B 001

[Corwin]

[18:16] <Giga_Ko> ---
[18:16] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
[18:16] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[18:16] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[18:17] <Giga_Ko> Mornings and dawn. This isn't one that Alicia's really set to enjoy. While not the worst headache in her life, nor the worst sour stomach, the two are noticable and a persistant drain on her. Last night's enforced revelry has left her feeling below the weather on awakening...OOC - What are you going to do, Alicia? Wait for Antenora to return or something else?
[18:19] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@pix054-194.pix.wmich.edu) Quit (Ping timeout)
[18:22] * Alicia prays extra hard to Mystra as soon as she wakes up, since she neglected her usual rites last night - surely another sign of how bad alcohol is for her - and casts prestidigitation to clean herself up since she didn't pay extra for a room with a bath.
[18:22] <Alicia> This also necessitates removing her makeup and hair dye, as well as the copper colouring on her cloak, before she gets dressed in her usual black leggings and long-sleeved shirt, with her jet hair tied back as is her habit. Suitably ready to challenge the day, she leaves the room and heads downstairs to see if Jessy's up and if there's anything on the go for breakfast.
[18:25] <Giga_Ko> The inn is rather quiet in the morning. A large pot of porridge has been placed out, warmed over a gentle fire. Jessy is seen slumped over one of the bowls, a large, older man sitting next to her and chattering. "...if you hadn't drunk so much you wouldn't feel so bad," he lectures,
[18:25] <Giga_Ko> OOC - Gah.
[18:25] <Giga_Ko> The inn is rather quiet in the morning. A large pot of porridge has been placed out, warmed over a gentle fire. Jessy is seen slumped over one of the bowls, a large, older man sitting next to her and chattering. "...if you hadn't drunk so much you wouldn't feel so bad," he lectures, "It kills tastes and you'll savor nothing but stomach juice and ash for the rest of the day."
[18:26] <Giga_Ko> Jessy just groans, head resting on her arms, her meal besides her and barely touched. "Shut up," she snaps, "Less talking, head hurts."
[18:29] * Alicia gives Jessy a quick pat on the back as she passes behind her and takes a chair at the table. "Horrible stuff, alcohol, and yet nobody ever stops drinking it," she opines sagely.
[18:31] <Giga_Ko> "See?" At least she has common sense," The man tucks into his meal, finsihing what little remains his bowl. "Well, take your time, mornings are slow anyway." Patting Jessy as well, "Morning to you, stranger," he nods, "Enjoy, there's bowls besides the pot."
[18:32] <Alicia> "Good morning, sir," Alicia nods to the man. "I'll help myself in that case," she gets up and goes to dole out a bowl for herself.
[18:34] <Giga_Ko> It's porridge. It at least looks like it's been made with milk and cream, not being true gruel. Not bad but not anything to write to Mystra about. "Morning to you." he says, standing up. "I have breakfast dishes to clean, so...bug Jessy if you need any service."
[18:34] <Giga_Ko> Jessy groans at that, but doesn't manage anything coherent.
[18:35] <Alicia> "Probably best to just let her be right now," Alicia reflects, taking a seat by Jessy and digging in. Could use some salt but it's good enough for her. Certainly better than trail rations.
[18:36] <Giga_Ko> Jessy looks up with red, bleary eyes at Alicia. She rubs them and winces, "I thought your hair was red," she says foggily.
[18:39] <Alicia> "Today you see me as I really am," Alicia gives the girl a smile. "Yesterday I was disguised just in case anyone recognised me - I was quite renowned a few years ago, after all."
[18:40] <Giga_Ko> Rubbing her eyes, "Oh yeah...I remember what you said now." Rubbing her temples, "Is there any chance you can wave your hands and get rid ofa  hangover?"
[18:46] <Alicia> "What, and deprive you of a valuable learning experience?" Alicia smirks, before relenting. "Well... I can do a little bit. Won't help the headache but you'll feel a bit better," she reaches over towards Jessy, almost cradling her cheek as she magically cleans the girl, excising the vague muggy morning feeling that always seems far worse when hungover. "Drink lots of water," she suggests after a moment once she's done and pulls her hand back.
[18:50] <Giga_Ko> "MMmm." She blinks as the magic cleanses the dirt away from her, "That helps a little bit." Sitting up a touch straighter, "Never thought I'd see real magic like that." After a moment to lower her voice, "Aren't you going to go?"
[18:50] * Alicia shakes her head. "I took care of it last night. Should have a reply from Reg's daughter by midmorning so long as nothing bad happens."
[18:51] <Giga_Ko> "Oh. Magic." Rubbing her eyes clean again, "So...um...." She hesitates here, "Is it okay not to be all disguised or whatever it was? What if Alan or John comes in?"
[18:54] <Alicia> "Well... I hadn't thought it was necessary, anymore," Alicia admits. "Now that I have a handle on what's going on I'm probably better off dealing with it out in the open. Do you think they'd have a problem with the real me?"
[18:55] <Giga_Ko> "If you come out opposing them, yes," She says quietly, "What exactly are you going to do, go confront them?"
[19:00] <Alicia> "Well, really I was mostly wanting to see if your mother could arrange a meeting with the masked man," Alicia replies. "But if they've been taken in the same way you were, then yes, talking things over is probably for the best." She then shrugs, "I can disguise myself if you think they'd prefer to hear it from 'Lyssa', but is it really necessary?"
[19:02] <Giga_Ko> Jessy thinks for a little bit, before rubbing her temples. "Ugh. Can this wait a few hours? I'm trying to think straight and my head keeps pounding."
[19:05] <Alicia> "Okay," Alicia finishes off her porridge. "Like I said, it'll be a few hours till my friend arrives anyway. Come visit my room if you want to talk," she invites, heading back upstairs.
[19:08] <Giga_Ko> OOC - Doing anything of note or just waiting?
[19:08] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@141.218.208.193) has joined #dunes
[19:08] <Alicia> OOC: now we play the waiting game~
[19:13] <Giga_Ko> After an hour and some change, Alicia's headache and sour stomach have improved somewhat. She feels pretty functional if a bit down still. There's a knock on her door.
[19:13] * Alicia hasn't locked the door and so simply calls, "Come in." An assassin wouldn't knock, after all.
[19:22] <Giga_Ko> Antenora enters, carrying a backpack on her shoulders. She sets it down by the bed, going to sit after closing the door. "It's done."
[19:23] <Alicia> "How'd it go?" Alicia asks, making room on the bed for her friend.
[19:24] <Giga_Ko> "His daughter told me to go to Hell," A faintlly amused smile there peeks out, "And that she wasn't going back to her stupid old man. She used a lot of profanity to drive the point home."
[19:25] <Alicia> "Oh, boy... I take it she didn't care to write a note in reply then?" Alicia asks, just shaking her head at this.
[19:26] <Giga_Ko> "None at all." Antenora sprads her hands, "I couldn't press it since she was damned close to getting all the guards on us."
[19:28] * Alicia nods. "Oh, well, I suppose it can't be helped. Thanks for doing this, anyway - did you have any trouble on your way into the village?"
[19:40] <Giga_Ko> "No. Just a few looks and insults." Antenora smiles a little, "Really, most of them weren't even creative."
[19:43] <Alicia> "I wonder if everyone in Kelara has gained this mysterious habit of insulting heavily armed travellers?" Alicia muses. "People used to have a better sense of self preservation..."
[19:45] <Giga_Ko> "I don't think anyone cares anymore," Antenora's humor fades, "I don't know if the noble's council is to really blame or not, but all the malaise of the commoners has been directed at them and the inhabitants of Kelara city. I think hope mixed with anger's making people want to fight now."
[19:50] <Alicia> "And the people in the city are just as surly," Alicia nods, sighing. "Well, anyway, before I deliver the message to Reg, I want to talk to Jessy - she seemed to think I should keep up the disguise a little longer, but she wasn't exactly coherent earlier on. Did you see a teenage girl downstairs when you came in?"
[19:50] <Giga_Ko> "No. I wasn't looking, either." Settling in, "Do you need me to keep hiding under the bed, by the way?"
[19:52] <Alicia> "No, don't worry about it," Alicia waves it off. "People have seen you now, after all. I'll just go see if she's around - wait here a moment?" she asks, getting up and heading downstairs to look for Jessy.
[19:54] <Giga_Ko> Antenora goes to lie on Alicia's bed as she heads downstairs. A short search shows no sign of Jessy. It's only after a little mroe that she's found tucked away in a secluded, walled back of the inn. Here a few large barrels are about. One is filled with steaming water, which Jessy is in up to her chin. Her eyes are closed.
[19:55] * Alicia approaches the girl and crouches down beside her. "Jessica?" she whispers.
[19:56] <Giga_Ko> "Aaaah!" Jessy half leaps out of the barrel, splashing up and down and getting Alicia a faceful of warm bath water and considerably wetting her hair. Her eyes stay terror-wide for about three seconds before she winces. "Oh. Dammit! I was trying to sooth out my headache!"
[19:59] * Alicia closes her eyes for a very long moment as she counts to five before opening them and mopping her brow. "In retrospect, that wasn't my brightest idea," she admits. "Feeling any better, at least?"
[20:00] <Giga_Ko> Going back down to chin deep in the water, entirely modest as the warm water keeps her dignity intact, "Some. Sorry, you just really startled me, I'd been drifting off here."
[20:04] <Alicia> It's not like she has anything Alicia doesn't have herself, so she hardly cares about modesty. "Anyway, I just got word back from Reg's daughter. I was going to go find him now like this, unless you think it's a bad idea?"
[20:06] <Giga_Ko> "Well, the changed hair color will raise questions alone," Jessy leans her chin forward on the edge of the barrel. "I'm not sure how they'll react to it."
[20:08] <Alicia> "I suppose, but it's going to come out eventually, anyway. I think it'd be better to have it out in the open sooner rather than later," Alicia reasons.
[20:11] <Giga_Ko> "Alright. Then try and good luck." Jessy sinks deeper into the barrel, crouching down. "I'll go hang out around my mother in case it all goes wrong from there.:
[20:12] <Alicia> "On that note, where does Reg live?" Alicia asks.
[20:17] <Giga_Ko> "Out on one of the outer spiral farms. I'll walk you...just give me some privacy?" Jessy asks.
[20:19] <Alicia> "Sure," Alicia nods agreeably. "Come on up when you're ready." With that she heads back upstairs, idly scrunching the moisture out of her hair.
[20:19] <Giga_Ko> Five minutes later Alicia gets a knock on her door. Antenora's resting on Alicia's bed, eyes half closed for the moment.
[20:21] <Alicia> "Come in," Alicia calls from where she's standing by the window.
[20:22] <Giga_Ko> Jessy is there, wearing a simple peasant dress. She eyes Antenora briefly, "A friend?"
[20:24] <Alicia> "She's the one who delivered Reg's message, and copped an earful of abuse from his foul-mouthed daughter for her trouble," Alicia confirms. "Antenora, Jessica. Jessica, Antenora," she provides introductions.
[20:25] <Giga_Ko> "Nice to meet you," Jessy says, as Antenora simply raises a hand in acknowledgement.
[20:27] <Alicia> "Okay, just before we go," Alicia turns to the erinyes, "'Go to hell, I'm not going back to my stupid old man?' any pertinent points I'm missing besides that?"
[20:28] <Giga_Ko> "That was the highlight. Fuck, shit, whore, cock sucker, shitlicker and all sorts of words were also involved if you want to be crude."
[20:30] <Giga_Ko> Jessy can't seem to help but smile, "That's her. She always had a foul mouth from what I remember."
[20:30] * Alicia nods awkwardly, "We'll see if he accepts the sanitised answer first," she decides. "Okay. Lead on, Jessy?"
[20:33] <Giga_Ko> Thus the two stake out! It's a fairly longw alk, the better part of an hour out to this farm. It's near the end of one of the spirals, a large, single story, rambling affair of a house. A barn and several animal pens are besides it, fields of crops beyond that. Jessy leads along, "This way."
[20:36] <Alicia> "Nice if you like solitude," Alicia reflects after their long walk.
[20:37] <Giga_Ko> Some men are in the fields, but you don't notice Reg amoung them. Going to rap on the door, "It's not that bad. It's not even an hour back to town's center."
[20:38] <Alicia> "Could be worse," Alicia agrees, standing by the door and waiting for an answer.
[20:39] <Giga_Ko> After a few knocks it opens. REg is there, "Is something the matter? Did you lose the message?" He begins to ask, though he eyes Alicia with narrowed eyes. "What the hell?"
[20:42] <Alicia> "Relax," Alicia smiles placatingly, "It's just a change of hair colour. Anyway, I have a reply from your daughter, although you'll have to take my word for it since Elizabeth wasn't inclined to write anything down."
[20:42] <Giga_Ko> Crossing his arms, "Really? What is it?"
[20:44] * Alicia coughs, "Go to hell, I'm not going back to my stupid old man," she repeats. "I'll spare us both from repeating any of the more... colourful, language she used."
[20:45] <Giga_Ko> Reg sighs deeply, vastly. "That would be her," He rubs his temple, "Damned stupid girl."
[20:45] <Giga_Ko> "Sorry," Jessy adds. "You know how she is."
[20:50] * Alicia shrugs. "I don't know the ins and outs of your relationship with your daughter, but hopefully on some level she at least appreciates that you care..." she tries to console him. "Buried deep down in her heart, I mean."
[20:53] <Giga_Ko> "Yeah, thanks." He rubs his forehead. "Go ahead and go now. You must be tired, you would've needed to travel at a gallop all night to be back already. We'll talk tonight.
[20:53] <Giga_Ko> "
[20:54] <Alicia> "Alright. See you around, Reg," she nods to the man and turns to leave.
[20:55] <Giga_Ko> "See you," Jessy says, the two walking away. Once out of earshot, "I think he accepted it," she says.
[20:57] <Alicia> "I admit I did have a slight fear that he'd protest that his daughter is a little angel who would never use such language and therefore I'm a liar," Alicia confesses, glancing back as they walk up the road to town.
[20:58] <Giga_Ko> "You never met her," Jessy remarks back.
[20:58] * Alicia nods. "Your reaction when you heard Antenora's list of profanity did reassure me a good deal, yes."
[21:00] <Giga_Ko> "Yeah." As the two of you walk in the sunny morning, "Did you want to try and talk to my Mom before night?"
[21:03] <Alicia> "Sooner is probably better, although maybe I should solidify things with Alan and John first... how's the group organised?" Alicia asks as she strategises.
[21:05] <Giga_Ko> "Mom runs it, everyone else falls in line with her."
[21:07] <Alicia> "In that case I might as well go straight to the top," Alicia nods. "If anyone has a way of contacting the masked man it'd be her."

[Corwin]

[18:09] <Kotono> * Alicia nods. "Your reaction when you heard Antenora's list of profanity did reassure me a good deal, yes."
[18:09] <Kotono> > "Yeah." As the two of you walk in the sunny morning, "Did you want to try and talk to my Mom before night?"
[18:09] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Sooner is probably better, although maybe I should solidify things with Alan and John first... how's the group organised?" Alicia asks as she strategises.
[18:09] <Kotono> > "Mom runs it, everyone else falls in line with her."
[18:09] <Kotono> <Alicia> "In that case I might as well go straight to the top," Alicia nods. "If anyone has a way of contacting the masked man it'd be her."
[18:10] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
[18:10] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[18:11] <Kotono> Jessy is quiet as Alicia is lead to her home. It's a small farmhouse near the center of the spiral, only a few small fields to it. The front of the house is dominated by a large opened window, the smell of fruit and pies coming from it. A large kitchen can be seen, a pie even cooling on the windowsill.
[18:12] <Alicia> "Anything you think I should know about her before we go in?" Alicia asks, channeling a voice of the archon spell into her quarterstaff and then idly thumping it into her palm as a way of casting the spell on herself without being obvious.
[18:15] <Kotono> "Mom looks normal, but she can be really iron willed," Jessy warns.
[18:16] <Alicia> And yet she was still taken in by the masked man, though Alicia reserves comment on that. "Okay then, lead on and we'll see how things go?"
[18:21] <Kotono> You are lead inside. It's a plan enough farmhouse, something Alicia knows well. Into the kitchen, the smell of pleasant things lulling in it's homey security. Here a slightly large woman hums to herself, working a ball of dough. She turns, "Jessy, is that you-oh!" Raising an eyebrow, "Hello there. Jessy, who did you bring over?"
[18:22] <Kotono> "A friend, Mom." Shuffling a little, "Why don't you introduce yourself?" she asks, looking to Alicia.
[18:24] <Alicia> "Alicia Reynes," Alicia leans her quarterstaff on the wall and smiles at Jane, offering her hand. "I was hoping we could talk a bit."
[18:25] * brokedtai is now known as taicantfocus
[18:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 fiat K L check
[18:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 fiat K L check and gets 19."12 [1d20=17]
[18:26] <Kotono> Her eyes narrow at that, "Reynes?" she says, her voice still polite. "That name's familiar. The vineyard, right?"
[18:29] <Alicia> "My family runs it, yes," Alicia smiles disarmingly. "I'm not involved in the winery, though - never had much of a taste for it, in both senses."
[18:33] <Kotono> "What's the occasion?" Asking this still ever so politely, "You don't have the name to be coming to a simple farmhouse, ma'am."
[18:37] <Alicia> "Don't be so modest," Alicia retorts, "Why, this is probably twice the size of my old house, back when I lived in Lorasce." She makes a show of looking around, "You've got a fine home and a wonderful daughter - you should be proud of yourself."
[18:37] <Kotono> To that her eyes soften a little, "Why thank you." She goes to the counter, "Would you like some tea? I'll put on a pot."
[18:39] <Alicia> "I'd love some," Alicia smiles, happy to go through the social niceties before getting to business. This is certainly better than having to drink that vile witch's brew she was forced to partake of last night.
[18:41] <Kotono> A pot of water is put over the fire, Jessy's mom humming to herself as she does. Jessy shuffles and goes to sit at the kitchen table. "So, how did Jessy end up meeting you?"
[18:45] <Alicia> "I arrived in town yesterday and got a room at the inn, that's where we met," Alicia explains. "We got to talking about this and that, and hit it off pretty well."
[18:46] <Kotono> "Really?" As the tea is made, the whistle of steam punctuating the air with a speedy boil, "I heard someone was staying at the in, but I thought her name was Lyssa. Ididn't know there was another person."
[18:48] <Alicia> "Lyssa, Alicia," Alicia shrugs, "Close enough. I was trying to avoid too much notice yesterday, just in case anyone recognised me and jumped to hasty conclusions."
[18:50] <Kotono> Pouring Alicia a hot cup of tea and then doing the same for herself and her daughter, "How lovely. Isn't the weather nice today?"
[18:51] <Alicia> "I've been back in Kelara for three days and it's only rained once," Alicia marvels. "I can hardly recognise the place - although perhaps more than the weather is responsible for that." She sips her drink before adding, "You pour a lovely cup of tea, by the way."
[18:53] <Kotono> "Oh, thank you." Blushing as she smiles, sitting opposite Alicia and her daughter, "I know. It's been an unusually pleasant summer! My, we've only had rain three times in the past week!"
[18:56] <Alicia> "Perhaps the gods are showing pity by allowing this respite from the usual downpours, considering all of Kelara's other problems?" Alicia muses thoughtfully as she sips at her tea.
[18:57] <Kotono> "Mercy comes when it comes," Jessy's mother sips her own tea, "Surely we'll get rain enough soon, not even the Gods could keep us dry forever." With a long look to Alicia over her mug of tea, "But like the rain, troubles end up blowing by, leaving water and rainbows in it's wake."
[18:59] <Alicia> "And what can we expect in the wake of Kelara's current troubles, I wounder?" Alicia cradles her almost empty mug in her hands, "Does anyone know for sure?"
[19:00] <Kotono> "Things will work out. After all, we're used to looking after ourselves. Even if the city goes to Shar's embrace in a handbasket, we'll survive." Putting her teacup down, "What do you think?"
[19:06] <Alicia> "Goodness knows, the rulers of the city have shown a lack of interest in their obligations to all of Kelara, and would do well to reassess their priorities," Alicia agrees, "But like as not, the city is the centre of gravity upon which the nation rests - if it were to collapse I have my doubts that the rest of Kelara would have any chance of prospering, or even surviving if push came to shove."
[19:11] <Kotono> "Too pessimistic. We'll survive," With a knowing, easy smile to that, "We are not so soft as the city."
[19:15] <Alicia> "Tell that to my husband and son. Tell that to your sister," Alicia replies coldly, her demeanour turning to steel. "Do you think if the leadership of the city dies then everyone living there will just drop dead? Or vanish into the mists? If you think you have a bandit problem now, just you wait!"
[19:15] <Alicia> "And then, when what's left of Kelara is nothing more than fragmented badlands, filled with raiders picking at the corpse of our nation, one of our neighbours will step in to enforce order. And you're dreaming if you think the Pasha cares for you more than those self absorbed nobles do."
[19:17] <Kotono> The words are sharp and quick, shattering the mood of Jessy's mother. Her expression turns steely as well, "How dare you come into here and talk like that?" Her cup is put aside as she looks Alicia right in the eye. "The city's been fine to leave us along well enough; even if they are sacked and destroyed it hardly matters."
[19:28] <Alicia> "Leaves you alone? I'll admit that the militia is painfully slow to respond to any threat, but you don't live in a vacum here. What about the priests who come to bless your weddings and births, cure the sick, and deal with problems the guard won't? Twelve years ago when that necromancer was raising people from their graves across the countryside, I and a dozen of my friends from our temples in the city and put a stop to it."
[19:28] <Alicia> "That's not nothing."
[19:28] <Alicia> "And what about the traders who buy your grain and livestock, who sell you worked goods and produce that isn't grown here? What about your children who go to the city so they can learn things in the schools there that aren't available here? Whether they bring their knowledge back here or move elsewhere to expand their horizons, it's good either way."
[19:28] <Alicia> "Kelara is sick, but you can't cure the disease by ripping out the heart! All you'll do is hasten the country's demise."
[19:31] <Kotono> "We'll survive," With an anger growing and burning all over her face "We'll keep going. You say they're help! They're nothing but parasites on our blood, sweat and toil! Kelara isn't the heart, it's the nesting parasite that's killing everyone in it's grasp!"
[19:35] <Alicia> "So that's your plan?" Alicia asks in disbelief. "Kill as many as you can in the city until it disintegrates and hope for the best afterwards? And what about when Bath or Akint - or even Nodlitz or the Fiefdoms - decide they don't like having lawless badlands next door?"
[19:36] <Kotono> "My plan?" Her eyes narrow at both Jessy and Alicia. A coldness overtakes her, burned away a moment later by a fury. "You..."
[19:38] <Alicia> "If it's not your plan then at least it's one you've thrown your wholehearted support behind," Alicia replies, meeting her fiery gaze resolutely. "And for the life of me I can't understand why - it's nothing more than an agenda of cold-blooded murder with no thought of what the consequences will be."
[19:41] <Kotono> "Jessica," Her voice is like an angry whip, angry and...something else. Something subtle, fear. "You brought a noble into this house...and you..." she takes a breath, "You...."
[19:43] <Alicia> "Stop that right now!" Alicia's voice interjects sharply. "I am *not* a noble. I have no say in the governance of Kelara, nor do I serve those rulers. If nothing else, I want you to be clear in understanding that."
[19:45] <Kotono> "Yet, you're going to run back to them and have us executed?" With a snap back, "You idiot," she hisses to her daughter, "You're going to get us hung...if we're so lucky! Do you wanna be raped and choked to death, girl?"
[19:47] <Kotono> Jessica winces at thsoe words, "Alicia's not like that, mother," she says quietly.
[19:47] <Alicia> "Do I look like I'm running?" Alicia spreads her arms. "I came here to try and bring a peaceful end to this rebellion so no one else has to die. Unfortunately I underestimated your bloodlust, Jane."
[19:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38
[19:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 and gets 55."12 [1d20=17]
[19:54] <Kotono> The slamming of words seems to weaken her will, the steel in her draining out as once as she collapses back into her chair. She runs her hands over her face, "Then what? Why are you here?"
[19:57] <Alicia> "Like I said, to end this rebellion in a way that satisfies everyone," Alicia reiterates. "I thought I made it clear I have no love for how Kelara is run as things stand, I just think that killing people simply for being neglectful is the wrong approach - even if it was justified, unless you actually have a strong replacement for the council then Kelara's only going to become worse off, not better."
[19:59] <Kotono> "Then what are you going to do? Wring your hands about it," Jane asks.
[20:01] * Alicia snorts and puts her callused and strong hands palm up on the table for all to see. "Do these look like they belong to a hand-wringer?" she asks.
[20:04] <Kotono> The hands get a long looka t them, "They're the hands of a farmer," she admits.
[20:04] <Kotono> Jessica smiles slightly at that, "She's not a farmer, mother. Not really. She's..."
[20:09] <Alicia> "Well, a warrior, really," Alicia confirms. "Putting all those skeletons back in their graves twelve years ago wasn't an isolated incident for me." She then sighs, "But I don't want to cut my way through everyone in this rebellion and call the problem solved - not when you have legitimate greivances." Shaking her head and running a hand through her hair,
[20:09] <Alicia> "It seems to me like the leader of the uprising has got everyone agitated by playing on their resentment and fears, using his force of personality to make you all ignore the problems that'll inevitably arise once you succeed."
[20:09] <Alicia> "If I could talk to him I'm sure I could get to the bottom of this, and I'm confident I have enough clout to convince the nobles to change their ways - if they're not already convinced by the depth of feeling against them."
[20:14] <Kotono> Her gaze is speculative, "You want to talk to...Him?" A lick of her lips at that, careful.
[20:17] * Alicia nods. "It's obvious even to someone who only returned to Kelara three days ago that the rebellion is entirely centred on him as an individual. If I can't meet him then I don't think I'll be able to truly solve anything."
[20:19] <Kotono> There's a long pause here, "I have an idea where he might be." She says, "Just something he said in passing."
[20:22] <Alicia> "If you know where to find him or some way to contact him and bring him here, that would be very helpful," Alicia smiles reassuringly to Jane.
[20:22] <Kotono> "He said he was going to go investigate an old hero in Lorasce," she answers. "I think that was it..." She blushes, "For the rebellion."
[20:24] * Alicia doesn't look entirely thrilled. "Not a place I had wanted to return to..." she admits quietly. "When was this?"
[20:25] <Kotono> "Perhaps a week ago," Jane answers. "He's only been here once."
[20:27] <Alicia> "Hmm... chances are he'll be long gone, but it might give me a trail to follow. Didn't he ever tell you how he could be contacted if it was necessary?"
[20:28] <Kotono> "No, he said he'd be in contact when it was right." THe answer is there and easily given.
[20:33] * Alicia grimaces. "Well, in that case I'll have to finally return to Lorasce..." she seems somewhat ill at ease, taking a moment to steel herself before moving on and standing. "I apologise for my earlier rudeness when you've been such a gracious host, Jane - things are too dire right now for me to sugarcoat everything, but nonetheless my words were in poor taste. Please forgive me," she ducks her head respectfully to the older woman.
[20:35] <Kotono> After a omment, "It's...it's alright." She bows her own head, a tear coming out. "Gods above, you sound like he does. It gives us hope."
[20:37] <Alicia> "I suppose some of us have a gift for words," Alicia smiles lopsidedly. "I fear though that he lacks the proper wisdom to temper his. In any case, I must depart - time is short, for me. Farewell to you both, and I hope we can meet again in better circumstances."
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d10
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 4."12 [1d10=4]
[20:38] <Kotono> OOC - Strike, wrong room.
[20:51] <Kotono> "Good luck, Alicia." Jessica speaks up, going to her mothe'rs side.
[20:53] * Alicia nods to the two women in gratitude before she takes her staff and departs, intending to collect Antenora and get changed into her armour before heading back to her marital home... "Oh, Mystra, why do you test me so?" she asks wearily, looking to the heavens after leaving Jessica and Jane's house.

[Corwin]

[18:19] <Kobrb> ---
[18:20] <Kobrb> Thus Alicia gets changed into her armor. Antenora follows suit, thet wo again clad in good steel. Antenora is ready quickly, "How far a trip is it from here to Lorasce?" she breaks the silence between them.
[18:21] <Alicia> "About twenty-twenty five miles," Alicia replies. "If we head off now we'll probably be there around dusk."
[18:22] <Kobrb> Antenora nods a moment, "Not happy to go back? You haven't smiled once about it."
[18:26] <Alicia> "No..." Alicia is slow to reply. "After what happened I gave away the house and left as soon as I could. Every reminder hurt..."
[18:27] <Kobrb> Antenora is silent as she positions her breastplate into place. She walks over to Alicia, "I can go," she says. "I can probably be back faster too."
[18:33] * Alicia shakes her head resolutely. "No," she replies firmly. "It's kind of you to offer, and I appreciate it, but it's been eight years - I can handle this. Besides, I hopefully still have some old friends living there who'd be more likely to help me than they would a stranger, given Kelara's current state."
[18:35] <Kobrb> "If you're sure." Antenora speaks quietly. "
[18:35] <Kobrb> "Then let's go together."
[18:36] * Alicia gives the erinyes a smile and nods. "He's got a big head start, so no sense in wasting any more time," she agrees as she slings on her pack and heads out.
[18:36] <Kobrb> roll 1d100
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Kobrb rolls 1d100 and gets 73."12 [1d100=73]
[18:37] <Kobrb> The weather turns sour as the two head for Lorsace. Kelara's natural tendencies come to light, clouds and then a steady, soaking rain comes. Travels slows a bit, the roads assailed yet again and muddied up. There are few travellers about, and the few you see hurry along, often with weapons visible and never travelling alone. (More)
[18:40] <Kobrb> As memories can assail Alicia and dusk falls on the already dim, rainy afternoon, the two women are quite muddy and wet. There's no helping it in this sort of weather. Yet...Alicia's hometown has been reached. It's a pleasant village, quiet and restful. Doubly so in this weather, the cluster of houses along the road holding several farmsteads and cottages in a looser orbit for several miles around it.
[18:43] * Alicia recalls her own home was on the far side of the village outskirts, at the entrance to a valley cutting through the hills, which is where those bandits based themselves. Hopefully there will be no call for her to go there. "The Stuck Boar is the village's only tavern in the centre - chances are if anyone's about right now they'll be in there," she informs Antenora as they head inwards.
[18:46] <Kobrb> Antenora wipes her brow clean of rainwater, clasping Alicia's shoulder as she follows her. The Stuck Boar's door is open - it's somewhat busy in there. Several people are there - so many familiar faces not seen in so long. Arnold the baker's son, Johnathan the miller, Henry the skinner...some of them look to Alicia. Some don't show much, but a few have widening eyes on seeing her.
[18:51] * Alicia pulls back the hood of her cloak after entering, shaking the water off out the doorway, having cast voice of the archon beforehand just in case she needs an edge. Seeing those familiar faces, she smiles at those who show recognition while entering fully. "Been a long time..." she observes, feeling a somewhat awkward but welcome familiarity and less of the pain than she expected. Time does heal all wounds.
[18:52] <Kobrb> Herny gets up, approaching her. He smiles widely, "Hey...it's Alicia," he says as he approaches her, before wrapping her up in an embrace. The bar's attention turns to her now, even as his well muscled arms lift her up off the ground slightly.
[18:53] <Kobrb> The barkeep, a woman on the cusp of being eldery, is heard. "Thank anyone above. We could use a friendly face."
[18:54] <Alicia> "Oohf!" Alicia grunts good naturedly as she returns his hug. "You haven't let yourself go, at least, Henry," she compliments him. "Still taking money from youngsters in those arm-wrestling contests?"
[18:57] <Kobrb> "Yes," He grins as he half carries Alicia over to the bar. Several people get up to greet her, a flock of familiar faces. Antenora follows, a bemused smile. "Come in, get out of ther ain. You look so good!"
[19:01] <Alicia> "I've been keeping in shape," Alicia understates, returning the greetings of her old neighbours and recalling her life as the humble tailor's wife. "It's... good to see you all, again," she admits, surprised at how true it is. She then offers an introduction so Antenora isn't left out, "This is Antenora. She's a knight like I am."
[19:03] <Kobrb> Antenora shakes a few hands, a few men looking at her long. Very long indeed. "Alicia," the barkeep, Liza, pushes a mug of hot steaming cider at her. "On the house."
[19:03] <Kobrb> Jonathan limps forward, his old bad knee slowing him down. "I thought you might be back soon."
[19:04] * Alicia takes a long drink of the cider and sighs in contentment. "Just the thing after walking all day in that weather," she thanks Liza, before nodding to Jonathan. "Things have gotten bad in Kelara, while I was away," she notes seriously.
[19:07] <Kobrb> Antenora gets a mug passes to her a few moments later, she sits next to Alicia and drinks it and smiles. "Isn't that the truth," Liza sighs.
[19:08] <Kobrb> "Yeah..." Henry sits on Alicia's other side, "I guess all the trouble brought you back?"
[19:10] <Alicia> "I've been living in the United Baronies on the other side of the desert this past year," Alicia explains, "But a few days ago I got word from the temple in Kelara of how bad things were getting - my mother was attacked during all those assassinations in the city. She survived, luckily, but I had to come and see for myself what was happening."
[19:11] <Kobrb> "Yeah...I wonder if he knew about it," Johnathan limps up, "Someone was asking about you a few days back. I thought it was mighty queer."
[19:13] <Alicia> "Really? Who was this?" Alicia asks interestedly as she nurses her cider.
[19:14] <Kobrb> Liza sits down gingerly, "It was another traveller. Nice man, he tipped nice."
[19:15] <Kobrb> "Yes. He looked like a normal traveller. Brown hair, brown eyes, dirty clothes." Johnathan adds, leaning forward against the bar. "He was nice about it, saying he heard a heroine used to live here."
[19:15] <Alicia> "Hard to avoid getting dirty around here," Alicia agrees, flicking her mud-coated cloak. "Any idea why he was so interested?"
[19:17] <Kobrb> "He said he was looking for a hero. He never said why," Johnathan answers. "Saw him going north out of town, that was it."
[19:24] <Alicia> "North? But there's nothing there, unless he was going all the way to Akint," Alicia sounds a bit surprised. Well, there are also a few bandit lairs she recalls clearing out quite thoroughly a few years ago, and it's possible they've been reoccupied... "He didn't say anything else to give a clue as to what he was doing?"
[19:24] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-3e88cc02.tcl119.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
[19:25] * Alicia sets mode: -v+v Hatbot Rei-chan
[19:25] <Kobrb> "He just asked about you," Liza speaks up, "We gabbed about this the last few days. Oh yes. He did ask someone about your home. He said he might lay flowers there."
[19:27] <Kobrb> Antenora softly snorts amid drinking her cider.
[19:29] * Alicia looks briefly troubled. It's as if events are forcing her back there whether she likes it or not. "Doesn't Joaquim Derren still live there?" she asks, recalling the young (though not so young by now) man she gave the house to upon her hurried departure from Lorasce.
[19:35] <Kobrb> "Yeah," A short nod there, "He's still around."
[19:37] <Alicia> "I might go and see him in the morning, then," Alicia decides. "I have reason to believe the man asking about me was far more than a simpler traveller, anyway."
[19:39] <Kobrb> "It figures. You attract trouble," Liza pats her shoulder, "Need a room to stay at?"
[19:41] <Alicia> "We will, yes," Alicia smiles at Liza. "But it's early enough and there's plenty of time for us to catch up - how has everyone been doing around here, these past eight years?"
[19:42] <Kobrb> "Well enough," Henry says, "Old Bob passed and Miriam got on the wrong end of a fever. But most of us are still kicking,"
[19:46] <Alicia> "I'm sorry to hear that," Alicia bows her head out of respect for the dead. "I remember Miriam used to make the best dumpling stew... they were both good people." Straightening up she goes on, "No... other trouble though, right?"
[19:46] <Kobrb> "No." Smiling gently here, "No bandits, thanks to you." Liza says warmly.
[19:46] <Kobrb> "Not until all this started," Herny adds in with a long sigh. "Word is that things are getting really bad in Kelara."
[19:49] * Alicia briefly smiles at Liza before nodding to Henry. "Yes, about half the noble council was assassinated a few days ago - mostly by their own guards, who'd either been bribed or genuinely believed in all the revolutionary nonsense going around. Things are locked down tight but no one's reassured... it's madness."
[19:50] <Kobrb> "Terrible." Liza sighs sadly, "How's your mother?"
[19:52] <Alicia> "She's fine now," Alicia nods reassuringly. "The wounds weren't fatal and between myself and Dweomerkeeper Taldeer she was easily mended."
[19:52] <Kobrb> 'Going to be alright?' Antenora asks mentally as this conversation goes on.
[19:53] <Alicia> 'I'm fine, really,' Alicia replies. 'This is a lot easier than I thought it would be.'
[19:54] * taislpslp is now known as taimrf
[19:58] <Kobrb> 'With your leave, I'd like to go poke around then,' Antenora says quietly. 'In case I can turn up anything, since I imagine you'll be playing catchup.'
[19:58] <Alicia> 'Alright then, go ahead,' Alicia replies, trusting Antenora to handle herself appropriately.
[20:00] <Kobrb> OOC: Want to skip along?
[20:00] <Alicia> OOC: certainly.
[20:09] <Kobrb> roll 1d20+4
[20:09] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kobrb rolled :6,0 1d20+4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{7}
[20:09] <Kobrb> Antenora comes back well past dusk. Alicia's in a pleasant inn room by now, dried out and cleaned up. Antenora puts her spear aside, shaking her hair dry as she begins to take off her armor. "No immediate leads. The ground's a muddy mess, even if he left a trail it's not obvious. Any ideas?"
[20:12] <Alicia> "I'll talk to Joaquim in the morning in case he spoke to our quarry," Alicia begins. "Past that... if he went North, there's no towns or villages in that direction. But there are a few caves and old forts that were used as bandit hideaways. We could investigate them, but we'll have to head back to Kelara two days from tomorrow so we can teleport to Balmuria in time to go after Esthan."
[20:15] <Kobrb> Antenora removes her armor then her underclothing entirely as Alicia talks, cleaning herself off with a towel from her pack. Even her ribbon is removed, her wings flapping to dry themselves. "Can you prestidigate my clothes? I'm tired of wearing wet cloth today." After that, "We can try that. There would be a logic to it, you created a vacuum by emptying out the bandits, so perhaps someone else is using them now."
[20:15] <Kobrb> The ship lists a little further, a few clanging explosions below! The rocking is more pronounced now! "Yeah, yeah," Donald grouses with a weak smile.
[20:15] <Kobrb> OOC - Strike, sorry.
[20:17] <Alicia> "I honestly can't think of any other reason to go North unless he's heading for Akint, but that's nearly a week away," Alicia agrees, obligingly casting her cantrip and drying off Antenora's clothes and Antenora herself if she doesn't protest.
[20:18] <Kobrb> Antenora continues to towel herself anyway, quite throughly making sure moisture is gone. "I doubt he'd go that far unless he had to. Besides, if he has magic..." A shrug there. "There's odds he'll go back to Jessy and company sooner or later, but waiting..."
[20:20] <Alicia> "Honestly I half expect all his magic comes from spellgems - not that it makes much difference, truly," Alicia shrugs as she goes back into her bed. "I'm just worried that we'll miss something big here while we're off dealing with Esthan."
[20:22] <Kobrb> "I know." Antenora shakes her clothing out, slowly dressing again. "Hell doesn't relent. In a way..." Dressing lightly and going to the other bed in the room, curling up under it's blankets, "Esthan's controlling all of us. He's making us dance to his manipulations and tune."
[20:25] <Alicia> "That's certainly a depressing way of looking at it," Alicia returns, snuffing out the magical light she left on now that they're both in bed. "Although on that note, there's still the matter of the vrocks loose on the border between the Baronies and Fiefdoms. I know Demedais said Helm said they weren't a threat yet, but I hardly like leaving them..."
[20:27] <Kobrb> "It's a busy life right now." Quietly in the darkness, "I like to tell myself that it'll make it quicker to balance out the last six hundred years."
[20:29] <Alicia> "All you can do is try," Alicia offers supportively, not inclined to gloss over or understate the depths of Antenora's sins.
[20:32] <Kobrb> "Yes." Antenora murmurs that. "Alicia..." she says, hesitating there.
[20:33] <Alicia> "Mmhmm?" Alicia prods her to spit it out.
[20:34] <Kobrb> "It was nice that everyone was happy to see you again. It reminds me...Ah, Abyss." she cursees lightly. "It's not that I mind missing Jessica, or Demedais, or Shankar. It's..."
[20:36] <Alicia> "What is it, Antenora?" Alicia asks, propping herself up slightly to look across the darkened room.
[20:37] <Kobrb> "I miss people a lot now." Antenora says, turning to look at Alicia. She's smiling, a wistful smile. "Just miss talking to people and seeing them. Even that damned familiar sometimes. It's only been a few days, but it gnaws in me a little."
[20:40] <Alicia> "It's often a lonely life we lead," Alicia admits. "I think there's a saying; absence makes the heart grow fonder. There's something to it, I suppose - I'm sure they miss you as well." She manages a grin, "Although I won't tell Marie you said that."
[20:41] <Kobrb> "Thank you," Her smile grows at that, "It's not a bad feeling at all. You know..you keep impressing me when I feel things like that. I can't imagine how much you miss them."
[20:43] <Alicia> "Really, it's just a fact of life," Alicia shrugs. "You can't stay by the side of everyone you care about all the time - it's just not physically possible even if you all want it to be so. So you just have to get on with things and look forward to the next meeting."
[20:44] <Kobrb> "Mmm." Antenora turns to look up at the ceiling, "Just grab on and enjoy it as much as you can while you'r ewith them?"
[20:47] <Alicia> "That's pretty much it," Alicia nods. "Besides, if you're around someone constantly it's easy enough to grow weary and need a break no matter how much you like them - nothing wrong with that either, it's just the way things go."
[20:49] <Kobrb> "Then again...what's a life time to me?" With her own slight chuckle, "I feel like I need to horde these times at the same time, since in a hundred years man of you will be..."
[20:51] <Alicia> "Or we could both die tomorrow," Alicia interjects. "There's no sense dwelling on the remote future when our lives are so uncertain in the present."
[20:51] <Kobrb> "Please." Antenora sits up in her bed, swinging her legs around, "I'm not going to let you die, Alicia."
[20:53] <Alicia> "I don't plan on letting it happen either," Alicia replies with a dry smile. "But things don't always go the way we'd want them to. Like I said earlier; all we can do is try."
[20:56] <Kobrb> Antenora gets up, approaching Alicia's bed. Without a word she hugs the paladin tightly, "Just because I wanted to savor the moment while I had it," she says lightly. "And I'll try until I die."
[20:58] * Alicia is briefly startled by the uncharacteristically demonstrative show of affection, but returns the hug after a moment, patting Antenora's back above her wings. "I know you will," she whispers warmly.
[20:58] <Kobrb> Antenora then parts, going back to her bed. With a smile, "Sleep well, Alicia. Until tomorrow?"
[20:59] <Alicia> "Big day ahead," Alicia confirms. "Good night." And with that she curls up under her covers, intending to go to sleep.

[Corwin]

[18:51] <Kokokokokokokoko> 3--
[18:51] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
[18:51] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[18:53] <Kokokokokokokoko> The next morning dawns. As Alicia rises to her prayers, she can see that it's raining again. Oh joy.
[18:55] * Alicia grew up here, she's somewhat inured to it. Even if a few years in the desert did spoil her. Getting dressed up nice and warm she waits for Antenora to do the same before, "We'll go to my old house and see if Joaquim saw or spoke to my 'well-wisher' before anything else."
[18:58] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora is up around the same time as Alicia, the two going out into the rain. Antenora shoots up an absently annoyed look. "You know," she mentions, "Snow and howling winds don't bother me nearly as much as rain do. It never rained in Caina."
[19:02] <Alicia> "I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed it," Alicia replies as she fastens her hood in place, "But really you get used to it. Still, I'm not too thrilled that we'll likely spend the whole day tromping through wet and muddy wilderness."
[19:03] <Kokokokokokokoko> "There are worse fates," Antenora agrees. "Lead on then?"
[19:04] * Alicia does so, heading to the outskirts and her old home near the pass into the hills.
[19:11] <Kokokokokokokoko> Home. It's been a long time for Alicia. The cottage is much as she remembers it, the terrain silent now. No calls of a child's play in it...Antenora looks on at it, peering around. She pats Alicia's shoulder and walks forward to the front door.
[19:15] * Alicia pauses for a moment, simply taking in the sight of her marital home after so long and allowing the memories to wash over her. The melancholy rain and grey sky certainly does its part in contributing to the ambience. Sighing softly, she follows Antenora to the door and knocks.
[19:20] <Kokokokokokokoko> The door is answered after a knock. The man who opens it is in twenties, aging quite well. He's wearing dirty clothes, a cloth wrapped around his head. "Yeah?" he asks, "Who the hell are you and what do you wa-...oh. Wait."
[19:21] <Kokokokokokokoko> He peers at Alicia's face, "Miss Reynes?"
[19:21] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Mrs." He corrects himself with a sharp grimace. "Come in, come in. Get out of the rain."
[19:22] <Alicia> "Thank you, Joaquim," Alicia doesn't rise to his rude greeting as she steps in and shakes her cloak off out the door before pulling her hood back. "You're looking well."
[19:22] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antneora enters in, shaking her hair dry and then gently wringing it. "Thank you," she says, glancing about carefully. The cottage isn't much different than it was left, a little more lived in perhaps and not very tidy.
[19:23] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Yeah, sorry." he scratches the back of his head, "I'm about to clean out the chimney's bottom and I wondered why someone came knocking again so soon."
[19:23] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Anyway," he goes on quickly, "Funny thing. A couple of days ago someone came asking about you."
[19:24] * Alicia nods. "I arrived back in town last night and heard that, yes. I was hoping you might know a bit about whomever would come looking for me after all these years."
[19:27] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Well," Leading them to sit down in wooden chairs and taing the cloth off his head, "Nice guy. Got me talking awhile. He was asking about a heroine who used to live here. He said in these dangerous times that heroes are in short supply. He said it was a tragedy about what happened...and between me and him, he was glad someone was going to give those nobles what-for. It's what you'd have wanted." (More)
[19:28] <Kokokokokokokoko> "He asked if there was a grave he could pay respects to, but I told him you had them buried somewhere else. Family crypt is what I remembered, so I mentioned that to him. He said he'd pay respects there next time he's passing by."
[19:29] * Alicia looks a bit put out at the man's presumption. "I may not like the nobles but I hardly want them butchered," she protests.
[19:30] <Kokokokokokokoko> "His words, not mine." With a shrug there, "Anyway, he seemed let down. He had it in your head that you were worth finding, even if it was a long shot."
[19:33] * Alicia frowns slightly in thought. "How many days ago was this?" she clarifies.
[19:33] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Four or five? I got drunk three nights ago and that was after it..." Scratching his head with a frown, "That sounds right."
[19:37] <Alicia> "He could be anywhere in Kelara by now... any idea where he was headed after speaking to you?" Alicia asks.
[19:39] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh yeah, that he did mention. He said he was going to Kelara in a week or two after he finished some business." Snapping his fingers, "That's when he said he's look for your family's tomb."
[19:41] <Alicia> "Hmm... maybe I'll catch up with him somewhere along the way..." Alicia muses before getting up. "Sorry I can't stay and catch up on old times, but we'd probably best get moving. Glad to see you've taken good care of the house, though," she smiles.
[19:42] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Sure." He stands up as wel, offering a hand out, "Take care of yourself. Dangerous times out there according to the rumors."
[19:43] * Alicia shakes his hand agreeably. "The rumours are true, sadly. But I'll see what I can do about that. Goodbye, Joaquim," she waves before seeing herself and Antenora out, replacing her hood once out the door.
[19:46] <Kokokokokokokoko> Once outside and into the steady rain again, "The problem I'm having is that I have no pattern of what he's like." Antenora begins, the gentle splash of rain on her face making her pause a moment to wipe it. "It makes anticipating moves with what scraps of evidence we find all that much harder."
[19:48] <Alicia> "We've got very little to go on, yes," Alicia agrees. "However, if we're visibly asking around after him it could just be a matter of time before he seeks us out, even if we don't luck out and find a perfect lead."
[19:49] <Kokokokokokokoko> "You know..." Antenora considers, "Making ourselves highly visible might be the best idea. Maybe we're going about this wrong. He has all the advantages when we're chasing him about, so maybe we need to make him want to find us."
[19:50] <Alicia> "Any suggestions on how to raise our profile, then?" Alicia asks as they head through Lorasce.
[19:52] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Well..." Rubbing her chin, "It depends on how far we want to go and how tricky we want to be. How far are you willing to push on those lines?"
[19:53] <Kokokokokokokoko> Stopping a moment, and with a growing smile, "And...oh yes. This is starting to remind me of scheming in the old days." It's not really a nice smile, "We'll need to make him want to come to us and be happy to get himself in a mess he can't extract himself from."
[19:55] <Alicia> "I'd rather not do anything that lends the impression of me supporting this rebellion," Alicia replies. "Really like I said I was mostly thinking that we'd just pass through as many villages between here and Kelara as possible to ask after him in the hopes he'll get word we're looking for him."
[19:56] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Mmm. Co-opting the rebellion would be extremely effective, but risky and having certain ethical concerns." As the rain continues to patter down, the squelch of mud under your feet heard, "It appeals by hoisting him on his own petard and it would give you a chance to affect the change you talked about before. Of course..." With a momentary look of distaste, "You might end up supporting murders and anarchy, which isn't acceptable."
[19:57] <Kokokokokokokoko> "On the other hand, assuming he has good information networks, and I strongly suspect he does, simply being bone-headedly obvious on searching for him might get us trouble. Maybe not him at first, but we might get visits from someone who would give us a lead. Or try to kill us, either way."
[19:59] <Alicia> "While that is possible, from what we learned in Kelara it sounds like he has a tendancy to personally deal with troublemakers," Alicia notes. "And I had enough of pretending to support the rebellion in Whitewall - I'd rather confront it openly as I did when speaking to Jane."
[20:01] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Mmmm. Then let's just make a lot of noise and see if that gets his attention," Antenora opines.
[20:04] <Kokokokokokokoko> OOC - GI check? Also elaborate on what you're asking and how obvious you'll be.
[20:06] <Alicia> OOC: I'll be asking after a man wearing a metal mask of a fierce bearded face or failing that a man matching the description given in Lorasce. I won't be shy about who I am, and if anyone asks I'll just say that I really need to talk to this guy.
[20:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15
[20:06] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[20:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15
[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 33."12 [1d20=18]
[20:06] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 1d20+6 Antenora aids
[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+6 Antenora aids and gets 17."12 [1d20=11]
[20:09] <Kokokokokokokoko> It's a long, wet, miserable day as the two head for villages and travel back towards Kelara. Antenora even starts sneezing a bit near duskfall, cursing as much as she can about the rain in Celestial. Well, as much as you can curse in Celestial, which isn't much. Anyway, Alicia finds herself quite good at being obvious and gathering information! (More)
[20:11] <Kokokokokokokoko> While the bearded man ones don't get her too much beyond wild speculations, the man's description gets a few bites. A nice man heading here or there or anywhere. This often also ends up leading to the current situation, rumors flying wildly. As evening settles in...OOC - Are you guys going to camp out or inn up at the closest down or what?
[20:11] <Alicia> OOC: get an inn-room at the nearest town, yeah
[20:13] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora takes off her armor and wet clothes in front of the fire, sitting close to it and putting her arm and then legs into the blaze. As she dries in a most direct, fiery way, "Mmm. Going to want to keep watches, just in case now?"
[20:15] <Kokokokokokokoko> The inn room is pretty plain - a pair of beds, a fire place, a table, a tray with two meals on it left in for your leisure. There's a few windows, the dusky darkness held at bay by candles inside the room and the fireplace.
[20:16] * Alicia nods. "Hell Striker can probably alert us if anyone comes in, but not if it's our masked man with nondetection. You can take your nap first then I'll sleep once you're rested," she offers.
[20:18] <Kokokokokokokoko> Creeping in to sit in the fireplace and then laying in it so she gets a faceful of flame, "Sure." Thus night falls! Antenora sleeps with her spear next to her, armor carefully laid out at the foot of her bed. She has her cloak of storms wrapped about her, ribbon taken off and wings visible. It's a dark, quiet night for Alicia. Only the pitter-pat of rain to keep her company right away...
[20:20] * Alicia relaxes but not too much - she's even still wearing her armour as she sits against the headrest of her bed, content to wait for Antenora to rest up before she indulges her own need for slumber.
[20:30] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora awakens around the appointed time. She rises and puts on her armor, preparing. "Sleep well, Alicia," she bids.
[20:31] <Alicia> "Wake me if anything exciting happens," Alicia replies, undressing and climbing into bed.
[20:32] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora nods to Alicia. "I will." Thus, Alicia slips into the realm of dreams. It is a realm of peace and rest, her dreams forgetful ones as her body replenishes it's energies...
[20:33] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 1d20+18
[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+18 and gets 37."12 [1d20=19]
[20:34] <Kokokokokokokoko> Alicia's reverie is disturbed. She can hear Antenora's voice,
[20:34] <Kokokokokokokoko> OOC - Gah.
[20:34] <Kokokokokokokoko> Alicia's reverie is disturbed. She can hear Antenora's voice, "Wake up!" she says abruptly.
[20:35] * Alicia jolts upright and pivots out of bed, looking around as she reaches for her sword.
[20:37] <Kokokokokokokoko> As Alicia does so, she sees Antenora at a window - but this lasts only a split second, as the window bursts into flame, an explosion! The sound of it sends glass flying around Alicia, Antenora staggering back! She isn't burned, thankfully immune! "Trouble," she adds, "Something's outside!"
[20:39] <Alicia> "Damn, that was fast," Alicia complains, glad she kept most of her gear on, although taking off her armour was probably a bad move in retrospect - at least it was left in her backpack, though, which she slings on while casting shield on herself. "Can you see what it is?"
[20:42] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Tsch," At the shattered window, "He saw me afterwards and vanished. Was wearing a mask, looked like what the statues of the God-King looked like in the devil's base. He had what looke dto be a wand or staff in hand. He was hiding in some bushes, but relying ab it too much on the darkness."
[20:43] <Alicia> "Sounds like our boy!" Alicia begins to glow with holy radiance, casting fly on herself. "Lets go!" she says, zipping out the now very open window.
[20:44] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora follows, spear readied! The two come out of the second story! It's dark now, the moon not helping much with cloudiness, but no rain. You don't immediately see anything out here, besides someone rushing out of the inn and staring up at the broken window, gaping.
[20:45] <Alicia> "You said he vanished, do you mean he cast a spell and disappeared or he ran out of view?" Alicia clarifies, casting resist energy on herself to become protected from flames as she looks around, igniting Hell Striker to provide more illumination than her own nimbus of holy light.
[20:46] <Kokokokokokokoko> "He just vanished," Antenora supplies. Fire and holy light illuminate things, but Alicia still doesn't see anything. Around them, the sleepy village stretches here and there.
[20:48] <Alicia> "Spellgem," Alicia grimaces, casting detect magic and looking around for the residual aura.
[20:48] <Kokokokokokokoko> OOC: Caster level check?
[20:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 25."12 [1d20=12]
[20:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 18."12 [1d20=11]
[20:52] <Alicia> "That way!" Alicia points for Antenora's benefit, hesitating only long enough to incant a spell before she takes off in pursuit. "Mother of all magic, rend asunder the purloined dweomer of my enemy!"
[20:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 dispel on the aura
[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 dispel on the aura and gets 30."12 [1d20=18]
[20:56] <Kokokokokokokoko> The aura crumbles before Alicia's might! With that aura gone, the man appears! He wears a cloak and an iron mask, the fierce visage of the God King on it! As you dispel it, he stops moving, near a few houses 140 feet away! He looks on at them, two daggers drawn! OOC - You got extremely lucky with Hatbot tonight in gneeral. Let's roll initaitive here.
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 13."12 [1d20=8]
[20:57] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 1d20+9
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+9 and gets 24."12 [1d20=15]
[20:58] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 1d20+5
[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+5 and gets 24."12 [1d20=19]
[20:58] * Kokokokokokokoko changes topic to 'Masked Man=Antenora>Alicia'
[21:00] <Kokokokokokokoko> He peers up ahead, he dives into the gap between two houses and out of sight, tne more feet away! As he does, an ice storm breaks out around Alicia and Antenora! Hail pounds them, cold winds savaging!
[21:00] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 1d20+15 caster level check
[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+15 caster level check and gets 27."12 [1d20=12]
[21:00] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 3d6 cold
[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 3d6 cold and gets 9."12 [3d6=2, 1, 6]
[21:00] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 2d6 cold, other was bludgeoning damage
[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 2d6 cold, other was bludgeoning damage and gets 6."12 [2d6=3, 3]
[21:02] <Kokokokokokokoko> The hailstones pound down as Antenora doubly moves closer, only 40 feet away now! OOC - Alicia.
[21:03] * Alicia flies forward as much as she can, covering 120 feet to get closer to their prey. "Coward who wears the face of a tyrant!" she rails at the sneak attacker, "Prepare to face your judgement!"
[21:03] <Kokokokokokokoko> As the village below stirs, innocents at rest and sleep...Antenora advances to the alley! She peers down a moment, cursing, 'I don't see him,' she calls, even as a righteous aura of fury springs up around her!
[21:04] <Alicia> OOC: any magic aura seen?
[21:05] <Kokokokokokokoko> OOC: Make a new caster level check?
[21:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[21:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 16."12 [1d20=3]
[21:05] <Alicia> OOC: does hell striker sense anything?
[21:06] * Alicia pulls down her blindfold of true darkness over her eyes before she flies through the alleyway ten feet above the ground, moving twenty feet to reach it and then forty feet down its length.
[21:10] <Kokokokokokokoko> With blindsense Alicia gets lucky! She finds him near the end of her move, kneeling in the shadow by the corner of the house, ready to pounce! He's looking right at Alicia!
[21:10] <Kokokokokokokoko> His mask's blank metal eyes hide his look, but his face shows that he's looking at her, anyway.
[21:10] <Alicia> "He's by that corner there!" Alicia calls for Antenora's benefit, pointing right at him.
[21:12] <Kokokokokokokoko> The two react at once! The man begins to concentrate and make arcane gestures, symbols of forgotten letters turning and twisting in the air! Letters of gnomish, even as he speaks, "Impressive," his voice is metallic and seductive, knee weakening with it's authority. But even as he does, Antenora plummets down like a meteorite at him!
[21:13] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 1d20+20 (+6 smite, +2 FS 7/8, +2 charge, +1 flying, -10 PA)
[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+20 (+6 smite, +2 FS 7/8, +2 charge, +1 flying, -10 PA) and gets 25."12 [1d20=5]
[21:13] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 1d100 1-50 is a whiff since she's guessing here.
[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 1d100 1-50 is a whiff since she's guessing here. and gets 29."12 [1d100=29]
[21:15] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora's spear pulses white with sacred powers as it stabs down...into the wall just an inch from the masked man, as he steps backwards into a twisting door and vanishes! "Another time!"
[21:16] <Kokokokokokokoko> OOC - You're up, Alicia.
[21:18] <Alicia> "Oh, it's not over yet," Alicia snarls, taking out her wand of invisibility and turning herself invisible while her holy light vanishes so she'll be utterly unseen. Now that he won't see her coming she might just be able to get close enough to detect him while he catches his breath. "Wait in the air, you'll see soon enough if I find him," she tells Antenora before taking off on a spiral search pattern.
[21:18] <Alicia> Just like so many dogai before, he can't have gotten far.
[21:19] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora smiles with a fury just like Alicia's, her face a mask of holy vengence, "Oh yes," she says in agreement, "There's no escape for you anymore." She thus flies straight up! OOC - Alicia, you're up.
[21:21] <Alicia> Moving out of the alley and staying low to the ground so her blindsight can cover the most area, Alicia begins to work her way throughout this small village, circling wider and wider from the spot where he vanished from as fast as she can - the longer this takes the farther he could've gotten, after all.
[21:29] <Kokokokokokokoko> OOC - Going in widening, encompassing circles, basically?
[21:29] <Alicia> OOC: standard spiral search pattern that's served me so well in the past, yes.
[21:32] <Kokokokokokokoko> Thus Alicia begins to circle the village! A few people have come out, some minor confusion in the streets at all the noise! Her search starts slow and then spreads out, encompassing the village as Antenora holds her aeria vigil! A few even seem to notice her, pointing up at the flying erinyes. Meanwhile, Alicia eventually circles the village. Nothing.
[21:33] <Alicia> It's quite conceivable that she may have simply missed him due to his moving around, so Alicia spirals back inwards - the area involved is simply too big for her to reasonably extend the search outside of the village, anyway.
[21:34] <Kokokokokokokoko> So Alicia finishes. Fortune is not with her, as she does not find any trace of him at all.
[21:35] * Alicia swears quietly, flying up to join Antenora and dismissing her invisibility while reasserting her holy radiance in the night. "Nothing," she admits bitterly. "He escaped."
[21:39] <Alicia> "Well... there is one more chance," she admits.
[21:40] <Alicia> "He can't have teleported far, so he must have ran the rest of the way. Lets check the paths out of town for any fresh tracks in the mud? If there aren't any then he could be hiding in a building here."
[21:44] <Kokokokokokokoko> "We might get lucky," Antenora agrees to that, going down to check the paths out of town! OOC - Do you have any ranks in survival? Anty has a few.
[21:45] <Alicia> OOC: none, so I'm relying on her
[21:47] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 1d20+6
[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+6 and gets 14."12 [1d20=8]
[21:47] <Kokokokokokokoko> OOC - Aiding?
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1 I can try
[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+1 I can try and gets 11."12 [1d20=10]
[21:51] <Kokokokokokokoko> On a path going southeast out of town, Antenora finds prints! The wet, muddy trail makes finding them quite doable! She kneels down a moment, legs and knees getting quite muddy as she peers ahead. "This way," she flies a foot off the ground, face down to intently follow the trail. "Follow me."
[21:52] * taiexhaustion is now known as taisickish
[21:52] * Alicia eliminates her showy glowing and follows after Antenora silently so as not to disrupt her concentration.
[21:54] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora leads the pair about a mile, the rain starting again. It's just a drizzle, evoking a few more distracted curses from Antenora, this time in Infernal. This language, at least, has very profane things. The rain rather likes to dally around and violate the rear of a lemure, according to her. (More)
[21:56] <Kokokokokokokoko> It's as the path goes up a tree bedeckoned hill that Antenora suddenly grins. 'Ahead! He's just going to the top of the hill!' Her gaze is like a thunderclap of justice, the hill obscured and quite dark to Alicia, who can't see him.
[21:57] <Alicia> "Okay, lets make this count," Alicia tells Antenora, taking out her wand and turning the erinyes invisible before doing the same to herself and channelling an enervation spell into her blade. "There won't be any escape this time."
[21:58] <Kokokokokokokoko> As Alicia does this, 'He's just gone over the top of the hill,' she relays silently, 'He's not looking back - I think he doesn't think we're following him.
[21:58] <Kokokokokokokoko> ;
[21:58] <Alicia> 'Why would he? As far as he knows he made a perfect clean getaway - come on.' Now entirely invisible she flies towards the hill, matching her pace with Antenora's so they can reach him at the same time.
[21:59] <Kokokokokokokoko> The two fly and reach the top of the hill! He's about sixty fee away, carefully going down the slick and dark path, mud squelching under his feet. As Antenora prepares a long breath a moment, 'Ready?' she whispers back into Alicia's mind.
[22:01] <Alicia> 'Little closer,' Alicia replies, flying over until she's ahead of him so that they'll be able to flank him when they attack.
[22:04] <Kokokokokokokoko> Alicia does so, the two pinning him at the bottom of the hill. Mentally, 'On three?' Antenora asks. 'One...two...."
[22:09] <Alicia> 'Three!' Alicia affirms as she flies down, suddenly appearing from thin air as a golden-illuminated figure of vengeance, her sword crackling with arcane and holy power as it lashes out to smash into the side of his masked face with its flat!
[22:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 +1 flying +2 invis +7 smite +3 3rd level arcane strike -4 nonlethal, -8 power attack divine might vs flat footed AC
[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 +1 flying +2 invis +7 smite +3 3rd level arcane strike -4 nonlethal, -8 power attack divine might vs flat footed AC and gets 37."12 [1d20=15]
[22:09] <Alicia> roll 1d4 negative levels
[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 negative levels and gets 4."12 [1d4=4]
[22:10] <Alicia> roll 1d8+37+3d4+2d6 nonlethal
[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+37+3d4+2d6 nonlethal and gets 53."12 [1d8=2][3d4=2, 3, 2][2d6=2, 5]
[22:10] <Kokokokokokokoko> At the same time as Alicia strikes, Antenora charges into his rear with her spear!
[22:10] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 1d20+18 (+6 smite, +2 FS 6/8, +2 charge, +1 flying, -10 PA, -4 nonlethal, +2 invis)
[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+18 (+6 smite, +2 FS 6/8, +2 charge, +1 flying, -10 PA, -4 nonlethal, +2 invis) and gets 26."12 [1d20=8]
[22:12] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 2d8+1d6+60
[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 2d8+1d6+60 and gets 78."12 [2d8=8, 8][1d6=2]
[22:16] <Kokokokokokokoko> Caught as the sandwich between two agents of divine justice, the masked man can't even get out a word! Alicia's blade smacks him in the stomach, as Antenora's spear hits him in the small of the back and kidneys! With a groan he goes down hard, collapsing into the mud! He tries to get up a few times, but his body gives out! OOC - Free act, you whalloped the utter living shit out of him.
[22:17] <Alicia> "Well!" Alicia takes a happy deep breath. "That was invigorating!" she declares as she alights, casting detect magic first of all. "I'd wager this is what shields him from divination and makes everyone go weak-kneed at the sound of his voice," she muses as she takes off his mask.
[22:17] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Ah," Antenora appears as her magic winks away, "Got him!" She kneels next to him, checking his pulse. "He's down and likely out for quite awhile."
[22:18] <Kokokokokokokoko> The mask is body heat warm to the touch. His face is attractive - straight black hair and a well defined set of features. Really, he's rather striking even now. The mask radiates magic, as does a par if gloves he wears, his daggers, and a few things on his person.
[22:20] * Alicia nods in satisfaction. "All the magic is showing up, now. A shame to hide such a handsome face, though, really," she muses as she puts the mask in her backpack and then proceeds to liberate him of everything magical which likewise goes into her pack. She takes her own armour out to make room and puts it on while she has time.
[22:21] <Kokokokokokokoko> Alicia gains: A mask, two daggers, a pair of wands, a statue of a fierce tiger, a necklace chain of what appears to be reddish, diabolical bison, and a pair of potion flasks.
[22:21] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora taps the necklace as it's taken, "Your favorite summon. They had to even get those, didn't they? Anyway, want me to carry him?"
[22:22] <Alicia> Such can surely be properly identified and inventoried at a later date. Now she frisks him for any mundane tools or weapons that he might use to effect an escape when he wakes up. And his spellbook in the vanishingly rare chance he has one.
[22:23] <Kokokokokokokoko> His mundane things are the following: A set of thievies tools, a disguise kit(3 uses left), a bag with 309 gold, a girl's ribbon, a pair of daggers strapped into his boots, a smokestick and a small little diary book, bound with a lock.
[22:24] <Alicia> "Tie him up before you do," she suggests to the erinyes. "We'll see about getting a stretcher or cart or something once we're back in the village. Can read over this book once we're out of the rain, too," she briefly waves said tome before it goes into her backpack.
[22:24] <Kokokokokokokoko> "You know, that tracking was useful," Cheerfully smiling as Alicia continues to search him, "Far better than letting him get away. Maybe there's something to it." Going to tie him up carefully, she then lifts him. "Ready?"
[22:25] <Alicia> "I belive its how the Crimson Guard caught my sister as well, thanks to tracks left in the mud on a rainy night," Alicia agrees, healing herself and Antenora of their wounds from that earlier ice storm. "Lets go."
[22:28] <Kokokokokokokoko> The trip back to the village is a rather long but light hearted one. When you arrive several of the villages are still out, torches and pitchforks displayed. "Back," one of them calls, "Devil women!" It's about twenty people, looks of fear all over their faces. "Demons who glow with profane light and fly!"
[22:29] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh for..." Antenora sighs a moment, looking at them with lidded eyes.
[22:30] <Alicia> "What?" Alicia looks shocked at this greeting. "If you have scorn, save it for the coward who threw fire at the inn and vanished from sight!" she points to the scorched wall of the inn they were staying at before gesturing to their bound captive. Also given that none of them seemed to recognise the innate benevolence of her celestial nimbus, she looks the crowd over for evil.
[22:31] <Kokokokokokokoko> The celestial light washes over them as Alicia speaks. One man calls in a shaky voice, "M-Magic...only the city dwellers have magic and none of them have wings!" A few more seem to calm, shaking their heads. "Maybe this isn't anything..."
[22:33] <Kokokokokokokoko> "I know I don't quite look lik eit, but I'm a celestial being," Antenora calls, putting on a pleasant smile. "My friend glows wiht her benevolence and is a great heroine. I'm sorry if we startled you, but we had to stop this man from harming anyone else."
[22:33] <Alicia> "I am Alicia Reynes, paladin of Mystra - perhaps you've heard of her? She has a large temple in the city and her priests often minister to the countryside?" Alicia asks as she draws herself up without shame.
[22:34] <Kokokokokokokoko> More still look at the holy symbol on her ches,t the crowd starting to diperse. Only a few linger, even then not so much energy in their voices. As a few others call apology to her, "Still...bat's wings. My grandmother always said demons had bat wings, the ones that seduce away your soul!"
[22:35] <Kokokokokokokoko> "If I travel with a paladin of Mystra, I'm not a demon," Antenora's smile cracks slightly as only three are left, "There's a long story to why I have these, but I assure you I mean you no harm."
[22:36] <Alicia> "She's a noble being, true," Alicia stands up for Antenora. "Can you not see my friend is a stalwart warrior and not some callow seductress?"
[22:37] <Kokokokokokokoko> Another shakes his head, only leaving a scared looking pair of men. "Well..." The last lowers his torch, "Maybe. You sound sincere. Sorry." He says, as the other says, "Everyone said fire and flying demons were seen in the sky."
[22:38] * Alicia nods, allowing more sympathy now that the mob doesn't seem angry. "I know, and you have a right to be concerned. But we were only seeking to defend ourselves after the leader of the rebellion himself launched a cowardly attack by hurling magical fire at the inn while we slept."
[22:39] <Kokokokokokokoko> The two eye the man Antenora carries, only one speaking. "O-Oh." He licks his lips and nods, "Oooooh."
[22:39] <Kokokokokokokoko> The other backs away, "
[22:39] <Kokokokokokokoko> The other backs away, "Sorry..." he murmurs again, fleeing into the night.
[22:41] <Alicia> "Come on, I doubt we'll get much more sleep tonight but there's no point staying out in the rain," Alicia decides, quenching her glow as she leads Antenora towards their ravaged inn. "You can put the ribbon back on if you want."
[22:42] <Kokokokokokokoko> "I left it in the inn room," Antenora answers, "I'll go get it then." Thus the two head back. Another room is secured without too much difficulty, another two bed room. Antenora retreives her things left behind in the meantime, after dumping the man onto the bed.
[22:44] <Alicia> "Okay, before we wake him, lets read his diary," Alicia suggests, frisking him again for a key but if none is found she'll quite cheerfully force the lock apart in order to open it.
[22:44] <Alicia> "Or spellbook or whatever it is."
[22:44] <Alicia> She also casts prestidigitation to clean all concerned up.
[22:45] <Kokokokokokokoko> No key is found. Alicia thus forces the lock! It takes a strong, solid CLACK and a hit to open it. Once opened, Alicia sees that it's written in what she reconizes as gnomish. She can see magical diagrams and the like, drawn small, but she can find that she can read them perfectly fine, in spite of the size. The man has incredible penmanship.
[22:46] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora goes to lie on the other bed, taking off her breastplate to comfortably lie on her side. "Anything interesting," she asks.
[22:46] * Alicia groans. "Well, we won't be able to read this till we get back to Balmuria, then we'll have to trust Marie's interpretation. It's all gnomish," she closes the diary and puts it back into her pack.
[22:49] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Can't Demedais or Seira read it?" Antenora asks, "They've been dealing with this gnomish material awhile as well."
[22:51] <Alicia> "Seira definitely can, don't know about Demedais," Alicia replies. "Honestly though, Marie's normally accurate enough. For now I suppose it's time we had a little chat with our friend here..."
[22:53] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Wake him up?" Antenora peers to him. "Do you think he'll talk? If he thinks we're going to take him to be executed - and I imagine Lord Roth will want to - he doesn't have much incentive to tell us anything."
[22:55] <Alicia> "He might want to brag or try and use his vaunted persuasive skills to convince us to let him go," Alicia shrugs, "But really, I can be very persuasive even without magic. And right now he'll be especially out of sorts from that enervation I hit him with." At that she takes a moment to cast voice of the archon before healing him a little. "Get ready to knock him in the back of the head if it looks like he's casting something."
[22:56] <Alicia> roll 2d4+2 spellfire healing
[22:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+2 spellfire healing and gets 8."12 [2d4=3, 3]
[22:59] <Kokokokokokokoko> The healing stirs him, but he still seems to be out cold. Must've been hit pretty hard to still be out.
[22:59] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora picks up her spear and goes to behind him, having it at the ready.
[23:00] * Alicia takes her time healing him bit by bit, not wanting to do too much and have him get all feisty again.
[23:00] <Alicia> roll 2d4+2
[23:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+2 and gets 5."12 [2d4=2, 1]
[23:00] <Kokokokokokokoko> He's still out, this batch of healing not enough. "I wonder if we hit him too hard," Antenora laconically observes.
[23:01] * Sierra_MomentaryLife (~Melanchth@pool-71-191-19-58.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #dunes
[23:01] * Seira (~corwin@bzq-79-182-174-89.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[23:01] <Alicia> "He's breathing isn't he?" Alicia replies in much the same style as she slowly channels more magical healing energy into him.
[23:01] <Alicia> roll 2d4+2
[23:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+2 and gets 9."12 [2d4=4, 3]
[23:04] <Kokokokokokokoko> That does the trick. He groans very loudly, "Ugh...my back...my chest..." he grimaces considerably as his eyes open. "Oh, it's you," he says dismissively. "Alicia, isn't it?" Putting on his smile, "I presume, but we didn't have a chance for proper introductions."
[23:04] * Seira (~corwin@bzq-79-182-174-89.red.bezeqint.net) has joined #dunes
[23:04] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[23:05] <Alicia> "Yes, imagine my surprise when the man who supposedly felt some sympathy and kinship with me would suddenly hurl a fireball at my room while I slept," Alicia returns dryly. "Fortunately I'm a lot better at this than you are."
[23:07] * Sierra_MomentaryLife is now known as Sierra_WhatchouTalkingBoutDune
[23:08] * BuildMoreSCVS is now known as Nao
[23:08] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Live and learn," he says quite agreeably. "You and the other one surprised me. I didn't think you'd manage to follow me after a dimension door. Bravo." Warmly speaking to that, "I do suppose you're going to drag me off to Kelara and make an example of me?"
[23:10] <Alicia> "You're hardly the first to have tried that tactic," Alicia snorts. "And yes, you do get the idea. It's a shame, really - I hardly have any great love for the noble council, but sadly you failed to provide a compelling alternative."
[23:11] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Yes, well." He shrugs as little as he can tied up, "A figure in history tried to overthrow the Gods and take over. I'm not so hot on taking over, but overthrowing a rotten regime is certainly appealing. Besides, to be frank, I think a period of collapse is preferable to letting Kelara continue to exist as a sick, delusional little domain."
[23:13] * Alicia actually laughs at that. "So you style yourself after that rotten little gnome after all? How charming."
[23:14] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Ah, you identified it." Smiling and then laughing with Alicia, "Not entirely. Daa-vid is inspirational in that he stood up to a regime he felt was corrupt.  The rest of his bunk can stay in the dustbin of history for all I care."
[23:14] <Kokokokokokokoko> (More)
[23:16] <Kokokokokokokoko> "But that's not all that important. I'd heard you were over in the east, in the city of Balmuria?" His smile never flickers, "I hear the most fascinating things from over there, when I know to ask the right questions to the right people. I hear the Guard has a shield of jewells that floats as it's own living thing, and a sword that glitters with all the God-King's decadence. The Resorts, am I right?"
[23:18] * Alicia doesn't really see the harm in confirming what's basically common knowledge. "You are well informed. Yes, those items among other treasures of the gnomes are held by Balmuria. I've little taste for their crafts myself, but they seem to be effective."
[23:20] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Yes, yes." As he positions slightly, able to upturn his head, "I've had the fortune to become aquianted with their works. Fascinating, aren't they? It sounds so trite and like something out of a bard's song, but we really have lost a lot from the distant past. The gnomes left behind the most spectacular toys. I then presume the Baronies have an interest in gnomish goods?"
[23:21] <Alicia> "Is this the part where you offer me access to some treasure trove that you've conveniently never liberated yourself in exchange for your freedom?" Alicia asks, sounding disappointed.
[23:23] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Just the opposite." With a widening smile, "You see, the gnomish ruins have several quirks. This includes gates - if you don't know, they're portals to other places, other existances. The afterlife in all it's forms in particular." He smiles a moment, quite cheerfully, "Oh, what would happen if a carefully designed trigger wasn't reset in time and the gates opened wide?"
[23:25] <Alicia> "Fantastic. Another portal to hell. That would be what, the third - no wait, fourth - one I've had to shut down," Alicia shakes her head. "Alright, allow me to demonstrate how weak your bargaining posture is." She leans over him before speaking with words empowered by magic, "Tell me everything you know about all the gnomish gates you're aware of."
[23:25] <Alicia> OOC: DC 21 will save
[23:25] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 1d20+8
[23:25] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+8 and gets 13."12 [1d20=5]
[23:26] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Really, Hell isn't so impressive? Did you notice my wings?" Antenora drawls, "A few of us would rather side with Alicia and company than throw our lives away."
[23:27] <Kokokokokokokoko> His words come just as naturally, "There are two gates that I know of. I have disabled and destroyed both of them; I had no desire to let hellspawn or elementals through. The study was quite rapturous, even if I couldn't understand much of it. Really, the ability to go and see what lies beyond our lives? How many questions does that answer? How little will you fear death when you know what waits foryou!"
[23:29] * Alicia smiles. "Well I can commend you for that much at least, even if your attempt to mislead me was in vain."
[23:30] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Well." Smiling himself, "That was impressive again. It's a shame some bandits had to lovingly murder your family, you'd be a fat housewife by now if not and I'd still be going."
[23:31] <Alicia> "Yes, it's a funny old world, isn't it?" Alicia drawls, unimpressed. "What's your name, by the way?"
[23:33] <Kokokokokokokoko> "David." After a moment, "Yes, I do believe it's so incredibly ironic. I laughed myself when the irony truly struck me for the first time. If nothing else, I believe the Gods have a sublime sense of humor. Now Alicia...I don't suppose you'd like to lie down here with me?"
[23:36] * Alicia snorts. "All that charm everyone said you had must have come from the mask," she replies snarkily. "I'll tell you what I will do, though... you'd better hold still for this," she suggests as she grabs hold of a handful of his hair and cuts it off with her sword. "Just in case you're more competent than you appear - considering you employed anti-divination wards you surely know the best way to guarantee the efficiacy of a scrying spell?"
[23:37] <Alicia>  a scrying spell?"
[23:38] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Now that's just uncalled for," After his hair is cut, "Yes, yes, I'm aware. Still, if I'm on death's door, I may as well shoot for the fairest star I can see."
[23:39] * Alicia deftly knots the purloined lock of hair together and pockets it. "Fairest star. That's a curious turn of phrase, isn't it?"
[23:40] <Alicia> OOC: taking 10 on sense motive for 20 for a gut feeling. Does he seem bothered/scared at all?
[23:40] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Isn't it?" With a serene smile, "You are the fairest star I can see right now. It's only natural to covet you like the greatest treasure there is."
[23:43] <Alicia> "Yes, very poetic," Alicia replies drolly. "But if I'm the fairest star you can see right now, then what is the fairest star of all?"
[23:43] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Why, it's you. Who am I to argue with the light of the angel in front of me?" His eyes sweep over Alicia, "Ah, if I only had some inspiration now..."
[23:46] <Alicia> "Being tied up with two beautiful women and facing certain death isn't inspiration enough? My are you hard to please," Alicia shakes her head. "So, why don't you tell us all about the logistics of your rebellion? I can use that spell again, if you want, but feel free to volunteer."
[23:49] <Kokokokokokokoko> "I have a proposal instead. We both know that I probably have fascinating things you'd like to hear." Jostling a bit to get more comfortable as he smiles lightly, "You can nickel and dime them out of me, but that's more time where I'm not around and more people will die. For both our sakes, how about we cut a deal?"
[23:50] <Alicia> "I'm not especially interested in deals right now," Alicia replies flatly.
[23:52] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Ah, hear me out. Perhaps you'll find yourself more interested when you hear it. Now then, surely your city has the resources for a Geas spell? I give you the information to root out the rest of the problems and ensure that Kelara continues it's dying dance as long as you wish. In return, you return me my equipment and I willingly undergo a geas to serve the Baronies as a useful servant. With two wars in five years, surely you have ne
[23:53] <Kokokokokokokoko> surely you have needs for problem solvers?"
[23:53] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Kill a few people there, kidnap a few others, ferret out information, all sorts of things like that. Really, I like to think I'm good at it."
[23:58] <Alicia> "As amusing as it would be to send you off to battle fiends who can stop time with a word, I think I'll decline," Alicia shakes her head. "I'm hoping some good may come out of your rebellion in striking genuine reform in this country. But before that can happen the rebellion has to be definitively ended, and that won't happen while you walk free."
[23:59] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Ah well. Perhaps then...you'd trade that information for a night of bliss with you? If I'm to die," His smile grows a little, "One may as well go out on a high note? Or your friend, she's alluring as well."
[23:59] <Kokokokokokokoko> "You know," Antenora says, tone rising, "One could think you don't appreciate the gravity of your situation."
Session Time: Sat Nov 29 00:00:00 2008
[00:00] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh, I appreciate it all too well. But again, why not? When you have nothing left, aim for everything."
[00:01] * Alicia smiles in a not very heartening manner. "Maybe you can offer your services to Lord Roth instead? For now though, it might be best to just reflect on the mistakes you've made over the years - I'm certain tonight was not your first."
[00:02] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Ah. Oh well, failure is a pain," With a slight, dramatic sigh, he closes his eyes. "Yes, to reflect and sleep. There's still time until the dawn."
[00:04] * Alicia watches him close his eyes and waits a moment before speaking. "Nice job evading my question, by the way, but I'm not that scatter-brained." Intoning the words to her spell she speaks again in a far more commanding voice. "Now, tell me how the rebellion is organised and any plans set in motion that have yet to come to fruition."
[00:04] <Alicia> OOC: DC 21 will save
[00:04] <Kokokokokokokoko> roll 1d20+8
[00:04] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokokokoko rolls 1d20+8 and gets 13."12 [1d20=5]
[00:07] <Kokokokokokokoko> "The point of it is to bring down Kelara without any point. Lord Roth should be dead or soon dead, the agent in the city was due to get the message. There are a few other cells in Kelara - one of the soldiers in your father's mansion is waiting on a word to finish your family off, for example. But it's mostly a sleeper there, a few clustered groups there. You see, Kelara has to fall into chaos without a leader, so that the old can be
[00:07] <Kokokokokokokoko> so that the old can be purged and someone strong enough to rule will come. Someone who will defeat the pointlessness of the anarchy and establish just, strong laws for not just the city, but for all of Kelara."
[00:08] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora's scowl explodes, taking over her entire face.
[00:08] <Alicia> "I want names and descriptions for these agents," Alicia tells him sharply.
[00:10] * Alicia briefly glances at Antenora with a faintly worried look before refocusing her attention on David.
[00:11] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Well, there's Elizabeth. She's waiting on a message from her father, Reg. I've set it up so that Reg doesn't know her daughter's role, and that her daughter won't know about her father until she goes and kills Lord Roth. Oh, then there's the soldier around your parents. His name's Justin, nice boy. Believes everything I told him and thinks that killing the nobles will bring about what he wants."
[00:12] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Then there's Barkley, the cook with the poison. Oh, and Bessie's with him in Kelara. Both of them should get into at least a few households and make a few fatal stews."
[00:12] <Kokokokokokokoko> He yawns after a moment, "Want me to keep going? There's bunches of them."
[00:12] <Alicia> "Oh yes," Alicia nods. "Don't forget the descriptions and where to find these people."
[00:13] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh, you son of a bitch," Antenora whispers.
[00:14] <Alicia> "Just the ones in Kelara proper for now, we can deal with the others as we go."
[00:15] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Then there's Posy and Rosy. Cute name for a married couple, they're servants and they'll cut some more throats while rich nobles sleep. Then there's - oh, right. There's a Frank in the city guard, no real purpose to him but I left a couple of sleeper instructions. If he gets a small shipment of gold as payment for a past debt, he's to kill his commanding officer."
[00:16] <Kokokokokokokoko> "See, that's how most of these work. One hand doesn't know the other. Is et up one to do something and have another person unknowingly satisfiy the condition. That way, no one gets the full story. It's qquite effective. I imagine Lord Roth, or whomever is in control now, is completely perplexed and terrified."
[00:17] <Alicia> "Right. Antenora, fly to Kelara now and get started on clearing these people out, I don't care who you have to wake up," Alicia tells the erinyes, not wanting to waste any time. "I'll follow on foot with David here, hopefully we'll catch up by morning."
[00:18] <Kokokokokokokoko> With a curt nod, "And if I have a chance, I'll execute you myself for Lord Roth." Then quieter, "I didn't need more blood on my hands..." she says as she passes Alicia, walking out to the window and flying away.
[00:19] * Alicia nods understandingly to Antenora, hoping that either Elizabeth failed or hasn't yet acted. "Up, you!" she hauls David to his feet with the rope. "We've got a long walk ahead of us."
[00:19] <Kokokokokokokoko> "At night?" With a look of disdain, "How barbaric. A forced march all night?"
[00:20] <Alicia> "I'll knock you out and carry you if you want," Alicia offers menacingly as she shoves him out the door.

[Corwin]

[17:42] <Alicia> [00:17] <Alicia> "Right. Antenora, fly to Kelara now and get started on clearing these people out, I don't care who you have to wake up," Alicia tells the erinyes, not wanting to waste any time. "I'll follow on foot with David here, hopefully we'll catch up by morning."
[17:42] <Alicia> [00:18] <Kokokokokokokoko> With a curt nod, "And if I have a chance, I'll execute you myself for Lord Roth." Then quieter, "I didn't need more blood on my hands..." she says as she passes Alicia, walking out to the window and flying away.
[17:42] <Alicia> [00:19] * Alicia nods understandingly to Antenora, hoping that either Elizabeth failed or hasn't yet acted. "Up, you!" she hauls David to his feet with the rope. "We've got a long walk ahead of us."
[17:42] <Alicia> [00:19] <Kokokokokokokoko> "At night?" With a look of disdain, "How barbaric. A forced march all night?"
[17:42] <Alicia> [00:20] <Alicia> "I'll knock you out and carry you if you want," Alicia offers menacingly as she shoves him out the door.
[17:46] <Kotono> Thus thet wo head out into the night! It's a steady rain now, a heavy and soaking one. The path is muddy as Alicia leads David along...OOC - Describe how you're travelling and all that?
[17:48] * Alicia casts light on David's shirt so that invisibility or short range teleportation won't do him any good in attempting to flee from her and walks him along the road to Kelara - he stays in front of her the whole time.
[17:49] <Kotono> Thus thet wo begin to travel. Once they're out of sight of town, David glances backwards. "Lovely weather, isn't it?"
[17:51] <Alicia> "Normal enough for here," Alicia replies curtly, not really in the mood to chat.
[17:51] <Kotono> "Yes, Kelara has always been blessed by so much rain," Even as he speaks...OOC - Make a will save?
[17:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
[17:53] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 24."12 [1d20=2]
[17:54] <Kotono> "Ah well." He shuffles along, "So you've dealt with the gnomes several times? Devils too, from the sounds of it. But still, are you telling me that there'ss ome fools who let those gates go wide open?"
[17:57] <Alicia> "Either that or they get opened from the other side," Alicia replies curtly, thinking about how hard it'll be to hold him prior to his trial and sentencing. Not particularly inclined for any more prevarication, she casts voice of the archon, "Tell me the full extent of all your magical abilities," she instructs.
[17:57] <Alicia> OOC: DC 21 will
[17:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[17:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 21."12 [1d20=13]
[18:00] <Kotono> "Well," Smiling, "There's the magic I learned. Technically it's arcane magic and an assassin's magic. You see, one of the things I found were the notes from a gnomish assassin. Absolutely amazing stuff, if I do say so. But...tied up it's no use to me. I can use a few spell abilities from those lovely gems. The ice storm you saw and the ability to heal wounds to a degree. Sadly, that's it." Even as he talks, charming as can be...OOC - MAke anoth
[18:00] <Kotono> Even as he talks, charming as can be...OOC - MAke another will save?
[18:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
[18:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 36."12 [1d20=14]
[18:03] <Alicia> "An evasive answer. That's one out of three you've resisted," Alicia flatly congratulates him as they walk along through the miserable night. "Well I can always try again." Casting her spell she reiterates, "Give me a full breakdown of every spell and spell-like ability you have at your disposal."
[18:03] <Alicia> OOC: DC 21 once more
[18:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[18:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 9."12 [1d20=1]
[18:04] <Kotono> "Well, that's honestly most of it. Oh, I can do a few other things. Like, say, charm people. It's a shame your will is like a brick wall, you're not even budging." With a cross look, "Really now, that's in terribly bad form. When I charm someone, I expect them to have the good graces to fall for it."
[18:08] <Alicia> "You're not telling me everything," Alicia points out, not having heard anything about invisibility and dimension door. "I want to know every spell you can cast and I want to know every spell you can use from a spellgem. And I want to know how many times you can use each." She also prepares herself to absorb any further charm spells he uses on her, which she should've done earlier.
[18:11] <Kotono> "Oh fine, I can do those as well. Happy," With a piqued look, "Really, I wanted more of those gems, but some of them had been smashed before I found them. Some of the ceiling fell in just the wrong spot. From the notes, one of them was a gem of dominate person, and another was a gem of earthquake. Now that magic..." Sighing there, "What a loss!"
[18:13] <Alicia> "Stop stalling and give me the list," Alicia tells him firmly. Her suggestion spell certainly took hold, so why the hell is he bullshitting in the face of her simple and clearly worded command?
[18:15] <Kotono> "I did," he says in exasperation. "What, do you want it spelled out again? Were you too busy acting like a self righteous twat to catch all of it? Yes, I have SECRET MAGIC that I cannot tell anyone about."
[18:20] <Alicia> "Yes. Spell it out nice and neat. 'I can cast magic missile three times before I have to rest. I have a spellgem that lets me cast charm person four times a day.'" Alicia patiently explains what she's looking for. "No fun little trips down memory lane, no changing the subject to how fantastic those horrible little midgets were. Just the bare facts."
[18:26] <Kotono> "Mystra in her heavens, you need to get the stick out of your ass and put it in your other hole instead. Clearly the loss of your husband has turned you into a menancing harpy." With an overdone glare of exasperation. "Fine." (More in PM, sec.)
[18:33] <Alicia> "And you're a pathetic whiner," Alicia replies cooly. "Now shut up and keep walking."
[18:37] <Kotono> Thus the trip continues! Dawn comes and with it two soaked travellers come closer to Kelara. It's still a good part of a day's journey away. As the sun comes up, the long silence is broken, "You know, are we going to stop for food, or to use the bushes?" David asks.
[18:39] <Alicia> OOC: we're that far off? Lorasce was something like 18 hours away and we're closer to Kelara than that since we were moving back towards it when gathering info.
[18:40] <Kotono> OOC: About a half's day then. I figure you took time gathering info and went a bit off the direct-est path to go various villages and the like while info hunting.
[18:42] <Alicia> "We'll reach the city by lunchtime," Alicia tells him. "But I suppose breakfast couldn't hurt." She conjures forth some trail rations from her survival pouch and splits them, hand feeding small bite-sized chunks to David rather than letting him have his hands free.
[18:44] <Kotono> David takes the food well enough, and once the meal's done, "I suppose you'll have a grand feast once my head's decorating the city walls."
[18:46] <Alicia> "That would be terribly gauche," Alicia remarks as she prods him into motion once more.
[18:48] <Kotono> "Oh, I magine i'tll happen. The surviving nobles will feast on richers and splendor unimagined by the common folk now that they're not in danger anymore. I imagine your parents will spend plenty on the celebration. Now, imagine if that money was put to a better use...ah well. I'ms ure you'll be there having a good time as well. IT hardly matters."
[18:49] * Alicia snorts. "Please. You've made it perfectly clear you don't give a rat's ass about the welfare of the common folk any more than you do the nobles."
[18:51] <Kotono> "Oh, I do. There's a bunch of sayigns about breaking eggs to make an omlete and a rotten foundation that has to be torn down and built anew, but the point is that lives have to be lost for the changes needed to occur.
[18:51] <Kotono> OOC - Gah.
[18:52] <Kotono> "Oh, I do. There's a bunch of sayigns about breaking eggs to make an omlete and a rotten foundation that has to be torn down and built anew, but the point is that lives have to be lost for the changes needed to occur." Looking ahead, "Besides, you're a multiple murderer as well. How many bandits did you slay? How many wives or lovers or children were bereaved by you?"
[18:56] <Alicia> "I'd imagine quite a lot," Alicia replies. "But the sadness of those people does not outweigh the rights of all the victims of the bandits they love."
[18:58] <Kotono> "So it's a matter of a greater good?" David turns back to Alicia, "How many victims are there of noble's incompetence and apathy? How many died or suffered because of it? The deaths aren't a good thing, no doubt, but change has to happen. You realise that just as much as I do. Then...what's different about us? The master we bow down to? The particular people we prefer not to kill?"
[19:04] <Alicia> "Keep walking," Alicia prods him to get moving. "There's a lot wrong with your stance I'm not sure where to begin, but what the hell. Firstly, the nobles are merely apathetic and incompetent. The people I kill on the other hand tend to be out and out murderous and sadistic. You see the difference, yes?"
[19:04] <Alicia> "Further, if I kill a band of thieving murderous rapists hiding out in the woods, most people aren't going to even notice except that they can walk the roads a lot more safely. On the other hand, if you kill the ruling government of Kelara, people are going to notice when the country falls apart. That was your stated goal, yes?"
[19:04] <Alicia> "Kelara must fall into anarchy so that the strong can rule?" she repeats his phrasing from last night. "Even if the strong ruler turns out to be superior to the effete council - by no means a guarantee, and something you've confirmed an avowed disinterest in - it hardly justifies all the suffering that occurs before this happy turn of events."
[19:08] <Kotono> "Death by apathy is no less shameful than death by  malice. It's merely a matter of execution. If good men do nothing...evil walks over the innocent." With a shrug as he walks on, "I'm doing something so that Kelara will one day have a worthy ruler and happy people. What are you doing? Getting more blood on your hands by preserving the nobles. Do you ever wonder if your family's proud of you? Do you ever wonder...if maybe they cry a little each
[19:08] <Kotono> Do you ever wonder...if maybe they cry a little each time your support leads to another tragedy because the nobles are still in power? Maybe you do. I did wonder why I thought I saw a succubus with you."
[19:11] <Alicia> "Gods above and fiends below, you are full of yourself," Alicia marvels. "I can see why you needed all that gnomish magic, because your command of rhetoric is abysmal. All you're doing is sowing discord to satisfy your perverse ego and tacking on a justification that 'things might turn out better eventually. Maybe.'"
[19:14] <Kotono> "Better than letting the same rotten structure continue to wobble." With a long look to Alicia now, "Well, if I'm an egotistical sop, you certainly match with me well. Your galling superiority is everything that's wrong with Kelara. You don't just have a silver spoon in your mouth, you have teeth of pure silver."
[19:16] <Alicia> "Or you could maybe do something to fix it?" Alicia suggests with a glare back. "Oh, I'm sorry, of course - doing that's an awful lot of work, and it's so much more fun to simply charm people into going at each others throats and giggling as everything disintegrates around you."
[19:18] <Kotono> "Really?" Leaning forward a little and stopping his walk a moment as he matches that glare with ad evil-may-care look, "Yet I imagine you'd say I'd done enough already. It's strange how that works? Would you prefer to give me a dagger and command me to go kill afew more peasants?"
[19:20] <Alicia> "I'd prefer for you to shut up," Alicia replies giving him a shove to keep him moving. She doesn't even understand what point he was trying to make with that statement and doesn't care nearly enough to seek clarification. "Are you that in love with the sound of your own voice?"
[19:24] <Kotono> Standing still, "No. I'm just irritated with your self righteous, self reinforcing idiocy. It's like talking to a golem that has just enough instructions to repeat the same limited message over and over and over again."
[19:26] * Alicia smiles sweetly. "Then don't talk to me. We'll both be far happier."
[19:28] <Kotono> This does seem to kill conversation a bit. A few miles from Kelara, Alicia is intercepted! A group of thirty mounted, armored riders are clearing the roads, lances and bows at the ready. At about one hundred feet away, "Lo! Are you Alicia Reynes?"
[19:29] <Alicia> "I am she," Alicia calls over, raising her arm in a greeting.
[19:30] <Kotono> A pennant flies from their lances - the isignia of Kelara. "You have the prisoner? We come on order of Lord Roth to ensure that he's delivered safely."
[19:31] <Alicia> "Got our mastermind right here," Alicia gestures to David, reassured that Lord Roth is still breathing.
[19:32] <Kotono> The riders come close, several fo them dismounting. David is chained, gagged, double bound and tied so as to be suspende din the air betweent wo horses, perfectly taunt. "Lord Roth has sent us as an honor guard as well. He gestures, a fine white stallion brought along. "You may ride at the front as the prisoner is taken into Kelara."
[19:37] * Alicia checks to ensure none of these men are evil before letting them even approach her and her prisoner.
[19:41] <Kotono> None are evil to Alicia's glance.
[19:43] <Alicia> That's reassuring, but she doesn't allow David to be trussed up like a pig, and declines the horse. "We're quite able to continue on as we have been, although you're welcome to escort us to the city," she offers.
[19:58] <Kotono> The lead warrior shakes his head, "Your choice on the horse, but Lord Roth's orders are clear. We're to bind him completely so there's no chance of escape at all."
[20:01] <Alicia> "Alright then," Alicia relents. "He is a mage, so ensuring he has his hands bound at all times is a good idea." Fortunately he won't have any more dimension doors left anyway thanks to her enervation spell.
[20:07] <Kotono> The trip back to Kelara passes without incident. David is taken along with Alicia through streets lined with people staring on, many gawking. There are still many soldiers about as the two are lead to Lord Roth. He sits in a high backed chair, several bandages over his forehead and left arm.  Despite that, he stands up as David is hauled in and Alicia enters. Antenora stands behind him and to the side. "Superb! That's him, is it?"
[20:09] <Alicia> "Perhaps difficult to recognise without the mask," Alicia proceeds to remove said face-covering from her backpack and hold it up for all to see. "Though this should assuage all doubts."
[20:11] <Kotono> With a nod, Lord Roth approaches Alicia. He looks at the mask, "We will destroy it as well at his execution. Let the symbol of his vile taint be shattered." Thereafter he turns to David, who looks at back at Lord Roth with...boredom? Something close to that. "You'll have a trial, but the evidence here alone damns you. You'll be beheaded at dawn tomorrow."
[20:14] <Alicia> While it is probably a nice magic item, Alicia well understands the power of symbolism, so it's likely best that the mask is destroyed lest it find its way into the hands of another anarchist. Looking to Antenora, she asks, "I trust all the agents we learned of last night have been dealt with?"
[20:15] <Kotono> After that, "Alicia," Lord Roth says, gesturing as he does. David is grabbed by two burly warriors, hauled off. "Yes, that matter's taken care of, thanks to her speedy travel." He turns to Alicia once more, offering her his hand. "You've helped us in our hour of need. Kelara itself is proud of you for helping stop this reign of terror."
[20:16] <Kotono> With a slight smile, 'Apparently he likes to cut me off,' Antenora sends to Alicia, 'But yes, I went with some of the round up teams. They've been taken in.'
[20:18] <Alicia> 'Self importance is a vice of these types, though I'd hope recent events would have punctured it somewhat,' Alicia responds to the erinyes in the same way before speaking aloud. "I did what was necessary, but there are harsh lessons to be learned from all of this. I request that I address the council in its entirety tonight so that we can assure there is no repeat."
[20:19] <Kotono> "You've certainly earned that right. There's only a few matters to resolve now." Going back to sitting, "What of his daggers? If those were recovered I'd like for those to be made an example of as well."
[20:21] <Kotono> 'Yes.' Antenora agrees there, 'We'll talk more later once this is done.'
[20:22] <Alicia> "Please, Lord Roth," Alicia lowers her gaze. "While I understand the symbolism of the mask and agree to its dissolution in the name of national stability, I see no reason for all of his equipment to be disposed of in such a final manner."
[20:23] <Kotono> "What benefit is for them to survive, then?" Asking that to the point, "Do you desire them?"
[20:26] <Alicia> "Yes," Alicia replies simply. "They may prove to be useful weapons for myself or one of my allies. And the ancient magic within them may be studied. Or I may sell them in Balmuria and use the funds for other matters." Looking up to meet his gaze, "The Lady of Mysteries does not consider the destruction of magical craftwork a thing to be done lightly. As the daggers are no threat in of themselves, I see no reason to have them broken."
[20:27] <Kotono> OOC - Diplo here, I think.
[20:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 fuck you bitch, I killed V and I can kill you
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 fuck you bitch, I killed V and I can kill you and gets 36."12 [1d20=8]
[20:28] <Kotono> Alicia's words are strong. Lord Roth considers, "Very well, on two provisions. One, you will defray the cost of making a pair of non magical replicas. Two, you will submit both of them to the Temple of Mystra, where their exact magical properties will be ascertained, so we can ensure there is no malicious magic or danger to keeping them."
[20:31] <Alicia> "Naturally I will have their properties divined and if there is an issue I will deal with it," Alicia replies smoothly, masking her exasparation. Does he think she's an idiot? "But there is a mage in Balmuria who possesses specialised magic that is not available here, so it is there that I will have them divined." (more)
[20:33] <Alicia> "However, I hardly see the point of making replicas, and even if there were one I don't think there's a smith in Kelara who could do it in a day. Unless you simply didn't care about the quality, in which case why are you even quibbling over the cost?"
[20:36] <Kotono> There is a long moment, before Lord Roth just goe son. "Very well." He takes a breath, "Were there other things found on his person?"
[20:39] <Alicia> "A pair of wands and potions, some coinage and jewellery, a pair of nonmagical daggers, a hair ribbon, a smokestick, book written in gnomish, a disguise kit, and a set of lockpicks," Alicia lists off, now starting to well understand her father's dislike of this man.
[20:40] <Kotono> A short nod to it, "Do what you will with it. None of it seems to be relevant." With a dismissive wave of his hand, "Except... a book written in gnomish?"
[20:42] * taigrav is now known as taisick
[20:44] <Alicia> "Yes, I never took the time to learn the language I'm afraid but I have some friends who can read it so perhaps they'll get something out of it," Alicia replies, deciding to stop being so passive and take charge. "Now, it has been a tiring evening and I must see to my church and my family. I would be obliged if you could convene the council by this evening, but until then..." she straightens up as if to depart, "By your leave?"
[20:45] <Kotono> "There is one further matter." Lord Roth stands up again. "Alicia, kneel."
[20:47] * Alicia isn't entirely thrilled about demonstrating supplication to the nobility after she just saved their asses, but her mother always said you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. So she wordlessly gets down on bent knee.
[20:53] * El-Deadeon is now known as Sierra_Mikain
[20:53] <Kotono> Drawing the sword from his sheath, he taps Alicia on both shoulders, then atop her head. "There will be a formal ceremony later, but let all of Kelara know you as Lady Alicia, Knight-General of Kelara." After a second, "Your parents will be very proud of you."
[20:56] <Alicia> Oh Mystra, her mother will be pushing her so hard to influence the council to give them a seat, now... not that they're exactly filled with occupied chairs at the moment, but still. Oh, well, it's still a nice honour. "I thank you for this honour, Lord Roth," she replies sombrely as she rises.
[20:57] <Kotono> After a moment, "I can bestow the same on Antenora if you wish, or a lesser title. She said she would leave any choice on that to you."
[21:01] <Alicia> "I believe that's a polite way for her to decline," Alicia replies after a moment of looking to the erinyes after deciding that her apathy is a clear enough signal even if she won't commit to just saying no.
[21:02] <Kotono> "As you wish," Lord Roth agrees to that, "You may go now."
[21:03] * Alicia nods. "Come along then, Antenora," she requests as she turns to depart, intending to stop by the church first.
[21:03] <Kotono> As they walk out of the office, 'You're half right, by the way,' She adds. 'Though honestly, the only matter of it that occured to me was if you'd want me to have a title to benefit your family somehow or another.
[21:03] <Kotono> '
[21:06] <Alicia> 'Titles can be useful,' Alicia agrees as they head onto the streets. 'It gives you more leverage with the people who put stock in such things - and most people do, whether they realise it or not. This coupled with my doing in three days what they couldn't do in three months should lend a lot of weight to my words when I address the council.'
[21:07] <Kotono> 'What are you going to say?' The streets are still busy, but the air of it is different. In the sunny day, you can see people talking, oftne quietly, but an electricity seems to run through them.
[21:13] <Alicia> 'Firstly I'm going to insist on amnesty for anyone who supported the rebellion but didn't actually hurt anyone - the divisions between the city and the country badly need to be healed, and a crackdown won't help that. Then I'm going to suggest that the army be used to more aggressively patrol the whole of Kelara's domain rather than looking pretty inside the city.'
[21:13] <Alicia> 'Finally, I'll suggest that as the council needs to replace its numbers, that it do so by filling some seats with leaders from the surrounding towns - granting appropriate titles and rank that their word will carry just as much weight.'
[21:13] <Alicia> 'Honestly I'd prefer a single strong leader to the whole council business, but it's just not the way Kelara works and picking one from the current crop would just cause acrimony among all the others who'll rightly see they've been demoted.'
[21:14] <Kotono> 'And you don't want to be called Queen?' Antenora says, with ever so slight an upturning of her lips, giving her face a teasing air. 'No, I understand what you're saying, but do you think they'll go along with it?'
[21:16] <Alicia> 'Oh, they'll fight it, I'm certain of that,' Alicia nods as they silently converse while walking the streets. 'But I'm hoping that knowing how close they came to losing everything will make them more open to such drastic change.'

[Corwin]

[18:16] <Alicia> [21:07] <Kotono> 'What are you going to say?' The streets are still busy, but the air of it is different. In the sunny day, you can see people talking, oftne quietly, but an electricity seems to run through them.
[18:16] <Alicia> [21:13] <Alicia> 'Firstly I'm going to insist on amnesty for anyone who supported the rebellion but didn't actually hurt anyone - the divisions between the city and the country badly need to be healed, and a crackdown won't help that. Then I'm going to suggest that the army be used to more aggressively patrol the whole of Kelara's domain rather than looking pretty inside the city.'
[18:16] <Alicia> [21:13] <Alicia> 'Finally, I'll suggest that as the council needs to replace its numbers, that it do so by filling some seats with leaders from the surrounding towns - granting appropriate titles and rank that their word will carry just as much weight.'
[18:16] <Alicia> [21:13] <Alicia> 'Honestly I'd prefer a single strong leader to the whole council business, but it's just not the way Kelara works and picking one from the current crop would just cause acrimony among all the others who'll rightly see they've been demoted.'
[18:16] <Alicia> [21:14] <Kotono> 'And you don't want to be called Queen?' Antenora says, with ever so slight an upturning of her lips, giving her face a teasing air. 'No, I understand what you're saying, but do you think they'll go along with it?'
[18:16] <Alicia> [21:16] <Alicia> 'Oh, they'll fight it, I'm certain of that,' Alicia nods as they silently converse while walking the streets. 'But I'm hoping that knowing how close they came to losing everything will make them more open to such drastic change.'
[18:17] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
[18:17] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #dunes
[18:17] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[18:17] <Kotono> 'What if they aren't?' A sidelong look to Alicia as the two travel through the streets, heading towards the Temple of Mystra.
[18:18] * Alicia is silent for a long moment before she replies with, 'Lets just hope they're not so foolish.'
[18:24] <Kotono> THus the two reach the TEmple of Mystra. Taldeer is found in her quarters again. She rises immediately, "So is the rumor true?" she asks. "I've heard that the town is abuzz that the rebellion has been decapitated."
[18:31] <Alicia> "Hello, Taldeer," Alicia smiles at the priestess. "It's true. The mastermind behind the whole thing foolishly attacked all by himself us while we were sleeping in an inn, but couldn't stand up to our counterattack."
[18:33] <Kotono> "Really?" Raising an eyebrow to that, "It must be a miracle, a miracle or a stroke of incredible fortune."
[18:36] * Alicia shakes her head. "I think we can more easily put it down to him being touched in the head. I had plenty of time to converse with him on the road back to Kelara, much to my misfortune. Even with his capacity to use charm magic as a spell like ability, I have a hard time believing anyone could take him seriously after spending five minutes in his company."
[18:37] <Alicia> "Don't get me wrong, I'm sure he's a skilled magic user and warrior, but I've met goblins with better persuasive skills."
[18:39] <Kotono> "If that'st rue, then the situation must be worse than I imagined." Taldeer considers this with a solemnly sour frown, "Since so many went along with it.
[18:39] <Kotono> "
[18:41] <Kotono> "He has a certain...almost charm," Antenora's voice is tinged with dislike there, "But his ideals are repugnant."
[18:41] <Alicia> Alicia's demeanour turns more grave at that. "Kelara is all but broken, and needs to change if it is to survive. I intend to press this with the council when I meet them later," stifling a yawn she sits down opposite Taldeer, "But you've lived here longer than anyone, Dweomerkeeper - do you have any thoughts on what should be done?" she asks, eager for input from her mentor.
[18:42] <Kotono> Taldeer gets up, fixing up a cup of tea. She adds a blue powder to it, stirring it in before putting it before Alicia, thena nother cup to Antenora. "This'll wake you up. Anyway, hm." (More)
[18:46] <Kotono> "Kelara's always been focuse don the city, with the surrounding villages in it's pull. The problem is that the power focuses in the city; thus the attention does as well. The government is an overgrown city government at heart that quibbles over it's own influence. A new system - be it a reorganized government, or a more central authority like a kingdom - that can handle this is needed."
[18:49] <Alicia> "A single ruler would be idea," Alicia agrees. "The likes of the Fiefdoms and Malmuth manage to span vast areas mostly successfully with such an arragement. Unfortunately to pick one leader here would be effectively demoting a dozen others, which would just as likely spark a civil war. I was thinking of perhaps altering the makeup of the council to bring in leaders from the towns and villages."
[18:49] <Alicia> "It's not perfect, as they likely won't have the experience for governing a state, and might just 'go native' once ensconsced in the city itself, but it's the best idea I have."
[18:49] <Alicia> *single ruler would be ideal
[18:52] <Kotono> "A single ruler would be ideal," Taldeer looks at Alicia shrewdly. "Someone with charisma and the presence to lead. The problem is that great leaders and great men don't simply appear when you want them. They're as rare as the stars themselves."
[18:54] <Alicia> As she drinks the tea down after her little speech, Alicia nods to Taldeer. "And they'd need to be incredibly persuasive to convince all the nobles to subordinate themselves like that. That's why I don't think it can work - like it or not, the council of equals is a concept too deeply ingrained into Kelaran politics to override without getting into a fight."
[18:56] <Kotono> The tea sends jolts down Alicia's body, bringing a rush of energy. "Perhaps so. But what if the council turns out to repeat the same things and the system stays weak?"
[18:59] <Alicia> "Then someone else will decide to cast it down," Alicia concludes gravely. "Someone who won't make the same stupid mistakes as the formerly masked man sitting in the dungeon right now. But whether it's another popular uprising or a foreign invader sensing weakness, someone will bring an end to the status quo if it doesn't adapt."
[18:59] <Alicia> She then shivers a little, setting her mug down. "Lovely tea, by the way."
[19:01] <Kotono> "Thank you. That root's from the outskirts of the jungle. It wakes you up like nothing else. I've been putting in far too many late hours." Smothering her own yawn in her hand, "I've been thinking about this a lot, Alicia. I'm worried that the system is doomed to fail and that what you say will come to pass, be it in a month, a year, ten years or a hundred."
[19:02] <Kotono> Antenora takes a sip, eyes going wide before she puts it back down.
[19:04] * Alicia nods. "People aren't going to forget how impotent the nobles were at dealing with the rebellion... but they may be able to forgive them, if the situation is handled properly."
[19:05] <Kotono> "They might." A second yawn, "Just think about this, Alicia. But..." Rising up, "I desperately need rest. If the head of the rebellion is in jail, I can sleep easier."
[19:06] <Alicia> "Oh, before you go," Alicia sorts through her wands before handing the invisibility one over as she also rises. "We used four charges. Anyway, get some rest and I'll speak to you later, Taldeer."
[19:09] <Kotono> The wand is taken, TAldeer gone. Once she is Antenora rises, "Ready to go get a nap before the council meets?"
[19:12] <Alicia> "I did say in the evening so we've got a few hours for it, yes," Alicia agrees as they exit the temple, heading out of the city to the Reynes estate. "Everything okay at the manor, do you know?"
[19:16] <Kotono> "They got the soldiers, yes," Antenora says. Thus the pair returns home! Alicia finds her mother and father safe and sound, sitting down for tea. "Oh, there you are. Smashingly done," Alicia's father says, "Your friend told us that you captured the blight on Kelara."
[19:18] <Alicia> "He's enjoying the hospitality of the dungeons as we speak," Alicia confirms with a smile. "I'm glad to see you're both well - is Jessica around?"
[19:24] <Kotono> "She's off taking an lesson on grace and manners," Beatrice says, voice most proper. "She really should not be disturbed until it resolves."
[19:25] <Kotono> "Well done!" Standing up, Arthur goes to clasp his daughter on the shoulder. "You've done our family proud, capturing that menance!"
[19:29] * Alicia feels a pang of sympathy for her sister. "Yes, I admit I was curious to learn his motivations behind this whole uprising, but I was left bitterly disappointed. The man is truly a lunatic," she explains, smiling briefly at her father. "Of course, even with him out of the picture there's still going to be hard work ahead healing the wounds he's left."
[19:30] <Kotono> "They'll be taken care of now that this ruffian is going to get justice delivered to him," Alicia's mother says, "Alicia, you look exhausted. Have you slept lately?"
[19:31] <Alicia> "I only had a few hours last night before I was so rudely interrupted," Alicia shakes her head. "I was thinking of taking a nice hot bath and then a nap - I'll be addressing the council this evening so I want to be rested for that."
[19:32] <Kotono> "I'll have the servants draw one for you. Antenora as well," Sniffling her nose, "You two smell like the rain and the roads."
[19:34] * Alicia could have magicked that away but she honestly hadn't noticed. "That would be nice. Thank you, mother," she inclines her head to the elder Reynes.
[19:35] <Kotono> "Thank you, Ma'am," Antenora mimicks that. At that, Beatrice rises, "Go on then. We can discuss this beastly rainy weathera nother time."
[19:37] * Alicia eagerly goes off for a vigourous scrubdown followed by a long hot soak.
[19:38] <Kotono> OOC - Going to do anything besides take a bath and then sleep?
[19:39] <Alicia> OOC: Anty and I can platonically molest each other in the bath but that's pretty much it.
[19:40] <Kotono> OOC: What time are you going to wake up?
[19:42] <Alicia> OOC: around 4-ish. Time for dinner and then I can head into the city
[19:48] <Kotono> Alicia gets a few hours of sleep, feeling bette.r (You're not longer fatigued.) She can still feel a bit of exhaustion, bu t her strong vitality is letting her kick most of it off. After a meal Antenora waits for her at the exit of the estate, "REady," she asks, wearing armor freshly polished and cleaned up.
[19:50] <Alicia> "Lets go play politics," Alicia puts on a brave smile in reply, likewise cleaned up to perfection as she heads onto the road into Kelara proper.
[19:55] <Kotono> The rain has mercifully stopped. It's a gorgeous sunset as the two head into the city, gate guards this time not even checking their papers. They salute instead. Just inside, an honor guard of elite soldiers await, doubleswords strapped to the back of their armor. "By order of Lord Roth, we are to escort you to the council meeting."
[19:57] * Alicia is gratified that at least some people haven't forgotten the noble art of sticking sharp edges on a quarterstaff. Sadly none of the guards in Balmuria ever expressed interest in learning after the first lesson... "Very well, lead on," she nods to the leader of the group.
[20:08] <Kotono> Thus Alicia is lead! The council meets in a gorgeous, classical style grand building. Stone pillars support the entrance as you walk up a flight of vastly wide steps to come in. In a way it's rather out of place in the city, yet it commands it's own majesty of gray and white stones. Inside Alicia is escorted inward, to an antechamber before the room where the council meets. A waiting page bows to them, "You'll be announced shortly, Knight-Gener
[20:08] <Kotono> A waiting page bows to them, "You'll be announced shortly, Knight-General," he says to Alicia.
[20:09] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia nods, primly sitting down to wait.
[20:11] <Kotono> The page exists, leaving the two women alone. As they wait, 'There's one thing that bothers me more about this business now that it's concluding.'
[20:12] <Alicia> 'What's that?' Alicia asks. If there's any reservations she wants to hear them!
[20:13] <Kotono> 'I almost wonder...did we realy get lucky or run into an idiot savant? For all the trouble he stirred, it seems strange to conclude it so quickly.'
[20:15] <Alicia> 'Kelara's a small pond and he's a big fish,' Alicia notes. 'Honestly, I wouldn't say he's... stupid. But he seems to have some severe mental blind spots and relied far too much on charm magic. He thought he was untouchable, and probably would've been right if we hadn't shown up.'
[20:16] <Kotono> 'Maybe.' Antenora looks away at that, studying nothing in particular. 'I want to assign more meaning to it, that he's not the end, but just another puppet on the string. Bah.' Stopping there and switching modes of communication, "Maybe my lineage is tinting my views."
[20:17] <Alicia> 'Maybe his mind was broken by something he found in those gnomish ruins - or maybe that mask he wore?' Alicia suggests, sticking with telepathy.
[20:20] <Kotono> 'Maybe. He did praise Daa-vid at least once. That's a sign that something's not firing right.' With a moment to rub her chin, 'It just felt...too easy. His methods were good, mainpulating people well in quite the advanced manner. Then he turns into low lying fruit to be picked off at our leisure.'
[20:22] <Alicia> 'Could ask him tomorrow if anyone or anything inspired him once I've had a chance to regain my spells and ensure truthfulness, if it'll put your mind at ease?' Alicia offers.
[20:23] <Kotono> 'I think they're planning on executing him at dawn,' Antenora observes, 'But I'd like one more chance to speak to him regardless.'
[20:24] <Alicia> 'When's the trial then? I'd expect to be called as a witness...' Alicia muses. 'But even so I can get up early enough to ask a few questions beforehand.'
[20:25] <Kotono> 'I presume it was this afternoon?' Antenora hazards a guess, 'Though 'trial' might be slightly generous for it if it's that rushed.
[20:25] <Kotono> '
[20:26] <Alicia> 'Funny that they can rush this through when they take an age to decide on anything else. Still, he confessed everything so I'm not particularly worried about there being any miscarriage of justice.'
[20:27] <Kotono> 'What better way to ensure stability than an execution,' With an absolutely viciously sour look on her face, Antenora stands and stretches. 'It's their laws and I know they have the right person, so...'
[20:29] <Alicia> 'You don't approve?' Alicia asks gently, watching Antenora get up.
[20:31] <Kotono> 'I don't think anything wrong is being done, just...' A long look to Alicia, 'I can't think of any way to protest it beyond complaining that it feels wrong. It's a court where the verdict's already decided, even if it's the right one. I'd expect to find that in Baator."
[20:34] <Alicia> 'I suppose they are just going through the motions as a piece of performance theatre rather than a real trial, but since there's no evidence of his innocence being supressed or anything like that I don't really see it as unjust,' Alicia reasons. 'Is it more or less honest than if we'd simply cut his head off on that hill last night and been done with it?'
[20:35] <Kotono> 'I suppose...' Antenora begins, but she stops as the door to the council chamber opens. "Lady Alicia, this way," he says, "You may bring your servant with you if you like."
[20:37] * Alicia stands up. "She's not my servant," she corrects, "Antenora is a fellow knight. And she may attend."
[20:38] <Kotono> "As you wish. My apologies for misunderstanding, M'lady," The page stands aside. "Head in and you'll be announced."
[20:41] <Alicia> "Apology accepted," Alicia wasn't really offended or anything, and she doubts Antenora was either. Drawing up to her full imperious bearing, she strides into the chamber.
[20:42] <Kotono> The chamber you enter into is large, the floor done in smooth, hyper polished stone. It's slippery, each footstep an audible clack. Pillars line the walls of this room, paintings of Kelara's glories about. These portraits are alive with magic, showing great scenes over and over in enthralling colros of illusion. (More)
[20:43] <Kotono> The room is largely taken up by a series of small circular tables set in a bigger circle. Each one faces another squarely, save for one a little out of the circle. This is where Lord Rot sits, peering ahead at Alicia as she enters. "Presenting," A loud cry from behind her, "Lady Alicia Reynes, Knight-General of Kelara and Captain of the Crimson Guard!" (More)
[20:46] <Kotono> Lord Lahn DOES look familiar. He looks on at Alicia with a friendly if restrained face. It's the face of a wise, loving grandfather. Alicia's mind faintly recalls long ago, memories of a childhood where balls and parties showed her many forgotten faces...but the memory is too old, flittering away. Lord Kesper is a rugged looking man - or would be, if he hadn't clearly lost a lot of weight not too long ago. He looks deflated. Alicia doesn't imme
[20:46] <Kotono> if he hadn't clearly lost a lot of weight not too long ago. He looks deflated. Alicia doesn't immediately get a chance to look at the others,(More)
[20:48] <Kotono> "Welcome, Knight-General. You wished to speak before the council?" Lord Roth asks, "You may do so."
[20:55] <Alicia> They missed off Order of the White Horizon and Knight Errant of Mystra, but Alicia isn't one to quibble. "Lords and Ladies of the council, thank you for agreeing to hear me today," she begins as she stands before them. "Though I have travelled far, I still care for the land of my birth - that is why I returned to deal with the one called David who led this rebellion, and that is why I speak to you now."
[20:55] <Alicia> "For though the immediate threat is gone, what cannot be ignored are the circumstances that led to this festering division between the city and its surrounding lands taking root - how else could a madman with no plan for the future have ever inspired such support if people were not thoroughly disgusted with the way things are?"
[20:55] <Alicia> "Kelara stands on the precipice even now - the people will not soon forget close the city came to crumbling, and our neighbours have assuredly watched with interest as rebellion was spoken of throughout our lands without opposition. What we do now is most certainly more important to Kelara's future than simply capturing one mastermind." She pauses, both to collect her breath and gauge the reaction thus far.
[20:58] <Kotono> A man with steely gray hair and a strong bearing shakes his head, "Nonsense," Lord Frost says, "Now that this David is captured, things will return to the way they always are. If not for him, there would have been o problems."
[20:59] <Alicia> An interruption! Fantastic. "Have you spoken to him, Lord Frost?" Alicia asks politely.
[20:59] <Kotono> Lord Kelvan is a little on the large side, with a florid red face and long black hair kept in a ponytail. "It has been bad for trade," he observes, "Besides, it's terribly improper to interrupt her."
[21:00] <Kotono> Roth Lord clears his throat, "Frost, silence! Lady Alicia, I apologize for Lord Frost. Continue."
[21:17] * Alicia smiles pleasantly, seemingly unruffled by the interruption. She holds her silence for a moment longer before resuming. "Well, as I was about to say to Lord Frost, David is not a particularly credible individual - he instigated wanton violence and disorder with no actual plan for how to improve things."
[21:17] <Alicia> "Certainly, he had the benefit of charm magic to sway people to his cause, but such magic wears off swiftly - so what kept people following his orders even when he wasn't there to enforce them?" She pauses again here but not long enough for anyone to interrupt, "There is a divide between the city of Kelara and the villages that ostensibly owe allegiance to it, so much so that they could be different countries."
[21:17] <Alicia> "People outside the city walls feel neglected and abandoned by rulers who quite frankly take them for granted. They've now made clear that they will grasp any chance for change, no matter how self destructive it could be, and we would be grossly remiss to ignore them, lest this situation repeat itself a few years from now."
[21:17] <Alicia> She lets the gravity of that sink in for a moment, meeting the eyes of each lord or lady in turn. "Kelara must change, or it will die," she concludes finally. "I have my own suggestions for what can be done to remedy things, and it is my earnest hope that the assembled lords and ladies will give them the consideration that this extraordinary situation warrants."
[21:17] <Alicia> "Firstly," she begins, "I propose an amnesty for all those who supported the rebellion but have not committed any other crimes to demonstrate their support. A crackdown would only cement the hatred held by those in the country towards their remote overlords - by reaching out we can show that we do understand their concerns, which will give them the impetus to move forward with other changes without any interference."
[21:17] <Alicia> "Secondly, we must secure our borders." This is a calcuated statement, intended to give them a threat they'll take more seriously but which will surely have a knock-on effect of reducing bandit activity. "Our neighbours have surely sensed weakness of late, so by deploying our army out of the city and to the surrounding lands we will show that the situation is under control."
[21:17] <Alicia> "The folk of the villages will also be reassured by this display of might, so long as our soldiers make it clear that they are on their side - there can be no garrisoning troops in people's homes or raiding granaries for supplies."
[21:17] <Alicia> "Finally, the Council itself must face its own changes to meet these challenging times. I mean no disrespect to the Lords and Ladies here, but no one in Kelara would dispute that the Council is an insular body that is primarily concerned with what occurs within the city walls. To that end, fresh blood must be introduced in order for it to more accurately reflect the whole of Kelara."
[21:17] <Alicia> Since this is a huge change, she backs off a bit on what she'd initially considered forcing. "Therefore I propose that the Council find a way to include the voices of those outside the city - whether by elevating the leaders of the various towns to nobility and giving them seats or perhaps having a rotating body of delegates from the towns who can bring their issues here and expect them to be heard fairly and promptly,"
[21:17] <Alicia> "I leave the actual mechanics to you all to decide, I only stress that something must be done to ensure that the country folk have a voice to speak in Kelaran affairs, lest they feel they have nowhere else to turn but to rebellion."
[21:17] <Alicia> Phew! Right, she's hit off all her main points, now to see how they take it...

[Corwin]

[18:12] <Kotono> OOC - Goa head and make a diplo check? +8 bonus since you really eloquently talked the hell out of them.
[18:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36
[18:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 and gets 52."12 [1d20=16]
[18:16] <Kotono> Alicia's speech goes on! She pours her heart and soul into the words, authority and passion bleeding through. Once it is done, "Well spoken. We have heard your words," Lord Roth says, restrained. Lord Lahn smiles at that, clapping for Alicia. Lord Kelvan's face goes stony by the eighth part, yet politely claps as well.
[18:17] <Kotono> Lord Frost grimaces at it, but claps as well. "I must admit...it's a superb speech," he says grudgingly.
[18:18] <Kotono> "I've not heard better," Lord Anders says delicately. "You make a rousing case."
[18:20] <Kotono> "An amnesty's not a bad idea," Lord Lahn does agree to that. "The sooner things go back to normal, the better. As for the rest?"
[18:21] <Kotono> Lord Kesper shrugs, "Maybe she's right. She grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth, being of the Reynes family. She's made quite the name for herself out east in the Baronies."
[18:22] * Alicia smiles at the mostly positive reaction and responds to their praise. "They are only words, however - though on my travels across this world and others I have seen enough that I think my ideas have merit," she nods respectfully to Lord Kesper at his recognition of her experience.
[18:22] <Alicia> "Deeds are what Kelara needs, however, and it will be up to all of you to actually choose what will be done to remedy the dire situation this land has fallen into."
[18:23] <Kotono> "The council thanks you for your words, Knight-General. You may go now." Lord Roth says.
[18:24] * Alicia had intended to leave an ominous warning of what might occur in future if the concerns of the countryside are not met, but given how everyone seems to be giving her words the proper thought she deems it churlish. "I thank the august assembly for its time," she bows respectfully before sweeping out of the chamber.
[18:27] <Kotono> Once out of the chamber, Antenora continues. "Back home for now or...?" she asks. "Did you want to get information from our captive first?"
[18:31] <Alicia> "He'll just lie or mislead me. We'll go early tomorrow once I have a spell to ensure he speaks the truth," Alicia replies. "Anyway, regarding trials where the outcome is already known, I don't particularly see it as a problem when guilt is admitted to and self evident. It was much the same for Magur and Elyissa in Balmuria, after all."
[18:32] <Kotono> "I suppose."
[18:32] <Kotono> OOC - GAh.
[18:33] <Kotono> "I suppose." Antenora walks along for a little bit, the two exiting to outside. A drizzle has begun to fall, a slow, clouding rain. "Thinking about it, that's not what's entirely bothering me. There's something else. Since I lost my composure like a child in the middle of interrogating David..." Her voice turns rather annoyed at that. "For such a silly reason, too."
[18:34] <Alicia> "You just found out you'd inadvertently delivered the order for an assassination," Alicia consoles, charitably forgetting about the whole succubus thing. "I don't blame you for being upset."
[18:39] <Kotono> "No, not that. That wasn't a silly reason." Shuffling her feet and looking down, shame and a blush coming to her face. "Though that certainly made my mood far worse on thet rip back to Kelara."
[18:41] <Alicia> "What, you mean when he said you're alluring?" Alicia asks, giving the erinyes a sidelong look as they stroll through the drizzly streets.
[18:43] <Kotono> "I don't know, I just..." Crossing her arms and blowing out, letting the rain fall on her face, "I'm finding out how nice simple touching is. Back in Hell, you're only touched when something wants to hurt you or use you. Now...it was so pleasant having Jessica resting against me. Warm and I felt...I don't know. Protective, and the simple contact felt very good in it's way. Reassuring."
[18:47] * Alicia nods understandingly. "It is nice, whether it's romantic or platonic or filial," she agrees. Hesitating a moment, she goes on, "I've never felt comfortable asking before, but... what was your childhood like? You said once that erinyes are fiercely protective of their young, but is that all there is to it?" her voice is gentle, not wanting to dredge up bad memories if they exist (which is likely, hence her never asking before).
[18:49] <Kotono> Antenora looks up at the raining sky, before looking very much away from Alicia. "A good deal of our instincts are born in. However, our parents...reinforce them, and we reinforce them onto our peers. Oh, they're certainly protective, but it's not a kind protective. Imagine a sin...young erinyes do it to each other with all the malice and hatred in the multiverse."
[18:53] * Alicia doesn't doubt that Antenora gave every bit as good as she got. Not wanting to dwell on that, she simply reaches over to take the other woman's hand and give it a comforting squeeze. "Hopefully you'll have a long time to explore the your new feelings, then."
[18:55] <Kotono> "I will." Turning to smile at Alicia, she squeezes her hand back. "But..." Her blush returns a little, "I've never wanted to ask you this too much, either. But...how nice is it to hold someone you love? Someone you love like your husband? I've been starting to wonder how real love feels. Something that's more pure than being some succubus whore-alike."
[19:01] * Alicia smiles wistfully. "It's the ultimate act of union," she waxes poetically. "Really, bards have been trying and failing to encapsulate it in words for as long as there's been language, and I doubt they've succeeded. It's so much more than simple physical stimulation - which is pleasant, don't get me wrong - it's like... the closest you can get to becoming one with someone you've given your heart to."
[19:01] <Alicia> She briefly looks around embarrassedly after her speech. "Mystra, listen to me. I'm as bad as any bard..."
[19:03] <Kotono> As you walk out of the city, the gates still open if guarded, the two allowed through without comment in the rain, "Becoming one with someone." Antenora murmurs, "Something to fight and strive for. I've seen the way Demedais looks when he talks about Pollyanna...or Jessica talks about Roald."
[19:06] <Alicia> "It's a rare and precious thing, true love," Alicia agrees. "To be honest though, fighting was the last thing on my mind when I was with my husband. Well... except when we argued, but that's a different sort of fighting," she chuckles briefly in recollection.
[19:09] <Kotono> "I'd like to have it one day. One day, when I don't look like a succubus reject." Antenora walks down the patha way from the city, stopping now. "I really wish there were more men in Balmuria that weren't taken, didn't openly distrust me, or aren't apathetic. Well, that and being strong enough so they aren't in danger being around me."
[19:12] <Alicia> "Give it time," Alicia pats Antenora on the back. "Although I'm not quite sure what we can do about the looks - obviously you don't want to stop being jaw-droppingly gorgeous so I suppose the demonic wings are the issue? At least you don't have horns or cloven feet or a tail."
[19:13] <Kotono> "I'm lucky I wasn't born a Bearded Devil," With a very slight smile to that, "Maybe one day we can do something about it. Maybe one day.." With a momentary twinkle in her eye, "We'll both have someone to love instead of being alone?"
[19:17] <Alicia> "Maybe..." Alicia shrugs at that. "To be perfectly honest I've little interest in trying to recapture the romantic bliss of my youth. The life I lead now isn't really conductive towards it."
[19:19] <Kotono> "I suppose, but..." Antenora slows down again, "Shouldn't you be happy like that again? It's not fair if you fight the rest of your life for a happiness you only had for your youth."
[19:22] <Alicia> "Fair rarely comes into it," Alicia doesn't sound terribly bothered. "Really, I'm happy enough the way I am now, anyway."
[19:23] <Kotono> "Well..." Starting to really smile now, "I'm not sos ure about that. If Marie and I put our heads together, I'm sure we could find someone for you."
[19:24] * Alicia snorts. "If that's what it takes for you two to get along, knock yourselves out," she laughs.
[19:25] <Kotono> "I have to admit, it would be a better use of time than bickering," Antenora says as the two come to within sight of Alicia's childhood home.
[19:27] <Alicia> "I think everyone would agree with that, yes," Alicia nods as they through the gate and up the path towards the manor itself.
[19:36] <Kotono> OOC - What's next on your list? Anything there or skip along?
[19:39] <Alicia> OOC: I'll have a brief chat with big sis to make sure she's okay and ask if she wants to come back to Balmuria with us tomorrow or stick around here a bit and get picked up after Esthan
[19:45] <Kotono> Alicia and Antenora find Jessica sitting in a guest room. She's lying on her bed, wearing an entirely out of place but very nice silk nightgown. "Come in," she calls to Alicia's knock, going to sit up on the bed.
[19:46] <Alicia> "Resting after a hard day's decorum lessons?" Alicia asks sympathetically as she enters.
[19:48] <Kotono> "Oh, sister!" Smiling at her, "Yes, Mother is insane!" With a cross look, "I need refinement lessons and social callings and courtings and new dresses and a dozen other things! Mystra above, I think that she's overcompensating!"
[19:48] <Kotono> "And new nightclothes?" Antenora asks, eyeing the delicate blue garb Jessica wears.
[19:49] <Kotono> "Oh, this? An upstanding woman needs something nicer to wear than plain clothes." Jessica picks at the front of it, "It's soft and all, but I was fine sleeping in underclothes or a simple light gown."
[19:51] <Alicia> "Maybe she thinks if she'd forced us to do all those things when we were younger we might have turned out differently?" Alicia shrugs as she goes to sit on the bed. "Or maybe she's just trying to connect with you in the only way she knows how."
[19:52] <Kotono> "It's aggrivating!" With a little glare of frusturation, "Who cares if you use a seperate spoon for your soup and your main dish? Who cares if you have two different forks for a salad? Or if I have to wear clothes that cost at least ten gold coins a dress! I could buy plenty of food and supplies with that money!"
[19:54] * Alicia reaches over to pat her sister's shoulder. "Sadly a lot of people care about precisely those things. Mother isn't just some crazy woman of strange habits, she's a perfect example of an upper class lady."
[19:55] <Kotono> "It's wasteful. That money could help a lot of the poor or help a hero buy the gear he needs to protect everyone." With a long look, "It's just so wasteful."
[19:57] <Alicia> "Or that money could let a tailor feed his family?" Alicia suggests delicately.
[19:57] <Kotono> "Your mother's showing her love," Antenora stays standing, "Enjoy it for what it is."
[19:58] <Kotono> "Mph." Looking down now, "Maybe, Alicia. Still, she's so...so..." Shaking her head, "In a month she'll have me dressed up like a doll, laughing with other ladies of standing and talking about marrying someone who increases the family's social authority."
[20:00] <Alicia> "Well, I take it you'll be wanting to come back to Balmuria with us tomorrow, then?" Alicia asks knowingly.
[20:01] <Kotono> "Yes," Jessica says quickly, "She's my mother and Mystra knows that I'm supposed to love her, but..." Closing her eyes, "I'm not cut out for a life like this. I'm happy making sure the house is clean and being with all of you in Balmuria. I don't want to be some perfume scented noblewoman in training."
[20:03] <Alicia> "That's fine," Alicia pats Jessica's back. "It won't be long before we'll be able to visit regularly, anyway. I've got to get up early so I'll be going to bed now, but we'll probably be leaving in the morning."
[20:04] <Kotono> "I need to rest as well," Antenora stands up, "Sleep well, Jessica, Alicia."
[20:08] <Kotono> Alicia awakens in the middle of the night! Antenora's already waiting inside of her room, sitting on the foot of her bed. "Ready when you are," she says.
[20:10] <Alicia> A lesser woman would be unsettled, but Alicia is well used to people entering her room while she sleeps and so proceeds to get cleaned up and dressed after focusing on her spells. "Lets go," she confirms, casting voice of the archon right away since the duration will easily last the journey.
[20:17] <Kotono> Going back under the cover of darkness, you find the city gates closed. The guards outside open the gates on confirming it's Alicia, allowing the two to enter. The trip to David's prison is a long one - the prison building is set deep within and underground. They aredmitted down a deep, dark flight of stairs. Torches light the way at the bottom, two guards there. However, their double swords are lying on the ground. Each leans against the wall,
[20:17] <Kotono> However, their double swords are lying on the ground. Each leans against the wall, a look of utter rhapsody on them.
[20:18] <Alicia> "Oh... you are fucking joking!" Alicia snarls, knowing that look. She promptly marches straight to the cell, knowing that she'll find one of those wretched black feathers there. Taunting her.
[20:19] <Kotono> "Shit!" Antenora runs with Alicia, dark words coming from her mouth! They go down, finding the cell door ajar, about 40 feet away when seen. A glorious yellow light comes from inside of it.
[20:20] * Sierra_Mikain (~Melanchth@pool-71-191-19-58.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #dunes
[20:21] <Alicia> She might still be there, in that case. Alicia draws the Sword of the Sealed Gate in one hand while her other clutches the despair token that Elle made. "Remember your token to ward against her aura!" she hisses at Antenora, running forward now that she's suitably protected.
[20:27] <Kotono> Antenora takes a moment to grab hers, spear in one hand as she rushes ahead! As they do, they can hear HER voice. "For something far better than now." It is a glorious voice, one that makes your skin crawl with magnificence. Rushing ahead to the front of the cell, the two see her! It's impossible to truly look at her, too much, too perfect. Even her back radiates an allure that you only barely feel in control of. David is there, staring empty-e
[20:27] <Kotono>  Even her back radiates an allure that you only barely feel in control of. David is there, staring empty-eyed up at her. "But...they've come. The ones who must be judged and comdemned for their sins. Do you understand now? Do you hear them as they rush down the hall?" OOC - roll intiaitve here, I think.
[20:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 25."12 [1d20=20]
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 17."12 [1d20=12]
[20:29] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 27."12 [1d20=15]
[20:29] * Kotono changes topic to 'Zetsuboku>Aliica>Antenora'
[20:29] * Kotono changes topic to 'Zetsuboku>Alicia>Antenora'
[20:31] <Kotono> "Aaaaah?" She turns, impossibly glorious. It is staggering to even look at her, like waves of glory crashing against your insignificant mortal shores. "You would so compound your sins and stand against me?" There's a note in her voice - a note of surprise. OOC - She's holding for the moment. Alicia, you're up.
[20:33] <Alicia> "What sins?" Alicia demands through slitted eyes, her left hand dropped behind her and clasping her ward while the Sword of the Sealed Gate is brought up into a guard position. Having to keep these things held is a horrid liability for her and Antenora so any combat is likely to go poorly for them, therefore she stalls! "You said that before but you never said what I did that merited your judgement."
[20:34] * Alicia also glows with her own glorious radiance.
[20:34] <Alicia> Which probably doesn't compete, but she does what she can/
[20:35] <Alicia> And she channels a dispel magic into her sword, since that's something she can do while talking without it being noticable.
[20:36] <Kotono> "Impossible..." she draws back for a second, "You truly resist...you...." Her voice turns angry, "You have brought back those sinful charms!" The radiance becomes hot, scalding, too bright, like looking direclty into the noon sun. "You, who wallows in sins...feel your judgment!" OOC - Will saves, ou two.
[20:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 32."12 [1d20=10]
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 30."12 [1d20=14]
[20:39] <Kotono> It's staggering! Alicia can see everything! Everything around her - her sins, her failures, her hatreds. Ever murder, every lust, every jealousy, everything magnified! It is over...overpowering! She finds utter revulsion rising to within her heart, utter disgust! But...but...a few images stay in her mind's eye. The image of her sister, smiling in the moring over breakfast. Demedais and Seira, laughing as the the party rests and recovers after a
[20:39] <Kotono> Demedais and Seira, laughing as the the party rests and recovers after a hard battle. Antenora, holding Alicia's hand and smiling with all her soul. Her husband and child, looking on at her with endless love. Tot hat, somehow, the images fade to a manageable distraction! OOC - Anty saved as well, she's up.
[20:41] <Kotono> The clatter of Antenora's pear on the ground is a loud, welcome distraction! She quickly grabs one of the daggers from Alicia's back, a snarl on her face, "You...are...DEAD!" OOC - She's up.
[20:41] <Alicia> OOC: no she's not
[20:41] <Alicia> OOC: she held till after me
[20:41] <Alicia> OOC: so it's my turn, now
[20:41] <Kotono> OOC: Oh yeah, dur. Sorry.
* Retrieving #dunes modes...
[20:41] * Alicia changes topic to 'Alicia>Zetsuboku>Antenora'
[20:43] * Alicia can only imagine how bad what she just endured must have been for the ex-devil, and glares at the creature before her. "WHO are YOU to judge us?!" she demands, lunging forward to stab into her black heart with the sword of the sealed gate. She can use her true seeing scrolls in a moment but first she must ensure that there will be no escape for their foe... which is admittedly an optimistic mindset.
[20:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 smite, 4th level channel, charge, divine might
[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 smite, 4th level channel, charge, divine might and gets 42."12 [1d20=11]
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: D100.
[20:44] <Alicia> roll 1d100
[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 33."12 [1d100=33]
[20:48] <Kotono> Alicia stabs forward! The raw awe around her clouds her eyes, making the stab a hard affair! She thrusts forward bu can't quite get the attack right! It misses by a hare's breath, going by her chest! "You...!" She steps back again, close to the wall of the cell. "You truly revel in your own sin! I'm sorry..." her voice drops, "You have become even more sinful since I last saw you. I must stop your degenerate life soon...David, I am sorry, but t
[20:48] <Kotono> I must stop your degenerate life soon...David, I am sorry, but today...Evil claims to setback all that is right. Aaaah..." With that, she is gone! The overwhelming feeling leaves the room! David continues to stare empty eyes, while Antenora stares hatefully at where she was.
[20:50] * Alicia stabs her sword into the stonework with such ferocity that it's embedded almost halfway to the hilt. "Damn her!" she swears furiously. "If she wants to judge me then why flee? Is this some sick game to her?"
[20:51] <Kotono> Antenora doesn't say anything, but leans against the wall. She slowly slides down it, anger seeming to melt away from her body. Instead...tears come. Soft, silent tears as she falls to lean-sitting against thew all.
[20:53] <Alicia> That manages to puncture Alicia's rage, causing her to go and sit beside the erinyes, putting an arm around her in a gesture of mute comfort.
[20:54] <Kotono> Antenora quickly wipes her eyes, blinking it away. "I-I'm okay," she turns to Alicia. "Overwhelmed me." Smiling with wet cheeks, "Bitch. That stupid, judgmental bitch. Like a fucking vulture that waits to pick away refuse."
[20:56] <Alicia> "She's insane," Alicia concludes coldly. "She must be - this was a perfect chance for her to kill us both if her capabilities have not been oversold. Why not take it?"
[20:57] <Kotono> "There must be some reason." Cleaning her face with the back of her hand, "Mystra knows what it is, though." Standing up, Antenora leans on Alicia until she rises, then goes to get her spear. "At least...at least she didn't get away with him. But...why? Is she trying to torture us?"
[20:58] <Alicia> "Fattening us up for the slaughter, it feels like," Alicia replies bitterly as she helps Antenora up, retrieving her sword with a grunt while the erinyes recovers her spear.
[20:59] <Kotono> "She's done this several times throughout the years, according to what we know. There has to be a guiding principal to it, dammit!" Goign to lean against the wall inside of the cell, "It feels like a sick parody."
[21:00] <Kotono> "And...to what end? We just went through agony to save a man who's going to be executed at dawn?"
[21:00] <Alicia> "Better that he die cleanly than live through what she would have done to him," Alicia replies grimly, looking down at David as she resheathes her blade.
[21:02] <Kotono> "Yes, but....damn her to the darkest pit of the Hells!" Snarling abruptly and slamming her fist into the wall, "Her very existance insults me. Every venomous word she utters makes me want to slaughter her. Coming like a messenger of light and justice and shitting all over it and us! Does she think it's funny, some sort of joke that she gets her jollies to?"
[21:04] <Alicia> "She's either a consumnate actress, or she sincerely believes what she says..." Alicia calms down a bit as she considers things. "Perhaps she was once a being of fair judgement but her mind snapped, leaving her with an impossible definition of what is good and consiging everything else to evil? I don't know..." she shakes her head, "And she obviously isn't in the mood to talk, either."
[21:05] <Alicia> OOC: is David still properly tied/chained and such?
[21:05] <Kotono> OOC: Yes.
[21:07] <Alicia> "Anyway, lets see if these charms are retroactive..." Alicia leans over David and presses the ward into the palm of his bound hand to see what happens.

[Corwin]

[19:29] <Seira> [22:58] <Kotono> "Yes, but....damn her to the darkest pit of the Hells!" Snarling abruptly and slamming her fist into the wall, "Her very existance insults me. Every venomous word she utters makes me want to slaughter her. Coming like a messenger of light and justice and shitting all over it and us! Does she think it's funny, some sort of joke that she gets her jollies to?"
[19:29] <Seira> [23:01] <Alicia> "She's either a consumnate actress, or she sincerely believes what she says..." Alicia calms down a bit as she considers things. "Perhaps she was once a being of fair judgement but her mind snapped, leaving her with an impossible definition of what is good and consiging everything else to evil? I don't know..." she shakes her head, "And she obviously isn't in the mood to talk, either."
[19:29] <Seira> [23:01] <Alicia> OOC: is David still properly tied/chained and such?
[19:29] <Seira> [23:01] <Kotono> OOC: Yes.
[19:29] <Seira> [23:03] <Alicia> "Anyway, lets see if these charms are retroactive..." Alicia leans over David and presses the ward into the palm of his bound hand to see what happens.
[19:29] <Kotono> > "Yes, but....damn her to the darkest pit of the Hells!" Snarling abruptly and slamming her fist into the wall, "Her very existance insults me. Every venomous word she utters makes me want to slaughter her. Coming like a messenger of light and justice and shitting all over it and us! Does she think it's funny, some sort of joke that she gets her jollies to?"
[19:29] <Kotono> <Alicia> "She's either a consumnate actress, or she sincerely believes what she says..." Alicia calms down a bit as she considers things. "Perhaps she was once a being of fair judgement but her mind snapped, leaving her with an impossible definition of what is good and consiging everything else to evil? I don't know..." she shakes her head, "And she obviously isn't in the mood to talk, either."
[19:29] <Kotono> <Alicia> OOC: is David still properly tied/chained and such?
[19:29] <Kotono> > OOC: Yes.
[19:29] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Anyway, lets see if these charms are retroactive..." Alicia leans over David and presses the ward into the palm of his bound hand to see what happens.
[19:32] <Kotono> The charm doesn't seem to do anything for David. He continues to stare in his complete estatic emptiness.
[19:35] * Alicia grimaces as she pockets the charm. "So much for that... I doubt he'll recover before his scheduled execution, either."
[19:36] <Kotono> "Ask for a stay." Antenora pokes him a couple of times, "There's a good extenuating circumstance."
[19:37] <Alicia> "It feels a bit miserly, but I suppose there's no helping it," Alicia sighs. "Stay here and I'll see if I can find one of the guards still active upstairs?"
[19:38] <Kotono> "Alright," Antenora says as Alicia heads up. Heading back up the stairs, she finds a few guards on normal patrol.
[19:39] * Alicia flags down the guards. "Who's in charge of this dungeon?" she asks, wanting to take this to the top.
[19:40] <Kotono> "Lefttenant Pierce," The answer comes with a quickly done salute. "Ma'am."
[19:40] <Alicia> "I need to speak to him, then," Alicia nods primly. "There's been an intrusion."
[19:42] <Kotono> "Ma'am," A salute to her again, leading her to him. He sits in an office, feet up, though these go right back to the ground just as Alicia gets a glimpse of it.
[19:44] * Alicia isn't here to care about the man's posture. "Lefttenant Pierce," she nods to him. "My friend and I were going downstairs to speak with the prisoner, as you know, when we discovered an intruder in his cell with him," she begins.
[19:44] <Kotono> "Ah dammmit!" He swings up and to standing up in a quick motion. "Dammit! ?You mean THE prisoner, ma'am?"
[19:46] <Alicia> "As if I'd be talking about any other," Alicia nods. "The intruder fled when confronted, but both the prisoner and the two guards outside his cell have been left insensate from her presence - I've encountered this exact same occurence back in Balmuria, and all three will likely won't recover until mid-morning at the earliest."
[19:46] <Kotono> "Ah DAMN!" He rushes out, ellowing to the soldiers outside, "More guards on the prisoner David, now! Full alert, someone tried to break him out!"
[19:47] <Alicia> "I've left Antenora with him, just so there's no misunderstandings," Alicia adds helpfully.
[19:50] <Kotono> "Yes yes, thank you," Looking back, "Is there anything else? I need to mobilize the entire prison guard rotation now."
[19:53] * Alicia looks a bit conflicted, not really wanting to press this too strongly. "Given the circumstances, I think a stay of execution might be in order, at least until he regains his faculties. If you could convey my request to your superiors I'd be obliged."
[19:53] <Kotono> "Uh...you'll need to go to the top, ma'am. I can stop them from taking him at dawn until you can talk to someone." Eyes widenening, "That's way out of my pay grade."
[19:56] <Alicia> "I suppose I can take it to the council directly, I just thought following the chain of command might be best. That's fine, then," she nods. "I'll go and collect Antenora the see about doing that once I can find one awake at this hour."
[19:58] <Kotono> "Ma'am," he salutes again before going off. Alicia returns to the cell and finds Antenora and about six guards already there, staring. Antenora steps away from them, "They came running like all the hordes of Hell were after them."
[20:00] <Alicia> "Would you want to be the one to explain that the prisoner disappeared on your watch?" Alicia asks dryly. "Anyway, we'll need to find a member of the council to make any sort of request for a stay of execution."
[20:01] <Kotono> "
[20:01] <Kotono> "Oh, waking up one of them in the middle of the night. This'll be fun," Antenora tries to smile, her cheeks still showing a bit of a hint to her recent distress. OOC - Move along to that, and if possible, any preference on one you waken?
[20:02] <Alicia> OOC: lets go with Lord Roth since he seems to have the most clout
[20:03] <Kotono> About an hour before dawn, after pulling severals trings, Lord Roth arrives at the prison. He's dishelved, a squad of soldiers with him. He goes to sit in the leftenant's office, dismissing the man away with a word. "Tell me what in the name of the blazing abyss happened."
[20:06] <Alicia> "We came here early to ask David a few questions prior to his execution - mostly making sure he didn't have anyone 'behind' him guiding the rebellion, so to speak. Upon arriving we found a... creature - I don't know what she is, I don't even know her name - in his cell with him," she explains.
[20:06] <Alicia> "This being is known in the United Baronies, Pallanth, and Malmuth for absconding with prisoners and... well, altering them. Few can even stand to look at her without being rendered utterly insensate. However she appears to have little taste for direct conflict, for she immediately fled when challenged."
[20:10] <Kotono> "I see. Will she return soon?" Lord Roth asks.
[20:11] <Alicia> "Unlikely," Alicia hedges. "Her words indicated she was giving up on this one, and we managed to recover a prisoner from her back in Balmuria and she's made no further attempts on him. I couldn't rule it out entirely, though."
[20:12] <Kotono> "Get what you can out of him. Once we're done will go on with the execution. I don't suppose dawn in srealistic now, but I'd like to have it done by noon in any event. David escaping would be a horrible disaster for us. Is there any way we can assure that she doesn't try again?"
[20:13] <Alicia> "There are wards that allow people to withstand her aura - I can have the method for crafting them passed to the temple of Mystra here so that they can be distributed to the prison in case of future incidents," Alicia offers. "But when dealing with someone who can teleport freely there's really little way to completely prevent coming and going without powerful magic."
[20:15] <Kotono> "Then hurry. I'd rather execute him sooner than later then," Lord Roth says, "Get him together and get the information out of him that you will."
[20:19] <Alicia> "We'll wait here in the prison so we can proceed as soon as he wakes up, then," Alicia inclines her head gratefully.
[20:20] <Kotono> OOC - Skip along a bit then?
[20:21] <Alicia> OOC: please
[20:24] <Kotono> Dawn passes. About an hour after(And a really poor breakfast of gruel provided by the prison kitchen, if Alicia's hungry), David finally starts to stir. It's slow at first, his blinking and slight noises minor.
[20:26] * Alicia sits in his cell, waiting for him to fully rouse himself. She also finally stopped glowing after noticing an hour ago. It's oddly easy not to notice, for some reason.
[20:26] <Kotono> "Ugh. Shit. My head." He grimaces before blinking. HE fixes on Alicia. "Well...am I dead, and are you an angel to take me away?"
[20:27] <Alicia> "Not yet," Alicia shakes her head grimly. "Do you remember your other visitor from last night?"
[20:29] <Kotono> "Oh yeah. Gorgeous. That's about it, it's a blur," Shaking his head again, "Man alive, I seem to be a magnet for pretty women lately. Maybe the universe is trying to make up for my execution."
[20:30] <Kotono> Antenora stands in the doorway of the cell, her arms crossed. She doesn't say a word.
[20:31] <Alicia> Well he's handling this better than Christopher did, that's for sure. "There are worse things than death. You just met one of them and were spared, if that gives you any comfort," she observes, sympathetic in spite of her strong dislike for the man.
[20:32] <Kotono> Smiling broadly, "For which I'm grateful, right? It's only natural that I trip over myself thanking you so that I can die on schedule today."
[20:34] <Alicia> "Didn't you say yourself that the afterlife would hold no fear for one who knows what to expect? I'm sure you'll receive exactly what you want from it," Alicia's tone turns a bit frostier.
[20:34] <Alicia> "In any case I have little desire to be in your company for much longer so I'll keep this brief - my friend here doesn't think you could have pulled off the rebellion on your own," she cocks her head towards Antenora, "So tell me true, were you guided by another?"
[20:34] <Alicia> DC 21 will
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 21."12 [1d20=13]
[20:35] <Kotono> "Ah, no confidence in me," he smiles to Antenora. "That stings."
[20:36] <Alicia> roll 1d120+10 sense motive, Anty feel free to roll for your own peace of mind
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d120+10 sense motive, Anty feel free to roll for your own peace of mind and gets 115."12 [1d120=105]
[20:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 sense motive, Anty feel free to roll for your own peace of mind, haha not that
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 sense motive, Anty feel free to roll for your own peace of mind, haha not that and gets 15."12 [1d20=5]
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 36."12 [1d20=18]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 27."12 [1d20=5]
[20:40] <Alicia> "I suppose we just got lucky, or you unlucky," Alicia seems satisfied as she gets up. "Goodbye, David."
[20:42] <Kotono> "Ah well, no kiss before the gallows?" David calls. Antenora follows Alicia out.
[20:47] <Kotono> OOC: What's your agenda now, 'licia?
[20:47] <Alicia> OOC: teleport back to Balmuria and beg an Analyse Dweomer spell off Elle to ID my loot (and Hell Striker) and ensure Marie hasn't burned the house down
[20:48] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, we'll cover that tomorrow.
[20:49] <Alicia> OOC: any chance of a loot post today?
[20:49] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.

[Corwin]

[18:47] <Kokokokokokokoko> Gathering up Jessica and Antenora, the three say goodbye to family once more. "Do come back soon," Arthur says, "I'm sure your brother misses you."
[18:47] <Kokokokokokokoko> "I wonder how he is..." Alicia's mother ponders that, as they talk in the tea room. "Now that this ghastly business is running down..."
[18:49] <Alicia> "There's a matter in Pallanth that requires our attention, otherwise we'd stay a bit longer," Alicia apologises. "But if all goes well we'll return after that's been dealt with."
[18:51] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Soon..." Jessica smiles a little too widely.
[18:51] <Kokokokokokokoko> "It was pleasant to meet all of you. Alicia has a fine family," Antenora goes to shake your father's hand. "I'll ensure that she comes back unharmed."
[18:52] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Be safe," Your father instructs, "The more I hear about the Baronies, the more worrisome your times there become. Such a wild, dangerous place."
[18:53] * Alicia takes out the first of the two teleport scrolls that Taldeer so generously provided - she'll have to pay her back next time she visits. "Kelara isn't exactly a beacon of stability right now, either," she notes gently. "Hopefully things will improve, though - you two ready?" she looks between Antenora and Jessica.
[18:54] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Yes!" Jessica says very quickly.
[18:55] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora walks over to Alicia, holding out her hand. "Ready whenever you are."
[18:58] * Alicia gives Jessica an unamused look at her transparent eagerness to depart. It may be understandable but she should at least try to be polite. "Here we go, then..." she reads from the scroll, focusing on Atarum Oasis as a quiet out of the way but reasonably hospitable and memorable destination spot before she takes Antenora and Jessica's hands and vanishes.
[18:58] <Alicia> roll 1d100 lets say it's studied carefully
[18:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 lets say it's studied carefully and gets 7."12 [1d100=7]
[19:01] <Kokokokokokokoko> The three appear under several palm trees. The shade here helps against the instant heat that engulfs them. The palm trees are clustered around one of many stone wells, a few people nearby, some of which who are currently gawking at the three women.
[19:02] * Alicia doesn't intend to linger, taking out scroll number two and reading from it as she focuses on her living room, repeating the process.
[19:02] <Alicia> roll 1d100
[19:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 11."12 [1d100=11]
[19:08] <Kokokokokokokoko> Woosh! Alicia appears in her liv-OH DEAR GODS! The party of the century is going on, eladrin in wild deb-actually no. Alicia's living room is currently quite peaceful. A sense of serenity, kindess and vigilance fills the room. Sitting on the floor, eyes closed and meditating, is Hopiel.
[19:10] <Alicia> "Hopiel!" Alicia smiles widely. "Not the celestial I expected to find on arriving home, but a very welcome one nonetheless!"
[19:12] <Kokokokokokokoko> Standing up in one fluid, gravity defying motion, "Marie went out while I mediated. Courre eladrin and meditation are compatible concepts."
[19:12] <Kokokokokokokoko> *Are not
[19:12] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh...wow." Jessica stares slacked jawed, squiting. "I...Oh, MYSTRA..."
[19:13] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora hangs back slightly.
[19:13] <Alicia> "She does pretend to have a short attention span," Alicia agrees before performing introductions. "This is my sister, Jessica, and this is Antenora, the erinyes that Marie briefly mentioned before," she indicates each in turn.
[19:18] <Kokokokokokokoko> The strong feelings in the room recede, becoming far less overt. Her glances at Jessica, taking a warm smile. "I'm sorry, my presence can be difficult for people not strong attuned to elemental good to withstand." Then his attention goes to Antenora, looking at her. Deeply looking at her, "I've never met a risen fiend like this, face to face. It gives me hope that there's more point to our endless battles than to slaughter and oppose
[19:18] <Kokokokokokokoko> point to our endless battles than to slaughter and oppose each other's sides for eternity."
[19:20] <Kokokokokokokoko> "It's a miracle," Antenora says quietly. "Your thanks and hope should go to Alicia more than me."
[19:22] <Alicia> "You took the first step, even if it was motivated more by self interest at the time," Alicia tells Antenora, "But really there's no point getting into that sort of debate." Turning back to Hopiel, "Has Marie filled you in on the situation regarding Esthan?"
[19:23] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Did she brainwash you? Unless she did, you have to have wanted to change. Besides, a thousand slain fiends oppose my ideals unto oblivion. One changed fiend reaffirms them." After that, he turns back to Alicia. "I've heard, yes. This fiend is playing a dangerous game. I would agree he is likely a Pit Fiend or a supremely skilled greater devil."
[19:27] * Alicia idly rubs the ring finger on her right hand as she nods. "He might reveal his true form when pressed into battle, or he might be content to simply rely on his magic and nothing more," she reasons. "Although with you on our side we do have a counter to such magic - and speaking of that, I have something you might like."
[19:28] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh?" Hopiel smiles at that, "What is it?"
[19:29] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora lingers near Hopiel, who glances at her and nods openly. "If you like," he says to her. "There's no need for stealth, is there? I find it exceedingly distasteful even when it's neccsisary."
[19:30] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora blushes a little bit at that. "It's..." she starts, but instead full stops. "When Alicia's done with you then."
[19:31] <Alicia> "Just a moment and I'll get it," Alicia smiles as she heads upstairs to retrieve the Treasure of the Soul. While she's assured of some privacy in her room she glances at her right hand. "What?" she mutters irritably. "Killing that balor wasn't enough? Will you be satisfied if I kill Esthan?"
[19:31] <Kokokokokokokoko> The ring doesn't do much of note, like give a hint or speak or anything. At least the cold ache is gone again.
[19:32] * Alicia sighs and dismisses it, walking back downstairs with the greatsword held in her hands.
[19:33] <Kokokokokokokoko> Jessica has gone to sit a ways away from all of this, eyes mostly on Hopiel. She shakes her head every so often, but it doesn't seem to do much good.
[19:33] <Kokokokokokokoko> "A greatsword?" Looking at it, "It appears to be a fine weapon. You wish for me to use it?"
[19:35] <Alicia> "You probably remember this sword as the one I wielded on the astral plane," Alicia explains. "I originally took it from a fallen planetar who served Torm - my presence on the astral was actually to purify it of sin. Now it has been blessed by Mystra to grant wisdom and sanctity of mind for the wielder, as well as striking especially true against fiends. As recompense for you coming to our aid, I believe it would serve you well."
[19:35] <Alicia> At that she holds it out, laid flat between her palms.
[19:37] <Kokokokokokokoko> Hopiel reaches out, taking the blade's hilt. He holds it, lifting it to point up to the hidden heavens. "A fine weapon," he says, "If there was once sin on it, I cannot feel it. Do you mean it as a loan or as a gift?"
[19:38] <Alicia> "It is yours to keep," Alicia nods with a smile. "Certainly, I can think of few better to wield it."
[19:39] <Kokokokokokokoko> Holding it in one hand, Hopiel reaches to his back. He draws his greatsword, presenting it hilt first towards Alicia. "Take this weapon as a gift and a token of my esteem. There are few worthy of an angel's sword. You are one of them."
[19:42] * Alicia shakes her head. "Truly, Hopiel, there is no need. Your presence in the coming battle is more than payment enough. Any further trade is unnecessary."
[19:42] <Kokokokokokokoko> "It's not payment. It's a gift." Hopiel insists.
[19:45] <Alicia> It would only be rude and embarrassing to protest further, so Alicia accepts the gift in the spirit it's intended, taking hold of the oversized blade. "In that case I accept," she ducks her head gratefully.
[19:55] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Now then. Marie should be back soon, and Antenora wanted to talk with me. Unless you'd like to come along?" Hopiel invites.
[19:57] <Alicia> "No, that's fine," Alicia shakes her head. "I have to go and visit Elle Stronger to see about getting some magic items identified. I'll see you all later," she gently sets Hopiel's... no, her, sword onto the table and hefts her backpack before heading off to do just that.
[20:07] * Seira is now known as CC
[20:08] <Kokokokokokokoko> Thus Alicia heads to Elle's shop. As she goes, climbing up the hill leading to it and feeling the cooling sea breeze blowing down onto her, she can see the people looking at her. Many of them are city folks or likely to, the numbers of those growing quickly. Traders as well; traders, travelers, demi-humans. Arriving at Elle's shop, you find several people there. Alice is helping an older man with a cane and a limp as he looks over som
[20:08] <Kokokokokokokoko> limp as he looks over some scrolls. Another is a bushy-headed man, talking to Rods and dickering over a pair of bracers in his hands. Elle herself is talking with a well dressed man, wearing light jewelry and silken clothes.
[20:09] * Alicia settles in to wait until Elle is available, not being so crude as to queue-jump. She's not in any particular hurry, anyway.
[20:11] <Kokokokokokokoko> "That's a lot," Elle whistles loudly, "Tell Lord Salman that I'll accept the commission, of course, as fast as it can reasonably be done. I recently sent him and the Commander of this city a message relating to that and wanting more crafters." Meanwhile, Rods growls low in his throat, "I'm not paying that much for those, even if I had it! Besides, ten to one, if you're showing them to me instead of selling to the Countess there, you'r
[20:11] <Kokokokokokokoko> if you're showing them to me instead of selling to the Countess there, you're trying to rip me off." The older man is reading a scroll, squinting at it with a monocle in his eye, "Not quite, no. Third circle magic. That flaming sphere is a poor patch on a real fireball, let alone competent magic!"
[20:12] * Alicia cooly eyes Rods and his friend, ready to step in if their enthusiastic haggling gets out of hand.
[20:13] <Kokokokokokokoko> The other man grunts a that, putting the gauntlets away into a backpack he wears. "Yeah, fine, I'll go sell it to her. Your loss." As he goes to stand respectfully behind the well dressed man talking to Elle, Rods stretches and goes to look over at some martial weapons on display. His gaze takes his eyes over Alicia, he grins a moment and nods to her.
[20:14] * Alicia nods in greeting to Rods. "If you're looking for weapons I've got a pair of daggers of the same make as that axe of yours," she tells him. "Of course, I won't know what they're worth until I get Elle to appraise them."
[20:15] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Lord Salman will be pleased," The well dressed man says smoothly. "I can't comment on your other concerns, but he wants these done as fast as reasonably possible."
[20:15] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Hm? Oh, where'd you get those? Kelara?" He approaches over, "More of that gnome gear?"
[20:16] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Fly. A good spell, but so good that I already have backup scrolls," The old man tsks, going for another one. "I can't blame you for that, it's a classic."
[20:17] * Alicia nods as she produces the pair of wickedly barbed daggers from her backpack, deftly twirling them in her grip. "Someone over there looted a gnomish ruin and went on a bit of a rampage. Apparently these have quite a reputation, but I don't know yet if it's justified," she smiles thinly, "He never got a chance to use them against me."
[20:20] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Lucky you. I cut myself with my axe in training a few times. Hurts like shit," Peering at the two, "Eh, I might. Depends on how much they're worth. We're trying to resupply, but also have a good egg of traveling money for when we pull up stakes from here."
[20:21] <Alicia> "Dagger's probably not as good as a greataxe, for you," Alicia admits as she looks the heavily muscled man up and down. "Not unless they've got something spectacular on them." Carefully she puts them back into her backpack, glancing around the unusually crowded shop. "Never seen the place so busy. Elle must be pleased."
[20:23] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Yeah. So yeah, I heard you were in Kelara. How is it over there, I figure we'll pass through one of these days,"  Rods says. "I'd wanted to catch you about that sooner or later."
[20:25] <Alicia> "It's seen better days," Alicia admits. "The former owner of those daggers instigated a full on uprising that killed half of the ruling nobles. People are scared and angry all over..." she shakes her head, "I'm hoping that with him out of the picture things will calm down and hopefully end up better than before if the nobles actually learn their lesson and address the concerns that let rebellion take root."
[20:26] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Ah hell," Scratching his beard, as Elle takes a scroll from the welld ressed man, "Well, if we hear it's bad as we get close, we'll skirt around. I really don't wanna get involved in a civil war." After a moment he shrugs, "Oh, how's your friends?"
[20:28] <Alicia> "Wise policy," Alicia nods her approval. "And which ones? I just got back a half hour ago, so I haven't even seen Seira and Demedais, yet."
[20:28] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh, ah..." After a pausing moment, "Say, Antenora?"
[20:30] <Alicia> "Hmm?" Alicia cocks her head. She wasn't sure if Antenora had even said all of two words to Rods. "She's fine." No need to say how shaken up she was by their encounter with that horrible nameless thing. "She went for a walk with another friend who's visiting us right now."
[20:31] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Nice. But yeah, we're staying at Seira's now. NIce place, she offered us free room and board for a favor we did for her. Nice girl, but she has more problems after her than J after a drunken tavern night."
[20:33] <Alicia> "Lot of that going around," Alicia chuckles. "Still, Seira's tou- well, I was going to say tougher than she looks, but she's effectively a humanoid dragon, so she looks very tough. You should have seen her a year ago, though - hard to believe someone so fresh faced could make captain."
[20:34] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Yeah. You get all sorts of surprises around her," Rods rubs the back of his head, grinning at Alicia. "Anyway, I need to gt back. Say hello to your familiar pixie-angel thing for me."
[20:35] <Alicia> "Will do," Alicia gives him a little wave as she continues to patiently wait for Elle to finish with Lord Salman's intermediary.
[20:38] <Kokokokokokokoko> The two are just finishing up, shaking hands as he turns to go. He stops towards Alicia, "Captain," he says, "Good day to you." Then he heads out and away, back into the summer sunshine.
[20:39] <Alicia> "Good day," Alicia nods in return, heading over to Elle once he's gone. "Who was that?"
[20:42] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Someone from teh capital, messenger for Lord Salman. They want me to do some commissions." Smiling at that, "Don't worry about it. Anyway, what can I do for you? Buying something?"
[20:44] <Alicia> "Not quite yet - although I might be interested in that vivacious greataxe at some point. For now, though, I'm hoping you prepared an Analyse Dweomer spell today, because I've got a lot of mysterious magic items to identify!" she grins as she plops her backpack on the counter.
[20:46] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh, wait, that? Karan...bourg, I think?" Elle frowns at that, "Well, you're going to have to do a touch of work to get it. I sold it. But oh yes, I can do that. Lovely things, gnomish?" She peers at the dagger, tapping one of the barbs with her finger. "OW!" He cry is quite loud, getting the attention of Alice and the old man. Grabbing a bit of cloth from beneath the counter and applying to her finger, "Yes, gnomish."
[20:48] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia's face falls, though she dutifully reaches over to take Elle's hand and heal her trivial cut. "Oh... well, if you come across any similarly enchanted weapons in the future, do let me know - I'm certain I'll have need of one at some point."
[20:48] <Kokokokokokokoko> OOC: 1 HP.
[20:49] <Kokokokokokokoko> "I can do a little better than that. I know who bought it and I can point you their way," Elle answers. "I don't know if they'll sell it back to you, but you can try if you want."
[20:50] <Alicia> "If they bought it then they surely need it, so that probably won't do me any good," Alicia sighs. "Anyway, there's quite a few other things besides the daggers," she proceeds to lay them all out on the counter. "And while you're at it, why don't you take a look at Hell Striker as well? I've never had it properly divined," she unslings her sword and sets it down as well.
[20:52] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Right. Anything else?" Elle asks, "Those are easy enough to do. After that and anything else, I was thinking of going to get a drink and putting my feet up over at Seira's. Want to come?"
[20:53] <Alicia> "That sounds good to me," Alicia smiles. "I could do with a break after all that grief in Kelara."

[Corwin]

[18:50] <Kobrb> --------------(Coca Kola Ko)----
[18:52] <Kobrb> Walking through the dragon mouthed entrance to Seira's inn, you can hear sounds trickling outside. Sounds of talk and revelery and fun, the sort of sounds natural to this sort of place. "So how was Kelara?" Countess Stronger asks.
[18:55] * Kobrb is now known as Kotono
[18:55] <Alicia> "A lot worse than I remember," Alicia replies with a sigh. "Even allowing for the fact that there was a rebellion going on. I'm not even talking about fighting and rioting - there wasn't even any of that, the whole thing was assassinations and scare tactics. But everyone seemed to use it as license to utterly forget about such concepts as manners and common courtesy."
[18:55] <Alicia> "You couldn't walk down the street without perfect strangers yelling abuse or throwing eggs at you for no reason."
[18:57] <Kotono> "How queer." Going to the bar and sitting, Elle orders, "Wine for me," she says, with a momentary glance at Alicia. "I'm not an expert, but doesn't social distinegration and anarchy rely more on riots and bloodshed, rather than bad manners and egg throwing?"
[19:02] <Alicia> "The entire rebellion was a queer thing," Alicia notes, pausing to order, "Pear juice, please," then back to the conversation. "I mean, I'm no fan of the noble council - had it been a genuine movement for political change I might have even sided with the rebels."
[19:02] <Alicia> "But it wasn't - the whole thing was down to this crazed anarchist running around using charm magic to get people to buy into his ridiculous 'kill the people in charge and maybe things will get better eventually, I don't really know or care, though' plan."
[19:02] <Alicia> "Calling it a rebellion is really a misnomer. People were dying, but it was from daggers in their backs and poison in their food - there were no riots or battles that I saw or heard of."
[19:04] <Kotono> "...curious." AS the drinks arrive, one can note a male bard entrancing several listeners with a bold tale about the Crimson Guard versus the hordes of Malmuth. "The entire thing sounds like the product of a demented mind on a sick country. You said yourself you'd support it under better circumstances," With a raise of her eyebrow, "Really?"
[19:10] <Alicia> "Well, the nobles really concern themselves with the city and view people living in the surrounding towns as incidental - I used to live in one of those towns myself, so I understand the grievances of the people living there. But fundamentally I think it's down to how the country is run."
[19:10] <Alicia> "Kelara's system of government is a mess," Alicia nods as she takes a sip of her juice. "You get a room of people of equal rank in a room together, all with their own differing agendas and petty rivalries, and expect them to lead a country in a sensible direction?" She snorts. "I've heard people say it's the best system since it encourages compromise and debate, but if you ask me it's like herding cats."
[19:10] <Alicia> She shrugs and sets her cup down, "I mean, this 'rebellion' is a perfect example, really. It's been going on for months, with nothing being done to stop it while social order disintegrates all around - Antenora and I are there for three days and the ringleader is caught like that," she snaps her fingers.
[19:11] <Kotono> With a smile there, "Perhaps Mystra granted you a boon? My apologies," AS Elle drinks down a sip of wine, "But Kelara sounds woefully incompetent so far."
[19:13] <Kotono> Taking another drink, "Then again, not everyone can be competent. As far as I knwo, the Baronies are strong, the elves are strong, Malmuth is recovering from Ferdi, the Desert's strong..." Taking that time to put down her glass, "Perhaps it's simply natural that one country be inept at a time."
[19:17] <Alicia> "And what do all of these strong countries have in common?" Alicia asks, gesturing grandly. "A single unifying leader - a visible symbol for the people to rally around, and one who has the final say and final responsibility for all decisions. Don't get me wrong," she shakes her head,
[19:17] <Alicia> "I'm not saying that's the be all and end all - the Fiefdoms are a horrible place to live if you're low down the social ladder, and what I've seen of Malmuth isn't so great either, but those countries are at least stable and the people protected."
[19:17] <Alicia> She takes several gulps of her drink, collecting her thoughts. "I'm hoping this will give Kelara the wake up call it needs to at least focus more on proper governance - maybe if they pull their heads from their behinds that gang of nobles will actually prove effective. But only time will tell."
[19:20] <Kotono> "I'm of the opinion that a strong leader's natural." Elle sips down her wine slowly, savoring and keeping in control. The bard's song is getting rowdier, as the Guard defeats one hundred and eight score Malmuthian knights at once. People are clapping along to it as well. "The strong rally people." With a sly look at Alicia and lowering her voice, "You or Seira or many other of the guard could do the same, like that." A snap of her fingers, "If
[19:21] <Kotono> A snap of her fingers, "If you wanted to sit around ruling things instead of adventuring. People want - need - heroes and champions on a level. Something to believe in, just like Gods. Look at how people revere the Guard in Balmuria. You've been here a year and most people in the city would do anything you ask of them."
[19:22] <Kotono> Alicia can notice, if she's of a mind to glance, that some familiar mercenaries have come down the stairs and are currently watching the bard perform: J, Rods and Serge, though they don't seem to have noticed Alicia offhand.
[19:24] <Alicia> "Exaggarated tales like that one do their part," Alicia nods in the bard's direction ruefully. "I remember Beth once said something like that to me, though - that the two of us could have taken over Kelara if we'd worked together. I didn't really take the concept seriously, but... well, considering what I saw back West, it's something I can't not think about."
[19:30] <Kotono> With a long drink of her wine then, "You know...if you do, pay attention to Seira. You know how she tries to have the Church of Waukeen improve everyone's life? If you decide to be called Queen," She keeps her voice whisper soft, "It's not just ruling. It's making people's lives better. The Crimson Guard, it makes the people's lives better by making them safe and secure. But, they don't have to worry about the grain harvest or droughts or trade
[19:31] <Kotono> But, they don't have to worry about the grain harvest or droughts or trade disputes. A ruler does."
[19:37] * Alicia nods. "I know. And those aren't things I want to worry about, either - I've trained almost my whole life as a warrior, and I think that's what I can do the most good as. But seeing how easy it was for an incompetent with no long term planning to almost take over, I can't help but think that I could do it myself... and might get tempted to, if no one else seems up to the job of providing leadership."
[19:37] <Alicia> She frowns and swirls her cup around in her palm, "That's why I really hope those nobles can get their act together and fix this mess they've made through their own negligence," she concludes quietly.
[19:38] * Marianne (~corwin@bzq-79-177-119-135.red.bezeqint.net) has joined #dunes
[19:38] * Kyoko (~corwin@bzq-79-177-119-135.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
[19:39] * Kyoko (~corwin@bzq-79-177-119-135.red.bezeqint.net) has joined #dunes
[19:39] * Marianne (~corwin@bzq-79-177-119-135.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
[19:40] <Kotono> Elle whispers a few words, touching Alicia's shoulder. Thereafer, under the effects of Message, "Sorry, I'd rather not talk about a quasi-coup in public so lightly." she says. "But I don't know, either. Even if it's not for your fate, you could install someone competent. Take a grand sounding title, like Queen-Mother Regent or Empress or whatever, and assign someone to rule in your stead? Of course, that's if they prove unable to solve their ow
[19:40] <Kotono> that's if they prove unable to solve their own problems."
[19:41] <Kotono> "Before you ask," With a sunny smile, "The answer's no. Seira tried to get me to take the position Claris has in Valandia. I'm not interested."
[19:43] * Alicia rests a hand over her lips as she mouths her response. "Then it's a matter of finding someone competent that I trust and actually wants the job." Letting her hand fall away to show her own smile in response, "It's true what they say about wizards being genuises," she comments aloud before resuming their silent conversation.
[19:43] <Alicia> "I don't want such a role either, but all this just has me thinking I might have to if things don't go well for Kelara in the days ahead."
[19:44] <Kotono> "Who then?" Elle leans forward, as if covering her mouth for a yawn. "Do you have any ideas yourself? There's that strapping young lad Donald..." Her eyes drift to wherehe normally is, though he's not present to play bouncer. "No, bad idea, even if he was here."
[19:46] <Alicia> "Kelara can't have a foreigner for a leader anyway," Alicia shakes her head, still covering her mouth. "If I were going that far I'd be as well just helping one of the neighbouring kingdoms conquer it, and that's something I'd never permit."
[19:48] <Kotono> "Mmm." After a long, thoughtful pause, "Your sister, perhaps. She's certainly caring enough and I know she has an appetite for learning." A curious pause here, Elle stopping to call for another round. AS glasses are refilled, "Or perhaps...if she's trustworthy, Antenora? No attachments to mortal kingdoms and certainly will see the long term over the short term."
[19:51] * Alicia snorts. "She did want to be a queen when we first met," she mutters aloud, waiting for their drinks to be refilled before continuing more silently. "My sister has a bad reputation among any who'd remember her, anyway..." She resumes talking normally, "Lets just hope it doesn't come to require any such measures. Have I missed anything of note here while I was gone? I haven't seen my familiar yet so I'm not caught up."
[19:53] <Kotono> "Not really...well, one thing.  Seira came back midweek in a tizzy. A redirected or failed teleport, she argued that it was the will of Waukeen, but I know the spell enough and I don't care to argue it, put her down in the middle of a ship battle. An efreet and fire elementals were assaulting a ship from Wetwind Harbor. Bey Onur, one of Seira's friends from there, and his aide, Deniz, were with her and Donald when it happened. During the fight,
[19:53] <Kotono> Deniz, were with her and Donald when it happened. During the fight, Deniz fell. I helped ferry the few survivors back to Balmuria, there's still resting upstairs."
[19:55] <Alicia> "Fire elementals... on the ocean?" Alicia raises an eyebrow, before she lowers her gaze at the mention of casaulties. "May their Gods watch over them."
[19:56] <Kotono> "From what I reckon, the efreeti was behind it. The Amir of...something, I forget. The worst part is that he got away. Seira was furious. Furious." The second time she speaks aloud, voice heavy with meaning. "Deniz is resting here. I believe that Seira and Bey Onur hope for a miracle to bring her back."
[19:59] * Alicia nods respectfully. "I heard of such a miracle occuring in Pallanth, a woman who died in childbirth was returned by the grace of Corellon Latherian. But to even hope for such a thing is probably courting disappointment."
[20:00] <Kotono> "It costs nothing to hope," ELle counters thoughtfully. As she drinks again, "Alicia." A man's voice, a familiar voice. Serge. He comes up to the bar, "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
[20:01] <Alicia> Her reply to Elle cut off, Alicia swivels around slightly towards the dwarf. "No, we were just catching up," she replies politely. "What can I do for you, Serge?"
[20:02] <Kotono> "Oh, I thought I'd offer to buy you a drink," he says, going to sit on a bar stool. "I heard you were in Kelara, so you must recently have returned with magic.
[20:02] <Kotono> ""
[20:03] <Kotono> Elle shrugs, "I don't mind, Alicia," she says via message. "Dwarves are rare enough company."
[20:04] <Alicia> "Just got back less than an hour ago," Alicia confirms giving Elle a brief nod. "I'm having pear juice," she tells him, hoping he won't insist on strong alcohol of some sort.
[20:06] <Kotono> "That's fine." He puts a gold coin on the counter, "Barman, drinks for both of the ladies." The gold is taken, drinks refreshed. Once that's done, "But yes, I heard." After a long, drawn out moment, "I heard you visited your family in Kelara as well?"
[20:07] <Kotono> Farther back, one can see J keeping a not as causal as she thinks watch on Serge and Alicia, a drink in hand.
[20:08] <Alicia> "We're not especially close, but it would still be rather rude to go all that way and not visit them," Alicia notes with a half-smile, sipping her drink. "My sister hasn't seen them for over ten years, so it was nice for them to be reunited, at least." No sense complicating things with the whole amnesia issue.
[20:11] <Kotono> "Ah." A mug of water is brought to Serge, who drinks deeply. After a pause, "So, would you like to go see a play," he asks, changing gears completely. "There's one in the new quarter of town tonight."
[20:15] * Alicia almost - almost - says something horribly tactless to the blind dwarf in response. Fortunately she's possessed of a fair degree of decorum and charm, so said thought never reaches her lips.
[20:15] <Alicia> Instead she performs a quick mental checklist. He's propositioning her. He's doing so in a reasonably polite manner. He's interesting company. Good enough. She's not looking for love or anything, but it sounds like a nice enough way to spend an evening. "I do enjoy theatre," she smiles. "What's the play about?"
[20:16] <Kotono> "The final battles of the liberation war for the United Baronies," he answers, "It's the first time being preformed by this troupe, though I hear they're quite good."
[20:17] <Kotono> Elle smiles a little, and on the wings of a whisper, "Do you like dwarves," she wonders aloud.
[20:19] <Alicia> "All the ones I've met have been nice..." Alicia replies silently in the same manner. Admittedly the physical differences do pose a number of questions, but really, what's the harm in just watching a play? "Hopefully it's not too outlandish and we might actually learn something about the history of this land," she notes aloud. "Alright, Serge. When and where?"
[20:19] <Kotono> "Sundown. I can meet you at your home, it's not toof ar from there," he replies, a smile coming onto his face.
[20:21] <Alicia> "That suits me," Alicia agrees pleasantly. "I'll see you then?"
[20:22] <Kotono> Serge is just as pleasant, tipping his head towards Alicia and standing up, "Until then!" As he goes off, under the guise of whisper, "That was a pleasant distraction. Are you interested?"
[20:25] <Alicia> "I can't fault his manners, and he's been good enough company whenever we've spoken in the past," Alicia replies to Elle once Serge has left, briefly glancing at J to see if her interest has waned. "I don't know if it'll go anywhere - normally these things don't, anyway - but there are worse ways to spend an evening."
[20:28] <Kotono> J's interest is more on the returning Serge now. "Nothing lost," Elle agrees, "Besides, not all of your life has to be doing and brooding on matters of such deadly importance. Go out, have some fun, live a little."
[20:32] <Alicia> "I know I'm still attractive, but I think I intimidate most people," Alicia reflects. "I suppose it's only fitting that a blind man would be the first in Balmuria to sincerely court me."
[20:34] <Kotono> With a twisting smile, "I would think it's a side effect of being so famous. You're more like an idol of perfection than an attainable goal." Going back to her drink now, "Ah, I've done the same myself on a lesser scale in my youth. HE's also an outsider to Balmuria and experienced in battle as well. To him, I imagine, you're more of a person than a hero."
[20:37] <Kotono> After a few moments to ruminate on that, "If you start glowing, people might even mistake you as a greater being of the light." With a sidelong look to Alicia, "You also have an entrancing force of will and personality."
[20:40] * Alicia snorts at that last comment. "I do sometimes wonder; I was so young and simple back when I married. Would Hans and I be able to make the same connection if we met today? I've changed a lot since then..."
[20:42] <Kotono> "I don't know." Elle admits this. She looks down to her mostly full wineglass, before drinking half of it off. "Seira and Demedais and Antenora? All three of them can make me stare at them just by a few words or a motion. They have it, but you're even better at it. You radiate raw charisma like no human I've ever seen. You've met various outsiders aplenty. You remind me more of what I might planar binding or summon than a human." She says that
[20:42] <Kotono> planar binding or summon than a human." She says that very slowly, thoughtfully as she finishes her glass. (More)
[20:44] <Kotono> "Antenora's an outsider and a peculiar one at that, but the three of you are human...well, not Seira, but let's not nitpick the pont. Yet you outdo them. On occasion, it's more like I'm spending time with a vision of divine force that happens to be my friend, instead of what you are."
[20:44] <Kotono> (More)
[20:45] <Kotono> Putting her glass aside, and resting on her hands, eyes on Alicia, "It's gotten more pronounced lately. You cast magic not far behind myself, you fight as well as the most experienced warrior and you virtually radiate goodness. No, you literally do with that nimbus of light around you, when you will it. So... I guess the answer is...that I really don't know. I'd like to think that love isn't something you outgrow, but..."
[20:45] <Kotono> No, you literally do with that nimbus of light around you, when you will it. So... I guess the answer is...that I really don't know. I'd like to think that love isn't something you outgrow, but..."
[20:53] <Alicia> "No... but it's hard to love on equal terms if you can't relate to one another," Alicia replies as she digests Elle's words. "The way you describe me... it's like the stories of people entranced by fey creatures. They breed obsession, not love," she leans her elbow on the bar and cups her chin as she faces Elle. "I suppose it's an impression I've helped to cultivate, though."
[20:53] <Alicia> "I like to think I'm an example that humans can be as strong as any fiend, as puissant as any dragon, as just as any angel. I wouldn't say I'm perfect but I can certainly rival such beings on a good day. But perhaps I'm simply making myself as unattainable as they are."
[20:55] <Kotono> "It's not a bad thing if you want to be aloof. Do you?" Elle asks seriously, looking Alicia right into the eyes. "It would be easy enough if you really wanted a lover, I imagine, but...what would it be now?"
[20:59] <Alicia> "Hmm... it's funny, really. Antenora asked me the same thing this morning," Alicia admits. "But to be honest... no. You're right, if I wanted a lover I could certainly be aggressive and take one. But I don't - I'm not alone anymore, I have lots of friends, and even something of a family again. Romance just..." she pauses a moment as she considers her phrasing, "It's nice, but I can live without it."
[21:01] <Kotono> "That is odd." Chewing on her lip, "Then again, I've read of half celestial children far in the past, but they're certainly not common. Perhaps...perhaps this is natural for you to feel that way as well? I hate to keep comparing you to them, but just listening to you talk..." Elle smiles, apologetically. "Maybe it's something you're meant to outgrow? Maybe it's Mystra's will that you're on this path?"
[21:03] <Kotono> Looking at her glance, "Or maybe I'm just gettind drunk," she adds, "Tsh, I should know better than to drink that much already. A drink is fine, three is a good way to wake up with a persistant headache."
[21:05] <Alicia> "Outgrow is a sad way to put it," Alicia shakes her head. "Sune would most certainly disapprove," she adds with a slight smile. "I'm just saying it's not necessarily for me. Once I was perfectly content as a wife and mother, but I'm content this way as well. Neither is necessarily better than the other." She then laughs and pats Elle's shoulder, "Wine isn't so bad. You wouldn't believe the noxious stuff I had to drink in Kelara."
[21:07] <Kotono> "Haha." Smiling now, "I was just telling you to go have fun, then I'm saying you should outgrow romance. I'm a big idiot." Smiling warmly to Alicia, "Go on, I think I'm going to listen to a bard's tale or two and take an early evening. Go, get dressed up a little, have a good time."
[21:09] <Alicia> "Take care of yourself, Elle," Alicia gives the redhead an affectionate squeeze on the shoulder. Leaving a few copper coins to pay for her non-Serge-bought drinks on the bar, she gets up and slings on her backpack before heading off home.

[Corwin]

[18:42] <Kosick> --------------------
[18:43] <Kosick> Evening comes. Alicia's home is more or less quiet. Oh, there's Marie's normal noise, and Antenora's out back training. But really, it's peaceful enough right now. Ideally, Serge should be here fairly soon. OOC - Goa head and set yourself up? Moment.
[18:50] <Alicia> Marie should be busy reading that gnomish book so she can provide a summary to Alicia later on! After reminding her familiar of her obligations, Alicia resumes fiddling with that puzzle-box she recovered from the dragon's lair - Marie claims to have solved it recently but it eludes Alicia exactly how.
[18:50] <Alicia> For this evening she's dispensed with her usual black tunic and leggings, instead wearing a long pale blue dress with a darker blue shawl over her shoulders while her hair is worn long. It's nothing close to fancy, but the break from routine manages to earn her familiar's beaming approval.
[18:50] <Alicia> "I meant to get my hair cut, today..." she notes, idly fiddling with her unbound tresses. "Have to wait till after Esthan."
[18:53] <Kosick> As Alicia frets a little over her hair, in a most relatively unusual manner, there is a knock on her door. That should be him with any fortune.
[18:54] <Alicia> "Good luck!" Marie calls from her book as Alicia gets up and goes to answer the door!
[19:02] * taifk is now known as taibraindead
[19:03] <Kosick> Opening the door, you do find Serge there. He wears a black tunic and pants, well pressed and clean. He wears a simple white cloth over his eyes, a bouqet of flowers in his hand. "Good evening," he says seriously, smiling to Alicia as he presents blue and yellow flowers to her.
[19:07] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia accepts the flowers and takes a sniff before realising she doesn't have a vase handy and... oh, there's Marie.
[19:07] <Alicia> Handing the flowers to her dilligent familiar as she buzzes by and departs with a, "I'll put these in some water!" Alicia returns her attention to Serge.
[19:07] <Alicia> "Now then, shall we be off?" she asks, stepping out and closing the door behind her.
[19:09] <Kosick> "Yes." Looking Alicia over, up and down with eyes that can't possibly see, "You look well this evening," he says anyway. "It's nice to get out of armor once in awhile."
[19:12] <Alicia> "Mithral doesn't weigh much, but even so..." Alicia rotates her shoulders idly as she starts down the path leading from her house around the temple to the main street, "It is nice to be out of it, even if most times when I relax like this something ends up happening to make me wish I'd kept it on."
[19:13] <Kosick> Chuckling at that, "Yes. That's a hard learned lesson. That's happened to you a few times?"
[19:15] <Alicia> "More frequently since I started living here, but it happened to me when I was back in Kelara these last few days, so I think it's just a sign of the times," Alicia chuckles slightly. "Anything like that ever happen to you?"
[19:19] <Kosick> "It's happened to all of us." Smiling a little, "When we were travelling through the Barbarian Lands, we'd had a lot of bad luck, including falling into a mudpit. We came on small forest lake and thought it would be a good chance to bathe. Of course, that's when the goblins found us."
[19:21] <Alicia> "What did they do?" Alicia asks. The sensible thing would be to steal some stuff and run away, but recalling those four goblins who kept trying to rob her when she was more inclined to eat their souls, she half expects they'll have taken a less sensible course.
[19:23] <Kosick> "They tried to rob us and kill us. They were a bunch of fools," Looking to Alicia searchingly a moment, "We'd kept watch by having J bathe on one side and the two of us bathe on the other, so we could watch both ends at once. There were mroe on J's side, so she threw some magic at them to scare 'em. Rods ran out, completely naked, and went goblin chasing with just his weapon in hand. Scared them right off."
[19:25] <Alicia> "They don't lack for ambition, I'll give them that," Alicia notes wryly as they make their way to wherever the play is being held.
[19:26] <Kosick> You walk down the main streets, down to a side street. Here an open air auditorium has been built, stone benches serving as seats. Perhaps two hundred people sit here, gathering in to watch. You even spot a few familiar faces amid them - the matron of the Dawn Pointe inn, Father Ceiar and a few guardsmen. The stone and wood stage has a curtain draped over it currently, sounds coming from behind it.
[19:29] <Alicia> "Looks like this is popular," Alicia muses, looking to find some nice seats for them, preferably near the front in consideration for Serge's height, and completely ignoring the fact that he's blind and therefore wouldn't care if someone tall sat in front of him.
[19:31] <Kosick> Serge does likewise, the two finding seats a row away from the front. On sitting, "I've heard Balmuria's been attracting more entertainers as well, but it's not surprising. IT's a boom city now." As he looks up at the stage, "LIke how you found yourself here?"
[19:32] * Alicia chuckles softly. "I hardly ended up here by choice..." she then corrects herself, "Well, that's inaccurate, we always have choices. But it wasn't a choice I was particularly thrilled about making."
[19:37] <Kosick> "Yeah." Looking up to the stage a moment, before back at Alicia, "It wasn't my choice to be flung all the way from Kesse and it's environs to here because of some damned foolish mageling. But here I am."
[19:38] <Alicia> "Made any progress in getting back there?" Alicia asks curiously.
[19:42] <Kosick> "We're gathering up money. Going through the jungle is going to be hell." A stop there, "Once we have a large fund of money, we're going to travel through the desert and fish around the kindgom-lets and free cities south of the jungle, see if we can find a guide, or if we're really lucky, a mage who can eleport us past most or all of the jungle. That part's probably wishful thinking."
[19:44] <Alicia> "Why not get a scroll of teleport from Elle Stronger?" Alicia recalls suggesting this previously, but Serge might not have been around then. "J should be able to cast from that, right?"
[19:55] <Kosick> "Mmmm. That's a good thought," Rubbing his chin there, "We'd need two - I know the spell can fail and I'm nots ure exactly how big the jungle is and if it fits the range of the spell."
[19:57] <Alicia> "Always helps to have a backup. There's also the Shadow Walk spell - there's some risk in travelling via that plane, but I know for a fact it's sufficient to get you between here and Kesse," Alicia offers helpfully.

[Corwin]

[18:21] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Why not get a scroll of teleport from Elle Stronger?" Alicia recalls suggesting this previously, but Serge might not have been around then. "J should be able to cast from that, right?"
[18:21] <Kotono> > "Mmmm. That's a good thought," Rubbing his chin there, "We'd need two - I know the spell can fail and I'm nots ure exactly how big the jungle is and if it fits the range of the spell."
[18:21] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Always helps to have a backup. There's also the Shadow Walk spell - there's some risk in travelling via that plane, but I know for a fact it's sufficient to get you between here and Kesse," Alicia offers helpfully.
[18:23] <Kotono> "Shadow Walk? Eh." As he thoughtfully looks around, "To be entirely honest, I'm supposed to be keeping our risk down. Somehow...somehow I just know J or Rods will find some fuckup in the Shadow Plane. We're like a beacon for it."
[18:25] <Alicia> "Best to stick with teleporting, then," Alicia nods sagely. She does wonder a bit at his mannerisms, since looking around isn't stereotypical blind person behaviour. Was he born blind or did he lose his sight later in life? It feels a bit too personal to ask, though, so she doesn't.
[18:29] <Kotono> AS you talk, there's some of the normal noise at a theater. People chatting here and there, people getting seated. Amid the rows, you notice men carrying heavy trays with steaming finger foods and mugs of cool water. "Two copper, two copper!" One of the men calls. Turning his head towards them, "Hungry," Serge asks.
[18:30] <Alicia> "A little," Alicia nods, appreciating something to snack on during the performance.
[18:31] <Kotono> "Here!" Serge gets up and goes to the man, a few clinking copper coins passed over. He comes back with a pair of chicken legs and cups of chilly-cool water, passing one of each to Alicia. "Yeah. Rods and J...hahaha." As he looks onward, the performance still not ready, "They're really the muscle of the group. Sure, J probably couldn't lift Rods' axe, but she can do more than enough bashing with magic. Somebody has to stop and think before we le
[18:32] <Kotono>  but she can do more than enough bashing with magic. Somebody has to stop and think before we leap into another mess."
[18:35] * Alicia sets her cup down by her feet and carefully holds onto the chicken to avoid getting grease all over her fingers. "Don't you do any bashing of your own?" she asks, doubting the other two would keep him around if 'thinking' was all he brought to the table.
[18:38] <Kotono> "Oh yes, I know how to use a bow well." He stops here, smiling there at Alicia as she tries to keep her clothes and fingers clean. "For all his talk, Rods loves to mix it up and when he has a chance, he will. He's a born brawler. J's so damned headstrong that when she gets caught up in it, she's as bad as he is. If one of us didn't have a cool head, we'd have gotten a quick ticket to the end of the path by now."
[18:39] <Alicia> "I have to ask," Alicia begins after a quick nibble on her fowl, "How do you do it? I've heard of - though only in stories - blind swordsmen, but never a blind archer."
[18:51] <Kotono> After a moment to take a bigger bite of his chicken, "It's a gift. Ot
[18:51] <Kotono> OOC - Gah.
[18:54] <Kotono> After a moment to take a bigger bite of his chicken, "It's a gift. You have your own gifts from Mystra, Alicia? It's...rather like that in it's way. I don't see, but I can sense and feel everything around me. It's called blindsight in technical terms, usually."
[18:55] * Alicia nods, smiling. "I have a magic item that gives me the same ability, although the range is too limited for me to ever become consider archery while using it."
[18:56] <Kotono> After a thoughtful moment, "That black headband you wear sometimes?"
[18:57] <Alicia> "You can tell it's black?" Alicia sounds surprised. "Your blindsight is better than what that thing gives me, then. But yes, that is what I meant - if I'm dealing with an invisible enemy I can just pull it down over my eyes to gain its benefit."
[19:00] <Kotono> With a momentary smile, "Yeah. I can read with it, too. It's...." He stops there, before a shrug. "Remember when J went off on that rant about how the Gods don't lift a damned finger to help us?" With a sidelong look to Alicia, "J's really stupid about anything with religion. Have I said that before? It bears repeating anyway. She's...Ah, Abyss." Rubbing his forehead, "But yes, it's sublimely useful for anything like that."
[19:01] * Taishyr is now known as taifk-errands
[19:01] <Kotono> "She looks a divine gift in the face most days and she still thinks no one gives a damn."
[19:05] <Alicia> "I didn't really care to get in an argument with her over it - it's not an uncommon point of view, sadly, even though I'd expect it more from someone with less experience of the world than she clearly has," Alicia muses. "But yes, that's certainly a wonderful gift Kossuth has granted you, Serge," she concludes, honestly impressed by it.
[19:08] <Kotono> "I know. Beyond temples in Kesse, there's not much open religion. More than in some places, but still not much. Most people don't think the Gods care much. There's a few spells cast and spiritual guidance, but..." He stops there, looking at Alicia's eyes, even as you hear a curtain rising. "I'm glad to see it's changing in this city, in no small part to you for helping with the temple to Mystra."
[19:09] <Alicia> "It's only one of many, here," Alicia begins, wondering if they might have seen a temple to Kossuth if he had perhaps chosen a less highly strung representative, "Oh, it's starting!" she hushes up.
[19:16] <Kotono> Quiet overtakes the area as the play starts. It's a story set around Balmuria, detailing the final days of the Malmuthian occupations and attacks. Brave warriors - including a few real life figures, like Commander Oberuth, and briefly Lord Salman - are acted out leading the noble, clean men of Balmuria over the slovenly, slouching soldiers of Malmuth. It is a very epic styled play, with long monolouges taking place, sometimes in the middle of p
[19:16] <Kotono> with long monolouges taking place, sometimes in the middle of perfectly paused action. The actor that plays Commander Oberuth - a likeness to him, if more fat than muscularlly bulky - gives a long mid battle speech about how the rightful justice and free choice of the Baronies will triumph over the cold, self interest supporting tyranny of Malmuth. (More)
[19:20] <Kotono> As a large battle scene plays out, dozens of extras showing small battles and carnage, many simply lying dead with fake blood on them, the crowd seems most into it. Many of them cheer quietly, enraptured. Serge smiles at points of it, and as this goes on, "Is this Commander Oberuth like that? I hear he still serves in this city."
[19:21] * Alicia shakes her head. "He's not really one for speeches, no," she whispers, not really thinking much of this play.
[19:22] <Kotono> Whispering back, "I suppose so, yes.  This isn't really like a battle, but it does make good, simple entertainment. It resonates with many of the people here. What about you?"
[19:25] <Alicia> "Too politically skewed for my tastes," Alicia keeps her voice low, since her sentiment is likely an unpopular one.
[19:27] <Kotono> "Heh, heh. We are outsiders here," Whispering back, Serge offers his hand, "Come on, let's go do something else instead."
[19:30] * Alicia shakes her head. "It might get better, and the choreography is well done," she offers. Really, it might send a bad message for someone in her position to be snubbing the heroic tale of the Baronies' independence.
[19:31] <Kotono> "C'mon," He smiles more now, "You don't look like you're having fun. There's no point sitting the rest of this out. Let's go live a little instead."
[19:33] <Alicia> "We can live after the play," Alicia whispers. "Really, it's fine."
[19:35] <Kotono> "Alright," Serge agrees to that, settling back in for th eplay. It goes ona nother half hour, ending with the complete triumph of the Baronies, of course. The actors come out for a curtain call, cheering heard from most of the crowd.
[19:36] * Alicia applauds politely, not having any complaints with the quality of the actual acting. "There, that wasn't so hard now, was it?" she asks Serge now that it's over.
[19:38] <Kotono> Serge applauds as well, "It wasn't hard." He does agree to this, standing and stretching, "I just think there were better things to do. Did you feel obligated to stay?"
[19:40] <Alicia> "I do represent the United Baronies in an official capacity," she reminds him quietly, getting up and starting to leave the theatre. "Snubbing the tale of how they came to be would not send a very positive message."
[19:42] <Kotono> "I know." He says this, waiting until they're out on the street to raise his voice. "It's cute." He says this with a smile, "You're really dedicated to everything you do, aren't you?"
[19:45] <Alicia> "Cute?" Alicia actually looks somewhat flustered, not having heard that word used in relation to her since she was a teenager. Then again, that's probably what she is by Dwarf standards. "Well, anyway, yes," she nods as she recovers her composure. "If you're going to do something you should give it your all," she explains simply.
[19:48] <Kotono> Serge can't help but grin at that, "Yes, cute. Just like that, especially like that." He starts to walk along, "You're entirely right. You shouldn't do anything at half standards. Come on," he starts to head westward, "There's something else I have planned."
[19:48] * Sierra_GONE is now known as Sierra_MomentaryLife
[19:49] * Alicia amiably follows along, deciding just not to rise to the bait of being called cute. "And what's that?" she asks.
[19:54] <Kotono> Alicia is lead to the west and then north. Near the temple of Gond - but not too close, there's a small little building near the water's edge. He goes to the back of it, leading you around. There's a few tables there, as well as torches near the shore, casting a warm orange glow over the water, as well as the tables. The chairs look wooden but padded, surprisingly soft. It has a superb view of the bay and docks from here. "I found this place no
[19:54] <Kotono> It has a superb view of the bay and docks from here. "I found this place not too long ago. It's a great place to have a drink and relax, it has a great view."
[19:56] * Alicia wonders just how far the blind dwarf can actually see. "It is nice," she agrees, taking a seat facing the water. "That's one of the good things about living here - I've grown quite fond of the sea."
[19:58] <Kotono> The evening air is fresh with the scent of the sea, alive and vital. "Never had much taste for it ever since I ended up taking a dip in it unexpectedly." Serge murmurs, as a man comes out. He's dressed well, a pitcher of what looks to be pear juice put down, a cup poured for each. "I've gotten used to and fond of the surface, though."
[20:00] <Alicia> "The sound of the waves is soothing, for me," Alicia admits. "So did you originally live underground? I know there's a community of dwarves beneath the mountains south of Balmuria - something like that in Kesse as well?"
[20:03] <Kotono> "Yeah." He stops to take a small sip of the pear juice, though not much more than that. "There's alot of isolated settlements down there, like a loose network of traders and miners as well. I've heard a little about the dwarves here, they're rather reclusive. Even by our standards, and I'm as trange once since I willingly went and stuck with the surface world."
[20:03] <Kotono> *one
[20:04] <Kotono> "Kossuth gets some worship with us. There's more than the average amount of volcanic activity; the entire area is prone to eruption sand earthquakes at times, though Kesse is on the border of it and not directly in that area."
[20:06] <Alicia> "It is a bit strange that Balmuria seems to be a stone's throw away from communities of elves and dwarves but the humans here seemed entirely ignorant of their existence until very recently," Alicia muses, taking a sip of her own drink. "So what made you decide to stay on the surface?"
[20:08] <Kotono> "This entire area is odd." SErge agrees, looking out over the water. It's a pretty view, the bay's dark-green waters and the orange of the torches clashing together to make colored patterns. "Wanderlust. Underground, you can only follow the caves and mine tunnels. Here, you can go in any direction you like, if you can take care of yourself."
[20:09] * Alicia nods. "I can see the appeal," she agrees. "Although I suppose most dwarves prefer the caves and tunnels or else you wouldn't consider yourself an oddity?"
[20:10] <Kotono> "Yeah. I'm very much the odd one out." He smiles there briefly, looking to Alicia. "I found, despite the freedom, that most people stay on their farms or in their safe cities. AS free as it is, it's a dangerous world. Up here, I think the odd ones are those that ignore that and see the world. Which makes me doubly odd."
[20:15] <Alicia> "There's a lot to see. Once I'd have been happy living out my whole life within a day of Kelara's walls, but now I've covered thousands of miles on this world, and explored other planes as well," Alicia puts in for herself. "There's a lot of wonderful and terrifying things out there, if you go looking for them."
[20:17] <Kotono> "Yes." With a long sip of his drink now, smiling warmly at Alicia, "There really is. I've seen wonderful things, terrifying things, ugly things...beautiful things." The last is with a look at Alicia, unhidden. "There's always something over the next hill and past the horizon. Granted, I wish it hadn't been thrust one me because of one damn fool of a wizard, but that's life."
[20:23] <Alicia> The long look can't really be ignored. "And here's me thinking I'd be too tall and skinny to match a dwarf's standards of beauty," she deflects it with a little humour. But it would be cruel to just string him along, so she turns a bit to face Serge fully. "You're not bad looking yourself," she admits, "But you should probably know - I'm not looking to take this further."
[20:26] <Kotono> There's a moment, before Serge nods. "Shit." He says it without much heat, "Thanks, I appreciate the honesty." He looks out over the water, thoughtful. "Yeah. I'd been...you're damned arresting, but I you hadn't really taken any of the more subtle baits, but..." He stops there, turning back to Alicia, "I just had to try, and Rods kept saying thes ame thing."
[20:28] * Alicia reaches over to pat his hand. "It's a lovely evening, and I do enjoy your company," she commiserates. "I'm just not looking for any romantic entanglements."
[20:30] <Kotono> "No, I can respect that." He takes Alicia's hand, giving it a squeeze. "You are a paladin, I know your word is good." He looks at Alicia one more time, "Honestly, I was debating letting it go, but Rods got pushy about it again the last few days after talking to your familiar. So I figured, what the hell?"
[20:31] <Alicia> "He talked to my familiar?" Alicia blinks, that being news to her. "He mentioned saying hello to her when I ran into him at Elle's shop earlier, but I thought it was just a pleasantry..."
[20:32] <Kotono> "Yeah. I didn't get the entire thing out of him, but I did get it out of thim that he talked to her. I don't know aboutw hat, but..." A shrug there, "Rods ended up telling me it ws none of my business, but I figured that she said something to make it think this was a good idea."
[20:34] <Alicia> "She is a little troublemaker at times..." Alicia briefly frowns, before just letting it pass. "I'll discuss it with her later," she decides.
[20:35] <Kotono> "Yeah. That's where I heard about you being in Kelara and all of that," he adds. "She's as mischevious as a pixie, I take it? That's what Rods described her as."
[20:36] <Alicia> "She's not quite as bad as a pixie, but she's not far off," Alicia nods, before sighing. "She probably thought she was doing us a favour, too."
[20:37] <Kotono> Crackling a smile there, "She meant well...maybe." AFter a thoughtful moment, "Will she tell you the truth about it?"
[20:38] <Alicia> "If I press her," Alicia nods. "She likes to prevaricate when she can, but the truth always comes out in the end."
[20:39] <Kotono> "Heh, good luck with her then." Standing up now, "I appreciate the honesty again. Want me to walk you home?"
[20:40] <Alicia> "Sure," Alicia smiles in reply as she also stands up, glad that this was handled with a minimum of embarrassment or anguish.
[20:43] <Kotono> The streets are dark but lively, torches out and people coming and going. As they walk amid them, Serge seems content to keep his peace and quiet. Once reaching Alicia's house, he offers his hand out. "To good fortune and triumphant might in your battles ahead." He repeats that in Dwarven, strange words lost on Alicia. "It's a dwarven parting message to ensure that you see the person again.
[20:43] <Kotono> "
[20:44] * Sierra_MomentaryLife is now known as Eternal_Sierra
[20:46] <Alicia> "A fine sentiment," Alicia agrees as she shakes his hand. Then, deciding that there's no harm in it since she's made it clear this won't go further, she leans down and kisses Serge's cheek. "You can at least tell Rods you got that far," she offers with a smile.
[20:48] <Kotono> "Hahahaha." He can't help but grin at that, "Thanks. Until-" He stops, glancing to the side of Alicia's house. Serge half frowns, before he glances back to Alicia. "Oh sorry, something distracted me a moment."
[20:50] * Alicia is fully aware that her familiar has her ear against the door and is eavesdropping for all she's worth, so she glances to the side to see where Serge was looking. "What was it?" she asks. Admittedly it could be any of three legitimate residents, but it could also be an intruder with nefarious intent!
[20:51] <Kotono> "Winged woman. Has a spear and armor on." He says tersely. "Doesn't look to be particularly hostile."
[20:52] <Alicia> "Oh, that's Antenora. She lives here," Alicia explains. "Likes to spend her evenings practicing out the back."
[20:53] <Kotono> A nod back, a smile, "Alright. Until then..." At those words Antenora comes around, even smiling briefly to Serge. As Serge leaves and Antenora comes around, "Sorry," she apologizes. "I heard voices and I wanted to make sure it wasn't anything troublesome."
[20:54] * Alicia waves to the dwarf before nodding to Antenora. "It's alright, we were just saying goodbye." She hesitates at the door just long enough for Marie to flee before she opens it. "Hopiel around? I thought you'd be practicing with him."
[20:55] <Kotono> "We'd been talking," Following Alicia inside, "He went to stretch his wings outside of the city."
[20:57] * Alicia nods as she goes to the living room where Marie is on the table with her book. "Oh, you're back already!" the eladrin smiles, all innocence. "Did you have a good time?"
[20:59] <Alicia> "It was nice," Alicia smiles at the coure. "You never told me you made a new friend while we were in Kelara."
[20:59] <Alicia> This prompts Marie to pout in reply. "I said I'd keep quiet, I should've got him to do the same..."
[20:59] <Kotono> Antenora smiles a little, all too softly as she goes to sit down. "Oh, why was that?" she asks the little eladrin. "Is there a reason you should've kept it quiet?"
[21:01] <Alicia> "Surely so I could live in the happy fantasy that my social life is not all at the behest of my familiar's deft manipulations," Alicia concludes as she alights on the couch. "Really, Marie, I'm not even angry. Just give me a little warning in future, please?"
[21:03] <Alicia> "People just don't appreciate surprises," Marie shakes her head. "Oh well. You were right about this book - it's all magical formula for gnomes who like to stab people in their vitals," she pats the pages as she changes the subject. "Pretty interesting, but not the kind of thing anyone could easily put into practice."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Better we have it than anyone else," Antenora says as she eyes Marie quite long. "Beth would've loved that, good thing she never stumbled on much of anything gnomish."
[21:07] <Alicia> "None of the spells are anything particularly evil," Marie notes. "Really, it's mostly utility stuff - I guess they expected to use their spells for getting where they need to be and then," she mimes stabbing someone, "Letting their blades to the dirty work."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Speaking of dirty work like that..." Antenora looks to the two, "Are both of you ready to face Esthan?"
[21:09] <Alicia> "Maybe Jessica could learn some of it anyway? If she cares to try," Alicia considers. "Alright Marie, you know where my writing supplies are in the study - see if you can make a translation at some point. It can go to the Church library." As Marie's face falls when confronted with impending drudgery, Alicia nods to Antenora. "Tomorrow was the deadline Seira gave. We'd better be."
[21:11] <Kotono> "I will be." She says, "We are going to triumph, pit fiend or not." She looks Alicia in the eye, "A pit fiend's scales are harder than steel and it's flesh is like diamonds. Could you enchant my spear before we go? I'll need all the help I can get.""
[21:13] <Alicia> "Of course, I'll do that for all of us," Alicia nods. "I have some silversheen we should use as well."
[21:13] <Alicia> "And I've got my silvered banishing arrows!" Marie exclaims. "I was able to send a marilith back to the abyss with a cold iron one, so I know these should work great!"
[21:17] <Kotono> "Until then...I practice," Antenora stands up, "I have to be at my absolute best coming up. We can't let Esthan loose a single day longer. I won't allow it." Her voice is very quiet, very strong. "Alicia, Marie, would either of you join me?"
[21:19] <Alicia> "There's a few hours left in the day. Just let me get changed," Alicia gets up to go do just that.
[21:19] <Alicia> Meanwhile, Marie floats up from the table, "You know I love being the target!" she giggles.
[21:20] <Kotono> "If you do well, maybe I'll let you sit on my head," Antenora smiles ever so slightly to that. "So don't slack off."
[21:21] <Alicia> "Just so long as it's a non-magic spear, you can hit me all you want," Marie promises as she turns into an incorporeal ball of light. "Or try to, anyway!" she adds before zipping out the back.

[Corwin]

[16:11] <Kokokokokoko> -------(Devil Ko)--
[16:11] * Kokokokokoko is now known as Kotono
[16:14] <Kotono> The five prepare, having cast many a magic and cleared their minds of worry, pain, and regret. So armed and girded, the five teleport at noon, zipping through space and reality in an instant! The first thing they notice is that it's dark here. Well, not quite dark. Dim. There is precious little light. It's quite warm, positively balmy. Around them the clearing and the various cabins line up. (More)
[16:16] <Kotono> In the clearing are two fell creatures, ones the heroes know well. Gelugons, the devils of ice, stand guard in the center in a pair. They look in sweeps of each direction, one of them already on you.  In precise, restrained Common, "The Master is expecting you," he says, "We are not going to attack." It's mandibles click-clatter at that, it's spear in one hand. (More)
[16:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[16:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[16:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 27."12 [1d20=16]
[16:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 31."12 [1d20=20]
[16:17] <Seira> "Take us to your leader," Seira demands curtly.
[16:19] * Sierra_CarbonFreeze is now known as Sierra_OHGODTHELIGHTTHELIGHT
[16:19] <Kotono> The other turns, shaking it's head. "Except for him," he says to Donald, "That hammer doesn't come any closer."
[16:20] <Kotono> As they tallk, there is a faraway, distant rippling of the air just glimpsed above and ahead, all about in the farthest reaches of view.
[16:21] * Alicia wears a blindfold over her eyes in order to detect any hidden foes nearby as she follows the rest of their party, Hell Striker held loosely in one hand but easily able to come up in readiness if need be. "We're not leaving him alone in your midst," she replies curtly to the gelugon, telepathically relaying the state of the opposition to Elle and Hopiel.
[16:21] <Seira> roll 1d20+20
[16:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 and gets 29."12 [1d20=9]
[16:21] <Kotono> "Leave the hammer then. Our Master has ordered us not to hurt you or your possessions," The other one says coldly.
[16:22] <Seira> Seira muses through the link that it looks like some sort of large-scale wall of force is surrounding them.
[16:23] <Kotono> OOC - Strike the Donald references with references to Oberuth instead.
[16:25] <Kotono> OOC - Strike everything after Seira's line about taking you to your leader.
[16:25] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia, you can redo your line if you like.
[16:25] <Kotono> OOC: Shimmering bit and SEira's K:A roll stnad.
[16:25] * Alicia wears a blindfold over her eyes in order to detect any hidden foes nearby as she follows the rest of their party, Hell Striker held loosely in one hand but easily able to come up in readiness if need be. While Seira asks to see Esthan, she telepathically informs Hopiel and Elle what devils are in evidence that she can detect with blindsight.
[16:26] <Kotono> Latha looks about, shining out in this dimness like a beacon of purest light. Her glory clashes against the darkness that clings to the devils, a battle restrained only by will. "This way," one of the gelugons leads towards the biggest cabin. "The Master awaits you."
[16:27] * Seira heads after him with confidence.
[16:27] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth's gaze is icy as he begins to walk, the devils fearsome - but no fear auras felt, no obvious offenses at all. As they do, Alicia and Seira hear this in their minds, 'Assassin devils, all around,' Antenora says tersely.
[16:28] <Seira> 'Good for them,' Seira thinks back cheerfully.
[16:28] <Alicia> Like Latha, Alicia has no qualms about concealing her own radiance, the nimbus of celestial light flowing freely from her. With a purpose that belies her apparent inability to see, she heads towards the indicated cabin. 'Act like you can't see them. No point tipping our hand,' she suggests to the erinyes.
[16:29] <Kotono> 'Of course,' Antenora answers back to Alicia, almost smiling to Seira. One of the gelugons glances at Antenora as they walk, a cold, horrible look worse than the gale off an arctic blizzard. "You are fortunate the Master does not choose to immediately punish you, traitor."
[16:31] * Alicia pauses and turns to the gelugon with her covered gaze. "Hold whatever you have that passes for a tongue, insect. We don't require your commentary."
[16:32] <Kotono> Antenora doesn't reply with words, though the two exchange long, sharp looks. The other goes to open the door to the largest cabin. Inside, you can see it's perhaps fifty feet long and positively baking inside. Chairs are arrainged by the door, several of them. Sitting on the other side, fifty feet back, is Esthan. He sits with his hood back on a high backed chair, like a throne. He looks casually interested as you enter, "Ah, welcome, welcome.
[16:32] <Kotono> He looks casually interested as you enter, "Ah, welcome, welcome. Please, be seated so we can begin." (More)
[16:33] <Kotono> A dark aura flickers around Esthan, steady and potent, casting shadows all over him with inky black. At his side are two more gelugon, and ten feet ahead of him are four more, making advance past them quite a tricky feat if they cared to contest it.  (More)
[16:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[16:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[16:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 19."12 [1d20=8]
[16:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 17."12 [1d20=6]
[16:35] <Kotono> The gelugon who stared at Alicia turns away, bowing deeply to Esthan before skittering out of the room with his companion.
[16:36] * Seira decides it is a perfect time to think to Elle that if she hadn't taken counter-measures to see the invisible devils by now, along with as many back in Balmuria that can do it, it would be a great time.
[16:37] * Seira also gives the chair a cursory look to ensure nothing pointlessly mean about it, before taking a seat.
[16:37] <Kotono> Antenora looks long at Esthan, long and cold. Esthan merely smiles back, gesturing. "Sit. I'm not interested in dragging you back to Hell. You can cavort with Alicia and the mortals for all I care."
[16:38] <Seira> "I'm glad you're much more reasonable than your goons outside, then," Seira says with a smile of her own.
[16:38] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth goes to sit, as does Antenora without comment. "Alicia," a nod to her, "I've heard a lot about you. It's a pity we haven't had the chance to meet before this."
[16:38] <Kotono> "They're merely gelugons. Nothing of note to us," With a dismissive gesture again, "Pay them no heed."
[16:39] <Seira> roll 1d20+20
[16:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 and gets 34."12 [1d20=14]
[16:40] <Kotono> The six gelugons stand without a single comment or motion, almost statue like in perfect silent submission.
[16:40] * Alicia informs Hopiel which particular cabin Esthan resides in as she enters. Remaining standing, she comes to within thirty feet of Esthan before speaking. "It was a lovely gift you gave my familiar, a way for Hell to profit even by us slaying unrelated demons? Very clever," she acknowledges.
[16:40] <Alicia> "But there is little point in pretending friendship when we are at cross purposes and your master has made clear his desire to see me and those I care for brought low."
[16:42] <Alicia> OOC: hold on that...
[16:42] <Seira> 'Twenty feet ahead is a wall that dispels enchantments,' Seira thinks to those who could hear it through their link. 'If it comes to that, I'll use Dimension Door to take us across it, Alicia.'
[16:44] <Alicia> OOC: my action stands but I'll stay near Seira
[16:45] <Kotono> "My Master?" Raising an eyebrow to that, "Alicia, who do you think my Master is? Martinet? I would assume you found the gelugon's notes in Parsifal? I have a token of advice for you." Flashing a smile that's bone white, "Don't believe everything you read. Martinet can go to the Abyss for all I care."
[16:46] <Seira> "So you're striking out on your own, then?"
[16:46] <Kotono> Latha stands bright and ready, "Does it matter who your Master is? All the devils ultimately bow to the same corruptness and superior."
[16:47] <Kotono> "Not...quite." He pauses a moment, "That would say there is only myself, or only a handful of us. Oh no, that would be a gross misrepresentation."
[16:47] <Alicia> "His journal was quite detailed," Alicia acknowledges. "In that case you perhaps have me at a disadvantage, although I have suspicions regarding another candidate... one perhaps thought irrelevant by most." She leaves it hanging to see if she's close to the mark.
[16:48] <Seira> 'I'm not getting an answer back, are you?' Seira asks Alicia silently.
[16:48] <Kotono> "Well, tell me. I must admit, that if you can guess right, you'll have my undying shock and respect." Esthan folds his hands in his lap at that, waiting.
[16:49] <Alicia> 'Nothing. We might have to commit as soon as you get that sending,' Alicia replies to Seira. "Does the name Irrylan mean anything to you?" she asks Esthan. Perhaps that talk with Jamais wasn't so wasteful after all.
[16:50] * Seira looks interested in the answer, observing Esthan.
[16:51] <Kotono> Esthan's lips curl up, a chuckle racing through him. "I'm afraid not, though I still applaud you. That's some magnificient speculating you've done. But enough of that, let us get to the point of this. Asmodeus is supreme in Hell to all accounts, yes? That may be so today, but there are those that have the courage and ambition to stand up against him." (More)
[16:53] <Kotono> "My Master realises, however begrudingly, that Asmodeus will never be defeated by another devil or devils alone. He's far too powerful and in control of Hell for this to ever happen. Therefore, one must look outside for allies and make approriate offers."
[16:56] <Seira> "I'll grant you that, your goals are pretty damn impressive," Seira muses. "The scale you're thinking on is grand-- no, that's your master, isn't it? So what does he have to achieve by hiding his identity from these would-be allies?"
[16:59] <Kotono> "One does not unseat Asmodeus by shouting it into the streets," Esthan replies, "For the Order of the Lie hears everything in it's way. Why, the precations we've taken to ensure today's meeting stays secret is considerable! My Master is willing ot offer much - at first, support against the other devils and forces that plague your world. In time, captured items and relics of the upper planes, once trust is built up. When the time is right...you
[16:59] <Kotono> once trust is built up. When the time is right...you will help my Master defeat the current regime in Hell. There's much more to it than that, but that's the grist of it." (More)
[17:01] <Kotono> "Of course, there needs to be something to sweeten the deal for you. That is simple. Once my Master rules Hell, there will be along purge of all remnants of the previous regime. It will take millenia to be certain...and for your help, we will enter into a contract. As the Lord of Hell, my Master will agree that no devil will set foot in your world for 10,000 years. You will have what is impossible otherwise, endless mortal generations free ofw
[17:01] <Kotono> You will have what is impossible otherwise, endless mortal generations free ofw hat you would call the plague of devilkind." (More)
[17:04] <Kotono> "As to the why? You are rising mortals with considerable potential. My Master acknowledges that and does not wish to bear arms against you as well as the rest of Hell. Would not a peaceable agreement and cooperation be far superior? All in fair contracts, of course, ones that can be reviewed throughly before they are signed, so that you need not worry about a double-cross."
[17:04] <Alicia> "And then our ancestors, complacent and having no idea of the threat you pose, are confronted by the resurgent baatezu?" Alicia asks, shaking her head. "You play a very long game, Esthan, but we mortals are not as short-sighted as you like to imagine."
[17:05] <Alicia> OOC: descendants*
[17:05] <Kotono> "Surely the Heavens will not let you grow that complacent." With a pleasant smile at Latha and then Antenora, "Will you?"
[17:06] <Seira> "There's also a small matter of all the devils you managed to get over here," Seira comments. "I can't help but be curious. If you're trying to keep this meeting from Asmodeus, how did you manage to get such a force over to Prime without his knowledge?"
[17:07] <Kotono> "We have our ways," Smiling to this, "If My Master could not even manage that, what good would there be to rebel at all? We have our resources."
[17:07] <Seira> "Excuse me, I should have been cleared. Are they truly your master's resources, or leftover relics of the gnomes you're merely using to your goals?"
[17:10] <Kotono> "There's a story about a Baron Molikroth in Caina," Antenora speaks quite clearly and loudly, raising her voice. "About how a charismatic leader overthrew Mephistopheles, only to turn out it was Mephisto's way of identifying those to be purged."
[17:12] <Kotono> "We are our own to our Master. The affair with the God-King did not directly involve us. You just happen to have gotten My Master's interest." A moment, "Ah yes, Mephisto is a sure hand at these matters. I am willing to make large concessions to prove my sincerity and my Master's sincerity. There are matters that I could help you with...a black winged angel who troubles you, or perhaps finding what has been lost?"
[17:13] <Seira> "You want to kill the crazy black winged angel for us?"
[17:14] <Kotono> "We have information about her - she stole a few erinyes from Martinet. While I have no pity for him, she is a dangerous element that bears Hell no good will. It would be to all of our advantages if we worked together on this matter."
[17:16] <Kotono> "So..." Latha says now, after a moment to draw in a long breath, "You're an agent for Martinet in name, while being a double or perhaps triple agent for this Master you speak of? Or are the mentions of Martinet merely lies?"
[17:16] <Alicia> 'It's been a minute,' Alicia telepathically notes to Seira. 'They're not coming, and the five of us can't handle all of these fiends. Think he'll take no for an answer?' She was about to say something to stall some more but Latha seems to have a handle on that.
[17:18] <Kotono> "More or less, yes." Smilling now, easily and almost...kindly, in a twisted way. "I do hope you'll say yes. If you doubt my sincerity...If I meant you harm, I would have begun in Kelara. Kelara and Alicia's childhood home would have burned in an inferno, then I would have worked west. After laying the Desert to ruin, I would have gone to Pallanth. Seira's friends, family...up in the flames. Then, perhaps slowly work towards Balmuria...or perhap
[17:18] <Kotono> family...up in the flames. Then, perhaps slowly work towards Balmuria...or perhaps appear there in your sleep and send you off in your slumber." (More)
[17:18] <Seira> 'Yes, though it's disappointing the others didn't just try to follow us,' Seira responds. 'In the end, we can admit to needing more time to consult with our leadership.'
[17:20] <Alicia> "That's a bluff," Alicia replies, hoping she's on the mark. "You act with subtlety because any such blatant provocation would bring down reprisals upon you from forces far superior to what we have. Your good will has nothing to do with it."
[17:21] <Kotono> "If we meant you harm, we would not go through this indirect process and waste all this time. You'd be dead and forgotten and Hell would march on. No, we want to aid you as you stand tall. The information, the magic, the power we can offer is immense, incalcuable millenias of hording." To that, Esthan looks Alicia in the eye, "Would I? I could have fought Seira one on one and slain her. I could have killed Demedais in his sleep. I act with subt
[17:21] <Kotono> I could have killed Demedais in his sleep. I act with subtly because My Master is sincere.:
[17:23] * Seira lets such an obvious slight against her person go, a smile on her face. "But for all that supposed good will, all we get is talk. Some of it is vague, some is vaguely threatening. When I mentioned what it would get us to the table, you seemed to get serious for the first time, yet there's been no mention of that and just more of the same old spiel. Practical people don't get convinced by idle talk."
[17:24] * Sierra_OHGODTHELIGHTTHELIGHT is now known as ShinMegamiSierra_Persona4
[17:24] <Kotono> "Yes then," A pause here, "I have a contract right here. It's in simple terms, nothing about souls or betrayl or any such. You agree to a basic term in it, and in exchange we give you aid against the black winged angel. A starter package, if you will."
[17:25] <Seira> "And this aid means what, precisely?"
[17:28] <Kotono> After a moment, "And..." He reaches into his robes, withdrawing a heavy lead box. "Information that will help you find her before it's too late and she comes for all of you. Also..." He cracks open the box, a golden amulet sitting inside. "It's called a Retribuative Amulet, a powerful and protective charm of the Heavens. My Master has freed it from his vault as an offering to you."
[17:30] * Seira pauses. "Would you mind terribly if I point out a flaw in your approach?" she asks, and proceeds without waiting for an answer. "You frame this in terms of aiding us with our problem, but you've already admitted that she's been harrassing your side as well, and stealing your erinyes for her own purposes.
[17:30] <Seira> For all we know, dealing with this rogue angel could be one of the tasks given to you, and you're hoping we take care of it for you and thank you for the chance, at that."
[17:30] <Kotono> "Even if so, I know it's your problem as well. If that is my task, what of it? Cooperating towards the same goal is my purpose here."
[17:31] <Seira> "So here's my counter offer. Give us your information, and we'll see what we can do. If it checks out, we'll proceed to the next round of talks."
[17:31] <Alicia> "Finding her is no challenge at this point," Alicia replies. "We know her weaknesses, and we have countermeasures against her strengths. We haven't pursued her yet because there are more pressing concerns," she levels her unseeing gaze in Esthan's direction, "You are one such concern, Esthan, if that satisfies your fiendish ego."
[17:32] <Seira> While Alicia takes over their side of the conversation, Seira glances at Latha, ostensively to check on how well she's been keeping herself in check.
[17:32] <Kotono> "Such a thing should never be in your hands," Latha says low, keeping the comment almost under her breath. She looks away at it and up to ESthan. "The Heavens will never agree to that. If you truly want to fight the establishment of Hell, repent your sins and remake yourself, devil."
[17:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
[17:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 29."12 [1d20=7]
[17:35] <Kotono> "Really? Then let us lay this concern to rest," Esthan offers. "With our knowledge added, finding and defeating this angel should be a simple labor."
[17:35] <Kotono> With a look to LAtha, trying not to smile broadly, "Really? How many angels rule in Hell, rather than servingin the Heavens?"
[17:35] <Alicia> "You don't even know her name, do you?" Alicia needles.
[17:43] <Kotono> "Yet, you haven't called her by name, either," Esthan says, snapping his fingers. In Alicia's lap, a sheet of smooth parchment appears, letters of red written on it. "Feel free to read it."
[17:45] * Alicia is not doing something so foolish as sitting when surrounded by fiends. Still, she takes a look at the parchment since he surely doesn't need something as sneaky as explosive runes to hurt them at this point.
[17:45] <Alicia> This sadly necessitates pulling her blindfold up.
[17:49] <Kotono> It's a contract. It's written in simple terms, with no ambiguities. In exchange for the service of Esthan aiding them in the defeat of the black winged woman, they will agree it to aid Esthan, in lieu and in standing for his Master. There's a bunch after about not betraying, various things of that sort. Looks like security clauses for both sides. The penalty for breaking the contract is enslavement to the wronged party for 99 years.
[17:52] <Alicia> So it's not her name, therefore Alicia doesn't need to look stupid by continuing, "It merely demonstrates your knowledge isn't superior to our own in this respect. Also this contract obligates you to help us with a single specific task while leaving us to aid you in a far more open-ended manner. I'd have to be mentally deficient to sign it." With that conclusion she tosses the paper aside.
[17:53] * Seira stands up. "Well, this was mildly disappointing. I'm not someone who would jump into a binding contract without sufficient good will being demonstrated ahead of that unless I'm really desperate, so I guess this is where we part ways."
[17:53] * Seira smiles again. "Good luck with that taking down Asmodeus thing!"
[17:54] <Kotono> "Ah well. You're free to go then." With a dismissive wave, "The protections won't stop you from leaving; they're to keep the Order of the Lie out. I'm sure we'll meet again when the time is right. Feel free to apologize to your friends who attempted to breech the barrier for me if you would?"
[17:57] <Seira> "Your kind thoughts are enough, surely," Seira responds, walking out of the cabin.
[17:57] * Alicia isn't sure whether to be disappointed or relieved by the lack of a more appealing follow-up offer. "Until next time," she nods gravely, pulling her blindfold back down as she turns to leave.
[17:57] <Kotono> Antenora growls a little at that, "Shut up," she says, "Don't you think fora  minute that you're going to be able to manipulate us at all." With a cold look as she follows Alicia, "You can run all the plans you wish from here to the last day. We'll never bow to your will."
[17:58] <Kotono> Latha walks out next, shining brilliantly. "Wallow in your sin on your own, devil."
[17:59] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth walks out last, "And our city and nation will never submit to anything you'd do. A devil's word is worthless to us, the only good devil is a dead one." As the party heads out, they can hear Esthan's laughter tickling their ears. Outside is quiet, only the two gelugons(And the assassin devils and imps to the true see-ers.) about,w atching.
[18:00] <Alicia> 'The others are either just outside the field or back in Balmuria. Lets walk out of here in case it's the former,' Alicia suggests via telepathy, heading onto the path out of the camp.
[18:00] <Seira> 'Are we doing anything about all the assassin devils and the gelugons here?'
[18:01] <Alicia> 'If we start a fight we can be sure Esthan will end it,' Alicia replies sadly. 'Without our reserves we can't beat this many.'
[18:01] <Seira> 'He's an annoying, supremely confident devil. He would just watch and provide commentary.'
[18:02] <Kotono> The six walk along, a silence amid them. Ahead, you see shimmering walls, a domed barrier reaching up through the trees and air. You'll have to walk through it to get out.
[18:03] <Alicia> 'I don't intend to risk my life on his good-will,' Alicia hardly sounds thrilled. 'If we can break the barrier from the other side once we rejoin the others...' Approaching said barrier, she takes a deep breath before stepping through it. Hopefully.
[18:04] <Kotono> Alicia steps through the barrier! He entire body ripples, a strange feeling as she passes through! SHe stands on the other side, safe and sound.
[18:04] * Seira frowns, but ends up following Alicia.
[18:05] <Alicia> 'Hopiel? Elle?' Alicia tries once outside. 'Where are you?'
[18:05] <Kotono> Antenora passes through as well, then Oberuth and Latha. Once through, "I feel like I just bathed in filth," Oberuth says in disgust.
[18:06] <Seira> "So annoying," Seira mutters.
[18:07] <Kotono> "Even if he tells the truth, his Master is a damned fool," Antenora snaps, "Consorting and hiring angels and heroes like mercenaries?"
[18:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
[18:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 21."12 [1d20=5]
[18:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
[18:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 34."12 [1d20=18]
[18:09] <Alicia> "I'm not getting any reply from Elle or Hopiel," Alicia notes worriedly once they're clear.
[18:09] <Kotono> 'Yes?' Elle answers instantly, 'Alicia? Seira?'
[18:09] <Alicia> OOC: strike
[18:09] <Seira> 'Yes. Where are you?'
[18:10] <Alicia> 'We just finished our meeting. Had to walk since it seems his precautions stopped your arrival. He let us go,' Alicia summarises dispiritedly.
[18:10] <Kotono> 'Balmuria. The teleports fizzled,' She answers, 'Not redirected, they just failed.'
[18:11] <Seira> 'Can you make it over to us, just outside the barrier?' Seira asks, directing her question more to Hopiel.
[18:11] * Alicia provides the distance from the campsite at which the barrier ends, if that helps.
[18:13] <Kotono> No reply from Hopiel. 'I'll can try,' Elle responds nonetheless.
[18:14] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 98."12 [1d100=98]
[18:15] <Kotono> roll 1d20+80
[18:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+80 and gets 85."12 [1d20=5]
[18:15] <Kotono> roll 1d10
[18:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 10."12 [1d10=10]
[18:17] <Kotono> 'Gaaaah!' Elle's voice comes over, 'Mystra's heart...ugh!' There's a few more pausing moments, 'Teleport error. We're in dense, wild forest somewhere and you're not around. Got scrambled a bit, too.'
[18:18] <Seira> 'Damn. We're returning. So should you, when you can. Today is a failure after all.'
[18:18] <Alicia> 'Oh, it just goes from bad to worse. Can you get back to Balmuria?'
[18:19] <Kotono> 'I have a few backups, yes.' Elle answers, 'Have you heard anything from Hopiel? I haven't since he plane shifted.'
[18:19] <Kotono> roll 1d100 don't choke Elle!
[18:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 don't choke Elle! and gets 64."12 [1d100=64]
[18:19] <Seira> 'Not yet. But someone of his stature could surely manage to return to Prime.'
[18:19] <Alicia> 'Nothing,' Alicia replies worriedly. 'I don't think Planetars can do that at will like Devas can, he might not have any spells left for it.'
[18:20] <Kotono> 'I hope whatever stopped us didn't do something to him,' Elle says sadly. 'Or at worst, that. I'm sure they're safe in the Upper Planes somewhere. A day in the heavens if it's that...they can even think of it as a vacation.'
[18:21] <Seira> "Well," Seira speaks, turning towards Latha, "looks like it's your turn."
[18:21] <Alicia> 'We're going to go to Elysium and then back to the Prime with Latha, we'll hopefully hear from him there,' Alicia tells Elle, before speaking to Latha, "Latha, can you take us to Elysium? That's where Hopiel and those with him should be."
[18:22] <Kotono> "Certainly. Take my hands," she holds each out, "We can banish our sorrows with a repreive in the heavens. There will be another day to stand and fight evil."
[18:24] * Alicia obligingly takes Latha's hand.
[18:24] * Seira does likewise, sighing.
[18:26] <Kotono> roll 1d100 (95-100 Dwoemoerheart since why not?)
[18:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 (95-100 Dwoemoerheart since why not?) and gets 47."12 [1d100=47]
[18:28] <Kotono> You stand in beautifully rolling hills. The sun shines down on these perfect, pastroal heights. Here everything is green and lush, a natural land that enthralls you. Colors are incredibly vivid, alive. The sky is more blue than you have ever seen. The sun gushes endless light that does not dazzle your eyes. The air is so sweet as to be a candy, yet it does not cloy your senses at all. A stream runs nearby, a pack of golden furred bison contenti
[18:28] <Kotono> A stream runs nearby, a pack of golden furred bison contentidly drinking from the water.
[18:29] * Alicia breathes in deeply even as she tries telepathic contact. 'Hopiel? Can you hear me?'
[18:29] * Seira gets a strong desire to take over this realm and establish her kingdom here.
[18:29] <Kotono> Antenora closes her eyes, going to sit down. She doesn't say a word.
[18:30] <Kotono> 'Alicia?' Hopiel answers, 'You're safe? The planar shifting was foiled.'
[18:30] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth looks about, blinking several times. "This place...I..." he tries tos peak, but shakes his head instead several times.
[18:31] <Seira> "It's great, isn't it?"
[18:31] <Alicia> 'We underestimated Esthan's defences. In the end we had to parlay and leave without violence,' Alicia relays, sitting down next to Antenora. "I feel like Mystra is so close, here..."
[18:32] <Seira> "There's something bothering me," Seira declares. "Was it just me, or did it feel like he didn't really want to work with us like he claimed to?"
[18:32] <Kotono> "Mystra's domain is in Elysium," Hopiel answers through the tap, "Mystra is on this plane in her domain, which would resonate with you."
[18:32] <Seira> "All that useless talk of bribes and contracts felt more like he wanted to get us out of the way."
[18:33] <Alicia> "His offer was a poor one," Alicia agrees with Seira. Back to telepathy, 'Yes, it makes me want to stay... Will you be able to return with the others to the Prime tomorrow?'
[18:33] <Kotono> "Maybe," Antenora sighs, going to lie against Alicia. "Who knows how far his scheming goes...just...let me close my eyes here awhile. I feel like I can forget what just happened."
[18:34] <Kotono> "Don't get too enraptured," Latha says with a note of warning in her voice.
[18:35] <Alicia> "My familiar has mentioned the effect Elysium has on visitors," Alicia agrees. "Still, it can't hurt to stay for a few minutes, can it?"
[18:35] <Seira> "I'm too angry to really get caught in all the peace and quiet," Seira muses. "Thanks for the heads up, though. So what's our next move? All those devils, if he didn't just summon them, we can't let them roam the world."
[18:35] <Kotono> 'That's normal,' Hopiel says, 'Just dont' dally and you should be fine. Elysium's difficult to leave, but as long as you aren't here for more than a few days you should be alright. Tomorrow will be fine; I'll have a struggle to get them back.' He chuckles.
[18:36] <Kotono> "We fight them," Oberuth says darkly, "When they dirty our door and our city, we exterminat ethem like the vermin they are."
[18:36] <Alicia> "They weren't summoned. My sword would've sent them away if so," Alicia shakes her head. "But now that Esthan has no need for the meeting place he can send them anywhere, by methods that are difficult to track."
[18:37] <Seira> "Oh!" Seira exclaims. "We did learn something after all. Esthan's form was the same even with true sight. All his talk about not appearing as he truly is just might be a bluff."
[18:37] <Kotono> One of the bison goes up to Seira, mooing softly at her and poking her arm with it's head.
[18:38] <Alicia> "Or he could've had magic that negates divinations. It's not unheard of," Alicia observes, before chuckling at the bison. "Looks like you made a new friend, Seira."
[18:38] * Seira grins, patting the friendly bison. "You guys are the best summons ever!" she declares happily.
[18:38] <Kotono> "Or he had protections against it," Latha reasons, "It's not impossible with the tier of opponent we're facing. But if not...is it possible he's some part mortal or unique devil?"
[18:39] <Kotono> The bison licks Seira's hand, before going back to the stream to drink.
[18:39] <Seira> "I'm thinking the latter. It's really quite simple; if he's so vastly more powerful, why would he bother concealing his true form from those like us?"
[18:39] <Kotono> "Mmm. We'll get him," Antenora says quietly, "No matter what he is."
[18:40] <Alicia> "Not just us," Alicia points out, "He probably has something like nondetection or mind blank up at all times simply as a precaution against any number of potential foes who might scry on him."
[18:40] <Kotono> "Yes, I imagine that sort of personality attracts foes like honey attracts flies," Oberuth says sourly.
[18:43] <Seira> "Since he's so damn annoying, maybe we should respond in kind, such as with a public awareness program that tells our citizens to beware the very kind people traveling in their midsts."
[18:45] <Alicia> "There's no point in fostering paranoia," Alicia shakes her head. "Every church already - or certainly should - give warnings about trafficking with fiends, but since Esthan could appear in any form he pleases then there's nothing meaningful to warn against."
[18:47] <Seira> "Probably," Seira admits. "But sitting back home and waiting on the devils to actually come to us pisses me off. Isn't there something we can do to act rather than react?"
[18:49] <Alicia> "We could go to hell and kill enough high ranking devils that they have to recall underlings on the prime while things stabilise," Alicia posits as she lays back on the oh so soft and inviting meadow. "But otherwise, no. How can you hunt an enemy who can teleport and disguise themselves as anything they please?"
[18:49] <Seira> "The hell teleportation plan, appealing more and more," Seira mutters.
[18:50] <Alicia> "I rather like it myself," Alicia smiles. "Certainly I intend to have another crack at that prison where Latha was being held, one day."
[18:53] * Seira thinks it over. "There is a way, perhaps," she muses slowly. "You know those tokens that become animated birds and carry your message over a distance, Alicia? If enough of us traveled through Pallanth, someone might be able to get on Esthan's trail and call the others over. With the rings of teleportation we have, we could even memorize enough locations throughout the land to get close enough."
[18:56] <Alicia> "Isn't one just on loan?" Alicia asks. "But even with that, it takes birds some time to fly wherever in order to deliver the message. Really you'd probably have more success if you just tried to scry on him every day then teleported right on top of him once found."
[18:58] <Seira> "It is," Seira agrees. "But I'm thinking the elves have a vested interest to cooperate. It's not like I'll be the one using it, if we go for it. Scrying, though... yes, I might as well. It feels a bit passive, but we could certainly go for it and succeed one day."
[18:59] <Alicia> "It's actually better since it lets us do other things even while hunting him. A physical pursuit occupies all of our attention, which could let Esthan serve as an excellent distraction for other fiendish plots elsewhere," Alicia reasons. "Mmm... we should probably go now, anyway. I can spend all the time I want here when I'm dead."
[19:01] <Seira> 'See you in Balmuria when you can make it,' Seira sends to Hopiel, before nodding at Alicia. "Or when we plane shift again."
[19:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 amir of whatever, what do i know
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 amir of whatever, what do i know and gets 29."12 [1d20=13]
[19:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 sure, why not?
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 sure, why not? and gets 31."12 [1d20=15]
[19:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 amir of whatever, Marie too, just for fun
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 amir of whatever, Marie too, just for fun and gets 22."12 [1d20=6]
[19:11] <Kotono> ---
[19:13] <Kotono> Bey Kerem, Seira and Alicia gather at Elle's shop! Antenora tags along, wanting to see this in action. Elle holds the scroll and reads it, "I'm prepared and I shouldn't fail short of horrendous luck," she announces, "Are all of you ready?"
[19:14] * Alicia doesn't really know these two desert people, but since the scroll is for Crimson Guard use she's certainly curious to see about the person who Seira thinks is worthy of it.
[19:15] <Seira> "Pretty much," Seira agrees, after making the introductions.
[19:15] <Kotono> Antenora stays behind Alicia, nodding once to Bey Kerem, "You have my deepest thanks," he says, "Hurry."
[19:15] <Kotono> "Hold on...last time, this spell caused a few shaking effects. Hopefully it won't be so bad this time," So unrolling the scroll, Elle begins to read and cast!
[19:15] <Kotono> roll 1d20
[19:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 and gets 17."12 [1d20=17]
[19:16] <Kotono> roll 1d100 don't be a dwarf
[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 don't be a dwarf and gets 18."12 [1d100=18]
[19:18] <Kotono> This time, it is more subtle. White energies flow around Elle and begin to form a body! The air crackles with power as she calls on divine words of power, her hair stnading on end! "Please, cycle of nature! Return this lost soul to our realm! Bestow her on a body to live again!" AS Bey Kerem steps back, a body begins to form on the floor! A humanoid body... a pretty woman's body. The body of a young female elf, like Deniz but slighter, fairer.
[19:18] <Seira> "Ah, very pretty!" Seira exclaims, clasping her hands.
[19:18] <Kotono> The body of a young female elf, like Deniz but slighter, fairer. Her ears are long, her eyes almonded shaped as the forming body sucks in a breath! An incoherent noise comes from her mouth!
[19:19] * Alicia briefly glances at the man present as the nude elf appears before them. But it sounds like they were very close, so it's probably okay...
[19:19] <Kotono> Deniz looks up at the ceiling first, lying on the ground. She sits up, Elle quickly finishing and wrapping a blanket around her reborn form. She looks about until she sees Bey Kerem. She mouths something - incoherent noise, but she looks him in the eye and smiles.
[19:20] <Kotono> Bey Kerem kneels next to her, "Welcome back," he says very gently to her. "The reincarnation, did it..." he says, "She's making noise. She can speak now?"
[19:21] <Seira> "Maybe she needs to relearn how," Seira suggests. "It is, in effect, a new body."
[19:21] <Kotono> Elle slumps after, "Damned draining..." she takes a long breath, "Learn or relarn. But she should be able to, this is an entirely new body."
[19:21] <Kotono> "B...ey..." she says, barely understandable, but smiles back to him.
[19:21] <Seira> "Thanks, Elle!" Seira exclaims, smiling at the older mage. "That's twice you've saved me like that!"
[19:22] <Alicia> "She'll have a very long time to learn, if she's careful..." Alicia observes with a raised eyebrow. "Twice I've seen this magic bring the dead back to life, and twice it has turned a human into an elf... an odd coincidence."
[19:22] * Seira looks shifty. "Yes. How curious."
[19:22] <Kotono> "Perhaps it's saying something?" Antenora bandies lightly. "Elves do have superior lifespans."
[19:22] <Seira> "And they are oh so pretty!"
[19:23] <Kotono> "Come on, Deniz," Bey Onur stands, "We'll work this all out once we get you some clothes." Turning to Seira and Alicia, "I am in your debt. If you need anything - money, influence in the Fiefdoms, my services, anything - say so and they are yours."
[19:24] * Alicia shakes her head. "It sounds like she lost her life fighting bravely to defend those who could not defend themselves. Having someone like that back among us is reward enough," she smiles.
[19:25] * Seira nods. "If we were after that we would just sell such magic to the highest bidder. In any case, I'll be ready to take us back as soon as you'd like."

[Corwin]

[17:26] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[17:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 36."12 [1d100=36]
[17:26] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[17:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 16."12 [1d100=16]
[17:26] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[17:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 43."12 [1d100=43]
[17:37] <Kotono> ----(Hellbow Ko)--
[17:37] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia, do you mean you're going to let Marie bear the bow?
[17:38] <Celenu> OOC: Well I can't exactly use it. If there's any sort of divine curse imposed during the quest I'd prefer to shoulder it myself since she's my familiar, but she's the only one small enough to wield the thing
#dunes You need voice (+v) (#dunes)
[17:38] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
[17:38] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[17:38] <Alicia> OOC: Well I can't exactly use it. If there's any sort of divine curse imposed during the quest I'd prefer to shoulder it myself since she's my familiar, but she's the only one small enough to wield the thing
[17:41] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Moment.
[17:45] <Kotono> Shankar meets the two of you in Mystra's Temple, walking to the altar room this dawn. "I've prepared and meditated. Are the two of you ready for this and the task it will ensue," he asks.
[17:46] <Alicia> Marie looks a bit uncomfortable with the pitted looking cold iron longbow in the place of her usual zippy electric-themed one, but she nonetheless chirps up, "Ready!" while Alicia nods besides her hovering familiar.
[17:47] <Kotono> Reaching the altar, "Marie, you are going to bear the bow?" he asks to her directly.
[17:48] <Alicia> "It's a bit too small for Alicia to use," the eladrin notes as she unslings the hellish weapon and holds it before her.
[17:51] <Kotono> "I understand. Put it on the altar," Shankar instructs, "And I will begin."
[17:52] <Alicia> Marie deposits the bow and then flutters up onto Alicia's long-suffering head.
[18:00] <Kotono> The bow is set on the altar! "Mystra, show me the path that theset wo must take!" Calling ot the heavens, Shankar closes his eyes! "Marie...Alicia. Go north. The mists are waiting for you. There is a place, far away, where you are needed. There, you will find what must be done."
[18:02] <Alicia> "Oooh, do you think we'll be going to the astral plane again?" Marie wonders aloud as she recovers the bow.
[18:02] <Alicia> "Could be anywhere... Mystra must have some sort of understanding with Uatu if we keep using it like this," Alicia reflects. "Alright then, lets get going."
[18:10] <Kotono> "Mystra walk with you," Shankar blesses, "Will you be leaving immediately?"
[18:11] <Alicia> "We'll stop off to let Jessica and Antenora know but otherwise yes," Alicia confirms. "No sense delaying."
[18:12] <Alicia> "I don't want to be stuck with this a second longer than I have to, anyway," Marie makes a face as she slings her bow off her hip, fluttering along beside Alicia.
[18:14] <Kotono> After a brief message to Antenora and Jessica, the two take off. They leave Balmuria and head north! As the city falls behind them, a mist begins to flow around them, creeping out of nothing and everything.
[18:15] * Alicia can't help but feel vaguely unsettled by this phenomenon, but in the absence of detecting any evil she takes no precautions. It seems like Uatu isn't waiting for them to reach Pilltain.
[18:21] <Kotono> It's like walking through a fog bank, quiet and chilly. AS it passes, Alicia finds herself standing on an endless plain. The ground is amazingly, breattakingly flat.  Tall grasses grow about, a magnificent sunset in the sky.  You can see stunningly far on this flat plain - far in the distance you can see faint buildings and smoke rising from them, as well as a large lake.
[18:24] <Alicia> "Sunset?" Alicia looks West, recalling what Taldeer said to her in Kelara. "If it was morning, then that means... we must be very far to the East? Even past Malmuth or Pallanth."
[18:25] <Alicia> Seeing the faint sign of civilisation in the distance by the lake, Alicia points it out to Marie. "I can't see anything else of note on this plain, so lets head there."
[18:26] <Alicia> Marie follows agreeably. "You know, is it just me or were the instructions really vague this time?" she muses.
[18:26] <Alicia> "Hopefully that means that what we need to do is something obvious," Alicia looks on the bright side as she starts marching off to the buildings.
[18:30] <Kotono> There's a few animals in sight - several large bison walk the plains, heading in the direciton of the river. They're majestic creatures, even when not touched by the heavens. As the two walk, darkness begins to set in. However, this isn't a serious concern for Marie. It looks to be a fairly large town - several dozen buildings and a loose collection of grain farms around it. Farmers are finishing up for the night, tall wheat and grains growing
[18:30] <Kotono> night, tall wheat and grains growing in abundance. People walk the cobblestoned streets of the city. There's only a perfunctory, short wall around the city, a few feet high if that. There are guards at the main entrance to it, however.
[18:30] * Alicia heads to the entrance quite openly and inoffensively. Hopefully they'll speak the same language but if not Marie can earn her keep.
[18:35] <Kotono> AS they approach, they bark a word of command. To Alicia it may as well be dwarven, but to Marie, "Halt! In the name of Empress Sulia, declare your names and your oath before her!"
[18:36] * Alicia looks clueless, so Marie helpfully takes over. "I am Marielle and this is Alicia Reynes. We are travellers from far away in service of the Mother of All Magic," she announces in their own language.
[19:38] <Kotono> "A curious creature," The guard peers carefully at Marie. "In the name of Empress Sulia, declare what you are."
[19:39] <Alicia> "I'm a coure eladrin. She's a human," Marie gestures towards Alicia. "So what's this place?"
[19:43] <Kotono> "This is Abgriam, City of the Silent Lake Iria. In the name of Empress Sulia, we welcome you to our city, travelers. Blessed be those that walk the endless plains and blessed be those that return to us."
[19:44] <Alicia> "That's nice!" Marie beams before switching back to common and informing Alicia, "They're really polite." Back to mystery endless plainspeople language, "So, is anything happening around town? Anything that oh, the Mother of All Magic might find interesting?"
[19:45] * Alicia just looks clueless as all the gibberish goes right over her head.
[19:48] <Kotono> The guards part, "There is a friend of your faith in this city. He lives within, ask for directions to the house of Mizin."
[19:49] <Alicia> "Thanks!" Marie smiles to the guard who just spoke, before she turns to the guard next to him. "So where does Mizin live?"
[19:50] <Kotono> "Mizin lives next to the abode of Empress Sulia's chosen master of this city. He keeps potted herbs and plants outside in earthen jars. It is not hard to find, go down two streets, hang left, then go straight."
[19:52] <Alicia> "You're a pal!" Marie beams before switching back to common as she gestures Alicia to follow her. "We have directions to someone who's a 'friend to our faith', so lets start with that?"
[19:53] <Alicia> "I suppose so..." Alicia agrees as she follows her familiar. "I wish we could have gone somewhere where they speak Common, though. This is awkward."
[19:53] <Alicia> "Don't worry!" Marie alights comfortably on Alicia's head. "I'm confident my people skills are good enough to pull through for the two of us!"
[19:55] <Kotono> As you enter into the city, people walking the streets turn to Alicia. Many of them smile, and call things like, "Hail walker of the plains!" and "Outsider, be blessed in the name of Empress Sulia!" The people here are fair skinned, all of them having long hair and wearing cloth clothes.
[19:57] * Alicia waves hesitantly. "What are they saying?" she whispers to her familiar.
[19:57] <Alicia> Marie is far more enthusiastic in returning the people's well wishes. "They're hailing us and blessing us in the name of their Empress. I told you they were nice!"
[19:59] <Kotono> As the two walk down the streets, building made of dried grasses and skillfully molded earth with only tiny bits of wood and stone, "Hail!" One older man approaches, bowing before Alicia, "Plainswalker, bless you in the name of the Empress Sulia for what you do. Would you bless me in the name of the Empress?"
[20:00] * Alicia continues to look clueless until Marie helpfully says that, "He's asking you to bless him. Hold on a second, though," she then speaks to the man in his own language. "What do you mean, 'what she does'? What has she done?" she asks curiously. Wouldn't it be hilarious if they had Alicia mixed up with someone else?
[20:01] <Kotono> "She has walked the plains! She is an outsider to our town!" With a look of open awe, "Blessed be the both of you in the name of Empress Sulia to brave the endless plains!"
[20:02] <Alicia> "So... you don't get many visitors, huh? Aren't there are towns around here? Where does Empress Sulia live?" Marie asks, trying to get a handle on the place they've been sent to.
[20:03] <Alicia> *aren't there any other
[20:07] <Kotono> "Empress Sulia lives in the Eternal Palace at the Gates of the Moon," Bowing his head low, "A-Are you unaware somehow, plainswalker?"
[20:09] <Alicia> "Well, we are from far away, past the plains," Marie points out. "Although speaking of plains, I'm from an entirely different plane! Haha, that's just a little outsider humour, there," she giggles happily. "So, does Empress Sulia have anything to do with Selune, then?"
[20:10] <Kotono> That get ssa momentary blank look, before his eyes widen. "O-O-Outsider?" He says in a soft, low voice. "Oh...oh! Are you f-from..." He bows quickly, "Oh, quickly! Come with me!" Nearly tripping over himself, he takes Alicia's hand rather forcefully.
[20:11] * Alicia looks somewhat alarmed as her hand is taken. "He wants you to come with him," Marie oh so helpfully points out.
[20:11] <Alicia> "Er... okay, then," Alicia decides to just go with it. "Any idea why?"
[20:11] <Alicia> "He got real spooked when I said I was an outsider. But he bowed, so I guess that's a good thing?" Marie shrugs, hanging on to Alicia's head as she's dragged along.
[20:15] <Kotono> The duo is lead along! They come to a largeish, two story building. It's painted soft tones of pink, red and white. It's quite pleasing to the eye, the image of a ruby rose on one of the side walls, gorgeously painted. A red-flamed haired woman with long hair is engraved into the front doorway as you are lead in. A little byeond this, Alicia can spot a house with potted plants and herbs outside of it.
[20:17] <Alicia> Marie also spots it. "I think that's Mizin's house," she indicates the one with potted plants. "But hey, lets check this out first. Maybe it's a temple of Sune?"
[20:17] * Alicia looks less than thrilled at the prospect. "Can't you ask him what's going on?"
[20:17] <Alicia> "Oh, sure," Marie nods before addressing the man. "So, where are you taking us? And why?"
[20:18] <Kotono> "Inside and to Elezan." he says, "Please, follow me." he says, even as he leads along into the building.
[20:19] * Alicia continues following as Marie continues questioning. "Who's Elezan? Why do they need to see us, or us see them?"
[20:20] <Kotono> "Elezan is the Heart Warder of the Empress Sulia, blessed be her," he answers, "Surely he wishes to see an outsider!"
[20:22] <Alicia> "Yeah, definitely a follower of Sune," Marie informs Alicia. "I wonder if Empress Sulia is what these people call Lady Firehair?"
[20:22] <Alicia> "I suppose we'll find out in a minute?" Alicia seems resigned to going along with this.
[20:27] <Kotono> Inside you find lush, beautiful halls. It's a small, simple congregation room to Sune: A statue of Lady Firehair, gorgeous and anatomically correct, clad only in rich silks that are half transparent is seen as well. There are several people here, bowing before the altar. Each of them is a man or woman and incredibly pretty. The lead one...is a man. A stunning man, as if a perfect statue was given human form and the most penetrating, deep, heart
[20:27] <Kotono> as if a perfect statue was given human form and the most penetrating, deep, heart melting green eyes that could be imagined. He is looking to the new entrants, though he stops when he sees Marie. He goes to one knee in a bow, "We are blessed thisday by the Empress! A noble, beautiful eladrin has come to us!"
[20:29] <Alicia> "Hi!" Marie waves as Alicia looks vaguely appalled at the decadent atmosphere. "I'm Marielle and this is Alicia Reynes. We're servants of Mystra but this nice man said we should come see you."
[20:31] <Kotono> "Naturally. An eladrin coming to our town is a blessed event!" He wears a plain white tunic and pants, complimenting his blonde hair. The others turn, bowing to Marie as well, kneeling. "If you would, great one, would you deign to come closer to me so we can talk?" Notably, he has switched to  Celestial, not even having a mortal accent. Well, much of one, anyway.
[20:34] <Alicia> At least Alicia can understand that, but she really has no reason to speak up if all these people want to do is fawn over her familiar. "Sure!" Marie chirps in her native tongue, fluttering over to the handsome man. "So what did you want to talk about?"
[20:36] <Kotono> "You serve Mystra? Still, any that come from blessed Aborea are our friends. Is there anything you would wish of us? What of your friend. She looks uncomfortable or ill. Does she need a healer?"
[20:39] <Alicia> "Well actually I'm from Elysium," Marie corrects. "But apparently I was so much of a free spirit in life that I still got rewarded with this form." Glancing back at Alicia, "Oh, she's just dedicated to our holy mission. Not one for frivolity, our Alicia," she nods knowingly as Alicia rolls her eyes. "So hey! Anything interesting happening around here? Any problems that a wandering knight and her brave eladrin companion could solve?"
[20:40] <Kotono> "There are always dangers in the endless plains," Elezan answers, "What do you know of the Endless Plains, sweet eladrin?"
[20:41] <Alicia> "Honestly? Nothing at all!" Marie admits with a little laugh. "Ask me about the outer planes and I'll tell you anything, but endless plains? Sorry."
[20:41] <Alicia> "We arrived on the plains earlier today from far away, carried on wings of magic," Alicia puts in helpfully, practicing her celestial fluency.
[20:45] <Kotono> "Ah." With a respectful nod to Alicia, "Beautiful maiden, allow me to explain more about it, to aid your celestial friend and your quest. The Endless Plains are what they say. Legend says that the plains we live on are endless, for none have ever reached the emd of them. Most who go out find themselves helplessly lost in them and usually die; a rare few find themselves called by the Empress Sulia and can travel the Endless Plains safely. These
[20:46] <Kotono> Empress Sulia and can travel the Endless Plains safely. These are the Plainswalkers, images of perfect beauty, love and grace that spread the word amid us and allow us to stay in contact with other towns."
[20:49] <Alicia> "Well, you are beautiful and graceful. And I'm sure once people get to know you past that gruff exterior they can tell how loving you are, so I suppose the confusion was understandable?" Marie ribs Alicia, speaking in common.
[20:49] <Alicia> "You cut to the quick, Marielle," Alicia returns drolly in the same language before returning to celestial. "Has it always been this way amongst these plains, Heart Warder?"
[20:50] <Kotono> "As long as our history remembers. The blessings of Empress Sulia from the Eternal Palace keep us surviving in the plains. To have been brought here...it is possible you may be Plainswalkers. Were yo uin the Endless Plains long?"
[20:51] <Alicia> "Only a few hours - it was just before dusk when we appeared on the plains," Alicia replies.
[20:56] <Kotono> "It may be so. It may indeed be so. I have much to tell you, noble champion. If you would come with me, we could discuss this over dinner? You as well, lovely vision of heaven."
[20:58] <Alicia> Hopefully this is directly relevant to why they came here "We'd be happy to," Alicia accedes for the pair of them.

[Corwin]

[17:02] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Well, you are beautiful and graceful. And I'm sure once people get to know you past that gruff exterior they can tell how loving you are, so I suppose the confusion was understandable?" Marie ribs Alicia, speaking in common.
[17:02] <Kotono> <Alicia> "You cut to the quick, Marielle," Alicia returns drolly in the same language before returning to celestial. "Has it always been this way amongst these plains, Heart Warder?"
[17:02] <Kotono> > "As long as our history remembers. The blessings of Empress Sulia from the Eternal Palace keep us surviving in the plains. To have been brought here...it is possible you may be Plainswalkers. Were yo uin the Endless Plains long?"
[17:02] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Only a few hours - it was just before dusk when we appeared on the plains," Alicia replies.
[17:02] <Kotono> > "It may be so. It may indeed be so. I have much to tell you, noble champion. If you would come with me, we could discuss this over dinner? You as well, lovely vision of heaven."
[17:02] <Kotono> <Alicia> Hopefully this is directly relevant to why they came here "We'd be happy to," Alicia accedes for the pair of them.
[17:04] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
[17:04] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[17:05] <Kotono> The two are taken upstairs. The 'dining' room is less of a table and more of deep couches and finger foods. Red apples, soft breads, meats, sweet things. Amid this, "If I may be so bold as to ask," Elezan begins, "Where do you call home?"
[17:09] * Alicia helps herself to an apple and piece of bread, the latter of which she breaks off a tiny chunk for Marie. "We live in Balmuria, by the Bay of Sparkling Stars. Neither of us is from there originally, but for now it is home."
[17:10] <Kotono> "I see." He nods to that as he slowly eats down a red apple, taking his time with it. As he focuses his lovely gaze on Alicia, "Then what business brings you to the Endless Plains?"
[17:13] * Marianne is now known as Seira
[17:13] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[17:14] <Alicia> "Mystra called for us to come here, saying that we were needed," Alicia explains, taking a seat on one of the handy couches. "Unfortunately that was about the extent of the information we were given."
[17:15] <Alicia> "She said we'd find out what must be done once we got here," Marie adds helpfully, sitting on the backrest of the couch.
[17:19] <Kotono> "Mmm, mmm." Nodding along to that, "Ah, I'm sorry, the sweetness of your words overwhelms me at times. Truly, you are a worthy squire for this noble eladrin. Your beauty shines." Bowing his head to Alicia, "I believe you need to see Mizin, a man living in this town. Unlike others, he is not from this area as well."
[17:20] <Alicia> Alicia's eyebrow ticks while Marie stifles a giggle. "We were actually on our way to see him when that man we met outside suddenly dragged us to see you," said familiar speaks up quickly before Alicia can correct him on the relationship between the two.
[17:23] <Kotono> "Ah. Mizin came here over thirty years ago. Unlike you, he was not a Plainswalker. He survived only by a passing Plainswalker chancing on him and leading him to this village."
[17:25] <Alicia> "And you think he might know of anything going on around here that might need our assistance?" Marie asks, which causes Alicia to stall on getting up while they talk.
[17:28] <Kotono> "He might. He's a strange one - he tries to understand the Plains, yet he cannot go into them."
[17:29] <Alicia> "Maybe an outside perspective could help?" Alicia suggests with a smile as she gets up. "Thank you, Elezan, you've been both helpful and gracious."
[17:30] <Kotono> "If you would," HE says with a smile to A licia, "Come back anytime you wish. You grace us with your gorgeous presence and lovely apperance."
[17:33] <Alicia> "I suppose I'm not bad, for a squire," Alicia banters back with a faint laugh. "Until then," she waves with her free hand as she makes her way out with Marie following behind her.
[17:35] <Kotono> The two head outside into the cool night. The heat seems to be leaving the area rather rapidly. Mizin's house is right next door if Alicia wishes to got here.
[17:37] <Alicia> Finishing off her apple, Alicia goes to knock on the door. "I suppose you'll need to do the talking again. Try not to tell any more people that I'm you're squire?" she asks her familiar.
[17:37] <Alicia> "He made that assumption all on his own!" Marie protests.
[17:43] <Kotono> The door is knocked on and you hear from inside, "Coming, coming!" It's the voice of an older man, clearing advanced in his years. After a half minute it opens! The man in front of you is tall and lanky, perhaps once a scout or runner. He wears an old pair of spectacles on his face, kept together with tightly wrapped scraps of cloth. When he speaks again, it's not words, but a gasp. He stares at Alicia! "Oh my...Weave Mistress...!" he looks rig
[17:43] <Kotono> He stares at Alicia! "Oh my...Weave Mistress...!" he looks right at Alicia's chest and the symbol on her breastplate. "That armor!"
[17:46] * Alicia smiles nicely while Marie does the talking. "Hi, you're Mizin, right?" she flutters in the air before him. "I'm Marielle and this is Alicia. I take it you don't see many other followers of Mystra around here?" It does seem like Sune has this place locked up pretty tight.
[17:47] <Kotono> "Y-yes. Where...are you from past this cursed plain?" he asks in low words, then trying in slow, careful, rusty Common, "Are you from past this cursed plain?"
[17:48] <Alicia> "Yes!" Alicia eagerly pounces upon the shared language. "We're from Balmuria - between Malmuth and the Desert Fiefdoms. Have you heard of either of them?"
[18:03] <Kotono> "Malmuth?" His words are slow, before his eyes go wide. "In here," he hurries away from the door. "I've heard of the Malmuthian Empire! By Mystra, you really are from outside!"
[18:05] * Alicia follows after him, pleased to have some common ground beyond just language. "We appeared on the plains today. How did you end up here?" she asks.
[19:33] <Kotono> "I don't know," he admits as leads you to a sitting room. There's a fireplace, a teapot steaming atop it. "I woke up in the plains one day instead of in my bed."
[19:34] <Alicia> "Just like that? Where did you come from, originally?" Alicia asks, taking a seat.
[19:35] <Kotono> "Malmuth, the capital city of the Malmuthian Empire." Going to get the tea, "How's the Empire doing? Who's the current ruler? I haven't heard anything in thirty years.
[19:35] <Kotono> "
[19:38] <Alicia> "Queen Tant, she recently ascended after the death of King Ferdi." Alicia feels it impolite to mention said death came at the blade of her sword. "Right now the empire is in the process of reconsolidating after a war against the United Baronies, which was formerly the Northwest province of the Empire. That's where I currently live," she explains.
[19:39] <Kotono> "The United Baronies? Northwest...all that's there is good farmland and some mines. How'd that happen? A bad ruler?" Asking that as he fixes up tea, "It was as much a part of the empire as anything else last I heard."
[19:41] <Alicia> "There was a rebellion about ten or so years ago - I wasn't around for that, I was living in Kelara on the other side of the desert back then," Alicia fills him in. "King Ferdi attempted to reclaim those lands last year, but was killed and Valandia ceded to the Baronies as part of the peace treaty."
[19:42] <Kotono> "Valandia's gone?" With a choke as he passes Alicia and Marie tea, "Mystra protect the Empire," he sighs. "This Ferdi must have been an incompetent fool."
[19:45] * Alicia gratefully accepts the tea. "He made some ill-considered decisions, yes. Things seem far calmer under Queen Tant," she agrees. Then, changing the subject, "What of this place? These Endless Plains? What can you tell me about them?"
[20:04] <Kotono> "I've spent my life studying them," Going on now, "They're not natural, I can tell you that much. The entire lot of them radiates faint but eternal magic. Save for a select few, any who go out in them find themselves lost and unable to return to whence they came, doomed to die in the plains."
[20:06] <Alicia> "Do you know when they became like this?" Alicia asks. There has to have been a time when they were just normal plains, surely, or else how would people congregate and form communities?
[20:06] <Kotono> "No. No one seems to know." Narrowing his eyes and nodding, "Yes, that was one of my first questions. There's no logical sense to this as it stands, something has to have established this status-quo. Whatever has, the people here have no idea of it. That I'm certain of."
[20:10] <Alicia> "Hmm... unravelling such magic is surely beyond me, unless there's something holding it together," Alicia considers, recalling the necromantic aura pervading the icy plains of Pallanth. "But even if there is, how could anyone find it if the plains themselves ensure you become lost?"
[20:12] <Kotono> "That's my problem. I can't go into the plains proper. Only Plainswalkers can, and few come and fewer care to take others into it." Shaking his head, "I have my own suspicions and theories aplenty, but without a chance to test more it's all just drawing castles in the air."
[20:14] <Alicia> "But other than the plains themselves, there aren't any problems surviving here?" Alicia checks to ensure there's no problems closer to home for her to deal with before she commits to essentially searching for a needle in a haystack. "The city seems prosperous at a glance, anyway."
[20:15] <Kotono> "The plains are extremely fertile, Lake Iria is full of fish and animals come by close enough to be captured. The people know enough to construt and build houses and basic civilization. It doesn't really make sense; they should have outfished the lake and the soil should've depleted by now."
[20:17] <Alicia> "Perhaps the Gods are protecting these outposts of civilisation, though in such a case why not fix the root problem? Maybe whatever enchants the plains also ensures they are livable for isolated communities?" Alicia considers. "Everyone I've met seems to venerate Sune - Empress Sulia as they call her - are any other deities spoken of?"
[20:19] <Kotono> "Not really, no. Sune seems to have it locked up tight." Smiling a little there, "Most of the people here live good lives, are attractive, and die peacefully. But..." A shrug, "As far as I care, it's a prison of pleasures. I've spent all these times hoping to find an answer and a solution, but it's eluded me. If I could just go out into th eplains, maybe..."
[20:21] <Alicia> "The people I've met seemed to think I was a plainswalker," Alicia observes. "And they ascribed particular favour to my familiar's presence. It would be a risk, but perhaps we might be able to help you?" Solving a magical riddle and helping a lost follower of her goddess sounds an appropriate task to have called them here, surely?
[20:22] <Kotono> "You are a plainswalker?" His eyes light up with interest, "Yes, if you are, I would be eternally grateful!"
[20:23] * Alicia holds up her hands in a warning gesture. "I don't know for sure that I am," she cautions. "But we were able to make our way to this city from out in the plains, although we could see it on the horizon as soon as we arrived."
[20:24] <Kotono> "Mmmm." He bites his lip down, "I'm...not sure. But Elezar at Lady Firehair's temple should be able to perform the ritual to find out, should you desire to know."
[20:25] <Alicia> "Alright, I'll go and ask him and then return?" Alicia offers, even if she has a slightly sinking feeling at the prospect of being involved in any Sunite rituals. Ideally it would just be a simple magic spell, but she suspects they'll find a way to draw things out...
[20:27] <Kotono> "By all means," With a click of his tongue, "Young lady, you saw the temple next door? He'll be there, but do be cautioned. He's not a fighter, but he's very much a lover."
[20:28] <Alicia> "I know their type," Alicia agrees wearily as she gets up. "Until then," she waves a little while heading out.
[20:29] <Kotono> It's night as Alicia returns to the Temple of Sune. Elezar is found by the altar again, talking very closely and animatedly to a gorgeous blonde woman wearing silky robes. He breaks away as Alicia comes closer, "Ah, you've returned, vision of heaven. What can Sulia's house in this part of the Endless Plains help you with?"
[20:32] * Alicia smiles in greeting, "I didn't mean to interrupt you," a brief respectful nod is spared towards the underdressed blonde, "But I recall earlier when you thought I was a plainswalker. Mizin says that there's a ritual which can confirm for certain if one is?"
[20:36] <Kotono> "Oh yes." A nod there, the blonde nodding, and after a look to Elezar, flees. "Do the two of you wish to partake in it?"
[20:37] <Alicia> "It would be nice to know if we'd actually be safe walking the plains, yes," Alicia agrees with an amused look.
[20:38] <Kotono> "Kneel, if you would," he says, "I will supplicate for Sulia to enlighten us on this matter."
[20:41] * Alicia kneels before the beautifully crafted (although she suspects someone had a bit too much fun making it) statue of Sune, while Marie likewise kneels beside her. "Like this?" she asks, gaze lowered in supplication. With the side benefit of not getting an eyeful of underboob.
[20:43] <Kotono> Coming forward, Elezar gently takes Alicia's head in his hands, murmuring a prayer in words Alicia does not understand, too low for Marie to hear. There after he goe to Marie, going to do the same thing, only with his fingertips instead. This time, Marie can hear him, "Sulia...show me if these are your chosen, to walk the Endless Plains with your blessing..."
[20:45] <Alicia> Well this is quite tame. Alicia feels entirely reassured as she patiently waits for the Heart Warder to perform his ritual.
[20:52] <Kotono> "Aaaah, aaaaah." Standing up, "Yes, you are truly gorgeous, worthy of the greatest poetic praises," Elezar goe son, "The Empress Sulia has been kind in her benevolence to send you to us."
[20:55] * Alicia blushes. This is getting out of hand! "I'm sure you say that to all the pretty girls," she retorts, keeping her gaze low so her reddened cheeks aren't so obvious.
[20:55] <Alicia> "Is that the ritual done?" Marie asks from beside her, sounding almost disappointed.
[20:58] <Kotono> "No, truly! Empress Sulia took long crafting your flawless ebon hair and your strong cheekbones! Love of artistry built you from the ground up, cast in flesh as perfect as silver and platinum! The hearts of mere mankind are not worthy of you. I thank and bless you for deigning to come here." He bows to Alicia deeply. "Come, let us retire to pleasant chambers and discuss what I saw."
[21:01] <Alicia> "Maybe this is part of the ritual, too?" Marie wonders as she's cast aside in favour of her eye-catching squire.
[21:01] <Alicia> "Ah, did Empress Sulia grant you a vision?" Alicia asks as she stands up, trying to stay on business. The flattery is nice but she didn't come here to engage in Sune's favoured activities.
[21:09] <Kotono> "I have been enlightened," He stands, "Yes, it is part of the ritual. Come." He begins to walk, leading to a stairway tucked away in the side of the room.
[21:11] * Alicia follows after him, briefly glancing back at the other followers of Sune resident to see if she can figure anything out from their reactions, while Marie takes to the air and flutters along behind Alicia.
[21:13] <Kotono> Most of them look amused and a little awed. The men seem to be appreciating Alicia's beauty as well.
[21:15] * Alicia hopes there's not some joke here that she's missing out on. "Isn't it funny that we end up here right after everyone's been talking about you looking for romance again?" Marie whispers in common.
[21:15] <Alicia> "Who's 'everyone'?" comes Alicia's somewhat aggrieved reply before she smoothes her features and focuses on following Elezar.
[21:23] <Kotono> You are lead upstairs. The room you are taken to is pleasant, soft - soft couches, good scents, that sort of thing, as well as several beds. A small altar to Sulia/Sune can be glimpsed in the back, which Elezar goes to. He kneels to it and prays briefly.
[21:23] * Alicia stands respectfully behind Elezar as he prays, while Marie hovers nearby.
[21:25] <Kotono> After a few minutes of this, "Sit," he says, going to rest on one of the couches. "If you wish, you can take off your metal clothing. That must be horribly uncomfortable, and this is meant to be a room of comfort."
[21:28] <Alicia> "It's actually made from a wondrous metal called mithral - it's quite light, and I've seen chain of it that rivals spun cloth in comfort, if not weight," Alicia notes, but regardless she doesn't want to be rude and so shucks off her backpack and puts it down beside the couch opposite Elezar.
[21:28] <Alicia> Unbuckling her breastplate, she sets it down against her pack and by sheer force of habit almost stretches - but stops herself, and instead sits down on the comfy furniture. No need for that sort of provocation.
[21:31] <Kotono> The couch is so soft that Alicia feels like she's sinking into it. It's restful to her body, so comfortable that one could fall asleep if they simply closed their eyes. "Amazing stuff, so light as to be worn as clothes. You wear it as protection, or for another reason?"
[21:33] <Alicia> "While I do think it certainly looks nice, it's primarily for protection. I am a knight, after all," Alicia replies as she sinks into the furniture, Marie alighting on the back of the couch beside her. "My, I've never felt such a comfortable couch - what's this made of?" she asks, patting the armrest.
[21:35] <Kotono> "Plants from the lake. Sulia's has shown us how to make it, so that we may live in comfort and rest." A slight nod to Marie to that, "It is lovely, is not? I hope you find it worthy, exalted celestial."
[21:37] <Alicia> "Little bit too big for me," Marie laughs. "Alicia could fix that, but it's best if she doesn't, at least right now."
[21:37] * Alicia briefly eyes her familiar with some degree of suspicion before deciding not to push it and instead turns her attention back to Elezar. "It sounds like Empress Sulia has shown great care for everyone here."
[21:46] <Kotono> "Empress Sulia protects us in the Endless Plains. She gifts the Planeswalkers the chance to go out. She is our savior," Elezar says, looking into Alicia's eyes, "She blesses us in little ways, for today I have met an eladrin and seen visions of vast lovliness."
[21:47] <Alicia> "Well you can thank Mystra, too!" Marie pipes up, prompting Alicia to smile and ask her own question.
[21:47] <Alicia> "What did you see in your vision? Am I a plainswalker?"
[22:03] <Kotono> "Well..." Arching his fingers together, "Both of you are. I'm stunned that I've found two at once." Admitting this, "As per our tradition, you must be blessed and sanctified in the Empress Sulia's name."
[22:04] <Alicia> "Lucky us!" Marie throws up her hands gleefully.
[22:04] * Alicia smiles in relief. "That certainly is fortunate," she agrees. "What's involved in the sanctification?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "A 12 hour ceremony where you are blessed in Sulia's name. AT the end is a grand feast at sunset where we all celebrate another gift from Empress Sulia." A nod there, "At dawn you wil be bathed and purified in Lake Iria, then garbed in the ceremonial robes. Then you will be annointed with oils and prepared for the sunset."
[22:10] <Alicia> Well that sounds innocent enough. Sure, there are obvious jokes to be made about the stamina of partaking in certain Sunite behaviours over a twelve our period, but the ritual he described doesn't sound outlandish at all. "Alright then," Alicia nods her approval. "Given the lack of travellers, I take it there aren't any inns in this town, are there?" she then asks.
[22:10] <Kotono> "You may stay here," He nods, "Any of us would put you up, noble Plainswalker."
[22:12] <Alicia> "Well, I can't fault the accomodations," she smiles and pats the armrest of the chair. "If there's a room available then I suppose I'll turn in."
[22:12] <Alicia> *couch
[22:15] <Kotono> "You can sleep here, in this room. You'll be woken at dawn," Rising, "Thank you for blessing our village, fairest maiden."
[22:18] * Alicia is no maiden, but hey, who is she to quibble? "Thanks are unnecessary," she shakes her head as she also stands up, grabbing her pack and armour as she takes them over to the nearest bed and sets them down there.
[22:18] <Alicia> "We should be thanking you for doing the ritual and everything for us, anyway!" Marie adds happily as she flies after Alicia.
[22:19] <Kotono> "If you need anything..." he says as he exits out...OOC - Skip along?
[22:19] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[22:25] * taicrashslp is now known as taibloodyblizzard
[22:31] <Kotono> Before dawn, a knock comes on Alicia's door, "Plainswalker," A soft female voice calls. "Are you awake?"
[22:35] <Alicia> Since she was warned that the ritual starts at dawn, Alicia is indeed awake, most of her gear bundled up in the corner with the exception of her magic jewellery and boots. She feels a bit naked without some of it, but what the ritual demands, she will do. "Yes, come in," Alicia calls, currently brushing her hair.
[22:36] <Kotono> Several female priests in silk enter. They are all lovely, many bowing to her. Even the blonde one from yesterday. "Are you ready? We must be at Lake Iria at sunrise."
[22:37] * Sierra_Workhell is now known as Sierra_MortgagingSoulToAtlus
[22:39] <Alicia> Her hair's probably going to get wet anyway... Alicia puts her brush in her backpack and turns to the priestesses while Marie flutters along beside her. "I'm ready. And call me Alicia, please," she adds with what she hopes is a reassuring smile.
[22:39] <Alicia> "Will me being this size cause any problems for the ritual?" Marie asks thoughtfully. "Since Alicia can fix that if we need to!"
[22:40] <Kotono> "No." One of the woman, a gorgeous brunette, smiles winsomely, "I'm a VERY good tailor."
[22:42] <Alicia> "Alright then, we're ready to go in that case," Alicia nods, attired rather simply in a black shirt and leggings, while Marie favours a little green dress.
[22:42] <Alicia> "You'd have to be if you're going to make clothes during the ritual!" the eladrin replies with admiration, fluttering over to said brunette.