002: And the forests echoed song

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> After being presented with the results of her niece's minor adventure (and the stubborn insistence that she is in fact obligated to follow it to its unexpectedly distant end), Aunt Leah retreats to her study overnight to research possible means of travel for the group in their upcoming travels. When you've gathered in the morning, she has the following information: "There is a gate to Arborea in Solata. It's along a stream a few days' walk from here." She provides a carefully-detailed map of the route there. "Apparently some refugees found it quite by accident whilst hiding out in the country during the war. Look for a limb of stone arcing out over the water."
<Stephanie> "It gonna work? Just like that?" asks Stephanie, feet propped up on a footrest whilst she lounges around on a sofa.
* Franceska merely listens for now, aghast at the prospects of hiking for several days out in the country.
<Julia> "Isn't it odd to think, you could be walking along a river one day and then 'oops!' you pass under an arch and suddenly you're on another world entirely," Julia comments, sounding interested in the possibilities of all these hidden gates.
<El-Cideon> "Insofar as I can tell," she says. "But it is in the midst of flowing water, so getting back could be a minor chore I suppose?" She nods to Julia. "I imagine they were very surprised indeed."
<Stephanie> "Arborea's all sweetness and pillows and fluffy kittens, right? Makes you wonder why they bothered coming back!"
<Franceska> "It's a lawless land filled with elves!"
<El-Cideon> "Well, no matter how pleasant it might be, it is not home, is it?" Rosemund says. "They could have friends and family still in Solata. Or they could just be worried about their country!"
<Franceska> "Or it could be all the elves," Franceska mutters insistently.
<El-Cideon> "Oh, Franceska! It is only without laws because everyone is pleasant and doesn't need them," Rosemund adds.
<Julia> "It does sound interesting... imagine what it's like with no laws, only your conscience to keep you..." Julia smiles pleasantly, leaning back in her chair.
<Stephanie> "Hey, now, there's also the consciences of others," muses Stephanie. "A bunch of high-strung flowery elves who get all ornery when you chop down a tree to get the wood to start the fire to roast the deer don't need no law to ruin your whole day."
* Franceska shudders.
<Julia> "Oh, yes... yes, that could be problematic," Julia pouts, looking down at her lap.
<El-Cideon> "Well, shall we go?" Rosemund says. "Surely these poor souls shall not rescue themselves!"
<Stephanie> "'course we are! Are we gonna take a boat?"
<Julia> "Yes, lets be off," Julia agrees, standing up. "A boat would be quicker and easier on the feet, wouldn't it?"
<Franceska> "Yes, that would have been far too easy," Franceska mutters, sighing. She perks up at Stephanie's question considerably, however. "Would that be possible?"
<El-Cideon> "It's a minor tributary whose wellspring has a line of hills between itself and Amaranth," Leah says with an apologetic expression. "You'll have to walk. Think of it as building character for the long road ahead?"
<Julia> "Ah," Julia says succinctly.
<Franceska> "At least I can summon shelter for the nights," Franceska says dejectedly.
<Stephanie> "I hope you two have decent boots. You don't wanna walk a couple dozen miles and have them fall apart on you," advises Stephanie. "It's the worst."
<El-Cideon> "Why of course I have the best traveling boots a person could purchase," Rosemund says.
<El-Cideon> "Oh, and I am sure I could provide more if someone was in need of them," she feels it necessary to add.
<Julia> "I actually don't," Julia admits, "But it takes so long to wear new boots in, I'll just stick with my shoes for now."
<El-Cideon> It's about a week on the road (and, later, off of it) before the group reaches its destination. It's a very picturesque walk, with the colorful riot of autumn in full swing, and the crown now has Solata's roads sufficiently well-patrolled that you can walk without fear of harassment or interruption. Ultimately you find yourself in the forests of a backwater county, approaching the location pinpointed on Leah's map...as you hear the sound of running water, you walk into a small grove where the trees are curiously still green. In the clearing ahead of you is a modest wooden shack. A man sits on a tree stump out in front of this: middle-aged, graying curly hair, wearing leather armor with a bow handy at his side, deeply engaged in whittling something. A grizzled old wolf rests by his feet, looking up with a whine at your approach. (more)
<El-Cideon> Past all this display, you can see a primitive raft of logs tied up at the edge of the stream. Just downstream of it is a wooden barrier crossing the stream to ensure nothing floats down accidentally through the stone arch sitting astride the river some ways down.
<Stephanie> "Ey, stranger!" calls Stephanie, breaking off her constant stream of vacuous chatter to address the man before them. "Woodcarvings far out thisaways, eh? Planning to strike off to another world?"
<Julia> "I wonder if he's a guard?" Julia wonders quietly, Thing acting on his own initiative and flying off into the nearby tree canopy to keep some distance in case it's a celestial in disguise.
<El-Cideon> "Can't say as I am," he says, looking up to survey his visitors, digging the carving knife into the stump to let it rest there upright. "How about yourself?"
<Franceska> If things go well, then there would be no need for menial labor to construct a raft of their own. Thus, Franceska pulls her coat closer about herself and sees how negotiations by Stephanie would go, Darrin settling on her shoulder.
<Stephanie> "Sure is the plan! Gonna be heading through the gate yonder," she replies. "That all alright with you?"
<El-Cideon> He doesn't look like it is. "What's your business on the other side?" he says, standing up.
<Stephanie> "Thrillin' heroics!"
<Julia> "We're also looking for the Lord of Midnight Feathers, he supposedly has a magnificent art gallery," Julia adds, smiling benignly.
<El-Cideon> He laughs, thoroughly without mirth. "You don't say?" he says to Stephanie, scratching at a stubbly chin. "Don't know anyone by that name," he says to Julia. "You want fancy paintings and such, you're most like to find them in a city."
<Julia> "Oh, we're quite sure of where we're going," Julia attests, shaking her head.
<Stephanie> "So what's it to you, anyhow?" queries Stephanie, peering curiously at the man. "We got poor idiot saps to pull out the frying pan, if you catch my drift."
<El-Cideon> "Hrm," is his articulate response to Julia. "Can't say I do catch your drift," he says to Stephanie. With a sigh: "Not the first to folk to come through here in numbers, you know. Some damn fool stumbles through this gate during the troubles, next thing you know his whole village is floating down the river looking for a safe place to get away from all the fighting. Made a right mess of things on the other side. Took it upon myself to see it doesn't happen again."
<Franceska> "In that case, you can rest assured. We would not be staying there longer than necessary," Franceska speaks up.
<El-Cideon> "And I can take your word for that?" he says skeptically. "Look, it's not really our world over there. Best we don't get ourselves involved, you understand?"
<Julia> "Yes, we're hardly looking to settle or wait anything out there," Julia replies, "Going by your reasoning, we're even doing good by finding someone from our world and taking them out of that one."
<Stephanie> "See, that's just it! Some guy went over there and he ain't come back yet, so we gotta go drag him out! Could be causing all kinds of moronic trouble there, see?" replies Stephanie, waving her arms for emphasis. "We're out to restore the proper order to things!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: one of you roll diplo? Anyone else participating can aid
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+10 I suppose I'll aid
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+10 1,0I suppose I'll aid --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{20}
<Julia> roll 1d20+4 I'll aid since Fran has highest diplo score
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+4 1,0I'll aid since Fran has highest diplo score --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{21}
<Franceska> "This is ridiculous," Franceska asserts. "We are not going there because we want to, and once we've returned we will have taken someone who got lost back. It is something you sound like you would approve of, so what is the problem?"
<Franceska> roll 1d20+14+2+2
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+14+2+2 --> 6,0[ 1d20=16 ]4,0{34}
<El-Cideon> "Alright, alright!" he relents, rubbing his forehead, eyes turned to the sky. "That's enough out of you all, please, I'm not so fond of the sound of human voices anymore." He walks to the riverside, cranks a winch by the wooden barrier and it soon retracts. "Find your man, get him out, but I see another lot of fools come through looking for you, I'm turning 'em aside, hear?"
<Stephanie> "No problem! We're probably competent!" replies Stephanie, tipping her hat and strutting towards the raft.
* Franceska doesn't object to that characterization of them, considering what she feels about their quest. "It sounds reasonable," she voices, proceeding after Stephanie.
<Julia> "Thank you," Julia nods her head to him, walking over and stepping onto the raft.
<El-Cideon> "Oh, thank you sir!" Rosemund gushes, following her friends to the raft.
<El-Cideon> As he's untying the raft from its mooring: "Mind yourself on the other side. Stream takes a tumble down a cataract a couple minutes after you're through."
<Stephanie> "Cataract? That like a waterfall?"
<El-Cideon> "Yep."
<Franceska> "I can fly."
<Stephanie> "I'll hang onto you, then," decides Stephanie.
* Franceska looks dubiously at her.
<El-Cideon> "Then I'm sure you'll have no trouble getting back," he calls out as you float downstream towards the arch.
<Julia> "We can just hop onto the riverbank when we're through," Julia says, casting false life to make herself tougher if she does tumble down the waterfall. As they reach the arch Thing also wings out from the tree canopy and passes through the portal as well.
<Julia> roll 1d10+8
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d10+8 --> 6,0[ 1d10=5 ]4,0{13}
* Stephanie looks quizzically back.
<El-Cideon> The moment your raft passes under the arch, a whole new vista opens up before you: instead of your stream passing sedately through autumn woodland, a brilliantly verdant valley sprawls out below. The air is perfectly clear hear and you can seemingly see for miles--past miles of forest, the stream joins up with a lake glittering far in the distance amidst open grasslands. On this side of the portal, the stream emerges from a cave mouth. Either riverbank shows you to be on a forested mountainside, and could easily be reached by poling the raft to one side or the other.
<Stephanie> It does seem preferable to grabbing helplessly onto another woman's legs whilst she hurtles through the sky, so Stephanie quickly grabs the pole and starts enthusiastically shoving the raft to the left-hand side of the river.
<El-Cideon> "Isn't this all so very breathtaking?" Rosemund enthuses over the landscape. "Franceska, surely you must at least agree nature can be beautiful when it is far away?"
* Franceska nods with faint approval as she waits for Stephanie to get them ashore, before she blinks. "Sorry, Rosemund, did you say something?"
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters'
<Julia> "I don't know..." Julia frowns, "Isn't it all so dreadfully bright and overdone?"
<El-Cideon> "You know," she presses, "I feel sure one day you shall thank me for freeing you from your routine of lawbooks and drudgery."
<El-Cideon> The stream isn't a very strong one, and Stephanie's easily able to push the raft safely onto the pebbly shore.
<Franceska> "It is not good to keep such childish delusions at your age," Franceska lectures Rosemund sternly.
<El-Cideon> "Well, sometimes I feel I must make up for you, who I sometimes think was not a child at any age."
<Stephanie> "That meant to be sympathetic, or some kinda cutting remark?" whispers Stephanie, leaning close to Julia.
<Julia> Thing flaps around overhead a bit miserable looking, as much expression as an ugly bat face allows. "Sympathetic," Julia whispers. "Rosemund doesn't do cutting, that I've ever seen."
* Franceska frowns. "Yes, well, you do that."
<Stephanie> "Oh, for sure, for sure. But it sounded like it was right on the money! Guess how much it hurts is gonna be about who it comes from, you know?"
<Julia> "The words of an innocent can sometimes sting far more than the most bitter soul," Julia nods in melancholy.
<El-Cideon> "Well, ah, where do you think we go?" Rosemund wonders, after tugging the raft fully onto land to make sure it's not dislodged by the current.
<Stephanie> "Shit, you're right," mutters Stephanie. "That's profound, real profound." She hops off the raft, and chooses to survey her surroundings. "We should follow the river. 'cos where there are rivers, sooner or later there's gonna be people."
<Julia> "Asking for directions is all we can really do," Julia agrees, setting off in that direction.
<Stephanie> "Yep. Lord of Midnight Feathers, eh? Sounds like a real pompous guy, huh?" muses Stephanie, striking out after Julia.
<Franceska> "About that," Franceska voices, walking slowly alongside them. "Perhaps we should not be quite so direct about our intentions without first understanding how the locals view the situation?"
<Julia> "I don't know, it's a rather nice title," she opines. "Pleasantly gloomy... ah, that's a wise suggestion, Franceska."
<El-Cideon> After a couple hundred feet, the stream does indeed take a steep plunge down a waterfall--eighty feet or so down, you think, and the stream is placid enough to lack rapids that would've made the fall apparent far in advance. Descending to the ground below looks possible along a crude stone ramp that zigzags down the cliff face alongside the waterfall.
<El-Cideon> "Well, why should anyone here object to our freeing a prisoner?" Rosemund wonders. "Surely that is the sort of thing they should approve of!"
<Stephanie> "Well, maybe he killed someone and they locked him up for a reason, and it so happens they're rather poetic about how they go about it," replies Stephanie.
<Franceska> "If it is a heaven, why does it hold heroic prisoners to begin with?"
<El-Cideon> "Well, well--it is not our heaven, is it?" Rosemund says. "Even if it is very pretty."
<Julia> "One person's hero is another person's villain."
<Franceska> "Yes. It is a place of elves! So we have to understand what is going on, since we cannot predict what elves would do."
<Stephanie> "And you know, if any schmuck can walk through a door and suddenly be here, who knows just how heavenly it really is?" continues Stephanie, with a shrug. "I mean, place full of good, honest people? Conman's field day, I'll have you know."
<El-Cideon> "Stephanie, just because a person is honest does not mean that she is stupid," Rosemund counters.
<Stephanie> "Hey, I'm just saying that dishonest people spend way more time thinking about how to conduct their dishonesty than the honest," replies Stephanie. "If nobody's thinking about how people might be conned, how're they gonna stop people conning them?"
<Julia> "That's an interesting thought," Julia admits. "We should all think carefully about how we might trick and deceive others, so we're prepared for when they do it to us."
<El-Cideon> "You know, you sound as though you have spent much time thinking about this indeed," Rosemund points out. "Oh, not that I am suggesting anything improper!"
<Stephanie> "I'm a merchant!" protests Stephanie. "There's always people trying to con me!"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, well...okay." Rosemund seems to accept this explanation.
<Franceska> "A likely excuse," Franceska mutters, not being so generous.
<Stephanie> "So anyhow, what d'ya wanna do? I mean, we've only got so much to go on, and this Feathers guy could be anywhere. Not gonna get far just wandering around, I'll bet," continues Stephanie. "Could just say we heard about his gallery and want to go take a look?"
<Julia> "Or we could ask about lords in general so any focus on him is lost in our enquiries about all the others," Julia offers.
<Franceska> "I would propose," Franceska muses, after taking a few moments to think about it, "that we try to learn about the way this realm is governed and about the balance of power here. Prominent individuals, perhaps?" She nods at Julia. "And then, once he is mentioned, we could focus on him, yes."
<Stephanie> "No sweat, just gotta find a decent pub. Elves..." She frowns. "Dunno if elves have pubs."
<El-Cideon> "Well, when we meet some, we can ask them that first?" Roseumund suggests.
<Stephanie> "Yeah. If worst comes to worst, we can always tag along to some... I don't know, some basket-weaving session or whatever it is they do for fun," continues Stephanie. "People talk the most when they're enjoying themselves!"
* Franceska shivers.
<El-Cideon> Descending the cliffside ramp is somewhat tricky, with the stone being slick from waterfall spray. About halfway down, it turns out a swath of the path was washed out in some passed rockslide, leaving the group to either jump the gap or climb down to the next level.
<Stephanie> Stephanie tries to judge the distance of the gap!
<El-Cideon> It's about ten feet.
<Stephanie> She sniffs, and then does a running leap to the other side.
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll acrobatics?
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+14 literally can't fail
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+14 1,0literally can't fail --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{19}
<El-Cideon> Stephanie sets a bold example for her fellows, easily making the jump!
<Julia> Being the scholarly shut-in that she is, neither option really appeals to Julia. Thus she instead falls on her magic! And even if it's all horrible nasty necromantic killing spells, never let it be said that she isn't versatile! Within a moment of her beginning the incantation, a large dragon appears! Except on closer inspection its scales are flaking off, revealing yellowing bones and
<Julia> rotting flesh in places, holes and gashes torn in its dry and crackly but still flexible wings. "Anyone who doesn't want to jump can join me," she offers, clambering onto the zombie wyvern which makes no reaction to her boarding.
* Franceska looks between the dragon and the jump, clearly considering.
<El-Cideon> "Oh, ah, is that safe?" Rosemund wonders. "Its wings are all holey! Not in the good way!"
<Stephanie> "Rosemund, darling, ah, just where are you making your friends when I'm not around?" asks Stephanie, rubbing her head.
<Julia> "It's not as agile or as quick as a living dragon, but it's enough for a short flight," Julia insists.
<El-Cideon> "Oh, she is very skilled at healing the sick and mending wounds," Rosemund says in Julia's defense. "Even if her talents don't spring from any divine source--oh, not that there is anything wrong with that, the results are still perfectly respectable!" With some trepidation, she climbs on behind Julia.
<Franceska> "I will meet you all below," Franceska announces, turning into an albino bat the size of a warhorse and slowly descending on her own.
<Stephanie> "That thing's full of wounds! And it looks ill! Beyond ill- I'm just gonna walk," mutters Stephanie, starting to trudge the rest of the way down the hill.
<Julia> "Fly us down," Julia instructs the wyvern, which shuffles around and launches itself into the air, flapping its wings with an audible snap of a tendon before managing to glide its way down to the bottom of the cliff.
<El-Cideon> Down below, the waterfall tumbles into a shallow pool. The stream flows out of this and onward down a mild slope, continuously wooded on both sides. The trees are tall and provide a fairly comprehensive canopy from the sky above, so the ground itself is largely clear and devoid of undergrowth save some scraggly grass.
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll perception
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 Julia
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0Julia --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{20}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-1 Rosemund is very worldly and alert
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20-1 1,0Rosemund is very worldly and alert --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{7}
<Julia> roll 1d20+6 Thing
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+6 1,0Thing --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{21}
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+10
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+10 --> 6,0[ 1d20=11 ]4,0{21}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+28 Darrin
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+28 1,0Darrin --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{37}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+18 me
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+18 1,0me --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{37}
<El-Cideon> Everyone that is not Rosemund can see with a casual glance that there is something behind the waterfall--looks like behind the spray there is a gap that opens up into a cave.
<Stephanie> "He-heyyyyyy, there's a secret place," announces Stephanie, hopping towards the edge of the river like a demented child. "Let's go looksie!"
<Julia> Is it big enough for a large zombie wyvern to fit?
<Franceska> Her regular warmly-clad self once more, Franceska peers dubiously at the cave in question. "It is surely occupied by something horrible."
<Stephanie> "Then I'll go by m'self, and if there's anything horrible I'll come out right quick!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: just barely, Julia
<El-Cideon> One would have to pass under the waterfall to get inside, with the assurance of getting doused, and the water inside looks at least knee-deep.
<Franceska> "Good luck," Franceska deadpans.
<Julia> Clambering off the wyvern and waiting for Rosemund to do the same, Julia pats its neck and tells it, "Good boy," before dismissing it back to whatever nightmarish void of unlife it spawned from. "Give a shout if you can't get out," she tells Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> "Oh, thank you," Rosemund says after dismounting. "Wouldn't you require some light on the inside?" she asks Stephanie, blessing her mace to shine brightly by way of demonstration.
<Stephanie> "Eh? Nah, don't worry 'bout that," replies Stephanie, before slinking towards the edge of the cave and poking her head around the corner, beyond the waterfall to see inside.
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+17 stealth
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+17 1,0stealth --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{30}
<El-Cideon> Inside is a cavern perhaps thirty feet in diameter. Most of it is taken up by a central pool, but a lip of stone just wide enough to walk upon rings the interior wall. At the far end of the cave lies a pile of wooden debris and, crumpled on the ground, a skeleton.
<Stephanie> Stephanie's keen eyes scan the room for anything worth pilfering!
<El-Cideon> In the dim light that filters through the fall, Stephanie thinks she spies the gleam of metal amongst the bones.
<Stephanie> Someone clearly died here, with whatever it was they had- but the allure of shiny things is far too difficult to dismiss, and so Stephanie begins picking her way around the outer rim of the pool.
<El-Cideon> On closer inspection, the pile of debris looks like it was once very crudely-fashioned furniture--table, chairs, perhaps a bed--now long gone to rot. The skeleton is curled on the ground in what must have once been a position of some discomfort--Stephanie can see wooden arrows piercing the set of chain mail the skeleton wears (quite rusted beyond use), and old blood staining the ground. Clutched in the skeleton's hand is a simple stone ring set with a single red gem.
<Stephanie> The ring is probably valuable! And so Stephanie pockets it before making her way back.
<El-Cideon> "What did you find?" Rosemund asks upon her return.
<Stephanie> "Dead guy who was a pincushion for some nob's bowshot," replies Stephanie. "Looks like people find reasons to get killed by other people, even here in heaven. He had this thing," she adds, displaying the ring.
* Julia casts detect magic to have a looksee.
<Julia> roll 1d20+13 spellcraft if relevant
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+13 1,0spellcraft if relevant --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{27}
<El-Cideon> "Oh, how awfully sad!" Rosemund says with evident sympathy, examining the ring. "Ah, there is writing on the inside!" She points out. "I cannot read it, though. The script is, ah, very flowery?"
<El-Cideon> The ring does not radiate magic.
<Stephanie> Stephanie takes a look at said writing.
<Franceska> "Yes. A terrible tragedy," Franceska drolls, leaning over to glance at the writing herself.
<Julia> "It's just ornamental," Julia declares.
<El-Cideon> Stephanie recognizes it as Sylvan, very awkwardly inscribed within the arc of the ring. She suspects the writer had a very primitive grasp of the language: the inscription reads, "For my bereaved."
<El-Cideon> "But of course it is, Franceska!" Rosemund counters. "When you die, would you prefer it to be in a dank cave, all alone?"
<Franceska> "No. Which is why I make it my business to avoid dank caves."
<El-Cideon> "I do not believe you are understanding me," Rosemund sighs.
<Stephanie> "Huh. This is the kinda thing you leave your husband before you up and die," notes Stephanie, peering at it for a moment. "Wonder if he wanted someone to find it on him, or if he got given it." She shrugs. "Seen a share of stiffs, made a few. Always a tragedy for someone, if not m'self, eh? No need to be all crass about it."
<Franceska> "So let us leave his ring with him and be on our way?"
<Julia> "I think that's best," Julia agrees.
<Stephanie> Stephanie's face contorts in momentary agony!
<El-Cideon> "Well, I only wanted to impress on you that some things just should be not lightly trivialized," Rosemund says to Franceska before turning back to Stephanie with concern. "Oh, what is it? Are you alright?"
<Stephanie> "N'nope, Rosey! I'm as right as I ever am, y'see? I'll just be two ticks," she continues, tiptoeing back inside the cave and soon returning, bereft of a ring.
<El-Cideon> The group continues along the stream. It's a quiet couple hours' walk, save for the singing of birds in the trees high above. They're all marvelously pretty and tuneful. Eventually the trees thin out for a time, the downward slope hits a level plateau. On the opposite shore, amidst a grassy field, you can see what might once have been buildings--mostly single-story structures, huts broken down and covered with plantlife but still just recognizable as former dwellings. Immediately before you, on your side of the stream, the tree cover gives way to an open field and a regular orchard of apple trees. The sun shines brightly on the most perfectly red and round apples any of you has ever seen.
<Julia> "How picturesque!" Julia beams at the run down ghost village. "Do you think this was where refugees lived out the conflict?"
<Stephanie> Stephanie appropriates one of the apples swiftly, heedlessly taking a bite before looking upon the one-time village. "Might have been," replies Stephanie. "Probably was. Don't think they'd go far from the gate."
<El-Cideon> "Perhaps so?" Rosemund speculates. "Do the native inhabitants build towns of their own?"
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll fort, Stephanie
<Franceska> "Did they all die afterwards, you think?"
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+8
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+8 --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{20}
<El-Cideon> Stephanie feels unaccountably drowsy for a moment...but then shakes it off with a yawn. Well, clearly she's just been walking for a long time.
<El-Cideon> The apple does taste quite delicious, at any rate! It's perfectly crisp and juicy.
<Stephanie> Stephanie blinks, and rubs her eyes after finishing with that. "Wanna make kip here?" she suggests, peering closely at the apple.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund shades her eyes, peers up at the sky. The sun here seems to follow the same hours as Solata's--it's mid-afternoon at present.
<Julia> "I think we have a few hours of day left before thinking about that," Julia shakes her head, but she nonetheless takes down a few apples and puts them in her haversack. She can make an apple crumble for everyone later!
<El-Cideon> "We could rest for a time, if you like?" Rosemund says with a shrug. "How are they?" she adds, picking an apple of her own and examining it critically.
<Stephanie> "I reckon they got something in 'em that makes you all fluffyheaded," replies Stephanie, yawning again.
<El-Cideon> "Oh?" Rosemund asks, keeping it at arm's length from herself.
<Julia> "Oh... well, I won't use them to cook anything after all. For us, anyway..." An apple pie of drowsiness to give to someone she doesn't like would be nice, though...
<Stephanie> "Yeah, like there's this one powder you can slip in a drink and it makes a girl all sleepy so some rake can- look, Rosie, there are real cads in this world, alright? So don't go drinking things when a stranger gives them to you."
<Franceska> "Again."
<Stephanie> "What d'ya mean, 'Again'?"
<El-Cideon> "What do you mean, 'Again?'" Rosemund says defensively. "Lady Nisbet was perfectly civil, was she not?"
<Julia> "Oh, that is a good point," Julia admits. "Yes, a lady must be careful about these things."
<Franceska> "She had to have slipped something in your drink," Franceska responds quite reasonably. "Unless you tell any perfect stranger about the security at the temple?"
<Stephanie> "Oh yeah... that did happen, huh? Hahahaha!"
<Franceska> "It is no laughing manner!" Franceska exclaims, shaking her finger at Stephanie. "Rosemund is lucky that the thief was after something else!"
<El-Cideon> "Oh really now, you are not properly celebrating at the harvest festival if you do not drink any thing at all!"
<Franceska> "Even then, accepting drinks from clearly shady people is too risky!"
<El-Cideon> "Well, I will just consider it an educational experience," she concludes.
<Stephanie> "You need the proper sense for it, Rosey! Like if they're not looking at your eyes, they're totally wrong," replies Stephanie, nodding. "And if they're looking at your eyes too hard, that's also wrong. You know?"
<Franceska> "You sound quite knowledgeable about all this."
<El-Cideon> "You make this all sound very complicated," Rosemund says. "Exactly what degree of eye-looking is considered appropriate and trustworthy?"
* Franceska points at herself.
<Stephanie> "Well, they should be looking at your eyes about three-quarters of the time," replies Stephanie, pursing her lips. "That's a good measure. And hey, that's why I'm here, right? 'cos I've been around the block a few times?"
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll perception
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+10
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+10 --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{17}
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 Julia
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0Julia --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{19}
<Julia> roll 1d20+6 Thing
<Franceska> roll 1d20+28 Darrin always watches
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+6 1,0Thing --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{9}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+28 1,0Darrin always watches --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{43}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-1 Rose is so good at this
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20-1 1,0Rose is so good at this --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{9}
<El-Cideon> Darrin's sharp eyes spot another bird--an eagle, high in the surrounding trees and taking an apparent interest in the humans below. It takes wing and disappears into the forest cover on the far side of the orchard.
<El-Cideon> "Seventy-five percent of the time?" Rosemund considers. "I will keep this in mind."
<Franceska> Darrin moves closer to Franceska's ear from his perch atop her right shoulder and whispers his findings to her in infernal. She looks over dubiously, before voicing, "In any case, there might be something on the other side of this orchard. We should either seek it out or continue, rather than remain here. Rosemund's education can surely continue on the way."
<Julia> "As will I," Julia seconds, "It's good to know."
<Stephanie> "Surprised you don't already! Ain't the boys all over you?" wonders Stephanie, deciding to start crossing the orchard.
<Julia> "No, few express much of any interest in me," Julia replies with a shrug. "And those that do somehow lose that interest before much can be done."
<El-Cideon> Arborea's songbirds, silent in the wake of the bird of prey's passage, pick up their background chatter again as the group presses onward. The opposite shore continues to be dominated by open fields with occasional lone tree, whereas you walk again under heavy tree cover. There are shapes of some sort low to the ground in the field opposite, mostly covered in undergrowth and difficult to discern without close inspection.
<Stephanie> "Aww. They all's probably not real men anyway!" continues Stephanie, peering into the distance.
<El-Cideon> "Well, I do not see why," Rosemund says as you walk. "You are an attractive and well-dressed young woman, after all. Oh! Maybe you should not summon dead things when impressionable young men can witness it?"
<Franceska> "I would not say it is merely a male issue, to be perfectly fair."
<El-Cideon> OOC: feel free to roll perception if you're trying to pick out details, Steph
<Julia> "I don't," Julia retorts, "I rarely have to descend dangerous cliffs when young men are talking to me."
<Stephanie> Stephanie giggles, almost uncontrollably.
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+10
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+10 --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{13}
<El-Cideon> "Then I admit I am at loss as to guess whatever might be the problem," Rosemund concludes, walking on.
<Stephanie> "It's-ahaha-no big deal, right? True love is out there somewhere! Only need to find it once!"
<El-Cideon> Rosemund nods enthusiastic agreement!
<Julia> "That's a good attitude, even if I think you're making fun of me," Julia nods placidly.
<Stephanie> "H-hey, what's wrong with a little fun?" protests Stephanie. "I don't mean bad by it or nothing! And if it bothers you, just do it back, I'm easy!"
<El-Cideon> Within another hour or so's walking, you come upon a small grass hut. There is no evident means of entry from your angle of approach, perhaps on the other side? From behind it, a faint wisp of smoke trails up into the air. Some sixty feet past the hut, the tree cover becomes much denser, darker, and less inviting.
<Julia> "That's alright, I should be happy to hear the wisdom of one so popular and beloved," Julia tells Stephanie in an innocent tone.
<Stephanie> "Ah, ahaha-" Stephanie winces for a moment. "I'm holding out for true love, too, you know- so what's behind this hut, eh?"
<Franceska> "We could try calling out to them and seeing for ourselves?"
<Julia> "Or walking around," Julia says, moving to do just that.
<Stephanie> Not one to be left behind, Stephanie quickly follows along.
<Franceska> It looks needlessly dangerous, but Franceska resigns herself to the attempt.
<El-Cideon> On the other side, an elf crouches down attending to a small cooking pit. Twigs and other random treefall have been collected and employed to warm some manner of stew brewing in an old pot. It smells powerfully of apples. The man is tall and slender, with long blond hair, and quite handsome. He wears a leather vest and pants. A wooden flute and a pouch are slung in his belt.
* Franceska is already regretting that approach.
<Julia> Resolving not to eat the drowsy apple stew, Julia still calls out, "Hello?" while Thing lingers further back out of immediate sight.
<El-Cideon> He looks up in surprise. "Oh, visitors?" he says with a genial smile, in a voice like music. "Warm greetings, strangers."
<Stephanie> Stephanie licks her lips. "'ello! Let's not stay strangers, eh? I'm Stephanie!"
<Julia> "Julia," the young necromancer adds for herself.
<El-Cideon> "Rosemund Whitefall," Rosemund says with a respectful bow.
<El-Cideon> "Lucian," he says. He stands up, brushes dirt off his knees. "What brings you to this corner of Arvandor, friends?"
<Julia> "We're not really sure which corner we're in," Julia admits, "So we're trying to figure out where we are and who or what's important to note around here."
<El-Cideon> "Mm, well, 'important' all depends on what a person's looking for, doesn't it?" He gestures to the firepit before his hut. "But you look as though you've been walking for some time. Would you care to sit and rest a bit, maybe I can help answer your questions if I know a little more about what you need? Arvandor is grand and spacious, after all."
<El-Cideon> OOC: perception, anyone who cares to
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+10
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+10 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{30}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+28 Darrin
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+28 1,0Darrin --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{48}
<Julia> roll 1d20+2
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+2 --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{7}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-1 Rose
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20-1 1,0Rose --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{17}
<El-Cideon> Stephanie, as well as Fran's companion, can see that the eagle's back. It's taken up a position just inside the dense tree growth, lurking surreptitiously in the foliage.
<Stephanie> "Why not? Well, I'm a trader by trade, see?" replies Stephanie. "From Solata! Used to go around delivering building materials, don't you know? Nails and hammers and things like that- anyway, decided to try striking out a bit further afield. See if there's anything here in Arborea- it is Arborea, right?- that ain't so easily found back home, and if there's anything the folks here might want
<Stephanie> which I could get 'em! But I'd need to ask permission first, I think? From..." She scratches her head. "Who runs things around here?"
<Franceska> Darrin dutifully reports his findings to Franceska, standing as she is off to the side. She has to wonder at the importance of it. Maybe eagles and owls are mortal enemies that seek each other out? Something to research once she is safely back home.
<El-Cideon> He laughs, brightly and joyfully. "Ahaha--oh my, if I could beg your pardon for that outburst, no one, properly speaking, 'runs things' here. No one gives us commands and imperatives. You *are* indeed in Arborea and that is, happily, the first thing to learn about it."
<Stephanie> "Oh! So... there's no taxes or tarrifs or nothing?" replies Stephanie, laughing back. "I'm in heaven! I really am, aren't I?"
<El-Cideon> "Quite so!" he confirms.
<Stephanie> "Are there any communities?" she wonders. "Or markets, or bazaars, or anything like that?"
<El-Cideon> "Ah, but we are in the grandest of communities!" he says, gesturing to the tree trunks around him. "Centuries old, think of all they have to say! But I suspect that is not the manner of audience you are seeking? Well, aside from the trees themselves--which I assure you are spectacular company for those with an ear to listen--there's great bands of my fellows living out their eternities, though it's hard to direct you to them since our homes tend to be mobile. Most easy for you to spot them down on the plains, I don't doubt. There's fairies of all kinds, I know of at least one other human living in these woods..."
<Julia> "No towns or cities at all?" Julia asks, surprised.
<Stephanie> "Oh? Probably from Solata too, if he's around here! What's his name?"
<El-Cideon> "Look around you, dear," he says to Julia. "Would our surrounds be improved by walls of brick and mortar?" To Stephanie: "Oh, I am not personally familiar with her. Marina, I hear? Magician of some sort. Has one of your human manor houses, in a manner of speaking, only grown out of the ground from trees rather than crudely constructed from felled timbers."
<Stephanie> "A magician! Maybe she needs... things," mumbles Stephanie, after a moment. "Could you give us directions to her?"
<Julia> "Yes," Julia says without doubt. "Roads, bridges, aqueducts, farms, houses, mausoleums... they're all useful and can look nice, too!"
<Franceska> Why would she need anything when she lives in a tree? Franceska barely stops herself from snorting derisively, instead resuming to look as distant as humanly possible.
<El-Cideon> He gives Julia a dubious look, then answers Stephanie. "ah, of course, you would no doubt wish to associate with your own kind." He cups his chin. "How best to give directions in human terms...Well, follow the river for another twenty of your miles, follow the rising sun until you reach a brilliant pond with a prominent rock thrusting up in the center, continue downslope until the trees thin out...you should see it just before the forest proper bows to the plains. It's quite a prominent structure," he adds, not entirely in an approving tone.
<Stephanie> "Guess those are rare in these parts, eh? But there's plenty of space for everyone, right?"
<El-Cideon> "Well, of course," he agrees.
<Julia> "Alright then, I suppose we'd best be off through the forest, then?" Julia says, happy to end the awkward conversation and move on. "Thank you for your help Lucian."
<El-Cideon> "Ah, but perhaps I could favor you with a song before you depart?" he adds eagerly. "It's such a rare thing to receive foreign guests, I would like to give you something to remember your visit by."
<Stephanie> "Sure! Why not?" replies Stephanie, brightly. "I love a good jig!"
<Julia> "Alright then," Julia acquiesces, leaning against the side of the hut to listen.
<El-Cideon> "Most kind, most kind," he says, striding a few feet back and taking position in the center of the clearing in which his hut rests, perhaps for the sake of acoustics? At which point he begins singing in a high voice, ringing brilliantly and crystal clear. There aren't words, that you can discern, but it's sad and alien and strangely compelling...
<El-Cideon> OOC: will, all
<El-Cideon> OOC: (not familiars though)
<Franceska> roll 1d20+9
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+9 --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{21}
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+4 is an elf really using magic to seduce me
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+4 1,0is an elf really using magic to seduce me --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{6}
<Julia> roll 1d20+8 (+10 if it's sleep/stunning/paralysis)
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+8 1,0(+10 if it's sleep/stunning/paralysis) --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{12}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 Rosey
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+7 1,0Rosey --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{21}
<El-Cideon> Julia and Stephanie find themselves fascinated to a distracting degree by the song, presently unable to do more than sit and listen! Franceska nobly refrains from feeling anything in response, however, and it seems perhaps Rosemund learned something from her friends' earlier advice after all.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia/Stephanie presently fascinated (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/conditionSummary.htm#fascinated)
* Franceska taps her foot in irritation as she song goes on and on. Honestly, can't they just get on their way already?
<Julia> Closing her eyes and nodding her head in vague time with the music, Julia is quite happy to listen away.
<El-Cideon> He does indeed go on and on. Rosemund looks to be enjoying herself, at least, even if not mindlessly enthralled by the song. Stephanie, however--
<El-Cideon> OOC: will again, Steph
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+4
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{17}
<Stephanie> Stephanie licks her lips again. "Hey mister, you mind if I try some of the brew?" she stutters, before walking towards it anyway and cupping her hands to draw some out, heedless of the heat.
<El-Cideon> He seems to have no objections to this at all! He just keeps on singing. And fortunately for Steph, there is a wooden spoon in the pot she can use to sample the brew! (OOC: Steph, fort. Julia, another will)
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+8
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+8 --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{11}
<Julia> roll 1d20+8
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+8 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{28}
<El-Cideon> Stephanie is suddenly overcome by an uncontrollable desire to sleep, and simply must lie down for a nap on the spot! (OOC: no change for Julia, though)
<Franceska> "Hey!" Franceska speaks up for a change, her voice sharp and haughty. "You there! Elf! Can you not tell that your singing grates so much it puts people to sleep?"
<El-Cideon> He stops as Stephanie collapses, and sighs sadly. "I was really hoping that would get more of you. It would've been easier for all of us."
<Franceska> "Oh. Oh!" Her eyes widening in understanding, Franceska wastes no time in pointing her left arm at him, casting Enervation.
<El-Cideon> OOC: that sounds like init!
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 Julia
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0Julia --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{6}
<Julia> roll 1d20+7 Thing
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+7 1,0Thing --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{19}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 elf
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+8 1,0elf --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{14}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Rose
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0Rose --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{8}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+1
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{14}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+3 Darrin
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+3 1,0Darrin --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{10}
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Thing > elf = Fran > Darrin > Rose > Julia'
<El-Cideon> OOC: go Thing!
<Julia> Hearing battle start Thing can't wait to get in on the action! But knowing how his true appearance makes others want to kill him in these parts, he turns invisible first and then flies up towards that eagle.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 eagle since it's being involved now
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+8 1,0eagle since it's being involved now --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{16}
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Thing > eagle > elf = Fran > Darrin > Rose > Julia'
<Franceska> A dark purple beam makes its way towards the sneaky elf!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+6 ranged touch
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+6 1,0ranged touch --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{26}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+6 ranged touch crit?
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+6 1,0ranged touch crit? --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{8}
<El-Cideon> OOC: no crit
<Franceska> roll 1d4 negative levels
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d4 1,0negative levels --> 6,0[ 1d4=4 ]4,0{4}
<El-Cideon> Even as his body and presence weakens noticeably, the elf takes two actions: one is to take a bottle of some substance from his pouch and douse himself with it, the other is to draw a shortsword and dash up next to Franceska!
<El-Cideon> OOC: fort, Fran
<Franceska> roll 1d20+10
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+10 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{30}
<El-Cideon> A cloud of some powerfully somnolent aroma pervades the air around the elf, but Franceska resists its influence!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Darrin
<Franceska> It is not really his job to fight and, in earnest, Darrin had never been in such a fight before. Therefore, it takes flight and observes the battlefield for any other enemies so as to warn Franceska about such sneak attacks in time.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Okay, Rosey!
<El-Cideon> "Oh, you--and we were having such a pleasant afternoon," Rosemund complains. "My friends warned me about men like you!" She draws her mace and charges!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+13 --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{18}
<Franceska> "I can scarcely believe it!" Franceska exclaims, terribly offended. She twists her nose at the foul elven stench. "We have indeed! What are the odds, I ask?"
<El-Cideon> But even weakened, he proves too niumble for this undisciplined strike!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia
<Julia> Not wanting to get close to that sleep-causing cloud, Julia hangs back and starts casting, intent on bringing forth another undead terror into being!
<Julia> OOC: Summon Undead III, arrives on my next turn if not disturbed
<El-Cideon> OOC: okay, Thing is up
<Julia> Thing reverts back to his fiendish form, taking position right behind the eagle and ready to strike...
<El-Cideon> As soon as battle breaks out, the lurking bird takes wing to head deep into the dense woods behind it!
<El-Cideon> OOC: there's your opportunity
<Julia> roll 1d20+11 invisible claw!
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+11 1,0invisible claw! --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{13}
<El-Cideon> But the eagle is away too quickly for this strike to land, disappearing into the dark woods!
<El-Cideon> "I am sorry, but you simply don't belong here," the elf says. "It's better for everyone you found your way back home." Addressing Franceska, he sings a trill of notes--
<El-Cideon> OOC: will
<Franceska> roll 1d20+9
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+9 --> 6,0[ 1d20=16 ]4,0{25}
<El-Cideon> OOC: carry on with your turn! But also make another fort if you're not moving.
* Franceska steps back and gestures at the disgusting elf anew! At such close quarters, she will surely strike true once more!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+6 ranged touch
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+6 1,0ranged touch --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{18}
<El-Cideon> OOC: hits, and how far back?
<Franceska> OOC: spending a swift action/shape on Okaen Resilience
<Franceska> roll 1d4 negative levels, 5ft step
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d4 1,0negative levels, 5ft step --> 6,0[ 1d4=1 ]4,0{1}
<El-Cideon> He gasps as his life force is stripped away, but remains resolutely standing!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Darrin
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 belated fort for Rose, it happens on his turn
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+7 1,0belated fort for Rose, it happens on his turn --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{19}
<Franceska> With nothing new emerging to attack his mistress, Darrin descends upon Stephanie to do his best to claw her back to wakefulness.
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+5 init
<Rei-chan> 6,0Stephanie rolled :6,0 1d20+5 1,0init --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{23}
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Stephanie > Thing > eagle > elf = Fran > Darrin > Rose > Julia'
<El-Cideon> As Stephanie rouses from her rude awakening, a grim Rosemund bashes away at the elf!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+11 --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{13}
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+6 --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{20}
<El-Cideon> Only to fail consecutively!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia
<Julia> Her spell concludes and a fearsome looking ogre appears looming over the elf opposite Rosemund! A rather green and flakey ogre with bits falling off and bones protruding from gaping rents in the skin, but none of that stops it from bringing up its giant club and smashing down on the flanked villain!
<Julia> roll 1d20+11 club
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+11 1,0club --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{14}
<Julia> When that fails Julia settles for casting a different spell, one to cloud the elf's eyes and deny him sight forevermore!
<Julia> OOC: Blindness, DC 17 fort
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5-5 negative levels :(
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+5-5 1,0negative levels :( --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{20}
<El-Cideon> But he soldiers on!
<El-Cideon> ~