Day 2 - The infodump!

[Iron Dragoon]

Session Start: Mon Oct 06 12:01:01 2014
Session Ident: #dunes
* Now talking in #dunes
* Topic is 'Moore(29)>Ice Para-Elemental(25)>Veren(22)>Pepo(15) '
* Set by Kotono on Thu Sep 25 12:15:16
<Kotono> ----
<Kotono> OOC: Quick question first. As Moore strums it up, it's been awhile for food/drink. If you need to eat/drink (say so if you don't), do you have a means of doing so or supplies on you?
<Lucy> OOC: No need
<Kotono> OOC: And yes, I know you just ate fish, Pepo.
<Veren > OOC: I can eat/drink, and I have the everlasting mug and rations.
<Pepo> OOC: I've ate my fish!
<Kotono> OOC: Okay.
<Moore> OOC: I have myself covered.
<Kotono> Slowly Moore strums and works away. Before you the cliffside changes. Unseen laborers chip, claw and shape away. A zig-zag, jagged and crazy stairway is created on down, a slow and steady walk to the bottom. The angles are crooked as a pixie's wings, but they work.
<Moore> Moore flies over and peeks down to make sure it's all done before he stops playing. "Okay, that should just about do it! It should be stable."
* Veren reaches into his pack and pulls out a mug and ration pack. The mug suddenly fills with crystal clear water which he sips on, and the ration pack never seems to get smaller, though by the look on his face, never seems to taste good, either.
<Pepo> Once the stairs are set up well enough for the unfortunate non-flying two legs to use, the cat's eyes glow briefly before he simply starts walking straight down the sheer cliff-face.
<Pepo> OOC: manifested earth walk
<Kotono> OOC: Link me for reference?
<Lucy> "Wonderful!" Lucy commends Moore, heading down the staircase with not a care in the world.
<Pepo> OOC: http://www.psionics.info/powers/earth-walk--cpsi/
<Moore> Moore nods and starts flying alongside the others, just in case anything happens!
* Veren raises an eyebrow at the spider-cat and begins meandering his way down, making sure to stay behind Lucy and Moore.
* Veren eyes the pixie briefly over the rim of his mug as he drinks, then focuses on his path as he uses his ability to start scanning Moore's mind.
<Veren > OOC: Detect Thoughts! DC 18.
<Moore> OOC: What am I supposed to roll?
<Veren > OOC: Will save.
<Moore> roll 1d20+8
* Rei-chan (~mars@cpc9-sgyl30-2-0-cust73.sgyl.cable.virginm.net) has joined #dunes
<Moore> roll 1d20+8
<Rei-chan> Moore rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{26}
<Kotono> Down the party goes. It's a long and slightly dangerous walk, but nothing unseemingly so. Adding some rails helps, if nothing else. It gets subtly brighter as you go down, coming closer to the sea of light. As you come closer to the bottom, you see it ends near a sprawling farm. One of many you saw below, but a handful of people approach. Several laborer types - a motley assortment of races. A
<Kotono> human, some sort of blue elf, a pudgy and dirty dwarf, a sour looking half-orc. A much better dressed brute of a man, perfectly bald and scowling, walks up. He's dressed in finery suitable for a richer man, down to a regal cape. His eyes are a deep, solid green with no variation. As he speaks, you see he has the tongue of a serpent. "What issss the meaning of thisssss?" he calls. "What are you
<Kotono> doing, making a stair like thisssss, with magic, on my property?"
<Kotono> The laborers keep quiet, watching the party.
<Pepo> Pepo walks up and sniffs the apparent leader of the group but pays little care otherwise.
<Pepo> roll 1d20+14 sense motive, is he a cat person?
<Rei-chan> Pepo rolled :1d20+14 sense motive, is he a cat person? --> [ 1d20=2 ]{16}
<Kotono> "It's one hell of a stairway," The orc grunts in a deep voice, "All the way up and down, like magic. No, it is magic," he says, "I reckon."
<Kotono> No, he smells like a snake. A slithery, poisonous snake.
<Lucy> "Pardon us, good sir. This is your property?" Lucy asks the hissing man mildly.
<Kotono> The snake looks down with a scowl, "Get away, cat. I hate catssss," it warns, "Control your familiar, wizard?" he looks at the party, each one in turn, before seeming to decide on Veren. "Control your familiar!"
* Veren raises his eyebrow.
<Veren > "He's doing nothing offensive. Control your emotions until he does."
<Moore> Moore briefly glances at his traveling companions for a moment before he turns to the man. "Ah, it isn't a familiar, sir..."
<Kotono> He then turns to Lucy, "It issss," he confirms, "My farm and my property." He curtly gestures, the laborers taking a few steps back. "Fine." Taking a deep breath, "Wizardsss or not, what are you doing here? Why are you coming in from The Dim?"
<Lucy> "I must profess having no knowledge of the Dim. Or, indeed, of this locale. Might you be persuaded to tell me about this place and its laws? Certainly, your wall can be restored, all the way to the end of your property, if you so wish."
<Pepo> "Hsss!" Pepo hisses, not liking this man at all!
<Kotono> A murmur goes through them all, before the snakish man smiles. "Ah, newbornssss," he hisses, stepping back and bowing. He has a mocking smile as he goes on, "We can talk inside," he offers, "In comfortssss and about your obligationsssss as new citizensssss."
<Lucy> "Certainly!" Lucy agrees, though it's hardly some commitment to citizenship.
* Veren is suspicious of the change in attitude, and tries to determine if the man is a threat or not...
<Veren > roll 1d20+12 Sense Motive
<Rei-chan> Veren rolled :1d20+12 Sense Motive --> [ 1d20=6 ]{18}
<Kotono> Veren can tell the man is at least somewhat dangerous. Something about his bearing isn't normal.
<Pepo> It doesn't take much to sense his duplicitous motives! So Pepo decides to do a favor to the potential citizens - as a cat he's naturally exempt from all that rot.
* Veren tries to palm his dagger subtly...
<Pepo> roll 1d20+15 to hide display for attraction, DC 16 so academic
<Rei-chan> Pepo rolled :1d20+15 to hide display for attraction, DC 16 so academic --> [ 1d20=13 ]{28}
<Pepo> OOC: DC 18 will or http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/attraction.htm applies to... Lucy, she seems the group's spokesperson so far.
<Kotono> roll 1d20+7
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled :1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{24}
<Kotono> The party follows on, Veren preparing a dagger as the psionic compulsion fails to gain any impact at all. His will's strong, at least to Pepo. The walk to the farmhouse is quiet enough - which is really more of a manor in this case. You head inside, greeted by a pair of pretty blonde maids, about seven and a half feet tall each. They wear a sized up version of a maid's outfit and have long blonde
<Kotono> braids. They bow and say at the same time, "Welcome back, sir," Besides that, they seem oddly muscular but otherwise human. "Welcome, guests of sir." Inside you're taken to a nice parlor - the entire place is classically done, polished stone and not a hint of brick or lesser materials. Once everyone gets settled in - my, is that real dragon's head mounted on the wall or a fake, and what about
<Kotono> those books - "So you're new to thissss land."
* Veren attempts to mind scan the man...
<Lucy> "And it sounds, by your words, that this is not a rare occurrence?"
<Pepo> Pepo decides to look around for mice while everyone else gets the citizens orientation guide. Or get tricked into becoming servants.
<Moore> Moore keeps quiet for the time being, but will cast Detect Evil while he flutters around the room. Something about all of this just doesn't sit right with him...
<Kotono> roll 1d20+7
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled :1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{26}
<Kotono> The house is clear of mice - not even the scent of them is in the parlor. Meanwhile, Moore can tell the man radiates faint evil. "It'sssss not. It's how people come to thisssss realm. Thissss Lost Realm." Steepling his hands together and sitting back, "You are on the island of Rossalund, on the outskirtsssss of the city of Rossalund. People of all stripessss regularly appear here, lost and with
<Kotono> a mind empty of the past."
* Lucy inclines her head. "How often, if I might ask?"
* Veren eyes the maids, inspecting them for any hostility or weapons..
<Pepo> Oh well. He still has that fish settling in his stomach. Speaking of, he might need to do something about that soon...
<Moore> Moore frowns ever-so-slightly but keeps his concentration on the man and his spell for now, just in case it informs him of anything else.
<Kotono> A slight shrug of his shoulders. "There is no pattern that anyone can tell. Oh, the wise men and sagessss think otherwise, but they don't agree. It's foolishsss. It'ssss best to settle in Rossalund. The Coven will guide you and providessss a safe place to live your new life." OOC: Perception, Veren?
<Veren > roll 1d20+12 Perception
<Rei-chan> Veren rolled :1d20+12 Perception --> [ 1d20=2 ]{14}
<Kotono> They look unremarkable to Veren, besides the obvious.
<Pepo> Are the maids cat people? Pepo goes to rub against their legs and find out! At the very least they're reassuringly still.
<Lucy> "The Coven?"
<Kotono> One of the maids glances down and smiles briefly, but they otherwise ignore Pepo. They keep silent, still watch instead. "The Coven are medusae that rule Rossalund." He pauses to brush across his bald head, "I am a maideen, a child of a medusa." he adds.
<Lucy> That sounds simple enough. "I see," she voices. "You also mentioned citizenship?"
<Pepo> He just curls up in a ball over her foot and purrs quite contentedly at that reassuring sign of feline fondness.
<Kotono> "Yessss. Newbornsssss - newcomerssss to Rossalund - are able to apply for citizenship. Doing so guaranteessss you food and shelter in exchange for labor." He smiles now, a widening thing that stretches high on his face. "People of your blood and magic will do well in Rossalund," he goes on, "Wizardsss and other spellcastersss are well treated by the Coven."
<Veren > "So mages are treated as an upper class here?"
<Pepo> That sounds suspicious. Pepo wonders what the nice cat-loving maid thinks of that, and attempts to discern her feelings on the matter without having to ask in front of her employer/owner.
<Kotono> "Classss is determined by usefulnesssss," The creature says, "But enough of bantering, newbornssss, it is time for introductionssss. I am Saladan. Who are you?"
<Lucy> "Labor?" she asks in surprise. "From a mage?"
<Pepo> OOC: read thoughts, DC 19 will, no delay http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/readThoughts.htm
<Kotono> roll 1d20+4
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled :1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{12}
<Veren > "I am Verenkilar."
<Kotono> "Of course not. At least not in that way. There are things a wizard can do," Saladan remarks with a sardonic smile, "Wigglesss your fingerssss and you do the work of ten or a hundred men. Or more."
<Moore> Moore blinks when he realizes he needs to answer a question and stops concentrating on his spell. "Oh! I'm Moore, I'm a motivator! I boost the morale of people!" he says with a smile.
<Lucy> "Lucy," she completes their introductions. "A pleasure, Mister Saladan."
<Kotono> Pepo can hear the woman's thoughts. She's thinking about what to make for dinner, mostly. She doesn't seem to be paying the least bit of attention to the goings on - she's massively bored. At least you know that she's favoring chicken over venison tonight. And maybe a creamy cheese sauce for some - hm? She mentally glances up at Moore, a flush of amusement at his words, followed by disbelief.
<Kotono> Staying in position as he goes on, "Charmed," he replies, "I recommend you go to Rossalund, accept citizenship and establish yourselvessssss. Useful citizenssss have easy livesssss."
<Pepo> Chicken does sound good, Pepo thinks as he purrs a little louder in response.
<Kotono> Her thoughts segue to the cat on her foot. An errant thought ponders that it must be nice to be a lazy cat, but it soon drifts back to dinner. She's either hungry or really in the mood to cook something.
* Veren decides to scan the maids... They've shown no outward hostility or weapons that he can see, but they may be planning something different altogether.. Their thoughts might also be able to verify what Saladan is saying...
<Lucy> "And what is the political situation of this city?" Lucy wonders. "Do the duties of a citizen include gearing up for war against its enemies?"
<Veren > OOC: Detect Thoughts DC 18.
<Kotono> OOC: 1d2. 1 same 2 different, Iddy.
<Veren > roll 1d2
<Rei-chan> Veren rolled :1d2 --> [ 1d2=1 ]{1}
<Kotono> roll 1d20+4
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled :1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{24}
<Pepo> Those are fairly single-minded thoughts. Given the servile relationship, might her thoughts have been guided or altered somehow? He could do it, why couldn't someone else?
<Pepo> roll 1d20+14 sense motive, is she under a compulsion of any kind?
<Rei-chan> Pepo rolled :1d20+14 sense motive, is she under a compulsion of any kind? --> [ 1d20=2 ]{16}
<Kotono> "There are no enemiessss in Rossalund," Saladan says with an expansive smile, "Oh no. Only troublemakerssss in The Dim and The Dark. People who refused citizenship and chose to be troublemakersssss. Stupid outcastssss living on grubsss and in the shadowssss.
<Kotono> OOC: Gah.
<Kotono> "There are no enemiessss in Rossalund," Saladan says with an expansive smile, "Oh no. Only troublemakerssss in The Dim and The Dark. People who refused citizenship and chose to be troublemakersssss. Stupid outcastssss living on grubsss and in the shadowssss." As he finishes this, Veren can feel the maid's will resist him. At the same time, Pepo doesn't detect any alterations.
* Veren does his best to not let his frustration show.
<Pepo> Oh well, some people are just born to serve he supposes. At least she has nice warm legs.
* Lucy pouts. "But everyone has enemies! Internal and external both. I can understand there being troublemakers, certainly, but surely you don't intend to claim that this fine city doesn't get its share of jealousy-driven hatred?"
<Veren > "I think what he means is there are no open enemies."
<Kotono> "The lawssss of the Coven are strict but fair." The maideen continues with a knowing smile, "The punishment for serious crimessss is to be blessed, to see the face of one of the Coven. Then to the beachessss, to let the ocean slowly lap away at them. Forever."
<Moore> Moore continues to flutter about before he stops and looks aghast at Saladan before he composes himself to fly around again. "Um... speaking of the beach... that isn't water out there, is it?"
<Kotono> Moore catches Saladan's eye, and he nods slightly. "It is not water but it is light. A few newbornsss remember a sky with light from it. That is not here. The islandsssss lie in the light and the light comessss from the oceanssss. It is not water, you cannot drink it. Only lightskimmerssss can cross it. Those who try and fly acrosssss go blind and fall in."
<Moore> Well that doesn't sound pleasant at all! He just nods with a frown. "I see..."
<Lucy> "I suppose the islands would be spaced far enough that swimming is not an option, yes," Lucy muses. "So having a suitable ship would be quite profitable. Are citizens allowed to own any?"
<Veren > "What makes these lightskimmers able to cross?"
<Kotono> "You cannot swim in the light," Saladan dismisses in any case. "No. The only lightskimmerssss in Rossalund are owned by the Coven or by approved traderssssss. Magic," A glance to Veren, "The secretsssss of them are not known to me."
<Lucy> "Ah, how unfortunate." Lucy pouts again. "What other things are citizens forbidden from?"
<Kotono> "There is a list, depending on what role you fill," Saladan continues to explain, "It is best if you head to Rossalund and declare you wish to swear fealty to the Coven as citizenssss. The city guardssss will help you and provide more information. It is by far the best choice you have, better than The Dim and Dark, or the Breachen."
<Lucy> "The... Breachen?"
<Kotono> OOC: Are you still read thoughting, Pepo?
<Pepo> OOC: yeah, sticking with the one maid
* Veren tries to detect the thoughts of Saladan again, since he's shown no signs of knowing that he scanned him before.
<Kotono> Pepo can hear the maid's thoughts at that. A perk of interest - a memory of dark places, of black water and confused shouts. Meanwhile Saladin says, "An enchanted entrance to the cavesssss that riddle the ground beneath The Dark and The Dim. Unsettled land of monsters, only fit for exilessss and hopelesssss foolssssss. You go in and the magic sendssss you to a different place each time. The wise
<Kotono> seek escape, the foolsssss try and build lairsss there. I hear a few survive on dirt, mushrooms and verminsssss."
<Kotono> roll 1d20+7
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled :1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{20}
<Pepo> Vermin's good eating. Can't say anything for dirt or mushrooms though.
<Kotono> *Saladan
<Kotono> At this Saladan rubs his forehead. He frowns, gently massaging it.
<Lucy> "So criminals and other failures would try running there, to start with a fresh slate," Lucy agrees, nodding to herself.
<Kotono> "Exactly," A slight smile grows on the maideen's face. "Far better to simply go and accept citizenship."
<Kotono> Saladan rubs his head again, "But I fear a headache is coming on. I suffer from them occasionally," he remarks, "So I must cut this short."
<Lucy> "Yes, it does sound like that. Ah, but might you first tell me how the laws are upheld? Surely, by virtue of a binding magical contract?"
<Kotono> "By the Coven. They judge and hand out punishmentssss," Saladan rises, and looking to the maids, "Prepare them a simple food basket and send them along towards Rossalund," he instructs, heading out of the room. He rubs his head again as he goes, visibly grimacing, albeit only visible to Pepo as he heads out.
<Moore> Speaking of magic... Moore quietly decides to try a Detect Magic, just to be on the safe side, in case there's anything strange in the room or on the maids!
<Pepo> Well he can't be all bad if he's giving them food, right?
<Lucy> "Thank you so much for your help and your concern, Mister Saladan!"
<Veren > "We appreciate your assistance."
<Kotono> OOC: Going to try and conceal it at all, Moore? Non SLAs have componetns'n'shit.
<Moore> OOC: Sure, I'll use Lyric Spell and put it into a motivational speech.
<Kotono> OOC: Okay, make one and roll a bluff check at the ned.
<Kotono> OOC: End.
<Moore> OOC: You mean a Spellcraft Check and then a Bluff Check?
<Moore> OOC: Or a speech?
<Lucy> Since it seems she is beginning to overstay her welcome, Lucy heads outside to take a proper look of the area.
* Veren stands and follows Lucy.
<Kotono> OOC: Speech.
<Moore> "Thanks so much for your hospitality! It looks like we're going back onto the road together, so surely our spirits stay high as lively as the world we've come to!" Moore comments with a smile to both of the maids.
<Moore> roll 1d20+16
<Rei-chan> Moore rolled :1d20+16 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{26}
<Pepo> Seeing the others start to go, Pepo rises and stretches, opening wide in a big satisfied yawn before giving the maid a last head rub against her shin and then padding after Lucy and Veren.
<Kotono> There's no magic in the house or on the people, except what the party has. If anyone notices Moore's spell amid the speech, they don't show it. You get a nice, big basket full of food. It's not the best - mostly preserved foods - but it's still food. Once outside, Lucy can get a look around. It's farm after farm, lots of growing and people working. The farms tend to get bigger and more visibly
<Kotono> productive as you get closer to the sea of light. OOC: So all of you are outside now and alone. Now what?
<Pepo> 'Is there chicken in the basket?' Pepo's mental voice booms hopefully in the mind of whoever's holding it.
* Lucy decides to eat what looks tastiest amidst the offerings, obligingly looking for the requested chicken as she does so.
* Veren returns his knife to its hidden sheath.
<Moore> "I don't know about the rest of you... but something about this just doesn't sit right with me." Moore expresses to the others. "Submit ourselves to a group of... what certainly sounds like ruling out of fear of being turned to stone... I mean, maybe it's our only really valid option, but... I don't like it."
<Veren > "So, the Coven rules by virtue of power and no opposition, instead of by superiority or worthiness. Hmm."
<Lucy> "Of course it's not the only option," Lucy responds, brushing that opinion aside. "If there are islands, plural, of course there must be other cities."
<Veren > "Perhaps."
<Kotono> There's some chicken. Yay.
<Lucy> "The first priority is to get a proper map of the world. Or, barring that," she continues, serving some of it to the cat on a napkin, "of the immediate area."
<Moore> "If we're to get to other islands, we'd somehow need to procure a... lightskimmer, right? So... I doubt we can get one of those unless we manage to impress someone." Moore says with a rub of his chin. "So should we go to Rossalund and just try and focus on obtaining a skimmer?"
<Veren > "There is always a way. Perhaps something can be done."
<Pepo> 'There may be other settlements separated by the dark,' Pepo's mental voice appears in everyone's heads.
<Lucy> "Certainly. If they are separated by light, why not by darkness as well?"
<Kotono> Beyond the chicken, there's lots of little preserved things. Oooh, strawberry preserves and biscuits.
* Lucy nibbles on a strawberry, musing, "I propose trying to barter for knowledge once in the city. Even if we lack in local coin, it should be possible to trade something and get properly oriented."
* Veren nods.
<Veren > "Coin can be obtained fairly simply, usually."
<Moore> "I'm used to making a living on motivating people, so I can probably help with that!" Moore says with a smile and some flutter. "It usually helps to put people in a more friendly mood, either way."
<Pepo> Pepo mews in what might be called an agreeable tone, if one were hopeful. He doesn't deign to impose his thoughts on anyone, so at least there's that.
<Lucy> "In that case, I believe that we should proceed!"
<Veren > "We should find a place to stay first, perhaps."
<Lucy> "In the city, surely?"
* Veren shrugs.
<Veren > "How many eyes do you wish to have on you?"
<Lucy> "It doesn't bother me one bit!"
<Moore> "Well, Mister Saladan mentioned guards, so if we ask them for some place to stay they might try and usher us to the Coven." Moore says. "Of course, they probably won't just follow us around or anything."
<Veren > "Let us go, then."
<Kotono> OOC: So your plan is to head to Rossalund, then?
<Veren > OOC: Sounds like it.
<Pepo> OOC: yeah. Lets not front up to any guards though.
<Lucy> OOC: I want to see how the traffic goes to and from the gates from when they become visible
<Kotono> OOC: Okay.
<Kotono> roll 1d100+5
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled :1d100+5 --> [ 1d100=35 ]{40}
<Kotono> roll 1d100+5
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled :1d100+5 --> [ 1d100=28 ]{33}
<Kotono> roll 1d100+5
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled :1d100+5 --> [ 1d100=96 ]{101}
<Kotono> It takes several hours of travel. You pass busy farms and the occasional traveler going from farm to farm. Unremarkable things, but it's reasonably busy. Carts full of food head towards Rossalund and empty carts head back. Right now you're about 2/3rds of the way there. The road is broad and well-traveled when you see it coming from ahead. A rider on horseback, galloping hard. He or she wears
<Kotono> full armor and a helmet, but looks to be fairly large and well built. They're galloping right down the center of the road without showing any signs of stopping.
<Pepo> Pepo is just walking along on the fringe of the road anyway, so he shouldn't be in danger of getting trod upon.
* Veren eyes the rider, moves to the side, and tries to mind scan him, or her, as they go by.
<Moore> Moore will wave all friendly-like, but be sure to not get in the way!
* Lucy steps well to the fringes, next to Pepo.
<Kotono> roll 1d20+5
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled :1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{17}
<Kotono> OOC: DC?
<Veren > OOC: 18.
<Kotono> It's a blur of thoughts as he races in and out of range, the party otherwise getting out of the way. Panic, haste, annoyance. Something about orders and carrying potions, along with a smidge of fear over something - a superior, but he's out of range before Veren gets more.
<Veren > "Hm... He was transporting something of importance. I could not see what, though. The only thing we've seen in that direction is farms."
<Lucy> "How rude," Lucy mutters, proceeding down the road once more.
<Moore> "Maybe we can offer to help if we decide to endear ourselves!" Moore suggests as he follows along.
<Veren > OOC: Was he going to or from the farms?
<Kotono> OOC: To. Away from the path you're going, as if running form Rossalund.
* Veren shrugs.
<Veren > "I see no benefit of following him, unless we desire whatever it is he is carrying."
<Moore> "Well, if it was a matter of importance, we'll probably hear about it somehow in town." Moore says.
* Veren nods and begins heading towards the city again.
<Lucy> "We were never involved," Lucy asserts, and that is all she has to say about this forgettable person that crossed their path.
<Kotono> Thus the party continues on towards Rossalund...OOC: Okay, let's pause here. It's a bit late in the session to start a new scene and this is an ideal pause point.