42: The baleful eye of steak tartar

[Ebiris]

[14:02] <@Ebiris> As most of the patrons and staff of the Golden Gremlin panic and flail around blindly, one of the four thugs now moving into position around the raised platform with the 'devil's gold' atop it barks out in a rough voice, "Listen up! Drop on the ground and don't try nuthin' stupid, then we might lets ya live!" A large number of the people present do as asked, even the ones who'd just been grabbing piles of chips off the now unattended gambling tables, but a sizable number remain upright and wailing in panic over their newly sightless state!
[14:02] <@Ebiris> Over near the bar, Ilona squints her eyes and gropes over the table towards Lucie as if to make sure she's still there. "Lucie?!" she calls, her voice pitched in some alarm, but not quite all the way panicking like many present here are doing...
[14:02] <@Ebiris> OOC: You're up, Oracle girl
[14:04] <@Lucie> "Stay there, Ilona," Lucie says in her best reassuring tone (which is mostly just cold, level rage). "Don't move 'til this is over." She strides to the wizard-looking fell, reaches out one hand to channel him full of magic. "You! How DARE you interrupt my evening! Stand still and take your punishment, you sheep-buggering catamite!"
[14:04] <@Lucie> OOC: Hold PErson spam engage
[14:04] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 DC?
[14:04] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 DC? and gets 8." [1d20=2]
[14:04] <@Lucie> OOC: will DC 17, yeah
[14:05] * Retrieving #dunes modes...
[14:05] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Wizard (held 3rnd) > Zani(dazed) > Henrietta > Curlyhair > Glenn(2nrd blind) > Bouncers(2rnd blind) > Thugs > Rudy(2rnd blind)''
[14:06] <@Ebiris> The goateed looking fellow is immediately struck still just a handsbreadth away from the chest of silver without even having had the time to look back at Lucie!
[14:06] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 he gets a save on his turn to throw it off
[14:06] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 he gets a save on his turn to throw it off and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[14:07] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile the darkly clad elf with the snowy white hair shakes her head slowly and throws off the magic compelling her to remain still!
[14:07] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Wizard (held 3rnd) > Zani > Henrietta > Curlyhair > Glenn(2nrd blind) > Bouncers(2rnd blind) > Thugs > Rudy(2rnd blind)''
[14:07] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri
[14:08] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Wizard (held 4rnd) > Zani > Henrietta > Curlyhair > Glenn(2nrd blind) > Bouncers(2rnd blind) > Thugs > Rudy(2rnd blind)''
[14:09] <@Henrietta> "Villains, you dare ambush Henrietta Ul Copt?!" Henrietta exclaims, sounding quite piqued. "You scum, know your place!" She reaches for the tiara that makes up her disguise and grabs hold of something disctinctly tangible before tossing it in a wide arc that gets an unsuspecting trio of bandits!
[14:09] <@Henrietta> roll 3#1d4+1 MM, toppling spell!
[14:09] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 3#1d4+1 MM, toppling spell! and gets 12." [3#1d4+1 = 3, 5, 4]
[14:10] <@Henrietta> roll 3#1d20+13 tripping!
[14:10] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 3#1d20+13 tripping! and gets 63." [3#1d20+13 = 27, 18, 18]
[14:14] <@Ebiris> Three of the thuggish brutes are toppled by the blast of magic, bruising and knocking the wind out of them as they plummet to the velvet red floor! "Oh shit, where'd all the vigilantes come from?!" the woman with the curly hair exclaims in shock, deciding to focus her attention on Henrietta as the most lethal threat, "Stop, stand still!" she calls over at the currently disguised redhead, starting to back off a little and looking around worriedly.
[14:14] <@Ebiris> OOC: will, Henri
[14:14] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+6
[14:14] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+6 and gets 8." [1d20=2]
[14:15] <@Ebiris> Henrietta feels her mind go momentarily blank, dazing her!
[14:15] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Wizard (held 4rnd) > Zani > Henrietta (dazed 1 rnd) > Curlyhair > Glenn(2nrd blind) > Bouncers(2rnd blind) > Thugs > Rudy(2rnd blind)''
[14:15] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[14:18] * @Glenn grimaces as he tries to rub his eyes as he ducks for some cover, any cover, trying to stay out of the trouble until his sight is a little better.
[14:20] <@Lucie> "Henri?" Lucie calls out across the floor in surprise. "Where the hell have you people been?!"
[14:20] <@Ebiris> The bouncers are about as useless as Glenn, milling around in blinded confusion and bumping or tripping over patrons and staff alike! The three thugs who were felled by Henrietta grimace and climb to their feet, moving to surround the flanked sorceress while the remaining one assaults Lucie. "Should've stayed down on the ground!" he chastises her with a meaty fist heading straight for her face!
[14:20] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5
[14:20] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 and gets 20." [1d20=15]
[14:20] <@Ebiris> OOC: AC?
[14:21] <@Lucie> OOC: 17 with coat of stars up
[14:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d3+3 nonlethal
[14:21] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d3+3 nonlethal and gets 4." [1d3=1]
[14:22] <@Ebiris> The blow is one that might be respectable for most, but compared to the attacks of hellishly warped mutants and undead monsters, Lucie can confidently say she's endured far worse!
[14:22] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[14:25] <@Rudy> "You've destroyed my eyes! They were my beat feature!" wails Rudy. "How will I know what I roll now?!" He waves his arms in spectacular fashion, unleashing mighty snake that slithers towards the woman, the only one he heard properly! "I'm gonna do weird things to you for that!"
[14:26] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 bite!!1 if it can get in range, speed 20ft
[14:26] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 bite!!1 if it can get in range, speed 20ft and gets 14." [1d20=9]
[14:26] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[14:27] <@Rudy> roll 1d4+4 chomp
[14:27] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d4+4 chomp and gets 5." [1d4=1]
[14:27] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+9 grapple
[14:27] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+9 grapple and gets 16." [1d20=7]
[14:27] <@Ebiris> OOC: any poison?
[14:27] <@Rudy> OOC: No, it's a constrictor
[14:28] <@Ebiris> OOC: she's grappled, does it do damage on grappling or does that only happen next round?
[14:28] <@Rudy> OOC: I.. am not sure, let me quickly check
[14:29] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Wizard (held 4rnd) > Zani > Henrietta (dazed 1 rnd) > Curlyhair > Glenn(1nrd blind) > Bouncers(1rnd blind) > Thugs > Rudy(1rnd blind) > Snake''
[14:29] <@Rudy> OOC: It does!
[14:29] <@Rudy> roll 1d4+4 nonlethal plz
[14:29] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d4+4 nonlethal plz and gets 5." [1d4=1]
[14:30] <@Ebiris> "Ow!" the woman yelps as the snake bites her, but her tone rapidly climbs up in notch as it slithers its coils around her. "Ohhh fffuuuck! They're gonna kill us! Run!" she wails in terror.
[14:30] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[14:31] * @Lucie grunts, snarls through a bloody nose. "That it, then? That's all you've got? Watered-down ale here had more a kick to it then that. Get out of my way!" She steps back, reaches out again and colors warp space before her. (OOC: let's see if I can still get some mileage out of color spray! will DC 16. 15-ft cone, conceivable it could catch someone else in it)
[14:32] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+1 thug
[14:32] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+1 thug and gets 18." [1d20=17]
[14:34] <@Ebiris> "Colors?" the burly and neckless figure glowers at Lucie a moment before turning around and seeing the snake drama playing out. "Dammit, Thuvalia! Where did that thing come from?!"
[14:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 wizardly saves
[14:34] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 wizardly saves and gets 23." [1d20=17]
[14:35] <@Rudy> "It was me!"
[14:36] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile the wizardly figure shakes off Lucie's magic and straightens himself out, holding up his scroll to read. But a thrown dagger from Zani - where was she hiding that? - thunks into the chest barely inches from him!
[14:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4 intimidate
[14:36] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 intimidate and gets 20." [1d20=16]
[14:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4 resist
[14:37] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 resist and gets 10." [1d20=6]
[14:38] <@Ebiris> He pales at that sight, stumbling half a step back in fear! Henrietta at last comes to her senses, but unfortunately finds herself surrounded - at least her assailants seem to be reconsidering the wisdom of pressing forward now, while the woman trapped by Rudy's snake tries to extricate herself!
[14:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 escape artist
[14:39] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 escape artist and gets 12." [1d20=5]
[14:39] <@Ebiris> Vainly at that!
[14:39] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[14:39] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Wizard > Zani > Henrietta > Curlyhair > Glenn(1nrd blind) > Bouncers(1rnd blind) > Thugs > Rudy(1rnd blind) > Snake''
[14:39] <@Henrietta> "You three against myself?" Henrietta asks, smiling far too eagerly for comfort as she takes a look about her. "How unfortunate, for you."
[14:41] * @Glenn just continues rubbing his eyes, not being able to do much while blind.
[14:44] <@Ebiris> The bouncers do much the same as Glenn, although thankfully for all concerned their vision is starting to clear up. Meanwhile the thugs split their attention now after Rudy's display of power, one of them pounding the blinded summoner in the gut while the other two assail Henrietta, a punch to the head and the kidneys respectively. "Just get down on the ground and this'll be over neatly!" the one attacking Rudy snarls!
[14:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5 Rudy
[14:44] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 Rudy and gets 20." [1d20=15]
[14:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 Henrietta
[14:44] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 Henrietta and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[14:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 Henrietta
[14:44] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 Henrietta and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[14:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 Henrietta crit check
[14:44] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 Henrietta crit check and gets 21." [1d20=14]
[14:44] <@Ebiris> OOC: ACs?
[14:44] <@Henrietta> OOC: AC12, of course they'd crit!
[14:44] <@Rudy> OOC: Not that
[14:45] <@Rudy> OOC: Like 8, for me
[14:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d3+3+1d6 Rudy
[14:45] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d3+3+1d6 Rudy and gets 9." [1d3=2][1d6=4]
[14:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d3+3+1d6 Henrietta
[14:45] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d3+3+1d6 Henrietta and gets 7." [1d3=2][1d6=2]
[14:45] <@Ebiris> roll 2d3+6+1d6 Henrietta
[14:45] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 2d3+6+1d6 Henrietta and gets 11." [2d3=3, 1][1d6=1]
[14:46] <@Ebiris> OOC: all nonlethal
[14:47] <@Ebiris> The duo are battered by the meaty punches, but after their many travails they're quite inured to the vagaries of common brawling, no matter how spirited!
[14:47] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy and Snake
[14:49] <@Rudy> The snake continues to twist around the woman until it resembles nothing more than a living knot of reptilian flesh!
[14:49] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+14 grappledamage
[14:49] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+14 grappledamage and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[14:49] <@Ebiris> OOC: success
[14:49] <@Rudy> roll 2d4+8 nonlethal; constrict lets me damage her twice, surprisingly strong
[14:49] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 2d4+8 nonlethal; constrict lets me damage her twice, surprisingly strong and gets 12." [2d4=1, 3]
[14:51] <@Rudy> Rudy takes a wild swing back at his oppressors, having no time for any pansy spellcasting in his current state! "Give me back my eyes!" he roars, swinging roughly at his opponent's head!
[14:51] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+1 ha ha ha
[14:51] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+1 ha ha ha and gets 9." [1d20=8]
[14:52] <@Ebiris> With a weak gasp, the woman goes limp in the serpent's grasp, her complexion turning faintly blue! "Th-Thuvalia!" the robed wearing man yelps, turning to see her plight. "You savages!" By now most everyone is recovering from their blindness... most of the patrons and staff are notably keeping their heads down, but a half dozen heavyset bouncers start wading through the crowd towards the troublemakers as their own sight returns...
[14:52] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Wizard > Zani > Henrietta > Curlyhair > Glenn > Bouncers> Thugs > Rudy> Snake''
[14:52] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[14:52] <@Ebiris> OOC; sec
[14:53] <@Ebiris> The thug who was formerly assaulting Lucie turns and runs towards the snake while it still holds onto Thuvalia, delivering a mighty kick to its emerald scaled head!
[14:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5
[14:53] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 and gets 12." [1d20=7]
[14:53] <@Ebiris> But only glancing off the tough scales instead.
[14:53] <@Ebiris> OOC: now Lucie
[14:54] <@Lucie> "Told you to stay still!" Lucie shouts at the wizard, pointing at him and firing a ray of debilitating energy.
[14:54] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+5 ranged touch, Admonishing Ray
[14:54] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+5 ranged touch, Admonishing Ray and gets 20." [1d20=15]
[14:55] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit, what's it do?
[14:55] <@Lucie> roll 4d6 nonlethal, this! (force effect, if it matters for anything)
[14:55] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 4d6 nonlethal, this! (force effect, if it matters for anything) and gets 11." [4d6=1, 3, 1, 6]
[14:57] <@Ebiris> The ray impacts the wizard's side and coruscates all over him in waves of draining magic that causes him to go limp and crumple to the floor! Zani just walks over and retrieves her dagger, flashing a nice expanse of elven thigh as she braces her heel on the chest to yank the steel blade free.
[14:57] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Zani > Henrietta > Glenn > Bouncers > Thugs > Rudy> Snake'
[14:57] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Henrietta
[14:59] * @Henrietta brushes past the thugs who thought to corner her and hops atop the nearest table, dangling her feet off its edge boredly. "I thought you were all going to come after me?" she asks her would-be assailants curiously, summoning a trio of red roses and then embedding them in the spine of the man who dared turn his back on her to attack Rudy.
[15:00] <@Henrietta> roll 3d4+3
[15:00] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 3d4+3 and gets 7." [3d4=1, 2, 1]
[15:00] <@Ebiris> Henrietta's chosen target is bruised and battered by her display of magical potency, barely managing to keep his feet and looking back at her casually relaxed pose with undisguised fear!
[15:00] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[15:01] <@Henrietta> "This is your last chance to surrender, you know?" Henrietta speaks to them as one would to small children.
[15:04] <@Glenn> With his eyesight cleared up, Glenn checks to see how things are going, and seeing that they seem well in hand for Henrietta and the others, decides to stick to staying out of it, rather than get in trouble and having to pay for damages for blowing up a thug with a bomb.
[15:07] <@Ebiris> The bouncers have fewer qualms, given that they're paid to settle such disputes. "Everyone shut it!" one of them barks in a loud reasonant voice as he wades into the fray between Henrietta and her friends, perhaps unsurprisingly leaving the beautiful woman alone in favour of attacking the rough looking brutes who'd been ganging up on her. Another bouncer follows from the other side to do the same, while a third approaches the serpentine tableau and draws short, no doubt unsure just what to make of things in that corner of the casino.
[15:07] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4
[15:07] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 and gets 9." [1d20=5]
[15:07] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4
[15:07] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 and gets 6." [1d20=2]
[15:08] <@Ebiris> Their blows are sadly ineffectual, but the thugs decide they've had enough at this point and start to retreat! The three near the door with Henrietta and Rudy barge their way out and through the entrance back onto the street, while the last starts moving towards the bar area past Lucie!
[15:08] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy and Snake
[15:08] * @Henrietta waves after the fleeing bandits with her handkerchief.
[15:10] <@Rudy> "It had to happen on a date, didn't it?" complains Rudy, leaning against a dicing table while the snake hisses proudly, and vanishes.
[15:12] <@Henrietta> "Quite so," Henrietta agrees, picking up a chip and flipping it lazily as she waits for the bouncers to restore order. "Are all your dates like this?"
[15:13] * @Lucie scowls and attempts a parting shot at the nearest thug as he tries to make his escape!
[15:13] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+5 ranged touch
[15:13] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+5 ranged touch and gets 17." [1d20=12]
[15:13] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[15:14] <@Rudy> "I would describe them as chancey, with a strong chance of ending in rough play," replies Rudy.
[15:14] <@Lucie> roll 4d6 nl
[15:14] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 4d6 nl and gets 13." [4d6=4, 4, 1, 4]
[15:15] <@Henrietta> "Mmm, it does not really sound like what I am looking for. We should just remain friends."
[15:16] <@Rudy> "Those are deadly words that often spear my heart," replies Rudy. "But from you, they inspire only... relief, really."
[15:17] * @Henrietta smiles pleasantly at Rudy. "Consider your heart speared, then."
[15:17] <@Ebiris> The ray impacts him on the back, causing much the same effect as it had on the wizard and dropping him in a tumble to the floor nearby one of the cowering succubi! From above the red-skinned figure of Old Scratch holds onto the bars of his cage and peers down in clear disgust. "Couldn't even kill anyone? Pfeh!" he spits. This seems to be the indicator for everyone else to recover, as patrons rise to their feet in an uproar, starting to clamour for refunds over their mysteriously lost chips, while others burdened with far more chips than they had before start demanding to cash out! The bouncers and staff seem ill equipped to handle this, and one of them is heard yelling for someone to get Saul.
[15:17] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile a blonde figure appears behind Lucie as if she teleported there. "I thought in Shadowshore people didn't get involved? We should get out before things get even worse," Ilona suggests in a soft voice, her slender form just barely touching Lucie's.
[15:20] <@Rudy> "I don't think you understand. If my heart was actually speared, we would have to part ways forever," replies Rudy, opting to start ambling out of the casino himself.
[15:20] * @Lucie jolts a little in surprise and a little in delight. "Sure, most time, but there's nothing worse than some oaf spoiling your fun. Ah, lemme just make sure of something..." She glances around to locate her friends and ascertain that they're uninjured.
[15:21] * @Henrietta laughs, dropping her borrowed chip back on the table and hopping off to join Rudy.
[15:21] <@Rudy> "I think it could only happen if you fell for a particularly boring man later in life," he continues. "If you do so, please, never tell me. Jealousy is such a powerful thing, you know?"
[15:22] <@Ebiris> Rudy looks to be just leaving along with the strange woman who identified herself as Henrietta Ul Copt. Also Zani is visible up near the chest, hitching up her already short skirt to replace her dagger in a hidden sheath. She can't see Glenn from here, though, but that doesn't stop Ilona from starting to tug her towards the door.
[15:23] <@Lucie> Lucie isn't inclined to argue with an attractive woman pulling on her arm. "Oughtn't you find your young charge before we go?" she suddenly remembers,
[15:23] <@Lucie> .
[15:24] <@Henrietta> "Is there a reason I should share anything of the sort with you?" Henrietta inquires curiously. "I believe you should be quite safe."
[15:24] <@Ebiris> "If Lily has any sense she'll already be gone from here," Ilona replies, not sounding at all concerned about the other girl as she makes haste to leave. Outside Rudy and Henrietta get onto the cold street, seeing several figures in the tabards of the Salerno Watch hustling towards the Golden Gremlin!
[15:25] <@Lucie> "Right, right," Lucie mutters. Well, it's not her problem to keep track of the girl! She walks out of the casino with a firm hold on Ilona's hand.
[15:25] <@Rudy> "There are two things that ladies love to discuss, to the determine of all they speak to," replies Rudy. "The first would be their boyfriends, and the second is their children; wouldn't you agree? This is... hmm. I would call it setting the boundaries of acceptable etiquette," he decides, with a nod.
[15:26] <@Ebiris> A few other patrons - and even one of the succubi - leave as well, but most everyone inside is busy either yelling about their money or trying to calm said yelling, and the guardsmen pay little mind to anyone leaving so long as they aren't causing a scene, only barrelling straight inside themselves!
[15:27] * @Henrietta decides to let her spell fade away, adopting her true form once more. "It was memorable, at least. I think you are right about one thing, Rudy. I truly should do this sort of thing more."
[15:28] <@Lucie> Whoever's left inside is welcome to deal with the guards, Lucie figures!
[15:28] * @Glenn goes to join the others, leaving the casino's rush, not really having any reason to stick around.
[15:31] <@Ebiris> Glenn exits just as the guardsmen power inside and set to the task of forcibly restoring order. Meanwhile a short girl with curly brown hair bounds up to Ilona and Lucie, her breath ragged and her face flushed with excitement. "You two got out okay? I went out a side door when it all started. What happened?" she asks, her voice slightly raspy as she brings her breathing under control.
[15:31] <@Ebiris> OOC: perception everyone
[15:31] <@Glenn> roll d20+10
[15:31] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+10 and gets 24." [d20=14]
[15:31] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[15:31] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 10." [1d20=8]
[15:31] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+12 that's my middle name!
[15:31] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+12 that's my middle name! and gets 32." [1d20=20]
[15:32] <@Rudy> roll 1d20 perception!
[15:32] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20 perception! and gets 13." [1d20=13]
[15:32] <@Lucie> "Oh, some fools tried robbing the place," Lucie says dismissively. "Buncha peabrained amateurs."
[15:34] -> *Glenn* You hear a shrill feminine cry from inside the Golden Gremlin, only really heard over the hubbub because the doors are still open. Still, it's a word that cuts through the air even across the distance and through the walls. "Murder!"
[15:34] -> *Lucie* You hear a shrill feminine cry from inside the Golden Gremlin, only really heard over the hubbub because the doors are still open. Still, it's a word that cuts through the air even across the distance and through the walls. "Murder!" You also notice that Lily smells faintly of blood, but you can't see any on her.
[15:35] <@Ebiris> "Come on, lets go someplace more quiet to relax?" Ilona suggests, still holding Lucie's hand and starting to move down the street away from the casino. Lily amiably matches pace, all but bouncing on her heels with excitement.
[15:37] * @Lucie peers back at the Gremlin for a moment. "What was that?" she wonders aloud, though she does little to fight as she's pulled along the street. Much as she feels the nagging suspicion she should be asking some careful questions are at least giving Lily a careful reappraisal, it's hard to focus on such things when she's walking along with her hand comfortably in Ilona's.
[15:38] <@Lucie> *are = or
[15:38] <@Glenn> "...I don't know, I heard something about murder," Glenn says as he turns to look back towards the golden gremlin as well. "I didn't see anything happen, but I was blinded for most of that mess."
[15:39] <@Henrietta> "Well, this is it, I suppose?" Henrietta asks, stretching out. "It is customary to walk your date home, I believe?"
[15:40] <@Rudy> "It is, but it is also the custom to dump one's beau the day after," replies Rudy, reaching up to loosen his collar. "Gods, I'm hungry. I could murder a steak."
[15:41] * @Henrietta shrugs. "We could stop for... I think it would be late dinner, at this point?"
[15:43] <@Rudy> "It can be a meal with no name," replies Rudy, solemnly.
[15:45] <@Glenn> Since nobody seems interested in going to check out the cry of murder, and he himself isn't particularly interested either given his lack of participation in that bit of excitement, Glenn decides to just wonder around, perhaps head towards the alchemists' guild and start making a few contacts like he's been meaning to.
[15:45] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri and Rudy in #evil, Glenn in #terror
[15:45] <@Glenn> ooc: wonder->wander*
[15:48] <@Ebiris> Ilona leads Lucie and Lily along a bit around the merchant district, eventually stopping at a tavern on the corner of Frogwallow Lane called the Rusty Pirate. "This is a nice place, have you been here yet, Lucie?" she asks as they come to stop outside the narrow tavern squeezed inbetween a wheelwright and a town house, its stained windows glowing faintly red from the light inside and a dim noise of music and conversation from within. The sign above the door depicts a metallic golem with a pirate hat and a hooked hand raised upwards as if in celebration.
[15:50] <@Lucie> "'s a new one to me," Lucie admits. "I haven't had much chance to check into all the restaurants and things yet--and it's right down the street, even."
[15:55] <@Ebiris> "I sometimes come here after work, it's lively but the people tend to be pleasant most days," Ilona smiles, pushing the door open. Inside a three level taven is revealed, stairs leading up to three balcony levels surrounding the open centre, and a complicated series of rigging and pulleys is used to dispense drinks to all levels. It's moderately busy, the smell of smoke and alcohol permeating, and several warm fires blazing to keep away the chill of Winter. No sign of any actual golems, though, the staff all seem quite mundane and normal.
[15:55] <@Ebiris> "There's a booth over there!" Lily points out a spot near the back, starting ahead towards it and weaving amidst the patrons and tavern wenches adroitly.
[15:58] <@Lucie> "Fancy," Lucie observes, following along. "Excitement seems to've agreed with you," she adds as they walk through the crowd.
[15:59] <@Ebiris> "Yeah, well, life at home's pretty boring," Lily shrugs easily, sliding into the booth. "Never thought I'd get to see a real casino heist! Even if I did skip out at the start."
[15:59] <@Ebiris> "You didn't miss a lot, Lucie put a quick stop to their shenanigans," Ilona comments good naturedly, squeezing Lucie's hand.
[16:02] * @Lucie smiles a little, enjoying this simple contact. "Sure, sure. Meant what I said, though--goons weren't much more than any street trash with more balls than sense. Wasn't much effort to put 'em down, not with me and everyone else ganging up on 'em."
[16:04] <@Ebiris> "Really? Wow, I thought they must've had it in the bag after they blinded everyone," Lily whistles softly as Ilona sits down.
[16:04] <@Ebiris> A dwarf tavern wench coming over to take your orders, her short stature and bosomy frame offering a lot of cleavage to look down should anyone be interested. "What c'n I get you three?" she asks, sounding bored and obviously not expecting tips from a trio of women.
[16:07] <@Lucie> As demonstraed earlier in the evening, Lucie always has an interest and it's always a motivator for tips! Well, assuming the food's any good, she'll see about that. "Something meaty," she says. "Busy evening, built myself a hunger. Beef, maybe? Beef something, and some beer."
[16:11] <@Ebiris> "And a plate of salted roast potatoes," Ilona adds for herself, adding aside to Lucie, "Should be enough to share. A jug of Huntsmaster's Brew as well."
[16:11] <@Ebiris> The dwarven woman nods amiably to that. "Be a bit on the food but I'll have yer drinks along in a minute," she nods, proving to be as good as her word when she returns shortly with a tankard of beer, and a clay flask of some dark bubbling liquid with three short glasses besides.
[16:13] <@Lucie> Lucie's in a good enough mood to pour for everyone before taking a drink herself. She'll not utter a complain about waiting on the food--it's warm, she's got good company, and a drink in her hand. Plenty of evenings have been worse than this!
[16:16] <@Ebiris> "So how'd you stop those robbers anyway, Lucie?" Lily asks, taking a careful sip of the black nectar but smiling happily afterwards. Lucie finds her own beer is decent enough, tangy with a decent kick to it. Certainly more flavourful than the rum she drank so much of back home.
[16:18] <@Lucie> "Just...magic," Lucie says, gesturing vaguely in the air. "Not really the disciplined sort you might get from a real wizard, I just concentrate and bad things happen to folks." She shrugs, knocks back a swallow of beer. "Just always been able to do it."
[16:22] <@Ebiris> "And poor fate for those robbers that they crossed you," Ilona chuckles, sitting very close to Lucie and indulging in her own drink, seeming to savour it quite a bit. "Really, though, wasn't it dangerous to stick your neck out like that? They weren't even robbing you, after all."
[16:24] <@Lucie> "Wasn't really thinking at the time," Lucie says. "Just mad. Coulda taken all the money, I wouldn't care, but I was having a nice evening and they stepped all over it. But at least we're getting to finish that drink now, right?" She raises her glass in demonstration, drains it.
[16:24] <@Lucie> "And it's cheaper and it's not half water this time," she adds.
[16:25] <@Ebiris> "Better by far," Ilona smiles, pouring out a measure of the dark liquid into the third glass for Lucie. "I hope the remainder of the night doesn't have any more of that kind of excitement."
[16:27] <@Lucie> "Want me to keep my eye on the door in case you need protecting again?" Lucie says with a nod of thanks for the refill.
[16:30] <@Ebiris> "I don't recall being threatened at all tonight," Ilona raises a delicate brow. "Although I suppose being blinded was something I could do without... oh, well, nevermind all that. We should make some plans to better show you around the rest of Salerno, if you haven't even discovered taverns five minutes down the road from your new home," she suggests with a grin forming.
[16:33] <@Lucie> "Oh, I'd look forward to that," Lucie says with a sip at her drink. "When's work let you out most days? Mine, well...it's irregular, they call me up when they need me, so I spend a lot of time on my own. Hitting the town with you'd be a pleasant change."
[16:35] <@Ebiris> "It's different depending on the day, since we have different classes. I'm off Saturday, and only work late on Wednesday," Ilona shrugs easily. The Huntsman's Brew Lucie discovers is a potently spicy and strong drink, though it flows down her throat like ambrosia. This is definitely the good stuff!
[16:38] * Glenn is now known as Merc
[16:38] * @Lucie sighs. "Ahhh. Someone's earned 'em a tip, that's for sure." She wipes foam off her lip with the back of a hand, rather losing what little manners she's acquired the more at ease she gets. "Saturday, then? Get out and about while it's still light, stave off the cold a bit? Like to have a look around your own neighborhood too sometime, mind."
[16:39] <@Ebiris> "Cudgel District is painfully boring, but I could show you around Arena District," Ilona chuckles, seemingly not minding Lucie's lack of manners. "Get a look up at the top of those cliffs that shadowed your old home for so long?"
[16:41] <@Lucie> "Well, it's all new to me," Lucie grudgingly admits. "No interest in the temple set, then? I guess it's old business when you live around it for a while."
[16:43] <@Ebiris> "Never been really religious," Ilona shrugs. "Mother really liked that ancestor worship claptrap. Nothing like growing up with the dessicated head of your grandmother staring at you from the mantle to turn you off that kind of thing," she waves dismissively as the tavern server returns and deposits a plate of crackled beef strips and roasted potato fragments upon your table, the former arrayed around a small pot of creamy brown sauce.
[16:44] <@Ebiris> "I'm not gonna let that put me off my food!" Lily protests at Ilona's macabre statement, grabbing a potato and popping it in her mouth.
[16:47] * @Lucie gets to dipping and eating, enough of a mind on looking decent for her company that she tries to avoid making too much a mess of it, at least. "That's awful," she says. "The head thing, I mean," she quickly corrects. "Never followed one god in our house. Mother only ever noticed one of 'em when there was something she really wanted, and you know it never did seem to change anything for
[16:47] * @Lucie us so mostly us and the gods just ignored each other. As far as I know."
[16:50] <@Ebiris> "Yes, that's the thing. It might make people feel good about whatever, but what difference does it actually make that isn't in people's heads?" Ilona nods agreeably with Lucie, helping herself to some of the beef strips as well. They're okay by themselves, but the sauce helps to liven the food up.
[16:54] <@Lucie> Lucie nods along with this, washes down a mouth full of beef with a swallow of beer. "So we didn't get to go into it when those rascals interrupted earlier," Lucie says to Ilona. "What sort of things do you get up to when you're not teaching? Any suitors caught you yet? Sure there must be some hopefuls at least. Be a crime if no one were after someone's as pretty and elegant as you."
[16:56] <@Ebiris> "Oh, a few might have tried..." the blonde returns with an upturned quirk of her lips, her blue eyed gaze holding Lucie's own. "But I'm still trying to find the right person."
[16:58] <@Lucie> Lucie so wants to say something clever and impressive right now, but her mind's betraying her and that distracting warmth in the pit of her stomach as she looks into those eyes isn't helping anyway. "Well, it's a good to have standards, that's what my mother always said," she manages.
[17:01] <@Ebiris> "Mmmhmm," Ilona returns softly, taking a sip of her drink. "What about you, Lucie? Any beaus back in Shadowshore, or been swept off your feet since leaving?"
[17:01] <@Ebiris> "Hey, it's getting pretty late, I should probably go - I'll see you two around," Lily pipes up in a somewhat quiet voice, subtly sliding herself out the opposite side of the booth to leave Lucie and Ilona alone.
[17:04] <@Lucie> Lucie gives Lily a casual wave as she departs again (she seems to have a habit for disappearing on the two of them, doesn't she?), barely registering it. She finishes another glass, smiling as that warm feeling spreads through her, and lounges comfortably in her seat. "Oh, no, there's nothing back there I miss. Not any men, that's for sure. And not had much time out for romance since moving."
[17:08] <@Ebiris> With a distracted, "Goodnight, Lily," Ilona keeps her attention otherwise on Lucie. "Well, it would be hypocritical of me to chastise you, so instead lets just hope that both our fortunes turn? The world needs romance, after all," she smiles. "Especially for two young women as 'pretty and elegant'... or 'sultry and alluring'," she pauses to incline her head at Lucie, "As ourselves."
[17:10] <@Lucie> Lucie toys with a lock of hair, finding herself unwinding very thoroughly in this atmosphere. It's almost like being back home--except, you know, with more class! "Is that how you'd describe me?" she says. "Well, it's a step up--I mean, I didn't hear that sort of thing back, you know, where I used to live."
[17:12] <@Ebiris> "Well naturally, none of them were as elegant as I am?" Ilona laughs breezily at that, helping herself to a few more potato chunks with somewhat overdone dainty little bites.
[17:13] <@Lucie> "None of 'em," Lucie says as she leans forward to pour another drink. "Not a one. Elegance is something's in short supply there, you know. Not all of 'em put together'd have as much class."

----

[15:50] <@Ebiris> Lucky for Henrietta and Rudy, a restaurant isn't hard to find, the Painted Boar residing on Red Skink Lane just opposite Vanderboren Manor on the other side of the canal - the place is lit up, so the Lady is likely still awake. And the restaurant itself is definitely open, with a perky greeter waiting just inside the door - oh, it's blissfully warm inside - to welcome them both. "Table for two?" the young blonde girl smiles brightly up at the duo.
[15:52] <Rudy> "Please. What wines do you have on offer tonight?" asks Rudy, smiling right back.
[15:53] <@Henrietta> How can she not smile when everyone else is? Henrietta does so with her customary politeness!
[15:57] <@Ebiris> Leading Rudy and Henrietta towards a table by one of the darkly tinted windows and depositing a pair of menus, the girl proceeds to rattle off a list of ten or so wines on offer, mostly reds but with a couple of whites. "The Kilsandra ninety one is really good, and perfect with red meat," she informs the pair after.
[15:59] <Rudy> "A bottle, if you will!" replies Rudy, not even glancing at the menu. "It'll be steak tartare for me."
[15:59] <@Ebiris> "And for the madam?" she turns towards Henrietta.
[16:00] <@Henrietta> "It sounds lovely," Henrietta agrees, quite comfortable with going along with the recommendation. "Steak sounds a bit much, however. Can you recommend something lighter for me?"
[16:06] <@Ebiris> "Pork loins?" the girl suggests to Henrietta. "Go great with our special apple sauce!"
[16:08] <@Henrietta> "Very well," Henrietta agrees, placing her meny down on the table. "And something for dessert, while we are at it? Since you mentioned apple, how about an apple tart?"
[16:08] <Rudy> "And creme brulee!"
[16:12] <@Ebiris> "Alright, just get comfortable and your food'll be out soon!" the girl smiles, departing off towards the kitchens and leaving the pair to their own devices...
[16:12] <Rudy> "Did you decide if you wanted to try the potion?" asks Rudy, getting settled into his chair.
[16:14] <@Henrietta> "Whyever would I?" Henrietta asks in surprise, already seated quite comfortably. "Tell me, truly, do I seem affected in any way? There is the slightest of chances, I must admit, that something did in fact happen to me and Lucie was not just trying to cover up for, well, for pushing me down into the dirt and stepping over me twice. But to drink a strange potion with uncertain effects on the
[16:14] <@Henrietta> healthy based solely on that? Is it not too much to take on faith, I ask?"
[16:15] <Rudy> "
[16:16] <Rudy> "If the very fact that your memory itself appears to be missing a segment is not enough to convince, I do indeed lack faith in my ability to convince you," admits Rudy. "Nor have I been able to sense any particular change in your demeanour, so only you would be able to judge, I expect."
[16:17] <@Henrietta> "The only memory I am proven to lack is of meeting that... phage." Henrietta grimaces slightly, but the expression is gone quickly enough. "However, there are a number of possible explanations, hitting my head soon after only but one of them."
[16:20] <Rudy> "Indeed there are, but I cannot really believe that Lucie would tell a lie on this matter- would she really press so hard for you to drink a potion that may harm you were she not sure of her recount? And I witnessed the thing change forms to things most hideous, myself." Rudy reaches for his napkin, and begins to get himself set up. "I confess that I'm extremely worried. Even if it were
[16:20] <Rudy> something small, you see, were I to lose some aspect of myself, I would want to be returned to normal."
[16:21] <@Henrietta> "How strange," Henrietta muses. "Were you not satisfied with Alison the way she had been? It seems our positions have been all but reversed."
[16:22] <Rudy> "That was a joke, but, curse of curses, when it comes to my.. friends... it does seem like highlighting the gravity of the situation is the thing to do."
[16:22] <@Ebiris> As the pair talk, the waitress returns with a bottle of dark red wine and a pair of tall fluted glasses. "Just a few more minutes on your food!" she carols before vanishing again.
[16:25] * @Henrietta allows Rudy to pour the wine into their glasses, considering her response carefully first. "But what if there would be consequences?" she finally asks Rudy. "That is, what if it were not healthy for someone unaffected to drink it? I am not afraid of facing my death, do understand, but foolishly drinking all manner of things with potentially adverse effects is quite troubling a
[16:25] * @Henrietta prospect."
[16:29] <Rudy> Rudy deftly pours the wine from a high altitude without letting a drop splash beyond the confines of the glasses. "As I see it, it must really come down to two things; your own self-analysis, and your ability to trust Lucie's word," he replies. "You are very clever, but also rather headstrong, at times. I really must do all I can to ensure you properly think this through."
[16:30] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri roll a d100
[16:30] <@Henrietta> roll 1d100
[16:30] * Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d100 and gets 44." [1d100=44]
[16:31] * @Henrietta pouts. "That is hardly fair," she accuses Rudy, sipping at her wine. "What if she simply made a mistake?"
[16:32] <Rudy> "Lucie? Make a mistake? With eyes as sharp as hers?"
[16:33] * @Henrietta is about to respond, but her hand twitches, and its back brushes against her glass with enough strength to overturn it.
[16:35] <Rudy> Rudy lunges to try and catch the glass before it falls off the table itself, never mind the wine sure to spill! "Clumsy," he remarks, grinning.
[16:36] * @Henrietta slumps forward, catching herself on the table with her other hand, and takes a deep breath.
[16:37] <Rudy> The summoner blinks. "Are you alright?" he asks, just a moment later. "You weren't injured earlier, were you?"
[16:38] * Glenn is now known as Merc
[16:39] <@Henrietta> "Earlier?" Henrietta asks, slowly shaking her head. "What? Oh. Those men. It hurt when they hit, but I am quite strong." She finally looks up, staring at Rudy in disbelief. "Talking about the phage, and the attack... it must have dislodged those memories. Lucie was right about that after all. Though, for the life of me, I cannot recall her being too sorry over pushing me down into the mud
[16:39] <@Henrietta> and stepping all over me."
[16:40] <Rudy> "Well, that's probably how you say hello in Shadowshore," replies Rudy, with a shrug. "I wouldn't think too badly of her for it."
[16:41] <@Henrietta> "I suppose I did pay her back," Henrietta muses, before looking horrified and burying her face in her hands. "I cannot believe I did that!"
[16:42] <Rudy> "Oh, it was very exciting to watch!"
[16:43] * @Henrietta blindly searches for her glass, finishing it off in one gulp once she is successful. "I hope no one I know was there, beyond you three."
[16:44] <Rudy> "Oh, you, me, Lucie, a guard, the gawkers... It was certainly a memorable scene," replies Rudy, reaching to sip from his own.
[16:45] <@Ebiris> The waitress returns with two plates of steaming cuisine, pausing at Henrietta's obvious distress. "Everything okay here?" she asks worriedly.
[16:46] <@Henrietta> "I-- I, of course," Henrietta forces herself to say, chasing away much of her mortification and getting it down to a slight, embarrassed discomfort. "Just... just recalling something."
[16:48] <@Ebiris> "Well I hope your food'll perk you up!" she immediately brightens, placing the two plates down, Rudy's baleful eggy eye staring up at him from atop the charred steak while Henrietta's own fresh pink pork capped in crushed applesauce awaits her, a selection of potatoes and vegetables coming with each.
[16:49] <Rudy> "You know, if your memory came back, perhaps you also regained a quality you lost," remarks Rudy, retrieving a fork and starting to seperate parts of the steak away. "Today's been a good day, I would say!"
[16:50] * @Henrietta keeps her eyes away from Rudy and quite focused on her food. "Well. Well," she says, struggling with herself as she picks up her utensils. "I suppose this is part of an adventurer's life. And... and it is not as if I am ashamed of myself, and, that is, Alison's clothes were quite flattering. Yes. If she steps on me again I will tackle her into the drink. Again."
[16:51] <Rudy> Rudy snaps his fingers. "Perhaps it was shame?"
[16:51] <@Henrietta> "What?"
[16:52] <Rudy> "Well, it only bothered you just now, didn't it?"
[16:53] <@Henrietta> "Because I did not think Lucie had a reason for doing what she had!" Henrietta insists. "Please refrain from calling me a shameless woman!"
[16:53] <@Ebiris> A few other restaurant-goers turn their heads towards Henrietta at that outburst.
[16:54] <Rudy> "I am doing my very best right this instant," replies Rudy, reaching for the wine to hide his lips.
[16:56] <@Henrietta> That certainly warrants a glare, embarrassment be damned!
[16:57] <@Ebiris> Heads promptly turn away from the fierceness of Henrietta's gaze!
[17:00] <Rudy> "I suppose I would not be one to talk, in any case," muses Rudy. "To be honest, it's a badge I might find myself discarding, soon enough."
[17:04] * @Henrietta sighs, cutting the pork into bite-sized cubes before following suit with the potatoes. "I suppose I am still sensitive to such accusations. It is strange, you know? Even after all I have seen, the thought that Lady Vanderboren might have seen a foolish side of me fills me with dread more than the memory of the Undying Emperor."
[17:06] <Rudy> "Yes, I know exactly what you mean! I don't like being nervous when it comes to women, but M'lady- well, I would rather fight more of those mutants or those assassins than incur her displeasure. Or worse, her mocking laughter."
[17:08] <@Henrietta> "The assasins, for certain," Henrietta agrees, finished with her preparations and starting on the meal in earnest. "But not those strange things, perhaps." She shudders ever so slightly. "No, I would be quite happy to never lay eyes upon them again."
[17:09] <Rudy> "Naturally. It speaks to the respect I feel I owe M'lady that I feel the comparision remains apt," replies Rudy, finishing off the remnants of his meal.
[17:11] <@Henrietta> "So I see," Henrietta muses, before asking him suddenly, "Do you think she would mind if I were to ask one of her friends out for dinner?"
[17:11] <Rudy> "I don't see why," replies Rudy. "Unlike me, of course, you are of the proper class to do so."
[17:13] <@Henrietta> "I would regret it if it were just a matter of class," Henrietta admits, finishing her second glass of wine. "Still, I suppose it is worth a try, if we are certain to have a few days to ourselves."

----

[15:52] <@Ebiris> It's a bit of a walk across the district, but Glenn eventually reaches the guildhall of alchemists, a squat and sturdy grey building on the Southern edge of the district, a mortar and pestle for its sign. The place looks dark, though, no sign of activity within visible from the windows.
[15:54] * Glenn continues to head towards it, regardless, figuring there's always someone around making potions even at a late hour. No guarantee they'll feel like chatting, but he might meet someone interesting. Or find something else to do with the evening, it wasn't late enough to head for sleep just yet in any case.
[16:02] <@Ebiris> Trying the door, Glenn finds it locked. Although there is a rope hanging besides it to pull for the bell...
[16:03] * Glenn does so! Pulling the bell, he waits for someone to open the door for him.
[16:08] <@Ebiris> A reverbating gong echoes through the guildhall before silence reigns once more. After several moments an irritated voice is heard calling, "I'm coming!" and a moment later the door opens to reveal a stooped figure with long white hair and a similar beard, wearing a sturdy leather apron stained with all sorts of alchemical nastiness. "What?" he asks, looking crookedly at Glenn, one eye seeming a bit adrift.
[16:10] <Glenn> "Hello, I'm one of the newer members of the guild. I just wanted to step in and do some research or just meet some of the other alchemists, if the hour isn't too late?" he asks politely.
[16:14] <@Ebiris> He rolls his eyes... again one of them just seems off balance compared to the other. "Well ye've met me. Come in and just don't break anything, newbie," he mutters, backing off to let Glenn inside and immediately stalking off towards some stairs leading downwards, where the only light other than what filters in through the windows comes from.
[16:15] * Glenn nods as he steps in, and moves to follow the other man. "I'm Glenn Farrunner. Anybody else in here tonight?" he asks as he introduces himself.
[16:19] <@Ebiris> "Well let me look around and see!" the man replies sarcastically, turning his lazy eyed glare this way and that. "Nope! Just me! And joy of joys, now you too!" Snorting and resuming his way down the stairs, solid stone all around lending an oppressive air. "Gavner Amun," he adds without turning back.
[16:25] * Glenn stops briefly, taken aback by the...'friendliness' of the older alchemist. "I apologize if I'm just being a bother. I was hoping to make some acquaintances in the guild, but I suppose I'll leave you to your work," he finally says, as he decides to just explore the guild building and familiarize himself with the layout.
[16:27] <@Ebiris> "Just don't break anything!" Gavner tosses over his shoulder, going into the first room off the basement hallway, a strong sulphuric odour emanating for a moment as the door is opened. Glenn meanwhile has free reign to look around at all the alchemical contraptions and appartuses hereabouts, finding it much as it was when he had to make use of the facilities after his old house burned down.
[16:35] * Glenn nods absently as he leaves the other alchemist to his own devices and wanders around, just checking where each room is and what it holds. Unless something happens to catch his eye, he might just go back to wandering outside for the evening until he tires and then head back home. The guild house is unfortunately a bit more dead in the night than he'd expected, sadly.