Queens are Kings, Fairy Circles, and other Arborea Tales

[Dracos]

Apr 06 19:38:45 <Infinite_Ko_Loop>   Thus the party rests and resumes their trip. Much of a day passes without any troubles, through the endless open woods. Sometime well into the afternoon, you catch sight of something on the horizon - a thick thicket of trees, a circle. They're smaller than the grand trees, only rising up maybe fourty feet. From within the circle steam occasionally hisses out.
Apr 06 19:39:48 <Mari>   "Oh hey," Mari points. "I dunno what that is, but it looks pretty planned out to me. Want to take a look?"
Apr 06 19:39:52 <Knight>   "Look, it is some kind of geyser." Knight gestures towards the center of the circle. "An underground lake, perhaps?"
Apr 06 19:40:29 *   Adail skitters forward, "I'll go take a look. Just in case it's another of those things that's harmless to us but not so much for mortals."
Apr 06 19:40:43 <Nikkolai>   "If it's a natural hot spring, I vote we take a bath."
Apr 06 19:40:46 <Kamvakua>   "It might be their encampment.  Go ahead, Adail.  We'll follow along a bit behind."
Apr 06 19:41:43 <Infinite_Ko_Loop>   Thus Adail gets closer! It's steamily warm as he reaches the edge of the trees...OOC: Make a will save?
Apr 06 19:41:59 <Adail>   roll 1d20+15 will save
Apr 06 19:42:00 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Adail rolls 1d20+15 will save and gets 24." [1d20=9]
Apr 06 19:43:37 *   Adail stops his advance, announcing aloud, "I mean no harm. I am Adail, musteval warrior of Elysium and White Rook of the Knights of Arbor. May I approach?"
Apr 06 19:44:25 <Infinite_Ko_Loop>   You hear warm giggles, "A musteval? Come, come!" Female voices call.
Apr 06 19:44:39 *   Adail moves forward!
Apr 06 19:45:53 <Infinite_Ko_Loop>   Within you move past the trees. Past the thick trees is a small pond. From it steam rises and wafts up from all directions. Within you can see obscured shapes, hidden by the misty vapors. Elf-like women, heart-throbbingly beautiful even obscured. "Noble celestial, what brings you here?"
Apr 06 19:47:05 *   Adail bows in greeting, in as much of the courtly style as he can manage, "Seeking my fellow Knights of Arbor. I've heard the White Knights were seen coming this way not too horribly long ago. Would you ladies happen to have seen them?"
Apr 06 19:47:41 <Infinite_Ko_Loop>   "Oh, yes, those knights made a ruckus. There going that ways," Pointing to the north, "They continued on that way."
Apr 06 19:48:50 <Adail>   "About how long ago were they here?"
Apr 06 19:49:13 <Infinite_Ko_Loop>   "A day or so," The answer is virtually caroled back.
Apr 06 19:50:38 *   Adail nods, "My thanks, fair ones. I'll leave you to enjoy your bathing in peace."
Apr 06 19:50:52 <Adail>   And with that, he backs out of the circle and heads back to his companions.
Apr 06 19:51:20 <Kotono>   His companions are where he left them, "What was it?" Yulia asks.
Apr 06 19:51:41 <Kamvakua>   "The knights?  Or some other denizens?"
Apr 06 19:52:23 <Adail>   "A nymph spring," he answers matter of factly, "They saw the Knights, we're only about a day behind them now. We should be able to catch them tomorrow at the current pace, I think."
Apr 06 19:53:04 <Knight>   "I'm surprised we can outpace them. Do they require sleep, as we do?"
Apr 06 19:53:33 <Nikkolai>   Nikk's right eye twitches almost imperceptibly. "A nymph spring, you say?"
Apr 06 19:53:45 *   Adail shakes his head, "No, but they likely don't have a destination in mind, and thus aren't moving at marching speed like we are. More a leisurely pace."
Apr 06 19:54:03 <Mari>   "Well hey, I guess we'd better keep moving to catch up to those knights," Mari says, talking over Nikkolai.
Apr 06 19:54:24 *   Nikkolai sighs softly. "It was worth a try." He mutters to himself.
Apr 06 19:54:28 *   Adail then eyes Nikkolai, "I did. And the ladies did not overly seem as if they wished to be disturbed."
Apr 06 19:54:43 <Kotono>   "Hey, listen!" Yulia says softly to Nikkolai, "You do that and you'll go blind, you hear me! B-L-I-N-D!"
Apr 06 19:55:21 <Kamvakua>   "Nikkolai, just because something is beautiful does not mean it is defenseless."
Apr 06 19:55:34 <Knight>   "Uh, are we planning an attack?"
Apr 06 19:55:45 <Nikkolai>   "There are some things, bright one," Nikkolai says seriously, "that are worth blindness."
Apr 06 19:56:56 <Kamvakua>   "If you say so.  We are not attacking the nymphs, Knight.  We are going around them. "
Apr 06 19:56:57 *   Adail shakes his head, "No, Lady Knight. Nymphs are simply reknowned far and wide for their beauty...and general disdain for clothing. Nikkolai here, like nearly any humanoid male I could name, is tempted to sneak a peek."
Apr 06 19:58:03 <Adail>   There's no contempt or judgment in Adail's voice as he says this, simply his usual half-amused tone.
Apr 06 19:58:05 <Mari>   "We're not, Knight. Just ignore Nikki here, he's not thinking with the right head at the moment. Want to move on and see if we can find these kinghts?"
Apr 06 19:58:28 *   Nikkolai grumbles, but offers no protests. He is only male, after all.
Apr 06 19:58:32 <Knight>   "I don't understand. If this is an important goal to Nikkolai, then surely as his companions, we are obligated to give aid?"
Apr 06 19:58:33 *   Adail climbs back up to Kam's shoulder.
Apr 06 19:59:36 *   Mari shakes her head. "He can see naked women anyplace if he puts his mind to it. Not our fault he didn't bother looking for companionship back when we were actually in a city. And I'm sure as hell not leading a blind Nik around."
Apr 06 19:59:43 *   Adail casts a sidelong glance at Nik, seeing how he would react to Knight's statement.
Apr 06 20:00:24 <Kamvakua>   "Let's pick of the pace.  If they're moving they could be riding ahead of us, making a day's distance longer," Kamvakua figured he'd get them away from the temptation, moving along toward the route Adail had pointed out.
Apr 06 20:00:31 *   Nikkolai brightens slightly at Knight's statement, but keeps his mouth shut. It's nice to know that he's got a wingman in the group.
Apr 06 20:01:03 <Knight>   "Well... blindness would be troubling..." murmurs Knight, trailing off.
Apr 06 20:01:50 <Kotono>   Thus the party continues along! Dusk falls without incident, darkness coming. OOC: Are you guys going to go through the night or keep up extra marching time?
Apr 06 20:03:02 <Kamvakua>   OOC: No.  Don't think we're in that big a rush and we already stopped once
Apr 06 20:03:39 <Kotono>   roll 1d100
Apr 06 20:03:40 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 52." [1d100=52]
Apr 06 20:05:58 <Kotono>   The night passes without incident. Come morning Adail and Knight take to the skies, the party traveling behind at a slower rate! Thus they continue...
Apr 06 20:06:00 <Kotono>   roll 1d100
Apr 06 20:06:01 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 24." [1d100=24]
Apr 06 20:07:43 <Kotono>   It's about noon when Knight and Adail spot something ahead. Several tents have been pitched, a few dozen. Horses are about, eating grass. In clearings between the tents, jousts and swordplay can be seen. Atop the tents white banners fly free in the wind.
Apr 06 20:09:08 <Knight>   "That is a larger party than I expected," admits Knight, having Bell land just outside the encampment so he can trot the rest of the way in. "What is the role of this order? To wander about Arborea?"
Apr 06 20:11:21 *   Adail grins, "Something like that. It's more to keep in practice and keep the fighting edge then anything. Very easy to get distracted here, to spend days, years even, in revelry and fun. But demons never lose their bloodlust, nor devils their killer instinct. We can't let ourselves be outdone by them, for the sake of everything we cherish. So the Knights of Arbor were formed."
Apr 06 20:12:56 <Knight>   "Ah, so it is an eternal training regime. I see. Without constant conflict, skills would dull."
Apr 06 20:15:08 <Adail>   "Exactly. So the Knights stage war-games and duels, and often just drill and train. The competition is the big part, keeps some interested that would otherwise lose focus. Thus we have different chapters. The White Knights are the one I belong to."
Apr 06 20:16:00 *   Adail keeps an eye out, looking for any guards or just outliers to catch the attention of as they approach.
Apr 06 20:17:56 <Kotono>   There's some courre on the edges, watching and floating about. Normal enough, really. Including a familiar courre, watching all of it and cheering. Yera.
Apr 06 20:19:14 *   Adail stands up and shouts in her direction, waving so she'll be sure to see him, "Yera! Over here!"
Apr 06 20:19:56 <Kotono>   "!" The courre look sabout, "Huh...huh!" On seeing the pegasus she's up like a shot, trailing glittering dust behind her, "Ist hat...oh, oh, oh! It's Adail! You're back!" She flies up, "You brought a friend, too!"
Apr 06 20:22:04 <Knight>   "Hello," replies Knight, bobbing her head.
Apr 06 20:22:50 <Kotono>   "Ooooh ho ho ho ho! You look strong! ARe you here to join the Knights?"
Apr 06 20:25:00 <Knight>   "Uh, I'm just here to make a request on behalf of another," replies Knight, shaking her head. "I can't join any organization at the moment, I'm afraid."
Apr 06 20:25:01 *   Adail shakes his head, "Yera, this is Knight. Yes, that's her name. Knight, Yera. She helped me quite a bit while I was studying here." Then looking back to Yera he cuts right to the chase, "Tell me, is Gracelyn with the Knights at the moment?"
Apr 06 20:26:19 <Kotono>   "She is. What's the request?" Yera asks.
Apr 06 20:27:55 <Knight>   "A township within the elemental plane of earth is becoming swept up in a conflict between great powers," replies Knight. "In order to avoid being pillaged by one side or the other, potent defenders are required."
Apr 06 20:28:16 <Kotono>   "Ooooh!" With a nod to that, "They need protection, huh?"
Apr 06 20:28:48 <Adail>   "We should wait for the others to get into detail, I think. We have four others following on foot," he explains to Yera.
Apr 06 20:29:34 <Kotono>   "Oh! Then why don't you go bring them along and I'll have King Gracelyn ready to meet you," Yera chirps, "Sound good?"
Apr 06 20:30:43 *   Adail smiles, "Efficient as always. That sounds like a plan."
Apr 06 20:32:48 <Kotono>   Soon the party is reunited, riding into the White Knights camp. You are received in a silken tent, a small feast laid out before you. Besides courre who see to the meal and present it, you are met by only one. She is elven-like, wearing ornate plate armor and with a slight, almost not there smile. She sits before the feast, "Welcome back, Adail. Welcome, friends of Adail."
Apr 06 20:33:48 *   Kamvakua waved, having been by before, if not one of them.  "Greetings, White King Gracelyn."
Apr 06 20:34:12 *   Nikkolai gives a courtly bow, grinning. "A pleasure, I'm sure."
Apr 06 20:34:13 <Kotono>   "Ah, Kamvakua! Have you grown even larger?" She marvels, "It's good to see your path brings you back here."
Apr 06 20:34:31 <Kotono>   Yulia settles for getting a bit of food, "Hiya, I'm just along for the ride! Oh, and to make sure Nikkolai doesn't go blind!"
Apr 06 20:35:05 *   Mari nods, not used to addressing people named King Anything, much less ones that are apparently female, and fully exploits the feast before her.
Apr 06 20:35:10 *   Adail bows a bit, "King Gracelyn. It's good to be back, though I'm afraid I cannot stay too long on this visit."
Apr 06 20:35:11 <Kamvakua>   He preened at the praise.  "I can only hope.  And I can see the sharpness of the white knights has grown even grander," He bowed in respect.  "I am glad to see things are well here."
Apr 06 20:35:29 <Kotono>   "Since it's official," She waves a hand, "Eat and tell me what boon you're going to ask for."
Apr 06 20:37:38 <Adail>   He half grins, used to her fairly forthright manner, "To get straight to the point, I'm afraid that we've had a hand in sparking a bit of trouble in Earth. Granted, it's Evil fighting...well, if not evil then at least xenophobicly murderous, so it's not the conflict itself I'm worried about. It's who may get caught in the middle."
Apr 06 20:37:56 *   Nikkolai plops down on a bench and fills up a plateful and grabs a goblet, glad to eat something other than rations. He listens closely as he eats.
Apr 06 20:38:43 <Kotono>   "Ah, mischief." With a twinkle in her eyes, "Tell me more. Oh, and introduce your friends!"
Apr 06 20:39:35 <Kamvakua>   "This is Knight of the Deck of Many things, Mari the Many Shaped, and Nikkolai the Clever," Kamvakua introduced as he took a seat down.
Apr 06 20:39:59 <Adail>   "The town of Hardsoil," he continues, "has been quite good to us, and is sadly in just the spot to get overrun in this mess. Unless some defenders who can turn off any would be conquerors can be gathered. I thought this may be a good chance to both preserve some good in the fairly dark Earth, and get a bit of defensive training in at the same time."
Apr 06 20:40:54 *   Adail then nods to Kam, and gestures to Yulia, "Also Yulia who has joined us very recently."
Apr 06 20:41:15 <Nikkolai>   "Clever?" Nikkolai complained in a mockingly annoyed manner. "I prefer Nikkolai the Master of all things Snarky and Arcane."
Apr 06 20:41:30 <Kotono>   "Hmmm, what evils of Earth in particular?" At this she gives a quick glance to Knight, bu doesn't stop even as her eyes bore into the Knight. "Dao? Ogremoch?"
Apr 06 20:41:34 <Mari>   "Apprentice," Mari corrects.
Apr 06 20:42:04 <Knight>   "Ogremoch opposes a nascent empire of Xorn," replies Knight.
Apr 06 20:42:05 <Adail>   "Ogremoch, yes. The other side is...the self-proclaimed Xorn King."
Apr 06 20:42:06 <Kamvakua>   "Ogremoch.  And the Xorns have become ...a surprising orce."
Apr 06 20:42:07 <Kotono>   "Nikkolai looks quite skilled!" Yulia interrupts, "You're just being mean to him!"
Apr 06 20:42:11 <Kamvakua>   *Force
Apr 06 20:42:36 *   Nikkolai beams at Yulia. "Bright one, remind me to buy you something pretty next town we stop in."
Apr 06 20:43:05 <Kotono>   "...huh." A blink to that, ignoring the rest, "Ogremoch and a new Xorn empire? Troublesome. Yes, being caught in the middle of Earth without allies is suicidal. It would be good training..." Raising an eyebrow, "But it begs a question: Why not do it yourselves? You have the look of skilled warriors."
Apr 06 20:43:39 <Kotono>   Yulia giggles but doesn't answer for now.
Apr 06 20:43:39 <Mari>   "'Looks" skilled. I think you've got it, right there."
Apr 06 20:43:58 *   Adail nods to Knight, "This is where your story comes in, I believe."
Apr 06 20:44:01 <Nikkolai>   "Speak for yourself, pixie."
Apr 06 20:44:06 *   Nikkolai smirks.
Apr 06 20:44:12 <Kamvakua>   "I think we will, in part.  But we can't be everywhere and we do have other ...obligations sadly."
Apr 06 20:44:33 *   Knight scratches her head. "There are only five of us," she points out.
Apr 06 20:44:57 <Mari>   "If you've got actual skills, you don't need to care about looking like it."
Apr 06 20:46:37 <Kotono>   "Five skilled warriors can go far on the defense. Defense is easier than offense. Coming all the way here from Earth for aid is curious. If you simply wanted minor support, buying it or finding closer allies would be more sensible."
Apr 06 20:47:45 *   Kamvakua coughed. "I had another reason to come here, which has been resolved.  And Hardsoil is a strange town...there are not allies nearby.  At least none that would not seek to occupy it as payment."
Apr 06 20:47:49 <Nikkolai>   "It's not like the five of us are a force unto ourselves. It is not wise to seek the strongest allies you can in a conflict?"
Apr 06 20:47:53 <Kamvakua>   "Or drive it into a nastier war."
Apr 06 20:48:15 *   Nikkolai nods at the Goliath. "And what he said."
Apr 06 20:48:15 <Mari>   "Well, part of it is the intimidation factor, right?" Mari says, actually paying attention to the main conversation now. "We're hoping to make people just steer clear of the town altogether. Just us five isn't going to make Ogremoch's army quake in its boots."
Apr 06 20:49:03 <Kotono>   "Very well then. It's a reasonable request." Gracelyn consents, "And if I have the drift of the conversation right..." Her attention is on Knight, "You're going after your kin? He's been making noise all over."
Apr 06 20:49:38 <Nikkolai>   "Every relative of Knight has been an annoyance in some way or another."
Apr 06 20:49:46 <Knight>   "In fact, Ogremoch bears us a grudge. Our presence in the town is as likely to encourage an assault as to deter it," continues Knight, with a shrug. "It is true, yes. My own obligations preclude becoming too involved in regional disputes when unnecessary."
Apr 06 20:49:59 <Mari>   "Hey, be fair. Gem was only an annoyance by proxy."
Apr 06 20:50:35 <Nikkolai>   "Star was trying to *kill* us. Proxy or not, that was a fair amount of annoyance, wouldn't you say?"
Apr 06 20:50:44 *   Nikkolai takes an irritated bite of an apple.
Apr 06 20:51:20 <Kamvakua>   "What has knight's kin been up to here?" Kamvakua wondered for Gracelyn's take on it.
Apr 06 20:53:13 <Kotono>   "A few dozen first, then more as we marshal should do it," Thinking alouda  moment, "Earth has heavier gravity, which is good to learn how to endure." After that thoughtful reverie, "Rogue desires freedom. The Court of the Stars gave him the power to foster freedom and dissolve the bonds of false friendship. Under the guidance of the Court, his betrayals have become liberations. Never again will he suffer under the yoke of servitude."
Apr 06 20:53:20 <Kotono>   Never again will he suffer under the yoke of servitude."
Apr 06 20:53:24 *   Adail takes the moment where he doesn't need to say anything to hunt down some cheese.
Apr 06 20:54:39 <Mari>   "I'm not sure I'm following you here. You, what, fixed Rogue?"
Apr 06 20:54:59 <Knight>   "You... you are saying you changed my brother?" asks Knight, dubiously.
Apr 06 20:55:06 <Nikkolai>   "If they fixed him, it would be rather rude of Knight to re-absorb him, wouldn't you say?"
Apr 06 20:55:22 <Knight>   "You are implying he was broken, which, I assure you, he was not."
Apr 06 20:55:24 <Nikkolai>   "And altering a high-level sentient construct takes some considerable power."
Apr 06 20:55:49 <Kotono>   "The Court of the Stars gave him the freedom he desired." Gracelyn answers, "Or so the story goes. Surely Queen Morwel's hand or another of the powerful eladrin had a hand in it."
Apr 06 20:55:49 <Kamvakua>   "if it was the Court of Stars, they could do it." Kamvakua said seriously.
Apr 06 20:56:08 <Kamvakua>   "Do not mistake the vision of our own capabilities for the truth of the world."
Apr 06 20:56:32 *   Nikkolai shrugs. "I was just commenting. Would be interesting to see that kind of power in action, though."
Apr 06 20:56:46 *   Nikkolai takes another bite of the apple. Man, that's some good stuff.
Apr 06 20:56:47 <Knight>   roll 1d20+20
Apr 06 20:56:48 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Knight rolls 1d20+20 and gets 40." [1d20=20]
Apr 06 20:57:01 <Mari>   "I guess I'll understand better if we find him and talk to him. But if he's not making everyone around him stab each other in the back, well..."
Apr 06 20:57:45 *   Adail aquires some cheese and a bit of fruit and settles back in his spot, "Hmm, I'll admit I was quite worried about what kind of subtle damage he could be causing."
Apr 06 20:58:04 <Nikkolai>   "It's nice to hear that for once, one of Knight's kin won't be out to kill us."
Apr 06 21:00:03 <Kamvakua>   "It would though make things harder...  Knight's goal is reunification.  That would...mean his enslavement, in a sense."
Apr 06 21:00:37 <Nikkolai>   "Not if you get him to volunteer."
Apr 06 21:00:56 *   Nikkolai sips his goblet. "*How* you'd get him to volunteer is another thing entirely."
Apr 06 21:01:37 <Knight>   "It is not enslavement!" retorts Knight, rounding on Kamvakua. "We are a family! We are meant to be together! Apart, we are divided- weakened- unable to fulfill our purpose! Apart, we grow old, die, and never re-enter the cycles of the world! We do not have souls, as mortals do. We are not meant to live as mortals!"
Apr 06 21:03:12 <Adail>   "Star did seem...troubled, and rather overwhelmed by the form she had taken, yes."
Apr 06 21:03:25 <Kotono>   "So it is, but change is inevitable," Gracelyn takes a goblet and drinks, "Are you not one any more? Perhaps the time has come for you to strike out as our own? As the winds scatter a family, do they grow out and make new bonds."
Apr 06 21:03:38 <Kamvakua>   "I understand that the workings of your fate are not so simple.  That the nature of your being is not so simple.  But neither are things black and white in this world."
Apr 06 21:04:19 *   Nikkolai raises an eyebrow. "Considering that Knight is essentially a sentient magical artifact, I'd tend to agree with her assessment. But even so...change comes to all things, as the good Lady said."
Apr 06 21:04:36 <Nikkolai>   "Change is not always good, nor is it always bad. It merely happens."
Apr 06 21:05:45 <Knight>   "You know nothing of what you speak! We remain a family- I can still feel Rogue from here. And you say you have... changed him. Do you not realise that the Deck exists in balance? Good fortune accompanies and harmonizes with the bad. It is fair. To change one will change us all, in ways not even I can predict!" Her claw clenches; the nails bite into her palm. "We have been a family for aeons."
Apr 06 21:05:48 <Mari>   "We're not going to know anything for sure without finding him and talking to him," Mari says, taking a goblet of wine. "If you guys are going to start a philosophical discussion here, I'm going to need a lot more of this."
Apr 06 21:05:58 <Knight>   "That will not change now, not because of one lost battle."
Apr 06 21:06:27 <Kamvakua>   "We have to meet him eventually.  Perhaps some time free will damper his enthusiasm for such."  He shrugged, not really believing it.
Apr 06 21:06:57 <Kotono>   "It has already changed," Gracelyn calmly drinks, "Has it not? Surely that is not your original hand, but the hand of a great beast of chaos? Does not now chaotic flesh claim a part of your body?"
Apr 06 21:06:57 <Nikkolai>   "But also..." Nikkolai turns to Gracelyn. "Did he express a desire to be changed? Or did you decide he'd be better off changed as you saw fit?"
Apr 06 21:07:01 *   Adail shakes his head, "Mari actually has the right idea here, I think. Before anything can be known for certain, we need to speak with Rogue. And posibly also the one responsible for changing him, even if that is Lady Morwel herself."
Apr 06 21:07:18 <Nikkolai>   "Changing the nature of something because you think it best leads to folly, my King. Even with the best of intentions."
Apr 06 21:07:54 <Kotono>   "He would have expressed the desire. Change without consent is the slavery of the Realms Below," Gracelyn answers.
Apr 06 21:07:57 *   Mari peers at Nik. "Right, sure. That's why I spent a few days as an orc."
Apr 06 21:08:33 <Knight>   "My body is irrelevant. My form is nothing. I am always the Knight," retorts Knight. "None of us have ever desired to be something other than what we are inside before."
Apr 06 21:08:36 <Nikkolai>   "But it would be a betrayal his nature, his purpose to desire change. Perhaps even his mortal form overwhelmed his reason."
Apr 06 21:09:27 <Kotono>   "But aren't you a pretty woman too?" Yulia pipes up, "Say you have a baby. Would you be a mother or would you be Knight still?"
Apr 06 21:09:59 *   Adail nods, "That is an interesting thought, Nik."
Apr 06 21:10:49 *   Kamvakua glares at Nikkolai strongly.  "You speak of things you do not know."
Apr 06 21:11:33 <Nikkolai>   "Then enlighten me, sir. Changing one's form doesn't change your purpose."
Apr 06 21:11:53 <Knight>   "Whether I am mother or not changes not that I am Knight," retorts Knight. "Do not dismiss Nikkolai's words. Rogue's mind could not only be twisted by the cage of his form, but this very plane itself!"
Apr 06 21:11:56 <Nikkolai>   "Giving Rogue mortal form should not have magically endowed upon him a desire for change."
Apr 06 21:12:33 <Kamvakua>   "The Court of Stars is not a place that would steal ones purpose, twist ones heart, or tear at ones mind.  It is an...uncouth thing to speak so of them."
Apr 06 21:12:41 <Adail>   "That may have been the very point. Rogue, the betrayer, betraying his own nature."
Apr 06 21:13:05 *   Mari clears her throat. "So, where is Rogue right now, anyway? It'd be a lot easier to get a handle on this if we talked to him, or the person who changed him."
Apr 06 21:13:10 <Nikkolai>   "That would be a grand irony, Adail. A funny one, actually."
Apr 06 21:13:28 <Kotono>   "Now that's an interesting thought! Rogue betraying Rogue!" Gracelyn smiles, "Truly, this Deck is a fascinating thing."
Apr 06 21:14:10 <Nikkolai>   "Aha! So you acknowledge that those of the Deck are *things* and not capable of becoming true mortals in the sense of being in charge of their own purpose and destiny!"
Apr 06 21:14:27 *   Nikkolai punctuates his declaration with a pointed fork in the King's direction.
Apr 06 21:14:44 <Adail>   "Rogue has, to my knowledge," he nods at Knight if she wishes to correct him, "never been an individual being before. His powers of betrayal have never been able to target himself before."
Apr 06 21:14:54 <Nikkolai>   "So changing a thing from its intended purpose is immoral, in a manner of speaking."
Apr 06 21:15:40 <Knight>   "It is- no, he has never been shackled to a mortal form before," replies Knight, shaking her head. "Only I was ever meant to be an independant being."
Apr 06 21:16:21 <Knight>   "To betray himself, that is... that is entirely nonsensical! How can he betray himself? He is always himself; he always does as he wishes. It is, by definition, impossible..."
Apr 06 21:16:39 <Nikkolai>   "That is, my dear Knight, what we call a paradox."
Apr 06 21:16:48 <Nikkolai>   "It is impossible to fathom."
Apr 06 21:16:54 <Adail>   "Then it's quite possible his nature has worked to betray even himself." At Knight's insistence, he smiles, "So is him taking physical form in the first place, isn't it?"
Apr 06 21:17:23 *   Mari shrugs. "You guys are starting to hurt my head here. And there are more fun ways to make that happen." Mari refills her goblet.
Apr 06 21:17:45 <Kotono>   "This entire thing is an enimga and a mystery." Now with a thoughtful hum, "He travels Arborea and this layer, seeking freedom, or so I have heard."
Apr 06 21:18:10 <Kamvakua>   "There's far better ways to learn about someone then to meander down the halls of philosophy," Kamvakua drank his mug of wine easily.
Apr 06 21:18:14 <Knight>   "That does not even make sense. Arborea is a world of freedom. There is nothing to find here. Is he not simply regurgitating your platitudes in exchange for goodwill?"
Apr 06 21:20:39 <Kotono>   "There is always more good to do, and if there is enough done here, he will find the way to another realm," Gracelyn says simply. "So you intend to chase down Rogue?"
Apr 06 21:20:51 <Adail>   "On the contrary, this is an excellent place to learn of freedom if you've never had it before."
Apr 06 21:21:56 <Nikkolai>   "I'd rather get to the bottom of this mystery, myself. If Rogue is so intent on change, there must be a reason for it. I highly doubt his intentions are pure."
Apr 06 21:21:59 <Knight>   "I will find Rogue and reunite the deck," breathes Knight. "I will find all my siblings."
Apr 06 21:22:04 <Knight>   "But allow me to say this."
Apr 06 21:24:24 <Knight>   "There are only two possibilities. Firstly, that Rogue has not been changed, regardless of what you think- his core remains. He will eventually betray this land in a fashion unimaginable. Demons rampaging through the fields is not out of the question, not when Rogue is concerned. In this case, you are certainly better off allowing me to deal with him.
Apr 06 21:24:24 <Knight>   "Second... you truly have changed his nature. Balance will be destroyed. You will have changed all of us, and no longer with the cycle of fortune and misfortune function. Our powers and minds will grown stagnant; none will be able to draw from the deck; eventually we will all wither away to nothing- not to mention that others may seek to take advantages of what power we have left. Is it not the most selfish thing? To allow one
Apr 06 21:24:39 <Knight>   Is it not the most selfish thing? To allow one person to destroy many for the sake of his desires?"
Apr 06 21:25:32 *   Nikkolai shrugs, draining his goblet. "I'm with Knight, here."
Apr 06 21:25:51 <Nikkolai>   "Like I said, change isn't necessarily good. Especially when one thinks it is needed."
Apr 06 21:26:55 <Kotono>   "I won't stop you from trying to find him. I'm an interesting onlooker, nothing more," Gracelyn says, "You need not convince me to let you go. But perhaps there is a third option: The deck itself will change, but not stagnate? Perhaps it will become of good fortune and blessings by the hand of the Court of the Stars?"
Apr 06 21:26:55 <Kamvakua>   "Those are dread terms, but let us wait until we meet him.  You know your family best, but I have...trouble believing that he would so easily make it to the court of stars at all if his spirit bent malicious, nor would I think the Queen would be unable to discern your link."
Apr 06 21:27:29 <Adail>   "Ultimately it will be between Knight and Rogue, no matter what any of the rest of us may think," Adail shrugs, "regardless, we will need to meet with Rogue before anything can really be decided. Best just to play this one by ear, I think."
Apr 06 21:28:17 <Nikkolai>   "The Musteval speaks wisdom, as always."
Apr 06 21:28:22 *   Mari sighs. "All I know is, I wouldn't much care for someone mucking around with *my* head."
Apr 06 21:28:30 <Knight>   "Bad fortune is not evil, and Good fortune is not virtuous. They simply are. I wonder how many crusades have been won due to bad luck on the opposing side? It is all perspective," replies Knight. "The deck is fair- and do not underestimate Rogue."
Apr 06 21:29:20 <Kotono>   Yulia leans over and takes a sip of Nikkolai's goblet, "You know, all of this sounds like some firre eladrin talking philosophy. Isn't this going to come down to Knight and Rogue beating each other up?"
Apr 06 21:29:53 <Nikkolai>   "Most likely. But it's nice to talk about it beforehand. Sort of like a peptalk, I imagine."
Apr 06 21:31:21 <Kotono>   "Then do not underestimate him yourself. He showed skill as a champion and paladin of freedom," Gracelyn says, "Good luck."
Apr 06 21:31:22 <Kamvakua>   "Sometimes things aren't resolved by a show of force..." Kamvakua mused. "Sometimes."
Apr 06 21:32:58 <Nikkolai>   "I like to think that every situation can be resolved through some sly talking. But when you can't, it's better to have a bigger stick at your side than the other guy."
Apr 06 21:33:18 <Knight>   "What evils has Rogue defeated?"
Apr 06 21:33:55 <Kotono>   "To be frank, I know not. Once he left the Court of the Stars..." Letting that trail off, "I've been busy overseeing this training, the latest story gossip has escaped my ears."
Apr 06 21:34:53 <Knight>   "I wonder what evils there are to defeat here. But Rogue is always one to make others think the best before he does the worst. In any case, this is a family affair. I should not be speaking about it so much with others. Let us return to the matter of Hardsoil."
Apr 06 21:39:20 *   Adail nods, "On that subject, Hardsoil does have a protector of sorts that any who go will be working with. Granny Tam actually reminds me of a particilarly easily amused eladrin herself sometimes, so I think there won't be any major problems."
Apr 06 21:39:35 <Kotono>   "A contingent will go to protect them." Gracelyn says, "Tell me more of her."
Apr 06 21:40:19 <Nikkolai>   "She's a smooth talking shapeshifter on a crusade to protect Earth from the forces of Evil."
Apr 06 21:40:22 *   Adail smiles at Mari, a twinkle in his eye, "Mari, I believe you're the most qualified here to describe Granny, wouldn't you agree?"
Apr 06 21:40:30 <Nikkolai>   "That's Granny Tam in a nutshell, I suppose."
Apr 06 21:42:25 <Kamvakua>   "That's...not quite right," Kamvakua disagreed.  "It's more like she works slowly to grow the saplings of good in harsh soil."
Apr 06 21:43:51 <Mari>   "Yeah, well, just tell anyone who goes there to watch out more shapeshifting pranks. She could turn you into something horrible or something totally sexy, it's kind of a coin toss. They're pretty harmless, really, but it's a shock if you're not expecting it. Also what Kam said, she's a troublemaker but she means well."
Apr 06 21:44:24 <Kotono>   "Hehe." A small laugh there, "Is your form that of a fey naturally? You do not speak as one."
Apr 06 21:45:20 <Knight>   "She's more of a wall," replies Knight. "At least, her aim is to be such."
Apr 06 21:45:33 <Mari>   "No, I'm kind of a pixie in training. Or something. I'm kind of taking it on a trial run."
Apr 06 21:45:55 *   Nikkolai just refills his goblet, preferring to keep his mouth shut and not risk the wrath of a pixelated Mari.
Apr 06 21:46:23 <Kotono>   "We'll be aware of her. Anything else?" Gracelyn asks, "Tell me what I need to know, then I'll take my leave to prepare the troops."
Apr 06 21:47:48 <Mari>   "There was a portal to the plane of magma nearby. We shut it down because there are devils living there and we didn't want them getting involved, but who knows how long that'll hold?"
Apr 06 21:48:04 <Knight>   "Do not forget that the Earth Plane is mostly solid rock. Earth elementals and xorn can easily travel through these barriers, but most other troops cannot. You said that defense is easier than offense... but that only holds true when you and your enemy are equally restricted."
Apr 06 21:48:19 <Kotono>   "Devils...Oh yes, a threat." Nodding to that, "And the terrain will have to be accounted for, yes."
Apr 06 21:49:05 <Adail>   "You're already aware of Ogremoch and his forces, I'm sure, so we should probably fill you in on the Xorn King as much as we can." Adail thinks a moment, "The xorn serving him have proved to be fanatic so far, throwing themselves into fights to the death against a superior force with abandon on one occasion"(more)
Apr 06 21:49:33 <Kamvakua>   "Near Hardsoil, there are the Dao as well.  While they aren't involved...they could always easily become so.  Hardsoil generally is a refuge for their escaped or freed slaves."
Apr 06 21:49:53 <Adail>   "Also there's a Xorn sorcerer in his service. Strong enough to undo Tam's magic after a try or two. I'm afraid my magical skills are still fairly low, so I can't tell you just how strong that might be, but Tam impresses me, so anyone on her par does as well."
Apr 06 21:50:29 <Kotono>   "This sounds like a giant barrel of alchemist's fire, ready to explode," Gracelyn remarks.
Apr 06 21:50:37 <Knight>   "The Dao will almost certainly side with Ogremoch..."
Apr 06 21:51:10 <Adail>   "Especially as the Xorn have already provoked them at least once."
Apr 06 21:51:31 *   Adail then grins at Gracelyn, "Doesn't it, though?"
Apr 06 21:52:16 <Kotono>   "We'll need strong forces and...mmm, this is going to be interesting!" Gracelyn says, "Is there anything else?"
Apr 06 21:52:36 <Nikkolai>   "Bring more of this delicious wine!"
Apr 06 21:52:50 *   Nikkolai thrusts the goblet in the air!
Apr 06 21:52:53 <Nikkolai>   "Good stuff."
Apr 06 21:53:05 <Mari>   "The best thing to do is just keep Hardsoil strong enough that no one wants to mess with the place, I think," Mari says with a shrug. "At least, staying out of a fight and letting everyone else tire themselves out usually sounds good to me."
Apr 06 21:53:21 <Kamvakua>   "I think that's it.  At least for the local lay of the land."
Apr 06 22:00:01 <Kotono>   roll 1d100
Apr 06 22:00:02 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 49." [1d100=49]
Apr 06 22:00:03 <Kotono>   roll 1d100
Apr 06 22:00:04 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 43." [1d100=43]
Apr 06 22:00:48 <Kotono>   Thus, a night of merriment and revelry passes! Come the morning the journey is resumed in the direction of Rogue! Two days of travel pass, near duskfall of the second day. As you travel along the wilds of Arborea, you come to a curious thing. Ahead is a perfect ring of flowers, colorful flowers braied together in the grass. It's about twenty feet circular or so, not a single disruption in it.
Apr 06 22:01:37 *   Knight peers at it as she trots alongside. There's no sense walking over a nice garden and destroying it.
Apr 06 22:01:41 <Kamvakua>   "A fairy ring, if I make my guess...it's been a while since I've seen one," Kamvakua mused aloud for the benefit of those that might not know.
Apr 06 22:01:46 <Nikkolai>   "Oh my. Is that a fairy ring?" Nikkolai blinks, studying the circle.
Apr 06 22:01:54 *   Mari flies over to the edge of the circle. "So, what happens if we go inside?"
Apr 06 22:02:11 <Nikkolai>   "I get a date with a nymph?" Nikk dryly replies.
Apr 06 22:02:15 <Adail>   "To be quite honest, I have no idea."
Apr 06 22:02:24 *   Nikkolai does eye the circle thoughtfully, though.
Apr 06 22:02:50 *   Adail eyes Nik, "I thought your sights were set a bit...higher...then that?" he says in a very low tone with a half smile.
Apr 06 22:03:21 <Nikkolai>   "So they are. But a little flirting here and there is not such a bad thing. Unless she's the jealous sort."
Apr 06 22:03:24 <Mari>   "Well, hey, let's find out. I'm a fairy right now, aren't I? How bad could it be?" Mari cautiously extends an arm over the dge of the ring.
Apr 06 22:03:27 <Knight>   "There's no shame in aiming only for reasonable goals."
Apr 06 22:03:37 *   Nikkolai raises a questioning eyebrow at Adail.
Apr 06 22:04:04 *   Adail just grins in response to Nik and flicks an ear.
Apr 06 22:04:18 <Kotono>   Mari's arm feels a little breeze as she extends her arm on out.
Apr 06 22:04:44 <Mari>   "Hum. So far so not dead." Mari flies into the center of the circle!
Apr 06 22:05:25 <Kotono>   In an instant, Mari turns to flower petals and scatters on the wind!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OOC: Mari's trip to the fairy circle


Apr 06 22:07:53 <Mari>   <Kotono> Mari's vision is dazed, dizzy, wobbly. Mmm...she's standing in a field of flowers. "Oh! Oh! Oh!" Various calls around her, "Wake up!"
Apr 06 22:07:53 <Mari>   <Mari> "Ooch. Whoa. I'm not hungover, I know, so what just happened?" Mari looks around for the source of the voice.
Apr 06 22:07:53 <Mari>   <Kotono> There is nothing around Mari. Just endless flowers. No voice, just endless flowers.
Apr 06 22:08:18 *   Mari looks down at the flowers. "I hope that's not you guys talking to me."
Apr 06 22:09:09 <Kotono>   The flowers do not answer Mari with words. Instead, yellow pollen fills the air! OOC: Make a fort save.
Apr 06 22:09:24 <Mari>   roll 1d20+8 at least it's not will
Apr 06 22:09:25 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Mari rolls 1d20+8 at least it's not will and gets 12." [1d20=4]
Apr 06 22:10:11 <Kotono>   The pollen makes everything spin! Mari is spinning! The world turns into a blur of colors, spinning so lovely! She feels a part of it, twirling around!
Apr 06 22:10:35 *   Mari can see the music! This isn't so bad, really...
Apr 06 22:11:25 <Kotono>   Twirling and twirling about! In the air around her, the music dances! It joins her in a lively twirling, ascending into the air! Up and up and up and up she goes...mmm...her vision is a haze. Her head hurts. Her eyes won't open quite right. Her head really hurts.
Apr 06 22:13:04 *   Mari rubs her forehead--wait, can she even do that? Does she still have a body at this point? She definitely can't see anything. "Hrm...this is...stopping being fun now..." Maybe going back down will help?
Apr 06 22:15:06 <Kotono>   Her head is rubbed. She still seems to have a body. She's...on the ground. Her eyes slowly open, gummed shut but struggling free. Massive flowers of all sizes are around her. One of them is opening, blossoming! Within it is a female human, torso and up. She's pretty, her hair the same red color as the flower she blossoms from. "Once I loved a true love of mine. So did I enter the cycle of reincarnation, but once I loved a true love of mine
Apr 06 22:15:10 <Kotono>   cycle of reincarnation, but once I loved a true love of mine."
Apr 06 22:17:00 <Mari>   "Um. Is that right? I don't imagine you could tell me where I am? Wait, I'm being rude. I walked through your front door, after all. Sorry, headache like you wouldn't believe going on here. So, uh...who are you?"
Apr 06 22:17:58 <Kotono>   "Une. I am Une." The flower girl's vision fills your eyes, everything else minor compared to it. "I had thought you a fey in blood, but you fell to the pollens. What do you desire here, shapeshifter?"
Apr 06 22:19:34 <Mari>   "Actually, I was just curiosity. It gets me into trouble sometimes. I saw a ring of flowers! I walked into them to see what would happen! And well, you're right, I'm sort of trying out being a pixie for a while..."
Apr 06 22:20:17 *   Knight (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #evildunes
Apr 06 22:20:47 <Kotono>   "Show me your true form..." Une says, "Show me what you are."
Apr 06 22:22:22 *   Mari sighs. "Well, it's nothing that exciting, but here you go..." Mari takes off the enchanted jewelry that keeps her in pixie form, popping back to her normal shape: a short, skinny human girl with white hair. Although by comparison she's much taller!
Apr 06 22:23:15 <Kotono>   Mari takes the jewelry off...but nothing happens, staying a pixie instead!
Apr 06 22:23:52 *   Mari blinks. "Well. That's interesting. Either this thing's not working right, or it worked exactly the way it was supposed and I need to go box Granny's ears."
Apr 06 22:24:29 <Kotono>   "Why would a shape changer need a trinket to change?" Une asks, "Stop wasting my time and change back!"
Apr 06 22:25:27 <Mari>   "Hey! I'm new to this shapechanging thing, alright! I'm just a normal human girl, I don't know why I'm not changing back! I mean, what do you want? I could *describe myself*?"
Apr 06 22:25:50 <Kotono>   "Just do it!" Une points at Mari, "Concentrate!"
Apr 06 22:26:51 *   Mari sighs, closes her eyes. "Fine, fine." She pictures her normal form in her mind, not expecting a lot to happen, but what could it hurt?
Apr 06 22:27:27 <Kotono>   OOC: Make a will save.
Apr 06 22:27:45 <Mari>   roll 1d20+7 why do I feel like Iw ant to fail this one
Apr 06 22:27:46 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Mari rolls 1d20+7 why do I feel like Iw ant to fail this one and gets 26." [1d20=19]
Apr 06 22:28:31 <Kotono>   In a moment, Mari is the winds! Her body is the wind, blowing and coming back together! She is now bigger, larger! She blink-blinks, her natural form restored! Une slinks back into her flower, "As I thought..."
Apr 06 22:29:56 <Mari>   "Whuh-ahh. Did I go all, I don't know, incorporeal for a moment there?" Mari looks down at her normal body. "What? What did you think?"
Apr 06 22:31:35 <Kotono>   Une's flower closes. She is gone, everything going dark around you.
Apr 06 22:32:05 <Mari>   "Hey! HEY! I asked a question at you! Now you're just being rude!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: Back in the real world

Apr 06 22:06:03 <Knight>   "Mari? Mari! MARI!"
Apr 06 22:06:36 *   Adail immediately scans the area with Detect Magic, Detect Evil and See Invis.
Apr 06 22:06:53 <Nikkolai>   "....well, *shit*."
Apr 06 22:07:12 *   Nikkolai crouches at the edge of the circle, carefully inspecting it.
Apr 06 22:07:17 <Kamvakua>   "I think she just stepped into their home," Kamvakua tried to recall what he knew of them...which was somewhere between little and none.
Apr 06 22:07:19 <Adail>   "There's magic in the air. Nik, can you identify what kind?"
Apr 06 22:07:26 <Nikkolai>   "Possibly."
Apr 06 22:07:39 <Nikkolai>   OOC: Dune, roll K:A?
Apr 06 22:07:41 <Knight>   "What was that? What just happened?" demands Knight, rapidly dismounting and moving to start picking up some of the drifting petals.
Apr 06 22:07:53 <Kotono>   OOC: Cast detect magic and roll spellcraft.
Apr 06 22:08:08 <Kotono>   The petals are pretty rose petals. Mmm, fragrant.
Apr 06 22:09:03 <Adail>   "Give Nik a chance to figure that out, Knight." Adail tries to remain calm in the situation.
Apr 06 22:09:03 *   Nikkolai waves a hand, murmuring under his breath and he delves into the arcane currents surrounding the circle!
Apr 06 22:09:26 <Nikkolai>   roll 1d20+13 Spellcraft, also casting Detect Magic
Apr 06 22:09:26 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20+13 Spellcraft, also casting Detect Magic and gets 15." [1d20=2]
Apr 06 22:10:46 *   Nikkolai curses under his breath. "I can't identify it at all. The energies are too foreign to me."
Apr 06 22:11:23 *   Nikkolai rises to his feet. "I don't believe she's dead, though. Or even transformed."
Apr 06 22:11:35 <Nikkolai>   "If I had to guess, I'd say this is just a very nasty prank."
Apr 06 22:12:00 *   Adail nods, "Nothing invisible around, either. The question becomes, what do we do about it?"
Apr 06 22:12:48 <Knight>   "Yulia, do you know anything?" demands Knight; her temper has been short since leaving the encampment.
Apr 06 22:12:49 <Nikkolai>   "...this is absurdly foolhardy, since it could very well not be a portal as I suspect it is, but someone should go after her."
Apr 06 22:13:19 <Kotono>   "It's probably a fairy portal to the fairy realms...probably." Yulia laughs nervously. "You can never be sure with fey! It's probably harmless and a lot of fun!"
Apr 06 22:13:45 <Kamvakua>   "We probably shouldn't all get lost in it.  Why not wait an hour, and then follow if she doesn't come back."
Apr 06 22:14:05 <Nikkolai>   "'Probably?'
Apr 06 22:14:08 <Nikkolai>   "
Apr 06 22:14:11 *   Nikkolai frowns.
Apr 06 22:15:27 <Nikkolai>   "Well, not all of us, Kam. It could be that it's perfectly harmless fun on their part. But I'd rather not take that chance. Yulia, is there anything I can do to bring her back or break out of the circle?"
Apr 06 22:15:49 <Kotono>   "Go in after her. Even if you break the portal, it'll just trap her in the fairy realms." Yulia answers.
Apr 06 22:16:04 <Knight>   "Obnoxious..." mutters Knight, dismally. "Mari would not stay somewhere she does not wish to be, I believe. Can she come back under her own power?"
Apr 06 22:16:48 *   Nikkolai nods. "Well then, that's all there is to it. I'll go after her myself. If we're both not back in an hour or so....I suspect we won't come back at all."
Apr 06 22:16:51 <Kotono>   "Oh yeah...if she wants to. Of course, time doesn't always flow normally in the fairy realms..." Yulia trails off, "She could be in there years and come out five minutes later by our times."
Apr 06 22:17:56 *   Nikkolai takes a deep breath and settles his robes about his shoulders. "Bright one, I think you should stay here. No sense in you getting lost with me as well."
Apr 06 22:18:07 <Knight>   "Could the reverse be true? Three years here is five minutes there?" asks Knight, frowning.
Apr 06 22:18:28 <Kotono>   Yulia flutters over to Knight, "Good luck," she calls, and then, "It could be. There's no hard andf ast rules about it."
Apr 06 22:19:13 *   Nikkolai gives a little wave at the party and abruptly steps into the circle, calling over his shoulder, "I'll be back soon!...I hope!"
Apr 06 22:19:14 <Adail>   "Fey have a strong connection to the natural world, if I recall correctly. The local fauna may know something more about this circle." That said, Adail goes about looking for any animals about to try and question. He isn't expecting much, but it's better then doing nothing.
Apr 06 22:19:25 <Kamvakua>   "The more reason not to leap in.  ...well, for anyone else."
Apr 06 22:19:32 <Knight>   "There may be no need, Nikkolai! All you may do is drain your own time..."
Apr 06 22:19:52 <Kotono>   Nikkolai blinks and turns into rose petals, carried away on the wind!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: In the dire fairy world...

Apr 06 22:21:51 <Kotono>   Nikkolai's vision is dazed, dizzy, wobbly. Mmm...he's standing in a field of flowers. "Oh! Oh! Oh!" Various calls around him, "Wake up!"
Apr 06 22:22:42 *   Nikkolai shakes his head, trying to clear his vision. "MARI!" He yells, straining his eyes for her small form. "ANSWER IF YOU CAN HEAR ME!"
Apr 06 22:23:50 <Kotono>   Around you are endless flowers! They do not answer nor does Mari, but instead they gush out a yellow pollen! OOC: Make a fort save.
Apr 06 22:24:08 <Nikkolai>   roll 1d20+8 Come on, baby!
Apr 06 22:24:08 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20+8 Come on, baby! and gets 19." [1d20=11]
Apr 06 22:24:54 <Kotono>   Nikkolai feels muddy-headed...but resists! His vision clears! Ahead of him is a path amid the flowers.
Apr 06 22:25:31 *   Nikkolai walks forward resolutely along it, calling for Mari all the while!
Apr 06 22:26:34 <Kotono>   Thus you hurry ahead! As you do you hear giggles in the air! "Oh ho...hahahahaha...hehehehhee...keep going and going...!" They call, indistinct but at the same time understood. Ahead of you the path ends, flowers and pollen all about. Lying in them is Mari.
Apr 06 22:27:32 *   Nikkolai crouches at her side, shaking her shoulder. "This is no time to be sleeping, girl. Waken!"
Apr 06 22:29:00 <Kotono>   As Nikkolai kneels at her side, Mari's body breaks into wind! It whirls around you a few moments, before reforming into normal, human sized Mari!
Apr 06 22:30:43 <Nikkolai>   Acting on a suspicion, Nikk darts to his feet and calls out to the air, "I know you can hear me out there! Let the girl go! She's not part of your games, bright ones!"
Apr 06 22:32:26 <Kotono>   "Hohohohoh..." Faint laughter is heard, as Mari groans! Her head hurts like hell, but she awakens with blurry eyes, seeing and hearing Nikkolai!
Apr 06 22:33:36 *   Nikkolai hears the groan and whirls on his heels, crouching next to Mari. "Are you all right? What in the world possessed you to do something so...so....ME?!"
Apr 06 22:33:59 <Mari>   Mari's first action is to kick Nik in the ankle. "Oh hells, will you shut up? I feel like I downed a whole brewery in one night or something." She rubs her temples. "Where's the way out of here?"
Apr 06 22:34:47 *   Nikkolai howls and clutches his ankle. "You ungrateful WENCH. I should have *left* you here to rot for five years!"
Apr 06 22:35:08 *   Nikkolai rises unsteadily to his feet.
Apr 06 22:35:42 <Mari>   "I'll be more grateful for whatever it is that you did when I can think of something other than the pickaxe someone buried in my head. Can we go?"
Apr 06 22:36:00 <Nikkolai>   "If you want out, get to your feet and follow me. Otherwise I'll leave your sorry ass here." Nikk snaps without remorse.
Apr 06 22:36:15 *   Mari stands up, still grumbling to herself.
Apr 06 22:36:42 <Kotono>   The sky darkens above you, as a sad tune plays. A funeral dirge, relentless and mourning.
Apr 06 22:37:08 <Nikkolai>   "I've no patience for more games, bright ones. Let us go in peace!" Nikkolai calls.
Apr 06 22:37:19 <Mari>   "Right, that's not a little creepy." Mari follows Nik, wherever he's headed.
Apr 06 22:37:43 <Nikkolai>   "Or else I'll scorch your faces off." He grumbles under his breath as he follows the path back to his original arrival point!
Apr 06 22:38:14 <Kotono>   As you walk the path turns dark! Darkness envelopes you, and you begin to fall! Falling and falling and falling! Falling as the ground erupts into rotting flower petals around you!
Apr 06 22:39:43 <Mari>   Maybe this would be a good time to put that necklace back on and fly on out of here?
Apr 06 22:39:52 *   Nikkolai yawns, unaffected. "Oh, come on. Is this the best you can do? An old master of mine was far better at this than you guys are." Nikkolai just lets himself fall aimlessly in space.
Apr 06 22:41:41 <Kotono>   Thus you fall as Mari considers and Nikkolai puts on airs! AS you do, the petals fade away! The funeral dirge goes quiet here as you softly land in nothingness. Standing before you is a a figure clad in a black robe. In his hands is a scythe, hands skeletal. In a chilling whisper, "As is life born, death waits. The blossoms of today become the soil to feed for tomorrow."
Apr 06 22:43:03 <Nikkolai>   "Nice to meet you, Death. Awesome scythe. By the way, death isn't a guarantee, if you know who to talk to."
Apr 06 22:43:04 <Mari>   This suddenly seems like a very good time indeed to be more maneuverable. Mari puts the necklace back on. "Yeah, well, it can wait for a while longer. This isn't funny anymore and I don't feel like playing."
Apr 06 22:43:57 <Kotono>   The necklace is put on...but nothing happens! "There is no playing...no avoidance of death." The cowled figure takes a few steps forward. "Answer me well: For it death is inevitable, what is the purpose to live?"
Apr 06 22:45:08 <Nikkolai>   "The purpose of living is living itself. Life is a journey, not a destination. There must be beginning, middle, and end to all things."
Apr 06 22:45:58 <Mari>   "I'm not answering that question. Maybe *you* should try living for once and find out! Take a vacation! Tour Elysium! That'll teach you better than I could."
Apr 06 22:47:07 <Kotono>   As you answer...ugh. The both of you rub your eyes. You sit up, lying in fields of flowers. Your head throbs and aches, eyes crusted over.
Apr 06 22:48:42 *   Nikkolai holds his head in his hands. "This is starting to get *very* irritating. The next game they play, I'm torching this place."
Apr 06 22:48:59 *   Nikkolai groans as a particularly nasty twinge of pain wracks his head.
Apr 06 22:49:40 <Kotono>   AT this, the flower saround you burst into flame! The field of flowers burns merrily, erupting into an inferno! Save for a ways ahead, a perfect circle fo flowers untouched by the crimson inferno!
Apr 06 22:49:59 *   Mari glances at Nikkolai's obvious distress. "There, see? YOU try being grateful to someone while your head feels like--whoa."
Apr 06 22:50:32 *   Nikkolai stumbles to his feet. "That. Is. IT."
Apr 06 22:50:32 *   Nao is now known as Knight
Apr 06 22:51:23 *   Mari sighs. "Yeah, Nik. You tell this reality who's boss. I'm sure that'll do the trick." Mari climbs to her feet and walks around the edge of the unburnt area. Not *too* close to the wall of fire, of course.
Apr 06 22:51:51 *   Nikkolai takes a deep breath, unmindful of the flames. "YOU COWARDLY SNAKES! COME OUT HERE AND FACE ME LIKE A MAN! OR ARE YOU SO CRINGING THAT YOU MUST HIDE BEHIND TRICKS AND GAMES?!"
Apr 06 22:52:44 <Kotono>   Abruptly, the flames gutter out! You stand in a charred wasteland! "Hohohohoho..." You hear laughter, "If you insist...! If I were you, I'd take your last chance to escape through the ring there before I get there..."
Apr 06 22:55:14 <Mari>   "Or what, you'll change the scenery on us again? Actually, I bet that'll happen anyway. 'Take the ring and get out of here.' Then we just pop up in another wasteland and you're all, 'HAHAHA, did you actually believe me.'"
Apr 06 22:55:35 *   Nikkolai crosses his arms across his chest. "I insist, thou childish, indolent being of light and trickery."
Apr 06 22:55:54 <Nikkolai>   A sneer mars Nikk's normally handsome face.
Apr 06 22:57:22 <Kotono>   Ahead of you he walks. He is two faced - for two faces adorn his face. One is solemn and one is festive. He walks ahead, wearing a regal robe. "The shapechanger amused me, but you are a cur."
Apr 06 22:58:31 *   Mari considers the situation. for a split-second. "Nik, maybe you should calm down a little. Remember what happened with that valkyrie? Yeah."
Apr 06 22:59:23 <Nikkolai>   "Trickery does not a noble make." Nikkolai bows mockingly. "Nor do robes and a regal bearing. I give respect when it is due, sir. I do not appreciate being toyed with."
Apr 06 23:00:07 <Kotono>   "Insolent cur! You come into my home and make arrogant demands?" His voice slices like a whip, "No sir, I shall not stand for it! I demand an apology!"
Apr 06 23:01:22 <Nikkolai>   "I will apologize when you apologize for playing games with us. Mari didn't realize that she would be invading your home. I came to fetch her and leave with due haste. It was not our intention to disturb nor rile anyone. It is you who have been playing games."
Apr 06 23:02:31 <Kotono>   "My realm is made for games...games such as this!" The creature snaps! A green light shines around Nikkolai! OOC: Make a will save.
Apr 06 23:02:48 <Nikkolai>   roll 1d20+11 Oh my.
Apr 06 23:02:48 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20+11 Oh my. and gets 25." [1d20=14]
Apr 06 23:03:12 <Kotono>   For a moment Nikkolai shifts, turning into a tiny frog...but with a primal thrust of will, his body reasserts itself as it should be!
Apr 06 23:03:25 <Mari>   "Nik, seriously, this is someone's own little world, we shoulnd't--ohshit." Mari steps away from Nik. Just in case.
Apr 06 23:03:58 *   Nikkolai nonchalantly brushes some imaginary dust off of his shoulders. "There is a time and place for games, sir."
Apr 06 23:04:22 <Nikkolai>   "If you wish to play a game, let us play something on more equal footing."
Apr 06 23:04:39 <Kotono>   "Such arrogance! Then I shall show you your place! If you are so confident, then have at you!" With a roar, magical energy gathers around the lord of the realm! OOC: Roll init, Nikkolai. You've managed to quite annoy him.
Apr 06 23:04:57 <Kotono>   OOC: Mari, you can roll if you wanna get involved.
Apr 06 23:05:41 <Mari>   roll 1d20+9 dunno if I'm going to do anything or not, but may as well have me in init just in case.
Apr 06 23:05:41 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Mari rolls 1d20+9 dunno if I'm going to do anything or not, but may as well have me in init just in case. and gets 16." [1d20=7]
Apr 06 23:05:51 <Kotono>   roll 1d20+3 Lord of the Realm
Apr 06 23:05:52 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Lord of the Realm and gets 17." [1d20=14]
Apr 06 23:06:22 *   Nikkolai crosses his arms stubbornly. "I refuse to fight the master of the realm without undue cause. It would be impolite. Can we not settle our disagreement in a more civilized manner, my lord?"
Apr 06 23:07:14 <Nikkolai>   roll 1d20+20 Diplo-tank skills, don't fail me now!
Apr 06 23:07:15 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20+20 Diplo-tank skills, don't fail me now! and gets 31." [1d20=11]
Apr 06 23:08:01 <Kotono>   The eyes of the two-faced creature are narrow, but he hesitates. "What do you propse then, arrogant fool?"
Apr 06 23:08:42 <Mari>   "Could I propose that we just sidle on out of here?" Mari says quietly. "Please?"
Apr 06 23:09:00 <Kotono>   "Stay out of this, woman! This is between us!" The lord of the realm snaps.
Apr 06 23:09:52 <Nikkolai>   "I propose a simple game between civilized beings. Since I admit to letting my temper get the best of me, if my lord will consent, I will allow him to choose a game of his own liking."
Apr 06 23:09:53 *   Mari backs off, raising her hands in supplication. "Fine, fine. You boys play nice, I'll just stand over here and watch."
Apr 06 23:12:11 <Kotono>   "Easily done." With a snap of his fingers, "Chess." A board appears on the ground before you, pieces in place.
Apr 06 23:13:37 *   Nikkolai nods in approval, a smile playing on his face. "An excellent choice, my lord. Chess is one of my favorite games."
Apr 06 23:14:12 <Kotono>   To this the lord sits down, "Then let us resolve this!" OOC: Make an int check, Nikkolai.
Apr 06 23:16:17 *   Nikkolai snaps his fingers and summons a cushy chair of his own. "Indeed we shall."
Apr 06 23:16:36 <Nikkolai>   roll 1d20+2 This won't end well
Apr 06 23:16:37 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20+2 This won't end well and gets 12." [1d20=10]
Apr 06 23:17:28 <Kotono>   roll 1d20+4
Apr 06 23:17:28 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 7." [1d20=3]
Apr 06 23:17:43 *   Mari just keeps an eye on Nik's opponent for any signs of cheating. Not that she could likely do much to stop him, and it's not like he'd have to try hard to get away with it in his own realm, but still.
Apr 06 23:18:13 <Kotono>   It's a tight, close game! The two go back and forth, duelling away! But...he makes a mistake, leaving his queen open! Nikkolai's knight captures it, and in time, forces the game against him! With a final triumphant move, he takes the lord's king! Checkmate!
Apr 06 23:18:35 <Nikkolai>   "A challenging game, my lord. Well played."
Apr 06 23:18:52 *   Mari breathes a sigh of relief.
Apr 06 23:19:31 <Kotono>   The lord glares at Nikkolai, but nods. "Very well. You have won. Returning you is a simple matter, but..." A thoughtful glance, "You deserve a prize for victory. I can give you or one of your friends outside a gift as you desire. It is you spoil of victory."
Apr 06 23:22:27 <Nikkolai>   "That is very generous of you, my lord. If it is not too troubling for my lord, could it be said that I am owed a favor? There may come a time very soon when I shall need an ally against a great enemy. If I may call upon my lord at that time, I would consider that a great gift indeed."
Apr 06 23:22:53 <Kotono>   "Arrogant, to think to command me so!" The lord's gaze is even, "Very well, I will grant this request. Now begone from this place.
Apr 06 23:23:33 <Nikkolai>   "You are too kind, my lord. Before we depart, may I venture as to ask your name when I call for you?"
Apr 06 23:24:01 <Kotono>   "Lord Balinbomb." The answer is said, even as your visions begin to cloud again!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: And back on Arborea

Apr 06 22:19:54 <Knight>   "I can't, at least. It does not seem like Mari will face danger there, and.. so..."
Apr 06 22:20:20 <Kotono>   There is a sparrow who flies over to Adail at his searchings adn callings.
Apr 06 22:21:20 *   Adail tweets and chirps at the bird! "Hello freind. Tell me, do you know much about this circle?" he gestures to the fairy ring.
Apr 06 22:22:10 <Kotono>   "Creatures go in and turn to flowers!" It repeats. "Like the wind!"
Apr 06 22:22:32 <Adail>   "Do they ever come back out?"
Apr 06 22:25:05 <Kotono>   "Occasionally," It answers, "Pretty petals!"
Apr 06 22:25:56 *   Adail sighs with a bit of relief and looks back to the others, "The sparrow here says that creatures who wander in do occasionally come back out. That's...something, at least."
Apr 06 22:26:49 *   Adail then fishes around for a cracker he had pocketed from the feast and offers it to the bird in thanks.
Apr 06 22:27:00 <Kotono>   The bird eats up happily.
Apr 06 22:27:11 <Kotono>   Yulia smiles, "I'm sre it'll work out then and they'll have a great story to tell!"
Apr 06 22:27:15 <Knight>   "How long should we wait?" asks Knight, circling the field warily. "Any amount of time could pass. There's no way of knowing, is there? Maybe it's futile to stay at all..."
Apr 06 22:27:50 <Kotono>   "It's not futile. Things work out here, it's Arborea." Yulia says, "There's always happy endings!"
Apr 06 22:29:35 <Knight>   "Ah.. is that so? I'm not without hope, then."
Apr 06 22:30:17 <Kotono>   As Yulia waits, "Say Knight. Do you have any other friends besides the people you travel with?"
Apr 06 22:31:10 <Kotono>   Yulia looks up to Kamvakua, "You seem big and serene, and Adail's a celestial, but you...you don't fit any of them. No, no, you do remind me of one thing. A modron! I met one on a march once and it was like you! All about it's family and place."
Apr 06 22:32:50 *   Knight scratches the back of her head. "Well... none that I remember," she replies. "I just haven't had time since I started my quest. To be a friend of someone, you have to associate with them for a long time, do you not?"
Apr 06 22:34:45 <Kotono>   "As long as it takes, but it's not often long! So if Kamvakua adn Adail are your friends, aren't they part of your family too?" With a little smile, "Friends are just as important, you know! You seem so worked up about things, but you have a lot of nice friends and family right here, don't you?"
Apr 06 22:36:07 <Adail>   "My sister once said to me that freinds are the family you choose," Adail adds.
Apr 06 22:37:14 <Kamvakua>   "Your time is your own.  It is very easy to lose sight of the journey when you only see the destination."
Apr 06 22:37:15 <Knight>   "Well, that is true enough, in a way. We have an arrangement of aiding one another, and I do enjoy the company. But I don't understand what you are trying to say. Does making friends here absolve me of past relationships? Are not some bonds tighter than others?"
Apr 06 22:37:25 <Knight>   "That again..."
Apr 06 22:39:06 *   Adail chuckles, used to Kam's philosophy and the odd reactions some have to it, "Kam follows the Great Wanderer. To He and His, the journey is just as, if not more, important then the end goal. It's really the core of His philosophy."
Apr 06 22:39:38 <Kotono>   "I think you just need to well, relax. Your family's important, but so are your friends! What are you going to do when everyone gets back together? Go back to being a card in a deck?" Yulia asks.
Apr 06 22:42:48 <Kamvakua>   "There is always somewhere to go, something to do, something that must certainly be done...but if you lose sight of where you are now, you lose sight of the world."
Apr 06 22:50:09 <Nao>    "That is not exactly true," replies Knight. "I will return to the deck when this body becomes dust, as will happen someday. And someday, I will be drawn again, to face a new existence. Between these times, I am with my family, and am content." She pauses. "And my family is relying on me to save them," she adds. "I'm not only acting for myself."
Apr 06 22:50:13 <Nao>    "Kamvakua, has a task never taken on great importance to you? If so, I believe you would understand. The road is simply something I must travel to attain my goal. I'm not doing this for the sake of travelling. I can't lose sight of what I'm striving for. I can't let the road overtake my family."
Apr 06 22:50:32 *   Nao is now known as Knight
Apr 06 22:52:18 <Knight>   "By the way, Mari was saying something similar, that relaxation is something we should strive for," muses Knight. "Succeeding isn't possible alone, and regardless my wishes, the road remains. Travelling isn't unenjoyable in itself. Just..."
Apr 06 22:53:15 <Kotono>   Floating over to Adail, Yulia whispers to him.
Apr 06 22:53:58 *   Adail snickers and whispers back.
Apr 06 22:54:06 <Kamvakua>   "I have seen a few.  It is a result of a vision too narrow, I have found that to be a Truth of life."
Apr 06 22:54:54 <Kotono>   Yulia starts to giggle loudly, whispering back to adail.
Apr 06 22:55:33 *   Adail winces and responds.
Apr 06 22:55:38 <Knight>   "Well. I don't intend to tell you what you should strive for. It just feels as though you are all telling me I shouldn't bother searching in the first place..."
Apr 06 22:56:30 <Kotono>   Yulia considers and whispers back again, glancing at Knight.
Apr 06 22:58:01 <Kamvakua>   "Your destination is absolutely important," Kamvakua smiled.  "i'm saying, enjoy the road to get there."
Apr 06 22:58:25 *   Adail flattens his ears against his head and responds once more.
Apr 06 22:58:51 <Kotono>   Yulia eeps and glances at Knight longer this time, "Say Knight, you have a temper, right?" she calls over.
Apr 06 23:00:11 <Knight>   "If I misunderstood, I'm sorry. Of course I will do so. Battle itself is enjoyable. I would be glad to assist in your own endeavours. There's satisfaction in serving another... ah, well, fury is necessary to motivate oneself in combat, so." Knight earnestly studies the faerie ring as the pace of her speech increases.
Apr 06 23:00:48 <Kotono>   "Do you get worked up and excited when you're angry, or is it more of a cold temper?"
Apr 06 23:04:27 *   Knight sits on the grass and thinks for a moment. "I don't know. It's better to be cold. Rage shouldn't prevent you from making wise decisions. If I'm defeated, or outdone, then that can inspire cold anger. But sometimes it is more personal, isn't it?"
Apr 06 23:05:43 <Knight>   "Kamvakua, what do you think? I've never been able to harness my anger. It might drive me, but it doesn't lend me strength."
Apr 06 23:07:39 <Adail>   "I have a channel for mine as well." Adail clenches his fists as tiny flames flicker about them for a half moment, "But that's very much a cold anger. You must control it, lest it control you. That's what I learned in the monestary.
Apr 06 23:07:57 <Adail>   "A bit ironic that it creates flames, though."
Apr 06 23:08:50 <Kamvakua>   "Rage was always something to gather in the heat of combat, the fuel of your muscles to ensure that you won over others.  I once embraced it...but in doing so, learned of it as a weakness.  It clouds your sight, fills your heart with pride.  I abandoned it once, learning the way without it.  It was on Arborea that I learned a ...more effective way.  Cold rage is not worthwhile, but there are many things that are worth being angry about.  A power and a strength in drawing it out.  It is something not to abandon, nor to lose yourself within, but a fire about your spirit to empower you when needed."
Apr 06 23:10:27 <Kamvakua>   "I would offer to teach, but I do not think that it is a weapon that suits you, knight.  At least, not as you are.  It would not strengthen the blade of your training, but make it brittle."
Apr 06 23:12:08 *   Adail nods, "You would be the expert on that. For me it's more a matter of channeling it into my fists instead of my mind, letting it burst forth in flames instead of directing my actions. It does help to shout though, both to channel the power and to get a bit of intimidation factor going."
Apr 06 23:12:20 <Adail>   He grins, "And you have to admit, I need all the help there that I can get."
Apr 06 23:13:04 <Knight>   "Perhaps you are right. And even if I could learn, there is Bell to think about as well," remarks Knight, reaching up to scratch behind Bell's ears. "You are quite fearsome when one stops to think about it, Adail," she adds, seriously. "As a saboteur, I can think of nobody better suited. Appearances never tell the whole story."
Apr 06 23:14:10 <Kamvakua>   "There are a thousand different roads, and while they may sometimes cross and sometimes not, it can always be inspiring seeing what is down a far ways along them."
Apr 06 23:15:57 <Adail>   "The hilarious thing here is that I'm not even all that specialized in those arts for my race. It would not be hard at all for another musteval to surpass me at that if they had a mind to." This gets a sigh out of him, "And that's a large part of the problem right there. I can count the number of mustevals I know who strive to improve on our natural skills on one paw. Including myself."
Apr 06 23:17:41 <Knight>   "Motivation is required to seek self-improvement. I wonder how much harder they would train were there an imminent threat to their very existence."
Apr 06 23:18:43 <Adail>   "A good question, but you'll pardon me if I'm somehow alright with not knowing the answer."
Apr 06 23:19:14 <Kamvakua>   "A lion throws its cubs to the wilds to teach them that they need to be able to fend for themselves.  In many societies, there are no such wilds."
Apr 06 23:23:12 <Adail>   "Elysium is remarkably tame for a plane that is nothing BUT wilds, yes."
Apr 06 23:24:17 <Kotono>   Flower petals gather in the wind! Like a gust of great air, Nikkolai and Mari re-appear outside of the circle!
Apr 06 23:24:30 <Knight>   "Without strife, there is no need for strength. I wonder what experiences go in to- ah, ah! You are back! How many years has it been?"
Apr 06 23:25:09 *   Nikkolai stumbles slightly. "Years? Not at all, Knight. It feel like...mere minutes."
Apr 06 23:25:29 *   Nikkolai steadies Mari with a hand on her shoulder. "All right there, Mari?"
Apr 06 23:25:37 <Mari>   "I dunno, it *felt* like years to me. But really, I think it wasn't long at all."
Apr 06 23:25:45 <Knight>   "You are positive? Mari looks a little taller," replies Knight, squinting at Mari.
Apr 06 23:25:57 <Mari>   "Hey, I'm fine! I'm not the one who picked a fight with a fairy lord in his own realm, you know."
Apr 06 23:26:10 <Nikkolai>   "Ah. But I *won*, did I not?"
Apr 06 23:26:23 <Adail>   "Really?" Adail looks over at Nik, "I assume you...won, yes."
Apr 06 23:26:34 *   Nikkolai can't help but grin at his own success.
Apr 06 23:26:52 <Knight>   "Oh, oh. I see. You aren't a fairy anymore. Of course."
Apr 06 23:27:17 *   Nikkolai is practically preening. "Let's just say that I've secured the services of a Lord Balinbomb against my former master."
Apr 06 23:27:21 <Mari>   "He won. Somewhow. And I'm..." Mari checks herself out again. She's still in her normal body? Huh. "Well, yeah, I'm no longer half my normal height. A brilliant observation, Knight."
Apr 06 23:28:50 <Nikkolai>   "You just can't let the Fey bully you around, that's all." Nikkolai looks around for Yulia. "Bright one? Where are you?"
Apr 06 23:28:52 <Adail>   "Good job, then. All the same, I think we can all agree to avoid these rings in the future?"
Apr 06 23:29:24 <Knight>   "I was very worried. My path would not be nearly as enjoyable without you two," replies Knight, nodding. "Yes, it's necessary for you to continue travelling, otherwise things will be less... fun."
Apr 06 23:29:28 <Kotono>   Yulia flutters over, "Oh wow, you're still alive?" She peers, "I thought you'd gone off this mortal coil!"
Apr 06 23:29:31 <Mari>   "It was fine in there before you showed up," Mari insists. "I was having a perfectly pleasant conversation with a flower."
Apr 06 23:29:49 <Kamvakua>   "Did you lose your trinket, Mari?" Kamvakua wondered.  "What was it like on the other side?"
Apr 06 23:30:02 <Mari>   "Oh yeah, Knight? That's great! I'm glad we finally managed to add that word to your vocabulary."
Apr 06 23:30:18 <Nikkolai>   "I very nearly did, my dear. Tell me, do you know anything of a Lord Balinbomb? I beat him in a game of chess and now he owes me a favor."
Apr 06 23:30:50 <Mari>   "I, uh, I thought I still had it on, Kam. It doesn't seem to be doing anything right now. Hm."
Apr 06 23:32:47 <Kamvakua>   "Well, head attached, limbs intact, able to go on.  Not too much to worry about," He smiled.
Apr 06 23:36:13 <Kotono>   "Not offhand, but there's a lot of fey lords," Yulia answers.
Apr 06 23:36:43 <Nikkolai>   "Mmm. Pity. With some luck, I've secured the services of someone powerful enough to aid me."
Apr 06 23:38:19 *   Mari takes the necklace off and examines it critically. "Actually, I'm not really sure I even need it now." Mari looks lost in thought for a moment, thinking of all the beings in her travels and selecting one more or less at random--hm. Elvish, maybe? Could be useful here!
Apr 06 23:39:54 <Kotono>   At this, Mari shifts and transforms! Her form becomes that of a lithe elf, shifting!