#018: Morrie ping pongs between the sides a few times like a pinball

[Merc]

 [18:34] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Y'all rested up. Y'all were gonna follow up on that treasure lead Santos got next?
[18:35] <Lehko> OOC: Sure, Santo's thing is fine.
[18:38] * Kotono changes topic to 'Morrie 96/96 Lehko: 99/99 Santos 88/88 Mycol 66/66'
[18:39] <Kotono> -----

[18:41] <Kotono> Lady Wichel's card leads you to a tucked away villa on the edge of Galimond. A rather surly looking fellow in chain armor and with a halberd stands in front of an iron gate leading into the ground. He gives the party a look, "Move along, move yer asses along now," he growls, "Private property ahead. No gawkers or trespassers!"
[18:44] * Lehko raises an eyebrow.
[18:45] * Morrie glances at Santos.
[18:45] <Santos> "If this is the home of Lady Wichel, then we are neither gawkers nor trespassers," Santos says disdainfully, as he whips out the card he was given. "I may presume too much, but I would think even you would recognize her handwriting or be able to reach her to confirm these facts?" The way he says 'even you' is rather dismissive.
[18:46] <Kotono> The man clenches his jaw and reads the card. His jaw promptly unclenches, as he turns and opens the gate. He stands aside silently, gesturing with his spear to go in.
[18:48] <Morrie> "I think that might have been a little on the harsh side." He comments, nodding politely to the guard as he steps past.
[18:48] * Lehko heads in after Santos, hands resting on his pistols in a relaxed manner.
[18:49] <Santos> "Thank you," he says with a false-looking smile. As he walks in, he turns to Morrie, "I treated him as he treated us. Nothing more. If he was polite, I would have been just as much so." He says this loud enough for the guard to hear, though he never turns back to look at him.

[18:50] <Kotono> With this the foursome heads inside. From here a butler smoothly joins you, escorting you around. Here are rose gardens in full splendor, a fenced and closed off pool in the center. A table with umbrella is besides it, and this is where Lady Wichel sits. She smiles warmly, all red hair, legs and bosom. "Santos dear!" she calls, "I was starting to wonder if you hated money!"
[18:51] * Lehko raises an eyebrow and smirks at Santos.
[18:51] <Morrie> roll 2d6+3
[18:51] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 2d6+3 and gets 15." [2d6=6, 6]
[18:51] <Lehko> "Just what have you been doing for money?"
[18:54] <Morrie> For a very brief moment, a frown crosses his face, but it is gone after a second as he looks around the area.
[18:54] <Santos> "Hanging out with trap-triggering cats, apparently," Santos says drily to his other companion, before he saunters closer over to Lady Wichel and bows. "Lady Wichel, obligations could only delay my visit, but not even a vampire's destructive desires could stop me."
[18:54] <Lehko> "Gotta break that nine lives myth. That's way too few."
[18:55] <Santos> "My companions," he says as he gestures towards the others. "You've heard of them as well, I'm sure, and no introductions are needed?"
[18:55] <Kotono> "It's a pleasure," Lady Wichel gestures, "None are needed. Sit, join me. I trust you are all interested in what I offered Santos?"
[18:59] * Morrie nods, but seems to move slightly closer to the side, near the roses, not sitting just yet. "Yes, if you would be so kind as to give us all the details on the matter."
[18:59] * Lehko lounges and flicks his tail as he listens.

[19:01] <Kotono> "Legerman the bandit prince had a treasure hoard to fill a nation's coffers. It just so happens I know where it is. Of course, it's not easy to get to. If it was, I'd get it myself. But as I can't..." Reaching out to brush a bit of her red hair back, "I need help."
[19:02] <Santos> "You picked the right group for that, Lady Wichel."
[19:04] <Kotono> "That's good to hear, Santos," Smiling now, "If you don't mind, I'd like to come with all of you. I can lead the way. As for a split...50-50?" she offers, "I get half since I found where it is and all of you get half for dealing with the monsters."
[19:05] <Santos> "Do we keep any treasure on the monsters themselves, or does that get split as well?" Santos asks immediately.
[19:05] <Kotono> "You can keep that. It should be a pittance compared to the lost treasures of the bandit prince," Lady Wichel replies.
[19:05] * Lehko eyes the woman out of the corner of his eye.
[19:06] <Lehko> "What happens if the treasure isn't there?"
[19:06] <Lehko> "Or if it isn't what you expected?"
[19:06] <Kotono> "I'm certain it is. If it isn't?" Shrugging, "We go back to town and I'll pay you a little something for your time, and we part on good terms."

[19:07] <Morrie> "Would you give us a moment to confer on this, my lady?" He pulls himself off the roses and steps away, gesturing for the other three to come over.
[19:08] <Kotono> "If you like," Lady Wichel decides, meeting the gaze of Santos, "But don't keep me waiting too long. It's impolite."
[19:09] * Lehko whispers to Santos.
[19:09] <Lehko> "Could be a good deal, but women like her can be... dangerous. And unpredictable. When things don't go their way."
[19:13] * Morrie will wait for them to come over then!
[19:14] <Santos> "So, what, you'll just pussy out of this deal because you're afraid of women more than monsters?" Santos says sounding just a bit disappointed after he catches up with Morrie. "I say we go for it, she's saying she'd pay even if we find nothing at the end. How's that possibly bad?"

[19:14] * Morrie will speak in an extremely hushed tone. "She is not what she appears to be."
[19:15] <Santos> "Hrm?" he asks, turning curious at Morrie's statement.
[19:16] <Lehko> "No, I'm saying we need to be wary of more than *just* monsters, is all."
[19:17] <Morrie> He will continue his very quiet comments, doing his best to not appear to be saying anything out of the ordinary. "She is not human. Or if she is... she is an agent of darkness. The world... the very earth here, it reels from her presence."
[19:17] * Lehko looks smugly at Santos.

[19:18] <Santos> "...I still say it's a good deal," Santos says, not willing to give Lehko the win. "Just means we'd have another monster to kill at the end of the adventure." ('...rather than sleep with,' he thinks with just a bit of disappointment, rather than says.)
[19:19] <Morrie> He frowns, but shakes his head and continues. "I would suggest we take her with us, and when at a safe point... we surprise her, before she has a chance to surprise us. However... I have a feeling whatever it is we are going to locate is something she intends to use against us."
[19:19] * Lehko nods.
[19:20] <Santos> "If we don't locate it, it'll still somehow come to work against us, you realize. That's how the stories -always- go," Santos notes. Not the best argument, but it makes sense to him at least!

[19:22] <Morrie> "Very well then. I just wanted to ensure you were all aware."
[19:22] <Lehko> "Sounds like we have a plan, then."
[19:27] * Morrie will nod to Santos to allow him to resume things!

[19:29] * Santos moves right back to Lady Wichel (if that is really her name!) and nods. "We'll take the deal."
[19:31] <Kotono> "Good!" With a warm smile and reaching out for Santos's hand, shaking it gently, "We can leave tomorrow if you're all ready."
[19:33] <Santos> "Tomorrow will work. Anything you can tell us about the location to help us prepare? What monsters we might fight, perhaps?"
[19:34] <Kotono> I've heard stories about ogres," Lady Wichel replies, "Giant creatures that hit with oversized clubs, but are smart enough to use potions."
[19:35] * Mycol gyrates weirdly.
[19:35] <Mycol> "There's no problem there. Ogres only eat humans."
[19:36] <Santos> "Myself, Morrie, and Lady Wichel happen to be that, thanks," Santos says easily enough.
[19:37] <Santos> "Well, as long as there's no dragons. Never seen one, but I've heard of those beasts. Supposedly they love huge treasures like the kind Legerman would have put together."
[19:37] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmm. But I don't think that's a problem," Smiling now, "Until tomorrow. We'll meet at the gates here two hours past dawn?"
[19:39] * Morrie nods.

[19:40] <Kotono> OOC: Ready to move along then, y'all?
[19:41] <Morrie> OOC: Aye.
[19:43] <Kotono> OOC: Anything to do or just moving on until the next day?
[19:44] <Morrie> OOC: Unless there's some hidden treasure (which there might be, but we can come back for that)
[19:45] <Mycol> OOC: I'm fine with moving ahead.
[19:46] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.

[19:47] <Kotono> The next day is cloudy and dry. You find Lady Wichel awaiting you in a practical traveling dress, joined with a white umbrella. "Ah, you came! We'll be heading to the south," she says on greeting, "This will not be a short trip, so we'd best be going."
[19:48] * Morrie nods. "Let us be off, then."

[19:49] <Kotono> OOC: Y'all have a plan here or will you just be following?
[19:49] <Morrie> OOC: Morrie will just be following!
[19:52] <Mycol> OOC: I'm deferring to those two. They both know more about our client than I do.
[19:52] <Kotono> OOC: Okay then, y'all. Y'all were talking about surprising her somewhere safe ,so I'm wondering.
[19:53] <Morrie> OOC: I think the logical place would be when they arrive at their destination, but before they go in.
[19:54] <Santos> ooc: That's what I was thinking too.
[19:54] <Kotono> OOC: Okay then.
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 75." [1d100=75]
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 49." [1d100=49]
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 2." [1d100=2]

[19:56] <Kotono> A few days of travel pass. You travel to the south and southeast, slowly winding amid the hills and into the mountains. You are lead up mountain passes, surprisingly free of difficulties for a time. But ahead is a large chasm, at least a good 200ft across. As if there was a tear between mountains. On the far side you can glimpse the ruins of a bridge hanging from it. Lady Wichel stops here with
[19:56] <Kotono> a slight frown, "Dear me, it seems that the bridge I was expecting hasn't endured as much as I hoped it had."
[19:57] <Santos> "Any other way across?" Santos asks, figuring someone has to be familiar with the area.
[19:59] <Morrie> "I can try and bridge the gap... but it is awfully far." He comments, looking over the edge.
[19:59] <Kotono> It's a looooong drop. Very long and likely very fatal.

[20:00] <Kotono> "That would be better than going around. I know a way, but it's quite dangerous," Lady Wichel says as she looks on.
[20:00] <Mycol> OOC: What's the ruined bridge look like?
[20:01] <Kotono> The ruined bridge is the remnants of a wooden plank and rope bridge. It's in pretty bad shape.
[20:01] <Mycol> Is it only on one side?
[20:02] <Morrie> Morrie will kneel down and place both his hands on the edge of the chasm, take in a breath and release. He will make an attempt to surge the earth and mountains out from underneath him and forward, in order to make a walkway from one side to the other. He had done that once before, but hoped that he was stronger now, that he could make it further.
[20:03] <Kotono> It's only on one side - you can see where it connected to your side, but it's long since fallen.
[20:03] <Kotono> OOC: This is pretty far and hard, so make a force check, Morrie.
[20:03] <Morrie> roll 2d6+4
[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 2d6+4 and gets 10." [2d6=4, 2]
[20:04] <Kotono> Slooowly rock extends out! A long, narrow and thin stone bridge surges to open the way ahead!
[20:06] * Morrie lets out a breath. "This doesn't strike me as much safer..."
[20:07] <Kotono> "It's better than going around," Lady Wichel says, "But you all need to test it first."
[20:07] <Morrie> "I suppose." He will tentatively move out to step on the bridge!
[20:07] <Santos> "Lehko, you're the fastest. If it breaks, you could make a ru...or I guess Morrie can try? Man, I hope that holds."
[20:08] <Morrie> "If it does not, I am the best suited to ensuring I do not perish." He added, matter-of-factly.
[20:08] <Kotono> OOC: Just a step or are you going out a bit?
[20:09] <Morrie> OOC: A few steps.
[20:09] <Kotono> Seems solid enough. Just don't slip.
[20:09] <Morrie> "Allow me a moment." He will try and cross to the other side! ...Slowly.

[20:10] <Kotono> Morrie goes over! As he does...OOC: Make awareness checks, everyone that isn't Morrie.
[20:10] <Kotono> OOC: Morrie, will you roll for Lehko?
[20:10] <Morrie> OOC: NO
[20:10] <Morrie> OOC: Yes, hold on, let me pull his sheet up.
[20:11] <Mycol> 2d6
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Mycol rolls 2d6 and gets 2." [2d6=1, 1]
[20:11] <Mycol> WELP.
[20:11] <Santos> roll 2d6+4 awareness
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Santos rolls 2d6+4 awareness and gets 9." [2d6=2, 3]
[20:11] <Morrie> roll 2d6+7 Awareness for the Mithra
[20:11] <Mycol> OOC: You're welcome, guys.
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 2d6+7 Awareness for the Mithra and gets 9." [2d6=1, 1]
[20:11] <Morrie> OOC: Wow.
[20:11] <Mycol> OOC: d-d-d-d-DOUBLE Complication-tion-tion
[20:11] <Santos> OOC: Iddy's presence still looms.
[20:11] <Kotono> OOC: Shit on sandcrackers and rye bread.
[20:12] <Santos> OOC: Clearly both mushboom and catboy suddenly have their eyes drawn to Lady Wichel's rack, and are fixated on a lovely pair of coconuts.

[20:13] <Kotono> Morrie is about halfway when suddenly there is a huge BOOM behind the rest of the party! OOC: React first, everyone not Morrie. Hold on a sec Morrie, what happens next is dependent on this.
[20:14] * Mycol will whip around and panic dance.
[20:14] <Mycol> "What. Was. That?"
[20:14] <Morrie> Lehko turns around in surprise!
[20:14] * Santos draws his weapons, turning to see what happened, although making sure he turns in such a way that he can keep Wichel within his sight!
[20:16] <Kotono> As the party whirls around, they see a massive boulder lying behind them! It's cracked and embedded into the ground, as if it just fell from far above! At the same time, there is a loud CRACK as suddenly the ground beneath Morrie breaks apart, with him 100ft from either side! Lady Wichel turns much slower than the others, face unseen for a few seconds before she whirls back around! "Look!" she cries, pointing at Morrie! OOC: React Morrie. You have an action here, may want to make it count a lot as the bridge is suddenly crumbling.
[20:17] <Morrie> OOC: OK

[20:18] <Morrie> He will touch his armor, quickly placing a hand on the ground he's on as he runs forward! He will attempt to call out the spirit of ice inside the armor in order to give him enough time along the crumbling bridge to get to the other side without, you know... dying.
[20:19] <Kotono> OOC: Are you rushing ahead or back the way you came?
[20:19] <Morrie> OOC: Whichever is less distance. If it's equidistant, then forward.
[20:19] <Kotono> OOC: This one'll require a force check due to the circumstances and the fact that you're taxing the hell out of the armor.

[20:20] <Morrie> roll 2d6+4 force check which is probably going to be 1,1 or thereabouts
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 2d6+4 force check which is probably going to be 1,1 or thereabouts and gets 9." [2d6=3, 2]
[20:20] <Kotono> OOC: That's insufficient. However, I bring it up like this since this is a case where you may want to spend destiny enhancing the roll. Do you?
[20:21] <Morrie> OOC: Since the alternative is probably going to be dying, yes, I think I will.
[20:22] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, roll and post the destiny expenditure on the boards.
[20:22] <Morrie> roll 1d6
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 1d6 and gets 1." [1d6=1]
[20:22] <Morrie> OOC: Are you kidding me?
[20:22] <Santos> ooc: *snorts*
[20:23] <Kotono> OOC: You can spend another one if you want, there's no limit as long as you have destiny to use.
[20:23] <Santos> ooc: he has one more destiny.
[20:23] <Morrie> OOC: I might as well... it's all useless if I'm a splatter.
[20:23] <Morrie> roll 1d6
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Morrie rolls 1d6 and gets 1." [1d6=1]
[20:23] <Morrie> OOC: ...
[20:23] <Mycol> OOC: Can I spend a destiny to summon Titan, or am I helpless to save Morrie?
[20:24] <Santos> ooc: I am cracking up so hard.
[20:24] <Kotono> OOC: You could in reaction to my next line, Mycol. Lemme react to this first.

[20:25] <Kotono> Morrie tries to draw on the power of his armor, throwing everything he has into it - but he's too slow! He can't make the ice go fast enough to compensate, and he falls! He begins to plummet as the party whirls back around, surely plummeting to his doom! OOC: If any of you have a reaction or plan to Morrie's pinch, now's the time.
[20:25] <Kotono> "Morrie!" Lady Wichel cries, a look of perfect horror on her face, "No!"

[20:27] <Mycol> "TITAN!"
[20:28] <Kotono> OOC: Post the destiny expenditure. Line coming.
[20:30] * Kotono changes topic to 'Morrie 0/96 Lehko: 99/99 Santos 88/88 Mycol 66/66'

[20:30] <Kotono> Abruptly the earth breaks open, sending Mycol away like a shooting star! At the same time Titan peers down, "Quick thinking," he calls, the fallen boulder grabbed! He hurls it down, in a path right for Morrie! It somehow gets under him as he plummets, slamming into him and banking him upwards! IN seconds Morrie ping pongs between the sides a few times like a pinball, landing in a battered heap at the party's feet! He's out cold and bloodied up, but he looks to have a distinct lack of being deadness! A moment later Titan burrows away into the ground, Mycol popping back out of the earth. OOC: Act, y'all.

[20:32] <Mycol> "Didhediedidhediedidhediedidhedie? Oh. Phew."

[20:32] <Santos> "Well...I think we're waiting a while until he heals up a bit. At least enough to get a potion into his mouth, perhaps. Good job, Mycol. Better than the stunt I was thinking of trying when you pre-empted me."
[20:32] <Kotono> Lady Wichel stares, utterly thunderstruck!
[20:33] <Kotono> After several moments, "Ah! He could use a potion, yes. Does anyone have one?" she asks.
[20:34] * Santos nods. "I do, but I would rather he be conscious first. Otherwise he could drown or something. I've heard some people go that way."
[20:35] <Kotono> Lady Wichel nods and goes to shake Morrie. Slowly his awareness returns - into a dim haze of pain and ouchies. It feels like every bone in his body is pulped into shards and his vision is tinted red, but awareness sloooowly returns. "Morrie, wake up!" she calls. "You need a potion or you'll surely die!"
[20:37] <Morrie> It was with much rejoice that he opened his one eye... then the other, with a groan. "There is one in my ...side pack. If you could..." That was about all he could muster in his current state.
[20:37] * Santos holds a potion ready, if it looks like he's awake enough for it to do some good!
[20:37] * Santos pushes the potion into Morrie's mouth after his words!
[20:40] * Kotono changes topic to 'Morrie 24/96 Lehko: 99/99 Santos 88/88 Mycol 66/66'

[20:40] <Kotono> Wounds heal, enough for Morrie to feel partially human once more!
[20:41] * Morrie will take a moment and lay on his back, before slowly sitting up and calling out for healing from the sun! He will throw a potion at Santos to make up for the one he used, regardless.
[20:41] * Santos catches it and with a shrug sticks it in his backpack to replace the one he used up.
[20:42] * Kotono changes topic to 'Morrie 96/96 Lehko: 99/99 Santos 88/88 Mycol 66/66'

[20:42] <Kotono> Lady Wichel shakes her head, "It's a miracle you survived that," she murmurs, "I would have never imagined that could happen. You're a lucky man, Morrie."
[20:43] <Morrie> "Yes... I suppose you are correct. Especially when it was caused by someone." He will move to stand up.
[20:45] <Santos> "That boulder came from somewhere," Santos says in agreement, offering a hand to Morrie to help him up.
[20:46] <Kotono> "Eh?" Lady Wichel looks up at Santos's words, "Did anyone see someone tossing that boulder from above? I only got a look, but I figured it was a small bit of fall stone."
[20:46] * Morrie nods his thanks to Santos, and also to Mycol, and gives Santos a look. One of those serious, protagonist 'Now might be the time' looks.
[20:50] <Santos> 'Patience,' Santos conveys with his own look back to Morrie. Morrie's probably feeling murderous or something after being nearly killed, but they -did- want to find out where Lady Wichel was leading them to before springing a trap, after all.
[20:51] <Morrie> "I was too busy, unfortunately. It seems we'll have to take that path around, after all. I apologize... and... thank you, for saving me, Mycol."
[20:51] <Santos> "I doubt we're that lucky, Lady Wichel. I suggest you stick close, in case more rocks fall. I'll be keeping my weapons out so I can react more easily in the future."

[20:51] <Kotono> "Still..." Turning back to the chasm, "I suppose we'll need to go around now," she says.
[20:51] <Mycol> "I merely deferred to a higher power"
[20:52] <Morrie> "Well, I owe you my life, either way. Though I hope you do not find yourself in such a troubling scenario." He lets out a breath, still trying to get his bearings back.