The Laremy Front 17

[Corwin]

19:00 <•Kotono> A few days of needed rest happen as the plague is cut off at the knees. While there's strain on Rockgale, it seems that your efforts were not in vain. The city's still in quarantine officially, but as Anne puts it over breakfast, "The understanding is that as long as we're going into the ocean, no one will say anything. Which means we can finish off that obligation while the quarantine hopefully
19:00 <•Kotono> concludes itself."
19:01 <Skaya> "Sounds good!" Skaya says, quite cheerful due to finally getting that masked man, stopping the plague and actually getting out of debt.
19:02 <Devar> Devar nods. "Do you all want to come or do you want me to go alone in case anything happens here?" He asks.
19:03 <Skaya> "At this point, we might as well all leave and see if there are any hidden traps. Otherwise, how long are we supposed to stay here to ward them off?"
19:03 — Skaya taps her lips thoughtfully. "We can give someone trustworthy here one of the rings and stay in touch. Wouldn't that work?"
19:05 <•Kotono> Rina's sitting back, munching on some fruit slices. Her eyes are closed and posture relaxed, "I'm not excited about going into the ocean, but I think Skaya has a point. Except maybe about the rings."
19:06 <•Kotono> "We have both so..." Anne muses on that point, "Not that I trust Brachidos's works, but no matter."
19:06 <Skaya> "Want to just stay behind for this one, Rina?" Skaya offers. "It really should be fine."
19:06 <•Kotono> "The fact that he's dead is statistically likely to improve happiness and health everywhere," Sanda comments as she sips water more than she eats.
19:07 — Skaya nods appreciatively. "Probability across the board support that, yeah."
19:07 <•Kotono> "If you don't need me," Rina agrees readily. "Is this dragon trustworthy?"
19:08 <Devar> "He may have simply taken them from someone else, much like the Whispers." Devar points out. "But to what Skaya's suggesting, we probably ought to hold onto it for now and maybe give it to Picke if we can get back there?" He turns to Rina and nods. "Yes, I think they are - I intend to see if they'd be willing to trade at all with us and be an ally."
19:13 <•Kotono> "Trade could be useful if we manage it," Sanda reflects, "Maybe we can negotiate something."
19:14 <•Kotono> "At the least, it's simply returning them. We can hardly make it worse short of foolishness," Anne agrees.
19:14 <•Kotono> After a beat, just before Sanda can open her mouth, Rina cuts in smooth as a hot knife through butter. "Well, I know you shouldn't blow this, so I'll wait to hear the stories tonight."
19:14 <Skaya> "Works."
19:16 <Devar> "I guess before anything, do we want to ask to keep the Whispers?" Devar poses to the group. "It is a useful item to have, but we may gain more in terms of diplomatic capital by simply returning it."
19:18 <•Kotono> "CAn any of us lay hands?" Anne asks, "I haven't developed the talent myself. Without that, it's somewhat less useful."
19:18 <Skaya> "It's a very good artifact but it'd be hell while traveling. Just imagine chasing after Brachidos and having to fulfill its requirements."
19:19 <•Kotono> "You're the healer," Sanda doesn't miss a beat, "The requirements are terrible."
19:19 <•Kotono> "Unless we can figure out the requirement to surpass the daily needs of it," Anne points out, "We certainly have done great deeds, a divination to requrest how isn't unreasonable to attempt."
19:19 <Skaya> "To be fair, you're just saying that because you'd be the first one to get stabbed to fulfil the healing requirements, Sanda."
19:20 <•Kotono> "Naturally," Sanda scowls at that.
19:20 <•Kotono> Anne gently clears her throat, "I have no desire to stab any of you, no matter the need."
19:20 <Devar> "I could use it." Devar says. "I was going to pray to Eldath to overcome its limitations." He says with a nod to Anne. "I do feel like we'd be given the information we need."
19:20 <Skaya> "It's okay, Anne. I can help."
19:21 <Skaya> Shaking her head in amusement, Skaya tells Devar, "So it looks like it's just you. If you want it, go for it. We'll support your pitch to the scary dragon."
19:22 <•Kotono> "As long as you aren't eaten," Rina says, "Try not to."
19:23 <Devar> Devar nods. "All right, let's see what we can work out either way."
19:24 <•Kotono> OOC: Ready to head on out to the dragon turtle then?
19:24 <Skaya> OOC: Sure.
19:25 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:25 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=19 ]{19}
19:25 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:25 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=82 ]{82}
19:25 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:25 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=100 ]{100}
19:25 <•Kotono> roll 1d100 subtables
19:25 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 subtables --> [ 1d100=93 ]{93}
19:27 <•Kotono> You're most of the way there, beneath the waves now and sinking steadily lower, towards where the cave entrance is. As you approach it, you see a dozen dead sharks float around the entrance, blood staining the waters.
19:28 <Devar> Devar stops to look over the sharks - do they look like they were killed by teeth or claws specifically?
19:29 <Skaya> Oh geez, that all goes into the water they're breathing!
19:29 <•Kotono> SAnda lets out a wet gasp as Devar can see they were scorched and torn apart by something rough. Claws, maybe.
19:29 <•Kotono> Anne shakes her head grimly and points ahead at the cave, and readies her mace and shield.
19:30 — Skaya is tempted to lead the way, but she hasn't really spoken to the dragon after it got cured, so someone known should really take the lead if there's been a deadly fight.
19:30 <Devar> Devar bares his hands at them like a cat and makes scratching motions in the air, before he waves an arm and has the others follow him.
19:31 — Skaya follows!
19:35 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:35 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=94 ]{94}
19:35 <•Kotono> Sanda stares in confusion but follows the others, as does Anne. The four of you swim onward. No signs of currents forcing you back. Instead you can hear the ring of battle, of shouts and cries. Pained cries from what sounds like humanoids of some kind, screaming.
19:37 <Skaya> Amazing! Skaya casts False Life in preparation. She can catch up to the others easily even with a brief delay like that.
19:37 <Skaya> roll 1d10+7
19:37 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d10+7 --> [ 1d10=10 ]{17}
19:37 Skaya set the topic: Skaya: 17+75/75 Devar 91/91 (+6 AC, -4 to melee against) Anne 83/83 Sanda 60/60 Rina 85/85
19:38 <Devar> Devar rushes along as fast as he can, trying to get out of the water since he knows he'll be a bit more flexible there!
19:42 <•Kotono> The others follow. You ascend up and find the dragon's hoard a mess. For lying around the dragon turtle are several dozen dead or dying humanoids. Green, fish like humanoids side by side to what appears to be mermen and mermaids, along with a few humanish creatures, each nude but covered in black scales. The dragon turtle lies on its side in the middle of it, visibly wounded a dozen places
19:42 <•Kotono> over. Blood leaks out from its mouth, from beneath its shella nd from gashes on its underside. Its underside is also frozen badly spears of ice driven into it.
19:42 <•Kotono> Out of the water and now in air, Sanda gasps. "What in-!"
19:42 <Skaya> "What the hell is going on here?!" Skaya cries out in Draconic.
19:43 <•Kotono> "Hoard...hunters..." the dragon turtle manages to rasp out, "H...help me..."
19:43 <Skaya> "You! Naked people! Stop that at once!" Skaya commands them in Common.
19:43 <•Kotono> As they're dead or dying, Skaya's words have little impact.
19:44 <Skaya> OOC: They're all dying? Okay!
19:44 — Skaya rushes to the turtle dragon and tries to heal him!
19:44 <Skaya> OOC: +21 hp channeled
19:44 <•Kotono> Anne flies up and over, "I understand. I'll heal you," Anne calls, channeling her own healing into the injured dragon.
19:44 <•Kotono> roll 4d6
19:44 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 4d6 --> [ 4d6=17 ]{17}
19:44 <•Kotono> OOC: 25 total from Anne.
19:46 <Devar> Devar will fly over to add what little he can - he could use the Whispers, but that would create other potential issues. OOC: Assuming we're in free act Devar will add 12 via his lay on hands.
19:48 <•Kotono> The two waves of healing mend the wounds. Not all the way, but the ice spears break apart as they're forced out, and much of the damage repairs itself. "Ah....my...gratitude," The dragon manages, Oceanpearl righting upwards with a groan. Her claw lashes out, finishing a few who weren't all the way dead off. Then a pant of pain, "Hoard hunters, they called themselves that and that they were
19:48 <•Kotono> going to kill me, harvest me and take everything of my own for their own."
19:49 <Skaya> "They tried their luck and failed," Skaya muses, deciding to heal the dragon some more. "No enmity normally with their clans or what not, then?"
19:49 <Skaya> OOC: +21hp more
19:49 <•Kotono> roll 4d6 Anne does what Anne does as well
19:49 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 4d6 Anne does what Anne does as well --> [ 4d6=22 ]{22}
19:50 <•Kotono> OOC: 33 total.
19:50 <Devar> "Well, I'm glad we were able to get back here in short order." Devar says, moving to land with the others.
19:52 <•Kotono> Healed further, Oceanpearl exhales heavily. "Your timing is remarkably good."
19:52 <•Kotono> "With good reason, we come bearing what was taken from you," Anne offers, "Brachidos is no more."
19:53 <Skaya> "No kidding! I still heard the sounds of battle and all the war cries but as soon as we arrived they were all defeated!"
19:53 — Skaya pauses before nodding. "That's the general reason but the actual timing was crazy."
19:55 <Devar> Devar nods to Anne, then to Skaya. "We're happy to assist if you think there may be more of them." He says, then withdraws the Whispers. "We did discuss talking to you about potentially trading with you for this, but overcoming its drawback would be involved. Regardless, we return it to you as you requested, but would be more than happy to trade with you for anything else if you'd be willing
19:55 <Devar> to consider that option. We have quite a few things we're not currently using that may be of interest to you."
20:05 <•Kotono> "The Whispers are potent but dangerous," Oceanpearl begins, "You understand its drawback." Resting back now a moment, the dragon's claw lashes out and nabs a long bone rod. It waves it and a dozen spectral forces in the shake of humanoids appear, and immediately begin removing the slain humanoids. "I am able to circumvent that drawback for myself. I know not if Brachidos overcame that drawback,
20:05 <•Kotono> but I suspect he did. There are a few ways to do so. The first is to be devoted to either good or evil without regard for anything else. The Whispers desire a wearer that has great purity of mind and soul. Purity! Purity of intent, not of deed, but of being. Pure evil is still pure to it."
20:06 <Skaya> "Would it even be a drawback for someone like Brachidos?"
20:06 <•Kotono> "I doubt it," Anne says sharply.
20:08 <Devar> "It almost seems like it was created to be a test of good and evil in some way." Devar says.
20:13 <•Kotono> "The other is to be," A word none of you know follows. It sounds Draconic, but it's strange. "It is to be a devoted of a deity of good or evil, and directly sanctioned by them." After Devar's words, "It is something of both good and evil, and neither. It is a curious thing. Recent. The Whispers are different, and I've heard, ahem, whispers of rare, unusual magical items since the Last Day."
20:14 <•Kotono> Anne mulls that over, "The duality of it is unusual. An artifact of good is devoted only to good, not to both."
20:15 <Skaya> "It's probably some artifact of judgement. Or a divine bet."
20:15 <•Kotono> "Either side would want it, and not want the other side to use it," Anne continues on, "Almost like bait to be chased after and taken back and forth. Like a game of tag."
20:16 <•Kotono> "Is that something we want to be mixed up in?" Sanda asks, "We have enough troubles no matter which of those ideas is right. Even fi it is potent."
20:17 <Skaya> "Or there could be a sealed evil and good locked in eternal battle within," Skaya muses. "Could be fun, Sanda!"
20:18 <Devar> "I mean, we know we could put it to good use in many ways." Devar says. "If we find another plagued city, it could be used to save lives easily enough. Having an emergency amount of healing in case anything were to happen to Anne would be helpful as well. But we're speaking as if Oceanpearl was already willing to trade for it." Devar says, placing the band in his palm to hold out forward. "If
20:18 <Devar> you wish it returned, as agreed, I will not argue, as it was yours to begin with."
20:19 <•Kotono> "You have saved me twice," Oceanpearl considers, "I will at least entertain your offers. My blood owes your blood, and I will honor that."
20:21 <Devar> "Well, we have gold as well as other items." Devar says. "Perhaps we could discuss the sort of things we're looking for and decide how to best trade for it?" He says. "You know your hoard better than we." He looks over at Skaya. "I can think of a few things for myself, but why don't you see if there's anything useful for you?"
20:23 <•Kotono> ""Show me what you have, then," Oceanpearl requests. OOC: What are you offering here, y'all?
20:27 <Skaya> "Do you have anything really suited for an unarmed, close-range fighter?" Skaya voices curiously. "And if so, what are you on the lookout for to improve your hoard?"
20:28 <Devar> OOC: We've got Gasconar's Spite, the dagger, which I don't think any of us want. I don't know if anyone actually wants to keep the Mask? We have a Ring of Sustenance as well we don't need anymore because of the Elemental Stuff that happened.
20:29 <Skaya> OOC: Sounds about right. We can toss in the telepathy rings since Anne doesn't like them.
20:29 <Devar> OOC: Rina's also got two swords but she might want both if she does two-weapon fighting with them? I don't want to speak for anything claimed by anyone.
20:31 <•Kotono> OOC: She's keeping them but not married to them. Okay then. What do each you want, roughly? Just general ideas is fine.
20:33 <Devar> OOC: Info on/location of the Clearwater piece that we mentioned earlier, and anything that might help defensive-wise that won't interfere with his monk bonuses to armor. Maybe something with displacement/miss chance? That'd be helpful
20:35 <Skaya> OOC: Something that raises unarmed/monk damage and stacks with both the monk's belt and improved natural attack. Something that improves Stunning Fist's DC or makes it usable on the restricted creatures. Perhaps armor that can be worn by monks.
20:38 <Skaya> OOC: Anything that boosts the main existing monk ability is probably the holy grail. Like greater flurry if you have flurry.
20:46 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay.
20:49 <•Kotono> In time, three items come forth. A pair of sleek leather books, a wooden staff with electrical patterns on it and finally a simple, unassuming pair of bracers. "Examine these and tell me what you think. I would trade the dagger and the mask for them."
20:50 <Devar> Devar will do his duty to identify them for the sake of the others!
20:50 <•Kotono> Clearwater Bracers
20:50 <•Kotono> These function as bracers of armor+3. If worn by an Eldathian, this bonus increases by 2. If down by an Eldathian with the Vow Of Nonviolence feat, they gain spell resistance 25.
20:50 <•Kotono> If worn with the Clearwater Helmet and Ring, well, you'll find out.
20:50 <•Kotono> Mellwood's Arcanum
20:50 <•Kotono> A wand of polished wood, this once per day can invoke a lightning bolt spell (caster level 7th.) Additionally, it functions as a dagger+1, shock and wounding.
20:50 <•Kotono> Boots of the Elven Princess
20:50 <•Kotono> A pair of boots dedicated to Amaryl Gaial, these boots are a blessing to any scouts who wear them. They count as a scout five levels higher to determine their scout level for the sake of skirmish, battle fortitude and fast movement abilities. Additionally, these boots grant a +5 bonus to Stealth and Acrobatics checks.
20:52 <Devar> "You're a very worldly being to have collected something like these." Devar says with a smile. He does wonder if Oceanpearl went and actually fetched the Clearwater piece herself, since it sounded like it wasn't here before...
20:53 <•Kotono> "I collect many things," Oceanpearl retorts, "Do you find them pleasing?"
20:54 <Skaya> Wow. Who goes around doing this? If Skaya becomes important one day on this plane, would there be treasures such as Skaya's Monocle? Skaya's Belt? Skaya's Socks?
20:55 <Devar> "I don't want to speak for the others." Devar says with a turn to them. "But I think we could put all three of them to good use. Would you also be willing to part with the Whispers?"
20:55 <Skaya> "I do like elves but I don't think any of this is very suitable for me," Skaya admits, abstaining here.
20:56 <Devar> "If nothing else, I would want to trade for the bracers." Devar says. "If the other two items aren't something the others want we can come to a different agreement."
20:59 <Skaya> "Oh. Sorry, no, this is perfectly fine for us as a group," Skaya corrects herself. "Sanda likes to be in melee and Rina likes to scout ahead, it's all good."
21:00 <•Kotono> "They fit well," Anne agrees, "None of this is helpful to me, but I have no objection."
21:01 <•Kotono> "Not for anything you have," Is the answer about the Whispers, "I use them to heal, and they are my main means."
21:03 <Devar> "That's fine." Devar says. "You're putting them to good use, which is all anyone can ask for." He says with a smile. "Lady Eldath would be happy it's back in the hands of someone doing such deeds. If you ever change your mind, I'm sure you can find us. With that being said, do you wish for any assistance with those hunters, or do you think..." He gestures at their corpses that are probably
21:03 <Devar> still just... there... "You've made enough of a point that they won't bother you further?"
21:05 <Devar> OOC: pretend he didn't gesture at the corpses that arent there anymore but still asked the question
21:07 <•Kotono> The spectral figures summoned have removed them all by now. "Yes, and if any others come..." A ominous feeling hangs in the air, heavy.
21:08 <Skaya> "This does bring up a question," Skaya voices. "Would you be open to trade with the local human city? Or should they stay away? What is your preference? We would be happy to ensure the authorities know about it."
21:09 <Devar> Devar nods, taking out the Death Mask and dagger to put down in front of Oceanpearl as he collects the other items - and he will put on the Clearwater Bracers, he's a bit too curious about them.
21:11 <•Kotono> Devar feels something in the back of his mind, ready to be invoked. "I prefer a distance after what happened," Is the answer Oceanpearl gives, "Time for wounds and hurts to fade."
21:12 <Skaya> "Got it."
21:17 <Devar> "Thank you for your gifts." Devar says. "Should you ever have need of us, I am certain you can find us."
21:23 <•Kotono> With that greemetns are made and...OOC: Heading back?
21:23 <Skaya> OOC: Yes. Let's discuss our options!
21:23 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, and loot post. Let me know who is using what.
21:23 <Devar> OOC: Devar will invoke whatever the mysterious Clearwater power is on their way back also
21:24 <•Kotono> OOC: We'll cover that in loot, go ahead and mention that.
21:25 <•Kotono> The return. It's evening when everyone gets together, dried out, and...OOC: Go ahead, y'all.
21:27 <Skaya> "There's not much left to do here, so let's talk about Laremy," Skaya tells the others. Rina is probably in a good mood from those really nice second hand elven shoes, but this might ruin things for her. "First of all, Rina and I are officially fugitives there over the petty machinations of a corrupt noble that got blown out of proportion due to our response."
21:30 <Devar> Devar frowns. "I wonder if there's any way to clear that up, but anyone from this side of the border vouching for you is just going to make the matter worse."
21:30 <Skaya> "Of course there are ways. Money works, as in bribery. We can also get drafted," she says, putting finger quote around that word, "and be pardoned. And so on, and so forth."
21:31 → Iddy joined (uid408070@lunarnet-B8D5816D.irccloud.com)
21:31 <Devar> "We do have the luxury of just bypassing the borders now, though I don't love just doing it." He says. "Perhaps we simply get back and get into contact with the Guild Master and go from there? He seems to have a lot of connections."
21:32 <Skaya> "That would mean we're taking away resources while he's fighting for his life," Skaya points out. "Not the best of ways. Ah! But if we get a scroll of regenerate, then we do have someone who could resolve it all for us easily."
21:33 <•Kotono> Rina's expression darkens as she listens, "I'm in no hurry to go back to that mess."
21:33 <Devar> "Anne and I can try praying on the matter, if you want." Devar offers. "I don't personally know this person you're trying to help, but if you believe it is towards a good cause then I'll help however I can."
21:34 <•Kotono> "I'd suggest it," Anne agrees, "I plan to and have been."
21:34 <•Kotono> "We have optionsa nd time to consider, but war marches on," Sanda points out, "No one wins in war but profiteers and gravediggers."
21:35 <Skaya> "That's issues number one and two identified," Skaya muses. "Next, our actual agenda. This is most crucial to you, Anne. There is absolutely no chance you'll be allowed to return to your orphanage. So how do you want to do this?"
21:40 <•Kotono> "As of now, I don't know," Anne counters, "I've been hoping for guidance on it."
21:41 <Skaya> "Alright, so here's a proposal. We sneak across the border with short range teleportation, get one of the telepathy rings to the Guild and then discuss our options there."
21:42 <•Kotono> "FIne, we can do it like that," Sanda says, "I hope Mellanics is alright."
21:42 <•Kotono> "I'd been curious about what lies across the sea, but..." Rina shakes her head, "We'd best get moving then."
21:42 <Skaya> "We can also do a long range teleport with that dangerous artifact, I should be able to handle it."
21:42 <Devar> "Do you want us to see if we can get a lead on a scroll before we consider anything else?" Devar asks. "I also don't even think you need to sneak over with teleportation, we can just fly over it, high enough that no one could see it." He says.
21:44 <Skaya> "Yes, let's do it. Reincarnate would also work."
21:46 — Devar nods. "I'll see what I can do." He says.
21:48 <•Kotono> Nods at that as...OOC: Okay, I'm sorta RL distracted and this is mostly plotting, so let's pause here. We'll pick up next time with moving forward.

[Corwin]

18:59 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, what's y'all's next move here?
19:00 <Devar> OOC: Let's have Anne Divination us and see if she can get us a specific / general location for a scroll of Regenerate? If not, Devar will try praying on his own as well. If she is successful he can ask for something else if we need it
19:03 <•Kotono> OOC: Sure. She'd only ask someone pays the 25 gold cost for reageants.
19:04 <Skaya> OOC: I'll do it
19:04 <•Kotono> OOC: Sure, post the expense. More.
19:05 <•Kotono> roll 1d100 vs 76
19:05 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 vs 76 --> [ 1d100=89 ]{89}
19:05 <•Kotono> The spell is cast, Anne in seclusion. When she returns back to the inn room, she shakes her head. "Unfortunately, the spell fails. A known risk of divination, it isn't ever certain."
19:07 <•Kotono> OOC: Strike since Cor had an even better point.
19:07 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, Anne lost a CL thanks to lifespark, so that's not on the table. What's y'all's next next move instead?
19:07 <Devar> OOC: So back to the original question, Devar will try praying (I guess along with Anne then) and see if they can have some gentle divine direction on finding a regenerate scroll
19:10 <•Kotono> OOC: Sure, go for it. Give me a d100.
19:11 <Devar> roll 1d100
19:11 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=5 ]{5}
19:17 <•Kotono> It's when Devar drifts to sleep. It's not like him, and he doesn't even need to now, but sleep sneaks up on him. He dreams, of a path into the ocean. Of the cool embrace of the salt water, of going deeper, deeper and deeper into the depths. A city in those depths, walls of coral and placed against the edge of a vast trench far deeper down. Glimpses of humanoids riding sharks and dolphins is
19:17 <•Kotono> glimpsed, images of great large fish, of kraken and of herds of land horses that run along the sea bottom, all around this city.  Then, after a moment of disorientation, feeling pulled into the city, towards....towards....something? Something waits within. 
19:18 <Devar> OOC: I would realize that this was not the same underwater city we visited in the elemental chaos, correct?
19:20 <•Kotono> OOC: Yes, it's pretty obviously different.
19:20 <Devar> OOC: Okay.
19:22 <Devar> Knowing the others don't necessarily sleep at this point either but not wanting to bother them too much, he'll see how everyone else is doing before he clears his throat for their attention. "I had a premonition from Lady Eldath. I know where we can go to get a scroll." He smiles a little bit towards Rina. "You won't like it, but it's deep in the ocean. There's a city - yes, another one - down
19:22 <Devar> in the depths near a trench."
19:24 <Skaya> "Let's go and ask those living underwater for directions?" Skaya proposes. "Unless you already have an idea of where it might be?"
19:25 <Devar> "I have a pretty good idea, but asking them would likely help narrow it down." He agrees. "We even have a ring that will help so it doesn't have to be Sanda doing the only talking."
19:26 <•Kotono> "There's more," Anne adds as she comes out, "I come with tidings of my own, and a dire warning."
19:26 <•Kotono> "And just like that, there goes my mood," Sanda deadpans, "Our ray of sunshine strikes again."
19:26 <Devar> "Hey, I'd rather know there was danger before, rather than after." Devar says.
19:26 <•Kotono> Rina listens along, "That ring would hel-" A stop midway as Anne interrupts, "Okay, so underwater city on one hand. What's in the other."
19:27 <Skaya> "Yes, do share the dire tidings."
19:28 <•Kotono> "That should at least some of us not return to Laremy in the short term, Mellanics will fall, the guild will be wiped out in the fighting and most of our friends there lost." Anne explains, "Which to be blunt, suggests that we may need to split ourselves into two groups for a time."
19:30 <•Kotono> "That is a complication," Sanda exhales long and slow, "And not a small one."
19:30 <Skaya> "Wait, wait! It's gotten that bad?" Skaya exclaims. "Then do you know what you're saying? We won't even have a chance to negotiate a stop to the war, we'll have to fight on one of the sides. Kill people who aren't evil, just following a different nation!"
19:32 <Devar> "It may be that somehow or another our words are able to convince people?" Devar offers. "Perhaps our revealing Brachidos and his schemes somehow helps to stop things, or at least stave them off?" He frowns. "Nonetheless, we definitely have to do... something."
19:33 <•Kotono> "That or there's other plots in movement," Anne comments, "Neither goal is unworthy in the least, but we need to think carefully."
19:35 <Devar> "I can go wherever." Devar offers. "I should be able to handle the diplomacy underwater, but I'd need to borrow the ring to make sure I can talk to them. But we should split the rings anyway so we can keep in contact with whoever goes where."
19:36 <•Kotono> "Myself, Devar and Skaya could go underwater?" Sanda offers, "If Rina's comfortable enough sneaking back in to Laremy."
19:37 <•Kotono> Anne's expression is torn, "I myself am not happy about this," she confesses, "Maybe it's the will above that Laremy fall, I know not, but we have been given a warning and a chance to interfere."
19:38 <•Kotono> After a few moments, "I don't like any of our choices here," she grimaces, "And we'd not have heard of this at all if we'd chased Brachidos beyond the seas, not until it was history."
19:38 <Skaya> "Should we?" Skaya murmurs. "The scroll is very important, but a town full of people beats that. What can we practically do if we go? Evacuating Anne's kids is doable, and I can bring out the receptionists. But that won't be enough to help the p-- wait. Wait a moment. Anne, are you sure that your god said the people of town will be massacred?"
19:38 <•Kotono> *Rina says
19:38 <•Kotono> "No, I got more of the impression that we would lose friends and the guild would be wiped out not the entire town being put to the sword," Anne answers, "If Picke's involved in the war, it makes a certain military sense."
19:39 <Skaya> "The Guild, yes. But what about your orphanage? If there's an omen of danger to it, we all need to return. If it really was just the Guild, let's return together with Rina while Devar and Sanda look into the underwater city."
19:40 <•Kotono> "Not for the Orphanage directly," Anne agrees, "Though as the most vulnerable, they'd be in danger in any sort of situation like that."
19:41 <Skaya> "Alright. Since our horses mysteriously survived we can take the wagon over to the border and see from there. And assuming Devar and Sanda succeed, he could fly the two of them back fast enough to perhaps get there with any delay we form."
19:43 <Devar> "If not fly, we've got some magic horses that can go really fast if we need them." Devar says. "So I'll take the one ring and Skaya takes the other, and we keep in contact?"
19:44 <Skaya> "Sure. Let's not keep it on all the time in case there's the weirdness Anne was worried about, and just use scheduled times to contact one another."
19:44 <•Kotono> "That seems best," Anne concludes, "And keep in contact with one another that way."
19:45 — Devar nods. "All right."
19:48 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, so lay out your plan succinctly so I can paste it into my notes and get both groups moving.
19:50 <Skaya> OOC: Group A is Anne, Rina and Skaya. We'll take our wagon and horses and head for Mellanics. Once we reach the border area, we'll ask around and see what to do. Group B is Devar and Sanda, they'll seek out the scroll of regenerate underwater.
19:53 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, sure. More. Devar off into #evildunes.

[Corwin]

19:53 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, any preparations you want to make before getting back onto the roads?
19:54 <Skaya> OOC: Let's leave immediately. The only prep is that we'll split all the perishables between us. Devar can post in loot about our potions and stuff!
19:57 — •Kotono nods.
19:58 <•Kotono> OOC: Gah. Go ahead and do that then, Devar. More, but give me a d100 real quick.
19:58 <Skaya> roll 1d100
19:58 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=12 ]{12}
20:15 <•Kotono> You leave and begin to make swift progress on the wagon. It's a warm day as you drive the horses, Anne currently above and Rina resting. With the quarantine freshly lifted, the roads leading from Rockgale are busy. You're crossing a minor bridge and passing by a small caravan of carts. It's farm goods mostly, horses lugging along and lead by farmers, with a small gaggle of kids along with them.
20:15 <•Kotono> As they pass, one stops and stares, then ponits, "T-that's SKAYA!" one calls, "The Skaya!" Excited cries come up from most of them, eyes turning to the party.
20:17 <Skaya> Oh! Looks like the path towards leaving named pieces of clothing further down the line is progressing well! Skaya makes sure to smile and wave!
20:21 <•Kotono> Even the farmers stare, and you can hear murmurs, "...broke the plague..." "...beneath Dareslan..." "...defeated Brachidos..."
20:23 <Skaya> Yep yep! All true! She'd also explored dangerous ancient ruins but that's really for fun and profit rather than to help people, so it makes sense why the farmers wouldn't be excited about that part of her resume.
20:25 <•Kotono> Anne swoops lower at that, and that gets more murmurs, "It's Skaya's healer!" "She's the loyal handmaiden of Skaya!" "What about Devar the mighty or the wise wizard?"
20:26 <Skaya> Wouldn't Rina be the loyal handmaiden? Ah, whatever. Skaya will let her rest some more in the wagon. A shame Sanda isn't here. One day! One day she'll learn how to show illusions with sound and this will become Anne's dark history and Sanda's schadenfraude.
20:31 <•Kotono> Once past this, "One wonders why they knew you most of all," Anne comments lightly, flying alongside the wagon.
20:32 <Skaya> "Because I'm the prettiest," Skaya says matter of factly. "What you should be asking is why they remembered Devar's name. I'd understand if it was just the guys who want to admire a strong man but...."
20:35 <•Kotono> "You are not the pr-" Anne says reflexively, but masters herself midway. "Regardless of your opinions, Devar is as much a hero as any of us. No, he may stand out more for being the only man with us." A beat, "And let us never let his weapon comment to the public on this."
20:36 <Skaya> "Aww, why not? It'd be hilarious! We can even repeat it to him afterwards, he'd cringe so hard!"
20:41 <•Kotono> "I do have a vow of chastity," Anne points out, "I'd not like to sully the honor of that vow by being known as a floozy." Archly going on, "No matter the truth of it...or how amusing it might be to see the reactions."
20:42 <Skaya> "When it comes to nasty rumors like that, does the opinion of people who'd just spread them mindlessly matter? Those who know you would realize it's all lies."
20:44 <•Kotono> "Reputation and perception matter," Anne comments, "Particularly when one often drums up donations for a charitable cause."
20:47 <Skaya> "Fair enough," Skaya agrees. "You've changed my mind. Ah, and there might be another reason. Devar and I showed off against the turtle dragon in port. Maybe that was the most public fight we've had."
20:49 <•Kotono> "That too," Anne concludes, "While I worked with many healers, one of many."
20:50 <Skaya> "We've done good, real good with a capital G, but no one's been around to see it," Skaya says with a shrug. "Except your friends here, and your god. So to me that was the most important part. You can always tell the kids at the orphanage exciting bedtime stories! Ah, and don't forget to make me the heroine!"

[Corwin]

19:10 <•Kotono> A laugh from Anne, warm and pleasant. "I promise. Now shall we continue?"
19:11 <Skaya> "Sure thing!"
19:15 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:15 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@F7FF8E7B.65FFF26B.519CF81E.IP)
19:15 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:15 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=28 ]{28}
19:16 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:16 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=44 ]{44}
19:16 <•Kotono> Are you going to rest at night, or keep traveling through the darkness?
19:16 <Skaya> OOC: How many days of travel would it be, since we have premium horses here?
19:21 <•Kotono> OOC: LIke by traveling at night?
19:23 <Skaya> OOC: I'm looking to see how many days it will save us
19:27 <•Kotono> OOC: You think you could halve your travel time doing this.
19:28 <Skaya> OOC: We'll go through the night relying on Anne's magic to recover from fatigue for the horses, and try to rest in the wagon in shifts
19:36 <•Kotono> OOC: Sure.
19:36 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:36 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=56 ]{56}
19:36 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:36 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=58 ]{58}
19:37 <•Kotono> Night. It's the deep hours of the night, and right now Skaya rests in the wagon. Anne drives and Rina keeps her company. SKaya's just consumed a simple meal and is resting her eyes a few minutes. That's when a deep, sweet and nearly overwhelming sleepiness comes to her. It's not strange or foreign, in spite of not being tired since her transformation, but gentle as a warm blanket laid over you.
19:40 <Skaya> If there's any danger, her loyal handmaidens will save her. Skaya doesn't resist a chance to rest as she had in the past, since it's a nice experience.
19:42 <•Kotono> Sleep comes. Dreams. Skaya walks along a dusty, sunlit road. Her companion walks with her all the while, his pace unhurried. A man in sturdy, travel staind clothes and a rough spun cloak, a walking stick in hand. His face is indistinct. "A good afternoon for a walk, isn't it?"
19:43 <Skaya> "Actually, wagons save a lot of time, but I always feel bad for the horses," Skaya responds truthfully before reigning herself in. There's no need to add she prefers to fly over walking.
19:47 <•Kotono> "Compassion for those who work hard for you?" A question, the man's voice warm. "It speaks well of your compassion. But what is it you want when this is all over, Skaya? Do you want to keep traveling, or settle down?"
19:48 <Skaya> "The only time I actually thought I'd settle down was when I contemplated failing at all my goals," she muses. "That's an answer in itself, isn't it? Staying at some place for a while is okay, and returning isn't an issue. But I really do want to explore and see everything there is!"
19:53 <•Kotono> The man laughs, a wonderful sound, "Just as I say! I had thought I saw a kindred soul in you, Skaya. To travel, to see everything there is. It's glorious."
19:55 <Skaya> "Do you have any pointers for where to go next? After dramatically saving Mellanics?"
20:00 <•Kotono> "You have a war to stop," The man comments as you travel along. The afternoon wears on in moments, but the sun is still out. "Laremy and Eis are pleasant in the summer and autumn times, though look." The man points and at the horizon, you see a great buzzard of ice circling lands far on the horizon. "Auril has plans to strike with a harsh winter. The people will suffer in it, and some will not
20:00 <•Kotono> endure to spring. Especially with scarcity as the result of war."
20:03 <Skaya> "What a bitch," Skaya says with a scowl. "Can she be stopped? Or is it just divine will slapping against this plane?"
20:06 <•Kotono> "More like divine opportunism," The man comments darkly, "Desperation drives more people to her. If some who don't turn to her don't make it, that's no concern of hers. Just as this meeting is opportunism of another sort: A reward for you and your friends, and an opportunity for you."
20:09 <Skaya> The mention of an opportunity gets Skaya thinking, and she asks, "Can you tell me about that war to stop? How did it start, truly? And was it incited by Brachidos or some other external actors, or just the culmination of mortal hatreds and a series of coincidences at the border?"
20:12 <•Kotono> "I don't know all the details," The man admits, "But Brachidos and his master have offended me and pushed against me before, so I can tell you: Brachidos was not the cause of the war, but his own roving blight. He planned, but only for his own ends. Anything he blundered on, from the madman in Dareslan to the war between Laremy and Eis, was incidental."
20:14 <Skaya> At least it's not an oversight on her part, then. Skaya can be content with that. "If that's not the opportunity, then it can only be one thing. Do you think we're a good match? I do prefer a more direct approach, and I know some would find it offensive."
20:18 <•Kotono> "We could be," The man offers, "The choice is yours, as it always is for mortals...or former mortals. You and your friends may live long enough to see this world one day crumble to dust, if you grow strong enough to endure the ages. You have the gift of time, endless days so long as violence does not rend you apart.""
20:20 <Skaya> "Sounds good, then!"
20:25 <•Kotono> The man extends his hand, a silver holy symbol in his hand. It shows a bearded man walking on the winds, in traveler's cloak and boots. "Then take this. All I ask is that you travel the roads and offer aid to those who travel and need it."
20:27 <Skaya> "Got it," Skaya says, accepting the holy symbol. "I'll do my best to counter Auril's scheme for this winter, so if that works out decently give me a heads up when I can help out like that?"
20:29 <•Kotono> The name engraves itself into your mind: Shaundakul. "Stopping the war will do more to that than anything else. Few can change winter's course over entire nations. If not, then simple food will do greatly."
20:31 <Skaya> "Of course. I will truly do my best."
20:44 <•Kotono> "The sun sets," Shaundakul states as he looks towards it, "Be careful. Spite is known deeply to the Adversary. Perhaps not in a mortal's life time or even in a dozen's, but he never forgets a slight. He is ancient and with the patience of the ages, but he does not forget."
20:45 <Skaya> "He'll just have to live with it! But I get it, I'll be as careful as I can be against someone like that."
20:48 <•Kotono> "Then travel well," Shaundakul bids- "Wake up," Rina shakes your shoulder, sounding weary. "You're snoring."
20:48 <Skaya> "What's wrong with that?" Skaya asks sleepily. "I bet it's cute."
20:51 <•Kotono> You get a flat look back, "It's sunrise, anyway. You slept several hours."
20:51 <Skaya> "It was nice. I met a god!"
20:57 <•Kotono> "Eh?" Rina stops at that, "Like a vision?"
21:01 <Skaya> "Shaundakul invited me over for a chat," Skaya tells Rina, wiping at her eyes as she slowly wakes up. "Apparently Auril is messing with things, and if we don't stop the war the winter will be really harsh."
21:04 <•Kotono> "Wonderful," What Rina says next isn't worth repeating, several invectives about
21:04 <•Kotono> OOC: Gah.
21:04 <•Kotono> "Wonderful," What Rina says next isn't worth repeating, several invectives about Auril, her parentage and her choice of consorts. After she gets that out of her system, "A harsh winter during or after a war can end entire villages."
21:05 <Skaya> "Worst case, we'll need to gather priests to conjure up enough food for people to hang on. But there's a bright side! We do well, Auril's efforts are largely offset."
21:07 <•Kotono> "Worse case. I've heard stories about crops being destroyed and targeted in the past wars, too." Rina mentions, "All the gold in a dragon's hoard can't buy food ifthere's no food to buy."
21:09 <Skaya> "I'll pass the word to Devar and Sanda during our next check in, and at least one nation can be prepared ahead of time. If they manage that, there might even be a surplus to sell."
21:15 <•Kotono> "Optimistic," Rina comments, "Anyway, you're on now. I'm going to rest a little before it gets warmer. Smells like it's going to be on the hot side today."
21:17 <Skaya> "Sure thing."
21:19 <•Kotono> OOC: Give me a d100 then real quick.
21:20 <Skaya> roll 1d100
21:20 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=86 ]{86}
21:29 <•Kotono> You're not far - only a few hours in. You're still making fine time, when you come on something ahead. A pair of horses with broken straps and barding on them, galloping down the road and towards the group.
21:31 — Skaya stops the wagon and takes off into the air, seeking to intercept the dashing horses. She'll pull them to a stop with what remains of the barding, while calming them down as much as possible.
21:32 <Skaya> OOC: Handle Animal 10 with inspiration for 26
21:38 <•Kotono> Anne swoops down as you get to the horses. It takes some quick grabbing and some calming words, but you manage to stop them. Rina hurries out and joins you, "What-" she looks them over, "Trouble, looks like. Hopefully just some horses got scared and broke their harness."
21:41 <Skaya> "Yeah, right. Let's hurry over and take a look. Anne, take over, I'll scout from above."
21:42 <Skaya> OOC: We'll proceed with the horses and our wagon, while I see if there's anything I can perceive from high up. Perception 10 for 29
21:44 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay. Give me a Wisdom check as well.
21:44 <Skaya> roll 1d20+2
21:44 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{19}
21:53 <•Kotono> You proceed onwards a little further - and can see it ahead. Captured merchants, sitting ont he roadside and tied up.  Rough men ransacking several wagons, going through them.
21:55 — Skaya swoops back down and tells the girls curtly, "Merchants waylaid by bandits. Stop our wagon here and tie the horses. We'll strike from the air and test that plan of being too high up to be spotted."
21:55 <Skaya> OOC: I just want a quick and dirty fix that'll take 2-3 rounds at most. If this is impossible, we'll leave at once. I'll fly with Rina either way, and Anne can follow.
22:02 <•Kotono> OOC: Sure. We'll cover that...next time!

[Corwin]

19:53 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, any preparations you want ot make before you leave for the oceans?
19:54 <Devar> OOC: Nope, we will just follow the same path down to the denizens we know are there first and see if they're willing to share where this other city is. If not, then we can ask where a trench is and go from there.
19:58 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, give me a d100.
19:59 <Devar> roll 1d100
19:59 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=84 ]{84}
20:16 <•Kotono> Onward. Through the depths and along the sinking shore. Past where
20:16 <•Kotono> OOC: Gah.
20:18 <•Kotono> Onward. Through the depths and along the sinking shore. Past where Oceanpearl's lair rests, the water around you growing darker. Ahead you can see something - the ruins of what looks to be a tower, eroded away by water and time. A few floors look intact and rumble suggests there were more once on a time, even if now it's only but ruin.
20:20 <Devar> Devar will swim toward it - they can at least check out the top floor, though likely anything that's in here has long been pilfered. "I'll check the top floor." Devar calls out to Sanda in Aquan.
20:21 <•Kotono> Sanda answers in the same, "Even if it's a waste of time, this hardly looks new or unexplored."
20:23 <Devar> Devar nods and goes over to take a look - his darkvision should spot anything that somehow got missed over the years, but he isn't expecting much here.
20:23 <•Kotono> OOC: PErception for me real quick, +1 bonus.
20:24 <Devar> roll 1d20+12
20:24 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{22}
20:25 <Devar> OOC: I can see you laughing at me, Kobot.
20:26 <•Kotono> It's ruined. Nothing too interesting there, just a shell overgrown with algae and similar growths. Nothing really interesting here at all.
20:27 <Devar> Devar will continue on!
20:30 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+9
20:30 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{24}
20:30 <•Kotono> OOC: Flatfooted AC?
20:31 <Devar> OOC: 27
20:34 <•Kotono> It's subtle, but a little fragment of sharp stone flies past you, going through the water fast. Fast enough you almost miss it, a narrow miss that alost skewers your shoulder.
20:36 <Devar> Devar spins around, brandishing Goldenfang! "I mean you no harm, but I will defend myself!" He calls out in Aquan.
20:36 <•Kotono> Sanda whirls as well, staff ready. "Think twice about it!"
20:36 <•Kotono> Whatever it is, there's no sign of another attack, but nor do you see anyone immediately.
20:37 <Devar> Devar will start to swim up and back away, still pointing towards the tower as he does so he won't be taken off guard again.
20:42 <•Kotono> Sanda follows, swimming up nad back away. No further attacks come as you put distance between yourselves an the tower.
20:43 <Devar> Devar looks towards Sanda and shrugs as he continues on - though he does turn back every now and again for a few minutes as they get away from it.
20:45 <•Kotono> As you swim away, "Statistically speaking, it's best to leave it be. Whatever was there is likely entrenched and fighting from a position of advantage. I see no need to play its game."
20:45 <Devar> Devar nods to her and continues on!
20:48 <•Kotono> A whisper in Aquan, faint but unusually audible. It's heard as a simple, "...help..." A woman's voice.
20:48 <•Kotono> Sanda doesn't even look back, and instead comments, "Did you know that colorful plants tend tob e more likely to be poisonous? All that attention they get is to make it more likely to poison someone."
20:49 <Devar> "We should probably deal with it later." Devar says. "Just so other passerbys don't get hurt. But it isn't something we have time for right now."
20:51 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
20:51 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=89 ]{89}
20:52 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
20:52 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=50 ]{50}

[Corwin]

19:11 <•Kotono> It's getting darker as you go, down the slope. Time is passing and night looms. What's your plan for evening travel?
19:12 <Devar> "Remind me, can you see in the dark?" Devar asks as they travel. "I can cast something so we can see, but it'll make us a beacon for potential targets if I do."
19:15 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@F7FF8E7B.65FFF26B.519CF81E.IP)
19:20 <•Kotono> "Yes," Sanda answers, "Not far but I have some night vision now."
19:21 <Devar> "Then we'll keep going like this." Devar says. "I'd rather not make us an unnecessary target - but if we get attacked, I'll cast it to reveal the area."
19:23 <Devar> "I've read there's some spell that druids can cast that gives you an idea of your surroundings." Devar adds. "Maybe we can find something that can invoke that for us a few times a day sometime in the future."
19:28 <•Kotono> A brisk nod from Sanda as you swim onwards and...
19:28 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:28 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=10 ]{10}
19:40 <•Kotono> Night. The ocean is pitch black, and even with darkvision, it's difficult going. Still, you keep swimming close to the ocean floor. It's midway through this that you hear the sond of song in the distance. Aquan, too faint to make out words, but Devar knows the cadence of it by now.
19:42 <Devar> "Something else to draw people's attention to a trap?" Devar asks Sanda. "As much as it might be a good opportunity or even just someone singing, I think we just keep going."
19:48 <•Kotono> "That or it's a mermaid," Sanda says flatly, "A sailor's dream." Sanda swims a little forward and is quiet a few seconds, "I think I can hear it, and it sounds nice. I'm curious, I admit, even if the numbers do advise caution."
19:49 <Devar> "We can investigate." Devar says. "If it is a threat, I have a weapon that produces lightning, which really ought to scare them off if it becomes a problem." With that, Devar will start heading towards the song!
19:56 <•Kotono> It's not hard to find -f or ahead you quickly blunder on the remnants of a sunken ship. Old enough to be covered in growth and forgotten, and atop the forgotten deck sits a mermaid. She has long blu ehair and is impossibly beautiful, closer to art made real than something flesh and blood. Every inch of her body is flawless. Her voice matches, a yearning song of hope and desire for better
19:56 <•Kotono> days. She sings with her head bowed, eyes closed.
19:57 <Devar> Devar will stay quiet unless it seems like, even after a few minutes her song won't finish. He will try to make his presence known without surprise by knocking lightly on part of the ship to get the mermaid's attention.
20:04 <•Kotono> The knocking getst he mermaid's attention. Her eyes open and she looks to you. She gasps, which makes certain movement highlitght the fact that she's not wearing anything. That and a moment later she blushes terribly and covers herself with her arms, "A m-m-man!" she cries out, looking away. "A h-h-human man!"
20:04 <•Kotono> Sanda blinks, tilts her head and says, "Then logically, shouldn't you have been..." she gestures at her own chest. "Do they make cloth down here, or seashells strung together or...?"
20:05 <Devar> "They probably have different customs down here." Devar says in Aquan. "Please, forgive the intrusion, miss. We mean you no harm or insult."
20:07 <•Kotono> There's fumbling, and a seashell bra is produced. Something close enough to it and quickly put on. "It pinches," The mermaid whimpers softly, face completely crimson. "And no one was around..."
20:08 <•Kotono> "That's no excuse, you have to cover and take care of yourself," Sanda lectures, waggling a finger, "But don't worry, we don't mean any harm, miss."
20:09 <Devar> "It's rude to chide someone you just met, Sanda." Devar says. "Please forgive us for the interruption. We were looking for a city that supposedly is down here, near a trench? We have business there, if you're familiar at all with it."
20:20 <•Kotono> "Oh! You're looking for Aquariar," The mermaid responds, "It's not close, you have a journey ahead of you. Plus you're land creatures, how strange it is to see you down here. You must be terribly lost."
20:20 <•Kotono> Devar swears he can hear Storm's Eye starting to chuckle.
20:21 <Devar> "It isn't exactly the easiest to travel underwater." Devar agrees. "How far and in what direction is it?" Devar asks. "Unfortunately we are rather limited in terms of the manner in which we get there."
20:26 <•Kotono> "It's that ways," She points further downslope, "Several days, depending on currents. Oh! It so happens that I have need of gold, pearls or coral. You look to be travelers of wealth, would you be interested in hiring a guide?"
20:26 <•Kotono> "
20:27 <•Kotono> Sanda goes quiet for a little time, then loudly clicks her tongue. "How much?"
20:28 <•Kotono> "You land creatures use gold coins? One gold coin is equal to about twenty coral shards, and fifteen gold coins to a small pearl..." She works it out a moment, "15 gold a day. But worry not, my song and my magic can support you in exchange, if we come onto trouble."
20:30 <Devar> Devar nods. "I'll pay it, as long as we get there as quickly as possible." He says. "We have some land-dwelling friends waiting on us, and we're currently going in opposite directions, so the quicker we get to Aquariar, the better."
20:32 <•Kotono> "Then we can leave without delay," A yawn from the mermaid, "Do you usually travel this late?" She swims upward and over to the two of you.
20:34 <Devar> "We're not quite used to how to tell down here." Devar admits. "We don't need to sleep - it's... a complicated story."
20:45 <•Kotono> "Oh. I have magic that can take care of that for me," Another yawn, "I'll wait until it lightens once more."
20:45 <•Kotono> "You're a healer?" Sanda asks, "That's not magic a wizard usually knowns. By the numbers, that suggests you have talent there."
20:46 <Devar> Devar nods. "Oh, I'm Devar of Eldath, this is Sanda." He says. "If we do run into anything, I can fend them off and Sanda is a spellcaster."
20:49 <•Kotono> "Nibelle," A little swish through the waters, "I'll show you the way ahead."
20:50 <Devar> "Thank you, Miss Nibelle." Devar says, letting her do the leading!
20:50 <•Kotono> "For fifteen gold a day, you'd better and with a smile," Sanda comments dryly, "Oh, and if Devar's weapon talks, feel free to ignore it unless it's life or death."
20:50 <Devar> "Like I said earlier - complicated."
20:57 <•Kotono> "Complicated," Sanda echos, as the party goes on, now fortified a new member. OOC: d100, -10 bonus thanks to Nibelle.
20:57 <Devar> roll 1d100-10
20:57 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d100-10 --> [ 1d100=1 ]{-9}
20:57 <Devar> OOC: Surely that's a new record
20:58 <•Kotono> OOC: Wow.
21:00 <•Kotono> You swim to near sunrise. Down and down and down. The ocean floor levels, the party deeper in the depths now. It's cold, dark and the pressures of the waters are heavier. Yet your magic protects you, as surely as Sanda's elemental nature protects her.  As the waters begin to lighten with the sunrise, as much as they do down here - eh? Ahead is a fissure in the ground, one that gets Nibelle
21:00 <•Kotono> to stop. "Oh! That's new," she calls, "What happened?"
21:01 <Devar> "I'd ask you the same thing." Devar says. "Are those common down here?"
21:05 <•Kotono> "Rare, but it's known to happen. Sometimes something valuable's revealed by them," Nibelle picks up her pace, "If there's not lava-rock pouring out, and I don't see steam or ash."
21:05 <•Kotono> Sanda follows, "Oh! Maybe veins of precious metals or something magical?"
21:08 <Devar> Devar says a silent prayer to Tymora as he goes over to look at the fissure.
21:10 <•Kotono> You three head to the fissure. The light's still poor, but you can see the walls are mostly unremarkable...except for  down and to the side, where what looks to be the side of some sort of ruin can be glimpse. Mostly intact too, only a few small gaps in. Some sort of thick, heavy stonework.
21:12 <Devar> "Huh." Devar says as he peers down. "I do want us to keep going, but this might lead to something that can still be of use to us. Nibelle, do these have any chance to close up on us or anything?"
21:16 <•Kotono> "No, once they're open, they're open," Nibelle answers, "It must have opened just recently, too. We may be the first ones who have found it. Oh! We'd be so lucky if we were!"
21:16 <•Kotono> Sanda peers, "It's too much of a chance if that's a forgotten ruin of some kind. We could make a fortune if it is."
21:17 <Devar> Devar nods. Given the circumstances, he casts Luminous Armor on himself, both to see around but to protect against anything that might be down there. "I'll go first, you two just stay nearby and behind me." He will then starts to head down, luminating the way for everyone as he does.
21:17 <Devar> roll 1d2 str damage later
21:17 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d2 str damage later --> [ 1d2=2 ]{2}
21:20 <•Kotono> The light helps. "Oh, thank you!" Nibelle declares, "Thank you so much for protecting us."
21:21 <•Kotono> Sanda side eyes her at that, "Just stay back if you can't fight well. Both of us are capable."
21:21 <Devar> "Yes, if there is anything dangerous, you don't need to put yourself in harm's way." Devar echoes.
21:30 <•Kotono> With that the party goes down. There's a few gaps in to investigate if you want to. From out here, none of them show anything immediately interesting. Most are lower down, bu tone is much higher up, near the highest section revealed.
21:31 <Devar> "We may as well do this 'floor by floor,' as it were." Devar says - starting with whatever's at the most reachable level and then going to the next!
21:39 <•Kotono> That would be the highest. It's a gap into what looks to be pure darkness. Light does not penetrate in at all.
21:41 <Devar> OOC: So, just to be clear, I'd know that this is clearly magical darkness since the light from luminous armor isn't working on it, right?
21:43 <•Kotono> OOC: Correct.
21:45 <Devar> "Hmm." Devar hums, swimming forward to cast detect magic, checking for anything besides what this might be! OOC: Take 10 for for 30 on Spellcraft, just looking to see if he can sense anything besides the magical darkness.
21:52 <•Kotono> It's some sort of teleportation trick. Touch the darkness and you'll be teleported.
21:54 <Devar> "Oh, that's annoying." Devar says. "If you touch this, you'll get teleported somewhere. Let's leave it alone for now and see if we run into any more of it." He says as he goes down one level to keep investigating.
21:56 <•Kotono> The next opening has more of that, as does the next and the next. Every single opening has that same darkness. "What in the world?" Sanda scowls. "This makes no sense, logically speaking. Why even do that?"
21:58 <Devar> "I can try and dispel it, but it may just be easier to go along with it and see where it takes us. It may just be some sort of puzzle someone too powerful and bored created." He surmises. "Let's just make sure there's nothing we're missing." He says as he'll go down to the bottom to make sure there isn't anything he's missing!
22:02 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, we'll go into that...next time!

[Corwin]

18:59 <•Kotono> Nibelle follows as you check the bottom and...OOC: Perception.
19:00 <Devar> OOC: We'll need the bot to live, but I am taking 10 for 21
19:01 → Pixiebot joined (~dunefar@52F66D59.65FFF26B.519CF81E.IP)
19:16 <•Kotono> You reach the bottom of the visible ruin, the darkness only held at bay by your spell. No sign of safe entrances. The chasm itself goes deeper, but darkness quickly cloaks sight of anything deeper in.
19:17 <Devar> "This is certainly peculiar." Devar admits. "But I think we have no choice to try one of them and see where it takes us. Is everyone okay with that?"
19:31 <•Kotono> "Statistically, it's not a great idea, but the reward is huge," Sanda admits.
19:31 <•Kotono> "What happens if you vanish but the rest of us don't?" Nibelle asks.
19:33 <Devar> "In an event where we all somehow go to different places, rather than the same place - please stay where you are." Devar says. "I will keep moving and see if I can find you. If, for some reason, after, say, an hour, I do not show up, then please proceed. Obviously if you're in danger, then don't wait around, but I'm not convinced that this is anything more than a puzzle right now."
19:38 <•Kotono> "I should have asked for more," Nibelle says softly, but Sanda nods briskly. "Then let's see how the odds tell it./
19:38 <•Kotono> "
19:39 <Devar> "We've been through a lot worse than this, I promise." Devar says with a smile. "Besides, there might be something in here you're interested in." With that - Devar will head all the way back up to the top and then, when they're ready, put his hand in the darkness.
19:59 <•Kotono> The moment Devar touches the darkness, he's elsewhere. A room of crumbling stonework and pillars more collapsed than not. Statues of knights are in two rows near the walls, and to each side is an arched doorway promising to lead deeper in.
20:00 <Devar> Devar will wait a moment to see if this place works the way he thinks it ought to - i.e. the same darkness teleports people to the same place.
20:12 <•Kotono> If it does, there's no sign of it. No sign of Sanda or Nibelle.
20:13 <Devar> Devar sighs. "You just had to be complicated, didn't you?" He asks, to no one in particular. He will take off and fly, heading to the right doorway first.

[Corwin]

19:05 <•Kotono> You reach the right doorway. It's a solid door made of what looks to be wood, in spite of being built well underground. The wood's thick and solid enough to be in decent shape, if weathered with time.
19:07 <Devar> Devar will just try and open it - if it's locked, he'll go the other way.
19:09 <•Kotono> It's indeed locked. On going the other way, you find a similar door that is likewise unmoving.
19:11 <Devar> Devar rubs his chin. It isn't much of a puzzle if it just leads to two locked doors, is it? He does try the door to make sure it's locked before he heads back to look around in case he missed something. OOC: Take 10 on Perception for 21 if need be
19:15 <•Kotono> Devar searches around. Oh! Hidden by rubble next to a half crumbled pillar is a pendant with a large blue stone.
19:17 <Devar> Devar does a quick identification of the pendant - maybe it's used to unlock the doors? That's about all he could think of so far...
19:23 <•Kotono> There's a faint magic on it, abjuration and transmutation. It's keyed to unlock certain things when worn.
19:25 <Devar> "So what happens if someone just leaves with this thing...?" Devar murmurs to himself. He puts it on and heads back to the right doorway to open the door - or to see if this opens it, anyway.
19:30 <•Kotono> Once you put it on, you see a blue diamond appears on the right door. When you approach it, it pops ajar.
19:31 <Devar> Devar looks back down the hallway to the left side - is there a diamond that way too?
19:32 <•Kotono> There is not.
19:32 <Devar> "Ah, it's one of those types of things." Devar says. He proceeds through the diamond door, then!
19:33 → Kobot (was Pixiebot) joined 
19:36 <•Kotono> The door opens. It leads to a short hallway. Here two rows of mostly crumbled statues line the path ahead, to another wood door.
19:37 <Devar> Devar will look around to see if there's another pendant - or ring, or something similar like what he found already. OOC: Perception for 21
19:44 <•Kotono> You don't find anything like that here, just rubb-! You turn back. One of the few intact statues, this of a knight, has begun to move. It draws a sword of stone and approache syou with heavy steps.
19:46 <Devar> Devar stands and waits - he has a feeling he knows what's going to happen, but there's no sense in being hostile if he doesn't have to be...
19:51 <•Kotono> The sword is swung at Devar and...! OOC: Init. -2 circumstance penalty for you for giving him a free shot.
19:51 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+4 statue
19:51 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+4 statue --> [ 1d20=19 ]{23}
19:52 <Devar> roll 1d20+1
19:52 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+1 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{3}
19:52 <•Kotono> Init is Knight Statue (23) > Devar (3)
19:52 <•Kotono> The swing comes, right at Devar's head.
19:52 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+8
19:52 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{20}
19:52 <•Kotono> OOC: AC?
19:53 <Devar> OOC: 29 flatfooted, will be 32 going forward, and technically 36 against melee
19:54 <•Kotono> A large swing and a miss, Devar swaying to the side to smoothly avoid the swing, before...OOC: Devar, go.
19:54 <Devar> Devar summons Storm's Eye and takes few stabs at the statue!
19:55 <Devar> roll 1d20+12
19:55 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{31}
19:55 <Devar> roll 1d10+7
19:55 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d10+7 --> [ 1d10=4 ]{11}
19:55 <•Kotono> OOC: Damage type?
19:56 <Devar> OOC: Piercing and it also does lightning damage
20:04 <•Kotono> Thunk! Storm's Eye pierces into the statue. It struggles to go deep, but the lightning crackles through it nonetheless. Storm's Eye suddenly laughs, "And that's a good wake up call! Gonna have to hit it real hard or with something smashy, Devar!" As you hear his banter, the statue relentlessly presses, swinging again. A little faster, a little more effectively.
20:04 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+9 (+1 ???)
20:04 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+9 (+1 ???) --> [ 1d20=2 ]{11}
20:05 <•Kotono> But it's still a complete miss, Devar avoiding this swing with ease. OOC: Go.
20:05 <Devar> OOC: Oh, sorry, I guess I didn't actually roll the damage for the first hit anyway
20:05 <Devar> roll 1d8+5+1d6 1d6 is lightning
20:05 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d8+5+1d6 1d6 is lightning --> [ 1d8=7 1d6=3 ]{15}
20:06 <Devar> "Remind me when we get back to town to buy an adamantine mace for things like this." Devar says as he takes another few stabs!
20:06 <Devar> roll 1d20+12
20:06 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{15}
20:06 <•Kotono> OOC: I thought that's what the d10+7 was for.
20:06 <Devar> OOC: No it was my second swing on my full attack!
20:06 <•Kotono> OOC: Oh, it was a d10. A round's passed so too late to change it, but d20 it next time.
20:06 <Devar> OOC: wow it sure was
20:07 <Devar> roll 1d20+7
20:07 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{12}
20:07 <•Kotono> OOC: Two whiffs.
20:07 <Devar> OOC: not that I am doing better with a 20
20:07 <•Kotono> Two swings, but the statue's a little faster, a little smoother now. It manages to sidestep and bring its sword around, again a little quicker this time.
20:07 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+10 (+2 ???)
20:07 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+10 (+2 ???) --> [ 1d20=9 ]{19}
20:07 <•Kotono> Again Devar easily dodges it, but it is getting better, even as he dodges amid the ruin around him. OOC: Go.
20:09 <Devar> Devar strikes out again - if things start to get bad he'll just fly away from this thing - ... or maybe he can use it to open the door?
20:09 <Devar> roll 1d20+12
20:09 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{20}
20:09 <Devar> roll 1d20+7
20:09 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{22}
20:10 <Devar> roll 2#1d8+5+1d6 lightning
20:10 <Kobot> Devar rolled 2#1d8+5+1d6 lightning --> [ 1d8=8 1d6=1 ]{14}, [ 1d8=2 1d6=4 ]{11}
20:15 <•Kotono> It's faster now, and you can't quite hit either time. It's improving, even more as it again swings with that dull, steady relentlessness of the unliving.
20:15 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+11 (+3 ???)
20:15 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+11 (+3 ???) --> [ 1d20=14 ]{25}
20:15 <•Kotono> Again Devar isn't touched, but he can see how each swing getting a little harder to dodge, as...OOC: Go.
20:16 <Devar> Devar takes this opportunity to step back - just enough to be out of range, and then he flies up  to get out of reach of it. "You're seeing it too, right? This thing seems to be getting faster?" He calls out. "Maybe getting distance on it is the key?"
20:22 <•Kotono> "I do," STorm's Eye agrees, "You need to hit it hard as you can before it gets out of hand, Devar!"
20:24 <Devar> "You think it just gets faster?" Devar asks. "I was thinking it had something to with attacking the same thing, but..." He looks down at the statue, then glances at the door that leads out. Maybe...? OOC: I'm going to spend my turn in the air watching the statue to see if it does anything specific while I'm away from it.
20:25 <•Kotono> It's pacing beneath you, getting faster as it goes. It's still hastening, seems like, but has no means to reach you. OOC: Go.
20:26 <Devar> Devar flies down and lands in front of the door out. "Come on, buddy!" He calls. "Come charge right at me!"
20:26 <Devar> OOC: I'll land and hold my attack, if it just takes a swing my goal is to try and avoid it so it hits the door, but if it doesn't really aim for the door I'll just attack it.
20:42 <•Kotono> OOC: The open door or the closed door ahead?
20:42 <Devar> OOC: The closed door.
20:44 <•Kotono> The soldier charges at you full on and...
20:44 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+13 (+5 ???) hope it doesn't 20 you
20:44 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+13 (+5 ???) hope it doesn't 20 you --> [ 1d20=14 ]{27}
20:44 <•Kotono> OOC: AC is still good?
20:44 <Devar> OOC: For now
20:50 <•Kotono> WHAM! Door, statue and sword collide. The statue shudders as hunks of it break away and it falls apart, but not before the door collapses inward and opens the way forward. What's left of the statue lies there, unresponsive.
20:50 <•Kotono> OOC: Free act.
20:51 <Devar> "Have I ever mentioned I don't much care for puzzles?" Devar asks as he checks the rubble to make sure there's nothing else there before he climsb over it and through the doorway that's open. "What about you? And don't make it weird."
20:52 <•Kotono> "I  WAS going to say women can be like puzzles," Storm's Eye chuckles, "But your analogy beat mine."
20:53 <Devar> "Have you always been like this?" He asks as he looks around the new area.
20:54 <•Kotono> There's nothing in the rubble. Ahead is a room with a dried up fountain in the center. Sitting in the fountain bowl looks to be a large orange gemstone, about the size of a hand. To the north is on door, but a sphere of the same darkness you saw and touched to enter this place. There's closed doors to the south and east (you entered from the west, or what you're presuming is the west), and
20:54 <•Kotono> the eastern door has a blue diamond on it.
20:55 <Devar> Devar will head over to the gem to identify it - he's going to assume it fits somewhere and will unlock something, but better to check and find out!
21:00 <•Kotono> OOC: Going to pick it up then?
21:01 <Devar> OOC: He will detect magic to make sure it's not like, cursed or something first, but then yes touch it to identify it.
21:01 <•Kotono> There's magic all around the fountain, cloaking whatever the gem might be.
21:02 <Devar> "...Huh." Devar murmurs. Given that, he'll head for the eastern door first, leaving the fountain and gemstone alone for now.
21:07 <•Kotono> The eastern door opens up. Inside sits a small closet, and set into it is is a recess. In that recess are small bars of a shiny white-silver metal, neatly stacked in tall rows.
21:08 <Devar> Devar will make sure to check for magic first and give them an appraisal! OOC: Take 10 for 25 on Appraise, assuming I can actually identify them? If a Knowledge check is more relevant I've got 25 in that, but  nothing specifically for minerals or whatnot.
21:09 <•Kotono> It looks like small bars of platinum. They are not magical or s urrounded by magic. Each one is small, but there's lots. This has to be worth five figures, easily.
21:11 <Devar> Devar will carefully reach out and take one - and make sure nothing seemingly disasterous happens. Assuming it doesn't, he will take the rest and store them away. "I thought this was going to be a ruin or something, but this feels like someone made this specifically for adventurers or something."
21:16 <•Kotono> Nothing happens when you take one. When you've removed most of them? Suddenly the stone the bars rests on shoots upward several inches, and you hear the grinding of stone behind you.
21:17 <Devar> Devar will look back to see what's changed or is happening!
21:23 <•Kotono> Whirling back, you see that a figure arises from the earth. Larger than you, a figure completely of stone and dirt. It regards you before...OOC: What elemental subtypes do you have?
21:24 <Devar> OOC: Air
21:28 <•Kotono> The creature's features, rough and unfinished, nonetheless distort in disgust. It rumbles out in Common, "What does a tainted creature such as you want in a place like this?"
21:29 <Devar> "We discovered this place." Devar explains. "A rift opened underwater, and I touched the darkness," he gestures towards the northern door "and was transported here. If these are yours I will return them - I'm no thief, I was just exploring this place."
21:30 <Devar> He holds up one of the bars when he says 'these' to indicate what he's speaking of.
21:34 <•Kotono> With a look of sublime disgust, "It is...not the way of the Hidden Lord Of Wealth to..." It struggles to keep the disgust out of its voice and fails completely, "Discourage those who find these creatures, because they were made to be found."
21:37 <Devar> "So you're saying this place was created for the purposes of being found?" Devar asks. "I mean no disrespect - and I apologize greatly if my nature offends you. It was... a complicated situation that caused this." He says. OOC: Would 25 on K:P tell me more about who this Lord of Wealth is?
21:38 <•Kotono> "Purify yourself in earth. Bury yourself until air leaves you," The elemental advises. "Replace your blood with molten metal and your eyes with quartz. Repent." Only after does it say, "Yes. This place is to be found when the time is right." OOC: It rings a dim bell, but it's obscure and you can't recall anything.
21:41 <Devar> OOC: I at least know that Mineral exists, yeah?
21:42 <•Kotono> OOC: Sure, at least the ide aof it.
21:44 <Devar> "Someday, perhaps my travels will take me to Mineral and I can better understand your ways." Devar says. "With that in mind, is there anything you're allowed to tell me about this place? I was with two others outside before I got teleported inside - does it matter where you enter from the outside?"
21:45 <•Kotono> "No. You may enter once and leave once." The elemental still looks unhappy with you.
21:46 <Devar> "So does that mean that if I touch that," Devar gestures to the northern door, "That's the exit? Or, in other words, if I encounter any other darkness inside of here, it takes me outside?"
21:46 <•Kotono> "Yes. Touch it and you leave," Is the response.
21:49 <Devar> Devar nods. "I understand. I know this isn't much, and may not mean anything to you, but..." He flies over and takes out one of the pearls that are the same as a Potion of Cure Light Wounds. "I purchased this from a rather unique underwater city - I'd like to give it to you as a gift of our meeting. Consider it to bring us all closer to a harmony of all the elements."
21:51 <•Kotono> The pearl, perhaps surprisingly, is taken. "It is of the earth," The creatuer rumbles in approval, "Even if born in water."
21:53 <Devar> "I don't know if you're allowed to leave here, but if you are, or are able to communicate with your Hidden Lord, please let them know that the elemental artifact is restored." Devar says. "It's part of how this," he gestures at himself. "Happened." He moves to land in front of the fountain. "I'm going to guess you're not allowed to tell me how this works?"
21:53 <•Kotono> The silence you get back says it all.
21:54 <Devar> "Well, it'll be an enjoyable show for you, probably." Devar says as he reaches out to take the orange gemstone this time.
21:55 <•Kotono> The moment your hand touches it, suddenly the fountain's bowl is filled with a clear liquid, one that smells terrible and that...OOC: Reflex save, -2 penalty. Good luck.
21:56 <Devar> roll 1d20+16 evasion
21:56 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d20+16 evasion --> [ 1d20=15 ]{31}
21:57 <•Kotono> Somehow Devar is able to jerk his hand out fast enough to avoid any harm. The liquid hisses and sizzles, but lightning speed saves him and possibly his hand.
21:59 <Devar> "Acid...?" Devar murmurs. He looks around, is he supposed to throw something in? Or... He looks at the gemstone - is it fine?
22:00 <•Kotono> The gemstone is undamaged.
22:02 <Devar> He decides to go try the southern door first. "What would Sanda do in a time like this?" He asks aloud. "Statistically speaking, the gemstone is special since it it isn't reacting to the acid, but how does that help?"
22:03 <•Kotono> With the gemstone in hand, you find the southern door now has an orange square on it.
22:04 <Devar> He does take a moment to backtrack to the original room and look down the hallway (when he went right the first time) to see if the door opposite has the same orange square on it.
22:06 <•Kotono> It does not.
22:07 <Devar> Devar nods to himself and heads back over the rubble and to the orange square door! Is that elemental still just hanging out there?
22:08 <•Kotono> The elemental is gone.
22:08 <Devar> Devar wonders if they're actually gone or just watching from somewhere, but he goes to open the door nonetheless.
22:11 <•Kotono> The door opens...next time! OOC: I'm going to, if possible, get you before next session or after to help speed thisa long, since Cor's ahead of you chronologically now.
22:12 <Devar> OOC: Roger that

[Corwin]

19:39 <•Kotono> You return to the southern door with an orange square. It opens up and reveals another room. It seems to be a dead end, no further doors here. However, in a corner there's a stairway going down.
19:40 <Devar> Devar heads for the stairs to go down!
19:45 <•Kotono> The stairs go down and into a small room in the next level. It's dark here, very little light and only from one pale source in the center of the room. A little mote of fire floats in the air, enough to provide faint light to see. Sitting past it, almost hidden in the shadows, is a weapon rack. Several weapons sit on it - a greatsword, a quarterstaff, a pair of sais, a greataxe, a heavy
19:45 <•Kotono> flail, a mace and finally a longspear. All look to be of superb make on a casual glance.
19:47 <Devar> OOC: Does my darkvision reveal anything else of noteworthiness, or does it not actually work?
19:48 <•Kotono> Your darkvision shows it's a plain enough room. Nothing unusual otherwise is there on a casual look.
19:49 <Devar> Devar gives it a quick look with detect magic! He isn't expecting to see anything noteworthy, but you never know.
19:51 <•Kotono> OOC: Spellcraft.
19:51 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 for 30!
19:52 <•Kotono> Everything's magical, but it's odd. Blurry. Some sort of effect that's preventing studying anything there, you think.
19:53 <Devar> He may as well go along with the spirit of things. He could just have Storm's Eye eat all the things here, but that feels like it goes against things... He leans over to take the mace.
19:55 <•Kotono> The mace is taken. Once off, the rack and everything on it turns ghostly and transparent, then fades away entirely. Only the mace remains solid and in your grasp.
19:56 <Devar> "So that was the trick." Still, he now has a mace! He looks around to see if there's anything else in the room now - and he also identifies to mace - or tries to, anyway.
19:57 <•Kotono> OOC: Perception for searching.
19:58 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 for 21
20:03 <•Kotono> Nothing else of note is found in the room. OOC: Loo tupdate.
20:06 <Devar> He has a pretty good idea of the other effect, but for now heads back up to the stinking acid fountain. OOC: Is the northern door inaccessable due to the darkness, or would it be possible to go around it to get to it?
20:07 <•Kotono> OOC: There's not a door there, but darkness instead. Badly phrased and typoed.
20:07 <Devar> OOC: Got it
20:09 <Devar> "Hmm." He decides to head all the way back to the start and head to the left - maybe if he gets close to the door it will change in some way?
20:09 <•Kotono> The door does not change at all.
20:11 <Devar> "So what do you think we're missing?" Devar asks, gesturing Storm's Eye at the door. "Everything else has opened because of something found in here, which leads me to believe this one does too."
20:14 <•Kotono> "I'm not sure you're missing anything. It might not have an answer," Storm's Eye crackles, "This is a strange maze made by a strange power, it may only open from the other side. On the other hand, force it."
20:16 <Devar> Devar hums. "Well, there's no harm in checking." He says - he has a new mace, so he experimentally takes a swing at the door with it!
20:16 <•Kotono> CLUNG! The mace hits hard but nothing happens. No dent, no damage. Only a thud of force through your arms from the impact.
20:19 <Devar> "I should've expected that." Devar says. Well, nothing for it but to head back. Maybe each of the darkness-es head to different places...? He gives one more quick look around - he's pretty sure he's gone through all the doors that he could in here, but once confirmed he will march through the northern darkness!
20:20 <•Kotono> The moment you touch the darkness, you appear back where you started, outside and in the water. (More)
20:20 <•Kotono> roll 1d100 Sanda lower is better
20:20 <•Kotono> OOC: One moment.
20:21 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@9551BF3C.DBC270E0.DFD538B1.IP)
20:21 <•Kotono> roll 1d100 Sanda lower is better
20:21 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 Sanda lower is better --> [ 1d100=9 ]{9}
20:21 <•Kotono> roll 1d100 Nibelle
20:21 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 Nibelle --> [ 1d100=12 ]{12}
20:23 <•Kotono> Nibelle's already there. She's giggling and twirling in the water, a heavy gold and emerald necklace around her neck. A princess tiara of purest gold and a dazzling array of sparkling gemstones sits on her head as well. Interestingly, the water stays away from the tiara, not daring to touch it.
20:24 <Devar> "I see you had your own adventure." Devar says.
20:25 <•Kotono> "Oh!" Nibelle turns and smiles widely, "I found treasures before I found myself back out there."
20:28 <Devar> Devar nods. "I did too - it seems like this was created by... well, I'm going to guess it's whoever the elemental lord of Mineral is." He says. "I met a... well, rather grumpy elemental in there. Hold on a second for me, will you?" He swims over to one of the other levels and experimentally puts his arm into the darkness - he's pretty sure nothing will happen, but he is curious!
20:30 <•Kotono> The darkness is now solid. Your arm no more goes through it than it goes through stone. "Elementals? Mineral?" Nibelle hums, "You can't go back in, I tried."
20:33 <Devar> He can technically swim in stone, but... better not to chance it. He can always find answers about it later. "Are you familiar with the four elemental planes?" Devar asks. "Fire, Earth, Water, Air? There are planes in between those." He explains. "And some others in between Positive and Negative. Mineral is part of that - I don't know too much about it myself, but the elemental I met didn't
20:33 <Devar> strike me as a regular earth one, if that makes sense. Did you already identify your treasures? If you didn't, I can if you'd like to know what it does."
20:40 <•Kotono> Interruption, Sanda style. She steps out of the darkness. In one hand is her quarterstaff, now shod on both ends with what looks to be steel, like someone dipped the ends into a vat of it. In the other she clutches a large, heavy sack. "You made it out?" Sanda says in relief, "I was worried about the odds, there were terrible traps in there."
20:40 <Devar> "Oh, really?" Devar asks. "Mine was... really simple. Are you okay, do you need any healing?"
20:41 <•Kotono> "I wasn't hurt," A soft jangle, almost musical, as Sanda holds the sack. "Gemstones." she says simply, "I found a hidden cache of them. If they're good ones, this is a small fortune. Even if they're petty gemstones, odds are it's a sizeable amount of coin."
20:42 <•Kotono> Nibelle swims forward, "Your staff's different, too."
20:43 <•Kotono> "A nice elemental worked on it," Sanda explains, "It hits much harder now."
20:43 <•Kotono> OOC: Loot post update.
20:44 <Devar> "Yes, it seems like this place is meant to share the name of that who created it." Devar says. "It's certainly a good way to promote yourself. I got this." He holds the mace up. "We'll have to get the others down here at some point."
20:45 <•Kotono> "If others don't loot it before then," Sanda says, "There's nothing stopping people from coming here and finding it."
20:45 <•Kotono> Nibelle smiles softly, "Well, let them. If we can't get any more, let it be their fortune."
20:47 <Devar> "I can't imagine this place gets that much travel." Devar says. "We are underwater, after all. And Nibelle is right, this place was meant to be shared to make the lord of Mineral's name known, or at least something like that. But we certainly have an auspicious start to our journey. Shall we get back to it?" He asks.
20:47 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay. Give me a pair of d100s.
20:48 <Devar> roll 1d100
20:48 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=40 ]{40}
20:48 <Devar> roll 1d100
20:48 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=57 ]{57}
20:53 <•Kotono> Another day and night of relative solitude. There aren't roads, only wilderness and swimming. Dark groves of strange trees below are seen, along with schools of alien fish with large, wide mouths full of teeth. Mouths bigger than your head and bodies distorted to match, the mouth far too much of them. "The hungryfish. They devour any other fish they see, but refuse to eat anything else.
20:53 <•Kotono> Legend says they came just before the Final Wave and sought to devour everything. Now after they only eat fish. It is said that Gwareline had mercy on them and changed them."
20:53 <•Kotono> Sanda hums along to that, little bubbles escaping her mouth upwards, "Oral stories of your people?"
20:55 <Devar> "Sorry, who's Gwareline?" Devar asks as they go along. "I'm guessing it's another name for a deity we have up top."
21:00 <•Kotono> "She's the mother of all mermaids," Nibelle swims along, "She protects us and the waters around us. She's the Great Queen of the Oceans. It's said she protects us from the Queen of Storms, who rages and makes the seas angry."
21:01 <Devar> "Oh, that's wonderful." Devar says with a nod. "Our travels have certainly intersected with a lot of elemental forces as of late."
21:03 <•Kotono> "She guards us," Nibelle agrees, "She was kind to the hungryfish, so long as they don't hurt us. She protects mermen as well, but mermaids are her favorite."
21:03 <•Kotono> "Oh? Does that make your culture matriarchal?" Sanda swims along, voice openly curious.
21:04 <•Kotono> "No, but almost all of her clergy is mermaids," Is the answer you get back, Nibelle swimming along happily.
21:04 <Devar> Devar hums as he continues along with them. "If I'm ever blessed enough to meet her, I'll be sure to give her my thanks for keeping the seas peaceful."
21:07 <•Kotono> With that, the party swims along. Sanda slips back to you, "We all grew up on stories of the Last Day. Do you think that means that those hungryfish were created by Shar? If so, statistically speaking there's a zero percent chance I trust them." She keeps her voice down, a watery murmur.
21:08 → Iddy joined (uid408070@lunarnet-423F0355.irccloud.com)
21:08 <Devar> "If not her, then Umberlee." Devar says with no small hint of disdain. "But as long as they mean us no harm I wouldn't worry about it."
21:11 <•Kotono> "I'm still not trusting them," Sanda huffs.
21:12 <Devar> He just laughs at that and continues on. Still, a mother of mermaids? Does she reside in Water, maybe?
21:14 <•Kotono> From there a few days of travel pass and you see more...next time!

[Corwin]

19:02 <•Kotono> It's not too hard to stop the wagona nd get the horses tied up. That's done smoothly enough. OOC: Go ahead.
19:04 — Skaya takes Rina and leads Anne to considerable height. If they can get in between the clouds, that's best, but otherwise so long as Anne wouldn't be able to see the action clearly she's fine with the height. Then, she gestures for Anne to drop down by the merchants to protect them while she dives with Rina into the midst of the bandits!
19:26 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, I'm back and this seems straight forward. Are you attacking or landing and then attacking?
19:27 <Skaya> OOC: Landing! With intimidation!
19:31 <•Kotono> Thus Skaya swoops down. She sees the bandits looting, going through the wagons as Anne  goes for the prisoners. Then...OOC: Go ahead and describe your intimidating landing then.
19:38 <Skaya> One day she'll try that amazing, so-called three point landing in front of surprised villains but that day is still in the future. Skaya touches down hard between the captured merchants and the bandits, the wind kicked up by her flight sending a cloud of dust flying! Once the temporary distraction has passed, she has let go of Rina's waist to allow her friend to stand on her own and glares at the bandits, wings raised in warning.
19:38 <Skaya> "This is your once and only chance to surrender and escape with your lives intact," Skaya tells the ransacking criminals.
19:41 <•Kotono> Rina flips out of your grasp, sword drawn at once, "Take it or else," she adds, fire arching from the tips of her hair and icy mist from her drawn sword. Together the two of you...OOC: Intimidate, +2 circumstance bonus and Rina's aiding another for +2 more.
19:43 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+2+2+7 cunning insight
19:43 <Pixiebot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+2+2+7 cunning insight --> [ 1d20=8 ]{34}
19:50 <•Kotono> Your landing gets cries of alarm - and to yoru credit, one or two hesitate. Another few startle back and begin to flee. However, a few snarl, "Kill 'em or it's the noose for us!"
19:52 <Skaya> "You've chosen poorly!" Skaya states, already dashing ahead, kama drawn! Once she's killed the more vocal bandits, the rest might fall in line.
19:52 <Skaya> roll 1d20+12+5 nerveskitter!
19:52 <Pixiebot> Skaya rolled 1d20+12+5 nerveskitter! --> [ 1d20=19 ]{36}
20:06 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Rina
20:06 <Pixiebot> Kotono rolled 1d20+13 Rina --> [ 1d20=4 ]{17}
20:06 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Bandits assorted
20:06 <Pixiebot> Kotono rolled 1d20+2 Bandits assorted --> [ 1d20=9 ]{11}
20:07 <•Kotono> Cries from the hostages as you hear Anne calls omething, but it's lost in the noise of battle as...
20:07 <•Kotono> OOC: Init Skaya (36) > Rina (17) > Bandits (11)
20:07 <•Kotono> OOC: Open Skaya.
20:08 <Skaya> When the bandits have blinked, Skaya had already gotten behind the idiot was so afraid of the noose! Her kama slashes through his throat, and she is already looking for new opponents!
20:09 <Skaya> roll 1d20+12
20:09 <Pixiebot> Skaya rolled 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{25}
20:11 <Skaya> 2d8+5+7
20:11 <Skaya> roll 2d8+5+7
20:11 <Pixiebot> Skaya rolled 2d8+5+7 --> [ 2d8=13 ]{25}
20:23 <•Kotono> With one deft move, a throat is torn out and the bandit falls with a wet gurgle. That gets the bandits to let out a moan of tear as...OOC: Intimidation again, same modifiers as before with an additional +1.
20:23 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15+2+2+1
20:23 <Pixiebot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15+2+2+1 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{28}
20:28 <•Kotono> It isn't enough to break them, unfortunately. They're shaken as Rina dashes out, going for another who has raised a nasty looking battle axe.
20:28 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+17
20:28 <Pixiebot> Kotono rolled 1d20+17 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{21}
20:29 <•Kotono> roll 1d6+3+2d6+1d6
20:29 <Pixiebot> Kotono rolled 1d6+3+2d6+1d6 --> [ 1d6=2 2d6=10 1d6=5 ]{20}
20:30 <•Kotono> The bandit raises his axe up high, but before he can bring it down? Rina's frozen sword plunges into his chest, and he tumbles backwards, half frozen blood pouring out of the wound. He falls. A few bandits throw down their weapons, others run - and any organized resistance is broken with a few object examples.  OOC:F ree act, you shock and awed them,a nd then showed them.
20:30 <Skaya> OOC: Incidentally, Rina should have the elven princess boots for that 5 levels higher scout stuff
20:30 <•Kotono> Oh thank you, I forgot that being appleid. Let me add that to her right now.
20:31 — Skaya is not so generous to allow the bandits to escape and attack more people! "Those that run will get cut down!" she pronounces, using her superior speed to strike at those escaping. The ones who threw down their weapons and surrendered she leaves for Rina to guard.
20:33 <•Kotono> OOC: Updated.
20:34 <•Kotono> OOC: Give me an attack roll then.
20:34 <Skaya> roll 1d20+12+7
20:34 <Pixiebot> Skaya rolled 1d20+12+7 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{29}
20:34 <Skaya> roll 2d8+5+7
20:34 <Pixiebot> Skaya rolled 2d8+5+7 --> [ 2d8=4 ]{16}
20:43 <•Kotono> They're so much slower and weaker now. You've grown and it's so easy to simply cut one down. A slash and he falls, a spray of red. Your body feels stronger as those running - stop. They succumb to the inevitable, your victory total.
20:43 — Skaya touches down again next to Anne. The merchants were tied up, weren't they? Seems like there'd be plenty rope for the bandits.
20:51 <•Kotono> They're being untied, Anne at work and being showered in thank yous. She hands over liberated rope, "All yours," she offers, "Good work, Skaya."
20:51 <Skaya> "Good work, Anne," Skaya returns with a smile. "Can you go and bring over the horses? I'll heal anyone who needs it here."
20:56 <•Kotono> "Already did," Anne smiles, but flies off and takes care of that. The merchants turn to you, an outpouring of, "Thank yout, thank you, thank you so much! We thought we were finished!"
20:59 <Skaya> "I'm glad we came across you when we did," Skaya says, projecting a calming presence. It's all in the way you move! "Was this lawlessness due to the war?"
21:02 <•Kotono> OOC: We'll get an answer to that next time, this is a good point and we knocked out a fairly easy fight ofr you. Nicely done.

[Corwin]

19:09 <•Kotono> "War? No no, I think they were just bandits?" One of the men says, "Lawless men who take what they want."
19:10 <Skaya> "Got it. I've been dealing with evil crazy people for so long I forgot that regular evil people still exist."
19:11 <•Kotono> For some reason that makes Anne quietly sigh. Meanwhile, the merchant nods, "You have our thanks, heroic traveler."
19:12 <Skaya> "No problem! We can try to help you fix your wagon if you need the help," she offers. "Where were you headed?"
19:17 <•Kotono> "Rockgale," Is the answer, "We here there's a quarantine, but it should be lifted by the time we arrive."
19:17 <•Kotono> "It has been," Anne speaks up, "Your timing is good."
19:18 <Skaya> "Excellent timing," Skaya echoes her. "The city would just be opening up and getting ready for trade."
19:18 <Skaya> OOC: How far from the border are we?
19:24 <•Kotono> OOC: Still several days away. You did just start after all.
19:25 <Skaya> OOC: Wow, okay. Can we tie up the surrendered bandits and send them off with the caravan?
19:25 <Skaya> OOC: To Rockgale, obviously
19:30 <•Kotono> OOC: Sure, if you want.
19:31 <Skaya> OOC: Let's do that and keep going
19:32 <•Kotono> OOC: Sure.
19:32 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:32 <•Kotono> OOC: OIne moment
19:32 <•Kotono> .
19:33 → Pixiebot joined (~dunefar@1C03BE1E.6551ABA0.FE99C2E3.IP)
19:33 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:33 <Pixiebot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=54 ]{54}
19:34 <•Kotono> Another day and night and then another. You're moving at a fine clip, and one question looms: Do you want to stop by Dareslan or anywhere else as you head for the border?
19:34 Pixiebot → Kobot
19:36 <Skaya> "Let's keep going straight to the border," Skaya proposes. "Worst case, if Devar and Sanda strike out, they can fly over to Dareslan and check for the scroll there."
19:42 <•Kotono> "That's fine with me," Rina says as you travel along.
19:42 <•Kotono> "As it is with me," Anne concurs, "We spent long enough in Dareslan as it is."
19:43 <Skaya> "Let's go! No rest for the horses! But with magic."
19:44 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:44 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=16 ]{16}
19:44 <•Kotono> roll 1d100
19:44 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=35 ]{35}
19:45 <•Kotono> More days of travel pass as summer wears on. The heat isn't ready to break yet though, not that Rina minds. In due time you come to the border. Where far more guards are here, visible from a distance, the passage carefully manned and monitored. How do you plan to approach this?
19:49 <Skaya> "Let's head straight for the border," Skaya voices. "We'll try to get any fines or offenses cleared before crossing over, and if they refuse we'll leave and try the flight option. Sound good?"
19:50 <•Kotono> "It's for the best," Anne says, "And perhaps we may find information at the border."
19:50 <•Kotono> "I hope this is simple," Rina says, "I'd rather keep our good terms here, all considered."
19:51 <•Kotono> "And you need to stay traveling," Anne smiles faintly at Skaya, "So best to do this and keep moving."
19:52 <Skaya> "At this point, is there a nation that can stop me?" Skaya muses out loud. "Maybe the ancient dragon nation."
19:53 <•Kotono> "Don't get too foolhardl yon your own powers," Anne cautions, "But let us go and see."
19:54 <Skaya> "Ah, I'm not talking about fighting. It's all about running away! Come on, who aside from dragons can chase me on a Prime? Who even has the time for that?"
19:57 <•Kotono> Anne shakes her head but smiles a little as you approach the border. It's a line, with very few heading into Laremy and none coming in from it, at least right now. It's a few hours of waiting under the morning sun, but soon enough a man in light, official clothes - and flanked by several burly, armored and armed soldiers - nods to you. "Name and reason you wish to enter Laremy?"
19:58 <Skaya> "Hello, Sir," Skaya greets him politely. "I would like to speak to your superior. The reason we want to enter Laremy is to help in the defense of Mellanics, but there are some bureaucratic matters to clear up first."
20:05 <•Kotono> "I am the superior here. Lieutenant Wyleman," He answers, briskly, his voice no nonsense. He gives you an apprasing look before, "Speak."
20:10 <Skaya> "A pleasure, Lieutenant Wyleman," Skaya responds. "My name is Skaya, and these are Rina and Anne. We've been chasing down a mass murderer who escaped from Laremy into Welland. Perhaps you've heard of us?"
20:14 <•Kotono> "I have. I have orders to let you through if you want," The lieutenant nods crispy, "You match the descriptions I was given as well. You're also welcome ot return to Welland should the situation in Laremy prove untenable for you."
20:17 <Skaya> Word travels fast! "That makes things simpler," Skaya says with an answering nod. "We've received a divine oracle that--" She coughs, looking around a bit. "Would it be convenient to discuss this a bit more privately?"
20:22 <•Kotono> A nod, "Of course, ma'am," You're taken aside to some tents a bit out of the way. It's hardly luxury, but it's private and there's even chairs to sit in. Once you're all seated...OOC: Go ahead.
20:24 <Skaya> "It's two-fold," Skaya says as soon as they have relocated to a private setting. "Mellanics is about to fall, perhaps in a matter of days. And Auril intends to go all out to make the coming winter terrible, capitalizing on the war. We were already on our way back, but this caused us to hasten our return. Can you help us with local information on the course of the war, so that we could help avert the former to start with?"
20:27 <•Kotono> "I'll help you with what I know, but I don't know much," The officer confesses with an apologetic look. "But we've heard reports that Laremy's suffered a reversal on the southern front. Reports are still hazy, and I only get what my superiors think I need to know to manage the border." He spreads his hands, "If I had to guess and if you speak true, Laremy's army lost a battle and is in a fighting
20:27 <•Kotono> retreat towards Mellanics, and either succumbs before a siege, or withdraws from Mellanics altogether."
20:28 <•Kotono> "Thank you for your candor," Anne agrees, "I fear it could be something akin to that myself."
20:28 <Skaya> "That's simple enough. What about the political situation in Laremy? And do you know how the war started?"
20:28 <•Kotono> Rina shifts, expression getting tigehter by the moment.
20:44 <•Kotono> "I've heard it's unpleasant in the capital," Is the man's answer, "That there's problems and infighting with the nobiilty. But news is getting harder and harder to get out there, and the front with Eis over there is hotly contested."
20:48 <Skaya> "Is it just Eis? It hasn't been clearly to us in Welland whether the others are merely eyeing Laremy or actively joining in."
20:51 <•Kotono> "The various nations to the south have joined in," Is the answer, "It's why things are complicated down there, last I heard.
20:51 <•Kotono> :
20:53 — Skaya sighs upon hearing that. "Just one last question before we'll head off, Lieutenant," she says. "Has there been any talk at all of a settlement? Of negotiations?"
20:54 <•Kotono> Anne matches that sigh and murmurs under her breath.
20:54 <•Kotono> Rina's expression goes grimmer.
20:55 <•Kotono> "Rumors fly freely. I've heard of them, and then an hour later I've heard the war is to the death. But with reports of difficulties in the capitals, the noble class may be split, ma'am," Is the answer, "It's known that Laremy is as prone to tear itself apart as its neighbors."
20:55 <•Kotono> Rina scowls darkly, but Anne says mildly, "Perhaps so, perhaps not, but thank you all the same."
20:56 <Skaya> "Thank you," Skaya echoes Anne. "You've been very accommodating. May we proceed to Mellanics now?"
21:00 <•Kotono> "By your leave," Is the answer, "We will make no means to stop you, as ordered."
21:02 <Skaya> Perhaps there will be something messy once the invasion is stopped, but at least that's a problem for future Skaya. With a smile, she excuses herself and leads the way to their wagon. The horses will have to rely on magic once more!
21:08 <•Kotono> On you ride. Once you get into Laremy, almost immediately you notice the people change. They're fortified in, looking on at afar as you pass by villages and little farms. Anne's expression tightens as you go, as Rina comments, "They know something's coming, like animals before a storm."
21:08 <Skaya> "Might be all the deserters."
21:11 <•Kotono> "Might be," Anne softly murmurs, "Let's hurry."
21:12 <Skaya> "Sure. My turn to rest?"
21:21 <•Kotono> "Your turn," Anne agrees. It takes another day or two of travel, but then? As the clouds hide the sun, you approach. Mellanics. The city stands intact, but you can see tents all around it. Soldiers. Laremy's soldiers at least, but the entire town is surrounded.
21:22 <Skaya> So the army didn't cut and run. Since they're not coming from the south, their wagon may be allowed into the city. Skaya decides to head for it and see if they're stopped.
21:29 <•Kotono> There's plenty of soldiers and indeed a checkpoint to get in. It's orderly enough, do you have any preferences on how to handle it?
21:30 — Skaya will leave it to Anne, but the idea would be the same as before. They're returning to the city after they caught the mass murderer they were chasing.
21:35 <•Kotono> Anne leads the way. "Anne of Moore," she greets, "We return and seek Picke of the Heroic Guild."
21:35 <•Kotono> A few murmurs before, "I've heard of you," The young man says, barely eighteen years if he's a day. "Glad you made it back, we need help. It's bad!"
21:36 <•Kotono> "We've been in Welland. How bad?" Rina presses immediately, even as the soldier's eyes startle away from Skaya's wings.
21:37 <•Kotono> "We lost. We lost badly at the Battle of the Three Generals." Is the blunt answer.
21:38 <Skaya> Anne has the same wings, so at least Skaya is in good company. "How long do we have before their armies catch up?" she asks.
21:39 <•Kotono> A shake of his head, "I hear it's going to be any day now," Is the answer, "Hurry please, we need more healers."
21:39 <•Kotono> "Of course. Be well." Anne promises, already striding ahead.
21:40 <Skaya> It seems Devar and Sanda won't make it back in time unless they also use magic to fly around the clock. But they're adults and can make their own decision. For now, Skaya seeks out Picke and Milla.
21:43 <•Kotono> OOC: It's a few early so let me pause you here, as you're ahead of Devar timewise. I'm gonna run him a little longer to try and help him catch up from sidequestland.

[Corwin]

19:08 <Kotono> roll 1d100
19:08 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=92 ]{92}
19:08 <Kotono> roll 1d100
19:08 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=10 ]{10}
19:09 <Kotono> You're traveling above another one of these deep sea forests, minding your own business when....OOC: Perception.
19:10 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 for 21
19:16 <Kotono> Devar can feel it - a sudden current from below, as the trees suddenly begin to shake. Nibelle takes one look down and swims fast, "RUN!"
19:16 <Kotono> "You mean swim," Sanda retorts in Aquan, doing just that.
19:16 <Kotono> "That's what I said," Nibelle shouts, hurrying.
19:16 <Devar> "Not the time for this, Sanda!" Devar shouts, following the others!
19:21 <Kotono> From below the treeline shatters. A giant octopus emerges - no, a kraken. A huge kraken, a trilling bellow as it emerges. Fish flee wildly, even the hungryfish. It then...
19:21 <Kotono> roll 1d100
19:21 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=46 ]{46}
19:22 <Kotono> roll 1d20+30
19:22 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+30 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{34}
19:23 <Kotono> The great beast, all darker colors and sleekness, tentacles longer than you are tall and thick, seems to focus on the party. But it makes no move to pursue, as breathlessly Nibelle calls, "Kraken! Great hunters, run before they decide to make you a meal!"
19:23 <Kotono> "They're like the dragons of the oceans," Sanda gulps as she swims even faster, not looking back, "Statistically, we're likely to be food if we don't get away!"
19:23 <Kotono> OOC: Sanda takes 10 on relevant knowledge check.
19:24 <Devar> "Wouldn't it have just attacked us then?" Devar asks - but he follows anyway, making no hostile moves towards it.
19:30 <Kotono> No pursuit, fortunately. "Do you want to risk it?" Nibelle yelps in return.
19:31 <Devar> "We don't have time for me to try animal friendliness." Devar says as he swims along. "We've got to get to the city to work this out as soon as possible."
19:34 <Kotono> "So we keep going," Sanda agrees, as for now, at least you're safe. OOC: More when you respawn in session or next time.
21:43 <Devar> Devar will continue on!

[Corwin]

19:07 <Kotono> You head to the Heroic Guild. The streets are busy, packed. Soldiers are everywhere, the city fortifying. A newly built city well prepared for it, at least it's orderly and prepared. It's still lots going on, more soldiers than heroes at the guild. The receptionists aren't there, instead grim faced soldiers run things. You do get a welcome back, however. Picke is out front, in a quiet discussion
19:07 <Kotono> with several higher ranked soldiers - nobles from the finery of their uniforms. Their voices are low, expressions tense. That all stops when Picke spies you, "Skaya," he turns, eyes taking in the party. "Anne, Rina. You returned." His eyes are notable - tired, meeting each of your own with a heaviness that wasn't there before.
19:08 <Kotono> "We return," Anne says simply, things such as Anne's armor or your wings getting long looks. "To grim tidings, but we return."
19:08 <Kotono> "We missed a lot," Rina tries a smile, though it doesn't reach her eyesw.
19:08 <Skaya> "Have to collect on our bounty, Sir," Skaya responds, trying for more optimism than everyone surrounding them. "It wouldn't be right otherwise."
19:10 <Kotono> "Gentlemen, we'll continue this talk later," Picke cuts in, herding you away from everyone, a murmured, "Follow me," under his breath.
19:10 <Kotono> Anne nods politely to those nobles, who look on with far less friendly gazes. Desperate ones, hungry ones, hopeful ones.
19:12 <Skaya> Isn't this too late? But she can't feel disdain towards nobles who still remain here rather than running off, so Skaya decides to switch gears and focus on the now.
19:17 <Kotono> Once back in his office, Picke sits heavily down. HE sighs and buries his face in his hands. His face stays there as he speaks, muffling his words, "I'm both relieved and disappointed. I'd hoped you'd avoid the misery of a war, that win or lose someone wouldn't be touched by this. But here you are, still the heroes." When he looks up, he's smiling. "Good work."
19:18 <Kotono> "Brachidos is no more," Anne's response is simple, and after a moment's pause to look over Picke, "My wards need their protector now more than ever. Also, you look tired."
19:19 <Kotono> "Regis is avenged," Rina concludes, "Thanks for trying, at least. I had some concerns, but..."
19:20 <Skaya> "In the end, this was the only choice for us. How could we abandon our friends to the sacking of Mellanics? And things seem to be going that way thus far, despite everything. Can we understand the situation better with your help, Sir?"
19:27 <Kotono> "In short? The Petty Kingdoms threw in with Eis. Hardly surprising, we knew it might happen so we were prepared. We met in a battle and our side guessed wrong repeatedly, and it turned into a complete defeat." Picke explains, "Our strategy was aggressive and they played the perfect counter to it, and had better surprises than we did - including magic and monsters. It was a complete defeat
19:27 <Kotono> because a large part of our forces were caught in a pincer, and we couldn't evacuate them. They had to surrender or fight to the last."
19:28 <Skaya> "Which one was it?"
19:28 <Kotono> "Mostly surrender, but these things aren't clean," Picke says, plainly, "Surrenders aren't always taken in the heat of the moment, at least until things calm down."
19:28 <Kotono> "Barbarism," Anne says sharply.
19:29 <Skaya> "Since there's a lot of prisoners of war, do you know where they're kept?" Skaya inquires. "If we manage to break them out, the offensive might stall as a result."
19:30 <Kotono> "Men with their blood up, it's going to happen in every war," Picke says with a resigned sort of tone. "Stupidity is what it is. What we know suggests they're being funneled south. Milla's looking into that and making trouble down there."
19:30 <Skaya> "We can fly," Skaya says, flexing a wing. "We can fly really fast and quite high."
19:34 <Kotono> "They have aerial forces too," Picke points out, "We had some of our own, and they didn't have a good time of it. We're getting a few sent down here to help reinforce, but we're limited to protecting Mellanics right now. The sky is big, but stealth is difficult without magic." Then, sourly, "One of their surprises was a squadron of serpentmen on giant sized ravens. No one has any idea where
19:34 <Kotono> they came from, but they appear from invisibility with devastating salvos of fireballs, lightning bolts or ice storms. We lost some good people to that."
19:36 — Skaya looks clearly dubious but doesn't press him. "What's the plan, then? I hate to bring more bad news, but Anne's patron suggested the city's fall was imminent."
19:37 <Kotono> Picke smiles. "It probably is if they can press the attack." It's not a happy smile. "There's some discussion to abandon Mellanics and use the remnants of this army along with reinforcements to make a stronger line. We did hurt them some, but probably not enough to stop them from laying siege."
19:38 <Kotono> "They're goign to give up?" Rina's voice is sharp and angry.
19:38 <Kotono> "A military decision as they put it. Which doesn't go out of this room unless you want to hang for treason," Picke adds, "But I won't lie to yo uwhen you had the courage to come back when you didn't need to."
19:39 <Skaya> "There are different ways a retreat could happen," Skaya points out. "Are they planning to cut and run, or evacuate the civilians?"
19:40 <Kotono> "They're saying the right things, but it's not happening fast enough," Picke says, bluntly. "If we had more time we could, but I don't think we're going to get it."
19:40 <Kotono> "If they have to choose between the army and the civilians?" Anne's voice souns distressed.
19:41 <Kotono> "They'll do what's best for their glory and for Laremy. Wouldn't be the first time Mellanics took it in a war." Picke agrees.
19:42 <Skaya> "Any reason we can't start it right now? The army doesn't need the entire town behind to support it, it'd be good so long as a skeleton crew stayed behind for logistics and support."
19:46 <Kotono> "You don't start to evacuate a city like that," A snap of Picke's fingers, "There's logistics, preparation and more to do, unless you want to turn it into refugees fleeing with the clothes on their backs. They have started, quietly."
19:46 <Kotono> Rina makes a soft noise before, "If the situation's so bad, could a negotiated surrender of Mellanics be managed? Is there the political will to do that, to protect the people?"
19:48 <Skaya> "Given it's an alliance rather than just Eis, now, I wonder if that would work. They'll just plunder it, won't they?"
19:58 <Kotono> "Probably," Is Picke's answer. "It's too rich a prize to ignore."
20:01 <Skaya> "What would you prefer for us to do?" Skaya asks him directly. "On the diplomatic front, we've managed to get Welland to stay out of the war, but they weren't willing to intervene or negotiate a ceasefire. I don't think we have the leverage to do it ourselves, but we will probably be pretty decent at negotiations if you don't mind us working from a weaker position. Then, we could assassinate their leaders to delay the approach or
20:01 <Skaya> confuse their chain of command. And my personal favorite, rescue the prisoners of war to regain a position of equality and lead into negotiations with that. Something else?
20:05 <Kotono> "Before that," Anne cuts in, "How is the eastern front with Eis?"
20:06 <Kotono> Picke's response dies on his lips and he shakes his head, "Hard fought and fairly even. Queen Ellaine oversees it, but she's not a real warrior. No, it's been a lot of tough battles that don't end conclusively so far. If you'r ehoping for it to impact this right away, it's not likely unless one side has a sudden collapse."
20:07 <Kotono> "Hope springs eternal," Anne reflects, then glances at Skaya. "Before we go on, a moment, Skaya." Anne comes over to her.
20:07 <Skaya> "Yes, Anne. Given our timeframe of days, and that was before our days of travel back, anything not in the immediate theater simply has little chance of succeeding. Even if we take the capital, word may not reach here in time."
20:11 <Kotono> "
20:12 <Kotono> "It was worth asking." Then a whisper to Skaya, "With what we possibly learned of Milla with her copy, do we want to broach that?  I dislike it, but any possible edge to employ may be helpful in a time like this."
20:13 <Skaya> "Let's just wait to see what the regular options are, first," Skaya responds just as quietly.
20:14 <Kotono> The slightest nod back and Anne returns to where she was.
20:14 <Kotono> "Go on," Anne continues from that."
20:15 <Skaya> "Sorry," Skaya tells Picke with an awkward smile. "It's strange for us to jump right into things after all we've gone through, but time is tight as we all know.":
20:17 <Kotono> "It's fine." Picke puts it aside and continues, "You did good to manage that much," Picke says, "I've heard there's been messages suggesting Welland wasn't inclined to join in this year. Which means if the war drags on next year might be a problem. Do you really think you can negotiate with a hostile power from a position of weakness?"
20:17 <Skaya> "Yes, but only if we negotiate for Mellanics. We couldn't win the war unless we concede territory, and we simply don't have the authority for it. Unless you believe you can give it to us?"
20:18 <Skaya> *We couldn't negotiate an end to the war
20:21 <Kotono> "Officially, no. Unofficially?" Picke starts to think. After a few moments, he smiles. "I do have an idea."
20:22 <Skaya> "Oh? Frankly, my idea was to gamble on our identity and claim Mellanics for Welland. Whether they'd even want it is not as relevant as whether Eis believes me, and they might if they've heard what we've been doing. What were you thinking?"
20:26 <Kotono> Anne blinks.
20:27 <Kotono> Rina huhs at that.
20:27 <Skaya> "Incidentally, Sir, we possess an artifact allowing for telepathic communication across great distances. Devar hold the counterpart, and he's in Welland right now."
20:28 <Kotono> "I didn't expect succession as the answer to our problems," Picke manages that response after a moment, "You'd have to promise more than just Mellanics to have that make sense, and ignoring the fact the idea is the highest of treasons to the Crown."
20:28 <Skaya> "Unless it's a bluff. But yes."
20:29 <Kotono> "The only reason I'm not screaming at you is because I'm exhausted and dealt with too many idiots already," Picke controls himself, "Explain what your plan is."
20:31 <Skaya> "It's not my preferred go-to option, but we could get unofficial approval of this fairly quickly and then make a mess of things. Since our side is weak, let's introduce a strong neutral side. Eis would love to have Welland onboard as an ally, but what if I turn them into a competitor instead? They'd be willing to make concessions to avoid fighting more than Laremy, especially if they hope this will whet Welland's appetite. But the
20:31 <Skaya> important thing is that Welland won't sack the city or hurt its inhabitants, and they can't easily occupy it in numbers, which gives a lot of breathing room. Still, you were going to say your own idea?"
20:41 <Kotono> "Another suitor in the wings always makes a courtship more interesting," Picke rubs his face with his hand. "My preference is that we buy time enough for the evacuation, or for the evacuation to be unneeded. Militarily we can't stop them. We can bleed them, but that means civilians pay the price, and that's not what our guild is about."
20:43 <Skaya> "Yes. And the benefit of this out of context problem is that the commander on the scene absolutely cannot make the decision. And they don't have contiguous telepathy with the leaders who can. It delays everything," Skaya adds. "Still, you mentioned you had ideas about giving us the credentials and the authority to negotiate on behalf of the nation? With the ability to give land concessions?"
20:47 <Kotono> "It's risky, but," Picke goes and produces a sealed scroll and a signet ring. "This is a ring with the authority of the Queen. I'm the one who is supposed to use it and only in certain emergencies. This would give you the authority, but if it goes wrong, it fails or worse...we'll all hang." Picke's expression is grave. "That or flee Laremy, never to return, as wanted outlaws."
20:48 <Kotono> "High stakes," Rina breathes out, "Why do you even have that?"
20:48 <Kotono> "You don't need to know the answer to that," Picke's voice is cool and controlled. "You'll be happier not knowing, that's all I'll say."
20:48 <Kotono> "Don't need?" A hint of annoynce enters Rina's voice.
20:48 <Kotono> "Don't need." Picke says, with complete finality.
20:49 <Skaya> "I have so many questions-- well, okay. That did answer the main one, so we're good. Rina, everyone has their secrets, and this really changes nothing for us."
20:50 <Kotono> "It's incredibly dangerous," Anne concludes, "Then the question is, do all three of us go for this? Though if the truth comes out, merely being part of this would doubtless be enough to face our end."
20:51 <Kotono> "In other words, if we do this, we're all committed," Rina watches the signet ring without looking away now.
20:51 <Kotono> "And if it goes too far, we may well need to take up that offer from Welland," Anne says wryly, "Though at least we'll be heroes there."
20:52 <Kotono> "It's a desperate gambit, but we're out of good options," Picke concludes.
20:53 <Skaya> "I think we really should discuss what Milla is doing right now. I still prefer that option."
20:55 <Kotono> "She's investigating the captives on her own and taking out any targets of opportunity," Picke explains, "Her orders are loose because of the nature of her mission. She's very good at making trouble, though."
20:55 <Skaya> "Do we have a way to be in contact with her? How far away is she, if one rides a horse directly? Is she alone?"
20:56 <Kotono> "I can get in contact with her," Picke says, "If necessary. She's alone and managing her own travel, and I couldn't say how far away she is right now."
20:58 <Skaya> Frustrated as she is with lack of information, Skaya reigns it in. Outbursts like Rina's are very understandable but they should avoid them and focus on more productive matters. "Oh! About the start of the war. Is it remotely possible it was instigated by someone? Even a cabal on our side? Because we can turn them into leverage in negotiations."
20:59 <Kotono> "It's possible," Picke says, "I've been looking into a lot. Speaking of, what did you learn in Welland? Just the broad outline's fine," Picke says, glancinga t the door, "I don't have forever."
21:05 <Skaya> "Rumors in the capital of Eis are that Laremy provoked an attack by invading Eis, all but eliminating a patrol attacking unprovoked. They returned after leaving a few survivors and claiming innocence afterwards. I talked to Peake, a Lathanderite of some reknown, and he claimed to have believed him and checked with magic to confirm as well."
21:06 <Kotono> A soft mutter from Picke, "Did he mention what magic he used to confirm that?"
21:10 <Skaya> "No, but there's only so many options here if you're not an archmage. And he found the story itself is believable, one survivor that rolled down hill during the battle and was overlooked. No knowledge of officer names or heraldry, so nothing to pursue on this end, or I would've passed word earlier. That's why I was hoping you found something beyond the rumors Milla initially shared with us."
21:13 <Kotono> "Nothing solid," Picke admits, "I think you're right, this does smell like it - but it's too late to stop easily now. Unless you have indisputable proof and a target."
21:13 <Kotono> "Or good enough bluffing," Rina reflects, "We know they're doing it and we even know a group involved."
21:14 <Skaya> "Can't we talk to those that were involved on Laremy's side?"
21:19 <Kotono> "If they were here," Picke shakes his head, "They're on the eastern front with Eis."
21:19 <Kotono> Anne makes a tsk noise before, "Unfortunate again, but it makes sense."
21:20 <Skaya> "Unfortunate, yes," Skaya agrees with a sigh. "What about Lady Cerine? Is she here?"
21:21 <Kotono> "She is. She's resting after participating in the battle. She did well to help repel those serpentmen." Picke says, "She's in her manor if you want to see her, though her mood is unhappy because she was pressed into service. War politics."
21:24 <Skaya> "Ah, I did want to introduce Devar to her when he returned."
21:31 — Skaya tilts her head, then. "I can't believe I actually forgot to ask. Sir, what happens as the war drags on? Do Laremy's chances improve with time? Worsen?"
21:33 <Kotono> Picke sits back, "We lost badly but we're not out. If the Eis front holds, we can rally and push themb ack in the fall, or the spring. The problem is that if the Eis front still stalemates, it's possible Welland throws in, or even Kellym or Girm." He speaks plainly, "If we look like easy prey, they may well strike to take what they want."
21:34 <Kotono> "Time is not on our side," Anne reflects, "And the destruction of a nation would lead to suffering, misery and chaos. The ends are obvious. Inflame old tensions and direct them."
21:34 <Skaya> "If we need to wait till spring, it's untenable," Skaya muses. "Auril is going to be very active this winter."
21:38 <Kotono> "We have that on good authority," Anne adds, "In other words, we need to act swiftly and decisively, even if we lose something."
21:39 <Kotono> "Anything else to add?" Picke asks at that, "Anything at all that may matter."
21:40 <Skaya> This seems like the point where Anne would get to ask her question. "There was the thing Anne wanted to discuss. We met a variant of Milla in ancient ruins."
21:47 <Kotono> "We did, and she said certain things, about how she was cured of illness as a child, and what that did to her. While it was a mirror's reflection, those reflections each had some truth to them. I wouldn't normally ask, but with the situation we're in-"
21:47 <Kotono> Anne is stopped. Picke looks on, angry, almost angry enough to strike. Then he masters himself, "Just say what you mean."
21:48 <Kotono> "Is Milla some manner of undeath or undead tainted? Does she has needs beyond human food and water? How strong is she?" Anne asks, "Is she taking advantage of that against the enemy?"
21:49 <Skaya> "Is Milla alright? Is she also struggling like her alternate? Can I help?"
21:51 <Kotono> Picke sighs, "She is. She's no danger to anyone and in full control of herself, and she's fine. She's stronger and tougher than a normal person. In short..." A trail off, "I made a deal in desperation, and it went better than expected. If you must know..." A sigh, "She's going to terrorize them and try to start a panic of a nightmare monster."
21:53 <Kotono> "Has she been tested?" Anne asks, and ignoring the unpleasant looks he gets, "You know that's the responsible thing to do."
21:53 <Kotono> Rina glances at Anne, expression tight.
21:54 <Kotono> "If you mean by experts, yes, of course," Picke answers, "And otherwise I'll ask you to mind your own business." He meets Anne's gaze, "Test herself yourself after this, if we're alive and able to. Just...don't make me choose between her or you, or I'll choose her everytime. No matter what."
21:55 <Kotono> "No matter what?" Anne murmurs back.
21:55 <Kotono> "No matter what." Picke says, no nice words now. "Family is everything."
21:56 <Kotono> "It is. Anne can't see past her morals and her vows sometimes," Rina chimes in.
21:56 <Skaya> "You know, I think Moore would adopt a more wait and see attitude, especially given our history here," Skaya notes to both deescalate and gently rebuke Anne. "Being on edge during an undead epidemic and a plague made sense, but we're not there now."
21:58 <Kotono> Anne holds her tongue as does Picke. After long moments, neither looking happy, "Once this is over, we're all going to sit down and talk about this in detail, and exactly what you know about this. Everything. We all have bigger concerns now."
22:00 <Kotono> Anne inclines her head in respone. After that Picke continues, "Back to the point, what do you think, Skaya? This is your skillset, what mission do you think is best?"
22:05 <Skaya> "Since now there's no need to hold anything back, we can coordinate properly with Milla. With her putting on the pressure, we can try to make a mess of things at the prisoner of war encampment. Even if Eis is forced to bring more forces to block us, they'd have to pull them from the resources they'd use against Mellanics. If we manage to get results, our negotiating position would be better. If this fails, open negotiations."

[Corwin]

19:06 <Ko> Picke is silent, "Do it. Just be careful, if you fail here and get captured..." He shakes his head, "Saboteurs only have one fate in war."
19:07 <Skaya> "Will do. Just give us the best information you have, direction-wise? And perhaps a way to contact Milla once we're close?"
19:13 <Ko> "South and southeast. She'll be keeping to the shadows, so you'll need to find her," Picke goes on, "The simplest way would be a sending spell if you can manage that, but I suspect that's still out of your reach. Is it?"
19:13 <Ko> "For now," Anne says, "Also mildly impractical in warfare due to the limitations of the spell."
19:14 <Ko> "But invaluable in a supporting role," Picke concludes.
19:14 <Skaya> "Sanda might manage it? We'll see when we touch base."
19:21 <Ko> "Is there anything else?" Picke asks after that, nudging you along.
19:22 <Skaya> "Stay strong." Hopefully their horses survive this.
19:23 <Ko> Stranger things have happened. As you walk out "When do you want to go?" Rina asks in a murmur.
19:24 <Skaya> "We'll be flying, so let's leave now?" Skaya proposes. "Once we check in with Devar and Sanda we'll see if they have any ideas, but for now let's just get to the general area and see what forces Eis brought over."
19:27 <Ko> Anne lightly sighs, but nods, "We have little time to waste," she agrees, "We'll have time after this."
19:27 <Ko> "Miss them?" Rina asks as they go, and lingers in the lobby. She takes a moment, looks about and murmurs, "It's not the same now."
19:28 <Ko> "Of course I do," Anne answers automatically, and merely nods to the rest of it, "Also, could you carry Rina, Skaya?"
19:28 <Skaya> "I mean, we don't have to just fly straight up," Skaya mutters. "We can afford a quick stop if you think it'd be better, Anne?"
19:41 <Ko> "...no, it's best to do this first," Anne decides at length, "I won't want to leave if I see them again."
19:42 — Skaya picks Rina up and looks for a good place to take off!
19:44 <Ko> With that the party takes to the air and leaves behind the city on the brink of war and...OOC: PLan?
19:44 <Skaya> OOC: Actually, before that, when can we touch base with Devar over telepathy?
19:49 <Ko> OOC: Sure, go for it.
19:50 <Skaya> 'Hey, Devar,' Skaya reaches out via shady magic item telepathy during their scheduled check-in times. 'We've reached Mellanics. How are things on your end?'
19:51 <Devar> 'We actually just reached the city.' Devar replies. 'It took a bit longer to get here than I thought it would, but we made it safely. Everything all right with you three?'
19:53 <Skaya> 'Yes, but things are worse here than we feared. A large portion of the army got captured due to either inept leadership or bad luck, and Eis has allies. Can you ask Sanda if she knows Sending and could cast it if needed?'
20:00 <Devar> 'She can.' Comes the reply a few moments afterwards.
20:00 <Skaya> 'Milla's running some sort of terror campaign while hiding next to the prisoners of war. Since she's harassing them she clearly knows where they are, so could Sanda contact her and secure a meeting point with us? Meeting time, too.'
20:07 <Devar> 'I'm asking her.' Is the reply.
20:07 <Skaya> 'Great! We're heading south-south east of Mellanics to hopefully get closer.'
20:11 <Devar> 'Oh, is there anything I can look for in the city for you all?' Devar asks. 'They may have some supplies that are running short up there.'
20:12 <Skaya> 'If there are any items that make food or water everyone will need them come winter. It's a longshot, but-- actually, water creation might be possible given where you are? Fresh water, of course.'
20:13 <Devar> 'I'll see what I can find.' He says. 'If you think of anything else let me know.'
20:15 <Skaya> 'Oh! Something to help with negotiations. Last time we could only find something to trick people, but it'd be good to have something for when we're being sincere, given negotiations are the only way to end this war properly.'
20:17 <Devar> 'I'll see what I can do.' Devar says.
20:18 <Skaya> 'Right. Let me know what Milla says.'
20:19 — Skaya will comfortably wait for directions!
20:35 <Devar> 'East of Stone Mill in an abandonded farmhouse with red gates at night.' Devar sends along soon afterwards.
20:35 <Skaya> 'Thanks! Best of luck!'
20:35 <Skaya> With the communications over, Skaya consults her memory as she leads the way. In the general direction, first, but she'll get closer eventually!
20:36 <Skaya> OOC: Taking 10 for 32 knowledge:local to help us along
20:39 <Ko> OOC: Flying high above I presume?
20:39 <Skaya> OOC: Yes
20:47 <Ko> roll 1d100+5
20:47 <Kobot> Ko rolled 1d100+5 --> [ 1d100=2 ]{7}
20:51 <Ko> You fly without incident and land past duskfall. Stone Mill is one of many small villages - this one under occupation, even if it's just a small handful of soldiers. The abandoned farm house is found, old and with red gates still. Sitting at a forgotten old dinner table is Milla, head resting on her arms. She looks half at rest, but her eyes track the party unerringly as they enter. "You're
20:51 <Ko> back," Milla comes forward and offers you a hand, "Brachidos?"
20:54 <Skaya> "We killed him in a climatic and satisfying battle," Skaya responds, shaking Milla's hand. "He was really surprised as he died."
20:55 <Ko> "Hah," Milla smiles tightly, "Some good news is just what I needed." Her grip is iron tight before, "Did everyone make it?"
20:55 <Ko> "Besides Regis? Yes," Anne answers, "Though we had many close calls, we preservered."
20:57 <Skaya> "Starre was sent on another mission by divine intervention, but she's okay somewhere," Skaya adds. "We didn't stop Brachidos without casualties, but at least we limited those more and more as we closed in on him."
21:06 <Ko> "Good. What do you know about the situation here?" Milla then asks.
21:06 <Skaya> "Ah, before that...." There's really no good way to segue into this so Skaya doesn't even try. "We kept meeting alternates in these ancient ruins at some point, and one of them was of you. She told us a bit about, uh, your past. Sorry. So now Anne wants to channel holy energy into you before we get down to the important task of saving Mellanics but she'll at least ask first properly. Right?"
21:06 <Ko> "The military lost bad and Mellanics is going to lose for a second war in a row," Is Rina's answer.
21:07 <Ko> Milla's expression closes off, Rina's words lost. Instead she meets Anne's gaze and says, "No."
21:07 <Ko> "No?" Anne challenges right back.
21:08 <Ko> "I'm not going to be judged by someone who knows a little and presumes. I'm perfectly fine, and I don't need you coming in here like a heroic knight who thinks there might be a dragon to slay," Milla retorts, "We have more business to do rather than waste time on that."
21:08 <Ko> "It's not about you, it's about-" Anne begins.
21:09 <Ko> "I don't care what it's about," Milla cuts in, loudly, "We're at war and trying to save Mellanics, this isn't the time!"
21:10 <Skaya> "Okay," Skaya accepts. "In that case, like Rina said, we know the army lost an important battle and lots of soldiers became prisoners of war. You've been trying it harass them, and there's no need to hide any abilities you have for that around us. We think it's a matter of days before Mellanics is sieged, so we want to free the captive soldiers and even things up a bit. What are your thoughts?"
21:12 <Ko> "Probably impossible by force or direct trickery," Milla's eyes only slowly leave Anne. "There's too many of them. I'm working but it's nibbling at the edges. I've rescued a few and stashed them, but all the high value prisoners have been flown elsewhere."
21:13 <Ko> "What about indirect trickery? Making them do something that does it?" Rina asks, following along.
21:13 <Ko> "That's about all I can think of," Milla says, "I'd just about resigned myself to stalling them rather than stopping them. Every soldier not marching for Mellanics is a small victory."
21:14 <Skaya> "When you say force can't work, what is this based on? What sort of opposition would we face?"
21:27 <Ko> "Thousands of soldiers to keep them in check," MIlla says, "Along with support. It's not a small force. They know they won big and are keeping the prisoners secure while they have what's needed take Mellanics."
21:29 <Skaya> OOC: Just how large are both armies? Millions?
21:33 <Ko> OOC: Fair question, worth asking since Skay awouldn't know offhand.
21:34 <Skaya> "That's got implications that make me think I misunderstood something. Milla, can you give me a breakdown of the forces on all sides, please?"
21:39 <Ko> "How so?" Milla asks, "I have some grasp of what's going on, do you mean forces or numbers?"
21:45 <Skaya> "From what I've read, there's usually three to six prisoners to a guard in such cases, so thousands of guards has implications for the Laremy soldiers captured. But at the same time, it's the bulk of Laremy's army, from what we were told. So how many are left on either side? Let's only talk about those on this front, and not near the border."
21:48 <Ko> "If I had to estimate, 5,000 soldiers and 20,000 captives. Roughly." Milla says after some thought.
21:49 <Ko> "Roughly? Sanda would throw a fit if she were here," Rina's smile is faint and brief, "So four to one is what you're really saying?"
21:49 <Skaya> "So Eis and friends have some fifteen thousand soldiers waiting? To maybe a third that in Mellanics if they decide to hold the city?"
21:49 <Ko> "That's about right," Milla concludes."Though a lot of the captives are injured or not immediately combat capable."
21:50 <Skaya> "Laremy's high value prisoners got taken away. But what about the enemy leadership? Can we seize those here?"
21:55 <Ko> "They're guarded and not lightly, and they have their own heroes down there," Milla point sout, "But you've been working in the north, not the south, so you wouldn't know too much."
21:59 <Skaya> "Tell us who to watch out for?"
22:06 <Ko> Details come...next time!

[Corwin]

19:10 <Ko> Swimming on and on and on. Eventually, after more travel, the forests thin out. Below the deep ocean floor is alive with fish and live, as you swim ever deeper onwards. Civilization is seen - orderly little encampments and villages, even stone marked paths that serve as roads to follow - not that all do - but paths to follow. Nibelle leads you along, "We're leaving behind the rougher lands
19:10 <Ko> and towards good civilization," she explains, "This part of the trip should be a little easier."
19:12 <Devar> Devar nods. "That makes sense, it's not too different from what we have on land - you see more civilization and improvements closer to where people live." He says as they go along.
19:14 <Ko> "Why are the shores and the areas past them wild?" Sanda asks, "Are the people below that worried about land dwellers?" She gestures below. You can glimpse a dwarf like creature in passing, as well as a few mermaids swimming along.
19:15 <Ko> "Your human cities are filthy!" Nibelle exclaims, "And the water around the port cities often reeks of human waste and trash. Would you want to live close to that, or downwater of an outhouse?"
19:16 <Ko> Sanda blinks, "Well yes, statistically speaking you aren't going to enjoy the smells of a city, but..." she stops and blinks again. "Is it that bad?"
19:16 <Devar> "It isn't that surprising that people down here would have a different perspective." Devar says. "I imagine the deeper you go the difference becomes even more magnified."
19:22 <Ko> "It's terrible," Nibelle answers, "Down here the waters are clean, fresh and ships don't bother us. You land dwellers can have the unwatered sun and the open air. Down here is where things are better."
19:22 <Ko> "It is growing on me at a statistically appreciable rate," Sanda muses, "Just being able to swim in three directions is nice, like flying must be for the rest of you."
19:24 <Devar> "You can open up a shop down here when everything is over." Devar says with a bit of a smile. "Though I imagine there's some sort of special way you sell scrolls..."
19:42 <Ko> With chatter you go onwards, towards the city. It's like the dream: A city in those depths, walls of coral and placed against the edge of a vast trench far deeper down. Glimpses of humanoids riding sharks and dolphins is
19:42 <Ko> >
glimpsed, images of great large fish, of kraken and of herds of land horses that run along the sea bottom, all around this city.
19:42 <Ko> OOC: Gah, pasting on my end was glitchy, sec to fix.
19:43 <Ko> With chatter you go onwards, towards the city. It's like the dream: A city in thedepths, walls of coral and placed against the edge of a vast trench far deeper down. Glimpses of humanoids riding sharks and dolphins are seen, with large and huge fish swimming in great numbers. You see squid following a great kraken like an honor guard, all giving them a wide berth as they swim out. The city
19:43 <Ko> itself bustles and is built both tall and wide. Despite the concentration the waters are pure, no sign of the taint Nibelle mentioned with land dwellers.
19:44 <Devar> "Building a city on land is one thing, but it's extra impressive to think about how it must've been done down here." Devar says. "Is there... does this city have a leader or anything of that nature? It would be probably best if we spoke to them to explain why we were even here."
19:50 <Ko> "It's ruled by a council," Nibelle explains, "It has been for over a century, since the last king died in battle. You can submit an appeal for a hearing before them."
19:50 <Ko> "A council? Bureaucracy?" Sanda's face twists into annoyance, "How terrible."
19:52 <Devar> "How long of a delay is that?" Devar asks. "We may not have the time to wait."
19:54 <Ko> "It depends on if they're meeting right now or not," Nibelle says, "We'd have to go to the Council Hall and ask." She smiles, "One time it was within an hour," And that msile, "And another time it was days."
19:55 <Devar> For some reason, Devar turns to Sanda. "Hey, you can't cast Sending yet, can you?" He nods to Nibelle afterwards, looking a little distracted. "Okay. Then we'll just have to ask and see how things go from there."
19:58 <Ko> "I can," Sanda answers, "Why do you ask?"
19:58 <Ko> "I'll lead you on," NIbelle agrees.
20:00 <Devar> Devar nods to Nibelle and gestures at the ring he's wearing for Sanda's benefit.
20:03 <Devar> "This is going to sound rather strange, but can you send a message to Milla to arrange for a meeting point and a time for Skaya and the others?" He asks as they go along.
20:04 <Ko> A blink at that before, "I could, if I can compress it into twenty five words," She says, hesitating, "And she responds, of course."
20:06 <Devar> "'Skaya is in Mellanics and wants to meet with you. Where can we do it and when'" Devar offers. "Or something like that?"
20:20 <Ko> "I'll work it out," Sanda says, "We need to get somewhere quiet so I can cast this in peace," Sanda points out, "Either in the city or out here."
20:21 <Devar> "It'll probably take some time to fill out the forms." Devar says as they go along. "Nibelle, while we're waiting on their reply, can you show me to any shops that might sell magical items?"
20:26 <Ko> OOC: So going to let Sanda do that while Nibelle takes yo uon then?
20:26 <Devar> OOC: Yeah
20:31 <Ko> OOC: Okay. For the sake of Skaya let's handle this first.
20:33 <Ko> You head along and into the city. It's full of people - humanoids, similar to your last aquatic town but bigger, different. No elementals that you see this time, but plenty of humanoid natives. Nibelle is hardly the only mermaid, though she gets curious to envious looks at her jewelry. It's full of fish mongers, of merchants and of people simply living their lives. That's when Sanda catches
20:33 <Ko> up to you, "I got it," She says, "Tell Skaya that Stone Mill. East of Stone Mill in an abandoned old farmhouse with red gates.
20:34 <Devar> "Did she give a time?" Devar asks.
20:34 <Ko> "Night." Is the answer, "That's all she gave."
20:35 <Devar> Devar nods. "Message received." He says.
20:39 <Ko> OOC: Give me a d100.
20:40 <Devar> OOC: you will have to summon the dice-shaped robot
20:47 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@15E04828.2CDA848.18B9E01A.IP)
20:47 <Ko> OOC: Fixed.
20:48 <Devar> roll 1d100
20:48 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=16 ]{16}
20:55 <Ko> The Council Hall is a large building decorated with huge seashells out front. Atop them sit statues of various figures, from mermaids to krakens to sea horses. Passing by thema nd inside, you find...a lobby. Rather like the one in Mellanics, if not as busy. A mermaid, drifting along and with hair the color of a campfire, smiles warmly as you approach. "Welcome! It's not often we see land
20:55 <Ko> dwellers here."
20:56 <Devar> "Hello, thank you." Devar greets. "I'd like to fill out the form to be seen by your council, please." He says.
20:59 <Ko> "No need, they're taking open petitions today," A breezy, floaty smile, "Oh Nibelle dear, it's beent oo long!" She squeals and swims over, pulling Nibelle into a hug.
20:59 <Ko> Nibelle sighs softly but doesn't resist, face screwed up in exasperation, "Hello, Vitae."
21:00 <Devar> "Oh, good timing then." Devar says. "Oh, yes, I never had a chance to say it, but thank you for guiding us here. It seems like we were blessed by the waters themselves, considering the luck we had on our way here."
21:00 <Ko> "Is the cute land dweller with you?" A too loud whisper after, "He's interesting in that land dweller way-" A look up, "Oh, it's that sort of job?"
21:02 <Devar> "We happened to cross paths when we were swimming down here." Devar explains. "She was kind of enough to offer herself as a guide."
21:10 <Ko> "Well, swim on in then," Vitae points ahead, "They'll see you."
21:10 <Devar> "Thank you both." Devar offers them a bow and swims on in!
21:21 <Ko> In you go. It's a large room with a stone table with many chairs in the back. Here about a dozen older men and women sit. Mermaids, those dwarf-like creatures you saw before, a sahuagin, a fish headed man and more. They watch you come in, even a large, rainbow colored fish. It's the sahuagin, clad in a tight pair of pants, who speaks. "Land dwellersb efore this council? State your business."
21:24 <Devar> Devar gives a bow before he starts. "Hello, councilmembers." He begins. "My name is Devar, of Eldath. I came here because I was directed by divine providence that this city had something that we seek - a scroll or a way of casting the spell Regenerate. There is someone on the surface we know that is in need of this, and the Mother Guardian of Groves saw fit to show me that it could be found
21:24 <Devar> here." He says.
21:29 <Ko> "We can point you in the right direction, once the proper taxes and fees are paid," In the background Sanda's expression tightens, as the sahuagin's voice becomes gleeful. "First of all, are you familiar with the currency down here?"
21:31 <Devar> "I have a rudimentary understanding of the conversion." Devar says. "I believe you use coral and pearls as standard versus gold?"
21:38 <Ko> "That's right," IS the answer, "For official business we don't accept surface money, but we'll exchange it for a small fee of one coral shard per gold coin exchanged. Additionally, surface dwellers are charged at flat one pearl administrative fee each for council business, as well as a ten coral shard filing fee for all requests. Also be aware all purchases by land dwellers are subject to
21:38 <Ko> a 8% flat tax, the merchant will assess the tax and collect it directly. "
21:38 <Ko> "Of course," Sanda's smile is brittle.
21:40 <Devar> "In a circumstance where the visitor isn't from town but isn't a land-dweller, is it the same situation?" Devar asks. "Hypothetically, if the visiting person was, say, a water elemental, then they wouldn't be charged as they aren't a land-dweller, correct?"
21:42 <Ko> "That's correct," Is the answer, "The occasional water elemental visitor is treated as a water dweller."
21:42 <Ko> The dwarf grunts, "The woman with you's water, isn't she?"
21:42 <Ko> Sanda clears her throat, burbles and goes on, "I am."
21:43 <Ko> A few titters around the council, but Sanda bears them. "I have the blood of Water in my veins. I'm no more a land dweller than a shark, statistically speaking."
21:43 <Devar> Devar will stay quiet since he doubts revealing anything about his current nature would be helpful here.
21:44 <Ko> The sahuagin's expression sours, but a mermaid with black hair braided giggles, "Oh, well then. That does change everything, doesn't it? Even if you're dressed like a surface dweller. Then again, I could sell you a mermaid's outfit to fit in, dear."
21:45 <Ko> "So logically," A polit esmile at the mermaid before she continues undeterred, "Any land dweller taxes do not apply to me. You can confirm I have water blood, sir?" A nod to the dwarf.
21:46 <Ko> "Can feel it in the water," He says, then with a grim chuckle, "Just remember that Rembran's is the place for both food and waterscript bottles."
21:46 <Ko> "There's excellent odds we'll stop in for a meal before we leave," Sanda smiles back, "So that only leaves any exchange fees for our land dweller currency."
21:47 <Devar> "Depending on what we can end up buying here, we may have a lot to spend." Devar adds with a smile.
21:47 <Ko> "...yes, it appears so," IS the sahuagin's answer, expression annoyed and frustrated. His lips purse together, "Unless you already have proper money, you will have to pay ane xchange rate."
21:48 <Ko> "Ahem," Then the rainbow colored fish speaks up in smooth Aquan, "You need powerful magic called Regenerate?"
21:49 <Devar> Devar nods. "Yes, that was why we were sent here. Other purchases are welcome, but that was the first reason." He says.
21:54 <Ko> "Ask at the Spine's Spire," He suggests, "If they don't have it, they probably know who does."
21:55 <Devar> "Thank you very much." Devar says with a bow. "For your time and information."
21:56 <Ko> Bows are exchanged and with that, the three of you slip away. Th emoment you're out, "Good work," Sanda says, "I know a thinly veiled shakedown when I see one. Make money off the surface dwellers who don't know any better.
21:56 <Ko> "
21:57 <Devar> "At least it worked out - sorry for putting you on the spot. Let's go check the Spine's Spire first and see if they even have it, so we know how much we need to convert?"
21:58 <Ko> "A wise idea," Sanda says, but as you swim? Nibelle lingers and follows. (More)
21:59 <Ko> "You all have been amazing profitable so far," Nibelle comments, "Do you always come on treasure so easily?"
22:01 <Devar> "Um... it's complicated." Devar says to her with a grin at Sanda. "We do seem to come across it after a good amount of trial and tribulation, though."
22:06 <Ko> Sanda smiles back before na answer comes...next time!