025: We used the things we could to get the things we want

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> The guards at the drow camp recognize you and admit you through the main gate--with escorts, of course. They bring you to the landing overlooking the cavern proper; Thela's bodyguards are standing outside the small building on the corner and accompany you inside to report to her. Thela is at a desk going over a book of figures, though she closes it once you're led in. A spider the size of a large dog rests on the floor next to her, patterned a shocking neon green hue; it bristles at your arrival but calms down at a gentle touch from its mistress. "You're returned with good news, I hope?" Thela says, standing.
<Julia> "I assure you we wouldn't return if the news was bad," Julia says.
<Steph> "It all went swimmingly, let me tell you. Not a single one escaped!"
<El-Cideon> "Excellent. Her ring?" she prompts.
<Julia> Julia takes it out of a pocket and leans over to give it to Thela. "Here you are."
<El-Cideon> Thela examines the ring with grim satisfaction, and not a little relief. "It is as ever a surprise and pleasure to meet another female capable of standing by her word." A thought seems to occur to her, as if calling for attention from some far-off land. She reaches out one open palm. "You have removed the dagger from my back. I should express my gratitude. The human custom is to shake hands, is it not?"
<Julia> "It's more of a man thing, but I suppose so," Julia smiles politely and daintily takes Thela's hand for a little shake.
<Steph> "The human custom is to kiss, when it's a girl," adds Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> "Is it?" she says to Stephanie with a raised eyebrow.
<Steph> Stephanie nods, cheerily. "Oh, yes! Especially amongst the proper noblewomen," she adds.
<Julia> "I've never kissed you Stephanie and I'm not going to start," Julia says, voice slightly strained.
<Franceska> "Are you a proper noblewoman?" Franceska asks Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> "Well, have we any here, I shall give it due consideration," she says, sweeping behind her desk to remove sheets of parchment from a drawer.
<El-Cideon> "One of these is for you, the other is for me," she adds. "I cannot of course hide that you were here, but I may disguise for posterity the nature of our agreement. This--" she taps one fingernail to the document, "--states that you purchased William Alcembron from me for the sum of one hundred and twenty-five gold pieces, to be delivered to you in Peridot in no later than two weeks' time. I shall keep my own copy in the event of inconvenient questions later. Please sign it, one of you." She stands aside. "Where shall my servants find you when it comes time for delivery?"
* Franceska comes closer to examine the document with all due consideration.
<El-Cideon> OOC: feel free to roll profession is you want to get technical~
<Franceska> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+14 and gets 27."12 [1d20=13]
<Franceska> Hiding a grimace, Franceska puts her name to the document.
<El-Cideon> She nods. "Very good." She turns to her robed consort. "By astonishing coincidence, I recall that our tithe is due to Ilishtir. Assemble a squad for delivery, and see that our partners' price returns with you." He nods and exits. Thela turns back to you. "Two weeks," she repeats. "Unless there's anything else, may you have safe passage back to Peridot. There's few enough reliable souls in this world. It would be a shame to see one fall."
<Franceska> "We should get going," Franceska says, ready to leave this place.
<El-Cideon> OOC: heading straight back? Resting anywhere, stopping to do/say anything?
<Franceska> OOC: We'll stop to rest when we're tired
<Franceska> OOC: There will be huts!
<Julia> OOC: I guess we'll rest where convenient if we get tired? Wasn't there a cave in blocking our way back?
<El-Cideon> OOC: there was
<El-Cideon> After repeated walks up and down the obsidian ramp this day--not to mention the wearisome fight that occurred on it earlier--everyone's muscles are screaming in protest by the time you get back to hole you'd climbed down earlier. After a peaceful night's rest, you're all ready to make the ascent back up to the narrow tunnel you'd climbed through.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund glances up. "This would be a simpler task if one of us could fly," she observes.
<Julia> "Are we going to have to burrow through that cave-in or do you think we can find another way?" Julia wonders, looking dubiously at the rope.
<Franceska> "There is a difference between flying and carrying someone along."
<El-Cideon> "We have a spell for that," Rosemund says. "I am sure it will work just fine!"
<Steph> "Idea?" suggests Stephanie. "I could climb the rope, and then just pull one of you up, and then they pull someone else up, and so on?
<El-Cideon> "No sense waiting around for Earth itself to speak to us," Brenna says. She nods to Stephanie. "That might be easiest."
<Steph> "Righto!" she replies, and starts clambering up.
<Franceska> "I can try to catch anyone falling, at least," Franceska offers reluctantly.
* Julia considers riding an undead wyvern up there, no matter what Brenna might think of it.
<El-Cideon> It's a strain on everyone's arms to haul each other up in this heavy gravity, but it's really just a matter of persistence, and that's something Rosemund is always ready to supply with some moral support! Soon you're back out of the cramped shaft and into a proper standing room tunnel. Which is still collapsed in the direction you came from, but a little burrowing is sufficient to worm your way through that! And once everyone's climbed through, you're on the road back to Peridot.
<El-Cideon> OOC: any particular marching order today?
<Steph> OOC: I'll go first, ahead of the pack, as usual
<Julia> OOC: I'll stay safe in the middle
<Steph> roll 1d20+18 stealth
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+18 stealth and gets 20."12 [1d20=2]
<Steph> roll 1d20+10 perception
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+10 perception and gets 23."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> Stephanie is turning a corner along an anonymous stretch of tunnel, leading the rest of the group as lookout, when suddenly everything goes pitch black around her. Even her unnatural vision has some difficulty penetrating this gloom! And behind her in the tunnel, a man's voice rings out, sonorous, indignant: "Should we stand or fall this day, know that His gaze is upon you. And that His chosen shall not countenance treachery!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: init~
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6 ???
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 ??? and gets 16."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 ???
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 ??? and gets 20."12 [1d20=13]
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 Julia
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 ???
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+2 Julia and gets 12."12 [1d20=10]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 ??? and gets 20."12 [1d20=12]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+1
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+1 and gets 12."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 ???
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 ??? and gets 19."12 [1d20=10]
<Julia> roll 1d20+7 Thing
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+7 Thing and gets 27."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3 Brenna
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 Brenna and gets 5."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Rosey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 Rosey and gets 17."12 [1d20=15]
<Steph> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+5 and gets 23."12 [1d20=18]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Thing (27) > Steph (23) > ??? (20) = ??? (20) > ??? (19) > Rosey (17) > ??? (16) > Julia (12) = Franceska (12) > Brenna (5)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Thing and Steph. Steph can at least make out what's in her area. There is a smiling blonde man in a white robe immediately behind her.
<Julia> Thing turns himself invisible and flies up to the ceiling and hopeful safety!
<Steph> "Hey, guys! Help, there's a moron!" exclaims Stephanie, before whirling about and lashing out, whilst her vest acts to displace her!
<Steph> roll 1d20+9
<Steph> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+9 and gets 26."12 [1d20=17]
<Steph> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+9 and gets 19."12 [1d20=10]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+4 and gets 6."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first hits
<El-Cideon> OOC: miss chance, though!
<Steph> roll 1d100 alright I'll roll my miss chance, >20 hits
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d100 alright I'll roll my miss chance, >20 hits and gets 4."12 [1d100=4]
<Steph> OOC: nuts
<El-Cideon> The man has an uncanny knack for being where Stephanie's blades aren't. There's a *hiss* from behind her as something slithers up and bites at her, aiding the man's own precision as he lashes out with rapier and dagger. A dim, robed figure rounds the corner and aims a beam of energy at her while she's assailed from both sides!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 snake, flanking counters gravity
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 snake, flanking counters gravity and gets 24."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 ditto for jerkface
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 ditto for jerkface and gets 35."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 and gets 31."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 crit?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 crit? and gets 27."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 and gets 28."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 and gets 22."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 crit again?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 crit again?  and gets 26."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 and gets 11."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: AC, Rat?
<Steph> OOC: Gah, sorry
<Steph> OOC: 27, miss chance 50% for me
<Steph> OOC: Also, I can't be flanked
<El-Cideon> OOC: Oh, uncanny dodge? -2 to all of those, then
<Kallen> OCO: Wait, yes I can
<Kallen> OOC: It's not that good yet :(
<El-Cideon> OOC: or not! Stop confusing me!
<Kallen> OOC: Sorry. Not all there. Food.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100 mk 1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 mk 1 and gets 68."12 [1d100=68]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100 mk 2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 mk 2 and gets 20."12 [1d100=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100 mk 3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 mk 3 and gets 48."12 [1d100=48]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+6 crit
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+6 crit and gets 16."12 [2d6=5, 5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+3 hit
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+3 hit and gets 5."12 [1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10-2 beamu ranged touch
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10-2 beamu ranged touch and gets 25."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> OOC: note regular hit whiffed due to Steph having 50% concealment
<El-Cideon> OOC: touch AC?
<Steph> OOC: not 25
<Steph> OOC: But it's still misschanceable!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100 51 or more hits
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 51 or more hits and gets 82."12 [1d100=82]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+3 STR damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+3 STR damage and gets 5."12 [1d6=2]
<Steph> Stephanie's voice turns to a cry. "There's lots of morons!" she wails. "And they hurt!"
* Franceska really wants to ask just how moronic their enemies are, but that would mean giving away her position and making her a target instead of Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund waves her mace around in a futile attempt to ward off the darkness. "Um, this is not working very well." She cups her hands over her mouth: "Stephanie, just run back to us! I cannot see a thing in there!" Instead of charging in, she chants a benediction for herself and her friends! (OOC: +2 STR/DEX, +5 move to all allies)
<El-Cideon> Another man edges around the corner, this one armored, and barks a sibilant command for all of Stephanie's nerves to lock her in place!
<El-Cideon> OOC: will
<Steph> roll 1d20+14 let's moment of perfect mind this shit. And I can't use a swift next turn argh
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+14 let's moment of perfect mind this shit. And I can't use a swift next turn argh and gets 23."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> But Stephanie forces her way out of the enchantment!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and Fran
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Thing (27) > Steph (23) > snake (20) = robed man (20) > smiling man (19) > Rosey (17) > armored man (16) > Julia (12) = Franceska (12) > Brenna (5)'
<Franceska> "Begone, darkness!" Franceska commands, hoping it is a spell she could dispel.
<Franceska> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+9 and gets 28."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> The dire aura evaporates from the tunnel, and now everyone can see Stephanie hemmed in by foes! A man with two blades to one side of her, a snake six feet long behind her! And beyond, two more foes, an obvious mage of some sort and an armored companion.
<Julia> With the way now clear, Julia focuses her baleful gaze upon the closest of the robed figures and shrieks, "Die! Die to what you most fear!" as a shadowy form coalesces in front of him, taking the form of what he most dreads!
<Julia> OOC: will then fort, DC 18. On two swords guy
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12 jerkface
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12 jerkface and gets 27."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 fort
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 fort and gets 27."12 [1d20=18]
<Julia> OOC: nothing happens if he passed the will
* Franceska nods in satisfaction. The enemy's spells fall before her might, and Stephanie is surrounded by enemies instead of her or Rosemund. This is the way it should be.
<El-Cideon> But he shrugs off this arcane assault with a laugh! Shrieking a battle cry, Brenna charges in behind him to help relieve Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11+2+2-2 flank/charge/gravity
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11+2+2-2 flank/charge/gravity and gets 30."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+1 and gets 7."12 [1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Thing and Steph
<Julia> OOC: Thing remains hiding for the rest of the battle
<El-Cideon> OOC: +1 to Brenna's rolls!
<Steph> "Our magic's better than yours!" taunts Stephanie, lashing out at the man and taking full advantage of Brenna's presence!
<Steph> roll 1d20+12
<Steph> roll 1d20+12
<Steph> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 and gets 29."12 [1d20=17]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+7 and gets 16."12 [1d20=9]
<Steph> roll 1d20+12 crit?
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 crit? and gets 28."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit and crit
<Steph> roll 2d6+10
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 2d6+10 and gets 18."12 [2d6=6, 2]
<Steph> roll 4d6 whoops, forgot SA there
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 4d6 whoops, forgot SA there and gets 11."12 [4d6=4, 3, 3, 1]
<Steph> roll 1d6+4
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+4 and gets 10."12 [1d6=6]
<Steph> roll 4d6 forgot SA there too what's wrong with me
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 4d6 forgot SA there too what's wrong with me and gets 9."12 [4d6=5, 2, 1, 1]
<El-Cideon> Gashes rend all through his fine robe, revealing a suit of gleaming chain mail beneath it. He merely laughs as he lashes out in tandem with his serpentine companion, and the robed man moves to cast a spell towards where Stephanie's friends watch in supposed safety--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 snakey first
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 snakey first and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 and gets 35."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 and gets 22."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 crit?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 crit? and gets 20."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 and gets 28."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 and gets 24."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 crit?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 crit? and gets 30."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 and gets 8."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 and gets 29."12 [1d100=29]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100 mk 2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 mk 2 and gets 57."12 [1d100=57]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+3 and gets 5."12 [1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> He manages one meager strike home. Meanwhile, fibrous strands of webbing spring up in the corridor around Rosemund, Franceska, and Julia!
<El-Cideon> OOC: ref, you three
<Franceska> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+5 and gets 11."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 Rosey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 Rosey and gets 13."12 [1d20=2]
<Julia> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 22."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> Franceska and Rosemund find themselves ensnared in the web, able to move only with great difficulty!
<El-Cideon> Rosemund attempts to struggle free from her predicament!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3+1-2 STR is all she's got here
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3+1-2 STR is all she's got here and gets 21."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> Rosemund snaps loose that bonds surrounding her! Meanwhile, the armored man sweeps in next to Stephanie and reaches out one darkly glowing hand--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 concentration
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 concentration and gets 32."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10-2 touch
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10-2 touch and gets 15."12 [1d20=7]
<Steph> OOC: Hah! He missed! And now it gets awful for him!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and Fran. Fran is entangled.
<Steph> OOC: Wait a sec
<Steph> OOC: I need to check something
<Steph> OOC: Yes, I'll use spell refeclt now <_<
<El-Cideon> OOC: which is of what effect, precisely?
<Steph> As the man lunges at her, Stephanie lets him touch her, only to lash out with her boot a moment later! OOC: If someone makes a spell with an attack roll agianst me and misses for any reason, I get to make it back at the same roll, usuable a few times a day.
<Steph> OOC: 1+dex mod times
<El-Cideon> OOC: go right ahead. His roll was +10 before gravity mod
<Steph> roll 1d20+8 same roll he used, stats don't matter
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+8 same roll he used, stats don't matter and gets 11."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> Unfortunately, Steph's righteous boot is errant in her fury!
<El-Cideon> OOC: magic duo~ Julia can move with difficulty, Fran has to break free before she can even attempt that
* Franceska becomes an albino devil bear, breaking out of her bindings with a rare fury!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+10 str
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+10 str and gets 26."12 [1d20=16]
<Julia> Julia walks forward out of the webbing and tries a different spell on the same target, a dull grey ray ponderously arcing through the air at the man with two swords.
<Julia> roll 1d20+4 ranged touch
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+4 ranged touch and gets 14."12 [1d20=10]
<Julia> OOC: DC 18 fort if that hit
<El-Cideon> Julia's bolt flies wide and impacts harmlessly against the cavern floor, while Franceska breaks free with a roar! Brenna stabs away at her nimble prey.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11+2+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11+2+1-2 and gets 13."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6+2+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6+2+1-2 and gets 13."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> To no avail!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph
<Steph> Stephanie is thankful for Brenna's distraction, as it allows her to really go for the balls on this guy! She attacks several times, mostly directing them towards his weakest point.
<Steph> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 and gets 29."12 [1d20=17]
<Steph> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 and gets 27."12 [1d20=15]
<Steph> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+7 and gets 21."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first two hit
<Steph> roll 2d6+9+8d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 2d6+9+8d6 and gets 43."12 [2d6=3, 5][8d6=3, 1, 4, 5, 3, 3, 6, 1]
<El-Cideon> His shoulders slump, an awful cry of pain wrenching out of his throat--but stands firmly enough to try and slip out of the pincer attack, barking a command to his companions and moving a split-second before they do--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+21-2 acrobatics, vs Steph and Brenna CMD
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+21-2 acrobatics, vs Steph and Brenna CMD and gets 29."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> OOC: CMD, Steph?
<Steph> OOC: 28
<El-Cideon> --the grievously wounded swordsman slips away from his assailants and retreats behind the safety of his comrades. Once he's loose, the snake rears back and spits a spray of venom at all in range!
<El-Cideon> OOC: fort for Steph and Brenna
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Brenna
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Brenna and gets 30."12 [1d20=20]
<Steph> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+10 and gets 27."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d4 rounds blind, halve this
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d4 rounds blind, halve this and gets 1."12 [1d4=1]
<El-Cideon> Bleariness threatens to obscure their vision, but both fight back the darkness! Snarling, the sorcerer reaches out his will to try again--
<El-Cideon> OOC: will, Steph
<Steph> roll 1d20+6 not so good this time..
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+6 not so good this time.. and gets 14."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> Apropos of nothing, Stephanie recalls a joke she once heard--giggles threaten to cripple her concentration, but somehow the punchline slips away at the last moment!
<El-Cideon> Rosemund charges forward to bludgeon the armored man still menacing Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12+2+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12+2+1-2 and gets 27."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+5 and gets 13."12 [1d8=8]
<El-Cideon> A hearthy *thwack* takes him on his helmet. Slightly dazed, he turns to fashion a hideous glare upon her--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 Rosey fort
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 Rosey fort and gets 17."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 except concentration first!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 except concentration first! and gets 34."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> Rosemund blinks and blinks away the spell!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and Fran
<Julia> Vexed that her spells are failing so horridly, Julia's expression nonetheless lights up as the enemies all group together without surrounding Stephanie. "Laugh this one off, cretins!" she howls, raising her arm at the same time as a forest of rubbery black tentacles erupt from the ground all around them!
<Julia> roll 1d20+14 CMB
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 CMB and gets 23."12 [1d20=9]
<Julia> roll 1d6+4 to everyone that gets
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 to everyone that gets and gets 8."12 [1d6=4]
<Franceska> Vexed herself, albeit for a far different reason, Franceska slowly makes her way towards Rosemund. She gestures at the man who dared to attack her friend, and a stalagmite suddenly emerges from the ground beneath him!
<Franceska> roll 9d6 ref dc18 half
<El-Cideon> The snake and the mage are snatched and squeezed by flailing tentacles! Though their swordsman leader remains untouched.
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 9d6 ref dc18 half and gets 34."12 [9d6=4, 6, 6, 1, 5, 1, 2, 6, 3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 ref
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 ref and gets 29."12 [1d20=19]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Thing (27) > Steph (23) > snake (20, grappled) = robed man (20, grappled) > smiling man (19) > Rosey (17) > armored man (16) > Julia (12) = Franceska (12) > Brenna (5)'
<El-Cideon> The spear grazes him, the man proving a shade too agile to be truly impaled upon it.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph
<Steph> OOC: I'm laughing
<Steph> OOC: I can't act don't make me :(
<Steph> OOC: Gah, I'm dumb
<Steph> Stephanie assaults the man anew! Although she doesn't stop laughing; she's often laughing in these situations, so she barely registered it was a spell.
<Steph> roll 1d20+12
<Steph> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
<Steph> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 and gets 18."12 [1d20=6]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+7 and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
<Steph> roll 1d20+12 crit?
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+12 crit? and gets 28."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> OOC: swordsjerk retreated and is in tentacle town. Going after him, or hitting armor goon?
<Kallen> OOC: I'll hit the armor goon. Can I flank him with someone?
<El-Cideon> OOC: Rosey's there
<Kallen> OOC: Excellent
<El-Cideon> OOC: and crit
<Kallen> roll 2d6+10+4d6
* Hatbot --> "Kallen rolls 2d6+10+4d6 and gets 24."12 [2d6=2, 1][4d6=3, 3, 3, 2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11+1-2 forgot Brenna's turn, she'll edge near tentacle town and stab the snake
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11+1-2 forgot Brenna's turn, she'll edge near tentacle town and stab the snake and gets 15."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6+1-2 and gets 13."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+2 and gets 6."12 [1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+2 and gets 3."12 [1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> The lone free enemy is gashed badly across the temple, while his companions struggle to free themselves--and the swordsman leaps free of the tentacle field to round the corner and disappear out of sight!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8-2 snake's trying escape artist
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8-2 snake's trying escape artist and gets 17."12 [1d20=11]
* Franceska growls in irritation. What happened to stand or fall?!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 CMB for sorc
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 CMB for sorc and gets 26."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> OOC: any successes there, Julia?
<Julia> OOC: yeah, CMD should be 24
<El-Cideon> The sorcerer tries slipping through to the rear of the field, though he's a scant few feet shy of freedom yet! Rosemund cries out in anger at the man who tried to blind her and batters away at him!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12+2+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12+2+1-2 and gets 18."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7+2+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7+2+1-2 and gets 19."12 [1d20=11]
<Julia> roll 1d20+14 regrapplan
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 regrapplan and gets 22."12 [1d20=8]
<Julia> roll 1d6+4
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 and gets 8."12 [1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> But Rosemund succeeds only in denting his armor! Frowning, he turns to Stephanie this time and tries uttering a horrible curse before she can fatally skewer him!
<El-Cideon> OOC: fort, Steph
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 concentration gahhhh
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15 concentration gahhhh and gets 25."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> OOC: okay, now fort >.>
<Steph> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+10 and gets 19."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> --But again his intended victim is able to fight off the darkness with no ill effects!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and Fran
<Julia> Approaching closer until she's not far behind Stephanie and Rosemund, Julia throws another spell on top of the tentacles, a thin cold mist that saps the strength of all within. Which is just a mage and a snake now, really.
<Julia> roll 1d6 cold and fatigued unless they have SR
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6 cold and fatigued unless they have SR and gets 5."12 [1d6=5]
<El-Cideon> OOC: the sorc has SR, snake does not
<Julia> roll 1d20+11 just cold if this fails
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+11 just cold if this fails and gets 26."12 [1d20=15]
* Franceska finally steps past the web, and then gestures for her allies to get a move on it and kill these obstacles already.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Thing (27) > Steph (23) > snake (20, fatigued/grappled) = robed man (20, fatigued/grappled) > smiling man (19) > Rosey (17) > armored man (16) > Julia (12) = Franceska (12) > Brenna (5)'
<Franceska> OOC: Mass snake's swiftness, everyone gets another attack now
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11+1-2 Brenna vs coily
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11+1-2 Brenna vs coily and gets 16."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+2 and gets 4."12 [1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12+2+1-2 Rosey vs armorjerk
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12+2+1-2 Rosey vs armorjerk and gets 32."12 [1d20=19]
<Steph> roll 1d20+14 attack vs. armored man!
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+14 attack vs. armored man! and gets 26."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+6 and gets 11."12 [1d8=5]
<Steph> roll 1d6+5+4d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+5+4d6 and gets 19."12 [1d6=4][4d6=4, 4, 1, 1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit, Steph
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Thing (27) > Steph (23) > snake (20, fatigued/grappled) = robed man (20, fatigued/grappled) > smiling man (19) > Rosey (17) > Julia (12) = Franceska (12) > Brenna (5)'
<El-Cideon> Finally the armored man expires, bereft of curses at last!
<El-Cideon> OOC: any action from Julia?
<Franceska> OOC: It's only an extra attack
<El-Cideon> OOC: okay! B is up, then.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11+1-2 and gets 17."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6+1-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6+1-2 and gets 23."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6+1-2 rapier crit?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6+1-2 rapier crit? and gets 25."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+2 and gets 7."12 [1d6=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+4 and gets 13."12 [2d6=3, 6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | Thing (27) > Steph (23) > robed man (20, fatigued/grappled) > smiling man (19) > Rosey (17) > Julia (12) = Franceska (12) > Brenna (5)'
<El-Cideon> The serpent skewered, all that remains obviously in the field is one tangled sorcerer!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph
<Steph> "Heeeey, are you gonna surrender?" calls Stephanie, dropping her swords and pulling out a pair of daggers. "You are, right?"
<El-Cideon> He merely snarls with rage from his predicament, showing no sign of repentance or submission!
<Steph> OOC: Actually, forget the dropping
<Steph> Stephanie shrugs. "Ah, tough times," laments Stephanie, before droping just her short sword and flinging a dagger into the man!
<Steph> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+11 and gets 26."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Steph> roll 1d4+4d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d4+4d6 and gets 14."12 [1d4=3][4d6=2, 1, 3, 5]
<El-Cideon> The dagger takes him in the gut as he makes a desperate attempt to break free once again!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 CMB
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 CMB and gets 23."12 [1d20=15]
<Steph> "Hey, come on! Dying sucks! Why would you want to die? I'd surrender if I was losing!" says Stephanie, not quite understanding. "It's not like you're drow or anything, we won't kill you if you're honest!"
<Julia> roll 1d6+4 damage
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d6+4 damage and gets 7."12 [1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> But his efforts are all in vain--the tentacles continue to squeeze and crack his ribs, while Rosey tries to focus her divine fury on erasing him from the planes!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 vs SR
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 vs SR and gets 17."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> OOC: whiff :(
<El-Cideon> OOC: julia and Fran
* Julia elects to dispense with the tentacles so they can pursue the man with the swords, moving forward and ignoring the nearly dead mage.
<El-Cideon> Julia can reach the bend in the tunnel and see...no one evidently there. There's hardly any light on the other side, and certainly no one waiting for her!
<Franceska> With the tentacles gone, Franceska charges the sorcerer down!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+14+2-2
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+14+2-2 and gets 24."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Franceska> roll 1d8+9
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d8+9 and gets 14."12 [1d8=5]
<El-Cideon> Shredded to within and inch of his life, the man barely remains standing. Brenna maneuvers around Franceska to finish the job! "Know when you are beaten, villain!"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11+1+2-2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11+1+2-2 and gets 20."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+2 academic
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+2 academic and gets 4."12 [1d6=2]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: heavy gravity (-2 to attack rolls, physical skills) | '
<El-Cideon> He falls with one last sibilant curse, the corridor quiet once again save for the breathing of the victors.
<Julia> "I can't see the other rat ahead," Julia complains.
<El-Cideon> Brenna nudges at the armored corpse with a boot. "Brigands?" she wonders. "Or not. Brigands rarely invoke a divine presence as their guide."
<Julia> "I can ask them their reasons, but first..." Julia casts a dispel on the dead mage, wondering if they're not the humans they appear to be.
<Julia> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+9 and gets 20."12 [1d20=11]
<Steph> Stephanie is already rifling through the pockets of the corpses!
<El-Cideon> There don't seem to be any spells in play for Julia to dispel...though examining one of the men closely, it's not difficult to recognize eyes of the same uncanny serpentlike aspect as Pheretima's.
* Franceska reverts to her proper human body, gravitating towards Rosemund.
<Julia> "Oh, I see. I think Pheretima took exception to us tattling on her," Julia says, pointing out the eyes.
<El-Cideon> Brenna kneels down and examines one of the corpses.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 and gets 23."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> "Yuan-ti," she concludes with distaste. "Strange place for them to be pursuing their god's schemes."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund shivers as Franceska approaches her. "For a moment I felt I would go blind forever!"
<Steph> "Is their god an evil god?" asks Stephanie, curiously.
<Franceska> "The dao took some relic they need for a no-doubt nasty ritual away from them. That might be it?" Franceska suggests to Brenna, before directing her attention fully to Rosemund and gives her an awkward one-armed hug.
<El-Cideon> "Oh!" Rosemund blinks in surprise. "Why, that was very considerate of you, Franceska."
<Julia> "What seperates Yuan-ti from humans?" Julia asks Brenna. "Do they have any special abilities or are they much stronger?" They didn't seem so, but if they can make useful undead servants she'd like to know.
<Steph> "I think they turn into snakes, or something?" guesses Stephanie.
<Franceska> "Yes. Well."
<El-Cideon> "Snake blood runs through them," Brenna says. "Supposedly their god's. They like to believe so, at least." She shrugs. "Some resistance to magic, shapeshifting, an affinity for darkness...they're all terrible scoundrels. This world's safer with few of them around."
<Steph> "Safe~"
<Julia> No, not terribly useful. Sighing, Julia kneels down to help Stephanie loot them of valuables, casting detect magic to help sort the wheat from the chaff.
<El-Cideon> She glances up the tunnel. "Not entirely," she observes, as one did escape.
<El-Cideon> OOC: the armored man's scimitar is magic, as is the dead mange's cloak.
<Steph> "Oh! Yes, um, one got away," mutters Stephanie, shaking her head.
<El-Cideon> Julia's senses prove not quite adequate to interpreting the sword's aura. Rosemund makes her own attempt!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 32."12 [1d20=19]
<Steph> "Hey, Rosie? That guy hit me with a bolt of hatred, targeted at my finely-toned biceps. Help?" asks Stephanie, sidling up to her friend.
<El-Cideon> "Oh, of course!" Rosemund's blinks at her carelessness, and promptly reaches out to heal Stephanie's wounds.
* Franceska makes a shooing gesture at Stephanie, but is sadly too late.
<El-Cideon> roll 4d8+18 heals
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d8+18 heals and gets 32."12 [4d8=6, 2, 4, 2]
<El-Cideon> She then proceeds to bless away that awful impairment Stephanie's suffering from!
<Steph> "Ooh, yeah! But, I mean, the other spell, that one that cures brain functions too- yeah, that's it!"
<Franceska> "Did it work?"
<El-Cideon> "There," she smiles. "Is everyone alright now? Shall we head back to town before that man can get up to further mischief?"
<Steph> "I don't suppose we can catch him," replies Stephanie, pursing her lips. "He'll probably find he has better things to do than hunt us down, anyway."
<Julia> "Sooner I can lie on a soft bed the better," Julia agrees, leaving the corpses as unimportant and unworthy to her future plans.
<Steph> "That's the one good thing about this plane," replies Stephanie. "You really sink into the matresses, here. You know? So fluffy!"
<El-Cideon> And so the group presses on through the tunnels back to Peridot. There are no further interruptions to your journey, though everyone's limbs are crying for rest by the time you see the city outskirts again. As for the city itself--
<El-Cideon> You return to find Peridot in a state of some confusion. Half the city seems to be out on the street, mostly in small, watchful clumps around private residences, eyeing strange passers-by with some caution and challenging anyone who draws too near, but a murmur suggestive of larger mobs echoes 'round the great cavern.
<El-Cideon> Being one of first buildings encountered on entering the city from the west, the dao trading outpost immediately catches your attention. There is a restless crowd here watching some sort of confrontation: a dwarf, gray of hair and of venerable age yet still fully armed and armored, and with the silver symbol of a warhammer dangling round his neck. He is flanked by four hearty warriors, and the entire party clad in gleaming, impressively filigreed plate mail. The lead dwarf is engaged in an indignant harangue directed towards a figure standing atop the outpost wall when you arrive.
<El-Cideon> The handsome human guard is on duty at the front gate, flanked by the usual pair of elementals, though his black-haired partner is absent and the man looks worried and bewildered by this development in the face of a hostile dwarven gang.
<El-Cideon> Above him, deriving some evident satisfaction from his safe height (and, no doubt, from the pair of stone golems standing protectively at his side) is Pomerand's chief underling Deming, bald, mustachioed and white-robed, in a state of some evident trepidation.
<El-Cideon> "Then go tell your master," the dwarf is shouting, calmly but with a solemn promise of ill intent should he be crossed. "Peridot shall no longer profit you. This is your eviction notice. We give you one day to close your affairs and depart the city peacably. Do not think this an act of mercy--it is a favor to my human counterpart, whose wishes for self-determination I have endeavored to respect, and who has always wished to avoid violent conflict. Had it been my own that you abused, I should tear down that wall and crack your misshapen skull right now. And should I find you here tomorrow, I will do just that. Flee while you might, I care not. Justice will be done. Mark well the fate of your confederate!" he adds, turning away. "For this is not, as the humans might say, our last port of call on this day."
<El-Cideon> Deming scuttles down behind the safety of his wall as the dwarf leader turns to leave.
<Steph> Before he turns around, Stephanie appears to transform into an armored dwarf! "Ho there, friend!" he calls, approaching the leader.
* Franceska turns her amused laugh into a cough as she looks away.
* Julia just mouths 'why' at Stephanie's transformation, watching the impending cart-wreck.
<El-Cideon> He grunts a weary greeting, then, more politely: "I wish I could greet you with a 'Good day,' stranger, but in truth we've seen better. This isn't a fine time to be out on the streets. If you're new here, best find a hostel and keep your head down."
<Steph> "Aye, I'm new, but I'm a curious chappie who'll no-doubt find answers from others, if you'll not provide them," replies Stephanie. "You and I would both know it's best to get the story straight, eh?"
* Julia wouldn't mind joining up with an anti-slave gang, but doesn't want to get in the way of Stephanie's plan. If she has one.
<Steph> OOC: Oh, speaking Dwarven
* Franceska might wonder whether these dwarves would be useful in eliminating their enemies if she weren't quite so taken with amusement.
<El-Cideon> "Then let us walk and talk," he says, setting out through the streets to the east. "We have business with a vile sort soon and no notion of their readiness." He nods, not seeming to object to however many friends are following dwarf-Steph around but only speaking directly to her. With a sigh: "Now, it depends on which story you want. Would it be the child-stealing slavers, the skeletons, or all this demon nonsense that's got the human townsfolk in a ruckus? And there's been a murder too." Another sigh. "Truly you've chosen a poor day to visit. This is normally a quiet town."
<El-Cideon> "What are they talking about?" Rosemund whispers to Franceska and Julia, plainly hoping someone would talk in a language she understands!
<Steph> "I've an axe to grind with slavers m'self! Filthy folk!"
* Franceska shrugs.
<Julia> "I don't speak... dwarf?" Julia whispers.
<Franceska> "I only learn the language of my enemies."
<El-Cideon> He grunts. "Truth enough. That lot behind us--" he nods back to the trading outpost, "--they've been sneaking folk away for years. Everyone knows it, but they work in a way that makes it seem they obey the letter of the law and it's only the fault of debtors for getting themselves into this trouble. But this time--this time we've got it from the pages of the trademaster's own accounts." His brow wrinkles with obvious distaste as he quotes: "'Human female, twelve years of age, sold to Lady Xenobia for two thousand gold pieces." He looks ready to spit on the spot but evidences better manners. "There's no talking 'round that one."
<Steph> "Blackguards, the lot of 'em. The gold makes madmen out of folk," notes Stephanie. "You'll have m'blade if y'need it. What of the skeletons? Be there undead that need a'hammering?"
<El-Cideon> "Truth enough," he agrees to the former. "And we're on our way to snatch the child back before any ill becomes her. The slavers we'll deal with on the morrow, if they've not the sense to leave." To the second, he scratches his head: "Well, the way I hear it, the mayor's taxman was making his rounds and came calling on this wizard by the name of Sark. The man wasn't home any time of day, so the taxman brought the guards with him and hammered down the door. Turns out there *was* someone home and they didn't fancy visitors. Chased the guards out into the street and had a ruckus right there. Now who knows where this wizard is or what he's up to. He owns a mine, most like hiding out there." He shrugs.
<Steph> "Ah, the child's still within reach? It's no longer a matter of you needing my blade, then; I'll be there," vows Stephanie. "Wizardry and taxes, though- faugh!" He (she?) shakes his head.
<El-Cideon> "We hope for as much, but there's no telling what malevolent ends someone evil enough to purchase a child might need it for. We'll find out soon enough." He just nods to the latter. "Seemed a decent fellow, this wizard, from what I knew beforehand. Gave money to freed slaves, that sort of thing. But man keeps an army of bones in his basement, folk change their minds real quick. Wouldn't have expected this. Strange days indeed."
<Steph> "And on top of it all, demons and murder!"
<El-Cideon> Another sigh. "I don't know all what that's about. Some days ago the watch finds drugs on a merchant's cargo and folks say a demon put them there; then there's some rape over at the other temple and Kardanus says it was fiendish drugs drove the man mad; now everyone in town's seeing fiends everywhere. Might be the murder had something to do with it. She was, ah--" He looks embarassed. "The local brothel madam, had a touch of the lower planes about her if you get my meaning."
<Steph> Stephanie balks. "You don't say? 'tis a shame that some have such prejudice about them."
<El-Cideon> "That's only my guess, friend. It isn't mine to investigate a murder."
<Steph> "Aye, no one man can do every job," agrees Stephanie. "I'll be looking into a hostel then, friend, but you'd not forget that Grinpike Bristleybeard will swing an axe act for law and goodness, if needs come!"
<El-Cideon> He nods. "If your find yourself in trouble, just stop in at the temple of Moradin. A dangerous time for strangers, as I said. Tell them Primarch Arwin sent you for shelter, they'll set you up somewhere safe." He moves on across the market bridge. "And if you'd like to help see justice done, meet us at the trading outpost on the morrow!"
<Steph> After he leaves, Stephanie turns back into a different version of herself- a blonde human this time, with a ponytail and a mage's coat. "Mercedes is dead," she says, sounding furious.
<El-Cideon> "What--how?" Rosemund gasps, horrified.
<Julia> "But she was so nice!" Julia gasps.
<Julia> "I bet Pheretima had her killed just like she tried to kill us," Julia frowns, thinking on it. "Maybe from now on we should reconsider betraying everyone we meet?"
<Steph> "Murder," replies Stephanie. "Probably that snake-eyed bitch... but it might have just been a hate crime, too," she adds. "I warned her! I fucking warned her, and-" She rubs her eyes.
<Franceska> "Or we could avoid talking to such obviously horrible people as that snake witch in the first place," Franceska feels the need to say.
<Steph> Stephanie grunts. "Look, I wasn't sure about it, okay? Don't wanna go kill people I'm not sure need it? I'll go front getting her raised, so shove it, Franzy."
<El-Cideon> ~