#015: "You fools resist a perfectly laid trap!"

[Merc]

[18:35] <Kotono> After some rest and recovery on defeating Shiva, the party meets with Ebenezer. He's drinking a mug of coffee as early morning sunshine spills into the inn room. He smothers a yawn in his hand after, "Mmmm...mmm...aaaaah.......! I trust all of you are well? My research has born fruit!"
[18:36] <Lehko> "We're well enough, I believe."
[18:37] * Lehko checks over his equipment, making sure he's got enough odds and ends for his tinkering and spare ammo.
[18:37] * Morrie nods to Ebenezer. "We are quite well. What did you discover?"
[18:37] * Mycol wanders in, his cap now shorter, flatter, and redder. he has a new piercing, a feather that goes diagonally up on one of the sides.

[18:38] <Kotono> "A lot," Ebenezer says, yawning again. "Pardon, I was up late." Sipping his coffee before going on, resting back in his wooden chair, "I...I'm sorry?" Pausing to look at Mycol, "I like the red," he says with a casual nod, "Anyway, do you remember how I mentioned a creature named Atma when you asked about that green energy?"
[18:39] * Lehko nods.
[18:42] <Kotono> "It turns out that this is correct," Ebenezer pauses to clear his throat before going on, "According to old stories, blue fire poured from the heavens and devastated everything it came across. It called itself Atma, which means the Ultimate or the Ultima in modern language. An ultimate weapon and ultimate energy - but just keep that in mind since there's more."
[18:44] * Mycol nods.
[18:44] * Morrie blinks and continues to listen, glancing at Mycol's new hat before back at Ebenezer.
[18:44] <Lehko> "So, what do we expect to do with this? Where do you want to take this from here?"
[18:45] <Kotono> "Let me go on, there's more," Ebenezer says. "Deeper in the libraries I found reports talking about an ancient war and the Mysta Empire. Whatever ended the empire was a catastrophic war. The details are rather muddied and I get the impression that's from what happened as much as time passing. The primary sources skew towards fragmentary and confused information more than I'd like. Anyway, I found out about Lich. He's associated with earth, along with other creatures. Marilith, a creature of fire. Kraken, a creature of water and an unknown creature associated with air. They came from 'beyond', whatever that means.""
[18:47] * Lehko shivers a bit and shakes his blue tinged fur a bit.
[18:47] <Lehko> "Shiva has a bit of... dislike.. for that name, Marilith."
[18:48] <Morrie> "Ah... was there anything about their association with those demons?" He looked over at Lehko before looking back.
[18:48] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmm," Ebenezer says. "Demons of the star-stones or zodiac stones. There's not as much information about them, but there are 12 or 13 of them, reports vary. But they need a gateway into our world."
[18:49] <Mycol> "Titan too, Lehko"
[18:49] <Kotono> As the party talks, you notice ice and snow starting to whirl around Lehko's left shoulder.
[18:50] <Lehko> "If it's Titan too, it may be something personal for them.. They *are* married."
[18:50] * Lehko goes into mumbling.
[18:50] <Morrie> "A gateway... hm..." He considers for a moment. "Ebenezer, do you think, knowing what you know now... that Lich is sealed behind that door we found weeks ago?"
[18:50] <Lehko> "Hope it's not an ex-girlfriend or obsessed voyeur or something.."
[18:52] <Kotono> "It would stand to reason. It seems the Mysta Empire opted for sealing rather than killing the threats," Ebenezer says, "It's the most likely conclusion."
[18:52] <Lehko> "Hmmm.. If they're from beyond our world... Could they be harmful to the world just by being here?"
[18:53] <Lehko> roll 2d6+4 Nature
[18:53] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+4 Nature and gets 10." [2d6=4, 2]
[18:53] * Morrie nods. "Very well. I think... we need to gather more strength and knowledge before we do too much else..."

[18:53] <Kotono> The snow and ice slowly forms into a snowman. Or woman based on the chest lumps. "I...ugh!" You can hear Shiva's voice a moment, "That's what I said before," she drawls as the figure slowly becomes blue ice.
[18:54] * Lehko looks over at the snow-woman on his shoulder.
[18:55] <Kotono> "Pardon?" Ebenezer asks, looking at the three inch tall figurine.
[18:55] <Lehko> "Just their presence, though... Their energy is just incompatible, then? What does their presence do, exactly? Act like poison or eat away like a parasite?"
[18:55] <Morrie> "This is Shiva." He gestures.
[18:56] <Lehko> "Mostly correct. This is the Goddess Shiva. Queen of ice and snow. Her position comes with a proper title and respect, you know."
[18:57] * Lehko smirks at the mini-goddess.
[18:58] <Morrie> "I'm not the one with the pact." He responds, with a small smile.
[18:58] * Lehko shrugs.
[18:58] <Lehko> "But you're the one risking disrespecting an incarnation of nature."
[18:58] <Kotono> "Charmed," Shiva drawls, "I can't maintain this for long, so I'll get to the point," she says, "To review what I told you before: the Mystians attempted to use the power of the X-Zone. It failed and the Void erupted. From it came invaders, powerful demons and monsters sealed there from many worlds. The ensuing battles to seal the X-Zone and the monsters that came through laid waste to them. Each world's monsters has incompatible energies with one another, as well as with the world." She pauses and smiles, "Good. Anyway, I don't know many details about most of the invaders. I know a few - Marilith fought Titan and I, but most were handled by others."
[18:59] <Lehko> "If they're incompatible with each other, could we avoid directly fighting them by moving their sealed vessels into contact with each other? Let them weaken and destroy each other?"
[19:00] <Morrie> "Logic would suggest we should try and find others who fought the invaders. It would give us further clues." He folded his arms, trying to think of anything that might suggest -where- any of that would be.
[19:00] * Mycol dances.
[19:01] <Mycol> "That's an idea. The enemy of my enemy might not be a friend, but he is my enemy's enemy."
[19:01] <Kotono> "Yes. That's why you messed up so terribly with the Zodiac Stone and Lich." Shiva continues, pacing on the shoulder as she lectures, "Since they're incompatible, the various groups of monsters fight each other as much as each other. The one thing that saved us was that it wasn't a unified front. We were able to play them off each other, such as having the two fiends of fire fight each other."
[19:02] * Lehko nods.
[19:03] <Kotono> "I...ugh...!" Suddenly Shiva yawns wide enough to nearly split her face apart, "Still too drained..." she murmurs, the snow and ice figuring falling apart.
[19:04] * Lehko shakes his head.
[19:04] <Lehko> "Sorry. I'll do my best to talk to her as I can.. And see if there's any way to help her recover better."
[19:05] <Kotono> "Well. That was illuminating!" Ebenezer speaks up, clapping his hands together, "But fortunately, it seems all my research wasn't in vain despite her best efforts! I can fill in more details about the various monsters."
[19:05] * Morrie nods. "I have a feeling there must be some locations, much like the castle here, where we can find something."
[19:06] * Lehko nods.
[19:06] <Lehko> "So, off to the libraries of the world, then. And any Mystian ruins or strongholds along the way?"

[19:10] <Kotono> "That's one thing," Ebenezer says, "There's a cloud of dark energy that seems to be a creature unto itself. Four other fiends of the elements, commanded by 'absolute hatred'; Rubicant, Valvalis and two others, a strange and nonsensical wielder of 'Excalipoor' along with...a tree, which must be a mistranslation. The next group is a demon called Phunbaba, a flying horror known as Doomgaze and a sneezing calamity - surely another translation issue - called Chupon. An alien creature that is as much virus as a woman known as Jenova. A lost program to extinguish all life called Necron or Necros. Dark creatures called Aeons, copies of espers."
[19:12] <Lehko> "Speaking of which, I had a gentleman offer me a job at the prince's feast. About that very thing. Some ruins of old Varonn castle."

[19:15] <Kotono> "That's good symmetry," Ebenezer says, "You should keep that in mind. The main question now is that I feel Morrie's right. You need to get stronger - and I just happen to know how!"
[19:16] <Morrie> "How fortunate." He smiled a bit at Ebenezer.
[19:16] <Santos> "How's that?" Santos asks Ebenezer, curiously.
[19:17] <Kotono> "The same way anyone does - lots of monster extermination and treasure plundering," Ebenezer says, "How else? No one gets better by just practicing. Fortunately, I took the liberty of investigating reports of problems from the eastern mountain caves."
[19:18] <Lehko> "What do the reports say, then?"
[19:19] <Kotono> "To the north there's reports of strangely motivated snakes and eagles attacking outlying settlements. They've been traced back to a cave. A cave means a lair and a lair means treasure." Ebenezer explains.
[19:19] <Lehko> "Snakes and eagles? That's.. an unusual combination.."
[19:20] <Morrie> "Well, do we want to go there first, or to that... Varonn place?" He looks at the others. "I do not really have much of a preference."
[19:20] <Santos> "Speaking of treasure, I have another lead on one, if we're thinking treasure also means guardians to fight and such. Legerman's Sinkhole, anybody hear of it before? Besides Ebenezer, anyhow, he probably knows as much as I do if not more."
[19:20] <Lehko> roll 2d6+4 Nature to figure out what could bring those together
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+4 Nature to figure out what could bring those together and gets 9." [2d6=1, 4]
[19:22] <Morrie> "I'm unfamiliar with that name."
[19:23] <Kotono> "Varonn's well out of Glacierwind. It's not a short trip," Ebenezer points out.
[19:23] <Morrie> "In that case... I think we should do as much as we can in this area."
[19:24] <Lehko> "Those two animals are natural enemies.. Only thing that could get them to work together like that would be a monster of some sort... Anyone know of a creature that can influence both of those at the same time?"
[19:24] <Santos> "Legerman's Sinkhole could be close by, though I'd have to follow up on that lead to tell you more. Anyway, Legerman was a bandit prince, for what that's worth. Had a pretty big treasure that was lost. A bit more to the story than that, but I doubt any of you besides Ebenezer would care for the story."
[19:25] <Lehko> "And are any of these other places on the way to Varonn? Hit some on the way there, and then on the way back?"
[19:26] <Mycol> "I'm for whatever. Seeing new things, exploring old places. It's all so interesting.
[19:27] <Mycol> "Any idea what this Legerman's treasure could be?"
[19:29] <Santos> "Gil. Lots of it. Jewels and other trinkets as well."
[19:30] <Morrie> "We can always use more income... especially if we don't find anything we can use for whatever reason." He rubbed his chin once. "I think I would suggest taking on the cave, then the treasure."
[19:31] <Kotono> "Varonn's well north of the valley," Ebenezer speaks up, "We'd want to catch a ship in Serrendale and go upstream."
[19:31] * Lehko nods to Morrie.
[19:31] <Lehko> "That'll give us a chance to save up money for the trip to Varonn."

[19:34] <Kotono> "Yes, yes. That does sound good. If you like, I can go ahead to Serrendale and make preparations when you're done with your tasks here?" Ebenezer offers, "Or I could spend more time researching or finding worthwhile tasks."
[19:35] <Lehko> "Well, from what Shiva's said, we're dreadfully short on information. I think finding more information about what we're up against is the best thing we could."
[19:36] <Morrie> "Yes, I agree. I think we may find some information investigating those two issues... or at least, things to help us."
[19:36] <Kotono> "Alright then," Ebenezer says, as...OOC: Y'all good to go on now that you've sorted what you're doing out then?
[19:37] <Lehko> OOC: I am.
[19:37] <Santos> ooc: I guess!
[19:37] <Morrie> OOC: Yarhp
[19:37] <Mycol> OOC: Aye

[19:39] <Kotono> Ebenezer walks to the north gate out of Galimond with the party. "You'll want to head straight north until the hills. Nearby should be a little brook going out from the hills. Follow that in and should leave you to the cave," he says. "If you make good time, you can reach the cave before dusk falls."
[19:42] <Morrie> "All right. We will return afterwards and report on what we've found." Morrie turned to the others to nod before starting in that direction!
[19:43] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 74." [1d100=74]
[19:43] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 58." [1d100=58]
[19:43] * Lehko nods and follows after, keeping his ears ready and alert.

[19:45] <Kotono> The day is a bright one, clear skies that passes into partly cloudy by noon. A quick rest and lunch is without incident and the afternoon wears on. It goes form partly cloudy to cloudy, the sky turning to the slate gray of promised rain. You reach the hills and find the stream - it's really unremarkable - and follow it inward! It's carved out a path of sorts through the hills, making traveling
[19:45] <Kotono> quick. With about an hour or so to spare until dusk, the party comes onto the cave! It's right by the stream, a gaping tear in the rising mountainside ahead.
[19:46] * Lehko stretches a bit.
[19:46] * Lehko wanders around, looking for any sign of what inhabits the cave.
[19:46] <Morrie> "Well... I don't think camping out here would be good, so let's just get in and find what we can find?" He looks at the others.
[19:46] <Lehko> roll 2d6+4 Nature
[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+4 Nature  and gets 9." [2d6=2, 3]
[19:47] * Mycol shrugs
[19:47] <Mycol> Someone else go first.
[19:47] <Kotono> Lehko looks around. He finds a few stray feathers and a single shed snake's skin, clear signs of the promised inhabitants.
[19:47] <Lehko> "Looks like eagles and snakes abound... I'll go first, I guess?"
[19:49] * Morrie nods. "Then let's go."
[19:49] * Santos gestures for Lehko to proceed, following behind him once he starts moving.
[19:50] * Lehko heads in..
[19:51] <Kotono> The cave within is made of limestone, drip-draps of water a constant background noise. The cave goes on and narrows into a rough hall, going on a little ways before sloping downwards. The floor is clear but the ceiling has many stalagmites, hanging long and heavy far above.
[19:52] * Lehko readies both pistols, keeping aware that the stalagmites could hide enemies very easily.

[19:52] <Kotono> OOC: Just for reference, lemme get your walking/party order here?
[19:52] <Morrie> OOC: I think it's Lehko, Santos, Morrie, Mycol?
[19:52] <Santos> ooc: L > S > Mo > My
[19:52] <Kotono> OOC: Righto.

[19:55] <Kotono> Thus the party goes on, senses sharp and ready! As you go on...OOC: Make a quick awareness check, Lehko?
[19:55] <Lehko> roll 2d6+5 Awareness
[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+5 Awareness and gets 12." [2d6=1, 6]
[19:56] <Kotono> Suddenly...
[19:56] <Kotono> roll 2d6+4 AVD and ARM, Lehko?
[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+4 AVD and ARM, Lehko? and gets 9." [2d6=2, 3]
[19:56] <Lehko> OOC: AVD 9, ARM 12.
[19:57] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 9." [1d100=9]
[19:57] <Kotono> roll 2d6+2 force check
[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+2 force check and gets 13." [2d6=6, 5]
[19:57] <Lehko> OOC: Roll force?
[19:57] <Kotono> OOC: Yes.
[19:57] <Lehko> roll 2d6+3 Force
[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+3 Force and gets 10." [2d6=5, 2]
[19:57] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 39/64 (poison 4) Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58'
[19:58] <Lehko> OOC: Silver armor gives me status proof: poison.
[19:58] <Kotono> GAH! Suddenly and from above, a writhing purple snake falls right on Lehko's face fangs first! They dig into his forehead, the snake, biting on and coils wrapping around the Viera's neck! HIs body burns as pure poison flows into his veins! OOC: React and roll init, y'all. Remember to add finesse to it. You're off the hook for poison then, Lehko.

[19:58] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 39/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58'
[19:59] <Lehko> roll 2d6+6 Init/Finesse
[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+6 Init/Finesse and gets 14." [2d6=2, 6]
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 2d6+4 Asp
[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+4 Asp and gets 8." [2d6=3, 1]
[19:59] <Santos> roll 2d6+3
[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Santos rolls 2d6+3 and gets 9." [2d6=5, 1]
[19:59] <Mycol> 2d6+5
[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Mycol rolls 2d6+5 and gets 15." [2d6=6, 4]
[20:00] <Morrie> roll 2d6+3 Finesse init
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 2d6+3 Finesse init  and gets 9." [2d6=1, 5]
[20:00] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 39/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | Mycol(15)>Lehko(14)>Morrie=Santos(9)>Asp(8)'
[20:00] <Kotono> OOC: Open Mycol.

[20:00] <Santos> "Yikes, I think it likes you, Lehko!" Santos says as he draws his weapons to try and help! He'll cut them off the Viera's face!
[20:00] * Lehko tries to rip the snake off!
[20:00] <Mycol> "Lehko!"
[20:00] <Morrie> "Lehko! Be careful with that!" He cries out.
[20:00] <Mycol> "Let's try this out."
[20:00] * Mycol begins casting Water.

[20:01] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 39/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | Mycol(15, charging)>Lehko(14)>Morrie=Santos(9)>Asp(8)'
[20:01] <Kotono> Mycol begins to chant, spheres of water dancing around with him as he invokes his new magics! OOC: Lehko.
[20:02] * Lehko tries to shoot the damn thing, but worries about bullets that close to his head.... ah well, bullets heal.
[20:02] <Lehko> roll 2d6+2
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+2 and gets 10." [2d6=3, 5]
[20:02] <Lehko> roll 2d6+2
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+2 and gets 8." [2d6=1, 5]
[20:02] <Kotono> OOC: Why two rolls?
[20:02] <Lehko> OOC: Sorry about the second, keyboard f-up
[20:02] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Hit. Damage?
[20:03] <Lehko> OOC: 40

[20:03] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 39/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | Mycol(15, charging)>Lehko(14)>Morrie=Santos(9)>Asp(8) | Asp: 34'
[20:04] <Kotono> Bullets fly as the asp gets ventilated all over! Blood flows down Lehko's chest, but the snake isn't letting go! OOC: Morrie.
[20:04] * Morrie holds a hand forward and summons the spirits of air from outside to strike the snake!
[20:04] <Morrie> roll 2d6+2
[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 2d6+2 and gets 9." [2d6=2, 5]
[20:05] <Kotono> OOC: That's a hi-tt.
[20:05] <Morrie> OOC: 46
[20:05] <Kotono> roll 2#1d100
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2#1d100 and gets 101." [2#1d100 = 26, 75]
[20:07] <Kotono> Wind cuts apart the snake, shredding it into gil! IT clatters over Lehko as the snake is no more! OOC: Free act, bestiary and loot posts. I forgot to roll the snake's counter for the Lehko hit, but it changes about zero here so I won't bother. Free act.
[20:07] <Mycol> OOC: Do I lose MP if my spell never resolves?
[20:07] <Kotono> OOC: You don't.

[20:07] * Lehko wipes blood away from the bite.
[20:07] <Lehko> "Damn snakes."
[20:08] <Morrie> "Hold still." Morrie takes a breath and will try and summon sunlight to heal Lehko's snake wound!
[20:08] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | Mycol(15, charging)>Lehko(14)>Morrie=Santos(9)>Asp(8) | Asp: 34'

[20:09] * Lehko stretches his neck.
[20:09] <Kotono> Lehko's neck heals, the twin fang marks fading away.
[20:09] <Lehko> "Thanks, Morrie. That was deep.."
[20:10] <Morrie> "We should be more careful... if more than one of those surprise us, we may not be as lucky."
[20:10] * Lehko hefts his guns and continues on... more paranoid than before..
[20:11] <Kotono> The path thus slopes down ahead. It goes on a way, before coming to a small underground stream. One can hop over that easily enough, but there's a passage via following the stream to the right, shrouded in darkness and mystery. Past the stream the path continues to slope down and plunges into further earthy darkness as well.
[20:12] <Lehko> "So.. Straight on, or to the right?"
[20:13] <Morrie> "We should thoroughly explore, in my opinion."
[20:13] <Lehko> "To the right, then!"
[20:13] * Lehko heads right!
[20:14] <Kotono> To the right the party goes! The path is narrow, hugging the river! Going ahead, you find it's pitch black dark! OOC: What light source are y'all using here? Matters.
[20:16] <Lehko> OOC: Can I use intuitive magic to pull out light? Or can Morrie?
[20:17] <Kotono> OOC: That would be reasonable enough.
[20:17] <Lehko> OOC: I'll do it, then.

[20:19] <Kotono> With magical light showing the way, you soon find the path to narrow and the river ahead to widen. It soon comes to an end...but ahead on the river are regularly placed flat stones, forming islands. They look close enough together that you could go on by jumping on them, or even swimming in the stream if you were of a mind.
[20:20] <Lehko> "Well.. Everyone up for some hopscotch?"
[20:21] <Mycol> "Hmm."
[20:22] <Mycol> OOC: How regularly placed are we talking here? Would we need to pass a roll?"
[20:22] * Lehko hops to the first rock!
[20:23] <Kotono> OOC: 5-10ft. You'd need to pass Athletics checks to keep hopping.
[20:24] <Mycol> "Wat
[20:24] <Mycol> *"Wait"
[20:24] <Lehko> OOC: I don't have that skill, but I'm down for trying anyway.
[20:24] <Morrie> OOC: Can I activate my Ice Mail's special property, then use it to freeze this part of the river so we don't have to go hopping?
[20:24] <Santos> ooc: Morrie's idea gets a thumbs up from Santos.
[20:25] <Lehko> OOC: Yeah, that's a good thought.
[20:26] <Kotono> OOC: You could try, sure.
[20:26] <Lehko> OOC: Can I try to bolster the ability with my magic?
[20:27] * Morrie looks over at Mycol. "Mycol, do you have an idea?"
[20:27] * Mycol shakes his head
[20:27] * Morrie nods. "Then allow me a moment to try something."
[20:28] <Kotono> OOC: Sure, Lehko.
[20:28] * Lehko focuses his magic to Morrie's aid.

[20:28] <Morrie> Morrie will kneel next to the river and place a hand on his frigid armor! He will attempt to invoke the power of the frozen north onto the river in order to freeze it, allowing them easier access to where they are going!
[20:29] <Kotono> WOOOOOOSH! The crackle of newly formed ice echoes as the entire river freezes! IT's a rush form where Morrie touches, spreading in both directions and turning the way ahead into a winterscape!
[20:31] <Santos> "Now that's cool to watch. Very n-ice."
[20:31] * Mycol dances.
[20:31] * Lehko pats Morrie on the shoulder.
[20:31] <Mycol> "I think that worked better than expected, even"
[20:31] <Lehko> "Well done!"
[20:31] * Morrie lets out a breath and stands up. "Yes, I suppose you might say it was pretty cool."
[20:31] * Lehko strides out onto the ice, tentatively..
[20:31] * Morrie looks ashamed of that for a moment, before gesturing. "Let us move on?"
[20:32] <Mycol> "I'm almost tempted to travel down the river now, instead"
[20:32] <Mycol> "But maybe we should simply press on."
[20:32] <Kotono> The ice seems solid enough. Quite thick, a tentative step onto it shows no signs of breaking.
[20:32] <Santos> "We should follow it on the way out perhaps, but for now let's press on, yes," Santos says, already moving across.
[20:33] * Lehko continues on, lighting the way and pistols ready..
[20:34] <Kotono> Thus the party proceeds on, further into the now ice laden darkness. As you go on, you find the stones eventually lead to a larger dead end island. But sitting on this island is a treasure chest!

[20:34] * Lehko inspects the chest for traps....
[20:34] <Lehko> OOC: Tinker or awareness roll?
[20:35] <Kotono> OOC: Tinker's fine.
[20:35] <Lehko> roll 2d6+7 Tinkering
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+7 Tinkering and gets 12." [2d6=2, 3]
[20:35] <Kotono> The chest doesn't seem to be trapped.
[20:36] <Lehko> "No traps that I can see. Ready for me to open it?"
[20:36] <Morrie> "I'm ready." He nods.
[20:36] * Lehko opens the chest!

[20:36] <Kotono> OOC: Mycol, you're bringing up the rear. Make an awareness check. It's just 2d6 if you have no ranks.
[20:37] <Mycol> 2d6
[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Mycol rolls 2d6 and gets 9." [2d6=4, 5]
[20:37] <Kotono> Within the chest is a green bottle and some gil! OOC: Loot post and more lines coming.
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 2d6+3
[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+3 and gets 12." [2d6=5, 4]

[20:38] <Kotono> KERACK! As the party inspects the treasure chest, suddenly there is a loud CRACKING from the way they came! A moment later the ground shakes!
[20:39] * Lehko readies his pistols...
[20:39] * Morrie spins around at the noise!
[20:40] <Kotono> Behind you, you see the iced over river is full of cracks! As if something hit the underside of the ice sheet!
[20:40] <Lehko> "So.. Race back across, or wait to see what happens?"
[20:41] <Mycol> "If it breaks the ice, aren't we stuck here?"
[20:41] <Morrie> "Oh dear..." He frowns. "I think whatever it is will chase us, and I'd rather fight it now without anything else."
[20:41] * Mycol sighs
[20:41] * Lehko nods and keeps his vigilance up.
[20:42] <Morrie> "If it comes to it, I can try something else, if we're really stuck."
[20:42] <Mycol> "Perhaps you're right. We should be ready for a fight"
[20:42] <Santos> "Hopefully whatever it is has been dazed hitting its head on the ice or something."

[20:45] <Kotono> As the party talks? KERACK! The ice explodes up, a large part of the ice sheet shattering! Emerging from the waters is a figure that is bone dry. He is wrapped in a black cape, eyes glowing red with short cut black hair. Fangs jut out of his mouth, a scowl. Speaking slowly and in an archaic accent, "You fools resist a perfectly laid trap! Receive your punishment, as all living things are born
[20:45] <Kotono> to die!" OOC: Init here. It does not look amused.

[20:45] <Lehko> roll 2d6+6 Init
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+6 Init and gets 10." [2d6=1, 3]
[20:46] <Mycol> 2d6+5
[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Mycol rolls 2d6+5 and gets 10." [2d6=4, 1]
[20:46] <Kotono> roll 2d6+4 ???
[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+4 ??? and gets 10." [2d6=1, 5]
[20:46] <Santos> roll 2d6+3
[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Santos rolls 2d6+3 and gets 6." [2d6=2, 1]
[20:46] <Morrie> roll 2d6+3
[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 2d6+3  and gets 9." [2d6=3, 3]
[20:46] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | Lehko=Mycol>???(10)>Morrie(9)>Santos(6 pieces of miko)'
[20:46] <Kotono> OOC: More before Lehko or Mycol goes.

[20:47] <Santos> "Hey, hey, just because all things die -eventually-, note the emphasis on the eventually, doesn't mean we're born to die!" Santos exclaims at the creature. "Maybe monsters are, but not humans!"
[20:47] * Santos pauses and turns to stare briefly at Lehko and Mycol, and adds "And possibly not mushbooms and viera either."
[20:48] <Kotono> The figure before you slowly rises out of the water - floating in to the air, as if gravity is irrelevant. A terrible sense of fear washes over the party, as thick as churned cream! OOC: This monster has the fearsome quality. If you choose to attack it, you'll need to make an opposed finesse roll. Failure results in gaining the fear status for one round instead of attacking. Go Lehko.
[20:49] * Lehko raises his pistols and prepares to fire!
[20:49] <Lehko> roll 2d6+3 Force
[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+3 Force and gets 9." [2d6=2, 4]
[20:49] <Kotono> OOC: Finesse, not force.
[20:49] <Lehko> roll 2d6+6 Finesse!
[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+6 Finesse! and gets 11." [2d6=1, 4]
[20:49] <Kotono> roll 2d6+4
[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+4 and gets 14." [2d6=4, 6]
[20:50] <Santos> ooc: Doesn't Lehko have status proof:fear?
[20:50] <Lehko> OOC: Nope. status proof (poison) plus status proof (zombie),  SOS-Shell plus SOS-Protect.
[20:50] <Santos> ooc: nope, not according to his sheet! It was zombie.
[20:50] <Santos> ooc: yeah, just looked you up.
[20:51] <Kotono> Lehko tries to move and attack, but fear freezes him cold! OOC: Mycol, go.
[20:51] <Kotono> "Heh, heh," The creature chortles, and in a slow, mocking tone, "Scared? Afraid to die?"
[20:52] * Mycol doesn't want to take any chances.
[20:52] * Mycol spins his maracas around and rapidly casts his favorite spell-- Quickening

[20:52] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | Lehko=Mycol(quickened)>???(10)>Morrie(9)>Santos(6 pieces of miko)'
[20:53] <Morrie> "You..." Morrie narrows his eyes at the creature, shifting his stance slightly.
[20:54] <Kotono> Mycol begins to shake and vibrate, moving fast, faster and fastest! Yet the creature smirks and bows in the air, "You may call me Vampire! I will feast on you this night!" His eyes stare at Morrie's! OOC: Opposed finesse check, Morrie.
[20:54] <Kotono> roll 2d6+4
[20:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+4 and gets 8." [2d6=1, 3]
[20:55] <Morrie> roll 2d6+4
[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 2d6+4 and gets 14." [2d6=6, 4]
[20:55] <Morrie> OOC: Shoot, finesse, it's +3 and not 4
[20:55] <Kotono> Morrie's head lulls forward, mind filling with strange compulsions - but he snaps his head back, shaking off the charm! OOC: Okay. Morrie, you're up.
[20:55] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | Lehko=Mycol(quickened)>Vampire(10)>Morrie(9)>Santos(6 pieces of miko)'

[20:56] * Morrie takes a deep breath and attempts to summon his will to strike the creature with the spirits of Wind!
[20:56] <Morrie> roll 2d6+3 Finesse roll to attack
[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 2d6+3 Finesse roll to attack and gets 12." [2d6=5, 4]
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 2d6+4
[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+4 and gets 11." [2d6=2, 5]
[20:56] <Kotono> OOC: Success. Attack roll.
[20:56] <Morrie> roll 2d6+2 attack roll
[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 2d6+2 attack roll and gets 5." [2d6=2, 1]
[20:58] <Kotono> The wind comes - but it breaks apart against the vampire! At the last moment armor of stone appears around him, buffering it away! "I am awash with the power of the fiend of Earth!" He cackles, "Die!" OOC: Santos, go.
[20:59] <Santos> "Yeah, no thanks. I've got plenty to live for still!" Santos says as he splits into images and tries to rush at the undead being.
[20:59] <Santos> roll 2d6+3 finesse
[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Santos rolls 2d6+3 finesse and gets 11." [2d6=3, 5]
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 2d6+4
[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+4 and gets 7." [2d6=2, 1]
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: Carry on.
[21:00] <Santos> roll 2d6+4 attack
[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Santos rolls 2d6+4 attack and gets 11." [2d6=3, 4]
[21:00] <Santos> roll d6 reroll 3
[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Santos rolls d6 reroll 3 and gets 5." [d6=5]
[21:00] <Kotono> OOC: Hit. Damage?
[21:00] <Santos> ooc: 35
[21:00] <Kotono> OOC: Any element to it?
[21:01] <Santos> ooc: just fire. If he dies, I get HP equal to damage he takes on the round he dies too, assuming I give the killing blow.
[21:01] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | Lehko=Mycol(quickened)>Vampire(10)>Morrie(9)>Santos(6 pieces of miko) | V: 68'

[21:02] <Kotono> The flaming blade explodes with fire, slicing into the undead abomination! You slice into his cloak, cutting through earth that appears to shield him! "You little pest!" The vampire snarls, stumbling back as foul smoke gushes from the tear in its shoulder! OOC: Ow. Lehko, go.
[21:02] * Lehko tries to fire again!
[21:02] <Lehko> roll 2d6+6 Finesse!
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+6 Finesse! and gets 14." [2d6=5, 3]
[21:02] <Kotono> roll 2d6+4
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+4 and gets 11." [2d6=4, 3]
[21:02] <Kotono> OOC: Go for it.
[21:03] <Lehko> roll 2d6+2 ATK
[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+2 ATK and gets 12." [2d6=5, 5]
[21:03] <Lehko> OOC: 42 Damage.
[21:03] <Kotono> OOC: That's a thing of the hit variety.
[21:03] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | Lehko=Mycol(quickened)>Vampire(10)>Morrie(9)>Santos(6 pieces of miko) | V: 108'

[21:04] <Kotono> Bang, BANG! Shots echo, shooting through earth and stone armor! The vampire staggers back further as...OOC: Mycol, go.
[21:04] <Mycol> "Something's not right about this vampire... even by their standards...."
[21:05] <Morrie> "It is an unnatural creature." As if that somehow totally answered it.
[21:05] * Mycol spins a maraca into the vampire from a distance, and then puts up his Mana shield.
[21:05] <Mycol> OOC: (Also I take 11 damage)
[21:05] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 31/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | Lehko=Mycol(quickened)>Vampire(10)>Morrie(9)>Santos(6 pieces of miko) | V: 108'

[21:05] <Kotono> OOC: Finesse check to see if you manage to attack the vampire.
[21:06] <Mycol> OOC: Oh, derp.
[21:06] <Mycol> 2d6+5
[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Mycol rolls 2d6+5 and gets 17." [2d6=6, 6]
[21:06] <Kotono> OOC: He can't beat that. Attack.
[21:06] <Mycol> 2d6+2
[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Mycol rolls 2d6+2 and gets 7." [2d6=3, 2]
[21:07] <Mycol> OOC: Such a waste.
[21:07] <Kotono> Maracas fly true - but miss the vampire! It flips in the air and suddenly! OOC: Using a point of destiny to take an action and then it has its turn.
[21:08] <Kotono> "Pests!" It snaps, suddenly gone! A burst of bats appears and fly up and away, while rats land on the ice and scurry out of sight and rotting tentacles plunge into the water and vanish within! OOC: Free act, he fled.

[21:09] <Santos> "He clearly didn't have a strong enough stake in this encounter," Santos comments, as he puts away his blades.
[21:09] <Lehko> "... That thing is going to pester us until we leave here..."
[21:09] * Lehko checks the ice for stability.
[21:09] <Morrie> "Well, now we know what's leading these monsters." He looks over at Mycol and will try and summon some sunlight to restore his health!
[21:10] <Santos> "Might be better if Morrie strengthens the ice again before we move on," Santos suggests to Lehko, moving to hold him back.
[21:10] <Kotono> The ice ahead is pretty much ruined. Plus you're far enough out that you can't hop to the stones.
[21:10] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | Lehko=Mycol(quickened)>Vampire(10)>Morrie(9)>Santos(6 pieces of miko) | V: 108'

[21:12] * Lehko waits for Morrie, ready to focus his magic to help with the ice.
[21:12] <Morrie> "Allow me a moment. I do not think I can recreate the ice, but..." Morrie will kneel down again and place his hand above the water. If he can bring the ice back together to make a pathway, then he'll do that. Otherwise, he will simply try and will the water to part for them temporarily, so they can just get back the way they came.
[21:14] <Kotono> With the water already partially frozen, calling on your magics is sufficient to refreeze it. It looks a tad more brittle and thinner than the previous ice-over, though.
[21:14] <Mycol> "Tread lightly"
[21:14] * Mycol uncharacteristically goes first.
[21:14] * Lehko heads out first, testing the way for the others.
[21:14] * Santos nods. "Be ready to move fast in case that vampire comes back," he says before he steps after Mycol and Lehko who are apparently both racing to test the ice.
[21:15] * Morrie will be the last, keeping his wits about him as he follows.
[21:17] <Kotono> The party races over the ice! Haste serves them well, as they cross just before it crumbles behind them! They make it back to the path in a hurry! But as they do, they find them coming! A pair of screaming eagles, coming from above! Each carries an asp in its claws! OOC: Init. It seems that the natives have been rustled.

[21:17] <Santos> roll 2d6+3 init
[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Santos rolls 2d6+3 init and gets 12." [2d6=5, 4]
[21:17] <Morrie> roll 2d6+3 morrie init
[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 2d6+3 morrie init and gets 10." [2d6=3, 4]
[21:17] <Lehko> roll 2d6+6 Init
[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Lehko rolls 2d6+6 Init and gets 11." [2d6=2, 3]
[21:18] <Kotono> roll 2d6+1 eagle 1 (asps rolled into their init for the moment)
[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+1 eagle 1 (asps rolled into their init for the moment) and gets 7." [2d6=4, 2]
[21:18] <Kotono> roll 2d6+1 eagle 2 (asps rolled into their init for the moment)
[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+1 eagle 2 (asps rolled into their init for the moment) and gets 5." [2d6=3, 1]
[21:18] <Mycol> 2d6+5
[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Mycol rolls 2d6+5 and gets 17." [2d6=6, 6]
[21:19] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | SpeedShroomMycol(17)>Santos(12)>Lehko(11)>Morrie(10)>Eagle 1=Asp 1(7)>Eagle 2=Asp 2(5)'
[21:19] <Kotono> OOC: Open Mycol.

[21:19] * Mycol still has to know what his new spell does. He Has. To. Know.
[21:20] <Kotono> OOC: Charging Water then?
[21:20] * Mycol quickcasts Water on Eagle 1
[21:20] <Kotono> OOC: Cool. Roll damage.
[21:20] <Mycol> 2d6+24
[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Mycol rolls 2d6+24 and gets 31." [2d6=1, 6]
[21:20] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | SpeedShroomMycol(17)>Santos(12)>Lehko(11)>Morrie(10)>Eagle 1=Asp 1(7)>Eagle 2=Asp 2(5) | E1: 25'

[21:21] <Kotono> Globules of water appear around Mycol, hurtling towards the eagle! He's slammed by the balls, forming a vortex of water around him! So beset, it drops the snake in its talons, which falls hard onto the ground! OOC: Santos.
[21:21] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | SpeedShroomMycol(17)>Santos(12)>Lehko(11)>Morrie(10)>Eagle 1=Asp 1(7)>Eagle 2=Asp 2(5) | E1: 25 S1: 20'

[21:22] * Santos goes to slice up the snake before it has a chance to bite anyone!
[21:22] <Santos> roll 2d6+4
[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Santos rolls 2d6+4 and gets 9." [2d6=2, 3]
[21:22] <Santos> roll d6 reroll 2
[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Santos rolls d6 reroll 2 and gets 2." [d6=2]
[21:22] <Santos> roll d6 reroll 2 reliable!
[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Santos rolls d6 reroll 2 reliable! and gets 6." [d6=6]
[21:23] <Santos> ooc: I'll take that.
[21:23] <Kotono> OOC: Hit. Damage.
[21:23] <Santos> ooc: 35
[21:23] <Santos> ooc: fire
[21:23] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lehko 64/64 Mycol 42/42 Morrie 62/62 Santos 58/58 | SpeedShroomMycol(17)>Santos(12)>Lehko(11)>Morrie(10)>Eagle 1=Asp 1(7)>Eagle 2=Asp 2(5) | E1: 25 S1: 49'