The Lost City of Ianthe 08

[Corwin]

19:09 <•Anastasia> You check with the guards. It takes some doing and a bit of luck, but eventually, "Yes, I do remember them," guard says, "He came in with a several strong horses loaded down. Can't imagine how he got away with it, he must've been the eaisest target ever. Probably had friends who helped him and didn't want to come in, if you ask me."
19:11 <Skaya> That would do it. "Sounds memorable," Skaya notes. "Did he say where he was coming from?"
19:14 <•Anastasia> "No," He answers, "But northern gate so somewhere north," he shrugs.
19:15 <Skaya> "Yeah, makes sense," she agrees. "Was he a local? Did he hang around with those friends that shied away from the law?"
19:17 <•Anastasia> "Think so, I've seen him around," Is the answer, then a shrug of big, broad shoulders. "You know the type though. Jack's his name, right?"
19:17 <Skaya> "That's right. Good memory!"
19:17 <•Anastasia> Anne nods along, "Well spoken," she agrees.
19:18 <•Anastasia> "Why you asking?" The guard asks back, "He transport in something illegal or evaded taxes?"
19:19 <Skaya> "He definitely did, but it's more because he was working with this wizard that ended up killing him. Looks like a dispute over the contraband."
19:21 <•Anastasia> A snort at that, "Dumb fool, no one fights a wizard."
19:22 <•Anastasia> "You're smart along with a good memory," Sanda smiles, "If only others learned that."
19:22 <Skaya> "How long ago did he come in, come to think of it? Must've been at least a week, but longer than that?"
19:23 <•Anastasia> "At least. I don't remember the exact time, unfortunately, but it's been awhile," Is his answer, "The days start to blend together." A shrug, "Sorry, but at least a week, but that feels too short. Logner."
19:23 <•Anastasia> *Longer
19:25 <Skaya> "Thanks for the info!" Skaya tells him, a golden coin making its way over as tip. She glances at her companions to see if they have any follow up questions, of course.
19:28 <Devar> Devar shakes his had.
19:28 <Devar> *head, too
19:28 <•Anastasia> Headshakes all around, except from Starre. She frowns and comes over, "One question," she states, "If he needed help to get the horses this far, when would be the earliest point he could've left his companions and still made it here safely?"
19:29 <•Anastasia> "Uh....?" That gets a long frown, "A mile or two out of town's safe enough," he says, "It's further away that distance starts to interfere. Say two miles."
19:29 <•Anastasia> A nod at that, thoughtful, "Any road houses, taverns, inns or anything like that along that way?"
19:30 <Skaya> "Maybe a hunting cabin?"
19:30 <Devar> "It'd be easy enough to find if we headed that way." Devar reasons.
19:30 <•Anastasia> "That's possible too, but probably something social with a chance to rest. I know that after a trip, the first place I go is somewhere I can have a hot meal and a drink, and get a bath." Starre explains.
19:32 <•Anastasia> "Yeah, there's one about a mile out. Pender's Unicorn." He answers, "Has some rooms as well as food." Rubbing his chin, "Does decent business with those who don't want to be seen by the local guard."
19:33 <Skaya> "That sounds like a good place to do a follow up, then!"
19:33 <•Anastasia> "We should check it when we go that way. If we can find one of the men who theoretically guided him, we may get more information," Starre says, then with a grimace, "I've spent long months and months chasing down leads like this, hoping to find directions or the right rumor."
19:33 <Skaya> "I think we're good to go as we are?"
19:37 <•Anastasia> Nods all around at that as...OOC: Just a quick official conformation of your plans going forward?
19:38 <Skaya> OOC: We'll send word back to the previous town in case we haven't already about pursuing a lead on the wizard and just go check out Pender's Unicorn.
19:41 <Devar> OOC: Yep that's fine, we can sort out what the plan is with the gold if we get to a point where we need to do shopping or whatever
19:42 <•Anastasia> OOC: Sure. Okay, letter can be handwaved. More.
19:42 <•Anastasia> roll 1d2
19:42 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d2 --> [ 1d2=1 ]{1}
19:44 <•Anastasia> As the party heads north, on the warm summer roads towards Pender's Unicorn? A familiar voice sounds in Devar's head. 'Devar, it's Picke. Got more info on target; extremely dangerous. Use judgment to continue or not. Be careful. Has bigger bodycount that expected. Don't die.'
19:47 <Devar> "Hey - just got a message from Picke." Devar says as they're going. "I guess he's doing investigation on his side - he warned us to be careful if we intend to pursue him, in that apparently he's killed more folks than was initially assumed." He explains. "Not sure that really changes what we're doing, but stay on guard."
19:47 <•Anastasia> With a sour look, "Too late," Rina says, sharply.
19:48 <•Anastasia> Anne sighs, "A message in good intent, but unfortunately we've learned that the hardest way there is."
19:48 <•Anastasia> "Who is Picke?" Starre asks as you all travel along, "A wizard? I'm familiar with wizard sendings, that sound like one."
19:49 <Skaya> "Someone has to stop him, and if it's not us just who would do it?" Skaya responds with a sigh of her own. "Devar, how did you respond to him?"
19:51 <Devar> 'Understood.' will be the message back, assuming he has time to deliver that. "I just said we understood the message." Devar says. "There isn't much more to do from where we're at."
19:52 <•Anastasia> "If he sends again, tell him to get us any assistance he can," Rina says, "Money, more manpower, equipment. Anything."
19:52 <•Anastasia> "Distance will work against him, sendings aren't easy nor are they cheap," Sanda points out, "Logically speaking, if he's using them, he's already doing that."
19:54 <Skaya> "Maybe we should ask the Guild Master to alert nations further down the projected path? If we stop this guy here, that's all well and good. If not, they might be better prepared for him at least."
20:00 <Devar> "If I hear from him again I'll ask." Devar says. "Ah, for the convenience of that magic."
20:02 <Skaya> "By the time it's convenient for you to use, you can just teleport."
20:03 <•Anastasia> OOC: On that note, ready to move along? Have the next line prepped.
20:03 <Skaya> OOC: Yes
20:03 <Devar> OOC: yar
20:03 <•Anastasia> With that decided, the party reaches Pender's Unicorn. It has a large wood statue of a unicorn out front, but is otherwise old. Run down windows, dirty. Doors with chips and 'character' to them in the form of stains. Well worn footpaths from the road to the door, from the door to the sides and so on.  Inside is much the same, only a few travelers eating and besides a few bar wenches, and a
20:03 <•Anastasia> middle aged woman in an apron, broad in girth, running things.
20:05 — Skaya takes a seat at the bar.
20:08 <•Anastasia> Anne and Rina join you, while Sanda lingers back. Starre does as well. The group get sa long look before, "What you want?" The woman asks, curtly.
20:10 <Devar> Devar stays with Starre and Sanda!
20:11 <Skaya> "Let's start with some ale?" Skaya voices, keeping a discrete eye on the other guests and the staff.
20:11 <•Anastasia> Ale is produced and coin is exchanged. Once done, "What you want?" the woman repeats, giving Skaya an unimpressed look.
20:12 <•Anastasia> Anne has a pull before, "Mmm. I'm still in the mood for beef, if you have anything like that."
20:14 <Skaya> The coin exchanged is gold, and Skaya makes sure to make it clear she has more to pay with. "On my part, I love to chat with the locals when I travel. Great way to learn the lay of the land, what to watch out for. Plus the opportunities!"
20:17 <•Anastasia> Food is brought, a hearty beef stew. "It's good to learn things like that," Sanda agrees, "It helps avoid problems."
20:17 <•Anastasia> The gold is taken and tucked away, "What you want to know?" The woman asks, simply.
20:17 <•Anastasia> "Direct, aren't you?" Starre murmurs under her breath, carrying.
20:18 <Skaya> "Anything strange happen around here lately? A bandit band rising up, mysterious deaths, wizards being wizards?"
20:23 <•Anastasia> "Big mill explosion south," Is the answer, "Heard wizard involved." Rina winces at that, knuckles white on her tankard's grip. "Bandits up north, killed several."
20:24 <Skaya> "How far north?" she asks curiously.
20:24 <•Anastasia> "North. Two days." Is the answer, briskly.
20:26 <Skaya> "Could be fun to look into. How about a question about a past patron. Jack, stopped by a week and change ago." Skaya provides the description. "Had some horses and cargo with him."
20:29 <•Anastasia> A nod at that, "With three others. One looked like you," A point at Devar. "But blonde. Jack dead now."
20:29 <•Anastasia> Starre sits up at that, "He is, yes. Can you tell us more about the other three?"
20:30 <•Anastasia> A look to Skaya's money pouch instead.
20:30 <•Anastasia> "Looked like Devar?" A curious hum from Sanda, "I know this is former Eldathian territory. Do you have family this way, Devar?"
20:30 <Skaya> Nice, Starre! She'd held back on the companions to measure the truthfulness of the proprietor, but it looks at least decently honest. And at that look, another gold coin is produced on the counter.
20:33 <Devar> "Not that I'm aware of." He answers. "Hm."
20:35 <•Anastasia> That coin's taken before, "Hired goons. Strong. Big." Is the answer, "Ornan, Leo, Xane."
20:36 <•Anastasia> "Names are even better," Starre takes out two gold coins and places them down, "Thank you. Do you know where we can find them?"
20:36 <•Anastasia> A nod, and both her and Skaya's coin pouch gets a look.
20:37 <Skaya> Two more coins appear as if by magic!
20:38 <•Anastasia> Two more as well from Starre. Then the woman looks towards Rina's pouch, who scowls but produces two more. Then Sanda, who sighs and mutters, "Statistically speaking, this is worth the money, but strongarms hurt." Then to Anne - but Rina puts two more down, shaking her head. Anne gives her a grateful look, then Devar gets the same look as the others.
20:42 <Devar> Devar takes two out as well. "This seems an inefficient way to ask for more." He admits, but puts them down with the rest.
20:49 <•Anastasia> The coins are all taken, "Rimswell," she points north, "Village, take eastern path eight miles here, by old oak tree."
20:50 <Skaya> "How about this wizard guy?" Skaya asks, describing Brachidos. "Seen or heard of him?"
20:53 <•Anastasia> A shake of her head at that, "Never."
20:54 <Skaya> "Shame. Thanks for the information!"
21:00 <•Anastasia> Nods all around. With that taken...now what?
21:00 <Skaya> After lunch, they'll go to Rimswell!
21:01 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100
21:01 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=86 ]{86}
21:01 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100
21:01 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=17 ]{17}
21:02 <•Anastasia> OOC: What formation are you traveling in?
21:03 <Skaya> OOC: Devar leading, Rina and Sanda in the center, Anne to the left, Skaya to the right, Starre to the back.
21:03 <•Anastasia> OOC: Cool. In that case, make Perception for me, Devar. +2 bonus.
21:04 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 for 20
21:10 <•Anastasia> You're walking along the main path, when you see it comes to a bridge. A solid stone one, well built. Big and broad, plenty of space to cross. However, the river  has something odd. Devar's sharp eyes notice a faint shadow coming from the right side, under the bridge. Strange.
21:12 <Devar> "Hold on." He says, holding an arm out for the others behind him. "Something's there, under the bridge."
21:14 <Skaya> "Want to check it out?"
21:14 <Devar> He nods and will go to move off the path to hopefully spy whatever it is without needing to get much closer.
21:20 <•Anastasia> OOC: Going off the path towards the river and bridge?
21:20 <Devar> OOC: Correct
21:21 <•Anastasia> OOC: Gimme another perception check, +3 now.
21:22 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 for 21 this time then!
21:27 <•Anastasia> You peer down - and yo usee what's casting the shadow. A big, long snake-like creature, a dull blue-black color. Wider than you are and easily dozens of feet long, coiled all about the underside of the bridge.
21:28 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 on K:N for 21 (Or Arcana if that's more appropriate) to identify it?

[Corwin]

19:12 <•Anastasia> You can't precisely divine what it is, but it seems to be some sort of wyrm. You're fairly sure it's not a dragon at least, so likely no breath weapon.
19:14 <Devar> A frown as he slowly backs up from it to the others. "We've got a wyrm of some nature down there. I don't know if it's hostile or why it's... even here, really." He explains to the others.
19:15 <•Anastasia> "Like a dragon?" Rina's eyes widen.
19:15 <•Anastasia> Anne's frown is deep, "Regardless of if it is or isn't, it's a problem."
19:15 <Devar> "Definitely not a dragon." Devar says. "Which is good, but... yeah."
19:15 <•Anastasia> "If it's lurking under there and attacks, then it's a hostile threat to others and needs to be stopped." Starre reasons, "It's only a question of how."
19:16 <•Anastasia> "But yeah," Sanda hums, "Statistically speaking, more adventures die to dragons and dragon similar creatures than any other.And does it even have a hoard?"
19:18 <Skaya> "I honestly don't understand how something like this can exist and prey on travelers normally. Is this something so casual to others that the barkeep wouldn't even mention it as she directed us here?"
19:18 <Devar> "We could just try crossing and if it doesn't bother it us we can assume it isn't interested in bothering anyone else?" Devar offers, nodding to Skaya. "It's possible no one's mentioned it because it doesn't attack anyone."
19:18 <•Anastasia> "It doesn't make sense," Sanda agrees, "It must be new then, or word of it would've spread. Which makes me question why it's here to begin with?"
19:19 <Skaya> "I suppose it's possible this is a trap specifically for us? From either her or our quarry?"
19:19 <•Anastasia> "Enough," Starre clears her throat, "This rapidly spirals into pointless speculation. The why isn't important at the moment. What we do is.
19:19 <•Anastasia> "
19:19 <Devar> Devar nods.
19:20 <Skaya> "That part's easy. We're attacking it, right?"
19:20 <Devar> "If it doesn't attack us, I'd prefer to let it be." Devar says. "But if it is hostile then we do need to do something about it."
19:21 <Skaya> "Perhaps you can cross the bridge and see if it attacks you?"
19:23 <•Anastasia> "I'll do it if Devar won't," Starre says, "If it attacks, then all is clear. If not, we can argue over the morality of it then." She shakes her head.
19:24 <•Anastasia> Sanda side eyes Starre, and mutters something quiet under her breath.
19:25 <Devar> Devar will start walking towards the bridge, manifesting a mage armor for himself as he goes!
19:25 — Skaya is ready to shoot out magical missiles!
19:26 <•Anastasia> Rina readies her knives and Sanda is likewise prepared with magic. Anne hangs to the side, ready to hurry forward if necessary. Devar goes to cross - and as he does, no sign of the snake coming up the sides at all, and...OOC: Perception check, Devar only.
19:27 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 for 18
19:29 <•Anastasia> ! Awareness is just enough. An odd whoosing noise ahead of him, like air moving up. For the wyrm comes through the bottom of the bridge like the stone is merely water, rising up and snapping at him with deceptive speed. "What th-" Sanda blurts out, while Starre is already chanting and...OOC: No surprise on either side due to circumstances, so we'll head straight to init.
19:30 <Devar> roll 1d20+2
19:30 <•Anastasia> OOC: Fixing.
19:30 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@lunarnet-E011B3A9.hr.hr.cox.net)
19:30 <Skaya> roll 1d20+7
19:30 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{15}
19:31 <Devar> roll 1d20+2
19:31 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{10}
19:31 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20 Sanda
19:31 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20 Sanda --> [ 1d20=2 ]{2}
19:31 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+2 Anne
19:31 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+2 Anne --> [ 1d20=2 ]{4}
19:32 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Rina
19:32 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Rina --> [ 1d20=17 ]{22}
19:32 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6 Starre
19:32 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 Starre --> [ 1d20=1 ]{7}
19:33 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+8 wyrm
19:33 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+8 wyrm --> [ 1d20=17 ]{25}
19:33 <•Anastasia> Init is Wyrm (25) > Rina (22) > Skaya (15) > Devar (10) > Starre (7) > Anne (4) > Sanda (2)
19:34 <•Anastasia> With a speed that belies its large size, the wyrm chomps down m mouth first at Devar. It's long, black body glistens under the light of day as it pounces, like a snake arching up and then down.
19:35 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+11 chomp AC?
19:35 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+11 chomp AC? --> [ 1d20=9 ]{20}
19:36 <Devar> OOC: 20 with mage armor
19:36 <•Anastasia> roll 1d10+6 rotten luck and more
19:36 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d10+6 rotten luck and more --> [ 1d10=9 ]{15}
19:36 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+13 vs CMD Devar
19:36 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+13 vs CMD Devar --> [ 1d20=2 ]{15}
19:36 Channel mode set to -t by •Anastasia
19:37 <•Anastasia> OOC: Adjust topic HP, but at least there's no way that gets your CMD.
19:37 Devar set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 17/32
19:39 <•Anastasia> Devar is partly fast enough. He's able to leap back, avoiding the maw. Still, the edge of it scrapes down his right arm from shoulder to wrist, and tears it wide open. A spray of red and a torrent of pain, but nothing more.  It goes on and on, it's head and upper body currently out of sight beneath the bridge, going through the stone as if it's merely water, but the lower half of the wyrm if
19:39 <•Anastasia> sstill visible. Rina races forward 20ft, coming to within 30ft of it and hurls a dart out.
19:39 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6
19:39 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{23}
19:40 <•Anastasia> roll 1d3+2 staying away from that but still a hit
19:40 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d3+2 staying away from that but still a hit --> [ 1d3=1 ]{3}
19:40 <•Anastasia> One dart sinks into its black lower body, piercing inside as meanwhile...OOC: Skaya.
19:43 <Skaya> Really?! Skaya dashes towards the tail to give it a proper stomp, positioning herself in such a way that Starre or Anne could easy flank with her as they catch up.
19:43 <Skaya> roll 1d20+7+5 stunning fist Fort DC17
19:43 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+7+5 stunning fist Fort DC17 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{29}
19:44 <•Anastasia> OOC: Hit, no Fort since lower body's immune to stun. Damage.
19:44 <Skaya> roll 1d8+3+5 okay
19:44 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d8+3+5 okay --> [ 1d8=4 ]{12}
19:45 <Skaya> OOC: Can I use any knowledge to identify the wyrm and its weaknesses?
19:45 <•Anastasia> OOC: Sure, K:A if you have it.
19:45 <Skaya> roll 1d20+12
19:45 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{23}
19:47 <•Anastasia> A rush in and a solid strike to the lower part of the tail, which by the moment continues to rush down  and out of sight. A slam hard enough to break the skin and get blood to burst out. Blackish-purple blood that thickens almost instantly into a jelly, congealing on the ground. Like Devar, Skaya isn't sure what this thing is. At that the last of the lower tail is almost gone, but the lower
19:47 <•Anastasia> tip is still visible as...OOC: Go Devar.
19:48 <Devar> Devar will take a five-foot step back and heal his injuries! OOC: Lay on hands for 15.
19:48 Devar set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 32/32
19:53 <•Anastasia> Devar's wound seals shut, vitality returned to him. With that the last of the wyrm is gone, out of sight. Starre races in a second too late to get it, slashing at air in vain. Anne is at Devar's side and checking him over, while Sanda stays back, ready. Then, to the right in the river the wyrm flows out from under the bridge. In the water it begins to move in a tight, coiling circle, stirring
19:53 <•Anastasia> up all the water around it into a vortex. It's doing something, gathering the water to itself and...OOC: It's in the open, but 20ft away from the bridge in the water. Rina.
19:53 <•Anastasia> Rina rushes forward, to the edge of the bridge, and hurtles a dart at it - but the ranged attack is lost in the waters that churn around the wyrm, ineffective. OOC: Skaya.
19:54 — Skaya points at her eyes before gesturing at the wyrm, except what follows is not a glare but a pair of magic missiles!
19:54 <Skaya> roll 2d4+2
19:54 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 2d4+2 --> [ 2d4=8 ]{10}
19:55 <•Anastasia> The missiles fly and pierce the water, hitting the wyrm's upper body. The hit it and pierce in, more blood spraying out and congealing, sinking into the water. It's a hit but it doesn't stop it, as more and more of its body catches up, joining in and churning the waters faster. Sprays of water begin to splash out everywhere as it keeps going. ...OOC: Devar.
19:58 <Devar> Rather than just stand nearby area to get hit by... whatever it is doing, Devar moves down the bridge and along the side of the water. OOC: So double-moving to get off the bridge and be more or less 90 degrees from it along the river. "Anyone have any lightning magic!?" He calls out.
19:59 <•Anastasia> "Shocking grasp, but I'd have to dive in there," Sanda calls, already eyeing it.
19:59 <•Anastasia> Init is Wyrm (25) > Rina (22) > Skaya (15) > Devar (10) > Starre (7) > Anne (4) > Sanda (2)
20:00 <•Anastasia> Starre shakes her head, "Not on me," she mimics Devar and gets off the bridge, Anne taking a moment before with shield out, taking position in front of Skaya. "If we get swept away, hold onto me! I'll heal and you focus on getting us to safety," she calls.
20:01 <•Anastasia> Rather than testing her luck, Sanda limps along towards Devar and Starre and gestures, and in strange words, two more magic missiles come to pepper the enemy.
20:01 <•Anastasia> roll 2d4+2 she's not quite that desperate yet
20:01 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d4+2 she's not quite that desperate yet --> [ 2d4=8 ]{10}
20:03 <•Anastasia> Two more magic missiles hit it, more blood sent out from it. Doesn't stop it though as the water churns up, reaching a feverish pitch around it, before a huge  wave of water flies up at the bridge, sweeping up Anne and Skaya! OOC: Ref save, both. With her position you can use Anne for a +4 bonus if you want, but you'd be swept along with her if anything happens to her in this.
20:03 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+3 Anne ref
20:03 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+3 Anne ref --> [ 1d20=5 ]{8}
20:04 <Skaya> OOC: Could I grab her as my AoO if she's swept past me and I'm not?
20:05 <Skaya> roll 1d20+6+5
20:05 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+6+5 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{30}
20:06 <•Anastasia> OOC: You could try if you want, but you'd risk being swept along with it.
20:06 <Skaya> OOC: Okay
20:07 <•Anastasia> OOC: Is that a yes? Just need to be clear.
20:08 <Skaya> OOC: Yes
20:09 <•Anastasia> roll 5d10 Anne full, Skaya half and strength check, Skaya
20:09 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 5d10 Anne full, Skaya half and strength check, Skaya --> [ 5d10=30 ]{30}
20:09 <Skaya> OOC: I have evasion to none to me
20:09 <Skaya> roll 1d20+3+5
20:09 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+3+5 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{26}
20:10 <Skaya> OOC: That's the strength check
20:10 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay, obligatory nag of mentioning it in your save and cool on the check
20:10 <•Anastasia> .
20:11 <•Anastasia> The water barrels into both of you. Yet Skaya's moving lightning fast, able to leap up high and grab Anne by the arm. She dangles beneath as she blocks, smashed brutally by the water - but as both of you land ont he bridge, at least neither of you was swept away. Anne's coughing violently after, on a knee and breathing hard as meanwhile, the wyrm still churns the water, but right now no water
20:11 <•Anastasia> is around it. OOC: Skaya, go.
20:13 <Skaya> "Let's get off the damn bridge," Skaya agrees, pulling Anne into a princess carry and dashing across towards the others. But spreading out as well from them, some thirty feet? Just in case the wyrm feels like another wide attack.
20:14 <•Anastasia> Anne's carried away, only pausing to retch bloodily as you go. She's already grasping her holy symbol, as Devar can see the snake's starting to straighten up in the water, upper body surging up and eyeing the cluster of people near him as...OOC: Devar.
20:15 <Devar> OOC: At a glance, can I move into the water to try and hit it, or is it too deep for that?
20:16 <•Anastasia> OOC: You could try, sure. The water's lower after what it did, so it would be fairly easy if you wanted to. Of course, the water is going to return so bear that in mind.
20:16 <Devar> OOC: Okay.
20:17 <Devar> For now, Devar will move in to try and strike it hard enough to stop it from gathering any more water!
20:17 <Devar> roll 1d20+7
20:17 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{16}
20:18 <•Anastasia> OOC: Hit.
20:18 <Devar> roll 2d4+3 bonk
20:18 <Kobot> Devar rolled 2d4+3 bonk --> [ 2d4=7 ]{10}
20:20 <•Anastasia> With its lower body all there and without water to block it, the wyrm is relatively vulnerable. A solid hit smashes it good, breaking more of its body as Starre takes the moment, "For the opal light that shines above!" she cries, blade out as she slashes away.
20:20 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7
20:20 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{26}
20:20 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7 crit?
20:20 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 crit? --> [ 1d20=12 ]{19}
20:20 <•Anastasia> roll 2d8+6
20:20 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d8+6 --> [ 2d8=10 ]{16}
20:22 <•Anastasia> A long slice of Starre's sword  wounds it further, more of that blood spraying out and turning to jelly. It's lower body is visibly tattered and torn as its upper body continues to rise and the waters begin to rush back in. This doesn't stop Rina, staying on the banks and throwing another dart, not touching rushing in after holding to make sure worse wasn't coming.
20:22 <•Anastasia> Init is Wyrm (25) > Skaya (15) > Devar (10) > Starre (7) > Rina (6) >  Anne (4) > Sanda (2)
20:22 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6
20:22 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{21}
20:22 <•Anastasia> roll 1d3+2
20:22 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d3+2 --> [ 1d3=1 ]{3}
20:23 <•Anastasia> Another dart burrows in, another minor wound dealt safely as then Anne coughs, "L-Lady J-jetina..." she coughs up more blood as she chants.
20:23 <•Anastasia> roll 2d8+4 healing
20:23 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d8+4 healing --> [ 2d8=4 ]{8}
20:24 <•Anastasia> More coughs after, but bloodless coughs at least. She's breathing painfully, shuddering in Skaya's arms. Finally, Sanda limps in despite the waters coming back, quarterstaff in two hands, and slamming it down on the massive beast.
20:24 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7 arcane channeling shocking grasp
20:24 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 arcane channeling shocking grasp --> [ 1d20=2 ]{9}
20:25 <•Anastasia> Which, somehow, she limps wrong and slips, stumbling as her staff only hits the ground. "Ah! Impossible!" Sanda cries, "The odds were perfect for this!" Not that she has time to react, as the waters come rushing back in, flowing over the three in the river. OOC: Ref all three of you.
20:25 <Skaya> "For fuck's sake Sanda," Skaya mutters, glancing over at Anne. "Gonna be okay here?"
20:25 <•Anastasia> "A-ah, I'm not gone to my reward yet," Anne coughs.
20:26 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Sanda ref
20:26 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Sanda ref --> [ 1d20=5 ]{10}
20:27 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7 Starre ref
20:27 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 Starre ref --> [ 1d20=10 ]{17}
20:27 <Devar> roll 1d20+8 evasion
20:27 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+8 evasion --> [ 1d20=11 ]{19}
20:27 <•Anastasia> OOC: Devar, ref as well since you're in the river, please.
20:27 <•Anastasia> OOC: Beat me to it.
20:28 <•Anastasia> roll 3d10 Sanda full, Starre full, Devar none
20:28 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 3d10 Sanda full, Starre full, Devar none --> [ 3d10=10 ]{10}
20:30 <•Anastasia> The waters flow back heavily. Sanda's smashed and thrown 15ft away, washed away and down in the water, trying to recover herself. Starre's in the same position, gasping and knocked away. Devar, by sheer instinct, leaps onto and hugs the wyrm's body, just enough to keep him safe before he's tossed off. He lands in the waters - which will require some swimming, but he's unharmed for the moment.
20:30 <•Anastasia> OOC: Sanda and Starre are knocked prone and have a swimming problem. Devar only has a swimming problem and no damage or proneness. More.
20:30 <•Anastasia> The wyrm rears up high and then surges up, then cascades down at the sole target nearby it - Devar, for a second time!
20:30 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+11 here we go again
20:30 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+11 here we go again --> [ 1d20=18 ]{29}
20:31 <Devar> OOC: at least I healed earlier :(
20:31 <•Anastasia> roll 1d10+6 and CMD
20:31 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d10+6 and CMD --> [ 1d10=6 ]{12}
20:32 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+13 CMD
20:32 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+13 CMD --> [ 1d20=10 ]{23}
20:32 <•Anastasia> OOC: What's your CMD, Devar?
20:33 <Devar> OOC: looks like 20 at the moment
20:34 <•Anastasia> The wyrm comes down and CHOMP! Devar's swallowed whole! He's now inside the wyrm's gullet, squeezed tight. He has a problem! OOC: It's possible to escape with a CMB vs CMD check (grappling) or otherwise getting a way out of there. Feel free to think of something as your turn rolls around.  Skaya, go.
20:34 <•Anastasia>  Init is Wyrm = Devar Swallowed Whole Note (25) > Skaya (15) > Devar (10) > Starre (7) > Rina (6) >  Anne (4) > Sanda (2)
20:35 <•Anastasia> "No!" Rina calls, fumbling for her weapons a moment, eyes wide.
20:36 <Skaya> Her eyes widen as far as they can go, and she leaves Anne at the side before dashing back to the bridge and then using the increased height to leap at the wyrm's head! Twenty feet is a lot for normal people, but not for someone liker her!
20:37 <Skaya> OOC: Acrobatics DC20 should cover a long jump like that and I have it at +18. Do I roll my attack?
20:38 <•Anastasia> OOC: Make the check since you could still get a 19. If you don't completely blow it, make the attack roll.
20:38 <Skaya> roll 1d20+18
20:38 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+18 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{25}
20:39 <Skaya> roll 1d20+7+2+5 charge~
20:39 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+7+2+5 charge~ --> [ 1d20=2 ]{16}
20:39 <•Anastasia> OOC: Hit.
20:39 <Skaya> roll 1d8+3
20:39 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d8+3 --> [ 1d8=1 ]{4}
20:39 — Skaya can only try to hit the wyrm badly enough to make it regurgitate its last meal!
20:40 <•Anastasia> It's a light hit right to its head. Enough to momentarily slow it, but it coughs a bit as Skaya lands in the water. OOC: This'll give Devar a +4 bonus to various escape attempts this round. You also have a swimming problem next round, Skaya, as Sanda and Starre do momentarily. Devar, you're up.
20:43 <Devar> Bereft of many other options, Devar will simply do his best to pry himself out of this scenario - with force, if he has to! OOC: I'm guessing just trying to stab it from the inside isn't very possible - but if it is that'd be my attempt. Otherwise I will just try and do a CMB versus the grapple.
20:43 <•Anastasia> OOC: Youc an try and stab it, sure. +4 bonus to the attack roll if you do.
20:44 <Devar> OOC: Stabbing it is!
20:44 <Devar> roll 1d20+11 stabbity
20:44 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+11 stabbity --> [ 1d20=9 ]{20}
20:44 <Devar> roll 2d4+3 more stabbity
20:44 <Kobot> Devar rolled 2d4+3 more stabbity --> [ 2d4=6 ]{9}
20:46 <•Anastasia> Devar stabs out. It's a heavy blow, vicious and brutal. Enough to tear open enough for his head to poke out, just above the water line. The wyrm's starting to dive down again, but he pushes his upper body out and free. Just in time for him to go underwater. He hits the bottom of the river hard, a little surge of pain, but he's pushed out of the wyrm and underwater. OOC: You're out of the wyrm
20:46 <•Anastasia> but have a swimming problem as well. Minor damage from the impact with the river bed.
20:46 <•Anastasia> roll 1d6 bonk Devar
20:46 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d6 bonk Devar --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
20:46 <•Anastasia> Meanwhile the wyrm's head is now beneath the water and into the ground, and the rest is starting to follow. Not that Starre cares at the moment as...
20:46 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+3 swim
20:46 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+3 swim --> [ 1d20=20 ]{23}
20:47 Devar set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 27/32
20:47 <•Anastasia> She manages to lunge up and gasp for air, then stumble-paddle to the shore. She takes in air heavily, momentarily winded and away from the battle. Rina stays back and hurtles another dart at its retreating form.
20:47 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6
20:47 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{17}
20:47 <•Anastasia> roll 1d3+2
20:47 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d3+2 --> [ 1d3=3 ]{5}
20:48 <•Anastasia> Another one sinks in and the wyrm shudders, but it's still going down. Down adn down and down as Anne kneels, continuing to heal herself.
20:48 <•Anastasia> roll 1d8+4
20:48 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d8+4 --> [ 1d8=3 ]{7}
20:48 <•Anastasia> Init is Wyrm (25) > Skaya (15) > Devar (10) > Starre (7) > Rina (6) >  Anne (4) > Sanda (2)
20:49 <•Anastasia> As Anne's patrons restore her internal trauma, meanwhile Sanda...
20:49 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+2
20:49 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{7}
20:49 Devar set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 13/32
20:50 <•Anastasia> Sanda's down and beneath the water, only her hand above it as she struggles, sloshing about in vani as she's washed down river. OOC: Sanda still has a swimming problem. Wyrm is up.
20:50 <•Anastasia> The wyrm's body is now gone, retreated back into the earth. For at least the moment, there'sno enemy, only yourselves. OOC: Skaya.
20:50 <•Anastasia> OOC: Remembe ryou're in the drink, so swim check.
20:50 <•Anastasia> OOC: Unless you don't care about sinking.
20:52 — Skaya is actually a great swimmer so as she sees Devar escape the wyrm's clutches she makes her way towards Sanda! Once over, she dives to grab the unlucky mage and pull her head out of the water!
20:52 <Skaya> roll 1d20+12 swim
20:52 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+12 swim --> [ 1d20=8 ]{20}
20:53 <•Anastasia> Skaya's able to swim over to Sanda, but it's going to take more than this round to get her out of the water. Still, she's grabbed and pulled up, coughing out water and in air. "T-thank you, what were the odds?!" Sanda blurts out. OOC: Devar, swim check as well unless you don't care about sinking. Go.
20:54 <Devar> Given his current situation he can't afford to go toe-to-toe with the wyrm again, so he just swims towards the shore!
20:54 <Devar> roll 1d20+8 swimmin
20:54 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+8 swimmin --> [ 1d20=2 ]{10}
20:55 <Skaya> "Pretty damn high! You can't swim!"
20:56 <•Anastasia> Unfortunately, Devar sinks like a rock, going under just like Sanda did. As he struggles, meanwhile Starre recovers and rises on shaky legs, "Is it coming again?" she calls the question, as meanwhile Rina  dives in after Devar, going for him.
20:56 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+8 swimming
20:56 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+8 swimming --> [ 1d20=6 ]{14}
20:57 <•Anastasia> She doesn't go under but can't reach him in the disturbed waters, pushed back and struggling against the current. Anne holds for the moment, righting herself, "Be ready if it does!" she cries. Sanda, for her part groans, holding onto Skaya. OOC: Sanda holds essentially, but is mostly focused on staying non drowned anyway. Wyrm.
20:58 <•Anastasia> From beneath Starre it comes, suddenly breaking the surface and lunging up right for her, river shore giving way to wyrm maw.
20:58 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+11
20:58 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{14}
20:59 <•Anastasia> However, Starre dives aside, getting muddy but staying safe as the wyrm rises up. She lands in a roll and springs up, as it rises higher and higher up, arching above all of you. OOC: Skaya. Still in the drink with Sanda, so swim check unless you wanna investigate the drowning rules.
20:59 — Skaya decides to swim over to Rina! She could leave Sanda with her and have them get back to shore swiftly.
20:59 <Skaya> roll 1d20+12
20:59 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{15}
21:00 <•Anastasia> Skaya can't get to her, the current too much combined with carrying Sanda. She struggles against it as meanwhile...OOC: Devar.
21:01 <Devar> Devar will continue to try and get out of the water, hopefully not making this any worse for himself than it already is!
21:01 <Devar> roll 1d20+8 swimmin
21:01 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+8 swimmin --> [ 1d20=15 ]{23}
21:02 <•Anastasia> Devar manages to struggle and get to the shore, on his hands and knees as he rests a moment. Safe and not drowned, a step up. Starre yelps and then lunges in, a battlecry before she strikes.
21:02 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7
21:02 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{13}
21:03 <•Anastasia> This swing isn't quite enough however, missing the wyrm's body as it coils upward. Rina meanwhile tries to swim back as Devar got out, following him.
21:03 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+8
21:03 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{28}
21:03 <•Anastasia> Rina also makes it to shore, next to Devar. With a shaky smile, "Hah...still with us!" she says to him. OOC: Anne.
21:04 <•Anastasia> Anne whirls and grasps her mace, "Enough with you, devil creature! In Moore's name I punish you!"
21:04 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7
21:04 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{8}
21:05 <Devar> "This thing's a lot tougher than I gave it credit for." Devar admits, still soaking wet and panting - bleeding from a few places too.
21:05 <•Anastasia> Yet her swing is a miss as well, unable to land a shot.
21:05 <•Anastasia> Init is Wyrm (25) > Skaya (15) > Devar (10) > Starre (7) > Rina (6) >  Anne (4) > Sanda (2)
21:05 <•Anastasia> OOC: Sanda.
21:05 <•Anastasia> Sanda continues to wisely hold on, not risking going beneath the waters again. OOC: Wyrm.
21:06 <•Anastasia> The wyrm arches up high and then descends rapidly, this time coming right at Starre a second time!
21:06 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+11
21:06 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{19}
21:06 <•Anastasia> roll 1d10+6 and CMD incoming
21:06 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d10+6 and CMD incoming --> [ 1d10=2 ]{8}
21:07 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+13
21:07 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{20}
21:07 <•Anastasia> Starre is grazed along the side. Torn open and bloodied by its teeth, but not swallowed whole, if but barely. She stumbles along as it again sinks into the ground, head and upper body gone, but lower body still there, at least for now. OOC: Skaya.
21:09 <Skaya> roll 1d20+12
21:09 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{26}
21:09 — Skaya heroically swims to shore with Sanda!
21:09 <•Anastasia> Skaya reaches the shore, all the party now no longer ind anger of drowning. A relief indeed as...OOC: Skaya.
21:10 <•Anastasia> "Water is the true enemy," Sanda coughs as she rests on shore, "That was horrible."
21:10 <•Anastasia> OOC: Sorry, I mean Devar. Go Devar.
21:10 <Skaya> OOC: If Sanda has a held action to use magic, this is a good time!
21:11 <•Anastasia> OOC: Sure, she can do that.
21:11 <•Anastasia> Init is Wyrm (25) > Skaya (15) > Devar = Sanda (10) > Starre (7) > Rina (6) > Anne (4)
21:11 <•Anastasia> On shaky legs Sanda casts again, "Be struck by Mystra's magic!" she cries, as two magical darts go to sink into its lower body.
21:11 <•Anastasia> roll 2d4+2
21:11 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d4+2 --> [ 2d4=7 ]{9}
21:12 <Devar> Devar heals himself again, taking a moment to breathe.
21:12 <Devar> roll 1d8+4
21:12 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d8+4 --> [ 1d8=5 ]{9}
21:12 Devar set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 22/32
21:12 <•Anastasia> It's lower body is badly ravaged now, bleeding badly and going limp. It's still retreating but slower now, notably slower as Devar's wounds partly mend. It buys him a respite, as Starre goes to slash at the ruined lower half of the wyrm.
21:12 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7
21:12 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{9}
21:13 <Skaya> "Anne, can you heal everyone? Without getting the wyrm in range?"
21:13 <•Anastasia> For all good that does, as she misses and hits only air. Rina hurls another dart as it retreats, taking the free attack.
21:13 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6
21:13 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{18}
21:13 <•Anastasia> roll 1d3+2
21:13 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d3+2 --> [ 1d3=3 ]{5}
21:14 <•Anastasia> Another dart goes through, this time all the way through. It hits as Anne limps along, getting in between all of you before, hair wet and matted, she cries, "In the name of Hope's Landing!" she cries.
21:14 <•Anastasia> roll 2d6
21:14 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
21:14 <•Anastasia> OOC: 10 total.
21:14 <Skaya> OOC: Devar to full and I think recovers the earlier damage for Sanda and Starre?
21:14 <•Anastasia> OOC: Yes, I'm tracking them on my end.
21:15 Devar set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 32/32
21:15 <•Anastasia> Wounds heal as Starre and Sanda both recover, along with Devar. Anne's still not all the way, though, as she can't heal herself with her channel energy. OOC: Wyrm.
21:16 <•Anastasia> Then, slower than before, the wyrm emerges in the river. Its uppe rbody is injured too, as it opens wide. A great spray is sent out, of pressurized water, rock and mud, sprayed over all the party in a wide sweep. OOC: Ref all. This usage grants a +2 bonus to ref for everyone.
21:16 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7 Sanda
21:16 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 Sanda --> [ 1d20=7 ]{14}
21:17 <Skaya> roll 1d20+6+2 evasion
21:17 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+6+2 evasion --> [ 1d20=16 ]{24}
21:17 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Anne
21:17 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Anne --> [ 1d20=5 ]{10}
21:17 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7 Starre
21:17 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 Starre --> [ 1d20=11 ]{18}
21:17 <•Anastasia> OOC: +2 for 20 for Starre, forgot to add it for her.
21:17 <Devar> roll 1d20+10 evasion
21:17 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+10 evasion --> [ 1d20=17 ]{27}
21:18 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+8 Rina
21:18 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+8 Rina --> [ 1d20=16 ]{24}
21:18 <•Anastasia> roll 3d10 Sanda full, Skaya none, Anne full, Starre half, Devar none, Rina half.
21:18 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 3d10 Sanda full, Skaya none, Anne full, Starre half, Devar none, Rina half. --> [ 3d10=20 ]{20}
21:21 <•Anastasia> It's a wet mess. Anne's knocked flying back, landing with a loud, bony snap from her arm. Sanda's battered, head cracked open and on her back. Starre's still up, if battered and visibly woozy, before falling down face first. Rina's cracked on the stomach, a grunt of pain as she falls to her knees, arms wrapped around where a large rock hit her. Devar? He runs to the side and avoids the mess.
21:21 <•Anastasia> On the other side Skaya does the same, both of them safe at least. OOC: Everyone but Devar and Skaya are knocked prone. Wyrm's visibly sagging and hurt. Go Skaya.
21:22 <•Anastasia> Init is Wyrm (25) > Skaya (15) > Devar = Sanda (10) > Starre (7) > Rina (6) > Anne (4)
21:24 <Skaya> OOC: Where is the wyrm compared to me?
21:24 <•Anastasia> OOC: It's 20ft away, in the river.
21:25 <Skaya> "Devar, let's retreat," Skaya says quietly. "I can bring Anne and Starre. Can you handle Rina and Sanda?"
21:26 <Devar> He nods. "I'll take care of it." He affirms.
21:27 <Skaya> With a nod of her own, Skaya picks up Anne and Starre and retreats from the riverbank. If the wyrm pursues them on land, that's just fine, but otherwise she'd be 60ft from it.
21:28 <•Anastasia> Starre struggles against it, "Let me finish it," she says, "If it attacked us, it'll attack others. I can't leave it to harm innocents."
21:28 <•Anastasia> Anne doesn't resist in the slightest, however.
21:30 <Devar> "We're not running away to leave it." Devar says. "But if we can get it away from the water it'll be better for us."
21:30 <Skaya> "Some of us will pay with their lives for this. And the thing is, we can heal and go back. It probably can't."
21:30 <•Anastasia> At that Starre stops resisting, a terse nod.  OOC: Devar, go.
21:33 <Devar> Devar will move to help Sanda first, and grab Rina on the way if he can!
23:33 •Anastasia set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 32/32 Anne 10/45 Sanda 9/29 Starre 20/44 Rina 27/37
23:33 <•Anastasia> OOC: Topic updated with HPs.

[Corwin]

19:08 <Anastasia> Devar grabs the other two and you flee. Wounded and hurt the party goes for distance. Sanda, Starre and Rina aren't in a position to do much, "Ah...s-slow down, we need healing," Anne gasps, face a rictus of pain, "My a-arm's broken, I can't concentrate like this!" OOC: Just putting distance between you and the wyrm, or?
19:08 <Skaya> OOC: I've moved 40ft while being 20ft away from it, so I'm 60ft away
19:09 <Devar> OOC: Yeah, just putting distance for now.
19:09 <Anastasia> OOC: Okay, cool. Are yo ugoing to keep doing that or is this a one round fallback?
19:10 <Skaya> OOC: Just the one round to see what happens. If the wyrm chases us over land, we'll fight there.
19:11 <Anastasia> The party flees. As they do, they see the wyrm start to go down. Slower than before, lower body badly damaged. As it does, you see it suck in water, river stones, mud and more, upper body bulging with it before it vanishes  into the ground, aimed in the party's general direction.  OOC: Skaya and Devar are up, go.
19:13 <Skaya> "Devar, can you heal Anne while Anne heals everyone else?" Skaya asks as they pause.
19:15 <Devar> "Yeah, I've got it. I hope it can't reach us too easily back here." He says as he goes over to Anne specifically to heal her! "When we're in more of a safe space I can channel energy too, but it isn't quite as potent."
19:15 <Devar> roll 1d8+4 CLW
19:16 <Anastasia> OOC: One sec to restore Kobot.
19:16 → Kobot joined (~Misukibot@lunarnet-82C188CE.hr.hr.cox.net)
19:16 <Devar> roll 1d8+4 CLW
19:16 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d8+4 CLW --> [ 1d8=3 ]{7}
19:17 <Anastasia> Anne's arm heals as at the same time, Anne calls, "Light, heal our wounds!"
19:17 <Anastasia> roll 2d6 all but Anne, *1.5 incoming after
19:17 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d6 all but Anne, *1.5 incoming after --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
19:17 <Anastasia> OOC: 9 total.
19:19 <Skaya> "Right, that works. I'll take Anne further back so she can focus on recovery," Skaya says as she moves further inland at an angle. In case the wyrm tries to attack them, at least it would have to choose between their groups. "Sanda, come with us."
19:19 <Skaya> OOC: Intent to move 60ft away with Anne and Sanda, my init will match Sanda's.
19:20 <Anastasia> Mudstained and filthy, soaked and chilled despite the summer warmth, battered and injured, the heroes recover. As that happens...OOC: Okay. Devar? Also someone update topic HP.
19:20 <Skaya> OOC: Devar already healed
19:20 <Skaya> OOC: And topic requires OP
19:21 Anastasia → •Anastasia (promoted to owner, opped)   
19:21 Channel mode set to -t by •Anastasia
19:21 <•Anastasia> OOC: Fixed.
19:21 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 32/32 Anne 17/45 Sanda 18/29 Starre 29/44 Rina 36/37
19:24 <•Anastasia> With Skaya, Anne, Sanda and Starre in one direction and Devar and Rina in another, the party heals and regroups. Just in time, because 20ft away from Devar and Rina, the wyrm erupts up. It wastes no time ni spraying its prey with its slurry psuedo breath weapon, Devar and Rina facing the full wrath of it this time. OOC: Evasion you two.
19:24 <Devar> roll 1d20+8 evasion
19:24 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+8 evasion --> [ 1d20=1 ]{9}
19:24 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6 Rina
19:24 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 Rina --> [ 1d20=2 ]{8}
19:25 <•Anastasia> roll 3d10 the owws are real for both of you
19:25 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 3d10 the owws are real for both of you --> [ 3d10=12 ]{12}
19:25 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 20/32 Anne 17/45 Sanda 18/29 Starre 29/44 Rina 24/37
19:25 <•Anastasia> Init is Wyrm (25) > Skaya = Devar = Sanda (10) > Starre (7) > Rina (6) > Anne (4)
19:26 <•Anastasia> The blast slams both of them, rocking them and knocking them over. Rina's face down and groaning, mud coated, and Devar's in much the same state, only on his back instead. OOC: Skaya, Devar and Sanda. Devar and Rina are prone.  Go.
19:26 <Skaya> "Anne, heal yourself and stay here to protect Sanda. And Sanda, if you've got something at range, even if it's a damn cantrip, use it. But at range!"
19:27 <Skaya> Having said that, Skaya leaves Anne behind and dashes towards the wyrm! She'd kicked it at a run before, she can do it again!
19:27 <Skaya> roll 1d20+7+2 charge
19:27 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+7+2 charge --> [ 1d20=19 ]{28}
19:27 <Skaya> roll 1d8+3
19:27 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d8+3 --> [ 1d8=4 ]{7}
19:27 <Devar> Devar will move to stand up and use the last bit of personal healing he has, just to be on the safe side! OOC: 5 points of lay on hands
19:27 Devar set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 25/32 Anne 17/45 Sanda 18/29 Starre 29/44 Rina 24/37
19:29 <•Anastasia> Skaya rushes in as she hears Sanda agree, lost in the whirl of battle. She lands a kick on its side, knocking it back as she lands deftly down. In the messy mud and uncomfortably on stray stones, but not hurt. Meanwhile Sanda instead chants and splits into many, mirror images surrounding her.
19:29 <•Anastasia> roll 1d4+1 nothing worthwhile left at this range, so defense it is
19:29 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d4+1 nothing worthwhile left at this range, so defense it is --> [ 1d4=1 ]{2}
19:30 •Anastasia set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 25/32 Anne 17/45 Sanda 18/29 (2 images) Starre 29/44 Rina 24/37
19:31 <•Anastasia> As the others rally, Starre doe sthe same, sprinting fast and forward, joining Skaya's charge with one of her own.
19:32 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+9 (+2 charge)
19:32 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+9 (+2 charge) --> [ 1d20=15 ]{24}
19:32 <•Anastasia> roll 1d8+3
19:32 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d8+3 --> [ 1d8=8 ]{11}
19:33 <•Anastasia> Starre's right behind Skaya, slashing into its upper body. She draws a deep cut where Skaya hit it, a spray of jelly like blood hitting the ground. The entire beast recoils back, the wyrm wounded by the one-two combo. It's in time for Rina to rise and defend herself, recovering as Anne converts a spell, healing herself.
19:34 <•Anastasia> roll 2d8+4 make whole converted
19:34 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d8+4 make whole converted --> [ 2d8=11 ]{15}
19:34 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 31/31 Devar 25/32 Anne 32/45 Sanda 18/29 (2 images) Starre 29/44 Rina 24/37
19:35 <•Anastasia> Anne's injuries visibly heal, her body straightening and restoring itself. Just in time, for the wounded worm comes down, inevitably coming down at Skaya despite its visible wounds.
19:35 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+11
19:35 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{19}
19:35 <•Anastasia> OOC: AC?
19:35 <Skaya> OOC: 15 since I charged
19:36 <•Anastasia> roll 1d10+6 and more
19:36 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d10+6 and more --> [ 1d10=1 ]{7}
19:36 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+13 vs CMD Skaya
19:36 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+13 vs CMD Skaya --> [ 1d20=9 ]{22}
19:36 <Skaya> OOC: CMD is normally 24 so I'm good.
19:36 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 24/31 Devar 25/32 Anne 32/45 Sanda 18/29 (2 images) Starre 29/44 Rina 24/37
19:38 <•Anastasia> OOC: Should be down to 22, any penalties ot AC apply to CMD.
19:38 <•Anastasia> OOC: And you're -2 since charge.
19:38 <Skaya> OOC: But charge would raise it
19:39 <•Anastasia> OOC: One sec, that's a good question so lemme check the rules for it.
19:39 <Skaya> OOC: Ah, my bad, it's not +CMB but +str and dex
19:40 <•Anastasia> OOC: Yeah, so swallowed whole. Okay, more.
19:40 <•Anastasia> Init is Wyrm = Skaya Swallowing Action (25) > Skaya = Devar = Sanda (10) > Starre (7) > Rina (6) > Anne (4)
19:41 <•Anastasia> Before Skaya can react she's gotten, bitten on her sides and gulped down. She's now trapped inside just as Devar as before, as the wyrm's upper body stats to sink into the ground, once again trying to get away as...OOC: Skaya and Devar, go.
19:41 <•Anastasia> "Get her out!" Starre calls, already bringing back her longsword, "Don't let it get away with her!"
19:42 <Devar> He's seen this before, so Devar moves forward to try and strike the wyrm to give Skaya an easy way out!
19:43 <Devar> roll 1d20+7+5 smite evil if it counts, -5 if it does not
19:43 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+7+5 smite evil if it counts, -5 if it does not --> [ 1d20=5 ]{17}
19:43 <•Anastasia> OOC: Hits, smite counts.
19:43 <Devar> roll 2d4+3+5 bonk
19:43 <Kobot> Devar rolled 2d4+3+5 bonk --> [ 2d4=2 ]{10}
19:44 <•Anastasia> With one final, heavy blow Devar hits the wyrm. It recoils back, knocked up and out of the ground. With a groan is coughs up Skaya onto the ground, letting her splash in the mud but be free. It rears back and then falls over to the side, head lolling open. Blood begins to flow from it's mouth. OOC: Free act.
19:45 <•Anastasia> Starre sinks to the ground, on her knee and resting.
19:45 — Skaya kicks it in the head as she climbs to her feet, cradling her arm. "What a nasty monster," she says in disgust. "Sanda, Anne, it should be fine over there now!"
19:45 <•Anastasia> "What in Moore's name was that?" Anne begins to walk over, still rubbing her formerly broken arm.
19:46 <•Anastasia> "It didn't runa way despite being badly wounded," Sanda limps on over, "Did he somehow know we were coming and left a trap?"
19:46 <•Anastasia> "I doubt it," Starre says sourly, "I've never heard of anything like this in my time chasing him, and it doens't feel like his normal style."
19:47 <Skaya> "I felt holy energy there in the end. That says something simple if it actually landed."
19:48 <•Anastasia> "Good hit," Rina murmurs to Devar as she rests, "Everyone's alright." She lets out a deep, tense sigh. Meanwhile, the wyrm shudders once more and hacks. From its mouth, a roughly head sized glob of jelly like blood is coughed up. This mass glows with a red-purple light, brigh tenough to be visible in the summer light.
19:48 <•Anastasia> Anne changes course and approaches that, "Glowing blood?" she murmurs to herself.
19:48 <Devar> "It might've been his patron, trying to help him out." Devar says, as he frowns at the glob. "Ugh, we probably found the source of its strength."
19:49 <•Anastasia> Starre comes on over as well, "I've never heard of anything like this," she remarks, "Anyone have any ideas?"
19:49 <•Anastasia> "Give me a moment and I'll study it," Sanda reaches it, "It has to be magic."
19:49 <Skaya> OOC: What knowledge might help?
19:49 <•Anastasia> OOC: None, you knowledge checked it before and whiffed.
19:50 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+11 Sanda meanwhile
19:50 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+11 Sanda meanwhile --> [ 1d20=16 ]{27}
19:51 <Devar> OOC: Devar will aid for +2
19:51 <Skaya> OOC: I meant the glowing red blood, not the wyrm
19:51 <•Anastasia> OOC: I'm not sure you can aid those, but she made the DC anyway so it's not worth checking.
19:52 <Devar> OOC: fair enough
19:52 <•Anastasia> OOC: Same thing, it's directly tied to the creature. Falls under understanding what it is.
19:53 <•Anastasia> "It's supercharged with powerful magical energy," Sanda starts talking faster and faster, "It won't last long, it's already starting to disperse, but it's potent if used in magic item creation or consumed. Logically, the first doesn't matter since there's no way we could preserve it or create something in a short period if time."
19:54 <Devar> Devar tries to see if his ability to detect evil has any reaction on the blood itself.
19:55 <•Anastasia> No evil detected. Meanwhile, Rina eyes with a bit of an ew face, but shakes he rhead, "Seriously, Sanda?"
19:56 <Devar> "The compound doesn't have any evil around it that I can sense." Devar says. "So despite it being rather gross, it shouldn't corrupt you or anything like that."
19:56 <Skaya> "I'd do it in a second," Skaya volunteers. "How much is needed?"
19:57 <•Anastasia> "Statistically speaking, the more you eat the better, but if more people eat part of it, more people benefit. Like if you could split a healing potion into sip sand everyone got a littl ehealing from it. I think." Sanda concludes. "You don't get to work with something like this but maybe once in your lifetime, if you're lucky."
19:58 <Skaya> "Right then. It ate me, I deserve a bit back. Who else wants one?"
19:58 <•Anastasia> Anne takes a long breath out, "Moore, what would you do, or what would the wise men and women of the Aurora do?"
19:59 <•Anastasia> Starre shakes her head, "At least one of us needs to refrain in case this is foolishness. I'll do so." she declares.
19:59 <•Anastasia> "...I'm in," Rina decides, "Nothing to lose, anyway."
20:00 — Skaya collects a portion of the blood into a canteen and then drinks it, leaving enough for the others interested.
20:00 <•Anastasia> "Of course I'll do it," Sanda says right away, "I like my odds."
20:00 <•Anastasia> OOC: d100, Skaya.
20:00 <Devar> "Well, going by Skaya's logic, I suppose I ought to too. Eldath preserve me." Devar says with a bit of a laugh. "But if it helps us in the end, then I'm all for it."
20:00 <•Anastasia> Anne sighs, "Somehow I feel this is something adventurers would do. Very well," she decides, going for it as well.
20:00 <Skaya> roll 1d100
20:00 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=2 ]{2}
20:02 <•Anastasia> Seira begins to feel warmth in her body, the chill of the water and mud no longer a discomfort. She feels good, comfortable all over. It spreads about her slowly, traveling all around her body.
20:03 <Skaya> "So I'm feeling comfort. Whether it's good or bad comfort, we'll know soon enough."
20:03 <•Anastasia> Sanda gets some of her own, and Rina follows. With a hesitant sigh Anne does the same, leaving a portion for Devar.
20:04 <•Anastasia> *Skaya, sorry, I figured that typo would happen sooner or later.
20:04 <Devar> Devar leans down and scoops up what's left. Is this what adventuring is like?
20:04 <•Anastasia> OOC: d100, Devar.
20:04 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100 Rina
20:04 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 Rina --> [ 1d100=91 ]{91}
20:04 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100 Sanda
20:04 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 Sanda --> [ 1d100=98 ]{98}
20:04 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100 Anne
20:04 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 Anne --> [ 1d100=34 ]{34}
20:04 <Devar> roll 1d100
20:04 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=90 ]{90}
20:14 <•Anastasia> Warmth. All of you feel so warm as it flows through you, strength entering you and knowledge engraving itself into Sanda, Devar and Rina's minds. How tomove through stone like water, how to move like that strange wyrm did. OOC: Loot post. Sec while I do sheet updates.
20:16 •Anastasia set the topic: Skaya: 24/31 Devar 25/32 Anne 32/45 Sanda 18/32 (2 images) Starre 29/44 Rina 24/37
20:17 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 34/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40/40
20:17 <Skaya> OOC: We'll just do some healing before going, Devar also has channeling
20:18 <Devar> "So that's how it was doing that..." Devar murmurs. OOC: Yeah I can expend however many channels I need to, I've got 8 to top everyone off with.
20:19 <•Anastasia> OOC: Roll it out real quick in case resource manamagent is a concern before you rest/
20:20 <•Anastasia> roll 2d6 for healing everyone first + Devar topup
20:20 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d6 for healing everyone first + Devar topup --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
20:20 <•Anastasia> OOC: 10.
20:20 <•Anastasia> OOC: Roll as many others as necessary to top off everyone else, Devar.
20:20 <Devar> roll 4#1d6 channel energy I forget if it works this way
20:20 <Kobot> Devar rolled 4#1d6 channel energy I forget if it works this way --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
20:21 <•Anastasia> Minutes pass as the warmth slowly dies down. Anne breathes. Long and slow, with gaps in between breaths. "Was I breathing the wrong way all this time?" she asks out loud. "It's so much easier to breathe now."
20:22 <Devar> "I hope there aren't more of those under any bridges for us." Devar says. "At least until we can rest."
20:23 <•Anastasia> "I'm worried about what that was," Starre side eyes Anne but doesn't comment. "You don't just stumble on a beast like that, one smart enough to use intelligent tactics but devoted enough to fight to the death."
20:23 <Skaya> "We should head for that village," Skaya voices. "We can rest there. But do we want to bring this wyrm with us? At least parts of it?"
20:24 <•Anastasia> "We'll lose time to the butchery, but it may be valuable," Sanda reasons, "Quite valuable. If nothing else, it's good for identification."
20:25 <Skaya> "Let's pull it further inland first, then deal with it."
20:26 <Devar> "We're still working with a dearth of information." Devar agrees. "So anything that might help with that..."
20:27 <•Anastasia> It takes some muscle power but it's pulled inland. Travelers pass as you go, a small caravan on the road off to the side. In the distance they watch and stare at your defeated enemy, talking amid themselves.
20:29 <Skaya> "I miss our wagon."
20:31 <•Anastasia> "So do I," Sanda agrees, "We should get a new wagon."
20:31 <•Anastasia> "Nevermind that," Anne says once you finish dragging, only glancing at the passing caravan, "Let's do this if we're going to do it."
20:31 <Skaya> "It will just get destroyed and the horses eaten."
20:34 <•Anastasia> "It happened once. It own't happen twice. What are the odds?" Sanda argues right back.
20:34 <Skaya> Since they've gone far enough, Skaya dismantles the wyrm. Rina can help there, they've got the know-how from work.
20:34 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay, what do you want to take with you?
20:35 <Skaya> OOC: Scales, heart, claws, head?
20:38 <•Anastasia> Some scales are simple enough. The heart's about as big as Skaya from head to middle and a bit broader, and the head's even bigger than that. No claws, just the big maw it used to try and swallow you all whole.
20:40 <Skaya> "I think this much is manageable? We can see if anyone is in the market for them."
20:41 <Devar> "Too bad I don't know that spell that preserves remains." Devar says. "But we shouldn't have to go too far to try and sell them."
20:41 <Skaya> "Do you know it, Sanda?"
20:42 <•Anastasia> Sanda shakes her head, "The odds say no."
20:42 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay, how are you gonna transport these, then?
20:45 <Skaya> OOC: I can carry the head, it's easy enough. The scales will go into the haversack. Someone will have to carry the heart.
20:46 <Devar> OOC: I can do it
20:48 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay then. More then.
20:48 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100
20:48 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=50 ]{50}
20:50 <•Anastasia> It's a hot day and you're all sweaty when you reach Rimswell. It's a village - farms and farmsteads, some houses and shops, a little cluster of civilization amid the wilds of the land. Roads pass through it and define it. It's late in the afternoon when you arrive, the people giving you and your carried battle trophies wide eyed looks.
20:52 <Skaya> "Anne, find us an inn?" Skaya requests of the person not carrying pseudo dragon bodyparts.
20:55 <•Anastasia> Anne nods and agrees to do just that. Perhaps just as well, as in the heat, you can begin to smell the stink of what you carry. Meanwhile Rina wipes her forehead clean of sweat before, "So we made it. Think they're here?"
20:56 <Skaya> "Statistically speaking, yep."
21:00 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay, so really just wondering what you're donig here?
21:02 <Skaya> First, they will get a couple rooms at an inn so that they're not out on the streets carrying heavy wyrm remains. They may be wrapped so they're not literally bleeding, but it's still uncomfortable. Then, after cleaning up and having something to eat, they'll ask the innkeeper about the trio of men that they were told about. Since it's a smaller community, gathering information shouldn't be hard.
21:03 <•Anastasia> The innkeeper is a 40something year old woman who is clad in an old dress with a kerchief over her head. She sits as you all approach her at the front, "Sorry, my hearing's bad," she says, tapping her ear, "Say that again, who are you looking for, missy?"
21:05 <Skaya> "One guy looks like him," Skaya says, gesturing at Devar. "Names are Ornan, Leo and Xane. Big and strong guys."
21:09 <•Anastasia> "Oh. Them." A sour look on her face, "Check out the new tavern on the north end of the village. Thick as thieves, those three."
21:10 <Skaya> "Are they giving you any problems?"
21:10 <•Anastasia> "Thanks," Anne offers, "How bad is your hearing?" She raises her voice.
21:11 <•Anastasia> A shake of her head, "No, not this time. They have before, they make trouble everywhere they go." Then Anne, "More gone than not but my ma was deaf before she passed on. Took her about five years and I'm three years in."
21:15 <•Anastasia> "Thanks," Anne smiles politely, then steps back to let Skaya handle the rest.
21:15 <Skaya> "Oh, right, do you know Jack?" Skaya asks, describing him to the innkeeper.
21:17 <•Anastasia> More of a frown, but a nod, "I know him, he's been around once or twice. With those troublemakers, now that you mention it."
21:19 <Skaya> "Thanks," Skaya says, before heading for one of their rooms to discuss their plan privately.
21:22 <•Anastasia> Once in the room, "So, we know where they are and we know they're connected," Sanda says, "Logically, we get them, we make them talk and we move on."
21:23 <•Anastasia> Starre shakes her head, "They sound like common thugs and nothing more."
21:24 <•Anastasia> "I don't know," Anne reflects, "Devar, a dash of Eldathian restraint may go good here, as long as they don't start a fight immediately. This isn't a battle, it's discussion unless things break down."
21:24 <Skaya> "I was wondering how much effort we should use on this," Skaya voices. "I could take Jack's likeness and try to bluff them, or we could approach them outright. Or even a mix of this, say with Devar questioning them but not spoiling Jack's fate."
21:25 <Devar> "I'd prefer if it didn't come to violence, but those types generally won't listen unless until they've been taught a lesson through action." Devar says. "But they may be the type that simply break under a small bit of pressure, especially if Jack was just the one keeping them together."
21:26 <•Anastasia> "Alternately, getting one of them alone may be omre fruitful," Starre says, "Target a single link instead of the entire chain."
21:28 <Skaya> "Any preference, Rina?" Skaya asks, as they haven't heard from her yet.
21:28 <•Anastasia> "They're trash," Rina shakes her head, "They're just..." A stop, "Deal with them like they deserve."
21:31 <Skaya> "Okay, then let's give them a chance. Devar, do you mind leading? Anne and I will back you up. I think we can get by with just the three of us."
21:32 <Devar> "Sure." He agrees. "Uh, do you want me to leave the heart here, or...?"
21:32 <Skaya> "Yes, we're not carrying wyrm remains for this."
21:33 <Devar> He nods. "All right."
21:36 — Skaya heads out to seek the new tavern! It's a village and they know it's in the northern end, how hard can it be?
21:43 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100+10 ???
21:43 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100+10 ??? --> [ 1d100=22 ]{32}
21:43 <•Anastasia> OOC: Could I get a Fort save, Skaya? +1 bonus.
21:44 <Skaya> roll 1d20+6+1+5
21:44 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+6+1+5 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{23}
21:47 <•Anastasia> It is a nice new tavern at the edge of town. Pleasant enough for a tavern, mostly due to not being run down yet. Already people fill it, the evening's dimness offset from light coming from within.
21:49 <Devar> Devar will look around for the three they're looking for!
21:52 <•Anastasia> Peeking in, Devar sees that three big, burly men are there. One blonde and scarred, one brown haired and a third brown haired and with a bandage on his left arm. The three are drinking up and laughing, having a good ol' time in front ofthe fire. Others give them a wide berth.
21:54 <Skaya> Since the others are shying away from these guys, it means there's empty space right next to them!
21:54 <Devar> Devar will head over to them as well!
21:57 <•Anastasia> Anne goes to the bar and gets a drink, as does Rina. Starre lingers nearby, while Sanda is a bit behind her. The two don't even look up, "...and put him down!" The blonde one says to grins. As if all of you don't matter to them in the slightest, more interested in crude celebration.
22:00 <Devar> "You all look like you're having a good time." Devar says by way of interruption.
22:04 <•Anastasia> The bandaged one turns and grunts, "Yeah, sure am," his lips curl up as he sees your holy symbol. "What's one of your kind doing here? Didn't we all tell you and your weak whore of a patron that Welland didn't need her anymore?" A snarl of contempt, "An Eldathian in this day and age!"
22:04 <•Anastasia> The blonde one laughs, "No way!"
22:05 <•Anastasia> The other brown haired one takes a look and shuts up quick, giving Devar a cautious stare.
22:05 <Skaya> "I like you!" Skaya says brightly, pointing at the brown-haired guy. "I'll spare you!"
22:06 <Devar> "Ah, you're familiar with it, good." Devar says. "Then you know that my first answer isn't violence. So I'd ask you to all spare us that and tell us what we're going to ask you about, for the sake of your own health."
22:06 <•Anastasia> That one has Devar's strong jaw and general facial structure, enough to be a noticable resemblance. Meanwhile the blonde one chuckles, "What's he going to do, tell us we're bad and send us to bed without our milk?"
22:07 <•Anastasia> The bandaged one says, "What do you even want to know from us? We ain't your kind."
22:07 <Devar> "Jack." Devar says simply in response.
22:12 <•Anastasia> The blonde shuts up right away, while the already quiet one's eyes slide to the door. The bandaged one shakes his head, "Never heard of him. LAst Jack I knew was a kid who moved to the city when I was six."
22:13 <Devar> "I'm going to give you the opportunity to be truthful." Devar says. "As you already stated, I don't prefer violence as a first answer. My friends are not followers of Eldath." He says, rather simply.
22:13 <Skaya> "I'm honestly itching to hit you two," Skaya admits, nodding at the blonde and the bandaged thugs.
22:15 <•Anastasia> Starre's hand rests on her sword's hilt as you notice the tavern's getting quiet. You have attention on yourselves. Sanda limps forward as well, "Hit? I prefer magic," she says, "Odds are," she says, a simple presitigation cleansing herself to murmured gasps of surprise, "You can't outrun lightning bolts, can you?"
22:16 <•Anastasia> OOC: Intimidate, Devar, +6 bonus from other shelping you.
22:17 <Devar> roll 1d20+18 get em
22:17 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+18 get em --> [ 1d20=18 ]{36}
22:19 <•Anastasia> OOC: Scaaaaaaaaaary! So scary I can only deal with it...next time!

[Corwin]

18:19 <Anastasia> That gets a full stop as there's a sputter from the blonde. The bandaged one pales at Devar's presence and the threats, "W-well..." he trails off, stunned. "Just....he's dead, ain't he?" he tries, weakly.
18:21 <Devar> "Sure is." Devar confirms. "I bet you all know who killed him, too, so why don't you go ahead and tell us about him and your relationship with Jack?" Devar says, leaning over the table. "And any other questions my friends have."
18:25 <Anastasia> All of them pale harshly at your words, and it's the Devar-lookalike who finally says, "We knew him," he speaks up, "Worked together occasionally. Things like that."
18:25 <Anastasia> The blonde one tries to glare but it fizzles and the bandaged one just looks angry, but stays quiet.
18:25 <Anastasia> "So up to no good," Sanda concludes, "Logically, that means stealing, thieving, taking from others. Living high off the sweat of other's brows?"
18:26 <Skaya> "Talk about your last job together," Skaya refocuses them.
18:32 <Anastasia> The blonde one takes a breath, "Look, it was strange. He had us travel with up northwest towards Weinford, took us towards Quillar Mountain and lead us to a cave. Dead end but it was loaded with gold. Wouldn't say anything about it, 'cept he found it somewhere and only managed to get it that far."
18:34 <Skaya> "Was he all alone the entire time? Or did he have a wizard along?"
18:37 <Anastasia> "Just us," The bandaged one grunts, "Said he couldn't trust anyone else with it. Not going to lie, I was tempted, but we go back. It was a lot of gold, even if we were paid well."
18:38 <Anastasia> Starre frowns lightly at that, "Did he mention anyone else invovled?"
18:38 <Anastasia> "No, got real tightlipped about it," Devar's lookalike explains, "Real tightlipped. Figure there's the motherload somewhere in that mountain."
18:39 <Devar> Devar himself hums at that answer.
18:39 <Skaya> "Did he have future plans with you that he couldn't meet? And did you fools brag about this to someone?"
18:42 <Anastasia> "Hahahaha..." The blonde laughs at that, "Once we parted, yeah, we got super drunk. Probably did, don't remember much of it, 'cept that we spent a lot of money. There was this one red head with legs up to the moon and..." Sanda's less than amused look stops that digression. "And a blonde with tits that..." This time it's STarre's less than pleased glare that ends that. "And also a pair of
18:42 <Anastasia> brunettes that..."
18:43 <Anastasia> At this point, Sanda sighs and rubs her forehead. "Well, statistically speaking, half of all women are below average taste or intelligence."
18:43 <Skaya> "No, Sanda. It's the money. It's definitely the money in this case."
18:43 <Anastasia> "It's the money," Starre agrees, "Honey, it's always the money."
18:46 — Skaya nods, done with the questioning before it degrades further. It does seem like they have no more information to share, but at least knowing which mountain it was could help with the search.
18:47 <Anastasia> OOC: Got anything to ask, Devar?
18:48 <Devar> "Do yourselves a favor and make better choices." Devar says as he pulls back from the table. "And don't fall into any situation with any masked wizards."
18:48 <Anastasia> "You keep talking about a wizard. Is that who got Jack?" The blonde asks sourly.
18:51 <Devar> "Sure is." Devar confirms, with a look over at Skaya. "Touched him and got him with some sort of magical poison, right?"
18:51 <Skaya> "Yeah. Masked guy, delivers lethal poison with a touch. Nasty way to die."
18:53 <Anastasia> "Nasty way to go," An agreement there, "Nasty way to go."A few grumbles at that as Starre comes over, and quietly to the both of you, "Let's go talk."
18:54 <Skaya> "You've read my mind here," Skaya agrees, heading outside.
18:54 <Devar> With one more look at the three of them, Devar follows the others out!
18:58 <Anastasia> Once the group is outside, regathered? "So that was productive," Anne states, "Not as perfect as I hoped, but it gave us a direction to go on."
18:59 <Anastasia> "No sign of him being involved, though," Starre reflects, "At least with that part of it, but again, it could be unrelated."
19:00 <Skaya> "If he wasn't involved with these goons, then the chances he was involved in that ancient lost city of whichever are higher, I think," Skaya voices. "Let's bet on it? Go search that mountain, see if we find any leads or clues. If we can't after some time, maybe a week or two? Then we try to jump ahead and see if we can track him down another way."
19:01 <Devar> Devar nods. "It could also help us in other ways - if there's still something there we can put it to good use." He says.
19:01 <Skaya> "Well yes ancient magic is always good."
19:02 <Devar> "I just meant the gold." Devar says. "But yes, ancient magic is helpful too."
19:02 <Anastasia> "At worst, we get upside there if we find a long lost cache," Sanda agrees, "I like our odds."
19:03 <Anastasia> "Still," Anne hmmms, "If it's been lost this long and he just found it, that must mean it's either a recently revealed entrance, such as from a rockslide or earthquake, or it's something difficult to find. A wall keyed to something, an illusion, some sort of magic like that."
19:04 <Anastasia> "Or even a good trick of geography," Rina points out, and a little softer, "Something to fool anyone who comes to a remot eenough location, and few enough come to seriously challenge it anyway."
19:05 <Skaya> "All it would have taken is a lucky encounter. But since we know it's there, we actually have a reason to look, unlike basically anyone living here."
19:05 <Anastasia> "One problem - if those idiots blabbed it," Sanda sniffs, "There may already be treasure hunters nosing around."
19:07 <Anastasia> "There may be," Anne says, "And on thinking about it, Sylvie knows that we don't have confirmation any of this isn't unrelated. That wyrm could be unrelated to the wizard, as could this city and Jack was murdered for other reasons. Still, I agree going after this treasure is the right choice. Even if it's unrelated, it promises a large enough reward to do so much good if we succeed, even if it
19:07 <Anastasia> is untied to them."
19:07 <Skaya> "That's actually good for our other purpose. If there are more people around, they might've seen the wizard. Then, we'll get the lead we want. In the end, it's what we want to know the most."
19:08 <Anastasia> "Then let's rest and prepare for our journey in the morning," Starre says, "We'll be a few days on the road I imagine, I'll check maps and have a path prepared for us."
19:12 — Devar nods
19:13 <Anastasia> OOC: Okay, in that case, anything to do while resting in town, y'all?
19:14 <Devar> OOC: See if we can sell the monster parts I suppose since I doubt we want to keep lugging them around
19:14 <Skaya> OOC: Nah, I'm good. Let's make sure we have provisions for two weeks.
19:14 <Skaya> OOC: Oh yes, let's see if we can do that.
19:17 <Anastasia> The town's butcher and general shop owner - a pair of older men, middle age well on them - take a look at that. "What in-" The butcher murmurs, eyes wide, "You killed something with a head that big?"
19:18 <Devar> "Trust me, it was about as fun as you probably think." Devar confirms.
19:18 <Skaya> "And it is delicious!"
19:18 <Anastasia> The shop owner carefully pokes the head, "To be honest I'm not sure how much it's worth," he admits, "I'll give you 50 gold for it all?" he finally offers.
19:20 <Skaya> That's a disappointment but she's not really interested in becoming a merchant. They're not carrying the heart and head up a mountain.
19:24 <Anastasia> OOC: Up to y'all to react, accept it, haggle or whatever else. If you wanna accept that it's fine, just say so Ic and I'll move us along.
19:24 <Skaya> OOC: I'm fine so I'm waiting on Devar
19:26 <Devar> "That's fine, it won't keep forever anyway." Devar says. "I'm not much of a trophy-keeper - I bet it'd look good over at a tavern."
19:27 <Anastasia> OOC: Small loot post. More.
19:31 <Anastasia> The next morning dawns cool. IT rained over night and is threatening more rain, a break from the summer heat. Over a simple breakfast of porridge, summer fruits and peasant bread, the party has a quick talk. "It's about four days from here to Weinford and Mount Quillar. Three if we're lucky, but mud from last night's rain makes that unlikely already. Five if we get more rain or more delays. We
19:31 <Anastasia> don't really get near the trade paths, those hew more straight north towards the main ports, so it may be quieter, or run into problems that get ignored since they aren't on the main road. I've heard good things about the Lawkeeper and Lawmaker, which is apparently how they run the law in this country, so perhaps we'll be bandit free."
19:32 <Anastasia> STarre goes over all of that as the others listen. Anne focuses on her breakfast while Rina yawns but nods. It's Sanda who munches on a strawberry before, "Of course, we could always find an ankheg, too. Those have become more common lately."
19:32 <Skaya> "It feels like an evil plot, doesn't it?"
19:33 <Anastasia> A slight nod of acknowledgement, "That does, doesn't it? Should our quest succeed here and we end the masked wizard, then I'll pray to my patron abou tit."
19:33 <Devar> "It is probably all connected." Devar agrees. "At least somehow or another."
19:33 <Anastasia> Starre also says that before turning back to her food, but pauses, "Thena gain, that wyrm was a subterranian creature, wasn't it? It has to be since it swam through the earth."
19:34 <Anastasia> "Also," Sanda says, "That's the best trick every! Did any of you get it too and try it?"
19:34 <Anastasia> Anne hmms before, "I don't know what you're talking about."
19:34 <Anastasia> Rina almost smiles as she goes on, "I can feel it? I figured it out last night. It doesn't last long, but it's like that wyrm did. Like swimming through the stones and earth."
19:36 <Anastasia> "Truly? Useful, particularly as we head to a mountain," Starre reckons, "That may greatly aid our search."
19:36 <Anastasia> "So will getting going," Anne finishes her meal, "I'll prepare things, but we should be off. It's going to be a hard, muddy day of travel unless the sun comes out."
19:40 <Anastasia> OOC: Since Cor's away and it's running a few, I presume y'all are ready to move along?
19:42 <Skaya> OOC: Sure
19:42 <Devar> OOC: Yeah, no choice but to go forward
19:44 <Anastasia> OOC: Perception checks, both of you, just for reference while on the road.
19:45 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+5
19:45 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+5 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{40}
19:45 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 for 18 unnecessarily
19:46 <Anastasia> OOC: Okay then.
19:46 <Anastasia> roll 1d100-10
19:46 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100-10 --> [ 1d100=48 ]{38}
19:46 <Anastasia> roll 1d100-10
19:46 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100-10 --> [ 1d100=38 ]{28}
19:46 <Anastasia> roll 1d100-10
19:46 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100-10 --> [ 1d100=85 ]{75}
19:46 <Anastasia> roll 1d100-10
19:46 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100-10 --> [ 1d100=40 ]{30}
19:52 <Anastasia> Several days of wet, muddy travel pass. You have a rare bit of luck - it's peaceful traveling. Storms slow you down, mud and clouds are near constant, and it's not a fun time. But it is a peaceful time, and midway through your fifth day of travel, as summer winds on, you reach Weinford. A large village to smallish town in the shadow of a mountain that rises out of the much flatter terrain around
19:52 <Anastasia> it, built of the same color stone as the gray mountain before you.  Even in the rain you can see it's busy, merchants selling, people buying, farmers in the distance tending their fields, and all the various industries at work. A few buildings stand out. One is a big, circular building near the edge of town and close to the edge of the mountain. It's like someone tried to emulate a boulder
19:52 <Anastasia> somehow, and surely not without magic. There's a tall tower in the center of town, about ten stories and quite large. Almost like a stacked cake in design. Finally, you also notice a quite large graveyard, one with countless graves that stretch out, as well as a great many free standing masoleums.
19:53 <Skaya> "That's surely not natural, is it?" Skaya flags a passing merchant, gesturing at the large circular boulder-inspired building.
19:54 <Devar> "They certainly have some things unique to their design here." Devar agrees.
19:55 <Anastasia> The merchant comes over, "You need to buy something, miss," he asks, as a wagon behind him hauls covered goods.
19:55 <Anastasia> Sanda peers at it, "No way it is," she agrees.
19:56 <Anastasia> "Rather imposing, isn't it?" Anne concurs.
19:57 <Skaya> "Got maps of the mountain and surrounding area? Travel logs?"
20:02 <Anastasia> "Yeah," He says, "As a matter of fact I do. No logs but I have good maps. What size do you need, traveling or wall hung? They're drawn as of this year, so they're accurate."
20:03 <Skaya> "Traveling. Would be nice to know where all the paths are, and where the best caves for camping too. What's the price?"
20:07 <Anastasia> "Well," He goes on, "Do you want the standard model," Smiling widely, "You see, I'm something of a minor spellcaster and I know how to make better maps. Want one that's waterproof and tearproof, or one that can update with notes and adjustments if you use your finger to draw on it? I have those."
20:08 <Anastasia> Sanda perks up, "Oh, logically that would be great, but what sort of price are you offering for those?"
20:08 <Anastasia> "Waterproof would have merit," Anne glances up at the gray skies. "But how expensive are they?"
20:10 <Devar> "I'm curious about that too, especially one you can make notes on - how far does it cover?" Devar asks. "I imagine there's got to be some sort of geographical limit."
20:10 <Skaya> "Let's start by seeing the product~"
20:16 <Anastasia> "Yes, one reasonable area. The mountain here's about my limit," he says, taking out a map. He unfurls it, a map of the town. Rain falls on it and rolls off, not a drop sticking. "This one's waterproof," he says as you see it's handdrawn and artfully so. Well made, clear, good colors. "And tearproof." He offers it to Devar, "Try tearing it."
20:17 <Skaya> "Please allow me," Skaya says, gladly exerting her force upon the map!
20:17 <Devar> Devar hands it over to her!
20:19 <Anastasia> OOC: If you're seirously trying to tear it, give me a strength check.
20:20 <Skaya> roll 1d20+3+5
20:20 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+3+5 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{20}
20:21 <Anastasia> It's really resistant, more like. It takes all your  oomph to even begin to, but you manage a small tear. With a chuckle, "You're not the first one, but it's not infinite, true untearability. It's still tough, and far tougher than anything short of massive misfortune will do. Unfortunately the magic to make them self repair escapes me, but one day!"
20:23 <Skaya> "Yeah, this is strong enough for casual tears," Skaya agrees. "How do you fix the tears? And how do you care for it? Or there's no upkeep?"
20:26 <Anastasia> "Magic, mostly," he answers, "I do repairs on any maps I sell. There's no upkeep, the enchanted maps are strong enough not to need it for a long time."
20:26 <Devar> "There's a pretty basic spell that would probably fix any actual tears." Devar says. "Sanda and I could do it if need be."
20:28 <Skaya> "So now let's finally talk price."
20:30 <Anastasia> "Then feel free," he offers, "It's more for the magically uninclined folks I sell to. You're mages, so I can cut to the chase. 100 for waterproof and tearproof, 350 for that and note taking ability on it. I'll take gold coins at a 1-1 value from Welland or any nearby nation, even Laremy."
20:33 <Skaya> "Any way to add in a sensing spell?" Skaya asks him curiously. "Perhaps based off alarm?"
20:33 <Anastasia> "Sensing?" A question back, "Can you tell me what exactly you mean by that?"
20:38 <Skaya> "The basic Alarm spell works on a twenty feet radius for creatures of tiny size and larger, so I wondered if it would be possible to see anyone in a twenty feet radius around me on the map. Something like that?"
20:39 <Anastasia> "Far too complicated to do lightly, I'd have to work it out and see if I could," he admits, but then with a smile, "Of course, more sales means more money to devote to my studies."
20:39 <Anastasia> "Logically," Sanda nods quickly at that.
20:40 <Skaya> "Yeah sure. I'm fine with three fifty for the map, but I do want an overview of this town. The notable structures, people... maybe some news from the last couple weeks about who and what came through these parts?"
20:40 <Devar> "A well-versed merchant." Devar says with a bit of a smile.
20:43 <Anastasia> "I can provide those," he offers, as...OOC: We'll roll into that next time. Post the expense in loot and we'll resume Saturday.

[Corwin]

18:52 <•Anastasia> "First of all," The boulder-like building is pointed at, "That's the Rollrock Temple. Awhile back something called an earth elemental got stuck here, and learned how to talk better over time. The one it serves is called, ah..." A few nsaps of his fingers, "Grumbar! That's his name. It caught on, particularly with the stone quarriers and the miners."
18:56 <Skaya> "No way! That's a living elemental?!"
19:02 <•Anastasia> "Oh no, no," Rich laughter, "It had that built. I've see him, it's larger than a man but not that much larger."
19:02 <•Anastasia> "That would be terrifying," Starre murmurs, "I can't imagine an elemental that big."
19:02 <Skaya> "I can! That's why it's so terrifying!"
19:04 <Devar> "I wonder if they'd know anything about the elemental we ran into." Devar muses.
19:04 <Skaya> "Isn't that like hoping an elf you met knows some elves from two nations away?"
19:05 <•Anastasia> "I've had that asked of me," Starre comments in the meanwhile.
19:05 <•Anastasia> Laughing even more warmly, "He might, who can say? Now what other buildings did you want to know about?"
19:05 <Devar> "Well, that one was rather unique." He says.
19:06 <Skaya> "The tower in the center?"
19:13 <•Anastasia> "Old Benjamin's Tower," He answers, "Build a century ago by a lady wizard to memorialize her deceased husband. These days it serves as the center of the city's government as well as its guards. Very nicein there, there's a lot of quality of life magic and a library of magical tomes that you can buy temporary access to."
19:13 <•Anastasia> Sanda immediately straightens up, "That's remarkable," she says quickly, "How much?"
19:14 <•Anastasia> "Couldn't rightly tell you," The merchant admits, "I've never looked into it or had a reason to, but I do hear it depends."
19:14 <Skaya> "Quality of life magic, huh? Sounds like a sensible wizard."
19:18 <•Anastasia> "Better than this rain," Is the agreement you get, "Any other questions you have?"
19:19 — Skaya taps her lips thoughtfully. "Saw a pretty big cemetery here. Is that a recent thing? Or do explorers die in great numbers here?"
19:20 <•Anastasia> "Oh no, nothing like that. It's the Weinford Crypts. Everyone's buried there and has been for some time now." Is the answer, "It's an old Eldathian tradition I believe, though I believe the origins are obscure in this case." A glance to Devar at that, "Though perhaps your friend here may know more. I do know it's said there's never been an undead problem from there, despite the concentration."
19:21 <Skaya> "That's a relief!" Skaya wipes metaphorical sweat off her brow. "Then there's been no recent changes? No shady masked wizards showing up?"
19:25 <•Anastasia> "No, can't say I've heard of anyone masked," The merchant says, "Nothing like that."
19:25 <•Anastasia> Starre frowns at that, "What about in the recent few months?"
19:25 <•Anastasia> "No, nothing comes to mind,"
19:25 <•Anastasia> "No, nothing comes to mind," Is the answer you get back, "Nothing I can think of, anyway."
19:25 <Skaya> "Oh! What about this guy?" Skaya perks up, describing Jack.
19:28 <•Anastasia> A rub of his chin, "He does sound familiar," A thought, "I think he's been around, maybe I saw him drinking or around town. Not enough to know a name to the face, though."
19:29 <Skaya> "Good enough! I'll ask around, then. Had to have lodgings to stay here long enough. Ah, speaking of, got a recommendation?"
19:32 <•Anastasia> "The Mild Wind," Is the answer, "It's not far from the entrance, it's three stories with red brick. Stands out."
19:32 <Skaya> "Got it. Thanks!"
19:34 <•Anastasia> With that done the merchant goes off and you have one question: Now what's your play?
19:34 <Skaya> "So let's get to the inn to settle down and ask around town for Jack? Try to figure out what he did and who he did it with?"
19:36 <Devar> Devar nods. "He might've stopped at the library, someone like him would stand out a bit in a place like that." Devar says. "Maybe looking for history books or books on the area."
19:41 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay then, that's fairly simple. Going to look together or separately?
19:41 <Skaya> OOC: Let's stick together
19:43 <•Anastasia> OOC: In that case, one of you give me a Diplomacy check for GI and the other aids. I'll leave it to you two to who rolls what.
19:44 <Skaya> OOC: I can roll it at +15
19:45 <Devar> OOC: I'll ai
19:45 <Devar> OOC: aid
19:45 <•Anastasia> OOC: Go for it then.
19:46 <Skaya> roll 1d20+10+5+2
19:46 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+10+5+2 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{33}
19:47 <•Anastasia> It's into the afernoon when Devar and Skaya end up in a tavern. It's not quite the post work rush, but a few people are here. That includes a middle aged serving wench, Lined and old, steps weighed down with her long years. She has mostly gray hair and on your casual mention, "Wait, say that again," she says, suddenly.
19:48 <Skaya> "Jack?"
19:49 <•Anastasia> "Yes, about him," The woman's gaze is intense, she puts down her tray and looks right at you, "Let me make sure I heard that right."
19:49 <Skaya> To make sure they have the same man in mind, Skaya describes him properly.
19:50 <•Anastasia> "Him." The word is venomous. "Where is he? Do you know?" She comes forward, "Tell me! He did my family wrong!"
19:50 <•Anastasia> At that Anne silently sighs and has a pull on her ale.
19:51 <•Anastasia> Sanda shakes her head, "What are the odds," she says, "Besides near 100%?"
19:51 <Skaya> "Sure, I don't mind sharing what I know," Skaya readily agrees. "What did the scoundrel do?"
19:53 <•Anastasia> "Promised the world to my daughter, left her abandoned, unwed, pregnant and disgraced," Is the answer, "No chance of a good husband now, no chance of anything." Her hands clench shut, "A dog who ran off rather than take care of his own."
19:54 <Skaya> "He was poisoned by a masked wizard and died in agony." If that helps. Would it? Skaya isn't sure, so she leaves it at that.
19:56 <•Anastasia> A wordless moan, "Now my girl has no hope," she says, "All because she got swept up in his fancy stories."
19:56 <•Anastasia> "Sometimes addition by subtraction proves statistically accurate," Sanda remarks, "You don't abandon family like that."
19:59 <•Anastasia> Rina looks down and doensn't say anything.
19:59 <Skaya> "So disgrace and honor are nobles's concepts, most people don't really care about them beyond nasty gossip," Skaya muses. "The betrayal, that hurts, but it's a pain that will lessen eventually. So really, aside from all that, the problem is that your girl doesn't have good marriage prospects unless she either has good skills or a decent dowry. That about sums it up?"
20:00 <•Anastasia> "And has little chance of improving herself now," The woman agrees, "My poor Hilda."
20:01 <Skaya> "Let us meet and have a chat with Hilda. If she can help us out with some information, I'll see about helping her get back on her feet. Sounds fair?"
20:01 <•Anastasia> "My thoughts exactly," Starre murmurs.
20:01 — Skaya grins at Starre.
20:07 <•Anastasia> It's a small house. Not a lot here, tucked away and tight. Sitting in a small, somewhat dirty sitting room is a young woman. Brown hair, pretty in all the right ways and filling out her dress by being heavily pregnant. She looks up, "Ma? Who's all them?" she asks.
20:08 <Skaya> "My name is Skaya, a traveler that wants to see the world. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hilda," she introduces herself.
20:08 <•Anastasia> "I'm Starre, this is Sanda, Anne, Rina and Devar," she goes down the list.
20:09 <Devar> Devar nods politely.
20:09 <•Anastasia> Starre gets a longer look, but ultimately the focus is on Skaya at the moment, "A traveler! Oh, did you meet Jack? Did he give you a message for me?" Her face lights up in hope.
20:11 <Skaya> "I'm sorry," Skaya tells her, enthusiasm dimming. She honestly thought the mother would give the news, but it can't be helped. "He ran off and then crossed an evil wizard."
20:12 <•Anastasia> "He's dead, Hilda," Her mother says bluntly, and with a sigh, "I'm sorry, girl. I really am."
20:12 <•Anastasia> Hilda's expression crumples and she wails. Long and loud, "N-no, he can't be dead! He said he'd come back for me! We'd be rich and we'd live in the capital together, and travel the world on vacations!"
20:14 <Skaya> "I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news," Skaya tells her, showing a scroll that lists her as belonging to law enforcement. An appeal to authority isn't a bad thing to get Hilda to believe her.
20:17 <•Anastasia> It's barely even seen as she cries and wails. Anne goes to her along with her mother, the two consoling her. It takes a little time to cry out of it, but when she's at least able to speak, "He's r-really gone?" A small voice.
20:18 <Skaya> "I'm sorry," Skaya repeats.
20:18 <•Anastasia> "Beyond a doubt," Rina says, and softer, "I'm sorry. I lost someone close to me recently, too."
20:19 <•Anastasia> A slump, "Now what do I do?" she asks, plaintively.
20:19 <•Anastasia> "Girl, listen," The mother's voice is rough, "They want to know about him, and if you do, they said they'll help you."
20:20 <•Anastasia> "But I want-" she begins.
20:20 <•Anastasia> "Girl, you have a child to think about," Her mother cuts her off, "Get it together and tell them what they want to know."
20:21 <Skaya> "He clearly stayed here for months, perhaps longer. We would like to know what he was doing and where, plus the basis for that worldwide vacation talk. In return, we'll be sure to help you."
20:24 <•Anastasia> A nod. Not much in the way of words, but it's agreement at least. Then, "He was searching for a secret treasure. He told me about it and he was so sure he knew where it was. A treasure richer than any other, one lost for a long time. A lost city," she goes on, "Have you ever hear of Ianthe? He knew where it was!"
20:24 <•Anastasia> "Girl, I told you, all he knew was how to sound good," Her mother scowls.
20:27 <Skaya> "How did he know of it?"
20:29 <•Anastasia> "Said he stole it from..." she lowers her voice, "A Sharran ruin!" She then looks around all over, "The knowledge of it, that is."
20:29 <•Anastasia> "No need to lower your voice," Anne says, "Any power Shar had is gone. Have hope instead that she's no longer able to hurt anyone."
20:30 — Skaya winces. Still, if someone knew and hid the knowledge, Sharrans are a good choice. "So sounds like he chanced upon this Sharran ruin and then followed the information here?"
20:31 <•Anastasia> "He had it and he was going to find it. We were going to be so rich," Hilda sighs, "He made it sound so clear and easy."
20:32 <•Anastasia> "You are a foolish girl - but a girl makes a girl's mistakes." Starre says, "And Jack was no hero or promised husband."
20:33 <•Anastasia> "This gets more and more complicated," Sanda meanwhile murmurs to Rina and Devar, "Sharrans now?"
20:33 <Skaya> "If Jack knew where Ianthe was, why did it take so long for him to find?"
20:34 <•Anastasia> "He said it was still hard to find and took time," she answers with, "It's a big mountain."
20:35 <Skaya> "So all he knew was that it was up the mountain? Or was there something more concrete?"
20:35 <Devar> "We have to wonder how much of it was true." Devar murmurs back. "Though ultimately it doesn't make too much of a difference."
20:35 <•Anastasia> "He knew more but didn't ever say, just that he knew," Was the answer, "That the Sharrans had enough to put it together, hidden away."
20:36 <•Anastasia> "Sharrans are plausible," Sanda says, keeping back, "I've heard many stories about lost Sharran treasures left to be found, now that she's no more."
20:36 <Skaya> "How about his last trip before he left? How long did he take before returning? Which trail did he take up the mountain?"
20:37 <•Anastasia> "Um..." Thinking, "He took the Black Ridge trail up, I remember!" she says, "And he had a lot of gear with him. Climbing gear. Like those spikes you hit into the cliff. Ropes too. That it was a cave you had to climb to to get to."
20:38 <Skaya> "And travel times?"
20:39 <•Anastasia> "Um, I don't know, he was there a little while?" she says, carefully.
20:41 <Skaya> "I think it's quite likely he did find something, because he ended up leaving after spending the better part of a year here with you," Skaya tells Hilda. "He never showed you any of it?"
20:42 <•Anastasia> "I trusted him!" HIlda says with teary eyes, "He said he'd show me when it was all over."
20:42 <•Anastasia> Anne sighs at that, softly but audibly.
20:48 <Skaya> That seems like enough information, though they can always return for more. Perhaps to ask about the Sharrans? But for now, Skaya ponders just how big a dowry there would need to be for Hilda to find a decent match. Or, alternately, how much an apprenticeship would cost for her.
20:49 <•Anastasia> A couple hundred gold to make it beyond doubt and overcome any stigma at being a young, unwed mother.
20:51 <Skaya> "Right. Again, I'm sorry for what you went through, and that there wasn't a much better way of breaking such news." Perhaps it would be poetic justice in giving one of those gold bars, but this family will probably get robbed or murdered over it. Coins, however, Skaya can provide easily enough.
20:51 <Skaya> "Now, for my part in this. Would you like to try and find another match? Or would you like to discover your own dreams? Traveling around the world in style is unreasonable, but there are jobs that let you go out and experience the world. Often with merchant caravans, really."
20:52 <•Anastasia> "Girl, go for a match," Her mother speaks up, "You're in no shape to be traveling with a child, and I won't let you run off and leave them to me to raise. I already did that once."
20:53 <•Anastasia> "Jack was my dream," Hilda sounds sad again at that, before, "Just...just someone who will take care of me and my baby."
20:55 <Skaya> "I know it would make it better, but this should provide for you and your baby," Skaya says, withdrawing two hundred gold coins from her haversack, each hundred tied together into a shiny bracelet. "Let your mother arrange for a match, and feel free to give them a warning that the law would look dimly on taking the money and treating you badly. I'll be back to check in on you."
20:57 <•Anastasia> A gasp at that gold, "T-thank you!"
20:57 <•Anastasia> The mother shakes her head, "Thank you for your kindness, miss," she says, voice thickening.
20:59 <Skaya> "I try to be an upright person and I made a promise. All I want is for you two to stay safe, raise that kid and do well for yourselves in return."
20:59 <•Anastasia> "Have hope," Anne says, then ot Skaya, "Skaya, am I needed for the next while? I'd like to stay after and give Hilda some advise and guidance."
20:59 <•Anastasia> "Be well," Starre says, "Learn from your mistake and remember this kindness, and use it to remind yourself not to grow cold to the pain of others."
21:00 <Skaya> "It's all good, Anne. Take the time you need."
21:01 <•Anastasia> With that done, there's but one question: Now what?
21:03 <Skaya> OOC: We'll make sure we have provisions and climbing gear and go for the Black Ridge trial in the morning. Does Sanda know spider climb? Skaya will go for a Jump spell and Expeditious Retreat spell this time.
21:04 <•Anastasia> OOC: She does, and it doe smake logical sense to use it here, yes.
21:04 <•Anastasia> OOC: Any special prep for what's coming up, all?
21:04 <Skaya> OOC: That's my prep. I already have a lot of ropes and other gear.
21:05 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay. Devar?
21:07 <Devar> OOC: Nothing significant here, I'll prep some Feather Falls though
21:09 <•Anastasia> OOC: Cool. We'll knock out some odds'n'ends now and hit the mountain fresh Thursday. Devar in here, Skaya in #evil.

[Corwin]

21:11 <•Anastasia> That evening, Devar finds himself getting a drink. It's a nice respite from humid, muddy, wet traveling. That's whe he sees Starre and Rina enter, in quiet conversation as they enter the inn's taproom. Rina looks your way, an unspoken question as she glances between you and the bar.
21:11 <Devar> Devar gestures for them to come over, he's not the type to need to be alone, after all.
21:14 <•Anastasia> The two get drinks and join you. "So," Starre says once she sits, "Are you well afer all of this?
21:14 <•Anastasia> *after
21:16 <Devar> "It certainly feels like we're following a path that isn't going to lead us to our ultimate goal." Devar admits. "But... I think following this path is the right one. If Jack did find some grand treasure, it's best that we claim it and put it to good use." He says.
21:19 <•Anastasia> "I do increasingly feel that our foe's path and Jack's only crossed in passing, and all of this is unrelated," Starre says, "But who can say for certain? His motivations are still opaque to me, he may have magic that tells him of things like this."
21:20 <•Anastasia> Rina drinks up, "Better odds of killing him with you than going by myself," she admits, "Regis did always want to be well off, too."
21:20 <Devar> "It's possible." Devar says. "It's also possible we'll find our quarry when we get there, spending his time going through whatever nonsense the Sharrans left."
21:22 <Devar> He puts his drink down for a moment. "I feel like if we were pursuing something completely wrong, we'd know. I trust in the path that Eldath has laid out for me." He says, before he lifts his head to look at Rina. "But all that said, we'll get him. He has so much to pay for."
21:23 <•Anastasia> A long look back and a nod, "And if not?" Rina finishes her drink and gets up, "If possible, bury me next to Regis or at least in Mellanics." Then she goes, going to get a refill.
21:24 <Devar> A frown at that, but a nod - perhaps to himself - afterwards. "Buried too many already." He says quietly.
21:26 <•Anastasia> Once she's out of earshot, "He has much to pay for. Another soul, hurt because of his misery." Starre closes her eyes, "Buried too many  people, too. I-" she stops, "Don't mourn me if I pass. We Risen expect not to reach old age, our remaining time in this life is our atonement. Sooner or later, that requires our life for a higher purpose. Instead celebrate that I'm somewhere better." As Rina
21:26 <•Anastasia> begins to return, "Not to be grim, but we Risen know the risks we take."
21:28 <Devar> "No, I understand." Devar says. "But that doesn't mean you find a way to sacrifice yourself if there are other options, all right?" Devar says, pointing his drink at Starre slightly.
21:29 <•Anastasia> A point that is returned as Rina sits. She drinks up before, "So what will you do if we all end up incredibly rich?"
21:32 <Devar> "There's definitely several magical things that would make our lives easier." Devar says. "I can't say I've ever given much consideration to myself being rich, it just isn't something I aspire to. I'm not someone who takes some sort of vow of poverty, but leaving in a gilded castle isn't my dream."
21:36 <•Anastasia> "I honestly don't know. Use it for a good cause, I think," Starre reflects, "Maybe figure how I want to use the rest of my life in more detail, take a rest after he's finally defeated."
21:37 <•Anastasia> Drinking up quickly, going through a second mug quite quickly, "Maybe-" Rina begins, then stops. She looks down, "What's even the point now?" she deflates.
21:38 <Devar> "There will still be evil in the world." Devar says. "I don't mean to suggest you pursue every wicked person on the plane or anything, but... there's always a point to doing good things."
21:43 <•Anastasia> She goes to drink but Starre reaches out, "There's always a point in doing good things," she agrees, "Even if it's only sotpping you from getting drunk.
21:43 <•Anastasia> Rina slumps back, "I just want to find him and settle this, one way or another. Life knowing I avenged Regis or death and whatever awaits me."
21:47 <Devar> "It's not my place to tell you how to live." Devar says. "But... following a path with revenge in mind has only led to outcomes I wish I could have avoided. We want to stop this asshole because he's awful and poisons the hearts and minds of people around him - pursue the goal of stopping him because of that."
21:49 <•Anastasia> No words from Rina, who slumps in on herself. Starre shakes her head, "Live for the right reasons. Justice and protection, not vengeance. "
21:50 <•Anastasia> With that Rina takes her drink back, downs it in one gulp and stands. "Thanks," she says, "I- no, I think I'll just go to bed. I..." she wipes at her eyes, "It still hurts and..." She turns away and takes a breath, "Goodnight, you two."
21:50 <•Anastasia> "Goodnight," Starre agrees, no argument there.
21:51 <Devar> "You're allowed to have emotions." Devar affirms.
21:53 <•Anastasia> Rina goes. Once gone, "Well..." she says, "We have a long day tomorrow. To our safety," she finishes her own drink and rises as well.
21:54 <Devar> "Another literal mountain to climb." Devar says with a bit of a smile. "They don't usually warn you about those in scriptures, just the metaphorical ones."
21:55 <•Anastasia> "Goodnight, Devar," Starre agrees at that, getting up and going, and...OOC: Okay, more next time for you. It's about pause time, Skaya's almost there as well.
21:56 <Devar> "Good night." Devar says as he finishes his own drink!

[Corwin]

21:12 <•Anastasia> Availability means sharing a room. IN this case, Skaya shares one with Anne. She comes in late, visibly tired and yawning into her hand as she closes the door. "Oh, Skaya. That ran longer than I expected."
21:13 <Skaya> "You know we'll end up returning," Skaya muses, giving her a friendly wave in welcome. "No need to cram it all at once."
21:17 <•Anastasia> Anne begins to remove her gear, "Perhaps, but our lives could end any day. Why put it off and leave more regrets behind?" As armor is carefully taken off and put aside to be cleaned, "Not to be all gloom, so I do think I helped. Unfortunately, not the first young woman in that position I've had to help." With a sigh, "A matron's job is never done."
21:19 <Skaya> "The important thing is not to give up. Hope or otherwise. The rest will take care of itself."
21:22 <•Anastasia> A warm laugh, "I couldn't have said it better. Did Moore whisper that in your ear to encourage you?" Anne asks as with armor off, she goes to lie on her bed. "Sharrans, though. I've heard from others passing through that there are such things as Sharran ruins, where danger and treasure lie. Though in truth the main danger is the shadows that so often haunt those ruins. Shar may be dead,
21:22 <•Anastasia> but the undead still exist."
21:23 <Skaya> "I hope you don't think less of me if I vote to avoid Sharran ruins. Knowingly, at least."
21:28 <•Anastasia> "I'd say you're wiser than your years," Anne agrees, "They're best left to those who train to do it, and accept some possible riches aren't worth it."
21:29 — Skaya snorts. "No kidding. Going anywhere near that mess is just asking for neverending nightmares."
21:30 <•Anastasia> "Shar was so repugnant that it brought on wars throughout the higher and lower realms of Creation," Anne continues, "Near cataclysms that resulted in her overthrow at last. I'd be more worried if you saw that and wanted to loot it instead."
21:32 <Skaya> "Hey, hey. I protest! You know that my main interest is in exploration, and loot is a distant second, don't you?"
21:39 <•Anastasia> With a smile and closed eyes, "I wonder," Anne says aloud. "Then again, maybe stone swimming wyrms infest the mountain and we'll fight them by the score."
21:43 <Skaya> "You're such a jinx I swear...."
21:45 <•Anastasia> "Or worse, Sharran cultist stone swimming wyrms." Anne's smiling even more, "Or even half dragon stone swimming wyrms."
21:46 — Skaya closes her eyes. "Why are you like this? It's not cute at all!"
21:47 <•Anastasia> Laughing outright now, "Or perhaps I'm even a disguised dragon and this is all my scheme to bring you to my half dragon cultists and offspring."
21:49 <Skaya> "How many half-dragons?"
21:52 <•Anastasia> "777." Answering that right away, "Oh, if you're still up, there's stories about Moore and 777. I could tell you them?"
21:53 <Skaya> "Oh, nice! I could use something to put me to sleep," Skaya says with a grin on her face.
21:54 <•Anastasia> "Nonsense, Moore's accomplishments are many. Though if you prefer things of a draconic bend, I know some of Seira." Anne offers. "And her daughter Emily, who surely must be a half dragon as well."
21:55 <Skaya> "So is it true that dragons propagate through sex? By which I mean to the partner, not the kid."
21:56 <•Anastasia> "Well," Anne begins, as the night passes on and...OOC: That's a good enough note to end it on, since it's about time and I want to hit the mountain fresh Thursday.

[Corwin]

19:08 <•Anastasia> The next day dawns. Summer continues to scorch on, today the first truly sunny day in nearly a week. It's unpleasantly warm even in the morning. You see Anne loading up extra water for your supplies as Rina and Starre are in a quiet chat. Sanda's idling and waiting, the party ready to go. OOC: Ball's in your court, go ahead.
19:09 <Skaya> "Let's get going," Skaya calls out, clapping her hands once. "We've got a trail to check!"
19:11 <•Anastasia> "I'm ready," Sanda calls over, "I think we have good odds of success today."
19:11 <Skaya> "Oh, truly? Did you dip into divination?"
19:11 <Devar> Devar nods, joining the others.
19:11 <•Anastasia> "No no, just the odds and it's finally sunny out again," Sanda says, "We won't get waterlogged today."
19:12 <•Anastasia> "Only sweatlogged," Anne comments curtly, "Everyone, remember to drink enough but not too much and that if you need a break, say so. The heat can kill as surely as an arrow or sword."
19:13 <Skaya> "Good point. Heat doesn't bother me as much so sound off if we need a break."
19:18 <•Anastasia> With that and a few agreements...OOC: Okay, plans for the day? Really what I was angling for.
19:18 <Skaya> OOC: We'll go for the Black Ridge trial. We have a magical map!
19:24 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100
19:24 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=32 ]{32}
19:24 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100
19:24 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=96 ]{96}
19:25 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100 subtable times
19:25 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 subtable times --> [ 1d100=43 ]{43}
19:26 <•Anastasia> At first it's fairly safe travel. Up the early slopes, past people coming and going. Carts full of stone and ore are passed, but you go further. Towards the Black Ridge trail. It's quite a steep trail you notice, it won't be easy going. It's rocky up here, the air still and hot as the sun beats down.
19:27 <Skaya> "Does someone want to lead?" Skaya offers. "I'm thinking of bringing up the rear and catching anyone who loses their step."
19:28 <Devar> "Someone with good eyes ought to." Devar says. "I don't know that I necessarily fit that bill, but I can if no one else prefers to."
19:31 <•Anastasia> "I will," Starre offers, "I'll lead the way forward."
19:32 <Skaya> "Great! Lead on!"
19:32 <•Anastasia> "Keep our eyes peeled for any caves or fissures above the trail," Anne agrees as you begin to go and...
19:33 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7
19:33 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{20}
19:33 — Skaya will help with that, of course! Catching enemies ahead of time would be a challenge from the back, but looking for treasure and clues shouldn't be.
19:36 <•Anastasia> Starre's leading you up a slope not far in. The path isn't an easy one and the sun beats down. It's a steady pulse of hot, of misery as you go up a path that winds along the side of the mountain, only a few feet between you and the outer side, which is a drop of a few hundred feet.  Suddenly Starre reacts, "Look alive!" Just in time, for a loud CRACK comes from the cliffside to your other side,
19:36 <•Anastasia> a barrage of pebbles and loose stones, battering all of you. OOC: Ref save. No penalty thanks to Starre being alert at the head of the party.
19:37 <Skaya> roll 1d20+6+5 evasion
19:37 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+6+5 evasion --> [ 1d20=18 ]{29}
19:38 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Sanda
19:38 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Sanda --> [ 1d20=16 ]{21}
19:38 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+3 Anne
19:38 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+3 Anne --> [ 1d20=12 ]{15}
19:38 <Devar> roll 1d20+8 evasion
19:38 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+8 evasion --> [ 1d20=14 ]{22}
19:38 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Starre
19:38 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Starre --> [ 1d20=13 ]{18}
19:38 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6 Rina
19:38 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 Rina --> [ 1d20=15 ]{21}
19:39 <•Anastasia> However, the party is fast enough. Your precautions and good reflexes mean everyone manages to brace in time. The small collapse doesn't sweep anyone over, everyone still here if a bit battered by loose stones. Sanda leans heavily on Rina, who supports her. Starre dusts herself off as Anne calls, "Thank you, Starre. Good ears."
19:40 <Skaya> "Good catch!" Skaya echoes her.
19:40 <•Anastasia> Slowly Rina goes close to the edge and peers down at the drop. "And for that perhaps lives were saved," she murmurs, more to herself than anything else.
19:42 <Skaya> "Is the path clear enough to continue?" Skaya calls out to Starre, since she can't come up with anything to say to Rina.
19:49 <•Anastasia> Starre pokes it, "I think so, but we'll need to go carefully until we're clear of it," she calls back.
19:49 <•Anastasia> "Then let us go carefully," Anne says, not sweating in the least despite the heat.
19:50 — Skaya nods, waiting to bring up the rear again
19:51 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100
19:51 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=15 ]{15}
19:51 <•Anastasia> OOC: Perception, both of you, just for my reference.
19:52 <Devar> roll 1d20+8 lookin' around
19:52 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+8 lookin' around --> [ 1d20=19 ]{27}
19:53 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+5
19:53 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+5 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{31}
19:54 <•Anastasia> OOC: Cool. Also, a round of Fort saves for all. Any fire resistance, endure elements or other mitigation negates the need for a save. Anyone wearing armor or heavy clothing takes a -4 penalty to this save. Anne's running endure elements so she's off the hook.
19:54 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6 Sanda
19:54 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 Sanda --> [ 1d20=14 ]{20}
19:54 <Skaya> OOC: Fire res 5
19:54 <Devar> OOC: I also have that
19:55 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Rina
19:55 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Rina --> [ 1d20=19 ]{24}
19:55 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+9 Starre
19:55 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+9 Starre --> [ 1d20=10 ]{19}
19:56 <•Anastasia> The heat is brutal, but the party endures it. By the late morning you finally see something - a cleft in the cliff face about 35 to 40ft up, visible from below.
19:56 <•Anastasia> Rina takes a break to get some water as others peer up at it. It's Sanda who squints up and points, "Well, that's hopefully something."
19:57 <Skaya> "Any chance you've got a Spider Climb spell you could share with me?" Skaya asks Sanda. "I'm climbing up either way and will drop a rope down."
19:58 <•Anastasia> A few words and a tap, and it's bestowed onto Skaya. "There you go."
19:58 <Skaya> "Sweet!" And Skaya climbs up!
19:59 <•Anastasia> Like a spider, Skaya scurries up to the cleft above. Inside is...a small opening. The remnants of a bird's nest is here, but otherwise it doesn't go to much of anywhere.
20:06 <Skaya> "We need to keep looking," she calls down, after checking with her kama that it's not some illusion.
20:07 <Devar> "Do you want to scout around while you have the spell active?" Devar calls out.
20:08 <Skaya> "I mean, I can climb higher and keep a look out?"
20:08 <•Anastasia> No signs of anything giving when hit or pressed against.
20:08 <•Anastasia> "Spell'll last 30-40 minutes, maybe?" Sanda calls, "Somewhere in that range!"
20:09 <Skaya> "Hopefully it will be enough," Skaya agrees, just gaining a bit more altitude but otherwise following their path.
20:12 <•Anastasia> OOC: In that case, give me a second Perception check, Skaya.
20:12 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+5
20:12 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+5 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{33}
20:20 <•Anastasia> The party continues along. After about ten minutes, Skaya finds something. A little cave entrance well above, over 100ft up, and only dimly visible thanks to her higher perch. No way you'd ever see that otherwise.
20:20 <Skaya> "Here's another one," she tells the others, before climbing over for a look!
20:22 <•Anastasia> Anne looks up while Rina rests a moment, drinking more water. "How I wish this was autumn or spring instead," she quietly grumbles.
20:23 <•Anastasia> Inside the cave is a long, narrow passage that winds inward.
20:24 — Skaya finds a place to secure a pair of ropes tied together, complete with spaced out ties for better grip. Once done, she says, "Let's get you up one by one, and I'll climb alongside to make sure no accidents take place."
20:30 <•Anastasia> "That makes sense," Anne murmurs, "Devar, would you like to go first?"
20:30 <Devar> "Sure." He says with a nod.
20:36 <•Anastasia> OOC: Climb check. Sorry, life got me a minute. DC's muc lower thanks to climbing equipment.
20:37 <Skaya> OOC: DC's 5 for knotted rope, I think
20:38 <Devar> roll 1d20+2 don't fall
20:38 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+2 don't fall --> [ 1d20=10 ]{12}
20:38 ⇐ Iddy quit (uid408070@lunarnet-423F0355.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
20:42 <•Anastasia> It's easy enough and Devar's up. Soon the others follow, all carefully going up. Once up the cleft is quite cramped, but all of you are in here. OOC: Taking 10 here and going slowly.
20:43 — Skaya leads the way on! After pulling the rope up so no one finds it and ambushes them.
20:44 <•Anastasia> It's tight enough it'll quickly become single file. What order do you all want to go in?
20:45 <Skaya> OOC: Skaya, Starre, Sanda, Rina, Devar, Anne
20:51 <•Anastasia> OOC: Fantastic. More. Give me a nother Perception check, -10 penalty, Skaya.
20:52 <Skaya> OOC: Let's take 10. Final result 20.
20:52 <Skaya> OOC: Also I have darkvision 60
21:00 <•Anastasia> The party walks. It's not long until Skaya takes a step and her foot goes straight through the floor, like it's not there! Ack! Starre startles and starts to reach out for you, but she's not fast enough as...OOC: Didn't avoid it but didn't get the worst outcome. Ref save, -2 penalty.
21:01 <Skaya> roll 1d20+6+5-2 evasion
21:01 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+6+5-2 evasion --> [ 1d20=4 ]{13}
21:01 <Skaya> OOC: I do have spider climb still
21:02 <•Anastasia> In the end, it's only reflexes and spider climb that saves Skaya. It's just enough not to go facefirst into a pratfall, and balance long enough for Starre to yank her back.  "What-" Sanda startles and calls out from the middle of the pack.
21:02 <Skaya> "I-- Illusion," Skaya gasps, backing away a couple steps just in case.
21:03 <•Anastasia> Anne calls from the back, "Do you need healing?"
21:04 <Devar> "Huh, wonder if it's a new one or if it's been here a while." Devar says. "Either way, we have to be much more careful now..."
21:04 <Skaya> "Still alive!" Skaya calls back, before kneeling and studying the ground.
21:12 <•Anastasia> "Far more careful," Rina agrees, eyeing that ground carefully. To a casual look it looks like normal ground but to Skaya, but thanks to her experience, it slowly fades away. Ahead, she can see a 20ft long gap where there's no floor, and instead silent, semi translucent blades of force whirrling below. If she'd had fallen - well, it would've been painless and quick, at least.
21:13 <Skaya> "So this isn't just a magical trap, but there's still-working force blades beneath," she voices. "Yeah, I'm gonna say there's something interesting at the end of this trail."
21:17 <Devar> "Is there any way around the hole?" Devar asks.
21:18 <Skaya> "I suppose I could climb the walls, if they're not trapped...."
21:18 — Skaya checks for traps, just in case.
21:18 <Skaya> OOC: Taking 10 for 30 perception
21:19 <•Anastasia> Skaya doesn't see any traps in the walls, or at least any signs of them.
21:19 <•Anastasia> "It has to be something," Sanda agrees, then claps her hands together, "We might just be about to get really rich!"
21:19 <•Anastasia> "I doubt the odds of that, but something's here," Anne comments.
21:19 <•Anastasia> "The odds are great! Why do you doubt so much?" Sanda turns back, hands on her hips.
21:19 — Skaya gets around the hole by taking the walls across. If the distance is small enough, she can just arrange for the rope here again.
21:20 <•Anastasia> "Because I'm not letting my hopes of gobs of gold blind me to the reality of things," Anne snipes back, as meanwhile Skaya skitters along the wall to the other side. It's 20ft across until solid land once more.
21:21 <Skaya> With the rope once again provided, Skaya waits for someone to cross.
21:21 <•Anastasia> "Not now," Starre cuts in, gaze on Skaya's efforts instead.
21:21 <•Anastasia> "I'll try," Starre agrees, as both Sanda and Anne glower at each other, but at least shut up.
21:22 <Devar> Devar stays on the other side to help just in case!
21:26 <•Anastasia> Going carefully, the path is crossed by Starre. "Go slow and go careful, but with a wall and a rope, there shouldn't be any danger if you don't risk it." she calls back. OOC: Took 10.
21:26 <Skaya> OOC: Yes, please take 10, everyone. Let's go!
21:27 <•Anastasia> The others cross smoothly with this, even if Sanda's a bit slower and careful about it. "At least it's cooler in this cave," she comments once across.
21:28 <Skaya> This time, as she leads the way, Skaya goes slower, checking for more traps and whether the ground will hold her weight.
21:32 <•Anastasia> OOC: Perception, +5 bonus this time.
21:32 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+5+5
21:32 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+5+5 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{41}
21:44 <•Anastasia> A careful trek. However, it soon comes to a flat dead end with a single wooden barrel sitting at the end. It's ancient, the wood darkened and old, the entire barrel looking ready to fall apart.
21:45 — Skaya investigates the barrel!
21:46 <Devar> "How curious." Devar says.
21:51 <•Anastasia> Inside the barrel are large, thick, heavy golden coins. It's stuffed to the brim with them.
21:52 <Skaya> "Is any of this magic?" Skaya asks. "Lots of gold coins, looks like." She does ensure there are no traps she can spot.
21:52 <Skaya> OOC: Taking 10 for 30
21:58 <•Anastasia> OOC: Give me perception as well.
21:58 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+5
21:58 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+5 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{27}
22:00 <•Anastasia> ACK! As Skaya studies it, the entire thing suddenly becomes one giant mouth that bites at her. Only reflexes saves her from getting her arm chewed up. Before your eyes it shifts, becominga  series of thick, steel cord like tentacles connecting to over a dozen large maws. It reaches out nimbly fast, trying to bite Skaya into itty-bitty chunks! OOC: Init. Close call there, good call in the OOC
22:00 <•Anastasia> room for whomever said mimic.
22:00 <Skaya> roll 1d20+7 itsa me!
22:00 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+7 itsa me! --> [ 1d20=10 ]{17}
22:00 <Devar> roll 1d20+2
22:00 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{5}
22:03 <•Anastasia> OOC: I will roll the init for the others...next time!

[Corwin]

19:00 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Rina
19:00 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Rina --> [ 1d20=4 ]{9}
19:00 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Starre
19:00 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Starre --> [ 1d20=10 ]{15}
19:01 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20 Sanda
19:01 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20 Sanda --> [ 1d20=5 ]{5}
19:02 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+2 Anne
19:02 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+2 Anne --> [ 1d20=1 ]{3}
19:02 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Mimic?
19:02 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Mimic? --> [ 1d20=7 ]{12}
19:03 <•Anastasia> Init is Skaya (17) > Starre (15) > Mimic? (12) > Rina (9) > Devar = Sanda (5) > Anne (3)
19:03 <•Anastasia> "Wh-what is this even doing here?! IT makes no logical sense!" Sanda blurts out.
19:03 <•Anastasia> OOC: Open Skaya.
19:03 <•Anastasia> "Kill now, figure out out stupidity later!" Rina snaps.
19:03 — Skaya visits violence on whatever possesses tentacles within melee range of her!
19:04 <Skaya> roll 2#1d20+5+5 stunning fist Fort DC17 x2
19:04 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 2#1d20+5+5 stunning fist Fort DC17 x2 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{18}, [ 1d20=7 ]{17}
19:05 <•Anastasia> Unfortunately Skaya's fists can't land. Not only is it fast, it's tough e nough that the first blows don't even do anything. A hard target indeed as....OOC: Starre.
19:06 <•Anastasia> Unfortunately the narrow passage is a big problem and Starre calls, "Fall back! We're too cramped in here to fight much of anything!"
19:06 <•Anastasia> "And what, retreat back over the pit? We'd be sitting ducks!" Anne calls back, "We don't have a choice!"
19:07 <•Anastasia> Starre growls and gestures, defending herself for the moment instead. OOC: Being stuck in a single file situation sucks for this. Mimic's up.
19:08 <•Anastasia> Tentacles return the favor to Skaya, going to try and chomp her apart.
19:08 <•Anastasia> roll 2#1d20+8
19:08 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2#1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{11}, [ 1d20=3 ]{11}
19:08 <•Anastasia> A series of vicious-quick bites, but none manage to land on Skaya at all. It writhes as tentacles gather, before...OOC: Rina.
19:10 <•Anastasia> Rina jostles and angles as best she can, but makes a quick, careful and precise throw at one of the mouths.
19:10 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6
19:10 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{9}
19:10 <•Anastasia> Which plinks off to no effect at all, no one particularly effective so far. Then...OOC: Devar'n'Sanda. Go.
19:11 <•Anastasia> "This is why you bring wizards," Sanda sniffs, gesturing, "As they say in Dweomerheart, magic missile!"
19:11 <•Anastasia> roll 2d4+2
19:11 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d4+2 --> [ 2d4=4 ]{6}
19:11 <Devar_> Devar doesn't have much to do in t
19:12 <Devar_> Devar doesn't have much to do in this situation so he holds for now!
19:12 <Devar_> OOC: for my reference how big is the room skaya is in or is it just the end of this hallway without any opening?
19:13 <•Anastasia> OOC: It's just the end of the narrow, single file hallway. Terrible place to do battle.
19:13 <Devar_> OOC: got it
19:14 <•Anastasia> "Everyone, Moore will see us through this. Be strong!" Anne holds her holy symbol aloft, and power fills the party. A warm tingle, a sense of fearless confidence. OOC: Bless, +1 attack rolls and saves vs fear. Skaya, go.
19:14 <Skaya> This battle was forced upon them, so there's really little choice but to fight it. Skaya herself could escape, but what about the others? And then it hits her, as she hits the mimic. She can just climb the wall until she reaches the ceiling, providing a way to attack past her. So she does.
19:15 <Skaya> roll 2#1d20+5+5+1+1 stunning fist Fort DC17 x2, bless, attack from above?
19:15 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 2#1d20+5+5+1+1 stunning fist Fort DC17 x2, bless, attack from above? --> [ 1d20=6 ]{18}, [ 1d20=6 ]{18}
19:18 <•Anastasia> OOC: Flurry is a full round action, so you can't move and attack with it, just heads up.
19:20 <Skaya> OOC: I'm aware. I thought I could 5ft climb, but if not just the first hit and then move. And that hit would be at 20.
19:20 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay.
19:22 <•Anastasia> Skaya skitters onto the wall and jabs away, but can't land a single blow still. It's a tough target, but the way is cleared for the next one ahead: Starre. An invitation Starre happily accepts, stepping forward with blade out.
19:22 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+8 Starre
19:22 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+8 Starre --> [ 1d20=13 ]{21}
19:23 <•Anastasia> roll 1d8+3
19:23 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d8+3 --> [ 1d8=3 ]{6}
19:24 <•Anastasia> Starre manages to slash out and draw some blood on the tentacles, engaging head on now - but that also means the many mouths have two targets, chomping away at both of them as they engage it.
19:24 <•Anastasia> roll 2#1d20+6 Skaya
19:24 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2#1d20+6 Skaya --> [ 1d20=11 ]{17}, [ 1d20=17 ]{23}
19:24 <•Anastasia> roll 2#1d20+6 Starre
19:24 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2#1d20+6 Starre --> [ 1d20=7 ]{13}, [ 1d20=4 ]{10}
19:24 <•Anastasia> OOC: AC Skaya?
19:25 <Skaya> OOC: 17
19:25 <•Anastasia> roll 1d8+8+1d8+8 the ow train is here for Skaya, all aboard
19:25 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d8+8+1d8+8 the ow train is here for Skaya, all aboard --> [ 1d8=2 1d8=8 ]{26}
19:26 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 8/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40/40
19:26 <•Anastasia> Starre manages to dodge and juke away, while Skaya? She gets chomped and bitten by the tentacles, side bleeding freely, arm missing a large part of her bicep. The blood flows freely as Anne calls, "Hold on!" Then...OOC: Rina.
19:27 <•Anastasia>  Init is Skaya (17) > Starre (15) > Mimic? (12) > Rina (9) > Devar = Sanda (5) > Anne (3)
19:27 <•Anastasia> OOC: Marching order, for reference. Starre and Skaya are now engaging. <Skaya> OOC: Skaya, Starre, Sanda, Rina, Devar, Anne
19:28 <•Anastasia> Another dart comes as Rina steps aside, trying to be out of Devar's way as much as possible. Which isn't much in tight quarters.
19:28 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6
19:28 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{13}
19:28 <•Anastasia> Not that a dart does much, as meanwhile...OOC: Devar'n'Sanda.
19:29 <•Anastasia> Sanda stays well back still, more magic missiles as she shakes her heads, "Be careful, I don't like anyone's odds if they get close to it, except mine!"
19:29 <•Anastasia> roll 2d4+2
19:29 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d4+2 --> [ 2d4=4 ]{6}
19:30 <Devar_> "I can heal you if you can get back here!" Devar shouts. He traded magic missile for other things today, alas. OOC: still holding
19:30 <Skaya> "I'll do my best!"
19:30 <•Anastasia> "Fall back to Devar, Skaya!" Anne calls as she steps back carefully, measuring every step before, "Lady Jetina, watch over our recovery!"
19:31 <•Anastasia> roll 2d6 channel energy, 50% booster thanks to empower.
19:31 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d6 channel energy, 50% booster thanks to empower. --> [ 2d6=9 ]{9}
19:31 <•Anastasia> OOC: 13 total.
19:34 <•Anastasia> Healing comes to Skaya and the rest of th eparty as Anne mans the backline, recovery flowing. It helps the wounds,, no longer bleeding and partly restored. It helps, even if Skaya still hurts, still feels weakened. OOC: Skaya, you're up.
19:35 — Skaya decides to give the mimic a parting kick before retreating with as much agility as her wounded body allows.
19:36 ⇐ Devar_ quit (~igloo@lunarnet-64B10E9B.sub-174-211-231.myvzw.com) Read error
19:36 <Skaya> roll 1d20+7+5+1+1 attack
19:36 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+7+5+1+1 attack --> [ 1d20=10 ]{24}
19:36 <Skaya> roll 1d20+14 acrobatics to avoid AoO
19:36 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+14 acrobatics to avoid AoO --> [ 1d20=14 ]{28}
19:36 <Skaya> roll 1d8+3 damage
19:36 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d8+3 damage --> [ 1d8=2 ]{5}
19:37 <•Anastasia> Skaya's able to snap off a kick as she retreats and dodges, a hit that snaps a tentacle to the wall. A good solid blow as Starre keeps it occupied, slashing away.
19:37 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7
19:37 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{26}
19:37 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7 crit?
19:37 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 crit? --> [ 1d20=2 ]{9}
19:37 <•Anastasia> roll 1d8+3
19:37 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d8+3 --> [ 1d8=1 ]{4}
19:38 <•Anastasia> She manages to hack it up more, staying in close and drawing more blood - but then all the bites come on it. The tentacles come together, mono focused on a single target for one overwhelming attack.
19:38 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+12
19:38 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{14}
19:39 <•Anastasia> Yet one that Starre somehow falls back and avoids, dodging teeth and worse in all directions. She cries out and ducks, falling to a knee after. She's struggling to rise as Rina stays in position, hurtling more darts out.
19:39 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6
19:39 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{19}
19:39 <•Anastasia> Which only narrowly miss this time as...OOC: Sanda'n'Devar, so we'll wait on Devar to respawn.
19:41 → Devar_ joined (~igloo@lunarnet-64B10E9B.sub-174-211-231.myvzw.com)
19:45 <•Anastasia> OOC: Make sure to adjust topic HP with the healing from Anne, Skaya.
19:45 <•Anastasia> OOC: So Devar doesn't overheal you.
19:46 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 21/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40/40
19:46 <Devar_> Devar will put a hand on Skaya to restore her health! OOC: 13 lay on hands
19:47 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 34/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40/40
19:47 <•Anastasia> Healing comes as Sanda bravely steps in, sword crackling with electricity. She's willing to risk it, going in as...
19:47 <•Anastasia> *Staff, sorry.
19:48 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+8 shocking grasp channeled
19:48 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+8 shocking grasp channeled --> [ 1d20=9 ]{17}
19:48 <•Anastasia> Which bonks the floor instead, a narrow miss as tentacles move well out of the way. At the same time Devar heals the rest of Skaya's wounds, full vitality restored. Just in time for Anne, who holds in case of emergency healing. OOC: Skaya.
19:49 <Skaya> "Once more into the breach!" Skaya declares. And by breach she means climbing all over the ceiling to hit the mimic, of course.
19:49 <Skaya> roll 1d20+7+1+1
19:49 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+7+1+1 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{22}
19:50 <Skaya> roll 1d8+3
19:50 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d8+3 --> [ 1d8=6 ]{9}
19:51 <•Anastasia> From above the mimic's hit hard, more tentacles kicked and punched. They're sagging and bruised, bloodied as Starre falls back, just in time for maws to chomp down at the two targets it has.
19:51 <•Anastasia> roll 2#1d20+6 Skaya
19:51 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2#1d20+6 Skaya --> [ 1d20=3 ]{9}, [ 1d20=9 ]{15}
19:51 <•Anastasia> roll 2#1d20+6 Sanda
19:51 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2#1d20+6 Sanda --> [ 1d20=1 ]{7}, [ 1d20=18 ]{24}
19:51 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6 crit?
19:51 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 crit? --> [ 1d20=3 ]{9}
19:51 <•Anastasia> roll 1d8+8 Sanda
19:51 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d8+8 Sanda --> [ 1d8=5 ]{13}
19:51 •Anastasia set the topic: Skaya: 34/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 19/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40/40
19:52 <•Anastasia> SAnda gets a chomp on her leg, blood flowing free from the wound. She visibly rocks, almost falling over, but immediately, "Healing!" Anne cries.
19:52 <•Anastasia> roll 2d6
19:52 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d6 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
19:52 <•Anastasia> OOC: 9 total.
19:52 •Anastasia set the topic: Skaya: 34/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 28/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40/40
19:53 <•Anastasia> Init is Skaya (17) > Starre (15) > Mimic? (12) > Anne (10) > Rina (9) > Devar = Sanda (5)
19:53 <•Anastasia> Darts come as Rina tries to stay out of the way, taking potshots as she can.
19:53 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7 bless too
19:53 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 bless too --> [ 1d20=18 ]{25}
19:53 <•Anastasia> roll 1d3+1
19:53 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d3+1 --> [ 1d3=1 ]{2}
19:53 <•Anastasia> At least one hits, stuck in one tentacle. Then...OOC: Devar'n'Sanda.
19:54 <•Anastasia> Recovering from her injury, "Yaaaah!" Raising her quarterstaff up high, Sanda brings it down in another shocking assault. Well, electric, anyway. Odds are you could see this coming.
19:54 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+8 shocking grasp channeled
19:54 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+8 shocking grasp channeled --> [ 1d20=14 ]{22}
19:55 <•Anastasia> roll 1d6+2+4d6
19:55 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d6+2+4d6 --> [ 1d6=5 4d6=16 ]{23}
19:56 <Devar_> OOC: can I squeeze back to get to Anne to also do channeling without healing the mimic? If it matters
19:56 <•Anastasia> With a heavy blow to center mass, Sanda hits it hard. All the tentacles writhe before they flop over, spasming and uncoordinated. It does that for eseveral seconds before it goes still, smoke rising from its scorched, shocked body. OOC: Free act.
19:57 <Skaya> "Nice job, Sanda!" Skaya cheers, dropping down from the ceiling.
19:58 <•Anastasia> Anne sighs in relief, "On one hand, this wasn't our passage. On the other," She pauses in thought, "There's absolutely something here now, and in the caves people wouldn't find easily."
19:58 <•Anastasia> "We're all alive, that's enough after a nasty surprise like that," Starre says, "That could have gone so wrong."
19:58 <Skaya> "Think there's a hidden passage here or something?"
19:58 <•Anastasia> Sanda breathes out and then sniffs, "Well, it was the only logical outcome, but thank you."
19:59 <•Anastasia> "Maybe?" Rina steps forward, "Or it's dummy bait. At this point I'm not sure what's going on."
19:59 <Skaya> "I heard elves can tell if that stuff exists just by walking near."
20:02 <•Anastasia> "Let me," STarre takes the obvious bait and goes forward, looking about. OOC: For reference since it's come up, I've been rolling these/taking 10 as approriate behind the screen, so not as to clog things up with rolls or to unduly hint at anything. More.
20:04 <•Anastasia> With some inspection and time, "I don't see anything," Starre finally says, "I think this is a true dead end."
20:05 <Skaya> "Shame we didn't get anything but some wounds, but such is life," Skaya agrees, climbing to the back of the group to lead their way out while Spider Climb is still active.
20:06 <•Anastasia> It takes a bit of time to get back onto the hot path, but you do. Continuing on?
20:06 <Skaya> OOC: Yes
20:06 <Skaya> OOC: Also let's heal Sanda
20:09 <•Anastasia> OOC: Was one sec. Who's healing her?
20:10 <Skaya> OOC: Can Devar spare a turning?
20:10 <Devar_> OOC yeah no issue
20:11 <Devar_> Roll 1d6 healing
20:11 <Kobot> Devar_ rolled 1d6 healing --> [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
20:11 •Anastasia set the topic: Skaya: 34/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40/40
20:11 <•Anastasia> OOC: Got it on the number.
20:12 <•Anastasia> OOC: Back out ot the path. More time so another round of heat danger checks.
20:12 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6 Sanda
20:12 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 Sanda --> [ 1d20=3 ]{9}
20:12 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Rina
20:12 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Rina --> [ 1d20=2 ]{7}
20:12 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+9 Starre
20:12 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+9 Starre --> [ 1d20=16 ]{25}
20:12 <Skaya> OOC: Fire res 5
20:12 <Devar_> OOC: also that
20:13 <•Anastasia> OOC: I nkow, you, Devar and Anne are off the hook.
20:13 <•Anastasia> roll 1d4 Sanda'n'Rina
20:13 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d4 Sanda'n'Rina --> [ 1d4=3 ]{3}
20:13 •Anastasia set the topic: Skaya: 34/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32(3)/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40(3)/40
20:14 <•Anastasia> As you walk along the hot paths, one thing is quickly clear. It's getting hotter and it's taking a toll. Rina's a sweaty mess, while Sanda's visibly slowing and limping more. Anne peers up at the rising sun, "It's going to be absolutely scorching today, and the height isn't helping enough."
20:14 <•Anastasia> "I'm fine, just water," Rina goes to rest against the rock cliffside, pulling out her water skina nd having a gulp.
20:15 <Skaya> "Next cave we find, we could spend a few hours inside to wait out the worst of it?"
20:15 <•Anastasia> "I'm feeling drained already," Sanda shakes her head, "Heatstroke. I know what it is."
20:16 <•Anastasia> "Healing won't help until you cool off," Anne goes on, "So yes, the next cave we find, we rest in until they're cooled down."
20:17 <Skaya> In the meantime, Skaya picks up Sanda. "No need for you to struggle so much until then, right?"
20:17 <•Anastasia> Sanda doesn't even resist, scooped up. "Okay," she says agreeably, "I like your logic."
20:18 <Skaya> "Try not to hit anyone with your staff? And I still can't believe it worked."
20:18 <•Anastasia> "Told you it would," Sanda says tiredly, as...OOC: Percpetion, whomever is on front for this. +2 bonsu.
20:18 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+5+2
20:18 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+5+2 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{27}
20:18 <Skaya> "No, seriously, it's nowhere statistically sound...."
20:19 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+6 Sanda takes some more time, unfortunately, so another round of checks first
20:19 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+6 Sanda takes some more time, unfortunately, so another round of checks first --> [ 1d20=19 ]{25}
20:19 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Rina
20:19 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Rina --> [ 1d20=16 ]{21}
20:19 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+9 Starre
20:19 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+9 Starre --> [ 1d20=9 ]{18}
20:20 <•Anastasia> About twenty more minutes to when you spy something along the upper cliff wall. An isolated cave entrance, about fourty feet up, give or take a few. Not big, but big enough.
20:21 — Skaya sets Sanda down and carefully climbs those forty feet! While carrying lots of knotted rope!
20:21 <Skaya> OOC: I'll take 10 on Climb 27
20:25 <•Anastasia> Easy enough to make the climb up. It looks like a fairly shallow cave, maybe ten feet deep with signs of old bird's nests. Not a lot ease, at least ot the casual eye.
20:26 — Skaya does a more thorough check! If the bird nests are mimics, they'll be the ones to suffer after climbing here.
20:26 <•Anastasia> OCO: Give me a check, but one sec in the meantime.
20:26 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+5
20:26 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+5 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{22}
20:28 <•Anastasia> Skaya doesn't find anything unusual up here, at least.
20:29 <Skaya> "It's just a small cave," she calls down, tossing the rope for everyone to climb. "Shallow, but at least it's out of the sun."
20:32 <•Anastasia> "Good enough," Starre calls as she climbs up, everyone clamboring up. With all of you it's cramped, but it's also shaded and cooler. Sanda sits down against a wall and Rina slumps next to her. Anne stays just out of the sunlight, peering out, "It's our bad luck the weather turned hot today. Rainy would be a different sort of difficult, but heatstroke wouldn't be a concern."
20:33 <Skaya> "We just traveled longer than we should've without rest. Live and learn. It doesn't bother me, so...."
20:34 <Devar_> "Does that map show anything interesting around here?" Devar asks since they're stopped.
20:34 <•Anastasia> "I'll prepare more Endure Elements tomorrow," Anne remarks, while Starre checks out the back of the cavern, just in case.
20:34 <Skaya> "Let's see!" Skaya answers Devar, unfurling the map.
20:38 <•Anastasia> You're an hour or two away from Knife Rock, which is a rock outcropping that looks like a knife. Original. It's also a big crossing point with various paths going on from it, and a mark that there's a spring nearby.
20:39 <Skaya> "Once we've rested a bit, let's go check out the nearby spring?" Skaya offers. "Might be just what's needed for today!"
20:42 <•Anastasia> "Yeah," Rina agrees listlessly, recovering.
20:42 <•Anastasia> "Say, Devar," Anne speaks up, "Do you think you have much more energy to muster for healing today?"
20:44 <Devar_> He nods. "I do."
20:56 <•Anastasia> "We should be alright," she says, and a few hours pass. Noon comes and goes, the worst of the heat passing. It's still hot, but, "I feel better," Rina says, "Still tired, but not as heat worn."
20:57 <Skaya> "Let's go freshen up at the spring!"
20:58 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100
20:58 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=35 ]{35}
20:58 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100
20:58 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=23 ]{23}
21:00 <•Anastasia> Knife Rock is...Knife Rock. A big, twenty foot tall rock formation that does rather resemble a knife. It juts up at a four way intersection a bit inwards and away from the cliff's edge, various paths leading around or deeper into the mountain.
21:01 — Skaya looks for the spring!
21:06 <•Anastasia> It's just a bit ahead and in the shadow of a mountainside rise. It's a small, recessed spring, where waters burble up. It's not big, but it's a spring, alright.
21:07 — Skaya skips ahead towards it and tests the temperature of the waters!
21:09 <•Anastasia> Cool enough. Not super cool, but pleasant to the touch.
21:10 <Skaya> OOC: Is it a spring for drinking or for swimming, by the looks of it?
21:11 <•Anastasia> OOC: It's not quite big or deep enough for swimming.
21:11 — Skaya splashes some of the water on herself as she waves the others over.
21:15 <Devar_> Devar heads over with the others!
21:17 <•Anastasia> Rina goes to it and does the same, while Sanda kneels and tastes it. "Minerally," she remarks, but cools herself as well.
21:18 <Skaya> "What do you think?" Skaya voices once everyone is closer. "Head back and look for caves again, rest the night in town? Or keep going down another path, perhaps find a cave to sleep in?"
21:18 <•Anastasia> OOC: Perception all.
21:18 <Skaya> roll 1d20+20
21:18 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+20 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{38}
21:19 <Devar_> OOC: take 10 for 18
21:22 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay, we'll pick up there next time, I'll try to run a little over Thursday or Saturday. I'm sneezing my head off and feeling increasingly miserable.

[Corwin]

19:07 <•Anastasia> As you chat about that, it's Skaya who happens to look up at the right time. High above, soaring and glistening bright in the sun, is a glistening dragon clad in bronze, all the brighter in the heat of the day. Thousands of feet up, yet large enough to be noticable down here. It soars over the mountain, heading southeast.
19:08 <Skaya> "What," she says flatly.
19:08 <•Anastasia> "Did you say something, Skaya?" Rina looks over.
19:09 <Skaya> "Either that's a huge bronze dragon or I got heatstroke too," Skaya says, pointing to the southeast.
19:09 <•Anastasia> Eyes go up. Starre murmurs, "Then we have the same delusion, I see it too."
19:10 <•Anastasia> "Well, dragons do things too." Sanda says, sounding tired. "Logically, it does look to have absolutely nothing to do with us."
19:10 <Skaya> "No, Sanda. Dragons have everything to do with everything."
19:10 <•Anastasia> "Unless it's the owner of that underground madness we battled," Anne says, "And it's coming back to reclaim it."
19:12 <Skaya> "Want to follow it? Since it's bronze we might be able to converse and exchange information without dying horribly."
19:14 <•Anastasia> Anne watches it fly by and away, "Not particularly," she says, "We already have two tasks, and who knows when it'll and. Besides, as long as it's in the air, we can't remotely keep up."
19:15 <•Anastasia> Sanda eyes it, "Now I want to, but unfortunately Anne's right about something." A sniff from Sanda as Anne's expression tightens. "Logically, there really is no way we'll keep up with it unless it lands shortly, and there's no sign of that. It's flying high after all and not coming in to land."
19:15 — Skaya checks the map to see if there's a suitably majestic mountain for the dragon to live at in that direction.
19:16 <•Anastasia> Not particularly, as it's going roughly in a Laremy direction.
19:17 <Skaya> How about where it was headed from?
19:17 <•Anastasia> Nothing close, at least.
19:19 <Skaya> "Well, that's that. Let's head back to town while keeping an eye for caves again?" Skaya proposes. "Ah, I'm gonna be climbing normally with my regular skills periodically so it might take a bit longer, but the vantage point it gives is what found us the last three caverns. Works?"
19:20 <•Anastasia> "We might catch one we missed from this angle," Rina agrees, "But rest and trying again in the morning sounds nice. Hopefully it's cooler."
19:20 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@lunarnet-82C188CE.hr.hr.cox.net)
19:21 <•Anastasia> OOC: In that case them, go ahead and me a new Perception check, Skaya.
19:21 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+5
19:21 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+5 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{30}
19:24 <•Anastasia> It's not far when you see it. Down a side path, rocks angled so that it's harder to notice coming up. A little opening about 35ft up.
19:24 <Skaya> "Here's one we missed on the first pass!" Skaya calls down before carefully making her way towards the opening.
19:29 <•Anastasia> OOC: Climb check then real quick.
19:29 <Skaya> roll 1d20+12+5
19:29 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+12+5 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{25}
19:29 <•Anastasia> Meanwhile the others wait, and quietly, "I hope we find it soon," Starre murmurs, "These mountains are disagreeable."
19:30 <•Anastasia> It's not too hard for Skaya to climb up. It's a small, simple opening. No signs of animals either, just a depth of about twenty feet and it opens up a bit, but ultimately a dead end on first glance.
19:30 <Devar> "Well, and who knows how many caves we might've missed that are covered by an illusion?" Devar says.
19:31 <Skaya> "Looks a dead end but could be illusion filled with mimics! Come save me if I don't get back in a few!" Skaya calls over cheerfully before examining the small cavern. And making sure not to step fully without testing the ground first.
19:32 <•Anastasia> OOC: Gimme your check, Skaya.
19:32 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+5
19:32 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+5 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{38}
19:34 <•Anastasia> "A fair point, and if it is, we could spend years searching in vain." Starre agrees, pausing to have some water. Meanwhile - ! Skaya's hand goes through the back wall when she checks it, like it isn't there.
19:35 — Skaya returns and then drops the knotted rope down. "What would you think? Another illusion! It's too dangerous to go alone, come up~"
19:36 <Devar> "It takes a strong mage to make illusions that have lasted as long as this." Devar says as the rope comes down.
19:37 <•Anastasia> Anne frowns but follows, while Rina perks up, "Maybe this time we'll find an ancient treasure?"
19:38 <Skaya> "So I've been thinking," Skaya muses as everyone comes up. "Let's be sure to use that swim in stone power you guys got? So when I lead, maybe Devar could be right by my side in the wall? Something like that?"
19:40 <Devar> "It doesn't last that long unfortunately." Devar says. "So it's really only useful for an emergency, I think."
19:41 <Skaya> "So if you follow me, you could help me flank whatever's attacking me in a flash?"
19:43 <Devar> "Yeah, I was going to use it if we got into a real problem before." He says. "I could've gotten around to behind it that way if need be."
19:43 <•Anastasia> "I don't think it lasts long from my testing," Sanda points out, "So it's more of a trump card than something to use constantly."
19:44 <•Anastasia> Nodding along as you all get up - now what?
19:44 — Skaya takes a look past the illusion, of course!
19:46 <•Anastasia> It leads to a short passage, about 20ft long, and at the far side looks to be a slope going down.
19:47 — Skaya keeps on confirming that the floor is safe to walk on and the walls don't hold hidden arrow slits or the ceiling isn't about to come down on them. And keeps going forward!
19:50 <•Anastasia> OOC: Another check then.
19:50 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+5
19:50 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+5 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{33}
19:53 <•Anastasia> Nothing like that. Just a slope going down, which quickly becomes stone stairs. Old, crumbling ones, cracked with age and time.
19:53 — Skaya leads the way down!
19:56 <Devar> Devar carefully brings up the rear!
19:57 <•Anastasia> The others follow, "Stairs," Sanda whispers back, "I like our odds!"
19:57 <•Anastasia> As you go, Skaya notices one stair is slightly out of alignment, raised too high.
19:57 <•Anastasia> "If we don't get eaten by mimics," Rina retorts in the meantime.
19:58 <Skaya> "I don't! Wait!" Skaya calls out, examining that set of stairs.
19:59 <•Anastasia> The step does seem out of alignment, notably so. Peering carefully, you can notice hints of some sort of plate set beneath it, only the edge glimpsed. Something to press into if pressed down.
20:00 <•Anastasia> Silence from the others, as they await Skaya's word.
20:03 <Skaya> "So I could try to disable it," Skaya muses. "But I can't promise my skill's up to par so get back a bit first?"
20:03 <•Anastasia> Companions and friends shuffle back, "Only sensible," Anne agrees, "Be careful, Skaya."
20:03 <•Anastasia> Rina gives you a long look, then falls back without aw ord.
20:03 — Skaya takes her time to work at it!
20:04 <Skaya> roll 1d20+12+5 disable device
20:04 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+12+5 disable device --> [ 1d20=12 ]{29}
20:06 <•Anastasia> It's hardly easy. In fact it's plain difficult but with a careful effort...there! You stuck the step in place. It's not a pe rfect solution, but it should do for not triggering the trap.
20:08 — Skaya slowly wipes sweat off her forehead. "So I got it done but it was much harder than the most difficult traps I've ever had to work with. This is just unfair."
20:09 <•Anastasia> "Well, treasure's rarely unguarded," Sanda opines.
20:09 <•Anastasia> "Good work," Starre offers instead.
20:09 <•Anastasia> "I had to do nothing. I like when I don't have to use my healing," Anne says agreeably.
20:11 — Skaya continues the descent after skipping the trapped stair.
20:12 <Devar> Devar will carefully avoid the step as best he can after the others. "Really does make you curious what's being guarded." He says.
20:15 <•Anastasia> "
20:15 <•Anastasia> "I have questions," Anne murmurs to that, as you reach the bottom. Here is a dead end where a large wooden box awaits. It's sealed shut.  The box is almost as tall as Skaya and much wider than her.
20:16 <Skaya> "Is this a coffin? Is this for me?"
20:19 <•Anastasia> "I worry about the answer to those," Anne sayd dryly.
20:20 <•Anastasia> "That or it's another mimic," Starre says, "Do you feel lik etrying your fortune?"
20:20 <Skaya> "I really do," Skaya agrees, checking it out.
20:20 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15 perception
20:20 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15 perception --> [ 1d20=1 ]{16}
20:21 <•Anastasia> Looks normal to you. No traps or anything.
20:22 <Skaya> "Clearly it's safe! How many mimics could there possibly be in these mountains, after all?" Skaya muses, cheerfully opening the box.
20:23 <•Anastasia> The box opens - and becomes a blue-green goo before your eyes. It surges forward, looking to engulf Skaya!
20:24 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+12 flatfoote dAC unless you have uncanny orsimilar
20:24 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+12 flatfoote dAC unless you have uncanny orsimilar --> [ 1d20=11 ]{23}
20:24 <Skaya> "WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!"
20:24 <Skaya> OOC: It hits my ac anyway
20:24 <•Anastasia> roll 5d8 acid owwwies
20:24 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 5d8 acid owwwies --> [ 5d8=19 ]{19}
20:25 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+14 vs CMD
20:25 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+14 vs CMD --> [ 1d20=11 ]{25}
20:25 <•Anastasia> OOC: CMD?
20:26 <Skaya> OOC: CMD of 24, Acid Res 5
20:28 <•Anastasia> Pain. So much pain as Skaya's front now has the blue-green blob clinging and holding to her front, trying to engulf her entirely. They're locked in a difficult struggle, Skaya good and grappled by it, trying to turned into lunch. OOC: Init. Good luck with this mess.
20:28 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20 Sanda
20:28 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20 Sanda --> [ 1d20=19 ]{19}
20:28 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+2 Anne
20:28 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+2 Anne --> [ 1d20=12 ]{14}
20:28 <Devar> roll 1d20+2
20:28 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{7}
20:28 <Skaya> roll 1d20+7
20:28 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{26}
20:29 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 20/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32(3)/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40(3)/40
20:29 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Rina
20:29 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Rina --> [ 1d20=16 ]{21}
20:29 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Starre
20:29 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 Starre --> [ 1d20=10 ]{15}
20:30 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+4 Mimic-ooze
20:30 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+4 Mimic-ooze --> [ 1d20=11 ]{15}
20:31 <•Anastasia> Init is Skaya (26) > Rina (21) > Sanda (19) > Starre = Mimic-Ooze(15) > Anne (14) > Devar (7)
20:31 <•Anastasia> OOC: Open Skaya.
20:32 — Skaya tries to escape from this horror!
20:32 <Skaya> roll 1d20+14+5 escape artist vs CMD
20:32 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+14+5 escape artist vs CMD --> [ 1d20=18 ]{37}
20:35 <•Anastasia> With a groan and a kick, Skaya knocks the ooze-mimic away, off of her and free. She stumbles to the side, acid burnt but not lunch (yet). This opens it up for Rina, who pulls the injured Skaya away and towards Anne. Anne' s already starting to chant, as meanwhile Sanda limps forward. With determination she raises her quarterstaff high before bringing it down, electricity running up and down
20:35 <•Anastasia> it. 
20:36 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7 shocking grasp
20:36 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 shocking grasp --> [ 1d20=12 ]{19}
20:36 <•Anastasia> roll 1d6+2+4d6 zap
20:36 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d6+2+4d6 zap --> [ 1d6=3 4d6=16 ]{21}
20:36 <•Anastasia> One hard hit zaps the ooze dead on. It quivers violently and shakes, Sanda calling, "Go for it now!" she says, as Starre lunges in, at the same time the ooze lunges in return at Sanda.
20:37 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+7 Starre
20:37 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+7 Starre --> [ 1d20=9 ]{16}
20:38 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+12 vs Sanda
20:38 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+12 vs Sanda --> [ 1d20=1 ]{13}
20:39 <•Anastasia> Yet it's a tradeoff. Starre can't land a blow, but forces the ooze away from Sanda. A decent trade overall as Anne quickly touches Skaya, "Be made whole," she commands, and with that, Skaya is. OOC: CMW.
20:39 <•Anastasia> roll 2d8+4
20:39 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d8+4 --> [ 2d8=5 ]{9}
20:39 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 29/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32(3)/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40(3)/40
20:39 <•Anastasia> Well not all the way, but most of the way. The burns are mostly gone at least, so progress. It's like cool water washed over Skaya, her injuries purified away with them. OOC: Devar.
20:44 <Devar> Devar doesn't have much he can do from the back, so he will just hold in case of an emergency!
20:48 <•Anastasia> OOC: Skaya, go.
20:50 <Skaya> "Thanks, Darling! Be right back!" Skaya calls to Anne, as her mood rebounds with her flooded with positive energy. Through a display of acrobatics, she dodges around everyone until she's finally in position to stab the slime mimic with her drawn sai!
20:50 <Skaya> roll 1d20+14 acrobatics
20:50 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+14 acrobatics --> [ 1d20=14 ]{28}
20:50 <Skaya> roll 1d20+8+2+5 charge
20:50 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+8+2+5 charge --> [ 1d20=7 ]{22}
20:50 <Skaya> roll 1d4+3+5
20:50 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d4+3+5 --> [ 1d4=2 ]{10}
20:51 <•Anastasia> With a heavy hud the ooze takes one more blow, then falls back. It lies there and slowly turns from ooze to a thin, runny fluid, no longer attacking the party.  OOC: Free act.
20:52 <•Anastasia> "Wasn't as bad ast the last one," Starre sheathes her sword, "Are you alright, Skaya?"
20:52 — Skaya looks at her reflection in the sai's well-polished blade.
20:54 <Devar> "But who keeps putting these here... and to what end?" Devar asks.
20:55 <•Anastasia> Skaya looks fine, nicely healed up if her clothing has some acid damage. "I don't get that, either," Anne says, "Would these monsters last centuries unattented?"
20:55 <•Anastasia> "...I doubt it," A pause from Rina, "There's no way they would."
20:57 <Skaya> "Someone's doing this on purpose, huh?"
20:57 <•Anastasia> "Logically," Anne continues, as Sanda's gaze turns to her, "To what end is the right question, and I'm not coming up with a good answer right away. At least the most obvious ones don't make sense. Someone's definitely doing this on purpose, but I don't understand why."
20:57 <•Anastasia> Meanwhile, Starre checks the room - and lingers by the back wall, letting the conversation miss her.
21:01 — Skaya checks the wall next to Starre. "Is this the vaunted elven powers making a dramatic reveal?" she asks with barely contained excitement.
21:02 <•Anastasia> Starre smiles at that, and taps the back wall in one particular spot. There's a loud squeal of metal, painful, as a section of the wall manages to halfway open before sticking stuck. "I did notice this," She says after, grimacing and rubbing her ears. "But we may need to finish opening it ourselves."
21:03 <•Anastasia> "Mechanical," Sanda muses, "Definitely the work of someone who lays traps."
21:03 — Skaya stares at Starre's ears before tearing her gaze away and rubbing her chin. "Right, stuck. Let's try brute force first!" And she does!
21:03 <Skaya> OOC: str?
21:03 <•Anastasia> OOC: Go for it.
21:04 <Skaya> roll 1d20+3+5
21:04 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+3+5 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{11}
21:04 <•Anastasia> No good. It's stuck pretty hard.
21:05 — Skaya tries to see if she can get at the control mechanism! Or even the mechanical parts. There must be wheels, those can be greased.
21:06 <•Anastasia> OOC: Try disable device, I suppose.
21:07 <Skaya> OOC:  I actually have Craft: Traps
21:07 <Skaya> roll 1d20+9+5 haven't used the bonus on that one today
21:07 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+9+5 haven't used the bonus on that one today --> [ 1d20=6 ]{20}
21:08 <•Anastasia> OOC: Ist here anything in Craft: Traps that says it can be used in such a way?
21:09 <Skaya> OOC: It's a craft skill with a specialty for traps, presumably you can fix a trap if you can make it outright?
21:11 <•Anastasia> Checking it carefully, you can see it's old and rusted. Sufficient grease miiight coax it into working, but honestly large parts of it look to need replacement, at least from what you can see. Still, at least you know where to hit it now. OOC: Will grant a +2 to any str checks to force it for you ro anyone you clue in, but it's past the realm of easy repairs and into full replacement territory.
21:12 <Skaya> "Alright, so how about as many of us as can get there plus Sanda with her staff of leverage try to push here, here, and there," Skaya says, pointing out the spots for the others, "on my mark?"
21:13 <Devar> Devar will move over to help!
21:13 <•Anastasia> Sanda does as well, along with Starre, "On your mark," Starre agrees.
21:14 <Skaya> "Three, two, one-- go!"
21:14 <Skaya> roll 1d20+3+5+2
21:14 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+3+5+2 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{26}
21:16 <•Anastasia> With a mighty push from almost all, the metal screams again. The wall segment is moved further, enough to squeeze by.
21:16 <Skaya> "Thanks, guys!" And with the opening created, Skaya shimmers inside.
21:17 <•Anastasia> "Guys?" Anne remarks, "Devar's the only man with us."
21:17 <•Anastasia> Rina stops cold at that as eyes turn to Anne. She stops, grimances and shakes her head, "I'm sorry," she murmurs, hurrying ahead.
21:17 <Skaya> "How pedantic! I bet you would've said we're not a gang if I said 'thanks gang'."
21:22 → Iddy joined (uid408070@lunarnet-423F0355.irccloud.com)
21:23 <•Anastasia> Anne doesn't comment as the party proceeds on. Here there's more stairs, widening out. The group's lights illuminate the stairs down, "Nice and slow," Sanda changes the subject, "Go on, Skaya."
21:24 <Skaya> "So we had tentacle mimic," she muses, leading the way. "And we had ooze mimic. Did you notice the synergy? I did and I do not like it."
21:28 <•Anastasia> "I don't get it," Rina shakes her head, voice quiet, "What do you mean?" OOC: Perception Skaya.
21:28 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15
21:28 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{34}
21:28 <Skaya> "The last one tried to dissolve my clothes."
21:29 <•Anastasia> There's a trap just a few steps in. A nearly invisible tripwire as Rina sputters and Anne blushes crimson. Starre smiles grimly, "I doubt whatever you're implying is true. Fire could burn away your clothes too, and I'd hardly call that anything salacious. If you see that, I suggest you look into a boyfriend."
21:30 <Skaya> "I wonder if it means we'll run into a fire mimic. Also, another trap, stop where you are."
21:30 <Devar> Devar stops!
21:31 <•Anastasia> The party comes to a sudden stop at that, converstaion halted. "Another tap?" Is Sanda's question. "What are the odds?" High, from her tone of voice.
21:31 <•Anastasia> *trap
21:32 <Skaya> "Honestly, actually low," Skaya says with a frown. "I would've expected the same pressure plate trap, but now it's a tripwire. And they are spread far in between. Who does this? Is this a museum for traps?"
21:34 <•Anastasia> "I wonder...
21:35 <•Anastasia> OOC: Gah.
21:35 <•Anastasia> "I wonder..." It's Anne who thinks, "Old traps, maintained if not always well. Spread out. Some sort of failing guardian? Something bound to it but unable to fully manage it?"
21:37 <Skaya> "I think we are capable of moving over this tripwire?" Skaya muses, spending the time to pin a bright sign both before and after it so it's visible if they have to rush back.
21:39 <Devar> "It is rather peculiar." Devar agrees. "We're running across magic that might have been put here recently, and traps that appear to be rather old."
21:44 <•Anastasia> It's not too hard to mark and get over the tripwire. "That might explain how a relatively untalented man found such a cache here, at least. I'd been wondering how he did if things are so dangerous. He got lucky and found a way that's fallen apart entirely."
21:44 <•Anastasia> OOC: Gah.
21:44 <•Anastasia> It's not too hard to mark and get over the tripwire. "That might explain how a relatively untalented man found such a cache here, at least. I'd been wondering how he did if things are so dangerous. He got lucky and found a way that's fallen apart entirely." Anne continues, "At least more satisfactorily than anything else i've thought of."
21:44 <•Anastasia> *Ilve
21:44 <•Anastasia> OOC: Typing is hard, man.
21:48 <•Anastasia> "And leave all the serious danger to us," Starre shakes her head, then says something quietly and unkind in Elven.
21:48 <Skaya> "There should be more treasure, then, statistically speaking!" Skaya pipes up.
21:50 <•Anastasia> "That's the hope!" Sanda confirms as the party heads down. Deeper. No more traps you find on the stairs, but instead an ancient door of metal. Rust streaks it in places, and the pull ring is more rust than iron.
21:51 — Skaya pulls the ring!
21:51 <•Anastasia> OOC: Str check.
21:52 <Skaya> roll 1d20+3+5
21:52 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+3+5 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{20}
21:53 <•Anastasia> It takes some oomph, but the door open-!!!! The floor beneath you gives way as it does, a painful jolt up your arm as you plummet and at the same time hold onto the ring, and...OOC: Str check again, good luck.
21:54 <Skaya> roll 1d20+3+5
21:54 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+3+5 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{25}
21:55 <•Anastasia> Skaya manages to keep her grip. A five foot or so square of floor is gone, and Skaya's grip on the door ring is the only thing keeping her from a plummet. About 40ft down, to a chasm full of old, rusty spikes jutting up. Sanda skitters back as Rina calls, "Skaya! Hold on!"
21:57 <Skaya> "Holding! Is it a mimic again? What kind?"
21:57 <•Anastasia> "I think it's obvious, it's a pit trap," Starre takes a breath, "I'll get you some rope so we can-" OOC: More.
21:57 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100 lowe r is better
21:57 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 lowe r is better --> [ 1d100=2 ]{2}
21:58 <•Anastasia> There's a lurching CLICK as the door ring starts to detatch. However, one side of it grinds and doesn't let go, leaving Skaya dangling back and forth, but not sent to a spiky fate. The groan of old, rusty metal as Starre tosses Skaya a rope, "Grab it!"
22:00 — Skaya grabs it!
22:01 <•Anastasia> With that and some pulling by friends, Skaya is back on the other side, pulled up and not out of danger. The door ring dangles free, one side detached and the other still intact. "Well, the statistics said that sooner or later, the age of thigns would work to our advantage." Sanda remarks.
22:02 <Skaya> "It looked trap-free, too!" Skaya mutters, before making her way over to Anne. "Can you top me off, please? Maybe the little aches are making me lose my edge."
22:02 <•Anastasia> "I'm rationing what I have," Anne says, "Devar, could you instead, please?"
22:05 <Devar> Devar nods and will channel energy for her!
22:05 <Devar> roll 1d6 let's see if we get lucky
22:05 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d6 let's see if we get lucky --> [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
22:05 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 33/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32(3)/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40(3)/40
22:05 <•Anastasia> Healing energy washes away all but the faintest traces of injury, a murmured petition to Eldath enough.
22:05 <Skaya> "Thanks! I feel better already!" Skaya chirps, before taking a look at what's revealed past the door.
22:07 <•Anastasia> As there's a pitfall and a barely opened door, that's rather hard. However, Sanda comes forward, "Let me. I can go through the stone and around, and open the door on the far side. Statistically speaking, it's sure to work."
22:08 <Skaya> "Okay."
22:11 <•Anastasia> "Better than risking more," Rina looks away as Sanda steps into thew all. It ripples like water as she goes on in. Silence for long moments until, "I'm on the other side!" she calls,  "Hold on!"
22:11 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+4 (+2 ???)
22:11 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+4 (+2 ???) --> [ 1d20=7 ]{11}
22:11 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+4 (+2 ???)
22:11 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+4 (+2 ???) --> [ 1d20=16 ]{20}
22:12 <•Anastasia> There's some effort and groans, but slowly the door begins to move. Enough to show the room ahead. A relatively small room that opens up wider. You catch the glint of gold, but Sanda's position and the door block your view. Rope is tossed and a way across is made, "Come on!"
22:13 — Skaya serves as anchor while the others get across before making sure the rope is secured here and following suit.
22:15 <•Anastasia> Thus the party crosses. In the back of the room you see it. A large, heaping pile of gold coins. Shiny and untouched by age, they reflect your light sources and gleam brightly. Thousands and thousands and thousands of gold coins, each with a leaf imprint on them. Sanda goes quiet as Anne eyes them carefully. Rina puts a hand on Sanda's shoulder as Starre says, "Trapped?" A single, simple
22:15 <•Anastasia> question.
22:16 <Skaya> "Yeah I bet it's the fire mimic," Skaya mutters, nevertheless fearlessly heading over to check.
22:16 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15
22:16 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{25}
22:17 <•Anastasia> The coins and the area around them doesn't seem to be trapped, or at least Skaya doesn't see any.
22:17 <Skaya> "I think at this point it's worth our time to see if there's magic here," Skaya muses. "Sanda, can you manage?"
22:18 <•Anastasia> "Gladly," Sanda does so, as...OOC: Perception you two.
22:18 <Skaya> OOC: 25 was my roll for it, but I can roll again
22:18 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15
22:18 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{35}
22:19 <Devar> OOC: I feel as if my roll is unnecessary for some reason
22:19 <•Anastasia> OOC: Hard to beat a 20, admittedly, but go ahea dand give it anyway.
22:19 <Devar> roll 1d20+8
22:19 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{13}
22:20 <•Anastasia> Skaya hears a soft but strange woosh sound back the way the party came.
22:21 <Skaya> "Something's coming from the way we came," Skaya alerts the others, before deciding to touch a leaf-imprinted coin. If there's dangers here, better to learn right away rather than get flanked.
22:23 <•Anastasia> Nothing happens as Sanda says, "I'm not seeing magic," she remarks, as the party turns. Floating in the air just outside the door is an iron doll in the shape of a human. Indistinct otherwise, but it floats there before...OOC: What languages do you speak, yall?
22:23 <Skaya> OOC: Common, Elven, Dwarven, Celestial, Draconic
22:27 <Devar> OOC: Those same ones
22:28 <•Anastasia> In dwarven the doll speaks, "Successful thieves," it addresses all of you, "The second time theives have come since I've awoken. Explain yourselves."
22:29 <•Anastasia> *Thieves
22:30 <Skaya> "I think explorers is more appropriate," Skaya responds in the same language. "We heard that the ruins of an ancient city that was lost with all hands ages ago were here and came to take a look. You cannot blame us for what happened before we came here, and as of now I've just picked up this single coin to make sure it's not a damned mimic again. Since we can understand each other, can you tell me who you are and who you represent?"
22:33 <Devar> Devar nods to Skaya. "We mean you no malice." Devar echoes, speaking in dwarven as well.

[Corwin]

19:04 <•Kotono> The doll floats there and is silent. Just long enough to be uncomfortable, but before anything else can be said? "I see. What is the password?"
19:05 — Skaya looks at the others with confusion. Was there a password? She did get mimic'd a lot.
19:06 <•Kotono> Sanda shrugs. Starre shakes her head. Rina says outright, "I have no idea what it's saying, do you?"
19:06 <Devar> "The only password I remember is the one from that other place." Devar says. "But there's no way this place is connected with that one, is there?"
19:09 <Skaya> "Combined Essences in Draconic?" Skaya muses, before turning towards the doll. "Not sure about the password you want to receive, but can we keep talking? Most things can be resolved so long as no one's been hurt beyond recovery."
19:10 <•Kotono> "No password is given. What is the sigil, the sign or the emblem?" The doll replies, floating in the air.
19:11 <Skaya> "It's clearly this leaf," Skaya says, showing the face of the golden coin she had picked up. "Incidentally, you were a lot more eloquent when we first met. Are you really that interested in a fight?"
19:17 <•Kotono> "We have not met beflore. Explain." The answer is short and to the point.
19:18 <Devar> "Is it... damaged?" Devar asks quietly.
19:19 <Skaya> "Please introduce yourself and tell me who you serve."
19:19 <•Kotono> roll 1d100 higher the better
19:19 <•Kotono> OOC: One moment.
19:20 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@lunarnet-82C188CE.hr.hr.cox.net)
19:20 <•Kotono> roll 1d100 higher the better
19:20 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 higher the better --> [ 1d100=68 ]{68}
19:24 <•Kotono> "Welcome to the Quillar Mountains," It responds with, "To understand the sigil, the sign or the emblem, you must proceed past the Sky Gate. Weinford will be eliminated in 27 hours. I have prepared the password for those who seek the treasure. Welcome to the Quillar Mountains. To understand the sigil, the sign or the emblem, you must find the Garden. Weinford will be eliminated in 27 hours. The
19:24 <•Kotono> password is a false distraction."
19:26 <Devar> Devar hums, as if confirming his suspicion.
19:26 <Skaya> "Weinford? Who is Weinford?" Skaya asks in confusion. So the password is a lie, huh? That's a bit sad.
19:28 <•Kotono> "Uh, the name of the town we came from?" Sanda murmurs to Skaya.
19:28 <Skaya> "What. No! Why would it be destroyed?"
19:29 <•Kotono> The doll regards the party for several more seconds, the silently floats to the side and is still in the air.
19:30 <Skaya> "Take us to your leader," Skaya tells the broken doll.
19:31 <•Kotono> There is no response. It floats there for several more moments, then rises back up. "Successful thieves. The third time thieves have come here since I've awoken. Explain yourselves."
19:31 <Skaya> "This is incorrect. You're damaged and need repairs," Skaya tells it sternly. "Do you have someone left who can fix you?":
19:32 <Devar> "It's like it forgets everything after a certain amount of time..." Devar murmurs. "Except... it said third, so it seems to remember some parts? How curious."
19:36 <•Kotono> "A broken doll," Rina murmurs, "Lost and forgotten."
19:36 <•Kotono> "Almost sad, if it wasn't possibly dangerous," Anne seconds, hand on her mace's hilt.
19:37 <•Kotono> "The city is no more." The doll goes still, floats there for long moments. "Successful theives. The fourth time theives have come here since I've awoken. Explain yourselves."
19:38 <Skaya> "Broken dwarven doll, I want to fix you. Show me where the damage is."
19:40 <•Kotono> "A broken mind. Like the old who have become children again," Starre comments to Devar, "It's terribly sad to see."
19:41 <•Kotono> "The damage is in Weinford, in 27 hours. Weinford will be eliminated in 27 hours. Treasure cache 8 must be retrieved." The doll drones on.
19:41 <Skaya> "What is treasure cache 8?" Skaya decides to try. "I'll try to recover it for you."
19:43 <Devar> Devar nods. "I wonder if we even can fix it - but Skaya's really good with traps and things, so I bet she could if we knew where the damage is."
19:43 <•Kotono> "It's more like a golem," Sanda disagrees, "That requires a highly specialized sort of knowledge."
19:44 <Devar> "Well, if there's something stuck in it somewhere we could probably fix it, but you're right that if it's like... degraded magic or something that's a little more complex." Devar says with a nod to Sanda.
19:45 <•Kotono> "Gold bars," Is the answer, "Stolen by-" A hard stop, the doll going completely still. "Welcome to the Quillar Mountains. To understand the sigil, the sign or the emblem, you must find the Still Pool."
19:46 <Skaya> "Hello. I've found treasure cache 8. Where do you want it?"
19:48 <•Kotono> "On the ground," Is the answer. "Treasure cache 8 represents the Sky Gate. Treasure cache 9 represents the Still Pool. Treasure cache 10 represents the Peaceful Wind." Devar is now focused on, "Eldathian paladin. What is the password."
19:48 <Skaya> "The password is a distraction."
19:50 <•Kotono> Skaya's words net no response. At the moment, the doll seems intent on Devar.
19:51 <Devar> "I expected it to reset again..." Devar says. "Uh - it's just a distraction." He replies.
19:51 <Skaya> "It's too broken to converse with and too erratic to try and fix it, not to mention unreceptive," Skaya says with a frown. "What do you all want to do?"
19:51 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:51 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=88 ]{88}
19:53 <•Kotono> The doll jerks back and forth several times.  Sharply, strongly. Anne readies her weapon in lieu of a response to Skaya, while Rina steps back and Sanda forward. STarre as well as the doll jerks a few more times before, "The Sky Gate. I wanted to see it one last time." The doll slowly lowers itself to the ground and lies there. No further response and it goes still, unmoving.
19:54 — Skaya approaches the doll and looks it over from close by. Is there an obvious way to stop it for good? Perhaps then they won't need to break it and could one day fix it.
19:56 <Devar> Devar frowns - it isn't like he caused it to break, but still. "I wish it had told us what was going to actually happen in 27 hours." he speaks up. "Or how."
19:57 <•Kotono> No switch or anything like that, at least as Skaya sees. "I'll be rather anxious tomorrow," Anne confesses, "But it's probably nothing to be worried about."
19:59 — Skaya binds the doll's limbs tightly with her spare rope and then lowers it into the chasm that opened up in the ground by the entrance. It does lose her a good rope, but it also prevents further unnecessary damage to the doll.
20:00 <•Kotono> Done and done. The doll is tied up and lowered down.
20:02 <Skaya> "So this is my new future project. Learning to make golems," Skaya speaks into the silence, before going to pack the golden coins away into her haversack.
20:03 <Devar> "There might be more of them tucked away." Devar says. "If we found one that was actually working, it might be able to help fix the other one." He turns to look at the pile of treasure. "So I guess our friend Jack really did get the bars from here. I wonder if he took all of them, though."
20:03 <Skaya> "He took all of them. From cache 8 out of who knows how many."
20:04 <•Kotono> "We could spend months combing these mountains for them," Anne remarks.
20:06 <Skaya> "We're not going to do that, at least not now," Skaya voices. "But once we're out, we'll check the area to see if the sigil was there, somewhere. Also, the doll said cache 8 was on the ground, so it makes a lot of sense. Would've been hard to climb up and get the bars down to surface level without a storage item, and he clearly didn't have one."
20:07 <Devar> Devar nods. "It seems like the way they hid them is putting illusions inside caves, so at least we can... well, I'd see be on the lookout, but you get what I mean."
20:08 <•Kotono> "Let's get our coins and go then," Rina agrees, "At least this isa  good haul of treasure for the day's work." OOC: Plans here then? Get money, search for sigil, go back?
20:09 <Skaya> OOC: Yes. And if I can close the floor trap again, that too. Finally, let's roll Survival to see if we can tell where the golem came from.
20:18 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, Perception first of all.  Survival after.
20:19 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15 perception
20:19 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15 perception --> [ 1d20=15 ]{30}
20:19 <Skaya> roll 1d20+7+5 survival
20:19 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+7+5 survival --> [ 1d20=14 ]{26}
20:22 <•Kotono> No sign of a sigil or any sort of trail to follow, unfortunately. Then again, a flying creature doesn't make much of one.
20:24 <Skaya> "So no opened doors left open or creating trails of dust on the ground," Skaya muses. "Probably came from the outside, then?"
20:24 <•Kotono> "Probably," Rina agrees, "Or had some trick to it that isn't obvious."
20:24 <•Kotono> "Statistically speaking I think either's possible," Sanda points out, "But at least we found a lot of gold."
20:25 <Skaya> "What do you think about the twenty seven hour destruction thing?" she asks with a frown. "If it got triggered when Jack got the gold, it clearly didn't happen. But if the doll activated it now...."
20:26 <•Kotono> "If it is something, what can we do?" It's Anne who speaks up, "Search, likely fruitlessly, for something we don't even know any details about?  A vague threat is nothing to go on, unfortunately."
20:27 <Devar> Devar nods to Anne. "Since we have no idea what would cause it, I'm not sure we know where to even begin." He says.
20:27 <Skaya> "If we think it's for real, we can contact the authorities once we get back. If we don't, we can just report it as something we overheard in the mountains. Or perhaps the divinely-inclined amongst us could ask for guidance on this?"
20:28 <Devar> "The doll did seem to know what Eldath was." Devar offers. "So maybe she has some insight she'd be willing to share."
20:28 <•Kotono> "It's not the worst idea we have," Anne agrees, "I'll try."
20:29 <Skaya> "Let's get to our inn, then?" Skaya proposes. Rina and Sanda could rest there properly, too.
20:29 <•Kotono> Nods all around at that as...
20:29 <•Kotono> roll 1d100+35
20:29 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100+35 --> [ 1d100=11 ]{46}
20:29 <•Kotono> roll 1d100+30
20:29 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100+30 --> [ 1d100=33 ]{63}
20:30 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Sanda unfortunately going down means heat exertion and it takes some out of them
20:30 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+6 Sanda unfortunately going down means heat exertion and it takes some out of them --> [ 1d20=3 ]{9}
20:30 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Rina
20:30 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 Rina --> [ 1d20=10 ]{15}
20:30 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+9 Starre
20:30 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+9 Starre --> [ 1d20=3 ]{12}
20:30 <•Kotono> roll 1d4 and more
20:30 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d4 and more --> [ 1d4=4 ]{4}
20:31 •Kotono set the topic: Skaya: 33/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32(7)/32 Starre 44(7)/44 Rina 40(7)/40
20:31 •Kotono set the topic: Skaya: 33/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32(7)/32 Starre 44(4)/44 Rina 40(7)/40
20:33 <•Kotono> The heat bears down on the party. By the time you're most of the way back, Sanda's moving slow, her limp pronounced. The later afternoon likewise sees Starre sagging and Rina leaning more on Anne and Skaya than walking. It's still hot as you get closer and closer down, "Come, we'll have enough to pay for baths," Anne encourages, "That and some drinks will make today seem far better."
20:33 <Skaya> roll 1d3
20:33 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d3 --> [ 1d3=2 ]{2}
20:34 — Skaya picks up Starre, telling Devar and Anne, "Let's just carry Sanda and Rina the rest of the way back? Should've done it from the start."
20:34 <•Kotono> Starre slumps against Skaya before, "I'm not so tired I need to be carried like a child!"
20:35 <Skaya> "This is actually a bridal carry, but I promise I have the purest of intentions~"
20:35 <•Kotono> "I'm fine," Rina waves it off, "We're almost back. It's not that bad. I'm just so sweaty." She fans herself with her hand.
20:35 <•Kotono> "I'll trade?" Sanda offers Starre, "This heat is so tiring. I feel like I'm a plant wilting."
20:36 <Devar> "Spells like endure elements really shine in times like this." Devar says. "I can carry you Sanda, if you want - just hop on my back and I'll get you down."
20:37 <Skaya> "That, and perhaps we made an error in preparations? There's probably some specialty gear like the one I got for winter to help with the heat."
20:41 <•Kotono> Sanda goes right over to Devar and takes the invitation. "Not really?" Anne says as she goes on, "At least not when you're wearing armor or carrying gear. The specialized equipment is Endure Elements."
20:42 <Skaya> "True, armor is probably a deal breaker. But without it, there should be suitable clothing and head covering to help with the heat."
20:45 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
20:45 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=37 ]{37}
20:45 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Rina will try and tough it out at least
20:45 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 Rina will try and tough it out at least --> [ 1d20=13 ]{18}
20:46 <•Kotono> It's close to dark when you get back to Weinford. Rina looks exhausted, leaning on Anne. Sanda and Starre aren't much better as you've at least made it back to town. Now what?
20:47 <Skaya> The inn, first. Get cleaned up, drink cold water, maybe eat a bit. Then Anne and Devar could try to ask their patrons for guidance.
20:47 — Skaya will watch over Starre, Rina and Sanda.
20:52 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay. Do you have any particular plan on how you plan to ask then, Devar? Anne was just going to pray and sleep on it after washing up and eating.
20:54 <Devar> OOC: Nothing specific, just try to get as peaceful as I can and pray for some insight. Basically a 'I do not wish harm to come to the people of Weinford, if we have a way to stop that, please show me the path' sort of thing.
20:55 <Skaya> OOC: If Starre feels better, she can try too! And if not maybe the answer will come to her in a dream.
20:57 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, d100.
20:57 <•Kotono> roll 1d100 Anne
20:57 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 Anne --> [ 1d100=59 ]{59}
20:57 <Devar> roll 1d100
20:57 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=19 ]{19}
20:57 <•Kotono> roll 1d100 Starre
20:57 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 Starre --> [ 1d100=54 ]{54}
21:05 <•Kotono> The night passes in restful sleep. Rather deep sleep after your efforts yesterday, but Devar has no dreams. He simply feels rested. Over breakfast - chilled fruits and cold water - Anne comments, "Nothing explicit, but I feel like I had good dreams. Starre?"
21:05 <•Kotono> Starre shakes her head slowly, "I don't sleep, but my trance was peaceful and my prayers refreshing. I have no sense of cataclysm."
21:06 <Devar> "Me neither." Devar says. "I realize that doesn't necessarily mean nothing is going to happen, but I think we shouldn't worry about it."
21:07 <Skaya> "Okay. Then it seems like a false threat. I suppose that we should get back to our chase? We could always come back here one day to explore the mountains properly."
21:09 <•Kotono> "The trail's cold, I doubt anyone else will find anything soon," Anne seconds, "As it is, we can do great good with all of this."
21:10 <•Kotono> "Hopefully it's cooler today," Sanda says, "Of course, you took care of us, Anne?" It doesn't really sound like a question.
21:10 <•Kotono> "I have Endure Elements prepared, several times over," Anne confirms.
21:13 <Skaya> "Let's look at the map to determine our destination?"
21:15 <Devar> "You know, I didn't think to check the other day, but maybe the map can help us find the hidden entrances somehow?" Devar speaks up. "I wonder if somehow they show up as something different... or something like that."
21:16 — Skaya tosses the map to Devar so he could check! She didn't see anything, but a fresh set of eyes and all.
21:17 <Skaya> "Also, are we all on the same page? I'm talking about leaving Weinford and returning to our chase by trying to jump ahead and seeing if we find any clues. Is that what everyone else is thinking of as well?"
21:18 <Devar> Devar will look at the map and see if anything jumps out at him for the caves they found that had illusions in them. You never know!
21:18 <•Kotono> Nods all around at that, while Devar looks at the map. Nothing leaps out from the map, unfortunately. Worth as hot at least.
21:19 <Devar> "Nah, I don't think it's that advanced." He hands the map back. "To your point - I'm good with whatever - being out here could lead us to other items that might help us, but we do have plenty right now we could invest into equipment or otherwise."
21:20 <Skaya> "Right. So I think the question is where should we head. Starre, what are your thoughts? You probably have the best idea among us."
21:21 •Kotono set the topic: Skaya: 33/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40/40
21:21 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 34/34 Devar 35/35 Anne 48/48 Sanda 32/32 Starre 44/44 Rina 40/40
21:22 <•Kotono> "Well-" Starre begins...next time! OOC: It's a bit early but we ran considerably over last time, and this is a prime stopping point. That and I'm sorta RLed a little.
21:28 <Skaya> roll 1d20+12+5 appraise
21:28 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+12+5 appraise --> [ 1d20=19 ]{36}

[Corwin]

19:03 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay, firstof all check loot and get back to me there, Cor. Unless you think it's urgent we'll deal with that after session, but just a reminder there. More.