[19:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Late August has warmth all over, yet already the movements of the bay breeze seem to be banishing the worst of the summery weather. Today Whimiscal Sweets gathers - Sylvie is there, as is Simmer. As the the other four enter, "Ah, Andrea, you're back!" Josa says, "Tell me, how was your sojourn down to Valandia?"
[19:53] <Andria> "Outside of some trouble with some crazy bandits, it went great! We managed to bring Brent back and I found something to remember my parents by," Andrea chirps, looking rather cheerful. "What about you guys?"
[19:53] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Pretty well," Simmer says, "We burned some lizards and put a bunch more to sleep."
[19:53] <Janson> "We killed a bundle of shocker lizards and I got my roc feather," Janson replies, giving Andria a happy smile. "Great news about Brent - I bet he's really happy, too."
[19:54] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "He's lucky," Sylvie observes, leaning forward a little bit, "How's he doing?"
[19:54] <Aaeru> Not surprised in the slightest at that outcome, Aaeru responds, "I did a bunch of jobs with Silver and then Neve and I took a job from Captain Hamilton and after reporting to him he called Josa more names than Silver always does and cursed a lot and changed the job so now he wants everyone here to work for him, too."
[19:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "That's wonder-wait, what?" Josa's head whips over towards Aaeru, "I beckon, repeat that last missive, Aaeru?"
[19:55] * Janson blinks and looks at Aaeru. "Is he at least paying more?"
[19:55] <Andria> Andrea also turns to look at Aaeru, curious about that.
[19:55] <Aaeru> "It sounded like that to me," Aaeru responds to them both.
[19:56] * Wayland blinks. "What, like permanently?"
[19:56] * Aaeru hesitates, and then shakes her head. "I don't think I should repeat it after all. And no, not permanently."
[19:57] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "No, no, I insist. Aaeru,t ell us what happened," Josa says, "What did he dare demand of us? What has happened on this job?"
[19:57] <Andria> "Brent's doing fine, Sylvie, though Olan is putting him through his paces to get him back in shape," Andrea replies to Sylvie, as she lets the others deal with the specifics of Aaeru's job for now, happy to just chat with some of the others, though she keeps half-listening.
[20:00] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Did he come back out of shape from the afterlife?" That gets a raised eyebrow, "Then again, I guess the point of it is not to have to fight anymore."
[20:05] <Aaeru> "Okay!" Aaeru agrees, easily convinced. "So, like, the job was to go and buy woodcraft for Captain Hamilton from Quindala, who is this elf, because he doesn't like the captain or something. He didn't say, but called him a prissy little thing without a scrap of manliness who looks more like a woman than a man so maybe that's why? I know I wouldn't want to be called all those things even if none of them were true. So me and Neve went to Quindala in the elven trading place thing and he has a really sweet house in a tree, but then we found out that he already sold all his stock to Sanuth. Do you remember Sanuth? Because I did and I checked around some. He suddenly got a lot of money and it's apparently from this Senaril woman who is foreign or something and gave him lots of gold that he used to buy all sorts of alchemical thingies and silk and now this and he rented a really huge house with a pretty but rude maid. And I know he's hiding something! Maybe this woman is a bandit or something bad and illegal! So when we went to Captain Hamilton to report he said he didn't care about the crafts or about the elves anymore and then he said that Josa should get us all working on finding out what Sanuth did that was illegal and he also mentioned barnacles and dwarves having sex which I didn't really understand but that's how Captain Hamilton is when he talks. Questions?"
[20:05] <Andria> "I think it was more that Olan just wanted an excuse to spar with his son again," Andrea replies.
[20:06] * Janson listens calmly to all of Aaeru's explanation with sollemn gravitas, letting it settle so he can mull it over. Then blinks and comments, "But you do look more like a woman than a man, Aaeru."
[20:06] <Aaeru> "So does Quindala," Aaeru affirms, nodding.
[20:07] * Wayland looks a bit dazed.
[20:07] <Wayland> "Wha?"
[20:07] <Aaeru> "He's very very pretty."
[20:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "O...kaaay..." Josa blinks and blinks again, "I daresay that I think I follow at least the general direction of your words."
[20:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Sylvie nods to Aaeru's words, "So in essence, Sanuth may be up to no good with this foreign woman and he wants us to dig up the dirt now?"
[20:08] <Wayland> "Maybe she's another Sharran?" Wayland wonders.
[20:08] <Janson> "Maybe the woman will end up startling Sanuth in the night and he'll stab her?" Janson suggests, rolling his eyes.
[20:08] <Aaeru> "It's more important to him now than the woodcraft job, but I talked to Quindala and he's not selling for at least another day, so if we find something today and expose Sanuth, the first job might work out too!"
[20:11] <Aaeru> "So I talked to Sanuth and I know he's hiding something and I know where he lives, too," Aaeru says, relating the address, "and I talked to the people at Mystra's temple and Gond's temple that sold him lots and lots of alchemical stuffs and they said he paid with, uh, trade bars or something and gold from Tauret and Pallanth and that's how I found out about that woman, too, and did you know Sanuth is hiding it and everyone who met him thinks he's up to no good?"
[20:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> To all of this Josa listens, "Frankly, we don't have any other immediate jobs right now. While this coarse captain's actions are beyond the pale, he is a paying customer. See if all of you can get to the bottom of this today."
[20:12] <Aaeru> "I was going to City Hall again to see if there's anything about that Senaril woman," Aaeru relates. "They just closed yesterday after I waited for hours and they were, like, closed when I came at dawn."
[20:14] <Janson> "What should I do?" Janson asks, not really knowing what he can do here and hoping for some direction.
[20:15] <Aaeru> "He, like, tells something to everyone he trades with. So maybe if you find the silk merchant guy from the Desert, and he knows something?"
[20:16] <Janson> "Okay, any idea where I'd find that merchant?"
[20:17] <Aaeru> "No but I didn't know about the thing with Mystra and Gond's temples till I asked a few hours in the merchant district to maybe that?"
[20:17] <Aaeru> *so maybe
[20:17] <Janson> "Okay. I guess I can start at that shop Sylvie and I got our new clothes at," Janson shrugs. "Anyone want to come with?" he offers as he gets up.
[20:18] <Wayland> "I'll go." Wayland stands.
[20:19] <Aaeru> "Sylvie, wanna come wait in line together?"
[20:19] <Andria> "I'll go with whomever..." Andrea says with a scratch of her head, not sure where she'd be most helpful.
[20:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "May as well," Sylvie rises, "C'mon with us, Andrea."
[20:21] <Andria> "Okay!"
[20:21] <Janson> "You can be our third, Simmer," Janson invites the last one left to join his team before setting off.
[20:22] <Aaeru> "Maybe Silver can go visit Captain Hamilton?" Aaeru muses out loud, heading out herself. "They have lots in common!"
#ed
[20:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Going deeper into the Commerce Quarter, you come to the clothing boutique Janson and Sylvie visited before. It's a whitewashed building, the inside smelling of sharp spices and open air. A few people are about, shopping and looking at premade clothes, or in discussions with tailors. A tanned woman with black hair and clad in colored silks is near the door, a sweeping curtesy as they enter,
[20:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Welcome to an oasis of luxury," she says, "The finest silks from far away can be found here, to alleviate your thirst from rough, boring cotton and woolspun clothes."
[20:31] <Janson> "Hi, again," Janson smiles, recalling her from his last visit even if he never got a name. "We're not actually looking for clothes today, we're trying to find out where you'd go to for buying silk in bulk. Can you help with pointing out who does that sort of trade in Balmuria?"
[20:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Aaah," she smiles a moment, "Go back and ask for Ali."
[20:35] <Janson> "Thank you!" Janson beams, heading to the back of the shop and asking for Ali.
[20:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> In the back are a handful of offices. One in particular is pleasant. It smells of spices and incense in this room, a thin man deeply curled up in a thick plush chair. He reads from a book, looking all the world like he's carefree and comfortable. "You thre are...Balmurians, defintely. Only one of you even looks human." With a snort, the dusky skinned man puts his book away, "Ali. You are?"
[20:42] <Janson> "I'm Janson, he's Wayland, she's Simmer. We're from Whimsical Sweets," Janson replies pleasantly. "Why we're here, we're trying to find out who sells silk in bulk in Balmuria, and figured your shop'd be the simplest place to start looking."
[20:42] <Wayland> "Hello." Wayland nods.
[20:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Any trader who comes in from the Fiefdoms usually carries at least a bit of silk." He strokes his chin, "I usually check the market places, talk to people and find whomever has a big surplus at the time. A bunch of the richer merchants and Waukeenites use those portalways to bring silk over quickly, so there's usually a good hunk of it in the marketplace. Thinking about getting into the business?"
[20:45] <Janson> "Not exactly. A local trader did a big silk purchase recently and we're representing another trader that might do business with that guy - he wants to do some due dilligence, make sure the guy's on the level, so checking with other people who've traded with him gives us some background."
[20:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Ah, right," An agreeable nods, "Who're you working for and checking out?"
[20:47] <Janson> "We're looking into Sanuth, on Quindala's behalf," Janson replies, a half-truth.
[20:49] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Oh Sanuth. Yeah, he was asking about the trade too and did some business with me," Now with a yet more pleasant smile, "Though speaking of, I saw a Janson on the recent sales lists. How'd you like your clothes?"
[20:52] <Janson> "Oh, they're exactly what I wanted," Janson beams, "I've never had clothes that fit so well and are so comfortable - Sylvie loves hers, too. We'll probably be buying more, for sure."
[20:54] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Why don't I measure all three of you for some clothes while we talk," Ali smiles at that, "We have this new pattern in that I'm sure will suit any of you well." He gets up, getting a tape measure from his pocket, "In particular, your blue skin there will offset the silk very well," he goes to Wayland first, "Extend your arm out, please?"
[20:56] <Janson> roll 1d20+10 sense motive, is he genuinely after a sale or is he stalling?
[20:56] <Rei-chan> Janson rolled : 1d20+10 sense motive, is he genuinely after a sale or is he stalling? --> [ 1d20=9 ]{19}
[20:57] * Wayland does so, not really thinking anything of it.
[21:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Measurements are taken all over Wayland,t hen he moves to Simmer, "Anyway, Sanuth? What do you want to know about him?" Meanwhile Simmer dutifully raises her limbs, "If I'm getting clothes, they have to be fire resistant. Or not, I don't -mind- burning them but it's bad to keep buying new clothes every day."
[21:06] <Janson> "You've got a hard life, Simmer," Janson commiserates. "Anyway, we're really just trying to find out how he does his business - we've heard elsewhere that he was on the verge of poverty a few months ago, so we want to be sure he's on the level."
[21:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Really!" Ali finishes with Simmer and goes over to Janson, "He seemed quite flush with gold when I dealt with him. That's quite a remarkable rebound."
[21:08] <Wayland> "Remarkable is a good word for it."
[21:10] <Janson> "Yeah. The worry is that he's borrowing or something like that and might be called to collect before he can complete this trade or something like that. Did he talk about where he was getting it from at all?" Janson asks hopefully.
[21:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "No, I didn't pry." Ali admits, pausing a moment, "However, there was one thing..." A pause, "But oh yes. I can have the clothes done in a few days. They'll be 225 marks for all three of you."
[21:14] <Janson> "I could do with a another nice outfit - make one of a similar cut to the last one but in autumn colours?" Janson offers to buy for himself, leaving it to the other two if they care about looking stylish or not.
[21:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Simmer shrugs, fishing out some money. "At the way we earn this, 75 marks is more like spending money. I can't believe some people worry about pennies and silvers. Why don't they just go treasure hunting for a bit, anyway?"
[21:16] <Janson> "I dunno how sensitive your bark is, but I love silk on my skin," Janson smiles at Simmer. "It's definitely worth it."
[21:16] <Wayland> "From what I understand, Simmer, most people who go treasure hunting wind up dead." Wayland shrugs, then turns to the proprietor. "I'm afraid I'll have to decline this time. Perhaps sometime in the future, after we finish our investigation."
[21:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I don't feel much unless it's warm, flesh of fiery," Simmer banters back, "Like I can feel your hand, but cold stone I don't feel much of anything except discomfort over the lack of fire. But if the stone's warmed, I can feel it fine."
[21:18] <Janson> "Wayland's an ascetic," Janson offers politely, hoping this doesn't cost them info. "We could maybe look at getting your clothes enchanted for that sometime?" he then suggests to Simmer.
[21:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Ah well," Ali accepts this gracefully, "He was in the company of a woman. An absolute beauty, short brown hair and a great figure. I didn't catch her name, she hung back and kept looking around. Pegged her as a bodyguard, but why someone like that is wasting away as a bodyguard is anyone's guess. Probably a bodyguard and a bodyGUARD, if you understand what I'm saying." Clearing his throat,
[21:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I figure that he's her boytoy and talked her into it, then."
[21:20] <Janson> "Hmm. Did she talk to you or any of the staff?" Janson asks, hoping for more of a lead to follow.
[21:23] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "No," Shaking his head, "To be honest..." he pauses, "I spent 10 years on the road, friends. I know the look of someone who's skillful enough to end lives and wants people to know about it. She's it to a T. Beautiful as she was, she was just as dangerous. None of the staff was going to get involved with her if she wanted her privacy."
[21:24] <Janson> "Hmm..." Janson mulls that over, fishing out some money to pay for his new clothes, "Sounds like he's keeping good company at the least. Thanks for your help, Ali."
[21:25] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Thanks!" With that the party is able to exit out. Once out, Simmer stretches, "So...he's living the high life? Think that was the Senaril that Aaeru was talking about?"
[21:27] <Janson> "Eh... maybe? It's not really a lot to go on," Janson admits, frowning. "I guess we can head back to the shop and confer with the others to see if we can come up with anything more?"
[21:27] <Wayland> "Yes. It's unfortunate that there wasn't more to go on, there."
#d
[20:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Andrea and Sylvie join with Aaeru, heading out to City Hall! As one may expect, it's packed! A line goes well out the door, several people awaiting just to get in. Sylvie eyes it with unhidden apprehension, "It's busy today. Of course it's busy today."
[20:28] <Aaeru> "It's okay! I think Neve saved us a spot!" Aaeru is quick to assure her.
[20:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "She's here?" Sylvie looks about, not seeing her immediately, "Is she supposed to be?"
[20:31] <Aaeru> "We said we'd give it another try tomorrow," Aaeru affirms, taking a look herself.
[20:31] <Andria> Andrea also looks around for Neve, trying to remember her appearance from the one time they met. Shouldn't be -too- hard, she was kind of memorable.
[20:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> If she's here, she's not outside. That must is obvious. Of course, the actual City Hall is ahead, and you can'te asily see in side from where you are.
[20:35] <Aaeru> "Can we please pass?" Aaeru asks the people by the door. "Our friend Neve is saving us a spot inside!"
[20:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> A big man is up front, giving Aaeru a look. "Excuse me, could you repeat that?" OOC: Make a quick diplo check, Aaeru?
[20:39] <Aaeru> "Neve!" Aaeru insists. "She went here to save a spot and I went to get our friends!" She points at said friends.
[20:39] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+22
[20:39] <Rei-chan> Aaeru rolled : 1d20+22 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{42}
[20:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The big man's face splits into a smile, "Oh yeah, I understand." He steps aside, "Go on in!
[20:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "
[20:41] <Aaeru> "Thanks so much!" Aaeru bows her head for good measure, and then skips indoors in search of Neve.
[20:42] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Neve is found sitting and waiting. Her form is disguised, to look more human, familiar to Aaeru at least. She's staring at a pair of men chatting away a few chairs down, deep in discussion.
[20:42] <Aaeru> "Hiya!" Aaeru greets her, settling down in a seat next to Neve. "Did you wait long? I brought Andrea and Sylvie!"
[20:44] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Oh!" Neveril turns, "Hello. Ah yes, I've been waiting. I'm number 30, and they're up to number 23 right now." She exhales and mutters, "This human custom of long waiting is senselessly boring!"
[20:44] <Andria> "Hello," Andrea greets Neve with a smile. "I'm Andrea, in case you forgot. We only met that one time..."
[20:45] <Aaeru> "I'm sorry," Aaeru commiserates. "It's lots more fun when you wait with someone. But I really want to help the captain quicker! And then our job will be done lots sooner, too."
[20:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Sylvie," Said blonde nods, "Well, if they're moving at any speed it shouldn't be too long. It's just waiting, it's not like the walls will rise up and kill us like Baator."
[20:46] <Aaeru> "I don't think they did it, but it's a pretty large place...."
[20:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> At this about an hour kicks by. Sylvie leans against a wall and looks sublimely bored, whilst Neveril listens into various conversations. At long last, "Number 30, please come back."
[20:49] <Aaeru> "That's us!" Aaeru stands up in a flash, helping Neve to her feet but a moment after.
[20:49] <Andria> Andrea follows behind Aaeru and Neve.
[20:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> You are taken back into a small office. A middle aged man is here, wearing nice clothes and having short gray and black hair. He offers a hand out, "Dugan. So you're looking into a property inquiry?"
[20:52] <Aaeru> "That's right!"
[20:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "What property and why?" Dugan goes right on after that, passing a sheaf of papers over to Andrea, "Fill those out, please?"
[20:57] <Andria> Andrea takes the forms. "Uhm, okay..." she mutters as she tries to fill the form out, though she looks to Sylvie for help!
[20:58] <Aaeru> "It's kinda a long story so please listen to it!" Aaeru requests, getting ready to tell her tale. This must be why every appointment takes over ten minutes!
[21:01] <Aaeru> "So, like, we are from Whimsical Sweets, which is a place that sells sweets and does a bunch of troubleshooting jobs, and we have this client who asked us to find out everything, absolutely everything, about this person who's doing business with another person he's doing business with. He looks like he has lots of money to make deals with and he owns this really expensive place, he says, but what if he's lying? That would be horrible! And, like, we can't just break into his house to see if he really has all that money he says he does or if it's really his but we can check on the house! So that's why we're here. Please help us!"
[21:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Sylvie smoothly steps in and starts filling out the forms! As she works away, Dugan listens. "Ah, you're private investigators! Well, there's no law against looking up this information, but there is a 10 marks surcharge for it. I must also remind you that any illegal activities will not be tolerated in your investigations. Please pursue all legal remedies instead and report any crimes to the City Guard."
[21:09] <Aaeru> "Of course! We're not criminals!"
[21:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Give me a minute on this," Sylvie says, going through the forms, "Someone pay him while I do this?"
[21:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Excellent," Dugan smiles, "Law and order are absolutely important, so please don't start taking matters into your own hands or flouting the law."
[21:10] * Aaeru looks lost at this request from Sylvie.
[21:11] <Andria> Andrea digs into her pockets and pulls out the money. "Here," she says as she puts the coins on the table.
[21:12] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Thanks," Sylvie flashes Andrea a smile as she works away! Soon the forms are finished! Dugan rises with forms and money, "Please wait here while I check the records."
[21:21] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Soon enough he comes back, "Here you are." He hands a copied, fresh scroll to the party. "It's owned by a Mr. Yellah of Pallanth, a half-elf. It's shown as being rented by Mr. Sanuth according to the latest update."
[21:23] <Aaeru> Another half-elf! Aaeru can't help but wonder if he and Josa know each other, but doesn't bother the clerk with her musings. "Thanks. What if we're looking for this woman and we want to find stuff out about her? Can you tell us if she, like, owns a place in Balmuria or rents one or something?"
[21:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "What woman?" Dugan asks, "I don't recall your tale mentionining a woman, nor are either party listed on the records a woman."
[21:27] <Aaeru> "Senaril," Aaeru responds. "We kinda think that she's, like, some rich woman who lends Sanuth money? If we knew where to find her, we could just ask her!"
[21:28] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "She's not mentioned in the record," Dugan shakes his head, "If you had anything more I could check the relevant record and see. Just a name doesn't do much, I'm afraid."
[21:29] <Aaeru> "We have a date," Aaeru says, though she doesn't come off as fully certain of that. "Like, she's foreign so she had to come here from somewhere? And we think we know when, pretty much." It has to be right around the time of Sanuth's rebound and his deals with the temples. "Can that help?"
[21:31] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It's possible it's in those records around a date," Dugan says at last, "It will be a time consuming search. Come back tomorrow." he says after pondering it.
[21:32] <Aaeru> "Okay," Aaeru responds, not arguing. "Do we need a number then, too? Do we ask for you?"
[21:35] <Tiny_Ko_Army> A short note is written, passed over, "Present this tomorrow," he says. "Ask for me by name."
[21:35] <Aaeru> "Thanks!"
[21:36] <Tiny_Ko_Army> From there both groups return to Whimisical Sweets. It's the mid morning hours now as everyone gets in. Josa' sbusy downstairs with candy, whistling away. The rest of you meet upstairs, as...
[21:37] <Aaeru> "We found that Sanuth is really paying for his house, and hey, do you think the house's owner is related to Josa?"
[21:38] <Janson> "Hey guys," Janson waves to Aaeru's team. "No clue if Josa's connected but you can ask him? We found out Sanuth was in the company of a gorgeous woman with short brown hair who looked dangerous, but that's about it." He pauses before adding happily, "Oh and Simmer and I got some nice new clothes."
[21:38] <Aaeru> "But your clothes are already so nice!"
[21:38] <Janson> "But now I have more! Or I will in three days when they're made."
[21:40] * Aaeru can only shrug in a sort of inability to understand. "So anyways! I asked if Senaril had some house somewhere and this man at City Hall told us to come back tomorrow and he'll check for us. It got me thinking! If there's all these lots and lots of records for houses, do you think there are records for people who come to the city? Like, through the gate, or Waukeen's temple?"
[21:41] <Janson> "I don't remember being recorded whenever I came into the city," Janson shrugs.
[21:41] <Andria> "I doubt there'd be records for every single traveler to Balmuria, it'd be just way too much," Andrea comments.
[21:41] <Aaeru> "Even for the rich foreign people?" Aaeru asks hopefully.
[21:42] <Wayland> "There might be for merchants, though."
[21:42] <Aaeru> "--yeah! All that gold and trade bars and stuffs! She can't just carry them all herself!"
[21:43] <Janson> "She can if she has a bag of holding."
[21:43] <Aaeru> Really? It can hold so much?"
[21:44] * Janson looks lost. "How much is so much?"
[21:44] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Did you get any details on that pretty woman," Sylvie asks with a raised eyebrow, "Did you get a name or anything?"
[21:45] * Janson shakes his head. "Apparently she looked so dangerous no one wanted to talk to her if she didn't want to talk to them. And she didn't."
[21:45] <Aaeru> "He's buying the woodcraft for ten thousand gold, and he's not a very good merchant, so about that?"
[21:47] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Maybe we can dig up some information on this woman if we go looking?" Sylvie proposes, "That sort of person gets remembered. If it's that Senaril, that lets us cut right to the chase."
[21:48] <Aaeru> "Sure," Aaeru agrees, shrugging again. "I guess-- oh. Oh! Maybe there is another way!"
[21:49] <Aaeru> "Well, he either talks about her to everyone he trades with, or he brings her along, right? Like, if it's the same woman, but it totally has to be! So we know that Quindala is selling him his crafts like later today or early tomorrow, and if we just take a look or maybe even ask him after, we might see her or hear something about her?"
[21:53] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Not a bad idea either," Sylvie says, "If we haven't spooked Sanuth onto the defensive. How about half of us go keep a watch and half of us try finding out some information on her?"
[21:54] <Wayland> "He may not even know we're looking into him again." Wayland says.
[21:55] <Janson> "I can disguise myself for better spying," Janson offers helpfully.
[21:57] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Right, then who's good digging up dirt?" Sylvie follows up with, "I can disguise myself too, so I can go with Janson."
[21:57] <Wayland> "That's not one of my best skills." Wayland shakes his head.
[21:58] <Andria> "I can probably do that as well, I know a spell that can alter my appearance," Andrea offers.
[21:59] <Aaeru> "He knows I'm looking, so he'll look for me, so it makes sense not to be there and then he wouldn't look at you? So I'll try Sylvie's idea!"
[21:59] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "So the three of us go watch and the rest of you go dig up dirt?" Sylvie says, "Sounds good?"
[22:00] <Aaeru> "Sure!" Neve can disguise herself as well, but Aaeru allows just a tiny bit of selfishness in not suggesting that.
#ed
[22:04] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Thus the three get together! "Yout wo have magic, I'm gonna have to do it the hard way. If we do it tomorrow I can be prepared, though," she says, going to the supply closet and fishing out clothes.
[22:05] <Janson> "Spells run out, so having it done properly's probably better if we're gonna be stuck out there a while," Janson notes, likewise searching for a change of clothing and altering his form so he looks like an utterly unremarkable clean-shaven man with short black hair, slightly shorter and slimmer than he really is.
[22:05] <Janson> roll 1d20+21
[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+21 and gets 40." [1d20=19]
[22:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+13 (+2 disguise kit from closet, +4 cunning inspiration)
[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+13 (+2 disguise kit from closet, +4 cunning inspiration) and gets 31." [1d20=18]
[22:07] <Andria> "I don't really have any experience disguising myself outside of spells..." Andrea admits.
[22:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> When it's all done, Sylvie is a few inches taller, a slump shouldered brunette with frumpy clothes and spectacles. Her hair is done up in a messy bun, her clothes smudged in a few places. Her chest is binded back, Sylvie wincing but much less noticable there now, too. "How do I look? Forgettable enough to you?"
[22:08] <Janson> "So long as you're out of your armour most people won't make the connection, probably," Janson suggests to Andrea before nodding to Sylvie. "You look very sad," he opines approvingly.
[22:10] <Andria> "The spell should last about close to an hour though and I can refresh it once, at least," Andrea says, nodding as she casts the spell, planning to dress more normally once her shape has changed, going for a slightly plain facial appearance of a girl with long blonde hair, and a more slender body shape.
[22:11] <Janson> "Lets go head out to where he lives - pick up some food along the way and we can make an afternoon of it," Janson suggests brightly to his two no longer so beautiful but still charming lady friends.
[22:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Disguise check? Alter Self grants a +10 bonus to disguise checks.
[22:11] <Andria> roll d20+15 (+5 cha, +10 alter self)
[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+15 (+5 cha, +10 alter self) and gets 28." [d20=13]
[22:13] <Andria> Andrea also grabs a pretty blue dress to replace her armor and make her appearance look less like a fighter and more like a typical towngirl.
#d
[22:03] <Aaeru> She and Neve had spent an entire day looking about the merchant district, so how about a change of pace and asking about Sanuth or the beautiful, dangerous and mysterious foreign woman somewhere else in hopes she was as memorable as Sylvie thinks? Aaeru suggests as much to the others.
[22:04] * Wayland nods. "A good idea. Maybe check with the guard, or the local temples? If they were gathering alchemical ingredients, maybe they wanted holy water."
[22:05] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Worth a go," Simmer agrees, shivering a little at Wayland's last words! OOC: Go ahead and have one of you roll GI and the other two aid, say? Do any of you ahve ranks in it? I don't think Simmer does.
[22:06] <Aaeru> "I didn't really hear about any other large trades...." Aaeru trails off, thinking for a few moments. "Oh! Inns! Let's start with those!"
[22:06] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+10
[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+10 and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[22:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+5 Simmer will aid, sure.
[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+5 Simmer will aid, sure. and gets 16." [1d20=11]
[22:08] <Wayland> roll 1d20+0 aiding
[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20+0 aiding and gets 16." [1d20=16]
[22:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+4 aid
[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+4 aid and gets 23." [1d20=19]
[22:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> You spend most of the lunch hour wandering! It's in the Dawne Pointe Inn that you happen to get into a conversation with a road weary looking man, wearing dirty clothes and drinking heavily from a mug of pure water. His feet are up, "Run that by mea gain," he says, "All of it."
[22:11] <Aaeru> "A really, really pretty foreign woman?" Aaeru says, relying on Wayland and Simmer to provide a better description. "Going by Senaril, I think? Dangerous-looking, too!"
[22:12] <Wayland> "Short brown hair, very well-built."
[22:12] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Brown hair, looks dangerous, doesn't want anyone to mess with her," Simmer adds.
[22:13] <Tiny_Ko_Army> To this the man frowns, "Get me another mug o' water if you would?" he asks, putting his tankard out. "That reminds me of someone, but it sure as hell that her name ain't Senaril."
[22:14] <Aaeru> So it was two people after all, Aaeru muses. "Of course!" she responds, ready to help the man refill his mug of water.
[22:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Once water is gotten he takes a drink, "It sounds like you're talking about Lyris." A deeper drink, "Really good at what she does - bodyguarding and merc work. Quiet, efficient and good, 'specially with her partner. Got a body a Pasha would go to war over, too."
[22:16] <Aaeru> "Partner?"
[22:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Yeah, a Marianne," He says, "She's a magician and good at it. Can swing a sword, too."
[22:18] <Aaeru> "It's good to do both," Aaeru can't help but agree. "So they're from Balmuria?"
[22:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Think so. If not they've set up here." He manages another long drink, "I met 'em a few times around a year ago. Couldn't pay me enough to fuck with 'em. Saw her take down a charging troll with one volley of darts, while Marianne took down a bunch of warriors with a single cold spell. Frozen 'em solid, but they lived."
[22:21] <Aaeru> "She sounds like such a nice person!" Aaeru exclaims. Surely, such lovely people would help them out if only they asked! "How can we find them? We don't want to trouble them, just to ask something!"
[22:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "They're around. Check the taverns at night, 'specially around the New City or Western Reaches. Heard they have a house 'round there."
[22:22] <Aaeru> "Okay! Thank you!"
[22:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Simmer gives Wayland a look, "If she casts something cold, can you punch her for me?"
[22:22] <Aaeru> "No punching!" Aaeru hisses.
[22:22] <Wayland> "I'll punch her so hard, her mother's head will explode."
[22:23] * Aaeru just sighs and looks away.
[22:23] <Wayland> "But only if she starts it!"
[22:23] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The man scoots away from the foursome, "Your funeral."
[22:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Someone who throws around cold or water needs a good punching!" Simmer protests, "That's terribly rude and cruel!"
[22:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "What's rude is punching someone!" Neveril protests, "Can't it be solved without violence?"
[22:24] <Aaeru> "Can you stop someone with fire and then they'd live?" Aaeru asks, immediately clarifying, "without really horrible burns?"
[22:25] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+12
[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+12 and gets 26." [1d20=14]
[22:25] * Aaeru nods rapidly. "There's no need to start punching people! And not to kill people!"
[22:25] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "No." Simmer crosses her arms, "If someone throws cold at me, they burn." A pause there, "Noooo...I mean, fire burns. It's like somehow I burn you but I don't burn you. It's nonsensicle....unless you have special training. I think Blythe told me there were wizards who can do that."
[22:26] <Aaeru> "You should learn that! It would be really helpful and just think of all the people you don't have to hurt that way!"
[22:27] <Wayland> "Even if they might deserve it."
[22:27] <Aaeru> "Even bad people don't need to suffer when you fight them!"
[22:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "But burning people is fun! It's fine if they're bad people, anyway," Simmer sniffs, "Most people could use more fire in their lives!" Glancing over to Wayland, "Don't you agree?"
[22:30] <Wayland> "Certainly some people should be punished for their crimes, and a warm fire is always a good thing on cold nights..." Wayland says very delicately.
[22:31] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Exactly," Simmer nods, "So if they're bad guys and use cold, we burn them!" Simmer whistles a little bit, "I mean...isn't it obvious?"
[22:31] <Aaeru> "Please stop talking about killing people. Or, like, thinking it," Aaeru says uncomfortably, about ready to leave the Dawn Pointe Inn.
[22:32] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "What's wrong with it?" Simmer frowns as you head out, "We've killed before more than once. What about the trip to Baator, too?"
[22:33] <Tiny_Ko_Army> After a beat, she shrugs, "Death is a part of nature. If you have to defend yourself and kill another, that's just a part of it. The cycle continues for all of you."
[22:33] <Aaeru> "Devils aren't people!"
[22:33] <Wayland> "I think they are."
[22:34] <Aaeru> "Well they're not."
[22:34] <Wayland> "If I'm a people, and elves are people, and humans are people, why can't devils be people?"
[22:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It doesn't matter!" Neveril speaks up, "Yes, death is a part of the cycle of life, but let it come when it must! Why bring it any faster? There's no need to burn them or kill them or anything!"
[22:35] <Wayland> "Well yes, but I don't think that we are going about this with the intent to harm these women, are we?" Wayland asks.
[22:35] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "So people are people, except when you arbitrarily decide they aren't?" Simmer crosses her arms, giving a hot glare to Neveril, "Life doesn't always reach old age. A mother may eat it's infirm children, plagues wipe out the young at times, accidents happen. There's no guarantee that the cycle of life means along life."
[22:35] <Aaeru> "Because! They're evil that looks like people. It's not the same at all!"
[22:37] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Well, I think that someone who casts cold magic is evil that looks like people," Simmer eyes Aaeru, "So does that mean I can burn this MArianne all up?"
[22:38] <Aaeru> "It's not about what I think. It's really true!" Aaeru insists.
[22:39] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Neveril rubs her face and whimpers, giving Aaeru a look. "Yes, we're not going there to hurt them! If we get into a fight it's because something went completely wrong! Can we please remember that?"
[22:42] <Wayland> "This is getting out of hand. Before we start punching or burning anyone, let's first decide for sure whether or not they are actually out to hurt people. If so, we stop them, and properly give them over to the Guard, who will punish them. Egads." Wayland shakes his head. "This is not the time for a philosophical argument, nor the place."
[22:42] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Simmer takes a breath, "Okay, okay." she says, "It's just...fire's good and cold's bad. That's all."
[22:43] <Aaeru> "I'm going to look for the nice people. Who are nice, and not someone to fight with," Aaeru says, and starts heading out.
[22:43] <Wayland> "Yes, but too much of either can be a bad thing for most people." Wayland says, patting Simmer on the back. "Try to see it from both sides."
[22:44] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It's just so hard," Simmer looks to Wayland with a mournful look, "I can just feel cold is bad and fire's good. I just know that if I bring fire to people it'll help them. Is it like that with air for you?"
[22:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Meanwhile Neveril falls in step with Aaeru, "She sounds more like a demented Unseelie," she mutters in a very low voice, "Fire really did change that dryad, didn't it?"
[22:47] * Aaeru shrugs sullenly. "Or she was born like that. I don't even get it. And how can Ilmater have plans for someone who, like, jokes about punching someone's mother's head off? Or not jokes... I don't get it at all. I'm supposed to be some kinda guide? Does that mean I failed?"
[22:48] * Wayland nods. "For me, the air is the best. I can't imagine anything more fulfilling, more freeing. I know, inside, that the element of earth is my enemy. That doesn't mean I need to charge and attack every being of earth that I see. I'm sure you experience the same thing, only more powerful. You're more closely connected to fire, I think, than I am to air. For most people, fire is a tool, and
[22:48] * Wayland a terrifying thing."
[22:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I don't know," Neveril murmurs, "Ilmater can bring suffering to stop evil, I do know that much..." She reflects on it, "I don't follow human religion that much, though.
[22:50] <Aaeru> "I tried doing everything right, like he wants me to, even when I see how people look at me. But maybe I'm not really helping anyone's suffering after all."
[22:50] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "That's it..." Simmer agrees, taking a sidestep to be closer to Wayland, "I just feel, if I could burn them...I burned and I got stronger and connected to fire. If I could repeat that for everyone, the world would be better and hotter. I know intellectually I was a fluke, but..."
[22:52] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "How about you go help some people tonight at the House of Suffering," Neveril offers, "You can spent a night there and ease suffering for certain."
[22:53] <Aaeru> "But, like, does it matter? If they're just back again tomorrow and suffering again, did I really help?"
[22:53] <Wayland> "Your connection to fire was the result of a wizard mucking about with ley lines, and it's frankly a miracle that you survived at all. It's not something you can force upon others, or even give them as a gift." Wayland nods. "It's a shame we couldn't stop him sooner, before he blew himself up and destroyed large parts of the countryside."
#d
[20:43] <Kotono> OOC: Make a GI check then? One of you takes point and the other two aid. Aaeru I presume since she has the highest mod on it?
[20:44] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+10
[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+10 and gets 23." [1d20=13]
[20:44] <Wayland> roll 1d20 GI aid
[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20 GI aid and gets 17." [1d20=17]
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Simmer
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Simmer and gets 17." [1d20=12]
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Neve
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Neve and gets 6." [1d20=3]
[20:46] <Kotono> It takes awhile and a loooot of walking. It's well past 3 PM when you finally find the alleged house. It's on the very outskirts of the area before true countryside takes over. It's a rambling, two story manor house, with tall, fieldstone fencing surrounding a large lawn. There are gates, which are quite securely shut. Just inside of the gates an old man sits, a cane resting in his lap as he
[20:46] <Kotono> dozes under the warm sunlight.
[20:49] <Wayland> "This looks pretty nice." Wayland whistles.
[20:50] <Kotono> "They're loaded," Simmer matches that whistle, "I went house shopping out of curosity and they aren't cheap when they get that big. Thena gain, this work does pay well apparently."
[20:50] <Kotono> "It's so...horribly extravagent," Neveril shakes her head, "There's nothing natural about it, all worked stone and brick and deadwood. Surely it's materials could have been put to a better use and they could have a less wasteful home?"
[20:52] <Kotono> "It's worked for Balmuria," Simmer glances Neveril's way, "I get what you're saying, but I'm starting to get fond of these buildings, too. They're not all bad."
[20:53] <Aaeru> "I, like, wouldn't wanna live here," Aaeru says quietly, "but I have nothing against people who do, either." Since the gate is shut, she waves at the old man past them, calling out, "Hello?"
[20:53] <Kotono> As the party talks, the old man stirs. He yawns and rubs his eyes, looking up, "Are you looking for something here, or just passing by," hea sks, rising and wincinga shis back audibly pops. Leaning on his cane, "Ah, hello there!"
[20:54] <Aaeru> "Not for something, but for someone," Aaeru corrects him, stepping up to the gate. "Excuse me, but do Lyris and Marianne live here?"
[20:56] <Kotono> "That's right," The old man says.
[20:56] <Aaeru> "Are they home right now?" Aaeru asks, perking up.
[20:56] <Kotono> "They're not in right now," The old man says, "Try tomorrow or the day after."
[20:57] <Wayland> "What time are they usually in?" Wayland asks.
[20:57] <Aaeru> And there she deflates. "Are you busy?" she asks, before her eyes widen. "My, I'm sorry! I'm Aaeru! It's nice to meet you!"
[20:59] <Kotono> "Oh, they keep odd hours. They have a busy life...oh, Aaeru? I'm John." He smiles a moment, showing a set of far too white and precise teeth for his age. "Well, I am at work. Watching the gate is my job."
[20:59] <Aaeru> "Do you mind if we, like, talked a bit? I really want to learn more about Lyris!" Aaeru says, hastily adding, "And Marianne!"
[21:00] <Kotono> This gets the old man to clear his throat, "I'd better now. Well...their job requires discretion." He clears his throat a second time, "I could get in trouble, and..."
[21:02] <Aaeru> "We're not suspicious people!" Aaeru insists.
[21:02] * Wayland snorts.
[21:03] <Kotono> "Well..." He hesitates a moment at Aaeru's look.
[21:04] <Aaeru> "I promise I won't cause trouble," she says solemnly.
[21:06] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check here, Aaeru?
[21:06] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+22 I'm not lying!
[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+22 I'm not lying! and gets 26." [1d20=4]
[21:08] <Kotono> "Well..." He considers, "I guess a little bit won't hurt anyone...You look like a clean, upright young woman and company. Odd company, but I've seen odder in the last 25 years!"
[21:09] <Aaeru> "Thank you~!" Aaeru chirps. "I knew I wanted to know more about Lyris after hearing about her!"
[21:10] <Wayland> "Not to mention Marianne." Wayland nods.
[21:10] * Aaeru nods absent-mindedly.
[21:11] <Kotono> "Lady Lyris is a busy young woman, but she's very kind," Smiling, "She gave me this job and paid for my teeth! It's such a shame she scares most people off...and Marianne's worse. She's a lovely person, really, but I've never met someone so intimidating!"
[21:12] <Aaeru> This time, Aaeru nods in commiseration. "Being misunderstood can be so hard!"
[21:22] <Kotono> "They're still good people," John insists, "Why are you looking for them, exactly?"
[21:23] <Aaeru> "Well, at first it really sounded like Lyris knew this person we were asking about, but then when we asked about her to, like, know who she is she sounded so interesting so we had to come and try to meet her!"
[21:25] <Kotono> "Well..." he murmurs again, "I think she's probably at the Silver Candle right now," John confesses, "It's just inside the New City."
[21:26] <Aaeru> "Wow, really? We can talk to her? That's great! Thanks!"
[21:28] <Kotono> "Sure thing, young lady," He smiles to her, as Neveril smiels, "Finally!"
[21:28] <Aaeru> "Thank you, thank you!" Aaeru repeats, all smiles herself.
[21:28] <Kotono> "I hope you all get along," he says, going back to sitting.
[21:30] * Aaeru hopes so too, as she leads the way to the Silver Candle!
[21:31] * Wayland waves at the old man as they leave!
[21:32] <Kotono> From there the party heads to the Silver Candle. It's duskfall when they get there, the doors open. On coming in it looksl ike any bar you've seen before. Lots of chairs, lots of people getting drunk and celebrating. Booze flows freely, but in the back...she sits alone, sipping a small glass of something clear. The tables around her are empty, a halo in the otherwise busy bar. She is tall, with
[21:32] <Kotono> chestnut brown hair and amazing curve. Her figure is lush but also trim and fit, straining against leathers and a chain shirt. Pouches hang on her belt, her gaze seeming to find the foursome of you as you enter, flitting over each of you with lidded eyes.
[21:33] * Wayland returns the look with a jaunty grin.
[21:33] * Aaeru doesn't hide the fact that she's headed right towards her after scanning the bar upon entering. "Hello!" she greets pleasantly, coming up to her table. "Can we sit here?"
[21:34] <Kotono> "No." She doesn't bat an eye, taking another tiny sip. "What do you want with me, girl?"
[21:36] <Aaeru> "My name is Aaeru," she helpfully introduces herself, taking a chair from a nearby table and turning it around to take a sit. "I just wanted to meet you because I hoped you could help me."
[21:37] <Kotono> "Hmph." She takes another sip, gaze on the party all the while. "Got a job right now."
[21:37] <Aaeru> "But you can talk just a bit, right? It won't take long and it's nothing bad, either! Really!"
[21:37] <Kotono> Simmer hangs back for now, while Neveril goes to stand behind Aaeru. "Please," she says.
[21:38] <Kotono> "All you're wasting is my time," she reflects, taking a third sip, "Make it quick."
[21:39] * Wayland takes a seat as well, next to Aaeru.
[21:41] <Aaeru> She is someone who clearly never had to rely on the bureaucracy of the city, Aaeru muses. Nothing teaches patience like that. "We're looking into this person? It's, like, an investigation? We want to know that he's not doing something, you know, illegal or bad or anything like that. And, we kinda heard that you knew him? Then, we thought, maybe you could help us! So anyway, this is about this merchant, Sanuth?"
[21:43] <Kotono> "Don't know a thing," Lyris says laconically. She's about to say more when...her voice is far more commanding, "Ah, you're asking about Sanuth?" Her voice sounds from behind the party.
[21:44] <Aaeru> "Do you know him?" Aaeru asks hopefully, turning around.
[21:47] <Kotono> The woman approaches from behind the party. She has long green hair and wears an elegant white gown. It looks far too rich for the environs, as does the rapier that hangs at her side. She is beautiful...yet you have to resist your heart leaping into your throat when you see her, a primal, thrilling fear crackling in you. "I am Marianne. All of you are?"
[21:48] <Kotono> "Simmer," The pyrodryad replies, taking a step away from her. "That's Neveril, Aaeru and Wayland."
[21:49] <Aaeru> "A-eru," she croaks, unable to look away. With a fervent prayer to Ilmater, however, she cloaks herself in her unshakable convictions and smiles. "Sorry. Ah~eh~ru. That's my name. Nice to meet you, Marianne!"
[21:49] <Wayland> Firmly using the fact that he is seated at an excuse not to move, Wayland fortuitously ignores his self-preservation instinct and turns around. "Hi there!"
[21:50] <Kotono> Marianne saunters over to the table Lyris sits at, grabbing a seat and joining her. Her hand rest in her lap as a serene smile shows on her face, "I'm sorry, Lyris tends to be dreadfully surly when people come and treat her like a source of information to be milked! Please, sit down and join us around the table."
[21:50] <Kotono> Lyris glances at Marianne, but stay silent and goes back to her drink.
[21:51] <Aaeru> It goes against everything her mind is screaming at her, but Aaeru takes her chair and brings it across the short distance to Lyris's table. "Thank you! I-- I know it went badly. And I know we came to ask something! But! But we really wanted to meet you, too! Because you sound like great people!"
[21:54] <Kotono> "Aaaaaahhahaha." Laughing with an easy serenity, "Please, please, there's little reason to lie. Sanuth told us about your visit already, Aaeru. Allow me to cleave to the center of this affair," She looks Aaeru in the eye, "We are on retainer to Sanuth. If you interfere in his affairs or threaten his life or livelihood, we will be forced to defend those interests. As long as Whimisical Sweets
[21:54] <Kotono> does not interfere with Sanuth, we do not interfere with Whimisical Sweets."
[21:55] * Wayland carefully scoots his chair up to the table. "We didn't mean to be rude. We've had dealings with the man before. Got him out of a tight spot. We just wanted to make sure that he hadn't gotten himself back into trouble."
[21:55] <Aaeru> "I'm not lying!" Aaeru insists. "You fight bandits," she tells Lyris, "and you," she continues, returning her eyes to Marianne, "stop people with magic without killing them! I really admire that!"
[21:56] <Kotono> Lyris says not a word, MArianne picking up the slack instead, "Oh, his affairs are quite successful. He's in the opposite of trouble. That much is abundantly clear. I can entirely assure you that your concern and interest are misplaced."
[21:58] <Aaeru> "Then he's not a bad person now?" Aaeru asks her in the plainest of terms. "I thought he might be and he was really shifty-like! But then I asked about him and I heard about you, and when I asked about you I heard lots of good things, so I started, like, hoping that maybe he wasn't doing bad things after all. Are you really sure? It's not illegal? And his woman backer isn't either?"
[22:00] <Kotono> "I'm perfectly sure, dear," Marianne says, "Madam Senaril is entirely respectable."
[22:02] <Aaeru> "So it's... a girlfriend after all," Aaeru says, frowning slightly. She shrugs. "Okay. I guess our client will be, like, disappointed and stuff. But it's the truth, and it's not like we'll make things up to make him happy."
[22:03] <Kotono> "A tragedy, but the truth is the truth," Marianne rises, Lyris doing the same. The former puts a few coins on the table, "Have a round on us. We'd love to stay, but we have other affairs to tend to tonight."
[22:04] <Wayland> roll 1d20+8 idly rolling sense motive
[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20+8 idly rolling sense motive and gets 16." [1d20=8]
[22:04] <Aaeru> "If he just told me that, I would totally believe him!" Aaeru exclaims in regret. "I even came to ask him in person...." As Marianne and Lyris stand up, she follows them to her feet instinctively. "Umm, about the other thing?"
[22:06] <Kotono> "Hm?" Marianne pauses, "You understand that going in and accusing people wildly, after gaining access to his home on false pretenses, is not the most inspiring start? That aside, what?"
[22:08] <Aaeru> "It wasn't false pretenses!" Aaeru insists. "He misunderstood, and then he like accused me and I was upset and didn't feel like explaining it. Our client, well, he asked us to look into that woodcrafts bid and into his competition. That's all!"
[22:09] <Kotono> "Ah. WEll, little matter, it is resolved. Good night, ladies and gentlemen," Marianne says, departing with Lyris a step behind her.
[22:09] <Kotono> Once gone Neveril exhales, "What is she, a paladin? A sorcerer?" Neveril marvels, "She has presence."
[22:10] <Kotono> "Question is...do we believe her?" Simmer says, "There was that whole unspoken threat thing, too."
[22:10] * Wayland waits until the two leave and sighs. "Marianne was lying about something. I'm not sure what, she is very good at it, but she was lying."
[22:11] <Aaeru> "I... didn't ask them," Aaeru mutters, dropping back into her chair. "I really wanted to ask if we could, like, talk some time. Maybe I could-- are you sure?"
[22:11] <Kotono> "Of course," Neveril says, "Besides, why would a just man in a safe city need bodyguards lke that!"
[22:11] <Wayland> "Positive." Wayland nods firmly. "I could sense it after she started talking about Sanuth's benefactor."
[22:12] <Kotono> "Then we try and dig up information on Senaril?" Simmer opines, "Do we know anything about her at all? Something's up."
[22:13] <Aaeru> "I was gonna check with City Hall tomorrow morning anyway, since we asked and it's not nice to leave someone hanging like that," Aaeru responds. "Now it makes more sense. We'll just look into Senaril and not into Sanuth."
[22:14] * Wayland nods.
[22:17] <Aaeru> "Neve?" Aaeru asks. "Do you... want to stick with this? It sounds kinda dangerous now, and it really wasn't before when I asked you...."
[22:17] <Kotono> "Hey, if you stick around, I'll burn the bad guys if they try and hurt you!" Simmer says cheerfully!
[22:18] <Kotono> Neveril doesn't blush, "It is dangerous and I'm not a skilled fighter. My song can help you fight, though...I just have to really stay out of the way and hope nothing happens. We sirines are fragile."
[22:21] <Aaeru> "That's what we'll do, then," Aaeru agrees. "Let's get back? I'll probably spend the evening at the House of Suffering after all."
[22:22] <Wayland> "Sounds like a plan." Wayland nods, getting up.
#ed
[20:27] <Kotono> The area around Quindala's shop is within the Elven Mission. A great fountain is before it, houses and shops past it woven into the trees. There's plenty of space to have a picnic! Hauntingly beautiful flute melodies echo about, mixing in with jauntry lyre riffs. It's cooler out of the sun here, the scent of trees and the sea invigorating. After taking a bite of cheese and bread, "Think
[20:27] <Kotono> we'll hit anything?"
[20:28] <Janson> "Doubt it," Janson shakes his head. "Even if we see him or his backer, it doesn't really provide us with dirt we can use."
[20:28] <Andria> "Would be nice, but even if we don't, we at least get to enjoy the nice weather!" Andrea replies, looking cheerful. "Certainly better than waiting in line for information."
[20:29] <Janson> "That's true," Janson smiles at Andrea, glad someone has their priorities straight.
[20:31] <Kotono> "Amen," Sylvie agrees cheerfully, "We waited an hour and then we had to fill out paperwork and pay fees. I thought we were adventurers now, not civil servants!" Making a distinct face, "Honestly, if we can, I think it would be best if we engage them if we see 'em. See if we can fiangle more information or play an angle if we can think up a good one."
[20:32] * Janson nods. "I had an idea of sneaking into his house and snooping around," he whispers, "But I don't even know if it's worth the trouble."
[20:33] <Kotono> "Oh, I had the same idea too," Sylvie whispers back, "Go in and get his records, but no way Aaeru was going to do that."
[20:34] <Andria> "I don't know that it's such a good idea, like you said, it's probably going to be trouble, but it's something to consider if nothing else works," Andrea replies, giving her own input on the matter. "That's the sort of thing where we'd probably end up getting caught and -us- in trouble with the guard instead."
[20:35] <Kotono> "Yeah, and Josa would lecture us to no end if we were caught," Sylvie agrees with a shake of her head, "It's still the most direct way to dig up dirt. Plus I have no plans of going to the local jail unless I'm so drunk I don't remember anything but waking up there, thank you."
[20:36] <Janson> "Dunno that we'll get any answers if we play it so passively, though... assuming there are any. He could've just convinced a rich adventurer he can double her money with some good trades?" Janson shrugs. "This isn't the kind of job I'd take for myself, really."
[20:37] <Kotono> Sylvie shrugs as well, pausing to munch down a few carrot sticks. "Could be. On the other hand, if he's up to no good and we can prove it, there might be a bounty involved. Plus we'll get in even better with the City Guard. The risk/reward analysis is pretty decent."
[20:38] <Janson> "Well, I guess if no one gets lucky today I can see about that angle," Janson muses, biting into a cheese and pickle sandwich and keeping half an eye on their surroundings.
[20:39] <Kotono> OOC: For reference, could each of you make a spot check for reference? It isn't particularly hard to spot someone you're looking for, but there could be other factors.
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 Sylvie so many skills, so few SP
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 Sylvie so many skills, so few SP and gets 18." [1d20=17]
[20:39] <Andria> roll d20+2
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+2 and gets 4." [d20=2]
[20:40] <Andria> ooc: we may have sent the wrong girls to help with keeping watch, all things considered~
[20:40] <Janson> roll 1d20+10
[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+10 and gets 21." [1d20=11]
[20:42] <Kotono> A few hours pass easily enough. Sylvie curls up against Janson's side, looking to be dozing. Her eyes do stay slitted open, making occasional sweeps of the area. As you wait..."Ah, excuse me, humans?" A tall, muscular elf approaches, clad in forest green and dirt brown. He's all smiles, "Are you here seeking elven culture?"
[20:43] <Janson> "Oh?" Janson looks up at the interloper, "Well, really we're just enjoying the scenery... saves a walk into the woods, y'know?" he offers with a weak chuckle.
[20:45] <Kotono> "Well, the forest scenery is part of elven culture," He goes to sit on the grass besides the party, "We are children of the forest and protect it, while the forest is our home and lifeblood."
[20:46] <Andria> "The music is very beautiful as well," Andrea notes. "It helps makes the scenery that much more enjoyable."
[20:46] <Janson> "Oh..." Janson puts on a fake smile and nods, knowing that if Beshaba has her way then something important will happen while this well meaning elf distracts them. "Yes, the atmosphere's nice. It's relaxing to just sit quietly and savour," he mentally thanks Andrea for her segue into a hopeful hint.
[20:48] <Kotono> The elf smiles, withdrawing a wooden flute from his shirt. He goes silent, beginning to play! Ethereal, beautiful music softly fills the air! It compliments the solitude rather than reinforcing noise into the air, like the rustling of the wind.
[20:50] * Janson listens as politely as one can while performing a stakeout.
[20:51] <Andria> Andrea does the same, though she lets herself get a bit more distracted by the music than the task at hand, admittedly.
[20:51] <Kotono> Sylvie has a ghost of a smile on her face, keeping like she's half asleep. He goes on for a good little while, until at last, "How was it?" he asks."It's an ode to the wind."
[20:53] * Janson gives the elf a gold coin for his trouble! "It was very good, you could play professionally," he encourages, mentally willing the elf to leave.
[20:53] <Andria> "It was very nice! I liked the section in the middle the most too."
[20:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[20:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11." [1d20=1]
[20:55] <Kotono> The elf shakes his head, "That wasn't my finest performance, besides which no payment is asked or required. If you're interested, we teach how to play elven style music here."
[20:56] <Janson> "Oh, well, maybe some other time," Janson raises his arms and stretches exaggeratedly, putting on a yawn for further effect. "I'm real tired right now."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Mmmm...." Sylvie murmurs sleepily, an arm curling around Janson. "Lay...next to me."
[20:57] <Kotono> "Well, if you change your mind," He smiles again, slowly rising up with lithe grace.
[20:58] <Andria> "If that was a bad performance, I hope to later hear one of your better ones," Andrea says kindly. "See you around!"
[20:58] * Janson puts on another yawn and nods to Sylvie, settling back with his shoulders propped against a tree so he can still look around, putting an arm around the not-blonde in return.
[21:00] <Kotono> Thus he's off and away, "Maybe I should learn that," Sylvie murmurs, "Couldn't be that hard."
[21:01] <Janson> "Could be fun to come around sometime when we're not disguised and working," Janson agrees quietly.
[21:07] <Kotono> At that another few hours slip by. The afternoon winds on...Sylvie is sittig up again now, eyes drifting about. "Got anymore food in there," she asks, "This is really dragging."
[21:08] <Janson> "We ran out a while ago, but we can try elven cuisine?" Janson suggests, rubbing his eyes and working a crick out of his back. "Bound to be a few food shops or restaurants around here somewhere."
[21:09] <Kotono> "It's worth a try," As Sylvie says that, you both can catch something - Sanuth! He's sauntering towards Quindala's house, all by himself.
[21:10] <Janson> "Oh, hey, look," Janson valiantly suppresses a yawn and nods his head towards the stab-happy merchant. "He took his time."
[21:11] <Kotono> "Finally!" Sylvie hisses, "About time, the lazy jackass!"
[21:15] <Janson> "No sign of his mystery woman," Janson adds disappointedly at the lack of gorgeous dangerous brunettes. "Want to go pretend we have a business proposition for him or something?"
[21:17] <Andria> "I should reactivate my spell if so," Andrea replies, doing just that.
[21:23] <Kotono> "Worth a go," Sylvie nods, "Going to take point on this, Janson, or...?"
[21:27] <Andria> "What sort of business proposition, just so we're all roughly on the same page?"
[21:28] <Janson> "Yeah. Lets say we're representing a mining consortium - all that alchemist's fire he was getting might sound like he's going into the same business so we're feeling him out. Um, just play it by ear from there? I'll be Bertram, you two come up with fake names, quick? We'll see if we can eavesdrop on him in the shop and catch him as he leaves," Janson suggests, getting up and working some
[21:28] <Janson> feeling back into his legs.
[21:30] <Kotono> "Betsy...Alexandria....Diana...no." Sylvie considers names, before snaping her fingers, "Irene. What about you, Andrea?"
[21:32] <Andria> "Melissa," Andrea says quickly.
[21:33] * Janson nods to both, intending to head over to the shop once Sanuth is inside and try to eavesdrop from outside.
[21:33] <Kotono> "Right, let's do this," Sylvie says.
[21:34] <Kotono> OOC: Listen checks, all.
[21:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Sylvie, +4 factotum shit.
[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Sylvie, +4 factotum shit. and gets 8." [1d20=3]
[21:34] <Janson> roll 1d20+10
[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+10 and gets 30." [1d20=20]
[21:34] <Andria> roll d20+2
[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+2 and gets 16." [d20=14]
[21:40] <Kotono> Oh, Janson is able to listen! "....and they'll all be ready tomorrow. There was a counter-offer, but it went nowhere." Quindala(?)'s voice says. To that Sanuth goes on, "Good. If we're happy with your product, we'll come back and make this a routine part of our trading business."
[21:41] <Kotono> "Oh, that would be fantastic!" The elf replies, "IF we can move that much woodwork...!"
[21:42] <Kotono> "Yes, you'll make a dragon's hoard," Sanuth agrees, a pause and then, "We'll be back tomorrow morning for the pickup, probably not much past dawn."
[21:42] <Janson> So dull! But Janson nonetheless keeps listening in hopes something juicy is said. At worst it at least gives warning when the conversation ends so he can have everyone not hang suspiciously by the door and act natural.
[21:45] <Kotono> "I'll be here," Quindala says, and then SAnuth says, "Thanks. Until then!"
[21:47] * Janson makes hurried shooing gestures to the girls and scoots well away from the door, sticking his hands in his pockets and unashamedy admiring a nearby tree.
[21:47] <Andria> Andrea moves away!
[21:47] <Kotono> Sylvie makes due time back and away! Once done Sanuth exits out! His face is full of smiles, a little whistle and spring in his step as he heads away.
[21:51] * Janson gives him a few steps to get away from his last deal before walking over to intercept him. "Sir Sanuth?" he asks, not even giving the merchant time to reply before he sticks out his hand for a shake, outright grabbing the other man's hand to make sure he complies with his part of the greeting ritual. "Fabulous! My name is Bertrand and I have been looking *all* over for you!"
[21:51] <Janson> "But it's no surprise a busy man like yourself has places to be and deals to make, am I right? I know I am!" he emits a forced laugh, speaking a mile a minute, "That's why we've had our eye on you, big things happening, very big, am I right?" Again no time is gven for a reply, "You bet your last copper I am! But you turned that last copper into gold and that's what I like about you! And the
[21:51] <Janson> people I represent like it, too - they're hoping we can do business, but a man like you surely knows a golden opportunity like this one when he sees it, am I right?"
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2
[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 and gets 13." [1d20=11]
[21:52] <Kotono> "Ah,...yes?" Sanuth manages, hand taken and shaked as he listens to Janson! "I do!"
[21:55] <Janson> "Fantastic!" Janson beams with a big smile, "I represent the PEMC, we're a young organisation, but we're hungry! Hungry for gold, hungry for profit! It's a fantastic scheme we've got, all the little pieces are just falling right into place, and one of our contacts mentioned your name and we just knew - just flat out knew! That you were a man we could count on! Why, a genius like you, you
[21:55] <Janson> probably already figured the whole thing out, that's why you bought up all the alchemist's fire in town first, didn't you! But that's okay, you're quick! Hungry! We like that! And we won't hold it against you, not when it's so much more profitable to do business, am I right?" he continues breathlessly barraging the merchant with mercantile drivel.
[22:01] <Kotono> "Ah...yes...yes..." Sanuth flails a few moments, "PEMC?"
[22:04] <Janson> "Parsifal Explosive Mining Consortium," Janson rattles off, leaning in slyly, "The Explosive part there is a trick to scare the competition," he winks as if letting Sanuth in on a big secret, "It's an alchemical formula based on the same fire you just stocked up on so much of. Melts the rock like water, and not a wizard in sight!" he snaps his fingers jauntily. "We're poised to hit it for
[22:04] <Janson> the big time, Sanuth! And you're poised right now - right now as we're talking, right here where you're standing - to take prime advantage thanks to having the foresight to corner the market on the stuff we need the most!"
[22:08] <Kotono> "Really?" Sanuth says, interest rising, "Well, I could consider it...go on..." he says slowly.
[22:10] <Janson> "First - and please don't break my heart - you haven't already sold on the alchemist's fire, have you?" Janson asks, putting on big soulful eyes. Hopefully he'll let slip a little more about what he's doing with these big purchases if they're being hoarded.
[22:10] <Kotono> "Aaah, it's not sold," Starting to stammer, "B-but it is out of the city...it would take time to recall."
[22:11] <Kotono> Whispering to Andrea, "He's really laying it on thick," she murmurs.
[22:12] <Janson> "Tricky, tricky... but we might be able to work with that, anyway," Janson starts to pace tensely. "We need to move this through fast, though - that's part of the way the scheme works, buy a short term mining lease and then clean it out faster than anyone would believe! Where've you got the stuff? Might be quicker to move it straight to the mines rather than stop in the city."
[22:14] <Kotono> "Well, it's in the possesion of a middle man who would prefer to keep herself anonymous," Sanuth clears his throat quickly, "Aaah, well, I'll need to get in contact with her first before anything else."
[22:16] <Janson> "Her?" Janson looks askance at Sanuth, "I hear you right? This isn't woman's work we're talking about, here!" He promptly gives the two ladies in his company a false smile, "No offence to my two lovely assistants, but they're not going to be getting their hands dirty."
[22:16] <Kotono> "Hmph, she's a capable lady," Sanuth reddens, "Very capable! You'd be a fool to underestimate her!"
[22:18] <Janson> "Really?" Janson furrows his brow and peers suspiciously at Sanuth. "I'd been hearing rumours that you were in some kind of partnership these past few weeks... tell me, was it actually her idea to buy up the alchemist's fire?"
[22:19] <Kotono> "Well yes..." Trailing off at that, shaking his head, "But tell you what. Do you have a business card? Give it to me and I'll be in touch."
[22:20] <Janson> "Sure thing, sure thing, got it right... here..." Janson begins amiably but trails off as he pats his pocket, abruptly whirling on Andrea. "Melissa! Did you let one of the street rats around here pick my pocket?!"
[22:22] <Andria> "I most certainly did not!" Andrea says in a huff, putting her hands against her waist. "You probably gave them all away to some tavern wenches last night!"
[22:22] <Kotono> Sanuth laughs a little bit, "Tell you what, friend. Here." He extends a card out to Janson, "Come visit in a week."
[22:24] * Janson glowers and turns back to Sanuth with a put upon smile. "Women, eh?" he offers in the comradeship of men everywhere. "Sure hope your partner treats you better than these two harpies," he laughs and accepts Sanuth's card. "I wasn't kidding about needing to hurry on this one, we've only got a couple of weeks to start with. We'll be in touch soon - then we'll all be rich!"
[22:25] <Kotono> Sanuth nods and smiles, going off! Once gone Sylvie comes up, all smiles as she stomps on Janson's foot! "Harpies, huh?"
[22:26] <Janson> "Oww!" Janson winces, "Hey, he bought it, right?" he asks in a wounded tone. "Next time one of you can do the fast-talking."
[22:27] <Andria> "I don't know, I think it'd be amusing to see what sort of trouble you can dig yourself into the next time," Andrea says amusedly.
[22:28] <Janson> "Anyway, we learned a lot," Janson mutters, "Plus I overheard in the shop that he'll be picking up the woodcraft at dawn tomorrow, so we might see something interesting then. Lets see if we can find the others?"
[22:29] <Andria> "Sure, why not?"
[22:30] <Kotono> It's night now, the city vibrant as another day passes. Whimisical Sweets gathers over dinner upstairs to talk and plan...
[22:31] <Aaeru> "Wanna go first?" Aaeru asks Janson, Sylvie and Andrea.
[22:32] <Janson> "So, Sanuth is picking up the woodcrafts tomorrow at dawn," Janson opens conversationally. "Also, the woman - Senaril, is the brains of the operation. It was her idea to buy all the alchemist's fire, and probably the others, too. Since the money came from her as well, I don't know what Sanuth brings to the table except from being a front - which makes me wonder why."
[22:35] <Aaeru> "With us, we kinda found out that the beautiful scary woman is Lyris," Aaeru shares. "She's not scary, but Marianne is. She's her partner. She said that Sanuth, like, hired them as bodyguards and they're really really strong. She also said Sanuth wasn't into anything bad or illegal." Aaeru pauses for effect. "She said there wasn't anything strange about Senaril, too, but Wayland thinks she was lying there."
[22:36] * Wayland nods. "Yes, it felt like she was lying when she was talking to us. Nothing I could pin down, but there you have it."
[22:37] <Aaeru> "They sound like good people. Why would they lie?" Aaeru genuinely wonders.
[22:37] <Janson> "A feeling's not much to go on, but if Senaril wasn't with Sanuth at any of the deals... it sounds like she's someone who can't come into Balmuria, that's why she's using him as her front. So what sort of people can't come into Balmuria?" Janson asks.
[22:38] <Aaeru> "Bandits?"
[22:38] <Andria> "Well, followers of Shar, obviously," Andrea points out one of the most obvious.
[22:39] <Wayland> "Could be a devil. I heard somewhere that devils can't come into Balmuria."
[22:39] <Kotono> OOC: K:L here can help.
[22:39] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+4
[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+4 and gets 11." [1d20=7]
[22:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 +4 inspiration
[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 +4 inspiration and gets 34." [1d20=13]
[22:39] <Andria> roll d20+0
[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+0 and gets 18." [d20=18]
[22:41] <Janson> "All kinds of fiends, and the undead, too," Janson nods. "The Mythal kills them."
[22:42] <Andria> Andrea nods in agreement with Janson. "Last evil outsider to try to enter burst into flames doing so."
[22:42] <Aaeru> "What about, like, those purchases?" Aaeru wonders. "It's not, dunno, part of some evil scheme thing? It's just about money?"
[22:43] <Kotono> "Exactly," Sylvie nods, "In particular, evil spirits like demons and devils burst into holy flame when they try to enter. Undead can't rise within the city limits. It doesn't effect evil by itself - an evil person can come in just fine. Of course, greater evils may still avoid the city because of the Crimson Guard." Ticking off her fingers, "That leaves humanoids, elementals, fey, animals, giants
[22:43] <Kotono> and pretty much everything else that can still enter, though."
[22:44] <Wayland> "So if she can't enter the city, the list is much shorter? But didn't the silk trader say that she had been there? OR was that one of Sanuth's bodyguards?"
[22:44] <Janson> "That was Lyris from what you guys just said..." Janson frowns, now having doubts.
[22:44] <Aaeru> "It was, it was!" Aaeru is quick to reassure Janson.
[22:45] <Janson> "Oh, good," Janson nods in relief. "Stop doing that," he adds as an aside to Wayland.
[22:45] * Aaeru blinks suddenly. "And it makes sense now. Of course you need bodyguards! If you're not there to buy things and take them back with you, someone who can should be!"
[22:45] <Kotono> "It also could be someone who just likes to keep her hands clean from a distance," Sylvie points out, "In other words, we need more information on Senaril. She's really our focus of investigation now...but if Sanuth is her agent in the city, he knows we're nosing around."
[22:46] <Aaeru> "It's not like he can, like, go into City Hall and take what they have. So tomorrow morning we'll see if there's anything about her? We can, maybe, go from there?"
[22:49] <Janson> "Well," Janson takes out the card he received earlier, flipping it in his fingers. "He knows that PEMC thinks Senaril's the mastermind and that they'd rather speak to her. And he doesn't mind them nosing around if he thinks it'll make him rich..." Janson mulls that over. "If they're making the purchases as part of some scheme, PEMC wanting to buy out the alchemist's fire would undermine the
[22:49] <Janson> scheme. We know he was all for it, so if he changes his mind it's probably because of her telling him. We can use that maybe to try and find out more about her plans or get a meeting?"
[22:49] * Aaeru thinks about Sylvie's suggestion, before asking her, "But it's just stuff like silk and woodcraft, why not buy it yourself if you can? They're, like, clean, aren't they? And if she's behind it, she's probably much better at this trading thing than him, right?"
[22:50] <Wayland> "Well, what can you make with silk, woodcraft, and alchemist's fire?"
[22:50] <Kotono> "Lots of reasons," Sylvie banters back, "She might be a rich noblewoman who doesn't want to waste time with doing a servant's job. She could be busy with other things. Maybe she just doesn't like traveling to Balmuria from where ever she is." That gets a little, elegant shrug, "I don't know why, and...that's what I've been wondering, too."
[22:52] <Aaeru> "I guess I am, too," Aaeru agrees. "And yeah, it sounds like getting that meeting might be our best chance?"
[22:54] <Kotono> "Wood, fire, silk..." Sylvie frowns, "Fireand silk don't go to gether. Wood and fire burn each other...some sort of exotic alchemist's fire, maybe? It's a longshot." With that she shrugs again, "Could be magic. Ring any bells for anyone?"
[22:55] <Janson> "Why would he need wood that's already been carved into dinky little decorations rather than actual lumber?" Janson asks. "Unless... I dunno, is Quindala's stuff made from magic elf trees that aren't sold under any other circumstances?"
[22:55] * Aaeru shakes her head. "Sorry. If it's a ritual or something, like when you get focuses or components, then there can't be that many that use all that stuff, I guess?"
[22:56] <Kotono> OOC: K:N or K:L:Pallanth could help that, I suppose.
[22:56] <Janson> roll 1d20+13 nature
[22:56] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+13 nature and gets 15." [1d20=2]
[22:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Neve'll throw her hat in too.
[22:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 Neve'll throw her hat in too. and gets 27." [1d20=16]
[22:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 Sylvie may as well, she's the knowledge whore.
[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 Sylvie may as well, she's the knowledge whore. and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[22:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 You guys have ridiclous piles of K:N.
[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 You guys have ridiclous piles of K:N. and gets 20." [1d20=8]
[23:01] <Wayland> roll 1d20 K:L-P
[23:01] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20 K:L-P and gets 18." [1d20=18]
[23:01] <Kotono> It's Neveril who speaks up, "It's possible, but I'm not familiar with how Pallanth makes woodwork." At that Simmer pipes up as well, "If it's made of blazewood, it would burn extra hota nd strong!"
[23:04] <Wayland> "There's a wood from Pallanth called Blazewood. Very pretty and, undortunately, highly flammable. It tends to be bright red, and gets warm even during the working of the wood. It's not safe around flame at all."
[23:04] <Kotono> "Mental note," Simmer murmurs, "Buy some blazewood."
[23:05] <Janson> "You were in Quindala's shop, Aaeru, did his stuff look like that?"
[23:06] * Wayland grins at Simmer. "I've seen the stuff before, I think I can help you find a good piece, once this all dies down."
[23:06] <Aaeru> "It... was very red and pretty," Aaeru admits, biting on her lower lip. "Does it mean, like, that the desert silk is some demon spider silk that explodes really well?"
[23:06] <Kotono> As Sylvie scoots a little away from Simmer, "Well, okay, she's most likely up to research at least, if not no good."
[23:07] <Janson> "Hmm... alchemist's fire, special fiery wood, and silk..." Janson leans back, trying to see how it all fits together...
[23:07] <Aaeru> "Sunrods and stuff, too!"
[23:07] <Kotono> OOC: Make a K:N check about the silk if anyone cares to.
[23:07] <Janson> roll 1d20+13 silk nature
[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+13 silk nature and gets 16." [1d20=3]
[23:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 K:N crew goes nuts again.
[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 K:N crew goes nuts again. and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[23:08] <Kotono> "No," Sylvie speaks up here before anyone else, "It's not very flammable, especially compared to other fabrics. It's hard to get burning, you really need to torch it."
[23:08] <Aaeru> "So it actually, like, stops fire?"
[23:09] <Janson> "Maybe it's being used as an insulater, then? Keep it from going off before the time is right?" Janson suggests, still stuck on this theory and trying to puzzle it out.
[23:09] <Kotono> "It can burn, just not as easily as cloth," Sylvie nods, "A flame retardant that takes a little extra time to burn...."
[23:09] <Janson> "A fuse!" Janson lights up!
[23:10] <Aaeru> "So alchemical stuffs burns through it, and gets to the wood, and then the wood burns really well?"
[23:10] <Kotono> "Yep," Sylvie says, nodding, "In other words, she's making big firebombs!"
[23:10] <Kotono> Simmer immediately smiles, "My opinion of her just went up."
[23:10] <Wayland> "Unless she's blowing holes in mountains, it's probably not a good thing." Wayland shakes his head.
[23:11] <Kotono> "Which means...no damned WONDER Sanuth liked your scheme!" Sylvie's eyes go right to Janson, "It's right up his boss's alley!"
[23:11] * Janson laughs. "What are the odds? They might try to buy the PEMC out after all!"
[23:12] <Aaeru> "Say, Sylvie," Aaeru muses. "It's, like, been bothering me. Just how much is Quindala's stuff is worth? And the alchemical fire and the silks and all those. About what Sanuth paid, or a lot less?"
[23:12] <Andria> "You really are a lucky bastard, finding just the right thing to butter him up with."
[23:12] <Kotono> "I'd have to see it and appraise it myself," Sylvie answers, "I suspect he's overpaying, but by how much..." Another shrug. "Senaril is loaded."
[23:12] <Janson> "Eh, Tymora and Beshaba like to take turns with me, that's all," Janson beams at Andrea.
[23:14] <Kotono> "So if she's loaded," Simmer picks up, "And we stop her from doing bad, does that mean we can loot her stuff?"
[23:15] <Aaeru> "We're trying to find out if she's a bad person," Aaeru chides Simmer in resignation. "Not dividing up her stuff after already deciding she must be bad!"
[23:15] <Janson> "If not we'll take it out of Captain Hamilton," Janson reassures Simmer.
[23:16] <Kotono> "Well, we do that too." Simmer says, "Why can't we have both?"
[23:16] <Wayland> "Well, the Guard may confiscate it all if she's found guilty, and we might get a reward, certainly."
[23:16] <Kotono> "True," Sylvie nods, "So the question is...what do we do now?"
[23:17] <Wayland> "We need to look into this woman, as soon as possible. Preferably without spooking her. We don't want her to do anything rash."
#d
[20:20] <Kotono> ----
[20:20] <Kotono> City Hall is busy again! Aaeru finds that even early there's already a line snaking out, people coming for myriad forms of business.
[20:21] * Aaeru has a note! She doesn't need to stand in line at all! With a smile that is in no way faked, she makes her way inside.
[20:27] <Kotono> Getting back to see your c ontact goes well enough. He awaits, "Ah...Aaeru, wasn't it?"
[20:28] <Aaeru> "Yes! Of Whimsical Sweets," she responds pleasantly.
[20:28] <Kotono> Shuffling some papers and checking them over, "You were inquiring about...Senaril, yes?"
[20:29] * Aaeru nods. "Yes again. We think she's, like, related to that other question about Sanuth."
[20:34] <Kotono> "It's interesting. There's no sign or record of a Senaril in our records," After a moment's pause, "Do you know if she has any assumed names or alternate identities? Quite frankly, a possible noblewoman should leave a trail or have a seal or name on some contracts." Dugan says. "It's quite irregular, speaking of suberfuge. Is she connected to any other houses, organizations or such?"
[20:36] <Aaeru> Since they are alone in Dugan's room, Aaeru doesn't feel the need to look around and ensure they aren't overheard. "Say... I had an idea about that, but no proof? Could I, like, ask you what you thought without getting it into the books and stuff?"
[20:37] <Kotono> A raised eyebrow, "You mean asking me a question, off the record?"
[20:39] <Aaeru> "More than one question, but yes," Aaeru affirms. "It's, like, I said I have no proof, right? And we're still looking for proof either way. If we're wrong, I don't want the Guard to like accuse innocent people."
[20:40] <Kotono> Folding his hands together, "I suppose it won't do any harm, as long as it's not illegal.?
[20:43] <Aaeru> "Okay. So this is what I know!" Aaeru starts, happy to share this with an outsider for a fresh perspective. "There is this merchant who's all broke and is maybe kinda shady but not in really bad way? More like easily tricked or lead around? And suddenly, there is this woman who's not from here and she gives him like thousands and thousands of gold from all over to buy stuff for her. And she pays really ridiculous costs, like maybe two or three times as much as others would? And she never goes into town, like to barter herself or even to talk to this merchant or anything of the kind. So we started thinking, maybe it's not that she doesn't come here? Maybe it's more that she can't?"
[20:46] <Kotono> There is a long pause at that, "Ma'am, that's a very serious accusation if you take that much farther. There are three types that can't come here, and both are blights on the world. Spirits of evil, the restless dead, and those exiled or otherwise criminals within the city or Baronies." Dugan's voice is dry as he looks at Aaeru sternly, "Fiscal irresponsibility is suspicious, but not a crime in
[20:46] <Kotono> and of itself. Further, I am aware of many trade conglomerates and Waukeenites who operate in Balmuria, yet do not enter the city themselves. Do you have anything to support this line of suspicion?"
[20:56] <Aaeru> "Not enough to go to the Guard," Aaeru responds, "but there is a bit more. I was hoping that you could help me figure it out, and then I'll be closer to knowing? I mean, yeah, maybe she's just like his new girlfriend and she's giving him all that cash, but then she never comes in to be with him, but just stays nearby for him to bring her what he's buying for her? It's strange. And what she's buying is strange too. Like, I don't know all the ways that stuff can be used, and maybe she's just selling each of those normally, but there's this dangerous use to all together, too. Umm, there's the elven wood that burns really well, and alchemical stuff that burns too, and silk that stops things from burning, so it could maybe be a fuse?" She grimaces, spreading her arms in a helpless shrug. "It's not like I can leave it alone if it can be that, but if I'm wrong I'll ruin several lives and I don't wanna do that. I was thinking... Sanuth hired these really good bodyguards, Lyris and Marianne. You know about them?" She waits here, to see how she should proceed.
[21:01] <Kotono> "Even if it is an explosive weapon, that's not illegal to construct. There are alchemists that make an entirely legal living creating alchemist's fire every day." Dugan leans forward slightly over his desk, "It all sounds suspicious, but it could merely be a noblewoman attempting to create a new source of revenue." To that he shakes his head, "I don't traffic in mercenaries, so no, I don't know
[21:01] <Kotono> them."
[21:06] <Aaeru> Aaeru's face falls. "I hoped that if you knew them, you could say if they would work or not with someone who, like, couldn't get here." Recalling Janson's scheme, she decides to switch tracks. "I know that you can't, like, just go and ask around even if you have a good idea, but I totally could! Do you think I'm missing something, or there's like something I should check? Like, I was thinking that if it's an explosive but it's totally legit, maybe she'd use it in a mine or something? So are there companies or something like that I could check to see if it's true?"
[21:13] <Kotono> "One could check mining companies," Dugan agrees, "Also, if I may again?" Pausing, "If your suspicions are correct, I would recommend greater supernatural aid in your inquiries. We can only check what records we have, and they are certainly not foolproof. Have you considered an augury? At the least, it could settle your worries or allow you to conclude that they're correct."
[21:16] <Aaeru> "Ilmater wants us to help each other and work things out ourselves," Aaeru responds, though she sounds pensive. "But I did ask you, and it's not something I'd think myself. Maybe I should try it." She offers Dugan her hand. "Thanks for helping, and for listening. Let's hope I'm wrong?"
[21:17] <Kotono> He nods and offers his hands out, "If you do, consider the Lunatics of Selune. Selune has some dominion over prophecy and auguries, and I found their aid invaluable in a corundrum I was in several years ago."
[21:18] <Aaeru> "Thanks again, I think I will!"
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 96." [1d100=96]
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 1d100 oooh, subtables
[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 oooh, subtables and gets 55." [1d100=55]
[21:25] <Kotono> As Aaeru heads home along the dusty path that leaves to her cove...he stands awaiting, arms crossed. A big lug of a man, all muscle and wearing a tight fitting tunic and leather pants. He's balt with a green sash around his waist. "Aaeru?" he calls as you approach.
[21:26] <Aaeru> "Hello! Yes, I'm Aaeru!" she responds, finding herself curious at who would be here looking for her.
[21:29] <Kotono> He gives Aaeru one look, "Urgan." He offers one big hand out, "You've been making a name for yourself."
[21:30] * Aaeru sees no reason not to shake it. Smiling, she says, "It's nice to meet you! So you're here because of my name? I think it's a nice name, myself."
[21:35] <Kotono> "Not quite." Laughing at that and slapping Aaeru's back, "I'm part of the Swift Gale, a troublesolving group based in Victoria. We'd like to offer you a job."
[21:38] <Aaeru> "It's very nice of you," Aaeru tells him. "But why me? Aside from the name."
[21:39] <Kotono> "We specialize in one thing - grappling and wrestling!" Urgan says, "I've heard you wrestled a Sharran down with your bare two hands! You sound like you have what it takes to join us!"
[21:40] <Aaeru> "I wrestled a devil, too," Aaeru proudly responds. "But devils are lots harder to pin. Valkyries, too. Hmm...." She trails off thoughtfully.
[21:45] <Kotono> "See?" Slapping Aaeru's back, "You have what it takes! We pay a rate of 100 marks per month, and equal shares in any treasure looted."
[21:48] <Aaeru> "I'll need to ask Neve first," Aaeru responds, "and then if she wants me to, I'll ask Josa what he thinks. And I still need to finish this job I'm on, too."
[21:49] <Kotono> "Well, I'll drop back by in a few days then," He says, slapping Aaeru's back again, and going off back towards Balmuria.
[21:50] * Aaeru waves at him with a smile, before continuing along her path.
[21:52] <Kotono> As you walk back...
[21:55] <Aaeru> "This really strong-looking guy came and offered me a job just now, Neve," Aaeru says, not having a better way of bringing the topic than being direct. "He's from Swift Gale, which is the Whimsical Sweets of Victoria, except they all do submisison holds and stuff just like me! And I think he offered to donate lots more money for me, too. What do you think?"
[22:01] <Kotono> "Well..." Neveril hums, "Isn't Victoria far away from this cove?"
[22:03] <Aaeru> "I think so," Aaeru agrees. "I figured if you wanted me to get that job we could, like, move together. Or I'll study really hard and learn teleport. So it's more about what you want?"
[22:04] <Kotono> "Is Victoria near the sea?" Neveril asks. "I don't know human geography."
[22:04] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+4 is it?
[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+4 is it? and gets 10." [1d20=6]
[22:07] * Aaeru searches her memories before shaking her head with a frown. "It's like a week away from here or something. You'd really hate it there, huh?"
[22:10] <Kotono> "Well yes, we live by the sea," Aaeru's answer comes.
[22:12] * Aaeru nods. "Okay. When he comes back I'll tell him I can't think about it until I know how to teleport. Wanna meet him? He's really huge but he's not scary at all, and he said he came all this way because he liked my name! Isn't that really nice?"
[22:13] <Kotono> "That's quite friendly!" Neveril agrees!
[22:13] <Aaeru> "Yes! Even if I can't work with him now I can always, like, be a friend and help out if he or Swift Gale need help!"
[22:23] <Kotono> With that agreed, the two reach Moonholm! The gates are open today, Balyss coming out to meet Aaeru, "Oh, Aaeru! Say, do you know if that offering thing worked out for Andrea? I haven'ts een her since."
[22:24] <Aaeru> "She looks the same as always," Aaeru says in confusion. "Want me to ask?"
[22:24] <Kotono> "It's not that important," Balyss seems to push it aside, "Need something, or is this a social call?"
[22:26] <Aaeru> "I kinda need something," Aaeru confirms. "Not that I don't like visiting! But I'm sorta working right now, and this person I just met said you guys were really great with auguries. I don't really use those but I'm at this point where it could help?"
[22:29] <Kotono> "Ah, divinations?" Balyss half smiles, "I can cast the most basic one myself. It's called Augury. It's not very clear, more of a general direction in the way things go. I can cast that one at cost to you - the incense takes 25 marks. There's a stronger one known as Divination, which is more effective but will run you a lot more gold." Another moment here, "Considering it's you, I presume I'll be billing Whimisical Sweets anyway."
[22:29] <Aaeru> "Uh, please," Aaeru says awkwardly. She recovers almost instantly. "We have a client! He said he'll pay all the expenses so I'm sure it's fine."
[22:31] <Kotono> "Well in that case, I'll get a scroll of divination and bill Whimiscal Sweets! I know all of you are good for it!" With a cheerful smile, "Oh, there's a small chance the divination may fail. It's not quite foolproof. You're fine with that?"
[22:32] <Aaeru> "I'm actually really lucky!" Aaeru confides in Balyss. "So how does it work? Do you need to know what my problem is? Or do you just use it and I know what to do?"
[22:34] <Kotono> "It provides advice in reply to a specific question about a goal, event or activity that is to occur within the next week. So you phrase it in a way that answers your underlying question."
[22:34] <Aaeru> "So, like, if I want to know just who Senaril is and if she's up to no good, it will tell me one of them?"
[22:35] <Kotono> "You'd have to ask it with more refinement." Balyss says, "Take some time and think it over, I need to fetch the scroll anyway."
[22:35] <Aaeru> "Okeys!"
[22:36] <Aaeru> With Balyss gone, Aaeru asks Neve, "What would you wanna know?"
[22:37] <Kotono> "Well, we need to find out if Senaril is evil, right?" Neveril replies, "So...maybe ask if smiting Senaril is a good idea?"
[22:38] <Aaeru> "But what if she's so far you can't smite her in a week?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "I don't know," Neve says with a little blush.
[22:40] <Aaeru> "You know," Aaeru muses, "I think it all goes back to those bodyguards, don't you? Because they look like people who know what it's all about. I mean, I wouldn't work for bad people! And they're probably lots more experienced, so if they're like me, they wouldn't do it either! We know they lied about Senaril, but, like, we don't think they lied about Sanuth not doing something bad. What if I ask if they're helping do something bad or illegal?"
[22:42] <Kotono> "Maybe," Neveril says, "We could ask about them too...hm." She pauses to think again, "We need to decide what we'll ask about and how, tehn."
[22:44] <Aaeru> "How about this? 'Should we trust Marianne and Lyris when they say that Sanuth and Senaril are doing nothing bad or illegal?'" Aaeru proposes.
[22:44] <Kotono> "I think that's okay," Neveril says, nodding.
[22:45] * Aaeru nods herself. "It's either that or 'Should we go to the Guard and tell all we know?' Which sounds better?"
[22:47] <Kotono> "Well, that's more indirect...and...mmm..." Biting her lip in concentration, "Mmm." As she meanders, Balyss returns. "Okay!" She announces, "Are we ready?"
[22:48] <Aaeru> "We're direct!" Aaeru responds in a seeming nonsequitur, before repeating her carefully-phrased question. "Should we trust Marianne and Lyris when they say that Sanuth and Senaril are doing nothing bad or illegal?"
[22:49] <Kotono> "Okay," Balyss listens to that, "You may want to try and trim it down a little bit - the more direct the question, the more likely a clearer answer. Too many variables - Marianne and Lyris, Sanuth and Senaril, bad and illegal."
[22:52] <Aaeru> Clearly, her skills are even more limited than she believed. Aaeru takes that in stride, nodding in acknowledgement of the critique. "Balyss, can I just ask how to find Senaril?" she inquires. "Or that's not an event like you said?"
#ed
[20:26] <Kotono> OOC: Roll disguise checks again, both of you.
[20:26] <Janson> roll 1d20+21
[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+21 and gets 29." [1d20=8]
[20:30] <Andria> roll d20+9 (using loresong instead of alter self)
[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+9 (using loresong instead of alter self) and gets 20." [d20=11]
[20:34] <Janson> Suitably disguised as a beautiful but reassuringly masculine elf with long pretty-boy silvery-blonde hair pulled back to highlight his now pointy ears, Janson garbs himself in leafy green robes on top of his nicer green and brown silk ensemble, meeting up with Andrea to head over to the elven district where they can hopefully scope out a quiet spot to overlook Quindala's shop before the sun rises...
[20:37] <Andria> Andrea accompanies Janson disguised similarly in appearance, though with much smaller pointiness to the ears. "Any specific ideas?" Andrea asks as they approach.
[20:37] <Kotono> It's dawnish. At this moment nothing is awry in front of Quindala's shop - yet.
[20:39] <Janson> "If anyone asks we're elves from... uh, Kesse," Janson mutters. "Or I am and you're a half-elf, so lets say you're my daughter and we're just admiring the elven architecture here. Lets wait and see what happens when Sanuth picks up the woodcrafts. It might be a good idea just to let it go ahead and then follow them to find out where the stuff is being stored, if it's the same place as the rest."
[20:41] <Kotono> As the two talk, you can see a wagon coming ahead. A stony faced, grumpy man leads it along, towards Quindala's.
[20:41] <Janson> "That could be it," Janson inclines his head slightly, voice low. "No sign of Sanuth, though..."
[20:43] <Andria> Andrea just keeps watching, waiting to see if any familiar faces pop up.
[20:50] <Kotono> Soon enough the wagon stops in front! Four people come out the back. TWo are burly men in plain clothes, going with the driver inside. Two others that emerge are anything but. One is tall, with chestnut brown hair and a figure to kill for. Her figure is lush but also trim and fit, straining against leathers and a chain shirt. Pouches hang on her belt. The other wears a elegant white gown
[20:50] <Kotono> and carries an elaborate rapier on her side. Her hair is green, looking about everything with an utterly terrifying, captivating serenity. You feel a well of fear bubble up in you at looking at her. The two seem content to wait and look about while the other two go inside.
[20:51] <Andria> Andrea shudders a bit. "That woman gives me the wilies..."
[20:53] * Janson assumes those two are the Lyris and Marianne mentioned yesterday and nods to Andrea, turning half away to observe just with his peripheral vision. "We better be careful, they're supposed to be really good. Don't want to tip them off," he mutters quietly.
[20:54] <Kotono> OOC: Make spot, you two?
[20:54] <Janson> roll 1d20+10
[20:54] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+10 and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[20:54] <Andria> roll d20+2 eagle-eyes, hat!
[20:54] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+2 eagle-eyes, hat! and gets 21." [d20=19]
[20:56] <Kotono> Both of you can notice Lyris' gaze settle on Andrea a little longer than the others, a slight narrowing of her eyes as she gives her a longer look.
[20:57] * Janson detects that and ups his own game to help pass them off as innocent elves. Or elf and half-elf, whatever. "You see how the homes are made in harmony with the trees here, daughter?" he asks at a normal volume, assuming her ears will be sharp enough to catch it anyway. "Unlike the cold stone back in Kesse... ahh, this is the land of my birth I miss so. If only I could have shown it to your mother..."
[21:01] <Andria> Andrea edges around Janson so he's between her and Lyris's view, sticking her tongue out at Lyris to appear immature, before turning to focus on Janson's lines. "I'm sure mother is watching!" she replies. "Just like she watches over us!"
[21:04] * Janson makes a pained sigh. "She was taken away too soon... sixty years isn't nearly enough!" his voice hitches as if he's about to sob, putting a hand on Andrea's shoulder for support. "At least I have you to remember her by, my girl..." he makes a visible effort at composing himself and looks up to the East. "You see how the sun's rays filter through the canopy? Elven treesmiths labour for decades to create just the right patterns... ahh, the ones at the Citadel of Light, they drive any one to tears with their beauty."
[21:04] <Kotono> OOC: Make a bluff check, Andrea. Janson, make an aid another check to help her, +3 bonus since you sold it really well.
[21:05] <Janson> roll 1d20+5 aidan
[21:05] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+5 aidan and gets 11." [1d20=6]
[21:06] <Andria> roll d20+17 (assuming +3 was for me)
[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+17 (assuming +3 was for me) and gets 23." [d20=6]
[21:12] <Kotono> Lyris' gaze seems to leave Andrea entirely! Meanwhile the burly men come out with several boxes, proceeding to load them up into the wagon.
[21:15] * Janson continues waxing poetic about his lost love and the intricate beauties of elven culture. Once the loading is about halfway done, he sighs again, "Alas, my heart can take no more beauty today. Let us return to the unfeeling human world, daughter mine," he tells Andrea, starting to head out of the elven district, intending to duck into an alley nearby so they can switch disguises and then tail the wagon when it leaves!
[21:18] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, both of you make new disguise checks then.
[21:18] <Andria> Andrea follows behind Janson, trying to resist breaking into laughter.
[21:20] <Andria> roll d20+15 disguise 2 (using improvisation spell to add +10)
[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+15 disguise 2 (using improvisation spell to add +10) and gets 31." [d20=16]
[21:20] <Janson> roll 1d20+21 robes come off, change into grizzled middle-aged human with thinning grey hair, put long brown tunic on
[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+21 robes come off, change into grizzled middle-aged human with thinning grey hair, put long brown tunic on and gets 33." [1d20=12]
[21:22] <Kotono> The two disguise again, awaiting the wagon! Soon enough it comes past, heading along without trouble or incident.
[21:23] * Janson waits a bit for it to go down the road and them ambles out of the alley and starts strolling slowly after it. "Don't want to get too close and tip them off," he whispers to Andrea. "If they leave the city we'll need to follow from way back, but we can get away with more on the streets."
[21:24] <Andria> "Let's just hope we don't tip them off again. Was my last disguise bad, or something? It seemed she was suspicious of me..." Andrea whispers back.
[21:26] <Janson> "One of your ears was a little crooked?" Janson suggests uncertainly. "If she's never seen the real you it's probably just that something seemed off rather than recognising you."
[21:33] <Kotono> The two follow! The streets are busier now that it's past dawn! The Old City is full of common folk, going to work or coming back with food to prepare. The wagon heads into the Commerce Quarter, the streets becoming nicer and the clothes richer. As you go down Merchant's Way, the wagon stops. You can hear ahead of you, "Make way! Make way!"
[21:34] <Janson> Rather than unnaturally stopping at the same time the wagon does, Janson keeps on walking till he can see what all the fuss is. Then he can naturally stop and gawk without it seeming suspicious.
[21:38] <Kotono> The wagon slowly backs up, getting out of the way! Ahead comes a gilded carriage, lead by a team of six white horses. "Make way! Make way for the Baron Parsifal!" People on the streets go to the side, giving the procession right of way.
[21:39] * Janson doesn't particularly care about some random baron, but decides to make a show of gawking anyway until the wagon starts moving again, when he can give it enough of a head start to regain the original distance between them and resume following.
[21:45] <Kotono> Soon enough he is past, and the trip resumes! The wagon goes on, coming to a stop at a rich, multistory house in the Commerce Quarter. One of the big men comes out, going inside.
[21:46] * Janson looks at nearby street signs to determine if this is Sanuth's house.
[21:46] <Andria> Andrea looks over the building, trying to recall if there was anything interesting to know about it.
[21:47] <Kotono> The address matches what Janson knows. OOC: K:L cehck, Andrea.
[21:47] <Andria> roll d20 K:L
[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20 K:L and gets 20." [d20=20]
[21:48] * Janson ducks into a convenient alley to watch things from. Was Sanuth lying about stuff being kept out of the city, or is this just a stop before they continue on with the merchandise?
[21:51] <Andria> Andrea follows after Janson! "Time to switch disguises again? Or think we're still okay with these?" she asks in a whisper
[21:53] <Janson> "Lets wait and see if they're unloading or if this is just a short stop?" Janson suggests. "If they keep going we can switch and follow."
[21:54] <Andria> "Alright," Andrea replies, as she starts watching for signs of Sanuth.
[22:00] <Kotono> It's about five minutes before Sanuth comes out, followed by the goon that went and got him. He goes into the wagon with haste, face quite eager.
[22:00] <Janson> "Looks like he's checking out the merchandise," Janson mutters softly, watching from the shadows of the alley.
[22:02] <Andria> "Probably," Andrea nods in agreement, looking for Lyris and Marianne while Janson focuses on Sanuth.
[22:03] <Kotono> Shortly thereafter the two come out with Sanuth, going into the house. Meanwhile the wagon starts to move again, heading towards the south.
[22:04] <Andria> "Follow the wagon, or stay here?" Andrea whispers. "Or split up?"
[22:06] <Janson> "It's going off without the muscle, this should make it easier to follow," Janson approves. "Since we can't see into the house, lets keep after the wagon. Senaril might be at wherever they're stockpiling this stuff. Switch up disguises?" he pulls his arm in and then cunningly turns his tunic around so a different pattern shows on the front, also becoming younger and darker haired before he
[22:06] <Janson> sets off to resume tailing it.
[22:11] <Kotono> OOC: How far back are you going to follow it?
[22:11] <Andria> "How -do- you pull off all these disguises?" Andrea asks, impressed with the effect, her own disguise is changed, but still keeps some subtle things similar.
[22:13] <Janson> OOC: for now say 80 feet behind
[22:13] <Janson> "Ancient Jannath secret," Janson grins and taps his nose.
[22:16] <Andria> "Wouldn't such a secret involve wearing cantaloupes tied on your chest?" Andrea asks.
[22:18] * Janson laughs, "I don't need fruits, I can grow the real things too if I want," he whispers slyly, leaning close. "It's a trick elder druids pick up. If they knew I could do it they'd probably be really annoyed."
[22:21] <Andria> Andrea coughs. "That's an...interesting thing to learn?" she replies, shaking her head out of the strange mental image popping in.
[22:22] <Kotono> The two follow the wagon!It's heading for the southern gates out, looks like.
[22:22] <Janson> "It saves me the trouble of shaving and cutting my nails, at least," Janson focuses on the tangible benefits. "Once it's out of the city we should let it get a bigger head start. It'll be easy to follow in the open anyway."
[22:24] <Andria> "Hopefully it doesn't go too far."
[22:32] <Kotono> The wagon soon takes the trails to the east/northeast, going along for several hours. You go past neat farms and lightly forested plains, becoming more forested as you go. Lunch has come and passed, the wagon still continuing along.
[22:33] <Janson> "I really expected it to go South towards the mountains for some reason," Janson opines to Andrea as the tail their quarry. "Moving wagons into the forest proper would be a pain."
[22:34] <Andria> "As long as bandits don't jump out and try to attack them claiming their stuff in the name of a god, I'm okay with the detour," Andrea notes.
[22:34] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 7." [1d100=7]
[22:37] <Kotono> Several more hours pass. The sun is starting to set, the trees becoming more common as you reach the outskirts of the forest. As you do,...mmm? Trees ahead, like an arch? As the wagon approaches, the arch starts to ever so slightly shimmer. OOC: Any of you can make K:N here.
[22:37] <Janson> roll 1d20+13
[22:37] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15." [1d20=2]
[22:38] <Andria> ooc: such nature magics are beyond my paltry comprehension!
[22:39] <Janson> "I think it's a fey portal, like with the Phoenix Keeper," Janson tells Andrea. "Lets wait till the wagon goes through then we can go check it out."
[22:40] <Kotono> The wagon goes through the tree arch, vanishing as it does! Once it's gone the faint shimmer is gone as well.
[22:40] <Andria> "Around how much time should we wait to follow?" Andrea asks.
[22:41] <Janson> "Right now!" At that Janson picks up his pace to get close to the arch, looking over it for magic once he gets close enough.
[22:41] <Andria> Andrea follows!
[22:42] <Kotono> The arch radiates fading magic.OOC: Spellcraft it up.
[22:43] <Janson> roll 1d20+13
[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+13 and gets 20." [1d20=7]
[22:47] <Janson> "It's like the portal at Paksan Grove, but unlike that one I don't think I can open this unless I do it while the magic's still active - it looks like we only have one chance at this, do you want to risk going through?" he asks Andrea seriously, already starting to formulate the proper magical manipulations in his head to do it fast if she gives the okay.
[22:53] <Andria> "I don't think so," Andrea says. "I don't really have any armor with me right now, and we don't know what's waiting on the other side..."
[22:54] <Janson> "Okay..." Janson deflates, all his energy and effort fading away. "In that case our only other chance is to wait for the wagon to come back out and jump it, then force them to tell us the key so we can come back later."
[22:56] <Andria> "That might not be a bad idea!" Andrea says. "Plus they'd have no reason to expect an ambush right outside either."
#t
[20:25] <Kotono> Ah, Whimsical Sweets. Josa, Simmer, Silver and Sylvie are all there, deep in discussion. Before them is a jar of what looks to be alchemist's fire, an old silk shirt and some wood. "...that if this blazewood, this fair fire and this silk are used in such aw ay it could be a stupendous explosion of a magnitude on what devilish scale?" Josa says.
[20:28] <Kotono> "Looks like it," Simmer nods along, "I'm not sure on the scale, well..." Scratching at her cheek, "Depends on how much, but it would be a good one."
[20:28] <Wayland> "Well, there's really only one way to find out, I think." Wayland nods. "We should test it! Preferably outside the city, of course.
[20:28] <Wayland> "
[20:30] <Kotono> Simmer's smile picks up, while Josa winces, "Well," He fumbles, "This isn't TECHNICALLY blazewood," he admits, tapping it with a finger, "But a proxy to serve as a visual aide. Also I'm rather fond of this shirt."
[20:30] <Kotono> "I like the way you think," Simmer says cheerfully, going over to stand by Wayland.
[20:31] * Wayland laughs.
[20:31] <Kotono> Sylvie half smiles at that, "Still, we can do better than speculating on the yield of the explosive. What we need is more dirt on this Senaril."
[20:31] <Kotono> "Burn it! Burn it!" Silver chants, "It's a noble sacrifice, as long as you still have other shirts to wear!"
[20:31] <Wayland> "Mmm...Aaeru's checking City Hall on her, I think."
[20:36] <Wayland> "We could help her look, I suppose, but I doubt she needs us crowding her down at City Hall. Any ideas where to start diggin in the meantime?"
[20:37] <Kotono> "It's a start," Sylvie agrees, as Josa and Silver give each other death glares. Simmer shakes her head at the two, while Sylvie goes on, "Any ideas of your-oh." Clearing her throat, "We can hit the bars and taverns, trying ti dig up information on her. We could also try a sage."
[20:37] <Wayland> "A sage?" Wayland asks.
[20:39] <Kotono> "Yeah. Alternately I could hit the books about it," Sylvie says, "I started last night, but I fell asleep before I got deep into it. If the name means anything, if anything like this has happened before, basically checking to see if we can find a hint or a trend."
[20:46] * Wayland nods. "Alright. You can take care of that. The rest of us can go find a sage or something."
[20:47] <Wayland> "Actually, what about that Gondsman we've had dealings with before. I think he mentioned explosions once or twice. Perhaps he'd know what this was about."
[20:47] <Kotono> "Welll..." Drawing that out with a cute smile, "I was hoping you'd help me instead of going to pay a sage! I'm sure I can find it, and help would make the work go faster! Simmer...well...I'm not sure I should have her around a bunch of flammable things, like books. Josa...I'm not sure Silver is conductive to good research. So...feel like helping me?"
[20:48] <Wayland> "Or that!"
[20:49] <Wayland> "Sure, we can always speak to the Gondsman or someone else afterward if nothing pans out." Wayland nods.
[20:52] <Kotono> "C'mon," With that Sylvie leads Wayland along. Her home in the New City is quiet, no sign of mother or child today. Wayland finds her room completely overflowing with books - book stacks, book drifts, book shelves, books, books and more books. For a moment she has a fond smile, looking about, "What languages can you read?"
[20:53] * Wayland has no choice but to stare in wonder and astonishment. "This...is a lot of books."
[20:55] <Kotono> "It's a start," Sylvie turns around with a smile, "If we ever strike it really rich, I'm gonna have an entire library!" she goes and plucks a few books from here and there, "Books are knowledge, and knowledge is power."
[20:57] <Wayland> "Are they divided up on sections at all?" Wayland asks, walking in and having a look at one of the piles.
[20:58] <Kotono> "Mostly," That pile looks to be about the natural world - nature, animals, fey, elves, that sort of thing. She sits before, "Well, let's get to work," she says! OOC: Go ahead and make an aid another check? Int based.
[21:00] <Wayland> roll 1d20 no int bonus yay!
[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20 no int bonus yay! and gets 1." [1d20=1]
[21:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 ow, Wayland. Hopefully you at least took the 1 bullet.
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 ow, Wayland. Hopefully you at least took the 1 bullet. and gets 31." [1d20=17]
[21:03] <Kotono> It's a dizzying day for Wayland of books and studying! Wayland gets lost in all of it, reading so much and going between books! It's well past a quick lunch when at last Sylvie looks up from her books, "Oh, I may have something here!" She lies stomach down on her bed, legs kicking up in the air as she reads.
[21:04] * Wayland lowers his book, his eyes crossing and uncrossing. "Oh?"
[21:08] <Kotono> "It's a little thin, but..." Pointing at text in a language Wayland doesn't know, "Sena and Ril are two words in an archaic form of Sylvan. Sena is a prefix, meaning greater, better, more. Ril...means destruction, to destroy, ravage. Considering that this Senaril is making what could be a great big bomb..."
[21:09] <Wayland> "...more fey?" Wayland asks, looking grim.
[21:11] <Kotono> "Possibly, yes." Sylvie nods. "It's still thin, and it could be a coincidence." Sylvie looks down, rereading the text, "It still doesn't tell us much."
[21:11] <Kotono> After a beat, "This would be a good time to make sure you have cold iron available. Just in case."
[21:14] * Wayland sighs. "Before I go and do that, let's see if there's anything else we can turn up. I'd really rather be wrong in this."
[21:15] <Kotono> "So would I. If this is the fey and they're up to no good, it's probably the Unseelie Fey. Nothing good is going to come of this," So predicting, Sylvie continues hitting the books! OOC: Go ahead and roll another aid check?
[21:17] <Wayland> roll 1d20 big money big money!
[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20 big money big money! and gets 9." [1d20=9]
[21:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[21:21] <Kotono> The afternoon passes in long times. Again you read and read and read - so many interesting things! Wayland gets sidetracked by an essay on the elemental realm of Air, finding it fascinating. Empty skies forever, clear and beautiful winds, endless flight...hm? "Oh, Wayland," Again Sylive breaks your reverie. "I may have something again."
[21:23] <Wayland> "What is it?" Wayland asks, not letting the book go this time.
[21:28] <Kotono> The book she has is old and gray, strangely lifeless to look at. "It's said this book is a relic from the far, far east. It's said that new lands lie beyond the Amaryl Ranges. Rare stuff, in other words." She taps the page she's on, "It talks of a Destroyer, and in has several words in different languages for it, most of them arachic. In Sylvan, it uses Senaril."
[21:33] <Wayland> "Again, in Sylvan. This could get very ugly." Wayland shakes his head. "Why does it always have to be the fey? It seems as though they continually seek to undermine everything that is good."
[21:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 33." [1d20=19]
[21:37] <Kotono> "It gets more interesting," Sylvie says, "I know that the Destroyer was slain about twenty years ago, as far as I've heard. As far as it goes, this book is outdated." After a beat, "The fey aren't so bad. Janson has fey in his bloodline, and Simmer's mostly alright. They're just different."
[21:41] * Wayland grimaces, but says nothing.
[21:44] <Kotono> After a pause, "I'll bite," Sylvie says, "What gets you so upset about the fey, anyway? Okay, the Phoenix Keeper was a few feathers short of a bird, but most of them have been alright. Is it more Pallanth stuff?"
[21:45] <Wayland> "It's something I've been working on, but yes. It is very much a Pallanth thing." Wayland says.
[21:46] <Kotono> "On the side of 'the fey can stop screwing around with Pallanth', eh?" Sylvie gently closes the lifeless book.
[22:01] * Wayland nods.
#d
[19:55] <Ko> "As long as you phrase it in the proper question you can try," Balyss says.
[19:56] <Aaeru> "How can I talk to Senaril?" Aaeru decides at that, nodding to herself. "I'm sure that if we only talked, like face to face, I'll know if we should stop her or not!"
[20:01] <Ko> "Alright," Balyss says, "Come with me."
[20:02] * Aaeru flashes Neve a smile. "Thanks. I should've kept it simply like you said from the start instead of thinking too much about it!" Firming her resolve, she nods at Balyss. "Sure, lead on!"
[20:09] <Ko> You are lead deeper within! Ahead is an room with a vast skylight! Beneath it a statue of three maidens can be seen. One is a child, another a young woman and the third a wizened old crone. It is here that Balyss kneels, unfurling the scroll.
[20:09] * Aaeru scratches the back of her head for a moment in uncertainty, before deciding to follow Balyss's lead.
[20:19] <Ko> In this position Balyss stays, chanting from the scroll and kneeling! After long minutes of it her head jerks up, eyes flashing silver!
[20:19] * Aaeru looks on expectantly!
[20:23] <Ko> Words come forth from Balyss! Words that mean nothing as she writhes and rises to her feet! She looks to the sky, chanting in those strange words! Her entire body convulses as she turns to Aaeru, pointing! "Through the gates of the natural world, into the demense of the East."
[20:24] <Aaeru> "What?"
[20:26] <Ko> For a moment longer Balyss points, before her eyes return to normal. She blink-blinks, "The spirit of Selune got into me. Happens with divinations sometimes. I think I said 'Through the gates of the natural world, into the demense of the East?'"
[20:27] * Aaeru scratches her head again, peering into the direction Balyss is pointing towards. "So, uh... Senaril? You there, in your demense thingy? Can you hear me?"
[20:31] <Ko> That gets a stop and a blink, before Balyss hides a laugh into her hand. After muffled amusement, "Aaeru. These sort of things speak in cryptic omens and indirect methods. It's mot that literal, you need to figure out and get to the bottom of it."
[20:32] <Aaeru> "I'm not very good at that. I think too much, and everything gets very complicated."
[20:34] <Ko> "Take some time, think about it and talk to others about it. The nice thing about these is that there IS an answer to them and one that's possible to find. Selune doesn't give meaningless answers." At this Balyss hums a moment, "Well, natural gate could mean a lot of things. Demense of the East is more curious. Pallanth or Tauret, maybe? Even going a little south could get to Purinn or Malmuth."
[20:35] <Aaeru> "I guess her gold did come from there," Aaeru muses. "So, like, if the spirit of Selune got into you, do you know if that spirit wants us to stop her?"
[20:37] <Ko> "'fraid not. That takes a stronger spell." A pause to shake her head, "But we use it only sparingly. It's called Commune and it allows you to directly petition Selune or an agent of hers for knowledge."
[20:38] <Aaeru> "Nah. We're good, I think. But couldn't she, like, be more specific if she's visiting and everything? It could be really far from the sea! Neve doesn't like to go far from it!"
[20:44] <Ko> "I also don't presume to critisize Selune," Balyss crosses her arms at that, humor going down several notches. "The key lies in that riddle."
[20:45] <Aaeru> "Yeah, sorry," Aaeru tells her contritely. "It's not like she had to do it, and I asked. I guess... I'll go that-a-way?" She points in the direction Balyss was gesturing towards before. "And then, I can talk to Senaril?"
[20:47] <Ko> "Ah," At this moment Neveril stops, "About that, Aaeru. A natural gate...maybe we don't need to go very far east at all. You remember the Phoenix Keeper?"
[20:49] <Aaeru> "Fey, with their fey realms..." Aaeru says at that, nodding slowly. "Sure, that's natural and gatey. If it's like that, I guess it really was literal after all?"
[20:55] <Ko> "So we just need to go find a gate if that's true. Right?"Neveril says.
[20:57] <Aaeru> "Sounds like it!" Aaeru agrees. "Thanks, Balyss! If I can help you out with something, let me know?"
[21:09] <Ko> You go east! This leads to more of the Western Reaches and eventually the New City walls. There's nothing of immediate notice as you go along. Oh sure, there's plots of land being tilled, or people going around and talking and working, or pegasi flying in the sky, but nothing like a gate.
[21:11] <Aaeru> "I'm thinking," Aaeru muses, her gaze following the pegasi whenever she spots one of the winged horses flying in the distance. "Let's keep going until it's afternoon or so? If we don't find anything, we'll try to make it back to Whimsical Sweets before it's night and see if anyone has a better idea."
#ed
[19:46] <Janson> "Actually, no... wait, that's a terrible idea," Janson changes his mind. "If they're innocent it makes us into bandits, and even if it is sinister it tips our hand. How about you go back and get your gear and the others, I'll try and open it and keep an eye on things here for when you get back?" he suggests instead.
[19:51] <Andria> "Oh, I suppose you have a point," Andrea deflates, before nodding. "Sure, just make sure you're careful and don't get caught or anything. I don't think even disguised you'd be able to explain what you're doing around here."
[19:52] <Janson> "Don't worry, I'm good at hiding," Janson grins, turning his attention to the fading portal and working to reinvigorate it with a few careful taps and infusions of magic, beseeching it to open the way once more.
[19:52] <Janson> roll 1d20+11 UMD
[19:52] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+11 UMD and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[19:53] <Andria> Andrea nods as she starts heading back to Balmuria. "I'll be back soon..."
[19:53] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 46." [1d100=46]
[19:53] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 58." [1d100=58]
[19:53] <Kotono> At this magic, the portal flares back to life! It stays open, as if keyed once more!
[19:57] <Janson> With the portal now open, Janson pulls his robes from earlier on and changes himself into a goblin, shrinking down drastically with his clothes thankfully changing to match! He rolls himself in the dirt a little for the proper goblin appearance, thankfully getting most of it on the throwaway robes rather than his nicer clothes underneath, and then furtively advances through the portal.
[19:57] <Janson> Hopefully no one is immediately on the other side, but if there is he can bluff his way though as a curious goblin rather than a spying human!
#t
[20:00] <Kotono> Traveling back...it's dark. The stars are out, the sky clear. Above you can see Selune, shedding her silvery light down on everything. There is a peaceful solitude to the night, as...OOC: Make a spot check.
[20:02] <Andria> roll d20+2
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+2 and gets 12." [d20=10]
[20:05] <Kotono> Ahead are a few trees. Unremarkable enough as you get closer, within 20 feet. Then...ack! It flies through the darkness and lands just before your feet! A small dart, burying into the ground! Slowly she emerges from the shadows behind the tree - Lyris. Her face is cold and composed, eyes locking onto Andrea. A moment later, "Selune is beautiful tonight, isn't she? It makes you able to
[20:05] <Kotono> forget everything else if you look up for a moment." This voice comes from above. Marianne sits against the tree 20 feet up, yet no branch is under her, only air. She has a white umbrella, held behind her head like a belle. In her other hand her rapier is drawn, "When everyone is so occupied looking skyward, who will miss someone that gets lost in the night?"
[20:10] <Andria> 'Awww crap,' Andrea thinks with a frown. "...okay, the line was crap and makes me want to gag, but the entrance was very chilling, although the dart to the feet is pretty old fashioned. I give it 8 out of 10 points overall..." Andrea comments, trying not to show panic on her face. Okay, what are the chances of outrunning the two of them?
[20:14] <Kotono> "You've been meddling in matters you have no business in, despite being warned," Marianne continues, closing her umbrella and letting it fall to the ground. "It is time for you to disappear from this world. Still..." Lyris and Marianne exchange a short glance, "You have this and only this chance to surrender. Lay down your weapons and lie down on your stomach, with your arms and legs
[20:14] <Kotono> spread eagled. If you refuse...how much longer will your eyes be able to see Selune's light?"
[20:18] <Andria> "I haven't been warned once, I'll have you know...unless you count this as a warning, but in that case I'd just like to point out..." Andrea motions to the rest of herself. "I'm not exactly armed, so that's going to make it hard to lay down weapons."
[20:19] <Andria> "Will you be satisfied with just lying down myself?"
[20:19] <Kotono> "Very well," Marianne consents.
[20:20] <Andria> "Well alright then! We're making progress here!" Andrea says cheerfully, clapping lightly before going down on the ground, steaming inside. 'Well this sucks!'
[20:21] <Kotono> Lyris approaches carefully, coming to lightly kneel besides Andrea. "Close your eyes and don't try anything," she instructs, "Don't resist, just breathe."
[20:26] <Andria> Andrea makes a face. "2 out 10," she complains, though otherwise she complies with the command.
[20:26] <Kotono> Something cloying and wet is pressed to Andrea's face! "Breathe, Lyris commands again in a single word! "Just breathe in and out."
[20:29] <Andria> If her face wasn't covered, she'd downgrade that to a 1 out of 10, but as it is, all she can do is keep obeying. Here's hoping Janson or one of the others can mount a daring rescue or something...though preferably it'd be herself doing her own rescue. Mental note to self: Never go without armor and weapon again, no matter how bad it looks to wear them.
[20:30] <Kotono> A few breathes....the world spins, Andrea's mental dialouge breaking down as if a broken bridge plummeting into an abyss! Then....nothing, nothing at all but unawareness.
#ed
[20:00] <Kotono> Stepping through the portal is like being yanked ahead by unseen hands. There is a distinct moment of vertigo, then you stand. You stand in the dark forest. Alla round you is thick, impenetrable forest, no sign of anything at all.
[20:00] <Janson> No cart tracks?
[20:07] <Kotono> OOC: Make a survival check?
[20:08] <Janson> roll 1d20+12 +14 for searching for tracks
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+12 +14 for searching for tracks and gets 24." [1d20=12]
[20:09] <Kotono> You find wagon tracks going in one direction, straight into the impassable woods ahead.
[20:09] <Janson> roll 1d20+13 also rolling nature to figure out properties of this fey realm?
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+13 also rolling nature to figure out properties of this fey realm? and gets 20." [1d20=7]
[20:13] <Janson> Different than the Phoenix's realm, but that's not saying much... moving to the side of the tracks, Janson feels his way through the trees and undergrowth to help determine what's illusion and what's real as he begins to scurry along parallel to them. But not before pulling out his cloak and putting it on, the dappled pattern helping to aid concealment. For the same reason he's happy enough
[20:13] <Janson> to remain a goblin right now and benefit from the smaller profile.
[20:17] <Kotono> OOC: Make a will save for disbelief?
[20:18] <Janson> roll 1d20+7
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+7 and gets 8." [1d20=1]
[20:20] <Kotono> Janson intelectually knows it's an illusion...but it still seems real to his touch. Real as any other forest.
[20:21] <Janson> That's the sign of a high quality illusion! Still, he's not without other recourses - if he can see magic then it's quite easy to pick one from the other, so he pauses for a moment and surveys the foliage with the eye of a warlock, concentrating long enough to pick out the strands of magic and better identify the paths of what's real and what's fake for when he starts moving again.
[20:23] <Kotono> OOC: Spellcraft.
[20:23] <Janson> roll 1d20+13
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+13 and gets 17." [1d20=4]
[20:25] <Kotono> There's magic ahead of you with those trees that should be an illusion. However you can't work out the details about it.
[20:27] <Janson> Okay, he'll have to brute force it. Raising his hand and clenching a fist, a hand of solid earth erupts from the soil and starts flailing around randomly on the path ahead. Even if illusions can fool him into believing they're solid to the touch, a mindless construct will just go right through them, and he should be able to see what it breaks through or impacts off rather than passing through
[20:27] <Janson> with no resistance.
[20:29] <Kotono> The hand flails around, eventually passing through a good hunk of the path ahead!
[20:29] <Janson> OOC: does this help with disbelieving?
[20:30] <Kotono> OOC: Yeah, you can make another save with a +4 bonus.
[20:30] <Janson> roll 1d20+11
[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+11 and gets 30." [1d20=19]
[20:31] <Kotono> This time, the patch of trees ahead shimmers and fades away! Ahead is a path through a thick forest!
[20:31] <Janson> A little time spent now ensures a much faster journey ahead! Ducking down to the side of the path so he can scurry hidden through the undergrowth, Janson starts to follow it along!
[20:33] <Kotono> It's maybe ten minutes of this, traveling along. Soon enough the forest thins...hm? Ahead the moon is impossibly huge in the sky, shining down silvery light everywhere. Ahead lies a grand manor house, three stories big and quite tall. Atop the center is what looks to be a belltower. The entire thing is surrounded by no fence, just a big, lush green lawn. No sign of the wagon, though it's
[20:33] <Kotono> tracks continue on ahead.
[20:34] <Janson> Wherever that wagon goes, that's where Janson wants to be! Making use of the dwindling cover now that the bright moonlight makes discovery more likely, Janson continues to follow the tracks. They probably go into a servants entrance or something like that.
[20:37] <Kotono> The tracks go straight ahead to the front entrance! It's a grand doorway big enough to admit a wagon and then some! It's shut, though great iron pullrings are there to remedy that.
[20:38] <Janson> To be obvious or not... Stealth has worked so far, so instead Janson looks for any windows near the front door he could potentially climb up to and unlock for a sneakier entrance.
[20:39] <Kotono> There are several windows, yes. They don't even look locked.
[20:39] <Janson> Scrambling up the wall with the ease of a spider, Janson peeks through the one nearest the front door!
[20:40] <Kotono> It looks to give a view of a beautiful pavillion, curtains of the finest silk and a staircase of marble rising up. Statues are about, as well as works of art.
[20:41] <Janson> Carefully opening the window and trying to be quiet, Janson clambers inside and then looks for any sign of the cart or its passage.
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: Make a will save.
[20:44] <Janson> roll 1d20+7 +3 vs enchantment
[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+7 +3 vs enchantment and gets 8." [1d20=1]
[20:45] <Kotono> Janson feels muddy headed a moment as he steps in, the window closing shut behind him of his own accord! OOC: K:N, +3 bonus.
[20:45] <Janson> roll 1d20+16
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+16 and gets 18." [1d20=2]
[20:48] <Kotono> You realize it too late, the magic having caught you before you had a chance to realize it. This entire house is ensorcelled with illusion and misdirection. Getting in is easy, getting out is far, far, far more difficult. Directions, the layout and even what's in the manor will change at the whimsy of fey and chaos.
[20:50] <Janson> Oh, poo. Well if he's going to be stuck here... Janson drops down to the floor and then reverts to his natural form, taking off the filthy robes and stuffing them in his backpack so he's left wearing his nice expensive clothes - he might as well be comfortable and look good! Also his eyes are enchanted with their own fey magic, which might help - seeing through darkness, magic, and invisibility
[20:50] <Janson> is hopefully a boon? He takes a good look around his surroundings, getting his bearings for what little they're worth.
[20:53] <Kotono> It's a beautiful pavilion as he saw it. There's several doors on each wall save the direction out of the manor. Further there are the stairs going upwards. Dozens of directions to choose from.
[20:55] <Janson> The only way to beat randomness... is to outrandom it! That's why Janson picks the third stair on the left and walks towards it, veering off only at the very last possible instant and skipping over to the staircase to the right of that one and going up it!
[20:59] <Kotono> Janson ascends up! The stairway goes up and up and up and up! He finds himself walking up a narrow tower now, the stairs winding along the wall. Above Janson can begin to hear a heavy sound, the ringing of a vast bell.
[21:00] <Janson> Hah, reached the belltower on his first guess! He can exit that way... although doing so would leave him without having solved the mystery of what they plan to explode. Well he'll go up and take look from the belltower - the view should be illuminating if nothing else.
[21:02] <Kotono> It takes a few minutes of going up the stairs...it's narrow here. So narrow. The bell hangs, and small 5 ft walkways around it. You're quite high up - it must be at least ten stories up here! All around the manor you see dark forest, tinted by the silvery moonlight! OOC: Make a spot check.
[21:02] <Kotono> The bell also radiates faint magic, Janson can note.
[21:02] <Janson> roll 1d20+10
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+10 and gets 13." [1d20=3]
[21:02] * Janson takes a moment to examine said magic,
[21:02] <Janson> roll 1d20+13 spellcraft
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+13 spellcraft and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[21:04] <Kotono> The bell is enchanted ot ring at the will of another, or whenever someone begins to climb up towards the belltower. It's fairly basic magic as...ack! It comes t him from above, soaring down! A bat bigger than any other bat Janson's seen! It flies right past in him a hurry, quickly trying to take a big mouthful of Janson out! OOC: Surprise rounded. It's attacking then we roll init.
[21:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 +2 charge, flatfootedAC? (Forget if you have uncanny dodge)
[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 +2 charge, flatfootedAC? (Forget if you have uncanny dodge) and gets 20." [1d20=12]
[21:05] <Janson> OOC: I do, but I'm unarmoured so 10
[21:06] <Kotono> OOC: Does that protect you from SA when surprised or is that just saving you rAC?
[21:06] <Janson> OOC: it does unless it's a 10th level rogue
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 2d6+4 chomp
[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+4 chomp and gets 9." [2d6=3, 2]
[21:07] <Janson> OOC: also yeah, my AC would be 14, sorry
[21:07] <Janson> roll 1d20+4 init?
[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+4 init? and gets 21." [1d20=17]
[21:07] <Kotono> The bat flies right by him, taking a big bite out of his shoulder as it ends up 15 feet from him after! It's covered in spines here and there, far too big and nimble! OOC: Inityes.
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[21:08] * Kotono changes topic to 'Janson>Bat'
[21:09] <Janson> "Wait, wait!" Janson calls to the bat, trying to establish dialogue and moving back to show a lack of aggression, "Lets talk this out, I don't want to hurt you! You like nuts? I've got some nuts if you're hungry," he tries offering.
[21:09] <Janson> OOC: total defence and hopefully wild empathy?
[21:10] <Kotono> It's voice snarls, "I crave flesh!" It retorts in Common, "Lady Senaril has not invited you to her manor home, intruder! I have neve rseen your face before!"
[21:12] <Janson> "Well, yeah, but..." Janson hesitates, not particularly having a good 'but' to follow on with there. "I mean, I was lost in those woods and I thought I could get shelter here! Is Lady Senaril so cruel as to turn away an unfortunate wayfarer?" he improvises.
[21:12] <Kotono> OOC: Try a diplo check there, say.
[21:14] <Janson> roll 1d20+2 stupid tame talking bat
[21:14] <Rei-chan> Janson rolled : 1d20+2 stupid tame talking bat --> [ 1d20=6 ]{8}
[21:17] <Kotono> The bat does not seem swayed! In fact, it's coming back at you again, trying to bite Janson!
[21:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 chomp AC?
[21:17] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 chomp AC? --> [ 1d20=5 ]{13}
[21:17] <Janson> OOC: 21
[21:17] <Kotono> But the bat flies by, unalbe to get a chomp and now on the other side of the bell! It flies startingly good, dipping and moving about!
[21:17] <Kotono> OOC: Go.
[21:18] <Janson> "Okay, screw you, you're no help at all!" Janson yells up at the bat before darting back down the narrow staircase! Hopefully it can't follow there.
[21:19] <Kotono> Janson runs back down the staircase! Indeed, the bat shows no signs of following, out of sight and not coming into it!
#t
[20:38] <Kotono> Mmm....mmmm....aaaah. Awakening. Awake? Mmm. Andrea's blurry eyes open reluctantly, her ears working better first. Crackling. The crackling of fire. Her nose works next. The smell of food? Then her eyes at last blink away a haze. A bed? She's in a bed, tucked in? Warm, ruddy firelight dances about in a fireplace to the right, covering the rooms in golden light and pale shadows. A room.
[20:38] <Kotono> A rich room, like the guest room of a noble's villa.
[20:41] <Andria> "Well...I have to give them points for it not being a cell, I suppose," Andrea mutters as she tries to stand, looking around in confusion, this not exactly being the treatment she was expecting.
[20:43] <Kotono> Andrea's body feels groggy and unresponsive. It takes a few tries. She finds she's clad only in her undergarments, her dress nowhere in sight. There's no windows, but there are two doors. One opposite the bed, another off to the right side wall.
[20:45] <Andria> "Gaaah," she mutters as she clings the blankets to her body, leaning against the wall for support. "Scratch that, this is worse than a cell..."
[20:46] <Kotono> As Andrea does that, there is a sharp sound! A knocking on the door, three deep knocks!
[20:49] <Andria> "If you're the one that undressed me, you stay the heck out unless you want a fist to your face, otherwise come in!" Andrea calls out as she tries to make a makeshift dress out of the blankets, wrapping them around herself to better protect her modesty for now.
[20:51] <Kotono> The door opens! An elf enters - a tall male elf, dashingly beautiful. He wears finely tailored clothes of earth colors, his ears adorned with several earrings each. He carries a longsword on belt and a bow and arrow on his back. He makes a fluidly graceful bow to Andrea, "I am the Hunter of the Manor, Lady Andrea. Lady Senaril welcomes you to her manor."
[20:54] <Andria> Andrea raises an eyebrow, a little surprised at her name being known. The only one amongst them that technically should know it was Sannuth...although it wouldn't exactly be hard to track her name down either as an employee of Whimsical Sweets. Still kind of a little disturbing though. "I can't say I cared for the invitation, but the place is nice," she finally responds.
[20:57] <Kotono> "As for now, you are in Lady Senaril's care. Please be aware that the Lady has several rules that guests must follow. Disobeying them will show you to be of poor breeding, miserable manners and further incur the justified wrath of Lady Senaril. Secondly, please do not attempt to escape or wander the manor. The other door there," Looking the other, "Is a bath, if you wish to freshen
[20:57] <Kotono> yourself up. Please do so once I leave. Within a half hour, servants will come to prepare you for an audience with Lady Senaril. Please follow all their instructions at all times."
[20:59] <Andria> "...and clothes?" Andrea replies drily, pointing at her makeshift dress.
[21:00] <Kotono> "The maids will provide proper dress." The Hunter of the Manor says, "As well as all other needed amentities." With another bow he takes a step back, going out the door and closing it behind him.
[21:02] <Andria> "...well alright then," Andrea says lamely to the door, before sighing. "Okay, I guess I'm going along with this in the meantime and finding out more about Lady Senaril..." she mutters as she heads towards the door the elf pointed out as the bath.
[21:09] <Kotono> It's a beautiful bath. It's of carved stone with soft ivy growing along the edges. Andrea finds the bathwater perfect, leaving her smelling faintly of the fresh forests and open air breezes. Once Andrea dries and emerges out, she finds them waiting. Two elf maidens, absolutely identical. Both have black hair and pleasant smiles, wearing maid's clothes. "Please, come," they instruct.
[21:11] <Andria> "So what are your names?" Andrea asks as she approaches the two.
[21:12] <Kotono> "We serve Lady Senaril. You may call us Maid." The two answer, smiling toe ach other. A moment later they are at Andrea's sides, starting to work off her improptu dress, "We have to get you dressed for your audience!"
[21:13] <Andria> "...alright then," Andrea says with a frown, letting the two do what they have to.
[21:14] <Kotono> Where the dress comes from Andrea isn't sure. It's black and with a long trailing hem, the edges of it on the hem and the arms turnining purple. They do Andrea's hair up, one of them sprinkling some sort of liquid into it. "M'lady, Lady Senaril thinks black is far better a color for you and some change is in order. I am taking the liberty of dying your hair black."
[21:15] <Andria> "...wait, what? Hey, I like my hair color! I was born with it!" Andrea exclaims as she jerks away. "Now I'm going to need to take another bath!"
[21:16] <Kotono> The maids as once stop, "M'lady, Lady Senaril insists. Please obey, it would be churlish otherwise to ignore her wishes."
[21:19] <Andria> "Yes, well, I have no desire to dye my hair. What other wishes does she have?" Andrea asks with a frown as she crosses her arms.
[21:20] <Kotono> The two maids exchange a look, "If you resist, we will be forced to tell Lady Senaril you are disobeying her rules. You will be punished for this."
[21:22] <Andria> Andrea frowns. "Okay, right, the other elf said something about stupid rules. What's wrong with my hair though?"
[21:23] <Kotono> "Lady Senaril has decided a change is in order," They answer, "Please cooperate. If you desire, you may ask her yourself once you meet her."
[21:25] <Andria> "Well...can't you get a wig, or something?" Andrea offers as a compromise. "A wig would be acceptable, wouldn't it?"
[21:33] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplomacy check there?
[21:35] <Andria> roll d20+18
[21:35] <Rei-chan> Andria rolled : d20+18 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{35}
[21:36] <Kotono> The two maids consider, before one withdraws a black wig. "Very well," they relent, putting it on and getting Andrea into the dress! From there they busy themselves - lots of black jewelry and putting a black choker ribbon around her neck.
[21:40] <Andria> "Please tell me there won't be black make-up..." she mutters as she looks at all the things the maids keep bringing out, though she's at least humoring them, for now satisfied with her small wig victory.
[21:42] <Kotono> "Oh no," The maids say, a makeup kit withdrawn from nowhere, all white, "Pale faced." They start to work away all the while, turning Andrea's face bone white.
[21:44] <Andria> Andrea groans, but plays along, though she's beginning to wonder if she wouldn't have been better off fighting to the death...
[21:45] <Kotono> Soon enough Andrea is finished! The maids rise, "Please come with us. You may wish to close your eyes and have us take your hand. The manor's halls can be disturbing to the uninitiated."
[21:50] <Andria> "I think I can walk without holding hands," Andrea says drily. As if the manor's halls could be scarier than hell.
[21:52] <Kotono> Thus you head out! The halls are long, door after door after door. Yet the steps you take seem too big, too long. Too much. Too much. Too much. Each step forward - too much again - seems to be going far. The maids are yet walking normally, as you pass by ornate doors framed by art and filigree.
[21:54] <Andria> Andrea frowns, but tries to keep up with the maids, even as she wonders what's causing whatever weird effect is happening.
#ed
[21:21] <Janson> Bah, that wasn't any good. Is everyone in here going to be so murderous? If so it could sorely test his intention to be friendly and polite and... oh that little fucker punctured holes in his waistjacket! Fingering the bloody wound in his nice expensive garment, Janson wears a mournful look, not even looking which way he's going as he wanders down another corridor.
[21:22] <Kotono> Janson goes back down and through a corridor. Ahead is now an archway, made of beautiful white marble. Past it looks to be a garden, with a grand fountain in the middle. However, no water comes from the fountain at all, bone dry.
[21:24] <Janson> Still remaining well alert for magic and invisible nasties, Janson goes through the arch to investigate the various flora filling the garden...
[21:24] <Kotono> JAnson can note that there is water in the fountain - just invisible. It looks to be a garden of roses of all types and colors, yet all are tinted faintly silver by the moonlight above. OOC: K:N check.
[21:25] <Janson> roll 1d20+13
[21:25] <Rei-chan> Janson rolled : 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{14}
[21:26] * Janson approaches the fountain, wondering what the point of invisible water is - is it magic or something? Aside from that, are there any paths through the garden besides where he came from?
[21:33] <Kotono> There are two other paths winding off into the garden. The water radiates faint magic.
[21:34] <Janson> roll 1d20+13 spellcraft 'dis
[21:34] <Rei-chan> Janson rolled : 1d20+13 spellcraft 'dis --> [ 1d20=14 ]{27}
[21:35] <Janson> Well, if he ends up here long enough to get really thirsty it's nice to know. Otherwise he just keeps right on walking, moseying on down the left path through the garden.
[21:37] <Kotono> You walk and walk and walk...how long you walk you aren't sure. It's such a big garden, going on and on and on and on...mmm? Ahead of you lies another archway, into what looks to be a pleasant sitting room. Lots of chairs and tables with food.
[21:39] <Janson> If there's food there's probably people? Janson hopes they'll be more reasonable than that unsociable bat and passes the archway to have a look around.
[21:41] <Kotono> Within there is not a soul...hm? Check that. Sitting at the table is a woman. She wears a cascading blue dress, criss-crossed weapons slung on her back. Her features are beyond gorgeous, stilling Janson's heart. She slowly eats a grape, as if savoring a miraclous treasure.
[21:42] <Janson> "Ah! Hello!" Janson turns and smiles at the woman, offering a polite bow in greeting and praying to Jannath for friendliness. He'd much rather befriend her than that ugly bat, anyway!
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC Make K:N here.
[21:44] <Janson> roll 1d20+13
[21:44] <Rei-chan> Janson rolled : 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{31}
[21:44] <Kotono> So beautiful...cascading hair...you can barely look at it...she smiles at you. "You've caught me at a disadvantage, I'm afraid," she says, popping the grape down. "Do tell how you've come to this place, human."
[21:46] <Janson> "Sorry about that, my name's Janson," he offers belatedly, looking down respectfully and preserving his eyes. "I'm actually looking for someone called Senaril. I was following tracks in the forest and found the mansion... I didn't expect it to be ensorcelled so much."
[21:48] <Kotono> "Ah, Whimsical Sweets." Her smile is so coy as she smiles, her hair a brown cascade, "In the flesh am I, Senaril. Your timing is superb, your friend is being prepared for an audience. Ah, this may be interesting after all!" She rises, "Come, come, come."
[21:50] <Janson> "Oh, nice to meet you, then," Janson raises his gaze and follows along. "The reason we're here, really, is that considering the things you've had Sanuth buy on your behalf, it sounds like you want to blow something up. We just wanted to make sure it wasn't anything we cared abou... wait, what!" he abruptly stops. "Which friend? Who's here?" he blinks in confusion.
[21:51] <Kotono> With an amused smile and chuckle, "Andrea. Do you think your intrusion wasn't noticed or your actions left unchecked?" With a wrinkle of her nose, "At least her garb will be interesting. Yours is so pedestrian."
[21:52] <Janson> "What?" Janson looks down sadly at his expensive and well tailored garments. "And I treated myself to these especially thinking they'd be nice? What's wrong? Is it the colour or the cut?" he asks self consciously/
[21:52] <Kotono> "You wouldn't understand," With a dismissive wave, "We'll talk soon. This way."
[21:53] <Janson> "Okay... by the way, your bat in the belltower has a real attitude problem," Janson continues blathering on quite cheerfully now that he's found the mastermind. "You'd be better off with a fruit-bat, they're much more friendly and nice."
[21:55] <Kotono> There's no reply as you are lead into the halls...and soon enough you find yourself in a sitting room. A pretty one, full of chairs and soft things. It is dominated by a vast throne, made of pure wrought gold and decorated with strange, reflective shell. She goes to sit there, too big for her and yet she dominates it, not the other way around. It's as if the throne is too small to steal your
[21:55] <Kotono> eyes away from her. "Take a seat. Any will do."
[21:56] * Janson cheerfully takes the seat nearest the throne, turning it to face her. "But about the clothes - yours are really nice, and I think they just look better on you because nymphs normally go around naked - it's a refreshing break from the norm. So I mean, if you've got an opinion... I don't want to waste any more money at that shop if they're no good, y'know?"
[21:59] <Kotono> With a dry chuckle, "Variety is the spice of life. Quite frankly, it feels like you've worn those too long. If you wear a pair of clothes for more than a half day or so, they're so wretched boring!" Making a sour face, "So boring. So miserably boring!" As Senaril goes on, a door opens! Two maids step aside, admitting in another! She wears a black dress with purple trim, tight around her
[21:59] <Kotono> waist and flowing to the bottom, a trailing hem behind it. She wears black jewelry and a black choker ribbon around her neck. Her face is mad eup to be pale white, lips a sallow red. Before you stands Andrea, as the maids bow as one, "As you requested, Lady."
#d
[19:46] <Kotono> Thus the two proceed on! They head east through the New and then the Old City, then have to go long ways around to continue past that. By mid-afternoon they're in the open farmlands and freestanding houses east of the city, no immediate sign of anything awry.
[19:50] <Aaeru> "Do you think that, like Selune would give us a sign?" Aaeru wonders, looking about at the farmland surrounding them.
[19:50] <Kotono> "If she has, I haven't seen it," Neveril admits, "Do you?" She pauses to rub her stomach as it loudly rumbles, "I could also use some lunch.
[19:50] <Kotono> "
[19:52] <Aaeru> "Sorry!" Aaeru immediately apologizes, pausing herself to look for anything edible that doesn't belong to someone else. "I'm always fasting, and have been for like a month and I forgot all about how people need to eat. I'll figure something out!"
[19:53] <Kotono> OOC: Make a survival check, say?
[19:53] <Aaeru> roll 1d20
[19:53] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20 and gets 6." [1d20=6]
[19:54] <Kotono> Nothing around immediately looks edible. Neveril shakes her head, "I'm okay, but I'll get something eat when we go back. Do you want to go much farther?"
[19:56] * Aaeru frowns as her brief search turns up nothing, but then an idea pops into her mind. "It'll take really really long to get back! How about we just ask the farmers if they need help with anything, and I can do that while you get some food? And, and they might know something about gates and demenses and fey and such! What do you think?"
[19:57] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Make a GI check then, say?
[20:00] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+10 can do!
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+10 can do! and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[20:06] <Kotono> Food is gotten! You hear all sorts of wild stories - fey stealing goblins and children, or fey sneaking in to steal food. Gates leading to heaven or hell said to be somewhere inthe forest ahead, or great big giants who control armies and kingdoms of their own in the Barbarian Lands. Nothing really soild, just a lot of varying stories.
[20:09] <Aaeru> "Let's see the forest, at least?" Aaeru suggests to Neve, paying particular attention to stories listing gates. They are the only ones with a location of sorts, after all. "We can, umm, maybe spend an hour or two walking there, tops? If we don't see anything, we can just try to go back and ask Sylvie what she thinks again."
[20:15] <Kotono> "Okay," Neveril says, as the two walk!
[20:15] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 90." [1d100=90]
[20:17] <Kotono> An hour or two passes yet. You're getting to see more ofrest instead of open plains, but you still don't come across any gates or signs. Lathander is well past his zenith now, heading closer and closer to the horizon and the rise of the night.
[20:19] <Aaeru> It can't really be called a proper forest yet, Aaeru thinks, deciding to keep going for now.
[20:24] <Kotono> A few more hours past. It's getting close to nightfall now, more trees yet. The homesteads and farms are becoming less common now, though still no sign of any gates or anything wary. It's mostly just peaceful countryside out here.
[20:26] <Aaeru> "That was a mistake," Aaeru declares, pausing to rest her back against a tree. "Sorry, Neve. I made a wrong choice again. We probably didn't get what Selune was saying after all."
[20:28] <Kotono> Neveril stretches and goes to sit a moment, "It's been fun to see the countryside," she says brightly, "We can rule this out at least...oh, what was it that she said, exactly?"
[20:32] <Aaeru> "It is," Aaeru admits. "It's been a while since I just, like, walked around for fun. It's not really the same on the job-- well, I guess it's a job too, but you're here?" Neve's request catches her attention, and she forces herself to recall the prophecy, the process helped by the lack of any rush, time-wise, and the many times they had repeated it earlier while trying to work it out. "Somewhere to the east, which Balyss pointed at, there is this demense thing. And what is that anyway? But it says east, too, which is weird because why say it if you're pointing at the direction? Anyway, there was also all this gates of natural world bit, and I kinda thought it might be the end of the world. Does the world have an end? But a fey realm really makes more sense because we had one here, and that means more could be here too!"
[20:36] <Kotono> "I don't know," Neveril admits, "A fey realm's gates can be almost anywhere. If I see one I'll probably know it, but..." she shrugs, "It could have meant east in a more metaphorical sense. Like she comes from the east, or is a noble those lands." Thinking on it a bit, "At the end of the world? At the north end of the world cold air comes, from the south end hot air comes. The east and west end
[20:36] <Kotono> are for Lathander and Selune, going back and forth in an eternal dance. That's the story I heard about it."
[20:37] <Aaeru> "I hope Selune didn't send us to Lathander because, you know, it would've been lots easier to just say so. Ah, but don't tell Balyss on me!"
[20:39] <Kotono> "I won't!" Neveril promises, and after a pause, "Do we go back now or do we try looking more?"
[20:40] <Aaeru> "It's probably too late to go back, huh? Wanna look until you get tired, and then we'll just camp out for the night?"
[20:42] <Kotono> "Mmmm..." Neveril stretches and yawns, "We'd be traveling well into the night. We could just camp here? It's getting late and I'm a little sleepy after walking all day."
[20:42] <Aaeru> "We can do that!" Aaeru agrees. "You need to tell me these things! Like when you're hungry or tired or-- hey, are you cold? I'll keep you warm!"
[20:43] <Kotono> Now that gets another smile from Neveril, "I was, like, hoping you'd say that!"
#ed
[22:00] <Janson> "Well I've been away from the house since..." Janson trails off and stares at Andrea. And mentally downgrades the value he places on Senaril's fashion opinions. "Uh... Andrea! That's, um..." he puts on the biggest smile he can, "You make anything look good!"
[22:01] <Kotono> "Excellent!" Lady Senaril gives Andrea a once over, "A marvelous new look for you. If I added a holy symbol to Shar you'd fit right into her church. Far better than that red-headed, dashing heroine look you had coming into here. It's so much newer!"
[22:02] <Janson> "So... you like new things, right? Does that mean you're planning to blow up something old?" Janson asks before any thoughts of Andrea and Shar can settle.
[22:02] <Andria> "Janson?" Andrea exclaims in surprise before she glares at Senaril, and takes off the wig. "Lady, there is so much wrong with what you just said, I don't even know where to start! That said, I -like- my looks!"
[22:03] <Andria> She does pause and gives credit where credit is due "The dress is cute though, I'll give you that much."
[22:04] <Kotono> With a bored look at Janson and turning to Andrea, "Your looks are far too boring. Quite frankly I'm bored of the old ones. It's absolutely intolerable that you took that wig off!" With a sudden rising, "But it back on! Your old hair is boring, played out, uninteresting!"
[22:06] <Andria> "My looks are great! I have lots of admirers who love my red hair! And a boyfriend to boot!" she declares.
[22:09] <Kotono> With a distinct glower, Lady Senaril waves a hand at Andrea! OOC: Will save.
[22:09] <Andria> roll d20+16
[22:09] <Rei-chan> Andria rolled : d20+16 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{18}
[22:10] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:10] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=48 ]{48}
[22:13] <Kotono> Abruptly Andrea flashes! Her skin turns green, her forehead turning sloping and body gaining more muscle mass! Her jaw juts out, her hair turning a slightly duller red shade. "If you reject change," Senaril says with a smirk, "Change will find you."
[22:15] * Janson winces. "Oh, hey, that's just too far!" he protests, standing up. "Look, how about this," his own appearance shimmers and is replaced by a dark skinned figure covered in tattoos, but said tattoos and skin are obscured by myriad chains bound around him almost like a mummy, mimicking the appearance of the chain devil he drowned in hell. "Now do I look novel enough for you to talk to
[22:15] * Janson me?" he asks, hoping to get her attention before Andrea suffers worse.
[22:16] <Janson> His voice also sounds gravelly and sinister in proper infernal fashion!
[22:16] <Kotono> "A faux-chain devil," she snorts, "Mildly more interesting, but bonus points for effort," Nodding to that, "So let's get to business now. WHat ARE you two doing snooping in my business?"
[22:17] <Andria> "Lady, I was perfectly willing to play along with your idiocy, but if you don't change me back to human, I will rearrange your face the hard way and see how -you- like change!" Andrea growls out, slamming a fist into her other palm to make sure there is no misunderstanding of what she means to do.
[22:17] <Janson> "Like I said, you're buying up what looks like components for a really big bomb. We want to make sure you're not going to use it to blow up anything you shouldn't," Janson reiterates since she clearly lacks the attention span to have paid attention the first time.
[22:18] <Kotono> "Shush now, child," With a wave at Andrea, "You're boring me." Turning to Janson, "Wouldn't you like to know? Is this where I politely make a villian's exposition and tell you all of my plans?"
[22:20] * Janson crosses his arms. "If you were smart you'd have said 'Oh dearie me no! I'm just using it to help mine out some adamantium on my land!', but if you're a villain then please go on," he invites.
[22:20] <Andria> "Janson, just so you know, I'm probably going to do something stupid," Andrea declares, before she starts stomping towards Lady Senaril. She wasn't exactly bluffing earlier.
[22:21] <Kotono> "I'll have to decline," With a smirk all the while, leaning back in her throne, "Why don't you -" She pauses a moment, "Oh, is it a fight you want, little pig girl?"
[22:21] <Kotono> After a moment, "It would be interesting if you stop her for me, Janson," Senaril declares, "Far more interesting than simply killing her."
[22:22] <Andria> "Lady, you're the one looking for a fight. I came her peacefully, played dress-up doll, and then you turned me green. If you thought I was just going to stew and take all that, you were dead wrong."
[22:23] <Janson> "Oh, you nymphs are bitches. Every single one of you," Janson complains bitterly, moving to stand between Andrea and the fey, and regaining his normal appearance as well because he doesn't like being a devil even with illusory chains. "Wait, Andrea - she might be the only one that can change you back," he hisses, "Just try to play along a little longer!"
[22:23] <Andria> "Yeah, well she can either change me back with her face still pretty, or rearranged. That's entirely up to her."
[22:24] <Janson> "Or she can do something worse to you before you even get your hands on her!" Janson insists. "You might not even have fists in a second, think about it!"
[22:26] <Kotono> "We're just better than you," Senaril smirks at Janson and Andrea, "I can't help it if you're miserable, boring, uninteresting mortals." Smirking all the while at Andrea, "You only live at my pleasure." Leaning back even more, "Oh yes, your friend is entirely correct, Andrea. I command nature to my whim. What makes you think you have a prayer of anything but a miserable death?"
[22:26] <Andria> "Then I'll bite her to pieces!" Andrea bites back to Janson as she glares at Senaril one last time. "Change me back or else!" (ooc: any chance of rolling gimped intimidate?)
[22:26] <Kotono> OOC: Go for it.
[22:26] <Andria> roll d20+13
[22:26] <Rei-chan> Andria rolled : d20+13 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{22}
[22:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 matching!
[22:27] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+13 matching! --> [ 1d20=20 ]{33}
[22:28] <Kotono> Senaril doesn't look the least bit intimidated!
[22:28] * Janson decides he has one chance for defusing this, and works a little bit of his own fey magic on the nymph as he glances back at her!
[22:28] <Janson> OOC: DC 16 will charm monster
[22:29] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 ironically so is her will save.
[22:29] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+13 ironically so is her will save. --> [ 1d20=16 ]{29}
#ed
[20:12] <Kotono> Lady Senaril just looks dully amused, "So BORING," as abruptly the beauty around her becomes overly radiant, like a nova of pure lucious feminimity! OOC: Fort both of you.
[20:13] <Andria> roll d20+14
[20:13] <Janson> roll 1d20+5 damn you Andrea
[20:13] -obsidian.ab.ca.lunarnet.org:@#evildunes- Janson invited Hatbot into the channel.
[20:13] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-24-28-0-36.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[20:13] <Andria> ooc: blame rei-chan
[20:13] <Andria> roll d20+14
[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+14 and gets 17." [d20=3]
[20:13] <Janson> roll 1d20+5
[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+5 and gets 12." [1d20=7]
[20:13] <Andria> ooc: and hatbot
[20:15] <Kotono> The vision is too much! The eyes of both Janson and Andrea are overwhelmed, going dark to the world! Only the image of her beauty is seared into your vision, seeing nothing else but darkness! Your ears still work, as you hear Lady Senaril's laughter! OOC: Both of you are blinded. This encounter could be going better. Much better.
[20:15] <Janson> "There, y'see?!" Janson grumps at Andrea. "Because I sure don't, I'll tell you that much!"
[20:17] <Andria> "She was being a bitch whether we played along or not, at least this way I get to punch her maybe!"
[20:17] <Janson> "Oh, find. Go and punch her! See how far you get!" Janson waves randomly, abruptly sitting down. "I surrender."
[20:18] <Andria> "Fine!" Andrea says as she tries moving in the direction of Lady Senaril and swinging.
[20:20] <Andria> roll d20+11 swing?
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+11 swing? and gets 13." [d20=2]
[20:20] <Andria> ooc: about what I figured
[20:20] <Kotono> Andrea blunders around blind, swinging and hitting only air!
[20:21] <Kotono> "Lovely." Senaril's voice is heard, laughter full of open mocking. "Less boring! Most fools throw their lives away. How does it feel now, hm? Completely defeated and helpless...if you're going to be boring I'll just kill you here and save us both the boredom, girl."
[20:22] <Janson> "At least most nymphs would give you a look at everything when they blind you," Janson cups his chin in his hand and sits on the floor grumbling as Andrea flails around nearby and Senaril mocks them.
[20:23] <Andria> "You'd think I was boring no matter what I did, you've said as much, so yeah, screw you and your high horse!" Andrea curses as she tries swinging again.
[20:23] <Andria> roll d20+11 swing-in-the-dark~
[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+11 swing-in-the-dark~ and gets 15." [d20=4]
[20:24] <Kotono> Andrea swings, as Senaril laughs, "Say hello to your Goddess then," Her voice is heard, the soft hissing rattle of weapons drawn! "Tell her to watch as the Destroyer rides again...it'll be damne dinteresting, no matter what!" OOC: She's attacking you, hold on a sec while I resolve.
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 17." [1d20=6]
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 19." [1d20=13]
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 20." [1d20=9]
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 19." [1d20=13]
[20:25] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[20:25] <Andria> ooc: all hit~
[20:26] <Kotono> roll 1d8+1+1d8+1+1d6+1+1d6+1 and 4 con damage (DR applies to each.)
[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+1+1d8+1+1d6+1+1d6+1 and 4 con damage (DR applies to each.) and gets 19." [1d8=7][1d8=1][1d6=5][1d6=2]
[20:27] <Kotono> Unseen blows rip into Andrea's body from all directions! Pain flares as her wounds bleed! Janson feels a fleck of something warm splatter on his cheek, Senaril laughing and laughing, "Let's see if you have anything new in th ere! One day, I swear I'm going to find someone with a new and exciting anatomy! But knowing you, it'll be the same damned boring makeup!" OOC: Go ahead and act, Andrea
[20:29] <Janson> "Andrea, please surrender!" Janson begs as he hears the sounds of brutal violence, rising to his feet and focusing on the sounds of Senaril's laughter...
[20:29] <Janson> roll 1d20+10 listen, should be DC 20 to pinpoint the square she's in?
[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+10 listen, should be DC 20 to pinpoint the square she's in? and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[20:30] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead. She's not being quiet at all.
[20:30] <Janson> OOC: waiting on Andrea
[20:32] <Andria> "No, dammit! Not until she either turns me back or stops saying all that crap! It's stupid, but I have my pride!" Andrea declares, tears of frustration dripping down her face. Between the wounds, rnnuy clown-makeup, and orcish features, she probably makes a pretty pathetic sight all around as she swings again.
[20:33] <Andria> roll d20+11
[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+11 and gets 19." [d20=8]
[20:33] <Kotono> OOC: That actually hits her AC, d100.
[20:33] <Andria> roll d100
[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d100 and gets 92." [d100=92]
[20:33] <Kotono> OOC: Hit. She gets an AoO on you for it but hit.
[20:34] <Andria> roll d3+5 non-lethal
[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d3+5 non-lethal and gets 7." [d3=2]
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 AoO
[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 AoO and gets 16." [1d20=5]
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d8+1 and one more con
[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+1 and one more con and gets 8." [1d8=7]
[20:36] <Janson> "If we die here I'm never going to forgive you!" Janson tells Andrea as he rescinds his offer of surrender and springs backwards, blindly throwing an eldritch blast at the merry nymph who he sees with crystal clarity in his current sorry condition but not in any fashion that's helpful to aim by.
[20:36] <Janson> roll 1d20+7 zoi!
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+7 zoi! and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[20:36] <Janson> roll 1d100
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d100 and gets 26." [1d100=26]
[20:38] <Kotono> There's a dull thudding SMACK as Andrea's shot hits home! At the same time there's a wet tearing, pain exploding in Andrea's chest! "You stupid...hahahahhahahahahahhaaa! Boring to the end!" she snarls, as Janson fires and nothing seems to happen! Then more tearing happens, ripping into Andrea! OOC: She's going to town on you. Again.
[20:38] <Andria> "She's the one being unreasonable! I've already stated my terms of surrender, if she wants me alive to do something interesting, then she's going to do her part too!"
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 26." [1d20=15]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 13." [1d20=2]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 AC?
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 AC? and gets 10." [1d20=4]
[20:39] <Janson> "You stupid idiot! You don't dictate terms when you're being killed!"
[20:39] <Andria> ooc: It's 8 right now with the blindness, so one actually misses.
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d8+1+1d6+1+1d6+1 and 3 points of con. Ow.
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+1+1d6+1+1d6+1 and 3 points of con. Ow. and gets 11." [1d8=4][1d6=3][1d6=1]
[20:39] <Kotono> Again Andrea is ripped into, blood flowing like wine and her head spinning in agony! OOC: Both of you go once this damage is resolved in #elysium.
[20:41] * Janson staggers around before the throne, keeping himself moving so he can better convince himself he's doing something useful, trying now to send Senaril to sleep since she's so exquisitely bored.
[20:41] <Janson> OOC: DC 15 will
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 23." [1d20=10]
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and act again, Andrea.
[20:45] <Andria> Andrea has said all she can, Lady Senaril has already spit on her pride, and even if she knows how this is going to end, she can't stop herself from swinging again.
[20:45] <Andria> roll d20+11
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+11 and gets 29." [d20=18]
[20:45] <Andria> roll d100
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d100 and gets 91." [d100=91]
[20:45] <Kotono> OOC: Damage and you eat another AoO. At least you're smacking a bitch.
[20:45] <Andria> roll d3+5
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d3+5 and gets 6." [d3=1]
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 AoO
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 AoO and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 AoO crit?
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 AoO crit? and gets 13." [1d20=2]
[20:46] <Andria> ooc: crit
[20:46] <Kotono> roll 3d8+3 and 1 con, pending me checking on if the con damage is multiplied.
[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+3 and 1 con, pending me checking on if the con damage is multiplied. and gets 15." [3d8=2, 2, 8]
[20:46] * Rudy (~Carthrat@c122-107-250-100.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
[20:47] * Rudy (~Carthrat@c122-107-250-100.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #evildunes
[20:48] <Andria> Andrea falls silently, biting her screams quiet, already having acknowledged her fall, and not wanting to give the benefit of last screams as she falls.
[20:49] <Kotono> OOC: Make a listen check, Janson?
[20:49] <Janson> roll 1d20+10
[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11." [1d20=1]
[20:49] <Kotono> Janson only hears a dull thump, then the sounds of weapons tearing flesh and bone, Senaril's laughter overtaking it all!
[20:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 She likes overkill.
[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 She likes overkill. and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[20:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 crit Im not even going to bother rolling the rest of the dice.
[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 crit Im not even going to bother rolling the rest of the dice. and gets 23." [1d20=12]
[20:50] <Kotono> roll 3d8+3 and 3 more con, time to play taps. :(
[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+3 and 3 more con, time to play taps. :( and gets 14." [3d8=2, 3, 6]
[20:50] <Kotono> Amid this horrible estascy of bloody carnage Senaril laughs and laughs and laughs! "Aaaaah, blood! Blood and guts...and how disspointing, she's just another boring woman inside!" Her voice is a lunatic purr, "What of you, Janson? Shall I find out if you have anything interesting inside?"
[20:52] <Janson> "Oh, Jannath, you killed her!" Janson realises in despair, his next attack dying in his hand. His arms fall to his sides. "What's the use? Even if I by some miracle I beat you I'd just starve to death wandering your mansion." He turns his face down, though the nymph's maddeningly beautiful form still burns on the echoes of his vision. "She should've given up..."
[20:55] <Kotono> "She should have. It's more interesting - most people are fools like her." Chuckling in your darkness, "Now what should I do with you...something interesting...Perhaps a toy for Marianne? She's a lovely creature, have you met?"
[20:55] <Janson> "Seen her but we haven't been introduced," Janson replies, through clenching as the stench of gore starts to reach his nose.
[20:57] <Kotono> It's a rich scent, filth joining it shortly later. As Andrea's earthly remains befoul your nasal cavity, "She's going to make a hugemark on the world...you could be one of her warm ups. On the other hand, you'll miss all the entertainment as she wakes up. Choices, choices, choices..."
[20:58] <Janson> "I don't want to surrender for you just to hand my execution off to someone else," Janson retorts, a fitful orange glow manifesting between his fingers again. A cornered animal is the most dangerous kind... although cornered *and* crippled isn't so threatening, sadly.
[21:02] <Kotono> "Mmmm hehehhehe," Senaril laughs lightly, "Well...you want to live? What can you do that's entertaining! Oh Janson," With a long sigh, "Do you know how boring it is to be this old? Do you know how predictable life gets? How hard you have to struggle to let in even a little chaos?"
[21:05] <Janson> "Well, I can change my shape," Janson suits action to words, his voice altering as well as he morphs into a nymphish elven woman who cound be Senaril's identical twin. "Could have a different one every day!" 'she' offers in the nymphs own voice, albeit sounding more strained than Senaril has since meeting him. "Besides that I'm good with magic items, and I can cook and clean," that sums up
[21:05] <Janson> the resume, most of Janson's skills just not useful in a mansion otherwise.
[21:06] <Janson> Wait, those are domestic not entertainment skills! "I can do acrobatics, too!" she adds hastily.
[21:07] <Kotono> Her voice comes from away. A cold, hard voice, "I'll take him as a servant," she says, Senaril's amusement dying down.
[21:07] * Janson turns towards the sound of the voice, even if she can't see, and reverts back to his natural and reassuringly male form.
[21:09] <Kotono> "If you like, Lyris," Senaril's voice becomes smooth, seductive. "He's yours."
[21:10] <Janson> "Will I get my sight back?" Janson asks hopefully. "Hard to serve, otherwise..."
[21:10] <Kotono> Footsteps come closer to Janson, a hand taking his arm rather roughly. "He is," she agrees laconically, and in a lower voice, "Follow my lead so you don't walk into the wall. Talk later."
[21:10] * Janson follows her commands and falls silent, nodding once and doing his best to walk in step with her without stumbling around, submitting to her authority with the ease of long habit.
[21:12] <Kotono> You are escorted. As you walk, the sound of doors closing behind you, "She killed Andrea?" Lyris asks in a harsh, probing voice.
[21:13] <Janson> "I couldn't see, but that's sure what it sounded like," Janson replies, sounding pained. "You didn't see a body?"
[21:14] <Kotono> "...I just needed to be sure," Lyris says, a tightness going into her voice. Her grip is tighter on Janson's arm, pulling him along.
[21:14] * Janson doesn't reply, deciding it better to wait until she gives the go ahead for a proper discussion before he asks his many questions, submitting to being led along without protest or reluctance.
[21:15] <Kotono> You go along for a little time, eventually guided to sit down. You're sitting on something soft - a bed, perhaps. You hear another female voice - Marianne? "What are you doing with him, Lyris?"
[21:15] <Kotono> "Tell her what happened to Andrea," Lyris says, "Tell her what Senaril did to her."
[21:19] <Janson> "I dunno how she got here in the first place," Janson admits with a shrug, "But when I saw her she'd been dressed up all in black - even a wig, and covered in thick pale makeup. She didn't like it, and when she took off her wig Senaril flipped her lid. Andrea's... was," he winces, "A spitfire. They went back and forth a little before Senaril lost her patience and blinded us. I could only
[21:19] <Janson> really hear what happened then, but... blind and unarmed? It sounded grisly, what I could hear over the laughing." He clenches and unclenches his fists, 'looking' down. "Nothing I could do helped."
[21:20] <Kotono> There's silence after that, footsteps going away from Janson. You hear Lyris' voice, "Just stay here," she commands, "Marianne and I will be back shortly."
[21:21] <Janson> "Not like I can see to go anywhere," Janson replies with bleak humour, sitting until he hears them leave.
[21:22] <Kotono> The door shuts behind them right after. OOC: Going tod o anything orj ust sit around?
[21:24] <Janson> Once he hears the door shut, Janson gets up and starts to carefully feel his way around the room, slow and soft to ensure he doesn't knock anything over or do any other damage. If he has an idea of where everything is, it gives him something to work with if he has to fight or run in here. Once he's examined the room to his satisfaction he'll go back to sitting where he was and waiting on
[21:24] <Janson> their return, and likewise stop and immediately do that if he hears anyone in the hall outside.
[21:28] <Kotono> It's a typical bedroom, feels like. Bed, what may be a dressed, a few doors, that sort of thing. About halfway through, Lyris' voice is heard, loud enough to carry, "She ripped her apart, dammit!" Her words crackle with anger!
[21:29] <Janson> Hearing that, Janson softly pads back to the bed and sits down as he was. It does sound like Lyris disapproves of Senaril's methods... although given the short fuse the nymph had, he's surprised she never noticed before.
[21:30] <Kotono> "So?" Marianne's voice challenges back, "She attacked her!" She's also getting loud, and notably angry.
[21:31] <Kotono> "DAMMIT, Marianne! That's the one rule I've ever asked for with this business! No killing!" Lyris snarls, "I don't care WHAT shit she's feeding you about the past! She took her apart like a damn cattlecow at the butcher!"
[21:32] <Janson> Ahh, but Marianne is more accomodating... and possibly the superior partner in the enterprise? Janson resolves to try and observe their social dynamics a bit and see if he can do anything to inflame Lyris's indignation further so long as he's staying here. Of course first he needs to get on her good side...
[21:33] <Kotono> "...Lyris." Marianne's voice's lowers, the conversation dropping back out of easy listening range.
[21:33] <Janson> He doesn't want to leave the bed with them so close to coming in, but Janson does lean forward a bit and hold his breath, straining to hear...
[21:33] <Janson> roll 1d20+10
[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+10 and gets 12." [1d20=2]
[21:35] <Kotono> You can't quite hear anything until Lyris raises her voice again! "I don't care if I'm a ghost or I killed a thousand before!" Snapping that off with fury, "I'm alive now and I don't care about any of that! If she's telling the truth, to hell with the past!"
[21:37] <Kotono> "You knwo it's true!" Marianne snaps right back, "Every night I've been seeing it in my dreams since we met her! Can you imagine it, that sort of power? The world's afraid of me! Everything is! It's like being the old Emperor of Malmuth, everyone has to do everything you want!"
[21:38] <Janson> Sounds like Lyris is trying to atone for something. That's commendable! Marianne definitely sounds like she needs that sort of stabilising influence in her life.
[21:39] <Kotono> You hear...nothing. The conversation seems to die off, silence returning after that. OOC: Going to do anything now or just cool your heels?
[21:40] * Janson is now thoroughly confused. They're not coming back in? That makes it seem like the entire conversation was staged for his benefit... now he doesn't know how to deal with it. He waits a few minutes to be sure, but if there's still no sign of them he'll go back to searching the room.
[21:42] <Kotono> After about a minute the door is heard opening again. You hear footsteps, passing you and stopping on the other side of the room.
[21:43] * Janson turns his sightless gaze to follow those footsteps.
[21:44] <Kotono> There's no reply, no reply at all. Just quiet for now, no sound of footsteps moving.
[21:46] <Janson> Well in that case Janson just resumes 'looking' down. While normally a cheerful and loud presence, Andrea's brutal death occuring just a few minutes ago coupled with the tense atmosphere have him taking a more cautious attitude to his dealings with people around here.
[21:47] <Kotono> After a few more moments of this, you hear rustling, then footsteps coming to you. "Eat," Lyris commands, pushing something into your hands.
[21:48] * Janson feels it to try and determine what it is!
[21:48] <Kotono> It's semi familiar - dried fruit, feels like.
[21:49] * Janson takes a few bites. "Thanks," he essays, "Was worried it might have been meat, but this I can eat."
[21:50] <Kotono> After a few bites Lyris raises something cool and metallic ot his lips, "Drink," she instructs.
[21:51] <Janson> He doubts its blood or poison at this point, so Janson imbibes agreeably.
[21:53] <Kotono> It tastes like weak beer. Mostly water, honestly. "Your eyes can be treated, but it will require magic," she goes on.
[21:56] <Janson> "Yeah, I didn't figure there'd be a herbal remedy," Janson replies weakly. "I guess as sights to have burned into your unseeing eyes go, Senaril's at least well shaped. She seemed quite nice, if a little bit high strung, up until Andrea took the wig off."
[21:56] <Kotono> That gets no immediate reply, more food and drink forced onto Janson.
[21:58] <Janson> At least they're not letting him starve, so Janson obediently eats up. "So, don't suppose you know what all the stuff Sanuth was buying really is for?" he asks hopefully. "We were thinking 'giant firebomb'."
[21:58] <Kotono> "....maybe," Lyris grunts at that, ceasing the feeding after. You hear her footsteps going back the way it came, more rustling.
[22:00] <Janson> "Any idea how Andrea ended up in here, anyway? Last I saw she was headed back to town because the portal was too dangerous to try without her equipment," Janson continues trying to get at least some answers out of this debacle. Of course Andrea was entirely right in her prediction.
[22:01] <Kotono> "...we captured her on the way back to Balmuria," Lyris' voice is tight again, "She had the sense thent o surrender."
[22:03] <Janson> Janson's head sags. "I won't complain, I can tell you feel bad already. I tried to convince her to do the same, but I think she'd just hit her limit."
[22:03] <Kotono> "Senseless..." Lyris mutters, "She was so young."
[22:05] <Janson> "You know the saddest part?" Janson asks heavily. "She and her boyfriend went to Hell to rescue me and Wayland not long ago. Her boyfriend was killed there, but she and his dad went to Valandia and managed to get him resurrected just a few days ago. How's he gonna deal with this, now?"
[22:06] <Kotono> It's the soft impact of a fist hitting something. It's not Janson, he doesn't feel a thing. Lyris doesn't say an ything, but you acn hear her breathing. It's picking up, almost ragged.
[22:10] <Janson> Sounds like he's getting to her. "She wanted to be buried next to her parents... I dunno if Senaril would rather just string her up or something horrible, though."
[22:11] <Kotono> "....." No reply again, Lyris heard nearby but no words follow...until, "Her parents?"
[22:13] <Janson> "They got killed by bandits when she was really little... I don't know much more than that. Not the sort of thing that gets talked around the campfire a lot," Janson replies, staring into nothingness.
[22:14] <Kotono> No answer at all again. Lyris is quiet, then, "...go to sleep," she says, "Rest."
[22:15] <Janson> "You're the boss, now," Janson agrees dryly, shuffling his boots off and dropping his backback beside them before swivelling up onto the bed and laying on his side fully clothed, using his own cloak rather than getting under the blankets. Now if only he could work out what approach to take with Marianne...
[22:17] <Kotono> Sleep comes. It's a strangely dreamless sleep...the sign that you've awoken is the shake of your shoulder. "Awaken," Lyris can be heard again.
[22:18] * Janson rolls towards the shaking, blinking and suddenly siezing up in terror as the fact that he's blind registers, before further memories filter through the haze of waking up and he relaxes. Right... nymph. Cheating not even naked nymph at that. "Morning?" he hazards, carefully and slowly sitting up so as not to bump into Lyris.
[22:19] <Kotono> As you sit up food is pressed into your hands again. Druid fruit from the feel of it. "Eat," she commands once more.
[22:20] <Janson> "This routine'll probably get old for the both of us pretty soon," Janson reckons as he dutifully eats like the invalid he is. "Have any plan for today?"
[22:21] <Kotono> "Getting you fixed," Lyris says, pressing weak beer into Janson's mouth thereafter again. "We'll be leaving once you eat."
[22:22] <Janson> "Where to?" he asks after drinking the beer.
[22:23] <Kotono> "Balmuria," Lyris says, "It'll be a day's journey."
[22:25] <Janson> "Yeah, did it yesterday following that cart," Janson nods, knowing well the way. Reaching down he gropes for his boots to put them on. "What about once I can see?"
[22:26] <Kotono> "..." No reply at first, "Worry about that once it's done," is what Lyris says at long last.
[22:27] * Janson nods, deferring to Lyris's taciturn nature and not pressing further. Once his boots are on he slings on his backpack and adjusts his cloak over it, standing up. "Guess I'm in your hands."
[22:28] <Kotono> Thus you begin your trip. A long walk in darkness, Lyris leading you along. She is silent during it, even as you again feel sun on your cheeks and hear pleasant birdsong.
[22:30] <Janson> "Where's Marianne?" Janson can't help but ask after a little while of walking under the sun. He did get the feeling the two were pretty tight.
[22:30] <Kotono> "With Senaril," Lyris says curtly, "Worry not about her right now."
[22:32] <Janson> "They seem to like each other a lot at least... or something like 'like'..." Janson muses quietly.
[22:33] <Kotono> "Just...be silent." Lyris says, voice tighter yet.
[22:34] * Janson takes the hint and drops it.
#d
[21:47] <Kotono> Sleep wracks Aaeru into a deep, restful slumber. Morning comes early...it's before the dawn, but her song awakens Aaeru. Neveril's voice stirs her from slumber, sweet words singing to the rise of Lathander.
[21:48] * Aaeru comes out of a pleasant dream into a far more pleasant reality, listening to Neve while her eyes are carried towards the night sky. No better way to greet the dawn can possibly exist.
[21:49] <Kotono> When at last her song ends the morning light has washed away the darkness. "Good morning!" she calls brightly!
[21:50] <Aaeru> "Morning!" Aaeru responds, smiling happily. "Did you sleep well?"
[21:52] <Kotono> "Very well!" Neveril says, "Shall we return today, or...?"
[21:53] <Aaeru> "I kinda want to keep looking," Aaeru says, not quite pouting. "I'm a bit stubborn, you know."
[21:56] <Kotono> "I do need something to eat," Neveril says gently, "Again."
[21:57] * Aaeru finds herself stumped suddenly. "Oh. Oh!" She looks about reflexively....
[21:57] <Aaeru> roll 1d20 survival?
[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20 survival? and gets 10." [1d20=10]
[22:00] <Kotono> Fortunately there's a small stream nearby that looks pure enough, plus you find a wild fruit tree.
[22:00] <Aaeru> "I'll get you some fruits!" Aaeru offers, perking up. "I'll try them first to see if they're fine. Wanna get a drink first?"
[22:02] <Kotono> Food and water is easily gotten and partaken of. Once done, "That's better," Neveril says, "Maybe w'ell get lucky if we keep looking?"
[22:03] <Aaeru> "Maybe!" Aaeru is quick to agree. "And maybe we'll, like, see another fey and ask them!"
[22:09] <Kotono> "Let's go then," Neveril says, as they continue to travel!
[22:09] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 75." [1d100=75]
[22:09] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 73." [1d100=73]
#d
[20:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 14." [1d20=3]
[20:11] <Kotono> A few more hours of wandering pass. The countryside is forested and heavy as you meander, though no sign of a gate yet.
[20:15] * Aaeru laughs to herself, making another stop to look for a natural source of food. "It's kinda funny, I think," she tells Neve. "It's fun since we never really went just to walk in a forest, but it's also sorta frustrating since we're, like, walking in circles."
[20:15] <Aaeru> roll 1d20 can I survive?
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20 can I survive? and gets 20." [1d20=20]
[20:16] <Kotono> Oh, Aaeru finds a beautiful supply of apples, fruits and vegetables! As Neveril snacks, "This really is fun," she says with complete agreement. "It's just a sahme we're not finding anything."
[20:18] * Aaeru nibbles on an apple to keep Neve company, after ensuring there is plenty left for her. "Did you keep track of how long it took us to get here? Because I thought I did but I'm probably wrong."
[20:22] <Kotono> "It's been a few more hours, hasn't it?" Neveril says, "Want to keep looking?"
[20:24] <Aaeru> "No better idea," Aaeru admits with a shrug.
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 62." [1d100=62]
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 56." [1d100=56]
[20:30] <Kotono> You wander and wander...at last, Neveril stops and points! Ahead is an archway of trees, on the edge of the forest proper. "Aaeru, I think that could be one!"
[20:32] <Aaeru> "--and then my sister wait what really?" Perking up, Aaeru dashes forward towards the trees forming an arch together and raises her head to peer at the spot where they meet.
[20:38] <Kotono> It looks normal enough to Aaeru, but Neveril nods, "I can tell," she says confidently, "The nature of it looks the same as the last time with the Phoenix Keeper."
[20:38] <Aaeru> "Yay!" Aaeru draws Neve in a hug and twirls her around in celebration. "We found it, we found it!"
[20:41] <Kotono> "Now we just need to find a way to open it or get someone who can," Neveril says.
[20:43] <Aaeru> Still holding onto Neve with one hand, Aaeru knocks on the wood with the other. "Lady Senaril!" she calls. "Hi! Can we talk?"
[20:44] <Kotono> Nothing happens besides some wood getting knocked on.
[20:46] <Aaeru> "Please don't be shy!" Aaeru urges. "My name is Aaeru, and this is Neve. Selune told us we should come, so we're not, like, someone suspicious!"
[20:48] <Kotono> Again no reply, as Neveril gently clears her throat, "Beloved, they don't work that way."
[20:49] <Aaeru> "Well who doesn't, like, watch their door?" Aaeru asks in a huff, her face falling. "We can't even leave or note or anything like that! And after you found it, too!"
[20:59] <Kotono> "Well, we need to find a way to open it. Right?" Neveril says, "Okay, we leave a trail behind us so we can trace our way back, get help and someone who can open it, like a druid or wizard or someone, and then we can go in."
[20:59] * Aaeru nods. "You can do that spell, right, the one that tells you where you are?"
[21:05] <Kotono> "I can find out which way is north," Neveril answers.
[21:07] <Aaeru> "And we went east, right? So if we look around here to really know, like, the area, we could find the arch later! And if you find where north is, and we go straight west, and we find something right there, then we'll know where to go east from!" Aaeru momentarily looks confused, but then nods to herself in satisfaction. "It should work. Wanna try it?"
[21:13] <Kotono> Neveril intones magic words, nodding to herself! "Alright," she says, "Let's do that."
#t
[20:17] <Kotono> The rest of the evening passes and sleep then comes. The next day Wayland and Sylvie come to Whimiscal Sweets. Oddly, the only other ones there are Josa, Silver and Simmer. No sign of Aaeru, Andrea or Janson at all. "Ah, finally at least a few others come," Josa greets, "By chance, have you seen any of our colleages who have not graced us with their radiant presences yet?"
[20:22] * Wayland shakes his head. "We've been studying all day."
[20:23] <Kotono> "Troublesome and troublesomer." Josa rises to pace, "Janson and Andrea have been absent since overseeing on Sanuth. Aaeru has been gone all yesterday and all today, too."
[20:23] <Kotono> Sylvie goes to sit down, biting her lip at mention of Janson. "Well, we did find out a little bit about Senaril. It's thin, but it matches our suspicions."
[20:24] * Wayland nods. "Apparently, Senaril was some sory of fairy death god...or something like that."
[20:29] <Kotono> "Essentially. It's most likely a fey," Sylvie explains, "Possibly having to do with the far east, past the Amaryl Range. Destroyer, great destroyer, something like that."
[20:31] <Kotono> "Of course," Josa shakes his head, "How troubling! How miserable a hand fate has given us! But no matter," Nodding, "The question is what do we do now? I ask all of you that, bearing in mind three of our companions have gone missing, lost in the tempetous winds of chance."
[20:31] <Wayland> "Definitely going to be a team effort." Wayland nods.
[20:33] <Wayland> "Well, they can't have gone too far. They should be fine, they're here in the city. Let's go search out Aaeru at City Hall and we can go see to the others. Were they headed back to the silk shop, or somewhere else?"
[20:34] <Kotono> "I can do City Hall," Simmer volunteers, raising a hand. "I wanted to see it anyway. I hear it's flammable!" After a beat she holds her hands up, "Not that I will, but Ineed something to daydream about when I'm bored."
[20:37] <Kotono> "Right," Sylvie says, "Let's go check there."
[20:40] <Kotono> City Hall. Getting a meeting with Aaeru's contact takes some time, but soon enough you're before him. "Ah, how can I help you?" he enquires to the genasi, Sylvie and Simmer.
[20:42] <Wayland> "We're looking for a friend of ours, her name is Aaeru. She tol us she was coming her to get some information for an investigation. We haven't seen her since this morning, though. We were wondering if you could help us find her."
[20:43] <Kotono> "We're looking for Aaeru," Sylvie says politely, all smiles, "We haven't seen her since yesterday."
[20:43] <Kotono> "I haven't seen her since early yesterday..." he trails off and frowns, "She was most distressed over Mr. Sanuth." His voice is soft and thoughtful, "I recommended she seek an augury and directed her towards the Lunatics of Moonholm, as nothing I found suited her tastes or desires for information."
[20:47] <Wayland> "Moonholm, eh? We've got friends over there. Might as well go see what they know. Thanks for your time." Wayland nods.
[20:53] <Kotono> Moonholm is found, Balyss found inside. She has a sack slung over one shoulder, casual tunic and skirt worn. "Oh," she smiles to the three as you head out the gates of Moonholm, "You guys keep coming back and back."
[20:54] <Wayland> "I take it Aaeru was here, then?" Wayland grins.
[20:58] <Kotono> "Yesterday," she nods, "Got a divination...oh!" She fishes into her sack and withdraws a scroll, "Give that to Josa? It's a bill for services rendered. How'd that work out for her?
[20:59] <Kotono> Sylvie smiles politely, though you can hear her slightly sigh. "Sure! You haven't seen her since then?"
[21:01] <Wayland> "We don't actually know, she's missing." Wayland shakes his head.
[21:04] <Kotono> "Well hell," Shaking her head, "She and her girlfriend took off East after the divination." With a slight frown, "She was looking for a Senaril or some such."
[21:05] <Kotono> "Great, we haven't seen her sinc ethen and we've been trying to find her," Sylvie mutters, "What was the divination, exactly?"
[21:08] <Kotono> Through the gates of the natural world, into the demense of the East," Balyss replies after some thought, "I think they went after it."
[21:11] <Wayland> "Great." Wayland shakes his head. "Hopefully she's just lost, and not actually in trouble."
[21:11] <Kotono> "Oh great," Sylvie suddenly sighs, rubbing her forehead. "If it's as far east as it might be, we're in trouble."
[21:11] <Kotono> Simmer just shrugs, "Well, if she's alright she'll come back in her own time, right? Mayb eher and Janson have gotten back by now, or Andrea too?"
[21:15] <Wayland> "And if she found Senaril, she could be in real trouble."
[21:16] <Kotono> "I know," Sylvie sighs, "But we don't have any real way to follow them." AFter that and a louder sigh, "Fuck. I'm inclined to wait on them and hope they return safe, rather than blundering out on our own."
[21:19] <Wayland> "Damn." Wayland growls. "I suppose we should head back, then."
#d
[21:21] <Kotono> It's into the afternoon now. Wayland and the others await as...at last! Aaeru and Neveril come upstairs, travel stained but intact! "Well finally!" Sylvie looks over, exhaling loudly, "You alright?"
[21:22] <Aaeru> "We found Senaril!" Aaeru reports. "Well, we found her secret fey realm gate thingy, but it's enough, right?"
[21:24] * Wayland stands and claps Aaeru on the shoulder. "Good to see you safe. We were worried about you. Have you seen Janson or Andrea?"
[21:24] <Aaeru> "Umm, no. Why?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "They're missing," Simmer pipesup, "But it's another fey...gods." Shaking her head, "Did those ley lines put all the other fey in a bad mood, too?"
[21:25] <Aaeru> "I dunno. We knocked but it's like there's no one home, and Neve told me we needed a wizard to open the gate."
[21:26] <Kotono> "Well, it needs a trigger or someone who can open it," Neveril speaks up.
[21:29] * Aaeru looks expectantly at Sylvie.
[21:29] <Kotono> "I can try," she speaks up, "Sure. How soon do we need to leave?"
[21:34] <Wayland> "The sooner the better, I'm thinking."
[21:36] <Aaeru> "Let's go, then! We can make it by evening-- oh, don't forget to eat first!"
[21:40] <Wayland> "Hmm, we should grab some extra potions and nectars from the cabinet." Wayland says, going over to the cabinet.
[22:34] <Kotono> Soon enough the party takes course and leaves! It's not a short trip, the four making decent time nonetheless. Afternoon gives way to evening as you make time, heading along. As you do...you can see them ahead. Two people. One is Lyris, guiding another person - Janson. He stumbles and walks uncertainly. The two are a goodly ways ahead - a couple of hundred feet.
[22:35] <Aaeru> "Janson!" Aaeru exclaims, hurrying towards the pair. "And Lyris? Weren't you, like, with Andrea?"
[22:35] <Janson> "Aaeru?" Janson calls, before his face falls at the mention of Andrea, unseeing eyes remaining unfocused throughout.
[22:36] <Kotono> Lyris stops at that call, looking ahead to the party. "Janson!" Sylvie calls, hurryign over towards him, "Janson!"
[22:36] <Aaeru> "Yeah, it's me," Aaeru responds. "Hey listen, I found Senaril's place! We're going there to talk to her now. Wanna come too?"
[22:38] <Janson> "You don't want to go there..." Janson replies heavily. "Andrea..." he hesitates, licking his dry lips nervously, "Andrea's dead. Senaril killed her."
[22:38] <Aaeru> "Say what?"
[22:39] <Kotono> Lyris watches this with a stone cold expression, eyeing the others as they approach.
[22:39] <Janson> If Janson could see he'd look at Aaeru right now! He doesn't really want to repeat himself, but after a moment... "Senaril killed Andrea. Cut her to pieces."
[22:40] <Aaeru> "But... why?"
[22:41] <Janson> "Because she's crazy and Andrea was 'boring' that's why!" Janson snaps.
[22:41] <Kotono> Simmer's face falls at that, "Oh...damn. Andrea?"
[22:41] <Kotono> Sylvie stops and sighs, "Murdered her?"
[22:42] <Wayland> "...she what!?" Wayland shouts.
[22:42] <Aaeru> "That's wrong! That's so so so-- I, I'll stop her! Right now! That stupid no good-- we're going right now!"
[22:42] <Wayland> "Damn right we are." Wayland stands.
[22:42] <Janson> "We didn't have a chance. She's a nymph, blinded us just to look at her... Andrea wouldn't give up, though," Janson puts a somewhat more brave spin on Andrea's demise.
[22:43] * Aaeru shakes a trembling fist. "I-I-I'll bring her back! To justice! Just like that evil Sharran!"
[22:45] <Kotono> Lyris takes a step forward, "You'll have to kill Marianne, too." she announces. "In fact...not only for Andrea, but for everyone else."
[22:45] * Wayland turns to Lyris, his expression less than friendly. "Explain."
[22:45] <Aaeru> "But-- wait--" Once again, Aaeru is utterly stumped. "Aren't you the good guys? You don't kill people, and you're helping Janson!"
[22:46] * Janson turns his unseeing gaze to Lyris. "I know you don't like this, Lyris... can't you turn Marianne against her?" he asks, sensing nobody is going to quit despite his suggestion.
[22:47] <Kotono> "Marianne made her choice," With a cold, bleak tone suffusing her words, "If what Senaril has told us is true, Marianne could be a calamity that would wipe out the entire region to the last soul."
[22:47] <Aaeru> And that doesn't help with her confusion one bit! "Choice? What choice?"
[22:48] <Janson> "She... she did say that Marianne would make a huge mark on the world when she 'wakes up'," Janson offers.
[22:48] <Wayland> "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Wayland asks.
[22:49] <Kotono> "A Destroyer?" Sylvie pipes up at this, at Janson's side. She puts an arm around him, "The books I studied spoke of a Destroyer that caused great havoc."
[22:50] <Janson> Under normal circumstances Janson is sure he's enjoy being sandwiched between two women like he is now, but the situation is too bleak for him to muster much enthusiasm.
[22:51] <Aaeru> "Can someone just tell me what the hell is going on and use small words, dammit?!" Aaeru finally snaps as she reaches the limits of her patience.
[22:51] <Kotono> "It means that Marianne..." Lyris stops, "...we had another chance. We only remember a little bit, but...Marianne was the Destroyer. Senaril is certain of it and what she's done to unlock a few of those memories..." Lyris' expression goes from cold to distant, eyes far away, "A beast as huge as a mountain, nothing but killing intent."
[22:51] <Kotono> "I am kind of lost," Simmer agrees, "It's like coming in halfway to a story."
[22:52] <Aaeru> "And?"
[22:52] * Wayland turns to Simmer. "Senaril is the name of an ancient fey creature of destruction, on a massice scale. It was supposed to have been slain a long time ago."
[22:53] <Janson> "And Marianne really wants to be that again?" Janson asks, guessing so from what he overheard last night. "Isn't there anything she values more while being a powerful human mage capable of reason and emotion?" he asks, disbelievingly. Being a mountain-sized pile of killing fury sounds horrible!
[22:54] <Aaeru> "What is she, stupid?" Aaeru agrees. "What's the point?"
[22:55] <Kotono> "Not quite a fey. The name it's more known as is Tarrasque." Going on from that, "Power. She's talked about the power she could have, the control. Senaril wants to wake her up and restore her. How...I don't know...or I didn't, but...Janson said she's gathering a firebomb. It makes sense on reflection, because...she's also been studying the biggest fire source in the region - the Inferno beneath
[22:55] <Kotono> Balmuria. If you combine the two..."
[22:56] <Kotono> Sylvie stops cold, staring for a few moments. Only one word seems sufficient from her to reply, "Fuck."
[22:57] <Janson> "Oh Jannath... she's gonna blow up Balmuria?" Janson pales. "That's definitely something we care about."
[22:57] <Aaeru> "She is an idiot," Aaeru decides. "She wants to be strong? She wants control? She's the one being controlled!" Aaeru exclaims. "Marianne should fix her life first!"
[22:57] <Kotono> "Why?" Simmer blinks, "I'm all for explosion sand fire, ut what's the point for her?"
[22:57] <Janson> "Probably some dark soul harvesting ritual?" Janson shrugs, completely guessing but it sounds good to him.
[22:58] * Wayland goes a bit paler blue. "This is beyond our scope. We need to involve the Crimson Guard."
[22:58] * Aaeru snaps her fingers all of a sudden. "Lyris, you came from her place, right? Do you know how to open that gate?"
[22:58] <Kotono> "Something to awaken the Destroyer," Lyris says, "It's just speculation, but..it fits."
[23:03] <Aaeru> "Let's see how she does it from a cell!" Aaeru states. "Let's go there, beat the everloving crap out of that horrible bitch, and kick some sense into Marianne while we're at it! Like, she wants to wake up? I'll wake her the hell up! And you, Lyris! She's your friend, isn't she? I talked to John. He likes you both! He thinks you're great! Don't give up on her without beating, like, tons of sense into her first!"
[23:09] <Janson> "Or at least... she cares about you Lyris, I'm sure if push comes to shove, she'll pick you over Senaril. And you just know if she ends up a monster, that nymph'll have a hold of the leash," Janson offers supportively to his new boss.
[23:09] * Wayland pops his knuckles, tugging on his gloves. "I'm going to give this Senaril woman a beating she won't soon forget. Or maybe one she won't remember."
#d
[20:03] <Kotono> "I can get us in," Lyris says after a moment, "The manor itself is magical, perhaps alive. Getting to one place or another can be erattic."
[20:05] <Janson> "Yeah, I think it moves at Senaril's whims," Janson puts in. "Hopefully she's crazy enough that she'd be happy to try her hand at taking everyone on directly, but if she wanted she could have us running in circles indefinitely. I dunno how aware she is of who or what's in the mansion, though."
[20:05] <Aaeru> "You... think she might keep us in circles and run away herself?" Aaeru asks at that.
[20:06] <Kotono> Lyris takes a moment to consider it, "I don't know. She's often erratic when Marianne isn't involved."
[20:06] <Janson> "She covets novelty, so she probably would prefer to meet any new 'guests' for what it's worth."
[20:09] <Wayland> "I'm new, -and- blue. I'm pretty novel." Wayland nods grimly.
[20:09] <Kotono> "Can we work this out back in town," Sylvie speaks up, "We need to get Janson healed and prepare. We'll probably need to rest tonight and shop in the morning, and then go out full steam."
[20:09] <Janson> "Do we have that long?" Janson turns to Lyris.
[20:10] * Aaeru also turns at Lyris!
[20:11] <Kotono> Lyris nods, "I don't think anything's happening right away...and Marianne knows I wanted Janson cured to serve better."
[20:12] <Janson> "Okay. I'll make sure not to get close enough to properly look at Senaril when we get back," Janson nods, waiting to be led along once more like the invalid he currently is.
[20:13] <Aaeru> "I-- but--" In the end, the need to get Janson cured overwhelms the need to go and punish Senaril, and Aaeru nods herself.