add, "There isn't overly much around here to cover but ground."
Jan 19 22:11:47 <Mari>   "I'm tempted to ask you the same question nearly every day, but I'm sure you'd insist you don't need to. So I'll just keep picking at you until it stops being funny."
Jan 19 22:12:44 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Going down, hm?" Looking to Knight, "Best way to head down is to get digging. You there," A look at Adail, "You can dig, Musteval. The rest of you though..."
Jan 19 22:13:32 <Nikkolai>   "I'm afraid we're not too gifted in the digging department." Nikkolai says, ignoring Mari's jibe.
Jan 19 22:13:43 <Mari>   "Yeah, I think the idea was to have someone *else* do the digging for us," Mari says.
Jan 19 22:13:58 *   Adail nods, "I can, yes. Not nearly enough to make a tunnel large enough for Mari to reliably fit through, much less anyone else."
Jan 19 22:16:25 <Kamvakua>   "I think nikkolai would have grey hair if we went by digging."
Jan 19 22:16:28 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Granny can help you...one of you, anyawy." With a little laugh, "So...oh!" Snapping her fingers, "Goliath, you'd be perfect for it!"
Jan 19 22:16:52 <Kamvakua>   "...?"  He blinked a little at that.  "Perfect for what?"
Jan 19 22:17:18 *   Mari steps away from Kamvakua very quickly. She's not averse to transforming by this point, but she'd want to know what it was first.
Jan 19 22:18:01 *   Adail hops off Kam's shoulder.
Jan 19 22:18:05 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Why, to be a good old digger. Between you and Adail, you'll go straigh ton down!"
Jan 19 22:19:47 <Kamvakua>   "...I've seen enough of your magics not to be afeared, but this best be temporary," He smirked. "I'm not particularly looking for a different guise in life, but to dig for a bit, hard labor strengthens the soul."
Jan 19 22:20:58 *   Adail chuckles, "Just think, it's a new experience and a way of travelling you've yet to do for yourself. Practically right in line with the Old Wanderer's teachings, wouldn't you say?"
Jan 19 22:21:12 <Kotono_Ibis>   With a snap of her fingers, a necklace of dirty old stones flies out! IT wraps around Kamvakua's big neck snugly! His body swells and bristles, muscles turning to stone and body rippling! His hands grow to double size, like giant hunks of stone carved into hands! His entire body seems to be almost made of EArth! "Now go try digging like that! It's up in there now," She reaches forward and taps Kamvakua's head, "Got it?"
Jan 19 22:21:17 <Kotono_Ibis>    She reaches forward and taps Kamvakua's head, "Got it?"
Jan 19 22:22:15 <Knight>   "Hands like that look as though they'd be good for more than just digging," murmurs Knight. "They look powerful enough to crush walls and flatten towers."
Jan 19 22:22:22 <Mari>   "I hope you don't want that necklace back any time soon, Granny. I think we'll be away for a while."
Jan 19 22:22:58 <Adail>   "His hands were already strong enough to do that, at least when he got angry."
Jan 19 22:23:06 <Kamvakua>   "You know, when you travel, you take a bit of the earth with you that you walk on from place to place...but this is more literal than I usually take it...I'll not dig here though, it'd dirty your shop," His voice was surprisingly slow, an almost earthy granite to his words, as if rocks were crunching to bring them forth.
Jan 19 22:23:57 <Kotono_Ibis>   Clapping her hands together, "Good, good! Now then, off you go!" Waving her hand, "Good luck finding that Gruesome Ruby! Oh, if you find out thet ruth of it, let Granny  know!"
Jan 19 22:24:20 <Kotono_Ibis>   After a moment, "Oh yes, are you all going to run offa nd start digging right this moment?"
Jan 19 22:24:57 <Knight>   "I only have the vaugest direction. If possible, I hoped to refine it here," replies Knight. "There must be many rumours of such a strange artifact.."
Jan 19 22:25:13 <Kamvakua>   "One more, for the road," He simply stayed put a bit.  "Where would be most convenient to those of hardsoil for a tunnel such.  I do not want to leave them something irritating in my wake."
Jan 19 22:25:38 <Mari>   "I don't know," Mari says. "That depends on how soon Knight starts hearing colors and tasting sounds. She seems stable enough right now, so no hurry. Why?"
Jan 19 22:26:32 <Adail>   "You know, I'm fairly sure I've tasted sounds before," Adail muses. "The eladrin have the most interesting wines..."
Jan 19 22:27:07 <Knight>   "Hearing colors? I don't... wait, is it possible?"
Jan 19 22:28:04 <Kotono_Ibis>   "Anywhere out of town. It'll refill in a week or two. Earth does that. OH! Eladrin wines!" With a deep giggle as she tosses her ponytail back, "Oh yes, those are fun! If you come back alive I'll share one with all of you! A special one! But...oh, if there are rumors, chop chop!" Clapping her hands together, "Go scour the bars and play nice with people!"
Jan 19 22:28:44 <Mari>   "I am definitely going to enjoy that part of the plan."
Jan 19 22:29:58 *   Kamvakua shifted over the floor, heading for the exit, seeming almost a moving wall as the clarity between his limbs and body were hidden beneath the rocklike exterior.