021. Pactio, fire, tigers. "I. Didn't. Collapse."

[Corwin]

[19:45] <Kotono> --------
[19:47] <Kotono> On this day, as summery rains fall on Balmuria, Seira treks to the Temple of Waukeen. On such a day, people stay inside for the dryness, the temple grounds covered. Inside people do business, acolytes and traders engaged in dozens of clusters of chatting.  There is the normal dollop of Malmuthian traders, a few eyeing you. But so Seira enters nonetheless...
[19:49] * Seira takes a look around, wishing to contribute somehow in her free time.
[19:51] <Kotono> There are several priests at the altar, talking with a rich looking merchant - not Malmuthian, but wearing casual if rich clothes, a silk mantle worn. A young female acolyte lingers there, a polite smile on her face as she scurries into a back room, a scroll when she returns in her hands, waved.  The head priest chuckles half a moment on watching this, shaking his head. To the sides many sales go on and on and on, business as usual. Gold, sil
[19:51] <Kotono> Gold, silver, platinum, iron, silk, spices, riches, countless means of wealth all being bartered. Seira can notice that the supply of traders looks steadily higher than usual today.
[19:53] <Seira> "Business seems to be blooming, today," Seira muses, stepping up to the head priest. "How fortunate."
[19:54] <Kotono> He smiles and steps away from the rich man in the mantle, murmuring, "Mia, if you would," to her, as he begins to walk away, gesturing for Seira to follow. "There's been an upswing since the news about the elves became public. Between that, the Countess Stronger's magic shop and the iron trade, merchants are beginning to flock to this town." With a benevolent smile and a gleam of greed in his eye, "We are fortune in every matter. Even your co
[19:54] <Kotono> *fortunate
[19:55] <Kotono> Even your coming here. One of our travelling friends brought a message for you just this day."
[19:56] <Seira> "A message?" she asks, taken by surprise. "Where from?"
[19:57] <Kotono> "Malmuth. Our friend was paid by a traveller by the name of Febras to bring it to the temple and pass it on." He leads you back, away from the noise and to the quieter halls, leading to lush rooms and apartments. "He said it also related to church business."
[19:58] <Seira> "It might be," she agrees. "We suspect he was behind the spread of zombies in the city." Seira taps her lower lip thoughtfully. "Would it be too much to hope for a confession?"
[20:00] <Kotono> "...Oh!" The head priest stops as he leads you into a comfortable sitting room, a strum of music playing as he does. "Then..." Shaking his head, he reaches into his robe and takes out a sealed scroll. "I'll consider this for the good of business in town, no charge required."
[20:01] <Seira> "Thank you," Seira tells him, nodding, and breaks the seal on the scroll before unfurling it.
[20:01] <Kotono> The following is written in a smooth flowing ink, blue as the sea:
[20:04] <Kotono> Seira:
[20:04] <Kotono> I believe from evidence in Valandia and further in that your father is currently or has recently been in Malmuth. The rumors are indistinct, but I have also heard rumors of a mysterious man with a unibrow seen with him. I will continue to investigate.
[20:04] <Kotono> Febras.
[20:05] <Seira> "Hmm, seems like he is bothering Malmuth in the meanwhile," Seira comments, rolling up the scroll.
[20:06] <Kotono> "Hmm." The head priest smiles, a thin but agreeable one as he goes to sit, lounging back. "Better them than us, no doubt. How does this relate to church business?"
[20:07] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5444ec12.lns2-c11.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
[20:08] <Seira> "I'm not sure it does. He may have simply decided to rely on your excellent reputation and on my affinity with the church."
[20:09] <Kotono> "Hmph." Pursing his lips as he considers that, "May I see it, then?"
[20:10] * Seira considers. "No reason why not." She offers him the scroll, and asks, "What about communication with the elven lands? Has there been any?"
[20:11] <Kotono> He takes just am oment to read it, "...ah, yes, I see." Putting the scroll aside, "There are signs things are loosening, but nothing too much yet. With the trade mission opening here, more is simply a matter of time."
[20:13] <Seira> "Is it a solely elven enterprise, or a collaboration?" Seira asks curiously.
[20:15] <Kotono> "It will be a collaboration in time from what I hear. The exact details are going to be announced when Lord Salman comes to this town again. At least, that's what the rumors say." Smiling with a bit of indulgence, "I would imagine you may know?" He smiles at that, staring at Seira rather politely.
[20:17] <Seira> "Of the visit, yes. Of the plans for our town, not as much," she admits, shrugging.
[20:20] <Kotono> "Aaaah." Steepling his fingers together as he leans back, "What was the primary reason for your visit, before we got distracted by other matters?"
[20:21] <Seira> "It has dawned on me that I have been lax in my support, recently, and I wished to change that," Seira responds, flushing lightly. "Is there any area where I might be of use?"
[20:25] <Kotono> "Mmmm." Thinking as he considers, "Yes, well, there are a few matters. Recently..." So he begins, "One of our acolytes, Mia, made a spectacular trade. She was able to largely pay of debts she had accrued with this - but...you have to understand, this wasn't a normal trade."
[20:26] <Seira> "If... it was illegal, I suppose I could... pretend not to hear it," Seira says, visibly conflicted.
[20:28] <Kotono> "No, you misunderstand...well, it may be, but..." The head priest clears his throat, "Like many delicate matters, the information we have is limited. She's protecting her source quite well. But I have reason to believe whom she traded with was not human."
[20:29] <Seira> "An elf, then?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "No. The items traded, among other things, were stonework. Expect stonework and a few things in exchange for relatively cheap items, things from the surface world. My money's on dwarves. What I'd like to know is how a little acolyte managed that, or if I'm wrong and this is simply a bizzare coincidence."
[20:31] <Seira> "Do you have an example, perhaps?" she asks, interested. "Or a sample of any writings adoring the items?"
[20:34] <Kotono> "One, yes." He stands up, going to a drawer. He comes out with a small stone figurine of smooth grayness, carved cunningly. It looks like a small man in armor. "Here."
[20:35] <Seira> "Might I hold onto this? I know of a few experts of the underground civilizations, and they might be able to determine that part, at the very least."
[20:36] <Kotono> "As long as you return it." Moving on from that with his own absent nod, "Please be discreet. I would rather not have this become known."
[20:36] <Seira> "Of course," Seira assures him. "Is this discretion also the reason why you do not simply question your acolyte with magical aid?"
[20:38] <Kotono> "That and I would find it difficult for trust if I began treating these acolytes like prisoners. Good trade is built on trust." With a thin, absent smile, "Or at times, at least the illusion of it."
[20:40] <Seira> "I understand." Seira nods. "I'll get back to you with my findings shortly."

[Corwin]

[20:48] <Kotono> ---
[20:49] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, Shamal. Researching the pact?
[20:50] <Shamal> OOC: Yes.
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: Anything in particular about it or just in general?
[20:51] <Shamal> OOC: In general. I guess in order I'll work on what's involved in the ritual and how it's performed, and then look at the actual results of what happens afterwards.
[20:53] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Make a knowledge: Arcana check for this.
[20:53] <Kotono> You have the book of the pact and some info already, so I'll give you a +1 bonus since you have an inkling of what to look for.
[20:53] <Shamal> roll 1d20+12 guidance'd
[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+12 guidance'd and gets 16."12 [1d20=4]
[20:55] <Kotono> You spend some time over the next few weeks researching. Fortune isn't really with you at all, as several promising leads turn up dusty dead ends. However, despite this, you find one bit interesting as you're about to throw in the towel. A lead mentions that a Mihail in Balmuria has a book on fire elementalism that may tie into this.
[20:57] * Shamal goes to visit Mihail, then!
[20:57] <Kotono> ---

[Corwin]

[21:03] <Kotono> ---
[21:04] <Kotono> So Shamal casts her spell, granting herself an Eagle's grace and beauty! So doing so, she knocks on Mihail's front door, his strange house looming ahead of her. The door opens in a moment, an invisible servant only seen by the force it's body generates. It holds a small sign, "Speak what you desire, your words will carry."
[21:08] <Shamal> "It is Shamal Velka, visiting in an unofficial capacity," Shamal introduces herself pleasantly to the invisible servant - those things sure are getting popular, these days! "I wish to discuss a favour from Sir Mihail."
[21:09] <Kotono> You hear his voice carry, "I'm coming." Sure enough, down the hall you can see him. Well, a little of Mihail and a lot of a dire tiger, padding sedately in front of him. Khan sits just inside the door, eyes on Shamal as Mihail absently strokes it's head a moment. "Aaah. Shamal, was it is you need?"
[21:13] <Shamal> "I'm glad to see Khan is well," Shamal gives the tiger a fond smile before getting to business. "I nver did get to take you up on your offer to show me your notes regarding that variant charm monster spell you used, but as it happens I've learned that you may be able to help me in another research project I am undertaking - I believe you own a rare book titled Fire Elementalism and Conjurations?" she asks hopefully.
[21:28] <Kotono> "I do." He responds smoothly, "For what matter are you interested in it for?"
[21:32] <Shamal> "I recently acquired an item relating to the summoning of fire elementals - I've identified it, but I believe further research is required to unlock its full potential." She smiles wanly, "My last lead referred to that particular book."
[21:35] <Kotono> He gently strokes Khan's head, the big cat looking at Shamal with golden eyes. But his master speaks instead, "Mmmm." He eyes Shamal, muted. "Yes, I see. You'd like to read it?"
[21:38] <Shamal> "If it's not too much an inconvenience," the blonde nods. "I've prepared the Amanuensis cantrip so I could make a copy to borrow if that's less trouble for you?"
[21:43] <Kotono> Mihail considers, looking down. "Allow me to consider it." With that, he waves his hand, "You can wait here or come back tomorrow."
[21:44] * Tai{KOS-MOS} is now known as Taishy
[21:44] * Taishy is now known as Taishyr
[21:45] * Shamal cocks her head. "How long do you think you'll take to consider it?" she asks innocently. It's hardly a complicated request!
[21:45] <Shamal> OOC: taking 10 on a sense motive check for a result of 20 - is he taking my request seriously or just bullshitting me?
[21:47] <Kotono> OOC: Shamal gets the feeling that he's conflicted.
[21:47] <Kotono> "A few hours." He goes on, returning that with a minute shake of his head.
[21:49] * Shamal shakes her head. "I have other errands to deal with. Perhaps I will impose on you tomorrow?" she ducks her head respectfully for a moment, briefly doffing her hat. "Good day, Sir Mihail," she adds, before backing off to depart.
[21:50] <Kotono> You don't get a reply, just a nod as the door closes behind you. OOC - What's the plan now, blondish one?
[21:52] * Taishyr is now known as Tai{TwainTwain}
[21:54] <Shamal> OOC: Go home and read the book of the pact some more - I mean, it actually wrote new text on itself after I said the word of the pact, so surely it must have some rudimentary interface I can use to learn more, if the current text is being useless on giving details for the ritual of the pact.
[21:54] <Kotono> OOC - Okay, go home and make a knowledge: arcana check again.
[21:56] <Shamal> roll 1d20+14 guidance'd and fox's cunning'd
[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+14 guidance'd and fox's cunning'd and gets 24."12 [1d20=10]
[21:56] <Shamal> OOC: that's actually 23, forgot I already have a +2 enhancement from the circlet, so fox's cunning doesn't stack
[21:59] <Kotono> OOC - Okay.
[22:02] <Kotono> Shamal spends her night reading. It's an absorbing read, the words interesting. The night passes by as she studies the book of the pact, a blur. In this lost time she finds a page that begins to speak to her - no, it's just that she can almost hear a voice, so rapt in her reading. It talks of the pact - rubies, red diamonds, opals. The price of the pact. The ritual - make the proper vestibule in the ground and read the book, invoke the pact.
[22:03] <Kotono> Sacrifice the gems of fire and establish the link.
[22:04] <Shamal> OOC: just to clarify, do I now have a good idea of the process of the ritual?
[22:05] <Kotono> OOC: Roughly, yes.
[22:06] * Shamal keeps on reading, determined to learn more - once the pact is invoked, what can she expect?
[22:09] <Kotono> When the ritual is complete, the book will rest in the vestible. The power of fire will come forth at the user's command. Fire spirits can be summoned, heat can be controlled in a wide area and other such applications. Power can be drawn directly from the fire plane, but such an act is difficult for mortal, living creatures to maintain for any time at all. It taxes the body to use that power directly. Only an unliving creature can use that sa
[22:10] <Kotono> It taxes the body to use that power directly. Only an unliving creature can use that safely. Therefore, the first two uses are far more common.
[22:12] <Shamal> Filing all that information away, Shamal puts the book of the pact safely into her haversack before going to bed. She doesn't want to just leave it back in those gnomish ruins for someone to spirit away and possibly deprive her of its power when she needs it, but the vestible doesn't have to be there... "Ah, well. Something for the future, eh?" she smiles, genially petting Flopsy before she retires for the evening.

[Corwin]

[19:37] <Ko-brb> ---
[19:38] <Ko-brb> The next day is dull, a drizzly summer day of humitidity and warmth. Amid this rainburst, Shamal Velka heads to the home of Mihail. On it's door opening after her knock, the wizard himself is there. "Come," he murmurs, standing aside.
[19:39] <Shamal> "Had a chance to think over my request?" Shamal asks, wiping her feet before she enters.
[19:40] <Ko-brb> Khan stays near you, intensly gazing at the druid.  As the tiger licks his chops, his master scowls. "I have. I have no objection to you reading the book, but the matter is not so simple."
[19:42] * Shamal gives Khan a little smile, before cocking her head curiously at Mihail. "If I may ask, what's so complex about it? Either you let me read it, or you don't... I won't begrudge you the latter choice if that's your decision, but it still seems a rather simple affair."
[19:45] <Ko-brb> "That was before there was a complication to the book," Mihail allows, voice dubious. "Reading it would be a notable feat now."
[19:46] <Shamal> "Really?" the blonde blinks. "What happened to it?"
[19:48] <Ko-brb> "Well..." Mihail seems to consider, before scowling again. "It's best if you see it yourself."
[19:49] <Shamal> "I admit, you've gotten me curious," Shamal smiles winsomely. "Lead on, then?"
[19:51] <Ko-brb> With a grunt you walk down the hall. It's a long hall, a little disorienting, plain and without decoration. Khan pads along sedately, as you eventually come to a door on the left wall. In this is a small room, it looks like a dining room. Sitting on a small dining table is a simple book, leather covers dyed red.
[19:52] <Shamal> "Is that it?" Shamal asks, stepping closer but not touching.
[19:53] <Ko-brb> "Go ahead," Mihail's lips twitch in an almost smile, before settling into a gloomy scowl again. The book looks very plain indeed, simple. Just a thick old book in red leather.
[19:56] * Shamal gives Mihail a somewhat dubious look, but reaches over to flip the cover open and read the first page if she can.
[19:57] <Ko-brb> As Shamal turns the page, she sees the words 'FUCK YOU' glow in black text, then 'YOU SMELL BAD', 'UGLY TOAD' and then 'MOTHER TOUCHER' all rotate, before the book slams shut. Hard, hard enough to make a heavy clapping sound.
[19:59] * Shamal quickly draws her hand back. "What in the..." she gasps, before slowly turning towards Mihail. "Ah... how long has it been doing that?" she asks hesitantly.
[20:01] <Ko-brb> "A year." He goes to sit next to the book, but scoots his chair a little away. Khan paces, staring at the book but doing little besides that. "I was attempting a certain type of spell, but of a type I normally cannot cast. A summoning spell, to be particular."
[20:03] <Shamal> "You summoned some sort of... rude spirit that possessed the book?" Shamal concludes, boggling faintly.
[20:03] <Ko-brb> "I don't know. The spell was an attempt to intrude on what I couldn't cast." Coughing as he looks away, "I'm not sure what's in there o rwhat happened to it, beyond that the spell failed miserably."
[20:04] * Ko-brb is now known as Anastasia
[20:04] <Shamal> "Have you tried dispelling it?" Shamal asks, casting detect magic and taking a look over the tome.
[20:05] <Anastasia> The book radiates moderate magic. OOC: Spellcraft if you want.
[20:06] <Shamal> roll 1d20+15
[20:06] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+15 --> 1,0[ 1d20=14 ]12,0{29}
[20:06] <Anastasia> "No. I'd rather not risk harming the book, so I'v ebeen researching ways to safely dispel what lies in there. However, things went afar field, and among other needs, these researches are best not done alone and unguarded." AT that moment, he stops and pats Khan absently.
[20:06] <Anastasia> OOC: Transmutation.
[20:08] <Shamal> "Hmm, transmutation. So it's not that something's possessing it, rather that its properties have changed. Was it magical before?" Shamal asks, pulling her hands back after weaving her arcane magic in the air.
[20:10] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+15
[20:10] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Anastasia rolled :1,0 1d20+15 --> 1,0[ 1d20=9 ]12,0{24}
[20:10] <Anastasia> "No," Shaking his head as he watches Shamal absently, focusing more on the book, "While it does scan as transmutation, the spell I attempted was conjuration. After that, the book lifted up adn it's been this way ever since."
[20:16] * Anastasia is now known as Kotono
[20:16] <Shamal> "Hmm... well, aside from dispelling it, I couldn't offer any suggestions..." Shamal looks thoughtful for a moment. "Unless..." she taps her chin before shaking her head, "It's a bit like Secret Page... I don't suppose you know anyone that can cast True Seeing? Although that would only be a workaround and wouldn't solve the actual problem."
[20:18] <Kotono> "No." Mihail considers just a moment more, his scowl expanding, nearly taking up his face. "If I did, I'd have tried that myself. But..."
[20:19] * Shamal nods. "It does nothing except write profanities and close itself whenever you open it?" she confirms.
[20:20] <Kotono> "It'll occasionally float up a bit and do so." With a light, irritated look at the book, "I had wondered if it was a gremlin or poltergeist of some sort, but nothing has shaken out on those lines."
[20:22] <Shamal> roll 1d20+10
[20:22] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+10 --> 1,0[ 1d20=7 ]12,0{17}
[20:23] <Kotono> Nothing pops out at Shamal, beyond that between the Pact of Fire, the library at the Starry Dome and now this, animated or enchanted books are popular lately.
[20:26] <Shamal> "Hmm..." Shamal looks thoughtful for a moment, before sighing softly and giving up. "I don't believe I've ever come across anything like this before, so couldn't suggest a remedy. A pity..." she nods deferentially to Mihail, "I thank you anyway, but some things just aren't meant to be, it seems."
[20:27] <Kotono> "Mmm. If you ever come acros sinformation about it, I would be appreciative if you passed it along." So he nods, turning his eyes back to that book. He nearly glares a hole in it, "Indeed, it's a pity."
[20:28] <Shamal> "I'll keep my eyes open, but it's a rather, ah... unique, situation," Shamal manages. "Good day to you, Sir Mihail," she bids him farewell and departs.
[20:29] <Kotono> As you go, you find Khan walking with you, pacing behind you as you head out.
[20:30] * Shamal slows down a bit for Khan to catch up and gently pets him on the head as she walks out.
[20:30] <Kotono> He lingers, sedate and even purring a little bit.
[20:32] * Shamal reaches into her belt pouch and offers Khan one of Laika's doggie chews. "For old time's sake," she grins a bit as she feeds him.
[20:33] <Kotono> A few bits rather tear it apart, the dire tiger barely sated. But still Khan lingers, staring at Shamal.
[20:34] <Kotono> *bites
[20:34] <Shamal> "I guess you must get lonely with just him and his invisible servant for company, hmm?" Shamal muses, before shrugging and casting Speak With Animals. "How are you doing, Khan?" she asks after shedding the barriers of language between them.
[20:35] <Kotono> Khan lies down, head atop his paws, over a dozen feet of tiger splayed out in front of you. "I feel different. Restful all the time." His response is in a half sleepy voice, groggy.
[20:36] <Kotono> As you talk, you see Mihail exit the room you came in, carrying the book under his arm. He glances, "I trust you can see yourself out?" he calls.
[20:36] <Shamal> "Oh, yes, just talking to Khan here," Shamal nods briefly to him. "You should take him hunting or something like that some time," she suggests. "He seems a little bit bored."
[20:37] <Kotono> "Very well," he nods as he heads back, farther down the hall.
[20:38] <Shamal> "Not much of a conversationalist, is he?" Shamal whispers after he leaves, leaning towards the dire tiger. "You don't mind being here though, do you?"
[20:40] <Kotono> "I find it...sleepy here." Khan y awns, enough to send a blast of warm air over Shamal's body. "Always sleepy. I miss home."
[20:41] <Shamal> "I know," Shamal consoles, rubbing his head. "Listen, I'll ask Mihail if it's okay for you to come hunting with me some time if he's too busy to take you? It's not your home, but you liked the forest I took you to, didn't you?"
[20:42] <Kotono> "They're closer to home." Khan says, another yawn as his great cat eyes slide shut, lids shielding them. "I miss home. The man is...he is not a hunter. He is like an ape, a schemer. I must protect him, but I miss home."
[18:45] * Shamal is silent for a long moment, before she suddenly nods decisively, coming to an internal decision. "Wait here, Khan," she tells him, before following after where Mihail went. "Sir Mihail!" she calls.
[18:57] <Kotono> Mihail is long down the hall, coming to another door. It is half opened, a dark laboratory glimpsed, before he turns and closes it. "Yes?" he asks, "Did you forget a matter, Shamal?"
[21:01] <Shamal> "In a manner of speaking," the druid replies a little bit breathlessly. "Rather, talking with Khan reminded me of my obligations. I do not wish to imply that you are mistreating him at all, but he is terribly sad and misses his home. Therefore," she takes a deep breath, "I would like to buy him from you."
[21:03] <Kotono> Mihail stops and stares, before speaking in, tone dripping cold, "Khan is not for sale. This is his home now. You may mean well, but this is none of your affair."
[21:06] <Shamal> "I realise this would not come cheap, but what I am prepared to offer may change your mind," the blonde replies a bit nervously, reaching into her haversack and producing a book with a plain leather cover. "You mentioned research into a summoning spell you couldn't normally cast? This book allows the summoning of a fire elemental that would require sixth circle magic - and that is only one aspect of what it is capable of."
[21:07] <Kotono> Mihail's attention turns to it, eyes intent. "Aaah...fearsome magic. The reason for your interest, no doubt?"
[21:13] * Shamal nods. "It also allows one to learn many spells of the fire type with no cost or effort, and provides protection from magical flame when it is held." She looks a bit conflicted. "It is by far the most valuable artifact I own. But I am willing to trade it for Khan's freedom, and your word that you will not purchase any other wild beasts ill suited for city life."
[21:14] <Kotono> "You make it sound as if you have artifacts to bandy about. My, the rumors of the Crimson Guard are entirely accurate." His smile is deep, creasing his face into a near blade like edge. "All this over an animal, even a magnificent one like a dire tiger? What is the catch, a curse? As much as I paid for him, if this trade is half as good as you present, it is folly on your part."
[21:19] <Shamal> "Actually, it is cursed, after a fashion," Shamal admits. "It nearly killed me when I first touched it. However, I've recently come to realise that there are more important things - Mielikki would not abide seeing a proud beast of the wilds kept like this. As an emissary of her power, I have a duty to return Khan to a more natural setting."
[21:23] <Kotono> "I assumethe book's curse can be stopped, then?" Mihail considers as you speak, casting a glance back at Khan.
[21:25] <Shamal> "One must speak the word of Abayment to lift the curse, and then the word of the Pact to take ownership of it," Shamal confirms. "I suspect without the former I'd have died quite swiftly." She grimaces at the memory, "It was not a pleasant feeling."
[21:30] <Kotono> "Very well. If you give me a chance to examine the book..." He considers, "I would at least consider this trade."
[21:31] <Shamal> "I will return tomorrow before dawn," Shamal puts the book back into her haversack. "Have an identify spell ready?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "Very well," Rumbling as he thinks, "I will be ready."
[21:33] * Shamal nods. "Tomorrow, then," she agrees, heading to the door and briefly leaning down towards Khan, "See you tomorrow," she ruffles the fur on his head, before departing.
[21:36] <Kotono> The next day's predawn is silent, the city at sleep. Shamal comes forth, Mihail waiting just outside his door, wearing a heavy woolen robe of gray.
[21:39] <Kotono> AS the silence of the predawn stretches out, Mihail speaks. "Well, you've come. If you're serious, let's begin."
[21:40] <Shamal> "Good morning," Shamal greets him, attired in her own work clothes. Reaching into her pack, she takes out the book and presents it. "The word of abayment is Cragut. Speak it as you take the book, then cast your spell of identification and you will see it does all I said it does."
[21:42] <Kotono> He takes the book and in a clear voice that echos in the fading starry sky, "Cragut." He kneels, placing the book down on the pavement with a gentle hand. "I command the rawest secrets to be known to me. No magic can hide from the eyes of a true seeker!" With his incantation, his hands glow green, touching the book. His eyes go wide! "...From what I understand from it already..."
[21:44] <Shamal> "So, is it worth giving up on your feline bodyguard?" Shamal asks, idly wondering how less morally upstanding druids might have resolved this... Oh, well, Mielikki may be a fierce defender of nature, but she's still a righteous diety, and would not approve of her servant taking the easy and bloody path, after all.
[21:45] <Kotono> "It is done." HE says, breathless, "What is the other command word you spoke of?" He holds the book to himself, "Tell it to me."
[21:47] <Shamal> "Speak the word Sssth Tor and it will recognise you as master," Shamal informs him. "You may discover further details about the pact as you read it - it was that that I wished to borrow your own book to research - but it is potent enough with what you have already. Now, where's Khan?"
[21:48] <Kotono> ABsently he steps away, opening the door. Standing just inside is Khan, eyes looking towards Shamal as he waits.
[21:49] * Shamal casts speak with animals and beckons Khan forward. "Come with me, Khan, I'm taking you home," she invites, smiling. Ahh... it's hard to feel too bad if she's doing a good deed, at least.
[21:49] <Kotono> Khan's pace quickly picks up, walking with Shamal. Meanwhile Mihail scrambles inside, closing the door behind the both of you. "Home? You're taking me back home?"
[21:51] <Shamal> "That's right, and you won't even have to go on a horrible boat trip, either," Shamal tells him, patting his head. "Here, let me shrink you just until we're out of the city - we'll be travelling with a friend of mine, so be nice to them, okay?" she asks, casting reduce animal to shrink the mighty dire tiger to the size of an overdeveloped mountain lion.
[21:51] <Kotono> Khan shrinks, looking around in confusion. But nonetheless he follows, "...thank you," he says at last, voice humble and uncommanding. His head rubs up against your hand, soft and warm.
[21:53] <Shamal> "There's no need to thank me," Shamal shakes her head. "I thought there no harm in leaving you in Mihail's care so long as he treated you well, but I didn't consider your own feelings at all." Walking with her shrunken down big cat, she heads to the gates where she arranged to meet Demedais.
[21:54] * Demedais nods as he sees Shamal approach, mounted on Horse already. "Good to see you, Shamal. Everything going well?" he inquires.
[21:55] * Shamal nods, smiling sunnily. "Yes, this is Khan, the tiger I told you about. His home is far across the sea, but I thought that Uatu might be able to return him there far quicker. I've prepared spells that should let us reach Pilltrain within a day of riding."
[21:55] <Kotono> The outside of the gate is quiet, only a few guards there. Wedge nods and eyes Khan nervously, but keeps his ground. "Vicks, will you look at that," he murmurs to his fellow guard.
[21:56] <Demedais> "Sounds like a plan. And... wow, big tiger." Demedais says, blinking at it. "...heh, cool. Whenever you're ready." he says, nodding to her.
[21:57] <Shamal> "Oh, come on, he's barely bigger than Laika right now, and no one bats an eye at her!" Shamal complains good naturedly as they go through the gate. "We'll be back late tonight, so look after the place," she tells the guards.
[21:58] <Kotono> Wedge salutes, "Good luck, sirs."
[21:58] <Shamal> Once out of the gate, Shamal ends the shrinking spell on Khan before casting Traveller's Mount on both him and Horse. "Animals can't fight while that spell's on them, but they're far faster, so our journey should be swift," she explains, before climbing onto Khan's back. "Onwards, then!"

[Corwin]

[19:43] <Ko-brb> --
[19:44] <Ko-brb> Meeting up with Demedais, Seira leads him out of Balmuria. To a comfortable little farmstead a few miles away, prosperous and pleasant. A two storied farmhouse lies ahead of them, the door opened by an older lady in a shawl and holding a cup of tea. "Oh, Seira." Smiling, "My husband's upstairs in his study. Go ahead." She pauses as she looks at Demedais, her smile blooming. "Hello there."
[19:45] <Seira> "Hello," Seira greets her. "This is Demedais, a friend. He wanted to get out more, so I brought him along. Was that alright?"
[19:45] <Demedais> "Ah, greetings, ma'am." Demedais says kindly, bowing a bit.
[19:47] <Ko-brb> With a beaming smile, she reaches out and pats Demedais' cheek. "My, you're a handsome one. It's fine, it's fine. I'll bring all of you some tea up in a few minutes."
[19:48] * Seira nods at her, and heads upstairs, leading the way.
[19:49] * Demedais nods, blushing just a bit. "Thank you." he says as he awkwardly follows Seira.
[19:50] <Ko-brb> The place is darklit, with only a few candles lighting the way. Yet it's quite pleasant, as you hear the missus behind you kindly call that tea will be coming. In a library covered in books, money obvious, you find him. An older man, wearing simple peasant clothes today, engrossed over a small scroll, reading and writing on a sheet of paper besides it. "Seira?" he blinks as she enters, almost staring. "...yes, yes, I see, you've grown. It's a
[19:50] <Ko-brb> It's all over your radiant face."
[19:51] <Seira> "Umm. Okay." Seira blinks. "Thanks. This is Demedais, we work together."
[19:51] <Demedais> "A pleasure to meet you, sir." Demedais says, bowing again.
[19:52] <Ko-brb> "It's nice to meet you," he returns, extending his hand out.
[19:54] * Demedais blinks at the hand, attempting to remember what he was supposed to do at this point.
[19:54] <Seira> "Shake the nice man's hand, Demedais," Seira says, nudging him.
[19:54] <Ko-brb> Sir Farmsturt blinks at that reaction as well, "...yes, that's the custom," he agrees.
[19:55] <Demedais> "Oh, right. Shake!" Demedais nods, doing so perhaps a bit too vigorously. "My apologies, it's not too common to do that in Malmuth."
[19:56] * NeremWorld (~Nerem@pool-71-170-8-130.dllstx.fios.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[19:56] <Ko-brb> "Oh yes." His face seems to light up as he nods, "Come on then." Letting Demedais' hand go after he shakes it around, "What can I do for the two of you today? Find something you need translated?"
[19:56] <Seira> "How have you been?" Seira asks Farmsturt. "Heard any exciting rumors? Found any astonishing relics?"
[19:59] <Ko-brb> "I've been studying." With a laugh as he settles into his seat, "Nothing on rumors that you probably haven't heard. Everything, even us old coots, are talking about the elves and Balmuria lately. I never would've thought it."
[20:00] <Seira> "Apparently, someone had," she tells him, "or they would not be here right now." Seira fishes in her pack for a moment, retrieving a figurine. "I actually wanted to have this appraised. Do you think you could help me?"
[20:00] * Demedais leans back a bit, glancing at the titles of the books as the two chatter.
[20:02] <Ko-brb> Most of them are journals or the like. But a few have interesting titles 'Gnomica' 'Studies of religion - Helm' and ' Lingustics'. "Let me see it and I can," he promises.
[20:03] * Demedais blinks at the Studies of Religion book and looks over at the man. "Would you mind if I read some of this?" he asks as he gestures at the book in question.
[20:04] * Seira hands the statue over, being careful not to imply anything about its origins.
[20:04] * Ko-brb is now known as Anastasia
[20:04] <Anastasia> "By all means," he allows, peering at the figurine. "It's just my notes on Helm - something I do in my spare time." So he gets to work on the figurine...
[20:05] * Demedais nods a bit and pulls out the book, beginning to read!
[20:06] <Anastasia> Farmsturt gets to work, getting a few books down and cross referencing, lost ni his efforts...
[20:06] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+12
[20:06] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Anastasia rolled :1,0 1d20+12 --> 1,0[ 1d20=15 ]12,0{27}
[20:09] <Anastasia> "It's not gnomish," he says after about twenty minutes, wiping his forehead. "On a guess, maybe dwarvish or something far away. That's going outside my expertise, so I'm less certain."
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[20:11] <Seira> "Oh?" she mutters, looking disappointed. "Any idea if there are dwarven settlements nearby? Or anyone they keep contact with?"
[20:12] <Demedais> "Helm was indeed watching over us..." Demedais murmurs as he closes the book, lost a bit in thought.
[20:12] <Anastasia> "No. I believe the elves -might- keep in contact, but I've not dealt but with a few draves over my lifetime. They're not common on the surface." He considers a few moments, stroking his chin. "Yes, yes. Hm? Oh yes, Demedais? You're entirely correct. A good choice of reading there, if I do say so."
[20:12] <Anastasia> *dwarves
[20:13] <Seira> "Would you know of a dwarven expert, then?" Seira asks. "I would really want a confirmation on this little thing."
[20:13] <Demedais> "Indeed. It isn't often that I get a clear view of the Temple from a more outside perspective." Demedais affirms.
[20:15] <Anastasia> "Let me check," He pauses, going to get another book. As he reads, "If you don't mind waiting a day or two at worst, I can give it a crack. I do know a little bit from general research, but I wouldn't be an expert opinion, either." So he reads on, thoughtfully. As he does, "Outside perspective," he asks, looking at Demedais again, questioningly.
[20:16] * Anastasia is now known as Kotono
[20:16] <Demedais> "I'm a paladin, sir." Demedais says in reply to the glance.
[20:17] <Seira> "I can afford to wait," she affirms. "I would like to receive any background information on the dwarves as well, since I am curious in finding more samples such as this. If it is authenticated and priced, I would be interested in knowing where to look next."
[20:24] <Kotono> "Very well," With a smile to Seira, "Hm. A Paladin...of Helm?" he inquires, sounding strangely sure.
[20:25] <Demedais> "Yes, sir." Demedais responds, with a small smile.
[20:26] * Merc-away is now known as Merc
[20:26] <Kotono> "Heh...I suppose that Helm is quite wrapped up in this matter," he says, looking to Demedais with a wry smile. "Good luck and Gods bless you, then."
[20:27] <Demedais> "Indeed, sir. Thank you." Demedais nods. "Helm called me back from my pilgrimage about... two months ago, I believe it has been? And I am glad to be back, that is for sure."
[20:31] <Kotono> "Yes, yes, I see." His smile is absent, "I have a story about Helm - I won't bore Seira with it again," he smiles to her, "But if you ever want to hear about it, I'd be glad to tell it."
[20:32] * Demedais glances at Seira. "You need me for any of the rest of your errands?" he inquires.
[20:32] <Seira> "You can stay and chat, I'll let myself out," she responds. "It's so very nice to see you've made new friends already!"
[20:34] * Demedais vaguely eyes Seira. "Ah, very well, then."
[20:34] <Seira> "Have fun!"
[20:34] <Kotono> "It was good to see you again." A nod to Seira, polite but smiling. As he does, his wife comes up, a tray of tea brought in. "Good luck ahead, and I'll let you know in a few days."
[20:35] <Seira> "I'll be waiting to hear of your results," she responds, returning the nod.
[20:36] <Kotono> Once Seira leaves(Sec, I'll get ou in #elysium), Farmsturt turns to Demedais. "Aaah, it's an old story, but it's how I'm still around and why I know Seira and company."
[20:38] <Demedais> "I'd love to hear it." Demedais nods, sipping the tea.
[20:41] <Kotono> He goes to sit down, taking the tea as his wife hands it to him. She then gives Demedais some, smiling as she leaves, pinching his cheek. As Sir Farmsturt chuckles, "In my younger days I was invovled in the exploration of gnomish ruins, particularly in Malmuth."
[20:42] * Demedais blushes and nods a bit in thanks to Farmsturt's wife, then turns his attention to Farmsturt.
[20:44] <Kotono> "One day, I was exploring a ruin. Nothing happened." He smiles at this, wide and open. "I never knew how close I came to death that day, not for a goodly time."
[20:45] * Demedais blinks a bit, slightly confused.
[20:46] <Kotono> "Gnomish ruins are deathtraps - have you ever been to one?" Sir Farmsturt asks, calm and controlled.

[Corwin]

< MISSING LINE(S) >

[Corwin]

[21:00] <Kotono> "No. Almost all the ruins are military in nature. As you surely know now, the old stories about gnomes being playful trickers is nothing more than history's version of fond whitewashing." A grim, unhappy smile forms on his face, "That day, I only hesitated by Helm's hand. If I had not, I would have stepped and triggered a lethal trap. What I was shown later confirmed this."
[21:03] <Demedais> "I see." Demedais frowned.
[21:05] <Kotono> "I had thought the Gods distant and removed, but not all of them are. Helm saved me...he has directed your friends, and perhaps even brought you to them?" A long look passes over his face, complentative. "I'm glad the Watcher at least continues in his duties."
[21:06] <Demedais> "What were you shown later?" Demedais inquires.
[21:09] <Kotono> "How I hesitated at just the right time, a step never taken into disaster and death." He smiles, a slow and serene one. "He watched over me that day. Since them, I came back to my home here, and..." He shrugs, "My peaceful studies were interrupted by four young members of the Crimson Guard investigating the gnomes."
[21:09] <Demedais> "Seira, Shamal and the two others, correct?"
[21:10] <Demedais> "Lyselle and... Berlios?"
[21:10] <Kotono> He nods, "Yes. I aided them and in time helped lead them to the temple in Pilltain. So the cycle continues." Sir Farmsturt nods again as Demedais lists them.
[21:11] <Demedais> "I see. And there you learned of the trap... Indeed, Helm did watch over you." Demedais murmured.
[21:12] * NeremWorld (~Nerem@pool-71-170-8-130.dllstx.fios.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[21:12] <Kotono> "Indeed he did." Stopping his thoughts, "Now, you investigate with the Crimson Guard?"
[21:13] <Demedais> "Yes. I was... pulled by Helm, I believe, to assist them." Demedais nods.
[21:16] <Kotono> "Then you've come to the right place indeed. I think you're going to be the ones to find what truly lies under our feet and far in the past."  Sipping his tea, "Do you have any questions I can help you with about them?"
[21:19] <Demedais> Demedais pondered as he spun the little remnants of the tea around in his cup slowly. "...They were quite powerful, in their day, weren't they?" he asks finally. "How vast was their empire?"
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[21:24] <Kotono> "They had the God King, who challenged the Gods. I don't know how vast, but on a scale that defies my mind." WIth a light shrug, "Most of the ruins are around the Baronies or Malmuth, though I know the Desert Fiefdoms have one as well."
[21:26] * Demedais nods solemnly. "I see. I cannot think of anything else I desire to ask you. Thank you very much for the story, sir Farmsturt."
[21:27] <Kotono> "Good travels, then," he stands, extending his hand out again.
[21:28] * Demedais takes it almost instantly this time. "May Helm continue to protect you." Demedais intoned. "And thank you again."
[21:32] <Kotono> "Gods bless you," he returns with that, and the handshake complete, "Good luck out there."
[21:33] * Demedais nods cheerfully as he descends, waving to Farmsturt's wife and thanking her for the tea as he departs.
[21:35] <Kotono> She stops and pinches Demedais' cheek again, blushing. "You're welcome. Come back any time," she says, winking.
[21:36] <Demedais> "Thank you, ma'am." Demedais nods. "I most likely will be back soon, especially if our group keeps on investigating those ruins."

[Corwin]

[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20
[21:59] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20 --> 1,0[ 1d20=18 ]12,0{18}
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:59] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d100 --> 1,0[ 1d100=86 ]12,0{86}
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 3d4+4
[21:59] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 3d4+4 --> 1,0[ 3d4=6 ]12,0{10}
[22:01] <Kotono> The weather is cloudly, but not enough to slow the party down. Quickly they go, passin gmany travellers. There are looks shot, but the swiftly moving duo avoids trouble. Until...(More)
[22:03] <Kotono> Near Pilltain the terrain beginst o get less favorable. The roads are rocky, the going often puncutred by hills and dips. At the bottom of one such dip, as you crest the hill that lets you see down it, you see a horse on the side of the road, wounds on it's side. It looks quite dead. Near it is a man, lying down but trying to get up. He's wearing what looks to be chain mail, trying to get up in a pool of his own blood.
[22:04] * Shamal jumps off Khan, putting a hand briefly on his haunch as wordless instruction to stay still before she rushes towards the injured man. "Sir, what happened?" she calls, already reaching for her wand of cure light wounds.
[22:05] <Kotono> His voice is gurgling, a cough of blood coming as his head looks up. His face is pale as white wax, sweat and blood mingling. It's an older face, a fierce black beard dripping lifeblood from a cut on his forehead. "Bandits...Lady Lyselle's..."
[22:05] * Demedais spots the man and gestures for Horse to stop about fifteen feet away from the man. He too hurries over to the man, but he first attempts to confirm the man has no weapons in his hand or near his hands. "I'll keep an eye out for whoever did this." Demedais says, looking around at the crests of the hill.
[22:06] <Kotono> There's a sword near him, but it's broken into shards. A bastard sword that won't cut anything else again. It gleams in the later afternoon light.
[22:06] <Kotono> OOC - Spot check.
[22:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+1
[22:06] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Demedais rolled :1,0 1d20+1 --> 1,0[ 1d20=14 ]12,0{15}
[22:07] <Kotono> Demedais can spot smoke on the horizon, to the northeast and over a few hills.  A long tendril of it, rising up.
[22:07] * Shamal waves her wand over him, bestowing healing. "What about Lyselle?" she asks, alarmed at the familiar name being mentioned in connection with bandits.
[22:07] <Shamal> roll 1d8+1
[22:07] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d8+1 --> 1,0[ 1d8=4 ]12,0{5}
[22:08] <Demedais> "...Smoke from the northeast." Demedais curses. OOC: Is that the direction of Lyselle's town? I presume Deme would know, having traveled this path before.
[22:08] <Kotono> His wounds partially close, vitality returning. "Lady Lyselle's...she ordered us to guard this caravan, but..." A cough, "There are still bandits in Pilltain."
[22:09] <Kotono> OOC - No, that's a damn good ways off. Not even close, really.
[22:09] <Demedais> OOC: Kayo. Wasn't sure how close we had come.
[22:09] <Shamal> "Which way did they go?" Shamal asks, giving him another wave with the wand.
[22:09] <Shamal> roll 1d8+1
[22:09] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d8+1 --> 1,0[ 1d8=6 ]12,0{7}
[22:11] <Kotono> This heals mcuh of his damage, his body suddenly much more whole. He sits up, rubbing his face. "What fortune to have ran into you," he sighs, bowing his head. "Thank you. That way..." He looks on, towardsthe northwest. "That's where the caravan was going."
[22:11] <Kotono> OOC - Northeast, er.
[22:12] <Shamal> "How many were there? How much lead do they have?" Shamal rattles off, glancing towards Demedais and Khan. "Looks like we'll be taking a detour, I'm afraid," she says apologetically.
[22:12] <Demedais> "That's fine. It's why I was tagging along, no?" Demedais says solemnly.
[22:14] <Kotono> "Six fo them. Four arrowmen while four horsemen rushed us with maces. Er, eight." Shaking his head and rubbing it, "The caravan's full of trade goods that were exchanged for mined metals and minerals. A perfect target, especially if the bastards are...are you from around here?"
[22:15] <Demedais> "Balmuria." Demedais responds. "Especially if the bastards are... what?"
[22:15] <Shamal> "We're from Balmuria - Crimson Guard, you might have heard of us?" Shamal replies. "What about the rest of your unit? Did the bandits kill everyone?"
[22:16] <Kotono> "Former soldiers with one of the barons the Armasea family crushed," He finishes, "They likely have formal training. As for the rest, I don't know. I got seperated away."
[22:16] <Kotono> "Crimson Guard? THE Crimson Guard?" he stops, gaping. "The ones that saved Lord Salman's life?"
[22:17] <Shamal> "That's us - Lady Lyselle used to be in our unit," Shamal affirms. "Listen, are you well enough to travel and help us catch those bandits? We could use someone who knows the area."
[22:18] <Kotono> "Of course. My name's Paulson." He half bows to both of them, "I lack a weapon now, but I can lead you on."
[22:18] <Demedais> "Then it's best if we catch up with them. I'd heal your horse, except it sadly looks too far gone to save... We should go, if we want to catch up to the caravan." Demedais then nods. "That assistance would be greatly appreciated, Paulson."
[22:19] <Kotono> "Poor ol' nag," he sighs, looking at the corpse of his horse. "Then let's go," he says, quickly starting to walk along. "I'll lead ou to the crest of the hill, if we're lucky we should be able to get a view on them."
[22:19] <Shamal> "Here," Shamal hands him her masterwork quarterstaff. "Anyone can use a stick, right? And it's as good a stick as you'll ever find." Heading back towards Khan and clambering aboard. "Think horse could carry two?" she asks Demedais, "Khan's really not well trained for riding, and it's hard enough with just me."
[22:19] <Kotono> He holds it and nods, swinging it once. "If your horse can take two, this will be even quicker."
[22:20] <Demedais> "Ah, he should be able to." Demedais affirms,.
[22:21] <Kotono> So the group heads on! Over the next two hills, the third one especially tall. As you ascend it, near the top, "Stop," hes ays, as you can see the smoke rising up, closer and closer now, over the next one. "We're close now. Just over this hill, there's a small valley."
[22:23] <Shamal> "I'll see if I can peer over without being seen," Shamal tells the others as she dismounts from Khan and carefully ascends up the hill so she can peek over and take a look!
[22:23] * Demedais nods, dismounting as well and following her about three-fourths of the way up the hill, avoiding nearing the crest.
[22:24] <Kotono> OOC - Spot checks if ou're peering over the top and both of you also make listening checks.
[22:24] <Shamal> roll 1d20+12 spot
[22:25] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+12 1,0spot --> 1,0[ 1d20=16 ]12,0{28}
[22:25] <Shamal> roll 1d20+12 listen
[22:25] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+12 1,0listen --> 1,0[ 1d20=18 ]12,0{30}
[22:25] <Demedais> roll 1d20+1 listen
[22:25] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Demedais rolled :1,0 1d20+1 1,0listen --> 1,0[ 1d20=15 ]12,0{16}
[22:27] <Kotono> Shamal and Demedais both hear it. The sound of fire burning, a few weak calls carrying. Hearty laughter follows, as Shamal peaks over. A few guards are strewn about, slain and beaten. Wagons lie in a circle, a merry bonfire! A ways away are several heavy wooden chests, one opened and showing fine pottery inside.  Eight men surround the last guardsmen, weaponless and helpless.
[22:27] <Kotono> Four have bows slung across their backs, four hold heavy, bloodied maces.
[22:28] <Demedais> "What do you see, Shamal?" Demedais murmurs as he slowly approaches the top of the hill, keeping low.
[22:29] <Kotono> Paulson hangs back, giving a few nervous glances to Khan.
[22:29] <Shamal> "There's eight of them, looks like one guard is left - get ready to follow me and attack if they resist," Shamal tells Demedais and Paulson, letting Khan stay still for the moment. No need to involve the tiger if not needed. Casting mirror image first to protect herself, Shamal then crests the hill and casts Glitterdust, catching as many as she can within its radius!
[22:29] <Shamal> roll 1d4+2 MI
[22:29] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d4+2 1,0MI --> 1,0[ 1d4=1 ]12,0{3}
[22:30] <Shamal> OOC: DC 18 will save to avoid blindness for 6 rounds via glitterdust
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1
[22:30] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+1 --> 1,0[ 1d20=16 ]12,0{17}
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1
[22:30] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+1 --> 1,0[ 1d20=15 ]12,0{16}
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1
[22:30] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+1 --> 1,0[ 1d20=8 ]12,0{9}
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1
[22:30] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+1 --> 1,0[ 1d20=2 ]12,0{3}
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1
[22:30] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+1 --> 1,0[ 1d20=3 ]12,0{4}
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1
[22:30] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+1 --> 1,0[ 1d20=7 ]12,0{8}
[22:32] <Kotono> A glittering cloud of dust gets most of them! Cries come up as all but one of the bowmen and one of the macemen are blinded in a cloud of glittering particles! OOC - Let's do initiative here, I think, not that it'll help the poor blinded bastards at all.
[22:32] <Shamal> roll 1d20+2
[22:32] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+2 --> 1,0[ 1d20=9 ]12,0{11}
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 blinded goons
[22:33] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+1 1,0blinded goons --> 1,0[ 1d20=19 ]12,0{20}
[22:33] <Demedais> roll 1d20
[22:33] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Demedais rolled :1,0 1d20 --> 1,0[ 1d20=10 ]12,0{10}
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 not blinded archer
[22:33] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+1 1,0not blinded archer --> 1,0[ 1d20=4 ]12,0{5}
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 not blinded Maceman
[22:33] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+1 1,0not blinded Maceman --> 1,0[ 1d20=12 ]12,0{13}
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20 Paulson
[22:33] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20 1,0Paulson --> 1,0[ 1d20=8 ]12,0{8}
[22:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Khan in case it's needed
[22:34] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+2 1,0Khan in case it's needed --> 1,0[ 1d20=12 ]12,0{14}
[22:35] * Kotono changes topic to 'The BLIND(6 rounds; 20)>Khan(14)> Maceman(13)> Shamal(11)>Deme(10)>Archer(5)'
[22:35] <Shamal> "This is Captain Shamal Velka of the Crimson Guard!" Shamal announces her presence as all four of her clear the hill, looking down on the group. "You're all under arrest for banditry - throw down your weapons and surrender, or we will use lethal force!"
[22:37] <Kotono> OOC: You can use this to make an intimadate check that'll resolve on your turn if you like.
[22:38] <Shamal> OOC: Okay, but I better get a huge circumstance bonus for the blindness and the four of me and the reputation of my name/the Crimson Guard. Since +1 is sad.
[22:38] <Shamal> roll 1d20+1
[22:38] * Demedais rises up to the top of the hill as well, standing to the left of her farthest mirror and lending his presence to her mental offense!
[22:38] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+1 --> 1,0[ 1d20=9 ]12,0{10}
[22:38] <Kotono> OOC - Yes. The DC is low.
[22:38] <Demedais> OOC: And my Assist, if acceptable!
[22:38] <Kotono> OOC: Okay!
[22:39] <Kotono> The blinded ones run around like chickens with their heads cut off! The maceman hesitates a moment, holding back. They stare, a great 'Oh SHIT' look on their faces. At the magical cloud of dust flying about, the maceman carefully raises his hands up. "Shiiiiit..." he mutters, staring. "Alright, alright!"
[22:40] <Demedais> "Drop your weapons. NOW." Demedais commands as he begins down the hill.
[22:40] <Kotono> The blindedones just thrash around, helplessand moaning! The last archer puts his down carefully!
[22:42] <Shamal> "Move over by that wagon," Shamal points for the benefit of the sighted ones, getting them away from their dropped weapons. "The blindness will wear off soon, so the rest of you calm down and do exactly as I say!"
[22:42] * Demedais continues down the hill, looking for any injured men he can save. "Thank you, Shamal. PAULSON! Please come over here and assist us, if you could." he yells as he begins searching.
[22:43] <Kotono> The blinded ones continue to move around in a chaotic mess, but the two unblinded ones do just that. Paulson lurks behind them, "Bastards..." he breaths, looking at the carnage.
[22:43] <Kotono> Paulson does so, as Demedais looks about. While most of them are clearly goners, he finds one that's still struggling and breathing, even if faint. A young man, chopped up and bloody, but still clinging to some form of life.
[22:43] <Shamal> "Do not make me repeat myself - the rest of you stand still and drop your weapons!" Shamal instructs the freaking out blind bandits.
[22:44] <Kotono> At those words, they begin to obey, a few dropping weapons, but they're still moving a bit, rubbing their eyes.
[22:44] * Demedais kneels down and quickly places his hands on him to heal his wounds. Standing up, he eyes the thrashers. OOC: 18 HP or whatever his max is, whichever comes first.
[22:45] <Kotono> OOC - 16 HP spent.
[22:45] <Shamal> "Now, all of you kick your weapons aside and lie down with your hands on your heads!" Shamal orders. "That goes for you two as well," she tells the pair by the wagon.
[22:46] <Kotono> As the blindness fades, the bandits obey, looking on in shock.
[22:47] <Demedais> "Paulson, if you could gather the weapons?" Demedais asks. as he looks balefully at the bandits.
[22:47] <Kotono> The man stirs at the healing, groaning but moving, breathing stronger.
[22:47] <Kotono> Paulson does so, quite a baleful stare himself as the weapons are gathered up and put aisde.
[22:49] <Shamal> "All of you are under arrest for banditry," Shamal lectures them, taking a length of rope from her haversack and beginning to tie them all up with their hands behind their backs, one bandit linked to another. "You will be taken to Armasea and tried at the Countess' pleasure. Your prompt surrender will be taken into consideration - do not throw away this goodwill by attempting to escape."
[22:50] <Shamal> roll 1d20+2 use rope
[22:50] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+2 1,0use rope --> 1,0[ 1d20=3 ]12,0{5}
[22:50] <Shamal> Shamal notices her knots are a bit loose and tightens them up some more.
[22:50] <Shamal> OOC: taking 10 for 12.
[22:52] <Kotono> The bandits stay quiet, but one defies this. "Bastards...what do you care? Her father andf amily wiped us out!"
[22:53] <Shamal> "And what does that have to do with the men you killed?" Shamal demands irately, meeting his eyes. "You think you're on some righteous crusade? You're nothing but criminals - at least have the decency to admit that!"
[22:54] * Demedais nods. "Thank you, Paulson. One last favor to ask - can you see how much of this is salvageable? I'd hate for any of this to go to waste." After hearing the outburst, Demedais frowns deeply and waltzes over there, sword in hand. "So you kill innocents in retribution, because you cannot be bothered to take your grudge to her herself? Cowards!" Demedais slams his sword into the earth right next to the man's feet.
[22:56] <Demedais> "Without honor, without judgment. You have lowered yourself beyond the realms of animals - far below. I will not tolerate such destruction." he hisses, eyes furious.
[22:56] <Demedais> roll 1d20+9 make the bastard shit his pants intimidate roll!
[22:56] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Demedais rolled :1,0 1d20+9 1,0make the bastard shit his pants intimidate roll! --> 1,0[ 1d20=8 ]12,0{17}
[22:59] <Kotono> "They're just old soldiers! They have blood on their hands," the same one shoots back, angrily.
[23:00] <Kotono> The others stay quiet, faces down.
[23:00] <Kotono> Paulson's fists are balled up, glaring at that one with unconcealed hatred, hands clunching Shamal's quarterstaff so hard that it creaks.
[23:04] <Demedais> "And yet it is your weapons and cruelty that pollute the lands today." Demedais rumbles. "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind - or has your fury already blinded you?"
[23:04] <Shamal> "Is that how you justify your murdering and pillaging?" Shamal asks coldly. "You disgust me... " Turning to leave them all to Demedais' tender mercies, she calls out towards the hill, "Khan!" to summon her friendly dire tiger. "Don't be surprised, he's on our side," she warns the man Demedais healed.
[23:05] <Kotono> As he sits up, blank and confused, Khan comes over the hill! He springs down at an easy run, quickly at Shamal's side. The one bandit still talking gets a glimpse of it and goes dead pale, shutting up.
[23:05] * Demedais turns in disgust, going back over to examine the man.
[23:06] <Kotono> A young man with now bloodied brown hair and chain mail, "What happened," he says, looking around dimly.
[23:06] * Shamal pats Khan genially as he arrives. "Let's see what we can recover here and get moving?" she suggests. "I can conjure another horse to help us move anything too big to carry."
[23:07] <Demedais> "Your caravan got attacked. We came a bit too late, it seems - you are the only survivor." He nods at Shamal. "See if we can salvage a wagon - Horse and your summoned horse can carry the stuff that way. You can lead the bandits on Khan."
[23:09] <Kotono> A few hours laer, the bandits and cargo are in the nearest village. So safe, the group heads on. It's a few hours past nightfall when you arrivea t the temple, a little more time required to get inside. A sleepy acolyte comes to the door and lets you in, a hasty bowa s you head inside. Past the outer ruins, past it's summoning circle and traps, into the ruins proper.  IT is as serene as you left it, the air chillly-cool. Near the ceiling
[23:10] <Kotono>  Near the ceiling mist floats, the star shaped building also half enshrouded by it. The motes of light often dance around the mist, yet fail to really illuminate it.
[23:11] <Shamal> "Ahh, been a long day, but nearly there," Shamal smiles, petting Khan as they head towards the arch and then on to the citadel.
[23:30] * Demedais nods as he enters. "Paulson, Smythe, could I talk to you two for a second?" he asks as he dismounts. "Shamal, if you could line them up near the wall and then go contact the priest as to our plans for the morning?"
[23:31] <Shamal> OOC: we already ditched them, Deme
[23:32] <Demedais> OOC ... scratch that line, then!
[23:33] <Demedais> "Wasn't looking forward to seeing this place again so soon, but fair enough." Demedais nods.
[23:33] <Kotono> As you pass along, you notice the fountain and crag are also obscured by mist. As you walk down the path to the Citadel, Shamal begins to feel in peace with the world, Demedais feeling a palpable sense of duty, of watching. The Citadel is cloaked in mists, cool and obscuring anything off the path. But you can still see the door leading into the citadel, the path to the Etherial Laboratory not far. As you walk along the steely road, Khan l
[23:34] <Kotono> Khan looks around a few times, his fur rising.
[23:35] <Shamal> "It's like in the laboratory... I think Uatu's spreading its influence further," Shamal smiles at the zen like feeling, stroking Khan's fur. "Don't worry, Khan, it's safe," she assures the tiger as they make their way to the citadel itself and down the stairs to the laboratory.
[23:36] <Demedais> "That's not a problem by me. It can take over this entire place. Probably be a good thing, everything considered.
[23:37] <Demedais> OOC: add a ". Stupid magical missing quotes.
[23:37] <Kotono> As you head inside, you see that the door upstairs and to where the Resort was are lost in mist, hidden. Instead of oynx stairs going down, dull clear stairs of gleaming crystalline like material lead slowly downward. The feelings grow stronger in both of them, intense. Like a sense is reawakening again, and it feels -good-.
[23:39] <Shamal> "Brrr, do you feel that?" Shamal asks, shivering slightly as they descend. "I don't know what it is about the place, but it feels so nice, here."
[23:39] <Demedais> "Indeed." Demedais murmurs. "Quite pleasant."
[23:40] <Kotono> Down the soundless stairs, not a single bit of noise coming from your feet landing on them. Indeed, there is a lack of sound all over, save for what you make. As you walk, mists swirl, walls of the same material forming, irregular patterns and shapes twisting into being.  Loops that have no end, circles that are squares, one thousand sided shapes that are merely an inch long.
[23:42] * Shamal blinks a few times and tears her gaze away from one of the impossible shapes that captures her attention. "Focus, focus," she mutters, attempting to do just that as she guides Khan onwards through the laboratory and towards Uatu's resting chamber.
[23:44] <Kotono> No chambers this time - instead the mists sweep around you. You find yourselves walking on air, and deep in the mists, you can see a glint. Uatu is there. The feeling affecting Shamal seems to grow even stronger, overwhelming.
[23:45] * Shamal puts one hand to her head as she and Khan approach the crystal. "I apologise, but is it possible to tone things down a bit?" she asks wonderingly. "I fear that I might lose myself..."
[23:47] <Kotono> The mists begin to surround you as you approach. The feeling grows even stronger, like a pulse. Each breath you take is echoed in perfect time. As the mists surround you, you can ee a portal opening up ahead. A portal to a jungle, a warm place never before seen with you rown eyes.
[23:49] * Shamal takes out her scroll of speak with animals and reads off it, shattering the barrier of language between herself and Khan once more. "There, you see?" she points to the portal. "That's your home - you're free now, Khan!"
[23:50] <Kotono> Khan is raptured, looking ahead. "I see it..." he says, and in a humble voice, "I thank you..." OOC - Wis check.
[23:50] <Shamal> roll 1d20+5
[23:50] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+5 --> 1,0[ 1d20=2 ]12,0{7}
[23:51] <Kotono> OOC - Act, Shamal.
[23:52] * Shamal briefly hugs Khan, wrapping her arms around his neck as much as she's able. "Go home, Khan. Go home and never be caught again," she urges him towards the portal.
[23:53] <Kotono> "Thank you..." Khan turns and nuzzles your face, before running through and free! But as he leaves, you feel strange. Touched inside.
[23:56] * Shamal smiles and watches the great tiger return home, simply savouring the moment for a spell. "Thank you..." she murmurs, slowly turning to Uatu and reaching up to rest her palm on the crystal's surface. "You are too kind."
[23:57] <Kotono> Uatu glows briefly once more, mists fading from around Shamal. But as they do, she thinks that she feels a touch on her wrist.
[23:59] <Shamal> Her arm twitching reflexively at the unexpected touch, Shamal looks to her wrist in momentary surprise.
[23:59] <Kotono> Looking to besides her, Shamal sees that nothing is near her wrist to have touched it.
[00:01] <Shamal> "I..." momentary confusion overwhelms the zen-like state engendered by this place, Shamal thinking back to Yezrut's cryptic words. Closing her eyes, she smiles warmly. "I live to serve, my Queen..." she whispers in the secret tongue of the druids. "Can you send us home, Uatu?" she asks after a moment, almost reluctant to leave.
[00:05] <Kotono> At those words, a portal appears. You can see the moon lit sky over Balmuria, a small, wolf guarded shack in sight.
[00:07] <Shamal> "Goodbye, Uatu..." Shamal leans close, planting a brief kiss on the crystalline surface. "Until next time, be well," she whispers, before leading Demedais through the portal to home.

[Corwin]

[21:45] <Kotono> ---
[21:47] <Kotono> So Seira heads to the Grand Shop Luna De Stronger. The day is pleasant, people coming and going. Nothing much occurs until she enters - but when she does? Countess Stronger is pacing near the front, waiting. "Oh there you-oh, Seira!" She breaks into a smile, nice and pleasant. "What a good surprise! What can I help you with?"
[21:49] <Seira> "Hello there," Seira greets her pleasantly, shitfing her burden for better balance. "It has occured to me, some time after I left your shop with a modest debt, that there were other ways for me to repay you without waiting too long!"
[21:50] <Kotono> "Oh yes," she smiles, looking at the burden carried. "Why don't you just put those down first?"
[21:51] * Seira finds a conveniently empty table to do that. "Now, normally I would not come to a civillian with these, but since you do a lot of work for the government and we are friends... it's not a problem to share forgotten magical lore, right? Just as long as it stays between us and all."
[21:52] <Kotono> "Oh yes, of course," her eyes narrow as sh elooks at it, like little gleams of light. "Especially the interesting parts."
[21:53] <Seira> "I have prepared a pair of translation spells, plus a boost for the time we'll study them," Seira informs her. "Want me to do the honors?"
[21:55] * Seira glances around. "Though maybe you should put up a closed sign for a while, so we won't get disturbed?"
[21:56] <Kotono> "Go ahead," she agrees, sitting down. "...oh...yes..." She blushes, a small sigh. She goes and gets one, but also gets a quill and attaches a note to it. So it goes out, placed on the front door.
[21:58] * Seira casts away, before explaining the situation briefly. "--so these books are samples of the library we took back with us from gnomish ruins of an undisclosed location. They were said to bring both wisdom and loss to those who read from them in earnest, in a way similar to your roulette, I wager. Still, if we study them together, perhaps we could determine the effects, or even nullify the bad ones."
[21:58] <Kotono> "Mmm. Yes, then, let's get to business," she agrees, stroking her chin with a wayward look to the door once. "Shall we?"
[21:59] <Seira> "Expecting someone?" Seira asks curiously.
[22:00] <Kotono> "Oh...bleh. It's that obvious?" Elle Stronger stops, running a hand through her hair. "Remember when I mentioned that I got those elven boots from an enterprising elf?"
[22:01] <Seira> "Indeed I do!" Seira agrees. "Does this mean I'll get a chance to meet this enterprising elf?"
[22:02] <Kotono> "Maybe..." Murmuring as she blushes, "Even if he's a swlinder, he's a very handsome swinlder. But now then!" Quickly breathing out, "Let's work on these books?"
[22:02] * Seira nods. "You are more knowledgeable in such things, so I'll be more than happy to take your lead, Elle."
[22:04] <Kotono> "Mmm." Thinking as she begins to read, "Let's just go ahead and carefully read. They're magic, so...take it slow, and if you think you're feeling funny, get up and take a few moments."
[22:05] * Seira nods again, and picks one of the books after studying its title and table of contents for an indication of what will be inside.
[22:07] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:07] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d100 --> 1,0[ 1d100=23 ]12,0{23}
[22:10] <Kotono> The books are solid enough. While you often feel al ittle strange as ou read - occasionally wanting to read more - most of it's relatively normal. It seems to be loosely connected informatino about the stars, the sky and how all of it relates to the God King. 
[22:11] <Seira> "Anything?" she asks, placing the book down and reaching for another.
[22:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[22:12] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+12 --> 1,0[ 1d20=18 ]12,0{30}
[22:13] <Kotono> "Seems to be part of a bigger collection. God King this, stars that," She makes a face, placing a book down and stretching. "The information looks solid, but it's only fragments. I know some of the starcraft is more or less correct."
[22:13] <Seira> "I do have the rest of the collection at my inn," Seira ventures. "If these books won't show us the way, we could try reading the remainder."
[22:15] <Kotono> Pursing her lips together, "If the enchantment isn't complete apart, then we'd have to risk doing it together."
[22:16] <Seira> "I see it as a pleasant opportunity to spend more time working on magic rather than a risk," Seira comments. "But yes. Would you like to come over after your guest has shown up?"
[22:17] <Kotono> "Hmmm." She considers this, long and long, before, "If he's not here by now, he'll probably not be here until tomorrow." She concludes with a deep, heartfelt sigh. "Oh well, if you can't have a nice man, magic's a heck of a good backup plan."
[22:17] <Seira> "...sure!"
[22:23] <Kotono> Seira's Inn is a bright place. A few people are here, many looking on a Seira with awe. One in particular at the fireplace is noteworthy, talking to a young girl, pretty and blonde haired. "Oh yes, I know her," Donald brags, grinning. "She's just as heroic as you'd imagine, and I'm sure if you really wanted to I could ask her to meet you." He's speaking rather loudly and grandly, enough to carry even as you enter.
[22:24] * Seira waves the Countess into her private chambers, nodding at the guest as she passes.
[22:28] <Kotono> You get a look from the blonde guest as you pass by, a look of adoration! Donald turns as well, and even calls, "Aaah...Seira?" But so the two head into Seira's chambers...?
[22:30] * Seira will come greet her later, if that girl truly is here to meet her. One must have patience and preservence!
[22:31] <Kotono> Once in the private chambers, Countess Stronger looks around..."Where are they," she asks.
[22:32] <Seira> "I have a private library next door," Seira declares, showing the way.
[22:32] <Seira> "Never know when you'll have need of a good book...."
[22:33] <Kotono> So indeed you go in. As the two do,"Ahem to that. Now then..." she waits, being lead along.
[22:35] <Seira> "Well, I keep some of my other literature here as well," Seira explains, showing her the candle-lighted vast room filled with bookcases. "But the collection I'm consulting you about is located in these five." The bookcases are all noticeably short, and Seira blushes. "I... can't really reach far enough, and it would hurt if I fell while climbing up one of those ladders. Stupid too-heavy for mage hand books...."
[22:37] <Kotono> "Oh." Thsi gets her to actually giggle, "No, it makes sense. It's cute." Looking at all the books, each one of them stored there, "Shall we?"
[22:38] * Seira nods. "I tried to organize them as closely to how they appeared in the 'starry dome', their former resting place, as I could."
[22:40] <Kotono> "Mmm. If we start to feel funny, say something and the other should help stop." Musing on this as she takes a book herself, "Good luck."
[22:40] * Seira nods, and picks one of the books herself.
[22:41] <Kotono> OOC - Go ahead and make a will save.
[22:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+4 Resistance'd
[22:41] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+4 1,0Resistance'd --> 1,0[ 1d20=6 ]12,0{10}
[22:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[22:41] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+7 --> 1,0[ 1d20=1 ]12,0{8}
[22:45] <Kotono> It's a blur. A hazy, tired blur. The next thing Seira knows is that it's evening, a yawn escaping her...mo..uth? A few books are piled up in front of her as she blinks away her torpor. Countess Stronger continues to read, face rapt as she devours a book with her eyes, absorbing it's knowledge. Seira has a feeling that she's learned something important, but it's only just started.
[22:46] * Seira forces her limbs to move, first crawling and then moving on her hands and knees towards the Countess, proceeding to place her hands over her eyes to stop her.
[22:46] <Kotono> "..mgh." She mutters an unhappy noise, neck creaking as she looks up. "Now why are..you....Seira?" Elle leans back in her chair, rubbing her eyes. "...what time is it?"
[22:47] <Seira> "I think we kind of failed," Seira says dejectedly. "Next time, only one of us should try to read...."
[22:48] <Kotono> "Funny...I kind of want to keep reading anyway," she smiles, thin and waxen. "I feel like I'm starting to get something important. PRotection next time, precautions. Mroe of them, lots of them, yeah."
[22:48] * Seira nods. "If I let you go now, will you try to read again?"
[22:48] <Kotono> "...urgh. No. I want to, but I'm not quite that stupid after what you told me." With an effort she gets up, "...just, let's get out of here for now?"
[22:49] <Seira> "Yes," Seira agrees, helping the older woman stand up. "I think one of the dangers is wasting away in front of the books, without food or drink."
[22:50] <Kotono> Once she's up, Countess Stronger hurries out, "I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, I'm sore, I'm tired, I'm a lot of bad things right now. If I kept reading..."
[22:50] <Seira> "I'm obligated to offer you something, on the house," Seira tells her with a wince, leading Elle back into the main inn area.
[22:51] <Kotono> Once they're out, they come to the front. A few people are here drinking and talking, but the bar is the only thing she has on her mind. Slumping down, "Just something to drink, to clear my head. Dammit, I should've taken that more seriously."
[22:51] <Seira> "Well, I did take that seriously, and I still failed," Seira says dejectedly, moving over to the bar.
[22:52] * Seira takes a look around for either Donald or the girl he was talking to earlier.
[22:52] <Kotono> Donald's not around at the moment, nor is the girl. The bartender smiles as he approaches, "Miss Seira?" he asks, open ended and polite.
[22:53] <Seira> "Hello. Something to drink, for the both of us?" she requests. "Oh, and we seemed to have lost track of time for a while, there. What time is it, now?"
[22:59] <Kotono> "Just two hours or so before midnight." Two glasses of wine, presented quickly. "Slightly slow business today, as it's a beautiful night."
[23:00] * Seira nods, and offers one of the glasses to the Countess. "Donald has retired to his room, then?"
[23:01] <Kotono> "He and a lady went outside an hour or so ago," he responds, "I do not know when he will return."
[23:01] <Kotono> Taking down most of the glass in one long sipping gulp, "Mmmm. Owl's Wisdom, protection from evil, Resistance, hm. Yes, I can think of all sorts of basic protections, and maybe something advanced..."
[23:02] <Seira> "Owl's Wisdom is one I haven't learned, yet," Seira admits. "Would you...?"
[23:04] <Kotono> "I can cast it," she agrees, finishing her glass in a second swallow. "I think I'm going to go home, sleep and prepare in the morning. I need to steam off after that. I didn't even realise what was going on until you interrupted me hours later!"
[23:05] <Seira> "Oh, right," Seira says suddenly. "What does your elven friend look like? And what name does he go by?"
[23:07] <Kotono> "...oh. Fading leaf red hair, handsome, dashing. His name is Cornelius." Sighing a moment as she closes her eyes, "Oh yes."
[23:08] <Seira> "I'll come over tomorrow in hopes of meeting him, then, and pick you up?" Seira proposes.
[23:12] <Kotono> "Sure. Get some rest - not in that library," Countess Stronger smiles, "Until then?"
[23:12] * Seira nods. "Pleasant dreams!"
[23:17] <Seira> roll 1d20+11 gather info!
[23:17] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+11 1,0gather info! --> 1,0[ 1d20=7 ]12,0{18}
[23:20] <Kotono> The night passes in rest. The next day is a busy one, the now bustling city a backdrop as you head to Countess Stronger's abode.  Inside, you find her awaiting, counting over a small pile of platinum coins.
[23:20] <Seira> "Did you make a nice sale?" Seira asks, greeting the woman.
[23:29] <Kotono> "A potion," she beams, "A nice way to start the day!"
[23:31] * Seira nods. "Ready to continue our research?"
[23:33] <Kotono> She nods, putting away the coins. "I didn't expect to sell Bull's Strength like that, but I won't complain." Chuckling and in a good mood, "It's almost enough to forget how much last night sucked for our failure. But I'm ready today."
[23:33] <Seira> "We can't fail any harder!" Seira agrees brightly.
[23:35] <Kotono> "Yes!" Grinning at Seira as she goes, "No word on Cornelius, but I'm leaving a note for him to come to your inn. No problem, right?"
[23:37] <Seira> "None whatsoever," Seira tells her.
[23:38] <Kotono> So the two return to Seira's inn. Clearing her throat, "I have protection from evil, resistance and Owl's Wisdom. A good start. If that fails and one of us gets enraptured, we can try the bigger guns?" she asks, as you head into the library.
[23:38] <Kotono> *bigger spells?
[23:39] * Seira nods in agreement. "And if we take turns rather than read alongside one another, we have a better chance of helping the entranced one," she adds.
[23:40] * Seira casts Fox's Cunning to sharpen her mind and Protection from Evil to ward it, ready from her end.
[23:41] <Kotono> Murmuring her magic, Countess Stronger casts Owl's Wisdom on Seira! She keeps the words very quiet, steadily spoken under her breath. OOC +4 wis bonus.
[23:41] * Seira steels herself, and picks up a fresh book!
[23:42] <Kotono> OOC - Will save.
[23:45] <Kotono> Seira is slowly able to read the words. It looks like more information on the stars. It does tie into what she read yesterday, providing more knowledge, but she feels sane for now, in control.
[23:46] * Seira nods at the Countess as a sign that she's still in control, continuing to read.
[23:46] <Kotono> OOC - Going to keep reading until Prot Evil runs out?
[23:46] <Seira> OOC: Yep
[23:47] <Kotono> OOC: Then make a will save.
[23:48] <Seira> roll 1d20+8 Resistance'd
[23:48] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+8 1,0Resistance'd --> 1,0[ 1d20=18 ]12,0{26}
[23:50] <Kotono> Once Protection from Evil ends, Seira feels more drawn into the reading. The words swirl around her and lull her in, but with ane ffort her mind stays clear. Great knowledge is just at her fingertips, though, she can feel it's siren call.
[23:52] * Seira pulls herself away from the texts with considerable effort, and reports her findings to the Countess. "In other words, once I felt the duration on my spell end, a tug formed on my mind." She frowns. "Perhaps we are to succumb to the books' magical effects, and have one merely snap the other out of it at periods?"
[23:54] <Kotono> "We could do that...it's risky since we'd be exposed to whatever magic it's selling, but..." Elle merely shrugs after a few moments. "It may be the best way to learn, too."
[23:55] <Seira> "I cannot in good faith ask you to put yourself through this untested procedure," Seira says, frowning further. "Would you watch over me?"
[23:57] <Kotono> "If your'e sure, yes." A nod as she thinks, "Oh ho ho ho." Drawling slowly, "You'd better come through this safe, you hear?"
[23:57] <Seira> "I don't want a fancy funeral," Seira deadpans. "Just my friends."
[23:58] <Kotono> "Are you kidding? Grinning back, "Funerals are good for meeting people, so of course you'd have a big fancy one."
[23:58] * Seira makes a face. "Just kill me now." She picks up a book. "Stop me if it looks bad, alright?"
[23:59] <Kotono> "I know." With that, she sits back and away from the books, watching Seira.
[23:59] <Seira> "Curiousity killed the cat," she murmurs, opening it....
Session Time: Sun Jun 03 00:00:00 2007
[00:00] <Kotono> OOC - Will-saveo again, unless you're intenting to intentinoally fail it.
[00:00] <Seira> OOC: Failing it this time
[00:01] <Kotono> The next thing Seira knows, Countess Stronger is shaking her shoulder. "Hey, wake up!" she calls, a rough moving. "Seira, it's been an hour!" AS she stirs, the feeling of knowledge expands within, an appealing lure.
[00:01] * Seira attempts to identify the knowledge or its source, still in a daze.
[00:02] <Kotono> It's about the stars, the sky and the God King. It's just a fragment, a feeling to continue and get more pressing.
[00:02] * Seira sighs. "Did I finish the book, at least?" she asks.
[00:03] <Kotono> Seira notes she's about at the end of it, yes. As Elle nods confirmation, "Yes. You read like you were possessed. Even literally."
[00:03] <Seira> roll 1d20+12
[00:03] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+12 --> 1,0[ 1d20=12 ]12,0{24}
[00:05] * Seira groans. "Maybe the safest thing is to try and read the entire collection while under the protection from evil spell, and see whether the enchantment effect merely pushes one onward? It could well be that the knowledge is not gained magically, but from perusing all of the books in the set."
[00:06] <Kotono> "That would take...months?" Looking at all the books, "Protection doesn't last that long."
[00:07] * Seira frowns. "I don't think I would like to wait that long. Oh well, once more into the breach?"
[00:10] <Kotono> "Good luck, how long do you want to be under?" Elle asks.
[00:10] <Seira> "You seem to have it down," Seira comments. "Though, if at all possible, I would like to finish a book each time. Unless it is really long, I suppose."
[00:12] <Kotono> "Alright then..." Countess Stronger nods, as Seira begins. The first day of reading ends! Seira feels drained, but her mind feels full as well. Stars, space, celestial bodies, the God King. It's all in there, and you're beginning to understand it...
[00:13] * Seira decides to read more the next day, feeling up to the challenge!
[00:13] <Kotono> OOC - Roll a d20
[00:13] <Seira> roll 1d20
[00:14] * Kotono sets mode: -v Reiko-chan
[00:14] -sebben.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Kotono invited Hatbot into the channel.
[00:14] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-70-112-23-198.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #dunes
[00:14] * Kotono sets mode: +v Hatbot
[00:14] <Seira> roll 1d20
[00:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20 and gets 11."12 [1d20=11]
[00:15] <Kotono> By the end of the second day, Seira feels as if she'sbeginning to understand, and finding a part suited to her. The Moon and the tides, the eternal pull of the God King's will. The ravenous water, tearing away everything, yet bearing the secrets to tranquility within.
[00:16] * Reiko-chan (~Hola@75-161-150-152.mpls.qwest.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[00:16] * Seira feels enough of her will present to keep on reading further, sharing her findings with Elle.
[00:16] <Kotono> At the end of the day as she listens, a frown comes. "Seira...do you want to go on? I don't like that God King part at all."
[00:17] * Hotaru (~draomir@75-161-150-152.mpls.qwest.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[00:18] <Seira> "Magic is magic, and knowledge is knowledge, isn't it?" she responds. "This God-King had inadvertantly granted me a boon already. Am I to throw it away since it came from him?"
[00:19] <Kotono> "Is it worth risking? These books are mind control," Ellepicks one up, waving it in front of Seira's face. "If you're going to go on...just be careful."
[00:20] <Seira> "I'll try and see whether my mind is strong enough to resist the enchantment and understand the knowledge hidden within," Seira says, taking the Countess's concerns to heart.
[00:21] <Kotono> So day three starts! SEira prepares and...OOC - MAke yer will save.
[00:21] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
[00:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15."12 [1d20=9]
[00:22] <Kotono> Just barely, Seira's able to keep her mind as she beginst o read. More information, showing how the God King rules the skies, how the moon is part of His will, how the endless tides are eternal. But in a somewhat more stable way, lacking a compelling feeling of rightness and knowledge.
[00:23] * Seira is forced to agree with Elle's conclusions at the end of the day. "Resisting the enchantment really is important," she agrees, striving to do that in the future as well.

[Corwin]

[20:30] <Kotono> "You look tired," Elle notes as you finish reading for the day, "Do you think you can extract the information safely, even if you resist it?"
[20:32] * Keylin is now known as Merc
[20:32] <Seira> "Hard to say," Seira muses. "I cannot discount the possibility that some magic is at work, affecting my body and causing this... lethargy."
[20:34] <Kotono> "Get some rest - are you going to continue?" STronger asks, getting up and stretching. "I'm still not entirely sold this is even remotely safe."
[20:35] <Seira> "Have you ever had something you were so curious about, a riddle so intriguing you just had to crack it, even if it presented risk to your person?" Seira asks her suddenly.
[20:36] <Kotono> "Magic." Elle Stronger replies after amoment, a light showing in her eyes. "Magic and wanting to go and get everything the world had to offer. ...if you're sure, then I'll see you in the morning."
[20:37] * Seira nods. "To the bitter end and the beautiful, extravagant funeral."
[20:37] <Kotono> So the next day comes! The two meet again, Seira ready to go? OOC - Ball's in your court. Read or not read or resist or what have you.
[20:38] <Seira> OOC: Read + resist + owl's wisdom if she has it
[20:38] <Kotono> OOC - She does. Will save it.
[20:38] <Seira> roll 1d20+8
[20:38] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+8 --> 1,0[ 1d20=17 ]12,0{25}
[20:40] <Kotono> Seira keeps her right mind intact. This day of reading passes and she learns more. What's she's focused on is not all, but it may be all she can get. Seira has latched onto the lessons of the moon, tides and inner control and has almost solved them. So it feels, her head full of information come the end of the day. Almost.
[20:41] <Seira> She's gone too far, now, and does not seem to be actually starving to death or something equally nasty. No adoration of gnomes or their god-king, either. Seira decides to see things through, for better or worse.
[20:41] <Kotono> So the next day comes...OOC - Going to will save again?
[20:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+8
[20:42] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Seira rolled :1,0 1d20+8 --> 1,0[ 1d20=9 ]12,0{17}
[20:42] * Gourash (~Hate@adsl-69-106-234-13.dsl.pltn13.pacbell.net) has left #dunes (Leaving)
[20:43] <Kotono> With all her will Seira resists again. By the end of the day she's finished. She has learned much, an inner control established. (PM) The memories of what she has read is laced with a desire, a knowledge of the God King. Of his will, how the world is part of His will. Yet, despite this, Seira feels in control of it, she thinks. It's there, but it's dry and dispassionate, only like information she processed harmlessly.
[20:46] * Seira slowly closes the last book with an audible snap. "Well," she says at length. "I have learned much."
[20:47] <Kotono> Countess Stronger brushes back her hair, yawning as the sun sets outside, forgotten again today. "Like? Are you giong to put on a pointy cap and hide underground now?"
[20:49] <Seira> "No, I think I safely filtered that part out," Seira says with a smirk. "Elle, if you focus your mind and have someone stand watch over you like you did for me, you could gain the pure, distilled knowledge of the gnomes in this area. I feel confident enough to say that." She pauses, a look of longing on her face. "There is more, so much more, like an ocean to the river of information I have tapped into... but I fear it brings with it serv
[20:49] <Seira> itude to the God-King's ideas, if not worse things." Seira shakes her head firmly. "Unless Balmuria is under such a threat that my powers alone are no match for it, I think I would let such knowledge rest in peace."
[20:52] <Kotono> "Hm. Like a gold mine full of poison gasses?" Looking at the last book read, Countess Stronger shakes her head. "No, if I wanted to gamble, I'd have rolled that roulette wheel.  I say let it rest in peace - there's still enough magic now around for me, especially when you're bringing me all sorts of things." A bit of a smile at that, "Let it rest, at least for now."
[20:53] * Ebiris is now known as Shamal
[20:54] <Seira> "I do believe it safe enough with proper approach, but the books will remain here until such a time you might change your mind," Seira allows. "I don't think I can express enough how much your support meant to me in this matter."
[20:55] <Kotono> "Well," Smiling at that, "I can't have one of my big customers turning into a brainwashed drone...unless I'm getting paid to undo it."
[20:56] <Seira> "This would be a good time to place you on a retainer for such an event, Elle," Seira says, nodding. "Please don't let me rampage through the city as a brainwashed drone, it is embarrassing."
[20:58] <Kotono> "Isn't it?" Just laughing at that, "Now then, I really should get back to my shop at a reasonable time. It's not as fun as I'd imagined, but..the money's worth it, even if you have to be there most of the time. Oh say, I think I'll buy a few baronies one day, unless you three beat me to it."
[20:58] * Demedais is now known as Taishyr
[20:58] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[20:58] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
[20:59] <Seira> "Maybe there will be a war and we'll conquer one," Seira muses. "I think we could make a good case for receiving stewardship in such a case."
[21:01] <Kotono> Well, if there's a war, it means we'll rule over desert or Valandia. Mmm." Elle considers that, before laughing. "You could, but I'll worry about that another day."
[21:02] <Seira> "Speaking of desert," Seira says, stretching after her long period of reading, "there was a gnomish ruin in the fiefdoms, right?"
[21:03] <Kotono> "I...think so," Countess Stronger agrees after a moment, "I haven't kept strict track, I'm just pawning what you bring up from them."
[21:04] <Seira> "I've been wondering," Seira admits. "What if they are offering adventurers the opportunity to explore in exchange for shared profits and knowledge, similar to what goes on here?"
[21:05] <Kotono> "What if? Then they're selling the ruins and what's inside to the luckiest bidder." Stronger merely shrugs as she ntoes that, "It makes sense in a way - have those desperate or brave enough to go in do the work and split the profits with them."
[21:06] * Eagan (~iron_drag@cpe-76-183-251-6.tx.res.rr.com) has left #dunes
[21:07] <Seira> "It does," Seira agrees, nodding. "And groups who braved the very heart of gnomish ruins and returned in victory are few... I would say that my friends and I held a distinct advantage over others, here."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Well, whomever's gone in and come up would have and avantage. They know what they're facing and they're reinforced with what the found in the earlier ruin." Agreeing with that quite calmly, "Like a snowball down a mountainside."
[21:09] <Seira> "I'm not sure we can just show up unannounced, though, without contacts and wearing foreign colors." Seira gives Elle a sly look. "It would help if we had an intermediary of sorts."
[21:11] <Kotono> There's a pause as she stratches her ear, looking away with a half smile, half blush. "I can look into it for you if you want. Traders from the Desert Fiefdoms pass by on occasion, and I've done minor business with a few."
[21:11] <Seira> "It would be appreciated. And profitable, of course. I firmly believe that part."
[21:37] <Kotono> The next day, Seira goes to visit Sir Farmsturt. His wife welcomes her in, leading her upstairs. Here he works, scribbing in a book when Seira enters. "Oh, sit down," he waves, gesturing to a chair. "Vanished off the face of Balmuria a few days? I was expecting you earlier, did something happen?"
[21:39] <Seira> "Research of my own," she responds, waving a hand. "You know how that gets."
[21:41] <Kotono> "Mmm, yes, I do." He stops, going into a drawer and taking out the stone figurine. Putting on the table with a satisfying stone THUMP, "It is dwarven, I think. Unless it's an imitation, but the odds are extremely low."
[21:42] * Seira nods. "And the appraisal of the item?"
[21:45] <Kotono> "A couple hundred gold, at least. More if someone appreciates the value. It's maybe a hundred years old? It's dwarven stonecraft, so it doesn't show it's age well, so this is purely a guess." Pausing to take the stone figurine and polish it, "You'd be best off selling it somewhere with money and culture if you wanted to make the most of it."
[21:46] * Seira nods, taking notes. "And if I wanted to find more of them, or trade for other dwarven craft? Where should I look?"
[21:56] <Kotono> "Find a dwarf. They pass through once in a moon or ten, but they're rare. I heard that the elves may keep in touch with them, too." Finishing that part off, "They're not so easy to find that you can just stroll to the corner and get in touch, regretably."
[21:57] <Seira> "Then I'll try the elves, then," she says, nodding. "Thank you for your work, Sir. How much do I owe you?"
[21:58] <Kotono> "Owe?" He blinks, before laughing, "10 gold is more than enough. I hadn't even thought in those terms."
[21:59] <Seira> "It is a way of thanking you for your efforts," she affirms, handing the gold coins over.
[22:01] <Kotono> The gold is taken, "Good luck in continuing your research."

[Corwin]

[18:53] <Kotono> ---
[18:54] <Kotono> A few days later, another day is done. Uatu is once again in the past, duty going on. Seira's been busy lately, holed up in her inn working on something. So it's been quiet, but this day Shamal and Demedais happen to walk together after unnotable duties, the afternoon sun setting into the horizon. With a sky of red and orange above them, they walk from the garrison...
[18:56] <Demedais> "Shamal." Demedais says after a long pause. "Do you have any... residual effects from our last visit to Uatu?"
[18:59] <Shamal> "Hm?" Shamal cocks her head at Demedais as they stroll along, contemplating her answer. "Well, I believe I was blessed by the Forest Queen - it sounds presumptous, and she didn't announce herself like Helm did, but I can think of no other explanation," she admits. "I feel more in tune with the natural world than ever before, even accounting for how my mind has been expanded by other sources, lately."
[19:00] <Demedais> "I...." Demedais keeps walking.
[19:01] <Shamal> "... you?" Shamal asks after a pregnant pause, looking at Demedais with an expectant but undemanding expression.
[19:02] * Demedais looks at Shamal, a bit confused. "What?"
[19:02] <Shamal> "You started to say something then stopped," the blonde points out.
[19:04] <Demedais> "I... did?" Demedais says, pausing for a second. Then, "Ah, right! That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I've been spacing out lately... and it's felt like I've had... I don't know, an extra feeling, almost? Once in a while? Ever since we went back there. Could it be something Uatu's done to me, on accident or on purpose?"
[19:06] <Shamal> "Ah, yes," Shamal smiles slightly. "I know exactly what you mean - when you were there, it felt like a third eye was opened, and now it's closed?" she asks, nodding to herself. "I felt much the same... it hasn't been distracting, but I do feel it on some level almost constantly."
[19:07] <Kotono> As you walk down the streets, the bustle is notably more than usual. Several extra traders and workers haul things along to the port, a burly man driving them along with heckles and glares. Lots of cargo, the voices carrying. "C'mon! If you slack off now you're gonna get your asses fried!"
[19:08] <Demedais> "It's been bothering me greatly." Demedais grumbles softly. "When Father Ceiar has to call me six times to morning prayer, something's wrong."
[19:09] * Demedais idly glances over to the traders and their cargo. "Hmmm."
[19:10] <Shamal> "I can see how that would be a problem," Shamal nods, idly following Demedais' gaze at the passing caravan to see what's being transported. "Perhaps you need a distraction? Or to make sense of the feeling, and hope that with mastery it will no longer distract you so?"
[19:10] <Kotono> It looks like carts and packs of heavy things - metal, some pottery, a bit of odds and ends. "Move it!" The man prodding them along is swarthy skinned, with arms and a body like tree trunks.
[19:11] <Demedais> "That's nice, Shamal..." Demedais murmurs, attempting to figure out where the man comes from.
[19:13] * Shamal sighs softly. "I'm sure it is," she agrees. "If you like I can try researching it? To be honest I've been content to leave it as a mystery, but if it's causing you this much trouble..."
[19:14] * Demedais doesn't hear Shamal, it seems; he's only paying attention to the caravan.
[19:18] <Shamal> "It's not that interesting, is it?" Shamal asks, sounding minorly peeved as she stops and waits for Demedais to come out of his fugue.
[19:19] <Demedais> "What?" Demedais blinks and looks at Shamal. "Oh, hello!"
[19:20] <Shamal> "Hello to you, too!" Shamal returns, voice brimming with false cheer. "We've only just been walking together for the past ten minutes."
[19:22] <Demedais> "..." Demedais stares at Shamal for a second, blinking. "...In Helm's name..." He closes his eyes, attempting to clear his mind. "Did I just zone out again?"
[19:24] <Shamal> "Yes," the blonde nods, hiding her exasparation. "What on Earth's gotten into you, Demedais? If you can't even hold a conversation without going away with the fairies, you've got real problems."
[19:27] <Demedais> "I think that's what I was going to tell you." Demedais says, frowning a bit. "...or did I already do that? I... think I did." Pausing, "And then you mentioned... making the feeling make sense?"
[19:28] <Shamal> "Ah... yes, I offered to research it, although I had no idea things were so bad for you. Let me just check you're not under any sort of enchantment?" Shamal offers, casting detect magic and casting her gaze over Demdais.
[19:31] <Kotono> IN addition to the other auras around Demedais(The normal ones that should be there), there is a faint, lingering aura.
[19:32] <Demedais> "That would be nice, yes." Demedais says, attempting to keep his focus on Shamal and not the going-ons of the city.
[19:33] <Shamal> roll 1d20+16 guidance'd
[19:33] * Serith bats the dice around, getting a roll for Shamal : [ 1d20=2 ]{18}
[19:34] <Kotono> In the haze the dark skinned man slipped away, but he looked foreign, like some of the crew of the ship Khan came on.  Shamal can't figure out the spell school.
[19:35] * Shamal shakes her head after a moment. "You're definitely being affected by some magic," she confirms, looking down at herself to see any foreign magic is affecting her as well.
[19:37] <Demedais> "So it is magical?" Demedais murmurs, his mind wandering again...
[19:37] <Kotono> There is a -very- faint and lingering aura around Shamal.
[19:38] <Shamal> Returning her gaze to Demedais after attempting to identify what's around herself, "But it's already fading, and it was weak to begin with - that could only be if the spell wore off within the last minute or so." She looks around for a moment to see if she can spot anyone suspicious lurking nearby.
[19:38] <Shamal> roll 1d20+15 spellcraft on me
[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+15 spellcraft on me and gets 16."12 [1d20=1]
[19:39] <Kotono> Shamal can't pin it down.
[19:39] <Shamal> OOC: Do I see anyone suspicious or magely nearby?
[19:43] <Kotono> OOC: Not really, no. Beyond the two of you being magical firecrackers with all the nice magicalthings you own.
[19:44] <Shamal> "Yes, unfortunately I can't tell what it was, and it's nearly gone..." Shamal replies, staying still for a moment and watching as the auras fade away into nothingness. "I don't feel any different, though, so I've no idea what it could be."
[19:45] * Demedais nods a bit dreamily.
[19:48] * Demedais glances back over at Shamal, and proceeds to blanch, turn a deep red, close his eyes and suddenly kneel, all in the space of five seconds!
[19:49] <Shamal> "Ah... Demedais?!" Shamal starts in alarm, crouching down over his prone form and trying to diagnose what ails him!
[19:50] <Shamal> roll 1d20+13 heal
[19:50] * Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+13 heal and gets 24."12 [1d20=11]
[19:50] * Demedais shrugs off Shamal. "I'm... fine." Demedais mutters as he stands back up.
[19:52] <Shamal> "You're not fine!" Shamal insists, holding him down. "Your face is all flushed, you might be sick!"
[19:53] <Demedais> "Just... got immensely distracted, that's all." He smiles at Shamal. "I was... reminded of Malmuth." he said tactfully.
[19:54] <Shamal> "What's in Malmuth that could make you collapse like that?" Shamal asks worriedly, nonetheless relenting and standing up to let Demedais do the same.
[19:55] * Demedais stands, shaking his head. "It... never happened. Just... a dream set in an old temple of Helm, out in Malmuth."
[19:56] <Shamal> "Let's just get you to the temple so you can rest?" Shamal suggests, still sounding uneasy. "You really seem like you need it."
[19:57] * Demedais pauses, thinking a bit. "...Let's keep walking." he says finally. "I think the fresh air will do me better than trying to rest."
[19:59] <Kotono> The party walks down away from the garrison, heading towards the south of the city.
[19:59] <Shamal> "Fine, but if you faint again then I'm taking you back to your temple," Shamal insists. "This is making me very uneasy - your strange behaviour, and these mysterious magical auras..."
[20:00] <Demedais> "It wasn't a faint. More of... shock." Demedais replies. "Should we try to find Seira? Maybe she would know what's going on."
[20:02] <Shamal> "Well, do you want to talk about it?" Shamal asks as they walk along. "And sure, we can visit her inn if you like."
[20:04] <Demedais> "...not particularly, but thank you." Demedais smiles again. "It was just... heh." He shakes his head, then stops and blinks at an intersection. "I don't remember this intersection... you lead the way, Shamal, I'll follow. I should take one of these days to map the town."
[20:05] * Shamal sighs. "Come on, then. Maybe a nice drink will calm you down?" she asks, not hiding her exasparation quite so well as she leads Demedais up the hill to Seira's inn.
[20:06] * Sleeping (~carthrat@c58-107-63-64.eburwd7.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #evildunes
[20:06] * Alveria (~carthrat@c58-107-63-64.eburwd7.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Broken pipe)
[20:09] <Kotono> In that daze, Seira's inn is reached. Business comes and goes here, noisy and loud.  In the summery sunset people are here to drink, back and forth. Chattery can be heard as the two enter, the somewhat lately secluded Seira there. You also note a rather disgruntled want to be paladin is there as well right now, drinking and looking vaguely put out, sitting by himself.
[20:10] <Shamal> "Why don't you go talk to Donald, Demedais?" Shamal suggests, giving him a nudge. "That'll surely cheer one of you up."
[20:11] * Demedais eys Shamal a bit before murmuring "Maybe in a minute..." before he goes to find a quiet corner away from Donald, bowing his head in thought or prayer.
[20:12] * Shamal shrugs and leaves Demedais to his own devices, going to get a glass of wine before she greets Seira. "Hello, Seira," she smiles, sitting down by the half-elf. "How're things?"
[20:14] * Demedais continutes to pray, both atoning for his earlier thoughts and continuing to try and focus inwards...
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[20:17] <Kotono> As Shamal sits down, she sees her attention lanced by words. Words from Donald, getting up and calling, "Back?" He approaches quickly, a half scowl on his face.
[20:17] <Seira> "Things are interesting, to say the least," Seira admits. "I gave those evil books of brainwashing a crack. You?"
[20:18] * Demedais tries one more time to snatch that enhanced feeling through a lengthy, silent prayer...
[20:18] <Shamal> "Demedais is acting strange and we..." Shamal trails off at Donald's brusque greeting. "Yes, Donald?" she asks patiently, turning to his approaching figure.
[20:19] <Seira> "Donald is feeling bad because he has been trying to pick up girls using my name," Seira informs Shamal. "I think."
[20:20] <Kotono> He sits down, "....hey!" Turning up with a half glare at Seira, "I'm not, but nevermind that. No, has there been anything at all about the undead here? It was mostly quiet while all of you were away."
[20:20] <Seira> "Things will pick up," she tells him. "You just sit tight and train so that you're ready when the time comes."
[20:21] <Shamal> "Haven't heard anything since we got back - Febras is still out of town, isn't he?" Shamal asks, sipping her drink.
[20:21] <Seira> "Aside from the letter he sent me, I heard nothing."
[20:22] * Demedais exhales softly and shakes his head. "Well... although I feel better about that, I still have that nagging feeling..."
[20:23] <Seira> "That is usually assosiated with mind-control," Seira says sternly, glancing at Shamal through her wine glass. "Have you tried protection from evil on him?"
[20:24] <Shamal> "Don't have it prepared," the blonde admits. "Actually, there appeared to be some faint magic lingering on both of us earlier, but it left while we were on the way here. Unfortunately I couldn't identify it... I don't feel any different, but it does worry me."
[20:25] <Seira> "I keep it prepared these days," Seira comments. "Well, one instance, for emergencies and relapses. Would you like me to use it?"
[20:26] * Demedais walks up, nodding slightly to Donald as he reaches the counter. "Hello, Seira. How's business?"
[20:26] <Shamal> "Couldn't hurt," Shamal shrugs, gesturing for Seira to do her thing.
[20:27] <Seira> "Good. How are the voices?" She smiles disarmingly, tapping Demedais on his shoulder and releasing the arcane energies stored in her fingertips.
[20:29] <Demedais> "...voices?" Demedais asks, confused.
[20:30] <Kotono>  Listening into all the converation, "Wait, that monster sent you a letter?" Donald pipes up.
[20:31] <Seira> "We're penpals. Seems like there is a pretty powerful elven mage traveling with Irenes, if he could be believed. And in Malmuth, no less." Seira peers at Demedais. "Feel any different, by the way?"
[20:32] * Demedais glances at Seira as the magic flows into him. "No, not particularly." he replies, shaking his head.
[20:32] <Seira> "It might just be him," Seira tells Shamal with a shrug, letting the energies fade away into oblivion as she shakes her fingers lightly.
[20:33] <Demedais> "Considering it started when we last saw Uatu, I doubt it." Demedais replied a bit angrily.
[20:34] <Shamal> "I've got no more clues, then," Shamal shrugs, eyeing Demedais for a moment longer before giving Seira her attention. "What was that you said about the books, earlier?"
[20:34] <Seira> "Well. What specifically started? Details might be helpful for my research."
[20:34] <Seira> "Oh, that?" Seira smirks. "I've cracked the first layer of protection, and in doing so resisted temptation by evil and gotten more in tune with my emotions. Not bad for a few days of work, wouldn't you say?"
[20:35] <Shamal> "You mean there was actually something useful amidst all the glory to Daa-vid nonsense?" Shamal asks in surprise.
[20:35] <Demedais> "I've... been constantly distracted. Spacy. In addition, it's felt like I've had a... sixth sense of sorts, just out of reach."
[20:36] <Shamal> "He collapsed earlier," Shamal tells Seira, "But aside from the lingering aura I spotted on us both that's gone now, there doesn't appear to be any magical cause."
[20:36] <Seira> "I can guide you through it," she offers Shamal, "though it is not without risk. Or, rather, the risk-free way would take months to try." Turning her attention to Demedais, Seira frowns thoughtfully. "Well. An obvious spell to try would be protection from either law or good. If this is indeed Helm talking to you as you alluded back then, it might block him and be decisive proof."
[20:36] <Kotono> "Hmph," Donald mutters, "Yeah, practicing so that when he returns..." Standing up and nodding, "Yeah, I get you," Donald speaks, going.
[20:37] <Seira> "Call me if you need me!" Seira tells Donald, waving.
[20:37] <Demedais> "I. Didn't. Collapse." Demedais says through gritted teeth. "It was more of a shock/surprise effect." He nods solemly at Donald as he leaves.
[20:38] <Shamal> "You fell over without being pushed!" Shamal replies exasparatedly. "That's good enough for me to call it collapsing. And just what could have surprised you that much?"
[20:38] * Seira ponders this further. "You could ask for a simple augury at the temple, to see whether letting this affect you further is in your best interest."
[20:39] * Demedais considers. "That is probably for the best, Seira. And... I'd really rather not talk about it, Shamal."
[20:40] * Seira shrugs. "Everyone has personal stuff they don't feel like discussing."
[20:42] <Shamal> "Suit yourself," Shamal replies, finishing off her wine and paying the barkeep. "As for myself, I had best go tend to my dogs. I'll talk to you about those books tomorrow, Seira. Good night," she nods to both and departs.
[20:42] * Seira waves at Shamal warmly, lounging at the bar.
[20:43] * Demedais waves as well, looking a bit red.
[20:44] * Demedais then proceeds to eye the bar itself irritably, still rather red in the face.

[Corwin]

<POSSIBLE LEVEL UP (to level 8)>