081. Amanna, Auril and the Smiling Man

[Corwin]

[19:59] <@Kotono> Inari begins to head up the stairs. She takes several steps up before suddenly they sink in, turning the stairway into a slippery slope back down. Mocking laughter is heard as...OOC: Acrobatics, foxgirl.
[20:01] <@Inari> roll 1d20+13
[20:01] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{31}
[20:03] <@Kotono> Inari's more than well balanced, she keeps walking up without breaking her stride at all. It's a steep, slippery incline, but it's not slowing her down.
[20:04] <@Inari> "Mind your step!" Inari calls back to the others as she powers her way upwards!
[20:05] <@Erad> "I'll help you up if you need it." Erad says to the others as he steps slightly out of the way to help anyone in need up.
[20:05] <@Annerose> "I think I need it."
[20:06] <@Erad> "Okay, let me take you up first, then." OOC: Do I have room to fly her up the stairs?
[20:06] <@Kotono> "I can make it," Helena says confidently, stepping on and following. OOC: Barely, Erad.
[20:07] <@Erad> OOC: Okily dokily
[20:07] <@Erad> Erad will wait for the others to go up before he'll make the room to fly Annerose and, by extension himself, up.
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+15 Helena
[20:08] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+15 Helena --> [ 1d20=2 ]{17}
[20:09] <@Kotono> The party goes up - save for Helena, who takes a few steps and promptly slips, landing hard nad sliding down to the bottom. (More)
[20:09] <@Kotono> roll 1d6 ow
[20:09] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d6 ow --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
[20:10] <@Kotono> As Helena has an unpleasant fall, the rest of the party makes it up. The stairs lead up to a simple foyer, with three doors leading ahead. One is open and you can see what looks like a small bedroom in there. The other two are closed. The stairs also continue up to the next floor, if you care to take them further.
[20:11] <@Inari> "Are you alright, Helena?" Inari calls down once she's on more stable ground.
[20:12] <@Kotono> "I'm...ow..." Helena groans, "I'm fine. Falls don't bother me as much anymore. I-"
[20:12] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[20:12] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{25}
[20:12] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5 crit?
[20:12] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 crit? --> [ 1d20=1 ]{6}
[20:12] <@Kotono> roll 1d6 str Helena
[20:12] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d6 str Helena --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}
[20:13] <@Kotono> "Yaaaaaah!" Helena cries out, "SHADOW!" OOC: Init here. All the party's on the 2nd floor, save for Helena.
[20:14] <@Erad> roll 1d20+2
[20:14] <Kobot> Erad rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{19}
[20:14] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+5+5
[20:14] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d20+5+5 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{21}
[20:14] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Helena
[20:14] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+6 Helena --> [ 1d20=10 ]{16}
[20:14] <@Inari> roll 1d20+3
[20:14] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{13}
[20:15] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 shadow
[20:15] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+3 shadow --> [ 1d20=8 ]{11}
[20:15] * Kotono changes topic to 'Annerose(21)>Erad(19)>Helena(16)>Inari(13)>Shadow(11)'
[20:15] <@Kotono> OOC: Open Annerose.
[20:15] <@Annerose> "Get us back, Erad!" Annerose says hurriedly.
[20:16] <@Erad> "You got it!" Erad calls. OOC: He can just take Annerose back down to the bottom of the stairs.
[20:19] <@Kotono> Erad flies Annerose down. You find Helena on her knees, a shadow attacking her from behind. OOC: Annerose, you can act now since you basically held for Erad to fly you down.
[20:19] <@Annerose> Taking a deep breath, Annerose lets it out at Helena and the shadow both!
[20:19] <@Annerose> roll 1d100 frost breath
[20:19] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d100 frost breath --> [ 1d100=35 ]{35}
[20:20] * @Annerose makes sure to free Erad to fight the shadow on his own, of course, by stepping closer on the heels of her attack.
[20:21] * Zeph (uid1817@richmond.irccloud.com) has joined #dunes
[20:21] <@Kotono> But the shadow flickers, the breath of ice passing harmlessly through it. Helena stays where she is, shield up and defending herself. OOC: She has to rise which provokes an AoO, or she could use a spell which also provokes since she doesn'thave concentration. More.
[20:22] <@Kotono> OOC: Strike.
[20:22] <@Kotono> But the shadow flickers, the breath of ice passing harmlessly through it. Helena stays where she is, reaching out for the shadow directly.
[20:22] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5 touch (-4 prone)
[20:22] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5 touch (-4 prone)
[20:22] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 touch (-4 prone) --> [ 1d20=11 ]{16}
[20:22] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 touch (-4 prone) --> [ 1d20=14 ]{19}
[20:23] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:23] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:23] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=77 ]{77}
[20:23] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=77 ]{77}
[20:23] <@Kotono> roll 2d6+2d6
[20:23] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 2d6=3 ]{10}
[20:24] <@Kotono> The shadow's hit twice, semi ghostly ice forming around it. It bulges as ice forms inside of it. Meanwhile, as Inari turns, still upstairs...OOC: Perception, Inari.
[20:24] <@Inari> roll 1d20+14
[20:24] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d20+14 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{25}
[20:24] <@Kotono> Out of the corner of her eye, she sees it come from one of the closed doors - another shadow, coming right at her back. OOC: You saved yourself a possible ambush. More.
[20:25] * Kotono changes topic to 'Annerose(21)>Erad(19)>Helena(16)>Shadow 2(15)>Inari(13)>Shadow(11)'
[20:25] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5 touch AC, Inari?
[20:25] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 touch AC, Inari? --> [ 1d20=4 ]{9}
[20:25] <@Inari> OOC: 24
[20:25] <@Kotono> With warning, Inari's able to whirl to the side, dodging the attack with plenty of room to spare. OOC: Inari.
[20:25] <@Inari> "Shadow up here as well!" Inari calls, electing to ignore it for now and instead go running downt he stairs to take out the one menacing poor Helena before it can capitalise on her poor position!
[20:26] <@Inari> OOC: taking the AoO. Acrobatics to get down the stairs?
[20:29] <@Kotono> OOC Yes but let me resolve the AoO first.
[20:29] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5 vs 24
[20:29] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 vs 24 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{23}
[20:30] <@Kotono> OOC: Just barely missed. Acrobatics.
[20:30] <@Inari> roll 1d20+13
[20:30] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{21}
[20:30] <@Inari> roll 1d20+10 -4pa charge
[20:30] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d20+10 -4pa charge --> [ 1d20=18 ]{28}
[20:30] <@Inari> roll 1d8+7+8+2d6
[20:30] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d8+7+8+2d6 --> [ 1d8=1 2d6=4 ]{20}
[20:33] * Kotono changes topic to 'Annerose(21)>Erad(19)>Helena(16)>Shadow 2(15)>Inari(13)'
[20:34] <@Kotono> Inari comes barreling down the stairs, sliding down and then leaping over Erad and Annerose. She flips over, her spear stabbing down as she passes above the shadow. It's impaled right through the shadow-skull, instantly breaking apart into nothingness. OOC: Annerose.
[20:36] <@Annerose> As no enemies seem to remain, Annerose waits for shadows to come at her!
[20:40] <@Kotono> OOC: ERad.
[20:40] <@Erad> Erad will move over to help Helena stand up so she's better prepared for what's coming!
[20:42] <@Kotono> Helena's able to stand with Erad's help. "Thanks," she says, looking about. "This place is lousy with shadows."
[20:42] <@Kotono> As the party talks, it comes from above. The second shadow flies down and through the trap stairway, going right towards Erad.
[20:42] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+5 touch AC?
[20:42] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 touch AC? --> [ 1d20=17 ]{22}
[20:43] <@Erad> OOC: 17
[20:43] <@Kotono> roll 1d6 str
[20:43] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d6 str --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
[20:43] <@Inari> OOC: I can't AoO it?
[20:43] <@Kotono> OOC: Go for it if you have reach, sure.
[20:43] <@Inari> roll 1d20+8 -4pa
[20:43] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d20+8 -4pa --> [ 1d20=18 ]{26}
[20:43] <@Inari> roll 1d8+7+8+2d6
[20:43] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d8+7+8+2d6 --> [ 1d8=7 2d6=8 ]{30}
[20:46] <@Kotono> And before it can even touch Erad, Inari impales it in the chest. The second shadow is gone just like the first, victory! OOC: Free act. Nicely done. The last 3 strength damage are negated.
[20:47] <@Inari> "Right, back up the stairs again?"
[20:47] <@Erad> "Thank you." Erad nods to Inari. "Sure, I'll take the icemaidens up one at a time so we don't have any more accidents."
[20:50] <@Kotono> OOC: Acrobatics Inari then, since it looks like the ice maidens are going up via Erad Express.
[20:50] <@Inari> roll 1d20+13
[20:50] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{27}
[20:51] <@Erad> OOC: He just has more faith in Inari to be elegant, you see.
[20:52] * Zeph (uid1817@richmond.irccloud.com) has left #dunes
[20:53] <@Kotono> The return up is simple enough, the party back before the three doors this time.
[20:54] <@Inari> "The shadow came from this way," Inari says, pointing to the door in question and going to open it because you've got to pick one first.
[20:56] <@Kotono> The door opens. Within is a room full of tubing. Glass tubing goes everywhere, great loops, swirls and patterns of it filling the room. Black gas flows through it in an endless, complicated loop.
[20:57] <@Inari> "Er..." Inari looks hopefully at Annerose so she can work her arcane wizardry to figuring out what this all does.
[20:58] * @Annerose tries to divine how this foul wizardry relates to necromancy! And checks for active magic, of course.
[20:59] <@Kotono> The entire thing radiates strong magic. OOC: Spellcraft.
[21:00] <@Kotono> Helena hangs back by Erad. She turns to him and murmurs out of the corner of her mouth, "Do you understand that strangeness better than I?"
[21:00] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+13
[21:00] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{20}
[21:01] <@Erad> Erad shakes his head and murmurs back. "I've never been a student of the arcane or wizardry."
[21:03] <@Kotono> It's a strange spell pattern of necromancy. Annerose isn't really familiar with it at all and can't figure out what it does.
[21:03] <@Inari> Since it's applied magic rather than obscure knowledge, Inari casts detect magic as well!
[21:03] <@Inari> roll 1d20+13 spellcraft
[21:03] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d20+13 spellcraft --> [ 1d20=11 ]{24}
[21:04] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+13 K:A
[21:04] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d20+13 K:A --> [ 1d20=19 ]{32}
[21:07] <@Kotono> Inari's able to puzzle it out. It seems to be purifying and concentrating raw shadow-stuff. ANnerose also recalls something - pure shadow taken from many normal shadows being used in...something.
[21:08] <@Inari> OOC: would breaking it be hazardous to us?
[21:08] <@Annerose> "This thing is powered by shadows! We should so break it!"
[21:10] <@Erad> "Where's it even going?" Erad asks as he looks at the tubes. "I mean, is it spitting those shadows out somewhere?"
[21:10] <@Kotono> Erad can't see an end to it - it seems to endlessly circle around.
[21:10] <@Annerose> "Probably a really huge shadow."
[21:11] <@Kotono> OOC: Inari, you aren't sure. You'd lean towards yes, though it could also be transformative. It could also form a shadow when released.
[21:12] <@Erad> "I think we should look around before we break it." Erad says. "Just in case we can find more information about... whatever it is."
[21:12] <@Inari> "Likely," Inari agrees. "Though in destroying it we'd risk being tainted by the shadowstuff ourselves, or at best it would simply form another shadow. Lets all stand back to be safe first."
[21:14] <@Kotono> Helena scoots well back and away, "This new attachment to cold is odd enough," she says, "I don't want to zone out at night, since I already lose track of things when it's cold and snowing."
[21:19] <@Kotono> AFter several seconds Helena calls, "Well? Are you smashing it or are we going to look around?"
[21:19] <@Erad> "I'm all for looking around first." Erad says. "We might find out where it goes."
[21:19] <@Inari> "We're best off destroying it, Erad," Inari says. "Since if we don't we'll surely have a horrible shadow to fight later." Best reach a consensus before acting after all!
[21:19] <@Annerose> "I was just giving Erad a chance to look through the room for what he wanted," Annerose admits
[21:25] <@Erad> Erad shrugs. "Then go ahead and see what happens, I've offered my opinion."
[21:26] * @Annerose gives everyone a chance to retreat before doing so herself and sending ice darts at the fragile glass containers!
[21:26] <@Kotono> OOC: To hit rolls and damage, just for reference.
[21:27] <@Annerose> roll 3#1d20+9 ranged touch, from 45ft
[21:27] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 3#1d20+9 ranged touch, from 45ft --> [ 1d20=1 ]{10}, [ 1d20=3 ]{12}, [ 1d20=19 ]{28}
[21:27] <@Annerose> roll 2#2d4
[21:27] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 2#2d4 --> [ 2d4=7 ]{7}, [ 2d4=4 ]{4}
[21:30] <@Kotono> Glass shatters. The loops are broken and the swirls fall apart, more of it shattering on the ground. Black mist escapes everywhere, beginning to gather together before your very eyes.
[21:30] * @Annerose shoots it with positive energy!
[21:30] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+9 ranged touch again
[21:30] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d20+9 ranged touch again --> [ 1d20=16 ]{25}
[21:30] <@Annerose> roll 1d6
[21:30] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d6 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
[21:35] <@Kotono> OOC: Any of you going ot do anything as well?
[21:35] <@Inari> OOC: Annerose has it handled
[21:36] <@Erad> OOC: I don't really have anything to do.
[21:36] * @Annerose also summons her spear, just in case.
[21:37] <@Kotono> The beam of positive energy hits the mass head on as it forms. It causes bursts to spread throughout it, as...OOC: More.
[21:37] <@Kotono> roll 1d100-3
[21:37] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100-3 --> [ 1d100=1 ]{-2}
[21:38] <@Kotono> roll 1d100 that deserves a shot on as econdary table for something else
[21:38] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 that deserves a shot on as econdary table for something else --> [ 1d100=86 ]{86}
[21:39] <@Kotono> The shadow stuff dissipates harmlessly, vanishing to the last. Not even a peep out of it as it fades, no further resistance. OOC: Well then.
[21:39] <@Annerose> "Excellent."
[21:39] <@Inari> Inari nods approvingly. "Nicely done!"
[21:43] <@Erad> "Well, that's certainly better than a big shadow." Erad says as he goes to look in the bedroom, since it seems like the matter is handled here.
[21:44] <@Kotono> It's a bedroom. It's in surprisingly good shape - tattered bu tintact. There's a bed, bedtable with drawers topped with a pitcher of withered flowers and a few wooden chairs in various states of disrepair.
[21:46] <@Erad> As long as he doesn't find anything like they found in that other house... hopefully this person lived alone. He'll look around the room for anything of note and perhaps any hidden troves of... whatever necromancers keep in their bedrooms. Ugh.
[21:47] <@Inari> Inari follows after Erad and pokes around a bit herself.
[21:48] <@Inari> roll 1d20+14 searchan
[21:48] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d20+14 searchan --> [ 1d20=3 ]{17}
[21:48] <@Kotono> OOC: Roll as well, 'rad.
[21:48] <@Erad> roll 1d20+14 Perceptive Dragon
[21:48] <Kobot> Erad rolled 1d20+14 Perceptive Dragon --> [ 1d20=2 ]{16}
[21:49] <@Kotono> Inari looks around, as does Erad. They check the bed and under the bed, nothing. They go to the drawers and think to check that. Sure enough, you find a slender book in there, along with quill and ink. It looks fresh and usable, rather than ancient and congealed.
[21:50] <@Erad> "Isn't this kind of odd?" Erad asks. "Well, maybe it's under a spell to keep it... new?"
[21:51] <@Inari> "Could be a spellbook, wizards have to use those," Inari says, picking it up and flicking through it.
[21:52] <@Kotono> Inari looks into the book. It's half strange diagrams and patterns and half writings in Common. A glance suggests that it is a study of shadows.
[21:52] <@Inari> "Study of shadows," Inari says, flipping towards the end to see what he was studying when everything went wrong.
[21:54] <@Kotono> It looks to be a bunch of rantings about arcane things. It's a bit over Inari's head offhand...OOC: K:A.
[21:55] <@Inari> "Er... Annerose?" Inari says weakly, holding out the book to her hopefully so she can make sense of the rantings.
[21:55] <@Annerose> "Hmm?" Annerose asks, taking a look.
[21:55] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+13 K:A
[21:55] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d20+13 K:A --> [ 1d20=8 ]{21}
[21:56] <@Kotono> Helena giggles at this and deepers her voice, "Well 'nari," she says, "Clearly you need some help so your tail perks up."
[21:57] <@Kotono> Annerose studies the book. It's quite interesting, a study of shadows and necromancy in part and in part a spellbook. It would take some time to get all of together, but it looks to be an effort at making stronger shadows that can spread easier.
[21:58] <@Annerose> Her eyebrows climb quite a ways up. "So, this wizard was trying to... kill all life as we know it. And I think it would have worked, too."
[21:58] <@Inari> "I don't think anything in that book will make my tails any perkier..."
[21:58] <@Annerose> "Not unless you like ectoplasm."
[21:59] <@Erad> Erad frowns. "If there's even a hint of that left after you destroyed that contraption, then let's put an end to it."
[22:00] <@Annerose> "I'm pretty sure that was it, but we should look everywhere."
[22:01] <@Kotono> Helena shivers violently, "We need ot destroy this place. I feel as if a demon just grasped my shoulder!"
[22:01] <@Inari> "And think about how long ago this was, this was even before the world started getting all nasty!" Inari says. "If someone tried that today they'd probably succeed but for the likes of us."
[22:01] <@Erad> Erad nods. "Agreed." With that, he goes to check the final door they haven't opened, but stops to look at Helena. "Are you all right?"
[22:02] <@Kotono> "Just overwhelming terror," she says weakly, "To think a wizard lke that was so close to success, just sitting here forgotten..."
[22:03] <@Erad> "It makes our mission together that much more important." Erad says with some resolve as he goes to the last door.
[22:09] <@Kotono> The door is opened. It's another bedroom - this one rotten, ancient and choking. Part of the side wall bulges in and water drops from the ceiling onto the floor.
[22:09] <@Kotono> "So....bedroom, room of world ending abomination and...bedroom. Does this floor plan make sense to anyone else?" Helena looks to her friends.
[22:10] <@Annerose> "Master and apprentice?"
[22:11] <@Inari> "Shouldn't it go higher up?" Inari asks, looking upwards. "The tower looked to be four storeys from the outside. Maybe only shadows can reach the other rooms?"
[22:11] <@Kotono> OOC: I'll remind you that the stairs continue going up past this room.
[22:12] <@Inari> OOC: strike
[22:12] <@Inari> "They wanted to be close to their work?" Inari shrugs, continuing up the stairs. "I probably wouldn't want to be far away from something that could break and doom all life if I could help it."
[22:13] <@Erad> "Perhaps sleeping next to their experiment helped give them insight, or some nonsense." Erad says. He gives the room a quick once-over before following Inari.
[22:14] <@Annerose> "Maybe they were lazy and didn't like to go far or climb stairs?" Annerose muses, following.
[22:14] <@Kotono> OOC: Search, Erad.
[22:14] <@Kotono> "I like all of those answers," Helena smiles ever so slightly, following along.
[22:15] <@Erad> roll 1d20+14
[22:15] <Kobot> Erad rolled 1d20+14 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{15}
[22:19] <@Kotono> Nothing interesting is found. The party heads up to the third floor. It's a landing with a single door leading on. The door's closed. The stiars go up to the fourth and final floor as well. Notably, it seems the way up is barred. Iron bars have been laid over it, tightly criss-crossed to deny entry from the stairs.
[22:19] * @Annerose checks for magic!
[22:20] <@Kotono> The iron bars have magic around them. OOC: Spellcraft.
[22:21] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+13
[22:21] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{18}
[22:22] <@Kotono> There's magic on the bars - it's strengthening them greatly.
[22:22] <@Annerose> "Magic's making the bars stronger," Annerose voices, perhaps unnecessarily, while she opens the single door on that floor.
[22:25] <@Kotono> Behind that door is...OOC: And we pause here since I have work.

[Corwin]

[20:06] <@Ko-SagetorisAquarium> Behind that door is a smallish room. It's full of loose papers, piled in great stacks as tall as Hanna. They clog the floor and make piles in between the stacks. It must be hundreds and hundreds of sheets of ancient paper, just tossed about. The walls are blank from what you can see, and the floor's completely hidden by paper to tell.There's a door on the far wall.
[20:07] <@Ko-SagetorisAquarium> OOC: Replace Hanna with about 7ft tall. Got my gaming gears crossed.
[20:08] <@Erad> "Well, if we were going to find some answers..." Erad comments with a look around.
[20:08] <@Inari> Inari picks up a random pice of paper and looks it over.
[20:08] * @Annerose checks for any magic, unsuited for the more mundane searches.
[20:09] <@Ko-SagetorisAquarium> roll 1d100
[20:09] <Kobot> Ko-SagetorisAquarium rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=45 ]{45}
[20:09] <@Ko-SagetorisAquarium> It has a bunch of diagrams on it, but the paper starts to crumble as its moved. Meanwhile Annerose doesn't see any magic in here.
[20:10] * @Annerose curiously glances at some of the sheets of paper visible, careful not to nudge them after Inari's disintegrates.
[20:11] <@Ko-SagetorisAquarium> roll 1d100
[20:11] <Kobot> Ko-SagetorisAquarium rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=54 ]{54}
[20:11] <@Inari> "Hmm... no, I don't think there'll be much answers here," she says, dusting her fingers off.
[20:11] <@Ko-SagetorisAquarium> It looks to be arcane diagrams - the ink is barely visible at best and long since weathered. It's gap-filled and difficult to discern due to all of those factors.
[20:13] <@Annerose> "Amanuensis would probably work here, but I never quite studied that," Annerose muses. "Let's leave this place as is."
[20:13] <@Ko-SagetorisAquarium> Helena looks around, sniffing the air and sneezing. "Choo! Achooo!" A few rapidfire sneezes, "Ugh." She sniffles and grimaces, "Yes, let's."
[20:15] <@Inari> So Inari walks across the paper-strewn floor to the door at the far end and opens it!
[20:22] <@Ko-SagetorisAquarium> The door is opened. Ahead lies a  room. The floor is covered in water, a few inches of it that begins to flow out into your room. In here are the shattered remnants of glass tanks. ANcient bookshelves have toppled over, books rotting in the water. The remnants of what might be a diagram takes up the back wall.
[20:23] <@Inari> "Good door," Inari says in approval of its watertight properties, giving it a little knock as she steps back to let the water levels equalise before going in to examine this last room.
[20:23] <@Inari> roll 1d20+14 perception
[20:23] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d20+14 perception --> [ 1d20=9 ]{23}
[20:23] * @Annerose freezes the water by the door, forming a small barricade of ice. Then, she steps over it to take a closer look.
[20:24] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+12 K:A
[20:24] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d20+12 K:A --> [ 1d20=19 ]{31}
[20:24] <@Annerose> OOC: +1 more
[20:25] <@Ko-SagetorisAquarium> This was once the remains of a laboratory, you think. Some sort of creature testing was done here, you'd guess. Or perhaps potion work on a bulk scale? Or some other fluid? Impossible to tell now - the diagram on the back's too far gone, though you'd suspect necromancy based on the patterns that do survive.
[20:26] <@Annerose> "Nothing good about that place," she muses. "Probably where they summoned shadows."
[20:27] <@Inari> "I suppose that's it then, unless we missed any hidden doors?" Inari says, looking about. "At least nothing can come of it, now."
[20:28] <@Annerose> "The way up, if we can force it," Annerose agrees, closing the door back.
[20:28] <@Erad> "And whatever's behind those bars, right?" Erad asks, thumbing back behind them.
[20:29] <@Ko-SagetorisAquarium> The door is dutifully closed. Helena sneezes again, fumbling for ab it of cloth and blowing her nose with it. "Something about the air here disagrees with me."
[20:29] <@Inari> "Could try melting them with Erad's acid?"
[20:30] <@Annerose> "And if that fails, fly in from the outside."
[20:32] <@Erad> "It's worth a shot, at least."
[20:33] <@Ko-SagetorisAquarium> OOC: Go ahead and go fo rit, Erad.
[20:34] * Ko-SagetorisAquarium is now known as Kotono
[20:35] <@Erad> Coating his hands in acid, Erad takes several punches and kicks at the bars!
[20:35] <@Erad> OOC: Is this a regular attack roll or something else?
[20:35] <@Kotono> OOC: Regular's fine.
[20:36] <@Erad> roll 1d20+10
[20:36] <Kobot> Erad rolled 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{18}
[20:36] <@Erad> roll 1d20+5
[20:36] <Kobot> Erad rolled 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{17}
[20:36] <@Erad> roll 1d20+5
[20:36] <Kobot> Erad rolled 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{13}
[20:36] <@Kotono> OOC: All hit. Roll damage.
[20:37] <@Erad> roll 3#3d6+3+2d6
[20:37] <Kobot> Erad rolled 3#3d6+3+2d6 --> [ 3d6=13 2d6=6 ]{22}, [ 3d6=14 2d6=6 ]{23}, [ 3d6=9 2d6=5 ]{17}
[20:41] <@Kotono> A flurry of blows slams the metal bars. The acid helps, a few dents and scores from his assault. But they hold steady - it'll take a lot more effort than that, Erad thinks.
[20:42] <@Erad> "This would go a lot faster if we could just dispel the magic that's making these so tough. Can any of you do that?" Erad asks with a glance at the others.
[20:43] <@Annerose> "It's not easy," Annerose admits. "I could try, I suppose."
[20:43] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+7
[20:43] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{26}
[20:44] <@Inari> Inari shakes her head apologetically. "I can add my blows to yours though," she offers, casting divine favour first before stabbing her spear into the bars as hard as she can!
[20:44] <@Inari> roll 1d20+7 -5pa divine might
[20:44] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d20+7 -5pa divine might --> [ 1d20=19 ]{26}
[20:44] <@Inari> roll 1d8+26
[20:44] <Kobot> Inari rolled 1d8+26 --> [ 1d8=5 ]{31}
[20:44] <@Inari> OOC: +2 more
[20:46] <@Kotono> OOC: Was a sec, dog, adn will be a few more. That hit, Annerose, roll damage.
[20:47] <@Annerose> OOC: that was a targetted dispel, it hits CL 15
[20:56] <@Kotono> The magic around the bars crumbles before Annerose. It makes Inari's strike far more effective, piercing through a few of the bars most of the way. Still not down, but it's progress.
[20:56] <@Erad> "Thanks, you two." Erad nods and goes at the bars again!
[20:57] <@Erad> roll 1d20+10
[20:57] <Kobot> Erad rolled 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{30}
[20:57] <@Erad> roll 2#1d20+10
[20:57] <Kobot> Erad rolled 2#1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{17}, [ 1d20=19 ]{29}
[20:57] <@Annerose> "I surprise myself sometimes!" Annerose says cheerfully. "And teamwork is great." She helps out further by trying to weaken the metal by chilling it.
[20:57] <@Erad> OOC: Can I... crit iron bars?
[20:58] <@Erad> OOC: I would guess not...
[20:58] <@Kotono> OOC: You can't.
[20:59] <@Erad> roll 3#3d6+3+2d6
[20:59] <Kobot> Erad rolled 3#3d6+3+2d6 --> [ 3d6=14 2d6=10 ]{27}, [ 3d6=8 2d6=8 ]{19}, [ 3d6=10 2d6=9 ]{22}
[20:59] <@Kotono> This time Erad's acidic fists hit the already weakened spots and find far less resistance. The iron bars crack, sizzle and a few finally give way. You've made and opening through.
[20:59] <@Kotono> *an
[21:01] <@Erad> "It's not nearly as satisfying as it should be." Erad comments as he shakes his hands a few times and goes through the opening.
[21:01] <@Inari> "That was a nice effort, wasn't it?" Inari agrees with a smile, following after Erad.
[21:02] * @Annerose resummons her spear before making her way after them.
[21:05] <@Kotono> Helena readies her shield and passes on through. The stairway up leads to a simple dead end landing - it is indeed the last floor. There is but a single door here - covered in chains and boards, blocked up.
[21:06] <@Erad> "Well this is ominous." Erad says, pointing out the obvious. "An experiment gone wrong?"
[21:07] * @Annerose shrugs. "It had been ominous from the start, really. I think it is our duty to make sure the magic locking whatever it is doesn't fail at some point and release it, so we should deal with it."
[21:07] <@Inari> "Or captives... test subjects or raw materials," Inari says, going to start prying away boards with her spear.
[21:08] <@Kotono> Prying away the boards isn't hard. For that matter, the chains are old and rusted, easy enough to dispose of with a few blows. The door's able to be opened now, should the party wish to.
[21:08] <@Erad> "You'd think they'd have used magic on this part too, wouldn't you?" Erad says as he goes to open the door! If there's something there, he has the reflexes to get out of the way. Right? Surely.
[21:09] <@Inari> Inari wishes so and makes that wish come true!
[21:12] <@Kotono> The door opens. Ahead is scorched walls, floors and roof. Everything here is charred black. The walls sag and are warped, clear signs of stone having begun to run due to being heated. There's a clearing in the back where the scorching isn't so severe, a few bits of wood lying there.
[21:12] * @Annerose checks for magic!
[21:15] <@Erad> Erad will go to the clearing in the back, just to be thorough.
[21:17] <@Kotono> No magic. Erad looks over the clearing - it's a bunch of old wood, scorched and half burnt. Moving it, you can see it hides a few bits of black stone. Not blacked, just black like obsidian or the like.
[21:17] <@Kotono> Helena slowly looks about, "Did whatever was here already pass?"
[21:18] <@Inari> "Why board up a room after it got set on fire?" Inari asks. "And if something did this as an escape attempt, why is the door still boarded up? It just doesn't add up, does it?"
[21:19] <@Annerose> "It doesn't make sense," Annerose agrees. "If this place were used to imprison someone or something, we should have found a body."
[21:20] <@Erad> Erad leans down to collect the black stone. "I'm not really sure what this stuff is." He looks over at Inari at that. "Well, unless it was one of those shadows, right? But if that was the case, I don't think boarding up the door would've stopped it."
[21:20] <@Kotono> THe black stone is ice cold to the touch.
[21:20] <@Kotono> "It doesn't," Helena says, frowning, "...What happened here, then?"
[21:21] <@Erad> Erad blinks. "...This is nearly freezing. ...Hey, wait a minute." He walks the stone over to Inari and to Annerose to show them. "Does this look at all like that stuff we had to destroy that was in the snow, or do you think it's something else?"
[21:22] <@Annerose> "I think you use obsidian to summon zombies?"
[21:22] <@Kotono> OOC: K:A there, Anneros.e
[21:22] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+13
[21:22] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{16}
[21:22] <@Kotono> OOC: Carry on.
[21:24] <@Erad> "But this isn't magical, huh? Strange." Erad shrugs. "Well, we cleared out the shadows and blew up whatever contraption was here. We can give it a once-over on the way back down, but I think if there were problems festering here we've done what we can reasonably do."
[21:25] <@Inari> "Also this came from fire, not from ice," Inari points out. "But yes, I think we're done unless we want to explore more of the city. Although T and Rock might be getting worried about us by now."
[21:25] <@Annerose> "Let's bring it with us," Annerose suggests. "Amanna would be the authority on undead, unless we want to spend weeks reading all the books here after fixing them up."
[21:26] <@Kotono> OOC: Heading back then, y'all?
[21:26] <@Erad> OOC: Yar, posted about taking the stone(s).
[21:30] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:30] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=98 ]{98}
[21:30] <@Kotono> roll 1d100 oh boy
[21:30] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 oh boy --> [ 1d100=29 ]{29}
[21:31] <@Kotono> Getting back up to the snowscape and to the party is without incident. You find T and Amanna at the wagon, in front of a large cook fire. Here a deer is roasting over an open flame, T and Amanna seeing to it. They're talking together quietly.
[21:33] <@Erad> "Any of you familiar with stones at all?" Erad calls out as they get within earshot. "We found some... well, I don't know quite how to describe the whole thing."
[21:35] <@Kotono> Both look up, mildly startled. "Oh, you're back! Will yo ulook at this," T grins, "A deer just came on up and was the easiest kill ever. We're going to be eating well tonight. Anyway, yeah, I know stones some if they're valuable."
[21:35] <@Kotono> Amanna nods, "What manner of stone?"
[21:37] <@Erad> Erad will walk the stones over. "We found them at the top of a tower that belonged to a necromancer specializing in shadows. The room had been entirely set on fire."
[21:38] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+13 T appraise
[21:38] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+13 T appraise --> [ 1d20=3 ]{16}
[21:39] <@Kotono> T winces and holds them up to the fire, "Cold as ice," he gripes, "Looks like obsidian to me. Thought it might be black onyx, but it's not right for that. It's a volcanic stone, you don't see it much around these parts. See, black onyx has a lot of importance ot necromancers, since they use it in raising the dead. Obsidian? Not so much."
[21:40] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Amanna
[21:40] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+11 Amanna --> [ 1d20=7 ]{18}
[21:40] <@Kotono> Amanna takes one of the fragments, "I recall...something with this, but it's an old story I can't quite remember."
[21:40] <@Erad> OOC: Can I try a K:H on an old story?
[21:42] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure. It'll be tough since she didn't give you much to work with, thoguh.
[21:43] <@Erad> roll 1d20+8 surely I won't roll a 1 though
[21:43] <Kobot> Erad rolled 1d20+8 surely I won't roll a 1 though --> [ 1d20=17 ]{25}
[21:43] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+15 T'll try to +7 factotum
[21:43] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+15 T'll try to +7 factotum --> [ 1d20=6 ]{21}
[21:49] <@Kotono> Erad recalls old stories of profane religions using obsidian in unholy altars. Orcus uses it sometimes, especially in the empty eyesockets of elven skulls. Sharrans sometimes use it to form the inner black 'eye' of Shar's unholy symbol. Various devil cults use it, as it's a direct product of cooled lava, which many of them hold as a profane blessing from Hell. Talonites sometimes use it to make
[21:49] <@Kotono> ceremonial daggers to torment their victims with, as well as for jewelry. Shadows are associated with Shar, and the undead in general fall under Orcus' power. Noting conclusive for either of those, though.
[21:52] <@Erad> "If I were to take a stab at this," Erad starts, "I'd say the necromancer was a follower of Shar and used it in some kind of ritual. Would that at least make some semblance of sense to you?" He looks to Amanna and T at that.
[21:54] <@Kotono> Amanna nods tersely, "It would."
[21:54] <@Kotono> T rubs his chin, "It would play, though it could be Orcus too. Ol' goat face likes to stuff elf skulls with the stuff."
[21:55] <@Erad> "I only focused on Shar since the tower was crawling with shadows and there was some sort of..." Erad looks to Inari and Annerose for confirmation, "Thing. Tubes and crap that housed some kind of shadowy gunk that Annerose blew up."
[21:55] <@Erad> "Either way, maybe we can pour some holy water on it or something and then sell it." Erad shrugs.
[21:57] <@Inari> "Is black stone that valuable?" Inari asks. "I don't think you could make nice jewellery out of it..."
[22:01] <@Kotono> "Depends on thes tone. Black onyx is reasonably valuable. Black diamonds are worth a fortune and only come from far across the seas." T hmms, pausing a second to check on the deer. "Obsidian's valuable, but more for materials and crafting combined with rarity."
[22:02] <@Annerose> "Some of the value is due to necromancers using them, but that doesn't make the gems evil," Annerose muses. "More importantly, are we returning to that city?"
[22:05] <@Inari> "I think it's worth having a further look," Inari says. "It's not as if we're making lightning progress anyway."
[22:10] <@Kotono> "Up to you, but I doubt there willb e deer left," T smirks a little bit, "Rock's taking a nap, but no way he sleeps through dinner."
[22:13] <@Annerose> "Might as well, then."

[Corwin]

[20:03] <@Kotono> The party returns to the ruined city without incident. It is as you left it last time, silent and forgotten beneath the earth.
[20:06] <@Kotono> To refresh: The party advances onward. The street leads into a ruined square. There is a bone dry fountain here, taking up the center. It's crumbling like everything else. The party came from the east. To the west is another street full of ruin. To the south is a street that ends in a dead end, with a dilapidated tower looming at the end. To the north is another dead end, this one with what may
[20:06] <@Kotono> have once been a manor home, before it caved in on itself.
[20:06] * @Annerose chooses north, this time.
[20:07] <@Erad> Erad will take a look from the air for any abnormalities they may not be able to see from the ground!
[20:07] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:07] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 45 >12 [d100=45]
[20:09] <@Kotono> The party advances onward through the streets. You have to move around some rubble and hop over more, but it is possible to go on. You pass by caved in buildings and old storefronts, a few doors still intact if you wish to explore. Alternately, you can head on towards the manor.
[20:11] * @Annerose keeps on studying the storefronts and other buildings for any sort of labels or magic.
[20:12] <@Kotono> You pass a particular store - an empty window boarded over and a door that's intact. You can detect magic from in there.
[20:13] <@Annerose> "Looks like a mage's shop!" Annerose calls out to the others, heading over to the door to knock on it.
[20:13] <@Inari> "Lets have a look then," Inari says, smiling a little at Annerose's knocking. "I don't think anyone's home. Except possibly undead."
[20:14] <@Erad> Erad will fly over to hover nearby!
[20:14] <@Annerose> "There could also be constructs."
[20:16] <@Kotono> No response to knocking. It's quiet.
[20:16] * @Annerose opens the door, then!
[20:16] <@Kotono> "I'd be more worried if someone answered that," Helena says, readying her shield.
[20:22] <@Kotono> The door opens. Inside you find an empty storefront. Ruined thigns, broken glass and the like have been shoved into the back. The front is taken up by a few tables, a bookshelf, a bed and a wardrobe. It's not even dusty in here, though it smells faintly foul, like rotten food.
[20:22] <@Annerose> "What do you think? Potions?" Annerose muses, looking for the same thing as before, identifying marks or magic.
[20:26] <@Kotono> "Could be," Helena says as she looks around, starting to search. OOC: Spellcraft.
[20:27] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+13
[20:27] <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 17 >12 [d20=4]
[20:27] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+12 Helena
[20:27] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 32 >12 [d20=20]
[20:28] <@Kotono> Annerose can't puzzle out the magic, while meanwhile Helena tosses the room. She starts with the bookshelves, "They're all ancient," she remarks, "I'm hesitant to handle them." She looks about otherwise, finding a slender book under the moldy old pillows of the bed. "Oh, here, look at this."
[20:29] <@Annerose> "Yes?" Annerose asks, even as she tries to at least pin down the magic's origin.
[20:31] <@Kotono> It's coming from the bookshelf. Helena brings over the book, "This, it was hidden under the pillows."
[20:31] <@Annerose> "Let's take a look?"
[20:32] <@Kotono> Annerose opens the book. OOC: What languages do you speak?
[20:33] <@Annerose> OOC: common, aquan, auran, celestial
[20:36] <@Kotono> The book is written in a language Annerose can't read.
[20:37] <@Annerose> "Can't read this," she says sadly, heading over to the bookshelf to study it from close by. "Can't figure out the magic here, either."
[20:37] <@Inari> "I'll have a look," Inari says, casting detect magic and looking at the book.
[20:37] <@Inari> roll 1d20+13 spellcraft
[20:37] <Serith> Inari roll for Serith < 31 >12 [d20=18]
[20:37] <@Inari> OOC: languages are Common, sylvan, terran, celestial, goblin, giant
[20:40] <@Kotono> Several books are magical. They look like tomes of some sort, made to sharpen the mind. However, none of them are complete. The book is written in Sylvan and looks to be a journal of sorts. It's records of magic research, dry at first and then increasingly peppered with digressions. It talks about shadows spawning in Hegen's tower, the rumblings beneath the ground, the struggle to sleep when
[20:40] <@Kotono> she cannot and other such topics.
[20:42] <@Inari> "The tomes are magical and meant to make you smarter from reading them... moreso than books usually do I mean, but they're not finished so I doubt they'd work. The mage noticed shadows around that tower - belonged to Hegen apparently, and there were earthquakes and she had insomnia before it stops," Inari narrates.
[20:43] <@Annerose> "They still might," Annerose muses. "What could go wrong?"
[20:45] <@Inari> "I doubt there's any harm in it," Inari says. "Maybe even taken together they'd cover for any gaps?"
[20:45] <@Kotono> "Good question," Helena says, "So is there anything else we want to do here?"
[20:45] * @Annerose collects all the glowing tomes, asking, "What is the last entry? Whatever happened to her?"
[20:47] <@Inari> Inari reads out whatever it says!
[20:49] <@Kotono> The last entry reads as follows, "More shadows. More shadows. WIll not stop. Can't sleep. Won't sleep. I put it to the torch and they keep coming, and I dare not break the recepticle. Even cursed, there are limits I will not forsake. I'm losing my mind and I know I'm losing it. All I want to do is scream. Is this the curse or my own misery?"
[20:50] <@Annerose> "If I'd heard it before I broke it, I might have reconsidered," Annerose admits. "Still, goes to show her worries were unfounded. It must have been all the lack of sleep."
[20:50] <@Inari> "Ominous stuff!" she concludes afterwards, looking up from the journal.
[20:51] <@Annerose> "Let's go to the manor for now?" Annerose proposes. "We can take a look at the books later."
[20:52] <@Erad> "I wonder if the curse refers to something that happened before or after what brought this city underground." Erad asks.
[20:52] * @Annerose shrugs. "Hard to say. Didn't the entire city sink? But this sounded more personal than that."
[20:53] <@Inari> "She doesn't mention it sinking which I think would be noteworthy," Inari says, flicking back a few pages. "Presumably everyone died when that happened."
[20:55] <@Erad> Erad nods. "Good point. Maybe we'll find out some other clue when we look around."
[20:56] <@Annerose> Since it sounds like there is agreement, Annerose continues down the street.
[20:56] <@Kotono> The party reaches the manor. It's a ruined, crumbled manor that has fallen in on itself. It's a mess of decay and the surviving doorway in is half full with rubble.
[20:57] <@Annerose> Checking for magic all the while, Annerose cautiously steps inside.
[21:00] <@Kotono> No magic. It takes some climbing to get in. An entry foyer was once here, but it's all caved in. There's the ruins of a candelier on the floor. Nowhere to go - it's all caved in by now.
[21:01] <@Annerose> "Nothing left that I can see. Unless I missed a basement entrance or something?"
[21:02] <@Inari> "Not that I saw," Inari says, shaking her head. "Anything in there has long been crushed I think."
[21:02] <@Annerose> "I suppose it only leaves one more direction to explore, and then we'll get going again."
[21:04] <@Inari> "Mmm," Inari nods, forcing back a yawn. "It has been a long day."
[21:04] * NeremWorld (~Nerem@71-217-121-53.tukw.qwest.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 180 seconds)
[21:04] * NeremWorld (~Nerem@174-24-197-193.tukw.qwest.net) has joined #dunes
[21:05] * @Annerose heads west this time.
[21:06] <@Kotono> "How about we just call it a day and come back another time?" Helena says, seconding that yawn and not holding hers back. "I am rather tired and hungry." But she follows along as the party goes west. You find another ruined street here, buildings in decay. It goes on to going north and then to a dead end - it hits the cavern wall.
[21:07] <@Annerose> "Works for me," Annerose agrees. "The rest must still be underneath all the rock, and we're not going to excavate it. Time to head back, I think."
[21:08] <@Erad> "I think there's no harm in coming back. I think we dealt with a festering problem anyway." Erad agrees. "Maybe Rock can come next time and help us."
[21:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:09] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 85 >12 [d100=85]
[21:09] <@Annerose> "No harm, no, but we looked everywhere, hadn't we?"
[21:10] <@Kotono> The trip back is uneventful. You're even wrong - T saved you some roast deer. The night passes in sleep, a new day dawning. It's another cold, frozen day, but at least the sun is out. Thus the party continues to travel in the unnatural icescape and snow drifts, making as best a time as they can. (More)
[21:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:10] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 84 >12 [d100=84]
[21:14] <@Kotono> The only upside to this is that it's virtually a silent world under all this snow. You run into no distractions or encounters, a week of travel passing as you make increasingly good time. The routine is learned well by Sess 50. It is that morning that the party goes on when...OOC: Perception, Erad.
[21:14] <@Erad> roll 1d20+14
[21:14] <Serith> Erad roll for Serith < 15 >12 [d20=1]
[21:16] <@Kotono> Erad happens to be woolgathering, lost in his own thoughts about Bahamut. A worthy practice, but this time it is not well timed, for above him he hears, "Ho there!"
[21:17] <@Erad> Above? What? He looks in that direction. "...Hello?"
[21:19] <@Kotono> Above is a man who rides an eagle-like creature, yet with the body of a great cat. It is snow white from nose to tail, a fiercely s harp gaze and hooked beak. The man who rides wears armor with a white, snowcapped mountain on it. He calls loud enough to reach the ground, "I am Captain Rein of Malana. Lord Maggen said I may see adventurers on a mission that fit your description. Are you Erad?"
[21:19] <@Kotono> T looks up at that, "Well, well. Someone found wings, eh?"
[21:19] <@Erad> "Yes, that's me." Erad answers. I mean, it's hard to pretend to be someone else anyway...
[21:20] <@Kotono> Amanna looks up coolly, saving any comment. Rock looks disinterested in the whole spectacle, unti he meets eyes with the riding beast. He bares his fangs at it, then licks his chops.
[21:21] <@Inari> Wait they have griffins? Why not send one of them to get the weapons! Inari looks up at the noise from where she's encouraging Rock in his snow-clearing but leaves the talking to Erad since he's in position.
[21:22] <@Kotono> "I'm going to land," Captain Rein replies, a hand on his mount's neck. He swoops down and lands behind the party, hopping off. "So you actually made it back alive," he says, whistling low. "Did you get the weapons?"
[21:22] <@Annerose> "Of course," Annerose responds coolly. "We would have already returned with them, if it weren't for that sudden storm."
[21:24] <@Inari> "We were making good time until then, but as you can see..." Inari shrugs helplessly.
[21:24] <@Kotono> Helena stays behind Annerose for now.
[21:25] <@Kotono> "It's fine. Lord Maggen sends his congratulations and good news. This weather paralyzed the barbarian's attack. The war has turned in Malana's favor."
[21:25] <@Erad> Erad glances over at Annerose while deciding to see which side of things this gentlemen falls on, but if he's with Maggen... OOC: He's going to cast Detect Evil.
[21:28] <@Kotono> The man radiates faint evil. T meanwhile smiles a little bit, "Good news. Awfully good fortune, wasn't it?"
[21:28] * @Annerose inclines her head. "We had expected as much, given the extent of the weather. But hearing your confirmation is good. Adamantine is safe, then?"
[21:30] <@Kotono> "Adamantine stands," The captain agrees. "Those of power smile on Malana. Our triumph is inevitable now."
[21:32] <@Annerose> "Might I inquire as to the relative positions of both armies at present?"
[21:32] <@Inari> "Wasn't much point getting those weapons then, I suppose," Inari says. "Hopefully we can return to peace soon and they won't see any use."
[21:39] <@Kotono> "Oh, they're still needed. You'll be rewarded for your service, and they'll be used to rout them," Captain Rein says with a slight smile. "Kabath is around Adamantine and Adamantine still stands. These here," he pats them, "Came from Lord Maggen. We have all the advantages now, since they're running out of supplies and food."
[21:45] <@Annerose> "It seems like we'll be there in three days, give or take," Annerose muses. "Please tell Lord Maggen to expect our arrival around that time."
[21:51] <@Kotono> "Understood," he says, "Loop around carefully," He offers his hand otu to Annerose.
[21:51] <@Annerose> Confirming that her gloves are on with a glance, she shakes it.
[21:55] <@Kotono> His handshake is strong, and with that he gets back onto his mount and takes off into the sky. Once he's gone, "Well, aren't they just preening," T mutters.
[21:55] <@Inari> Inari sighs dispiritedly. "Young blood all fired up and eager to get to the slaughter."
[21:55] <@Annerose> "By my estimates," Annerose says quietly, "we have about a day to spare on diplomacy before the outcome is decided for all. Shall we get going, and pick up the pace?"
[21:56] <@Erad> Erad nods. "Yes, let's make all haste we can."
[21:59] <@Kotono> T comes on over and pats Inari's shoulder, "No helping it, 'nari. Let's get going and do what we can." OOC: Plan's to hurry on then?
[21:59] <@Annerose> OOC: Yes
[21:59] <@Inari> OOC: we can all join Rock at digging with our hands and wishing we owned shovels.
[22:09] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. I don't think anyone thought to include a shovel, even T. That should remedied next time in shop.
[22:09] <@Annerose> OOC: I have an adventuring kit! Maybe it's there.
[22:09] <@Kotono> OOC: FRee free to check.
[22:13] <@Kotono> OOC: Con checks all that ar edigging, let's see how well you keep at it and hustle.
[22:13] <@Annerose> OOC: I'll use my coldness powers!
[22:14] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 T
[22:14] <@Kotono> OOC: So noted.
[22:14] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 9 >12 [d20=7]
[22:14] <@Inari> roll 1d20+2
[22:14] <@Erad> roll 1d20+3
[22:14] <Serith> Inari roll for Serith < 18 >12 [d20=16]
[22:14] <Serith> Erad roll for Serith < 23 >12 [d20=20]
[22:14] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+8 Rock
[22:14] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 12 >12 [d20=4]
[22:14] <@Erad> OOC: I'll also help out as much as acid claws allow
[22:15] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Amanna
[22:15] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 18 >12 [d20=15]
[22:15] <@Kotono> OOC: Noted on that, Erad.
[22:15] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Rek
[22:15] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 14 >12 [d20=12]
[22:27] <@Annerose> Since they likely won't be expected for three more days, and it would be sensible judging by a report an airborn scout would make, it gives them perhaps a day or two's respite to find the Kabath camp and then convince the queen to leave on mutually agreeable terms, before Malana's forces under Jack Maggen attack in earnest. Actually heading with the wagon into the enemy camp would not be necessary, so long as they pass close enough for Amanna and anyone else who wishes to join Annerose to accompany her to the camp in question.