012A: Freedom reigns supreme

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> "Well, now!" Blackbird concludes with a sweeping gesture. "You have now experienced the gallery--most of it, save for one cantankerous adventurer. I trust you have been suitably impressed with the fragility of mortal existence. The tenuous nature of health and happiness, how these things ought be savored while they may, and grasped tightly lest the winds of circumstance rend them from our grasp. Oh, truly ours is a reality fraught with perils and misfortune!"
<El-Cideon> His companion swoons dramatically in tandem, a despairing palm to her forehead.
<Julia> "Yesssss..." Julia forces herself to agree, casting hopeful eyes at her companions.
<Steph> "Oh, yes!" replies Stephanie, all smiles. "I now understand that we must take and seize love and joy wherever we can, lest we be struck down by misfortune and regret not having our fill. After all, is that not what we are here to do? Are we not alive and in this world to enjoy it?"
<El-Cideon> "I certainly intend to enjoy myself in the near future," Marina says with a hint of dark foreboding.
<Steph> "I must- I really must give you something in thanks!" continues Stephanie, rummaging around in her bag, and withdrawing a pair of stylized bracers. "If you would accept a gift?" she adds, pleadingly.
<El-Cideon> Blackbird looks well pleased with this response. "Oh, I must say I swell with pride to know I have enriched your lives in such a manner! Do forgive me if I flatter myself--you should see by now how success may go to a man's head!" He laughs. "Naturally I would not demand payment for admission to the gallery, but a gift...well, that is a differently colored horse, is it not?" He reaches out and takes the proffered object.
<Steph> "Oh, thank you! And, well-" She glances at the blonde clinging to his arm, and makes a little sigh. "Lord Blackbird is already accounted for, isn't he? Such a lucky girl."
<El-Cideon> He gifts Stephanie with a piteous look for her loss. "I regret to tell you, poor girl, that only the most puissant of divine magics could tear the two of us apart. But have no fear! I am sure you shall find your own love if you seek for it diligently."
<Franceska> It takes all of Franceska's willpower not to gag.
<El-Cideon> "So!" he continues, "What manner of refreshment suits your appetites at this hour? We have wine and beds to spare if you wish to rest the evening here."
<Steph> "Oh, do try them on," suggests Stephanie, before cupping her cheek. "Oh, something light? And we would be much obliged," she adds.
<El-Cideon> "Of course, of course," he says, fitting on the bracers and looking at them in the perpetual dim evening light of the cavern. He gestures to his buzzing bodyguards. "Thalia, Melpomene, show our fellow connoisseurs to the guest quarters, will you?" The masked fairies nod and gesture back north.
<Steph> "Will you be dining with us, or retiring for the evening?" asks Stephanie, all inquisitive-like.
<El-Cideon> He smiles. "If you wish the honor of my company, I may summon you come evenfall?" he suggests.
<Steph> "Until then, then?" she replies, nodding.
<El-Cideon> "Of course!" The fairy twins lead you back to the cavern's entrance, then take the path right to an opening in the cavern wall. "La la la," the jovial fairy hums as she drifts along. "Guest quarters are in here. Should be enough beds for all of you!"
<Steph> "Can I ask you two something?" asks Stephanie, still all smiles and brightness and positive feelings. "How did you two come to work for Lord Blackbird?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, he used to stage plays and things like that, and they sorta had a way of dragging in anybody he might happen to set his eyes on. Not that either of us had much in the way of talent, but hey, every play needs its spear carriers and whatnot, right? We just kind of stuck around when he changed hobbies. He's a barrel of laughs, isn't he?" Her mask smiles as ever.
<El-Cideon> "I liked being in the plays," the serious one says. "Even if I always died in them."
<Steph> roll 1d20+11 is this actually a cry for help
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+11 is this actually a cry for help and gets 12."12 [1d20=1]
<Franceska> "If you like being in plays," Franceska asks her, "why not try to find employment with one?"
<El-Cideon> "I do not know if you have noticed this," she says, without any obvious sign of insult or reproach, "but there are not many theaters to be found here."
<Steph> "Oh-! But there are plenty on the prime~"
<Julia> "Or at least on other realms of Arborea that aren't blasted deserts I'd hope," Julia chimes in.
<El-Cideon> "That's a long ways away!" she replies, with the suggestion of wide eyes under that mask.
<Steph> "Is it? It's only been a few days since we left, right?" replies Stephanie, with a shrug.
<Franceska> "And if you want it badly enough, you should be willing to relocate. Temporarily, at least."
<El-Cideon> "Welllll, we'd have to talk it over with the boss," the joker-masked girl says, scratching her head. "We're professionals here! If you haven't got any sense a loyalty, well, I dunno where that leaves you."
<Franceska> "Loyalty is important, of course," Franceska agrees. "May I see the contracts you have signed over with your current employer, then?"
<El-Cideon> "Huh?"
<Julia> "Having good references from previous employers does matter, unless you go far enough..." Julia agrees with a faint suggestion otherwise laced beneath.
<Franceska> "You cannot expect me to believe that you are being loyal over a simple verbal contract-- you do have at least that?"
<Steph> "And, of course, you have to put yourself first!" insists Stephanie. "Why, are you being paid an appropriate rate for your service?"
<El-Cideon> She nods at Franceska. "Yeah, sure, it was something like, 'Hey you two, you're guards now, keep out the riff-raff!' And owing as to how we were only *pretending* to be guards most of the time before, this sounded like a step up."
<Franceska> "That is a clear case of exploitation!" Franceska exclaims. "He has no authority to alter your contract unilaterally like that! You two are actors, are you not? Certainly not guards!"
<Steph> "Being a guard is dangerous! You've got to keep out undesirables, and you could get hurt!"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, money!" she adds. "Money's not all that exciting." The sad one adds, "We do get all the wine we can drink," with an approving voice.
<Julia> "What would you do if a horde of zombies suddenly burst through that well seeking to devour the brains of everyone within?" Julia asks, "As guards you'd be the first in peril!"
<Steph> Stephanie looks absolutely stricken. "Not... not exciting?"
<Franceska> "No amount of wine would be payment enough for facing off hungry zombies," Franceska asserts.
<El-Cideon> "I dunno," the jovial one says. She draws a rapier, makes a couple flying practice stabs in the air. "I think we've got kind of good at it! And zombies, well, zombies are *slow*. You ever seen one? Shamble stumble braiiiins." She looks speculative. "Why, you think that's gonna happen?"
* Franceska nods. "It happens more often than you might think."
<El-Cideon> "It would have to be a large numbers of zombies," the sad one points out. "I do not know if they could climb the rope."
<Steph> "They'd just pile up in the well until some can walk over the bodies of their fellows," explains Stephanie.
<Julia> "It might?" Julia shrugs, "I mean, a desert like this, it's the sort of remote location ideal for a necromantic warlord to build up her forces in secret, and she'd see this collection as just so much raw materials. After all, fey could be turned into skeletons which are even faster!" Julia explains with perhaps too much knowledge.
<El-Cideon> "Hey, my skeleton's staying right where it is!" she says defensively.
<Steph> "Not if a necromancer gets in here," replies Stephanie. "Are you sure you want to risk it? Wouldn't you rather be an actor?"
* Franceska eyes the pair of fey guard speculatively. "You never know. There are certainly deviants out there who can only think of taking that poor skeleton and doing terrible things to it."
<El-Cideon> OOC: at this point someone should probably roll either bluff or diplomacy...I'm no longer sure which, so choose one amongst yourselves!
<Julia> OOC: I'm good at bluffing!
<Steph> roll 1d20+12 aidings~
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 aidings~ and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
<Julia> roll 1d20+15 dammit
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+15 dammit and gets 18."12 [1d20=3]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+10 I know how you feel
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+10 I know how you feel and gets 11."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+10 sense motiving for each of them
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+10 sense motiving for each of them and gets 26."12 [2#1d20+10 = 14, 12]
<El-Cideon> The two fairies exchange a look. "I dunno about this, sis," the joker fairy says. "Remember that story Lita told where the sand's all ground-up bones and stuff? Maybe it's true! Maybe all the walls are made up of dead people already!"
<El-Cideon> The sad fairy whimpers.
* Franceska looks about warily.
* Julia looks at the wall, intrigued...
<Franceska> "Well, there is already one dead person here," Franceska muses then. "Who is to say there cannot be more?"
<El-Cideon> She gasps. "They got a man on the inside! They know everything!"
* Franceska shudders. "I can only be grateful that I would not be the prime target." She turns towards Julia, asking, "Human skeletons are inferior to fey one, are they not?"
<Steph> Stephanie looks downright horrified for a moment, but then shakes it off. "We'll show you the way back to the prime," she advises. "If you want, you can wait for us at the top of the well, okay? I know some great playwrights, I'll get you back into acting if it's the last thing I do!"
<Julia> "They're very bad," Julia agrees with a sigh. "Elves or orcs are much better."
<El-Cideon> "Go turn off the wind machine, sis, we're getting out of here before they recruit our bones for the undead revolution." The sad fairy nods and buzzes off south.
<El-Cideon> The remaining fairy looks at Julia suspiciously. "You sound like you know a lot about this...are you one of THEM already?"
<Julia> "Oh, goodness, no! I've just had some sad experiences of my own with necromancy," Julia does her best to look saddened.
<Steph> "You've got to know your enemy to fight them, anyway," adds Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> "Hm," is all she says. She flutters down towards the dogs tending gate, pats one on the head. "Poor poochies can't climb out on their own...fight bravely, poochies! My heart goes out to your noble sacrifice." Momentarily the wind in the well calms and the other fairy returns.
<El-Cideon> "Okay, well--" She looks at Stephanie. "We're not gonna wait too long, there are storms and stuff up there! Ancient dead people blowin' all over the place, trying to sneak into your lungs so they can cut you up on the inside!" She shivers. "So hurry it up."
<Steph> Why did she ever come here- "We'll see you topside," replies Stephanie, with a comforting nod.
<El-Cideon> The two of them vanish up the well. Marina walks over to it, peers up, makes sure no one's lingering inside, returns to the party. "I cannot believe that worked," she says quietly.
<Julia> "Skeletons are scary, at least when they're not safely cocooned in living flesh," Julia says sagely.
<Franceska> "Fey."
* Franceska then grudgingly nods at Julia. "Skeletons are a factor as well, yes."
<Steph> "Hey, you know how it is, the bigger the lie the better it'll work," replies Stephanie, grinning, before she frowns. "I really hope it was a lie."
<Julia> "Will anyone mind if I take Blackbird's skeleton out of his flesh, while we're on the topic?"
<Franceska> "I will pretend I did not hear that and go try to free the Limbo prisoner now."
<Steph> "Let's just go free all of them, yes," replies Stephanie, rubbing her head. "I'll keep a lookout, make sure nobody's coming while you guys do your thing?"
<El-Cideon> "Should we all go?" Rosemund asks. "Are we...are we being sneaky?" she says in a conspiratorial whisper.
<Franceska> "Darrin will be there as well," Franceska suggests, as her owl relocates from her shoulder to Stephanie's. "He can see if we are in the clear, and then we will just... walk. Reasonably quietly. If someone stops us, just keep them busy, Rosemund."
<El-Cideon> She blinks. "How? Oh, should I make up another ridiculous story? It worked very well just now."
<Franceska> "Yes you do that," Franceska says tiredly, heading back to the gallery.
<Julia> "That's the spirit," Julia smiles, starting to head back to the exhibits. "Unless you can dispel magic of course - many hands make light work!"
<El-Cideon> "I do not believe I can," Rosemund admits, "but perhaps if I pray very hard the divine presence will provide?"
<Steph> Stephanie sounds grumpy. "If all you have to do is pray for it, how come I can't cast any spells?"
<El-Cideon> "I...do not know," Rosemund says. "Perhaps you are not praying hard enough?"
* Franceska snorts, heading straight for the second cage.
<Steph> "Yeah, that's gotta be it! Let's pray together tonight," decides Stephanie, before moving out of the prison-area to keep watch for any interlopers coming up to meet them.
<El-Cideon> Julia finds the exhibits much as she'd left them. Marcus's cell is still curtained off, the painter is at work. From within his cell, Morgan, the well-dressed bureaucrat, watches the group curiously.
<Franceska> roll 1d20+28
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+28 and gets 33."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> The githzerai woman looks up at Franceska's return, evidently presuming the human woman will announce the reason for her presence.
<Julia> While Franceska liberates the gith, Julia holds a finger to her lips as she turns to look at Morgan before winding up a dispel magic and casting it over Marcus's cell.
<Julia> roll 1d20+8 dispel!
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+8 dispel! and gets 24."12 [1d20=16]
<Franceska> "Hello again," Franceska greets her, using a dispel of her own.
<Franceska> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+8 and gets 14."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> She frowns as the dispel attempt fails to take hold, as does Julia's. It's a very natural expression for her. "He has enchanted these barriers to make them a permanent obstacle," she informs Franceska. "I applaud your intent but fear you must be more resourceful if you wish to bring about our liberation."
<Franceska> "We must all start somewhere," Franceska allows, casting Detect Magic next. "Still, it seems that we have plenty of time to negotiate, now. What can you tell me about how your cells are opened?"
<Franceska> roll 1d20+10 spellcraft
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+10 spellcraft and gets 20."12 [1d20=10]
<Julia> "Oh, poo," Julia pouts at this failure. Walking up to examine a cell more closely, she does like Franceska is doing to see what secrets may be revealed.
<Julia> roll 1d20+13 spellcraft
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+13 spellcraft and gets 23."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> Franceska and Julia are both able to discern two auras warding the open windows of the cells: evocation and universal auras of moderate power. It does not appear that Blackbird bothered to similarly ward the entirety of the cell, however, evidently trusting the wood itself would otherwise be sufficient safeguard.
<El-Cideon> Marina trails alongside Julia and makes her own attempt.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 20."12 [1d20=7]
<Julia> "Oh, that's simple enough!" Julia says, keeping her voice low. "We just have to chop through the wood is all."
<El-Cideon> The monk says, "Blackbird has a ring that causes the barrier to flicker and allow passage." And, hearing Julia: "It is quite sturdy. I hope that you can do this quickly and silently."
<El-Cideon> She stands up, flexes her fingers. "I will do what I may to assist."
<Franceska> "Hmm." Franceska looks over her allies. "Can you summon some small animal, perhaps? I have a spell to switch two beings who are nearby, and there does not seem to be a dimensional wall surrounding the cells."
<El-Cideon> "I cannot," Marina says. Then, looking contemplative: "Although, perhaps Canterbury would be willing to make a noble sacrifice...?" She preemptively holds her bird's mouth shut to prevent the inevitable squawk of protest.
<Julia> "Oh, Thing can as well!" Julia adds brightly. "I can't summon anything smaller than a kobold otherwise."
<El-Cideon> "Could we dig?" Rosemund wonders. "Or, well, could one summon something that digs very quickly?"
<Franceska> "Those too would work," Franceska agrees pleasantly, taking out her wand. "Now, then...." With a wave, Canterbury is replaced with the gith!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+12 umd
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+12 umd and gets 22."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> Canterbury beats at the force window of his prison with an anguished squawk. Marina quickly shushes him into silence as the gith speaks. "I do not wish for my freedom to come at expense of another's. We shall free him later. Now I need to demonstrate my gratitude. I will do this by snapping Blackbird in two." She grimaces. "My people endured slavery once. It is galling to experience it myself at the hands of a vain fop such as he."
<Franceska> "Certainly," Franceska agrees. "It would be for the best if you were to help us return to Prime. In return, we could offer you a swift way back to Limbo or have an offer of employment for you, whichever suits you best."
* Franceska proceeds towards Marcus's cell, then, while avoiding the plants in the middle as best as she can. There, she taps on the wood lightly to see the old man. The spell will likely fail, otherwise.
<El-Cideon> "I will consider this," she says, looking around the gallery. "The martial prowess of the other exhibits is questionable," she continues. "Of greatest utility would no doubt be the intruder trapped within the windowless cell yonder, though I could make no guarantees to this one's reliability."
<El-Cideon> Marcus pulls his curtain back, gives Franceska a respectful nod.
<Franceska> "We can keep that as a fallback option," Franceska muses, before she tries to use the wand a second time to swap Thing and Marcus.
<Franceska> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+12 and gets 18."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> This time the wand fizzles with a few pitiful sparks!
* Franceska frowns, and shakes the wand a few times.
<El-Cideon> Despite his situation, Marcus can't help but look slightly amused.
<Julia> Thing looks ineffably smug for some reason.
<Franceska> "This normally happens only when someone is not cooperating with the magic...." Franceska mutters, before stowing the wand away.
<Julia> "Bad Thing!" Julia raps the bat on the head. "Cooperate with magic more!"
<El-Cideon> "You will alert someone or something in the process of breaking the walls," the gith assures the group. "If that is your best plan, choose well."
<El-Cideon> Marina quietly activates a couple protective spells.
<El-Cideon> "I mislike the look of these plants," the gith adds, casting a disapproving eye on the garden. "Attempt your breach behind the cell if you must do so."
<Franceska> "I think it is a plan we can live with," Franceska muses, circling the cell to be out of reach of the plants. Then, she draws her rapier and places it on the ground. "Please feel free to borrow it," she tells Marcus, before she turns into a bear with that same distinct albino look as her normal appearance, her clothing matching her new look. From there, she only has to wait on her new friend
<Franceska> to start the assault on the cell before she would join in on it.
<Julia> While that happens, Julia summons up some more reinforcements!
<Julia> roll 1d3 troll skeletons
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d3 troll skeletons and gets 1."12 [1d3=1]
<El-Cideon> The woman accompanies Franceska, not raising an eyebrow at the transformation, and unleashes a barrage of fists at the cell wall!
<Julia> Or at least one reinforcement. Looking disappointed, she orders the troll to go charge at that big house and kill anything it finds.
<El-Cideon> OOC: give it an FA's worth of damage, then things get messy
<Franceska> roll 2#1d8+8
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 2#1d8+8 and gets 30."12 [2#1d8+8 = 14, 16]
<Franceska> roll 2d6+4
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 2d6+4 and gets 9."12 [2d6=3, 2]
<El-Cideon> roll 3#2d6+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#2d6+2 and gets 23."12 [3#2d6+2 = 8, 8, 7]
<El-Cideon> Between the two of them, this fierce assault is just able to tear a human-sized hole in the back of the cell--but with such a riotous noise of cracking and splintering that anyone in the cavern must hear it! There are alarmed howls from the north end of the cavern, an ominous rustling from the garden and, as Julia's new friend stomps south towards Blackbird's residence, an alarmed shout from within!
<El-Cideon> OOC: MASS INIT
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Rosemund
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 Rosemund and gets 10."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 Marina
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 Marina and gets 27."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 Calixta (githgirl)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 Calixta (githgirl) and gets 9."12 [1d20=4]
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 Julia
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+2 Julia and gets 12."12 [1d20=10]
<Julia> roll 1d20+7 Thing
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+7 Thing and gets 26."12 [1d20=19]
<Julia> roll 1d20+7 Trollskeleton
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+7 Trollskeleton and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20 Marcus
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20 Marcus and gets 11."12 [1d20=11]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+1
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+1 and gets 5."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 Blackbird
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 Blackbird and gets 22."12 [1d20=13]
<Steph> roll 1d20+5 whoops
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+5 whoops and gets 25."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4 Loveless
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 Loveless and gets 9."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-1 ??? x2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20-1 ??? x2 and gets 18."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20 ??? x4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20 ??? x4 and gets 8."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6 doggies
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 doggies and gets 18."12 [1d20=12]
* Retrieving #astronomy modes...
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Marina > Thing > Steph > Blackbird > dogs = ??? x2 > Julia > Marcus > Rosemund > Calixta = Loveless > Troll = ??? x4'
<El-Cideon> Marina chants a spell to bless her and her nearby companions with unearthly speed! (OOC: everyone friendly but Steph is hasted, Steph's too far away if she's hanging out down by Blackbird's house)
<El-Cideon> OOC: Thing and Steph
<Julia> "Thing, the dogs!" Julia says curtly, and her loyal even if mistreated familiar wings off towards the canines, squeaking and emanating an aura of fear over them!
<Julia> OOC: Cause fear, DC 11 will save, frightened if fails, shaken 1 round if passes
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+4 doggies
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+4 doggies and gets 41."12 [2#1d20+4 = 20, 21]
<Steph> "Oh, this'll be good," mutters Steph to herself, before wrapping her cloak around herself and turning invisible, after which she creeps into the residence after the skeletal trolls...
<El-Cideon> The dogs snarl and snap at their winged tormentor, though perhaps with less spirit than one might expect!
<El-Cideon> Just inside the door to Blackbird's residence, a step behind Julia's summoned ally, Steph finds herself in a lavish sitting room. Some forty feet across the domed room, Blackbird and Loveless have just risen from a sofa. Standing before them are a pair of hulking, earthen brutes.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Marina > Thing > Steph > Blackbird > dogs = earth elemental x2 > Julia > Marcus > Rosemund > Calixta = Loveless > Troll = ??? x4 > Franceska'
<El-Cideon> "Oh, what is this?" Blackbird announces. "Another intruder? A breakout perhaps? Oh, how positively dramatic!" Gesturing arcanely, he imbues himself and his companions with superhuman agility!
<El-Cideon> Ignoring the demonic mite taunting them, the dogs bolt south with all due haste, reaching the garden's edge. Meanwhile, both of Blackbird's elemental bodyguards charge forward and swing a heavy fist at the intrusive skeleton!
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+15 haste/charge
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+15 haste/charge and gets 62."12 [2#1d20+15 = 30, 32]
<El-Cideon> OOC: AC?
<Julia> OOC: 14, sorry
<El-Cideon> roll 2#2d8+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#2d8+7 and gets 29."12 [2#2d8+7 = 14, 15]
<El-Cideon> Twin fists batter the angry skeleton, halting its undead revolution at the door for now!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia
<Julia> Ignoring the dogs for the moment, Julia merely spares a thought to stop restraining her innate aura of unwholesome terror, suddenly looking a whole lot less demure and pleasant as she strides towards the manor and begins conjuring up more reinforcements! OOC: 1 round casting time, summon undead 4
<El-Cideon> Marcus picks up Franceska's rapier, awkwardly in his maimed hand, and strides out between the cells, presenting the oncoming dogs with a target more immediate and tempting than a gang of girls. Rosemund draws up her mace, and all her dignity and conviction to announce to everyone within hearing range, "Friends old and new, take heart! Today we strike a blow for freedom!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: Elation up on everyone but Steph/skellie (http://dndtools.eu/spells/book-of-exalted-deeds--52/elation--45/)
<El-Cideon> Calixta hears the onrushing dogs and joins Marcus between the cells to block them off from attacking the group from behind. Meanwhile, within Blackbird's house, Loveless opens her mouth to sing--no sound emerges, least not that any man can hear, but unseen waves reach out to shake and shatter the skeleton where it stands!
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll fort for skellie?
<Julia> roll 1d20+2
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+2 and gets 16."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 10d6 sonic damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 10d6 sonic damage and gets 38."12 [10d6=1, 5, 3, 5, 2, 2, 4, 5, 6, 5]
<El-Cideon> Within the garden, bundles of vines split themselves off and shamble slowly away--two towards Marcus and Calixta, reaching out vines to try and draw them into an unwelcome embrace, two others moving southward at a slow pace towards where Marina and Rosemund loiter.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Marina > Thing > Steph > Blackbird > dogs = earth elemental x2 > Julia > Marcus > Rosemund > Calixta = Loveless > plants x4 > Franceska'
* Franceska moves to strike a blow for freedom by slamming a white claw against the modron's cage, before she shifts back to her regular form and tells it, "Would you like to help contribute to your own escape?"
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+13 and gets 28."12 [1d20=15]
<Franceska> roll 1d8+9
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d8+9 and gets 11."12 [1d8=2]
<El-Cideon> Within, there's a clanking and whirring as the creature climbs to its feet and announces: "My assigned duties have led to the conclusion that imprisonment is an unwelcome condition."
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 modron init
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 modron init and gets 12."12 [1d20=10]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Marina > Thing > Steph > Blackbird > dogs = earth elemental x2 > Julia = modron > Marcus > Rosemund > Calixta = Loveless > plants x4 > Franceska'
<El-Cideon> Marina winds back one hand, then slings forward a bolt of lightning at the plants now shambling towards her position!
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+1 plant ref!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+1 plant ref! and gets 41."12 [2#1d20+1 = 20, 21]
<El-Cideon> roll 8d6 halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 8d6 halved and gets 33."12 [8d6=4, 1, 5, 6, 6, 4, 2, 5]
<El-Cideon> But they prove quite able to twist and contort to avoid the worst of the blast!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Thing and Steph
<Julia> Acting on his own initiative now, Thing turns invisible and starts flying towards the house!
<Steph> Stephanie isn't about to reveal herself amongst so many of her enemies, that's just crazy. But she'll creep inside, so she can be close to Blackbird, ready to strike...
<El-Cideon> Blackbird chants another spell, and...flickers briefly? Hm. Northward, seeing their quarry blocked off by hungry plants, the dogs race around the gith's former cell and each takes up a position behind Calixta and Marcus! And seeing no immediate foes, the elementals barrel out of Blackbird's house towards Marina and Rosemund.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and gearbox
<El-Cideon> roll 4#1d4+3 tear down the wall!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4#1d4+3 tear down the wall! and gets 24."12 [4#1d4+3 = 5, 7, 6, 6]
<Julia> And those elementals are met by Julia's own summoned allies!
<Julia> roll 1d3 zombie ogres
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d3 zombie ogres and gets 2."12 [1d3=2]
<Julia> A pair of zombies appear facing the elementals, groaning and swinging their massive clubs down in a battle of animated flesh vs animated dirt!
<Julia> roll 1d20+9 ogre 1
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+9 ogre 1 and gets 28."12 [1d20=19]
<Julia> roll 1d20+9 ogre 2
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+9 ogre 2 and gets 19."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> "I have never been so happy to see the undead!" Rosemund announces with relief as Julia's new friends batter away at the elementals.
<El-Cideon> OOC: both hit
<Julia> roll 2d8+9
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2d8+9 and gets 18."12 [2d8=2, 7]
<Julia> roll 2d8+9
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2d8+9 and gets 18."12 [2d8=5, 4]
<Julia> Done casting that, Julia starts casting a new spell as she gets close enough to see inside the structure, conjuring up Loveless's greatest fear in order to stop her heart!
<Julia> OOC: will, then fort, DC 18
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 will
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 will and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort and gets 7."12 [1d20=2]
<Julia> Whatever she fears touches her and kills her with fright, everyone else just seeing a strange and menacing apparition hovering over her before it vanishes!
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Marina > Thing > Steph > Blackbird > dogs = earth elemental x2 > Julia = modron > Marcus > Rosemund > Calixta > plants x4 > Franceska'
<El-Cideon> Choking with fright, the fey singer's eyes roll up in her head and she falls dead right where she stands! Blackbird watches his companion fall with openmouthed horror. "No! Who has done this? WHO HAS DONE THIS? I will find you! I will find you and put out your eyes and ears and deny you all sensation forever, you, you--" He spits out the vilest, most venemous curse he can think of-- "PHILISTINE!"
<Julia> "Fear, fear the power of death you fools!" Julia crows perhaps more dramatically than is necessary, her face twisted into a dreadful glare with her black hair whipping about her head. "Now, now you will understand the fragility of mortal existence!"
<El-Cideon> Marcus and Calixta turn to swing at the hounds snarling at their backs, while Rosemund steps away to distract the plants creeping towards Marina--
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+13 hasted flurry!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+13 hasted flurry! and gets 67."12 [3#1d20+13 = 24, 20, 23]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 22."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 4#2d6+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4#2d6+2 and gets 33."12 [4#2d6+2 = 11, 7, 10, 5]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+18-10 missing half your fingers sucks
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+18-10 missing half your fingers sucks and gets 45."12 [2#1d20+18-10 = 28, 17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13-10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13-10 and gets 6."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8-10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8-10 and gets 10."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+8 crit somehow!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+8 crit somehow! and gets 13."12 [2d6=3, 2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+4 and gets 9."12 [1d6=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12 Rosemund!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12 Rosemund! and gets 26."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+4 and gets 10."12 [1d8=6]
<El-Cideon> Each of the dogs is battered in turn, but only moderately wounded--it takes more than plain steel to pierce their hide effectively, it seems!
<El-Cideon> One shambling bundle of vines lashes out at the two freed combatants each, while two surround Rosemund!
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+7 and gets 31."12 [2#1d20+7 = 22, 9]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+9 and gets 46."12 [2#1d20+9 = 28, 18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+7 Marcus
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+7 Marcus and gets 8."12 [1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+7 Rosemund
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+7 Rosemund and gets 13."12 [1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran
<Franceska> Frowning at the uppity vines daring to threaten Rosemund, Franceska gestures at them in irritation. There is little to see at first, except for a trail of ash that clings insistently to the plants and expands swiftly as it tries to consume them!
<Franceska> roll 8d10 ref17 half
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 8d10 ref17 half and gets 51."12 [8d10=5, 6, 9, 8, 4, 1, 8, 10]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+1 plants
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+1 plants and gets 24."12 [2#1d20+1 = 18, 6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Marina > Thing > Steph > Blackbird > dogs = earth elemental x2 > Julia = zombie ogres = modron > Marcus > Rosemund > Calixta > plants x2 > Franceska'
<El-Cideon> The two offending plants wither to ashes on the ground! Seeing Rosemund freed of that menace, Marina turns to try and fry the ones menacing the ex-prisoners.
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+1 more plant ref
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+1 more plant ref and gets 18."12 [2#1d20+1 = 15, 3]
<El-Cideon> roll 8d6 elec no escape this time!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 8d6 elec no escape this time! and gets 31."12 [8d6=1, 2, 6, 5, 5, 5, 4, 3]
<El-Cideon> Both catch fire and burn for a split-second before withering away altogether!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Thing and Steph
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Marina > Thing > Steph > Blackbird > dogs = earth elemental x2 > Julia = zombie ogres = modron > Marcus > Rosemund > Calixta > Franceska'
<Steph> Stephanie's sword is in her hand, just waiting to plunge into Blackbird should he try to flee or cast a spell!
<Julia> Turning into his true demonic form, albeit invisible, Thing continues flying towards Blackbird!
<El-Cideon> Blackbird himself immediately bolts for the door of his house, now that Loveless's murderer has been kind enough to identify herself--
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph, now's your chance
<Steph> roll 1d20+14 poke
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+14 poke and gets 25."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Steph> roll 5d6+7
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 5d6+7 and gets 28."12 [5d6=5, 5, 3, 5, 3]
<Steph> OOC: it's cold iron!
<El-Cideon> Blackbird bleeds profusely from a terrible gash in his side, but this hardly slows him down in his sudden quest for vengeance! "Ah, my guests turn upon me!" he shouts, taking to the air as soon as he's outside and winding up a bolt of lightning with Julia's name on it!
<El-Cideon> OOC: ref, Julia
<Julia> roll 1d20+4 didn't go past the ogres on the way up by any chance?
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+4 didn't go past the ogres on the way up by any chance? and gets 21."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> OOC: nope, they're on the other side of his elementals
<El-Cideon> roll 10d6 elec halve this
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 10d6 elec halve this and gets 31."12 [10d6=1, 4, 4, 5, 1, 2, 1, 6, 5, 2]
<El-Cideon> A dog barks with an echoing roar while its partner tries to savage Calixta, and the elementals swing away with their enhanced speed at the ogre duo!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 Marucs will
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 Marucs will and gets 29."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12 Calixta will
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12 Calixta will and gets 23."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13 bite bite
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 bite bite and gets 33."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d8+14 BITE BITE
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d8+14 BITE BITE and gets 26."12 [2d8=8, 4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13 crit confirm whoops!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 crit confirm whoops! and gets 28."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> OOC: still a crit
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+13 elemental vs ogre 1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+13 elemental vs ogre 1 and gets 65."12 [3#1d20+13 = 22, 28, 15]
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+13 elemental vs ogre 2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+13 elemental vs ogre 2 and gets 83."12 [3#1d20+13 = 31, 28, 24]
<Julia> OOC: AC 15
<El-Cideon> roll 3#2d8+7 vs 1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#2d8+7 vs 1 and gets 51."12 [3#2d8+7 = 22, 16, 13]
<El-Cideon> roll 3#2d8+7 vs 2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#2d8+7 vs 2 and gets 48."12 [3#2d8+7 = 17, 17, 14]
<El-Cideon> The dog rips a chunk out of Calixta's leg while the elementals savagely smash away at the ogres!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and ogres
<El-Cideon> roll 4#1d4+3 also boxy creature wants freedom!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4#1d4+3 also boxy creature wants freedom! and gets 21."12 [4#1d4+3 = 4, 6, 5, 6]
<Julia> The ogres retaliate slowly but surely despite losing fairly big chunks of their mass, solely focused on destruction!
<Julia> roll 1d20+9 1
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+9 1 and gets 13."12 [1d20=4]
<Julia> roll 1d20+9 2
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+9 2 and gets 13."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: whiff
<Julia> Meanwhile Julia retaliates at Blackbird, still feeling quite dramatic as she cries out, "You must be getting tired up there, dear host! Come down so I can thank you properly!" while launching a black ray up at him!
<Julia> roll 1d20+6 ranged touch
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+6 ranged touch and gets 25."12 [1d20=19]
<Julia> OOC: ray of exhaustion, DC 18 fort or exhausted, fatigued if passes
<Julia> roll 1d100 if miss chance is in play
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d100 if miss chance is in play and gets 41."12 [1d100=41]
<El-Cideon> The beam passes right through Blackbird! Curious!
<El-Cideon> Marcus and Calixta continue to batter away at their foes, while Rosemund focuses her furious gaze on one of those vicious elementals, shouting for them to be cast down in the light of the lord!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 rocky will
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 rocky will and gets 21."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6 halved, bummer
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d6 halved, bummer and gets 13."12 [4d6=1, 5, 1, 6]
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+13 Calixta
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+13 Calixta and gets 66."12 [3#1d20+13 = 23, 14, 29]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 17."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#2d6+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#2d6+2 and gets 18."12 [2#2d6+2 = 9, 9]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+8 Marcus
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+8 Marcus and gets 50."12 [2#1d20+8 = 23, 27]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 and gets 13."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20-3 and gets 0."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 crit again?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 crit again? and gets 28."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+8 and gets 15."12 [2d6=6, 1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+4 and gets 9."12 [1d6=5]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran
<El-Cideon> The dogs snarl and bleed but remain stubbornly on their feet! A beam of sunlight erupts around an elemental and chips away some flakes of stone, but far from succeeds in disabling it.
<Franceska> Taking in the situation, Franceska summons a cloud of noxious fumes above their flying host so that the only way for him to escape the terrible odors would be to fly back down or be consumed!
<Franceska> OOC: Fort17
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6 fort
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 fort and gets 11."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> Blackbird hacks and coughs and swears prettily in Sylvan! Down on the ground, while the fey lord is busy being ill, Marina seems to identify the elementals as the most important obstacle in front of her, and circles around the ogres to get in a good zap at the brutes!
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+2 rocky ref
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+2 rocky ref and gets 30."12 [2#1d20+2 = 14, 16]
<El-Cideon> roll 8d6 elec full to both
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 8d6 elec full to both and gets 24."12 [8d6=1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 1, 1, 3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Thing and Steph
<El-Cideon> Broken chunks of dirt and rock litter the ground as electricity writhes through the earthen guards!
<Steph> Stephanie shimmers for a moment, not so different to how Blackbird managed it, and she darts outside, flinging a bag full of goop in his direction!
<Julia> Not wanting to expose himself in front of everyone when things seem under control, Thing reluctantly turns back into an (invisible) bat and flies back towards Julia, albeit just outside of her zone of absolute terror.
<Steph> roll 1d20+11 touch
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+11 touch and gets 18."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Steph> OOC: reflex 15!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 well now!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 well now! and gets 19."12 [1d20=4]
<Steph> OOC: Ah well, he's entangled anyway
<El-Cideon> Blackbird, with halting movement, alights back on the ground to escape the cloud--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d4+1 continuing nausea?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d4+1 continuing nausea? and gets 5."12 [1d4=4]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Marina > Thing > Steph > Blackbird (entangled, nauseated 5 rounds) > dogs = earth elemental x2 > Julia = zombie ogres = modron > Marcus > Rosemund > Calixta > Franceska'
<El-Cideon> --while the dogs snarl and chomp away at their foes, one elemental swings at an ogre, and the other detaches itself to try and bludgeon Marina.
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+13 dogs
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+13 dogs and gets 44."12 [2#1d20+13 = 25, 19]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+7 Marcus
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+7 Marcus and gets 13."12 [1d8=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 rocky charrrrge
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 rocky charrrrge and gets 27."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d8+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d8+7 and gets 15."12 [2d8=4, 4]
<Julia> OOC: AoO for ogre?
<El-Cideon> OOC: sure
<Julia> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+9 and gets 27."12 [1d20=18]
<Julia> roll 2d8+7 back atcha!
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2d8+7 back atcha! and gets 15."12 [2d8=5, 3]
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+13 vs other ogre
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+13 vs other ogre and gets 50."12 [3#1d20+13 = 14, 17, 19]
<El-Cideon> OOC: AC?
<Julia> OOC: 15
<El-Cideon> roll 2#2d8+7 yep
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#2d8+7 yep and gets 29."12 [2#2d8+7 = 14, 15]
<El-Cideon> Marina takes an awful punch to the stomach as one of Julia's ogres crumble to pieces!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia/ogre
<El-Cideon> roll 4#1d4+3 robot must be free!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4#1d4+3 robot must be free! and gets 24."12 [4#1d4+3 = 5, 7, 6, 6]
<Julia> The remaining ogre turns its attention on the elemental that just wasted his buddy, while Julia strolls up to the elemental attacking Marina and lays her hand on its back to suck out the animate force for her own use...
<Julia> roll 1d20+9 ogre
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+9 ogre and gets 16."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> OOC: whiff
<Julia> roll 1d20+6 melee touch Julia (+2 if Marina is armed)
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+6 melee touch Julia (+2 if Marina is armed) and gets 23."12 [1d20=17]
<Julia> roll 4d6 vampiric touch
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 4d6 vampiric touch and gets 18."12 [4d6=4, 3, 6, 5]
<El-Cideon> The elemental falls into a pile of dust and sand, thoroughly discorporated by this effort!
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Marina > Thing > Steph > Blackbird (entangled, nauseated 5 rounds) > dogs = earth elemental > Julia = zombie ogre = modron > Marcus > Rosemund > Calixta > Franceska'
<Julia> Julis smiles happily, a ghastly sight for poor Marina, and then turns her attention back towards Blackbird.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund circles around the remaining elemental, pinning it between her and the stalwart ogre, while dogslaying efforts continue elsewhere!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12+2 Rosey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12+2 Rosey and gets 19."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+4 and gets 5."12 [1d8=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+13 Calixta
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+13 Calixta and gets 69."12 [3#1d20+13 = 28, 18, 23]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 27."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 4#2d6+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4#2d6+2 and gets 47."12 [4#2d6+2 = 13, 10, 12, 12]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+8 Marcus
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+8 Marcus and gets 34."12 [2#1d20+8 = 21, 13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 and gets 10."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20-3 and gets 5."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+4 and gets 10."12 [1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran
* Franceska holds her hand horizontally, aimed unquestioningly at Blackbird. She waits for a second, and then raises it sharply. With the gesture, the earth beneath him shifts suddenly and a stalagmite emerges, seeking to impale the fey lord!
<Franceska> roll 8d6 ref18 half
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 8d6 ref18 half and gets 25."12 [8d6=1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 6, 5, 6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 ref
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 ref and gets 28."12 [1d20=13]
<Steph> OOC: His refi s surely lower, btw
<Steph> OOC: He's entangled and fatigued, which is ruining his dex
<El-Cideon> OOC: the fatigue actually didn't take due to Displacement ruining the shot. Entangled is a -4 to DEX. So -2 to that roll. Still makes it.
<El-Cideon> Marina gives Julia a grateful smile, then wheels on the remaining elemental to shoot it down before it can turn on anyone who's actually living!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 rocky ref
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 rocky ref and gets 17."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 8d6 just made it, the jerk
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 8d6 just made it, the jerk and gets 33."12 [8d6=5, 6, 5, 1, 6, 3, 3, 4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Thing & Steph
<Steph> "Hey, someone, get in there with me!" yells Stephanie, brandishing her sword with glee. "Let's kill this fucking evildoer! Hah, how d'ya like tragic stories now that you're in one, you puffed-up toffy piece of shit?"
<Julia> Thing just flies around meaninglessly without much to do. If only Julia would give him a touch spell to deliver or something!
<El-Cideon> "I will be there when I can!" Rosemund calls out.
<Franceska> "If only there was someone who could punch him squarely in the face!"
<Steph> Stephanie doesn't seem like she can wait, and shrieks with glee as she runs towards him to stab him for a second time!
<Steph> roll 1d20+14 chaaaaaarge
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+14 chaaaaaarge and gets 26."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll a d100
<Steph> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d100 and gets 25."12 [1d100=25]
<El-Cideon> Stephanie's sword seems like it should strike home--but it lashes straight through the fey lord's image!
<El-Cideon> Blackbird struggles futily against his bonds--and to keep down his lunch! It's all he can do to curse and curse and curse in floral, flowing language.
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+13 dogs
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+13 dogs and gets 45."12 [2#1d20+13 = 21, 24]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d8+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d8+7 and gets 27."12 [2#1d8+7 = 12, 15]
<El-Cideon> The dogs bite and tear away, while the remaining elemental mindlessly savages its undead rival!
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+13 and gets 67."12 [3#1d20+13 = 20, 25, 22]
<El-Cideon> roll 3#2d8+7 very dead I presume
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#2d8+7 very dead I presume and gets 49."12 [3#2d8+7 = 17, 17, 15]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Marina > Thing > Steph > Blackbird (entangled, nauseated 4 rounds) > dogs = earth elemental > Julia = modron > Marcus > Rosemund > Calixta > Franceska'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and boxy
<El-Cideon> roll 4#1d4+3 why was I programmed to feel pain
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4#1d4+3 why was I programmed to feel pain and gets 21."12 [4#1d4+3 = 6, 4, 4, 7]
<Julia> Since Blackbird is effectively harmless while those dogs have been a consistent pain at the rear, Julia elects to do something about that by throwing a chilly strength-sapping mist over them!
<Julia> roll 1d6 cold and fatigued, no save
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6 cold and fatigued, no save and gets 4."12 [1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> The dogs whimper and shiver while their intended meals lash back at them! Rosemund risks a blow from the elemental to detach herself and help Stephanie pin Blackbird while he's down!
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+13 Calixta
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+13 Calixta and gets 60."12 [3#1d20+13 = 28, 15, 17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 24."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 4#2d6+2 all hit thanks to fatigue~
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4#2d6+2 all hit thanks to fatigue~ and gets 44."12 [4#2d6+2 = 13, 11, 8, 12]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+8 Marcus
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+8 Marcus and gets 40."12 [2#1d20+8 = 19, 21]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 and gets 10."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20-3 and gets 15."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-3 hah crit?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20-3 hah crit? and gets 14."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d6+4 no crit
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d6+4 no crit and gets 28."12 [3#1d6+4 = 10, 8, 10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13 AoO for rocky as Rosey bolts away
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 AoO for rocky as Rosey bolts away and gets 33."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13 goddammit rocky
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 goddammit rocky and gets 24."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d8+7 lucky she has buffs
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d8+7 lucky she has buffs and gets 16."12 [2d8=3, 6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12+2 Rosey flanking with Steph!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12+2 Rosey flanking with Steph! and gets 32."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 and gets 5."12 [1d100=5]
<El-Cideon> Rosey swings away, right through that frustrating illusion!
<El-Cideon> A dog meanwhile collapses with a whimper to Calixta's fists!
<El-Cideon> Marina winds up her last lightning bolt of the day to try and shut down that persistent elemental--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 rocky ref!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 rocky ref! and gets 7."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 8d6 nope!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 8d6 nope! and gets 34."12 [8d6=2, 4, 6, 5, 6, 2, 6, 3]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for lawful or evil characters, -4 for lawful evil characters | Marina > Thing > Steph > Blackbird (entangled, nauseated 3 rounds) > dog > Julia = modron > Marcus > Rosemund > Calixta > Franceska'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph and Thing
<Julia> Thing abstains from things.
<El-Cideon> OOC: or belated Franceska turn!
<Franceska> Since Rosemund decided to go and put herself in danger again, Franceska follows her all the way to Blackbird, shifting into a menacing polar bear along the way!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+15 claw
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+15 claw and gets 23."12 [1d20=8]
<Franceska> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d100 and gets 76."12 [1d100=76]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hits
<Franceska> roll 1d8+9
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d8+9 and gets 17."12 [1d8=8]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+6+9+1+1+1 grapple CMB
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+6+9+1+1+1 grapple CMB and gets 30."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> OOC: success!
<El-Cideon> Blackbird is moderately savaged--his unearthly aura wards him from the worst of Franceska's claws, but not from her grasp itself!
<El-Cideon> OOC: now Steph goes!
* Franceska squeezes down on his scrawny neck, but not enough to kill him just yet!
<Steph> Stephanie's weapons flicker in and out of her captured opponent, though her jabs somehow avoid the massive bear presently holding him in check.
<Steph> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 and gets 25."12 [1d20=13]
<Steph> roll 1d20+12 dagger
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 dagger and gets 13."12 [1d20=1]
<Steph> roll 1d20+7 attack2
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+7 attack2 and gets 19."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> OOC: 2xd100
<Steph> roll 1d100
<Steph> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d100 and gets 39."12 [1d100=39]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d100 and gets 24."12 [1d100=24]
<El-Cideon> OOC: both hit
<Steph> roll 5d6+7
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 5d6+7 and gets 30."12 [5d6=6, 6, 2, 5, 4]
<Steph> roll 5d6+7
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 5d6+7 and gets 21."12 [5d6=3, 1, 3, 5, 2]
<El-Cideon> The beleaguered fey lord chokes on his own blood and manifestly fails to say anything clever as he dies, his fine gown and wings slashed through and soaked with blood!
<El-Cideon> The one remaining dog slavers madly and turns on its heels, fleeing for a dark corner of the cavern to hide in now that its all alone in its fight! Its opponents don't deign to give it a parting shot.
<El-Cideon> OOC: free act
* Franceska shakes Blackbird a bit, before tossing him down on the ground and stepping away. Only then does she turn back.
<Julia> Finally gathering up her aura of fear, Julia's hair settles down and her expression smooths out into its more typical pleasantly friendly look. "Oh, that was positively thrilling, wasn't it?" she gushes.
<Franceska> "Now comes the part where we get his ring and free the rest," Franceska muses, not particularly looking like she is about to do that herself.
<Steph> "C'mon, bitch, gimme your goodies," mutters Stephanie, quite willing to fleece him for everything he's got.
* Franceska gravitates towards the freed gith, in the meantime. "I do not believe I caught your name?" she voices, looking her over for injuries. "Mine is Franceska Durant."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund is glad to oblige, of course! Well, mostly. She's visibly shaken to be kneeling down and depriving a corpse of its possessions, especially a corpse she helped make, but once she's retrieved a silver ring with a feather crest on it, she swells with pride. "Oh, I do not think I enjoy the shedding of blood...but, but this is a courageous day for freedom, is it not?" she asks, seeking support.
<Julia> "Yes, absolutely!" Julia is quick to support Rosemund. "With all our disparate powers and skills, we felled evil and liberated the unjustly imprisoned!"
<El-Cideon> "Calixta," the woman says. She's been quite badly savaged, a chunk torn right out of her thigh. Marcus looks comparatively unscathed with a few minor scratches.
<El-Cideon> Stephanie finds that Blackbird doesn't actually have much on him apart from the ring, and his bloody gown.
<Steph> Stephanie grunts. "So this thing's meant to do stuff, huh?" she says, twirling the ring on her finger.
* Franceska places her hand on Calixta's shoulder and heals her terrible wounds.
<Franceska> roll 4d8
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 4d8 and gets 15."12 [4d8=1, 7, 2, 5]
<El-Cideon> She looks distinctly healther now! Still rather pale and haggard, but the wounds have closed at least.
<Franceska> "A pleasure," she says, withdrawing her hand. "I was a bit saddened at the lack of punches to the face, however. You cannot believe how long I waited to see someone do that to our host."
<Julia> "I'm glad it wasn't just me!" Julia says, all chipper.
<El-Cideon> Marcus wanders around to scan over his saviors, seeming glad that no one died in the attempt to liberate him. "Sure, wave that ring through the barrier and it'll flicker out long as you stand there. Not sure if it'll work anywhere else, though."
<El-Cideon> Calixta nods. "It was with some small regret that I turned to guard the flank instead," she admits.
<Steph> "Oh, great stuff, great stuff. Don't go anywhere, you, we gotta talk," she continues, before ambling around each cage and freeing the contents (save the cage-that-might-have-a-demon, and she admittedly pauses for a moment before shrugging and letting the bureaucrat out as well.)
<Franceska> "If it were not such a waste of effort, I would be tempted to see it now despite his current state of demise."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund makes her own rounds, healing first Marina, who complains of a broken rib or two, then herself.
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+14 Marina
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+14 Marina and gets 21."12 [3d8=1, 4, 2]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+14 Rosey!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+14 Rosey! and gets 29."12 [3d8=8, 3, 4]
* Julia goes into Blackbird's dwelling to see if there's any good stuff in there, pausing momentarily to admire the dead but physically perfect and intact form of Loveless. If only she had some black onyx on her... Ah well, she'll at least cast gentle repose on her to preserve it a while longer in its appealing artsy state.
<El-Cideon> Some of the prisoners are more grateful than others: Darla, the old woman, is profuse with thanks and down on her knees with gratitude; Morgan's thanks is a curt nod, as though he would've expected nothing less of you; the nymph rewards you with a fragile smile--Marcus retrieves a torn curtain from a cell to cover her with after evidently disapproving of Morgan's appraising glance at her.
<El-Cideon> The modron shambles out of its cell, looks around at the other freed prisoners. "The proper message to convey is one of gratitude?" it conjecturs.
<Franceska> "So," Franceska muses, moving towards Rosemund after a nod at the modron. "Do you remember who it was that was supposed to be locked away in Hell?"
<Steph> "That's right, Ron," replies Stephanie, nodding.
<El-Cideon> Julia finds a fine wood cabinet in the back of Blackbird's bedchamber with a spill of money and jewels, some other debris and baubels: a set of heavy armor, a great hammer, an amulet, a ring with a dragon crest, a silver medal.
<El-Cideon> As for Loveless, she may make for a more aesthetically appealing corpse if her face wasn't frozen in an expression of mortal terror.
<Julia> Casting detect magic, Julia dilligently sets towards identifying everything. She never did well with crowds anyway. As for Loveless, that's part of her charm, now! Much better than that vapid look of adoration she had before.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund shakes her head. "Oh, the elf twins did not give us names," she says.
<Julia> OOC: taking 10 for 23 on all identifications
<El-Cideon> The ring, the medal, and the amulet are magical, Julia finds.
<Franceska> "We will just have to see if the devil here recognizes anyone, then," Franceska muses. "Let's go and ask it."
<El-Cideon> "I hope you don't mean to set *that* one free," Marcus says dubiously. "Better to let that one stay to rot."
<Steph> "How tough is it? Can we kill it?"
<El-Cideon> Franceska sees the remaining hut has no window to allow entry or even sight of its prisoner. The branches are clenched so tightly as to allow no mere glimpse of the interior.
<El-Cideon> "Perhaps you could," Marcus allows with a shrug. "Maybe if you leave it in there a few millenia it'll learn something, though."
<Franceska> "No, that is silly. They will never learn anything like that," Franceska dismisses, before knocking on the hut's walls. "Is anyone there?"
<Steph> Stephanie peers at the ring. Perhaps it's small enough that she won't choke and die if she swallows it- no, there has to be a better way. "They never learn, period," she remarks.
<El-Cideon> The voice emanates inside of Franceska's head, unspoken, silky, smoky, and calculating: "Who asks?"
<Franceska> "Tell me if you know any of the following names, all heroes from Solata," she asks, before repeating the list Rosemund had recited a while back. She is there on hand to correct her if Franceska gets one wrong, anyway.
<Julia> Quite pleased, Julia starts stuffing everything into her handy haversack for now, intending to tell her companions once they're done with all the teary thanks and reunions and such before she starts back out. Pausing over Loveless a moment she briefly considers if the fairy songstress could be contorted enough to fit into the haversack, but dismisses the thought as it would ruin her unmarred
<Julia> cadaver. Thus out she goes!
<El-Cideon> "I do," the voice says. "What is your interest in this person?"
<Franceska> "It would be best to consider the entire thing a business transaction," Franceska says dully. "I propose a simple contract. Tell me all you know. If it is actionable information, and enough to track them down, I will ensure that you are freed. Do we have a deal?"
<Steph> "Hey, hey, don't go deciding that unilaterally!"
* Franceska gives Stephanie a hooded look.
<El-Cideon> "These aren't the kind of people you should be making deals with," Rosemund agrees. "At least, especially not deals for other people!"
<Franceska> "You better decide quickly before these people change my mind."
<El-Cideon> "I offer you a name and whereabouts," the voice says, confident and unruffled. "You will free me and then we may discuss providing you with access to this individual."
<Steph> Stephanie skips towards her. "Let's not let the super-evil devil who'll set about with the killing and the rape and the torture," she suggests, all smiles. "I've read this book and it always, always ends badly."
<Julia> "Why do we need to let a devil out?" Julia asks, "We could just kill it and then ask its corpse if we really want to know things."
<Franceska> "No, this is silly," Franceska tells the devil. "Someone else will free you for me once I am far enough, or I leave and you will be taking your chances with your captor." She tilts her head. "I suppose asking your corpse is an option. How disgusting."
<Julia> "How is it more disgusting than asking a live devil?" Julia asks, affronted.
<Franceska> "It just is."
* Julia pouts silently.
<El-Cideon> "I possess ears," the voice continues. "My captor is dead or you would not be speaking to me." A pause. "I am familiar with the one named Jill Cook. Free me and I shall guide you to her. Else you take your chances with devils less motivated to bargain with you. Which is to say all of them."
<Franceska> "Then you must be familiar with who is holding her, why they happened to be holding her, and where. Please share that with me."
<El-Cideon> "All of these things," the voice confirms. "She dwells in the city of Jangling Hiter, which hangs above the Baatorian layer of Minauros. You will find her in the household of Krae Nalus, a cornugon of some eccentricity. She labors in his service."
<Steph> Stephanie raises her eyebrows. That spilled out pretty easy!
<Franceska> "Labors sounds quite unfortunate," Franceska notes. "So how did she come into his possession? Is it possible to ransom her, or is this personal?"
<El-Cideon> "She trains his soldiers," the voice continues. "She is a seasoned warrior and it is known that he values her expertise. She was...provided to him in an exchange with outside parties." The speaker sounds amused.
<Steph> "Oh, wow. She's gone full hell or something?" mutters Stephanie.
<Julia> "Maybe she's training hidden weaknesses into their styles so when she escapes she can overpower them all easily?" Julia offers hopefully.
<El-Cideon> "We have some experience in mortal persuasion," the voice replies, with a hint of smugness.
<Franceska> "What would be the best approach for us to take in offering to buy her from Krae Nalus?"
<El-Cideon> There's a sinister chuckle in your minds. "He will not be interested in gold. He may be interested in you. Purchase, perhaps, is not your best option." A pause. "If you wish to undertake this task, you will find yourselves in need of a guide. A benefactor. A guarantee of safe passage."
<Franceska> "Perhaps. If things do not work out, I suppose we will be back to hire you on. Goodbye for now."
<El-Cideon> "You will regret this decision," the voice calls back. "They will take you on the streets for their pleasure, simply because they can, provided you are even able to reach the city. You will not live to return and beg my support."
<Franceska> "I have regretted this decision from the very start, so I do not see how I can stand to regret it even more now," Franceska tells the locked devil primly, before turning away and heading to the exit.
<Steph> "Oh, you know, for a second there I actually thought you were gonna be super dumb," says Stephanie, sidling up to Franceska once they're out. "Well, not like I'd have let you let him out, but hey, convincing much?"
<El-Cideon> "That sounded bad," Marcus says once you're all at a safe distance from the cage. "She's...she's in Hell?" he asks with eyes wide, sounding genuinely aggrieved.
<Julia> "Well, it looks like we're going now?" Julia shrugs, "Is everyone ready for a hike through the desert?"
<Steph> Stephanie pauses. "'fraid so," she replies. "So we were told by an oracle, anyhow."
<El-Cideon> "If you like," Marcus says. "But I think...I still owe you a story. Is that what brought you here? You were looking for her? Or all of us?"
* Franceska waits until she is certain she is out of the devil's hearing, and then waits some more. Finally, she says, "I will have you know that I would have upheld my part of the bargain, Stephanie. Once we found that group of paladins who were seeking to punish Blackbird, I would have certainly asked them to free this trapped devil as part of our bargain."
<Steph> "All of you, yep," replies Stephanie, seriously. "How 'bout we trade? We'll tell you ours, you tell us yours?"
<El-Cideon> "Well, we were looking for Galina Merowyn because she stole a holy weapon from the temple of Pelor, only apparently she calls herself Polaris now, only we couldn't find her and we got told to look for all of her friends instead, so..." Rosemund tumbles out in characteristic fashion.
<El-Cideon> ~

[Sierra]

Because I never had a reason to post this in the course of the game, I figured I might as well now: Blackbird's missive to his friends after he relocated. If you'd totally struck out with everyone at the court, you basically would've been down to sneaking into someone's home and stealing this. Alternately, Bullfinch would've given you her copy if you'd made a deal with her.

~

Dear friends,
   patrons,
        connoisseurs,
      and well-wishers:

the GALLERIE OF MORTAL TRAGEDIE
   has undertaken a pilgrimage...
      ...to sumptuous new grounds!

Tales of Woe! Cautionary Examples! Tearful Confessions!

Preserved for your Edification. Come see our Living Drama, now to be found...

...beneath the dunes!

Seek the skull of Ormist,
   see two days' travel northeast,
      veer eastwards at the godless shrine,
         journey yonder but one day more,
            and descend the wailing well!

All discrete visitors shall be welcomed! Refreshment and lodging available.

   Yours sincerely,
         Blackbird

(Management of the GALLERIE OF MORTAL TRAGEDIE shall bear no responsibility for travelers scoured to bone by scirocco en route!)