The Underwater Gold Rush 020

[Corwin]

19:42 <Kotono> It's four of you. All of you but Rina, gathered together outside of Mellanics past noon. "The notice is unfortunate, but not umanageable," Anne mentions as you all prepare under the sunshine.
19:42 <Kotono> "The odds are treasure doesn't wait," Sanda concurs, "So we shouldn't wait."
19:43 <Skaya> "Plus it should be exciting!"
19:44 <Devar> OOC: Devar would've told Nibelle that they were coming, for whatever it's worth, and they'd meet her at Spine's shop unless she had a better place for them to go.
19:44 <Kotono> OOC: Sure.
19:45 <Kotono> "Are we all prepared to be underwater?" Anne then asks, looking from one person to the next.
19:46 <Skaya> "Sanda can help with that!"
19:46 <Devar> Devar wiggles his hand with the ring on it at them.
19:52 <Kotono> "I can, I'll take care of it,"
19:52 <Kotono> "I can, I'll take care of it," Sanda says, "I've memorized water breathing as well. Who needs it?" A look at Anne and Skaya.
19:52 <Skaya> "Don't you have it on hand, you water elemental you?"
19:53 <Kotono> "As well," Sanda corrects, "I don't like the odds if it gets dispelled or simply runs out unexpectedly. In theory, none of us shoudl really need to breathe, but my research suggests this takes time and varies."
19:54 <Skaya> "Yes, it's always nice to be breathe if you want to," Skaya agrees.
19:55 <Devar> "It makes speaking down there a lot easier." Devar affirms.
19:55 <Kotono> Thus Water Breathing is cast twice, once on Anne and once on Skaya. With that done, "Ready."
19:56 <Skaya> "Ready, then. Devar, I'm not going to use the telepathy ring here unless we somehow get separated, so keep that in mind."
19:57 <Devar> Devar will take out the scroll of Teleport they bought. "Sanda, why don't you do the honors? You're the half-water elemental, after all." He says. He nods to Skaya. "Understood."
19:57 <Kotono> The scroll is taken and...OOC: One sec to check something about teleport.
19:59 <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 vs 10 to cast successfully
19:59 <Kotono> OOC: One second while Kobot is unleashed.
19:59 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@C98D2066.806458B5.C86BCBF1.IP)
20:00 <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 vs 10 to cast successfully
20:00 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+7 vs 10 to cast successfully --> [ 1d20=7 ]{14}
20:01 <Kotono> roll 1d100 studied carefully since SAnda knew teleporting back was a possibility 95+ is a problem
20:01 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 studied carefully since SAnda knew teleporting back was a possibility 95+ is a problem --> [ 1d100=19 ]{19}
20:03 <Kotono> With a rush and a gurgle of displaced water, the party appears at your destination. You appear right outside the entrance to Spine's shop, floating there in the water. Made it!
20:05 — Skaya pats Sanda's shoulder, giving her a thumbs up.
20:06 <Kotono> Sanda gurgles out, "Why thank you."
20:07 <Kotono> Anne looks around, taking in the tower and the city. She's silent amid it all, eyes drinking in everything.
20:07 <Devar> "Welcome to Aquariar." Devar says, gesturing around them. Devar will give them a moment to look around before he'll open the door to Spine's shop and gesture inside.
20:14 <Kotono> Thus you swim inside and - ! Before you can see much of the shop, Nibelle swims right up. "Devar," she calls, "You came! Sanda too," She smiles over to the shopkeep, "Oh, and some of your other friends?"
20:15 <Skaya> "Skaya," she introduces herself, before gesturing at the remaining girl. "And this is Anne. We're pleased to make your acquaintance."
20:15 <Devar> "Yes, just like we promised." Devar says. "Nibelle, this is --" He stops and laughs a bit. "Skaya, Anne, this is Nibelle. We met here on the way here and she helped us find the town."
20:17 <Kotono> "A pleasure," Anne manages to get out, more or less. It sounds oddly windy despite the water.
20:18 <Kotono> "And I've gotten hired by Spine to help out," Nibelle answers, "Treasures have been pouring out of that dungeon, and there's fights over them, and some hav egotten teleported around by strange magic, and it's a complete frenzy," She goes on, shaking her head back an dforth, "Plus some of the magic's made veins of presure metal appear on the seabed, and people are trying to get rich getting
20:18 <Kotono> them."
20:19 <Kotono> Sanda whistles. It's more of a watery noise than anything else, but she tries, "So it's a treasure rush then, and it's bringing out the worst in everyone?"
20:19 <Devar> "Are your leaders trying to lay claim to any of it, or have they stayed out of it?" Devar asks. "We'd be happy to help, but I'd like to know if you'd like us to do anything specific."
20:23 <Kotono> "They're trying but there's infighting, or so I heard," Nibelle answers, "Spine's been giving out missions to get things and collect treasures, if you're interested?"
20:23 <Skaya> "How does that differ from just going treasure hunting on our own?"
20:25 <Devar> "It gets us into the good graces of a pretty powerful and I'd imagine influential merchant, for whatever that means for us." Devar says. "She did give us a discount on the stuff we bought last time."
20:28 <Kotono> "That and it's free leads," Sanda points out, "Statistically speaking, we'lls tand out looking for treasure as it is."
20:28 <Skaya> "I'm easily convinced."
20:29 <Devar> "I think you'll like her." Devar says with a bit of a smile. "Maybe not as much as that receptionist, though."

[Corwin]

19:04 <Kotono> That gets a few chuckles as you're lead inside. Spine awaits you within before all the displays of various magical items - Devar can spy several new ones he thinks, but it's not really the time. Spine herself floats there, her white hair unbound in the water and the same general type of body paint, but purple and white instead. "You have returned as you promised, and brought friends?"
19:06 <Devar> Since she introduced herself last time, Devar will just nod to Skaya since she can handle it herself!
19:07 <Skaya> "Hello!" Skaya greets Spine. "I'm Skaya, a friend!"
19:09 <Devar> "We're missing one of our normal entourage, but Nibelle got in touch with me and gave us a brief explanation of the situation." Devar says. "We planned on visiting anyway, but this sped things up. This is Anne, she's the stalwart healer of our group." Devar says with a smile. "We understand there's fights that have broken out over that dimensional treasure trove - what would you have us do?"
19:10 <Kotono> "Anne of Moore," Anne burbles and gusts in the water.
19:11 <Kotono> "The situation is complicated, but in essence it is a frezny of treasure seeking. I am pursuing various leads, but I need strong, able bodies to track down these items and bring them to me. It is for the safety of others as well as my own profit, as I am well equipped to understand them. Others are likely not, or may not be able to defend themselves from others."
19:12 <Skaya> "Just how lawless are things?" Skaya inquires politely.
19:17 <Kotono> "In Aquariar, it's safe." Nibelle pipes up, "But it's every fish, mermaid and shark for themselves away from civilization!"
19:17 <Skaya> "That sounds bad for whoever decides to go after us, then."
19:17 <Kotono> "It's unwise to travel alone unless you are highly capable," Spine interjects gently, "Both for greed and the fact that those with trinkets far beyond them may not use them safely or responsibly."
19:18 <Devar> "I imagine we can talk some of them down, but we might have to get rough with a few more determined folks, especially if they're under some magical influence." Devar says.
19:22 <Devar> "What are you looking for specifically?" Devar asks
19:23 <Kotono> "Yes, I'd really like to know more," Sanda cuts in there.
19:25 <Kotono> "Right now, I seek a staff that throws ice and blasts of raw force. I've heard reports of people being attacked a fe whours away from Aquariar by a merman with it, and robbing others blind. The city's stretched too far to handle it themselves." Spine explains.
19:25 <Devar> "That ought to be easy enough to locate." Devar surmises. "Someone harassing people like that needs to be dealt with."
19:26 <Skaya> So it's a bandit! Those tend to be on the rich side. "Does it attack just about anyone, lone travelers, something else?"
19:32 <Kotono> "So far, indiscriminately," Is the answer, "At least two deaths confirmed to them, and looting as well. The survivors want their goods back as well, if they can be found. In this case what was taken was coral and pearls, which is the local currency, as well as gold jewelry. You'll be awarded twenty five percent of the value of those, fifty percent of whatever the value of the staff,  rights to
19:32 <Kotono> anything else the bandit has that can't be confirmed and a flat fee of 5 large pearls."
19:32 <Kotono> Sanda chews on that a moment, "And your gratitude as a shopkeeper with resources and magic," Sanda goes ahead and says it out loud.
19:32 <Kotono> "Five large pearls?" Anne asks, curious sounding. "I'm not familiar with the local currency."
19:33 <Skaya> "It sounds like a clear enough task that can test our skills properly," Skaya muses. It's probably intended to test she and Anne's integrity as well.
19:33 <Kotono> "In short," Nibelle pipes up, "Oh, I just went over this. One of your gold coins is equal to twenty coral shards, and a small pearl is worth fifteen gold coins. A large pearl is worth one hundred gold coins."
19:34 <Kotono> "And if the staff is cursed, and has little value?" Anne adds a that, thoughtfully. "I know cursed items are often cheaper or effectively unsalable."
19:35 <Kotono> "The fee is meant to cover those possibilities," Spine answers, "As I am not yet aware of its full powers or history."
19:38 <Skaya> "I think the terms are reasonable, given it's our first collaboration," Skaya says, glancing over at the others one at a time to see if there's any disagreement.
19:39 <Devar> "Would you prefer the merman to be brought in for his crimes?" Devar asks.
19:40 <Kotono> "Alive if possible, but dead is acceptable. He's earned justice, one way or another," Is the plain, icy answer.
19:41 <Devar> Devar nods. "I'm good with it." He says.
19:44 <Kotono> "As am I," Anne seconds.
19:44 <Kotono> "We should be able to manage it," Sanda says after a moment, "I like our odds."
19:45 <Devar> "It's certainly more straight forward than what we've been dealing with lately." Devar says. "A good old-fashioned bandit request."
19:47 <Kotono> "After everything else, this feels easy. Except the time limit," Anne muses, "Best we move then."
19:48 <Devar> Devar nods. "I'll cast some protective spells on the way and one to make me more of a target." He says.
19:48 <Skaya> "Sounds good."
19:49 <Devar> OOC: We'll get directions and just start heading that way, on the way Skaya gets a +6 Mage Armor and I'll do Luminous Armor on myself which makes me a big ol' daylight target.
19:54 <Kotono> OOC: That all sounds good, any othe rprep I need to know about?
19:55 <Skaya> OOC: Not on my end, I want to see how this environment will work for us.
19:56 <Devar> OOC: Not for me
20:00 <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Was a moment.
20:01 <Kotono> OOC: Do you mean just general underwater combat, Cor?
20:02 <Skaya> OOC: Pretty much yeah
20:09 <Kotono> Thus the party swims out of town. The walls and perimeter are well manned, but after that? It's wide open, the sea water above brighter with sunlight. You notice almost no one is heading out of town, and gives you a wide berth as you swim out.
20:09 <Devar> "I have a feeling that we'll just get jumped as soon as we're in that area." Devar says. "So just be ready for that."
20:10 <Skaya> "I'll keep an eye out for that," Skaya agrees, taking the lead.
20:11 <Devar> Devar nods and just starts swimming, hoping his plan of being a target works!
20:13 <Kotono> "Or from others looking for treasure too," Anne concludes, as th eparty swims out. OOC: More.
20:13 <Kotono> roll 1d100+25
20:13 <Kotono> OOC: One moment, Kobot related difficulties.
20:14 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@C98D2066.806458B5.C86BCBF1.IP)
20:17 <Kotono> roll 1d100+25
20:17 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100+25 --> [ 1d100=48 ]{73}
20:17 <Kotono> roll 1d100+30
20:17 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100+30 --> [ 1d100=99 ]{129}
20:17 <Kotono> roll 1d100+30 subtables
20:17 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100+30 subtables --> [ 1d100=36 ]{66}
20:17 <Kotono> You make it an hour out of town, when in the distance, you can see a few woven seaweed huts. One is collapsed inward but two are still intact. They stand as a little way station perhaps, no sign of anyone around, and in your general direction.
20:18 <Devar> They probably aren't jumping anyone out here, but Devar will fly onward towards them just in case!
20:19 <Skaya> Agreeing with Devar's choice, Skaya follows suit!
20:24 <Kotono> Anne swims in the rear, managing along as best she can in armor but with flight. Sanda swims along like it's second nature, not slowed at all. Approaching the two huts, you can see little inside without going to the door or a window.
20:24 — Skaya goes to the door of the nearest hut to take a look inside!
20:27 <Devar> Devar will wait, ready to help if this is a trap!
20:31 <Kotono> Anne and Sanda hang back, in the rear. Skay agoes in and...OOC: Perception.
20:31 <Skaya> roll 1d20+19
20:31 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+19 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{37}
20:37 <Kotono> You don't see anything in it. It mostly looks like a little way station, with no sign of anyone or anything in it. It just seems quiet. Which is odd, since the ground is the seabed and your keen eyes notice something's been recently disturbed there. Dug up, if you had to guess.
20:37 — Skaya decides to dig up the ground, wary for traps as she does so.
20:46 <Kotono> This take a bit, but it's not hard. Within is a heavy, strangely unwet sack bulgingly full of something.
20:48 <Skaya> "Let's take a look to see if it's hidden treasure or a body," Skaya says, before pausing. "Actually, since it's not wet, is opening it here a good idea?"
20:49 <Devar> "Actually, Sanda can help with this." Devar says. "She can move the water away so you can open it 'dry'." Devar says. "We had to do this with the horn, too."
20:50 <Skaya> "That works! Sanda, darling, care to help out?"
20:50 <Kotono> "Of course, Skaya," Sanda comes up and does just that, the water all moving away from the bag. It gives you dry space to work with.
20:51 — Skaya opens the sack!
20:52 <Kotono> Inside the sack are a great many old, brittle and dry scrolls. Each one is wrapped with a ribbon of different color, though each ribbon has gold threading.
20:54 <Skaya> "Scrolls, huh? Looks good." Skaya closes the sack once more and puts it into her haversack. They can deal with it all later. "How about checking the other hut, now?"
20:55 <Devar> Devar nods and will head over to open the other hut's door!
20:59 <Kotono> "For later," Skaya agrees, as...OOC: Perception all.
21:00 <Skaya> roll 1d20+19 I agree with myself!
21:00 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+19 I agree with myself! --> [ 1d20=12 ]{31}
21:03 <Devar> OOC: I can't beat that but I'll take 10 for 21 anyay
21:04 <Kotono> OOC: Sanda will take 10 since she's terrible at this.
21:05 <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Anne will roll since why not?
21:05 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+6 Anne will roll since why not? --> [ 1d20=6 ]{12}
21:05 <Kotono> Skaya sees something...next time! OOC: Okay, we've made up our time and a smidge more, and I'm getting close to that crash I think. More Monday.