024.2 "F-fine! A-and if you peek, you'll regret it!"

[Corwin]

[20:15] <Ko-SageisIllyasveil> With dimensions twisted apart and reality bent to will, Willim, Ithea and Dana appear in Brightwater. The trio depart from Jaela and Afina, heading towards Rapture. As you walk along the golden-gilded streets, tall emporiums and shops all about, "So," Dana casually interjects, "You need both of us for this, Willim?"
[20:18] <Willim> "The big cat thing said that Sharess ikes cats, so I figured I'd bring Ithea along." Willim says. "You're along because, well, I like you. And the priestess said that I should bring you if I did."
[20:20] <Ko-SageisIllyasveil> "Okay sure, why not," Dana shrugs, "As long as this turn into some kinky bullshit about cats and love and whatever Sharess goes for. Heard her priests are walking hookers and sluts, all of 'em."
[20:21] * Ithea makes a face at Dana's statement. "I'd rather it -didn't- turn into that sort of bullshit."
[20:21] * Willim blinks. "Well...that's intesting."
[20:23] <Ko-SageisIllyasveil> Grinning as she walks along, "Sharess is the Goddess of that stuff," Arms behind her head as sh elooks up and whistles, "Sluts, whores, sex and...cats." An errant glance at Ithea, "Why cats are there, I'm not sure."
[20:23] <Willim> "I think the merchant I talked to last time said something about her also being a goddess called Bast...?" Willim ventures. "Something about a cat god, anyway."
[20:26] <Ko-SageisIllyasveil> "Well, when I think all of that, I don't think cats. Cats are for little old ladies or children," Dana snorts, "That doesn't have anything to do with fucking fucking."
[20:26] * Willim shrugs. "If we find her, we can ask her."
[20:27] <Ithea> "Does it really matter to you, honestly?" Ithea asks.
[20:28] <Ko-SageisIllyasveil> "Not really," Dana admits with a little shrug as you come to the bridge from before. There is no feline guarding it this time, the way across unopposed. "It just doesn't make sense to me."
[20:28] <Willim> "Huh...where's the giant cat?"
[20:34] <Kotono> Dana process across the bridge, shadows and buildings ahead. Soft shadows that put everything into a gentle, hazy-warm focus. As if you've had a drink and are relaxing before the fire, a beautiful serving wench before you. Dana turns back, facial features softened into deeper beauty. Into a warmth that seems to permeate her entire form, blemishes fading and beauty accented. "Probably off
[20:34] <Kotono> taking a catnap. Mmm. It's nice here."
[20:35] <Ithea> "After being in the Abyss, anything's nice really, but it's certainly relaxing here," Ithea admits, smiling as she enjoys the scenery.
[20:36] <Willim> "The air here is nice, yeah?" Willim nods as he walks across the bridge as well. "Reminds me of the warmer forests back home."
[20:39] <Kotono> Across the bridge you go! "Let's go," Dana says, "We'll find something around here."
[20:41] * Ithea nods and just follows along.
[20:41] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 24." [1d100=24]
[20:41] <Willim> "Last time, the cat said to look around. I figure we should try it again." Willim says. "I couldn't find a temple before. I dunno if there is one, or the whole place is a giant temple or something."
[20:43] <Ithea> "We'll stumble onto it sooner or later," Ithea says without concern.
[20:46] <Kotono> You wander for a time. Shadowed allies and quiet places. You come to a narrow street of marble buildings, each one finely crafted and decorated with gold and pink artistry. Coming by one in particular, you see that the door is open. The inside has no roof, but instead has what must be thousands of pillows sprawled about. Sunshine from above warms the entire place. Hundreds of cats are about,
[20:46] <Kotono> napping in the sunshine and all curled up. From housecats and wild cats, to big cats like panthers and tigers and lions, to even a few humanoids with strongly feline features.
[20:47] <Willim> "Told you she liked cats." Willim says to Dana.
[20:48] <Ithea> "Well, let's go check it out," Ithea says, heading towards the door.
[20:49] * Willim heads in!
[20:51] <Kotono> In the trio goes! A few of the felines look at you, one or two rising to stretch or eye the party. Otherwise, it feels warm here. Warm, soft and peaceful. The sunlight is so warm, yet it fills you with a sleepy lethargy.
[20:53] * Ithea slaps herself lightly on the cheek, and uses detect magic, checking out the place as they explore.
[20:54] <Willim> "...we need a place like this on the Aurora." Willim says.
[20:54] <Kotono> There is magic about, yes. OOC: Spellcraft, Ithea?
[20:54] <Ithea> roll d20+25
[20:54] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+25 and gets 45." [d20=20]
[20:55] <Kotono> The magic here is t make the sun always shine just so. It's to make it the warmest, nicest place to take a nap you could ever imagine.
[20:56] <Kotono> Dana looks around, stretching with a crink-clak of metal. "Damn, just being here makes me yawn," she says, a moment later doing just that. It muffles her words ahead, "Mmmm. Like a lazy summer afternoon."
[20:57] <Ithea> "It's the magic of this place, it's enchanted to go right for that effect. Would be kind of neat to duplicate the effect somewhere on the Aurora like Willim suggested," Ithea comments. "Can't be very conductive to doing business and chatting though."
[20:58] <Kotono> One of the felines awakens - a simple house cat, black and white colored. It yawns and stretches, coming up to Ithea and rubbing against her ankles.
[20:58] <Willim> "If your business is napping and being comfortable, I can't imagine a better way to do it." Willim says, nodding at the cats.
[20:59] <Kotono> Meanwhile, one of the larger cats - a maned lion in particular - rises up. It approaches Willim, large enough standing to be eye to eye with him. It stares at him, as if trying to stare him down.
[21:00] * Ithea leans down and scratches the cat behind the ear, stroking it on the side. "I don't suppose you know how we can get in touch with who we want, do you kitty cat?" Ithea says as she plays with the feline.
[21:01] * Willim gives the lion a placid stare in return.
[21:02] <Kotono> The black and white cat purrs as its answer. Meanwhile Dana whistles and steps around a cluster of sleeping felines, as the lion sniffs Willim. "The demon-blooded means no harm," he says in a deep timbred voice, walking back to where he was. A few felines awaken to deftly move out of his way, as the lion curls back up.
[21:03] * Willim blinks, then shrugs. "'Nother talking cat."
[21:05] * Ithea scratches the cat again and stands fully then. "Not the cat we want to talk to though, right?" Ithea asks.
[21:05] <Willim> "I don't think so." Willim shakes his head. "Any of you cats know where we can find Sharess?"
[21:06] <Kotono> The black and white one purrs louder, "Silly, every cat can talk here," it says, rubbing against Ithea's leg. "Sister, can you hold m-oh! You're looking for the Queen of the Pride!"
[21:07] <Willim> "...sure. That sounds right."
[21:09] * Ithea obliges the cat, even though she doesn't exactly consider herself a 'sister', and picks it up. If it can give them answers, it can gain some extra petting, no problem at all.
[21:10] <Kotono> Once held the cat curls up in Ithea's arms, purring loudly. "I'll show you the way you need to go," The cat replies.
[21:11] <Ithea> "Lead the way, kitty cat. Or point us, I guess, actually," Ithea says.
[21:12] <Kotono> Petted and curled up, the black and white cat leads you back out. "Mrr...this way," he says, "Two houses downa nd into the alley on the left."
[21:13] * Ithea goes off in that direction.
[21:14] * Willim follows along, dragging Dana before she can take a nap!
[21:14] <Kotono> Down this alley, it hooks up to the back of a tower. There's no door, just a dead end. "Mrr, here," the black and white cat says, hopping out of Ithea's arms with a kick against her chest. "If you press against the tower wall there's a hidden door! It'll take you a little closer to what you want."
[21:17] <Ithea> "Thanks again, kitty cat," Ithea says.
[21:17] <Kotono> "Yeah, sure," Dana says approaching the wall. She presses against it, a segment of the wall vanishing, revealing a stairway going up and into the tower!
[21:17] <Kotono> "Good luck," the cat calls, "Come back later, we can have some fish together!"
[21:18] <Willim> "On we go." Willim says, heading inside.
[21:36] <Kotono> The stairs are made of intervowen bands of gold and rose-pink, knitted together as if b ya delicate, discerning hand. Often they form images of roses  on the sides and of flowers on the steps themselves. You walk up a few dozen steps - ahead in the path is a sleeping black cat. It is all curled up, aslumber. Past it the stairs continue.
[21:40] <Willim> "Oh look, another cat."
[21:41] * Ithea goes past the cat, continuing up the stairs, careful not to disturb the sleeping cat.
[21:42] <Kotono> "Shock of the year," Dana drawls out, stepping around it as well.
[21:44] * Willim steps over the cat and continues on!
[21:47] <Kotono> Past the feline the stairs continue a little longer before coming to a landing. There is a door here. OOC: Make spot, all.
[21:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2
[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 and gets 11." [1d20=9]
[21:48] <Ithea> roll d20+40 ranger-in-a-can powers activate~
[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+40 ranger-in-a-can powers activate~ and gets 57." [d20=17]
[21:52] <Willim> roll 1d20+14
[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Willim rolls 1d20+14 and gets 16." [1d20=2]
[21:53] * Ithea goes open the door.
[22:07] <Kotono> The door opens! You are momentarily blinded by steam and warmth! As you blink your eyes clear...ahead is a large inlaid tub. It's big enough for a few dozen, steamy warm. Marble and silver statues of rather well muscled men are about, fountains to feed more steaming water into the path. Within the path you seen them. One is blonde, one has brown hair, one has red hair, one has black hair.
[22:07] <Kotono> The four of them lounge in the bath. Each one is heart-stoppingly gorgeous, each woman beyond perfect.  They have elven features and pointed ears, cloaked only by bits of water and steam offering no real modesty. Past them you can see another door, but you barely get a moment to look. Each one turns at the open door, "Tam-" The blonde one begins, before all four of them stare at the party
[22:07] <Kotono> with a moment of stunned shock.
[22:08] * Willim reaches up and scratches at the base of a horn. "Nymphies."
[22:10] <Kotono> "Uh..." Dana stops a moment, "Fuck. Hi." She makes a little wave, "Should've knocked, yeah. Ah well, it's not like we ain't got the same things as you do. Right Ithea?"
[22:10] <Ithea> "Hello, ladies," Ithea says a bit awkwardly, having expected...well, not elves. "I don't suppose you know Sharess? Some cats sent us this way. And, uh, yeah, sorry for not knocking."
[22:10] <Kotono> OOC: Do any of you have ranks in diplomacy?
[22:11] * Willim checks his chest, then inside his pants. "Mine are not the same, Dana."
[22:11] <Ithea> ooc: I have +3 to it! More if I didn't have my bracers of 'people dislike me' on me!
[22:12] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check, all of you? +2 bonus.
[22:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Dana
[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Dana and gets 9." [1d20=4]
[22:13] <Willim> roll 1d20+2
[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Willim rolls 1d20+2 and gets 14." [1d20=12]
[22:13] <Ithea> roll d20+7 (I'll use cunning knowledge for a meager +2 boost. Because it can't hurt, I hope)
[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+7 (I'll use cunning knowledge for a meager +2 boost. Because it can't hurt, I hope) and gets 9." [d20=2]
[22:14] <Kotono> "AAAAAH! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" The nymphs scream as one, staring at Willim's peek in particular! Then the raw beauty and brillance around them spikes, overwhelming! OOC: Fortitude save, all.
[22:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 Dana
[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 Dana and gets 34." [1d20=14]
[22:14] <Ithea> roll d20+23
[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+23 and gets 28." [d20=5]
[22:15] <Willim> roll 1d20+31
[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Willim rolls 1d20+31 and gets 33." [1d20=2]
[22:16] <Kotono> The beauty momentarily stuns Willim and Dana, making their eyes water and rapturing them! For Ithea it's worse - all she can see is those beautiful nymphs! Everything else fades away, darkness save for the seared-in images of raw beauty! A moment later towels, small glass bottles, soap and even a bottle of wine is thrown at the trio, "OUT!" OOC: Ithea is blinded. Act.
[22:18] * Willim stoically accepts the thrown objects as they bounce off of him. Remaining absolutely calm, he says, "Actually, we're looking for Sharess. The cats sent us. If you could point us in the right direction, we'd leave."
[22:19] * Ithea rubs her eyes and bows her head quickly as she moves back out, pressing her hand against the side so she can tell where she's at so she doesn't trip over the stairs on the way out. "Sorry, we'll wait outside!" she exclaims as she parts, counter to Willim's determination to stay.
[22:21] <Kotono> Dana holds her arms off, soap bouncing off her shield and a glass container of vanilla scented oil smashing against her breastplate. "Yeah, spare us, you bitches! Was that really fucking called for? You should've put a sign out or something!"
[22:21] <Kotono> Meanwhile Ithea is able to feel and stumble her way out of the range of thrown bath products.
[22:24] <Kotono> All but the redheaded ones shield themselves with their arms, ducking into the water. She rises, arms crossed and sort of at least covering her bosom. "You...you...ugly, rude, loud, annoying peeping toms! Didn't anyone ever teach you to knock?! The only way you can get here is if you know the secret passage!" Reddening, "Now why should we let a bunch of uncivilized trolls like the two of
[22:24] <Kotono> you past if you can't even knock?"
[22:25] <Willim> "I'm the only troll here, I think." Willim says. "Like I said, a cat sent us."
[22:28] * Ithea just rubs her eyes outside.
[22:30] <Kotono> "Look, spare me. You probably were dyking out or something in here anyway. We have bigger fish to fry. That friendly cat told us to come in here. So shut your fuckholes up and help us along." Dana runs a hand through her hair, "You can go back to diving for clit pearls after we leave. Really, we don't care."
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 21." [1d20=2]
[22:31] * Willim eyes Dana. "That's harsh, even for you."
[22:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[22:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 18." [1d20=1]
[22:33] <Kotono> "My tolerance for having girly shit like this thrown at me is low," Dana notes, sniffing, "Now my breastplate is going to smell like fucking flowers."
[22:34] * Ithea feels an urge to rub her ears after hearing Dana lay into the naked girls, and mentally groans. "Try not to start a fight, will you?" Ithea asks.
[22:34] <Willim> "Nothing a good fight later can't fix." Willim offers.
[22:34] * Ithea groans outloud at Willim's outburst.
[22:35] <Willim> "I said later."
[22:37] <Kotono> "F-fine!" The redhead is now as red as her hair, "A-and if you peek, you'll regret it!" She takes a step back at seeing Willim and Dana, "Big time!"
[22:38] * Willim shrugs.
[22:44] <Kotono> Dana starts to march past and around the tub, "Whatever," she rolls her eyes, "Coming, Ithea?"

[Corwin]

[20:06] <Ithea> "Sure, but one of you will have to lead me around, I think I'm blinded," Ithea mutters.
[20:07] * Willim quickly grabs Ithea about the waist and throws her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. "Right."
[20:10] <Ithea> "Oof!" Ithea says as Willim manhandles her. "Thanks, though you know, this is starting to feel like some sort of recurring gag."
[20:10] <Willim> "Hmm?"
[20:11] <Kotono> "Serves you right!" The blonde nymph calls, "You'll never be able to peep on nymphs again!"
[20:11] <Ithea> "Don't worry about it, let's just get moving before the nymphs get violent," Ithea replies.
[20:12] <Kotono> Meanwhile Dana holds the door open ahead, revealing more stairs winding up. "C'mon," she agrees, giving the nymphs a look of disdain before turning 'round and heading up.
[20:16] <Kotono> Up the party goes. More stairs - after about a dozen, up and wrapping a bit more inward, you find another feline asleep on the stairs. This one is a sandy brown-blonde, curled up and sprawled in the middle of the step like it isn't even blocking anyone's way.
[20:22] * Ithea has no reaction to the cat, still blinded and being carried over Willim's shoulder.
[20:22] <Willim> "Why are the cats asleep on the stairs, anyway?"
[20:25] <Ithea> "Who knows? Could be to let us know we're on the right track, could be they're just sleepy and found the spot comfortable enough."
[20:27] <Kotono> Dana steps over the feline, "I guess Sharess lets the cats have free run of the place. Don't suppose there are any celestial mice running around here." As you contine up, you come to another landing. A door leads further in and further on.
[20:27] * Willim knocks this time!
[20:28] <Kotono> A woman's voice, cheerful and teasing, "Oh, you're done bathing already? Come on in, it's not locked."
[20:29] * Willim shrugs, his civic duty done! He opens the door and strolls in!
[20:30] <Ithea> "We're not the nymphs, miss," Ithea calls out, before another misunderstanding occurs, though she feels Willim take the invitation and just go in. "Wait, Willim! She thinks we're the...oh, screw it."
[20:33] <Kotono> The woman inside is about seven feet tall! Her entire form is statue-esque, all smoothness and rounded in just the right places. A mane of silvery hair cascades down to just above the floor, smooth and flowing as silk. She is wrapped in white gossamer strands, forming an elegant gown around her. The room ahead is pitch dark, making the woman glow all the brighter. "Oh!" Her voice slowly
[20:33] <Kotono> drawls that out, as if savoring every letter. "Oh my! To say the obvious, you aren't the nymphs I was expecting."
[20:35] * Willim looks very, very mildly annoyed. "Sorry for the intrusion. We're looking or Sharess. The cats told us we could maybe find her here? Are you going to throw things now?"
[20:42] <Kotono> That brings a deep, throaty giggle as the woman sashays forward. "Hardly. That would be far too boring," Coming to stand before Willim, "I would ask you to put your...friend down. That's not how we do things in Rapture...unless you two enjoy this?" Reaching out to stroke Ithea's cheek, "Dear, did the foreigner disturb your lap and carry you along?"
[20:48] * Willim slings Ithea off his shoulder and plunks her down on her feet, making sure she doesn't fall over. "Yeah, okay. Are you a pristess or something?"
[20:50] <Ithea> "The nymphs took offense to our entry and blinded me, miss," Ithea answers. "Willim's just been carrying me so I don't fall down the stairs by accident."
[20:50] <Kotono> "A priestess? Of a sort," She chuckles, "I am a weaver of the senses, a maiden of the sensate." She drifts back, gossamer strands trailing in her wake, glowing like stars before fading away. "I bring praise and worship to each of the five senses. Aaah, I see. You stumbled into their bath, hm?" A chuckle, "If you seek Sharess..." She gestures, a door appearing in the back, "Continue on and
[20:50] <Kotono> up. There is no guarantee you will find her, but perhaps you will further in or on the roof."
[20:54] <Willim> "Yeah, I gathered that from the last time I was here." Willim says, gesturing at the girls. "I brought help this time. Thanks for showing us the way." Willim heads for the door.
[20:56] <Kotono> "Good fortunes to you," She pauses a moment, "Hm, kitten," Coming over to Ithea again, "Would you like your vision back?"
[21:09] <Ithea> "If that's something you can hurry up then I'd very much appreciate it, please," Ithea answers. "I've gotten used to getting lugged around by Willim, but it's certainly not comfortable either."
[21:10] <Kotono> Dana snickers, "It's not so bad. Willim can club you and drag you off for all sorts of slamming. Mmm," Dana sighs longingly, "He hits so goooood."
[21:10] <Ithea> "You keep your fantasies to you and him, Dana," Ithea says immediately.
[21:10] <Kotono> "Of course I..." a moment's stop there, just letting Dana's words pass, "Of course I can. She murmurs a few words and touches Ithea's eyes, white liquid draining from them! A moment later Ithea can see again, vision returning!
[21:11] <Kotono> "Now I must begin my own work," The gossamer clad maiden insists, giving Willim a look before shuddering. "Please go."
[21:11] * Willim gives Dana a pat on the behind. "Later." He nods at the woman. "Thanks for your help."
[21:12] <Ithea> "Ah, thank you very much," Ithea says, smiling brightly at the maiden. "Might I have the name of the one who helped me before we move onward? I'm Ithea."
[21:13] <Kotono> "Dawn," She replies, making a shooing motion. "Go, go, go!"
[21:14] * Ithea gives a short bow and moves after Willim and Dana.
[21:15] <Kotono> Up the next set of stairs! After a few dozen steps you come to another feline sprawled out. This one is bigger - an incredibly sleek and large wild cat, or a big cat cub, perhaps. It's curled up on the steps as well, spilling over the one its on.
[21:16] <Ithea> "...at that size, that cannot be comfortable," Ithea notes.
[21:16] * Willim nudges the cat with a hoof.
[21:19] <Kotono> "Mrr?" A low throated murmur from the feline, who stretches and rises. Its back arches up and claws come out, scraping against the stairs. "Oh! A cat anarch!" It immediately comes up to Ithea, butting its head against her legs.
[21:21] <Kotono> "You're just a fucking hit with the home crowd, Ithea," Dana pipes up as she follows behind Willim this time.
[21:22] <Ithea> "So it seems," Ithea says. "Well, nymphs aside anyway," she adds as she moves to pat the cat. "That easy to tell I'm an anarch or something? I figured it'd be something one could only tell in Limbo itself."
[21:27] * Willim looks back and forth between the two cats. "This Limbo stuff again?"
[21:28] * Ithea shrugs. "Well, the anarch thing is. It only works there as far as I know."
[21:29] <Kotono> "I can tell. You smell like one," The feline makes a show of sniffing at the air, rubbing up to Ithea's hand. "I got lost in Limbo for a long time. Mrrrr..." Purring audibly at the petting, "Will you stay and pet me?"
[21:32] <Ithea> "I can't, I'm traveling with them, and we have things we need to do. Maybe later if we meet again?" Ithea offers.
[21:35] <Kotono> "You're going up there," The cat asks , a note of regret in its voice. "Okay..."
[21:36] * Ithea scratches the large cat behind the ear and pats it twice before moving along upward.
[21:37] <Willim> "We travel on the Aurora. If you want, you can find her there most times." Willim helpfully offers as he passes!
[21:41] <Kotono> Dana smirksa s you go on up! Another balcony, another door.
[21:41] <Willim> Another door, another knock!
[21:42] <Kotono> "Come in!" A man's voice calls, "It's not locked."
[21:42] <Willim> The door is thusly opened and walked through!
[21:48] <Kotono> Within this roomis row after row of glass cases. Within each is candies. Candies familiar and foreign, each one a colorful bit of sugary bliss. At the far end is another door. Appproaching you is a slender man with angel's wings, blonde haired and wearing a plain white, flour stained apron. "Here I thought the nymphs were early," he observes, "Ah, did you by chance come by for candy, or for
[21:48] <Kotono> something else?"
[21:50] * Willim blinks, looking around. "Looking for Sharess."
[21:52] <Kotono> "Oh, I see!" A bit of a nod, "Well, I can tell you that I'm not her. But I can give you another clue - she's been taking the form of a house cat the last few times I've seen her."
[21:53] <Willim> "...we've seen a thousand housecats today." Willim sighs.
[21:54] <Kotono> "Fantastic," Dana drawls, "It's like a fucking lottery, except we're talking cats and tigers as our prize."
[21:55] <Ithea> "Would be rather annoying to find out that one of the two cats we left sleeping on the stairs was her," Ithea comments.
[21:56] <Kotono> "Well," After a moment of thought, "I do know she's been favoring the form of a black and white cat lately." The man adds, "If that helps at all. Oh," Tapping the glass, "If it doesn't, would you like some candy? Each one is made with an emotion or sensation."
[21:58] * Willim thinks for a good moment, then palms his face. "The cat that led us here was black and white."
[21:59] <Kotono> Dana mimics that face palm, "...we just got used for amusement, didn't we? I bet she's watching and laughing her divine ass off over all of this!"
[22:00] <Ithea> "It's possible, though I would hope it was more that she simply wants to observe us more and how we interact with the people we meet on the way up. We might still be expected to keep going up," Ithea points out a bit more optimistically.
[22:01] <Kotono> "Cats take a perverse joy in this sort of thing," Dana sighs adn rubs her face, "Of course, she's the fucking cat goddess. Argh, I should have suspected it!"
[22:02] * Willim nods. "We'll go to the top. If she's not there, we'll have to pack it in and tell the sage that it's not something we can do for him." He pats Dana on the shoulder.
[22:03] <Kotono> "Well, the door's that way," He says, "Sure you don't want some candy?"
[22:03] <Willim> "I'll pass for now, thanks. Maybe later?"
[22:05] <Ithea> "Sorry, I'll pass," Ithea answers.
[22:06] <Kotono> Dana just makes a shooing motion, going to the door and revealing more stairs. "And more stairs. Hopefully the roof is close."
[22:12] <Kotono> Up the stairs the three goes. No more rooms, just several flights of stairs. Ahead you can see an opening shining with light - it lookslike roof access!
[22:15] <Willim> Roof access! Willim forges ahead!

[Corwin]

[19:57] <Kotono> The roof is circular and flat, standing above Rapture. Around you are great expanses of shadowed buildings, yet sunlight comes down. A sunlight that provides its own soft focus and caressing warmth. The sunshine warms you to your bones, a sense of deep lethargy coming into the three of you. Atop the roof an angel rests. She is curled up, wearing a white bikini. Her wings curl around her as
[19:57] <Kotono> well. In place of normal ears she has a cat's ears, the fur the same color as her vibrant black hair. A tail of the same can be spotted, too.
[19:59] <Kotono> Dana starts to say something, but a mouthsplitting yawn takes her. She covers her mouth as it wracks her, "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn. Damn. Got sleepy all of a sudden." Rubbing her eyes, "Does that angel have...a cat's tail and ears?"
[20:00] <Ithea> "Seems like," Ithea says in agreement. "Never saw that before."
[20:00] * Willim nods slowly. "It reminds me of the Abyss, really. Jaela with cockroach antennas."
[20:01] <Ithea> "The two things don't really compare, you know! Cockroaches are creepy!"
[20:01] <Kotono> "Mmm.." Another yawn cuts Dana off, as she stretches. "Mrgh, have a sudden urge to take a nap. Think that's Sharess...nah, can't be. I'd expect something more....something grander."
[20:02] <Willim> "I'd be expecting a black and white cat, really." Willim says, strolling up to the angel. He looks over at Ithea as he walks. "They're not creepy!"
[20:03] <Kotono> "They're just bugs. Stomp 'em if they bother you," Dana shrugs, "Fuck, it's just a bug."
[20:04] <Willim> "Jaela and Ithea had some sort of breakdown. I didn't really understand it."
[20:05] <Ithea> "Dana. If you have roaches, a whole hoard of them crawling over you, going into your ears, your mouth, everywhere they can...you tell me how easy it is to stomp them," Ithea says flatly.
[20:06] <Ithea> "Anyway, only one way to find out what we're supposed to do now," Ithea says as she moves closer to the angel, prodding it lightly to wake it up.
[20:07] <Kotono> "So?" Dana shrugs, "At home, roaches are food in the poorer countries. Cook 'em up or chop 'em up for stew. I've had fried roaches on the road." Pausing as she follows, as Willim reaches the snoozing angel and Ithea prods it? The angel blink-blinks and stirs, yawning massively, "Hm..AH! TROLL!" Stumbling back  and to its feet in a hurried, ragged and somehow graceful leap, it lands on its feet!
[20:08] <Willim> "...yes. Troll. Hi." Willim deadpans.
[20:18] <Ithea> "Yes, I know he's kind of ugly, but don't worry, he's not evil," Ithea explains to the shocked angel.
[20:22] <Kotono> "What are you doing here?!" She sputters, face going between shock, surprise and bewilderment, unable to decide between them. "I m-mean, why are you here and waking meu p!?"
[20:23] <Willim> "We're looking for Sharess." Willim states. This should be obvious.
[20:23] <Ithea> "Sorry, we're looking for Sharess, and well, a cat led us this way," Ithea says with a shrug. "You were the only one up here."
[20:27] <Kotono> "Oh!" A hand goes to her chest as she exhales, "She came by to talk to me a moment, not long ago. She mentioned she was going to the Heartsfire after that."
[20:28] <Willim> "What's Heartsfire?"
[20:30] <Kotono> "Oh! It's a special fountain. It makes you fall in love overwhelmingly," The angel sighs longingly, "It's so nice for a brief time to be so romantically smitten with someone!"
[20:33] <Willim> "I see. Where can we find it then?" Willim looks at the angel with a blank expression.
[20:33] <Kotono> "Uh huh." Dana says, "Heartsfire, thanks," with a glance over to Willim, "Do we need directions to it?"
[20:33] <Kotono> "Oh! Well, you fly off the tower that way," she points, "Go down into that street, go two more, take a left, then straight ahead until the Spire, then take another right and it's right in front of you!" As she speaks, her tail swishes in the air.
[20:34] <Ithea> "What're the chances of her still being there? If not there, any idea where else we could find her?" Ithea asks.
[20:38] <Kotono> "Mmmm, fairly good," Licking her lips a moment as she stretches again, "Lady Bast is very fond of it."
[20:40] <Ithea> "Alright, well, thanks," Ithea says.
[20:42] * Willim spontanously sprouts moony wings! "Shall we?"
[20:43] <Kotono> "Carry us," Dana asks, "Thanks," she pauses to thank the angel, then giggles, "Oh Willim, carrying two pretty girls over your shoulder around here, like a conquering hero."
[20:44] * Ithea rolls her eyes. "You get off on the weirdest shit, Dana," Ithea comments as she waits for Willim to pick them up.
[20:45] * Willim snorts and scoops the two girls up. He nods at the angel. "Thanks for your help."
[20:46] <Kotono> Off the two go! As Willim flies down and the angel waves once as you go, "I," she tosses her short hair, "Know how to have a fuckin' good time!"
[20:52] * Willim follows the directions as well as he can, looking for this fountain!
[20:53] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 100." [1d100=100]
[20:53] <Kotono> roll 1d100 subtables times!
[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 subtables times! and gets 50." [1d100=50]
[21:07] <Kotono> As you land follow along, you come to the Spire. It is in a small square, a 25ft tall slab of smooth, well polished stone poking into the sky. Around it are about two dozen beautiful women of various stock, from human to dwarven to elven to stranger stock - even a feminine mercane. They dance nude around the Spire, a crowd watching and cheering. Dana stops and glances at it, looks up and
[21:07] <Kotono> then to the women, "...okay." she mutters, "I'm not even going to fucking ask."
[21:10] * Willim scratches at his hair in confusion. "Some kind of...worship thing?"
[21:11] <Kotono> "Dick worship, probably. Unless naked women in the sex goddess' realm just happen to dance around big, phallic monuments," Dana rolls her eyes, "Eh, whatever, it's the local flavor."
[21:11] * Ithea looks around trying to see if she can spot someone with a good likelyhood of being Sharess. It's probably one of the nude dancers, but who knows, really? She's sure to put out some sort of magical aura though, so Ithea tries to detect traces of it as she looks all around.
[21:13] <Kotono> The Spire radiates magic, as do all the dancers and a few people in the crowd.
[21:15] <Willim> Willim just has no words.
[21:15] <Ithea> "Okay, finding her's not going to be as easy as I'd hoped," Ithea notes with a sigh. "Any ideas?"
[21:16] <Willim> "We could just start asking?"
[21:17] <Kotono> "How about we finish going to the Heartsfire?" Dana speaks up, "She mentioned this Spire, and we had to keep going from it."
[21:17] <Ithea> "Point, let's try there first," Ithea says, agreeing with Dana.
[21:17] <Willim> "This isn't it?"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Does this look like a fountain?" Dana says with a cross note in her voice, "If the top of that starts spewing, I'm fleeing the hell out of here even faster. Dooon't think I want stonecock babies."
[21:20] <Willim> "...right." Willim moves on.
[21:25] <Kotono> Another right takes you along a narrow alley, opening up into a dead end. Here sunshine comes down, grass and a fountain. Dozens of couples sit about, staring into each other's eyes and in utter rapture. As you come closer, you feel a momentary shiver over your body, as if a feather was tickling every inch of your flesh.
[21:28] * Willim looks extraordinarily uncomfortable for that moment.
[21:29] * Ithea tries to ignore the feeling as she keeps moving closer, looking for people.
[21:31] <Kotono> There's plenty of people - but they all seem lost in each other's eyes, pairs utterly and obviously smitten with one another. As you step forward, a fountain shimmers into sight. It is made of smooth white stone, lined with gold and pink. Water gently burbles out of it, a single pink cat sitting on its lip. It's tail flicks just above the waters, but not quite going in.
[21:32] <Willim> "...I didn't know cats could be pink."
[21:34] <Kotono> "I didn't know trolls could get here," The cat retorts right back, "Life's full of surprises, isn't it?"
[21:36] * Willim nods, allowing that. "I don't suppose you've seen Sharess around here recently?"
[21:37] <Kotono> "The Lady Bast?" The cat immediately bows its head down, as if to be petted.
[21:38] <Willim> "Yeah, sure. Her too." Willim obliges the cat, petting it.
[21:40] <Kotono> "Mmmmm!" The cat starts to purr, "You don't sound very respectful. If you want a favor, you'd think you could remember your manners." For a moment, a raw aura batters the three. A sensation of absolute power, awe and majesty, all coming from the pink feline. It leaves a sense of overwheling awe in you, as well as feelings of enraptured love, sensual pleasure and all consuming passion. "Those
[21:40] <Kotono> poor nymphs nearly died of fright when you didn't knock."
[21:43] <Ithea> "Sorry, I did try to apologize and step back out, though I do have to ask what the logic was in building a bathhouse on the way up. Wouldn't it have made more sense to build it at the top floor?" Ithea asks. "Still, it was my fault for not knocking, I'll admit that much."
[21:45] <Kotono> "Oh." Dana reddens and then pales, quickly clearing her throat. "Sorry about that, yes."
[21:45] * Willim attempts to shake off the foreign feelings! "To be fair, we didn't know they were there."
[21:46] <Kotono> OOC: Will save, Willim.
[21:46] <Willim> roll 1d20+25
[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Willim rolls 1d20+25 and gets 44." [1d20=19]
[21:47] <Kotono> Willim tries to marshal his will, but it fails before the feelings in him.
[21:50] <Kotono> "Well," Her tail flicks above the waters of the fountain as she speaks, "What's done is done, and it was entertaining. You have my attention," Strutting forward on the air as if solid, hopping up to eye-leve with the trio, "Whatever do you want here?"
[21:54] <Willim> "Your attention? Why, who are-oh. Ohhhh. Oh. I see. Right." Willim swallows. "That explains a lot actually. Yes. Uhhh...right! We're here because we'd like to ask a favor. Of you. If you wouldn't mind. Do you have a few minutes for a story?"
[21:55] <Kotono> "I might, if it's an interesting story," Sharess looks to Ithea, an utterly heart-rending look to her, "Oh, you're family! Pick me up and pet me while the nice troll tells me an interesting story."
[21:56] * Ithea blinks at the family bit, wondering if she means that literally, or just figuratively due to her catlike features, but quietly obliges the goddess, picking her up and petting her gently.
[21:58] <Willim> "Okay, so. First of all, what do you know about Lifasa?"
[22:00] <Kotono> The feline is entirely warm in your grasp. Merely touching her fills Ithea with contentment and a deep affection, each stroke making Ithea feel a deep, enrapturing love for the feline she pets. "I'm aware of it. Go on," she says.
[22:07] <Willim> "Okay. So I'm Willim. This is Dana and Ithea's holding you now. I was part of a temple devoted to Tempus on Lifasa along with about fifty or so others, including our master. As of right now, he and I are the only ones left alive that we are aware of. After Lifasa fell, I met up with Ithea and two other girls and we wound up setting out to find something called Medicant. It's this great big
[22:07] <Willim> flying fortress that I don't really understand, but it's working for us. Helps us kill lots of devils. One of the people who helped us find it was a gith...something. Old guy. Real old. I don't even know how old. He offered to help us out on the fortress, but he said that if he left the Astral, he'd die real quick. someone suggested that we find some golden apples for him in order for him
[22:07] <Willim> to be able to help us. One of our crew figured out that my god gave you a tree that grows these apples a long time ago, so I was hoping that the good relations still existed between you and Tempus so that we could please ask you if we could have a couple or three apples? If not, is there anything that we can do for you that might help improve the situation?"
[22:09] <Kotono> Purring aloud as Ithea pets her, Sharess listens to the entire tale. "I suppose I could part with a few. You have been entertaining. But..." Trailing off there a moment, "Mrrr..." Rolling onto her back and exposing her tummy, "You have good hands, Ithea. Pet me there now, mmmm." After that she goes on, "I'll give you the apples if you help two people fall in passionate love. It can be any
[22:09] <Kotono> two people, as long as they fall in love of their own free will. No magic, magic always fades."
[22:10] * Ithea feels a bit silly doing so, knowing it's actually a goddess she's holding, but rubs Sharess' tummy as she makes her request.
[22:11] <Kotono> "Like they're fucking or just all staring googly eyed at each other, like all these people?" Dana jerks a thumb at one couple.
[22:14] * Willim actually looks at the cat-goddess in surprise. "You're serious? You know I hit people for a living, right?"
[22:16] <Kotono> "Yes, I know...oooh," Sighing in bliss as Ithea rubs her belly, "But there's always time for a warrior to put down his sword and enjoy the finer things in life. As you and Dana have."
[22:21] * Willim eyes Dana sideways.
[22:23] <Kotono> Dana returns that look and shrugs.
[22:27] <Kotono> "I mean..." Dana says after a few moments, "Do you want us to get two people to start fuckin'?"
[22:36] <Kotono> Sharess looks up, "That will be the inevitable consequence of true passion," A dry note comes into her voice, "But passionate romance is what I want."
[22:40] <Willim> "Oh, alright. Just...what's romance?" Willim asks.
[22:40] <Kotono> "What stuffy people do when they wanna fuck, but think they have to dress it up first," Dana replies immediately, "Or you aren't proper and all that bullshit."
[22:41] <Kotono> "Mmm." Sharess looks up at Ithea, "You know what romance is, don't you?"
[22:43] <Ithea> "...kind of? I've never fallen in love, honestly, my focus has been on getting stronger and doing something about Lifasa and devils. I do think Dana's idea of it is way, way, waaaaaaaay off though," Ithea answers the goddess, pausing in her petting.
[22:45] <Kotono> "The three of you can study up on it before achieving it. It'll do you good," Stretching and standing in Ithea's lap, "Romance makes love-making better, too."
[22:46] <Ithea> "Wait, so are -we- the ones who have to have a passionate romance, or just get someone involved in one?" Ithea asks.
[22:47] <Kotono> "Just get two people involved in it," Sharess replies as she hops back to the fountain in one smooth leap.
[22:47] <Willim> "Ohhh. Like when I hit Dana really, REALLY hard during training?" Willim nods. "That's romance? I can do that."
[22:48] <Ithea> "Hooboy, this will take a while," Ithea mutters.
[22:49] <Kotono> "Have patience," The feline commands to Ithea.
[22:49] <Kotono> Dana grins, "Damn right. You're so romantic, Willim," she laughs despite herself, a smile coming to her face.
[22:52] <Willim> "This'll be fun! We're gonna hit SO. MANY. PEOPLE!" Willim gives an uncharacteristic big toothy grin!
[22:53] <Ithea> "That's not...oh, whatever. Just stick to girls who can take your idea of romance. Like Dana. Or...I dunno, Annalise and Jaela," Ithea suggests with a sigh.
[22:54] * Willim frowns. "Annalise is a vampire! And Jaela...well, she likes vampires, I guess. Are they in love?"
[22:55] <Kotono> "Ahem." Sharess clears her throat, bringing attention to her like a whiplash. "Willim, Dana. Real romance, not your personal tastes. I know you know better, Dana, with your upbringing."
[22:56] <Kotono> "Yeah, but that shit's boring," Dana says, "Willim's ideas are a hell of a lot more fun."
[22:56] * Willim looks rather proud at that.
[22:57] <Ithea> "Since Dana and Willim have the same idea of romance, if they get together it'd still count, right?" Ithea asks.
[23:04] <Kotono> "It's boring, is it?" The feline says, "I find your willful dismissal of things entirely rather boring."
[23:06] <Ithea> "I don't think romance is boring, I just...don't have any experience in love, besides that which I felt for my family and home. I can try and get a pair of people to love each other, but somehow I don't expect we'll succeed any time soon," Ithea answers honestly.

[Corwin]

[20:47] <Kotono> "Ahem," Dana quickly clears her throat, "Okay, I spoke too soon. The fuckin' point is that this really isn't something any of us aregood at. At all."
[20:47] <Willim> "It's not just hitting then?" Willim scratches his head, "This will be harder than I thought."
[20:50] <Kotono> "Well then, you're in luck. This is the capital of romance and love in all Creation. If not in this realm, then next door in dear Sune's realm." The cat smiles, despite it's feline face. An utterly charming smile, as the pink feline begins to fade away like a treasured memory in the light of the morning sun, "If you're capable of opposing Hell so well, romance should hardly be a challenge
[20:50] <Kotono> impossible to overcome."
[20:52] <Ithea> "How do we find you again when we succeed?" Ithea asks, trying to be a bit optimistic by saying when instead of if.
[20:56] <Kotono> "Why my daughter, I'll find you," Sharess is heard as the image of the pink cat fades into nothingness.
[20:59] * Willim blinks at that. "Oh, hey, she's your mom?"
[21:01] <Kotono> "...uh." Dana glances at Ithea, "I think she meant in sorta a cat way? Uh fuck, I don't know, maybe she was talking all fancy and figurative since she's the Goddess of cats and you're half cat?"
[21:01] <Ithea> "It probably was figurative," Ithea nods in agreement. "Well, probably. She could have always gone vacationing on Lifasa or something a few years back," Ithea replies with a shrug.
[21:01] <Willim> "Better than having a bloodthirsty, conniving demon for a mom." Willim points out.
[21:02] <Ithea> "Anyway! You guys want to try and do this right now or sometime later? Worst case, we can always spike a couple's drinks with alcohol?"
[21:02] <Willim> "We're here, we might as well do it now."
[21:04] <Kotono> "So how should we do this," Dana asks as she looks skyward, "Got any ideas?"
[21:07] <Ithea> "Just walk around and talk to people that look alone? I dunno, really."
[21:09] <Willim> "That sounds better than my idea. Let's go." Willim says, trotting away from the fountain.

[21:12] <Kotono> OOC: So what's your goal here? Just talk to people and ask what?
[21:13] <Willim> OOC: Find some sad lonely bastard and make his dreams come true! Just like a movie!
[21:13] <Ithea> ooc: I don't know yet. "Are you a lonely worthless being with no hope of the future unless you find someone to love you despite all your faults?" probably isn't a good question to ask.
[21:14] <Ithea> ooc: Let's just find a lot of people and start a blind dating service? We can charge 1 silver for the service too, to add authenticity to it?
[21:15] <Willim> OOC: We can donate the money to the condoms fund!
[21:16] <Ithea> ooc: I figured we'd spend the money on drinks.
[21:16] <Willim> OOC: That's bad form.
[21:22] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, hm. For the sake of reference, do any of you have a decent GI score?
[21:27] <Ithea> ooc: yes
[21:28] <Ithea> ooc: I have GI at +18, I can get it up to +25
[21:29] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, roll GI and have Willim+Dana aid.
[21:31] <Willim> roll 1d20 aid
[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Willim rolls 1d20 aid and gets 4." [1d20=4]
[21:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Dana aid
[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Dana aid and gets 17." [1d20=14]
[21:33] <Ithea> roll d20+25
[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+25 and gets 42." [d20=17]

[Corwin]

[20:08] <Koaway> The trio are able to find a big mass of people to work with. Indeed, there's a really rather large bar/mixer, the Cat's Howl. Hundreds of people are about this bar, often scantily clad or hanging off the arm of another. Lots of people here to work with.
[20:10] <Ithea> "Okay, let's just start talking to people and seeing if we can find something in common between two people that we can use to get them together?" Ithea suggests.
[20:11] * Willim nods, heading into the crowd with flat face and curved horns leading the way!
[20:15] <Koaway> OOC: Going to look for compatible people, eh?
[20:15] <Willim> OOC: Standing around won't do us any good!
[20:24] <Koaway> OOC: Make GI checks again real quick?
[20:24] <Ithea> roll d20+25
[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+25 and gets 40." [d20=15]
[20:24] <Willim> roll 1d20
[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Willim rolls 1d20 and gets 10." [1d20=10]
[20:25] <Koaway> roll 1d20+3
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Koaway rolls 1d20+3 and gets 20." [1d20=17]
[20:26] <Koaway> It's two people. One is a man wearing freshly tailored silk clothes, sitting alone. He has a wistful look on his face as he watches people dance and talk. Another is a woman - clad nicely as well, nursing her drink and looking unhappy.
[20:29] * Ithea goes chat with the woman first!
[20:29] <Willim> Not really able to understand how people can avoid having a good time here, Willim goes to chat with the guy to see what is problem is.
[20:30] <Koaway> Dana considers a oment, then trails along with Willim. Ithea reaches the woman first, she looks up a moment, "Um, hello?" she greets tentatively. Meanwhile the man sees Willim coming, giving him a frankly startled look.
[20:31] <Ithea> "Hello," Ithea greets back. "How're you doing tonight?"
[20:35] * Willim walks up to the man and gives him a good stare for a moment before saying, "Hi."
[20:42] <Koaway> "Oh. Well...not so good," she admits, "My friends told me to come over to Rapture, but I don't think I fit in." Meanwhile the man continues that stare, "Well hell. How'd they let you in?"
[20:44] <Willim> "I walked in." Willim shrugs. "People don't bother me. How did you get in and not manage to have a good time?"
[20:44] <Ithea> "I did notice you didn't seem to be having too much fun. Why don't you think you fit in though?" Ithea asks.
[20:49] <Koaway> "Oh," The guy says, non-plussed. "Ah. Well, I got drunk over in Lliira's realm one night and woke up here. I thought I'd see the sites and linger in, but I haven't really found anything to catch my fancy." Meanwhile the woman blushes at Ithea's words, "Everyone here is so daring, sexy and happy! I mean...well, I'm not."
[20:50] * Willim glances at Dana with a mildly incredulous look before turning back to the guy. "Really? What kind of girl do you like? Or do you like guys?"
[20:52] <Ithea> "Oh? You seem dressed rather nicely, so I think you've got your foot in the door, don't you think?" Ithea says with an encouraging smile.
[20:55] <Koaway> Dana just shrugs, as the man sputters, "N-no! Where the hell did you get that idea?!" Glaring at Willim, blushing red, "Well, I don't know what sort of girl I like? All of them?" Meanwhile the girl blushes a little more, "It's...you think so?"
[20:57] <Willim> "Just asking. I know girls who like girls, so guys who like guys aren't impossible. Probably." Willim says. "Yeah, what kind of girl? Tall, short, fat, skinny, violent, soft and weak, you know?"
[20:59] <Ithea> "Sure! Why don't you just go walk up to talk to a guy, make small talk and see where things go? If small talk doesn't go anywhere, hey, lots of other people around here that like to talk, but there's always the chance of making a new friend, right?" Ithea says.
[21:03] <Koaway> "Anything that moves?" Shrugging, "I'm not so lucky that I can be picky. Just someone nice, someone who I can talk to before getting crazy with." Sighing, "The last three women I tried here treated me like a fling. A few minutes of talk, a few hours in bed and goodbye. I guess that's fine if you're a petitioner here and did that all your life for Sharess, but...you know." He pauses to laugh,
[21:03] <Koaway> "I'm in a man's paradise and I want more conversation. Lliira, kill me." Meanwhile the woman shakes her head, "But I mean...Wouldn't it be fake?"
[21:08] * Ithea tilts her head at the question. "How would it be fake?" Ithea asks. "They're here for a good time and so are you. A good time doesn't mean you guys have to jump in bed together at the end of the night... Well, not unless that's the sort of thing you want, but given that question, I suspect you'd rather just meet some new friends, right?"
[21:12] <Willim> "So find someone to talk to." Willim says matter-of-factly. "We saw a woman all alone just a few minutes ago. Looked like she could use some cheering up. If she looks down, you know she's probably not from around here."
[21:15] <Koaway> "Uh huh," The woman replies, "That's...say, what's your name?" She asks, "Why'd you just come up here, anyway?" Meanwhile the man shrugs, "Yeah, I guess-oh. That's a point. Where is she?"
[21:16] * Willim looks for Ithea's cat ears in the crowd!
[21:19] <Ithea> "I'm Ithea. Well, you're in a bar called the 'Cat's Howl', in an area favored by the goddess of cats and passion, and you're alone and wishing for a bit more. I think it's a bit obvious why I came to talk, don't you?" Ithea says. It's kind of true too.
[21:20] <Koaway> "Ooooh." Blushing even more, "Alright, I get the message. What should I do?" Meanwhile Willim can spot several pair of feline ears. Doesn't look like a distinctive feature here.
[21:21] <Willim> OOC: How tall are the ceilings in here?
[21:22] <Ithea> "Well, there was a nice looking gentleman around here that looked like he was even more uncomfortable here than you. Assuming my friends haven't scared him off, and that's entirely possible, feel like testing your luck with him?" Ithea suggests with a smile.
[21:41] <Koaway> "Alright,"The woman agrees after a moment. OOC: About 12ft or so? Not hugely tall.
[21:42] * Ithea leads the woman in the direction of the others.
[21:43] * Willim sretches his back, gaining about a foot or so of height. He uses his improved vantage to look for Ithea again!
[21:44] <Koaway> You are able to spot Ithea now - she's coming your way, woman in tow.
[21:44] * Willim nods. "Hold on." he says to the guy.
[21:45] <Koaway> "Hold on?" He echos, giving Willim an odd look.
[21:46] <Willim> "That's what I said."
[21:50] <Koaway> "To what?" He echos, before, "...onto you?"
[21:51] * Willim lowers himself, turning to the man. "Just wait."
[21:52] <Koaway> Dana snickers, "I'll hold onto you later, Willim. That'll be better, eh?"
[21:53] <Koaway> Meanwhile Ithea approaches, coming through the crowd with the woman in tow.
[21:53] * Willim snorts. "There she is."
[21:54] <Ithea> "Hello," Ithea says once she and the woman with her are close enough, poking the woman to introduce herself.
[21:56] <Koaway> "Oh! I'm Jessica," She introduces herself, "Nice to meet you."
[21:57] <Koaway> "Hennan," The man introduces himself right back, "Would you like to talk?"
[21:59] <Koaway> "Um..." Blushing, Jessica goes to sit. "Yeah. So...you're not from around here, are you?"
[22:00] <Koaway> At this Dana clears her throat and rises, slipping away.
[22:01] * Willim trundles on off to inspire love in others! Hooray!
[22:01] <Koaway> Once out ofearshot Dana murmurs, "Think they'll work out for this?"
[22:02] * Ithea lingers briefly, but eventually slips away as well.
[22:15] <Koaway> OOC: What are you three doing now?
[22:17] <Willim> OOC: Next couple!
[22:17] <Ithea> OOC: Sure why not, might as well hedge those bets.
[22:17] <Ithea> roll d20+25 GI for another desperate couple to be?
[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+25 GI for another desperate couple to be? and gets 32." [d20=7]
[22:18] <Koaway> roll 1d20+3 Dana will aid
[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Koaway rolls 1d20+3 Dana will aid and gets 16." [1d20=13]
[22:18] <Willim> roll 1d20
[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Willim rolls 1d20 and gets 8." [1d20=8]
[22:26] <Koaway> It's harder than you'd think. Most of the people here are happy and/or paired off. As you wonder about, you pass by the bar. "Why hello there," A voice calls, "You three aren't form around here, are you?"
[22:28] * Ithea turns to look at the voice. "Why do you ask that?" she asks.
[22:28] * Willim turns to see what this is about!
[22:33] <Koaway> Behind the bar is a bartender. She's a radiantly beautiful woman, blonde hair and an easy smile as she polishes a glass tankard. She is on the tall side, hair long and loose past her hips. She has a body that keeps on going and going, all gorgeous curves clad in the softest, clingiest pink silk toga. "Oh, just saw you playing matchmaker," she demures, "Your style isn't the type I'd see around
[22:33] <Koaway> here from the regulars."
[22:36] * Ithea laughs. "Well, you're right, we're definitely not from around here. What -is- the normal style of matchmaking around here out of curiosity?"
[22:43] <Koaway> "Meet, greet, sleep," Putting the tankard down, "On a pilgramage, feline friend?"
[22:45] <Ithea> "Of a sort," Ithea answers. "This is more of a side trip, if you had to call it something."
[22:46] <Koaway> "Want something to drink?" Asking as she straightens up, "A side trip?"
[22:49] <Ithea> "A drink wouldn't be too bad," Ithea answers, looking towards the other two to see if they want something to drink or if they want to keep looking for more people to match up. She does answer the bartender's other question though, while she eyes her companions. "And yes, a side trip. Willim here is on a quest that Dana and I offered to help with."
[22:51] <Willim> "Long story." Willim says. "I could use a beer. and some meat if you've got it."

[Corwin]

[21:56] <Kotono> "Something strong," Dana takes a seat at the bar, as drinks are produced. One beer, and two tall, skinny glasses of something pink and bubbly. A few moments later, a plate of meat is produced from under the counter. It looks like beef steaks and gravy. "So if this is just a side trip, what's your main trip?"
[21:57] * Willim snatches up a slab of meat and chomps on it.
[22:00] <Kotono> It's meat. Really good beef, in particular. The bar keep watches, "We have forks and knives," she offers.
[22:01] * Willim looks at the barkeeper with confusion. "What for?"
[22:05] <Kotono> "Manners," Dana takes a few sips of her fizzy drink, and then a few more. "Damn, not bad." As she slowly works on it.
[22:08] * Willim shrugs. "It's good meat, yeah. Anyhow, long story. We're here on a mission from Sharess."
[22:09] <Kotono> "Reaaaallly?" Leaning forward on the bar, a few locks of blonde hair dancing before her eyes as she looks towards Willim, "Why don't you tell me all about it?"
[22:11] <Ithea> "The main trip is a war, it ends when we're dead or we free our world. As for Sharess, she requested we get a couple together," Ithea says with a shrug as she tries her drink.
[22:12] * Willim holds up two large, clawed fingers, "Two."
[22:13] <Kotono> Nodding and leaning back now, the blonde looks into the crowd, "The two you were talking to," she asks, pointing.
[22:14] * Ithea nods herself. "They looked like they were looking for a bit more than the usual matchmaking, as you put it," Ithea comments.
[22:21] <Kotono> "Ooooh," Playing with a bit of her hair with a figner, wrapping it around, "They look like they're enjoying themselves." Drawling that out as she watches the three drink and eat, "So you're from Aurora, aren't you?"
[22:23] * Ithea raises an eyebrow. "A very good guess, barkeep. But yes, we are."
[22:23] * Willim nods, stabbing a piece of meat with a knife and shoving the whole thing into his mouth. "Yerp."
[22:26] <Kotono> "Isn't this interesting? I've been hearing Aurora talked about lately." Leaning forward again, in a girly little whisper, "Want to tell me about it?"
[22:28] * Willim blinks, then looks at her suspiciously. "...why?"
[22:31] <Kotono> Finishing her drink, Dana's brow furrows in displeasure. She doesn't say anything, but her glass suddenly gets several cracks in it as her grip grows heavier. Meanwhile the blonde barkeep is all smiles, "I've heard the rumors about how...big it is," she leans in to whisper that last part, before winking and slipping back. "So tell me about it."
[22:32] <Ithea> "It's an amazing place, but trying to describe it wouldn't do it justice. You'd want to come by and see it for yourself," Ithea says with a shrug, sharing Willim's suspicions, the girl is kind of laying it on thick, but not wanting to sound suspicious either.
[22:32] <Ithea> roll d20+10 sense motive?
[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+10 sense motive? and gets 19." [d20=9]
[22:33] * Willim leans back on his haunches just as much as she leans forward. "...you bother me."
[22:34] <Kotono> Eyeing Ithea and then recoiling back from Willim, "Are you saying I'm ugly!?" she sputters, suddenly glaring absolute daggers at Willim.
[22:37] * Willim squints at the woman. "I guess if the light is right...?" he looks at Dana. "You think she's ugly? It's possible."
[22:38] <Kotono> Suddenly smirking, Dana puts her cracked glass down, "It's not possible. It's the truth," Snorting as she smirks, "I guess that's why she's serving drinks instead of having fun, eh, Ithea?"
[22:40] * Ithea shakes her head at the two. "You know, they hadn't said anything about uglyness until you mentioned it, barkeep. Don't insult yourself further," Ithea offers as advice. "If you're interested in Aurora though, feel free to join us when we head there. We'll give you the full tour." Assuming she really is that curious anyway. Otherwise, if she's actually trouble, well she gets the short tour straight to the dungeons.
[22:41] <Kotono> Twitch, twitch, twitch. "Thank you," she grinds out to Ithea, managing a thin veneer of politeness now. Turning back to Willim and Dana, "I'm sorry, I'm going to have to ask you to leave now." A shaky, sharp smile adorns her face, entirely insincere.
[22:43] * Ithea shrugs. "Alright then. The offer stands if we're still around whenever you get out of here," Ithea says, trying to still sound a bit more friendly than the others.
[22:43] * Ithea stands and slowly moves towards the exit, scanning around the place as she leaves, looking for Jessica to see how she's doing.
[22:45] * Willim shrugs, picking up the plate and dumping it into his mouth. "Not my fault if you think you're ugly. Everyone's always blaming me for their own problems." He complains to Dana. "That's why I like you. You don't blame me for stuff."
[22:47] <Kotono> "Can't help people who want a scapegoat," Dana airily declares as she rises, waving to the barkeep as you get up. Meanwhile, Ithea can see Jessica, talking away animatedly with her new friend.
[22:49] * Ithea nods to herself and heads out of the bar, waiting outside for the other two.
[22:51] <Kotono> Dana heads on out. Once outside, "Now what? Think that's enough?" she asks, taking in a breath. The fuzzy focus of the shadows makes her simple breathing a work of sublime beauty, smoothing away anger and accenting her natural beauty.
[22:54] <Ithea> "It's probably a bit early to know for sure, we'd probably want to come back in a few days to try and meet Sharess again so the relationship has some time to go anywhere, I think," Ithea says. "Then again, they did look good together, so we can give a quick search for Sharess first. Well, unless you guys want to try to play matchmaker again?"
[22:57] <Kotono> "I say we go find somewhere to relax a few. If Sharess doesn't show, we'll give 'em some time? She said she'd find us...or at least you, 'daughter'." Dana stretches, "Damn, after all this I want to beat the everfucking shit out of someone."
[22:57] <Willim> "Didn't Sharess say we had to get two couples together?"
[22:59] <Ithea> "No, just two people," Ithea answers. "Let's go do as the 'princess' suggests and go find somewhere to relax."
[22:59] * Willim shrugs. "Alright."
[23:01] <Kotono> OOC: Just going to mill some time?
[23:01] <Willim> OOC: Sure.
[23:01] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[23:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 79." [1d100=79]
[23:09] <Kotono> Several hours pass without any sign of Sharess. OOC: Are you guys going to back to Aurora or hang out here or what?
[23:09] <Ithea> ooc: We can give those cats a shot, they're gossipy, surely they know where she's at now! If they don't, we can head back to Aurora.
[23:10] <Willim> OOC: We could always go back and check on them?
[23:10] <Ithea> ooc: on jessica and the dude?
[23:12] <Willim> OOC: That's them.
[23:13] <Kotono> OOC: The cats you met before the tower?
[23:14] <Ithea> ooc: I wanted to meet the cats, yes. Willim wants to meet our couple.
[23:17] <Kotono> OOC: Pick one or the other, say?
[23:18] <Ithea> ooc: let's go meet the cats first, that gives the couple more time to fall in love.
[23:18] <Ithea> ooc: well, that or more time to be killed by a devil spy, but sucks to be them if that's the case.
[23:20] <Kotono> You return to the felines. You find them all asleep in the sunlight, just as before. Nothing much has immediately changed, at least.
[23:24] <Willim> "...huh." Willim says. "Sharess here?"
[23:25] <Kotono> One of the cats stirs. It stretches and yawns as it sits up, a pure white housecat. A black housecat does the same, joining him. "The Lady?" he asks rhetorically, "I haven't seen her here..." Looking about, "No, I don't think she is."
[23:27] <Ithea> "Should we try the fountain again, guys?" Ithea asks.
[23:28] <Kotono> "I don't really see the point," Dana admits, "She said she'd find us."
[23:29] * Willim nods. "Shouldn't they be in love right now? Maybe the weirdobartender lady did something."
[23:30] <Ithea> "Well, we can go check up on Jessica again, assuming she's still at the Cat's Howl. If not, we'll just have to come back at a later date and hope Sharess finds us then," Ithea says, starting to head back towards the bar. Hopefully the bartender has changed, or they don't have problems with her when they go in.
[23:35] <Kotono> Heading back to the Cat's Howl, you find the barkeep is still there. Indeed, she looks at the door as you enter, a sudden scowl on her face. She whistles low, the sound cutting across the bar. Near the door, a pair of burly, if well built and attractive humans rise, coming towards the trio.
[23:37] * Ithea groans. "Well, how badly did you want a fight, Dana?" Ithea asks as she tries to quickly spot Jessica or her male friend.
[23:37] <Kotono> OOC: Make a spot check?
[23:37] <Ithea> roll d20+40
[23:37] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+40 and gets 59." [d20=19]
[23:38] <Kotono> "Pretty bad," Dana banters back, as meanwhile they approach. "Excuse me," They say in time, "But the proprietor reserves the right to deny service to anyone and bar them entrance. She's chosen to do that for you. Please leave." Meanwhile Ithea can get a glance, somehow. She just barely can see the two, still at thei rtable, talking away and sharing drinks.
[23:40] <Ithea> "She's the proprietor?" Ithea mutters in surprise, before nodding at the trio. "Actually Dana, I think you might have to wait. I'd rather not cause trouble for those two."
[23:40] <Ithea> ooc: pair
[23:40] <Ithea> ooc: not sure why I said trio!
[23:40] <Willim> "They're still here then?" Willim asks.
[23:41] <Ithea> "Yes, and they're still together. Let's not mess that up for them," Ithea says as she steps outside. "Feel free to get them to follow us if you want to beat them up outside though, Dana. Or you can wait until we get back to Aurora."
[23:45] <Kotono> Dana hesitates, then shrugs, "Ah, fuck it." Turning back around and heading out, "How about we head home now and come back later?"
[23:45] * Willim eyes the bouncers. "Yeah ok. We can beat on each other back home and come back fresh."