044.1 "From the sea, I give you this."

[Corwin]

[20:36] <Kotono> Meeting at Whimsical Sweets is natural enough. Thus everyone gathers. Sylvie waits downstairs, wearing a white, creamy dress that shows off her bare shoulders, blonde hair tied up in an elegant bun. Jewelry is glimsped on her, as well as a choker. She's all made up and pretty. Meanwhile Neveril comes downstairs, dressed in a nice courtier's outfit. A skirt, a cape and tunic, pretty and good
[20:36] <Kotono> quality.
[20:38] <Aaeru> It takes a lot of studying in advance and then a bit of magic, but Aaeru fashions a lasting disguise for her to make her presentable according to Waukeenite tastes, changing as little as possible to make it more believable as a result. Her own hair is gathered in two buns at the sides of her head, its remnants trailing behind her.
[20:39] * Janson is quite happy to remain in Sylvie's shadow, wearing a well made suit and waistjacket in earth tones of brown and green offset with a charcoal cloak, classy but also practical. "You think I should have a mustache or a beard or something?" he wonders, stroking his chin thoughtfully in one hand, the other holding onto the ancient bottle of Pallanth's finest wine.
[20:40] <Aaeru> "A moustache would be, like, very interesting!" Aaeru comments.
[20:41] * Orval wears a well-cut set of earthy-brown and tan robes, a stylized mountain stitched onto his right breast, a green gem laid into it. His beard is carefully rebraided and shining, freshly combed. "Ye would look good with a proper beard, Janson."
[20:42] <Janson> Deciding to try it out, Janson grows a thick but well groomed ginger mustache above his top lip, reaching up to experimentally prod it. "How does it look? More mature? More like someone you'd trust with your money and life?"
[20:43] * Aaeru shrugs. "Well, I'm sure I'd trust you with my life either way? But you do look kinda older!"
[20:43] * Orval blinks. "That's cheatin'!"
[20:44] <Aaeru> "That's magic!" Aaeru counters.
[20:44] <Janson> "Ancient druidic secret," Janson replies innocently to Orval. "What do you think, Sylvie?" She probably has the best taste out of everyone present, after all.
[20:45] <Kotono> "Eh." Sylvie makes a face, tapping the moustache. "I like you clean shaven."
[20:46] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+28
[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+28 and gets 44." [1d20=16]
[20:47] <Janson> "Okay, clean shaven it is," Janson nods and his facial hair recedes, leaving his freckled face smooth and clean. "So, any last minute advice before we head over to convince the Waukeenar into hiring us? They're not really close to the Mystrams, right?" he asks the last part worriedly, having burnt those bridges.
[20:47] <Aaeru> "We should say good things about Waukeen, right?" Aaeru muses. "I'm sure there's lots, so what's the best ones?"
[20:48] <Janson> "I'll just tell the story about how Waukeen helped me get through Hell. People love that one," Janson smiles in recollection.
[20:49] <Kotono> "Right," Sylvie says, "I know a fair bit about them." Pausing a minute to nod and think, "There's the stories about them during the start of the Crimson Guard, about how they bring prosperity and all that stuff."
[20:49] * Aaeru pouts at Janson. "Anything, like, more recent? But not about Hell?"
[20:52] <Janson> "Well Waukeen didn't really help with Senaril, but we should probably tell that story anyway. How many of our competitors have saved the whole city from drowing in red hot liquid magma? Less than a handful, I bet!"
[20:54] * Orval snorts. "They appreciate wealth, so be sure to emphasize the opulence of the place."
[20:54] <Kotono> "Yeah," Sylvie says, "Money talks with them."
[20:56] <Janson> "We should talk about how we benefit the local economy," Janson suggests. "I bet most adventurers just buy useless crap like magic swords and belts of virility. We can talk up how we put our money into housing, furnishings, construction, all that good stuff. Waukeen would approve!"
[20:56] <Aaeru> "Oh, hey, does she approve of charity?" Aaeru asks suddenly. "Because I can talk about that!" She looks hopefully at Sylvie.
[20:58] <Kotono> To that Sylvie nods, "Within reason, yes. As long as it stimulates the economy."
[20:59] <Kotono> Now Neveril speaks up, "Well, it's easy to say that doing the right thing helps more people live, which means more people to buy things?"
[21:00] <Janson> "Neveril gets it," Janson beams at the siren.
[21:02] <Kotono> "Exactly," Sylviea grees, before looking to the door, "Are we all ready?"
[21:03] <Aaeru> "Think so," Aaeru agrees.
[21:04] <Janson> "Yeah, lets go," Janson takes Sylvie's hand before starting to go.
[21:07] * Orval nods.
[21:07] <Kotono> Thus you head to the Temple of the Golden Mistress! The outside is adorned in lights, colored globes shedding golden and silver light all over. At the front is a familiar face - Sammas. "Welcome to the - ah. Wait a minute, you look familiar," he eyes the party, "Whimsical Sweets? I think I've met some of you before."
[21:09] <Janson> "Yes, you blessed us when we advertised our fledgling business, remember?" Janson asks, smiling. "Queen Sylvie and all that? And the blessing worked - Waukeen's really been smiling on us since then!" Apart from all the people who died, but even then they still made lots of money, so that's surely okay in Waukeen's book.
[21:12] <Kotono> "You've done well to come back then, and seek more of Waukeen's aid. Would you like another blessing?" he asks pleasantly, "We offer them even now, if you desire one before you go in."
[21:15] <Janson> What a scam artist! "Well, we've come to see if we can aid Waukeen, actually. That's what this event is all about, right? But how about this," he reaches into his coin-purse and pulls out a fullmark, pressing the platinum coin into Sammas' hand. "If you see anyone come by who looks like they really do need that blessing, give them one on us?" Bribery is how the game is played, after all.
[21:16] <Kotono> "Certainly!" With a knowing smile as the fullmark is tucked away, "I'll do that, sir."
[21:17] <Aaeru> As she doesn't really understand the intricacies of commerce, Aaeru just keeps a polite smile on and remains quiet.
[21:17] <Janson> "Leaving aside Waukeen's favour, any advice on the competition before we head in?" Janson asks after greasing the wheels.
[21:20] <Kotono> "Ah, Holycoin Mia is looking or good first impressions. She just loves people who come in and make a big splash!" Sammas says.
[21:22] <Aaeru> Wouldn't it be a second impression, in her case? "Did anyone?" she asks out loud, joining the conversation.
[21:25] <Kotono> "I've been stuck out here," Sammas pouts, "But the Green Banner brought in a tiger with them."
[21:26] <Orval> "A tiger!" Orval says.
[21:28] * Aaeru really, really wants to ask what a tiger has to do with diplomacy or tact or negotiations. Maybe those terms are just code, like they were for Captain Hamilton. It would just be perfect if she ended up studying something something no one ever uses so hard.
[21:28] <Janson> "A tiger? In Balmuria?" Janson asks dubiously. "Hmph. The climate here is completely wrong. Still, we can totally top that, can't we Neveril?" he looks at the siren with them.
[21:28] <Kotono> Neveril blink-blinks, before blushing, "I'm c-certain I can!"
[21:30] <Janson> "You should've brought your lantern archon with you as well to show up the exoticness, Orval," he adds aside to the dwarf, "But what's the best way for us to approach it? Have Neve go in first, sing a quick verse about how great we are, then follow in?"
[21:31] <Aaeru> "Hey, why not?" Aaeru agrees. "Neve, maybe you could introduce us as we walk in?"
[21:33] <Kotono> "Okay," Neveril nods after a moment, taking the lead. "I can do that."
[21:34] <Orval> "She's not far away, Janson. I think I can summon her with our empathic link." Orval says, concentrating for a mement, not sure if it will work.
[21:34] <Aaeru> And as always, Aaeru is ready to follow Neve and support her in any way she can!
[21:35] * Janson follows Neve with a swagger, arm around the beautiful and well dressed Sylvie!
[21:42] <Kotono> Thus the party heads inside! Deep withint he temple is a great ballroom, doors of carved darkwood showing scenes of Waukeen's great riches. Neve takes a look and opens htem, "Come in after I call each of you," she says.
[21:42] <Aaeru> "Sure thing!"
[21:43] * Janson nods and gives Neve a supportive smile to encourage her along.
[21:46] <Orval> With a muffled pop, a bright blue ball of light appears over Orval's shoulder. "There you are." Orval says.
[21:46] <Orval> "Hi!" Arachiel calls.
[21:49] <Kotono> With that, Neveril steps ahead! She goes through the doors and into the light, calling out, "Announcing the great Whimsical Sweets! Heroes of candy and legend, defeating all in the name of profit!" A pause for just a split second, "Janson of Aralla, capable of the most devious and powerful arcane incantations! Sylvie, able to adapt to anything and the Queen of Whimsical Sweets! Orval, mastery
[21:49] <Kotono> of both divine and arcane, who commands his own spirit to aid him!"
[21:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 24." [1d20=5]
[21:51] * Janson walks through with a swagger into the main hall, Queen on his arm, and takes a good look around the setting.
[21:53] * Orval walks in behind the couple, Arachiel following dutifully right behind him. He looks around as well.
[21:54] <Kotono> Ahead is a golden floor, a great ballroom before you. Several dozen people are about, chatting, snacking and mingling. Amid them all is Holycoin Mia. She wears a dress of pure gold, walking ahead with a graceful, steady step. A smile is on her face as she claps, "Whimsical Sweets! Welcome!"
[21:58] <Kotono> Before anyone can go on, "Further, allow me to introduce Aaeru of Ilmater, she who has come back from Hell, defeated the vile servants of Shar and protected all she sees! I am Neveril, Sirene songstress." Stepping back to be at Aaeru's side, Neveril finishes.
[22:01] <Aaeru> Being side by side means they can enter the ballroom in earnest together, which makes Aaeru quite happy. "You'll need a bigger introduction next time," she comments quietly, heading to rejoin everyone, "since everyone should know how great you are!"
[22:02] * Janson came back from hell and defeated a vile servant of Shar, too! But he won't begrudge Aaeru - devious and powerful arcane is pretty sweet. Approaching the well dressed woman, he parts from Sylvie so he can use his free hand to take Mia's, offering a courtly kiss. "As radiant as you look, you must be blessed Holycoin Mia? As you heard, I am Janson and this is Sylvie," he straightens up now to meet her gaze. "As a gift, please accept this fruit from one of our recent adventures, the pride of Pallanth's vineyards, made from grapes that bore fruit over two centuries ago."
[22:05] <Kotono> The bottle is taken, Mia all smiles, "Ah, finely aged Pallanth? A good vintage." She smiles as meanwhile Sylvie comes forth and smiles to her.
[22:05] <Kotono> Neveril just smiles nicely, "It was fine."
[22:06] * Orval waits patiently until Janson and Sylvie are finished.
[22:06] <Janson> "And after you've drank it, you'll surely wish to purchase more," Janson grins. "A fitting way to honour the Goddess, isn't it?"
[22:07] <Aaeru> "Yeah, I guess everyone will know that anyway once they spend some time with you," Aaeru muses, intending to approach the Holycoin after Orval.
[22:11] <Kotono> "It is," Mia says pleasantly, as Sylvie smiles, "We just bought a new manor in the Western Reaches. It's so bucolic and pleasant, in a decadent sort of way. Do you know House Moutan from Tauret? It's a lovely place."
[22:12] <Janson> "It was scandalously cheap," Janson adds in a stage whisper. "Some sort of family tragedy back West made them pack up in a hurry."
[22:12] <Janson> "Didn't even have the heart to haggle with them."
[22:15] <Kotono> "Horrible," Sylvie matchest hat whisper.
[22:15] <Kotono> Mia nods, "I heard of the scandal. Horrid," Mia nods knowingly.
[22:17] <Janson> "Anyway, I think Orval's fidgetting behind us, so we won't monopolise all of your time, Holycoin. I'm sure we'll talk again later in the evening," Janson smiles to the older woman before backing off and instead taking a look over the competition.
[22:19] <Kotono> The two go off, giving Orval a chance!
[22:20] <Orval> Seeing Janson and Sylvie step away, Orval moves forward. "In the spirit of comraderie, please accept this golden hammer; a symbol both of Waukeen in gold, and dwarvenkind in hammer. It is my hope that, as more of my kind populate the city, we find harmony with you and yours." Orval says, offering the heavy golden hammer to Mia.
[22:23] <Kotono> The hammer is taken, Mia smiling, "It's a lovely gift. Thank you." Her eyes light up, "I spent some time in the dwarven lands in my youth. Where from do you hail?"
[22:24] <Orval> "Irongates, in the Galkass Mountains." Orval says.
[22:25] <Kotono> "Oh wow, I think Iwas there once!" Mia grins, "Once. Hahhahaha, I had far too much fun sampling your people's spirits."
[22:26] * Orval grins, relaxing a bit. "Aye, our ale is strong, and the whiskey stronger. I'm glad ye enjoyed it."
[22:29] <Kotono> "We should talk later," Holycoin Mia smiles, "I haven't been in years, I'm too busy here. It's a shame, I like it down there."
[22:31] <Orval> "I'll be in the city for a while. I work with Whimsical Sweets now. Come find me or my brother Whurric if ye want to chat." Orval nods. "I'll leave ye to the others, I'm sure you'll be busy today." Orval grins and steps away, looking for a drink.
[22:32] <Kotono> Mia nods, looking towards Aaeru and awaiting...!
[22:33] <Aaeru> And this makes it her chance to approach Mia with Neve and make a good second impression. Or would it be third, and the second was the introduction? Nonetheless, Aaeru moves towards her and puts the courtly manners she learned to use by curtseying. "It's nice to see you again, Holycoin," she says for her greeting, wondering whether Neve has some sort of gift to hand her.
[22:39] <Kotono> "Welcome," Holycoin Mia has a pleasant smile back on her face, Neveril blushing. She bwos, "From the sea, I give you this." She withdraws a single seashell, colored like the rainbow. "It's said that when the noon sun hits the waves just right, once a year, a rainbow colored seashell is made. I'd like to give it to you."
[22:42] <Aaeru> It's so cute Aaeru has to stop herself from displaying her excitement and doing more than smile at Neve!
[22:42] <Kotono> "Thank you," Mia takes it as well, putting all the gifts aside to a servant, who bows and takes them away. Once done, "Please, go and mix for now."
[22:46] <Aaeru> Right. This is where she should say something, isn't it? What was it that Mia had told her.... "Thank you. I'm sure we'll--" What was it? Oh, right-- "profit each other."
[22:47] <Kotono> "We will," Mia says brightly, as Aaeru heads off. Ahead, the party can see various groups. One is clustered around what looks to be a sitting tiger, a hardbitten man stroking it's head. Another has ag roup of several drinking and telling stories amid one another. The third is scattered - people hanging back in pairs and singles, watching what's going on.
[22:49] <Janson> "Want to go say hello to the tiger and friends?" Janson suggests to Sylvie as their first port of call.
[22:51] <Aaeru> The group that is sharing stories looks very interesting, and Aaeru takes Neve's hand in hers. "How about seeing if they like the stories we have?" she offers, confident that they can tell them quite well.

[Corwin]

#d

[20:15] <Orval> Interested in the tiger as well, Orval heads that way.
[20:19] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> Sylvie nods as the three go to see the tiger. It's quite a large jungle cat, striped and looking about. It's tail flicks about as it's petted, a graybearded man with a severe glare and pockmarked face petting it's head. "...they call them different names there, and the food is full of bugs. Literally. They love to add cooked and dead bugs to food!"
[20:21] <Janson> "Lots of protein in bugs," Janson interjects himself into the conversation. "I'm Janson, this is Sylvie and Orval, we're Whimsical Sweets. Pleased to meet you all," he offers his hand to the glaring man.
[20:23] * Orval nods respectfully to the man. "That's a fine beast you have there."
[20:26] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Hi!" Sylvie gives a little wave, as one of the guests chuckles. He's a broad shouldered man who looks like he could lift cows and crush them into steaks with one hand. His entire body is one big muscle or close enough to it, "Oh, I heard about ya! Did some fuckin' candy shop really take down a Sharran antipaladin?"
[20:27] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> The hardbitten man glowers at the three, but nods at last. He gives Janson a look, then in Sylvan, "Heard you're from Merdlain, boy."
[20:31] <Janson> "That was our first job," Janson laughs, "He was a pansy compared to the Sharran nymph." He then nods to the glowering man and returns in the same tongue, "Not the sort of animal we see around there that you've got, though. Where'd this big kitty come from?" It doesn't matter what language he can speak, the tiger will understand and it'll be interesting if it replies with a differing answer than
[20:31] <Janson> the man gives.
[20:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "The endless jungles to the west," The hardbitten man says, "Took 'im in myself." Meanwhile the big cat growls, "Home. From home. Took the others and kept me."
[20:35] <Janson> "How you finding life this far east?" Janson switches back to common, looking down at the striped jungle cat.
[20:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Eh?" The hardbitten man blinks as Janson addresses the cat, as a lovely young woman slides up to Orval, "I say, is your friend alright? He's talking to the tiger!"
[20:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> To that the tiger growls back to Janson, "Hate it. No family. No mate. All gone."
[20:43] <Orval> "He comes from a vilage of druids. I believe he can speak to animals." Orval says to the woman.
[20:43] <Janson> "Oh, what? You mean you've never talked to a dog or anything like that?" Janson asks the woman, straightening up. "But yeah, like Orval says, it's a little bit more literal for me."
[20:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Ah, magic! Of course!" She nods, "How else?"
[20:47] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Never had that gift," The hardbitten man says, "I taught Dutchess here without it."
[20:48] <Janson> roll 1d20+14 is it a male or female? There were male pronouns when it spoke. Hopefully I can tell by build rather than checking directly.
[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+14 is it a male or female? There were male pronouns when it spoke. Hopefully I can tell by build rather than checking directly. and gets 16." [1d20=2]
[20:51] <Janson> "Hmmm..." Janson looks visibly dubious at that declaration. "What exactly have you been teaching... ah, Duchess?" he squirms a little bit over the name.
[20:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Took the wild right out of 'em!" Laughing, the hardbitten man rubs the tiger's head. "Knows how to act now, ain't gonna maul anything. Tame as a fucking kitten!"
[20:58] <Janson> Unable to take it anymore, Janson just asks bluntly. "Why would you do that?" he looks at the man molesting the subdued tiger. "Why would you take a wild animal out of his home and away from his family, then... break him so he behaves unnaturally?"
[20:59] * Orval eyes Janson for his sudden change in demeanor.
[21:04] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> Sylvie startles slightly, but stays i place as Janson goes on. To this the hardbitten man grins, "Well fuck, I survived the jungle and came in for a pet. Like hell I'm going out without one. Now Dutchess here knows how to act." Stroking the big cat's head again, "Better 'n a heap of bodygaurds if trouble gets out, too."
[21:08] <Janson> "So how did you train him?" Janson asks pointedly. Given how much the tiger hates it here, he doubts it involved bribery or mutual respect.
[21:12] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Ever trained an animal?" He asks right back, "Gotta break 'em so they do what you want."
[21:15] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> The tiger's voice is low, "Pain...misery..." it mutters.
[21:20] <Janson> "Slavery and torture," Janson's voice is scornful and goading. "The tiger may be the animal, but your treatment of him marks you as more monster than man."
[21:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> That gets a murmuring all around, as the hardbitten man's face turns read, "Now see here," he snaps back, "I can tell you grew up over there, but that doesn't give you ar ight to run your mouth!"
[21:21] <Janson> roll 1d20+7
[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+7 and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[21:22] <Janson> roll 1d20+7 +10 vs enchantment
[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+7 +10 vs enchantment and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[21:29] <Janson> "And what gives you the right to abuse this animal, to hurt him until he's too beaten to do anything but walk at your heel?" Janson retorts. "A beast like him would make a fine bodyguard and companion, if treated with care and respect. But you've done nothing of the sort - even the name you've given him reeks of scorn!"
[21:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "It's a animal," The hardbitten man glowers out, as more people come, yet the closest step back. "You make it sound like it's a human!"
[21:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> Sylvie takes a breath, giving Janson a sidelong look.
[21:35] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> At this the pretty young thing near Orval steps back, and in a whisper to him, "They're gonna fight? Is your friend much of a fighter?"
[21:38] <Janson> "Oh, please," Janson narrows his eyes. "Human, dwarf, goblin, valkyrie, pixie, pegasus, unicorn, tiger, dog... where do you draw the convenient line that says 'It's okay to torture and abuse this thing'?" After a pause he states emphatically, "There is no line. You do it to one you're as capable of doing it to any other."
[21:38] * Orval lets out a held breath and leans over toward Janson. "Lad, this is not a fight you want to start here. He's doubtful to simply give the cat up. You may want to consider a better time and place for this."
[21:40] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "I take offense," The man growls low in his throat, "Got the balls to back up your mouth, boy?"
[21:41] <Orval> "I think," Orval says, "that we all need to remember that we are GUESTS in Waukeen's TEMPLE."
[21:46] <Janson> "And I know Waukeen isn't a fan of slavery," Janson notes. He doesn't actually know, but he sounds convincing! And it's a fair inference, since slaves don't get paid and that's bad for commerce. "But if you've got a problem with me exposing the sort of man you are in front of all these fine people, I'm sure we can find a place to settle things. It's sure easier than changing your ways, isn't
[21:46] <Janson> it?"
[21:48] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Outside," The man snaps, storming off! "Five minutes, in front of the fountain!"
[21:49] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> Sylvie whistles low, and as he goes she whispers, "Gonna fight him?
[21:52] <Janson> "Man has to stand up for his convictions," Janson nods to the blonde, looking at the downcast tiger. "If you could hear what he's saying, you wouldn't be able to hold your tongue either. Never heard an animal so miserable in my life."
[21:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Can you...freedom?" The tiger looks up, right at Jansona nd company.
[21:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> Murmurs erupt through the crowd. Amid them Holycoin Mia approaches. With a regally reserved face that only mildly threatens to break out into a smile, "Interesting! I must ask one thing - do you require an audience or do you wish to face him alone?"
[21:57] * Janson meets the tiger's eyes and smiles reassuringly. "If I can beat that horrible man, then I swear by Jannath I'll see you back home," he promises, before looking up at the priestess and smiling at the fact she seems less than disapproving. "Well I'll face him alone, but if anyone wants to witness I'm sure that's fine."
[21:58] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "I'm going," Sylvie speaks up. More murmurs come, as an entire crowd starts to go out!
[21:58] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "It should be enlightening to see how well Whimsical Sweets can fight," Holycoin Mia says, "It should be exciting, too!"
[21:59] * Janson crouches down by the tiger, speaking in an easy tone, "So hey, before I go out there, you should know. How does he like to fight?" he asks the feline.
[22:06] <Kotono> "Sneaky." A single word, "Axe. Slinks in shadows," The tiger replies, "Cowardly."
[22:06] <Janson> "He better not bring that axe out or else the gloves come off," Janson scowls, rising up. "Come on, you'll want to watch this," he gestures for the tiger to follow, smiling at the others present before he starts heading out front.
[22:16] * Orval follows alongside Janson. "I'll be here to keep it fair." he says.
[22:18] * Janson walks out, alert for any magic in case his foe requires performance enhancing spells...

[Corwin]

#ed

[20:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> The group is varied - a bunch of men and a few women, chatting together. As you approach, you can hear the current tale, "..took a hold of the mast and spun it around, getting us moving!" A woman in a bright red dress declares, short brown hair in a bowl cut.
[20:27] <Aaeru> It wouldn't be nice to interrupt her, so Aaeru finds a spot in that group for the two of them where they can fit in, before handing Neve a drink. She thinks she can tell what happened in that part of the story; she had spent enough near the sea for a good guess. That doesn't leave her much room to speak up, however, and she resolves to wait for a better chance.
[20:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Then, we broke free!" Clapping and laughter followed, "Chester had to walk funny for a week and Isabella still won't prepare Lightning Bolt!"
[20:34] <Aaeru> "I missed on most of the story and it still sounds painful," Aaeru voices, wincing. "Good call on the lightning bolt, though! It's kinda useless where it counts."
[20:48] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> That gets a rough of laughter, as the redhead grins, "It's a good spell, seen it fry more than my fair share of problems," she retorts. Meanwhile you see a few people hanging out, just in listening range. One catches your eye - Lyris is there, clad in her normal clothes. She's casually looking at nothing at all.
[20:53] <Aaeru> "Really?" Aaeru wonders. "I mean, I saw it used on lots of devils and it was pretty useless. It was actually kinda sad, to be honest. There's this big--" what is the word she's looking for? "--anticipation, and then the posing, and they just laugh it off, even the smaller ones. I like spells you can't dodge, anyway, like Glitterdust! It's pretty neat, and it looks so pretty, too!"
[20:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> One person speaks up - a middle aged man, chuckling dryly. He wears fancy noble's clothes and has a rich cape, "Fiends are remarkably resilient to elemental attacks."
[20:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> The first woman scowls, "Never liked that one. Never seems to work when teh chips are down."
[20:57] <Aaeru> "Magic Missile's pretty useless, too," Aaeru helpfully adds. She doesn't think Force is an element. Is it? She'll have to check later. The brunette's words gain a sympathetic nod. "I know, right? It always fails until it doesn't, and then you're, like, so happy!"
[21:02] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Oh, now that's straight bullshit!" The middle aged man gasps, "I've used magic missile for over ten eyars, and it's always effective! Why, it can even strike down ghosts!"
[21:03] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "It's good if it works," Neveril murmurs, "But I prefer healing magic and magic that makes you better at what you do, like Heroism."
[21:05] <Aaeru> "Devils are cheaters," Aaeru says sadly. "It's just not fair, is it?" Belatedly, she realizes that they have just approached and started talking! Rather than blush at her mistake, she smiles brightly and offers her hand. "I'm Aaeru from Whimsical Sweets. Pleased to meet you!"
[21:11] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Messa," The red gowned woman introduces herself with a smile, the middle aged man nodding, "Bertam," He says, as other names are given as well. "Whimsical Sweets? I heard you have a Queen and go around fighting lunatics."
[21:12] <Aaeru> "Ah, that's not true at all!" Aaeru responds, her smile widening. "The lunatics are our friends!"
[21:16] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> Blinks all around, before one man laughs. An old man with an easy smirk, tall and thin. He wears rich clothes, "All of Selune's followers are somewhat unhinged," he says, a wine glass in hand. "I think you misunderstood the intent."
[21:16] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "If you mean by evil, Sharrans and other things...yes. We do fight those,"Neveril speaks up.
[21:20] <Aaeru> "My jokes are too refined," Aaeru responds with a disdainful sniff, before her expression melts back into a smile. "And like Neve said, we really do. It's not like we start out that way, right? This simple job to help a friend suddenly turns into a horrible maze that this living puzzle made in Hell just, like, summoned in our path! And there are all these unnatural monsters inside, but we fight them off too, of course. You'd think just getting to the puzzle would be a win, but then it tries to take over our minds! And it fails, so it's so upset it sends some of us to Hell, like literally, and the rest of us have to go there to rescue them! And Hell is really, really hot! It's so hot the sky is on fire!"
[21:26] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "That sounds like a hell of an adventure," Messa retorts, "A hellish puzzle?"
[21:28] * Aaeru laughs. "Literally! It wasn't that hard. Each part, I mean. But it was seriously mean. Like, it could make you arrange some stuff in a small room, but while you did it some creepy monsters would try to kill you or it slowly released gas to kill you or-- well, I'll spoil it. It tried to kill you in all sorts of weird ways."
[21:29] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> Bertam listens, "Syalans?" He frowns, "I came across a small cult of them, and they had a penchant for mazes. Yet I daresay that a hellish one is not their speed."
[21:29] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Those loons?" Messa laughs, "Good if you need a one night stand," Brushing that aside, and going on, "I've been in a mage's tower that was like that. Some old codger or another, I think. Died a little before the reawakening of magic, everything was so horribly unadvanced!"
[21:31] <Aaeru> "I bet," Aaeru agrees, from what little she knows of the various religions. "And yeah, give me a maze where you just fight something that's a challenge. I guess it doesn't have to be a maze? But mazes add lots to a story when you tell it later." She perks up at Messa's mention of a mage's tower. "And those too, yeah! It sounds fun. Did you do it alone?"
[21:34] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "No, our entire troupe went." Shaking her head, "Besides a bit of historical value and a few old magic items, it wasn't worth the trouble. Old loon taught one of the earliest Crimson Guard members, but that was about it."
[21:37] <Aaeru> "So-- oh, hey, what's your troupe? Sorry, I must've missed it."
[21:43] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "The Blue Stars," Bertam speaks up, "We operate out of Balmuria, Wetwind Harbor and Elfsander."
[21:45] <Aaeru> "That sounds great," Aaeru responds. She takes a small chance, but really, with a name like Elf-sander it can't possibly be a dwarven colony. "We've been to Pallanth too, but we're usually here or in Valandia."
[21:49] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> "Yeah, heard you had a run in with Captain Hamilton," Messa speaks up, "The old sea dog went on about you for awhile."
[21:52] <Aaeru> "He was really foul-mouthed," Aaeru says. She normally would not say such things about others in public, but something deep within tells her that the Captain would take it as a compliment if he heard. "Like, totally. Never met anyone like that before! I think I'll remember him for ages and ages!" She nods resolutely. "He was, like, totally good on payment. We ran into a huge mess of trouble while on the job and, I mean, he knew our rates but it still got pretty crazy once we saw what we had to fight for him. But I guess he was really happy with how we did, so he didn't even complain!"
[21:57] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> A chorus of laughter spreads at that, "That's the Captain," Messa says. To the side you can see Lyris slink away, heading to the other side of the ball room.
[22:00] <Aaeru> "Yeah," Aaeru agrees, smiling herself. "I could feel that he was the right sort. You know, not nasty or anything. A good person." Neve would probably disagree, but Aaeru supposes perceptions can change from person to person. "Excuse me for a sec?" she asks as politely as she is able to, and extricates herself from this pleasant bunch to catch up to Lyris.
[22:04] <Infinite_Ko_Loops> Neve even scowls at that, but it passes. On going you findLyris stopping to glance at you. Ahead you can see a crowd around the tiger, Janson, Orval and Sylvie. Holycoin Mia's over there. With a jerk of her head towards them, "Looks like one of them's gonna get into a fight."
[22:05] <Aaeru> "Heya," she greets the ghost-blooded assassin warmly. "Long time no see, right? Almost two months? How are you?" Lyris's words draw Aaeru's attention away from the rest of her greeting to the crowd, but she shakes her head instantly. "Nah, no way. Janson's there. Like, there's no chance he'd let someone do that."
[22:06] <Kotono> "Marianne's doing better," she begins, attention more on it. "Hold on a moment...I want to see how this goes, and I don't want to have to repeat myself a few times if the others come over."
[22:08] <Aaeru> "I was going to ask," Aaeru tells her, just in case there's any misunderstanding. "Like, specifically. I just wanted to know about you first?" She draws back a bit at such a casual dismissal, but her discouragement doesn't last long. "Okay, I'll ask that later, if you want. Can I ask you something else, then? Wanna join us? Whimsical Sweets? I like you and I think everyone does, too!"
[22:14] <Kotono> Lyris gives Aaeru raised eyebrow of a look, all cool and composed. Meanwhile Janson and company head right on outside! With eyebrow still raised, "I'd say you misguessed how Janson's going to react." A beat before she shakes her head, "You'd have to talk to Marianne. It's not my choice alone to make."
[22:18] <Aaeru> "Huh. Yeah, no kidding!" She blinks. "Huh. Wanna go watch it together or something, I guess?"
[22:26] <Kotono> With a nod Lyris follows!

[Corwin]

[22:27] <Kotono> Everyone hurries outside! Here your foe awaits outside the big fountain, cracking his knuckles! He indeed does have some magic aura around him!
[22:27] <Janson> roll 1d20+14 spellcraft to see if I can tell what spells
[22:27] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+14 spellcraft to see if I can tell what spells and gets 20." [1d20=6]
[22:29] <Aaeru> "Do you know who that guy is?" Aaeru whispers to Lyris, eyeing the man cracking his knuckles.
[22:29] <Kotono> Meanwhile Lyris hangs back with Aaeru and Neveril, as the latter watches, "Oh, I hope no one's hurt! Why do they have to be fighting here?"
[22:29] <Kotono> "Yeah," Lyris murmurs back, "Ricka; he's been running his mouth about coming back from the jungles to the west."
[22:30] <Janson> Shrugging off his cloak, Janson follows by taking off his waistjacket and handing both to Sylvie. "Already taken the time to prepare yourself with some spells? Well, suit yourself, some men need the extra help to perform," Janson rolls his shoulders and adopts a ready stance, gesturing for his opponent to take his best shot.
[22:30] <Janson> roll 1d20+4 init
[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+4 init and gets 17." [1d20=13]
[22:31] <Aaeru> "Does he, like, have any friends?" Aaeru follows up with. She is reasonably confident that Janson had a worthy reason for this, and so she cannot stop him. But she can certainly make sure no one tries to interfere in some unfair way from the shadows!
[22:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 8." [1d20=3]
[22:35] * Kotono changes topic to 'Janson(17)>Ricka(8)'
[22:35] <Janson> OOC: total defence
[22:35] <Kotono> OOC: Are youg oing to hold for him to take taht shot?
[22:36] <Janson> OOC: yes
[22:36] <Janson> OOC: well, spending my turn on total defence, I'll act on my next turn after him
[22:36] <Kotono> Ricka charges forward, a pissed snarl as he swings right at Janson!
[22:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 (+2 charge, -4 non proficient)
[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 (+2 charge, -4 non proficient) and gets 13." [1d20=8]
[22:36] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[22:36] <Janson> OOC: 20
[22:36] <Kotono> Lyris murmurs back, "I don't know him that well," she answers back, as he takes a big haymaker at Janson andmisses! OOC: Go Janson.
[22:38] <Janson> "C'mon, I know you got better than that," Janson admonishes, punishing him in turn with a straight punch into the gut and driving his momentum forward to go right through Ricka and continue on until he ends up where the other man started on the opposite side of their battlefield.
[22:38] <Janson> roll 1d20+6
[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+6 and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[22:39] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[22:39] <Janson> roll 1d3+1+4d6 nonlethal
[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d3+1+4d6 nonlethal and gets 12." [1d3=3][4d6=2, 1, 3, 2]
[22:40] <Kotono> WHAM! Janson runs past him as he slugs Ricka in the gut, making him double over and hiss! He slowly straightens himself out, as Sylvie calls, "That's right, right in the gut! Knock him out!" Ricka snarls, charging full on at Janson again!
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 14." [1d20=9]
[22:40] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[22:40] <Janson> OOC: 18
[22:41] <Kotono> But Janson sidesteps smoothly, dodging the heavy blow altogether! OOC: Go.
[22:42] <Janson> Sidestepping around, Janson backfists his foe in the side of the head, continuing to move leisurely around the cleared space they have, keeping him off balance and forced to come at the well prepared scout. "Not so fun when they fight back, is it?"
[22:42] <Janson> roll 1d20+6
[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+6 and gets 17." [1d20=11]
[22:44] <Kotono> OOC: Hit again.
[22:44] <Janson> roll 1d3+1+4d6 nonlethal
[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d3+1+4d6 nonlethal and gets 19." [1d3=2][4d6=1, 3, 6, 6]
[22:44] <Kotono> With a powerful punch, Ricka goes down! He gasps, on one knee as he wobbles! He tries to get up but sinks back down, holding his head! At this pointH olycoin Mia steps forward, "I think you've made your point," she clears her throat, "Your combat skills are quite respectable."
[22:45] <Aaeru> "So what was it all about?" Aaeru asks, judging it safe to approach Janson.
[22:46] <Janson> "Hah, you think that was anything? You should see Sylvie or Aaeru," Janson laughs, "I normally fight at range. But with that settled, I believe your temple oversees a quite comprehensive portal network, Holycoin? Do any perhaps arrive close to the great Western jungle?"
[22:49] <Kotono> Some clapping and cheering follows, as Holycoin Mia nods, "Yes, as a matter of fact."
[22:50] <Janson> "Well, after we finish our business tonight, I know I'll have a little more business for you - the going rate was two hundred marks per trip as I recall?"
[22:54] <Kotono> "Why yes, it is," Holycoin Mia smiles, "More business is always good."
[22:56] <Janson> "Excellent, we can discuss it after the mixer," Janson grins, going over now to the tiger. "Stick with me and you'll be home by sunrise," he tells the feline. Then raising his voice, "Now, I think Waukeen laid out some generous hospitality inside the temple, so why don't we all head back inside?" he suggests to the assembled spectators.
[22:57] <Aaeru> More confused then anything at being ignored, Aaeru drifts back to Lyris. With the fight over, her mind shouldn't be on it anymore, and she asks, "You said it's about Marianne, too? But what about you? You're not leaving it to her to decide, are you?"

[Corwin]

[20:10] <Kotono> The tiger stays by Janson as people head back inside! As they walk inside, "I don't presume to speak for the both of us. That's all," Lyris says. Meanwhile as all return inside, the party resumes. Drinks are gotten, Holycoin Mia going to mingle and talk about. Meanwhile Sylvie hands Janson his waistcoat back, "Nice punches. You learned a bit from Wayland and Aaeru, eh?"
[20:11] <Aaeru> It still sounds a lot like it to Aaeru, since Lyris doesn't so much as share her own opinion with her. "If you say so," is what she says, not really wanting to fight over it. "So, like, what brings you here?"
[20:11] * Orval walks up and claps Janson on the back with a grin. "Nice fight, you didn't even take a hit! Well done!"
[20:12] <Janson> "Not to mention you," Janson smiles as he puts his outer clothes back on. "How's that for making an impression, anyway?" his smile broadens into a grin. "Look, there's Aaeru and Neve, with Lyris. Lets go catch up?" he suggests.
[20:17] <Kotono> Sylvie smiles back at that as she helps Janson dress, "It's pretty good." As the trio approach Aaeru and company, Lyris ever so slightly shaking her head, "Marianne's recovering, and we'll need more jobs to do sooner or later." As the others approach, Lyris steps aside and takes a glass of something bubbly, "If you all really want to talk, c'mon."
[20:19] * Orval heads off in search of beer!
[20:20] * Aaeru has been wanting to talk to Lyris for the better part of the evening, and doesn't object to a change of scenery.
[20:20] <Janson> Janson grabs a glass from the same tray as Lyris did, and another for Sylvie. "Hey Aaeru, sorry I didn't get to answer you before, you left before I finished talking to the Holycoin. I actually had to fight that guy because he'd enslaved and tortured this poor tiger," he indicates said feline that's hopefully still sticking close. "Didn't hurt that it made the sort of splash the Waukeenar are
[20:20] <Janson> looking for. Figure we've got this in the bag, now."
[20:22] <Aaeru> "Did you try telling him that, like, he was wrong before?"
[20:22] <Kotono> The tiger is indeed sticking close! Orval meanwhile finds a servant carrying mugs of bear not far - human stuff, but at least it's high quality human brew.
[20:23] <Kotono> "Men lik ethat don't respect words, only violence," Lyris says quietly.
[20:23] <Aaeru> "You never know unless you try," Aaeru insists.
[20:25] <Janson> "Oh, I told him," Janson nods, "But Lyris has the right of it. So hey, speaking of you," he regards the deadly looking but really a softy deep down brunette, "Figured you'd be stuck home taking care of your lesser half. You actually looking to get back in the game?"
[20:25] * Orval grabs a mug and drinks from it, savoring what the brew has to offer before heading to mingle again.
[20:26] * Aaeru nods at Janson. "Then it's okay! And yeah, since Lyris is back at work, I asked her if she wanted to work with all of us!"

[Corwin]

#ed

[20:38] <Kotono> Orval goes back to mixing about! With a drink in hand it's all good, as he finds Holycoin Mia coming his way. She has a smile on her face, "Hail," she greets, "My, that was quite the show, wasn't it?"
[20:39] * Orval nods. "It was. Janson showed him rather handily what it means to be born in the wilds, I think."
[20:42] <Kotono> With a little laugh, "Indeed it does." Holycoin Mia guides you ahead, towards the front. You go past people in conversation, and as you do, she lapses into startlingly good Dwarven. "How is the aboveground world agreeing with you?"
[20:48] <Orval> Laughing loudly, Orval says, "Girl, you are just full of surprises for me! Were that ye were a might bit shorter." He grins. "The surface has agreed with me so far, though encountering a gaggle of demons so soon after coming here surprised me, for sure. We dealt with them soon enough, though. Nasty business that. Met some goblins out by Aralla, we did. A sight better behaved than the ones
[20:48] <Orval> you see in the mountains. If you stayed around there before, you might have even had the misfortune of having met the little buggers. All nasty and hungry, with murder on their minds."
[20:52] <Kotono> Chuckling agreeably as you walk, "I've seen much of the world and learned from more of it." Listening to that, "Yes, the goblins out here are almost tame. The," The next word is in a language Orval doesn't understand, "Have imposed their will on them. There's a few goblins who live in the area and keep their heads down. It's strange. A few decades ago goblins fought, bred and generally were
[20:52] <Kotono> a low grade problem. Now they're broken with the coming of those giants."
[20:58] <Orval> "Perhaps their slavery to the giants has been good for them, then. The giants may have taught them organization and humility, and perhaps an alternative to killing other people for their food." Orval nods. "Not the most elegant or tasteful solution, really, but it seems to be effective. I'd not encourage it myself, but then we're not exactly on friendly terms with the giants either. We can't
[20:58] <Orval> exactly go to them as friends and suggest a better path."
[21:02] <Kotono> "I've visited their lands a few times. They're somewhat mecurial and live in the moment." Mia continues on, "But they're fairly firm on using the goblins. Plus they managed to fight the Crimson Guard and the army to a stalemate in the Pines War." With a shrug, "Frankly, I have no love of slavery, but I have less love of any way to change it."
[21:07] * Orval nods. "I've read of that. Very likely, the only way to end their practice of slavery would be to defeat them utterly, something that this city is ill-prepared to do. Most would see it as a waste, and they'd likely be right. What right would the city officials have to squander the lives of soldiers and farmers on the off chance that they could put an end to the enslavement of a race that few tolerate, let alone respect. There is little to be done about it." Orval sighs. "Some evils one must simply learn to live with."
[21:09] <Kotono> "Indeed. Plus," With a shake of her head, "When they're being reasonable, they're profitable trading partners. I knew several men who have grown rich trading with them, and want nothing more than this status quo to continue."
[21:16] <Orval> "I'm sure the giants can come up with interesting and rare trade goods. Have you seen what they have to offer?"
[21:17] <Kotono> "Oh yes. They're skilled with metalworking, though for weapons only. They seldom use heavy armor. They're expert tanners and leathermakers, as well as passable woodworkers." You're past everyone else now, Mia pausing. She withdraws a little silver flask, opening it and taking a sip. She grins, "Pure dwarven make, strong enough to scorch the throat of most anyone else. Want a sip? I import
[21:17] <Kotono> it myself."
[21:20] * Orval chuckles. "Aye, I'll have a spot. Hard enough to get real ale here anyhow, let alone a proper malt."
[21:22] <Kotono> "Most humans can't stand a real drink," Mia shakes her head back and forth, "I've tried to have it brewed locally, but no one gets it right."
[21:26] <Orval> "It's not cold enough here. Ye need the right amount of coolness, darkness, and proper mixing in the mountains to get it right. I'd wager that it winds up too heavy on water down here. I'd bet that if ye started making imitation brew here in the city, a lot of dwarves would be mighty upset as well." Orval grins, reaching for the flask.
[21:28] <Kotono> It's good stuff - a sip of it reminds ORval of home. "All of those are true." Mia admits, "Say, you know Janson? Does he know druidic magic at all? He reminds me of a druid I knew once."
[21:31] <Orval> "Aye, my brother and I work with Whimsical Sweets alongside the others. I don't know much about druids, to be honest. They tend to be rare among my people. You'd be best off asking him about it. I doubt he'd lie to you about it."
[21:32] <Kotono> "It's not important," Mia puts it aside, "Just old curiosity."
[21:34] <Orval> "Would this druid happen to be a woman? Aralla seems to be packed tight with druid women." Orval asks.
[21:37] <Kotono> "She was." The second word gets emphasis in particular.
[21:39] <Orval> "Ah, I'm sorry for your loss then." Orval nods understandingly. "She may have been affiliated with the women from Aralla. Perhaps if you mentioned her to Janson, he may have heard of her. It's not unlikely."
[21:41] <Kotono> Smiling to that, "Days long gone," she murmurs, then, "Excuse me, there's going to be an event soon. You may want to go rejoin your friends for it." A smile creeps onto her face, and in a stage whisper, "It's going to be a bit of a show."
[21:43] * Orval nods. "I shall do so, then. I look forward to our next meeting, Holycoin." Orval grins and moves off to find his friends.

[Corwin]

#d

[20:31] <Kotono> As Orval wanders off, the others go to a quieter corner of the ballroom. You certainly have eyes on you, but Lyris keeps her voice down. "She's recovering. She's told me things, about what Senaril did and knew. How she always knew what to say, knew such secrets, and always managed to make her feel more alive." Biting her lip, "I think her mind was influenced by Senaril under the guidance of
[20:32] <Kotono> Shar. All my readings say Shar is a dark goddess, who includes elements of seduction and secrets. She used the latter to do the former, as far as Marianne goes."
[20:32] <Kotono> After that, "So yes," she goes on, "We're looking to get back in the game."
[20:36] <Janson> "Uh huh," Janson rubs his chin in thought and not a little consternation. "Listen, Lyris. We let Marianne get off free even though she really didn't deserve it, and that's really because of you. You saved my life in that horror house and that makes us square. I'm not gonna raise a fuss or anything, but she better keep her nose clean."
[20:39] <Aaeru> "Since we did that, I feel, well, responsible for it," Aaeru says quietly. "So when she's gonna go back out there, it's better if it's where I can, like, keep an eye on her. And if we have a say on when she's, what you said, all recovered, that's good too, I think."
[20:41] <Kotono> Lyris looks Janson right in the eye, "I know. From what I remember, neither of us deserved to be born again. We didn't deserve that chance and she damn well doesn't deserve this chance." A pause there, "I can keep an eye on her. I'm not really interested in joining a group, but if Marianne likes the idea, I'll consider it."
[20:44] <Janson> "Yeah, I can't see that happening," Janson remarks doubtfully. "You two are a package, I get that, but you're the only one I'd want to work with, Lyris. I see where Aaeru's coming from, but we already have the one sociopath in Whimiscal Sweets."
[20:45] <Kotono> To that Lyris scowls, "Marianne isn't like that!" Her voice comes quickly, "What you saw of her...it was the worst parts of her, inflamed by Senaril and seduced by promises of near-divine power. You know why she isn't here?" Her voice is low, gaining a few notes of anger, "Because she doesn't trust herself around other people yet, not after all that's happened."
[20:51] <Aaeru> "I want to see it myself," Aaeru declares. It doesn't really sound right to her, but it's not like she can dismiss Lyris's claim while believing in second chances and the good in people. "I'll visit tomorrow? Is that okay?"
[20:51] <Janson> "I could-" Janson begins hotly before stopping himself. That's a horribly low blow and he's not going to go there. Taking a deep breath, he returns Lyris's angry gaze. "If she finds a way to trust herself, that's great. But getting the trust of people who saw her at her worst won't be as easy."
[20:54] <Kotono> Sylvie's cheeks turn red, but she says not a word.
[20:57] <Kotono> "We'll come to you tomorrow, or when Marianne feels up to it," Lyris retorts. She takes her own long breath, looking away, "Marianne has millions of deaths on her consience now. Can you imagine it, knowing and remembering how you slaughtered entire armies?"
[20:57] <Aaeru> "No."
[20:59] <Janson> "I can't. But you've dealt with it pretty well," Janson tells the brunette. "Anyway, this is getting too heavy and we came here to have fun as much as get work. We'll catch you around. C'mon, Sylvie," he takes his girlfriend's arm and likewise gestures for the tiger to come along, going off to mingle.
[21:02] <Aaeru> "I'm not really having fun," Aaeru admits to Lyris. "I just came for the job. But I guess I need to go back to doing it? See you soon!" She decides to follow Janson's example and drift toward the drinks. That is bound to lead to mingling, and maybe she or Neve caught someone's interest and it would be their chance.
[21:07] <Kotono> Thus the foursome goes to mix and get more drinks. As they go around several people start to linger near them. It's Bertam who comes up first, "Ah, Whimsical Sweets, right?" he says, offering a hand out to Janson, "I've already met Aaeru, but you're part of them too?"
[21:08] <Aaeru> "Sylvie and Janson!" Aaeru is quick to introduce them. "And this is Bertram! He's from the Blue Stars."
[21:10] <Kotono> "Bertam," Bertam corrects with a slight clearing of his throat, "We operate out of Balmuria sometimes, and we've heard a little bit about you. Making a name for yourselves, even tonight?"
[21:10] <Janson> "Oh, the wrestler from Victoria?" Janson grins, giving his hand a hearty shake. "Aaeru did mention you, and your generous loot distribution model. We actually changed ours recently to be a more equal partnership. It's so much better to be invested in the group than just being an employee, that's for sure."
[21:12] <Kotono> "Um, no," Bertam blinks at that, "I think you have us mixed up with another group."
[21:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 22." [1d20=5]
[21:15] <Janson> "Oh... that's embarrassing," Janson blushes, "Sorry, there was this other group Aaeru was telling us about recently and when she introduced you I assumed you were from them. So hey, lets start over! What sort of jobs do Blue Stars get involved with?"
[21:15] <Aaeru> "Oh, yes! That's Swift Gale, remember?" Aaeru reminds Janson after spending far too long racking her brains for the name.
[21:16] <Janson> "Well if they show up I'll call them Blue Stars just to be fair," Janson resolves.
[21:16] * Aaeru laughs. "I'm sure they'll be, like, very confused!"
[21:19] <Kotono> "Mostly dispute settlement." After a beat Messa comesu p as well, smiling. As she does Bertam goes on, "It's a fancy name for mercenary work and protection."
[21:19] <Aaeru> "How do you go between all the places where you work?" Aaeru inquires. "Do you have, like, a boat?"
[21:20] <Kotono> "A ship," Messa corrects, "Magic when we need to go quickly."
[21:21] <Aaeru> "Oh? What sort? Is it the ghost horses, or some other spell?"
[21:21] <Janson> "Waukeen's portal network is incredibly convenient for that, although I would like to go sailing sometime," Janson observes wistfully.
[21:22] <Aaeru> "I didn't really like it myself," Aaeru admits. What time she spent on a ship at sea is only assosiated with bad and boring memories. "But I do like to swim!"
[21:23] <Kotono> "That or teleportation," Messa says with an easy smile, pausing to kneel next to the cat and pet the pussy. "Nice tiger. Gonna keep it?"
[21:23] <Kotono> "I miss sailing all the time," Betram says, "I got my start as a ship's officer because I could weave a little magic. It was nice, but the money's so much better in this work."
[21:24] <Aaeru> "Really? What was nice about it?" Aaeru wonders. Maybe he didn't have to stay in a small cabin all the time?
[21:24] <Janson> "Don't pet him, please," Janson smiles at the woman to take any censure out of his words. "He's a fierce wild beast no matter what that horrible man did to him, and if all goes well he'll be free in the jungle by tomorrow. It's best not to treat him like a pet so he can more easily re-adapt to his old life."
[21:25] <Kotono> Messa ceases and frowns, "Pity. I guess you aren't interested in selling him, then?" Snapping her fingers, "Damn."
[21:26] <Kotono> For some reason Sylvie snickers at that, while meanwhile Bertam goes on, "Oh, the open air of the sea, the rocking of the boat..." A long, dramatic sigh from Bertam, "It's like home."
[21:27] <Janson> "Sorry," Janson shakes his head before returning his attention to Bertam. "I like the idea of having your own boat and just sailing wherever you please, nothing and no one to get in your way."
[21:28] <Kotono> "Yes. When I retire," He strokes his chin, "I want to buy a grand ship and sail north to the frozen wastes, then sail along it and as far as I can go."
[21:29] <Aaeru> "Do you think sailing on a boat is fun?" Aaeru whispers to Neve, curious about what her answer would be.
[21:30] * Janson nods in agreement. "If you look at a map, they just stop after a while. Makes you wonder what lies beyond the edge of the page..."
[21:30] <Kotono> "It's like wondering if a bird flying is fun, becasue it misses the point of walking ont he ground and seeing everything there is to see," Neveril answers.
[21:31] <Kotono> "I do wonder," Bertam agrees, "Maybe I'll find a way to get to the Eastlands, get a boat and sail east until I find where Lathander rises from."
[21:31] <Aaeru> "I don't get it," Aaeru confesses after a few moments of quiet.
[21:33] <Kotono> "There's an entire world beneath the waves, Aaeru. A world you may glimpse but you miss out on. Entire cities of sahuagin, mermen, sea elves..." Trailing off at this and shaking her head, "You just sail above it."
[21:33] <Janson> "But aside from beyond maps here, there's other worlds out there too. You guys ever been to other planes?" Janson asks curiously, moving on.
[21:34] <Aaeru> This time, Aaeru does understand! And she nods to show that.
[21:34] <Kotono> "Hehehhe," Messa speaks up here, "Once. Found an old portal and accidentally triggered it. I ended up...oh, have you ever seen those clockwork things from Gond's Wonderworks over in the New City?"
[21:35] <Aaeru> "They're so interesting!" Aaeru perks up. "All that turning and turning!"
[21:37] <Janson> "Oh yeah, I know what you mean. So you ended up Gond's afterlife?" Janson asks eagerly.
[21:39] <Kotono> "Yeah, those are it. Not quite. It's called Mechanus. Imagine if all the world were giant gears turning together in perfect order, ranging in size from tiny to continental large. There's not people there, but clockwork creatures known as Inevitables and other things I didn't understand. The funniest thing? When I asked one for help and explained the situation, they helped me. I filled out enough
[21:39] <Kotono> paperwork to cramp my hand, then had to talk to several different officals, but they escorted me to a portal home."
[21:40] <Aaeru> "Like, really home? All the way back to where you live?"
[21:42] <Kotono> "Close. Ended up in Arad." Taking a long sip of champaign to wash down her words, "I was only there a few days, but it was the strangest few days of my life."
[21:42] <Aaeru> "Mechanus or Arad?" Aaeru asks, only half serious.
[21:43] <Janson> "That sounds neat, it's nice when you can find people - or not-people are helpful even way out there." Janson smiles. "When me and a few other guys ended up in Hell because of a magic accident we had to kill a few devils first, but then we met some helpful ones. They gouge prices like you wouldn't believe, and then Aaeru and Sylvie and the others came to rescue us before we even got to use the
[21:43] <Janson> portal we'd spent a fortune on travel rights for! That's how we ended up passengers on the boat ride that turned Aaeru off sailing, since we landed on a merchant-ship after plane-shifting back."
[21:45] <Kotono> "Hell of a story," Bertam says with a completely straight face.
[21:45] <Kotono> Meanwhile Orval approaches the part, returning to them.

[Corwin]

[21:46] <Aaeru> "We fought really horrible things like all the time and did you know that Hell has dragons and then when we find them, they're just drinking in a bar!"
[21:47] * Janson squirms a little at Aaeru's indignation. "We were doing what we had to to survive..."
[21:47] <Orval> "Who was drinking in a bar?" Orval says, walking up.
[21:48] <Aaeru> "So, like, there it was, and then because we came from Hell all the people on the boat thought we were weird and kept us together and inside and before we even left it the Crimson Guard thought we were evil, too! That was so totally wrong!"
[21:49] <Janson> "Me, Wayland, and Rubri'granit," Janson replies embarrassedly. "It was an insanely expensive bar in Hell that had access to a portal to the astral plane."
[21:49] <Aaeru> And that is why money is evil, Aaeru very carefully stops herself from saying at a Waukeenite gathering.
[21:51] <Orval> "How'd ye get yourselves into Hell?" Orval shakes his head.
[21:51] <Aaeru> "An evil puzzle from Hell," Aaeru elaborates.
[21:52] <Orval> "Ah." Orval nods. "I shall have to ask for the full story later then.
[22:03] <Kotono> The party chats, and as they do..."Attention, attention!" The sound of a tinkling bell is heard. At the front of the room stands Holycoin Mia, "May I have all your attentions?"
[22:04] <Aaeru> The Holycoin has Aaeru's, certainly!
[22:05] * Janson dutifully gives the prospective client his full regard!
[22:05] * Orval turns to the woman, watching!
[22:06] <Kotono> Conversation dies down at this point, attention on her. AS it does the room dims, light surrounding the Holycoin! A golden light, as if marks were shedding radiance on her. "Thank you. I've gathered you all here today to have a chance to meet each other. You will be competing against each other for the chance to get work contracts."
[22:07] * Janson is confident Whimsical Sweets have already won, but wonders if she has a more kinetic form of competition in mind than simply turning up and impressing.
[22:08] * Aaeru doesn't really know what to think, and resolves to listen to the very end, first of all.
[22:14] <Kotono> "There are three spots for contracts!" Mia announces, "This was the first competition, to see who could step up and stand out!" With a clearing of her throat, "Even when it's not required, to see panache and vigor is a sign of incoming profit!" A moment a she pauses, "The winner is Whimsical Sweets!"
[22:15] * Janson smiles in a self assured and confident manner, certain everyone else will be gracious enough to recognise how great they are.
[22:16] * Aaeru smiles as well, and her smile is directed at Janson.
[22:16] <Kotono> Sylvie exhales a long breath, "Wow, that worked out well. Guess your tiger defense really showed them? WEll, that and the blatant bribery well did."
[22:16] <Kotono> *we all
[22:18] <Janson> "Paying forward that blessing before we came in really turned out well, didn't it?" Janson smiles smoothly at the two blondes. "Still, I bet we can win the other contests, too."
[22:21] <Kotono> There's some polite clapping, as well as more than a few hungry looks sent your ways. Meanwhile the Holycoin nods, "I'll see Whimsical Sweets outside now," she says, "Meanwhile the rest of you can enjoy the rest of the mixer and more information will be given out soon."
[22:22] * Aaeru would prefer to win them more fairly, though she can hardly deny that they played by the rules of the game and working with the temple would benefit everyone on both sides. As the Holycoin asks to see them outside, Aaeru bows politely in acnowledgement, since this seems to be the right thing to do in such a situation and proceeds out of the temple after her.
[22:22] <Janson> Gesturing for the tiger to come as well, Janson starts moving to catch up with the priestess.
[22:23] * Orval trots out with the group.
[22:28] <Kotono> The group heads outside, Mia escorting you to a quiet room a little away. Here there are chairs to sit in, nice, well stuffed ones. Mia sits in one and nods, "Congratulations." Snapping her fingers, a familiar bottle appears before you. Elven wine, as well as wineglasses. She pops the cork and pours glasses for all, "Whimsical Sweets has made a big splash this summer. I'd heard about you before."
[22:29] <Kotono> The tiger sits besides Janson's chair, resting it's head on it's paws. Mia gives it a look, "You gave Ricka a sharp lesson today. I hear he's one to hold grudges."
[22:29] <Aaeru> "We worked really hard," Aaeru demurs, not so rude as to refuse the glass.
[22:30] <Janson> "Oh, nice. I kept on saving this and saving this, it's nice I get to drink it after all," Janson raises his glass. "We've no shortage of enemies, and even if he wasn't using his axe out there, he hardly saw all that we're capable of, either. Too much to hope he'd just learn his lesson and reflect on how his life got to that point..."
[22:30] * Orval accepts the glass, grinning. "If he comes back, I'm sure Janson can give him another thumping."
[22:34] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmm," Mia agrees and takes a few sips, "It's going to take a few weeks for the other two competitions to sort out. We'll start sending contracts your way after that."
[22:35] <Aaeru> Oh, so then they won for real and don't need to compete anymore? Aaeru is taken by surprise by that announcement, and mechanically follows Mia's example.
[22:36] * Orval tastes the elven wine, having not tried it before.
[22:38] <Janson> "It must be some pretty heavy work if you're going to all this trouble," Janson observes before savouring a taste of the wine.
[22:40] <Kotono> It's quite sweet and fairly weak to Orval's tastes. "Some of it may be, some of it may be easy." Mia says, "But what better way to ensure success when things are serious than to screen vigoriously, rather than hiring any thugs off the streets?"
[22:43] <Janson> "But nothing urgent if you can wait a few weeks, then?" Janson probes a bit more, wanting to know just what they're in for.
[22:43] * Aaeru indulges herself in the sweetness, if only for a little bit. "It does sound like a very good plan," she agrees, not seeing any flaw with it for her part.
[22:46] <Kotono> "Nothing urgent, no," Mia says.
[22:48] <Janson> "Heh, suppose you don't get to be Holycoin by giving things away easily, do you?" Janson remarks in good humour at her recaltricance, leaning back, "So is there anything you do want to share now that you have us back here?"
[22:50] <Kotono> "Just congratulations," Holycoin Mia says with a smile, "We'll be in touch. For now, enjoy this wine," she rises, "I look forward to all of us profiting each other."
[22:52] * Aaeru returns that smile, saying, "I hope Waukeen'll be very pleased with our work!"
[22:52] <Janson> "I'll go see one of the other clerics about that portal while you get back to the other contestants, then," Janson nods. "Look forward to working for you."
[22:55] * Orval nods and tosses back the rest of his wine. "Good to be working with ye, then."