024: We break our enemies with fear

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> Deep in the depths of the plane of Earth, lightless save for the glare of Rosemund's mace refracting off the obsidian cavern, another ambush commences! Caught amidst a field of caltrops are two drow guards armed with ranseurs. Their patron, in black webbed armor, stands stranded amidst an array of grasping tentacles; and some feet behind her are another pair of guards with rapiers. "I see my dear aunt has been laggard in grinding the local vermin properly beneath her heel!" Alruzia cries. "I shall educate her properly when I am finished with you filth!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph, go
<Steph> "Hey, you evil slut! Why do drow live in the underdark?" recites Stephanie. "'cos it's the closest thing they'll find to the cavernous cunt of Lloth!" She steps up to her target, and unleashes a bewildering array of attacks on the armored woman.
<Steph> roll 1d20+8 jesus I've really got to remember that my attacks are fucking awful here
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+8 jesus I've really got to remember that my attacks are fucking awful here and gets 23."12 [1d20=15]
<Steph> roll 1d20+8 jesus I've really got to remember that my attacks are fucking awful here
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+8 jesus I've really got to remember that my attacks are fucking awful here and gets 15."12 [1d20=7]
<Steph> roll 1d20+3 jesus I've really got to remember that my attacks are fucking awful here
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+3 jesus I've really got to remember that my attacks are fucking awful here and gets 20."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> But she merely laughs as Stephanie's blades ricochet harmlessly off her armor!
<Steph> Stephanie grunts, and suddenly bounds backwards, out of the tentacled field! OOC: Using sudden leap to move back as a swift action.
<El-Cideon> One limping guard takes a step towards the cavern and prods with his ranseur at the closest target he can reach within.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-2 and gets 24."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+6 vs Rosey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d4+6 vs Rosey and gets 13."12 [2d4=3, 4]
<El-Cideon> Rosemund cries out as the spear slips through a joint in her armor to draw blood!
<El-Cideon> OOC: make a BT roll vs limping guard, then Julia's go
<Julia> roll 1d20+14 vs CMD
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 vs CMD and gets 25."12 [1d20=11]
<Julia> roll 1d6+4 damage assuming that hits
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 damage assuming that hits and gets 10."12 [1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: it does. He's grappled now, yah?
<Julia> OOC: yep
<Julia> Content that he's no longer a threat, Julia takes aim at the lead drow and begins to cast, a blood red beam of negative energy lancing out at Alruzia!
<Julia> roll 1d20+4 ranged touch
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+4 ranged touch and gets 20."12 [1d20=16]
<Julia> roll 1d20+11 Spell Resistance
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+11 Spell Resistance and gets 15."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hits but SR nukes it
<El-Cideon> The beam is right on the mark--but dissipates harmlessly an inch from the dark woman's flesh!
<El-Cideon> OOC: rapier goon & Fran
<Franceska> Being a bear makes Franceska's choices easy. She slaps the drow around and then bites down on the top of her head!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13-2
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13-2
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+13-2 and gets 29."12 [1d20=18]
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+13-2 and gets 23."12 [1d20=12]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+8-2
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+8-2 and gets 26."12 [1d20=20]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+8-2 crit?
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+8-2 crit? and gets 19."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first and last hit, no crit
<Franceska> roll 1d8+8+2d6+4
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d8+8+2d6+4 and gets 25."12 [1d8=8][2d6=1, 4]
<El-Cideon> As Alruzia is horribly gouged by tooth and claw, a bodyguard steps up next to her to stab at Franceska!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-2 and gets 15."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: AC?
<Franceska> OOC: 15
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+5 and gets 7."12 [1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: BT rolls vs Fran and rapier goon
<Julia> roll 1d20+14 vs CMD from tentacles
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 vs CMD from tentacles and gets 23."12 [1d20=9]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Steph (25) > Caltrop'd ranseur guard (21, grappled) > Julia (19) > rapier guard A (16, grappled) = Franceska (16) > Rosey (15) = Darrin (15) > ranseur guard B (11) > rapier guard B (9) = Brenna (9) > Alruzia (5)'
<Julia> roll 1d6+4 to any that hit
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 to any that hit and gets 6."12 [1d6=2]
<Franceska> OOC: CMD26 as a bear
<El-Cideon> An elvish shriek echoes off the walls as the tentacles claim another victim!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Rosey & Darrin
<El-Cideon> Rosemund opts not to step out into the madness beyond the cave, instead bashing away at her aggressor while he's pinned.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-2 and gets 13."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6-2 and gets 15."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+4 latter hits while he's grappled
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+4 latter hits while he's grappled and gets 12."12 [1d8=8]
<Franceska> Darrin decides to try and distract Rosemund's attackers rather than go out into that horrible field of writhing tentacles.
<Franceska> OOC: +2 to AC from next attack
<El-Cideon> "You dare assault the Mistress!" the unwounded ranseur guard cries out, advancing on Franceska to stab at her from behind, while the second rapier guard steps up next to his noble patron to protect her further.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 flanks with Alruzia
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 flanks with Alruzia and gets 28."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-2 rapier
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-2 rapier and gets 25."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d4+6 and gets 9."12 [2d4=1, 2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+5 and gets 9."12 [1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: cue BT
<Julia> roll 1d20+14 vs CMD
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 vs CMD and gets 23."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hits both
<Julia> roll 1d6+4 to those it hits
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 to those it hits and gets 10."12 [1d6=6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Steph (25) > Caltrop'd ranseur guard (21, grappled) > Julia (19) > rapier guard A (16, grappled) = Franceska (16) > Rosey (15) = Darrin (15) > ranseur guard B (11, grappled) > rapier guard B (9, grapple) = Brenna (9) > Alruzia (5)'
<El-Cideon> Hemmed in behind her new allies, Brenna can only frown at the carnage beyond her reach out on the ramp. Instead of participating directly, she casts a protective charm on the mage that's done so much to tie up the enemy party.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Shield Other is up on Julia.
<El-Cideon> Alruzia steps back behind her bound guards, moving slowly towards the edge of the tentacle field as she seeks a safer position to chant a spell--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+!6 concentration since 5-ft doesn't get her out of melee
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+!6 concentration since 5-ft doesn't get her out of melee and gets Error: Numeric values only."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+16 dammit Shift key
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+16 dammit Shift key and gets 35."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> "Mother, smite these fools. Show them your strength, drag them to the Abyss itself!" Ahead of her, black flame erupts throughout the cavern, engulfing all but herself and her most immediate guards.
<El-Cideon> OOC: ref, this hits everyone that's not her or her rapier guards
<Julia> roll 1d20+5 Julia
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+5 Julia and gets 19."12 [1d20=14]
<Steph> roll 1d20+13 ditching evasion was a terrible idea!
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+13 ditching evasion was a terrible idea! and gets 26."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Brenna
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Brenna and gets 20."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Rosey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Rosey and gets 20."12 [1d20=10]
<Julia> roll 1d20+7 Thing isn't fighting but he's still around, improved evasion
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+7 Thing isn't fighting but he's still around, improved evasion and gets 9."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5-2 grappled guard A
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5-2 grappled guard A and gets 17."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5-2 grappled guard B
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5-2 grappled guard B and gets 21."12 [1d20=18]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+5 Darrin, improved evasion
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+5 Darrin, improved evasion and gets 7."12 [1d20=2]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+3 me
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+3 me and gets 15."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 5d6+5d6 fire/divine Steph/Brenna/Rosey/one guard made the save to halve this, evasion applies if you got it
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 5d6+5d6 fire/divine Steph/Brenna/Rosey/one guard made the save to halve this, evasion applies if you got it and gets 32."12 [5d6=2, 2, 1, 6, 5][5d6=5, 1, 3, 1, 6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Steph (25) > Julia (19) > rapier guard A (16, grappled) = Franceska (16) > Rosey (15) = Darrin (15) > ranseur guard B (11, grappled) > rapier guard B (9, grapple) = Brenna (9) > Alruzia (5)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: BT vs Alruzia
<Julia> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24."12 [1d20=10]
<Julia> roll 1d6+4 if hits
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 if hits and gets 8."12 [1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: missed by 1 :(
<El-Cideon> Alruzia's profane grace allows her to slip safely between the tentacles as she laughs at the misfortune all around her!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph, then Julia
<Steph> Steph advances on one of the grappled ranseur-wielding guards, and proceeds to start disembowling him with a maniacal cackle!
<Steph> roll 1d20+9
<Steph> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+9 and gets 16."12 [1d20=7]
<Steph> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+9 and gets 12."12 [1d20=3]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+4 and gets 6."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first hits while grappled
<Steph> roll 1d6+7+4d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+7+4d6 and gets 27."12 [1d6=4][4d6=5, 2, 3, 6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Steph (25) > Julia (19) > rapier guard A (16, grappled) = Franceska (16) > Rosey (15) = Darrin (15) > rapier guard B (9, grappled) = Brenna (9) > Alruzia (5)'
<Julia> Despite being heavily singed and frayed around the edges, she still manages a chirpy "Thank you!" and beams at Brenna even if she's annoyed at how all her good spells suffer against those resistant to magic. Contemplating summoning some assistance, she balks given that their saintly undead-hating companion may not approve, and she did just so nicely defend her... alright, some strength-sapping
<Julia> cold mist instead! She has to place it to avoid Franceska though, so it only covers Alruzia and the guards close to her, though.
<Julia> roll 1d20+11 SR
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+11 SR and gets 17."12 [1d20=6]
<Julia> roll 1d6 cold damage, fatigues if that beats SR
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6 cold damage, fatigues if that beats SR and gets 3."12 [1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: no save on it?
<Julia> OOC: nope
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Steph (25) > Julia (19) > rapier guard A (16, grappled, fatigued) = Franceska (16) > Rosey (15) = Darrin (15) > rapier guard B (9, grappled, fatigued) = Brenna (9) > Alruzia (5)'
<El-Cideon> A frigid mist saps the will of the captured guards while Steph helps to clear the field of dangerously pointy objects. Alruzia remains unbroken by attempts to magically dampen her abilities, however!
<El-Cideon> OOC: BT vs Steph since she's out there stabbing dudes now?
<Steph> OOC: I was stabbing a dude from the edge, I thought?
<Julia> OOC: yeah I thought she was getting the guy who hit Rosie
<El-Cideon> OOC: no, he got nuked by his boss. The living one was out there poking at Fran
<Steph> OOC: Oh. Ah well, I'm pretty good at dodging
<Julia> roll 1d20+14 good luck then
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 good luck then and gets 30."12 [1d20=16]
<Julia> roll 1d6+4 sorry
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 sorry and gets 10."12 [1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9-4 CMB vs tentacle CMD to escape, these guys really wish they had escape artist ranks
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9-4 CMB vs tentacle CMD to escape, these guys really wish they had escape artist ranks and gets 22."12 [1d20=17]
<Julia> OOC: CMD should be 24
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll new damage for that one, then
<Julia> roll 1d6+4
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 and gets 10."12 [1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran is up
* Franceska grimly advances on the drow priestess, ready to claw her to ribbons!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13-2
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+13-2 and gets 13."12 [1d20=2]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13-2
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+13-2 and gets 30."12 [1d20=19]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+8-2
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+8-2 and gets 20."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> OOC: second hits
<Franceska> roll 1d8+8
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d8+8 and gets 14."12 [1d8=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Rosey & Darrin show
<Julia> roll 1d20+14 you should be safe at least
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 you should be safe at least and gets 31."12 [1d20=17]
<Julia> roll 1d6+4 sorry
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 sorry and gets 7."12 [1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> "Oh, ah, I wonder if maybe this was not the greatest plan we have had, Julia," Rosemund mumbles. Louder to the group, with an aura of empowering light: "Stand tall, everyone! There is only one of her! I know we can do this if we work together!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: +2 to STR/DEX, +5 movement speed for everyone. And fast healing for Rosey
<Franceska> Darrin continues hovering protectively next to Rosemund in the absense of a better plan.
<Julia> "It took care of the weaklings, didn't it?" Julia whispers back, but she agrees she ought to do something about the tentacles.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9-5 escape attempt B
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9-5 escape attempt B and gets 22."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll damage, Julia
<Julia> roll 1d6+4
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 and gets 9."12 [1d6=5]
<El-Cideon> Lacking any other clear options, Brenna slips between Rosey and Julia to head out on the field and bash through those guards before they can break free.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-2 and gets 11."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: :( BT time
<Julia> roll 1d20+14 you fool!
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 you fool! and gets 29."12 [1d20=15]
<Julia> roll 1d6+4
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 and gets 8."12 [1d6=4]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Steph (25) > Julia (19) > rapier guard A (16, grappled, fatigued) = Franceska (16) > Rosey (15) = Darrin (15) > rapier guard B (9, grappled, fatigued) = Brenna (9, grappled) > Alruzia (5)'
<El-Cideon> ...But it avails her naught!
<El-Cideon> Alruzia backpedals at careless speed to slip out from the tentacle field, pausing to chant once she's free--
<El-Cideon> "Mother, smile upon me this day, that I might strike down with your own fury the foes of our House and Race!" she cries in safety, a dark aura suffusing her and visibly making her swell with strength.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph
<Steph> roll 1d20+16 escaping? escaping
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+16 escaping? escaping and gets 36."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> Stephanie is free, for this moment at least!
<Julia> Julia palms her face and with her free hand gestures down to the ground, the tentacles receding into the earth and loosening their grip upon their prey.
<Steph> Stephanie slips forward, darting to the side of their opponent so Franceska can move in to flank!
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Steph (25) > Julia (19) > rapier guard A (16, fatigued) = Franceska (16) > Rosey (15) = Darrin (15) > rapier guard B (9, fatigued) = Brenna (9) > Alruzia (5)'
<Julia> roll 1d6 cold on guards still in cold mist
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6 cold on guards still in cold mist and gets 5."12 [1d6=5]
<El-Cideon> The first guard, now freed, pursues this infidel who dares to chase after his Mistress with murderous intent!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-3 and gets 25."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> OOC: AC, Steph?
<Steph> OOC: 28
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran
* Franceska charges after the priestess, putting all of her anger into this one strike!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+17-2
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+17-2 and gets 32."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Franceska> roll 1d8+9
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d8+9 and gets 13."12 [1d8=4]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+16 CMB for grapple
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+16 CMB for grapple and gets 17."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: alas
<El-Cideon> Rivulets of blood run down Alruzia's face and arms, but she stands resolute!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Rosey and Darrin
<Franceska> Darrin alights on Rosemund's shoulder, ready to assist in her attack!
<Franceska> OOC: +2 to Rosemund's first attack, if she goes for it?
<El-Cideon> Rosey charges out of the cave to try and batter down that second guard before he can return to his Mistress's side!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11+2+2+1-2 so many mods!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11+2+2+1-2 so many mods! and gets 20."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+5 and gets 6."12 [1d8=1]
<El-Cideon> The bludgeoned guard responds with two careful thrusts of his rapier--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-3 and gets 9."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6-3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6-3 and gets 19."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> --which plink harmlessly off of Rosemund's armor! Brenna slips in behind him to flank, aiming to bury that pick into the wicked drow's cranium.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11+2+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11+2+1-2 and gets 30."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d4+1 :?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d4+1 :? and gets 2."12 [1d4=1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: +2, forgot STR bonus
<El-Cideon> "A persistent brute, I commend you that much," Alruzia breaths. "Let us test your endurance." She reaches out for Franceska with one hand crackling with dark energy--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+16 concentration
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+16 concentration and gets 29."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17 touch, roll fort if this hits
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17 touch, roll fort if this hits and gets 33."12 [1d20=16]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+11+1
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+11+1 and gets 20."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> OOC: lucky!
<El-Cideon> Franceska's vision swims, but she fights off the haze threatening to bring her low!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph
<Steph> "She's a bear, you nitwitted cloud-haired freak! You think a bear is that puny?" snarls Stephanie, stepping lightly around to the priestesses back and plunging in her swords again and again!
<Steph> roll 1d20+14
<Steph> roll 1d20+14
<Steph> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+14 and gets 23."12 [1d20=9]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+14 and gets 17."12 [1d20=3]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+9 and gets 15."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> But alas, Stephanie's efforts are forever repelled by Alruzia's metal shell.
* Julia strolls up to the nearest drow guard and casually grabs his wrist, harshly pulling out his life force to bolster her own!
<Julia> roll 1d20+5 melee touch
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+5 melee touch and gets 12."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> OOC: missed by 1 :(
<El-Cideon> He nimbly evades the attempt! Meanwhile, his free partner pursues Franceska, trapping her between himself and his Mistress as he stabs away.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11+2-2-1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11+2-2-1 and gets 18."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+5 and gets 10."12 [1d6=5]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran is up
<Franceska> She would normally be getting worried in this sort of situation, but Franceska decides to try and bet on Rosemund to save her this one time. If help never arrives, well, she would have learned a valuable lesson upon surviving this. Therefore, with casual disregard of the grunt behind her Franceska slams her clawed hand down on the top of Alzuria's head once, and then twice for good measure,
<Franceska> before her teeth go for the priestess's throat!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+16-2
<Franceska> roll 1d20+16-2
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+16-2 and gets 24."12 [1d20=10]
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+16-2 and gets 17."12 [1d20=3]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+11-2
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+11-2 and gets 28."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> OOC: last hits
<Franceska> roll 2d6+5
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 2d6+5 and gets 10."12 [2d6=3, 2]
<El-Cideon> Alruzia is again savaged, but stands beaming with unholy fervor! Rosemund, seeing her companion's plight, is indeed quick to rush to her aid--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-3 she eats a couple AoOs en route but hey, she's got AC
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-3 she eats a couple AoOs en route but hey, she's got AC and gets 9."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-3 and gets 9."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d8+17 heals
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d8+17 heals and gets 31."12 [4d8=2, 4, 4, 4]
<Franceska> Darrin follows suit, doing his best to shield Rosemund from harm.
<El-Cideon> The guard she deserted turns and stabs twice at this impudent human trying to mine his brain.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-3 and gets 19."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6-3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6-3 and gets 9."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+5 vs Brenna
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+5 vs Brenna and gets 6."12 [1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> --who continues trying to do the same!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11+1-2 and gets 28."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6+1-2 and gets 20."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d4+2
<El-Cideon> roll 1d4+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d4+2 and gets 3."12 [1d4=1]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d4+2 and gets 4."12 [1d4=2]
<El-Cideon> The guard slumps in pain, barely on his feet!
<El-Cideon> "You are quite right," Alruzia agrees with some glee to Stephanie's observation. "Let us try a stronger medicine--" Again she reaches out to the great bear with one darkly glowing hand.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17-2 forgot gravity penalty last time, still probably academic
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17-2 forgot gravity penalty last time, still probably academic and gets 27."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> OOC: fort again
<Franceska> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+12 and gets 20."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+16 concentration first, right!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+16 concentration first, right! and gets 25."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> Franceska feels her strength ebbing away, the very flame of life snuffed out--until Rosemund reaches out and blesses her, barely keeping her on this side of the great divide, with instead only a partial yet still dreadful drain of life energies!
<El-Cideon> roll 3d6+10 this is what happens when you make the save. For reference, Rosey ate a hero point (I forgot to note these on her post, she's never used any) to cast a buff on you. +2 to saves for 90 minutes, you can reroll 1 save while the spell lasts
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d6+10 this is what happens when you make the save. For reference, Rosey ate a hero point (I forgot to note these on her post, she's never used any) to cast a buff on you. +2 to saves for 90 minutes, you can reroll 1 save while the spell lasts and gets 18."12 [3d6=1, 6, 1]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+11 and gets 21."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> "Intolerable child!" Alruzia swears in disgust at Rosemund as her intervention saves a life.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph
* Franceska gives Alruzia a truly murderous look at that.
<Steph> Stephanie's blades whizz about in an attempt to find a chink in this wench's armor.
<Steph> roll 1d20+12
<Steph> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 and gets 14."12 [1d20=2]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 and gets 16."12 [1d20=4]
<Steph> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> Alas, Stephanie's efforts continue to be in vain!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia
<Julia> Really they need to take out Alruzia, everyone else is an afterthought. So Julia disengages from her previous target to march right up on the lead drow with some medicine of her own showing by a fetid green glow on her fingertips. "Just die you miserable harlot!"
<Julia> roll 1d20+5 melee touch
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+5 melee touch and gets 16."12 [1d20=11]
<Julia> roll 1d20+11 SR
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+11 SR and gets 27."12 [1d20=16]
<Julia> OOC: DC 19 fort if those pass
<El-Cideon> OOC: hits and passes
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 13."12 [1d20=6]
<Julia> roll 1d10 con damage, and again in 10 rounds if she's not dead by then
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d10 con damage, and again in 10 rounds if she's not dead by then and gets 8."12 [1d10=8]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Steph (25) > Julia (19) > rapier guard A (16, fatigued) = Franceska (16) > Rosey (15) = Darrin (15) > rapier guard B (9, fatigued) = Brenna (9) '
<El-Cideon> Alruzia visibly withers on the spot, vile toxin coursing through her body and wreaking such havoc upon her health that she falls dying, eyes rolling back, a whispered, "Mother...!" as she tumbles.
* Julia looks at her hand in surprise and beams widely. "It's not often they die when I tell them to, but it's nice when they do!"
<El-Cideon> This doesn't stop her fanatical personal guard from trying to fight it out, however!
<El-Cideon> OOC: guard A and Fran
<Franceska> Grinning at Julia in approval, Franceska backhands the guard trying to stab her in the back!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+14-2-4 nonlethal
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+14-2-4 nonlethal and gets 10."12 [1d20=2]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+14-2-4 nonlethal
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+14-2-4 nonlethal and gets 12."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: both whiff
<Franceska> roll 1d20+9-2-4 nonlethal
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+9-2-4 nonlethal and gets 11."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> With blinding hatred in his eyes, the guard stabs viciously away at the hulking target his Mistress tried so hard to subdue!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-3 and gets 24."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6-3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6-3 and gets 22."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6-3 rapier crit?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6-3 rapier crit? and gets 17."12 [1d20=14]
<Franceska> OOC: AC16
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+5 regular hit
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+5 regular hit and gets 7."12 [1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+10 crit
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+10 crit and gets 14."12 [2d6=3, 1]
<El-Cideon> "Oh, you monstrous fools!" Rosemund cries out. "You should know when you are beaten!" She concentrates to heal her ailing friend--
<Franceska> She knew it was a bad idea, she just knew it! Show any mercy to the enemy and they take it as a sign of weakness!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 and gets 16."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-3 concentration failed
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-3 concentration failed and gets 13."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> OOC: AoO did too~
<El-Cideon> roll 4d8+17 heals to Fran
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d8+17 heals to Fran and gets 45."12 [4d8=8, 5, 7, 8]
<El-Cideon> OOC: also Darrin is up!
<Franceska> Darrin is there to shield Franceska from further attacks!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11-3 vs Brenna
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11-3 vs Brenna and gets 19."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6-3 vs Brenna
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6-3 vs Brenna and gets 20."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+5
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+5 and gets 6."12 [1d6=1]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+5 and gets 9."12 [1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> The white-haired woman is by now looking pretty badly perforated. This doesn't stop her from replying in kind!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11+1-2 and gets 28."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6+1-2 and gets 10."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d4+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d4+2 and gets 3."12 [1d4=1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph
<Steph> Stephanie skips around to the back of the guard trying to do in Franceska, dropping her short sword along the way and pulling out her rock-in-a-sock!
<Steph> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+13 and gets 23."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit, finally!
<Steph> roll 1d6+7+4d6 NL
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+7+4d6 NL and gets 33."12 [1d6=6][4d6=6, 2, 6, 6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Steph (25) > Julia (19) > Franceska (16) > Rosey (15) = Darrin (15) > rapier guard B (9, fatigued) = Brenna (9) '
<El-Cideon> The world instantly goes dark for the ailing guard as he's struck an awful blow to the noggin!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia
<Julia> Job done, Julia hunts down the last rapier guard to drain the life out of. Nonlethal isn't really her thing.
<Julia> roll 1d20+5 melee touch
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+5 melee touch and gets 25."12 [1d20=20]
<Julia> roll 1d20+5 melee touch crit?
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+5 melee touch crit? and gets 20."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> OOC: crit
<Julia> roll 1d20+11 SR
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+11 SR and gets 25."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> OOC: passed SR
<Julia> roll 8d6 damage/life drain (if he totally dies I get however many hp he had left +10 if it's less than the damage I did)
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 8d6 damage/life drain (if he totally dies I get however many hp he had left +10 if it's less than the damage I did) and gets 33."12 [8d6=4, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 1, 2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: he had 3 HP left, they're all yours >.>
<El-Cideon> His body shrivels and wastes away as Julia's arcane talents strip clean his remaining his life force. Brenna watches with eyes wide. "Thank you, but...well, thank you," she settles on, cautiously.
<El-Cideon> OOC: free act
* Franceska transforms back info her regular self, kneeling to relieve the guard Stephanie knocked out from his weapons.
<Steph> "Geez, Franzy, you really took some bad hits. You wanna borrow my vest next time?" asks Stephanie, peering at the other woman. "It'll make you the slippiest... giant bear... that there ever was, y'know?"
<Franceska> "I almost died three times," Franceska grumbles. "I hate this place and I hate drow."
<El-Cideon> "Yes, Franceska, you must take better care not to get so badly wounded!" Rosemund chides instantly. "What happens if some day I am prevented from reaching you in time?"
<Julia> "No, thank you. I would've been burnt much more if you hadn't helped," Julia smiles benignly at Brenna, refraining from healing herself just yet as she regroups with the others. "Everyone alright?"
<El-Cideon> "Yes, who requires assistance?" Rosemund echoes.
<Franceska> "It depends," Franceska responds to Rosemund. "If you are not there, why am I even in danger?"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100 belated stabilization roll for Miss -9 HP
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 belated stabilization roll for Miss -9 HP and gets 49."12 [1d100=49]
<El-Cideon> Alruzia quietly expires as Rosemund goes about healing her friends, starting with the badly bleeding Brenna.
<Steph> Stephanie sidles up to Julia. "Geez, I just wanted to help, but I started a fight. What's with that?" she mumbles.
<El-Cideon> roll 4d8+17 Brenna heals
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d8+17 Brenna heals and gets 37."12 [4d8=8, 8, 3, 1]
<Julia> "She's just grumbling, you know she wouldn't be here if she wasn't enjoying herself," Julia assures Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+15 Steph
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+15 Steph and gets 23."12 [3d8=1, 6, 1]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+15 Fran
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+15 Fran and gets 28."12 [3d8=4, 4, 5]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+15 Brenna again
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+15 Brenna again and gets 28."12 [3d8=3, 2, 8]
<Steph> Stephanie brightens up. "That's right, nobody would do something they hate, like go to a place where everything weighs twice as much and start fights," she agrees.
* Franceska steps on the expired priestess's neck as she makes her way over to Rosemund and Brenna. "So! Now is the time to consider our next move. I have a modest proposition I would like you all to entertain."
<Julia> "So long as it starts with looting our foes."
<Franceska> "I feel confident that could be arranged."
<El-Cideon> roll 2d8+13 Darrin, Rosey is most thorough
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d8+13 Darrin, Rosey is most thorough and gets 17."12 [2d8=3, 1]
<Steph> Stephanie starts stripping the corpses of anything that looks remotely valuable.
<Franceska> Darrin sings Rosemund's praises in Infernal, careful to keep it quiet enough and for her ears alone.
<Julia> That's best if he doesn't want to fight Thing.
* Julia casts detect magic and helps Stephanie pick out the good stuff.
<Franceska> "What I would like to propose is that we set things in motion by interrogating the surviving guard about the defenses of the drow, and then return the ring to that scheming woman. There is another we must free who is in the possession of mindflayers in the area, so after securing proper weapons for Brenna, we could set about to rescue him while we wait for the drow to release their prisoner.
<Franceska> Afterwards, we could use disguise and those written instructions to turn the town against the drow and against slavers in general, if we so wish, while taking out their outpost here. How does that sound?"
<Julia> "Do you really think the woman sold to the illithid hasn't had her brain eaten by now?" Julia asks dubiously.
<Steph> "No, but even if she hasn't we have a duty to go and see if she's alive, and avenge her if she's not," replies Stephanie, resolutely. "Things that eat brains can't be allowed to live."
<Franceska> "Normally, you would be correct," Franceska acknowledges. "But these... heroes... are very tenacious. One even turned to serve her devil masters, we were told. Who is to say this one did not survive?"
* Franceska pauses, and then reluctantly nods at Stephanie. "Yes, things that eat brains are an abomination."
<Steph> "Does your brain get bigger when you turn into a bear?" she asks, now curious.
<Franceska> "No. My brain remains my own even if I turn into something smaller or larger," Franceska asserts. "Because of magic."
<El-Cideon> "Well," Rosemund says carefully, "I approve of freeing the slaves here...but, ah, I must ask, are we to eventually turn against every person we bargain with on this world?"
<Franceska> "Only if I hate them."
* Franceska tilts her head. "Do you hate the slaver dao and the slaver drow and the slaver mind-eating mindflayers, Rosemund?"
<Steph> "It's how diplomacy works, Rosemund. If something horrible is stronger than you, you play nice until you get an opportunity," replies Stephanie. "We're lucky 'cos we're not some huge group, and all the people we need to turn on worship dark gods or take slaves or something, so decent people won't be upset when we break our agreements."
* Franceska snaps her fingers. "I hated the mercenaries who unlawfully and indiscriminently attacked the townspeople as well. Truly, this plane is a focal point of my hate."
* Franceska gives Stephanie an appraising if dubious look.
<Julia> "I dislike the mind flayers and the dao at least. I don't really have any strong feelings on the drow, but I suppose that hardly matters," Julia muses.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund nods sadly at having the true nature of the world revealed to her, slumping a little as she listens.
* Franceska looks at Brenna after the largest obstacle to the plan clears.
<Steph> "I know, it's shit," says Stephanie, walking up to Rosemund. "But we gotta make sure we can do the most good we can, right? Because some of these people truly are evil, and someone needs to stand up to them."
<El-Cideon> "What is the precise extent of the deviousness we have in mind?" Brenna asks dubiously. "I can only approving of depriving all these vile creatures their awful hobbies. But *using* another for this end, I must admit, rankles."
<Julia> "We don't have an army so we have to be tricky I suppose," Julia sighs wistfully, thoughts of her cackling madly at the head of an undead horde swamping over everything in her path dancing in her mind's eye. Meanwhile she begins clumping the stripped corpses together to make immolating them easier, showing little care about handling cadavers.
<Franceska> "In the end, Stephanie is right," Franceska says, grimacing. "We simply cannot take out either the drow or the dao entirely on our own. We need some sort of in, either through information and thinning out their forces with the drow, or by getting the townspeople to rally against the dao."
<El-Cideon> "It can't hurt to have that information," Brenna grudgingly admits. "How do you plan to acquire it?"
<Steph> "We've got a captive we can question, and Julia's not bad at chatting up cadavers," replies Stephanie, brightly.
<El-Cideon> Brenna, again, gives Julia a questionable look.
<Franceska> "How about asking one of the dead guards about their numbers, where they keep the slaves and how well-guarded the slaves are?" Franceska suggests. "We can confirm that with the living one so we know he isn't lying."
<Steph> "Good plan. Let's ask if they have any secret weapons, too!"
<Franceska> "Guard schedules? We could time our attack near the end of a shift."
<Julia> "We all have our talents," Julia says in response to Brenna's mounting suspicions, going to kneel over one of the dead guards in the pile and casting speak with dead.
<Julia> OOC: DC 18 will save
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 and gets 12."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> Julia reaches metaphysically inside the corpse's brain, to sift around for answers therein!
<Julia> "Ah, I have it," she smiles. "Tell me first, how many drow live at the mine?"
<El-Cideon> "Forty, or fifty," slips out in a flat whisper, devoid of all the emotions and humors of life.
<Julia> "Where are the slaves kept when not working?"
<El-Cideon> "Down below," the corpse answers. "Barracks."
<Julia> "How well guarded are the slaves?"
<El-Cideon> "Light. Fear keeps them. Spiders."
<Julia> Yes, speaking of... "Aside from drow guards, what other defences does the mine have?"
<El-Cideon> "Single entrance, single lift," it says and, again, "Spiders."
<Julia> "And done," she dusts her hands, spell finished. Standing up, she turns to the others, "Interrogate your captive, then?"
<El-Cideon> "How do you plan to carry out this interrogation?" Brenna asks pointedly. "And what becomes of him after?"
* Julia is better with dead people so she has no idea.
* Franceska nods at Stephanie. "We should ask the same two first questions, and then continue with fresh ones if he does not lie?" At Brenna's question, she asks her back, "Do you have any suggestions?"
<El-Cideon> "His allies were killed in battle," she says. "I would not consider it amiss if he followed them ere the day was out. But I won't abide any undue cruelty," she cautions. "We needn't become a thing to combat it."
<El-Cideon> "Threaten all you like," she adds. "He is in a position to believe much."
<Franceska> "You mean torture? It was not really among my designs," Franceska responds, reflecting on how inexact and misleading it is.
<El-Cideon> She nods agreeably.
<Steph> "I was just going to ask him if he wanted us to kill him quickly, or if he wanted us to send him back to his boss, who will kill him slowly."
<El-Cideon> "Wake him, then. Let us be on with it."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund kneels next to the man and bestows a touch of healing to rouse him from his slumber.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+7 as little as possible, of course
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+7 as little as possible, of course and gets 12."12 [1d8=5]
<El-Cideon> His eyes blink open, taken in the swarm of foes surrounding him. His expression sets into a look of violent hatred and he says nothing.
* Franceska waits for Stephanie to make the first move, while she glares back with a genuine hatred that should cow their captive properly.
<Steph> "Hey, friend! How does the bitter taste of abject failure feel?" asks Stephanie, peering down at him from above. "I wouldn't know, myself. But I'm ready to discuss it." She kneels next to him. "We've got some questions. And I think you've got some answers! It will be very bad for you if you don't answer our questions, it will hurt!" She raises a hand. "No, no, I'm not suggesting we'd be
<Steph> better at terrible cruelty than you drow! We're lightweights, really. But the earth is filled with horrors, isn't it?"
<El-Cideon> OOC: initimidate away~
<Franceska> roll 1d20+16 I really hate you, drow
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+16 I really hate you, drow and gets 27."12 [1d20=11]
<Steph> roll 1d20+2 I'm actually terrible at scaring people
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+2 I'm actually terrible at scaring people and gets 6."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> He sneers at Stephanie, a laugh rasping its way out of his throat, but he seems to take the situation a little more seriously with the woman who was so recently a bear glaring at him. He mutters a string of curses under his breath, and then: "What are these questions?"
<Steph> "Question one~, how many drow are there in the compound?"
<El-Cideon> "I did not have time to count every one," he says with condescension. "Thirty, perhaps more? Some in the mine, some on guard 'round Thela." He laughs. "As well they should be. Thela is a fool, just as Mistress said. To see the vermin so close to her doorstep!" He spits with disgust that the wrong drow Mistress was murdered this day.
<Steph> "And where are all the slaves kept, when they are not working?"
<El-Cideon> He shrugs, as if he couldn't care less about the welfare of a handful of humans. "There are dwellings down in the main cavern."
<Steph> "I see, I see... tell us a little more about Thela. How strong is she?"
<El-Cideon> "Pfah!" He seems more than happy to elaborate on this subject. "Not, else she'd be home competing with her sisters. At home they speak as though she were in exile." He snickers, despite his dire situation. "You mean to kill her?" he guesses. "Well she deserves it for doing so little to secure her position."
<Franceska> "How should we go about killing her?" Franceska asks, since he is being so indulging where their interests intersect.
<El-Cideon> "Many schemes she has survived," he allows grudgingly. Then, with the air of echoing someone else's words of wisdom: "Give her no cause for suspicion until it is too late."
<Steph> "I don't intend to! She won't see it coming. We're experts at doing that sort of thing," replies Steph, with a broad, friendly smile. "Does she have any strong lieutenants?"
<El-Cideon> "She never parts from her consorts," he says. "Of their strength, I could not tell. Arcanists of some stripe."
<Franceska> "Is it possible to get to the slaves at any point without going through the entire camp? If burrowing through stone is within our ability?"
<El-Cideon> "One would have to burrow far," he considers with a frown. "Possible, with much patience?"
<Franceska> "How far?"
<El-Cideon> He shrugs. "The lift was a far descent. Digging down to circumvent this, well, one must make a ramp. A toilsome endeavor."
<Franceska> "How far down is it?" Franceska repeats.
<El-Cideon> "Some hundreds of feet?" he guesses.
<Franceska> With her burrowing spell, Stephanie could easily dig several tunnels like that!
<Steph> Stephanie nudges Franceska. "Can Julia do that?"
<Franceska> "Later," Franceska tells her, before asking their prisoner, "Are there any slaves who would fight against the guards, if given weapons?"
<Julia> Julia frowns from behind the drow.
<El-Cideon> He laughs. "The slaves? Human trash, mostly. If they could have overcome their captors, do you not think they would have already?" he sneers.
<Franceska> "How many slaves are there?"
<El-Cideon> He shrugs. "Some hundred or two? It is only a guess. I did not see Thela's account books."
<Steph> "Is there plenty of food stored at hand?"
<El-Cideon> "Sufficient, at my guess," he says. "There is a mushroom farm in the cavern. Thela allows them to maintain it on their *day of rest*." He practically chokes on the words.
<Franceska> "There are no troublesome slaves that were difficult for Thela to handle, at least early on?"
<El-Cideon> "I do not know about that," he says to Franceska. "There are times she sends such to us at home, with a portion of her yield, as is only her due. It would only be like her to send us the most quarrelsome of her lot."
<Franceska> "Of course. Now then, when would it be the best time to strike? The time when most of the guards would be resting or tired?"
<El-Cideon> "When Thela sleeps or fucks?" he guesses. "Elsewise, there are always guards on duty. Three shifts. She is a fool, but a cautious fool."
<Steph> "She has little sway at home, you said?" asks Stephanie. "So she doesn't have much pull?"
<El-Cideon> "Her name is an object of humor and jocularity," he says. "Hardly a proper calling for a noble female to forsake Ilishtyr and run a mine in this goddess-forsaken corner of creation."
* Franceska looks at Brenna and Julia to see if they have any other questions that might help them.
<El-Cideon> "Then why is she here?" is Brenna's only question.
<Julia> Julia doesn't seem to have anything to offer.
<El-Cideon> He raises his eyebrows, as though his answer of "Cowardice" should be plainly obvious.
<El-Cideon> Brenna just gives Franceska a nod at that.
<Franceska> Cowardice is something this drow shares with Thela, so Franceska supposes it takes one to know. "You answered all our questions," she tells him, nodding to Stephanie in turn.
<Steph> "Well, that's that, then," replies Stephanie, sounding solemn. "Well, then. For the crime of complicity in slavery and conspiracy to murder, I sentence you to death." She draws her sword, and after giving him a brief moment to contemplate that, runs him through.
<El-Cideon> It looks like this is the first decision of Stephanie's that he approves of (at least in theory, were she killing some other captive). He has time to spit one last epithet before bleeding out: "May you and her...murder one another in iniquity, human filth..."
<Julia> Julia quickly moves aside to avoid blood spatter.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund gasps a little and turns away.
<Franceska> "Did he just call you immoral?"
<El-Cideon> "Should you ask his ilk to explain that word, he would no doubt laugh in your face," Brenna guesses.
<Steph> "Let's skip the jokes this time," replies Stephanie, wiping off her sword.
<Julia> Julia shuffles this body over with the rest. "Anyone have any fire to handle this?"
<Franceska> "I suppose." Franceska frowns. "Alright. Thirty to fifty drow is a bit much, but if we get you a proper weapon, Brenna, and rescue those two we came here to free it should be enough for us to burrow over to the slaves and free them."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund shakes her head. "We could...drag them into that cave we slept in and collapse the roof on them?" she offers.
<El-Cideon> "It will be a start," Brenna answers Franceska.
<Julia> "Alright," Julia groans, her back protesting as she bends over to start hauling more corpses around in this abominable gravity.
<El-Cideon> "Just think how wonderful it will feel when we are somewhere else," Rosemund advises, perceiving the nature of Julia's complaint. "Consider it our reward when we are done here?" she adds helpfully.
<Franceska> "Can we go somewhere with plenty of water?"
<Julia> "I better be strong enough to punch through walls back home," Julia huffs.
<El-Cideon> "There is a plane made of water!" Rosemund says. "But that might be too much. Franceska, I did not know that you fancied swimming?"
<Steph> "Can you turn into a sea-bear?"
<El-Cideon> Shortly enough the various mangled drow corpses are gathered at the back of the cave. A little digging should see that ceiling down right on top of them.
<Franceska> "I want to give it a try," Franceska says, before glaring at Stephanie. "The swimming. Not the sea-bear."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund smiles. "Oh, I am pleased to see you finally developing an interest in healthy outdoor activities!"
<Steph> "This plane will do that to you!"
<El-Cideon> ~