25: Befriending and Humiliating never mix

[Ebiris]

[15:30] <@Ebiris> With the prone gangster having just had his head pulped across the floor by an angry stony fist, the remaining rogues (who aren't off in another world of ecstatic mind-melting colours) flinch and look away from the grisly sight, but soon steel themselves, a variety of curses splitting the air as vengeance is sworn!
[15:30] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[15:32] * @Lucie turns to the most bloodied of the attackers near her and swings away. "Let's see if we can do something about that pretty face of yours!"
[15:32] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+4
[15:32] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+4 and gets 13." [1d20=9]
[15:33] <@Ebiris> He barely manages to dodge out of the way, Lucie's morning star tearing through his leather cuirass but leaving his flesh mercifully undamaged... except for the quite horrific damage it's already taken courtesy of the fun-loving alchemist.
[15:33] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[15:38] <@Henrietta> Glenn eats the rest of the poor man's face!
[15:39] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+8 claw
[15:39] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+8 claw
[15:39] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+8 claw and gets 12." [1d20=4]
[15:39] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+8 claw and gets 18." [1d20=10]
[15:39] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+8 bite
[15:39] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+8 bite and gets 12." [1d20=4]
[15:40] <@Ebiris> A particularly brutal version of the 'got your nose' trick ensues, with Glenn tearing the conch off of the thug's already brutalised face, along with a good chunk of bone and cartiledge! He collapses with a gurgled scream, blood bubbling up from the gaping wound, but the other thug nearby quickly jumps back to avoid being bitten himself!
[15:40] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 blinded/stunned
[15:40] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4 blinded/stunned and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[15:41] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Glenn > Dragon 4 (blinded 3) > Henrietta > Dragon 5 > Dragon 1 > Dragon 3 (blinded 3) > Dragon 2 > Rudy > Elemental'
[15:41] <@Ebiris> One of the men currently tasting Lucie's rainbow staggers up, groaning and groping the wall for support as he sways dizzily...
[15:41] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[15:42] * @Henrietta summons another whip, and it snakes out insidiously into the bloody room. It wraps around Lucie's feet before continuing towards its true target, an unsuspecting rogue who would soon be tumbling down to the ground if al goes well!
[15:42] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+11 trip
[15:42] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+11 trip and gets 12." [1d20=1]
[15:43] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Glenn > Dragon 4 (blinded 3) > Henrietta > Dragon 1 > Dragon 3 (blinded 3) > Dragon 2 > Rudy > Elemental'
[15:44] <@Ebiris> Unfortunately Lucie steps back to avoid the tumbling faceless goon, her shin slapping the whip off course and preventing it from finding its prey! "You fucking animal! I'll kill you!" one of the remaining Lotus Dragons shrieks as he ignores Lucie in favour of stabbing Glenn, shifting around to better flank with his pal!
[15:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4 flanking
[15:44] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 flanking and gets 16." [1d20=12]
[15:45] <@Ebiris> But Glenn's alchemically toughened skin is more than able to shrug off such panicked attacks, while another intoxicated seeming thug clambers up the wall besides his dizzied friend, and the flanking partner tries to stab out at Glenn's throat!
[15:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4 moar flankan
[15:46] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 moar flankan and gets 21." [1d20=17]
[15:46] <@Ebiris> OOC: AC?
[15:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+1+1d6
[15:46] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4+1+1d6 and gets 6." [1d4=4][1d6=1]
[15:47] <@Glenn> ooc: that hits
[15:47] <@Ebiris> This one strikes home, not the fatal wound hoped for but scoring an angry bleeding gash across Glenn's neck, staining his shirt red!
[15:47] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy and the power of EARTH
[15:49] <@Rudy> A crossbow bolt flies towards Lucie's opponent, courtesy of Rudy providing precise, piercing support through the door from the rear!
[15:49] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7
[15:49] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 and gets 16." [1d20=9]
[15:50] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[15:50] <@Rudy> roll 1d8+1
[15:50] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8+1 and gets 7." [1d8=6]
[15:51] <@Ebiris> The bolt slams into the man's gut, making him double over in pain, clutching a hand to the wound and wheezing, but nonetheless keeping his weapon up in the other hand!
[15:51] <@Rudy> The elemental ambles towards the thug moments later, intending to deliver a crushing blow from the opposite side...
[15:51] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+8 flanking with Lucie, I hope
[15:51] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+8 flanking with Lucie, I hope and gets 18." [1d20=10]
[15:51] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[15:52] <@Rudy> roll 1d6+4
[15:52] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d6+4 and gets 6." [1d6=2]
[15:52] <@Ebiris> A shattering crack of bone is heard as the stony fist slams into the man's ribs like a battering ram! His eyes bulge and a soundless scream escapes his lips as he crumples in a battered heap to the ground!
[15:52] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Glenn > Dragon 4 (blinded 3) > Henrietta > Dragon 3 (blinded 3) > Dragon 2 > Rudy > Elemental'
[15:52] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[15:54] * @Lucie turns to the only threat left standing and swings at his head. "Where are your boasts now, eh? Still feeling brave without safety in numbers?"
[15:54] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+4 dunno if I can get flanking with anyone here?
[15:54] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+4 dunno if I can get flanking with anyone here? and gets 11." [1d20=7]
[15:54] <@Ebiris> OOC: misses even with it
[15:55] <@Ebiris> "Davey Jones take you!" he snarls bitterly as he ducks Lucie's overhand swing. "The others'll get here soon!"
[15:55] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[15:56] <@Henrietta> "We shall win against them as well!" Henrietta bravely calls out from outside the room.
[15:56] <@Lucie> "Oh, you mean the ones your pet bugs ate?"
[15:57] * @Glenn goes after the goon that Lucie just attacked, not giving a witty reply like the others. His mouth's going to be full in a bit anyhow.
[15:58] <@Glenn> roll d20+8 bite
[15:58] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 bite and gets 22." [d20=14]
[15:58] <@Glenn> roll d20+8 claw
[15:58] <@Glenn> roll d20+8 claw
[15:58] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 claw and gets 21." [d20=13]
[15:58] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 claw and gets 11." [d20=3]
[15:58] <@Ebiris> OOC: bite and claw hit
[15:59] <@Glenn> roll d8+1
[15:59] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d8+1 and gets 9." [d8=8]
[15:59] <@Glenn> roll d6+1
[15:59] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d6+1 and gets 2." [d6=1]
[16:00] <@Ebiris> This is one man who won't be food for the bugs, instead filling Glenn's gaping maw as his neck is torn open by the alchemist's teeth, a raking claw slash down his shoulder to hold him steady until he collapses, blood pouring from his wounds!
[16:00] <@Ebiris> OOC: fight's basically over unless you spend half a minute just standing around, so take care of the others at your leisure
[16:00] * @Henrietta steps inside warily, hefting her flail in both hands.
[16:01] <@Rudy> Not satisfied with only being able to throw two punches in one fight, Rudy's elemental continues to adminsters knockout blows to the blinded dragons.
[16:02] <@Ebiris> The men promptly go unconscious once again, in a far less colourful but more long-lasting manner!
[16:02] * @Glenn spits on a spot to clean his mouth and rubs his lips with one of his sleeves.
[16:02] * @Lucie takes a look around the training room for exits, not having been here as the others have. "Right. Now who's next?"
[16:02] <@Ebiris> The training room remains dim, the smell of sweat and blood prevailing throughout, the remaining training dummies standing in mute vigil after the slaughter. On the Eastern end a door lies beckoning...
[16:03] <@Rudy> "That-a-way," replies Rudy, giving the room a brief glance. "I can't believe we actually pulled that off," he adds, starting towards the door.
[16:04] * @Lucie approaches the door, pausing at it to listen for whoever or whatever might be on the other side, and scanning the area around the door for any unpleasant surprises. It's been fairly easy so far, and that can't help but make one suspicious.
[16:04] <@Henrietta> "We are very strong!" Henrietta insists, closing the distance.
[16:04] <@Ebiris> OOC: perception, Lucie
[16:04] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+10
[16:04] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+10 and gets 21." [1d20=11]
[16:04] <@Glenn> "We're powered by a desire to avenge Miranda!" Glenn declares. He doesn't look very righteous with a bit of smeared blood coming from his lips and claws, but oh well.
[16:04] -> *Lucie* You can hear scrabbling noises on the other side of the door like one of those huge bugs moving around on stone floor, as well as metallic sounding clinks
[16:05] <@Lucie> "More bugs waiting for us in there, I think," Lucie says.
[16:05] * Joins: Aisutori (~Dracos@c-69-181-203-9.hsd1.ca.comcast.net)
[16:06] <@Henrietta> "I can, umm--" Henrietta glances about. "How about I trip them once the door opens? And the, umm, elemental can stop them from coming in!"
[16:07] <@Rudy> "I understood that in logical terms!" protests Rudy, trying to look everywhere but Glenn. "It's just... not what I saw us, you know, doing." He rubs his head. "It's an elemental, huh? Okay. Sure."
[16:07] <@Lucie> "Works for me. Let's send the rocky bugger in first then, let him take the worst of it."
[16:08] * @Henrietta stays in range, which is ten feet away from the door and a bit to the side. As soon as someone opens it and she sees the opposition, she will act!
[16:08] <@Rudy> The elemental opts to trudge forward and plow through the door, ready to commence his grim duty.
[16:09] <@Ebiris> The elemental opens the door and is promptly confronted by a screeching hissing mass of pony-sized bug, lunging forward and clacking its oversized jagged mandibles!
[16:09] <@Ebiris> OOC: init
[16:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+1 rhagodessa
[16:09] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+1 rhagodessa and gets 17." [1d20=16]
[16:09] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6
[16:09] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 and gets 22." [1d20=16]
[16:09] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[16:09] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 13." [1d20=11]
[16:10] <@Glenn> roll d20+4
[16:10] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+4 and gets 13." [d20=9]
[16:11] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+0 elemental
[16:11] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+0 elemental and gets 13." [1d20=13]
[16:11] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 rudy
[16:11] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 rudy and gets 19." [1d20=15]
[16:11] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Rudy > Rhagodessa > Glenn > Henrietta > Elemental'
[16:11] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Oracle
[16:13] <@Lucie> Does this monstrosity have enough of a mind to know fear? Well, one way to find out. Lucie reaches out one hand towards the creature (from a safe distance of course!) to channel a sense of dread into it. (OOC: Doom, will DC 16 or shaken, hopefully this thing's not completely mindless)
[16:15] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 unlike most vermin it has an int score, making it slightly better for guard duty! Slightly, as the earlier guards discovered.
[16:15] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 unlike most vermin it has an int score, making it slightly better for guard duty! Slightly, as the earlier guards discovered. and gets 6." [1d20=3]
[16:15] <@Ebiris> The creature instinctively recoils before Lucie, its legs cringing and its pedilaps flailing up between it and her!
[16:15] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[16:16] <@Rudy> Rudy delivers another bolt towards the beast. "Repulsive thing," he mutters. "But it's not like you're Myra..."
[16:16] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7
[16:16] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 and gets 12." [1d20=5]
[16:17] <@Ebiris> The bolt only impacts the doorframe, while the creature flails out with its forelimbs and clacks its jaw at the elemental before it!
[16:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 bite
[16:17] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 bite and gets 13." [1d20=10]
[16:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5 pedilap
[16:17] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 pedilap and gets 17." [1d20=12]
[16:17] <@Ebiris> OOC: elemental AC?
[16:17] <@Rudy> OOC: less!
[16:18] <@Rudy> OOC: 1sec
[16:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 elemental CMD?
[16:18] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+9 elemental CMD? and gets 23." [1d20=14]
[16:18] <@Rudy> OOC: 17
[16:18] <@Rudy> OOC: er, and 13
[16:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d6+6
[16:19] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d6+6 and gets 12." [1d6=6]
[16:20] <@Ebiris> The rocky creature is swiftly brought down and cradled in the rhagodessa's brutal embrace, its massive jaw carving the rock as easily as it would flesh and leaving Rudy's minion hanging by a thread!
[16:20] <@Ebiris> OOC: H-chan
[16:20] <@Henrietta> With a rose whip summoned into the palm of her hand, Henrietta dutifully locks away any thoughts of fear and terror and follows their plan!
[16:20] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+11
[16:20] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+11 and gets 14." [1d20=3]
[16:20] * Quits: @Henrietta (corwin@2.54.187.238) (Quit: )
[16:20] * Parts: Aisutori (~Dracos@c-69-181-203-9.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) (Leaving)
[16:20] <@Ebiris> While Henrietta snags one leg and pulls it away, that's not enough to truly dislodge the monster's balance, having five others to rely on!
[16:20] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[16:22] <@Glenn> With the elemental not really tripped as per the plan, Glenn attempts the next best thing and tries to distract it until it can properly be tripped. Or something. In the meanwhile, his mouth is going to taste foul probably.
[16:22] <@Glenn> roll d20+8
[16:22] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 and gets 23." [d20=15]
[16:23] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[16:23] <@Glenn> roll d8+1
[16:23] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d8+1 and gets 5." [d8=4]
[16:24] <@Ebiris> Crunching through chitinous carapace, Glenn devours the gooey white ichor within, his teeth flecked with black shards of bug-shell and pulped innards! It tastes like sad and bitter dreams and empty lives!
[16:24] <@Ebiris> OOC: Elemental
[16:24] * @Glenn spits rapidly what's in his mouth. "That is completely disgusting!"
[16:25] <@Lucie> "Then find a better way to kill things!"
[16:25] <@Rudy> The elemental struggles mightly from his locked position, trying to grapple and strangle his insectoid opponent!
[16:25] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 hurt via grapple
[16:25] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 hurt via grapple and gets 19." [1d20=15]
[16:25] <@Rudy> OOC: cmd?
[16:26] <@Ebiris> OOC: success
[16:26] <@Rudy> roll 1d6+4
[16:26] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d6+4 and gets 6." [1d6=2]
[16:26] <@Ebiris> Two of the rhagodessa's legs snap and bend at unnatural angles, a high pitched screech coming from its head as it bites off more than it bargained for in the form of Rudy's feisty elemental!
[16:27] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[16:27] <@Glenn> "Yeah, well...You guys never let me blow things up, and I bite harder than I can cut with my claws!" Glenn replies to Lucie as a complaint.
[16:27] <@Lucie> OOC: I assume door's blocked and I can't get into melee?
[16:27] <@Ebiris> OOC, you can, there's room alongside Glenn since the elemental and the bug are both sharing a square just past the door
[16:28] * @Lucie maneuvers next to her cohorts to get a swing in at the badly-maimed bug!
[16:28] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+4
[16:28] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+4 and gets 13." [1d20=9]
[16:28] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit since it's grappled
[16:29] <@Lucie> roll 1d8+2
[16:29] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d8+2 and gets 9." [1d8=7]
[16:29] <@Ebiris> The creature buckles and almost collapses utterly as Lucie smashes her mace down on its thorax, twitching and just barely hanging on to life!
[16:31] <@Rudy> Another crossbow bolt aims to finish the disgusting creature off!
[16:31] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7 preciseshotissogood
[16:31] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 preciseshotissogood and gets 21." [1d20=14]
[16:31] <@Rudy> roll 1d8+1
[16:31] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8+1 and gets 8." [1d8=7]
[16:32] <@Ebiris> That does it! The bolt goes over the elemental's shoulders and slams the rhagodessa right in the throat, causing it to fall off its would be prey and collapse in a heap with its mangled legs twitching and curling above it, blocking the doorway!
[16:33] <@Lucie> "Ugh. We have to go past that, don't we?" Lucie shrugs, quickly resigns herself to the task of dragging the carcass out of the way.
[16:33] <@Rudy> The elemental proceeds to obediently drag the creature's remnants away, leaving Rudy free to step into the room without getting his boots full of ichor and guts.
[16:34] <@Ebiris> The elemental does the dirty work without complaint, a chain being dragged along with the creature's corpse that leads up to a winch in an alcove at the North of this roughly triangular room. Another door beckons on the far end...
[16:35] <@Henrietta> As often happens, the plan did not survive contact with the enemy. At least the enemy was very feeble, Henrietta consoles herself, gingerly stepping inside.
[16:36] * @Lucie follows. "You know, that lump's pretty useful," she says, pointing towards the elemental. "Nice having a walking wall take point when there's something like that waiting for us."
[16:37] <@Rudy> "Wouldn't be doing anything like this without these things to handle the heavy lifting," comments Rudy. "Without 'em, well, uh... it's not that I like them, but you got to use what you've got!"
[16:37] <@Henrietta> "Oh, yes!" Henrietta agrees, startled out of her gloomy thoughts. "Magic is very helpful!"
[16:40] <@Rudy> The elemental proceeds to the next door, boldly opening it despite his terrible wounds. "I guess so," replies Rudy, uneasily. "But isn't it unsettling to use it when you don't really know exactly how it works?"
[16:41] <@Lucie> "All I need to know's what it does to people who get in my way," Lucie says.
[16:41] <@Henrietta> "And you can always learn what you do not know," Henrietta adds.
[16:41] <@Ebiris> The next room is thankfully bare of defenders, remembered from your last trip. One wall is dominated by a huge map of Salerno, dozens of tiny coloured flags dotted all over. A large table in the centre of the room is covered in sheafs of paper, while a slate board opposite the map has chalk writing scribbled all over in some sort of list. Another door lies ahead opposite the one you entered by.
[16:43] * @Lucie strides over to the door. It might be fun to stop and untangle the Dragons' plans by looking at all these notes, but there'll surely be time for that once there's no one left to put up a fight. Again she listens briefly at the door before doing anything.
[16:43] <@Ebiris> OOC: perception
[16:43] <@Rudy> "From who?" asks Rudy, walking towards the papers and glancing through them. "How does magic work? Not even mages really know."
[16:43] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+10
[16:43] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+10 and gets 30." [1d20=20]
[16:43] * @Glenn does take a brief look over the map while Lucie does a bit of checking on the next room.
[16:43] -> *Lucie* All quiet.
[16:44] <@Henrietta> "That is not true!" Henrietta insists, keeping pace with Rudy. "There are very basic laws that govern all magic. No one really contests those, so all we have left to discover are the little details. And it can be very exciting to research those!"
[16:44] <@Ebiris> Glenn can see the flags are all one of three colours, gold, blue, or red. Of interest is Lavinia's house, sporting a gold flag and a red flag. He can also note blue flags on the Kellani estate, and several guardhouses (some of which also have gold flags), and a red flag on the Islaran estate.
[16:44] <@Lucie> "Don't hear anything scrabbling around this time. which I guess only tells us anyone who might be there's smart enough to keep quiet. But no bugs this time, at least. We ready to keep moving? The papers aren't running."
[16:46] <@Glenn> "Yeah, let's keep moving," Glenn agrees as he moves towards the door, making a mental note to remember what he saw of the map and the flags around Lavinia's house in particular. Hopefully whatever plans they have for Lavinia are delayed, or better yet stopped, by their visit.
[16:47] <@Rudy> "Of course it's true. I keep hearing different replies as to where magic comes from, for starters. If nobody can agree on that, how can anything else be taken seriously?" Rudy grabs a bunch of the papers and stuffs them into his bag, figureing they can be read at a later date.
[16:49] <@Henrietta> "Nobody can agree on why we are alive, either. Does life fill you with uneasiness or unsettle you?"
[16:50] <@Rudy> The elemental proceeds to serve it's purpose as a valet, opening yet another door between them and what's next. "Is that a trick question?"
[16:51] <@Henrietta> "I was actually hoping it would serve to show you that the answers are there, if you ignore the fraudulent. Maybe we can study magic some once we leave this creepy place?"
[16:52] <@Ebiris> This door opens out into a small guard post, manned as last time by a hulking pig-faced brute of greying leathery flesh, standing utterly still with an enormous greataxe held, showing no strain or effort. Unlike last time, however, he's been joined by a friend! This one is a short skeletal figure dressed in dark clothing and wielding a pair of short swords. With a sound of creaking bone, they turn towards the intruders and begin to advance, the zombie lumbering while the skeleton slinks low and uncannily fast!
[16:52] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll initiative
[16:52] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 r
[16:52] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 r and gets 8." [1d20=4]
[16:52] <@Rudy> roll 1d20 e
[16:52] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20 e and gets 10." [1d20=10]
[16:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20-1 zombie
[16:52] <@Glenn> roll d20+4
[16:52] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20-1 zombie and gets 11." [1d20=12]
[16:52] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+4 and gets 9." [d20=5]
[16:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 skeleton
[16:52] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+9 skeleton and gets 18." [1d20=9]
[16:52] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[16:52] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 9." [1d20=7]
[16:53] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6
[16:53] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[16:53] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Skeleton > Zombie > Elemental > Glenn > Henrietta > Rudy'
[16:53] <@Ebiris> OOC: go speedy gonlucie
[16:54] <@Glenn> "Undead...I hate undead," Glenn mutters, and grumbles under his breath about wishing he could just blow them up. But he knows his companions would just complain.
[16:55] <@Lucie> From her safe position behind the elemental, Lucie reaches out and wills a miasma of biting cold into existence around the lumbering zombie!
[16:55] <@Lucie> roll 3d6 cold, fort DC 16 for half
[16:55] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 3d6 cold, fort DC 16 for half and gets 12." [3d6=2, 4, 6]
[16:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+1 pathfinder undead aren't immune to cold
[16:56] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+1 pathfinder undead aren't immune to cold and gets 3." [1d20=2]
[16:58] <@Ebiris> Frost cascades around the zombie, freezing its already decayed flesh and making it flake off like grisly dandruff, its movements stiffening for a moment until it sloughs off all the frosted flesh, leaving it more decayed than ever, but no less menacing! The skeleton darts forward aggressively, stabbing out with one of its blades right at the elemental!
[16:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+8
[16:58] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+8 and gets 12." [1d20=4]
[16:59] <@Ebiris> The blade manages only to glance off in a shower of sparks, forcing the skeleton's grip upwards as it slides off the rock! The zombie nonetheless lumbers forward after its undead companion to split the summoned being in two!
[16:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+11
[16:59] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+11 and gets 16." [1d20=5]
[16:59] <@Ebiris> It too misses, however, gouging out a shower of dirt and rock from the floor!
[17:00] -> *Lucie* You recognise the pattern on the blade of that sword the skeleton has, even if you only saw it for a second. Mort was always showing off his swords and polishing them and talking to them as if they were women in a really creepy manner.
[17:00] <@Ebiris> OOC: Elemental
[17:01] * @Lucie gasps slightly as she gets a better look at the weapons the skeleton wields. "Mort?!"
[17:01] <@Rudy> The elemental retaliates with a punch to the skeleton's face, making a pleased grunt at these new opportunities!
[17:01] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7
[17:01] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 and gets 18." [1d20=11]
[17:01] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[17:02] <@Rudy> roll 1d6+4
[17:02] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d6+4 and gets 9." [1d6=5]
[17:02] <@Ebiris> The skeleton merely looks up towards Lucie with an chittering grin... that's promptly wiped off its face as its sent reeling by the elemental's fist, causing its jaw to break apart and fall off!
[17:02] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[17:04] * @Glenn goes after the zombie, leaving the skeleton to the elemental's rocky fists.
[17:04] <@Glenn> roll d20+8 claw, not putting that in my mouth
[17:04] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 claw, not putting that in my mouth and gets 18." [d20=10]
[17:04] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[17:04] <@Glenn> roll d6+1
[17:04] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d6+1 and gets 6." [d6=5]
[17:05] <@Ebiris> The flash-frozen flesh of the hulking undead beastman is rent by Glenn's grasping claws, tearing out a tibia or some other extraneous bone as the alchemist makes short work of an arm!
[17:05] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[17:05] * @Henrietta takes a far more direct approach this time around, circling around the elemental as she swings her flail above her head! As soon as it gains speed, Henrietta smashes her weapon into the skeleton's temple, seeking to put the poor, horrible assassin's body to rest!
[17:05] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+5
[17:05] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+5 and gets 6." [1d20=1]
[17:06] <@Ebiris> Henrietta slips on a large flake of frozen skin that wafted down from the zombie, making her stumble and crack her flail off the wall instead!
[17:06] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[17:08] <@Rudy> "Oh, god! That could've been Miranda!" blurts out Rudy, attacking the apparently-ressurected form of Lucie's ex-comrade!
[17:08] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7
[17:08] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 and gets 8." [1d20=1]
[17:08] <@Ebiris> Rudy's panic makes him misam, the bolt whizzing into the air and embedding in the doorframe!
[17:09] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie, the melee's too crowded for you to join it at the moment
[17:09] <@Henrietta> "You-- you're right!" Henrietta exclaims, as the horrible realization trickles down.
[17:09] <@Lucie> OOC: boo. Then I'll hold 'til I see an opening to move in. My magic is surely useless on undead.
[17:10] <@Ebiris> The skeleton seems to deem Henrietta a more worthy opponent, or perhaps its a lingering echo of Mort's misogyny, but regardless it turns and falls upon her, blades lashing out on each arm!
[17:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6
[17:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6
[17:10] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 and gets 13." [1d20=7]
[17:10] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 and gets 23." [1d20=17]
[17:10] <@Ebiris> OOC: AC?
[17:10] <@Henrietta> OOC: 16
[17:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d6+1
[17:10] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d6+1 and gets 2." [1d6=1]
[17:12] <@Ebiris> The first is blocked by Henrietta's shield of force, but the next one barely manages to push through the barrier! Thankfully its robbed of momentum, barely scratching her and tearing her dress as it cuts her flank! With a steadfast expression of grim emptiness, the zombie meanwhile hauls up its axe out of the floor, raising it overhead and bringing it down catastrophically upon Glenn's head!
[17:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9
[17:12] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+9 and gets 22." [1d20=13]
[17:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d12+9
[17:12] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d12+9 and gets 15." [1d12=6]
[17:13] <@Ebiris> This is a powerful blow indeed, tearing through Glenn's shoulder as he barely avoids being split down the middle, instead suffering a gaping wound and surely crushed collarbone from the axehead's impact!
[17:13] <@Ebiris> OOC: elemental
[17:14] <@Rudy> The elemental prepares to deliver another blow to the skeleton, taking advantages of Henrietta to blindside the eyeless menace!
[17:14] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7 PA-1!
[17:14] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 PA-1! and gets 24." [1d20=17]
[17:14] <@Rudy> roll 1d6+6
[17:14] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d6+6 and gets 12." [1d6=6]
[17:16] <@Ebiris> Mort's reanimated cadaver collapses as the elemental punches its ribcage apart, the bones tumbling down in a chaotic jinkling cascade all around!
[17:16] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[17:16] * @Glenn grits his teeth at the pain and tries to rip the zombie up in a frenzy.
[17:16] <@Glenn> roll d20+8 claw
[17:16] <@Glenn> roll d20+8 claw
[17:16] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 claw and gets 22." [d20=14]
[17:16] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 claw and gets 10." [d20=2]
[17:16] <@Glenn> roll d20+8 bite, oh god must spit
[17:16] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 bite, oh god must spit and gets 10." [d20=2]
[17:17] <@Ebiris> OOC: only claw hits... lucky for your mouth?
[17:17] <@Glenn> roll d6+1 one hit I guess
[17:17] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d6+1 one hit I guess and gets 6." [d6=5]
[17:18] <@Ebiris> Glenn rips his claws through the zombie's guts, disembowelling it and causing several dried and mummified organs to sloppily fall out and tumble to the floor at its feet! Despite this it shows no reaction, even as it hangs on my a glimmer of unlife!
[17:18] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[17:19] * @Henrietta tries her very best to bash the zombie's brains out and conquer even a tiny part of her entirely irrational fear of the undead!
[17:19] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+5
[17:19] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+5 and gets 24." [1d20=19]
[17:19] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[17:19] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+5 I can crit zombies?
[17:19] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+5 I can crit zombies? and gets 21." [1d20=16]
[17:19] <@Ebiris> OOC: you can!
[17:19] <@Henrietta> roll 2d10+8 yay!
[17:19] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 2d10+8 yay! and gets 13." [2d10=3, 2]
[17:20] <@Ebiris> With a mighty roundhouse swing, Henrietta beheads the zombie, releasing it from servitude and sending its head to sail over Glenn's head and splatter messily next to the slateboard on the South wall! The abuse seems too much, and the reanimated corpse at last falls!
[17:21] <@Henrietta> "Take that, unnatural horrors!" she cheers.
[17:22] <@Rudy> "It's shit like this that makes me think magic is so creepy!" points out Rudy, eyeing the zombies with some disgust.
[17:22] <@Glenn> "Nice shot!" Glenn says impressed with the swing.
[17:22] * @Lucie walks into the room, takes a look around as she approaches the skeleton to toe through the remains. "Must've seen something pretty and stopped to have a taste," she mutters. "Can't say I'm too surprised."
[17:23] <@Rudy> "Did nobody tell him there's a time and place, or what?"
[17:23] <@Lucie> "No point. Anyway, you and magic, well, what do you call that summoning monsters from space that you do?"
[17:23] <@Ebiris> The bones lie in a heap around Mort's somewhat ravaged dark clothes, his two swords lying uselessly amidst the debris. The room is otherwise quite bare, just a small guardpost, guarding the next door...
[17:24] <@Rudy> "I call it creepy!" Rudy pauses. "But not too creepy."
[17:24] <@Rudy> The elemental ambles towards the next door, intent on opening it as it has opened so many others.
[17:24] * @Lucie snorts. "Right.
[17:27] <@Ebiris> The door opens to a familiar sight for some. A well lit and comfortably appointed room, smooth plaster walls painted violet a contrast to the bare brickwork of the rest of this place. Elegant silver lanterns provide light, a painting of Salerno harbour dominating one wall - except the flags all show the lotus dragon symbol. Shelves adorned with statuettes, coffers, a crystal ball, and even stuffed animals dot the room, and a plush purple carpet lies underfoot.
[17:27] <@Ebiris> Within also stands the Lady of the Lotus, her scaly green pet by her side as she stands behind the couch she sat on last time she hosted you here. "Well, if only you'd shown this sort of initiative when you were working for me... but you never were, were you?" she sighs. "I know a bad hand when I'm given one, so how about we cut a deal?"
[17:29] <@Rudy> "We just killed like six guys, and you're not even mad?"
[17:29] * @Lucie pauses, scans the room for escape routes or possible traps should things turn violent here. She wouldn't mind listening to whatever offer the woman has, but it'd be a surprise is no one objected.
[17:30] <@Henrietta> "Only after they tried to kill us! And they killed Miranda! And that Mort person! And the harbormaster, too!"
[17:31] * @Glenn scowls, nodding with Henrietta. "Lady, you killed one of our friends, tried to kill the rest of us, and worse, blew up my lab. It'd have to be a pretty damn sweet deal," Glenn growls out, looking tense. "And I don't know that you could make it sweet enough to make up for all that."
[17:31] <@Rudy> "I dunno, what've you got?"
[17:32] <@Ebiris> "Mad doesn't mean stupid," the readhead gives Rudy a vicious look. Lucie can notice two doors, one North and one South. "The Lotus Dragons are finished thanks to you, and I'd rather walk out of here on my own. So how about I tell you where Vanthus is, and you go on your way. I'll clear out of here myself, and you can pick the corpse of my guild clean as you like."
[17:32] <@Rudy> "Yeah, okay. Where is he?"
[17:32] <@Rudy> Rudy pauses. "Is this okay?"
[17:33] <@Lucie> OOC: this is totally sense motive time
[17:33] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll for it, by all means
[17:33] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+11
[17:33] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+11 and gets 25." [1d20=14]
[17:33] <@Henrietta> "How do we know you would not try to take over the city if we let you leave?" Henrietta asks, frowning. "What is your evil city domination plan, anyway?"
[17:36] -> *Lucie* She's prideful, and hates what she's doing. She doesn't seem like she's outright lying, but she doesn't seem inclined to entertain too many questions.
[17:36] <@Ebiris> "Take over the city with what? You've killed most of my men," she snaps at Henrietta, before taking a breath and giving Rudy a flat smile. "Griffin Reef. Vanthus is at Griffin Reef. There's a sea chart in the war room you just passed. He had a plan for pulling a fast one on the Collective."
[17:38] <@Rudy> "Pulling fast ones seems to be what he does," muses Rudy. "Who're they?"
[17:38] <@Henrietta> "The... umm, excuse me, the what?"
[17:39] * @Lucie justs watches for now. There are surely questions to be asked here, but the others seem on top of that.
[17:40] <@Ebiris> She all but rolls her eyes in response to the questions, clenching her fist at her side. "They're a group of pirates who claim themselves free of all nations, all about 'sharing the wealth' and 'from each according to ability and to each according to need'. It's all bullshit, of course, but that's the face they put out."
[17:41] * @Henrietta seems a bit disappointed. "So, that is to say, you did not have a sinister plan to ally yourself with one of the city's nobles and assassinate those who stood in your way?"
[17:42] <@Ebiris> She gives Henrietta a good lip-curling sneer, marring her otherwise pretty face. "Whatever plans I had are in the gutter now, so it's no matter."
[17:43] <@Henrietta> "It matters to me," Henrietta responds, pursing her lips.
[17:44] <@Lucie> "Then it doesn't cost you much to tell us about them, now does it? Especially if these allies of yours are the type who don't look kindly on those who fail them. Might be better to give us any information that could bring them down, right?"
[17:45] <@Ebiris> "Then it's like I told you before when I thought you might actually be of help," she glares, "Control the docks, control the sea trade - who needs a pretty title when you've got that much wealth at your fingertips? Now go bring Vanthus back under his sister's skirts, you have what you came for," she concludes, not dignifying Lucie with a response.
[17:47] <@Henrietta> "Maybe we would not be here in your base, breaking your things, if you did not try to have us killed. Twice!"
[17:49] <@Ebiris> "Maybe you should have kept your nose out or at least done as I asked when I gave you the chance," she retorts. "Now are you going to just stand there and complain at me all day or are you going to go do what Lavinia's paying you to do?"
[17:51] <@Henrietta> "I can agree to not stop you when you flee," Henrietta says. "But I still want to know just why you had the harbormaster killed. It is not as if you could take his place. I really do not want to leave it as it is. Tell me, and you are free to go."
[17:52] <@Ebiris> "He was a poor leader but he was still a leader. By the time they finally put someone qualified in charge, I'd have been running everything under the table," she replies unabashedly, jutting out her chin in a haughty gesture.
[17:53] * @Henrietta blinks. "I have overestimated criminals, it seems," she says, shifting uncomfortably in place. "Very well, you can flee now. Please try not to return and attempt to murder us in our sleep again."
[17:53] <@Rudy> "I kinda wish I really was working for you! God, I love a career-focused woman..." Rudy shakes his head. "But hey, I'll call it square. Just don't go running back to Vanthus, mmkay? You're smart, I'm sure."
[17:54] * @Henrietta steps away from Rudy.
[17:54] <@Ebiris> She doesn't seem to be making any motion to flee. "You had your chance," she nonetheless gives Rudy a smirk. "Go on, then, I've got things to do here first before I leave."
[17:55] * @Glenn scowls but goes along with the decision the others have reached. "I really do hope you choose to go far, FAR away from this city."
[17:55] <@Rudy> "And we've got plundering to do! Rocky, get plundering. Let's start with this room," notes Rudy, waving at the elemental, who immediately wanders over to the crystal ball and begins to lug it free. "Are these, like, paperweights?"
[17:57] * @Henrietta is not so disturbed with Rudy's terrible taste in women to neglect her duty in helping him take the useful and valuable belongings of their fallen and surrendered enemies. And that is what Detect Magic exists for!
[17:57] <@Ebiris> Her eyes widen in shock at Rudy's actions. "Things to do meant gathering my things you shit!" Immediately a rapier is in her hands, springing up. "Like Hades I'm letting you rob me!"
[17:57] * @Glenn digs into his coat and pops open the lid, drinking the extract within.
[17:57] <@Glenn> roll d8+1 CLW
[17:57] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d8+1 CLW and gets 3." [d8=2]
[17:58] <@Ebiris> OOC: lets roll init since people are robbing and casting and buffing
[17:58] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6
[17:58] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 and gets 25." [1d20=19]
[17:58] <@Glenn> roll d20+4
[17:58] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+4 and gets 5." [d20=1]
[17:58] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[17:58] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 6." [1d20=4]
[17:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 gut tugger
[17:59] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 gut tugger and gets 23." [1d20=17]
[17:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4 Lotus
[17:59] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 Lotus and gets 9." [1d20=5]
[17:59] <@Lucie> "Keeping your loot wasn't part of the deal you offered, now was it? Should've left when we gave you the chance, bitch."
[17:59] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+0 e
[17:59] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+0 e and gets 18." [1d20=18]
[17:59] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 r
[17:59] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 r and gets 9." [1d20=5]
[18:01] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Gut-Tugger > Rocky > Lotus > Rudy > Henrietta > Glenn'