[13:34] <@Kowork> -------------------------------------------
03[13:35] * Kowork sets mode: +o Adail
03[13:35] * Kowork sets mode: +oo Kamvakua Knight
03[13:35] * Kowork sets mode: +o Nikkolai
[13:37] <@Kowork> Thus, the wanderers step through the portal to Arborea! In an instant they are elseware, reality bending way to their travels! You stand beneath a massively tall canopy of tree-tops, blotting out the sky. The ground here is mostly open despite the vast trees, covered planes. In warm, fragrant air you see winding paths here and there, birdsong filling the air.
06[13:40] * @Kamvakua stretches his arms out, a look of relief across his face, despite the tugging along the shadowy chains that only he could see pulling toward earth. "It is so good to be back in a decent part of the planes."
06[13:40] * @Adail inhales deeply, "Ah, the air of Arborea is inviting as always."
06[13:40] * @Nikkolai looks up and about, a small smile gracing his features. "I agree. This plane is very....agreeable."
01[13:41] <@Knight> Bell's tiny form will do him no good here! After getting her bearings, she begins to strip him of the ropy barding constraining his natural form. "There is another here," she murmurs. "But he is far away..."
[13:42] <@Nikkolai> "Another card? Do you know which one?" Nikkolai asks in curiosity.
06[13:43] * @Adail scampers up to Kam's shoulder and calls out to the birds, chirping at them and sounding for all the world like a bird himself. (In birdspeak here) "Ho there! Have any of you seen the Knights of Arbor recently?"
01[13:43] <@Knight> "No, I am not close enough," replies Knight, shaking her head. "The connection is tenuous at a distance, and I have no way of knowing how far." She flexes her fingers, and manages a wan smile. "But it is good to be outdoors at last nonetheless."
[13:44] <@Kamvakua> "Can you tell where in the plane we are?" Kamvakua wondered at Adail, recognizing his chittering for what it was.
[13:46] <@Nikkolai> "You're telling me." Nikkolai agrees with Knight. "Though I spent several weeks in a demiplane, there is something comforting about being back on a true, wholesome plane such as Arborea."
[13:47] <@Kowork> Birds come down in a small flock, fluttering around Kamvakua and Adail! The air becomes loud with tweeting birdsong! In it, Adail can hear, "Arbor Knights! Arbor Knights! North, north, north on the winds!" The birds chirp to Adail.
[13:48] <@Kamvakua> "There are many nice planes, but none have seemed as pleasant as this one. It is the tune of it," Kamvakua mused.
[13:48] <@Nikkolai> "It is almost as soothing as the Singing Crystal." Nikkolai fingers his necklace in remembrance.
06[13:48] * @Adail waves to the birds and thanks them, then grins down at the party, "Wherever we are, the Knights of Arbor are to the north, and recent enough for the birds here to remember it."
01[13:49] <@Knight> "I simply enjoy the space," replies Knight, moving to mount Bell. "How will we know them when we see them?"
[13:50] <@Nikkolai> "Who are the Knights of Arbor, exactly? Protectors of the realm?" Nikkolai wonders.
[13:50] <@Adail> "This is thier home plane, the Eladrin don't really bother with stealth here. We run into any, we ask them about the Knights. And if they see us first, they'll probably come over for a chat."
06[13:52] * @Adail nods to Nik, "Eh, something like that. They're a group of Eladrin, and occasionally other celestials like myself, who...well, to be frank engage in alot of war-games and duels and other forms of practice to keep thier edge, so they don't fall behind the forces of the lower planes during times of peace."
[13:52] <@Kamvakua> "Protectors of the realm?" Kamvakua laughed, the very notion amusing to him. "Nikkolai, this plane is much unlike the Prime. Things don't work like that here." He strode onward to the north, almost a bit too fast for easy following but not so much noticing.
06[13:53] * @Adail taps Kam on the head, "Slow down, large one. We have normal humans on foot here, you know."
[13:54] <@Nikkolai> "I see. Well, it can't be any worse than the realm where we first me."
06[13:54] * @Knight canters alongside Kam, and then has Bell pick up speed and take off, soaring towards the forest roof!
06[13:54] * @Nikkolai quickens his pace to follow.
06[13:54] * @Kamvakua slows a touch, noticing Nikkolai's trouble keeping up.
06[13:55] * @Nikkolai shakes his head wryly. "Yes, us normal humans are not quite up to the physical standards that you have, Kamvakua."
06[13:56] * @Nikkolai pants slightly as he comes abreast of the Goliath.
[13:56] <@Kowork> Thus the party travels! The ground is soft, the path light and the air warm. It is as much a stroll of the utmost leisure, save for Mari, who is silent and distracted, fluttering about. Through the tree filled openness you travel, something a few hundred feet ahead. Some sort of man-beast creatures making great song and noise, drinking and making merry. Faint notes of lively music can be heard on the wind.
[13:56] <@Kowork> music can be heard on the wind.
06[13:57] * @Adail eyes the creatures, trying to place what they are!
[13:58] <@Adail> (I'll take 10 for a 19 if permissable)
06[14:00] * @Adail winces, "We'll want to go around here. It's one of those magical parties Satyrs throw sometimes. Harmless fun...for us. Potential fatal to mortals."
06[14:00] * @Adail steers everyone in a WIDE berth around the satyrs.
01[14:02] <@Knight> An altitude of a hundred feet will surely keep Knight away from any hedonistic temptations!
06[14:02] * @Adail then sighs, "Things like this are largely the reason we have the Knights of Arbor. It's so easy to get distracted here. To get sucked into baccae and other wild parties or fun for hundreds of days or more. Easy to lose focus, to forget how to fight with more then instinct."
[14:03] <@Nikkolai> "It certainly looks tempting. I wonder how beautiful the women are?"
[14:03] <@Nikkolai> Nikkolai shoots for an idle tone.
[14:04] <@Kamvakua> "More than you can handle," Kamvakua teased the younger man.
[14:05] <@Nikkolai> "I sincerely doubt that, my good man." Nikkolai says haughtily. "It is quite the other way, I should imagine. How could a woman handle *me*?"
[14:08] <@Adail> "Well if you're too much for the women, I'm sure the male satyrs would be up to the task." Adail deadpans. "We celestial types are very laid back about that sort of thing. And no one can argue the experience of satyr men, with all the legends and stories that abound."
06[14:09] * @Nikkolai shudders slightly. "Ah, I'm afraid I don't go for that sort of thing. At all."
[14:09] <@Kowork> Thus the party continues on, leaving the bacchae to it's own revelry! Another few hours of travel come and pass, stomachs starting to rumble. One thing is obvious - it's meal time.
[14:09] <@Kamvakua> "Don't worry, they will," Kamvakua deadpanned, joining Adail's joke.
06[14:10] * @Adail is oblivious to the hunger of the others, not feeling it himself at all, so he's still looking around and continueing to converse with the passing fauna to make sure we're going the right way.
06[14:11] * @Nikkolai holds a hand to his stomach. "Would anyone mind if we stopped shortly for a meal? Or at least long enough to dig out some cold rations?"
06[14:11] * @Knight swoops down to land when she detects her hunger pains. "It's time for a rest," she declares. "And a meal. Did everyone remember to bring their rations? And waterskins?"
[14:12] <@Kamvakua> "Why not hunt? We're not on the plane of earth anymore and a fresh roast would not be unwelcome." Kamvakua suggested, fully willing to go out himself for a bit.
[14:13] <@Nikkolai> "I don't care either way, to be honest. Though I'll leave the hunting to those with the skill for it."
06[14:13] * @Adail considers, "That...may not be a bad idea. Eladrin don't need to eat any more then I do, but just as I enjoy the occasional cracker, they enjoy the occasional hunt and the feast thereafter. The smell will carry a fair bit here, it may draw some to us."
01[14:14] <@Knight> "If you will it," replies Knight. "Food is food."
06[14:15] * @Nikkolai sets his pack on the ground. "Well then. Shall we get a fire going?"
[14:15] <@Kamvakua> roll 1d20+10
06[14:15] * Hatbot --> "Kamvakua rolls 1d20+10 and gets 18."12 [1d20=8]
06[14:16] * @Kamvakua slips out into the bushes, his spear at the ready in a practiced habit. One who lives on the road learns to acquire their own food.
[14:17] <@Kowork> Thus a fire is started as Kamvakua hunts! His hunt is a good one, finding a beautiful, meaty deer! The takedown goes as planned, an entire warm carcass brought back to eat! It is gutted and put on a spit, the scent of cooking meat fills the air! It turns your stomach on, as if they had been off for a long time. The cooking fragrance, the smoke, the crackling meat and fat...the smell is utterly divine as it roasts! (More)
[14:17] <@Kowork> .the smell is utterly divine as it roasts! (More)
[14:17] <@Kowork> As you make sides and fixings from your rations..."Ooooh..." You hear faraway noises, but one carries. "Aaah! Ooooh!"
06[14:18] * @Adail moves towards the voices a bit, turning his See Invisibility on and waiting for whatever's making them to get closer.
[14:19] <@Kowork> As the party turns around, they can see them. About a dozen of them, perhaps? Tiny little pixies, even smaller than Mari, more akin to balls of light with wings! They giggle, wearing colorfully bright clothes! "That smells really good," one female pixie-thing calls in a sing-songy voice, "Ooooh, can you share some?"
06[14:20] * @Knight tilts her head towards the cries, and her beclawed arm taps the hilt of her sword. "There is plenty," she notes. "Even a small portion would be enough for all of you, correct?"
06[14:20] * @Nikkolai takes a few slices of meat from his own plate and puts it on a separate plate for their guests.
[14:21] <@Kamvakua> roll 1d20+6 K:P any problems likely from this from experience?
[14:21] <@Kamvakua> "A good hunt is best shared," Kamvakua agreed, not having a problem with it.
06[14:21] * Hatbot --> "Kamvakua rolls 1d20+6 K:P any problems likely from this from experience? and gets 24."12 [1d20=18]
[14:21] <@Kowork> "Oooooh!" A pair, a boy and a girl, dash over to Knight! "Those hands! So oversized andc ute!" They flutter around them, "Where'd you get them?! They don't match your arms!"
[14:21] <@Kowork> A few more come to the meat, starting to take tiny nibbles, "Thanks!" They say to Nikkolai, one hopping atop his head and curling up with a scrap of meat, "Ooooh, you smell like dirt and rocks."
06[14:21] * @Adail takes a flourishing bow towards the Courre, "Greetings! Please, join us. I am Adail Levif, White Rook of the Knights of Arbor, at your service."
01[14:22] <@Knight> "I took it from my enemy," replies Knight, blinking. "Cute? It is? Really?"
[14:22] <@Kowork> Another one goes to Adail, "Oh, you're one of those knights! We saw them a few days ago!"
[14:23] <@Kowork> "Oh yes, very cute! BUt you need to paint your nails something to stand out from that green! How about you get some bright purple nail polish?" One of the pixies takes Knight's ring finger and eyes it, "Oh, you took a hand from your enemy? How brave!"
[14:23] <@Adail> "Indeed? We're trying to find them ourselves, having just come from off plane. Could you direct us to where you last saw them, please?"
[14:23] <@Kowork> "Thataways!" The courre points north, as another pair go to Mari, the three fluttering higher up and gabbing away.
06[14:23] * @Nikkolai eyes the pixie atop his head. "Rocks and dirt? Well, so would you if you hadn't had a bath in several days.
[14:24] <@Kowork> "Oh, that's easy to fix!" THe courre snaps her fingers, "There's a forest spring just thataways! C'mon!" Tugging on a lock of Nikkolia's hair, "Got ake a bath!"
[14:24] <@Kamvakua> "Good to hear we are still heading the right way," Kamvakua nodded.
06[14:25] * @Adail nods, "Thank you. Ah," he decides to venture the question, "would you happen to have caught which order of the Knights it was, out of curiosity?"
01[14:25] <@Knight> "Ahaha, I was quite fearful at the time. The claws are quite, uh, sensitive, but you know, maybe a kind of red would be better. But I've never painted my nails before, so what do I know?"
[14:26] <@Kowork> "The white ones, I think," The courre offers a bit of meat to Adail, "Hey, wanna play hide and go seek? Guardinals are great at it!"
06[14:27] * @Nikkolai shakes his head gently, careful not to dislodge his guest. "My thanks, but I'll wait until we stop for the evening. No sense in cleaning up if we're only going to get dirty some more, is there?"
[14:27] <@Kowork> "But too bloody!" The courre sighs dramatically, "Too bloody with red! How about orange?"
[14:27] <@Kowork> "Aaaw." Resting on NIkkolai's head, "So what are all of you doing here?"
06[14:27] * @Adail waves off the meat, "No thank you. And I suppose if my companions are breaking to bathe, I could play a round with you. I warn you though, I'm better then most, even by our standards."
[14:28] <@Nikkolai> "I'm not entirely sure. I've only just rejoined my friends." Nikk looks to Knight and the others. "What are we doing here again?"
01[14:28] <@Knight> "We're recruiting, aren't we?"
03[14:28] * Kowork is now known as Kotono
[14:29] <@Kamvakua> "We shouldn't wait too long. I would desire well to be rid of his bindings."
[14:29] <@Kotono> "Recruiting for what?" Another starts going to Bell, idly looking at the saddlebags, "A party? A card game?"
[14:29] <@Kamvakua> "Nothing so pleasant, little ones."
01[14:31] <@Knight> "We could recruit for a card game as well," remarks Knight, reaching for one of Bell's bags and producing an ordinary deck.
[14:31] <@Kotono> "Oooh, cards!" Half a dozen of the courre flock to Knight, "You know ho to play cards?"
06[14:31] * @Adail idly ponders, "I wonder, if by some ironic definition, this entire journey could be considered a form of card game..."
[14:31] <@Kotono> "Oh?" The one near Adail asks, "Why do you say that?"
06[14:32] * @Adail chuckles, "It's a long story."
01[14:32] <@Knight> "As it happens, I do! Which do you prefer? Poker? Dragon-Ante? Bridge? Hearts?"
[14:32] <@Nikkolai> "Ah, I'm a poker man, myself."
[14:32] <@Kotono> "Poker!" The courre chirp after a few moments of muted conversation.
[14:32] <@Kotono> "Well, tell us," The courre insist to Adail, "It sounds interesting!"
06[14:33] * @Nikkolai plops down on his bottom, hopefully not dislodging his new friend!
06[14:33] * @Adail looks over at Knight, "Assuming you don't object?"
[14:34] <@Nikkolai> "This will be a long story indeed." Nikk notes in a wry tone, leaning against his pack to get comfortable.
06[14:34] * @Knight starts to shuffle the deck with an expert hand. "Very well. Shall there be an ante? The game is far more exciting with a suitable wager- uh, not exactly, no, but I don't like to- you know."
[14:35] <@Adail> "It is your story to tell, I won't share it if you aren't comfortable with it."
[14:35] <@Kotono> "Tell you what!" The courre chirp, "If we win, you tell us! If you win, we do you a favor?"
[14:35] <@Kamvakua> "Card games?" Kamvakua eyed, not much of a player of them, but more from lack of knowing. "What is Dragon-ante?"
06[14:35] * @Nikkolai brightens considerably. "Ah, favors! A most interesting wager. I'm for it!"
01[14:36] <@Knight> "Alright, I'll accept that," replies Knight, with a grin. "It's a game that would take some time to explain, Kamvakua, but it is similar to poker- perhaps later I will show you," she responds, starting to deal out hands to those who'd play.
06[14:37] * @Kamvakua nods, watching carefully and taking a hand, holding it awkwardly. "That would be appreciated, Knight."
01[14:38] <@Knight> roll 1d20+12 profession: gambler, wisdom
06[14:38] * Hatbot --> "Knight rolls 1d20+12 profession: gambler, wisdom and gets 29."12 [1d20=17]
06[14:40] * @Adail watches the game with interest, though staying out of it himself.
[14:41] <@Nikkolai> roll 1d20 Come on, daddy needs a new pair of shoes!
06[14:41] * Hatbot --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20 Come on, daddy needs a new pair of shoes! and gets 11."12 [1d20=11]
[14:41] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+4 lead courre happens to have a few ranks and is being aided by the others, will roll those in a sec.
06[14:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 lead courre happens to have a few ranks and is being aided by the others, will roll those in a sec. and gets 18."12 [1d20=14]
[14:42] <@Kotono> roll 11#1d20
06[14:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 11#1d20 and gets 104."12 [11#1d20 = 19, 3, 16, 14, 4, 6, 1, 8, 13, 13, 7]
[14:43] <@Kotono> The courre play with reckless abandon, helping each other out! It's a pitched game of poker versus Knight and Nikkolai, but in the end, all the tokens end up in Knight and Nikkolai's hands!
06[14:44] * @Kamvakua stared a bit surprised at Knight, having been watching her closely through the game.
01[14:44] <@Knight> "So it's a favour as a group that you owe us, correct?" asks Knight, packing away her gambling set with a catty grin.
[14:45] <@Kotono> "Goodness, you can play!" Oen of the male courre slumps as his last tokens are taken, "That's right, you win. We all owe you one."
06[14:45] * @Nikkolai is slightly smug, even if his skills are only average. "It feels good to win."
[14:45] <@Kotono> "We'll do almost anything that isn't indecent, in case one of you is that sort of scary pervert!" A female eyes Kamvakua and Nikkolai warily.
06[14:45] * @Kamvakua eyes and then laughs at the absolutely absurd notion.
06[14:46] * @Adail chuckles as well.
[14:46] <@Kotono> "It's not funny!" The female hmphs, "Courre women are known the multiverse across for their ethereal beauty!"
01[14:46] <@Knight> "Of course it does! Victory in a contest such as this is the sweetest thing," replies Knight, clapping Nikkolai heartily on the back. "Well, then, I am not one to ask for much when I would have given only a trifling thing. All I seek is some information."
[14:47] <@Kotono> "Information's funa nd easy!" The courre flock around Knight! Two on her head, one on each shoulder, a couple hanging off her, the others fluttering around her as if in orbit of her head.
06[14:47] * @Nikkolai eyes the female. "Perhaps you are, fair one, but I'm afraid that your beauty would do me little good except to look upon."
06[14:47] * @Adail waves off the chiding, "I was laughing at the thought of the absolutely immense pranking someone who dared try that would recieve, ladies."
06[14:49] * @Nikkolai grins brightly. "Since my dear Knight and I both won the game together, would you not say that both of us should be granted a favor apiece? It seems a bit unfair that only one of us should decide upon a favor."
01[14:50] <@Knight> "As it happens, I'm looking for a sibling of mine who is lost on Arborea," replies Knight, tilting her head. "All I know is that he's somewhere far to the southwest, but I know so little of this plane. So I was wondering, has there been any news of unusual events in that direction? Or is there some method of swift travel that I could use- well, uh, Nikkolai, that may be so, but..."
[14:51] <@Kotono> "Well..." One lands on Nikkolai, "You guys were a lot of fun, so okay!" Nesting in Nikkolai's hair and curling up to nap, "Your sibling? Got a name? Description? Anything like that?"
[14:52] <@Kamvakua> "If your ears have heard much, I have a story or two to tell in the Court of Stars...but would you happen to know if her Lady has seen such to leave a door nearby?"
[14:52] <@Kotono> One flutters over to Kamvakua, "I haven't, but...if you have ag ood reason, you'll find a door at night!" Resting on Kam's shoulder, "The Court of the Stars finds you, not the other way around!"
01[14:52] <@Knight> "No, I have no idea what he or she looks like. But I can guarantee there wherever he goes, there will be unpredictable change and a disruption to the order of things here."
[14:52] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[14:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 19."12 [1d20=13]
[14:53] <@Kotono> "Waitaminute," Eyeing Knight, one of them rests on her, "Wait a minute! Your name is Knight, right?"
01[14:53] <@Knight> "Yes, yes, that's right," replies Knight. "I thought it was obvious from just looking at me..."
[14:54] <@Kotono> "Ooooh! The card story thing! Of course!" Laughing, "You're one fo the Deck of Many Things! Oh, that's been all the talk lately in Avrandor!"
[14:54] <@Kamvakua> "As it has always been," He nodded.
01[14:55] <@Knight> "Uh, really? It has been? Then I guess you must know my story already," replies Knight, rubbing the back of her head. "Then can I prevail upon you to tell me what they're saying?"
[14:56] <@Kamvakua> He sighed lightly. it had been greedy to hope for a quick route. These chains he could not see that crossed along his skin irritated and distracted...but the road was always full of trials, and this was only another one.
06[14:57] * @Nikkolai smiles at the courre nesting in his hair. "At least *someone* likes my long hair. As for my favor...how would one of you like to travel the Planes with me? I find myself in need of a companion and I would be honored to have a radiant being such as one of yourselves alongside me."
[14:57] <@Kotono> "Oh, there's this one, Rogue." Nodding along, "Came falling out of the clear blue sky and acting all crazy! Made a big scene at the Court of the Stars, but he's alright! I hear he loves freedom and is going to travel around to spread freedom everywhere. He told the story of what he was, and the story's made great gossip!"
06[14:59] * @Adail blinks at Nikkolai, "You're looking for a courre familiar? Interesting."
[15:00] <@Nikkolai> roll 1d20+20 I can has a TINKERBELL?
06[15:00] * Hatbot --> "Nikkolai rolls 1d20+20 I can has a TINKERBELL? and gets 23."12 [1d20=3]
[15:01] <@Kotono> "Well..." One of the females considers thoughtfully, "You are kind of cute...
[15:01] <@Kotono> "
01[15:01] <@Knight> "Rogue! Rogue..." murmurs Knight, grimacing. "It sounds as though finding him would not be so hard, if he's this famous. Did he talk about me, then?"
[15:03] <@Kamvakua> "Finding might be the easy part, if he's enjoying being free," Kamvakua was apparently the pessimist.
06[15:07] * @Nikkolai looks hopefully at the cute lady courre. "Think of it! You could travel the Planes and see more than any of your kind has seen before! I promise to protect and shelter you with my very life, if need be. Please, come with me!"
[15:08] <@Kamvakua> "Nikkolai, aren't you in enough trouble without luring an innocent along on a dangerous road?" Kamvakua wondered.
[15:09] <@Nikkolai> "One can never have too many friends, Kamvakua. Besides, there are some magics that I can only perform with a willing partner or familiar. It would be wonderful if one of them would agree to join me."
[15:10] <@Kotono> "Well..." The female considers a little more, "If you say pretty please and that I'm the cutest courre of them all!"
[15:11] <@Kotono> "Haven't heard about it, but your name is the same as one of the cards!" The courre answer. "Knight, tne noble defender!"
[15:12] <@Nikkolai> "I will warn you, before you agree to anything. It will certainly be dangerous and times. With me, you'll be in more danger than most. I have a most terrible enemy on my trail and I would not put a friend in danger unless they willingly joined me. So, most radiant and beautiful of all courres, will you still consent to join me in my travels?"
06[15:12] * @Adail chuckles, "I have one request, if you do come with us, miss. Please never try to style my fur or tie ribbons to my tail or any other such nonsense. I got enough of that from Yera while I was with the Knights."
06[15:13] * @Kamvakua laughs. "It is a challenge for your dignity to shine through."
01[15:14] <@Knight> Of course. The Deck was supposedly famous, wasn't it? So it's hardly unreasonable for someone to have known of Knight before her arrival. "I will have to try and meet with him whilst I am on this plane. You've been a tremendous help- I can't really express my gratitude properly."
[15:15] <@Kotono> "Aaaw!" With a little giggle, "Okay!" The courre hops onto Nikkolai's head, her vibrant green hair standing out. Her laugh fills the air, "I'm Yulia! We're gonna have so much fun together! We'll send The Nine Hells running in terror! Yaaah! We'll make the Abyss sorry it ever got up in the morning ! Kyaaah!" Each proclaimation is followed by a tiny little punch to the air, "We'll show those boring old clockwork INevitables what's what, too!"
[15:15] <@Kotono> "We'll show those boring old clockwork INevitables what's what, too!"
[15:18] <@Kamvakua> "Well, if you want to come along, knowing the dangers," Kamvakua shrugged, leaning back against a tree. "Shall we rest and continue on after such?"
06[15:18] * @Nikkolai laughs in delight. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Yulia. I'm Nikkolai Dastron, but you may call me Nikk, if you so desire. I'm sure you and I will be good friends."
06[15:18] * @Adail chuckles again at her enthusiasm.
[15:21] <@Kotono> "Nikk! Hey Nikk, listen!" Yulia chirps, "Let's go go go go go go! We can catch up with those Knights in a few days with luck!"
01[15:21] <@Knight> "The Court of Stars will find us, if we're to find it at all, correct?" asks Knight, after a moment. "I just want to make sure."
[15:21] <@Kamvakua> "That's correct. The Lady invites those she chooses as her whims and vision guide her."
06[15:22] * @Adail nods to Knight, "Indeed. One does not seek audience with the Queen, she invites you to one."
06[15:23] * @Nikkolai smiles at her enthusiasm as Adail had done. "Patience, cute one. As soon as we're done resting, I expect we'll move out. Would you like to introduce yourself to the others while we rest?"
[15:24] <@Kotono> Thus the party resumes. The rest of the afternoon is pleasant and without incident. Come dusk you make camp, dinner leftover venison. As the party eats, Yulia entertains with a bawdy tune of a satyr, a ghaele eladrin and the Princesses of the Third Court.
[15:25] <@Kamvakua> "You've befriended quite the bundle of energy," Kamvakua smiled as they camped.
06[15:27] * @Adail starts going through his forms, doing some of the more acrobatic routines that he hasn't been able to employ in Earth's heavy gravity. Adail has in the past proven perfectly capable of working out and talking at the same time, though, so he is paying attention to any conversation.
01[15:27] <@Knight> Knight has been silent since leaving the pixies, and dinner found her staring into the fire, hands clasped in a pensive position. "I have to tell you all something about Rogue," she says, exhaling slowly. "He isn't the same as Gem and Star."
06[15:28] * @Nikkolai is reclining in the grass, chewing on the stalk of grass himself. "How so, dear Knight? Is he more dangerous?"
[15:28] <@Kotono> Yulia lets her song fade into the background, prancing around the fire.
01[15:29] <@Knight> "Gem grants riches to those he favours; I suspect it was his influence that drove the Slaad to seek out the Ruby. Star pushes people past their limits, but the body of the astral deva warped her mind, and she became a zealot. But as a card, Rogue only ever did one thing- incite betrayal."
[15:29] <@Kamvakua> "...He's like you isn't he?" Kamvakua wondered.
06[15:29] * @Nikkolai smiles warmly at his new friend. It was nice to meet someone so cheerful and not constantly insulting him for once. And she even made Mari a good playmate!
[15:30] <@Kamvakua> "...and I am quite wrong." Kamvakua quickly took back his words.
06[15:30] * @Adail considers, "Hmm. Betrayal? I wonder how that will manifest? The obvious answer is that he'll be the one card who does not want to reunite, but I don't think it will be just that."
[15:31] <@Nikkolai> "Betrayl...you mean, he seeks to tear friends and allies apart from one another?" Nikkolai asks idly.
06[15:32] * @Adail kicks a stick into the air with his feet and shatters it with a spinning punch(which would probably be more impressive if it weren't at micro-scale), then steps back and stretches a bit, "Nothing's ever that simple with magic of this magnitude."
01[15:32] <@Knight> "Those who drew him would, one day, find one of their friends sticking a knife in their back. It's simply what he does. He can't help it. Given a body, I can't predict what he'll do. He may be a traitor. He may cause others to be traitors. As you say, he may cause rifts to grow between others, tearing them apart- even if he bears them no malice."
[15:34] <@Nikkolai> "A very dangerous card indeed. Subtlety is ofttimes more dangerous than something obvious or brute force." Nikk says aloud to the sky. "How do you suggest we approach him?"
[15:34] <@Nikkolai> "From behind?"
[15:34] <@Adail> "What a horrible existance that would be. Tearing freindships and alliances apart without even knowing it."
[15:36] <@Kamvakua> "But maybe that is the freedom he received. A chance to escape such. Not very likely though... A card which twists trust...is quite a terrible one."
[15:38] <@Nikkolai> "Every card has been true to their essence; it simply manifests in different ways. Kam is right. I doubt that this Rogue is unable or unwilling to escape from his fate."
01[15:40] <@Knight> "He will return to the deck. It is what's best for him, I am sure. We were never meant to exist freely," replies Knight, shaking her head. "If he claims to desire freedom and spurns me, that is only how his inescapable nature has manifested itself. If every Card decided to choose freedom, it would be Rogue seeking to forcibly reunite us."
[15:40] <@Nikkolai> "Terrible. How...disharmonious." A scowl mars Nikkolai's face.
[15:41] <@Adail> "I'll trust your judgement on this, as with any of the the Cards. Perhaps once we make sure Hardsoil is safe, we should return here and make our way towards him? We can look for the Court on the way, if it doesn't find us this trip as well."
01[15:43] <@Knight> "Thank you. I felt you should all know. That he seemed well-liked by the inhabitants of this plane could be a prelude to some calamity he instigates."
[15:43] <@Kamvakua> "It worries me greatly that such a card is roaming free on Arborea. Were he on a more foul plane, it would be one thing, but there is not much in the heart here for such."
[15:44] <@Nikkolai> "We shall see." Nikkolai sits up, wrapping his arms around his knees. "If that is all, Knight, I have something I'd like to say as well."
06[15:44] * @Knight inclines her head.
[15:45] <@Nikkolai> "My thanks." Nikkolai looks to Yulia as well. "Listen well, bright one. After you hear what I have to say, I won't fault you if you change your mind about travelling with me."
06[15:46] * @Adail stops his excersizing and pays more attention, as Nik rarely acts this seriously.
[15:46] <@Kotono> "Oh come on! We can take on the world together! Listen, we really can!" Yulia chirps!
[15:46] <@Nikkolai> "All of you know that my former master, a lich of great and terrible power, has finally caught up with me. It seems that she can somehow pinpoint my magical signature and transport her lackeys to wherever I am in the planes."
[15:47] <@Nikkolai> "After talks with Granny Tam and my last teacher, I've decided that it's time to stop running."
[15:48] <@Kamvakua> "Are we hunting a lich now?" Kamvakua raised an eyebrow.
[15:48] <@Kamvakua> His voice was neutral on it.
[15:49] <@Adail> "Are you talking about taking the fight to her, or simply letting her minions come and dealing with them as a matter of course?"
[15:49] <@Nikkolai> "Not we, my friend. Whenever our business at hand is concluded, I am going to pursue the Lich to her very doorstep and put an end to her myself." Nikkolai takes a deep breath. "I will ask for your help in doing so, but I won't demand it."
[15:49] <@Nikkolai> "How many of her minions must we fight? What if she simply sends so many that we can't overcome them all?"
01[15:49] <@Knight> "I have no objections. I accepted your help and agreed to provide me own, whatever your cause," replies Knight, instantly. "If a war is what you want, then I will fight one for you."
06[15:50] * @Adail then snorts, "Undead are something I'm particularly good at dealing with, Nik. You'll have my help, of course."
[15:50] <@Kotono> "A lich?! A lich is terrible!" Yulia whimpers, slumping down, "So we'll all go and smite it, right?"
06[15:50] * @Adail then corrects himself, "Well, zombies not so much. Skeletons and those like them. Like, say, liches? Much better."
01[15:51] <@Knight> "I only ask that as an opponent, we treat her with the respect her power deserves. Our own strength may not be enough, but I know so little about her..."
[15:51] <@Nikkolai> "Yes, Yulia. That's what I intend to do. I'll take all the help I can get. Are you with me?" Nikk holds out a hand for her to alight upon.
[15:51] <@Nikkolai> "To be truthful, I know little of her powers of after she became a lich. I only know of her what I knew in life."
[15:52] <@Kotono> "Of course!" Yulia laughs, "We'll all beat up the big bad licha nd then celebrate!
[15:52] <@Kotono> "
06[15:53] * @Adail chuckles, "I've always said that Courre is short for courage."
[15:54] <@Kotono> Landing on Nikkolai's head, Yulia whispers, "But what about the pixie? She's been so quiet and standoffish the entire day! Is she mute or just grumpy?"
02[15:55] * @Nikkolai (~zephiroth@108.114.207.120) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[15:55] * Zeph (~zephiroth@173-112-73-45.pools.spcsdns.net) has joined #dunes
01[15:55] <@Knight> "She's taken a temporary vow of silence," replies Knight, shaking her head.
[15:55] <@Kotono> "Oh, right!" Yulia says.
[15:55] <@Kamvakua> "Why not, a litch, a god, the world is such. But don't speak of it lightly. If we go, we should go to crush her, understanding that her minions are likely mere pawns to her strength."
03[15:55] * Zeph is now known as Nikkolai
[15:56] <Nikkolai> "It will be so, Kamvakua. I would not be averse to getting all the help I can."
06[15:57] * Nikkolai whispers conspiratorily to Yulia, "She's just jealous, that's all. You're far more beautiful and bright than she is."
[16:01] <@Kamvakua> "You'll need it. But the start of a good legend always begins with a truly wicked foe," He smiled. "We'll tell stories about it later."
[16:01] <@Kotono> Thus the party beds down. As everyone sleeps, Yulia and Adail keep the watch. As the night slips by...it glows above, silver-white moonlight. A beam of it breaks through the canopy of trees, shining down and basking the sleeping party and the watch in it's light.
06[16:02] * @Adail gazes up at the moonlight, "Beautiful."
[16:03] <@Kotono> "Prettty!" Yulia seconds! As it shines, a single droplet of liquid moonlight rains down! It falls to the ground, splashing! In that splash she appears. Her features are serenely beautiful, white skinned with intensely black hair. She wears a woven gown of shimmering starlight, each movement a revolution of the constellations.
06[16:05] * @Adail blinks at the woman for a second, his mind racing...
[16:05] <@Adail> roll 1d20+9 K:P
06[16:05] * Hatbot --> "Adail rolls 1d20+9 K:P and gets 23."12 [1d20=14]
[16:08] <@Adail> A moment later, he bows deeply, "Moon Maiden. Welcome."
02[16:09] * Merc (~k@c-98-196-68-69.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[16:09] <@Kotono> "The silent pain one of you carries has brought me forth, on behalf of the Court of Stars." She looks about, settling on Kamvakua's sleeping form. "His soul lies in bondage, trapped in bonds of Earth."
03[16:09] * Merc-zzz (~k@c-98-196-68-69.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
06[16:10] * @Adail nods, "It does. Ogremoch raised him, and placed...spiritual hooks, I would say, within him. But that is his story to tell. Shall I wake him for you?"
[16:12] <@Kotono> "Allow me." In a single word, the sleep of all is parried away. All awaken to one word, "Life." The Moon Maiden utters.
06[16:14] * Nikkolai sits straight up in his bedroll, hair in comical disarray and looking around wildly, even as he yawns widely. His eyes widen as they alight on the Moon Maiden.
[16:14] <Nikkolai> "Oh my."
[16:15] <@Kamvakua> roll 1d20+6
06[16:15] * Hatbot --> "Kamvakua rolls 1d20+6 and gets 17."12 [1d20=11]
06[16:16] * @Kamvakua opens his eyes, rising up. "A guest," he bowed slightly in greeting. "Your passage is welcome, Moon Maiden."
06[16:17] * @Knight cups her face in both hands, and eyes their visitor with a neutral eye.
[16:17] <@Kotono> The Moon Maiden walks to Kamvakua. Her feet barely touch the ground, leaving the soil behind shining with moonlight. She approaches Kamvakua, "Your soul lies in bonage of foul Earth. Tell me, what has done this to you so?"
[16:21] <@Kotono> *bondage
[16:21] <@Kamvakua> "It was the curse of Ogremoch. My friends beseeched upon him to restore breath to my lungs, and in turn he and his met this with betrayal, greed and slavery. Even now I can feel his curse, seeking to enslave me to his whims. My gratitude for my life does not extend to slavery, nor to treachery."
[16:24] <@Kotono> Reaching out, the Moon Maiden cups Kamvakua's cheek. Silvery moonlight floods around them, "Such bondage is unsightly to me. In the name of the Court of the Stars, let us work to free your soul of Ogremoch's wrath." She looks to the others, "Of the mortals here, a spark of life is needed to undo the damage Ogremoch has done. Will one of you sacrifice a tiny bit of yourself for your friend's freedom?"
[16:25] <Nikkolai> "I will!"
06[16:25] * Nikkolai scrambles to his feet.
06[16:26] * @Kamvakua raises an eyebrow, surprised at Nikkolai's forthcomingness. It was not something he would forget anytime soon. "That is a welcome kindness. It was indeed my purpose in coming back to Arborea."
06[16:26] * @Adail eyes Nik, but makes no motion to interfere, assuming he's feeling guilty about the portal and wants to do something to make up for it.
[16:26] <@Kotono> "You are brave." The Moon Maiden glides over to Nikkolai, "A righteous soul burns within you. Give me your hand and open your mind and heart. Do not resist."
06[16:27] * Nikkolai smiles. "Kamvakua has aided me more times than I can count. If I can aid him, even a little, it is more than worth any cost."
06[16:28] * Nikkolai Nikkolai holds his hand out to the Maiden.
[16:29] <@Kotono> The Moon Maiden's touch is like warming ice. "Ah." She smiles, peering into Nikkolai's eyes. A laughter fills the air, "I understand." Nikkolai feels dizzy! He falls forward, the Moon Maiden catching him! She holds him as dizziness assails him, whispering into his ear.
[16:34] <@Kotono> The Moon Maiden helps Nikkolai lie down as he whispers back into her ear, gliding away from him after a brief murmur back. She then returns to Kamvakua, "Offer me your hand, Knight of the Stars."
06[16:34] * @Kamvakua does so, his rough and large hand wrapping over her gentle and small one.
01[16:35] <@Knight> "Nikkolai, are you alright?" asks Knight, peering over towards her prone companion.
[16:35] <Nikkolai> "I'm more than alright." Nikkolai is grinning foolishly at the stars.
[16:36] <@Kotono> More moonlight engulfs Kamvakua! He feels a great weight lift off of him, burned away in the bright light! The Moon Maiden speaks, "Remember this well, so that you have the motivation to free those who suffer under bondage, Kamvakua. Ogremoch is but one of many evils that exists."
06[16:36] * @Adail moves over and pats Nik on the shoulder, grining a bit, "You're making progress, bit by bit. Faster then I'd expect, but you did claim to be a quick study."
03[16:37] * Zeph (~zephiroth@108.114.207.120) has joined #dunes
03[16:38] * Merc-zzz is now known as Merc
02[16:39] * Nikkolai (~zephiroth@173-112-73-45.pools.spcsdns.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[16:39] * Zeph is now known as Nikkolai
[16:39] <@Kamvakua> "I shall not forget. But the enslaving of others has always been repungnant to me. No one climbs to the stars in chains."
[16:40] <@Kotono> The Moon Maiden glides back and away, "My work is done here. Be blessed and travel in freedom." In a glowing column of moonlight, the Moon Maiden is gone! All that's left behind is patches of ground, transformed into silvery metal, gleaming with it's own moonlight, each patch one of her footsteps.
[16:42] <@Kamvakua> "I am free..." He raised his arms in jubilation. "That accursed darkness is gone from my sight, its chains from my spirit."
03[16:43] * Ciddead (~Melanchth@pool-96-231-69-85.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #dunes
[16:43] <@Kotono> Yulia watches everything, cheering away. "Nikkolai, you're so brave!"
03[16:44] * Ciddead is now known as Mari
[16:44] <Nikkolai> "I'm not brave, Yulia." Nikkolai disagrees. "One merely does these things for a friend and companion."
01[16:44] <@Knight> "I thought that giving up a part of yourself would not have been such a pleasant experience," remarks Knight, after a moment.
06[16:44] * @Adail laughs, amused at Kam's excitement, even for a good cause.
06[16:47] * @Kamvakua gives Nikkolai a hardy pat on the back. "Indeed, it is something that is done for true companions."