Everyone has a price

[Ebiris]

[18:41] <@Kotono> OOC: Quick check. First off, what are y'all doing for light? It's getting late in the day, past dinner. You have a bit of natural light left, but any plans in case this takes longer than you have?
[18:41] <Feather_> OOC: Myann
[18:41] <@John> OOC: it's Spring/Summer, we have hours!
[18:42] <Gildas> OOC: I have a lantern if we need it
[18:43] <@Kotono> OOC: Those all work. Okay. Who's in the lead, John? Assuming so, and tell me if otherwise, make a survival check.
[18:44] <@John> OOC: i did get a head start
[18:44] <@John> roll 1d20+15
[18:44] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+15 and gets 35." [1d20=20]
[18:50] <@Kotono> The party makes a fine pace. John leads the way, the others following along. Myann is in dire panther form, a steady lope as she keeps up. The embers of the day begin to fade as you follow the pull. About an hour has passed, the canopy blocking out the light and requiring Myann to cast a spell to keep the the darkness at bay. Ahead about 60ft is a clearing. It's unremarkable, only the dimmest
[18:50] <@Kotono> light illuminating it. But in that clearing you can see a figure kneeling.
[18:52] <Feather_> "Reckon that's who, John?" Feather calls out, keeping a handle on the handle of his sheathed sword.
[18:52] <@John> "Hey, who are you?" John blurts out as he jumps over a bush to land in the clearing, glad of a moment to catch his breath. Of course it could be one of the assassins...
[18:53] <@Kotono> OOC: Make a spot check, John?
[18:53] <@John> roll 1d20+15
[18:53] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+15 and gets 22." [1d20=7]
[18:53] <Gildas> Gildas hangs back, in wait to see what transpires!
[18:55] <@Kotono> John advances to 30ft of the figure as the others do not advance. At the 30ft mark, a shadowy blur comes from above!
[18:56] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+12 AC?
[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 AC? and gets 20." [1d20=8]
[18:56] <@Kotono> OOC: John, that is. Flatfooted unless you have the uncannies.
[18:56] <@John> OOC: 23 uncanny
[18:59] <@Kotono> But John dodges to the side. A figure wrapped in shadow slashes through the space John was in moments ago. A ripple of darkness erupts out from that spot, as suddenly the kneeling figure rises. No words are spoken, but...OOC: Init here.
[18:59] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Myann
[18:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 Myann and gets 11." [1d20=9]
[18:59] <Feather_> roll 1d20+8
[18:59] * Hatbot --> "Feather_ rolls 1d20+8 and gets 18." [1d20=10]
[18:59] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+8 Shadow Stabber
[18:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 Shadow Stabber and gets 18." [1d20=10]
[18:59] <@John> roll 1d20+7
[18:59] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+7 and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[18:59] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 Kneeler
[18:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 Kneeler and gets 25." [1d20=15]
[19:00] <Gildas> roll 1d20+3
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+3 and gets 7." [1d20=4]
[19:00] <@John> "Not the person we're looking for!" John helpfully explains.
[19:00] * Kotono changes topic to 'Kneeler(25)>John(19)>Feather=Shadow Stabber(18)>Myann(11)'
[19:01] * Kotono changes topic to 'Kneeler(25)>John(19)>Feather=Shadow Stabber(18)>Myann(11)>Gildas(Mikoing)'
[19:02] <@Kotono> OOC: Quick note. Past 30ft of Myann is shadowy illumination. Unless you have low-light or darkvision, creatures within it have concealment. This doesn't quite apply to the shadow stabber, though she's right on the border of it. The kneeler has it. It's close to dusk so the Vastwoods is getting pretty dark. Kneeler opens.
[19:04] <@Kotono> The kneeling figure has risen. A cold woman's voice calls, "Retreat and all you have to remember this is a scar. The voice you heard wants throwaway minions to shield it from justice." OOC: John. Woman's holding besides talking some.
[19:06] <@John> "Could've tried that before trying to stab me!" John retorts, taking a swing at his attacker!
[19:06] <@John> roll 1d20+10 stunning fist
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+10 stunning fist and gets 21." [1d20=11]
[19:06] <@John> roll 1d20+10
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11." [1d20=1]
[19:06] <@John> roll 1d20+10
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+10 and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[19:06] <@John> roll 1d20+5
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+5 and gets 18." [1d20=13]
[19:06] <@John> roll 1d20+5
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+5 and gets 23." [1d20=18]
[19:07] <@Kotono> OOC: No joy.
[19:08] <@Kotono> The shadowy figure dodges and weaves! It flows around John's strikes like liquid shadows, crawling up his arm, over John and flowing off him to reform. "Merciful..." The shadow hisses, "Better than what you'll get from her." OOC: Feather and Shadow. Go Feather.
[19:09] <Feather_> "Get away from John!" Feather cries out, charging in to help!
[19:09] <Feather_> roll 1d20+15
[19:09] <Feather_> roll 1d20+15
[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Feather_ rolls 1d20+15 and gets 31." [1d20=16]
[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Feather_ rolls 1d20+15 and gets 35." [1d20=20]
[19:09] <Feather_> OOC: Can it be critted?
[19:10] <@Kotono> OOC: Yes.
[19:10] <Feather_> roll 1d20+15 crit?
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Feather_ rolls 1d20+15 crit? and gets 24." [1d20=9]
[19:10] <Feather_> roll 1d20+15 crit?
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Feather_ rolls 1d20+15 crit? and gets 22." [1d20=7]
[19:11] <@Kotono> OOC: One crit and one hit. Since that makes it obvious, AC is currently 24.
[19:11] <Feather_> roll 2d6+8+5d6 stone scimitar
[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Feather_ rolls 2d6+8+5d6 stone scimitar and gets 26." [2d6=2, 4][5d6=2, 1, 1, 6, 2]
[19:11] <Feather_> roll 1d6+3+5d6+1d6 last is fire, oak feller
[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Feather_ rolls 1d6+3+5d6+1d6 last is fire, oak feller and gets 29." [1d6=5][5d6=4, 5, 2, 5, 3][1d6=2]
[19:13] <@Kotono> Feather charges in, raising his scimitars up before striking in an X over the shadow's chest. He's nimble and quick, able to strike it as it rebalances from dodging John. The X tears the creature's chest open, a gush of blood erupting out! At the same time it blurs into shadow, rippling ahead. In an instant it's  out of sight, having dashed back too fast to follow - but you're fairly sure it
[19:13] <@Kotono> fell back past the formerly kneeling maiden. OOC: Maiden will act now, she'll take her held action.
[19:13] * Kotono changes topic to 'John(19)>Feather=Shadow Stabber(18)>Kneeling Maiden(17)>Myann(11)>Gildas(Mikoing)'
[19:15] <@Kotono> "Tsch!" A little hiss escapes from the kneeling maiden, as her companion is X-slashed and falls back. She raises a hand and chants in words you don't know, before the ground ahead erupts out! The ground breaks up, dozens of caltrops of all sizes filling the distance! From normal sized ones to ones the size of a housecat, all littering the ground ahead. OOC: The 30ft from John and Feather to the
[19:15] <@Kotono> kneeling maiden are now covered in a hell of a lot of caltrops. Myann's up.
[19:16] <Feather_> "Really?" Feather asks incredulously. "How about apologizing for that sneak attack and telling us what's what?"
[19:18] <@Kotono> "You want to talk?" Her voice is less than amused, "Any normal country bumpkin would've ran already or gotten knocked out. Who the hell are all of you?" she calls back. "The reason for this was to scare you off, maybe rough you up. But you're not the normal backwater hicks, are you?"
[19:19] <Feather_> "Fuck you and the horse you rode on! I ain't hearing much apologizing! You talk 'bout justice, show some of it first or you're gonna get our brand of it!"
[19:20] <@John> "We're adventurers!" John shouts, though he doesn't deny being a country bumpkin as well.
[19:22] <@Kotono> Myann snarls and then outright roars, voicing her own displeasure with the situation. A series of high-pitched wails follow, the mushrooms on her back mimicing Myann. Meanwhile, the woman hesitates a moment, "Fine. I apologize." she says stiffly. "We're chasing down a dangerous woman who compels people to serve her through magic. If you reach her, she'll be able to control you and use you as
[19:22] <@Kotono> disposable minions to ensure her escape. We have her surrounded and are boxing her in. Go back, go home. Let us finish this."
[19:23] <Feather_> "Who's this we? Where you lot from?"
[19:26] <@Kotono> "From the East, the Principality of Essem," The woman answers, "We're hunters tasked to end this threat to innocent people. Unfortunately, too many innocents have been forced to fight to the death at her command. Better to wound you and scare you off than to let you throw your lives away."
[19:26] <@John> "I dunno, I mean she didn't sound too bad in my head," John says dubiously. "And you're the one with the creepy shadow and stuff."
[19:27] * Feather_ lets the tips of his scimitars drop a bit, glancing over at John. "Say, did you feel like you had to come? Or choose to?"
[19:28] <Gildas> Gildas gestures around. "You said you're boxing her in, correct? So you must have other allies nearby?"
[19:29] <@Kotono> At this, Myann shifts back to elven form. She glances over as well, and in a low voice, "Is she telling the truth?" she asks.
[19:29] <@John> "Well, I had to come because someone needed help. Didn't feel weird but I guess if I was being controlled I wouldn't say so would I?" John says, now growing confused.
[19:30] <Feather_> "Listen, Essem Lady," Feather addresses the woman. "We fought dragons and a buncha other things. Pulled through alright each time. If she's that dangerous, we'll help out after seeing her. You could use the help, too. We ain't the only adventurers in these here parts."
[19:31] <Gildas> Gildas does look at the woman for her response. OOC: Sense Motive if she says anything that he might be able to pick anything up on.
[19:31] <@Kotono> "Tsch." Another disgrunted, surprised sound. "You're those damned dragonslayers, the one that did in the white dragon?"
[19:31] <@Kotono> OOC: Make a check.
[19:31] <Feather_> "Cleared a whole ghost town once, too. Now, you might try and deal with us by force. Won't work out well for you, though."
[19:32] <Gildas> roll 1d20+15
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+15 and gets 30." [1d20=15]
[19:34] <Feather_> To further drive the point home, Feather approaches her through the caltrops without breaking his stride.
[19:35] <@Kotono> "Then you know there's horrible creatures out here, and horrible people as well. Our target's one of them-" She pauses at that approach, Feather able to see her jaw clenching before she goes on. "-and it's best for everyone if we stop her here. Too much blood has been spilt."
[19:36] <@Kotono> Myann approaches to the edge of the field of caltrops, keeping her peace but otherwise waiting.
[19:36] <Feather_> "So let's try it together," he offers, sheathing his swords. "She try any of those mindtricks on us-- the ants below did that, and it ain't worked out well for them. That just makes her show her colors. And if she doesn't, we offer her a chance to surrender. Justice ain't only about cutting someone down in a forest."
[19:37] <Gildas> "Hold on." Gildas holds a hand up. "That last statement of yours... it didn't ring true."
[19:37] <@John> "Yeah, that sounds best," John agrees with Feather. "I don't really- huh?" he stops at Gildas' interjection.
[19:37] <Gildas> He points at the woman. "Try it again, this time be truthful."
[19:37] <Gildas> OOC: I can do Intimidate if need be
[19:38] <@Kotono> OOC: Go for it, Gildas.
[19:38] <Gildas> roll 1d20+13
[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+13 and gets 27." [1d20=14]
[19:39] <@Kotono> Myann tilts her head to the side and smiles just a bit too much. "Really, you're a liar? How disappointing. I was hoping for something more entertaining."
[19:39] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Myann trying to aid Gildas
[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Myann trying to aid Gildas and gets 5." [1d20=2]
[19:39] * Feather_ glances back at Myann and shakes his head a bit at her.
[19:40] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 opposed intimidate check
[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 opposed intimidate check and gets 12." [1d20=2]
[19:43] <@Kotono> Myann looks on and sees she wasn't even noticed, before muttering something dark under her breath and nodding to Feather. Meantime, the woman sighs. "Fine. I'll cut it straight. She has a bounty on her. She's an escaped prisoner and has developed a rare type of magic. It can't control people, but it can do things with her mind. It's made her a dangerous bounty. Extra hands would help, and I can
[19:43] <@Kotono> offer you part of the bounty."
[19:44] <@John> "Doesn't every magic do stuff with your mind?" John says, "I mean, you thought about making those caltrops and there they are. Anyway, what'd she actually do?"
[19:45] <Feather_> "We ask her first what crime she was put away for, and put it through the Gildas test. If she ain't been set up or something of the sort, I don't mind going for it," Feather muses, glancing over at his friends. "How's that sound?"
[19:45] <Gildas> roll 1d20+15
[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+15 and gets 33." [1d20=18]
[19:45] <Gildas> Gildas takes a breath. "Stop. Lying."
[19:46] <Gildas> "She's no prisoner at all!" He shouts, clearly losing his patience all of a sudden.
[19:46] <Feather_> Feather laughs. "We'll never get there. Saddest thing!"
[19:57] <Feather_> "So what's going on? Really? You better tell Gildas before he flips. He's a bear!"
[20:00] <@Kotono> The woman sighs and starts to step back and to the side, keeping her hands down and open. "Fine. Minor noblewoman, was set up to marry a rich noble by her family. Didn't like him. She claims it was an accident, the family claims she killed him. She's been running since - from the marriage mess and from the fact that her husband to be is dead. The family's spent a lot of money to extract revenge."
[20:00] <Feather_> "How much did they pay you? And are there others?" Feather asks, glancing at Gildas.
[20:00] <@John> "What a horrible family!"
[20:02] <Gildas> Gildas just stands there and watches the woman, still following her motions and words to ensure she's finally being honest. "Perhaps it would be best if we all go find her and then hear her story from her own mouth."
[20:02] <@Kotono> "Ten of us," She replies, "We're a mercenary company out of Volgard, the Blue Falcons. Girl has the devil's luck and that queer magic of hers. It's called psionicry according to our research. Bounty's 5000 gold. Right now we've finally caught up with her and have her boxed in."
[20:03] <Gildas> Gildas nods to Feather at her words this time.
[20:03] <Feather_> "I bet you already got half in advance, yeah? How much for you guys to deliver proof of death of her back?"
[20:03] <@Kotono> "3000," she answers back, keeping her distance.
[20:04] <Feather_> Feather snorts. "Yeah right. You'll get the five thousand already. What I'm saying here, you could make a bit extra and avoid losing any of it. Or your lives."
[20:05] <@John> "Oh, clever idea!" John says, catching on to what Feather's saying.
[20:06] <Feather_> "You lot might have her surrounded, but John's the one she asked for help. We go there, talk to her, get her bloodstained dress or whichever. Throw in the extra gold, and off you go."
[20:06] <Gildas> "It's a very generous offer, after your inability to tell us the truth." Gildas adds.
[20:06] <@Kotono> "...really." The woman's voice becomes marginally less cold, "That's an interesting way of looking at it. How much extra gold?"
[20:07] <Feather_> "Ten percent sound fair to me."
[20:07] <@Kotono> "500 gold more?" She hms a moment, "Acceptable to me. I'll need ot discuss it with the others."
[20:08] <Feather_> "Yeah sure. We need to discuss it with what's her name, too. Let's get going?"
[20:08] <@Kotono> "I'll lead you along," she says, "Name's Esha of Volgard."
[20:09] <Feather_> "Feather."
[20:10] <@John> "John," John says, edging around the caltrops.

[Ebiris]

[18:03] <@Kotono> As you travel, you get a few glances at Esha. The darkness and speed makes it hard to tell, but she looks elven or half elven. At least her ears suggest such. She's rather busty and you can get glimpses of brown or black hair, the light making it hard to tell the difference. The trip ahead is fairly short, no more than a good 10 minutes of stealthy travel through the bush. At this point, she
[18:03] <@Kotono> knocks on a nearby tree four times, which causes a man wrapped in a thick and dark cloak to step out from the nearby foliage. He says not a word, powerfully muscled arms crossed as his shadow-hidden face is generally in the party's direction. "We got a new offer," she says succinctly. "We get her bloody dress as proof of kill and these folks pay is 500 gold on top of it. In exchange, they take
[18:03] <@Kotono> our quarry alive."
[18:04] <@Kotono> The muscular man - really rather large and somehow brooding, although that may be the shadows - is silent before simply nodding. He then steps aside and back out of sight.
[18:06] <Feather> "Don't have to be a dress," Feather muses. "Just sounded like the thing to work. Could be lock of hair?"
[18:06] <@John> "Just not a finger or anything nasty like that."
[18:08] <Gildas> "Why don't we simply ask her when we locate her?" Gildas suggests.
[18:08] <@Kotono> "Whatever. The dress and hair's a good play. Just get it done and have it ready," she says shortly, "Go on ahead. Word should be spreading, he's good at communicating at a distance. She knows us, best we don't approach or you'll get attacked."
[18:09] <Feather> "Sure. Hey, John, you know how she looks like?"
[18:10] <@John> "Nope," John says. "But I figure I'll recognise her voice if I talk to her. Just have to find her is all... I know it was someplace North of town but we've gotten all turned around since then..."
[18:11] <@Kotono> Esha shakes her head, "Straight ahead. She's curled up behind a couple of fallen trees." she says, shortly.
[18:12] <Feather> "Works," Feather says, and heads straight ahead.
[18:12] <Gildas> Gildas follows!
[18:13] <@John> "Off we go then!" John says, jogging off.
[18:17] <@Kotono> The party goes ahead. About a minute ahead, Myann's magic light reveals a pair of fallen trees. They've been stacked atop one another, managing to just stay balanced. It makes a wall of sorts. You don't see anything on this side of it.
[18:18] <@John> "Hullo?" John calls out, slowing down as he approaches. "I got your message!"
[18:19] <@Kotono> A woman's voice is weak, faint and groggy. It calls from behind the log, "It's...help."
[18:20] <@John> "We're coming around," John says, "It's alright, you're safe now," he tells her as he circles around.
[18:21] * Feather follows John, the healing stone out in the open.
[18:23] <Gildas> Gildas stays back a bit behind the others, but follows them around the trees nonetheless.
[18:23] <@Kotono> Myann follows. Around the other side you see her, back against the logs. She's dirty and bloody. Her forehead and face have several half-healed injuries. Her hair is a greenish tangle and caked in mud. A traveling cloak is little more than scrap cloth, hanging on by a few threads. Her traveler's dress is badly torn and filthy, to the point where a tear over her chest gives an entirely scandalous
[18:23] <@Kotono> view of the temptations there. One hand limply holds a mace. "It's you," she says, smiling weakly, "You...you came."
[18:24] <Feather> "Well, dress looks the part," Feather muses, kneeling next to her. "This'll get you back to strength, alright?"
[18:25] <Feather> roll 3d8+10
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 3d8+10 and gets 26." [3d8=8, 2, 6]
[18:26] <@John> "Can't call meself a proper adventurer if I ignore a call for help can I?" John says, taking off his cloak and offering it to replace hers. "Name's John, these here are Feather, Myann, and Gildas. Those hunters won't be coming after you no more - we gave them a better offer."
[18:26] <@Kotono> The woman's wounds heal before your eyes. "Thank you..." she murmurs, before slumping back. "Do you have any food and water? Weak. Had dysentery. Can't stand any more."
[18:27] <Feather> "Uh. Kinda rushed out. But our town's not far?"
[18:27] <@John> "Yeah, the water there's really good too. If you can make it that far with us you'll be fine," John tells her.
[18:27] <@Kotono> Myann extends her hand out, a rather damp-looking mushroom there. "Here," she says, kneeling next to her.
[18:28] <@Kotono> "Mn." A little murmur to all those words and offer, Lesea's head falling back. She mutters something else, too faint to be made out, before her eyes close.
[18:29] <Feather> "Uh. So we go a way, and Myann changes her dress?" Feather asks uncertainly. "Or do it back in town?"
[18:30] <@John> "Must've pushed herself past her limits... unless she can magically fix Lesea's I doubt swapping'll do much good," John says, blushing as he looks at Myann and then swiftly away.
[18:30] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[18:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 25." [1d20=14]
[18:31] <@Kotono> Myann frowns, "Even with the healing, she's in a bad way," Myann checks her pulse, followed by putting an ear against her chest and listening to her breathing, "Pneumonia at least, and if she's had dysentery, she's probably in deep dehydration. We need to get her back and to the healing spring as soon as possible. Quite honestly, without anything, she'll be dead by sunrise tomorrow morning."
[18:32] <Feather> "Good thing we're close and got that spring, then," Feather says, kneeling to pick Lesea up. "Let's go?"
[18:33] <Gildas> Gildas nods. "I'd offer to mend the dress, but... the whole point of this is for it to be in that condition, is it not?" He looks back the way they came. "I assume one of them will follow us back."
[18:34] <@John> "Yeah, may as well bring them back to town so we can give them the money," John agrees, taking point and waving the bounty hunters over to join them.
[18:34] <@Kotono> As the party heads back, they find Esha awaiting. She gives them a curt nod, "I overheard," she says, to the point. "I'lll come by tomorrow and we can work out the particulars and payment then. Your town's back thataway - nice place, looks like, for a backwater."
[18:35] <@John> "Well it does have a few dragonslayers living there," John says, gesturing to his companions. "Who wouldn't want to live there rather than a place that can't do much when a dragon shows up?"
[18:36] <Feather> "Feel free to stick for a couple days and rest up before heading back," Feather offers, though he doesn't linger beyond that since they need to get this woman some proper care.
[18:36] <@Kotono> That almost get sa chuckle out of her, but you can catch a hint of a smile instead. "Until then." From there...
[18:36] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 90." [1d100=90]
[18:36] <@Kotono> roll 1d100 sub tables
[18:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 sub tables and gets 76." [1d100=76]
[18:37] <@Kotono> OOC: Who's on point?
[18:37] <@John> OOC: me
[18:37] <@Kotono> OOC: Perception.
[18:37] <Feather> OOC: I'll be in the middle since I'm carrying her
[18:37] <@John> roll 1d20+15
[18:37] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+15 and gets 21." [1d20=6]
[18:37] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 AC, John
[18:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 AC, John and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[18:38] <@John> OOC: 23
[18:38] <@Kotono> Suddenly, John has a tremendous hunch, diving forward. It's just in time, as a deadwood branch plummets down to where he was seconds before.
[18:39] <@John> "Bloody hell!" John says, standing back up and looking over what nearly took him out. "Well... better me than you two," he nods to Feather and his burden.
[18:40] <@Kotono> Myann looks up with a grimace of disgust. "Again?" she mutters, "Remind me, FEather. If we ever meet a Sidhe of trees, we need to kick them and tell them to stop having branches fall when we're around."
[18:40] <Gildas> Gildas jumps back from the branch falling. "At least it wasn't accompanied by an ooze..."
[18:40] * Feather nods back, before he winces at Myann's words. "Nah, just recruit them to your court or something, then tell them to go away for a century."
[18:41] <@John> "Yeah, could've been worse," he agrees, shaking his head. "Anyway, better keep moving."
[18:46] <@Kotono> The rest of the trip back to town is without incident. As you head to the spring, "Place her by the spring, Feather. I'll take off her dress - I'm not sure it'll survive getting deeply soaked in that state and we need it - and get her in. Gildas, do you have anything that can cure a disease or anything like that?"
[18:47] <Feather> "Got it," Feather responds, being careful about it.
[18:47] <Gildas> "I could prepare something. It'd take just a bit of time. In the meantime, I think I could at least get her exhaustion covered, which should help her body fight it until I can prepare the spell." He responds.
[18:48] <@John> "I'll go see if I can get some soup made for her," John says rather than sticking around to ogle where he's not useful. Might still be some on the pot somewhere he can scrounge up if he's lucky.
[18:49] <Feather> "I'll try to brew some good herbal tea," Feather promises, intending to do just that. Might help with the pneumonia and dehydration, at least!
[18:49] <Feather> roll 1d20+13
[18:49] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+13 and gets 26." [1d20=13]
[18:50] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. If you're doing herbalism or anything like that, make checks. Heal checks are good too.
[18:50] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Myann'll chip in a heal check
[18:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 Myann'll chip in a heal check and gets 19." [1d20=8]
[18:50] <@John> roll 1d20+15 my healing tells me replacing lost fluids are important, hence the soup
[18:50] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+15 my healing tells me replacing lost fluids are important, hence the soup and gets 20." [1d20=5]
[18:52] <Gildas> roll 1d20+17 heal if needed
[18:52] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+17 heal if needed and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[18:54] <Gildas> OOC: If we need an herbalism check instead I can do that too
[18:55] <@Kotono> A long soak in the healing spring is followed by soup, herbal tea and a check-over. She's put up in the Holset's house. Come morning, the four of you gather. "She's doing better," Myann says. "Needless to say, she's sleeping off exhaustion as her body heals." Gesturing to her, Lesea is tucked into a guest bed. Her hair is a pale green, a wholly unnatural shade. She is deep asleep, breathing
[18:55] <@Kotono> easier. "The wetness in her lungs kept coming up last night, which is good. She's clearer now. No signs of dysentery. If it was still there, I think the spring and treatments flushed it out of her. The spring water's helped greatly with her dehydration, too." OOC: No need, y'all killed the rolls already.
[18:56] <Feather> "So we got the torn dress and cloak, and the dwarven gold. Just add a lock of hair, and she'll be set here?"
[18:56] <@John> "S'good to know," John says. "Guess we just need to get our payment together and wait for Esha and her crew?"
[18:57] <Gildas> "I'll be curious to hear her side of the story." He says with a nod to Feather and John.
[18:59] <@Kotono> Come midmorning, you have a visitor. Esha sits at the Holset's table, eating a simple meal of bread, preserves and water. The Missus sits with her, the two conversing quietly in elven. Said conversation dies as the party comes in, "Did she make it?" Esha asks, coolly. "It would be a shame for you if she died now."
[19:00] <@John> "She's well on the mend," John says, nodding.
[19:01] <@Kotono> After another bite of food, Esha replies, "Good for her. She wasn't very good at naturecraft or traveling, but she made up for it with sheer, stubbornminded determination and that magic of hers."
[19:02] <Feather> "Not wanting to die does that," Feather agrees.
[19:04] <@Kotono> In the light of day, you can see Esha is indeed an elf. She has brown hair and blue eyes, a slightly sardonic smile seemingly frozen on her face. "That it does. So you all really took down that dragon? Huh." Her eyes go over the party in turn, "A healing spring and our diviner swears this place is a fungus, plus dragonkillers." A lithe shrug of her shoulders follow, "You're the sort of nuts that
[19:04] <@Kotono> are going to make something out of yourselves."
[19:04] <Gildas> "We tend to find ourselves in the middle of the strangest situations."
[19:05] <Feather> "That dragon really had it coming, too!"
[19:05] <@John> "Figure we already have, but we're young yet," John says. Well, Myann isn't, but she looks young and that's good enough.
[19:05] <@Kotono> Taking a long drink from her waterglass before going on, "This is one of them." Putting it down after, "Sit down. I want to talk. I'll see you later," she nods to the Missus.
[19:06] * Feather makes himself comfortable, after a glance at the Missus.
[19:06] <@Kotono> The Missus crosses her arms, looking rather annoyed. Momentarily like Myann, actually. "Dear, who lives here and who is a guest?"
[19:06] <@John> John sheepishly stops and raises a hand as he was half-way into sitting.
[19:06] <@Kotono> "Says the-" she begin, but shakes her head. Before anything else is said, "As you humans would put it, elf-fight. Nevermind it. That was bad manners."
[19:07] <@Kotono> Myann glances at the Missus, who shakes her head. Myann shrugs herself and sits down next to Feather.
[19:08] <@John> Seeing that's blown over, John finishes his movement to sit down next to the Missus.
[19:08] <Gildas> Gildas covers his mouth with a fist that may or may not be hiding a grin, but moves to sit down as well.
[19:08] <Feather> Is that an elf thing? A woman thing? Maybe an elf woman thing? He just keeps quiet.
[19:09] <@Kotono> "Let's see," Counting off fingers, "Dragonslayers live here. Our seer swears all his spells about this place come back 'mushroom', even when it shouldn't be possible. You have a healing spring, the sort of things kingdoms kill over. If I heard the townfolk right, there's a kobolds nearby and I'm fairly certain I saw centaur children playing with the human children. It's really not my business,
[19:09] <@Kotono> really it isn't...but what the fuck is going on here? It's like I fell asleep and woke up in a bard's tale about the Sidhe's world."
[19:11] <@Kotono> "Oh, and I almost forgot. You have a scroll shop run by a fucking bugbear," Shaking her head again, "I can't believe that's relatively normal here."
[19:11] <@John> "Yeah, the kobolds live right below us. Right handy for trading they are," John says, reserving comment on the rest. "Oh, 'cept the bugbear used to be dwarf."
[19:11] <Feather> Feather nods at the Missus. "Seeing an elf and human couple living together happily? It felt real good, especially after all I saw traveling these woods. So we just talked it over and decided to make a town much like that, where all can go." He snorts, then. "The bugbear's actually an ancient ghost dwarf."
[19:12] <Gildas> Gildas stays quiet for now, without much to add to the conversation.
[19:12] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 12." [1d20=1]
[19:13] <@Kotono> "...right." Slowly rubbing her hand over her face. "An ancient ghost dwarf. I'd say I'm dreaming, but my dreams are relatively normal compared to this. I've been from Sal Farano to the eastern end of Galast. Congratulations, your little town is the most fucked up thing I've ever seen."
[19:14] <Feather> "Only sane ghost dwarf from this ghost city we cleared out," Feather helpfully fills her in. "We used magic and there he is. Complains about being too tall, but likes this breathing thing."
[19:15] <@John> "Did you miss the town of clockwork people made by the crazy wizard who wanted to rebuild his childhood home?" John asks her. "Was somewhere out the edge of Pelvale."
[19:17] <@Kotono> A long-suffering sigh follows, "Didn't catch that, but we've been avoiding towns since she'd been doing the same. I think she thought she could lose us in the woods. To be honest, it almost worked. We ran into a few problems - how she got around them, the Gods only know." Sitting back with a long exhale, "Anyway, what about the dress, hair and gold?"
[19:18] <Feather> "All prepared," Feather responds. "Dwarf gold is okay?"
[19:18] <@Kotono> "Gold's gold." A shrug follows.
[19:19] <Feather> "I'll bring it all?" Feather offers, standing up.
[19:20] <Gildas> Gildas nods to Feather.
[19:23] <@Kotono> Off the party goes. Dress, hair and gold is passed off. "Pleasure doing business with you," Esha remarks, "Anything else?"
[19:25] * @John shrugs. "Thanks for going along with us on this?"
[19:25] <Feather> "Been nice making your acquaintence," Feather tells her. "Weird or not, we're a pretty hospitable place. So stop by if you're ever in these parts?"
[19:26] <Gildas> "Just remember to give us the whole story if you come to us for assistance." Gildas adds with a fold of his arms.
[19:26] <@Kotono> "I might, one day," she says, "Quicker if you happen to have a dreamseer." That look gets a casual, unflinching look back to Gildas. "Yeah, sure."
[19:27] <@John> "Dreamseer?" John repeats. "What, like the Dreamer?"
[19:28] * Feather makes a face. "Hope not."
[19:29] <@Kotono> "Someone who can see dreams and analyze them," She remarks, "You know one?"
[19:30] <@John> "Yeah, Gildas is friends with a druid circle that's got someone like that. Kinda weird but..." he trails off, Gildas can surely explain better.
[19:31] <Gildas> "The analysis isn't quite as...  easy to understand as I think she means." Gildas says. "It's a bit different."
[19:32] <@Kotono> "It sounds fishy," Esha remarks coolly, "I'm looking for answers, not riddles."
[19:32] <Feather> "Better not get involved with her. Just trust me on this one."
[19:34] <Gildas> "You don't know how fishy it can be." He responds with a small smile.
[19:35] <@Kotono> "Then I won't. Until next time," Esha nods, before turning to go. OOC: Good to move along now?
[19:35] <Feather> OOC: Right
[19:38] <@Kotono> OOC: Going to wait on Lesea to wake up?
[19:38] <Feather> OOC: Sure
[19:42] <@Kotono> It's a few hours past noon. The party's essentially waiting on Lesea to awaken - and finally it happens. Myann pokes her head out, "She's up," she calls.
[19:42] <@John> "Lets go see how she's doing then?" John says, getting up and heading after Myann to have a look.
[19:42] <Feather> "She feeling good enough for visitors?" Feather asks her politely.
[19:43] <Gildas> Gildas stands from his meditation and moves to go in and see her, following the others.
[19:43] <@Kotono> "Good enough," Myann says to Feather.
[19:44] * Feather heads in as well at that!
[19:46] <@Kotono> Lesea is up. She's sitting up, blankets wrapped around her. She looks about, settling on John, "Are you the one?" she asks, voice still a bit hoarse. "Thank you, all of you."
[19:47] <@John> "Yeah, heard you in me head last night," John taps the side of his head, finding a stool to sit in. "Lucky thing we caught up to you for it. Name's John," he introduces himself since she may not remember last night.
[19:49] <Gildas> Gildas hangs back and leans on a nearby wall to watch Lesea and the others talk!
[19:50] <@Kotono> "Myann," said elf replies, going to the bed table and pouring a glass of water, which she passes to Lesea.
[19:50] <@Kotono> "I owe all of you a great deal," she says, quietly. "Myann told me...they aren't after me any more?"
[19:51] <Feather> "Shouldn't be, so long you don't head that way again."
[19:51] <@John> "Yeah, we paid 'em off, they're just gonna tell your family they did the deed, so should be fine now," John agrees.
[19:57] <@Kotono> Lesea slumps down, "Finally," she murmurs. "I owe you...all of you so much."
[19:58] <Feather> "How about a story? To know what it's all about, really?"
[19:59] <@John> "Yeah, helping out was just the decent thing, really," John says.
[20:02] <@Kotono> "Well..." Lesea says, "My name is Lesea Drachenguard, of House Drachenguard. It started when my parents decided who I was going to marry."
[20:04] <Gildas> After everything else, Gildas just watches Lesea to make sure they don't have to go through the whole song and dance of truthiness again. OOC: He'll be Sense Motive-ing again whatever he can.
[20:05] <@John> "Esha mentioned something about him having an accident, yeah," John says as he listens.
[20:05] <@Kotono> OOC: Make a check, Gildas.
[20:08] <Gildas> roll 1d20+15
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+15 and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[20:12] <@Kotono> "His name was Felix. I hated him. He was a stuck up prig who thought I was nothing more than a dog he bought. No, he treated his prized hounds better." A sound of annoyance comes from her, "We had this long 'courting', to make things look more stately, even if it was already a done deal. One night, he'd been drinking and I said something he didn't like. We fought a bit. As he walked away, I
[20:12] <@Kotono> suppose he was still dizzy. He slipped and fell wrong." A sad little shrug follows, "His family didn't believe that it was an accident. It was either stay or get a second smile."
[20:12] <@Kotono> *leave or get
[20:14] <@John> That's awful! To think you can just trip and die like that at any moment! John hunches up his feet onto the bar under the stool rather than rest them on the untrustworthy floor. "Well... pretty impressive to get away as far as you did. I was stuck on my own for just a couple of days in these woods and would've been done for if I hadn't found this place."
[20:15] <Feather> "So it's not just these woods that are so dangerous to walk through," Feather mutters.
[20:16] <@Kotono> "This helped," She taps her head. "I'd always felt...full of energy in my mind, I guess. But nothing ever happened until the Blue Falcons trapped me the first time. I can do things with my mind, if I think right and PUSH."
[20:18] <@John> "Yeah, magic's pretty handy if you're in a pinch," John agrees.
[20:19] <@Kotono> "It's a dangerous world. I blamde the Sidhe," Myann murmurs back to Feather, barely audible.
[20:20] <Gildas> "What do you plan to do now? I think you'd be welcome to stay here, if you like."
[20:21] <@Kotono> "Months of running. Somehow I kept going and going and going, until I reached here," Lesea says, "Thank you. I may take you up on it...right now I just don't know. I'm tired and...just this is the first time I've had to rest in so long and..." She closes her eyes, tears coming out nonetheless. "I'm exhausted and I don't know what to do but to keep running."
[20:23] <@John> "Well, just rest then. And give a shout if you need food or anything?" John suggestes, standing up. Looking carefully down at the ground to ensure he doesn't trip, he slowly and carefully walks back out of the room.
[20:23] <Gildas> "Perhaps the two of you can help each other learn new mental techniques." He gestures to John. "It might come in handy."
[20:24] <@John> "Huh?" he stops abruptly and nearly trips! Heart racing he puts a hand on the wall, "Yeah, Young Hubert taught me a few tricks, and I even learned something from those ants. Something to think about when you're better, right?"
[20:25] <@Kotono> "I'd like that," Lesea murmurs, "I barely know how to use these. I just do."
[20:26] <Gildas> Gildas nods with a smile. "It's always good to have someone who understands you."

[Ebiris]

[18:23] <@Kotono> A day of rest and preparations pass for Gildas. The next day brings Robert over, "Ho there, you home?" he calls, a loud knocking on Gildas's door moments later.
[18:24] <Gildas> He opens the door! "Good day to you." He nods and moves out of the way to allow him inside, if he wishes.
[18:28] <@Kotono> "Good day," He agrees, coming in and wiping his brow, "Going to be a warm one today. Good for growing. Though that's what I'm here for. Feel like a walk to the fields?"
[18:29] <Gildas> He nods in response! "Certainly. Has something happened?" He will let him step out first and close the door behind both of them when they go.
[18:32] <@Kotono> "Nothing bad, I reckon," is his answer. "You'll see." A quick trip to the fields - woah! There's grown fruits and vegetables there! Overgrown, even. Carrots tall and wide as a man, one having been pulled out of the ground. Heads of lettuce feet wide and long.  A huge pile of mushrooms to the side. Radishes big and thick enough to serve as greatclubs. "This," Robert gestures. Fieldhands are
[18:32] <@Kotono> about, looking over the oversized vegetables.
[18:34] <Gildas> He blinks. "I wonder..." He tries a quick detect magic to see if his surmising is correct: that the growth spell amplified the already present power from the so-called birthstones underground to make the vegetables.
[18:37] <@Kotono> OOC: Quick spellcraft.
[18:39] <Gildas> roll 1d20+16
[18:39] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+16 and gets 34." [1d20=18]
[18:41] <@Kotono> As you surmised before, that's exactly what happened. The ground's fertility adn energy are off the charts, so to speak.
[18:42] <@Kotono> As Gildas works, "And there's all th emushrooms. We didn't plant them, and those are some fancy ones. The truffles, Myann calls them. You see fungus growing on your plants, you worry because it's usually going to kill them. These didn't harm them at all." Robert says as he goes to the huge carrot. Drawing a pocketknife, "Want a taste? It's ripe."
[18:43] <Gildas> He nods to himself, then looks over to Robert. "It's... Basically, my spell caused the energy present here to amplify even more than normal." He nods again and steps over to him. "Truffles? I've heard of those, they're supposedly quite a delicacy. Oh, certainly, I'll try some." He looks thoughtful for a moment. "Do you normally sell your harvest at all?"
[18:45] <@Kotono> "A little up in Willowford," he says, "But there's not much nearby. Traded some to that caravan a few days ago, though."
[18:45] <@Kotono> A little slice of carrot is taken and passed over. "Myann made somethign with those truffles before. They're mighty good."
[18:47] <Gildas> He nods and tries the carrot! "At the very least, if more people show up, there'll be plenty of food!" He says with a small laugh.
[18:56] <@Kotono> It's pretty good. "We'll have more than we can use, even with a short growing season," Robert remarks, "Strange part is that really big food, like you see in fairs? They usually don't taste so good. This tastes just fine."
[18:57] <Gildas> He nods. "We could probably take some to Malaines if you wanted us to. Oh, could I give you some seeds from some fruit we found underground? I'd like to see if the trees can grow up here in this climate."
[18:59] <@Kotono> "That sounds like something to try," Robert says, "Both of those. What sort of treeS?"
[19:01] <Gildas> "I'd say you wouldn't believe me, but..." He looks around at the giant vegetables as he digs in his pack for the seeds he picked up. "They're fruit trees. The fruit all resemble gemstones, but they're just like regular fruit."
[19:08] <@Kotono> "Gem fruit, hm?" The seeds are taken, "It's worth a try." Meanwhile, in the background, a field hand is sorting through the mushrooms - before he suddenly sprouts a raccon tail and ears, floating several inches off the ground.
[19:10] <@Kotono> "Ah hell, not again," Robert groans, "It's just magic, like that killed the dragon. Just focus on landing and push down. It'll go away soon," he calls over, a hand cupped to his mouth. "You hear? Calm down and land!"
[19:12] <Gildas> Gildas blinks, then starts chuckling. "That happen often? People getting bigger and that sort of thing?"
[19:13] <@Kotono> "When they find the right mushroom, yes." Robert says, and lowering his voice, "It's about Myann? I'm just telling people it's magic. A couple of those floating blocks have given out coins too. Don't have to explain those so much, since no one wants to question free gold."
[19:14] <Gildas> He nods. "Yes. If it starts to get out of hand, let her know. I'm not sure there's much I could do to limit it."
[19:19] <@Kotono> "She said she isn't sure she can do much about it, either," Robert admits, still keeping low, as the farmland slowly, carefully lands with a wiggle of his temporary tail. "With those embiggening mushrooms or the fire ones, you can punch someone to stop it. Those ones there have to go away on their own."
[19:21] <Gildas> He nods. "I'll see if there's anything I can do to help her work with it. Or maybe focus it so they only show up in a few places and not everywhere."
[19:25] <@Kotono> "Would be good. For now, reckon giving me a hand moving these," He jerks his thumb at the oversized vegetables.
[19:26] <Gildas> He nods. "Certainly."
[19:37] <@Kotono> This goes without incident. Once it's done, the Missus sticks her head out, "Gildas, would you come over here a minute?"
[19:38] <Gildas> "Hm? Of course." He nods to Robert before he goes over to see the lady of the house!
[19:43] <@Kotono> Inside you find the Missus. Em's in the background, herding several of the brood along. They seem to be having a play fight, sticks and pot-lids serving as sword and shield. "I SAID PUT THOSE DOWN!" Em calls, face a twist of annoyance, "Or I swear I'll get Ma to tan your hides!" Meanwhile the Missus smiles at Gildas, leading him a bit away from it. "Would you mind fetching me a few things
[19:43] <@Kotono> from the kobolds?"
[19:44] <Gildas> "Oh, of course not. I've been meaning to see them for a while." He nods. "What can I get for you?"
[19:47] <@Kotono> "A new cooking pot, a big one. Ask for Boomapoom. Also some nice new silverware. Apparently one of the kobolds got it as, ahem, shinies. Robert convinced him to trade it for some of the stray gold we've found in those floating bricks. It's really fancy."
[19:48] <Gildas> He nods. "All right."
[19:49] <@Kotono> "OW!" You hear Em yelp as one of the brood smacks her ankle with a stick. As she hops around on one foot and curses, the Missus glances over. "Oh, and John's upstairs if you want some company. Excuse me." Clearing her throat, "CHILDREN! You do NOT hit your big sister with sticks like that!"
[19:52] <Gildas> Gildas can't help but laugh a bit. He decides to at least see if John wants anything from the kobolds, so he heads upstairs to check on him!

~

[18:22] <@Kotono> A day passes. The next day John meets with Lesea - at her request. She's still in bed, but looks better. It's mid-morning and the brillant early summer sunshine fills the room. "I'd wanted to talk to you now that I'm a little more together," she says.
[18:24] <@John> "Well there's not much work needing done around now so I've got plenty of time," John smiles, settling himself into a stool at her bedside. "Good to know you're doing better though. Reckon you'll be up and about in no time."
[18:27] <@Kotono> "I can walk around fine now," she agrees with a growing smile, "I've just lost so much weight." On the bed table is a half-eaten plate of food, Lesea reaching for a slice of toasted bread and working on that as you eat. Small little bites. "I'd wanted to ask you about where you picked up your talents. I can feel your mind, it's awake in a way the others aren't."
[18:32] <@John> "Really? I mean Gildas and Myann and Feather, they all know magic too," John says, surprised. "Reckon my mind'd be the least bright of the lot!" he laughs. "But I guess to answer you I used to go around with this wizard, right ancient geezer, we called him 'Young' Hubert but he was anything but!" smiling at fond memories he goes on, "He wasn't all together upstairs but on a good day he could work magic like nobody's business. Anyway, I was just fresh off the farm so I was learning what I could from everyone, and he taught me a few tricks - how to turn meself invisible for a tic, the name of a water elemental I could summon by saying his name three times. Since then I've pieced together a few other spells by meself - magic armour, how to hit stuff harder. Even figured out how to conjure and throw bits of crystal after seeing these ants down below doing it."
[18:37] <@Kotono> "I don't know the details," Lesea admits, listening. It seems to derail her and instead she says, "I was compared to those ants by one of the Blue Falcons."
[18:40] * Joins: Feather_ (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net)
[18:40] <@John> "Yeah, I guess there's something different about what we do compared to magic," John reluctantly concedes. "I mean, I learned what I learned from a mage, but maybe there was just something in here," he taps the side of his head, "That makes it all happen rather than magic like everyone else uses. Far as I can tell the effects all come out the same though, and I dunno how magic can include prayers and pacts and spells and bloodlines but can't include us."
[18:41] * Quits: Feather (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net) (Ping timeout)
[18:44] <@Kotono> "I know a little bit about magic," she confesses, "No one really agrees on the source of it. Strangely, what little I know about this agrees on the source," she taps her own head.
[18:46] <@John> "Yeah. There's this little kid around here that does it too, he came down from... the sky, but not heaven, if that makes any sense? Anyway, he came down from there in this suit of armour and was all het up to kill me because a' what I can do. We knocked him out of his armour and he's alright now. Reckon they weren't very nice to him up there."
[18:48] <@Kotono> "You're kidding. There's nothing up there like that...right? Just the stars and sun." Her gaze is disbeliving, eyes wid.e
[18:53] <@John> He shakes his head. "Nah, surprised me but apparently the world's split up into layers. If you go up past the sky you find the 'Kingdom Above' which isn't heaven," he makes sure to stress that because it confused him no end. "And probably stuff above them. And if you go down like past the caves where kobolds live you find this other layer below where fire dwarves and stuff live, and probably other stuff to. That doesn't even count fairies which are just off to the side on their own thing. According to that boy our powers come from the side as well, but a different side than the fairies if that makse sense?" he finishes hopefully, since it doesn't make sense to him.
[18:57] <@Kotono> "None at all," Lesea says, slowly reaching up to rub the side of her head.
[18:58] <@John> "Yeah, doesn't make much sense to me neither," John admits morosely. "That's why when people ask I just say it's magic and that's that."
[19:04] <@Kotono> Half-finishing the toast and put it aside, "It sounds like something the Sorcerer of Red would write about."
[19:05] <@John> "Dunno who that is, but..." John shrugs, "World's a lot more complicated a place than I ever figured it was."
[19:07] <@Kotono> "Sir Willard Winterbrook. He wrote dozens of books about the world before he died - murdered, as the stories go." Lesea remarks, "Then his students wrote a book about his murder, and then some other students wrote another book since they didn't agree."
[19:08] <@John> "So in the end you've got no idea what's what," John concludes with a chuckle.
[19:11] <@Kotono> "Yeah," Lesea chuckles as well, "One say the Fair Folk did it," a murmur as she makes a strange symbol with her hands, "Or that some kobolds did it."
[19:16] <@John> "Guess it doesn't even matter most of the time anyway, unless you end up actually going to those sorts of places," John concludes. Which he does with alarming regularity, but hopefully she won't need to. "But earlier you were saying how you can feel my mind, and you talked to me from miles away the night we met. How's that work for you?"
[19:18] <@Kotono> "I can feel the mind of anyone with an awake mind. That's what I call a mind that can do what we can do." Lesea pauses and grabs her half-eaten toast, making an effort to finish it. She gestures with the crumbly bread, "Most minds seem to be dark and asleep. Like nighttime. But your mind's bright and awake, like daytime."
[19:19] <@John> "Just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover," John laughs, having never been called bright before. "You sensed any other minds like that since you started doing it?"
[19:23] <@Kotono> "One. He told me what little I know about this," she says, "But he ran once he figured the Blue Falcons were after me." A frown comes at that, her gaze turned away. "I've felt brushes from below sometimes, but it's like little glimpses of something far away."
[19:25] <@John> "Probably the ants, but there might by dwarves or kobolds that can do it down there too," John presumes. "I can't sense anything like that, mind. For me it's just... I think it and it's done, like when I turn invisible, or I have to spend a few seconds concentrating on making it happen with the other stuff."
[19:38] <@Kotono> "It's more like pushing for me. I tense my muscles like I'm about to shove something forward and it happens." Lesea says. "I mean really PUSH."
[19:41] <@John> "S'probably to do with how we learned," John figures. "Even if it's not magic I learned from a wizard so I kinda think in that way. I guess for you it's more of a physical thing?"
[19:45] <@Kotono> "Might be." Lesea says, "I never asked the other how he does it."
[19:45] <@John> "Probably something completely different from either of us."
[19:48] <@Kotono> "Probably is." she agrees, sitting back. After a momentary lull, "This is really out in the sticks, isn't it?"
[19:50] <@John> "Oh yeah," John nods firmly. "Dunno if we're right in the middle but you could walk for weeks in any way before you got out of the forest. Was just lucky I ended up so close to this town after me friends were done in, doubt I'd have lasted as long as you did on me own out here."
[19:52] <@Kotono> "So...there's no clothing boutiques? No restaurants? No steameries?" Her voice is hopeful on all of those, "But this isn't that country, is it?"
[19:53] <@Kotono> Meanwhile, as the two chat, Gildas comes on up and into the room.
[19:53] <@John> "We've got a tavern, and I reckon a fair few of the women here know their way around a loom. Dunno what a steamery is... oh hey Gildas, was just telling Lesea about the town's attractions."
[19:55] <@Kotono> "You don't even know what a steamery is?" Lesea stares in disbelief before sighing, "Dragon dung. It's where they use...oh, nevermind. I guess you have no idea about steamed milk, either."
[19:56] <@John> "We've got a creamery!" he says brightly on the subject of milk.
[19:56] <Gildas> He nods to them both. "I hope I'm not interrupting." He looks over to Lesea and blinks. "The Missus needed a few things from the kobolds, so I was going to go over there. I wanted to know if you two needed anything, or if you wanted to come. If you're looking for something specific..." He looks to Lesea. "The kobolds can probably get their hands on it somehow."
[19:57] <@John> "Doubt they have cows down there mind," John chuckles. "Don't need anything though, thanks for asking."
[19:57] <@Kotono> "Not today," Lesea says, sighing. "But thank you."
[19:58] <Gildas> He nods. "If you think of anything that might make you feel more at home, just let us know." He nods again before turning to head back down and make the trek to the kobolds!
[19:59] <@John> "But yeah if you want metalwork or jewellery the kobolds are great. Much cheaper buying from them than you'd get at a jewellers in a city," John says. "And hey, the town's still growing. Maybe someone'll start a steamery before you know it?"
[20:00] <@Kotono> OOC: Into #terror, I'll merge you into there, Gildas.
[20:02] <@Kotono> "That's something. A steamery would really help, especially out here...and do you even know what one is?" she follows up with.
[20:03] <@John> He shakes his head. "And I used to live on the edge of a proper city and visited a few while I was adventuring. Just not something I've ever seen."
[20:08] <@Kotono> "They're new. Remember the Sorcerer of Red I mentioned? A scholar was going through his papers and found information, allegedly taken from the Fair Folk." Again she traces an odd symbol with her hand, before going on. "It claims evil spirits in food and drink can be removed by heating it in the right way, and with the right jars, food can be preserved. It's particularly useful for beer, wine,
[20:08] <@Kotono> spirits and particularly milk. It stops them from souring, and with milk, removing them makes people get far less sick, less often. But you need a lot of skill and magic to do it right."
[20:11] <@John> "Really? But that's like a cantrip for Gildas - purify food and drink, even if the food's already gone rotten it can get fixed back up good as new. Sounds like someone's having a laugh to me," John says dubiously.
[20:12] <@Kotono> "It supposedly works," Lesea remarks, "I've had food in jars for a long time that's still good. But it's also expensive and a mark of civilization."
[20:14] <@John> "Well, we get by without it, even through winter-time," John shrugs. "If something goes bad I doubt Gildas'd charge you to freshen it up neither."
[20:19] <@Kotono> "Still, this is really rural," Another remark as she sits up, "I don't even know how to farm. You just...rake a ho on the ground?"
[20:22] <@John> "S'... a bit more complicated than that," John smiles. "But we're not all farmers. We've got traders, weavers, hunters, carpenters... all the stuff a town needs. Even got a magic scroll shop. Although we're only a new town - say, you probably got a decent education, growing up noble, right?" he asks, an idea forming.

~

[18:26] <@Kotono> Preparations! Myann is a flurry of activity, already gone by the time Feather gets up out of bed. As he munches through the breakfast she left (who knew mushrooms could be shaped like cute hearts?) and passes by a window, he sees something outside. Under the shady tree is Hylath and Brutes. The two look to be chatting and perhaps waiting.
[18:29] <Feather> Opening the window, Feather calls out to them! "Hey there! Need us for anything?"
[18:30] <@Kotono> "Morning!" Brutes waves, as Hylath cups his hands over his mouth, "You!" he calls loudly, "We were waiting for you to wake up!"
[18:31] <Feather> "Come on in, then!" Feather waves them to the door, before heading over to open it.
[18:34] <@Kotono> They do so. "You mind if I rustle up a drink?" Brutes asks, "Your Missus gave me these mushrooms and made me thirsty."
[18:35] <Feather> "'Course!" Feather agrees, in a good mood. "Help yourself. Hylath, how 'bout you?"
[18:38] <@Kotono> "I'm fine. Strangest thing," he remarks, "She told us to wait for you to get up and gave us mushrooms. Said they were breakfast, so she did." He does sit down, however, "But we came over to get some pointers."
[18:40] * Joins: Feather_ (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net)
[18:40] <@Kotono> "I'm fine. Strangest thing," he remarks, "She told us to wait for you to get up and gave us mushrooms. Said they were breakfast, so she did." He does sit down, however, "But we came over to get some pointers."
[18:41] <Feather_> "Huh. Dancing?"
[18:41] * Quits: Feather (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net) (Ping timeout)
[18:43] <@Kotono> "Fighting," Hylath counters, "We've been practicing a lot while you're gone, in case another wood titan or dire bear shows while you're off adventuring."
[18:45] <Feather_> "Makes sense," Feather agrees. "And you wanted a spar? Two on one, see how we're all doing?"
[18:49] <@Kotono> "That's what we came for. Well," Hylath cracks a smile, "That and to invite you to something tonight. Soon you'll be leaving us for the holy bonds of matrimony."  Sighing deeply, "Before you become bound as such, you deserve one last night of celebration."
[18:49] <@Kotono> "One," Brutes says with a little smirk, "That's also mushroom free."
[18:51] <Feather_> "Hey, no hatin' on the mushrooms!" Feather calls, sweeping one that's not heart-shaped with a wooden ladle and flinging it at Brutes's forehead.
[18:57] <@Kotono> Direct hit! Brutes blinks and rubs his head, "Aw, come on! You have the rest of your life for the mushrooms. You can leave them alone tonight."
[18:57] <Feather_> "Sure. Local custom, eh? I'm game."
[19:02] <@Kotono> "From Malaines," Hylath calls over, "Your human celebrations are a little more..." he pauses and slowly smiles, "Straight-laced. Elven celebrations are less common, but less restrained."
[19:03] <Feather_> Feather snorts. "Now that definitely sounds like something to see!"
[19:05] <@Kotono> "Myann shouldn't have any problem with it," Hylath says, "...I think. She's a real country elf," he admits, "As you'd put it in common, and she what strange witchery her mantle tells her."
[19:06] <@Kotono> "Strange witchery like feeding us mushrooms," Brutes rumbles, downing his drink in one big swig. "That I swear she didn't hav ea minute ago."
[19:06] <Feather_> "They can be awfully sneaky."
[19:09] <@Kotono> "Hell with that," Brutes says, "You ready to get us some practice?"
[19:10] <Feather_> "Sure thing!" Feather lifts the ladle. "Let's do this thing."
[19:15] <@Kotono> The next hour passes in good, solid training. Feather can assess how they're doing - fairly well, all in all. There are marked improvements. They aren't up to his skill level and end up on the ground a lot, but they're better than they were, cleanly. When it's all over the morning has turned hot. But it's then that Myann peeks out the window, "Oh, all of you are still out there? I'll
[19:15] <@Kotono> bring some drinks out," she calls.
[19:16] <@Kotono> Hylath lays on his back under the tree, rubbing a knot upside his head, "Thanks," he calls.
[19:17] <Feather_> Feather gives her a wave as he grins, leaning against the tree.
[19:20] <@Kotono> Brutes is slumped against the tree, breathing heavily and sweating just as hard. "Thanks, ma'am," he calls.
[19:21] <@Kotono> Soon enough Myann emerges with several mugs. She passes them out - gah, they're cold! - and then taps each on the head, Feather first. OOC: Cure Minor Wounds. More for them than Feather.
[19:22] <Feather_> "That hits the spot," Feather says happily, drinking.
[19:26] <@Kotono> "Thank the cold mushrooms. They were happy to help," Myann smiles, as the other two greedily gulp their drinks down.
[19:32] <Feather_> "So," Feather asks her, slowly sipping at the remainder of his chilled drink. "Got plans for today?"
[19:37] <@Kotono> "Besides seeing the kobolds for something, no," Myann says, "I got my things done early."
[19:39] <Feather_> "Kobolds? Tell them hi for me!"
[19:44] <@Kotono> "You could come along," Myann offers, "I'm just trading in some of my coins for ingots. They take up a lot less space that way."
[19:45] <Feather_> Feather tilts his head, asking Hylath, "When's that thing?"
[19:45] <@Kotono> "Past sun-down," Hylath says, "You have all day."
[19:46] <Feather_> "Then sure. Guess I've got the time. Ready when you are!"
[19:50] <@Kotono> OOC: Give me just a sec in here due to #evildunes.
[19:50] <@Kotono> OOC: Which you aren't in, so just take my word on this one.
[20:01] <@Kotono> Thus the two head to the kobolds. As you head to the guardhouse that leads down below, the two run into Gildas here, also seemingly heading for it. "Morning," Myann greets, walking side by side with Feather.
[20:02] <Gildas> "Good morning to the both of you. Myann, if I could have some time with you later if you find yourself free?" He smiles and nods. "Heading to see our underground cousins?"
[20:02] <Feather_> "Yeah. You too?\
[20:04] <Gildas> He nods. "I was asked to pick up some things, and I'm on a hunt to see if someone has some information for me."
[20:04] <@Kotono> "Likewise, and sure." Myann follows along, "Anything important?"
[20:05] <Gildas> He looks thoughtful at that question. "Not important, exactly. Mushroom talk."
[20:06] <Gildas> "Not like last time." He clarifies!
[20:10] <@Kotono> "Right," Myann says, as the party heads on down. On reaching the bottom, the party finds that the kobolds busy. As you come down, you see there's a kobold lingering there. "Hey there!" it calls in fairly good Common, "Hey hey hey hey!"
[20:11] <Feather_> "Hey there, buddy!" Feather greets him happily in the kobold's own tongue.
[20:14] <@Kotono> "Hey there!" He smiles widely, "So do all of you want to make some shinies?'
[20:14] <Feather_> "You never know! What's the plan today?"
[20:16] <Gildas> "I'm looking for Boomapoom or Heso, if either of them are around today." Gildas starts. "But other than that, I'm always on the look for books." He smiles to their kobold greeter.

[Ebiris]

[18:10] <@Kotono> John heads downstairs soon after, to get Lesea some water. Down there he finds the Missus, "Oh, John. How's she doing?" she asks.
[18:11] <@John> "Seems to be doing pretty well," John says, "Hasn't gotten up yet but we had a nice chat and she's been on the ball with that."
[18:18] <@Kotono> In the background Em is sitting down, the brood running around her and playfighting. She has a look of annoyance and exhaustion, rubbing her forehead. Meanwhile, "Good. Poor thing's thinner than an elf."
[18:20] <@John> "She's had a hard run of it," John agrees. "I was on me own in the forest for just a couple days and I was starving by the end of it. Lesea's managed weeks, being hunted besides."
[18:22] <@Kotono> The clang of sticks on pot lids echos as the Missus replies, "It's tough out there," she remarks, "Hold on." Clearing her throat, "Children! I told you to SIT DOWN!" She goes from merely loud to an outright shout, the brood stopping abruptly. "Now listen to your sister!"
[18:23] <@Kotono> Amid a chorus of, "Yes Ma," the Missus continues after clearing her throat. "She's lucky she made it as far as she did."
[18:24] <@John> "Good thing we heard her cry for help too, those bounty hunters were probably an hour at most from catching her," John nods. "Anyway, better bring this up before she gets even thirstier," he hefts the jug of water he's collected, nodding to mother and daughter before going back up to see Lesea.
[18:28] <@Kotono> "John!" Em calls as he passes by. "Could you do me a favor?"
[18:31] <@John> "Oh!" he stops quickly and turns to the alluring, if rather harassed at the moment, figure of Em. "Sure yeah, anything you want," he blurts out.
[18:31] <@Kotono> "Could we trade?" she offers, "I could use a break from them," she says, the brood currently cowed.
[18:33] <@John> "Oh sure, yeah," John says, having no trouble looking after a bunch of kids. "Here's the water then," he passes the jug over to the half-elf.
[18:39] <@Kotono> Em flashes John a radiant smile, "Thank you," she whispers to him as she passes. In front of John are about half a dozen of the brood. they are armed with sticks and pot-lids, and one redheaded boy says, "John, let's play WAR!"
[18:43] <@John> "War, huh?" John rubs his hands together, "Who's in what army then?"
[18:45] <@Kotono> "It's us versus the giant!" The brood says, before charging John! OOC: Init here. Congratulations, the brood ATTACKS! Terrifying!
[18:45] <@Kotono> roll 1d20
[18:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 and gets 13." [1d20=13]
[18:45] <@Kotono> OOC: +2, premature enter.
[18:45] * Kotono changes topic to 'The Brood(15)'
[18:46] <@John> roll 1d20+7
[18:46] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+7 and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[18:47] <@John> "Alright you little scamps, lets see which one of you has what it takes!" John retorts, crouching and extending his arms to deflect any overly exuberant blows but willing to take a few on the chin for the sake of keeping the kids entertained.
[18:47] <@John> OOC: total defence
[18:47] * Kotono changes topic to 'John(27)>The Brood(15)'
[18:48] <@Kotono> roll 6#1d20-1 we're fishing for 20s here!
[18:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6#1d20-1 we're fishing for 20s here! and gets 65." [6#1d20-1 = 6, 5, 16, 16, 16, 6]
[18:48] <@Kotono> Duck! Dodge! Roll! John deflects and dodges the swarm of stick blows. The blocks don't even sting - the children dont' have that much oomph behind them, at least. OOC: Go.
[18:51] <@John> Having endured the initial assault John chooses now to retaliate! "Evil dwarf children! Can't a giant pick on small folk in peace around here?" he exclaims in a deeper voice than usual, throwing exagerrated and slow lumbering punches at the children as he stomps around, though his assault is entirely ineffectual.
[18:53] <@Kotono> OOC: Make an attack roll? Not to hit, but to show how convincing your playfighting is.
[18:53] <@John> roll 1d20+14
[18:53] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[18:57] <@Kotono> Blows are traded back and forth - and slowly the army goes 'down'! "Ooof!" One broodling calls as a blow playfully lands near it. Soon John has 'knocked out' the entire army, the children groaning and laughing. OOC: Free act.
[18:59] <@John> "Raghahaha!" John crows, resting a foot on one of the kids and posing atop them. "The war is won, and the giant is the winner!"
[19:05] <@Kotono> You hear clapping - the Missus approaches. "Now that you've had your fun, children, I want all of you to go upstairs and clean your room. Now." The last is added with authority, the children groaning. "Or the giant will get you."
[19:07] <@John> "Don't think I won't!" John grins widely down at them, lifting his foot off his chosen pedestal.
[19:08] <@Kotono> "Yaaaaaaaaah!" The children yelp and giggle, running off and upstairs. As they go, "They're a handful, aren't they?" The Missus asks.
[19:10] <@John> "Yeah..." John watches them go fondly. "Good kids, though. You and Robert've done a great job with 'em all."
[19:12] <@Kotono> "They are." The Missus sighs once they're gone, "Tiring, though."
[19:14] <@John> "Least you've got Em. And once some of her little brothers and sisters get to the same age they can help. Oh!" he reminds himself, "I was talking with Lesea too, and I'd mentioned to Rashen a little while ago. We need a schoolhouse or something, and Rashen can build it easy enough, but I was thinking Lesea might be a good teacher since she's probably the best learned person here. Once that's going they'll have something besides chores to keep busy with."
[19:21] <@Kotono> "You know, that's a mighty fine thought," The Missus says, "You know, I talked to Myann about that," she goes on, "But she declined. Apparently, she was afraid the trickier students would answer questions 'mushroom' and she'd have trouble marking them wrong. That and she's off adventuring all the time."
[19:24] <@John> "Yeah, just figured with so many families here now doesn't make sense to have each set of parents teaching letters when all the kids can go to one place for it. Anyway, since I don't need to distract that lot anymore is there any stuff you need a hand with?" he asks since he's at a loose end.
[19:43] <@Kotono> "No, I already gave Gildas some chores," she smiles, "He's down with the kobolds, if you want to give him a hand."
[19:44] <@John> "Yeah, may as well. Better to stay busy," he decides. "I'll see you later then," he gives her a nod before heading off.

~

[18:14] <@Kotono> "Oh, hold on about that," The kobold says, grinning widely, "I got some shinies I want to trade," He pulls out a small bag, taking out a handful of colorful gemstones! "I like gold shinies more than gem shinies. I sell these cheap and we both get nice shinies?"
[18:15] <Gildas> Gildas looks over at Myann. "Would you mind doing the honors?"
[18:18] <@Kotono> "Of course," Myann says, giving the gems a look after murmuring a few arcane words. OOC: Appraising touch.
[18:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+20
[18:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 34." [1d20=14]
[18:19] <@Kotono> She lightly taps each one, finishing fairly quickly. "They're nice, for glass baubles," she finishes, crossing her arms. "Feather?"
[18:20] <Feather> "Yeah we've got plenty of glass ourselves."
[18:21] <Gildas> "Now, really." Gildas shakes his head disapprovingly at the kobold. "You'd try and trick us?"
[18:23] <@Kotono> "Er...um...." The kobold freezes up completely, "Welllll....don't hate me for trying to get shinies?" he offers, weakly.
[18:25] <Gildas> "How would you feel if someone traded you fake shinies?" He asks, sounding much more indignant than he probably really is about the whole thing.
[18:29] <@Kotono> "Fake shinies that broke when you dropped them," Myann adds, "While they got your real shinies?"
[18:30] <@Kotono> "Um...er..." The kobold says intelligently, followed by, "...um, but...SHOCKER LIZARDS!" he yelps, pointing behind the party.
[18:32] * Feather reaches to smack the kobold upside the head.
[18:32] <@Kotono> Myann just crosses her arms and sighs.
[18:34] <Gildas> Gildas shakes his head. "You know, we really ought to tell Ten'ten'tal that there are people who are trying to deceive us."
[18:40] <@Kotono> "OW!" The kobold is smacked! He wobbles about, "Ow ow ow ow ow ow!" He sits down heavily at that, clutching his fake gems to his chest. "
[18:40] <@Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[18:40] <@Kotono> "OW!" The kobold is smacked! He wobbles about, "Ow ow ow ow ow ow!" He sits down heavily at that, clutching his fake gems to his chest. "D-don't tell! Don't! I was just trying to get some shinies! That makes it okay!"
[18:41] <Feather> "Don't you got somewhere else to be? Right now?"
[18:47] <@Kotono> At those words, the kobold quickly runs! It runs screaming, "DON'T TAKE MY SHINIIIIIES!" The screaming kobold gets a few glances but nothing more.
[18:47] <Gildas> "I was really hoping those were real, too." He sighs.
[18:48] <Feather> "Idiot," Feather mutters. "So Myann, what now?"
[18:49] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+14
[18:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 27." [1d20=13]
[18:51] <@Kotono> "We-" Myann starts, before stepping back. "Shit." Looking up, "There's a pixie watching the kobolds, up there," she gestures, "Doesn't seem to have noticed us." Peering, "That stone body and snout...think it's the one we saved from the Dragon Emperor."
[18:53] <Gildas> "Do you want to call it down here and see what it wants? She'd probably be deferential to you, wouldn't she?" Gildas surmises. "Or we could just ignore her and see what she does?"
[18:54] <@Kotono> "Probably," Myann answers, "Feather, do you have a preference?" she glances over at him. "I can probably get it to go away if I try, too."
[18:54] <Feather> "Eh, better talk to her now than aboveground?"
[18:59] <@Kotono> Myann nods, "We walk around, see if we get its attention?"
[18:59] <Gildas> Gildas nods. "Certainly."
[18:59] <Feather> "Works," Feather agrees. "Gildas, how about we look into your business first, then?"
[19:01] <Gildas> "All right." With that, he goes to ask around for either Boomapoom or Heso! He also keeps an eye out for anyone selling anymore books. OOC: Also he'll check and see if anything's trading abnormally high or low.
[19:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d2
[19:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d2 and gets 1." [1d2=1]
[19:03] <@Kotono> Boomapoom is found first. He's a scraggly little kobold in front of an old tent. But he has a nice, new cooking pot sitting before him. "Ooooh! Me happy see upsiders!" he says in slow, broken Common. "Missa send you? Shiny pottery ready!"
[19:06] <Gildas> "Greetings. Yes, she did." Gildas responds in Kobold. He also adds the other items she was looking for. "She seems quite happy with your work."
[19:07] <@Kotono> The items are passed over and the deal is done. "Me happy! Shinies mine!" He nods vigorously. In the meantime Myann glances up and murmurs, "Pixie incoming," she whispers into FEather's ear.
[19:08] <Feather> "Right," he whispers back.
[19:09] <Gildas> Gildas hoists the cooking pot and other items up. "That's one down."
[19:09] <@Kotono> As yo ugo, "Pixie's coming this way. Think it wants to talk," she whispers to Gildas, "Let's go somewhere quieter?"
[19:10] <Gildas> He nods. "Lead the way."
[19:12] <@Kotono> The party ducks to an out of the way corner of the cavern. As they position, an old woman's cackle is heard from nearby. "Hello, Lady of the Mushrooms."
[19:14] <Gildas> Gildas puts the pot down for the time being since those things are heavy!
[19:18] <@Kotono> That feels better. In the meantime Myann simply asks, "What are you doing here?"
[19:20] <@Kotono> Another cackle follows, "Entertainment, for the wyverns are dry and the world has moved on. The rumblings below are troubling."
[19:20] <Feather> "You've been there?"
[19:22] <Gildas> Gildas just listens in... well, there's not much to see, since... you know.
[19:23] <@Kotono> "Earthquakes," The old woman's voice says, "There's rumblings from below. Entertaining drama! Knight Fairwind has mounted an expidition below!"
[19:23] <Feather> "How idiotic."
[19:24] <@Kotono> Myann closes her eyes and slowly exhales. "My servant is correct. Does he seek to sharpen his blade against the spirit men?"
[19:24] <Gildas> "That guy, huh?" Gildas rubs his chin, remembering him from Clearbrook.
[19:27] <@Kotono> Giggles follow, like a hag's cry. "He seeks the entertainment and glory of a fine show below. One of the finest props has shown again. 'twould be a pity to allow it to be neglected."
[19:28] <Gildas> "As long as it stays below..."
[19:32] <Gildas> Gildas blinks, then raises a finger. "You know, while you're here... we came across a tombstone a few months ago. It was dedicated to some... memory of a fool? Do you know what that was?"
[19:46] <@Kotono> "As long as it stays below," Myann agrees, "We have other concerns and entertainments."
[19:46] <@Kotono> "Why," The pixie giggles again, sounding farther away, "If you're a fool, you'll know what it's for."
[19:47] <Gildas> Gildas shakes his head. "Well, that was something."
[19:50] <@Kotono> Myann slowly exhales and sighs. "At least we met it on our terms. That stupid knife's been nothing but trouble."
[19:50] <Gildas> "I still don't understand why." Gildas says as he bends down to pick up the pot again.
[19:52] <@Kotono> "Next time we find a deathtrapped treasure chest, let's just leave it be," Myann opines. "I get the feeling there was a good reason why it was so hard to get."
[19:53] <Gildas> "Probably for the best."

[Ebiris]

[18:32] <@Kotono> Evening comes. The three politely leave Myann behind, heading to Hylath's place. As you approach, you see that men of all sorts are gathered outside. A bonfire has been started and several casks, barrels and bottles of booze are stacked up on a table. People are drinking and chatting. Hylath stands near the bonfire, whistling as he drinks from a wine glass. "Oh, look! The guest of honor's made
[18:32] <@Kotono> it!"
[18:35] * Feather waves at Hylath, not sure what exactly is supposed to happen there. Weren't there supposed to be more elves?
[18:36] <@Kotono> "Come on over!" Hylath gestures, "Everyone, Feather's here! Gather around the fire!"
[18:36] <@Kotono> Brutes ambles on up, a mug in hand. He slaps Feather on the back, "Congratulations!"
[18:37] <@John> Giving Feather a pat on the back himself, John goes to find a drink before he stands by the bonfire.
[18:37] * Feather grins at Brutes, asking him, "So when's your turn?"
[18:37] <@Kotono> Robert follows, giving Feather a punch on the shoulder, "Good work on putting a ring on her."
[18:37] <@Kotono> "One day," Brutes fires back, as everyone gathers. Meanwhile, Hylath takes a moment to fetch Feather a mug of ale as people gather around.
[18:38] * Feather salutes Hylath with the mug in thanks.
[18:38] <@Kotono> "Ahem!" Hylath clears his throat, "Everyone, pay attention to the bonfire, and we're going to get this started!"
[18:38] <Gildas> Gildas takes a look around at everyone and stays quiet, curious as to what in the world is about to happen.
[18:42] <@Kotono> "Now...let's begin this! Come on out!" Hylath calls. From the fire a female elf emerges. She's blonde and busty, all mysterious smiles and unnatural grace. She's notably unburnt, and besides some golden jewelry that flashes orange in the firelight and some fancy, civilized cosmetics, she's not wearing much of anything. She giggles and waves, "Get a drink and follow me," she sing-songs, running
[18:42] <@Kotono> off at a good clip towards the forest.
[18:43] <@Kotono> A cheer rises up from the crowd, the menfolk watching as they amble over to get drinks and follow.
[18:44] <Feather> Oh there's the other elves! Feather drains his mug in two gulps, and tosses it into the fire before following along!
[18:45] <@John> Where'd they find her?! Belatedly John joins in the cheering as he watches the amazingly fireproof and naked elf run off! "Is'sat everyone or just Feather then?" he asks, ambling along after the crowd.
[18:45] <Gildas> Oh. It's that sort of party. Gildas opts to not drink anything but follows along with the others for the sake of it at a more leisurely pace.
[18:46] <@Kotono> Brutes ambles up to John, "Everyone. Come on, come on," he grins, "Off to a great start already, eh?" he thumps John's back after.
[18:46] <@John> "Where'd you find her?" he asks Brutes, sure he'd have recognised her around the village if she was a local.
[18:47] <@Kotono> "Dunno, Hylath did," he shrugs his big shoulders. "Don't much care. Ask him."
[18:47] <@John> Nodding, John takes a drink and continues on with the crowd.
[18:48] <@Kotono> Not far in the forest, you find another table of booze set up. The female elf seems to have slipped away a moment, but her voice comes from afar, "Have a drink and listen to Hylath, alright boys?" An airy giggle follows.
[18:49] <Feather> Applauding the effort, Feather grabs a drink!
[18:50] <@John> Having finished his current mug John gives it a refill and keeps guzzling it down!
[18:52] <@Kotono> As everyone grabs more drinks, Hylath does the same and then raises his glass. "Attention, attention, attention! Our friend there is the spirit of the Vastwoods! She's a beaut, isn't she?" The crowd's cheer cuts in for a reply, Hylath waiting for that to pass to go on. "We're going to go on a manly adventure like real men in the forest! You all ready for this and to follow her?"
[18:52] <@Kotono> "Pretty on the outside, homicidal bitch on the inside," Brutes mutters, but cheers nonetheless.
[18:53] <@John> "Yeah!" John calls, raising his mug.
[18:54] <Gildas> Gildas just continues to stay quiet in the back and watch with a smile!
[18:55] <@Kotono> Robert slides back as this goes on, back to Gildas. "The Missus is going to be cross if she hears about all this," he murmurs. "But what the hell, you only live once." Gunning down more booze, "Playing the sober man tonight?"
[18:56] <@Kotono> "Onward! Onward!" Hylath calls, taking the lead, "To finding the spirit of the Vastwoods in all her glory!"
[18:56] <Feather> That's a hell of a nicer spirit than just about any of them, and Feather charges after Hylath!
[19:00] <Gildas> "Indeed." He says as he walks along with him. "It's always important to have one to remember the full story, right?"
[19:00] <@Kotono> Onward you go. Flashes of the spirit of the Vastwoods lead you on - past a few more tables that replenish your drinks. A goodly half hour of this passes, drinking and following along. Finally, ahead everyone can see a dull blue glow. It looks like a pond is ahead - odd, you don't recall one being there. But you can hear the spirit of the Vastwoods giggling in there, joined by many other feminine
[19:00] <@Kotono> giggles. A table before that is stocked with drinks and a pile of mushrooms. "We're almost there!" Hylath calls, "Eat and drink, then let's go! The spirit's home is just ahead!"
[19:02] * Feather blinks at the mushrooms, before shrugging and biting into one.
[19:02] * @John munches on a few mushrooms, wishing for something more fatty. It's important to line your stomach when drinking! That doesn't mean he slows down though, imbibing much in the celebratory mood.
[19:04] <Gildas> roll 1d20+16
[19:04] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+16 and gets 26." [1d20=10]
[19:04] <@Kotono> Brutes and Robert do the same, while Hylath joins them. Once done, "Onward! Onward all! The ladies are waiting for us!"
[19:04] <@Kotono> Gildas can hear a soft, "Pssst!" from a bush nearby, just barely audible to him.
[19:05] <Gildas> He tilts his head, but decides to wander over to the bush while keeping his eye on the others going to the pond.
[19:09] <@Kotono> In the bushes is Eltia, blending into them unnaturally well. Her body seems to change color to seamlessly fit in. "Since you aren't drinking or eating those mushrooms," she whispers as the others go on, "Can you help me clean up and watch over them when this is all over?"
[19:10] <Gildas> "I think I can manage that." He says with a smile.
[19:10] <@Kotono> Meanwhile, the others go on. Ahead is a natural spring, the spirit of the Vastwoods there. She's joined by what must be a dozen other similar spirits, sharing the same lack of dress as her. They giggle and wave, "Welcome, brave heroes! Won't you all come in and join us?"
[19:11] <@Kotono> "And this!" Hylath announces, slurring his words, "This is it! Look at these beautiful maidens! The spirit of the woods! The very pretty spirits of the woods!"
[19:12] <@John> "Who knew the woods were so pretty!" John blurts out.
[19:13] * Feather cheers to that, raising his mug!
[19:14] <@Kotono> "Hahahahhaa," Brutes laughs, "Damned pretty!" Throwing an arm around Feather and another around John, "I don't know about you fellows, but I'm gonna go take them up on that!"
[19:14] <@Kotono> Others cheer and laugh, stumbling along into the spring.
[19:15] <@Kotono> "Thanks," Eltia whispers back as they go, "The drinks and the mushrooms should have them all being happy soon."
[19:15] <@John> John's right there with them!
[19:16] <Gildas> "Did you have any part in setting this up?" He asks. He keeps an eye on the party.
[19:16] <Feather> "Drink?" Feather offers to the spirit they've been chasing all along, using Brutes to keep himself upright.
[19:16] <@Kotono> "Yes, I'll explain after," Eltia says shortly, slipping back into the bushes.
[19:17] <Gildas> Gildas walks along after the others to get a bit closer.
[19:18] <@Kotono> For John, Feather and the others, what comes next is a blur. A blur of celebration, splashing and laughing. It's dissociated, through a blurry prism and then refined into otherworldly flashes of memory. It's like floating outside your body and reality is coming through to you from a delayed feed. And yet it's so good, so right. Studying everything, the colors, not caring, drifting along, laughing
[19:18] <@Kotono> and laughing and laughing. To Gildas, the drunken and mushroomed party-goers erattically celebrate for a few hours, before one after another slips into unawareness. That's when Eltia finally emerges again, waving a hand. The ladies and spring vanish, the entire scenario nothing more than an empty clearing. "Illusions. A sober person interacting with them would see through them. Hence the elves
[19:18] <@Kotono> get everyone drunk and whatever else they can."
[19:22] <Gildas> Gildas chuckles. "I'm sure they all enjoyed themselves, at the very least." He looks over at the mushrooms. "I have a feeling that wasn't just a set piece, either."
[19:24] <@Kotono> "They weren't. Myann provided them. She did her Sidhe thing," Wiggling her fingers, "To make sure the mushrooms worked well with the alcohol." She then loudly whistles, "That golem of your bugbear friend should be here shortly. We're going to haul people back to town and put them to bed." With a smile, "Thanks for being the only man who wasn't chasing the first imaginary strumpet they saw."
[19:27] <Gildas> Gildas chuckles. "So she knew all along anyway." He nods to Eltia. "That's not a problem."
[19:30] <@Kotono> Thus this passes into a memory of fun and the resulting hangover. A few more days pass, until the morning of the wedding. Feather's waiting and preparing, as the groom tends to do. John and Gildas are there, at Feather and Myann's house, as Myann is off getting ready elsewhere. OOC: Go ahead and set yourselves up, first of all.
[19:31] <@John> John doesn't know if he has any responsibilities at the wedding but he's their friend so he hangs around at Feather's in case there's anything he can do! Or to calm any pre-wedding jitters in his own style if necessary.
[19:32] <Gildas> Gildas is casually looking out a window at the moment, hoping that nothing out of the ordinary happens today.
[19:34] <Feather> "So," Feather says heavily. "It's just us here now, and y'all know this already. Someone will crash the wedding." He gives a fatalistic shrug. "Let's just keep it to a minimum and kick the assholes out when they do?"
[19:35] * @John nods. "We gonna let them sit in if they don't make a fuss?"
[19:35] <Feather> "Yeah sure. So long no one makes a fuss."
[19:35] <Gildas> "If they can somehow hide themselves from Myann, perhaps." Gildas says with a shake of his head.
[19:37] <@Kotono> As Gildas looks out the window, he sees something approaching. A crow. It's unremarkable, except that its talons clutch what looks to be a scroll. That and it's coming right for the window.
[19:39] <Gildas> Gildas decides to open the window if it is not already open to receive the crow!
[19:40] <@Kotono> The crow caws once and drops the scroll in Gildas's hands, before flying off.
[19:41] <Gildas> Gildas opens the scroll!
[19:44] <@Kotono> It reads as follows: FROM THE DESK OF THE CHAMELEON CONSORTIUM. DISPOSABLE COPY. UNAUTHORIZED READERS WILL BE HEXED NOW! AUTHORIZED READERS ARE: GILDAS, JOHN, FEATHER. DESTROY THIS COPY AFTER IT HAS BEEN READ BY ALL PARTIES. REPEAT, DESTROY THIS COPY AFTER IT HAS BEEN READ BY ALL PARTIES. MESSAGE: DISCUSSED ATTEMPTS AT DIPLOMACY AND SPIRITMEN SUCCESSFUL. SPIRITMEN HAVE QUIETED. THE VANISHING OF
[19:44] <@Kotono> THE OURULGIA HAS STUMPED THEM. RISK OF SUB-SURFACE INVASION EFFECTIVELY NIL. REPEAT, DESTROY THIS MESSAGE AFTER READING.
[19:44] <Gildas> He can't help but laugh a bit as he offers the scroll to the others.
[19:45] * Feather quietly eliminates them from the long list of suspected would-be wedding crashers.
[19:46] * @John has a look last and crumples the scroll up into a ball before tossing into the bin.
[19:47] <@Kotono> On tossing it into the bin, the letter bursts into flames. It's reduced to ash in a few seconds, a whiff of smoke the only thing left of it otherwise.
[19:47] <@John> "... Did I do that?"
[19:54] <@Kotono> Soon the morning creeps to noon. At this, Forgar wanders in. "You ready for this?" he asks, "Everyone's getting seated outside. Beauty of a day, too, for you surface dwellers."
[19:55] * @John looks to Feather, as only he can say!
[19:56] <Feather> "As ready as I'll ever be!" Feather returns. "How do I look?"
[19:56] <Gildas> "You look as well-adjusted to this situation as anyone could be." Gildas says. Perhaps not the exact answer he was looking for...
[19:57] <@John> "You look great!" John gives him a thumbs up.
[19:58] * Feather grins at John and Glidas, heading out.
[20:00] <@Kotono> Outside in one of the clearings, tables and chairs have been set up. People are sitting in rows, the entire town present. A long aisle has been draped with white cloth, a path to the center. Here Robert awaits. To the side is Eltia, who sings a wordless melody of anticipation and beauty.
[20:02] * Feather makes his way over to Robert, smiling nervously at the guests.
[20:02] <@John> Figuring he's a groomsman John heads up ahead of Feather but behind Gildas since he's officiating.
[20:06] <Gildas> Gildas moves over to his own position.
[20:06] <@Kotono> Robert smiles as a few guests return Feather's smile. "Nervous," Robert asks quietly. "Just wait, shouldn't be long for Myann."
[20:06] <Feather> "It's the waiting. And all the people," Feather responds, shuffling in place.
[20:12] <@Kotono> There must be well ove ra hundred people here, if not more. They're all watching and waiting. Robert smiles tightly, "Just hold on. Think about tonight if it helps."
[20:13] <Feather> "How did you do it?" Feather asks to distract himself.
[20:15] <@Kotono> "Liquid courage," he answers right back, a hint of a smile.
[20:18] <Gildas> "Had I thought about it, I would have brought something for you." He says over to Feather quietly.
[20:19] <Feather> "I'll be okay."
[20:19] <@Kotono> A few long, tense minutes pass. The cloud gently murmurs, until suddenly Eltia waves a hand. From behind her, the sounds of a pipe organ are heart. Stately, beautiful music as she begins to wordlessly sing. Coming from outside the nearest house is Myann. She is garbed in white, a beautiful wedding dress with a gauzy veil. She carries a bouquet of white and red flowers and looks down, walking
[20:19] <@Kotono> demurely and happily and ever so slowly towards Feather. Her dress trails behind her, the trailing hem stitched in a mushroom pattern.
[20:21] <Feather> Getting all that fabric was a great idea, Feather muses as he keeps his eyes on her. Plus it made Myann pretty happy, too.
[20:22] <@Kotono> All eyes are on Myann as she slowly approaches Feather. At long last she reaches him, looking up to smile. Her face is radiant, eyes shining. A silence falls over the crowd as...OOC: Okay, Mr. Druid, you're up.
[20:22] <Gildas> OOC: No pressure.
[20:27] <Gildas> Gildas takes a breath, as if steeling himself against something. He holds his hands out to everyone gathered. "Friends, today we are gathered here to witness the union of two souls who, only a short time ago, could never have thought to have met at all. Speaking personally, when we first met Myann, I was worried we were stumbling into a trap -- but I am glad to say that I was wrong. Feather,
[20:27] <Gildas> however, from the day he met her, knew she needed to be saved. His care for her blossomed, like the very fruits and vegetables of a harvest, into a love that is truly remarkable. Today, we are all gathered here to witness these two become one in a way few people can truly understand. Though there are some that will not be able to witness this day... we can all feel how loved and cherished these
[20:27] <Gildas> two feel for each other. I hope that this day lives on in their memories for ages to come."
[20:29] <Gildas> He takes yet another breath. "I am proud to call you both friends. I hope that you will both continue to cherish each other the way you do now." He gestures at them. "Do either of you have any statements prepared?"

[Ebiris]

[18:07] <Feather> "Not prepared," Feather says, shaking his head. He gestures at Gildas. "Can't match that anyway. Talking before crowds ain't what I do that well." Turning towards Myann, he takes her hand in his. "All I ever wanted, ever since I met you, is for you to be happy and to never give up when life brings you down. Still do. Us being here? It's a good thing. Yeah."
[18:08] <@Kotono> Myann turns to Feather. "I spent a few days trying to get this right, and..." she trails off and smiles despite Feather's short words, "You saved me. Like the knight in shining armor I dreamed about as a girl. You've been there for me when I needed you. All I could say and would say...is that you've been there for me and you make me happy. I promise I'll do the same for you, so long as I live."
[18:12] <Gildas> He smiles and nods to the both of them. "Then... ah..." He looks up, thoughtful about this next part. "With whatever authority the Vastwoods will offer me, I will pronounce the two of you wed. I hope that the both of you continue to find happiness, be it here, or elsewhere, in your lives. Ah... I think... this is the part where you conclude things with a kiss." He smiles and nods to Feather.
[18:15] <Feather> It's a great suggestion and Feather follows up on it with rare public excitement!
[18:15] * @John claps and cheers without restraint for the happy couple!
[18:15] <@Kotono> A great cheer arises, people rising and clapping! As it dies down, "Now the womenfolk have made a nice meal over at my place, at the back picnic tables. Y'all are all invited to come on over and celebrate with us."
[18:17] <Gildas> "I'll let you two decide what you do." Gildas says with a smile. "I think everyone would expect you to make another speech."
[18:20] <@Kotono> OOC: Good to move along just a little bit, y'all?
[18:20] <Feather> OOC: y
[18:20] <Gildas> OOC: Sure
[18:22] <@Kotono> From here, everyone heads over to the Holset's. A grand spread has been prepared, people getting food. The heroes sit together, laughing and drinking. All their friends are nearby, mixing and mingling. "Cheers and congratulations," Robert raises his cup, "You two look so happy together."
[18:22] <@Kotono> "Here here," Missy-Anne goes to sit next to John, "You two are just lovely. Aren't they, John?"
[18:22] <@John> "Yep, you two are a great pair," John gives his enthusiastic agreement.
[18:23] <@Kotono> Lesea meanders on over with a full plate, going to sit on John's other side. "It's nice for a country wedding," she says, "Did you two get rings for each other and already exchange them?"
[18:24] <@Kotono> Hylath merely raises his glass and says, "Congratulations again! A beautiful day!"
[18:24] <@Kotono> Myann picks at her roast beef, chicken and vegetables. She's smiling nonetheless, a smile that hasn't left her face all day.
[18:24] <Feather> "Thanks! Thanks!" Feather responds to the well-wishers, already a bit red in the face.
[18:25] <Gildas> Gildas nods in agreement, though he glances at Lesea at her comment but says nothing. "I suppose I should write up an official document for you." He chuckles. "Sorry, this was the first time I'd ever done something like this, so if I left something out..."
[18:25] <@Kotono> Missy-Anne glances over at Lesea, "Oh John, is the the random woman you helped several nights ago?"
[18:26] <@John> "Oh yeah," John leans back so they can see each other, "Missy-Anne, this's Lesea. Lesea, this here's Missy-Anne," he provides the introductions.
[18:26] <@Kotono> Em comes on over, a full plate of nothing but chicken and potatoes. Grabbing an open seat next to Gildas, "You did fine." She then giggles, "Feather and Myann's expressions were more than enough, anyway."
[18:27] <Gildas> Gildas raises a hand to his mouth to cover something, he nods to Em. "Thank you. Although I am a bit surprised..."
[18:27] <@Kotono> Lesea smiles slightly, "Charmed. So now you know who I am, Missy-Anne."
[18:29] <@Kotono> Missy-Anne spears a bit of beef and mushroom with her fork as she replies, "So I do," she concedes. "But enough about us. This is their big day."
[18:29] <@Kotono> Em chuckles as well, "Surprised at what?"
[18:29] <@Kotono> "Surprised there wasn't a giant wood golem comign to fight?" Hylath quips with his own little laugh.
[18:29] <@John> "Yep, good on 'em both," John agrees, tucking into his own meal.
[18:29] <Gildas> "That none of our... ah... ...uninvited neighbors decided to show up." He says.
[18:30] <Feather> "How long are we staying?" Feather whispers, leaning over to Myann.
[18:31] <@Kotono> "Not everything goes wrong," The Missus says with a gentle smile, "A good thing to remember - enjoy the good and forgive the bad. You two will sleep better that way."
[18:31] <Gildas> Gildas nods with a smile. "Absolutely."
[18:31] <@Kotono> Lesea nods, "Though, I want to talk to you late. I just love that jewelry you have on and that necklace is lovely."
[18:32] <Gildas> "Oh! I forgot... I got you all a present. Perhaps later would be the best time to give it to you, though."
[18:32] <@Kotono> Forgar passes, Mr. Smiles stomping behind him. Said golem carries a big old plate of food, "Congratulations," he stops by, slapping Feather's shoulder. "I'll stop by with something later, but I promised I'd play with the centaurs."
[18:33] * Feather waves at the Forgar and Smiles duo.
[18:34] <@Kotono> As Missy-Anne beams, any pique fading away, "Ahem," Seemingly slipping up without notice is a familiar face. Ribby the dwarf is there, "Nice to see you under a blue sky today." he says by way of greeting.
[18:35] <Gildas> Gildas nods to him in greeting. "You as well."
[18:35] <Feather> Myann seems to need a bit of time to think on her answer, and Feather smiles at Ribby. "Hey there!" he greets him. "Nice of you to stop by!"
[18:35] <@John> "Hullo," John raises a glass towards Ribby.
[18:36] <@Kotono> Myann shrugs, "We're the guests of honor, so awhile?" she says back, before turning, "You took us up on our offer!"
[18:40] <@Kotono> "Yeah. Heard the shrikes finally calmed down," he says as he goes to sit. A chair appears beneath him, getting surprised looks from most everyone. "Good work. We in good company to talk?"
[18:42] <Gildas> Gildas looks at the two aforementioned guests of honor.
[18:44] <@Kotono> "Magic?" Lesea murmurs, and softly to John, "I just don't see his mind at all. It's not bright or dark."
[18:44] <Feather> "I guess?"
[18:45] <@John> "He's not a dwarf," John says before shrugging, "Dunno what he is, but he's alright."
[18:46] <@Kotono> "Fine." Kicking back, "Don't mine me, just talking with them. Good work on the shrikes," he begins, "I got wind it's now much less haunted. Stirred the spirit men up good. I didn't know they'd gotten their hands on that damned knife, but it should blow over. Also heard a lot of fawning over the Lady of the Mushrooms, once I came up and got some local fairies to talk."
[18:46] <@Kotono> OOC: Strike, fairly important typo.
[18:47] <@Kotono> "Fine." Kicking back, "Don't mine me, just talking with them. Good work on the shrikes," he begins, "I got wind it's now much less haunted. Stirred the spirit men up good. I didn't know they'd gotten their hands on that damned knife, but I'm guessing you got your hands on it for awhile? Also heard a lot of fawning over the Lady of the Mushrooms, once I came up and got some local fairies to talk."
[18:49] <Gildas> "We received some news about that just a bit ago. It seems they calmed down again." Gildas says.
[18:51] <@Kotono> "Sounds about right." Ribby agrees as the others start to eat again. "So, I have a question for all of you. Today you changed your lives," he offers, "How would you like to try and change the entire world?"
[18:52] <@John> "Huh?" John grunts, looking curious but uncertain.
[18:52] <@Kotono> A chorus of huhs, ehs and whas come from the others at the table. "The hell?" Robert adds, "Changing the entire world?"
[18:52] <Gildas> "You certainly know how to drum up attention, at least."
[18:52] <@Kotono> "Oh, and congratulations on getting married," he adds as an afterthought. "Consider this offer your wedding present."
[18:53] <@Kotono> Myann sits back, closing her eyes and sighing. "Feather, does this count as crashing?" she asks, "We did invite him, really." Afterwards she turns to him, "You have my attention, at least."
[18:53] <Feather> "It does but we don't mind," Feather says reasonably.
[19:01] <@Kotono> "There's a place under the sea of lava below, past the shrikes. Same layer as we met on. It's protected by the lava as well as a barrier made out of fairy magic. That damned knife can deal with that barrier and a sane fairy should be able to get past the other protections there. It's where the fairies hid the source of the mantles. You get in, you might be able to fix or change them." Gesturing,
[19:01] <@Kotono> a mug of ale flying from down the table to his hand in an instant, "'course, you'll need to go play fairy diplomacy and find an ancient fey who knows where in the lava sea it is, and build something that can take you down through the lava in the first place. But, you have two of the hard parts down - I presume you know where that damned knife is and you have Myann here. You're better suited to
[19:01] <@Kotono> it than anyone I've seen in a long time. After our chat, I called in some favors and read the lines, see what a sane fairy could do."
[19:03] <Feather> "So what you're saying here, we manage it and we stop this urge to find interesting things? Or take a mantle away altogether?"
[19:04] <@John> "Does that mean they'll become nice and stuff?"
[19:04] <@Kotono> He shrugs, "Can't promise anything. I don't know the system well enough, but if anything could? That would be it. I'm not going to lie - you may not get exactly what your dreams are. But I bet you can do a lot with it, if you get there."
[19:04] <Gildas> Gildas leans back, taking all of that in. "That's..." He takes a breath and taps on the table idly with his finger. "I can see how he means change the world, at least."
[19:04] <@Kotono> Myann sits back heavily, "That's still a lot," she murmurs, as meanwhile Lesea's eyes widen. "Myann's...?" she turns and hisses to John.
[19:05] <@Kotono> "'course," Ribby goes on, draining his ale, "I doubt the fairies left it unguarded inside. Plus, if there's corruption or something like that behind the way the mantles are, I bet you'll have to confront it and it'll have had a long time to develop."
[19:06] <@John> He nods briefly. "She's nice," he emphasises quietly to the newest arrival here.
[19:06] <Feather> "Worth the risk if it's true," Feather muses. "But what's in it for you?"
[19:07] <@Kotono> "Fuck the fairies, that's what," Ribby says, sitting back. "This goes through, I give them a stink way bigger than just my loose lips could ever cause. It'll probably throw the spirit men for a loop and at maybe even stir up the Stratum. There's too much bullshit in this world of ours. Insane fairies, homicidal anti-aberration defenses up high and I don't even want to talk about how fucked
[19:07] <@Kotono> dragons can get, sometimes."
[19:09] <@Kotono> After a moment he shrugs, his mug refilling out of thin air. "Plus, I can't do it myself. Should've been smart and not chased this path, or at least not succeeded, but here I am."
[19:09] <Feather> "Huh. And this ancient fairy business, how do you know if one's old enough?"
[19:12] <@Kotono> "You'll need to do that digging on your own. Never met one that old myself. Heard of them, suspect they're still around, but never laid my hands in one. They're likely deep in the fairy's world." Draining his glass again, "Myann's the key to finding it and all of you are what can turn that key to open the door."
[19:13] <Feather> "If we go about opening all them doors, won't the fairies decide to take this source for themselves?"
[19:15] * merc-zzz is now known as Merc
[19:15] <@Kotono> "Possible. They're some fairies that could reach there, if they also find the location. And I suppose if you leave the source open afterwards they could. I'd suggest staying awhile to fix something up, or whatever you do makes it so getting in doesn't matter anymore."
[19:16] <Feather> "Anything to make them all adorable like in the stories," Feather says, grinning. "And not just the exceptions."
[19:16] <Gildas> "Hm. So we have to find someone who can keep some semblance of secrecy, I suppose."
[19:18] <@Kotono> "Or just kill the fairy after he spills." Ribby shrugs, "Easier said than done, but it might be one of those times when it's worth risking a curse."
[19:20] <@Kotono> Myann nods absently, expression faraway. "I...see..." she murmurs, "Maybe...In all truth, these days? I'm not sure I want to lose my mantle. Maybe I really have gone too far. But even if I can't get rid of it, we can surely do something to make it more bearable. To change the Sidhe."
[19:21] <Feather> "Having the choice's important," Feather agrees. "I'm in, of course, no question about it. Ribby, know something else about all this?"
[19:22] <Gildas> "Well." He leans forward. "If we were to go down there and find out... the truth? It might help us help you."
[19:22] <@John> "Well... yeah, if it's about choice, shouldn't we ask the fey themselves?" John says. "I mean, some are awful and it doesn't matter what they want, but I'm sure plenty don't really bother anyone."
[19:22] <Gildas> "I wonder if some of them would find the entire idea of this quite entertaining."
[19:23] <Gildas> "They may simply go along with it due to their nature."
[19:28] <@Kotono> "It's probably better to keep it quiet if we can, but..." Myann trails off, "It's an incredible opportunity."
[19:29] <@Kotono> "I don't know much else," Ribby stands, "And time's telling me that I need to move on soon. Got any last questions, now's the time."
[19:30] <Feather> "This gonna change more than the fairies? Like those creepy Stratum guys, or all magic or something?"
[19:31] <@Kotono> "Should just affect the fairies," Ribby dusts himself off, "But the knock-on effects will mean reactions and changes. Nothing's in a void."
[19:33] <Gildas> Gildas nods. "Thanks for stopping in, at the very least."
[19:35] <@Kotono> Thus Ribby's gone. Myann watches him go, "That's a lot to think about," she finally says, "But...for a few hours, it can wait. Feather, I think it's customary for the newlyweds to dance?"