010. "Why, oh why, did Zara have to open her mouth?"

[Merc]

#dunes (whole team)

[17:55] <Kotono> ------------------(Wall Ko)----
[17:57] <Kotono> A night's celebration follows the party's victory over the Joyous Dystopia. Hangovers and all the party returns to work the next morning, finding the new boss awaiting them. Emerelda looks over each of them and nods once in greeting, "I've been informed that your replacement for the fallen Alric has been delayed by circumstances beyond our control. Today's work will be short, so be prepared and be warned."
[17:58] * Noved returns the nod genially. "Sure thing, boss. What's on the agenda for today?"
[18:01] <Kotono> "The subdual of Joyous Dystopia is but one success of six. Five more towers remain, one of which is still inaccessible. Of the four remaining towers - The Garden of Bliss, The Golden Hall, Blackcast Luna and Vivacious Greed - remain."
[18:01] <Clank> "Should we continue with the first tower? There had been one team that began to clear it before us, I believe, and we might be able to finish the work that was started with this group," the robot suggests.
[18:02] <Kotono> Coughing into her hand, "That may prove difficult. Scouting expeditions into The Garden of Bliss have been massacred by pine woodmen riding animate pinecones. Apparently they have enslaved the goblins there."
[18:02] * Noved shrugs at the tiny metal man. "Doubtless whatever work was done has already been undone by the denizens of the tower. Still, I don't care. We made a pretty good team last time. As long as we're careful, I think we can prevent another Alric."
[18:03] <Clank> "What did the team that last attempt that tower consist of, boss?" Clank asks.
[18:03] <Zara> "Judicious application of fire may deal well with such foes," Zara suggests. "
[18:04] <Kotono> "Incompetents, but the point remains that resistance is expected to be fierce," The new boss says, "I would hate to have to bury you or punish you for shamefully retreating."
[18:05] * Noved smirks. "I have a few fire spells up my sleeve. We could make short work of them." Noved comments, agreeing with Zara.
[18:05] <Kotono> "It is ultimately your choice, as long as you keep succeeding," The boss says, "You may go as you please. Get going."
[18:06] * Noved nods, turning to her teammates. "Well, I have no particular tower in mind. I'd much rather avoid the tower of greed until the Boss digs up a trap specialist for us."
[18:07] <Zara> "Likewise," Zara says. "One of the unexplored towers, perhaps? If a full team failed at the garden, it may be prudent for us to wait until we have at least the same number."
[18:08] * Noved shrugs. "Very well. Perhaps Blackcast Luna?"
[18:08] <Clank> "Well, we have the Golden Hall and the Blackcast Luna as options then. Of those, I'd prefer the second, myself," Clank says.
[18:08] <Clank> "Shocker lizards are nasty creatures."
[18:09] * Zara merely shrugs. "As are shadows, but it makes little difference to me."
[18:10] * Noved brightens. "A little light goes a long way against a few nasty shadows~"
[18:10] <Noved> "Shall we then?"
[18:10] <Kotono> OOC: Which one are you guys going for
[18:10] <Kotono> ?
[18:10] <Zara> OOC: Luna, apparently
[18:10] <Noved> OOC: I'm guessing Luna

[18:13] <Kotono> Blackcast Luna is a tall, dark tower. The front doors are closed, pitch black and awaiting something to dare open them.
[18:14] * Zara dares!
[18:15] * Noved also dares!
[18:15] * Noved also pointedly waits for Zara to open the doors. She's accustomed to being treated like a lady.
[18:16] <Kotono> Zara opens the door! Within is darkness - no light at all, save for occasional flickers of it. The ground is pitted lightly, like the moon's surface. From far away, the sound of distorted music can be heard - wavering, watery flute notes and too loud drumbeats.
[18:17] * Clank brings out his trusty everburning torch and takes the lead into the building, leading Ratchet carefully inside.
[18:17] * Noved frowns. "I don't like the dark." She smiles at the sight of Clank's ever burning torch! "Let me know if you need me to carry that!"
[18:17] * Zara walks along a few steps behind.
[18:17] * Noved follows!
[18:18] <Kotono> OOC: Clank<-Zara<-Noved?
[18:18] <Zara> OOC: Sure.

[18:21] <Kotono> Thus you walk in. As you walk in, the doors out close behind you! Save for Clank's torch shedding a halo of light, you are in darkness. Shadows dance around you from your bodies and the light, and ahead of you looks to be a path. It is 5ft to a wall on the right, and in the 20ft of clear illumination to the left you don't see another wall. You don't see anything ahead - yet.
[18:22] <Zara> "The path?" Zara suggests, adding for Noved, "And perhaps you and I should switch positions. Should something ambush us, I am better suited to defend the rear."
[18:23] * Noved nods, eying the dark nervously. "That's an excellent idea, Zara."
[18:24] <Clank> "Keep your ears peeled as well. Ratchet should notice any attempts at stealth in the darkness, but in case she doesn't, well, never hurts to include our own attentiveness," Clank says as he clicks his heels and leads along the path.
[18:24] <Kotono> OOC: Make listen checks, all.
[18:24] <Zara> roll 1d20+1
[18:24] * Hatbot --> "Zara rolls 1d20+1 and gets 4." [1d20=3]
[18:25] <Noved> "You got it." Zara mutters under her breath.
[18:25] <Noved> roll 1d20+3 listen
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Noved rolls 1d20+3 listen and gets 14." [1d20=11]
[18:25] * Joins: Muirfinn (~Yuthirin@c-71-57-26-119.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
[18:25] <Clank> roll d20+4 listen Clank
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+4 listen Clank and gets 5." [d20=1]
[18:25] <Clank> roll d20+10 listen Ratchet
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+10 listen Ratchet and gets 20." [d20=10]
[18:30] <Clank> Ratchet stops and leans down towards the floor, sniffing, surprising Clank. "What is it, girl?" Clank asks as the raptor attempts to investigate the sound from below.
[18:31] * Zara eyes the floor suspiciously!
[18:32] * Noved freezes, eying the ground with trepidation!
[18:32] * Clank waits for any signs from the raptor regarding whatever it sensed.
[18:34] <Kotono> As you watch, Ratchet sniffs! As she does, a hand slowly emerges through the floor! A hand of shadow, reaching up for Ratchet - but with her warning she can evade it! OOC: Init here, something's not playing nice.
[18:35] <Zara> roll 1d20+5
[18:35] * Hatbot --> "Zara rolls 1d20+5 and gets 23." [1d20=18]
[18:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4 HAND
[18:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 HAND and gets 10." [1d20=6]
[18:35] <Clank> roll d20+4
[18:35] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+4  and gets 16." [d20=12]
[18:35] <Noved> roll 1d20+6
[18:35] * Hatbot --> "Noved rolls 1d20+6 and gets 14." [1d20=8]

[18:37] * Kotono changes topic to 'Zara 30/30 Clank 33/33 Ratchet 15/15 Noved 13/13 |Zara(23)>Clank(16)>Noved(14)>HAND(10)'
[18:38] <Kotono> OOC: Go Zara.
[18:39] * Zara dashes forward to cut the shadow's fingers from its...body? Hand? "Vile apparition! This unwelcome groping shall be your last!"
[18:39] <Zara> roll 1d20+8
[18:39] * Hatbot --> "Zara rolls 1d20+8 and gets 18." [1d20=10]
[18:39] <Kotono> OOC: d100.
[18:39] <Zara> roll 1d100 oh boy
[18:39] * Hatbot --> "Zara rolls 1d100 oh boy and gets 87." [1d100=87]
[18:39] <Kotono> OOC: Damage.
[18:39] <Zara> roll 2d6+6
[18:39] * Hatbot --> "Zara rolls 2d6+6 and gets 16." [2d6=5, 5]
[18:40] <Kotono> With one fell slice the hand is severed, falling back through the floor! OOC: Free act.
[18:40] * Noved raises an eyebrow. "That was...suspiciously easy."
[18:41] <Clank> "You sense anything else, Ratchet?" Clank asks the raptor, stroking the side of the reptile's head. Ratchet meanwhile is sniffing at the floor.
[18:41] <Zara> "Villains who fear to face us openly do so due to their own weakness," Zara concludes.
[18:42] * Noved winces. "I *really* wish you wouldn't say stuff like that. It's going to come and bite us in the ass."
[18:42] <Kotono> OOC: What's your flatfooted AC, Noved?
[18:42] <Noved> OOC: 13
[18:43] <Clank> The raptor snorts, and Clank takes that to mean nothing else is approaching, as the robot clicks his heels and directs Ratchet to continue onward.
[18:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[18:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 26." [1d20=20]
[18:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[18:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 8." [1d20=2]
[18:43] <Kotono> OOC: Carry on, Noved.
[18:44] * Noved gestures down the path. "Shall we continue?"
[18:44] <Clank> Ratchet starts heading down the path as Noved says this, guided by Clank's direction.

[18:44] <Kotono> The path continues, the wall to the right receding back into the darkness. After perhaps 100ft of silent, shadowy darkness, you come to a bridge. You can't see the other side - ahead is a great chasm, with only an old rope bridge over it.
[18:45] <Clank> "Do we cross one at a time?" Clank asks.
[18:46] <Zara> "Hmm..." Zara is about to take a tentative step onto the bridge, when her head whips to the left, scanning the darkness for...something.

[18:46] * Noved whirls to her left! "Shine the torch over there! I hear footfalls of some sort!"
[18:46] * Clank does as requested!
[18:46] <Kotono> Light is thrown to the left! OOC: Spot check, all.
[18:46] <Zara> roll 1d20+1
[18:46] * Hatbot --> "Zara rolls 1d20+1 and gets 9." [1d20=8]
[18:47] <Clank> roll d20+4 Clank
[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+4 Clank and gets 10." [d20=6]
[18:47] <Clank> roll d20+10 Ratchet
[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+10 Ratchet and gets 19." [d20=9]
[18:48] <Noved> roll 1d20+3
[18:48] * Hatbot --> "Noved rolls 1d20+3 and gets 19." [1d20=16]
[18:48] <Clank> ooc: Ratchet has low-light vision as an aside, also
[18:49] <Kotono> Ahead is...empty space. No wall, just more pitted, shadowed floor.
[18:49] * Noved raises her head up and squints upwards, just to be safe.
[18:50] * Zara takes a few steps in that direction--slowly, carefully, just wanting to make sure there's really nothing waiting in the darkness for them to try and cross that bridge.
[18:50] <Clank> Ratchet makes a screeching yell and starts charging in the direction of whatever it spotted, dragging Clank and the torch along for a ride! Clank is surprised and holding on as best he can with one hand, given the other hand is holding the torch.
[18:51] <Kotono> OOC: How fast is Ratchet?
[18:51] <Clank> ooc: 30ft with me onboard.
[18:52] * Noved is startled at the sudden absence of light. "Wait!" She calls, stumbling after frantically! "Don't leave me in the dark!"
[18:53] <Kotono> Ratchet darts ahead, leaving the others into shadowy darkness! Ahead you see it - a vaguely humanoid, lumpy...thing. It looks to be made of tumorous lumps of flesh, blank faced and blotted with dark purple tumors. It bears no weapon, but as it raises its hands, you can see that it's palm holds a dozen tiny, biting, fanged mouths. Silently, stone silent, the creature whirls on its feet and dives
[18:53] <Kotono> at Clank! OOC: Init.
[18:53] <Zara> roll 1d20+5
[18:53] * Hatbot --> "Zara rolls 1d20+5 and gets 17." [1d20=12]
[18:53] <Clank> roll d20+4
[18:53] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+4 and gets 24." [d20=20]
[18:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 Mr. Lumpy
[18:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 Mr. Lumpy and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[18:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 ????
[18:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 ???? and gets 18." [1d20=13]
[18:53] <Noved> OOC: Er, are we to init too since I ran after clank?
[18:53] <Kotono> OOC: Yes.
[18:54] <Noved> roll 1d20+6
[18:54] <Kotono> OOC: You all are, even if you stayed back.
[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Noved rolls 1d20+6 and gets 18." [1d20=12]
[18:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 ???? 2
[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 ???? 2 and gets 10." [1d20=4]

[18:55] * Kotono changes topic to 'Zara 30/30 Clank 33/33 Ratchet 15/15 Noved 13/13 | Clank(24)>????1(18)>Zara(17)>Mr. Lumpy(11)>????2(10)'
[18:55] <Kotono> OOC: Go Clank.
[18:56] * Clank lets Ratchet lead the attack as he holds the light for his other companion's benefits, rather than drawing his own weapon, and focusing on sounds and sights around them in case any more creatures attempt to rise from the ground, drawn by the sounds of battle.
[18:56] <Kotono> OOC: Attack Ratchet and make listen, Clank?
[18:56] <Clank> OOC: can Ratchet full attack, since Mr. lumpy turned and dove?
[18:56] <Kotono> OOC: Sure.
[18:57] <Clank> roll d20+4 talons
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+4 talons and gets 7." [d20=3]
[18:57] <Clank> roll d20-1 foreclaw 1
[18:57] <Clank> roll d20-1 foreclaw 2
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20-1 foreclaw 1 and gets 16." [d20=17]
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20-1 foreclaw 2 and gets 4." [d20=5]
[18:57] <Clank> roll d20-1 bite
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20-1 bite and gets 2." [d20=3]
[18:57] <Kotono> OOC: One hit.
[18:57] <Clank> roll d3+1
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d3+1 and gets 3." [d3=2]
[18:57] <Clank> roll d20+4 listen
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+4 listen and gets 6." [d20=2]
[18:57] <Kotono> Ratchet manages a single slash, a weak slash that gouges the outer flesh of the strange creature before you! Then...
[18:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 flatfooted AC, Zara?
[18:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 flatfooted AC, Zara? and gets 12." [1d20=6]
[18:58] <Zara> OOC: 16
[18:58] <Kotono> OOC: Go Zara.
[19:00] * Zara follows the light, rushing in to help her companion dispose of that dreadful...thing.
[19:00] <Zara> roll 1d20+8
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Zara rolls 1d20+8 and gets 19." [1d20=11]
[19:00] <Kotono> OOC: That be a HIT.
[19:00] <Zara> roll 2d6+6
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Zara rolls 2d6+6 and gets 12." [2d6=1, 5]
[19:00] * Kotono changes topic to 'Zara 30/30 Clank 33/33 Ratchet 15/15 Noved 13/13 | Clank(24)>????1(18)>Zara(17)>Noved(16)>Mr. Lumpy(11)>????2(10)'
[19:00] <Kotono> OOC: Noved next, he was on 18 but got missed in init somehow.
[19:01] <Kotono> Mr. Lumpy is sliced into deeply! His tumors pop open, shuddering and releasing wispy black shadows! HE collapses into a leap of lumpy, benighted meat! OOC: Noved, go. No obvious foes but still in init.
[19:01] * Kotono changes topic to 'Zara 30/30 Clank 33/33 Ratchet 15/15 Noved 13/13 | Clank(24)>????1(18)>Zara(17)>Noved(16)>????2(10)'
[19:02] <Noved> OOC: Uh, we haven't seen any of the other enemies, have we? I only recall seeing Lumpy and he's dead, apparently
[19:02] <Zara> "Odious creature," Zara pronounces. "This entire building should be scourged with holy water."
[19:03] <Noved> "Fire sounds better." Noved replies, eying her surroundings for more enemies!
[19:03] <Kotono> OOC: Spot, Noved.
[19:04] <Noved> roll 1d20+3
[19:04] * Hatbot --> "Noved rolls 1d20+3 and gets 14." [1d20=11]
[19:04] <Kotono> Noved doesn't see anything until...below her! Seen but too late, as a black hand rises up and goes for Noved's ankle!
[19:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 AC?
[19:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 AC? and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[19:04] <Noved> OOC: 15
[19:04] * Kotono changes topic to 'Zara 30/30 Clank 33/33 Ratchet 15/15 Noved 13/13 | Clank(24)>????1(18)>Zara(17)>Noved(16)>HAND(10)'
[19:05] <Kotono> But Noved reacts in the nick of time, leaping back in a flailing tussle! OOC: Clank.
[19:05] * Clank clicks his feet against Ratchet's side and directs the dino mount towards the new threat!
[19:05] <Clank> roll d20+6 DC 10 to both attack
[19:05] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+6 DC 10 to both attack and gets 26." [d20=20]
[19:05] <Clank> ooc: what a waste of a 20
[19:06] <Clank> roll d20+4 ratchet attack
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+4 ratchet attack and gets 5." [d20=1]
[19:06] <Clank> roll d20+6 Clank attack
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+6 Clank attack and gets 12." [d20=6]
[19:06] <Clank> ooc: seriously, what a waste of a 20
[19:06] <Kotono> Clank charges in, but neither blow can connect on the shadowy hand! OOC: ???1 is up.
[19:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 AC Zara?
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 AC Zara? and gets 18." [1d20=12]
[19:07] <Zara> OOC: 17
[19:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4 opposed str check
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 opposed str check and gets 22." [1d20=18]
[19:07] <Zara> roll 1d20+4 d'oh
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Zara rolls 1d20+4 d'oh and gets 8." [1d20=4]
[19:07] <Kotono> Abruptly, a black hand appears around Zara's ankle! She barely has a chance to cry out, before she's pulled down through the ground and out of sight! OOC: #evildunes, Zara.

[Merc]

#evildunes (Zara only)

[19:08] <Kotono> ACK! Zara plummets through darkness, until she realizes she is on solid ground again. Solid ground in pitch darkness and pitch silence. No music, no noise, nothing. Absolutely nothing but darkness.
[19:09] <Zara> "Craven monsters! You still fear to oppose us face to face!" Zara challenges to the darkness, with thorough disregard to her assailant's apparent lack of a face.
[19:10] <Kotono> Silence. Zara's mouth works, but no sound comes out. Only a cool, chill silence that offers nothing back in return.
[19:11] * Zara produces a torch from her pack and sets to lighting it. Her sword won't have quite as much of a swing behind it held in one hand, but at least she'll be able to see.
[19:13] <Kotono> Light is kindled! The floor around her is pitted like above. Nothing immediately interesting is around her - and then, in the distance, another source of light appears! It looks to be some sort of standing lamp, shedding light in a corona.
[19:15] * Zara makes a mental note to procure chalk in case of any future such detours in landmark-free wastelands. Lacking any other clear direction, she walks towards the light, alert for any further ambush.
[19:16] <Kotono> Zara heads to the light. It is a simple street lamp - and as you approach the light, you feel warmer, drawn to it, drawn to go into it.
[19:17] <Zara> Not trusting anything she encounters in this place, Zara gently prods the lamppost with the tip of her sword.
[19:18] <Kotono> OOC: Heading into the light, I presume?
[19:18] <Zara> OOC: seems that way.
[19:19] <Kotono> The moment Zara enters the light, she vanishes! OOC: More.

[Merc]

#dunes (Clank & Noved)

[19:08] * Kotono changes topic to 'Zara 30/30 Clank 33/33 Ratchet 15/15 Noved 13/13 | Clank(24)>Noved(16)>HAND(10)'
[19:08] <Kotono> OOC: Go Noved.

[19:08] <Clank> "One of our team has been taken!" Clank states.
[19:09] <Noved> "You sure know how to state the obvious, little man!" Noved grunts as she swings her spear at the specter!
[19:09] <Noved> roll 1d20+3 hit damn you
[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Noved rolls 1d20+3 hit damn you and gets 14." [1d20=11]
[19:09] <Kotono> OOC: Hit. d100.
[19:09] <Noved> roll d100
[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Noved rolls d100 and gets 70." [d100=70]
[19:09] <Kotono> OOC: Damage.
[19:09] <Clank> "Sometimes the obvious needs to be said!"
[19:09] <Noved> roll 1d8+3 damage
[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Noved rolls 1d8+3 damage and gets 10." [1d8=7]
[19:10] <Kotono> With a deft stab, the hand is skewered! IT vanishes away, slain! OOC: Free act.


[19:10] * Noved immediately dives toward the nearest pit in the floor and sticks her hand in, trying to see if she can feel her way through the floor!
[19:11] <Clank> "Can you direct your mystic senses towards where our companion vanished? Figure a way for us to follow?"
[19:11] <Noved> "ZARA!" She bellows loudly. "CAN YOU HEAR ME!?
[19:11] <Noved> "
[19:11] <Kotono> There is no answer.
[19:12] * Noved says over her shoulder even as she feels about, "I specialize in blowing things up and burning them down. I don't do so well in tracking, I'm afraid."
[19:12] <Clank> "You...cannot detect magic? I thought all mages could do that!" Clank says in shock.
[19:13] <Noved> "We're in a magical tower." She replies flatly. "Unless Zara is wearing something with a unique magical signature..."
[19:14] <Clank> "Very well, all we can do is continue then, and hope we can find a way down along the way," Clank says after some thought, leading Ratchet back towards the bridge.
[19:14] * Clank waits for Noved there, before proceeding.
[19:14] <Kotono> The bridge awaits, all bridgy and waiting like they tend to be.
[19:15] * Noved sighs and climbs to her feet. "Why, oh why, did Zara have to open her mouth?"

[19:15] * Noved follows Clank. "Who first?"
[19:17] <Clank> "I can go first. Wait for me to finish crossing, then follow quickly," Clank says, leading Ratchet along the bridge, keeping his eyes focused for any signs of the rope breaking or the like.
[19:17] * Noved nods. "Be careful!"
[19:18] * Clank nods.
[19:18] <Kotono> The bridge goes on 50ft, leaving Noved in darkness! But at the end you can see walls 10ft apart, and stairs leading up and ahead.
[19:19] * Clank continues until he is across, then calls for Noved. "There are stairs this way! They seem to lead up, however!"
[19:19] * Noved follow, seeing no discernable doom descending upon Clank!

[Merc]

#dunes (whole team)

[19:20] <Kotono> As Noved reaches the other side, there is a silent flash and Zara stands before  Ratchet and Clank!
[19:20] <Clank> "...You've returned! Fascinating! Did you escape that hand thing?" He asks.
[19:20] * Noved blinks. "Uh, are you *you*, Zara?"
[19:21] <Clank> "Who else would she be?" Clank says with a raised eyebrow towards Noved. "Ratchet would surely tear a fake to pieces, wouldn't you, girl?"
[19:21] * Zara looks around her new/old surroundings, frowns. Opens her mouth to speak, no sound comes out. Rubs her forehead with the back of her hand, then heaves a soundless sigh and nods.
[19:22] <Noved> "Oh deeeeaaar. It seems you've been stripped of your voice." Noved frowns. She concentrates, hoping she can detect whether or not Zara's silence is magically enforced or otherwise!
[19:23] * Zara shakes her head, stomps one mailed foot on the ground by of further demonstration, as this forceful action also produces no noise.
[19:27] <Clank> "Do you know how we can return your voice to you? Should we go upstairs?" Clank asks, figuring yes/no answers are still within Zara's capabilities.
[19:29] * Zara demonstrates her complete ignorance of anything useful to the situation with a supremely evocative shrug.
[19:29] <Kotono> OOC: Casting detect magic or anything, Noved?
[19:29] * Zara also douses her torch now that she's back with the others, the better to hit things!
[19:30] <Noved> OOC: I don't have detect magic, sadly. But could I make a Spellcraft check just to see if I can even *feel* an enchantment on her or something?
[19:32] <Kotono> OOC: Spellcraft then.
[19:32] <Noved> roll 1d20+7
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Noved rolls 1d20+7 and gets 21." [1d20=14]
[19:38] <Noved> "Hmm. Well, on the one hand, she has a very powerful enchantment of some sort on her. On the other, that means that it can be easily broken. There is no enchantment that exists that cannot be broken. I suspect that once we unlock this tower's mysteries, we may break her free from this oppressive silence."
[19:39] * Zara shrugs again, and gives her sword a showy swing to demonstrate she's perfectly useful even in complete silence.
[19:40] <Noved> "The sooner we get going, the sooner we can free our poor Zara. Shall we?" She inquires of Clank and Zara
[19:40] * Zara nods!
[19:40] <Clank> "Her voice will likely return at worst case once we've triumphed over this place," the robot agrees, leading the way up the stairs then.
[19:41] * Noved follows!
[19:41] <Kotono> Thus you begin to climb up the stairs. Save for your everburning torch, darkness surrounds you. Up and up and up you go, and as you do - the darkness seems to be lessening? It's starting to get brighter!
[19:42] <Zara> This only makes Zara suspicious, given her recent experiences here. Not that she can communicate this effectively.
[19:43] <Clank> "Looks like even the shadows can't live in constant darkness," Clank observes as he continues.

[19:44] <Kotono> Up you climb! The darkness has faded to a shadowy dimness. Atop the stairs you stand in a circular room. A door is 20ft ahead at the crest of the circle, with two other doors to the right and left of it, 5ft away each.
[19:45] <Clank> "Any objections to testing the leftmost door first, then move clockwise through them?"
[19:45] * Zara shakes her head.
[19:45] * Clank doesn't wait for Noved, since she has been outvoted even if she does have a problem! He heads for the leftmost door and attempts to open it!
[19:48] * Noved silently watches Clank open the door!
[19:49] <Kotono> The door resists merely being opened, refusing to! It feels locked.
[19:52] * Clank pulls back, hands the torch to Noved and draws his sword. "Time to break another door, it seems," he says, before directing Ratchet to charge!
[19:53] <Kotono> OOC: Charging into it?
[19:53] <Clank> ooc: Yes
[19:54] <Kotono> OOC: STR check.
[19:54] <Clank> ooc: combined mine+ratchet, as last time, or just one of us?
[19:55] <Kotono> OOC: Combined is fine.
[19:55] <Clank> roll d20+5
[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+5 and gets 13." [d20=8]
[19:57] <Kotono> WHAM! Clank charges into the door! But it seems that the door just isn't that into you, since it's still closed and not opening up for your brute force.
[19:57] <Clank> "Hrm, seems this time I am the one being stymied. Would you care a whirl, Zara?"
[19:58] * Zara nods, and makes her own charge!
[19:59] <Zara> roll 1d20+4 die, foul door!
[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Zara rolls 1d20+4 die, foul door! and gets 18." [1d20=14]
[20:00] <Kotono> Zara makes sweet body contact with the door! But alas, but perhaps the door is metrosexual, for it fails to open up for Zara's attentions.
[20:00] * Zara shrugs, points to the next door?
[20:00] * Clank examines the door to see if it's a fake door again!
[20:02] <Kotono> OOC: Search check.
[20:02] <Clank> roll d20+2
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+2 and gets 10." [d20=8]
[20:03] <Kotono> No sign of the door being a trap of a fake door. You think it's a door with real doors under that door.
[20:04] <Clank> "We can return later, agreed," Clank says after humming during his examination. He moves onto the next closest door!
[20:04] <Kotono> This door is also not that into Clank, refusing to open, too. Perhaps these two doors are only into each other?
[20:04] * Clank tries the third first, before deciding what to do!
[20:05] <Kotono> This door isn't locked! In fact, it opens! It leads to a 15ft hall, before it forks to the side and sloping up.
[20:05] <Clank> "It seems we are going to the right first, then moving counterclockwise," Clank says drily, before entering.
[20:06] * Noved shrugs. "Plans never survive first contact with the doors, as the saying goes."
[20:06] * Noved follows!
[20:06] * Zara soundlessly plods along at the end of the line.
[20:08] <Kotono> You follow the door and the slope up. The slope goes up ten ft, to a hatch at the dead end. It is made of metal and has a big handle on it to pull open.
[20:09] * Zara attempts to pull it open. Apertures shall not conquer them this day!
[20:11] <Kotono> As Zara touches the hatch, the party can hear Zara's voice, "Come closer..."
[20:12] * Zara looks back at her companions and shares a look of obvious confusion with them before tugging on the hatch because, well, where else can they go?
[20:14] * Noved raises an eyebrow and follows!
[20:17] <Kotono> The hatch is opened! Sunlight spills out as they see the clear air, outside of it the ground below able to be seen. It's about a 30ft drop from here.
[20:18] * Clank looks around. Is there anything else around? A drop does them no good after all!
[20:20] <Kotono> Nothing around but a drop and the ground, open air and sunshine.
[20:22] * Zara frowns and points back the way they came from.
[20:24] <Clank> "Agreed, nothing to be found here. That your voice seemed to be used, probably implies a trap," Clank says, leading back to the room earlier.

[20:25] <Kotono> Thus the three return to the room with three doors. There's doors. There's three of them. Two of them are still locked.
[20:27] * Clank attempts to browbeat the middle door into opening!
[20:27] <Clank> roll d20+5
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Clank rolls d20+5 and gets 24." [d20=19]
[20:28] <Kotono> With great browbeating, Clank pops the middle door open! Ahead lies a room of shimmering darkness and light - it's a wide open space. Darkness with pools of light - about a dozen street lamps are scattered about, oasises of illumination in the sudden darkness ahead.
[20:29] * Zara steps in front before anyone has a chance to charge in ahead of her, points emphatically at the lamps and vigorously shakes her head.
[20:31] <Clank> "You want us to break those, Zara? Are they dangerous?" Clank asks, trying to interpret.
[20:31] <Kotono> As you stand there, you hear a ragged cry. Approaching you is...Zara? She is bloodied and limping, favoring her left side. "Finally..." she gasps, coming to within 20ft before falling to a knee. She coughs, red spray coming out, "Damn it...help..."
[20:31] * Zara considers this. Raises one finger, shakes her head. Raises two fingers, nods.
[20:32] <Clank> The robot's eyes widen and stares between the two Zaras. "Ratchet...eat the fake Zara," Clank commands, as Ratchet starts sniffing the closest Zara first.
[20:33] <Kotono> Ratchet finds that they both smell like Zara!
[20:34] <Zara> After a moment's consideration, Zara strides forward, fishing a healing potion from her pack, and offers it to her doppelganger.
[20:34] <Clank> Ratchet snorts a bunch of air and makes a screeching confused sound.
[20:34] * Clank scratches his head and leaves the doppelganger (or real) Zara to the real (or doppelganger) Zara.
[20:36] <Kotono> Zara startles and stumbles back, drawing her blade, "Imposter!" she declares, spitting out blood, "This tower's been twisting things ever since we got in here!"
[20:37] * Zara takes a moment scan her imposter for signs of villainy (OOC: Detect Evil here).
[20:38] <Kotono> Zara does not detect evil.
[20:38] <Clank> "If you're the real one, your doppelganger seems fairly, uh, benign?" Clank offers. "What have you faced so far, Zara? It might help us figure out how to get through here."
[20:38] <Noved> "Hmm. If you are really Zara, say something only she would know!"
[20:39] * Zara makes a show of setting her sword on the ground before approaching again, still offering a potion.