We built this city

[Ebiris]

[18:03] <@Kotono> "It is done!" The shaman replies, "We shall be in touch."
[18:05] <Feather> "Best go tell everyone above ground the good news," Feather voices, tipping his hat at the shaman and turning to head back.
[18:06] <@Porridge> "May as well," Porridge agrees, cutting their expedition short for today.
[18:08] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, what are your plans ahead then?
[18:10] <Feather> OOC: Let's build some sort of shack or whatever around the entrance and then help build/recruit people for the new city?
[18:11] <@Porridge> OOC: village. Lets not get too crazy.
[18:11] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, what sorta shack?
[18:13] <@Porridge> OOC: Just a board of wood weighed down with rocks would do?
[18:13] <Feather> OOC: Whatever works so long as kids can't go down and lizards can't crawl out
[18:14] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Just forthe record, do any of you hav eranks in K:A&E or anything related to building?
[18:15] <Gildas> OOC: Not here.
[18:15] <@Porridge> OOC: that sounds like fancy city talk ter me.
[18:15] <Feather> OOC: No
[18:19] <@Kotono> The morning and most of the afternoon are lost to basic hole covering 101. With Robert and his brood's help, you all manage to make several wooden boards and bring several rocks to hold them down. It's not really perfect, but it's a decent covering. When it's done Robert wipes his brown clean, "It's a start. But it also points out what we need."
[18:21] * Joins: Ko-Refslose (WinNT@ip68-96-9-49.hr.hr.cox.net)
[18:21] * Quits: @Kotono (WinNT@ip68-96-9-49.hr.hr.cox.net) (Killed (NickServ (GHOST command used by Ko-Refslose)))
[18:21] * Ko-Refslose is now known as Kotono
[18:21] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Kotono Kotono
[18:21] <@Kotono> The morning and most of the afternoon are lost to basic hole covering 101. With Robert and his brood's help, you all manage to make several wooden boards and bring several rocks to hold them down. It's not really perfect, but it's a decent covering. When it's done Robert wipes his brown clean, "It's a start. But it also points out what we need."
[18:24] <@Kotono> "Another swim?" Myann ventures, "It's hot work doing all that out in the sun."
[18:24] <@Porridge> "Safest would just be to bury it, but since the kobolds are willing to trade and there could be good stuff down there..." Porridge trails off and shrugs. "Maybe worth the risk."
[18:25] <Feather> "If we keep trade going with them kobolds, we'll know about the real dangers from below. Just wall it off and who knows when the things down there find another exit not too far from here."
[18:25] <@Kotono> "May be." Robert agrees, as a scrawy, tall and gangly half elf boy runs past. A girl a bit taller than him chases, "Taaag!" is called as they do. Meanwhile, "We could also use someone with the know how do a lot of building. All fancy and learned."
[18:26] <@Porridge> "Probably have to go all the way out of the Vastwoods for learned folk," Porridge says.
[18:26] <@Kotono> "Not quite. Say, did you all swing by Carnath Falls on your way here?" Robert asks.
[18:27] <Feather> "Yep."
[18:28] <@Kotono> "There's a fellow there who's smart as a whip, knows a lot about everything," Robert says. "His name's Redmond. Last I heard he was the mayor down there."
[18:28] <@Porridge> "Oh yeah..." Porridge mutters, having hoped not to enjoy that man's hospitality again.
[18:29] <Gildas> "Ah, yes, we did some work for him, actually." He nods.
[18:29] <Feather> "How about an elven town for a change?" Feather suggests. "When you live that long, there's some of you who travel or pick up a bunch of strange trades."
[18:30] <@Kotono> "I figure he would know or can tell you who does," Robert says, "Elves? Hm. The missus could tell you about the nearest settlements."
[18:32] <Feather> "Always wanted to visit one properly, so that could be a good chance," Feather muses, glancing at the others. "What do you all think?"
[18:33] <Gildas> "I have no objections. If it is to be a trip, I would like to prepare something to make the journey a bit easier." He nods.
[18:34] <@Porridge> "Might get lucky," Porridge offers noncommitally. "Didn't have much luck last time I went into an elf town."
[18:40] <@Kotono> "I'd like to go," Myann speaks up, smiling warmly to Feather.
[18:42] <@Kotono> "C'mon then," Robert says, leading you ot the kitchens. Here his wife is working. Meat on a spit cooks over one fire, while another has a soup simmering in a great brass kettle. A pair of identical girls are with her, kneading bread as she chops up carrots. "Ma!" One of the two identical half-elves looks up, tugging with dough stained hangs on the side of her apron, "They're back!"
[18:43] <@Kotono> "Welcome back," The Missus smiles and dusts her hands clean on her apron. "Hungry again already?"
[18:43] <@Kotono> *hands, not hangs. Sigh.
[18:44] <Feather> "Had something we wanted to ask you, Ma'am," Feather responds, "if it's not much trouble."
[18:46] <@Kotono> "Sure," She smiles and pats her child's head, "What do you want?"
[18:46] <@Kotono> "It's him!" The other identical one points at Porridge.
[18:47] <Feather> "Figured we might help recruit some folk, try to see about forming a village here--" Feather gives Porridge a confused look, but continues, "So we were hoping to hear about the elven settlements?"
[18:49] <@Porridge> "'lo there," Porridge gives a nod in response to that point. He remembers Robert's warning of being taken for a lost sibling. "Name's Porridge. Who're you two?"
[18:50] <@Kotono> "Shh. Not now," The missus gently childs her pointing child, "It's rude to point." Turning back now, "You mean-" She begins before the child cuts in loudly, "Ellasa and Allasa, big bro!"
[18:51] <@Kotono> "Ellasa Holset!" The missus turns to her, "Children are seen, not heard!" AFter that admonishment she turns back and shakes her head, "Sorry, she's at that age." SAid child doesn't look particularly abashed, even going to point at Porridge again.
[18:52] * @Porridge just grins at the kids.
[18:53] <@Kotono> Going on from that, "You're interested in nearby elves, or elven settlements in general?"
[18:54] <@Kotono> Meanwhile, the other one reaches up for some sliced carrot, the missus gently moving her hand away without even glancing towards her.
[18:55] <Feather> "It all started from wanting to find some good craftsmen," Feather muses. "People who know how to build and the like. And if some feel like coming here to live, even better?"
[18:59] <@Kotono> "Well, the nearest settlement's a week or so away," The missus explains, "It's in a generally westerly direction. I can write you up some directions if you have the paper and ink to spare."
[19:00] <@Porridge> Porridge has neither!
[19:00] <Feather> "Sure do," Feather responds. "Much appreciated, Ma'am."
[19:02] <@Kotono> "Now you all be careful that way," she continues, "The elves set animal traps big enough for you to blunder into. Keep your eyes open. They won't kill you, but you'll be stuck in them good."
[19:08] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay ,so Gildas wants to cast Weather Eye before the trip?
[19:10] <Gildas> OOC: Yes please.
[19:11] <@Kotono> OOC: First two days are sunny with evening drizzles. The third day's a problem - a biiig storm takes up the afternoon. Rain, wind, hail, possibly a tornado. Day four's cloudy and quiet, day 5-7 are hot, hot, hot.
[19:12] <@Kotono> OOC: Does that change anything or are y'all gonna go on?
[19:12] <Gildas> OOC: I would suggest they go, but find a place to weather (hurr) the storm on that third day around the morning.
[19:14] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay then.
[19:14] <@Kotono> OOC: Any other prep before you leave?
[19:16] <Feather> OOC: I'm good
[19:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 83." [1d100=83]
[19:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 9." [1d100=9]
[19:19] <@Kotono> The first day begins. Lunch comes and goes as the four make good time. The next step in your trip is to find a clearing with a single ancient oak within it and orient west from it. Yet as you do...OOC: Perception, y'all.
[19:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 30." [1d20=20]
[19:19] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[19:20] <Gildas> roll 1d20+11
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+11 and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[19:20] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+13 Porridge
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+13 Porridge and gets 20." [1d20=7]
[19:20] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+21 Bubi
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+21 Bubi and gets 22." [1d20=1]
[19:23] <@Kotono> As the party walks along, Gildas pauses. He catches sight of something out of the corner of his eye - a moving shadow, perhaps, something that shouldn't be moving.
[19:24] <Gildas> He holds an arm out to the rest of party and turns in that direction. "...Over there, did any of you see that?"
[19:25] <@Porridge> Porridge turns to look!
[19:25] * Feather heads right over to be productive!
[19:26] <@Kotono> As the party turns around, you see it! It looks like a big cat at first - a panther, perhaps. Yet it has fur a dark, rich shade of purple. It has eyes a lighter purple, gazing at the party.
[19:27] * Feather pauses, and then shrugs and turns to keep going on their original path.
[19:28] <@Porridge> "Doesn't look too hungry," Porridge comments. "Shouldn't attack if we keep our distance." Still, he keeps a wary eye on it as they pass.
[19:30] <@Kotono> The panther simply follows as the party continues along.
[19:30] <@Porridge> OOC: follows like stalking us or just pacing us?
[19:31] <@Kotono> OOC: Just following along behind you. About 30-60ft away, varies a bit.
[19:33] <@Porridge> "Might be trained, like Bubi," Porridge says as he notices the cat's behaviour. "Could be we're in someone's territory."
[19:33] <Gildas> He wishes he had prepared a speak with animals spells, but continues walking. He gives a respectful look to the panther and continues after everyone.
[19:33] <@Kotono> "It's strange," Myann murmurs back, "It's a little creepy too."
[19:34] <Feather> "So long's we're not barred from going, might as well keep at it?" Feather suggests. "When we break for dinner we can leave something for it if it's still with us."
[19:36] <@Kotono> OOC: Moving on then?
[19:37] <Feather> OOC: y
[19:40] <@Kotono> Dinner comes. As you sit before the campfire, the panther is about 30ft away. It still hasn't gone away, sitting back and gazing on at the party.
[19:41] <Gildas> "I am going to prepare a spell this evening to talk with it. We should probably find out why it is following us." He nods to them, then looks over at the panther.
[19:41] <@Porridge> "Good idea," Porridge nods. "Gotta have something in mind."
[19:42] * Feather decides to share his part with the panther. That which it can eat, at least. "Sure thing," Feather echoes Porridge.
[19:43] <@Kotono> The panther looks up before tucking into the food! It's eaten lickedly split, the panther following Feather back after that. It sits next to him.
[19:44] <Feather> "Don't suppose you can understand me?" Feather asks, using both common and then sylvan.
[19:47] <@Kotono> The panther looks into Feather's eyes and in Sylvan, "You smell of the earth."
[19:48] * Feather blinks, even though he was the one speaking first. "Name's Feather," he decides to introduce himself. "How about you?"
[19:49] <Gildas> His ears perk up and he stares at the panther, assuming he was able to hear it.
[19:49] <@Porridge> Not understanding, Porridge just looks over at the now conversant panther and Feather.
[19:50] <@Kotono> Myann turns and listens as well, but doesn't contribute straight away.
[19:50] <@Kotono> Gildas was able to hear it.
[19:51] <@Kotono> "Panther or purple. It is what others call me." So it replies, "You smell of the earth and the great shaking that recently happened. I am curious."
[19:52] <Feather> "Purple works," Feather agrees. "What happened is that there's this hole in the ground that leads into caverns below. The seal on it broke, and then everyone that lives there started fighting each other. We visited too, but didn't go too far."
[19:55] <@Kotono> "Below. Interesting. What is this below?" The panther asks, focused on Feather.
[19:56] * Feather points his index finger up. "Above." He points down next, at the ground. "Below. You know about caves? It's like someone dug a huge one."
[19:57] <Gildas> He will quietly tell Porridge what the panther is saying.
[19:58] <@Kotono> "Interesting." It replies again, "I will tell this to my people." The great panther rises, turning to go.
[19:59] <Feather> "Who are your people?" Feather asks him.
[20:00] <@Kotono> "The Circle," The panther says as he goes off, slipping away into the foliage.
[20:00] <@Kotono> OOC: Y'all can make K:N on that if you care to.
[20:01] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 13." [1d20=4]
[20:02] <Gildas> roll 1d20+12
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+12 and gets 26." [1d20=14]
[20:04] <@Kotono> The name rings a bell for Gildas. There's old stories about a band of druids called the Circle. Powerful, mystic and generally obscure.
[20:07] <Gildas> "...Ah, of course." He nods to himself. "I wonder how close they are... The Circle is a band of Druids. There's not much written about them, but, what is written is they are quite powerful."
[20:09] <Feather> "Good. Was half worried there would be a bunch of panthers showing up on Robert's doorstep, all uninvited."
[20:10] <Gildas> "I hope we can meet them... but we should stay on task."
[20:10] <@Kotono> "I just hope they aren't related to that Sidhe Scholar," Myann quietly speaks up, poking at her food.
[20:12] * Feather shrugs. "They'd know about the whole underground thing, if so?"
[20:12] <@Porridge> "Best leave them to their business 'less they want to be talked to," Porridge shrugs ambivalently, tossing a picked clean bone into the fire.
[20:14] <Gildas> "We'll see if we run into Purple again, I suppose."

[Ebiris]

[18:07] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 32." [1d100=32]
[18:07] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 15." [1d100=15]
[18:08] <@Kotono> The next day of travel is unremarkble. It's tiresome work but nothing awry happens. The next day dawns - the day of the promised storm. OOC: Go ahead and elaborate on any precautions or prep you'll take for it, y'all.
[18:10] <Gildas> He looks up at the sky with a small frown. "We should find a cave somewhere. If we cannot, I have something that I think can help, but... a cave would be easier to stay in and avoid the weather."
[18:10] <@Porridge> "That or under a big tree's roots," Porridge agrees with the need for shelter, willing to detour in order to get it.
[18:11] * Feather nods in silence, participating in the search.
[18:14] <Gildas> OOC: I don't mind scouting for one with my aerial form.
[18:21] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, sure. All of you make perception or survival checks, whichever is highest.
[18:21] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+13 perception
[18:21] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+13 perception and gets 25." [1d20=12]
[18:22] <Gildas> roll 1d20+13 Survival
[18:22] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+13 Survival and gets 16." [1d20=3]
[18:22] <Feather> roll 1d20+9 survival
[18:22] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 survival and gets 20." [1d20=11]
[18:22] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 Myann Perception
[18:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 Myann Perception and gets 15." [1d20=5]
[18:23] <@Kotono> It's a humid, thick sort of morning. Your search becomes a sweaty one. Not even the gloom of the Vastwoods can help with this sort of cloying weather. But a bit before lunch, Porridge spots something. A small hill thickly wooded, but there's a single path leading uphill. Curious indeed.
[18:24] * @Porridge points it out. "Lets take a quick look up the top of that path? If we can't find anything by then I can dig us a shelter instead."
[18:25] <Feather> "Works," Feather agrees, starting to head up that trail.
[18:26] <Gildas> Gildas will fly up the hill to investigate, if such a thing is possible.
[18:26] <@Kotono> The path is like an animal or hunting trail, but a bit wider than usual. Going up it, you find it leads to a wide cave mouth. It's dark in there. Myann does take a moment to peer in, "I don't see anything too close to the entrance, but it's clean. I mean, there's no debris like you'd expcet at a cave mouth."
[18:26] <@Kotono> *expect
[18:28] <@Porridge> "It's what we were looking for. Lets head down and settle in until tomorrow?" Porridge is already heading inside at that.
[18:31] <Gildas> He will shapeshift back and look around before walking inside. "I wonder if others have used this cave for similar reasons..."
[18:32] <@Kotono> Myann casts light on her blade, the party going in. The cave stretches back further than your light reaches. It's clean in here - the floor's been smoothed over and there's nothing out of place at all.
[18:33] <@Porridge> OOC: as in worked stone?
[18:33] * Feather looks about for any signs of magic!
[18:35] <@Kotono> OOC: It's been worked to smooth it down, yes.
[18:35] <@Kotono> Feather can indeed detect magic. OOC: Spellcraft.
[18:36] <@Porridge> "Well, it's not natural. Might be in use... Hello?" he calls that last loudly down the cave.
[18:36] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 23." [1d20=14]
[18:39] <@Kotono> The magic in place is passive scrying - something or someone is seeing this area. The hello echos several times, but there is no immediate reply.
[18:40] <Feather> "So someone's looking in on us," Feather muses, giving the walls a distrusting look.
[18:41] <@Kotono> "Isn't that potent magic?" Myann asks, glancing about here and there.
[18:41] <@Porridge> "No funny business then?" Porridge shrugs. "Doubt they'd mind us weathering a storm here. Lets go," he heads in deeper.
[18:41] <Gildas> "Hm? Ah... well, not us, per se... but this place? Well, let us try and clean up after ourselves." He follows.
[18:44] <@Kotono> Going in, you find the cave comes to an intersection. To the left and right are passages that abruptly end in brick walls with wooden doors. The wooden doors each have large knockers in the form of gargoyle heads. The rings hang from their mouths, ready to be used.
[18:45] * Feather heads to the one on the left before using the provided knocker.
[18:48] <@Kotono> The knocks are heavy thumps, echoing about! After a few moments the door opens! Ahead of you is a man. He has wild blonde hair, messy despite being cut short. He wears a nobleman's clothes in shades of grey - light gray tunic and shoes and darker grey hose. A forest green cloak goes with the outfit. He looks to Feather, offering his hand out, "Vasili," he says. His voice is unremarkable.
[18:49] <Feather> "Feather." He shakes the offered hand firmly. "Sorry for barging in like that. Mind if we take shelter from the storm?"
[18:53] <@Kotono> His grip is quite strong, "You're welcome to," he says, "You can imagine I rarely have visitors."
[18:54] <Gildas> "You have our thanks." He nods respectfully.
[18:54] <Feather> "These here are Myann, Gildas and Porridge," Feather introduces with a gesture, grinning. "Yeah, I figure. But isn't that why you chose to live out here?"
[18:55] <@Porridge> Porridge nods in greeting when mentioned.
[18:57] <@Kotono> "It's a pleasure," Myann adds in her own greeting.
[18:58] <@Kotono> "One of many reasons," he says, leading you in. Past him the stone walls are worked and polished. This is a small anteroom leading into a sitting room. A table is in one corner and nice, expensive chairs are littered about. The wall to the left has a fireplace, not currently in use. On the far wall are wide, broad stairs going down. As you go down there, "So what brings you this way?"
[19:00] <@Porridge> "Heading over to..." Porridge trails off, "Say what was the name of that town anyway?"
[19:00] <Feather> "Looking for an architect, really!" Feather responds with a laugh. "We want to build a new village all proper-like from the ground." At Porridge's mention, he blinks. "Uh, that's right, it's on the tip of my tongue...."
[19:01] <Gildas> "It didn't have a name, it's just a settlement." He answers for them.
[19:02] <@Kotono> "Malaines," Myann adds helpfully, "It means orange-reddish in elven."
[19:03] <Gildas> OOC: Well fine strike that then! >:(
[19:04] <Feather> "Did you design this whole place yourself, Vasili?" Feather asks curiously, glancing sideways at their host.
[19:07] <@Kotono> "No, I had someone do it for me." Going down, you come to another sitting room. This one's bigger, full of wide couches that are close to being oddly shaped beds. Here light comes from metal candles on the wall, shedding a steady and unblinking light. On the far side is another door, leading you to a hallway. It goes on a way with several doors before hooking down, but you're taken to the first
[19:07] <@Kotono> door on the left. Here is a kitchen with a wide wooden table. The smell of cooking food is quite strong in here - smells like some sort of stewpot. An older man dressed in black is here, stirring it. His hair is silvery and his posture is slumped, "Lunch will be ready for you and your guests in five minutes, sir," he says, not looking around.
[19:08] <Feather> "Was it expensive?" Feather wonders, following after him.
[19:08] <Gildas> He can't help but be impressed by both the decor and the general atmopshere. "I would imagine it took some time to shape this place."
[19:14] <@Kotono> "Very," Vasili admits, the chairs solid wood with padding. They're carved with little decorations of fairy-tale pixies, not the horrors you've seen. He sits, "But since I live like this, I hardly have need for money otherwise."
[19:14] <@Porridge> "What do you do for food, then?" Porridge asks.
[19:15] <Feather> "Makes sense," Feather agrees, holding a chair back for Myann before sitting down himself.
[19:17] <@Kotono> Myann smiles at Feather at this, sitting. Once settled in he goes on, "The same as anyone else. Hunting and farming."
[19:18] * @Porridge nods, taking that to mean it's probably just the two of them as he takes a seat for himself.
[19:18] * Feather nods at her, before asking Vasili, "So what woulda happened if we knocked on the door to the right?"
[19:20] <@Kotono> "It all loops around," he explains, "I had a servant going that way in case you did." As you talk, a meal is brought over. It's a thicky and heart stew joined with thick black bread and butter. Fruit juice is served with it. "Please, eat," he says, "Abraham here is a skilled chef."
[19:21] <@Porridge> Trusting it's not poisoned, Porridge digs in. "Thanks."
[19:22] * Feather starts buttering up his bread as he serves himself a helping of stew. "Thanks for the meal," he echoes Porridge, soon following suit.
[19:22] <Gildas> "Did the person who crafted the cave set up the, ah... watchguard at the front door?" He will take a seat but not start eating just yet.
[19:23] <@Kotono> Myann follows, tucking in. It's really rather good. Mmm, beef. "Oh, you noticed?" Coughing into his hand, "I have some small talent at the arcane arts. One of the reasons I prefer my solitude."
[19:25] <Gildas> He nods. "Of course, I understand. It really is a beautiful home."
[19:28] <@Kotono> "Thank you," he says with a hint of another smile, going into his own meal. "So how is the world beyond these walls?"
[19:30] <@Porridge> "Lots of stuff happening below the ground," Porridge volunteers. "Opening up sinkholes all over."
[19:33] <Gildas> "Ah... you know, forest adventures. We've run into quite an array of creatures in our travels thus far." He nods to Porridge's comment.
[19:33] <@Kotono> "The underworld once again comes forth," Vasili frowns, putting down his spoon after a few bites. "Truth be told, I had some passing trouble with giant ants some time ago and had to take measures to cull the colony."
[19:34] <Gildas> He looks over, blinking. "The... psionic ones, by chance?"
[19:35] <@Kotono> "Mmm-hmm." Drinking a bit of juice before going on, "All giant ants in this area are psionic to my knowledge. I'm more surprised you know what psionics are."
[19:35] <@Porridge> "Ran into them ourselves. Nasty things," Porridge says.
[19:36] <Feather> "Attacked us just for being there, and then started calling us murderers for defending the land!"
[19:36] <Gildas> "Ah... some of my training involved defending against mental attacks." He finally takes a sip of juice.
[19:39] <@Kotono> "They're pests. Judicious application of poisonous gasses neutralize them well." Gesturing with his spoon as he goes on, "Since they live underground, what you do is get just above the colony hive. There's a spell known as cloudkill. It creates heavier than air poison gasses that sink right down. You'll need several castings, but that eliminates the bulk of them. Survivors aren't hard to mop
[19:39] <@Kotono> up. A single giant ant is no great enemy, no worse than a single wolf."
[19:41] <Gildas> "Ah... yes, of course. I will keep that in mind for the future. Oh." He seems to think of this all of a sudden. "Have you had any encounter with the electric lizards?"
[19:41] <Feather> "If you ask me, the lizards seemed more of a threat," Feather muses. He shakes his head, an expression of disbelief crossing his face. "Heard they had some as large as houses, and the rest are just this horde that pours out without any sense!"
[19:46] <@Kotono> "I've heard of them but I've never had the displeasure," Vasili goes on, "Apparently they breed faster than rabbits and have clutches of six to ten eggs.Unlike most animals, the eggs all usually hatch and reach maturity."
[19:49] <Feather> "If not for the ants, they'd take out all the kobolds and spread unchecked, they would!"
[19:50] <@Kotono> "Troublesome beasts," Vasili says, "Magical creatures likethat usually don't breed so fast."
[19:52] <@Porridge> "Yeah, they're sure not natural," Porridge says, fidgeting as if expecting a horde of them to boil out of the caves around them at any moment.
[19:54] <@Kotono> Gesturing again with his spoon, "It's said they're attracted to places of natural fecundity, or those places spring up around them," he goes on, "I don't put much stock into that, since I've read reports of them in deserts and wastelands."

[Ebiris]

[18:01] <Gildas> He considers that as an option, but decides not to say anything just yet.
[18:02] <@Kotono> Your host pauses a moment, "Abraham, would you fetch us some of the raspberry sherbet for dessert?" he says, the servant bowing and going off. He clears his throat after, "Good hospitality can never be overrated, can it?"
[18:03] <@Porridge> "Mmm. Thanks, yeah," Porridge shakes off his distraction. "Guess they prefer places with lots of stuff to kill."
[18:04] <@Kotono> "Mmm-hmm," Nodding to that, "What of you? What places do you prefer?"
[18:04] * Feather helps himself to another serving. That's proper food, and there will be plenty of time for the desert after.
[18:05] <@Kotono> Myann quietly eats, "Anywhere new and interesting," she says, "Perhaps the ocean one day. I've never been but I've heard stories."
[18:06] <@Porridge> "Only really known the forest and plains," Porridge admits. "Prefer the forest, though. Feels more cosy with green all around."
[18:07] <Gildas> "Wherever my journey takes me." He offers, nodding to the others. "So far, it's proven quite illuminating."
[18:09] <@Kotono> That gets another nod, his smile growing a little larger, "After lunch, would you care for some entertainment? I feel that I can offer something to your tastes."
[18:10] <Feather> "Entertainment?" Feather obligingly asks, glancing at him.
[18:11] <@Kotono> Clearing his throat, "I believe that you may have...exotic tastes," Clearing his throat, "I'm certain my hospitality is adequate to entertaining those tastes."
[18:12] <@Porridge> Porridge just scratches his chin, wishing he'd speak plainly.
[18:14] <@Kotono> Gently putting her spoon down in the meanwhile, Myann glances at Feather. She s hoots him a look that can be adequately summarized as 'huh?'.
[18:14] <Gildas> "I wonder if our tastes are as exotic as you think." He smiles.
[18:15] <Feather> "It's probably too much for a first meeting like this," Feather says, being at his most diplomatic.
[18:16] <@Kotono> "I confess that..." He pauses gracefully, "I haven't met your esteemed kind before, in person." Going on a warm, pleasant voice with the slightest hint of cracking, "Ah, I understand then. Thank you for your understanding."
[18:17] <Gildas> He raises an eyebrow at that. "Do you mean to say that..." His words trail off as he comes to a realization.
[18:18] <@Porridge> "Oh," Porridge looks over at Myann.
[18:22] <@Kotono> Myann sighs, bowing her head. "Yes," she just says, sounding resigned. "Food and lodging until the morning's sufficient hospitality." Looking up after that, "We have no rancor with you."
[18:23] <@Kotono> "I'm afraid so," Gently coughing and clearing his throat before going on, "You are her servant and a servant of nature. With the two of you," A nod to Gildas, "Your natures are somewhat transparent to my skills in the arcane."
[18:26] <@Porridge> "Who's who's servant now?" Porridge asks, puzzled and somewhat irritated as he looks at his companions.
[18:27] <@Kotono> "Ah, correct me if I've made a mistake." Going on quickly, voice cracking slightly again, "But Gildas is a servant of nature and a servant of milady Myann here."
[18:28] <@Porridge> Porridge snorts in amusement. "That so?" he eyes the pair.
[18:29] <Gildas> "You have... the first part correct, but if I've become someone's servant, I was unaware of such a thing." He smiles.
[18:29] * Feather rubs his chin as he considers Gildas's denial.
[18:29] <@Kotono> "Gildas is not my servant," Myann adds, turning a hint reddish in the cheeks. Her voice strains slightly, "He's my friend."
[18:30] <@Kotono> "Of course, milady." Quickly agreeing, Vasili goes on with his smile straining, "Are Porridge and Feather your servants or your friends?"
[18:31] <@Porridge> "No one's servant here," Porridge shakes his head, amused by the misunderstanding.
[18:32] <@Kotono> Sighing once more, "They're my friends. Friends capable of channeling magic or turning into wild creatures," she adds with a bit of emphasis. Myann rubs her temple slowly.
[18:33] <@Kotono> "Aaaah." Nodding quickly to that, "I'm afraid I presumed, since you were traveling with a druid and mortals that..." Trailing away again and smothering a blush by coughing into his hand, "I merely wished to ensue you had the utmost hospitality. I would never dream of offending your kind or your friends."
[18:35] <Feather> "I can get that," Feather agrees. "It's an easy assumption to make, and that's not the sort of thing you can casually ask when you meet someone."
[18:37] <@Kotono> "Unfortunately so," Vasili says, voice slowly calming. He still sounds a mite strained. "I apologize if I was too forward in my assumptions."
[18:37] <@Porridge> "Ah, no harm done," Porridge waves it off, unbothered.
[18:38] <Gildas> "Ah." He shakes his head. Did he just say 'mortals'?
[18:42] <@Kotono> There's a pause as Abraham returns. He comes back with bowls full of raspberry red sherbert. A chill mist rises from each bowl, cooling the air before you. The servant bows and leaves after. Once done, "As I mention, I value my solitude. But I am not alone - there are others below. I believe you would consider them fine fruit for entertainment, should you desire some at any point."
[18:43] <@Porridge> "They singers or what?" Porridge asks, wanting some clarity. For all he knows it's some kind of torture den or harem.
[18:43] <Gildas> "Would you indulge a question from this servant of nature?" He speaks over the the bowl of dessert.
[18:43] <@Kotono> "Of course," Nodding to Gildas, "They are my...entertainment," he finally says, seeming to consider his words carefully. "I draw much from them."
[18:44] <@Porridge> "So you're an artist?" the half-elf asks, trying some of the sherbet as he tries to figure out what's going on downstairs.
[18:45] <Gildas> "Forgive the bluntness of this question. What are you, exactly?" He looks at him squarely.
[18:45] <@Kotono> Myann looks up after trying a bit of the sherbert - it's cold and sweet, rather refreshing. "I'd like to know too," she adds quietly.
[18:45] * Feather tries the sherbet as he listens.
[18:47] <@Kotono> "They are..." he pauses in hesitation here, before plunging in, "They are my food. Not this food," he quickly appends. "But to be succinct, I have a need for a liquid diet most days. The flowing red aqua vitae." Clearing his throat after, "Do you understand?"
[18:50] <Gildas> "...I believe that answers my question." He lets out a breath, almost defeated by the answer he's received.
[18:50] <@Porridge> Is aqua vitae some kind of wine... oh, he's an alcoholic! "I get you, say no more," Porridge taps his nose.
[18:51] <Gildas> He looks over at Porridge with a bit of shock at that response.
[18:51] * Feather looks at Myann in confusion.
[18:51] <@Kotono> Smiling slightly, "You need but say the word if you would like any of them as entertainment." Vasili goes on.
[18:52] <@Kotono> Myann returns that look to Feather, looking just as confused.
[18:53] <@Porridge> "No, think I'm good," Porridge shakes his head. Better to keep his wits about him just in case.
[18:53] <Gildas> "No!" He suddenly blurts out, then seems to recover. "Ah... no, that is... I think our tastes are... different from yours, Sir Vasili." The color in his face seems to have drained just a bit.
[18:55] <@Kotono> "As you wish," He says quickly, "I understand that the tastes of your kind," A nod to Myann, "Are quite varied and exotic in what you find entertaining." A beat as he works on his sherbert, "If I may venture a small question, but to be clear, matters below ground are not invovled in your focuses? You work on the plains and forests instead?"
[18:55] <@Porridge> Porridge looks over at Gildas, blinking. He's sure he's seen him drinking in the tavern before...
[18:56] * Feather scratches at the back of his head in uncertainty. "To be clear, they're quite feared down below as well," he says. "And to be clear, again, just what is it we're all talking about?"
[18:58] <@Kotono> "Ooooh." Nodding in understanding, "I was aware of that, but merely assumed you had...ah, the term is mantles, I believe? Mantles relating to matters above ground." A pause at that, "Allow me to explain, good sirs," he adds quickly, "You were not as knowledgeable as I would expect servants of nature and the children of nature to be about matters belowground, so I assumed that you deal with
[18:58] <@Kotono> matters aboveground instead."
[18:59] <@Porridge> This guy's just full of assumptions, Porridge thinks irritably as he folds his arms and leans back.
[19:00] <Feather> "Please explain," Feather agrees.
[19:01] <@Kotono> "Do so," Myann adds quietly, putting her half eaten sherbert aside.
[19:01] <Gildas> Mantle? He's sure he's heard the term before, but he can't quite recall in what context... He shakes his head.
[19:02] <@Kotono> "My understanding is that your kind...ah, the Sidhe," Politely bowing his head after saying that, "Divide your duties and responsibilities through a system of powers called mantles. That if you were not fully aware of what happens below ground, that logically you must be involved in matters elsewhere - such as the forests and plains as mentiond."
[19:02] <Gildas> Aha! "Ah, now I think I understand where the confusion is."
[19:03] <Feather> "But how does any of it relate to you and your entertainment, Vasili?"
[19:06] <@Kotono> He sighs, "Then allow me to be blunt, good sirs. The entertainment below are my food source.  I am what you may call a nosferatu - a vampire." Clearing his throat again, "I understand my kind and your kind and allies rarely get along, but I assure you that I desire no strife. The entertainment below is quite cowed and child-like. They would be splendid for the fabled plays or diversions of your
[19:06] <@Kotono> kind."
[19:07] <@Porridge> "Wait what?" Porridge blurts out, his own assumptions coming home to roost.
[19:07] <Gildas> He shifts slightly uncomfortably, waiting for the other shoe to drop, as they say.
[19:08] <Feather> Oh how horrifying! "So is your food people, Vasili?" Feather asks. "Or, dunno, ants and lizards?"
[19:08] <Gildas> "He drinks blood, Feather."
[19:09] <@Kotono> Myann blink-blinks, looking totally stunned.
[19:09] <@Kotono> "Are you familiar with homunculi?" Folding his hands together, "They are far easier to create and control than humans, but have enough intellect for a certain childishness."
[19:12] <Feather> roll 1d20+9 arcana?
[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 arcana? and gets 18." [1d20=9]
[19:12] <Feather> "Back to the food," Feather says. "It's important to other people if you have people here that you, well, eat."
[19:13] <@Kotono> Feather knows that homunculi are simple creatures made of clay and the caster's blood. Minor servants usually and aids in arcane matters.  They're not tood ifferent than familiars and are usually constructs. More human or fleshy ones aren't impossible, but rare.
[19:15] <@Kotono> Snorting and almost laughing - almost, "Homunculi aren't people," he shakes his head slowly, "They can be entertaining, but they're nothing to be concerned about," he adds quickly. "It's nothing that would deprive you of entertainment elsewhere, or any of your kin."
[19:16] <Gildas> "Ah... would you allow us some time after this..." He seems to be choosing his words carefully. "Delightful meal to relax amongst ourselves for a time, Sir Vasili? I think we can witness your entertainment after that."
[19:16] <Feather> "Oh, I know about those," Feather says, nodding. "A bit like familiars, ain't they? Up to the person how he treats one, and if one treats them badly, well... they get their just rewards one day. Thing is, don't think we need to have any problem whatsoever if you're not keeping some people tied up and drinking their blood or whichever. And we've had plenty of misunderstandings already, so even
[19:16] <Feather> though it's awkward as hell I'm just asking you straight."
[19:20] <@Kotono> "Of course not." Adding on quickly, "Human captives are more trouble than they're worth if you ask me, let alone if they're terrified of you. Look at how living humans struggle for freedom when oppressed by others, let alone by something they're terrified of." Shaking his head, "Abraham," On saying this, the servant enters, "Would you take them to the quest quarters? Draw baths for them as well
[19:20] <@Kotono> if they wish it."
[19:23] <@Porridge> "Well, fair enough," Porridge shrugs. Took them a while to stop dancing around the subject and figure out what's really going on, but in the end he can't bring himself to care too much.
[19:24] <Feather> "Fair enough," Feather echoes. "Sorry it got so weird here," he says, cracking a grin, "though you do share some of the blame there. What we all get for assuming too much, eh?"
[19:27] <@Kotono> Laughing with just  ahint of strain, "I'll see you for dinner," he offers. With that, Abraham escorts you a way down the hall. Into another room you go! This room's quite large, decorated with paintings of the night sky. The color of the room is muted gray and black, with a huge four poster bed dominating. There's a fireplace with chairs, a closet, a table, a low dresser with seat and a large
[19:27] <@Kotono> mirror and other such things. It virtually screams money, down to the black bedsheets that look like silk. On entering, Myann goes to the bed and does a faceplant right nito it, lying there.
[19:29] <Feather> Once they are left in the guest room, Feather checks if the same scrying enchantment is placed upon it as well.
[19:29] <@Porridge> "Sure beats bunking under a tree," Porridge says with a look around, going to sit in one of the seats.
[19:29] <@Kotono> There's magic here. OOC: Spellcraft.
[19:29] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[19:29] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 18." [1d20=9]
[19:29] <@Kotono> The magic's simple - just a spell to mute noise coming inside or outside.
[19:30] <Feather> "So I think our host Vasili's on the level," Feather says. "How about the rest of you?"
[19:30] <Gildas> "He thinks we're the fey." He announces, since there seemed to be miscommunication going around.
[19:31] <Feather> "He thought that before we set him straight."
[19:32] <Gildas> "He still thinks we are."
[19:32] <Gildas> "Just that we're not Myann's servants, we're all just friends."
[19:32] <@Porridge> "Jumped around the subject often enough but didn't exactly hide anything," Porridge shrugs. Then at Gildas' comment he frowns, "What, think he'd eat us if he knew we were plain old humans and half-elves?"
[19:35] * Feather frowns. "No, pretty sure he talked about Myann and a druid and some mortals." He grins at Porridge. "That's us. The mortals."
[19:36] <Gildas> "Ah... yes, you are correct." He nods.
[19:36] <Gildas> "I do not think he would attack us, but... it is simply a matter we may just not want to correct him any further on."
[19:37] <Gildas> "He did mention mantles, though, which are fey-related things... maybe not all fey are immortal?" He shrugs. "Either way, I do not think he's an evil person... or if he is, he's hiding it well."
[19:37] <Feather> "Whatever the circumstances, he's right about you two however you look at it." Feather shrugs. "And Vasili seems sensible enough about keeping humans here, especially hostile ones. So unless someone thinks he just lied to us, I think we can just say here, be all pleasant-like and then leave in the morning?"
[19:39] <@Porridge> "Suits me just fine," Porridge nods.
[19:39] <Gildas> He nods. "I agree."
[19:41] <@Kotono> "May as well," Myann agrees, voice barely audible. She roll sover, the clink of chainmail louder than anything else. "Is it wrong that I'm offended that a monster's terrified of me for being part of something that's even more monstrous?"
[19:44] <Feather> "Nah." Feather takes a seat by the fireplace. "Besides, he has legitimate reasons to be scared. Not just of that something, but of us."
[19:45] <@Kotono> "He should be," she agrees, looking up at the ceiling, "He'll find his home infested with mushrooms by tomorrow." A sigh follows as she just lies there.
[19:46] * Feather snorts.
[19:47] <Gildas> He smiles a bit. "Well, I will defer to your judgement, Lady Myann."
[19:49] <@Kotono> "OOC: Ready to skip along a bit?
[19:49] <@Porridge> OOC: sure
[19:52] <@Kotono> The afternoon slips by. As it winds on - after some unremarkable baths, the party at least smells nice - you feel a few faint shakes of the ground. No sound with it as you lie about your guest room. But vibrations
[19:52] <@Kotono> .
[19:53] <@Porridge> "Must be pretty fierce out there," Porridge observes, looking up.
[19:55] <Gildas> "Indeed." He nods. "I am surprised a storm can shake such a place."
[19:56] <@Kotono> "Didn't you mention a tornado?" Myann is lying on the bed, out of her chain mail. She's half asleep, speaking with a yawn. "I mean, a tornado. Pardon."
[19:57] <Gildas> "Ah..." He nods. "Yes, you are correct."
[19:58] <@Kotono> "Glad we aren't outside for it. This feels as safe as my grove was," Myann's eyes slowly slip shut, "Saw storms go around it against all reason. Never had lightning strike. Storms were afraid of the fey, I bet."
[20:01] <Feather> "Guess so," Feather muses. "Myann, are you that tired? Don't worry about us and just go to sleep, then. No need to force yourself for our sake."
[20:01] <Gildas> He smiles, just a small bit. "They would be wise to do so."
[20:03] <@Kotono> "Mm." A little agreeing noise, "Maybe I'll dream of entertainment," she says, voice heavy with sleepiness. "Feather. Do me a favor?"
[20:04] <Feather> "Sure."
[20:05] <@Kotono> "If I start talking about wanting entertainment, knock sense into me," she says, settling in.
[20:06] <Feather> "That might be time to leave," he agrees with a grin.
[20:10] <@Kotono> From here, the afternoon passes. There's a few more muted rumbles but nothing else. Come dinner time you head back to the kitchen. Before you is a full roasted turkey with all the dressings and sides. As you settle into your meal, "There's a remarkably vicious storm going right now," he says, "I hadn't noticed much in the way of storms this year until now. I trust everything is alright?"
[20:10] <@Porridge> "That's why we were looking for shelter. Saw it coming," Porridge provides. "Nice room you've got us set up in."
[20:11] <Feather> "Yeah, thanks for that," Feather chimes in with.
[20:11] <Gildas> "Your hospitality has been most gracious for us." He nods to the other two. "It has been quite relaxing."
[20:12] <@Kotono> "Thank you," Myann adds as she starts on her meal.
[20:13] <@Kotono> "Mmm." That gets an interested little noise that doesn't mean much of anything. "So if I can ask another question, those lizards aren't connected to the Sidhe?"
[20:14] <Feather> "The electric ones?"
[20:14] <@Kotono> "Yes," That gets a slight nod.
[20:15] <Feather> "We don't really know," Feather admits. "They're clearly magical and unnatural, but you never know. Seem more like pests."
[20:16] <Gildas> "It's hard to say." He taps his finger on the table. "We've heard rumors and stories of enormous ones... but have seen no sight of such things yet."
[20:17] <Feather> "No reason to doubt those stories, though."
[20:18] <@Kotono> "I wonder myself," Myann says, "They have an innate viciousness that speaks to unnatural urges."
[20:20] <@Kotono> "I'm curious now," He murmurs, "You wouldn't happen to have one captured or as a toy, would you?"
[20:22] <Gildas> "Ah, no... but we know where we can find more." He nods, going along for now.
[20:22] <@Porridge> "No. Just kill them, nothing good from keeping any around," Porridge shakes his head.
[20:23] <Feather> "Of everyone who came across them," Feather muses, "we don't really know of anyone who managed to get along with them."
[20:24] <@Kotono> "Well, if you bring me one, I'd be grateful. I'd be more than happy to reward you," Vasili adds quickly.
[20:25] <Feather> "If we come across some, sure," Feather agrees. "Just be careful, alright? Lots of folk hate them and would try to kill one on sight."
[20:28] <@Porridge> "Just have to knock one out and stick it in a box so it can't see us to use its electricity?" Porridge suggests.

[Ebiris]

[18:55] <@Kotono> "As long as the box has nothign made of metal or easily flammable," Vasili observes, "That should work."
[18:58] <Gildas> He nods. "We will keep that in mind."
[18:59] <@Kotono> Dinner passes. It's a good meal, all things said. As you finish up, the entire area rattles. It's not severe, but it's impossible to miss. As silverware clatters on the table, "Quite the storm," Vasili murmurs.
[18:59] <@Porridge> "Must be right on top of us," Porridge nods, glancing up.
[19:01] <@Kotono> Myann buries her head into her hands, followed by a groan.
[19:02] <Feather> "You think someone's responsible for it?"
[19:02] <@Kotono> "Beg pardon?" Your host asks Myann, glancing over to Feather. "There's no other arcanists in the immediate area.  But then again, weather control is the sphere of druids."
[19:03] <Feather> "We heard there was a circle of them right near," Feather muses. "And then, there's other options too."
[19:04] <@Kotono> "That there are," Vasili says, "Pardon, but I think I'm going to go have a look above. You're welcome to come with me if you please."
[19:05] <Feather> "I reckon I will," Feather says, standing up.
[19:05] <@Porridge> "Might have a look, but don't think I'll poke my head out the cave if it's real bad," Porridge says as he rises.
[19:07] <@Kotono> Myann silently rises, falling i n behind Feather.
[19:08] <Gildas> Morrie follows along, behind Myann.
[19:10] <@Kotono> Thus the party heads back to the cave entrance. Outside the winds howl - screamingly loud, howling through. Rain whips through the air like curtains of wet scythes and hail slams into the ground. There are constant flashes of lightning, so much that it's more light than dark outside.
[19:11] <Feather> "The hell is this?!"
[19:12] <@Kotono> "One hell of a storm," Vasili stares out, "I haven't seen one this strong in generations."
[19:13] <Gildas> He rubs his chin. "If it was summoned by the druids, I wonder for what purpose..."
[19:13] <@Kotono> Myann's voice is a little strangled, "It looks like a once a decade storm," she agrees quietly.
[19:13] <@Porridge> "Yeah it's a... watsit, Storm of the Century?" Porridge says.
[19:14] <Feather> "Someone you know?" Feather asks her quietly, approaching Myann. "Or something you feel about it?"
[19:16] <@Kotono> "Milady?" Vasili also looks towards Myann, as a flash of lightning illuminates the entire cave entrance.
[19:18] <@Kotono> "This storm makes my skin crawl," Myann says, "That's all."
[19:19] * Feather nods. "Guess all we can do is get back and trust in your sturdy construction, Vasili," he muses. "Gildas, mind checking tomorrow morning if we're expecting more of the same a bit down the line?"
[19:20] <Gildas> He nods. "I will prepare the spell this evening."
[19:21] <@Kotono> OOC: Ready to skip along then, y'all?
[19:22] <@Porridge> OOC: sure
[19:25] <@Kotono> The night passes. The next morning...OOC: Casting your weather prediction spell, Gildas?
[19:26] <Gildas> OOC: Indeed.
[19:26] <@Kotono> OOC: Link me?
[19:27] <Gildas> OOC: http://dndtools.eu/spells/complete-divine--56/weather-eye--682/
[19:29] <@Kotono> OOC: Spellcraft.
[19:30] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10
[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+10 and gets 30." [1d20=20]
[19:33] <@Kotono> Gildas can detect something is wrong. Outside forces are controlling the weather with Control Weather spells or something similar. From what he can gleam, it started with that storm. The weather in this area is being tightly and powerfully controlled, marshalled towards some unknown end.
[19:36] <Gildas> He will frown at the completion of his spell and report to the others. "It's as you all thought -- this is not a natural storm. I cannot tell you why it is being controlled in this way... It takes an incredibly powerful person to control the weather like this, whoever is doing it."
[19:36] <@Porridge> "So basically we're stuck until they get it out their systems?" Porridge summarises.
[19:38] <@Kotono> OOC: To be clear, the storm's passed. The weather's still being manipulated, though.
[19:39] <Gildas> OOC: Ah, my bad.
[19:39] <Gildas> "If you want to know who did it, I believe spells like that are centered in a specific area..." He shakes his head. "I admit I am curious as to why they did it."
[19:40] <Feather> "I guess so am I," Feather muses, noting, "though keep in mind, here, that you'll be shoving your nose into the business of those who could summon that sorta storm. Do we really want to?"
[19:41] <@Porridge> "And nothing to stop them starting the storm back up while we're just merrily marching through the woods."
[19:42] <Feather> "Makes me wonder. Are we the target, somehow, since Myann's feeling off about it? Or Vasili? Or it's just here and we're all in the wrong place?"
[19:44] <Gildas> "I had not considered us as the targets..." He shakes his head. "I suppose it's possible, since we met that panther..."
[19:44] <@Kotono> "Anything's possible," Myann speaks up, "We just don't know enough to tell."
[19:45] <@Porridge> "In the end, we're not gonna find the casters 'less they want to be found. May as well just hurry on our way," Porridge surmises.
[19:46] <Feather> "What I figure is that unless it's us, we can just try to leave and get as much distance from here as we can," Feather suggests, nodding at Porridge's words. "Vasili should be okay here below as well, and not like a circle of druids will be caught off guard."
[19:48] <Gildas> He shrugs. "I will follow your lead on the matter."
[19:48] <@Kotono> "So we don't make it a fight unless they want to make it a fight?" Myann s ums up.
[19:49] <@Porridge> "Good words to live by."
[19:50] <Feather> "Mmm. All we've got is a strange feeling from you and a whole lot of nothingness. Not like anyone's living here aboveground to be harmed by any storms?"
[19:53] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay then, are y'all ready to move on?
[19:53] <Feather> OOC: y
[19:57] <@Kotono> From there you bid your host farewell and continue on. The next day...
[19:57] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 49." [1d100=49]
[19:58] <@Kotono> You find the forest outside devastated. Trees are down all over, a new underbrush of ruined branches. The canopy is shredded in the area, letting in ample sunlight. As you come out of the cave and view what is here, it feels like a new world.
[19:59] <@Porridge> Definitely going to be a pain to slog through...
[20:00] <Gildas> "I hope the farm wasn't affected by this." He looks around, surveying the area.
[20:01] <@Porridge> "Yeah... you cast your spell back there so that means it would've hit there too, wouldn't it?" Porridge frowns as he realises that.
[20:04] <Feather> "No reason to, though...."
[20:05] <@Kotono> "That's..." Myann shakes her head, turning pale. "If the fey were involved...entertainment." she says in a small voice, "You don't think...?"
[20:05] <Feather> "Let's go back," Feather suggests. "Worst case, we help with the cleanup for a day and make the trip all over again."
[20:06] <@Porridge> "Yeah, we need to make sure," Porridge agrees, starting at as brisk a pace as he can manage on the way back.
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 89." [1d100=89]
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 22." [1d100=22]
[20:09] <@Kotono> A few days of travel pass in a blessed unremarkable blur. There's a cut from broken wood and a sprained ankle, but two healers cause those to be patched up without incident. Late in the third day the devastation begins to die down - and when you come into sight of the Holset Farmstead, you see it's intact. The children and Robert work in the fields, nothing awry at a glance at all.
[20:10] <Feather> "Let's go ask what happened here, if anything?" Feather muses, casting Detect Magic wordlessly upon approach to take a proper look.
[20:10] * @Porridge sighs. "S'a relief."
[20:13] <@Kotono> Myann slumps and sighs, "Thank goodness," she says quietly, as Feather detects no magic awry. As you approach the children run up - in moments you have a gaggle of half elven children all around you! "Hi! Welcome home, big bro! Hiya! Did you bring us presents?" Robert approaches slower, wiping his brown clean, "Quick trip," he says laconically. "Something happen?"
[20:14] <Feather> "Sorta," Feather responds, nodding at Robert in greeting. "Had any strange weather or stranger visitors here?"
[20:17] <@Porridge> "Hey there. Sorry, didn't have time to pick anything up," Porridge waves at the kids, suffering their insistence that he's related to them good naturedly. Dusting his hands and looking to Robert, "Had to dig in under a massive storm - entire forest that way's been knocked down," he jerks his thumb backwards. "Wanted to make sure you lot were okay."
[20:18] <@Kotono> "Yeah, we got the rear end of it here," Gesturing the way you came, "We avoided the worst, but it was a damned ugly storm."
[20:22] <Gildas> "We're still not sure what it was for. It was created by someone... for some purpose." He slumps his shoulders. "I really wish I knew why."
[20:22] <Feather> "At least nothing used the storm to come topside? That's a relief too," Feather muses.
[20:24] <@Kotono> "So do I," Myann admits, "But at least it wasn't worse. Maybe it's innocent and they were intentionally using somewhere without habitation?"

[Ebiris]

[18:00] <@Kotono> > OOC: Okay ,were you going to rest a night then head back towards Malaines?
[18:00] <@Kotono> > OOC: And yes, it was to the west. I suck.
[18:01] <Feather> OOC: yes
[18:01] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 84." [1d100=84]
[18:02] <@Kotono> The first day is warm warm warm. With some of the canopy down, the heat of the early summer leaks down from above. It's after lunch when you pass out of a large gap and back into the cooler shade. As the party takes a moment to sigh in relief...OOC: Spot checks, everyone.
[18:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 Myann
[18:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 Myann and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[18:03] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+13 Porridge
[18:03] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+13 Porridge and gets 19." [1d20=6]
[18:03] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+21 Bubi
[18:03] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+21 Bubi and gets 30." [1d20=9]
[18:03] <Gildas> roll 1d20+11
[18:03] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+11  and gets 19." [1d20=8]
[18:05] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[18:05] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 18." [1d20=10]
[18:05] <@Kotono> Bubi just happens to be flying by when he sees it above - great masses of green slime, hanging amid the upper trees. It's above the party and starting to slither down towards them!
[18:06] <@Porridge> Bubi flaps and screeches around the slime in his customary warning!
[18:07] <@Porridge> Catching that, Porridge swears and backs off. "Run around, we can't kill them."
[18:08] * Feather gives the slimes a wide berth with an oath of his own, more than ready to take a different path.
[18:10] * Gildas will follow their lead!
[18:10] <@Kotono> "Eh?" Myann stops and looks up before leaping back! As the party reacts, the slime plummets down! The party's reactions are fast enough to avoid the slime! It's huge! It lands in between all of them, roughly 10ft from each party member as they scramble away. It's a gigantic green mass, glowing faintly. OOC: Init. You avoided the slime from above ambush but it still might be quick enough to get
[18:10] <@Kotono> a shot in before you retreat.
[18:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Myann
[18:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 Myann and gets 20." [1d20=18]
[18:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d20-5 Slime
[18:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20-5 Slime and gets 5." [1d20=10]
[18:10] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann(20)>Green Slime(5)'
[18:11] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1
[18:11] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+1 and gets 10." [1d20=9]
[18:11] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann(20)>Porridge(10)>Green Slime(5)'
[18:11] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[18:11] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[18:12] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann(20)>Gildas(17)<Porridge(10)>Green Slime(5)'
[18:12] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann(20)>Gildas(17)>Porridge(10)>Green Slime(5)'
[18:15] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[18:15] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 18." [1d20=15]
[18:15] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann(20)>Feather(18)>Gildas(17)>Porridge(10)>Green Slime(5)'
[18:16] <@Kotono> Myann takes that advice and promptly retreats away! OOC: Feather.
[18:18] * Feather follows suit.
[18:20] <@Kotono> Thus Feather retreats as well! OOC: Gildas.
[18:20] <Gildas> He changes into his eagle form and begins flying up and away!
[18:21] <@Kotono> OOC: Porridge.
[18:21] <@Porridge> Porridge runs off perpendicular to the slime so he can then easily get back on track.
[18:21] <@Kotono> Thus the party makes good speed away, leaving the slower slime behind. After a bit they gather together at a more sedate pace. "You've had trouble with those before?" she asks. OOC: Free act.
[18:23] <@Porridge> "They need magic or hammers to kill, otherwise they just keep on multiplying," Porridge explains.
[18:24] <Gildas> He shapeshifts back and nods. "I could probably deal with them with magic, but... it seems a waste."
[18:24] <@Kotono> Myann shakes her head, "I might be able to manage it with my blocks if we find one again," she says, wiping her brow clean of sweat. She goes to rest against a tree for a moment, eyes on Gildas as he shapeshifts. "Could you do that again?"
[18:27] <Gildas> He blinks and nods. "Certainly." He shapeshifts again, flapping his wings in place.
[18:29] <Feather> "Does it feel weird?" Feather asks, glancing between Gildas and Porridge. "Having something else's body?"
[18:30] <@Kotono> Myann watches it, "Could you change to and back again," She scratches the back of her hand as she watches. "Can you do it slower?"
[18:31] <@Porridge> "Yeah," Porridge nods. "Everything's just all wrong - hell, my warp spasm did more harm than good when I first started using it. Solution to everything's practice, though."
[18:31] <@Kotono> "That reminds me. What exactly is the warp you're talking about?" Myann asks while keeping her gaze on Gildas.
[18:32] <Gildas> He settles on the ground and shapeshifts back again with a nod to Myann. "I would not say weird... or strange... To me it seems natural." Again, he shapeshifts back to his eagle form, more slowly this time.
[18:33] <@Porridge> "S'when my body warps," Porridge replies. "Basically it's dumbed down shapeshifting, channeling all that mad and hate through you till yer in such a fury the body just can't hold it all in. Makes me really strong and tough for a bit, but hurts like fuck at the end."
[18:35] <@Kotono> This draws Myann's rapt attention, flexing her hand open and closed as she watches. "Right," she murmurs, "Not that sort of angry. I mean, I'm not that sort of angry. This is more...natural," she finally says, her skin starting to shimmer like lake's surface, rippling as well. After a moment of this her form flows into that of a black panther. It is pure black, save for a single incongruent red
[18:35] <@Kotono> and white mushroom growing from her forehead.
[18:36] <@Porridge> Idly reaching over, Porridge prods the mushroom to see if she can feel it.
[18:38] <Gildas> There's a caw, then he returns again with a small smile. "How interesting."
[18:39] <@Kotono> The mushroom's warm as flesh, but flicking it doesn't seem to get a reaction. In a decidedly unfeline gesture she holds up a paw to her face, studying it. She then swipes at the air, claws slicing. Slowly Myann paces, before coming before Feather. She then shimmers again, flowing back into her normal form. She wobbles slightly, using Feather's shoulder for support. "Yeah, interesting," she says,
[18:39] <@Kotono> "It finally clicked for me."
[18:40] <Gildas> "I would not have pictured that particular form for you." He smiles. "Do you feel better now, by the way? You seemed... ailed while we were with Sir Vasili."
[18:41] * Feather helps her keep her footing, cracking a grin. "First time's the hardest?"
[18:43] <@Kotono> "Yeah," she repeats with a little smile, a moment of blushing before she manages to straighten. Glancing over at Gildas, "I was horrified. We met a monster from a bard's tale and it was terrified of me," Jerking a thumb at herself, "What does that say when monsters think you're a monster?"
[18:44] <Gildas> "Perhaps he did not like the taste of mushrooms." He smiles at her, before looking more serious. "I think the important thing is how you feel about yourself. Do you think yourself a monster?"
[18:44] <@Porridge> "Hell, he wasn't much of a monster himself," Porridge drawls.
[18:45] <Feather> "Yeah, he just got caught in the what instead of the who," Feather agrees. "S'not what we are that matters, but what we do? That sorta thing?"
[18:48] <@Kotono> "Yeah," she answers it all in a single word, going to adjust her chain mail while looking away. "Thanks. I'd just rather not linger on it anymore. I've been trying to put that entire day behind me."
[18:50] <Gildas> He nods. "Very well, then let us continue on."
[18:51] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 68." [1d100=68]
[18:51] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 27." [1d100=27]
[18:51] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 69." [1d100=69]
[18:54] <@Kotono> Four days of travel pass. It's slower going due to the devastated area, but soon you're past that and into the normal Vastwoods once again. The weather's hot every day without a hint of rain. The shade of the canopy blocks the worst of it, but it's still warm and muggy. On your fifth day of travel, you come to a ravine. It's only about a 5ft drop into and it's only about 10ft wide or so. Going
[18:54] <@Kotono> across the bottom or over it doesn't look terribly difficult.
[18:55] * Feather tries jumping over it after getting a decent running start!
[18:56] <@Kotono> OOC: Jump check
[18:56] <@Kotono> .
[18:56] <@Kotono> OOC: Or was that rolled into something else? Lemme check.
[18:56] <Feather> OOC: Acrobatics
[18:56] <@Kotono> OOC: Yeah, sorry. Acrobatics.
[18:57] <Feather> roll 1d20+10+4
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+10+4 and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[18:58] <@Kotono> Feather gets a running start and leaps over! It's odd. H e doesn't go nearly as far as he thinks he should - he clears the jump but without as much distance as he should  have.
[18:58] <Feather> "Hold on," he calls to the others, raising an arm in warning and looking the area over for magic.
[19:00] <@Kotono> There's faint magic coming from...below the ground of the ravine bottom?
[19:01] <Feather> "Huh. This ain't what it looks like," Feather mutters, taking a closer look....
[19:01] <Feather> roll 1d20+9 spellcraft
[19:01] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 spellcraft and gets 28." [1d20=19]
[19:01] <@Porridge> Porridge strolls over and peers down from his side.
[19:02] * Gildas aerial shapeshifts to get a better look from up high!
[19:03] <@Kotono> There's some sort of magic in the ground below. It looks rigged up to 'encourage' creatures to land in the bottom of the ravine.
[19:03] <Feather> "Something really wants you guys to jump in!"
[19:04] <@Kotono> Porridge can see it's a typical rocky ravine bottom. It was a streambed once, but now it's not. Meanwhile Gildas looks from above! The ravine continues for a goodly way  in either direction before foliage overtakes it.
[19:05] <@Porridge> "Think we should?" Porridge asks sarcastically.
[19:05] <Feather> "Oh definitely! But what if... what if the evil magicks are making me say that?"
[19:06] <@Kotono> "Then we're all doomed," Myann drawls.
[19:06] <Feather> "How about we just keep on going?"
[19:08] <@Porridge> Heading back a bit so he can have a lead up, Porridge runs and jumps over the ravine!
[19:08] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9-3 acrobatics
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+9-3 acrobatics and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[19:11] <@Kotono> Porridge jumps - and barely gets a few feet out before slamming down hard! Yet it doesn't hurt. The ground is like quicksand pudding, the half elf sliding into it and out of sight! OOC: #evildunes, Porridge.
[19:13] <Gildas> The flying bird lets out a caw and waits for the other two to decide what they're doing, but does come closer to the ravine.
[19:13] <@Kotono> Myann goes to the edge and kneels down, peering, "Porridge?" she calls.
[19:13] <Feather> "I told you it was evil!"
[19:14] <@Kotono> Myann sighs, "Sometimes I wonder how villages survive around here." she mutters, "Any ideas?"
[19:15] <Feather> "Sure thing," Feather responds, setting his pack down and rooting in it. "Gonna drop a rope there, all fifty feet of it. If I get pulled in, just come after us!"
[19:16] <@Kotono> "Right," Myann says, "Got it."
[19:17] <Feather> Rope retrieved and one end tied around his waist, Feather grabs hold of his pack and starts lowering it down into teh ravine.
[19:20] <@Kotono> As the rope is lowered down, suddenly the ground ripples! Swimming in the quicksand-like dirt is a crocodile!
[19:20] <Feather> "That you, Porridge?" Feather calls down. "Uh, bark if so?" He glances at Myann. "Do those things bark?"
[19:21] <@Porridge> Porridge actually does make a sort of bark-like noise. Very growly.
[19:22] <Feather> "Sounds like it! Can you grab on? Rope's pretty sturdy!"
[19:22] <@Kotono> Myann's hair stands on end as she stumbles away from the edge! After a rather pungent curse,
[19:22] <@Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[19:22] <@Kotono> Myann's hair stands on end as she stumbles away from the edge! After a rather pungent curse, "T-that sounds like a demon from the underworld!"
[19:23] <@Porridge> Scrambling towards the edge, Porridge reaches up and very carefully bites down on the rope. Hopefully it'll hold, and he's not changing back until he's safely out of the quicksand!
[19:24] <@Kotono> OOC: I'm gonna have to ask two things here. First, what's Feather's STR score. Second, how much does a croc weigh, anyway?
[19:24] * Feather gets a good solid grip and then slowly begins pulling the crocodile up.
[19:24] <Feather> OOC: Str is 16, but Gildas could presumably land and help as a bear?
[19:25] <Gildas> OOC: Yar.
[19:25] <@Porridge> OOC: no D&D rules, but googling suggests 300 to 450lbs for medium sized crocs.
[19:28] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, just have the two of you make str checks then.
[19:28] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[19:28] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 19." [1d20=16]
[19:29] <Gildas> Gildas lands next to Feather and shapeshifts into his bear form to grab hold of the rope and tug with teeth! Grooaaar!
[19:29] <Gildas> roll 1d20+5
[19:29] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+5 and gets 20." [1d20=15]
[19:29] <@Kotono> Up and up the croc goes! SLowly they bring Porridge out! For a croc he's heavy as all hell, but they just barely manage to get him up and over!
[19:30] <@Porridge> Once his neck reaches the lip he puts his own effort into scrabbling up, another growl given in gratitude as he settles back on terra firma. May as well stay like this a bit for the practice.
[19:31] * Feather blinks, staring down at the crocodile. Maybe it's really not Porridge after all?
[19:32] <Gildas> The bear shapeshifts back. "Was there... something on the other side? Or is it just a trap? ...Ah... just... chomp once for yes, and two for no, I suppose... So, allow me to rephrase -- Should we go and investigate?"
[19:33] <Feather> "What? No!"
[19:33] <@Porridge> Porridge makes a few menacing noises, deciding that he really needs to be able to communicate in his non-half-elven forms. Rising up, the crocodile reshapes and its skin smoothes before turning into Porridge. "Didn't go down to the bottom to find out."
[19:34] <Feather> Reassured, Feather nods as he moves back to the ravine to toss the other end of the rope to Myann. "What did you see, then?"
[19:35] <@Kotono> Myann takes the rope and ties it around her waist. "Alright," she calls, going back for a running start to her jump!
[19:35] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+9
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 18." [1d20=9]
[19:35] <@Kotono> She comes fairly close, landing a foot or two away from the far side. She lands and sinks down, the rope holding!
[19:36] <@Porridge> "Nuthin'," Porridge shakes his head, "Weirdest thing though, almost like I could breathe the- shit!" he turns and looks down after Myann. And he can't change again so soon after the last one!
[19:36] <Feather> "Hold on tight!" Feather calls, first ensuring that he wouldn't slip and then starting to pull.
[19:36] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 18." [1d20=15]
[19:38] <@Kotono> Fortunately Myann isn't nearly so heavy. Pulling her out is unremarkable. "Thanks," she flashes Feather a smile once she's out.
[19:38] * Feather grins back at her, starting to coil the rope back. "No problem. Got to be prepared in these woods."
[19:39] <Gildas> "But nothing tried to attack you?" He looks over at Porridge.
[19:40] <@Porridge> "They're full of surprises," Porridge reflects, shaking his head at Gildas.
[19:40] <Feather> "Let's go?"
[19:40] <@Kotono> OOC: Ready to move along then?
[19:41] <Gildas> OOC: Sure thing.
[19:44] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 76." [1d100=76]
[19:44] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 71." [1d100=71]
[19:46] <@Kotono> The night passes without incident. The party rises with the dawn, eating around the campfire. The meal's nothing special, just some hardtack, porridge and dried fruit. As the party eats, from a ways to the side, there is a distinctive sound of someone clearing their throat.
[19:47] * Gildas turns in that direction!
[19:47] <Feather> Someone managed to sneak up on them this easily, and Feather turns to greet him, hand on the sheath of his sword.
[19:47] <@Porridge> Porridge turns his head in that direction without moving the rest of his body.
[19:50] <@Kotono> About 40ft away is a dirty elf. He's caked in dried mud, his leather traveling clothes well worn. He has a sheathed sword on one side of his belt and a hanging mace on the other. His hair is blonde - you think anyway, as most of it's dirty. "I admit," he says in a lyrical voice, "I'm not sure the proper greetings for a group mixed to this degree." He speaks in Common. "Name's Nayel. You may not
[19:50] <@Kotono> want to get any closer - I haven't had a chance to bathe after taking a tumble into muck."
[19:52] <Feather> "You seem to be doing well," Feather responds, calmly letting go of his sword. "Traveling, like us?"
[19:52] <Gildas> He speaks up. "The enchanted ravine, perhaps?"
[19:52] <@Porridge> "Had a trip into quicksand myself yesterday," Porridge says without rancor.
[19:54] <@Kotono> "Heh, heh," Chuckling, "Yeah, our magus makes those. I was trying to get prey out - they're overgrown traps. The animals never wise up to them."
[19:55] * Feather wonders whether Porridge will punch him for that.
[19:56] <Gildas> "Do you live around here then, Nigel?" He asks. "Or just hunt?"
[19:57] <@Porridge> "Figured there was something nasty at the bottom." Porridge sighs but can't hold it against them on account of, "Figure that's why I could breathe as well, so you don't have to dig out corpses of hapless travellers?" Assuming he didn't starve to death anyway... still, that's a risk with a snare as well, and he's used those.
[19:58] <@Kotono> "Yeah, and it's Nayel, not Nigel," he corrects absently, "Anyway, what are you people doing here? We don't ge tmany travelers this way."
[20:00] <Gildas> He nods. "Ah, yes, Nayel, my apologies." He rubs some apparent exhaustion out of his brain. "Actually..." He looks at the others as if he suddenly dawns on him.
[20:02] <Gildas> "Are you from Malaines, by any chance?"
[20:03] <@Kotono> "I am," he replies as he stays in place. "Going that way?"
[20:04] <Feather> "Sure are," Feather agrees, before belatedly introducing himself. "Name's Feather."
[20:05] <@Porridge> "Porridge," the half-elf chimes in. "Looking for artisans, craftspeople. That kinda thing help start up a new town down the ways."
[20:06] <@Kotono> "Myann," Said elf adds in, mostly focusing on her breakfast - but her eyes are on him.
[20:06] <@Kotono> "Want a guide?" He offers, "I'm going that way and I could use some help hauling things there."
[20:07] <Gildas> "Gildas." He nods after everyone. "I think that would be acceptable."
[20:09] <@Porridge> "Yeah, figure it'd do some good. Come on and grab a bite, we've probably smelt worse," Porridge waves him over.
[20:10] <@Kotono> At this Nayel comes over. He doesn't smell good at all, but he stops just before the fire. He sniffis the air, "Mushroom porridge?" he asks, settling in.
[20:12] <@Porridge> "Weird texture, but nourishing," Porridge offers, eating his own namesake dish at a steady pace.
[20:13] <@Kotono> "We tend to run into a lot of mushrooms," Myann says blandly.
[20:13] <Feather> "It's a thing. Hardly the weirdest thing about these woods."

[Ebiris]

[18:07] <@Kotono> From here the party is lead for about an hour's walk. It's to a generally northern direction, eventually coming to a tucked away cottage. It's on the large size and has a large unattached building behind it, made of plain wood. "You all go around the back and wait by storage, I'm going to go clean myself up first."
[18:08] <Feather> "Sure thing," Feather responds, giving him a nod.
[18:08] <@Porridge> Porridge nods and ambles around to wait.
[18:09] <Gildas> He nods and follows the others!
[18:15] <@Kotono> You wait perhaps ten minutes before Nayel returns. He's cleaned up and wearing new clothes, the scent of muck on him much more tolerable now. Going inside, you find the unattached building to be full of firepits with chimneys. None are currently lit. On shelves are great racks of cured meats and several backpacks. The scent of meaty smoke is dominating here, making your stomachs stir and come
[18:15] <@Kotono> alive. "Take a backpack if you need one. Otherwise, load up with as much meat as you can carry."
[18:17] <@Porridge> His own backpack is full of his own things, so Porridge grabs a free pack and begins shovelling food into it. "We delivering the food into town?" he asks. Good enough way to present themselves well, he thinks.
[18:19] <Feather> "Got my own," Feather tells him with a hearty pat at it. It's tempting to take an empty one, but he's too used to carrying everything in his and so begins reshuffling its contents to get more space for the cured meats in it.
[18:20] <@Kotono> "Yeah," Nayel does the same, loading up. "Grab some jerky or sausage if you want something to snack on for today's travel. Something you can carry on hand."
[18:21] <Gildas> "Ah." He nods at that and will take a seperate backpack to carry some meats in.
[18:23] <@Porridge> Porridge gets a few links after his extra pack is laden down with meat, slinging it over his shoulder and on top of his existing backpack.
[18:24] <@Kotono> From there, the party begins to travel again. (More)
[18:24] <@Kotono> roll 1d100-10
[18:24] <@Kotono> OOC: I cast Summon Miko.
[18:24] <Gildas> OOC: HAT BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT
[18:25] * Joins: Rei-chan (~mars@cpc9-sgyl30-2-0-cust73.sgyl.cable.virginmedia.com)
[18:27] <@Kotono> roll 1d100-10
[18:27] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100-10 --> [ 1d100=58 ]{48}
[18:27] <@Kotono> roll 1d100-10
[18:27] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100-10 --> [ 1d100=61 ]{51}
[18:32] <@Kotono> A few days of travel pass. While your burdens slow you down, various hunting trails and hidden paths Nayel takes shave off yet more time by avoiding obsticles. It's a warm, summery day as you at last come to Malaines. It is a large village of log cabins and small farm plots, all knitted together by fused cobblestone footpaths. Above in the canopy are several places where lattices of wood push
[18:32] <@Kotono> aside part of the canopy, making lattice-windows to allow sunlight in. Several elves are about on first glance. One elven woman leads a gaggle of children along, with the children carrying a picnic blanket and basket. A pair of male elves carry armfuls of firewood, chatting away as you go. Another elf is sitting on a porch and petting a cat - an emerald green feline just a little too large to
[18:32] <@Kotono> be a housecat. Another sits thirty feet up in the branches, surrounded by hawks. Strange hawks, for they each have six legs, akin to a spider.
[18:34] <Gildas> "You don't all have a purple panther, by any chance, do you?" He comments, looking at the peculiar animals.
[18:35] <@Kotono> Myann looks about with a widening smile, "An elven cat! I haven't seen one in ages!" Myann says, before her gaze turns to the hawks. She doesn't quite frown, but her good humor is gone.
[18:36] <@Kotono> "Purple?" Nayel shakes his head, "No."
[18:36] * Feather pays the spider-hawks no attention, instead asking Nayel, "So how many people live here, give or take?"
[18:36] <@Porridge> Bubi gives those spider-hawks a wide berth as he circles above the group. "Why'd a bird need so many legs anyway?" Porridge himself squints up at them, trying to figure out what advantage it would give to make up for the extra weight.
[18:39] <@Kotono> "To rip prey from webbing," Myann says quietly, and in a whisper to Porridge, "Before I was cursed, trying to tame the Zygraat was an ongoing trial. Someone must have finally figured it out. They can spin webs as strong as steel."
[18:39] <@Kotono> "About 150, give or take, with another 50 transient at any time," Nayel shrugs as he leads you to a large cabin. There's no sign outside of it, but the door's open. "In here."
[18:40] * Gildas will head over thataway!
[18:41] <@Porridge> "Huh. Weird," Porridge decides, not getting it. Maybe he can try and turn into one sometime and see if it makes more sense that way.
[18:46] <@Kotono> Going in you find a warehouse. Several shelves are full of cured meat, and soon you unload your burdens. Once done, "You're free to look around," he says, "If you can, speak elven."
[18:47] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9
[18:47] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{12}
[18:47] <Feather> "Seems like sound advice," Feather agrees, starting to unpack. "Any suggestions on who we might see about construction and such?"
[18:50] <@Kotono> "Rashen. You'll need to look around to find him, he never sits still." So you get your answer.
[18:52] * Feather tips his hat at Nayel in thanks.
[18:52] <@Porridge> "Thanks, guess we'll see you around," Porridge says, in elven naturally as he heads out.
[18:53] <Gildas> He nods to their host and will leave with the others.
[18:53] <@Kotono> OOC: Going to look around some then?
[18:54] <Feather> OOC: Yeah. I think we all speak Elven?
[18:55] <@Kotono> OOC: I think so. Do any of you have ranks in diplo?
[18:56] <Gildas> OOC: Not here.
[18:56] <Feather> OOC: What is this diplo you speak of?
[18:57] <@Porridge> OOC: I'm a gruff woodsman!
[19:00] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, who has the highest charisma here? Myann has 16.
[19:00] <Feather> OOC: She is the prettiest of us
[19:02] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, she'll make a cha check and ther estof you can roll to aid, say?
[19:03] <Feather> roll 1d20 aiding!
[19:03] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20 aiding! --> [ 1d20=17 ]{17}
[19:03] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[19:03] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{4}
[19:03] <Gildas> OOC: Are we about to get run out of town? :(
[19:04] <@Kotono> OOC: May want to roll that aiding, speaking of. Thats a remarkably low roll.
[19:04] <@Porridge> roll 1d20-1 i am helping
[19:04] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20-1 i am helping --> [ 1d20=12 ]{11}
[19:05] <Gildas> roll 1d20 aiding and abetting
[19:05] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20 aiding and abetting --> [ 1d20=20 ]{20}
[19:07] <@Kotono> You wander about. It doesn't really go anywhere at first - Myann gets a few strange looks, the elf biting her lip and keeping her eyes downcast. But in time you wander near where the elf in the trees with the spider-hawks sits. "Hullo there!" he calls down, a few of the strange birds perching near him. "Hullo, hullo, humans and half bloods!"
[19:09] <@Porridge> "Hullo elf!" Porridge calls back up at him.
[19:09] <Gildas> "Salutations." He looks up to the tree-loving elf.
[19:10] <@Kotono> Myann waves. Meanwhile the elf returns it ans answers, "That's a fine hawk following you."
[19:12] <@Porridge> "Eh, Bubi?" Porridge whistles and raises an arm, the sparrowhawk swooping down to perch on his leather bracer. "He might not have as many legs as your lot, but he barely uses the pair he has, anyway!"
[19:16] <@Kotono> "Hah!" Smiling as he sits back, "But you ask me, I'd rather take one zygraat than ten hawks like that Bubi there."
[19:18] <@Porridge> "That'd be your loss, then!" Porridge calls up, as Bubi fluffs his wings and preens himself without care to the discussion. "Those things might be good with webbing or whatever, but Bubi's saved me from more ambushes'n I can count. Might not even be here to talk to you without him!"
[19:21] <@Kotono> "Really? You humanfriends down below want to put something on the line to prove that?" The elf asks.
[19:23] <@Porridge> "Put my life on the line every day I'm out in those woods," he jerks a thumb at the surrounding forest. "Have something in particular in mind?"
[19:26] <@Kotono> "Yeah, a bet. Bet one of my zygraat's is the fastest hawk here. Say a race proves it." The figure points down, "That's a mighty fine axe you have ther.e"
[19:26] <@Porridge> "Yeah? I don't see anything you've got to match it," Porridge challenges.
[19:30] <@Kotono> Gesturing down, "Got a set of zygraat armor," he says blandly, "Ligter'n'stronger than steel. You'd think your Momma tucked you into your armor when you wear it."
[19:32] <@Porridge> "Alright. Lets see how your bird does with all those pointless limbs weighing it down," Porridge boldly accepts the challenge, looking around now for a good landmark some ways off they can use as a marker.
[19:35] <Gildas> For a moment, he considers entering the contest himself, but decides that's probably against the spirit of it, so he stays quiet.
[19:35] <@Kotono> There's a rather large cabin a goodly ways away, standing by itself.
[19:36] <@Kotono> "Is there any way we could..." Myann murmurs quietly, barely heard by her friends.
[19:36] <@Porridge> "First one around the back of that cabin and back?" Porridge suggests, pointing over towards it.
[19:36] <Feather> "Hmm?" Feather asks her.

[Ebiris]

[18:00] <@Kotono> "Could help," Myann adds softly. Meanwhile the elf nods, "Yeah, that will work," he says, climbing down from the tree. He's an old hand at it, getting down in short order. He holds out his arm, a zygraat coming to perch on it.
[18:01] <Feather> "Wouldn't be fair," Feather responds, matching her tone. "Besides, Porridge's not being forced into anything."
[18:02] <@Kotono> Keeping her voice a whisper, "So? Who says we need to be fair?" Myann challenges right back.
[18:04] * @Porridge spends a moment directing Bubi so he understands where he has to fly before coming back, and once confident the bird has it he goes to stand next to the elf, both the same distance from the hut. "Don't know why you're even trying, really," he engages in some friendly(?) trash talking. "Poor thing's gonna be fighting the wind all the way there and back."
[18:04] * Feather shrugs. "Guess you're right. Would want to win some contest I get into fairly on my own, but that's me. Still, how can you help with something like this without being obvious about it?"
[18:06] <@Kotono> "Hah," Snorting at that and doing the same to his bird as Porridge does, "Wait until yo usee it move, you won't believe it!"
[18:06] <@Kotono> Myann shrugs, rather helplessly, "I was hoping you had an idea."
[18:07] <Gildas> He steps over to Feather and Myann and leans in. "I think that he'd be upset that we wounded his pride."
[18:07] <@Porridge> "Yeah, I'm sure I won't," Porridge laughs boistrously. "Hey, one of you throw a stick or something in front of us? We'll go when it hits the ground."
[18:08] <Feather> "I'll do it," Feather volunteers. Picking a suitable one, he tossed it into the air and watches!
[18:08] <@Kotono> "Go!" The moment the stick hits the ground, the zygraat is sent off!
[18:09] <@Porridge> "Go!" Porridge says the exact same thing, moving his arm forward and giving Bubi all the clue he needs to get flapping!
[18:09] <@Kotono> OOC: Dex check, Bubi.
[18:09] <@Kotono> OOC: Oh yeah, Bubi is stnadard hawk fly speed, right?
[18:09] <@Porridge> OOC: yes
[18:10] <@Kotono> OOC: Dex check.
[18:10] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+4
[18:10] * Joins: Rei-chan (Rei-chan@cpc9-sgyl30-2-0-cust73.sgyl.cable.virginmedia.com)
[18:10] <@Kotono> OOC: I cast a quickened Summon Miko.
[18:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Zygraat
[18:10] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 Zygraat --> [ 1d20=18 ]{21}
[18:10] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+4
[18:10] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{23}
[18:10] * Kotono changes topic to 'Bubi +2'
[18:12] <@Kotono> Like twin arrows the two are off! They're racing ahead, Bubi gaining a slight lead! "C'mon!" The elf shouts, all while Bubi maintains a small lead halfway to the cabin! Myann watches all the while, the race begun! OOC: Goa head and react and roll another dex check.
[18:13] <@Porridge> "Thats ma boy!" Porridge cheers as the two birds just fly along without having any idea what's at stake, or probably even that they're in a race.
[18:13] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+4
[18:13] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{6}
[18:13] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Zygraat
[18:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 Zygraat --> [ 1d20=12 ]{15}
[18:13] * Kotono changes topic to 'Bubi -7'
[18:15] <@Kotono> The two race on towards the cabin - but the zygraat is starting to pull ahead! It has a decent lead as they start go 'round the cabin! "Hah! See that! That's the speed of a zygraat!" OOC: React'n'dex.
[18:17] <@Porridge> "Damn, come on Bubi, yer not out yet!" Porridge cries, clenching his fist in desperation.
[18:17] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+4
[18:17] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{9}
[18:17] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Zygraat
[18:17] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 Zygraat --> [ 1d20=19 ]{22}
[18:18] * Kotono changes topic to 'Bubi -20'
[18:19] <@Kotono> The two hawks race on -b ut somehow the six legged freak hawk is pulling further ahead! It reaches halfway back while a sizeable lead over Bubi! "Damn it...!" Myann breathes, staring in dismay. She clenches her own fist as...OOC: React'n'dex.
[18:19] <@Porridge> "Oh come on! It shouldn't even be able to fly at all!" Porridge just goes straight into denial now that defeat seems inevitable.
[18:19] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+4
[18:19] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{10}
[18:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Zygraat
[18:19] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 Zygraat --> [ 1d20=2 ]{5}
[18:19] * Kotono changes topic to 'Bubi -15'
[18:20] <Feather> "Guess those extra legs do let it, uh, paddle through the air faster?"
[18:21] <@Kotono> To be fair to Bubi, he does make up some distance. But alas it's just too much for Porridge's noble hawk to endure. The zygraat finishes comfortably ahead, your opponent to smirk. "You see that," he says smugly, "I told you. Those legs don't slow it down at all. Don't ask me how it works."
[18:25] <@Porridge> "Bah!" he throws up one of his hands, the other held out levelly for Bubi to perch on. "When a man can't trust his eyes and reason, what can he do?" Reaching up over his back, he hauls the enchanted axe out, orcish runes of power engraved before its blade, and presents it handle first to the elf. "S'yours, then." Once his hand is free he scratches Bubi's head and turns to his bird, "Don't worry, I still like you fine," he reassures the hawk quietly. For his part Bubi just looks around with avian curiosity, uncaring for meaningless words.
[18:25] <@Kotono> "That's one fine axe," The elf takes it and hefts it, "Heavy though. Say...
[18:25] <@Kotono> OOC:G ah.
[18:26] <Gildas> Gildas gently nudges Myann and motions for her to come a bit away from the elf and the others.
[18:26] <@Kotono> "That's one fine axe," The elf takes it and hefts it, "Heavy though. Say..." His eye go over the party, "Any of you want to go double or nothing?" Meanwhile Myann nods, "Just a moment," she says, going with Gildas.
[18:27] <@Porridge> "Huh..." Porridge suddenly gets a calculating look in his eye. "Well, there is one other bird I could put against yours..." He thinks of those raptoran hawks... now one of those surely must be a good flier...
[18:27] <Gildas> "I would be willing to offer you an animal to enter this competition with." He looks at her square in the face!
[18:28] <@Porridge> "Oh... huh, you got something, Gildas?" Porridge blinks and looks over at them.
[18:29] <@Kotono> "Beg pardon?" Myann says carefully, "Oooooh!" she says with a sudden smile, "I'm sure I can come up with one in a moment."
[18:30] <Gildas> "Or I can call it, if you wish." He nods to her. "It is your choice."
[18:31] <@Kotono> "I'll call it," she says quickly, and lowering her voice, "I don't think I can do that bird transformation yet," she whispers, slipping away behind a tree.
[18:32] <@Kotono> Your host just watches with a confused expression, and can be heard to mutter, "What are the humanfriends up to," by Porridge.
[18:33] <@Porridge> "Just wait and see," Porridge says, backing off and hoping Gildas is fast enough.
[18:34] <@Kotono> "Huh." Glancing over at Feather and Porridge, "What are you going to put up this time?"
[18:36] * Feather blinks in confusion.
[18:36] <@Porridge> "Y'know, I've never seen it close enough to tell just what kind of bird it was," Porridge freely admits. "We'll see soon."
[18:37] <@Kotono> "No. I mean what are you going to put up for your end of the bet this time," he says, "I'm not putting this stuff back up for free."
[18:37] <Gildas> He will step behind the same tree and out of sight!
[18:37] <@Kotono> OOC: Transform or do whatever, Gildas.
[18:38] <Gildas> OOC: OK!
[18:38] <@Porridge> "Oh... I don't have anything as valuable as that axe to be honest," Porridge admits. And he'd be unsure about trusting it to Gildas' unknown flying speed if he did, to be honest.
[18:38] <Gildas> Shapeshifting into his aerial form, he will perch on Myann's shoulder.
[18:39] <@Kotono> "How about that breastplate of yours," Jerking a thumb at it, "That still looks worth some gold."
[18:39] <@Kotono> OOC: What type of bird?
[18:40] <Gildas> OOC: Eagle.
[18:40] <@Porridge> Oh, Gildas... Porridge looks over at the trees with a look that says 'you better fucking win this!' before agreeing, "Alright, I'll go for that."
[18:41] <@Kotono> Myann pats Gildas's back before walking out with him. "Earth alive!" He turns, "A tame eagle?" After a moment he asks, "Where'd the other go?"
[18:42] <@Porridge> "Probably taking a piss or something..."
[18:42] <@Kotono> "That. Ate some bad mushrooms and they're acting up," Myann says blandly, "So are you ready?"
[18:45] <@Kotono> The party gets an odd, disbelieving look, "Fine," he says, "Doesn't matter what scam you're running. Zygraat's are the fastest hawks in the forest! One of yo ugrab a stick."
[18:45] <@Porridge> Porridge does the honours this time.
[18:46] <@Kotono> The stick is tossed and lands, "GO!" Your rival calls! OOC: Dex checks. No mods to either since movement speed versus manueverability cancels out.
[18:46] <Gildas> OOC: So just 1d20?
[18:46] <@Kotono> OOC: Plus your dex modifier.
[18:47] <@Kotono> OOC: Whatever that is.
[18:47] <Gildas> OOC: aha
[18:47] <Gildas> roll 1d20+3 fly, Pokemon!
[18:47] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+3 fly, Pokemon! --> [ 1d20=4 ]{7}
[18:47] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[18:47] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{14}
[18:47] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas -7'
[18:48] <@Kotono> Thus the two fly off! Gildas finds it difficult! Despite the six legs the creature is shockingly fast, taking an early lead! "Hah! My hawk's even faster than an eagle!" Myann stares intently, "Come on," shemutters under her breath, drifting a little closer to Feather. OOC: React'n'dex again.
[18:48] * @Porridge starts loosening the straps on his armour.
[18:49] <Gildas> The bird looks determined, or as determined as a bird can look, anyway...
[18:49] <Gildas> roll 1d20+3
[18:49] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{20}
[18:49] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[18:49] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{8}
[18:49] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas +5'
[18:50] <@Kotono> Like a shot the two continue! They go around the cabin - and here Gildas's better turning ability pays off! He makes the turn sharply, taking a lead as the zygraat has to take a much wider turn! "That's it!" Myann calls, "Faster now!" OOC: React'n'dex again.
[18:50] <@Porridge> Oh! Dare he hope he won't be walking away naked?!
[18:51] <Feather> "Hey, not bad!"
[18:51] <Gildas> The eagle lets out a call and tries to continue!
[18:51] <Gildas> roll 1d20+3
[18:51] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{5}
[18:51] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[18:51] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{13}
[18:51] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas -2'
[18:52] <@Kotono> "Hurry up, you damned spider-hawk!" The call from your competitor echos as the zygraat catches up! They're halfway back now, neck and neck! The zygraat is nursing a slight lead as they come into the final sprint home! OOC: React'n'dex again.
[18:52] <@Porridge> "Come on Gildas, don't let me down!" Porridge hollers!
[18:53] <@Kotono> Myann sucks in a breath, "C'mon!" she whispers intensely!
[18:54] <Gildas> A desperate attempt to try and win this! The eagle flaps its wings as hard as it can!
[18:54] <Gildas> roll 1d20+3 Time to roll a 1
[18:54] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+3 Time to roll a 1 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{9}
[18:54] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[18:54] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{5}
[18:54] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas +2'
[18:55] <@Kotono> Neck and neck! The two are twinned arrow sin the air, racing on - yet at the last, Gildas picks up just a bit more speed! He gets back about a bodylength ahead of the zygraat, winning! "NO!" The elf calls, biting off a sour curse.
[18:55] <@Porridge> "Yes!" Porridge jumps and pumps his fist in the air, Bubi screeching and taking flight in alarm at the movement.
[18:56] * Feather can't help it, he just laughs at the outcome.
[18:57] <@Kotono> Myann grins and exhales, falling back against Feather's side. She pats the perched Gildas on her arm, "That was too close! Sorry friend," she says, "But we depend on that axe and armor in the wild."
[18:58] <@Kotono> "Son of an orc!" Throwing his arms up into the air, his zygraat screetching before it takes off into the air and away, "I don't believe it! You humanfriends tamed an eagle, named it and got it to be faster than a zygraat!"
[19:01] <Gildas> The bird preens itself on Myann's arm.
[19:01] <@Porridge> "Hmph, beating a little sparrowhawk is one thing, don't figure your freaky spider-birds are the fastest in the forest," Porridge reminds him, gratefully refastening his armour.
[19:02] <@Kotono> "Unbelievable," Repeating himself darkly, "Just stay here a few moments," he says, dropping the axe to the ground and stomping off.
[19:02] <@Porridge> Porridge scoops it up and puts it back where it should be. "Well Gildas, figure that armour's yours won fair and square," he tells the currently avian scholar.
[19:04] * Joins: Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-72-182-99-123.austin.res.rr.com)
[19:05] <Gildas> The bird preens itself once more before flying off! Well, flying off insofar as he's going to find a place where no one is looking and shapeshift back, then return to the others.
[19:05] * Quits: Rei-chan (Rei-chan@cpc9-sgyl30-2-0-cust73.sgyl.cable.virginmedia.com) (Quit: )
[19:07] <@Kotono> As Gildas comes back, "Nicely flown," Myann calls, "Still, that was a scare."
[19:08] <Feather> "Very dramatic," Feather affirms.
[19:08] <Gildas> He shakes his head. "It was not designed to be." He smiles at Porridge. "I think that any of you should use it, I am actually better off without armor."
[19:09] <@Porridge> "Mighty kind," Porridge nods. "Guess best to see how it stacks with what we all have now. Might not even be any better."
[19:10] <@Kotono> Soon enough he returns. He carries the armor with him - it looks more like a tunic than armor and it's dyed forest green. "Here. It's your lucky day," he sounds downright sour, "The magus also did some finger waggling over it."
[19:12] <@Porridge> "No point making a bet if you're gonna be a grumpy guts over it," Porridge says, electing to let someone with magical training examine it. "Nobody forced you to go double or nothing."
[19:12] <Feather> "Yeah," Feather muses. "From what I recall, you're the one who brought that up."
[19:13] <@Kotono> "It's just absurd that you...you...humanfriends beat me at what I've spent a century working on," he throws his hands up into the air, dropping the armor. Rubbing his temple after, "Don't remind me, gonna be doing a lot of that for a long time."
[19:13] * Feather shakes his head, deciding to change the subject. "So ever hear the name Rashen?"
[19:14] <@Kotono> "He's the town builder," He replies, "If he's not building something he's gathering materials or fixing up something. Haven't seen him around today."
[19:15] <@Porridge> "Well hey, you bred some weird spider bird thing to spin webs and fly as well as a normal bird, that's something to be proud of," Porridge consoles him. "Probably be done in twenty years if you'd just trained normal birds and spiders seperately..." he adds in a mutter.
[19:16] <@Kotono> "I didn't breed them," he adds, "Just never mind it. So what all are you looking for Rashen for, anyway? I don't expect a bunch of h umanfriends to come looking for the town builder."
[19:16] <@Porridge> "For help with building of course!"
[19:17] * Feather laughs. "There's that. But we were hoping to interest some folk in a new settlement. One with humans and elves living together, that sort of deal."
[19:18] <@Kotono> "Of course." Continuing to rub his temples, "I wasn't aware you wer-" A stop at that, "Oooooh. A new settlement."
[19:21] <Feather> "Yeah. It all comes together now, don't it?"
[19:23] <@Kotono> This gets Feather a rather interested look, "Hmmm. Say. Hypothetically," he says, "Would you think a zygraat hatchery would be more valuable than that armor to an up and coming settlement?"
[19:24] * Feather glances over at Porridge and Gildas, since it is their shared win, in a sense.
[19:25] <@Porridge> "They're good at catching animals and birds in their webs and can provide more than they eat, right?" Porridge asks.
[19:26] <@Kotono> "Yes," he says, "They're good for warding off threats with webs, too. The can deter smaller incursions by web-throwing."
[19:27] <@Porridge> "Then yeah, I figure they'd be damn useful," Porridge says, since Gildas already mentioned he didn't care about the armour.
[19:27] <@Kotono> "So give me the armor back and we hav ea deal," he offers.
[19:28] <Feather> "It'd be even more useful," Feather muses, taking his cue from that, "if someone helped the visitors out with the whole thing. Someone local, say, who might know where to find a decent builder or knows about a few folks who might want to try moving to a fresh place?"
[19:29] <@Porridge> Porridge picks up the armour and hands it right back!
[19:30] <@Kotono> "Deal," he says, armor obtained back. "Rashen's really your best shot in town. He's the best builder by a lot. He has a few apprentices, but they're not even a decade into learning."
[19:30] <Feather> "Any way for us to chance upon him that's not just walk around aimlessly?"
[19:32] <@Kotono> "Wait at his house. He stops by a few times a day to eat," he says, "He's always snacking on something and never gains an ounce." With a wry shake of his head, "Eats like a wolf, weighs as much as a pixie."
[19:34] * Feather nods. "Yeah, thanks. We'll do that, I figure. How about anyone else who might be looking for a change of scenery?"
[19:37] <@Kotono> "Might know a few," he says thoughtfully, pointing to the big cabin that was the focus point of the race, "Look for a young elf named Hylath over there. He's been talking about seeing thet world a lot."
[19:38] <Feather> "Sounds like a plan."
[19:42] <@Kotono> OOC: Which first?
[19:43] <Feather> OOC: The young elf's right here, let's talk to him first?
[19:48] <@Kotono> Thus the party goes over to the big cabin. Coming closer you can see it's one sprawling story and well made. It's painted in earth tones. OOC: Go ahead and look for him however you're gonna look for him.
[19:50] * Feather does the sensible thing and knocks on the door.
[19:53] <Gildas> Gildas will look around the area!
[19:56] <@Kotono> It's pretty neat here. The lawn is kept and the trees are vibrantly alive. Apple trees are about in various stages of ripeness. Meanwhile the door is knocked on. The person that answers the door is a maid. A beautiful, blushing black haired elf. She bows, "H-hello, humans," she says in polite, accented common. "H-how can I help you?"
[19:57] <Feather> "Hello there," Feather returns in decent Elven, smiling at her. Is it a her? "We were told Hylath lives here?"
[19:57] <@Porridge> Porridge glances at Myann and flicks one of his own ears idly before shrugging. Doesn't really matter he supposes.
[19:58] <@Kotono> It looks like a woman. Okay it's an elf, but it looks like a female anyway. She has curves and bumps in all the right places. Myann returns it with a little smile and flicks her own ear. Meanwhile the maid blushes even more, "Oh." she says, "H-humanfriends. I'll call master Hylath from his studies." Dropping into a curtesy, "Please come in."
[19:59] <@Porridge> "Thanks," Porridge says, speaking in elven. Maybe she'll stutter less in her native tongue.
[19:59] <Feather> "Much appreciated, Ma'am," Feather responds, nodding gratefully.
[20:01] <Gildas> "Thank you for your kindness." Likewise, in Elven.
[20:02] <@Kotono> You are lead inside. It's like an overzied cabin, full of wood carvings and decorations. A simple room with ornately carved chairs is where you go. Each backrest is carved into different things. One a dragon, one a winged female, a third a boar and a fourth a falcon. Beyond that there are carvings of elves at work and play hanging on the walls. "Please be seated," Her voice is more collected in
[20:02] <@Kotono> Elven, "Waters and flowers will be provided momentarily," she says, before stepping out.
[20:03] <Feather> "Flowers?" Feather repeats quietly, glancing quizzically at Myann.
[20:04] <@Kotono> "It's to freshen up travelers," Myann explains, "Waters to wash our hands and face with." Wrinkling her nose, "It would be wise to wash more too," she adds, "It's scented water, usually with the same type of flower that's provided. The flowers are to be worn as a garland or woven necklace. It's rude to meet with your host smelling less than fresh."
[20:05] * Feather takes the dragon's seat, finding himself nodding at her words. "Makes sense, actually. I was half afraid they'll be some traditional elven snack we can't refuse."
[20:06] <@Kotono> This draws a smile out of Myann, "My mother made roses and cream preserves," she says, "But never flowers alone. They aren't many that are edible raw."
[20:08] * Feather grins back at her, asking, "So is this just for travelers, or for all proper guests?"
[20:08] <@Porridge> "Just gonna get dirty again," Porridge mutters, not seeing much point. He'll play along anyway... was this why those elves in Dyrement wouldn't give him the time of day?
[20:11] <@Kotono> "Any guest that looks like they need it," Myann says, "By definition that's any non-elf or any elf that looks or smells less than fresh." Meanwhile another maid comes in - blonde instead of black haired, but fairly similar otherwise. On a silver tray she brings bowls of water and piles of violets. She places the tray down and curtesies before exiting out.
[20:12] <@Porridge> Porridge decides to just copy what Myann does to be on the safe side.
[20:13] * Feather can't exactly bath with that, so he cleans up his hands and then his face, arms and neck as much as he can. And then, he is left staring at the violets in dismay.
[20:14] <@Kotono> Myann does the same, dabbing beneath her chainmail as well. This causes Myann to chuckle, "Don't tell me none of you have ever braided flowers before?"
[20:14] <Feather> "Whyever would I do that for?!" Feather exclaims, perfectly perplexed.
[20:15] <@Porridge> Porridge hasn't! And after washing some he just sticks a flower in his headband above one of his ears.
[20:16] <Gildas> Gildas will follow suit with everyone else. It's only proper, after all.
[20:17] <@Kotono> "Didn't you even hae a sister that did that? Any of you?" She looks to Gildas last. "What about you?"
[20:17] <Feather> "Only child," Feather responds curtly.
[20:18] <@Porridge> "Sure I saw girls doing it now and then, but I never learned myself," Porridge shakes his head.
[20:19] <@Kotono> For some reason that makes Myann giggle, "Orc girls make flower garlands too?"
[20:20] <Gildas> "It did not come up in my family." He smiles.
[20:21] <@Porridge> "They like to look nice as much as anyone else," Porridge shrugs. "It's more of a kid thing, though."
[20:21] <Feather> "Could we count on you for this?" Feather asks Myann. "Since we wanna make a decent first impression and all?"
[20:22] <@Kotono> "I don't mind. I haven't done this in ages." Myann goes to the flowers, working away. It doesn't take her long to make four garlands. After placing one on her own head, "Take one and wear it like a crown or tiara."
[20:22] <@Porridge> Out comes the flower on his headband, and on goes the garland on his crown!
[20:23] <Feather> Not wearing his hat indoors anyway, Feather places his garland firmly over his head!
[20:23] <Gildas> He will place it on his head and probably not look too terribly strange in doing so, somehow.
[20:26] <@Kotono> "There." Myann sits back, the scent of violets heavy in the air. "Now we just wait. Tutors and maids, his family's rich, if all this wasn't a giveaway."
[20:26] <Feather> "Sure seems like it."
[20:27] <@Porridge> "I don't get how someone can even have personal servants in a village this small," Porridge admits. "Shouldn't everyone be doing proper work?"
[20:28] <Feather> "Doesn't every small town have its local lord?"
[20:29] <@Porridge> "Wasn't one at Clearbrook was there?"
[20:29] * Feather blinks. "Did we ever check?"
[20:30] <@Kotono> "That's probably it." Myann says, "He could have a noble title of some sort or be a country knight," Going on from that, "In the frontier like this, low ranking knights are sometimes given gold and plots of land to serve as backbones for settlements. There might only be 150 elves here at any time, but there's a fair few more that pass through and use it as a base of operations when they aren't
[20:30] <@Kotono> scouting or doing whatever they do."
[20:30] <Feather> "Could be," Feather muses. "There was one in that new town that was being built, too, wasn't there? Even though she wasn't the nicest person."
[20:31] <@Porridge> "If it had one he was doing an incredibly shit job," Porridge concludes, given all the troubles and the lack of authority to control things.

[Ebiris]

[18:05] <@Ko-NitoriisNitori> As the party chats, the door in is opened again. The elf who enters is young - just into his manhood. He has long, light brown hair. He wears a green tunic with brown hose and a big belt. "I hear you are here to address me, humanfriends?"
[18:07] * Ko-NitoriisNitori is now known as Kotono
[18:08] <Gildas> Gildas turns his attention to the elf and gives him a polite nod, then looks at the others.
[18:08] <@Feather> "Hello there," Feather greets him with a grin. "Hope you don't mind the visit. Name's Feather." He pauses a moment, and then adds, "Were hoping to talk to you about things. This settlement and the woods beyond it."
[18:09] <@Porridge> "Name's Porridge," the half-elf adds. "Basically we're looking to build a new town not far from here, and we're looking for folks with skills to help it, or even just folks to settle if not that."
[18:11] <@Kotono> "That's all interesting, but how does it matter to me?" he asks, waving a hand, "Get on with it."
[18:12] <@Porridge> "Heard you were looking to see the world," Porridge shrugs. "Thought this kind of thing might interest you is all. If not we'll be on our way." All that fucking braiding and washing for nothing!
[18:13] * @Feather nods. "Yeah, we figured that the best way is to build the town together, elves and humans. We've got the human part covered, and we're here looking into whoever might be interested in joining this thing."
[18:15] <@Kotono> "Oh, are you offering me a home there?" He replies, "Strange." He rubs his chin as he goes on, "I thought the order of things was derring-do and then rewards, not the other way around."
[18:17] <@Feather> "A plot of land, more like," Feather corrects him. "If you're interested, that is. The derring-do stuff comes with the terroritory, it being a new town in the making out there in these woods."
[18:19] <@Kotono> "One thing is obvious. Real heroes fight with singing steel," he announces, standing. "Such an offer cannot come without a duel! To have the strength of will to carve out a new town requires conviction and courage!" He mimes taking off a glove from his bare hand and tossing it to the ground, "Are any of you strong enough in your convictions to face me in a duel of gentleman's honor?"
[18:21] <@Feather> "You want to test our cred?" Feather shrugs. "Sure, why not? S'long as we don't go all out it should be fine."
[18:21] <@Porridge> While he could probably use a slap, Porridge really doesn't want to beat up a pampered little boy they're supposedly trying to recruit, so he looks rather uneasy.
[18:21] <Gildas> Gildas blinks once, then covers his mouth to hide a cough and perhaps something else.
[18:22] <@Kotono> "So it shall be!" He leaps to his feet, "Outside in the front lawn!" he declares, "I will be there in five minutes!"
[18:22] <@Kotono> "Uh." Myann eloquently says, before shaking her head and coughing as well.
[18:23] <@Feather> "Works for me," Feather responds, before leaning over to Myann and asking her, "I don't gotta fight with the flowers in my hair, do I?"
[18:23] <@Porridge> "Well..." Porridge likewise shakes his head, standing up and taking off his garland. "Try not to hurt him too bad," he asks Feather while heading out.
[18:23] <Gildas> "Yes, please be gentle with him." He smiles and stands up.
[18:23] <@Kotono> "Of course you do," Myann smiles at him, reaching out and ruffling Feather's hair above the garland, "You look cute with them."
[18:24] * @Feather shrugs. This could actually be a prodigy or some half-fey elf with a hidden bloodline that knocks him out with a single blow for all he knows. "Guess that's the hard part, then?"
[18:25] <Gildas> "I think she is joking, Feather." He will start walking outside.
[18:27] <@Kotono> From there, the party relocates to the front lawn. It's not long until Hylath emerges. He has a rapier in hand and is wearing a big, floppy hat. It looks like something out of a bard's tale with a big white feather poking out of it. "Now we fight for honor, not for blood," he declares, "So aim your blows to merely count, not to injure."
[18:29] <@Feather> "Sure thing," Feather agrees, casting the hat a dubious look. With his pack to the side, he foregoes his magical blade and falls back on the tried and true scimitar, still sheathed.
[18:29] <@Kotono> "Ready! For honor and victory!" he declares, standing 15ft away from Feather. With that...OOC: Init.
[18:29] <@Feather> roll 1d20+3
[18:30] <@Kotono> OOC: I cast Summon Miko.
[18:31] <@Kotono> OOC: Looks like it hit spell failure. Alas. Kobot incoming.
[18:31] * Joins: Kobot (~dunefar@ip68-96-9-49.hr.hr.cox.net)
[18:31] <@Feather> roll 1d20+3
[18:31] <Kobot> Feather rolled 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{21}
[18:31] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2
[18:31] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{18}
[18:31] <@Kotono> OOC: Go Feather.
[18:32] <@Kotono> Myann hangs back, watching with her arms crossed.
[18:33] <@Feather> It surely isn't necessary to knock the elf kid out, so Feather darts in to try and smack the rapier out of his grasp with his sheathed scimitar.
[18:33] <@Feather> roll 1d20+8 disarm
[18:33] <Kobot> Feather rolled 1d20+8 disarm --> [ 1d20=12 ]{20}
[18:34] <@Kotono> WHAM! With one deft strike, the rapier is knocked out of the elf's hand! He stares a moment, empty fingers twitching around where his rapier's hilt was. "W-what?!" he blurts, "You foul cheating brigand!" he declares, "But a true hero is never disarmed!" he declares, taking a swing at Feather! OOC: This provokes an AoO.
[18:36] * @Feather attempts to kick the elf's feet out from under him as he overextends himself.
[18:36] <@Feather> roll 1d20+8
[18:36] <Kobot> Feather rolled 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{28}
[18:37] <@Feather> "Hey now," he says placatingly, raising his arms. "If you wanna fight with swords till knock out, say so. I'll back down and you pick your sword back and we go."
[18:39] <@Kotono> Whump! The elf is swept down, landing hard on his back! He lies there a moment, groaning, "Oh...oh...oh!" He slowly picks himself up and dusts off his clothes, "There's no need. Clearly you're heroes of renown if yo uwere able to withstand my assault! I accept your offer! What are the directions to your settlement?"
[18:40] <@Feather> From brigand to sung hero in on swift kick! Feather can't help but grin as he offers the elf a hand to help him up. "We were thinking of heading back ourselves in a couple days. Perhaps we could travel together?"
[18:44] <@Kotono> "Excellent! Until then, I must prepare!" he declares, going off in a tizzy and hurrying away.
[18:45] <@Feather> "This was strange," Feather comments, finally taking off the garland and putting his hat back on properly. "Let's move on to catch our architect?"
[18:46] <@Kotono> OOC: Going to mosey off to his house then?
[18:46] <@Feather> OOC: yeah
[18:50] <@Kotono> Rashen's house is easy to find. It's huge and sprawling with walled in growing fields. It's a series of wood and stone buildings with covered walkways connecting buildings - and several covered stairways going down as well.
[18:51] <@Feather> "Normally, I'd be knocking on the door," Feather admits, looking at the collection of buildings. "But which one's the right one here?"
[18:52] <@Porridge> "Huh..." Porridge looks over the whole mess in befuddlement. "Just shout?" he glances over at Myann, "Is that a taboo here?"
[18:52] <@Kotono> "It shouldn't be," Myann says, "Don't be silly. Why would shouting be a taboo?"
[18:54] <@Porridge> "I dunno, you elves are just really weird about what's supposed to be polite," Porridge grumbles before cupping his hands over his mouth. "Oi! Rashen!" he bellows heartily.
[18:55] <@Kotono> "You elves?" Myann stomps over and grabs one of Porridge's half-pointy ears, "What do you call this?" Meanwhile Porridge's shout gets a shout back, "Coming!"
[18:56] <@Porridge> "Ow, fuck!" Porridge swears as his notably sensitive ear is grabbed on. "Stoppit! Just sayin', never got raised this way!"
[18:58] <@Kotono> YANK! Just a single ear-yank, thankfully, before Myann lets go. Before there can be further reply, the nearest door opens. The elf that emerges is thin, almost a skeleton. He wears worn, stained overalls. He's munching on an apple as he nods, "What's the matter, need something built?"
[18:59] <@Feather> "Yeah. A town," Feather responds. "You Rashen?"
[18:59] <@Porridge> "Yeah," Porridge nods, giving his abused lobe a rub, "A town and all the stuff that goes with it."
[19:01] <@Kotono> Working on his apple - he's downright devouring it, licking his hands clean as he eats it down to the core and even that, "Sounds fun."
[19:05] <@Kotono> Waiting a few moments for a reply and getting none, he shrugs and heads on in. "C'mon in," he calls, "I'm just fixing up something to eat."
[19:06] <Gildas> "Thank you." He nods and will follow him in
[19:06] <Gildas> *.
[19:06] <@Porridge> "Hoped you'd say that," Porridge grins, though whether to which comment is unknown, but he ambles in regardless.
[19:06] <@Feather> Is it Rashen? Or one of his apprentices? Feather just decides to go with the flow here. "Pretty much, yeah."
[19:09] <@Kotono> This leads right into a small kitchen. A small pile of applies sits on the table, along with a loaf of bread, a pile of mixed berries, some roots and a handful of nuts. He sits at the table - taking the only seat nearby - and starts on an apple. He nearly devours it whole, and after that, "What style of city are we talking about? The building materials will be wood or somethin gelse? How much
[19:09] <@Kotono> of a budget are you working with? What about tools and manpower?" A pause to grab the handful of nuts and toss them into his mouth, swallowed with barely a chew. "For that matter, what about location?"
[19:10] <@Feather> "Location is that-a-way," Feather says, pointing. "Just a few days' travel. What we've got to work with aside from the obvious, wood, is a whole lot of stone. We might get manpower from the same place, since there's a bunch of kobolds nearby who're looking to trade."
[19:11] <@Porridge> "Plus a tribe of half-elves, though I guess half of 'em won't be good for much but running messages," Porridge adds.
[19:11] <@Porridge> "Too young," he clarifies to avoid misunderstandings of them being infirm or feeble.
[19:11] <@Kotono> Next is the berries - he tosses them one at at ime into his mouth, rapid-fire. The pile shrinks before your eyes, gone before Feather finishes talking. "I can work with that. What's with all the half-elves?"
[19:12] <@Porridge> "One damn productive couple."
[19:13] <@Feather> "You see it, you'll be amazed," Feather promises.
[19:15] <@Kotono> That gets a low whistle as he starts on the roots. He just tears those apart and pops them into his mouth like popcorn. "Huh. Neat." He shrugs and goes back to eating, finishing the root off in record time. "So a bunch of humanfriends come up, make a crazy offer and mention a load of half-elf children. I'd say you're liars, but what's the point of lying this spetacularly?" In the bread goes,
[19:15] <@Kotono> just like rest. A few bites polishes off the loaf as he reaches for another apple, "I get hungry a lot. Is there a lot of food there?"
[19:16] <@Feather> "Seemed like plenty," Feather responds with a shrug. "And there's something pretty special about the location, in a good way, but you just gotta see it for yourself to believe it."
[19:16] <@Porridge> "Been fed great every day I've spent there," Porridge nods.
[19:17] <@Kotono> "So you two are the frontmen," Apple after apple is massacred, "Are those quiet two the muscle or money?"
[19:17] <Gildas> "Sometimes both." He speaks up, with a small smile.
[19:18] <@Porridge> "They're just shy," Porridge assures him.
[19:18] <@Kotono> "Whichever," Myann says quietly, "Sorry, I was woolgathering," she adds quickly.
[19:18] <@Kotono> The elf shrugs again and finishes off the apples. With the table clear, "I'll be along then. I've about done all the building I can here, anyway."
[19:19] <@Feather> "Sounds great! We figure we might leave come morning, but if that's too early it's no big deal waiting another day or two."
[19:19] <@Porridge> "Great, figure we're gonna stick around a few more days, see if we can find any other good prospects before we head back," Porridge nods.
[19:20] * @Feather laughs. "Yeah, it's flexible like that."
[19:26] <@Kotono> "I'll find my way, don't worry about it," he says, "I've been roaming the forest for a long time."
[19:29] <@Kotono> After a few moments of no reply, "Want me to fix you up something? For some reason, I'm suddenly craving mushrooms."
[19:30] <Gildas> "I am fine, but if they want something...?" He looks at the others again.
[19:30] <@Porridge> "I could go for a bite," Porridge agrees sociably.
[19:30] <@Feather> "It happens something. Sure, why not?"
[19:30] <@Feather> *sometimes
[19:31] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, so what's your plan here regarding finding more info/
[19:32] <@Feather> OOC: I'll go around the place and talk about a new town being set up, see who's interested in giving it a try
[19:33] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, what about the rest of you
[19:33] <@Kotono> ?
[19:33] <@Feather> roll 1d20 charisma!
[19:33] <Kobot> Feather rolled 1d20 charisma! --> [ 1d20=13 ]{13}
[19:34] <@Porridge> OOC: I'll help!
[19:34] <@Porridge> roll 1d20-1 aid
[19:34] <Kobot> Porridge rolled 1d20-1 aid --> [ 1d20=2 ]{1}
[19:34] <@Porridge> OOC: or get into barfights.
[19:34] <Gildas> OOC: I will talk with the shopkeepers and do the same thing while getting stuff appraised and doing what we posted on the forums.
[19:36] <@Kotono> OOC: Oh yes. Okay. Feather in here, Porridge in #evildunes and Gildas in #terrorofdunes.
[19:41] <@Kotono> Feather goes out a-talking. He just happens to be passing by a young female elf, all blonde hair and girlishness. She lingers a moment, giving Feather a look.
[19:44] <@Feather> "Hey there," he calls out to her in lightly-accented Elven. "Heard about the new town we're building, I gather?"
[19:46] <@Kotono> "Oh hello," She smiles slightly, "You're a humanfriend! I've never seen a human before," her eyes roam over Feather, "No, I haven't. A new town?
[19:46] <@Kotono> "
[19:49] <@Feather> "Have now," he says, grinning back at her. "Yeah, here's the thing. It's a nice piece of land with a natural spring that's out of this world. Rejuvenating and what not, the thing's a waste on just one farm. So what we figured we'd do is go and see if there's an interest in settling the area all proper-like. Humans and elves, living there happily side by side."
[19:52] <@Kotono> "That's quite a dream," she remarks, "Wait. Just one farm..." She frowns and thinks, "It isn't a human and elf couple, is it?"
[19:53] <@Feather> "Yeah, it is," Feather agrees with a nod. "That's where we got the idea. Plenty of towns for either humans or elves, but why not have a mixed one if we can all get along like this?"
[19:55] <@Kotono> "Ooooh..." Her murmurs trails away as she looks down. Her face is a mask of tightly restrained sadness, not really succeeding on what it aims to do.
[19:57] <@Feather> "Uh. Is that your family or something? They're doing just great."
[20:03] <@Kotono> "It's none of your concern," Shaking her head, "It sounds like the dreams of a lovesick fool."
[20:08] * @Feather shrugs. "They're happy. Their kids are happy too." He probably won't understand what the matter is without Myann there, so Feather adds, "Goal's to make it a place where it's possible if folk want that, is all. Since I'm not from around here I dunno, but is that something you people here frown on?"
[20:11] <@Kotono> "It's...it's just a family matter," The woman finally says, still looking to the ground. "But they're really happy?"
[20:14] <@Feather> "Could see that every day," Feather responds, nodding. There is still a lot he doesn't understand, but this problem, at least, is a lot more relatable to him now. "The Missus said she had family around these parts, and that they supported her marriage. She suggested heading over here when we were thinking about places to ask around at. I know she wouldn't mind seeing a few familiar faces some
[20:14] <@Feather> time, be it just on a visit or if they choose to move and build their home there."
[20:18] <@Kotono> "She's happy?" Looking up a little bit, "That's...that's good." she adds, "She told you to come here too?"
[20:22] <@Feather> "Yeah. To all of that. It's close by and the people seem nice, so looks like she was right so far!"
[20:26] <@Kotono> "It's that close?" She asks again, "How close is it?"
[20:27] <@Feather> "Could make the trip in under a week without pushing yourself," Feather estimates.
[20:31] <@Kotono> "...mm." A little noise, "Thank you for this," she says simply, "You've been helpful, humanfriend."
[20:32] <@Feather> "Name's Feather." He tips his hat at her. "Glad I could be, Miss."
[20:34] <@Kotono> "Messae," Offering her hand out to Feather, gently so, "Thank you."
[20:36] * @Feather shakes it without applying too much pressure to it by accident. "Nice makin' your acquaintence, Messae."

~

[19:43] <@Kotono> The appraiser's name is Elya. She looks over the droplets again and repeats, "You're going to give these to the village?"
[19:45] <Gildas> He nods. "We're trying to cultivate a relationship between a new town and this one." He admits honestly, before continuing. "You said yourself they were art, correct?" He smiles, just a small bit. "I think it would be an excellent way to open trade between us."
[19:48] <@Kotono> "It's a good offering. Mayor Hisal will surely appreciate your gift," she adds, "But you should give them to him directly."
[19:49] <Gildas> He nods. "Very well. Would you be so kind as to point me in the correct direction?"
[19:50] <@Kotono> Directions come - it sounds like where you met Hylath. "Tell him you have a diplomatic gift," she says, "It'll get things going."
[19:51] <Gildas> He blinks. "Is... he related to the one called Hylath in any way?"
[19:53] <@Kotono> "Hylath is his son," She replies with a bit of a curious look, "Oh right, you wouldn't know that.
[19:53] <@Kotono> "
[19:54] <Gildas> He nods to her words. "We've... met, already." He smiles a bit. "Hopefully this will go well, then." He bows just a bit. "Thank you for your time and your work with these."
[19:55] <@Kotono> OOC: Going to go back and look up Hisal then?
[19:57] <Gildas> OOC: Yessir.
[20:02] <@Kotono> From there a trip to the large cabin is without incident. The same maid answers the door, "Oh! Master Hylath is currently out, if you're looking for him."
[20:03] <Gildas> He smiles and shakes his head. "No, madam, I am here with a diplomatic gift for Mayor Hisal this time. It seems We've been carrying something with us that we did not even know we had."
[20:04] <@Kotono> "Oh. This way," she says, leading Gildas inside and upstairs. You're taking to a study, the maid letting you in. At a table an elf rather similar to Hylath writes, save that he's slightly more build and muscular. "E-excuse me," the maid says, "But a diplomatic matter is here."
[20:08] <@Kotono> This gets a simple nod, the maid quickly excusing herself. The elf rises - he's a few inches taller than his son, too. "Hisal and I'm the mayor here," he introduces himself in elven, "Weren't you one of the people who met with my son today? I saw that 'duel' earlier."
[20:11] <Gildas> "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mayor Hisel. We were indeed the ones who were here earlier, yes." He responds in the best Elven he can muster. "But I am not... here about that." He will gently display the shards on the table. "You've probably already heard why we arrived. I thought to offer these as a demonstration of good faith." He smiles a bit, again.
[20:17] <@Kotono> "Amber drops." He picks one up and holds it to the light, "Good craftsmanship on them." He spends a few moments examining them, "Your gift is generous. Thank you," he nods slightly. "The town magus is fond of good art."
[20:18] <Gildas> He nods politely again. "I thank you for accepting them. Is he... here, or does he live in another part of town?"
[20:23] <@Kotono> "
[20:24] <@Kotono> "He lives just outside of town," The mayor explains, "Will you be in town for a few days?"
[20:25] <Gildas> "I think our schedule is rather flexible." He responds. "Does he tend to travel frequently?"
[20:27] <@Kotono> "He's often out searching for reagents," The mayor says, "But I'll be by tomorrow," he says.
[20:28] <Gildas> He nods. "I would be honored to meet him, then. Do you wish me to present the amber to him, or would it be best left in your care?"
[20:33] <@Kotono> "He'll find you," Hisal shakes his head, "He always finds people he wants to meet. He has the most unnatural way of tracking people down."
[20:35] <Gildas> A very small chuckle escapes his mouth. "I understand." He gestures at the shards. "Then I hope that we may meet again once things have been further established."

~

[19:42] <@Kotono> The bar for Malaines is open air. It's under a tree, a constructed bar of solid oak hiding the booze. Several elves are drinking here, kicking back at the end of the day. The barkeep is another male elf - really, if you've seen one, you've seen them all. In exquisite elven he asks, "Good day, half-blood. "
[19:45] <@Porridge> "Back atcha!" Porridge says, sliding into a barstool. "Gimme some of the local brew."
[19:49] <@Kotono> A small, elegant wineglass is taken out and filled with a little bit of delicate, dark purple wine. "Here you go," he says, placing it before Porridge.
[19:50] <@Porridge> Looking disappointed, Porridge picks up the glass. "Not got any beer or ale then?" he asks, drinking the wine like water nonetheless.
[19:53] <@Kotono> It's not much stronger than water. Hell, Porridge is sure that orcish water has more booze in it than this. It tastes good in a fruit-laden sort of way. "Beer's a human drink," The barkeep shakes his head.
[19:55] <@Porridge> "Orc too," Porridge says, grimacing. "Can't even get a buzz off this. Nevermind... what's the word around town these days?" Things often have a habit of starting in bars, after all.
[19:57] <@Kotono> "You have the palate of an orc," The barkeep says, snatching the empty wineglass back. "It looks like there are signs of a good harvest coming up. All the crops are showing good early results."
[19:59] <@Porridge> Boring. Not even word of a competition or festival or coming of age ceremony. "Sounds great," he says, boredom ill-concealed. "Ya got any spirits here?"
[20:03] <@Kotono> "I don't know," he goes on, "Could you say that in proper elven instead, friend?"
[20:09] <@Porridge> "The fuck?" Porridge turns a baleful eye on the bartender. "Go shove your proper elven right up your arse!" he snaps, lapsing into orcish for a moment. Standing up now and managing to snarl out in elven, "Everywhere I go, it's always the same, fucking contempt and snideness. Go drown in that watered down piss you've got the audacity to serve in this sorry excuse for a bar!" Throwing a single copper piece on the bar hard enough to chip it, he turns and stalks out.
[20:13] <@Kotono> A gasp goes up the bar as orcish is belted out! The sound of the copper piece hitting is like a felled tree crashing down in perfect silence. But it's broken before Porridge can really turn to go away, "What sort of half-blood speaks that language...unless...Gorgorath?!" The word is hissed like a bitter profanity.
[20:16] <@Porridge> Grabbing onto the door and turning, Porridge scowls fiercely back at them, turning his head to encompass everyone present. "My da was a human and my ma was an elf. 'Kinda difference does it make when she left me out for the wolves anyway? You disgust me."
[20:23] <@Kotono> As the entire thing is open air, there's no door to grab. You do notice Myann coming this way, though. As you get several unphased glares of disdain, "We disgust you?" The barkeep retorts, "You come in here with fury and illg races!"
[20:27] <@Porridge> "I was being perfectly civil until you started in on my accent," Porridge glares back. "I wanted to know where I came from, so 'course I asked the orcs who raised me how to speak elven. Not like an elf could teach me when I was abandoned in a field barely out the womb! Yeah, all these civil graces and politness?" he gestures sweepingly albeit aimlessly. "S'all an act. When you get right down to it, you're no better than anyone else. And plenty worse for the pretension,"
[20:32] <@Kotono> As Myann comes up, looking a mite confused over the whole thing, "It reflects in the bloodline," the barkeep sneers, "You're acting like a defective oaf smashing about, devoid of even the slightest reason or grace."
[20:33] <@Kotono> "Porridge?" Myann adds quickly as she catches up.
[20:37] <@Porridge> "Leave it, Myann. Wasted enough words on these pricks," Porridge growls, brushing past her and out. "Need to go clear my head." And with that he transforms into one of those raptoran hawks, a magnificent pale-plumed bird of prey which screeches and takes flight as he goes off to hunt and relax amidst nature, with no angry reminders of his birth circumstances to bring him pain. He does at least allow some happiness at Bubi falling in on his wing as he soars upwards.

[Ebiris]

[18:01] <@Kotono> That evening, the party's wrangled an inn room. Fortunately there's no charge after Myann talks to the owner - something you don't catch, but it seems to work. The party's lounging after dinner, letting their meal digest as the day's events can be reflected on...OOC: Go ahead.
[18:03] <@Porridge> Probably better than what he ate while flying around as a hawk, but it's easy enough to tolerate raw meat when in the appropriate form. At least he's somewhat in a better mood, even if he does eye any nearby elves with suspicion.
[18:04] <Gildas> They would probably notice he's sporting a new backpack! "I had a chance to take a few things by an appraiser this afternoon." He will begin. "It turns out one of the nuggets we found when we met the kobolds for the first time was a genuine article. I traded the money from it for a new backpack that will let me carry more. I wanted to let you all know so that if we had anything else appraised,
[18:04] <Gildas> I technically owe the two of you part of the money from it."
[18:04] <Gildas> "Oh, Myann, I hope you do not mind, but I also gave away your Amber shards as a gift to this village." He straightens up a bit, seemingly now realizing that they were hers before his. "I thought it might be a good way to... foster relations between the two villages."
[18:05] <@Feather> "Is that why we're staying here for free?"
[18:05] <@Porridge> "Huh. You've been busy, haven't you?"
[18:06] <@Kotono> "It's not a bad place for them," Myann says with a little smile, "But I thought the innkeep agreed to my story and request for hospitality awfully easy."
[18:06] <Gildas> "Ah." He nods. "There is a magus in this town who is apparently quite fond of art as well that I will be meeting sometime soon."
[18:06] <@Feather> "Well, whatever works, I guess. How long are we gonna be staying for?"
[18:07] <@Porridge> "Hopefully not too long. Nearly got in a fight already," Porridge grumbles.
[18:08] <@Feather> "Someone challenged you for a duel wearing a silly hat?"
[18:08] * Gildas turns his attention over to Porridge. "What happened?"
[18:08] <@Porridge> "No. Stuck up bartender started in on my accent," the half-elf replies defensively.
[18:09] <@Feather> "This place has bars?" Feather asks in considerable surprise.
[18:09] <@Kotono> "I wondered what that was about," Myann remarks, "There's one. It's under a big tree."
[18:09] <@Porridge> "Don't expect anything stronger than fruit juice."
[18:10] <@Feather> "Huh."
[18:10] <Gildas> "How about you, Feather? What did you discover on your outing?"
[18:11] <@Feather> "Uh. I wasn't really... discovering. Like, I talked about how great the town's gonna be? And how our natural spring is the best, especially for the skin and that youthful look?" Feather shrugs. "Got another day of that in me, but I reckon that'll be enough."
[18:12] <Gildas> "Ah, no interesting people then? It sounds like Porridge had the most excitement." He shakes his head.
[18:12] <@Feather> "Hey, there were some!" Feather says defensively. "Think we'll get some migrants out of it, and a few visitors too!"
[18:15] <Gildas> He smiles just a small bit. "Ah, my apologies. Then you met 'some' interesting people. That is a good sign, at least."
[18:15] <@Feather> "Yep."
[18:15] <@Kotono> "Mmm." Myann sits back, "I met a few myself." Her mood drops slightly, "I had no less than four people comment they were suddenly craving mushrooms." This is followed by an exasperated sigh, Myann slumping back in her chair. "I need to figure some way to stop that. Why I'm causing it to all the elves here I have no idea."
[18:16] <@Porridge> Porridge shrugs. "Doesn't work on me."
[18:16] <@Feather> "What if you carried a basket of them?" Feather asks. "Just brought them along with you?"
[18:16] <Gildas> "Perhaps the magus can tell us when we meet him." He offers.
[18:18] <@Kotono> "I suspect it's only working on full elves for whatever reason. Maybe it's a resonance?" This draws another sigh, Myann taking a moment to nod to Gildas before shooting Feather a look. It's not a happy look, but a look that promises things like being dunked underwater or smashed with a giant mushroom.
[18:19] <@Feather> "Hey now! I'm serious! This is fey we're talking about, so maybe this whole thing is some dumb ongoing joke about bringing the shrooms into everything. So maybe if they're already there, it won't be happening to the elves you meet? And hey, if it does, just give them the mushrooms and start a conversation that way."
[18:23] <@Kotono> "Yes, because the first elves I've met in ages should know me as the strange traveling mushroom elf." Myann shoots back.
[18:23] <Gildas> He covers his mouth to hide a small smile before interjecting. "It's worth looking into. ...Although, was Robert's wife affected in the same way, if you recall?"
[18:25] <@Feather> If any elf remembers Myann after a brief encounter like that, it would probably be over her looks and not due to any food cravings or what she had with her at the time, Feather muses. At Gildas's question, he glances curiously at Myann as well.
[18:25] <@Kotono> "She didn't mention anything," Myann shakes her head, "But I didn't spend much time with her. She was always busy being a farmhouse wife." This causes her to soften a little bit, "There's always more for a farmhouse wife to do."
[18:27] <Gildas> He nods. "Very well. I'd like to stay in town to meet the magus. The rest of you may need to escort the villagers if they wish it, perhaps?"
[18:28] <@Porridge> "Yeah well if we're sticking around a few more days I'll go hunt or something until it's time to leave. Better for everyone's tempers if I'm scarce I figure," Porridge offers.
[18:30] <@Kotono> "Actually," Myann speaks up, "Speaking of that. I was hoping to get a chance to try out being a panther."
[18:32] <@Porridge> "Well I can be a puma or panther as well for a bit if you want to get a handle on that with someone else around," Porridge agrees readily enough. Myann's good people, unlike most elves.
[18:34] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay then, who's going to be around for meeting the magus? Otherwise it just looks like recruitment's on tap.
[18:34] <@Feather> OOC: I'll just recruit people
[18:35] <Gildas> OOC: I'll meet him and Myann can tag along if she'd like.
[18:37] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Myann'll tag along ofr at least that then catch up for panthering. Let's do that in here. Feather, #evil. Porridge, #terror.
[18:38] <@Kotono> The next day dawns warm and bright again, summer progressing as it tends to do. Gildas and Myann are just about to head out of the inn room when there's a sharp, short knock on the door.
[18:40] <Gildas> "I will get it." He goes over to open the door!!!!
[18:47] <@Kotono> At the doo-gah! The figure before you is tall for an elf. Hell, he's tall for anyone. He's over 7 feet tall and solidly built, more like a human in build than an elf. His ears point back farther than a typical elf's. His eyes are covered with poison-ivy leaves, the roots wrapping around the back of his head to form a strange blindfold. His face is clean shaven and he is expressionless. He wears
[18:47] <@Kotono> robes of white heavily stained green. Strings of grassy-green flowers are strung through and in his robes. In one hand is a walking staff, with the silver-cast head of an elf atop it. Oddly enough, he's also barefoot.
[18:48] <Gildas> "...Ah... um... ...good day to you." He stammers, taken a bit aback by the whole sight.
[18:50] <@Kotono> Myann stares a few moments, "H-hello?" she says cautiously, "Are you the magus?"
[18:52] <@Kotono> The elf nods silently, coming within. He glides past Gildas and Myann with the greatest of ease, the door closing with nary a touch behind him. He squats down, enough to bring him eye level to the two of you. "Hi," he says in a rather soft-spoken voice. "I heard you donated amber drops as a diplomatic gift."
[18:53] <Gildas> "Ah, yes." He nods, a bit surprised by the voice. "That is correct. We thought it would go a ways to creating a good relationship between this community and the one we are building."
[19:01] <@Kotono> He leans in, almost face to face with Gildas. You can smell his breath - like curled apples and fresh vanilla mixed together. This close, you can see the eye-leaves are ever so slightly transparent. You get a glimpse of deep blue eyes beneath them. "Thank you," he says solemnly, something pushed into Gildas' chest. "Take these, they'll help you on your travels."
[19:03] <Gildas> He blinks and accepts the gift! "You have my gratitude. ...Ah, while you're here, sir... ah..." He realizes he doesn't know his name. "Would you... be so kind as to look over my friend? There's a long story involved, but she was cursed by the fey and I think she's still suffering some side effects."
[19:06] <@Kotono> Gildas can see that the gift is three labeled glass vials. "Yes," he says, turning to her, "I wonder why she keeps offering me mushrooms." OOC: loot post.
[19:07] <@Kotono> Myann reddens rather deeply, "Beg pardon?" she eeeps, taking a few steps back. "I mean, aaaah..." she looks away, "Yes, a fey curse.{
[19:07] <@Kotono> "
[19:08] <Gildas> He nods in that direction, gently placing the vials in his pack. "Yes, I think we're to blame for that. We tried to break the curse with animals, so... I think it still hovers over her."
[19:13] <@Kotono> "Stand still." He goes to Myann and clasps her shoulders. At this she goes ramrod still, the tall elf leading her back to the bed. He lies her onto the bed, already uttering strange syllables. It's like reciting tonguetwisters in a language that's alien to Gildas. At the same time motes of light dance in the air, drawing an elaborate cube housing a smaller circle within, full of odd patterns
[19:13] <@Kotono> that seem to turn in ways that defy geometry. "A curse?" he asks, voice utterly solemn again, "Such is a misnomer."
[19:14] <Gildas> He blinks at the magic and the words. "Is there a more proper definition for it?"
[19:21] <@Kotono> "A curse would be evident on her, unnatural like a gash. This is part of her," He gestures, before bowing to Myann. "M'lady Sidhe. Were you not aware?"
[19:22] <Gildas> He blinks again. "We were told that she'd be... better off with the fey, but... that isn't what she wants." He shakes his head.
[19:24] <@Kotono> Myann looks away and sighs, "It isn't what I want, no. I'd like to be just another elf, even if that dream constantly gets clawed apart by reality."
[19:25] <@Kotono> "If such could be done, it is beyond my knowledge," The magus admits, rising back to his full height. "There is nothing more I can do."
[19:26] <Gildas> He nods. "Is there... any way to avoid the part about mushrooms, at least?" He doubts it, but it never hurts to ask...
[19:27] <@Kotono> "I am not certain. I would seek the council of a Sidhe Scholar, for they know more of them than any other. There is one within two week journey of here." He does pause for a moment, "It may be a matter of willpower. As with magical energies, learn to feel them and master them to your will."
[19:29] <Gildas> He nods and bows slightly. "Thank you for your time, sir... ah... I'm sorry, I did not ask your name."
[19:33] <@Kotono> "Magus," Is his only reply, slipping out like a ghost. "If you desire the location of the Sidhe Scholar, ask the mayor. He is aware of it."
[19:34] <Gildas> "Magus, then." He nods. "I wonder if it's the same one we met... well, there is no harm in asking."
[19:34] <Gildas> He bows again to him. "Thank you again for your gifts and your assistance."
[19:36] <@Kotono> "It probably is, Sidhe Scholars rarely live within traveling distance of one another," The magus says, before simply departing.
[19:37] <Gildas> He waves a little before turning to Myann. "Perhaps your shapeshifting will help you overcome this."
[19:42] <@Kotono> "It's my best hope besides meditation and personal focus," she says with a slight sigh, "At least I have plenty of practice from when I used to be able to trance."
[19:44] <Gildas> "Trance?" He sits down on the egde of the bed. "Ah, I think I understand... I learned about that during my own training."
[19:48] <@Kotono> Myann rises at this, "Anyway, I'm going to get going and catch up to Porridge. Do you want to come?" she asks.
[19:50] <Gildas> "Ah..." He stands as well. "If I'm not intruding on something, anyway." He smiles.
[19:50] <@Kotono> "Oh. Oh! No." Shaking her head and coughing, "Nothing like that."
[19:53] <Gildas> "Are you sure? You're the only elf he's gotten along with." He smiles, just a little bit more.
[19:58] <@Kotono> Myann reddens and looks away, towards the wall. "I'm sure. He's nice, but...oh, don't act like you haven't noticed," she says with a flush spreading all over her face. "Anyway, the life style I'd want one day wouldn't be agreeable to him, I can already tell. There's too much orc in him."
[19:59] <Gildas> "Ha, you're right about that." He pats her shoulder. "Let's go make sure he hasn't gotten into another brawl with anyone, shall we?"

~

[18:39] <@Kotono> OOC: Roll diplo again with a +3 bonus, Feather.
[18:39] <@Feather> roll 1d20+3
[18:39] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 22." [1d20=19]
[18:43] <@Kotono> Talking goes well at first. Despite the summery heat that leaks in from the latticed canopy, it's a pleasant way to spend the day. As Feather walks under a broad shade tree, he can see an elf heading his way. He looks like Hylath, but a bit bigger and overall more defined. He wears the same type of nice clothes, but you notice the longsword at his side has well worn leather over the grip.
[18:44] <@Feather> "Good afternoon," Feather greets the elf that seems to be coming to talk to him, choosing to wait for the elf in the shade.
[18:48] <@Kotono> "Good afternoon," The greeting's returned pleasantly enough, "Hisel, Hylath's father. I heard you gave my son a tiny taste of real combat."
[18:52] * @Feather snaps his fingers. "Thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, I did! But now I get it. He looks a lot like you." Nodding to himself, Feather offers Hisel a smile. "My own name's Feather. Don't know how an offer to build a new town with us lead to a duel, to be honest. Still, must say I'm glad Hylath had the sense to stop when he realizes he made a mistake. Some people, they end up
[18:52] * @Feather in a hole and just keep on digging, you know?"
[18:56] <@Kotono> "I've drilled that much into him," With a world-weary sigh, "He's a bright boy, but he takes too much from fantasy and not enough from reality. It takes something like that to get through to him." Falling into a walk at Feather's side, "Informally speaking, what you're doing isn't strictly agreeable. Poaching settlers is something that's frowned on. But you're polite humanfriends," he goes
[18:56] <@Kotono> on, "So rather than trouble, let's talk. I have some chilled darupel at home. Care to join me?"
[18:59] <@Feather> "Sure," Feather readily agrees. "And sorry if you see it as poaching. I only really know human towns, but sometimes you get the young families who stay with their folks and take over the family business, and then you see some couples who like to go and see the world. Start afresh. You know what I mean? Passed by one such settlement starting up like that maybe a month ago. Just figured it
[18:59] <@Feather> was the same for the elven towns too. No offense meant."
[19:03] <@Kotono> "None taken, aside from half blood angst," This causes him to frown a little bit as you head to the big cabin, "One of your friends made a scene yesterday. It's forgivable, half-bloods can't help themselves. Two things that weren't meant to be mixed aren't going to make a stable whole. But could you kindly ask him to try and restrain himself when in Malaines? It's unbecoming to the town's
[19:03] <@Kotono> harmony."
[19:07] <@Feather> There is really no good answer here, and he doesn't really know what happened beside some exchange with a bartender. But if all the Hisel wants is to avoid another incident like that, it should be easy enough since Porridge said he was going hunting to avoid staying around the elves. Feather ends up saying, "I'm sure it won't happen again."
[19:09] <@Kotono> "That's all I can ask," he says agreeably. The rest of the trip to the cabin is without incident. After a quick washup with violet water, you sit in the same room as yesterday. A deep blue glass bottle sits deep in a bucket of ice, buried up to the neck. "Have you ever had darupel before?"
[19:10] <@Feather> "Can't say I have," Feather admits, after thanking his host for the hospitality. "Unless it went by a different name at the time."
[19:19] <@Kotono> "It's similar to brandy. I've had humanfriends call it elvish brandy, and it's close enough." He pours two wineglasses perhaps 1/6th full, "Drink it slowly. Savor it." he advises, passing a glass to Feather. He goes to sit back after, putting his feet up.
[19:20] <@Feather> Best follow the suggestion of someone whose people have been doing this for ages, and Feather takes a small, slow sip.
[19:22] <@Kotono> It's strong and sweet-smoky. It's like sipping smoked apples and pears. It's an agreeable taste, working better than it should together. Somehow the two discordant flavors have melded together in an unholy and tasty union.
[19:24] <@Feather> How strange! What will they think of next? "Interesting," Feather voices, nodding slowly and taking another small sip.
[19:26] <@Kotono> "It goes best with the winter snows and in front of a roaring fire," Hisel takes another sip, "So tell me about this settlement you're starting."
[19:34] <@Feather> "It's a good spot," Feather responds. "Land's genuinely blessed, so harvests are plentiful. There's even a lake that's nothing short of rejuvenating. A few tribes of kobolds live underground not too far from there, so we have materials to trade for and workers to hire if we need to." He scratches his neck as he considers how to put the next part, before deciding to just go for it. "Hope to
[19:34] <@Feather> make it into a place that welcomes anyone, elf or human. Most towns, there's an atmosphere to them. A human can come to an elven town to live, but it feels a bit off. Same thing for elves who come to human towns, I hear. So maybe a fresh town that gets built together like this by humans and elves would have that feel that it belongs to everyone? And then, there's the location. It's about a
[19:34] <@Feather> week away from here, and there's a human town give or take that far from it to the other direction. Won't get too isolated, and might even get more trade going. Don't need to tell you, I reckon, about how dangerous these woods are if you travel in them for long on your own. Having some friendly place like that nearby should be good for all."
[19:39] <@Kotono> "Yes, the woods are ever dangerous and ill-tamed," Another long sip follows as Hisel listens. "That's an ambitious dream. Truth be told, I have no quarrel with humans and elves mixing - to a point. But when romance becomes a factor, trouble always follows. The human will leave the elf centuries of being a widow and the children are almost always ill-fitting castouts from both societies."
[19:39] <@Kotono> Gesturing a bit with his glass before he sips again, "Even if the couple can manage to be happy while the human lives, it inevitably brings sorrow after."
[19:41] * @Feather nods. "I get it, I really do! Mind, not gonna try and meddle with people's lives or anything, but I just hope that people will come to live together the normal way. Not intermarry and all that. Because then it's like we're saying that it's the only way elves and humans can live together, and that makes no sense."
[19:44] <@Kotono> "It's best if you understand that, and discourage any more intermixing. It ends in tragedy every time." Here he looks into his daruple glass and finishes it off, "Sometimes you must be cruel because you know better than they do. If you and your village understands this, it can save a lot of sorrow. The half-blood friend of yours should understand what I'm saying as well."
[19:47] * @Feather follows suit. "Can't promise we won't make our share of mistakes, of course, but we'll try to avoid those that other people already suffered through."
[19:49] <@Kotono> "Then you have my blessing to take a few. Rashen too," Putting his wineglass down, "He's a good builder and he'll serve you well."
[19:51] <@Feather> "Much appreciated," Feather responds. His view is that people are free to choose, but muddying up the waters with a friendly neighboring town wouldn't be good so the support is nice to have.
[19:55] <@Kotono> "With that done, just take care of my son. There's steel in him, but life hasn't yet burnt away all the dross yet. Or even most of it," he adds reflectively.
[19:57] <@Feather> "Was planning on it," Feather agrees. "I'll keep an eye out."
[19:58] <@Kotono> "Good luck then." Rising, "Want some more?"
[19:59] <@Feather> "Sure!"

~

[18:40] <@Porridge> Assuming he has a prearranged time to meet up with Myann he'll scout around the forest surrounding the village until it's time to meet her. Otherwise he'll loiter at the inn until she's done with Gildas.
[18:43] <@Kotono> OOC: Perception.
[18:44] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+13
[18:44] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+13 and gets 23." [1d20=10]
[18:50] <@Kotono> As Porridge wanders the forest and scouts ahead, he happens to crest a small hill. Barely ten feet tall, it's not much of anything. Coming atop it does give him a better vantage point. Far ahead he can see a dirty humanoid slipping through the woods. It's wearing a heavy hood along with chain and metal armor and a cloak. A mace hangs on its belt as well as a short sword on the other
[18:50] <@Kotono> side.
[18:53] <@Porridge> Neither a hunters' weapon, so without the risk of disturbing a hunt, Porridge raises a hand and calls out a "Hello!" to the cloaked figure. In common, since it might not be an elf.
[18:58] <@Kotono> The person looks up, pushign back her hood. It's an elf - female you think. It's in that area some elves fall in, with facial features that could go either way. The bulky clothing is making it hard to be sure. Nonetheless, she(?) raises a hand in greeting, "Human speak? I'm not far from Malaines, am I?"
[19:00] <@Porridge> Oh well. At least people tend to be politer out in the wilderness where the wrong words can lead to being wormfood. Jogging over to get close enough to converse normally he says in elven, "Yeah, Malaines is that way, less than an hour out. Need a guide?"
[19:06] <@Kotono> "I know the way. I've lived there for years," she adds with a wry smile. That makes her look more feminine. Her hair's a dirty sort of blonde with streaks of actual dirt in it, as well as a few branches and leaves. "I'm Pisana. Are you new in Malaines, by chance?"
[19:08] <@Porridge> "Eh, was only stopping by for a few days. Name's Porridge by the way. Got friends in town trying to get help building a new settlement not far off, but to be honest I'm better off out here," he gestures expansively at the surrounding forest.
[19:11] <@Kotono> "Ah." A slight murmur at that and nothing else. Instead she starts on, "What sort of new settlement?"
[19:15] <@Porridge> Willing to walk with her some of the way at least for sake of conversation, Porridge follows, "See, right now it's just a homestead, a couple and their many kids. But we just found a real valuable resource there, and we figure it's best to get the place built up into at least a proper village - safety in numbers, right? Otherwise sooner or later some greedy bastards'll happen along and take advantage of the family and exploit what's been found there."
[19:19] <@Kotono> "Oh, that farmstead." With a snort that goes into light laughter, "They almost have a village there, don't they?"
[19:21] <@Porridge> "Yeah, they make a tribe all by themselves, don't they?" Porridge chuckles. "But they're all kids mostly, and even when they get older they're gonna need fresh blood to keep it a going concern."
[19:23] <@Kotono> "Mmm, they will. So you've been traveling recently?" Pisana picks right up from that, "Have you noticed any unusual creatures lately, especially from underground?"
[19:26] <@Porridge> "Oh, all kinds!" Porridge is glad to get on that topic. "In fact it was at that homestead we went down this hole a no good sidhe scholar had done a shit job of sealing. There were these blue electric lizards - the kobolds down there told us they can grow as big as caverns. Dunno how big their caverns are but I figure it's pretty huge. And these psychic ant husks that do all kinds of creepy stuff like yelling in your head, chucking crystals or ectoplasm at you. Even saw a couple that had stuck a bunch of electric lizards onto their bodies to use electric attacks without hurting themselves. Supposedly a big war going on between them and the lizards, but they'll both attack anyone they see."
[19:32] <@Kotono> "You saw those demonspawn lizards too?" she asks, sighing, "Damn it all to the elftree, I had hoped I got all of them."
[19:33] <@Porridge> "Hah, you could spend ten elven lifetimes and I doubt you'd make a dent," Porridge commiserates. "Way I see it, there's these caves pretty much all under the Vastwoods, going who knows how deep. And they're all choked full of those lizards. Constantly breeding."
[19:35] <@Kotono> This draws a sigh out, "I'd stumbled on a little crack in the earth where they were crawling out of. I managed to kill them before they did me and then set up archery over the crack. Shooting straight down sixty hands meant I got most of the rest before they could get in range. I even went down and found the nest. Killed the last few and smashed a bunch of eggs."
[19:36] <@Porridge> "Good on you," he approves. "Didn't see any of the big ones, did you?"
[19:42] <@Kotono> "There was one in the nest that was bigger. It was about the size of a hunting dog. It still died all the same. It broke my damned bow, though," She lightly sighs at this, "It was smart enough to aim for it instead of me."
[19:44] <@Porridge> "Shame. Looking to get it fixed or replaced in Malaines, I take it?" He got the feeling even if she lived there for years, she spends lots of time away.
[19:47] <@Kotono> "A new one," she nods, "Probably pay a little extra for good wood this time. I should be able to afford it after trading with the magus. He should pay good money for a lizard egg." With a hint of annoyance, "The damned thing gives me little frizzy shocks through my pack. The hell of it is that I thought the baby in the egg would die when I took it from its den, but I'm not so sure now."
[19:48] <@Porridge> "Reslient little fuckers. Don't taste half bad, so I guess they're not completely worthless," Porridge allows.
[19:50] <@Kotono> "You ate one?" With a sidelong look, "I was afraid the accursed thing would caress my innards with lightning."
[19:52] <@Porridge> "Nah, once they're dead that's the end of it. Kinda like chicken, not a bad taste."
[19:56] <@Kotono> "Heh, next time," Smiling as you go on, "It's nice meeting you, but I think I'm going to go clean myself up before going into town."
[19:57] <@Porridge> "Yeah that's fine, didn't want to head right in anyway," Porridge waves it off. "Take care of yourself out there, Pisana." With a wave goodbye he ambles off to resume scouting the woods until it's time to meet up with Myann.

[Ebiris]

[18:06] <@Kobrb> Thus does everyone gather. The four are joined by Hylath, who is dressed to the nines. His floppy hat is joined by a rich green cloak and pack. His clothing looks brand new, as if it's never seen seen a speck of dirt. A few others are about as well, dressed far less interestingly.  OOC: Go ahead and set up as well as set how you're gonna be traveling with everyone, y'all.
[18:07] <@Porridge> That's sure not gonna last. "Hey Gildas, know if there's gonna be another tornado on our way back?"
[18:09] * Feather wonders whether Hylath can even clean and mend his clothes on his own, or if the maids did that for him all his life.
[18:10] <Gildas> "Ah, a good question."
[18:10] <Gildas> He will perform his Weathermancy spell to find out! Since he's had no reason to change it in the last few days.
[18:11] <@Kobrb> Myann is chatting with one of the elves - a male - in the meantime, quietly about some trifling thing or another. Violet flowers, if the snippets that can be overheard are true.
[18:12] <@Kobrb> OOC: This is less a note for now and more for later, but do note it has an hour casting time. Y'all have plenty of prep time so it's not a concern right now. Anyway, the next week is going to be hot and sunny. Not a trace of cooler weather is going to be found, save what the considerable gloom of the Vastwoods provides.
[18:15] <Gildas> Gildas will pass on the information about it being hot and... hot.
[18:17] <Feather> "We can go, I reckon?" Feather says, casting a final look about.
[18:18] <@Porridge> "Yep," Porridge says, starting off into the forest!
[18:19] <@Kobrb> OOC: Okay. Marching order?
[18:20] <@Porridge> OOC: Porridge, Feather/Myann, Gildas? With our pansy elf safely in the middle.
[18:21] <@Kobrb> OOC: Okay.
[18:21] <@Kobrb> OOC: If you're on point, make a survival check, Porridge?
[18:23] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+10
[18:23] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+10 and gets 13." [1d20=3]
[18:25] <@Kobrb> roll 1d100
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kobrb rolls 1d100 and gets 88." [1d100=88]
[18:28] <@Kobrb> Fortune is with you. The first few days of travel go unremarkably. Between the back paths you were shown and general good fortune, nothing awry at all happens. On the fourth day of your journey...you're walking amid the shadowy forest. It's warm but not hot, the shade doing a lot to make the weather bearable. As you go on - huh? Ahead is just more forest, but you hear the sound of a bell ringing.
[18:29] <@Porridge> While certainly it's a good idea to make some noise if you think bears or wolves are around so you don't accidentally sneak up on one and make it feel cornered, adding bells just seems strange. "Hello?" Porridge calls out towards the ringing.
[18:30] * Feather calmly moves his hand to the hilt of his sword as he stops.
[18:31] <@Kobrb> Myann hangs back, peering ahead. Your words don't get a reply at first - but from the underbrush comes a rabbit. It's an unremarkable wild rabbit, brown furred. Yet as it hops forward, without the slightest trace of fear, you can hear the jingling of bells from it.
[18:32] <Gildas> He blinks once at this sight.
[18:32] <@Kobrb> "A...rabbit?" Myann stares, "That rings like a bell when it hops?"
[18:32] * Feather doesn't waste time in looking for magic.
[18:32] <@Kobrb> "Oh ho!" Hylath declares, "Adventure is afoot!"
[18:32] <@Porridge> "Maybe it has a bell tied to it?"
[18:32] <@Kobrb> You can't see a bell tied to it offhand. It hops forward again, the jingle of bells continuing.
[18:34] <@Porridge> "Seems pretty creepy," Porridge says, animals acting unnaturally never heralds anything good in his experience. Well, there was that purple panther... but that's an unnatural colour to start with, so it can't be said to have been a normal animal acting in an unnatural way. Then again, a rabbit that rings bells... "From that Circle of yours, you think?" he asks Gildas.
[18:35] <Gildas> "It is... certainly possible." He nods to Porridge. "The last one talked, right? Can you understand us?" He looks at the rabbit-that-may-not-be-a-rabbit.
[18:36] <@Kobrb> Feather can see the creature indeed radiates faint magic. OOC: Spellcraft.
[18:36] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 12." [1d20=3]
[18:36] <@Kobrb> The rabbit hops forward a few more times. The chiming of bells is louder as it stops before Porridge. However, it does not reply. Meanwhile Feather can tell there's magic but nothing else useful.
[18:36] <Feather> "Got some sorta spell on it," Feather voices.
[18:37] <Gildas> "Perhaps, try picking it up?" He offers.
[18:38] <@Porridge> "Oh, easy for you to fucking say, you're not the one giving it ready access to your throat," Porridge grumbles, but bends down to do so anyway. "Talk fey at it, that worked for the cat didn't it?"
[18:39] <Feather> With a sudden grin, Feather asks in Sylvan, "Are you a rabbit?"
[18:39] <Gildas> "I will pick it up if you are afraid of the magic rabbit." He says. There might be a joke in there, but it's hard to tell.
[18:39] <@Porridge> Too late, Porridge has done so himself. Unless he finds himself suddenly dismembered anyway.
[18:40] <@Kobrb> The rabbit is picked up! It jingles and jangles with the sound of bells. Its bottom is sewed up leather instead of rabbit fur. The rabbit stares into Porridge's eyes, before licking out with a rough, dry tongue at his nose. It tickles a bit.
[18:40] <@Kobrb> "Nonsense, any hero would not be afraid of a rabbit," Hylath watches, "See? A trivial matter. Clearly it is cowed by your heroic majesty."
[18:41] <@Porridge> Porridge shudders, shifting the rabbit to look at the thing's leathery hindquarters. "Looks like zombie skin to me."
[18:41] <@Kobrb> OOC: Go anything in relevant skills to that or leather, Porridge? Matters here.
[18:42] <@Porridge> OOC: not a bit!
[18:42] <@Kobrb> OOC: Carry on then.
[18:44] <Gildas> He tilts his head slightly. "It does strike me as a bit peculiar. Perhaps try putting it down and see if it goes anywhere? This is... quite odd..."
[18:45] <@Porridge> Since no one seems to care much, Porridge puts the rabbit back down. "Well, undead rabbit or not, I don't fancy eating it."
[18:46] <Feather> "If it's undead, could just be filled with bells inside," Feather muses.
[18:46] <@Porridge> Not willing to cut it open to find out, Porridge steps around and past the rabbit, continuing on his way.
[18:50] <@Kobrb> The jingling rabbit is left behind, Myann commenting as you go, "How strange. That means a wizard likely had a hand in it, right?"
[18:50] <Feather> "We suspected there could be some sorta necromancers around these parts, didn't we?" Feather reminds her.
[18:51] <@Porridge> "That bloodsucker was nowhere near here, though."
[18:52] <Gildas> "We can only speculate, unless we find more, I think."
[18:53] <@Kobrb> "My father has told many a story of odd things found in these forests," Hylath interjects as the bell-ringing rabbit's sounds fade into the distance. "Ah, I should you tell you the tale of the hanging avengers."
[18:54] <Feather> "That particular bloodsucker," Feather says with a grin, before telling Hylath, "Sure, let's hear it."
[18:57] <@Kobrb> The day passes with tales of swordplay and heroism. It's an enjoyable way to let a day go by and your journies continue. Fortunately, for once fortune smiles on you and the rest of the trip is without serious incident. The party's sweaty, dirty and nursing a bit of poison oak rashes, but you've made it back to the Holset Farmstead. Here you see Rashen managed to beat you back. He's before the
[18:57] <@Kobrb> wood and rock plug over the hole to the underground. Robert's with him, the two idly chatting. Several children are around, playing, running and making all sorts of fun.
[18:58] <@Porridge> "Hullo!" Porridge calls, waving in greeting as they head over to join them.
[18:59] <Feather> "Made good time, I see," Feather comments, waving himself.
[19:03] <@Kobrb> Amid cries of "Big bro," the party approaches. Rashen is munching on a stick of jerky as you approach, "So I'm thinking we dig down about twenty feet, make a basement so we can layer defenses, if these ants and lizards are such a concern," he says.
[19:03] <Feather> "They are," Feather responds. "Better make sure kids can't get easily in, too."
[19:05] <@Porridge> "Sounds like a good idea," Porridge accepts the elf's expertise in the matter, waving to the kids who still seem to think he's related to them.
[19:13] <@Kobrb> "Now the question is," Biting off more jerky rapid-fire style, "I can build, but I need supplies and labor. I have my own tools so that won't be a problem anytime soon. Sooo..." Drawing that out a moment, "What exactly are we building first?"
[19:14] <Feather> "What sort of public buildings any town needs?"
[19:17] <@Kobrb> "Town hall," He says, "Hmmm...need to fell some trees over there and..." Muttering to himself, "You all have good muscle on you, don't you?"
[19:17] <@Porridge> "I figure we'll need more people before we get heavily into that, so maybe work on defences first? Can do logging at least though, yeah."
[19:18] <Feather> "Seems like having some sorta building that belongs to everyone helps make it a community instead of just some folk who happen to live near one another," Feather voices. "But yeah, just the one is enough for now, I reckon. Then, it's housing and defenses from the wildlife and what not."
[19:19] <@Kobrb> "Well, what's more dangerous?" Myann asks, "I say we work on the underground first."
[19:20] <Feather> "Yeah, I figured that was a given for the first thing. We started from that, didn't we?"
[19:24] <@Kobrb> OOC: Okay, so y'all are gonna start by doing something with the hole? Any preferences?
[19:25] <@Porridge> OOC: I can dig the basement
[19:26] <Feather> OOC: I'll work as Rashen's assistant and help how I can with my bunch of knowledges
[19:27] <Gildas> OOC: I am trying to find relevant spells to this particular ... thing, but I'll do whatever.
[19:32] <@Kobrb> OOC: More coming.
[19:36] <@Kobrb> A week passes without incident. It's all about work - digging, cutting down trees and so on and so forth. Mostly digging. So much digging. Dig dig dig dig dig dig! You have to dig slowly and carefully, virtual mountains of dirt displaced. As you dig around, the shaft below open simply by necessity, you hear a shout. "Hellooooo?" The thin, high pitched voice calls from below.
[19:37] <Feather> "Whozzat?" Feather calls back, pausing.
[19:37] <@Porridge> Right now porridge is a dire badger, and so says nothing.
[19:37] <@Kobrb> Myann wipes her brow clean, leaning on her shovel.
[19:39] <Gildas> For his part, Gildas has been using spells like Control Temperature and Burrow to help make it a little easier going and less, well, you know, hot. He will glance over and into the hole.
[19:40] <@Kobrb> "I'm Trader Gaddse!" The voice calls up, "Heard there's people with coins up here! Got some nice things to sell!"
[19:41] <Feather> "Come on up, then!" Feather calls over. "Need a hand with that?"
[19:42] <@Kobrb> "Got rope?" The creature calls back up, "Or come down here. Have lots of things!"
[19:44] <Feather> Who the hell does he think he's asking? Of course Feather has rope! And he retrieves it before sending one end into the open shaft while securing the other one outside.
[19:46] <@Kobrb> Myann goes to follow, "It sounds like a good opportunity," she adds, "I'd like to see if the kobolds are serious."
[19:46] <@Porridge> Porridge makes a growling noise that seems to indicate he'll keep on digging and widening out the soon to be basement,
[19:51] <@Kobrb> Thus Myann and Feather descend down. At the bottom of the shaft you find a single kobold. He's a bit on the plump side, sitting back. A large handcart, overflowing with bags, rests besides him. "Welcome, welcome!" he says in good Common, "Welcome to Gaddse's Honest Shop!"
[19:52] <Feather> "Hey there," Feather greets him back. "Had a safe trip over?"
[19:54] <@Kobrb> "Safe and profitable," His agreement comes as he starts to take down packs, "Take a look, take a look. Tell me what you see and like. Prices are as marked."
[19:55] <Gildas> Not hearing any signs of some sort of crazy kobold ambush, Gildas will shapeshift and fly down to join the others!
[19:56] * Feather does take a look, relying on his magically-enhanced sight as well.
[19:56] <@Kobrb> OOC: Loot post for items at sale and prices.
[19:57] <Feather> "What's the deal with the crystal?" Feather decides to ask after a bit of this.
[19:58] <@Kobrb> "These?" Tapping the breastplate, "I got them from an artisan who got his hands on a lot of ant crystal."
[19:59] <Feather> "In the form of a giant sword?" Feather asks with a grin.
[20:00] <@Kobrb> Grinning back, "Yes, well, genius marches to its own beat."
[20:00] <Gildas> "Do you accept other forms of payment besides gold?" He remembers they have an awful lot of... things being kept in storage.
[20:01] <Feather> "Never used that sorta armor myself. What does it compare to best?"
[20:04] <@Kobrb> "Steel," He says, "I've heard that if you have those mindant poweres it works special."
[20:04] <@Kobrb> After a moment, "Depends on what you have," he answers.
[20:05] <Gildas> "Hm." He looks over the goggles. "What do these do, exactly?"
[20:08] <@Kobrb> "Sundark Goggles?" He answers, "They're useful to stop bright lights. Kobolds with money like them on the surface, but they're also good against creatures who can use gazes on you."
[20:09] <Gildas> He rubs his chin for a moment. "I suppose it couldn't hurt to have a pair on hand... Do you think Porridge would be interested in any of this, Feather?"
[20:10] <Feather> "Not in the armor. Know he likes his weapon, but can't hurt to have a good backup for that."
[20:11] <Gildas> He will dig in his pack and produce the money for a pair of the goggles. "We could buy him the sword." He smiles. "I think he'd probably hit us if we did, though."
[20:12] <@Kobrb> "A backup's always good," Gaddse agrees, "It's a fine weapon, one that stands out and will serve you well."
[20:12] <@Kobrb> OOC: Post the purchase in loot.
[20:12] <@Kobrb> OOC: Sundark goggles are in races of the dragon, forgot to post 'em too.
[20:15] <@Kobrb> "I sort of like the sword," Myann says, "But it's just out of my price range."
[20:16] <Gildas> "We have plenty of things we can probably offer him if you're interested in it." He looks up and out of the hole. "I can go get some if you'd like."
[20:16] <Feather> "The longsword?"
[20:18] <@Kobrb> "Mmm-hmm," Myann says, "It's pretty." Meanwhile the kobold nods, "Bring them down."
[20:18] <Gildas> "Hold a moment." Again, bird! He flies up and out.
[20:19] <Gildas> OOC: He's going to bring the nugget and the kobold idol.
[20:22] <@Kobrb> A trip up and down brings those two items. The kobold gives them a long look, "Hmmm...and what are you interested in for these?" hea sks as he works.
[20:23] <Gildas> "Do you want the crystal sword, Myann?" He looks over at her.
[20:25] <@Kobrb> This causes Myann to consider, "It's a lot of money," she murmurs, "I don't -need- it," she finally says, "I can get by with my magic."
[20:26] <Gildas> "You never know, those two items might cover most of the cost. But it's up to you." He nods. "I don't want to force it on you."
[20:26] <@Kobrb> "My lady, I think it goes good with your eyes," Fat Gaddse adds in, "Really, you could do far worse."
[20:27] <Feather> "Let's just get it," Feather says, before asking the trader, "Got any hammers or bows with you?"
[20:29] <@Kobrb> "Really?" Myann turns to Feather with a little look of surprise, a hint of a blush showing momentarily.
[20:29] <@Kobrb> "No luck on the hammers, but I can have one the next time I come this way," He says, "Same with bows. I had a run on them a few days ago, sold them down to the last arrowhead."
[20:30] <Feather> "You like it and it's okay once in a while," Feather assures Myann. "Sides, even without that when someone's not sure if they need a weapon or not in these parts, better go for caution." To the kobold, he nods. "Yeah, would be great. Anything in particular you're looking for yourself?"
[20:33] <@Kobrb> "There's a run on bows right now," he says, "Bows and arrows if you have any. So are potions and alchemical ingredients. Just avoid gemstones, everyone's been converting them into good and cash lately. The demand's fallen through the floor. Just like what happened to that poor camp thataways," Looking towards the collapsed passage, "Horrible fortune for them. Dying in a blast without a chance
[20:33] <@Kobrb> to grab any shinies."
[20:33] <@Kobrb> *goods and cash
[20:34] <Feather> Some of them managed to get away with a few trinkets, the way Feather remembers it. "Healing potions, too?"
[20:34] <Gildas> He shifts a bit. "We do have some potions we could probably trade, if that might cover the cost of the weapon."
[20:35] <@Kobrb> "Hmmm." Rubbing his chin, "Those two items and a good potion or two should cover it," he says. "What potions?"
[20:37] <Gildas> "Ah, that's right...we have some in storage." He nods. "Allow me another moment."
[20:37] <Gildas> Up and away he goes to fetch... two random potions, since he has no idea what any of them are. Or do. Or anything.
[20:38] <@Kobrb> roll 2d8
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kobrb rolls 2d8 and gets 10." [2d8=6, 4]
[20:38] <@Kobrb> roll 2d9
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kobrb rolls 2d9 and gets 10." [2d9=6, 4]
[20:39] <@Kobrb> The two potions are examined! One is taken - a milky white brew. "This'll do," he says, "Along with the idol and gold. Is it a deal?"
[20:40] <Gildas> He looks over at Myann. "See? You didn't even need to spend anything." He smiles a bit.
[20:40] <Feather> "Sure thing," Feather agrees, hoping they're not getting ripped off too badly.
[20:42] <@Kobrb> "Thank you, both of you," Myann smiles broadly as she takes the crystal longsword. "Thank you!"

[Ebiris]

[18:06] <@Kotono> It's a few days later. Fortunately the digging is nearly done, including squaring out and reinforcing the basement walls. It's the sort of summery day that leads to hard work with a lot of breaks in the shade. Lemonaide is downed by the pitcher, joined by cool water flavored with mint. The three, Myann and Rashen are hard at work along with Robert and a few of the older children. Above you can
[18:06] <@Kotono> hear the younger children and Hylath's voice, "...and then, the wyvern was struck a grevious blow!" filters down. "Then...oh! Hello there, traveler!"
[18:08] <Feather> "Traveler?" Feather repeats. Sounds like something to break the routine, and so he puts his work on hold to go and take a look.
[18:09] * Gildas looks up as well and will join the others to go investigate!
[18:11] <@Porridge> Porridge keeps on working unless he's needed or it sounds interesting!
[18:14] <@Kotono> Myann pauses to slowly wipe her forehead clean and push aside sweaty hair. She lumbers back out - an crude mound of dirt against one wall and a rope is the way out - and follows Gildas. You can hear a particularly butchered attempt at the elven greeting as you emerge. The person saying is is a human traveler. He's on the stocky side, clothes stained by the rigors of the road. He slips his pack
[18:14] <@Kotono> off with a wince, rubbing his lower back. "You know what I mean," he says waspishly, "I'm not so good with anything but human. Name's Brutes," Rubbing the small of his back again and looking on, "Didn't know there was a farmstead this way."
[18:14] <@Kotono> Down below Robert pauses and puts down his shovel, cracking his knuckles. "I'll be back," he say to Porridge, "Hold down the fort down here, all of you."
[18:16] <Feather> "Greetings!" Feather calls out to the man, offering him his hand. "There's more than just a farmstead here. What brings you over, Friend?"
[18:16] <@Porridge> "Yeah, I'll keep an eye on 'em," Porridge says, keeping the older kids hard at work.
[18:17] <@Kotono> "Boo," One of the older kids mutters, and under his breath to Porridge, "Say, you want something to drink? You don't mind if I go up and bring us something, do you?"
[18:17] <@Kotono> "Greetings," Myann echos as Feather gets a strong handshake. Robert catches up and also shakes his hand, "Welcome to the Holset Farmstead."
[18:19] <@Porridge> "Just get enough for everyone," Porridge tells him, getting to work himself on reinforcing the walls.
[18:19] <@Kotono> "Right neighborly of you. I'm from a new settlement myself," he says, "Boy I have some stories about it. If it isn't too much trouble, I could tell them over something to drink?"
[18:19] <@Kotono> "Thanks big bro!" he grins, going off to climb on out.
[18:19] <Gildas> Gildas stands back and will just study Brutes for now.
[18:20] <Feather> "Don't think it'd be a problem," Feather says, though he glances at Robert for confirmation.
[18:20] <@Kotono> He's stocky and human. His traveler's cloak is stained with sweat, dirt and mud. He has plain brown hair and brown eyes. Utterly unremarkable for a human.
[18:21] <@Kotono> "Yeah, we could use a break," he says, "This is dog weather out here. Means that if you keep at it too long, you start panting like a dog. C'mon." Raising his voice, "We're taking a break," he calls down into the pit, "C'mon out!"
[18:23] <@Porridge> "Alright, down tools everyone," Porridge says, ushering the kids up the ramp before following himself. "'lo there," he nods to the new arrival.
[18:27] <@Kotono> In the afternoon sunshine the party sits down at the picnic table. Pitchers of cool water and lemonaide are put out. They're joined by little sandwiches of charred ham and melted cheese, a bowl of chilled blueberries and cream as well as some left over cold porridge from breakfast. As Rashens starts on some of the sandwhiches and others help themselves, "Mighty nice place you all have here,"
[18:27] <@Kotono> Brutes says, guzzling down his lemonaide before fixing himself another. "Nicer than the place I came from. Y'all haven't heard of Riverside, have you?"
[18:29] <@Porridge> "Yeah, passed through a few weeks back when they were laying things down," Porridge nods, not elaborating further.
[18:31] <Gildas> "Did something happen there?" He asks, with a terribly-hidden hint of concern.
[18:35] <@Kotono> "Yeah?" Nodding slightly before raising his glass to Porridge, "Got talked into coming down there. See, the funny thing is that it's run by a lady. Her name's Esona Guildleaf or Goldleaf. I forget. Acts more like a man." Shaking his head with a disapproving frown, "Wish she'd just gotten a husband instead. First off, awhile back..." Counting on his fingers, "4, 5...weeks ago or so? I forget."
[18:35] <@Kotono> Shrugging his shoulders, "Might've been more. Anyway, some mercs come through town. There's some creepy spiders that live nearby and they were supposed to clear them out. Somehow she botched things so far that the mercs sided with the spiders."
[18:37] <Feather> "Huh. You don't say?"
[18:37] <@Porridge> Porridge idly looks around to see that the children are all getting fed properly lest his face give something away.
[18:37] <@Kotono> "Really?" Myann asks with the faintest bit of interest, pausing to bite down on her sandwhich. She blink-blinks at it, giving it a curiously in depth examination.
[18:38] <Gildas> Although the food does look delicious, Gildas isn't eating any right this moment.
[18:39] <@Kotono> The children are eating away quite properly. Robert meanwhile drinks his water, "Sounds a bit like the problems down below. Spiders, ants, lizards. I'm just waiting to hear about hostile fleas and noseeums."
[18:41] <@Kotono> "Hah!" Brutes grins at that, "You said it! Dangerous world out here," He says, working down his next lemonaide. "Ah, that's mighty fine drink you have here. Mighty fine. But yeah, somehow or another. I dunno, maybe they were magic spiders or something. It's past my reck."
[18:42] <@Porridge> "So what brings you out here anyway?" Porridge reaches for a sandwich. "Striking out on your own?"
[18:44] <@Kotono> "Yeah. Thing is, we were all promised nice places and a stipend for joining Riverside. Volgard back east wants to explore. It's a princisomething. Think it means some perfumed prince runs it." Shrugging his big shoulders and going for water this time, "That didn't come through, but let me get to that."
[18:44] <@Kotono> Meanwhile Myann turn sto Feather. She leans in and murmurs, "Take a bite of this?" she asks, passing her sandwich to him, unbitten end first.
[18:45] * Feather over to give it a try.
[18:46] <@Kotono> "Isn't no - Gregory, don't you you start kicking people under the table!" Robert pauses a mometn to glare at the youngest boy here. After an abashed nod from said child, Robert goes on, "Isn't a stipend when they pay you for something?"
[18:46] <@Kotono> Feather finds the sandwich to be ham and cheese, but it tastes like mushroom and cheese instead. Mostly mushroom. It still looks like ham and cheese, though.
[18:47] <Feather> "Huh." He finishes chewing, and takes another bite.
[18:49] <@Kotono> "Yeah," Not seeming to notice or care about the bits of byplay, Brutes goes on. "So a little later some new settlers come by. Strangest damn thing, they have these human-horse thingies that are called centaurs."
[18:50] <@Kotono> It's a pretty good mushroom and cheese sandwhich at least, Feather finds.
[18:50] <Feather> "Not bad, but not what I was expecting either," he tells Myann quietly. "Same for you too?"
[18:52] <@Porridge> "Uh huh?" Porridge says, hoping nothing bad happened to them.
[18:52] <@Kotono> Myann merely  nods and slightly sighs.
[18:54] <@Kotono> "Now somehow or another someone starts going on that they're the Fair Folk," Brutes looks over his shoulder, keeping his voice low. "So there's trouble from the get go. The couple with the kids says the accusations are a bunch of horseshit. But that doesn't make 'em happy and Lady Esona gets involved."
[18:54] <Gildas> His expression sours.
[18:55] <Feather> "Think we should try controlling it," Feather tells her with that same quiet tone. "Maybe it's just power looking for ways to get out, so once you channel it proper-like, it won't do these things anymore. But let's leave it for later." He glances towards the guest for emphasis.
[18:55] <@Porridge> They really should've gone to the waterfall place...
[18:55] <@Kotono> "So she gets up and tells everyone that they're being idiots," Going on fromt hat with a long shake of his head, "That centaurs aren't fey, but instead a simple horse/human hybrid. 'ccording to her, centaurs happened when a randy wizard changed shape into a horse." Shrugging, "But..."
[18:57] <Feather> "Not gonna say something that'll make me disappointed in my race, are you?" Feather asks Brutes.
[19:04] <@Kotono> "Well, a couple of people left because of that," he says, "Well, that and the promised shipment of the yearly stipend didn't show," he adds. "I don't know if they're Fair Folk or what she said or something else, but I didn't like the way Riverside was going. She'd gone off to investigate the stipend shipments not showing up, so I thought it was a good time to pull up stakes and see what's out
[19:04] <@Kotono> thisaway."
[19:08] <Gildas> Gildas' expression softens a little bit, but remains in a frown and he remains quiet.
[19:08] <Feather> "And found a new town in the making," Feather tells him with a sudden grin. "Strange how life works, isn't it?"
[19:08] <@Kotono> "Ya'll are making a new town out here?" Brutes says, "Hell, I t hought you were just building a basement!"
[19:09] <Feather> "Nah. There's elven settlers coming, and there's humans, too, obviously."
[19:09] <@Porridge> "Naw, see that's a hole down into caves full of electric lizards and psychic ants, so we're making it defensible."
[19:10] * Feather nods, adding, "Who knew that not just above ground was this dangerous? Plenty of things down below to worry about."
[19:16] <@Kotono> "Oh. Well." Pausing and looking around, "You offering then?"
[19:17] <@Porridge> "As long as you're not afraid of hard work," Porridge says, likewise looking to see if anyone objects.
[19:17] <Feather> "So long as you ain't one of those who left because of a few centaurs," Feather responds with a shrug. "We've got kobolds as neighbours, for one. Don't want to make enemies of those living right near."
[19:18] <@Kotono> Robert nods, "If you don't mind, we could use another hand."
[19:19] <@Kotono> "Well, don't know what kobolds are," He admits, "They aren't spiders, are they?"
[19:19] <Feather> "Nah. They're, uh, dog people?"
[19:23] <@Kotono> "Oh. That's not so bad." Brutes shrugs again, "If you'll have me, it doesn't sound so bad here." STretching and getting up, "So there's work to be done?"
[19:24] * Feather nods again. "Yeah. We're working on our defenses first, since that's important. Then, we figure a town hall and housing?"
[19:24] <@Porridge> "We're nearly done with the supports down there," Porridge gestures at the hole. "You any good at tree felling? Gonna need more wood soon."
[19:25] <@Kotono> "Sure am. Good in the fields too," Finishing off his drink and rising, "I'll keep myself busy and useful. 'swhat I'm good at."
[19:27] <@Porridge> "Good man," Porridge leans over to shake his hand. "Name's Porridge, forgot to introduce myself earlier."
[19:28] <Feather> "Feather," he says, following suit. "And this here is Myann."
[19:28] <@Kotono> Handshakes are given around, Robert joining in. "Who's the quiet fellow?" he asks, looking at Gildas.
[19:29] <Feather> "That's Gildas," Feather answers, jerking a thumb at him. "He's just shy."
[19:30] <Gildas> "Contemplative." He responds.
[19:31] <@Kotono> "Won't say shit with a mouthful?" Smiling a little bit, "Hey Gildas, I saw some trees that I can knock down not far from here. Got a flask of whiskey too. Wanna share both?"
[19:32] <@Porridge> "Yeah, just don't get him started, he'll never shut up," Porridge laughs, finishing off his sandwich with a swig of lemonade and heading back into the hole.
[19:32] <Gildas> "I don't drink." He responds. "However, I am happy to assist you nonetheless."
[19:34] <@Kotono> "Good. See, I know the quiet ones are the smart ones. The smart ones can save your ass when everything goes wrong," Standing up, "Aaaah, let's get to work!"
[19:34] <@Kotono> OOC: Ready to skip along some more now?
[19:34] <Feather> OOC: Sure
[19:36] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 88." [1d100=88]
[19:40] <@Kotono> More days pass. Three in particular. The basement's done and Rashen is keeping busy measuring things outside. The day's otherwise kept up in farmwork, though the children and Robert get most of it done. With little to do, the group ends up at the healing spring. It's ringed with mushrooms but otherwise cool, refreshing and pleasant. Idle chatter goes back and forth, until you see Em running up.
[19:40] <@Kotono> Her dress is in disarray and she's breathing a bit heavily, "Pa says you all need to get to the hole," she calls. "The kobolds are here!"
[19:41] <Feather> "You okay?" Feather asks as he grabs his sword and starts pulling on his boots.
[19:42] <@Porridge> "To trade right?" Porridge asks, a bit worried by how out of sorts she seems.
[19:43] <Gildas> Again, he will follow the others! Shy like always, of course.
[19:43] <@Kotono> "Right," Em says, "Rashen says they aren't acting hostile."
[19:44] <@Porridge> That's a relief. "Alright then, maybe sit and enjoy the spring yourself for a bit to catch your breath?" he suggests to her, heading over barefoot towards the hole at an easy lope.
[19:45] <Feather> "That's good," Feather says, starting to head to their dug-up basement.
[19:48] <@Kotono> Heading over, the party reaches the basement without incident. Now there's stone steps leading into it, a heavy wooden trapdoor over the hole. Said door is open, Robert standing at it, "They're down there," he adds.
[19:49] <@Porridge> "Hello!" Porridge yells down the hole, "We're coming down!" Easier that way since kobolds don't like the sunshine.
[19:49] <@Porridge> Then he climbs down of course.
[19:52] <Feather> Curious over who came to visit them, Feather tags along.
[19:52] <Gildas> Down he goes!
[19:52] <@Kotono> Going down, the party finds the entryway clear. Rashen is there, as well as Shaman Ten'ten'tal. With him are dozens of kobolds, each one lugging great hunks of stone. Six kobolds drag a chunk. The Shaman steps forward, "I believe we have business," he announces, "You want stone, we have stone."
[19:53] <Feather> "We have stone," Feather affirms. "Rashen, how much do we need, you figure?"
[19:54] <@Porridge> Gonna be a cast iron bitch to get it all up the hole, but they'll figure something out.
[19:55] <@Kotono> "The more the better," Rashen says, "Odds are I'll be breaking it down into building stones anyway."
[19:56] <@Porridge> "Alright, how much for the lot?"
[19:57] <@Kotono> "600 gold coins," he says, "More's coming down that way," he adds. "If you need more after this, we can bring more in a week."
[19:58] <Gildas> He raises his eyebrow at that. That's pretty expensive.
[19:59] * Feather glances at Rashen to see if the price is reasonable before committing.
[19:59] <@Porridge> "How about four hundred?" Porridge suggests instead, automatically haggling.
[20:00] <@Kotono> Rashen returns that look blankly, reaching into his pocket and taking out a cloth wrapped sandwhich. He starts on it before replying, "I'm not a mindreader," he says shortly.
[20:01] <@Kotono> "Four hundred! Kobolds bled and cried for this stone!" The shaman slams the butt of his staff on the ground, "Can you imagine how weakly their spirits would rest if I only took 400 gold?" Casting his eyes up, "But they could rest easier with 560 gold."
[20:01] <Feather> "Might as well plan for the future," Feather says, sidling up to his as Porridge tries to bring the price down. "How much more would we need, you figure? Anything else we might as well ask for, manpower or materials?"
[20:02] <@Porridge> "Hey, I get it, I can see your guys all look tuckered out," Porridge says sympathetically. "I'll make it 480. Come on, we've got to haul it all the way up that hole, we're gonna be bleeding and crying plenty ourselves by the end of it."
[20:04] <@Kotono> "The more the better," Rashen says, "This looks like good and solid stone. Unless we dig up a quarry of our own, we're limited to whatever stones we can find in the ground or in the immediate soil. Even if we don't use it all immediately, it'll come in handy for stone buildings or fortifications."
[20:05] <@Kotono> "Tuckered out!" Waving his staff, "Kobolds work until blood flows as readily as sweat! I couldn't imagine that's worth any less than 530 gold," he says dramatically. "Besides, the shiny tears of kobolds are a precious treasure far above that of human tears."
[20:07] <@Porridge> "I'm only half human... but I think 530 sounds decent," 500 would be better but may as well keep the kobolds happy to keep trading. "Gimme a minute I'll go get some goods worth that," and so he climbs up to get the gold ingot and throws in thirty of his own gold coins for the balance before returning.
[20:08] <Feather> "So with that settled," Feather muses, addressing the shaman, "we could use more. Anything in particular you folks need, other than gold? If we know in advance, we might trade better, I reckon."
[20:08] <@Kotono> OOC: Post that in loot, Eb.
[20:09] <@Porridge> OOC: way ahead of you
[20:10] <@Kotono> "Wood," he says, "The market for imported surface wood is rising. The hard woods, not the soft ones."
[20:10] <Feather> "We'll have some ready in a week, then."
[20:11] <@Kotono> "Done!" A stomp of his staff causes th ekobolds to seperate from the ropes dragging the stones. They unlace them, leaving great hunks of stone about. "The rest will be along momentarily," he says, "Good luck getting them up."
[20:12] <@Kotono> "This is why we inveted ropes and pulleys," Rashen remarks, "But thanks, we'll manage it."
[20:13] <Feather> "Oh, there'll be tears alright," Feather mutters, though he figures they'll get the job done in the end.
[20:15] <Gildas> "I can probably pull them up if you'd like... in my other form, I mean." He offers. "I'm probably stronger that way."
[20:15] <@Porridge> "Yeah, I can make a good draft pony too, should help," Porridge adds.

[Ebiris]

[18:08] <@Kotono> Night comes. It's a night of deep rest (or trancing), the day's effort of moving and lifting stone enough to tire all of you out. As such, the party sleeps in well past dawn. Robert and the older children are already working the fields by the time the party comes downstairs. The missus serves you all breakfast - biscuits, cured ham sliced thin, honey and a bowl of grapes - as you shake off the
[18:08] <@Kotono> lethargy. OOC: More's coming, but go ahead and set each of yourselves up here first.
[18:09] <@Porridge> "Guess growing up here gives them heaps of energy, huh?" Porridge muses, looking out at the hardworking half-elves as he bites into some honey-glazed ham between two biscuits.
[18:10] <Gildas> Gildas enjoys the grapes, not eating very much of anything regardless. "I would imagine familiarity with the work makes it less strenuous."
[18:11] <@Kotono> Myann munches on a buttered biscuit with ham stuck in with it. She looks more or less awake, favoring long sips of cool water more than her food. "It's a farmer's life. You learn to rise with the sun. Having enough food to last the winter's good motivation."
[18:12] <Feather> Still feeling sleepy, Feather keeps quiet and to himself as he eats his ham and biscuit breakfast.
[18:13] <@Kotono> "They're bundles of trouble," The missus says with a smile, as a young female half-elf runs up and tugs on her skirt. "Ma, Joyal's bringing bugs into the house again!" she cries.
[18:14] <@Kotono> This causes the missus to lightly sigh, "Alright dear." Clearing her throat and going to the door out of the kitchen, "JOYAL, WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT - ACK!" There's a pause, Robert coming on in. "Pardon," he says with a sheepish smile, slipping by his wife. "There's a kobold wanting to talk to all of you," he says without fanfare.
[18:15] <@Porridge> "Hm? Down the hole?" Porridge asks, setting his almost done breakfast on a plate and standing up.
[18:17] <Gildas> "Perhaps they have more stone." He offers and will clean up before standing himself.
[18:17] <@Kotono> "Yeah, the same place you met yesterday," Robert says.
[18:17] <@Porridge> "Too quick for that," Porridge shakes his head, walking over to climb down and see what the fuss is.
[18:17] <@Kotono> Myann picks up her biscuit and makes up another, munching on them as she rises. "It is too quick. It's probably a sales pitch. Those kobolds seem to like making as much money as they can."
[18:18] <Feather> "Yeah," Feather agrees, heading after Porridge. "Didn't even have time to cut all the wood to trade with yet."
[18:20] <Gildas> He shrugs and follows along.
[18:21] <@Kotono> Going on down is without incident. You find Shaman Ten'ten'tal there along with a small honor guard of kobold spearmen. He slams the butt of his staff on the ground before speaking, "Tell me," he offers, "Are you interested in a business proposition?"
[18:22] <@Porridge> "Might be, what've you got?" Porridge drawls back.
[18:24] <@Kotono> "Fortune is with us," The shaman declares, "On our trip back, we found a newly reviewed cavern. It leads to paths with evidence of gold veins. Unfortunately, it seems to also be the backyard of a small mindant colony."
[18:25] <@Kotono> OOC: Revealed, not reviewed. Gah.
[18:25] <Feather> "Is there any way to reason with them?" Feather asks. "Get them to cede the backyard for some help with the lizards or something?"
[18:27] <@Kotono> "No," The shaman's scaly lips curve into a frown, "Further, with the new passage, it's only a matter of time until the mindants discover it. It's in our interests to eliminate them. Tell me, would you like to make some money?"
[18:29] <@Porridge> "Hmm. How about we help deal with the ants and get some sorta consideration on any of the gold your guys mine outta there?" Porridge offers, thinking more ahead.
[18:29] <@Kotono> "Hmmm." The shaman squints and peers at Porridge, "Ten percent."
[18:31] <Feather> "Gonna be risking life and limb there," Feather points out, shaking his head. "Twenty five sounds saner for that much effort."
[18:31] <@Porridge> Not wanting to ask for something they'd grow to hate and just cheat them out of anyway, Porridge checks, "Off whatever you'd sell it to anyone else for?" Getting a tenth of the gold for free in perpetuity wouldn't last long at all, but a discount should be more palatable.
[18:33] <@Kotono> "A discount? Oh no no no, I was talking about a share of the profits from mining the gold," He says, "Ten percent plus whatever booty you loot from the mindants."
[18:34] <@Porridge> Huh, they really want to go with that? Getting an indefinite supply of money for a one time job is bargain, assuming they don't renege. Still, he'll see if they're drawn into haggling with Feather so just nods in understanding.
[18:35] <Gildas> "If this were something you could do on your own, you probably would, correct?" He finally speaks up. "I think slightly more compensation for going and elimating these threats is warranted."
[18:36] <Feather> "Just ten percent?" Feather asks, shaking his head. "Those things can get into your head! Forget risking your limbs, you pick any of that loot and it just goes and turns on you when you least expect! For that sort of risk, twenty five percent is far more reasonably."
[18:42] <@Kotono> "My friends," Gesturing wide with his staff, "You have painted these halls in dead mindants before. I can safely say that there is no risk of such harm or calamity coming to you...but in light of your concerns, I'm willing to consider twelve percent."
[18:43] <@Porridge> He can only hope they can manage the complicated math involved, since that's a lot harder to figure out than doing it in neat tenths!
[18:44] <Feather> "They might retaliate," Feather points out, frowning. "Last time they were too busy to fight the lizards, but who knows this time? That's a lot of danger to put the people who live here into for just twelve percent. Twenty, now, that's a nice and round number!"
[18:48] <@Kotono> "That's why you do a good job and wipe the colony out," The shaman explains, "But still, that is a lot of work...hmmmmm. I could see thirteen percent." He finally says.
[18:50] <@Kotono> Myann meanwhile finishes her breakfast, just quietly listening for the most part.
[18:51] <Feather> "I don't know," Feather muses, looking dubious.
[18:52] <Gildas> "We could agree to thirteen for now and re-evaluate it if the colony is stronger than previously expressed." He suggests.
[18:54] <Feather> "Oh, what the hell," Feather says. "You've been good with us thus far. Let's go for thirteen."
[19:04] <@Kotono> "Agreed," With a toothy smile the kobold nods, "When will you be ready to begin?"
[19:04] <Feather> "How about you show us the place now?"
[19:06] <@Porridge> "Lets just send up word what we're up to first," Porridge suggests, climbing up to do just that. "Oh, how far away is it?" he calls down from halfway up.
[19:07] <@Kotono> "It's not terribly far from our new outpost," he says, "It's within a short trip."
[19:09] <@Porridge> Thus Porridge tells everyone to expect them back by nightfall before going back underground!
[19:11] <@Kotono> From here, the party is lead back down towards where they saw the great warbattle from above. It's been cleaned of corpses, replaced with many kobold tents. Kobolds mill about all over, doing this or that. There's a big pile of sealed clay jars, virtually a pyramid of them. As you walk down, "You see those jars there?" The shaman remarks.
[19:12] <Feather> "Yeah?"
[19:13] <@Kotono> "Explosives,
[19:13] <@Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[19:14] <@Kotono> "Explosives," He explains, "Our bombs against the lizards and ants. It's likely that the settlement your way had its bombs explode somehow." He says, "So don't light any fires around them."
[19:15] <Feather> "Right," Feather agrees curtly.
[19:15] <@Porridge> "Got it," Porridge says, by now well practiced in ignoring all suggestions of the sadly destroyed camp and any involvement he may have had in said destruction.
[19:18] <@Kotono> From here you go through the village. Kobolds watch you, but none seem too interested. As you pass one tent, you notice it has an interesting decoration. Shocker lizard heads hang over the tent flap, grisly trophies.
[19:19] <@Porridge> Unless they're bigger than a barrel it's hardly worth glorifying as a trophy, something so ubiquitous.
[19:23] <@Kotono> Going past them, you go down a small, secluded path. You go past a few intersections of cave, coming to a dead end blocked with a boulder with chains attached. The shaman makes a curt gesture, the kobolds taking the chains and pulling the boulder aside. "Go ahead. Find and exterminate allt he ants you can," he says.
[19:27] <@Porridge> "Alright then," Porridge hefts his axe and starts heading in. "Any junctions or turns to be wary of?"
[19:27] * Feather draws his sword before stepping into the opening at the same time Porridge does.
[19:30] <@Kotono> "The terrain's not bad," The shaman says, "That shouldn't be a problem."
[19:31] <@Porridge> "Alright, well keep an ear out for us knocking to come back then," he says while proceeding onwards.

[Ebiris]

[17:58] <@Kotono> OOC: What's your lightning situation? Myann light cantrips again or something else?
[18:01] <@Porridge> OOC: relying on her magic I believe
[18:01] <Gildas> OOC: If not that I have a hooded lantern.
[18:03] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[18:06] <@Kotono> With Myann's glowing sword leading the way, the party proceeds inward. The way in is a short, curvy passage that requires a bit of wiggling to get through. Once past, you come to an intersection. There's a passage to the left winding down and a widening passage ahead. No immediate sign of the ants.
[18:08] <@Porridge> "Okay, that was bullshit, I even asked him if there were any junctions," Porridge huffs. "Quiet a sec?" he asks, standing at the intersection and trying to listen for any noises in either direction.
[18:08] <@Kotono> "How lovely," Myann mutters darkly, then goes silent. OOC: Perception.
[18:09] <Feather> Maybe the kobolds sold them out for some reason? Feather supposes they'll see soon enough.
[18:09] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+13
[18:09] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+13 and gets 27." [1d20=14]
[18:10] <@Kotono> The passage to the left has faint sounds coming up it and slowly getting louder.
[18:10] <@Porridge> OOC: like lots of creepy crawly legs walking around?
[18:11] <@Kotono> OOC: Ayup.
[18:11] <@Porridge> "That way," Porridge points left. "Coming towards us. We can get them as they come out the passage."
[18:13] * Gildas nods and will shapeshift and wait!
[18:15] <@Kotono> Myann steps back, hanging back and away. OOC: How are y'all positioning?
[18:15] <Feather> OOC: Porridge and Gildas, then Myann and Feather behind them?
[18:15] <Gildas> OOC: That's fine with me.
[18:15] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure. How close to the passage opening?
[18:16] <@Porridge> OOC: I'll be on the left hand side. If we cover the sides and front we can get some sweet flanks!
[18:16] <@Porridge> OOC: so adjacent to it
[18:17] <Feather> OOC: I'll be some 20ft away, so I can still be in skirmish range
[18:17] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Myann can take front ahead then with defending. She'll mention her light source is a giveaway as well anyway.
[18:18] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas, are you going to take the right side or do you wanna do something else?
[18:18] <Gildas> OOC: The right side is fine.
[18:20] <@Kotono> Thus the party positions! Myann raises her blade and assumes a defensive pose. It's not long - ahead, you can see them! Ants! First just one at the edge of the light! In its mandibles is a hunk of white quartz. It pauses completely, ant-eyes studying Myann and the rest of the party.
[18:21] <@Porridge> No sense rushing into the tunnel where they'd be forced to bunch up and only one person could fight the ants. Porridge stays right here!
[18:21] * Feather is quite comfortable to wait for now.
[18:24] <Gildas> The bear stays put, but is ready for the ants if they decide to attack! ...Well, as ready as one can be against psychic ants.
[18:24] <@Kotono> You can hear it - the rustling of legs, the clattering of mandibles, the soft clinking of quartz touching things. It comes from the darkness past the first ant. Then, after several moments, the ants advance. It's at a slow rate, coming forward. Ant after ant - you can see 8 of them as the lead ant reaches within range of the party. Each ant carries chunks of quartz in its mandibles.
[18:28] <Gildas> The bear continues to wait... Have you ever seen a confused bear before? Now is that time.
[18:29] <@Porridge> "Huh, are these worker ants or something? Remember them being more aggressive," Porridge mutters, giving the lead ant a poke in its oversized head as it approaches.
[18:29] <@Kotono> Myann blinks as the ant advances - and starts to brush past her, going on without attacking. To Porridge's poke it looks up at him, the ants all suddenly staring at Porridge.
[18:31] <@Porridge> "Damn. Just don't feel right killing 'em when they're just wandering around and ignoring us," Porridge bemoans before staring back as they all look at him.
[18:32] <Feather> "Smack one with an axe, that'll get their fighting spirits up?"
[18:34] <@Porridge> "Makes me feel like a bully," Porridge shakes his head. "Remember 'em being so spirited before as well, crawling up the hole and taking on anyone... think we knocked the fight outta them?"
[18:35] <@Kotono> "Is this even the same hive?" Myann inquires as the ants look away, starting to push past and onwards, towards the passage ahead. Ant after ant - ten in total, all marching on with quartz.
[18:35] <@Porridge> "How about we follow them? See if any want to shout at us again?" he suggests. Though if even one goes in his head again he'll kill them all.
[18:36] <Gildas> The bear makes an affirmative growl at Porridge and begins walking slowly after the last ant.
[18:40] <@Kotono> Thus the party follows the ants. They go down a fairly long passage - ignoring a few side passages on the way. As you walk, you catch sight of something. Glittering in the wall is a vein of gold, a good foot thick. It looks pure - not a hint of rock or obvious impurity mixed in. The ants pass it by without giving it a second glance.
[18:42] <@Porridge> Yep, even thirteen percent of that should make them pretty rich!
[18:42] <Feather> "Are we gonna earn that?" Feather asks, jerking his thumb at the vein of gold.
[18:43] <@Porridge> "Well I mean, if the ants are peacable I figure the kobolds can mine it out anyway," Porridge shrugs.
[18:43] <@Kotono> "Is it fool's gold?" Myann asks, "We had those fake gems from the kobold treasure horde. I'
[18:44] <@Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[18:44] <@Kotono> "Is it fool's gold?" Myann asks, "We had those fake gems from the kobold treasure horde. I'm not sure they can tell the difference."
[18:44] <@Porridge> "Huh, good point," Porridge blinks, tapping the vein. "It does look pretty weird, like it's been placed there rather than part of the rock."
[18:45] * Feather pauses by it and takes out his miner's pick. He can just get a bit for them to test properly later.
[18:46] <@Kotono> OOC: If anyone has ranks in anything relevant here, feel free to make a check.
[18:47] <@Porridge> OOC: dungeoneering or geography?
[18:47] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9 if so, same for both
[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+9 if so, same for both and gets 16." [1d20=7]
[18:47] <Feather> roll 1d20+8 dungeoneering
[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 dungeoneering and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[18:48] <Gildas> OOC: I don't think I do, unless somehow K:N can be used since gold is a natural substance?! yeah no.
[18:51] <@Kotono> Porridge can tell that this isn't a common formation. Gold veins like this can be made near instantly by earthquakes. It would explain the vein.
[18:52] <@Porridge> "Well... I guess it could form like this 'cause of an earthquake. I dunno if that explosion really qualifies though," Porridge says dubiously, waiting to see what results from Feather's chipping.
[18:52] <@Kotono> Chip chip chip. A sample of gold is obta-wait a moment. The ants have suddenly turned around, three abreast as they stare at the party and FEather in particular.
[18:53] <Feather> "Hope you guys don't let them rush me," Feather muses, collecting the sample and storing it away along with his pick.
[18:53] <@Porridge> "What, got a problem?" Porridge challenges them.
[18:58] <@Kotono> Pain. Your minds are taken by a short slash of pain. It's like a slap across your faces, a momentary dazedness. The voice is like thousands of insects rustling in your minds, crawling all over your thoughts, hopes and dreams, "Bounty of the earth is ours, not yours."
[18:58] <Feather> "Fuckfuckfuck!"
[18:58] <@Kotono> "Shit!" Myann falls against the wall, shuddering and slowly using the wall to push herself off and up.
[18:59] <@Porridge> "Owww!" Porridge cries, staggering back and bracing against the wall. When he recovers there is murder in his eyes. "Oh, it's fucking on now!" he growls, raising his axe up and leaping at the ants!
[18:59] <Gildas> The bear growls and looks wobbly, claws digging into the ground.
[19:00] <@Kotono> OOC: Init then. Party is 10ft away from the ants.
[19:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Myann
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 Myann and gets 19." [1d20=17]
[19:00] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 9." [1d20=6]
[19:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 antrow 1
[19:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 antrow 2
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 antrow 1 and gets 2." [1d20=2]
[19:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 antrow 3
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 antrow 2 and gets 18." [1d20=18]
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 antrow 3 and gets 5." [1d20=5]
[19:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 stray ant
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 stray ant and gets 5." [1d20=5]
[19:00] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+1 and gets 19." [1d20=18]
[19:00] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[19:01] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann=Porridge(19)>Antrow 2 (18)>Gildas(10)>Feather(9)>Stray Ant=Antrow 3(5)>Antrow 1(2)'
[19:01] <@Kotono> OOC: Go Porridge.
[19:03] <@Porridge> Leaping at them, Porridge's body deforms as the warp overtakes him, a feral scream on his ravening lips as he brings the axe down on the middle ant of the first row! Hurt him, will they? He'll show them pain!
[19:03] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9 -4pa, charge, rage
[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+9 -4pa, charge, rage and gets 25." [1d20=16]
[19:03] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[19:03] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+17
[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d12+17 and gets 27." [1d12=10]
[19:06] <@Kotono> With a rip that ant is decapitated, falling bloodlessly to the ground! His backswing nearly finishes the right-most ant of the line off as well, cutting deep into its flank! At the same time, Myann sighs and comes forward, sword going to attack the gravely wounded ant.
[19:06] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 12." [1d20=4]
[19:06] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann=Porridge(19)>Antrow 2(18)>Gildas(10)>Feather(9)>Stray Ant=Antrow 3(5)>Antrow 1(2)'
[19:06] <@Kotono> The crystal longsword hits - and bounces right off the ant's hard body! At this, the second ant row picks up its three pieces of quartz, hurling them at Porridge!
[19:07] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 AC?
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 AC? and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[19:07] <@Porridge> OOC: 13
[19:07] <@Kotono> roll 3d4+3
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d4+3 and gets 14." [3d4=3, 4, 4]
[19:09] <@Kotono> The first chunk hits Porridge in the stomach. That hurts but it isn't so bad. It's the fact that the other two catch him flush on the face that hurts. The crack isn't only from the quartz fragmenting, but from his face-bones giving under the assault! Porridges left eye starts to swell immediately, his face painfully bruising and leaking blood! OOC: Your left eye's swelling up and you're ognna
[19:09] <@Kotono> have a hell of a shiner. -2 perception checks until Porridge gets that fixed up. Gildas.
[19:10] <Gildas> The bear snarls and moves in to try and bite at that ant Myann had tried to finish off!
[19:10] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[19:11] <@Kotono> Gildas leaps in, but the ant's hide is tougher than mere bear teeth! As he lands from the failed asasult...OOC: Feather.
[19:12] * Feather decides to deal with Myann's opponent for now, dashing in for a vertical strike that seeks to bisect the ant!
[19:12] <Feather> roll 1d20+11
[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+11 and gets 21." [1d20=10]
[19:13] <Feather> roll 1d10+5+2d6
[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d10+5+2d6 and gets 13." [1d10=5][2d6=2, 1]
[19:13] * Feather jumps back afterwards, to force their enemies to spread their attacks in turn.
[19:14] <@Kotono> Darting in and out, Feather runs by both remaining ants! The wounded one quickly falls, with extra wrath falling on the last one! It's sliced up and down, antenne sliced away and leaving it dazed! Meanwhile the stray ant in the back retreats into the darkness! The third row meanwhile takes its quartz and hurls it at Feather!
[19:14] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 AC?
[19:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 AC? and gets 14." [1d20=8]
[19:16] <@Kotono> But Feather's just too fast! He swerves out of the way, nimbly dodging all the quartz-rain! The single survivor of the first antrow is dazed, antenne gone and unable to act! OOC: Porridge. You can advance on the second row or finish off the one remaining first row ant as you please.
[19:17] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann=Porridge(19)>Antrow 2(18)>Gildas(10)>Feather(9)>Antrow 3(5)>Antrow 1(2)'
[19:17] <@Porridge> Pushing forward in his maddened rage, Porridge sweeps his axe through the next line of mind-ripping ants in his path!
[19:17] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+7 -4pa
[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+7 -4pa and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[19:17] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+17
[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d12+17 and gets 24." [1d12=7]
[19:17] <@Kotono> OOC: Pain, ants. Ants, pain.
[19:18] <@Kotono> His axe sweep cuts the center-second ant apart! The rightmost gets a sideful of Porridge-axe for its troubles, reeling against the wall from the force of the impact! Meanwhile Myann slips to the side, going to finish off the dazed ant.
[19:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 23." [1d20=15]
[19:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+3
[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+3 and gets 6." [1d8=3]
[19:19] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann=Porridge(19)>Antrow 2(18)>Gildas(10)>Feather(9)>Antrow 3(5)'
[19:20] <@Kotono> With a plunging charge she impales the last of the first row ants, slaying it soundly! As she rips her crystal blade away, "Remind me to get the hangers back next time," Myann says sourly. Meanwhile, the remnants of thes econd ant row advance on Porridge, biting and snapping away!
[19:20] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 AC?
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 AC? and gets 16." [1d20=10]
[19:21] <@Porridge> OOC: 15
[19:22] <@Kotono> roll 2d6 plus improved grab times coming
[19:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 plus improved grab times coming and gets 4." [2d6=1, 3]
[19:22] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 CMD?
[19:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 CMD? and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[19:23] <@Porridge> OOC: 22
[19:24] <@Kotono> Porridge is caught between the two ants, held in mandibles! So vulnerable, a pair of stingers come up from the rear of the ants, trying to bring the pain to him!
[19:24] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 12." [1d20=6]
[19:24] <@Kotono> OOC: AC while grappled? Still 15?
[19:24] <@Porridge> OOC: yeah
[19:25] <@Kotono> But Porridge manages to dodge the stingers - which reek of choking acid as they come by! OOC: Gilda.s
[19:25] <Gildas> Gildas-bear moves in on the first on the ants around Porridge, trying again to bite them!
[19:25] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[19:25] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 22." [1d20=15]
[19:26] <@Kotono> OOC: Crit.
[19:26] <Gildas> roll 2d6+14
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 2d6+14 and gets 23." [2d6=6, 3]
[19:26] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann=Porridge(19)>Gildas(10)>Feather(9)>Antrow 3(5)'
[19:27] <@Kotono> Gildas shuffles on in, leaping onto the wounded ant! His teeth rip out its skull, tossing it aside like a ball! As that ant falls, he deftly leaps up nad launches a flying kick at the last ant of the row! It hits its side sounding, plunging in like a thrown javelin! With his paw sticking out of the ant's other side, Gildas kicks off and away! OOC: Second row down. Feather.
[19:28] <Feather> "Let's chase after the runner, Myann!" Feather calls, rushing at the rightmost ant guarding the way. "Gildas and Porridge can clean the rest of them up!"
[19:28] <Feather> roll 1d20+11 zap
[19:28] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+11 zap and gets 19." [1d20=8]
[19:28] <@Kotono> OOC: That's a big old hit.
[19:28] <Feather> roll 1d10+5+2d6+5d6 last is elect
[19:28] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d10+5+2d6+5d6 last is elect and gets 36." [1d10=6][2d6=5, 4][5d6=2, 6, 2, 4, 2]
[19:29] <@Kotono> OOC: How far do you move after the hit?A re you willing to move into the darkness ahead of Myann's light if need be?
[19:30] <Feather> OOC: How far does her light extend?
[19:32] <@Kotono> OOC: 40ft from here. 20ft bright light and 20ft dim light.
[19:32] <@Kotono> *her
[19:32] <Feather> OOC: works for me
[19:34] <@Kotono> FEather's slash - almost an afterthought, sents steel and lightning into the line! Two of the ants are sliced up and flash fried, the third knocked back and hurt bad! He races to the edge of the light! That last ant manages to stumble after Feather, taking a feeble, dazed bite at him!
[19:34] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 AC?
[19:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 AC? and gets 16." [1d20=13]
[19:35] <Feather> OOC: 17 with a charge and skirmish
[19:37] <@Kotono> But Feather  blocks it, attention fully on the quarry ahead! OOC: Okay, Porridge.
[19:38] <@Porridge> Unable to properly swing his axe while grappling with giant ants, Porridge does the next best thing and turns all of his appendages into deadly weapons! With a growl that turns into a screech, he turns into a monstrous looking giant feathered lizard!
[19:39] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas finished off the ants that were grappling you.
[19:39] <@Porridge> OOC: oh. nevermind!
[19:40] <@Porridge> Porridge carves his way into the next row of ants!
[19:40] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+7 -4pa
[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+7 -4pa and gets 12." [1d20=5]
[19:41] <@Kotono> Porridge charges ahead - but can't hit the last wounded, dazed ant! Meanwhile Myann advances to Porridge. Light spills forth - ahead you can see more passage. No sign of the single remaining ant as far as the light reaches. Myann mutters a dark curse under her breath as...OOC: Gildas.
[19:42] <Gildas> Gildas will try and finish off the ant!
[19:42] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:42] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 11." [1d20=4]
[19:43] <@Kotono> A bear leap and a bare miss! As Gildas misses with one great big clawin'? OOC: FEather.
[19:44] <Feather> "Gonna just try to catch up to it," Feather tells Myann, before dashing down the corridor. The light would be gone before long, but he can always try to listen for those skittering sounds....
[19:44] <Feather> OOC: I'll use swift expeditious retreat and run for 70x4 feet if I can?
[19:46] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Into the darkness, just to be clear here?
[19:46] <Feather> OOC: Yes. Should I roll perception for listening or something?
[19:46] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure.
[19:47] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[19:47] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 15." [1d20=7]
[19:48] <@Kotono> Feather races ahead! He's effectively blind, Myann left behind! He goes on a ways - a hundred feet? Two hundred? Something like that. He can hear skittering ahead - but GAH! Suddenly his run is interrupted by something painful and hard. Like he just ran into a wall.
[19:48] <@Kotono> roll 1d6 ow
[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 ow and gets 2." [1d6=2]
[19:49] <@Kotono> OOC: Going to try turning and trying another angle/direction? You still have movement left.
[19:49] <Feather> At least no one is there to see it, and Feather abstains from cursing due to that now-close skittering sound. Instead, he focuses on that and tries to follow, sword first.
[19:50] <@Kotono> OOC: Make another perception check.
[19:50] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[19:50] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 20." [1d20=12]
[19:51] <@Kotono> Feather races on - as far as he can go. They're ahead - not far ahead at all. When suddenly...OOC: #evildunes. I'm going to split the rooms and do them round by round for now.
[19:51] <@Kotono> OOC: Meanwhile, go Porridge.
[19:52] <@Porridge> Porridge roars with spittle flecking out his mouth, sweeping his axe in a wide slash at the offending ants!
[19:52] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+7 -4pa
[19:52] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+7 -4pa and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[19:53] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann=Porridge(19)>Gildas(10)>Antrow 3(5)'
[19:53] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[19:54] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+17
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d12+17 and gets 27." [1d12=10]
[19:56] <@Kotono> With a final savage rip, Porridge tears apart he last ant! Victory! OOC: Free act. sEc.
[19:57] <Gildas> The bear gestures in the direction Feather went in before bounding in that direction, careful to stay within the radius of Myann's light.
[19:57] <@Porridge> Without a word, he takes off running after Feather!
[19:58] <@Kotono> OOC: 4 rounds of rage left. More on this after round 1 in #evildunes.
[20:07] <@Kotono> The party races ahead! It soon comes to sharp turn - there's a few cracks along it, oddly - and then ahead. Ahead is a long chasm, with only a single natural landbridge in the middle. You can't quite see the other side with as far as your light goes.
[20:08] <@Porridge> "Feather!" Porridge bellows, running onto the bridge, craving an enemy to battle!
[20:08] <@Kotono> OOC: Two rounds left on rage after this coming line.
[20:09] <@Kotono> Ahead, you see them! On the other side are seven worker ants, milling about the edge. They turn as Porridg enad the rest advance across the landbridge. OOC: Init here, y'all. Porridge is 20ft away, Myann 25 and Gildas 30, say.
[20:09] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1
[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+1 and gets 2." [1d20=1]
[20:11] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[20:11] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 ant swarm
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 ant swarm and gets 1." [1d20=1]
[20:11] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Myann
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 Myann and gets 3." [1d20=1]
[20:12] <@Kotono> OOC: Well.
[20:12] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gilas(27)>Myann(3)>Porridge(2)>Antswarm(1)'
[20:12] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas is up. Go kung fu bear.
[20:12] <Gildas> OOC: I should get some sort of triple-turn for that, I think.
[20:12] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(27)>Myann(3)>Porridge(2)>Antswarm(1)'
[20:12] <@Kotono> OOC: Alas, though it is pretty funny.
[20:13] <Gildas> The bear lumbers across the bridge and goes to engage the first of the ants and the swarm!
[20:13] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[20:13] <@Kotono> OOC: Big old hit.
[20:14] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7 chomp chomp
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+7 chomp chomp and gets 8." [1d6=1]
[20:14] <@Kotono> Gildas leaps into the proverbial teeth of the ants, clawing and biting at the lead one! He's safely on the other side now, ripping one of them apart! Myann hangs back, gesturing...
[20:14] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 29." [1d100=29]
[20:15] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 will
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 will and gets 18." [1d20=18]
[20:16] <@Kotono> Suddenly a mushroom-shaped burst of golden dust explodes amid the ants! It settles in on them, outlining them in golden color - but nothing more! OOC: Okay, go Porridge.
[20:16] <@Kotono> Meanwhile, from below you hear, "Who's next?!" Feather bellows!
[20:17] <@Porridge> Porridge roars something incoherent and angry as he charges across the bridge and into the ants!
[20:17] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9 -4pa, charge
[20:17] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+9 -4pa, charge and gets 24." [1d20=15]
[20:17] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+17
[20:17] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d12+17 and gets 25." [1d12=8]
[20:18] <@Kotono> Ants are torn open, Porridge bulling past Gildas and ripping an ant in half! His axe strikes and strikes, tearing apart ants rapidly! Meanwhile the ant swarm advances, biting at the two frontmen, as a crystla shard is fired from one of them at Myann!
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Porridge
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Porridge and gets 17." [1d20=11]
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Gildas
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Gildas and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Myann ACs all?
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Myann ACs all? and gets 8." [1d20=5]
[20:18] <@Porridge> OOC: 13
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 2d6 and improved grab on Porridge
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 and improved grab on Porridge and gets 5." [2d6=2, 3]
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[20:19] <@Kotono> Mandibles tear into Porridge, drawing blood across his side! But he stands firm, as Gildas dances through the swarm! He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee! Meanwhile Myann just ducks, avoiding the crystal shard thrown at her! OOC: Other room for around.
[20:20] <@Kotono> "Feather!" Myann cries, as she dodges, his words echoing up from below.
[20:24] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas, go.
[20:24] <Gildas> The bear tries to tear into another of the ants!
[20:24] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[20:25] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit like a tin can.
[20:25] <Gildas> OOC: So that's what we're doing now, is it, Hatbot?
[20:25] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7 chomp chomp chompity chomp
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+7 chomp chomp chompity chomp and gets 11." [1d6=4]
[20:25] <@Kotono> Another ant goes down as Gildas rips into them, tossing aside a tornaway leg down into the abyss! Myann meanwhile cautiously advances, sword going to skewer one ant in the center!
[20:25] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 (+2 charge)
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 (+2 charge) and gets 29." [1d20=19]
[20:25] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 (+2 charge)
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 (+2 charge) and gets 18." [1d20=8]
[20:26] <@Kotono> roll 2d8+6
[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+6 and gets 13." [2d8=2, 5]
[20:26] <@Kotono> She catches that ant good, a foot of crystal ventilating the vermin's brain! OOC: Porridge.
[20:27] <@Porridge> With the last ebbs of his rage, Porridge screams manfully and heaves his axe into the swarm, sagging down almost as soon as he finishes his swing, warp-brought strength giving way to the pain of a deformed body slowly shifting back to what it should be.
[20:27] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+7 -4pa
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+7 -4pa and gets 11." [1d20=4]
[20:28] <@Kotono> "How do you like that? Huh?! Want some of this?!" Feather's brave words come up from above as Porridge swings - but it serves as a distraction on top of the revertion, causing his axe to swing errantly! The surviving ants push back, attacking all!
[20:28] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Porridge
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Porridge and gets 8." [1d20=2]
[20:28] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Gildas
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Gildas and gets 13." [1d20=7]
[20:28] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Myann
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Myann and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[20:28] <@Kotono> roll 1d6
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 and gets 6." [1d6=6]
[20:28] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 grab
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 grab and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[20:29] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 stinger
[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 stinger and gets 23." [1d20=17]
[20:29] <@Kotono> roll 1d6+1+1d6 owwies
[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+1+1d6 owwies and gets 8." [1d6=2][1d6=5]
[20:30] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(27)>Myann(3 +20 ASF)>Porridge(2)>Antswarm(1)'
[20:30] <@Kotono> Myann's caught dead on! She's pinned in an ant's pincers, before its stinger comes up! It darts out, plunging right into her stomach and out her back! She screams in agony, acid hissing and leaking from the wound! OOC: Other room for a round.
[20:34] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas, go.
[20:35] <Gildas> For now, the best defense is a good offense, so he continues to try and carve into the enemies before him!
[20:35] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[20:35] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7 Gildas used BITE!
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+7 Gildas used BITE! and gets 12." [1d6=5]

~

[19:53] <@Kotono> Light suddenly flushes in. Ahead you see an ant. A mindslayer from the looks of it. From its eyes come cones of light, focused right on you. It's 20ft away, straight ahead. At either side you can see chasms - dear GODS, a few feet in either direction would have sent you for a long fall! What little light spills to his side lets you see shadowy shapes - ants moving! OOC: Init.
[19:53] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[19:53] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 7." [1d20=4]
[19:54] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 mindslayer
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 mindslayer and gets 15." [1d20=15]
[19:54] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 ????
[19:54] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 ????
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 ???? and gets 2." [1d20=2]
[19:54] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 ????
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 ???? and gets 16." [1d20=16]
[19:54] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 ????
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 ???? and gets 3." [1d20=3]
[19:54] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 ????
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 ???? and gets 2." [1d20=2]
[19:54] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 ????
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 ???? and gets 4." [1d20=4]
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 ???? and gets 2." [1d20=2]
[19:54] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 ????
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 ???? and gets 3." [1d20=3]
[19:55] <Feather> "Oh shit," Feather mutters, freezing involuntarily as he realizes how close he came to plummeting down into some underground chasm.
[19:56] * Kotono changes topic to '???2(16)>Mindslayer(15)>Feather(7)>???5(4)>???3=???7(3)>???6=???1=???4(2)'
[19:58] <@Kotono> From the darkness a shard of crystal comes flying out at Feather!
[19:58] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 AC?
[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 AC? and gets 4." [1d20=1]
[19:59] <Feather> OOC: 18
[19:59] <@Kotono> But it whizzes by harmlessly! Then the mindslayer acts - he stomps with all his legs, the long, natural bridge you're on shaking terribly! OOC: Ref save.
[19:59] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 9." [1d20=6]
[20:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d4 nonlethal and more
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 nonlethal and more and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[20:00] <@Kotono> The shaking casts Feather to the ground! He's helpless a moment, the rumbling and gravity causing him to roll towards the edge of the chasm! OOC: You can make an athletics check here if you'd like to try'n'avoid taking a plunge.
[20:00] <Feather> OOC: Acrobatics?
[20:01] <@Kotono> OOC: Right, that.
[20:01] <@Kotono> OOC: Getting games crossed up.
[20:02] * Joins: Gildas (~ryan.scud@65.33.116.127)
[20:02] * Feather might not be as afraid of falls as he once used to but it still doesn't sound quite right when there's all these ants to fight. So if he's going to plunge off this narrow bridge, the least he can do is direct his stumbling self towards the mindslayer so that he won't be the only one toppling over!
[20:02] <Feather> roll 1d20+10 acrobatics
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+10 acrobatics and gets 29." [1d20=19]
[20:03] <@Kotono> OOC: So you just wanna take the mindslayer with you?
[20:03] <Feather> OOC: Can I?
[20:03] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure, if you want.
[20:03] <Feather> OOC: Excellent
[20:04] <@Kotono> It's only a last second dive that catches the mindant! Feather grabs onto it, the two momentarily wrestling before inertia drags both of them plummeting below! OOC: More.
[20:04] <@Kotono> roll 10d6 both of you ow hope this rolls low
[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 both of you ow hope this rolls low and gets 35." [10d6=4, 3, 6, 3, 1, 4, 2, 4, 2, 6]
[20:05] <Feather> OOC: I negate 100ft of falling, is this more than that?
[20:05] <@Kotono> OOC: Oh shit, I forgot you negated falling damage!
[20:05] <@Kotono> OOC: You're off the hook then.
[20:05] <Feather> OOC: Only 100ft!
[20:05] <@Kotono> OOC: Here I thought you were going in the graveyard. No, it's 100ft flat.
[20:06] <@Kotono> Yet FEather falls safely, harmlessly! He lands in darkness, a loud wet CRACK nearby as the mindslayer surely meets its end! You are in absolute darkness now. You can see nothing, but you can hear them all around you. Moving. Skittering. Surely watching.
[20:06] <@Kotono> OOC: Free act.
[20:08] <Feather> With a gesture, phantom lights spring into being in a circle roughly ten feet in radius with Feather at the very center.
[20:08] <Feather> OOC: Dancing Lights
[20:08] <@Kotono> OOC: Link me?
[20:09] <Feather> OOC: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dancingLights.htm
[20:10] <Feather> "Who's next?!" Feather bellows, a death grip on the hilt of his sword.
[20:11] <@Kotono> The light is enough to see. You stand in what resembles a giant geode. White quartz is everywhere, poking out all over. Crystalline shapes dominate. Around you are dozens of worker ants, some with mandible-fulls of quartz. You don't really have much time to look, since they're closing in on you with a quickness! OOC: Init here. Congratulations, you found the shortcut to the quartz deposits
[20:11] <@Kotono> and lived to tell the tale. For now.
[20:12] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 7." [1d20=4]
[20:18] * Retrieving #evildunes modes...
[20:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 ant horde
[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 ant horde and gets 8." [1d20=8]
[20:19] * Kotono changes topic to 'Anthorde(8)>Feather(7)'
[20:20] <@Kotono> "Feather!" Myann's voice is heard from above - but the ants on him put forth difficulties of their own!
[20:20] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 AC?
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 AC? and gets 12." [1d20=2]
[20:20] <Feather> OOC: 18
[20:21] <@Kotono> Ants all around him! Feather is boxed in from every direction, unable to effectively move! Nonetheless he parries the mandibles with his blade! OOC: Go. Enemies in all directions, any movement's essentially impossible right now. You're surrounded big time.
[20:22] <Feather> In a burst of green light, Feather undergoes a slight transformation of his own. Looking much like he had while under the influence of the fey, Feather switches to a far more cautious approach. Still, there is no alternative for trying to carve a way out for himself as he knows that he wouldn't hold out for long if he remains surrounded like that and his sword swings at the ant right in
[20:22] <Feather> front of him!
[20:23] <Feather> roll 1d20+6 fighting defensively, quick cast Animalistic Power
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+6 fighting defensively, quick cast Animalistic Power and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[20:23] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[20:23] <Feather> roll 1d10+7
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d10+7 and gets 15." [1d10=8]
[20:24] <@Kotono> Feather rips into the ants! He gouges one deeply, but there's just so many, as...OOC: Other room for a round.
[20:25] <Feather> "How do you like that? Huh?! Want some of this?!" Feather yells, cursing the damn ants around him. If that's the way they want to do it, he will teach even these drones to be afraid!
[20:31] <@Kotono> The ant horde is relentless, attacking over and over!
[20:31] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 AC?
[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 AC? and gets 15." [1d20=5]
[20:31] <Feather> OOC: 21 right now
[20:31] <@Kotono> But Feather holds his own, blocking all the attacks! He dodges a thrown hunk of crystal and mandibles, as Myann's scream of agony echos from above! OOC: Go.
[20:33] <Feather> Carving out some breathing room remains Feather's priority, except he tries to add some of his meager magics into the mix as well.
[20:33] <Feather> roll 1d20+6 fighting defensively, zap
[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+6 fighting defensively, zap and gets 18." [1d20=12]
[20:33] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+5d6 last is elec
[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d10+7+5d6 last is elec and gets 35." [1d10=5][5d6=5, 5, 1, 6, 6]
[20:34] <@Kotono> A massive sweep slices through the ants! His blade sents currents of voltage through the ants all around him, slicing wounds across them all! This gets him a bare moment's breathing room, one down and several others injured - but there's still so many more! OOC: Other room for a round.

[Ebiris]

[17:59] <@Kotono> > Myann's caught dead on! She's pinned in an ant's pincers, before its stinger comes up! It darts out, plunging right into her stomach and out her back! She screams in agony, acid hissing and leaking from the wound! OOC: Other room for a round.
[17:59] <@Kotono> > OOC: Gildas, go.
[17:59] <@Kotono> <Gildas> For now, the best defense is a good offense, so he continues to try and carve into the enemies before him!
[17:59] <@Kotono> <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[17:59] <@Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[17:59] <@Kotono> <Gildas> roll 1d6+7 Gildas used BITE!
[17:59] <@Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+7 Gildas used BITE! and gets 12." [1d6=5]
[17:59] <@Kotono> > OOC: Sorry, was a sec.
[18:00] <@Kotono> Gildas bites and bites! Another ant goes down as he pushes back the breaking horde, as Myann's scream echos about! She stries to free herself from the ants!
[18:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[18:00] <@Kotono> OOC: I cast Summon Miko.
[18:02] * Joins: Rei-chan (~mars@cpc9-sgyl30-2-0-cust73.sgyl.cable.virginmedia.com)
[18:03] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[18:03] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{18}
[18:03] <@Kotono> With a grunt and kick, Myann frees herself! She stumbles back, on one knee with the chasm at her back. One hand is on her stomach wound, the other holding her sword up more like a shaking shield. OOC: Porridge.
[18:05] <@Porridge> With a wince of pain on his face, Porridge grits his teeth and carves his way through the thronging of ants, swings slower and far less deadly than they were a moment ago.
[18:05] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6 -2pa
[18:05] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+6 -2pa --> [ 1d20=7 ]{13}
[18:06] <@Kotono> Indeed, Porridge's swings struggle! They generally miss or fail to penetrate, the survivinga nts trying to rally! A hunk of crystal is hurled at Gildas as the other ants attack Porridge and Myann!
[18:06] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Gildas
[18:06] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+2 Gildas --> [ 1d20=9 ]{11}
[18:06] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Porridge
[18:06] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 Porridge --> [ 1d20=5 ]{8}
[18:06] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Myann
[18:06] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 Myann --> [ 1d20=17 ]{20}
[18:06] <@Kotono> roll 1d6
[18:06] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
[18:07] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Myann grab
[18:07] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 Myann grab --> [ 1d20=11 ]{14}
[18:07] <@Kotono> The rush is heavy - but the party holds their ground! Gildas effortlessly dodges the projectile while Porridge bats away a mandible! Myann is slower, getting a slash across her sword arm's wrist! As this happens...OOC: Room switch.
[18:14] <@Kotono> OOC: Gidlas.
[18:14] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas.
[18:14] <Gildas> OOC: How many more ants are up here?
[18:15] <@Kotono> OOC: 4 left.
[18:15] <Gildas> Just a bit more! He'll try and further thin their numbers out with another bite!
[18:15] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[18:15] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{23}
[18:15] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7 chain chomp
[18:15] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d6+7 chain chomp --> [ 1d6=1 ]{8}
[18:16] <@Kotono> His teeth rip away the forelegs of another ant, causing it to slope forward comedically! It's down but not out as Myann grunts, trying to trace arcane patterns in the air with her bloodied hand!
[18:16] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:16] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=52 ]{52}
[18:16] <@Kotono> From above, a block of wood slams down on the ants!
[18:17] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 touch AC
[18:17] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 touch AC --> [ 1d20=19 ]{25}
[18:17] <@Kotono> roll 5d6
[18:17] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 5d6 --> [ 5d6=19 ]{19}
[18:18] <@Kotono> The block landsy heavily, in between two wounded ants! It gets both of their sides, squashing both into an early grave! Only two ants remain now! Myann coughs after she finishes, blood splattering on the ground before her! OOC: 2 damage to Myann. You're up, Porridge.
[18:19] <@Porridge> "Die dammit!" Porridge growls, rushing the last two ants to try and finish them with a little magical assistance!
[18:19] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+10 charge, rhino's rush
[18:19] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+10 charge, rhino's rush --> [ 1d20=14 ]{24}
[18:19] <@Kotono> OOC: Hitso.
[18:19] <@Porridge> roll 2d12+6
[18:19] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 2d12+6 --> [ 2d12=23 ]{29}
[18:19] <@Kotono> OOC: Nice.
[18:20] <@Kotono> With one massive, desperate cleave, Porridge cuts both ants in half! They slump over, slain! OOC: No free act, we'll stay round by round in here. Over to the other room for a round.
[18:20] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(27)>Myann(3 +20 ASF)>Porridge(2)'
[18:25] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas, go.
[18:25] <Gildas> With the ants up top dealt with, the bear shapeshifts into an eagle and begins flying down towards Feather! He's worried about both Myann and Feather, but he assumes Myann can take care of herself in this situation.
[18:26] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, I'll intro you in there at the start of their next round. Myann's up.
[18:26] <@Kotono> Myann closes her eyes in concentrating, trying to chant...
[18:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=56 ]{56}
[18:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+4
[18:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d8+4 --> [ 1d8=2 ]{6}
[18:26] <@Kotono> Some of her wound seals up - not all of it, but at least the bleeding has greatly slowed! OOC: Porridge.
[18:27] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(27)>Myann(3 +10 ASF)>Porridge(2)'
[18:27] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann(3 +10 ASF)>Porridge(2)'
[18:30] <@Porridge> "Fuck, this is gonna burn," Porridge mutters, drawing in on himself before his body shrinks into a small fuzzy black ball that hovers in the air for a second before two big leathery wings thrust out at the sides and a rat-like head with big conical ears at the top. With a few experimental flaps, he hurls himself off the chasm and down towards the fracas below!
[18:30] <@Kotono> OOC: I'll have you join at the start of next round too.

~

[18:08] <@Kotono> > A massive sweep slices through the ants! His blade sents currents of voltage through the ants all around him, slicing wounds across them all! This gets him a bare moment's breathing room, one down and several others injured - but there's still so many more! OOC: Other room for a round.
[18:08] <@Kotono> The sounds of battle wash down from above - but Feather has no time to truly listen, as the ants are relentless on him!
[18:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 AC?
[18:08] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+10 AC? --> [ 1d20=9 ]{19}
[18:08] <Feather> OOC: 21
[18:08] <@Kotono> But each clang is the sound of mandible on steel, or a booted kick knocking back a rushing ant! Feather maintains his guard yet, holding all the ants back! OOC: Go.
[18:09] <Feather> This is endless! If he doesn't find some advantage before the meager light surrounding his position goes out, Feather will end up going with it!
[18:09] <Feather> OOC: What's here?
[18:11] <@Kotono> Feather has landed in the middle of a vast, oversized geode. The nearest cover is 15ft to his right - a large rising crystal, a good 10ft tall. 20ft ahead he can see a pile of quartz hunks, tall enough to provide some cover ore ven to climb up on. Walls are a further bit away, 60ft away at the closest and with many ants between them and the wall.
[18:12] <@Kotono> OOC: How much longer does you rlight last?
[18:12] <Feather> OOC: It's a minute duration, so I think there's 7 rounds left?
[18:13] <@Kotono> OOC: Seven rounds it is then.
[18:13] <Feather> Making up his mind, Feather tries to push towards the pile of quartz, his blade illuminated by a flash of lightning!
[18:14] <Feather> roll 1d20+6 fighting defensively, zap
[18:14] * Kotono changes topic to 'Anthorde(8)>Feather(7) 7 rounds of light left'
[18:14] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+6 fighting defensively, zap --> [ 1d20=5 ]{11}
[18:14] <@Kotono> But Feather can't manage to land a hit! The ants are just too fast despite being packed together, crawling over one another to dodge! As this happens...OOC: Other room.
[18:21] <@Kotono> All around him! The ants are swarming! Shards of crystal are thrown from the back as he dodges bite after bite attempt!
[18:21] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:21] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{30}
[18:21] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 ow
[18:21] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+10 ow --> [ 1d20=1 ]{11}
[18:21] <@Kotono> roll 2d6+1d4+1
[18:21] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 2d6+1d4+1 --> [ 2d6=7 1d4=3 ]{11}
[18:22] * Kotono changes topic to 'Anthorde(8)>Feather(7) 6 rounds of light left'
[18:22] <@Kotono> It happens with a shard of crystal. It goes flying, grazing the left side of Feather's face! It cuts open his flesh from just past his left eye to the far end of his skull, a gleaming cut glistening with blood! It momentarily stuns Feather, giving the other ants time to rush in and bite him! Little wounds all over, on his arms and sides, but he protects his core! OOC: Ow. Go.
[18:23] <Feather> His battlescream turns into a cry of pain and Feather abandones his previous strategy in favor of crushing the ants ahead of him to try and reach an oasis of safety!
[18:23] <Feather> roll 1d20+10 zap
[18:23] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+10 zap --> [ 1d20=13 ]{23}
[18:23] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+5d6 last is elec
[18:23] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+7+5d6 last is elec --> [ 1d10=2 5d6=18 ]{27}
[18:24] <@Kotono> With a plunge, Feather darts forward! He plunges straight through one ant, which simply explodes with electricity! The next is impaled through the head, slain! He's 10ft away from the pile of quartz now! OOC: Other room.
[18:31] <@Kotono> As he fights on...suddenly...OOC: Init you two, first of all.
[18:32] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[18:32] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{9}
[18:32] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(9)>Anthorde(8)>Feather(7) 6 rounds of light left'
[18:32] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1
[18:32] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+1 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{20}
[18:32] * Kotono changes topic to 'Porridge(20)>Gildas(9)>Anthorde(8)>Feather(7) 6 rounds of light left'
[18:32] <@Kotono> From above the two shapechanged warriors fly down! They're 30ft above the fracas right now! OOC: Open Porridge.
[18:33] <@Porridge> Swooping down at the ant closest to Feather's back, Porridge aims a bite at the vulnerable seeming neck, using his momentum to force the ant down onto the ground!
[18:33] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 bite, charge
[18:34] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+8 bite, charge --> [ 1d20=20 ]{28}
[18:34] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 bite, charge crit?
[18:34] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+8 bite, charge crit? --> [ 1d20=10 ]{18}
[18:34] <@Kotono> OOC: Crit.
[18:34] <@Porridge> roll 2d6+4
[18:34] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 2d6+4 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{11}
[18:34] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6 trip CMB
[18:34] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+6 trip CMB --> [ 1d20=2 ]{8}
[18:35] <@Kotono> Porridge swoops down! He chomps the neck of the ant in half, momentarily freeingup Feather's back! OOC: Gildas, go.
[18:36] <Gildas> OOC: Would shapeshifting into a bear and landing on them potentially do anything? I'm not sure if weight is really given a lot of consideration in the process.
[18:36] <@Kotono> OOC: I'd treat it as a dive, I suppose.
[18:37] <@Kotono> OOC: See #elysium.
[18:39] <Gildas> Like Porridge, Eagle-Gildas dives at the ant swarm, attacking with sharp, deadly talons!
[18:39] <Gildas> roll 1d20+8
[18:39] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{16}
[18:40] <@Kotono> OOC: Did you include the +2 for a charge?
[18:41] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, hit. Damage.
[18:42] <Gildas> roll 2d6+12
[18:42] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 2d6+12 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{20}
[18:44] <@Kotono> Another ant is sent to the end, Gildas ripping its back wide open! It thrashes once before going still, another corpse before them! At this, a few ants attack Feather, while a rain of quartz is throw up at the interlopers!
[18:45] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Feather
[18:45] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+7 Feather --> [ 1d20=3 ]{10}
[18:45] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Gildas
[18:45] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+7 Gildas --> [ 1d20=18 ]{25}
[18:45] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Porridge
[18:45] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+7 Porridge --> [ 1d20=8 ]{15}
[18:45] <@Kotono> OOC: ACs?
[18:45] <Gildas> OOC: Pretty sure mine is 17 due to the charge and the aerial form.
[18:46] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1 Gildas ow
[18:46] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 Gildas ow --> [ 1d4=3 ]{4}
[18:47] <@Kotono> OOC: Porridge?
[18:48] <@Porridge> OOC: 17
[18:49] <@Kotono> Feather holds his own, one side momentarily clear as reinforcements arrive! As crystal rains up and then down, one chunk catches Eagle-Gildas in the wing! A flare of pain follows, hollow avian bones no match for that sort of force! OOC: Ow. Feather.
[18:50] <Feather> Emboldened by his allies coming to his aid, Feather wipes the blood from his face as he snarls at the ants surrounding him and presses on to the quartz!
[18:50] <Feather> roll 1d20+10 last zap
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+10 last zap --> [ 1d20=16 ]{26}
[18:50] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+5d6 last is elec
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+7+5d6 last is elec --> [ 1d10=10 5d6=20 ]{37}
[18:51] <@Kotono> OOC: Were you going to climb up the quartz?
[18:51] <Feather> OOC: Can I?
[18:51] * Kotono changes topic to 'Porridge(20)>Gildas(9)>Anthorde(8)>Feather(7) 5 rounds of light left'
[18:52] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure, if you like. It'll take a balance check, or whatever balance was rolled into. Acrobatics, I presume.
[18:52] <Feather> roll 1d20+9 I actually have climb
[18:52] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+9 I actually have climb --> [ 1d20=8 ]{17}
[18:52] <@Kotono> OOC: Works.
[18:53] <@Kotono> With a furious charge Feather slices away! Three ants fall to his barrage as he stumbles forward! His footsteps cling under the quartz, unsteady footing as he climbs up the quartz! He stands atop it, lights letting him momentarily see. His lights are refracted through all the crystal, providing a dim illumination to the entire chamber. It's quite huge - hundreds of feet in diameter. There's
[18:53] <@Kotono> but single path out, 150ft away, that slopes up. There's one hell of a lot of ants down here! Several are dead, yet dozens remain! OOC: Meanwhile...
[18:53] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:53] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=94 ]{94}
[18:54] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+4
[18:54] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d8+4 --> [ 1d8=6 ]{10}
[18:54] <Feather> "Here! Draw them here!" Feather bellows, slashing through the air with his sword to ward off the mass of ants.
[18:55] <@Kotono> Suddenly, there's a loud, reverbating THUD far above! OOC: Porridge, go.
[18:55] <@Porridge> Porridge squeaks and goes for the neck of another nearby ant before flying towards Feather to draw them towards him as asked.
[18:55] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+7 bite
[18:55] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+7 bite --> [ 1d20=9 ]{16}
[18:56] <@Kotono> Porridge flies over, unable to land a bite as he repositions! OOC: Gildas.
[18:56] <@Kotono> Ants all over! Some of them are gathering shards of crystal in their mandibles. Others are pressing ahead, just waiting to tear the party up!
[18:57] <Gildas> OOC: Can I shapeshift on top of the quartz or is that too much of a balance problem?
[18:57] <@Kotono> OOC: You'd need an acrobatics check to stay up there, but it's doable.
[18:58] <Gildas> OOC: Okay, I'll try it then.
[18:58] <Gildas> The eagle will shapeshift back to a bear and try to get its bearings (har) on the quartz!
[18:58] <Gildas> roll 1d20+11 circus music
[18:58] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+11 circus music --> [ 1d20=15 ]{26}
[18:58] <@Kotono> The bear lands on the quartz, managing to maintain its balance safely! On one foot even, not even phased! OOC: Ants.
[18:59] <@Kotono> The ants turn, suddenly a storm of quartz comes yoru way! All the ants grab and toss anything they can! OOC: Ref saves, y'all. Note evasion if you have it.
[18:59] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+11
[18:59] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{18}
[18:59] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7 evasion
[18:59] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 evasion --> [ 1d20=8 ]{15}
[19:00] <Feather> roll 1d20+4 evasion
[19:00] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+4 evasion --> [ 1d20=9 ]{13}
[19:00] <@Kotono> roll 3d4+3 Porridge halves, Gildas none, Feather none.
[19:00] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 3d4+3 Porridge halves, Gildas none, Feather none. --> [ 3d4=8 ]{11}
[19:01] <@Kotono> It's like an aerial dance. Feather and Gildas leap around and away, bouncing off thrown shards to flip through the storm untouched! Porridge isn't so fast, getting pelted by quartz all over! It hurts like hell, but nothing too serious - just painful! OOC: Feather.
[19:03] <Feather> Grabbing onto the hilt of his sword with both hands, Feather leaps off the quartz to cleave through the nearest ants! If he fights with his back to the quartz, he would have an easier time of it. And there would be a path of retreat available, if the worst happens....
[19:03] <Feather> roll 1d20+11
[19:03] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{20}
[19:03] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+2d6
[19:03] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+7+2d6 --> [ 1d10=2 2d6=10 ]{19}
[19:05] <@Kotono> Feather lands, slicing apart another ant! It's cut asunder up to its stomach, falling apart before Feather's blade! Then...suddenly there's a louder THUNK above, followed by a groan of stone! From above hunks of stone fall, followed by a pair of wooden blocks! It rains down on the ant ahead of the party, decimating a good dozen of them! The rest of the ants look momentarily shaken by it,
[19:05] <@Kotono> several peering up into the darkness. OOC: Porridge.
[19:06] <Feather> "Die, you mindless bastards!" Feather cheers at that display.
[19:07] <@Porridge> Steering well clear of the area under the bridge, Porridge sallies out on their flanks to nip at the ants swarming around the sides!
[19:07] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9 charge bite
[19:07] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+9 charge bite --> [ 1d20=13 ]{22}
[19:07] <@Porridge> roll 1d6+2
[19:07] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d6+2 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{7}
[19:07] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+7 trip
[19:07] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+7 trip --> [ 1d20=15 ]{22}
[19:08] <@Kotono> Another ant loses a leg as Porridge stalks! He trips that one ant - though admittely tripping one ant leaves dozens more up! OOC:Okay, Gildas.
[19:10] <Gildas> The bear returns to his human form! "Myann! Thank you!" He yells upwards, before making a gesture and creating a frozen ball of ice in the midst of the fray! It will roll towards one of the antswarm!
[19:12] <@Kotono> OOC: Reflex save, isn't it?
[19:12] <Gildas> OOC: Correct
[19:12] <@Kotono> roll 1d20
[19:12] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{3}
[19:12] <@Kotono> OOC: Damage.
[19:12] <Gildas> roll 2d6 ice ice baby
[19:12] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 2d6 ice ice baby --> [ 2d6=3 ]{3}
[19:13] <@Kotono> The sphere rolls amid the swarm, freezing the forehead of one ant it grazes! It makest he ant sspread out around it, dodging! At this, the ants gather together towards the path up! They back away from the party, hurtling quartz at all of them!
[19:13] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Gildas
[19:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 Gildas --> [ 1d20=4 ]{10}
[19:13] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Porridge
[19:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 Porridge --> [ 1d20=1 ]{7}
[19:13] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6Feather
[19:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6Feather --> error: malformed expression
[19:13] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Feather
[19:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 Feather --> [ 1d20=19 ]{25}
[19:13] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1
[19:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 --> [ 1d4=4 ]{5}
[19:14] <@Kotono> One shard goes flying, catching Feather perfectly in his right hand! It impales it all the way through, sticking out like a shining dagger! OOC: Ow. Your right hand is diabled until you get that out and get a splash of healing. Go.
[19:15] <Feather> OOC: I'm negating that with the immediate action sword power
[19:15] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, damage stays but your hand's usable. Go.
[19:17] <Feather> The pain is an old friend to Feather, and his sword agreed, a soft glow from its hilt spreading down to the hands holding it. What it all comes down to, Feather muses as he leaps towards the retreating ants, is that they finally gave him the space he needs to strike at them and then retreat to safety, with the crystal used to guard his back.
[19:17] <Feather> roll 1d20+10
[19:17] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{24}
[19:17] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+2d6
[19:17] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+7+2d6 --> [ 1d10=7 2d6=7 ]{21}
[19:18] <@Kotono> Feather chases as they fall back, slicing across two of the retreating ants! One flals and stays down, the other gouged deeply in its back and rear! Meanwhile...OOC: Myann does whatever she does. Go Porridge.
[19:18] <@Porridge> Porridge bites into the ant he just downed, trying to finish it off before he flies back towards Feather!
[19:18] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6 bite
[19:18] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+6 bite --> [ 1d20=9 ]{15}
[19:19] <@Kotono> Porridge takes a last bite, but the ant's body is just too tough! OOC: Gildas.
[19:19] <Gildas> He returns to his bear form soon after, ambling down towards the swarm! He'll try and take another bite out of the one Porridge attacked!
[19:19] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:19] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{25}
[19:19] <@Kotono> OOC: Also yes, it's prone. Damage, Porridge.
[19:19] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit Gildas.
[19:20] <@Porridge> roll 1d6+2
[19:20] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d6+2 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{4}
[19:20] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7 grr, argh
[19:20] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d6+7 grr, argh --> [ 1d6=2 ]{9}
[19:20] <Gildas> OOC: I don't think the Sphere can hit anyone since I moved, so.
[19:21] <@Kotono> The ant is swiftly torn apart - b ut there's more! Suddenly the ants gather and with a silent fury, rush the party en masse, trying to trample them under! OOC: You can take an AoO with a -4 penaly if you want to smack them as they go by. If you choose not to, you're instead allowed a Reflex save for half damage. Let me know which each of you prefer.
[19:23] <@Porridge> OOC: reflex!
[19:23] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+11
[19:23] <Gildas> OOC: I'll take the reflex save option, does that include Evasion?
[19:23] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{21}
[19:23] <Feather> roll 1d20+4 evasion
[19:23] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+4 evasion --> [ 1d20=16 ]{20}
[19:24] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7 reflexing
[19:24] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 reflexing --> [ 1d20=2 ]{9}
[19:33] <@Kotono> roll 3d8+3 Gildas full, Feather none, Porridge half
[19:33] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 3d8+3 Gildas full, Feather none, Porridge half --> [ 3d8=16 ]{19}
[19:36] <@Kotono> The ant rush is massive! Feather leaps up, hopping off the backs of ants as he dodges! The mound of crystals is knocked over - which is Gildas' undoing! A chunk flies and hits him right in the head, leaving him stunned before the horde! He's trampled under, dozens of ant-legs pounding him down! There's a sharp CRACK as his ursine left leg breaks, a world of pain following! Meanwhile Porridge
[19:36] <@Kotono> manages to fly up, avoiding the worst of it after being buffeted some! OOC: Your leg is broken. Land speed is reduced to 1/4th, Gildas. May wanna do something about that. Feather's up. Ants all around you now and the mound's kaput.
[19:36] * Kotono changes topic to 'Porridge(20)>Gildas(9)>Anthorde(8)>Feather(7) 3 rounds of light left'
[19:38] * Feather dodges far more nimbly than his massive bulk might suggest, and during that intricate evasive dance his blade flashes out as it seeks to bisect an any diagonally!
[19:38] <Feather> roll 1d20+10
[19:38] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{20}
[19:38] <@Kotono> OOC: Hits.
[19:38] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+2d6
[19:38] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+7+2d6 --> [ 1d10=4 2d6=9 ]{20}
[19:39] <@Kotono> Another ant is sent off to the next life as Feather cuts chunks of its brain out! It falls limp, something to momentarily stand on amid the carnage! As this happens...OOC: Porridge.
[19:39] <@Porridge> Recovering from being bashed about by the ant rush, Porridge takes some measure of revenge by biting one of their necks!
[19:40] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6
[19:40] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{9}
[19:40] <@Kotono> But battered as he is, Porridge can't manage to land a decisive bite! OOC: Gildas.
[19:40] <Gildas> OOC: Am I close enough to bite and also hit them with the sphere?
[19:40] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure, if you like.
[19:41] <Gildas> The pain in his leg a fraction of the fury he wants to return to these ants, the injured bear strikes and lashes out, attempting to tear into one!
[19:41] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:41] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{14}
[19:41] <Gildas> Meanwhile, the frozen ball rotates and tries to freeze another!
[19:42] <@Kotono> roll 1d20
[19:42] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{2}
[19:42] <@Kotono> OOC: Damage.
[19:42] <Gildas> roll 2d6
[19:42] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
[19:43] <@Kotono> The injury to his leg prevents his attempts to hobble forward and bite from going anywhere, but the numbing sphere rolls over an ant! It freezes it half-solid, sending off another ant to oblivion! Then the ants draw back again! They're lessening - perhaps 20 are left now, and several are wounded! But they're gathering back again, positioning for another charge! OOC: Feather.
[19:43] * Kotono changes topic to 'Porridge(20)>Gildas(9)>Anthorde(8)>Feather(7) 2 rounds of light left'
[19:45] <Feather> Torn up so much, and yet they don't turn to flee. He just can't understand creatures like that. But he can and does attack them to kill them before they kill him or his friends.
[19:45] <Feather> roll 1d20+10
[19:45] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{19}
[19:46] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+2d6
[19:46] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+7+2d6 --> [ 1d10=7 2d6=3 ]{17}
[19:47] <@Kotono> Another ant is sent off, sliced asunder! Feather falls back, lungs sucking in air and pain in equal measure! 19 left! Then...
[19:47] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2
[19:47] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{13}
[19:47] * Kotono changes topic to 'Porridge(20)>???(13)>Gildas(9)>Anthorde(8)>Feather(7) 2 rounds of light left'
[19:48] <@Kotono> OOC: Go Porridge.
[19:48] <@Porridge> Trying to bite another ant, Porridge then flies up and out of range should they rush him again!
[19:48] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6 bite
[19:48] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+6 bite --> [ 1d20=3 ]{9}
[19:48] <@Kotono> Porridge retreats back, giving up the bite in favor of safety when...
[19:48] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[19:48] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{8}
[19:49] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:49] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=100 ]{100}
[19:49] <@Kotono> Behind the ants, coming down the path from above, is Myann. She's bloody and panting for air, her block-spell landing in between ants instead of hitting them! OOC: Gildas.
[19:49] * Kotono changes topic to 'Porridge(20)>Myann(13)>Gildas(9)>Anthorde(8)>Feather(7) 2 rounds of light left'
[19:50] <Gildas> Gildas takes a bite at another ant before doing just the same as Porridge, flying up to avoid being trampled!
[19:50] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:50] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{19}
[19:50] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7
[19:50] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d6+7 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{8}
[19:50] <Gildas> OOC: Well, when I say flying I mean he shapeshifts into Aerial form then flies.
[19:50] <Gildas> OOC: No flying bears here. ...yet.
[19:51] <@Kotono> Gildas shifts form and flies up, one leg hanging broken and an ajar! But this bite is enough to finish off another ant as he retreats! 18 left! At this the ants seem to hesitate for a moment, before splitting off! A few go after Myann, while others throw quartz at the other three!
[19:51] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Myann
[19:51] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 Myann --> [ 1d20=14 ]{20}
[19:51] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Gildas
[19:51] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 Gildas --> [ 1d20=18 ]{24}
[19:51] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Feather
[19:51] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 Feather --> [ 1d20=18 ]{24}
[19:51] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Porridge ACs?
[19:51] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 Porridge ACs? --> [ 1d20=18 ]{24}
[19:52] <Feather> OOC: Hits my 20
[19:52] <@Porridge> OOC: 19
[19:52] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1 Myann
[19:52] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 Myann --> [ 1d4=4 ]{5}
[19:52] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1 Feather
[19:52] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 Feather --> [ 1d4=3 ]{4}
[19:52] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1 Porridge
[19:52] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 Porridge --> [ 1d4=4 ]{5}
[19:52] <Gildas> OOC: 19? I think. Yeah, 19.
[19:52] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1 Gildas
[19:52] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 Gildas --> [ 1d4=4 ]{5}
[19:53] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 improved grab Myann
[19:53] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 improved grab Myann --> [ 1d20=15 ]{21}
[19:53] <@Kotono> roll 1d6+1+1d6 not her day for getting grabbed
[19:53] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d6+1+1d6 not her day for getting grabbed --> [ 1d6=4 1d6=2 ]{7}
[19:54] <@Kotono> The rain of quartz gets everyone! No decisive blows - just a lot of lumps and bruising all around! Myann gets a mandible in the forearm, dragging her close to an ant and holding her tight! OOC: Ow. Okay, FEather.
[19:54] <@Kotono> "Feat-ag!" Myann's cut off as the ant gets her, pulling her arm fiercely!
[19:55] <Feather> "Myann!" Feather cries out, charging towards the light surrounding her to strike that ant down.
[19:55] <Feather> roll 1d20+12
[19:55] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{26}
[19:55] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+2d6
[19:55] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+7+2d6 --> [ 1d10=1 2d6=9 ]{17}
[19:57] <@Kotono> 17 left! Rushing ahead through the swarm, Feather cuts the ant apart in the back, three slashes ripping it into shreds! It frees Myann, who manages a shaky smile before dodging a hunk of quartz! With her glowing sword here, more light refracts through the crystals. It's not really bright here, but it's hardly dim any more. Crystals have been broke in your battle, dead ants lying all over.
[19:57] <@Kotono> The bridge collapse from above has pummeled part of the area most se verely, ants sticking out from the ruins of it. OOC: Porridge.
[19:58] <@Porridge> Wishing he was capable of more deadly aerial forms but unwilling to give up the defence this one offers to fight on land, Porridge makes another dive on the swarm!
[19:58] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 charge bite
[19:58] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+8 charge bite --> [ 1d20=19 ]{27}
[19:58] <@Porridge> roll 1d6+2
[19:58] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d6+2 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{5}
[19:58] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6 trip
[19:58] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+6 trip --> [ 1d20=8 ]{14}
[19:58] <@Kotono> 16 left! The wounded ant simply collapses from the diving bite, going still as life leaves it! OOC: Gildas.
[19:59] * Kotono changes topic to 'Porridge(20)>Myann(13)>Gildas(9)>Anthorde(8)>Feather(7)'
[19:59] <@Kotono> OOC: With Myann here light isn't a concern, since light lasts for 10 min/level.
[19:59] <Gildas> OOC: Is there anywhere to land up on the sides that happens to be illuminated? To land and shapeshift back, I mean. Potentially out of the reach of the ants melee?
[19:59] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure, you could land perced on a crystal or in a cranny.
[19:59] <Gildas> OOC: Okily dokily.
[19:59] <@Kotono> *perched
[20:00] <@Kotono> OOC: Lemme do Myann real quick, forgot her turn.
[20:00] <@Kotono> Myann meanwhile draws her blade and attacks the nearest ant!
[20:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[20:00] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{18}
[20:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+3
[20:00] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d8+3 --> [ 1d8=6 ]{9}
[20:01] <@Kotono> 15 left! Myann skewers an ant, followed by slicing its legs off! It collapses, another one going down! OOC: Go Gildas.
[20:01] <Gildas> The eagle will swoop over and land on some crystal and shapeshift back, chanting a spell of healing for himself!
[20:01] <Gildas> roll 1d8+5
[20:01] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d8+5 --> [ 1d8=2 ]{7}
[20:02] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. That doesn't fully fix your leg, but it helps. Your penalty is reduced to 1/2 from 1/4th. It's a serious injury and more healingw ould help. Anthorde's up.
[20:02] <@Kotono> At this point the horde draws together, flinging what quartz it can and forming a defensive ring!
[20:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Myann
[20:02] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+5 Myann --> [ 1d20=17 ]{22}
[20:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Gildas
[20:02] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+5 Gildas --> [ 1d20=1 ]{6}
[20:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Porridge
[20:02] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+5 Porridge --> [ 1d20=6 ]{11}
[20:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Feather
[20:02] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+5 Feather --> [ 1d20=4 ]{9}
[20:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1
[20:02] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 --> [ 1d4=4 ]{5}
[20:03] <@Kotono> Dodges ensue, save for Myann! She gets a crystal shard right in the shoulder! It pierces in, causing a large, bloody wound that leaks blood all over! OOC: -1 HP/round for her until healing. Ow. Feather.
[20:03] * Kotono changes topic to 'Porridge(20)>Myann(13 -1 hp/round)>Gildas(9)>Anthorde(8)>Feather(7)'
[20:05] * Feather tries to cut them down even further, before coming to stand resolutely between Myann and the remaining swarm. If they happen to target them, then hopefully he would serve as a decent shield.
[20:05] <Feather> roll 1d20+10
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{28}
[20:05] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+2d6
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+7+2d6 --> [ 1d10=3 2d6=8 ]{18}
[20:06] <@Kotono> 14! Only 14 to go, as Feather leaps over an ant and lets his blade follow! It falls apart into pieces, slaughtered! "Thanks..." Myann's voice is tense and tight, her lips bloody. OOC: Porridge.
[20:07] <@Porridge> Biting another ant, Porridge then flaps to gain altitude!
[20:07] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6
[20:07] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{26}
[20:07] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6 crit
[20:07] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+6 crit --> [ 1d20=1 ]{7}
[20:07] <@Porridge> roll 1d6+2
[20:07] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d6+2 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{4}
[20:07] * Quits: Feather (~DarkFlame@bzq-84-111-136-12.red.bezeqint.net) (Connection reset by peer)
[20:08] * Joins: C2 (~DarkFlame@bzq-84-111-136-12.red.bezeqint.net)
[20:08] <@Kotono> 13! Another ant gets a deep bat bite, crumpling under a final and decisive wound! At this Myann falls back a moment...
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:08] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=65 ]{65}
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+4
[20:08] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d8+4 --> [ 1d8=4 ]{8}
[20:09] * Kotono changes topic to 'Porridge(20)>Myann(13)>Gildas(9)>Anthorde(8)>Feather(7)'
[20:09] <@Kotono> The deep wound heals, bleeding stopping as her damages pass away! OOC: Gildas.
[20:09] <Gildas> OOC: Am I close enough to be able to cast Flash Freeze on the ground the ants are on? It has a range of 35 ft.
[20:09] <@Kotono> OOC: Yeah.
[20:10] <Gildas> He holds his hands out! He will try and freeze the ground the ants are on, to make it much harder for them to get mobilized! After that, he will return to his eagle form and begin flying towards the rest of the party!
[20:11] <@Kotono> roll 1d20
[20:11] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{4}
[20:11] <@Kotono> Wounded and now under slippery ground, the ant horde struggles to do much of anything! They need a few moments to regroup! OOC: Anthorde has to get its shit together this round. Feather, go.
[20:11] * C2 is now known as Feather
[20:12] * Feather rushes the horde with the loudest battlecry yet!
[20:12] <Feather> roll 1d20+10
[20:12] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{22}
[20:12] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+2d6
[20:12] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+7+2d6 --> [ 1d10=7 2d6=9 ]{23}
[20:12] <Feather> At the end of it, however, he still keeps himself between it and Myann.
[20:13] <@Kotono> 11! Two ants are cut up! One is simply decapitated while it struggles to get up, while the other gets a deep rip into its side! Both fall, less than a dozen left! OOC: Porridge.
[20:14] <@Porridge> Another dive and another bite in the neck! One would be forgiven for thinking him a vampire!
[20:14] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8
[20:14] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{27}
[20:14] <@Porridge> roll 1d6+2
[20:14] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d6+2 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{6}
[20:14] <@Kotono> 10! The ant's unguarded neck snaps under bat-Porridge's teeth, causing it to go limp! Myann stays back, casting again!
[20:14] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:14] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=54 ]{54}
[20:14] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[20:15] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{21}
[20:15] <@Kotono> roll 5d6
[20:15] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 5d6 --> [ 5d6=21 ]{21}
[20:15] <@Kotono> 7! Multiple ants are crushed under the block, reducing them to paste! Myann huffs, "A-almost there!" she pants, dripping sweat and stained with blood. OOC: Gildas.
[20:16] <Gildas> OOC: Did Gildas actually arrive with the others, or does he need to move to get there still?
[20:16] <@Kotono> OOC: You're there, flying's pretty fast.
[20:16] <Gildas> OOC: Okily dokily!
[20:17] <Gildas> He lands and shapeshifts back, swinging the pack off his shoulder and rummaging through it. "Hold on just a moment."
[20:17] <Gildas> OOC: I'm going to move the Numbing Sphere towards them, since I think they moved away from it in all the bloodshed.
[20:17] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[20:17] <@Kotono> roll 1d20
[20:17] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{6}
[20:17] <@Kotono> OOC: Damage.
[20:17] <Gildas> roll 2d6
[20:17] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{8}
[20:18] <@Kotono> 6! Another ant gets sphered-over, left a snow-flake covered corpse! At this the last six ants retreat back into the geode, throwing quartz desperately at the party!
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+4 Myann
[20:18] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+4 Myann --> [ 1d20=19 ]{23}
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+4 Porridge
[20:18] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+4 Porridge --> [ 1d20=14 ]{18}
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+4 Feather
[20:18] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+4 Feather --> [ 1d20=7 ]{11}
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+4 Gildas
[20:18] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+4 Gildas --> [ 1d20=13 ]{17}
[20:18] <@Kotono> OOC: ACs?
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1 Myann
[20:18] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 Myann --> [ 1d4=1 ]{2}
[20:18] <@Porridge> OOC: 17
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1 Porridge
[20:18] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 Porridge --> [ 1d4=2 ]{3}
[20:19] <Gildas> OOC: 17 on the nose.
[20:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1 Gildas
[20:19] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 Gildas --> [ 1d4=3 ]{4}
[20:19] <@Kotono> More hunks of quartz rain on the party! It hurts like hell, sharp and poundy and miserable! But no one goes down from it! OOC: Feather.
[20:21] <Feather> "This is the end!" Feather yells, bringing his bastard sword on the ants once more.
[20:21] <Feather> roll 1d20+10
[20:21] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{16}
[20:21] <@Kotono> This time Feather can't land a blow - he's just too tired, body aching all over from wounds! Myann stumbles forward, in a half dazed charge at the remaining ants!
[20:21] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[20:21] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{28}
[20:21] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+3
[20:21] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d8+3 --> [ 1d8=6 ]{9}
[20:22] <@Kotono> OOC: Erk, Porridge, sorry. Brainfarted.
[20:22] <@Porridge> Another bite and then Porridge laboriously flies back up in anticipation of diving again!
[20:22] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6
[20:22] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{13}
[20:23] <@Kotono> Up and down again, Porridge unable to land a blow!
[20:23] <@Kotono> 5! Another ant gets hacked up, blow after blow turning it into ant-sushi! It's not even a horde anymore! OOC: Gildas.
[20:24] <Gildas> "Here." He withdraws a neatly marked potion from his pack and helps Myann with it. OOC: It's the CLW Potion from Magus.
[20:25] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+1
[20:25] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d8+1 --> [ 1d8=3 ]{4}
[20:25] <@Kotono> The potion is drank, more energy comign back to Myann. "Thanks," she says after the gulp-down! OOC: Ants.
[20:25] <Gildas> OOC: Going to Shapeshift back to Bear after that, too.
[20:26] <@Kotono> As bear Gildas returns, the five last ants hurl yet more crystal as they retreat!
[20:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Myann
[20:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 Myann --> [ 1d20=17 ]{20}
[20:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Gildas
[20:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 Gildas --> [ 1d20=17 ]{20}
[20:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Feather
[20:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 Feather --> [ 1d20=19 ]{22}
[20:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Porridge geez
[20:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+3 Porridge geez --> [ 1d20=3 ]{6}
[20:26] <@Kotono> OOC: ACs?
[20:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1 Myann
[20:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 Myann --> [ 1d4=4 ]{5}
[20:26] <Gildas> OOC: 21
[20:26] <@Porridge> OOC: 19
[20:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+1 Feather
[20:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d4+1 Feather --> [ 1d4=1 ]{2}
[20:27] <@Kotono> More sharp quartz flies! Myann and Feather both take the rain with winces, small cuts and bruises coming from the rain! OOC: Feather.
[20:28] <Feather> This time he tries a horizontal slash to cut their numbers down further!
[20:28] <Feather> roll 1d20+10
[20:28] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{20}
[20:28] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+2d6
[20:28] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+7+2d6 --> [ 1d10=2 2d6=7 ]{16}
[20:28] <@Kotono> 3! Two more go down, sliced apart through the mouth! Almost there! OOC: Porridge.
[20:29] <@Porridge> Painfully slowly, Porridge reaches his ceiling and orients back downwards, practically falling out of the air as he plummets towards an ant's neck!
[20:29] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 charge
[20:29] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+8 charge --> [ 1d20=4 ]{12}
[20:30] <@Kotono> It's just too slow, Porridge missing down hard and having to swoop back up! Meanwhile Myann turns, wincing as she slashes her blade out!
[20:30] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[20:30] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{15}
[20:30] <@Kotono> But she can't land a decisive blow, panting for air with each swing! OOC: Gildas.
[20:30] <Gildas> The still-injured bear moves in to try and further thin this group out!
[20:30] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[20:30] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{17}
[20:30] <@Kotono> OOC: Damage.
[20:30] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7
[20:30] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d6+7 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{9}
[20:31] <@Kotono> 2! Another bite takes down one more ant, caught in the bear's jaws before being tossed away like trash! Gildas and Myann gets a chomp each from them!
[20:31] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2
[20:31] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{14}
[20:31] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Myann
[20:31] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+2 Myann --> [ 1d20=9 ]{11}
[20:31] <@Kotono> But both are parried, dodged and overall stopped! OOC: Feather.
[20:33] * Feather maneuvers to flank the ant bothering Myann with her, intending to provide an alternate target should he fail to dispatch it.
[20:33] <Feather> roll 1d20+12
[20:33] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{21}
[20:33] <Feather> roll 1d10+7+2d6
[20:33] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+7+2d6 --> [ 1d10=3 2d6=7 ]{17}
[20:33] <@Kotono> With one final cleave, Feather cuts through the last two ants! Silence comes to the cave, save for your pants and the drip-drip-drip of bloody wounds staining the crystals beneath you. OOC: Roll 1d100, each of you.
[20:34] <@Porridge> roll 1d100
[20:34] <@Kotono> roll 1d100 Myann
[20:34] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=64 ]{64}
[20:34] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 Myann --> [ 1d100=84 ]{84}
[20:35] <Gildas> roll 1d100
[20:35] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=42 ]{42}
[20:36] <Feather> roll 1d100
[20:36] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=23 ]{23}
[20:38] <@Kotono> In the aftermath, the crystals swell! Arches of lightning flow between them, many of them becoming animal shapes and faces. Around and within them mushrooms grow, a strange sense of heaviness and power fills the room. OOC: Free act, and anyone with K:A ranks can make a check here.
[20:39] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+2 I know a little
[20:39] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+2 I know a little --> [ 1d20=10 ]{12}
[20:39] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[20:39] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{12}
[20:39] <@Kotono> Porridge can remember that sites of great massacres sometimes accrue magical power.
[20:40] <@Kotono> Feather remembers that too.
[20:41] <@Porridge> Porridge lands heavily on the ground, wings spread out before his body swells and reverts back to normal. "Damn, haven't ever fought that hard," he gasps, pushing himself up heavily.
[20:41] <Feather> "That was a nasty fight," Feather mutters, taking a look about. "Thought myself a goner for a bit there. Won't forget how you all charged in after me."
[20:41] <@Kotono> Myann stumbles to the nearest wall and slumps, head lolling ofrward.
[20:41] <Gildas> The bear returns to his normal shape. "Who is the most injured? I have a Vigor spell I can cast, and a wand in my pack to use if we need it."
[20:42] <Gildas> He is leaning a bit on his other leg, since his left is currently broken.
[20:43] <@Porridge> "Fuck, look after yourself, man," Porridge waves at him. "I'll live, just hope that's all of 'em."
[20:43] <@Kotono> "Mushrooms again..." Myann says, sounding dazed. "Lightning and mushrooms and animals. Oh my." Her voice is so off as to almost be singing, "Feather. Give it to Feather."
[20:43] * Feather slowly reverts to his normal looks, sagging a bit at he does so.
[20:43] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:43] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=91 ]{91}
[20:44] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+4
[20:44] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d8+4 --> [ 1d8=3 ]{7}
[20:44] <Gildas> "I can handle my own injury, do not worry." He smiles at Porridge, before laying a hand on Feather and empowering him with Vigor! He'll dig in his pack and withdraw a wand after a moment.
[20:44] <@Kotono> Myann's wounds heal. It's not perfect, but another spell restores more damage. She stands slowly, "I have one more light healing incantation," she says, bracing herself against the wall with one hand. "We can't go any further right now with the bridge down. Let's get out of here?"
[20:45] <@Porridge> "Sure, sure," Porridge nods. "A dip in the spring sounds about right after all that."
[20:46] <Gildas> "I agree wholeheartedly." He nods.

[Ebiris]

[18:02] <@Kotono> OOC: Going to head back up now, y'all?
[18:02] <Feather> OOC: Yeah. I'll just grab a bit of quartz to match the gold to bring back.
[18:06] <@Kotono> The sore and wounded party stumbles back out of the ant's lair. They find the shaman and his kobold guards awaiting. "I see you met the ants head on?" His eyes travel over the party's tatttered apperance, "Are they all exterminated?"
[18:07] <Feather> "There's a ruined bridge that might lead to more, but the ants in the rest of the place are properly dead," Feather responds. "Wasn't easy, either."
[18:08] <@Porridge> "If not they're in hiding," Porridge nods. "Can come back tomorrow for another sweep, but too dangerous to push on after dealing with that swarm."
[18:10] <@Kotono> "Very good," Nodding to them with a greatful smile, "We'll make great profit and shinies once you finish. I'll have you escorted back to the surface," he says. OOC: Good with hopping along to the sunlit lands again?
[18:11] <Feather> OOC: Sure
[18:11] <Gildas> OOC: Indeed.
[18:12] <@Kotono> Thus you come back. As you step out into the sunlight, one can immediately tell something is different. The fields are empty. No sign of Rober, the missus or any of your friends. But on the far, hidden side of the farmhouse? You can hear loud thumps and vicious roars!
[18:12] * Feather takes off towards the sound of the roars!
[18:13] <@Porridge> Porridge bolts towards the noise and wishes he had another wild shape in him!
[18:14] * Gildas frowns and withdraws a Wand from his backpack and will move after the others, though slightly more slowly.
[18:17] <@Kotono> "Shit!" Myann breathes as she races and follows, sword drawn! You race around to the front of the farmstead! BEfore the front door is a bear! A bear bigger than any other bear you've seen before, covered in hard bone growths and with sharp claws! It's facing the front door, trying to claw at it! Robert's poking out of the front door, a pitchfork thrusting out to stab the bear's stomach. From
[18:17] <@Kotono> the blood on the bear's front and on the pitchfork, this isn't the first time. Behind the bear is Brutes, having a big old rockbreaking maul in hand. He's lifting it up for a swing, "Here asshole!" he grunts, swinging! Above you can see Hylath, perched on the roof. He has several clay jars, hurling them down at the bear! OOC: Init. K:N after.
[18:17] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[18:17] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{17}
[18:17] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Myann
[18:17] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+2 Myann --> [ 1d20=8 ]{10}
[18:17] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Robert
[18:17] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+5 Robert --> [ 1d20=7 ]{12}
[18:17] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9
[18:18] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{24}
[18:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 Brutes
[18:18] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20 Brutes --> [ 1d20=7 ]{7}
[18:18] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1 sorry I did it in the wrong order
[18:18] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+1 sorry I did it in the wrong order --> [ 1d20=17 ]{18}
[18:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Hylath
[18:18] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+2 Hylath --> [ 1d20=16 ]{18}
[18:18] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7 init
[18:18] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 init --> [ 1d20=19 ]{26}
[18:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+1 bear
[18:18] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+1 bear --> [ 1d20=17 ]{18}
[18:18] <Feather> "What the fuck is going on?!" Feather exclaims at the sight.
[18:19] <Gildas> roll 1d20+12 K:N
[18:19] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+12 K:N --> [ 1d20=6 ]{18}
[18:19] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(26)>Hylath=Bear(18)>Feather(17)>Robert(12)>Myann(10)>Brutes(7)'
[18:19] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(26)>Hylath=Bear=Porridge(18)>Feather(17)>Robert(12)>Myann(10)>Brutes(7)'
[18:20] <Feather> roll 1d20+9 K:N
[18:20] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+9 K:N --> [ 1d20=14 ]{23}
[18:20] <@Kotono> The party can identify this as a dire bear. These are vicious and powerful preditors, far stronger than normal bears! Fortunately this one's been wounded already! It also looks pissed - unusually so. But with those wounds it shouldn't have too much life left in it. OOC: Go Gildas.
[18:22] <Gildas> To be on the safe side, Gildas taps his wand against his broken leg first, then shapeshifts into his own bear form and moves in on the creature!
[18:22] <Gildas> roll 1d8+1
[18:22] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d8+1 --> [ 1d8=2 ]{3}
[18:23] <@Kotono> OOC: That's enough to reduce the speed penalty to 3/4ths. You can manage to make it over to the bear like that. Hylath'll go next.
[18:23] <@Kotono> AS Gildas gets in position, "Bear! Up here!" Hylath calls, throwing another jar!
[18:23] <@Kotono> roll 1d20-1
[18:23] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20-1 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{2}
[18:24] <@Kotono> But the jar misses badly, shattering on the ground well past the battle! Meanwhile the bear growls, one claw going for Robert and the door, one for Brutes and his bite at Gildas!
[18:24] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+19 claw robert/door
[18:24] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+19 claw robert/door --> [ 1d20=20 ]{39}
[18:24] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+19 claw robert/door ow
[18:25] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+19 claw robert/door ow --> [ 1d20=15 ]{34}
[18:25] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+19 Brutes
[18:25] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+19 Brutes --> [ 1d20=6 ]{25}
[18:25] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Gildas
[18:25] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+13 Gildas --> [ 1d20=11 ]{24}
[18:25] <@Kotono> OOC: AC Gildas?
[18:25] <Gildas> OOC: 21.
[18:26] <@Kotono> roll 4d4+20 robert/door
[18:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 4d4+20 robert/door --> [ 4d4=10 ]{30}
[18:26] <@Kotono> roll 2d4+10 Brutes
[18:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 2d4+10 Brutes --> [ 2d4=4 ]{14}
[18:26] <@Kotono> roll 2d8+5 Gildas
[18:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 2d8+5 Gildas --> [ 2d8=6 ]{11}
[18:28] <@Kotono> The bear's rage is immense! It claws into the door, going right throgh! The door's torn apart, the collapse and a claw-graze knocking Robert back! You hear him cry out as the bear whirls around! It's claw gouges deep into Brutes' shoulder, ripping deep! He curses like a sailor, stumbling as blood flows freely! Then it turns to Gildas, one quick bite, nearly turning his left shoulder into a
[18:28] <@Kotono> memory! As it is he has a huge bite in his shoulder, blood pouring out! OOC: -2 HP/round until heal check or healing, Gildas. Porridge is up.
[18:28] <@Porridge> With a feral roar, Porridge warps! Loping animalistically towards the bear, he slams his axe heavily into the bear's skull just above the nose! Hardest part of the skull perhaps, but sure to do lots of damage if he can break it!
[18:29] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 -5pa, charge, rage
[18:29] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+8 -5pa, charge, rage --> [ 1d20=1 ]{9}
[18:30] <@Kotono> Porridge rushes in with a huge roar - but the bear sidesteps! Sidesteps?! It's like how Gildas does it, slipping suddenly into form and dodging with easy focus! OOC: Feather.
[18:30] <Feather> "Okay there, Robert?" Feather calls out to the one who seems the most injured of the lot, dashing in to stab the bear between the ribs.
[18:30] <Feather> roll 1d20+12
[18:30] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{24}
[18:30] <Feather> roll 1d10+5+2d6
[18:30] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d10+5+2d6 --> [ 1d10=8 2d6=11 ]{24}
[18:30] <@Kotono> OOC: Are you Spring Attacking it?
[18:30] <Feather> OOC: Yes
[18:31] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(26 -2 hp/round)>Hylath=Bear=Porridge(18)>Feather(17)>Robert(12)>Myann(10)>Brutes(7)'
[18:32] <@Kotono> Under a claw-swipe Feather rushes in, slicing deep into the wounded beast's belly! Blood pours down from the wound! Meanwhile you hear Robert groaning, but can't see him behind the wreckage of the door! She grits her teeth and rushes in, the bear swinging at her as she does! "Get the children back!" she calls inside of t he house as...
[18:32] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+19 AoO
[18:32] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+19 AoO --> [ 1d20=4 ]{23}
[18:32] <@Kotono> roll 2d4+10
[18:32] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 2d4+10 --> [ 2d4=4 ]{14}
[18:33] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:33] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{27}
[18:33] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+4
[18:33] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d8+4 --> [ 1d8=4 ]{8}
[18:35] <@Kotono> Myann gets the bear's claw into her gut, causing her to stiffen -but at the same time her blade sinks into the bear's shoulder! "Mother..." Myann gasps in Elven, pushing the blade in with both hands! Then Brutes is there, winding up for a huge swing at the ursine menace!
[18:35] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+8 swiiiing
[18:35] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 swiiiing --> [ 1d20=15 ]{23}
[18:35] <@Kotono> roll 1d10+6
[18:35] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d10+6 --> [ 1d10=5 ]{11}
[18:37] <@Kotono> CRUNCH! The bear's head meets the maul and the maul wins! The bear simply goes limp, collapsing in a heap! Myann, still stuck to the bear's claw, is sent down as the claw wreched out of her body! She lands besides it, arms wrapped around her stomach! OOC: Free act.
[18:37] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:37] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=45 ]{45}
[18:37] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+4
[18:37] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d8+4 --> [ 1d8=4 ]{8}
[18:38] * Feather sheathes his sword hurriedly and then kneels to pick Myann up in his arms. "Think we all need a good long soak in that lake, eh?"
[18:38] <@Kotono> Healing light comes from Myann's torso, knitting torn flesh. She still holds it as she looks up, "What happened here?"s he manages to get out as Feather picks her up.
[18:38] <@Kotono> "Victory!" Hylath calls above, "A complete victory!"
[18:38] <Gildas> Immediately he returns to his normal form, wincing and holding the wand up to his current gushing wound.
[18:38] <@Porridge> Deflating, Porridge sags and winces, staggering into the house. "Got potions, who's gonna need 'em?" Hoping for no more than two at least.
[18:38] <Gildas> roll 1d8+1
[18:38] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d8+1 --> [ 1d8=6 ]{7}
[18:39] <@Kotono> OOC: That fixes the ongoing bleed damage.
[18:40] <@Kotono> Robert comes out - he looks a bit shaken up, but intact. He takes his pitchfork and jabs it into the bear's face, skewering eye and brains. Only after that does he exhale, "Fucker broke my door," he complains, "I just hope he wasn't rabid. Might've been the way he acted."
[18:40] <Feather> "Coming?" Feather asks, starting to carry Myann towards the lake. They could all use a bit of cleaning up along with some much-needed recovery. "See you lot a bit later if not."
[18:41] <@Porridge> "Yeah, even dire bears aren't that aggressive normally. C'mon, lets everyone head to the lake, can figure out what to do with the bear after," he suggests.
[18:41] <@Kotono> Brutes drops the maul, a hand to his wound as he stumbles after FEather. "REal healing magic?" he asks, "Y-yeah."
[18:41] <Gildas> Gildas hobbles after the others! Hopefully one can't drown in that lake...
[18:41] <Feather> "As real as any," Feather affirms.
[18:44] <@Kotono> Soon enough the party and friends are in the healing spring. Merely being in it stops the pain and causes your wounds to swiftly mend. Myann sits in the water, at the edge near the exit. Her head rests on a large mushroom. Robert's there but not in the water, instead sitting. "Bear came up and just started raising hell. Figured it was rabid, gonna go see if I see any sign of it in a moment." He
[18:44] <@Kotono> cups his hands and drinks some spring water, "Reckon this water will fix any rabies, though."
[18:44] <@Kotono> OOC: HP restored.
[18:45] <@Porridge> "Well, rabid animals hate water. Comes later on, though," Porridge muses, sitting on the edge with his legs up to the knees in the water. "Best follow the trail it left, see if we can figure what set it charging our way."
[18:45] <Gildas> "I hope it wasn't this." He indicates the water, now looking much better since, well, you know, not dying and all that.
[18:47] <@Kotono> "Who's going to do that?" Myann speaks up, "Right now, I don't even want to move."
[18:47] <@Porridge> "If it was he'd go straight to the lake, not the house," Porridge says. "I'll go in a few."
[18:48] <@Kotono> "Good luck," Robert says, "I'm going to go get started on skinning the beast."
[18:48] <Gildas> "I'll take a look around from above." He announces, nodding to Porridge's assertion about the aggression before shapeshifting and flying up!
[18:49] <Feather> "Any chance that was a shapeshifter?" Feather asks. "And not a real bear?"
[18:51] <@Porridge> "Would probably fight smarter if it were. And I think most turn back to whatever they were when they die," Porridge shrugs, starting to get up and put his boots back on.
[18:52] <@Kotono> OOC: So who's going dire bear trailing?
[18:53] <Gildas> OOC: I am, looking from above.
[18:55] <@Porridge> OOC: I'm following its tracks
[18:55] <Feather> OOC: I'm lounging in the healing waters
[18:55] <@Kotono> OOC: Myann's staying, she's just plain beat. Okay then, Feather into #evil.
[18:55] <@Kotono> OOC: Porridge and Gildas, do either of you have the track feat?
[18:56] <@Porridge> OOC: yes
[18:56] <Gildas> OOC: I don't.
[18:57] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Make a survival check Porridge, I'll mod it on my end to include Gildas' aerial support.
[18:58] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+10
[18:58] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{19}
[19:01] <@Kotono> It's not a terribly hard path to find and a few stoppers are overcome by aerial support. You follow the trail for three hours, past lunchtime. Eventually you come to a little gully with a little cave-crack mostly hidden by overgrowth. The trail leads to it.
[19:02] <@Porridge> OOC: did the trail shift from meandering to a straight line at the house at any point or has it been one or the other all along?
[19:03] <@Kotono> OOC: It meandered a bit but generally headed for the farm.
[19:04] <@Porridge> "Gildas!" Porridge calls up through the canopy, hoping he's up there. Though it does give away his presence, needs must. "Get down here!"
[19:05] <Gildas> A moment later, the eagle flies down and lands next to him! Then it's no longer an eagle.
[19:06] <@Porridge> "Found it's lair," Porridge points at the cave. "Figure something definitely pointed it at us considering how it went, so lets go in and take a look." Lighting his torch to see by, he holds it up and heads on inside.
[19:07] <Gildas> He nods and follows him in!
[19:08] <@Kotono> Inside is a narrow but deep lair. Indeed, you can see grass and leaves piled up into a den bed. Behind it are...skeletons? Skeletons of what look to be bears, at least a dozen taking up the back of the cave. Each is much smaller than the dire bear you slew not long ago.
[19:09] <Gildas> OOC: Are they cubs? Or regular sized?
[19:09] <@Porridge> "The fuck..." Porridge looks at Gildas. "Any idea how long these've been dead?" Have to be a while to have decomposed so thoroughly...
[19:11] <@Kotono> OOC: Quick K:N check about that, Gildas.
[19:11] <Gildas> roll 1d20+12
[19:11] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{25}
[19:11] <Gildas> He blinks, moving closer to study them more carefully.
[19:12] <@Kotono> They're dire bear cubs - probably 3-5 litters worth of them. Based on the size they died not long after birth.
[19:14] <Gildas> He kneels down, getting a closer look. After a moment, he gestures over to Porridge. "These are dire bear cubs... somewhere between three and five litters. I don't know how long they've been dead, but... they died soon they were born. I wonder if... that was the mother, and she thought for some reason that..." He trails off, frowning.
[19:15] <@Porridge> "Or the one that survived," Porridge muses, looking the bones over for any sign of gnawing.
[19:16] <@Kotono> The bones are completely gnawless - though hm, that's odd. On the ribs of the bear cub you look over, you can see something's been drawn on the rib. A half-drooped eye, traced in lines of black.
[19:17] <@Porridge> OOC: does the eye look elven/human/ursine?
[19:18] <@Kotono> Taking a good long peer at it, the eye looks more or less humanoid-ish. More human than anything else, it doesn't have the shape of an elven or orcish eye.
[19:19] <@Porridge> "Huh, someone drew an eye on one of this one's ribs," Porridge points it out. "Couldn't have ben the bear, could it?"
[19:20] <Gildas> "Unless it wasn't really a bear, but..." He shakes his head. "Anything is possible. We should take that with us, maybe we can find more about it."
[19:21] <@Kotono> OOC: Also I almost forgot. You have a rank in K:A, right, Porridge?
[19:21] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+2 just a little!
[19:21] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+2 just a little! --> [ 1d20=1 ]{3}
[19:23] <@Porridge> "Well, nothing else to find here I figure," Porridge sighs, leaning down to snap the rib in question off before the spine. "Maybe someone back at the stead'll recognise the symbol if it means something?"
[19:24] <Gildas> He nods. "If nothing else, we can have the Magus take a look at it."
[19:32] <@Kotono> OOC: Going to head back now?
[19:33] <Gildas> OOC: It would seem so.
[19:34] <@Porridge> OOC: yep
[19:39] <@Kotono> From there the group returns. It's over a late lunch/early dinner that everyone meets. It's been spread outside for the three heroes and Myann. Brutes isn't around, but Hylath is nearby, strumming a lute and sitting on a small blanket. Em brings out the food - huge freshly grilled bear steaks, salad and rolls. OOC: Goa head, y'all.
[19:40] <Gildas> "Well, that rules out it being a shapeshifter..." As if that wasn't completely obvious.
[19:40] * Feather tears into his steak the instant food is placed down properly, only pausing for the barest of moments when Gildas speaks up.
[19:42] <@Porridge> "Found a den, the bear had pretty much come straight at us from it. No other bears, but a bunch of skeletons from cubs," Porridge explains. "Robert, was the bear a girl?" He'd know if he'd been skinning it anyway.
[19:43] <@Kotono> Myann busies herself eating, tearing into the steak with pure hunger. Meanwhile Robert isn't around, but Em adds as she goes, "I'll go get Pa."
[19:46] <Gildas> "There was also a marking on it... One we've not seen before." He adds.
[19:48] <@Porridge> At that Porridge produces the rib and lays it on the table. "No bear did that."
[19:48] <@Kotono> Soon enough Robert comes, wearing a bloody red leather apron. "Eh?" he asks, "It's a female. Wasn't rabid either," he adds, "Anything else? I'm busy harvesting and preserving everything."
[19:50] <@Porridge> "Nah, go on. Found its den, but all the cubs were dead. Dunno what set it this way though."
[19:50] <@Kotono> "Might've gone around the bend if it's cubs died?" Robert suggests.
[19:51] <Gildas> "It's possible. Have any of you ever seen a marking like this before?" He indicates where it is on the rib.
[19:51] <@Kotono> OOC: Anyone can make K:A here.
[19:54] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[19:54] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{18}
[19:54] <@Kotono> The eye is a curious arcane symbol. It signifies sight beyond death, vision neverending. In particular, it's a common symbol used by necromancers and those that animate the dead.
[19:55] * Feather gives Gildas a baleful look and puts the steak down. "Necromancy. This couldn't wait till after dinner, man?"
[19:56] <@Porridge> "Hey, I didn't know!" Porridge protests. Though speaking of he grabs some chow and begins wolfing it down, appetite clearly unaffected. "Coulda been some scryin' thing or a mourning symbol. S'why I asked."
[19:57] <Gildas> He tilts his head a bit to the side, then glances at Feather. "I apologize if it ruined your meal."
[19:57] * Feather snorts in disbelief.
[20:00] <Gildas> He shakes his head and leans back, considering the implications of Necromancy. "Not to further ruin the meal, but what if that bear was a test subject?"
[20:00] <@Kotono> "More necromancy?" Myann looks up from her meal, "I suppose that influence would explain why it attacked."
[20:02] <@Porridge> "Bear didn't look any rotted, did it?" Porridge examines the half-bitten steak in his hand as if he can tell how long it's been dead for.
[20:03] <Gildas> "It did have some bone growth on it, but... I do not know if that is common to dire bears." He admits.
[20:04] <@Kotono> For what it's worth, the meat tastes fine.
[20:04] <@Kotono> Myann pauses her and looks down at her half eaten steak, then slowly shrugs. "I'll go have some spring water after dinner," she announces, "Just in case."
[20:05] <@Porridge> "Yeah, that's how you tell they're not brown bears. That and the size. Anyway, looks fine, tastes fine," he shrugs and continues eating. "Guess we'll never know."
[20:06] * Feather snorts again. "Screw you guys," he says good-naturedly, standing up. "I'm done with dinner after all."

~

[18:57] <@Kotono> Myann soon relocates to the shore of the healing spring. She lies in her undergarments in the sunshine, using her pack as a pillow. Her eyes are half closed as a yawn ripples through her. "I got everything I'd been dreaming of, didn't I?" she muses aloud, "I just wish it didn't hurt so much."
[18:58] <Feather> "That's a good pain, though, innit?" Feather asks. "The pain of being alive and recovering?"
[19:00] <@Kotono> "It just means we survived." With a little sigh as she blows out air, "I was sliced, bitten, clawed, bludgeoned with crystals and impaled today. The adventure's nice and seeing new things is everything I dreamed of, but the pain's miserable."
[19:03] <Feather> Feather snorts. "I got pushed off a hundred feet bridge in the darkness and literally swamped on all sides by those things. Least I took the one who did it with me, but yeah, you don't need to sell me on that. Maybe we could look into something for that? As far's I can see, from testing the water here, we could bottle it and use to heal even if we're on the move. And maybe it's high past
[19:03] <Feather> time we get some better armor to match our decent weapons?"
[19:04] <@Kotono> "I need something that doesn't get in the way of my spells so much," Myann agrees, "A trip to Malaines could let us know where a good elven smith is, and we might be able to comission some armor. Elven armor is superior, but it takes a long time to make."
[19:06] <Feather> "Wasn't that guy coming over to set up shop? The spider... hawk... silk guy? Reckon we can afford one suit if we pool our money. Then, once the money from the gold veins starts coming, we can get more."
[19:07] <@Kotono> "Oh, I'd forgotten. He should be along, shouldn't he?" Myann says, "I hope nothing happened to him, but if he has some zygraats with him, he should be alright."
[19:08] * Feather shrugs. "Turned us down for an escort so he gotta be competent. Didn't strike me like some impassioned young elf who never stepped foot out of the village."
[19:10] <@Kotono> "Maybe it just takes time to relocate zygraats," Myann says thoughtfully, going silent for a little bit. "Some webs would have helped slow that bear down."
[19:11] <Feather> "Would be a right shame if we gave up on that armor just to have him run off on our deal. Hey, Myann, is that a thing for elves like it is for humans? Or is there some concept of honor involved here that an elf wouldn't try to cross?"
[19:14] <@Kotono> "We keep our words." Myann turns, "To ourselves always. To neutral non-elves, almost always, but we don't give our word out often. We have no illusions of keeping our word to orcs and other butchers. I can't imagine he'd lightly break his word to us on account of that, so I'd assume he's just been delayed."
[19:17] <Feather> "Gonna take your word for it, then," Feather says, nodding. "So that takes care of armor, when it happens. Maybe we could look into more magic to help us out? A good, solid cloak to provide some extra defense or hide us from the monsters for a decent ambush?"
[19:20] <@Kotono> "Yeah," Myann replies quietly, "Cloaks of the elves."
[19:22] <Feather> "Heard of those. Could be nice. Maybe some magicked-up boots to dodge better, too, cause there always seems to be some horde rushing at you."
[19:32] <@Kotono> "Mmm-hmm." Myann sits up and yawns, stretching. "We'll figure it out."
[19:34] <Feather> "Yeah. Maybe we'll even find something useful down below," Feather agrees, before climbing to his feet. "Wanna go see how things are back at the house?"