[15:31] <@Ebiris> After a night of restful slumber, particularly for Lucie receiving her first taste of an average person's lifestyle outside of her native slums (the snoring goat hogging the bed notwithstanding - thankfully he turns into a snoring man come the dawn), the four heroes plus the eldritch horror and their young employee and the gangster oracle reconvene early in the morning, ready to make their approach to the nefarious Lotus Dragons with hopes of luring them into a fatal trap...
[15:33] * Joins: DarthTurtle (~yuthirin@c-71-194-208-215.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
[15:33] * Quits: @Miranda_Altair (~yuthirin@c-71-194-208-215.hsd1.il.comcast.net) (Ping timeout)
[15:33] * DarthTurtle is now known as Miranda_Altair
[15:33] * Ebiris sets mode: +o Miranda_Altair
[15:33] <@Rudy> "Should we be making out the snakes to be, like, wimpy, or tough and strong?" wonders Rudy, before taking a bite out of an enormous sandwich, loaded to the brim with all sorts of delicious-looking things.
[15:35] * @Henrietta has a more balanced breakfast for herself, an identical one ordered for Trucy as matter of course. "How about the former, but with a really scary snake to back them up?" she suggests.
[15:36] <@Ebiris> Trucy is happy to eat whatever Henrietta gives her, but still looks enviously at Rudy's sandwich from time to time.
[15:37] <@Rudy> "We need to make sure they understand it's an actual snake. We must be specific on that point."
[15:38] * @Miranda_Altair quietly eats some egg-thing, looking contemplative.
[15:38] <@Henrietta> "A very large snake," Henrietta agrees. "And without it, the Snakes would run, and then they can have their master poisoner. A very simple and elegant plan, do you not think?"
[15:38] * @Glenn is just eating some toast and eggs. "Oh before I forget, the answer to your question yesterday was 19," Glenn says as he turns to look at Trucy, even though it has nothing to do with the conversation at hand.
[15:39] <@Lucie> "Play up the snake as much as possible," Lucie offers, "let them focus on that. It'll come back if it's killed, the rest of us won't. If they think the rest of us weak and come in overconfident, all the better for us when the trap is sprung."
[15:39] <@Ebiris> "Huh?" Trucy gives Glenn a blank look for a minute before snapping her fingers. "Right! Wow, that makes you the oldest?"
[15:41] <@Rudy> "Uncanny, that. We'll wing it after, I'm thinking. Probably won't be too keen on giving us Mr. V right after."
[15:41] * @Miranda_Altair blinks and looks mildly confused at Trucy. "What? Oh, Glenn's 19? Me too!" She grins.
[15:41] * @Henrietta pauses in her slicing of the bacon, briefly unnerved by such things. "Not undead," she whispers quietly to herself a few moments later, and scoops up some salad to go along with the meat.
[15:43] * @Glenn stops from agreeing with Trucy at Miranda's declaration as he turns to look at her then back at Trucy. "Looks like I'm tied for that honor. Well, unless our newest acquaintance is even older," he notes with humor.
[15:43] <@Rudy> "It's not how many years you have! It's what you do with them that counts."
[15:43] <@Ebiris> "It's pretty funny how none of us are even twenty. I wonder how old most of the Lotus Dragons are?" Trucy muses inbetween rapidly polishing off her plate.
[15:44] <@Lucie> "I am, but you'll have to try harder than that to find out by how much," Lucie says to Glenn.
[15:44] <@Ebiris> "Only really old women are afraid to tell people their ages," Trucy then whispers to Henrietta with a sidelong look at Lucie.
[15:45] <@Henrietta> "And that hood-- oh, but we shouldn't gossip like that!" Henrietta whispers back, following Trucy's eyes.
[15:46] <@Rudy> "What's important is that you're young at heart. We can all say we're seventeen, if we want. Who can tell us no?"
[15:46] * @Glenn laughs. "She doesn't look that old, even with how she covers herself anyway."
[15:47] <@Henrietta> "That's not a very nice thing to say," Henrietta states primly.
[15:48] <@Lucie> "It's not the years," Lucie says with a shrug, and a glance at Henri and Trucy. "If you're going to gossip, I may as well put a stop to it now. Twenty-two."
[15:49] <@Rudy> "Did we ever catch Lady V's age?" wonders Rudy, opting to use a knife and fork to eat the remainder of his sandwich.
[15:50] <@Miranda_Altair> "I think she's our age...I think." Miranda says.
[15:50] <@Ebiris> "I've never even seen her," Trucy puts in. "She looks the same age as you, huh?"
[15:51] <@Rudy> "Do y'want to?"
[15:52] <@Ebiris> "Well, I work for Henrietta, not for her... but..." Trucy gives Henrietta an apologetic look for a moment before focusing on Rudy, "Do you think she'd want to pay me the same as she pays you guys?"
[15:53] <@Glenn> "We can always ask. She'd probably feel more confident about such a thing after we recover her brother though, so I'd suggest waiting if you do want to ask," Glenn suggests.
[15:54] <@Rudy> "I dunno, her budget's pretty tight lately. Besides, you really want to go up against the sorts of horrible things we do? Think about it! Is gold really worth risking your life?"
[15:54] <@Lucie> "That depends on how much gold it is. This 'Lady V' is...your employer?"
[15:54] <@Ebiris> "I guess... speaking of, do you want me coming along to visit the Lotus Dragons?" Trucy asks Henrietta.
[15:55] <@Rudy> "Yeah, she's our boss. Nice girl, actually. I kinda like her. Not like most nobles."
[15:55] <@Henrietta> "I wouldn't risk my life for gold," Henrietta muses. Lost in her thoughts, she doesn't quite catch Trucy talking to her in time. "Hmm? What about the Lotus Dragons?"
[15:55] <@Ebiris> "Am I coming with you to their hideout today?" Trucy prods.
[15:56] <@Lucie> "Noble, hm?" Lucie trails off, loking thoughtful.
[15:56] <@Lucie> *looking
[15:57] <@Henrietta> "I think it would be best if you alerted the other snakes to the outcome, and that would be easier to manage if they don't know you too closely."
[15:57] <@Ebiris> The young brunette nods. "I'll hang around nearby outside, then, I guess."
[15:57] <@Rudy> "Yeah. What, you want a job, too?"
[15:58] <@Henrietta> "If things go badly for some reason, then you would not need to worry about assassins at night," Henrietta tells Trucy. "It's for the best, I think."
[15:58] * @Lucie shrugs again. "I'll think about that if we all survive this one."
[15:59] <@Henrietta> "Don't you have a job already?" Henrietta inquires at that, turning towards Lucie.
[16:01] <@Glenn> "Oh don't worry too much about surviving," Glenn says dismissively. "If we get in a jam, Rudy and Henrietta can just wag those silver tongues of theirs and make everyone their minions or something. I still find it hilarious that we got to see the Lotus' boss without a fight the other day because of them."
[16:02] <@Rudy> "It is a gift."
[16:03] <@Lucie> "Oh, something like one," Lucie says dismissively. "I am...willing to trade up, given the chance."
[16:03] <@Rudy> "
[16:03] <@Miranda_Altair> "Spoken like a true opportunist." Miranda nods.
[16:04] <@Rudy> "Yeah, well, hey, I don't mind putting in a word for you. You're a bit different from the others there, I bet. They're all big on street loyalty?"
[16:05] <@Rudy> "Guess it'll depend on how this all goes. What can you do, anyway?"
[16:09] <@Lucie> "Yes. Yes, they are. Don't misunderstand. I'm not eager to step on someone's fingers to move up. But I'd be foolish to turn down the chance for something better. Would you want to live in Shadowshore forever? And I have some talent with magic. The gang finds it useful when they need to bring misfortune to someone. Or just make them think they've been cursed."
[16:09] <@Ebiris> Finishing off breakfast, the group then sets off up towards Sunset District. The Taxidermist's Guildhall is found on an island just past the Merchant District, surrounded by canals on all sides. The area around it seems mostly residential, albeit rather run down - the alleys running towards the edge of the island around the street where the guildhall is found seem to be dark and ill-kept, windows and doors boarded up on the houses that can be seen. The Guildhall itself is lit up, at least, and its windowpane is whole and shiny, guarding the mighty antlerbear from the outside elements. Heading inside, the foursome plus Myra find the place much as it was last time - no sign of Nemien, and the same 'ring for service' bell waiting to perhaps summon him.
[16:09] <@Ebiris> OOC: Cid, you're in #evildunes for now
[16:10] * @Henrietta rings the service bell.
[16:11] <@Ebiris> "Coming!" the familiar voice of the taxidermist is heard, a moment later the door opens to reveal the gold-toothed bearded figure in all his meagre glory. "Oh... it's you. The spider head is finished, but I don't suppose you're here about that, are you?"
[16:12] <@Henrietta> "I wanted to ask about that as well, actually," Henrietta responds. "Did it come out alright?"
[16:13] <@Ebiris> He seems a bit dubious, but shrugs it off. "One moment," he retreats, returning a minute later with a kite-shaped varnished wooden board that has the terrible spider's head mounted upon it, all eight eyes gleaming darkly with fangs and mandibles presented menacingly as if to devour an unsuspecting woodsman. "A fine piece of work considering how it started off, I'd say. Forty gold we agreed, didn't we?"
[16:14] * @Miranda_Altair stares at the head, a bit unnerved.
[16:15] * @Miranda_Altair shifts to the left, then to the right.
[16:15] <@Miranda_Altair> "It's looking at me...from everywhere."
[16:15] <@Glenn> "That's...certainly impressive work. I feel like it's about to bite down on Henrietta again," Glenn comments.
[16:15] <@Henrietta> "I believe we had," Henrietta agrees. "How difficult would it be to ship this over to Jovar, you think?"
[16:16] <@Rudy> "I'm certainly intimidated. Will it, you know, last?"
[16:17] <@Ebiris> "It wouldn't take much space on a merchantman... I don't really know shipping rates, though, you'd have to ask around," he snorts, "Your new friends might know for sure." Then nodding to Rudy, "If kept in a dry and temperate room out of direct sunlight it could easily last for decades."
[16:18] <@Henrietta> "Oh, excellent!" Henrietta says, brightening up. "How much for the window as well? Would it come down to forty one gold in the end?"
[16:20] <@Ebiris> "Glass is expensive," his expression turns dour. "If you're honest enough to pay, it was twenty gold for me to have it fixed."
[16:20] <@Henrietta> "Oh, truly?" Henrietta is taken aback. "How terrible for you!" She instantly starts counting her gold, until sixty coins make their way onto the counter. "I never knew glass cost so much!"
[16:23] <@Ebiris> Nemien scoops up the coins. "Pleasure doing business with you," he smiles, gold tooth gleaming. "If you're going downstairs I'm sure you know the way. But come in round the back rather than breaking my window next time."
[16:23] <@Henrietta> "Round the back? Can you show us where to go?"
[16:25] <@Ebiris> "Ask your new friends if you want the tour," he frowns slightly. "I just work here, don't want to get more involved than that."
[16:25] <@Rudy> "Wise man. Let's get going, eh?"
[16:26] <@Henrietta> Then his glass might end up broken again, Henrietta thinks in regret. "Ah, yes, we should," she agrees with Rudy, taking her spider head along.
[16:27] <@Ebiris> Nemien brings up the rear before retreating into his workroom as the rest of you advance to the hidden trapdoor, leading down into the dark unworked cavern, the door immediately to the West leading to the warren-like halls of the Lotus Dragons.
[16:29] * @Henrietta guards herself with Mage Armor just in case, and then feels quite confident to proceed towards the underground caverns of the Dragons.
[16:29] <@Rudy> Rudy has no hesitation in following, right behind the mystically armored mage and the physically imposing Myra.
[16:31] * @Miranda_Altair eyes Henrietta strangely and follows along.
[16:32] <@Henrietta> "Would you like to carry this, perhaps?" Henrietta offers upon catching Miranda's gaze.
[16:33] <@Miranda_Altair> "Not really, no. It doesn't bother you at all?"
[16:33] <@Henrietta> "Why should it?"
[16:33] <@Miranda_Altair> "It's ugly!"
[16:34] <@Henrietta> "It's art!"
[16:34] <@Ebiris> Once again the door opens and you're immediately accosted by a pair of roguish guards. They only relax marginally upon recognising the group, interrupting the aesthetic debate in progress. "Wasn't sure if we'd see you lot again..." one remarks. "Orders were to take you to a waiting room if you showed up again."
[16:34] <@Miranda_Altair> "It's ugly art!"
[16:35] <@Rudy> "It really is," agrees Rudy. "I'm rather astonished you want to keep it."
[16:36] * @Henrietta almost asks the guards for their opinions, but comes to her senses in time. "I want my father to see that I'm a proper adventurer just like I said I would be. You don't have to mock it," she says sullenly, not resisting being herded towards a waiting room of their choice.
[16:38] <@Ebiris> You're led up in the opposite direction you went previously, through branching narrow corridors until you finally reach a cramped chamber with several chairs and a chamber pot in the corner behind a curtain, that actually opens out into a small underground dock! There's no sign of where it could lead, everything fading into darkness over the sloshing water, but there it is. The guards close the door on you, leaving you to your own devices for the moment...
[16:38] <@Miranda_Altair> "I'm not trying to mock it...I didn't think you put that much value on it." Miranda looks a bit sad. "I'm sure we'll kill something grand one day, like a...uh..." She looks to Rudy for help.
[16:39] <@Rudy> "I wouldn't mind killing my father. Demanding old bastards! We should drink to having terrible, grasping parents," vows Rudy.
[16:40] <@Henrietta> "I--" Henrietta doesn't get farther than that, keeping the spider cushion between herself and Rudy, its many eyes glaring accusingly at him.
[16:40] <@Glenn> "I never even knew my real parents, and the one I had growing up, in as much as he could be called a parent, wasn't that bad," Glenn comments.
[16:40] <@Miranda_Altair> "You want to mount your father's head on a plackard?"
[16:41] <@Rudy> "He's so unbelievably overbearing! Maybe not to the level of demanding trophies of dangerous beasts, but- you know, it wouldn't surprise me!"
[16:43] <@Ebiris> A few minutes later the rising paternal debate is interrupted by a well-muscled and rather handsome Lotus Dragon opening the door. "You're in luck, the Lady can't wait to speak with you. Follow me." He actually looks just like the man in the painting you found at Brissa Santos's home.
[16:44] <@Rudy> "Happy to see us, is she?" wonders Rudy, starting to trail after the man.
[16:44] <@Glenn> "Let's hope!" Glenn says cheerfully.
[16:45] * @Henrietta doesn't want her present to her father to get ruined, and decides to bring up the rear so it won't get needlessly squashed.
[16:47] <@Ebiris> "Oh, she's always happy," the man chuckles to himself as you're led back along familiar paths, past the currently occupied training hall, the chained up rhagodessa, and the motionless undead sentinel, before you're finally presented back into the Lady's plush chambers, the attractive young criminal mastermind reclining on her couch as before with her green lizard-like monster hunched nearby. "You took some time to return. Does Lavinia tolerate such tardiness in her employ?" she observes right off the bat.
[16:48] <@Rudy> "Only when she sets deadlines. It's best to do your work in a leisurely fashion when you can."
[16:48] <@Henrietta> "Well, she understood that one time her brother trapped us and left us to die," Henrietta says defensively. "Sometimes, you just need more time."
[16:50] <@Ebiris> "Still, I don't see Rabbani with you... Has he agreed to work for me nonetheless?" the Lady asks, resting her head on a leather gloved hand as she reclines back.
[16:51] <@Rudy> "Conditionally. He's got a problem with local gangsters. Seems he's worried about his legs, and them staying in a non-broken state."
[16:52] <@Ebiris> "I'm sure it would have been no challenge at all for a group of your skills to convince him he would be in far less danger under the Lotus Dragon banner," she gives Rudy a thin smile.
[16:53] <@Henrietta> "He is afraid of their giant snake," Henrietta voices.
[16:53] <@Rudy> "Which he's seen eat people whole, allegedly. Very scary. I'd be scared. Wouldn't you?"
[16:54] <@Henrietta> "I was almost eaten by a giant spider, and the snake is a lot larger than that. Or so we heard."
[16:55] <@Ebiris> "A giant snake?" that actually gets her to sit up a bit straighter, reaching over to pat her 'pet' which emits a hissing grown in response. "That sounds delightful to me, actually. You should see some of my other pets, sometime..." she smirks, eyes twinkling. "But am I to take it from all this that in the end you couldn't convince him that we were the greater power, nor actually deal with this snake yourselves?"
[16:56] <@Henrietta> "We did convince him of the former," Henrietta protests. "But he thinks the Snakes, the local gang of the area, just would not care since they have their snake. And--" Henrietta shows her spider pillow, "--this is as large as it comes for things we can kill on our own."
[16:58] <@Ebiris> "That looks quite respectable, actually," the guildmistress inclines her head to Henrietta. "A pity, though," she stands up languidly, "Since you're unable to help me, I can't see myself helping you. Especially if it means selling out a good friend like Vanthus."
[17:00] * @Henrietta briefly perks up at the acknowledgement, before she feels slightly bad inside.
[17:02] <@Rudy> "It's really, really hard for me to care. I figure, working 'round here, he'll wind up in an early grave and that's good enough for me," replies Rudy, sighing. "But a job's a job. We got word of a meeting they're having, some kind of drug deal they've got running. We got the place, we got the important folks, but like I said last time, we ain't thugs for hire."
[17:04] <@Henrietta> "It does seem more appropriate," Henrietta pitches in. "You promised to tell us where we might find Vanthus, My Lady, so exchanging information for information should not be impossible here."
[17:04] <@Ebiris> OOC: make a bluff check, Rudy
[17:05] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+13
[17:05] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15." [1d20=2]
[17:06] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20 aid
[17:06] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20 aid and gets 14." [1d20=14]
[17:06] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+13 heropointingreroll!
[17:06] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+13 heropointingreroll! and gets 14." [1d20=1]
[17:10] <@Ebiris> "It doesn't really matter," the Lady shakes her head. "Shadowshore is worthless to me, and Rabbani quite frankly isn't important enough to justify throwing lives away in that cesspool. Perhaps you'll find a way to catch Vanthus when he returns, but you won't have my help in doing it. I'm sorry you couldn't prove more useful." She then raises her voice, "Jino!" she calls, the door opening to reveal your escort from before looking in.
[17:12] <@Henrietta> "As long as we were to, well, catch him, My Lady," Henrietta asks while they still have time, "while Vanthus is not hiding out here, would you intervene?"
[17:15] <@Ebiris> "I suppose that rather depends on how well he succeeds in his current mission and how much you interfere in my work," she gives Henrietta a faint smile. "Jino, escort them out through the merchant's entrance. The taxidermist has been seeing too much use, lately."
[17:15] -> *Miranda_Altair* You notice a funny emphasis on the way she says merchant, and Jino seems to stiffen a bit in response to it.
[17:16] <@Henrietta> That sounds good enough.
[17:16] <@Ebiris> "This way, then," Jino steps back, gesturing for you all to come with him.
[17:17] * @Henrietta follows, naturally, curious about the route they will be taking now.
[17:18] <@Rudy> Learning more about Salerno's underground would never fail to interest Rudy, that is for sure.
[17:18] * @Miranda_Altair eyes Jino with distrust, but follows.
[17:18] <@Ebiris> You're led along narrow subterranean passages lit by fitful lamps, twisting and turning under the earth, passing by closed doors and branching paths, until you see something new, stepping into an expansive circular chamber. The stairs descend onto an iron walkway that stretches across its diameter, only a low foot high railing running along its edges. Below the walkway, the chamber is filled with dark water, its surface brackish with seaweed and greasy filth. Dripping pipes protrude from the walls of the twenty foot high cavern, including one that's over two feet wide to the Northeast, while rusty grates line the perimeter at the same height as the top of the stairs. Just North of the midpoint of the walkway, a four foot wide hole in the ceiling seems to go up to the surface, judging by the light spilling down.
[17:20] -> *Rudy* You can recognise this as a cistern of some sorts, water drains in through the pipes and out through the grates by some means or another. The light from above might be from a well.
[17:21] <@Rudy> Rudy glances curiously up at the hole, but presumes that can't possibly be where they're expected to leave.
[17:22] <@Ebiris> "Don't drop anything in the water," Jino warns as he leads the way across the damp metal bridge, a stairway leading up to the same level on the other side ahead.
[17:22] <@Rudy> "Things live in there?"
[17:22] <@Miranda_Altair> "What's in the water?" Miranda asks.
[17:22] <@Henrietta> "Terrible crabs, perhaps?" Henrietta suggests, eyeing the water warily.
[17:22] * @Miranda_Altair shudders.
[17:23] <@Ebiris> "Not crabs, sea serpents," Jino looks over his shoulder, a faint smile showing as he starts up the stairs.
[17:23] <@Ebiris> It's hard for Rudy to see straight up the hole since it's over the water rather than the bridge, but he can see a white cloudy sky above, just barely as he leans to look.
[17:24] <@Henrietta> "Jino, wasn't it?" Henrietta asks. "I'm confused, in a way. Aren't you all going to take over the city?"
[17:26] <@Ebiris> "Maybe one day," Jino reaches the top of the stairs, turning around and reaching for a lever on the wall. "But you won't be around to see it!" he concludes, pulling it down with a thunk as a squeal of metal on stone is heard, a heavy portcullis slamming down mightily to bar the way at the top of the stairs! At the same time, water begins pouring in from all the pipes around the chamber!
***
[16:10] <@Ebiris> "You probably would be better off if you could get a job for a noble," Trucy muses to Lucie as the pair wait nearby in the shadows of an alleyway just down from the taxidermist's. "That's the ticket to easy street."
[16:13] <@Lucie> "Yes, yes it is." Lucie leans against a wall, arms folded across her midsection as she watches the street. "How much does this lot get paid, do you know?"
[16:14] <@Ebiris> "Hundred gold a month," Trucy replies. "Henrietta pays me ten and that's easily enough to live on. Imagine getting a hundred every month, though! You'd never know what to spend it all on!"
[16:17] <@Lucie> "A hundred...?!" Lucie shakes her head. "I've never had that much at once. Daresay I'd have some ideas what to spend it on, myself...Any reason you haven't jumped at the chance yourself?"
[16:18] <@Ebiris> "Well, I dunno if she'd even want to hire me," Trucy shrugs, "They're all alchemists and witches and what have you, I'm just a dock rat. Might need special skills. And yeah, it is pretty dangerous from the sounds of it."
[16:20] <@Lucie> "Hm. Used to dirty work. No bother to me as long as the reward's good."
[16:21] <@Ebiris> "You should see if you can get hired, then. It sounded like she was looking for more people like the ones she's got, in case things get rougher with those guys," Trucy jerks a thumb down towards the shopfront.
[16:25] <@Lucie> "Thought getting rough with the Dragons was part of the plan anyway. Your friends'll have enough chance to see what I can do when that happens. Take it back to their boss, see what she thinks. How much do you know about her, anyway?"
[16:26] <@Ebiris> "Her parents were killed in some boating accident last month or so, her brother's an asshole, everyone speaks well of her, though," Trucy shrugs, idly looking around at the dilapidated buildings running further down the alley and then at the prosperous shopfronts on the opposite side of the street. "Sounds like she's finding her feet well enough."
[16:32] * @Lucie nods. "Could be I'll meet her in time. We'll see. What about yourself? No great ambitions to fund? Hundred a month could get you started on a better trade if you saved up for even a short time."
[16:34] <@Ebiris> "I was planning to become a sailor," Trucy admits. "But the work Henrietta has me doing's really easy. It's a pretty good deal right now, so why rock the boat?"
[16:38] <@Lucie> "Can't argue with wanting to keep with what's safe and secure. If that's good enough for you. What is it you do for her, most times?"
[16:39] <@Ebiris> "I'm sort of a guide - she's from Jovar so doesn't really know this place well. She mostly gets me to run around picking up rumours and gossip, like on Lady V's brother, or when she sent me to find out about your gang," Trucy replies. "Pretty funny, since when we met she was wrecking my last job and I was trying to stab her," she chuckles.
[16:43] <@Lucie> "...Oh? Nowhere to go but up, then. You're more forgiving than I'd've been, I bet, but then, I don't know the whole story. Sounds like it worked out well for you in the end and you get along well enough now."
[16:45] <@Ebiris> "She was just doing her job, wasn't anything personal," Trucy shrugs. "This one's better, anyway." She looks down the street again. "Isn't it weird how all the buildings on this side are gone to shit? I thought Sunset was supposed to be pretty swanky."
[16:48] <@Lucie> "Could be these Dragons of yours mucking things up." Lucie shrugs. "Still looks nicer than my corner of town. Mind, there're probably outhouses swankier than Shadowshore."
[16:49] <@Ebiris> "Yeah, I thought my part of Azure was bad till I went to Shadowshore," Trucy makes a face. "But why would they muck up their own hideout? Wouldn't it make more sense to keep it looking normal? The taxidermist shop looks fine, it's just all these houses behind it seem abandoned. You'd think whoever owns this street could rent them out and get them done up nice."
[16:52] <@Lucie> "Already using them for something, maybe? Or they keep them all empty so nobody's around to watch their comings and goings, if they're trying to keep their heads down and stay hidden. Which they might be, since I've never heard of 'em. Strange. Where I come from, gang wants everyone to know who they are and what's theirs."
[16:53] <@Ebiris> "They're making pretty big waves around Azure District and the Merchant District anyway," Trucy nods. "Guess that makes having their hideout all the way in Sunset pretty brilliant, since nobody'd expect it."
[16:56] <@Lucie> "Mm. So what do you think about these friends of yours? Know 'em real well by now? Think they're up to putting one over on this lot?"
[16:57] <@Ebiris> "Maybe. Rudy and Henrietta are really good at getting people to do what they say," Trucy muses. "But, I'd figure a guild like these guys might not be pushovers."
[16:58] <@Lucie> "Doubt they would be, if they're willing to mess with another gang on their own turf. Just have to hope they're tough enough to think they can walk all over us, without actually being tough enough to do it."
[16:59] <@Ebiris> "S'a fine line," Trucy nods sombrely.
[17:02] <@Lucie> "Is so. Tired of walking it, myself. Hope your friends have it in 'em to make the con work, or I'm back where I started. Or worse, if these Dragons move in."
[17:03] <@Ebiris> "Oh, yeah," Trucy drawls out, "If things go bad, everyone's up the creek. I'll be glad for having kept my head down in that case."
[17:06] * @Lucie laughs, briefly. It's not a real nice laugh, coarse and inelegant. "What then? Slink back to the docks, pretend nothing happened?"
[17:11] <@Ebiris> "I guess," Trucy shrugs. "Won't be a happy ending, but I'm no hero. Better than just being killed."
[17:11] * @Lucie can only nod to that.
[17:13] * Joins: Rudy (~Carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au)
[17:26] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll perception, Lucie
[17:26] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5
[17:26] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 and gets 23." [1d20=18]
[17:26] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+10
[17:26] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+10 and gets 15." [1d20=5]
[17:27] <@Ebiris> "Hey! You hear that?" Trucy cocks her head and looks up the alley. "Sounded like some heavy metal slamming down..."
[17:28] <@Lucie> "Didn't hear a thing." Lucie stands away from the wall, looks down the alley. "You sure? Where from, you think?"
[17:30] <@Ebiris> "Up the alleyway," Trucy jerks her thumb. "Sounds like a waterfall as well... Think we should check it out?"
[17:32] <@Lucie> "Huh. Might be nothing, but I guess it couldn't hurt to look." Lucie walks along the alley in the specified direction, scanning for anything...metal, apparently, or doors or anything Trucy could've heard noise coming from.
[17:33] <@Ebiris> The doors all look wooden, boarded up loosely from what Lucie can see as she goes, Trucy tagging along. You emerge into a run down courtyard surrounded by abaonded buildings, a circular stone well in the middle of it. This close you can hear rushing water from within.
[17:35] * @Lucie walks into the courtyard, casting a glance around just out of habit before approaching the wall and peering down.
[17:36] <@Ebiris> Down below you can see dark brackish water sloshing around as if steadily rising... and did you just see a snake-like body moving through it there?!
[17:37] <@Ebiris> You can hear Rudy shouting below, something about resetting a lever.
[17:38] * @Lucie turns back to Trucy--"Not usual to find serpents in the wells in this part of town, is it?"--before recognizing Rudy's voice. "Hey!"
***
[17:27] <@Rudy> "You slimy bastard!" yells Rudy, with a sudden, righteous fury. "I just bought this coat! You know what happens to this kinda coat when it gets wet?!"
[17:28] <@Miranda_Altair> "Damn, I knew something was up!" Miranda grouses.
[17:29] <@Ebiris> "I'd worry more about getting blood on it," Jino laughs, before fleeing up the corridor as water continues to pour in thunderously, steadily elevating the water level... and causing the murk and seaweed to begin moving, sinuous shapes barely glimpsed amidst it all.
[17:30] <@Henrietta> "Don't think you can get away!" Henrietta calls to Jino, after sputtering incredulously for several moments.
[17:30] <@Glenn> "I am getting sick and tired of these traps!" Glenn concludes as he looks at their barrier and how structurally safe it looks, even if it's not his area of expertise. "How much would you guys be against me using a bomb in this case?"
[17:31] <@Henrietta> "This is the price of betrayal!" Henrietta gestures after the fleeing thug. "Magic Missile!"
[17:31] <@Rudy> "That punk! I'm gonna.. I'm gonna..." Rudy rushes towards the portcullis, grabbing onto it angrily. "Myra, go away! You're not even useful..." he mutters, dismissing his longtime servant.
[17:31] * @Miranda_Altair looks at the rising water. "My reservations lower each second."
[17:31] <@Ebiris> The portcullis looks to be made of heavy iron, locked securely into the wall.
[17:32] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll your MM damage, Henri
[17:32] <@Henrietta> roll 2d4+2
[17:32] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 2d4+2 and gets 7." [2d4=3, 2]
[17:32] <@Ebiris> Jino is slammed in the back by energetic magic missiles, stumbling for several steps before he rounds the corner out of sight!
[17:32] * @Rudy then takes the next step, hoping that whatever mysterious power that enables him to summon bizzare creatures will oblige him and summon something on the other side of this wretched gate!
[17:33] <@Rudy> OOC: Trying to summon a small air elemental
[17:35] <@Ebiris> A wispy creature appears out of the murky underground air with a sudden fwhoosh of displaced air!
[17:36] <@Rudy> "Go reset the lever!" orders Rudy, pointing towards the device on the wall. "Hurry it up!"
[17:37] * @Henrietta ties her grappling hook to her rope in the meantime, in case the portcullis would not be moved.
[17:38] <@Ebiris> The elemental pushes up the lever, and another loud thunk is heard from within the walls around the portcullis! But it doesn't actually move... meanwhile the water is now lapping at the bridge, and a monstrous serpent rises partially out of the water, baring a massive elongated mouth of long fangs... and a smaller prehensile mouth within, circular and filled with hundreds of tinny serrated teeth all the way down!
[17:39] <@Ebiris> "Hey!" Lucie's voice calls down from above.
[17:39] <@Miranda_Altair> "Hey! Lucie! How are you?" Miranda calls up.
[17:40] <@Rudy> "
[17:40] <@Ebiris> OOC: lets roll init if you guys plan to attack the serpent
[17:40] <@Ebiris> roll 3#1d20+7
[17:40] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 3#1d20+7 and gets 69." [3#1d20+7 = 22, 23, 24]
[17:41] <@Lucie> "Better than you, from the looks of things! What the hell's going on down there? You guys fuck things up already?"
[17:41] * @Henrietta stares briefly in shock, before she draws upon her mother's lessons, concentrating deeply!
[17:41] <@Rudy> "Damn... we can lift this thing if we put our backs into it!" yells Rudy, eyeing the portcullis. "We're in deep shit!"
[17:41] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[17:41] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 16." [1d20=14]
[17:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 Trucy
[17:42] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 Trucy and gets 12." [1d20=9]
[17:42] <@Glenn> roll d20+4
[17:42] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+4 and gets 9." [d20=5]
[17:42] <@Miranda_Altair> "Giant water snakes! We could use some help, if you're not busy!"
[17:42] <@Miranda_Altair> roll 1d20+2 init assuming
[17:42] * +Hatbot --> "Miranda_Altair rolls 1d20+2 init assuming and gets 9." [1d20=7]
[17:43] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6
[17:43] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 and gets 21." [1d20=15]
[17:43] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 inting
[17:43] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 inting and gets 7." [1d20=2]
[17:43] <@Rudy> OOC: actually 10, i r dumb
[17:43] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll for your elemental as well if you plan on using it
[17:44] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7 elemental
[17:44] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 elemental and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[17:44] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 1 > Serpent 2 > Serpent 3 > Lucie > Henrietta > Trucy > Rudy > Glenn > Miranda'
[17:44] <@Ebiris> OOC: go plucky elemental
[17:45] <@Rudy> "Go get that guy!" yells Rudy, sputtering with anger and sending his speedy elemental on a quest of vengeance!
[17:46] <@Ebiris> The elemental zooms away with terrifying speed, racing around the corner and out of sight!
[17:47] <@Ebiris> The visible serpent sways in the steadily rising water for the moment, extending its inner mouth towards the group but not making any hostile move just yet...
[17:47] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[17:48] * @Lucie turns, scans the courtyard for any rope, or even for any manner of rubbish that could be tossed down and used as something to climb up.
[17:49] <@Ebiris> OOC: search check
[17:49] <@Lucie> roll 1d20 not my best skill mod there
[17:49] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20 not my best skill mod there and gets 1." [1d20=1]
[17:50] <@Ebiris> Frantically turning over a couple of broken barrels, Lucie fails to find anything helpful immediately, but there's a lot more courtyard to search...
[17:50] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[17:52] <@Henrietta> "Trucy!" Henrietta raises her voice, glancing briefly towards the hole in the ceiling. "We shall try to toss a grappling hook out. Get ready, stay clear, and if it fails to catch on something in time, please catch it on a dagger!" she hands the prepared length of rope for Rudy to use, preparing to call upon the floating vines to come to life and halt the snakes in their steps as soon as they
[17:52] <@Henrietta> try to move threateningly.
[17:53] <@Ebiris> "Got it!" Trucy calls down, stepping back from the well and tensing.
[17:53] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[17:53] <@Rudy> "Or your hands! You're used to handling rope, right? Sailor girl?"
[17:53] <@Rudy> Rudy whirls the rope like a lasso, before casting it up towards the top of the well!
[17:53] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+14 hero point don't fail me now
[17:53] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+14 hero point don't fail me now and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[17:54] <@Ebiris> "Sure, safe hands!" Trucy calls back. As Rudy nears the centre to throw his rope, however, the serpent nearby lunges at him!
[17:54] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5
[17:54] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 and gets 11." [1d20=6]
[17:54] <@Ebiris> OOC: CMD, Rudy?
[17:54] <@Rudy> OOC: 16
[17:56] <@Ebiris> Despite the difficult angle, an expert underhand throw from Rudy has the hook sail up and over, sticking fast on the edge! Trucy darts over to secure it further even as the serpent lunges out at Rudy, its entire body pushing out of the water! It fails to properly bite him, however, instead just shoving lightly against him as it falls down on the opposite side of the bridge into the rising water, its long length flowing after it... has to be nine feet long at least!
[17:56] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri you can go now with the entangle if you want
[17:56] * Retrieving #dunes modes...
[17:57] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2 > Serpent 3 > Lucie > Henrietta > Trucy > Serpent 1 > Rudy > Glenn > Miranda'
[17:58] <@Henrietta> "Entangle!" Henrietta calls out, her skin darkening until it resembles bark, and the plantlife hiding within the murk comes to life as ordered, siccing on the giant snakes!
[17:58] <@Henrietta> OOC: ref DC17
[17:59] <@Ebiris> roll 3#1d20+7
[17:59] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 3#1d20+7 and gets 51." [3#1d20+7 = 26, 10, 15]
[17:59] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3(e) > Lucie > Henrietta > Trucy > Serpent 1 > Rudy > Glenn > Miranda'
[17:59] <@Ebiris> The seaweed comes to life, whipping through the water and curling around to hold fast anything within! But with the water steadily rising, it won't be long before the bridge falls under that purview as well!
[17:59] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[18:00] * @Glenn wastes no time rapidly ascending up the rope once it's secured!
[18:00] <@Ebiris> OOC: climb check
[18:00] <@Glenn> roll d20+9 climb (using +8 from a hero point just to improve chance of climbing)
[18:00] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+9 climb (using +8 from a hero point just to improve chance of climbing) and gets 26." [d20=17]
[18:01] <@Ebiris> Glenn grabs on tightly to the rope and starts hauling himself up as it sways above the water! He reaches up fifteen feet, nearly at the ceiling of the chamber, with the water surging below, seaweed and serpents alike thrashing within!
[18:01] <@Ebiris> OOC: Miranda
[18:05] <@Miranda_Altair> Looking from the rope, to Glenn, and back to the sea serpent, Miranda closes her eyes and casts a spell, summoning forth a churning mass of tentacles and cephalopodic rage! OOC: It's a squid.
[18:06] <@Ebiris> The squid appears in the water with a splash!
[18:06] <@Ebiris> OOC: have it save vs entanglement
[18:06] <@Miranda_Altair> roll 1d20+7 Jimmy the Squid
[18:06] * +Hatbot --> "Miranda_Altair rolls 1d20+7 Jimmy the Squid and gets 24." [1d20=17]
[18:07] <@Ebiris> OOC: oh, wait. 1 round casting time. It won't appear till your tick on the next round
[18:07] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3(e) > Lucie > Henrietta > Trucy > Serpent 1 > Rudy > Glenn > Miranda (casting)'
[18:08] <@Ebiris> Out of sight, the elemental hopefully murders more Lotus Dragons!
[18:08] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 escape artist
[18:08] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 escape artist and gets 26." [1d20=19]
[18:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 escape artist
[18:09] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 escape artist and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[18:09] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2 > Serpent 3(e) > Lucie > Henrietta > Trucy > Serpent 1 > Rudy > Glenn > Miranda (casting)'
[18:09] <@Ebiris> The serpents are unseen below the water, doing who knows what!
[18:09] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[18:11] <@Lucie> From the sounds of things someone managed to get a rope up the well, so Lucie rushes back to the well to see if there's any other immediate way she can help out. (OOC: I guess I'll just hold off on any further action until enemies become visible from where I am, cast spells if they do)
[18:12] <@Ebiris> Lucie can see Glenn climbing up directly below, and past him the water churning with animate seaweed! No serpents in sight just yet...
[18:12] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri
[18:13] <@Henrietta> For the time being, Miranda hasn't rushed to the rope, and so Henrietta chooses to wait for her to escape before she is to follow suit. Meanwhile, there is a snake she can see, twitching in its bonds, and with a snap of her fingers two translucent roses appear in Henrietta's hands. A cry of "Magic Missile!" and they're off to perforate the snake in question!
[18:13] <@Henrietta> roll 2d4+2
[18:13] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 2d4+2 and gets 10." [2d4=4, 4]
[18:13] <@Ebiris> OOC: you can't see any snakes. They're all underwater
[18:14] <@Henrietta> OOC: Wasn't there one that attacked Rudy and jumped on the bridge?
[18:14] <@Ebiris> OOC: it jumped over the bridge then splashed back into the water on the other side
[18:15] <@Henrietta> OOC: Okay, I'lll redo, then
[18:15] <@Henrietta> With no snake in sight and the rest of them still harrassed by her animated plants, Henrietta decides to climb up the rope after Glenn, hopeful that the rest of them would soon follow.
[18:16] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3 climb
[18:16] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+3 climb and gets 22." [1d20=19]
[18:16] <@Henrietta> OOC: Another ref dc17 for entanglings after my go?
[18:16] <@Ebiris> Henrietta grabs onto the rope and begins hauling herself up, getting ten feet before she's stopped by Glenn's big butt, dangling over the rising waters!
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 2#1d20+7
[18:16] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 2#1d20+7 and gets 22." [2#1d20+7 = 11, 11]
[18:17] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3(e) > Lucie > Henrietta > Trucy > Serpent 1(e) > Rudy > Glenn > Miranda (casting)'
[18:17] <@Ebiris> Trucy continues to hang about above the well, unable to do much from here!
[18:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 escape artist
[18:17] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 escape artist and gets 26." [1d20=19]
[18:18] <@Ebiris> One of the snakes then emerges directly below the rope, swaying its long double-jawed head above the water!
[18:18] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie, you can see this one
[18:18] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3(e) > Lucie > Henrietta > Trucy > Serpent 1 > Rudy > Glenn > Miranda (casting)'
[18:20] * @Lucie reacts instantly, reaching out her right hand and concentrating to instill in the creature the stark cold of the void!
[18:20] <@Lucie> roll 3d6 cold, fort DC 16 for half
[18:20] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 3d6 cold, fort DC 16 for half and gets 11." [3d6=6, 1, 4]
[18:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5
[18:22] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 and gets 22." [1d20=17]
[18:22] <@Ebiris> Frost runs all along the monster's length, making it shiver and twitch! But it endures nonetheless!
[18:23] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3(e) > Trucy > Henrietta > Lucie > Serpent 1 > Rudy > Glenn > Miranda (casting)'
[18:23] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[18:23] <@Rudy> There's no point climbing the rope when it's already laden down like this, so Rudy just tenses up and gets ready to get out of dodge, should any serpents come flying his way!
[18:23] <@Rudy> OOC: total d
[18:23] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[18:23] * @Glenn finishes climbing to the top.
[18:23] <@Ebiris> OOC: only if you make your climb check~
[18:24] <@Glenn> roll d20+1
[18:24] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+1 and gets 3." [d20=2]
[18:24] <@Glenn> ooc: hate
[18:24] <@Glenn> ooc: hero point to reroll I guess
[18:24] <@Glenn> roll d20+1
[18:24] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+1 and gets 6." [d20=5]
[18:24] <@Glenn> ooc: BAH
[18:24] <@Ebiris> Glenn starts hauling himself up, but his hands slip free and he reels back, plummeting below with Henrietta right below him!
[18:24] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri, make a climb check to avoid being knocked off by Glenn
[18:25] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3 damn you!
[18:25] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+3 damn you! and gets 18." [1d20=15]
[18:26] <@Ebiris> Henrietta manages to cling on for all she's worth even as she's buffetted by Glenn's passing, the alchemist splashing down on top of the sea serpent below!
[18:26] <@Ebiris> roll 1d6
[18:26] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d6 and gets 1." [1d6=1]
[18:26] <@Ebiris> OOC: reflex save, Glenn
[18:27] <@Glenn> roll d20+7
[18:27] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+7 and gets 11." [d20=4]
[18:27] <@Glenn> ooc: Hatbot, you suck
[18:27] <@Ebiris> The seaweed shows no discrimination, holding Glenn fast in its tendrils as he splashes down! He's only lucky it does this while his head is above the water!
[18:27] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3(e) > Trucy > Henrietta > Lucie > Serpent 1 > Rudy > Glenn(e) > Miranda (casting)'
[18:27] <@Ebiris> OOC: Miranda, your squid appears now. Have it act and then take your own action
[18:30] <@Miranda_Altair> "Get that serpent!" Miranda cries. The squid obeys, it writhing tentacles grasping for the snake!
[18:30] <@Miranda_Altair> roll 1d20+8 grapple
[18:30] * +Hatbot --> "Miranda_Altair rolls 1d20+8 grapple and gets 9." [1d20=1]
[18:31] <@Ebiris> It's no good, the wily serpent is too quick and nimble to be ensnared to easily!
[18:31] <@Ebiris> OOC: also reflex save for squid
[18:31] <@Miranda_Altair> roll 1d20+7
[18:31] * +Hatbot --> "Miranda_Altair rolls 1d20+7 and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[18:32] <@Ebiris> But the squid is at least able to bat away the seaweed tendrils with its own tentacles!
[18:33] <@Miranda_Altair> Seeing that her squid is sufficiently irritating to the serpent, Miranda attempts to climb the rope as well.
[18:33] <@Ebiris> Indeed the squid has it well distracted, allowing Miranda a window of opportunity to ascend!
[18:33] <@Ebiris> OOC: climb check
[18:33] <@Miranda_Altair> OOC: Strike
[18:34] <@Miranda_Altair> Seeing that her squid is sufficiently irritating to the serpent, Miranda moves to help Glenn out of the water!
[18:34] <@Ebiris> OOC: make a strength or escape artist check for aid another
[18:34] <@Miranda_Altair> roll 1d20 str
[18:34] * +Hatbot --> "Miranda_Altair rolls 1d20 str and gets 8." [1d20=8]
[18:35] <@Ebiris> Miranda tries her best, but she's beaten back by the flailing flotsam, unable to render much assistance!
[18:36] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile the water continues to climb ever higher, now submerging the bridge and allowing the animate seaweed to wash over it as the water churns!
[18:36] <@Ebiris> OOC: reflex for Rudy and Miranda
[18:36] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 whyyy
[18:36] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 whyyy and gets 22." [1d20=17]
[18:37] <@Miranda_Altair> roll 1d20+2
[18:37] * +Hatbot --> "Miranda_Altair rolls 1d20+2 and gets 7." [1d20=5]
[18:37] <@Ebiris> Rudy manages to avoid being caught, but Miranda finds herself out of luck, already leaning over to help Glenn she's easy pickings!
[18:37] <@Ebiris> roll 2#1d20+7 escape artist
[18:37] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 2#1d20+7 escape artist and gets 26." [2#1d20+7 = 8, 18]
[18:37] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3 > Trucy > Henrietta > Lucie > Serpent 1 > Rudy > Glenn(e) > Miranda (casting)'
[18:38] <@Ebiris> Another serpent appears above the water now, this one brushing against Rudy's leg! Trucy swears and hurls her dagger down at the serpent threatening anyone who wants to climb the rope!
[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3
[18:38] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 and gets 20." [1d20=17]
[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+1
[18:38] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4+1 and gets 5." [1d4=4]
[18:39] <@Ebiris> The creature is rocked and emits a shrill scream as the dagger embeds itself in its head with a spurt of blood! But it continues thrashing, not out of fight yet!
[18:39] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[18:39] * @Henrietta continues climbing towards safety and freedom! "Underground places," she murmurs, shaking her head. "Terrible, just terrible!"
[18:39] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3
[18:39] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+3 and gets 12." [1d20=9]
[18:40] <@Ebiris> Henrietta squirms and pulls, but just can't make any headway, her hands slipping down the rope as much as she hauls herself up!
[18:40] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[18:41] <@Ebiris> OOC: oh, reflex saves everyone in the water who's not entangled
[18:41] <@Ebiris> roll 2#1d20+7
[18:41] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 2#1d20+7 and gets 42." [2#1d20+7 = 18, 24]
[18:42] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3 > Trucy > Henrietta > Lucie > Serpent 1 > Rudy > Glenn(e) > Miranda(e)'
[18:42] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 but I made on this round already :(
[18:42] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 but I made on this round already :( and gets 21." [1d20=16]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> OOC: Now Lucie
[18:42] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3 > Trucy > Henrietta > Lucie > Serpent 1 > Rudy > Glenn(e) > Miranda(e) > Squid'
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 squid
[18:42] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 squid and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[18:42] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3 > Trucy > Henrietta > Lucie > Serpent 1 > Rudy > Glenn(e) > Miranda(e) > Squid (e)'
[18:43] * @Lucie can't do much but shout right now, voice echoing down the well. "Wretched monsters. Go find your lunch somewhere else!" Of course, she CAN enhance her voice with some eldritch power... (OOC: Bane, should hit all enemies within 50 ft of me, will DC 16 to avoid -1 to attack rolls and saves against fear)
[18:43] <@Ebiris> roll 3#1d20+2
[18:43] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 3#1d20+2 and gets 44." [3#1d20+2 = 12, 17, 15]
[18:44] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Elemental > Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3(b) > Trucy > Henrietta > Lucie > Serpent 1(b) > Rudy > Glenn(e) > Miranda(e) > Squid(e)'
[18:45] <@Ebiris> The two visible serpents seem to twitch and squirm in response to Lucie's dire curse, but it doesn't stop the one under the rope from trying to grapple Glenn!
[18:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4
[18:45] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 and gets 9." [1d20=5]
[18:45] <@Ebiris> But the seaweed manages to fight off the sea serpent, wanting Glenn all for itself!
[18:45] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[18:47] <@Rudy> Rudy curses, and decides desperate times call for desperate measures! He gives up his dastardly revenge plot, instead summoning an octopus to fight on his behalf!
[18:48] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6 entangle save
[18:48] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+6 entangle save and gets 19." [1d20=13]
[18:48] <@Rudy> Whirling into being within the pool, it starts biting and grabbing the nearest serpent!
[18:48] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5
[18:48] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 and gets 25." [1d20=20]
[18:48] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 confirm?
[18:48] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 confirm? and gets 15." [1d20=10]
[18:49] <@Ebiris> OOC: normal hit
[18:49] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+3 grab
[18:49] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+3 grab and gets 10." [1d20=7]
[18:49] <@Rudy> roll 1d3+1
[18:49] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d3+1 and gets 3." [1d3=2]
[18:49] <@Ebiris> The octupus crushes part of the serpent's neck with its hard beak, but its tentacles can't find purchase against the monster's slimy length!
[18:49] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[18:50] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3(b) > Trucy > Henrietta > Lucie > Serpent 1(b) > Rudy > Octopus > Glenn(e) > Miranda(e) > Squid(e)'
[18:50] * @Glenn attempts to drink down his mutagen, digging into his jacket and uncorking the flask. Hopefully the sleeker form will help him escape the damn seaweed more easily.
[18:52] <@Glenn> Once downed, Glenn attempts to free himself as well!
[18:53] <@Glenn> roll d20+6
[18:53] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+6 and gets 15." [d20=9]
[18:53] <@Ebiris> It's no good! Henrietta's enchanted foliage is more than a match for Glenn's alchemic might!
[18:53] <@Ebiris> OOC: Miranda and Squid Power Hour
[18:54] <@Miranda_Altair> Miranda reaches to help Glenn again!
[18:55] <@Ebiris> OOC: strength or escape artist to aid another
[18:55] <@Miranda_Altair> roll 1d20 str check
[18:55] * +Hatbot --> "Miranda_Altair rolls 1d20 str check and gets 11." [1d20=11]
[18:55] <@Ebiris> Selflessly ignoring her own plight, Miranda tears away at the seaweed, giving Glenn a fighting chance!
[18:55] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Serpent 2(e) > Serpent 3(b) > Trucy > Henrietta > Lucie > Serpent 1(b) > Rudy > Octopus > Glenn(e aided) > Miranda(e) > Squid(e)'
[18:56] <@Miranda_Altair> Meanwhile, the squid assaults the sea serpent!
[18:56] <@Miranda_Altair> roll 1d20+2 Jimmy!
[18:56] * +Hatbot --> "Miranda_Altair rolls 1d20+2 Jimmy! and gets 12." [1d20=10]
[18:56] <@Ebiris> OOC: -2 to attack while entangled, but misses anyway
[18:56] <@Ebiris> The squid flails away, but only manages to get its own tentacles tangled up with those of the octopus, barely inconveniencing the far greater sea predator!