...There be ocean here?

[Dracos]

[21:23] <Dracos> Driving away to the north east of the burned out husk of a town that was once called Solace, the adventurers continued through the wasteland to the north east, though they noticed as the morning sun rose that something rather remarkable had changed.  Glancing out, they had, with almost no notice, shifted from driving over rocky dirt and sand... to driving over soft green grass that seemed remarkably healthy.
[21:26] * Leets eases on the accelerator, trying to get a feel for the new terrain, though it didn't seem very difficult since he had barely felt the transition. "Any idea where we are now?"
[21:28] <Jan> Jan grunted noncommitally, eyeing the terrain before them. "A few days away from the ocean, I think."
[21:29] <Dracos> it's quite frankly, the healthiest bit of nature that Jan had seen here with the sole excetion of the wolf village.
[21:33] <Leets> "This is definately more of this place then I ever thought I'd see," Leets muttered, doing a check of the dashboard to see how the engine was holding up.
[21:33] <Dracos> The engine seemed to be running fine, the fuel meter seeming to have plenty of go left  in it despite the days of driving.
[21:35] <Jan> 'What happened in this world?' Jan thought to himself in frustration as he rubbed at the bridge of his nose. "Pull over for now, I need to stretch out my legs."
[21:35] <Dracos> It was pretty much open plains at the moment, so they could 'pull over' pretty much anywhere leets wanted.
[21:37] * Leets slows to a stop, then shifts gears to park as he applies the hand brake to keep the car from rolling unexpectedly.
[21:40] <Jan> Jan pulled himself out of the backseat as he knelt down outside the car, tugging hard on the grass underneath him.
[21:41] <Dracos> The grass pulled out of the ground, taking a bit of force, but the soft ground and the soft grass giving easily enough.  It felt fresh...alive as if right after a gentle rain.
[21:42] <Jan> A twitch made its way to his eye as he rubbed the dirt, the clump coming apart under his harsh treatment as he threw it to the side.
[21:43] <Leets> "Is something wrong?" Leets watched Jan's actions, curious on what could be making the usually even tempered negotiator act so out of character.
[21:45] <Jan> "I'm just...disturbed, is all. The wolves are acting abnormally, in addition to ...well, this!" He swept an arm out at the land.
[21:47] * Leets gazes out into the fertile fields, eyes softening a bit. "I suppose for someone who's lived here as long as you have, this is kind of disturbing to accept," he said quietly.
[21:50] <Jan> "It doesn't make sense." Jan rose to his feet, dusting his dark slacks off in annoyance. "I just feel that I don't have nearly as much information as I could, and it frustrates me."
[21:53] <Leets> "Isn't that partially why we're doing this?" Leets asked cooly. "To learn what else this place has to hide and why no one seems interested in finding out?"
[21:53] <Jan> "I'm starting to think some people are holding things back." Jan crossed his arms before him defensively as he countered.
[21:54] <Dracos> The old man is still snoring in the car, not adding any input at this point, but maybe Yomi would have an idea.
[21:54] <Leets> "All the more reason to find out why they're holding back, don't you think so?"
[21:58] <Jan> "They've been disturbingly quiet lately. Be on your guard."
[21:59] <Dracos> It was around now... that jan heard the most disturbing sound...  or at least, one he'd never heard before, crooned as if by a large bird...
[21:59] <Dracos> "Kweeeh..."
[22:00] * Leets blinks, reflexively checking the sky for the source of the noise.
[22:01] <Dracos> Nothing visible...it was hard to place....  "Kweeh." Another... somewhere to the north west of here.
[22:04] * Leets turns to where the sound seems to be coming from, prepared to get back into the car if it was another of dangerous creatures that inhabit the wastelands.
[22:05] <Jan> Jan's head snapped to the direction of the sound, a hand reaching into his tan vest and drawing out a revolver. "Start moving slowly to the car."
[22:08] <Dracos> The Kweehs were occassional, but slowly getting closer...
[22:09] <Leets> Not willing to wait for something to pounce, Leets slides back into his seat in the car and starts up again.
[22:11] <Dracos> They could see in the distance running across the plains with casual, graceful strides... a pair of large birdlike creatures...  big, like the size of a horse, but with only two legs as they roamed over the plains.
[22:12] <Leets> "Predatory?" asked Leets, trying to be casual as he kept trying to start the engine.
[22:12] <Jan> Jan slid into a relaxed stance as he observed. "Well, that's something you don't see everyday." He holstered the revolver as he leaned up against the side of the car.
[22:13] <Jan> "I don't know. But they're there, and we're here. Besides, we have magic and quite a bit of conventional firepower."
[22:13] <Dracos> The birds didn't seem to be heading towards them, a kweeh by one of them giving away that they were responsible for the sound.
[22:13] <Dracos> A few moments more and they'd probably be gone.
[22:14] <Jan> Jan patted the side of the car with a few loud raps. "Let the engine cool down. We overwork it. I'll be back in a few hours."
[22:16] <Leets> "There pretty fast." Leets relaxed now that it seemed the birds weren't interested in their party. He glanced at Jan, nodding in acknowledgement. "Watch your back, Smith. Animals sometimes run fast because things chase them a lot."
[22:19] <Jan> "I don't think there's much here that can eat metal." Jan fired back as he turned away from the group and slowly started out in the general direction the birds were racing off towards, the grass parting before him as a shade of something...greater briefly formed over the negotiator's form.
[22:20] <Dracos> Leets was left with the old man in the car... the other companions sleeping.
[22:25] <Dracos> *** Following Jan....
[22:26] * SirAlex (Alex.Puffe@cpe-70-112-17-192.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #wasteland
[22:26] <Dracos> The two birds were fast, soon outpacing what he could do on foot and not leaving much in the way of tracks on the soft grass.  That said, he could follow the direction they were headed.
[22:27] <Jan> Once he was far enough away from his companions, Jan allowed the power within him to surge to the surface, trying to control it so it didn't explode outwards so violently as he tried to shift to his other self.
[22:39] <Jan> He mentally snorted as the energy just wriggled out of his attempt as his power came crashing down on his form, the ground beneath him trembling as it erupted outwards and upwards, surrounding him in a pillar of dirt and debris as his twin ruby flashes of light appeared deep within the cloud cover, followed by a hulking metal arm popping out of the cloud cover, followed by a gleaming metal giant, which trodded after the birds.
[22:41] <Jan> First once step, then another, as the golem began thundering across the plains, ruby flashes from within its dull silver eyes corresponding with each step as it sped up, striding across after the birds.
[22:42] <Dracos> It was close to an hour by the time he came to the edge of a forest... the trees high above, though enough room was between them for him to pass as he was, as long as he was careful.  The place seemed different from the last forest.  Warmer.  He could see some squirrels chittering nearby.
[22:43] <Jan> The sound of stones grinding underneath the golem's feet alerted the squirrels long before the gun metal grey being stomped into the forest, fading mostly into the shadows as it simply explored for now.
[22:46] <Dracos> Moving in, he heard a series of rapid kweehs as he approached...
[22:49] <Jan> The golem tried to move softly through the underbrush, not wanting to knock over anything as it tried the impossible. Be not loud.
[22:54] <Dracos> He eventually came to this huge clearing with tons of large grasses.  There was some three footed footprints, like lots of some kind of animal had been here, but wasn't here now.
[22:58] <Jan> Jan shook his head as he came to a stop in the center of the clearing, kneeling down on one knee as he released his power. The iron skin glew red as bolts alongside his arms soundlessly dropped to the forest floor, steam flowing out of the iron giant as its form compacted and smoothed out, steel becoming flesh as Jan embraced his humanity once again.
[22:59] <Jan> He panted as he moved to sit on the grass. "Guess I spooked them." Jan sighed as he threw himself back to lie on the ground on his back, staring up at the sky.
[23:00] <Dracos> the sky was beautiful...  he could trace the clouds flowing through the sky overhead...
[23:02] <Jan> 'I wonder how much more easy it is living on this side.' The negotiator tried to remember his days back in Metropolis. Seemed almost like a dream at this point.
[23:05] <Jan> Jan's eyes grew heavy as he started feeling the haze of sleep descend on him.
[23:05] <Dracos> He saw a cloud that sort of looked  like a building...
[23:08] <Jan> Even as sleep claimed him, Jan thought he saw a faint patch of clouds shaped like wolves rush the building..
[23:14] <Dracos> *** back at the car....
[23:15] <Dracos> It'd been a while, the old man now up telling leets a story of these funny men called gnomes and their catapault stairs.
[23:17] * Leets stiffled a yawn, feeling his brain turing to mush as he tried maintain his attention. "How interesting," he said, wondering again what brought up this topic.
[23:20] <Dracos> Leets realized it'd been a couple of hours now and Jan hadn't returned.
[23:29] * Leets glances briefly at the clock before remembering it was broken. Sighing, he checked the sun's position. "So, Fizban, how'd it feel to meet your friend again?"
[23:30] <Dracos> He looked tired. "That young man should've found rest a long time ago."
[23:33] <Leets> "What's that mean?" asked Leets curiously.
[23:36] <Dracos> "He's a hero, Leets...he's an old hero."
[23:40] <Leets> "He seemed spry for his age though."
[23:41] <Dracos> He nodded. "Kender do that..."
[23:42] <Leets> "So if he's a hero, does that make you one too?"
[23:44] <Dracos> The old man laughed.  "You give high praise..."
[23:51] * Dracos nods.
[23:51] <Dracos> *<Fizban> *nods*
[23:52] <Dracos> The old man nodded silently, leaning back against the seat and going quiet.
[23:53] <Dracos> ***  Back to Jan...
[23:53] * Disconnected
[23:55] * Rejoined channel #wasteland
[23:55] * Topic is 'And now the cards get on the table.... | #wastelandOOC up | <Jan> Bikimono.'
[23:55] * Set by Dracos on Sat Dec 31 23:43:58
[23:55] <Drac-sleep> Jan woke to the sound of a curious 'Kweeeh?'
[23:55] * Drac-sleep is now known as Dracos
[23:55] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Dracos Dracos
[23:58] <Dracos> [23:53] <Dracos> ***  Back to Jan...
[23:58] <Dracos> [23:55] <Drac-sleep> Jan woke to the sound of a curious 'Kweeeh?
Session Time: Sun Jan 22 00:00:00 2006
[00:00] <Jan> The negotiator cracked open an eye to peer out at the darkness of the forest.
[00:02] <Dracos> Well, he expected too perhaps.  Instead he saw the beek of one of the birds right over his face, looking down at him. "Kweh?"
[00:05] <Jan> "I'm not dead yet, so I guess you aren't a carnivore." Jan stated matter of factly as he returned the bird's stare.
[00:06] <Dracos> The bird responded by licking his face with a big tongue.
[00:07] <Jan> "Well, that was nice." The negotiator sputtered a bit as he awkwardly reached over to pet the giant bird on the side of the beak.
[00:09] * Jan pulled himself out from underneath the giant yellow bird and to a sitting position. He wiped the rest of the bird drool off his face with his sleeve. "Friendly, aren't you?"
[00:09] <Dracos> The bird stood up, and kweehed at him curiously.
[00:11] <Jan> "Oh yes, you don't run *now*. But when I walk in as my other form, you scatter." Jan stood up and looked at the bird levelly. "My name's Jan, what's yours?" He whimsically asked the giant bird.
[00:11] <Dracos> The bird blinked and just kweehed a few times.
[00:13] <Jan> "Indeed. Do you know what time it is, by any chance? I have a meeting with my friends in a car hours from here, and I'm most likely terribly late."
[00:19] <Dracos> The bird quirked its head and flapped a wing.
[00:21] <Dracos> It glanced around a bit.
[00:22] <Jan> "Anyway, I'd better go now. It's been fun talking to you." Jan patted the big bird on the head, smoothing down the feathers there.
[00:24] <Dracos> the bird nuzzled him back, pleased, lowering a bit to let him on its back.
[00:26] <Jan> The negotiator blinked at the bird. "Hm. You do look like you could hold a person. Oh, why not. You strike me as a clever enough fellow." He got onto the bird's back.

[Dracos]

[18:54] Dracos:  At the end of last session, Jan had just managed to slip onto the back of a large almost horsesized bird that seemed tame to him.  It was getting late as he was intending to head back and catch up with Leets, the sun moving towards the horizon.
[18:54] Dracos:  The bird stood up, lifting him a fair bit off the ground, at around riding height for a large horse, the creature broad enough to be easy to ride, yet at the same time soft due to its feathers.
[18:56] *** Mary has joined #wasteland2.
[18:56] Velsper: Jan blinked, and tryed to nudge the bird in the general direction he had previously wandered in from. "Think you can get me over there?"
[18:59] Dracos: the bird 'kweeh'ed friendly-like, and started off at a gallop, the land passing under him much quicker than he'd come.  He could easily see how they'd cleared the clearing before he arrived.
[19:01] Dracos: He seemed a bit off course, but Jan could see the car in the distance.
[19:02] Velsper: The negotiator tried not to painfully clutch onto the bird as he calmed his nerves from the fast start. "Wow. Aren't you a fast one?"
[19:02] Dracos: The bird kweehed in response.
[19:04] Dracos: Leets could see now, in the distance, what looked like one of those  birds, with a rider now on it.
[19:04] * Leets blinks, grateful for the distraction as he tried to catch sight of who was on the bird.
[19:05] Velsper: Jan unsteadily lifted a hand up as he came closer to the car, waving it energetically as his hair was blown by the high speeds. "Can you slow down please?" He tried to softly tug on the animal to get it to slow down.
[19:07] Dracos: The bird quickly slowed to a more mild walking pace, moving towards where he was waving.
[19:08] Velsper: The pleased negotiator rubbed the bird's head in a friendly way in response.
[19:11] Dracos: The bird kweehed happily at that as he approached the little campfire that Fizban had set up and was sitting near.
[19:12] *** SirAlex has joined #wasteland2.
[19:12] Leets: "Jan? Those things are tamed?"
[19:15] Velsper: "His name is Kwee. And he's friendly enough if you treat him with respect." The negotiator hopped off the bird and petted it as he lead it to the car for a treat of freeze dried berries from his stuff.
[19:17] Dracos: The bird looked a bit curious at being called Kwee and followed behind him, licking up the berries before giving him another lick to the face.
[19:19] Velsper: "See? Friendly." Jan held back a sputter as he rubbed his face clean. He petted the animal's side.
[19:19] Dracos: Fizban smiled."Certainly seems like it...  I think they call that a chocobo...not that I've ever seen one before in person."
[19:20] Leets: "Yeah." Leets approached the bird, trying to appear nonthreatening. "So is this - Chocobo - native to this world?" he asked Fizban curiously as he reached to pet it.
[19:21] Dracos: "Is anything?" Fizban sounded wondering.
[19:23] Dracos: The bird seems calm enough as leets approaches.
[19:25] Velsper: "Act normally, Leets. It never helps if you try and force calm onto yourself." Jan advised.
[19:26] * Leets nods absently, visibly trying to relax as he pets the Chocobo.
[19:26] Velsper: The negotiator gestured at Leets and Fizban. "These are my friends, Kwee. The old timer is named Fizban, and the one trying hard not to be pecked is Leets."
[19:27] Dracos: Kwee answered with the most appropriate answer ever.  "Kweh!"
[19:28] Velsper: "When'd you hear about Kwee and his friends, Fizban?" Jan asked as he held onto the bird's side, looking over at the old storyteller curiously. "I never heard about Chocobo before."
[19:28] Dracos: "Old book somewhere...  don't remember that well..but that came back to me." He responded.
[19:32] Velsper: "Hm. Is that right..." Jan moved the bird closer to Leets since he was taking too long to touch the bird. "What were you all doing while I was gone?"
[19:34] Dracos: "Told Leets one of my old stories to pass the time," Fizban replied, not yet leaving his soft seat in the grass.
[19:35] Leets: "Yeah," Leets agreed distractedly, adjusting his reach now that the Chocobo was practically in his face. "It was... quite a revealation."
[19:36] Velsper: "Hey, Fizban. How come you're going to stick around with us? I've been wondering about it for a while. Just working on your next story with us as your main characters."
[19:38] Dracos: He tapped a chin. "That's a thought...more though...just felt like I needed to be here...  that it was something important." The old man intoned.
[19:38] Velsper: "I don't believe in fate."
[19:39] Dracos: "Neither do I." He agreed, remarkably strongly.
[19:43] Leets: "So what are we going to do with this Chocobo?" Leets asked, trying to break the silence. He gazed towards the truck of the car, and wryly added. "I don't think Yomi has a stable in his box to keep Kwee."
[19:43] Velsper: "Let's go. We need to put some distance between us and the chocobo herd before night comes." Jan patted the bird on the side. "Maybe we'll make sense of all of this when we find our first starstone."
[19:46] Dracos: Kweh well, "Kweeeh?" He looked curiously at Jan, staying there for the moment.
[19:46] Dracos: Fizban nodded, getting into the car.
Session Start (Dejatoon:#wasteland2): Sun Jan 22 19:55:03 2006
[19:55] *** #wasteland2: Leets SirAlex Mary Velsper @Dracos
[19:55] *** #wasteland2 was created on Sun Jan 22 19:51:19 2006.
[19:55] Dracos: The bird ate it happily and started off, leaving with quick strides.
[19:58] Velsper: Jan choose to get behind the wheel, looking after the chocobo as it raced off.
[20:01] Dracos: It seemed safe enough as it ran through the woods.
[20:02] Velsper: The negotiator started up the car. "Come on, Leets. Let's head out."
[20:02] * Leets nods and got into the car as well.
[20:05] Velsper: And so they drove off...
[20:06] Dracos: As they went, it steadily got more wooded, the driving a bit dangerous now, in the night with all these trees.
[20:08] Velsper: Jan looked around for a switch to flip to get some lights as he noticably slowed down through the woods. "Hm. Flip the radio on. I'm curious."
[20:09] Dracos: He found one, the bright lights helping a bit...the slowing helping a lot.
[20:10] Velsper: "If I ever leave like the others, I'd make a killing on the lumber industry."
[20:10] Dracos: "You'd cut this down?" Fizban wondered curiously.
[20:11] Leets: "I think he's a bit bitter about the others leaving our glorious quest for something or other."
[20:12] Velsper: "I'm not. I just wonder why you two don't leave now. I'm the one that really has no alternative, besides...you saw how that Tasslehoff was."
[20:14] Leets: "Was is probably the key word here," Leets muttered.
[20:14] Velsper: "Huh?" Jan blinked.
[20:15] Leets: "Let's just say I thought we've seen the weirder things Wasteland had to offer and leave it at that."
[20:17] Velsper: "Right...well, Mei-Ling and Clyde will have a better time finding their place in the world along Tasslehoff. Besides, Clyde struck me as having recognized Flint's name. Maybe they'll be able to help him."
[20:18] Velsper: Jan frowned as he reached over, flipping the radio on. "You two know you can leave anytime you want, right? Those wolves are getting more clever by the day. It might not stay this safe for long."
[20:22] * Leets shrugs. "Sure, I could go back to nice, safe New Reno. The only thing I have to worry about there is the occasional drive by shootings, gang fights, and assasinations. That's definately a lot better to be around then staying a set ahead of rabid ghost wolves."
[20:23] Dracos: "Mmm, I told you already, I do believe." The old man said sleepily.
[20:26] Velsper: "Who knew opening Pandora's Box would've brought about unintended consequences?" Jan muttered as he kept driving. "Oh well. Maybe someday we'll be considered heroes for this mess."

[Dracos]

[16:34] Dracos: [19:24] <Dracos> The radio played sweet sweet silence as they drove, not picking up the least bit of a station.  Manuevering through the woods, they eventually came to see a tremendous castle in the distance, towering high... dozens of buildings (hard to make out at this range as well as the castle) seeming to be around it in the distance.
[16:34] Dracos: [19:25] <Dracos> The old man was sleeping in the back seat.  Pandora's box sitting nearby.  Leets and Jan were up front.
[16:34] Dracos: [19:25] <Jan> "That's...new."
[16:34] Dracos: [19:26] <Dracos> It was roughly early afternoon.  Whether by walking or driving, they could definitely make the castle by nightfall.
[16:34] Dracos: [19:26] <Jan> Jan's eyes widened fractionally as he looked over at the castle as they approached.
[16:34] Dracos: [19:26] <Leets> "So that makes how many time periods we've seen so far?"
[16:40] Jan: Jan shrugged.
[16:40] Jan: "We may as well be upfront with these people to a degree. I say we should drive the car close to the castle and just enter it on foot. What do you think?"
[16:41] Leets: "Probably for the best," said Leets, eyeing the medieval looking town. "They could be a bit xenophobic like the Vault citizens afterall."
[16:45] Jan: "It might just be an old looking place, but last thing we want is to be trampled down by knights...and considering how things work, blasted away by sorcerors." He continued driving towards town.
[16:47] * Leets spares a glance at Fizban, but declines to comment as the castle loomed closer.
[16:58] Dracos: As they approached, they could see the castle was surrounded by a large medieval era town...  In fact, they could see a few people a little outside of the town facing off in what...well, definitely looked like a duel.  Two young men in blue robes tossing fire and ice at each other with abandon, chanting odd phrases as a young woman looked on with a petulant and quite recognizable "Ugh, Men' look on her face.
[17:00] Jan: "Some things never change, even as time marches on." Jan sounded amused as he drove up to the crowd.
[17:10] Dracos: The duel seemed about ending as both mages got in a lucky spell....collapsing in a pile below as the young lady got up and then turned at the approaching vehicle. "Oh my..."
[17:14] * Leets waited for the car to come to a stop before exiting. "Hello," he said to the crowd politely, "sorry for the trouble."
[17:22] Dracos: "No trouble...what kind of thing is that though?  I've  never seen such a craft...is it a tank?"
[17:23] Leets: "Close enough. It's more of an armored car, really."
[17:23] Jan: "It kinda looks like it, doesn't it?" Jan peered out to look at the roof to the gun set up there as he threw in his two cents.
[17:24] Jan: Turning the car off after parking it, the negotiator hopped out of the car.
[17:25] Dracos: "What's a car?" The young lady asked, chanting and healing her two companions with a warm white glow from her hands.
[17:26] Jan: "It's a self propelled wagon." Jan tried to explain. "Doesn't need a beast of burden to pull it along."
[17:31] Dracos: "ah...so..you are engineeers?"
[17:33] Jan: "Our group's engineer had to leave to persue his own interests. We know enough to maintain the car, but that's it."
[17:36] Dracos: "Ah...  Hmm, the royal engineer might be interested in seeing it." She smiled. "oh, my manners.  I'm Kasumi." She offered a hand forward.
[17:37] Jan: Jan shook the woman's hand, patting himself on the chest a few seconds afterwards, "I'm Jan." Then gestured with his right arm towards Leets, then pointing to the sleeping Fizban, introducing them in turn.
[17:38] * Leets followed Jan's example, politely shaking the woman's hand and repeating his introduction, sparing only a moment to wake their sleeping companion.
[17:39] Dracos: "um, mind helping me carry bob and george here?"
[17:40] Jan: "Well, if your people won't freak out too much, we can load them into the car and drive it in..."
[17:40] Jan: The negotiator had already hauled Bob up, clutching at him with his left arm as he tried to balance the dead weight.
[17:41] Dracos: "Well, don't drive into the streets...the guards would sort of see that unpleasantly."
[17:41] Dracos: She slipped into the car.
[17:43] Jan: After getting both men into the automobile, and waiting for the others to get in, Jan started up the car and slowly drove closer to the castle.
[17:45] Dracos: "Stop here." She suggested, just a few steps to the town.
[17:46] Jan: Jan did as instructed as he brought the car to a stop and went about the procedures to make sure it didn't roll through town.
[17:47] Jan: "Okay, let's go." Exiting the car, the negotiator clutched at George and pulled him out of the vehicle.
[17:48] Dracos: As Jan stepped out, he noticed it seemed a bit humid... nicer than the desert had been.
[17:48] * Leets grabs Bob, though struggles a bit with the larger man.
[17:48] Dracos: She lead in, leading to a house in the town. "So where are you from?"
[17:49] Jan: "New Reno. A few weeks walk from here." Jan looked about, keeping an eye on Kasumi as he walked after the woman. "What did you do to these two after they blasted each other senseless?"
[17:50] Dracos: "Hmm?  I casted  Cure 2."
[17:51] Jan: Jan blinked. "What's that?"
[17:53] Dracos: "A white magic spell...do they  not have such where you come from?" She opened an unlocked door and stepped inside, pointing to deposit them on a couch.
[17:54] Leets: "Not that style of magic, no," Leets said, glancing at Jan and Fizban. "Nothing that specific anyway."
[17:56] Jan: "I don't do magic." Jan had obviously caught the mysterious lad's glance. "It isn't bippity boppity boo magic, at least." He deposited George on the couch.
[17:56] Dracos: It was about this time that Jan realized that fizban hadn't woken up to follow yet...
[17:57] Leets: "Never said you did THAT kind of magic now, did I?" Leets said, apparently holding back laughter at Jan's comment.
[17:58] Jan: "I'd better go fetch Fizban. Be back in a bit." Jan turned about face and went to go fetch Fizban. An secure Pandora's Box.
[17:59] Dracos: "So, where are you from?" She asked the young leets.
[17:59] Dracos: Fizban was found snoring away in the back seat, pandora's box safely under an arm.
[18:00] Jan: "Fizban! We've arrived ...someplace. C'mon, get up." The negotiator shook the old timer to wake him up.
[18:01] * Leets shifts uncomfortably. "Well, I moved into New Reno some time ago, though I originally came from a little farther away."
[18:03] Dracos: The man blinked. "What...we're in russia already?" He said sleepily.
[18:03] Dracos: "Hmm?  Where's new reno?" She asked leets, sitting down in a chair.
[18:04] Jan: "Nope. We've fallen into the medieval ages. Knights and mages and all that. I think you'd like this place."
[18:05] Leets: "Several days travel by our car," Leets said, gesturing vaguely to the south. "Possibly weeks on foot. It... isn't really a pleasant place, but it's still home."
[18:07] Dracos: He stepped out.  "Ah, I recognize this...this, this is...  Pittsburgh, right?"
[18:08] Jan: "Where?" Jan blinked, scratching his head in bemusement. "You want me to carry Pandora's Box? Or should we just lock it up tight in the car?"
[18:09] Dracos: "Mmm, we should keep it with us...it's not something to leave behind." He nodded seriously.
[18:12] Jan: "Hmph." Jan rapped loudly on the side of Pandora's Box. "What an annoying little trinket this box is turning out to be." He let out a put upon sigh as he took the box from Fizban. "C'mon, let's go find out more about this town from Kasumi. She's this girl we met who can heal wounds, apparently. Nice magic."
[18:12] Jan: He started back towards the woman's home.
[18:13] Dracos: "Ah, a cleric?" He asked, following.
[18:13] Jan: "I knew you'd be in your element here."
[18:14] Dracos: <Kasumi>"Hmmm...  You'll have to tell the king.  Our guards have been too busy since the incident to scout out...  but I've never heard of such a place"
[18:15] Leets: "I don't mean disrespect, but I've never heard of this place either."
[18:20] Dracos: "truly?"
[18:21] Dracos: "I thought Baron and our king was known across the planet."
[18:22] Leets: "The people usually fear the creatures roaming the deserts surrounding our cities, so few have gone as far as my travelling companions have."
[18:23] * Leets frowns, the cryptically adds, "At least none have returned to update our maps."
[18:23] Dracos: Jan and Fizban, at this point, arrived at the unlocked door.
[18:24] Dracos: "Mmm, deserts...That is odd...but then, nothing's been quite right for a while."
[18:25] Jan: "That's because nothing is right now." Jan chimed in when he entered, holding Pandora's Box in his hands as he leads Fizban in.
[18:27] Dracos: "Hmm?" The woman asked.
[18:28] Jan: "This world is a collection of well...everything. It's a patchwork planet."
[18:28] Dracos: "A...what?"
[18:31] Dracos: The woman looked confused.
[18:31] Leets: "Uhm... well, imagine several blankets of different colors and fabrics."
[18:31] Jan: "This world is made of choice bits and pieces of other planets. I'm from one world of gangsters and tommyguns, Leets there is from another where people seem to be apathetic goons that can't help their fellow man, Fizban here is from yet another where magic rules, and the box I hold is from the same world as this world's 'god'."
[18:32] Jan: "Seriously, consider how wildly divergent things have been, Leets. Desert just suddenly giving way to forest like that? It doesn't make sense."
[18:32] * Leets shrugs. "I gave up trying to make sense of this place."
[18:34] Dracos: fizban nodded, in slight agreement with jan, staying to the side.
[18:34] Dracos: "This...  you must let the king know this."
[18:36] Jan: "Hm. It'd be for the best. I'd like to know what the lay of this segment of the land is like. It probably came along with this castle."
[18:39] Dracos: "Well, I can lead you to the castle and explain to the guards there.  They'll likely let you through."
[18:40] Jan: "Hm. Can I trouble you for a place to rest for a while? I want to rest since I drove most of the way here. I'd rather not meet a king in this disheveled state."
[18:42] Dracos: "Well, my place is a little small but I could lead you to the inn." She nodded, standing and leading off.
[18:42] Jan: "What do your people use for currency?"
[18:43] Dracos: "Silvers."
[18:43] Dracos: OOC: That will remain the global currency, for my own sanities sake =)
[18:46] Jan: "Well, that's good, at least. We won't worry about money."
[18:47] Jan: "So, Ms. Kasumi, can you tell me about what happened here before things changed for all of you?"
[18:51] Dracos: "Well...  there was this huge earthquake.  Damaged most of the airships, I hear...  Then magic just seemed odd.  As if something fierce had changed...  and Snake's way was broken.  Torn asunder entirely, cutting us off from Mysdia."
[18:55] Jan: "Well, you all got out of this relatively unharmed, all things considered." Jan finally commented a few moments later, digesting the tidbit he had received.
[18:59] Dracos: "Yes, but we've been a bit worried  with no outside contact.  Usually at least someone sails up every week."
[18:59] Dracos: "Anyhow, here it is." She gestured to a medium-large wood inn, named the old tavern.
[19:00] Jan: "I see. Thanks for the help. Could you meet up with us tomorrow? We'll bring maps to show your king how things are in this world."
[19:01] Dracos: "Certainly." She nodded, heading back to her home.
[19:04] Jan: "You mind paying for the room for now, Leets? Hands full and all." Jan smiled amiably at the boy.
[19:06] * Leets nods and approaches the front desk, asking for the price of a room for three.
[19:08] Leets: After paying, they head to the indicated room
[19:09] Dracos: They made their way to a mediumish room, not too big, nor too small, with three beds in it.  Just enough room to talk or sleep, with a few chairs besides.
[19:10] Jan: The negotiator placed Pandora's Box off to the side. "What do you all think about this place?"
[19:10] Leets: "It certainly seems a bit cleaner then the places we visited before."
[19:12] Jan: "Do you think there's like an entire continent out there the demon dragged into this world?"
[19:13] Leets: "Well, you'd think that they'd be a bit more on edge if that happened, right?"
[19:15] Jan: "These people are mellow." Jan stretched out on his bed, kicking Pandora's Box open.

[Dracos]

[19:37] <Iddy> <Dracos> They made their way to a mediumish room, not too big, nor too small, with three beds in it.  Just enough room to talk or sleep, with a few chairs besides.
[19:37] <Iddy> <Jan> The negotiator placed Pandora's Box off to the side. "What do you all think about this place?"
[19:37] <Iddy> <Leets> "It certainly seems a bit cleaner then the places we visited before."
[19:37] <Iddy> <Jan> "Do you think there's like an entire continent out there the demon dragged into this world?"
[19:37] <Iddy> <Leets> "Well, you'd think that they'd be a bit more on edge if that happened, right?"
[19:37] <Iddy> <Jan> "These people are mellow." Jan stretched out on his bed, kicking Pandora's Box open.
[19:42] * Retrieving #wasteland modes...
[19:44] <Dracos> The mystical box opened, pulling him into Yomi's study, looking much as it always did, save for the strange gold watch on the desk.
[19:45] <Jan> "Stop doing that!" Jan snapped, finding himself now lying down on the ground. He grumbled as he pulled himself to his feet.
[19:48] <Dracos> "Doing what?" Yomi flew out.  "Don't even knock anymore?"
[19:49] <Jan> "Why should I?" The negotiator huffed as he dusted himself off. "And don't you clean in here? What a mess."
[19:52] <Dracos> "I kind of lack hands." Yomi huffed back, glaring at him. "What do you want anyhow?"
[19:55] <Jan> "You could put that mouth to good use." Jan sniped back. "I don't know. I just wound up in here by accident when I kicked the box open."
[19:58] <Dracos> "Fuu, kicking my home now?  Yeah, that'd do it."
[20:00] <Jan> "Why don't you ever show up unless we practically drag you out of the box, anyway? One would think you're an anti-social ball of primordial ooze." Jan smirked as his eyes fell on the watch. "And what's that? The watch wasn't there before."
[20:02] <Dracos> "Hmm?  Don't know.  Didn't see it before either...possibly some mystical items...they tend to get drawn here from time to time."
[20:04] <Jan> Jan went to pick up the gold watch from the desk. "We're in a medieval town now. Think they'd burn you at the stake if you suddenly showed up?"
[20:06] <Dracos> "Nope.  I'm good at not getting burned." Yomi commented.
[20:07] <Dracos> It was a nice watch.  Well made, good gold, that sort of thing.  Closed at the moment though.  No ticking sound from it either.
[20:07] <Dracos> *lid closed
[20:08] <Jan> Jan tried to open the watch. "Well, we're talking to a king tomorrowish. It seems the demon from your old days hauled an entire town to this world."
[20:11] <Dracos> "Mmm...  It'd be bad if it was that far awake."
[20:12] <Dracos> The watch opened to a fairly odd sight.  Yes, it was well made but it had thirteen numbers with the clock stopped directly pointing at the thirteen with both hands.
[20:13] <Jan> "C'mon, let's go outside and talk to the others. It's best if they know." Jan blinked at the watch's insides. "Ooh yeah. Really weird stuff shows up in this box." He showed the watch to Yomi before they exited.
[20:18] <Leets> "Welcome back to the living," Leets said boredly as Jan finally left the box.
[20:18] <Dracos> Yomi popped out with him flapping around them. "Weird watch."
[20:19] <Jan> "Check it out, Leets." Jan handed over the watch. "Turns out that Pandora's Box is the treasure that keeps on giving."
[20:20] * Leets takes the watch, studying it curiously. "I don't know. This thing even work with thirteen hours running?"
[20:22] <Jan> "It might. In this strange place, we shouldn't discount it."
[20:23] <Dracos> "Quite right...could be a clue...but to what?" Fizban wondered.
[20:24] <Leets> "Still, I'm kind of curious now on what kind of world did Yomi come from where a 13 hour clock is used," said Leets, returning the watch to Jan.
[20:25] <Jan> "Not even Yomi knows where it's from. He says that the box seems to attract weird stuff into it."
[20:27] <Leets> "Kind of like the Wasteland does?"
[20:28] <Jan> "Hm." Jan suddenly grew silent as he looked at Yomi closely. "Why didn't you guys annihilate the demon in the old days?"
[20:33] <Dracos> "It should be...  Ark fought it by himself though."
[20:34] <Leets> "Even back then, you were excess baggage?"
[20:35] <Jan> Jan innocently whistled, having his thunder stolen and wanting to play the good cop for once.
[20:37] <Dracos> Yomi thundered, the room shaking. "Excess..BAGGAGE?"
[20:39] <Jan> The negotiator clutched at a nearby wall. "H-hey there...I bet you were an instrumental part of the war." He bit at his lip to try and resist the urge to continue. He failed. "For all the ten seconds you were in it, am I right?"
[20:41] * Leets blinks at Yomi, stunned at the outburst. "Can you blame me?" he asked rhetorically, regaining his wits. "You haven't really been much help since we met, and the way you talk about it, the hero seemed to have did all the work."
[20:42] <Dracos> he puffed up, the quake stopping.  "Of course I was instrumental.  I guarded the treasure, gave advice, was the trusted and loyal compatriot."
[20:43] <Leets> "You said earlier that a demon disguised as you did all that, and by the time you met the Hero, he already knew everything you could have told him."
[20:45] <Jan> Jan suddenly felt the need to chime in. "Well, that isn't really his fault either. He was trapped in the box. Which, by the way, I wish was designed smaller."
[20:46] <Dracos> "Not my design." Yomi shrugged as much as a floating winged thing could.
[20:46] * Leets sighs, conceding that point to Jan. "Still, Yomi even admitted he didn't need to do much since the Hero seemed to have a handle on everything by the time they met."
[20:48] <Jan> "Well, we're going to make Yomi pull his share in this adventure. Oh yes. Yes, you will." An evil look crossed Jan's features as he looked at the flying puffball.
[20:49] * Jan (Velsper56@dialup-4.240.150.165.dial1.phoenix1.level3.net) Quit
[20:53] * Jan (Velsper@dialup-4.240.177.187.Dial1.Phoenix1.Level3.net) has joined #wasteland
[20:56] <Dracos> "What's that look?"
[20:57] <Jan> "Because of you, we have those wolves on our backs! Don't act like you had nothing to do with it."
[21:00] <Dracos> "Not my fault.  I just guard the inside."
[21:01] <Jan> "You're going to become a pudgy guardian at this rate."
[21:03] <Dracos> "I don't eat.  I exist by sheer power of thought."
[21:04] <Dracos> "Such as, did you know that the square root of negative one could in be inverted into the z plane for calculating electronic frequencies?"
[21:04] <Leets> "Can't you use that sheer power of thought to convince the wolves not to chase us?"
[21:05] <Jan> "I think we've found our new engineer."
[21:09] <Dracos> "Nope."
[21:11] <Jan> "Then we're going to use your noggin' to our benefit, then." Jan stated as he sat down on his bed. "How are we going to word things to the king, anyway?"
[21:13] <Dracos> "Mmm?  Word things?  Explain?" He listened.
[21:14] <Jan> "The people here are obviously concerned about the fact they were cut off from other people in their world and dragged here. A 'cleric' we met wants us to meet their ruler and tell him the basics of where they are now."
[21:15] <Jan> Jan tapped his chin in thought. "We could probably find out about this section of land from their king in return. Maybe pick up a way to cross the ocean from here."
[21:16] <Dracos> "Mmm...  Well...why not tell the king the truth?  If they're already a bit aware, they might help you out."
[21:18] <Leets> "We could always just empty the box and give them Yomi," slying suggested Leets.
[21:19] <Dracos> "What'd that do?  I'd just blow their  minds with awesomeness."
[21:20] <Jan> "Someone has a high opinion of themselves." The negotiator snorted.
[21:20] <Leets> "But that's exactly what we could use if they decide to just take our information and not help us!'
[21:22] <Jan> "Can you bring out the maps, Yomi? We can show it to them so they can get a general idea of what it looks like now."
[21:22] <Dracos> "These?" He somehow held the maps Clyde had gotten earlier in his...wing?
[21:23] <Jan> "Yeah. Thanks." Jan took them from the puffball. "And now you're required to dust your box yourself, you slug."
[21:25] <Jan> Folding the map away into his vest pockets, he continued. "What are you all going to do? I'm going to see if people here can fix a flute of mine. I kinda want to see if there are knights hanging about."
[21:26] <Dracos> "Hey, I haven't seen you dusting it." it pouted.
[21:30] <Leets> "Knights?" Leets blinked, straightening up. "Why do you want to look for knights?"
[21:30] <Dracos> "Mmm...I'll wander about...see what's there to see.' Fizban nodded.
[21:30] <Jan> "It's a medieval town. I'm curious to see if there's knights."
[21:31] <Jan> "Let's hit up the bar downstairs, Fizban. I saw some bards, maybe they can teach you some new stories."
[21:31] <Jan> He turned towards Leets. "Want to come along to find some? Maybe they can give you a pointer or two for your sword."
[21:32] <Dracos> "Mmm, ann excellent plan, Jan." He stood and joined him.
[21:32] <Dracos> Yomi vanished noiselessly.
[21:33] <Leets> "Well, all right." Leets reluctantly agrees, leaving most of his unnecessary supplies behind and strapping the sword's hilt under his coat and around his back.
[21:33] <Jan> "Lazy puffball." Jan groused. "C'mon, guys." He lead the way downstairs.
[21:36] <Dracos> Fizban took the left as leets took the right, winging after Jan.
[21:39] <Jan> Jan went towards the barkeep downstairs, raising a hand to call his attention. "Excuse me, sir. We're new in town, and we were wondering if you could answer a few questions for us?" He placed a few silver before the barkeep.
[21:40] <Dracos> "
[21:40] <Dracos> "Sure, but no need for the silver."
[21:42] <Jan> "Nah, take it. I did offer in the first place." Jan had once again slipped into his cool and collected negotiator attitude as he continued. "My friends are interested in swordplay and stories, respectively. Could you tell us if there's anyone that teaches how to use a sword well? And who the best storyteller in town is?"
[21:43] <Dracos> "Well, no one can outfight the king, but if you're likely you might be able to convince one of the soldiers around town to give you a lesson."
[21:43] <Dracos> "And best story teller in town?"
[21:43] <Dracos> He rubbed his chin.
[21:43] <Dracos> "Probably old maid Martha."
[21:45] <Jan> "Where can we find Ms. Martha?"
[21:51] <Dracos> "Martha tends to hang around the fountain in the north side of town."
[21:53] <Jan> "One last question, is there anyone in town that can repair flutes?"
[21:56] <Dracos> "Flute repair..well, I know a few people that might but really, the best place for that is Damcyan."
[21:56] <Dracos> "But we haven't heard from them in a while."
[21:59] <Jan> "Who would in town?"
[22:00] <Dracos> "Mmm...  Janus the bard might."
[22:01] <Jan> "Where can I find him?"
[22:03] <Dracos> "Could drop back here at night.  He should be around.  Don't remember which house is his at the moment but he comes here often."
[22:05] <Jan> "Okay. Thanks for all the help." Jan turned away from the barkeep to face the others. "So there we go. You guys want to meet up later on tonight?"
[22:07] <Dracos> Fizban nodded. "Certainly...  we can explore the town in the meanwhile."
[22:08] <Jan> "I need to freshen up a bit from the drive. Need a nap for a bit."
[22:11] <Jan> "Catch you two later." The negotiator waved at the duo as he headed upstairs for a needed nap.
[22:12] <Leets> "See you, Jan." Leets waved, as he left the inn to explore the town.

[Dracos]

[20:52] <Dracos> Leets headed off by himself following the inn discussion, hopefully to find someone to give him a lesson in swordsmanship.
[20:52] <Dracos> The city was already waking up in the mid morning, maids traveling around, villagers chatting around the fountains, guards near the gates and sometimes traveling  through the city streets.
[20:57] * Leets explored a bit, seeming to wander aimlessly, though he stuck to the crowds in his search for an off duty soldier he could talk to.
[21:01] <Dracos> off duty, there didn't seem to be, but one seemed to be circling the fountain a fair bit.  A broadshouldered young man in the red and gold that seemed to be the guard's colors.
[21:07] * Leets moved in closer, studying the circling guard and trying to see what weapon he was carrying.
[21:08] <Dracos> He had on his back... a SPEAR...  it was a fine spear, long, well polished, etc.  Truly, a warrior's weapon!  oh, and he had a sword strapped to his waist.  But it was plain compared to the nifty spear.
[21:11] <Leets> Not quite who he was hoping for, but maybe he had some information. "Pardon, sir?" Leets said when he got close enough for the guard to hear him.
[21:15] <Dracos> The man turned, looking around without seeing Leets.
[21:16] <Leets> Oops. Stepping back out of swinging or stabbing range, Leets relaxed his guard and hoped he was visible. "Down here, sir."
[21:17] <Dracos> "Hmm?  Oh, hello there.  Something the matter?"
[21:20] <Leets> "I wanted to ask where the soldiers usually go when they're off duty?"
[21:22] <Dracos> "Depends...  I usually head to the bar."
[21:25] * Leets nodded, making a note to circle back later. "Why do you carry both a spear and sword?"
[21:25] <Dracos> "Well, spears are cool, no?" He hypothized.
[21:28] <Leets> "Oh yes." Leets nodded, smiling innocuously. "You probably never lost a fight against a sword either, right, sir?"
[21:29] <Dracos> "Oh no.  The seargeant beat most the team black and blue in training."
[21:32] <Dracos> "He uses a sword.  So I picked one up too."
[21:32] <Leets> "Really? He trained all of you?"
[21:33] <Dracos> "Well, he trains all the new recruits."
[21:35] <Leets> "He doesn't take any personal students?"
[21:36] <Dracos> "Hmm?  I don't think so.  Never asked."
[21:37] <Leets> "Where can I find him then?" Leets asked curiously. "I want to ask him a few questions myself."
[21:38] <Dracos> "Well, he'd probably be at the castle."
[21:44] <Leets> "Thanks for your help, sir." Leets bowed, then made his way towards the castle. Though he kept an eye out for other guards.
[21:47] <Dracos> At the castle, he found two guards protecting the gate, one on either side.  the castle itself was a towering and impressive structure.  Hard stone built it stories into the sky, towering over him.  A large gate was its only visible entrance, made of thick looking oak.
[22:00] * Leets approaches the gate, calling out first so the guards would see him coming.
[22:03] <Dracos> "ho there...  You have business at the castle?"
[22:11] <Dracos> "ho there...  You have business at the castle?"
[22:12] <Leets> "Uh, yes. I heard from one of the guards that I could learn swordsmanship from someone here?"
[22:14] <Dracos> "Hmm?  So young?" The one on the left, an older man leaned down a bit, heading towards him.  "You want to join the guards, boy?"
[22:17] <Leets> "Well, I was really hoping to find someone to teach me how to use this," he said, showing the hilt of said weapon, "and it sounded like there was no where else to learn."
[22:18] <Dracos> "Hmm?  lemme see that." The man asked.
[22:19] * Leets hesitates, but passes the sword to the guard.
[22:22] <Dracos> The man looked over it and whistled.  "This is a pretty fine sword...  where'd you find something like this?"
[22:23] <Leets> "In the desert. I thought I could sell it, but it turned out to have better uses then pocket change."
[22:23] <Dracos> The guy eyed him.  "You found a blade  like this just lying around in the desert?  Surprised it isn't ruined."
[22:24] <Leets> "Well, it was a little rusted, but it was still pretty useful until I was able to get it fixed up," Leets lied slightly.
[22:30] <Dracos> "Well, what are you training for it for?" He sounded curious.  "Not much need to fight around here."
[22:33] <Leets> "Not much around here," agreed Leets, "but then, what do you have to guard against if there was no reason to fight?"
[22:34] <Dracos> "Emergencies, boy." He smiled.
[22:35] <Leets> "So then, why can't I train in the sword in case of an emergency?"
[22:36] <Dracos> "Smart mouth on you...  I guess I can take you to watch the guards train."
[22:37] <Dracos> He turned, opening the gates and leading in.
[22:39] <Dracos> The man lead into a courtyard eventually, a few young guards training under a grizzled looking old man with red hair and a few scars along his arms.  "Now you can sit here and watch."
[22:43] * Leets said a quiet "Thanks" as he sat down to watch.
[22:45] <Dracos> The seemed to be practing basic swings and blocks at the moment, the older man going over their form and generally very sternly ensuring that it was  good.
[22:50] <Dracos> After a while, he dismissed them, the young men starting to head off.. as did the commander...
[22:51] * Leets hurriedly stands up, calling to the commander before he left.
[22:53] <Dracos> "Huh?" The man turned, not spotting Leets.
[22:54] <Leets> "Down here." Leets pretended to wave as if trying to catch the man's attention while concentrating on being seen.
[22:57] <Dracos> "Hmm?  Who are you...and how'd you get in here?" He spotted  leets.
[22:57] <Leets> "M'name's Leets, sir. The guards at the gates let me in here to watch the training."
[23:01] <Dracos> "Ah...  interested in swordplay, Leets?" He raised an eyebrow.
[23:06] <Leets> "A bit, yes."
[23:16] <Dracos> "Mmm, so young too...  what for?" He asked curiously.
[23:18] <Leets> "I just feel like I might need it," Leets said vaguely.
[23:19] <Dracos> "here, lad?  well, if you care to join the guards, I can teach you plenty when you're older."
[23:47] <Leets> "Well, I wasn't really planning on staying here," mumbled Leets. "My companions and I are kind of adventuring."
[23:49] <Dracos> "Adventurers?  Truly?"
[23:49] <Dracos> "At your age?"
[23:51] <Leets> "Yes, for the last few months actually."
[23:55] <Dracos> "Well, I guess I could spare a bit to see.  What do you know so far about sword fighting?"
[23:57] <Leets> "Not much, I'm afraid. I haven't been able to get anyone to train me in it."
[23:59] <Dracos> "Mmm, well, I can go over the basics..."
[23:59] <Dracos> And so began leets training...

[Dracos]

[21:12] <Dracos> A week had passed since the group had arrived at Baron, and just that morning, they awoke to a knocking at their door.
[21:14] <Jan> Jan went to answer the door, noticing that no one else seemed aware enough quite yet. "Hello?"
[21:15] <Dracos> "Hello there.  Got a message for you folks."  The innkeeper's friendly voice greeted him.
[21:17] <Jan> The negotiator opened the door a smidge, "From who?" He curiously asked.
[21:18] <Dracos> "The king."  He offered a fancy looking envelope.
[21:20] <Jan> "Huh, I guess Kasumi got through to him." So saying, he threw open the door for the inn keep. "Thank you." He handed over a few silver to pay for the man's work as he took the envelope away from him. Opening up the envelope, he began to read the contents to himself.
[21:21] <Dracos> "Hmm, you folks are sure generous." The innkeeper shrugged and headed back downstairs.
[21:23] <Dracos> "Dear Travelers from afar,  I am told that you've recently arrived in our fair kingdom of Baron and are seeking transportation.  I may be able to accomodate you there, but I would much appreciate first hearing both of your quest and your travels.  Bring this letter to the guards at the castle, and they will let you in."
[21:28] <Jan> "Suit up everyone. The king has invited us to discuss our adventure. He says he may be able to provide transport to our destination, so we have to make a good impression."
[21:34] <Dracos> Fizban yawned. "Good impressions, eh?"  He adjusted his hat about as regally as he could manage.  It still looked shapeless and like it lost a fight with a boulder...or fourty.
[21:34] <Dracos> "Well then, let's get going." He walked over and waited by the door.
[21:35] * Leets throws on his best ensemble from his limited wardrobe and follows.
[21:35] <Jan> Jan gathered everything and slung his pack carrying Pandora's Box over his shoulder. "You have the maps Leets, right?"
[21:36] <Leets> "Yeah, they're in my bag."
[21:37] <Jan> "He'll probably want to see those, so make sure to keep a good grip on them." The negotiator led the way out of the inn and towards the castle.
[21:39] <Dracos> And so the party of three made their way through the town, coming to same towering castle Leets had been traveling to for a few days now.  The guards stopped them before the gate.  "Your business, sirs?"
[21:41] <Jan> "We were invited for a royal audience." Jan showed the guards the invitation.
[21:42] <Dracos> The older one looked over it and nodded.  "Welcome travelers to Baron.  I'll guide you to your audience." He opened the gates, leading through the majestic castle to the throne room.  "Wait here a moment.  I must notify the king and queen that you have arrived."
[21:43] * Jan nods in response as he hefted his backpack a bit more securely on his person.
[21:43] <Jan> Looking around, the negotiator took in their surroundings. "How old do you think this place is?"
[21:44] <Dracos> Fizban hmm'ed.  "Two... four hundred years old abouts?"
[21:53] <Jan> "Has its own history before it came here. Man, this world is messed up, dragging people in just to fill itself up."
[21:53] <Dracos> "Truly." He nodded.
[21:57] <Jan> "I wonder if there's any method to the demon's madness."
[21:57] <Leets> "If there is, it's probably beyond our comprehension."
[21:58] <Dracos> The door opened again.  "He will see you know...".  The door behind them opened as he said this, revealing another guard leading what looked like a cowboy right out of the wild west in.  "Oh, is another audience going on at the moment?"
[21:59] * Mary walks in, shifting the saddlebag on his shoulder a bit, his other hand hovering near his hip.
[21:59] <Mary> "Uh, howdy all.. Ya'll here for 'tha king, too?"
[22:01] <Dracos> "Indeed we are." Fizban turned, nodding at the cowboy.
[22:01] <Jan> Jan blinked at the newest introduction into this bizzarre world. "Knights and cowboys...hoo boy."
[22:01] <Mary> "Any a' ya'll know what what this place is... Other'n the fact it's a castle.."
[22:02] <Dracos> Mary saw, before him, an old man, dressed in strange gray robes and all with the strangest beat up old hat he'd seen.  To his left, was a younger man, who...
[22:04] <Jan> Dressed in dark slacks and a pressed white collared shirt with a brown vest over it, the younger man who had responded to Mary's greeting was looking rather haggard and looking a bit ill at ease at the cowboy's arrival. The man's dark eyes swiftly and calculatingly took in the cowboy's appearance and mannerisms before his stance relaxed.
[22:05] <Jan> "Welcome to the Wastelands. My name's Jan. This old timer is Fizban, and the kid here is Leets..."
[22:06] <Mary> "Wastelands? Looks pretty green ta me.. And hi to ya'll, Mr. Fizban.. Uh.. Leets.."
[22:06] * Mary eyes the group cautiously, not quite trusting his surroundings yet..
[22:07] <Dracos> The guard who had lead them in coughed. "Sirs, the king is waiting.  Mr...?" He looked at the cowboy.
[22:24] <Mary> "Merrick.. Name's Mr. Merrick."
[22:35] <Dracos> "Well, Mr. Merrick, you can wait in the audience hall and I'll inform the king afterwards."  The guard turned and lead into the king's audience hall.
[22:37] <Dracos> Before them were a number of guards and advisors.  The room nicely decorated, with a bit of a martial tone to it all.  A red carpet led up to the thrones where sat a middle aged man, his purple hair streaked with gray as his eyes looked kindly, yet penetratingly at them.  There was power in his frame as he sat dressed in light armor, looking every bit the warrior king.
[22:38] <Dracos> To his right, sat the queen, a woman who could easily pass for being in her late twenties, dressed in a simple yet elegant white dress, her blonde hair in a ponytail behind her.
[22:39] <Dracos> The guard moved forward.  "Announcing the travelers from abroad, my liege."
[22:41] <Jan> Jan bowed low to the royals. "The pleasure is all ours, your majesties. My name is Jan Smith, and these are my traveling companions, Fizban and Leets."
[22:42] * Leets bows in respect, adding his own greeting to Jan's.
[22:45] <Dracos> Fizban bowed as well...his hat falling right off and revealing his white and scraggily hair.  He scampered after it a bit as the king raised an eyebrow.
[22:46] <Dracos> "I am King Baron...  though I prefer to be addressed as Cecil.  Now, I am told you have news of the world outside?  Our own scouts have been somewhat hampered of late."
[22:58] <Jan> "I can tell you that you're no longer in your world of origin, your majesty. Leets, can you show him the maps?"
[22:59] * Leets walks up to the king and pulls some rolled up maps out of his bag, then unfurls then and shows them to the king.
[22:59] * Mary stares on, mouth dropping open a little and his eyes going wide and as silently repeats the words, "no longer in your world of origin"
[23:02] <Dracos> "Hmm?"  He looked over the maps. "This is...quite a claim.  COuld you elaborate?"
[23:07] * Jan places Pandora's Box on the ground in front of the group. "This is one of the artifacts used to slay the demon from a previous war. There's a man in the audience chamber that wields weapons advanced to this age. We also have a vehicle just outside the castle much too advanced for your world's level of technology."
[23:11] <Dracos> He frowned.  "I have heard of your vehicle...  some kind of tank?"
[23:14] <Jan> "Hm. You could call it that. It has less armor than a tank, but has much more mobility in exchange. Regardless, the demonic force behind all this is slumbering beneath the desert sands of a giant lifeless area southeast of here. Scattered throughout those wastelands are five towers which are tied to the demon's power. We're trying to secure them before the keys to the towers are used foolishly."
[23:15] <Dracos> The man leaned back. "I see... this is quite a quest, though I am in the dark on this.  Are you saying we were all brought here by a demon?  For what purpose?"
[23:17] <Jan> "We don't know. It may be beyond our comprehension as to why, as my friend Leets here said. What we can do is prevent it from returning."
[23:27] <Dracos> "mmm... So, you're searching for the keys to these towers to seal the demon away?"
[23:30] * Velsper is now known as Jan
[23:33] <Jan> "We're going to use the starstones to return life to our part of the world. Maybe there's other parts in this great big planet that need that power as well.."
[23:36] <Dracos> "Hmm...  What about the demon?  You said something about him waking?"
[23:38] <Jan> "If someone goes in with the starstones without knowing what they can do, they may very well inadvertently free the demon."
[23:41] <Dracos> "So you came here hunting one?"
[23:41] <Dracos> He surmised.
[23:42] <Jan> "It's past the ocean, so we'd need a ship, yes."
[23:43] <Dracos> "Hmm, our main aerial navy is out of commission at the moment... at least as far as I know.  Guard, go fetch Cid."
[23:47] <Dracos> A few moments later, a gruff, broad looking man, oil up his arms and steelly gray hair entered the room.  "What's up, Cecil?  I told you, it'd take time to get them back up and up after that kind of damage."
[23:48] * Mary eyes the new-commer, sizing him up.. And realizing he'd be in for one hell of a fight with him..
[23:49] <Dracos> Cecil smiled.  "now, now, Cid...  Something important's come up... do we have anything that can get across the ocean at the moment?"
[23:51] * Mary continues eyeing 'Cid' and the small group he met earlier.. Not having expected to come across so many tough fights all at once and rubs his fingers against his palm..
[23:52] <Dracos> "Eh...  well...  The Rydia was out in the docks when it happened..  she'd be seaworthy."
[23:53] <Jan> The negotiator moved closer to the cowboy as the king and newcomer talked. "How good are you with those firearms of yours?"
[23:54] <Mary> "Good enough ta take care of myself since I was young enough ta hold one."
[23:56] <Jan> "You got any plans yet? My group is in need of some extra fighters at the moment." He began.
[23:57] <Dracos> "Well, then... how about it?  I can't give it to you, but I can loan you it for a bit."
[23:57] <Mary> "Fighters? To do what? Go after a demon? I dunno if you're the insane one for sayin' it or me for bein' here ta hear it!"
[23:59] <Jan> "I've seen you hearing in, so you should know that we're not going after a demon. We're just going to get the stones so some half cocked idiot doesn't release the demon with them. Besides, I'll tell you what I've told the others, you can leave whenever you want, and when you do, I'll have my person draw you a copy of our maps so you can find your own way."
[23:59] <Mary> "Mister, I don't know what the hell is goin' on here, but I want ta know.. I go ta sleep hidin' from a posse, wake up in a jungle, see a giant chicken, and find a castle... What the hell is goin' on?"
Session Time: Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 2006
[00:00] <Jan> "Hell if I know." Jan honestly replied. "But I know things are just going to get more infuriatingly confusing if we let this go on for longer."
[00:02] <Dracos> "Hmm?  Who are you?" The king wondered at the cowboy.
[00:06] * Mary snaps his head around to the king.
[00:07] <Mary> "Er.. Name's Mr. Merrick, sir. 'Suppose I'm kinda like like these folks here.. I just woke up here from a diffrent place with no idea of what's goin' on."
[00:07] <Jan> "I'm just offering him a moment of stability in exchange for his services." Jan pleasantly smiled.
[00:09] <Dracos> "Hmmm, this is quite a strange turn of events.."  The king pondered.
[00:16] <Jan> "That is has." Jan turned towards Merrick. "So how about it? Or do you require that I pay?"
[00:17] <Mary> "I 'sppose I'll head out with you.. Though how far I go is up ta yer answers ta my questions."
[00:20] <Jan> "Works for me. We'll drop you off at a village with a copy of the maps we have too."
[00:21] * Mary holds out his hand for a shake.
[00:22] <Mary> "Sounds like a deal, partner."
[00:22] * Jan firmly takes the cowboy's hand in his and gives it a shake as he smiles. "Good good. Sounds like they're about ready with our passage out of here."
[00:27] <Dracos> Cid laughed.  "Good kids, I see...  anyhow, what do you need one of our boats for anyhow?"
[00:31] <Jan> "We're going to cross northwest through the ocean. There's a starstone in that direction. Best get the ones that are relatively unsecured."
[00:34] <Dracos> "Mmm, well, can't get you there the fast way... but Rydia should get you there safe and sound.  Anyhow, I'll get it ready to go." He headed out.
[00:36] <Jan> Jan turned to face the royals with another bow. "Could I ask for one last favor? Our car probably won't be able to make the journey, is there any way I could leave it here, your majesty?

[Dracos]

[21:14] <Dracos> Cecil regarded them. "Your vehicle, that is?  We could look after it."
[21:22] <Jan> "Thank you very much. Is there anything we can do to repay you?"
[21:23] <Dracos> "In my life, I've found the greatest reward is to see to it that evil is cut out at the root, so worry not."
[21:32] <Jan> "I have a question, your highness. I've heard mention of something called an airship. If I may be so bold, I'd like to know what those are?"
[21:34] <Dracos> "Ah, the pride of Baron.  They are ships, like boats that sail in the sea, except they fly through the skies above."
[21:35] * Jan blinked at that. "They got damaged in the transition to this world, then?"
[21:37] <Dracos> "Mmm, that's one way to put it yes.  The underground docks caved in, damaging them."
[21:37] <Jan> "Hm. You've ever heard of Chocobo?"
[21:40] <Mary> "I ain't ever heard of nothin' like that."
[21:40] <Jan> "Those were the giant chickens you were talking about earlier, Mary." The negotiator explained as an aside.
[21:40] <Mary> "Them big ass things? The hell are they for? Eatin'?
[21:40] <Mary> "
[21:41] <Dracos> "Of course not.  Chocobo are tame and relatively noble animals.  They are excellent transportation."
[21:41] <Mary> "Transpor--what?"
[21:41] <Jan> "I was carried by one. Really strong legs. They can sprint for miles."
[21:42] <Mary> "Carried.. Ya mean like a horse?"
[21:42] * Jan nodded towards Mary. "Exactly."
[21:42] <Mary> "... I think I'll stick ta horses."
[21:42] <Mary> "I ain't ridin' no giant chicken."
[21:43] <Dracos> "mmm?  What's a horse?" The king wondered audibly.
[21:44] <Mary> "It's an animal. They run wild, an' ya catch em and break em. Toss a saddle on it and teach it an' ride it. It's got four legs, and a mane 'a hair."
[21:45] <Dracos> "Well, that sounds similar enough to Chocobos." He nodded.
[21:46] <Jan> "So they're native to these lands, King Cecil?"
[21:46] <Mary> "All the same, I'll stick ta my horse.."
[21:47] <Dracos> "Yes.  They live in the forests around the kingdom."
[21:48] <Jan> "Hm. How many miles did we drive from the start of the grasslands to the castle, Leets?"
[21:58] <Leets> "I think it was over 300 miles since we hit the grass," answered Leets.
[21:59] <Dracos> "What is this..miles?"
[21:59] <Dracos> The king didn't seem to recognize that unit of measurement.
[22:00] * Jan tries to do the math in his head.
[22:01] <Leets> "A measurement where we come from. About... 5280 times this?" Leets holds his arms apart in a rough estimate of one foot length.
[22:03] <Jan> "Around two hundred times the length between the castle gates and the exit to Baron, to be precise. That's taking into consideration the distance from Baron to the end of your land."
[22:03] <Dracos> "Hmm...  So what was over there?" He didn't seem to get the point.
[22:04] <Jan> "That's what I'm thinking the boundaries of your kingdom are on that map. You can tentatively add a third of that distance to the boundaries on the north, west, and east."
[22:09] <Dracos> "And what is beyond there?" The man asked curiously.
[22:10] <Leets> "A few major cities of different ideologies in the middle of a vast desert."
[22:14] <Dracos> "Hmm.  Fellow cities adrift here?"
[22:19] <Leets> "Well, a lot of the people we've met on our travels originally thought they died before they came here, and we never really asked if the towns they settled in were brought there by an outside force or were built after they arrived."
[22:21] <Jan> "I think the three cities in the desert beyond this area were all originally from the same place. They share common histories, for starters. There's talk of a war before we arrived, and the land was destroyed by scientific weapons."
[22:22] <Jan> "Could you tell us if there's anything to be gained in this land beyond the airships and magic?"
[22:22] <Dracos> "Gained?  In what sense?" He seemed odded by the phrasing.
[22:24] <Jan> "Well, nothing else makes sense to me. A demon never does anything productive like creating worlds. It just isn't something I'd think a demon would do."
[22:24] <Jan> "It has to be drawing elements in for a reason."
[22:25] <Dracos> The old man pondered.  "What if it wasn't drawing them though?"
[22:27] <Jan> "The towers exist. Isn't that enough to show the demon is around? How else could they have shown up unless the demon consciously extended its power to this world?"
[22:27] <Dracos> "Therein is a riddle, isn't it?" The old man considered.  "Think about it...  A demon doesn't do something productive like that."
[22:30] <Dracos> "Indeed." The king agreed. "If Mysdia was still here, we could try to divine the answer."
[22:39] <Jan> "This world has a very demented creator, then."
[22:40] <Dracos> "Hopefully not... either way, we're here now.  We must see what can be done." The king responded.
[22:46] <Dracos> "Now... you were asking about what can be found in Baron?"
[22:46] <Dracos> "The only thing I can think that anything of evil might draw on here is snake way...which is broken now anyhow."
[22:48] <Jan> "If you like, I can tell you about the cities in our part of the world. Might help diplomatically ease things between you."
[22:49] <Dracos> "That'd be most helpful." Cecil's eyes brightened at that. "As mentioned, we haven't been able to spare guards to explore at the moment."
[22:52] * Jan began to explain the general schools of thought behind each of the three Wasteland cities, going into great detail about how they were ruled and managed at a glance, and the type of people that lived in each city.
[22:52] <Dracos> hours later...the three headed out of the castle, night already beginning to fall on the medieval city of Baron.
[22:55] <Dracos> It struck them that they probably should've checked about getting a meal as they were getting rather hungry.
[22:57] <Jan> "Barwards!"
[22:57] * Mary stretches and yawns.
[22:57] <Mary> "Yeah, after that, I need some whiskey.. And somethin' ta eat too."
[22:58] <Jan> "They should have some scraps left, hopefully. I need something to soothe my throat."
[22:59] <Dracos> So, heading back towards the inn, they  found the bar in back rather crowded, many townspeople enjoying a dance by a local young lady.
[23:03] <Jan> Jan walked up to the barkeep, raising a hand to draw the man's attention.
[23:04] * Mary leans against the bar next to Jan and scans the bar room.
[23:06] <Dracos> The youngish looking barkeep headed over. "Greetings, Sirs.  What would be your pleasure this evening?"
[23:07] <Mary> "Whiskey."
[23:08] <Dracos> "Mmm... What's that?"
[23:08] * Mary sighs.
[23:08] <Mary> "Jus' bring me whatever will get me drunk the fastest."
[23:09] <Dracos> "Ah, Dwarven Hammer then..."
[23:09] <Dracos> He got out this strange iron clad cask and filled up a heavy mug with it.
[23:10] <Jan> "Weaker stuff for me. You have any grub left, by the way?"
[23:14] <Dracos> "Sure, thing...we've got some Roitissere sandwiches tonight if you want them."
[23:18] <Jan> "Yeah. Four of them please."
[23:19] <Dracos> Soon enough, they had drinks and sandwiches while they were sitting at the bar.  Mary found that the 'Dwarven Hammer' as they called it did sort of deserve the name...  or at least, it had a high enough alcohol content to make him wonder why they served it in a mug.
[23:20] <Jan> "From here, we just go across the sea and get the starstone." Jan tapped his fingers on the table as he ate and observed the crowd.
[23:23] <Dracos> The mage seemed a bit gone, singing a little into his mug.
[23:23] <Dracos> The crowd milled about, chattering amongst themselves in a rather lively manner.
[23:25] * Mary keeps drinking, taking the time to relax.

[Dracos]

[21:19] <Dracos> At the end of last session, the group had gathered in the inn, drinking and partying the night away.  They had a SHIP... to sail across the Sea.  Or would shortly anyways, if the king held his word.  Early in the morning, they were greeted by one of the town guard, sent to fetch them to the docks, where  they were greeted, much to Mary's dismay, by the breeze of the fresh sea air.  A large wooden ship was docked against the pier with a single
[21:20] <Dracos> walkway lowered  down for entrance to the docks.
[21:20] <Dracos> The engineer from yesterday, Cid if they'd heard right, was overseeing the final preparations with both gruffness and speed.
[21:21] <Dracos> "Here you go sirs, Cid will take it from here." The young guard waved on, heading back to his other duties.
[21:22] * Merc is now known as Felix
[21:34] <Leets> "Well, at least the ship looks safe," commented Leets, looking over the vessel as he walked across the docks.
[21:34] <Dracos> Mary didn't take too kindly to the notion of it, looking a bit green without even getting on.
[21:35] <Dracos> "Mmm, probably won't sink." Fizban agreed.
[21:35] <Dracos> The engineer turned, hearing them. "PROBABLY won't sink?" He stormed up to the group. "Looks safe?  I'll have you know you'll be as safe as a babe in a mother's arms riding in the Rydia."
[21:37] * Leets fidgetted under the glare; offering an apology. "I've just never seen a wooden ship in my time," he said, trying to excuse his caution.
[21:40] <Dracos> "Really?  you must've lived in the boonies or such.  Don't worry, Baron's ships are the sturdiest you'll find around."
[21:43] * Leets nods distractedly, not really having the heart to mention steel ships that would barely fit these docks.
[21:46] <Dracos> The man smiled. "This boat" He gestured broadly. "Can hold fifty men inside and food for a couple of months."
[21:47] <Leets> "So who are the 40-something men who volunteered to go with us?"
[21:48] <Jan> "What was the boat named after? You and the king seem awfully fond of it. Was it a friend?"
[21:50] <Dracos> "Rydia of the Myst.  An old friend.  She adventured with Cecil and I back in the day."
[21:52] <Dracos> "Mind if we go ahead and board, Mr..Cid was it?" Fizban added in.
[21:53] <Jan> "Will you come with us? I don't think anyone in the group is good at piloting a ship."
[21:54] <Dracos> "Can't.  Got to work on fixing our aerial navy.  I'm sending an assistant along to pilot it though.  His name's george.  GEORGE" He gestured, shouting.  A younger man with a mop of blonde hair dressed in loose fitting engineers overalls headed over to the side of the boat. "Yes, Boss?"
[21:54] <Dracos> Cid turned back around. "That's him.  Just tell him where you'd like to head and he'll handle the whole steering part of it."
[21:55] <Jan> "Thank you for all the help, Mr. Cid. If there's anything we can do for your assistance..."
[21:58] <Dracos> "Naw, boy.  Just keep what you're doing.  Keeping this." He gestured to Baron. "Safe is reward enough."
[21:59] <Dracos> "Anyhow, off to work."  He stormed off with quick strides, fit for a man half his age.
[22:01] <Jan> "I like him." Jan announced as he turned and headed onto the ship.
[22:03] <Dracos> Fizban helped Mary along, half steadying, half dragging him onto the boat, where he promptly took a place on the side.  Apparently dwarven hammer very strongly disagreed with him.
[22:04] <Dracos> "So, boss two, where do you want to head out to?" George offered a hand forward in greetings.
[22:06] <Jan> Jan smiled and took George's hand in a firm grip and gave it a shake. "My name's Jan, and we're going north."
[22:07] <Dracos> The man shook back. "Well then...Alll aboard..."  He tossed off the ropes, heading to the steering wheel as the ship began to drift and turn with a mighty groan in the waters.
[22:10] <Jan> The negotiator introduced the others in turn to George, and once all the intial introductions were done began exploring the ship.
[22:11] <Dracos> The ship was pretty large, having three floors, the bottom of which had a kitchen and a few store rooms.  The second and first both were mostly filled with quarters.
[22:13] <Jan> The negotiator claimed one of the quarters for himself and Pandora's Box promptly, throwing his maps and scribbling down the new information on Baron.
[22:13] <Jan> And where it generally was. He took the time to scribble down the ruins of the Kender's village as well.
[22:15] <Dracos> Solace and baron were both detailed on the map...which filled a few minutes of time.
[22:15] <Jan> He finished by adding the wolf village to his map before popping open Pandora's Box.
[22:18] <Jan> Returning a few minutes later, the negotiator was now carrying one extra Yomi on the shoulder. "We need to introduce you to George too. C'mon."
[22:18] * Retrieving #wasteland modes...
[22:18] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Dracos Dracos
[22:18] * Dracos changes topic to '#wastelandOOC up | <Jan> Bikimono. | Kweeeeh. | There are no gunblades here.'
[22:18] * Jan wanders back up top. "George, here's the last member of the crew. Yomi, George. George, Yomi."
[22:21] <Dracos> "Hey!" Yomi greeted in the way of creatures held tightly.
[22:21] <Dracos> "Um...that a monster?" He stared at it, brandishing his.... MIGHTY WRENCH!
[22:22] <Jan> "He's all of our great-great-something great granddaddy, if he's to be believed." Jan blandly responded.
[22:23] <Leets> "He certainly acts like a monster though," muttered Leets in passing as he walked by the group; just loud enough for Jan, George, and Yomi to hear.
[22:23] <Dracos> "No, no, no.  No smiting Yomi." Yomi complained, struggling a bit, but not zapping jan quite yet.  "And I am not your great-great-something great granddaddy.  Not only is that not enough greats, but I am simply what humans looked like long agoo."
[22:24] <Jan> "Humans in the old days really had a rough lot."
[22:25] <Dracos> Yomi glared at Leets appearing in front of him suddenly. "BOO"
[22:25] <Jan> "Come over here, Leets!" The negotiator waved the younger over.
[22:26] * Leets retreated quickly from Yomi's vengence, tripping over some ropes with a crash. He glared at his floating antagonist before turning his attention to Jan. "What is it?"
[22:27] <Jan> "I was wondering how far along you got with your sword training."
[22:35] <Leets> "I don't have to worry about losing my own head, if that's what you're asking."
[22:37] <Jan> "Want to keep practicing? I can focus on my power so things don't blow up, and you get something that won't die or be broken if its hit by the sword."
[22:39] <Dracos> "Woah, woah...  Try and keep the fighting down.  I don't want to do field repairs>"
[22:39] * Leets eyes Jan. "He has a point. Can this ship even handle the other-you?"
[22:40] <Jan> "How much weight can the ship handle, George?"
[22:42] <Dracos> "Plenty usually, why?"
[22:44] <Jan> "Have you heard of a golem? My power lets me turn into one."
[22:45] <Dracos> "Not familiar with that kind of monster...what's it like?"
[22:47] <Jan> "Yeah, probably not, then. Like three times my size, made of iron."
[22:48] <Dracos> "Mmm..yeah, let's not.  That'll probably put a hole in the deck at least."
[22:51] <Jan> "I'm not good with these medieval weapons, but get whatever space you want for sword practice, Leets."
[22:51] * Leets glances at George. "Is there any place to do that?"
[22:54] <Dracos> "Sword practice?  Yeah, do it on forward deck."
[23:06] <Dracos> Weeks passed as they sailed on the seas, eventually coming to this small chain of islands to the north, a chilly breeze running through as George called them up with a 'Land Ho'.
[23:10] <Jan> Jan looked up from where he was contemplating an upside down fish on the side of the boat. "Now I know why they skip around in epic stories. Long periods of nothing happening are so *dull*."
[23:17] <Dracos> "Now now, isn't the sea relaxing, boy?" Fizban chirped in, heading towards the front to peer at the islands in the distance.  Seemed to be a few of them, with the boat currently headed towards the big one in the middle.
[23:18] <Jan> "I don't like being unproductive. Just when I want to use my powers, I wind up in the middle of the ocean." The negotiator snorted.
[23:19] * Jan moved to help get the ship ready to dock.
[23:19] <Dracos> "Keep an eye out for any cities.  We could dock off the shores, but it'd probably be better to dock in the cities."
[23:20] <Jan> "Yomi! Fly up and give us a bird's eye view!"
[23:22] <Dracos> "Sure..."
[23:24] <Dracos> Yomi grumbled about being used as a scout, but flew up high...  "There's a big city on the south west coast."
[23:28] <Dracos> "Roger." George called out, driving the boat towards it... soon they were docked on the edge of town, a number of fishmen pointing to the ship and chatting among themselves.
[23:28] <Jan> "Biscuit?" Jan offered to the primordial flying puffball.
[23:30] <Dracos> "Don't really need to eat." Yomi responded.  "And I'm not a pet." It puffed up as it flew down, heading back into its box.
[23:30] <Dracos> "Well, about time to disembark.  I can keep the ship here if you think you'll need a ride back."
[23:31] <Jan> "Most likely."
[23:35] <Dracos> As they were sitting there prattling, they could see guards in bright golden armor heading towards the ship.
[23:35] <Dracos> Likely called by the fishmen.
[23:35] <Dracos> *fishermen
[23:37] <Jan> Jan went to go meet the guards, "Salutations, city guards."
[23:37] <Dracos> "Namesday, travelers.  Do you seek to park your ship here?"
[23:40] <Jan> "Is there another place we can weigh anchor? We don't mean to intrude, but we don't know the lay of the land yet."
[23:41] <Dracos> The guards discussed a bit. "Travelers, you may  park your ship here temporarily.  But you will need the permission of the king to leave it here for any length.  Welcome to Silmaria."
[23:48] <Jan> "Thank you, but where is the castle located? It'd be for the best if we met the king as soon as possible."
[23:49] <Dracos> "Come with us." The guards indicated, leading off through the small city.
[23:50] <Jan> "Please wait a second. I need to bring along my companions."
[23:50] <Jan> Jan went to fetch whoever was up and about.
[23:53] <Dracos> Mary was sleeping, but he put together quick a party of old man fizban and shifty thief leets.

[Dracos]

[21:32] <Dracos> Heading out with the pair of guards, they noticed one thing right away.  This city, like each of the others so far, was as different from them as night from day...  While in some ways it looked like the same era of city as Baron, there was significantly more stonework.  More relevantly...not everyone was human.
[21:35] <Dracos> As they moved past the fisherman, they began to notice a man with hind end of a lion and a large mostly gray mane watching them from atop one of the buildings.  A young catwoman danced on the side of the road, piping to draw attention to the nearby stand.
[21:37] <Dracos> Across from her as they wove through the various trade stands that were out was...  well, he looked to be sort of a magician of kind.  Tallish with a slender frame and well groomed black hair, he was dressed in a tuxedo style suit, complete with top hat as he performed for a small audience of townspeople.
[21:44] * Felix takes a bow as he finishes his act, holding the hat in his hand against his chest as he bows. "Thank you for your kind patronage, my friends, I hope you all enjoyed the show!" he says warmly as he rises again, flipping the hat with a flick of his fingers, letting it twirl in the air before it lands comfortably atop his head. A poof of smoke and all his props disappear, leaving only a leather suitcase behind him. "I hope to see you
[21:45] <Felix> "I hope to see you all again in the future!"
[21:46] <Leets> "Well that was interesting," said Leets, having seen the magician's closing performance.
[21:47] * Jan had been watching at the sidelines at the time, their trip having been stalled as the guards had wanted to see the performance of the catgirl. "At least somethings are normal."
[21:47] * Leets eyes Jan blankly. "You're still expecting normal?"
[21:47] <Jan> "I'm the eternal optimist."
[21:48] * Jan went to flick some silver into the stage magician's hat.
[21:51] <Felix> "Thank you," Felix replies happily to all the people offering claps and money. He raises an eyebrow at the clothing Jan and Leets wear, so different from everyone else, and much closer to his own style of clothing, noticing the pair as Jan tosses him some silver. 'Curious...' he starts thinking.
[21:52] <Dracos> Finally moving on past him, they were lead over a moat, past a large marble building that seemed quite..secure from the outside and up the stairs.  Heading across a large field they came to..the palace, a magnificant looking structure...not quite as big as Baron's or, at a glance,as well guarded.
[21:53] <Dracos> Two guards stood out front, quickly conversing with the arriving ones. "We will take you in, travelers." One said authoritatively. "Please seal any weapons or leave them here."
[21:53] <Jan> Jan ran a hand through his hair as he walked towards the guard, reaching into his vest and drawing out his twin revolvers with a flourish. "Here." He handed them to the guards. "Don't squeeze the triggers too hard."
[21:54] * Leets zips his weapons back into his bag and adjusts it so it's out of his immediate reach.
[21:56] <Dracos> "I will keep them safe." The guard acknowledged, placing them in a nearby strongbox for that purpose.  "One moment." The other guard headed inside, then returned and gestured for them to follow...
[21:58] * Jan gives the guard a nod before wandering inside.
[21:58] <Dracos> Mere moments later they were standing in a grand audience hall, A towering cenataur standing to the right of the throne, a sense of experience and wisdom in his eyes.  Sitting on it was a fairly young man, atheletic looking with combed blonde hair and in fact, more of a leather jerkin than a king's outfit.  He did wear the crown on his head though, so he was clearly the king?
[21:59] <Dracos> Next to him was a young woman, dressed in a lovely dress and...floating partially off the ground?  She had long brown hair and seemed to be gazing into their souls as they stood there.
[21:59] <Dracos> The cenataur moved forward. "I am Logos, speaker of Silmaria.  In the name of our king, I greet you travelers from a far off land."
[22:03] <Jan> "I'm Jan. Jan Smith." The negotiator sketched a bow towards the group, expression growing cool and composed before the woman defensively.
[22:06] * Leets bows, trying to be friendly to Smith's defensiveness. "People just call me Leets."
[22:07] <Dracos> "Fizban." The old man said simply.
[22:09] <Dracos> "Now, travelers..."  "Logos, Logos..."  The king waved, standing up and glancing briefly at the woman at his side who nodded, smiling.  He turned fully towards them, stepping forward, his motions graceful, possibly a warrior.  "Now travelers, I am of the understanding that you need to dock here.  For this, I request a simply, your purpose here?"
[22:10] <Jan> "Stopping a demon from waking up."
[22:11] <Dracos> "An important task.  Mean you any harm here?" Logos looked somewhat mortified, but clearly the king wasn't one for mincing words.
[22:12] <Jan> "Not at all."
[22:14] <Dracos> "Then good luck in your quest.  May I suggest checking in at the local adventurers guild." He waved them off, sitting back down.
[22:16] <Dracos> The guard came up, gesturing to follow.
[22:22] <Leets> "Excuse me, sir?" Leets addressed the king one last time. "But are there any local legends about jewels or stars?"
[22:23] <Dracos> "More than I'd know...mmm, if you want to ask about that, ask FA over at his school of adventuring.  He knows more legends in that regard than anyone."
[22:26] <Leets> "Thank you then." Leets bowed and joined the waiting guards.
[22:26] <Dracos> The guards led the trio out to the gates, leaving them there.  It was now mid afternoon.  Mary would probably be getting over his hangover hopefully, and there was plenty of daylight to explore the town by.
[22:31] <Dracos> "Well, where to now friends?" Fizban turned to them.  "Shall we check up on Mary?"
[22:32] * Leets reluctantly nods, apparently not looking forward to seeing the gunman recovering from his hangover.
[22:33] <Leets> "Might as well. Maybe we can find out where this school is too."
[22:34] <Dracos> Fizban nodded, leading down through the town and back to the ship...
[22:37] <Dracos> The group found Mary in bed, still in his quarters below deck...  Perhaps some fresh air would do him some good...
[22:37] * Mary groans and rolls over on his side.
[22:44] <Jan> "Are you still alive there?"
[22:45] <Mary> "More alive than you'll be, iff'n ya keep yellin' like that.."
[22:45] <Dracos> "He's not yelling." Fizban commented softly.
[22:46] * Mary grunts.
[22:46] <Mary> "Sure feels enough like it.. 'Suppose I outta face the day, though.. Food?"
[22:47] <Jan> "Out in the big, wide, loud world."
[22:47] * Mary grunts and sits up, putting on the rest of his clothes.
[22:48] <Jan> "Do you think getting the demon drunk on Dwarven Hammer would let us win, Leets?" Jan softly asked as an aside to the thief.
[22:49] * Mary grunts and and slings his gun belt on before heading to the door.
[22:50] <Mary> "Which way's the food?"
[22:51] <Jan> Jan remembered some of the stalls where he had seen the magician sold food. "Thatta way." He pointed, leading the way for the gunman.
[22:53] <Dracos> Heading down the docks they made their way into the plaza where indeed, there were a few stands selling food, most notably the one near the dancing catgirl did, an older one selling cooked food there.
[22:55] <Mary> "Anyone know which one is good?"
[22:56] <Leets> "The pizza looks familiar," commented Leets, looking over the stalls. "As long as it wasn't alive before."
[22:57] <Dracos> Jan saw some pizza...what looked like gyros, lots of fruits and vegatables, some meat dishes... quite a variety really.  Though they could always check out other stands.
[22:57] <Dracos> The guy at the stall noticed their attention smiling warmly and waving them near.
[22:57] <Jan> "Junk food is a universal concept, I guess."
[22:59] <Mary> "Pizza? What's that?"
[23:00] <Jan> "Baked dough with meat, cheese, and tomato toppings, essentially."
[23:00] <Jan> The negotiator went to try a slice out for himself.
[23:00] * Mary looks at Jan oddly..
[23:01] <Mary> "You sure that's what I should eat?"
[23:01] <Jan> "You should probably eat a sandwich. It probably would help a bit."
[23:02] <Dracos> The vendor seemed to have two versions, a peperoni and an artichoke.  Whichever Jan ate, they weren't half bad.  Well made for working off a brazier.
[23:02] <Mary> "Eh, pick somethin' fer me, since ya'll know what's what.."
[23:03] <Leets> "You prefer meat or vegetable?"
[23:04] * Jan orders Mary a ham and cheese for Mary.
[23:04] <Jan> *sandwich
[23:05] <Mary> "Meat."
[23:05] <Jan> "Pizza would be too greasy for him right now, most likely."
[23:05] <Dracos> "Ham and cheese, sir?" The cat man pondered. "An interesting combination.  Let's give it a try." He worked, producing such a sandwich for Mary.
[23:06] <Jan> "Try heating it up slightly. Just enough to melt the cheese."
[23:06] <Dracos> He nodded, putting it between tongs and lightly toasting it over the brazier before offering it on a plate.
[23:08] <Felix> Taking a break from his shows, Felix walks into the area seeking to vanquish his own hunger when he notices the group, now joined by...a cowboy of all things. Curiosity getting the best of him, he approaches the group, stopping at the vendor they're crowded around so as to make an order for himself.
[23:08] <Jan> "Do you know where we can find the school of adventuring?"
[23:10] * Mary picks up the sandwhich and begins eating it..
[23:10] <Mary> "Mmm.. Not too bad, actually.."
[23:10] <Dracos> The vendor smiles at Felix. "What would you like sir?"
[23:10] <Dracos> "Oh, you want to go there?  Adventurers are you?"
[23:12] <Jan> "Something like that. King recommended it to us." Jan half nodded to the magician, recognizing him from before.
[23:13] <Dracos> "Ah, yes... he's a very nice man.  Always paid in full." The merchant responded cheerfully.  "I think he studied there once.  Well not there, since its a correspondance school, but of there."
[23:13] <Felix> "How much for the pepperoni?" Felix asks the vendor, while acknowledging Jan's half nod with his own.
[23:15] <Dracos> "Tweleve silver." He responded.
[23:16] <Jan> "So, where is it?" Jan gently reminded the vendor.
[23:17] <Dracos> "Oh, near the docks. Just head east along the beach and you'll see it.  It's near the gate to science island.  Has a big sign on it."
[23:17] <Jan> "Thanks."
[23:18] * Felix sets the required money on the table. "A pepperoni then," Felix requests.
[23:19] <Mary> "So, who's he?"
[23:19] * Mary motions towards 'the new guy' as he keeps eating.
[23:20] <Jan> "No need to be rude. He could just be a sore thumb sticking out in these medieval surroundings who decided to join us for a slice of pizza."
[23:20] * Jan calmly eats his own slice of cheese pizza.
[23:20] * Mary grunts.
[23:20] * Felix smirks. "Sore thumb? If anyone's the sore thumb, it's the cowboy. I'm just a lost magician, trying to make an honest living until he can figure a way home," Felix replies. "And your group?"
[23:22] <Jan> "People who are used to meeting tons of lost people."
[23:23] <Dracos> The vendor gestured. "You might be more comfortable over there...after you pay of course." He indicated towards them.
[23:24] <Dracos> Felix was shortly in posession of a pepperoni pizza on a plate.
[23:25] * Jan nods and moved on, chewing his pizza as he went.
[23:27] <Dracos> Heading over there, there's a few marble benches.  Perfect for sitting, eating, and talking.
[23:28] * Jan chose to stand!
[23:29] * Retrieving #wasteland modes...
[23:29] * Dracos changes topic to '#wastelandOOC up | <Jan> Bikimono. | Kweeeeh. | There are no gunblades here. | Jan chose to stand!'
[23:30] * Felix on the other hand sits for his meal, having followed after Jan. Taking a bite of his own meal, he asks, "So if you meet so many lost souls, you wouldn't happen to know just -why- they get lost, would you, young man?" after swallowing.
[23:31] <Jan> "I do. I'm trying to figure out why we never meet any cute lost girls on the way."
[23:32] * Felix laughs. "Perhaps you will yet. Still, if you don't mind, would you care to enlighten me then?"
[23:32] <Jan> "Hm. To put it simply, this world is a magnet." He continued eating. "It pulls all sorts of things here."
[23:38] * Felix shakes his head. "Let me guess, it used to only pull mismatched socks, car keys and tv remote controls, but then the magnet got stronger and started pulling in bigger things, like people. How vexing."
[23:39] * Joins: Shukuen (Dinh@24.6.70.63)
[23:39] <Jan> "Not a large enough scale. It's powered by a demon. Continental pulling is going on."
[23:39] * Shukuen is now known as Shukuen_
[23:40] * Quits: Leets (Dinh@c-24-6-70-63.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) (Ping timeout)
[23:40] * Shukuen_ is now known as Leets
[23:41] * Felix finishes off another bite of his pizza as his conversation partner speaks. "A demon?" Felix asks, raising an eyebrow before shaking his head. "Well, I don't suppose I should be surprised after some of the sights I've seen here."
[23:41] <Dracos> "You just arrived here?" Fizban asked curiously.
[23:46] <Felix> "I've been here in town for a while, long enough to get past the shock of such strangeness even. Had to start and make something of a decent living, so the shock had to go," Felix answers with a frown. "Bloody well wouldn't mind going back home though."
[23:47] <Leets> "I don't know about that. This place sort of grows on you."
[23:47] <Dracos> "Well, I don't know if we can help you there." The man sounded older than usual.
[23:47] <Mary> "You an' me both.. I still don't know what the hell's goin' on 'round 'ere."
[23:47] * Jan finishes off his pizza, wiping his mouth clean as he stretched. "Ah. At least you never met homocidal swordsmen with wings, or plasma blasting floating men."
[23:47] * Jan privately wondered if he was starting to sound like a crotchety old man at this point.
[23:48] <Jan> 'Back in my day you'd have to wander through miles of desert and punch mutated scorpions in the face with your fist.'
[23:49] * Felix laughs. "Such vast opinions. Well, it is an interesting place, but much harder to make a living than back at home."
[23:51] <Jan> "You landed in a calm place. Believe me, there's much worse places you could've wound up." The negotiator shrugged. "So far there's no way we've figured to go home. All we're going is making sure this place doesn't get blown up."
[23:55] <Dracos> Fizban finished off his pizza, sitting with them quietly and enjoying the cool breeze.
[23:55] * Felix nods. "I overheard you mention something about the adventuring school. Hoping to gather for some comrades to fight this demon, I suppose?" he asks politely, hoping they're not offended by his eavesdropping, though guessing they shouldn't be considering where they were speaking.
[23:56] <Jan> "Nope. Just trying to find out about local legends on starstones."
[23:58] <Felix> "Well, I wish I could help, but I can't say I've heard of starstones since my arrival, and believe me, I've kept my ears open."
[23:58] <Jan> "We have to try." The negotiator merely nodded in response.
Session Time: Sun Feb 26 00:00:00 2006
[00:02] <Dracos> "Planning to stay here, Mr...?"
[00:04] * Felix finishes his pizza and gets up after wiping his hands clean on a napkin. "Felix DuCartes," Felix answers as he flips his hand, a business card appearing. "And yes, I'll be around this area, as I really don't have anywhere else to go. If your group finds itself needing any assistance I can offer though, I'll gladly offer it."
[00:05] <Jan> "If you find anything out, check out the Rydia over in the docks."

[Dracos]

[21:10] <Dracos> At the end of last session, our stalwart pizza eating team had savoured the deliciously toasty offerings provided by the local cat-guy merchant.  Meeting an intripid magician during the meal, they agreed to share information on the starstones if either found any on them, before the magician, Felix, went on his way.
[21:10] <Dracos> Now, having finished the meal, the well fed party be ready to...travel the town?
[21:14] <Mary> "So, what'a ya'll been doin' while I was out?"
[21:15] <Leets> "Scaring the king with horror stories of demons of the underworld."
[21:15] * Mary stares at Leets for a second..
[21:15] <Jan> "Don't need to paint things so bad. We just had to convince him we needed permission to dock. He recommended going to the adventuring guild."
[21:16] <Jan> "Best way to do that was by telling him why we're on this adventure." Jan shrugged.
[21:16] <Mary> "Sounds like more fun'n a boot to tha' face, at least.."
[21:16] <Jan> "I don't think he would've reacted to even that. Very mellow king."
[21:16] <Leets> "He might have reacted better if you were a little less blunt."
[21:17] <Jan> "Nah, he was a pretty direct guy too. You shouldn't mince words with them."
[21:18] * Mary grunts.
[21:18] <Mary> "Yeah, sayin' it right out is best. Gets it outta tha' way."
[21:18] * Leets eyes Jan wryly. "I didn't say hide the truth. I said be less blunt. I mean, does the guy really need to know the world will end if he doesn't help us?"
[21:22] <Jan> "What better way of getting someone to help?" Jan smiled.
[21:23] <Leets> "Any way would have been better then blackmail." Leets said, rolling his eyes, though his tone was good natured.
[21:26] <Dracos> "We should check out this...adventurer's guild, was it?" Fizban suggested.
[21:30] <Jan> "Works for me. I'll go ask around for directions." Giving a nod to the stage magician, the negotiator went to fetch them the location of the guild.
[21:31] * Mary shrugs.
[21:31] <Mary> "I ain't got nothin' ta do.. 'Suppose I might as well start earnin' my keep."
[21:34] <Dracos> Jan was quickly able to get directions from the same guy they'd bought pizza from.  He was happy to point them in the right direction and commented on the fact the king used to spend a lot of time there.
[21:37] <Jan> "Mellow Camp is that way." Jan gestured for the others to follow as he lead the way. "Seems the king used to go there."
[21:38] <Leets> "...Mellow Camp? What kind of adventurers go to a mellow camp?"
[21:40] <Jan> "I just call it that because of its relation to the king. It's been a while since I've seen someone act so laid back." Jan cheerfully explained.
[21:40] * Leets mimic's Mary's earlier action and stares at Jan for a second.
[21:43] <Leets> "How far away is the guild anyway?"
[21:43] <Dracos> Heading away from the plaza, they traversed a simple clay path over the river, coming to what they'd been told was the adventurer's guild.  It was a fair sized building, made of marble and hewn stone as seemed to be much the custom here.  It's door was shut, but the lights were on inside and it was still early.
[21:53] <Jan> Jan opened the door, figuring that as long as it was the day, there'd be no big deal.
[21:53] <Jan> "Hello there?" He entered.
[21:58] <Dracos> "More guests?"  A bellowing voice responded.  "Come in, come in."  As jan entered he walked into a large guild room.  Along the walls were the heads of dozens of beasts, each with a plaque under them.  To his side and back, he saw some boards with paper and writing on them.  "Ah a new face."  Only two people were in the room other than him at the moment, a towering beast of an individual, brown furred, a minotaur right out of legend stood,(cont)
[21:59] <Dracos> a dangerous looking axe at his side.  Beside him, probably formerly in conversation with him, was a short but well armored female with wild orange hair.  a bit wider around, though she looked human enough, if humans were half as tall as normal.
[22:01] <Jan> "My name's Jan. I'm sorta the leader of this little group, I guess. We came here on advice of the king to see if you knew about starstones?"
[22:01] * Mary stares at the minotaur for a moment before eyeing the woman and whistling low to himself and muttering under his breath.
[22:02] <Dracos> "Starstones?  Toro not know anything about starstones.  Who would want to put a star in a stone?" The beast answered.(cont)
[22:02] <Dracos> "Probably some magic artifact or something.  Greetings, Jan.  I'm Mazzy, a fellow adventurer just making a stop here for the moment.  New in town?"
[22:03] <Jan> "Pretty much. We got here by ship just a few hours ago."
[22:04] * Mary eyes the woman for a few more moments, speaking under his breath, before watching the minotaur again.
[22:04] <Mary> "That's some kinda' woman.."
[22:05] <Dracos> "Lots of new faces." Toro smiled with a wide bovine grin.  "New adventurers should sign guildbook.  Keep record."
[22:05] <Dracos> "I can hear you, sir." The woman raised an eyebrow.
[22:06] * Mary scratches the scruff of his neck.
[22:06] <Mary> "T'wern't no insult, lady."
[22:07] <Jan> Jan walked up to sign the guildbook. "Guess we should probably just stock up on supplies again, I guess. Unless either of you two know anyone who knows about magic artifacts?"
[22:08] * Mary waits to sign the book last..
[22:09] <Dracos> "Toro knows king.  King very smart.  King probably know.  Toro also know old man.  Old man very old.  Old man very old but comes here every day to exercise.  Say he leaving soon.  Old man know great stories."
[22:09] * Leets signs the book after Jan.
[22:09] <Dracos> Mazzy shook her head.  "Yeah, toro's right.  You probably should see old man FA."
[22:09] <Leets> "Where's FA right now?'
[22:10] <Dracos> Fizban jotted down his own signature right after.
[22:10] * Mary signs his name and shuts the book, then leans against the wall, resting his hands on his pistol grips.
[22:12] <Dracos> "He'd probably be at his house.  It's along the beach, big place with 'Adventurer's correspondance school' above the door.  Hard to miss really.  He's a bit of a kook, but if anyone would know something about your 'starstone', he probably would."
[22:17] <Jan> "You guys have correspondance schools for adventurers?" Jan looked at the two a bit disbelievingly.
[22:18] <Dracos> The minotaur shrugged.  "Toro not do it.  Toro think it weird.  King say he did it long time ago.  Toro not sure, but king strong.  Stronger than Toro."
[22:18] <Dracos> "Yeah, I don't know about that either." Mazzy concurred. "But that's what he calls the place and he certainly has a lot of books on the subject."
[22:20] * Mary raches into his coat and pulls out a cigar, lighting it with a match from his pocket and settles in against the wall, listening to the conversation.
[22:21] <Jan> "Takes all kinds." Jan blinked. "I have a question for you two, was there any earthquakes recently? Or anything not working? Magical things and the like."
[22:23] <Dracos> "Toro not notice anything.  Been peaceful since King become King."
[22:24] <Dracos> "Same abouts." Mazzy chimed in.  "This place has been about as peaceful as can be of late."
[22:28] <Dracos> "So where you folks from?" Mazzy inquired.
[22:32] <Jan> "We got the ship from Baron, southeast of here over the sea. We met Mary there." He nodded at the cowboy. "The rest of us started in a vast desert even further south of there."
[22:33] <Dracos> "Hmm, haven't been or heard of those places myself."
[22:34] <Dracos> "Toro from Spielburg."
[22:42] <Jan> "Funny thing is that we only have humans in the places we're from. Even as far as Baron, all we had were animals and humans...and the occasional demon."
[22:42] <Dracos> "Mmm, Baron must be far away then, unless you got lost in a spell squall or something."
[22:43] <Jan> "What's a spell squall?"
[22:45] <Dracos> "A strange storm with enough magic in the air to teleport an entire ship.  Rare though, but I've heard of 'em."
[22:48] <Jan> "I don't think we've ever run into that. I've lived all my life just surrounded by humans even before I went to the desert."
[22:57] <Dracos> "All human?  Toro think that boring."
[22:59] <Leets> "I don't know about that," grumbled Leets under his breath. "Humans can be rather random at times."
[23:05] <Jan> "That's life for you. Anyway, it was fun talking to you two, but I think we should head out and talk to FA before it gets later. Good bye for now." Jan smiled at the two helpful people and gestured for the others as he left for the correspondance school.
[23:09] <Dracos> Traveling out, they headed around the bend and down to the beachfront coming to the large building that was, as proudly proclaimed, "Famous Adventurer's Correspondance school of Adventuring."
[23:12] <Jan> "It's all about location." Jan tried the door.
[23:16] <Dracos> The door was open as he stepped into...wow, that was a lot of books.  Jan had been in libraries before but sheesh, there were stacks of them, shelves virtually overflowing on every topic imaginable from how to swim to the seduction of atlantian beauties.  In one corner was a rather large desk, mostly covered with books where fast and purposeful pen strokes could be heard as an old man wrote away.  He was dressed in white with some kind of(cont)
[23:19] <Dracos> cap on his head.  His hair was long and white and despite his age he had a sort of vigor about him.  A vim and energy that drew the eyes and sort of brought him to focus.
[23:23] <Leets> "Excuse me, but are you this FA the adventurers guild spoke of?
[23:23] <Jan> "Hello there." Jan smiled at the head of the school. "My name's Jan, and we were sent here by the adventuring guild when they couldn't help us. They told us you know quite a bit about magical artifacts?"
[23:25] <Dracos> "I've picked up a number of things in my time, lad." He looked up from his book, sheathing the pen in an inkwell with natural grace.
[23:31] <Jan> "Have you ever heard of a starstone before?"
[23:32] <Dracos> "Mmm...I suppose you don't mean a stone from the heavens?"
[23:40] <Jan> "The starstones are golden stones that are the keys to demon towers."
[23:47] <Dracos> "Sit sit.  Demon towers?  ARe you perhaps referring to the demon towers of absanith?"
[23:52] * Jan moves to sit down. "The starstones seem to have a spark of good in them despite it, though. Maybe creation would be a better term. The last person who gathered them used them to seal a demon that can create entire worlds."
[23:58] <Dracos> "Mmm, that doesn't sound very familiar.  I'd suspect I'd know such a tale.  Mmm...so you're questing for them?"
[00:01] <Jan> "Yes, we tracked one of them down to someplace close to this land, but we're pretty much stuck here without any leads now."

[Dracos]

[21:19] * Mary sits down, shifting his gun belt into a comfortable position.
[21:24] <Dracos> "Mmm, strange weapon there." The old man noticed.  "Hmm...  Well, you're at a bit of an impasse.  If I don't know of it, odds are it might as well not be here in Silmaria.  Are you sure you're in the right place?" He tapped his chin, thoughtfully, eyes gleaming a bit.
[21:24] * Mary glances down at his pistols and shrugs.
[21:25] <Mary> "They get the job done, sir."
[21:27] <Dracos> "I'm sure they do."
[21:29] <Jan> Jan pulled out Pandora's Box from his pack, setting it down on the ground. "Well, I'd need to ask Yomi. Give me a second." Popping it open, he was drawn within.
[21:34] <Dracos> He found himself within study within the box.
[21:35] * Mary stares at the box and shifts around a bit..
[21:36] <Dracos> "Hum... some kind of warped space box?" The old man raised an eyebrow, not very surprised at all.
[21:37] <Jan> Moments later he was spit out of the box alongside Yomi.
[21:37] <Leets> "Something like that," agreed Leets. "It's home to a primordial being."
[21:39] <Jan> "You sense anything nearby, Yomi?"
[21:40] <Dracos> "Yeah.  There's definitely one near this island."
[21:41] <Jan> "Are there any places nearby where we can check, FA?"
[21:43] <Dracos> "Hmmm, a mystic item that I don't know about...  there's an off chance Erasmus might have what you're looking for, but he doesn't really like uninvited vistors so your best chance is to ask the king...  but then, that feels like a wild goose chase, and any adventurer worth their salt knows a fetch quest only runs three not four passes.  So...  brave enough to face your fate?"
[21:51] <Jan> "We made it this far. What do we have to do?"
[21:53] <Dracos> "No, no, I mean literally.  If this stone evades your eyes...perhaps it would be best to ask the oracle.  It lives north of here, though is dangerous in its own respects, to know your own future is a heavy burden, after all."
[21:54] * Jan looks at the others. "I don't particularly mind carrying another burden, but what about you guys?"
[21:55] * Mary sighs and rubs his eyes.
[21:55] <Mary> "Sure, but I better get 'ta shoot somethin'. I got some steam 'ta work off."
[21:57] <Dracos> "Shoot?  If you seek hunting, best to travel around the island.  I'm certain some beast will give you plenty.  The problem first with the oracle is getting there.  The seas are always rough around the island and the rocks will smash a ship to pieces."
[21:58] <Jan> "The Rydia can handle it, but where do we go to get there?"
[22:05] <Dracos> "If the Rydia is your ship, I may then recommend my book."  He handed a book to Jan entitled briefly "How to Swim".  "Once there you head to the north side of the island, past the grove of the dryads.  There you'll find the ruins of the the temple of the oracle.  Toss a coin into water there and your fate shall be rendered."
[22:05] <Dracos> "Rather boring though, I think... half the fun is not knowing where you're going."
[22:09] * Mary grunts.
[22:09] <Mary> "Only place I'm aimin' fer is home."
[22:10] <Jan> "I see. Thanks for the advice, FA."
[22:12] <Dracos> "The king went there once.  Used a balloon I believe.  He might still have it actually."
[22:13] <Jan> "Hm. Do you have any maps of this island and the seas around it for sale?"
[22:17] <Dracos> "Sale?  Nope, but you can borrow one." He gestured over to a bunch of maps in an urn in the corner.  "Not going to need them much soon anyhow."
[22:18] <Jan> "Where are you heading, anyway? The adventuring guild said you were going to leave."
[22:18] <Jan> He searched the urn for a map of the island.
[22:24] <Dracos> "Yes, I've been here far too long.  Didn't mean too originally.  Just sort of got stuck up writing and forgot the outside world for a while.  Been training recently though, there's plenty more to see after all and ladies like a man with muscles.  Figured I'd head south.  A good swim is always a nice way to start an adventure."
[22:24] <Dracos> Jan found one soon enough.
[22:25] <Jan> "You're...going to swim?"
[22:27] <Dracos> "Of course.  Why not?"
[22:29] <Jan> "Um...you want a copy of the map of our voyage? Baron is southeast of here. You can start your adventure there. There's some other places listed on our maps, if you want to visit them."
[22:30] <Dracos> "Hmm, Baron?  Never heard of there.  Tell me about it." He smiled with a twinkle in his eye.
[22:33] <Jan> "Only humans, but it'll be the most familiar. High magic and knights rule it. King Cecil and Queen Rosa are kind and fair rulers, they're the ones that lent us the Rydia to continue on our adventure."
[22:34] <Dracos> "Sounds nice.  I'll have to make it my first stop." He smiled.
[22:35] <Jan> "If you're going through our trail be careful of some spectral wolves along the way. They've been hounding us since the desert further south of Baron. Nothing seems to be able to stop them for long."
[22:38] <Dracos> "Spectral wolves you say?  Tried wolvesbane on them, by any chance?"
[22:39] <Jan> "Can't say we have. What is it?"
[22:42] <Dracos> "Herb.  Puts wolves to sleep quite well.  Shakra might have a bit of it, if you're lucky."
[22:45] <Jan> "Hm. Thanks for the tips. Do you happen to have some blank paper and a pen? I'll make you a copy of my notes and map."
[22:50] <Dracos> The man handed him some.
[22:51] * Jan went about working on copying the notes and maps for FA. One good turn deserved another. "Where's Shakra's place?"
[22:51] * Mary leans further into his chair and takes out another cigar, lighting it and making note to pick some more up..
[22:55] <Dracos> "Now now, none of that in here, if you would.  Not good for the books." FA sternly requested of Mary.  "Shakra's place is the rock building at the end of the plaza."
[22:56] <Leets> "Is there anything we need to know about this Shakra?"
[22:58] <Dracos> "Hmm?  Don't see why you would.  He's a pleasant enough sort and friendly besides."
[23:01] <Jan> Finishing his work, he handed the notes to FA, and some sketches of the maps.
[23:04] * Mary cracks his neck and starts looking around the room.
[23:05] <Dracos> "Thank you, Jan."
[23:05] <Jan> "Do we owe you anything?"
[23:05] <Dracos> Mary finds books on all kinds of subjects.  Archery here.  The taming of three headed giants there.  The adventures of Cory in Shapier.  Campfire tricks to delight and amaze.  Beginners guide to Adventuring.
[23:06] * Mary eyes the last.
[23:06] <Mary> "'Ey, ya'll said somethin' about adventurin', right? Any 'a ya'll read this thing before?"
[23:09] <Jan> "Never read a book on it." Jan shook his head.
[23:19] <Jan> "Do we owe you anything, FA?"
[23:21] <Dracos> "Owe?  Don't worry about it."
[23:24] <Jan> "Thanks for all the help. C'mon guys, I think we should get some wolfsbane before we set out to the oracle's place." Putting away Pandora's Box, he led the others in search of Shakra.
[23:26] * Mary stands up, and tips his hat to the man, and saunters out, hand resting on one of his pistol grips, the other holding his cigar.
[23:27] * Leets shakes FA's hand in thanks and quickly follows.

[Dracos]

[21:17] <Dracos> Finishing his meal with the strange folks, Felix slipped away into the crowds, heading first for that magic shop he'd been meaning to check out.  It wasn't far and in moments he was standing in front of the building/cave...  Well, some of each given it was carved right into the rock face.  Had two quite large doors for entrance.
[21:19] * Joins: Jan (Velsper56@216-39-176-79.ip.theriver.com)
[21:20] * Felix opens one of the doors, and steps in, taking a quick glance about the shop, curious and unsure of what exactly to expect...maybe some bottles with eyes of newts and snake tails?
[21:27] <Dracos> Stepping into the torchlit cavern, he saw many books, trinkets, bottles with strange things before a powerful voice seized his attention.  "Greetings," the proud lion man answered.  He stepped forward, a bit above the ground as he came out of another cavern, carrying a staff in one hand and bearing a golden tiara on his head.  He had this sense of dignity in his motions and his mane was long.  "A fellow magician I see.  What brings you to my(cont)
[21:27] <Dracos> humble shop?"
[21:31] <Felix> "Greetings to you as well. As to what brings me here? Curiosity, and a desire to further my knowledge and improve my trade, as any magician would do," Felix replies with a smile.
[21:33] <Dracos> "A fair reason.  I am Shakra sah Tarna and am here if you have questions as to the stock."
[21:41] <Felix> "Felix DuCartes," Felix introduces himself in kind, with a small polite bow before continuing on. "I suppose I should start by admitting that my form of magic is primarily sleigh of hand, I suppose, as I am an entertainer first, and a scholar second. I would ask if you have some suggestions as to where to start."
[21:47] <Dracos> "Mmm... a newcomer to halls of true magic... but I sense in you talent.  Perhaps simply you've never had the proper training.  Are you truly interested in learning to master the arcane?"
[21:50] <Felix> "I must admit that I never considered it before I...found myself in this city, but it is of interest to me. I call myself a master of my trade where I come from, but here, I seem to merely dabble in parlor tricks," Felix freely admits.
[21:55] <Dracos> "I see.  Well then, let us see...  Do you have silver to pay?" He wondered briefly, walking around and coming down towards Felix.  He really did have a rather noble counternance.
[21:56] * Felix nods. "I do."
[21:58] <Dracos> "First then, the basics..." he pulled a scroll off the shelf.  "One of the more simple spells.  As with any of them, they can be easy to learn once you pick up the basics, but hard to master.  The more you practice, the better you'll get."  He handed Felix the scroll.
[22:00] * Felix nods again as he grabs the scroll, though does not open it until he hears the price. "How much for this then?"
[22:03] <Dracos> "Fifty silver for the scroll." He answered.
[22:06] * Felix nods. "Excellent. Anything else you would recommend? Or should I simply work on this before returning?"
[22:11] * Retrieving #wasteland2 modes...
[22:12] <Dracos> "Try it here.  It is a spell to let you detect magic.  An important basic.  If you can comprehend it, I'll sell you some others."
[22:14] * Felix nods, as he slips a finger under the seal closing the scroll, and rips it off, opening the scroll so he can take a glance.
[22:17] <Dracos> It seems to be in some strange tongue.  The letters wiggling before his eyes almost dizzyingly as he tried to read it, though soon seeming to come into focus as he read it again and again, trying to figure it out...it wasn't English or french...yet at the same time it seemed both readable and foreign to him.
[22:26] <Felix> "Hrm..." Felix mumbles, looking interested as he focuses on this strange text.
[22:30] <Dracos> As he stared he felt his head burning a bit as the text started to fade away before his eyes...though he could still remember it as the scroll went blank.
[22:33] * Felix drops the scroll and gingerly grasps his head. "Bloody hell, that gave me quite a bit of a headache..." he mutters with a shake of his head.
[22:34] <Dracos> "Tends to the first time.  You remember it though, right?  The fact that you could read it is a good sign."
[22:36] * Felix nods his head in answer, as he focuses on what he recalls of the words, as he leans down to pick up the now blank scroll. "Yes, though I certainly wasn't expecting the burning sensation..."
[22:38] <Dracos> "It's your mind storing the magic.  Try calling it forth.  Invoking the words."
[22:40] <Dracos> Focusing on it, he found he could remember it quite perfectly.
[22:41] * Felix invokes those words in his memory, and tries to call forth true magic.
[22:43] <Dracos> He felt a glimmer in his eyes as all of a sudden he could see things he'd never seen before, soft blue glows on dozens of objects all over the store, most notably Shakra's clothing and shaf.
[22:46] <Felix> "Well...I assume your clothing and staff are of a magical nature, Mr. sah Tarna?" Felix asks, looking a bit satisfied with himself.
[22:50] <Dracos> "That's correct." He nodded.  "Please, call me Shakra."
[22:52] <Felix> "Of course," Felix answers. "Well I can't say I look forward to worsening my headache today, but anything else that I should be looking at then, Shakra?"
[22:55] <Dracos> "Mmm, some basics.  How much do you have to spend?"
[22:58] * Felix muses. "Let's say 200 silver for now," he finally decides.
[22:59] <Dracos> "Well, then... how about a simple spell to open doors and a basic one to toss lightning?"
[23:00] <Felix> "Hrm...Do you possess anything elementary regarding illusions? Or a book on magical theory?" Felix asks, not taking the offer just yet.
[23:04] <Dracos> "Magical theory is something that can take years to learn.  I don't do much in illusions...but there's always Juggling lights."
[23:06] <Felix> "Hrm...no, I think I'll take your original offer. You never know when some ruffian might try accosting you, so might as well be able to give him a bit of a shock if he thinks me defenseless," Félix notes wrily.
[23:09] <Dracos> Two scrolls were shortly handed over in the broad hand of the lionman.
[23:10] * Felix digs into his money bag for the amount for 250 silver, and hands them to Shakra with one hand while taking the two scrolls with the other hand. "Thank you."
[23:12] <Dracos> "Fair enough.  If you come into more.  Feel free to come back here.  And if you're looking for a lesson in theory, Erasmus may be willing."
[23:13] <Felix> "Erasmus?" Felix asks looking up as he puts away the two scrolls within his suitcase.
[23:18] <Dracos> "An archmage.  Old friend of the King who keeps a portal to his home near the city."
[23:19] * Felix closes his suitcase. "Hmm...well, if he accepts visitors, I suppose I might look him up some time," Felix replies as he stands up again. "In the meantime, thank you for the scrolls."
[23:20] <Dracos> "Well, he does, but his guardians tend to like their riddles and all.  You're welcome and good luck in your studies."
[23:22] * Felix nods. "Before I leave, I do have a question. I met some people earlier who were looking for information about something they called starstones. Would you anything about them?"
[23:23] <Dracos> "Starstones?  No, these are not artifacts known to me."
[23:24] <Felix> "Hrm...pity. Well, you've still been most helpful," Felix replies as he starts to head out the door, his suitcase trailing behind him. "Have a nice day."

[Dracos]

[23:28] <Dracos> Heading out, they follow his directions...finding that magician from earlier stepping out of the self-same building.
[23:30] <Jan> Jan blinks. "Small town. How are you, Felix?"
[23:32] * Mary nods to Felix and tips his hat, blowing a cloud of smoke out through his nostrils.
[23:33] <Felix> "Quite well, how are you all?" Felix as in kind, somewhat surprised at seeing them so soon. "I thought you were headed to the adventurer's guild?"
[23:35] <Jan> "They sent us to a correspondance school for adventurers. We got a lead there, and a tip to come here to buy some wolfsbane."
[23:37] <Felix> "Ah, I see," Felix replies with a nod. "Well, the shop owner, Shakra, is quite a helpful fellow, so I'm sure you'll have no trouble getting the item you need."
[23:41] * Mary rolls his cigar to the other side of his mouth and glances around the area.
[23:41] <Jan> "What were you doing here?"
[23:43] <Felix> "I recalled you were searching for information on starstones, and assuming they might be magical, thought to ask at the magic shop as I did offer to try and help," Felix explains before smirking. "Of course, I found myself interested enough in his wares that I've decided to invest some scholastic pursuit towards the arcane knowledge."
[23:45] * Mary grunts.
[23:46] <Jan> "I see. Well, we found out that there's an oracle north of here that might be able to tell us where the starstone would be. Seems it comes with knowing what our future will be on top of it. Guess nothing's ever free."
[23:46] <Mary> "They ain't go no magic bullets there, do they? With all this hell an' gone shit, I might need 'a couple.."
[23:49] <Jan> "I doubt they have bullets here. I was told by another magic user that traveled with us that it's better to enchant the entire gun instead of just the bullets."
[23:49] * Mary draws one of his pistols and looks at it..
[23:49] <Felix> "You never know, they just might though. But I can't say I thought to ask, as I don't own a gun," Felix pipes in.
[23:50] <Mary> "Whole damn thing, eh? Wonder how'd they do that little piece 'a work.."
[23:51] <Jan> "Let's go in. Maybe they can figure out a way to do it." Jan looked over at Felix. "You want to join our little group? You did try to help us out, and it isn't like you're tied down to this place, right?"
[23:52] <Mary> "I ain't got none 'a the money from 'round here. Not sure I trust this 'magic' stuff, neither.. But from the hell that's gone on so far 'ta me.. Might as well, I 'suppose.."
[23:55] <Jan> "Silver is the money around here. Here, your first paycheck." Jan handed some to Mary.
[23:55] <Mary> "Paycheck? Gotta do some work 'fore I get paid. I ain't done a thing 'cept sleep off whiskey."
[23:57] <Felix> "Hrm, why not? As you said, I'm not really tied down to this place," Felix admits. "A change of scenary might do me some good."
[00:03] <Jan> "Okay. I'll hold onto it for now then." Jan pocketed the silver. He smiled at Felix, offering the man a hand. "Well, welcome onboard."

[Dracos]

[21:04] <Dracos> At the end of last session, our valiant *cough* heroes, had assembled a fierce fighting force...  or negociated a local mage into joining their cause.  With both direction and a hint on dealing with the wolves, things were looking up for our erstwise adventurers...
[21:04] <Dracos> Now they stood before the same cavernous doors that Felix had entered earlier.
[21:06] * Quits: Jan (Velsper@216-39-190-19.ip.theriver.com)
[21:09] * Joins: Velsper (Velsper@216.39.190.254)
[21:09] * Mary walks up to the doors, looking over them before giving them a test shove to see if he can open them.
[21:11] <Felix> "Well, let's go see about getting what you need then," Felix says as Mary pushes on the store door, turning to head back inside.
[21:11] <Dracos> They open with a groan.  They're made of wood and lighter than they look though, swinging and given entryway in.
[21:12] * Velsper is now known as Jan
[21:15] <Dracos> Heading in, they find the shopkeeper, a proud lionman, turning to face them.
[21:15] <Dracos> "Greetings, customers."
[21:15] * Mary eyes the shopkeeper, keeping his hands on his pistol grips and watching him out of the corner of his eyes.
[21:16] <Felix> "Hello again, Shakra," Felix greets the shopkeeper.
[21:17] <Dracos> "Greetings.  Back so soon?"
[21:18] <Felix> "Yes, I met the friends I told you about outside. Apparently they are in need of...wolfsbane was it?" Felix turns to the three others, to make sure.
[21:22] <Mary> "Yeah, I think tha's what he said."
[21:22] <Dracos> "Mmm, wolfsbane?  Whatever would you need that for?  Hunting werewolves?"
[21:23] * Mary shrugs.
[21:23] <Mary> "Don't know. They said somethin' about some wolves that've been runnin' after 'em for a while."
[21:25] <Jan> "We have ghost wolves after us. FA told me that wolfsbane might help slow them down, since they've proven themselves relentless otherwise."
[21:26] <Felix> "Ghost wolves?" Felix asks curiously.
[21:26] <Dracos> "Mmm.  Ghosts?  I don't know how much that'd work on such beings."
[21:27] <Jan> "Souls of guardian spirits of Pandora's Box. I opened it and got cursed. They probably want to shred me to pieces, but I haven't given them a chance so far."
[21:27] <Leets> "More like undead wolves," Leets said, shooting an annoyed glare at Mary's indifference. "I don't think guns would work on ghosts."
[21:27] <Dracos> "Mmm, Well.  I can sell you the little I have.  But the cost will be high.  Seven hundred silver."
[21:28] <Jan> "What do you guys think? They can't touch me so far."
[21:28] * Mary shrugs.
[21:29] <Mary> "I've had plenty 'a posses on my back. Learned a long time ago it's better ta leave a cold corpse than a hot headed person ta yer back."
[21:33] <Mary> "Sir, what about my pistols? Been told it'd be better ta get the guns themselves.. Uh... enchanted? Somethin' like that, than ta buy bullets ta do the job."
[21:34] * Mary turns the shopkeeper and offers one of his pistols for inspection.
[21:34] <Dracos> "Enchanted weaponry?  Well, I can do that...but it'll cost a lot more than simple wolvesbane.  At least ten thousand silver."
[21:35] <Mary> "Each?"
[21:35] * Mary stares at his pistols in a bit of shock.
[21:36] <Dracos> "Each." The lion nodded.
[21:37] * Felix whistles at that price.
[21:39] * Mary withdraws the pistol, spinning across his palm and snapping it into the air, opening his coat with the hand previously holding the gun, allowing it to spin through the air and slide into its holster.
[21:40] * Mary snaps his coat closed with a flick of his wrist and wanders around the store looking at the wares it offers, still in slight shock.
[21:40] <Jan> "I think you broke his brain."
[21:41] <Jan> "Wolfsbane it is." Jan held out the silver for the lion shopkeep. "Think you can enchant some of his bullets instead? Or sell us the spell to do it?"
[21:42] <Dracos> "Certain things are expensive.  Spells to enchant weaponry or bullets are not so simple as to be learned  from a scroll.  They require indepth knowledge of magical theory.  Bullets would cost 1000 silver.  Each and take me a day each."
[21:43] * Mary shakes his head a little.
[21:43] <Mary> "That'd get expensive but quick... There a way ta make the cash fer the pistols decently quick?"
[21:45] <Dracos> The lionman shrugged. "Find a job that pays well, I suppose.  Adventurers never seem to lack for money."
[21:45] <Mary> "Know anyone tha's got work fer near that much?"
[21:47] <Dracos> "Check the bulletin boards."
[21:48] <Mary> "Where's them at?"
[21:49] <Dracos> "There's one in the adventurer's guild.  One near the castle.  And one in Ferrari's inn."
[21:49] <Mary> "Thanks, then, sir."
[21:50] <Jan> "How do we use the wolfsbane?" Jan eyed his purchase wearily. "I don't know much about these mystical things."
[21:52] <Dracos> The lionman moved to a shelf and brought over a sealed bottle. "Just open it.  The scent should drive off or put to sleep any wolves in the area.  Keep it sealed  until then.  It's freshness doesn't last long."
[21:54] <Jan> "Only use it when they're about to dive at our necks, in other words?"
[21:55] <Dracos> "It'll effect every wolf for about a mile or so, but yes.  That's the gist of it."
[21:56] <Jan> "Alright then." Jan turned towards the others. "Got anything you're interested in buying? If not, we should probably head out now."
[21:57] * Mary shrugs.
[21:57] <Mary> "I don't know what any 'a this stuff is."
[21:58] <Felix> "I've already gotten things here," Felix says with his own shrug.
[21:58] <Leets> "I suppose I'm good to go too."
[21:59] <Jan> "Hm. You're trying to be a real magician now, Felix?"
[22:04] * Felix laughs. "I suppose you could put it that way," Felix answers. "It never hurts to expand ones knowledge after all."
[22:05] <Jan> "Hm. Well, feel free to buy another scroll or two. You're part of the team now." The negotiator shrugged.
[22:06] <Felix> "I've bought two already, so I'll wait until I get through them. Thank you for the offer though," Felix comments.
[22:07] <Jan> "Well, let's go talk to the king, then." He nodded at Felix before addressing the lion man. "Thank you for your patience, sir. Have a good day."
[22:07] <Jan> So saying, Jan started for the exit.
[22:07] * Mary tips his hat to the shopkeeper and heads out with the group.
[22:08] <Dracos> Shakra waved as they left and returned to his work.
[22:13] <Dracos> Heading through the plaza and north up the stairs to the upper part of the city, they passed...The Royal Bulletin Board.
[22:13] <Dracos> Or at least, that was what was written on top of it.
[22:13] <Dracos> Didn't seem very royal.  What with it being made of wood and all.
[22:13] <Dracos> Had some papers on it.
[22:14] <Jan> Jan peered at one of them.
[22:14] * Mary reads over them as best he can.
[22:17] <Dracos> "Here ye, here ye...  Let it be known that the adventurer's guild is seeking adventurers to drive off an infestation of beasts and bandits on the island of Islo.  Inquire with the minotaur."
[22:18] <Dracos> Another read:"The Recent dragon infestation has been dealt with by our royal ruler.  The fishermen may again head to the north without fear."
[22:18] <Jan> Jan checked his map to see where the island of Islo was.
[22:19] <Dracos> It was a midsized island a little north of the main island of Silmaria.
[22:19] <Jan> He cross referenced it with the location of the Oracle.
[22:20] <Felix> "Found something you wish to check out?" Felix asks.
[22:20] <Dracos> Not on the way, unless on the way involved a complete circling of the island chain.
[22:24] <Jan> "There's bandits and monsters to smite on the island to the north, but it's completely off our path to the oracle. I was hoping it would've been along the way." He pointed out the location of the oracle to Felix.
[22:25] <Jan> "Let's keep checking." He looked at the other listings.
[22:29] * Mary checks over the rest of the listings with Jan.
[22:30] <Dracos> "Local merchants gathering in 2 weeks!"
[22:30] <Dracos> "Sale on Rutabegga at the Katta market!"
[22:32] * Jan paid attention to the job offers.
[22:33] <Dracos> Well, there was one up for an assistant mailboy.
[22:35] <Jan> "Nothing here for us. Maybe we can take that bandit busting job after we meet the oracle."
[22:35] <Mary> "Mmm.."
[22:35] <Jan> He marked the island on his map and put it away.
[22:36] * Mary nods and shoves his hands in his pockets, getting ready to move on.
[22:37] <Jan> The negotiator led the way back to the castle. "I hope he can lend us the balloon."
[22:41] <Dracos> The guards stopped them at the gate. "State your business."
[22:46] <Jan> "We've come to petition the king for the use of the royal balloon."
[22:48] <Dracos> "Royal balloon?"  They looked at each other.  "I know of no royal balloon."
[22:49] <Jan> "FA mentioned a balloon the king used once."
[22:49] <Dracos> The guards again looked at each other.  "I will check with the king.  Wait here."
[22:49] <Dracos> The guard headed inside.
[22:51] <Dracos> Minutes passed before the guard returned... but return he did.  "The king invites you in to hear your request."
[22:52] <Jan> "Thank you. Lead the way."
[22:52] <Dracos> Thus they were once more brought to the hall of kings where they were to have an audience with the ruler of silmaria.  He sat with an interested gaze at them.  "You have need of my old balloon?"
[22:53] <Jan> "Yes. FA advised us that to reach the oracle, we should use the balloon you used before."
[22:55] * Felix observes the king, though trying not to look too obvious about it, being somewhat curious about the royalty which he's not seen since his arrival in these lands.
[22:55] <Dracos> "The oracle?  Mmm, yes, that would be the only way to reach it.  Okay, but try not to wreck it.  I'm somewhat fond of it and all.  It's kept on science island, out in back.  Do return it when you're done."
[22:56] <Dracos> The king was clearly a fit man, still somewhat in his youth, he had the build of a lean warrior, agile and atheletic.  He didn't look particularly like what one might expect of royalty, or indeed, acted like such.
[22:57] <Jan> "Thank you very much, your highness." Jan smiled as he bowed towards the gracious man respectfully.
[22:58] * Felix gives a respectful bow as well, despite having been silent all this time.
[22:59] * Mary draws the edge of his hat down in a tip with a nod.
[23:02] <Leets> "Do you have a pilot for the balloon?" asked Leets, eyeing the others. "I don't think any of us here know how to fly one."
[23:04] * Retrieving #wasteland modes...
[23:04] <Dracos> "It's easy enough.  I figured it out on my first try.  Given I sort of built it, but really, just like steering a boat."
[23:08] <Jan> "How many can fit in the balloon comfortably? We can always take our ship's pilot with us."
[23:08] <Dracos> "Mmm, 3, four probably.  Beyond that might be risky."
[23:09] <Jan> "Well, time to get a crash course from our friend back at the Rydia."
[23:11] <Dracos> "Again, it's not really that hard." The king shrugged.
[23:12] <Jan> Jan nodded. "Thank you for the help, sir." Turning to the others, he concluded. "Let's go. We've got a long day ahead of us."
[23:13] <Dracos> And so the crew departed out posthastly after thanking the king, heading down to the Rydia where they got a few basic tips from the sailor.  It was here fizban chose to wait for them, quoting old bones as the reason he didn't want to head up into the air.  A few questions and it was revealed that science island was entirely abandoned, but was reachable through the west gate.
[23:13] <Jan> And so they chose to walk!
[23:14] <Felix> Onward they walk!
[23:14] <Jan> Walk walk walk.
[23:16] <Dracos> So, heading to the west gate they gained passage, walking to Science Island, quite possibly the oddest island they'd ever seen.  It was a manmade island, sitting on a platform well above the waves.  The only route there seemed to be a gondola on the other end held up by wire that traversed the canyon between the edge of the shore and the island.
[23:16] <Dracos> How to get to it?  They had no obvious tricks, though there seemed to be a machine with a spear jabbed into it like a sort of handle.
[23:17] <Jan> Jan walked up to the machine and gripped the spear, trying to turn it like a lever.
[23:17] <Jan> *crank
[23:21] <Dracos> It didn't seem to want to move that way, but it looked like it could be pulled left or right.
[23:22] <Jan> The negotiator tried pulling it to the left.
[23:25] <Dracos> It slide with a creaking sound as they heard the gondola start to move, twisting along the wires and eventually coming towards them.  It'd pass right by the edge in a few moments, though it didn't seem to have anythhing there to stop it.
[23:37] <Jan> Once it got close, he tried pushing the spear lever to the right
[23:37] <Dracos> It stopped, right in front of them.
[23:37] * Felix gets on the gondola. "Nice system they have," Felix notes.
[23:39] <Jan> "It's too advanced. This place just seems bizarre to me."
[23:39] <Jan> Waiting for everyone to get on, he pushed the lever and quickly ran and hopped in it.
[23:40] <Dracos> landing in it, the gondola shook worrisomely, swaying side to side as it moved, but it got them up there safely enough and stopped right at the opposite edge.
[23:42] <Jan> "Fun ride." Jan stepped off the gondola, eyeing the ocean below from the edge of the land.
[23:43] * Mary looks over the side and whistles low at the ocean.
[23:44] <Dracos> At the entrance, they were witness to no less strange a sight.  The doorway, to the side, had a huge gear with a chunk cut out of it hooked  up to some rotary machine, with some flashing screen nearby.  Thankfully, it was already open.
[23:46] <Jan> "Wow. Now this is something you don't see everyday." Jan muttered as he walked closer to the entrance way, peering inside after a moment of gawking.
[23:48] <Dracos> The entrance was dark, but inside he could see light illuminating a vast laboratory.
[23:48] <Jan> "I wish Clyde had stuck around to see all of this. He would've had a field day."
[23:48] <Jan> Walking inside, he tried not to poke as he looked around carefully.
[23:49] * Parts: Leets (Dinh@c-24-6-70-63.hsd1.ca.comcast.net)
[23:50] * Mary follows after, trying not to jar or break anything..
[23:51] <Dracos> The place had lots of kooky stuff, indeed, a wall was opened to what looked like a virtual frakenstein's laboratory, complete with slab hooked up with restraints.
[23:51] <Jan> "Maybe this is how they made all those people we saw back in town?"
[23:52] <Mary> "The hell is this place?"
[23:53] * Felix also looks around. "Who knows? We should probably go find that balloon though."
[23:54] <Jan> "Eggheads make all sorts of things here that they use to tame the world, Mary."
[23:54] <Jan> He looked for a way out back.
[23:54] <Mary> "Freaky bastards.."
[23:54] <Dracos> He spotted a door in the back of the lab, just past what looked like some sort of strange conveyerlike device hooked to a wall.
[23:55] <Jan> "Usually they have the best intentions and invent all sorts of convenient things, like medicine. But this stuff is kinda...weird."
[23:55] <Jan> The negotiator tried to open the door.
[23:56] <Dracos> Door opened easily enough, leading out to a platform in the back of the island.  Here stood...their goal!  A sort of balloon attached to the top of a winged gondola.  Seemed to have a little rutter for steering, a hot brazier for heat, and looked all ready to go.
[23:57] <Jan> "And things for us to borrow to fly to the oracle." Jan cheerfully concluded. "So I'll forgive the weird stuff."
[23:57] <Felix> "Any parachutes?" Felix comments. "Just in case, you know."
[23:58] <Jan> He got on the vehicle, checking out the controls and comparing them. He found that they were just like a ship's. He looked for parachutes.
[23:58] <Mary> "Parachute? What in hells is that?"
[23:59] <Jan> "You wear it on your back, and pull a cord on it when you're falling through the air. It releases this thick cloth that slows your fall."
Session Time: Mon Mar 13 00:00:00 2006
[00:00] * Mary stares at Jan, disbelieving..
[00:00] <Mary> "No way are you gonna get me ta try somethin' that crazy."
[00:01] <Felix> "Hopefully we won't have to," Felix replies. "The king did say it was easy to fly."
[00:01] <Dracos> There's no parachutes on it.
[00:01] <Dracos> It didn't look to have any safety conventions at all.
[00:01] <Jan> "Don't worry. I'm confident in my ability to get this thing up and towards the oracle."
[00:05] * Felix nods. "Well, lets get going then, I suppose."
[00:06] <Jan> And they were off towards the oracle, after a few moments of Jan fumbling with the controls.

[Dracos]

[21:41] <Dracos> Riding on the gondola-balloon was a bit of an experience as they floated off, but as the man had said, it was safe enough to travel in and swift enough in the skies as they floated what felt like miles above the ground.  They could see the trees swiftly passing beneath them, the huge mountain in the distance followed by the ocean waves, hours passing before they started to lower down towards the island, spotting what looked, to any case, (cont)
[21:42] <Dracos> to be the home of the oracle, a ruined greecian temple in the middle of a clearing in the forests.  Landing just outside, they shut the heater down and stepped out onto thankfully solid land again.
[21:42] <Dracos> They were now probably a minute or two south of the place.
[21:43] <Dracos> To the north of where they stood, they could see the first broken pillars of the greek temple that they'd come for.
[21:47] <Leets> "This feels more like a culture fair every day," Leets commented, naming the time periods they've visited under his breath.
[21:50] <Felix> "I always thought of it more as a rather good movie set," Felix chimes in as he stares towards the temple.
[21:50] <Jan> Jan continued to stride towards the temple. "Well, do as the romans do, or something."
[21:52] <Leets> "Looks more like Grecian, really." Leets followed along the path.
[21:53] <Dracos> Lining the way to this ruined temple were beautiful lotus flowers, large, about the size of a small bush, but strange in that they had no scent and their color was the darkest blacks mixed with purple in the center.  Moving up the crumbled stairs they came to the center of the shrine.  or what was left of it.  No oracle to be seen.  A statue though stood watch over a spring built into the temple and remarkably clean and clear.
[21:53] <Dracos> Surrounding it was a set of the lotus flowers they'd seen on their way in.
[21:54] <Dracos> THe statue overlooking it was of a female cast and seemed to have weathered the elements well, though its face was long since worn away.
[21:54] <Dracos> Nearby there seemed to be some carvings on the bottom of one of the pillars.
[21:57] <Jan> Jan knelt down to look at the carvings closer.
[21:59] <Dracos> They were old and spoke of the rivers of hades.  "All rivers lead to hades, but the blooded ones of earth lead closer.  To those who would dare to walk the realm of death, speak these words before the river of death..." It contained a strange verse, almost a poem after it.
[22:01] <Jan> "Just a poem down here. A chant you say if you want to go to the realm of death." Jan stood up, dusting himself off. "I'm not that eager to go there yet, thanks."
[22:02] <Jan> "Excuse me? Is there anyone here?" He called out as he walked around the fountain, looking this way and that.
[22:02] * Felix also helps look around for this oracle they were looking for.
[22:03] <Dracos> His voice echoed off into the woods around them, unheard by any save his comrades.  The plants were the only signs of nearby life.  Walking around the fountain, he noticed no carvings around or any plaques, though there were some coins at the bottom of the fountain.
[22:04] <Jan> "Hm. Think we need to drop money to the fountain? Magical ritual and whatever?"
[22:04] * Leets looks around as well, apparently not having any luck either. "Maybe we should have called first."
[22:05] <Jan> Jan rummaged in his pocket for a coin. "I don't think you can ask the operator to connect you to destiny."
[22:07] <Felix> "Anything else besides that poem you found? Maybe some kind of key to getting to the oracle?"
[22:09] <Jan> Jan repeated the verse on the bottom of the fountain.
[22:09] <Dracos> Nothing happened.  The water remained as placid as before, though it did send a sort of chill down all their spines at hearing the verse.
[22:10] <Felix> "Maybe we need to state it elsewhere? That seemed to do something," Felix suggests.
[22:10] <Jan> "There's coins at the bottom of the fountain. Maybe we toss one in."
[22:12] <Felix> "Hrm...well you do have to pay a toll to the ferryman of the river styx, if I recall mythology correctly," Felix muses. "Sounds reasonable."
[22:13] <Leets> "Can't hurt to try, I suppose."
[22:14] * Jan flicks a coin into the fountain and repeats the verse yet another time.
[22:16] <Dracos> The same dread chill ran down there spines...followed by an uncanny sense of outrage...of anger....  thunder boomed loudly through the clearing as darkness claimed them, their bodies suddenly heavy as the three of them dropped to the ground, their eyes closed as the booming noise continued... and then suddenly it was gone, the clearing as peaceful as before.
[22:16] <Dracos> With one change...  where the statue had been, now a slender woman stood, her face shadowed and hidden under a large dark hood.  "One has paid the toll and called upon the Sybil... have you the courage to face your destiny..."
[22:17] <Dracos> The voice didn't quite come from the hood, but instead sort of scratched out on the back of their minds...  sort of unpleasantly.
[22:17] <Dracos> It was easy to see why this place wouldn't get many visitors.
[22:18] <Jan> "Ugh. Pay a buck, get a sledgehammer to the back of your head, fun." Jan slowly rose to his feet. "Give me my destiny, oracle."
[22:21] <Dracos> Golden eyes glimmered from within the hood.  "Then so it shall be...." The Sybil intoned.  "Know this... the road before you is dark and even mine eyes cannot truly see the end, for the web of fate is shattered and all travel towards the mouth of the beast that hides in darkness."
[22:23] <Dracos> It lifted an arm, pointing with a spindly hand at them, a finger so boney it was nearly a claw gesturing towards them.  "Five lights broke it.  Five lights sealed the beast away.  Five lights shall gather up the web, shall bring it together, and in the darkness mend it...  Only then can the beast that lies in the darkness be driven back, the branch of memory that holds it above the pits severed.  This is your destiny." It intoned.
[22:24] <Jan> "Where are those lights?"
[22:27] <Dracos> It lifted out the other arm, holding in its clawlike grasp....a crystal of shining light, glowing warmly.  Jan could recognize it easily enough.  It was one of the crystals, like the one the kingpin had been wearing.  "Take this, it is one of them.  Another lies to the west,"  A finger jabbed out like a knife towards the south west.  "Over a barren desert, past the tribal lands, in the mountains on the edge of the world a mountain king does (cont)
[22:30] <Dracos> does roam, bearing with it a light.  South" Her finger jabbed that direction now. "Upon the neck of a king of thieves, ruler of a jungle of stone and steel, another lies.  Further, in the realm where even Hades struggles to reach, past the mists of damnation lies another in the castle of the fallen rose.  Finally, one falls from the heavens in the east, past the city of skulls, in a land where  children play."
[22:31] <Dracos> "To these lights, risen to the tower, the web may be mended...  To these lights, lost to time...  so to, will all be lost."
[22:32] * Felix pauses. "Nothing simple with you guys, huh?" he asks his companions before looking towards the oracle. "Are there more of us lost travellers?" he asks, curious as to whether they'll encounter others from their homes.
[22:33] <Jan> "What'll happen to this world when the demon is gone?"
[22:34] <Dracos> "The web is shattered... all are lost, food for the beast unless the beast is trapped in the web."  The thunder came again... the darkness...and when they could see again, the statue had returned, though nearby, there was a stone tablet with the very words they had heard inscribed on it and next to it, the crystal they'd been seeking.
[22:35] <Jan> "I wonder if we can stuff it in the box."
[22:39] <Jan> Jan moved up to pick up the crystal, turning it this way and that in his hand as he looked at it.
[22:39] <Jan> "Kinda underwhelming that this is the stuff of heroes."
[22:40] <Dracos> It was like a spun six pointed star, glistening and warm, almost re-energizing to hold.  It was small, but looking into it he could see it replicated inside tens of thousands of times before his eyes would begin to water at looking closer.
[22:41] <Dracos> It gave off a soft glow, barely stretching outside of its own material.
[22:41] <Leets> "Whatever works, right?" Leets said, studying the crystal.
[22:41] <Jan> "Someone call Yomi from my pack. He'll probably be pleased at this."
[22:43] <Dracos> He didn't have to. "You found one" Yomi's ever chirpish voice gloated from behind him. "Excellent, a start."
[22:45] * Felix blinks, and looks at this...Yomi.
[22:46] <Dracos> "Hey, you've got more folks now, huh?" Yomi noticed the mage.  It was quite a weird site, this floating creature, sort of a purplish sphere with wings and eyes that was somehow talking to them.
[22:47] <Dracos> He wasn't big, about the size of a large cat, though his wings shouldn't have kept him flying like they were.
[22:49] <Jan> "This is humanity's grandpa. Except ten times as crotchety." Jan introduced Yomi to Felix.
[22:49] <Jan> "This is Felix. Our new mage in training."
[22:50] <Dracos> "A mage huh?  You humans have such odd names for folks."
[22:50] <Jan> "Would you like to be referred to as 'Hey-you'?"
[22:51] <Dracos> "Hmm, I think Yomi is well enough."
[22:51] * Felix raises an eyebrow at the entire exchange, not entirely sure as to how to react.
[22:51] <Jan> "Anyway, we have a stone, and an ominous fate." Jan pointed at the tablet left behind.
[22:52] <Dracos> "Huh..." Yomi glanced.  "The beast is probably the demon, but the rest of it might as well be gibberish.  Though directions are nice."
[22:53] <Jan> "The king of thieves is Kingpin."
[22:53] <Dracos> "Probably right."
[22:54] <Jan> "Should we go after the Kingpin or go for the mountain?"
[22:55] <Felix> "I opt for the mountain. I'm not enough of a daredevil to walk into a den of thieves right now. I'd like to learn some more of the arcane art, I think," Felix says on his part.
[23:00] <Jan> "It'll probably be stupid of us to return so soon to New Reno." Jan stroke his chin thoughtfully. "Anyway, I say we should go see that mountain king, then."
[23:01] <Jan> "Yomi, take this." He offered the starstone to the primordial puffball.
[23:02] <Leets> "Hey, Jan, before we go off on this, shouldn't we find out about the other two areas?"
[23:03] <Dracos> Yomi nodded and vanished with the starstone, presumably back to the box.
[23:04] <Jan> "I doubt we can find anything more out with how this entire world seemingly was set up, but we can always ask FA on a slim hope."
[23:08] <Felix> "If you wish to depart immediately, I'd like to buy a few more scrolls from Shakra first, I believe," Felix chimes in, since it certainly sounds like they want to leave soon.
[23:10] <Jan> "We can stop on the way, sure."
[23:14] <Leets> "Let's go then. Sooner we get there, the better."
[23:17] * Felix starts heading back towards the gondola so they can depart.
[23:18] <Dracos> Heading onto the gondola they soon rose over the forests heading south west towards Silmaria.
[23:24] <Leets> You can game and watch tv without getting whiplash. :p
[23:24] * Jan looks through the lab beyond the gondola for any weapons.
[23:25] <Dracos> OOC: Remove leets typ'ed lines.
[23:26] <Dracos> there's no weapons in the gondola, other than what they were carrying.  Didn't have much room extra anyhow.
[23:28] <Dracos> OOC: Remove last line.  Put next line before Jan's line.
[23:28] <Dracos> They landed in back of the lab, tying the gondola down and once against on sweet sweet solid ground.
[23:29] <Dracos> Jan's scouting around found little in the way of easy usable weaponry.  Seemed most of the work here was sort of the mad scientist kind based around that device attached to the slab.
[23:29] <Dracos> Some pipes could be pulled off.  There was raw materials and such, but no good weapons.
[23:31] <Felix> "Are you looking for anything specific?" Felix asks, not certain if his companion is looking for something specific as he moves around the labs.
[23:33] <Jan> "Guns, maybe. Nothing looks like anything I can use. Mm. I wonder if the eggheads in Vault City could use this stuff." Jan continued looking for anything worthwhile.
[23:35] * Felix nods, and looks for anything he can use as well, especifically, anything to make his grenades, or to replicate their effects.
[23:36] <Jan> Jan inspected the slab, and idly wondered what it was used for as he curiously looked at all its devices.
[23:36] <Dracos> Now in that regard, felix was quite a bit more successful.  There was plenty of raw ingredients he could use.  Chemicals and that sort of thing that'd been kept around and apparently left abandoned
[23:37] <Leets> "And here I thought you would prefer your other form, Jan," Leets said, looking over the lab.
[23:37] <Dracos> The slab simply maintained a record of what they'd been told by the Oracle.
[23:37] <Dracos> If it had any special properties, they weren't very apparent.
[23:37] <Leets> *not really looking for anything other then information.
[23:38] <Dracos> OOC: STrike my last two lines.
[23:38] <Felix> "Any luck finding anything? I've found a few chemicals I can put to use so far," the magician comments.
[23:38] <Dracos> It looked to be used for some kind of device to attach to a large human, with restraints and the like, equipment for giving injections, a strange sort of headpiece, and other tools around it.
[23:39] <Dracos> The machines, if anything, sort of flooked like they were meant for monitoring.
[23:39] <Jan> "Well, I hardly ever get to use it, so I need to find alternatives. I might have to start using the spears since I'll eventually run out of bullets."
[23:39] <Dracos> OOC: *looked not flooked.
[23:40] <Jan> "I'm not having any luck at all." Jan replied to Felix. "Let's just get what you need and head out, I guess."
[23:41] * Felix nods as he starts gathering the things that look like they can be carried easily without breaking or put away in his suitcase without damaging anything else.
[23:46] <Jan> Jan took them from Felix after pulling Pandora's Box out of his otherwise empty pack. "You don't know all the advantages of going with us. Gimme a second."
[23:47] <Jan> He promptly vanished into the box and returned a moment later. "Want me to put your stuff in there too?"
[23:47] * Felix blinks. "Oh, certainly. Thank you," he replies.
[23:48] <Jan> Once again he vanished into Pandora's Box with Felix's things, spit out of it a few moments later like before.
[23:53] * Retrieving #wasteland modes...
[23:58] <Jan> "Okay." Now that they were seemingly done, Jan lead them back to Silmaria's town.
[23:58] <Dracos> Leets found...  a large bulletin board at the back where a very detailed by of research, complete with pictures was displayed.
[23:58] <Dracos> This research proved, or at least claimed to prove, that Peperoni and pepper pizza was the ultimate research food.
[23:59] <Jan> OOC: Strike mine.
[23:59] <Dracos> And these topics were critical to the ultimate slice of pizza.
Session Time: Sun Mar 19 00:00:00 2006
[00:00] <Jan> "I think we've mined everything we can here." Jan replied. "Let's go back to town, shall we?" He started leading the way back to town.
[00:01] <Leets> "Huh. Guess even scientists like pizza." Despite it's somewhat inane nature, Leets pocketed some of the notes.
[00:02] <Dracos> Leets acquired "INDISPUTABLE EVIDENCE OF THE SUPERIORITY OF PEPPORONI AND PEPPER PIZZA".  Anyhow, following that, they crew made their way back down to the shore, thankfully off that insane little science island.
[00:07] <Jan> "Let's go get the magic scrolls first. I want to ask that lion wizard a thing or two myself too."
[00:08] <Felix> "Alright."
[00:09] <Jan> So they went to get phat magical loot for low low prices.
[00:10] <Dracos> Heading to the magic store, they found it closed, the din of late night having fallen during the end of their trip.
[00:10] <Dracos> They'd have to catch him in the morning, but for now, they needed a place to rest.
[00:17] <Felix> "I've been staying at a nearby inn, Gnome Ann's. There should be rooms there available if you haven't already made some sort of housing arrangements," Felix suggests to the others. Pausing he says, "I don't particularly recommend the food there though unless you have..eccentric tastes, so to say."
[00:18] <Jan> "Well, better than nothing." Jan shrugged. "Lead the way, Felix."
[00:19] * Felix leads the way!
[00:21] <Dracos> They headed on to Gnome Ann's inn as he'd said, a large structure with plentiful flowers growing on the outside with a thatched roof and wood walls, it was a warm if exotically painted dwelling.