Nikkolai says: Churchill who?

[Dracos]

Jun 29 19:27:25 <Kotono>   The party flees the wreckage of the once pleasant Ice Floe tavern. The victim of slaad and inevitable violence lies crumbled behind you as you head to the outskirts of Shivra. Here you find Kamvakua and Cubi. The latter quivers all over, gelatin body shaking as she floats towards you, "Did you find him?"
Jun 29 19:28:23 <Nikkolai>   "We did, I'm sorry to say." Nikkolai mutters. "But I'm also sorry to say that your...beloved...is now deceased."
Jun 29 19:28:39 *   Nikkolai attempts to put on a properly mournful face.
Jun 29 19:28:57 *   Kamvakua looks over them, closing a book and putting it away, wincing somewhat at Nikkolai's words.  Mainly for what would follow them.
Jun 29 19:30:35 <Kotono>   Cubi freezes in the air! Not a spoonful of acid jelly moves after Nikkolai's tragic news! "No...no! He can't be! Vandala can't be dead!" Her voice plummets into a wail, hissing tears of slime falling away from it's cube-body.
Jun 29 19:30:57 <Knight>   "He died bravely, fighting for your honor!" adds Knight.
Jun 29 19:31:01 *   Kamvakua floats away from her a bit for his own safety.
Jun 29 19:31:20 *   Nikkolai holds his hands up in a placating gesture. "He loved you, Cubi! His last words and thoughts were of you!" Gods, he hoped he was right.
Jun 29 19:32:11 <Mari>   "He did. We tried to talk him out of it, but...he just wasn't listening to anyone."
Jun 29 19:32:38 *   Adail shakes his head, "When Inevitables and Slaad meet, combat is...well, inevitable. There is never any talking either of them out of it."
Jun 29 19:33:24 <Kotono>   "It doesn't matter!" Wailing away, "Vandala was going to put eggs in me and we were going to make it work! I wanted to mother his slime-slaad babies!" Cubi virtually gushes acid from her front, "There....there's no point in living without Vandala!" Cubi starts to fly away at a fairly good clip, trailing acid tears in her wake.
Jun 29 19:33:49 <Mari>   "Hey--hey! Where are you going!" Mari flies after the grief-stricken cube.
Jun 29 19:34:07 *   Nikkolai suppresses a shudder and violent heave of his stomach at the mental image. He takes off like a shot after Cubi as well!
Jun 29 19:34:13 <Knight>   "Wait, we should let her be alone. For her to come to terms with her grief," mumbles Knight, half-heartedly.
Jun 29 19:34:22 <Adail>   Wincing a bit, Adail mutters under his breath, "Heartbreak is well outside my area of expertise I'm afraid."
Jun 29 19:34:28 <Kamvakua>   "...Cubi might do something dangerous," Kamvakua frowned, having...trouble empathizing really with the slime.  It could be that he'd been focusing on tuning her out after the first hour, much less days of listening to her talk about babies.
Jun 29 19:34:28 <Nikkolai>   "Come back! Life is still worth living, Cubi!"
Jun 29 19:34:48 <Kotono>   Yulia winces, "I think she could use a hug, but I like not being paralyzed."
Jun 29 19:35:35 <Knight>   "What are we, her parents?"
Jun 29 19:36:33 <Kotono>   Mari and Nikkolai give chase! The cube is fast in Air but not that fast, the two catching up! "Leave me alone!" Cubi sobs and hovers in place, "I just want to die! I'll never find anyone that appreciates me again!"
Jun 29 19:37:26 <Nikkolai>   "Well, we...erm, appreciate you." Nikkolai says awkwardly. "You're the nicest slime cube I've ever met." Nikkolai neglected to mention that it's the only one he's met thus far.
Jun 29 19:37:40 <Mari>   "That's not true! There's no end to the kinds of people and...things you can find out in the planes. You just need some time!" It's hard to comfort something you can't hug, it must be said.
Jun 29 19:39:14 *   Adail just looks over at Knight and shrugs.
Jun 29 19:39:18 <Kotono>   "Tell me one person who would love a gelatinous cube like Vandala loved me?!" Cubi whirls on the two, acid splashing close to them!
Jun 29 19:39:41 <Kotono>   Yulia watches as well, "To be honest, this isn't any stranger than an Abyss Shark turning out to be one of your family members."
Jun 29 19:40:13 <Mari>   "Um, another slaad? You could go to Limbo!" Mari fights the urge to creep away from the weeping acid blob.
Jun 29 19:41:19 *   Nikkolai stands stock still, hoping against hope that he wouldn't be splashed by accident. "What about other slaad, like Mari suggested? Or even another cube? Love can be found in the most unlikely of places, Cubi. You can't give up!"
Jun 29 19:41:28 <Kamvakua>   "I take it Shivra was exciting?" Kamvakua really resisted listening to any more of the cube, even as he watched Nikkolai and Mari try and calm it down.
Jun 29 19:41:51 <Knight>   "No, no. Thorns turned into the shark. He wasn't a shark before," replies Knight, frowning. "It makes perfect sense. This.. this also makes sense. But not perfect sense."
Jun 29 19:42:25 <Knight>   "It is an interesting little town. In better times, I should like to stay here quite a while."
Jun 29 19:43:23 <Kotono>   "Another slaad! Limbo! That's it!" Turning to Mari, "I'll go to Limbo! Oh thank you!"  Cubi creeps forward towards Mari, "Oh thank you so much!" She looms over her, as if to plow right into her!
Jun 29 19:44:21 *   Mari drifts back. "Er, you're welcome--that's okay, Cubi, really, it's nothing!"
Jun 29 19:44:24 <Nikkolai>   "CUBI! MARI IS FRAGILE!" Nikkolai throws a hand up! "She isn't tough enough to withstand your affections!"
Jun 29 19:44:52 <Kotono>   OOC: Make a diplo check real quick, Nikkolai, to see if you get through to the grief stricken cube?
Jun 29 19:45:07 <Nikkolai>   roll 1d20+20 Dear God, stop!
Jun 29 19:45:07 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20+20 Dear God, stop! and gets 38." [1d20=18]
Jun 29 19:46:08 <Kotono>   Cubi wobbles and stops at the last minute! A few flecks of slime splash on Mari, numbing her face where the hit her skin. "Sorry, sorry! I almost forgot, I got so wrapped up in things! But that means I need to go find a portal to Limbo now."
Jun 29 19:47:01 *   Mari shudders and wipes her face clean with her sleeve. "Er, yeah...I don't really know of one around here. We heard of one when we were back in the Abyss, but...you don't want to go there. It's not a nice place for nice cubes!"
Jun 29 19:47:23 <Kotono>   "I'll find one," Cubi perks up and vows, starting to fly off, "I have to go then! Thank all of you so much!"
Jun 29 19:47:50 <Nikkolai>   "Be well, Cubi!" Nikkolai waves gallantly! "And please, don't ever come back." He mutters under his breath.
Jun 29 19:48:09 *   Mari is suddenly reminded of something. "Oh, hey, Cubi--I know we didn't get Vandala back, but...do you really need all those weapons and things in you?"
Jun 29 19:50:53 <Kotono>   "No time to stop!" Cubi calls, as her body seems to shudder! From within her three things emerge out, falling into Air! A longbow, made entirely of what looks to be obsidian. Even the drawstring is made of it. A heavy steel shield, engraved with the symbol of a staring eye. A bastard sword, gleaming bright even after being within Cubi.
Jun 29 19:52:15 *   Adail sees stuff falling and dives after it!
Jun 29 19:52:36 <Knight>   Knight's innate armament-detection abilities lead her to follow Adail's suit!
Jun 29 19:53:07 <Mari>   "Thanks, Cubi. We'll look you up if we're ever in Limbo!" This said, she dives to catch something before the items are lost in the void.
Jun 29 19:53:24 <Kotono>   Gear is swiftly grabbed, the party getting all three things - just barely, nearly dallying too long.
Jun 29 19:53:48 <Kotono>   Yulia watches her go, "All in all, that was almost as surreal as the Abyss." She flies over and lands on Knight's shoulder. "So now what, go get all these identified?"
Jun 29 19:54:47 *   Nikkolai sighs impatiently. "Yes, let us be done with that as quickly as possible. We still have a Wizard to see, you know."
Jun 29 19:54:49 <Kamvakua>   "Probably wiped off first...I cannot say how glad I am to see that you've returned.  If only you could've been faster," Kamvakua rubbed his head.
Jun 29 19:54:57 <Knight>   "Just so," replies Knight, opening the bag of holding in which to put everything. "I feel somewhat unkind, taking this. We were unable to complete our mission, so..."
Jun 29 19:55:23 <Mari>   "Yeah, I guess so. And...wait, we had other things to do in town here, didn't we? I'd almost forgot, what with all this acid cube romance going on. And fights. Man, those jerkass gearheads. That seemed like a nice tavern, too."
Jun 29 19:56:04 <Nikkolai>   "The universe hates us." Nikkolai comments dryly.
Jun 29 19:56:16 <Nikkolai>   "It's like some higher being takes pleasure in our...fiascos."
Jun 29 19:56:18 <Mari>   "Look at it this way, Knight: what use did Cubi have for them? And...Kam, are you okay? I can't imagine listening to...you know, all that..for as long as you had to."
Jun 29 19:56:27 *   Adail shakes his head, "Not the whole thing, Nikkolai. It's largely that Mechanus can be hard to deal with even at the best of times. This was not the best of times."
Jun 29 19:56:31 <Kamvakua>   "Go, let us," Kamvakua tried in rather brokenish draconic as he floated along with them in the right direction.
Jun 29 19:56:45 <Knight>   "You say this in light of our recent windfalls? I would say the universe is quite generous to us," replies Knight. "It is those around us that suffer profusely."
Jun 29 19:57:06 <Kamvakua>   "Windfalls?"  Kamvakua wondered.
Jun 29 19:57:22 <Nikkolai>   "Can't we get these 'windfalls' without having to go through so much troubles?" Nikk grumbles, floating on his back.
Jun 29 19:57:37 <Adail>   "And then what worth would they truely have?"
Jun 29 19:57:47 <Knight>   "Whatever people pay for them."
Jun 29 19:57:51 <Mari>   "Yeah. Knight got in a duel, and won. Then Vandala got in a fight, and lost. And we picked up all his stuff."
Jun 29 19:57:55 <Nikkolai>   "I like things easy every now and then."
Jun 29 19:58:14 <Kamvakua>   "I am...well enough," Kamvakua eyed Mari, thankful for the sympathy.  "It was good practice at meditation....and time to read.  And wish that demons would attack.  But thankfully no longer."
Jun 29 19:58:23 <Mari>   "You're in the wrong universe then, Nik."
Jun 29 19:58:27 <Knight>   "Well, it is the province of luck. If we desire funds and resources, then normally, one would need to work for them."
Jun 29 19:59:04 <Kamvakua>   "The gods help those who help themselves.  To be lazy and expecting is the trap of the wicked."
Jun 29 19:59:41 <Nikkolai>   "I recognize the value of hard work when it comes to amassing wealth...but it's not *wicked* to like having such things be not quite so hard to achieve."
Jun 29 19:59:56 <Mari>   "Yeah. Come on, Nik, you wouldn't want to let down your girlfriend, would you?"
Jun 29 20:00:22 <Knight>   Knight snorts. "She seemed quite easy to achieve."
Jun 29 20:01:06 *   Nikkolai glares at Knight. "Watch your tongue, if you please. You will not slander her in my presence."
Jun 29 20:01:07 *   Adail suddenly moves over towards Mari, "Ah, Mari, now that we have a moment between objectives, I need to talk with you a bit. Regarding that tail of yours."
Jun 29 20:01:20 <Knight>   "I thought you liked that kind of thing."
Jun 29 20:01:32 <Kotono>   "Hey!" Yulia whaps Knight on the back of the head, "That's literal blasphemy! She's a Solar! Some even say that Solars are demi-gods!"
Jun 29 20:01:41 <Mari>   "What about it? Oh, that reminds me, Adail--you totally compared me to slaad or something just before we left. That's not fair at all!"
Jun 29 20:02:05 <Nikkolai>   "It's different with her." Nikkolai replied in a terse tone. "She deserves your utmost respect."
Jun 29 20:02:09 <Knight>   "If you are suggesting that I watch my tounge due to fear of reprisal, I will take your warning into consideration."
Jun 29 20:02:52 <Kamvakua>   "Did something happen with Mari's cute tail?" Kamvakua wondered, knowing it's less than savory origins.
Jun 29 20:03:48 *   Adail shakes his head, "Not compared you to, simply noting the fate that's in your afterlife if things remain as they are. Just as wicked mortals become far more wicked fiends, so do chaotic mortals become things far more chaotic. But that's philosophy to speak of at leisure later, your tail is important right now."
Jun 29 20:04:55 <Adail>   "When you were inebriated at the first bar," Adail continues, "Your tail, of it's own accord, grew a MOUTH and took a bite out of your steak. At the time you accused me of making it up, but that was surely just the alcohol talking. I had only a small bit and Yulia had none, and she saw it as well."
Jun 29 20:05:24 <Adail>   "There is far more to that tail then we currently know about, and I'm more then a bit concerned about your safety due to it."
Jun 29 20:05:33 *   Nikkolai perks up. "What's this? Her tail grew a mouth?" Nikkolai flies over and behind Mari to attempt to inspect her tail.
Jun 29 20:05:44 <Kotono>   Mari's tail is as you've seen it before. No sign of a mouth on it.
Jun 29 20:06:05 <Knight>   "Even if what you say is true, what danger could it be to Mari?"
Jun 29 20:06:14 <Mari>   "Yeah? Well. That's, uh. Well, it is a little stubby and I was thinking maybe I should trade up for a better model later. If you're gonna have a tail, it should be long and graceful, right? I hadn't--Nikkolai, stop staring at my ass!"
Jun 29 20:06:19 *   Nikkolai reaches out to grab it, casting Detect Magic as he does so.
Jun 29 20:06:43 *   Mari twitches away from his grasp!
Jun 29 20:06:52 <Adail>   "If it has a mind of it's own, and it is born from the magic of Yugoloths, it could well have malign intent towards her and everyone around her." Adail states flatly.
Jun 29 20:06:54 <Kotono>   The tail is quite a warm tail, Nikkolai gets a touch before Mari yanks it away.
Jun 29 20:07:27 <Nikkolai>   "Stay still, Mari! How can I inspect it if you keep moving around!" Nikkolai patiently moves closer again.
Jun 29 20:07:34 <Adail>   "I'm not saying we should chop it off in panic or anything drastic like that, simply get someone more versed in such things then I am to check it out and see what danger, or perhaps even benefit if it can be controlled, it could have."
Jun 29 20:07:49 *   Mari twirls around. "You don't! Don't touch me weird places without permission!"
Jun 29 20:08:12 <Knight>   "Couldn't Mari shapechange it away?" replies Knight, wincing at the way her words string together.
Jun 29 20:08:15 <Nikkolai>   "How is a tail *weird*? It doesn't belong on you in the first place!"
Jun 29 20:08:16 <Kotono>   "Mari," Yulia calls, "This is important! What if your tail is another Quinsalus waiting to be born and eat your head like he ate that sword!"
Jun 29 20:08:49 <Mari>   "Okay, fine Adail, you find me an expert on mystery demon tails and I'll let them look at it. But I *feel* fine and--Yulia, don't even start!"
Jun 29 20:08:59 *   Kamvakua puts an arm between Nikkolai and Mari.  "Give Mari her space.  Cornering her won't do any good."
Jun 29 20:09:08 <Knight>   "Wouldn't that quite definitively show it's weirdness?"
Jun 29 20:09:49 *   Adail nods, "Tam might be good to speak to of it should we return to Earth. An expert on transformational magics would be just as good as one on Yugoloths, I'm sure."
Jun 29 20:10:07 *   Nikkolai folds his arms across his chest in a petulant manner. He drifts away. "Fine. If it strangles us all in our sleep, I'm blaming *you*, Mari."
Jun 29 20:10:31 <Knight>   "As long as we do not sleep with Mari, we should be alright."
Jun 29 20:10:54 *   Nikkolai begins floating back towards the city. "I'm off to see the Wizard. Would anyone care to join me?"
Jun 29 20:11:24 *   Mari ignores Nik. "I could try turning into something and else see what happens? Otherwise...hey, can we head back to town? We never did get anything to eat or drink at that place, did we? I don't know about you guys, but I'm really, really hungry. I need something dead in front of me like now."
Jun 29 20:12:15 <Kamvakua>   "Let's go back to town," Kamvakua sided with the cute one.  "Anyhow, do you know where the wizard's tower is?"
Jun 29 20:12:22 <Knight>   "I do have an appetite. I must go to see that tinker, as well."
Jun 29 20:13:02 *   Nikkolai shrugs. "It can't be that hard to find. We'll simply ask around. The Wizard is apparently a powerful figurehead in Shivra."

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

Jun 29 20:18:09 <Kotono>   OOC: Make a quick GI check?
Jun 29 20:18:42 <Nikkolai>   roll 1d20+15 Pretty Nikki asks the girls for info!
Jun 29 20:18:43 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20+15 Pretty Nikki asks the girls for info! and gets 26." [1d20=11]
Jun 29 20:19:43 <Kotono>   Some hunting about gets Nikkolai where he needs to go. A tall tower forged of ice, tucked in the radiant lights of Shivra. A fence of whirling snow surrounds it, the door to inside closed. No one's really close to it as you approach.
Jun 29 20:20:54 *   Nikkolai approaches steadily, intending to knock politely on the door unless something prevents him from doing so. Like expensive security wards.
Jun 29 20:24:22 <Kotono>   No sign of those! Nikkolai knocks on the door! A few moments after he does, a voice echos around him. "Go away! No solicitors! No visitors! Get lost!"
Jun 29 20:26:18 *   Nikkolai calls out, "I'm not a solicitor or a visitor! I'm here to do business! Surely the Great Wizard of Shivra would allow a fellow practicioner to speak with him on the subject of his wonderful work with portals!
Jun 29 20:26:20 <Nikkolai>   "
Jun 29 20:29:00 <Kotono>   "Oh yeah? Then dispel the lock on the door! Any wizard worth his salt can cast knock or dispel magic!" The voice challenges.
Jun 29 20:30:15 *   Nikkolai smiles slightly, digging through his belt of many pouches for his scroll of knock, which he earned quite some time ago!
Jun 29 20:30:42 <Kotono>   OOC: I presume you're using it?
Jun 29 20:30:52 <Nikkolai>   OOC: Indeed
Jun 29 20:31:59 <Kotono>   Nikkolai invokes the scroll as it burns away! The door pops open to his magic!
Jun 29 20:33:56 *   Nikkolai resists the urge to grin in a smug manner and steps lightly through the doorway, waiting patiently in the lobby or whereever he was.
Jun 29 20:36:07 <Kotono>   Inside is a small lobby. A barely visible Air Elemental floats forward, "Shall I take your coat or cape or jacket, or any such thing to hold?"
Jun 29 20:36:55 <Nikkolai>   "No thank you. If you would be so kind as to lead my familiar and I to your master?" Nikkolai suggests pleasantly.
Jun 29 20:38:00 <Kotono>   "This way, Sir Nikkolai," The Air Elemental leads you to a door in the back of the lobby.
Jun 29 20:39:12 *   Nikkolai follows at a sedate pace, curiously observing his surroundings as he does so.
Jun 29 20:42:18 <Kotono>   You are taken to a stairway, ascending up! It's crystalline-ice here, all coldness and walking towards a small sitting room. It's strangely plain, a pair of ice-carved chairs facing each other. Sitting here is an old man, withered and ancient. His skin is lined with ice, leaning on a staff carved of dark blue ice. "Sit," he says in a single word.
Jun 29 20:43:43 *   Nikkolai inclines his head in acknowledgment, taking care not to dislodge Yulia as he seats himself in the chair. He folds his hands in his lap and crosses one leg over the other, waiting patiently for the Wizard to speak.
Jun 29 20:46:39 <Kotono>   "So you're Nikkolai?" He looks him over, before leaning forward and tapping his forehead with his ice-staff. His flesh crawls all over. "As of this second...you are dead."
Jun 29 20:48:35 *   Nikkolai keeps a straight face, even as he breaks out into goosebumps from the cold aura of the staff. "It has been more than a second and it seems I'm still alive, Sir Wizard. Pray tell, how can this be?"
Jun 29 20:51:05 <Kotono>   The wizard leans back, "Your enemies precede you. The Lady of the Green Kirtle offered me heaven and earth to Gate you right into her waiting arms." He chuckles, as cold as the air around him. "Tell me then, wizardling, why shouldn't I do exactly that?"
Jun 29 20:52:52 <Kotono>   "Uh oh..." Yulia whispers into Nikkolai's ear.
Jun 29 20:54:45 <Nikkolai>   
ACTION leans back in his chair, attempting to appear calm. Inside, he was a roil of emotions; terror, anger, and the desire to flee. "For one thing, you would not take me alive if you were to make an attempt. One or both of us would perish. For another, Wizard, your reputation precedes you. I had not heard that the Wizard of Shivra had a heart of ice. If you truly wished to take what my old Master offered, why go through this chara
Jun 29 20:55:27 <Nikkolai>   If you truly wished to take what my old Master offered, why go through this charade of hospitality? Why not simply gate me now and be done with it?"
Jun 29 20:56:15 <Kotono>   "Apt of you, boy." The wizard relents very slightly at that, "You're not quick on the uptake, but you're no damned fool. You're right, because I think I can get more out of you alive than by passing you over to a lich of questionable honesty."
Jun 29 20:58:27 *   Nikkolai nods. "I can appreciate a man who sees the true value of someone or something. Tell me, what do you think I'm worth then? To anyone else besides my old master, and possibly a Fey Lord, I'm quite worthless." Nikkolai notes in a self-deprecating manner.
Jun 29 20:59:40 <Kotono>   "10,000 gold coins, easily. A balor or a pit fiend would play with your soul like a cat with catnip." He smiles now, no warmth coming from that at all. Only utter, miserable cold. Nikkolai feels cold, even with his protective magics. "But I don't want money from you. I want your sweat, blood and tears. Of both yourself and your friends who are running wild around Shivra."
Jun 29 21:03:16 <Nikkolai>   
ACTION blinks once. And flames begin to creep from under his skin to dance languidly down his arms and to his very fingertips. His eyes begin to glow; the color of banked coals. "If that is your desire, then that is what you shall have. Only, it shall be your blood, sweat, and tears which I shall take great pleasure in pouring down your ashen-laden throat. Do you care to test your mettle against *me*, Wizard? I, who learned from th
Jun 29 21:03:36 <Nikkolai>   Do you care to test your mettle against *me*, Wizard? I, who learned from the Great Lady herself?"
Jun 29 21:05:13 <Kotono>   The old wizard stands up, not even blinking at Nikkolai's fire. "You have the termity to take my mercy and insult me and threaten my person? You are a fool! A fool as who shall feel the touch of winter!" OOC: Congratulations, you just greviously insulted him. Roll init. I'd have you do imtimidate but he's immune to fear, so intimidation isn't possible.
Jun 29 21:06:00 <Nikkolai>   roll 1d20+8+5 Welp. here's where I die.
Jun 29 21:06:01 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20+8+5 Welp. here's where I die. and gets 31." [1d20=18]
Jun 29 21:06:07 <Kotono>   roll 1d20+12 (+5 nerveskitter)
Jun 29 21:06:07 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 (+5 nerveskitter) and gets 30." [1d20=18]
Jun 29 21:06:16 *   Kotono has changed the topic to: Nikkolai(31)>Ice Mage(30)
Jun 29 21:06:20 <Kotono>   OOC: Open Nikkolai.
Jun 29 21:08:54 <Nikkolai>   "Your idea of mercy is quite different from mine, old man. You will not THREATEN my friends with death or worse and expect me to give in easily, do you!?" Even as he rises to cast Fireball with his wand, he cries out, "Yulia! Flee! Warn the others!"
Jun 29 21:09:02 <Nikkolai>   roll 10d6*1.5
Jun 29 21:09:03 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Nikkolai rolls 10d6*1.5 and gets 64.5." [10d6=2, 1, 6, 3, 6, 6, 3, 6, 5, 5]
Jun 29 21:09:07 <Kotono>   OOC: Forgot to roll init with her, lemme real quick.
Jun 29 21:09:09 <Kotono>   roll 1d20+7
Jun 29 21:09:09 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 14." [1d20=7]
Jun 29 21:09:17 *   Kotono has changed the topic to: Nikkolai(31)>Ice Mage(30)>Yulia(14)
Jun 29 21:09:24 <Kotono>   roll 1d20+14
Jun 29 21:09:24 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 34." [1d20=20]
Jun 29 21:10:10 <Kotono>   Fire erupts around the archmage! YEt somehow he stands at teh edge of it in an instant, only grazed by the heat! The ice around his body begins to trickle and melt! Yet to this he looks on with a baleful gaze, raising his staff! In rasping words, "Be FROZEN FOREVER!" A pure white ray comes from his staff, right at Nikkolai!
Jun 29 21:10:15 <Kotono>   roll 1d20+13 touch AC?
Jun 29 21:10:15 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 touch AC? and gets 31." [1d20=18]
Jun 29 21:10:27 <Nikkolai>   OOC: Not that.
Jun 29 21:10:34 <Kotono>   roll 20d6 ow
Jun 29 21:10:35 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 20d6 ow and gets 82." [20d6=5, 6, 4, 1, 3, 4, 1, 6, 3, 4, 3, 6, 2, 3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 3, 6]
Jun 29 21:12:41 <Kotono>   The beam hits Nikkolai's chest dead on! He feels a terrible, soul numbing cold overtake him! He feels his body fall back and away...shattering...darkness and pain takes him. But...he's flying forward. The staff...into the staff! Into a moment of screaming, eternal cold! (More)
Jun 29 21:14:03 <Kotono>   All around you is his cold face and gaze. It's so dark here, so quiet, so COLD. He looks at you like you may look at an ant under a magnifying glass. His gaze seems to bore into you.
Jun 29 21:15:40 <Nikkolai>   "Well. You killed me." Nikkolai sighs. "I hope that Yulia will be able to escape at least." His gaze meets that of the old man. "I have listened to one too many threats. I would not have sat and smiled to hear yours."
Jun 29 21:16:56 <Kotono>   "I offered you a chance to earn my good graces, you damned idiot." A sigh is heard, "Is doing service for another so far removed from your gigantic ego? But it matters not now. I was quite loathe to do business with a lich, but you have left me little choice."
Jun 29 21:19:51 *   Nikkolai frowns. "A service? You said that you could easily sell me to a pit fiend, and then stated that you wished the blood, sweat, and tears of my friends. How else was I supposed to take it?" A small bit of comprehensions seems to come to Nikkolai's features. "Oh--wait. Please don't me...did you use that as a euphemism?"
Jun 29 21:21:08 <Nikkolai>   "You mean to tell me I just got myself killed because I MISUNDERSTOOD YOU!?"
Jun 29 21:21:11 <Kotono>   There's no laughter. Just a cold, cold smirk. "I had thought the Air Elemental using your name without being told would be a subtle test of your intellect. One you failed to notice..and thus, you fail a critical one." His face retreats away, "Now be silent. You can lament your foolishness to your Lady as she holds your soul in her hands.
Jun 29 21:21:12 <Kotono>   "
Jun 29 21:23:51 *   Nikkolai just stands there, staring out into the darkness. "Sir Wizard, I beg you! Do not do this! I was foolish! I've been beset by enemies for so long and often that I heard words that you did not speak! Have mercy!"
Jun 29 21:24:33 <Nikkolai>   "Send me to Baator! Send me to the torment of your choice! But I BEG you, don't GIVE ME TO HER!!!!" Nikkolai's voice trails off into a howl of terror.
Jun 29 21:25:35 <Kotono>   Nothing. Nothing but cold, uncaring darkness. From very far away you hear a laugh. Her laugh.
Jun 29 21:28:58 *   Nikkolai takes a deep breath, attempting to master his fear. "Very well. If this is my fate, I deserve it for being so colossally stupid. But YOU WILL FIND ME NO EASY MEAT! I WILL FIGHT YOU UNTIL MY SOUL FADES INTO DARKNESS!"

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

Jun 29 20:17:22 <Kotono>   Minus Nikkolai and Yulia, everyone goes to get some food. You settle into the first tavern you went to, mammoth steaks and drinks provided in front of you. The tinkerer tucks into his with energy, "By Reorx's beard, let me tell you! Trying to repair an Inevitable is hungry work! The beautiful hydroDYNAMICS of it all! Oh, surely a divine had was in their make!"
Jun 29 20:18:21 <Kamvakua>   "
Jun 29 20:18:33 <Knight>   "They are outsiders, of a sort," reflects Knight. "I do wonder if they could be built by mortal hands from scratch. After all, if you can repair one..."
Jun 29 20:18:44 <Kamvakua>   "Mammoth steaks.  And I was sitting out there this long," Kamvakua was more focused on the food, having ordered two of them.
Jun 29 20:19:20 *   Mari casually adopts a new form before sitting down for food--tall, lithe, blonde elf maiden. So ethereal and alluring! Just for science, of course--does the tail change at all?
Jun 29 20:19:22 *   Adail chuckles, "I'm sure they would be pleased to have someone such as yourself benefiting in knowlegde of machenery from thier defeat."
Jun 29 20:20:01 <Kotono>   The tail tints a sickly yellow but otherwise stays.
Jun 29 20:20:27 <Mari>   "Huh." Mari shrugs, then sits down and digs into her steak with wild abandon!
Jun 29 20:20:50 <Kotono>   "My, my, it's far easier to repair and improve! They called me a fool to say that, but it's true!" Waving his fork about, he stops and blinks at Mari. "I say, did we just get an elf in our presence?"
Jun 29 20:21:30 <Mari>   "It's just me again," Mari says through a mouthful of meat. "I got drunk with Knight last time we met you."
Jun 29 20:21:45 <Mari>   roll 1d20+8-2 nooooo
Jun 29 20:21:46 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Mari rolls 1d20+8-2 nooooo and gets 25." [1d20=19]
Jun 29 20:21:47 <Kamvakua>   "Your forms are as many and beautiful as your whimsy," Kamvakua smirked at the now elf, his flirting in auran as he eyed back, continuing in common, "Though harder for many to follow."
Jun 29 20:22:05 <Knight>   "Mari doesn't have much attachment to what shape she comes in," notes Knight.
Jun 29 20:22:26 <Kotono>   "Oh, you reminded me of a noble lady I once saw from afar! A beautiful heroine...oh, those were the days," The gnome sighs in contentment, "Oh, I want to build an Inevitable that can dot hat! Imagine that, a shape changing gearwork!"
Jun 29 20:22:53 <Knight>   "A kind of transforming machine?"
Jun 29 20:23:15 <Mari>   "Hey, that's a new one, Kam. You found something to take your mind off of Cubi while you were out there, huh? And hey, Knight, I like my usual shape plenty. It just doesn't hurt to try new ones on. Usually."
Jun 29 20:25:24 <Kamvakua>   "Hmm?  Celestials have it easy.  They simply know all the words.  I was trying to study draconic actually while there...  It's kind of similar to Auran, but the...grammar is so different," He nodded, keeping in Auran, his accent a fair bit heavy.  "It doesn't flow as liltingly."
Jun 29 20:25:25 *   Mari eyes her fork for a moment, then sticks it in her mouth. Without any food on it. After a moment, she tries biting down on it.
Jun 29 20:25:53 <Kamvakua>   "...what are you doing Mari?" Not a little bit of shock at trying to eat the silverware.
Jun 29 20:26:02 <Kotono>   "Mmm-hmm," The gnome nods along, eating up. "So now then, ...my word!"
Jun 29 20:26:21 <Kotono>   Mari bites down on the silverware! There is a metallic SNAP and CRUNCH heard from Mari's mouth!
Jun 29 20:26:36 <Adail>   "Really?" Adail asks, "I've heard that Draconic is more similar to Ingan before myself. Though the elemental tongues sharing..." he stops and blinks at Mari. "What."
Jun 29 20:26:45 *   Mari chews on it. "This is new..." she mumbles.
Jun 29 20:27:16 <Kotono>   Mari chews and munches up silverware! You can see her teeth have gotten a little longer and a lot sharper looking, like little needles! They go through the metal like it's tissue paper.
Jun 29 20:27:28 <Knight>   Knight rubs the back of her head. "I will not allow you to consume any of my weapons," she notes. "I feel I need to state that now."
Jun 29 20:28:02 <Mari>   "There's plenty of tableware to go around, Knight," Mari says as she chews. "Hey, this is good..."
Jun 29 20:28:25 <Kotono>   The gnome just STARES.
Jun 29 20:28:30 *   Kamvakua doesn't manage to respond to Adail.  "Are you okay... Mari?  That looks a bit more worrisome as a diet."
Jun 29 20:28:47 <Knight>   "Look, we've got business to discuss," states Knight, glancing at the gnome.
Jun 29 20:29:40 *   Mari finishes off her fork. "Nah, it's fine." She runs her tongue over her teeth, carefully. "Huh. They didn't used to be that sharp. Do they look pointier than usual, guys?"
Jun 29 20:29:57 <Knight>   "They are quite intimidating, and I would suggest holding off kissing anyone in the immediate future."
Jun 29 20:30:18 <Knight>   "Talons likes them, though," she adds, feeling the need to put a positive spin on the situation.
Jun 29 20:30:46 <Mari>   "I can't do that! I mean, I couldn't not do that. If I had an opportunity. I haven't in a while. What I mean is, I'd be careful, probably. And you have no idea how happy that makes me, Knight."
Jun 29 20:31:27 <Kotono>   "Young lady," The gnome says, "I'm no healer, but I think you may want to get that looked at. That's strange, even for me!"
Jun 29 20:31:33 <Kamvakua>   "A bit.  I think you might be having more problems from that potion than a bit of wyld, as much as you take everything with a fliting skip."
Jun 29 20:32:10 <Mari>   "I keep telling you guys, I feel fine!" Mari starts on her knife.
Jun 29 20:33:09 <Knight>   "Will we need to pay for the cutlery, or was it included in our meal?"
Jun 29 20:33:38 <Kotono>   The gnome just stares and gawks, "...So...ah...yes, yes, you wanted to talk about the mechanical mount?"
Jun 29 20:33:42 <Mari>   "Well, you know, every place like this pads the prices out a little to cover the occasional stolen spoon or whatever..."
Jun 29 20:33:51 *   Adail sighs, "Feel fine and being fine, are two different things. May I make a statement as the resident celestial here? And thus the resident expert on fiends? That potion is quite likely explicitly designed to not have you 'feel' bad at all, no matter what it does to you."
Jun 29 20:34:18 <Knight>   "Ah, yes, quite! We have amassed the necessary funds," responds Knight. "I'd like to have some idea of the specifications, however."
Jun 29 20:34:47 *   Mari sighs. "Adail, stop worrying! Look, if I start acting evil or something, let me know, alright? Until then, I'm not worrying much."
Jun 29 20:35:27 <Kotono>   The gnome stops, looking to Mari and then Adail. "What in the name of the Graygem did you drink to cause that, anyway?"
Jun 29 20:35:56 <Knight>   "That is a question better left unanswered."
Jun 29 20:36:00 <Mari>   "Uhhhh, yugoloth fertility potion. It was a dull afternoon, alright?"
Jun 29 20:36:10 <Kamvakua>   "Mari, could you at least have a cleric give you a look over?  Just in case?  I know your form is less static than most, but it's worrying," Kamvakua pleaded with her.
Jun 29 20:36:34 <Mari>   "I keep saying, Kam, find one and I'll think about it or something."
Jun 29 20:36:48 <Knight>   "Can we have this conversation between ourselves, at another time?" grumbles Knight, reaching for another chunk of steak.
Jun 29 20:37:06 <Mari>   "We really should, Knight's trying to talk business here."
Jun 29 20:37:26 <Kotono>   "Oh." The gnome turns back to Knight, "Well, the 25,000 covers the base. I can...yugoloth...fer..." He stops cold there, twitching. "Right. Where were we?"
Jun 29 20:37:27 <Kamvakua>   "Alright," Kamvakua deciding that was going to be his morning as he leaned back a bit, eating and watching her.
Jun 29 20:37:48 <Knight>   "Twenty-five thosuand gold covers the base. What functionality would that provide, for starters?"
Jun 29 20:37:56 *   Mari happily consumes the rest of her knife. That seems to be enough for a while.
Jun 29 20:40:36 <Kamvakua>   Kamvakua finished a steak and started on another, letting knight barter.
Jun 29 20:41:30 <Knight>   Knight purses her lips. "We also provided you with a large number of inevitable parts. Will they substitute for some of the materials?"
Jun 29 20:43:13 <Kotono>   "It will provide the base movement speed and flight capacity with steam, as well as basic fighting ability with it's hooves. Let's see now, the various upgrades..." He takes out a scroll. "For a boost to it's land speed is 2,000 gold. A boost to it's flying ability is 2,500. A boost to it's flying maneuverability is 2,500. Augmenting it's hooves damage costs 1,000. Adding a bite costs 1,000. Those are the basic upgrades, but not all."
Jun 29 20:43:20 <Kotono>   Adding a bite costs 1,000. Those are the basic upgrades, but not all."
Jun 29 20:43:47 <Kotono>   "Yes yes, they've been useful and reduced the expenses to all the upgrades," he answers, "Now then, the dynamic options!"
Jun 29 20:44:03 *   Knight leans in to listen to what is no-doubt the exciting part!
Jun 29 20:47:31 <Kotono>   "First off, a steam cannon! 6,000 gold, but it'll have an under or head mounted cannon that can fire huge blasts of superheated air! Secondly, there's enervation ray that I can mount in it's mouth for 8,000 GP. Limited use per day as it has to recharge, but I can hobble it together from the koylarut parts. Third is hoof-mounted fire boosters. You'll get a momentary, huge blast of speed with those for 4,000 gold."
Jun 29 20:47:35 <Kotono>   You'll get a momentary, huge blast of speed with those for 4,000 gold."
Jun 29 20:49:09 <Knight>   "Will the device require ongoing maintenance?" asks Knight, curiously. "I would require instruction, if so. I've heard these devices can be quite... delicate."
Jun 29 20:51:40 <Kotono>   "Ah yes, repair work," Nodding along to that, "That it will. Why, give me a week and I can start to teach you the basics! From there you can learn it all like you came from the Master Forge!"
Jun 29 20:53:28 <Adail>   "On the subject of maintenance," Adail notes, "if memory serves, the steam power of his inventions requires quite a bit of water. I can cast create water to help with this, of course. But it's something to keep in mind should we ever find ourselves on Fire."
Jun 29 20:54:05 <Kotono>   "Oh yes, that's crackerjack! Just HydroDYNAMIC!" Snapping his fingers, "I like how you think, mouse! You can appreciate a good, powerful machine!"
Jun 29 20:54:20 <Knight>   "I'm used to training animals and the like, but this is rather different. Still, for the duration, I would be glad to apprentice myself," replies Knight. "I'm not a mage, however..."
Jun 29 20:55:13 <Kotono>   "Oh, you aren't?" Looking Knight over, "Well, if you study it, you can draw out the magic in you. Almost anyone can." Nodding to himself, "Get another wizard to help and it's not hard if you have any talent."
Jun 29 20:56:35 <Knight>   Knight rubs her head. "I know someone who might be able to help. It should not prevent me from using the device as it is, though. It's quite durable on it's own, I should hope?"
Jun 29 20:57:02 <Kotono>   "Oh yes," Nodding along to that, "It's quite durable. As long as it isn't totally destroyed it can be repaired, too."
Jun 29 20:57:53 <Knight>   "Could give an approximation of how vicious a combatant it is, before any upgrades? I assume it doesn't function without a rider, although I cannot know when it comes to these devices..."
Jun 29 21:00:33 <Kotono>   "It's modeled after a pegasus, but steel is stronger than flesh." So answering, "Oh yes, steam POWER!"
Jun 29 21:06:00 <Knight>   "I would very much like to see it in action as soon as possible," replies Knight, nodding. "So, the core machine... let us add this steam cannon, and improve the devices flight speed. That would be... around thirty-three thousand coins, correct?"
Jun 29 21:10:29 <Knight>   "That is... I don't suppose you have any ideas with regard to defense, do you?"
Jun 29 21:15:23 <Kotono>   "Ah yes," Nodding along to that, "Defense - you can add your own barding, but it should be resistant as it is," The gnome says.
Jun 29 21:16:08 <Knight>   "I'll take your word on that," replies Knight, nodding in time with the gnome. "Does the steam cannon cover a wide area, by the way?"
Jun 29 21:17:15 <Kotono>   Meanwhile, a bobbing orb of light comes flying into the inn! Yulia races inside in quite the tizzy, spinning around, "Heeeelppp! He's dead, the wizard froze him alive and he broke apart and oh oh oh!" Yulia cries.
Jun 29 21:17:29 <Knight>   "I- what?"
Jun 29 21:17:45 <Knight>   "Nikkolai is dead?" demands Knight, standing up and slamming her hands on the table.
Jun 29 21:18:24 <Kotono>   Yulia darts to Knight, making sobbing noises, "Broke! Broke apart like ice on the floor! It was terrible! They started arguing and Nikkolai said he'd kill him and then there was fire and ice!"
Jun 29 21:19:08 <Knight>   "Why did this happen? What was their grievance?"
Jun 29 21:19:36 <Mari>   "He--what? What did that idiot get himself into this time?! What did he do?"
Jun 29 21:19:36 <Kamvakua>   "What?" Kamvakua stood up.  "Let us hurry, tell us on the way.  He was a wizard of gates.  If he leaves, we may never find Nikkolai again."
Jun 29 21:20:06 <Kotono>   "The Lady of the Green Kirtle wanted him to sell Nikkolai to use and he wanted Nikkolai to do something and I just don't know!" Wailing away, "I got away by flying through the walls like this!"
Jun 29 21:20:22 <Knight>   "We will conclude our business upon our return, sir," says Knight, glancing at the gnome. "Until then." She grabs her sword, and storms out of the tavern.
Jun 29 21:21:25 <Kotono>   "You all are quite unusual,"
Jun 29 21:21:34 <Adail>   "He killed Nikkolai in a single spell?" Adail gapes, "What kind of power is that?"
Jun 29 21:21:35 <Kotono>   "You all are quite unusual," the poor tinkerer gnome just watches you run off.
Jun 29 21:21:55 *   Kamvakua hurries swiftly after the flying sprite. "Lead us there."
Jun 29 21:22:36 <Knight>   Knight pauses. "If he is dead, no amount of swiftness will aid us," she notes, glancing at the others.
Jun 29 21:23:33 *   Mari kicks her chair back and rushes out with the others. "We...really need to be careful. Knight's right. I'm still covered in acid burns from those stupid slaad! Nik's...I mean, if he's already dead, killing this guy faster isn't gonna help him...is it?"
Jun 29 21:23:57 <Kamvakua>   "As I can attest, death is not necessarily the end.  If the wizard chooses to leave and takes his body with him, what then?" Kamvakua kept going, calling back.
Jun 29 21:24:45 <Knight>   "Be rational, Kamvakua! Can we best a foe such as that in his own dominion, in our current state?" demands Knight. "If we all die here, how can we aid his soul?"
Jun 29 21:25:52 <Kamvakua>   "A wizard strong enough to kill him in a single blow is not one I would wish to fight...but neither would I sleep well knowing I did not even talk with him for mercy for Nikkolai's body or soul."
Jun 29 21:26:44 <Mari>   "We can TALK, sure...but do we know he's not going to just start freezing people left and right after this?"
Jun 29 21:27:28 <Kamvakua>   "...If you wish, I can go alone.  I trust my running speed, at least."
Jun 29 21:27:48 <Kotono>   Yulia whimpers, "We need to do something! I'm going with anyone that's going!" Yulia says, "Even if I'm just a silly, stupid ball of light!"
Jun 29 21:27:49 <Knight>   "We should prepare ourselves first, somehow..." mutters Knight. "If he is a mage of the frost, then can we not take the proper countermeasures first?"
Jun 29 21:27:50 *   Kamvakua did not think his friends cowards, understanding the worry, tiredness a bit in his voice.
Jun 29 21:28:08 <Knight>   "They sell almost anything in this town! We should be able to acquire some potions... something..."
Jun 29 21:28:21 <Mari>   "Kam, look, if you're going, I'm going, but we need a plan or something first!"
Jun 29 21:28:23 *   Adail uses his last remaining spells to heal himself and Mari quickly
Jun 29 21:28:34 <Adail>   roll 2d8+4 CMW on me
Jun 29 21:28:35 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Adail rolls 2d8+4 CMW on me and gets 12." [2d8=1, 7]
Jun 29 21:28:38 <Adail>   roll 2d8+4 CMW on Mari
Jun 29 21:28:38 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Adail rolls 2d8+4 CMW on Mari and gets 19." [2d8=8, 7]
Jun 29 21:29:17 <Kamvakua>   roll 1d8+4 CLW on Mari
Jun 29 21:29:18 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kamvakua rolls 1d8+4 CLW on Mari and gets 6." [1d8=2]
Jun 29 21:30:11 <Adail>   roll 1d8+4 CLW on me
Jun 29 21:30:12 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Adail rolls 1d8+4 CLW on me and gets 8." [1d8=4]
Jun 29 21:33:41 <Kamvakua>   "Like...?" Kam wondered, walking but not running, nearing the edge of town he presumed.
Jun 29 21:33:44 <Kotono>   Healing magic washes over the party, mending wounds.
Jun 29 21:34:31 <Knight>   "If we buy potions that will protect us from the cold, we may not be so easily dispatched!"
Jun 29 21:35:04 <Mari>   "Listen to Knight, Kam! We can take a minute to make sure we don't die the same way, right?"
Jun 29 21:35:34 <Kamvakua>   "ALright, let us hurry." Kamvakua nodded. "Haste is needed, but he might simply blast us."
Jun 29 21:35:44 *   Kamvakua looks for the nearest potion shop on the way out of town.
Jun 29 21:36:09 <Adail>   "There is a temple here, the same one we brought the losers in that duel too, the cleric may be able to sell us a spell or potion. Surely they have cause to keep elemental resisting magic on hand in a place like this?"
Jun 29 21:37:21 <Mari>   "Adail's right. Let's try there if there's no store carrying what we need? In a town like this, someone's gotta have it."
Jun 29 21:38:36 <Kotono>   You hurry to the tower! Here you find it as Nikkolai found it, save for one thing. A medium Air Elemental awaits outside the entrance in. It watches the party approach, but takes no immediate action.
Jun 29 21:39:08 <Knight>   "You. Where is your master?" demands Knight. "I would speak with him."
Jun 29 21:39:14 <Kamvakua>   "We wish to recover Nikkolai," Kamvakua stopped before the air elemental.
Jun 29 21:41:06 <Kotono>   The Air Elemental turns to the party, only semi-seen in the cold, snowy air. "The soul of Nikkolai is about to be bartered to the Lady of the Green Kirtle. If you presume to alter this fate, listen well to my words."
Jun 29 21:41:27 <Knight>   "Speak them swiftly!"
Jun 29 21:42:06 *   Adail nods, saying nothing as of yet.
Jun 29 21:43:16 <Kotono>   "My master offered Nikkolai mercy and a chance to escape the clutches of the Lady of the Green Kirtle. To this he threatened death and brought detestable bodily harm to him! He spit in the face of a kindness that my master had no duty to give him!" He sweeps a windy arm, sending a chill breeze over you. "But my master is not a man without mercy."
Jun 29 21:44:13 *   Mari remains silent as she listens. Whatever words she might have for someone who considers simply NOT selling someone else into bondage to be an act of mercy wouldn't help here.
Jun 29 21:45:25 <Knight>   "Then tell us what mercy he offers."
Jun 29 21:46:17 <Kotono>   "He will free the soul of Nikkolai to be resurrected on three conditions. First you must forever-more swear away harm to my master in any form. All of you. Secondly, you must do a service for him in the realms of Cold. Third, you all shall submit to a geas to ensure compliance with this."
Jun 29 21:47:08 <Mari>   "What service is this? And how can we be sure this is the only thing he'll compel us to do, anyway?"
Jun 29 21:47:45 <Adail>   "I would hear this service he asks, yes." Adail states.
Jun 29 21:48:54 <Kotono>   "Deep within Cold and Ice is a lost palace, the Icedrop Mandala. Within it lie books of lore my master desires, as well as a crown of cold and a robe of frost. You shall journey there, win those through force of arms, and return here with them. It lies within the outer realms of Cryonax's realm, so you will surely have to deal with some of his minions."
Jun 29 21:50:17 <Knight>   "You would release Nikkolai to us before we make a start of this quest," replies Knight, frowning.
Jun 29 21:50:32 <Kamvakua>   "Acceptable," Kam agreed, for himself at least.
Jun 29 21:50:42 <Kotono>   "So it shall be." The Air Elemental agrees. "'t'would be suicide to send you without a magician."
Jun 29 21:50:51 <Mari>   "Knight's right. Our chances of success are much greater with him alongside us."
Jun 29 21:50:55 <Adail>   "And does your master swear that this service is all the geas will compel?"
Jun 29 21:51:07 <Knight>   "I'll not consent to forgoing my right to self-defense, should your master turn on me later," adds Knight.
Jun 29 21:53:27 <Kotono>   "Succeed and he shall be content," The Air Elemental says, "And if my master turns on you, you have far different things to worry of."
Jun 29 21:53:56 <Knight>   "Perhaps so, but then he should have no issue with this clause."
Jun 29 21:55:44 <Kotono>   "So be it," The Air Elemental says at last. "Do you speak as one to this?"
Jun 29 21:55:54 *   Adail nods, "I'm in, of course."
Jun 29 21:56:10 <Mari>   "Yeah. It sounds like the best deal we're going to get here."
Jun 29 21:56:12 *   Kamvakua nods.  "I will strive for his return."
Jun 29 21:56:31 <Knight>   "What must be done, must be done."
Jun 29 21:56:38 <Kotono>   "I'm in too," Yulia says, "Someone has to come to try and keep all of you alive! I'll do better next time!"
Jun 29 21:56:56 <Kotono>   "Then wait here." The Air Elemental enters into the tower. "I shall not be long."
Jun 29 21:58:03 <Knight>   "I dislike this," mutters Knight. "We have been extorted. I cannot tell if this is by the design of this mage or due to a moment of foolhardiness."
Jun 29 21:58:38 <Kotono>   The Air Elemental returns perhaps 3 minutes later. He carries a hefty sack with him. "His mortal remnants are within. Take him to one who can resurrect him and his souls hall come."
Jun 29 21:59:22 <Knight>   "That we must pay for the privilege..." mutters Knight, grasping the sack.
Jun 29 22:00:12 *   Adail nods to Knight, "Mages of this kind of power have little need of being fair, I'm sorry to say. We're frankly lucky he was willing to deal at all."
Jun 29 22:00:17 <Kotono>   It's quite the heavy sack! "My master says that raise dead may be effective, but it is likely resurrection will be foolproof. I tried to get his pieces together as best I could."
Jun 29 22:00:39 <Kotono>   "Yes, my master is not an unfair man. If he was, Nikkolai would have been given to the Lady of the Green Kirtle screaming and alive."
Jun 29 22:01:01 <Kotono>   "His gear is in there as well," The air elemental adds.
Jun 29 22:01:20 <Kamvakua>   "Wary when you walk in the halls of giants," Kamvakua turned, taking the sack and carrying it toward the temple, not having much business else there.
Jun 29 22:01:32 <Mari>   "We're so grateful," Mari deadpans, turning away.
Jun 29 22:01:43 <Adail>   "I suppose it's back to the temple we got Kam's hand restored at? I don't know if the local one has the capability."
Jun 29 22:01:44 <Kotono>   "REturn on the morrow for the geas and instructions," The Air Elemental commands.
Jun 29 22:01:56 <Knight>   "If I was complete, such a mage..." mutters Knight, turning and wandering off.
Jun 29 22:02:11 <Adail>   "Ah tomorrow? Well then the local one it is."
Jun 29 22:02:11 <Kotono>   "One way to find out," Yulia says quietly, then starts! "Wait, hey! I left my clothes inthere when I ran! Get them for me, please! I don't wanna be a ball forever or naked if I have to cast magic!"
Jun 29 22:04:20 <Mari>   "Uh..." Mari hangs her head. "Oh, fine." She trudges back to the air elemental at the door (or as close as one can come to trudging while floating). "Uh, Yulia kind of left her clothes in there...We'll need those back."
Jun 29 22:04:41 <Kotono>   The air elemental turns and returns with the tiny sized gear, passing it onto Mari.
Jun 29 22:05:52 *   Mari turns back. "Here you go, Yulia."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jun 29 21:31:47 <Kotono>   Only bitter cold surrounds Nikkolai, and strands of utter terror! OOC: Let me pause you here for the moment as #dunes resolves. A lot depends on what they do.
Jun 29 21:58:45 <Kotono>   An eternity of miserable, biting cold. Frigid, bitter, ice-lined horror. Then..it stops. She's gone. A moment of respite-filled peace. Then the wizard's face is before you, studying Nikkolai without expression.
Jun 29 22:02:47 *   Nikkolai lowers his head in a humble manner. "I have...been thinking on your words, Sir Wizard. It pains me to realize that I erred, and most grievously so. I am still ignorant to the ways of the world and oftimes, that includes the speech that so many take for granted. I've long heard threats of violence upon my person and that of my friends." (more_
Jun 29 22:04:27 <Nikkolai>   "I acted...without thinking, based upon what I thought I heard. For my crime of colossal stupidity, I deserved death. I beg your forgiveness for casting your mercy back in your face. Before you give me to...Her...I ask that you at least forgive a foolish young sorceror whose only crime was ignorance."
Jun 29 22:06:01 <Kotono>   Without much expression, "You have better friends than a fool deserves. Calm your nerves, for they have submitted to much to ensure you will live."His face withdraws, "Apologize not to me, but those you have cost dearly. The realms of Cold and Ice that await you will not be as kind as I."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jun 29 22:06:25 <Kamvakua>   "You said you knew a temple?  Let's go there then."
Jun 29 22:06:43 <Knight>   "We will likely have to travel back to the one outside the city limits for magic of this magnitude," admits Knight.
Jun 29 22:06:53 <Kamvakua>   "I think it might be needed," Kamvakua looked for a place to show the poor mage.
Jun 29 22:06:24 <Kotono>   The local temple is one to ice and cold. A severe, frost browed dwarf mans it, within a chapel of freezing cold. His arms radiate frosty mist as he stares at the party. "Resurrection magic?"
Jun 29 22:07:18 <Kotono>   There's various rooms and little antechambers about, carved into the ice. "How bad is it?" The dwarf harrumphs, arms crossed.
Jun 29 22:07:28 <Knight>   "He was frozen, and then shattered into his component pieces."
Jun 29 22:07:39 <Mari>   "He's kind of in pieces," Mari says. "Lots of them."
Jun 29 22:08:28 <Kotono>   "Hmph." With a deep scowl, "Resurrection then. It's expensive. Around the jibe of 12,500 gold coins expensive. You're in luck - our temple has a scroll of it, bought it from an adventurer yesterday. Can you pay?"
Jun 29 22:09:57 <Knight>   "Yes, we can afford it," replies Knight, reaching for her bag of holding and starting to yank out a variety of jewels and ornamental objects, each one labelled with the appropriate value.
Jun 29 22:13:02 <Kotono>   "Then lay out his pieces," The priest commands, "We'll begin the ceremony right here."
Jun 29 22:13:55 <Knight>   Knight reaches for the other bag, and gingerly reaches inside. "The ice is melting," she mutters, heaving out great handfuls of watery chunks and dumping them on the floor.
Jun 29 22:14:26 <Kotono>   Hunks of Nikkolai are about! A leg here, a bone there! Yulia turns away and floats over to Adail, "This is so gruesome..."
Jun 29 22:14:47 <Knight>   "You will get used to it," replies Knight, barely flinching at the onslaught of gore. "It comes with our profession."
Jun 29 22:15:27 <Mari>   "I am going to punch him in the face once this is done," Mari says. "Don't anyone try to stop me!"
Jun 29 22:15:47 <Knight>   "I will not restrain you."
Jun 29 22:16:17 <Adail>   "Use an open palm strike, it stings more and has less chance of hurting your own fingers in the process," Adail offers.
Jun 29 22:16:49 <Kotono>   Once the pieces are laid out, the ceremony begins! The names of life are called on! Great magic is implored, a golden circle forming around what is left of Nikko| So cold. So cold, so waiting...no...flying. Flying. Flying. Flying...Nikkolai hacks and sits up! His body! He sees the faces of his friends waiting, a  dim, aching cold still filling his body! No parts are left, having merged into one whole Nikkolai with the casting.
Jun 29 22:16:56 <Kotono>   No parts are left, having merged into one whole Nikkolai with the casting.
Jun 29 22:17:23 <Mari>   "Thanks for the advice." Mari steps forward and kneels before the revived sorcerer. "Nik! Can you feel anything?"
Jun 29 22:17:51 *   Knight exhales. "It is done, then," she states, sighing. "Hello again, Nikkolai."
Jun 29 22:18:05 *   Nikkolai just lays on the table, staring up at the ceiling. "I almost wish I had been left for dead. Anything would be better than me feeling this godsdammed STUPID!"
Jun 29 22:18:07 <Kotono>   "Nikkolai!" Yulia flies over, "What were you thinking?! Why, why, why?!"
Jun 29 22:18:43 <Nikkolai>   "I killed myself because I didn't know he was using a euphemism." Nikkolai states in a flat tone.
Jun 29 22:18:43 <Knight>   "Nonsense. You are not permitted to die, not until our quests have reached their mutual completion." Knight frowns. "Don't spend your life so thoughtlessly."
Jun 29 22:18:48 <Mari>   "HEY. I'm talking to you!"
Jun 29 22:19:15 <Nikkolai>   "If by feel something, you mean this huge weight of stupidity and shame, then yes. I do feel something."
Jun 29 22:19:28 *   Adail just shakes his head and goes over to thank the cleric for his efforts on thier behalf.
Jun 29 22:19:44 <Kamvakua>   "The planes are dangerous, Nikkolai.  I hope you have learned something of this.  My thanks, for being ready in our time of need," He nodded to the cleric.
Jun 29 22:20:09 <Kotono>   In a low voice to Adail, "Sounds like your friend isn't the brightest apple in the bunch today. What happened?"
Jun 29 22:20:19 *   Mari shakes her fists. "Dammit, Nikkolai, I was going to hit you in the face and I can't do that if you don't sit up and look at me. You MORON."
Jun 29 22:21:39 <Knight>   "I am quite beside myself with anger," replies Knight, in a flat monotone. "We have been compelled into service for the sake of this mage as a result of today's events. But, I would be angrier if I could not tell such to your living body." Her gaze flickers downwards. "You had better cover up. It is quite chilly."
Jun 29 22:21:47 <Nikkolai>   "I learned that I'm still quite ignorant of many things...even something as simple as speech." Nikkolai eyes Mari, then obligingly sits up and steps off the table. "Trust me, there's not much you can do that would make me feel any worse than I do now. A euphemism got me killed. A EUPHEMISM!" Nikkolai plants his face in the cradle of his palm.
Jun 29 22:21:53 *   Adail shrugs, "I wasn't there when it happened, but from what I can gather he paniced and picked a fight with someone far out of his league. It's a very long story."
Jun 29 22:22:28 <Mari>   "Oh, there's PLENTY I could do, but we need you in decent shape to get through these chores we're stuck with now."
Jun 29 22:22:29 <Kotono>   "Seems to be going around. Hear about that slaad/inevitable fight?" The priest murmurs back. "Shivra's livlier than usual today."
Jun 29 22:23:10 <Kamvakua>   "For a man as learned at languages as you, Nikkolai, you should spend more time studying.  It is important to hear what others are saying."
Jun 29 22:23:12 *   Adail winces, "Yes, we were actually in the bar when that happened. The slaad ended up losing becuase they thought that wasting time attacking us when the Inevitables were bearing down on them was a fun idea."
Jun 29 22:23:22 <Kotono>   "Hey listen, Mari's right! We need to do that, get you dressed, rest up, get geased! That's not even mentioning other things, like money or if Mari's tail is going to take a bit out of more meat or I don't know what else!"
Jun 29 22:23:30 *   Nikkolai looks down, too beside himself with rage and self-recriminiation to care about his nakedness. "Give me some clothes, and I will." He snaps, back to his cold, perpetually annoyed self. "Did *any* of my gear survive?"
Jun 29 22:23:55 <Knight>   "Yes. The mage was quite precise, it would seem."
Jun 29 22:23:57 <Kotono>   "No kidding?" Raising an eyebrow, "Slaad."
Jun 29 22:24:14 <Mari>   "It's totally okay, Yulia, I keep telling you!"
Jun 29 22:24:26 <Adail>   "Sladd." Adail agrees, nodding. "There's really no making sense out of anything they do."
Jun 29 22:24:38 *   Kamvakua dumps a bag of gear onto Nikkolai's stomach.
Jun 29 22:25:00 <Kotono>   "Yes...and I'd ask about that tail, but I suspect you're adventurers of a rare and particularly unusual sort. Good for business, but not for safety."
Jun 29 22:25:59 *   Nikkolai begins donning gear, not really caring who sees him. "So. What kind of mad bargain did you foolishly enter into to retrieve me? You should have left me there."
Jun 29 22:26:17 *   Adail grins at the cleric, "And you'd be quite right about that one." Then he offers a paw to the man, "Adail, by the way. Musteval sacred fist. Pleasure to meet you and thank you again for your help."
Jun 29 22:26:21 *   Kamvakua glances at the Cleric, "Could you take a look at that too?"
Jun 29 22:26:37 <Knight>   "Oh, should we have? Very well, I shall take your opinion into consideration, next time," replies Knight. "A pity you were not around to voice it now. My apologies." She snorts, and turns about to leave the temple.
Jun 29 22:26:40 <Kotono>   "Icebreak," He takes the tiny paw, "Cleric of-" A stop, "Take a look at what?"
Jun 29 22:28:03 <Mari>   Mari's tail twitches in general irritation.
Jun 29 22:28:32 <Kotono>   "Oh yes, that. It's...a tail. What do you want me to look at it for exactly?" The dwarf comes over, "Miss, can I see your tail?"
Jun 29 22:28:38 *   Kamvakua gestures subtly at the moving tail.
Jun 29 22:28:49 *   Mari sighs. "Yeah, I guess. If it'll stop people worrying."
Jun 29 22:29:07 <Kotono>   The dwarf comes over, taking Mari's tail and peering at it!
Jun 29 22:29:09 <Kotono>   roll 1d20+15
Jun 29 22:29:10 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 29." [1d20=14]
Jun 29 22:29:11 <Kamvakua>   "She didn't always have that...or the sharpened teeth.  She drank something she shouldn't have."
Jun 29 22:29:13 <Adail>   "When she got drunk, it grew a mouth and took a bite of her steak," Adail explains, "And came from her deciding that drinking a Yugoloth Fertility Potion was a good idea." He says all of this in deadpan, of course.
Jun 29 22:29:49 <Kotono>   He stares at it a time, "Oh." That stops him cold, "Oh, you did...WHAT?" He just stops to utterly gawk at Mari, dropping the tail. "Oh, so that's why you have the tail of a Yugoloth growing from your back. Brilliant. It makes perfect sense."
Jun 29 22:30:07 <Mari>   "What? I lived, didn't I? Makes it better than some things SOME people have done."
Jun 29 22:30:31 *   Nikkolai pauses, then follows Knight as she walks out of the temple. "Stupid people deserve to die, Knight. That's all there is to it. And there's no escaping the fact that my lack of knowledge concerning even a simple thing such as speech got me killed. I deserved to die." Nikkolai says it in a matter of fact tone.
Jun 29 22:31:26 <Kotono>   Glancing over at Nikkolai and shaking his head, "This is serious. You have a Yugoloth growing in and with your body. You're a mother to the Yugoloth you're going to become. Congratulations, you're pregnant and you're going to birth yourself into a fiendish horror damned to the Grey Wastes of Hades."
Jun 29 22:31:57 *   Kamvakua casually turns, his hand swatting against Nikkolai's head hard.
Jun 29 22:32:15 <Kamvakua>   roll 1d3+6 subdual attack~
Jun 29 22:32:17 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kamvakua rolls 1d3+6 subdual attack~ and gets 9." [1d3=3]
Jun 29 22:32:22 *   Mari turns to point at Nik while the cleric does his examination. "If you want it to happen again, I can arrange that!" Then the cleric speaks, and..."Wait, what?"
Jun 29 22:32:36 *   Adail eyes Mari, "So does this register as a concern yet?"
Jun 29 22:32:52 <Mari>   "How does that even work?! I don't--what."
Jun 29 22:33:05 <Kotono>   Giving the tail a little tug, "As in, you're both the incubator and the Yugoloth to be. You're going to make a lovely, eternal blight on all that's right in good in the multiverse. You. Are. Becoming. A. Yugoloth."
Jun 29 22:33:22 *   Nikkolai stops and turns to stare at Mari. "...it looks like someone did something just as stupid as I."
Jun 29 22:33:23 <Kamvakua>   "Learn something, instead of lambasting your own stupidity," He growled, taking a bit. "Mari is what?!"
Jun 29 22:33:34 *   Adail turns back to Icebreak, "So how would we go about getting that fixed?"
Jun 29 22:33:38 <Mari>   "That can't be right! I feel fine! I'm not evil or anything, right? So what if I look different."
Jun 29 22:34:18 <Kotono>   "I don't know." He admits this quite deadpan, "I think I can count on one finger the mortals I've met who decided to drhink something like a yugoloth fertility potion."
Jun 29 22:34:19 <Knight>   "Well, Nikkolai. You said that stupid people deserve to die," notes Knight, glancing at Mari. "I don't feel Mari deserves it, though. Nor myself. A moment of laxity isn't cause for death."
Jun 29 22:35:12 *   Adail nods, "Right then. Next stop after we're done with this wizard's buisiness is my own home, the blessed feilds of Elysium. If it can be cured, there is where we'll find it."
Jun 29 22:35:19 <Kotono>   Yulia just groans, nearly falling to the ground. She rubs her head, "Queen Morwel, I just wanted to help protect them, they're nice people. REally they are."
Jun 29 22:35:35 <Mari>   "Look, it doesn't matter all that much if I look different--I mean, I like what I look like, mostly, I mean maybe some things are a little not exactly like I want them to be, but as long as it's basically recognizable as me, it's not a big deal! It's not going to change, like, who I AM, right?"
Jun 29 22:35:39 <Kamvakua>   "Is there anything you can do?" He wondered at the cleric.
Jun 29 22:36:03 <Kotono>   "OF COURSE IT IS." The priest glares into Mari's eyes, "If it hasn't yet, it will soon enough. Have you ever met a Yugoloth?"
Jun 29 22:36:10 *   Adail turns and yells right in Mari's face, pure anger finally breaking onto his face, "THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF LOOKS!"
Jun 29 22:36:12 <Knight>   "I believe it will. Imagine if you died, and were reborn as a Slaad. You would be different. This sounds as though it's the same," replies Knight, glancing at Mari.
Jun 29 22:36:25 <Nikkolai>   "When I said stupid people, I was referring to myself." Nikkolai sighs. "When bad things happens, they happen in spades." Nikkolai glances at Yulia. "I still won't hold it against you if you wish to go home, Yulia."
Jun 29 22:37:01 <Adail>   "This is a magical change being inflicted upon both your body and soul! Not merely something cosmetic like your little shapeshifting tricks or Tam's magic!"
Jun 29 22:37:42 <Mari>   "Uh, yeah, I have, but--HEY. Quit yelling at me, Adail! If I start acting differently, just remind me, alright? But I know who I am and I'm not going to just forget because I've got weird teeth or something!"
Jun 29 22:38:17 <Kotono>   "You are going to be wanting to feast on the flesh of your friends and sacrifice them to the Styx soon. You're going to stab them in the back for copper coins in the spiteful glee it brings. You are going to be every nasty, vicious, uncaring evil you can think of." The priest shakes his head, "Young lady, if you care about the fate of your eternal soul, listen to Adail."
Jun 29 22:38:49 <Mari>   "I won't do that! I won't ever do that! If I don't want to do something, I'm not going to do it. PERIOD."
Jun 29 22:39:11 <Knight>   "I would not suffer the company of a Yugoloth unless it was absolutely necessary. Nor demons. Devils, perhaps, but that is neither here nor there." Knight frowns. "Why did you drink such a thing, anyway? It has a hideous fate written all over it."
Jun 29 22:39:29 <Mari>   "I was bored, alright?"
Jun 29 22:39:38 <Kotono>   "It's your soul," The priest shakes his head back and forth, "I can't save someone who want sto be damned. Mari, is it? I'm no expert on this, but I don't think you appreciate the gravity of this."
Jun 29 22:40:42 <Kamvakua>   "Mari, in protecting yourself from becoming something you don't want...you have to truly want not to become it at least, I trust in your spunk."
Jun 29 22:41:02 <Mari>   "I *don't* want to be damned, and I'm not going to be. I am totally capable of controlling myself, I swear! I mean, when it comes to betraying my friends and stuff--I'm never going to do that for any reason!"
Jun 29 22:41:18 <Knight>   "Perhaps if we divested Mari of her soul? Is there a method? They don't seem to be anything but a weakness..."
Jun 29 22:41:27 <Mari>   "KNIGHT, SHUT UP."
Jun 29 22:42:07 <Adail>   "Then do something to cure it." Adail says flatly, "In matters like this, strong will is not enough. Believe it or not, there are things that can force you to do something against your will."
Jun 29 22:42:08 <Kamvakua>   "Mari, you won't betray us...but, will you go get help with us?"
Jun 29 22:42:10 <Kotono>   Yulia whimpers, twitching. "Mari, please just take this seriously," she looks up, "Really, please? I really don't like this. Okay? Pretty please?"
Jun 29 22:43:17 *   Mari sighs. "What can you do about it? I mean, if it's something you can stop, it's not like I can't live without a tail. I got by twenty years or so without one."
Jun 29 22:44:16 <Adail>   "We don't have the answers here, and unfortunately have something we're commited to doing right now. But as I suggested before, we go to Elysium once we're done. If a cure exists it CAN be found there."
Jun 29 22:44:25 <Kamvakua>   "We can go to the Court, where others can help you stop it from twisting your spunky spirit."  He said certainly.
Jun 29 22:45:05 <Knight>   "If we find Moon, perhaps she can wish the trouble away!"
Jun 29 22:46:09 <Kamvakua>   "The planes are as wide and as varied as any dreams or nightmares may find...  A way exists somewhere."
Jun 29 22:46:27 <Kotono>   "How about we start with divination magic," Yulia pipes up, "We can get that, right?"
Jun 29 22:46:40 <Mari>   "Fine, fine. But I'm telling you, I'm not going to do anything evil."
Jun 29 22:46:47 *   Nikkolai nods absentmindedly, more focused on keeping his mouth shut than being useful.
Jun 29 22:48:25 <Kamvakua>   "I believe you," He stroked her hair gently.  "Thank you, ...do we owe you more?" He wondered at the cleric.
Jun 29 22:48:43 <Kotono>   "You paid for the resurrection," he says, "Unless you're purchasing more magic, no."
Jun 29 22:49:40 *   Kamvakua nods. "Thank you, indeed much." Kamvakua left an additional ten gold behind on the altar, heading out himself.