Day 62: New Friends and Decisions

[Iron Dragoon]

Session Start: Thu Feb 19 11:56:12 2015
Session Ident: #dunes
* Now talking in #dunes
* Topic is 'Pepo=Lucy(11)>Pepo that is not Pepo(9) '
* Set by Kotono on Wed Feb 11 14:49:57
<Kotono> ----
<Kotono> Soon enough the hooded man returns. He shakes his head solemnly, leaning in to whisper into Aria's ear. She nods after it and then frowns, "Thank you," can just be heard, a whisper back to him. Then she clears her throat, "Both divinations failed."
<Veren > "Both? Isn't that unusual?"
<Kotono> "It is. Not impossible, but unusual," Aria confirms with a slight frown. "Occasionally, even the best divinations may fail or be foiled. Two in a row is grave misfortune or a sign of interference."
<Lucy> "A better proof of this tale than most other things, I'm afraid," Lucy muses.
<Kotono> "Pepo..." Jetina closes her eyes and sighs, "Wherever you are, may Qupan watch over you."
<Kotono> Little just looks down, slumping.
<Moore> Moore nods to the others as he shifts slightly on the bed. "Well... there's still Kamhoff to worry about too."
<Kotono> In your minds, Macaron's voice is heard. 'Yes. With fortune they may show soon.'
* Sleeping-Mercury (~Merc@c-50-175-190-75.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) Quit (Ping timeout )
<Kotono> Aria makes a polite noise at Jetina's words, then says, "After this, what are all of you going to do now?"
<Lucy> "Well," Lucy says gloomily. "Miss Aria, this brings up an important point. If the likes of Mister Pepo and myself can be brought down by this thing, would you be willing to look into the truth of the Light with me? Or do you believe it too dangerous for yourself?"
<Moore> "That... ..." Moore looks uncertain. "Until Kamhoff returns, I'm not sure. I want to at least make myself useful to the city to repay you all rescuing everyone."
* Lucy thinks she rescued herself and Jetina perfectly well, but Moore's sentiment seems useful enough she doesn't react outwardly.
<Kotono> "Right now, I have no idea," Jetina admits, slowly stroking Macaron's fur. "Today has been madness. In a few days, I may know, but to speak after this without Qupan's guidance...no."
<Veren > "Until I have a better idea of what direction to go in order to battle whatever the Light is, I will assist in what ways I can. I will help Aria or Lucy as they need."
<Kotono> Aria herself looks uncertain, but smiles nonetheless. "I think its best not to commit to anything right this moment. Many have sought the light's secrets. Most fail or vanish on doomed trips into the light. Then there are the light mages, which may well be what happens if you succeed."
* Veren blinks and shifts, glancing over his shoulder at his pack with a frown.
<Lucy> "Quite. But unlike them, we have returned. And as ourselves." She frowns. "Unless a light mage counters me."
<Veren > "Hmm. Strange. My pack seems to be moving. And getting cold."
<Lucy> "Why might that be?" Lucy asks sarcastically. "Perhaps it is the evil book?"
<Veren > "Perhaps."
<Moore> Moore frowns. "It may have something to do with what happened to me just now."
<Kotono> Aria merely frowns, "Books are things of learning, not evil. Usually."
<Kotono> The others can note that frost is starting to accumulate on Veren's pack.
<Lucy> "Oh yes. Unless they try to take over your mind, and one of them is brought back from the purgatory."
* Veren takes his pack off and opens it, keeping his face clear of the opening...
* Lucy backs away, pulling Jetina away with her.
<Kotono> The book is ice cold. Nonetheless, Veren opens it. OOC: Anyone looking at it or trying to read it?
<Moore> OOC: Moore's watching Veren, most likely. So probably.
* Veren hesitantly touches it, ready to retract his hand if there's pain or frostbite.
* Lucy puts a hand over Jetina's eyes, just to be sure, and keeps her eyes firmly on Veren's feet.
<Kotono> "Hey!" Jetina reddens and blushes, "Do not treat me like a child at a ribald play!" Meanwhile the touch is cold, as Moore gets a look. OOC: Int check, Moore. +1 bonus.
<Lucy> "Shh, this is not the time for pride."
<Moore> roll 1d20+4+1
<Serith> Moore roll for Serith < 8 > 12 [d20=3]
<Kotono> OOC: Okay, strike that since Veren just touched it and didn't bring it out. Dur.
<Kotono> OOC: Carry on then, all.
<Veren > "Hmm.. No attack yet."
* Veren pulls the book out and inspects it.
<Kotono> The book looks as it always does, just ice-cold to the touch.
<Moore> "How is it possible that something like this is happening yet there's no magic involved?" Moore asks rather weakly-sounding.
<Veren > "Hmm... Is there a place for this that's more secure than my pack?"
<Kotono> "No magic?" Aria frowns at that, eyes turning blue.
<Kotono> Jetina crosses her arms and reddens, glaring impotently at Lucy, for she doesn't push the point.
<Lucy> "If the book is sentient, as it must be to be evil, it could merely use one of its mental powers?" Lucy theorizes. "Or it could be magic you cannot detect, or further magic is used to conceal the use of other magic...."
<Kotono> "That's actually not true," Aria speaks up, "Certain things and creatures infused with evil can be evil without a sentient mind. The most well-known is a sniveling blob known as a lemure - a simple thing to summon if you have a forsaken reason to need one."
<Veren > "Do you want me to continue carrying it?"
<Lucy> "Oh, quite so. I misspoke. I meant a sort of malevolent evil with a driving purpose, I suppose?"
<Lucy> "No. But. Last I studied it, the book was magically warded against destruction. And touching it really hurt me, so I'm not about to try again."
<Kotono> "Get a summoned creature to read it?" Aria suggests, "Why risk someone or something that matters? Summons are disposable."
* Veren sets the book down on the nearest table and puts his pack on.
<Moore> "I think it might be best if we simply give it over to the city and let them conduct experiments on... knowing that the book itself is extremely dangerous to read." Moore says quietly. "I'm not really much of a summoner, so..."
<Kotono> Macaron slowly rises and stares at the book, before looking away.
<Lucy> "I could summon a vampire to read it?" Lucy offers with some amount of eagerness. "No one likes those."
<Kotono> "Perhaps. If all else fails, we can ask a volunteer from those serving to advance the art of magic, and offer a sizable reduction in time served to compensate," Aria remarks.
<Moore> Moore nods to Lucy. He glances at Aria with another frown. "I don't know if anything is worth reading that thing."
<Lucy> "Why not both?" Lucy suggests, before summon a vampire spawn. "Read the book and tell us what's in it!" she commands the hapless being.
<Kotono> OOC: Have it make an int check.
<Lucy> roll 1d20+1
<Serith> Lucy roll for Serith < 20 > 12 [d20=19]
<Kotono> The vampire does so. It skitters back after a few moments, and says in slow Common, "Kamhoff has died. That's what it said."
<Kotono> Macaron sharply looks up, growling low at the creature, 'What did you say?'
<Lucy> "Read it again!" Lucy orders.
<Kotono> "Lucy, you should-" Jetina's chastisement stops at that pronouncement, mouth open in mid-words.
<Kotono> OOC: Int again.
<Lucy> roll 1d20+1
<Serith> Lucy roll for Serith < 19 > 12 [d20=18]
<Kotono> OOC: It's undead, right? Link me since its relevant here.
<Lucy> OOC: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/vampire.htm#vampireSpawn
<Kotono> roll 10d6
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 24 > 12 [d6=2,1,3,3,1,2,3,2,3,4]
<Moore> Moore looks down at the floor. "...Did he actually, or did he perhaps..."
<Kotono> The vampire spawn's scream echoes as light pours from its mouth, eyes and nose. It wails and stumbles back, clawing at its face.
<Kotono> Aria scowls at it, "Lucy, command your summons to act appropriately. Nothing's more tiresome than summons who disobey."
* Veren stands and draws a blade in case this attracts more Light things.
<Moore> Moore jumps at that display. "How horrible..."
<Lucy> "What? What did you read?" Lucy cries out, her questions echoing mentally in its head. Aria gets a mildly incredulous look, as she points out, "The vampire is bleeding light. I think that earns him an exemption, just this once."
<Kotono> roll 10d6
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 45 > 12 [d6=5,5,5,2,4,6,3,5,5,5]
<Kotono> "KAMHOFF IS DEAD," He howls as light explodes out of his body, the vampire dissipating into dust that promptly vanishes.
<Lucy> "Well then! Let's ask a living volunteer and see what happens?"
<Moore> Moore reaches up to rub at his left eye. That couldn't happen to him... right?
* Veren shifts a bit, settling back down and saying a mental farewell and well wishing to Kamhoff.
<Kotono> Aria considers, then slowly nods, "Yes, that's best," she says, stepping out into the hall. She soon returns with a particular orc. "This book here is cursed and otherwise unworldly. If you manage to read it successfully, it'll reflect well on you and your sentence." OOC: Go ahead and intro yourself, Sharm.
<Moore> Moore frowns. "I'm opposed to having someone else read that thing."
<Lucy> "While I understand your hesitance, Moore," Lucy voices, "if reading it did something that is slowly killing you from within, then we need to find that out quickly. And what better way than a criminal volunteering?"
<Moore> He takes a breath and then nods to Lucy. "At least let me try and help bolster them to succeed at doing this, then."
<Sharm> The orc that enters wears a placid expression, her dark eyes shifting between those present but not lingering on anyone in particular. She wears a simple sleeveless tunic that shows thickly muscled arms covered in dark and jagged tattoos, a set of manacles around her wrists that are also tied by chain to another pair around her ankles. "It's in the terms of my sentence," she responds simply to
<Sharm> Moore, a slight smile on her lips when she hears Lucy's callous appraisal of her worth.
<Lucy> "That actually advances our goals, so do go ahead."
<Sharm> Sharm looks at her minder since she figures it's her decision if any magic gets thrown her way.
<Kotono> "Your choice," Aria remarks coolly, "This may be dangerous. Sincerely dangerous."
<Sharm> "Then I accept any help I'll get," she says, looking expectantly at Moore.
* Lucy gives the orc a speculative look, before asking Jetina, "Perhaps protection from evil? As it is quite the evil book?"
<Veren > "I cannot offer help in this, but I will offer mercy if it's needed."
* Veren draws his blade.
<Kotono> "It wouldn't hurt," Jetina decides and nods, coming over to cast that on Sharm. OOC: Protection from evil up.
<Lucy> roll 1d20+18
<Serith> Lucy roll for Serith < 37 > 12 [d20=19]
<Sharm> "I'll take my chances," she says dryly to Veren's offer, picking the book up a little awkwardly in her manacled hands and opening it to the front so she can read it.
<Lucy> Then, it is Lucy's own turn. She spends a few moments calling upon the Spellpool, and then places her own hand over the orc's shoulder to cast Fox's Cunning.
<Kotono> As the spell is cast, the book is opened. OOC: Int check, Sharm.
<Moore> "Then let me ensure your success." Moore says with a modicum of confidence. He takes a breath and starts to invoke some of the powers he has as well as his gear. "You WILL Succeed at this." He says again, this time with an almost otherworldly sound to his voice. OOC: Using Words of Creation to bolster Inspire Competence to +4, using my items for +5, and then Fated Success for another +5
<Moore> roll 6d4 nonlethal
<Serith> Moore roll for Serith < 15 > 12 [d4=3,4,2,1,4,1]
<Sharm> OOC: does that work on int checks?
<Kotono> OOC: Competence is just skill checks, so no. Dunno about the other two.
<Sharm> roll 1d20+3 assuming just fox's cunning
<Serith> Sharm roll for Serith < 23 > 12 [d20=20]
<Moore> OOC: One's insight (items) and the other is circumstance
<Kotono> The book is wrong. Anathema. Horrid. Sharm's mind draws away in horror, but two things are seared into her mind. 1. STOP LOOKING. 2. Kamhoff is dead. OOC: Not what I'm asking here, Moore, but the natural 20 makes this essentially academic.
<Moore> OOC: Yeah, I'll look for the future.
<Sharm> "Urgh!" she turns her gaze away and closes the book. "It spoke to my mind. Kamhoff is dead, whoever that is, and stop looking. That's all, I couldn't even read any words. Felt wrong too... just like it didn't belong," she reports dutifully, knowing they like test subjects to be detailed in their experiences.
<Lucy> "Yes, that does make sense. It is quite the unpleasant book, isn't it?" Lucy commiserates, before saying clinically, "Please watch out for headaches, nosebleeds, disorientation and loss of balance. A day should be enough to tell either way."
<Sharm> She puts the book back down and waits to be led back to her cell.
<Veren > "Hmm. It's good that you're hardy."
* Veren tucks his blade away.
<Kotono> "You're a strong one," Aria muses a moment, "Lucy, would you like a present?"
<Sharm> She cracks a smile at that, showing sharp teeth with large lower canines that could almost qualify as tusks. "I make an effort."
* Lucy raises an eyebrow.
<Moore> Moore stiffens up at that.  Present?
* Veren raises an eyebrow at the offer of a present... He wonders what's going on between the two that presents get offered so freely.
<Kotono> "Your numbers could use replenishing," Aria remarks, "A supervised release - by you - would have her work with you instead of in normal magic testing."
* Lucy tilts her head, and as she appears to consider her voice asks in the orc's mind, 'Would you prefer that?'
<Sharm> Sharm just shrugs, her manacles clinking. "Beats going back to lockup. Will I get my stuff back?"
<Lucy> "Your generosity is quite appreciated, Miss Aria," Lucy says pleasantly. "Thank you very much for this kind offer."
* Veren simply watches the exchange quietly, keeping an eye on the new person for anything suspicious.
<Kotono> "You will," Aria replies, "Take good care of her. Sharm, serve well and you'll do fine in this city." Waving a hand, the shackles fall away. "Finish out your sentence with distinction."
* Veren raises an eyebrow.
<Veren > "A sort of military conscription?"
<Moore> Moore looks over at Macaron and then flies over to sit next to him. Quietly, he asks, "If Kamhoff is... ...gone, what do you want to do?"
<Sharm> Someone must have already kept a good eye on her suspicious nature, given the manacles. Which are thankfully gone now! "Alright, name's Sharm like you just heard," she says, sounding far more relaxed now. "I can fight, I can sail, and I can put the fear of any god you care to name into people. So I hope you've got use for my sort of skillset."
<Veren > "Fear of god? Hmm.."
<Kotono> 'I don't know,' Macaron says quietly, 'Not yet.'
* Veren turns and digs in pack, producing the Helmet of Terror, stares at it considering, then offers it to the new person.
<Veren > "I can lend you this, if it would help. I would expect it to be returned or paid for if you wish to keep it."
<Veren > OOC: Rather Terror Mask, sorry.
<Sharm> "Creepy looking," she says, taking it off Veren and giving it a look over. "Guess it can't hurt. Speaking of, am I going to get paid?"
<Moore> Moore nods and gently pets Macaron. "Miss Aria, um... to your question about what we want to do, can we have some time to figure that out? Kamhoff is the person who brought us here, after all... I think we all need to decide how we as a group want to proceed."
<Kotono> Aria nods, "I'll return tomorrow. This room and the ones nearby are yours for tonight," she says. OOC: Go ahead and chat amid ourselves and figure it out, I'll be a few.
<Lucy> "An honest share," Lucy responds, approaching Sharm, "the same as the rest. Not a retainer, in case there is confusion. I'm Lucy, as you heard, and these are Jetina, Moore, Veren and Macaron."
<Moore> "I don't feel right with you being traded to us like you're a slave." Moore says. "If you want to journey with us, you'll be treated as an equal."
<Sharm> "Nice to meet you all," she says, looking around at everyone as names are mentioned, and putting the helmet on the table until she gets the rest of her things. "Hey, I like you, Moore," she grins at the fairy. "Sounds like I can live with this sort of deal."
<Kotono> "As long as we treat her fairly. A  prisoner for a time is one thing, but slavery is another." Jetina says, "Where do you hail from, Sharm?"
* Veren nods to her.
<Veren > "Welcome."
<Sharm> "Don't know, I'm a newborn," she replies. "Probably somewhere dark - that sea of light bothers me more than most I've noticed. Got here about a year ago with two others - don't expect to see them released any time soon by the way. We did some bounty hunting and merc work, but when that dried up we ended up in this town and figured a bit of banditry'd get us through the tough times. Big mistake,"
<Sharm> she chuckles ruefully.
* Veren nods.
<Veren > "I had a run-in as well. I looked for the wrong information, apparently."
<Kotono> Macaron goes up to Sharm and sniffs her, before resting his head against her hand.
<Sharm> "Yeah, spell testing's a pain," she commiserates, idly scratching Macaron's chin. "Better than getting your hands chopped off, though, I'll give them that."
* Lucy shakes her head. "Well, I'm beat. And I would prefer to find actual guest quarters to rest at. Will you all make your own arrangements?"
<Veren > "Mmm... I suppose if Aria or Rocky cannot assist with that, I will find an inn."
<Sharm> "Once my stuff shows up I can get a room... unless someone's grabbed all my money," Sharm says, grumbling at the fairly likely prospect.
<Veren > "I will help you with cost, if need be."
<Sharm> "Stick around, I'll let you know when it gets here," Sharm nods to Veren.
* Veren nods placidly.
<Lucy> "You could stay with me this once," Lucy offers, "and figure things out from that point on. Whichever suits you best, Sharm." She shifts back into her human form, sighing deeply. "All my new wardrobe, destroyed. How unfortunate."
<Moore> "I'll stay here." Moore says. "Just to be on the safe side.
<Veren > "Wardrobe?"
<Moore> "The ship." Moore adds. Then he frowns. "...A lot of things went down with it."
* Veren silently commands his clothes to shift into something more refined. A casual sort of thing, fit for a lazy day with nobles.
<Veren > "Indeed. A great many things and people were lost.:"
<Lucy> "Actual clothes. Clean, washed ones that fit me really well."
<Sharm> "Lost a ship? That's bad news," Sharm commiserates. It's probably a bit too early for her to suggest pirating one...
<Lucy> "The same thing that made that book did it," Lucy helpfully illuminates her.
* Veren nods.
<Moore> "How exactly do we want to proceed?" Moore asks. "Before, you and Pepo were going to stay here in Hillmar. Is that still your intention?"
<Veren > "Ripped the ship in half."
<Lucy> "Yes, in general. I propose you wait for Miss Aria's answer to my query. Should that answer be favorable, Hillmar would provide information and teleportation to other locations as we look into this, without traveling over light and its dangers on a fragile ship. If not, we'll think of a new plan of action."
<Sharm> "Brutal," Sharm says, "Wouldn't like to see whatever made a book like that."
<Moore> Moore nods to Lucy. "In the meantime, we can probably explore... Veren, didn't you say something about a haunted... something?"
<Veren > "Mansion, yes. I wanted to do some investigating on that. I don't know who owns it yet, if anyone does. If no one does, and we can cleanse it of whatever is haunting it, we might be able to lay claim to it. If we are to be based here, then having such a home would be best for us."
<Moore> Moore nods. "That sounds like something to do in the meantime."
<Veren > "There was also an individual seeking a staff of fireball, I believe."
<Sharm> "Haunted house sounds fun, but where you going to get a staff of fireball without making or buying one? Or stealing..."
<Veren > "I had not investigated much, but I believe there was one lost not far from the town walls."
<Lucy> "Hillmar has a disproportionate ratio of undead in possession of valuable magical items."
<Veren > "We would do well to relieve them of these items for our personal use."
<Sharm> "Suits me."
<Moore> "We haven't really explored the area outside of town much, have we?" Moore says. "I suppose... this gives us a good reason to."
<Moore> "Do we want to look around for this staff outside the city first? Or should we just look on the way to the haunted mansion?"?
<Veren > "I would say the Mansion first. With the loss of the ship, we have no base of operations. Establishing one would be best. I can inquire further on the ownership of the building while you rest and prepare."
<Sharm> Sharm keeps quiet because she doesn't even know what a staff of fireball would look like even if she saw one.
<Lucy> "Sure, whatever. I'll spend some time on these pointless side jobs."
<Veren > "Fortunately, I have already purchased an appropriate blade."
* Veren produces his Ghost Strike dagger.
<Moore> "Well, that's good news. Miss Lucy, if you'd rather stay here and do research while we uncover some hidden secrets, you're more than welcome to."
<Lucy> "I suppose it depends on Jetina. If she goes, I'll come along to keep her safe."
<Veren > "Mmm... If the book was produced by the same thing in the light, then finding a way to contain or destroy it would be helpful against the light, would it not?"
<Moore> "Oh. That's right." Moore looks over at Sharm. "How are you against ghosts and the undead? In case we run into those."
<Lucy> "In case we do, yes. In a haunted mansion."
<Veren > "If you lack an appropriate weapon, I could lend you the cost."
<Sharm> "Don't have any special powers that work great on ghosts or anything, but a sword to the face solves most problems," Sharm shrugs agreeably.
<Sharm> "Thanks but I'm happy with my sword, assuming it didn't get stolen," she adds.
<Kotono> "I can help with the undead, and gladly," Jetina says, "That should be enough, even if others struggle."
<Lucy> "Figured. It's settled, then."
* Veren nods.
<Kotono> OOC: Okay then, what's the party's plans here?
<Veren > OOC: I want to see if anyone has claim on the mansion or if it's just 'an old empty building no one owns.' If it's got an owner, I guess try and make arrangements for it?
<Lucy> OOC: Rest a day, see what Macaron wants, see if anything happens to Sharm or Moore, go after spooky ghosts. Ask Aria about her decision when we return from that.
<Sharm> OOC: Get geared up, get drunk, get laid, sleep, meet up party for ghost stuff. (Don't judge, I've been in prison!)
<Kotono> OOC: Sharm first since she's new. The first four are without incident and you'll show up the next day for ghost stuff without incident. Let's knock out Macaron first, since it's before dealing with ghost stuff.
<Kotono> The next morning, the party gets together in the same room. Macaron's there, and on asking, 'If Kamhoff is gone,' he says quietly, 'Then I am at loose ends. Better to go with you than to do nothing,' he says.
* Veren pats Macaron's head.
<Lucy> "Either to that island you wanted, or to the truth. One way or the other, we'll figure it out?" Lucy offers, fresh and rested.
<Kotono> 'One or the other,' Macaron vows, 'One or the other.'
<Sharm> Rather than the plain prison clothes of yesterday, Sharm now wears a leather vest (soft clothes leather, not the hard armor stuff) with an imposing but likely decorative spiky pauldron over her right shoulder, with a dark cloak over her back under which rest a large and gleaming sword as well as a hefty looking backpack. "Hey, everyone likes dogs, right?" she says, happy to have Macaron around.
<Veren > "He's a friend indeed."
<Lucy> roll 1d20+21
<Serith> Lucy roll for Serith < 36 > [d20=15]