D-ED2 001

[Corwin]

[19:38] <Blondezilla> <Alicia> "Nothing ventured, nothing gained eh?" Alicia smirks. "I think it would be a good idea to have a chat with this Cornugon if possible to iron out the details and find out exactly what his agenda is."
[19:38] <Blondezilla> > "Seira's logic has merit," Oberuth says as he listens to them, "Though a fake up and a punch to our main base while it happens is a possibility."
[19:38] <Blondezilla> <Seira> "As I've said, those remaining behind would be extra ready and alert, since the window of attack would necessarily be so narrow," Seira reasons. "Also, we can't really ambush Esthan with our entire forces, so we'll have plenty to spare for guarding those living here."
[19:38] <Blondezilla> > "Agreed with both. Go to him, ask him what you will nad accept the offer if no red flags come up," Oberuth says.
[19:38] <Blondezilla> <Seira> "He basically got all cocky and said we work together until Esthan's been defeated, and then it's up in the air. Either we kill each other some day, or our paths never cross." Seira snorts. "He got stupid after that, and refused to abandon his plans for Prime while boasting of having a hand in every devilish dealings here Esthan's not involved in himself,
[19:38] <Blondezilla> <Seira> so I think we'll go with his original offer and kill him at a later date, just as he wished."
[19:38] <Blondezilla> * Alicia sighs. "The joy of dealing with fiends..."
[19:38] <Blondezilla> <Seira> "However did they survive to be that old, right?"
[19:39] <Blondezilla> "Let's get it over with," Antenora stands up, "Let's go?"
02[19:39] * Shizuru (~corwin@bzq-79-179-135-140.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
06[19:40] * Alicia nods, standing up. "Marie, you might as well just go home and keep an eye on things there, just in case this is a distraction?" she suggests to her familiar, who agreeably flutters off back home.
01[19:40] <Seira> "He might kind of run away if we keep on bringing more and more people," Seira says hesitantly. "For all his bravado, he doesn't seem like a particularly brave cornugon."
[19:41] <Alicia> "Well, why don't just you and Antenora go at least, then?" Alicia allows. "Just make sure to ask him some probing questions so she can confirm any deception on his part?"
01[19:42] <Seira> "Should work," Seira agrees. "As long as we don't tip him off. Having their side think they've lured us into a trap is one of the better outcomes."
[19:44] <Alicia> "I'll wait nearby but not close enough to draw notice?" Alicia offers.
01[19:45] <Seira> "Sounds reasonable."
[19:47] <Blondezilla> Thus the group heads out to the southern gate. The city is lively but unremarkable, no signs of the diabolical horror that waits just outside of town...
06[19:48] * Alicia casts message so she can stay in contact with Seira and Antenora, before stopping to wait at the edge of the scattered housing to the Southeast of the city. "Good luck," she wishes.
01[19:49] <Seira> "Can't hurt to have it on our side," Seira agrees, leading the way to the house the devil had occupied.
[19:51] <Blondezilla> Just outside, Antenora stops. "I'll activate the spell now. It lasts about a minute and a half." Antenora's eyes close shut, "I can activate it and re-active it at will, though I don't know if he'd be sharp enough to notice it...but it's likely he can, being a commanding upper rank devil."
01[19:52] <Seira> "Not to mention paranoid due to circumnstance."
[19:53] <Blondezilla> "Yes." With that, Antenora removes her hair ribbon and looks to Seira, "Go ahead. Let me go in second."
06[19:54] * Seira needs no other invitation to go inside.
[19:54] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 and gets 35." [1d20=20]
[19:56] <Blondezilla> Seira and the Antenora enter! The horned devil is still pacing by the fireplace, eyes like burning souls in Hell glaring at the two. He takes a long look at Antenora, and with a snarling hiss that sends the scent of brimstone washing over you, "Traitor."
06[19:56] * Seira rolls her eyes. "Our new friend, Antenora. Antenora, this is... actually, what was your name?"
[20:02] <Blondezilla> "Armanzas," With a rumble, the two outsiders lock eyes. Antenora smiles a little, "Antenora is close enough."
01[20:05] <Seira> "Right, right. Well, if you want to see a model of a successful outsider doing right for herself and following the winning team, you can look all you want," Seira says. "It's okay if you want to give it a try, too. I usually only offer this to fiends about to die pointlessly, but why not make an exception now?"
[20:06] <Blondezilla> "Enough foolishness!" Snapping as he turns back to Seira, "What is your answer? I grow restless waiting on it!"
01[20:08] <Seira> "The Guard would like to have a formal contract of some sort," Seira tells him in response. "An outline of dos and don'ts, so to speak, and of our responsibilities under our agreement. Go ahead and detail the terms?"
[20:21] <Blondezilla> Snapping his fingers, a bit of paper flies from the rubble and lands in his hand. "Here."
[20:21] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+6
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+6 and gets 13." [1d20=7]
[20:21] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 and gets 25." [1d20=10]
06[20:22] * Seira stretches out her own to take it, hopefully also to focus the devil on her and away from Antenora.
[20:24] <Blondezilla> The paper is given to Seira. Meanwhile, Antenora is quiet...
06[20:25] * Seira glances at it with her magical senses, only reading if it seems clean.
[20:26] <Blondezilla> Seira does not detect any magic.
06[20:27] * Seira reads the contract, so helpfully drafted for their convenience.
[20:34] <Blondezilla> It's full of legalese and the lik. It basically outlines things - not to mess with each other, not to betray each other, not to use any information gained here for scrying or backstabbing, that sort of thing. It would take a bit of time and analysis to really get into, since it's so trenched in fancy devil wordwork.
06[20:36] * Seira just looks for the expiration date signing such a contract would have on the truce between them, from which point it would be safe to kill Armanzas. As well as who the signatories are, naturally.
[20:39] <Blondezilla> Until Esthan is dead and all parties have parted safely, or until the attempt fails.
01[20:41] <Seira> "Until the attempt fails and all parties have parted safely," Seira speaks, pointing out that bit in the contract. "And in both cases, parting safely would mean actually leaving beyond the distance of the teleport spell on your part for a period of twenty four hours."
[20:58] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+6
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+6 and gets 14." [1d20=8]
[20:58] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 and gets 25." [1d20=10]
[21:02] <Blondezilla> "It says until Esthan is dead AND all parties have parted safely, or until the attempt fails," He points out. "They are not connected."
01[21:03] <Seira> "No, I think you don't understand," Seira insists. "I want us to part safely if the attempt fails as well. If we're forced to abort this attack on Esthan, it would hardly suit us for you to backstab us at that point."
[21:06] <Blondezilla> "If the attempt fails..." With a sardonic grin, "I care little because my life here can be measured in tea cups. But so be it, if you wish."
06[21:07] * Seira nods. "That's one down," she says, glancing at the part with the signatories again.
[21:10] <Blondezilla> "Then what's the rest?" Waiting, "Is the contract acceptable?"
[21:10] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+6
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+6 and gets 18." [1d20=12]
[21:10] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 and gets 25." [1d20=10]
01[21:14] <Seira> "I think so," Seira agrees. "You do realize, as you've brought it up yourself earlier, that by continuing Esthan's plans for this world you will come into direct opposition with us and no protection on the part of this contract?"
[21:19] <Blondezilla> "That bridge can be burned when we reach it," With a leering smile at Seira, "If Esthan kills me and continues to torment you, does that matter?"
[21:19] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+6
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+6 and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[21:19] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 and gets 19." [1d20=4]
06[21:22] * Seira nods thoughtfully. "Okay. I think I can recommend this to the Guard once I've made it past my reservations," she says reassuringly. "Unfortunately, you should know me by reputation. I distrust devils and would like to double-check everything. Upside? You don't have to suffer through that with a paladin. So let's start with what troubles me the most."
06[21:22] * Seira holds up the paper. "This contract seems pretty thought out for something you apparently came up with at a last moment. Why is that?"
[21:23] <Blondezilla> Steepling his hands together as he glares at Seira, "That is last minute. Any devil worth the shit off a lemure's back can write something lik ethat."
01[21:24] <Seira> "So you didn't have time to consider the implications. How do I know you won't change your mind and stab me in the back?"
[21:29] <Blondezilla> "If I do, Esthan has me as fodder and I die." With a long, withering look, "Would I even be here if not?"
01[21:31] <Seira> "Ah, but not if you are following his wishes right now!" Seira points out. "Maybe he just wants you to... oh, I don't know. Mess with our heads. Show off. Do something pointless again. After all, we only have your word that he wants you dead and has ordered you to kill us within a week."
[21:32] <Blondezilla> "If he is, I'm dead either way," With a long, flat look again, "Does it matter then?"
01[21:33] <Seira> "Hey, it's not like I'm refusing!" Seira insists. "But I want to be certain before I leap into a contract with a fiend like that. You have to understand, you must've done this countless times in other situations. You're sure he thinks you've outlived your usefulness? Because his intentions matter to us, even if not to you, and would help me towards making up my mind."
[21:39] <Blondezilla> "So be it. I have no intention of backstabbing you on this affair." It's all the devil says.
01[21:40] <Seira> "Nice. Alright. How many of us are expected to be the signatories?"
[21:40] <Blondezilla> "You are sufficient as it encapsules the guard," he says.
01[21:44] <Seira> "I think this also needs to be in the contract, specifically," Seira says.  "Namely, that you'll tell us right after we sign of any plans Esthan or any other devils might have within the timeframe regarding this world. It was a bit over a week, right?"
[21:51] <Blondezilla> "I'll tell you anything relevant to the situation," Is all that the devil says.
01[21:52] <Seira> "Close," Seira agrees. "But if I'm signing for the Guard, then I need to receive information on anything involving the Guard within that timeframe."
[22:05] <Blondezilla> "Involving this situation, yes."
01[22:05] <Seira> "Oh, you tease," Seira deadpans. "Come on, let's sign it. Devils first."
[22:07] <Blondezilla> Taking the paper, the devil signs it with a flick of it's nail and a bit of blood.
06[22:14] * Seira rolls her eyes and signs her name in ink.
01[22:15] <Seira> "Time for you to tell us what you came here to tell us," she says once she's done.
[22:33] <Blondezilla> "In a day or two in advance of it, as I said before." Drawing up now, "Is there any other information you need until then?"
01[22:34] <Seira> "I thought you had the location at least, but I suppose I got it wrong," Seira muses. "How will you contact us?"
[22:35] <Blondezilla> "Sending is sufficient," He replies, "Or a grabbed travelers, should the need make sending impractical."
01[22:37] <Seira> "Just use a sending to set up a meeting," Seira tells him. "I'll have to hurt you if you mess with anyone the way you did with that private."
[22:42] <Blondezilla> "So be it. Until then." In a flash, the cornugon is gone.
06[22:42] * Seira makes sure he's really gone and not just hiding, before returning to regroup with Alicia.
[22:43] <Blondezilla> Antenora follows. As they catch back up with Alicia, "He's deseperate on the surface and he wasn't lying. I think he's probably very afraid of Esthan and believes what he said."
01[22:45] <Seira> "It remains to be seen what Esthan thinks. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, and if it's all a big trap by Esthan at least our new friend won't be getting desperate like attacking our citizens for no reason."
[22:46] <Blondezilla> As the two rejoin Alicia, "Yes. A small victory. The trick is figuring out if this is a plan, or a broken plan...o ra greater plan by someone above even Esthan. You can never tell."
[22:48] <Alicia> "It wouldn't surprise me if Esthan was fully aware of everything that just transpired," Alicia remarks unhappily, sighing. "I hate it when fiends tell me to kill other fiends. It makes everything so muddy."
01[22:48] <Seira> "I hate it too, but I don't think it's too muddy. We want them both dead, right? This just affects the order in which they die."
[22:49] <Alicia> "Assuming all goes as planned, yes," Alicia nods.
[22:49] <Blondezilla> "That's a big if." Antenora can't help but smile there, "But we'll do it for sure."
01[22:52] <Seira> "Yes. I really must pay them back for messing up with my party and generally disrupting my travel plans, after all."
[22:53] <Alicia> "If it removes Esthan from the field then it can only free up that much more time in the future?" Alicia essays a smile. "That said, it is a bit of a strain when we still have to finish other matters as well."
01[22:55] <Seira> "Agreement on all counts, really. And I'm uncertain whether we should alert our contacts in the Fiefdoms. The pretext, at least, sounds like having something to do with them. It might be common courtesy to alert the top ranks."
[22:56] <Blondezilla> "Alicia, I have another idea as well. If this is going ot be some place we'll have minimal time to work with, we made need a lot of teleporting capacity. Can we borrow Celebrimbor's ring again, or otherwise purchase extra scrolls of teleportation? In case we need mobility when matters come to it."
01[22:57] <Seira> "I'm not sure I follow," Seira admits. "We'll need two telepors at most, surely, and I can provide for one quite easily."

[Corwin]

[21:04] <Kotono> ---
[21:05] <Kotono> Settling down in front of the lake, glancing back at Armanzas without comment, "Got a fishing pole," Oberuth asks. "Or any sort of prop for this?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "Not handy I'm afraid, but we can probably improvise something with some deadwood," Alicia replies, scouring around a bit for some handy as they settle down by the lake where it edges the road close to the village.
[21:07] <Kotono> Alicia gathers some out without incident. Oberuth looks out over the lake in the meantime. 'You know devils better than I do. Do you think this is going to work now, or is it a trap?'
[21:10] <Alicia> 'The cornugon wants Esthan dead, of that I'm fairly sure,' she replies telepathically, opening up the portable hole and taking out Hell Striker which she covers with fallen leaves and half sits on as she sets camp. 'But killing Esthan and us aren't necessarily exclusive. If we present ourselves as easy targets even after beating Esthan, he might try to take advantage of our weakness.'
[21:12] <Kotono> 'The second verse of the problem: Is this a greater plan by Esthan or another devil, or a real bit of rebellion and backstabbing?' Oberuth glances behind him casually, as he leans forward into the ground. He digs a bit, coming out with a few worms after a moment's effort.
[21:13] <Alicia> 'Actually, there's something I'm curious about,' Alicia admits, glancing over to the skulking baatezu. "Armanzas, wasn't it?" she calls over.
[21:13] <Kotono> "Yes," Armanzas' voice rumbles low in his chest, a grumble of hellfire and sulphur. "What is it you desire now?"
[21:15] <Alicia> "I'm just wondering. Has word got out in Hell of late regarding Esthan's treachery against the Overlord?" she asks casually.
[21:16] <Kotono> "IF I were you, mortal, I would clarify your words most intently right now," Armanzas speaks with burning hatred, his entire body seeming to ripple with it.
[21:18] <Alicia> "Well, when Esthan tried to recruit us to his cause a few months ago, he explained how he worked for a powerful devil that intends to usurp control of the Nine Hells. Admittedly I've considered that he could have simply been bluffing, I'm not quite sure why he'd bother," Alicia responds. "Given his priveleged position in the current regime, it seems doubly strange."
[21:19] <Kotono> "Hmph." Armanzas is silent a long time, "He speaks words of foolishness, or perhaps has imagined himself with the bravo and regal might of Lord Mephiso or the Fly Lord."
[21:22] <Alicia> "There were many devils present when he explained his treachery to us, and I have given this information to a few baatezu that I've sent on their way home. I find it unfathomable that those tasked with ferreting out disloyalty among your kind are unaware of the situation, so I can only conclude that there is another ploy at work, here," Alicia goes on with her speculations.
[21:23] <Kotono> After a longer pause, "It may be so. It may ver well be so." He admits this, his tail spearing out. Black spreads into the lake as it comes back out with a fish, withering dead within seconds. He rips it from his tail, biting it apart and eating it savagely. Tossing a few bones back into the water, half crushed in his grip, "You've learned from the traitor well enough, I see."
[21:26] <Alicia> "We've taught each other a thing or two," Alicia inclines her head briefly. "The tale of Baron Molikroth seems apt, but merely copying a ploy used by another doesn't sit right, either. Regardless, there is far more to Esthan than him simply being a superior who casually discards the pawns of his underlings."
[21:28] <Kotono> Armanzas grunts to that, "Yes, you are correct. There is far more to Esthan than one would assess unless your eye is that of a devil." His voice holds a certain, cold restraint now. "Ones of his statue that also master arcane magic are true elites. Yet he seems to hold no noble rank, only the title 'Of Nessus', which in itself is a great honor, and the authority to do so."
[21:33] <Alicia> "Hmm... I wonder if 'Esthan' is merely a facade worn by another fiend of more renown?" Alicia posits thoughtfully. "Such a tangled web that has been woven around him... perhaps before the day is out we will have some answers?"
[21:34] <Kotono> 'Nothing so far,' Latha's voice sounds in Alicia's head. 'We're just looking around in general, though we saw Seira and Donald head into a store.'
[21:35] <Kotono> "Hmph. I wonder..." Rumbling now as he thinks, "To copy Baron Molikroth is not impossible. Nor are a dozen other schemes of renown, such as the Four-Cross. But to speculate this, he could be almost anything then. Perhaps even one of the paragons..."
[21:36] <Alicia> 'It's rather early, yet,' Alicia returns to the deva. 'Just try to blend in as you can? Best not to raise any fuss that might tip our foe off.'
[21:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 paragon, in a hellish context? (planes)
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 paragon, in a hellish context? (planes) and gets 27." [1d20=5]
[21:38] <Alicia> "Paragons?" Alicia raises an eyebrow. "I confess that in all my dealings with your kind, that's not a term I'd heard before."
[21:40] <Kotono> The air becomes tense, quiet. "It is not a matter that mortals must concern themselves with." His presence broods deeply on you, "Unless you wish to peer into the depths of Hell, paladin." He offers a hand out, "Do you?"
[21:44] <Alicia> "I've done more than peer, already," Alicia replies offhandedly. "If you're so concerned with being secretive I'll just ask Antenora later."
[21:46] <Kotono> "Certainly she will tell you if she knows. She obeys you like you were a Lord of the Nine." With a sardonic contempt in his voice, "Your taming and breaking of her is impressive, I must admit. You crushed her will and filled her head with pointless inanities."
[21:50] <Alicia> "I prefer to think of it as opening her eyes to the realities of existence," Alicia replies. "Certainly, her will is far less crushed than it was when she was a mere cog in the infernal meat-grinder."
[21:51] <Kotono> "As part of Hell she has more authority and majesty than she could ever have as your lapdog." With a snort of utter, hateful contempt, "What all of your words matter on the day that Lord Asmodeus crushes the light from the top of the Heavens forever?"
[21:52] <Kotono> "I understand," Oberuth focuses on the lake for a bit, "Your own self importance is paramount. If you aren't the best, you can't keep going in the same stupid circle over and over, can you?"
[21:52] <Alicia> "Just like your authority and majesty as Esthan's disobedient lapdog?" Alicia returns with a nasty smirk.
[21:53] <Kotono> Oberuth's expression changes there, holding up a hand.
[21:53] <Kotono> OOC: Goa head and reply in #dunes.
[21:55] <Alicia> "Speak of the devil..." Alicia frowns slightly, getting up and putting Hell Striker into the hole. "Sounds like your master got here ahead of us."
[21:56] <Kotono> "Excellent," Now cutting himself off from the previous, "Now is the time to strike him."
[21:56] <Alicia> "Can you conceal yourself?" Alicia asks. "I'd rather not charge in like a pack of demons if I can help it."
[21:58] <Kotono> With a soundless motion, Armanzas vanishes from sight. "Good enough if I bring up the rear."
06[21:59] * Alicia nods curtly, casting a spell to bolster and encourage those around her as she starts walking briskly towards the town. "Don't do anything foolish."
[22:00] <Kotono> Oberuth begins to walk as well! The two head into town without incident - it looks sleepy and quiet. Two disguised celestials are waiting outside one building in the meantime, chatting lightly and looking at one of the hanging signs.
[22:00] <Alicia> OOC: heroism also cast on self and Obureth
06[22:01] * Alicia nods to Latha and Antenora and approaches the duo. "He's in the inn?" she confirms quietly.
[22:03] <Kotono> With a slight nod, Antenora looks to it. In Alicia's mind, 'Waiting on the other two now. They should be along any time.'
[22:05] <Alicia> 'We can't fight him inside, it'll be a bloodbath,' Alicia states regrettably. 'Best if we can catch him as he leaves.'
[22:06] <Kotono> As they talk, an elven couple approaches the party, Seira and Donald.
[22:06] <Kotono> 'How do we get him out then? We can't really wait all day here, it'll look bad if he has nayone keeping an eye out.' Antenora continues to chatter with Latha about nothing at all.
06[22:07] * Alicia nods to the new pair, deciding to follow Antenora's example and verbally express her enthusiasm for the weather. 'If we attack him in the inn it'll be a bloodbath,' she sends over telepathy to everyone else. 'We need some way to get him out of there.'
[22:08] <Kotono> "Hello there," Antenora bubbles, "You two look so nice together! I'm Elfana."
[22:08] <Kotono> 'How?' Latha questions, 'If we tip our hand doing it, the advantage goes back to him.'
01[22:09] <Seira> "Umm. Thanks," Seira responds, visibly disturbed at such a random case of befriending. 'How about I shoot him with the bow, Alicia hits him with the sword of not teleporting, and the rest try to evacuate the inn's residents?'
[22:11] <Kotono> Antenora gives off an offended look, turning away from Seira. Latha chuckles to herself, patting Antenora' sshoulder.
[22:12] <Alicia> 'I really don't want to start a fight in such a cramped area full of innocents...' Alicia sounds hesitant. 'Nothing we could maybe use as a distraction?'
01[22:14] <Seira> 'I think it's best to keep it indoors. Esthan might have agents here, and a free for all on the street with residents running around in terror would deliver that same bloodbath,' Seira responds mentally, before grabbing Donald's hand more tightly. "Well, this was nice, but I think I'm famished. How about a bite to eat?"
[22:15] <Alicia> 'Wait, I might have an idea... Seira, do you have dimension door or teleport prepared?'
01[22:15] <Seira> 'The latter.'
[22:16] <Alicia> 'I'll go in first. I can use walls of force to cut Esthan and myself off from everyone else. Then you can teleport everyone else in on my side of the walls and we attack?'
01[22:17] <Seira> 'No element of surprise, but I'm good with that. Lead the way, I'll follow whenever you say so.'
[22:18] <Alicia> 'It should be obvious enough,' Alicia responds grimly, heading inside...
[22:18] <Kotono> 'OOC: Just you, Alicia?
06[22:18] * Seira follows with Donald, quite naturally, although she would be headed for the counter.
[22:19] <Alicia> OOC: that was my plan, since the others need to all stay together so Seira can teleport them
01[22:22] <Seira> OOC: Strike
06[22:22] * Seira instead spends the time chatting with Donald, while mentally asking Latha to describe the location Esthan was at.
[22:23] <Kotono> Alicia heads in! The tavern has a few elves about, talking and relaxing. As Latha fills Seira in, Alicia sees Esthan. His hood is up, casual gaze as he chats with two lithe elves. One is a man and one is a woman, both pretty enough. They're talking low, about 40 feet away and right in front of the fireplace. There's a few tables between you and his table, too. He sits at the back of the table, his table also betwen him and you. His two gue
[22:23] <Kotono> He sits at the back of the table, his table also betwen him and you. His two guests sit on either side of him.
[22:24] <Alicia> Either side of him around the table, or either side as in shoulder to shoulder?
[22:25] <Kotono> The former.
06[22:26] * Alicia estimates whether she can use one wall of force to completely box Esthan off from every other patron of the inn, or whether she'll need two intersecting ones for the job.
[22:26] <Kotono> OOC: You could do it in one wall.
[22:26] <Kotono> OOC: Wait. how tight a fit do yo uwant here?
[22:27] <Alicia> OOC: I want enough room for Esthan plus 5 other medium sized creatures at the bare minimum, preferably a little more
[22:27] <Kotono> OOC: You'd have to get the other two in it. Youc ould do it in one wall with your CL, but there's just not enough space there for five creatures.
[22:28] <Alicia> OOC: okay, with two walls to create some angles to play with would that allow more room?
[22:28] <Kotono> OOC: Not really. He's back by the fireplace, so you're pretty much against a wall without much space behind him.
[22:31] <Alicia> OOC: how many elves in here besides the two with Esthan?
[22:32] <Kotono> OOC: Five. They're scattered here and there, mostly isolated. No one's too close to him.
[22:32] <Alicia> OOC: and there's definitely no way I could use two intersecting walls to expand the area?
[22:34] <Kotono> OOC:  He's back against the fireplace. There's just not any space to work with there behind him, so no.
[22:34] <Kotono> OOC: Unless youc an make the wall go away or something.
[22:36] <Alicia> 'It's no good, the angles aren't right...' Alicia sends to the others, voice strained as she struggles to wrap her mind around the layout of the inn. 'Any other ideas?'
01[22:38] <Seira> 'I can call upon benign transposition, if that helps at all?'
[22:38] <Alicia> 'I don't think so...' Alicia sounds unsure.
01[22:40] <Seira> 'A variation on my earlier suggestion, made to work with your plan, then? You seal Esthan off as best you can, Latha, Antenora, Donald and the Commander could protect anyone caught in the crossfire until we sort things out.'
[22:45] <Alicia> 'Actually, wait, I see a way now,' Alicia responds. 'Get ready, I'm going to have these up in a flash,' she warns as she meanders over towards the rear of the inn...
[22:45] <Kotono> OOC: How close are you getting?
[22:46] <Alicia> OOC: lets say halfway across the inn, so 20 feet?
[22:47] <Kotono> Alicia meanders closer! The elves are continually talking and chatting with ESthan. He glances up as Alicia approaches, a pleasant smile on his face as he looks to her, before going back to his conversation.
06[22:47] * Alicia returns the smile with one of her own, uttering a silent 'Now!' as time sloooows and... stops.
[22:48] <Alicia> OOC: time stop boots activated, 2 rounds start now
[22:48] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead.
[22:49] <Alicia> Immediately Alicia casts a spell as the world ceases around her, conjuring forth an invisible wall of force along the back wall of the inn, stopping just past Esthan himself. She then walks forward to the far wall herself, drawing her sword as she goes.
[22:50] <Kotono> OOC: Was that one or both rounds?
[22:50] <Alicia> OOC; one round, move and standard
[22:50] <Kotono> OOC: Go on.
[22:50] <Alicia> In position now, she casts once more to draw another wall of force, this one at an angle stretching from Esthan's table to a third of the way back from the far wall, effectively creating half of a funnel with Esthan plugging it. For good measure she channels an enervation into her sword as time restarts and Seira hopefully does her part...
06[22:53] * Seira immediately focuses on a part of the inn between the wall visible to her and Esthan, aiming to teleport their group over!
[22:53] <Alicia> 'Aim for the area on Esthan's left, there's more room there!' she quickly adds!
01[22:53] <Seira> Ooc: Strike~
06[22:54] * Seira immediately focuses on a part of the inn between the farther wall and Esthan at Alicia's suggestion, aiming to teleport their group over!
01[22:54] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 16." [1d100=16]
[22:55] <Kotono> Woosh! In a moment, the party appears within that tight space! OOC: SEira, you have your nonstandard actions left. Everyone else has their turn but Alicia, who time stopped. Go ahead and go first, Seira?
06[22:55] * Seira calls upon Haste as she arrives, and draws the artifact bow on loan from Pollyanna as she steps back!
01[22:55] <Seira> OOC: Haste on all of us, moving so that I'm not in FA range for Esthan by any measure, but still within 30ft
[22:56] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Donald will go first to try and hammer smack him.
[22:56] <Kotono> Donald charges forward, Hammer of the Shard out! He swings it as it breaks into arcane fires! "Hi, asshole!"
[22:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28 (+1 haste, +4 arcane strike 1 4th level spell)
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 (+1 haste, +4 arcane strike 1 4th level spell) and gets 34." [1d20=6]
[22:58] <Kotono> OOC: +20.
[22:59] <Kotono> roll 1d8+10+4d4
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+10+4d4 and gets 17." [1d8=3][4d4=1, 1, 1, 1]
[22:59] <Kotono> roll 1d4
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 and gets 2." [1d4=2]
[22:59] <Kotono> In a moment, the Hammer of the Shard hits Esthan's chest! It barely seems to dent him, but his entire body ripples with rainbow colors! A moment later, Antenora charges in, using her reach to stab over Donald's shoulder!
[23:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+35 (+1 haste, +2 charge, +2 bane, +7 smite, +2 FS, +12 ignorance, -15 PA)
06[23:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+35 (+1 haste, +2 charge, +2 bane, +7 smite, +2 FS, +12 ignorance, -15 PA) and gets 53." [1d20=18]
[23:03] <Kotono> roll 2d8+122+1d6+2d6
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+122+1d6+2d6 and gets 140." [2d8=3, 5][1d6=5][2d6=1, 4]
[23:04] <Kotono> Antenora charges in, plunging the Black Horn spear into Esthan! She snarls without a word, as Oberuth positions and prepares, while holy energy slams into Esthan!
[23:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 holy smite
06[23:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 holy smite and gets 21." [1d20=6]
[23:04] <Kotono> OOC: Moment, checking hammer.
[23:06] <Kotono> roll 10d6
06[23:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 and gets 39." [10d6=5, 4, 3, 4, 6, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3]
[23:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30
06[23:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 and gets 37." [1d20=7]
[23:06] <Kotono> The holy energies wrap around Esthan, slamming him even harder! "Guh..." He grins viciously, hood tossed back by the assault! "Not badly done..." OOC: Init.
[23:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 15." [1d20=7]
01[23:07] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 18." [1d20=12]
[23:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Donald
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Donald and gets 13." [1d20=10]
[23:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 25." [1d20=20]
[23:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 Latha
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 Latha and gets 14." [1d20=6]
[23:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Oberuth
06[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Oberuth and gets 12." [1d20=6]
[23:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 nerveskitter
06[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 nerveskitter and gets 36." [1d20=19]
[23:08] <Alicia> OOC: Obi has readied action!
[23:08] <Kotono> OOC: I'm aware, but I'm rolling in case he doesn't use it.
03[23:09] * Kotono changes topic to 'Esthan>Antenora>Seira>Alicia>Latha>Donald>Oberuth(Holding)'
[23:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[23:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 24." [1d20=13]
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 16." [1d20=5]
03[23:09] * Kotono changes topic to 'Esthan>????1>Antenora>Seira>????2>Alicia>Latha>Donald>Oberuth(Holding)'
[23:10] <Kotono> Esthan takes a few steps back, trying to regroup! But Oberuth charges him at the same time, as words of power are weaved around him!
[23:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, -8 PA)
06[23:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, -8 PA) and gets 31." [1d20=10]
[23:12] <Kotono> roll 1d8+2d6+21
06[23:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+2d6+21 and gets 30." [1d8=5][2d6=1, 3]
[23:13] <Kotono> roll 2d8+2d6+42+1d6
06[23:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+2d6+42+1d6 and gets 58." [2d8=2, 1][2d6=4, 4][1d6=5]
[23:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+46 concentration attempt go
06[23:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+46 concentration attempt go and gets 62." [1d20=16]

[Corwin]

[19:47] <Kotono> > OOC: I'm aware, but I'm rolling in case he doesn't use it.
[19:47] <Kotono> * Retrieving #evildunes modes...
[19:47] <Kotono> * Kotono changes topic to 'Esthan>Antenora>Seira>Alicia>Latha>Donald>Oberuth(Holding)'
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+11
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+11
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 24." [1d20=13]
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 16." [1d20=5]
[19:47] <Kotono> * Kotono changes topic to 'Esthan>????1>Antenora>Seira>????2>Alicia>Latha>Donald>Oberuth(Holding)'
[19:47] <Kotono> > Esthan takes a few steps back, trying to regroup! But Oberuth charges him at the same time, as words of power are weaved around him!
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+21 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, -8 PA)
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, -8 PA) and gets 31." [1d20=10]
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 1d8+2d6+21
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+2d6+21 and gets 30." [1d8=5][2d6=1, 3]
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 2d8+2d6+42+1d6
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+2d6+42+1d6 and gets 58." [2d8=2, 1][2d6=4, 4][1d6=5]
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+46 concentration attempt go
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+46 concentration attempt go and gets 62." [1d20=16]
03[19:48] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[19:53] <Kotono> Esthan is stabbed in the throat, his words dying in a moment of misconcentration and blood! "Guh..." He coughs again, "Very good..." He grimaces, as a wave of terror washes over the party! OOC: Fear aura. Will saves if you're not immune to fear?
[19:54] <Alicia> OOC: +10 everyone!
[19:54] <Alicia> OOC: morale, and +6 resistance from Latha
[19:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+41
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+41 and gets 58." [1d20=17]
[19:55] <Kotono> OOC: Antenora is in a holy fury and immune. Donald's next.
01[19:55] <Seira> roll 1d20+35
06[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+35 and gets 53." [1d20=18]
[19:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 Donald
06[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 Donald and gets 32." [1d20=9]
[19:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+29 Latha
06[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+29 Latha and gets 42." [1d20=13]
[19:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+26 Oberuth
06[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 Oberuth and gets 38." [1d20=12]
[20:03] <Kotono> A wave of the utmost terror assails the party, buckling them! But nonetheless they hold on, courage coming from deep within! One of the elves shifts! In it's place is an ice blue Gelugon, freezing cold and terrible! Yet it is muscled, far more developed than before! With a nimble gesture of it's hand, a cone of cold gushes out, freezing a pair of the elves! As this happens, the two flashfrozen, "Do you want the entire city to be frozen ali
[20:03] <Kotono> As this happens, the two flashfrozen, "Do you want the entire city to be frozen alive," Esthan gasps, holding his wounds and throat. "If you defeat me here...this entire city...dies!"
[20:04] <Kotono> roll 15d6
06[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 15d6 and gets 48." [15d6=3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 1, 6, 5, 1, 6, 4, 4, 1, 3]
01[20:05] <Seira> "You are not in a position to be bargaining," Seira snaps at Esthan. "You are in a position to be bleeding to death! Antenora, take that bastard out!"
[20:06] <Alicia> "Follow his orders and you won't be given the chance to respawn in Hell when we kill you, I promise you that!" Alicia glares hatefully at the murderous gelugon.
[20:07] <Kotono> Antenora takes those words to heart, screaming as she steps a little forward and lashes out over and over at Esthan!
[20:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA)
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA) and gets 25." [1d20=4]
[20:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA, +7 smite)
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA, +7 smite) and gets 31." [1d20=8]
[20:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA)
06[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA) and gets 17." [1d20=6]
[20:10] <Kotono> roll 1d8+44+2d6+1d6
06[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+44+2d6+1d6 and gets 57." [1d8=2][2d6=3, 6][1d6=2]
[20:10] <Kotono> OOC: +2 more.
[20:11] <Kotono> Antenora catches Esthan once, stabbing into his weakened guts! She rips out her spear, "Then we'll do something about it! We're not going to be paralysed again by another domineering threat!" OOC: Seira.
03[20:12] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth=Esthan>????1>Antenora>Seira>????2>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
03[20:14] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth=Esthan>Gelugon>Antenora>Seira>????2>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
01[20:15] <Seira> "That means you," Seira tells Esthan, smirking at him. The faster he is taken down, the lesser the casualties, and treating the harm to the bystanders as insignificant just might make the devils see that tactic as a failed one. "So how does it feel to be the one sold out by the higher ups for a change, eh Esthan?"
01[20:15] <Seira> She raises the bow, and an arrow of brilliant energy appears notched in it for the briefest of moments, before she sends it at the fiend, two lesser arrows of light joining it a moment later.
01[20:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 impromptu SA, disjointing
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 impromptu SA, disjointing and gets 24." [1d20=1]
01[20:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 we all knew it was coming
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 we all knew it was coming and gets 29." [1d20=6]
01[20:16] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 31." [1d20=13]
[20:16] <Kotono> OOC: Last one hits.
01[20:16] <Seira> roll 3d6+5
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d6+5 and gets 14." [3d6=5, 3, 1]
06[20:16] * Seira calls upon her stronger Mirror Image spell after that, images springing up!
01[20:16] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[20:18] <Kotono> Seira fires three arrows! One of them narroly hits, while the magic disjoining one misses and is wasted! As Esthan staggers, a force arrow ripping through his shoulder, the other elf transforms as well! It is another muscular, dominating gelugon! With a quick motion, it freezes another poor elf to death! The elves, watchinga nd just starting to reach, scream! A few start to run away! Licking his lips with a bloody tongue, "How many...will
[20:18] <Kotono> Licking his lips with a bloody tongue, "How many...will die...your hands..." Esthan gasps! OOC: Alicia.
[20:19] <Alicia> "You three, for a start!" Alicia snaps back as she nimbly ducks amidst the trio battling at Esthan's exposed side, attempting to slip around to his exposed flank and stab him!
[20:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 DC 25 tumble to get through him
06[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 DC 25 tumble to get through him and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[20:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 knowledge devotion
06[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 knowledge devotion and gets 30." [1d20=6]
[20:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 -6pa flanking divine might 4th level arcane strike critical strike
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 -6pa flanking divine might 4th level arcane strike critical strike and gets 46." [1d20=18]
[20:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 -6pa flanking divine might 4th level arcane strike critical strike crit check
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 -6pa flanking divine might 4th level arcane strike critical strike crit check and gets 31." [1d20=3]
[20:21] <Kotono> OOC: Crit.
[20:21] <Alicia> roll 2d8+56+1d6+4d4
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+56+1d6+4d4 and gets 82." [2d8=4, 8][1d6=5][4d4=4, 2, 2, 1]
[20:22] <Alicia> roll 1d4 negative levels from channeled enervation
06[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 negative levels from channeled enervation and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[20:22] <Alicia> OOC: and he's dimensionally anchored
03[20:23] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Gelugon>Antenora>Seira>Gelugon2>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[20:23] <Kotono> Stabbing Esthan in the back, his body goes rigid! He slides off Alicia's sword and onto his knees, half kneeling and out! Gasping as he does, "Heheh...hehe...don't think...that I didn't prepare...punishment...if this..." Then he's down, down and out! OOC: Latha's up.
[20:26] <Alicia> 'Hold on a second and I'll take down the wall so we can kill those gelugons,' Alicia sends telepathically as Esthan is disabled.
[20:27] <Kotono> Latha looks down at Esthan, "Got it," she breathes back, eyes burning vengence as she watches the gelugons! Donald does the same, holding, as does Oberuth! The first gelugon rushes towards the door, going for the last fleeing elf in the room in a clawing charge!
[20:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (-6 PA)
06[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (-6 PA) and gets 35." [1d20=14]
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d10+18
06[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10+18 and gets 19." [1d10=1]
[20:28] <Kotono> Blood goes splattering as the elf's back is clawed away, it's broken body tossed aside like a bit of broken matchwood!  Antenora growls deep in her throat, as she waits just a little more! OOC: Seira?
06[20:32] * Seira bets on the mangled elf still being alive, trying to switch places with him and prevent the devils from rushing out of the inn the normal way, while delivering the victim towards Latha and others who might heal him.
[20:33] <Kotono> Seira is in luck, for the teleport works, the elf and Seira switching places!
06[20:34] * Seira imbues herself with Waukeen's gift, stepping right next to the nearest devil as she draws the other Resort.
[20:35] <Kotono> The second gelugon makes gestures as a freezing pentagram appears beneath it's feet!
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 24." [1d100=24]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d6
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 and gets 6." [1d6=6]
[20:38] <Kotono> The guts of the inn between the wall and door are now filled with Hamatula! Six of them, a barrier of diabolical power between Seira and the gelugons vs the party! OOC: More, Hamatula are up.
03[20:38] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Gelugon>Antenora>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatulax6>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[20:40] <Kotono> The Hamatula turn as one at the gelugon's gesture towards Seira, six unholy blights ripping at her with a terrible diabolical fury! OOC: Six will saves.
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 37." [1d20=13]
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 41." [1d20=17]
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 28." [1d20=4]
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 27." [1d20=3]
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 31." [1d20=7]
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 26." [1d20=2]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this 1
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this 1 and gets 22." [5d8=6, 2, 5, 6, 3]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this  and gets 27." [5d8=6, 7, 8, 2, 4]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this 3
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this 3 and gets 16." [5d8=2, 2, 2, 2, 8]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this 4
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this 4 and gets 27." [5d8=6, 2, 5, 8, 6]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this 5
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this 5 and gets 22." [5d8=6, 8, 1, 3, 4]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this 6
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this 6 and gets 23." [5d8=1, 2, 8, 6, 6]
[20:43] <Kotono> Seira is lost in as ea of black horrors, consumed! She concentrates and utters a few words magic, repelling the worst away and enduring the storm, hurt but intact! OOC: Alicia.
[20:44] <Alicia> With a sweep of her hand, Alicia drops the diagonal wall of force, exposing the summoned horrors to the aura of her blade that so detests extraplanar creatures trespassing on the prime. "Now!"
[20:44] <Alicia> OOC: DC 20 will or gtfo if you're a summon
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 1
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 1 and gets 29." [1d20=17]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 2
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 2 and gets 13." [1d20=1]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 3
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 3 and gets 30." [1d20=18]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 4
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 4 and gets 22." [1d20=10]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 5
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 5 and gets 31." [1d20=19]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 6
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 6 and gets 19." [1d20=7]
03[20:44] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Gelugon>Antenora>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatulax4>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[20:44] <Kotono> Two of the hamatula shudder and vanish away!
[20:45] <Kotono> OOC: Anything else this round or was that it, Alicia?
[20:45] <Alicia> OOC: that's me done
[20:46] <Kotono> OOC: I'll have the NPCs go in order since they were holding. Makes it easier for me to manage than putting them all = anyway, and there's ont much difference.
[20:46] <Kotono> Latha kneels besides the wounded elf, mending his wounds!
[20:46] <Kotono> roll 1d8+5
06[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+5 and gets 12." [1d8=7]
[20:46] <Kotono> His wounds recover, his eyes cracking open! OOC: Donald.
[20:48] <Alicia> OOC: oh, using my move action to channel an enervation, actually, so noted
[20:49] <Kotono> Donald hangs back just a moment, crafting an enervation that fires at the first gelugon!
[20:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 touch
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 touch and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[20:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 SR
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 SR and gets 16." [1d20=3]
[20:49] <Kotono> The magic spell crumbles against the gelugon, failing to penetrate it's planar power! OOC: Oberuth.
01[20:50] <Seira> 'Donald, you've got the hammer of smiting devils, use it!' Seira thinks at her protege, glaring at the gelugons while dismissing the hamatula as a minor annoyance.
[20:51] <Kotono> Oberuth charges to righ tin front of the two hamatula in the middle, "Come at me, all of you! I'll rip you to devil-bleeding shreds!" Establishing himself there firmly, Oberuth strikes at the left-center one!
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+29 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, +1 str from stance, also bumps con by four for HP in topic)
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+29 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, +1 str from stance, also bumps con by four for HP in topic) and gets 45." [1d20=16]
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d8+3d6+17
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+3d6+17 and gets 38." [1d8=8][3d6=4, 3, 6]
[20:53] <Kotono> roll 1d8+6 barbed defense damage on Oberuth
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+6 barbed defense damage on Oberuth and gets 12." [1d8=6]
03[20:54] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Antenora>Gelugon>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatulax4>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[20:54] <Kotono> OOC: Antenora's taking her held action next.
[20:55] <Kotono> Oberuth wades into the middle of the pack! Antenora follows, just off the ground as she charges and stabs at the same one Oberuth hit, keeping her distance!
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 (+1 haste, +2 GMW, +2 charge, +1 flying, +2 FS 6/9, -7 PA)
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 (+1 haste, +2 GMW, +2 charge, +1 flying, +2 FS 6/9, -7 PA) and gets 27." [1d20=2]
[20:57] <Kotono> Antenora's spear is deflected off a barb, missing the soft body underneath it's barbed defenses! OOC: Gelugon 1 is up.
[20:59] <Kotono> The first one turns back to Seira, loosing a massive cone of cold at it, one that doesn't even seem to bother the other gelugon! OOC: Ref, Seira.
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: Strike.
[20:59] <Kotono> The first one focuses on Seira next to him, loosing a massive cone of cold at her! OOC: Ref, Seira.
01[21:00] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 38." [1d20=11]
[21:01] <Kotono> Seira dances out of the way, avoiding the cone entirely! OOC: Seira.
06[21:02] * Seira leaves her sword in Lagann's capable hands, gesturing at the gelugon, and an orb of electricity strikes at her target in retaliation!
01[21:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+17 ranged touch
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 ranged touch and gets 26." [1d20=9]
[21:03] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[21:03] <Seira> roll 1.5*15d6 fort dc24 or entangled
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1.5*15d6 fort dc24 or entangled and gets 97.5." [15d6=1, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4, 4, 3, 2, 5, 3, 6, 6, 2, 5]
[21:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 29." [1d20=11]
[21:04] <Kotono> OOC: Goa head and resolve Lagann?
01[21:04] <Seira> OOC: He's just holding it for me
06[21:04] * Seira keeps herself near the gelugon, and between it and the door out.
[21:05] <Kotono> The gelugon is shocked all over, taking the orb right in the chest! It withstands the blow, but is shaken! OOC: gelugon and hamatula are up.
[21:07] <Kotono> "Finish them!" The second gelugon snaps as it vanishes away! To that, eight rays of fire concentrate onto Oberuth!
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 SR
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 SR
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 SR
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 SR
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 SR and gets 22." [1d20=10]
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 SR and gets 21." [1d20=9]
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 SR and gets 19." [1d20=7]
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 SR and gets 24." [1d20=12]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 22." [1d20=4]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 30." [1d20=12]
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 26." [1d20=8]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 37." [1d20=19]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 38." [1d20=20]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 crit check
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 crit check and gets 19." [1d20=1]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 24d6 Rotten luck.
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 24d6 Rotten luck. and gets 80." [24d6=5, 6, 5, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 3, 5, 4, 1, 5, 3, 2, 2, 6, 1, 1, 2, 4, 6]
[21:10] <Kotono> roll 18d6 dur.
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 18d6 dur. and gets 68." [18d6=6, 2, 5, 6, 5, 2, 2, 4, 3, 4, 1, 6, 1, 3, 3, 6, 3, 6]
[21:12] <Kotono> Oberuth withstands the form, lanced dozens of times but staying up! OOC: Alicia.
06[21:13] * Alicia almost blasts the hamatula with a holy smite, but recalls the elf that Latha just healed. There's too big a risk it would hurt him. So she settles for trying to banish them summoned devils instead, where her sword failed. "Begone, back to the pit!" she snaps, magic unwinding at her command!
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #1
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #1 and gets 24." [1d20=14]
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #2
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #2 and gets 29." [1d20=19]
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #3
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #3 and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #4
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #4 and gets 22." [1d20=12]
03[21:14] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Antenora>Gelugon>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatulax3>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[21:14] <Kotono> Another hamatula vanishes, leaving only three more to fight the party! OOC: That it, Alicia?
[21:15] <Alicia> OOC: I'm done
[21:17] <Kotono> Latha angles, hitting the injured hamatula with the edge of a holy smite!
[21:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 22." [1d20=7]
[21:18] <Kotono> But the holy energies crackle and fizzle on the hamatula! OOC: Donald's up.
[21:18] <Kotono> Gathering energy into himself with a few quick words, Donald charges the right most hamatula head on!
[21:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+34 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +20 true strike, -13 PA)
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+34 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +20 true strike, -13 PA) and gets 35." [1d20=1]
[21:19] <Kotono> Somehow, Donald's foot slips and the Hammer of the Shard slams into the floor instead, his entire charge ruined! OOC: Oberuth
[21:19] <Kotono> Oberuth tears into the wounded hamatula with a fury undimmed by his burning wounds!
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+29
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+29 and gets 43." [1d20=14]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+29
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+29 and gets 33." [1d20=4]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 31." [1d20=7]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 39." [1d20=20]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 crit check
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 crit check and gets 24." [1d20=5]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 4d8+68+12d6
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+68+12d6 and gets 136." [4d8=3, 5, 5, 8][12d6=6, 2, 4, 3, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5, 2, 4, 2]
03[21:20] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Antenora>Gelugon>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatulax2>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[21:21] <Kotono> roll 1d8+6 barbed defense
06[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+6 barbed defense and gets 11." [1d8=5]
[21:21] <Kotono> Oberuth ignores the wounds on his wrists as he savagely tears the hamatula apart! It's torn into four parts, falling to the ground and vanishing away! OOC: Alicia.
[21:22] <Kotono> OOC: Er, Antenora. Man.
[21:22] <Kotono> Antenora swiftly moves back, before channeling her boots and charging another of the hamatula!
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 1d20+26 (+1 haste, +1 fly, +2 charge, +2 FS 5/9, +2 bane, +2 GMW, +7 smite -15 PA)
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 (+1 haste, +1 fly, +2 charge, +2 FS 5/9, +2 bane, +2 GMW, +7 smite -15 PA) and gets 45." [1d20=19]
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 1d20+26 (+1 haste, +1 fly, +2 charge, +2 FS 5/9, +2 bane, +2 GMW, +7 smite -15 PA) crit of owwies?
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 (+1 haste, +1 fly, +2 charge, +2 FS 5/9, +2 bane, +2 GMW, +7 smite -15 PA) crit of owwies? and gets 42." [1d20=16]
03[21:23] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Antenora>Gelugon>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatula>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[21:24] <Kotono> roll 4d8+1d6+2d6+2d10+252
06[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+1d6+2d6+2d10+252 and gets 287." [4d8=8, 7, 4, 1][1d6=1][2d6=1, 2][2d10=8, 3]
[21:25] <Kotono> Antenora's charge is nearly perfect, piercing right between it's barbed eyes! It simply fades away, as if it never was, torn asunder thrice over with nary a spark of dissent! OOC: Gelugon.
[21:25] <Kotono> The gelugon scowls and simply vanishes away! OOC: Seira.
03[21:25] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Antenora>Seira>Hamatula>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
06[21:26] * Seira scowls and wills the remaining devil to disappear.
01[21:27] <Seira> OOC: dismissal, dc21
[21:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 18." [1d20=6]
[21:27] <Kotono> The last devil blinks and vanishes away! OOC: Fight's over. Go ahead and act?
06[21:28] * Alicia stabs her sword brutally down into Esthan's form, admittedly it's unlikely to kill him without any holy power, but it'll certainly keep him out for a while.
[21:28] <Alicia> OOC: couping him, basically
06[21:28] * Seira reverts to her usual disguise, placing her weapons away. "If Armanzas is to be believed, this is over."
[21:29] <Kotono> Alicia tears Esthan's throat out again, keeping him down and out!
[21:29] <Alicia> roll 2d8+84
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+84 and gets 92." [2d8=5, 3]
[21:29] <Alicia> roll 2d4 negative levels
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4 negative levels and gets 6." [2d4=2, 4]
[21:30] <Kotono> Latha goes to the frozen pair of elves, running a hand over each of them and murmuring a prayer in Celestial. She then stands, "I will go dispel the fear that surely spreads through this village. Let them not be afraid of any evil."
[21:30] <Kotono> Oberuth goes over to Esthan, kicking his hood down, "He's still alive...don't devils vanish when they die?"
01[21:30] <Seira> "That's because he's not dead," Seira says, checking up on the elf saved by Latha's efforts.
01[21:31] <Seira> roll 2d8+10 heals
06[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 heals and gets 20." [2d8=3, 7]
[21:31] <Kotono> The elf's wounds heal further. He stares in utter disbelief, "Oh...oh...oh..."
[21:31] <Alicia> "It takes a holy blade to slay one such as he," Alicia explains, dismissing her disguise. "Donald, would you ensure he stays unconscious? If we kill him now he will merely respawn in the pit."
[21:32] <Kotono> "Oh sure," With the Hammer of the Shard in hand, "Play beat on the devil? I'm game."
01[21:32] <Seira> "Yeah, pretty much," Seira agrees with the stuttering elf. "It wasn't your idea to have a pit fiend waltz into your village. It was just some mad scheme of his, and your bad luck."
06[21:33] * Alicia cancels Antenora's disguise as well, sheathing her sword. "Lets aid Latha? She can take charge of Esthan once we've done what we can here..." she suggests, weary now that the battle is done.
[21:42] <Kotono> OOC: #dunes, Alicia.
[21:42] <Kotono> The elf stares at Seira, "Oh. I'm not hurt. Just...oh...oh..."
01[21:43] <Seira> Not anymore, he isn't. "I'll ask Waukeen for help with those who weren't as fortunate," she promises to him, helping the elf to his feet. "She is very busy, but there's always a chance she would smile on us."
[21:46] <Kotono> "Y-yes..." As the elf stammers, Donald whistles and slams the Hammer of the Shard into Esthan's groin a few times.
01[21:46] <Seira> "Yes, Donald, you keep on... doing that. Call me if there's anything." With those words, Seira decides to guide the traumatized elf out of the inn, and hopefully towards his home.
[21:50] <Kotono> Wham! Wham! WHAAAM! Seira hears this as she leads the elf a few trees down. He stays outside the door, "Thank you," He manages, "Thank you. Thank you." Licking his lips, "Um...thank you, yes. C-can I ask your name?"
01[21:51] <Seira> "It's Seira. The crazy elf's Donald, and with him there is Commander Oberuth. He has a proper full name and everything, but we tend to call him The Commander. You've seen him in action, I'm sure you understand why. And the ones who stepped out before are Alicia, Antenora and Latha. Now we're all acquainted, aren't we?"
[21:55] <Kotono> "Ah...y-yeah." Rubbing his head, "Wait! Seira?! I've heardof you!" His eyes widen, "I heard you're an honored face in the court of His Majesty! Are you the same Seira as that?"
01[21:57] <Seira> "Who knows?" Seira shrugs. "So many of us floating around. But more to the point, who can I talk to about helping with the repairs of the inn? I don't feel right just leaving like this, and it's not something I can trouble Waukeen with, unlike the other request."
[22:00] <Kotono> "Ah...Syrana wasn't in right now..." Gathering himself, "That...that would be appreciated, ma'am. I can get thehelp to them."
01[22:01] <Seira> roll 1d20+15 appraise for the general area
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 appraise for the general area and gets 16." [1d20=1]
06[22:06] * Seira retrieves five gems, handing them over to her traveling companion. "This looks like it'll cover me. You certainly know how to find me if it's not enough, and if I overshot the target, just... do something nice for the kids with the remainder, will you?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "Oh...th-thank you," The gems are taken with wid eeyes. "I will. Seira," He looks to her, "I won't forget today. All of you...this is like a dream I'll never be able to forget."
01[22:09] <Seira> "You'll need to get over to introducing yourself if you want me to reciprocate," Seira notes with a teasing smile.
[22:10] <Kotono> "A...Ardan." He manages to get out.
01[22:11] <Seira> "I have a good memory, so I'll remember you," she promises. "I'll stop by in a while, once things calm down. If there's anything I can do to help your village at that time, don't hesitate to ask."
[22:13] <Kotono> "I'll remmeber that." Arwan agrees.
03[22:52] * Demedais is now known as WyrmYearRecursMillenially
[22:52] <Alicia> roll 3d8+15
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d8+15 and gets 27." [3d8=6, 4, 2]

[Corwin]

[21:49] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------(Magnum Ko Loop)--
[21:51] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> The third floor of the Seafoam is as Alicia remembers it. Elias Sandsmith lies on a couch as you enter. "Alicia Reynes again?" He looks to her, "Ah yes, I remember you."
[21:52] <Alicia> "Well met, Elias Sandsmith" Alicia returns levelly. "I trust all has been well for you and yours since our last conversation?"
[21:54] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "Passable," He sits up on the couch a bit, "What's your business with me today?"
[21:54] <Alicia> "Your benefactor, Esthan, is gone from this world," Alicia explains bluntly. "He won't be returning. I wanted to know how this would affect your arrangement with my family."
[21:56] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "Well." Sitting up now, "You killed him?"
06[21:58] * Alicia shakes her head. "No. Tempting as it was, we decided it would be more productive to take him alive. Regardless, he has been moved to a location in another realm, one that he is highly unlikely to ever leave."
[21:59] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "Taking your words on face value?" Sitting forward and looking into Alicia's eyes, "He paid us nine months ahead. After that, we'll see."
[22:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 sense motive
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 sense motive and gets 20." [1d20=7]
[22:02] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> roll 1d20+7 will
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Ko-TerrorofMrNTori rolls 1d20+7 will and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[22:03] <Alicia> "Your company is well regarded, Mr Sandsmith," Alicia inclines her head, "All I can ask is that you treat your clients fairly. I simply wanted to make sure you weren't involved in any contingencies that Esthan may have prepared for this occassion."
[22:05] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "He paid us, that's all."
[22:07] <Alicia> "Fair enough," Alicia accepts that. "Fair warning, though, if he does have any sort of revenge attack plotted, you might find yourself having to really earn that pay."
[22:13] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "This has been an easy job. Jobs never stay easy forever." With a little bit of a curt smirk, "By the way. Was all you said about Esthan the last time true?"
[22:14] <Alicia> "Every bit of it," Alicia confirms. "Why?"
[22:17] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "I put out some feelers about what you said and what Esthan said." Putting his feet up now, "I hear my feelers suffered severe setbacks in the category of living, especially when it involved things like the Order of the Lie and the Spark Hunters."
[22:20] <Alicia> "Esthan is in very high up with the Spark Hunters. They attacked me in Balmuria at his behest and the one we interrogated spoke very highly of him," Alicia confirms. "The Order of the Lie is murkier. He professed to be eluding them at one point, but I find that hard to believe given his otherwise priveleged position."
[22:20] <Alicia> "Still, I'm certain the truth will come out once my allies have interrogated him."
[22:22] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "I don't really want to know. Curiosity already got friends of friends killed." With a tsk-tsk of his tongue, "What I'm getting at is that I suspect Esthan may have had a role in it. If he's what you say he is...It all does fit together. That's all."
[22:26] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "That may be safest. If you don't have any stake in finding out, don't. Hell has a very long memory." Antenora raps on her breastplate, "I know very well."
06[22:26] * Alicia nods. "He's worked very hard to keep his secrets secret," she muses. "Anyway, I'm glad we know where things stand. May the Red Knight watch over your battles, Elias," she bids him goodbye.

[Corwin]

[21:07] <Kotono> -----------------(Assassin Ninja Ko)---
[21:11] <Kotono> Abagail is found not at her work, but at Elle's shop. The two are in the front, a scroll between them as the chat away. Alice meanwhile watches and minds the store, smiling politely to Seira after taking a long glance at her shoulders.
06[21:13] * Seira decides to give the two their time, stopping to chat with Alice for the time being. "Are you all better, now?" she asks, cutting straight to the chase. "I'm sorry about that dragon I brought with me."
[21:15] <Kotono> "Oh yes, I'm fine. I'm used to using dragons as spell components, not as real living monsters." With a brittle smile as she folds her handstogether, "But it's no matter! Can I help you today?"
01[21:15] <Seira> "I'm just visiting," Seira responds. "So does it mean you see me as a walking container of spell components?"
[21:18] <Kotono> "Oh no, of course not!" Alice smiles now, "Countess," she raises her voice, "I know your'e trying to talk, but Seira's here." She then pointedly slips well away, going to adjust some of the wands on display.
[21:19] <Kotono> Elle and Abagail both look up, the former smiling. "Oh Seira! You look well today."
01[21:20] <Seira> "I like to think so as well," Seira agrees, as she approaches them. "Did I offend Alice somehow? I don't think she likes me."
[21:23] <Kotono> As Abagail looks to Alice with a bit of an amused smirk, Elle just shakes her head, "She really doesn't like big lizards or snakes. I don't think it's personal."
01[21:24] <Seira> "So I could be the nicest dragon in the world and it wouldn't matter? Fun." Seira grimaces. "That aside, Abagail, remember that talk we had about heading off into the unknown to explore?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "Oh yes." Standing up striaght from her slight hunch, "I do recall it. What of it?"
[21:30] <Kotono> Countess Stronger sighs a little, "Don't make a fight out of it with her, Seira. It's a phobia, that's all. It's not rational. I tried, I really did."
01[21:38] <Seira> "This isn't my fighting face," Seira responds, pointing at herself. "This is my I give up face. I've tried, it didn't work. Thus, back to the trip! We'll be departing in two-three days, if you're ready on your end, Abagail."
[21:40] <Kotono> "I can be. Where will we be going?" Abagail straights, "Oh, I'll have to prepare for a proper journey, yes. I'll need supplies and spending money, as well as to put things in order here while I'm gone, but none of it shoudl be too terrible to set up."
06[21:42] * Seira nods. "I'll cover shelter and transportation, but I expect you to have something in reserve, just in case. Navigation, however, will be all you. As for where we'll be headed? Past the frozen mountains of Pallanth lies a fertile land. I've seen it, once, and I intend to start our explorations there."
[21:47] <Kotono> "I'll be ready. We'll need rations, soap, some fresh water just in case...oh, hmph. I'll have to go ask the Commander again about foraging..." Thinking as she ticks off things, "I'll have to memorize prestidigation, too."
01[21:50] <Seira> "Amaryl can do the foraging thing," Seira says, not bothered by the prospect. "And if it comes to that, magic would provide. I'll grab a few scrolls for a rainy day. Speaking of those, keep a rope trick in store." Seira then looks speculatively at Elle. "Interested in coming along? There's certainly a spot, especially for you, and we'll travel in style."
[21:52] <Kotono> With a little smile, "No thanks, my days of wandering in the wilderness and smelling like spell components and cantrips are behind me. It does make me feel nostalgic, though..." Her smile is long, distant and very enwrapping, her entire face twinkiling with mirth. "Don't light any forests on fire...or accidentally dry up wells...or get a swarm of bees chasing you...or shocker lizards, anything to do with them..."
[21:52] <Kotono> or get a swarm of bees chasing you...or shocker lizards, anything to do with them..."
01[21:53] <Seira> "If a forest goes up in flames, it will totally be on purpose," Seira solemnly swears.
[21:55] <Kotono> Abagail can't seem to help but laugh at that, while Elle joins in. "Oh yes, Seira, of course. So it'll be the three of you?"
01[21:57] <Seira> "That was always the plan," Seira responds, smiling herself. "But if Abagail wants to bring someone along, I can swing it. For now, I think Yoshi should mind the house and learn more. Taking him into the unknown without some basic education might go badly for any first contact we make with other nations."
[21:57] <Kotono> "Speaking of, I meant to ask you. What did yo usee beyond those mountains?" Elle's question is friendly as she pauses and goes over to the scroll rack. "What's it like over there?"
01[21:58] <Seira> "Warm. Grassy." Seira shrugs. "Pretty much like the warmer parts of Pallanth, but definitely from the other side of the divide."
[21:59] <Kotono> "Or the grassland plains in Malmuth. But something bothers me," Elle goes on, "If it's warm and grassy past those mountains, why is the area before it so cold?"
01[22:01] <Seira> "I can see several possible explanations. One of them is that the great war that ravaged our world in its past ruined the environment in the area. Another is far more benign; the higher you go, the colder it is, and there might be unique conditions trapping the cold front in those areas, but not past the mountains. And, of course, the truth could lie somewhere in between."
06[22:02] * Seira shrugs. "Or the avatar of Lathander could live there. Who can tell, without seeing for herself? So I'm going to do just that."
[22:02] <Kotono> "Magic. It makes sense to me." Abagail smirks a little, "Seira's also right. Perhaps the grasslands are the exception ahead, not the rule?"
01[22:04] <Seira> "There is something past the jungles. There must be something beyond the ocean, the waste and the endless cold as well!" Seira declares. "We know people visited there. We know the world was much larger. If civilization endured here, however diminished, it could've done so elsewhere on the world as well!"
[22:15] <Kotono> "If. What if not?" Elle asks, "What if it's just empty, untamed land?"
01[22:19] <Seira> "Free realestate."
06[22:20] * Seira smiles wryly. "Plus Demedais, at the very least, was hallucinating when he brought back this." She shows the golden coin Demedais shared upon return from the quest given to him by Helm.
[22:20] <Kotono> "I suppose so, if we're the only ones that can get to it," Abagial considers, "If so, you could make yourself queen of a new nation...if you can get a population."
01[22:21] <Seira> "The idea has merit," Seira drawls out. "After all, being immortal and quite powerful, there's no reason not to share your fortune with others."
[22:24] <Kotono> "I haven't seen one lik ethis," Taking the coin and flipping it up and down, "Goo dpoint."
01[22:24] <Seira> "He thought I would like the souvenier. What can I say, he knows me well?"
[22:25] <Kotono> Handing the coin back, "It's a good one," Elle starts to grin a little, "Although, it could be faked or from another plane."
01[22:26] <Seira> "Without a little mystery, life would be boring anyway," Seira says, still unconcerned. "I'll be sure to bring you back a really neat gift, Elle."
[22:28] <Kotono> "Here," Presenting a scroll to Seira, "Just in case something goes very wrong, one greater teleport. If you need to use it fine, if not, just return it when you get back."
06[22:30] * Seira raises both eyebrows at that. "Congratulations," she says after having a moment to process the offering. "I'll be sure to return it to you safely."
[22:31] <Kotono> "I've been working and working," Elle admits, "It's so much easier to learn magic that I'm really breaking all the boundaries I thought existed." With a blushing smirk, "Soon I'll be hitting the highest circle that is known to exist by mortal means. To think..."
01[22:31] <Seira> "Please give me discounts on teleportation circle scrolls when you do~"
[22:34] <Kotono> "Heheheheee." Laughing, "I'll talk to you about it on the day I succeed in casting it."
06[22:35] * Seira laughs as well, having no doubt that this day is not too far.

[Corwin]

[19:30] <Kokokokokoko> -------(Arabian Kos)--
[19:32] <Kokokokokoko> As Seira prepares for her trip one evening, Donald knocks and comes into her room. "Oh Seira." He strolls in, stretching. "You have some guests who want to see you. Berjand and a couple of women."
01[19:33] <Seira> "Mind showing them in?" she requests, having a pretty good idea as to their identities from her earlier meeting with Berjand.
[19:34] <Kokokokokoko> "Sure," Donald turns away, "Oh yeah, you're going out to past Pallanth?"
06[19:36] * Seira nods. "Remember that chat we had with Abagail? It's finally happening. I'd invite you along, but I really want you to focus on ensuring the temples of Waukeen throughout the land are fortified, and ready to receive the teleportation circles."
[19:37] <Kokokokokoko> "No, it's fine. Here, I don't have to worry that much about being killed or facing down whatever monster you guys stumble on." Waving as he goes out, "I'll send them right back, Seira."
01[19:40] <Seira> "Sure thing," Seira agrees, shaking her head at the impossibility of dying, considering the fiend she'd help take down recently. She stands up, closing the door leading further into her study, and retrieves four glasses and a bottle of wine in preparation.
[19:46] <Kokokokokoko> As Seira sets up the bottles and glasses, Donald leads the three in. Berjand is dressed as last time. Esra and Jale follow behind him. Both are dressed in sleek desert robes of white, tinted in a few places with gold. They carry light weapons, a dagger on each visible. Each wears a golden chain wrapped around their forehead, delicate. In the center it holds aloft a golden coin, decorated with Waukeen's face.
[19:46] <Kokokokokoko> In the center it holds aloft a golden coin, decorated with Waukeen's face.
06[19:47] * Seira turns towards her guests, waving them over. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" she asks, holding up a glass.
[19:49] <Kokokokokoko> Berjand steps aside to sit. Esra sketches a curtesy to SEira, using her robes to do so. "It has been long. Have you profited in the meantime?"
01[19:50] <Seira> "Lots and lots!"
[19:51] <Kokokokokoko> "May the Merchant's Friend guide you to more," Jale repeats, "You appear very prosperous, Seira. This hill is good property and your inn stands out very well."
01[19:53] <Seira> "That's its purpose," Seira agrees. "Plus I like staying near Elle. How about you two?" she asks, gesturing towards the wine in invitation. "How's life been treating you?"
[19:55] <Kokokokokoko> They go to sit as well, tasting the wine. "It's been well." Esra's voice is warm, well trained now. With a coy smile, "Our lives have improved since we were taken in under the guidance of Waukeen."
[19:57] <Kokokokokoko> "Isonu's been re-teaching them as a project," Berjand passes on the wine after a single sip, "Some combat as well, so they can defend themselves better."
01[19:58] <Seira> Under swordpoint, at that. But it seemed like a better fate than jail, and Seira believes she was proven right about their potential. "I will have to thank Isonu for taking personal interest, then," she muses. "Knowing how to defend yourselves is important, especially where you reside."
[19:59] <Kokokokokoko> "There have been no other giant scorpions, thank all that care to hear," Berjand grimaces openly there, but with a smile. His voice stays even, only tightening a little, "These skills are enough to stymie street rubbish and thugs."
01[20:01] <Seira> "Perhaps, one day we will do something more organized against the thugs rather than offer the populace another way."
03[20:01] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-514d1ef8.l3.c1.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:01] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:08] <Kokokokokoko> "Maybe," Berjand is quiet for a little as he considers that. Jale just smiles to that, "Seira, I had wanted to meet you again. Here." She withdraws something from her robe - a short dagger wrapped in tanned leathers. It's hilt is worked into the shape of a stick-shaped dragon in flight, mouth roaring. "It's not enchanted, but purely a piece of art." She stands and cursties again, "A gift to you. May it profit you well."
[20:08] <Kokokokokoko>  She stands and cursties again, "A gift to you. May it profit you well."
03[20:10] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
06[20:13] * Seira accepts it, speechless for a moment. "Thanks." She studies the dagger. "Art. I enjoy it, I mean." Holding up the dagger before placing it on a shelf next to her decorative green dragon scale, she repeats, "Thanks, I love it."
[20:15] <Kokokokokoko> Esra smiles to that, "It is pleasing to you?"
01[20:17] <Seira> "Of course!" Seira insists, returning to the sitting area. "Who wouldn't be touched by a gift like that?"
[20:21] <Kokokokokoko> "I speak sincerely when I say my life has improved," Jale goes on now, smiling all the while, radiant. "Anyone could have tossed us into jail for what we did. With your social standing, it would have been nothing for you to do. You helped up stand up instead."
01[20:23] <Seira> "As long as you one day help others make that same choice, and offer them a better way, I will be happy," Seira says in response, after brief contemplation. "I'm certain that chance will present itself, given our involvement with the poor and disenfranchised in Arad. If, at that time, you'll need my help to accomplish something like this, don't hesitate to call upon it."
[20:27] <Kokokokokoko> "We will. Isonu drives the same into us every day," Jale laughs lightly. "His lessons on it are very persistant."
06[20:28] * Seira laughs as well. "How admirable. Did you come here to take a little vacation from all that preaching? I'm sorry for going on like that, then."
[20:38] <Kokokokokoko> "No, it was Isonu's decision that we see mor eof the world," Esra says, "To better understand trade."
06[20:38] * Seira nods in understanding. "How much more of the world, then?"
[20:39] <Kokokokokoko> "This time, just Balmuria. Other times, he's spoken of sending us to other realms when the times are right." Esra explains.
06[20:40] * Seira raises an eyebrow. "If it's a realm of fire, or Waukeen's domain, use a Sending. I won't miss out on such a chance."
[20:41] <Kokokokokoko> Berjand laughs, "I believe they meant other kingdoms, not realms beyond this one."
[20:41] <Kokokokokoko> Esra blushes, "Realms beyond....oh. I remember the lesson Isonu gave us on them. No, I meant places such as Malmuth."
01[20:42] <Seira> "Try Pallanth as your next destination," Seira suggests. "I believe you would benefit the most from it."
[20:45] <Kokokokokoko> "It will depend on where I need to go afar next time, probably," Berjand admits, "I would guess going to the west as more likely, perhaps Kelara or even Nodlitz beyond it. Most trade from further east congregates here now."
01[20:47] <Seira> "Business before pleasure it is, then, I suppose," Seira relents. "Where is the mage that brought you here, now that I think of it?"
[20:48] <Kokokokokoko> "Allister's studying," Berjand's smile weakens a little, "He's been grumpy the entire trip. I'd have asked if he wanted to come, but I didn't want to argue with him again."
01[20:50] <Seira> It is entirely his loss, if going to see one of the greatest mages in Balmuria would lead to grumbling and grumpiness. "That's a shame, I suppose," she muses. "There's nothing wrong with offering aid in transportation, especially when spreading Waukeen's will across the land. As matter of fact, I'm headed to Arad soon, and I wouldn't have a problem bringing more people along."
[20:56] <Kokokokokoko> "If that's an offer, we'll take it. At worst, Allister gets grumpy and travels back alone." Berjand grins now.
01[20:57] <Seira> "It is most definitely an offer," Seira confirms. "You've come at a fortuitous time."
[21:02] <Kokokokokoko> "When?" Berjand goes to half stand, "If it's now, I'll go talk to Allister."
01[21:05] <Seira> "I could leave now, or wait as long as a day. Since I will have company for the trip, however short it is, I'll leave it up to you three."
Session Close: Mon Jul 13 21:06:28 2009

Session Start: Mon Jul 13 21:06:28 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[21:06] * Disconnected
02[21:06] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[21:06] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[21:06] * Topic is 'Oberuth>Antenora>Seira>Hamatula>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
03[21:06] * Set by Kotono on Thu Jul 09 20:28:48
03[21:06] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[21:07] <Kokokokokoko> There's a moment when the three murmur amid themselves, "The morning is fine. I'll talk to Allister about it." Berjand concludes then
[21:07] <Kokokokokoko> .
01[21:08] <Seira> "That works perfectly for me," Seira affirms.
[21:08] <Kokokokokoko> "We should go then and get to bed," Berjand stands. As he does, Ersa and Jale rise. As one, "May the Golden Goddess watch your every step, Seira."
06[21:09] * Seira smiles pleasantly. "Likewise, Berjand." She nods to each of her guests in turn. "Esra. Jale."
[21:10] <Kokokokokoko> OOC: Hop along a bit? Also, loot post coming for the dagger, fo rrefence.
01[21:10] <Seira> OOC: After my line, sure
[21:11] <Kokokokokoko> OOC: Sure.
06[21:11] * Seira uses a Sending to Lady Malika later that day, once she is alone. 'Lady Malika,' the message goes, 'I would like to visit tomorrow. Would that be at all possible?'
[21:18] <Kokokokokoko> 'It is acceptable. Come to the palace or a guard station, an escort will be provided.'
01[21:18] <Seira> OOC: skip away~
[21:19] <Kokokokokoko> roll 1d100
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokoko rolls 1d100 and gets 58." [1d100=58]
[21:19] <Kokokokokoko> Ah, dawn. Really, it's just the time to wake up. It's triply fun when it's from Donald rapping on the door. "Seira, you awake? Seira? Wake up, it's Guard business."
01[21:21] <Seira> "I'm up," Seira says instantly, as she had been preparing herself for a trip the previous evening, and isn't caught off guard as she might be otherwise. "What's going on?" she asks, quickly dressing.
[21:21] <Kokokokokoko> "Commander Oberuth's here to see you," He calls back, "Something about Demedais."
06[21:23] * Seira finishes attaching the sheath of her sword, and grabs her cloak off the bedside table, affixing it wiht a clasp it as she strides towards the exit. "Let's go," she tells Donald, stepping outside, and sends, 'Seems I'm leaving earlier than expected today,' to Amaryl.
[21:38] <Kokokokokoko> 'I understand,' Amaryl sends back, 'Let me know what happens! Love you!' As you go out, you find Oberuth sitting at one of the tables. His clothes are wrinkled and mussed, his breastplate just barely staying in place. His eyes are baggy and bloodshot. "At ease," he says around a yawn. "Don't worry - I look terrible because I was up all night, unrelated to this business."
01[21:40] <Seira> "Then a rest seems in order, Sir," Seira says, just a bit of chiding entering her voice. "What is the Guard business regarding which I could be of service?"
[21:42] <Kokokokokoko> Donald goes and gets Oberuth a glass of warm tea, which he gulps down. Running a hand through his messy haira fterwards, "Demedais. In short, he'll be gone awhile. In long, Pollyanna was told from above that Demedais is needed for a higher purpose for a time. He is Uatu's realm, but we were told not to disturb him, as the time of prophecy is all consuming. Make of all that what you will."
01[21:44] <Seira> "Any chance you've got Prestidigitation on hand?" Seira asks Donald quiestly as he brings tea for the Commander. She nods at Oberuth's words, listening to them intently. "Sounds like he's having a grand old time, Sir. Why is this worriesome? Uatu had been a stalwart ally of ours from the start."
[21:46] <Kokokokokoko> "I'm fine, dont' worry about it," Oberuth waves a hand. "It's not really troublesome. However, if Demedais is to be gone a time, you need to know and we need to be able to compensate."
06[21:48] * Seira nods. "You need to know that I am only ten minutes away, wherever I go, Sir," she says, after mulling it over. "Either Elle or the temple of Waukeen can summon me back with the spell of Sending from any corner of the world, and I have the means of instant transportation back. Since the scrolls for the former exist in store, it is unlikely you would fall out of contact with me."
[21:50] <Kokokokokoko> "I'm aware." He smothers another yawn in his hand, "I'm not ordering you to stay in Balmuria. Eudard's back, I believe Antenora and Latha are around, and there's also Pollyanna and others. Donald too." A third yawn, "Just be aware."
01[21:53] <Seira> "Speaking of her, how is Latha finding her current assignment?"
[21:55] <Kokokokokoko> As another cup of tea is brought, Oberuth drinking it down as fast as the first, "She's been dealing with a matter with Antenora - the half blooded celestial you brought back - and been working with the Guard a little bit. It's not her that needs the adjustment, it's more of the common soldiers. They're adapting far faster than the previous times, though."
01[21:58] <Seira> "They better, if they don't want to be left behind by the times," Seira agrees, thinking to Amaryl, 'Seems like Demedais will be listening to Helm for the foreseeable future.'
[21:59] <Kokokokokoko> 'Oh!... you mean that in a literal sense, don't you?'
[22:00] <Kokokokokoko> "Yes." With a fourth yawn, "If this is prophecy or some such, I expect it'll be attention getting whenever Demedais finishes. But that's in the future." Standing up, "I'm going home and getting some sleep. Safe travel, Seira."
01[22:02] <Seira> 'That's how it sounds like! On the one hand, he's lucky! On the other, I wouldn't leave you behind to chat with Waukeen for such a prolongued time. Decisions, decisions....' She smiles at the yawning Oberuth, promising, "I always do, Sir. Sleep well."
[22:05] <Kokokokokoko> 'Oh my! How long is it then?' Amaryl's gasp can be heard in Seira's mind, 'Decades? Centuries?'
01[22:08] <Seira> 'I think that would be a bit cruel even for an elf,' Seira notes dryly, seeking out breakfast and something warm to drink along with it. 'I suppose we'll see? My money would be on weeks, with an option for two-three months.'
[22:16] <Kokokokokoko> 'Oh. Going soon?'
01[22:17] <Seira> 'Afraid so. I never asked, but want to come? I'm going to visit with Lady Malika, and then try to head to Kesse. Might even stop in Kelara for some social event.'
[22:18] <Kokokokokoko> 'You're leaving today? Um...' Amaryl thinks, 'Okay, let me get some things together. Give me an hour or two.'
01[22:20] <Seira> 'I can do that,' Seira agrees, finally collecting her breakfast for the day and settling down to eat. 'I'm glad, you know. For the company, and that you don't mind being seen in public like that.'
[22:22] <Kokokokokoko> With a little giggle in Seira's mind, 'Thakns! I'll see you then!' OOC: Ready to skip along a bit?
01[22:22] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[22:25] <Kokokokokoko> That morning, Seira and Amaryl meet Berjand and friends - including Allister. They all gather, gear prepared and ready to go.
01[22:27] <Seira> "I'll aim for the temple entrance, if that is alright," Seira suggests, offering her hand to Allister.
03[22:29] * Kokokokokoko is now known as Kotono
[22:30] <Kotono> Hand taken, "It is," Berjand says, "I'll need ot take them back to Isonu right away anyway."
01[22:31] <Seira> "On three, then!" Seira announces, counting out loud. "One, two,--"
01[22:31] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:31] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 99." [1d100=99]
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 9." [1d10=9]
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 2." [1d10=2]
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 3." [1d9=3]
[22:35] <Kotono> Seira calls on her magic! For a moment, she feels suspended in the ethers of teleportation, thrashing about without moving. She appears lying down. She rests in a patch of greenery against a palm tree. Exotic scents tease her nose, the hot early morning sun shaded by the trees.  No one else is around.
01[22:37] <Seira> 'This is new,' Seira thinks to Amaryl. Even ancient barriers erected with transmortal magics left the bond between them intact, so if they are still on the same plane....
[22:38] <Kotono> 'So pretty...' Amaryl murmurs, 'Seira...'
[22:38] <Kotono> As you clear your eyes, you can also begin to hear something. Beautiful music - a lute, a flute and faint singing. It's very well sung, you can tell even from here. The beauty of it sounds somehow chillingly ethereal.
01[22:39] <Seira> 'Teleportation shouldn't do that,' Seira thinks, taking a look around the area she found herself in. 'Can you hear that lute?'
[22:41] <Kotono> No reply immediately. Behind you is a natural spring, full of crystal clear water. On the other side are several colorful silken tents, topped with center poles with crescent moons.
01[22:42] <Seira> 'Can you teleport back home? Right now?' The lack of a response is always worrying. For her part, she travels towards the source of the music.
[22:43] <Kotono> OOC: Seira, make a charisma check?
01[22:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+7
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+7 and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[22:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[22:45] <Kotono> 'I'll...I'll try...' Amaryl's voice whispers into Seira's mind. Seira travels across the oasis. Coming around, she finds a richly dressed man sitting on a pile of pillows on the ground. His burnished skin is like sandy brass, a big smile on his face. A scimitar rests on his side, unsheathed. It is made of precious platinum, yet looks greatly eroded and tarnished, sand pitted. Yet somehow it sparkles in the little pit-marks.  (More)
[22:46] <Kotono> sand pitted. Yet somehow it sparkles in the little pit-marks.  (More)
[22:48] <Kotono> In front of him dance four women. Each wears transparent silks and is stunningly lovely. Two have fire red hair and two have midnight black hair, all of them with it so long that it dances just above the sand itself. They are slightly elven in apperance, ears curling into points. Each one of them sings a complex, enthralling melody. It is a ballad ot the travels of the sand in the desert winds at night, on the wings of frost denied. The re
[22:48] <Kotono> It is a ballad ot the travels of the sand in the desert winds at night, on the wings of frost denied. The rest of the music doesn't seem to come from anywhere at all, but is still heard. "Aaaah!" Sitting up as Seira approaches, "Welcome, traveler of the sands! Come, have a drink with me and partake of my hospitality!"
01[22:49] <Seira> "Thank you for the offer," Seira responds, coming closer. "Am I the only traveler to come through these parts today?" As she talks with the man, she questions Amaryl, 'Did you make it back?'
[22:51] <Kotono> "You are welcome here. I would not dream of turning away a fellow wanderer of the wastes!" As the richly dressed man speaks, almost laughing happily in his every word, "Yes, you are the only one I have seen." Meanwhile, 'I'm home...Seira, where are you? Where's everyone else?'
01[22:52] <Seira> 'I have... no idea,' Seira thinks back in irritation, which quickly gives way to frustration. 'Teleportation doesn't work that way!' She looks worried on the outside as well. "I wasn't traveling alone, but we all got separated. I have to look for my friends. Could you please help me?"
[22:54] <Kotono> "Ah, you are stricken. Come, sit, I have servants who will look." He claps his hands, several white clad and masked men emerging from the tents. The tips of elven ears can be seen, sa well as sky-blue eyes. "Tell them what they look like and they will venture into the wastes to find them."
06[22:55] * Seira decides to take a chance. If none of the elfin men register as evil to her senses, she would describe her traveling companions to them, and wait to see the results.
01[22:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+16
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 and gets 19." [1d20=3]
01[22:59] <Seira> "I can't possibly leave them be and enjoy myself while my companions brave the wastes," Seira declines politely, shaking her head. "I thank you again for your hospitality. Once I have delivered my friends to their rightful destination, I will return and partake of it, but not before."
[23:00] <Kotono> The richly dressed man stands. His humorous twinkle in his eyes fades. "You would insult me and turn down my hospitality, traveler?"
01[23:02] <Seira> 'I need to know. Did you hear singing, a lute or a flute?' Seira asks Amaryl, going over her options.
[23:02] <Kotono> 'I-I heard those,' Amaryl repeats. 'Seira, what's going on?'
[23:02] <Kotono> As Seira thinks, she can notice the half dozen white clad man fanning out and around. The singing stops, the four dancing women all looking at Seira with frosty blue eyes.
01[23:04] <Seira> 'Fey.' She refocuses her mind to the dilemma at hand. "You misunderstand," she insists. "You have asked me to celebrate with you, and I want that very much.
01[23:04] <Seira> However, could you possibly enjoy such a celebration if you knew your friends were stranded, along and afraid in the wastes, and it was your fault? Your food would taste as ashes, and I would ruin the party for everyone with my sour mood and worries.
01[23:04] <Seira> Rather, if we searched together and found my friends, we could all enjoy the aftermath without reservation. Would that not be the preferred outcome?"
[23:05] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check, Seira, +2?
01[23:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+31
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+31 and gets 40." [1d20=9]
[23:06] <Kotono> "Worry not." The man's voice softens again, "My servants will use magic to find your friends. They are as good as saved." With a light, dismissive gesture, "Come. By the time we have finished eating, your friends will join us. You are my guest: There is no need for you to expend your own effort."
[23:07] <Kotono> 'Fey, like in where the Resort was kept? Seira, be careful!' Amaryl thinks, 'Do you want me to go alert the Guard?'
01[23:09] <Seira> 'I don't want to fight a pointless battle, and I don't know the terrain. I'll bet on dealing with them, since I don't have just myself to worry about,' Seira thinks back to Amaryl, nodding to the man. "Very well, I shall rely on your hospitality, then. My name is Seira. How should I address you?"
01[23:09] <Seira> As she awaits an answer, Seira mentally adds, 'Can you just wait with Elle and stay in touch? If the fey play an underhanded trick Lagann can't save me from, you'll know, and you would know where to come, too.'
[23:10] <Kotono> 'I'm running to Elle's right now,' Calling into Seira's mind, 'I'll be there. I see Donald ahead...he's going to Elle's again, anyway. Just in case. Careful, Seira!'
[23:11] <Kotono> "Call me Majanna." He smiles broadly to this, "Servants," he claps his hands, "Fetch our guest fresh food and drink!"
01[23:12] <Seira> 'Majanna is my host, it appears,' Seira thinks in response, returning the smile and giving the descriptions of her traveling companions, including that of Amaryl.
[23:14] <Kotono> Servants hurry away. Meanwhile, 'In Elle's now...whew. Starting to tell them. Shout if you need anything, I'll have us there as soon as possible, even if I have to get Elle to give me a scroll! Find the others, too!'
01[23:15] <Seira> 'I'll see if the fey help me with that,' Seira promises, sitting down next to Majanna, but finding herself unable to relax until those whose lives were entrusted to her have been returned safely.
[23:17] <Kotono> As Seira sits and fails to relax, "I can speak Elven as well, if you'd prefer that," Majanna leans back now, "Tell me, you and your friends got seperated in the wastelands?"
01[23:18] <Seira> "Yes. It was the strangest thing. One moment we were together, nowhere near this oasis, and the next I found myself lying on the ground, all alone," she responds, visibly agitated. "And I'm a polyglot. I lack a real preference."
[23:19] <Kotono> "Aaah, truly a well cultured woman." Food is brought - rare fruits, some Seira hasn't even seen before. Crystal clean water and juices as well go with it. "How about this?" He asks in Sylvan next.
01[23:20] <Seira> "My education extends to this," she returns in the same language.
[23:20] <Kotono> "Outstanding," Shifting into Draconic now, "I am most impressed. From your clothes, you are a well seasoned traveler? A magic caster, perchance?"
01[23:23] <Seira> "I travel all over," Seira agrees. "I've even made friends with the fey of Pallanth on my journeys. Our mindsets tend to be conflicting due to our different natures, but I find that meeting common ground with them is possible more often than not."
[23:24] <Kotono> Chuckling to that, "Perhaps it is. What were they like?"
01[23:25] <Seira> "A lot like you. I quite enjoyed the time spent with them, but at the time I wasn't worried sick over my lost companions."
[23:28] <Kotono> "You are perceptive." With a stop here as he sits up, "But children of two races often find themselves adrift on the dusty paths of life and the world."
01[23:28] <Seira> "They do," she agrees. "True story, that. But I got over it."
[23:30] <Kotono> "A testament to your will," He agrees, sa his head perks up, "Ah, there they are! Look, they return with your friends."
06[23:30] * Seira looks!
[23:31] <Kotono> With the half dozen white garbed men walk Berjand, Jale, Esra, Allister and Amaryl. "Come, join us," Majanni calls over to them. "Servants, more food! Put meat to cook!"
01[23:32] <Seira> 'Incidentally, are you still with Elle?'
[23:33] <Kotono> 'Yes. We're talking now and Elle's making preparations in case intervention's needed. How is it there?' Amaryl asks back.
01[23:33] <Seira> 'It might be needed. They're lying to me. Wait until I ask, or if I suddenly stop responding?'
[23:34] <Kotono> 'Understood.' Amaryl replies. Meanwhile, 'Amaryl' approaches first, going to sit next to Seira. "Oh, we're all fine," she smiles to Seira. "Mr. Majanni? Thank you so much! We were lost and scared!"
[23:34] <Kotono> Berjand goes to sit down, "Yes, food and drink! Let us celebrate!"
06[23:36] * Seira stands up, brushes herself off, and then smiles. "Ah, there come my friends!" she exclaims. "Even the friends that I invented! My, what a coincidence to see you here, friends who don't exist!" Her disguise melts away. "It's okay, Majanni. After all, you could make a case of me lying as well.
01[23:36] <Seira> Now, are you going to return my friends to me, or do I need to establish the superiority of dragons over your troupe?"
01[23:36] <Seira> OOC: This is totally intimidation
[23:37] <Kotono> OOC: Go for it.
01[23:37] <Seira> roll 1d20+25 we could've been friends  :/
06[23:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+25 we could've been friends :/ and gets 27." [1d20=2]
[23:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21
06[23:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 32." [1d20=11]
[23:39] <Kotono> Majanni stands up. With a gust of hot wind from the desert skies, your 'friends' blow away into images of nothing, gone. "Is that what you think, dragon?" He says coolly, "You insult me twice over! I shall punish your overweening arrogance, lizard!" OOC: Roll init, you failed to scare him.
01[23:39] <Seira> roll 1d10 FL
06[23:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10 FL and gets 1." [1d10=1]
01[23:39] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[23:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 22." [1d20=16]
[23:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[23:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 20." [1d20=14]
03[23:40] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira>Majanni'
[23:40] <Kotono> The other servants stand aside, Majanni stretching. OOC: You can act if you like with whatever.
01[23:41] <Seira> "A lesson is needed, I see!" Seira snarls, calling upon Waukeen's grace to deliver her towards the impudent djinni, Resort drawn, where she proceeds to attack him for all she's worth!
01[23:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+19
06[23:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 and gets 22." [1d20=3]
01[23:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[23:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 30." [1d20=16]
01[23:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 22." [1d20=9]
01[23:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 29." [1d20=16]
[23:42] <Kotono> OOC: Two hits.
01[23:42] <Seira> roll 3d8+9+5d8
06[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9+5d8 and gets 33." [3d8=1, 2, 7][5d8=3, 4, 2, 3, 2]
01[23:42] <Seira> roll 1d6+2+5d8
06[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6+2+5d8 and gets 28." [1d6=6][5d8=8, 2, 1, 6, 3]
[23:43] <Kotono> Seira charges in, bloodying Majanni, stabbing his chest hard! He grimaces as he utters a horrible word of arcane power! Abruptly...
[23:43] <Kotono> roll 1d4+1
06[23:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+1 and gets 3." [1d4=2]
[23:45] <Kotono> Seira's vision goes dark, extinguished! Utter blindness envelops her! "Be cursed for insulting me! Have your precious freedom...for even if you escape this illusion, you will never find your friends here! They will become my servants!" OOC: You're blinded. You can't see anything. You're up.
06[23:49] * Seira envelops herself in Stoneskin, flying straight up, and casts Ray Deflection, while phantom images spring all around her.
01[23:49] <Seira> roll 1d4+4
06[23:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+4 and gets 6." [1d4=2]
[23:49] <Kotono> Seira only hears silence and the wind blowing...OOC:  You're up again.
01[23:49] <Seira> 'Lagann, is the djinni near?' Seira thinks to her constant companion.
06[23:52] * Seira screams loudly in outrage, waiting for her eyesight to clear!
[23:53] <Kotono> Seira's vision clears a few moments later! She flies above the desert, no sign of the tents. A simple, untouched oasis sits below. With her See Invisible enhanced eyes, she can see a rainbow arching over the surface of the oasis.
06[23:53] * Seira looks for any sign of the others!
[23:54] <Kotono> OOC: Make spot?
01[23:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+11
06[23:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 and gets 21." [1d20=10]
01[23:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+17 the previous was spot
06[23:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 the previous was spot and gets 28." [1d20=11]
[23:54] <Kotono> Seira doesn't see any sign of her friends. (More in PM.)
[23:56] <Kotono> 'Seira?' Amaryl asks. 'Seira?'
01[23:57] <Seira> 'Amaryl, can you ask Elle what she knows about fey mirages and rainbows?' Seira asks, reigning in her rage. 'Split realities?'
[23:57] <Kotono> 'On it,' Amaryl says. 'Hold on.'
06[23:58] * Seira flies about the oasis for the meantime, looking for any sign of the others' passing.
[23:59] <Kotono> The sand is trackless, the sky clear. No signs of intelligent life at all, just endless desert all around you. After about a minute, 'Elle's getting a book about it, it sounds familiar to her. Hold on just a little more, I'll be reading it to you.'
Session Time: Tue Jul 14 00:00:00 2009
01[00:00] <Seira> It's either wait and bide her time, or destroy the oasis in her anger. Seira opts for the former, however close a call it might be.
[00:01] <Kotono> After another minute or so, 'Seira, listen: Mirage Mullahs are fey that reside in the desert. They appear as rich merchants served by beautiful men and women, with the exact forms varying according to the taste of the leading Mirage Mullah. They are very dangerous, as they take insults and slights as great offenses. Further...' Amaryl's voice stops, 'Oh Seira...they lure desert travels in with hospitality, getting them to stay overnight. I
[00:02] <Kotono> 'Oh Seira...they lure desert travels in with hospitality, getting them to stay overnight. (More)
[00:02] <Kotono> 'If they stay until the next sunrise...they become fey servants and Mullah themselves.'
01[00:03] <Seira> 'How do these freaks die?' Seira asks Amaryl evenly. 'And how do I find them?'
[00:04] <Kotono> 'Hold on, I'm still reading!' Amaryl says, voice sharp. '...sorry. Hold on.' Her tone becomes meek a moment later. 'Okay...: Each Mirage Mullah is bound to an oasis. Above the oasis should be a rainbow, but it's invisible. You need magic to see it. Can you see it, Seira?'
01[00:04] <Seira> 'Of course,' Seira returns instantly. 'That's why I asked. It is the only thing out of place.'
[00:06] <Kotono> 'Mirage Mullah seperate their victims into illusionary versions of the same oasis. They exist in all of them, both as home and as a bound prison. To defeat one, you must go into the rainbow - hold on, you need certain magic to do that, but it's technical and I'll come back to it - free any people it's trying to convert into fey at the current time, then draw it out of it's illusions. Then you can slay it. They're magic resistant and despit
[00:06] <Kotono> Then you can slay it. They're magic resistant and despite cold iron, like most fey.'
[00:07] <Kotono> *despise
01[00:08] <Seira> 'I don't have cold iron with me,' Seira thinks back with regret. 'Well, as long as they can be killed. I'll need to go into the oasis while I still have my magic about me. What is the technical part?'
[00:12] <Kotono> 'There are three ways to get into the illusions, besides the Mullahs taking you in. The first is a knock spell. That will let you enter, but it provides no means to escape. The second is a dispel magic. If successful, it will let you enter and exit any of the illusionary parts freely for a minute per dispel. The last is Phase Door. You can use the spell to open 'doors' into each illusion.'
01[00:16] <Seira> Swallowing her pride, Seira grimaces and thinks to Amaryl, 'I'm asking for that intervention. Can you ask Elle to bring you and Donald here? I may not have enough dispel magic spells in reserve to successfully get everyone out on my own.'
01[00:16] <Seira> 'Only two Knock scrolls on me, too,' Seira adds, 'so more might be useful, just in case.'
[00:17] <Kotono> 'Right.' Amaryl whispers back. 'Elle's saying that she needs just a few to prepare. She's getting some greater teleport scrolls ready. Need any others besides that and knocks and dispels?'
01[00:18] <Seira> 'If a dispel allows you to take people out of the illusion, then it should be enough. If we actually have to teleport everyone out of each one, however, I'll be short on that, too, without Elle's help. How soon can you be ready?'
[00:19] <Kotono> 'Elle's saying ten minutes. Do you want us to bring anyone else, too?'
03[00:22] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
01[00:22] <Seira> 'If we delay any longer by asking others along, my spells will run out. And I don't want to leave our captive friends in that state any longer than necessary.' Seira grimaces anew. 'Captive friends. That never sounds well. It feels even worse. We can't--' Seira pauses, collecting her thoughts and composure alike.
01[00:22] <Seira> 'Can you have Elle teleport over to the version of the oasis I'm in, if I describe it well enough?'
[00:23] <Kotono> 'She said she's using Greater Teleport, so yes. Describe it,' Amaryl says after a few moments, 'Give me a relaly good description and she says it'll be enough.'
06[00:23] * Seira has nothing better to do for the next ten minutes, and it sure beats worrying over those who placed their trust in her.
01[00:26] <Seira> OOC: Greater MI has expired, Ray Deflection has 4 minutes left on it. Travel devotion wears off, Stoneskin has godly duration.
[00:26] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.

[Corwin]

[19:46] <Kotono> <Seira> 'If a dispel allows you to take people out of the illusion, then it should be enough. If we actually have to teleport everyone out of each one, however, I'll be short on that, too, without Elle's help. How soon can you be ready?'
[19:46] <Kotono> > 'Elle's saying ten minutes. Do you want us to bring anyone else, too?'
[19:46] <Kotono> * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[19:46] <Kotono> <Seira> 'If we delay any longer by asking others along, my spells will run out. And I don't want to leave our captive friends in that state any longer than necessary.' Seira grimaces anew. 'Captive friends. That never sounds well. It feels even worse. We can't--' Seira pauses, collecting her thoughts and composure alike.
[19:46] <Kotono> <Seira> 'Can you have Elle teleport over to the version of the oasis I'm in, if I describe it well enough?'
[19:46] <Kotono> > 'She said she's using Greater Teleport, so yes. Describe it,' Amaryl says after a few moments, 'Give me a relaly good description and she says it'll be enough.'
[19:46] <Kotono> * Seira has nothing better to do for the next ten minutes, and it sure beats worrying over those who placed their trust in her.
[19:46] <Kotono> <Seira> OOC: Greater MI has expired, Ray Deflection has 4 minutes left on it. Travel devotion wears off, Stoneskin has godly duration.
[19:46] <Kotono> > OOC: Okay.
03[19:47] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
05[19:48] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[19:48] * Hatbot (~Net_Smart@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
[19:48] <Kotono> After just about ten minutes, reinforcements arrive! Elle appears, with Donald and Amaryl with her. Dusting herself off, "What's going on," Elle asks quickly, before peering ahead at the oasis. "Oh, there's the rainbow right over it."
01[19:49] <Seira> "It's there, yes," Seira confirms. "Can you both see it?" she asks Elle and Donald.
[19:51] <Kotono> "Yeah," Donald has his sword drawn, trotting to the edge of the oasis. "What's our plan?"
06[19:52] * Seira casts Dragonskin, Bear's Endurance and Shield upon herself, and Heroism on Amaryl. "We dispel, we head towards it, and we get everyone out. One by one, if we have to. Then, we kill the fey that didn't want to play nicely when he had the chance. How about this plan?"
01[19:53] <Seira> *and Mirror Image
01[19:53] <Seira> roll 1d4+5
06[19:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+5 and gets 7." [1d4=2]
[19:55] <Kotono> "It's a good plan," Donald agrees, cracking his neck back and forth, taking off his helmet to dry his brow before putting it back on. "If you're ready, let's go do this?"
01[19:56] <Seira> "Waiting on you," Seira agrees, ready to go!
[19:59] <Kotono> Donald reaches forward, dispelling wisps of magic gathering around his hand, "Weave, be undone!" he calls, touching the rainbow!
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 33." [1d20=13]
[19:59] <Kotono> OOC -10.
[20:01] <Kotono> The red band of the rainbow swells and expands! A shivering band of enlarged colors appear - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. In each you can see an oasis and camp, each one large enough to walk into the image. "According to that book, we have one minute per dispel," Donald says, "So choose one and let's try?"
01[20:02] <Seira> "Let's try to go together for the first time," Seira suggests, heading towards the violet camp. "If the djinni continues to avoid battle and retreats, then we could try splitting up."
[20:03] <Kotono> The group heads into the violet camp! You appear on the other side of the oasis, the tents quiet and waiting ahead. (1 round down, 9 to go)
06[20:04] * Seira hurries towards the tents!
[20:06] <Kotono> It takes a few moments to hurry around the side of the oasis. On reaching it, you find the tents here are empty, no sign of anyone. "Search or try another one," Amaryl asks, "Seira?" (3 rounds down, 7 to go.)
01[20:07] <Seira> "A casual search would do for now," Seira decides, following her own words. "Just long enough we can still make it to the indigo camp if nothing is spotted."
[20:09] <Kotono> OOC: Roll search then?
01[20:09] <Seira> roll 1d20+26
06[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+26 and gets 28." [1d20=2]
[20:12] <Kotono> Seira and company search about! A quick search turns up thtat the tents are empty here. Nothing of immediate note at all. (4 down, 6 to go.)
01[20:13] <Seira> "Damn. Let's try indigo, for now," Seira announces.
[20:15] <Kotono> The party hurries back to the rip and steps out! Once there, "There's a little more time on my dispel? Indigo, right, let's go!" Donald leads the way in! (7 down, 3 to go.)
06[20:16] * Seira follows closely!
[20:18] <Kotono> Stepping out, you appear on the other side of the oasis once more! You can hear music - drum beats, flutes and strings in a warm, festiv emelody, coming from the other side where the tents are. (8 down, 2 to go.)
01[20:18] <Seira> "I favor the direct approach," Seira tells her companions, hurrying ahead!
[20:25] <Kotono> As the dispel magic fades and the immediate escape route vanishes, Seira and company come around to the tents! Here they find Jale lying about, laughing and feasting. Several white wrapped men are with her, women dancing. Majanni is laughing with her...though his humor is gone in an instant as he sees Seira and company approach.
01[20:27] <Seira> "Didn't I tell you?" Seira asks the fey, striding over with the Resort drawn. "You had a choice, letting my friends go and becoming my friend in turn. You chose to try and trap them into slavery. The punishment for that offense is death!"
[20:27] <Kotono> "Guh..." Jale looks over as Majanni grimaces, a wid esmile on her face. "Oh...Seira..." she burbles, laughing.
[20:27] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[20:28] <Kotono> Majanni stands, "How did you get here, lizard?"
[20:28] <Kotono> Donalds wings his blade, "We cut and touched our way in. I'd really suggest you consider surrendering. Seira's pissed."
01[20:28] <Seira> "The time for talking is over. The time of shooting you with arrows, however, is just beginning!"
[20:29] <Kotono> Elle sighs, "Fey, you die here as many times as takes, even if we have to drag you out after we free everyone. I'd hate to do it, but...well, yes, Seira is quite furious."
[20:29] <Kotono> Amaryl has her bow ready, locked righ ton Majanni!
01[20:30] <Seira> With a cry of "Death to slavers!" Seira charges the fey!
[20:31] <Kotono> OOC: Let's roll init.
01[20:31] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 21." [1d20=15]
[20:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 white garbed men
06[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 white garbed men and gets 14." [1d20=11]
[20:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 women
06[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 women and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Majanni
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Majanni and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Donald
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Donald and gets 22." [1d20=19]
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 Amaryl
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 Amaryl and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Elle
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Elle and gets 27." [1d20=20]
03[20:33] * Kotono changes topic to 'Elle(27)>Donald(22)>Seira(21)>Dancing Women(17)>White Men(14)>Majanni=Amaryl(11)'
[20:36] <Kotono> Elle has a rod in hand, as she makes arcane gestures! An orb of freezing ice shoots at Majanni!
[20:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 25." [1d20=11]
[20:36] <Kotono> roll 13d6
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 13d6 and gets 55." [13d6=5, 5, 6, 2, 5, 2, 5, 4, 4, 6, 4, 3, 4]
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 55*1.5
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 55*1.5 and gets 82.5."
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 ref
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 ref and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[20:38] <Kotono> A freezing sphere bursts around Majanni! It covers him in ice, making him howl! Donald makes quick gestures, a pair of black, enervation rays going for Majanni!
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 25." [1d20=12]
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 14." [1d20=1]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 36." [1d20=20]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 crit?
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 crit? and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 2d4
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4 and gets 4." [2d4=2, 2]
[20:45] <Kotono> The first enevation crumbles, but the second hits Majanni right on! His body withers as he falls backwards, holding his hands out! "By the desert, stop! Stop! Quarter! I'll free your friends!" He coughs at that, covered in frozen patches and looking like a raisin left in the sun too long. OOC: Seira, you're up.
01[20:46] <Seira> She hates being without her disguise, she hates worrying about her friends, and most of all she hates not being in control, someone having the leverage of hostages against her. All that hate, and the accompanying guilt for letting the situation come to pass, channeled into an attempt to dispel the illusion of her enemy with swiftness, before she has a chance to face him for real.
01[20:46] <Seira> "You lie!" she cries out angrily. "This is more of the same trechery you've tried before!"
01[20:46] <Seira> roll 1d20+5 this is mine
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 this is mine and gets 22." [1d20=17]
[20:54] <Kotono> "I'll make it worth your while," He gasps as he holds his frozen hands, trying to wring life into them, "I have something you'll value, dragon!"
01[20:55] <Seira> "Your first step in bargaining for your life is dispelling these illusions and reuniting me with my traveling companions," Seira tells him, seething.
[20:56] <Kotono> With a few moments of concentration, the women and women vanish. Jale blinks and looks about. A few moments later, Berjand and Esra appear. They book look dazed, smiling. Then Allister appears. He has a long, jagged wound on his side, clothes bloodsoaked. His eyes are wild with fiery fury, "There...you...are...fey..." he gasps. "Thought you...could get away..."
06[20:57] * Seira forces herself to slowly move towards Allister, bestowing healing energies to him. "Yes, he did think that," she adds. "Continue."
01[20:57] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 33." [3d8=7, 4, 7]
[20:59] <Kotono> Allister's wounds mostly mend to that touch. As his eyes clear of pain, "Take this," A jewel surrounded by a thin plating of platnium and with a dainty golden chain is tossed to the sand by Majanni. "Take this and flee this place. Analyse it's magics, you'll find it to benefit you, dragon."
06[21:01] * Seira has Lagann deliver the golden chain to her hands, as she is past caring for any possible traps. Her allies would finish the fey off should he try that. A part of her wishes for just that to happen. "Flee?" she asks oddly. "You are telling me to flee, worm? Apologize to those you have taken prisoner at once!"
[21:04] <Kotono> The chain doens't do anything terribly nasty to Seira. Majannit akes a look at them, "I beg your mercy for what I have done." He says quickly.
01[21:05] <Seira> "Have there been other travelers you have likewise ensnared?" she demands, while examining the Waukeeneers to see whether they accept the apology.
[21:07] <Kotono> Berjand looks about, "What's goin gon?" he manages to ask at last.
[21:07] <Kotono> Ersa and Jale are both dazed, "Apologize for the party...what is happening?"
[21:07] <Kotono> Allister glares death at him, "I know your tricks, Fey. I will not become some enthralled servant to you! Your apology isn't worth the sand that you spat out of your mouth!"
01[21:08] <Seira> "Majanni intended to keep you us all as enthralled slaves," Seira informs them. "His error of judgement almost cost him his life. It still might, if he is not truthful in his dealings with me."
[21:09] <Kotono> "I can answer that," Allister glares, "All of the servants are, likely. That's how Mirage Mullah work. They transform travelers into fellow fey."
[21:09] <Kotono> "Yes, but it's already done," Majanni says, "They're happy like this. They'll never get old or die."
01[21:10] <Seira> "They still might, because you will release them into my custody," Seira states. "If they decide to later seek you out and become fey on their own, I would not prevent that."
[21:12] <Kotono> "T-That's impossible! The transformation doesn't reverse!" Majanni sputters.
[21:12] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[21:12] <Kotono> "T-That's impossible! The transformation doesn't reverse!" Majanni sputters. "If you take them away, they'll sicken and die!"
01[21:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 21." [1d20=4]
06[21:16] * Seira makes eye contact with Elle, wondering whether the beleaguered fey is being truthful. 'Think he's lying?' she also mentally asks Amaryl.
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 28." [1d20=14]
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4 Sense Motive
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 Sense Motive and gets 6." [1d20=2]
[21:17] <Kotono> "It's possible. I remember reading something about that and what happens if you take them away from their oasis," She says hesitantly.
06[21:17] * Seira tilts her head. "Restore their minds and free will, then. That neither transforms their natures or takes them away from the oasis."
[21:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 28." [1d20=11]
[21:19] <Kotono> "I can't," Majannis ays, "The transformation is permanent."
01[21:19] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 there's surely a spell to undo brainwashing without resorting to Wish
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 there's surely a spell to undo brainwashing without resorting to Wish and gets 42." [1d20=19]
01[21:32] <Seira> "Summon those you have converted into fey before me," Seira demands.
02[21:32] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5af28bec.tcl124.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (scifi-classics.dejatoons.net batcave.dejatoons.net)
[21:35] <Kotono> Eight women and a dozen men in white wrappings come forth as Majanni claps his hands.
06[21:36] * Seira invokes Break Enchantment, focusing on eight women and eight men, the regrettable limitation the spell has for her.
03[21:37] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5af28bec.tcl124.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[21:37] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[21:41] <Kotono> OOC: You actually have that memorized?
01[21:41] <Seira> OOC: As I said in #e, I'm using Alacritous Cogitation
[21:42] <Kotono> OOC: Oh, okay, dur.
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC:" Anyway, make CL check?
01[21:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+16
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC: It caps at +15.
01[21:43] <Seira> OOC: Huh. So it does. 24, then.
[21:46] <Kotono> Calling on Break Enchantment, Seira can feel the magic shatter! The servants stare at Seira, a man speaking first. "I...I...what? Majanni, what happened?" He whirls to him, "I remember the feast and then...what did you do to me?"
01[21:47] <Seira> "Majanni is a fey, and he decided to take travelers that came across his oasis as eternal companions," Seira speaks, stepping closer to those freed of the fey's influence. "I've just broken his hold over you, and the clouding influence upon your minds should be no longer!"
[21:48] <Kotono> "You bastard!" One of the beautiful women moves to cover herself with her arms, "You said you'd make sure I got back in the morning!"
[21:49] <Kotono> Majanni takes a few steps back, "It's d-done. But even so, they can't leave the oasis or they'll die!"
01[21:51] <Seira> "Hmph," Seira snorts, crossing her hands under her chest. "That's what you said about the chances of these people to regain their right minds again!" She addresses the erstwhile slaves next. "My name is Seira, and I'm a wizard. What Majanni says now is true, but it needn't remain that way forever! I swear to you now, that I will find a way to free you completely, and allow you to leave this place one day!"
[21:53] <Kotono> "You..." Another of the men draws a scimitar, "Majanni! You betrayed us!"
[21:54] <Kotono> One of the women smiles to Seira, "Thank you, but in this body now..." Smiling like a cat, "Oh Majanni, look what you did. Even if I went along with it at the time...Rape is rape." With a snap as her fist hits into her palm, "Let the Pasha throw your bones to the wind."
06[21:56] * Seira smiles back at her, though it dims with the woman's next words. "I believe in personal choice," she tells her. "That's all I intend to do. Research a way to give each of you one. The choice to return to who you were, or remain fey. The choice to leave the oasis, or to remain of your own free will."
[21:59] <Kotono> "S-stop them!" Majanni takse several more steps back.
[22:00] <Kotono> ""It'll be your choice," Elle speaks up now, "As for Majanni...Seira? This is your affair, so to speak."
01[22:01] <Seira> 'I'm too angry to choose rationally,' Seira meanwhile thinks to Amaryl. 'I can try to intervene, but to do so for a slaver and a rapist?'
[22:01] <Kotono> 'Is it worth keeping your world to trash like that? I can't really answer that...' Amaryl says quietly. 'People can change, but...'
01[22:05] <Seira> "Think quickly, Majanni," Seira speaks up, her voice carrying over the angry ramblings of his freed slaves. "What can your pitiful life offer to the people of the fiefdoms who would travel through these parts? I won't expect sincere remorse, but if there is something you can do to make up for your villainous deeds, let us hear of it."
[22:06] <Kotono> "...Tsch! I have one more card..." Looking right to Seira, "I can give you a special touch of the fey. Call them off and I'll give it to you!"
01[22:09] <Seira> "Let's hear more about this last card of yours," Seira says evenly.
[22:17] <Kotono> "I can give you or another..." He lokos to Donald, "The elf would be good for it, a tiny touch of fey blood. A bit of fey heritage. It's power will flow within you."
06[22:18] * Seira suspected as much, and thinks to Amaryl, 'Does that interest you?' She squirms ever so slightly. 'I know that you sometimes want to be a bit different, even though you're fine just as you are.'
[22:19] <Kotono> 'Not really. I like studying dragons and you,' Amaryl blushes as she speaks in Seira's mind, looking down. 'The fey I met...I don't like most of them so far.'
[22:20] <Kotono> "Me?" Donald scratches at his armored head, "I wasn't even born an elf. I mean, do I get to act all mysterious and powerful and hop around the forest all the time? Well...do I get some nymphs to go along with me if I took that?"
06[22:21] * Seira nods briefly, having come to a decision. "I would return tomorrow with enough magical energy to free those still captive," she promises, addressing those transformed into fey against their will as she rolls her eyes at Donald. "And I won't stop working on a way to let you leave.
01[22:21] <Seira> The highest levels of mortal magic are just around the corner for me, and beyond them lies more magic still. I've glimpsed it before, and if need be I would attain it to release you from the bonds of the oasis. All I ask in return is that you place your trust in me. Can you do that?"
[22:23] <Kotono> "Oh come on," Donald mutters after Seira finishes, "I bet you'd wonder about pretty nymphs too."
01[22:24] <Seira> Isn't he dating a vapid elf who's the next best thing to one? But Donald is doing well enough to ruin her pledge as it is, and she wouldn't contribute to that as she awaits her answer.
[22:25] <Kotono> "You saved us," One woman replies, as the others nod along with her. "We'll listen to you."
06[22:28] * Seira nods back at them. "Much as I hate to admit it, I might need Majanni around for the time being. He will cater to your every wish for as long as you remain his guests, and I will be stopping by frequently to ensure that is so. His blood dirtying my blade also happens to be an important component in the divination spells.
01[22:28] <Seira> Should he cross me again by mistreating any of you, there would be no escape from my wrath wherever on the planes Majanni tries to run."
[22:30] <Kotono> "So be it," One of the men says, scimitar out.
06[22:32] * Seira nods again, and approaches Elle, casting Detect Magic. "Waukeen would frown upon turning down something offered in such a way," she says quietly. "Are you interested in his suggestion? Donald is already a winged elf, and it didn't help his common sense. Fey blood would be a push in the wrong direction for him."
[22:33] <Kotono> Elle's lips curl into a smile, "I can't say that I am." She looks to Donald, smiling more widely as she does. "I don't know. He's so earnest it's charming...he's not going entirely in the wrong direction all the time."
01[22:35] <Seira> "It can be," Seira agrees. "Still, if you're not interested, I'll take Majanni up on his offer. Please watch me carefully and with mage sight, and if it's a trick, shoot. Through me if you have to."
[22:37] <Kotono> "Hey Seira," Donald calls as he approaches, "Talking to Elle about it? Any idea what that offer'll do?"
01[22:38] <Seira> "The only thing I know for certain is that it would tell me whether I can trust Majanni's word, now that he had been properly cowed," Seira responds quietly. "Like I told Elle, if it's another trick, take him down without mercy."
[22:39] <Kotono> "Sure, got it," Donald agrees, "Careful Seira."
06[22:40] * Seira approaches Majanni once more, at that. "The last time I trusted you, I regretted it. Don't make me regret my poor judgement twice."
[22:40] <Kotono> "You can trust me," Majanni says very quickly.
01[22:41] <Seira> "I can trust you to value your hide," Seira corrects him. "This bit of fey blood? If there are no effects I would find adverse, I'll try it."
[22:42] <Kotono> "Come here, then." Majanni extends his hadn out, "I'll do it."
06[22:43] * Seira holds out her hand in turn.
[22:44] <Kotono> Seira takes Majanni's hand! For a moment her innards feel warm, then the feeling is gone. Majanni frowns. "It didn't work...there's another bloodline that flows in you already, perchance?"
01[22:45] <Seira> "Donald it is," Seira decides, waving him over.
[22:46] <Kotono> "Me?" Donald approaches over, "Now...oh. You don't look any different?" Frowning to Seira, "So now what?"
01[22:47] <Seira> "I don't look any different," Seira affirms. "Since you're the only one who's interested, want to give it a try?"
[22:48] <Kotono> Donald heistates, then shrugs. "Sure, why the hell not? If I end up some immortal 90 pound elf running around the forests, well...Lathander must like or hate me and I'm not sure which." He takes his gloves off, offering a hand out. "Do your worst."
01[22:49] <Seira> "You'll probably just be slender and prettier," Seira assures him, since Majanni didn't seem to try any trick with her.
[22:50] <Kotono> The hands touch! Donald seems to blur a moment, before he stumbles backwards. His ears are a little longer and sharper, his eyes a deep forest green. "Gaaaah..." His voice is slightly higher pitched, a little more like music.
01[22:51] <Seira> "Does Lathander hate you?" Seira inquires.
[22:52] <Kotono> "I'm okay," Donald rubs his eyes, taking off his helmet. His features are more refined, prettier, delicate. "I feel fine...I think I do."
01[22:54] <Seira> "You look fine," Seira agrees, and gravitates towards Elle and Amaryl once more. "There's still time to change your mind, as it seems harmless. I don't see any deception or enchantment."
[22:55] <Kotono> "I'm fine," Elle smiles briefly, as Amaryl looks to Donald, "He looks nicer now," she blushes, "Very elven."
06[22:57] * Seira smirks, reverting to her half-elven disguise. "Strange, how gaining the touch of a fey does that." She gravitates towards Allister, Berjand, Esra and Jale. "How about any of you? As small compensation for all that took place. It seems benign, now that the proper relationship of power had been established."
[22:58] <Kotono> "I had a go at it once justn ow. I'll pass," Alliste rnearly spits. Berjand shakes his head, "This isn't natural. I just want to leave." Esra and Jale look amid each other, Jale speaking. "Is it true what he said, that fey live forever?"
01[23:00] <Seira> "To a point. The beauty part is all true, however, even if for many of them it is only skin deep. Consider this an opportunity. How you use the benefits you derive is entirely up to you, and a touch of fey blood does not carry any innate, evil taint with it."
[23:02] <Kotono> "I'll try it," Jale says, "It sounds like a rare chance."
06[23:02] * Seira nods, and watches carefully for anything improper.
[23:03] <Kotono> Jale approaches, Majanni holds a hand out. He breaths heavily, "It takes my own essence to do it. I cannot do it twice," he protests, "Or it will greatly weaken me."
[23:04] <Kotono> "So?" Jale's hand plays with the end of her dagger, "Fey, you tried to enslave us under the guise of friendship and are now begging for mercy?"
01[23:04] <Seira> "And that would be such a shame," Seira adds in agreement. "Jale's quite right, and I think those you have formerly held in thrall would feel more comfortable with you weakened."
[23:07] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check, Seira?
01[23:09] <Seira> roll 1d20+29 sure
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 sure and gets 34." [1d20=5]
[23:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Jale assists.
06[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Jale assists. and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[23:14] <Kotono> "Ghsg." With a desperate look to Seira, "I...will try," he says at last, snatching Jale's hand! She seems to blur for a moment as well! Her skin has a duskier tint, going from slender to incredibly lithe and slim.
[23:14] <Kotono> Majanni falls over, twitching on the sand and coughign.
01[23:14] <Seira> "Until tomorrow, then," Seira announces, and leans closer to Jale to whisper, "How are you feeling?"
[23:18] <Kotono> "Dizzy. But very special." She spins a little, "I feel so beautiful now. I feel different, exotic. Alive."
01[23:20] <Seira> "The opportunity was properly seized," Seira tells her. "Now it's up to you to build upon it." Raising her voice, she says, "Ready to resume our journey? There can't possibly be another mishap so close to our destination."
[23:23] <Kotono> "Go ahead, we'll return back to Balmuria," Elle says, "Good luck with the rest."
06[23:24] * Seira looks at Elle fondly for a long moment. "Without you...."
01[23:24] <Seira> Rather than finishing that sentence, she gathers her original traveling companions and teleports for the temple of Waukeen in Arad.
01[23:24] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[23:24] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 33." [1d100=33]

[Corwin]

[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> > "Dizzy. But very special." She spins a little, "I feel so beautiful now. I feel different, exotic. Alive."
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Seira> "The opportunity was properly seized," Seira tells her. "Now it's up to you to build upon it." Raising her voice, she says, "Ready to resume our journey? There can't possibly be another mishap so close to our destination."
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> > "Go ahead, we'll return back to Balmuria," Elle says, "Good luck with the rest."
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> * Seira looks at Elle fondly for a long moment. "Without you...."
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Seira> Rather than finishing that sentence, she gathers her original traveling companions and teleports for the temple of Waukeen in Arad.
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Seira> roll 1d100
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 33." [1d100=33]
[19:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Woosh! The four of you appear where you desired this time! You stand comfortably inside the Temple of Waukeen in Arad, air cool and pleasant enough for the desert.
[19:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Ah, back," Berjand exhales deeply, "No fey this time?"
06[19:49] * Seira glances at Jale with a raised eyebrow, before saying dryly, "We should be safe."
[19:56] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Thank you," Ersa says as Jale looks aobut again. "What is your business coming in Arad?"
01[19:57] <Seira> "An ongoing negotiations Isonu has been helping me with," Seira says rather vaguely. "It's delicate, and has not been going well, so I decided to make another personal appearance in hopes of advancing it."
[20:00] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Good luck," Berjand says gravely, "Ersa, Jale, with me. Seira has business to attend to now."
[20:00] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Both bow to Seira, "May you find profit ahead," the say, before following Berjand.
06[20:01] * Seira certainly hopes so, and inclines her head at the three. "Don't hesitate to call on me if there's a need," she offers as they depart.
[20:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Heading to the palace now?
01[20:04] <Seira> OOC: With Amaryl, yes
[20:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Seira and Amaryl head to the palace gates. You are escorted in to Lady Malika's chambers. You find her sitting on her divan, a male servant feeding her grapes. "Hail, Colonel Seira," she greets, "You look well..." She narrows her eyes at Amaryl, "Lady Amaryl as well, welcome."
[20:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Amaryl curties briefly, standing behind Seira. "Lady." she returns with respect in her voice.
01[20:09] <Seira> "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Lady Malika," Seira responds with a respectful bow. "And for the compliment. You look as radiant as always, it goes without saying."
[20:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "We are always pleased to be met by our neighbors to the east." Malika eats a grape, slowly and relaxingly. After, "Let us get to our business then. What desires made you request this meeting?"
01[20:15] <Seira> "I was hoping to secure your help in the matter of Lady Cemile," Seira says, getting straight to the point as instructed. "My appeal to the Pasha appears to have failed. I realize that to try it again would be too confrontational.
01[20:15] <Seira> I don't want to meddle in the internal affairs of a neighboring ally, and it could well be that in persisting, I could draw the opposite reaction. And yet, I still cannot leave this matter alone." Which certainly explains why she had come to Lady Malika, who might not be the best person to ask about Lady Cemile.
[20:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Lady Malika eats another grape, resting her head on one hand as she regards Seira. "Ah, Cemile. I have talked to the Pasha about this lingering matter. You must understand that he views her circumstances poorly. Bey Kerem has tried as well, but the Pasha's mind is very set. To change it will not be an easy matter. It would take someone with a tongue of silver and perhaps great enticements to soften the resolve of the Pasha."
[20:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> and perhaps great enticements to soften the resolve of the Pasha."
01[20:22] <Seira> "What if I said that I view her as a loophole to a contract I have recently signed in order to rid the world of Esthan?" Seira asks, deciding on this argument. "I suspect that what the Pasha resents is restoring Lady Cemile's status and previous life. However, should it be viewed as a matter of swapping her current prison for a different one, things might go more smoothly.
01[20:22] <Seira> I could accept her into my custody, and the Baronies would support me in this, should the Pasha be willing to do so." (more)
06[20:25] * Seira pauses, before elaborating. "The contract in question was made with a devil poised to replace Esthan on our world. I cannot use what I've learned of him during that time to take him out. However, I have good reason to believe that it is the same devil that controlled the lesser one controlling Lady Cemile's body at the time.
01[20:25] <Seira> Having her around to recount the experience and help with the investigation would allow me to have that same information through a different venue, thus enabling me to take him out and drive the fiendish presence on our world into a great disarray. That may well be a goal the Pasha finds palatable, wouldn't you agree, Lady Malika?"
[20:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "He may, if presented properly." Her smile is smooth, "Seira, it may be possible indeed. Of course, he may simply allow you to interview her for a brief time to get that information."
01[20:34] <Seira> "I'm waiting on information from an independant source, so having her around to correllate it would be far more helpful, and less disturbing to the Pasha's daily life," Seira notes. "However, I would be remiss if I did not admit to you, Lady Malika, that I have a personal stake in this as well. I was the one who handed her over to be judged.
01[20:34] <Seira> I deeply regret the way this situation has hit the Fiefdoms and its ruler, but that does not change the fact that I sent an innocent person into indefinite incarceration."
[20:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Hmmmmmmm." Lady Malika is silent a time. She rises up, going to lean over and whisper something into her servant's ear. He bows to her and departs. Once that's done, Lady Malika holds her arms over her chest, "You speak with conviction and nobility. But..." Lady Malika is bittersweet, a smile long trammeled, "The Pasha's will is absolute in his domain. I will try with the words you have given me, Seira. You rooted out the evil, so l
[20:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army>  I will try with the words you have given me, Seira. You rooted out the evil, so let your will be heard by him. Perhaps yet abayance can be found."
06[20:43] * Seira bows deeper still this time, adding her honest appreciation at the deed to the courtesies she must maintain in present company. "I hope that it will be enough," she says gratefully upon straightening up. "I greatly appreciate your help in this."
[20:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Return in a week's time," Malika bids, "By then I will hav eworked my will on the Pasha as best I can. You are welcome. The debt we owe you is not a small one."
[20:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Thank you," Amaryl murmurs, making her own curtesy again. "I have no official standing with Pallanth or Balmuria, but perhaps if exile is an option, friends in Pallanth could take her, or friends in Balmuria."
01[20:47] <Seira> "I will do so without fail," Seira promises, before smiling at Amaryl's words. "Balmuria would easily agree to this, as I've indicated, if that is an acceptable compromise."
[20:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I'll have it as an option as well." Malika says, "Is there other business then? If not, I should go and begin to make the arraingements I must make for this."
01[20:51] <Seira> "It's not business, as such, but Waukeen has diverted me to deal with a fey slaver taking refuge at an oasis in the wastes," Seira says in reflection. "I can try to ascertain its specific location and inform you of it. I'm also examing my options, as it might be possible to keep the fey in check and have him aid travelers as penance for his past evil deeds,
01[20:51] <Seira> perhaps saving those weary who must travel through those parts."
[20:53] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Mmmm. Truly?" With a rub of her arm then, "A fey? Very well, inform me when you return."
01[20:57] <Seira> "I can find no other explanation why every time I go off course, I end up going to places which could use my help," Seira says with a light shrug of her shoulders. "Divine providence is my best bet."
[21:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Malika nods to that, "It may be so."
[21:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Resting a day and TPing back over to the oasis?
01[21:07] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[21:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Roll TP?
01[21:08] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 17." [1d100=17]
[21:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Woosh! Seira and Amaryl appear at the oasis once more. The rainbow over it remains as it was before.
06[21:11] * Seira calls upon the Knock spell!
[21:12] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Part of the rainbow opens up like a door, revealing a path within!
06[21:13] * Seira takes Amaryl's hand and heads inside, after casting Heroism upon her, just in case.
[21:14] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Hand in hand, the two head inside. You come out on the other side of the oasis, the tents opposite it.  Amaryl begins to walk around. "Do you think they spared Majanni, despite what we said?"
01[21:16] <Seira> "I hope so," Seira responds, after thinking it over. "If they just killed him after we've left him weak, I would feel responsible, as if I had them do my dirty work for me. No, had they truly wanted Majanni dead despite my request, I would have obliged them myself."
02[21:16] * Harriet (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Ping timeout)
[21:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Coming back, you find several of the transformed fey sitting around. Majanni runs around, bringing them food and drink. His color is bad, his steps weak. The still enchanted servants stand aside, waiting without word.
06[21:18] * Seira sees no reason to prolongue this, calling out for the harmful spell upon them to be undone!
01[21:18] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 31." [1d20=16]
[21:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Calling on her magic, the spell shatters! The remaining entrapped fey all turn to Majanni at once! The aware ones smirk a bit, as Majanni whimpers and takes several steps back. "Stay bakc!" he shouts.
01[21:21] <Seira> "I have to ask," Seira voices, not much caring for his feeble protests. "Why do all this? If you had just let travelers stay with you without tricking them, they might well have returned of their own will, or sent others to keep you company and party with you. Many might have undergone the transformation to fey, given the benefits it would hold. So why did you have to coerce people?"
[21:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Slipping back as a few of the white garbed men talk to the newly awakened fey, "It-It's my right!" he mewls.
01[21:27] <Seira> "Well, then I guess it's the right of those victimized by you to beat you into a bloody pulp," Seira reasons. "I'm glad we had this chat." She gives a wave to the others. "I'll be back to check up on things a lot, and I'll figure out a means for you to call me quicker if he forgets his trouncing and tries to regrow a spine."
01[21:35] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 77." [1d100=77]

[Corwin]

[20:21] <Kotono> ---
[20:23] <Kotono> Seira goes and gets a pair of glasses of rich wine from a passing servant. As her and Amaryl both have a sip, "Excuse me," A rugged faced man comes up, in a uniform that's a size or so too big for him. He's not too old, but a notably younge rwoman is with him, one who has perhaps just reached her majority. She has black hair, tied back, and a black gown. "Colonel Seira? Lady Gaial?"
01[20:25] <Seira> "Mmm?" Seira turns towards the two, holding her wine glass casually. "Hello."
[20:27] <Kotono> "Lord Kesper," He offers a hand - somehow small, as if weight has been dropped - "I've heard of you in bardsong and in traveler's words for quite some time now. I'm honored to make your aquaintence, even if you aren't twenty feet tall and don't shoot fire out of your nose. Ah well, bards never get the stories right. This is Lady Eliza, my niece."
[20:27] <Kotono> "Charmed," she murmurs, eyes on Amaryl more than Seira. "A noble from the realm of Pallanth this far from Pallanth? Remarkable."
01[20:28] <Seira> "I could be," Seira muses with a light shrug of her shoulders. "Magic." It really does explain everything. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintence, Lord Kesper, Lady Eliza."
[20:30] <Kotono> As music plays softly, carrying through the noise of indistinct conversations, it all merging together into a backdrop of meaningful/meaningless sound, "You're one of the senior officers in the Crimson Guard, yes? Part of my purview is dealing with guards and patrols. You are perhaps the most qualified person I know of to speak on these matters."
01[20:34] <Seira> "I'm always happy to talk about work or help on such matters," Seira agrees. "And having traveled extensively, I've been exposed to several varying methods of training guards and arranging patrols. Is there anything in specific that draws your interest, Lord Kesper?"
[20:36] <Kotono> Lady Eliza nicely smiles to Seira, then, "Ah, Lady Gaial, if I may steal you for a few moments? I fancy myself a student of elven matters."
[20:36] <Kotono> 'Seira?' Amaryl asks in Seira's mind, 'Do you mind, or do you want me to stay with you?'
01[20:37] <Seira> 'Wouldn't dream of monopolizing your time like that,' Seira responds happily. 'Let me know if it gets boring and I'll come and rescue you?'
[20:39] <Kotono> Amaryl takes the inviation, wandering away with Lady Eliza. As they go, "The generals are fine. You see, we're expanding our range of patrols in Kelara. I hear the Baronies have a very active and wide ranging Guard, so the potential for advice and aid is obvious."
02[20:41] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@c-98-210-201-139.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
03[20:41] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@c-98-210-201-139.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) has joined #evildunes
03[20:41] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
01[20:43] <Seira> "We try to use locals and scouts at the outer range of our patrols," Seira responds. "It tends to work much better than regular troops who might not notice something is amiss, or would have trouble navigating the area. There was also another method I've run across, where troops too far from their bases are stationed for extended time to man outposts.
01[20:43] <Seira>  They get relieved every few weeks, perhaps a couple months for especially far outposts. It seems like a sound method to implement, particularly if magic is available in limited fashion to cut down on travel times."
[20:45] <Kotono> "Mmm, yes." Lord Kesper walks along, near the dance floor, his face screwed in thought. He stops to get a passing drink from a servant before going on. "After that business of the aborted rebellion, having our patrols in top shape is paramount. Fortunately, Kelara's holdings are not so large as to make that problematic."
06[20:48] * Seira nods thoughtfully. "A balance must be struck, between the soldiers staying in an area long enough to befriend the population and gain sensitivity to any changes, and from having them be there so long their loyalties might waver or letting their skills stagnate. Ideally, if said balance is reached, the population has faith and confidence in the military, and through it, in its leaders.
01[20:48] <Seira> The soldiers, in turn, feel like they are a part of something worthwhile, and guarding the civillians is not just a job for them any longer."
[20:49] <Kotono> "Yes, a sense of identity." As he ponders on this, Lord Kesper punches at the air, "That's a good, fine theory if you can impliment it. It makes the men have a sense of morale and of being something more than another petty group of armed soldiers.
[20:49] <Kotono> "
01[20:52] <Seira> "And while it's fine to project an image of absolute trust in them, it's always a good idea to stay informed from alternate sources," Seira continues. "People are flawed, and once in a while, a rotten apple might rise to a command position. Landing a position where they might abuse their power would be a decent test for officers' moral fiber."
[20:53] <Kotono> "Ah yes, the value of multiple sources of intelligence," Nodding along as you pass a small gaggle of chatters, one of them steps away. He is a kindly faced old man, like a grandfather.  "Pardon. Colonel Seira," He offers a hand out, "I had wanted to catch you. Lord Lahn of the ruling council."
06[20:55] * Seira gives the proffered hand a firm handshake. "I have been caught, then, Lord Lahn."
[20:55] <Kotono> "Lahn," Kesper says with even, neutral tones.
[20:56] <Kotono> "Kesper," With a twinkle in his eyes as he speaks, "I know I interrupted you, for which I cry pardon. But a chance to meet a living legend is not something an old man should miss."
01[20:56] <Seira> "I've been to Kelara before. Doubtlessly, I'll come visit again," Seira notes with a smile.
[20:59] <Kotono> "Yet my time in this world is not unlimited at this age." His grip is firm and able. "I also hear you open temples in realms beyond Balmuria, in the name of the Merchant's Friend?"
01[21:04] <Seira> "Why yes!" Seira agrees, suddenly a whole lot more interested. "Our goal is to unify Waukeen's temples throughout the land under the goal of expanding knowledge and bettering society. So far, we've managed that with Balmuria, Victoria and Arad in the Fiefdoms.
01[21:04] <Seira> Valandia and the Citadel of Light are quite close to being brought into the loop, as well as another temple in Pallanth further east, and there is construction of two more all the way over in the distant land of Kesse."
[21:07] <Kotono> "I had heard of...hm, Kesse?" Lord Lahn stops there, "Pardon, but I've heard not of that realm."
01[21:09] <Seira> "It's past the jungle, Lord Lahn," Seira elaborates. "Not as unpassable if you have the aid of magic, it turns out. And since we're on the subject, I've long contemplated a closer tie with Kelara. It doesn't presently have a temple to Waukeen, does it?"
[21:11] <Kotono> "No, it does not. I think we may be on the same mindtrack. If it may be coming, it is only wise to accept it and coordinate the efforts so it benefits Kelara well." As Lord Lahn goes on, '...S-Seira?'
01[21:12] <Seira> About to respond, Seira pauses to take a sip of her wine, thinking back, 'Yes? What is it?'
[21:13] <Kotono> '...nevermind.' Amaryl's voice lightens, 'Just a misunderstanding. Sorry, Seira.'
01[21:13] <Seira> 'Are you sure? Nothing's so important I can't come and bail you out!'
[21:14] <Kotono> 'It's nothing.' Amaryl replies back. 'I'll explain it when we're back together.
[21:14] <Kotono> '
01[21:17] <Seira> If Amaryl thinks she can handle whatever it is, Seira won't charge off to the rescue. "I do prefer to work with the local authorities whenever possible," she responds, placing her now-empty glass down on a nearby servant's tray. "It is an honor to meet someone who wants to help spread Waukeen's message, Lord Lahn."
[21:18] <Kotono> "Come pay me a visit when the time is right for that." Lord Lahn steps away, "My apologies again, Lord Kesper. I'll not interrupt you any further."
01[21:20] <Seira> "Of course, Lord Lahn," Seira agrees, turning slightly towards Lord Kesper once he had stepped away. "Where were we?"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Talking about intelligence," Lord Kesper supplies, "About multiple viewpoints."
01[21:23] <Seira> "Ah, so we were." Seira grabs herself a fresh glass of wine, and taps it thoughtfully. "I'm afraid I can't say much beyond the general that you've requested, here, Lord Kesper. Intelligence gathering is not something we can casually chat about in such a setting. I cannot overstate its value enough, however.
01[21:23] <Seira> Near the end of King Ferdi's reign, having the right intelligence allowed us to prepare properly, both for the possibility for an invasion and for the real thing, when it finally came."
01[21:26] <Seira> 'Well, it looks like I might get to build another temple,' Seira meanwhile thinks to Amaryl. 'How is being studied going?'
[21:34] <Kotono> "Of course, discretion is important. There will be other times when discretion is not such a concern," Lord Kesper parts away, "Thank you."
[21:34] <Kotono> 'Oh? Excellent! And...it's going well enough.'
06[21:36] * Seira raises her glass to salute the man as he leaves, before taking a sip. 'Mind if I join you? I could use a short break from being all official.'
[21:38] <Kotono> 'O-okay,' Amaryl answers after a hesitation.
06[21:39] * Seira takes a look around. A beautiful elf can't be hard to spot in the crowd.
[21:41] <Kotono> You find Amaryl and Eliza tucked away in a corner, sitting at a table. The two are drinking wine, a servant freshening glasses. Eliza is listening to Amaryl, the two smiling and laughing.
01[21:42] <Seira> "Hi," Seira greets them, gracefully sliding into an empty seat.
[21:46] <Kotono> "Hello, Colonel," Eliza inclines her head, "Amaryl was telling me about the eastern reaches of Pallanth. It's endless cold until insurmountable mountains reach to the top of the sky, challenging Lathander's majesty with their rude intrusion?"
[21:47] <Kotono> "Seira," Amaryl laughs and smiles, a faint blush playing as she drinks more wine. "Tell her about the mountains you named after me!"
[21:47] <Kotono> 'Please?' Amaryl adds in your mind, 'I think I'm getting a bit drunk...this wine is hitting me hard, and I've already drank one more glass than I was planning to.'
01[21:49] <Seira> "Since you're on first name basis, Seira would be just fine for me," she tells Eliza. "The Amaryl mountain range? It's easily the most majestic and deadly of them all, and that was before a beautiful personification of the winter took residence there." To Amaryl's mental request, she responds, 'The solution is easy, then. Drink water instead! I could help you with that.'
[21:51] <Kotono> 'Yes well...' Amaryl shrugs lightly, 'No ,that may be wise. I'll do that.'
[21:51] <Kotono> As Seira settles in, Taldeer and Alicia approach.
06[21:52] * Seira gives them a wave, looking around the table. If there aren't enough chairs, she'll have to arrange for a servant to bring more, or get them herself from a neighboring table.
[21:52] <Alicia> "Seira, you've met Taldeer," Alicia begins introductions as she approaches. "Amaryl, this is Dweomerkeeper Taldeer, the head of the church of Mystra in Kelara. And, I don't believe I've met your new friend..."
01[21:53] <Seira> "We've met, yes," Seira says, smiling at Taldeer. "This is Lady Eliza."
[21:54] <Alicia> "A pleasure," Alicia bows to the Lady in question.
[21:55] <Kotono> There's enough chairs with one spare. "I'm honored," Amaryl smiles as she listens.
[21:56] <Kotono> "I'm honored, Knight-General," Lady Eliza stands to slightly curtesy to Alicia. "Lady Seira was telling us of the Amaryl Mountains."
[21:57] <Alicia> Ahh, Mount Amaryl... Alicia keeps the wince that she feels off of her face as she takes a seat. "Yes, Seira named them herself," she notes pleasantly.
01[21:59] <Seira> "They needed an elven name, and there wasn't one I liked better," Seira admits. "I was a bit worried it wouldn't work well, but I think the name took off."
[22:01] <Kotono> "That's a lovely name," Eliza drinks down a glass of wine as she listens, "It's quite the honor to Amaryl."
06[22:03] * Seira is happy that people agree with her on this! "You mentioned being interested in elves?" she asks Eliza. "Have you ever traveled to Pallanth?"
[22:05] <Kotono> "Oh no, it's too far," Eliza murmurs, "There are some elves in Kelara that hear stories from."
[22:07] <Alicia> "If you travel by ship it's a journey of less than two months," Alicia notes. "Far quicker than crossing the desert and forest."
01[22:07] <Seira> Someone to keep in mind once instanteneous travel between the two lands has been established. "That's a shame. I imagine it's not quite the same listening to stories."
[22:10] <Kotono> "Oh, it's like reading a book," Eliza agrees. "Each story and book is a new block into the imagination."
01[22:12] <Seira> "Are there any good stories to be shared, in that case?"
[22:17] <Kotono> The evening passes. It's past midnight, drinks having been had and the times passed. The guests are starting to leave, most gone. Seira, Alicia, Marie and Amaryl have just met up with Alicia's family. Jessica is sitting in a chair brought out into the ballroom, sleeping against Roald. Roald is swishing a glass of wine about, but not drinking. "Ah. A marvelous party," Beatrice announces, clapping her hands.
[22:17] <Kotono> "Ah. A marvelous party," Beatrice announces, clapping her hands.
[22:18] <Alicia> Naturally Alicia has refreshed hers and Marie's disguises a few hours ago. "Things went quite well," she agrees politely, honestly rather bored herself.
01[22:18] <Seira> "It was quite pleasant," Seira agrees, having found it a change from her daily routine. "We must do this again some time."
[22:18] <Kotono> Amaryl is next to Seira, smiling and a bit wobbly on her feet, but otherwise okay. "It was most fun."
[22:19] <Kotono> Arthur yawns deeply, "Ah yes, Alicia. Seira. Are the two of you staying in town past tomorrow?"
[22:20] <Alicia> "We'll be returning to Balmuria tomorrow," Alicia replies. "Seira, would you care to go on a trip to the elemental plane of fire?" she then asks the half-dragon. "I was thinking of searching there for something to help with the Winterwight problem."
01[22:21] <Seira> "I love fire," Seira responds. "As long as I can make my appointment in a bit under a week's time, it should be fine."
[22:25] <Kotono> "Alright." With that, Arthur starts to lead the two back...OOC: Move along?
[22:25] <Alicia> OOC: yep
01[22:25] <Seira> OOC: Sure

[Corwin]

[19:42] <Kotono> ------
[19:42] <Kotono> You want to resume where you left off and go towards Kesse?
01[19:42] <Seira> Works for me.
[19:47] <Kotono> Okay. Make your TPs?
01[19:48] <Seira> roll 1d100 Kelara
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 Kelara and gets 49." [1d100=49]
01[19:48] <Seira> roll 1d100 Kesse
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 Kesse and gets 85." [1d100=85]
[19:48] <Kotono> Where in Kesse?
01[19:48] <Seira> Palace entrance, where I've been teleporting before
[19:48] <Kotono> Okay.
[19:49] <Kotono> Oh yeah, are you alone or...?
01[19:52] <Seira> I've been meaning to continue the trip with Amaryl, same as I originally started it. If she's busy and/or someone wants to come along, I can adjust.
[19:52] <Kotono> Amaryl's fine. Okay then.
[19:52] <Kotono> ---
[19:52] <Kotono> It is a cool day with a cold, hard wind. Kesse is subdued - only guards and a few peasants are about when Seira appears. Amaryl shivers and draws into herself at this wind.
[19:53] <Kotono> "Let's get inside? It's not pleasant here at all," Amaryl murmurs as she looks about. "It reminds me of Lord Chillander's domain a little with that wind."
01[19:54] <Seira> "Fire was more pleasant," Seira says by way of agreement, heading towards the gates. "Think you'd like to visit the plane of fire some day? There's an evil efreet that picked a fight with me, and he seems to live there."
[19:55] <Kotono> "Perhaps, how hot is it?" Crackling a little smile as guards eye Seira and approach, ushering her ahead, "How long do you plan to stay here, Seira?"
01[19:57] <Seira> "Pretty hot. Enough so that food chars if you leave it out in the open too long. As for staying here, if we're not needed, just a day or so to ensure that the work on the temples is on schedule."
[20:01] <Kotono> The two are taken to General Andram as Amaryl considers this. You meet him in a rich, plush office deep within the castle. Two guards stand just outside, opening the door for Seira. General Andram looks up from a set of parchments as Seira enters.
06[20:04] * Seira lowers her head in greeting. "General Andram. I hope we did not come at a bad time."
[20:05] <Kotono> The General is wearing a thick greatcoat, pushing the papers aside. "Welcome back to Kesse. You rather did - there's border problems again to both the north and the south. Nothing dire, but flareups of normal border incidents and the like."
01[20:08] <Seira> "Then the timing was rather fortuitous," Seira points out, "since part of the reason for my visit was to ask whether you've come to a final decision on my proposal. I have prepared all the resources on my end, so all I would need right now is to hear that 'yes' from you to go ahead with the program."
[20:10] <Kotono> General Andram considers this for a short few moments, "Intelligence and these incidents are both pointing towards a war as soon as our rivals can manage it. If they both assail us at once...I don't think a foreign outpost will stop them. If you commit to this, you're going to become embroiled in a war. If you're willing to accept that, then yes."
01[20:15] <Seira> "What about a foreign outpost with a one-way portal to send more troops to the combat theater, and magical ways to alert us of a need for more soldiers?" Seira asks. "I've talked to Lord Salman, and he agreed to support this endeavor. Still, avoiding war outright would be better than having to win it. Are your neighbors in league with one another?"
[20:19] <Kotono> "We can't prove it, but Evrai and Sanaxt do seem to be showing signs of unusual cooperation." General Andram stands now, "While with winter coming any campaign will be low intensity, the coming spring would see full out war if that were to occur."
01[20:23] <Seira> "It just means we have several months to try and make people see reason. Going to war because of past grievances easily addressed is stupid. I'm sure you could find plenty against them if you tried.
01[20:23] <Seira> I think my chances to mediate would be pretty decent, especially if I demonstrate an ability to have a force rivaling their own here. You're worried they're both going to attack, so it logically follows the threat of attack would be far lower if they didn't think they could overwhelm you with numbers."
[20:28] <Kotono> "Then we agree," General Andram sticks a hand out, "I'll be blunt. Our chances in a two front war with weak leadership are not great. Any aid is appreciated."
01[20:30] <Seira> "I'll see about avoiding that unfortunate situation altogether, if possible, and mitigate it if battle becomes the only solution," Seira affirms, accepting his hand to shake it. "I could be as blunt with your neighbors as you are being here, of course, but it seems to me that it would have an adverse effect.
01[20:30] <Seira> Is there a way for you to arrange negotiations with them, and allow me to meet with their leadership?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "I have someonein Evrai who owes me a couple of favors..." Quietly thinking, "I may be able to, yes. There's no guarantee. If they're hellbent on it, the messenger will probably come back short a head."
01[20:33] <Seira> "If there's actual risk of them doing it, I could use magic to send a message across," Seira suggests, frowning. "Killing the messenger goes beyond petty."
[20:33] <Kotono> With a dark, amused smile, "It sends a very pointed message. No, no magic. If it happens, we'll know their intentions for sure."
01[20:36] <Seira> "I wouldn't risk the lives of my subordinates like that," she notes in response. "You would know your neighbors best, but I believe that the messenger should be informed of the risks and allowed to opt out if they don't want to take the risk."
[20:37] <Kotono> "I have loyal men that will do it. Besides, what's one man these days?" Leaning back, "AT times of war, a single life is cheap."
[20:38] <Kotono> "That's such a sad thing to say," Amaryl looks down to her feet, "What about all the grieving mothers and children left behind by those cheap lives?"
[20:39] <Kotono> "Kesse has been raised on the backs of widowers and childless mothers," General Andram's voice becomes steely, "We survive."
01[20:41] <Seira> "People die in wars," Seira admits. "But Amaryl's point is quite valid, and aren't we doing this to avoid the bloodshed altogether? Our actions lose meaning if we let it become a matter of numbers. If we accept the death of a single messenger, why not more of them? The line would get difficult to draw." As the general speaks again, Seira nods.
01[20:41] <Seira> "Yes, you survive. Kesse survives. But don't you want more than that, to prosper and move ahead? That's hard to achive if entire generations pass away in combat."
[20:46] <Kotono> "That's the goal, but I'm a realist. You're an optimist." General Andram now nods a little to Seira, "I hope you're right. I really do...but I've seen optimists before and buried each one of them."
01[20:49] <Seira> "I'll make you one, some day in the future," Seira promises. "While we're in the present, however," she goes on, changing the subject, "I want to inquire about the progress on the temples."
[20:50] <Kotono> "They progress well enough. Land has been taken and they're being constructed," General Andram says after checking a bit of parchment.
[20:51] <Kotono> Amaryl sighs a little, 'Between your stories and this...I hope you're right and you can help them, Seira.  That cold way he tossed aside the concept of an innocent man dying sent a shiver down my spine. Is war truly so common here?'
01[20:52] <Seira> "Is there any way I could be of help, there?" she asks. "Even if just to recruit for the position of the high priest?" To Amaryl, she thinks back, 'Seemed that way to me. The Fiefdoms are a lot like this with their attitude, and if I'm meddling there, I'm contractually obligated to meddle here as well and try to help.'
[20:54] <Kotono> "For now, no. In that due time, yes. A high priest is a concern. The Kelemvorites aren't entirely pleased with this as well - they're bristling at competition." Taking another sheet of paper and reading it, "If a war is coming, that won't matter since they'll know they have more important work to do."
[20:54] <Kotono> 'Yes, but the Fiefdoms have some good things to it. Then again, they aren't surrounde dby enemies.'
01[21:00] <Seira> "That's quite morbid," Seira voices. "Well, unless they plan to start a bloody uprising to get their quota of death for the death god, I'm sure we could come to a reasonable arrangement. Waukeen is quite accomodating."
01[21:00] <Seira> 'A very good point,' Seira thinks to Amaryl. 'Maybe if we change that part, the rest would naturally follow.'
[21:02] <Kotono> Snorting, "We will see. Have you also come to see Giselle?"
01[21:04] <Seira> "If it's a good day," Seira says delicately. "I've learned my lesson the last time. Good intentions alone can't solve such deeply-entrenched issues in mere months."
[21:05] <Kotono> "She had a brief court today. She's with her personal bard now - you know the one, you brought him - and listening to him. To be honest, he does her as much good as anything. She's not right, but she's very calm when she's with him."
01[21:08] <Seira> "I won't interrupt, then. But I'll visit again." Seira searches her pack for several moments, before withdrawing a feather. "This holds my personal mark, and would carry a message to me anywhere in the world. Other means of communication exist, most far more convenient, but this is unique enough to reach me where others might get blocked. I wanted you to have it."
[21:09] <Kotono> It's taken, "How do I use it?"
01[21:12] <Seira> "Write a brief message with it on paper or parchment, and then will it to reach me while you're holding the feather," Seira responds. "That would trigger the magic and transform it into a carrier pigeon that would tirelessly seek me out until that missive has been delivered."
[21:13] <Kotono> "I'll do that," Andram puts the feather onto his desk, "We'll meet again when?"
01[21:15] <Seira> "Soon after we get our answer from Evrai. I could keep in touch from time to time via the Sending spell, or you could initiate it, whichever you might find more convenient, General."
[21:16] <Kotono> "Understood," General Andram rises, offering his hand out.
06[21:18] * Seira shakes it. "Before we leave, would it be possible to have the most up to date maps you have of this region?" Seira inquires. "I've been trying to create a world map from a collage of various local ones, and it would aid me greatly in that goal."
[21:22] <Kotono> "If you like." A soldier is sent out, returning with a map about ten minutes later, which is presented to SEira.
01[21:28] <Seira> roll 1d100 I know this place
06[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 I know this place and gets 85." [1d100=85]
[21:29] <Kotono> Amaryl and Seira are escorted to see Lady Malika once more. She awaits for them, lying on her divan. "The two of you look well," Lady Malika observes.
01[21:30] <Seira> "No evil fey this time," Seira responds, after greeting her properly. "We've returned as you bid us to, Lady Malika."
[21:34] <Kotono> "Good. I have spoken to the Pasha on this matter, Seira." As a servant fans her, "He is willing to allow Lady Cemile to be exiled far away, on certain conditions."
01[21:35] <Seira> "Which conditions would they be?" Seira inquires, giving her full attention to Lady Malika while ignoring the servants.
[21:37] <Kotono> "First of all, Celime is not to go to the Baronies or Kelara. She must be further removed from the Fiefdoms," Ticking off fingers as she goes, lazy and toying with them, "Pallanth is acceptable, as is Malmuth, or anything farther."
06[21:39] * Seira glances at Amaryl briefly, before responding. "That should be possible to arrange. Is there more?"
[21:43] <Kotono> "The second condition is that she be adequately provided for. Imprisioned or not, she is still nobility."
01[21:44] <Seira> "I'm sensing that the Pasha's feelings on this matter are rather complex," Seira feels obligated to say. "As with the first condition, I don't foresee a problem."
[21:46] <Kotono> With the hint of a smile, "It may be so. The final condition is that the Pasha will hold you accountable should misfortune come to Cemile, or should she cause the Fiefdoms further harm."
06[21:48] * Seira glances at Amaryl again, much longer this time. "I did make it clear that I'm interested in Lady Cemile's case, not in Lady Cemile, right? You were here. I didn't say something ambiguous on accident, did I?"
[21:50] <Kotono> Do that, Malika starts to laugh as Amaryl blushes. "There was not. As you are advocating for her, he places that responsibility on you. That is all."
01[21:51] <Seira> "Really? Because it sounded just like--" Seira shakes her head. "Alright, I get it now. It's a responsibility I would accept gladly, Lady Malika. Could you be so kind as to convey my gratitude to the Pasha?"
[21:52] <Kotono> "I shall." Malika rises now, "Cemile will be released in due time then, you will be contacted then."
01[21:53] <Seira> "I will be just a teleport or two away," Seira says, bowing respectfully. "And I must thank you once more for making this possible, Lady Malika."
[21:58] <Kotono> "Thank you," Amaryl follows up with that, "Be well, Lady."
[21:58] <Kotono> OOC: Ready to move along a bit now, Seira? What's next on your agenda?
01[21:58] <Seira> OOC: Okay! Next I would like to regroup with Abby and talk to her about preparations.
[22:01] <Kotono> OOC: Roll your TP back to Balmuria.
01[22:01] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 1." [1d100=1]
[22:03] <Kotono> Abagail is found at Seira's inn, chatting away with Donald. Well no. More accurately, Donald is chatting to her as she looks at him crticially. As Donald goes on about magical theory, "Ah Seira, there you are. You'll agree with me - Donald looks somewhat lithe, like a woman now, does he not?"
01[22:03] <Seira> "Donald always looked like a woman," Seira says dismissively. "That aside, I'm back, so we can finally leave. Did you have enough time to prepare for everything?"
[22:04] <Kotono> "What the hell?!" Donald blurts, "I'm a man, dammit!"
01[22:04] <Seira> "Elf."
[22:05] <Kotono> Abby turns away from him, "I've done my preparations and have supplies. Some potions, a few scrolls, rations as well as mundane backups."
[22:05] <Kotono> "That's right. Elf."Amaryl smiles sweetly to him, "You're a very cute boy elf. Some humans say that girl and boy elves look alike, though..."
06[22:06] * Seira nods. "Can I pass the casting of Endure Elements to you, as well as the locator spells we've discussed? Having Phantom Steeds for us all in store is something I can provide, as well as shelter for the night."
[22:07] <Kotono> "That raises a question of how wer'e going to travel. Phantom Steed may be faster, but if it's unknown land, is it wise to skip past everything like a hurricane?" Abagail rises, getting a drink of water from the bar before returning. "How are we going to travle?"
[22:08] <Kotono> With a tired groan, "Nevermind, I'm going to go practice my magecraft." Donald mutters and stomps off.
01[22:08] <Seira> "That depends," Seira admits, taking a moment to wave sweetly at Donald.
01[22:08] <Seira> "The divination spells we've talked about. If you managed to get one that has a range of a mile or more, it would make sense to use the steeds to get towards civilization all the faster."
[22:13] <Kotono> Abagail nods to that, "Yes."
01[22:14] <Seira> "So we're decided. Let's go in the morning? That would give us a chance to prepare just the right spells before departure."
[22:14] <Kotono> Abagail nods, "In the morning then."
06[22:14] * Seira gives her a smile, before heading off after Donald.
[22:23] <Kotono> Donald is found in his room. He has his old silver greatsword in hand, going through a few basic motions and practices.
01[22:26] <Seira> "There's a difference between friendly teasing and mocking," Seira says, announcing her presence. "You can tell between the two, right?"
[22:27] <Kotono> "Oh yeah, sure." Donald grunts as he works, nearly knocking over a glass beaker with a heavy, hard swing. "Duck, by the way."
06[22:29] * Seira makes certain to duck without questioning him. "Good. Didn't want to leave without making sure of that. All things considered, everyone wonders sometimes about the course they're on. We all even have regrets, I bet. I doubt..." Seira seizes the tip of her wing. "Well, this, let's say. Alicia must wonder as well, certain times."
[22:35] <Kotono> His blade whisles just over Seira's head as he completes a one handed release, regrouping his sword back. "Yeah. Seira, I don't need a pep talk." He puts his sword down, grinning, "Come on, I'm not an idiot. I can play along too."
01[22:37] <Seira> "It's not a real pep talk," she says, straightening up. "This is more me asking if you're happy with your life, because I have access to pretty impressive magic and even more impressive friends. I could trade for a wish to return you to what you were, if that's really what you want to be."
[22:39] <Kotono> "Eh." Donald puts his sword down next to a pile of books, "I haven't asked, have I?"
01[22:40] <Seira> "So you haven't," Seira agrees, smiling. "Want a souvenier from wherever it is I'll find myself at?"
[22:42] <Kotono> "Sure. It's you, Amaryl and Abagail going?" Donald goes and gets a beaker full of water, drinking from it. "Past the eastern mountains?"
01[22:43] <Seira> "Yeah. And things look like they might heat up on the Kesse front, so want to come along for that when it happens? We may get to test your defenses for the teleportation circles after all, if things go badly."
[22:44] <Kotono> "Let's see...war there or are the Sharrans making a resurgance?" Donald finishes drinking, going to sit on his bed, tossing aside a few scrolls and a broken wooden sword as he does.
01[22:44] <Seira> "Possible war. Far less possible if we manage to avert it, and actually give all the people in that region something to aspire for besides Kelemvor worship."
[22:45] <Kotono> "Let me know if it does, if nothing's going on here. Hopefully with Esthan dead, we're really the strongest force now."
01[22:47] <Seira> "Even if we weren't, would that stop us?" she asks with another smile.
[22:49] <Kotono> "No. So let me know," Donald lies back on his bed, before he grunts and shifts. He reaches under the covers, taking out a slim book. "Oh, that's where that poetry went." He tosses it aside.
01[22:51] <Seira> "It's good for you," Seira tells him cheerfully. "And if you don't know the entire book by heart when I'm back, I will devise a spell that would read poetry to you whenever you fall asleep."

[Corwin]

[17:15] <Kotono> -----------\
[17:18] <Kotono> Amaryl is ready with Seira. She has her travelling gear on and a warm cloak over all of it. Abagail, in contrast, strides in wearing a rich blue mantle, hair tied back in a ponytail. She wears knee high leather boots, a loose, belted gray dress going with it. They meet in Seira's quarters, the morning ahead and ready of them.
06[17:21] * Seira is herself dressed in ancient gnomish fashions, being a mage and thus capable of traveling in style. "Endure Elements should let us stay comfortable as we travel to the east. And it'll let you meet Neve like you wanted to, Abagail, and without freezing half to death, at that."
[17:22] <Kotono> "As you like. Who should I cast it on?" Abagail asks, "I've only read of the cold mountains to the east. This should be a worthy time of it."
01[17:23] <Seira> "All three of us, since we don't know how things will go. Teleporting to a place I've only seen once carries a risk, and it helps to be prepared." Seira hands a small pearl over to Abagail. "And with this, you could actually cover us all."
[17:23] <Kotono> "I was about to say, I only memorized it twice. Very well." With that, Abagail casts Endure Elements on all, magic wrapping around the three!
01[17:25] <Seira> "Let's go, then," Seira announces, and takes hold of Abagail and Amaryl as she teleports them to the entrance to Neve's home.
01[17:25] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[17:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 95." [1d100=95]
[17:26] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[17:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 7." [1d10=7]
[17:26] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[17:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 8." [1d10=8]
[17:26] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[17:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 7." [1d9=7]
[17:27] <Kotono> You stand in a winter wonderland. Planes of ice stretch out as far as the eye ca nsee, frozen tundra untouched by the feet of mortalkind for countless ages. Ahead of you stretch out vast mountains, looking on the horizon like talons streaking towards the sky.  The air is impossibly clear, cold and clean.
01[17:28] <Seira> "Good thing we prepared ahead of time," Seira muses, calling upon the magic of teleportation once more!
01[17:28] <Seira> roll 1d100 success this time?
06[17:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 success this time? and gets 71." [1d100=71]
[17:30] <Kotono> "A mis-" Abagail begins as she turns to Seira, the three vanishing again! You appear in the stony, snowy mountains, the thin air felt immediately. It is freezing cold here, your magic preventing the wrath of winter from draining your vitality and body warmth.  The loose snow on the icy, slippery floor has been moved into a few banks. OOC: Make a spot check, Seira?
01[17:30] <Seira> roll 1d20+11
06[17:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 and gets 25." [1d20=14]
[17:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[17:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 33." [1d20=13]
01[17:31] <Seira> "Yes, like I was saying, it's tricky teleporting to places you don't frequent daily," Seira agrees, taking a look around.
[17:31] <Kotono> Amid the snow you can see a creature lying in it. A large white bear, with a coat of fur just like the frozen snow.
03[17:33] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
06[17:34] * Seira blinks. "Neve, you've redecorated?" she calls out. "Or brought friends over?"
[17:35] <Kotono> "Bear?" Amaryl's hand is on her arrows, reaching over her shoulder.
[17:36] <Kotono> From the shadows Neve emerges, slowly walking up to the pile of snow and the bear. She goes to lay a hand on it, "I find this creature a pleasing, useful servant, nothing more."
01[17:36] <Seira> "Let's be frank, a bear can't menace the manifestation of winter," Seira tells Amaryl. "He would only be here if she wanted him to-- and there she is!" Seira waves at Neve with a smile.
[17:38] <Kotono> The bear lies down at that touch, little black eyes staring at Seira and company.
[17:38] <Kotono> "What is it you want, Seira?" Neve asks, a chilly breeze blowing in from above, skittering a bit of snow about.
01[17:39] <Seira> "Several things," she answers. "First, I was passing through and wanted to say hi. Since teleporting so far from home isn't something I do daily, it was a good chance to do that! Also, I wanted to introduce Abagail to you, because she said you were very admirable and she wanted to make your acquaintance."
[17:41] <Kotono> "Charmed," Abagail steps forward, making a deep curtesy.
[17:43] <Kotono> Neve looks Abagail over, "One who has manners." A slight uptake of her lips, "Welcome to endless winter. Have you come to feel your lifeblood slow as the cold fills every speck of your body?"
01[17:43] <Seira> "Is this your way of asking if she wants a hug?" Seira inquires curiously.
[17:44] <Kotono> "Tsh." With a chilly, freezing look at Seira, "Perhaps you do? For the only ones that come from the east seem to be women. Are men a forgotten thing in the melting light of summer?"
01[17:46] <Seira> "Nope. Plenty of them back home," Seira responds. "Actually, that's the other thing I wanted to talk about. Alicia mentioned meeting you, but she has to be wrong. Endure Elements will make it easy for you to travel to Balmuria, so I figured I'd ask you there and prove that you aren't the subject of some nasty prophecy."
[17:50] <Kotono> "Ah, propechy." Neve's smile returns as she steps away fromt he polar bear. "Alicia came asking of omens and portents, mentioning a most suicidal goal. Are you looking to leave this mortal coil in the heart of a howling winter as well?"
01[17:50] <Seira> "Aww, don't be like that. I'm sure I'll beat the odds!"
[17:51] <Kotono> Amaryl s hivers.
[17:52] <Kotono> "Will you? This is no mortal trifle to run off to and slay before returning home for supper." Neve's look is darkly humorous, the cold of the chamber seeming to increase twentyfold, your limbs growing cool and numb. "Were a Winterwight to come for me, I would pray to any God that listens to end my suffering quickly."
01[17:54] <Seira> "Or you could call me," Seira mentions with a smile. "I'll come running, though it wouldn't be to end your suffering. That would be because I'm crazy enough to think I'd have a chance and save you!"
[17:57] <Kotono> "You are crazy. If anyone survives the Winterwight's wrath and remembers you, they can inscribe it on your burial stone." Neve chuckles now, "Your bravado is a disservice to your continued life span. Seira, I do not speak of this lightly. A winterwight is removed from a normal threat as a mane is removed from a balor."
01[17:59] <Seira> "Neither do I. If I'm that confident about my chances, I just might have something beyond bravado and insanity up my sleeve," Seira tells her, still smiling. "But enough talking about depressing death stuff. I really did come to ask if you wanted to go on a trip with us, whether back to Balmuria or past the mountains no one's ever traveled across in our lifetime.
01[17:59] <Seira> Either way, it would be a chance for you to get out for a while, and for us to get to know you better. How about it?"
[18:02] <Kotono> "You are obviously superior to mundane rubbish. You exude the rights and honor of nobility," Abagail smiles to her, "I would be honored if you would come with us."
01[18:03] <Seira> "And you already know we like you, so that goes without saying," Seira adds, gesturing as herself and Amaryl.
[18:05] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check, Seira?
01[18:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[18:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 46." [1d20=19]
[18:08] <Kotono> Neve turns away, crossing her arms. "Perhaps the lands untouched by true winter need to be remedied of this failing..."
01[18:11] <Seira> One day, Neve would actually be honest with her feelings, Seira hopes! "Sounds good to me. Do you have a preference here? Seeing the unknown versus visiting my home, where all sorts of people strange and mundane live."
03[18:14] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@c-98-210-201-139.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) has joined #evildunes
03[18:14] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[18:14] <Kotono> "Let us go to the unknown," Neve turns back to Seira, "I wonder now what lies beyond these cold mountains."
01[18:15] <Seira> "Every single one of us here does," Seira agrees. "Abagail, can you manage another casting of Endure Elements?"
[18:31] <Kotono> "Do you have another pearl?" Abagail asks, "I can if I have to, but it will take a higher circle slot."
01[18:32] <Seira> "No, don't carry more than the one. But it should be alright. I doubt we'll find civilization today, so you'll get a chance to refresh the spells."
[18:33] <Kotono> "Alright." Abagail focuses, calling on words in Draconic and Elven to wrap elemental protections around Neve!
06[18:34] * Seira uses that as her chance to invoke her last teleportation spell, mentally summoning the image of the scene of her accidental teleportation past the mountains to aid her!
01[18:35] <Seira> roll 1d100 low is good!
06[18:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 low is good! and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[18:36] <Kotono> Woosh. The air is gentle and cool. The sun is near high noon, a bright, clear blue sky above you. You stand in gently rolling hills, a few trees about. Not a sign of civilization can be seen. It is quiet, save for birdsong.
01[18:39] <Seira> "Well, let's see if we know where we are," Seira muses, seeking out the mountains.
[18:39] <Kotono> Amaryl kneels down and checks the ground, "Soft. It's hilly but not overly rocky. Smells fresh," she observes, "But not foresty at all."
[18:39] <Kotono> The mountains loom back behind you. From the direction of the sun, Seira can tell that the mountains are to the west, roughly. They are faraway on the horizon.
[18:39] <Kotono> "It's the countryside." Abagail shrugs, "Surely some civilzation is not too far away?"
06[18:40] * Seira nods to herself. "Yes, seems like we're where I intended us to be. How about you try that divination now, looking for a hamlet-sized settlement or anything larger?"
[18:40] <Kotono> Neve's feet touch the ground, grass beneath her turning blue-white and frosting over. Her breath mists in the cool air, "Quaint is the word I'd use, or untouched."
[18:41] <Kotono> Abagail nods, kneeling down and focusing as she calls on her magic!
01[18:41] <Seira> "Quaint works," Seira agrees, while Abagail works her magic. "And I've been curious for a while, now. Can you actually control that chill, Neve?"
[18:42] <Kotono> "Why would I even consider that? The earth deserves winter's embrace as much as anything else."
[18:43] <Kotono> "...Impossible..." Abagail murmurs, her spell finished.
01[18:44] <Seira> "That we can go against our nature is, more than anything, what puts us above animals," Seira responds. "Nothing works better at showing you're special than--" At Abagail's outburst, she gives the younger mage her full attention. "What's impossible?"
[18:45] <Kotono> "Nothing. Not a touch of civilization within 70 miles all around us." Abagail stands up, dusting off her knees. "Either the divination has been foiled or we really are in completely untouched lands."
01[18:45] <Seira> "How far away is any real civilization in Pallanth from the mountains?" Seira asks Amaryl.
[18:46] <Kotono> "Several hundred miles at least," Amaryl answers. "It means we may be in outreaches, though this hardly frozen, dead earth."
01[18:46] <Seira> "What if it's a patch of land in between two frozen wastelands?"
[18:49] <Kotono> "That could be it," Neve starts to walk forward, leaving freezing footprints behind. "If this land is empty, then surely there should be no objection to winter's heart bringing it close to ice covered perfection."
01[18:51] <Seira> "You're right," Seira agrees. "It also logically follows that if we manage to make contact with sentients, bringing winter's heart closer to them before we properly befriended them might be a wrong first move." She contemplates something, before nodding to herself. "Alright. Let's not take any chances, here. We should all study this area for an hour or so, in case we need a speedy retreat.
01[18:51] <Seira> After that, we could just take a stroll towards the east and see what we find, if anything. Alternately, I could get us phantom steeds to cover more distance."
[18:52] <Kotono> "If we're nont in a hurry, I'd rather walk," Amaryl says, "It's the journey, not the destination, is it not?"
01[18:53] <Seira> "It's both! But I'm fine with walking. I do that a lot."
[18:55] <Kotono> Abagail sighs lightly, "At least cool water for sore feet tonight should be easily gotten."
01[18:55] <Seira> "And I have a couple healing spells. Plus you could still get the horse, it'll just have to pace itself."
[18:57] <Kotono> "That is a marvelous idea," Abagail smiles to that, "I accept the offer."
06[18:58] * Seira splits her time between memorizing a Phantom Steed spell, casting it and firmly committing the area to her memory before she's ready to proceed.
[19:00] <Kotono> The hour of time passes, a phantom steed summoned! With Abagail on it and Amaryl walking next to Seira, "Let's go? We're heading in what direction? East? North? South? Or even west, if you want to explore what's closer to the mountains?"
01[19:02] <Seira> "East, for now. Remember how we talked about exploring what's past the ocean? We would've gone on in a straight line until we found something, and this isn't much different."
[19:03] <Kotono> Thus, the party sets out!
[19:03] <Kotono> roll 1d100 Random encounter chance before anything else
06[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 Random encounter chance before anything else and gets 96." [1d100=96]
[19:07] <Kotono> You travel for perhaps two hours. As the sun begins it's afternoon descent into the western sky, you begin to notice birds far above. At first one or two large, black vulture like birds, but more begin to fly high above the party. Four, then six.
06[19:10] * Seira eyes the birds above, but resolves not to do anything as long as they don't try to attack them.
[19:10] <Kotono> Amaryl peer sup, "Vultures?" She asks aloud, "They're carrion hunters. They don't usually circle above anything but prey, though."
07[19:10] * Ginrai is on IRC (Ginrai)
01[19:10] <Seira> "I was thinking the same thing, so it's weird. Not sure why they'd do that."
[19:10] <Kotono> Neve merely looks up and smiles, "They can try if they're suicidal. Otherwise, they're not even worth our attention."
01[19:11] <Seira> "Perhaps we're not the ones they're circling," Seira muses out loud. "That might mean there's someone besides us here."
[19:13] <Kotono> "Maybe ,but I haven't smelled or seen any carrion. It tends to be easy enough to spot." Amaryl keeps her gaze upwards. "Well, as ong as they don't do anything else, it's harmless enough."
06[19:13] * Seira resolves to proceed.
[19:14] <Kotono> After about another ten minutes, the terrain still hilly and empty, it's up to 10 birds. Amaryl peers up, "More of them...are they gathering for something?"
01[19:16] <Seira> "I'll go take a look," Seira says, casting Shield and Dragonskin and foregoing her disguise altogether. "Maybe one of them's like Roc and we could communicate. If communication breaks down, well, sucks for any birds that attack."
06[19:17] * Seira flies up!
[19:18] <Kotono> "Careful!" Amaryl cries, "If they attack, fall back so we can support you!"
06[19:19] * Seira salutes Amaryl before rising higher still.
[19:20] <Kotono> Seira flies up 100 feet! The birds are 180 feet above her. They do look like vultures, but a bit too big...OOC: You can make an K:N check if you like.
01[19:21] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[19:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 25." [1d20=8]
06[19:23] * Seira tries to cut that distance by 120 more feet, as she activates the magic in her shades for a divination of her own.
[19:24] <Kotono> Seira gets to within sixty feet. A few of them caw at her, staring down.
01[19:27] <Seira> "Why are you following us?" Seira demands to know in Draconic.
[19:28] <Kotono> There is no reply, ten sets of red eyes staring at Seira.
01[19:28] <Seira> "Do you understand me?" Seira asks in Abyssal, then in Infernal.
[19:31] <Kotono> The birds stare at Seira with those sharp red eyes.  They caw as one...and then fly off, ascending upwards and away.
06[19:33] * Seira decides against following them, instead taking a good look around for any unusual terrain.
[19:34] <Kotono> From here, Seira can see that a ways ahead there's a thickening forest. However, it stands out mainlyb ecause there's a vast, long gash in it, as if part of the forest was removed.
01[19:34] <Seira> Good enough for her! She descends to ground level, and shares this little tidbit with the others.
[19:35] <Kotono> "Curious creatures," Abagail considers, "Natural creatures aren't my areas of study, though."
[19:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 26." [1d20=11]
[19:36] <Kotono> "I know about them. Those red eyes don't sound the least bit natural, but I don't recall anything like that." Amaryl just shrugs at the end, "Of course, they may never have been seen by another person in our kingdoms before, so."
01[19:36] <Seira> "What would they be?"
[19:38] <Kotono> "I'm really not sure. It could just be a local variant on vultures or something magical." Amaryl starts to walk again as she looks up, "If they come back again, maybe we can find out more?"
[19:38] <Kotono> "They're just birds." Neve looks ahead, "You said there was a broken forest ahead"
01[19:39] <Seira> "Maybe," Seira agrees. "For now, let's take a look at the unnaturally-growing forest." At Neve's words, she nods. "Yes, that. Sounds like a great way to see if we're the only sentients within miles."
[19:42] <Kotono> You spend another hour on foot, the afternoon wearing on. You come to the forest over a few more hills! Ahead, you can see it grows over hills that begin to become more like little bumps in a plain. A vast gash hundreds of feet wide is in this forest. The trees outside of it are tall and ancient. The 'gash' is full of half rotted, felled trees, and the start of new trees and saplings growing amid them.
01[19:43] <Seira> "So, any idea when this happened based on the age of the saplings, or what caused this to begin with?"
[19:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 28." [1d20=13]
[19:44] <Kotono> Amaryl goes to the saplings and checks them out. "Oaks, pines, that sort of thing. A mish-mash of trees..." She kneels in the dirt for a little bit, "These old trees look like they were bowled over or uprooted, but...you'd need to be big as the biggest dragon to do that. And this width..." She looks about, "This happened maybe a year or two ago?"
01[19:46] <Seira> "How about direction?"
[19:47] <Kotono> "I'm...not sure entirely, but if I had to guess from the angle of the trees?" Amaryl points ahead. "I think."
[19:47] <Kotono> "So there's something really big here? Bigger than a giant or a titan?" Abagail looks about warily, "What could be so huge?"
01[19:48] <Seira> "I can think of plenty things," Seira responds. "Keep together, and teleport if there's any actual danger. The spot we started out from works for that."
[19:51] <Kotono> "Understood," Amaryl begins to advance, picking her way through the forest ruins.
[19:52] <Kotono> Neve just walks along, freezing dead wood and alive wood with equal opportunity. "If it comes, I'll have it slavering in my feet as it meets the loving touch of eternal winter. Worry not."
06[19:52] * Seira laughs. "Why can't you just say that you'll protect us if it comes to that?"
[19:54] <Kotono> Growling as she picks up her pace to get a little ahead of the rest, "Don't get the wrong idea. I just want to bring eternal cold to such a magnificent creature!"
01[19:55] <Seira> 'She's not doing this because she likes us. She's just passing by,' Seira thinks to Amaryl, catching up to the fey.
[20:00] <Kotono> The rest of the afternoon is spent following the ruined path through the woods. Nightfall creeps on, still no end to the forest in sight. Smothering a yawn in one hand, "It doesn't feel that late, but it is getting dark," Amaryl speaks, "Should we make camp soon?"
01[20:01] <Seira> "I can't spring for a mansion just yet, but a house isn't out of the question," Seira suggest, looking about for an area to cast her spell.
[20:02] <Kotono> With a little looking, Seira's able to find a place where she could wedge her secure shelter into it.
06[20:04] * Seira does so, summoning the spell from the depths of her mind. "That should give us plenty of space to rest comfortably," she announces to the others. "Tomorrow, Abagail, you might want to have an extra spell of location. Only Neve would actually need the endure elements magic, and I have a few scrolls of that for emergencies."
[20:05] <Kotono> The cottage appears as created, from nothing at all! "I'll do that, and finally," Getting off her horse and wincing, "That was too long to be on horseback."
06[20:08] * Seira brushes her hand over Abagail's shoulder, calling upon a healing spell. "This might help with the symptoms, at least," she says, casting a look about. "I wonder if we'll actually find something. There's bound to me more people besides the countries we know of, but would they necessarily be here? If not, maybe I can actually claim the land for myself...."
[20:13] <Kotono> "It's possible we're just out in the far countryside, but more spells tomorrow should give us a better idea," As you head inside, Amaryl going to rest, Abagail smirks, "Queen seira"
[20:13] <Kotono> "It's possible we're just out in the far countryside, but more spells tomorrow should give us a better idea," As you head inside, Amaryl going to rest, Abagail smirks, "Queen Seira?"
01[20:14] <Seira> "It does have a nice ring to it, I keep on telling people," Seira returns with a smile.
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 91." [1d100=91]
[20:22] <Kotono> Rest goes welle nough. Or it does, until Seira awakens with a start! The ground is shaking all over, the secure shelter shuddering! Amaryl is on her hands and knees on the floor, blinking, "W-w...E-earthquake?!!"
01[20:23] <Seira> "Or a giant something, everyone out of the cottage!" Seira calls out, following her own advice without wasting any time.
[20:24] <Kotono> Abagail stumbles out half asleep, while Neve hurries and awake! As you come out, you see that the night sky and moon are blotted out by something gigantic! The forest ahead of you is being obliterated, tossed aside like matchsticks! Whatever it is is beyond huge, a great gaping maw and creature charging ahead at your structure! It's as if a mountain has come to life!
[20:24] <Kotono> "Aaaaaaah!" Amaryl screams, "Ring, here, I have the ring ready!"
[20:25] <Kotono> "My..." Neve stares up, eyes so wide as to be gigantic. "That is..." OOC: All of you make will saves?
01[20:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 18." [1d20=1]
01[20:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+22 will
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 will and gets 25." [1d20=3]
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Amaryl
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 Amaryl and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[20:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Abagail
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Abagail and gets 12." [1d20=5]
[20:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 Neve
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 Neve and gets 23." [1d20=1]
[20:27] <Kotono> OOC: Everyone but Amaryl is shaken.
01[20:27] <Seira> "No time to decide, teleport us," Seira says tersely.
[20:27] <Kotono> "It's...Oh god oh god oh god...that's death. It's death..." Abagail wheezes in and out, transfixed as she stands by Amaryl.
[20:28] <Kotono> As it closes in, the maw of a great beast unknown...Amaryl uses her ring!
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 1." [1d100=1]
[20:28] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear where you spend time studying, back to where you started. Seira's heart pounds several times a second, a shaking terror filling her body. Abagail falls onto her rear, speechless. Neve starts to speak, but her words and voice shake uncontrollably.
06[20:29] * Seira takes deep breaths, her eyes closed.
[20:29] <Kotono> Amaryl, in a relatively calm and only somewhat shaky voice, "What in Waukeen's good name WAS that? There can't be a creature that large! It shouldnt' be possible!"
01[20:30] <Seira> "Either it is and we found it, or it's magic," Seira rationalizes, trying to recover her senses.
[20:36] <Kotono> The fear clings to you, only letting go with great effort. "I...what..." Neve breathes.
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 19." [1d20=4]
01[20:37] <Seira> "Come morning, we don't go east," Seira mutters. "In fact, we'll go north. Which is not east."
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 Amaryl, turns out her and a MM5 Virago have the same mod. Go fig.
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 Amaryl, turns out her and a MM5 Virago have the same mod. Go fig. and gets 26." [1d20=11]
[20:38] <Kotono> "Y-y-yeah." Abagail sits and stares tothe east, "Oh my..." she holds herself, as if in the grips of the shakes.
[20:42] <Kotono> "So...we just camp out here?" Amaryl asks, taking her pack and digging into it.
01[20:43] <Seira> "I don't see much choice," Seira admits. "I honestly didn't expect to encounter anything that it would be downright stupid to fight."
[20:45] <Kotono> "I can keep a watch," Amaryl says. 'Seira, I...I didn't...I managed to react fast enough, even with how scared I was. I did, didn't I?'
[20:46] <Kotono> "I know not what that was, but in the name of all that is, I can think of no better name than Beast. Never have I seen anything like that," Neve sits onto the ground.
01[20:46] <Seira> 'You did great,' Seira reassures her, settling down as she says, "I'll help with the first one."
[20:48] <Kotono> As Abagail and Neve find what sleep they can, "Seira," Amaryl murmurs, "I've never heard of that thing either. Is it possible this is why there's no cities around here, that we are in the domain of some impossible predator?"
01[20:49] <Seira> "There's no such thing as an impossible predator," Seira responds just as quietly. "And if there had to be one, it would be man. Or elf. You know what I mean."
[20:51] <Kotono> "Be that as it may, it was gigantic and it came right for us. That mouth was bigger than a giant!" Amaryl frets and then leans into Seira, "How do we fight something that big?"
01[20:53] <Seira> "We'll need a really big sword?" Seira puts her arm around Amaryl. "If we really had to fight, we could try trapping it. Outsmarting it and choosing our battlefield. From that point on, however, it would have to be magic."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Absolutely, unless we can get dragon riding giants to fight it," With a shaky laugh there, "We can manage it. I know we can, but...let's be very careful."
01[20:58] <Seira> "We'll need to have a watch despite the cottage next time," Seira agrees.
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: Ready to skip along?
01[20:59] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[21:02] <Kotono> The night passes. The dawn comes, bringing an end to the tense night...Abagail has risen, "So what do we start with today? Going north?"
01[21:03] <Seira> "Yes. We'll travel north, see the sights, and try the spell then. Afterwards, if nothing comes up, I'll try teleporting us to our resting spot to try the spell there as well, and return us to the north once more. We'll know more afterwards."
06[21:05] * Seira prepares a phantom steed for Abagail's benefit, before judging herself ready to depart.
[21:07] <Kotono> Thus the party takesto the north!
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d100 random encounter dice
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 random encounter dice and gets 38." [1d100=38]
[21:08] <Kotono> Most of the morning and then noon pass without incident. The hilly terrain continues without an immediate end in sight. You pass a few deer drinking from a stream, and a couple of flocks of normal birds, but nothing too awry otherwise as you pass the noon hour by.
01[21:10] <Seira> "I've been thinking," Seira speaks suddenly. "There's wildlife. Clearly, that means this region isn't filled with horrible beasts of murder. And people would be even more resilient than just dumb animals, so even a horror like last night's visitor wouldn't just prevent civilization from forming."
[21:11] <Kotono> "That assume it's rational," Abagail speaks up now, "And not something purpose driven or with motives we don't understand. Further, I'm not sure I want to start guessing the motives of a living mountain of hungry terror.":"
01[21:12] <Seira> "A living mountain of hungry terror either must feed itself constantly to stay alive, or doesn't eat people, at least not in quantities that would make them go extinct," Seira argues.
[21:13] <Kotono> "That even assumes it's intelligent or it has a motive," Neve tosses her hood and hair back, "Or that there were ever mortals here to begin with. We could be the first mortals here in millenia."
01[21:13] <Seira> "That, however, is a good point. It's a point that would make me terribly sad, but a valid one nonetheless."
[21:14] <Kotono> "Let's keep going?" Amaryl says, "If we can find something with travel, that'll make all this a lot easier."
01[21:15] <Seira> "Ruins would be fine, too!"
[21:16] <Kotono> Evening comes. The hills continue, no sign of an ending after the day's travel. Getting off her horse and wincing, "Shall I cast Locate City now, Seira?" Abagail inquires.
01[21:16] <Seira> "I think it's a good time for that, yes."
06[21:16] * Seira quickly adds, "Remember, even a tiny hamlet is fine!"
[21:17] <Kotono> Abagail kneels and focuses, casting the magic! When ti is done, "Not a thing," she announces, "Zero."
01[21:17] <Seira> "My next step is a bit risky, but I want to teleport us back briefly, so you could recast the spell near our previous camp site."
[21:19] <Kotono> "If you're sure and we have a quick escape," Abagail agrees.
01[21:19] <Seira> "Amaryl, myself and you all have a way to escape. The more we know...."
06[21:19] * Seira spends an hour studying the location they found themselves in, before casting the teleportation spell, aiming for an area half an hour's walk away from the dangerous forest.
01[21:19] <Seira> roll 1d100 seen once
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 18." [1d100=18]
[21:20] <Kotono> You appear in a wasteland. The forest around is gone. The ruins of it lie all about you, broken trees and wide craters about. There is a dead silence here, not even a single bird's tweets to disturb it.
06[21:21] * Seira keeps watch, flying up to observe, while Abagail has time to cast her spell.
[21:23] <Kotono> Seira ascends! The entire forest around here is gone, laid into ruin. As Seira gets alook around, "Nothing again," Abagail calls up.
06[21:23] * Seira frowns, descending. "In that case, our campsite awaits."
01[21:23] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 72." [1d100=72]
[21:24] <Kotono> Woosh! You return safely. "Let's make camp? I'll take first watch again," Amaryl suggests.
[21:24] <Kotono> "I could use the sleep," Abagail agrees, "Good, take it."
06[21:24] * Seira summons secure shelter again. "Watches are a good idea, yes, but there's no reason we can't sleep in style."
[21:24] <Kotono> "Yes, sleep would be good after that day's rest. Too much as far as I care fo rit."
[21:24] <Kotono> OOC: Ready to settle in and sleep for the night?
01[21:24] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[21:24] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 87." [1d100=87]
[21:25] <Kotono> roll 1d100+40
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100+40 and gets 105." [1d100=65]
[21:25] <Kotono> It's a few hours past sunset. Seira and Amaryl are waiting, resting...when it happens. The ground begins to shake, not a full on earthquake, but a few lurching shudders.
06[21:27] * Seira wakes the others, intending to teleport everyone to their starting point as soon as they are ready.
[21:27] <Kotono> As the party awakens, the shaking gets worse! "Again?" Neve growls, "How?"
01[21:28] <Seira> "Misfortune. Luckily, magic gets over it!"
01[21:28] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 74." [1d100=74]
[21:29] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear in the night at your starting point once more. "No shaking. It's gone and we'r away from it." She goes to sit, "You can go back to bed, I'll keep watch."
01[21:30] <Seira> "This time, we'll return in the morning and press ahead to the north once more," Seira states. "If this is an area ruled by these beasts, we'll just have to push through and find what lies beyond it."
[21:31] <Kotono> "Maybe we should rethink it and use those phantom steeds, too," Abagail speaks up, "So we can find what there is to find faster, since there's open danger here."
06[21:32] * Seira considers the suggestion. "It sounds like a good idea to me. Amaryl, Neve?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "I'm for it," Amaryl agrees. "Let's go until we find something."
[21:35] <Kotono> OOC: TP roll.
01[21:35] <Seira> roll 1d100 northern rest stop
06[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 northern rest stop and gets 4." [1d100=4]
[21:37] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear without incident. The hills you were resting on are broken all about you. You stand not in a hill, but in a flattened, steep crater.
01[21:38] <Seira> "This... is creepy," Seira voices, looking around. "Keep watch while I prepare the four steeds?"
[21:39] <Kotono> Amaryl does that, as Neve peers about. "Did it jump up and down to make this?"
01[21:40] <Seira> "Still sounds better than the other theory, where a god or more doesn't like us being here and tossed meteorites down to teach us a valuable lesson."
[21:41] <Kotono> OOC: Makign the steeds?
01[21:42] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[21:44] <Kotono> The steeds appear as summoned. As Neve gets onto hers, "To the north, then?"
01[21:45] <Seira> "That's our best bet at this moment."
[21:47] <Kotono> After about an hour and a half of super-speed travel, the hills slacken. Ahead are lake filled plains, large lakes dotted about liberally.
06[21:49] * Seira decides to pause near one such lake, using water breathing upon herself to see whether it's really another crater that was filled up with water.
[21:51] <Kotono> Seira swims in! The sides and bottom are muddy - but to a casual eye, it's easy to tell that mud or not, that it does look to be in the shape of a water filled crater. There's also not any fish that Seira sees.
06[21:52] * Seira comes out of the water, drying herself. "What if we're on the outskirts, alright, but the civilization here is made up of beasts like the one we saw? Happy thought of the day."
[21:53] <Kotono> "An entire civilization of them? Thank the Gods that those mountains are there, then," Amaryl's eyes widen, "Perish that thought!"
[21:54] <Kotono> "Beasts like that don't have a proper society or place," Abagail insists, "Even if there is more than one, they're still beasts."
01[21:54] <Seira> "We have to advance as far and as quickly as possible, and see if there is anything beyond them," Seira decides. "It won't be as comfortable, but we'll be resting within Rope Trick tonight."
[21:56] <Kotono> "Yes, exactly," Neve says with...well, not warmth, but approval in her voice. "Beasts are useful servants or hinderances, but little more."
[21:56] <Kotono> "Okay, then let's go and hope we don't have to," Amaryl spurs her steed along.
01[21:57] <Seira> "Let's get past the hinderances, then," Seira voices, catching up to Amaryl. "My house isn't large enough to keep one as a pet."
[22:00] <Kotono> Another hour of travel passes. The lakes end - but ahead, yo usee a plane. Lying about this vast plane, stretching to the north as far as the eye can see, are the ruins of war. Catapults, siege engines, weapons, broken armor, thousands of skeletons. They all lie on the broken plains. While not fresh, the metal is not fully rusted over and t earth has not buried the remnants.
06[22:01] * Seira snaps her fingers, halting the steed slowly through its neck-breaking pace. "Finally!"
[22:02] <Kotono> Abagail stares ahead, "That's...did an entire army battle here and lose? It's a graveyard of war." Her voice is a little hoarse, "There's so much as far as I can see ahead!"
01[22:03] <Seira> "That was insensitive of me," Seira admits. "I was so excited and they've been dead for a long time, that-- never mind. Abagail, we need to know where all these men came from. If we go there, we'll learn what they fought for. We might even help, in some way."
[22:04] <Kotono> "Hmph," Neve looks ahead, "It's just bones. If they come to like, we remind them that they're dead with as much force as it takes."
[22:04] <Kotono> *life
01[22:04] <Seira> "Large-scale battles like that don't just happen spontaneously. Now that I've seen the scene of one, I can't leave it without knowing the reason behind it."
[22:05] <Kotono> "Let's go?" Neve starts to lead her horse towards the wreckage and planes. "Magic will fell any undead in any event."
[22:05] <Kotono> "Of course," Abagail does likewise, "I'm curious now, just...did that creature do this?"
01[22:05] <Seira> "Without Abagail to give us a direction, we'll just be going blind."
06[22:06] * Seira frowns. "I hope not. But if it did, then the help I mentioned giving becomes a possibility."
[22:07] <Kotono> "Okay then," Amaryl takes the lead, "I can take point, I have good eyes."
[22:10] <Kotono> OOC: Going ahead?
[22:13] <Kotono> Abagail stops and kneels, casting Locate City!
[22:14] <Kotono> "...nothing..." she murmurs, "Within 70 miles, at least."
06[22:14] * Seira takes a deep breath, but then nods. "Alright, let's try our luck and proceed ahead for now."
[22:15] <Kotono> As you reach the edge of the war graveyard, your phantom horses stop, a mere step away from entering it.
01[22:15] <Seira> "O-kay," Seira drawls out, calling upon detect evil and detect magic.
[22:16] <Kotono> Everything ahead radiates moderate magic but no evil.
01[22:18] <Seira> "Necromancy, but no evil?" Seira muses out loud. "That doesn't make terribly much sense. Let's get a hundred feet between us and the graveyard. Abagail, summon something and send it inside."
[22:19] <Kotono> The party does so! To Abagail's summons, a golden eagel appears! It flies ahead...and stops just before the war graveyard, not flying into it.
01[22:21] <Seira> roll 1d20+23
06[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 and gets 33." [1d20=10]
01[22:23] <Seira> "Keep the eagle around," Seira decides. "I'll try heading inside on foot. If anything happens, I'll switch myself with it."
[22:23] <Kotono> The eagle flies besides Abagail. "Seira," Amaryl takes Seira's arm, "If anything happens, teleport out, please."
01[22:24] <Seira> "It was something terrible that did this. I don't think I can just walk away." She pats Amaryl's arm, smiling. "I'll try my best to be careful."
06[22:24] * Seira then tries to step a foot into the graveyard.
[22:24] <Kotono> OOC: Make a will save?
01[22:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
06[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 38." [1d20=16]
[22:25] <Kotono> Seira steps into the graveyard! A faint sense of desparing resignation mixed with a mourner's tears fills her, but her will keeps in check.
06[22:26] * Seira looks around for any other magical signatures, as well as any identifiable marks on the corpses.
[22:27] <Kotono> The skeletons are bare and broken, no signs on them. The moderate necromancy is now strong necromancy and there's another aura, too.
01[22:28] <Seira> A sword that hasn't finished rusting all over, weapons in general... some might have crests upon them, things to tie them to a banner of a country or a noble house. Seira looks for those.
[22:29] <Kotono> Seira looks about. Several of the broken bits of armor do have a sigil, as well as the hilts of some swords. It is of a white teardrop.
06[22:30] * Seira takes one of the swords with her, and then attempts to leave the graveyard and rejoin the others.
[22:30] <Kotono> "Anything?" Neve inquires as Seira returns, "This mystery niggles at my curiosity."
01[22:31] <Seira> "The necromancy is stronger, and there's enchantment as well. Given our shared experience with such effects, it might be more prudent to focus on finding who this crest belongs to," she says, showing the sword she took with her.
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 18." [1d20=5]
[22:33] <Kotono> "I don't know that sigil. I know a few with teardrops in them, but not a single white one." Peering at it, Abagail looks to Seira, "It could serve as a base for divinations, though."
01[22:34] <Seira> "Let's go around this place, but press on to the north. If we don't find anything with your divination come evening, we can reconsider our plans."
03[22:34] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
01[22:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 27." [1d20=14]
[22:35] <Kotono> "Very well," Neve pushes on her horse. OOC: Move along now?
01[22:35] <Seira> OOC: Yeah
[22:36] <Kotono> OOC: Going around it via east or west?
01[22:36] <Seira> OOC: East
[22:38] <Kotono> It takes about an hour and a few fragments of the next to find an end to the vast war graveyard. You start to go around it, skirting it's eastern edge. You travel north for two hours, noon passing.  Ahead, you see the end of the graveyard...and the shore. Ahead lies the store, the ocean waters coming up to a beach. The graveyard ends about 300 feet before the shoreline. About the shore a few old tents are dotted about. Jutting out of the w
[22:38] <Kotono> About the shore a few old tents are dotted about. Jutting out of the waters in various points are broken ships, as if dashed against the shores.
01[22:40] <Seira> Tents might have something she can use, documents she might peruse. Something of use. Seira sets her horse towards them.
[22:41] <Kotono> "All broken." Abagail stares as he rhorse goes, "That's more sihps than the harbor in Balmuria could hold. Was this an entire invasion from afar that failed?"
01[22:42] <Seira> "That would fit with what Demedais said about the land he was in, at least. Larger empires mean larger armies," Seira reasons. "But if so, what were we invading? We might just have to travel to the south once we're done here."
[22:42] <Kotono> "They, you mean? Good question." You reach the tents. A few of them still stand. You could go inside of them if you wish.
06[22:43] * Seira snorts. "I must be more tired than I thought. I'll go search. Abagail, check the area here and the tents themselves for magic."
[22:43] <Kotono> Abagail does so as Seira goes to search! OOC: Make a search check?
01[22:44] <Seira> OOC: I'll take 20 for 46, the others can aid for that magical 50?
[22:45] <Kotono> Abagail doesn't find any magic. Seira does find a bastard sword that's intact, with a white teardrop emblem on the hilt. One tent has a statue of a crying, gray faced man in rough robes. The statue is small, about the size of Seira's hand. There's tiny writing enscribed to the base, but Seira can't read it.
06[22:47] * Seira calls upon Comprehend Languages, trying to understand it with magic.
[22:48] <Kotono> It reads as the following, 'Free us from our tears, Saint-Martyr! We strike in your name against the Destroyer!'
01[22:49] <Seira> It would have been nice if the writing gave a destination, or travel times, but you can't have everything. "Proceeding to the north might be our best bet, if an entire army had to come across the sea to deal with this Destroyer," she muses out loud.
[22:51] <Kotono> "And failed, from the looks of it," Neve looks to the sea, "Should we wish to walk, perhaps I can aid us in that, if we are willing to go slowly. But is there a better way? Can you summon and conjure up a ship, Seira?"
01[22:52] <Seira> "I could, but phantom steeds are extremely fast, and mine can fly and walk on water," Seira tells her. "We'll be fine, and for the night, we'll rest in rope trick."
[22:52] <Kotono> "These horses are superior. We can proceed on without any more magic," Abagail leads her horse to over the water, "Seira can help ups breath ewater if something happens."
01[22:53] <Seira> "That's true," Seira agrees. "Let's go on, then, and hope the trip is a brief one with the aid of our magic."
[22:54] <Kotono> You racea long over the water! About fourty five minutes pass before you see it on the horizon. Ahead lies a large island, blanketed with forest. The shores are one great harbor, dozens and dozens of ships being built. Stone-gray castles and towers compose a vast city around these harbors.
01[22:57] <Seira> "We'll slow down to allow them to see us, and travel near the waters to make them believe the horses are treading water and not actually flying, to lower their threat assessment," Seira tells her companions. "Let's use the front entrance and see what happens."

[Corwin]

[21:00] <Kotono> > "And failed, from the looks of it," Neve looks to the sea, "Should we wish to walk, perhaps I can aid us in that, if we are willing to go slowly. But is there a better way? Can you summon and conjure up a ship, Seira?"
[21:00] <Kotono> <Seira> "I could, but phantom steeds are extremely fast, and mine can fly and walk on water," Seira tells her. "We'll be fine, and for the night, we'll rest in rope trick."
[21:00] <Kotono> > "These horses are superior. We can proceed on without any more magic," Abagail leads her horse to over the water, "Seira can help ups breath ewater if something happens."
[21:00] <Kotono> <Seira> "That's true," Seira agrees. "Let's go on, then, and hope the trip is a brief one with the aid of our magic."
[21:00] <Kotono> > You racea long over the water! About fourty five minutes pass before you see it on the horizon. Ahead lies a large island, blanketed with forest. The shores are one great harbor, dozens and dozens of ships being built. Stone-gray castles and towers compose a vast city around these harbors.
[21:00] <Kotono> <Seira> "We'll slow down to allow them to see us, and travel near the waters to make them believe the horses are treading water and not actually flying, to lower their threat assessment," Seira tells her companions. "Let's use the front entrance and see what happens."
[21:04] <Kotono> As the party slows down and approaches, they get closer. They can see the docks and the people standing there. Most wear plain brown or gray clothes, little distinctive color. They are slightly tall humans, lean and gray skinned. They stare ahead without any particular expression on their faces.
01[21:05] <Seira> "Cast tongues, just in case?" Seira asks Abagail queitly. "My own spell should be enough to understand them, at least, but if we need to say something back, casting right next to them might be a bad idea."
[21:06] <Kotono> Abagail does so, chanting words of seven languages as she invokes her magic! The gray humans don't say anything, watching without expression.
01[21:07] <Seira> "Ask them who the leader is?"
[21:08] <Kotono> "Hail! I ask of you, who is your leader?" Abagail calls out.
[21:10] <Kotono> Seira can understand the words they speak thanks to her magic, "Our leader is the Saint-Martyr Holiheant." They have tired voices, lacking warmth or coldness or energy or boredom. "We are the Forsaken of Yasyvant."
01[21:13] <Seira> "Let's find out how long has it been since the previous visitor, and what is the procedure to seeing this saint-martyr," she murmurs to Abagail quietly.
[21:14] <Kotono> "Have others come to visit you before?" Abagail calls, "Can we see this Saint-Martyr Holiheant?"
[21:15] <Kotono> "The other Forsaken come to us before each Crusade. You may if you wish. Head to the Church of the Holiheant." Again they answer, though this time, one of them points ahead, deeper into the city. "It is our Church of the Forsaken."
01[21:16] <Seira> "What are the Forsaken?" Seira asks via Abagail. "How does one become a Forsaken, how many are there, and what do they have Crusades against?"
[21:17] <Kotono> "What are the Forsaken, and how does one become a Forsaken. Are there a lot of you? What is this Crusade and what is it against?" Abagail calls, then in lower tones, "The small of my back is shivering. I feel like I'm talking to a construct."
[21:17] <Kotono> "How cold and utterly without hope," Neve smiles a little, "They have no proper cold flair, but there is a lack of heat in them that I approve of."
01[21:19] <Seira> "It remains to be seen what the saint-martyr is like," Seira muses quietly. "Still, whatever happens, keep the means of teleportation at hand."
[21:20] <Kotono> "We are the Forsaken, cast out of our land by the Destroyer. If you have been cast out of your land by the Destroyer, come, joins us. The Saint-Martyr Holiheant said that one day we would be saved in the eyes of the Gods and reclaim or lands. The Crusade is when each generation goes to fight the Destroyer. It is our purpose to prepare each generation to fight the Destroyer. Until we succeed, we shall forever be Forsaken."
[21:20] <Kotono> fight the Destroyer. Until we succeed, we shall forever be Forsaken."
[21:21] <Kotono> After that is said and understood, "A curse?" Abagail murmur sto Seira, "Some manner of great curse that has taken them all?"
01[21:21] <Seira> "Only one way to find out. Ask them who or what the Destroyer is, and to describe the being."
[21:24] <Kotono> Abagail does so, waiting for the answer. It comes with the same lack of pause or emotion as the rest. "The Destroyer was sent to punish us as Forsaken. Until it is slain, we will forever be Forsaken. The Destroyer is destruction. It is our punishment."
01[21:25] <Seira> "Let's just go to the church," Seira mutters. "It's useless to try and find out more here."
[21:25] <Kotono> "They're telling us everything and yet..." Abagail looks away, "Gods, they have no sense of pride, either! They're like constructs, truly! How pathetic!"
[21:26] <Kotono> "Perhaps winter's heart would give them some meaning to life as it embraces them?" Neve murmurs with a frosty smile, "If they are so worthless and feelingless, it would even be a blessing to them."
01[21:27] <Seira> "Or we could go to the church and find out more. Just saying." With that, Seira heads farther into the city where the church was said to be.
[21:29] <Kotono> The city is paved with gray stone, so smooth and worn that it's faintly slippery to walk across. The towers and buildings are not decorated. You pass by many, many humans, all the same. The only new thing is that this close you can note that each wears a pendant with a tiny white teardrop. The buildings are all similiar as well, almost identical to each other.
[21:30] <Kotono> Abagail grabs the arm of one of them, a woman, "Where is the Church of the Holiheant?"
[21:30] <Kotono> The woman points ahead, to a large building that you can't see the end of, merging into the greater city all about.
01[21:31] <Seira> "Ask her if she changed when she joined the Forsaken, or if she was born that way?" Seira asks on a whim.
[21:31] <Kotono> "Excuse me. Were you born as Forsaken?" Abagail asks.
[21:31] <Kotono> "Yes. We are all Forsaken here." The woman answers without feeling, "This is the land of the Forsaken."
01[21:31] <Seira> "Are there other lands?"
[21:33] <Kotono> Passing that question along, Abagail gets the following reply, "There are the other two  lands of the Forsaken. Other lands mean nothing to us, for they are not Forsaken."
01[21:33] <Seira> "Where are those?" Seira inquires, if only to know what to avoid.
[21:35] <Kotono> "There is Mene to the east and Uluian to the south." She answers, "The three Tribes were broken, Forsaken of each other."
06[21:36] * Seira glances at Neve. "Don't suppose you heard the names before?"
[21:37] <Kotono> "I'm afraid not," Neve smiles slightly, "Three islands of it...Oh Seira, will anyone miss one of them? Winter would be so welcome here. Come, stop and watch as an eternal blizzard overtakes them. It will be divine." Sliding up to Seira's side now, "Would snow and ice not liven up this miserable pile of stone?"
01[21:38] <Seira> "I can honestly say no one will probably miss them. But snow and ice still wouldn't liven things up, so that's neither here nor there. Let's see if the priest here is a drone, a zealot or a fraud."
[21:41] <Kotono> "You do that," Neve turns away, "You say winter won't liven this place up? Let's just show how wrong you are, Seira."
01[21:41] <Seira> "Aww, come on! You promised you wouldn't do that if you came along! Are you really that fickle?"
[21:45] <Kotono> "Neve, please don't," Amaryl goes up to her, grabbing the elbow of her fur coat, "That isn't what will help them! It'll just put them out of this drab existance! And...I'd have to fight you if you did. They don't deserve to freeze to death."
[21:48] <Kotono> A freezing arctic winds blows, Neve glancing back. "Fickle? Please. They beg for it. These aren't living beings, they're just pathetic globs of mud and pointlessness. They're pathetic even for humans!"
06[21:51] * Seira takes hold of Neve's other arm. "Just stop and think for a moment. You think their existence is pathetic, and you want to do something that will help them. It's not about the glory of winter, or about hating them! It's about you wanting to do something for them and not knowing how!" She forces Neve to look at her, saying, "I can save these people. Give me a chance to prove it, please."
[21:53] <Kotono> "Why should I care? I'll want ot do the same thing even if they're saved." Neve meets Seira's eyes, her own eyes having a raging storm of snowflakes flying in them. "Do you forget so easily what I am, thinking I'm an easily housebroken pet? Go on a heartwarming quest to bring them light and love, slay the Destroyer and become a legendary hero. I'll still bring the portents of winter afterwards."
01[21:54] <Seira> "So what you are trumps who you are?"
06[21:56] * Seira gestures at the monotone people about. "That's funny. I always see you as you. As someone unique. Not as something who can't deny its nature, or a pet. Are you really telling me you're just like them, deep down?"
[22:00] <Kotono> Neve smirks now, "I follow you because you are stronger than I and for the debt I owe." Another wind blows, Seira swearing that she can see a few snowflakes in it, whizzing by her. "They're unique all in one: Unique in being worthless mud. Fine then, I propose a wager. Let us go to this Church and meet with the Saint-Martyr. If you can find one decent reason to hold back winter there, I'll follow along with what you say and leave them be."
[22:00] <Kotono>  one decent reason to hold back winter there, I'll follow along with what you say and leave them be."
01[22:03] <Seira> "We don't need to go that far for a decent reason, Neve," Seira tells the fey, shaking her head. "You'll be lonely again. Isn't that reason enough to hold back, unless you are forced to act in self-defense?"
[22:04] <Kotono> "You'll have to kill us to do that, or we'll have to kill you," Amaryl adds, "Either way, you'll be alone again like Seira said."
01[22:05] <Seira> "I don't know if I could do it," Seira admits. "But either way, I couldn't stay, as much as I like you."
[22:06] <Kotono> "You're infinintely better than them," Abagail goes on, "They are worthless dreck. But that means you can use them or ignore them if you please. Slaughtering them is a waste of resources and ill fitting of a noble creature like you. Only fools would do so!"
03[22:14] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[22:14] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahea dand make a diplo real quick first?
01[22:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
05[22:15] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[22:15] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[22:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
03[22:15] * Seira sets mode: +v Hatbot
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 43." [1d20=16]
01[22:16] <Seira> OOC: Let's bludgeon her into submission with aiding all the way to 47  >_>

[Corwin]

[20:41] <Kotono> > "Neve, please don't," Amaryl goes up to her, grabbing the elbow of her fur coat, "That isn't what will help them! It'll just put them out of this drab existance! And...I'd have to fight you if you did. They don't deserve to freeze to death."
[20:41] <Kotono> > A freezing arctic winds blows, Neve glancing back. "Fickle? Please. They beg for it. These aren't living beings, they're just pathetic globs of mud and pointlessness. They're pathetic even for humans!"
[20:41] <Kotono> * Seira takes hold of Neve's other arm. "Just stop and think for a moment. You think their existence is pathetic, and you want to do something that will help them. It's not about the glory of winter, or about hating them! It's about you wanting to do something for them and not knowing how!" She forces Neve to look at her, saying, "I can save these people. Give me a chance to prove it, please."
[20:41] <Kotono> > "Why should I care? I'll want ot do the same thing even if they're saved." Neve meets Seira's eyes, her own eyes having a raging storm of snowflakes flying in them. "Do you forget so easily what I am, thinking I'm an easily housebroken pet? Go on a heartwarming quest to bring them light and love, slay the Destroyer and become a legendary hero. I'll still bring the portents of winter afterwards."
[20:41] <Kotono> <Seira> "So what you are trumps who you are?"
[20:42] <Kotono> * Seira gestures at the monotone people about. "That's funny. I always see you as you. As someone unique. Not as something who can't deny its nature, or a pet. Are you really telling me you're just like them, deep down?"
[20:42] <Kotono> > Neve smirks now, "I follow you because you are stronger than I and for the debt I owe." Another wind blows, Seira swearing that she can see a few snowflakes in it, whizzing by her. "They're unique all in one: Unique in being worthless mud. Fine then, I propose a wager. Let us go to this Church and meet with the Saint-Martyr. If you can find one decent reason to hold back winter there, I'll follow along with what you say and leave them be
[20:42] <Kotono> >  one decent reason to hold back winter there, I'll follow along with what you say and leave them be."
[20:42] <Kotono> <Seira> "We don't need to go that far for a decent reason, Neve," Seira tells the fey, shaking her head. "You'll be lonely again. Isn't that reason enough to hold back, unless you are forced to act in self-defense?"
[20:42] <Kotono> > "You'll have to kill us to do that, or we'll have to kill you," Amaryl adds, "Either way, you'll be alone again like Seira said."
[20:42] <Kotono> <Seira> "I don't know if I could do it," Seira admits. "But either way, I couldn't stay, as much as I like you."
[20:42] <Kotono> > "You're infinintely better than them," Abagail goes on, "They are worthless dreck. But that means you can use them or ignore them if you please. Slaughtering them is a waste of resources and ill fitting of a noble creature like you. Only fools would do so!"
[20:42] <Kotono> * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[20:42] <Kotono> > OOC: Go ahea dand make a diplo real quick first?
[20:42] <Kotono> <Seira> roll 1d20+27
[20:42] <Kotono> -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
[20:42] <Kotono> * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
[20:42] <Kotono> * Seira sets mode: +v Hatbot
[20:42] <Kotono> <Seira> roll 1d20+27
[20:42] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 43." [1d20=16]
[20:42] <Kotono> <Seira> OOC: Let's bludgeon her into submission with aiding all the way to 47  >_>
[20:45] <Kotono> "They are wastes," Neve agrees. Far away, you can hear a howling wind cascading through the air, ripping through alleys nad around towers like winter's breath. A shiver runs down your back as this wind passes over your body. "Very well then, you amuse me. Lead on, Seira."
01[20:47] <Seira> Neve seems to indicate that she values their friendship, in her very roundabout and mean way, Seira muses to herself, doing just that and leading the way to the temple. Perhaps, one day, Neve won't need to go out of her way to insist it's for some other reason.
[20:50] <Kotono> As a chill wind blows ahead, you continue walking down the gray path. Eventually, you come to a thick, long building. It stretches farther than you can see, buttressed by other buildings. It is silent here, not a word spoken. A plain door leads inside, open. Above it, an engraven image of a tear is carved into the stone.
01[20:52] <Seira> It seems to match the description, and Seira knocks twice on the doorframe before proceeding inside.
[20:53] <Kotono> There is no answer. As you head inside, you see it is a long hall that stretches on far. It's chilly in here, perhaps cooler than outside. The walls are decorated with slotted insertions, light wooden coffins resting within them. This stretches farther than you can see. About this place, men in coarse robes and with long chained necklaces with teardrop amulets walk.
[20:54] <Kotono> "Tsch..." Amaryl looks in and then steps back, "Those are...!"
[20:55] <Kotono> "Charming." Neve's smile comes as she steps inside, "At least they're not the walking undead." With a slip of her lips downward as she pulls her fur coat tighter around herself, Neve glances to Seira.
01[20:56] <Seira> "I don't think they are," Seira drawls, peering closer just to be on the safe side.
05[20:57] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:57] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
03[20:57] * Seira sets mode: +v Hatbot
01[20:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 16." [1d20=3]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Abagail
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Abagail and gets 31." [1d20=18]
[20:59] <Kotono> "I don't think so...all of this, it almost reminds me of Ilmater at his most fatalistic," Stepping inside with the last of them, Abagail looks about. "All the quiet suffering."
01[21:00] <Seira> "I thought the same, except I also thought zombies." Seira shrugs. "Bad experience with zombies." With a glance at Abagail and then at the closest of the robed men, she requests, "Think you could ask them where we could find the Saint-Martyr, and whether he's available?"
[21:01] <Kotono> Amaryl's hand goes to the hilt of her sunblade, almost starting to lift it out of it's sheath. She stays close to SEira, biting down on her lips.
[21:01] <Kotono> The man raises a hand, pointing ahead and deeper in. You can see his face - it's sallow and drawn, old.
01[21:02] <Seira> "It might be a curse," Seira whispers to Amaryl, drifting closer to her. "There was that time I didn't look that lively myself, remember? Let's give them a chance, for now."
06[21:05] * Seira is, however, not so naive she foregoes relying on the divination her shades are enchanted with, glancing at the priests as she follows their directions.
[21:05] <Kotono> As you walk along...how long is it? There is a pervading sense of timelessness to this place. You can't answer how long you pass by walls filled to the brim with coffins. Robed men pass you by as you walk. None speak a word, your progression unimpeded. Every so often, a set of ten stairs takes you on a slope downward. Torches light the walls, flickering, guttering light given. Each stair is engraved with a teardrop in the center. (More)
[21:06] <Kotono> Each stair is engraved with a teardrop in the center. (More)
[21:08] <Kotono> As you come down the...you aren't sure how many sets of stairs it's been or how long...a man in robes walks besides you. He is old, walking with a cane and a limp. One eye is whited over, the other on the party as they walk together.
01[21:10] <Seira> This must be the first sign of anyone caring, so naturally Seira attempts to strike conversation! "Hello," she greets him in Common. If that fails, Abagail might do better with her Tongues spell. Or not, if it already expired during the incredibly lengthy walk, but that's a bridge they can cross if they get to it.
[21:17] <Kotono> The man merely shakes his head and continues walking.
[21:18] <Kotono> "Hello?" Abagail tries as well, to no avail. "You know, this is terribly rude, holy grounds or not. When's the last time you've had visitors?"
01[21:19] <Seira> "That's a very good point," Seira agrees, keeping near her. "Maybe Holiheant would be chattier than this?"
[21:21] <Kotono> No reply. The man just keeps walking on.
01[21:21] <Seira> "Well, if we must...."
06[21:21] * Seira keeps on walking ahead.
[21:21] <Kotono> Amaryl shrinks down into herself, shoulder slumping. "I hope this ends soon.":

[Corwin]

[19:12] <Kobrb> * Seira is, however, not so naive she foregoes relying on the divination her shades are enchanted with, glancing at the priests as she follows their directions.
[19:12] <Kobrb> > As you walk along...how long is it? There is a pervading sense of timelessness to this place. You can't answer how long you pass by walls filled to the brim with coffins. Robed men pass you by as you walk. None speak a word, your progression unimpeded. Every so often, a set of ten stairs takes you on a slope downward. Torches light the walls, flickering, guttering light given. Each stair is engraved with a teardrop in the center. (More)
[19:12] <Kobrb> > Each stair is engraved with a teardrop in the center. (More)
[19:12] <Kobrb> > As you come down the...you aren't sure how many sets of stairs it's been or how long...a man in robes walks besides you. He is old, walking with a cane and a limp. One eye is whited over, the other on the party as they walk together.
[19:12] <Kobrb> <Seira> This must be the first sign of anyone caring, so naturally Seira attempts to strike conversation! "Hello," she greets him in Common. If that fails, Abagail might do better with her Tongues spell. Or not, if it already expired during the incredibly lengthy walk, but that's a bridge they can cross if they get to it.
[19:12] <Kobrb> > The man merely shakes his head and continues walking.
[19:12] <Kobrb> > "Hello?" Abagail tries as well, to no avail. "You know, this is terribly rude, holy grounds or not. When's the last time you've had visitors?"
[19:12] <Kobrb> <Seira> "That's a very good point," Seira agrees, keeping near her. "Maybe Holiheant would be chattier than this?"
[19:12] <Kobrb> > No reply. The man just keeps walking on.
[19:12] <Kobrb> <Seira> "Well, if we must...."
[19:12] <Kobrb> * Seira keeps on walking ahead.
[19:12] <Kobrb> > Amaryl shrinks down into herself, shoulder slumping. "I hope this ends soon.":
[19:15] <Kobrb> The robed man follows the party. You continue to walk. You continue to walk. You continue to walk. You continue to walk. The dead are all around you. You continue to walk. You continue to walk. You continue to walk. You-at last. Something. You come to a great, wide open, circular place. It is plain, save for a single gilded coffin of precious gold. On the coffin's lid is engraved a teardrop, cast in gray against the dull gold.
[19:15] <Kobrb> On the coffin's lid is engraved a teardrop, cast in gray against the dull gold.
01[19:16] <Seira> "Saint-Martyr Holiheant, I presume?" Seira speaks, perhaps to herself.
[19:18] <Kobrb> "Here is the Saint-Martyr Holiheant." The robed man prounces in deeply accented Common, standing ahead of the others. "I am Lanex, servant of the Saint Martyr. You have come to the holiest of holies here. What business do you have with us Forsaken?"
[19:21] <Kobrb> "...why?" Amaryl shakes her head, "Why to all of this? This church is nothing but a masoleum! All of you look only a few steps removed from walking death. What's so holy about this place?"
01[19:21] <Seira> "Seira, servant of the Golden Lady," she returns with a mental roll of her eyes, preferring to go with the themed greeting. "These are Abagail, Amaryl and Neve," Seira continues the introductions, gesturing at each of her companions in turn. "As Amaryl put it, all we want at the moment is understand better what the Forsaken and their enemies are, and the circumstances that lead to this situation."
[19:24] <Kobrb> Lanex walks to the golden coffin, kneeling before it. His hands lock in prayer, though he speaks normally. "Long ago, we lived in the fair shores just out of reach of this island. Our ancestors committed the Falling. This Falling was something so terrible that all others turned against us. For our hubris and folly, the Destroyer came. Our homes were laid waste, our generations turned to dust. Only a few survivors found the way to a few isla
[19:24] <Kobrb> our generations turned to dust. Only a few survivors found the way to a few islands that rose off the coast of the land." (More)
[19:26] <Kobrb> "We were to be exterminated even there...but the Saint Martyr intervened. Such was his power that it earned us a communtion of our sentence of oblivion. We would be allowed to live on these islands and survive...we were bound to them. As penance, each generation must prepare for the Crusade, to attempt to battle the Destroyer. Should we succeed, we will no longer be Forsaken."
01[19:26] <Seira> "This Falling, did it perchance happen about two thousand years ago?" Seira interjects, briefly tallying up the years to the gnomish war that ravaged their world.
[19:27] <Kobrb> "I know not." He answers, "The measures of time have been lost to us.  Islands rose from the ground, mountains rose in the Earth, so that the Destroyer would only hunt us Forsaken. Beyond that, I know not."
01[19:28] <Seira> "Well, here's the thing. I've met another culture that experienced something like this. Terrible act by ancestor, loss of past prestiege, everyone hated them, the works. Except for the wide extermination, that is. I didn't have a problem with them, though, so we became friends. How about telling me more? If you fight the Destroyer, then you must know about it in detail. Let's start there?"
[19:28] <Kobrb> "What power would curse you like that, Shar?" Staying very close to Seira here, "What sort of mercy is that? We saw that graveyard...that was the past Crusades, wasn't it? What point is there trying and trying and feeding generations to that monster?"
[19:29] <Kobrb> Abagail snorts, "Amaryl, shhhh." She goes to her, whispering something into her ear.
[19:30] <Kobrb> "The Destroyer is the Destroyer. It is always there. It confronts us on our Crusade...and surely consumes those rare few who attempt to go to the shores otherwise. If you have been to the shores and survived, you are blessed beyond compare to have eluded the Destroyer."
[19:31] <Kobrb> "What of weaknesses? Can you hurt it? Does it dislike fire...or cold, perhaps, or heights?" Neve bears ahead a little, "Old man, speak clearer."
01[19:31] <Seira> "Oh, now I understand. Generation after generation goes to fight and the crusades are eradicated entirely, without anyone even sending back word of what the Destroyer looks like?"
[19:32] <Kobrb> "Thrown fire fails against it. Magic crumbles before it. The legends say the Destroyer is of power akin to the wrath of the world." Bowing his head down in deeper meditation, "No Crusade has succeeded, yes."
01[19:32] <Seira> "Does it go against your religion to have scouts in ships off to shore, or runners, or anything to gather information?"
[19:33] <Kobrb> "Those that do...do not return." The answer is quiet, simple. "If only one did...perhaps that one would end our time as Forsaken."
01[19:34] <Seira> "How do you know there is a Destroyer, then, and that the men you send out don't just... die to plague, or famine, or run away?"
[19:35] <Kobrb> "It is our fate and so taught," The old man replies. "Were it not true, would not we have returned to the shores yet?"
[19:35] <Kobrb> "The wrath of nature?" Neve raises an eyebrow here, before chuckling.
[19:35] <Kobrb> "The world," Abagail murmurs.
[19:36] <Kobrb> "Yes, yes," Neve's chuckles continue. "I wonder if it's just an overgrown fey?"
01[19:36] <Seira> "Wrath of nature is a good one," Seira agrees, nodding at Neve with a smile. "And what if this simply means that some past Crusade succeeded, and now every following one has your Forsaken settle down on the land, as you were foretold?"
[19:37] <Kobrb> "We would know." Looking up to Seira now, "We would know. I have no doubt we would find out our lives are our own again. We would know!" His voice rises a little.
[19:38] <Kobrb> '...Seira...it's likely we did run into the Destroyer, so where are you going with this?' Amaryl asks.
01[19:38] <Seira> 'He doesn't know that. He admitted he can't know that! So I want to see where he draws his faith from.'
[19:38] <Kobrb> "I've heard the stories of the few fey that the Guard has fought..." Abagail considers, bowing her head, "The Lord of the Hunt was a mighty one. But even one that strong was nothing like..."
01[19:39] <Seira> "For the sake of argument, let's say I'm entirely wrong here," Seira allows. "All I'm trying to understand is how you would know. Would the Saint-Martyr tell you? Would Ilmater appear and give all of you a vision? How is this supposed to work?"
[19:39] <Kobrb> "A Lord of the Hunt?" With both eyebrows going up, "Impressive..." Neve murmurs, "Useless onw, but impressive."
[19:40] <Kobrb> "We would know...We would know!" Looking up at Seira, ragged, "Who is this Ilmater you speak of?"
01[19:40] <Seira> "A god. This might actually be a good matter to discuss. Which ones are you aware of?"
03[19:46] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5440e162.wfd80a.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[19:46] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[19:56] <Kobrb> "We are Forsaken. There is the Saint Martyr. That is all." Returning to bow before the coffin, "I know not of tohers."
01[19:56] <Seira> "Will asking if the Saint-Martyr is still alive offend you?" Seira inquires curiously.
[20:01] <Kobrb> "The Saint Martyr rests here." With his head bowe dlow, "How else do you become a Martyr?"
01[20:05] <Seira> "Well, given that death is not always the end and you people seem to expect him to lead you back once you stop being Forsaken, it's an understandable question," Seira remarks. "And a curse placed upon you was mentioned. I can't quite understand its details, however. Does it force you to live here and repent? Is there more to it?"
[20:08] <Kobrb> "It is our duty and our responsibility. Our curse." Lanex answers in a quieting tone. "We bear it and are bound here."
01[20:08] <Seira> "I'll really need more clear answers," Seira insists. "Is it a sense of duty, however strong, or a supernatual imperative literally binding you to these three islands?"
[20:10] <Kobrb> "It is." Lanex answers, "It is our curse and our duty. We bear it and are bound here."
01[20:10] <Seira> "But it's not a yes or no question..." Seira mutters sadly to herself, before glancing at her companions for help.
[20:13] <Kobrb> "It might be both?" Abagial murmurs, and then in even lower tones to Seira, "He's a gloomy fanatic. Even if it's not a curse, if all the people are like this, they may as well be ensorcelled."
01[20:16] <Seira> "I have an idea, but it'd go really badly if there's an actual, divine curse," Seira quietly responds. "If the mountains really sprung up as a response to some evil act committed generations ago, there just might be one." Speaking up, she addresses the robed man once more, "Are there any records, even religious texts, that I might consult?"
[20:17] <Kobrb> "The sacred texts are only to be read by those sanctified into this church," the old man replies, "They are sealed away."
06[20:19] * Seira tries a new tactic. "You have to win against the Destroyer to be pardoned as a people, right?" she asks. Not letting him a chance to respond, she continues, "And that's all there is to it. There's nothing saying I can't help you with that. When we arrived a short while ago, we were offered to join you, so there's no problem here."
[20:26] <Kobrb> "If you could slay the Destroyer...but how? Generations have failed." Looking up raggedly to Seira, "What might to you possess to challenge it?"
01[20:28] <Seira> "Let's pretend for the moment that I'm just that good," Seira states. "You are clearly sanctified into the church, unless I'm misunderstanding something. So there doesn't seem to be anything wrong about you handling your sealed records. I don't need to read them myself; it would help your ally in this fight, however, if I knew the exact circumstances of what formed this situation."
[20:31] <Kobrb> "I..." There is a few moments of hesitation there, "That ar-argument is sophistry."
[20:31] <Kobrb> "Is it really? You have someone going out of their way to try and help you and you're babbling about sematics?" Abagail rubs her forehead, "Were you raised with no manners at all? Help us help you."
01[20:33] <Seira> "Abagail really put it best," Seira agrees. "You have spirit in you, or you wouldn't get almost impassioned about claiming you were promised redemption. So how can you just meekly turn it away, when it's here?"
[20:34] <Kobrb> He hesitates a little longer, "I...I..." OOC: Make a diplo check here, Seira?
01[20:34] <Seira> roll 1d20+29 let me help you
06[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 let me help you and gets 45." [1d20=16]
03[20:34] * Kobrb is now known as Kotono
[20:40] <Kotono> "...There are...a few things I can tell you." He decides at last. "The sacred texts speak only in simile and shielded reference to the past. Of the Destroyer, I can tell you three things."
01[20:40] <Seira> "I'm listening," Seira tells him, now that they're getting somewhere.
[20:44] <Kotono> "It...it's wounds heal in an instant. It is said that even if you find a weapon that can fully damage it...it's wounds heal trivially as you or I breathe. Second, it moves like a charging God of destruction when it desires, rushing ahead across fields in a blink of an eye. The last is of it's apperance." With a shaking hand, words of draconic are murmured. (More)
[20:49] <Kotono> The image before you is gigantic. It has a deep, dark brown shell on it's back, the entire creature someone animal like. It's maw is vast, full of incredibly sharpened teeth. It has a long, heavy tail. It's claws look like they could rip an armored man apart in the barest moment. "T...this is close to it's true apperance, as recorded within the sacred texts. Forgive me, Saint-Martyr..."
01[20:51] <Seira> It does seem like the freakishly huge creature that destroyed two of her cabins. "Do the text say how the Saint-Martyr saved those left of your people?" Seira asks. "You said that you were still being killed even as you fled to the islands, right?"
03[20:55] * Taishyr is now known as gonetoro
[20:57] <Kotono> "Yes. He intervened - how is not recorded, only that the act occured."
01[20:59] <Seira> "If there is only one Destroyer, and three islands, each in a vastly different direction, how were they all attacked? Or were you persecuted by something else?"
[21:00] <Kotono> "The Destroyer always appears. As to how, I know not," Lanex answers, "It is a mystery I cannot answer."
01[21:02] <Seira> "If it's a barrier, either protecting the islands, or containing the beast to the mainland..." Seira muses out loud. "Don't suppose you could tell me about the locations of any ancient monuments? Come to think of it, it would also help to know how magically advanced your society is, when the next Crusade is scheduled for, and why you're the only one who appears to speak this language here."
[21:07] <Kotono> "What lies inland is lost. The Destroyer took our lands and reduced them to rubble. The last Crusade was a few years ago, we are rebuilding for the next one...and my speaking of your words is magic."
01[21:09] <Seira> "Figures," Seira admits. "What's the highest magical circle your mages have power over?"
[21:16] <Kotono> "Third...this spell here is a difficult one for me to manage," The man admits, "Before a crusade, one occasionally reaches higher, but...the Crusade takes them."
01[21:22] <Seira> "Let's see if we can't change that," Seira tells him brightly. "Lanex, is there a way for you to get in touch with the other islands? I'll need to scout this beast, and prepare for battling it. I'll contact you soon enough, but it would be a terrible waste if another Crusade were launched in the meantime.
01[21:22] <Seira> Nothing would change by doing the same thing over and over again, so your best chance for success lies in waiting for me and then striking in tandem to win your redemption and land back."
[21:33] <Kotono> "We are in contact on occasions on ship, preparing before Crusades," he answers.
01[21:35] <Seira> "And you can make this decision?" Seira asks. "To act prematurely would result in pointless sacrifice. I need to be assured that I'll have the time for my preparations to proceed."
[21:42] <Kotono> "It can be done," He says hesitantly.
01[21:44] <Seira> "Let's make this last Crusade count, then," Seira states.
[21:48] <Kotono> 'What's your plan then, Seira,' Amaryl asks.
[21:48] <Kotono> "Hmmm..." Neve merely smiles and chuckles.
01[21:51] <Seira> "Let's return for now," Seira decides. "The initial research is best done home. A legendary monster like that could only be one thing, so I want to confirm it if I can." Returning her attention to Lanex, she asks, "How about maps? Do you have any of this region, as well as an idea of how to find the Destroyer quickly, without having to travel days looking for it?"
[21:52] <Kotono> "The Destroyer finds those who set food on the shore. As for maps, no, only sea charts leading from here to the shore, and otthe other two islands. I do know that the shore is known as a peninsula.
[21:52] <Kotono> ""
01[21:53] <Seira> "I realized as much. Sea charts would help, as a start."
[21:54] <Kotono> "Go to the docks and ask for them. You will be given them if you want," Lanex answers again.
01[21:55] <Seira> "That's what we'll do," Seira declares. "We'll be back soon enough."
01[22:07] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 61." [1d100=61]
[22:08] <Kotono> Woosh! With sea charts procured, the party returns to the point that this all started. Amaryl breaths in deeply, "Ah, this is so much better."
[22:08] <Kotono> "So then..." Abagail looks about, "Seira, what are we going to do form here?"
01[22:13] <Seira> "Hit the books," Seira responds. "I can only think of the legendary tarrasque as a deadly creature of such size, so either it's the right guess or we've discovered something even more exotic. What we've learned should suffice to identify it positively, and give us an idea of which spells to prepare even if nothing turns up.
01[22:13] <Seira> But every beast has a weakness, so once we know this one's, it's a battle we've already won!"
[22:15] <Kotono> "Easier said than done..." Abagail murmurs, "But yes, let's return to Balmuria and study? Countess Stronger surely can help us, as can our various contacts."
01[22:18] <Seira> "I have a spell that can take out anything alive, and even regeneration would be staggered by it," Seira reasons. "If a way to immobilize the creature further can be found, say by drowning it or discovering its weakness for holy blades, then that's our ace right there."
[22:30] <Kotono> "Mmm..." Abagail considers, "That may work, but we'll need to return. Are we going to now, or stand here for the Destroyer to find us again?"
01[22:32] <Seira> "We're definitely returning. Neve, seems like you'll get to visit our home!"
[22:35] <Kotono> "This should be good..." Neve eyes Seira.
01[22:36] <Seira> "It's okay, we don't have any lifeless people around. You'll like it there!"
01[22:38] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 40." [1d100=40]

[Corwin]

[19:47] <Kotono> ----------------------------(City Ko)---
[19:50] <Kotono> Seira's backyard is cool with the evening's gentle airs. Amaryl looks about and smiles openly, while Abagail dusts her clothes off, murmuring potent words of arcane power around herself. Neve merely looks about, sniffing.
01[19:52] <Seira> "Anything you'd like to see first?" Seira asks Neve, gesturing towards the entrance to the inn. "You've heard enough about our city, so it could be up to you. Or I could choose, if you'd prefer that."
[19:54] <Kotono> Huddling into her fur coat, "It reeks of humans here..." With a wrinkle of her nose, twitching away, "Show me something interesting, Seira."
[19:55] <Kotono> "It does, doesn't it," Amaryl almost smiles at that, while, 'Seira, will you be okay without me for a little while?'
03[19:58] * tai-sick is now known as tai-hack
01[20:00] <Seira> 'Sure. The visit to the crypts is still bothering you?' Seira thinks back, while voicing, "You can't possibly smell humans, certainly not where we are, can you? Never mind. How about Countess Stronger's abode? She usually has something interesting in store."
[20:05] <Kotono> "As you wish," Neve starts to follow Seira, as Amaryl smiles slightly, 'I'm a little tired and want to lie down. And...well, it's not all human smells, but the city does have it's own distinct smell.'
01[20:08] <Seira> 'By all means, get some rest!' Seira returns perkily. "Then I guess I wish!" she goes on to tell Neve, leading the way through the inn. "We can return later and you could listen to my bard. Or, better yet, tell him a story of your own about the glory of winter, and he could spread it on."
06[20:08] * Seira glances at Abagail in the meanwhile, in silent invitation if she chooses to join them.
[20:10] <Kotono> Abagail nods, falling in with Neve and Seira.
[20:23] <Kotono> Through the busy streets you head to Elle's. Neve gets some curious looks nad a few whistles. The cold smiles she returns usually sends any minded males quickly away, your trip uninterrupted. You find Alice deep in conversation with a long haired elf, leaning heavily on an ornate gold cane. A man in full plate armor is examining a familiar Yugoloth's longsword, giving it a practice swing with deft speed.
[20:23] <Kotono> giving it a practice swing with deft speed.
01[20:25] <Seira> "A pretty nasty Yugoloth used that blade," Seira whispers to Neve, ignoring the elf and Alice altogether. "Countess, are you in?" she asks, raising her voice slightly, enough for it to carry over to the adjoining room Elle might be using at the time being.
[20:25] <Kotono> "Yugoloth...oh, ah yes, I recall what those fiends are." As Neve smirks, "Selling cursed arms of darkness, Seira?"
01[20:26] <Seira> "It's not cursed. I checked."
[20:26] <Kotono> Alice murmurs something to her guest, then, "She's at the Temple of Mystra and then the Garrison, Seira. She should return within the hour. You can go get comfortable in the back if you like."
01[20:28] <Seira> "Thanks, but it might suit us better to just catch up to her," Seira tells Alice, nodding, and leads the way back outside. "As for the selling part, who am I to oppose Waukeen's will?" she asks Neve with a smirk of her own, deciding to try intercepting Elle at the garrison. They could always wait for her there and, perhaps, meet the Commander.
[20:28] <Kotono> Abagail heads for the back, while the sword bearing man turns to Seira. "You..." he murmurs, "Seira of the Crimson Guard?"
06[20:29] * Seira pauses at the doorway, glancing back curiously. "In the flesh."
[20:30] <Kotono> "Hmph." As Neve pauses, her own response mitigated as she turns to look at the man, she holds her ground.
[20:32] <Kotono> The armored man approaches Seira. He's not too old, maybe a human of 25 or so years. He wears his armor well, decorated with a battered insignia of a hawk rising into the air, holding a glittering diamond in it's talons. He wears a gold stud in both ears. He offers one hand out, "Profit onto you, profit and good will."
01[20:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15." [1d20=2]
01[20:36] <Seira> "Profit and good will," Seira agrees, shaking it.
[20:37] <Kotono> "I would meet with you tonight, Seira," He goes on, his grip like crushing iron. "I have made reservations at your inn. My name is Dannan."
01[20:40] <Seira> "You are in luck. I've just returned to Balmuria, and plan to spend the night here," Seira notes, judging his reaction for surprise.
[20:40] <Kotono> He just nods, no sign of surprise on his face. "Until then," He says, stepping aside and back to the blade he was examining.
[20:40] <Kotono> Neve watches him, a little smirk as a few snowflakes fall from her shoulders.
06[20:41] * Seira has the ability to soundlessly detect evil and uses it in that instant, as the man appears distracted.
06[20:41] * Seira glances at the elf and Alice for completeness's sake, before echoing, "Until then," and continuing on her original course.
[20:42] <Kotono> The trip to the garrison is without incident. You wait a little there, before finding Elle coming into it. You happen to run into her just heading into the court yard. A few soldiers follow her, escorting. "Ah, Seira," With a sunny nod, "Here on business too?
[20:42] <Kotono> "
01[20:43] <Seira> "Just showing Neve around," Seira says, before gesturing at the fur-covered fey. "Neve, Countess Stronger. Countess, Neve."
[20:44] <Kotono> "Neve..." Countess Stronger doesn't miss a beat, "It's a pleasure."
[20:44] <Kotono> Neve merely smiles, reaching out and taking Elle's unofffered hand. Elle's arm shivers as they shake hands, "Good day to you, Countess."
01[20:46] <Seira> "Business, was it?" Seira picks up the conversation. "What business it is that requires an escort by soldiers, I wonder."
[20:48] <Kotono> "There's problems in Parsifal and Valandia. Shocker Lizards are coming out of the Galkass Mountains in a swarm.  I've been supplying the garrison and teleporting over goods to help with the defense and cleanup."
06[20:49] * Seira grimaces. "Are they an actual threat, or more of a nuisance and waste of resources?"
[20:50] <Kotono> "A few hundred swarmed Parsifal," Elle says without grimness, just smiling. "Alicia, the Commander and trained archers had been dispatched and traveled by Alicia's magic. They routed them. In western Valandia, Pollyanna's been leading that side and they've had several encounters with large groups. They'd have success there, too. So it seems to be under control."
[20:51] <Kotono> "Hundred?" Abagail gasps, "Not just a dozen or a few more, but hundreds?"
01[20:51] <Seira> "With such opposition, it might as well be thousands," Seira says dismissively. "Does this mean you're still busy, or can you take half a day off tomorrow?"
[20:52] <Kotono> "I can take some time if I need it." Waving a hand, "Teleportation is easy and quick these days."
01[20:52] <Seira> "Since I'm showing Neve around and she likes interesting and powerful people, I figured I'd invite you along."
[20:56] <Kotono> "I'll drop by tomorrow then." Elle smiles slightly to Neve, "Excuse me, but I really am busy right now."
06[20:57] * Seira nods, even though it's hard to conceal her disappointment. "A shame you couldn't meet the Commander this time," she tells Neve. "He's really strong. I figured we could've even had a practice match, but...."
[21:02] <Kotono> "Perhaps he is. The humans from this city do seem unusually mighty." Neve smirks now.
[21:03] <Kotono> "Oh yes. Might is something we have great quantities of. The vast empire to the east bowed to us, we've defeated enemy devils and smashed dozens of schemes. The Crimson Guard is the nobility of powerful officers and advenruers in this realm, doubtless."
[21:03] <Kotono> Abagail says that with a little preening smile.
01[21:04] <Seira> "Yes, but he's just crazy strong," Seira says in admiration. "Oh well. Like Elle said, our homes are only a teleport away." At Abagail's words, she smiles. "Good times."
[21:08] <Kotono> Elle waves as she goes off. Neve looks around briefly, then, "What else is there ot see in this city?"
01[21:10] <Seira> "We haven't really seen the garrison, but it's not the same now, so we'll leave it for another day. Since we're staying at my inn for the night, it's meaningless to spend time there just yet. How about the temple of Gond? It has dwarves who build things, and those things sometimes explode spectacularly."
[21:16] <Kotono> "Lead on," Neve smirks, "Explosions, distasteful explosions?
[21:16] <Kotono> "
01[21:18] <Seira> "A friend of mine from Waukeen's temple managed to destroy several rooms with the addition of a single alchemical compound," Seira says proudly. "The plume of smoke was seen for the longest of distances!"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Explosion sand smoke. Utterly distasteful," Neve snorts.
[21:20] <Kotono> Abagail nods, "Fireball and it's like are terribly garish...though one cannot say they are not effective at what they do."
01[21:21] <Seira> "True enough, I wouldn't want to be there for the actual explosion," Seira agrees pleasantly. "But the Gond guys were so angry, it made the whole thing entirely too funny. We won't tell them that, though."
[21:23] <Kotono> "
[21:24] <Kotono> "It was amusing from all reports," Abagail agrees as yous tart to walk down the streets. "Terribly uncivilized, certainly, but amusing."
01[21:25] <Seira> "They banned her from the grounds for a while." Seira rolls her eyes. "As if that was the only time something exploded."
[21:32] <Kotono> The rest of the walk is spent in this pleasant conversation. As you approach the temple of Gond, torches are being set out to light it for the evening. The gates to the temple are still open.
06[21:33] * Seira decides to inquire about a tour for her guest. It's still not that late that she can't get away with such a request, she hopes.
[21:41] <Kotono> As Seira enters inside, she finds that a pair of men  are dragging a giant chunk of metal towards the exit. It's scorched and burnt, smoke rising from it. An angry looking man in seared, charred robes follows them. "Do you know how much work that was?" he berates them, "We'll hav eto melt it down and start over!"
01[21:42] <Seira> "I could set it on fire for you," Seira offers casually.
[21:46] <Kotono> "Ah, Colonel!" The charred man doubletakes, "Colonel Seira of the Crimson Guard! Welcome, welcome," Hecomes up to her, "Sorry you had to see such a disgraceful display."
06[21:47] * Seira shakes her head, before offering him a smile. "It's past time I visited, and don't worry about appearances. I meant it, too, you know. I could melt that for you, if you'd like."
[21:50] <Kotono> "Could you? I twould save us some time. Thank you, sir!" With a look at the two men, "Drag that back into the smithery now!"
01[21:52] <Seira> "It's been a while since I set something on fire," Seira says by way of explanation. "Would you mind showing us around in the meantime?" She gestures at her companions as she introduces them. "You would surely know of Abagail, and this is Neve, a friend from the far east."
[22:00] <Kotono> "Oh yes, yes," Bowing ot both of them, "Follow me."
[22:00] <Kotono> Neve just smiles frostily, the smoke rising from the metal turning white, into chilly white.
01[22:01] <Seira> "I wonder what would happen if you froze it right after I melted it down," Seira muses to Neve, indeed following as requested.
[22:03] <Kotono> "Heat and cold together make things expand and break. Try it on a rock sometime," Neve answers, "It has to do with ice and size."
01[22:05] <Seira> "I wonder if it can make colossal monster carapaces expand and break," Seira says with a smile.
[22:11] <Kotono> "Perhaps if you applied enough. Hmmm..." neve starts to consider that, "Nothing cna resist enough cold."
01[22:12] <Seira> "And nothing should resist my fire," Seira comments. "It could be worth trying. What's your effective range with enough cold to matter?"
[22:17] <Kotono> "Close," Neve answers, "The sort of concentrated cold to freeze something to death quickly."
01[22:19] <Seira> "If we're closer than thirty feet to that monster, we're probably doing something wrong," Seira voices in displeasure.
[22:20] <Kotono> "Verily," Abagail murmurs. "If it gets that close to us, we've probably lost."
[22:22] <Kotono> "Perhaps it is so," Neve says as you are lead into one of the stalls. Here, clockwork figures are on display, tick-tocking along. A clockwork elf figurine stands at attention atop the stall, six inches tall and on guard.
01[22:23] <Seira> "We can control the distance some, due to having access to flight and winged mounts, and magic can open the effective range for Amaryl and I, but...." Seira shakes her head. "I suppose we'll know more once we get a chance to read on the creature." The rest of the planning put off for now, she approaches the clockwork elf to admire it from close by.
[22:24] <Kotono> As you get closer, you double-blink. You see that it looks like yourself in wizard's robes. A slender man is on the other side of the stall, "Oh, Colonel! I didn't know today was the day!"
01[22:25] <Seira> "Today clearly is," Seira agrees easily enough. "What day would today be?"
[22:29] <Kotono> "These were commissioned for the Guard, ma'am," He answers, "I didn't think you'd be by to pick up yours so soon. I hadn't heard, anyway."
01[22:31] <Seira> "Who commissioned them, out of curiousity?"
[22:33] <Kotono> "Miss Antenora. She does a lot of business with me," Answering that as he presents the figurine to Seira, "Here. You're welcome to it."
06[22:35] * Seira nods to herself. "Makes sense. She really likes the clockwork models." Seira accepts it, tapping her representation lightly on its forehead. "My thanks, it's a delightful creation."
[22:42] <Kotono> "It's metal. Metal doesn't normally act that way," Neve leans in to peer at it, "How? Why?"
[22:43] <Kotono> "It's a type of creation from Mechanus and some of the priests here are instructed in it." Abagail answers, "It's quite noble and elite."
01[22:44] <Seira> And Neve doesn't normally act that way, though Seira doesn't voice it, instead feeling happy she chose Gond's temple to visit. "Can I commission one for Neve?" she asks the priest at the stall.
[22:48] <Kotono> Peering at Neve over, "I can make one of her..." he says at last, "I'm honored to have your business, Colonel."
01[22:49] <Seira> "This seems like a venture to make everyone involved happy, then," Seira agrees, letting Neve hold the tiny, clockwork Seira while she peruses the other figurines.
[22:51] <Kotono> There's a half finished one of Alicia, Demedais, Jessica, Marie and others. Ther'es fully made ones of more generic things, trolls, soldiers, elves, dwarves, and so on.
[22:51] <Kotono> "Really? Will it freeze fast on the first frost?" Neve challenges. "They look delicate."
01[22:52] <Seira> "Depending on the metal it's made of, and that's without even taking magic under account," Seira tells her, looking for one of a sea elf.
03[22:56] * tai-hack is now known as asdgsdfasdf-ill
[23:00] <Kotono> Seira finds a sea elf, dashing and with little mechanical drops of 'water' on it.
01[23:01] <Seira> "Are you selling this one?" she asks, pointing it out to the priest.
[23:02] <Kotono> "Oh yes, 50 gold," He answers, "It's for sale."
06[23:04] * Seira offers the money, easily having that much on hand. While the transaction takes place, she uses the chance that Neve's attention is elsewhere to whisper, "Speaking of the figurine for her, I think I've read about something called blue ice? I recall it being as good as metal, enough to forge weapons and armor from it, so would it be possible to use something like that as the base for Neve's gift?"