Spring-Heeled Jack: Threat or Menace?

Ebiris · August 23, 2013, 04:55:55 PM

[18:03] <@Kotono> After leaving Myann, the party takes a quick side trip to the Circle itself. They would, except that when the stairway down appears for it, Kral is awaiting. He greets the party with a slight nod.
[18:04] <Gildas> He nods his thanks to the other two for the side trip and nods back to Kral. "I had one question before we left, if you don't mind answering it... A few weeks ago, the forest was beset with some very peculiar weather. We figured out that someone was controlling it -- I was just wondering if you wouldn't mind telling us what that was about? It was quite the storm!"
[18:07] <@Kotono> Kral shakes his head. "It's Circle business and it's not mine to tell. It doesn't concern you and won't impact your crops."
[18:09] <@Porridge> "Fair enough," Porridge says, "Myann looks like she's doing well at least," he says, in case Kral happens to have his own opinion on her progress.
[18:09] <Gildas> He nods to that answer, satisfied that they know who did it for certain, now. "Yes, thank you very much for all of your help."
[18:11] <@Kotono> "She'll survive," Kral steps in, the stairs closing up behind him. He goes to sit on the bare floor, gesturing for the others to join him, "Better than most in her situation."
[18:12] * @Porridge drops to sit down agreeably enough. "Best we can hope for I guess."
[18:12] * Feather sits down at the invitation. "Unless there's more we can hope for?" he voices. "Something else we can get to make it easier?"
[18:14] <Gildas> Gildas sits down as well! "It is too bad we cannot just outright remove it, but... perhaps, if she controls it, that will be her own way of standing up to the fey."
[18:14] <@Kotono> "There are," Kral says, "But they would take long trips into the fey's world. I don't think she'll need them. It won't be enough to free her and her magic has given her a way to control her mantle."
[18:19] <Gildas> He nods. "Well, I'm just glad that she's been able to come this far."
[18:20] <@Kotono> "I've learned a lot about the fey from her," Kral goes on, "Ho hum." Sitting back and tiredly shaking his head, "Brutish, powerful and arrogant creatures. Much like this land."
[18:21] <Gildas> He grimaces. "That last part is certainly correct... although Feather did reason with one while we were crossed over."
[18:21] <Feather> "Fighting them's pointless, even if it took me a while to learn that." Feather shrugs. "Last resort and all."
[18:23] <@Porridge> "The land's a lot better than they are," Porridge says, annoyed at the supposed link between fey and nature when they're all so blatantly horrible.
[18:23] <@Kotono> "You're right. If you win and kill one, you're likely to end up cursed. Even if you don't kill them, you may end up in a bad situation." Kral shakes his head, "Have you heard Myann's voice from afar? I suspect now that all of the Fair Folk hear their mantles like that, all the time."
[18:24] <@Porridge> "Heard it a few times," he adds.
[18:24] <Feather> "Yeah."
[18:25] <@Kotono> "Madness is inevitable. Why it cleaves along the same lines with all of them is a mystery," Kral admits, "All of you gave Myann something to focus on besides the voice of her mantle. It probably saved her sanity."
[18:26] <Gildas> "To hear such a horrible voice all the time... It is no wonder many of them are so... " He searches for the right word. "...Troubling." He shakes his head after. "It is no wonder we first met them at a circus..."
[18:28] <@Kotono> "Exactly. Now...remember to keep this insight to yourselves," Kral rises, "The Fair Folk do not like their secrets being spread."
[18:30] <@Porridge> "Yeah, fair enough," Porridge says. It's not the sort of thing to drop into just any conversation.
[18:30] <Gildas> "Hopefully we can avoid anymore run-ins with them, but they always seem to pop up at the most inopportune times..."
[18:33] <@Kotono> "Hopefully," Kral agrees, "Good luck." OOC: REady to skip along now?
[18:33] <Feather> OOC: sure
[18:34] <Gildas> OOC: Yahp
[18:35] <@Kotono> A week of hard work passes. It's unremarkable time in the zenith of summer. Between building and lending a hand with farmwork, the trio loses track of the days quickly. The last evening at the end of the week finds everyone standing inside the finished pub. It's a fairly basic building right now. It has a long bar, a few tables and chairs, that sort of thing. There's a large fireplace and a huge
[18:35] <@Kotono> bearskin rug besides it. Bird feathers and a few stuffed animal heads decorate the walls. "It's open," Rashen announces, "It's done!"
[18:36] <@Kotono> Brutes ambles right over to the bar, "Finally. Where's the ale?"
[18:36] * Feather laughs, taking a seat by Brutes. "Bet that'd draw people over like nothing else!"
[18:37] <@Kotono> "Here here," Robert goes to join him, "Let's have a round to celebrate that, and then another round celebrating overcoming fraud druids, wild bears and the weirdness underground!"
[18:38] <@Porridge> "You got the still up as well?" Porridge asks Rashen. It'd be sad if it was just a building with no booze after everyone got all excited.
[18:38] <@Kotono> "Ale? Wine would be superior," Hylath takes up another barstool, "One of the marks of civilization is the growth and fermentation of grapes. Grapes are a noble fruit that much glory comes from."
[18:39] <@Kotono> "Of course I do," Rashen says, "This batch was a rush job, but I have some ale," he says, reaching downa dn bringing up several mugs on a tray. You're on your own for wine, didn't bring any."
[18:39] <Feather> "The more variety we have, the better," Feather muses, asking Hylath, "Think we could import some?"
[18:40] <@Porridge> "Might get berry wine if you're lucky but I haven't seen any grapes around," Porridge says, taking a mug and then taking a drink.
[18:40] <Gildas> "Ah, the timeless debate..." He remarks as he takes another seat. "Perhaps we could trade spirits with Malaines."
[18:41] <@Kotono> "Malaines grows grapes," Tindas says as he joins the rest, "But we have to clear away the forest to do it."
[18:41] <@Kotono> "Cheers!" Robert takes his mug and raises it up before taking a long draught.
[18:41] <Feather> "Cheers!"
[18:42] <@Kotono> The ale's on the strong side and pungent. Strong!
[18:42] * @Porridge has no problem with that and takes a deep gulp. "Ahh, that's the stuff!"
[18:43] <@Kotono> As the party drinks up, the sound of the door opening is heard behind all of you.
[18:43] <Gildas> "It is good to be rewarded after such hard labor." He nods, not actually drinking anything of the alcohol. He does turn to the door, though.
[18:44] <@Kotono> The door is pushed open snout first by a giant panther. It's not the purple one, but instead a familiar one with a mushroom dangling atop her head. She sniffs the air once before shifting back into her normal form. "Hi," she says slowly, smiling a little bit, "Do you mind if I join you?"
[18:45] <@Porridge> "Myann!" Porridge grins heartily, thrusting his mug at her. "Here, have a drink, we can make this a party for you getting out as well as us finishing the tavern!"
[18:46] <Feather> "Welcome back!" Feather is all too happy to greet her, grinning.
[18:47] <@Kotono> "Welcome back!" Robert echos, "Good to see you back." He smiles to her, putting his mug down. "Feeling better?"
[18:47] <@Kotono> "Ah, such a beautiful blossom has returned!" Hylath calls, "Cheers!"
[18:48] * Gildas smiles and nods in greeting as well. "Yes, I think everyone will enjoy your company."
[18:48] <@Kotono> Myann's smile is slow as a blush comes to her cheeks. "Yes!" Her answer follows her coming on over to join the rest, "I'm back home now." Taking a mug of her own and taking a long drink, "I'm alright now. No more problems."
[18:50] <@Porridge> "Glad to hear it," Porridge says happily, working on his own mug once more.
[18:53] <@Kotono> "Plus?" Myann taps the bar, a single blue mushroom growing there. She smiles and pats it, which causes the mushroom to shrink back to nothingness. "I'm going to control this, not be controlled by it. No more problems like that, and if somehow we have a bad harvest, we won't starve."
[18:55] * Feather raises his mug to toast Myann. "That's two more reasons to drink!"
[18:55] <@Porridge> "So the ale tastes like ale and not mushroom soup?" Porridge asks her.
[18:56] <@Kotono> "Yeah," Myann replies after taking another gulp. "I think I could make yours taste like mushrooms if you want, though."
[18:57] <@Kotono> "A bitter winter if we fall to that," Brutes mutters to himself, "But glad to see you back, girlie."
[18:57] <Gildas> "Mushroom-flavored ale... An interesting idea, at least." He chuckles.
[18:57] <@Porridge> "No thanks, like it as it is," Porridge shakes his head quickly. "But good to know you won't be scrounging other people's breakfasts any more."
[18:58] <Feather> "Sounds like Gildas's asking for it!"
[18:58] <@Kotono> "Or having mushroom eyes, or spontaneously shedding mushrooms like a dog sheds fur." Myann finishes her drink off, "So he is," With a growing smile, Myann glances at his drink. Several mushroom shaped beer bubbles come to the surface of his mug and pop out.
[18:59] <@Kotono> "Wonderous and terrible are the powers of the Sidhe," Hylath murmurs, "Broom, troom, doom, boom, joom...hm. Oh, zoom. Yes, zoom ryhmes as well."
[18:59] * Feather laughs again, observing Gildas.
[19:00] <Gildas> He shrugs and decides to try it. What's the worst that could happen? Well, besides it tasting like mushroom-flavored beer, anyway...
[19:03] <@Kotono> Mushrooms. Oh GODS. It's like the essence of mushrooms was distilled and poured into Gildas' mouth. He can imagine every mushroom that has ever been is in his mouth! It's like his mouth was connected to a great river of concentrated mushrooms and it won't stop!
[19:05] <Gildas> Yep, that's about the worst that could happen. He crinkles his nose and puts the mug down. "...It doesn't taste anything like beer, at least..." He coughs once. "Was this made with the spring water, by any chance?"
[19:09] <@Kotono> "No, just well water," Rashen says.
[19:10] <Feather> "So what's the first thing you wanna do, now that you're back?" Feather asks Myann.
[19:11] <@Porridge> "Best to save the spring water for the really good stuff," Porridge agrees sagely.
[19:12] <@Kotono> "There's a town a few days away, isn't there?" Myann says, "How about we go take a look, maybe see about bringing over a few people?"
[19:13] <Feather> "Sounds good. It's been a while since we've been there, too."
[19:13] <@Porridge> "Sounds a good idea," Porridge agrees. "After that we can start building more houses here, maybe a mill?"
[19:14] <@Kotono> "Have you been to Willowford? That's the one I'm talking about," Myann says.
[19:14] <Feather> "Oh, was it?"
[19:15] <@Porridge> "Yeah, the human one?" Porridge nods, "We've already been to the elven one recently so I doubt we'd get much of a new response there."
[19:17] <@Kotono> "Sounds like a plan," Myann says. OOC: Y'all good with skipping along now?
[19:17] <Feather> OOC: k
[19:18] <Gildas> OOC: Yahp
[19:18] * Quits: Soul (~Soul@99-177-222-135.lightspeed.stlsmo.sbcglobal.net) (Ping timeout)
[19:21] <@Kotono> Thus the next day the party leaves for Willowford! Past the farm the normal gloom of the Vastwoods sets in once more...OOC: Any prep I should be aware of or anything?
[19:22] <Feather> OOC: Just the usual potions
[19:22] <Gildas> OOC: Nothing special here.
[19:22] <@Kotono> OOC: Right.
[19:23] <@Porridge> OOC: 2 healing waters
[19:24] <@Kotono> OOC: Righto, let's go then.
[19:24] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 17." [1d100=17]
[19:24] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:24] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 96." [1d100=96]
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 48." [1d100=48]
[19:24] <@Kotono> OOC: Who's taking the lead here?
[19:24] <@Porridge> OOC: I will
[19:24] <@Kotono> OOC" Make a survival check.
[19:25] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+11
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+11 and gets 24." [1d20=13]
[19:27] * Joins: Soul (~Soul@99-177-222-135.lightspeed.stlsmo.sbcglobal.net)
[19:27] <@Kotono> Just before lunch, Porridge comes across tracks. They're human-like on first glance, but the middle of the heel of each step has a deep gouge in it, like something stabbed into the ground.
[19:28] <@Porridge> Porridge calls a halt and kneels down over the tracks, examining a few as he tries to figure out if it's someone walking with knives stabbed through their legs or they were wearing some strange kind of footwear...
[19:29] * Gildas blinks at what Porridge indicated and takes a look too! "Huh..."
[19:29] <@Kotono> Myann approaches, "Any idea what caused those?" she asks, coming on over. Meanwhile Porridge takes a look...OOC: Any of you with ranks in K:R?
[19:29] <@Porridge> OOC: nope
[19:30] <Gildas> OOC: Not I.
[19:30] <@Kotono> OOC: Feather?
[19:30] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 26." [1d20=18]
[19:32] <@Kotono> The gouges are about two feet deep. They look too clean to be claws or anything but manufactured blades. Meanwhile an old story comes back to Feather. The story of the Springheeled Stabbers, a necromantic cult that created skeleton assassins. They are best known for blades in their feet, able to impale their victims with dropkicks and then walk on their hands, all while jostling the impaled
[19:32] <@Kotono> victim along. The internal injuries this causes proves to be rapidly fatal, in case merely being impaled isn't.
[19:33] * Feather curses, throwing his hands up in the air. "Fucking necromancers, again. See those, there?" He points at the impressions in the ground. "That be skeletons, I'd put good money on that! With daggers for feet!"
[19:34] <Gildas> "...Daggers for feet?" He blinks. "...Hm... Well, what do we do? We could easily follow them..."
[19:34] <@Porridge> "Right, lets follow it? The town can wait, but this is too close to where we live to let go," Porridge says, standing up.
[19:35] <Gildas> "Considering the dire bear and now this, I agree with Porridge."
[19:37] <@Kotono> OOC: Make another survival check, Porridge?
[19:37] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+11
[19:37] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+11 and gets 28." [1d20=17]
[19:42] <@Kotono> The trail is followed for a good two hours. Despite hunger the party presses on! Eventually the trail comes to a dead end in front of a big old oak tree. However, a glance shows blade-gashes in the tree trunks, going up it.
[19:43] * Porridge looks up, hoping he isn't seconds away from having a knife-footed skeleton landing on his face.
[19:45] <@Kotono> OOC: Make a perception check, Porridge.
[19:46] <Porridge> roll 1d20+14
[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+14 and gets 16." [1d20=2]
[19:47] <@Kotono> No sign of anything immediately awry or coming down to impale him like a slab of meat.
[19:48] <Porridge> He wishes he'd brought Bubi along, but at the rate things are going his hawk will have gone feral in a few weeks anyway. "Anyone see anything up in the branches?" he asks, taking a moment to look for any further tracks surrounding the trees in case it left earlier.
[19:49] * Feather looks about, a hand on the hilt of his scimitar.
[19:49] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[19:49] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 27." [1d20=19]
[19:50] * Gildas glances upwards as well, peering into the trees. "I wonder... was it returning, or going out..."
[19:51] <@Kotono> Feather doesn't see an-check that! Way up in the canopy above, he sees a bit of rustling.
[19:51] <Feather> "Something in the canopy, up there!" Feather hisses, pointing.
[19:52] * Gildas turns his attention that way, ready in case of a dagger-foot skeleton!
[19:53] <Porridge> Porridge holds is axe up above his head to intercept any falling skeletons!
[19:53] <@Kotono> Myann draws her own blade, on the read! Then...OOC: More, sec.
[19:55] <@Kotono> Suddenly, there is a rustling above! From the canopy it bursts forth, a humanoid skeleton! It's clad in tattered remnant of armor! It's leaping feet-first towards the tree, landing 50ft above ground. Its feet-blades sink right in, the creature standing on the tree's side like gravity doesn't matter! It leers down, skeletal face locked in a rictus of fearsome joy. Then, devastatingly fast, it
[19:55] <@Kotono> begins to run down the tree towards you! OOC: Init here.
[19:56] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 23." [1d20=20]
[19:56] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Myann
[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 Myann and gets 21." [1d20=19]
[19:56] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Springheeled Stabber
[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Springheeled Stabber and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[19:56] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7 init
[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 init and gets 15." [1d20=8]
[19:57] <Porridge> roll 1d20+1
[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+1 and gets 2." [1d20=1]
[19:57] * Kotono changes topic to 'Feather(23)>Myann(21)>Springheeled Stabber(20)>Gildas(15)>PorridgeMiko(2)'
[19:57] <@Kotono> OOC: Go Feather. It's 50ft above you.
[19:58] * Feather prepares to interrupt the rushing skeleton's attack with his own once the enemy is within reach!
[19:58] <@Kotono> OOC: Right. Myann's up then.
[20:02] <@Kotono> "Here!" Myann quickly gestures as...
[20:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 23." [1d100=23]
[20:02] <@Kotono> A red and white mushroom appears over Gildas, falling on his head! In an instant he grows larger, super-sized! OOC: +1 size category as if by enlarge person. Stabber's up.
[20:03] <@Kotono> The Springheeled Stabber runs down the tree! Bits of bark rain down as it stabs in and out, the pulping of wood a steady grind! When it's 30ft above you, it leaps down - right at Myann! OOC: Going to take your go, Feather?
[20:04] * Feather is there to intercept the skeleton with a wide slash of his bastard sword, its blade crackling with electricity!
[20:04] * Kotono changes topic to 'Myann(21)>Feather=Springheeled Stabber(20)>Gildas(15)>PorridgeMiko(2)'
[20:04] <Feather> roll 1d20+10 zap
[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+10 zap and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[20:04] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[20:05] <Feather> roll 1d10+5+5d6 slashing, last elec
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d10+5+5d6 slashing, last elec and gets 25." [1d10=2][5d6=5, 5, 3, 1, 4]
[20:05] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+9 (+2 charge)
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 (+2 charge) and gets 20." [1d20=11]
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 2d4+3+2d6
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4+3+2d6 and gets 14." [2d4=4, 2][2d6=2, 3]
[20:09] <@Kotono> Feather lashes out! His blade cracks through the ribs of the skeleton, sending several flying in fragments! The wound would kill a normal man, but the skeleton hardly notices as he plunges his blade-feet into Myann's gut! She grunts as they hit, crying out in pain as the skeleton flips up! It's now on its hands, blades coming out of it as it runs 20ft up the tree! Myann hangs off its bladed
[20:09] <@Kotono> feet, struggling as she bleeds! OOC: Gildas.
[20:11] <Gildas> In an instant, the now-larger man is a giant eagle, flying up to claw at the skeleton!
[20:11] <Gildas> roll 1d20+8
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+8 and gets 28." [1d20=20]
[20:11] <@Kotono> OOC: No crit on undead but that's a hit.
[20:11] <Gildas> OOC: Hoozah.
[20:11] <Gildas> roll 1d6+8
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+8 and gets 14." [1d6=6]
[20:12] <Feather> "Myann!" Feather cries out. "Gildas, bring that bastard down!"
[20:13] <@Kotono> The embiggened eagle swoops up, tearing into the arm of the skeleton! Hunks of bone are chipped but it's tough enough to hang on despite being shocked once already. "Trying!" Myann manages to cough out! OOC: Porridge.
[20:15] <Porridge> Too impatient to wait for a chance to get it when it attacks, Porridge rears back his spear and takes a few steps forward before hurling it up at the skeleton!
[20:15] <Porridge> roll 1d20+8
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 and gets 23." [1d20=15]
[20:15] <Porridge> roll 1d6+3
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d6+3 and gets 4." [1d6=1]
[20:16] <@Kotono> The spear is thrown true! It flies up and hits the head of the skeleton! A single crack is left from it but nothing else, the spear falling back down after! Meanwhile Myann struggles...
[20:16] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[20:17] <@Kotono> She draws her hand back, a giant block appearing it, slamming it right towards the skeleton's head!
[20:17] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 touch
[20:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 touch and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[20:18] <@Kotono> But the skeleton's neck twists back at an unnatural angle, the block slamming into the tree instead! Then...OOC: Feather.
[20:18] * Feather climbs up the tree right after the skeleton, using Myann's dropped brick as a launching pad! He doesn't have blades for hands, but he does have a blade in hand! Then, it is a matter of grabbing the skeleton's foot and sending electricity right through its body!
[20:18] <Feather> roll 1d20+8 climb
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 climb and gets 9." [1d20=1]
[20:20] <@Kotono> Feather attempts to climb up, but he can't manage it! As he lands back safely, the skeleton begins to race up the tree! OOC: This provokes an AoO from Gildas, since he can't avoid this one with spring attack.
[20:21] <Gildas> roll 1d20+8
[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+8 and gets 17." [1d20=9]
[20:21] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[20:21] <Gildas> roll 1d6+8
[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+8 and gets 12." [1d6=4]
[20:21] <Feather> OOC: Can I use a swift to conclude my turn?
[20:22] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure FEather.
[20:23] <Feather> Even more frustrated than he had felt during the fight with the wyverns, Feather gestures at the fleeing skeleton as he lands, sending a white beam of positive energy at the undead!
[20:23] <Feather> roll 1d20+8 ranged touch, quick cast disrupt undead
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 ranged touch, quick cast disrupt undead and gets 12." [1d20=4]
[20:23] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[20:23] <Feather> roll 1d6
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d6 and gets 1." [1d6=1]
[20:25] <@Kotono> The beam hits the undead right in the head! It has no visible effect...but Gildas takes the chance to strike! Talons rip into the skull, caving it in! The skeleton goes rigid, unmoving now even as Myann is impaled!
[20:25] <@Kotono> roll 2d4+3 and free act, it had 1 HP after taloning.
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4+3 and free act, it had 1 HP after taloning. and gets 9." [2d4=3, 3]
[20:25] <Gildas> OOC: Can I get Myann off the blades with my giant bird talons?
[20:26] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure, but I'd require a dex check.
[20:26] <Feather> "Get her down! Quickly!" Feather calls over to Gildas, already retrieving two of his potions.
[20:26] <Gildas> OOC: Okay.
[20:26] <@Kotono> "I'm still alive," Myann calls, coughing up spit and blood.
[20:27] <Gildas> The massive bird attempts to pull Myann free of the blades in order to carry her down safely.
[20:27] <Gildas> roll 1d20+2 slow mo bird
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+2 slow mo bird and gets 16." [1d20=14]
[20:28] <@Kotono> The enlarged bird is able to manage just that, freeing Myann and keeping her deliately in his razor sharp claws.
[20:29] <Gildas> He brings her safely to the ground! Then goes back up to pry the skeleton off the tree and bring it down, too. He's a bit less gentle with that one.
[20:30] <@Kotono> "Thanks," Myann murmurs as she lies on the ground, looking up at the others. "Potion?"
[20:30] * Feather carefully helps Myann with the potions, offering fresh ones.
[20:31] <@Kotono> roll 3d8+5
[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+5 and gets 14." [3d8=5, 1, 3]
[20:31] <@Kotono> OOC: Wait, cehck that. How old is the potion/how much healing
[20:31] <@Kotono> ?
[20:32] <Feather> OOC: From when we left, and there are five of them
[20:32] <Porridge> OOC: It'd be less than a day but more than an hour
[20:33] <Porridge> OOC: I think 2d8+3?
[20:33] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[20:33] <@Kotono> roll 2d8+3
[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+3 and gets 11." [2d8=5, 3]
[20:33] <@Kotono> roll 2d8+3
[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+3 and gets 13." [2d8=5, 5]
[20:34] <@Kotono> A pair of potions seal up Myann's wounds. Meanwhile Gildas is able to get most of the skeleton down without incident.
[20:34] <Feather> "How about them tracks, Porridge?" Feather asks, staying near Myann. "Was there more than one, you reckon?"
[20:35] <Gildas> He shifts back and grimaces at the skeleton, still wondering why it was out here and whether it was going or coming back.
[20:35] <@Kotono> Myann lays back and sighs. "Grevious bodily harm, copious bleeding and horrors of the forest. I'm home," She sighs a little bit and then slowly smiles, reaching up for Feather's hand.
[20:35] <Porridge> "Just saw one, but we could follow it back the other way, see where it came from?"
[20:36] <Feather> "No kidding," Feather agrees, smiling back at her. "Can hardly believe you made all the trip back home on your own without running into some master necromancer or a rogue dragon."
[20:37] <Gildas> "Hm..." He looks up and shapeshifts again, going up to check the area where the skeleton originally came from to see if there happens to be anything else up there besides more forest.
[20:37] <@Kotono> "I cheated." Myann cracks a smile, form shifting. Before you is now a brown hawk. A single mushroom is in place of tailfeathers. Myann flies up and circles the group.
[20:38] <Feather> "Hey, that still leaves the dragons!"
[20:40] <@Kotono> Gildas flies up. He finds what he's looking for right away. Tucked amid several branches is a cracked, rusty iron scepter. Viscera and animal heads are piled up around it.
[20:40] <Porridge> "Gotten better at the shapeshifting then?" Porridge says, watching her fly around.
[20:41] <Gildas> He grasps it in a talon and carries it back down to the group!
[20:41] * Feather recoils from Gildas.
[20:42] <Gildas> He shapeshifts back with a sour expression. "You'd rather not see what else was up there with it. I have no idea what this is or why it had this up there..."
[20:43] <Porridge> "S'it magic? Or cursed?" Porridge asks, giving it a suspicious look.
[20:43] <@Kotono> Myann alights and transforms back, "I figured it out while I was working with my mantle," she explains.
[20:43] <Feather> "You sure it's safe to touch that? It looks like it'd have diseases. All of them," Feather mutters, checking it for magic anyway.
[20:44] <@Kotono> The scepter radiates magic. OOC: Spellcraft.
[20:45] <Gildas> His only response is a half-hearted shrug. "Better than it being left there for that thing's master to get their hands on."
[20:45] <Feather> roll 1d20+10
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+10 and gets 24." [1d20=14]
[20:46] <@Kotono> The scepter radiates strong necromancy. It's unstable, the magic in it off somehow. The item is damaged. It's mildly unsafe to have, every so often the magic makes a feeble attempt to lap at Gildas' life energy. With it so damaged it would take more time and study to figure out what it's supposed to do.
[20:47] <Feather> "There, you see?!" Feather exclaims, taking a few steps away. "It's trying to give you diseases right now! And, well, kill you by draining your life away like a vampire."
[20:48] <Gildas> "Then leaving it here is an even more unsafe thing to do." He shakes his head, seemingly not nearly as bothered by it as Feather is. "I'll take it to the Circle and ask them to investigate it, or just destroy it."
[20:50] <Porridge> Porridge taps the haft of his axe against his palm, "Could do that right now if you want."
[20:50] * Feather gives Gildas a very dubious look at that. "Hey, it's your life. And health."
[20:50] <Gildas> "I worry that breaking it here may do more harm than good." He nods to Porridge. "If you think about it, it might release something even more unsafe."
[20:50] <Porridge> "You're the expert," Porridge shrugs, replacing his weapon. "Want to follow the tracks back first?"
[20:51] <Gildas> He puts the item in his backpack and wipes his hands off on his outfit.

Ebiris · August 27, 2013, 04:37:41 PM

[18:22] <Gildas> "We certainly can. It's probably safer to do so, since we still do not know anything about why this creature was even here."
[18:23] * Feather shudders at the thought of more of them, just randomly being there.
[18:23] <@Porridge> "Alright then, back the way we came," Porridge says, backtracking easy enough with all the extra tracks to get back to where they first found the spiked footprints at least.
[18:26] <@Kotono> The party heads back. Some trail rations are munched as you return to stave off hunger. By the time you get back to where you found the tracks originally, it's well past lunchtime. They continue on the other way. OOC: Survival.
[18:26] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+11
[18:26] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+11 and gets 30." [1d20=19]
[18:30] <@Kotono> You follow the tracks for another hour. As you do...OOC: Perception, Porridge, since you're in the lead. The others can make it with a -4 penalty.
[18:30] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Myann (-4)
[18:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Myann (-4) and gets 12." [1d20=5]
[18:31] <Feather> roll 1d20+5
[18:31] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+5 and gets 18." [1d20=13]
[18:31] <Gildas> roll 1d20+8
[18:31] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+8 and gets 21." [1d20=13]
[18:32] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+14
[18:32] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+14 and gets 33." [1d20=19]
[18:33] <@Kotono> Your'e going through some tall grass and foliage, some cattails and other marshy plants around. There's a river a little to your left. As Porridge goes, he stops abruptly and just in time! Mere feet away is a hidden hole! It's disgusted naturally by the tall grasses, almost invisible until you fall in.
[18:34] <@Porridge> "Hold up," Porridge says, pulling away some of the long grass to get a better look. "Hole here."
[18:35] * Gildas stops and wonders if it's just a trap or if he leads somewhere!
[18:38] <@Kotono> The hole is about 15ft deep. The bottom is a mouth! A real, live, teeth filled, oversized mouth! After a moment Porridge can see it's been painted and carved that way.
[18:39] <Feather> "Why does the forest hates us?" Feather mutters after a glance at the mysterious hole.
[18:39] <@Porridge> "Huh... someone drew a mouth on the bottom," Porridge says in a puzzled tone, shuffling to the side and making room so others can see this curiosity.
[18:39] <@Kotono> Myann comes on over, kneeling at the edge and peering down. "It doesn't make any sense at all."
[18:40] <Gildas> "Should we try throwing something into it? Perhaps it's like that mud trap we found weeks ago?" He offers as a suggestion.
[18:41] * @Porridge looks around for a good sized rock to do just that!
[18:41] * Feather just moves aside, shaking his head. "We sure this is where we should be going?"
[18:41] <@Kotono> There's a few pebbles and stones about after a brief look.
[18:42] <@Porridge> "Have a look for tracks on the other side? Could've just jumped over it," Porridge muses as he grabs a fist-sized rock and chucks it down.
[18:43] * Feather does just that!
[18:43] <Feather> roll 1d20+10 survival
[18:43] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+10 survival and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[18:53] <@Kotono> The tracks continue on the other side. Rocks are thrown down! It hits the bottom and breaks. Nothing else happens.
[18:53] <Feather> "We've got tracks."
[18:54] <Gildas> "How peculiar... maybe it's a kobold trap to scare people." He shrugs and looks over to Feather. "Then let us continue."
[18:55] <@Porridge> Not a portal to some nether realm of devouring then. Circling around the hole, Porridge resumes following the trail!
[18:58] * Gildas follows along, too!
[18:59] <@Kotono> The trail resumes. You follow it for another half hour, until you come to a grove of thick, drooping and entirely oversized willow trees. Here the tracks go up the biggest, up and up towards the canopy above.
[19:00] * @Porridge circles the tree to see if it goes back down again. Surely they can't just spawn in trees, can they?
[19:03] * Gildas peers up the tree, as that's where the last one came from.
[19:05] <@Kotono> You don't see any sign of it having come back down this tree.
[19:05] <@Kotono> Gildas peers up. He can see branches and the canopy. It's hard to see anything telling from the ground.
[19:06] <@Porridge> "I wonder... it could have jumped from tree to tree to get around. Lets look at all the nearby trees, see if there's any spike-holes in the bark?" Porridge suggests, widening his search.
[19:07] <@Kotono> "I was thinking the same thing," Myann peers up and then back to Porridge when he speaks.
[19:07] <Feather> "I'm gonna try climbing up to take a look," Feather voices, figuring that he could use the practice after his shameful display earlier.
[19:07] <@Kotono> OOC: Make a survial check, anyone who's searching?
[19:07] <Feather> roll 1d20+8 I'll climb!
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 I'll climb! and gets 19." [1d20=11]
[19:07] <@Kotono> OOC: Climb check, F-right.
[19:07] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+11
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+11 and gets 14." [1d20=3]
[19:08] <Gildas> OOC: I'm going to just go Aerial and have a look around, if that's okay.
[19:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+9 Myann tries survival too.
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 Myann tries survival too. and gets 29." [1d20=20]
[19:08] <@Kotono> OOC: That's fine, Gildas. Make perception.
[19:10] <Gildas> roll 1d20+12
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+12 and gets 28." [1d20=16]
[19:12] <@Kotono> Porridge and Myann search the ground. They find a few other trees with signs of foot-stabs a bit higher up, but none go to the ground. Meanwhile Feather asends the tree and Porridge flies around! Up there they find one thing - an old skeleton resting amid branches and leaves. It's old and bleached white. It just lies there, no signs of movement or anything like that.
[19:13] <@Porridge> "Could've been waiting up here long enough for the tracks on the ground to have worn away, you think?" Porridge asks Myann, seeing she's having no more luck than he.
[19:14] <Feather> "Got one up here!" Feather calls down, ready to jump from the branch he's holding onto if the skeleton starts moving.
[19:14] <Gildas> Gildas-Eagle just flies around it, watching for the time being. You never know...
[19:15] <@Kotono> The skeleton isn't moving, as Myann shakes her head. "Nothing else," she says, looking up, "Is it a live-dead one or just a skeleton?" Just in case she quickly draws her blade.
[19:16] <@Porridge> Porridge grabs his axe as well, getting ready!
[19:16] * Feather peers closer to see if the feet are daggers.
[19:16] <@Kotono> There's no daggers in the skeleton's feet.
[19:18] <Feather> "It's not moving!" Feather reports, before adding, "Might be faking it! Gildas, can you drop it down on the ground?"
[19:21] <Gildas> The eagle nods, or, as best an eagle can nod, anyway... and starts to nudge and push the skeleton so it falls out of the branches.
[19:21] <@Kotono> Myann braces, waiting and staring up.
[19:21] <@Kotono> OOC: Where are you nudging it?
[19:22] * Feather shifts to be able to jump down if the skeleton shows any signs of unlife, much like the other one had done to Myann.
[19:22] <Gildas> OOC: Trying to push it out so it falls.
[19:23] <@Kotono> OOC: No, I mean where on the skeleton are you nudging it? Legs? Arms? Ribs?
[19:23] <Gildas> OOC: OH, sorry
[19:23] <Gildas> OOC: Uhh let's go with the chest area
[19:24] <@Kotono> Gildas approaches...and just as he's about to strike, the skeleton's ribs open up! Like twin claws they reach out, trying to wrap around Gildas!
[19:24] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 CMD?
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 CMD? and gets 13." [1d20=3]
[19:25] <Gildas> OOC: 26
[19:26] <@Kotono> But Gildas is much too fast! He darts back, avoiding the rib-snatch! The ribs miss and seal back together, falling back into place like nothing happened. OOC: Free act.
[19:26] <Feather> "Yep, it's faking!"
[19:27] <Feather> Thinking of a new plan, Feather carefully aims his hand at the skeleton while holding onto the branch he's sitting on with the other.
[19:27] <@Porridge> "Why is this forest full of evil corpses?" Porridge mutters, looking up but not seeing much chance to join in as yet.
[19:27] <Feather> roll 1d20+8 ranged touch
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 ranged touch and gets 24." [1d20=16]
[19:28] <@Kotono> Myann sighs, "I wish I knew," she adds, "It's not the fey, at least. They don't like the undead."
[19:28] <Feather> roll 1d6 disrupt undead
[19:28] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d6 disrupt undead and gets 5." [1d6=5]
[19:28] <@Kotono> The shot hits! But the skeleton doesn't seem damaged at all. If there's any injury, you don't notice it.
[19:28] <@Kotono> "...Gods above," Myann mutters in Elven, under her breath.
[19:29] <Gildas> The bird, angered by the attempts of this skeleton to eat it... or whatever, just tries to tear into the branches themselves and let gravity do the rest.
[19:29] * Feather calls upon Detect Magic in the meantime, frowning.
[19:29] <Feather> roll 1d20+10 spellcraft?
[19:29] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+10 spellcraft? and gets 25." [1d20=15]
[19:30] <@Kotono> The skeleton does not radiate magic. The branches supporting it are fairly thick, but Gildas' claws are far from normal. He slices through, the branch falling! It plummets down with a terrible racket! The skeleton rolls off as it falls, landing on the ground in the same position as before! It doesn't look the remotest bit damaged by the long plummet.
[19:31] <@Porridge> "Putting a good show on," Porridge says, seeing it fail to respond at all from the fall, nevermind that it stayed intact which no collection of bones should be able to do.
[19:32] * Feather takes a closer look around the area where the skeleton had been.
[19:32] <@Kotono> Myann leaps back at the impact, staring at the entire spectacle. "The hell?" she utters under her breath.
[19:32] <@Kotono> It looks like unremarkable willow branches. There's plenty of footstabs showing that the springheeled stabber was here, at least.
[19:33] * @Porridge takes a little run up and then boots the skull like a ball as if to kick it into the long grass.
[19:34] <@Kotono> roll 2d6 damage Porridge
[19:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 damage Porridge and gets 6." [2d6=4, 2]
[19:34] <@Kotono> OW! FUCK! FUCKKK! It's like kicking solid stone! It doesn't budge and an absolute lancelet of pain goes through Porridge's foot!
[19:35] <@Porridge> "Owww! Fuck!" Porridge yelps, stumbling back and falling on his ass. "Fuck! Like kicking a wall!"
[19:36] * Feather jumps down to rejoin Porridge and Myann on the ground.
[19:36] <@Kotono> Myann winces at that entire scene, "Porridge, do you need a healing spell? That looked incredibly painful."
[19:36] <Gildas> The bird lands back with the others and shapeshifts back. "Feather, could you glean anything from it? Is it magical...?"
[19:37] <@Porridge> "Yeah... think I broke my big toe..." Porridge says, looking at his foot and then gasping as his attempt at waggling it goes all wrong. "Definitely!"
[19:38] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 4." [1d100=4]
[19:38] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 60." [1d100=60]
[19:38] <@Kotono> After a misfire, Myann chants and taps Porridge's pained foot.
[19:38] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+5
[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+5 and gets 11." [1d8=6]
[19:38] <@Kotono> The pain fades, his broken big toe resetting and reknitting to normality.
[19:38] <@Porridge> "Aaahhh..." he sighs in bliss, clambering back to his feet. "Thanks, oh, not doing that again..."
[19:40] <Feather> "No magic's I've seen before," Feather says, shaking his head. He gets his trusted bastard sword, then, and attempts to hack at the skeleton's knee!
[19:41] <@Kotono> A hacking Feather goes. The bone doesn't even chip.
[19:41] <Feather> "Oh come on now! What can stop a magicked-up weapon?!"
[19:42] <Feather> roll 1d20+10 arcana?
[19:42] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+10 arcana? and gets 30." [1d20=20]
[19:42] <Gildas> "What kind of creature is this that isn't magical... but takes no damage from this? Hm..." He rubs his chin.
[19:46] <@Porridge> "It's not a creature it's a... thing. Like a skeleton made of adamant except even more... double adamant? Maybe even triple."
[19:47] <Feather> "It could, uh, be some sorta golem? Of-- yeah! Like that! Bet it won't like us taking it anywhere, if its body is made of teeth."
[19:48] <Gildas> "I've never heard of a golem that wasn't created with magic before." He sighs. "So what do we do with it? ...Actually, I wonder, do you think that scepter might be used with it?"
[19:48] <Feather> "Please don't."
[19:48] <@Porridge> "Bury it, save other people's feet?" Porridge suggests.
[19:48] * Feather nods in approval. "That's where skeletons should go."
[19:50] <Gildas> "If that's what you think is best."
[19:50] <@Porridge> Since it may not be amenable towards moving, Porridge just gets his shovel and starts scooping up big clods of dirt to heap over the skeleton.
[19:50] <Feather> "I ain't fighting a reanimated skeleton I can't even touch, that's for sure."
[19:54] <@Kotono> Porridge digs and tosses dirt over the skeleton. After the first few heaps, its hands move! It takes up the dirt and tosses it back in the general direction of the party.
[19:54] <Feather> "How horrifying."
[19:54] <Gildas> "...I do not even have words." He just stares.
[19:54] <Feather> "I do. Just used them, I did!"
[19:55] <@Porridge> "Uh... alright then..." Porridge stares a moment, unsure what to do now. "Just leave it, you suppose?"
[19:55] <@Kotono> Myann brushes dirt off her face, "This is absolutely...should I tell the mushrooms to grow on it?" she speaks up, "Though I suppose the reaction would be the same as dirt."
[19:56] <Feather> "Give it a try?"
[19:56] * @Porridge backs off a little.
[19:57] <@Kotono> Myann backs off a little more. Then mushrooms sprout all over the skeleton! For only a moment, before they wither away to dust. The skeleton faintly glows white-blue from it, but it only lasts perhaps a second.
[19:58] * Feather looks at that faint glow with Detect Magic, just in case.
[19:58] <@Kotono> The glow is magical, even if the skeleton is not. OOC: Spellcraft.
[19:58] <Feather> roll 1d20+10
[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+10 and gets 21." [1d20=11]
[19:59] <@Kotono> The glow is general magic, life energy converted to it. It flows towards the skeleton and vanishes. That tells you that there's decidedly something cloaking the skeleton from detect magic.
[20:00] <Feather> "Yeah, uh, the skeleton is eating your magic. We should go away, I reckon. Gotta be magical, with that."
[20:01] <@Porridge> "Well, we're not finding any better tracks of the footstabber. Want to just go on to Willowford, then?"
[20:02] <Gildas> "I wonder if anyone from the Circle could hear us if we called for them... this seems like a rather suspicious thing to find nestled in the trees, don't you think? I'm not comfortable just leaving it here." He frowns.
[20:05] <@Kotono> "This entire thing is bizzare," Myann mutters, "But I'm not sure I want to carry it all that way to them, either."
[20:05] <@Porridge> "Think you're putting a bit too much faith in their ears, Gildas. Go look for them later if you want, but there's nothing we can do right now with it," Porridge says, done with the thing.
[20:07] <Gildas> "I think it's our only possible lead as to what this is." He shrugs. "It probably won't be here later, because whoever owns it will come and hide it again."
[20:09] <@Porridge> "You want to carry it knock yourself out," Porridge suggests, adding, "'Cause you probably will."
[20:09] <Feather> "Wanna carry it yourself?" Feather asks Gildas. "I can handle your pack for you if you like. Don't much see the Circle liking an unkillable magic skeleton dropped at their doorstep, though."
[20:11] <Gildas> "When it inevitably arrives on the doorstep of the farm, will you have the same attitude?" He counters, then waves his hand dismissively. "Fine, then, let it be another mystery of the forest."
[20:13] <Feather> "You cursed us all just now," Feather deadpans. "Why did you do that?"
[20:13] <@Kotono> Myann frowns at that. "...He has a point," she finally says, "How about we make up a sled or some such to carry it."
[20:14] <@Porridge> May as well bow to the inevitable. Just... "Can we even lift it?" Porridge asks, moving to grab it by the collarbones and trying to pull up.
[20:15] <@Kotono> The skeleton's a bit heavier than it looks, but only a bit. It's liftable.
[20:16] <@Porridge> "Huh, guess we can. Alright, sled then?" he drops it ungently and gets to work on that plan.
[20:16] <@Kotono> Myann hmms to herself as the party works. As they fashion together a crude sled, "All of you know how some spells only affect creatures or objects?"
[20:17] <Gildas> He blinks, looking at Myann. "Hm? Are you suggesting we try one on this and see what happens?"
[20:18] <@Kotono> "Yes. See if a creature-spell or an object-spell works on it," she says, "If one works and not the other, that confirms that if it's a living creature or an object."
[20:18] <@Porridge> "Well, how about this?" Porridge uncorks one of his healing potions and pours it over the skeleton's jaw.
[20:19] <@Porridge> roll 1d8+1 if relevant
[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d8+1 if relevant and gets 9." [1d8=8]
[20:20] <@Kotono> OOC: A real potion or spring-water?
[20:20] <@Porridge> OOC: legit potion
[20:21] <@Kotono> The potion splashes across the skeleton's jaw. It stirs at that! The head turns to Porridge and a ghostly tongue appears to lick up the potion. "More..." It croaks in a bone-grating voice before going still again.
[20:21] <Feather> "Again with the feeding of magic!"
[20:22] <@Porridge> "Haha, cheeky bugger!" Porridge laughs, that not how most skeletons would react to a healing potion.
[20:22] <@Kotono> "YAH!" Myann yelps and stumbles back, scooting towards and behind Feather. "It has a tongue! A ghost tongue!"
[20:22] <Gildas> "Curiouser and curiouser..." He shakes his head. "Do you want to try and feed it, then?"
[20:23] <Feather> "Might be curious for you. Can honestly say it's the most horrifying thing I ever saw in my life, and I've seen things!"
[20:23] <@Kotono> "Sidhe things!" Myann adds from behind Feather.
[20:23] <@Porridge> "I've got one more potion and a couple of spring waters," Porridge volunteers, unsure though if it's the best course.
[20:24] <Feather> "It's not moving now! This is something we want!"
[20:25] <@Kotono> "Really want!" Myann adds right after, positioning right behind Feather. Discreetly one of her hands rests atop his.
[20:26] <@Porridge> "So... not feeding the friendly indestructible skeleton, then?" Porridge confirms.
[20:26] <Gildas> "It would probably be safer if we wake it up in front of people who might be able to deal with it." He offers. "So, I would suggest we move it, then feed it once we... well, once we've got more people there."
[20:27] <Feather> "Or just not feed it at all. Maybe it's some ancient evil that was defeated and sealed here ages ago!"
[20:28] <@Kotono> "There's enough evils with the Sidhe around, not to mention the wandering undead and who knows what else?" Myann says, "We shouldn't contribute to more evil unless we're sure."
[20:28] <Gildas> "Sealed up in tree branches?" He questions. "Either way, let's at least get it out of here and find out what it really is."
[20:28] <Feather> "Oh!"
[20:29] * Feather shakes his head at Gildas, then. "No, sealed in a skeleton, I was thinking? And anyway, there's a friendly evil nearby, ain't there? Why not go there?"
[20:29] <Gildas> He blinks, then nods. "You're absolutely right."
[20:30] <@Porridge> "Hey, that's pretty clever actually," Porridge agrees. "Maybe he's an evil ghost and the skeleton keeps him from floating around doing things?"
[20:31] <@Kotono> "Which friendly evil? The vampire?" Myann asks, then sighs, "I just realized I need clarification on that. That can't be good, can it?"
[20:31] <Feather> "I reckon, the vampire mage guy was decent enough with us. He's gotta have the knowledge about this sorta thing. And if it's all part of his evil plan, might as well have it spring now on our terms than some later time?"
[20:31] * Feather gives Myann an understanding look, nodding.
[20:33] <Gildas> "It may actually be his."
[20:33] <Feather> "I know he acted nice to Myann, but he did actually have a spine."
[20:34] <Gildas> "He did mention he had done work with homonculi, didn't he?" He recalls. "Either way, it's probably a bit of a trip back there. I'll pull our Friend here." He offers.
[20:34] <@Porridge> Porridge loads the skeleton onto the sled, ready to go. "Guess Willowford'll be there next time."
[20:35] <Feather> "Oh good, cause I won't. Sorry, but it's... undead and unkillable. Yeah."
[20:35] <Gildas> "It's fine, I'm stronger in my other form anyway."

Ebiris · August 28, 2013, 04:08:18 PM

[18:02] <@Kotono> OOC: Just taking the skeleton of DOOM back to the farmstead, y'all?
[18:02] <Feather> OOC: To the vampire
[18:02] <@Kotono> OOC: Well yeah, but turning around adn going ot the farmstead's on the way.
[18:03] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 6." [1d100=6]
[18:03] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 88." [1d100=88]
[18:03] <@Porridge> OOC: lets circle around our home?
[18:03] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure thing then.
[18:04] <@Kotono> OOC: Same watch pattern as always?
[18:04] <@Porridge> OOC: yeah
[18:04] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 95." [1d100=95]
[18:06] <@Kotono> The rest of the day passes without incident. The party sets up camp and rests. The next day brings you beyond the farmstead and into the three day journey to the vampire's lair. It is a ferociously hot day, the air thick, heavy and miserable. Later that afternoon, the forest grows quiet. The dim light dulls and the wind is rapidly beginning to pick up.
[18:08] <@Porridge> "Hey Gildas, are we gonna get another super-storm?" Porridge asks the obvious question.
[18:09] <Gildas> "If I had to guess, I'd say yes." He frowns.
[18:09] <Feather> "Maybe those druids really do hate the vampire? Think we've got time to make it over to his place?"
[18:10] <@Kotono> OOC: It's worth noting you're one day into a three day trip to the vampire's abode. Unless you have warp drives handy.
[18:11] <Gildas> "I think it's in our best interests to try and find shelter. If we cannot, I have a ...backup plan, but it won't be as good."
[18:12] <@Kotono> "If it's going to storm bad, we need to find some kind of shelter," Myann says, peering up into the dim canopy above you. "I think I'll fly up and take a glance at the sky to see what's coming."
[18:12] <@Porridge> "I could turn myself into a giant badger and dig us out a good-sized den to shelter in if it gets bad," Porridge offers. "Could also just dig a really really deep hole and chuck the skeleton in it."
[18:12] <Feather> "Might dig itself out."
[18:13] <@Porridge> "We could pour molten iron over it? Have to get iron and a forge mind, but if we're thinking big..."
[18:13] <Gildas> "I'll take a look around the immediate area." He says, then shapeshifts and goes to do just that!
[18:13] <@Kotono> Myann meanwhile shifts into her mushroom hawk form and flies up. OOC: Go ahead and make a perception check as you're searching, Gildas.
[18:14] <Gildas> roll 1d20+12
[18:14] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+12 and gets 31." [1d20=19]
[18:16] <@Kotono> Myann soon returns down. "Sky's clear that way," Jerking her head west, "And to the east there's a big line of stormclouds coming this way. Looks like a nasty one's brewing." Meanwhile Gildas searches around. He does find one thing - an old felled tree poking over the edge of a hill. The branches and half-dead leaves provide some extra cover. They wouldn't stop a storm entirely, but with that
[18:16] <@Kotono> and the hill to your backs you'd have something.
[18:21] <Gildas> He returns to the others and indicates the area he found! "I can attempt to entangle some of the plants and trees nearby to create more cover for us, but if the storm is... of considerable strength, then I'm not sure how long it will last. Either way, it's better than just standing here."
[18:21] <@Porridge> "Like I said, I can dig us a den," Porridge repeats. "Lets go get dug in before it hits, then?"
[18:24] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay then, what's y'alls full plan here?
[18:24] <@Porridge> OOC: I turn into a dire badger, dig into the hill beneath the fallen tree and make a u turn after descending a bit so we're not exposed to the wind, widen it out a bit, chillax.
[18:25] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Did you want to do the entangling plant thing too if you're doing a U-turn dig, Gildas?
[18:26] <Gildas> OOC: I'll cast Entangle to try and move things in front of the opening to at least stave off the rain and stuff.
[18:27] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay then. More coming.
[18:29] <@Kotono> Porridge gets to digging! He digs like only a badger can, forming a quick den! Meanwhile Gildas gets the plants ready, a loose curtain further keeping out the storm. In the embrace of damp earth, the party huddles within. Myann stays close to Feather, curling up close to Feather in the tight den. But your haste is rewarded, for soon the storm begins. You can hear the wind picking up and the rain
[18:29] <@Kotono> starting. From within here you can hear it, but are dry and safe. This lasts a few minutes until the first, faraway clap of thunder is heard.
[18:30] <Feather> "Wish I knew what was the deal with these freak storms," Feather mutters, keeping himself down.
[18:31] <@Porridge> Porridge chills out as only an animal with a thick coat of fur can, laying against the wall of his den and away from the skeleton.
[18:31] <Gildas> "I have a feeling it is just the lay of the land and how they form. Well... until people decide to make their own, anyway." He sighs.
[18:31] <@Kotono> The skeleton lies in the cave, same as always.
[18:32] <@Kotono> "It is summer," Myann murmurs, "Our family saw a fair few storms."
[18:32] <Feather> "Is it?" Feather muses. "S'weird, innit? All those knocked down trees and what not. It'd take them ages to grow, and these freakish storms are what, a couple weeks apart?"
[18:33] <@Porridge> "We don't know this one's a freak yet," Porridge says, voice surprisingly normal for coming out of a badger's snout. "Wait and see how the trees are after. Could just be a normal one."
[18:33] <Feather> "Got a point there," Feather readily concedes.
[18:34] <Gildas> "As normal as these forests can be, anyway." He adds. "At least we found shelter, though."
[18:35] <@Kotono> "For all we know, tree-mantle fey make sure trees regrow," Myann adds, and in a quieter voice, "I think that if I saw mushrooms wiped out in a storm or what have you that if I listened to my mantle, I'd want to see them come right back." She then shrugs her shoulders lightly. Meanwhile you hear af ew more peals of thunder amid the downpour outside. It's decidely getting closer now.
[18:35] <@Kotono> roll 10#1d100
[18:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10#1d100 and gets 431." [10#1d100 = 79, 36, 19, 62, 72, 8, 36, 25, 10, 84]
[18:38] <@Kotono> Thunder! Thunder begins to crash down, close enough to rattle the ground! Myann curls into herself as blasts of sonic might herald the coming of the sky's fury!
[18:38] * Feather holds Myann close as he waits out the storm.
[18:38] <Gildas> "I'm glad to not be searching for another of those sky gates in this..." He shifts his position.
[18:39] * @Porridge just lays with his head on his paws, quite content.
[18:39] <@Kotono> Myann curls into Feather, as the storm continues to rage!
[18:39] <@Kotono> roll 10#1d100
[18:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10#1d100 and gets 429." [10#1d100 = 62, 19, 2, 51, 83, 35, 75, 9, 15, 78]
[18:41] <@Kotono> For the next few minutes, everything is drowned out by constant thunder! A few times the den, even around the U-turn, flashes a bright white from a particularly potent bolt. In those moments everything is cast in super-bright light, shadows seared away. It makes your eyes dance with spots afterwards once the darkness returns.
[18:41] <@Kotono> roll 10#1d100
[18:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10#1d100 and gets 666." [10#1d100 = 60, 38, 43, 59, 78, 43, 61, 99, 90, 95]
[18:42] <@Kotono> OOC: Do any of you have the scent special quality?
[18:42] <@Porridge> OOC: not until level 12
[18:42] <Gildas> OOC: Not to my knowledge.
[18:43] <Feather> OOC: Nah
[18:44] <@Kotono> KRABOOOOOOOM! Several bolts seem to hit so close that your ears ring and you feel the physical force of them. The ground shakes after each bolt, drowning out everything but the smashing sound of the sky's wrath. On and on it goes, the bolts slowly starting to lessen over the next heap of minutes. Myann audibly exhales between one of the growing gaps, "I think we're past the worst of it."
[18:45] <Gildas> He nods to her. "I hope so."
[18:46] <@Porridge> "No way that was natural..." Porridge says dubiously, his ears still ringing. "Hey, think it's for the skeleton? As in the last really windy storm was what tossed it up into a tree miles away, and now it's trying to finish the job with lightning?"
[18:47] <Feather> "Or it's draining the storm's power to return to unlife," Feather says fatalistically.
[18:48] <@Kotono> If the skeleton has an opinion, it doesn't offer it.
[18:48] * @Porridge sniffs. "Hey, Gildas?"
[18:48] <Feather> "So, uh. Does anyone else smell the forest on fire?" Feather asks warily.
[18:49] <Gildas> "I somehow doubt it is for our friend..." He blinks once and looks around, sniffing the air. "...Yes, I think the lightning may have hit some trees."
[18:49] <@Porridge> "Maybe putting all that wood in front of our shelter wasn't such a hot idea, yeah," Porridge agrees, getting up and padding around the corner to go take a look.
[18:50] <@Kotono> The covering to your den isn't on fire, thankfully. However, the scent of smoke is a little stronger out here. You don't see any smoke - it's still raining decently hard, though it is looking and sounding less heavy - but your visibility is poor due to rain and the covering.
[18:51] <@Porridge> "Actually no, must be further off," Porridge calls back. "Rain'll put it out in no time anyway." Thus he goes back to relaxing in his hole.
[18:52] <Gildas> "Ah, that's good news, then." He relaxes for now.
[18:54] <@Kotono> "Good," Myann curls back up. From there the storm slowly dies down. The thunder grows distance and then fades entirely. The rain trails off and slackens and the howling winds die down to a breeze.
[18:56] <Gildas> He sniffs the air again. "Hopefully nothing else caught on fire."
[18:56] <@Kotono> The scent of smoke is there but fading.
[18:57] <@Porridge> "Think the rain's done if you want to get moving again?" Porridge suggests, although he does feel quite comfortable down here. Probably the badger instincts talking, but it is quite cosy.
[18:58] <Feather> "Sure, let's give it a try before we get too used to hiding out here?"
[18:58] <Gildas> He nods to Badger-Porridge. "We may as well. If the footing is too mucky, we can always just wait."
[18:59] * @Porridge then leads the way out to see how the forest has survived in the aftermath of the storm's passing.
[19:00] <@Kotono> All around you can see new deadwood. Branches lie amid puddles of rain, temporary ponds and lakes formed all over from the downpour. The canopy is a little bit brighter now, nature's housecleaning having sent branches tumbling down. Down hill you can see a tall tree with a massive, burnt gouge in the side that wasn't there before. Several branches now hang limp, a good four feet wide gash taking
[19:00] <@Kotono> up nearly the side facing the party.
[19:01] <Gildas> "Remind me to never anger a storm-controlling fey." He remarks.
[19:02] * @Porridge makes a little sputtering noises and decides no matter how he can manipulate his vocal chords, creatures with muzzles can't whistle.
[19:03] <@Kotono> Myann takes up the slack, whistling at that tree. "That has to be at least three or four feet wide," she marvels.
[19:06] <Gildas> "We are quite lucky it didn't hit our tree." He glances back, then down at the gouged one.
[19:07] <@Kotono> "Everything's a mess," Myann wrinkles her nose, "Maybe we should rest early today and start tomorrow after everything drains?"
[19:07] <Gildas> "I think that may be for the best." He agrees. "We'd be hard-pressed to make much progress."
[19:08] <@Porridge> "Works for me," Porridge says, turning and ambling back into the hole.
[19:09] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 75." [1d100=75]
[19:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 25." [1d100=25]
[19:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 56." [1d100=56]
[19:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 61." [1d100=61]
[19:14] <@Kotono> The evening passes without incident. The skeleton doesn't talk again and nothing of note occurs. Myann rises early and fixes up a decidely tasty mushroom porridge. The rest of that day is unremarkable. It's slow going due to the cobbled together sled for the skeleton and the new layer of debris. Nonetheless there's no storms, no demented fey bothering you and not even any other undead horrors
[19:14] <@Kotono> besides the possible one you're lugging around with you. The next day is the same, but with delays you don't quite reach the vampire's abode until the next morning. But you finally stand outside of it, having found your way at last.
[19:15] <Gildas> "Hopefully he doesn't turn us away." He says, moving to knock the gargoyle ringer.
[19:17] <@Porridge> "Hi, we brought you a skeleton. To go with the one you already have!" Porridge says in a falsetto voice before laughing.
[19:18] <Feather> "It's either a threat," Feather voices, "or a magical curiosity. Either works, right?"
[19:19] <Gildas> "To him, he probably will consider it fascinating."
[19:20] <Feather> "To us, that'd be a good thing."
[19:23] <@Kotono> Within the cave the gargoyle knocker echos. After several moments the door opens and Vasili appears. "Sidhe friends," He steps back to allow entry, "Come in."
[19:24] <Gildas> "We've brought a... ah.... guest." He says, hauling the skeleton inside.
[19:24] <Feather> "Hello again," Feather greets him. Then, gesturing back at their makeshift sled, he adds, "We found something in the forest. It's pretty magical, so we hoped to borrow your expertise. But, uh, yeah. Wanted to ask first before trying to barge in with that."
[19:24] <@Kotono> "A skeleton?" The vampire gives it a glance, "Is it a restrained animated skeleton?"
[19:25] <@Porridge> "Don't think so, it's pretty invulnerable. And I think a ghost that likes healing potions lives inside it," Porridge explains helpfuly.
[19:25] <Feather> "What we've seen so far is that it attacks if you try to grab its torso, eats up magic and healing potions and reanimates. Then, there's the way it can't be harmed by anything, the way nothing shows up with a simple spell of detection or how it reanimates to talk sometimes."
[19:27] <Gildas> "We think it may be related to... ah, Feather, what did you call them? The skeletons with the daggers on their feet."
[19:27] * Feather shudders. "Could be. You know about the ones? This cult that impales you and then dances on their hands."
[19:32] <@Kotono> "That's...ah...unusual," The vampire remarks, brushing aside his wild blonde hair as he approaches it. "Where did you find it?"
[19:32] <Feather> "Up in some tree."
[19:33] <@Porridge> "Big grove of willow trees a few miles that way," Porridge jerks his thumb over. "Followed the trail of that foot-stabber back where it had come from."
[19:33] * Feather nods. "Yeah. Didn't see nothing special there."
[19:34] <Gildas> "Oh!" He withdraws the rusted scepter as well. "I do not know if this is related to it, but we also found this."
[19:34] <@Kotono> On withdrawing the scepter, the skeleton twitches! Its skull turns to Gildas and empty eyes stare at him!
[19:34] * Feather slaps his forehead.
[19:35] <Gildas> "I told you it was related..."
[19:35] <Feather> "Why are you reanimating it?" Feather asks patiently.
[19:35] <Gildas> "I'm not." He answers.
[19:36] <@Kotono> Vasili bites off a curse in a tongue none of you know offhand, sounding rather sharp. "So it is," He remarks, "For the magic of the Sidhe to fail to slay it...whatever it is, it is powerful."
[19:36] <@Porridge> "Well stop teasing it then!" Porridge butts in.
[19:36] <Feather> "You took it out, and the unkillable skeleton is looking at it! And you! Put it away!"
[19:37] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas, will you make a Fortitude save?
[19:38] <Gildas> roll 1d20+9
[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+9 and gets 18." [1d20=9]
[19:38] <@Kotono> roll 3d8+10 negative energy damage halve this
[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+10 negative energy damage halve this and gets 23." [3d8=2, 8, 3]
[19:39] <@Kotono> Gildas can feel the scepter grow warmer in his hand. There's a snapping sound as another small crack appears on the scepter! Gildas feels exhausted, as if all his energy just poured out of his body. The skeleton writhes on the ground, managing to rise up into a knee. "More..." it rasps.
[19:40] <Feather> "Can you do something?" Feather asks, turning to Vasili with a hint of desperation.
[19:41] <Gildas> Gildas grimaces and puts the scepter back in his pack for now. "Or tell us what you think this might be?"
[19:44] <@Kotono> The skeleton goes still for several moments, before falling back. Somehow it lands in the exact position it always rests in. "I see your problem,
[19:44] <@Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[19:45] <@Kotono> The skeleton goes still for several moments, before falling back. Somehow it lands in the exact position it always rests in. "I see your problem," He finally says, "For my friends of the Sidhe, I will try so. Abraham is waiting in the kitchens. Allow him to prepare a meal and any entertainment you wish while I take a look at this."
[19:46] <Feather> "A meal and a warm place to stay, away from that thing? That's entertainment enough, my friend."
[19:48] <@Kotono> OOOC: Good to skip along a bit now?
[19:48] <Feather> OOC: Sure
[19:49] <Gildas> OOC: Sho nuff
[19:53] <@Kotono> The meal provides for you is whole roasted duck glazed with orange, a bowl of almonds, several types of local greens and a faintly berry-tasting ale. As the party kicks back and eats, "Mmm." Myann says after another mouthful, "Hm?" She cocks her head to the side a moment, as if listening to something.
[19:53] <Feather> "Hear something?" Feather asks her.
[19:58] <@Kotono> "Oh, it's just one of the loud mushrooms," she says, and before anyone else can comment, "Somewhere far away, probably across the world, there's a special place where mushrooms grow. These mushrooms can cure any injury, and if prepared properly, are an ingredient to an elixir of eternal youth." She goes for a drink of her ale before going on, "I mentioned that mushrooms want people to eat them
[19:58] <@Kotono> to you, didn't I? Those really want people to eat them, and are loud enough to be heard that far away."
[19:58] <Feather> Both of Feather's eyebrows rise. "Immortality mushrooms? Just like that, no drawbacks?"
[20:00] <@Porridge> "Bet it's guarded by dragons and giants and stuff," Porridge says. The thought of such mushrooms sitting innocently under a random tree just not meshing with his conception of the world.
[20:00] <Gildas> "Perhaps we can make a journey out there someday." He comments. "...As long as it doesn't turn us into skeletons like our Friend out there."
[20:00] <@Kotono> "If properly prepared along with I don't know how many more ingredients, yes." Myann says, "I know what the mushrooms are named, but it's in a language I don't know." What she says next sounds like someone gurgling blood as they die, all while underwater. "I could make a copy and I have before, but the magic doesn't come with it." Playing with her food with her fork for a few moments, "Probably.
[20:00] <@Kotono> They've mentioned someone or something put them there. The Gods, perhaps."
[20:01] <Feather> "Maybe you'll figure out the direction one day, and we could go take a look?"
[20:03] <@Kotono> "It's far away," Myann says after a moment's thought, "I don't know how far, but I feel it's very far away." She pauses a moment and glances at the table. A green mushroom appears. It's familiar - the same ones that she sprouted when she touched the source of the healing spring, you think.
[20:04] <Gildas> "Well, someday we'll want to journey beyond here." He chuckles.

Ebiris · August 29, 2013, 03:58:34 PM

[18:03] <@Kotono> The rest of the meal goes well enough and it soon winds down. It's the sort of lazy after dinner conversation of little note, minor things discussed over empty plates and full bellies. It lingers on a time before Vasili returns. "My friends," he greets, "I can say in certainty that this will take some time to study."
[18:03] <Feather> "You have somewhere to start the study from, though?" Feather asks Vasili.
[18:04] <@Porridge> "You're okay with that?" Porridge asks, since they did just dump this on his lap.
[18:04] <@Kotono> Myann smiles slightly, "We would be grateful," she says.
[18:05] <Feather> "No one wants that walking up to their doorstep, properly restored, I reckon," Feather muses. "And the puzzle's an interesting one, I'd wager. But yes, we really would be grateful. It ain't really our field, so our knowledge here's all kinds of shaky."
[18:05] <@Kotono> "I do," he replies, his eyes sliding over to Myann. "It is no great imposition. I fear it would be best for you to take your leave and find entertainments elsewhere for a good time."
[18:06] <Gildas> "Do you wish to hold onto the... ah... instrument that seems to power it, or would it be best left apart from it for now?" He asks, still not quite over its earlier effects.
[18:09] <@Kotono> "I'd like to keep it. It's connected and that may be important to discerning the truth behind the mystery." So he replies, rubbing his hands togethe.
[18:09] <@Kotono> *together
[18:09] <Gildas> "I have a feeling you're probably immune to its effects, anyway." He nods.
[18:10] <Feather> "When do you want us to pay you another visit, Vasili?" Feather asks.
[18:11] <@Kotono> "At least a fortnight," He replies, "Perhaps longer. If there is no haste, it looks like it will hold here fine. I couldn't get it to react to my presence and I suspect it can't. There's no danger."
[18:12] * Feather nods. "We'll try to catch a lizard before we head over again. Slippery, those ones. You wanted one, right?"
[18:13] <@Kotono> "Yes," He confirms briefly.
[18:14] <Feather> The kobolds might have learned something by the time they finally return, so it would work. Probably.
[18:16] <Gildas> "You have our gratitude for taking up this task." He nods again, placing the scepter on a table or something. Whatever is nearby that isn't his own hand, anyway.
[18:16] <@Kotono> From there the party resumes traveling back. OOC: Going to stop by home or skim around it again?
[18:17] <Gildas> OOC: I'm fine stopping, it's up to the others though.
[18:17] <@Porridge> OOC: it's on our way, no harm in it
[18:17] <Feather> OOC: Whichever's faster
[18:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 95." [1d100=95]
[18:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d100 subtables time
[18:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 subtables time and gets 69." [1d100=69]
[18:20] <@Kotono> The afternoon is peaceable enough. You're making good time in the afternoon after leaving Vasili's home. You're going through a particularly annoying little dip heavy with underbrushing, pushing through it. As you come out the other side and climb up, a feminine scream can be heard ahead!
[18:21] <@Porridge> Porridge breaks into a run to go to the rescue of whomever's in distress!
[18:21] * Feather dashes in that same direction at his top speed!
[18:21] <@Kotono> Myann is a step behind Porridge, hurrying along behind him!
[18:22] * Gildas shapeshifts into Aerial form and flies up along with them, just in case they need a view from the sky!
[18:25] <@Kotono> Ahead the party can see it! 50ft ahead is Eltia! Her head is cracked open, face painted with fresh blood. Her left shoulder is likewised sliced open, as is a deep gash in her stomach. She's stumbling, falling to her knees. 20ft past them and 70ft away from you is a big orc. He has a barbed and serrated axe, stained with fresh blood. He wears leathers and chain armor and is shaved bald. His narrow
[18:25] <@Kotono> eyes are caught in an eternal squint, looks like. 5ft behind him is a hooded woman, little seen of her save for having no visible weapon. Next to her is a female elf, dressed in sturdy traveling clothes and wearing black leather and metal bracers. Her face has a wicked scar over the right eye, with said eyesocket being empty. 5ft behind them a huge, horned and rugged wolf follows! OOC: And we
[18:25] <@Kotono> start init here.
[18:25] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+1 and gets 4." [1d20=3]
[18:25] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Myann
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 Myann and gets 16." [1d20=14]
[18:25] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Eltia
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Eltia and gets 22." [1d20=16]
[18:25] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[18:26] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[18:26] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 8." [1d20=5]
[18:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+1 orc
[18:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 orc and gets 13." [1d20=12]
[18:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 hooded woman
[18:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 hooded woman and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[18:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 elf
[18:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 elf and gets 18." [1d20=15]
[18:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 wolf
[18:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 wolf and gets 22." [1d20=20]
[18:28] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas=Hooded Woman(25)>Eltia=Wolf(22)>Elf(18)>Myann(16)>Orc(13)>Feather(8)>Porridge(4)'
[18:28] <@Kotono> OOC: More.
[18:29] <@Kotono> OOC: The orc is 70ft away from the party, the hodoed woman and the female elf are 75ft away and the wolf is 80ft away. Gildas, open.
[18:29] <Feather> "What the hell's goin' on?!" Feather exclaims as this strange site of battle comes into view.
[18:30] <@Porridge> "Eltia! This way!" Porridge calls, figuring it's best she get behind them given how bad off she is.
[18:30] <@Kotono> "Oh ho!" The female elf calls, "Stay out of way or get burned!"
[18:30] <Gildas> OOC: Can I shapeshift then charge as Predator form to the Orc?
[18:31] <Gildas> OOC: I mean I guess I can charge as Aerial too, but still
[18:31] <@Kotono> The male orc grunts and hefts his axe, "What's going on here is none of your fucking business! Now stay out of our fucking business or we'll end you!" OOC: Changing form is a swift action. He's 70ft away and your base move is 50ft, so 100 on a charge. Yeah, youc ould.
[18:32] <@Kotono> "Try..." Eltia manages to get out, coughing up a wad of blood and phlegm.
[18:32] <Gildas> OOC: Okay, so I can divebomb him, attack, but not transform since that consumes my swift, correct?
[18:32] <@Kotono> You could divebomb+attack as a charge, which is a full. However, you can still toss a swift after a full round.
[18:32] <Gildas> OOC: Got it!
[18:33] <Gildas> Eagle-Gildas flies down, straight at the Orc attacking, or assumedly attacking Eltia and tries to tear into his face with sharp talons!
[18:33] <@Kotono> "Banditry?" Myann asks, sword drawn with a swift florish. "Everyone here has so little, and you'd take it from them?"
[18:33] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10 talooon
[18:33] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+10 talooon and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[18:33] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[18:34] <Gildas> roll 2d6+20
[18:34] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 2d6+20 and gets 24." [2d6=1, 3]
[18:34] <Gildas> The eagle then deftly shapeshifts into a bear and roars, planting its feet in front of the Orc!
[18:34] <Feather> Since it's like that, there can be only one answer. "Hey! Bandits! Don't be in such a rush to die!"
[18:35] <@Kotono> Gildas flies down like a dart! He tears into the chest of the orc, shredding flesh and armor! He then shoves Gildas back as he transforms, thrusting his chest forward, "Try that again, dogfucker!" he snaps as he brandishes his axe! At the same time the hooded woman rushes to the orc's back, touching him there!
[18:35] <@Kotono> roll 2d8+4
[18:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+4 and gets 12." [2d8=4, 4]
[18:36] <@Kotono> The charge-wound heals partially, torn flesh knitting back before your eyes! At this Eltia stumbles forward 30ft, coming to within 20ft of the party. But that's too much. Bleeding profusely she falls to her knees once more and then face down on the ground! At the same time the wolf darts around, going to attack Gildas' flank!
[18:37] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas=Hooded Woman(25)>Eltia(dying)=Wolf(22)>Elf(18)>Myann(16)>Orc(13)>Feather(8)>Porridge(4)'
[18:37] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11 AC Gildas?
[18:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 AC Gildas? and gets 28." [1d20=17]
[18:37] <Gildas> OOC: 19 at the moment
[18:37] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+10 and improved trip is a go
[18:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+10 and improved trip is a go and gets 14." [1d8=4]
[18:38] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+12 CMD
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 CMD and gets 14." [1d20=2]
[18:39] <@Kotono> The wolf charges in and bites the ankle of bear-Gildas! It shows no fear at all before a larger predator, savaging his balance! It's a deep, nasty and bloody wound, but Gildas keeps his balance! OOC: Elf's up.
[18:41] <@Kotono> The female elf stays 70ft back, laughing. "Oh, you impudent little shits!" she calls, brushing aside a bit of blonde hair. "Well then, if you want to play like that?" She uses her finger like a pen, drawing blazing diagrams and pentagrams in the air! "Sigarner, take another sacrifice and devour!" An arrow of pure flame fires out, rushing towards Gildas!
[18:41] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 touch AC Gildas?
[18:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 touch AC Gildas? and gets 26." [1d20=20]
[18:41] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 touch AC Gildas? ow
[18:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 touch AC Gildas? ow and gets 18." [1d20=12]
[18:41] <Gildas> OOC: 16.
[18:42] <@Kotono> roll 6d6 OW
[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6 OW and gets 18." [6d6=6, 2, 1, 1, 6, 2]
[18:43] <@Kotono> The arrow of fire goes through, slamming into Gildas' stomach! An explosion of fire engulfs him, setting his fur aflame! Agony comes as he realizes one thing: He's on FIRE! OOC: You're on fire. May want to do something about that unless burning up's on your to-do list. Myann's up.
[18:45] <@Kotono> Myann rushes over to Eltia, standing guard over her! At the same time she quickly gestures towards Gildas...
[18:45] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 55." [1d100=55]
[18:46] <@Kotono> A red adn white mushroom appears overhead, falling on him! Suddenly Gildas grows in size, a large bear instead of a medium one! OOC: Super Mushroom, as enlarge person and negates your next source of damage in exchange for ending the effect. Orc's up.
[18:46] <@Kotono> "The fuck!" The orc stumbles a step back, before raising his axe up, "Fucking demon bear! Back to hell with you, demon spawn!" he snarls, before taking a dramatic, heavy swing at Gildas!
[18:47] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+4 (-5 PA)
[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 (-5 PA) and gets 21." [1d20=17]
[18:47] <@Kotono> The axe cleaves into Gildas! In an instant he reverts to his previous size, shrinking right back down! "The fuck!" The orc bellows again, "What sorcery is this, Bes?" OOC: Feather.
[18:48] <@Kotono> "I don't know," The female elf replies indifferently, "Just kill them!"
[18:50] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(on fire)=Hooded Woman(25)>Eltia(dying)=Wolf(22)>Elf(18)>Myann(16)>Orc(13)>Feather(8)>Porridge(4)'
[18:52] * Feather dashes over to Myann, his sword drawn to defend her and Eltia. In his other hand, however, is one of the lake-filled potions, which he kneels to feed to Eltia. "Go on, Porridge!" he calls out. "Give 'em hell! We'll be right there!"
[18:52] <Feather> roll 1d8+1
[18:52] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d8+1 and gets 3." [1d8=2]
[18:52] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(on fire)=Hooded Woman(25)>Eltia=Wolf(22)>Elf(18)>Myann(16)>Orc(13)>Feather(8)>Porridge(4)'
[18:52] <@Kotono> Eltia's wounds mend slightly as she groans, awakening! "Feat..her?" she asks, sounding dazed and exhausted. OOC: Geez Hatbot. Porridge.
[18:55] <@Porridge> Shrugging and joining the party around Eltia, Porridge crouches and feeds a potion down her throat. "C'mon, too early to be lying about," he says, trying to keep some cheer despite the grim situation.
[18:55] <@Porridge> roll 1d8+1
[18:55] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d8+1 and gets 4." [1d8=3]
[18:56] <@Kotono> More healing to the wounded elf! She groans as her stomach wound seals up halfway, "Thanks," she manages! OOC: Gildas. Go.
[18:56] <Feather> "Don't mention it," Feather says, keeping his eyes on the battle warily.
[18:56] <Gildas> OOC: Can I get back without somehow needing to try and avoid the Orc cleaving my skull in?
[18:57] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure, withdraw action. See #elysium.
[18:58] <Gildas> OOC: Okay.
[18:59] <Gildas> The bear, realizing the rather formidable odds against him, withdraws behind the other party members! Of course, this won't save him if they decide to throw some spells at him...
[18:59] <@Kotono> OOC: How far are you retreating?
[19:00] <Gildas> OOC: Let's go with... 30 behind the party, so hopefully out of range of the other casters.
[19:00] <Gildas> OOC: Enemy casters.
[19:00] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:00] <@Kotono> OOC: Make a ref save.
[19:01] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:01] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[19:01] <@Kotono> roll 1d6 still on fire
[19:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 still on fire and gets 3." [1d6=3]
[19:01] <@Kotono> Gildas retreats! The scent of burning bear follows, the druid still on fire! At the same time the hooded woman again mutely touches the orc's back!
[19:02] <@Kotono> roll 2d8+4
[19:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+4 and gets 14." [2d8=3, 7]
[19:02] <@Kotono> The orc's wounds heal entirely! Eltia gets up on shaky legs, cupping her shoulder with one hand as she chants!
[19:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+4
[19:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+4 and gets 6." [1d8=2]
[19:03] <@Kotono> Wounds further mend, vitality coming back to the traveling bard! "Ambushed me!" she coughs out, "Played with me like a cat with a mouse!"
[19:03] <@Kotono> OOC: Wolf's up.
[19:04] <@Kotono> The orc growls something out and the wolf doesn't move! OOC: Wolf's holding. Elf's up.
[19:06] <@Kotono> The elf comes to the orc's back as well, touching him! Suddenly his axe is on fire! His axe is blazing like a torch, now even more deadly! "Too bad, child." With a smirk as she brushes hair out of the way of her eyes again, "Stay back and we let your shapeshifting friend and all of you live. Don't and you all die." OOC: Myann's up.
[19:06] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 51." [1d100=51]
[19:07] <@Kotono> Myann chants, another mushroom appearing overhead of Gildas! He again grows, having a little more protection before death. She glares over at the enemy party, sword at the ready. OOC: Super Mushroomed again. Orc's up.
[19:08] <@Kotono> The orc holds his position, on guard and on ready! "Stay right the fuck there," he growls. OOC: Feather, go.
[19:11] * Feather glances about the battlefield quickly, before deciding on his plan and darting towards the orc while leaving a clear line towards it for Porridge to follow through.
[19:12] <Feather> roll 1d20+11 zap
[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+11 zap and gets 20." [1d20=9]
[19:12] <@Kotono> OOC: Doesn't shocking touch have a + for attacking creatures in metal armor or the like?
[19:13] <Feather> OOC: Sorry, +10 so 19. And it does, but this is a channeled spell upon successful hit, not the spell itself
[19:13] <@Kotono> OOC: I've been running that it does, but I don't think it's come up before now. Ithea took advantage of it a lot in B3.
[19:13] <Feather> OOC: I see. Well, it gets +3
[19:14] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit then.
[19:14] <Feather> roll 1d10+5+4d6+5d6 last is elec
[19:14] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d10+5+4d6+5d6 last is elec and gets 51." [1d10=10][4d6=5, 2, 6, 6][5d6=6, 2, 6, 1, 2]
[19:14] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(on fire)=Hooded Woman(25)>Eltia=Wolf(22)>Elf(18)>Myann(16)>Feather(8)>Porridge(4)'
[19:15] * Feather lingers just long enough to see his attack hit, and rather than retreating reaches out for the wolf right next by while challening another shocking grasp into the beast!
[19:16] <Feather> roll 1d20+9 touch quick cast
[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 touch quick cast and gets 14." [1d20=5]
[19:16] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[19:16] <Feather> roll 5d6+4d6 first is elec
[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 5d6+4d6 first is elec and gets 29." [5d6=6, 5, 3, 1, 2][4d6=2, 2, 6, 2]
[19:16] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(on fire)=Hooded Woman(25)>Eltia(22)>Elf(18)>Myann(16)>Feather(8)>Porridge(4)'
[19:18] <@Kotono> With one vicious charge, Feather leaps in and impales the orc through the chest! The previous wound is healed, but it doesn't stop Feather! His lightning-blade sends current throughout the orc's body! Chainmail explodes out like popcorn as his body fries! With a grunt and a kick Feather knocks the body off his blade, before using his free hand to shock the wolf! At the same time it's shrinking
[19:18] <@Kotono> before your eyes, fried as well! OOC: Go Porridge.
[19:18] <@Porridge> "Like you amateur fucks have a chance!" Porridge snarls mockingly before he embraces the warp, limbs distending and mutating even as he lopes straight at the elf, swiping his axe in a wide slash right through her midsection!
[19:18] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+10 -4pa, rage, charge, rhino's rush
[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+10 -4pa, rage, charge, rhino's rush and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[19:18] <@Kotono> The hooded woman speaks in a slow, guttural voice, "Father?" it manages in rather ragged orcish. OOC: Hit.
[19:18] <@Porridge> roll 2d12+32
[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 2d12+32 and gets 43." [2d12=1, 10]
[19:18] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(on fire)=Hooded Woman(25)>Eltia(22)>Myann(16)>Feather(8)>Porridge(4)'
[19:19] <Feather> "Surrender or die!" Feather snaps at the hooded woman, hoping to eliminate pointless deaths.
[19:19] <@Kotono> There is a sickening crack as Porridge gives into the warp, axe raised up to cleave deeply into the skull of the elf! She falls limp, not even able to get out a death cry! OOC: Gildas, you're up. Make a ref save first of all.
[19:19] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 11." [1d20=4]
[19:20] <@Kotono> OOC: Fire damage, negated by super mushroom. Back down to normal sized bear-fu. Go.
[19:20] <Gildas> The burning bear returns to his normal form to lay a hand on himself and chant a healing spell amidst, well, you know, the being on fire part.
[19:21] <Gildas> roll 2d8+6
[19:21] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 2d8+6 and gets 11." [2d8=3, 2]
[19:21] <Gildas> He stays where he is, since it seems like Feather and Porridge have it in hand.
[19:22] <@Kotono> HIs wounds somewhat heal, the worst of them fading away! Meanwhile the hooded woman just stares. "Mother?" she asks, turning towards Porridge's handiwork. She doesn't say anything else, but like a fire arrow, races towards Feather!
[19:22] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 (+2 charge) AC?
[19:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 (+2 charge) AC? and gets 14." [1d20=4]
[19:22] <Feather> OOC: 20
[19:23] <@Kotono> But Feather sidesteps an open handed blow! A dagger is seen thrusting out from her wrist, but it misses as well! OOC: Eltia's up.
[19:23] <@Kotono> Eltia hangs back, seeing to her wounds once more!
[19:23] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+4
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+4 and gets 11." [1d8=7]
[19:23] <@Kotono> Her wounds largely mend from that as she sighs in relief! OOC: Myann's up.
[19:24] <@Kotono> Myann just approaches slowly, shaking her head and muttering, "From the forest, return to the forest," she says as...
[19:24] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 66." [1d100=66]
[19:24] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 touch AC
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 touch AC and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[19:24] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 touch AC
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 touch AC and gets 26." [1d20=19]
[19:25] <@Kotono> roll 10d6 ow
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 ow and gets 26." [10d6=1, 2, 1, 5, 1, 4, 1, 6, 3, 2]
[19:25] <@Kotono> There's a sickening SPLAT as a giant wooden block crushes the hooded woman from above! It vanishes moments later, revealing a broken body like a grape caught underfoot! OOC: Free act.
[19:26] <@Porridge> Porridge's head whips around looking for more enemies before he sighs and slowly, painfully, begins reverting to his normal proportions. "They talked big for being such pussies," he grumbles.
[19:26] * Feather just stares at the block before shaking his head and looking about. "Hey, Gildas!" he calls out to the flaming bear. "How about, uh, rolling or something? Cause man, you're on fire!"
[19:27] <Gildas> "I am aware of my current situation. Are you all right?" He manages to get out to Eltia, while trying to put himself out, finally.
[19:27] <@Kotono> OOC: Ref again.
[19:27] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 22." [1d20=15]
[19:27] <@Kotono> This time the flames die down, leaving the bear singed but alive!
[19:28] <@Kotono> Eltia sits down tiredly. Her clothing is ruined, bloodstained and torn in several places. "Thank you," she says.
[19:28] <@Porridge> Dragging his ass over towards Eltia Porridge nods to her. "Just lucky timing I guess. Any idea why they went for you?"
[19:30] <@Kotono> "I think they were looking to ambush travelers," she says, "Bastards," Spitting to the side, mostly clear but still with some blood, "We should loot them." She reaches up, "Give me a hand up, Porridge?"
[19:30] <Feather> "Guess it's the done thing," Feather agrees, offering Gildas a couple of potions since he can't stand the sight of him like this.
[19:31] <@Porridge> Porridge offers a hand down to haul her up. "Well you can have first pick in that case. They really worked you over," he says, looking down at the mostly healed gash in her head once she's up.
[19:31] <Gildas> roll 2d8+2 Two Potions!
[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 2d8+2 Two Potions! and gets 12." [2d8=8, 2]
[19:32] <@Kotono> Thus the party goes to loot. You find the hooded woman was (likely) a gorgorath from her smashed features. Her face is a mess, a mass of burnt tissue that never healed quite right. On them you find...OOC: Loot.
[19:33] <Gildas> "Thank you." He nods to Feather.
[19:38] <Gildas> Gildas takes out his wand of Detect Magic and waves it over the items!
[19:41] <@Kotono> The two rings and the cloak ar emagical. OOC: Roll spelclraft.
[19:41] <Gildas> roll 1d20+11
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+11 and gets 18." [1d20=7]
[19:42] <@Kotono> Gildas can't decipher what the items do.
[19:43] <Gildas> "The rings and cloak are magical, but I'm unable to tell you how." He frowns and decides to look through the spell pouches to see if there's anything of interest.
[19:44] <@Kotono> It looks like standard spell components. There is one interesting thing tucked away in them - a small blue gemstone! OOC: Added to loot.
[19:44] <@Porridge> "Well how about this, we're headed for Willowford. If you want to come with us we can get stuff appraised and sold and then split the goods, unless you really want a manky old axe or a dubiously magical cloak right now?" Porridge suggests to Eltia.
[19:45] <@Kotono> "Let's go that way. I'd like to stop by your new town," Looking down at her clothes, "I can patch these here, but a day to make some better repairs would be nice."
[19:45] <Gildas> "Hm." He picks up the gemstone. "Yes, we may as well have it all identified."
[19:46] <@Kotono> Myann hangs back for now, but she adds in, "One of us should really learn how to price things like this," she speaks up, "Or get someone who can to come to the farm."
[19:46] <@Porridge> "We were gonna stop anyway, yeah, since it's on the way," Porridge says, grabbing up stuff to stuff into his bag or just carry if it doesn't easily fit.
[19:46] <@Porridge> "Easy to get cheated if you don't know yourself," he agrees with that insight.

Ebiris · September 02, 2013, 04:13:36 PM

[17:59] <@Kotono> The party is loaded down with treasure. However, five backs makes for easier carrying and you make decent time ahead. It's late in the afternoon, the group starting to look for a place to rest. As they scout around a little clearing, unremarkable....OOC: Perception, y'all.
[17:59] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+14
[17:59] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[17:59] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21." [1d20=7]
[17:59] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 26." [1d20=17]
[18:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Myann
[18:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 Myann and gets 22." [1d20=11]
[18:00] <Gildas> roll 1d20+12 payin' attention
[18:00] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+12 payin' attention and gets 30." [1d20=18]
[18:01] <@Kotono> It can be heard clearly by all. A loud CRACK from above, a large branch plummeting down at the party! Deadwood's coming right at y'all! OOC: Ref save, +5 each of you.
[18:01] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Myann
[18:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Myann and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[18:01] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Eltia
[18:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Eltia and gets 10." [1d20=4]
[18:01] <@Kotono> OOC: +5 to both of those, dur.
[18:01] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+13
[18:01] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+13 and gets 31." [1d20=18]
[18:01] <Gildas> roll 1d20+12
[18:01] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+12 and gets 22." [1d20=10]
[18:02] <Feather> roll 1d20+10
[18:02] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+10 and gets 13." [1d20=3]
[18:02] <@Kotono> roll 3d6 Eltia+Feather full, everyone else is safe and takes no damage
[18:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d6 Eltia+Feather full, everyone else is safe and takes no damage and gets 12." [3d6=6, 1, 5]
[18:04] <@Kotono> The branch plummets down! Myann shifts into mushroom-panther form, sprinting out of the way! Gildas leaps back like an insect, getting well out of the way! Porridge is able to simply sprint forward, remembering the last time this happened. But Feather and Eltia are too slow, caught beneath the large branch! Pain spreads through them, Feather bashed down and pinned down! You hear Eltia cry out
[18:04] <@Kotono> in pain! OOC: Act, y'all.
[18:04] <Feather> "Fuck! What the fuck?!"
[18:04] <@Kotono> Eltia's cry segues into weeping. "Damn this day!" is heard as she closes her eyes tightly, cutting off her tears.
[18:04] <@Porridge> "Damn, it really isn't your day is it?" Porridge asks Eltia, doubling back after his quick dodge to help haul the broken branch off her and Feather.
[18:05] <Gildas> Gildas moves over to help Porridge with the branch. "It might have been knocked off during that storm and only now finally decided to fall on us."
[18:06] <@Kotono> Myann follows suit, helping Porridge and Gildas lift it from above. It's not too heavy as much as decidely ungainly and is soon moved off of them.
[18:06] <@Porridge> Giving Eltia a hand up, Porridge gives her his last bottle of healing water. They're not far from being able to refill anyway. "Here, drink up. You'll feel better."
[18:07] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+1
[18:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+1 and gets 7." [1d8=6]
[18:07] <Feather> "Let's stay here. Right here."
[18:07] <@Kotono> Eltia drinks. A nasty bruise across her brow fades after the drink. "Thanks," she says, sounding all tense, tired and upset.
[18:07] <Gildas> "Hold still." He says to Feather, placing a hand on his shoulder as he channels some healing energy into him!
[18:08] <Gildas> roll 2d8+6 CMW
[18:08] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 2d8+6 CMW and gets 15." [2d8=7, 2]
[18:08] <Feather> "Thanks," Feather tells Gildas. "Still wanna stay here, though."
[18:08] <@Kotono> Myann grunts as she pulls the branch back and away, to the edge of the clearing. She starts breaking off branches and piling them up, "This'll at least provide for firewood," she remarks.
[18:09] <@Porridge> Pocketing the empty bottle afterwards, he looks at Feather. "You think the horrible things that live here won't come to you if you stand still?"
[18:09] <Feather> "There can't possibly be two branches about to fall on the same spot. And it's late enough for a stop after the day we've had."
[18:10] <@Porridge> "Much rather spend it in a warm bed. Besides we're not far out, we can get there before dark if we keep on," Porridge says, not wanting to sit around when there's a better option not far away.
[18:17] <@Kotono> OOC: This is not the first time this mistake has been made, so let me clarify it here. Vasili's abode to the farm is three days and you're less than a day from his place. So it's a few more days of travel before getting to the farm.
[18:18] <@Porridge> OOC: oh, nevermind then!
[18:18] <@Porridge> "Yeah, we may as well," Porridge agrees!
[18:20] * Merc-zzz is now known as Merc
[18:21] <@Kotono> Soon dusk has fallen and the Vastwoods are dark. The five are around the campfire, a captured rabbit roasting. The smell of hot food fills the air. Myann is meanwhile slicing up a hunk of odd, puffy-black mushroom she pulled from somewhere. Eltia is staring into the flame, head resting on her knees. Her eyes are half closed. "What a miserable day," she says aloud, sounding tired. "I wish I could
[18:21] <@Kotono> close my eyes, wake up this morning and have it to do again."
[18:21] * Gildas nods. "Very well."
[18:21] <Gildas> OOC: Well that should've gone before but WHATEVER
[18:22] * Gildas glances at her, but knowing what a foul mood he put her in the last time he said something, stays quiet.
[18:22] <Feather> "Never know. Could go differently, but in a bad way. Least you're alright now, and the bandits aren't."
[18:23] <@Kotono> "Any day you're still breathing and yourself is a good day," Myann focuses on her slicing in the meantime. "Those bandits won't make trouble for anyone but maggots now."
[18:24] <@Porridge> "Yeah I get that," Porridge nods, leaning back and looking up at the few stars peeking through the canopy. "Just gotta forget about it and hope tomorrow'll be better. And hey, you'll have us watching your back tomorrow so there's that."
[18:25] <@Kotono> Eltia sighs and closes her eyes. "I owe all of you," she agrees quietly, "If there's anything I can help you with..." she just lets it hang in the air.
[18:27] <Gildas> "For my part, I will use it as an opportunity to apologize for upsetting you the last time. It was not my intention, but regardless, I did." He nods his head to her, humbly. "I hope you can forgive such a mistake."
[18:29] <@Porridge> "Maybe we'll think of something," Porridge shrugs, not having anything he really needs from her.
[18:29] <@Kotono> Myann meanwhile busies herself checking the rabbit. She starts slicing off meat and sprinkling the sliced mushroom over it, then passing out plates. Eltia glances over at Gildas, "We'll just pretend that never happened," she says with a wan smile.
[18:30] * Feather busies himself with the food, biting off a small part of the mushroom for a taste first.
[18:31] <Gildas> He nods again, satisfied with that resolution.
[18:34] <@Kotono> The mushroom tastes earthy and chocolately. It's almost sweet and very musky. The rabbit juices on it seem to draw out that flavor and add a meaty note to it. Meanwhile Eltia waggles a finger, "Best thing I'm good for is some magic. You know I can manage some song spells." So she shrugs and goes to her meal, sitting normally now, "I think I may take a few days since your hospitality is so
[18:34] <@Kotono> generous. I can at least chip in a few days of labor."
[18:35] <@Porridge> "This is so much better than that porridge, Myann," Porridge says over to the elf, "I guess that's a big bonus to figuring out your mantle, you can give us different flavours of mushroom." He nods to Eltia after, "Won't turn down the company."
[18:39] <@Kotono> "They're called truffles," Myann says after taking a few bites of her food, "They grow underground on tree branches. They're not real cavern mushrooms or deep mushrooms, but they taste a lot like the rarer ones of that type." She shakes her head after that, "It's unnerving sometimes when I realize I know things about mushrooms just because I know them."
[18:39] <@Kotono> "*tree roots
[18:40] <@Kotono> "Yeah," Eltia replies, "Thanks." So she eats, losing herself in it and going quiet. OOC: Ready to move along now? That offer was the man thing.
[18:40] <@Porridge> OOC: sure
[18:43] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 49." [1d100=49]
[18:43] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:43] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 85." [1d100=85]
[18:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 76." [1d100=76]
[18:43] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 31." [1d100=31]
[18:43] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 72." [1d100=72]
[18:44] <@Kotono> The night passes peaceably and the party travels on. The next day is blazingly hot but no storms come. Even in the shade of the Vastwoods it's uncomfortable, but only warm instead of abysmal. That night brings steady rains that last into the next day. It's late in that third day when you reach the farm. With the rains going, nothing's going on right now. However, a ways past the tavern, you can
[18:44] <@Kotono> see ground has been broken on a new building.
[18:46] <@Kotono> Myann trots along in panther form, shaking her mushroom-topped head. Panther and mushroom scented drops fly everywhere in the rain. She transforms back to human, running a hand over her wet face. "How about we start fresh in the morning? A hot meal and a warm fire sounds like heaven about now."
[18:47] <Gildas> Gildas nods to Myann's suggestion. "I'd like to check on our Raptorian guest and see if he's recovered his wits since we last saw him."
[18:47] <@Porridge> "Yeah, figure we deserve a break," Porridge nods, going to check out what's happening with the mill, or whatever it is we're building.
[18:51] <@Kotono> The group heads inside. Myann takes panther form again and shakes off, falling in step behind Feather. Eltia just murmurs something, the rest of the party suddenly dry. You find about everyone in the living room, including Rashen. He's munching on a sandwich and sitting before the fire. The brood is all about, chattering and playing. They're nosy background as Robert keeps an eye on them. Brutes
[18:51] <@Kotono> and Hylath are napping near different windows. Myann goes right ot the fire and curls up before it, like an oversized cat. As the brood surrounds and starts to pet her, "Big bro!" A few of the half-elves call. Amid all this Rashens listens, "The mill?" he asks back, "Yeah, we're broken ground on it."
[18:52] <@Porridge> "Hey kids," Porridge waves to his adopted siblings. "Never made it to Willowford, got distracted by a creepy foot-stabbing skeleton. Lucky we did though, otherwise we wouldn't of ran into Eltia here," he jerks a thumb at the bad in question.
[18:52] <@Porridge> *bard
[18:53] <@Kotono> "Huh," Rashen replies around a mouthful of sandwich. He finishes it in a few massive bites before going on. "Traveling alone's tough," he admits. "Things happen."
[18:54] <@Kotono> "You could say that," Eltia agrees, eyeing Rashen's eating with a faintly disturbed look. "I'll be around a few days."
[18:55] <@Porridge> "Picked up some good loot we can try and sell in Willowford, at least," Porridge nods. "Say, Robert, you know any reputable traders or appraisers down that way?"
[18:56] <Feather> "Might help if we could invite one over," Feather adds.
[18:57] <Gildas> "Or have them try and train us." He adds.
[18:57] <@Kotono> Robert ambles on over, "Yeah, I know a few. Check out Wieseman's Trade and Supply. He'll try and barter you down, but if you stick to him he'll give you a good price. He also won't rip you off. If it's expensive he'll say so." He wrinkles his nose after, "Son of a bitch's wife is married to garlic, he reeks of it since he eats so much. He's touchy about it, so pretend he's sweet smelling as a
[18:57] <@Kotono> woman."
[18:58] <@Kotono> Myann is soon swarmed. A few half elves rest against her back, while others pet her and one flicks around her head-mushroom. She sighs through her nose, before closing her eyes to sleep.
[18:59] <@Porridge> "We'll give them a look then. Try heading over again in a day or two," Porridge goes to set down his gear someplace out of the way so he can relax a bit.
[19:00] * Gildas looks around. "Ah, is the winged guest still here...?" He guesses he might still be upstairs, but figures he'd ask.
[19:04] <@Kotono> "He is," Robert says, "The Missus has been up there. Think she is right now," he adds.
[19:05] <Gildas> He nods. "Excuse me." He heads up to go check on them!
[19:07] <@Kotono> OOC: Porridge is taking a load off. Are you going with him or going to relax/do something else, Feather?
[19:08] <Feather> OOC: Relaxing
[19:09] <@Kotono> The rest of the party is at rest, recovering from the week of travel. Meanwhile Gildas heads on upstairs. He finds the Missus at the raptorian's bedside. The raptorian is asleep, the Missus cleaning his brow with a wet cloth.
[19:09] <Gildas> Gildas frowns as he steps in, staying near the door. "Is he still...?" He lets the end of the question hang for now.
[19:13] <@Kotono> "Right now he is," The Missus finishes, rising. She speaks quietly and replies, "He hasn't notably improved. He's healthier in a physical sense, but his mind's still slow."
[19:14] <Gildas> He sighs. "I have a feeling he may never really recover... I think all his village was destroyed by those damnable wyverns." He shakes his head. "Hopefully we can find some other Raptorians to take him in..."
[19:15] <@Kotono> The Missus nods and matches that sigh. "Sometimes, trauma can break a brain just like being hit wrong or being born an idiot. It could be that's playing a factor too."
[19:19] <Gildas> He nods. "Hopefully that is it and he will recover his wits sooner. Thank you for taking care of him." He decides to head back down, since there's not much else to be done.
[19:20] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, any of yo udoing anything else here or just going to rest up/prepare?
[19:20] <@Porridge> OOC: chillax some, do some work on the mill tomorrow, head for Willowford the day after?
[19:20] <Feather> OOC: I'll rest properly and refill my potions when we're ready to leave
[19:21] <@Kotono> OOC: Right. Gildas?
[19:22] <Gildas> ooc: I'm good.
[19:22] <@Kotono> OOC: Porridge in here, Feather in #evildunes and Gildas in #terrorofdunes.
[19:24] <@Kotono> Porridge ends up falling asleep early. He remembers dozing off in front of the fire after dinner, then a vague memory of stumbling to bed. He awakens just before the dawn, refreshed and recharged. As he shakes off the morning fatigues and gets out of bed, he can hear a calming lute song from outside.
[19:26] <@Porridge> Refreshed from his trance, Porridge gets himself dressed and heads for the kitchen to see if there's any food on the go for breakfast first.
[19:30] <@Kotono> There's some porridge going over the fire, but no sign of the Missus around. It's just simmering right now, nothing remarkable. As you take a peek, Eltia enters in. She's carrying her lute with her, going to take a seat. "I don't suppose breakfast is already done?" she asks.
[19:32] <@Porridge> "Just some porridge," the similarly named man says, ladling out two bowls and setting them on the table, one for Eltia and one for himself as he sits down. "Feeling any better?" he asks, bringing a spoon to his mouth.
[19:36] <@Kotono> Eltia goes into the cubboard, coming back with some dried apple slices and beef jerky. She lays out some for both of them, adding her apples to the porridge. She takes a spoonful before answering, "I am now." Stirring her porridge idly as she watches the apples swirl around the bowl, "I've had my share of injuries and close calls before, but never anything that bad. I wasn't thinking, just
[19:36] <@Kotono> running. I knew this time I probably wasn't going to make an escape, but I had to try. All I could think is that I wasn't going to die without making them work for it."
[19:39] <@Porridge> "Think that's all anyone can manage in a situation like that," Porridge nods, snapping a couple of apple slices into little bits and mixing them into his own breakfast. "I'd done pretty well before I fell in with those three, but I always had Bubi to scout for me and didn't have much shame running or hiding when the odds were bad. Easier to be more bold when you've got some folks at your back."
[19:42] <@Kotono> There's a pause as the two eat. It's a natural lull, the food filling you right up. "Nature's a wild mistress," Eltia remarks, "Dad - Kral, I mean. Kral always made sure I understood it. Had me meet a few of the Fair Folk when I was young. Showed me the dire wolves and bears, made me study assassin vines. Had me watch as he dissected a captured zombie. Thought I'd learned enough that I could
[19:42] <@Kotono> hack it by myself."
[19:46] <@Porridge> "Doesn't do things by half, does he?" Porridge grins at her account of such education. "But even knowing all that, or even having seen or handled it before... well, it can just take one bad day. And you had a right bitch of one yesterday."
[19:48] <@Kotono> "A few days ago now," Eltia remarks, "I think that's the worst day...ever. One bad day and it's all over. Sobering."
[19:50] <@Porridge> "Oh yeah," he shakes his head, accepting the correction. "Just gotta get on with things, or else find someplace with thick walls to settle behind. Still, s'long as you feel like hanging around us we'll keep you right," he reassures.
[19:52] <@Kotono> "Yeah." More porridge goes down the hatch, her bowl being methodically worked through. "Maybe it's time that I take advantage of that, at least for awhile. Maybe I've used up all my luck and it's all misfortune from now on."
[19:55] <@Porridge> "Hah, one thing you can rely on is that luck never sticks," Porridge barks out a laugh. "You'll get good to go with the bad, I'll bet anything."
[20:06] <@Kotono> "...yeah." Eltia smiles a little bit, finishing her porridge. "Thanks," she says, getting up. "Stay lucky on your trip up to Willowford."
[20:07] <@Porridge> "We'll manage I'm sure," Porridge nods, finishing his own breakfast at a slower pace as she leaves.

~

[19:26] <@Kotono> That evening, Feather happens to stay up late. There's stories and talking well past sunset, until at last he heads to bed. Walking next to him is Myann, back to her human form. "Do you miss this?" she asks, "When we're away traveling."
[19:28] <Feather> "Guess I do," Feather muses. "Life's easier like that. How 'bout you, Myann?"
[19:32] <@Kotono> "It's like home. My old home," she says, "The children here are more energetic than elven children, and it's so obviously human in some ways, but there's so many similarities."
[19:35] * Feather nods slowly. "And it's got good people."
[19:39] <@Kotono> "Yeah." You reach the room, Myann coming in with you. "IF I weren't what I am now...if not for this damned mantle, I'd stay here all the time. I think I'd be happy here." But slowly she shakes her head, "I need to be strong and prepared, in case the day comes to where I can't control my mantle anymore. If that day comes and I have to go to the fey side for everyone else's sake, I need to be
[19:39] <@Kotono> strong enough not to become like them."
[19:41] <Feather> "And nothing forges character like getting out there into the woods?" Feather asks, cracking a grin. "Yeah, I can get that. And I think it makes us appreciate the whole thing more, having something nice to return to after unkillable skeletons and what not."
[19:44] <@Kotono> "Yeah. Somewhere to lay your head down. "I wonder what's going to come of that strange skeleton?"
[19:45] * Feather shudders. "Vasili's gonna grind it into powder is what's gonna happen if there's any justice in the world."
[19:50] <@Kotono> "That or we can use it in against the Sidhe," Myann observes, "An unslayable undead or something that looks like one would terrify many of them."
[19:52] <Feather> "Except it can think for itself, and some things are just too horrible, y'know? Besides, it's not like the fey can't deal with it. We go far enough looking for their lords, bet there's a way. But it just comes with too many strings attached."
[19:55] <@Kotono> "Far too many," Myann says quietly, "Kral mentioned them. Ones far above even Lady Valisha. Creatures that are wonderful and horrifying to the other Sidhe, like they're horrifying and wonderful to us. Best not to invoke them, even if you're a Sidhe."
[19:58] <Feather> "Cheery thought, that." Feather shakes his head. "Best not to think about that too much. We don't got much to do with them, and it's not like we don't have ways to avoid pointless conflict, eh?"
[20:07] <@Kotono> "I have a better idea. Could you..." Myann blushes as she heads to the bed. "Could you pet me?" she asks, transforming into panther form and climbing onto the bed.
[20:10] * Feather blinks, and opens his mouth to say something before closing it with a shrug. Sitting down on the bed, Feather finally says, "Sure," and slowly runs his hand from the panther's head and down its back.

~

[19:28] <@Kotono> After breakfast the next morning, Gildas happens to linger in the kitchens. There's nothing serious behind it, just a conversation with the Missus that meanders on a bit long. She cleans the breakfast dishes as you chat, Em drying them at the side. "I'd meant to ask yesterday," The Missus says as the conversation dies down, "You used magic to affect your own recover, didn't you? Could
[19:28] <@Kotono> the same help our guest?"
[19:32] <Gildas> He blinks, looking up for a moment, as if considering. "I can certainly give it a try. The thing is... he should have recovered by now anyway. I could feel myself get a little bit better every day... and it's been some time since he came here." He frowns. "It's worth a shot, at least, there's no harm in trying."
[19:33] <@Kotono> "Thank you," The Missus says, "The damage might be permanent, or he was born slow." She adds, "But thank you."
[19:34] <Gildas> "No thanks are needed. It's my own fault for not considering it before." He sighs. "Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in things..."
[19:40] <Gildas> "I will cast them as soon as I prepare some."
[19:40] <@Kotono> "That you realize it's nightfall and you haven't patched that shirt yet or fed the pigs," The Missus smiles faintly, "Oh, do you like ham? The sows are pregnant, so we'll have extra meat in a few seasons."
[19:43] <Gildas> He smiles. "I actually enjoy most kinds of foods... I just try and not eat much to allow others to enjoy it." He holds up his hand to show off the ring on his finger. "This supplies me with everything I need, so I never actually need to eat or drink... So, if I've ever offended you by not eating, please accept my apologies."
[19:46] <@Kotono> "Ma was worried you had...oof!" Em begins, but is cut off by the Missus thwapping the back of her head. Said Missus clears her throat, "I had initially worried you had a malady that suppressed your appetite, but you're healthy. So it's that ring?" Shaking her head, "I'd figured it was something to do with your magic. Everyone knows that spellcasters aren't like everyone else."
[19:47] <Gildas> He laughs, an actual laugh and not a chuckle. "I had hoped I was not so different as to be noticed for something. I suppose I should try and act more like my comrades."
[19:51] <@Kotono> "You're also quiet, but I assume that's being in tune with nature and magic," The Missus smiles wider at that, "Myann told me about hearing mushrooms, so I don't even know what could be going on."
[19:52] <Gildas> "It's just who I am, I think... Part of my training growing up was to listen and not talk so much." He smiles. "I'm sure there are a few people who could learn to do that." He glances down at Em and then smiles at her.
[19:56] <@Kotono> "I'll have you know that..." Em blurts out, before going very red. She mutters something but the Missus pats her cheeks, stilling her to silence.
[19:56] <@Kotono> "It's worth listening to him, Em. He can alter reality with magic. I think he knows what he's talking about." The Missus replies.
[19:57] <Gildas> He smiles a little more. "Think of it like this: The next time one of your siblings says something you know is wrong, if you've been listening, you can correct them."
[20:07] <@Kotono> "Yes sir," Em murmurs, still rather red.
[20:07] <Gildas> "You know more than your brothers do, anyway." He nods, sagely.
[20:08] <@Kotono> "That's good advice," The Missus says, drying her hands. "Now get on, Em. There's some squash to go harvest"

Soulriders 5.0: Legend of the Unending Games

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