Day 50A: Snake-people everywhere!

[Iron Dragoon]

Session Start: Tue Feb 03 07:12:03 2015
Session Ident: #dunes
* Now talking in #dunes
* Topic is 'Ithea(34)>Lief(33)>Muirfinn(31)>Kina-ja(26)>Antenora(25) '
* Set by Kotono on Thu Jan 29 20:02:43
<Kotono> ----
<Kotono> > "Charmed," After that Moore and Lucy are greeted, "Sssssssso you cleared the gem out of that curssssed forestss!"
<Kotono> <Moore> "It was an adventure. I feel like we were there for months." Moore says with a somber nod.
<Kotono> <Lucy> "But it was only a few hours," Lucy adds with a smile.
<Kotono> <Moore> Moore nods to Lucy in agreement. "I'm just happy we recovered it quickly enough to aid the city."
<Kotono> > "I often need jobssss and tassssks accomplisssshed by ssssuitable heroessssss." Kayue replies, "I pay in magical itemsssssss."
<Kotono> <Lucy> "A very sensible trade," Lucy says with clear approval. "Do you have one such job lined up right now, Miss Kayue?"
<Kotono> <Moore> Moore takes a moment to look around at the other furnishings to see if there's anything that seems to stand out, and if he might've heard of any of it while he's been in the various towns. OOC: Not sure if there's an appropriate knowledge skill for furniture, but hey!
<Kotono> > OOC: K:Local, I guess.
<Kotono> > "Yesssss." She answers, "Rosssssssssalund hassss an underground ssssyssstem of cursssed cavessssssss. Do you know them?"
<Kotono> <Lucy> "No, but it wouldn't surprise me that the place had such a thing."
<Kotono> <Moore> roll 1d20+9 K:Local
<Kotono> <Serith> Moore roll for Serith < 25 > [d20=16]
<Kotono> <Moore> "We, ah... didn't really get a lot of leisure time there." Moore says.
<Kotono> "They're called the Breachesssss," Kayue hisses it, "When you enter, each time isssss different. Different partssssss."
* Lucy nods, smiling politely and waiting for Kayue to go on.
<Kotono> After a beat, 'There are placessss there that have a purple mosssssss. Bring me ample ssssamplesssss of it and you will be rewarded well."
<Lucy> "Could you describe one or two of those entrances, Miss Kayue, in as much detail as possible?"
<Moore> Moore glances back to Kayue and nods politely then goes back to looking at the furnishings.
<Kotono> "There are many entrancesssss," A long hiss at that, "The difficulty issss finding a way out from wherever you are cassssst in. I have a map to a closssse one from Rosssssalund."
<Lucy> "Ah, then if I could just copy it we would be one step closer!" Lucy says happily. "If I might ask, what sort of reagent is this purple moss?"
<Kotono> At that, a copy of the map is handed over. "I already have copiessss. It augmentsssss the creation of magical itemssss, ssshortening the time it takesss to enchant them."
<Lucy> "How fascinating! I would definitely want to see the process, once I've found some of it."
<Moore> Moore bets Kamhoff would love that stuff. Maybe he's even heard of it before.
<Kotono> "Yessss. Bring it to me and you will receive a blesssssed greatssssword." Kayue says.
<Kotono> At this Jetina perks up a little bit, "A blessed greatsword?"
<Lucy> How mundane! Lucy is sure they could renegotiate when it comes to the actual transaction.
<Moore> OOC: Any result on that Knowledge check from earlier?
<Kotono> OOC: Oh sorry.
<Kotono> Most of the furniture is local, though you see a wooden table that you think is from Rossalund. Kayue clearly has money.
<Moore> Moore nods. "Oh, Miss Kayue, is this moss... I mean, is it dangerous to hold in any way, or can we just store it without issue?"
<Kotono> "It can be ssstored normally. A ssssealed container is bessst." she answers.
<Moore> Moore nods. "Easy enough."
<Lucy> "Yes, quite."
<Kotono> "Good hunting," Kayue bids, as Aria clears her throat.
<Kotono> "Ahem, we should be going now, the celebrations start soon," she points out.
<Lucy> "Certainly-- Miss Kayue, thank you for the opportunity. I hope we have a chance to work together in the future."
<Moore> Moore nods and bows again. "Yes, it was a pleasure."
<Kotono> Thus the four some heads out. The streets are now full. The tables are occupied, great meals laid out at every table. Laughter and noise fills the air as people eat, drink and make merry. Aria merely stands aside a moment, "Today is a day of joy."
<Lucy> "So it is," Lucy agrees. "Do you think they'll try again any time soon?"
<Moore> "They don't strike me as the type to give up very easily." Moore says. "But at the same time, from their perspective, is breaking through even worth it for them? After the losses they had..."
<Kotono> "We're staying on watch, but after those losses?" Aria shakes her head, "Not at least for a month."
<Lucy> "It would help if we knew what their real goals were. I don't suppose there has been any news there?"
<Moore> "It seems like it's just a campaign against cities that they feel have gone too far awry..." Moore says, recalling the notes he found. "But it must've been spurred by something originally, you know? Like their leader was cursed by a wizard, so he hates all magic or something ridiculous."
<Lucy> "Or it could be a campaign to get richer and the rest is just a spiel to recruit zealots to the cause."
<Moore> Moore nods to Lucy. "That's possible too. The entire flag-symbol could just be something they picked on a whim."
<Kotono> "Nothing solid yet, but we're working," Aria says, and then sighs, "They seem capable of shielding themselves form magic as well as stopping our divinations."
<Moore> "Do you think there's a gem out there that powers divinations?" Moore says with a small smile.
<Lucy> "Somewhat like the light?" Lucy asks at the same time.
<Kotono> "Maybe, maybe," Aria chuckles, "The ones who may know your question are the light mages, and they are madmen," Aria shakes her head.
<Lucy> "So they are," Lucy agrees. "Well then, that's all business. How about we focus on the celebration for now? Hey, I think we should set a goal of trying a bit of everything~"
<Moore> "Maybe you'll learn a new recipe, Miss Lucy." Moore agrees.
<Kotono> OOC: What's your plan here? Just have a good time?
<Lucy> OOC: Sure. And buy a necklace!
<Moore> OOC: Moore will look for any other pixies/satyrs/fey and introduce himself. He'll also probably give a rousing speech or song if the opportunity arises. Otherwise he will sample food with Lucy.
<Kotono> OOC: You mean your necklace of adaptation, Lucy?
<Lucy> OOC: Yeah. I'd also like to chat with Aria at some point, but it can happen another time if you want to reunite us
<Kotono> OOC: Okay. Lucy in here, Moore in #terrorofdunes.
<Kotono> Ah. Full of good food, strong drink and a merry mood, Lucy returns to the ship. Little and Kamhoff are coming back, both carrying plates of food. The old mage turns back as Lucy approaches, "Hey there, eat your fill?" he asks.
<Lucy> "Yep. How about you?" she asks curiously.
<Kotono> "Sure did," Kamhoff smiles, all joviality as you head on up. "Brought some leftovers for Macaron." Speaking of, the dog's on the deck, curled up protective around Pepo. Both are fast asleep, with Pepo looking rather worse for wear.
<Lucy> "Have you ever been at a city more magical?"
<Kotono> Kamhoff looks at the two a few moments, "Damned pets," he murmurs with a smile, "This city is magical," is his agreement, as Little flies on over. "Wake up, wake up! Bring food!" he says, putting a few plates down in front of Macaron and Pepo.
<Pepo> Pepo blinks his eyes awake, looking around at everyone first before going to the food. 'Lucy, are you still curious about the Light?' he asks her as he starts to slowly eat.
<Lucy> "I ask," Lucy says, deciding to be direct, "because I am considering staying. Naturally, for a mage such as I it would be no trouble to stay in touch and teleport over to the ship, so if I could keep on leasing the cabin I currently use that would be--" At Pepo's question, she blinks. "Somewhat," she says cautiously. "It's magical, after all."
<Kotono> It's full of good meats and fish. Macaron rises as well, taking a plate and eating.
<Pepo> 'Yes. I went there as I thought it would be safe from the threat from below I was warned about. I can endure limited exposure. But the threat actually came from the light. It was a double of my other form, composed of light.'
<Lucy> "You handily defeated it, I take it?"
<Pepo> 'No,' he says, and here he sounds shaken. 'It struck me once, and then I was in my bed, with no memory of the day's events. But I wasn't me. I was a copy, left here while the real me was being dragged below, unconscious.'
* Lucy shudders. "And... then you handily defeated it?" she asks hopefully.
<Pepo> 'This other me, it had left to find you all, as if it would act out my life while being unaware of what it truly was. Only an encounter with Bolethon shook it. You remember when he introduced himself? Bolethon who is not Bolethon? That other me was Pepo who is not Pepo. When it realized its nature from reading Bolethon's mind it shattered, and I awoke, in chains and being dragged deeper. I
<Pepo> managed to escape by turning light to dark, and ran for the shore. I tell you this as a warning. Do not approach the Light without caution.'
* Lucy tilts her head. "I was just telling Mister Kamhoff that I have decided to stay in the city of magical wonders rather than sailing over the sea of light. Would you like to join me, Mister Pepo?"
<Pepo> 'I do not know...' he admits. 'I am uncomfortable with this city, but I feel unsafe near the light. I wonder if I should have gone to the Breaches when I first heard of it... and yet I want to discover the true secret beneath the light, when I am strong enough. I must take time to consider my future.'
<Lucy> "Most certainly. I hardly plan on staying here exclusively, as there is still Jetina's home and its library that I would like to visit, but that can be managed with magic just as easily as a ship."
<Pepo> 'I will let you know once I have decided,' Pepo says, really just wishing he could go back to wherever he was before he showed up here with no memories.
<Lucy> "And I apologize for my incentivity. While you seem perfectly capable, this has clearly been a harrowing experience, Mister Pepo. If there is anything I could do to make it easier upon you...."
<Kotono> Kamhoff listens to all of it, "Well hell, isn't all this a kick in the balls?"
<Pepo> Finishing his meal, Pepo walks over to Lucy and says, 'I would like to be petted.' Because really as far as comfort goes it's hard to beat that!
* Lucy picks the cat up and settles comfortably on the ship, deciding to indulge Pepo. "I assume you refer to Mister Pepo's news and not my request. Still, would it be possible to arrange?"
<Kotono> "The entire thing," Kamhoff says with a shrug, "At least you came back from the light, Pepo. That's better than most."
<Lucy> "Better than all, I would say, since I haven't heard of any other accounts such as this," Lucy says, petting Pepo slowly.
<Pepo> 'Indeed. How many others are copies, unwittingly going about their originals' lives?' Pepo wonders.
<Kotono> "Huh, Flanagan who is not Flanagan," Kamhoff mutters, "Remind me to kick Flanagan's ass if we ever find him, whoever that is."
<Lucy> "He was a mage from Rossalund whose house got sacked very thoroughly by the invading pirates," Lucy helpfully answers. "In his basement laboratory was an abomination that hurt the mind just to be near it."
<Pepo> 'Maybe the pirates captured him and made him walk the plank?' Pepo says.
<Lucy> "How horrifying."
<Lucy> Thinking about Pepo's story some more, Lucy then asks, "Is there a way to tell whether Bolethon is a copy?"
<Pepo> 'I do not know. He immediately knew that the copy-me was a copy. It could be a light mage ability?'
<Lucy> "In this new light, pardon the pun, being a light mage might well require one to be a copy."
<Pepo> 'That is what he implied when I asked,' Pepo agrees, starting to purr thanks to Lucy's petting.
<Kotono> "Huh. This entire day just got fucked up," Kamhoff grunts, "Light mage copies and people who aren't people and I don't even fucking know."
<Lucy> "Since divinations tend to fail on such matters, perhaps you could devise a fresh approach, Mister Kamhoff?"
<Kotono> Kamhoff rubs his chin thoughtfully, "No fucking idea, but I think I'd like to try now."
<Lucy> "Perhaps your dog might be able to tell?"
<Pepo> 'There is a psionic power that can read false or forgotten memories, though it would be time intensive to check everyone. A detect copies spell or power, like detect undead or detect shape changer might be more promising, if it could be developed.'
<Lucy> "I could certainly focus my research on that," Lucy muses.
<Kotono> "Hmmm, mmmmmmm." Kamhoff rubs his chin on that, "How about all of us go downstairs and put our heads together on this?"
<Lucy> "Why not?"
<Pepo> Pepo doesn't reply, but that's as good as agreement from him.
<Kotono> OOC: Okay, what's your ideas here?
<Lucy> OOC: Like Pepo suggested, plenty of 'detect X' spells exist and I can draw on the Spellpool for any of them. It looks like a good starting point.
<Lucy> OOC: We can test on Bolethon
<Kotono> OOC: What detect spells in particular?
<Pepo> OOC: detect shapechanger's a good start, they might just have a pool of malleable 'stuff' that they shape into whoever's getting copied
<Lucy> OOC: Detect Undead might also help, since the ghost things we fought on the other island were identifiable with K:R, if I recall correctly
<Pepo> OOC: wait, there's no detect shapechanger spell. It's just an ability some weapons have.
<Kotono> OOC: Okay, Detect Undead. Any others?
<Lucy> OOC: Discern Bloodline
<Kotono> OOC: What book is that in?
<Lucy> OOC: Races of Destiny, apparently
<Kotono> OOC: Okay, Detect Undead and Discern Bloodline. Any others?
<Lucy> OOC: Discern Shapechanger is apparently a spell after all, from Complete Arcane
<Kotono> The spells are tried. Detect Undead doesn't turn up anything noteworthy. Discern Bloodline returns a result of human with no other unusual blood. Discern Shapechanger turns up Lucy and Pepo, but doesn't show a result on Bolethon at all.
<Lucy> "Is there a spell to check if someone is alive, rather than undead?" Lucy muses out loud.
<Lucy> On a whim, she decides to try Detect Aberration as well.
<Pepo> Pepo manifests true seeing, since he hasn't looked at Bolethon that way.
<Kotono> OOC: CL check, Pepo.
<Pepo> roll 1d20+10
<Serith> Pepo roll for Serith < 13 > 12 [d20=3]
<Kotono> Detect aberration doesn't turn anything up, nor does true seeing.
<Pepo> OOC: I'm an aberration
<Lucy> "What other spell would show us Bolethon who is not Bolethon?" Lucy asks Bolethon directly.
Session Close: Tue Feb 03 16:46:14 2015