40: The great race

[Ebiris]

[14:14] <@Ebiris> The thought-stealing monster currently polymorphed into a dog runs pell mell down Bastion Street towards some real or imagined freedom! But its pursuers are not about to give up the chase lightly. Bolstered by arcane speed, Rudy bolts down Red Skink Lane towards the corner onto Bastion Street, while his summoned air elemental hurries out of the narrow alleyway, with Henrietta and Lucie not far behind it. Glenn is furthest behind, back in the middle of the alleyway, but there might be a short-cut onto the street through the nearby courtyard...
[14:14] <@Ebiris> Still within the alleyway, the elemental doesn't have far to go to exit it, but it's still a bit of a tight squeeze. Overhead another possibility presents itself in a walkway going around the two storey building on the right of the alley - climbing up there would allow for cutting the corner of the alley's entrance onto Bastion Street and give a good running start onto the main road!
[14:16] <@Rudy> The air elemental flies over all obstacles with mocking abandon, easily keeping pace with the polymorphed dog and slamming into it with fists of wind!
[14:16] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7 height+1!
[14:16] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+7 height+1! --> [ 1d20=14 ]{21}
[14:17] <@Ebiris> OOC: No... you can only move one square as a move action. You still have to take a full round action to move the 3 squares needed to catch up with the dog on square 5.
[14:17] <@Rudy> OOC: Off to an awesome start, right!
[14:17] <@Rudy> The air elemental flies over all obstacles with mocking abandon, drawing almost close enough to strike!
[14:19] * Retrieving #dunes modes...
[14:20] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 5 > Thought-Stealer 5 > Lucie 2 > Glenn 1 > Rudy 1 > Henrietta 2'
[14:21] <@Ebiris> A few people start to take note of the gusty elemental, but more are focusing on the street performer blowing flames and exploding fiery pyrotechnics to warm up the cold early Winter day - said flames also pose something of a navigational hazard, along with the inattentive street sweeper comign in the opposite direction and pushing his wide broom with little regard for pedestrian traffic. The dog steers well clear of the flames, but attempts to leap over the broom to maintain some pace!
[14:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+11 reflex
[14:22] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+11 reflex --> [ 1d20=15 ]{26}
[14:22] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 5 > Thought-Stealer 7 > Lucie 2 > Glenn 1 > Rudy 1 > Henrietta 2'
[14:22] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Lucie, you're in the alley on square 2 same as the elemental started
[14:23] * Lucie first needs to get out of the alley and onto the street before she can really give chase!
[14:23] <Lucie> roll 1d20+2 escape artist (going by the prep post this is my first obstacle?)
[14:23] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+2 escape artist (going by the prep post this is my first obstacle?) --> [ 1d20=1 ]{3}
[14:24] <Lucie> roll 1d20+2 hero point reroll ffff
[14:24] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+2 hero point reroll ffff --> [ 1d20=17 ]{19}
[14:24] <@Ebiris> OOC: success. That all for you?
[14:25] <Lucie> OOC: I'll keep moving if I can?
[14:25] <@Ebiris> OOC: you can try the climb check for an additional square
[14:26] <Lucie> roll 1d20+2+8 I will! and hero pointing again, hopefully I'll get to stuff IC an pass later
[14:26] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+2+8 I will! and hero pointing again, hopefully I'll get to stuff IC an pass later --> [ 1d20=12 ]{22}
[14:27] <@Ebiris> Squeezing herself through the narrow alley-way, Lucie takes advantage of said tightness to kick off the opposite wall and scramble up onto the balcony above! It offers a commanding view over Bastion Street and gives her a good running start over the roof of the street-facing shop, pelting down the stairs on the side and gaining ground on her quarry!
[14:27] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 5 > Thought-Stealer 7 > Lucie 5 > Glenn 1 > Rudy 1 > Henrietta 2'
[14:28] <@Ebiris> Glenn is further behind everyone, though he can just follow Lucie and Henrietta, there might be more fruit in an indirect route by going through the courtyard on his right and then straight onto the main street...
[14:29] <@Glenn> With Henrietta looking...well, not okay, but still up and at it, Glenn decides to lend chase to the little shape-shifting dog, and gives the indirect route a shot.
[14:29] <@Glenn> roll d20+9 perception
[14:29] <Rei-chan> Glenn rolled : d20+9 perception --> [ 1d20=4 ]{13}
[14:30] <@Glenn> ooc: eh, I'll use a hero point. I can add +4 to that, right?
[14:30] <@Ebiris> OOC: fail, though enough to... yes you can! Going to try the intimidate check?
[14:31] <@Glenn> ooc: why not, since we're going for broke
[14:32] <@Glenn> "Get out of the way!" Glenn calls out as he tries to barge through.
[14:32] <@Glenn> roll d20+8 hero pointing since cha is +0
[14:32] <Rei-chan> Glenn rolled : d20+8 hero pointing since cha is +0 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{22}
[14:33] <@Ebiris> Glenn spots a quicker route through the alleys and dashes out, unfortunately finding a heaving crowd of shoppers around a stall at the exit. But his bellow is enough to scatter them and clear a path onto the poorly maintained road ahead!
[14:33] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 5 > Thought-Stealer 7 > Lucie 5 > Glenn 4 > Rudy 1 > Henrietta 2'
[14:35] <@Ebiris> Rudy races towards the corner onto Bastion Street... it's a steep angled turn to make, but there may be a quicker way through the alleys if he cares to take the time checking. There's also a decent crowd of shoppers that may need dispersing...
[14:35] <@Glenn> "Sorry! Coming through!" Glenn says as he runs through the opening made for him.
[14:35] <@Rudy> "Get out of my way! There's a dangerous criminal on the loose!" bawls out Rudy, slamming into the crowd and slipping through the gaps no doubt made by his bold proclamation!
[14:35] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+11
[14:35] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{26}
[14:36] <@Rudy> He shortly turns a corner and begins bolting through alleyways sure to lead to his quarry!
[14:36] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6 perception?
[14:36] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+6 perception? --> [ 1d20=11 ]{17}
[14:37] <@Ebiris> Rudy sends people scattering out of his way, clearing a path and cutting through the alleys to catch up with Glenn, seeing his elemental pursuing a dog further up the road and Lucie just ahead!
[14:37] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 5 > Thought-Stealer 7 > Lucie 5 > Glenn 4 > Rudy 4 > Henrietta 2'
[14:37] <@Ebiris> Henrietta remains behind in the alleyway, Lucie having fled!
[14:38] <@Henrietta> "Hey! Where are you going?!" Henrietta sternly demands to know. But Lucie flees once more, and so she sucks in her breath and tries to squeeze through the narrow alleyway in pursuit of her!
[14:38] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3 escape artist
[14:38] <Rei-chan> Henrietta rolled : 1d20+3 escape artist --> [ 1d20=11 ]{14}
[14:39] <@Henrietta> Once safely outside and able to breathe freely again, Henrietta spots Lucie making her getaway up a balcony, and so her whip comes out to latch onto the railing and boost her across!
[14:39] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+12 climb, hero point!
[14:39] <Rei-chan> Henrietta rolled : 1d20+12 climb, hero point! --> [ 1d20=11 ]{23}
[14:40] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 5 > Thought-Stealer 7 > Lucie 5 > Glenn 4 > Rudy 4 > Henrietta 5'
[14:41] <@Ebiris> Those tight clothes she's wearing to disguise herself as Alison really help in negotiating tight spaces, Henrietta finds! Her whip also aids in leaping onto the balcony and getting a running start to catch up with the oracle!
[14:41] <@Henrietta> "Stop fleeing!" Henrietta commands, coiling her ivy whip back and slapping it against her thigh.
[14:41] <@Ebiris> OOC: go Elemental
[14:42] <@Rudy> The elemental continues to breezily float over the little people below, landing within range of the fleeing canine once more!
[14:42] <Lucie> "What?!" Lucie calls out with a glance back as she runs. "Trying to help you, idiot!"
[14:43] <@Henrietta> "You-- you're the idiot!" Henrietta sputters.
[14:43] <@Ebiris> Catching up, the elemental joins the dog on a frosty section of street where a crowd of overly cheerful sailors roam, singing and making friends with those they happen across to join their pub crawl!
[14:43] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 7 > Thought-Stealer 7 > Lucie 5 > Glenn 4 > Rudy 4 > Henrietta 5'
[14:44] <@Ebiris> The polymorphed dog jumps and skids across the frosty pot-holes, giving the sailors a wide berth!
[14:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+11 reflex
[14:44] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+11 reflex --> [ 1d20=4 ]{15}
[14:44] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 7 > Thought-Stealer 9 > Lucie 5 > Glenn 4 > Rudy 4 > Henrietta 5'
[14:45] <@Ebiris> It negotiates the physical obstacles with aplomb, racing further away but still in sight! Meanwhile Lucie has a pyrotechnic display and a careless street-sweeper to deal with... not to mention dear Henrietta on her tail!
[14:46] * Lucie barrels on down the road, not stopping for anyone, especially not lightly concussed Henriettas!
[14:46] <Lucie> roll 1d20+3 we'll try ref first, better chances
[14:46] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+3 we'll try ref first, better chances --> [ 1d20=10 ]{13}
[14:47] <Lucie> roll 1d20+8 spellcraft for firebreather
[14:47] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+8 spellcraft for firebreather --> [ 1d20=9 ]{17}
[14:47] <Lucie> OOC: last heo point to make that a pass, sure
[14:48] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 7 > Thought-Stealer 9 > Lucie 8 > Glenn 4 > Rudy 4 > Henrietta 5'
[14:52] <Lucie> "Clear out of the way!" Lucie hollers as she runs. "Either move it or help out--ten gold if someone can bring me that dog!"
[14:53] <@Ebiris> A few people perk up at Lucie's call, a crowd quickly manifesting around her... and a large dog that was sleeping on the steps of a house suddenly waking up and barking in alarm as it senses a threat to its well being!
[14:55] <@Ebiris> Glenn has himself an uneven road surface to contend with, not to mention some pungent smoke coming from the tannery on his right...
[14:57] * @Glenn simply tries to jump around the problem spots on the ground, jumping around as he tries to navigate the messy ground without slipping even as he rapidly waves his left hand in front of his face trying to keep the smoke away from blocking his vision.
[14:58] <@Glenn> roll d20+4 acrobatics
[14:58] <Rei-chan> Glenn rolled : d20+4 acrobatics --> [ 1d20=12 ]{16}
[14:58] <@Glenn> roll d20+7 fort
[14:58] <Rei-chan> Glenn rolled : d20+7 fort --> [ 1d20=9 ]{16}
[14:59] <@Ebiris> OOC: success on both. Describe?
[15:01] <@Glenn> With jump after jump he moves his way through the street, moving slightly to the left side of the street as a small whiff from the tannery passes through his nose and he waves his hand even faster, but otherwise does not let it deter him.
[15:02] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 7 > Thought-Stealer 9 > Lucie 8 > Glenn 7 > Rudy 4 > Henrietta 5'
[15:02] <@Rudy> Rudy's burst of speed through the smoke sends the black stuff trailing behind him, and he leaps over the potholes in a series of awkward and unintentional somersaults!
[15:02] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+10 haha fort
[15:02] <@Ebiris> Glenn catches up with the elemental near the crowd of boisterous seamen, but the potholes here while less pronounced are also lined with glistening frost from the cold weather!
[15:02] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+10 haha fort --> [ 1d20=6 ]{16}
[15:03] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+11 acrobatics!
[15:03] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+11 acrobatics! --> [ 1d20=17 ]{28}
[15:03] <@Ebiris> Rudy matches Glenn stride for stride, the pair overtaking Henrietta in their haste!
[15:04] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 7 > Thought-Stealer 9 > Lucie 8 > Glenn 7 > Rudy 7 > Henrietta 5'
[15:04] * @Henrietta decides to show that wannabe magician what real magic is all about, and sends an icy-blue ray of frost straight through his parlor tricks before following right on the heels of her spell!
[15:04] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
[15:04] <Rei-chan> Henrietta rolled : 1d20+7 spellcraft --> [ 1d20=19 ]{26}
[15:04] <@Henrietta> Her hands guard her face as she makes it past the fire, and then she stretches them out to catch herself as she ground comes back up. She lands, maneuvering herself into a handstand briefly and then Henrietta is already launching herself further ahead over the street sweeper's broom!
[15:04] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+4 reflex
[15:04] <Rei-chan> Henrietta rolled : 1d20+4 reflex --> [ 1d20=20 ]{24}
[15:05] * @Henrietta dashes past the slowly-gathering crowd arond Lucie, finding herself almost within reach!
[15:05] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta gets +1 hero point. Nice use of mixing your abilities with your checks
[15:06] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 7 > Thought-Stealer 9 > Lucie 8 > Glenn 7 > Rudy 7 > Henrietta 8'
[15:06] <@Ebiris> OOC: go elemental
[15:06] <@Rudy> The elemental continues to fly ahead of the thought-stealer, opting to land ahead of it rather than on top! OOC: To square 10!
[15:08] <@Ebiris> The elemental positions itself on thethe bridge crossing onto the next island, ready to block its quarry! Underneath gondolas and small boats pass to and fro, while others remain moored at the canalside. "Oi! What's all this about?" a nearby guardsman finds his interest roused by all the happenings occuring here!
[15:08] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 10 > Thought-Stealer 9 > Lucie 8 > Glenn 7 > Rudy 7 > Henrietta 8'
[15:10] <@Ebiris> The dog picks up speed as it nears the bridge, veering around a crowd near the market stalls to leap from boat to boat and cross the canal without even touching the bridge!
[15:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+14 acrobatics DC 20
[15:10] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+14 acrobatics DC 20 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{15}
[15:12] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 10 > Thought-Stealer 10 > Lucie 8 > Glenn 7 > Rudy 7 > Henrietta 8'
[15:12] <@Ebiris> But it mistimes its jumps and lands in the water with a splash just to the side of the bridge!
[15:12] <@Ebiris> OOC: go Lucie
[15:15] <Lucie> Lucie ducks and weaves through the crowd--or tries to, her efforts at corraling them into assistance may have just stirred them up further! Nonetheless, she saw a dive and heard a splash up there, so now's the time to put some fire into her step and make one final dash after the creature!
[15:15] <Lucie> roll 1d20+2 escape artist
[15:15] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+2 escape artist --> [ 1d20=4 ]{6}
[15:16] <@Ebiris> Lucie finds the crowd pressing tightly and forcing her to push her way through at quite a cost to her momentum, reaching the edge of the bridge where she can see a small brown dog splashing in the water below!
[15:16] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 10 > Thought-Stealer 10 > Lucie 9 > Glenn 7 > Rudy 7 > Henrietta 8'
[15:16] <@Ebiris> OOC: go Glenn
[15:18] <@Ebiris> The sailors spot Glenn! "Hey, you wanna come for a drink with us, pal?" one asks, a big beefy figure approaching with a drunken smile to throw an arm around the alchemist. "We's gonna have such a great time! This city's da besht!"
[15:19] * @Glenn focuses on avoiding the frost as he shakes his head at the sailors. "Sorry fellas, a little busy right now, ask my friend, he loves a good drink!" Glenn calls back, passing the problem onto Rudy.
[15:19] <@Glenn> roll d20+9 reflex
[15:19] <Rei-chan> Glenn rolled : d20+9 reflex --> [ 1d20=13 ]{22}
[15:19] <@Glenn> roll d20+0 diplomacy haha, I'm gonna end up getting dragged off to get drunk
[15:19] <Rei-chan> Glenn rolled : d20+0 diplomacy haha, I'm gonna end up getting dragged off to get drunk --> [ 1d20=9 ]{9}
[15:20] <@Ebiris> "Naw, naw, the more the merrier!" the sailor insists, his grip enough to keep Glenn from moving far!
[15:21] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[15:23] <@Rudy> "I need this!" yells Rudy, grabbing a frothing mug of ale from the hand of one of the sailors without pause!
[15:23] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+18 diplo!
[15:23] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+18 diplo! --> [ 1d20=13 ]{31}
[15:23] <@Rudy> He skulls it in one go, then flings it into one of the many potholes his stride takes him over!
[15:23] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+13 reflex
[15:23] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+13 reflex --> [ 1d20=14 ]{27}
[15:24] <@Ebiris> OOC: +1 hero point for Rudy, short but sweet. You reach square 10, staying on the bridge or going into the water?
[15:25] <@Rudy> OOC: Ew, water! I'll get wet!
[15:25] <@Glenn> "...I told you, you should have grabbed my friend!" Glenn groans as Rudy grabs a drink and runs.
[15:25] <@Ebiris> Negotiating obstacles with the social grace and wit his people are known for, Rudy races onto the bridge above the polymorphed thought-stealer!
[15:25] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 10 > Thought-Stealer 10 > Lucie 9 > Glenn 7 > Rudy 10 > Henrietta 8'
[15:26] * Glenn is now known as Merc-away
[15:26] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri
[15:26] * @Henrietta puts two fingers in her mouth and whistles sharply, just as her father had taught her! She ignores the scared dog -- what is it with Lucie and dogs today, anyway? Her course takes her straight towards the crowd now turning to look in her direction, and that is when Henrietta drops her disguise, appearing as her true self! Their moment of inaction is all she needs to try and rush past
[15:26] * @Henrietta all the way across to Lucie!
[15:26] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+8 bullrush!
[15:26] <Rei-chan> Henrietta rolled : 1d20+8 bullrush! --> [ 1d20=12 ]{20}
[15:27] <Lucie> OOC: CMD 18
[15:27] <@Ebiris> OOC: feel free to describe your double drop into the freezing canal, both of you
[15:28] <Lucie> OOC: Henri first!
[15:28] * @Henrietta tackles Lucie square in the chest as she leaps at her, their combined momentum sending them flying over the edge and into the drink in a tangle of limbs!
[15:29] <@Rudy> "Oh, god! That's aweso- what are you doing?!"
[15:30] <Lucie> "What--you?!" That's all Lucie has time for before Henri's inertia sends her toppling off the bridge and into the freezing water. She struggles to keep her head above the surface and disentangle herself, curses tumbling out her mouth as she splutters and gasps. "You--oh fuck, you mucksucking whore--what in hell--I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU YOU IDIOT!"
[15:31] <@Ebiris> OOC: +1 hero point for Lucie for... being a good sport?
[15:31] <@Henrietta> "Then I'm helping you too! The same way you helped me!"
[15:31] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 10 > Thought-Stealer 10 > Lucie 10 > Glenn 7 > Rudy 10 > Henrietta 10'
[15:32] * Lucie attempts to push Henri away, though this is difficult with being wrapped up in her own sodden cloak. "We could do this in private if it's what you wanted--geroff, the thing's right over there!" Lucie stabs a finger in the creature's direction, which doesn't help her buoyancy any.
[15:33] <@Henrietta> "What thing?!" Henrietta exclaims. "That's just a wet dog! You can buy hundreds of them if you want!"
[15:33] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Elemental
[15:33] <@Rudy> "We need to catch that one!" yells Rudy. "Why?" Meanwhile, the elemental swoops down to attack it's waterlogged foe!
[15:34] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7 attack!
[15:34] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+7 attack! --> [ 1d20=15 ]{22}
[15:34] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[15:34] <Lucie> "IT ATE YOUR BRAIN, YOU--oh, dammit, I'm not talking to you until your head's in one piece again!"
[15:34] <@Rudy> roll 1d6+1 pow!
[15:34] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d6+1 pow! --> [ 1d6=3 ]{4}
[15:35] <@Henrietta> "It DID NOT!" Henrietta finally raises her voice, her temper past a boiling point. "And I will keep on holding you until you start making sense!"
[15:35] <@Ebiris> The dog is pounded under the water by a dive-bombing attack from the elemental! It resurfaces briefly but changes shape into a monkey, swimming towards the Eastern canalside and attempting to clamber up into the alleys!
[15:35] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4 not good at swimming in this form
[15:35] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+4 not good at swimming in this form --> [ 1d20=6 ]{10}
[15:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+14 but good at climbing
[15:36] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+14 but good at climbing --> [ 1d20=8 ]{22}
[15:36] <Lucie> "Fine, then--" Lucie goes under briefly, comes back up spitting out water. "Then we're here 'til we drown--LOOK IT'S A MONKEY NOW!"
[15:36] * @Henrietta blinks. "Hey, did you see that?" she asks Lucie. "The dog turned into a monkey!"
[15:36] <@Henrietta> "That is so strange!"
[15:36] <@Ebiris> Splashing fitfully, the monkey reaches the edge and them scampers up a mooring line onto dry land, dashing into the alleyways between Bastion and Star Streets!
[15:36] <Lucie> "It must have learned it from you," Lucie mutters.
[15:36] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 10 > Thought-Stealer 13 > Lucie 10 > Glenn 7 > Rudy 10 > Henrietta 10'
[15:37] <@Ebiris> OOC: go Lucie
[15:37] <@Ebiris> The water is freezing cold, one must note, and quite murky. A crowd gathers on the bridge, peering down in excitement at the two maidens taking a winter-time dip! "Do you need help?" "Someone, throw a rope!"
[15:38] * Lucie struggles free from Henri's grasp and pushes her away, swimming through the firigd water in halting, inexperienced fashion for dry land once again, towards the side the creature used. If someone's willing to pull her out that way, all the better!
[15:38] <Lucie> roll 1d20+2 swim, not even attempting the other one.
[15:38] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+2 swim, not even attempting the other one. --> [ 1d20=13 ]{15}
[15:40] <@Ebiris> Lucie makes decent progress swimming despite her heavy clothes, and finds a stairway near where the monkey climbed up, offering a route to the alleys! It's not far ahead of her...
[15:41] <@Ebiris> There is a fence in the way, but there's a gap underneath it that could be negotiated with some wriggling.
[15:41] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 10 > Thought-Stealer 13 > Lucie 12 > Rudy 10 > Henrietta 10'
[15:41] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Rudy
[15:43] <@Ebiris> "What's going on here, this some kind of circus?!" the guardsman demands of Rudy since he's nearby.
[15:44] <@Rudy> "Oh, sure! We're, uh, promoting! Merchant District, evening tomorrow, those girls'll be wrestling in mudpits!" blurts out Rudy, sidling past the car and making a leap onto nearby boats!
[15:44] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+18 bluff
[15:44] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+18 bluff --> [ 1d20=6 ]{24}
[15:45] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+19 acrobatics I guess I'll spend a hero point now
[15:45] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+19 acrobatics I guess I'll spend a hero point now --> [ 1d20=7 ]{26}
[15:45] <@Rudy> WIth that, he leaps from boat to boat, lands on the side of the canal in a roll, and continues to tear after the escaping simian!
[15:45] <@Ebiris> "Hmm... I'd pay money for that..." the guardian of Salerno's order muses, looking down at the wet redhead and ignoring Rudy's escape that pays little heed to the hard working gondoliers below!
[15:45] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 10 > Thought-Stealer 13 > Lucie 12 > Rudy 13 > Henrietta 10'
[15:47] <@Ebiris> Dashing into the alleys, Rudy can see his quarry almost within reach! But there's a group of darkly dressed figures with hard expressions and visible daggers nearby in the courtyard ahead... they haven't noticed the chase yet, but who knows how they'd react to intruders on their turf?
[15:47] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Henri
[15:48] * @Henrietta cannot really make heads or tails of things, but Lucie's insanity must have come from the dog-monkey. That, at least, should be easy to sort out! Henrietta kisses her fingertips, materializing a pair of roses within reach with her willpower alone, and then tosses them high into the sky! They will find Lucie's quarry easily enough, and then she can stop and question her. For herself, she
[15:48] * @Henrietta drifts towards one of the stairways out of the water, ready to get back on firmer ground.
[15:48] <@Henrietta> roll 2d4+2 nonlethal
[15:48] <Rei-chan> Henrietta rolled : 2d4+2 nonlethal --> [ 2d4=4 ]{6}
[15:49] <@Ebiris> The roses zip up and disappear into the alleys, negotiating twists and corners at high velocity before overtaking Rudy and slamming into the simian, sending it reeling! It's starting to flag from the effort of the chase, but isn't down yet!
[15:49] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile she sedately follows Lucie up the stairs into the alleys.
[15:49] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 10 > Thought-Stealer 13 > Lucie 12 > Rudy 13 > Henrietta 11'
[15:50] <@Ebiris> The alley is quite narrow at its entrance, and there's a pile of boxes and crates overflowing with garbage blocking part of the pathway ahead.
[15:50] <@Ebiris> OOC: elemental
[15:51] <@Rudy> The elemental swoops ahead and quickly catches up with it's evasive opponent!
[15:51] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 13 > Thought-Stealer 13 > Lucie 12 > Rudy 13 > Henrietta 11'
[15:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 reflex
[15:52] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+9 reflex --> [ 1d20=8 ]{17}
[15:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+8 stealth
[15:52] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+8 stealth --> [ 1d20=9 ]{17}
[15:53] <@Ebiris> The monkey scampers ahead, its small body avoiding any scrutiny from the hooligans, and as it passes the courtyard it shows uncanny foresight in jumping aside to avoid a pail of waste being thrown from a window high above!
[15:53] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 13 > Thought-Stealer 16 > Lucie 12 > Rudy 13 > Henrietta 11'
[15:53] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Lucie
[15:55] <Lucie> "Dammit dammit dammit," Lucie mutters with every breath as she sloshes ahead, leaving a trail of water behind her and a constant drip of precipitation falling from her hair and clothes. The creature's getting away from her--at this rate, she needs a shortcut!
[15:55] <Lucie> roll 1d20+11 perception
[15:55] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+11 perception --> [ 1d20=3 ]{14}
[15:56] <@Ebiris> Lucie stops to look for shortcuts, but in spending time on that she loses even more ground on the shapechanger... but Henrietta is close at hand, fortunately?
[15:56] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[15:57] <@Rudy> Rudy opts to creep by some nearby barrels in the hope of evading unwarranted notice!
[15:57] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 alas
[15:57] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+5 alas --> [ 1d20=2 ]{7}
[15:57] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 omigodheroed
[15:57] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+5 omigodheroed --> [ 1d20=10 ]{15}
[15:57] <@Ebiris> OOC: trying the reflex save?
[15:57] <@Rudy> This accomplished, he continues to rush ahead-
[15:57] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6 yes
[15:57] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+6 yes --> [ 1d20=17 ]{23}
[15:58] <@Rudy> -and only the unpleasant smell of hurtling muck gives him enough warning to make a sudden break for it!
[15:59] <@Ebiris> Rudy manages to avoid a nasty splattering from the unhygienic inhabitants of the apartment above is head, catching up with the rogue monkey at a seeming dead end!
[15:59] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 13 > Thought-Stealer 16 > Lucie 12 > Rudy 16 > Henrietta 11'
[15:59] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri
[15:59] <@Henrietta> Back in her natural body but still quite restrained by Alison's attire, Henrietta can see exactly how much of a distance there is between herself and the walls of the alley. Let alone getting through in one piece, without scraping any sensitive parts, she tries to do so with such grace that her borrowed clothes don't get stained in the process!
[16:00] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3 escape artist
[16:00] <Rei-chan> Henrietta rolled : 1d20+3 escape artist --> [ 1d20=14 ]{17}
[16:01] <@Ebiris> OOC: trying the acrobatics
[16:01] <@Ebiris> OOC: ?
[16:01] <@Henrietta> A garbage pile blocks the way once she is through, and rather than climb all over that mess, Henrietta repeats her previous trick by resummoning her trusty whip and swinging across with the help of a conveniently-placed windowsill. Who keeps on placing windows that open into narrow alleyways, anyway?
[16:01] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3
[16:01] <Rei-chan> Henrietta rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{17}
[16:02] * @Henrietta lets go of the whip once she is through, landing on her feet in a crouch and then dashing ahead!
[16:03] <@Ebiris> Henrietta negotiates both obstacles with aplomb despite the seeming shrinkage of Alison's attire, passing by Lucie and a bunch of ne'er-do-wells... Rudy and the monkey are just ahead at a seeming dead end! Unfortunately this way seems to be on the back of an alchemy shop or something, because foul vapours emanate from a vent onto the alleyway. A stairwell up the side of a nearby building might offer a way to get better vantage over the dead end, however...
[16:03] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 13 > Thought-Stealer 16 > Lucie 12 > Rudy 16 > Henrietta 14'
[16:03] <@Ebiris> OOC: go elemental
[16:04] <@Rudy> The elemental swiftly catches up to Rudy and the thought stealer, but can do naught but hover impotently!
[16:04] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 16 > Thought-Stealer 16 > Lucie 12 > Rudy 16 > Henrietta 14'
[16:05] <@Ebiris> The shapeshifter is undeterred by being seemingly trapped, leaping up and scrambling up the side of the wall onto the rooftops!
[16:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+14 climb
[16:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+14 climb --> [ 1d20=3 ]{17}
[16:05] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 16 > Thought-Stealer 18 > Lucie 12 > Rudy 16 > Henrietta 14'
[16:05] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Lucie
[16:06] * Lucie opts to try and squeeze under that fence instead of flaling helplessly for another path. What the hell, right? This outfit's already need of a good cleaning anyway, so she's well past caring about a crawl through the dirt.
[16:06] <Lucie> roll 1d20+2
[16:06] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{7}
[16:07] <Lucie> roll 1d20+2 ffff hero point
[16:07] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+2 ffff hero point --> [ 1d20=14 ]{16}
[16:07] <@Ebiris> OOC: have +1 hero point just because your luck has been so shitty and you've been trying so hard
[16:08] * Lucie scrambles under the fence with some difficulty, acquiring a coat of dirt that turns to mud on contact with all that water. Henrietta is going to pay for this--literally.
[16:08] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 16 > Thought-Stealer 18 > Lucie 14 > Rudy 16 > Henrietta 14'
[16:08] <@Ebiris> And Henrietta's right there, Lucie catching up with the wet redhead!
[16:08] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Rudy
[16:10] <@Rudy> Rudy clambers to the top of the building in a modestly ungraceful way, breathing heavily. "Oh, you little sunuvabitch," he mutters, as power coils in his arm and gets flung towards the escaping creature! "Sure as day I'm gonna let Myra play with you before Witchwillow gets her turn." OOC: Slow, will 16
[16:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9
[16:10] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{24}
[16:11] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 16 > Thought-Stealer 18 > Lucie 14 > Rudy 17 > Henrietta 14'
[16:11] <@Ebiris> The monkey turns around and waves its arms at Rudy, seeming just as nimble as before!
[16:11] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[16:12] <@Henrietta> "First, I will catch that monkey-dog for you," Henrietta tells Lucie matter of factly, striding ahead. She adjusts her top, as it begins to confine her quite uncomfortably after the water, and grimaces. "Then, you will apologize and tell me why you did it!" A snap of her fingers summons two more roses, and they leave to join the previous pair on their hunt for the creature.
[16:12] <@Henrietta> roll 2d4+2 nonlethal
[16:12] <Rei-chan> Henrietta rolled : 2d4+2 nonlethal --> [ 2d4=3 ]{5}
[16:13] <@Ebiris> As the monkey gesticulates at Rudy it's rudely slammed by a pair of roses that arc into the air from below and then zip horizontally to strike it from both sides!
[16:13] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 16 > Thought-Stealer 18 > Lucie 14 > Rudy 17 > Henrietta 15'
[16:13] <@Ebiris> OOC: Elemental
[16:14] <@Rudy> The elemental speeds ahead of the monkey, gaining valuable ground and landing in front of it!
[16:14] <@Rudy> OOC: to 19!
[16:15] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 19 > Thought-Stealer 18 > Lucie 14 > Rudy 17 > Henrietta 15'
[16:19] <@Ebiris> The monkey quivers and suddenly enlarges itself! It becomes almost human sized, though its legs merge together into a long and wide muscular fish-tail, albeit one adorned with gnashing vestigial mouths and hooked appendages. It's definitely female, with long but matted and ragged red hair tumbling down its back, and a half-torn seashell bikini offering only a parody of modesty. Her left arm is a vestigial and emaciated thing, like a baby's arm on a full grown adult, while her right is a long rubbery pink tentacle adorned with obscene orifices and hooked suckers. Her mouth opens impossibly wide, dribbling vibrant fresh blood, and the metallic tang of gore hits both Rudy and his elemental's senses!
[16:19] <@Ebiris> OOC: will save vs fear for Rudy and elemental
[16:20] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 for me
[16:20] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+4 for me --> [ 1d20=2 ]{6}
[16:20] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 for me, I said
[16:20] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+4 for me, I said --> [ 1d20=5 ]{9}
[16:20] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 for the elemental, alas
[16:20] <Rei-chan> Rudy rolled : 1d20+4 for the elemental, alas --> [ 1d20=1 ]{5}
[16:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 rounds panicked
[16:21] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4 rounds panicked --> [ 1d4=3 ]{3}
[16:21] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 19 (3rnd panic) > Thought-Stealer 18 > Lucie 14 > Rudy 17 (3rnd panic) > Henrietta 15'
[16:22] <@Ebiris> Neither Rudy nor the elemental are at all mentally prepared for the horrific sight, turning tail to flee even as the monster reduces back into monkey form, its display complete!
[16:22] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[16:24] <Lucie> Lucie steels herself against the rank odors coming of the alchemical building--surely she's encountered far worse in the slums--and runs on after the monster, homing in on a scream of terror!
[16:24] <Lucie> roll 1d20+3 fort
[16:24] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+3 fort --> [ 1d20=6 ]{9}
[16:24] <Lucie> roll 1d20+3 fort again fucking figures
[16:24] <Rei-chan> Lucie rolled : 1d20+3 fort again fucking figures --> [ 1d20=1 ]{4}
[16:25] <@Ebiris> roll 1d6 damage from acrid fumes
[16:25] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d6 damage from acrid fumes --> [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
[16:26] <@Ebiris> Lucie finds that the old rum distillery has nothing on the choking acid smoke coming out of that vent, reducing her to hacking miserably as she stumbles her way through, tears in her eyes!
[16:26] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 19 (3rnd panic) > Thought-Stealer 18 > Lucie 15 > Rudy 17 (3rnd panic) > Henrietta 15'
[16:26] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy, feel free to describe your movements over roofs or back down onto the alley
[16:27] <@Rudy> Rudy's terrified scream pierces through the air, and he runs into walls and stumbles over boxes in his mad dash to get as far away as possible!
[16:27] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental 19 (3rnd panic) > Thought-Stealer 18 > Lucie 15 > Rudy 16 (3rnd panic) > Henrietta 15'
[16:27] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Henri
[16:28] * @Henrietta advances down the dead-end alley with a determination unmatched! Her progress is slow and sure, and as she crosses her arms before her face, four roses instead of two appear in her hands, a pair in each! Sighting an unnatural monstrosity on the rooftops ahead, Henrietta does not hesitate in the slightest to barrage it with the best of her arsenal!
[16:28] <@Henrietta> roll 2d4+2
[16:28] <Rei-chan> Henrietta rolled : 2d4+2 --> [ 2d4=3 ]{5}
[16:28] <@Henrietta> roll 2d4+2 if I need this one, again all nonlethal
[16:28] <Rei-chan> Henrietta rolled : 2d4+2 if I need this one, again all nonlethal --> [ 2d4=3 ]{5}
[16:28] * @Henrietta walks forward with a purpose, not deviating once from her course! If Rudy is to flee, he must do so by veering around her!
[16:29] <@Ebiris> The monkey is caught by surprise with this barrage, staggering back from the first salvo before the second brings it down, collapsing on the rooftop!
[16:29] <@Ebiris> OOC: free actions
[16:29] <@Rudy> Rudy plows into Henrietta and slumps to the ground, grabbing at her leg and crying for his mother!
[16:30] * @Henrietta shakes Rudy off her leg much as she would an overly-affectionate dog, climbing for the rooftop to collect the strange creature. Now, Lucie will owe her answers!
[16:30] * Lucie staggers out of the rank cloud, soaked, filthy, hacking and wheezing. "What--" she breaks off for a coughing fit. "What happened? Did we get it? Rudy, pick yourself up! Be a man!"
[16:30] <@Ebiris> The monkey is bruised and battered... it's a little brown thing with a long curly tail and big semi-circular ears. Quite konked out, it seems.
[16:31] * @Henrietta picks it up by the tail curiously, another pair of roses at the ready.
[16:31] <@Rudy> "I've seen hell!"
[16:31] <@Ebiris> It dangles in Henrietta's grasp like a puppet with its strings cut.
[16:31] <Lucie> "Oh yeah?" Lucie says. "What'd it look like?"
[16:32] <@Rudy> "It looked like a woman!"
[16:32] * Lucie just snorts.
[16:32] <@Rudy> "I'm serious!" he adds, standing up. "I mean, like those fish things! And it had.. it had so many... openings..."
[16:33] <Lucie> "Can stop talking," Lucie waves this away. "Forget I asked."
[16:33] * @Henrietta finds it a good time to return, and offers the monkey to Lucie, her roses long since dismissed. "I really need to get out of these clothes," she says, grimacing again. "Can you give me your cloak as an apology for now?"
[16:33] <@Rudy> "I will never sleep again," moans Rudy, stepping back from the monkey in fright!
[16:35] <Lucie> "Apologize to YOU?" Lucie snaps. "You knocked me into the river! For what? Trying to get your memories back" Lucie takes her cloak off, the wet dress below outlining her quite scandalously in the cold. "No, I'm using it to make sure this little bastard doesn't scramble off when it wakes." So saying, Lucie wraps the monster tightly in her cloak, only its head out to allow it to breathe.
[16:35] <@Henrietta> "What memories? What are you trying to say? Go ahead and say it!"
[16:36] <Lucie> "Obviously you can't remember them because IT TOOK THEM." Lucie sighs and shivers. "Fucking cold out. Can we get to the embassy and finish this? Got a long evening in front of the fire ahead of me. And where's Glenn?"
[16:36] <@Rudy> "I don't care! I wanna go home!"
[16:36] * @Henrietta can hardly avoid putting it off any longer, and starts drying herself off by running her hands over her body, Prestidigitation aiding her. "That is a vicious lie!" she responds to Lucie. "I remember my parents and everything we did together and nothing at all is missing!"
[16:37] * Lucie stalks on out of the neighborhood in the general direction of the embassy, or at least the river for a boat. "Both you idiots just follow me, alright? We'll prove it when we get where we're going, Henri."
[16:37] <Lucie> "I hope," she adds in a mutter.
[16:38] <@Rudy> "I'm not an idiot! I just understand what true suffering really is!" retorts Rudy, quickly catching up with Lucie amidst furtive glances over his shoulder.
[16:39] <@Henrietta> "We are stopping to buy normal clothes first, or a cloak, at least!" Henrietta insists. "This is ridiculous and I do not have to pretend anymore that the cold does not bother me!"
[16:39] * Joins: Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-70-113-207-78.austin.res.rr.com)
[16:39] * Quits: Rei-chan (Rei-chan@95.146.3.130) (Quit: )
[16:40] <Lucie> "Not taking a chance of this thing waking up," Lucie says. "Go toddle off on your own and buy clothes if you have to! The rest of us are finishing the job. You won't find out anything about what happened if you don't come with us, though."
[16:40] <@Ebiris> Sadly no gondolier is willing to ferry someone dripping water the way Lucie is, and the group attract no shortage of strange glances as they make the arduous journey in the cold towards the Anowian Embassy - fortunately a stopover at a clothes shop fixes that (-5gp if you're buying presentable new clothes appropriate to the weather) and makes the remainder of the journey considerably more pleasant.
[16:40] <@Henrietta> OOC: Sold!
[16:40] <@Ebiris> OOC: sorry, missed Lucie's line
[16:41] <Lucie> OOC: no biggie
[16:41] <@Ebiris> OOC: settle whether you go get changed first or not then we can move on
[16:41] <@Rudy> As he's not, in fact, covered in filth or soaking wet, Rudy manages to show up to the embassy looking almost as fine as he did in the morning, albeit with darting eyes and a rumpled jacket.
[16:41] <Lucie> OOC: Lucie doesn't actually know what Henri might do off on her own, so I guess she'd have to putup with it to make sure they don't lose or her something
[16:41] <@Rudy> But he does buy a cage along the way to keep the damned thing in!
[16:42] * Lucie does buy a new set of clothes since Henri's bound and determined to stop, and she'd rather not go to a paying employer looking as she is. Doesn't do much for her sodden hair, but it's something.,
[16:43] * @Henrietta finds it within her to fix Lucie's dripping issue while Rudy gets a proper cage for the weird monkey thing.
[16:43] <@Ebiris> Rudy's extravant lifestyle leaves him happy to pay for a sturdy cage with a proper lock without even batting an eye! The embassy is reached in no time at all, and Emerelda seems quite happy to see everyone, even Lucie whom she's never met before. "Oh, you've bought a pet, Mr Giacomo?" she peers at the caged simian. "Not a very lively thing, is it? I think the weather's a bit too cold here for monkeys."
[16:44] * Quits: NeremWorld (Nerem@pool-71-170-224-53.dllstx.fios.verizon.net) (Ping timeout)
[16:44] <@Rudy> "It's the thing that ate Alison's mind! And Henri's, apparently. She's even snippier than normal," replies Rudy, looking rather shaken.
[16:45] <@Henrietta> "It is cold for wearing Alison's clothing, too," Henrietta helpfully educates the other woman.
[16:45] <Lucie> "Started out a cat. Then it was a bird. Then a dog. Bad news, whatever it really is."
[16:45] <@Henrietta> "And my mind is perfectly fine!"
[16:46] <@Ebiris> "I'd expect her to wear a coat on a day like this," Emerelda replies initially, before eyeing the monkey more dubiously. "Do you know how to get their minds out of it, then?"
[16:46] <@Ebiris> OOC: arcana is helpful here as it is a magical beast
[16:46] <Lucie> roll 1d20+8
[16:46] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+8 and gets 21." [1d20=13]
[16:46] <@Henrietta> "I said my mind is perfectly fine," Henrietta insists, sounding irritated by this point.
[16:46] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+6
[16:46] * Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+6 and gets 21." [1d20=15]
[16:46] <Lucie> "Henri, remember Alison? She thought her mind was all fine too, didn't she? 'cept it wasn't, right?"
[16:48] <@Henrietta> "People observed a noticable change in her behavior," Henrietta responds to that, "while I am strongly confident that if anyone ever knocked me down in a dirty alley, put my face in the ground and stepped all over me, I would want to, at the very least, throw them into the river."
[16:48] <@Rudy> "Wait, you did all that?"
[16:48] <Lucie> "I've been trying to tell you, I did that because--" Lucie sighs, rubs her eyes. "Nevermind."
[16:48] <@Henrietta> "And without so much as an apology!"
[16:49] * @Henrietta crosses her arms before her chest. "That is just not right, I tell you!"
[16:49] -> *Lucie* You think it's an Emophage, a shapeshifting creature that feeds on the emotions of others, stealing them away and sustaining itself. Killing it will generally release all the emotions back to their former owners, but there's a small chance of things going awry. A more reliable method is to draft a concoction out of its brain matter that anyone afflicted can drink to regain what was stolen. There's another magical method but you can't quite recall the specifics.
[16:49] <Lucie> "I apologized before I did it!" Lucie insists.
[16:50] <@Henrietta> "How convenient it is, then, to claim I have lost my memory!"
[16:50] <@Rudy> "Uh, about the monster," replies Rudy, rubbing his head. "I figured we'd just leave it here while we work out how to fix things. I mean, this place is secure, right?"
[16:50] <Lucie> "Anyway!" she says loudly, obviously trying to change the topic. "Think I heard about one of these things before. We can kill it, and that might set everyone back the way they were, but it can go wrong sometimes...can make a potion or somewhat out of its brain and have folks drink it, otherwise."
[16:50] * @Henrietta sniffs in disdain. "If this is the monster you describe, Rudy, then there exists a magical remedy. One using alchemy, at that." She frowns. "Where is Glenn, in any case?"
[16:50] <@Ebiris> "Yes... I'll let the ambassador know," Emerelda nods, reaching forward to take the cage. "We can look into it on our end as well, hopefully someone can discover a solution."
[16:51] <@Rudy> "Well, if you want to make a potion out of it's brain, we have to kill it anyone, right?"
[16:51] <@Rudy> *anyway
[16:51] <Lucie> "Guess so, yeah."
[16:51] <@Henrietta> "If you find none, just kill it." Henrietta shrugs. "It may go badly, though!"
[16:51] <@Ebiris> "Be hard not to," Emerelda agrees.
[16:52] <Lucie> "Guess we can keep these two--Henri and Alison, I mean--someplace we can watch 'em, kill the thing, see if they go back normal, try the potion if not?" Lucie suggests.
[16:52] <@Rudy> "So let's go do that now. 'least we won't need to worry about it later," replies Rudy. "And if it goes wrong, then we'll get someone to mix up a potion. Think Rabbani could do it?"
[16:52] <@Henrietta> "I hope, for Alison's sake, that you do try for a potion, or research it further. It would be a shame if her mind got scrambled again."
[16:53] <@Rudy> "So wait, Miss Mage, what's your official recommendation here? Kill it? Keep it alive? What?"
[16:53] <@Ebiris> "Well, I can have one of our soldiers do the honours if none of you would like to. With it out like that it can't be hard to kill without damaging the brain, right?" Emerelda asks, peering down into the cage. "Such a cute little thing, too... I want to put him in a little jacket and hat!"
[16:53] <Lucie> "Yeah, I guess. There was a kid back in that neighborhood got bit or whatever too, right? Should track him down for this too to be thorough."
[16:53] <@Rudy> "It can turn into a twelve-foot-tall fishwoman abomination! No hat looks good on that!"
[16:54] <@Henrietta> "Use its brain as components in a potion," Henrietta responds. "If this thing is just kept unconscious for awhile until a competent potion-maker can be found, that should go flawlessly."
[16:54] <Lucie> Lucie glares at the beast and then looks at Emerelda. "It's only cute when it wants to be. A hat doesn't make it less a monster."
[16:54] <@Ebiris> "Then I do say that you need a bigger cage, my dear Mr Giacomo," Emerelda straightens up and gives Rudy a teasing smile.
[16:55] <@Rudy> "Well... I had to pick one I could carry."
[16:55] <Lucie> "And anyway, I'd be more than glad to kill the little bastard if it's gonna be done," Lucie adds.
[16:56] <@Rudy> "Damn straight."
[16:59] <@Ebiris> Taking their captured monster now down into Shadowshore, the group return to Lucie's old stomping grounds - no sign of any old friends, although Rabbani's poison shop remains nestled between the butchershop - they do great sausage rolls, Lucie remembers - and the bakery - where Lucie can easily recommend the muffins as the height of Shadowshore cuisine. Inside the ancient and unkempt dwarf lingers, stopped over a burning pot from which nasty multicoloured smoke emanates. He doesn't seem to notice the new arrivals, engrossed in his work.
[17:00] <@Henrietta> "Hello again," Henrietta greets him, her backpack and flail once more with her comfortingly.
[17:00] <Lucie> "Rabbani," Lucie says from across the room, keeping her distance from the acrid smoke. "Open for business? Got some work needs doing."
[17:02] <@Ebiris> Straightening up with a pop from his back, Rabbani looks around, and scowls at Lucie. "Rabbani pay yesterday, you bloodsucker! Pay stupid little flat girl everything!" he rails before blinking, "Eh. What? Pretty cobra girl come as customer for once? Expect discount too, Rabbani bets..." he mutters that last part.
[17:03] <@Henrietta> "A discount would be nice," Henrietta says happily. "We have an... emophage, it sounds like. Do you know how to make its brains into a potion?"
[17:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+18
[17:03] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+18 and gets 37." [1d20=19]
[17:03] <Lucie> "Yeah, we're paying today, so tamp that attitude down," Lucie tosses back at him.
[17:04] <@Ebiris> "Five hundred gold," the dwarf snaps instantly, his beady black eyes lighting up. "Make it three if Rabbani get rest of corpse to keep."
[17:04] <@Henrietta> "How much potion are we talking about?" Henrietta asks first. "There are two victims, I will have you know, and we must help them both."
[17:04] <@Rudy> "We can bill it to the embassy," notes Rudy. "Operational expenses."
[17:04] <@Rudy> "Three," corrects Rudy.
[17:05] <@Henrietta> "Who is the third?"
[17:05] <Lucie> "We haven't got any use for the rest of the body, do we?" Lucie says. "Good enough for me, 'specially if the embassy's footing the bill."
[17:06] <@Ebiris> "Make pot. Enough for whole dinner party," Rabbani lapses into a bout of wheezing cackles for a moment, reaching up to rub his mouth through his immense scraggly black beard. "Take two days, need hair or fingernail from everyone who wants memory back."
[17:06] <@Rudy> "Dunno. If one kid got suckered, so could another," replies Rudy. "Let's keep a spare."
[17:06] <@Henrietta> "To satisfy my curiousity," Henrietta asks Rabbani, "can you tell me if you remember another method for helping the victims attacked by this creature? It is right at the tip of my tongue, but...."
[17:07] <Lucie> "Two days? We've gotta put up with her like this for two days?" Lucie says, with a finger jerked towards Henri.
[17:07] <@Ebiris> "Hmph, Rabbani know potions," he waves dismissively at Henrietta. "No potion, no good! Haha!"
[17:07] <@Rudy> "I dunno, did it actually get her? I'd be pretty mad at you if you shoved me over and stepped on my head."
[17:08] * @Henrietta laughs along with him. "Then it was not a potion? Good to know! How much hair do you need?"
[17:08] <Lucie> "Yes, it got her! It stabbed out its tongue and stuck her in the head!"
[17:08] <Lucie> "And I did not step on her head!"
[17:08] <@Rudy> "You're not just fibbing to look like less of a thug, right?"
[17:08] <@Ebiris> "One strand, that enough," he holds out his hand with his wrinkled and stained thumb and forefinger pressed together. "Like magnet for memories!"
[17:09] <Lucie> "She was in the way, alright? I didn't have a choice."
[17:09] <@Henrietta> "Excellent. I will return!" Satisfied with the explanation, Henrietta gives Lucie a most dubious look. "This is unbecoming. We should go and collect hairs from the victims now."
[17:10] * Lucie needs no further encouragement to turn and head back out. "Right, let's get it over with."