Day 40A: The Return!

[Iron Dragoon]

Session Start: Wed Jan 14 12:10:45 2015
Session Ident: #dunes
* Now talking in #dunes
* Topic is 'Pepo(29)>Moore=Lucy(26)>Veren(23)>Croc(20)>Jetina(16)>???(7) '
* Set by Kotono on Tue Jan 13 13:36:53
<Kotono> Rocky takes a look at the gemstone, "Oh yes, I'm fairly rock-solid sure that it's it." As he chuckles, Jetina holds her holy symbol. Life energy floods the party as she murmurs a prayer to Qupan. Notably, there's no horrible burning on Rocky or any sign of problems with it. OOC: This more than heals the bit of damage two of you have.
<Moore> "Why exactly are you here, though?" Moore asks. OOC: Can I do a Sense Motive?
<Lucy> "How about taking us back?"
<Pepo> No imposter would pun like that, so Pepo is reassured.
<Kotono> "I figured I'd stay in case you fled screaming," Rocky taps the gem with a finger, "Not everyone is as stone-hearted as you all must be to make it out of there."
<Lucy> "Please take us back," Lucy repeats, "before the puns bury us all."
<Moore> "Like a rockslide?" Moore adds. ...then he frowns. "Now I'm doing it."
<Kotono> "Ahahahahhaha," Rocky grins ear to ear, "Truly, to be entombed under a landslide of earth is a high honor. But shall we?" He offers, "Gather around."
<Pepo> Pepo slinks over and waits expectantly.
* Lucy still has plenty spells to show her displeasure, but her will is being executed and she decides to be magnanimous. And keep the teleport scroll for a rainy day, of course.
<Moore> Moore will fly over!
<Kotono> Woosh. Just like that, you teleport back. Within the city and it's terrific light near the sea, an almost painful return after your time in the dimmer forest. Rocky stretches, "Do you all need to rest and get your things in order? I can pass the gem on and get work started. Oh, and since you didn't need that scroll of teleportation, we'd like that back."
<Lucy> "Don't need it?" Lucy asks curiously. "How silly. We can talk about this later, but right now I would like the chance to study the artifact you are going to use this gem in."
<Kotono> Rocky gives you a long look, then shrugs. "No erosion off my nose. I wasn't the one who provided the scrolls. You'll catch a rock with your head over it, though. Anyway, if you want to bring it, that's fine. What about the rest of you?"
<Kotono> "I'd like to go back to the ship and rest," Jetina says, "That forest was a trial."
<Pepo> Pepo moves over towards Jetina, also wanting to rest and eat. Hopefully Little has some fish ready.
<Veren > "I have a few items that need to be identified, and perhaps some things to sell. Other than that, nothing important beyond a little rest."
<Moore> "I'll help Veren with the items, since I'm curious about some of them." Moore says.
<Lucy> "Ah, you misunderstand my motives, Mister Rocky," Lucy tells him politely. "It just so happens that I have a lead on survivors from Rossalund, and they might be able to share more information on who attacked them. Too far by normal means, but with magic...."
<Kotono> "Aaaah. Tell me about it as we go," Rocky says, while...OOC: Okay, I'll move the rest of you to the ship. One you do me a favor and gather up all un-IDed items (including the loot headers for each section) and post them in one post in loot. Lucy in here, the rest of you in #evil.
<Lucy> "Certainly. I was hoping to wait until I witnessed your device in action, but I do not wish to be seen as a thief," she says primly. "I would have mentioned it earlier, but my specialty is really destroying pesky undead. That had higher chances of success than this plan, but since we finished up so early, why not do both?"
<Kotono> As you start to walk away, down a hall while the others go off, "What's your lead?" Rocky nods along as you speak, "Why not do both? The stone that rolls often gathers the most moss."
<Lucy> "Mmm. You see, it really is the sort of thing only I could do, and I fully expected the gem hunt to take much longer. So long to make this infeasible. And had I stayed to handle this investigation, Miss Jetina would probably have died and I would hate to see that." She frowns. "Perhaps Veren as well."
<Kotono> "That does tend to happen in that forest with rock-solid regularity," Rocky agrees, "All of you coming back alive is better than was predicted."
<Lucy> "I'm really disappointed by that level of divination, I must say, after what I have witnessed up till now," Lucy admits. "I am immortal, of course, and Mister Pepo is probably the next best thing to it. Whereas Moore can fly, turn invisible and heal himself. I think he would be terribly difficult for the shuffling undead to kill."
<Kotono> "I'm sure you'll ruin the diviner's day," Rocky chuckles as you come to a door. He pauses before it, "You're right. The signs around Jetina were the worst. It mentioned a conjunction of bad times and misfortune for her there, the sort that happens only once in a great while. So if she survived, it should improve for her. Probably."
<Lucy> "I remain dubious that it was all bad luck, but this is why I am here! To keep her alive!"
<Kotono> Rocky raises an eyebrow, "I suppose I've heard stranger things."
<Lucy> "I won't make that mistake again!" Lucy vows.  "I won't believe people can take care of themselves after all even if they look weak!"
<Kotono> "That's usually how it works," Rocky agrees, "But she made it, at least.
<Kotono> "
* Lucy nods, before musing thoughtfully, "Mister Rocky, does this city have a division of mages dedicated to spell design? I feel it must, given the Spellpool and how conductive it would be to such endeavors. If I'm right, how might one apply for it? Would one need a local sponsor?"
<Kotono> "You should really talk to Aria about that," Rocky says, opening the door. Ahead is a pitch black room, save for a whirling circle of purple light. "But I suspect your odds are solid as stone right now."
<Lucy> "I suppose I really should. Although she did seem decidedly less happy to see us after this entire thing happened. You don't think it was something I said, do you?"
<Kotono> Rocky strides forward, "Put the gem in the circle," he instructs, "Welllllll, women are more like the tides," he finally says, "They have high tide and low tide. Aria is notable for having a lot of tides that change rather swiftly."
* Lucy pauses to stare at Rocky, but then just shrugs and reaches out with her magical senses as she follows his instructions. The awkwardly-sized gem is carefully placed within the circle, at its absolute center, and then Lucy takes the moment to study the interaction of magic properly.
<Kotono> OOC: Make spellcraft.
<Lucy> roll 1d20+17
<Serith> Lucy roll for Serith < 28 > 12 [d20=11]
<Kotono> It's tricky - it's complex magic plus parts of it are warded or redirected. You can grasp it's some sort of grand analysis spell matrix. It's puzzling out the mysteries of the gem on a grand scale, akin to a high powered analyze dweomer or the like.
<Kotono> Rocky steps back once it's done, "Now let the nice magic to its work."
<Lucy> "My, how interesting!" She spares the briefest of glances at Rocky as he speaks. "Yes. Yes, I suppose we should. In that case, would you like to accompany me in an attempt to make contact with Rossalund's survivors? If I use the scroll to bring us over, you could just return us once we are done. And if the lead does not pan out, all we've wasted is a scroll and a bit of time."
<Kotono> "Mmm, why not? I could use an excuse to get off this rock," He leads you back out, "Not in here, it's warded."
<Lucy> "As I would expect," she easily agrees.
<Kotono> From here, Lucy and Rocky head on over to the ship. They meet Moore there, "So it's just the three of us? How quaint," Rocky chuckles, "A three man band, ready to rock the world."
* Lucy sighs quietly, and then uses her loaned scroll to aim for the small island they saw the medusa's ship stop at. Even if they have moved on, there might be information to be found, such as whether the pirates chased them down and fought, or any personal belongings left behind which could be used as scrying focii.
<Kotono> The island is one great patch of greenery around a spring. It's unremarkable as you appear on the shore, albeit bright. You don't see any ships here right away.
* Lucy adjusts her veil, and says, "This is where they were about a week ago. Time to search for any traces they might have left. Moore, can I ask you to take a look from the air?"
<Moore> "Of course." Moore nods and flies up!
<Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and make perception checks, y'all.
<Lucy> roll 1d20+21
<Serith> Lucy roll for Serith < 35 > 12 [d20=14]
<Moore> roll 1d20+13
<Serith> Moore roll for Serith < 20 > 12 [d20=7]
<Kotono> Rocky simply sinks into the ground, looking beneath it and searching as if it were merely water. Meanwhile Lucy and Moore search. Within the trees you find a house - well, an oversized cabin. Looks comfy and homey on a glance, plus no visible teeth or mouths.
* Lucy taps the ground a few times with her foot, and then proceeds towards the cabin after waving Moore over.
<Moore> Moore will fly along!
<Kotono> Rocky rises up, "There's some iron deposits and the like, but nothing worth mining," he remarks, "No real caves."
<Lucy> "A terribly useful power," Lucy comments. "It also simplifies things for us!" She approaches the building, and then knocks on the door.
<Kotono> "The earth and I have an understanding," Rocky taps the ground with a foot, "It does what I want and I stay happy." The door is knocked on. What answers it is a lion. A lion's head with a human body, a mane of orange-yellow around it. It wears blue armor and opens the door wide. "Oh, what do I have here, visitors!"
<Lucy> "Quite! A good evening to you, Mister...?"
<Moore> "Hello!" Moore says with a wave.
<Kotono> "Lion." He growls and then grins, "Obvious name that is quite obvious. I watch this island."
<Moore> "Oh! Then you might've seen some guests we're looking for." Moore says.
<Lucy> "Mister Lion it is, then," she says without batting an eye. "My name is Lucy, and these are my companions Moore and Rocky." She gestures at the two of them in turn.
<Kotono> "A spirit of the earth, a demon and a pixie," He remarks without missing a beat. "...not the strangest group I've seen in this odd land." He steps aside, and a comfortable cabin is ahead. "All guests are welcome here, as long as you behave."
<Lucy> Frowning mentally, Lucy still presents a smiling a face to their host with just the barest of conscious effort. "Right then! We really would not wish to abuse your hospitality. Rather, I believe I saw a medusa and her attendants pass through your home recently?"
<Kotono> "That's a demon?" Rocky glances at Lucy, "It's so hard telling fleshy creatures apart, isn't it?"
<Kotono> "The ship from Rossalund?" The lion growls, "Yes, perhaps a week or so ago, perhaps two."
<Moore> "Miss Lucy is Miss Lucy." Moore states with a nod. "Oh, do you know when they left, or where they may have been headed?"
<Lucy> "The time is really not terribly important," Lucy responds. "Ah yes, as Moore has stated, that is our main concern, along with learning whether a ship flying a certain flag had come here after them." She describes the pirate flag.
<Kotono> "I haven't seen that ship, no. I've heard of them a few times, but not seen that sigil," The lion says.
<Lucy> "Ah! Then may we start with that, Mister Lion? What have you heard of them? Are they really in any way related to the Greenfire Companions?"
<Kotono> Rocky meanders in, taking a nearby seat.
<Kotono> "I've heard they're preparing to wage war somewhere. Whispers," He remarks, "Rumors, carried from ship to ship."
<Moore> "I take it they don't tend to come and bother you, then?" Moore inquires.
* Lucy takes a seat herself, albeit a bit warily. Still, she will hardly be attacked twice within a nice cabin.
<Kotono> "No," The lion shakes his head, "My gift is to see the truth of things. The truth is that the people who speak of the green-eye ships are either afraid or happy."
<Lucy> "Then it must be a true pleasure to finally meet a group that is merely curious, Mister Lion!" Lucy chirps. "What of the medusa? Can you tell us about her and her goals?"
<Kotono> "I did not see her, she did not leave the ship," The lion says, "The sailors around her were anxious and wished to go home."
<Lucy> "Please tell me they were not headed for Rossalund?"
<Kotono> "They were," The lion says, "That I am sure of."
<Lucy> "How unfortunate."
* Lucy blinks. "Or-- how far to Rossalund is it from your island? You would know best, I feel."
<Kotono> "A few weeks, perhaps more," He says, hmming, "I am dedicated to this island and came from the opposite way, but I believe two to three weeks. Perhaps more."
<Moore> "So I suppose it's possible they haven't arrived back there yet." Moore says. "Hmm... but what do we do about the situation now?"
<Lucy> "Do you know her name? Or possess Sending?"
* Lucy tilts her head. "How about something one of the sailors had? We could scry on them, then."
Session Close: Wed Jan 14 14:45:12 2015