046: Wonders of the deep

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> Franceska and Ron's collaborative navigation keeps the gang moving straight and true for a couple days. There's little sign of life throughout that time and no shelter beyond any that Franceska might summon, but the weather's calm and the plane is placid. On the third day of travel here (days according to human reckoning of rest cycles, of course, as Air itself is forever bright), it becomes possible to spot a figure in the distance--not necessarily moving on a course to intercept yours, but you could easily divert your party to meet it if desired. From far off you get the impression of a man riding some winged creature.
<Julia> Julia is also riding a winged creature, reclining quite happily on the back of her enormous zombified and possibly demon-possessed wyvern!
<El-Cideon> The figure is moving away from your eventual destination, judging by your contrasting vectors.
<Steph> "Oh, boy! A chance to ask for directions!" exclaims Stephanie, zipping towards him. "Hey! You!"
<Franceska> "Hmph. My sense of direction is impeccable!" Franceska declares.
<Steph> "It never hurts to get a second opinion!"
<El-Cideon> The stranger's steed is a noble griffin, and the rider himself is a young human man with a carefully trimmed black beard and mustache, wearing a black velvet doublet with the insignia of a white wing embroidered on the breast. Several heavy-laden bags and boxes are strapped about the griffin behind him. He urges his mount to a halt at something of a distance from Stephanie and gives her group a careful looking over. "Good morrow," he ventures.
* Julia waves pleasantly from atop her flying insult to all that is good and righteous.
<El-Cideon> The stranger seems wholly unphased by Julia's monstrous companion.
* Franceska looks indifferent herself, waiting for this to be over with.
<Steph> "Hello! Are you on your way to Azure?" asks Stephanie, cheerfully.
<El-Cideon> "From," he clarifies in businesslike tone. "But I'll be back in due time. On assignment from Mercurius Deliveries." He taps the logo on his chest. "Take it I'm looking at offworlders if you don't know you're moving towards the city."
* Franceska just looks cross, now.
<Steph> "We were hoping we were moving towards the city," clarifies Stephanie, nodding. "Any advice for us, seeing as we've never been?"
<El-Cideon> "That depends upon the nature of your visit," the deliveryman says. "But my usual advice is, when someone asks for your allegiance to the party of So-And-So or What-Have-You, politely insist that you've yet to make up your mind, and continue saying that every day when someone else asks you. Served me well enough."
<Steph> "Neutrality it is! Well, good day, then."
<El-Cideon> He nods, before adding mechanically, "I'm obliged to state, if trade is your business, then Mercurius Deliveries is prepared to cater to your every whim, no matter how exotic (within the bounds of common decency of course). Corso Malaga at the head office in Azure is prepared to entertain all orders." His shpiel dutifully completed, he waves and moves on. "Ladies, mister boxy."
<Julia> "What a well mannered young man," Julia says as he flies off.
<Franceska> "Yes, quite."
<El-Cideon> The next day, something again waits along your path--only this time it isn't a gruffly polite courier, but instead a roiling mass of cloud that blocks out all vision ahead of you and appears to be moving this way.
<Steph> "Should we, uh, go around?"
<Julia> "Oh no, a storm. And there's nowhere to take shelter!"
<El-Cideon> "Ah, perhaps we could all hide in Franceska's magical house?" Rosemund ventures.
<Franceska> "Yes, I was just about to suggest as much," Franceska says matter of factly. "Whether it is enough, however, we shall have to see."
<Julia> "Can it fly?" Julia asks uncertainly.
<El-Cideon> "Undirected inanimate objects should remain motionless unless acted upon by some conscious entity," Ron states.
<Steph> Stephanie pulls up the hood of her cloak. "Does that meant we could, you know, travel in a flying house?"
<El-Cideon> "How would we move it?" Rosemund wonders. "Would someone have to get out and push?"
<Franceska> "A flying hut, but yes. How about we keep going through this storm to emerge from it all the quicker?" she suggests, starting to cast.
<Julia> "Yes, who could push or pull a large hut I wonder?" Julia says, patting Battersby. Not getting enough attention she gives his rotting scales a hard slap.
<Steph> "Can't we just decide which way is 'down' for it?" muses Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> "Ah, that is a good idea," Rosemund agrees. "He would never get tired, would he? We could travel in total comfort, in fact."
<Franceska> "I really should look into more extravagant magical houses...."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund scurries into the magical shelter, while Ron attempts to point out the proper direction of travel to the undead wyvern before joining Rosemund inside.
* Julia gives further instructions to Battersby before fleeing. Once everyone's inside he latches onto the roof with his legs and then starts to fly into the storm!
<El-Cideon> Winds howl, rain lashes, and lightning crashes for a solid hour as Battersby presses on tirelessly through the storm. The hut rocks about now and again but remains intact against the capricious natural whims of the plane--at least throughout the storm. Nearly the moment you feel the gale winds relent in their efforts to divert your course, the hut's motion wrenches to a near complete halt with jarring suddenness. There's a crash of some sort from outside and an annoyed moan from your undying beast of burden.
* Julia pokes her head out, she'll probably need to heal him with healthy negative energy in case he took some lightning strikes anyway.
<El-Cideon> Acting in counter to Battersby's motive force, Julia sees that a half dozen cloudy tentacles have firmly grasped hold of the hut from behind you! A horror from the deepest seas, albeit rendered here in the natural substance of the plane, a giant squid grasps the hut and tries to pull it back towards the retreating storm! Trailing behind are two smoky mobile clouds in the vague shape of a man with malevolently sparking eyes.
<Julia> "Ahhh! Sky squid!" Julia yells in alarm, floating her way out of the door to get a clear field of fire and zapping the squid with deadly negative energy!
<El-Cideon> OOC: init
<Julia> roll 1d20+2
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+2 --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{11}
<Franceska> "Whyyyy?!"
<Franceska> roll 1d20+1
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{19}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Rosey
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0Rosey --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{3}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3 Ron
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+3 1,0Ron --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{7}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 sky squid!
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+10 1,0sky squid! --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{19}
<El-Cideon> roll 2#d20+13 elementals
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2#d20+13 1,0elementals --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{30}, 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{30}
<Steph> roll 1d20+8 *sky squid?*
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+8 1,0*sky squid?* --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{10}
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: subjective gravity, air magic enhanced, earth magic impeded | Smoke elemental 1 & 2 (30) > sky squid! = Fran (19) > Julia (11) > Steph (10)> Ron (7) > Rosey (3)'
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 battersby
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0battersby --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{4}
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: subjective gravity, air magic enhanced, earth magic impeded | Smoke elemental 1 & 2 (30) > sky squid! = Fran (19) > Julia (11) > Steph (10)> Ron (7) > Battersby (4) > Rosey (3)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: note for reference, attack/damage rolls vs squid made at -1
<El-Cideon> One of the elementals charges after Julia, while the other positions itself at the hut entrance to peer inside and see what curiosities might lie within!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17+2 charge vs Julia
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+17+2 1,0charge vs Julia --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{38}
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+6 damage
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2d4+6 1,0damage --> 6,0[ 2d4=5 ]4,0{11}
<El-Cideon> OOC: squid and Fran are up
<El-Cideon> Outside the hut, the squid merely pulls itself closer to the magical structure in a vain attempt to devour it! Failing that, it at least ensures everyone within will be easily within its grasp should the hut collapse or disappear...
* Franceska sees no other way but to send magic missiles at the curious elemental peering at her.
<Franceska> roll 1d20+18 umd
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+18 1,0umd --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{37}
<Franceska> roll 5d4+5
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 5d4+5 --> 6,0[ 5d4=7 ]4,0{12}
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia then Steph
* Julia abruptly explodes with evil negative energy before she drifts away from the increasingly crowded door!
<Julia> roll 11d4 DC 21 fort half vs 2 elementals
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 11d4 1,0DC 21 fort half vs 2 elementals --> 6,0[ 11d4=28 ]4,0{28}
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+9
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2#1d20+9 --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{17}, 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{14}
<El-Cideon> Wisps of their smoky form dissipate and trail away on the wind as even viler elemental forces eat away at them!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph?
<Steph> Stephanie grumbles to herself, even as she steps into the door and fights back against the smoking elemental- assisted, as ever, by a burst of pseudo-sentient flame appearing on his other side!
<Steph> roll 1d20+18
<Steph> roll 1d20+18
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+18 --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{25}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+18 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{31}
<Steph> OOC: using wolf fang strike, too.
<El-Cideon> OOC: both hit
<Steph> roll 1d6+8+1d6
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d6+8+1d6 --> 6,0[ 1d6=1 1d6=5 ]4,0{14}
<Steph> roll 1d4+1d8+6
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d4+1d8+6 --> 6,0[ 1d4=4 1d8=2 ]4,0{12}
<Steph> roll 12d6/2
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 12d6/2 --> 6,0[ 12d6=35 ]4,0{17}
<El-Cideon> As Stephanie slices and dices, Ron trains his bolts around her to try and shoot down the same foe.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+13 --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{32}
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+13 --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{31}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+8 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{21}
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+8 --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{15}
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d8+3
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2#1d8+3 --> 6,0[ 1d8=4 ]4,0{7}, 6,0[ 1d8=1 ]4,0{4}
<El-Cideon> OOC: wyvern~
<Julia> "Battersby, kill the squid!" Julia shrieks, prompting the wyvern to turn and charge the villainous sky-squid with talons outstretched!
<Julia> roll 1d20+19 charge talons
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+19 1,0charge talons --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{22}
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Julia> roll 3d6+8 and improved grab
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 3d6+8 1,0and improved grab --> 6,0[ 3d6=15 ]4,0{23}
<Julia> roll 1d20+17 cmb
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+17 1,0cmb --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{31}
<Julia> OOC: if that wins he gets a free sting attack
<El-Cideon> OOC: CMB fails, it is a big squid :( Do Julia's undead goons in any way make their natural attacks magic?
<Julia> OOC: nope
<El-Cideon> Battersby swipes off a cloud of airy substance, but fails to establish a hold on his foe! Meanwhile, Rosemund focuses her will on the aggressive elemental and tries to blast it out of existence through sheer righteousness!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 will
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+5 1,0will --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{9}
<El-Cideon> roll 5d6 damage
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 5d6 1,0damage --> 6,0[ 5d6=13 ]4,0{13}
<El-Cideon> Assailed by foes much stabbier than evidently anticipated, the elementals both opt for a different tactic--flowing into the space around their attackers and engulfing them in a choking cloud of their very essence!
<El-Cideon> OOC: fort, Julia and Steph
<Julia> roll 1d20+4 I hate fort saves. +2 if poison/disease/paralysis/stunning/sleep
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+4 1,0I hate fort saves. +2 if poison/disease/paralysis/stunning/sleep --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{5}
<Steph> roll 1d20+10
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+10 --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{18}
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6+12 damage Julia
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 4d6+12 1,0damage Julia --> 6,0[ 4d6=7 ]4,0{19}
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6+12 damage Steph
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 4d6+12 1,0damage Steph --> 6,0[ 4d6=17 ]4,0{29}
<El-Cideon> Taken by surprise, each is unable to prevent inhalation of vicious smoky wisps--which transform into claws within and tear away at throat and lungs from the inside!
<El-Cideon> Without the elemental getting in its way anymore, the squid reaches into the hut and simultaneously lashes out at Battersby, flailing at all foes within reach all at once!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 and grab vs Fran
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 and grab vs Fran
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0and grab vs Fran --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{17}
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0and grab vs Fran --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{20}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 and grab vs Rosey
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 and grab vs Rosey
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0and grab vs Rosey --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{34}
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0and grab vs Rosey --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{27}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 and grab vs Ron
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0and grab vs Ron --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{27}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 and grab vs Ron
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0and grab vs Ron --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{25}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 and grab vs Battersby
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0and grab vs Battersby --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{21}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 and grab vs Battersby
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0and grab vs Battersby --> 6,0[ 1d20=16 ]4,0{31}
<Julia> OOC: AC 29, CMD 29
* Franceska transforms into the most vicious albino bear Air had ever seen and charges out of the hut herself, dispelling the entire construct in the process.
<Franceska> OOC: Bite spell cast, AC was 21
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+19 CMB vs Rosey 1
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+19 1,0CMB vs Rosey 1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{21}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+19 CMB vs Rosey 2
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+19 1,0CMB vs Rosey 2 --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{37}
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d6+8 two hits and constrict on Rosey
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 3#1d6+8 1,0two hits and constrict on Rosey --> 6,0[ 1d6=6 ]4,0{14}, 6,0[ 1d6=4 ]4,0{12}, 6,0[ 1d6=3 ]4,0{11}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+19 CMB vs Battersby
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+19 1,0CMB vs Battersby --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{33}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+8 hit vs Battersby
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d6+8 1,0hit vs Battersby --> 6,0[ 1d6=3 ]4,0{11}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+8 constrict vs Battersby
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d6+8 1,0constrict vs Battersby --> 6,0[ 1d6=4 ]4,0{12}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+19 CMB vs Ron
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+19 1,0CMB vs Ron --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{33}
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d6+8 2x hit and constrict on Ron
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 3#1d6+8 1,02x hit and constrict on Ron --> 6,0[ 1d6=3 ]4,0{11}, 6,0[ 1d6=5 ]4,0{13}, 6,0[ 1d6=3 ]4,0{11}
<El-Cideon> Fran evades the tentacles, but all other attackers are firmly drawn within the squid's grasp!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia then Steph
<El-Cideon> OOC: note that while the smoke is still within you, it does not incur any combat penalties
* Julia coughs and hacks a bit before looking up with fire in her eyes, her hair starting to writhe and twist into freaky shapes as she unleashes her aura of terror on the two elementals next to her. "Despair, fools!" she shrieks madly, unleashing a cone of despair and sadness over all who oppose her!
<Julia> OOC: DC 21 will or shaken first
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+5 will
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2#1d20+5 1,0will --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{13}, 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{8}
<Julia> OOC: DC 19 will now for all baddies or despaired http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/crushingDespair.htm
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+5-2 will elementals
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2#1d20+5-2 1,0will elementals --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{18}, 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{20}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 squid
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+5 1,0squid --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{23}
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: subjective gravity, air magic enhanced, earth magic impeded | Smoke elemental 1 (shaken, despair) & 2 (30, shaken) > sky squid! = Fran (19) > Julia (11) > Steph (10)> Ron (7) > Battersby (4) > Rosey (3)'
<Steph> Stephanie chokes for a moment, and then shifts forward, vanishing from sight and trying to hit this floating monster again and again and again!
<Steph> roll 1d20+16
<Steph> roll 1d20+16
<Steph> roll 1d20+16
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+16 --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{28}
<Steph> roll 1d20+11
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+16 --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{30}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+16 --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{19}
<Steph> roll 1d20+11
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+11 --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{18}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+11 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{24}
<El-Cideon> OOC: first two and last hit
<Steph> roll 1d6+8+1d6
<Steph> roll 1d6+8+1d6
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d6+8+1d6 --> 6,0[ 1d6=1 1d6=1 ]4,0{10}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d6+8+1d6 --> 6,0[ 1d6=5 1d6=4 ]4,0{17}
<Steph> roll 1d4+6+1d8
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d4+6+1d8 --> 6,0[ 1d4=4 1d8=3 ]4,0{13}
<Steph> roll 18d6/2
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 18d6/2 --> 6,0[ 18d6=64 ]4,0{32}
<El-Cideon> The vicious air mollusk is rent to within an inch of its life--but clings on to existence and, perhaps more significantly, Stephanie's friends!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 HERO BOX escape attempt?
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+11 1,0HERO BOX escape attempt? --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{30}
<El-Cideon> OOC: :( Battersby and Rosey are up
<Julia> Battersby struggles to get free!
<Julia> roll 1d20+17
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+17 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{30}
<El-Cideon> OOC: :(
<El-Cideon> Rosey struggles to focus and cast a spell despite her lamentable current condition!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17+8 concentration + hero point
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+17+8 1,0concentration + hero point --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{45}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 squid will
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+5 1,0squid will --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{25}
<El-Cideon> roll 5d6 halved
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 5d6 1,0halved --> 6,0[ 5d6=13 ]4,0{13}
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia/Steph, more fort saves
<El-Cideon> OOC: retro note of Rosey activating FH, also
<Steph> roll 1d20+10
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+10 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{23}
<Julia> roll 1d20+4
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{17}
<Julia> OOC: +2 if a bunch of other stuff, it actually might matter!
<El-Cideon> Stephanie hacks and coughs and forcibly expels the smoke from her lungs--but Julia's invasive presence still tears at her from inside!
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6+12 damage
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 4d6+12 1,0damage --> 6,0[ 4d6=12 ]4,0{24}
<El-Cideon> As one elemental continues to slash away at Julia from outside as well as in, its somewhat less frightened partner attacks Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+17-4 vs Julia
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2#1d20+17-4 1,0vs Julia --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{30}, 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{18}
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+17-2 vs Steph
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2#1d20+17-2 1,0vs Steph --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{18}, 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{35}
<Julia> OOC: 1 hit
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+4-2
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2d6+4-2 --> 6,0[ 2d6=7 ]4,0{9}
<El-Cideon> OOC: squid and Fran are up
<Franceska> Never in her wildest nightmares did she expect to be fighting such a horrible thing, and certainly not while flying in Air's nothingness! But there is little for her to do now but to try and kill the squid until it dies from it and free Rosemund!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d29+17-2 belated crit check vs Steph!
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d29+17-2 1,0belated crit check vs Steph! --> 6,0[ 1d29=21 ]4,0{36}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17-2 belated crit check vs Steph! not 29 dammit Cid
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+17-2 1,0belated crit check vs Steph! not 29 dammit Cid --> 6,0[ 1d20=11 ]4,0{26}
<Steph> OOC: I'z critted
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13+8-1
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+13+8-1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=16 ]4,0{36}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13+8-1
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+13+8-1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{24}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+11+8-1
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+11+8-1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{38}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+11+8-1 crit?
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+11+8-1 1,0crit? --> 6,0[ 1d20=16 ]4,0{34}
<Steph> OOC: i'z not critterd?
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+4 damage vs Steph
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2d6+4 1,0damage vs Steph --> 6,0[ 2d6=9 ]4,0{13}
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran, all hit. Roll damage while I deal out its attacks. It's surely dead, but it does act simultaneously with you
<Franceska> roll 1d8+8+8+1d8+8+8+4d8+48-3
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d8+8+8+1d8+8+8+4d8+48-3 --> 6,0[ 1d8=5 1d8=8 4d8=20 ]4,0{110}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+19 CMB to maintain grapple vs Rosey
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+19 1,0CMB to maintain grapple vs Rosey --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{29}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+19 CMB to maintain grapple vs Ron
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+19 1,0CMB to maintain grapple vs Ron --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{38}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+19 CMB to maintain grapple vs Battersby
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+19 1,0CMB to maintain grapple vs Battersby --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{20}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+8 constrict Rosey
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d6+8 1,0constrict Rosey --> 6,0[ 1d6=4 ]4,0{12}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+8 constrict Ron
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d6+8 1,0constrict Ron --> 6,0[ 1d6=3 ]4,0{11}
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+15 vs Steph won't bother with CMB because ded
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2#1d20+15 1,0vs Steph won't bother with CMB because ded --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{24}, 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{27}
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+15 vs Fran won't bother with CMB because ded
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2#1d20+15 1,0vs Fran won't bother with CMB because ded --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{17}, 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{18}
<El-Cideon> OOC: AC you two?
<Steph> OOC: 29
<Franceska> OOC: 23
<El-Cideon> While the squid flails out the last awful moments of its horrible existence, Franceska neatly eviscerates it (or whatever the equivalent verb is for creatures without viscera!)
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: subjective gravity, air magic enhanced, earth magic impeded | Smoke elemental 1 (shaken, despair) & 2 (30, shaken) > Fran (19) > Julia (11) > Steph (10)> Ron (7) > Battersby (4) > Rosey (3)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia then Steph
* Franceska flicks squid bits off her claws while spitting yet more from her mouth, as black ink splatters all over her very lovely cloak!
<Julia> Backing off still from her assailant, Julia calls on healthy negative energy to cure what ails her!
<Julia> roll 4d8+12
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 4d8+12 --> 6,0[ 4d8=18 ]4,0{30}
<El-Cideon> OOC: I'll give it the usual save to resist the spell. Fort or will?
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5-4 will assuming that's Inflict Critical
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+5-4 1,0will assuming that's Inflict Critical --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{10}
<Julia> ooc: will DC 22
<El-Cideon> As Julia's dark energies rejuvenate her own being, they eat away at the foe within her! Two can play at that game!
<Steph> "I hate pain!" roars Stephanie, lashing out again the smokey elemental she just spat out.
<Steph> roll 1d20+16
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+16 --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{24}
<Steph> roll 1d20+16
<Steph> roll 1d20+11
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+16 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{36}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+11 --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{30}
<Steph> roll 1d20+11
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+11 --> 6,0[ 1d20=16 ]4,0{27}
<El-Cideon> OOC: all hit
<Steph> roll 1d6+8+1d6
<Steph> roll 1d6+8+1d6
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d6+8+1d6 --> 6,0[ 1d6=2 1d6=4 ]4,0{14}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d6+8+1d6 --> 6,0[ 1d6=3 1d6=1 ]4,0{12}
<Steph> roll 1d4+6+1d8
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d4+6+1d8 --> 6,0[ 1d4=2 1d8=5 ]4,0{13}
<Steph> roll 1d4+6+1d8
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d4+6+1d8 --> 6,0[ 1d4=1 1d8=6 ]4,0{13}
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: subjective gravity, air magic enhanced, earth magic impeded | Smoke elemental 1 (shaken, despair, 30) > Fran (19) > Julia (11) > Steph (10)> Ron (7) > Battersby (4) > Rosey (3)'
<El-Cideon> As Stephanie dissipates one wispy elemental with her blades, Ron trains his crossbows on the remaining foe. "Expression of surprise at appearance of aquatic lifeforms on plane of Air," he rattles off. "Expression of gratitude at its disposal."
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+13 --> 6,0[ 1d20=11 ]4,0{24}
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+13 --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{19}
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+8 --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{16}
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+8 --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{12}
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d8+3 second hits due to crossbow threat range
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2#1d8+3 1,0second hits due to crossbow threat range --> 6,0[ 1d8=8 ]4,0{11}, 6,0[ 1d8=5 ]4,0{8}
<El-Cideon> OOC: Battersby and Rosey
<Julia> "Battersby, kill it!" Julia howls, her zombie only too eager to comply!
<Julia> roll 1d20+19 charge bite
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+19 1,0charge bite --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{39}
<El-Cideon> OOC: obviously hits!
<Julia> roll 3d8+12
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 3d8+12 --> 6,0[ 3d8=17 ]4,0{29}
<El-Cideon> "This is not the proper way to treat visitors to your world!" Rosemund cries out, focusing a spell of retribution upon the remaining elemental. "Grabbing them with tentacles and choking them is a very poor way to say hello!"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5-1 will
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+5-1 1,0will --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{9}
<El-Cideon> roll 5d6 damage
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 5d6 1,0damage --> 6,0[ 5d6=13 ]4,0{13}
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia, more fort
<Julia> roll 1d20+4
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{22}
<El-Cideon> Finally, Julia gasps and spits out the monster clawing at her insides! That doesn't stop it from continuing to claw at her from the outside, though.
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+17-4
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2#1d20+17-4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{16}, 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{28}
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+6-2
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2d4+6-2 --> 6,0[ 2d4=7 ]4,0{11}
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran, Julia, Steph
<Franceska> With a spell, Franceska is right there to claw the elemental herself!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13+8-1+2 lion's charge
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+13+8-1+2 1,0lion's charge --> 6,0[ 1d20=11 ]4,0{33}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13+8-1+2 lion's charge
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+13+8-1+2 1,0lion's charge --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{31}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+11+8-1+2 lion's charge
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+11+8-1+2 1,0lion's charge --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{35}
<El-Cideon> OOC: all hit
<Franceska> roll 1d8+8+8+1d8+8+8+2d8+24
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d8+8+8+1d8+8+8+2d8+24 --> 6,0[ 1d8=3 1d8=4 2d8=5 ]4,0{68}
<El-Cideon> Fran bits and claws and shreds that beastly creature into threads of dust on the wind! And then all is still once again.
<El-Cideon> OOC: free act
* Julia grumbles and starts to slowly heal herself before taking care of battersby, her hair falling down to a more managable state.
* Franceska points at the floating, torn up tentacles repeatedly in dismay.
<El-Cideon> "Yes, I agree!" Rosemund says. "We should find birds and such things here, yes? Not...sea monsters! Oh, who needs help?" She looks around, as usual, at everyone but Julia.
* Franceska shrugs, shaking her head at Rosemund to indicate she's just fine.
<Julia> "Stupid invertebrates and elementals," Julia mutters irritably.
<El-Cideon> roll 4d10+20 Ron's happy he's not technically a construct
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 4d10+20 1,0Ron's happy he's not technically a construct --> 6,0[ 4d10=18 ]4,0{38}
<El-Cideon> roll 4d10+20 Rosey
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 4d10+20 1,0Rosey --> 6,0[ 4d10=26 ]4,0{46}
<El-Cideon> roll 4d10+20 Steph
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 4d10+20 1,0Steph --> 6,0[ 4d10=19 ]4,0{39}
<El-Cideon> Her work done, Rosemund suggests tactfully, "Ah, Julia, can you suggest that your wyvern steer us around flying squids in the future?"
<Steph> "I guess... clouds have water in them, so the plane of air is really close to the plane of water? Maybe? Do they even work like that?"
<Julia> "He's too stupid for that!" Julia says unhappily. "At best I can tell him to kill everything he sees but he might kill someone we'd have wanted to know."
* Franceska shakes off any lingering bits of squid before returning to her beloved human self. "I will try to look into better magical housing," she promises to Rosemund, asking, "Are you alright now?"
<El-Cideon> "Boundaries between some planes are malleable," Ron adds in. "Although not within my personal experience, there are reputedly areas where one plane bleeds into another."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund nods. "Yes, thank you Franceska."
<Franceska> "Say, maybe an evil wizard did it?"
<El-Cideon> A sage nod from Rosemund. "That is a very good explanation for a great many things, I am coming to believe."
<El-Cideon> The next day proceeds without inconvenient squid attacks, and sometime near the end of that day (judging by guesses from vague internal chronometers) your path takes you by another free-floating structure out in the vastness of Air: this, in fact, is two clumps of rock--one maybe eighty feet in diameter, the other perhaps half that--with some kind of net or mesh wound between the two of them. Upon the larger rock is established a modest, friendly little house.
<Steph> "There's sure a lot of stuff out here, huh?"
<Franceska> "The housing looks strong enough to withstand traveling squids. Rosemund, ask them if we can stay for the night."
<Julia> "Maybe they catch giant squids for a living with that big net," Julia says.
<El-Cideon> "There are not many places to build anything," Rosemund observes, "so perhaps the people have to take advantage of every opportunity?" She nods to Franceska and settles down with a somewhat graceful landing on the rock near the house before strolling over and rapping politely upon the front door.
* Julia tells Battersby to hide underneath the big rock and only kill people if he's attacked by them.
<El-Cideon> A man shortly answers the door--human, well-built, wary but not unfriendly, with close-cropped hair giving way to gray. He looks you all over and shortly assumes, "You lot looking for Azure?" with the air of one answering a common inquiry. Somewhere in the background, someone gently plays a harp.
<El-Cideon> "Ah, we believe it is that way," Rosemund answers, pointing in the general direction determined by Franceska and Ron. "But if you could find us lodging for the night, we would very much appreciate this," she adds with a respectful bow.
<El-Cideon> He chews his lip for a moment. "What's your business there?" he asks the group in general. "We like to know who we're letting into our house."
<Franceska> "The main reason is to meet with an acquaintence from another plane."
<Julia> Good thing she hid the undead wyvern!
<El-Cideon> "Hm," he says with a faintly discouraging air. The musician in the background has ceased to play. "Not planning to jump in that portal, I hope?" he asks with a searching look. "Have an audience with our neighbors?"
<Franceska> "What portal would that be?" Franceska asks curiously.
<El-Cideon> "Don't be unfriendly, dear," a musical voice says from behind him. An elven woman--blond, striking and with graceful white-feathered wings of copious span folded up behind her--steps up and puts a hand on his shoulder. "Although you all could introduce yourselves, that might help," she allows with a smile.
* Franceska stares at the elf's wings.
<Steph> "Yo! I'm Steph, and these are my friends," chimes in Stephanie. "We're freebooting adventurers!"
<Julia> "My name is Julia Astin," the sinister yet friendly necromancer says.
<Franceska> "Franceska Durant," she says mechanically.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund and Ron introduce themselves in turn--Ron gets a slightly odd look, but more confusion than suspicion. "Ah, they really are new around here," the winged woman concludes aloud from Franceska's response. "Well, come along, I'll get some tea on." There's a comfortable, airy sitting room just within the door. The locals appear to favor throw pillows over genuine furniture. "Portal's to the Abyss itself," the man says with obvious distaste. "So you can figure we're not keen on anyone seeking the city just for that."
* Franceska shudders. "How horrifying!"
<Julia> "Doesn't Abyss... stuff leak out and make everything sinister? It doesn't look much like it," Julia says, peering around as she goes inside.
<Steph> Stephanie scowls. "How come they let it stay there?" she mutters.
<El-Cideon> "Very horrifying. We're quite keen on making sure no one unsavory comes out of there, which is to say we don't let much of anyone come out of there," he says, adding with disgruntled aside, "though maybe less careful than we used to be." He settles onto an ottoman that appears the closest to a genuine chair in the residence.
<Franceska> "There was a terrible tentacled monster flying around yesterday!"
<El-Cideon> "Was there?" he says with disquiet. He leans forward and asks, "What kind?" as though clearly fearing a broad variety of suspects.
<Julia> "It was made of air and clouds, and was accompanied by a pair of storm elementals," Julia answers.
<Franceska> "It broke my hut! Hence needing a new place to stay for the night, of course."
<Steph> "The elementals go into your mouth and tear up your insides," replies Stephanie, shuddering. "I never wished to have the flu more."
* Franceska shudders again. "So mean-spirited! They made a detour just to come over!"
<El-Cideon> "Oh. Well, that's not so bad, comparitively speaking," he says, scratching his head. His partner reemerges with a tray of delicate china cups and makes the rounds to any interested parties. "Perhaps we should introduce our*selves* before we get to talking about all the awful creatures that lurk around here?" she suggests. "My husband here is Henry. I am Melara."
<Julia> "A pleasure," Julia says, gratefully accepting a cup of tea.
<El-Cideon> "Well, we are not here to fight awful monsters," Rosemund professes. "At least, that is not the plan. But we will not turn away if it is a thing that needs to be done!" she announces for the team.
<Julia> "Too true," Julia agrees. Awful monsters can sometimes become valued minions!
<El-Cideon> "The trouble these days is knowing who the monsters are," Henry says. "It was simpler in the old days, but now there's so many gangs and they all tell you the others'll be the ruin of the city if they get their way." He shakes his head at this disgraceful state of affairs.
<El-Cideon> "This is Henry's roundabout way of saying be careful who you talk to," Melara adds with a sad smile.
<Franceska> "Oh, we heard about that," Franceska muses. "Is this where all the different parties come in?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, sure," he says, happy for a chance to grouse about the lamentable conditions to which the young people of today have brought local culture. "There's, what, half a dozen of them these days? They all keep fancy names to sound better than their neighbors, but when it comes down to it most of them will fight for their turf just the same if they think they have to."
<El-Cideon> "So perhaps," Melara concludes, "we could at least suggest someone for you to talk to if you don't mind telling us what your business is?"
<Franceska> "We really are meeting someone we met on Fire."
<Julia> "Oh, gang violence is it? Are there any colours to be wary of or signs to know?" Julia asks. "We don't have much business beyond using Azure as a convenient meeting spot."
<Steph> "How tough are these gangs, anyway? Common thugs or an actual danger?"
<El-Cideon> "Most won't pose you a problem unless they think you're friendly with their rivals," Melara says. Henry adds, "Well, gray robes usually means the Concordant Union. They're probably the friendliest lot you'll find. Little creepy if you ask me, want you to give up all your worldly treasures to join up, all going into their vaults I don't doubt, but they'll talk to anybody and they'll heal anybody and try to keep other folks from jabbing at one another with more than sharp words. Worst is the Quills. You see someone in something like a porcupine cloak, you just float on by. The Monarchists are a little batty but not what I'd call dangerous, the Sagacious Brothers just sit up in their tower pretending nothing's wrong...most of the action's between the Gate Wardens and the Dervish." The former evidences some degree of approval in Henry's speech; the latter, bitter disapproval.
<Franceska> "What are the laws on self-defense in Azure?"
<El-Cideon> This provokes a bitter, dispirited laugh. "Hah, laws."
<Steph> "Who's the most powerful bastard in Azure?"
<El-Cideon> "If anyone attacks you, no one will look badly upon any means of self-defense," Melara answers in a more even tone.
<El-Cideon> "That would probably be Miss Granville, whether she wishes it or not," Melara adds calmly.
<Julia> "Oh, so she made it out after all?" Julia smiles. "We heard about her back during our travels on Earth," she adds by way of explanation.
<El-Cideon> "She's always stirring up trouble somewhere," Henry complains in response.
<Franceska> "We'll need to stop by, then. Would it be easy to find her whereabouts?"
<El-Cideon> "Everybody knows where she lives. Tough to stay out of the public eye after you've gone and evaporated the town boss in public for everyone to see," he says with sad shake of his head. "Says she's not with any group, but the Dervish all fall down in adulation if she so much as farts in their general direction."
<Franceska> "I'm sure he deserved it."
<El-Cideon> This earns Franceska a significant frown, and behind Henry Melara gives her a gentle warning shake of her head.
<Julia> "Considering the current state of lawlessness, perhaps it's not an improvement," Julia muses.
<El-Cideon> "Ah, this begins to sound a little familiar," Rosemund recalls. "Marcus mentioned his group was here? And there was some sort of tyrant called the Magistrate. I suppose that would be him."
<El-Cideon> "That depends on who you ask," Melara answers Julia gently.
<Franceska> "Ah, yes. Are there any prominent mercenary companies here?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, I suppose we could ask about that while we are here," Rosemund adds. "We are looking for Galina Merowyn, and we are told that her and some other heroes from our homeland hunted down a criminal in Azure?"
<El-Cideon> "There's the Furies," Henry answers Franceska, again looking like he's sullied just mentioning the name. "But I don't advise you to truck with that demonspawn bitch if you can get yourself help for the same price elsewhere."
<El-Cideon> Melara nods to Rosemund. "As I recall, they visited the asylum and dispatched the proprietor. You may wish to speak to Ione Demetrinous--she took in the surviving patients and might have something to say about what happened out there. Most all we generally know is those heroes put down Miss Crane and then chastised the Magistrate in plain sight for letting her work there."
<El-Cideon> "Bit of the beginning of the end there," Henry speculates. "Nobody challenged him publicly before that."
<Steph> "Only takes one, huh?" muses Stephanie.
<Franceska> "Oh. This is an important question. Are there any slavers in Azure?"
<El-Cideon> Both of them look astonished at the very question. "In Miss Granville's city? Never," Henry acknowledges in one grudging admission of this loathsome personage's individual virtue.
<Franceska> "This would be a first," Franceska notes suspiciously.
<Julia> "We tend to find them everywhere," Julia adds resignedly.
<El-Cideon> "Not here," he insists. "Not under the Magistrate's regime either, no matter what the Dervish call it."
<Steph> "What keeps Azure together?" asks Stephanie, curiously.
<El-Cideon> "Trade mostly," Henry guesses. "There's strong djinni communities within easy reach, Ysgard's a month or so's flight. Bit of a crossroads, always going to have someone at the center looking to make coin." Melara adds in: "That, and maybe a little shared risk. I think everyone knows, despite their disagreements, that if anything comes charging out of that portal then we're all the same meat to them."
<El-Cideon> With serious talk winding down, Melara is more than happy to send everyone off to sleep (on the sitting room pillows it turns out, as the house lacks a proper guest room) with a stirring performance on her harp. In the morning, Henry directs you to a series of beacons set up by the Sagacious Brotherhood to outline trade routes to nearby cities, (evidently in case your own sense of direction is lacking, a common problem for interplanar visitors to Air). Every mile or so, a lamppost shining an incandescent blue floats in the void, and following them traces a route directly to Azure within another day and change. The city fails to conform to any standards of urban planning and construction that you are familiar with: true to its name, near every house you see is fabricated from the same opaque blue crystal substance, and they are exotic, twisty, nearly distracting in appearance. The buildings of the city float free in the air rather than adhering to any orderly system of streets, and from afar it looks as though they vaguely orbit a huge lozenge of stone, hollowed out with a baleful red light glimmering deep within it. From outside the city, one can vaguely discern a mixed crowd of ordinary mortals and many varieties of winged creatures going about their daily business in between the buildings in what one can only call for lack of a better word streets. It's all quite a jumble, but a very large and lively one.
* Julia peers at it from atop Battersby's back, feeling quite lost. "Where should we go, do you think?" she asks her cmpanions.
<El-Cideon> "I...cannot say I know where to start, mysef," Rosemund admits. "Perhaps finding someplace to rest up?"
<El-Cideon> ~