[18:57] <Kotono> > The door buckles, shudders and collapses! Ahead is a large room,t ables with beakers and foaming liquids all about. The rear part is a mess, broken upand with some fresh blood on the floor. No body, but one thing in there gives you hope - sitting on the table is Lagann, fourty feet away! Behind you, teh shadows continue to sing of damnation!
[18:57] <Kotono> <Seira> Lunging for Lagann, Seira barely has it in her grasp before she attempts to call on her most recent power! There is just the slightest chance that such a cathedral is not located in Kesse -- those stories of traveling through shadow give her hope. And if this succeeds, almost anywhere is better than this horrible place.
[18:57] <Kotono> > Lagann is in her hand! 'Seira seira seira seira!' the voice of the orb sounds in her mind, even as she uses Dismissal on herself! .... .... ....! (More)
[18:57] <Kotono> > No good. Despite dismissing herself fairly hard, Seira remains on the material plane!
[18:57] <Kotono> As Seira's attempt fails, she can hear them behind her! The shadows are coming into the room, approaching inexorably! They sing of Shar's oblivion all the while!
01[19:00] <Seira> 'Lagann!' Seira responds, panic and relief mixing as one. 'Buddy! We have to get away from these freaks! Did you notice anything as they carried you inside? Like... like passing lots of metal to your left, belonging to all sorts of weapons?'
[19:04] <Kotono> 'Metal was here. Metal is gone. They took metal,' Lagann does not sound happy at all. However, even as Lagann speaks to Seira, the shadows are inexorable! They're coming for Seira! OOC - Let's goa head and roll intiaitive here, since the shadows aren't sitting around on her.
01[19:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[19:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 26." [1d20=20]
[19:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 these are moot
[19:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 these are moot
[19:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 these are moot
[19:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 these are moot
06[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 these are moot and gets 13." [1d20=11]
06[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 these are moot and gets 6." [1d20=4]
06[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 these are moot and gets 19." [1d20=17]
06[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 these are moot and gets 5." [1d20=3]
03[19:09] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira>Shadows mk 2!'
01[19:10] <Seira> With a prayer to Waukeen, a translucent golden coin appears in the air before Seira, shimmering for several moments until it fades away. 'Lagann,' Seira thinks to her friend, grim-faced. 'If these things or their masters take me down, if it comes to that, kill me. Please.' Not waiting for an answer, Seira charges back the way she came along with Lagann, zig-zagging past the Shadows!
01[19:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[19:11] <Kotono> Seira rushes forward, tumbling past all the shadows! Indeed, Lagann doesn't give an answer as she makes it past the herd! As she does, the shadows turn and chase her! Two of them nip at her back, trying to touch her and bring her down low!
[19:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 touch aC?
[19:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 touch aC?
06[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 touch aC? and gets 9." [1d20=6]
06[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 touch aC? and gets 17." [1d20=14]
01[19:12] <Seira> OOC: touch ac 17, force ac adds 8 more to it for 25
[19:13] <Kotono> The touches reflect off Seira's coin styled shield, power draining touches repelled! OOC - Seira, you're up.
06[19:15] * Seira has a choice, either hope that the doors with the phases of the moon held more than just more monsters, try the only unexplored passage left in hopes it would lead to her escape, or going for that trapped doorway. The latter seems like the best option, but it also happens to be right next to where she last heard the leaders plot.
01[19:15] <Seira> And Lagann did mention a lot of metal being taken away... if it was disposed of by placing it somewhere downstairs, reaching it might mean a very real way for Lagann to fight back, so Seira chooses that.
[19:21] <Kotono> Seira dashes through, leaping onto the stairs and running down! The stairs go down a good ways, but as she does! A shadow comes from the ceiling, passing through to impose itself between her and advancing, trying to touch her!
[19:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3
06[19:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 12." [1d20=9]
[19:22] <Kotono> Seira ducks it, avoiding the close range touch of shadowy death! Behind her, up the stairs she's descending with no immediate end in sight, she can hear the other shadows praising Shar in song!
[19:22] <Kotono> OOC - Seira, you're up.
01[19:24] <Seira> Torm screw that frigid bitch, she curses, continuing her flight down. If she made a bad call, this would become her last stand, but on the off chance it's not, or she would have a chance to return back to the cathedral's main area....
01[19:24] <Seira> 'Lagann,' Seira commands, her mental voice as firm as it could be under the circumstances. 'Report any metals you could use as weapons to me. Report any traces of gold, too.'
[19:27] <Kotono> 'Will!' it says! OOC - You'll need to tumble to get past the shadow in front of you safely or you'll eat AoO.
01[19:27] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 32." [1d20=18]
[19:29] <Kotono> Seira tumbles down the stairs, rolling and sprining up to run past the shadow! The stairs steeply go down, black flames that shed no light ahead on the walls! (They radiate faint magic.) The stairs look to go down another fourty feet, leading into a chamber that can'tq uite be seen.
[19:30] <Kotono> Due to the angle of the entrance and your position on the stairs. Going further down would help. Meanwhile the shadows give chase, the one you by passed able to catch up and try and touch again!
[19:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3
06[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 10." [1d20=7]
[19:31] <Kotono> But it fails, song for oblivion denied! OOC - Seira.
06[19:32] * Seira scowls, but doesn't have a better idea. She continues her descent until she can peek into the chamber, and at the same time give Lagann a chance to tell her if he senses anything from within it. The shadows have surely alerted anyone who could be there, but that doesn't mean Seira has to present this potential nemesis a good target.
[19:36] <Kotono> As you race down, 'Metal in floor!' Lagann calls 'Mithril and iron!' As Seira rushes down, she can see the ahead room! It's gigantic, the walls a wavy, vaguely shivery-black. Color is gone in this room, bleeding out from Seira as she approaches. The floor 3/4ths cross crossed with massive magical diagramming, with symbols formed of pure shadow floating in the air to compliment them. It looks incredibly complex on a glance, well worked and p
[19:36] <Kotono> It looks incredibly complex on a glance, well worked and polisehd arcana. However, the upper right side is essentially barren, symbols often stopping in mid-draw. It's cold here - not an oppressive cold, but like the warmth is being drained from her inexorably.
[19:39] <Kotono> The rear of the chamber is wavy and entirely shadow-like, seeming solid but very translucent, half real. This is a dead end otherwise.
06[19:42] * Seira decides to spend a moment to analyze the arcane symbols. Anywhere is better than here, but if it's not a portal but a construct that would sacrifice her soul to Shar, she'd take her chances with the cultists instead.
01[19:43] <Seira> OOC: One round
[19:43] <Kotono> OOC: Just going to take one round examining it total then?
01[19:43] <Seira> OOC: roll their attacks, if I don't get swarmed, I'll consider another?
[19:44] <Kotono> Seira begins to examine the shadows here! Even as she does, teh shadows swarm her, surrounding her backsides and flanks!
[19:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[19:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3
06[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 4." [1d20=1]
06[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 8." [1d20=5]
[19:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 (flanking)
06[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 (flanking) and gets 12." [1d20=7]
[19:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 (flanking)
06[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 (flanking) and gets 8." [1d20=3]
06[19:44] * Seira shivers, continuing her examination of the design.
[19:45] <Kotono> Despite being covered in shadows, Seira is able to dodge, duck and evade! As she does, she can hear living voices in the distance, "Down here!" A man's voice, a terribly cold man's voice, echos from far behind you! OOC - K A check?
01[19:45] <Seira> OOC: I'll take 10 and use the weekly +10 bonus for 37?
[19:48] <Kotono> This is a partially finished portal to the Plane of Shadow. It's not stable to use yet because of that. However, it's not nonfunctional, just unstable and risky to use. If you spent another round invoking the arcane weave written into it, you could use it to cross into the plane of shadow...in theory. Because of it's unstalbe nature you could end up anywhere in the cosmos. Further, to invoke it you'll need one complete round of full concent
[19:48] <Kotono> Further, to invoke it you'll need one complete round of full concentration. You won't be ablet o move or defend yourself for that round, so you'll be flatfooted. (More)
[19:48] <Kotono> As Seira digests the information, the shadows attack again!
[19:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[19:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 13." [1d20=8]
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 17." [1d20=12]
[19:48] <Kotono> As Seira digests the information, the shadows attack again!
[19:48] <Kotono> As Seira digests the information, the shadows attack again!
[19:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[19:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 6." [1d20=1]
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 9." [1d20=4]
[19:48] <Kotono> Yet Seira is able to weave, as she hears the male voices coming closer, ever so closer, shouts and calls and banging of feet on stone floor!
[19:49] <Kotono> OOc - Go Seira.
01[19:51] <Seira> 'Defend me, Lagann!' Seira commands desperately, entrusting her dagger to the sentient orb should the cultists come this close in the time she needs to make this work, while she herself concentrates on activating the arcane design.
[19:52] <Kotono> The dagger dances in the air of it's own accord, thrusting out at a shadow!
[19:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[19:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 23." [1d20=15]
[19:52] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[19:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 100." [1d100=100]
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 1d4+1
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+1 and gets 2." [1d4=1]
[19:54] <Kotono> One of the shadows is grazed by the dagger, it's fiendish form ripping and disturbed, even as the shadows tyr to swarm Seira!
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 15." [1d20=10]
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 13." [1d20=8]
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 20." [1d20=15]
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 18." [1d20=13]
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 2d6 STR
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 STR and gets 7." [2d6=6, 1]
[19:54] <Kotono> OOC: DC 17 concentration.
01[19:55] <Seira> roll 1d20+4 (1 bonus)
06[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+4 (1 bonus) and gets 18." [1d20=14]
[19:55] <Kotono> Seira concentrates! Around her the shadows come to life, everything seeming to become colorless black! As this happens...
[19:55] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 3." [1d100=3]
[19:58] <Kotono> The world itself breaks apart! Seira is sent flying, everything around her going dark! (More)
[20:05] <Kotono> It's dead here. Dead. There are no colors, only a bleached white and a soulless black. Seira blinsk as she finds herself lying on hard, rocky round. It looks like heavy hills turning into mountains. She's outside? What passes for outside here, perhaps. Her body aches dully, utterly without warmth. Moving makes her joints ache. The draining touch of the shadows lingers, making her feel even worse.
[20:06] <Kotono> *ground, not round. Hur.
06[20:07] * Seira shivers, checking at once that Lagann and her liberated dagger are with her, as are the pair of scrolls.
[20:07] <Kotono> Lagann i sin her hand, the dagger clinging to it's spherical form.
[20:09] <Kotono> The scrolls are also with her.
06[20:09] * Seira almost breathes in relief, but catches herself. First, she has to find somewhere to hide, preferably somewhere defensible. 'Lagann? Any metal around you could use?'
[20:11] <Kotono> 'No metal.' Lagann reports. There's plenty of rock outcroppings in these strange hills, and the terrain looks to go on just as it does in the real world.
01[20:12] <Seira> 'Just a little while longer. Just a bit longer, and we could escape,' Seira thinks to her friend, moving towards the nearest rock outcropping in hopes of hiding there while maintaining a vantage point of the surrounding area.
[20:12] <Kotono> OOC- For reference, make a hide check? Just in case it ends up mattering.
01[20:13] <Seira> OOC: 10 for 28 works for me, if it does for you
[20:15] <Kotono> Seira hides! She has a good view - it's uneven, rocky ground. It's a bit like the outlying ridges of the Galkass Mountains near home, really. A few minutes pass...and then Seira can see something coming! Something approaching - a calvalcade of horrors! Three of them - huge shadows. These shadows seem to pull in more darkness from their surroundings as they glide above the ground, seeming to be going right for the point where Seira appeared.
[20:15] <Kotono> seeming to be going right for the point where Seira appeared.
01[20:18] <Seira> The more time she can remain undetected, the better. She'll remain silent and immobile until the shadows make it clear that they're heading her way, even as her form blurs slightly, fading out partially.
[20:18] <Kotono> The shadows quickly reach her spot! One of them touches the ground there as the other two look around!
[20:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 29." [1d20=16]
[20:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 19." [1d20=6]
[20:20] <Kotono> One of the shadows lets it's gaze sweep over where Seira is! It's ghostly visage narrows as all three turn to look at the rocks Seira hides behind!
06[20:20] * Seira runs away!
[20:21] <Kotono> OOC - Initiative here, I recon.
01[20:21] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 13." [1d20=7]
[20:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 11." [1d20=8]
[20:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[20:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 6." [1d20=3]
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 10." [1d20=7]
03[20:21] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira>Shadows mk 3 maan.'
[20:24] <Kotono> Seira runs over the rocky terrain! She moves to her utmost as the shadows take to the air! They mostly catch up after some manuvering, only 20 feet behind her! In her mind, 'Surrender,' a toneless voice whispers, like the hand of cold death carressing her earlobes, 'You are dead. Your soul is forfiet to the Lady of the Shadows.' OOC - Seira, you're up again, if ou want to go. They're flying and moving somewhat faster than you overall.
06[20:26] * Seira breathes fire on them, while calling on Lagann to defend her with the dagger!
01[20:26] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 85." [1d100=85]
[20:26] <Kotono> OOC: Damage.
01[20:26] <Seira> roll 6d8
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 6d8 and gets 24." [6d8=2, 2, 3, 8, 7, 2]
[20:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 DC?
[20:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 DC?
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 DC? and gets 22." [1d20=15]
[20:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 DC?
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 DC? and gets 13." [1d20=6]
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 DC? and gets 11." [1d20=4]
01[20:27] <Seira> OOC: 13
01[20:27] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 1." [1d4=1]
06[20:28] * Seira moves away after that, unwilling to be caught up just yet.
[20:29] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 Lagann daggers!
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 Lagann daggers! and gets 15." [1d20=7]
[20:29] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 69." [1d100=69]
[20:29] <Kotono> roll 1d4+1
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+1 and gets 5." [1d4=4]
[20:31] <Kotono> The flames seem to struggle to exist here, clawed at by the darkness even as the shed a momentary bliss of heat and light! The shadows are burnt by them, trying ot weave out of the way and partially succeeding! The slow one also gets Lagann's dagger ripping into it's shadowy body! The shadows fully move this time, going in three directions! One stays behind her, one goes to the left side and one stays to the right side! They're all 10 feet
[20:31] <Kotono> One stays behind her, one goes to the left side and one stays to the right side! They're all 10 feet away from her, like a net that's about to close. 'Surrender,' it repeats. 'Embrace the shadowy oblivion. You cannot escape us here. We are faster. We are stronger. We are tireless. We are invincible. We are the masters of this plane, mortal.'
06[20:32] * Seira lunges through the hole in this net before it had a chance to close, letting loose with another burst of flames at these terrible monsters!
01[20:33] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 44." [1d100=44]
01[20:33] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 2." [1d4=2]
[20:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 15." [1d20=7]
[20:33] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 43." [1d100=43]
[20:37] <Kotono> Fire and dagger work hard here as Seira lunges through the hole again! Yet neither avail, only running succeeding! As she does, the shadows fully move this time! This time one goes in front of her, one above her and one behind her, 'Surrender or we will obliterate you with blights. This is your last warning.'
06[20:38] * Seira pauses. "You won't kill me if I surrender?" she asks cautiously, as if disbeliving.
[20:39] <Kotono> 'Your soul is to go to the Lady of the Shadows.' It answers. 'Accept your fate and come with us.'
06[20:40] * Seira shudders. "So the Lady of the Shadows gets to decide my fate, but you won't touch me or otherwise harm me if I come with you to face her judgement?"
[20:41] <Kotono> 'Yes.' The shadows come closer, a dark chill wracking Seira. She can feel her vitality leech away from her, as if these beings contradict the very theory of her life. Yet, despite it, she is vibrant, enduring as best she can in a place of shadows absolute!
01[20:42] <Seira> "I'll stop fighting you. And come," she agrees, chilled to the bone. "Is it far?"
[20:43] <Kotono> The shadows are right next to her now, 'Come.' One of them reaches out for Seira's arm! OOC - Are you going to do anything or let it touch you?
01[20:44] <Seira> "No bad touching!" Seira exclaims, wriggling out of their grasps as best as she can! "Take me there normally, like the way you came here!"
01[20:45] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[20:46] <Kotono> With swift speed, Seira tumbles away from them! OOC - Make a diplo check, -10 modifier?
01[20:46] <Seira> OOC: Can I ask them nicely for it, first?
[20:47] <Kotono> OOC: Hm?
01[20:47] <Seira> "You're faster, stronger, tireless. You are invincible!" Seira exclaims, sounding as panicked as she feels. "I can't escape you here! Can't the masters of this plane leave this small comfort to an insignificant, already surrendered mortal?"
01[20:49] <Seira> roll 1d20+10
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+10 and gets 26." [1d20=16]
[20:53] <Kotono> There is a moment, the shadow staring holes into Seira. At last, 'Come with us,' The shadow invites, the three of them going around Seira...and beginning to walk.
06[20:53] * Seira walks as ordered, sighing in relief.
[20:54] <Kotono> As you walk, you notice that you're moving quite fast. The terrain starts to go by in a blur, though you seem to be moving at a normal clip.
01[20:55] <Seira> Does any of the terrain look familiar, much like the mountains seemed to be?
[20:56] <Kotono> It's starting as mountains but slowly turning into planes. It looks twisted and blurry, often faintly nightmarish.
06[20:57] * Seira will follow as long as her blur spell holds out, unless dismissal suddenly becomes an option.
[21:00] <Kotono> A few minutes pass. The terrain fades away into featureless black. But ahead of you, something begins to form! Two dark towers, then a few more, then several! Towers as if cut from the purest black nothing-ness! Far above them, like a new sun, a b lack disc blazing with purple fire around it's rim glares down. In the towers, clinging to them, walking between them, are countless shadows. Thousands - no, tens of thousands of them easily. Each
[21:00] <Kotono> Thousands - no, tens of thousands of them easily. Each one sings - a dirge that makes Seira's mind crackle! OOC - Will save, -4.
01[21:01] <Seira> roll 1d20+7
06[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+7 and gets 18." [1d20=11]
[21:02] <Kotono> Crack. Seira's mind partially breaks at this dirge, a giggle of torment and joy passing through her. This sound is the nothing-sound of the first void, replicated by a trillion souls forever resigned to fade into the final day, where everything becomes nothing once more. Seira finds herself adding her own voice to it for a moment before she can control herself! OOC - 4 points of int, wis and cha drain.
[21:03] <Kotono> OOC - 4 points of int, wis and cha drain.
06[21:03] * Seira pauses abruptly, holding her head in pain as she sways on her feet. "I need a minute," she pleads with her guards. "I can't... give me a minute...."
[21:05] <Kotono> The shadows surround her, even as they begin to sing! Not a sound comes from their mouths, and yet it seems to make the song around her more terrible, more perfect. Yes, more perfect, as if a dire, impossible truth is pressing into her psyche, showing her the fated end of everything that ever was, ever is and ever will be. In it she sees planes crumbling, friends dying, eternties finding end at last. No mercy, no stopping - only a cold comf
[21:05] <Kotono> friends dying, eternties finding end at last. No mercy, no stopping - only a cold comfort that all shall share this final fate.
01[21:08] <Seira> Dismissal remains Seira's only hope, the only reason she holds on. She's dead, and so are her friends, so is her world. But recovering that ability would allow Seira to take revenge and forcibly take her enemies down with her into oblivion. It is not a particularly happy thought, yet one that fits the dirge's theme all too well.
[21:21] <Kotono> 'Come,' The shadows insist now, waiting on Seira.
01[21:25] <Seira> "All that loss," Seira repeats to herself, shaking her head, as she ignores the demand. "Everyone, everything...."
[21:28] <Kotono> 'Embrace the loss. IT is everything,' One of the shadows intones in a voice that makes it seem all the more real, all the more filled with loss. As Seira shakes her head, something catches her eye. From the side/behind, a glint of gold. It's just for a split moment, like the flash of coin passing between hands. Somehow...Seira feels braver on seeing it.
01[21:30] <Seira> Has she really lost everything? 'Lagann?' Seira mind reaches out hesitantly.
[21:32] <Kotono> 'Metal...' Lagann's voice is so longing now. Ever so longing, sad. 'Metal...'
01[21:33] <Seira> "If the loss is everything," Seira asks the shadows, "why is there a need to go someplace specific?"
[21:36] <Kotono> There are a few long moments, 'Shar is there, the Mistress of Loss. She is.' The shadow looks to Seira, uncaring, cold, dead inside. Again. Seira sees it again, out of the corner of her eye - gold. A glint of gold, away from those horrible towers and countless lost souls. Behind her.
06[21:38] * Seira turns her head in an attempt to glimpse it better. "I'm an insignificant mortal, dead in all that matters. Why would the Mistress of Loss need to oversee the utter loss of someone like me personally?"
[21:41] <Kotono> Behind her is the Plane of Shadow, in all of it's twisting glory. She can see empty black plains behind her. The glint of gold doesn't seem to be there when Seira looks...but she feels a little better, a little more composed. A yearning fills her, that not everything is like this. Not quite, but...It can't be here. Not here. As she does, Seira realises something. Her spell like powers and abilities have refreshed with the passage of time.
[21:42] <Kotono> Her spell like powers and abilities have refreshed with the passage of time.
06[21:49] * Seira stumbles back, away from the twisting towers, and through a hole in the arrangement of shadows around her.
01[21:50] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 19." [1d20=5]
[21:50] <Kotono> Seira quickly tumbles away from the shadows, a moment of surprise as she moves backwards in a blur! OOC - Anything else this turn?
01[21:51] <Seira> OOC: yes, sec
01[21:53] <Seira> Waukeen is trying to rescue her, that must be it, Seira decides, calling upon her divinely-granted power to move back further still. She looks away from the twisting souls, focusing instead on the image of a golden coin. This is not a place for her. She must not be here. Not on this plane.
01[21:53] <Seira> OOC: I'm trying dismissal after moving with travel more
[21:53] <Kotono> Throwing all of her power into it, using the divine domain granted to her by devotion to Waukeen, Seira flees the towers! As she endures the song for slightly longer she calls on the power to banish herself away! (More)
[21:53] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 5." [1d100=5]
[21:54] <Kotono> The plane of shadows fades! For a moment she can see it all in reversed black and white, then a jarring of color! Seira has the sensation of hitting something very hard and then...nothing, exhaustion and shock coming together to claim her awareness. (More)
[21:57] <Kotono> It's like waking up a thousand times. Seira has faint memories of rising up and down, from a realm of nightmarish night terrors and towards light. Beautiful, living light...only to slide back down again. Then it's a small - a good smell. Food. Hunger. Hungry. Very hungry. It makes her leg hurt very much...but it makes her stomach come alive. That is what finally brings her back to coherency. It's going down her throat. Something warm and
[21:57] <Kotono> That is what finally brings her back to coherency. It's going down her throat. Something warm and life giving, the tastes of onions, meat, carrots and celery.
01[21:59] <Seira> Seira's eyelids flutter open as she swallows reflexively. She's lacking the strength to fight any longer, to the point where the physical pain is barely felt. Is it possible she reached home? Can she finally be safe?
[22:01] <Kotono> Her eyes open. It's sunny in here, every sunny. A tanned orc(Orc?!) is holding her head up, as a womanly-orc gently pours a bowl of what looks to be a soup broth down. "Shhhh," In orcish it speaks, "Drink, you're hurt."
06[22:02] * Seira can't help it, she laughs hysterically at that statement, spilling some of the soup over her.
[22:03] <Kotono> The woman takes the soup back, looking puzzled.
[22:03] <Kotono> "Do you understand us?" It asks. "Careful, your leg's broke and it's still setting."
01[22:03] <Seira> "Where am I?" Seira rasps in perfect, if textbook, Orcish.
[22:05] <Kotono> "The Third Great Tribal Land, Sisyrath. To be more to the point, our home in it." The woman puts a hand on her hip. "If you want to ask questions, I'm dying to know what a robed dragon-ling is doing appearing on our land."
06[22:07] * Seira laughs again, bitterly this time. "Ambushed. Constantly ambushed. If this is another trick, another trap, just kill me and get it over with already."
[22:07] <Kotono> The two orcs exchange a look, "If we wanted to kill you, we would've. Dragon tastes good," With a broad smile, "Or so I hear. We're not going to kill you."
01[22:08] <Seira> roll 1d20+6 planes?
06[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 planes? and gets 9." [1d20=3]
01[22:09] <Seira> "Never had one, myself," Seira responds, letting her head drop back on what serves as her pillow. "Which plane is this?"
[22:11] <Kotono> Seira sees she's lying on a bed. Her leg is wrapped in white cloths, elevated. "Plane?" The male orc shakes it's head, "I don't understand what you mean." A simple enough dwelling is around you, though it looks clean, well kept and generally in good keepings. Windows let ample sunlight in.
01[22:11] <Seira> "If you know about dragons, do you know about magic?"
[22:12] <Kotono> "A little," The woman says, "It's what wizards do, isn't it? It can do miraclous things."
01[22:12] <Seira> "Dragons, too," Seira says. "Evil wizards were after me. I barely escaped with my life."
[22:14] <Kotono> "Yes, you were exhausted. And there was that strange orb with you..." The male orc's eyebrows rise. "What it's doing to the our metal tools is magic?"
01[22:16] <Seira> Seira's first instict is to sit right up, but she overrides it, more due to exhaustion than any force of will. "Yes. It is an artifact from ancient times. But it hates everyone who it doesn't know, and will stab them in the face. Lagann even did it to me before we became friends. Be careful there."
[22:17] <Kotono> "Yeah, I rather had the idea to leave it be..." The woman murmurs, "You look exhausted, though. We can talk later. You need to drink this and rest." She presents the bowl of soup.
01[22:18] <Seira> "I need some... some details. It's important. Deities, are you aware of deities? If so, which ones do you know?"
01[22:19] <Seira> If they list the gods being worshipped, Seira intends to pay extra attention to which ones are favored, and which treated with hatred.
[22:20] <Kotono> "Our Lord that still watches," Both orcs bow their head at once, "Some of the human Gods as well...Kelemvor, Helm, Milekki, who the humans to the east also venerate. The other orcs to the west venerate the old Gods like One-Eye."
[22:21] <Kotono> The woman speaks up, "Don't say his name, it's forbidden here! Old One-Eye has no place in this house!"
06[22:22] * Seira relaxes with a sigh. "I must be safe, then. He called on me for missions, before." Seira closes her eyes, repeating, "I should be alright for now."
[22:24] <Kotono> "Good. It must be a fine story, when you're better, you can tell it to us over the fire?" The male says, slowly letting Seira's head go onto what feels like a soft pillow. Despite it's monsterous apperance, it's reasonably gentle with it, as a wounded person should be treated. "Your leg will take at least two moons to heal and must stay rigid."
01[22:25] <Seira> "Magic..." Seira whispers, unleashing the healing energies of her strongest spell. "Let me try...."
01[22:25] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 29." [3d8=6, 7, 1]
[22:26] <Kotono> The pain in Seira's leg is gone! It feels much better now.
06[22:27] * Seira sighs in relief. "Can I see a mage, please?" she asks, accepting the bowl of soup and taking another spoonful.
[22:29] <Kotono> It's quite good and Seira finds herself well past starving. "A mage? I think the closest one is...a few days travel?" Even as they look on at Seira's leg in soft wonder, "Taran Half-Human started worshipping Milekki recently and can do a tiny bit of magic."
[22:30] <Kotono> "Taran's in town, but he's hardly a real magician." The male orc retorts, "He struggles to mend serious injuries."
01[22:30] <Seira> "How long was I unconscious?" Seira asks in between consuming the food offered to her. "And did you see me appear out of thin air?"
[22:31] <Kotono> "I heard you land when I was working outside," The male orc explains. "You've been out for about a day now."
06[22:32] * Seira nods at the explanation. She should use this chance to rest and recover a bit. "Thank you for what you have done for me," she tells the two. "I intend to try and leave come midnight. If there is anything I can do to repay you for this...."
[22:34] <Kotono> "Already? You're still weak," The orc observes, "A good story is fine. I know you don't have any money on you," he says honestly. "A mage should have many a good tale to tell."
01[22:36] <Seira> "That group of mages is utterly evil, and devoted to the destruction of all life," Seira says, shaking her head. "Heh. It sounds so pretentious, doesn't it? Those... those things...." Her shoulders shake, as her voice breaks. "I have to get home. I can't delay, or they'll come after me. I can't go back to that place anymore. Even death isn't an escape. Even death."
[22:38] <Kotono> "Alright," The male orc agrees to that, "If you're that worried I won't stop you. But do you even know which direction to go in? You acted like you didn't know where you were."
01[22:39] <Seira> It takes Seira a moment to regain herself. "Magic. Cast near midnight, it has the best chance of accuracy. Even weakened, I still have some of it. If you need something healed, or a derelict building destroyed...." She leaves the offer open.
[22:41] <Kotono> "There is one thing...that orb's done strange things to our tools," The female orc scowls at that, "That hoe's less than a year old."
01[22:41] <Seira> Seira's eyes widen. "There is another thing!" she exclaims. "Do you know of any veins of valuable metals in the area?"
[22:43] <Kotono> "There's some mines in the First Tribe's lands. Iron and some veins of gold, I think?"
01[22:44] <Seira> "How far are they from here?"
[22:44] <Kotono> "A few weeks of traveo north-northeast on horseback."
01[22:46] <Seira> Unfortunate. Well, perhaps something of use is on this property. She'll ask Lagann after resting for a bit. "Can you list the largest empires and kingdoms that you know of, please?" Seira requests. "And great natural monuments, such as the Bay of Sparkling Stars, for example."
[19:24] <Kotono> OOC: SEira, refresh me on your plans here?
01[19:25] <Seira> OOC: Continue chatting a bit to gain some info on this plane (or this land, if it's not a different plane per se), 'rest' without sleeping since I don't think I need to sleep after all I've done of it so far to recover, then go with Lagann and look around.
01[19:25] <Seira> OOC: Once it's a couple minutes to midnight, I have real plans, so unless I get interrupted these ones won't take long
01[19:26] <Seira> OOC: I realize I might not be able to hit the time exactly, but I could do it within fifteen minutes, maybe thirty, judging by the sun?
[19:34] <Kotono> As Seira leans back to rest, "There are the Three Great Tribes. Our allies, the humans, live to the east in the Kingdom of Erana and the Republic of Dycebold. To the west, the Enargi Swamps are infested with uncivilized orcs and dangers. Those are the biggest and closest. There's a large empre farther west of the swamps, once it dries out. The Empire of Zakat."
01[19:37] <Seira> "Nothing rings a bell," Seira mutters. "I must be really far from home." For the sake of her hosts, she elaborates, "I had to flee, and conditions weren't perfect. In many ways, it was a blind jump. Still, I hoped I'd make it make to my allies." She shakes her head. "What about historical events? Can you tell me anything of particular notice?"
[19:44] <Kotono> "You're a curious one," The male orc rubs his chin, "Well, there's all the wars with the old orcs. That's a curse that usually happens at least once a lifetime. The last one was 14 years ago and ended with a victory of the combined legions." Stopping to think, "But the most important thing? The split, when Our Lord that still watches lead the Three Great Tribes away from the old ways."
[19:44] <Kotono> "That was six hundred years ago," The female orc adds. "Six hundred and...eight years, to be exact? The 609th celebration will be this summer equinox."
[19:44] <Kotono> "You mean next summer's," The male corrects.
[19:45] <Kotono> "Yes, and?" The female looks back, unpreterbed.
01[19:45] <Seira> "I'm hoping I would make it for the six hundred and tenth," Seira says, making an effort to smile, though the result is wan. "If that's alright."
[19:47] <Kotono> "If you don't keep your strength up and rest more, you might not," The male orc observes.
01[19:48] <Seira> "This is resting, for me," Seira argues back. "My body is trying to recover, but I've slept all I will until I make it back to my friends."
[20:01] <Kotono> "Heh, you are deadset. Very well. You're as stubborn as one of us." THe male orc grins, showing many a sharp tooth inside of it's mouth.
[20:03] <Kotono> It's late in the afternoon by the time Seira rests up and feels better. She has another meal, this one of broth, meat and bread. A hearty meal that makes her feel much better. "Yes, on the subject of that strange metal ball. You were going to go stop it?" The female orc asks as she takes up Seira's plates.
03[20:03] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5446f085.lns6-c13.telh.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:04] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
01[20:04] <Seira> "I'm going to have a little chat with Lagann, yes," Seira responds, standing up. "Where can I find him?"
03[20:05] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:08] <Kotono> "This way." Outside, you find the land to be low lying and well kept. Summer greenery blossoms around you as you wrap around back to a large shed. Behind it are several fields of grain, corn and other vegetables and fruits being grown. A pen with pigs and other livestock can be glimpsed as well. However, the shed doors ar eopen. Inside, you can get glimpses of a mad dance of metal - twisting, turning and wrapping around over and over.
[20:08] <Kotono> wisting, turning and wrapping around over and over.
01[20:09] <Seira> "Lagann!" Seira calls out, striding over to the shed. "Got yourself some new toys?"
[20:10] <Kotono> You can see Lagann at the middle of the supply shed! Metal dances around him as Seira gets closer! It forms many shapes as she approaches, floating towards her! By the time the twisted bands of metal have reached it, it forms a fair imitation of the SEcond Resort, hilt presented to her.
01[20:11] <Seira> "Thanks," she says gratefully, reaching out to take the familiar hilt.
[20:14] <Kotono> It's not as powerfully magical or as light as the Second Resort, but it still feels sort of right. You notice there's a lot of wooden hafts about, like halves of tools that were denuded of their other halves.
01[20:16] <Seira> "Yes, about that," Seira mutters, going over to pick up Lagann. "Let's take a look around the property of our hosts, shall we? If they have any precious metal hidden in the ground, or even just regular metal to remake their tools, it would be nice to leave this small token of our appreciation at being helped."
[20:17] <Kotono> roll 1d100
05[20:18] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Kotono invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:18] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
03[20:18] * Kotono sets mode: +v Hatbot
[20:18] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 61." [1d100=61]
[20:23] <Kotono> Searching the grounds, Lagann finds trace amounts of metal below. Most of it is trace iron, nickel or other base metals. However, at the edge of one field there are few heavy rocks. Lagann detects a small but notable quantity of gold about ten feet beneath them.
01[20:24] <Seira> Before she goes excavate what might well be a resting place on her gracious hosts's property, Seira goes to find them and inquire about that spot.
[20:29] <Kotono> Finding the female in the kitchen, working on making dinner, "Those rocks? Those have been there for years. Garzi's always too lazy to move them." Putting her hands on her hips, "Always makes up an excuse when it comes up.
01[20:30] <Seira> "I'm not at my best, though I could likely crush them," Seira offers. "It is what below them that is of interest. How about it? Want to go and watch the show?"
[20:33] <Kotono> "What's below them?" With a puzzled look as she cleans her hands ona dishrag, "I remember hearing a story where dragons were as stron gas thirty men, so that's true?"
01[20:34] <Seira> "The caliber of the man is what makes the difference, not mere numbers," Seira responds, leading the way outside. "However, what really makes the dragons stand out is the magic they wield."
06[20:35] * Seira estimates the surface area to be affected if she were to call upon Ice Storm to crush those large rocks, not wishing to needlessly damage something on the orcs's property.
[20:37] <Kotono> It could work if you angle the back half or so out on the empty, unfarmed groudn behind the rocks.
06[20:38] * Seira steps a bit before the female orc, just in case of debries despite the safe distance they are from the rocks, and calls upon a pillar of summoned ice to crush the obstacle ahead!
[20:41] <Kotono> As the female orc watches in unhidden amazement, ice and storm come down! The ground is plummeled in a furious ice storm! The rocks are pulverised, broken up into many a loose rock chunk and pebble!
01[20:42] <Seira> "Do your stuff, Lagann!" Seira calls out, gesturing at the ground ahead as she approaches it. "Bring that gold up!"
[20:53] <Kotono> The ground is torn up as Lagann works! Several nuggets of gold come rocketing out of the soil, going to float around Lagann! They're half gold nuggets, often embedded into looser stones as deposits. It's dull and not shiny like worked gold, though Seira can still identify it on sight.
06[20:54] * Seira nods to herself, standing almost directly above the place they came from, where Lagann would have maximum range. "That's it for this spot as far as precious metals go, right?"
[20:55] <Kotono> 'Yes!' Lagann says joyfully, as the female orc gawks at the floating shiny metal. "Is that...gold?"
01[20:57] <Seira> "Yes," Seira agrees, letting it collect it in her hands. "Dragons have an eye for precious metals, and so does Lagann. I still have a few hours left before I have to go, so he could try to process it and make something of it. Its value might be higher if it's a unique-looking figurine, but just selling the nuggets would surely be easier explained. It is entirely up to you."
[21:00] <Kotono> "The nuggets are enough." Smiling now, "That will more than make up the cost of those tools. Thank you!"
01[21:01] <Seira> "It's all I can do right now," Seira says regretfully. "The dagger I brought is magical, but I took it from my enemies so it might be dangerous in some form. And selling a magical weapon doesn't sound like it's easy in these parts, if not flat out impossible without a very lengthy trip."
[21:02] <Kotono> "You'd need to go to a bigger city for that," The female agrees, even as she eyes the gold with wide eyes still.
06[21:03] * Seira places the gold in the woman's hands. "I'll go prepare for my next jump," she tells her, steeling her resolve. "It never hurts to get ready."
[21:13] <Kotono> OOC: Poke me when you're back?
01[21:29] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 1." [1d100=1]
[21:30] <Kotono> roll 1d100 DM roll here
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 DM roll here and gets 12." [1d100=12]
[21:41] <Kotono> Wind. The wind is a howling, horrible miasma of noise! There are howls of damnation all in it, muddled screams and thousands of voices screaming, crying and raging as one! The cachphony is nigh overwhelming, massive to Seira's ears! Shes tands in a cold cavern, the chill making her flesh crawl. A blizzard blows around her as she stands amid it, never touching the ground, but instead howling around endlessly. (More)
[21:42] <Kotono> but instead howling around endlessly. (More)
[21:43] <Kotono> Visibility is horrible - the snowstorm limits it to only a few feet! Yet it does not stop the damnable sounds, nor the images of horrible, hulking things with red vicious eyes of fury staring at her from within the storm itself!
[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 3." [1d10=3]
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC - You have 10 rounds to kill, Seira.
01[21:45] <Seira> Seira's outline blurs as she becomes even harder to spot in the blizzard, while she moves twenty feet away from the hulking monsters before breaking to the right for ten more, continuing the zig-zagging pattern again afterwards.
01[21:45] <Seira> OOC: Blur, travel devotion
[21:46] <Kotono> The images in the snow fade back away into it's midsts, even as Seira's ears bleed! The sound is overwhelming to her, bringing tears of suffering to her eyes. That noise...it has to stop! It has to! Too many voices! Too many voices crying out and pressing endless chaotic swirling meanings into her intellect! As she finishes moving, she catches something to her side! Another thing - lower and much smaller, but with red eyes as well and a sna
[21:46] <Kotono> Another thing - lower and much smaller, but with red eyes as well and a snarl carried by the wind to her! OOC - 9 rounds. You're up, Seira.
06[21:47] * Seira moves again, away from those two monsters and the smaller one, never quite going in a straight line.
01[21:47] <Seira> OOC: 90ft more of retreat
[21:49] <Kotono> Another round passes! 8 to go! She sees many eyes in teh darkness, looming at her! Usually in pairs, but often three, four, five or more eyes in strange patterns! The wind continues to torment her, even as she finds a spot where no eyes are immediately around her! Her ears and mind are screaming at her!
06[21:50] * Seira gives up all pretense of an organized retreat, moving back as far as she can in a straight line, picking a direction away from the eyes. She has to move away from the eyes.
[21:51] <Kotono> Seven rounds to go! As Seira flees, her hearing...stops. Everything fades into a few moments of fuzzy noise, then dead silence. Yet...it's a relief. The pain in her ears, while strong, begins to lessen. In a silent winter wonderland Seira darts around! At the end of her move, she finds herself close to what looks to be a cliff in the way she was going. No eyes over it, though.
01[21:53] <Seira> Cliffs are bad, especially in her current state. Knowing that much, Seira tries another direction.
[21:54] <Kotono> Six rounds! Seira advances...and runs right into it! It's a white wolf...no, a winter wolf. She's fought this creature before, but not like this! It's entire form is twisted and fiendish, large fangs in it's mouth dripping a green venmous bile! OOC - Let's do initiative here and see what happens. Six rounds to go until dismissal recharges.
01[21:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[21:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 7." [1d20=2]
03[21:55] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira>Fiendish Winter Wolf.'
[21:55] <Kotono> OOC - Go Seira.
06[21:56] * Seira breathes fire on the wolf, before retreating enough to deny the wolf an easy pounce on her!
01[21:56] <Seira> roll 6d8
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 6d8 and gets 25." [6d8=3, 2, 6, 8, 5, 1]
01[21:56] <Seira> roll 1d4 dc13
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 dc13 and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[21:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 13." [1d20=7]
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC - How far are you moving?
01[21:58] <Seira> OOC: My movement is 60ft
[21:59] <Kotono> Seira flees back! AS she does, the wolf follows! It moves disturingly fast, able to make a charge at her even as it's scorched and snapping at her in fury!
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 chaaarge
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 chaaarge and gets 25." [1d20=14]
[21:59] <Kotono> OOC - AC?
01[21:59] <Seira> OOC: 20
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d8+6+1d6 cold and it gets a free trip attempt
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+6+1d6 cold and it gets a free trip attempt and gets 18." [1d8=6][1d6=6]
01[22:00] <Seira> OOC: Blur
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d100 good point
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 good point and gets 27." [1d100=27]
[22:00] <Kotono> OOC - Blur didn't help, now we resolve the trip attempt.
[22:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 14." [1d20=6]
01[22:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 23." [1d20=17]
[22:03] <Kotono> Seira is bitten, her arm snapped on! The flesh around it turns icy cold, frozen entirely like a block of ice! Nonetheless, Seira keeps up the good fight! OOC - Seira, you're up. five round to go.
06[22:03] * Seira decides on caution being the better part of valor, and opts for a full-out retreat from the wolf.
06[22:03] * Seira alters direction for the last ten feet, in case the wolf commits itself and misses in its lunge.
[22:03] <Kotono> OOC - How far for the full move?
01[22:03] <Seira> OOC: 90ft
[22:05] <Kotono> Seira flees into the blizzard! She passes by more red eyes, but ends her move by swinging to the left! The wolf gives chase, but the turn of direction prevents it form reaching her, ten feet away at the end! It snarls without sound, the now voiceless, silent wind whipping Seira's back! OOC - Four rounds, you'r eup.
06[22:05] * Seira snarls back, fire gushing out once more to set the wolf's fur aflame.
01[22:05] <Seira> roll 6d8
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 6d8 and gets 27." [6d8=4, 7, 2, 5, 2, 7]
01[22:05] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 3." [1d4=3]
06[22:06] * Seira moves back then left, and then back again to avoid being an easy target.
[22:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 12." [1d20=6]
01[22:06] <Seira> OOC: still 13
[22:06] <Kotono> This time it's enough! The wolf is consumed with fire, collapsing as Seira flees! No sign of it following after! Yet there are red eyes in teh distance around her! OOC - 3 rounds.
06[22:07] * Seira calls upon her powers of healing, falling back to the spot the wolf had perished.
01[22:07] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 16." [2d8=5, 1]
[22:08] <Kotono> Two rounds! But as Seira approaches, finding a dead wolf...something looms over it! A huge giant! It's blue skin is lined with scales, it's eyes as red as hell's fires! It's greataxe is drawn! Seira's blood chills as she remembers this creature, a frost giant! Yet she's never seen one looking this fiendish! OOC - Two rounds to go, initiative.
01[22:09] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 16." [1d20=10]
01[22:09] <Seira> roll 1d20+8 sure
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+8 sure and gets 9." [1d20=1]
[22:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20-1
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20-1 and gets 0." [1d20=1]
03[22:10] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira>Fiendish Frost Giant'
[22:10] <Kotono> OOC - Go Seira.
01[22:11] <Seira> Retreat, and nothing but retreat, all in a straight line! Even the wolves would be better.
[22:12] <Kotono> Seira flees back fully! One rounds to go! However, the giant follows even as she does! It's close and half hidden in thes torm, but not hidden enough! With a roar of fury that is silent, it menances Seira! OOC -1 round.
06[22:13] * Seira just needs to keep it up for a little bit longer, proceeding back.
[22:14] <Kotono> The giant gives chase! It's time! It's time! It hasn't caught up! Yet even as it is, Seira can see vast red eyes above her, as if something gigantic has noticed her and is peering down from the cave snowstorm! OOC - Your'e up. Dismisssal is back.
01[22:14] <Seira> Oh, brilliant. And didn't that frosty goddess bless her? How quickly they forget. Placing all her faith in Waukeen, Seira prays and disappears! Hopefully for home!
01[22:14] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 63." [1d100=63]
[22:26] <Kotono> Seira appears! This time it's...underwater? Ack, air! Seira's hearing is still on the outs, though she seems to be most underwater! AIr, need air!
06[22:30] * Seira was worrying about that, strangely enough, a detached part of her mind notes. But as she was about to cast the proper spell, she was attacked. She is lucky that she arrived to this plane conscious, and so, Seira doesn't hesitate in calling upon the magic of water breathing. It's still too early to tell where she is, though if it is the plane of water she has both allies and a gate home from there.
[22:31] <Kotono> Water can now be endured! Filling her lungs with sweet air, Seira looks about. It's a watery blue around her. The ground is muddy, though with a slow, steady uprising. Far above she can see sunlight piercing through.
06[22:31] * Seira swims towards the surface!
[22:31] <Kotono> OOC: Straight up?
01[22:32] <Seira> OOC: Do I see anything else of note here?
[22:32] <Kotono> OOC: Nope, it's a pretty plain lake bottom. Kinda rocky, though.
01[22:32] <Seira> OOC: Up it is, unless I recognize it
[22:32] <Kotono> OOC: Along with the normal mud.
[22:33] <Kotono> OOC: Id' have you make a swim check, but you can keep trying with no problem since you can breath underwater. You'll get it right sooner or later.
[22:34] <Kotono> Seira manages to swim up into the lake's surface! Here, in dazzling morning sunshine, Seira can see she is in a large lake! She's not too far from a sandy, weathered shoreline. By the s un's position, the shore is to the west. It's already warm out here - it feels like summer.
06[22:35] * Seira heads for the shore, saddened yet again that she can't just fly up and scout. She looks for any signs of civilization -- or danger. At the same time, her mind reaches out to Lagann with an apology at the unplanned swim, and a question of what his senses can tell her.
[22:36] <Kotono> 'Water water water HATE WATER!' Lagann's thoughts are rather one note. There's no metal nearby. However, she can spot a few shacks near the edge of the water on the western shore.
01[22:37] <Seira> 'We'll dry up quickly in this sun,' she thinks back, before moving towards the shacks. It's best to try and avoid detection, until she can determine whether the inhabitants are hostile or just plain evil.
[22:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 and gets 17." [1d20=15]
[22:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 and gets 4." [1d20=3]
[22:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20-1
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20-1 and gets 13." [1d20=14]
[22:39] <Kotono> Seira makes it to shore! Solid ground at last! She can see a few people through windows of the hut - one is an older man and wife, another is a man in a uniform. A Malmuthian uniform.
01[22:39] <Seira> It takes considerable effort not to laugh.
06[22:42] * Seira goes over her knowledge. Queen Tant is an ally, and might even be grateful to her for her part in making the woman queen. On the other hand, Queen Tant's presumed respect towards Seira could be towards a Seira who is at the top of her game. And if she is secretely allied with those Kesse bastards... would that be impossible? In the end, Seira decides to observe the three inside a while longer.
[22:44] <Kotono> The older man and woman eat breakfast in peace while the uniformed man goes to head outside. He goes to the other shack, knocking on the door and entering.
06[22:44] * Seira decides to take a look inside the other shack, sneaking about.
02[22:44] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) Quit (Ping timeout)
[22:44] <Kotono> OOC - The now presumably empty one or the one that the man went into?
01[22:45] <Seira> OOC: Sorry, the one the man went towards. If it has windows, etc.
03[22:45] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5446f085.lns6-c13.telh.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
[22:46] <Kotono> It's a pretty normal enough shack. It's livable inside, having a table and a few chairs. Looks pretty plain. Another uniformed man is in there, answering the door. HE goes out with the first uniformed man, the two starting to walk away.
06[22:47] * Seira briefly decides to check out the remaining shack.
[22:48] <Kotono> As Seira creeps around, she sees the two are walking down a well worn footpath. It leads a few hundred yards to a more established road, where another small shack rests. This one is mostly open air, the road besides it having some old wagon wheel tracks.
01[22:49] <Seira> After looking inside the remaining shack in the group, Seira will reconsider her options.
[22:50] <Kotono> The last has the older couple finishing breakfast. The man is getting a net, rod and other finishing supplies ready while the wife is cleaning the dishes in a basin of water. This looks far more homey, even with a small flowerbed on the far side.
06[22:52] * Seira makes a decision, and takes the same footpath, running up to the two soldiers. "Wait up!" she calls after them in common. This hardly means she trusts them. She is armed, even if the weapons are not on display, and won't give anyone a second chance should they attack.
[22:53] <Kotono> The two soldiers stop. They eye the robed, wet, well traveled dragonwoman who approaches them. "What the FUCK?" One of the men gapes.
01[22:55] <Seira> "Seira," she introduces herself, coming to a stop some fifteen feet away. "Colonel in the Crimson Guard of the United Baronies. Under the terms of our peace treaty, I would call for your cooperation."
[22:55] <Kotono> OOC: You're still deaf, but THAT one wasn't hard to lipread.
01[22:55] <Seira> OOC: It's like dc15 from 30ft, and I have +8 to the roll
[22:56] <Kotono> The two soldiers gawk some more, one of them mouthing, "Uh...what?" The other is quicker to recover, a lean man with fast movements. "Can you prove your id...then again..." he eyes Seira with some distaste. "Come with us. We'll need to send you along to the garrison at Atva."
01[22:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+5
[22:57] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{17}
01[23:00] <Seira> "I don't need you to like me or approve of me," Seira states back firmly. "However, I will have your cooperation," she repeats. "I am under a time-sensitive mission, and I am already overdue. How quickly can we reach the garrison?"
[23:01] <Kotono> "About a day by horseback, more if it rains and the path gets muddy," This close and speaking openly, it's not too hard to read their lips. "We can requistion one from the first wagon that comes this way today."
06[23:05] * Seira nods curtly. "You will have to lead the way, as I don't know the area. Is there a mage among the soldiers stationed at the garrison, or the civilians themselves?"
[19:30] <Kokokokokoko> > The two soldiers gawk some more, one of them mouthing, "Uh...what?" The other is quicker to recover, a lean man with fast movements. "Can you prove your id...then again..." he eyes Seira with some distaste. "Come with us. We'll need to send you along to the garrison at Atva."
[19:30] <Kokokokokoko> <Seira> roll 1d20+5
[19:30] <Kokokokokoko> <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{17}
[19:30] <Kokokokokoko> <Seira> "I don't need you to like me or approve of me," Seira states back firmly. "However, I will have your cooperation," she repeats. "I am under a time-sensitive mission, and I am already overdue. How quickly can we reach the garrison?"
[19:30] <Kokokokokoko> > "About a day by horseback, more if it rains and the path gets muddy," This close and speaking openly, it's not too hard to read their lips. "We can requistion one from the first wagon that comes this way today."
[19:30] <Kokokokokoko> * Seira nods curtly. "You will have to lead the way, as I don't know the area. Is there a mage among the soldiers stationed at the garrison, or the civilians themselves?"
[19:33] <Kokokokokoko> "Sorry, we're duty bound to stay here," One says, "There's a map of the area, that should do."
06[19:36] * Seira is somewhat incredulous. "Just so I understand. When you said 'send you along', you actually meant 'we'll tell you to go and you are expected to find it on your own and get there'?"
[19:37] <Kokokokokoko> With a slight twisting of his lips, "Is the great Seira of the Crimson Guard unable to read a map?"
01[19:38] <Seira> "The great Seira of the Crimson Guard is on a tight schedule!" she sputters. "Important missions? Reprecussions for your empire? Would I frigging joke about stuff like that just to grab a guide?"
01[19:38] <Seira> *mission
[19:45] <Kokokokokoko> One of the two rubs a hand over his face, saying something Seira can't make out due to said hand being in the way of his mouth. The other says, "No. See, you're on the wrong side to order us around." Crossing his arms, "You're in our home now. If I had my way, you sure as shit wouldn't be getting a horse or a map. If it wasn't for the treaty, I'd be trying to kill you, dragonface and orders be damned, kingkiller." Bristling, "Now shut
[19:46] <Kokokokokoko> dragonface and orders be damned, kingkiller." Bristling, "Now shut up and follow us. If you don't like it, go grovel to Queen Tant."
01[19:55] <Seira> Trying is the operative word. The temptation to just snap and vent on these bastards is overwhelming. "At this point, I am beyond caring," Seira says, eyes narrowing. "You don't have a horse, and I can ask a caravan on my own when I run into one. Now, point me in the right direction, or I will reach the closest hamlet, discover this treachery and spend the remainder of my life hunting you two down."
01[19:56] <Seira> roll 1d20+19
06[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 and gets 30." [1d20=11]
[19:56] <Kokokokokoko> roll 1d20+5 this is so academic
06[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokoko rolls 1d20+5 this is so academic and gets 11." [1d20=6]
[19:57] <Kokokokokoko> The color drains from the man'sf ace like water going down the sink. "F-fine!" He stammers noticiably, picked up even via lip reading. Pointing towards the northeast, "That way, take the road and follow the paths that way. T-there's a sign a few miles in."
01[19:58] <Seira> "Thanks," Seira says without emotion, turning on her heel and following the road. "This is why we fucking had to go to war in the first place. Nothing but hate. Extend your hand in friendship, and people bite it over and fucking over again."
[20:02] <Kokokokokoko> If there is a reply Seira doesn't get it. Instead she walks. After an hour and some change of walking down this dirt road...'Seira, are you there? Reply if so. Details of where you are and how you are. Do you need help? Celebrimbor.'
03[20:02] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5445c22e.lns3-c13.telh.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:02] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:05] <Kokokokokoko> As the hour passed, SEira did notice one thing. Her hearing has come back and spurts and bits, her hearing about normal now.
03[20:05] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
01[20:07] <Seira> Relief! It takes Seira a precious moment to realize just what she is feeling. "In Malmuth, near the Gulnan basin. An hour's walk towards Atva. Weeks to return on my own. Can you assist? Out of spells, no spellbook."
[20:12] <Kokokokokoko> The reply is sent, the plain dirt road the only thing to keep SEira company for the moment. OOC - Doing anything or walking along or waiting or what now?
06[20:13] * Seira decides to proceed along on her way for now. If Celebrimbor intends to intercept her en route, he will send new instructions no later than in half an hour, anyway. If he doesn't, she might as well get to Atva and keep her options open.
[20:21] <Kokokokokoko> About an hour later Alicia's voice is heard in Seira's mind. 'Scrying is coming to locate you. Lower your will and do not resist.' The road is as it is, expanding and widening. She recently passed a sign pointing her in the right direction to Atva.
06[20:23] * Seira isn't honestly certain she could, even if she wanted to. "Alright," she responds into the air.
[20:24] <Kokokokokoko> Another minute or two passes. Then...Celebrimbor and Alicia are besides her. Celebrimbor's eyes go over her, "The dark, robed look does not suit you," he says, with ever so slight a hint of a relieved smile. "Come," he offers a hand, "Let's return you to Balmuria and safety. You look to have had a hard journey."
01[20:24] <Seira> "Not so fast," Seira says neutrally. "I once told you I traveled to the future. Tell me about it."
[20:25] <Kokokokokoko> "About the red dragons and the chasm where your father fell into?" CElebrimbor raises an eyebrow to this.
[20:25] <Alicia> On one hand Alicia applauds such carefulness, on the other she doubts anyone in Kesse would know what Celebrimbor looks like. Still, it's quicker to just let him answer.
06[20:26] * Seira rushes towards Celebrimbor at those words, gathering him into a hug. "You came, you really came!"
[20:27] <Kokokokokoko> "Aaah!" The old elf wobbles on hsi feet, a look of surprise passing over his face. "Yes, I came," he says quietly, with a look to Alicia. "Let's return to Balmuria when you're ready. Most of the Crimson Guard is waiting and worrying."
06[20:28] * Alicia smiles sardonically. "I'm just here for the ride. It's good to see you're still in one piece, Seira."
06[20:29] * Seira suddenly hugs Alicia!
[20:30] <Alicia> Letting out a little surprised yelp, Alicia nonetheless returns the hug. "They really shook you up, didn't they?" she murmurs sympathetically.
01[20:31] <Seira> "I'm not afraid to die. Or about being wounded. But torture...." Seira's voice catches. "They were going to cut me up and sacrifice me!"
[20:32] <Alicia> "They'll pay," Alicia reassures as she gives the younger woman a squeeze. "In spades."
06[20:34] * Seira merely nods, not trusting herself to speak again.
[20:34] <Kokokokokoko> Regaining his balance again, "Come," Touching Seira and Alicia, one with each hand, "Let'sr eturn to Balmuria now." OOC - Skip ahead and back ot #dunes now?
[20:35] <Alicia> OOC: works
[22:35] <KotonoIbis> --
[22:36] <KotonoIbis> Elle is found at her shop, watching Alice position a bright, scale covered set of full plate armor. It glitters when sunlight hits it.
01[22:38] <Seira> "Ostensibly, I came to ask you about a few spells," Seira tells Elle, joining her in watching Alice work. "My old spellbooks never progressed into the fifth circle. It was only a recent breakthrough for me."
[22:39] <KotonoIbis> "Sure. Did you lose your old spellbook with all of that," Asking that as she makes a hold it gesture to Alice, "What ones do you want? Teleport's a given, I assume?"
01[22:42] <Seira> "Teleport is a good one. I was able to master Cloudkill and Telekinesis, and the Cone of Fire spell. That's not a very imaginative name, is it? It is a cone. Of fire. Very simple and to the point. So is Cloudkill, I suppose, but Cloud and Kill sound weird together yet strangely intimidating."
[22:44] <KotonoIbis> "It is a little odd of a name," Her smile fades as Seira goes on, "Why don't we go sit down in the back instead of standing in here? Business hasn't been busy today anyway."
01[22:45] <Seira> "We could do that," Seira readily agrees. "I'm fine with sitting now."
[22:47] <KotonoIbis> Lead into the back, Elle pours Seira a glass of wine and puts it besides her. "Damned Sharrans. I heard the stories about Erenholm...they're complete monsters."
01[22:48] <Seira> "Shar wants all of us dead," Seira says with a strange note of cheer in her voice. "Not just dead. Destroyed for all of time. Everything, entire civilizations, entire planes of existence. I saw that wish."
[22:49] <KotonoIbis> There's a looong silence there, "So Lord Drake was right? You did see Shar's domain?" Elle's voice is hesitant, cracking.
01[22:51] <Seira> "I remember it more clearly now after the very nice priests helped me. Some sort of mental damage, was it? Sometimes things are clear, and sometimes, not so clear."
[22:56] <KotonoIbis> "I'm glad...Mystra, that place must be horrible," Elle shivers all over, rubbing her arms as if a ghost touched her.
01[22:56] <Seira> "There was also that other place. Something there that took interest in me," Seira continues, not noticing Elle's shivering. "I think it was a god. Or goddess? But whenever I try to recall, the awful howling makes my mind go blank and I'm numb from the cold. I'm sure it will come back to me in time, though." Seira forces a smile. "I'm lucky, right, to have had two deities so interested in me?"
[22:58] <KotonoIbis> Gently now, voice caring and soothing, "Do you remember anything about that place? The cold place with the howling."
01[23:00] <Seira> "I killed a winter wolf there. With fire! And there was a giant, and many horrible things. But would you believe the thing I was most afraid of was the cliff? Being grounded is so horrible, Elle. You can't imagine it. I tried to jump off the balcony to get away, and something in me refused to move. If I didn't manage to hide, if only they checked more thoroughly, that would be it for me."
06[23:00] * Seira tilts her head. "Does your soul go to Shar if they sacrifice you in a ritual?"
03[23:06] * Alicia is now known as Celenu
[23:06] <KotonoIbis> "I don't know," Elle admits, "At least you got away...that's a horriblef ate."
01[23:07] <Seira> "Someone will take my place," Seira says, suddenly sad. "The blood around their altar was fresh. And there was a lot. The stains were terrible."
[23:11] <KotonoIbis> Gloomily now, "Don't talk like that. You're alive, that's what matters."
01[23:11] <Seira> "I came here to stay with you!" Seira blurts out. "Can I, Elle?"
[23:14] <KotonoIbis> Blinking, "You can stay here as long as you want."
01[23:16] <Seira> "I want. It's very hard to stay with Donald, because I feel like killing him all the time. I don't think I'm supposed to, and I like you a lot because you're my best friend."
[23:19] <KotonoIbis> "Alright." SMiling at that...OOC - I need to pause here for work. Do you have any questions you wanted to ask Elle?
01[23:20] <Seira> OOC: I can ask her stuff tomorrow
[16:33] <Kokokoko> --
[16:35] <Kokokoko> Gilartal the Prosperous is found at the temple to Waukeen. His attention is outward, looking out his window at the sunny weather. He seems distracted, lost in thought as Seira enters his chambers.
01[16:37] <Seira> "So, nice weather we're having," Seira says, coming over.
[16:40] <Kokokoko> "Hm? Seira." Turning away from the window, blinking away a reverie, "Sorry, I've had wool trading for the coming winter on my mind all day."
01[16:44] <Seira> "I had getting a loan so I could kill the bad people in mind. Is the wool trading profitable enough to make both of us happy?"
[16:45] <Kokokoko> "Not really, but it's good for getting your foot into the door of every practical market in the region," Answering that as he looks up, "A loan, eh? How large of a loan do you have in mind?"
01[16:46] <Seira> "As large as you can make it," Seira responds. "Either I'll return it with interest soon enough, or... actually, that is the only option."
[16:51] <Kokokoko> "Mmmm." Looking upwards as he thinks, Gilartal gets up. He gets a pen and paper, scribbling down with an ink quill briefly. "You're a member of the faithful and in very good standing with the temple. I can give it to you at a flat 10% interest rate; 25,000 gold in collateral and coin, since the temple is booming. That means you'll need to repay 27,500 in coin to absolve the loan."
06[16:54] * Seira shrugs. "I didn't really come to haggle. This would be enough to get me on my feet as far as living expenses are concerned."
[16:55] <Kokokoko> "I'll have someone draw up the contract." A nod to that, "And what a life you live, when that much money only gets you on your feet!" Smiling now, "The Golden Lady blesses you."
01[16:57] <Seira> "I used to find it funny, too," Seira agrees. "Any news, aside from that? Or an opportunity I could be of help with?"
[16:58] <Kokokoko> "Nothing too pressing at the moment, no." Folding his hands together, "Mundane works from Valandia being further incorporated, but that's been going on for awhile and will continue going on."
01[16:59] <Seira> "So it seems. I won't take up more of your time, then, Gilartal. I'll return a bit later to sign that contract?"
[17:02] <Kokokoko> "Good fortune and wealth onto you," He says, "May Waukeen gild your path with wealth and opportunity." OOC - Where to next, Seira?
06[17:03] * Seira certainly intends to turn that blessing into a reality. Her next step is to go and see Elle.
[17:04] <Kokokoko> Elle is found at her shop, as is quite usual. She's in a discussion with a bearded middle aged man. The man is plump and richly dressed, occasionally slapping his belly's side. Elle smiles politely enough to him. As Seira enters, her eyes straying to her, "Well, the order's simple enough. It'll be a few weeks, so I'll have a Sending sent to you when it's done, as we agreed?"
[17:05] <Kokokoko> "Oh-ho, that would be marvelously superb," Waddling as her turns around, "I want the finest one money can buy."
01[17:06] <Seira> "Well, he certainly came to the right place," Seira notes once the human walrus has left. "Was it an interesting order, or something mundane?"
02[17:07] * Nao (Carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Broken pipe)
[17:08] <Kokokoko> "Amulet of Health," Making a face once he's gone out the door, "He'd be better off losing 50 pounds instead of relying on magic, but he's rich. Who am I to complain about fools and money?"
01[17:08] <Seira> "Yes. Waukeen tells us they are soon parted."
03[17:08] * Nao (Carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #evildunes
[17:09] <Kokokoko> "It seems to be." Coming around towards Seira, "We'll have to talk out here, Alice is off today so I'm minding the shop."
01[17:13] <Seira> "We can talk here," Seira agrees. "I just came from the temple, and I'm pretty sure magic's done all it could to put me back. But I still need the means to even things out with those bastards. Can you help me? I need a loan."
[17:14] <Kokokoko> Elle goes quiet there, "Well...I suppose, realistically, you'll end up spending most of the money you gather up on gear here?"
01[17:15] <Seira> "It's not money. I need equipment that won't lose to what I had, and I can't go to the garrison for that."
[17:17] <Kokokoko> "That's what I was getting at. I can loan you some equipment." Going behind the counter again, getting out a list, "Here's the current inventory. Is there anything that strikes your fancy?"
01[17:23] <Seira> "The belt and the cloak," Seira says. "We both know flight would fail with me, and none of the weapons are those I'm particularly familiar with, sadly. I'll have to try and rely on magic to boost what I have there unless I can find a suitable longsword to borrow. And I think it's painfully obvious I need all the luck I can get, if that's an option."
03[17:34] * Kokokoko is now known as Ko-Saulfangirl
[17:35] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Expensive tastes," Elle murmurs, checking another sheet of paper. "Alright, though you owe me for this. When this is all over and thigns get back to normal, I'll have you do something for me."
01[17:38] <Seira> "Even if things don't go back to normal, I'll still do anything for my friends," Seira tells her honestly.
[17:40] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Good. I'm letting you go off with enough merchandise to buy a small country, so I won't forget that." Nodding to that there, "Please don't lose any of it."
01[17:43] <Seira> "I don't intend to return without it," Seira affirms. "And if I don't go out on a limb to try and make new friends anymore, I don't think anyone would get close enough to take me prisoner again."
05[17:48] -sebben.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[17:48] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
03[17:48] * Seira sets mode: +v Hatbot
01[17:48] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[17:48] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 20." [1d20=2]
03[17:49] * taislp is now known as Demedais
[17:50] <Ko-Saulfangirl> ----------------------------------------(MAgma Ko)--
[17:52] <Ko-Saulfangirl> The two set out for the ruins! Guards salute as the pari enters into the main entrance, heading within. All is as it last was, silent and waiting. As they pass through without serious incident...they soon find themselve sin front of Ajan. He looms over the two, dominating the room with his massive draconic body.
06[17:53] * Demedais nods to Ajan. "Have there been any others?"
[17:55] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "No, no others have dared." Ajan rumbles, the sound shaking the entire room.
06[17:55] * Seira nods herself respectfully, intent on passing silently by.
[18:01] <Demedais> "Very well." Demedais nods, glancing toward the Second Resort door to see if it's closed.
[18:02] <Ko-Saulfangirl> The door to the area of the Second Resort is open.
06[18:03] * Demedais bows to Ajan, before heading through the Second Resort area and to the lava pool.
06[18:03] * Seira accompanies Demedais, ready to fight at a moment's notice!
[18:04] <Ko-Saulfangirl> The trip through is without incident. Past forgotten things - a gnomish fortress, a hallway, many other things that mean nothing and everything to the party. At last they come to several doors - one leading to a vast, frozen mountain, another leading to where they wish to go: The fiery domain of Kossuth and his blessing!
06[18:04] * Demedais enters and approaches the guardian of the lava, intent upon asking a question first.
06[18:05] * Seira shivers as her eyes land on the door to the frozen mountain, and follows swiftly.
01[18:06] <Seira> roll 1d10+10
06[18:06] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 and gets 11." [1d10=1]
[18:06] <Ko-Saulfangirl> As the two enter inside, the heat batters them like a ram! The path around them, black basalt paths leading through the seas of magma around them. They come to a small, shallow pool of magma, made by munmelting black stone. Here, up to his chin, a red, dwarf-like creature is in the lava.
[18:07] <Demedais> "We have come again." Demedais says to the servant of Kossuth.
[18:08] <Ko-Saulfangirl> The creature's eyes open as he rises up out of the lava, steaming rock hissing on his body. "Have you chosen this time to test your mettle in the forge of Kossuth?"
[18:09] <Demedais> "I have." Demedais replies without hesitation. "What other restrictions beside a lack of protection from the lava are there?"
[18:10] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "You must submerge yourself fully and survive. You must endure all the pain of th efire without negating it, until the lava has ran it's course."
06[18:11] * Demedais nods at this. "Very well. And once I have fully submerged, I then exit as the lava continues to act?"
[18:12] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Yes," The man nods gravely to that, "The forge of Kossuth is a hot one, few can survive more than that."
01[18:13] <Seira> "It's just a quick dip," Seira adds. "It's alright to do something about it once he left the forge, right?"
06[18:14] * Demedais nods and divests of everything but his clothing, putting them in or around the haversack.
06[18:16] * Demedais keeps the cloak on, though.
[18:16] <Ko-Saulfangirl> The heat immediately batters Demedais! If he doesn't do something soon he'll cook alive in here, massive temperature felt instantly!
06[18:17] * Seira is just fine, standing back and observing.
[18:17] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Once the trial is over, it is acceptable," The dwarf-creature says.
01[18:18] <Seira> "Let me know as soon as it's over, then," she requests.
[18:19] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "I will, if he lives on," The dwarf-creature agrees.
01[18:20] <Seira> "Of course he will," Seira scoffs. "Show him what you're made of, Demedais!"
06[18:21] * Demedais nods, and with a prayer to Helm to watch over this act, walks into the lava!
[18:22] <Ko-Saulfangirl> roll 20d6 hope luck is on your side, this is nuts.
06[18:22] * Hatbot --> "Ko-Saulfangirl rolls 20d6 hope luck is on your side, this is nuts. and gets 65." [20d6=3, 5, 2, 6, 4, 1, 6, 1, 1, 3, 5, 3, 5, 1, 4, 5, 1, 4, 3, 2]
[18:22] <Ko-Saulfangirl> Demedais walks into the lava! Instantly he sinks in, hsi body screaming! OH HELM OH FUCK OH FUCK YOU'RE MELTING IT HUUUURTS OH GOD OH HELM OH SHIT OH HELM OOOOOOH! Agony unknown to Demedais explodes as he can feel his body melting down to it's core, as if nothing more than a bit ofa nimal fat crackling in the fire! OOC - Go, act.
06[18:24] * Demedais then re-exits the lava, wincing, and praying to Kossuth as well in penance for his acts against Mikhail as well as Helm for OH GOD PAIN
[18:24] <Ko-Saulfangirl> roll 1d3 this is critical
06[18:24] * Hatbot --> "Ko-Saulfangirl rolls 1d3 this is critical and gets 2." [1d3=2]
[18:25] <Ko-Saulfangirl> Demedais somehow hauls his body out of the lava! The pain becomes less like melting and more like frying, only a lesser form of torment! Seira can see Demedais cooking and smouldering, body dripping fresh magma! His cloak is seared into his back, the rest of his clothing gone!
[18:25] <Ko-Saulfangirl> roll 10d6
06[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Ko-Saulfangirl rolls 10d6 and gets 34." [10d6=6, 2, 2, 1, 6, 3, 4, 1, 5, 4]
06[18:26] * Seira prepares her strongest healing spell, but holds her place unless Demedais calls upon her aid.
[18:26] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Keep going!" The dwarf calls, "It is not over yet! Endure!"
06[18:26] * Demedais seems to tremble, but looks unflinchingly at the dwarf with a nod as he continues his prayers.
[18:26] <Ko-Saulfangirl> roll 10d6
06[18:26] * Hatbot --> "Ko-Saulfangirl rolls 10d6 and gets 33." [10d6=2, 6, 3, 5, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 2]
[18:28] <Ko-Saulfangirl> The agony subsides as Demedais gains some measure of his senses back! His vision is hazy, ruined, broken! BUt he's alive! Distantly, he hears the dwarf call, "It is done!"
06[18:29] * Seira rushes forward, placing her hand on Demedais's forehead!
01[18:29] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[18:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 27." [3d8=8, 1, 3]
06[18:29] * Demedais nods slightly to this, bowing his head as Seira heals.
[18:30] <Ko-Saulfangirl> roll 2d6
06[18:30] * Hatbot --> "Ko-Saulfangirl rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=4, 3]
[18:30] <Ko-Saulfangirl> The healing lessens the agony, even as the heat of the area continues to batter him like a drum!
06[18:30] * Seira does it again!
01[18:30] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[18:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 24." [2d8=8, 6]
06[18:30] * Demedais grimaces at this and healing himself as well.
[18:31] <Demedais> OOC: +28 as well
[18:32] <Ko-Saulfangirl> Still the heat of this basalt path scorches Demedais! As it does, "You have survived. Kossuth with bless you with power and ability beyond that or ordinary mortals." As he speaks, the dwarf begins to burn. His body vanishes, as if consumed by one great flame. "My role here is over now that the trials are finished."
[18:33] <Ko-Saulfangirl> roll 2d6
06[18:33] * Hatbot --> "Ko-Saulfangirl rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=4, 1]
[18:33] <Demedais> "Thank you."
06[18:33] * Demedais grimaces at this, before quickly grabbing his stuff and hustling out of the area.
06[18:33] * Seira waves at the flames, and leaves after Demedais.
[18:34] <Ko-Saulfangirl> OOC: It takes five minutes to get out of the heat, at 2d6 fire damage a round. Just FYI, that'll be a whole lot of dice if you don't do anything but run.
[18:34] <Demedais> OOC: Okay, didn't know it was that long.
01[18:34] <Seira> "Go on, I'll bring your things," Seira offers as she watches Demedais slowly toast.
06[18:35] * Demedais calls forth his armor first, before moving out.
[18:35] <Ko-Saulfangirl> Staggering but shielded, his armor chafing without it's normal padding below, the two make it out of the lava path! OOC - Heading back now?
[18:36] <Demedais> OOC: Yeah, I'd probably duck into a side room and quickly wrap a blanket around myself first before continuing on, but sure.
01[18:36] <Seira> "I need to have a chat with Ajan," Seira says, casting a pair of spells in preparation. "Would you like to wait for me?"
01[18:37] <Seira> OOC: Heroism, Voice of the Dragon
[18:37] <Demedais> "Sure." Demedais nods. "Would you like me to wait in the next room?"
01[18:37] <Seira> "It's not a secret from you or my other friends," Seira responds. "It is up to you."
[18:38] <Demedais> "Then I'll likely step back in once I
[18:38] <Demedais> "Then I'll likely step back in once I've finished changing." Demedais nods.
[18:43] <Ko-Saulfangirl> Thus the two return to Ajan. He awaits, a giant dragon with seemingly infinite time. "You smell like lava," he observes to Demedais, the sound making his still charred skin tremble in faint pain.
[18:43] <Demedais> "Took a bath." Demedais replies with a slight grin.
01[18:44] <Seira> "Yes, Demedais swam in it," Seira affirms, and her voice sounds just a bit like Ajan's for a moment. "I have a request for you. It regards our bond. Would you hear me out?"
[18:46] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Very well," Ajan rumbles, "Speak what you will."
01[18:49] <Seira> "I have taken it upon myself to find a way to free you from this confinement," Seira says, upon receiving his permission. "I did so of my own free will, and without coercement. I have no complaints whatsoever, and my heart would not waver in this."
01[18:49] <Seira> She grimaces. "A recent trial has shown me my limitations, however. An encounter with an artifact left me unable to even contemplate the idea of taking flight. Unless I find a way to break through that magical imposition on me, or some means to lift it, I may not get far. Towards that goal, I wanted to petition you, in case you could affect this seal through the bond we've formed."
[18:58] <Ko-Saulfangirl> Ajan's eyes glow an arcane blue, burning with eldritch fire. "The weave of magic around you is chained to the earth. You have been burdened with a difficult load. It can be undone with the proper means and time."
01[19:00] <Seira> "I'm willing to pay the price," Seira says, "although I've been shown how foolish it is to jump blindly into something without knowing the consequences, first. Does this mean you are willing to help me?"
[19:04] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "A wish can undo this magic. However, a wish is not without a price. When I am freed from this prison and the matter of the God King is at last put to rest, I will desire one to aid me."
01[19:05] <Seira> "Aid you in what, and for how long?"
[19:08] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "In establishing my presence and a lair. A servant to make some matters easier and less involving. The duration would be no less than one year, perhaps more."
06[19:12] * Seira glances at Demedais briefly. "As in any proper contract, the maximum duration should be spelled out as well. I would also regrettably be unable to agree to something that would inconvenience the mortals living on our world, which establishing a presence sounds like. If you are merely looking for a fruitful, out of the way area to set up a lair, then I have just the realty in mind.
01[19:12] <Seira> Several, in fact, for you to choose from."
06[19:14] * Demedais looks back with a calm face.
[19:16] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "A maximum of three years, then." Ajan agrees, "I have no desire to deal with the mortals that remain; an out of the way area would be sufficient."
06[19:19] * Seira nods at that. "I will resign my commission when the terms you have stipulated have been fulfilled, then," she says. "Long-term service would be impossible given my promise to Waukeen, but one to three years is something I can manage without breaking that oath.
01[19:19] <Seira> I will be your agent for that duration, as you wish, though it's hard for me to imagine something I could possibly do for you since we won't be dealing with mortals and their affairs."
[19:23] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Then it is agreed," Ajan's voice makes the entire room around you quiver and shake.
06[19:24] * Seira inclines her head.
[19:25] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Then..." Energy flows around Ajan! Rings of fire, his body crackling, "Cosmos of power, laws ot he multiverse! Hear my words, for reality is mine to change as I see fit!" There is a deep, ominous sound coming from around you, everything standing up. Demdais can feel his scorched bodyhairs pricking up, a feeling of static electricity passing over.
[19:26] <Ko-Saulfangirl> Around Seira, several ethereal chains can be seen. They are as tight as steel, keeping her pinned down to the ground. They begin to groan and snap, as, "In my name, I declare that the chains around Seira shall be broken! Let the shackles of the ground be forever ruined!" With a shudder, the chains snap apart and vanish!
01[19:26] <Seira> Everything in dealing with the chained dragon showed that he truly wanted them to succeed, wishing to be freed. He certainly had plenty of chances to betray them. Seira wouldn't tremble in his presence, displays of power vastly beyond her own or not.
06[19:27] * Demedais watches this patiently, with a slight nod.
[19:27] <Ko-Saulfangirl> Ajan's body tenses a moment, "It is done. Your wings are freed."
06[19:28] * Seira can't resist the urge to flap them.
[19:29] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Go no, and return o the world that lives. There are more Resorts to be found."
06[19:29] * Demedais nods to this. "Thank you, Ajan."
06[19:31] * Seira lowers her head. "Thank you for putting me back in the fight. Your trust in me, I won't let it go to waste."
[19:31] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Honor it by finding the other Resorts," Ajan again speaks, before his body tenses down. He settles into the chamber once more.
06[19:32] * Seira nods, and heads out of his vast chamber.
06[19:32] * Demedais follows right behind Seira.
03[20:01] * Celenu (WinNT@user-514f2abe.l2.c3.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:03] * Demedais is now known as Taishyr
03[20:25] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
03[20:25] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[20:28] <Ko-Saulfangirl> ----(Ninja Ko)--
[20:29] <Ko-Saulfangirl> Finding Pollyanna and Eudard isn't hard. One's leading the Guard patrolling the outer boundaries of the city, the other is in the temple of Helm. On the three gathering, Pollyanna look st Seira, "Glad to see you made it back in one piece," she says, as the three stand in the temple of Helm. It's fairly busy here today, but not particularly packed.
01[20:31] <Seira> "Or as close to it as it gets," Seira responds. "Thanks. Can we appropriate a room for this? I doubt it would take long, but I'm not comfortable discussing it out here in the open."
[20:37] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Yes, certainly," Eudard and Pollyanna head back to a quiet, empty meditation room. A book of Helm's teachings rests on a slightly raised table, but otherwise the room is bare. Once inside, "Demedais was worried...I think we all were."
03[20:37] * Taishyr is now known as taifk
01[20:42] <Seira> "And some of that worry came from what you heard, no doubt," Seira says with a sigh. "Does such inconvenient timing really exist outside of divine providence? No matter. I'm here today to dispel any lingering doubts you might have had, rather than chance that fleeing succubus or others like her to have another try at their deceit."
[20:49] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "I was worried when that demon spoke your name. I did not think you to be the sort to cavort with demonkind." Eudard agrees, fiddling and flexing. The wings on his back are pinned down by his heavy armor, mostly unseen.
01[20:54] <Seira> "It wasn't cavorting," Seira responds. "I was brought before that balor, Gurlan, by a trap in Irenes's hideout. There, at his very home, surrounded by his servants, I offered myself up as payment if he allowed me to return long enough to kill that vile mage and free my father from his control.
01[20:54] <Seira> Given how close it went for us, I doubt Demedais, Claris and our guide Berjand would have returned if I weren't there as well, and my father was freed in the end, so I don't regret making that choice."
[20:56] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "That's so terribly risky..." Eudard mutters, "But as if I can say anything on that. I came close to the same prepice."
[20:57] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "What about now, though?" Pollyanna asks, "It's good to see you're back safely."
01[21:00] <Seira> "The way I saw it, my life was forfeit anyway. The same for my soul, given where I was and how I got there. The balor... cheated, however. I doubt that would come as a surprise. He slipped in a way to affect me, although it never got a chance to develop into outright control.
01[21:00] <Seira> The dragon we called upon from the afterlife managed to block that, and with my faculties firmly under my control once more, I sought out Waukeen's aid to break the deal altogether. So now? The worst I've had to deal with thus far as an inevitable sent after me for reneging on that deal, believe it or not."
[21:04] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "It's a crazy world," Trying not to smile and largely failing, Pollyanna laughs. "All these outsiders, running about for this and that. It's nice to know there's na afterlife for certain..." That gets Pollyanna to pause, eyes casting down very slightly, "But all these spirits are so horribly troublesome."
01[21:07] <Seira> "There's plenty of afterlives," Seira agrees. "Not all pleasant. Having seen them and made it back afterwards... that just serves as a reinforcement. Knowing I made the right call afterwards. It was very tempting to stay as I was instead of appealing to Waukeen."
[21:12] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Yes, I suppose," Eudard's brow furrows there, but he says no more.
[21:13] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Commander Oberuth said we need to be more on guard than usual in the coming days," Pollyanna picks up there, "That there may be an attack from a hostile kingdom with potent magic."
01[21:14] <Seira> "Yes, I'd expect you to understand more than most," Seira agrees. "I'm sorry if that brought up a bad memory." She nods at Pollyanna. "It's possible. Those crazy Sharran cultists... don't bother with capturing them. No amount of talking will bridge our differences."
[21:20] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "No problem there," Pollyanna smiles a bit, "If they're as deranged as I heard...that Erenholm massacre...no problems with that at all."
01[21:21] <Seira> "They are very deranged," Seira says seriously. "Don't take any chances, though. Above all else, don't allow yourself to fall captive."
[21:23] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "I heard about it secondhand," Eudard says grimly, "It was as gruesome as any demon's assault. Seira's correct there."
01[21:26] <Seira> "You can understand demons. They don't know any better, most times. It takes... well, it takes someone like Alicia on top of extreme circumstances to get a fiend to even consider a different life. But seeing people who chose this path willingly... that's something I can't understand. And it makes things worse."
[21:26] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "They had the will to turn away and kept right on going?" Pollyanna considerst his, "I think your'e right. That might just be worse. At least a demon does it because they're a demon."
01[21:30] <Seira> "It took me a while to understand, but it's as simple as that," Seira affirms. "That's what they are. In all but the exceptional case, they are incapable of moving past the limits set on them at birth."
[21:37] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Almost entirely. There are cases..." Eudard again looks down, "Catastrophic cases, of fallen angels and worse. Still far too common, exceptional or no."
[21:38] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "It makes sense. Balmuria attracts strange things, opwer and flukes like nothing else," Pollyanna nods and even smiles, "So while there's even an exception to that, it's rare. They are what they are...it's like hating a dog for licking itself."
01[21:40] <Seira> "Yes, it must be because we make it our goal to learn about such cases, if not draw them to us," Seira agrees. "Alright. I won't take up more of your time with philosophical debates. I do have an unrelated request, however. Would you have an idea where I could find a sword that fits my method of fighting for the time being?"
06[21:40] * Seira holds up the Resort replica. "Something along these lines, or even a shorter blade, say."
[21:44] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "A long or a shortsword?" Eudard asks for clarity.
06[21:46] * Seira nods. "I can use a dagger as well, although I don't want to meet these freaks at knife range. A few other weapons would do in a pinch, though nothing that would require both hands to wield."
[21:52] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Mmmm." Rubbing his chin, "Do you mean a magic sword, or merely a well made one?"
01[21:55] <Seira> "A sword with an enchantment to aid me," Seira elaborates. "I know the spell to temporarily boost a weapon properties. Alicia uses it, I believe. But something to strike well against an enemy this vile, or even my favorite fire to harass them with... even a keen rapier would make a difference, especially when boosted by the magic weapon spell afterwards."
[21:57] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "The best place is Countess STronger's shop. While the Temple of Mystra is making inroads, they don't sell magical weapons much yet. The Temple of Gond, though...perhaps. They do wonderful forge-work and I do believe I heard them selling a few enhanced swords."
01[21:59] <Seira> "Elle sadly doesn't have anything I can use well at this time," Seira says. "Even a loan would be fine, but-- yes, trying at the various temples is a good idea. If you hear about an opportunity for either borrowing or outright buying a suitable weapon within the near future, point me towards it?"
[22:01] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "I will," Eudard says agreeably, "I'll see if I can hear anything in the temple."
01[22:01] <Seira> "You know where to find me--" Seira stops herself. "Actually. You can find me at Elle's. But you know what I meant, and you have my thanks."
[22:05] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Careful," Pollyanna smiles a little, "Take care of yourself, alright?"
01[22:07] <Seira> "Like I told Elle, I won't be taken alive again," Seira responds, nodding.
[22:12] <Ko-Saulfangirl> Thereafter, Seira makes various inquiries in the temples around the city. The Temple of Mystra is the one that has something to her tastes. In conversation with Shankar, "Oh, I understand completely," he says, keeping his voice low. "With all the challenges the city has had and the work Alicia has done, much of our direction has gone towards weapons effective against fiends. Would a silver longsword blessed with Mystra's sacred powe
[22:12] <Ko-Saulfangirl> Would a silver longsword blessed with Mystra's sacred power suit your needs?"
01[22:15] <Seira> "I'm sure my enemies would love the idea of receiving Mystra's blessing in this manner," Seira agrees with a savage smile, though her voice is low as well. "Would you happen to have anything else for me to use against the servants of Shar, both mortal and undead?"
[22:18] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "There is holy water," Shankar says, "As well as scrolls of magic circle against evil. Protections against negative energy may be wise, such as Death Ward."
01[22:20] <Seira> "Death Ward?" Seira asks in surprise. "I didn't know it could come in potion form."
[22:38] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Potion form? I don't believe so. Where in did youg et that idea?"
01[22:39] <Seira> "Well." Seira looks a bit embarrassed, though confusion certainly dominates. "It wouldn't be easy for me to cast it from a scroll. Did you mean you had it in an amulet to sell?"
[22:42] <Ko-Saulfangirl> "Oh, sorry, mistaken words," Shankar apologizes, "No."
06[22:44] * Seira looks disappointed. "Well, my allies might be able to use it, so having a few scrolls might help. What about something like a ring of protection? Those never fail to help in most situations."
[20:33] <Kotono> ---------
[20:38] <Kotono> It's the middle of the night. Demedais is meditating in his room, reflecting on Helm's teachings as is his habit. There is a strange thing that occurs - noise. Noise? There's hurried footsteps carrying all the way from the front of the temple. In a loud voice, "S-S-Sir Demedais!" A man's voice calls at the top of his lungs. "Help!"
06[20:39] * Demedais nods and with a word calls his armor to him, grabbing his sword and tapping his shield as he sprints out toward the source of the voice!
[20:41] <Kotono> A guard is lying on one of the pews, father Ceiar already there and murmuring words of succor. "Help...shadows...dark beings...temple of Mystra...." Gasping and coughing for air, "We're under attack!"
[20:41] <Demedais> "Alright." Demedais nods, before looking to see if anyone else is around quickly.
[20:42] <Kotono> The temple is rousing, a few priests already poking their head out.
06[20:44] * Demedais gestures to one of the priests. "Awaken Eudard, Seira, Pollyanna and Oberuth; tell them to hurry to the aid of the Temple of Mystra. I must make haste there." With that, he calls his armor off before quickly dashing off to the Temple of Mystra.
[20:44] <Demedais> OOC: Put the armor back on once I'm about 50 ft away
06[20:47] * Seira doesn't stop along the way!
[20:50] <Kotono> Seira and Demedais meet enroute! Soldiers are rushing to the Temple of Mystra with them! As they reach there, they find a scene of battle! The front gates are being held by Antenora and a furious dire tiger! Behind them are Shankar and several priests, casting and invoking powerful magic! Several withered guards lie littered around, dead. Trying to get in are seven creatures - shadowy creatures, hissing with powerful rage! Behind them are t
[20:50] <Kotono> shadowy creatures, hissing with powerful rage! Behind them are two massive, terrible horrors! They are humanoid and pure black, cold whirling around their hands! (More)
03[20:51] * Kotono changes topic to 'Nightwalkers(20)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16)>Jessica=Tiger(15)=Priests(12)'
[20:53] <Kotono> Seira and Demedais know them all too well, for they opposed one before! A nightwalker, a shadow-creature that lied within the golgatha of skulls and bones within the ruins. OOC - Roll intiaitive and I'll integrate you two in? It's at the top of the ground. You're 30ft away from the nightwalkers, and 60 ft from the shadows.
[20:53] <Demedais> roll 1d20+1 kay
05[20:53] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Kotono invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:53] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[20:53] <Demedais> roll 1d20+1 kay
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+1 kay and gets 13." [1d20=12]
03[20:53] * Kotono sets mode: +ooo Demedais Hatbot Nao
03[20:54] * Kotono changes topic to 'Nightwalkers(20)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16)>Jessica=Tiger(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)'
01[20:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+13 nerveskitter
06[20:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 nerveskitter and gets 27." [1d20=14]
03[20:54] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira(27)>Nightwalkers(20)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16)>Jessica=Tiger(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)'
Session Close: Sat Jan 10 20:55:56 2009
Session Start: Sat Jan 10 20:55:56 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[20:55] * Disconnected
02[20:56] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[20:56] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[20:56] * Topic is 'Seira(27)>Nightwalkers(20)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16)>Jessica=Tiger(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)'
03[20:56] * Set by Kotono on Sat Jan 10 20:58:32
03[20:56] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 1d1000 why not?
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d1000 why not? and gets 64." [1d1000=64]
01[20:58] <Seira> Not wasting the time on war calls, Seira cuts loose with a massive burst of flame, before soaring into the air!
01[20:58] <Seira> roll 1d20+14 CL
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 CL and gets 32." [1d20=18]
01[20:58] <Seira> roll 1d100 shadows
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 shadows and gets 61." [1d100=61]
01[20:58] <Seira> roll 14d6 fire
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 14d6 fire and gets 44." [14d6=6, 1, 1, 3, 1, 6, 5, 4, 2, 5, 1, 6, 1, 2]
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 31." [1d20=20]
06[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 28." [1d20=17]
01[20:59] <Seira> OOC: DC25
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[21:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[21:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[21:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 10." [1d20=5]
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 11." [1d20=6]
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 19." [1d20=14]
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 13." [1d20=8]
[21:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[21:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 17." [1d20=12]
[21:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 22." [1d20=17]
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 11." [1d20=6]
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 18." [1d20=13]
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 19." [1d20=14]
[21:00] <Kotono> OOC: Also, caster level for the nightwalkers.
[21:00] <Kotono> OOC: Oh wait, you idd.
[21:00] <Kotono> OOC: Dur.
01[21:00] <Seira> OOC: I started from the worst!
[21:03] <Kotono> The cone of flames gushes past the Nightwalkers! They shield themselves, motes of cold slowing the advance of gushing flames! The shadows around Antenora and the tiger are duly scorched, flickering and sizzling fromt he flames! One of the nightwalkers turns to Seira, hissing! In tones of whispering cold, "Die...!" A cone of cold erupts around Seira as it glides ten feet up to get in range, followed by a miasma of pure darkness! OOC - Ref sa
[21:03] <Kotono> followed by a miasma of pure darkness! OOC - Ref savef or the cone and then a fort save for unholy blight.
01[21:03] <Seira> roll 1d20+20 ref
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 ref and gets 26." [1d20=6]
01[21:04] <Seira> roll 1d20+12 fort
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 fort and gets 31." [1d20=19]
[21:04] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this and gets 33." [5d8=3, 8, 7, 8, 7]
01[21:05] <Seira> "That's right!" Seira calls at them defiantly, weathering the attacks. "Your existence has come to its pitiful end! Struggle all you like, the outcome won't change!"
[21:05] <Kotono> Seira weaves away from the blistering cone of cold, all while she weathers a storm of unholy darkness! She shduders, but maintains intacta nd only minorly hurt! The other nightwalker gushes a cone of cold out, not harming the shadows but endangering Antenora and the Tiger, followed by an unholy blight at Antenora!
[21:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 SR
[21:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 SR
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 SR and gets 27." [1d20=6]
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 SR and gets 27." [1d20=6]
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 ref
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 ref and gets 33." [1d20=14]
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 fort
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 fort and gets 43." [1d20=20]
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 15d6 halved
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 15d6 halved and gets 40." [15d6=1, 3, 2, 3, 2, 6, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1, 5, 5, 3, 3]
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 10d6 halved
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 halved and gets 27." [10d6=4, 2, 2, 3, 5, 2, 2, 2, 1, 4]
[21:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 tiger
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 tiger and gets 15." [1d20=3]
[21:09] <Kotono> The tiger is badly frozen by the cone, while Antenora dodges nad endures the worst of the abuse! She hisses out loud, staggering! In retort she lays into the shadows around her!
[21:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (-1str, +2 FS 6/8)
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (-1str, +2 FS 6/8) and gets 29." [1d20=8]
[21:10] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 48." [1d100=48]
[21:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 (-1str)
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 (-1str) and gets 15." [1d20=1]
[21:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 (-1str)
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 (-1str) and gets 26." [1d20=17]
[21:10] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 47." [1d100=47]
01[21:11] <Seira> "I'll deal with the shadows!" Seira calls out, upon seeing Antenora's attack. "They are no threat! Focus on the Nightwalkers!"
[21:11] <Kotono> Antenora holds the line, trying to stopthe shadows from advancing! Even as she blazes with holy ferver, the ghostly composition of the shadows eludes her! "Dammit!" She curses, as the shadows assail her and the tiger, moaning out wordless sounds...ones that are far to fmailiar with Seira! "Do that! I can't let them get to the priests!"
[21:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 touch anty
06[21:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 touch anty and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[21:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 touch anty
06[21:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 touch anty and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[21:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 touch anty
06[21:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 touch anty and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[21:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 touch tiger
06[21:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 touch tiger and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[21:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 touch tiger
06[21:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 touch tiger and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[21:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 touch tiger
06[21:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 touch tiger and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[21:12] <Kotono> roll 1d8
06[21:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 and gets 7." [1d8=7]
[21:15] <Kotono> The tiger is touched as Antenora defends herself successfully! It's body withers and becomes less, drained! Three others fly above, going towards the priests! Jessica winces, "Fall back," she calls, the tiger turning back into a statue as Jessica draws her rapier! OOC - Deme. You're 30ft away from the nightwalker onthe grond, and 30/10 ft up from the flying one that went after Seira.
06[21:17] * Demedais grunts, rushing the grounded nightwalker from the flanks to try and keep this nightwalker occupied, trusting in his armor to protect him if and when Seira breathes fire on the crowd again! OOC: Assuming it can AoO me, waiting on that.
[21:17] <Kotono> OOC - It can, yes, it has reach.
[21:18] <Kotono> As Demedais gets close, the Nightwalker lashes out as his defenses are down!
[21:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 36." [1d20=12]
[21:18] <Kotono> OOC AC?
[21:18] <Demedais> OOC: 29.
[21:19] <Kotono> roll 2d6+16
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+16 and gets 20." [2d6=1, 3]
[21:19] <Kotono> Demedais is struck in the chest, his heart going numb from the unholy, unliving contact! OOC - Continue.
[21:20] <Demedais> roll 1d20+22 (+1 Haste, +2 Charge, +6 Smite, -4 PA)
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+22 (+1 Haste, +2 Charge, +6 Smite, -4 PA) and gets 36." [1d20=14]
[21:20] <Kotono> OOC - Hit.
[21:21] <Demedais> roll 2d6+22 (blade acquires ability to strike DR next round, is holy this round due to smite)
06[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 2d6+22 (blade acquires ability to strike DR next round, is holy this round due to smite) and gets 30." [2d6=3, 5]
[21:23] <Kotono> Demedais cuts into the shadow-stuff of the Nightwalker! He finds it resistant, tearing into it with all his might! Even as he does, Shankar's voice is heard! Presenting his holy symbol out, calling on the power of Mystra!
[21:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 (+4 sacred bonus due to Orb of Peace, +2 Eagle's Splendor)
06[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 (+4 sacred bonus due to Orb of Peace, +2 Eagle's Splendor) and gets 12." [1d20=3]
[21:26] <Kotono> But the evil stands firm, even in the face of Mystra's magic! The other priests chant and invoke magic around! While most of the others are protections and the like, a pair of searing rays of light go out for two of the shadows creeping around!
[21:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 touch AC
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 touch AC and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[21:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 touch AC
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 touch AC and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[21:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 touch AC crit>
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 touch AC crit> and gets 16." [1d20=9]
[21:26] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 19." [1d100=19]
[21:27] <Kotono> Yet the rays are lost int he darkness around! As this happens...
[21:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 11." [1d20=4]
03[21:28] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira(27)>Nightwalkers(20)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16)>Jessica=Tiger(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)>Pollyanna(11)'
[21:28] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 21." [1d20=15]
03[21:28] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira(27)>Oberuth(21)>Nightwalkers(20)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16)>Jessica=Tiger(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)>Pollyanna(11)'
[21:28] <Kotono> Pollyanna runs down a side street, bow in hand and still in her nightgown! Meanwhile, you can glimpse a pegasus coming in the air, a bulky man driving it on, a sword in his free hand! OOC - SEira.
06[21:29] * Seira calls upon Waukeen's blessing to fly back well out of reach, drawing her sword. It is but a feint, however, as she calls upon a supercharged fireball to blossom amongst the shadows, hoping to catch one of the nightwalkers off guard with it as well!
01[21:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+16 tumble
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 tumble and gets 36." [1d20=20]
01[21:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+14 cl
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 cl and gets 30." [1d20=16]
01[21:29] <Seira> roll 13d6 fire
01[21:29] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 13d6 fire and gets 54." [13d6=3, 4, 1, 3, 3, 6, 4, 4, 3, 6, 6, 6, 5]
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 40." [1d100=40]
[21:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[21:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 15." [1d20=4]
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 22." [1d20=11]
01[21:30] <Seira> OOC: DC23
01[21:31] <Seira> "Fall back!" Seira calls over to the priests. "You've held them off long enough!"
[21:33] <Kotono> The Nightwalkers are both scorched, Demedais feeling fire lick at him but not quite reach him! It warms him oddly, as if chasing away what is in front of him! The shadows aren't effected, gliding through it harmlessly! Commander Oberuth spurs his steed on, coming well above the nightwalker before hopping off and diving down right at it, sword looking to impale it besides Demedais! The shadow lashes out as he does this, however!
[21:33] <Kotono> The shadow lashes out as he does this, however!
[21:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 something has CR and it's useful? Go fig
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 something has CR and it's useful? Go fig and gets 43." [1d20=19]
[21:33] <Kotono> roll 2d6+16
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+16 and gets 23." [2d6=4, 3]
[21:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 (+2 charge)
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 (+2 charge) and gets 27." [1d20=3]
[21:34] <Kotono> roll 4d6
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d6 and gets 22." [4d6=5, 6, 6, 5]
[21:35] <Kotono> Oberuth's blade grazes through the Nightwalker, sliding down as he lands heavily besides Demedais! He looks intact, however, only a bit brushed even by the blow to his side as he fell! OOC - Nightwalkers.
[21:36] <Kotono> "Hmph...the odds turn worse..." The flying nightwalker hisses, "Kill as many as you can in the name of the Dark Goddess!" It then vanishes away into a pool of twisting air!
01[21:37] <Seira> "Loser!"
[21:37] <Kotono> The other, surrounded by Oberuth and Demedais, looks on at them with cold fury, "We will meet again, so that I will wither the flesh from your bones!" It vanishes as well, the dimensions itself twisting around them! OOC - Antenora's up.
03[21:37] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira(27)>Oberuth(21)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16)>Jessica=Tiger(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)>Pollyanna(11)'
03[21:38] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira(27)>Oberuth(21)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16)>Jessica(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)>Pollyanna(11)'
06[21:38] * Seira seethes at this indignity.
[21:38] <Kotono> Antenora defends herself amid the shadows as she strikes out, trying to thin the numbers! "Cowards," she calls even as she fights on!
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 (-1 str, -4 fighting defensively, +2 FS 5/8)
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 (-1 str, -4 fighting defensively, +2 FS 5/8) and gets 27." [1d20=10]
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 38." [1d100=38]
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 (-1 str, -4 fighting defensively, +6 smite)
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 (-1 str, -4 fighting defensively, +6 smite) and gets 24." [1d20=8]
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 15." [1d100=15]
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 (-1 str, -4 fighting defensively, +6 smite)
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 (-1 str, -4 fighting defensively, +6 smite) and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 38." [1d100=38]
[21:40] <Kotono> Antenora glows with sacred power, thrusting at each shadow! But each one weaves and whirls out of the way, as airy as the wind itself! The shadows keen out, three of them on her and trying to touch her!
[21:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 12." [1d20=6]
[21:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[21:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15." [1d20=9]
06[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 22." [1d20=16]
[21:41] <Kotono> roll 1d8
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 and gets 7." [1d8=7]
[21:42] <Kotono> Three more advance back, menacing the priests!
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 19." [1d20=13]
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 19." [1d20=13]
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d8
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d8
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 and gets 1." [1d8=1]
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 and gets 5." [1d8=5]
[21:42] <Kotono> Two of the clerics are withered and reduced, but survive the touch! The last three go back, going for Demedais and Oberuth!
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Deme touch
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Deme touch and gets 15." [1d20=9]
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Oberuth touch
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Oberuth touch and gets 19." [1d20=13]
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d2
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d2 and gets 2." [1d2=2]
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Oberuth touch
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Oberuth touch and gets 13." [1d20=7]
[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d8 and also what's your touch AC, deme?
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 and also what's your touch AC, deme? and gets 1." [1d8=1]
[21:43] <Demedais> OOC: 14.
[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d8 str damage
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 str damage and gets 4." [1d8=4]
[21:44] <Kotono> Antenora withers as she is touched, seeming to sag underher armor! Her breathing becomes labored, as Demedais feels the same thing on a lesser scale! Jessica goes to help one of the touched priests in the meanwhile!
[21:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 25." [1d20=12]
[21:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 22." [1d20=14]
[21:45] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:45] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 11." [1d100=11]
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 63." [1d100=63]
[21:45] <Kotono> roll 1d6+2+1d6
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+2+1d6 and gets 7." [1d6=1][1d6=4]
[21:45] <Kotono> Jessica fights quickly, able to stab one of the shadows! It's body seems to flash white with the silvered blow, but it's not enough to dissolve it's unliving mockery of human form! OOC - Deme.
06[21:48] * Demedais lets loose on the three shadows in front of him, focusing first on the one that attacked him before moving on to other opponents as he downs the first ones!
[21:48] <Demedais> roll 1d20+13 (+1 Haste,-3 PA)
06[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+13 (+1 Haste,-3 PA) and gets 14." [1d20=1]
[21:48] <Demedais> roll 1d20+13 (+1 Haste,-3 PA)
06[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+13 (+1 Haste,-3 PA) and gets 24." [1d20=11]
[21:48] <Demedais> roll 1d20+8 (+1 Haste,-3 PA)
06[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+8 (+1 Haste,-3 PA) and gets 28." [1d20=20]
[21:49] <Demedais> roll 1d20+8 (+1 Haste,-3 PA)
06[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+8 (+1 Haste,-3 PA) and gets 25." [1d20=17]
[21:49] <Kotono> OOC - Everything but the 1 hits, roll d100s for incorpreal.
[21:49] <Demedais> OOC: -3
[21:49] <Kotono> OOC - Everything but the 1 hits, roll d100s for incorpreal.
[21:49] <Demedais> roll 1d100 hit 1
06[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d100 hit 1 and gets 55." [1d100=55]
[21:49] <Demedais> roll 1d100 hit 2
06[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d100 hit 2 and gets 18." [1d100=18]
[21:49] <Demedais> roll 1d100 hit 3
06[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d100 hit 3 and gets 65." [1d100=65]
[21:49] <Demedais> roll 2d6+10 hit 1
06[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 2d6+10 hit 1 and gets 16." [2d6=2, 4]
[21:50] <Kotono> OOC- Cleave.
[21:50] <Demedais> roll 1d20+13 cleave
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+13 cleave and gets 22." [1d20=9]
[21:50] <Demedais> roll 1d100 incorp check
[21:50] <Kotono> OOC - Hit.
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d100 incorp check and gets 88." [1d100=88]
[21:50] <Kotono> OOC - Hit.
[21:50] <Demedais> roll 2d6+10 cleave damage
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 2d6+10 cleave damage and gets 12." [2d6=1, 1]
03[21:51] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira(27)>Oberuth(21)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16; 7 left)>Jessica(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)>Pollyanna(11)'
[21:51] <Demedais> roll 2d6+10 final attack on the third one, since you said it hit?
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 2d6+10 final attack on the third one, since you said it hit? and gets 20." [2d6=4, 6]
03[21:51] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira(27)>Oberuth(21)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16; 6 left)>Jessica(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)>Pollyanna(11)'
[21:51] <Kotono> Demedais hacks and cuts through the shadows, sending two of them back to oblivion! The second follows with the disposal of the third, rended apart! The priests fall back, defending themselves! Even as he moves, Shankar again calls on the power of Mystra!
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 22." [1d20=13]
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 2d6+7+5
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+7+5 and gets 19." [2d6=6, 1]
[21:54] <Kotono> The shadows around shudder and twist! They blaze with silver fire a moment before fading away into nothingness! Screams are heard - horrible screams in forgotten languages, Seira knowing enough of them to understand the word 'Shar'. OOC - That was clutch if a round late. Free act.
[21:56] <Kotono> OOC - Strke.
[21:58] <Kotono> The shadows around two of the priests retreat back, fleeing as fast as they can! Pollyanna, meanwhile, approaches and then fires on one of the shadows around Antenora!
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32." [1d20=20]
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32." [1d20=20]
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 7." [1d100=7]
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 63." [1d100=63]
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 68." [1d100=68]
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d8+4+1d6
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+4+1d6 and gets 14." [1d8=5][1d6=5]
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d8+4+1d6
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+4+1d6 and gets 15." [1d8=6][1d6=5]
03[21:59] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira(27)>Oberuth(21)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16; 4 left)>Jessica(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)>Pollyanna(11)'
[21:59] <Kotono> Two flaming arrows slam into two shadows, turning them into ashy dust! Antenora is so relieved! OOC - Seira. Two fleeing shadows, one on Anty, one on the priests.
06[22:00] * Seira gnashes her teeth together, causing ghostly jaws to appears within range of the shadows. And her lovely creations don't wait on an order, instantly seeking out their prey!
01[22:00] <Seira> Meanwhile, she flies back towards the melee to provide support -- or an alternate target. Her dagger is entrusted to Lagann, with a mental call to eradicate the vile things plaguing their city!
01[22:00] <Seira> roll 3d6 shadow 1
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d6 shadow 1 and gets 9." [3d6=1, 4, 4]
01[22:00] <Seira> roll 3d6 shadow 2
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d6 shadow 2 and gets 8." [3d6=3, 1, 4]
01[22:00] <Seira> roll 3d6 shadow 3
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d6 shadow 3 and gets 12." [3d6=5, 5, 2]
01[22:00] <Seira> roll 1d6 shadow 4, may Lagann kill it?
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6 shadow 4, may Lagann kill it? and gets 1." [1d6=1]
01[22:00] <Seira> OOC: DC22
03[22:01] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira(27)>Oberuth(21)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16; 3 left)>Jessica(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)>Pollyanna(11)'
[22:02] <Kotono> The one Jessica stabbed is bitten again, dying! The other two are mauled and munched up, chewed into kibble but surviving! Meanwhile, a crude sword flies out of Seira's sheath, stabbing at a remaining shadow!
[22:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[22:02] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 16." [1d100=16]
[22:02] <Kotono> But nothing comes of it! OOC - OBeruth.
[22:02] <Kotono> Oberuth grimaces a moment, before charging forward at the one shadow still on Antenora, swiping at it!
[22:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (-1 str, -2 PA
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (-1 str, -2 PA and gets 25." [1d20=4]
[22:03] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 25." [1d100=25]
[22:03] <Kotono> But his sword passes through the shadow without harm! Antenora turns, sagging down, striking out at the last shadow again!
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 (-5 str, +2 FS 4/8)
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 (-5 str, +2 FS 4/8) and gets 19." [1d20=2]
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 59." [1d100=59]
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d8+2+1d6
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+2+1d6 and gets 11." [1d8=3][1d6=6]
03[22:04] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira(27)>Oberuth(21)>Antenora(19)>Shadows(16; 2 left)>Jessica(15)>Demedais(13)>Priests(12)>Pollyanna(11)'
[22:05] <Kotono> Already injured from Seira's teeth and fire, the shadow tears away into nothingness! The last two shadows continue to flee! OOC - Deme, you're up. The last two shadows are booking it away and into the sky like it's the end of the world and they aren't invited.
06[22:09] * Demedais grimaces, before closing in and gesturing at the shadow farthest from Seira in an attempt to obliterate it entirely by turning it!
[22:10] <Kotono> OOC: Charisma check, +4 sacred bonus since your'e on grounds.
[22:12] <Demedais> OOC: Strike, I severely misread how turning worked.
06[22:12] * Demedais grimaces and looks to Seira. "They're in the air. That's your domain - let 'em have it!"
01[22:12] <Seira> "Gladly," Seira returns. "There is no escape!"
01[22:13] <Seira> roll 3d6
01[22:13] <Seira> roll 3d6
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d6 and gets 11." [3d6=3, 6, 2]
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d6 and gets 16." [3d6=6, 4, 6]
01[22:13] <Seira> OOC: DC still 22
[22:15] <Kotono> OOC - I think I forgot the saves last round, tangentially. Also, Polly'll just hold in case you fail and then shoot.
[22:15] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[22:15] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 24." [1d20=19]
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 8." [1d20=3]
01[22:15] <Seira> OOC: I listed the dc back there as well
[22:15] <Kotono> The teeth tear the fleeing shadows apart, rending them into nothing! Antenora sags down at the end of this, , Jessica going to check a few priests. Commander Oberuth looks about, "What the blazing abyss happened?"
[22:16] <Kotono> OOC - Free act.
[22:16] <Kotono> "Demedais!" Pollyanna approaches, white nightgown fluttering in the summery breeze. "You alright?"
01[22:16] <Seira> "Was there someone with them?!" Seira demands, touching down next to Antenora. "A priestess of Shar?"
[22:16] <Demedais> "Probably an attack from the Sharrans in Kesse." Demedais curses, before looking to Pollyanna. "I am. Thank you for your timely help, you two."
[22:16] <Kotono> Shankar relaxes, the sacred fire arond him dissipating. "It was Mystra's will that you come to oblivion here, shades." he says, approaching the Commander and company. "Thank you for your timely aid."
06[22:17] * Demedais gestures the two toward Antenora and the temple, touching Antenora to try and restore some of the strength to her.
[22:17] <Demedais> roll 1d4
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d4 and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[22:17] <Kotono> Antenora stands up, "Jessica and I noticed them first - we were up late. They came in from the sky and were going to walk right in, but I was able to sound an alarm fast enough and delay them."
[22:18] <Demedais> roll 1d4 restore 2
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d4 restore 2 and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[22:19] <Kotono> Antenora's burden lessens. "Thank Mystra that Antenora barely sleeps," Jessica calls as she helps a drained priest walk into the temple.
[22:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 20." [1d20=9]
01[22:20] <Seira> "Let's canvass Balmuria in case there were more," Seira tells Antenora, barely keeping her snarl in check. "They might have tried this elsewhere, and we're best for scouting."
[22:20] <Kotono> "Mph, Ic an't remember enough. Demedais, do you know if they can teleport innately?" Antenora asks, before taking to the air.
[22:21] <Demedais> "Link us with Message, first - it'll make coordinating easier." Demedais nods. "Pollyanna and I will meet up with Eudard. Commander, will you help Seira and Antenora?"
06[22:21] * Demedais pauses, thinking. "You mean the Nightcrawlers, right?"
01[22:21] <Seira> "I don't have it handy, and it's not useful across the distance, anyway. If we find something, follow the fire."
[22:22] <Demedais> roll 1d20+14 K:R
06[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+14 K:R and gets 30." [1d20=16]
[22:22] <Kotono> "I'll keep things running," Oberuth says, "Go wake anyone who can detect evil or undead and enlist them for this. Get moving."
[22:24] <Demedais> "They plane jumped." Demedais shakes his head. "Inaccurate, so we can pray they landed facefirst in a plane that'll eat them alive."
01[22:24] <Seira> "The temples, first, and the crypts," Seira says, taking off after Antenora. "Then government buildings. Then the rest of the city, just to be on the safe side. Standard spiral pattern."
[22:24] <Demedais> "But..." Demedais calls after them... "It's restricted to once a day. They may have come in right before midnight so they could leave when things went south."
[22:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 34." [1d20=18]
06[22:25] * Demedais then nods to Oberuth. "I'll rouse the temple of Helm and set them up on patrols as well."
[22:26] <Kotono> "Plane Shift is inaccurate because it puts within hundreds of miles of your location, but it sfairly steady within getting you to the same plane. It wouldn't be good for getting to Balmuria fast without other means of quick travel," Antenora lingers back down a moment at that call.
[22:27] <Demedais> "Ah." Demedais shakes his head. "Too bad on that, then. Get searching; we'll scour the ground for 'em." With that, he nods to the entirety of the group assembled, before going with Pollyanna to intercept Eudard and direct the temple.
01[22:27] <Seira> "A Sharran with means of teleportation or shadow walking," Seira tells Antenora. "I'm hoping I'm right, and that they're still here. Waukeen can grant me that small favor, can't she?"
[22:27] <Kotono> "It's worth trying," Antenora agrees, "And hoping."
[22:27] <Kotono> OOCL All of you are basicaly going to be hunting undead and directing said searches?
[22:28] <Demedais> OOC: Pretty much. I don't know Armanda or what she looks like so I'm not reliable searching for her.
[22:30] <Kotono> The night passes on. Balmuria becomes bright - many a torch lit, the darkness of the night held at bay. Several sweeps of detect evil and undead are done, yet no more undeath or notable evil is found. The city seems quiet, at peace. No one matching the description of any of the royals is found, either. Meeting back together three hours later in at the garrison, "Nothing," Commander Oberuth asks Demedais, Seira, Antenora and Eudard. "I'll be
[22:30] <Kotono> "Nothing," Commander Oberuth asks Demedais, Seira, Antenora and Eudard. "I'll be sending out patrols to search outlying areas at dawn," He stops here to smother a yawn, "In case they're lurking outside of the city."
[22:32] <Demedais> "Alright. I'll request the Temple of Helm keeps a watch as well." Demedais nods a bit wearily. "I'll also do patrols around town and near the Temple of Mystra - that seems to be their main objective here."
[22:33] <Kotono> "It's a religious thing, according to what I've been told. Thechurches of Shar and Mystra don't get along." Holding off another yawn, "If you need rest, go take it. Get healed up as well. If they possess this mobility, they could attack tomorrow night or even during the day, and we need to be prepared."
[22:35] <Kotono> "I went to sleep early," Eduard speaks up here, "I can still go fors everal hours if needed."
[22:35] <Kotono> Antenora inclines her head, "I don't need much sleep, either."
01[22:36] <Seira> "I don't need sleep if it means a chance of killing one of them."
06[22:38] * Demedais nods. "I need little sleep as well. I rested a bit earlier, but not fully."
[22:38] <Kotono> "Alright, if your'e able, then you can aid and lead patrols at dawn." Oberuth instructs, "Be at the stables at daybreak to meet your teams. I'll have assignments and orders waiting there. Dimissed."
06[22:39] * Demedais nods to this and salutes.
01[22:40] <Seira> "Sir," Seira interjects. "Are we capable of distributing sunrods to each team that would patrol the city come nightfall?"
[22:41] <Kotono> "We can," Oberuth agrees, "As well as ample source sof light. I've already ordered for more torches and illumination, to help aid us if shadows come again. They are easy tos ee in bright light."
01[22:42] <Seira> "And this would be useful to alert our watchers, and help raise the alarm."
06[22:42] * Demedais nods in approval at this.
06[22:42] * Seira considers this further. "And holy water. Our men should have that aplenty."
[22:43] <Kotono> "It may not work on shadows, but it's a good weapon to have. They should be instructed to stall and raise alarms over confronting them," Antenora adds.
01[22:45] <Seira> "There is a decent chance," Seira muses. "Better than trying to strike them with a sword lacking in magical enhancements."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Agreed," Eudard murmurs.
[22:46] <Kotono> "Any other suggestions," Oberuth asks.
[22:47] <Demedais> "None that I think of currently." Demedais replies.
01[22:47] <Seira> "Running away if lacking in ways to deal with shadows. Merely dying pointlessly to create yet more shadows serves no one."
[22:51] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> -----
[22:51] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Seira and Celebrimor return to the village. They go to the lit house, finding Antenora and Donald within. They have a woman in there, sitting in a chaira nd looking petrified.
01[22:52] <Seira> "Who's the cultist living on borrowed time unless she tells us a quick way to the temple?" Seira asks as soon as she walks inside.
[22:53] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Her name's Eildra," Antenora says tersely, as the woman gulps down. She licks her lips, "You came back from H-Halla...It's impossible."
01[22:55] <Seira> "Oh, so you saw me? I am ever so sorry I didn't get to kill any of you on my way out, though I am now working to rectify that oversight. Tell me what I asked or die right now. Simple as that."
06[22:55] * Seira draws the Resort.
[22:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Gulping heavily, "I-I've only been once. Only the walker of the shadows can t-t-take you," she whimpers, "Through the land of shadows."
01[22:56] <Seira> "How the fuck do you call him if you have to get there?"
[22:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "W-we go when they wish u-us to." She licks her lips again, staring at the jeweled resort, almost fascinated by it in terror.
03[22:57] * Sierra_Mikain (~Melanchth@pool-96-231-74-104.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #evildunes
01[22:57] <Seira> "Isn't it pretty?" Seira admires is as well. "I don't like when people kidnap me, take my shiny things and proceed to-- well." She smiles brightly. "Where are the rest of your little friends? You're very eager to go to Shar, and I'll send them to her before you as a special favor."
[22:59] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Hi-hiding. None of us are f-far in the church. The more advanced ones g-get to stay in the temple or serve the Dreadmaster or others directly."
[23:00] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Meanwhile, Alicia reaches the lit house, able to look or walk inside as she wishes.
01[23:00] <Seira> "Served. Past tense. He's the splatmaster now." Seira's smile slips away. "Now tell me about the rest of you losers so I won't have to make bad puns to keep up appearances."
06[23:01] * Alicia walks in. "I think I'm close, there's a strange inky blackness seeping out of the bottom of the pit," she announces before spotting the woman. "Oh. Hello. Another idiotic servant of Shar?"
01[23:01] <Seira> "Yes! She is about to tell me where more of them could be hiding!"
[23:03] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Skittering her chair back from Alicia, "Th-they're hiding outside of town, behind rock embankments and s-s-shallow c-caverns."
[23:04] <Alicia> "And why are they hiding? Did they know we were coming?"
[23:04] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "T-they aren't strong enough...and...yes." A nod, "The superior said that those a-against the Lady may come here. We had to be vilgiant and wait to strike."
06[23:06] * Seira shakes with anger. "I. Don't. Care. Is there anyone outside this forsaken, creepy area who secretely worships Shar? Like at the palace? Or are you all conveninently gathered here?"
[23:06] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I-I-I don't know!" Blurting that out, "I don't k-know many secrets, I'm low in the temple!"
[23:08] <Alicia> "Low in the temple?" Alicia snorts. "You had to have performed a sacrifice to join though, didn't you? Who did you kill?"
[23:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "M...my...my best friend..." She whimpers at Alicia, "B-B-but I'm sorry! Don't kill me!" she blurts again.
01[23:10] <Seira> "And what the hell's up with the strange blackness thing?" Seira demands to know. "Feel free to demonstrate upon yourself as I toss you into it. Either way works for me."
[23:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "B-Blackness?" She asks back to Seira.
[23:11] <Alicia> "Did your friend beg like that?" Alicia wonders. "Bah, why don't you come with us - come see what's become of your precious Halla," she reaches over to grab the woman and haul her to her feet.
01[23:12] <Seira> "You know that program I'm running back home?" Seira asks grimly. "It wasn't designed for those like her. Everyone here is irredeemable."
[23:12] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The woman nearly pitches over, a slender young woman with shaking hands and short black hair. Donald watches, "How much of that is left now? Halla, I mean?"
[23:12] <Alicia> "Come and see for yourself," Alicia suggests as she all but drags the woman back to what's left of the manor.
[23:14] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The party heads out! They head back to the manor, going to the crater! Staring out at it, a black mist having filled up the bottom, "Oh...oh..." she stares in complete shock.
06[23:15] * Alicia casts light on a convenient rock and tosses it down, holding the woman half over the dizzying edge. "The temple's just through a little more rock - we're going to breach it in a moment and destroy it," she states matter of factly. "That's what happens to those who follow the Lady of Loss - they LOSE."
[23:15] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The rock vanishes into the mists. The mists swallows up the stone's light, leaving it lost.
[23:16] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I..." Your captive falls to her knees, crying and shaking.
01[23:17] <Seira> "I'm as ready as I'll ever be," Seira says firmly. "Let's take out their damned altar and gate, at least."
[23:17] <Alicia> "Don't run, unless you just want to go and tell those hiding in the caves that they should come out and surrender," Alicia tells her. "We'll find you if you run." With that she descends down towards the bottom of the pit, ready to hopefully make the final breach. A teleport spell is absorbed to power this last burst of spellfire.
[23:18] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Roll?
[23:19] <Alicia> OOC: do I detect any magic/evil as I near the bottom? (besides my light spell)
[23:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
05[23:20] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Infinite_Ko_Loop invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[23:20] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[23:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[23:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 19." [1d20=12]
06[23:20] * Alicia attempts to dispel the magic first of all.
[23:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[23:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 31." [1d20=19]
[19:39] <Kotono> --------------(Sharran Anti-Ko goes here)--
[19:42] <Kotono> That evening, as the others prepare to go rock Kesse's world, or hopefully do so, Demedais meets with Commander Oberuth. Pollyanna is there as well. "Alright," Oberuth begins, drinking something warm and steaming from a heavy mug, "We haven't had any luck finding things outside of Balmuria. If they're lurking, they're hiding afarfield or using means to escape our detection. So we're going to be on the defensive tonight."
06[19:46] * Demedais nods to this. "Alright. I'll be on patrol, looking mainly at the Temple of Mystra. We've asked most the other temples to supply patrols in groups of two; the Temple of Helm will also be doing such patrols. About half the temple will be partaking as such, and will be able to quickly pass message along on news of any sightings."
[19:49] <Kotono> "Good," Commander OBeruth nods briefly. "We'll be augumenting with our own nighttime patrols. I have runners about the city to get you in case Nightwalkers or other shadows appear again."
06[19:52] * Demedais nods. "My own patrol route has been submitted; if I am not at the Temple of Mystra I will be either on the main road to the Temple of Helm or at the Temple, but neither of those will be often." A look to Pollyanna, then. "Your plans?"
[19:52] <Kotono> "Go with outlying patrols and keep busy," sh esays, "By your leave, sir?"
[19:53] <Kotono> "Both of those are fi-" Oberuth begins, but there is a knock on the door. "Sir?" A private calls, "Sir? Commander?"
06[19:54] * Demedais looks to Pollyanna with some concern, before turning as the private knocks on the door, glancing to Oberuth for permission before opening the door.
[19:55] <Kotono> Oberuth nods. Demedais opens the door, the private rather red faced. "Sirs," he says, "Sorry to be disturbing you, but there's a man here who insists on seeing you. He says it's about Colonel Seira."
[19:58] <Demedais> "His name?" Demedais asks, one eyebrow raised. "And what does he look like?"
[20:00] <Kotono> "A Mr. Tura." Answering that, "That's all he's given. He's very, uh, persasive, sir." Rubbing the back of his head and blushing, "Do you want me to bring him in or send him away?"
03[20:01] * Celenu (WinNT@user-514d7c9f.l2.c2.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
06[20:01] * Demedais looks to Oberuth at this.
[20:03] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth frowns deeply, "Mr. Tura?" he takes a moment, "Give us a moment." Once the private leaves, "Do you know who Mr. Tura is?"
[20:04] <Demedais> "No. Thus my hesitation. It may be someone seeking to strike at you. Still, if this is the case, our best bet is to handle it and try to obtain more information, I suspect.
[20:05] <Kotono> "It's a Kolyarut, a creature from Mechanus. It's tried to kill Seira before." Taking a breath, "From what Countess Stronger said, it's a creature of cold logic and law."
[20:06] <Demedais> "Ah." Demedais replies, keeping tense."And what need would he have of us?"
[20:06] <Kotono> "I have no idea," Oberuth admits.
[20:07] <Kotono> "Well, if it's a hostile outsider, it'll die like the demons," Pollyanna says, almost brightly. "If need be."
06[20:07] * Demedais nods. "If need be. I'd rather not ire another faction at this point, but if need be, yes. Should I go bring him in?"
[20:08] <Kotono> "Have him brought in. Have the private do it - in case he tries something, we'll all be here," Oberuth says, going to sit back down.
06[20:08] * Demedais nods, calling to the private to bring Mr. Tura in.
[20:09] <Kotono> The private returns briefly, bringing in a sandy haired man. He smiles easily, wearing a breastplate, greaves, armguards an da traveller's gray cloak. His smile is engaging and easy as he nods to each person in the room in turn. "Commander Oberuth of the Guard. Captain Demedais," he says.
06[20:11] * Demedais nods to the man, himself prepared for hostile action but at ease nonetheless.
[20:11] <Kotono> "What do you want," Commander Oberuth leans back, his hands over his stomach. "You have assaulted one of our officers. That alone is a serious crime."
[20:13] <Kotono> "About that. I have an ultimatum for Seira." Resting just inside the doorway, "I have taken ten hostages from outlying villages in the Baronies. If Seira does not surrender herself to me, they will face punishment." After a moment, "I apologize for this having to degenerate so far, but Seira is a remarkably persistant adversary."
[20:15] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth's face turns to stone, rising up from his chair. "We will do no such thing. We have not bowed to devils or demons and we will not bow to a cold hearted piece of scrap iron and gears. As I see if, you've just confessed to multiple serious crimes."
[20:16] <Demedais> roll 1d20+14 Kolyarut?
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+14 Kolyarut? and gets 16." [1d20=2]
06[20:16] * Demedais eyes the kolyarut rather harshly. "And what has she done to merit the pursuit of someone from Mechanus?"
[20:18] <Kotono> "She has broken and blatantly disregarded serious pacts. Such wanton disregard for universal laws cannot be tolerated." Smoothly smiling even through this, "Can I take this as a no?"
[20:21] <Kotono> "We will find you, we will free your hostages in due time and we will crush you." Commander Oberuth's voice is like hardened, frozen steel. "You're a fool to have come here. Do you think we'll let you leave after confessing to all of this?"
03[20:27] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
03[20:27] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[20:28] <Demedais> "Hmph. And the pact you refer to, I suspect, is with Gurlan of the Green Castle." Demedais shakes his head, with a slight prayer to Helm. "I suspect you lack a lot of details regarding the pact, if you so willingly hunt her down for it. And to endanger those outside your quarry? Helm, but I thought you things would be better than the rest."
[20:29] <Kotono> "The details are not relevant. Only the crime is. There are no excuses to the absolute law." Now Mr. Tura turns, as if to walk out of the room. "Are you going to try to stop me from leaving?"
[20:31] <Demedais> "Very well, then." With a grimace writ large upon his face, Demedais lunges forward! OOC: Initiative, I presume?
[20:32] <Kotono> Pollyanna grabs her bow out, reacting as well! OOc - Initiative, yes.
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Mr Tura
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Mr Tura and gets 8." [1d20=3]
[20:32] <Demedais> roll 1d20+1
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+1 and gets 17." [1d20=16]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Pollyanna
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Pollyanna and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Oberuth
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Oberuth and gets 14." [1d20=8]
03[20:35] * Kotono changes topic to 'Pollyanna>Demedais>Oberuth>Mr. Tura'
[20:36] <Demedais> "Ensure he cannot cast anything!" Demedais bellows as he moves in.
[20:37] <Kotono> As Pollyanna fires off a triplet of arrows, "Guards," she calls deftly!
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32." [1d20=20]
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 17." [1d20=5]
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d8+4+16
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+4+16 and gets 25." [1d8=5]
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d8+4+1d6
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+4+1d6 and gets 10." [1d8=2][1d6=4]
[20:40] <Kotono> The arrow hits the inevitable, but barely seems to phase it at all! OOC - Demedais.
06[20:41] * Demedais lunges in, deftly moving to skewer Mr. Tura! "Protecting a thread while the tapestry falls apart... Obsessing over a brick while the castle falls to ruin. This is why I despise outsiders." The blade zags downward for a second, before screaming upward in an attempt to split the being in half!
[20:43] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19 (+2 Charge, +1 Haste, +4 Law Devotion, -5 PA)
06[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 (+2 Charge, +1 Haste, +4 Law Devotion, -5 PA) and gets 36." [1d20=17]
[20:43] <Kotono> OOC - Hit.
[20:44] <Demedais> roll 2d6+18 (Transmuting bypasses DR next round)
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 2d6+18 (Transmuting bypasses DR next round) and gets 27." [2d6=3, 6]
[20:50] <Kotono> Demedais has his sword dig into Mr. Tura's body! AS Commander Oberuth vaults his desk, running up and preparing his blade, "She has torn apart countless laws with her carelessness!" he retorts, "She has to be captured for the good of everyone! For my good!" Yet, as he begins to act, Commander Oberuth pounces!
[20:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
06[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 35." [1d20=13]
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 2d8+22+3d6
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+22+3d6 and gets 44." [2d8=4, 6][3d6=3, 5, 4]
[20:52] <Demedais> "For your good? Kch. Worthless." Demedais scowls still further.
[20:56] <Kotono> The blow is incredibly skillfull, Commander Oberuth stabbing the construct and disrupting it's robotic concentration! It staggers, "Ktch!" A gearlike grinding comes from it, the robot off balanced! As guards are seen rushing to flank Mr. Tura, hustling and with longspears drawn, "Surrender or die," Pollyanna calls, firing three more arrows skillfully!
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 19." [1d20=7]
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 22." [1d20=10]
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[20:56] <Kotono> She can't get a good shot on him, each on narrowly missing! OOC - Demedais.
06[21:05] * Demedais shakes his head and begins rending into the kolyarut, trying to eliminate the threat with haste!
[21:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19 (+1 Haste, +4 Law Devotion, -3 PA)
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 (+1 Haste, +4 Law Devotion, -3 PA) and gets 30." [1d20=11]
[21:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19 (+1 Haste, +4 Law Devotion, -3 PA)
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 (+1 Haste, +4 Law Devotion, -3 PA) and gets 29." [1d20=10]
[21:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+14 (+1 Haste, +4 Law Devotion, -3 PA)
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+14 (+1 Haste, +4 Law Devotion, -3 PA) and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[21:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+9 (+1 Haste, +4 Law Devotion, -3 PA)
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+9 (+1 Haste, +4 Law Devotion, -3 PA) and gets 15." [1d20=6]
[21:06] <Kotono> OOC - Two hits.
[21:07] <Demedais> roll 4d6+28 (Transmuting bypasses any DR)
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 4d6+28 (Transmuting bypasses any DR) and gets 41." [4d6=6, 1, 4, 2]
[21:14] <Kotono> The hail of blows staggers Tura again! It rocks back no it's heels, "Damaged...system..." his voice is more metallic now, grinding out! Oberuth is on him, ready to pounce! So surrounded, Mr. Tura tries to escape again!
[21:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 (+2 flank) Oberuth
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 (+2 flank) Oberuth and gets 33." [1d20=9]
[21:14] <Kotono> roll 2d8+22+3d6
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+22+3d6 and gets 35." [2d8=4, 1][3d6=4, 3, 1]
[21:15] <Kotono> This time it's finally too much! Slamming Wrath of the Mundane through the inevitable's chest, golden and silver gears come tearing, metal flying out! "No...the law must....Did I...miscalcu...late..." It's body falls over, clattering! IT is now a metallic creature with a breastplate over it's gear body, lying heavily on the floor. "Misca...misca...cula...The law must...alw..." Then nothing.
06[21:17] * Demedais grimaces, eyeing the inevitable. "I feel bad admitting this, but he was even more annoying than a few devils I've met and I barely got to know him." he mutters, before looking over the breastplate for magic.
[21:19] <Kotono> "A metal man? A body?' Nudging it with the toe of his boot, Oberuth kneels down to look it over. "It's like a far grander version of the trinkets from the Temple of Gond."
[21:19] <Kotono> "The law's important, but not that important," Pollyanna says, a little sadness in her voice. "What's one law when you've done so much to help the others?"
[21:20] <Kotono> The breastplate is magical.
[21:20] <Kotono> Grunting as he picks up a bit of broken gold gear, "Maybe we can melt it down at worst and salvage something for compensation. Still, more importantly, he claimed to ahve hostages. Lovely."
[21:21] <Demedais> "Furthermore, ignoring the law to support the law..." Demedais shakes his head. "How annoying. The armor is enchanted, Seira would probably like a few of the gears or the face pieces, knowing her penchant for spiting those who hunt her. I'm going to the temple of Helm to pray for guidance in finding the hostages."
[21:24] <Demedais> "I will pay for identification of the armor; tell Elle to put it on my account and I will cover it once I get over there." A pause. "I'll catch up with you later, Pollyanna, Oberuth, but for now I feel that trying to locate the hostages comes first."
[21:25] <Kotono> "Go on, we'll handle the patrols and searching with you," Oberuth says, still examining the creature.
06[21:27] * Demedais nods and departs to the Temple of Helm.
[21:28] <Demedais> OOC: At the temple, Deme will cast Divination in an attempt to determine how to get to the hostages back safely.
[21:29] <Kotono> OOC: Link me to divination?
[21:32] <Demedais> OOC: Linked in chat.
[21:34] <Kotono> Casting divination, Demedais receives the following: The hostages lie within the view of the green foam.
06[21:34] * Demedais thinks on this. Does the sea around Balmuria tend to have green foam?
[21:37] <Kotono> The bay of sparkling stars has green water, so it's possible, yes.
06[21:38] * Demedais goes to the garrison again to look at maps. Any unused buildings within sight of the sea will need to be searched, and since manpower will be lacking come nightfall he would rather try to do the search there. If Oberuth or Pollyanna is still there, he'll pass on the message.
[21:40] <Kotono> Oberuth is there. As the two look over maps, "There's a fair bit of bay to cover. Hopefully they're not so bad off as that they'll die immediately without Tura." The body is gone, having been hauled off by soldiers, as the two look over maps. "I can muster up a bit more manpower to help you speed that up, Demedais."
06[21:41] * Demedais nods. "That'd be appreciated. Thank you. Also spread out a notice anyone along the coast to keep a weather eye out for buildings that seem to have activity." Demedais shakes his head, cursing. "The arrogant bastard..."
[21:43] <Kotono> "I do wonder. I have Countess Stronger stop by while you were gone," Going tos it, "Something about this doesn't play. According to her, inevitables won't attack innocents...even if it causes a conflict in their orders."
[21:45] <Demedais> "And there was the line about 'for my good'. So it was probably corrupted or stuck in a bad deal itself." Demedais grimaces. "Still have no pity for the... thing."
[21:47] <Kotono> "I don't have much either. Still, if it's hand was forced, by whom?" Crossing his arms now, thoughtfully, "I had Countess Stronger go do some research on if this is completely true. IF it is, someone else is mucking around in this affair."
[21:50] <Demedais> "Gurlan and Esthan off the top of my head have the motivation, and Esthan's canny enough to pull this sort of thing." Demedais replies with a grimace. "Still, I don't know. I'll do my own investigation into it later. For now, I'll go commence the search; if you think of anything that matches the line 'The hostages lie within the view of the green foam', or can think of any conclusive leads behind this episode, please contact me."
[21:51] <Kotono> "I will. Go muster by the gate, I'll have the manpower meet you there." OBeruth nods.
06[21:51] * Demedais nods and heads off.
06[21:51] * Demedais salutes before he goes, of course.
[21:51] <Kotono> OOC - Skip ahead a litlte bit?
[21:52] <Demedais> OOC: Sure.
[21:52] <Kotono> OOC: It's going to be several hours of searching. Lemme pause you tsee how #dunes goes/resolve the active combat so I can focus better?
[21:53] <Demedais> OOC: Right.
[22:35] <Kotono> ---
[22:35] <Kotono> Seira returns to this room! It opens, leading into a wide, large room. There's a door on the side of this...but Seira can see practice weapons about. The floor has occasional bloodstains, as well as practice dummies. Looks like a training ground. Further, there is a sketched arcane circle in the back of it, ten feet wide.
06[22:36] * Seira casts detect magic, before getting Lagann to open the door ahead. This is no time for subtlety.
[22:41] <Kotono> The circle radiates magic. None of the weapons on display do. The door has a heavy metal lock, not that this bothers Lagann! It is ripped off the hinges head on, torn away! Inside are five things of note, all radiating magic. A wavy, curved sword, dripping fresh blood that vanishes as it falls away; a suit of armor crafted to look like a horrible demon, claws and all; a falchion in a black sheathe; a greasy looking metal knife; a grinning s
[22:41] <Kotono> rafted to look like a horrible demon, claws and all; a falchion in a black sheathe; a greasy looking metal knife; a grinning skull helmet with black eyes lined with purple.
06[22:43] * Seira hoped to catch a hiding cultists, but it seems she is to be denied. She leaves, only to head for the central northern room past the ruined altar.
[22:44] <Kotono> The first door of it opens as expected. The unholy symbol of Shar is still on the floor, like an endless void to slip into. The door ahead waits.
06[22:45] * Seira stops thirty feet from the other door, calling upon her magic to try and get it opened.
01[22:45] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 dd
06[22:45] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 dd and gets 28." [1d20=9]
[22:45] <Kotono> Click-clack! The door is ablet o be opened now.
06[22:47] * Seira comes closer, looking for a trap that might activate past the one she had just disabled.
[22:47] <Kotono> OOC: Search?
01[22:47] <Seira> OOC: 10->30
[22:47] <Kotono> The door isn't trapped now as far as Seira can tell. There's an inactive one in the wall - looks like several chakrams will come out and cut apart anyone who comes through. But since it's inactive...
06[22:48] * Seira opens it, confident in her ability to evade the traps. Or that could be what she's telling herself as she wants to kill all those still remaining in the temple and worshipping Shar.
[22:49] <Kotono> Inside is pitch blackness. Seira can see nothing - not even her darkvision helps here. It's like looking into a void that shows nothing beyond it.
01[22:49] <Seira> 'Anything beyond this?'
[22:50] <Kotono> 'Metal...metal...' Lagann replies.
01[22:50] <Seira> roll 1d20+12
06[22:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 and gets 21." [1d20=9]
01[22:51] <Seira> 'What sort?'
[22:52] <Kotono> 'Gold, iron, silver,' Lagann replies.
06[22:53] * Seira scowls, moving back. 'Get anything metal out of there. We'll see if we can send those trapped chakrams inside to destroy what's left afterwards.'
[22:55] <Kotono> Out from teh darkness comes several chunks of gold and silver, then more! A half torn apart throne is removed, as well as several more black chakrams.
06[22:55] * Seira smirks, and then summons a storm of ice inside!
[22:56] <Kotono> Ice is heard hitting down hard! Ice and frost rage, crunking and crinkling and smashing sounds! OOc - Rolld amage?
01[22:57] <Seira> roll 5d6
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 5d6 and gets 12." [5d6=3, 1, 4, 3, 1]
[22:58] <Kotono> There is a glass crack! The darkness fades. Ahead is a large room - wall mountins of chakrams are ruined, and there are the vague remnantsof a throne thirty feet ahead. Dominating behind the throne, like a massive maw arching up sixty feet, is a stairway. It goes down into the earth, thirty feet wide.
06[22:59] * Seira raises an eyebrow, and heads outside.
[23:00] <Kotono> OOC: Back to the party you maen?
01[23:00] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[18:33] <Kozzz> --------
[18:33] <Kozzz> So directed, Alicia heads to the portal. She finds it as Seira found it - about 3/4ths complete, waiting and quiet.
[18:36] <Alicia> As far as Alicia understands this should be a simple process. Standing directly in front of the portal and bracing her feet squarely on the ground, she draws the Sword of the Sealed Gate and thrusts it directly into the centre of the portal.
[18:36] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 5." [1d100=5]
03[18:40] * Sierra_Semilife is now known as Haruka
[18:40] <Kozzz> Alicia draws in the power of her Sword of the Sealed Gate! Plunging it into the gateway, the entire thing contracts on itself! It's a twisting, whirling mass spinning into nothingness, but a great light bursts around Alicia as this happens! (More)
[18:40] <Kozzz> roll 10d6
06[18:40] * Hatbot --> "Kozzz rolls 10d6 and gets 35." [10d6=6, 1, 3, 1, 1, 6, 2, 4, 5, 6]
[18:41] <Kozzz> roll 1d100
06[18:41] * Hatbot --> "Kozzz rolls 1d100 and gets 17." [1d100=17]
[18:46] <Kozzz> Ugh. Alicia's vision is hazy and shaking. Her body hurts all over. Where is she? Her eyes are blurry and don't want to work. Ugh...moving...it's hard. Very hard. But finally she blinks hard enough to dispel the haze in her vision. She's...it's...pretty here? Alicia is resting underneath a tree in the sunshine. It smells pleasant out here, rolling green hills in all directions.
06[18:47] * Alicia rubs her eyes as she props herself up, taking inventory of herself and her belongings before taking stock of her surroundings. She certainly wasn't in a pretty place last she checked.
02[18:48] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@resnet226-182.resnet.wmich.edu) Quit (back in ~20.)
[18:48] <Kozzz> All of her equipment is where it should be. Alicia is considerably hurt. HEr last wounds are still there, sa well as burn and explosive charring and chipping all over her body. Lots of bruises, too.
[18:50] <Alicia> Alas she has no means to heal herself, although a few moments of prayer should restore some measure of her healing ability - it's about that time of day by her internal clock, even if it's sunny here. Sheathing the sword of the sealed gate, she gets up and takes a look around.
[18:51] <Kozzz> It looks lik ea pastoral paradise. The hills roll justenough to be scenic without being hard to walk up and down. The warm is warm witout being hot. A soft breeze ripples by to dry Alicia's sweat. The grass is short and even, a manicured version of nature. On the horizon she can see several slender plumes of smoke - like fireplaces emitting out into the sky.
[18:52] <Alicia> OOC: assuming I've been plane shifted, knowledge to figure out where I am?
[18:52] <Kozzz> OOC: Sure.
[18:52] <Kozzz> OOC: KP.
[18:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17
06[18:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 22." [1d20=5]
[18:56] <Alicia> "At least it's not the plane of shadow..." Alicia decides that before she goes exploring this strange place, she really does have to recover in case she runs into any trouble.
[18:56] <Alicia> First of all she uses her survival pack to produce some rations, water, and a tent, then she settles down to spend a few minutes praying to her goddess, restoring her divinely granted abilities through communion with the Mother of All Magic.
[19:01] <Kozzz> REst and eating goes without incident. Alicia feels a little better with recover and food in her stomach.
06[19:03] * Alicia heals herself with her regained lay on hands ability before settling down to rest for eight hours. She doesn't plan on travelling through an unknown locale without having her spells available. "Hell Striker, wake me if anyone approaches," she instructs her sword after crawling into the tent, electing to wear her armour while resting.
[19:03] <Kozzz> roll 1d100
06[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Kozzz rolls 1d100 and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[19:05] <Kozzz> Eight hours pass like the blink of an eye. Alicia falls dead asleep, a sleep of pleasant dreams. She dreams of her lost husband almost exclusively - a vividness unknown in recent times savef for one night resting in a temple to Sune, of sorts. The dreams start innocent, but turn towards the intimate easily, a hot haze of memories. Nonetheless, Alicia awakens after several hours of sleep feeling restored.
03[19:07] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-236-183-253.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
[19:08] <Alicia> Such bittersweet memories... Alicia finds herself wondering if she's in Sune's realm as she breaks camp. She would have expected something more wild, though... "I don't suppose you recognise this place, do you?" she asks her sentient sword.
[19:08] <Kozzz> OOC: Have Hell STriker roll K:P?
02[19:08] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-236-183-253.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
03[19:09] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-236-183-253.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
[19:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 15." [1d20=8]
[19:10] <Kozzz> 'No,' Hell Striker replies.
[19:11] <Alicia> "Oh well, hopefully we'll get some answers over there," Alicia gestures towards the smoke-plumes in the distance, starting to walk towards them at a brisk pace.
[19:14] <Kozzz> As Alicia walks, the sun begins to set. IT sets into a magnificient haze of reds, golds and yellows, like a sunset in perfection. The hills are peaceful and quiet, the light strong despite the sunset. Going over several hills takes an hour and some change, but at last she ascends one to get a view. Ahead is a small, peaceful village. Gorgeous cabins and houses dot the land here, decadently beautiful and well crafted. Each would be a masterpi
[19:14] <Kozzz> Gorgeous cabins and houses dot the land here, decadently beautiful and well crafted. Each would be a masterpiece in the upper quarter of a wealthy city. There are gardens around the town, as well as a large artificial lake, lined with stone. People are dotted here and there - almost always two, usually a man and a woman, though there are a few exceptions. People lounge about, talking or whispering, or hugging or cuddling or other things alo
[19:14] <Kozzz> talking or whispering, or hugging or cuddling or other things along those lines.
06[19:16] * Alicia chuckles to herself. Definitely Sune's realm. Well, she has a newfound respect for Lady Firehair, and it's certainly a tonic after spending time with those Sharrans. She walks up to the village quite openly, hoping the residents won't be put off by her martial appearance.
02[19:17] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-236-183-253.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (bing bing bing pt.2)
[19:18] <Kozzz> As Alicia approaches, a man comes out of one of the houses. He is stunningly beautiful, as if crafted by Sune herself. He is atheletic and lithe, wearing white pants and little else. His brown hair is shoulder length, his eyes sparkling. "Ho, traveller," he calls to Alicia, hurrying to meet her before she reaches the city.
[19:20] <Alicia> "Hello," Alicia nods pleasantly in return as she approaches him. "Would you be the welcoming committee?"
[19:21] <Kozzz> "Oh, of sorts," he laughs warmly, "I'm Gregory." Offering a hand out with a flashing smile, "You look like you've come a long way, knight of Mystra."
03[19:21] * Kozzz is now known as Kotono
06[19:23] * Alicia takes his hand and gives it a firm shake. "I suppose I have, although really I've only been walking for an hour. Alicia Reynes," she introduces herself. "I was sealing a portal to the plane of shadow when there was an accident. Since I'm not in Dweomerheart, and still have all my possessions, I'll assume I was transported here whole rather than simply killed."
[19:23] <Kotono> "Yes, I can see you're still wounded. I have some potions and tonics in my house that would treat the rest of your wounds," he offers. "I can offer you a hot meal while you're there as well."
[19:24] <Alicia> "Very generous of you," Alicia smiles. "Though I have my suspicions, why don't you help me out and tell me exactly where I am while we're at it?"
[19:25] <Kotono> "You're in Passendaele." Smiling now, "We can talk more once we get you mended up. Your wounds must be paining you so." Above, the sunset holds in perfect brilliance, no sign of it ending or going away.
[19:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 planes, that name mean anything?
06[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 planes, that name mean anything? and gets 19." [1d20=2]
[19:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 why not
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 why not and gets 16." [1d20=9]
[19:28] <Alicia> "You get used to it," Alicia admits with a shrug as she follows him along. "What plane are we on, by the way?"
[19:30] <Kotono> "Clearheart. It's a place of rest and recovery and togetherness," he answers warmly.
[19:30] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 planes, does this name mean anything?
06[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 planes, does this name mean anything? and gets 20." [1d20=3]
[19:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 planes, does this name mean anything to my sword?
06[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 planes, does this name mean anything to my sword? and gets 11." [1d20=4]
03[19:32] * DoomKo (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #evildunes
03[19:32] * DoomKo is now known as Anastasia
03[19:32] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Anastasia Anastasia
[19:32] <Alicia> "Don't think I've ever heard of that one," Alicia furrows her brow briefly. "Oh well, I'm not sure I'll stay too long - I don't suppose you know any portals back to the prime near here?"
[19:33] <Anastasia> "I'm afraid not, but I can find out," he offers as the two walk. "But come," He takes Alicia's hand with a warms mile, "You have so many worries on your shoulders, it shows. Thsi is a place to rest."
06[19:35] * Alicia lets her hand be taken as she strolls along with Gregory. "Yes, well, I was in the middle of fighting my way through a Sharran temple before I wound up here." She shudders briefly, "It's not the sort of thing that encourages a carefree mindset."
[19:35] <Anastasia> "Oh Gods," he openly frowns at that, leading Alicia along. The city is so pleasant, smelling like life and flowers and spicy aromatic things. "Yes, you certainly need rest and recovery now." OOC - MAke a spot check?
[19:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 23." [1d20=16]
02[19:37] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[19:38] <Alicia> 'Hell Striker, do you sense anything... odd about these people?' Alicia queries, affecting a nonchalant demeanour as she likewise checks for evil in the vicinity.
[19:39] <Anastasia> 'Evil. Evil overwhelming,' It reports. When Alicia detects evil, she can see that almost everyone here has it. Strong or overwhelming for about half, and some of the toehrs rage from faint to moderate. A few here and there aren't evil, but those are rare islands.
[19:41] <Alicia> This is bad. Very very bad. Alicia's inner monologue becomes very dour as she elects to simply go along with Gregory for the moment. Better that they don't realise she's onto them just yet, since a fight here would do her no good at all.
[19:42] <Anastasia> Alicia is lead into a gorgeous house. She is taken into a room with a divan, Gregory leading her to it. It's soft and passion red, "You can take off your armor if you want," he offers. "The healing tonics are just over here."
[19:45] <Alicia> Once the door is closed, Alicia sidles up to Gregory. "I've got a better idea," she suggests, smiling winsomely while letting her attention-getting holy aura dissipate.
[19:47] <Anastasia> He smiles right back, "Tell you what then...I can massage a healing lotion into your skin," he offers, squeezing Alicia's hand. "Just let me take awa your suffering first."
[19:50] <Alicia> "Hmm... maybe," Alicia slides her hand free of his to trail it up his chest as she stares into his eyes... before abruptly moving with fluid grace to reach around and draw her sword, whipping it down to the side since there's so little space between them and having the blade rest close to his neck. "Or instead you could do everything I say so that I don't kill you? How does that sound instead?"
[19:53] <Anastasia> "Aaaah..." Smiling without pause, "I see you're perceptive, KNight of Mystra. But you misunderstand, my words are entirely sincere." Eyes trialing to the left, where a cherry wood cabinet rests, "Go in there and help yourself to the healing potions if you doubt me."
[19:53] <Anastasia> OOC: Make a will save?
[19:53] <Alicia> OOC: thanks for the spellfire, bitch
[19:53] <Anastasia> OOC: One level.
[19:55] <Alicia> "Not right now, no," Alicia replies. "From all the succubi around here it's fairly plain that I'm on the Abyss - though it has to be said, it's very pleasant as such places go, so I'll give you that much. But I don't especially plan to stay long."
[19:57] <Anastasia> "That's right. I apologize for lying to you, but I did not want to startle you away. This is the realm of Shendilavri, realm of pleasure and of Queen Malcanthet. But you needen't branish your blade, we are not fighters here. I had no intention of harming you."
[19:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 what do I know about Mal-chan?
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 what do I know about Mal-chan? and gets 18." [1d20=1]
[20:02] <Alicia> "Sure, sure," Alicia sounds far from convinced. "You'd just screw me to death, that's all. Look, I've dealt with demons before, so don't bother pretending to be harmless - you're probably in telepathic communication with several others right now, just waiting to jump me."
[20:03] <Anastasia> "If you want sex, it can be without draining your life force," spreading his hands with a smile, "We're not vulgar vrocks or mad mariliths or brutish balors here. We celebrate love in all it's passionate forms."
06[20:07] * Alicia laughs lightly, though Hell Striker doesn't even quiver. "You're a charmer, I'll give you that. But fiends don't really do it for me, even if they're disguised as handsome men. How about you tell me how to get off this plane?"
[20:09] <Anastasia> "A portal out? Why, the Puzzling Hedge, of course," HE smiles radiantly, "Come, sit down and I'll tell you about it, for it has special rules to it and an enforcer few would like to engage."
[20:11] <Alicia> "Yes, specifically, where does it lead to?" Alicia wonders, stepping back. "Go ahead and sit down if you like, but you'll forgive me for not wanting to cuddle."
[20:14] <Anastasia> Going to sit, "I forgive you," he smiles, "It leads to the Endless Staircase. I'll be glad to tell you how to navigate that place if you're willing to calm down and relax."
[20:16] <Alicia> "I'm relaxed," Alicia assures him with a serene smile, her sword still held firmly. "But carry on. The more helpful you are the more likely I'll peacefully be on my way instead of just tearing this place apart looking for a way out."
[20:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 endless staircase?
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 endless staircase? and gets 22." [1d20=5]
[20:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 why not
06[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 why not and gets 11." [1d20=4]
[20:21] <Anastasia> "The Endless Staircase can take you anywhere you want, from the Abyss to other realms. But...it's dangerous to get there and dangerousin it," Smiling easily now, "It's quite hazardous, moreso than this fair realm."
[20:23] <Alicia> "I don't know, I think I can appreciate danger that's a bit more up-front about things," Alicia reasons. "Alright, so how do I get there?"
[20:27] <Anastasia> "You have to to travel to the west through a forest to reach it," Gregory answers, "A guide is preferable." Smiling now, "I'd be glad to offer my services."
[20:28] <Alicia> "I'm sure you would," Alicia replies with a saccharine smile. "Why don't you show me the real you, then?"
Session Close: Sat Jan 17 20:31:33 2009
Session Start: Sat Jan 17 20:31:33 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[20:31] * Disconnected
02[20:32] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[20:32] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[20:32] * Topic is 'Pollyanna>Demedais>Oberuth>Mr. Tura'
03[20:32] * Set by Kotono on Thu Jan 15 20:39:14
02[20:33] * Seira (~corwin@bzq-79-181-11-248.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Marianne))
03[20:33] * Marianne is now known as Seira
03[20:33] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[20:34] <Alicia> "I'm sure you'd settle for breaking my heart," Alicia deadpans. "Though I can thank the Abyss for the small mercy that you weren't engaging in cross-gender polymorphing."
[20:35] <Anastasia> "REally?" With an even smile, "If that's what you prefer, merely say the word and Ic an send your heart racing."
[20:38] <Alicia> "Like I said, fiends aren't my type," Alicia repeats. "So what can I expect to find in this Puzzling Hedge?"
[20:46] <Anastasia> "
[20:47] <Anastasia> "It's a large garden hedge maze. It wanders and twists, you must reach the center to find the portal. However, it's far from lacking in dangerous...and there is a risk for cheaters who would fly or attempt to circumvent the hedge's design."
[20:48] <Alicia> "The Abyss punishing rule-breakers? Whatever next," Alicia rolls her eyes. "Okay, what sort of dangers are we talking about, then?"
[20:57] <Anastasia> "Well..." Smiling serenely now, "Why don't you look outside of the room?" Gregory suggests. "I invited several of my friends over to meet you. We can all talk about it like civilized people."
[20:59] <Alicia> "And here I thought you wanted me all to yourself," Alicia sighs, moving towards the corner facing the door. "Go ahead and invite your friends in, so long as things stay civilised."
[21:01] <Anastasia> The door opens with nary a word! They come in - about a dozen of them, impossibly shapely men and women. All beyond perfect, all heart rendingly beautiful. It's the sort of inhuman beauty Antenora or angels have at times, the human form extended to lengths that normal flesh cannot reach. The most any wear are tight clothes, though some forsake even that. They all have bat-wings, looking on at Alicia apprasingly. "Oh, noble hero," A femal
[21:01] <Anastasia> They all have bat-wings, looking on at Alicia apprasingly. "Oh, noble hero," A female one suckles on a finger, "You're so tense, like you're in a far less pleasing place!" (More)
[21:01] <Anastasia> Another male one, with red hair and eyes, "Why don't you take your armor off? I'll give you a backrub. No draining, I promise," he smiles with white teeth, like ivory.
[21:04] <Alicia> "A dozen? Either I do look fearsome, or my reputation has preceded me," Alicia smiles tersely in greeting to the new arrivals. "I'm used to demons launching foolhardy attacks without regard for their safety, but since if I kill any of you here then you face oblivion I'm hoping that'll encourage everyone to stay polite."
[21:05] <Anastasia> "Oh yes," A pouty lipped blonde puts her hands on her full hips, "None of us want that." Chuckling now, "You're a cute one, too, for a mortal warrior. No need for hostility."
[21:05] <Anastasia> The redhead laughs as well, "I'll be as polite as you want me to be, fair lady."
[21:06] <Anastasia> Gregory smiles, going to sit on the divan. "Now then....why don't you put your sword down and rest here a time, hero? There's so many of us here who want nothing more than to make your every wish come true."
06[21:07] * Alicia sighs. "Right now, my only wish is to return to the Prime Material," she tells them. "I'm sadly getting the impression that you'd all far prefer to enjoy my company here on a more long-term basis."
[21:11] <Anastasia> "Naturally," Gregory smiles, "You're a lovely, willful flower that's fallen to us. Why resist it? In a day here we can introduce you to pleasures you've never dreamed of. Give us a day and you'll find a life you'll never want to abandon.
[21:11] <Anastasia> "
[21:14] <Alicia> "I have obligations I don't particularly want to neglect..." Alicia decides a different tack might get their cooperation. "Besides, if I were to stay here then it would surely mar your peaceful facade when Shar's undead shadows and Martinet's diabolical agents came looking for me, wouldn't it? It would be best for us all if you helped me leave."
[21:15] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+14
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+14 and gets 16." [1d20=2]
[21:15] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19
[21:15] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+32
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+19 and gets 36." [1d20=17]
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+32 and gets 36." [1d20=4]
[21:16] <Anastasia> The redhead spekas now, "Oh, you have some fearsome enemies. But you needen't worry," Smiling as he appraoches Alicia, smiling full of honey and silk, "No devil or shadow Goddess can violate Malcanthet's realm. But if you insist..." Smiling, "Gregory offered you a guide? I'll arrainge for you the best guide possible, for a small price."
06[21:17] * Alicia shifts back slightly. "Go on?" she replies dubiously.
[21:18] <Anastasia> "Spend that day with us. 24 hours...if you can honestly say you want to leavea fter that, I'll personally guide you," he says, "I can guarantee your safety to the Puzzling Hedge."
[21:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 sense motive, trying to get a feel for this one's stature in the group based on how they've all been acting since showing up
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 sense motive, trying to get a feel for this one's stature in the group based on how they've all been acting since showing up and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[21:21] <Alicia> "Just spend the day?" Alicia asks, eyeing him. "No obligations on what I do while here? You won't use any magical charms or compulsions on me?"
[21:22] <Anastasia> "We won't fog your mind, but let's spend it doing...enjoyable things," His smile is quite telling in it's way, his eyes on Alicia. "If you can do that, sample our life and still walk away...then you'll win and get the prize I agreed to."
06[21:26] * Alicia is conflicted. On one hand it's probably her best shot at getting out of here. On the other, these are demons and not devils - there's no way to know if they'll stick to their word. Besides which... "I don't spread my legs for just anyone, least of all someone I've just met," she remarks, looking at the handsome fiend through hooded eyes.
[21:30] <Anastasia> He smiles winsomely, face open. "I'm sure that by the end of the time you'll have a far more...enlightened point of view."
[21:36] <Alicia> "Hmm... alright, I'll go along with it for now," Alicia hedges. "But if I have to I'll leave and find my own way out of here." Surely her virtue can withstand such puerile temptations, at any rate.
[21:51] <Anastasia> "Good," Gregory smiles, "But first, let's pick up where we left off. It won't do for you to be in pain for the rest of this day."
[21:53] <Alicia> "Right... healing potions," Alicia replies dubiously, glancing towards the cherrywood cabinet. "What's your real name, anyway? Gregory doesn't really sound very demonic."
[21:54] <Anastasia> "But it's far more agreeable for you to say," he says, going and getting several blue, green and purple potions out. "Grengrath." Theo thers come close to Alicia, a few tugging lightly at her armor. "Come, sit down," A pretty brunette girl says, impersonating Antenora at the volcano rather nicely with her lack of attire.
[21:55] <Alicia> "Please, there's no need to paw at me so," Alicia insists as she slips away from the grabby hands, finally slinging Hell Striker on her back once more. She's reasonably confident they at least won't attack her while she's going along with their plan.
[21:56] <Anastasia> "But it's fun to paw," The blonde whines, while the red head settles back, watching. Coming back, Gregory offers her several potions. "Drink these."
[21:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+11 sense motive for any bad feelings before I imbibe the 'healing' potions?
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+11 sense motive for any bad feelings before I imbibe the 'healing' potions? and gets 24." [1d20=13]
06[22:01] * Alicia looks around her pleasant hosts for a moment after accepting the potions. If things are going to go badly, this would be a good place to start. "Bottom's up," she hazards, popping the top off one and tossing it back.
[22:02] <Anastasia> roll 3d8+5
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 3d8+5 and gets 20." [3d8=2, 8, 5]
[22:03] <Anastasia> As Alicia drinks, a finger darts forward from Gregory. It gets an errant drop of potion from Alicia's lips on his fingers. He licks it off his fingers, locking eyes with Alicia, "That's a good start," he says, shifting and using his other hand to pass Alicai another potion. "You feel better already, don't you?"
[22:05] <Alicia> "Yes, I can't fault your apothecary, at least," Alicia allows as her scrapes and bruises fade away, proceeding to down another potion.
[22:05] <Anastasia> roll 3d8+5
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 3d8+5 and gets 17." [3d8=3, 5, 4]
[22:06] <Anastasia> This purple potion chases away more of Alicia's pains! "Here, another," Gregory offers, eyes burning bright. "See? We're not interested in flaying the flesh from your bones. You need not be so defensive."
[22:07] <Anastasia> The blonde giggles, as a blonde haired male one twitches his wings, "Being defensive is cute," he opines, gliding closer, Alicia surrounded. "You're such an attention getter."
[22:08] <Alicia> "Perhaps you just want my flesh to be pristine before you flay it?" Alicia retorts with a teasing smile, deciding that if she wants to get through this she needs to take charge instead of passively going along with whatever they plan. Knocking back the next potion she goes on, "The more pure and beautiful a thing is, the more satisfying it is to corrupt? Or so I've heard, anyway."
[22:09] <Anastasia> roll 3d8+5
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 3d8+5 and gets 22." [3d8=7, 3, 7]
[22:13] <Anastasia> Alicia is now fully restored. Gregory chuckles there, a dark, dusky smile. "Maaaybe. But your stunningness has nothing to do with that. Truly, you are a captivating woman. You've had a long trip on the path here - a cooling swim would do much to restore you."
[22:17] <Alicia> "Maybe in a bit," Alicia allows. "But why don't we talk more first?" she suggests. "I've made close acquaintance with eladrins, archons, and even one particularly nice devil, but you're the first demons who've really shown interest in pleasantries. I wouldn't mind a chance to understand what makes you tick," she concludes with an engaging smile as she puts the empty potion bottles aside.
[22:19] <Anastasia> OOC: MAke a diplo check?
[22:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28
06[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 and gets 46." [1d20=18]
[22:29] <Anastasia> Alicia is surrounded. The blonde male starts to gently stroke her shoulders, as the brunette stunner nuzzles against Alicia's other side. "Well then, we can talk a little and then bathe," he agrees, "It's not all about hateful destructino...there's a time and a place for...pleasure." His smile is so smooth, so tempting in it's way.
06[22:35] * Alicia doesn't resist their invasion of her personal space, which inspires awkward conflicting feelings. "Pleasure is nice," she agrees, "Although I'd imagine the tanar'ri way would be to take it rather than share it, no?"
[22:37] <Anastasia> "Oh, there are...exceptions, like here," Smiling, as the man rubs Alicia's shoulder, whispering hot words into her ears, "Let me take off your armor, so that I can massage you," he says, while the woman continues to stay close to her. Gregory continues to speak at this, "Queen Malcanthet understands that pleasure cannot be horded all to one person."
[22:41] <Alicia> "A curiously enlightened viewpoint," Alicia concedes, wishing Marie was here. She did fine debating morality with Antenora since they at least had some common ground to work with, but she really has no clue how to relate to demons.
[22:41] <Alicia> Shifting a bit to allow access to the straps holding her armour on, she continues, "Still, we can't pursue pleasure to the exclusion of all else, otherwise you might as well be living in a dream."
[22:42] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+21
06[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+21 and gets 30." [1d20=9]
[22:43] <Anastasia> Slowly her armor is removed, placed gently onto the floor. His hands go over her shoulders, instantly loosening her muscles. Tension is wrung out of her body shoulders first, then her upper back. His touch is deft and skilled, pleasurably relaxing. "There are the Outer Planes," Gregory spreads his arms wide, "Time isn't relevant to us like it is to mortalkind. We are forever...we can live that dream."
[22:44] <Anastasia> The woman bobs up and down as the armor goes off, before gently starting to rub Alicia's arm, showing much the same skill as the man. "You should sit down," she whispers into Alicia's ear, "Or lie down. It's nicer that way."
06[22:47] * Alicia sits down, not resisting the admittedly skilled massage she's getting. "You have talented hands," she remarks, briefly taking hold of one and pressing the pad of her index finger on a clawed fingertip. "It must require a great deal of care."
[22:47] <Alicia> That digression aside, she continues the debate after sitting. "But in a dream you can't affect anything else. You're powerless - irrelevant to the universe that leaves you behind. Which must be why you take such interest in your guests such as myself, hmmm?"
[22:49] <Anastasia> "Yes," he leans into whisper in Alicia's ear again, "I've trained very well." He continues to work, going lower down Alicia's back. Her tension disspates, her body like putty. Gregory chuckles at that, and the blonde giggles and then speaks, jiggling all the way. "Aaaw. That's such a strange way of saying that we're happy to see you."
[22:50] <Anastasia> Taking over, "There's power...but the rest of the world isn't important here. Just you." As Alicia is massaged, Gregory goes to sit next to her. The other succubi surround her, sitting in a loose circle about her.
[22:53] <Alicia> "Of course you are," Alicia agrees with the blonde. "By bending me to your will you're given a chance to exercise your will instead of simply staying within a pleasurable dream-like stupor. I saw others outside that aren't demons, and I'm sure they were brought here for the same reason, right?"
[22:56] <Anastasia> "To experience pleasure," As the massaging man reaches around to Alicia's front, working her stomach, Gregory continues. "How much do you know of the planes, hero?"
[23:01] <Alicia> So long as his hands don't go up or down, Alicia will tolerate it... for now. "I've visited Elysium, Celestia, the Elemental Plane of Water, and Baator," she admits. "Since most of my enemies come from that pit of tyranny, I've made it a point to study up." No harm in making it clear she's on bad terms with their hated baatezu enemies, right?
[23:01] <Alicia> "But the point I'm making is that there's more important things than simple pleasure. For you it's dominating others, keeping them enraptured with your not inconsiderable charms. And likewise I have things I must do that prevent abandonment to absolute hedonism - enemies I must defeat, friends I must protect, mysteries I must solve."
[23:01] <Alicia> "We all have that drive to affect the universe in some way, and that's why I can't stay here." Besides the fact that demons are utterly abhorrent creatures. But she's trying to be reasonable so long as they are, so no sense being unpleasant.
[23:04] <Anastasia> "I see, I see," The hands go up just a little, ever so close to Alicia's bosom. They restrain, if just baaaarely. "No wonder you're so resistant. You're dreadfully driven. You have to be, for a mortal to opose those devils." Making a disgusted face, "They've dominated you so far that you're not even receptive to pleasure anymore. You're so worried, you had so much tension on you. Perhaps so...but would dalliances hurt you, either?"
[23:04] <Anastasia> Perhaps so...but would dalliances hurt you, either?"
[23:05] <Anastasia> The woman starts rubbing Alicia's side and back now, resting her head on Alicia's shoulder. "Mmm, you're nice for a mortal girl," she says, "Most are filthy cows, but you're not."
[23:06] <Anastasia> The blonde giggles again, "Honestly, I thought you could use a good time when I saw you," she admits, "When's the last time you've had any fun?"
06[23:07] * Alicia shifts to keep her breasts out of reach, cursing herself for feeling far too comfortable with these friendly fiends. "That's kind of you to say," she briefly smiles at the blonde. "The one personable devil I ever met said something similar. But you can't blame the baatezu for my reluctance," she waggles a finger briefly.
[23:07] <Alicia> "I just prefer not to get too intimate with people I just met." Or demons. Whatever.
[23:08] <Alicia> OOC: the 'kind of you to say' remark was at the one saying I'm not a cow, not the one saying I need to get laid
[23:10] <Anastasia> "Then we'll have to get friendier," the blonde huffs, jiggling away again. She comes to Alicia's front, stroking her cheek, before she switches positions with the blonde man, who smiles at her as they lock eyes. The woman starts massaging just where the man left off, just this side of decent.
[23:11] <Anastasia> "You need to open up more, then. There's an an entire existance for you to expereience," Gregory says with almost cheerfulness. "What's a life lived without any joy and fun?"
[23:15] <Alicia> "My, you are persistent..." Alicia raises her gaze a moment, praying to Mystra that she'll get out of this with her life and her self-respect. "I have fun," she then asserts. "I stay busy, but I have good companions to provide me with joy and fun when I'm not fighting for my life." Cocking her head and regarding Grengrath,
[23:15] <Alicia> "But you're right about there being an entire existence to experience. So I can't stay cooped up on one plane, can I?" Inspiration hits as she recalls some of Marie's diatribes on her ethos. "A gilded cage, no matter how fine, is still a cage. I'd think such free-spirited beings as yourself would understand that better than any."
[23:17] <Anastasia> "Yes...and I'm worried you're living in your own cage," Grengrath answers, as Alicia's top is touched briefly. The woman seems to just be teasing, maybe even an accident. "Why don't you tell me about them a little?"
[23:17] <Anastasia> The blonde succubus whispers gently, leaning forward, "So pretty. If I did'nt know better, I'd mistake you as one of us. How did a mortal find such appeal?"
[23:25] <Alicia> "A healthy diet and lots of exercise," Alicia replies, suppressing a twitch as the succubus gets a bit too close to her bathing suit area. "Anyway, most of my friends are probably too orderly for you to appreciate, although I am fond of a charming little eladrin I know, and a rather unpredictable half-dragon."
[23:26] <Anastasia> "Those sound bearable," Grengraths miles, as the male succubus in front of Alicia studies into her eyes, as if staring into her soul. His yees are deep, like pools of seduction. As she is rubbed up in her normally off limits areas again, gently and briefly, the woman whispers, "Relaaax," she purrs. "We're all friends here."
[23:26] <Anastasia> "Still though..." He considers, "You did fall into trouble with the devils. That is unfortunate," Grengrath adds.
[23:28] <Alicia> "Ahaha!" Alicia scoots back a bit. "That's a little too intimate for friends," she protests after having her chest fondled. Looking to Grengrath she siezes on that topic, "Yes, I'd heard of a berserk pit fiend who had taken on the aspect of a balor was causing no end of trouble in Hell - Zquujaj, I believe, but they still seem quite able to expend effort on harassing me and mine."
03[23:30] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-236-183-253.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
[23:30] <Anastasia> Tsking, "Aaaw," The female smiles easily at that, letting Alicia have her space. The man doesn't, scooting to Alicia's side ands tarting on her shoulders again. "I heard stories about that, but...aaaah. We should deal with such affairs after a bathing. We can talk more after and over a warm meal."
[23:32] <Alicia> She probably can't stall much longer, but hopefully she's proving herself sufficiently interesting company for them not to kill out of hand. Or at least try to kill, since she's certain she could escape if it came to that, but she sadly has nowhere to escape to. "I suppose I am a bit grimy after wading through that Sharran filth," she admits.
[23:36] <Anastasia> The succubi stand up, "Let's go," The blonde giggles. OOC - Move along a bit?
[23:36] <Alicia> OOC: yes, though I shall defend my virtue with vigour if it comes to that, and also keep my belongings in sight within my backpack
[23:39] <Anastasia> The stone lined lake is vast. Here mortals and demons play, gorgeous and none with at hing on. The other succubi seem content to join this, perfect bodies tempting Alicia, all so close, lingering close to her. There is a fresh scent in the air here, a scent that stirs in the lower part of her stomach. Gregory stays close as the others slide or jump into the water. "Come," he says, "Put aside your clothes and gear and join us. "
[23:39] <Anastasia> "Put aside your clothes and gear and join us. "
[23:44] <Alicia> There's not really much point being modest, although Alicia will be rather vulnerable without most of her magical attire. She proceeds to strip off, starting with her cloak, boots, and bracers, which are neatly folded up and placed by her backpack by the shore, along with Hell Striker. Then she peels off the black leggings and shirt she favours, before finally removing her undergarments.
[23:45] <Anastasia> The succubi look on, appreciative. "You're lovely for a mortal," Gregory says, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You carry too many weights on your body and mind and soul."
[23:46] <Anastasia> "You do need to...loosen up," The blonde giggles headily at that, blushing red.
[23:48] <Alicia> Certainly the weight of age is starting to have an effect on Alicia, unlike these impossibly perky fiends... still, she keeps in good shape and isn't one to get disheartened over losing some of her youthful lustre. "I keep myself trim," she smiles briefly, fighting the urge to cover herself up with her hands as being pointless.
[23:48] <Alicia> Starting to step into the water, she teases the blushing (yeah right, as if that could be sincere) blonde, "Being loose isn't an ideal quality in a woman, is it?"
[23:48] <Anastasia> Smiling, "Oh, true. But you could use someonet rying to make you that way," she teases back, as Gregory goes with her.
[23:52] <Alicia> "Point," Alicia concedes. She can't really dispute that love and sex are nice things, so she's rather lacking in points to argue against right now.
[23:52] <Alicia> Certainly she can remind herself that these lovely succubi have all surely betrayed and murdered countless poor mortals, but saying that would just provoke a fight that wouldn't really get her anything. "I suppose natural shapeshifting makes it easy to have whatever physical dimensions you need?"
[23:54] <Anastasia> There's a bunch of laughs there and knowing looks, Gregory stepping in behind her, starting to play with her shoulders and hair. "Oh yes. We can give you...anything you want. Anything," he whispers, "Any fantasy, any desire. All for your bliss and pleasure. Whenever you want."
[23:55] <Anastasia> The blonde male just smiles knowingly as well, while the blonde female stays close to Alicia's front.
[23:57] <Alicia> "I'm fine with you keeping your natural forms," Alicia offers, keeping herself moving in the water so she can't be felt up too easily. "No need to pretend to be something you're not, after all," she adds pointedly.
[23:58] <Anastasia> They stay close to her, swimming. Their flesh touches against hers all over, little smooth frictions here and there. The sunset above is utterly gorgeous, the smell in the air a gentle, constant stirring of the abdomen, enough to almost bring light headedness if one breathes too deep. (More)
[23:58] <Anastasia> "Playing pretend can be superb fun," The blonde huffs, "It's not pretend if magic does it, anyway."
[23:59] <Anastasia> The red headed male, having been silent for a long time and keeping a distance, speaks here. "Does that matter to you? Things being real and true?"
Session Time: Sun Jan 18 00:00:00 2009
[00:01] <Alicia> "An unpleasant truth is better than a charming lie," Alicia nods. ""Well, it must be a pain for all of you to constantly put on an act for your paramours," Alicia replies. "I'm
[00:01] <Alicia> OOC: ack, strike
[00:02] <Alicia> "An unpleasant truth is better than a charming lie," Alicia nods. "Besides, it must be a pain for all of you to constantly put on an act for your paramours," she shrugs, "I've seen enough of the planes that you needn't worry about that with me."
[00:04] <Anastasia> "In a way, you're right. The truth is always at least always true, as long as you believe it's true," The red head says, as if pondering the words. While he waxes poetic, the blonde male swims next to Alicia, looking over at her. "So pretty..." he breathes, "You're so perfect. You should've been born to a better lot with this radiant appeal."
[00:04] <Anastasia> As the brunette girl splashes a little water on Alicia, "Too perfect to be so tense and wordy."
06[00:07] * Alicia cocks her head at the brunette and smiles. "Like I said before, I enjoy conversation," she states simply before turning to the blonde male fiend, "Better than human?" she arches an eyebrow. "We're not the dominant species on the Prime for nothing, you know."
[00:08] <Anastasia> "Perhaps..." His smile is long and teasing, "Can I worship your perfection," he asks gently, "Like a Goddess come to receive the worship of her loving followers?"
[00:10] <Alicia> "Heh... you've got a silvered tongue, but if all you cared for was physical perfection you'd surely be better served to pursue one of your colleagues," she swims around to put the brunette female succubus between him and her.
[00:11] <Anastasia> The brunette turns to Alicia, looking her over ravishingly, hungrily. "You do yourself disservice," she says, "I second him."
[00:11] <Anastasia> The red head manuvers behind Alicia, his voice ever so tempting. "Let us worship you here."
[00:12] <Anastasia> Gregory swims towards Ailcia's side, "That sounds like the best idea I've heard today," h e says. "Worship you from everywhere."
[00:14] <Alicia> Oh dear. Alicia seems to have put herself in a rather precarious situation. Part of her is even tempted - they're surely very talented, after all. But she's sufficiently wilful as to keep her wits.
[00:14] <Alicia> "Has anyone ever told you all that you have one-track minds?" she asks, diving under the water and swimming beneath them before popping back up outside the circle of succubi. "You're all probably hundreds of years older than me, yet you act like hormone-driven teenagers."
[00:16] <Anastasia> This gives Alicia an amazingly good look at what the water barely hides. They're...uh...talented is a good word. Talented indeed. Wow. "We just want to bring you pleasure," Gregory says with his own soft smile, "How nice was our touch? Besides...if you're so strong a will, surely you can indulge and still be able to go on your merry way of fighting the baazetu tomorrow?" The blonde woman swims towards Alicia, bat wings flicking water abo
[00:17] <Anastasia> he blonde woman swims towards Alicia, bat wings flicking water about. "It's just so fun! You should have fun with us too. Come on, breath as deep as you can and relax. Just nod and let us worship you."
[00:20] <Alicia> "Oh, I wouldn't dream of denying your skill at the carnal arts," Alicia shakes her head as she treads water, slowly backing off. "But I'm not interested in a tawdry fling, far less an orgy. Sex for me is something only to be shared with a trusted lover. Though were I less inhibited I'm sure I could do far worse than... any of you." Oh my this is awkward.
[00:21] <Anastasia> Back Alicia goes, the succubi swimming around Alicia. "That's your problem," Gregory insists, as the demons go to try and surround her again. "Your cage, it's keeping you boxed in and away from pleasure."
[00:22] <Anastasia> "We just wnat to help you get out of it," The blonde girl jiggles and giggles at once. "Break it wide open."
[00:23] <Alicia> "Ah, but the pleasure is even greater when it's combined with true love and affection," Alicia insists. "Reducing it to a mere physical act robs it of its meaning!"
[00:23] <Anastasia> The blonde male stays a little back, "An entire new world of bliss," he says, "You'll love us, I'm certain. I'll show you a whole other world of new meaning."
[00:27] <Alicia> They're far too pushy. Alicia continues to drift just a little out of their reach in a meandering fashion, getting herself closer to the shore without being obvious about it. "I'm not so sure. This is all very fast..."
[00:31] <Anastasia> Abruptly, they all stop. The redhead flies out of the water. As he does, Alicia can note a pair of succubi stand around Alicia's gear now. As the red head flies to Alicia, he offers his hand. "Take my hand," he instructs. "Don't worry. They're merely going to transport your gear with us."
[00:32] <Alicia> The abrupt halt to the 'friendly' teasing only reaffirms how false all of this is in Alicia's mind. "Can't I at least get dried off and dressed before we go elsewhere?" Alicia asks, nonplussed.
[00:33] <Anastasia> With a charming smile, "Why bother," he says, "No one minds. In fact, we appreciate your body sublimely."
[00:35] <Alicia> "Bathing is one thing, but I'm not going to walk everywhere here naked," Alicia insists as she starts to swim towards the shore. "Really, now."
[00:36] <Anastasia> Flying above Alicia, the two succubi pick up her undergarments, presenting them to Alicia as she gets out. The succubi in the pool cheer as she does, getting a good view. "You're born naked. There's no shame in it...not for one as divine as you." The redhead keeps pace easily with Alicia.
[00:36] <Anastasia> "He's right," The blonde girl calls, "You're really that incredible! Don't hide it!"
06[00:38] * Alicia first uses her cloak as an impromptu towel to dry the worst of the dampness off while replying to the catcalls. "Surely beings so skilled at seduction would see the value in not putting all the goods on display at the outset?"
[00:39] <Anastasia> "Once they're shown..." Gregory calls, "It really is a shame to hide them again!"
[00:39] <Anastasia> The redhead glances to the succubi, who goe silent as Alicia dresses. "Come with me," he says, taking Alicia's hand in his own onces he's done.
[00:40] <Alicia> Fully attired, except for her armour since that takes a bit longer to put on, Alicia slings on her backpack before taking his hand. "So what's your name, anyway?" she asks.
[00:42] <Anastasia> "Miskcalea." He answers this easily, leading Alicia to one of the incredibly decadent houses. They pass through a few allies, the red head leading you unconcerned past a succubus doing pleasurable things to a male mortal best left unsaid. As you walk past it, "What's your name? You've made a point of not giving it."
[00:45] <Alicia> "To be honest I'm surprised you don't already know. I tend to meet a lot of outsiders who know far more about me than they should," Alicia admits with a shrug. "My name is Alicia Reynes." On one hand if he knows her he'll know she's not to be fucked with. On the other he might also give her less openings to exploit.
[00:46] <Anastasia> "Ah." He simply nods as he heads inside one of the houses, a single story, luxurious stone building. Inside, down a hall, into a room with an oaken door. Inside are several soft chairs and couches, all colored passion red. "Go sit, he says, "I have food from the Fields of Harmony coming. This food is rightly known as a delicacy across the plains."
[00:47] <Alicia> That's it? "You play your cards close to your chest, don't you?" Alicia observes at the non-reaction, going to sit on one of the armchairs. Better than a couch since it prevents anyone sitting next to her!
[00:49] <Anastasia> Sitting near her but not directly opposite, "So do you. A most lovely chest, too," he admits, "Before anything else, I'd like to say that I mean every word I say about your beauty. Were I a mortal, I would seek to marry you. For a random mortal that came here in an accident...you are well suited here. Perhaps it was less of an accident and more of fate?"
[00:50] <Anastasia> As he talks, on smooth timing, two male succubi come in. They wear nothing but the trays they carry, full of fruits and vegetables. Ruby red cherries, perfectly globular, grapes, long slender carrots, cucubers, bananas, soft, slit breads.
[00:53] <Alicia> "Say what you will about my looks, but nothing else about me is suited for here," Alicia observes, not touching the food for the moment. "I am a mortal, not a being of the planes. My morality and ethics both stand in stark opposition to everything that the Abyss stands for. To be sure, this is a very beautiful realm, but beauty is only skin deep, Miskcalea."
[00:56] <Anastasia> The food is set down, the servants lighting a set of candles in the back. A sweet, musky scent fills the air. Alicia's innards stir again faintly, as the servants leave and shut the door behind themselves. "Ah, and yes, you'll go on and on about that." He steeples his hands together, "Yet you wouldn't find a lick of evil on me if you tried. The Abyss is chaos, Alicia Reynes. Chaos...and change. Things change, nothing is static. There are
[00:56] <Anastasia> Alicia Reynes. Chaos...and change. Things change, nothing is static. There are places where eladrin live in the Abyss. This is a place where everything changes. Those who are opposed to change...are lost in resisting it forever.""
[00:58] <Alicia> "That's a nice trick," Alicia agrees. "Why don't you try to sense for any good in me?" she offers in the interests of fair play.
[01:01] <Anastasia> "No need," Waving his hand, "It's also not relevant." Turning, "I am certain you have been brought here to liberate your true self. It's not a question of good or evil...but of simple pleasure. You are a crusader at heart, your devotion and actions declare it. Yet I wish to have you find time for our pleasure. Tell you what..." HE smiles, a momentary heartbreaking look that freezes Alicia's blood. "Just the two of us...the rest of the 24
[01:01] <Anastasia> momentary heartbreaking look that freezes Alicia's blood. "Just the two of us...the rest of the 24 hours, bringing you as much pleasure as I can. Then...we travel together for a special journey to the Puzzling Hedge. If, by the time we get there, you still wish to leave me, I'll personally escort you to the center."
06[01:05] * Alicia hesitates a moment after that stunning glance. After regaining her composure, though... "Hmmm, so let me see if I understand your proposition correctly," she begins. "You have sex with me... for a mind-bogglingly long time - then either escort me to a portal or keep me around, depending on what I choose at that point?"
[01:05] <Alicia> She cocks her head, "I'm having a problem with the part where our copulation is treated as simply a given rather than any sort of goal on your end. It's the sort of one-sided bargain I've come to expect from fiends, admittedly, but you're not even trying to be subtle."
[01:06] <Anastasia> "Well," He leans back with a smile, "You wound me. The pleasure alone is a great gift! Mortal lovers, ones with limits and stamina of mortals...are nothing compared to me. But I admit...my patience with you does begin to run thin. You are indeed alluring and tempting, but I'm not truly in the mood for an extended game of this today."
06[01:10] * Alicia laughs, a harsh and mocking sound. "And so your true colours are revealed," she comments after expressing her mirth. "I could just threaten your cooperation, but that would merely invite a backstab down the line." She stands up, looking down at the alluring but emotionally immature figure before her,
[01:10] <Alicia> "I'll be leaving now. You can try to stop me if you like, but having killed one of Jubilex's balor servants in melee combat I can't say I favour your chances."
[01:11] <Anastasia> "LEaving? Try." With a warm smile, "It's far harder than it appears to be. Further...bored succubi and servitors of Malcanthet so love a chance to track live, beautiful prey over the open spaces of her domain. Without knowledge of where to go and how, you're lost and against impossible odds."
[01:12] <Anastasia> Smiling now, "The reward they take from you on capture..willb e one you will regret giving them."
03[01:15] * Haruka is now known as Sierra_Deadness
[01:16] <Alicia> "I'll take my chances," Alicia declares haughtily, walking towards the exit. "Besides, I might actually consider a better offer than the one you just gave."
[01:17] <Anastasia> "Really?" A slight chuckle, "For the sake of curoisity, what offer would you like," he asks. "Try me."
06[01:19] * Alicia pauses at the doorway. "Your original one wasn't bad," she notes. "I even made an effort, putting up with the pawing hands of your colleagues and bathing with you, so you can hardly say I wasn't playing along. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you're fantastic in the bedroom, but a real woman prefers to be wooed. Something to remember for your next conquest, perhaps?"
[01:21] <Anastasia> "Yes, well...I'm in a direct mood today. Your loss," he chuckles again, making an easy gesture at Alicia. OOC - Make a will save?
[01:21] <Alicia> OOC: thanks for the spellfire, bitch
[01:22] <Anastasia> OOC: Five levels. Roll initiative here?
[01:22] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+8
06[01:22] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 10." [1d20=2]
[01:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[01:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 19." [1d20=12]
03[01:23] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Alicia>Succubus'
[01:26] <Alicia> It's tempting to stay and kill the arrogant fiend, but it'll just buy time for reinforcements to arrive. She needs to get out of here and fast. Not knowing if the building is warded or not, she flees out the door first before teleporting!
[01:26] <Alicia> "Wings of magic, take me away, free me from these easy lays!" she uses a whimsical variant of her usual spellcasting, focusing on the description she had of the Puzzling Hedge. A large maze of hedgerows with a forest to the east. Hopefully it's enough.
[01:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+80 false destination
06[01:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+80 false destination and gets 100." [1d20=20]
[01:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+80 false destination 1d10 mishap so far
06[01:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+80 false destination 1d10 mishap so far and gets 93." [1d20=13]
[01:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+80 false destination 2d10 mishap so far
06[01:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+80 false destination 2d10 mishap so far and gets 97." [1d20=17]
[01:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+80 false destination 3d10 mishap so far
06[01:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+80 false destination 3d10 mishap so far and gets 89." [1d20=9]
[01:27] <Alicia> roll 3d10 damage
06[01:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d10 damage and gets 10." [3d10=6, 3, 1]
[01:27] <Anastasia> OOC: The funny part? That doesn't matter.
[01:28] <Anastasia> Alicia attempts to teleport! She feels a weight on her shoulders, pinned down! Chuckling now, "Really, I deal with fiends who can teleport as easily as you breathe. Do you that would work," he asks. "Would you like to reconsider the offers before things have to degenerate?"
[01:29] <Alicia> OOC: just to be clear, I was outside of the building before I teleported, if I can't get that far in one round I've had kept moving till I was outside before trying to do so. Does that matter?
[01:29] <Anastasia> OOC: AS far as I was aware you were still in the room. Which I missed in your line, sorry. Strike all that.
[01:30] <Anastasia> Alicia attempts to open the door. Oddly, the knob doesn't seem tow ork on this side, hard and unturning!
[01:30] <Anastasia> Chuckling, "Do you think you'll get out that easily? It only opens from the outside," he says, "Now, perhaps you'd like to reconsider?"
[01:31] <Alicia> "My, you are good at the whole rape thing, aren't you?" Alicia marvels. Are there any windows in this room?
[01:32] <Anastasia> Not a one. "Yes, I like to call it my rape room," he says brightly. He's standing up in more than one way now. "I fully intend to violate you in every way now...since honestly, you've managed to irritate me with your willpower. Most mortals would be a husk or in blissful oblivion by now."
[01:33] <Alicia> From what she recalls of the exterior and her journey in here, how far away is this room from the outer walls?
[01:33] <Anastasia> A fair bit. IT's pretty much in the middle of the building.
[01:34] <Anastasia> Down a hall right into the center. OOC: Are you doing anything with your action or are you going to hold?
[01:34] <Alicia> OOC: Or the roof for that matter? I have a plan, but I need to figure shit out first.
[01:35] <Anastasia> It's one story.
06[01:36] * Alicia draws hell striker and casts a spell to grant herself the power of flight. "For what it's worth, I'm a lot more comfortable now that we're being honest with each other," she smirks.
[01:37] <Anastasia> "You'll be much more comfortable chained ot my bed," he banters back, approaching Alicia! From his back, flesh colored tentacles with stingers strike out at Alicia!
[01:37] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+30
06[01:37] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+30 and gets 40." [1d20=10]
[01:38] <Anastasia> roll 1d4+4 and fort
06[01:38] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d4+4 and fort and gets 8." [1d4=4]
[01:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 +4 vs poison
06[01:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 +4 vs poison and gets 41." [1d20=20]
[01:39] <Anastasia> The stinger goes right into Alicia's right breast, making it go numb for several seconds, but feeling quickly returns! The others beat against her armor uselessly for now! They flow out of his back like extra appendages!
[01:39] <Anastasia> OOC - You're up, Alicia.
[01:41] <Alicia> Moving adroitly through the air, Alicia dodges the flailing tentacles and flies up towards the ceiling. "My apologies to your architect," she offers before a massive blast of spellfire engulfs the room and beyond, tearing through the ceiling above!
[01:42] <Alicia> roll 7d8 DC 24 reflex half
06[01:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 7d8 DC 24 reflex half and gets 43." [7d8=6, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 8]
[01:42] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+24
06[01:42] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 42." [1d20=18]
[01:44] <Anastasia> The spellfire destroys the ceiling, making a perfect hole that leaves a gap to the sunset sky ahead! As the ruby light washes over her, the red head scowls. "Horrible manners. Good flair for destruction...mph, perhaps you have some Marilith in you." With that it is gone in an instant now, vanishing! OOC - Goa head and act?
[01:45] <Alicia> Surely it'll return soon, or other demons will be drawn by the destruction. Flying well clear of the wrecked building, Alicia proceeds to teleport away based on the sketchy description she was given of the puzzling hedge.
[01:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+80
06[01:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+80 and gets 91." [1d20=11]
[01:48] <Anastasia> Alicia vanishes! She reappears in a garden, surrounded by hedges. Like a row of them, a hallway of them with no roof. The sunset sky is above her. It's pleasant here.
[01:49] <Alicia> Not wanting to draw the ire of whatever guardians prevent flight, Alicia floats up just a little above the hedgerow, checking for the forest to the east and whether this actually is a labyrinth or just a garden.
[01:50] <Anastasia> It's a large garden with a small hedge maze. The garden blossom outs around her - lush waterfalls, a few fountains, beautiful plants, heady smells, tall trees here and there. It's gorgeous...with beautiful female succumbi all over. They were nothing but metal chokers, lounging around and being served by bloated quasits. Some are looking about as Alicia peeks over.
[01:52] <Alicia> Shit! No luck for her. Alicia ducks back down behind the concealing hedges hopefully before anyone spotted her. Digging her armour out of her backpack, she proceeds to get rapidly dressed. No sense being unprotected when she's next attacked.
[01:53] <Anastasia> As this happens, Alicia hear ssomething - not far away, somewhere in the hedges nearby.She thinks. Giggling - two women giggling? "Oh...E'Gur," one says, "You're soooo naughty! You rounded the edge of that longsword off? My...that will be..."
[01:53] <Anastasia> "I'm sure you can manage, Laan," The other voice says smugly. "Lady Zuz will like it."
[01:55] <Alicia> Yes, so long as they're too distracted by... that, to bother looking for her, Alicia's fine with letting them be. Once she's dressed she can try sneaking out and... figuring out what to do.
[01:56] <Anastasia> OOC: Sneaking in the hedges or in the air?
[01:57] <Alicia> OOC: sneaking through the hedges, but flying to avoid making any noise
[01:59] <Anastasia> Alicia glides down the hedge maze! She comes to a two way path choice - one way that curves back towards where those voices were coming from, or the other way. The other way should lead out of it from what Alicia remmebers from peeking over, though within sight of several of the succubi.
06[02:01] * Alicia retreats back a bit, her intent being to reach any of the outer edges of the maze that aren't adjacent to where those succubi were lounging around earlier, and not wanting to bump into any other 'explorers' on her way.
[02:02] <Anastasia> This takes a little bit of time, perhaps a minute. But with her eagle eyed view she got she's able to come out the back. Here the garden stretches out, but no succubi are immediately around. There's a waterfall ahead adn then a thick grove of what look to be apple trees. Ruby red apples hang and sway on the branches, with a single white dimple in the center-front of each.
06[02:03] * Alicia skips out of the maze and moves off and away from the garden, heading into the apple grove. Not that she intends to eat any Abyssal fare, but it should provide her with some cover at least.
[02:05] <Anastasia> The apple grove is quiet and sweet scented. The tree trunks are thick and sturdy, giving lots of shade and hidding to Alicia. Beyond this is a walled end to the garden, about twenty feet tall. Near the wall are four succubi, chatting together and laughing. Near them is a large granite statue of a marilith, twenty feet tall and well made.
03[02:06] * Taishyr is now known as tai-concert
[02:07] <Alicia> With the trees hopefully concealing her from anyone below, and distance helping for anyone else, Alicia starts to fly straight up into the sky, hoping for a birds-eye view that might reveal this puzzling hedge somewhere in the distance. If it's even real. If it even leads to the endless staircase. But she's scant on options.
[02:08] <Anastasia> Alicia takes to the air! The garden is pretty large, about a mile wide. It's dotten with tall granite statues of a marilith and connects to the rear of a grand mansion. Around you are beautiful fields as far as the eye can see.
[02:10] <Alicia> Higher and higher Alicia goes, all the landscape of Malcanthet's realm spreading out below her as she gazes all around for any helpful landmarks!
[02:11] <Anastasia> As she goes up, the ground below tends to fade into a soft, romantic red and pink, the sunlight cloaking it. Things become indistinct from here, blurry and impossible to see much of anything.
[02:14] <Alicia> Okay. Maybe if she had more accurate directions, then? Time for a few changes - first she casts prestidigitation, changing her armour to a burnished looking black that blots out her normally visible holy symbols.
[02:14] <Alicia> Then she casts alter self, assuming the form of a stunning youthful blonde woman with faintly red eyes and just slightly too sharp teeth, and lastly she casts voice of the archon to give her powers of persuasion a little kick.
[02:14] <Alicia> That all done, she starts to descend a bit aways from the manor, trying to see any lone fiends she could accost.
[02:15] <Anastasia> OOC: Spot check, +8 bonus?
[02:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15
06[02:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 27." [1d20=12]
[02:17] <Anastasia> Cresting one of the hills is an attractive man. He walks with a sword slung across his back but nothing else. His physical form is entirely perfect, too much so. Not mortal, likely.
[02:19] <Alicia> Right! Act like a slutty fiend and you'll blend right in! Approaching, Alicia descends before the man, studying the strength of his evil aura while approaching. "Well hello there," she purrs, licking her lips as she lewdly looks him up and down. Part of her worries she might be overplaying it, but considering how succubi act it's probably not going to be an issue.
[02:20] <Anastasia> He looks over Alicia, nodding to himself. "Yeah," he asks gruffly, "Whadya want, woman?" The emphasis on woman sounds lewd, casually demeaning. "I'm on business. Make it good."
[02:23] <Alicia> Then again, surrounded by all these whores of the Abyss, who would actually be won over by casual seduction? Oh well, live and learn. "I'm sure I can make it worth your while," she assures him breathily. "I'm only looking for some directions since I had to make an unexpected trip to Lady Zuz's and got a bit turned around. You'll help me though, won't you?"
[02:25] <Anastasia> "Maybe," he says, looking over Alicia again. He smirks, ":Yeah, I might just do that, woman. What way are you going?"
[02:26] <Alicia> "I'm headed for the puzzling hedge," Alicia sidles closer, voice oh so sibilant and tempting. "How about you be a good boy and tell me how to get there?"
[02:26] <Anastasia> OOC - Diplo?
[02:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38
06[02:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 and gets 40." [1d20=2]
[02:27] <Anastasia> "I'll tell ya," he says, voice smelling like hot blood. "Then we'll have a good time? A nice break on the trip?"
[02:28] <Alicia> "Hmm, I like the way you think," Alicia concurs, nodding and caressing his chin with her index finger, staring intensely into his eyes.
[02:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25
06[02:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 and gets 35." [1d20=10]
[17:30] <Kotono> <Alicia> "I'm headed for the puzzling hedge," Alicia sidles closer, voice oh so sibilant and tempting. "How about you be a good boy and tell me how to get there?"
[17:30] <Kotono> > OOC - Diplo?
[17:30] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+38
[17:30] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 and gets 40." [1d20=2]
[17:30] <Kotono> > "I'll tell ya," he says, voice smelling like hot blood. "Then we'll have a good time? A nice break on the trip?"
[17:30] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Hmm, I like the way you think," Alicia concurs, nodding and caressing his chin with her index finger, staring intensely into his eyes.
[17:30] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+25
[17:30] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 and gets 35." [1d20=10]
[17:30] <Kotono> OOC: Refresh me, what was the last roll for?
[17:30] <Alicia> OOC: you had me roll to see if I would have saved against the poison Gregory wanted to give me when I first arrived
[17:31] <Kotono> OOC: Oh yeah, disregard that roll then.
[17:32] <Kotono> "Good," With sharp teeth that aren't quite human he grins, the scent of spilt blood on his breath. "Go westward for a few days. You'll hit a ring of forest, go through that, it's in the center. Just don't get cute and try to fly or cheat. I'd hate to see your pretty little face get splattered." With a leer at Alicia, "Splattered hard."
[17:33] <Alicia> "I heard there was a guardian that didn't like cheaters," Alicia nods mournfully, affecting what she hopes is a cute pout. "Any idea what it is?"
[17:35] <Kotono> "Dragon. Big green dragon," His hand goes out, taking Alicia's cheek and starting to run down her neck and below. "Done using your brain yet and ready to play to your strong suit?"
[17:36] <Alicia> "I've a better idea, there's some succubi by the statue over there who'd love to meet you, why don't you go and play with them?" she suggests while drifting backwards. Quite strongly.
[17:37] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 SR
06[17:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 SR and gets 27." [1d20=12]
[17:37] <Alicia> OOC: DC 21 will save
[17:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
06[17:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 20." [1d20=11]
[17:38] <Kotono> "Yeah," Grinning, the man goes to do just that, abandoning Alicia to herself1
[17:40] <Alicia> Now armed with directions, a rough distance, and a more accurate description of the surroundings, Alicia attempts once more to teleport to the Puzzling Hedge!
[17:40] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[17:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 75." [1d100=75]
[17:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
06[17:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 35." [1d20=13]
[17:44] <Kotono> Woosh! Alicia teleports! She appears at the edge of a forest. Ahead of her, in a vast clearing, like a mammoth hedge maze! It's walls are twenty feet tall and dominating, a single entrance seen. The rosy red sunset is unseen - something big is distantly glimpsed in the sky. Something -huge-, big enough to shadow the sun.
[17:44] <Kotono> OOC - Will save?
[17:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[17:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 35." [1d20=13]
[17:44] <Kotono> OOC: Carry on
[17:44] <Kotono> .
06[17:45] * Alicia peers up at the sillouette in the sky, putting her extensive knowledge of battling fiends and dragons to work on trying to identify it.
[17:45] <Kotono> OOC: K:A.
[17:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9
06[17:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 and gets 25." [1d20=16]
06[17:48] * Alicia sighs. She'd been so tempted to just chance the dragon and fly rather than exploring a no doubt cheating Abyssal maze, but that one's considerably larger than any dragon she's ever fought before, and she's lacking in any allies. Nothing for it but to risk her sense of direction and head into the maze.
03[17:48] * Sierra_Hibernation is now known as Sierra_OHGODTHELIGHTTHELIGHT
[17:56] <Kotono> Alicia heads into the maze! The entrance is lined by several mushrooms with big, red and flesh colored heads and long stalks. Past that, the interior of the maze is pleasant leafy greens and soft grass. Alicia heads ten feet in and then five to the left. A branching path here - continuing to the left and west, or going north.
[17:58] <Alicia> The rule with a maze is to always go left. It might take a while, but you'll eventually get where you want to go. Unfortunately, this being the Abyss, Alicia can't be sure that it won't just change its layout as she moves through it. Again the urge to fly up manifests, but for now she elects to travel left.
[18:01] <Kotono> Alicia goes left for a few minutes. Ahead, in the path but not stopping it as it goes on, is a small stone plate with metal riveted to it. There looks to be writing on it.
[18:01] <Alicia> It's probably in abyssal, but Alicia gives it a glance on the off chance she can read it.
[18:04] <Kotono> It is indeed in Abyssal. Alicia can't read it at all. It's several lines of neat, pleasant writing. At the end there is a painted on set of ruby red lips with a blood drop dangling from one end.
06[18:06] * Alicia consoles herself with the fact that whatever was written there was surely put there to deceive her and simply continues onwards.
[18:08] <Kotono> After about another fourty feet Alicia comes to another intersection. She can continue left, head north, or head to the northeast. The northern path has nothing unusual. The western path has heavier greenery to it, thick and lush. The northeastern path has mushrooms lining the ground.
[18:10] <Alicia> Left it is!
[18:11] <Kotono> West Alicia goes! The greenery is thick here as she walks along, quite thick and with several vines growing over the hedges. OOC - Make a spot or a K:N check, whichever is better?
[18:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[18:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 22." [1d20=15]
06[18:16] * Alicia elects to give the assassin vines something else to think about, pausing just outside what she estimates their range to be and summoning a small group of fire elementals which promptly hurl themselves at the vines before Alicia makes a dash past them!
[18:16] <Alicia> roll 1d4+1 small fire elementals
06[18:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+1 small fire elementals and gets 3." [1d4=2]
[18:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 elemental 1 vs vine 1, charge
06[18:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 elemental 1 vs vine 1, charge and gets 23." [1d20=18]
[18:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 elemental 2 vs vine 2, charge
06[18:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 elemental 2 vs vine 2, charge and gets 15." [1d20=10]
[18:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 elemental 3 vs vine 3, charge
06[18:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 elemental 3 vs vine 3, charge and gets 13." [1d20=8]
[18:17] <Kotono> OOC - Firs tone hits.
[18:17] <Alicia> roll 1d4+1d4
06[18:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+1d4 and gets 6." [1d4=2][1d4=4]
[18:18] <Kotono> The vines are assaulted! Fire elementals distracta nd burn at them, one of the slams hitting and setting a long vine aflame! The assassin vines come to life, looking to start lashing out at the elementals! OOC - You can act, and if need be after, we'll do initiative.
06[18:19] * Alicia runs through the path between the fire elementals and the vines, hoping they'll be more focused on the fiery creatures attacking them to come after her!
[18:20] <Kotono> Indeed, the vines are far more occupied with the elementals! Alicia is able to dash through without incident, hurrying along past the battle! OOC: Going to keep going or turn back to watch or anything?
[18:21] <Alicia> OOC: I've got no real reason to stick around
[18:22] <Kotono> Alicia hurries along! The path curves north here for a ways, leading onward. There is then a four way path. Alicia comes from the south, with passages to the other three cardinal directions ahead. The western path is quiet, the northern path has more mushrooms, and the eastern pathhas red flowers all over it's hedges and ground.
[18:23] <Alicia> West is left, and that's where Alicia will go!
[18:26] <Kotono> The western path leads around a sloping bend. As Alicia crests it, she sees it curves south after a ways. "Yoo hooo...!" A charming female voice calls from down it, though Alicia can't see anything actually calling.
[18:28] <Alicia> Joyous, another succubus. Well hopefully this one can at least keep up the pretense of being friendly for a bit, and maybe her own faintly inhuman appearance will inspire a bit of professional courtesey. "Yes?" she carols back sweetly while rounding the curve.
[18:29] <Kotono> OOC: Are you still alter selfed?
[18:29] <Alicia> OOC: yes, and my armour has any holy symbols blotted out since it's all black
[18:30] <Kotono> "Oh, someone is here!" she sing-songs, a sweet voice of pleasing, female tones. "Come down this way!"
06[18:31] * Alicia continues onwards to meet the owner of said voice.
[18:33] <Kotono> Down a little ways you come to a dead end. Here a woman is half integrated into the endwall hedge. Her lucious body is tinted green, covered with six vines that writhe around her body. They go places that vines really shouldn't, as well as wrapping around her. "Oooooh..." She purrs, "What brings you into the maze, fiend blooded?"
[18:35] <Alicia> "Why I'm looking for the endless staircase, of course," Alicia smiles, baring her slightly too sharp teeth and licking her lips. "A shame this is a dead end, but you look like you're having fun." Just act like a vapid whore and you'll blend right in, she tells herself!
[18:37] <Kotono> "This is a loooovely diversion!" Purring happily, "I got so tired of mortal men and their petty, short sighted souls. I need such a break from them...my friends here," Patting a tentacle across her front, "Don't get tired and don't cry when they realize they've damned themselves becuase they're too foolish."
[18:39] <Alicia> "Mmmm, I can see that," Alicia agrees with a sinister little giggle. "But you must be lonely, or else you wouldn't have called out so?"
[18:42] <Kotono> "I do get bored sometimes..." Sighing, "Oh, want to join in?" she offers, "I haven't been out of here in about fourty years now and I'm starting to get peckish. What IS everyone in Rivenheart up to?"
[18:44] <Alicia> "Oh, the usual dull schemes," Alicia waves dismissively. "Really most of the creatures around here seem to think seduction involves clubbing someone on the back of the head instead of the front. It's been such a frightful disappointment."
[18:46] <Kotono> "Really?" Putting a hand to her forehead, "Oh my, my absence must be a greater burden than I expected if things have gone that downhill! Horrible!" Now with a piqued look all over her face, "I told Lyansta that Rivenheart would be lost without me there periodically!"
[18:48] <Alicia> "I suppose so, but if you're having fun here why should you care what those idiots do?" Alicia suggests with a smirk. "Let them waste away like the bad jokes they are."
[18:50] <Kotono> "Mmmph." Crossing her arms as she considers that, "It would do them right...Oh, what's your name?" Smiling at Alicia with charm that would leave a man disarmed, "I don't think I caught it."
[18:52] <Alicia> "Lissa," Alicia drops into a polite curtsey. This succubus at least seems fairly harmless, and a reasonable conversationalist. On one level she's somewhat distressed that she can have such an easy conversation with a woman currently having sex with the foliage, but a lot of her taboos are being tested lately. "And yours, fair lady of the vines?"
03[18:54] * taiscape is now known as tai-headache
[18:56] <Kotono> "G'renna," As if Alicia's thought of it made it more pronounced, G'renna's eyes narrow and a hot breath escapes her mouth. "Ooooh, good vines. Lissa...not a bad name. I like you," Purring again as she walks a few steps towards Alicia, the vines following with plenty of length as she detangled from the hedge, "What are you doing in the Puzzling Hedge?"
[18:57] <Alicia> "Like I said, I'm looking for the endless staircase," Alicia replies, not shirking or hesitating from G'renna's approach. "I'd considered just cheating and flying to the centre, but..." she briefly casts her eyes upwards, "That dragon is so... big," she concludes with a naughty smirk.
[18:59] <Kotono> "Oh...yes, big..." Looking up, "I've heard that Malcanthet put him there personally after granting his desire..." Licking her lips as she comes to stand besides Alicia, "It's not a very good idea to cheat unless you think you can really get away with it."
[19:01] <Alicia> "Yes, I've tangled with dragons before, but... well, there's not much point risking my neck with that when there's so much more stimulating company to be found here in the maze, wouldn't you say?" she smiles openly at her new 'friend'.
[19:03] <Kotono> "Oh yes." Smiling now and sliding an arm around Alicia's midsection, "Maybe you can take a break here for some...stimulation? The Hedge is a dangerous place even for fiends if you don't know what you're doing. I could give you some pointers."
[19:06] <Alicia> Vapid whore! With all her will, Alicia keeps up the act of being a complete slut as her best chance of avoiding pointless combat and gaining useful information. Just so long as she doesn't go too far she should be fine! Hopefully.
[19:06] <Alicia> "Hmm... and I suppose you've gotten to know every hedgerow in... intimate, detail, G'renna?" she enquires, trailing her fingers over one of the vines hanging off the fiend's body.
[19:08] <Kotono> Oh, they're warm and they throb. Ooooh, they feel...strangely good to touch. "Oh yes, there's a lot of dangers from the plants. Assassin vines, red death shrubs, poisons, cannibal plants..." Resting against Alicia's side, "You know, I really like you, Lissa. You're so authentic. All these idiot mortals or escapees try to get all huffy instead. But you're okay with everything here and I like that."
[19:13] <Alicia> "Well, I did get a bit huffy with some of those other fiends who weren't very charming," Alicia admits with a sidelong smile. "But you're not like them. With you I feel like I could stay or walk away and you wouldn't mind either way. That's refreshing."
[19:13] <Alicia> Working her way to the succubus's back she rests her hands on G'renna's shoulders. "Why don't you let me show you that a pair of talented hands can do things no vine can?" Hopefully if she takes charge of the encounter she can get the fiend's help without having to surrender her own body.
[19:22] <Kotono> "Oh, you're a giver, too." Sighing in contentment, "This must be my reward from Malcanthet. Please, by all means, go on."
[19:25] <Alicia> As a skilled warrior who endlessly hones her body to its peak, Alicia is thankfully well versed in the various muscle groups and how they all relate. Starting to work her fingers forcefully into G'renna's back, she guides the succubus first to her knees and then to lie on her stomach as she begins to give her a vigourous back massage.
[19:25] <Alicia> It's not terribly sensual, but it's a wonder for relaxing strained muscles and invigorating neglected ones, of which she probably has a fair few after spending forty years in a hedge.
[19:28] <Kotono> "Oh..." Sighing in contentment as she is massaged, G'renna relaxes. Her flesh is milky smooth and soft, supple and warm. The vines writhe and tense around her body, a few going to gently tangle around her arms without stopping her. "Mmmmm...yes, that's it," G'renna sighs. "Keep going, Lissa."
[19:32] <Alicia> "You need this, don't you?" Alicia muses as she works her strong fingers into all the knots and kinks (har har) that G'renna has surely accumulated over the years. "Even as soft and supple as you are..."
[19:34] <Kotono> "Vines are nice, but...hands are better for some things," she agrees, as the vines clear away from her lower back, legs and groin areas. "Lower now," she purrs again. "I have a lot of tension down there, too."
[19:37] <Alicia> "No doubt," Alicia snickers darkly, briefly drifting towards the upper curve of G'renna's rear end before she moves to start working on her calves. Really, this isn't so bad, she reflects. Hopefully it'll be a sufficiently pleasant and novel experience that G'renna won't push for anything dirtier once she's done, and then she'll hopefully get a useful guide.
[19:37] <Alicia> Then again, she'd hoped to interest those other succubi enough that they wouldn't push their luck earlier, and look how that turned out...
[19:39] <Kotono> Her calves have lots of tension, too! "Mmmm..." Sighing again, "Oh, you're nice at this," she purrs away again. Once it's done, G'renna turns up to lie on her back. Her legs are well apart and open, "That was...so nice," With a contented smile, "Help yourself to whatever you like," she offers. "You've earned it."
[19:43] <Alicia> Gods help her, Alicia is almost tempted. Damn these fiends and their confusing sexual allure. "Thank you, but honestly I'm not much interested in women, even if you do tempt me to make an exception," Alicia smiles almost guiltily as she leans on her arm next to the satiated succubus, still entirely resolved to be nice so long as G'renna is. "So... what can you tell me about this maze?"
[19:45] <Kotono> There's a shift - her below parts aren't female anymore, not at all. "Ride away, then, if that suits you," she laughs, cocking her head to stare at Alicia. "It's pretty much a lovely death trap. All sorts of dangers. Besides teh plants, there are wandering succubus warriros and champions who train in here, portals that plummet you into another layer, other desperate mortals trying to escape...you know, lots of things."
06[19:48] * Alicia stares at the new addition to G'renna's anatomy, momentarily stupefied. "Well yes, I suppose I did ask for that," she admits with a nervous little laugh. "So is there any trick to it that'll make getting to the centre easier?"
[19:49] <Kotono> Patting Alicia's hand as she smiles, "You did. Help yourself," she offers again, "There's really no tricks that I know of. That damned dragon," Looking up at the shadow casting wyrm glimpsed in the skies above, "Then again, Malcanthet appreciates guile. Maybe if you come up with a good enough sneak it'll work?"
[19:53] <Alicia> "I did have one idea," Alicia admits, not taking the most generous invitation.
[19:53] <Alicia> "I thought about maybe teleporting really high into the sky - much higher than the dragon is - then flying so I'm directly above the centre and letting myself drop. I know a trick for surviving long falls, but depending on how easy it is to access the staircase I might have that wyrm diving on me before I can escape. Do you know what it's like at the center?"
[19:54] <Kotono> "I've never been," she admits, thinking as she leans a little closer towards Alicia's face. Her breath smells...good. Like cinnamon and sugar. "Mmm. It might be fun to go, though..."
[19:54] <Alicia> Against her better judgement, and rationalising that a guide would be useful, Alicia says, "Want to come with me, then?"
[19:56] <Kotono> Kiss! Alicia gets one right on the lips, a brief one. With a giggle after, "It'll be fun, Lissa, and you're a lot of fun! Hold on, I just need to get the vines to calm down."
06[19:57] * Alicia blushes crimson at being kissed by a... well, she's not even sure whether to be more mortified by the woman part or the demon part, really. "Of... course," she smiles after a moment, gliding to her feet. "Take your time."
[20:14] <Kotono> It takes a few minutes for the vines to deentangle her. The green tint from her skin is gone, leaving her with porcelin white skin and scarlet red hair. She wears nothing but the smile Malcanthet created her with, soft bat wings flapping like decliate fans. She's back to the right gender, too. Thereafter she throws an arm around Alicia's shoulders. "Let's go have some fun. If anyone crosses up," Leaning in to whisper softly, "We'll have a g
[20:14] <Kotono> "Let's go have some fun. If anyone crosses up," Leaning in to whisper softly, "We'll have a good time tormenting them, too. Ooooh, I hope torture isn't on the decline in Rivenheart as well. Is it? I'll have to show you some if we run across anyone if it is."
[20:17] <Alicia> Well, that helps remind Alicia exactly what she's dealing with at least. "I'm not much of a torture fan," she admits, starting to walk back down the curved path with her new 'friend'. "But anyone who crosses me won't be having fun, that much is guaranteed."
[20:19] <Kotono> "Mmmm, you passed on sex and torture," As the two walk back, G'renna going for the eastern path with red flowers, "What are you into, then? Murder? Rape? Desceration? Soul Harvesting? Mmmm. No. You look like you could be good at any of those. Oh, are you more of an unholy champion?"
[20:22] <Alicia> "Well... murder and desecration, I suppose," Alicia admits, pausing as they reach the crossroads. "I was thinking of going North," she points that way before G'renna can go too far. "There's a trick to mazes where if you keep going left you'll eventually get where you want to go... but if this maze changes its layout I suppose that won't do us any good."
[20:23] <Kotono> "That and I know how to get past those red flowers safely," G'renna says, "They're easy for me to stop. The mushrooms, ugh. They're harder and tend to release the drug inside of them even if you stop them quickly. It's fun, but seeing colors and then getting mind numbingly aroused...Unless you want to do that, of course." With a pleasant smile, "This way's less hazardous is all."
[20:25] <Alicia> "I'll trust your expertise," Alicia returns with a sweet smile of her own. "But anyway, torture leaves me pretty cold, and as for sex... well, I prefer a long and drawn out seduction before getting to that. Something those idiots in Passendale wouldn't understand."
[20:26] <Kotono> "Oh, Passendale," Tossing her hair as she stops in front of the flowers, "Is Gregory still there? He's good at being subtle and seductive." The red flowers seem to wither and lie down gently, G'renna then crossing through them.
[20:28] <Alicia> "He made some effort," Alicia allows as she follows along, "But most others there didn't have any appreciation for the thrill of the chase."
[20:30] <Kotono> "Tsch. I really should return soon. Clearly the court needs me," G'renna huffs loudly at that, before taking Alicia's hand. With an evil twinkle in her eye, "Maybe I should chase you some, then. Make a game of it through the Puzzling Hedge?"
[20:34] <Alicia> "It could be fun, but I might fall into a trap while I'm running," Alicia sidles closer to the succubus. "Better if we stick close together, right?" she adds as they stroll along, "But really, screw that useless court, you're better off leaving them to wither if they can't even grasp such simple concepts."
[20:36] <Kotono> Alicia finds an arm around her again, while the succubus rubs her hip against Alicia. "Mmmm, maaaybe," she laughs. Leaning into kiss Alicia again, briefly, "You're so pretty...but let's be going for now. We have to get to the center, don't we?"
[20:38] <Alicia> "That we do," Alicia briefly skips along almost childishly while still holding hands to pick up their pace for a few yards before resuming their stroll. "See, you keep your eye on what's important. I respect that."
[20:39] <Kotono> "Yes," Her gaze travels plainly to Alicia's bosom a moment, before she dissolves into giggles and leads Alicia along! You come to a three way junciton here - continue east or head north or head northwest. The northwest passage has some charred grass about twenty feet into it, a large patch of it.
[20:40] <Alicia> "Lets head North for the moment?" Alicia suggests. The charred grass means whatever obstacle is down there likely isn't plant-based, so G'renna won't have any power over it. Probably.
[20:41] <Kotono> "Yeah," G'renna agrees, the two going to the north! The path twists several times ahea d- going east-west at times, zig zagging around! As you wander this part, "So I assume you're not a native to this realm? Was your mother a succubus?"
[20:44] <Alicia> "Come on, if I were a half-fiend it would be terribly obvious, wouldn't it?" Alicia grins, giving G'renna a little nudge. "No, both my parents at least are human."
[20:46] <Kotono> "Heheheh, I thought so." Nodding to herself as you travel the zig-zags, "Can you use any innate magic because of it?" OOC - Make a survival check?
[20:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1
06[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+1 and gets 20." [1d20=19]
[20:48] <Alicia> "I do have some innate magic, although it's fairly trivial compared to my self-taught magic," Alicia briefly waggles her fingers of her free hand in the pattern for magic missile, "You know, the kind that needs words and gestures?"
[20:49] <Kotono> "Oh, you're a sorcerer!" Nodding to that, "You wear armor, too and use a fancy weapon. Impressive," AS you talk, you come to the next choice - a path to the west again, very long and going out of sight, or a path to the east, also long and going out of sight.
[20:51] <Alicia> "I'm a woman of many talents," Alicia nods smugly, briefly eyeing the two paths. "I think we're still on the Eastern side, so West is more likely to lead to the centre. Unless it doubles back, of course. We'll try it anyway, for now."
[20:52] <Kotono> "Makes sense," Thus the two walk along, down the path...OOC - MAke a spot cehck, Alicia. SE bonus applies.
[20:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 13." [1d20=5]
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 22." [1d20=4]
[20:54] <Kotono> The two walk several minutes. As they do...Alicia detects overwhelming evil in the left side wall of the hedges.
06[20:55] * Alicia stops and holds up her hand in the universal gesture for 'stop', pausing to try and locate the exact distance to the aura - is it within the hedge or on the other side?
[20:56] <Kotono> It's just within the hedge on this side, 20 feet away.
[20:56] <Alicia> "There's something in the hedge, twenty feet ahead," Alicia cautions, smoothly drawing her blade as she stops holding hands with G'renna.
[20:58] <Kotono> "Oh," Making a nasty face, you hear a strangled curse from the bushes! A female's voice, sounding very pissed! "Okay, you're dead for making me get leaf stains all over for nothing!" OOC - Initiative here. No surprise, whatever it was was waiting for you.
[20:58] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 13." [1d20=8]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 ????
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 ???? and gets 17." [1d20=14]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20 ?????
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 ????? and gets 17." [1d20=17]
03[20:59] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia>????1=????2>G'renna'
[20:59] <Alicia> "I don't think she shares your fondness for the foliage," Alicia remarks conversationally to G'renna, waiting for their foe to appear before she moves.
[21:01] <Kotono> OOC: Holding?
[21:01] <Alicia> OOC: actually, no, casting shield
06[21:02] * Alicia casts a spell to protect her with a shield of force!
[21:03] <Kotono> As Alicia casts shield, there is more cursing from the bushes, "Oh, you're getting fed to the glabrezu now!" The woman that comes out is a succubus with long black hair down to her calves. A greatsword in both her hands bursts into flames, body clad in black full plate armor. "Oh, you made a bigger mistake than that, though. You pissed off Ebony! You are soooo dead!" With that, she charges Alicia!
03[21:03] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia>Armored Succubus=????2>G'renna'
[21:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+26 (+2 charge, +12 smite, -8 PA)
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 (+2 charge, +12 smite, -8 PA) and gets 38." [1d20=12]
[21:05] <Alicia> OOC: AC 33, anyway
[21:05] <Kotono> roll 2d6+32+1d6 (fire for the d6)
06[21:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+32+1d6 (fire for the d6) and gets 41." [2d6=1, 4][1d6=4]
[21:06] <Kotono> The blow is massive, hitting Alicia right across the body! "Hey!" G'ranna swears, "What the fuck? What does Ebony have to do with this?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "I dunno!" Alicia grimaces as she recoils from the blow, "I've never even met anyone called that!"
[21:07] <Kotono> "If you're not Alicia, surrender!" The succubus demands, "Or die here!"
[21:08] <Alicia> "Bitch, as if I'd do what you say after you attack me like that! I'm going to gut you like a fish!" Alicia replies defiantly.
[21:08] <Kotono> "I'm not an Alicia!" G'renna scowls, "Give me one good reason not to fry you here, you little uptight bitch! I like Lissa here, and you're messing with MY toy!" With a snarl, lightning begins to form around her!
[21:08] <Kotono> A lightning bolt crackles from G'renna out at the succubus!
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 60*1.5
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 60*1.5 and gets 90."
[21:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 38." [1d20=13]
[21:09] <Kotono> OOC - STrike, I had an epic moment of stupidity.
[21:11] <Kotono> Vines erupt from the bushes, lashing out at the armored succubus rapidly!
[21:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[21:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 26." [1d20=11]
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 31." [1d20=16]
[21:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[21:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 23." [1d20=8]
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 18." [1d20=3]
[21:11] <Kotono> roll 1d6+2+2d6
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+2+2d6 and gets 12." [1d6=6][2d6=2, 2]
[21:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 grapple
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 grapple and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[21:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 grapple moot
06[21:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 grapple moot and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[21:12] <Kotono> The succubus is beaten by a vine and it wraps around her throat! She gags as her throat is crushed against, G'renna laughing as she struggles. "She hit you. Gut her like a fish, yes, LIssa," she encourages. OOC - Alicia.
[21:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 knowledge devotion
06[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 knowledge devotion and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[21:15] <Alicia> As flames erupt around both ends of Hell Striker, Alicia lays into the blackguard with a fury! "Watch out, there's something else behind her, twenty feet away!" she cautions while doing her oh so violent work.
[21:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 4th level channel, divine might
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 4th level channel, divine might and gets 29." [1d20=1]
[21:15] <Kotono> "Tsch," Making a disgusted noise, "Really now? Get it to reveal itself and I'll tie it up all nice for you!"
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 4th level channel, divine might
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 4th level channel, divine might and gets 47." [1d20=19]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 4th level channel, divine might crit check
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 4th level channel, divine might crit check and gets 41." [1d20=13]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 4th level channel, divine might
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 4th level channel, divine might and gets 43." [1d20=20]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 4th level channel, divine might crit check
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 4th level channel, divine might crit check and gets 27." [1d20=4]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 4th level channel, divine might
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 4th level channel, divine might and gets 42." [1d20=19]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 4th level channel, divine might crit check
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 4th level channel, divine might crit check and gets 37." [1d20=14]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 4th level channel, divine might
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 4th level channel, divine might and gets 33." [1d20=15]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 4th level channel, divine might
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 4th level channel, divine might and gets 25." [1d20=7]
[21:16] <Kotono> OOC: Three crits and a hit. The 1 misses and the 25 misses.
[21:17] <Alicia> roll 7d8+112+8d6+4d6+16d4
06[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 7d8+112+8d6+4d6+16d4 and gets 227." [7d8=2, 2, 1, 4, 6, 4, 6][8d6=5, 6, 2, 6, 4, 1, 1, 6][4d6=3, 4, 3, 2][16d4=4, 4, 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 2, 2, 4, 4]
[21:19] <Kotono> With a fury that comes from deep within her heart, Alicia literally shreds the champion of evil! The killing is a joyous one, her head bouncing on the ground next o Alicia, armor and sword landing with a clatter. It's...strange...here, but the killing blow makes a hot feeling race up and down Alicia's body. It's enough to make her vision go blurry a few seconds. "Hah!" G'renna calls, even as something rushes at Alicia!
[21:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 29." [1d20=9]
[21:19] <Kotono> OOC +2 invis. Flatfooted?
[21:19] <Kotono> OOC: Flatfoote dAC that is.
[21:20] <Alicia> OOC: 28 sadly
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 2d8+10
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+10 and gets 19." [2d8=1, 8]
[21:20] <Kotono> OOC - Opposed grapple check time.
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 and gets 35." [1d20=5]
[21:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 and gets 36." [1d20=3]
[21:21] <Kotono> Alicia is rent by a claw across her shoulder! It's not the deepest wound and she's able to avoid away! Appearing in front of her...she's fought this type of demon before. A glabrezu! It dominates the path ahead with it's bulky body, claws snapping and eye glinting with malicious light! OOC - G'renna's up.
[21:22] <Kotono> G'renna grins as she steps back, "You're going down too!" she calls, "No one crosses me!" With that, four vines whip at the glabrezu!
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 20." [1d20=5]
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 17." [1d20=2]
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 17." [1d20=2]
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 34." [1d20=19]
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d6+2+2d6
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+2+2d6 and gets 13." [1d6=4][2d6=2, 5]
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 grapple
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 grapple and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 and gets 35." [1d20=5]
[21:23] <Kotono> OOC - Higher mod wins.
[21:23] <Kotono> The Glabrezu resists the vines, being whipped and hit with them overa nd over and over! IT roars in fury at Alicia! OOC - Alicia.
[21:25] <Alicia> "Heh... the last time I fought one of you it was a challenge," Alicia remarks as she recovers from the blow she just took. "I don't think you'll be, though," she concludes, leaping at the fiend and using its own body as a springboard as she gains sufficient height to slash wickedly at its dog-like face, her whirling blade leaving a map of scars down its body as she descends!
[21:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 4th level channel, bracers, divine might
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 4th level channel, bracers, divine might and gets 42." [1d20=14]
[21:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 4th level channel, bracers, divine might
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 4th level channel, bracers, divine might and gets 33." [1d20=5]
[21:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 4th level channel, bracers, divine might
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 4th level channel, bracers, divine might and gets 39." [1d20=11]
[21:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 4th level channel, bracers, divine might
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 4th level channel, bracers, divine might and gets 29." [1d20=6]
[21:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 4th level channel, bracers, divine might
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 4th level channel, bracers, divine might and gets 30." [1d20=7]
[21:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 4th level channel, bracers, divine might
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 4th level channel, bracers, divine might and gets 22." [1d20=4]
[21:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 4th level channel, bracers, divine might
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 4th level channel, bracers, divine might and gets 35." [1d20=17]
[21:25] <Kotono> OOC: All but the 22 hit.
[21:26] <Alicia> roll 6d8+96+12d6+6d6+24d4
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6d8+96+12d6+6d6+24d4 and gets 254." [6d8=2, 5, 6, 8, 4, 3][12d6=2, 6, 4, 4, 5, 2, 5, 2, 1, 3, 3, 4][6d6=3, 6, 3, 4, 6, 4][24d4=4, 1, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 4, 3, 2, 2, 4, 2, 1, 3, 2, 4, 1, 4, 4, 1, 4, 3, 3]
[21:28] <Kotono> With a savage fury of arcane fire, the glabrezu is ripped into shreds! The killing again makes Alicia feel hot and good, passing through her like a ripple. The glabrezu fades away into it's oblivion without even a chance to roar defiance! "Hah!" G'renna laughs heartily at this, going over to sweep Alicia into a tight embrace, "Oh, that was so marvelous! You didn't hold back at all when you killed them! A succubus c hampion didn't even last
[21:28] <Kotono> You didn't hold back at all when you killed them! A succubus c hampion didn't even last a moment against you or did that horrible beast of a glabrazu!"
[21:29] <Alicia> Swept up in the moment, Alicia actually returns the embrace. "When idiots want to leap upon my blade so easily, who am I to argue?" she smirks.
[21:31] <Kotono> "Exactly!" The kiss comes abruptly, hotly. This time, well, it's French too, given passionately. When she breaks away, "You must have been looking in all the wrong places. Rivenheart will be sorely hurt to lose someone so thrilling."
[21:32] <Alicia> The tonguing at least gets Alicia to return to her senses and quickly part from the embrace, blushing more than a bit. "Their lose, I'm sure," she nods after a moment, taking a quick look through the remains of the succubus on the off chance she had any potions on her.
[21:34] <Alicia> Or even a wand!
[21:34] <Kotono> There's a set of armor lying there and a still hot greatsword. There's a single glass vial resting beneath a breastplate.
06[21:34] * Alicia picks up the vial, hoping they have the sense to label their potions here.
[21:36] <Kotono> There's some writing but it's in Abyssal. As Alicia looks, "She have anything fun in there?" G'renna asks, peering over Alicia's shoulder. "Oh, a potion of 'cure serious wounds?' she reads. "Better thant bleeding...unless you enjoy the pain?"
[21:37] <Alicia> "It reminds me I'm alive, but no sense making things easier for the next obstacle," Alicia reasons as she knocks back the potion.
[21:38] <Kotono> roll 3d8+4
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+4 and gets 12." [3d8=2, 3, 3]
[21:38] <Kotono> OOC +1.
[21:38] <Alicia> roll 3d8+5 I think
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d8+5 I think and gets 8." [3d8=1, 1, 1]
[21:39] <Kotono> The potion only does a little. It feels weak, or perhaps understrength. Ugh.
06[21:40] * Alicia makes a face and tosses the vial aside. "I've had cure light wounds spells that did more than that," she huffs, briefly eyeing the sword and armour left behind. "Magic weapons are worth more than magic armour, and I don't really want to be weighed down too much," she decides, picking up just the sword and working it into her baldric, settling for carrying Hell Striker for now.
[21:41] <Kotono> "It's probably cheap trash, like that cheap whore," G'renna trots along Alicia, purring and taking her arm. "Let's keep going. But, what was that about that Alicia?"
[21:42] <Alicia> "Well, before we get into that, what was that little crack about me being your pet, hmm?" Alicia retorts, butting her hips against G'renna's.
[21:51] <Kotono> "Oh, I just want to pet you," Her hand strokes Alicia's front, not particularly shy. No, not at all. "Hug you..." She's doing that or close to it, "Feed you.." she giggles wickedly at that.
06[21:54] * Alicia laughs as she does her best to dodge such intimate caresses. "Well I suppose that's not too bad. Anyway, I honestly don't know anything about anyone called Ebony, but I did leave Passendale somewhat violently after Miskcalea invited me to his charmingly named 'rape-room'." She then cocks her head and smiles, "Alicia, Lissa. In some respects I'm not very imaginative, am I?"
02[21:55] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) Quit (Client exited)
03[21:56] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-54472d8f.wfd84a.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[21:56] * Alicia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[21:56] <Kotono> "Oooooh. Oooooooh." Blinking before her color drains a little bit, "Well, this'll be interesting," she admits, color returning almost instantly. Then she's on Alicia hard, hard and tight. "We should either hurry along...or go see and petition Malcanthet to call off the Radiant Sister Ebony. With all your skill, you could impress her. Plus, when you killed them, did you feel anything? A rapture?"
[21:57] <Alicia> "There was a slight tingly feeling," Alicia admits with a blush. "But why would Ebony care about me? Unless... is she more imaginative than me with the fake names and also goes my Miskcalea?"
[21:59] <Alicia> goes by*
03[21:59] * tai-headache is now known as tai-flatoutsick
[21:59] <Kotono> "Uh huh," With her own little smile, her eyes light up. "But if you felt a rapture, then you really do have potential." Rubbing Alicia's arms, "It's the feeling of Malcanthet's will and the will of the layer. Granting you a pleasurable rapture when you kill. Killing is another form of bliss in it's way. Malcanthet would value someone like you, help you grow stronger, and tell her Radiant Sister to back off. I could even get you into the pal
[22:00] <Kotono> and tell her Radiant Sister to back off. I could even get you into the palace safely."
06[22:03] * Alicia makes a dismissive gesture. "I tried playing nice with her and all it got me was a promise that I'd spend an eternity being violated. Going straight to her lair seems like suicide - lets keep going through the maze instead," Alicia decides, not really wanting to become a minion of the Queen of Succubi.
[22:03] <Alicia> "The annoying thing is that I had Ebony right where I wanted him- her. Whatever. I could've dismembered her as easily as those two fools back there, but I decided it would be easier just to make a quick and clean escape before any reinforcements came. Oh well, live and learn, eh?"
02[22:05] * tai-flatoutsick (~ferixstad@adsl-76-236-183-253.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[22:08] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-169-22.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[22:08] * Taishyr is now known as tai-flatoutsick
[22:09] <Kotono> "Of course," Smiling now and hugging onto Alicia, "But Alicia, listen to me a moment." She takes a long look at her, "I'm very serious now. Malcanthet is a glorious ruler to serve and I can assure you that she'll grant you a far higher station than any you may have been offered before. You're getting a glimpse of what she offers. You'll get many things...including me," Batting her eyelashes, "I'd be happy to stay with you and help you whate
[22:09] <Kotono> Batting her eyelashes, "I'd be happy to stay with you and help you whatever MAlcanthet's will is on it.
[22:13] <Alicia> "That's very sweet of you, G'renna," Alicia briefly presses her finger against the succubus's lips, "But I'm used to finding sad catches in such arrangements - a certain baatezu who shall remain nameless has tried to court my services as well. And quite frankly it means I'd have to work alongside the likes of Ebony and that alone sickens me."
[22:13] <Alicia> She shakes her head and then leans close, voice dropping to a whisper, "Besides, I already have an important mistress to serve."
[22:16] <Kotono> G'renna's eyes widen, before a little smile plays across her face. "Oh," she whispers back, reaching up to run a hand through Alicia's hair. "I understand...no wonder Malcanthet wants you." Lowering her voice as her hot breath places on Alicia's lips, close to her, "You deserve a reward for being so tempting. Lower your pants and I'll...eat up," she says, "You're so manipulating, it makes me so hot."
[22:18] <Alicia> Despite the perverse urge to give it a shot, Alicia stands firm. "My, if I didn't know better I might even think you were trying to stall me." Giving G'renna a little swat on the butt she resumes walking. "Come on, we've still got an endless staircase to find."
[22:20] <Kotono> "I can't help it, I want you." She admits openly, following to keep Alicia's hand in her own. "It's like it's own form of torture, you denying me. Oh, but I could make it feel SO good. You'll think you've found paradise." Her voice becomes a soft purr, "You're just such fun!" AS you walk along, you come to another intersection. One path north, one continuing west.
06[22:21] * Alicia laughs. "I never thought I'd be the one to seduce a succubus. It's a pleasant torment, isn't it?" she teases, continuing to the West.
[22:22] <Kotono> "Mmmm..." She rubs against Alicia's arm, content to follow for now. As you do, you see mushrooms ahead - the same bulbous mushrooms by the entrance. That makes G'renna perk up a little, stopping Alicia about 80 feet away fromt hem. "Hold up," she says. "Remember those mushrooms I mentioned?"
[22:23] <Alicia> "Ah, the pretty colours and mind numbing arousal?" Alicia nods. "Think you can get them to quiet themselves before we get too close, or shall we go back and take the other path?"
[22:24] <Kotono> "It's a risk. To be close enough to do it is close enough for them to spray and get us," she warns.
[22:25] <Alicia> "Lets go back and head North instead?" she suggests, appreciating G'renna's honesty in not luring her to the spores.
[22:27] <Kotono> Changing path, the two go north! This leads to a little cube of a clearing, the walls expanding out to give you some space. A few trees here hang, a long tube fruit and perfectly round, soft peaches seen. The path continues onward past this. "Hungry," G'renna asks. "They're quite tasty."
06[22:29] * Alicia shakes her head, recalling the lower planar food that was on offer back at that circus. "It probably wouldn't agree with me. I've got rations and the magic to make them taste like whatever I want, so might as well stick with that when I need to dine."
[22:30] <Kotono> "Oh well, suit yourself." Trotting off and getting a peach and starting to slowly lick at it, "Shall we continue on then, or do you want to stop and eat those rations?"
[22:32] <Alicia> "I'm good for the moment, and considering Ebony might send someone more competent after us when she finds out what happened to those idiots we might as well keep moving," Alicia nods decisively. "At least her minions should be threatened just as much by the dangers in here, right?"
[22:33] <Kotono> "MMm-hmm," A nod there sa the two continue on, the peach lovingly eaten. Thereafter you come to another path choice - to continue on this one or go to a branch to the west or to the east a little further down.
[22:34] <Alicia> "Hmm... lets go east now," Alicia decides, figuring they've been heading generally west for long enough.
[22:36] <Kotono> Walking east, Alicia and G'renna travel about ten minutes. G'renna seems content to stay arm on arm. At two points there are assassin vines, but G'renna can stop them easily enough. All they do then is stroke against your legs and stomach without pain or damage. (More)
[22:36] <Kotono> Eventually you come to a fork off to the northeast, continuing east or to the west. OOC: Spot.
[22:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
[22:36] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+18 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{31}
[22:37] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 +1 vs evil outsiders
[22:37] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 +1 vs evil outsiders --> [ 1d20=10 ]{17}
[22:38] <Kotono> G'renna glances down the northwestern passage, scowling and pulling Alicia's arm. In her mind, 'I saw someone sneaking there,' she says. 'Hiding.'
[22:38] <Kotono> OOC: CL check on DE?
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[22:38] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{11}
[22:39] <Alicia> 'Flush them out with your vines?' Alicia suggests.
[22:39] <Kotono> 'Easily done,' G'renna grins, as vines can be glimpsed ahead, thrashing!
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[22:40] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{27}
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[22:40] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{22}
[22:40] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{30}
[22:40] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{34}
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 4d6+8+8d6
[22:40] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 4d6+8+8d6 --> [ 4d6=11 8d6=34 ]{53}
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
[22:40] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+20 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{39}
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[22:40] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+17 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{36}
[22:41] <Kotono> "Aaaaaaagh!" You her a man's voice cry out in pain! Vines come out of the bushes, dragging a male succubus out, body painted green. It holds him securely with all four vines, a wicked looking black knife having fallen from his hands to the ground.
[22:41] <Kotono> "Hello there," G'renna purrs. "Alicia, feel free to do whatever you want with the swine. You'll do something marvelous, I'm sure."
[22:42] <Alicia> "Well, well, well... look what we have here," Alicia saunters up to the bound succubus with Hell Striker held ready. "Another of Ebony's minions?"
[22:44] <Kotono> Coughing and struggling, in vain with four tentacles holding him, "Let...me...goo!" he declares. "You're crossing a Radiant Sister here!" Then after a choking gasp struggled out, "Wait, you know her name...Alicia...!"
[22:44] <Kotono> "Oh, if you want him to talk, I can have the tentacles violate him," G'renna says cheerfully. "Oh, it'll hurt too. It'll help open him right up to talking."
[22:46] <Alicia> "Really, he has nothing interesting to say," Alicia opines, leaning close to the bound succubus. "I've fought dukes of the Nine Hells. I'm not scared of Ebony, far less her pathetic minions." She raises her flaming blade to his neck. "You know what's really sad, though?"
[22:46] <Kotono> "He'll die like a dog here?" G'renna smirks, questioning.
[22:47] <Kotono> "You can spare me," he tries, "I get it, you're too strong. I'll go away and not hurt you!" His words come quite quickly at the sword to his throat!
[22:47] <Alicia> "Yes," Alicia agrees. "Normally when I kill his kind, I know that they'll respawn back in their pit, and can tell all their friends about me. But this poor fool only has oblivion to look forward to - I can't even send a message to Ebony through him."
[22:48] <Kotono> Going to stroke Alicia's side and the side of her chest, smirking at him, "Do it. He couldn'te ven hide well enough to fool us. He's worthless."
[22:50] <Alicia> "Perhaps your failure to return will be a message all by itself?" Alicia wonders, drawing back before stabbing Hell Striker into his chest!
[22:50] <Kotono> OOC: Treat is as a coup?
[22:51] <Alicia> OOC: works for me
[22:51] <Alicia> roll 2d8+66+2d6+1d6
[22:51] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 2d8+66+2d6+1d6 --> [ 2d8=4 2d6=3 1d6=1 ]{74}
[22:52] <Kotono> Thrusting into the waiting warmth of the succubus, he dies and fades into eternal oblivion! As the kill is given, Alicia's midsection bursts in warmth. The sensation is stronger this time, hotter. Her breath comes rapid, her senses tingling with raw sensation. It feels...soo, sooooo good to kill him. It echos for upwards of ten seconds, making her legs a little weak. OOC - Make a will save.
[22:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
[22:53] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+22 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{40}
[22:54] <Alicia> "Oh!" Alicia staggers a bit, having to lean on Hell Striker. "Gods that felt so dirty... I'm soaked," she blurts out before collecting her wits and looking terribly embarrassed. "Well..." she fidgets, "This'll be inconvenient if it happens during a fight against multiple foes..."
[22:56] <Kotono> "That was glorious," G'renna looks smug, "Such a beautiful execution! You felt how good that was, how nice it was to show him his place," Taking Alicia's arm, leaning close to her, "It's good to feel dirty like that. Relax...relax...I can make you feel dirtier...soak you again," she whispers into Alicia's ear, licking it. "Just agree to it."
[22:57] <Alicia> "Ah... no," Alicia disengages from her affectionate guide, "Need to focus on getting out of here, remember," she breathes a little bit deeply as she casts detect magic and has a look at the dagger dropped by their would-be assassin.
[22:58] <Kotono> "Aaaaaw," Staying close to Alicia, brushing her hand against her every so often, she follows. The dagger radiates no magic, though it looks shiny and sharp - silver.
06[22:59] * Alicia doesn't bother taking the dagger, choosing to head down the Northwest path that the interloper was on. "I'm well used to killing, but it never normally feels like that. This is how disturbing fetishes are born..." she notes mournfully.
[23:03] <Kotono> "It's not disturbing...you're feeling dirty and you're wet." Sliding along, her voice a sultry tease that accents every suggestive word, "This realm is speaking to you, Alicia. It's showing you the rapture and bliss that you could have here. That's all. Don't worry about it, embrace it."
03[23:08] * Celenu (WinNT@user-54472d8f.wfd84a.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
[23:08] <Kotono> "It's not disturbing...you're feeling dirty and you're wet." Sliding along, her voice a sultry tease that accents every suggestive word, "This realm is speaking to you, Alicia. It's showing you the rapture and bliss that you could have here. That's all. Don't worry about it, embrace it."
02[23:08] * Alicia (WinNT@user-54472d8f.wfd84a.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Celenu))
03[23:08] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
03[23:08] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
06[23:08] * Alicia gives G'renna a sidelong look. "Ebony and her friends were talking like that earlier. Before the whole 'I'll violate you for eternity, hahaha' bit. I don't think embracing these feelings is going to help my long-term health." Her tone then becomes more relaxed, "Besides, really? Getting off on killing people? That's just stupid - I mean, it's not arousing at all on any level."
[23:12] <Kotono> "Malcanthet teaches that everything is about sensation and rapture. It's showing you one of those," Smiling now, "If you change you rmind about getting off, say the word." Swiftly kissing Alicia again, lingering there, "But let's keep going now?"
[23:14] <Alicia> "Hmph. Strange compelled feelings aside, that kiss was sexier than killing anyone, and I meant every word about not being into women," Alicia affirms as she presses on through the labyrinth.
[23:15] <Kotono> "Yet I bet you're feeling something trickling down your legs," Teasingly the two press on to the northwest! This path goes on perhaps 5 minutes, before coming to another slight open space. Here a fountain burbles - a succubus, her various orifices gushing water out in an erotic pose. G'renna goes to it, sipping water and slowly cleaning her face. "We're making progress, I hope."
06[23:16] * Alicia looks up into the sky. "Do you think that dragon would mind if we just peeked over the top a little bit?"
[23:17] <Kotono> "Probably," The sky is still shadowy and hidden by the dragon's body. "I'm having too much fun to risk it on an acid bath," G'renna flicks a little water at Alicia, giggilng. "Come over here and clean yourself up a little? We can take a moment or two."
[23:19] <Alicia> "Yes, you're probably right," Alicia agrees, "We're not in a desperate situation yet to risk it." Walking over to the fountain she proceeds to wash her hands and face. "Think that's a real statue or someone got unlucky with a flesh to stone spell?"
[23:21] <Kotono> The water is cool, soothing and clinging to her flesh. As G'renna splashes it onto her body all over, glistening there, "Could be either," Reaching out to tap it, leaning forward so that she's almost into the water, "There's a Marilith that has a thing for sculptures in this realm. Could be one of hers too. Or hell, she could've petrified a succubus and called it art."
[23:21] <Kotono> "Oh," Smiling up at Alicia, "This feels so pleasant. Why don't you take off that armor and cool off for a few? I feel better already."
[23:24] <Alicia> "Lady Zuz? I think I had a stop near her place earlier," Alicia nods, settling for cupping water in her hands and splashing her face. "Sorry, but I've not been blessed with deceptively soft yet stronger than steel skin, unlike some I could name," she briefly pokes G'renna below the ribs. "Wouldn't want some nasty glabrezu stumbling along while I'm without such protections."
[23:25] <Kotono> "Oh, do that again," Sliding closer and flicking water against Alicia's breastplate, "Would it be too forward to say that Malcanthet could do something about that."
02[23:25] * Carthrat (Carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Ping timeout)
[23:27] <Alicia> "I'm sure she could. Talos already did a little bit to toughen my flesh up, but it's still a far cry from how resilient most outsiders are. But it was free, so I certainly can't complain - I'm sure a stronger toughening up would carry a heavy price, though," Alicia explains.
[23:28] <Kotono> "Perhaps, or perhaps not." Drinking a little more water and then standing up, "Shall we go on then," Hooking her arm with Alicia's, "Let's see what stimulating fun is ahead?"
[23:29] <Alicia> "Certainly," Alicia agrees as she gets up as well and continues onwards.
[23:30] <Kotono> A little later, another patch of red flowers are tamed, then assassin vines and a fly-trap like creature. G'renna has control over all of them with ease. Five minutes later, heading along...you can see a four way intersection 100 feet away, glimsped. However, 40 feet before that, is a large patch of mushrooms, smack in the middle of the way.
[23:31] <Alicia> "Oh, typical..." Alicia chuckles on seeing the mushrooms. "If nothing else I could set them on fire from a distance. Think that'd do any good? I don't know if the demonic resistance to fire extends to fungus as well."
[23:32] <Kotono> "They burn...but the smoke is heavy and the spores spread with it and linger," G'renna warns. "If we do that, we'll neeed to fall back and wait about...ten minutes for it to dissipate."
[23:34] <Alicia> "Well, getting affected by the spores would probably cause us a longer delay - fun though it might be," Alicia observes, walking up to 60 feet away from the fungi before she launches several rays of fire in amongst them, a wide arc to ensure the whole patch catches fire swiftly, then proceeds to back off.
[23:35] <Kotono> G'renna scoots well back as well, well out of the range of the smoke. "Me too," she murmurs, "We're not immune to it's effect, unlike most poisons."
[23:38] <Alicia> "I'm pretty resistant, but no sense chancing it," Alicia agrees. Since they have time to kill she elects to keep G'renna occupied with conversation less she come up with other diversions. "So, did you travel around a lot before taking your extended break with your friendly vines?" she asks.
[23:40] <Kotono> She goes to sit down, patting the ground next to her. "Oh yes, mortal soul gathering for a long time." Rubbing her hair gently and stroking it out, "Putting in my dues and getting in Malcanthet's good graces."
06[23:42] * Alicia sits next to her. "You've probably never been to my prime material - the fact that there's more than one was really strange for me to get to grips with, I might add. It's been all but cut off from the planes and the gods until recently. Gnomes and their God-King, if you've ever heard of that."
[23:44] <Kotono> Resting her head on Alicia's shoulder, "Mmm, no, but I've been busy." Alicia noticies she smells good - strangely good to her. It's a light scent that makes her feel a little warmer. "I heard a wise man call the Prime like an endless prism, with each 'world' being a reflection."
[23:45] <Alicia> "I suppose that makes sense," Alicia considers. "I always just thought there was the prime in the middle, then all the elemental planes in one ring, then the outer planes in another. Having more than one prime upsets things, but if you visualise it as a prism it does work..."
[23:46] <Kotono> Nuzzling against Alicia's cheekbone and resting a hand on Alicia's upper leg, "Yes. I don't worry about it too much, doubly so since I'm done with that for a good while. I admit...you remind me why I enjoyed it. Every so often there's an interesting mortal out there. One that makes me feel hot inside."
[23:48] <Alicia> "That you just can't wait to corrupt into doing all sorts of sordid things?" Alicia concludes, resting her hand on G'renna's to keep it where it is and stop her from moving further.
[23:50] <Kotono> "Sometimes...some if it really is enlightening them. Some of them have such potential, but they'll never reach it alone." The kiss is slow and lazy, across Alicia's lips before she speaks again. "You're one of those. It brings the teacher out in me." Her hand takes Alicia's holding and giving it a little squeeze. "We have ten minutes...let me teach you something. You'll feel so good...and I promise we'll be done and moving in ten minutes."
[23:50] <Kotono> You'll feel so good...and I promise we'll be done and moving in ten minutes."
[23:55] <Alicia> Admittedly Alicia is entirely at fault for leading the conversation in this direction, something that she mentally berates herself for quite severely. "You know," she begins slowly, thinking that she really needs to raise her guard better in case G'renna decides to energy drain her sometime with one of those (admittedly very good) kisses.
[23:55] <Alicia> "You know my real name now, but you haven't seen the real me yet," as she speaks her features blurr slightly as she dispels the alter self magic before reverting to her natural, less youthful, less blonde, and less inhuman form. "You're not the only one who can change shape."
[23:58] <Kotono> She looks Alicia over long, fixiating on her holy symbol. She smiles, "So?" She leans in to kiss Alicia again(OOC: You can opt to stop her if you like), "I like you. Hoping to scare me off with that?" With a heady smile, "Alicia, I've seen it in your eyes and I can smell it on you. You fit in this realm and you agree with me. You're gorgeous as well. Do you think I couldn't guess?" With a teasing, sultry smile, "A succubus champion like tha
[23:58] <Kotono> Do you think I couldn't guess?" With a teasing, sultry smile, "A succubus champion like that is always a dark paladin or blackguard. Always. They only send those after heroes, not half fiends who irritated a Radiant Sister." (More)
[23:59] <Kotono> Putting her hand over Alicia's holy symbol and above it, loosely, "Don't worry about that here. You know what you feel...you don't need to w orry about anything but these ten minutes. Just say yes and let me. We can talk better after that, I promise."
Session Time: Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 2009
06[00:03] * Alicia does dodge the kiss, though just barely. "You're good..." she admits breathily. "You know, I haven't had sex or even masturbated in years? And even then I've never been interested in a woman. Then there's the fact that I spend most of my time fighting fiends..." she gently cups G'renna's cheek. "But you have me tempted, I can't deny that."
[00:06] <Kotono> "Give in. It's not for your soul, not for light or dark or good or evil." G'renna whispers back, looking into Alicia's eyes. "It's because I like you. I want to make you feel good, it's what we do here to our friends. WE're having fun together, aren't we? Trust me here, just a little. I know you've probably learned never to trust a fiend, but," With a soft, lustrious smirk, "But you saw the disdain I had for how the others worked. I just wa
[00:06] <Kotono> lustrious smirk, "But you saw the disdain I had for how the others worked. I just want to make you feel good. It's been so long for you. Let me give you a token of our friendship."
[00:11] <Alicia> Shaking her head, Alicia silences G'renn by delicately placing a finger over her lips. "You're wrong. There is one fiend I learned to trust. She's not as charming as you are - she was often rude and disagreeable, even when she was trying to sway me to her side."
[00:11] <Alicia> "But eventually, after a long time and a lot of work by the both of us, we learned to trust one another - with our lives and with our souls." She leans closer and plants a soft and chaste kiss on the succubus's forehead. "I like you, G'renn, but it's too soon for us."
[00:11] <Kotono> OOC: Make a charisma check?
[00:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[00:11] <Kotono> OOC: +2 bonus.
[00:11] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{9}
[00:11] <Alicia> OOC: 11...
[00:16] <Kotono> The soft laughter tickles around Alicia's finger. "Is it? We'll have to part ways if you're going back to your world, then. This is our chance right here." Looking Alicia dead in the eyes, deep eyes that stir Alicia along with her scent, "I'm not going to drag you to Malcanthet or anything not and I'll even help you get to the center since this is so much fun. But...let us have this here. Then we'll get you to the center, tell that bitch Eb
[00:16] <Kotono> But...let us have this here. Then we'll get you to the center, tell that bitch Ebony that she failed, and have good memories to cherish."
[00:28] <Alicia> "If we don't have the time to develop our relationship, so be it," Alicia can't help but keep some melancholy from her tone - she's honestly somewhat interested. "But I don't want it to be like this, just a quick roll in the hay - or hedges. Whatever."
[00:28] <Alicia> She puts her arm around the succubus and gives her an affectionate squeeze, "If things had been different... but we're from two different worlds, and I suppose it'd never work out." She shakes her head, "It's so hard for me to refuse you, but... I have to."
[00:29] <Kotono> "Are you sure," she asks gently. "I won't push it again, but..." She smiles, "Or even just my hands. Something for you to savor. But if not..."
06[00:31] * Alicia bites her lip, fighting against the temptation to go for it. "If all demons were like you, everyone would be damned," she marvels.
[00:33] <Kotono> Leaning in to kiss Alicia again, "It's okay. Just close your eyes and nod, and my hand will do everything. Just marvel at it and..." She smiles radiantly again, close to Alicia's face.
[00:37] <Alicia> She's not sure where it came from, but some surge of assertiveness helps Alicia master herself. Grabbing G'renn's wrist, she leans close to stare intensely into her eyes. "I'm not the type to lie back passively and take it," she almost growls. "If we do this, you'll get a few memories of your own... but it's not time, yet." And with a superhuman effort of discipline, she pulls away and stands up.
[00:38] <Kotono> G'renna's smile actually grows. "I was right. You have a force of will about you like us," She stands up now with Alicia. "I'm really impressed," Cheerfully now, smoothly, "You're only the third person to ever spurn me like that. You really are interesting!"
06[00:39] * Alicia isn't sure what she did technically counts as spurning, but she'll take what she can get. "What happened to the other two?" she can't help but ask.
[00:40] <Kotono> "One was a holy saint. The other turned out to be castrated," With a smirk as she takes Alicia's hand and squeezes it, "Congratulations. You've joined an elite group. You're going to do this on your terms...be it nothing or everything. Then direct me and us in this maze, to pleasure or progress or what have you. You have..." Her voice is so sultry again, "My full attention."
[00:43] <Alicia> "So you've never had a woman reject you?" Alicia is surprised. "Well, admittedly I've never even considered it, but you did a good job of putting the concept in my mind...." Squeezing her hand back she starts heading back to see if the spores have dissipated.
[00:44] <Kotono> "Once you get someone interested...and I know how to choose good targets," G'renna travels with Alicia, the two finding the spores dissipated. The road ahead is clear.
[00:45] <Alicia> Here Alicia chooses to go West, since they went for some distance on the last East path.
[00:47] <Kotono> The western path has more assassin vines, easily disabled by G'renna again. As they are walked path, the two hand in hand, "What did you think about my vines, then," G'renna breaks the silence.
[00:49] <Alicia> "They're very compliant with you. Were I alone I'd probably have to burn all of them as I approach," she briefly glances down at G'renna's healthy looking crotch, "Sadly my mortal body likely wouldn't endure forty years of their attentions."
[00:50] <Kotono> "Oh, were you interested. IF you want..." She looks to the vines, "It needn't be fourty years, of course. But I have a spiritual body while you have a body of dirt and flesh."
[00:52] <Alicia> "Flesh and blood and bone, but no dirt," Alicia assures her with a squeeze of her hand. "But really, it's not for me. Friendly and attentive they may be, I prefer a degree of intellectual stimulation from my partners as well."
[00:52] <Kotono> "Fair enough, though I can be very skillfull with controlling them," she says as they walk along. "Oh! What's it like getting older?"
[00:57] <Alicia> "It's actually not that bad," Alicia opines. "At first it's great, when you go from being a child to an adult - some of the changes are a bit awkward what with growth spurts suddenly making you lose your coordination and so on, but it's well worth it to get bigger and stronger, and be taken seriously by everyone."
[00:57] <Alicia> "Then things naturally go downhill from that youthful peak - I haven't really hit the worst of it yet, but my skin's a little less smooth and my figure a little less trim and perky. I work hard to stay in shape, although I can't really stop my degeneration, only mitigate it."
[00:57] <Alicia> "Still," she smiles, "Age supposedly brings wisdom. I'm not so sure about that, but it does let you feel some smugness when looking at the younger generation."
[00:59] <Kotono> "Mmmhmmmmm," Murmuring that as the two come closer to another intersection - several paths, narrow and going in all directions, nine of them and this path. Some of them take squeezing to get through, incredibly narrow to begin with. "I know freshly formed succubi are so imcompetent at first. It might be the same thing? Though th erest of that...do you really want to degenerate physically?""
[01:02] <Alicia> "Not particularly, but the only real alternative is to become some horrid undead thing, and that certainly holds no interest," Alicia makes a face. "I'll die one day, one way or another, and then I'll be just as ageless as you are." She pauses a moment at the paths. "Any preference?" she asks curiously.
[01:03] <Kotono> "There's ways to stall it and regain youth. Occasionally powerful mortals come here for it, though I don't know the details," Then a shrug comes from G'renna, "Your choice, I'll take care of any hazards."
06[01:05] * Alicia settles on just taking the leftmost path, which should lead South - they've been favour North for a bit, so that's probably their best bet. "It's only delaying the inevitable though, isn't it? Really, if I want to make myself look like a pretty young girl I have magic for that, but I'm comfortable with the way I am, and I expect I'll remain comfy in my own skin no matter how old I get."
[01:07] <Kotono> "Perhaps so." There's a little quiet as the two walk on. For about 3 minutes, coming to a 90 corner. At 40 feet away, you see someone come around the corner! It's a beautiful succubus, wearing a leather bustier and carrying a whip! Her eyes widen in alarm, "Guh! H-Hold it there! By the command of the Radiant Sister, all within the Puzzling Hedge are to be stopped!" OOc - Neither side is remotely surprised, both sides chances on each other.
[01:07] <Kotono> OOc - Neither side is remotely surprised, both sides chanced on each other. Initiative?
[01:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[01:07] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{26}
[01:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[01:07] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{25}
[01:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[01:07] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{20}
03[01:07] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia>G'renna>Succubus in bustier'
[01:07] <Kotono> OOC - Go Alicia.
[01:08] <Kotono> "Sneaking around like a rat in a hole," G'renna sneers at the succubus. "You couldn't even manage a competent ambush!"
[01:10] <Alicia> "I'm not stopping for that bitch!" Alicia replies, rushing forward to slash out at this new threat!
[01:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 knowledge devotion
[01:10] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+17 knowledge devotion --> [ 1d20=13 ]{30}
[01:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -5pa
[01:11] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+20 -5pa --> [ 1d20=7 ]{27}
[01:11] <Kotono> OOC - Hit.
[01:11] <Alicia> roll 1d8+22+2d6+1d6
[01:11] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+22+2d6+1d6 --> [ 1d8=8 2d6=6 1d6=6 ]{42}
[01:12] <Kotono> The blow is a serious one, drawing a solid slash of blood! A moment later, four tentacles lash out from the bushes!
[01:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[01:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[01:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[01:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[01:12] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{29}
[01:12] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{29}
[01:12] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{32}
[01:12] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{18}
[01:12] <Kotono> roll 3d6+6+6d6
[01:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 3d6+6+6d6 --> [ 3d6=11 6d6=21 ]{38}
[01:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
[01:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+20 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{34}
[01:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
[01:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+18 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{24}
[01:13] <Kotono> Beaten and whipped, the succubus is pinned, her bustier broken and bloodied! Held rigid and spread eagled by the tendrils, she looks helpless! She attempts to struggle out!
[01:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
[01:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+18 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{28}
[01:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30 (+5 bonus for each that hit her after the successful grapple)
[01:14] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+30 (+5 bonus for each that hit her after the successful grapple) --> [ 1d20=7 ]{37}
[01:14] <Kotono> But she can't! She's hell tight! "Finish it," G'renna says the succubus beaten and held vulnerable!
[01:14] <Kotono> OOC: You're up.
[01:15] <Alicia> First Alicia wants some information. "How many other minions has Ebony sent in here after me?" she demands of the bound sex-demon, sword held ready to strike.
[01:15] <Kotono> "Go to Hell and fuck a lemure," she snaps in pain, "I won't tell you anything, you stupid mortal!"
[01:16] <Alicia> "Have it your way," Alicia shrugs, whipping her blade through the air for a decapitating strike!
[01:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -10 pa
[01:16] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+15 -10 pa --> [ 1d20=19 ]{34}
[01:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -10 pa crit check
[01:17] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+15 -10 pa crit check --> [ 1d20=8 ]{23}
[01:17] <Kotono> OOC: Crit.
[01:17] <Alicia> roll 2d8+64+2d6+1d6
[01:17] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 2d8+64+2d6+1d6 --> [ 2d8=12 2d6=11 1d6=4 ]{91}
[01:18] <Kotono> The decaptation sends blood everywhere! Hot blood gushes, not that Alicia notices! The thrill through her is stupendous, rocking her knees and making her innards explode! It's orgasmically powerful this time, washing Alicia in a savage bliss! For those long, long, long moments time is irrelevant, the feeling of the kill infusing into her. Every part of her body is alive with fires of pure pleasurable bliss! OOC - Will save, -4.
[01:19] <Kotono> fires of pure pleasurable bliss! OOC - Will save, -4.
[01:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
[01:19] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+18 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{26}
06[01:23] * Alicia falls to her knees with the overwhelming fire that burns through her, breathing heavily and sweat dripping from her brow. "Oh... my..." she grimaces, disgusted at herself yet still craving the feeling that now flows away from her. "We need to hurry..." she gasps, picking herself up, "Much more of this and I might not be able to continue..."
[01:23] <Kotono> G'renna offers a hand out for Alicia. "Or you won't want to, even if you can," she queries.
06[01:26] * Alicia nods shamefacedly. "It's sad..." she observes, taking the hand. "In my mind you're the most tempting thing here, but those feelings burn away all reason... I might even attack you to feel it again, if this keeps up." She raises her gaze upwards, almost beseechingly. "Mystra, give me strength. Please..."
[01:26] <Kotono> OOC: You can rol a d1000 if you like.
[01:26] <Alicia> roll 1d1000 does this ever work?
[01:26] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d1000 does this ever work? --> [ 1d1000=432 ]{432}
[01:27] <Kotono> OOC: It hasn't yet, but it's a nice random option to have.
[01:28] <Kotono> Alicia feels a little better after praying. "Let's keep going," G'renna prods Alicia gently. "Hopefully we're close?"
[01:30] <Alicia> "Oh, I hope so..." Alicia takes several deep cleansing breaths. "If not, desperate measures may be called for. Still... while I still have the wits to use it, I have one other trick to try." She casts a spell to boost her persuasive powers, something that might just let her dodge the next fight. When she speaks next she sounds far more composed even if she doesn't feel it. "Let's keep going."
[01:31] <Kotono> The two go on! The path starts to curve, twisting around in a tightening spiral! You notice something after about ten minutes of this - the sun is getting brighter here.
[01:32] <Alicia> "Think that means anything?" Alicia asks, looking up at the sky.
[01:32] <Kotono> "Maybe we're getting close to the center," G'renna has Alicia's hand again, leading the way right now. "I hope so."
[01:34] <Alicia> "We've worked hard enough for it, considering we've had to deal with Ebony's minions more than the maze's usual hazards. Most people probably have an easier time of things, I'd imagine," Alicia comments, feeling somewhat better by now, although there's still a gnawing *need* in her abdomen that craves satisfaction.
[01:36] <Kotono> Walking a few more minutes, the two come to an end! At last! Is this the center? It's a 100 foot wide circle, the inner 50 feet taken up by a stone inlay. In the center of that rests a single doorway, closed shut. Standing in front of it are two people - another succubus in full plate armor and a woman with sea green hair, four tendrils coming from her back. "Oh, so they made it," The armored one sing-songs brightly, "They made it to their
[01:36] <Kotono> "Oh, so they made it," The armored one sing-songs brightly, "They made it to their graaaaaa-ve1"
[01:37] <Alicia> "Oh, how utterly fantastic," Alicia grimaces. "And why the hell isn't the dragon mauling you right now for having so clearly cheated to get here?"
[01:37] <Alicia> She sounds a bit put out. That's because she is.
[01:38] <Kotono> The lilitu grins ear to ear at that, "That's a seeecret," she sing-songs in a deeper, heavier voice. "You really pissed Ebony off! She got us here damned fast."
[01:40] <Alicia> "That's because Ebony's a stupid bitch who needs a good being killed," Alicia replies hotly. This won't work at all - if she kills one the other will be able to attack her with impunity while she's incapacitated with those sweet sweet feelings. "By Shar's saggy black teat, she clearly can't handle rejection."
[01:43] <Kotono> "Problem,' Your succubus friend sends in Alicia's mind, 'They're too far from the bushes to entangle or attack that way.'
[01:43] <Kotono> Swinging a greataxe about, the armored succubus giggles, "Yes, yes. But we get to kill you, so it makes it okay!"
[01:43] <Kotono> OOC: Let's do initiative here and then pause for the night?
[01:44] <Alicia> 'Have any other tricks? If nothing else try to charm one into flying up to see if that'll get the dragon's ire?' Alicia suggests, intent to do that herself.
[01:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[01:44] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{14}
[01:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[01:44] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{9}
[01:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[01:44] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{25}
[01:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[01:45] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{27}
[20:45] <Kotono> <Alicia> 'Have any other tricks? If nothing else try to charm one into flying up to see if that'll get the dragon's ire?' Alicia suggests, intent to do that herself.
[20:45] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[20:45] <Kotono> <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{14}
[20:45] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+5
[20:45] <Kotono> <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{9}
[20:45] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+6
[20:45] <Kotono> <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{25}
[20:45] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+8
[20:45] <Kotono> <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{27}
[20:46] <Kotono> 'A few,' G'renna answers swiftly, as the armored succubus comes 40 feet, ten feet away from Alicia! "Oh, you're going to like usss," she carols to Alicia! OOC: Will, +5.
[20:46] <Alicia> 'Or wait for them to charge us, I doubt they'll be too patient.'
[20:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27
06[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 and gets 40." [1d20=13]
[20:49] <Kotono> Alicia's will is imposed on, but her well tested irons resist the charm! The lilitu hangs back, only advancing 30 feet, 10 feet away from the succubus. "Just say there," she laughs, as she focuses on Alicia, "And BOW!" OOC - Will.
[20:49] <Alicia> OOC: thanks for the spellfire
[20:50] <Kotono> Alicia absorbs the magic, channeling it into herself! The touch of spellfire pours through her body! OOC - Alicia
[20:52] <Alicia> "Oh come on," Alicia challenges as she casts a spell to expand her stature to giant-size, looming over the pair. "You're not convincing at all!"
[20:52] <Alicia> OOC: 5ft step back as well
[20:52] <Kotono> To the Lilitu, G'renna grins as she flals back behind Alicia, "No, I'm the one who gives commands here!"
[20:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 19." [1d20=5]
[20:53] <Kotono> The lilitu goes somewhat slack, eyes glazing over! Smirking, 'Got her!' G'renna purrs, 'Bitch had the will of a blade of grass. Do something about that succubus, Alicia?'
[20:54] <Kotono> OOC: Succubus is up.
[20:55] <Kotono> The succubus scowls, looking to run past Alicia and at G'renna! "Stupid! Let her go!" she commands, her sing song evaporating! OOC - Alicia, you can AoO if youlike
[20:55] <Kotono> .
[20:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 knowledge devotion
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 knowledge devotion and gets 24." [1d20=7]
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 melee touch for trip
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 melee touch for trip and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 opposed str
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 opposed str and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 17." [1d20=12]
[20:58] <Alicia> "All that heavy armour's making you clumsy as well as ugly, dear," Alicia taunts as she kicks the succubus's legs out from under her.
[20:58] <Kotono> Woop! With a deft trip the succubus falls flat on her armored back! She lands with a clatter, G'renna laughing as the lilitu mechanically walks towards her! Reaching up to stroke the Lilitu's face, "Good girl," she says, as Alicia sees the succubus try to get up! OOC - Alicia, you're up. Succubus is prone by you.
06[21:00] * Alicia slashes her blade downwards to shatter the one carried by this so-called champion!
[21:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 -5pa 3rd level channel, divine might, opposed roll for sunder
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 -5pa 3rd level channel, divine might, opposed roll for sunder and gets 46." [1d20=16]
[21:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 19." [1d20=1]
[21:00] <Kotono> OOC - Success.
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 2d6+29+3d4+1d6
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+29+3d4+1d6 and gets 53." [2d6=5, 3][3d4=4, 4, 3][1d6=5]
[21:03] <Kotono> CRACK! The hardness of the blade is not enough tos ave it, sundered in two by Alicia's overwhelming blow! OOC: Antyhing else this round?
[21:03] <Alicia> OOC: not just yet
[21:03] <Kotono> OOC: Ending here then or...?
[21:04] <Alicia> OOC: yeah, that's pretty much me for the round
[21:04] <Kotono> G'renna strokes her newly dominated pet's cheek, "Having fun playing with her," she asks Alicia.
[21:07] <Alicia> "A bit..." Alicia leers down at the disarmed sex demon. "I could have a lot more fun... severing your head would give me rapture far beyond anything your pitiful charms could dream of offering," she notes, her tone both lustful and ominous.
[21:08] <Kotono> "Do it," G'renna says, voice a hot whisper as she walks over to Alicia, at her back. "Finish her. We need to finish this battle...and you deserve this rapture." Meanwhile, the succubus glares up at Alicia, focusing magic on her! OOC - Will, +5 Alicia.
[21:08] <Alicia> OOC: thanks for the spellfire
[21:08] <Kotono> Alicia absorbs the spell easily! OOC - Alicia is up.
[21:11] <Alicia> "No, I have a better idea," Alicia reaches down and cups the fiend's chin. "You're going to go back to Ebony and tell her to come here." She licks her lips, eyes not entirely focused.
[21:11] <Alicia> "Tell her I've got something long... hard," she takes her hand away from the succubus and begins to caress Hell Striker, just shying away from its flames, "And very hot, that I just can't wait to stick into her." She's sick of leaving powerful enemies behind her, and if she's going to endure that bliss one last time, it might as well be on a meaningful opponent.
[21:13] <Kotono> "Oh, what a lovely idea," G'renna purrs, "That's taking charge!" She leans forward, arms draped over Alicia. Kissing her neck a few times before whispering to her, "I can think of nothing more magnificent than seeing a Radiant Sister die."
[21:13] <Kotono> With a look of fear in her eyes, the succubus scowls. "You're gonna die," she promises with a softly whispered fury.
[21:14] <Alicia> "And then I'll go to heaven," Alicia titters, before lowering her blade towards the demon's face. "But if you die... there's nothing after that, is there?"
[21:15] <Kotono> Without a word the succubus vanishes!
[21:15] <Kotono> "So beautiful, so magnificent!" G'renna embraces Alicia, arms around her mid section from behind. "You're so good at this!"
06[21:16] * Alicia exhales sharply, quickly casting a shield spell. "Think your new pet will be any use to us? I know Ebony won't come alone," she notes, her mind clearing slightly now that there's no longer an easy kill directly in front of her. Even so she knows she's hardly acting close to normal... 'I might have to rely on you, Hell Striker, if I lose myself here,' she warns her sword.
[21:17] <Kotono> There is silence from Hell Striker, 'Do what you will. It's your soul.' It's voice is detatched, 'You have been a good master. I only ask that you pass me to another champion who can take me up.'
[21:18] <Kotono> "Oh yes, she should know magic," Smilling as she starts to rub Alicia's breastplate and stomach, "I can have her heal your injuries."
[21:20] <Alicia> That cold appraisal from the sword does a good job of shocking some sense back into Alicia, who suddenly worries she may have made a terrible misjudgement. "Do that," she agrees, quickly casting Mirror Image on herself. 'Don't let it come to that... please,' she asks Hell Striker. 'Just get me through that doorway if I get dominated or lose control. I can't stay here.'
[21:20] <Alicia> roll 1d4+4
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+4 and gets 7." [1d4=3]
[21:22] <Kotono> 'Alicia.' Hell Striker continues to speak, 'You are on the very edge of a long fall into oblivion. Your soul is clouded by lust and pleasure...If you fall here, I will not...because you will not be a master worth saving. I will respect your choice either way and not attack you, but I will not save you.'
[21:22] <Kotono> The lilitu walks forward, touching Alicia on the forehead!
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 4d8+9
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+9 and gets 28." [4d8=8, 5, 1, 5]
[21:24] <Kotono> "See? Useful," G'renna pats the lilitu's cheek, continuing to molest Alicia. "Ready?"
[21:25] <Alicia> "That won't happen..." Alicia whispers aloud, rallying her wits to try and suppress the bewitching influence this realm is having on her. "I belong to Mystra, no one else. We'll kill that demon and then we're gone." She starts moving towards the doorway, just in case a quick retreat is called for.
[21:26] <Kotono> Following and staying behind Alicia re botht he lilitu and G'renna. "Hm?" she asks, "Is something wrong?"
[21:26] <Kotono> roll 3d8+9 more Alicia heals
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+9 more Alicia heals and gets 20." [3d8=2, 4, 5]
06[21:28] * Alicia exhales a deep cleansing breath. "Everything... A few hours in this realm and I'm on the verge of completely losing myself. I have to hold it together..." then abruptly switching topic, "What if she doesn't even come?"
[21:28] <Kotono> "Then she's a coward," Sneering at that, "And you've won completely. You can dipose of the pet there to celebrate."
06[21:29] * Alicia looks around the centre of the maze, sweat dripping from her brow as she counts the seconds. One... two... three... four... five...
[21:30] <Kotono> As nothing immediately happens, G'renna comes forward. She goes to kiss Alicia on the lips again, as if stoking flames that lie barely dormant. "This should be your triumph. Relax..."
06[21:32] * Alicia evades the kiss. It's strange, she considers her affection for G'renna seperate from the will-sapping attentions of Malcanthet's layer, but she can't afford to risk losing her tenuously regained focus. "Please, G'renna, I need to stay focused. I need a cool head to get through this," she almost pleads, continuing her mental countdown. Six... seven... eight... nine... ten...
[21:33] <Kotono> G'renna smiles, and nods. "Very well." She stands at Alicia's side, more time passing. 11...12...13...14...15! Still no sign of Ebony.
06[21:35] * Alicia looks up into the sky to see if she can spot that dragon before scanning her surroundings once more. Then she pulls down her blindfold, just in case the radiant sister arrives under an invisibility spell.
[21:35] <Kotono> The dragon's shadow is much lighter here. Blindsight doesn't reveal a Radiant Sister at all. "Ooooh, kinky," laughing at Alicia now, "A magical blindfold, I presume?"
[21:36] <Alicia> "Grants me blindsight," Alicia confirms. "It's very useful." The waiting is hell on her nerves. At the thirty second mark she elects to give Ebony ten more before assuming she's not coming.
[21:38] <Kotono> 3...2...1...0. Fourty seconds. Still no Ebony at all. "Mph," Looking about, "Either she's preparing a horde or she's too afraid," G'renna's smirk grows by the moment. "I believe you have the radiant sister quaking!"
[21:40] <Alicia> "I'm not going to wait any longer," Alicia shakes her head. "If she comes now it'll be with far too many reinforcements for us to handle." Pulling her blindfold back up, she opens the doorway. "If you ever go back into soul gathering, please don't come to my world, G'renna. I'd rather not fight you," she admits honestly.
[21:41] <Kotono> "Oh Alicia," Smiling and going to her, "I suppose that means you'll get away after all. But...Give me one thing, at least. A kiss, an innocent kiss." G'renna approaches her lightly, lilitu standing dumbly and woodenly behind the pair.
[21:48] <Alicia> Funnily enough, Alicia had been entertaining lurid thoughts of giving her a very passionate thankyou/goodbye kiss before parting. The thought appeals less now that she's regained some of her faculties, although that oddly leaves her disappointed. Still, she can't really refuse this particular succubus after she's helped her so much, and there is still an attraction there.
[21:48] <Alicia> Shrinking back to normal size, she sweeps G'renna into a hug and captures her lips in a not entirely innocent fashion...
[21:50] <Kotono> G'renna is far from innocent here. Tongues meet, the two kissing intently! Oh, she's not shy about it at all. She drags it out as long as it will go, fires burning in Alicia's body once more. But at last it breaks, a haze of heat creeping into Alicia's vision. "Go. No matter how much you do or how far you go..." G'renna walks away, backwards to keep her eyes on Alicia, "Y"ou'll never forget your time here. You'll never forget the raptures a
[21:50] <Kotono> "Y"ou'll never forget your time here. You'll never forget the raptures and the blisses. I'll be here...if you change your mind."
06[21:53] * Alicia exhales slowly, her cheeks very red. "Not that I expect you'll consider it, but if you ever decide you've had enough of the whole damnation thing... well, you know. I won't forget you, G'renna, I can promise that much at least." And with that she steps through the doorway!
[21:57] <Kotono> Hazy darkness. It's hazy here, dark. OBvious, yes. Alicia's mind is a little dazed as she looks about, breath still coming quickly from G'renna. She stands on a platform in the darkness, wide and endless, and yet able to easily see over the edges. Stairways are all over, leading up and down to move platforms. There is no logic to it, no geography, just maddening stairs going right ways and wrong ways and up and down and left and right and
[21:58] <Kotono> just maddening stairs going right ways and wrong ways and up and down and left and right and sideways and wrongwyas and frontways. (More)
[21:59] <Kotono> As you stand here, a momentary pang of addiction hitting Alicia, 'You made the right choice, paladin.' Hell Striker's voice again, 'One step away from the Abyss, one day at a time.' Thereafter the sword goes silent.
06[22:01] * Alicia shudders, spending a moment just to wipe her face. "Gods... I didn't even spend a full day there, and look at me? How can you fight a plane that turns your own victories against you?" Her hand drifts towards her legs, a maddening itch that sorely wants to be scratched if only to feel something. But she resists, deciding to just pick a random staircase and see where it takes her.
[22:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 35." [1d20=18]
[22:05] <Kotono> OOC: Any change of line, Alicia?
[22:05] <Alicia> Well, do I see any doorways from here before I start moving?
[22:06] <Kotono> The only doorway is one behind you. It's a pretty one, a romantic red wood color and with a few phallic mushrooms living in the platform around it.
[22:06] <Alicia> Since it looks entirely harmless otherwise, Alicia takes note of the phallic mushrooms and makes a mental note to avoid any doors with similar imagery. Then she just takes random stairway to see where it leads.
[22:10] <Kotono> roll 4d12
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d12 and gets 15." [4d12=2, 5, 2, 6]
[22:10] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 92." [1d100=92]
[20:03] <Kotono> ---
[20:05] <Kotono> Thus Alicia begins to walk up the stair! Soon the platform below fades into the black hazy. Around Alicia she can occasionally glimpse other stairs and other platforms as she walks up, but she is by and large alone. Perhaps a mercy, for the pangs of addiction rattle her several a time. A primal craving for that rapture of slaughter, the overwhelming sensations she felt in Malcanthet's realm. (More)
[20:05] <Kotono> roll 1d100
05[20:05] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Kotono invited Hatbot into the channel.
[20:05] <Kotono> roll 1d100
03[20:05] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[20:05] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 98." [1d100=98]
[20:06] <Kotono> In her weary mind, as she drives herself onward: Made it back safely, didn't need the ring. I'll return the favor and come for you. Where are you, which plane? Seira. Demedais says hi.
[20:06] <Alicia> Do I recognise the voice?
[20:08] <Kotono> Alicia's mind identifies it as Father Ceiar of the Church of Helm. They've met a few times in various duties and visits.
[20:10] <Alicia> Normally when receiving such a spell, Alicia replies in as concise and informative a fashion as possible, intending to get the most pertinent details across with the greatest efficiency. Right now she's not really up to that, and so comes across a bit rambly as she starts talking to herself while trudging up the stairs.
[20:10] <Alicia> "I'm in the Endless Staircase... I think there's a door to the prime, or maybe a friendly plane where I can find someone who can plane shift me. The identify spell never said this could happen when I used the sword like that. At least I made it out of the Abyss safely, but... I don't really know how long this'll take."
[20:20] <Kotono> Alicia gets no reply, the stairs stretching ahead. Ahead and long, long and ahead...She's been at this several hours now. Her legs lightly protest the effort, yet her body goes on. There is a gorgeous monotony to it all, an allure. Only her vile-inspired cravings disrupt the travel...(More)
[20:21] <Kotono> 'We're coming over. Will scry on you in 15 minutes. Will keep in touch. Try narrowing down your location just in case. Seira and Demedais.' Again voices play in her mind, telling her of wills from friends far beyond this transitive plane.
[20:25] <Alicia> "Uh... there's stairs everywhere. I'm... no, I don't really know, I left the portal to the Abyss hours ago, but... it's just stairs. I haven't even found another doorway yet," Alicia responds uneasily. "Did you get all of that?"
[20:30] <Kotono> Again, no reply...just the steps. Always the steps. The endless steps. Steps. Steps. Steps. Clic-clak. Clic-clak. Foot after foot meets the stairs, going into endless practice of the same perfected sound, always yet finding a new wrinkle. As she walks...OOC - Will save. You can choose to take it or not, since they mentioned they were scrying. Your call.
[20:30] <Alicia> OOC: they have to win CL vs my nondetection first
[20:33] <Kotono> Nothing happens. Thes tairs stretch on...
[20:33] <Kotono> roll 1d100 resolving earlier rolled random encounter
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 resolving earlier rolled random encounter and gets 39." [1d100=39]
[20:36] <Kotono> Clic-clak...clak-CLIC! Hm? Alicia's concentration on continuing is disturbed. She's been at this several hours, but there is no real sense of time here. But above, descending the stair...is a five person group. Four lithe, suntanned humans carry a noble's litter. Sitting on it is a bored looking man, florid and fat. He reads a book, while his working men carry him, not saying a word and stone faced.
[20:36] <Kotono> working men carry him, not saying a word and stone faced.
06[20:37] * Alicia tenses, not knowing if this is just a harmless traveller or a potential threat. "Hello there," she calls carefully, checking for evil auras as she gets closer. If they're travelling this way, are they heading for Malcanthet's realm?
[20:38] <Kotono> "Out of the way," One commands brusquely, "Out of the way for Viscount Tanla!"
[20:39] <Kotono> Said Viscount looks up from his book briefly, before going back to it.
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 planes, who the fuck are you?
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 planes, who the fuck are you? and gets 22." [1d20=5]
[20:40] <Alicia> They're not worth her time, and Alicia sure doesn't consider them reliable guides, so she shifts to the side of the stairs, guarded in case they try anything while passing...
[20:42] <Kotono> As they pass by, the Viscount looks up again. "Mystrite?" He asks, looking at Alicia's breastplate. His voice is icy-cold, "Hmph." He says nothing more, going back to his book.
[20:42] <Alicia> "Do you have a problem with the goddess of magic?" Alicia asks, eyes narrowing.
[20:43] <Kotono> The men continue carrying him, though he spares a glance back. "I find her...irrelevant." he says, as they continue to travel down. "Good day to you."
[20:44] <Alicia> Bah, fine. His loss, and so long as he doesn't insult Mystra, Alicia doesn't care. "Same to you," she replies, continuing her own upward journey.
[20:50] <Kotono> SEveral more hours past. Alicia is very tired now, her legs aching. But at last...a platform! It's a large one. There are a pair of doors here, as well as a few people set acamp. They even have a tent and a fire going. They are blue skinned, large and tall and incredibly skinny with bony protrusions. They were dark blue robes and have light blue skin.
[20:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 planes wtf are they?
06[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 planes wtf are they? and gets 26." [1d20=9]
[20:53] <Alicia> Belatedly realising how filthy she is (perhaps that's why those others turned their noses up at her?), Alicia casts prestidigitation and makes an effort to clean herself, removing the musky scent of arousal that sticks to her clothing after her time in Malcanthet's realm. Then she climbs up the rest of the way, calling out a greeting. "Hello there!"
[20:55] <Kotono> Near the perimeter is a man in scale armor and with a longspear. He nods to Alicia, 'Hail, traveler. Speak this way with us, I did not understand your language.'
[20:56] <Alicia> 'I'm used to telepathy,' Alicia replies in the same manner, 'Although I can speak the tongue of the angels or the baatezu if either suits you.'
[20:57] <Kotono> 'Either would be sufficient.' Then he goes into Celestial, "If you are not hostile, we are willing to welcome you to our camp. You look like a prosperous planar traveler."
[20:59] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia manages a wan smile as she ascends onto their platform. "Unfortunately I have little to trade, since my journey was unplanned for. But I would be glad to stay a while and rest my legs here."
[21:01] <Kotono> "There is profit in information as well," The voice is one of the ones around the campfire. He is a man with fingers nearly a foot long, tapping them together with a CLICK that's far too close to the sound of feet on stairs. "We are Mercane. I particular, I am Gre, cartographer of existence. Whereever do you come from...and where does that stair you are on go?"
[21:03] <Alicia> "Pleased to meet you, Gre. I am Alicia Reynes, native of the Prime Material." She exhales and glances back down the stairs before going to sit by the fire, "The next platform down those stairs has a doorway leading to the Abyss. The layer of Malcanthet in particular. I would not recommend it."
[21:03] <Kotono> The others look at Alicia - no not quite. IT's more like stares, unblinking. They don't even seem to have eyelids. One nonetheless goes into a pack, pouring something into a bowl and then taking hot water boiling on the fire and mixing them. The smell is strong and of food - instantly, Alicia realises that she's starving.
[21:04] <Kotono> "Good, good." HE snaps his fingers, a map appearing on his lap. He begins to work - a vast map in tiny flawless detail, "Malcanthet's realm. There are still not many of those known of, as her realm is relatively new in the Abyss."
[21:05] <Alicia> It has been a few hours, and she's had a draining day. She produces some iron rations from her survival pack and offers them out to the one preparing the bowl, "A trade, perhaps?" she offers, hoping she's pegged them right and they'll appreciate even a minor transaction like this.
[21:08] <Kotono> The rations are taken, a nod, "A fair trade," he agrees, soon after producing a steaming hot bowl. It's a dark stew, smelling like...food. She can't quite put her finger on it, but it smells good.
06[21:09] * Alicia focuses on sating her hunger for the moment, devouring half the stew before she takes a minute to examine the doorways on this platform. "Where do the doorways here lead to?" she asks the one with the map.
[21:11] <Kotono> The taste...it's meaty, but Alicia doesn't reconize what it is. "Baator and the Negative Energy Plane," Gre answers. "In particular, frozen Cania and a pointless point of oblivion in the Negative Energy Plane."
[21:12] <Alicia> "Had enough of the lower planes myself for now," Alicia nods, shifting slightly in her seat away from the doorways. "Do you know of any doorways leading to the Prime?"
[21:13] <Kotono> "Mmm, the prime...yes, three stairs away," Nodding to himself, "A kingdom called Solamnia."
06[21:15] * Alicia has never heard of that one. Of course, it could well be one of those alternate primes... "I haven't heard of it," she admits, "It could be a different prime than the one I call home." She briefly looks around the group, "Do any of you know anything about the world Daa-vid the Gnome God-King came from?" It seems to be her world's biggest defining characteristic, anyway.
[21:17] <Kotono> A pause to consult the map, "Yes, yes I do. There was a horrible war on that world a few thousand years ago...hm, about the same amount of time as Malcanthet's been in power. No relation as far as I'm aware, there aren't any doors from one realm to another close by." Scribbing away at his map, "Doors to the realm for a long time barely worked, if at all. I hear reports that this is changing recently."
[21:24] <Alicia> "Yes, it's like that for us on that world - dormant portals and gateways are starting to be re-established, and some are building their own - which is how I ended up here myself," Alicia explains. "Hmm... well, I could just keep looking, or else go to one of the upper planes I have friends on. Do you know of any doors to Elysium or Celestia in the vicinity?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "There's one to Aborea nearby...one stairway away. Elysium is 2 and Celestia is 5. Oh, there is one to ARcadia 1 away as well." Writing as Alicia speaks, "Fascinating, a new market opens. Is there wealth in that world now?"
[21:27] <Alicia> "You said yourself that I appeared to be prosperous," Alicia replies. "A lot of cities are expanding right now, and for all the problems that the gnomes caused, they had a talent for magical artifice. Many of their artifacts remain to be bought and sold."
[21:28] <Kotono> "It'll be worth commitee investations," Changing to a different sheet of paper, this time a rolled scroll, "Outstanding."
06[21:31] * Alicia finishes off the rest of her stew. "I think I'll chance the doorway to Elysium. Before I go, I may have something to trade, though." She unslings the succubus's greatsword she took back in the maze. "I'm not quite certain exactly how powerful the enchantment is on this, but I can probably approximate it with a little practice."
[21:33] <Kotono> "Hmph," Looking it over, "We can do apprasials, included in the final price of any transaction," he says, "'tis a simple enough matter."
[21:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 sense motive, coupled with what I got of their rep from my planes roll, are they trustworthy?
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 sense motive, coupled with what I got of their rep from my planes roll, are they trustworthy? and gets 27." [1d20=17]
[21:35] <Alicia> "That sounds fair to me. If you don't have anything I'd like to trade for its worth I have enough coin on my to cover the appraisal at least," Alicia agrees.
[21:36] <Kotono> "It will take a little time," He says, taking the sword. "Wait here."
06[21:37] * Alicia doesn't mind waiting a bit and resting herself, producing a waterskin from her survival pouch and drinking down before offering it to anyone else at the campfire who wants some.
[21:41] <Kotono> Water is taken. Most of them look at Alicia with unblinking eyes, but it's otherwise a peaceful wait. When it's done, "8,000 gold," he answers. "We pay out in bars of mithril, due to it's lightness and compact nature."
[21:42] <Alicia> "Do you have any magic items you could trade for?" Alicia asks, having been hoping for something more interesting than simple trade goods.
[21:47] <Kotono> "Our stock is low," he apologizes, "We mainly have arcane and divine scrolls right now, up to the 5th circle."
[21:50] <Alicia> "That... could actually work," Alicia smiles as an idea forms. "A scroll of dismissal would solve my problem at a stroke. There are a few other spells I could do with scrolls of, if you have them. Let me think a moment..." she drums her fingers on her knee as she tries to work out the costs of the scrolls involved.
[21:51] <Kotono> OOC: Are ou going to line again after you work that out?
[21:51] <Alicia> OOC: yes
[21:58] <Alicia> "Okay. one of dismissal, one of wall of force, two of break enchantment, two of passwall, one of locate creature, and... one haste, one web, and we'll call it even? Using the prices I get back home they'd be worth say 7,975. Assuming you have all those spells available, I suppose."
[21:59] <Kotono> "Done," With that the Mercanes go and bring out several scrolls, passing them over. "Good doing business with you."
[22:01] <Alicia> "Excellent," Alicia happily accepts the scrolls, carefully putting them in her pack except the dismissal one. "It's been a pleasure doing business. Good luck in your future dealings." Standing up and away from the Mercane, she proceeds to dismiss herself!
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 17." [1d100=17]
[22:02] <Kotono> roll 1d100 epic comedy incoming
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 epic comedy incoming and gets 13." [1d100=13]
[22:02] <Kotono> roll 1d100 epic comedy incoming reroll that
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 epic comedy incoming reroll that and gets 6." [1d100=6]
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d100 epic comedy incoming reroll that x 2 since fuck working out limbo here today, I'll choose one if this doesn't take
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 epic comedy incoming reroll that x 2 since fuck working out limbo here today, I'll choose one if this doesn't take and gets 10." [1d100=10]
[22:07] <Kotono> Splash. Alicia is wet. No, not like that(Though a craving does ripple through her body at that, oh God), but Alicia is wet. As in, she's now in water. She hears a splash, her vision a haze of dark waters.
[22:07] <Alicia> Uh oh. Alicia didn't have anything waterproof to store all those scrolls in.
[22:08] <Alicia> She quickly starts swimming upwards, hoping she can dry them before they're ruined!
[22:08] <Kotono> Alicia quickly breaks the top of the warm water! Her eyes take it in in a haze - a great mountain, wine dark water...Celestia? The bottom of Mount Celestial? She's near the shore, the beach glimpsed in her confusion.
[22:09] <Alicia> Oh, thank goodness! Alicia quickly swims closer so she can stand up, then holds her backpack above the water and dries off it and its contents with prestidigitation. Admittedly she'd far rather have made it home, but this isn't a bad place to be at all.
[22:12] <Kotono> Drying the scrolls, they look okay with quick action and magic. The section of the beach is rather empty and peaceful. A few lantern archon fly about 150 feet above, laughing and playing like contented children. Alicia feels a great sense of peace here, peace and belonging. It contrasts with the still strong cravings she feels even as she looks about.
06[22:13] * Alicia trudges onto the beach, dries the rest of herself off, then slumps down onto the sand to lie on her back. She needs a rest and this is a good place for it. Hopefully being in the absolute opposite of everything the Abyss represents will soothe her battered psyche and calm her overstimulated libido.
03[22:15] * Haruka is now known as Sierra_Comatose
[22:15] <Kotono> If the Gods were cruel, shirtless angels would be coming back from a swim, surely. But instead...it's simply peaceful, letting her wounded feelings and pysche rest for a time. OOC - Pause you for a few.
[22:24] <Kotono> It's not a part of her. As much as it ravages her, tempting her to sin, vice and corruption...here, it feels like it's not what she truly is. It's a foreign entity to her here. Manageable. Yet as she struggles with these sinful feelings, '"We're coming, Alicia. Stay strong, you're not alone. Requesting current location, ability to stay there safe for a day, details. Will get there soon. Demedais.'
[22:24] <Alicia> "You don't need to say your name, I recognise your voice," Alicia chuckles softly. She sounds a bit more composed, although the use of extraneous words in her reply is still somewhat telling. "Base of Mount Celestia. Should be fine here for a while. See you tomorrow."
[19:38] <Kotono> ----(Double Ko)--
[19:44] <Kotono> As she rests, sleep comes to Alicia. It's comes like a thief in the night, the exertions with G'renna and then hours on hours of stairclimbing force even her strong vitality to require rest. It is a vivid dreaming, a dreaming that is seamless in it's segue from reality to imaginary. Alicia sees a thousand images replayed in her mind. Scenes of valor and bravery, of kindness and preservance. She cannot remember details, a haze that flows int
[19:45] <Kotono> She cannot remember details, a haze that flows into each other like a life giving nourishment. Yet throughout them...there is another, a feeling. A foreign feeling, stabbing into the dreams pediodically. It is a feeling of dirtiness, of lust, of murder. It clashes violently for several nightmarish moments with the better half of your dreams, but always loses. It retreats back, the dreams flowing on.
03[19:46] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[19:46] <Kotono> Alicia awakens from one of those battles at last. She blinks away the sleep that came to her so readily, looking around. It is quiet here, only a gentle stirring of waves on the shores of Mount Celestia. But you smell something good - food. Hot foot and smoke.
06[19:48] * Alicia sighs softly, feeling mostly rested after her nap although still troubled by the lingering aftereffects of her brief sojourn through Shendilvari. The itch doesn't need to be scratched right now, at least, although there's no telling when it'll rear up and demand her attention again. Getting up and dusting herself off, she sniffs the appetising scent for a moment, looking around for its source.
[19:48] <Alicia> for a moment, looking around for its source.
[19:49] <Kotono> About fourty feet away, a small pile of stones lies on the beach. An old man with a quiet demeanor sits in front of the fire, a pot supported over it. His expression is thoughtful, lips pursed, as if pondering a great mystery.
[19:50] <Alicia> Slinging her backpack and sword back onto her back, Alicia approaches the man. "Greetings, sir," she begins respectfully. "Are you a native of this realm?"
[19:51] <Kotono> He wears sandals with wraparounds on his ankles, a white tunic, and simple shorts. He looks up and shakes his head, a whisker covered face. He taps his throat thrice, then shakes his head. Then, he pats the ground and gestures to the pot.
[19:53] <Alicia> Wondering whether he's maimed or following an oath of silence, Alicia simply nods in understanding as she kneels down beside him. "My name is Alicia Reynes," she introduces herself. "Also not native here."
[19:54] <Kotono> He nods once to that, going to a small bag that lies besides him. He takes out a wooden spoon, cleaning it with a soft cloth before handing it to Alicia and gesturing at the pot again. AFter that, he reaches in again and takes out a well worn scrap of paper. He gingerly presents it to Alicia.
[19:55] <Alicia> Accepting the spoon, Alicia uses it to scoop out some of whatever's in the pot and has a taste - if it's as good as it smells she should be pleased.
[19:56] <Kotono> It's a porridge with a strong taste of applies, cinnamon and a hint of honey. It's smoothl ike syrup and not sticky, but sweet as it. He continues holding the paper a little longer as Alicia eats.
06[19:57] * Alicia finishes off her spoonful, leaving the spoon half in the pot as she expresses her appreciation. "Thank you, that was nice," she smiles before accepting the paper and taking a look.
[19:58] <Kotono> It reads in careful letters of Celestial: I AM KELBRU. I AM A TRAVELER. I COME IN GREAT PEACE. BLESSINGS OF THE EMPRESS SULIA ON YOU.
06[19:59] * Alicia smiles widely as she hands the parchment back. "Greetings Kelebru. I recently had the fortune of visiting the endless plains that Empress Sulia protects. It is a pleasure to meet you."
[20:02] <Kotono> Kelbru inclines his head forward, before taking the wooden spoon and taking a mouthful. After swallowing it down, he smiles at Alicia. He reaches into his bag again, taking out a small token. It is a carved image of a redheaded woman - Lady Firehair, Sune. Written in tiny letters on the chin, 'Sulia will protect.' He presents it to Alicia.
[20:07] <Alicia> Speaking in Celestial, "Thank you," Alicia accepts the token gratefully, studying it for a moment before she puts it on her lap and helps herself to another serving of porridge.
[20:07] <Alicia> After that goes down, she reaches into her backpack, "In return for your gift, please accept this," she hands him a polished golden disc with a hole in the middle, inscribed with various runes to protect against a very specific despair. "May the Celestial Hebdomad watch over you."
[20:08] <Kotono> He takes it and smiles, putting it into his pack. He stands up, bowing to Alicia, before he begins to walk down the quiet, restful beach.
[20:10] <Alicia> "Farewell, and good luck in your travels," Alicia calls after him, feeling slightly heartened by the pleasant and undemanding encounter with a fellow traveller. She elects to stay a bit longer, filling up on the sweet porridge before she kicks sand over the fire to put it out and washes the pot and spoon, leaving them on the pile for the next traveller.
[20:12] <Kotono> As Alicia finishes that up, it comes again. The cravings. It brings Malcanthet's realm back in near vivid clarity to her. It gnaws at her innards, making her palms sweat. It is not a strong one, only a few savage pullings.
[20:14] <Alicia> It's enough to shatter her pleasant mood. "If I can even feel it here, how bad will it be when I go home?" she wonders aloud. Maybe she'd be safe in Mystra's realm - Elysium felt even nicer than Celestia during her brief visit there. But she can hardly spend her life hiding in the heavens, can she?
[20:14] <Alicia> Quenching the unnatural lust, she looks around for any sign of civilisation either down the beach or up the mountain.
[20:15] <Kotono> There are quiet, serene paths up the mountain. There isn't any civilzation immediately visible on the beach. Alicia can remember climbing up the first level of Celestia before as well, meeting a former enemy for both her and Antenora.
[20:15] <Alicia> Are any of those lantern archons she saw earlier still around?
[20:16] <Kotono> There are a few of them, playing upwards in the sky happily.
06[20:17] * Alicia walks over to more directly beneath them and calls up while waving. "Hello!"
[20:18] <Kotono> The little heavenly beachballs descend at that, the sound of giggles sounding all around Alicia as they surround her like a swarm of fireflies. "Hello!"
[20:19] <Alicia> "Hi there," Alicia instinctively adopts the mannerisms she normally uses when speaking with children, "My name's Alicia. What are yours?"
[20:20] <Kotono> "Sharde! Lightmorn! Radiancesi!" These names come quickly as the lantern archons fly around Alicia. "Are you lost?"
[20:21] <Alicia> "A little bit," Alicia admits. "I only just got here by mistake, and I need to return to my world on the Prime - it's called Earth. Do any of you know how I could get back there?"
[20:23] <Kotono> "An angel? A Deva?" These come quickly, "Can you fly with us?"
[20:23] <Alicia> "I can," Alicia agrees with a smile, casting a spell to provide her with said gift and lifting up into the air.
[20:25] <Kotono> Flying in a cloud of archons, Alicia is lead up Mount Celestia! It takes about twenty minutes of flying to reach a sharp cliff above the beaches. Here a small, well made house of gold and marble sits. It is shaped like a star, each of the five points having a white nimbus around it. "Wisdom of Virtue lives here."
[20:26] <Alicia> "Will he or she help me get back, do you think?" Alicia asks.
[20:26] <Kotono> "He can," One prods, "Go on! He's nice!"
06[20:28] * Alicia nods. "Thank you Sharde, Lightmorn, and Radiancesi - you've all been very helpful," she smiles approvingly at the trio before she lands by the door and gives it a knock.
[20:32] <Kotono> The door parts open as Alicia's hand goes up. Inside she sees that the building inside is hollow. Here a small group of archons work - seven trumpet archons play a melody of strikign clarity and tear inducing perfection. A single Throne Archon directs it. As the music plays, every so often a perfect note forms into a faint wisp of golden energy. It flies around the Throne Archon, who molds it with her hands into the air. In the air in front
[20:32] <Kotono> It flies around the Throne Archon, who molds it with her hands into the air. In the air in front of her, writing in Celestial blazes in the air, rotating around him.
06[20:34] * Alicia steps inside and goes to wait by the orchestra, listening attentively. Even leaving aside that she wouldn't be so rude as to interrupt, it's wonderful music.
[20:40] <Kotono> For a long time this continues. The music soothes Alicia, making the realm of succubi feel all the more distant. It seems to go on for a long time...but it's also not long until it stops. The Tome Archon turns, armor burnished to an impossible gleam that makes it's body painfully bright to look at. (More)
[20:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[20:41] <Kotono> "Servant of Mystra," He nods, "You come here cloaked in powerful magics, as befitting your Goddess. Does Mystra have a message for me?"
06[20:42] * Alicia shakes her head. "This is a personal request. Are you Wisdom of Virtue?" she asks, tone eminently respectful.
[20:43] <Kotono> "I am." As the trumpet archons turn to Alicia as one, "Speak freely."
[20:48] <Alicia> "Three Lantern Archons directed me to you - Sharde, Lightmorn, and Radiancesi," Alicia begins. "After an accident while sealing a portal to Shar's realm on my native world of Earth on the Prime Material, I was cast adrift to the Abyss."
[20:48] <Alicia> "From there I was able to escape to the Endless Staircase, and eventually find my way here. Though it's a far nicer place to be, it brings me no closer to home. Those three lantern archons said that you might be able to help me, however."
[20:50] <Kotono> He concentrates on Alicia, before the radiant figure nods. "It is good. Your words speak of truth and devotion, and the pains of your struggle linger on your face. 'twill be a simple matter to return you to the Prime."
[20:51] <Alicia> "Oh, thank you," Alicia smiles in open relief. "My name is Alicia Reynes, by the way. I'm in your debt for this, Wisdom of Virtue."
[20:55] <Kotono> He comes forward, a hand coming out. It briefly touches Alicia's face, "You survived the horrors of the Abyss?"
[20:57] <Alicia> "My life was in far less danger than my virtue," Alicia admits shamefacedly. "I can still feel its touch clinging to me. Apparently I had 'potential'," she finishes with a tone of disgust.
[20:59] <Kotono> "Rest then. It takes time to recover yourself against that corruption." With that suggestion one of the Trumpet Archons comes forward. "I shall take you home."
[21:00] <Alicia> "I need to finish the struggle against those Sharrans, but after that a break is certainly going to be in order," Alicia agrees, turning towards the trumpet archon. "Thank you - my home is the city of Balmuria, by the Bay of Sparkling Stars."
[21:00] <Kotono> "Very well," He takes Alicia's hands, chanting...!
[21:01] <Kotono> roll 5d100
06[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d100 and gets 314." [5d100=62, 96, 19, 97, 40]
[21:01] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 3." [1d9=3]
[21:01] <Kotono> Dark. It's quite dark here. Alicia is standing in waist high water - a river? No, a stream. Around her is thick, untamed forest. The only faint light comes from the light that clings to the Trumpet Archon.
06[21:03] * Alicia looks around briefly. "Looks like the Barbarian Lands, east of my home," she opines. "I can teleport the rest of the way - can you return immediately or do you need time to regain that spell? I'd be glad to offer you hospitality if you need it."
[21:05] <Kotono> "I can return. The melody must continue, for battles will depend on it," he says, a quick smile to Alicia. "Travel in the light."
[21:08] <Alicia> "And you as well," Alicia replies fondly, focusing on the garrison in Balmuria as she teleports!
[21:08] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 80." [1d100=80]
[21:12] <Kotono> The garrison is very well hit here. Torcehs hang aplenty, lights easily seen. A few guards are walking by the front entrance of the garrison as Alicia appears! They immediately salute and stiffen! "S-sir!" one of them stammers.
06[21:15] * Alicia salutes back. "It's good to be back," she manages. "Who's in charge right now?" It might be late enough that Obureth has went to bed, but she really can't tell, her internal clock having been messed up by planar travel and naps.
[21:20] <Kotono> "C-comander Oberuth," He says, "He has orders out that you need to report immediatley if you return."
[21:21] <Alicia> "Alright, where can I find him?" Alicia asks, before adding belatedly. "At ease. You look like you've seen a ghost, guardsman."
[21:22] <Kotono> "It's not every day a captain appears out of thin air!" he blurts, "In his office."
[21:22] <Alicia> "No, I suppose not," Alicia concedes. "I'll go report to him, anyway. Thank you," she salutes before heading off to find the Commander.
[21:24] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth is found at his office, going over various papers. HE looks up when Alicia comes in, a little pixie-eladrin talking as he does. Talking something about stairways and dragons and all of that.
06[21:26] * Alicia salutes after stepping in while Marie gives her a very concerned look. "Hope I didn't miss too much excitement, sir," she offers gamely.
[21:26] <Alicia> "Are you alright, Alicia?" her familiar asks quietly, having a better insight into Alicia's emotional state below the surface.
[21:26] <Kotono> "Alicia?" Looking up with a long sigh of relief, "Good to have you back."
[21:27] <Alicia> "It's good to be back," Alicia replies honestly, giving her familiar a brief nod. "If I'd known there was a risk that portal could have sent me away, I'd have taken proper precautions..."
[21:29] <Kotono> "Ah. At this rate we'll need a planar travel hit to be handed out to our officers," he observes.
[21:30] <Kotono> *kit
[21:30] <Alicia> "I wish I had as easy a method to escape as Marie did when she was sent to the Abyss..." Alicia admits, giving her familiar a long look. "I'm probably going to look into getting a magic item of some sort to deal with it in future."
[21:32] <Kotono> "The others are in KEsse, but it did not sound like it was to be a long trip," Oberuth explains, "Go home and rest for now."
[21:33] <Alicia> "With pleasure," Alicia salutes. "Come on, Marie," she adds as she steps out, the eladrin giving Obureth a little shrug before she flutters after Alicia.
[20:43] <Kotono> -----------
[20:45] <Kotono> The one wise cultist is staying in a prison cell. He wears coarse gray clothes, sitting on a pile of hay and straw. His cell is quiet, the only light from the small window in the thick wooden door keeping him inside. Without his robes, it's easy tos ee that he's extremely pallid and ragged looking, neglected.
06[20:48] * Demedais steps in with Seira, closing the door behind him. "Seira, you care to ask the first question?"
01[20:50] <Seira> "So how did the entire thing started?" Seira asks/
[20:54] <Kotono> "Three years ago, I was a merchant passing by Halla." He begins, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "His Majesty, Prince Kort was staying there along with some of the royal family. They offered me a room there."
01[20:56] <Seira> "Sounds like quite the sob story. Go on."
[20:57] <Kotono> Going on rather tonelessly, "That night...I woke up to faraway chanting. I followed it to a dead end, where a secret passage was revealed. An old stairway was there. Down and down and down it went...My legs went numb with all the climbing."
01[20:59] <Seira> "That bitch lied!" Seira exclaims.
[20:59] <Demedais> "And when you got to the bottom?" Demedais replies, ignoring Seira's exclamation.
[21:00] <Kotono> "What?" Looking to Seira curiously, "When I got to the bottom...I found the cathedral. From there...I was taken and eventually inducted into the worship of Shar."
01[21:01] <Seira> "Wait, wait." Seira looks on in disbelief. "You... walked downstairs for a while and that made you become a heartless monster?!"
[21:02] <Kotono> "No. There's much more to it than that," Rubbing his head, "Who lied, and there was more to it than that."
[21:03] <Demedais> "Continue with the story, please." Demedais asks.
[21:04] <Kotono> "I was surprised at first by what I saw...a live sacrifice. But the singing and the spectable entranced me...and then he was there, Prince Albert. He said he knew the dark thoughts in my heart and my despair. He said that there was nothing but Shar and that I had been blessed to join Her service."
[21:05] <Demedais> "A live sacrifice... Continue." Demedais says flatly.
[21:06] <Kotono> "That, I found out later, was standard for out of Kesse travelers passing through. If they are interested and have potential, induct them. If not, it's the next sacrifice. Princess Armanda loves sacrifices."
01[21:06] <Seira> "Loved."
03[21:07] * Sierra_Mikain_Mk2 (~Melanchth@pool-71-163-230-130.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #evildunes
[21:07] <Demedais> "And for Kesse travelers passing through?"
[21:08] <Kotono> As pallor takes to hsi face, he nods. "Our ranks have swelled as the leaders of our cult have grown stronger. For Kesse travelers, it depends. Ones with potential were usually found in the capital and moved to here. Otherwise, someone may miss them. But people from another country, who cares? They're either informally allied with us or fools like Evrai or Sanaxt."
[21:09] <Demedais> "How many were part of the cult?"
[21:10] <Kotono> "About twenty priests, our former sacrifices," A curling smile comes here, "Shar gives them a more suitable form of shadow." This smile chills, eyes gleaming. "With coming into contact with the Shadow Plane over the past year and a half in earnest, great champions of Shadow have come to us as well."
01[21:11] <Seira> "The three Nightwalkers, you mean?"
[21:13] <Kotono> A nod there, "When Prince Albert mastered the path of Shadow and sealed the Temple to the outside world, there were more common. I have seen several."
[21:15] <Demedais> "Ah, so the stairway was not there anymore." Demedais notes. "Did the number of priests include your royal members?"
[21:17] <Kotono> "They were our leaders, but not true priests. But yes, the stairway was sealed and filled in. At any one time, a third of the priests are at the temple, a third are around Kesse and neighboring kingdoms doing Shar's will, and a third are on other missions."
01[21:17] <Seira> "What are those missions? Who are these priests?"
[21:18] <Kotono> "I do not know all of them...but assassinations, information gathering, finding those suitable to Shar's service, those sort of matters."
01[21:20] <Seira> "Start with what you know. Finish with why someone as distant as us was targetted."
[21:22] <Kotono> "Yann went to Sanaxt, to work himself into the palace there. I know that, he told me before he left. Angrt, who you slew, gathered children to sacrifice when Armanda so ordered. He also ensured that matters were unstable enough in Kesse so that the mercenaries would be busy there and none would pay attention to the Princes and Princess.
[21:24] <Kotono> "Then there is Jade, who is is in the dwarven mountains. And others, who missions I know not. As for the last...I do not know. However, Prince Albert called you and a female human knight named Alicia Renyes enemies of the faith when youw ere brought in and captured."
06[21:24] * Demedais blinks at this. "And I get no credit? I see how it is."
[21:25] <Kotono> "I'll be glad to sacrifice you to Shar if you like," he offers with a twisted, amused smirk.
01[21:25] <Seira> "Do you want to earn that credit?" Seira asks him darkly, turning back to the prisoner. "But why the hell did he pick a fight with us in the first place?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "I do not know," he answers, "I don't. That secret was not revealed to me."
01[21:26] <Seira> "Why go after Sanaxt? What are your plans and ambitions there?"
06[21:27] * Demedais shakes his head, before listening to Seira's questions.
[21:28] <Kotono> "Kesse must change! It must change into a vision of the eternal will of Shar!" His voice picks up here, like a preacher's. "From there, the weak kingdoms around us will crumble into her Will under the banner of Kesse!"
01[21:29] <Seira> "Yeah, no. Shut up about Shar."
[21:29] <Kotono> With a malicious smile that twists his face like the smirk of a babau, "Very well. Do you have other questions of me?"
01[21:30] <Seira> "Who are the sleeper agents you have in Kesse itself?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "I do not know that secret, it has not been revealed to me." He answers openly, "Secrets are power. Only those high in Shar's esteem should have power."
01[21:33] <Seira> "And out of those, who still lives?"
[21:34] <Kotono> "Perhaps four." He says after a moment. "Perhaps. I do not know for certain, for that secret has not been revealed to me."
01[21:34] <Seira> "Who, not how many."
[21:35] <Kotono> "Jordan...Gren...Ivan...Anna." He lists four off, "Those four, I believe, and they were not at the temple."
01[21:36] <Seira> "So where would they be found?"
[21:37] <Kotono> "I do not know...I believe you understand how that goes now?" With a smirk, "I do know that Anna is not in Kesse. She had prepared for al ong journey the last I saw of her."
[21:38] <Demedais> "Mmhmm. Please describe their appearances."
[21:39] <Kotono> "Jordan is fat and smelly, and likes to rub his holy symbol. Gren is black haired and with a scar and eyepatch over his right eye. Ivan is a young man, very feminine in apperance. Anna is a redhead with a taste for wearing fine clothes."
06[21:42] * Demedais jots this down, before looking up. "Hair color for Jordan and Ivan, please.
[21:42] <Kotono> "Black and brown."
[21:43] <Demedais> "Out of curiousity, which rooms were theirs at the temple? In other words, where did they keep their belongings while they were away?"
[21:44] <Kotono> "When they leave on long trips, they take them with them," he answers.
[21:44] <Demedais> "Everything?" Demedais looks up.
[21:46] <Kotono> "Things not needed are givent o te Church...or if particularly valuable, such as when Ivan found the Armor of the Demon, kept away."
06[21:46] * Demedais jots this down quickly, nodding slightly. "I see. Seira, questions?"
01[21:47] <Seira> "Personal items one would need to scry on those assholes so that you'll have company in here." Seira glances at Demedais. "That's what you were angling for, right? Well, we need specifics."
[21:48] <Kotono> AFter some thought, "Perhaps I could find something in the temple itself that they left behind. Perhaps."
01[21:48] <Seira> "And so, you get to live longer," Seira tells him.
01[21:49] <Seira> "And on a personal note, what the hell did you freaks do with my amulet? It's an heirloom, dammit, and I need it back!"
[21:50] <Kotono> With a twisting smile, "Some of it they took as bounty. Some of it they were going to trade."
01[21:51] <Seira> "My amulet. Where is it."
[21:52] <Kotono> "That secret has not been revealed to me." He answers, "Nor has who it would be traded to. Why don't you ask Prince Albert? He'll be glad to se eyou face to face again."
06[21:53] * Seira smiles suddenly. "That's a very good idea. Demedais, why don't you gag him again?"
[21:53] <Demedais> "Very well." Demedais nods, doing so.
[21:54] <Kotono> Once gagged, he stares at the two balefully but says nothing at all. Obviously.
[21:56] <Kotono> ----
[21:56] <Kotono> The three gather in the morgue of the garrison. Here two members of the Kessian royal family lie, Armanda also in a plain wood box. FAther Ceiar is here again, "Do you have the questions you wish to be asked prepared?"
[21:58] <Alicia> "Ask how they next planned to attack us?" Alicia suggests. "Her death might alter their plans, but it'll still give us an insight into their tactics."
[21:58] <Demedais> "I think we'll want to confirm wording while you begin the ritual again, Father." Demedais replies respectfully. "We have the misdirection prepared, correct, Seira?"
[21:59] <Demedais> "Who possesses the amulet taken from Seira?", "When was the next attack planned on Balmuria, and by what method?"
[21:59] <Demedais> Demedais proposes these, before looking to the other two. "Anything else?"
01[21:59] <Seira> "Scrolls are cheap," Seira responds to Demedais. "I would also like to know who the sleeper agents in the palace are, and why were we attacked in the first place."
06[22:01] * Alicia nods agreeably to the other questions posited.
01[22:01] <Seira> "Demedais should get to phrase the questions. That worked well enough last time," Seira suggests.
[22:02] <Demedais> "I cannot think of any other questions, so..." Demedais pauses. "'Who are the sleeper agents in the palace of Kesse, and what aliases do they have if any?' and 'Why was Balmuria attacked initially?' Those work?"
01[22:03] <Seira> "Let's use the Baronies instead of Balmuria, just to be certain."
[22:04] <Demedais> "Alright." Demedais nods, writing the questions down before giving them to Father Ceiar.
[22:07] <Kotono> Father Ceiar takes it then begins to cast! Ten minutes pass as he chants, calling forth Helm to open the way! At last, the bod of Armanda sits up! Most of her head and eyes are gone, though her lower face and mouth are intact. Despite this gore, she bobbles her head. "Who possesses the amulet taken from Seira?" he asks.
[22:08] <Kotono> "Sa'grim Rockstall." The answer is understandable, a bit slurred, but understandable.
[22:10] <Kotono> "Good," Father Ceiar nods, "Now, tell us this: When was the next attack planned on Balmuria, and by what method?"
[22:11] <Kotono> "It is past, the overwhelming attack from above."
06[22:11] * Demedais grunts. "No further plans past that moment, then." Demedais grimaces a bit.
[22:11] <Kotono> "Who are the sleeper agents in the palace of Kesse, and what aliases do they have if any?"
[22:13] <Kotono> "Kort, Armanda and Albert, Prince Princess and Prince!"
[22:13] <Kotono> "Why was Balmuria attacked initially?" After taking a long, cleansing breath and glancing to the Guard, "This is the last one."
[22:14] <Kotono> "The hope...the hope...the hope...the hope...must be quenched in it's cradle!"
06[22:14] * Demedais nods. "Understood. Thank you for this, Father Ceiar."
[22:15] <Kotono> "What a misguided soul," Father Ceiar goes to the box as Armanda collapses back down. Tracing a few symbols in the air, "May even one such as you one day find the true path of the Eternal Watcher." After that, "Did that help much?"
[22:16] <Demedais> "It gives us more insight into their plans, at least." Demedais nods. "Or, rather, the lack therein. Also gives us a lead for finding Seira's amulet, which is useful."
[22:17] <Kotono> "May Helm watch over you three," he says, before leaving out.
[22:17] <Demedais> "Thank you, Father Ceiar, and the Evervigilant One with you." Demedais calls as he leaves.
01[22:18] <Seira> "And in other news, our prisoner said that Albert's might would crush us all," Seira says.
[22:18] <Alicia> "There comes a point where optimism ceases to be charming," Alicia notes dourly.
[22:20] <Demedais> "I vote we bind and gag him, then drop him off on Mount Celestia within the vicinity of a ton of lantern archons." Demedais comments. "They either drive him mad, reform him completely, or kill him via brain damage; no matter what we win."
01[22:20] <Seira> "No, he's going to die."
[22:21] <Demedais> "Eh. I prefer my route, he doesn't get a chance to fuel the shadowpits there, but his fate is in your hands, so." Demedais shrugs.
[22:22] <Alicia> "That's like putting him in a children's creche, Demedais. I wouldn't want to subject anyone else to his sort," Alicia points out.
06[22:22] * Seira considers. "If we can scry out of Kelara, I should be able to get a drop on Albert whether he's sneaking around our lands or playing nice back home. I think I should be able to take two others with us... Antenora and Celebrimbor? They've both more than earned the right to take that thing out."
[22:23] <Alicia> "Agreed, and their skill can't be questioned," Alicia nods. "I can think of no one better to come with us."
06[22:23] * Demedais nods to Seira, then glances to Alicia. "Thus why we keep him bound and gagged there, probably with a sign next to him to not undo either. But as I said, it's ust what I would do."
01[22:25] <Seira> "We should ask Celebrimbor to prepare a scrying spell just in case mine fails, or have a scroll with us you could use, Alicia," Seira suggests. "Just to be on the safe side."
[22:26] <Alicia> "Better for Lord Drake to use it, considering the low efficiacy of scrolls," Alicia shrugs.
06[22:26] * Demedais nods.
[22:10] <Demedais> roll 1d20+1 seems I have no choice
[22:10] <Rei-chan> Demedais rolled : 1d20+1 seems I have no choice --> [ 1d20=17 ]{18}
[22:12] <Kolunch> While all this goes on, Deme strikes up some conversations. The dazed guards just aren't much help. None of them know much about magic on the whole, let alone specific possible wizards or traders or buyers of illict magical goods.
06[22:13] * Demedais grimaces at this, before asking if the castle has a resident mage.
[22:14] <Kolunch> It does, yes. He's been sent towards the Sanaxt border to aid the assault, by order of King Albert.
[22:15] <Demedais> Very well then. Any temples to Helm? Kelemvor? Kossuth? What are the large temples in general around town?
[22:19] <Kolunch> There's a temple to Kelemvor in town, yes. There aren't too many large temples - much less of a religious presence than in Balmuria.
[22:20] <Demedais> Demedais asks Celebrimbor to cast Message if he can on the two of them, just in case they finish up in Kesse, before heading out to the temple of Kelemvor on the directions of the guards.
[22:21] <Kolunch> The castle's closed up as it's nightfall. Doubly so by order of General Andram - the castle has a tight lid kept on it currently under the circumstances.
[21:28] <Kotono> ---
[21:29] <Kotono> Giselle runs out of the room, having a head start! Seira is able to catch up to her in oneof the many halls of the temple, where Giselle has falled to her knees. She hugs herself, eyes wide.
01[21:32] <Seira> "It's terrible," Seira tells her, kneeling before the princess. "I know. I was held alongside them. I made it out with a bruised eye, but my longtime familiar was murdered in that vile place. And then I had to flee, leaving the other prisoners behind.
01[21:32] <Seira> Did I earn the right to retreat from reality, yet, or should I go into how I fled the prison to Shar's own realm, surrounded by thousands and thousands of her servants circling me and singing the doom of all I hold dear?" Seira scowls. "I understand the desire for an escape, believe me.
01[21:32] <Seira> I even went for it for a brief moment, but someone pulled me away from the brink. Right now, right here, I want to do that for you."
06[21:33] * Seira extends a hand to Giselle. "Take it. Please."
[21:35] <Kotono> Does Giselle hear? She makes no sign of if she does at first, staring straight ahead at nothing. She does wince when Shar is said, a visible, horrible wince. That seems to shake her a little, mkaing her gaze go to Seira's hand as it's presented to her.
01[21:36] <Seira> "Do you want to feel alive?" Seira tells her, hoping that those words, at least, would cause a reaction. "Help these people. You can do that, now. You are the only one who can."
[21:38] <Kotono> "Alive..." Giselle whimpers loudly.
01[21:40] <Seira> "I can heal their bodies," Seira promises, her hand trembling. "If I call on an important favor, I can do that! But it won't amount to a thing if there's nothing for them to come back to! If their minds remain hopelessly torn apart by the tortures visited upon them! Giselle, please! You've trusted me once. This second promise, from me to you, it's not a lie either!"
[21:45] <Kotono> Tears start to flow from Giselle, starting with little trickles but expanding into heady sobs within a few moments. She looks tup Seira as she does, "Why? Why? Why...why are you doing this to me?" She takes the hand, before collasping against Seira with all her weight.
01[21:47] <Seira> "I told you," Seira says quietly, placing her other arm around Giselle to hug her. "I wouldn't be here, if someone didn't do the same for me. You're not alone, Giselle. I won't let that happen."
[21:47] <Kotono> No reply, just hectic sobbing and a few burbles of laughter.
01[21:49] <Seira> All Seira can do is hold Giselle for as long as she wants to be held by someone, simply being there for her.
[21:51] <Kotono> Giselle sobs and goes quiet for a time. As this happens Alicia comes up on them, the guards hanging back for now. It's peaceful for a little while...until Seira notices Giselle's breathing has slowed, as if she's fallen asleep.
06[21:52] * Seira sees if she can shift Giselle around to move her without waking her up.
[21:53] <Kotono> It's not hard - she's against Seira but doesn't look to be stirring. She's out pretty good.
06[21:55] * Seira rises to her feet, cradling Giselle to her protectively, and approaches Alicia after a glance around.
[21:55] <Kotono> It's quiet here. Not much is stirring in the temple at this hour.
[21:56] <Alicia> Seeing that Giselle's sleeping, Alicia offers, "Lets take her home and put her in bed?"
06[21:57] * Seira nods, her gaze lingering on the princess. "It's so frustrating," she says quietly. "But I think she has the strength to pull through."
[21:58] <Alicia> "You can't expect her to recover in a few minutes from years of systematic abuse," Alicia shakes her head sadly. "All we can do is give it time and hope she gets the support she needs." Glancing at the two guards, "You two ready to return to Kesse?"
01[21:59] <Seira> "Recover? No," Seira says sadly. "But--" She shakes her head. "I can't leave it like that and make it someone else's problem, either. I have a responsibility towards her."
[22:00] <Kotono> "O-of course," one nods quickly.
01[22:01] <Seira> "If I hear rumors spreading about this," Seira warns, letting it off at that.
[22:02] <Kotono> The other nods quickly, "We won't say a word, ma'am."
[22:02] <Alicia> "Can it really be worse than the rumours that she's a misbehaving slut?" Alicia asks coldly. "It might do people good to understand that she was the only one in the family with the sense to reject Shar, even with all it cost her."
[22:04] <Kotono> The guards blanch at those words, but merely nod and go to Giselle's side protectively.
06[22:04] * Alicia lets the matter drop and teleports everyone back to Giselle's bedroom. Hopefully.
05[22:05] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[22:05] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
03[22:05] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[22:05] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen casually
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen casually and gets 48." [1d100=48]
[22:05] <Kotono> Woosh! Giselle's bedroom still has soldiers waiting there, as well as General Andram. "Well?" he asks as the group appears.
01[22:06] <Seira> "I believe the princess made progress in dealing," Seira tells him. "But we will need to wait until morning to truly find out, and real recovery is still long in the future."
[22:08] <Kotono> "Of course. But for now, there are other matters. If you'd come with me," he asks.
06[22:10] * Seira is loathe to part with Giselle at this point, but she made another promise, this one to stop the war from claiming needless victims. She brushes her hand through Giselle's hair, vowing to return as soon as she is able, and hopefully, before the princess awakens.
[20:42] <Kotono> ----------------(Platinum Ko)--
[20:43] <Kotono> OOC: So you're hopping off to the elf-lands with Antenora for a few weeks of spiritual retreat, basically?
[20:45] <Alicia> OOC: yes, assuming they don't mind having us. We'll help out around the temple lots and we're very nice, so why would they?
[20:45] <Kotono> OOC: They won't. Okay.
[20:47] <Kotono> Heading into Pallanth's wild regions, the two women find a secluded temple to Mystra. Here Alicia and Antenora spend a long stretch of days. It's a time of work and simple meditation. Plain meals, sleeping peacefully through the night, spirtual prayer and reading, manual labor.As this time passes the cravings slowly begin to subside. What was once horrible pangs softens into subtle tugs and little jabs...OOC - Make a will save, +2?
[20:47] <Kotono> subtle tugs and little jabs...OOC - Make a will save, +2?
05[20:48] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:48] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
03[20:48] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[20:48] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 29." [1d20=5]
[20:49] <Kotono> It's in this that those vile things, those temptations of Malcanthet fizzle away. Like t he stench of death being cleansed by the dawn sunlight and breeze, they in time leave Alicia. (More)
[20:54] <Kotono> One afternoon, Alicia and Antenora are repairing a fence on the outskirts and side of the temple. It's pleasant work, the weather not warm enough to make it sweaty. As they do so in a long silence, it is at last broken by Antenora in a way, though no words are said. 'How are you feeling?'
[20:57] <Alicia> "Good," Alicia replies aloud, pausing her work and leaning on the fencepost. "Really," she smiles sincerely, "I've not had any perverse urges for a few days, and this has been a nice break. Takes me back to when I was younger..." She lets that thought mellow for a bit before cocking her head and studying the erinyes. "How about you? Not bored, are you?"
[21:00] <Kotono> "Not at all." Stopping her own work and standing straight, "I know I've said it several times, but it's better to be doing nothing here than to be triumphing in Hell." After a sidelong loo to Alicia's fencework, "You did a lot of chores around the family home when you were growing up? Weren't there servants to do that?"
[21:03] <Alicia> "Not just the home but the fields as well," Alicia nods. "We had staff, certainly, but my siblings and I helped out here and there - it's a family business, after all." Testing the solidity of the fence and finding it to her satisfaction, she hops up to sit perched atop it, "I was more referring to when I first joined the church, though. I never really did any prayer or meditation before that."
[21:05] <Kotono> "Yes. How did you join the church, then?" Floating up to sit a ways further down the fence, testing it herself before perching on it lightly, "Most humans would be content with a relatively easy and rich life. Even in Balmuria, where there are more churches than the average, most aren't that strongly drawn to a spiritual life, or a life of challenges."
[21:12] <Alicia> "You could say I had a spiritual awakening when I discovered my innate talent for magic," Alicia considers thoughtfully. "None of us were especially religious in my family - we'd sacrifice to Chauntea and Lathander for the harvest and our prosperity a couple of times a year, but nothing much more than that."
[21:12] <Alicia> "The church of Mystra seemed like the best people to help me understand these strange gifts I'd been blessed with. And as I spent time there I found a lot to like in Mystra's teachings - She's not just a distant goddess of scholars and insular sages, She teaches a joy of life and mystery, and an ethos of generosity and fair-play that really hit home with me."
[21:12] <Alicia> staring up at the sky in silence for a moment, she breaks it by concluding, "To be honest, I wish I'd learned about Her when I was younger."
[21:15] <Kotono> "So do I," Antenora murmurs that as she looks up at Alicia's skyview as well. "You're lucky. Despite the challenges, you have a purpose in life and a purpose in the hereafter. Most mortals are terrified of dying. You have a path, a vision and a way." After a pause, "When I help with the church or in the kitchens for the poor, they smile well enough when you help them. But it's only treating the physical...treating the spiritual is so much h
[21:16] <Kotono> treating the spiritual is so much harder."
[21:19] <Alicia> "I wouldn't be so sure," Alicia favours Antenora with a smile, "When someone is treated with kindness, they're more likely to be kind to others. It propagates throughout the connections people have with each other in a self-reinforcing cycle. Even if someone isn't consciously thinking about their soul, they can still enrich themselves and others in that way."
[21:26] <Kotono> Antenora turns and smiles back at Alicia. "Yeah. It works eventually." As she does warmly smile, Alicia notices something. An elf, clad in forest green and mud brown clothes, is emerging from the forest. He looks about, eyes taking in the side of the temple.
[21:28] <Alicia> OOC: the pixie-reserve forest?
[21:29] <Kotono> OOC: Back and around from the other way.
[21:29] <Alicia> "Oh, look, a visitor," Alicia comments, even though Antenora probably spotted him a few minutes ago. She doesn't dwell on her attentive shortcomings, instead hoping off the fence and waving as she calls over in elven. "Good afternoon,"
[21:31] <Kotono> "Hm?" Antenora blinks, turning around. "Tsk," she mutters under her breath, then smiles politely. "Good afternoon," he returns, fair voiced. "Ah, can you help me? I seem to have gotten rather lost."
06[21:36] * Alicia doesn't react to Antenora's irritation as she replies. "You're at a shrine to the Lady of Mysteries. The village of Salaraine is about twenty miles that way," she points in a generally Westward direction to provide another landmark in case that helps.
[21:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 8." [1d20=2]
[21:37] <Kotono> "Salaraine...hmph." A frown comes over his face. "I must have gotten lost. I thought I knew all the villages within a day's travel of Elandra's Rest. Thank you, human." He nods briefly to that, "I didn't even know there was a temple out here."
06[21:38] * Alicia blinks. "Elandra's Rest?" she replies, eyes widening. "That's... over a thousand miles away!"
[21:39] <Kotono> "What?" Cocking his head towards Alicia, "WHAT? That's not possible, I've only been walking for a few hours."
[21:40] <Kotono> "You aren't a wizard, are you?" Antenora quieries as she gets up off the fence.
[21:40] <Alicia> "And you didn't notice any abrupt changes in your surroundings?" Alicia asks curiously, wondering if he went through a portal.
[21:41] <Kotono> "No and no," he shakes his head, "It was entirely normal. I was walking through the forest, looking to check my traps and I got lost."
[21:42] <Alicia> "Let me see if any dweomers are still clinging to you, if it was powerful magic that sent you here they might linger still," Alicia suggests, casting detect magic and walking closer.
[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d6
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 and gets 6." [1d6=6]
[21:43] <Kotono> There is a fading magical aura around the elf.
[21:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[21:49] <Alicia> "Teleport," Alicia concludes. "The spell signature is quite clear, it's one I've seen often enough." She then cocks her head, "You're absolutely sure nothing untoward occured while you were out walking? Did you encounter anyone else?"
[21:50] <Kotono> "No...all I heard was some children laughing. That's unusual, but not unheard of. There's children enough around, though they're supposed to stay out of that part of the forest because of the traps."
[21:52] <Alicia> "Hmm... maybe they weren't children? Do you think you could retrace your steps? If we can follow your tracks at least to where you first arrived in this area it might tell us something," Alicia offers, her curiousity piqued by this mystery.
[21:54] <Kotono> "I could. You know magic, human...of course you do, this is a temple ot Mystra," Clicking his tongue, "She's the Goddess of Magic. My name is Finarfin, by the way." Adding that onto the end, "Or are you even humans? Can't magicians change their shape?"
[21:56] <Alicia> "We can, but why would I do that when I'm just mending a fence?" Alicia laughs. "Pleased to meet you, Finarfin. My name's Alicia Reynes, and this is Antenora," she provides by way of introduction.
[21:57] <Kotono> "I'm not a human, but..." Smiling as she touches her ribbon, "I'm harmless." To Alicia, 'How seriously are you taking this? Should I go get our gear?'
[21:57] <Kotono> "Oh." Actually blushing at that, "Thank you for the help. I'mr eally that far away from Elandra's rest? I must be near the Citadel or the border, or even Elfsander?"
[21:59] <Alicia> "We're about halfway between Elfsander and the Citadel, in the lands of the Desjardin family," Alicia confirms. 'If there is anything it's probably in Chillander's realm, not here, I doubt we'll need anything. At worst you can bash any enemies with your hammer,' she suggests to Antenora.
[22:01] <Kotono> 'Lovely.' Smoothing over the simple robes she wears now, 'I'll grab a tin pot lid for a shiled while I'm at it.' Meanwhile, as Antenora mentally speaks, "Yes," he nods, eyes lingering a touch long on Alicia, "How strange...strange enough with the dragon that attacked Respite and then this."
[22:03] <Alicia> "Yes, I heard of that," Alicia replies mysteriously. "I doubt they're connected, though. How have things been since the wyrm was slain?" she asks as they start to backtrack the way Finarfin came.
[22:09] <Kotono> Leading them back out to the forest and it's woody, shaded embrace, though not a forest of shrubs and tentacles thankfully, "There's been a lot of soldiers at first, then supply caravans and workers mustering to head for Respite. Preparing fully before the winter is important and time's running out. Fortunately, everything is going as planned."
[22:11] <Alicia> "That's good to hear," Alicia nods, keeping her senses alert for anything else in the woods with them while relying on the other two to backtrack Finarfin's path. "The dragon really did cause a lot of havoc."
[22:12] <Kotono> OOC: You can make a spot/listen checks if you like.
[22:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spot
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spot and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[22:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 listen
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 listen and gets 22." [1d20=15]
[22:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 she might as well if she's tagging along
[22:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 she might as well if she's tagging along listen
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 she might as well if she's tagging along and gets 28." [1d20=10]
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 she might as well if she's tagging along listen and gets 31." [1d20=13]
[22:15] <Kotono> Alicia doesn't see naything out of the ordinary. It's forest. There's trees and logs and leaves and animals and mud. Ho-hum. Antenora doesn't react oddly to any of it, either. As you slowly progress, his footsteps followed, "I heard the stories, yes. We're lucky that there were worthy heroes at Lord Chillander'd disposal."
06[22:16] * Alicia nods. "It doesn't bear thinking about what would have happened if the dragon had continued unchecked," she agrees gravely.
[22:19] <Kotono> Thus you are lead along. It's about twenty mintues of walking or so. Here you come to an end, Finarfin looking about. "This is it, my tracks stop here," he announces. "I know this place...it looks similar to a place near one of my traps. But ahead is different and wrong."
[22:20] <Alicia> Casting detect magic again, Alicia has a look around.
[22:21] <Kotono> There is fading magic here as well, lingering about in a 10ft aura.
[22:22] <Kotono> Antenora glances about, a hammer in one hand.
[22:22] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[22:26] <Alicia> "Hmm. I can't quite place the aura, but it's fading and we can probably assume it's related to what brought you here... but it shouldn't have lasted this long if it was the same effect, since the lingering dweomer clinging to you has faded away entirely," Alicia muses, taking a look around.
[22:26] <Alicia> "Anyone see any other tracks starting here? It's possible someone else was teleported in the last few minutes"
[22:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[22:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[22:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 largely moot
06[22:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 largely moot and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[22:32] <Kotono> After a bit of looking, Finarfin shakes his head. Antenora also quietly shakes hers, 'Nothing,' she sends.
[22:34] <Alicia> "Hmm... you said the place you were at before looked just like this, Finarfin?" Alicia then asks, starting to carefully study their surroundings. "Could you tell me where it was specifically, in relation to Elandra's Rest?"
[22:35] <Kotono> "It's a few hours away..." He begins to describe it. With a like plae to point to, it doesn't take too much effort to give a good mental image.
03[22:37] * emotoro-WAHLOOKATME-slp is now known as emotoroWAHLOOKATMEblah
[22:38] <Alicia> "Alright," Alicia nods. "I should be able to get us back there - how's the weather up North?" she then asks, wondering if she needs to take preventative measures since her habit isn't really cut out for extreme cold.
[22:38] <Kotono> "
03[22:39] * emotoroWAHLOOKATMEblah is now known as TOROTOROTOROKO
[22:39] <Kotono> "A little chillier, but it's a very warm day," he says, "I figured the difference was just the morning heat getting going."
[22:40] <Alicia> "Alright then. Both of you, take my hands?" Alicia asks, extending hers.
[22:40] <Kotono> Hands are taken!
[22:41] <Alicia> "Mother of Magic, reverse the course of this mysterious teleport and take us back to the frozen North!" Alicia incants, teleporting the group away!
[22:41] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 21." [1d100=21]
[22:56] <Kotono> Woosh! It's a bit chillier here, but Alicia seems to be where she wanted to go! Finarfin looks about, "This is back where I was..." he says, "Just ilke that."
[22:58] <Alicia> "Good, it seems we're on target. Now we need to find whomever or whatever sent you here," Alicia replies, casting her eyes about for other magical auras. "You mentioned hearing laughter, was it before you reached this spot?"
[23:16] <Kotono> There isn't any magic around here. "About 100 feet that away," he points ahead, starting to walk. "I didn't pay any mind to it at all. Local children like to runa nd play in the deeper forest."
[23:16] <Kotono> Antenora follows, brushing aside branches and batting one away with her hammer.
[23:17] <Alicia> "Hmm. Lets take a look around, then," Alicia follows after him, glancing this way and that for any magical auras that may pop up, her ears alert for any childish laughter.
[23:18] <Kotono> The party walks 100 feet and a little more after! No sign of magic as they travel, Antenora keeping a watch...
[23:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[23:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 28." [1d20=10]
[23:18] <Kotono> "I don't see much of anything awry," Antenora says. "I don't hear anything, either."
[23:20] <Alicia> "Likewise," Alicia agrees. "Although it would've been nearly an hour ago, so chances are they've moved on..." Biting her lip, she studies the terrain a bit, "Don't suppose anyone can see any tracks?"
[23:22] <Kotono> "I can go search," Antenora volunteers. "I might find some."
[23:23] <Alicia> "We might as well stick together. It's even possible that our blundering through these woods will attract whomever teleported Finarfin in the first place," Alicia offers.
[23:25] <Kotono> "Thanks for returning me,"F inarfin says at that, "Do you wish for me to come with you?"
[23:26] <Alicia> "Might be safer, at least until we're sure no one else is around," Alicia notes with a slight smile, "Don't want you getting teleported away who knows where again, after all."
[23:27] <Kotono> 'I'll be on the lookout for anything as well as evil, and you cover magic?' Antenora proposes mentally at the same time.
[23:28] <Alicia> 'Sure,' Alicia affirms, intending to recast detect magic a quarter of an hour from now when it expires if they haven't found anything by then.
[23:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[23:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 34." [1d20=16]
[23:30] <Kotono> After about ten minutes of walking, Antenora stops. She cocks her head towards the west, "I thought I heard something over there. It was like children's laughter," she confirms.
[23:33] <Alicia> "Lets go investigate, then?" Alicia suggests, starting in that direction. But not before she casts voice of the archon to give her an edge in any negotiations that ensue.
[23:35] <Kotono> The three go ahead! Antenora takes point, with Finarfin behind Alicia. After a little more walking Alicia can start to hear it. The laughter of children in the distance, innocent, pure and cheerful. You can faintly hear words of elven, "Over here...Tag, you're it....hahahahahaha!"
[23:37] <Alicia> They could be sweet little elven children (who're probably older than she is) out here by coincidence. Or they could be immortal and inhuman fey that have no concept of the difficulties they cause to random passersby in teleporting them across the continent. She'll find out in a moment once she gets close enough to see them.
[23:39] <Kotono> OOC: Make a charisma check?
[23:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[23:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 16." [1d20=10]
[23:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 not wearing my cloak
06[23:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 not wearing my cloak and gets 21." [1d20=16]
[23:41] <Kotono> As you approach, you find a clearing to be appearing, the forest around shimmering. Alicia can abruptly detect strong magic! There is now a clearing ahead, a pleasant clearing with a babbling brook, shady fruit trees in ripe blossom and a few pleasant logs to sit agaianst, well worn and with a thin, soft coating of moss.
[23:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[23:44] <Alicia> While she's lacking most of her more flashy magic items, Alicia does have a few essentials on her. "Strong magic here," she whispers in celestial before pulling down her hairband over her eyes to grant her blindsight, which should tell her if this is an illusion. Or if there's any invisible pixies lurking nearby.
[23:45] <Kotono> It's an illusion. Standing in the middle of the 'brook', just in Alicia's range, is a young elf with wild golden hair and ears so long that they're almost like knives. They go straight back, his eyes pools of a forest green. A beckoning smile is on his face, as he moves his mouth. The laughter of children comes from it, teasing. His eyes are focused on Alicia.
[23:46] <Alicia> That's... that's kind of creepy. Is he evil?
[23:47] <Kotono> No evil.
[23:49] <Kotono> The elf is a teenager, or so. Hard to tell with those elves.
[23:50] <Alicia> "Who are you?" Alicia asks, still offput by the sound of multiple laughing children coming from the mouth of one solitary person. For all she knows he ate the children.
[23:53] <Kotono> "Hm?" Antenora glances about, holding up an arm to prevent anyone from passing. As Finarfin pauses and peers ahead, the elf looks right at Alicia. He continues to emit those sounds, yet another one travels with it. "A weaver of dreams, a crafter of reality's shadow. What are you?"
[23:55] <Alicia> "A servant of Mystra," Alicia replies, glad conversation is possible even if the laughter tremendously unsettling. "Are you responsible for sending this man across Pallanth? And why do you cloak yourself in illusions?"
[23:56] <Kotono> "Huh?" Finarfin looks about, as Antenora turns back to him and shakes her head.
[23:57] <Kotono> "Oh, reality is to be weaved, things are to happen..." The sing song is a sing-song of children at innocent and love, without a mote of wrongness in them. "What of you, are you responsible for bringing him back? Why do you cloak yourself words of mystery?"
Session Time: Sat Feb 07 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Alicia> "Words of mystery?" Alicia isn't quite sure what that means. "Regardless, I brought him back. You had no right to tear him away from his home as you did."
[00:01] <Kotono> "Aaah, but you have no right to bring him back. Who are you to undo what was done? The course of nature, who has the right to change it?" His song becomes uplifting, "Tell me then, who has the right to change what has been wrought?"
[00:04] <Alicia> "That is such an astoundingly vague question that I can give no satisfactory answer," Alicia replies. "It depends entirely upon what has been wrought. In this particular instance, however, I had the right to return Finarfin by virtue of his consent."
[00:08] <Kotono> "Aaah..." The elf's brow furrows, "The game is not to be played...it is a pity. Narrow minds lead to narrow lives. Assert what you will then. For now I shall stay here and continue my graceful song."
[00:10] <Alicia> "Sing as you like, but people's lives are not playthings for your amusement," Alicia returns sternly. "Heed this well."
[00:12] <Kotono> "The discordant words of restriction shall be noted," The song says gently, "Weighed in the balanced and weaved as all things are."
[00:14] <Alicia> "See that they are given the weight they are due," Alicia concludes, lifting up her blindfold. "We're done here, I believe," she turns to Antenora and Finarfin.
[00:15] <Kotono> Finarfin looks puzzled, while Antenora nods curtly. "Yes, let's," she says. Then to Alicia, 'Did that any more sense to you than me?'
[00:17] <Alicia> 'No. He's clearly some sort of fey creature that doesn't think on the same level we do - further conversation is pointless,' Alicia replies telepathically. "If you like we can walk you some of the way back to Elrand's Rest, although I don't think you'll be bothered again," she then speaks to the elf.
[00:17] <Kotono> 'Yes, he's fey...' Antenora begins, befor she catches herself and smiles wryly. 'Nevermind, I'll explain more later. I've been focusing so much mentally I'm forgetting to talk out loud.'
[00:18] <Kotono> "I can make it if this is done. It made no sense, but..." Spreading his hands, "Thank you again."
[00:20] <Alicia> "You're quite welcome," Alicia nods. "It was fortunate that you arrived close to us, else you likely would have had a very long journey back home. When you get back to the town, please pass on my regards to Eran?"
[00:21] <Kotono> "Eran...the priest and artist?" he blinks at that, "You know him?"
03[00:21] * TOROTOROTOROKO is now known as tai-shower
02[00:21] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) Quit (Broken pipe)
[00:21] <Alicia> "I met him before, yes," Alicia smiles. "He actually painted me. Ask and I'm sure he'd be happy to show his work."
[00:22] <Kotono> "Very well," Nodding a little to thatn, "Thank you, Alicia." With that he turns and walks away into the forest.
[00:23] <Alicia> "Farewell, Finarfin," Alicia waves before turning to Antenora, sparing a brief glance over to the nearby illusory area where the laughing creature lurks as she prepares to teleport. "If you like we can go play with the pixies when we get back. They're one kind of fey that's at least easy to understand," she offers impishly.
[00:25] <Kotono> "Let me see." Looking about, "No flames, no horrible demons of torment and damnation, no succubi? I don' think this is the Abyss. So I'll pass." Smiling right back, "I have a headache, anyway. Well, I've had one, I'm still getting used to this technique."
[00:26] <Alicia> "They're really quite amusing, at least in small doses, and it might make you appreciate Marie in a new light," Alicia notes before pausing, "New technique?"
[00:28] <Kotono> "It has to do with seeing things and mindforces with your own intellect and telepathy. Have you ever tried screaming for a long time without taking a breath? It's like doing that." Settling in next to Alicia, "The creature was a fey and it was highly intelligent, at least."
[00:31] <Alicia> "Really? That's an interesting ability, one I don't think I've ever heard of before. You're really coming into your own, aren't you?" Alicia smiles approvingly, before throwing a guarded glance over to the invisible elf-alike. "Hopefully he can put his prodigious wit to use in understanding the rights of others. Anyway, shall we continue this somewhere warmer?"
[00:33] <Kotono> "I doubt it. The strongest mind is worthless if it's dedicated to wastes of time. It's a technique I'd heard about in Cania long ago - it's favored by higher ranking devils in Cania, or so I heard. You feel minds as naturally as you see out of your eyes with it."
[00:33] <Kotono> "And yes, somewhere warmer." Antenora adds as an afterthought.
06[00:34] * Alicia teleports them back to their fence.
[00:34] <Alicia> roll 1d100
03[00:34] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5af0b1d6.wfd106.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
[00:34] <Alicia> roll 1d100
[00:34] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=33 ]{33}
[00:35] <Alicia> Upon safely arriving she resumes conversation, "True," she acknowledges. "His speech indicated an entirely alien level of thought, which is why I didn't see much point in continuing dialogue."
[00:36] <Kotono> The fence is returned to! Antenora goes to alight on it again, "There is one amusing thing about it. The strength of the minds of various people can be surprising." Thereafter, as Alicia speaks, "Yes. You could've played along, but since it wasn't hostile, there's hardly a point."
[00:36] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia smiles winsomely as she leans on the fence. "How do I measure up, then?"
[00:41] <Kotono> "You're above average. Most of the normal people about in Balmuria are either below that or just at it. Demedais is about where you are and so is Marie, for that matter. Seira...well, most preparation wizards are like small novas. The requried skills corelleate strongly to strenght of mind, I believe. Elle's the same way."
[00:44] <Alicia> "Hmm," Alicia's ego is mollified enough that she's above average, so she doesn't feel too slighted. "Well, do you want to go take a walk through the reserve so we can see how smart its inhabitants are?"
[00:53] <Kotono> "It's not flawless...Donald has a strong mind as well. Take that for what you will," Antenora gets up, "Pixies and what else are there?"
06[00:55] * Alicia can't help but chuckle as she starts heading to the woods behind the temple. "Perhaps you can only detect book-smarts and not actual strength of will?" she suggests.
[00:55] <Alicia> "I saw pixies and snakes last time I was there, although I know there are other creatures besides. There was someone by the waterfall that the pixies were afraid of, but she sounded pleasant and didn't appear to be malicious, though I didn't see her."
[00:57] <Kotono> "I thikn that's it. Seira's very intelligent and a good wizard...but I see why she gets along with Donald." With a smirk, "It's not all of it. But if you're game, I'll tag along," Antenora says. OOC - Paus ehere? It's getting late for me.
[00:58] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[18:06] <Kotori> <Alicia> "Hmm," Alicia's ego is mollified enough that she's above average, so she doesn't feel too slighted. "Well, do you want to go take a walk through the reserve so we can see how smart its inhabitants are?"
[18:06] <Kotori> > "It's not flawless...Donald has a strong mind as well. Take that for what you will," Antenora gets up, "Pixies and what else are there?"
[18:06] <Kotori> * Alicia can't help but chuckle as she starts heading to the woods behind the temple. "Perhaps you can only detect book-smarts and not actual strength of will?" she suggests.
[18:06] <Kotori> <Alicia> "I saw pixies and snakes last time I was there, although I know there are other creatures besides. There was someone by the waterfall that the pixies were afraid of, but she sounded pleasant and didn't appear to be malicious, though I didn't see her."
[18:06] <Kotori> > "I thikn that's it. Seira's very intelligent and a good wizard...but I see why she gets along with Donald." With a smirk, "It's not all of it. But if you're game, I'll tag along," Antenora says. OOC - Paus ehere? It's getting late for me.
[18:10] <Kotori> As the two head along, "That reminds me, you've been here before? Anything in particular come of it, like a good story?"
03[18:11] * Kotori is now known as Kotono
[18:13] <Alicia> "A wizard lost a magic item, I think it was a circlet, in the reserve, and then a snake ate it," Alicia chuckles. "She asked me to get it for her, which was when I ran into the pixies."
[18:13] <Alicia> "I was a lot more highly strung back then, so I almost lost my temper at them a few times, but then I pegged that they were really just like children looking for amusement. I distracted them with a word-game and then suck away while they were busy with that so they wouldn't bother me."
[18:15] <Alicia> *snuck away
[18:16] <Kotono> "How ...strangely familiar," Looking sidelong at Alicia, "I suppose it's why you handle Marie so well."
[18:17] <Alicia> "She's actually very mature compared to them," Alicia laughs lightly as they head onto the path through the reserve. "You'll see when we bump into them, as I'm sure we will."
[18:18] <Alicia> Pausing a moment, she then adds, "You know, we should try asking if anyone at the temple ever knew any elves called Marielle who died about twenty years ago."
[18:19] <Kotono> Slowing there, "It may be worth investigating..." Rubbing her chin as she looks back, "Especially if it enlightens Marie's attitude a little."
[18:20] <Alicia> "She'd probably be disappointed that she can't make up outlandish lies about her past exploits anymore, but I'm sure she'd at least be interested in finding out where she came from," Alicia shrugs.
[18:24] <Kotono> As the two walk into the preserve and down it's path, the scent of strawberries and apples drifts out. It smells really good, coming from somewhere farther downt he path. "No more being the creator of magic missile. Pity that."
06[18:25] * Alicia sniffs briefly, enjoying the verdant aroma. "I rather liked the name she came up with for it, if nothing else."
[18:26] <Kotono> Antenora sniffs as well, "Mmmm...it's not brimstone, but that's pleasant." Starting to pick up her pace, "Any idea what that scent is?"
[18:27] <Alicia> "Strawberries and apples, I think," Alicia replies as they stroll along. "They taste as good as they smell, if you care about such things."
[18:32] <Kotono> "Eating is a habit I'm happy to avoid. Taste isn't unpleasant, but in Caina mind is often valued over matter. Indulging the body in food is seen as weak and wasteful. That view lingers with me. Food makes me feel heavy and weighted down inside." As you come along, you kind your nose leading you to a little clearing to the side of the path. Here nature has been forcibly moved back. Here a few fires have been started, rough iron pots over the
[18:32] <Kotono> Here a few fires have been started, rough iron pots over the fires. The scent is coming from the bubbling cauldrons - pixies fly about, dumping fruits into each of them, with a few manning a large wooden stirring spoon on each, strugging to move it.
[18:34] <Alicia> "Yes, and having to get rid of it afterwards can be messy," Alicia nods sagely. "I thought fey didn't like iron?" she then comments loudly as she approaches the pixies, leaning over one of the ones stirring a pot.
[18:36] <Kotono> This gets the attention of the pixies, staring at Alicia(Or a few who stare at her noggin). "We don't!" A male pixie says back imperiously, putting his hands on his hips and dropping a few strawberries to the ground. "But it's special when we're making this...oh hey, wait," he says, "Aren't you familiar?"
[18:37] <Alicia> "Sure!" Alicia grins. "Don't you remember when I stopped by about a year ago and taught you that game with the animals? So what are you making?"
05[18:39] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[18:39] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[18:39] <Kotono> "Jam!" A female pixie giggles and flies over around Alicia! As she does she whirls by a pot, sticking a finger in it's lightly bubbling depths. She goes over to her, tapping the jam covered finger against her lips. "Isn't it nice? We were taught how to make this and it's great. It's like liquid fruit."
[18:40] <Kotono> A few others let go of a wooden spoon, coming to fly around Alicia and Antenora. "Yeah, I remember you, but this one's new. She's kind of cute, but if you keep frowning, you'll get wrinkles," one says to her, hovering in front of Antenora's face.
[18:41] <Alicia> "Oh yes, jam is very nice," Alicia agrees. "It goes wonderfully on bread. This is Antenora," she nods towards the erinyes, "And I'm Alicia in case any of you can't remember."
06[18:42] * Alicia then laughs and gives Antenora a somewhat incredulous look.
[18:42] <Kotono> Antenora buries her face into a hand and sighs. 'I don't believe it, either.'
[18:43] <Kotono> "A and A!" One says as he gently pries Antenora's fingers away from her face. "Come on, you're really going to age yourself! Do you want to be an old hag when you're still young! Smile!"
[18:43] <Kotono> Another hovers near Alicia's shoulder, "Want some? It tastes good," he invites Alicia, "You can stay for our big jam food fight too!"
[18:44] <Alicia> "She's actually six hundred years old," Alicia observes pleasantly. "Don't you think she's well preserved? Even an elf would be wrinkled at that age." Then nodding to the one near her shoulder, "A taste would be nice, but I think we'll pass on the food fight."
[18:48] <Kotono> "Oh, are you one of us? A ghost, maybe? An angel?" Fluttering around Antenora, there is a murmur as several pixies examine her all over! They take her arms, tug at her hair, check her eyes for crow's feet and more! As she is tugged and pulled, "Hey, she has wings!"
[18:49] <Kotono> Antenora's eyes widen, then she takes a veeeery deep breath.
[18:51] <Alicia> "She's a spirit of sorts," Alicia acknowledges, glancing sidelong at Antenora, leaving it up to her if she wants to show all.
[18:56] <Kotono> Very carefully, Antenora plucks each pixie away and puts them in the air in front of her. With a serene calm over her face, "Don't do that again," she says, "Ask Alicia what happens to pixies from where I come from."
[18:58] <Alicia> Well, her call. "Please don't ask," Alicia then states. "It's not at all pleasant."
[19:01] <Kotono> "Aaah." PLOP!" The male pixie settles onto Alicia's head, "Oh yeah, you have ar eally nice head. Has anyone ever told you that?"
[19:02] <Kotono> "Well..." Afemale flies in front of Antenora's face, smiling, "That's okay. Just come and have some jam them!" Tugging at Antenora's hand, flying down to do so, "If you're that old then it won't go to your hips anyway!"
[19:02] <Kotono> Another pixie goes to Antenora's back, gently pushing, "C'mon, it's our treat. Lighten up a little! It's a fun day today!"
[19:03] <Alicia> "It was probably you that said so in the first place," Alicia replies with a roll of her eyes, going to take a seat by one of the pots.
[19:08] <Kotono> As Antenora is pushed, pulled and lured along, Alicia gets to watch! Over a few protests she's lead to a cooling pot, lightly steaming but not bubbling. The fire under it has largely died off. "Just try some," one of the pixies insists.
06[19:09] * Alicia happily takes a spoon, lifting up a dollop of jam and blowing on it a few times before she takes an experimental lick.
[19:10] <Kotono> It's hot and very sweet. It's like hot, liquid candy right now. It tastes intensly of fruit. Meanwhile Antenora shakes her head, "I'd rather not. I don't like eating."
[19:12] <Alicia> "Mmmm," Alicia happily takes a few more licks before returning the spoon. "Your loss," she tells Antenora, before deciding to test the vaunted intellect of these pixies. "Say, have any of you ever heard of a type of fey that looks like an adolescent elf with really sharp ears, and talks in a voice that sounds like lots of children all laughing?"
[19:17] <Kotono> "Oh, come on!" A pixie takes up the spoon Alicia put down, getting jam all over it again. He brings it up to Antenora's mouth, "We worked all day on this! Aren't you going to be grateful! It's a gift, don't be rude!"
[19:18] <Kotono> The one atop Alicia's head peers down at her, looking into her eyes all upside down. "Like it's children laughing?" he repeats.
[19:21] <Alicia> "It just means there's more for the rest of us," Alicia tries to placate the pixies on Antenora's behalf before turning her attention to the one on her head.
[19:21] <Alicia> "Yes, when he opened his mouth you could hear laughter - as if from a dozen different children, all in different tones and pitches, and even sounding like they were talking to one another. But amidst it all you could also hear intelligible words when he spoke. Called himself a weaver of dreams."
[19:26] <Kotono> "Fuuuuu..." The spoon is lowered from Antenora's mouth, as she sighs in relief. The other pixies turn attention to Alicia at this, watching her be face to face-reverse with the pixie on her head. "That sounds like a fey you don't want to trifle with. Not all fey are as nice, charming and pleasant as us!"
[19:26] <Kotono> "Why?" Antenora asks right after, approaching Alicia. "Why not, besides the obvious?"
[19:27] <Alicia> "I remember the one you warned me about last time I was here, even though she sounded nice - the one by the waterfall?" Alicia comments. "But yes, the weaver of dreams was difficult to talk to, and didn't seem very nice, even if he wasn't entirely hostile either. Do you know anything more about what he could have been?"
[19:30] <Kotono> "Well..."T he male pixie here looks up and away, "Not all of us fey are so nice...really. REALLY. Even if he's not one of the bad ones...just stay away from him. Bad things happen to those that cross fey like that."
[19:30] <Kotono> Antenora approaches, gently taking the head of the pixie between two fingers. "Stop evading the question, this is serious."
[19:31] <Alicia> "Please, if you actually know something," Alicia follows up more gently.
[19:32] <Kotono> "Eeek!" Pressed and then asked, "Well...it's a Weaver of Dreams. That's it's title..." Blushing now, "You know how you have good dreams and bad dreams?"
06[19:33] * Alicia nods, slowly so as not to dislodge her passenger.
[19:34] <Kotono> "Legends say that dreams are truth. A Weaver of Dreams seeks to weave truth from what is seen in dreams, without regard if it's good or bad. But if you anger one...all of you rnightmares will come true."
[19:35] <Kotono> A female pixie floats up, "They speak in the voice of everyone they want. Dreams are connected, or so they say."
[19:35] <Alicia> "Hmm... I don't think we angered it, did we?" Alicia glances at Antenora. "I mean, we made our point, and it seemed to accept that even if it didn't agree."
[19:35] <Kotono> "I..think so?" Antenora shrugs after a few long moments. "It wasn't making much sense to me."
[19:37] <Alicia> "It didn't seem upset, so I suppose we're alright," Alicia settles on that. Reaching up, she gives the pixie on her head a fond little pat, "Thanks for telling us that much, at least," she smiles.
[19:43] <Kotono> "Be careful...really." Settling back up on Alicia's head, there is a moment of quiet and then...SPLAT! A small blob of jam splatters right on the pixie atop Alicia's head, raining sweetness all over Alicia's hair! A pixie peeks up from the other side of the pot, "Now you're ruining the mood! This is JAM MAKING DAY! It's special and you're acting all wrong, wrong wrong, wrong! Let's have some fun!"
06[19:44] * Alicia grimaces and nudges the pixie off her head, not wanting to have her hair clotted with sticky jam. "Sorry, I didn't think it would be such a sore subject," she apologises as she gets up.
[19:45] <Kotono> "It's just not for today," The throwing pixie grins, "Today's a fun day!"
[19:45] <Kotono> Antenora shakes her head, rubbing her temples, "You should've brought Marie..." she murmurs.
[19:47] <Alicia> "I could always go get her," Alicia responds mischeviously. "But perhaps I'll bring her to visit another time. Thank you for the jam, it was delicious," she then nods to the pixies, "But we should get going. I'll see you later," she waves, starting to head deeper into the reserve.
[19:50] <Kotono> Quickly and swiftly breaking away with Alicia, Antenora sighs in deep relief. "I suppose that they're better off than many, but..."
[19:51] <Alicia> "Really," Alicia gently chastises the erinyes, "Even if you didn't like getting poked and prodded, it wasn't necessary to allude to torturing them. You need to learn how to handle such attention gracefully."
[19:55] <Kotono> Rubbing her face with her hand, "Unbridled mirtha nd joy like that still seems so...so...chaotic and undiciplined. Sorry, Alicia."
[19:59] <Alicia> "It's rather sad for us that mirth and joy are considered inherently chaotic," Alicia muses as they stroll along. "Yes, they are child-like, and somewhat impolite, but they're still sincerely well-intentioned and I think that deserves our respect."
[19:59] <Alicia> "Besides, they seem to respond better to having their attentions gently deflected instead of outright rejected. You're just making things harder on yourself by being confrontational."
[20:09] <Kotono> "Yes, I know that. My better nature has a way of sliding back when confronted with them." Stopping on her walk now, "I can deal with children well enough, but give them wings and mirth and I forget all that. Tsch." The last sound comes from deep in her throat, a rumbling discord. "Maybe you're right and I'm being pointlessly judgmental and stuffy."
[20:12] <Alicia> "It's not really gaining you anything by being so aloof," Alicia agrees delicately. "Like I said, when I first ran into the pixies I was pretty close to outright hitting them before I figured out being direct and harsh only made them want to tease me more. But with the right approach they're entirely easy to deal with."
[20:16] <Kotono> Antenora turns to Alicia, smiling a little now. "So I should...oh, how is it Marie likes to say it? Loosen up and remove the stick from my butt?"
[20:20] <Alicia> "I'd never put it so tactlessly, but it wouldn't hurt," Alicia agrees. "You don't need to run wild and join in their madcap pranks and foodfights, but at least try to be pleasant to them and you might be surprised to find they can meet you in the middle by moderating their behaviour in return." She idly scoops a drop of jam from her head and sucks on her finger as they walk along.
[20:22] <Kotono> "Yes, I-" Antenora stops there, "You know, that reminds me. Are the feelings from Malcanthet's realm passed for you now? You've looked better the last few days."
[20:23] <Alicia> "Haven't had a perverse thought in a few days," Alicia confirms as she innocently sucks on her index finger.
[20:24] <Kotono> "Oh good. That is just innocent," Antenora's smile twitches upward, "I did wonder a few moments."
06[20:27] * Alicia blinks before slowly pulling her now clean finger out of her mouth. "Only someone with a dirty mind would have thought otherwise," she retorts balefully.
[20:28] <Kotono> "Oh Alicia," With a virtually angelic smile, "Do lighten up."
[20:30] <Alicia> "Says the woman that won't even have a taste of jam," Alicia harrumphs.
[20:32] <Kotono> "Ah, but you savor the taste of jam. You get it in your mouth, on your face and then still lick it up." With a smirk, Antenora pats Alicia's shoulder.
[20:33] <Alicia> "Well, no sense letting it go to waste," Alicia protests weakly. "Besides, it's irritating my hair," she proceeds to clear another splodge of jam from her head and dispose of it in the same way.
[20:35] <Kotono> "Well, come. There's more to see in this forest, isn't there?" Starting to walk back along now, "You'll need to wash your hair tonight, though. Or just use magic."
[20:36] <Alicia> "I'll have a bath later," Alicia confirms as they continue their lazy circuit of the forest, looking for anything or anyone of interest.
[20:40] <Kotono> It's pretty quiet otherwise - you'd have to go to where the snakes are to deal with them, or go down the side path where the unsaid creature that you avoided last time is.
[20:43] <Alicia> Even though she now has her blindfold to deal with any blindness causing creatures, Antenora isn't so fortunate, so Alicia elects to avoid the waterfall today, instead starting to wind back towards the temple. "We'll probably head home in a couple of days," she comments aloud.
[20:46] <Kotono> As you walk out of the preserve, "It's been a lot of fun," Antenora says, "Meditation, work, peace, spending time with you." Looking at Alicia with a smile, "I wish we could spend more time here. But the world moves on. Even with the Kessian royal family slain, there's still more evil out in the world. Esthan, Gurlan, Shar, countless minor seeds of hate and despair that could blossom into a bitter harvest..."
[20:47] <Alicia> "Yes," Alicia agrees. "I needed this break otherwise I doubt I'd be any good to anyone, but I can't afford to spend to much time lazing around."
[20:48] <Kotono> "Yes, but speaking of, do you feel like you learned anything from all of this, from the Abyss to here?"
[20:54] <Alicia> "I learned that using a sword of dimensional anchoring to seal a planar portal is far less safe than you'd think," Alicia responds glibly. "I also learned that my libido is a terrifying force of carnal destruction that will ruin me if given half a chance."
[20:54] <Alicia> She lets that hang in perfect seriousness for a moment before chuckling, "No, not really. I can hardly blame my natural urges for some very unnatural feelings a Demon Queen was forcing on me. The main lesson I suppose is not to take the forces of chaos lightly."
[20:54] <Alicia> "It's the common stereotype that devils are skilled at corruption while demons are just mindless beasts, but the Abyss came closer to breaking me than any devil ever has."
[20:58] <Kotono> "I find that strangely ironic in so many ways," Crossing her arms as Alicia finishes, "But...maybe you're good with controlling rational corruption, but not the sort of felt corruption that the Abyss tried? It wasn't a matter of logical damnation, but of a creeping taint in your feelings. Or not, I admit I'm fully speculating here." Coming round to the temple again, "Though, perhaps the reason you so like me is because you secretly crave y
[20:59] <Kotono> "Though, perhaps the reason you so like me is because you secretly crave your own succubus, and that's why the Abyss nearly succeeded?" With a light smile of her own to follow that, "Honestly, I'm not sure there was anything to learn. I'd consider that a bonus on top of escaping."
06[21:08] * Alicia snorts. "You don't really act like a succubus at all, though. And of the many I've encountered, I've only found one to be tolerable."
[21:08] <Alicia> She pauses a bit before admitting, "To be honest, I was almost tempted to ask G'renna to come with me, but I doubt I could ever reform her. As nice as she was to me, I don't think she cared for changing her whole worldview, and after what happened with Aym I'm leery of trying to convince someone who doesn't have some interest in changing their ways."
[21:09] <Kotono> "She must have been playing with you." Antenora slows now, her smile blowing awya like the scent of jam in the wind. "I don't believe for a second that it was anything but a form of manipulation. But...I don't know. There's still that cultist, who as far as I know is still asleep. I want to try very badly to make her want to sincerely change and see that myself."
[21:14] <Alicia> With a thoughtful shrug, Alicia replies, "She had a lot of opportunities to take advantage of me that she ignored. I think she honestly liked me and the novelty I represented, but otherwise she was very secure and happy with her own role and nature." She pauses again before turning to the topic of the cultist, "It's been a few weeks, if she hasn't recovered by now she probably never will."
[21:16] <Kotono> "Not without magic," Antenora agrees. "It's no less than she deserves for her deeds, yet I hope she can turn to something better and be given the chance to do so."
[21:18] <Alicia> "It's laudable to try," Alicia nods warmly as they head into the shrine itself, not wanting to dissuade Antenora at all from her goal.
[21:25] <Kotono> -----------------(Machine Gun Ko Ammo)--
[21:33] <Kotono> Jessica and Antenora gather with Alicia inside Alicia's home. Both wear their travelling clothes and gear. "You're really going to take us to Mystra's home," Jessica says, "That's completely unbelievable."
03[21:33] * taisick is now known as taisicker
[21:35] <Alicia> "I'm not sure it's a good idea," Marie comments, not entirely thrilled. "People who go to their afterlife when they're alive have a bad habit of not leaving. There's a word for it, which tells you just how common it is."
[21:36] <Kotono> "What's the word," Jessica asks.
[21:37] <Alicia> "In Celestial it's Shere'sani, loosely translates as the soul's calling," Marie explains, temporarily ceasing to use her natural magic for languages so that she can say the foreign word without it being auto-translated.
[21:38] <Alicia> "We won't stay long," Alicia assures her familiar as she takes off her ring of freedom of movement before slipping on the newly purchased ring, it's single jewel shimmering with all the colours of the rainbow. "But we don't know anyone on Earth with access to the magic we need, so Dweomerheart is the best place in the planes to search."
[21:39] <Kotono> "Mortal bodies are temporary containers for the eternal," Antenora goes on, "The eternal strives to meet with it's destiny. But as long as you don't stay long you should be alright."
[21:39] <Kotono> Jessica smiles a little, "I won't get bound to it, I promise. Besides, sis will drag me back kicking and screaming if she needs to."
[21:41] <Alicia> "She's just as likely to stay," Marie notes. "Strong will doesn't even come into it. But Antenora's right, so long as we don't tarry long you two should be okay. Just don't make a habit of it, okay?"
[21:41] <Alicia> "It's just this once," Alicia assures her worrying familiar. "Now, everyone join hands?" she proceeds to take Antenora and Jessica's hands in her own while Marie alights on her head.
[21:42] <Alicia> "Also, you better not embarrass me in front of anyone I know!" Marie adds, looking pointedly at Antenora.
[21:47] <Kotono> Antenora smiles back, "I wouldn't dream of it. Really." Everyone joins hands!
[21:48] <Alicia> Focusing on the centre of Dweomerheart, even though she doesn't expect to land there, Alicia shifts the quartet across the planes!
[21:48] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 316." [5d100=91, 46, 65, 32, 82]
[21:49] <Kotono> The planes themselves part for Alicia's magic! (More)
[21:52] <Kotono> You are at the outskirts of a vast plateau. The sky is night dark. It cloaks the city ahead - a vast, endless city of magical energy, dazzling to the eyes to view. You can't make out details from here, but yet...but yet it's marvelously complete. The feeling of completeness is absolute, Alicia's body feeling tight, constricting for a few tense moments. There is a pull here, a potent pull that draws Alicia in. As she feels that marvelous sen
[21:52] <Kotono> a potent pull that draws Alicia in. As she feels that marvelous sensation, the sky occasionally flickers with silver fire.
06[21:55] * Alicia spends a moment just taking in the vista as she swaps her freedom of movement ring back onto her finger and pockets the now dormant plane shift one. No words come, simply absorbing the view and savouring pull she feels towards her goddess.
[21:57] <Kotono> Jessica's jaw drops. She tries to speak a few times but nothing at all comes. Antenora looks on with a faint, passing smile. She looks to Marie, "Home sweet home?"
[21:57] <Alicia> "It's even better when you get up there," Marie notes cheerily.
[21:57] <Alicia> OOC: taking 10 for 27 knowledge planes for Marie to know a place here that we can get high level divine scrolls
[22:04] <Kotono> OOC: There's several magical emporiums where these can be procured by those who serve Mystra. Marie and Alicai should have no problems at all with this.
[22:07] <Alicia> After Alicia finishes savouring the moment before Marie gives her directions to a bazaar run by a friendly and unusually studious planetar, albeit with the caution that Dweomerheart's architecture changes frequently, although it's layout remains mostly consistent so it should still be there. Armed with this knowledge, Alicia teleports the group to said bazaar!
[22:08] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen casually since Marie's been there a few times
06[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen casually since Marie's been there a few times and gets 74." [1d100=74]
[22:12] <Kotono> Woosh! The magic flows freely here, Alicia finding her spell easily cast. The bazaar is a large building, the walls having veins of multicolored crystals running through it it. They form arcane patterns on the floor as the light hits it, which crackle with motes of arcane flame. In the crystals rest dozens of things - scrolls, weapons, armors, wonderous items, wands and many an other magical artifact.
06[22:13] * Alicia spends a brief moment examining their surroundings to see the rest of Dweomerheart from the inside before she heads into the bazaar in search of someone to help with her query.
[22:16] <Kotono> Outside, ou can see a sky of silver fire. A well lit street is here, with dozens of twisting buildings about. Runes of magic float in the air, coming together as raw power is woven together. An astral deva walks side by side with a golden skinned man in plain clothes, a carved staff carried by him.
[22:18] <Alicia> "They change the architecture every day at dawn so the city never looks the same from day to day, but everything's still in the same place," Marie helpfully informs the tourists as they head inside.
[22:19] <Kotono> As you go in, you notice Jessica isn't coming in with you. Her gaze is fixated elseware, starting to wander off and away down the street.
06[22:20] * Alicia pauses and follows Jessica's gaze. "Jessica?" she prods, trying to see what she's looking at.
[19:04] <Kotono> > Woosh! The magic flows freely here, Alicia finding her spell easily cast. The bazaar is a large building, the walls having veins of multicolored crystals running through it it. They form arcane patterns on the floor as the light hits it, which crackle with motes of arcane flame. In the crystals rest dozens of things - scrolls, weapons, armors, wonderous items, wands and many an other magical artifact.
[19:04] <Kotono> * Alicia spends a brief moment examining their surroundings to see the rest of Dweomerheart from the inside before she heads into the bazaar in search of someone to help with her query.
[19:04] <Kotono> > Outside, ou can see a sky of silver fire. A well lit street is here, with dozens of twisting buildings about. Runes of magic float in the air, coming together as raw power is woven together. An astral deva walks side by side with a golden skinned man in plain clothes, a carved staff carried by him.
[19:04] <Kotono> <Alicia> "They change the architecture every day at dawn so the city never looks the same from day to day, but everything's still in the same place," Marie helpfully informs the tourists as they head inside.
[19:04] <Kotono> > As you go in, you notice Jessica isn't coming in with you. Her gaze is fixated elseware, starting to wander off and away down the street.
[19:04] <Kotono> * Alicia pauses and follows Jessica's gaze. "Jessica?" she prods, trying to see what she's looking at.
[19:10] <Kotono> Jessica is staring at a pattern of light from above. It doesn't look like much on a glance to Alicia, but Jessica turns back to her. "Sorry, sorry," she murmurs, following Alicia.
06[19:12] * Alicia gives her sister a pat on the back. "It's alright. We can spend a few hours looking around while we wait on the ring recharging, but we need to see about getting those scrolls first."
[19:15] <Kotono> Heading inside, you see that the various symbols traced on the ground are emitting energy! It flows into the air, forming a pleasantly, human-esque face in the air made of spell power. "Servants of Mystra, what do you seek here?"
[19:17] <Alicia> "Ah, hello," Alicia peers at the face curiously for a moment while Marie alights on her head. "We're looking for scrolls of powerful divine magic. Specifically a spell to regenerate the body of someone who's had their limbs and eyes removed. Three someones, actually."
[19:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 36." [1d20=16]
[19:21] <Kotono> "This can be done, servant of Mystra. Tell me, is the eladrin your friend or familiar?"
[19:22] <Alicia> "I can be both," Marie replies, smiling coyly.
[19:22] <Alicia> "What she said," Alicia shrugs. "And call me Alicia, please."
[19:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30
06[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 and gets 44." [1d20=14]
[19:26] <Kotono> "As you will, Alicia." Three scrolls emerge from the crystalline veins in the walls, the crystals ripping like water as they fly out! "4,000 gold will be sufficient; word of your deeds has reached me here."
[19:29] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia smiles a bit at that. "Thank you, that's very kind. Here," she digs into her pack and produces four scrolls which she holds out with one arm while taking the other three scrolls in her free hand. "Two of Break Enchantment and two of Passwall - they should cover that price."
[19:30] <Kotono> The scrolls fly to Alicia, as the ones she holds are gently taken from her by nothing at all. They fly into the crystalline walls, joining the dozens of other things held within. "Did one of the celestials we've met talk to you?" Antenore smiles as well, "I didn't think Alicia was that famous as to be heard ofhere."
[19:31] <Alicia> "Considering all the demons and devils that seem to know all about me, it's not that big a surprise," Alicia muses while Marie floats up into the air and speaks.
[19:31] <Alicia> "Lots of people came to give me condolences when they heard I was being sent to be your familiar!" she chirps.
[19:32] <Kotono> "Marie!" Jessica frowns. "That's so mean to say!"
[19:34] <Alicia> "It's just a joke," Marie insists breezily, pointing at Alicia's twitching lips. "See, she's trying not to smile!"
[19:36] <Kotono> "Really?" Jessica comes around to Alicia, looking at her face.
[19:36] <Kotono> "I've heard fo you from a few," The face agrees, as it begins to dissipate. "May the Weave watch over your travels."
[19:37] <Alicia> "Oh, come on," Alicia blurts out as she's inspected. "Marie's just being Marie. Maybe we can meet some of her friends here and find out the truth of some of her tales?" Then to the magical face, "Thank you again!" she adds, starting to head out.
[19:46] <Kotono> As you walk out, back into the streets, "How long do we have here," Jessica asks, following behind Alicia.
[19:48] <Alicia> "About two or three hours - I asked for the ring to recharge at midday," Alicia explains. "Until then lets just take in the sights?"
[19:50] <Kotono> "Yes," Jessica nods, smiling, "I want to...it's just so right here, Alicia. So right."
[19:52] <Alicia> "Resist!" Marie lands on Jessica's head. "You're young and have a full life ahead of you!"
[19:52] <Alicia> "Oh, Marie, stop worrying," Alicia reaches up to bop her familiar on the head, "We're just having a little break here, that's all."
[19:53] <Kotono> "I can drag both of you back if I need to," Antenora pipes up, "Let's go look around then?"
[19:54] <Alicia> "Yes, we hopefully won't be back for some time, so lets take advantage of this while we're here," Alicia agrees, picking a random street to start heading down.
[20:03] <Kotono> After a little walking you come to a grand auditorium, open air. Here hundreds - no, thousands - of celestials, mortals and spirits have gathered! Each sits in intense meditation, repeating words of terrible, heavy arcane power. Leading them is a figure too intense to look at - like a star, blazing with silver and blue arcane fires all over his body. Wings of this fire jut from his/her back. It makes the entire auditorium blaze with a light
[20:03] <Kotono> Wings of this fire jut from his/her back. It makes the entire auditorium blaze with a light that's almost blinding. As each word is intoned by the masses, magical energies swirl around the auditorium.
06[20:04] * Alicia stops a respectable distance away, looking curiously at their guide for an explanation on what this is.
[20:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9 arcana marie
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 arcana marie and gets 11." [1d20=2]
[20:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9 arcana alicia
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 arcana alicia and gets 23." [1d20=14]
[20:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 Antenora
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 Antenora and gets 15." [1d20=1]
[20:10] <Alicia> "That's one of the Stars of Mystra," Marie whispers reverently. "They're among the most powerful of Mystra's servants... I'm not sure what everyone here's doing, though."
[20:11] <Kotono> Antenora shields her eyes with her hand, squinting. "I can't even look at it. The light's so bright!"
[20:12] <Alicia> "It's a spell, but... whatever it is is entirely beyond me," Alicia states as she sweeps her gaze around the outskirts rather than look at the Star directly. "Any one of the participants is probably a better spellcaster than me, so taking them all together... who knows what they could do?"
[20:12] <Kotono> Jessica stares, transfixed again. She finally tears away, tears coming from her eyes as she rubs them. "Unbelievable. It's like looking into the sun."
[20:14] <Kotono> "We shouldn't disturb it," Antenora murmurs, "Such power must serve an important purpose."
[20:14] <Alicia> "They could be at this for a while," Marie then adds. "If you guys want a tour we should probably move on."
06[20:15] * Alicia nods. "Yes, lets," she agrees, starting to walk around the auditorium. "Still, to see such magic... it's very humbling."
[20:31] <Kotono> As you do the grand ritual continues on, no resolution to it in sight as you continue. You walk a little longer, coming eventually to a alley path. It's odd, you seem to flow into it naturally, a single door waiting there. Oddly, it's ajar.
[20:33] <Alicia> "Well, I suppose you'd never have to worry about locking your door here," Alicia comments.
[20:33] <Alicia> "It's clearly an invitation - look at how the street is arranged! They must want visitors, so lets go in!" Marie prods, giving Alicia a little nudge towards the door.
[20:44] <Kotono> JEssica follows along, "It's nice. It's just having fun, nothing bad's going to happen. Right Marie?"
[20:47] <Alicia> "When you say it like that I suddenly think that we're doomed," Marie can't help but note as she stops pushing Alicia.
[20:47] <Alicia> Not that this deters the paladin who proceeds to push the door open and poke her head in. "Hello?" she calls, looking inside.
[20:50] <Kotono> Inside you see what looks to be a bar of sorts. The tables are of a clear glassy material, as is the bar proper and chairs. Pretty humanoids of all sorts walk about as servers, while a motley assortment of creatures sits about. It's mostly mortals of varying sorts, though there are a few obvious celestials scattered about, as well as a metallic onstruct of some sort, a pixie sitting on the bar, and a 12 foot tall minature giant. From behind
[20:50] <Kotono> pixie sitting on the bar, and a 12 foot tall minature giant. From behind the bar is a plain looking old man, "Come in, we're open."
[20:50] <Kotono> "...not what I expected," Jessica says.
[20:51] <Alicia> "Ah, I wasn't sure if this was someone's house," Alicia notes as she approaches the bar. "You should invest in a sign."
[20:53] <Kotono> "This is the Four Winds." With a gesture to sit down at the bar as Alicia approaches, "Those who need to find it will find it."
[20:54] <Alicia> "Well, I'm thirsty. How about you three?" Alicia glances at her companions, receiving a nod from Marie who alights upon the bar.
[20:54] <Kotono> Antenora sits down as well, while Jessica pipes up, "Any elven wine would be good."
[20:55] <Kotono> "You've come a long way to come here. What a motley bunch," As he reaches under the bar, taking out a few bottles and glasses, "An eladrin, a pair of humans, and a strange, strange outsider. I'd say a reformed succubus, but the look's not quite right."
[20:56] <Alicia> "Wrong side of the law/chaos spectrum," Alicia agrees as she settles down at the bar. "I'll have whatever the house special is."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Erinyes." Antenora says shortly, "I'll pass on anything."
[20:56] <Alicia> "I'll have what she's having," Marie pipes up, pointing to the pixie on the bar.
[20:58] <Kotono> The pixie is drinking a strange green, fizzy brew. One of these is given to Marie, while one is put in front of Alicia. It's purple with a silver haze of translucent fire burning atop it. "It won't burn," The barkeep cautions. "So what brings you to Dweomerheart? Looking to get a preview of eternity?"
[20:59] <Kotono> "Huh. Haven't met one of those before. A gelugon who's turned to Limbo once, though, that I did meet." Looking Antenora over, "Good for you."
06[21:00] * Alicia and her familiar both take a sip of their drinks before the former speaks. "We needed powerful magic to heal some men who'd been held prisoner by worshippers of Shar for an extended time. Didn't know of anyone on the Prime who could manage it so we came here and got the scrolls within five minutes of arriving."
[21:01] <Kotono> In the background converesations can be heard. Most of them are about magic or mundane things. A few snippets. "...Power Word works best when coupled with a quickened, assured spell so that it won't be resisted..." "Three of them?!" "...then I cast Cone of Cold at the fire elementals!..."
[21:01] <Kotono> "Ah, ah. Makes good sense." The drinks aren't too strong to the taste, Marie's being sweet and Alicia's being...she's not sure what it quite is. A very faint taste of something, but she feels faintly rejuvenated.
[21:02] <Kotono> "A gelugon in Limbo?" With a look of utter horror, Antenora closes her eyes. "Ugh."
[21:02] <Kotono> Sipping her wine, "You said that people who need to find this bar find it? Why did we need to find it?"
[21:02] <Alicia> "Can you just imagine the giant bug playing with the giant frogs?" Marie asks, giggling as she savours her drink.
06[21:03] * Alicia slowly sips her own beverage, curious about the answer to Jessica's question.
[21:04] <Kotono> "It was a uniquely insane creature. It kept babbling about a shard of chaos. Very strange creature indeed." Putting the bottles back under the bar, "As for your question, I can't answer that. It's something you hvae to determine for yourself. It might be a person, some information, an idea, or even a drink here."
[21:06] <Alicia> "Well, it is a nice drink," Alicia acknowledges. "But I'm not sure I strictly *needed* it," she concludes, swivelling against the bar to have a look over the clientele.
[21:07] <Kotono> "How about we go stir up some conversations then," Jessica suggests, turning to look over the crowd as well. "Heck...maybe you'll find a boyfriend here, sis?" With a bit of as mile, "You'd get along great with a manly wizard who reveres Mystra."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Yes, this isa ll about finding Alicia someone to love," Antenora sighs. "I'd like to think that if this is something we need, it's something less frivolous."
[21:08] <Alicia> "Who says it's for Alicia?" Marie asks. "It could have been any one of us that was called here."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Ah, Antenora, you sound like someone who hasn't had a boyfriend in a long time." Getting up off her chair, "And Marie's right."
06[21:09] * Alicia shrugs. "There's also the fact that we're leaving in a few hours, so I don't see much hope for a long relationship with anyone that lives here."
[21:09] <Kotono> "You can go if you want. I'll stay here and talk to the barkeep." Turning back to him, "Really, a chaotic gelugon?"
[21:10] <Kotono> "Yes well..." Jessica just shrugs, drinking more wine. "Maybe it's not that, but there has to be something interesting here then."
[21:11] <Alicia> "Well, see if anything grabs you," Alicia encourages her sister, deciding to just listen to what conversations she can overhear in case she hears anything she could contribute to or learn from.
[21:12] <Kotono> Jessica thus goes out, as Antenora keeps chatting and Alicia watches! (More)
[21:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 28." [1d20=19]
[21:14] <Kotono> The conversation with the barkeep is about said gelugon. From what the barkeep surmised, the gelugon had a run in with this shard of chaos and was corrupted as a result. Antenora does not seem amused. (More)
[21:18] <Kotono> The conversations around the bar are pretty diverse. A pair of wizards are talking about metamagic, quickening spells versus using more powerful spells with splitting rays or maximizing them. A celestial is talking to a tired looking mortal about a battle against an Arcanoloth, seemed to go well enough but some of the support daemons escaped with his friends as hostages. The pixie has flown over to the mini-giant, the two discussing about h
[21:18] <Kotono> The pixie has flown over to the mini-giant, the two discussing about how much to donate to Dweomerheart as thanks for saving a friend by Mystra's will. (More)
[21:20] <Kotono> Jessica strikes up convrsation with a middle aged man wearing a rugged shirt. He has a well worn sword slung across his back. They're talking about his journey; to raise his friends after they were slain by a mockery of an angel. Previous attempts to raise them haven't worked and he's desperate.
06[21:22] * Alicia is curious enough about anyone who would consider having someone brought back to life as a matter of course, and elects to join her sister and her new friend. "Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear," she begins, "You say you've already attempted to have your friends brought back to life?"
[21:24] <Kotono> The man has deep black eyes, looking at Alicia and nodding. "Yes. They've failed," he says shortly. "Would you happen to have any suggestions?"
[21:28] <Alicia> "I'm afraid not," Alicia admits, "Where I come from the power to reverse death is extremely rare. But I have heard a few things - if you have such magic at your disposal and it fails, it means that your friends are either content where they are now, or their souls are trapped. Did their killer give any indication that it could do so?"
[21:29] <Kotono> "Yes...that damned angel." Sighing long as he rubs his brow, "In short, she killed all my friends, yet I was spared as she did not consider me a target. Bad enough, then another enemy cursed me to quest forever until I was able to restore my friends."
06[21:31] * Alicia grimaces. "How tremendously vicious," she shakes her head. "So what about this 'angel' - I presume of the fallen variety - what do you know of it?"
[21:34] <Kotono> "Fallen is too kind. A bitch who likely ruts with fiends and balors." With no emotion in his voice besides resignation, he sips a glass of ale. "She judged them as sinners and evil, then unleashed old enemies on them. They were far more powerful than before and...my friends lost." With a long sigh again, "They were the kindest people I've ever known. They cared, they fought the good fight, they never gave up."
[21:36] <Alicia> "Hells," Alicia grabs a nearby chair and pulls it up before sitting heavily in it. "I've run into that monster myself. She calls for my death and judgement, but flees all confrontation - surely waiting until she's augmented enough of my former foes, from what I've heard of her methods."
[21:37] <Kotono> Looking up to Alicia now as Jessica gasps in the meantime, "You'd be best to stay here then. My curse...I've lived because of it for hundreds of years now. I've never heard of anyone who's survived her wrath. But an angel she's not."
06[21:40] * Alicia shakes her head. "I'll find her before she's ready, and then I'll defeat her." Taking out her last spare anti-despair ward, she presses the circular golden disc into his hand and clasps it over it,
[21:40] <Alicia> "This ward protects against her ability to instill paralyzing despair with a look or a word. And I've heard that magic to defeat illusions weakens her tremendously. I'm certain she can be defeated, friend."
[21:41] <Kotono> He looks at the disk and then shakes his head. INstead, he draws a dagger from his belt and casually stabs it into his hand, in and out! No blood comes out - the flesh reknits itself instead. "She's never been my enemy, and this curse...I live but I don't die until I resolve it. She can do her worst and it won't matter."
[21:43] <Alicia> "So you've faced her yourself, then?" Alicia asks, pulling her hand back. She's really not sure how he can call being immortal and invincible a curse, unless there's some major downside he's keeping from her.
[21:47] <Kotono> "I saw the battle, but I wasn't her enemy. Oh no...if she was an angel, she'd have smited me at that time." With a twisted smile there, "It's a very long story and it has no happy ending. Facing her was like facing a God. Nothing worked against her. She was invicible...but an illusion, you said?" Frowning now, "The few useful shards of infromation I've found suggests that she might have ties to Gehenna."
[21:49] <Alicia> "Those who have glimpsed her true form have said there is nothing at all angelic about it," Alicia confirms. "But perhaps that last part means your friends souls are imprisoned in Gehenna, and could possibly be freed without confronting her directly? Certainly I've visited a prison in Hell that served much the same purpose."
02[21:59] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) Quit (Client exited)
[22:02] <Kotono> "It might be so," he agrees, "For no other means have succeeded."
[22:03] <Alicia> "It's probably your most reasonable chance," Alicia suggests. "But should I succeed in killing her, I'll let you know so that you can try and find out if their souls are freed by that act - my name is Alicia Reynes, what's yours?"
[22:06] <Kotono> "Icheal," he nods over his drink. "If you can stop her...you'll save others from that fate, I know it. Whatever she is, she's pure malice. I don't even know her name...would you, by chance?"
06[22:07] * Alicia shakes her head. "I don't think anyone does. I've discussed her with ancient archon sages and diabolical archmages, and none could put a name to her. Good luck to you, Icheal," she pats his wrist before getting up, electing to join her familiar at the bar for now.
[22:08] <Kotono> Antenora looks up as they return, "I overheard. Gehenna...Could she be a Yugoloth?"
[22:09] <Alicia> "Quite frankly Antenora, anything's possible with her," Alicia returns, not willing to jump to any conclusions.
[22:12] <Kotono> Antenora looks down at the bar, thinking. "It could be a false lead or speculation, or even a false flag put out by her. You're entirely right, but...it's somewhere we could start looking? All we know is that she's somewhere with our enemies, waiting to pounce."
[22:13] <Alicia> "That's our advantage," Alicia points out. "Filetta and Olburt and Armand can all lead us straight to her. We've gotten sidetracked by more immediate concerns, but I'm certain we can find them when the time comes."
[22:14] <Kotono> "Mm." Antenora looks up, "Do you think scrying will work again?"
[22:15] <Alicia> "I'm sure she's taken some countermeasures, but such things aren't perfect," Alicia replies. "We can be persistent."
[22:18] <Kotono> "Yes." Antenora looks up, "Ready to go now? I think we found was was important here."
06[22:18] * Alicia turns to the bartender. "What do we owe you?"
[22:20] <Kotono> "5 gold," he answers smoothly, stepping forward. He cracks a brief smile, "A little much, but we have to compensate for those who find themselves too distracted by what they found here to pay the bill."
[22:21] <Alicia> "It's fine," Alicia hands over the requisite number of coins. "Farewell," she waves, leading the little group back out.
[22:23] <Kotono> As they exit out, Jessica giggles a little. "That was interesting. What are the odds someone who's met that angel-woman would happen to be there? It must've been magica nd fate."
[22:24] <Alicia> "Well, that's what the bartender said," Marie chirps as she flutters alongside the group.
[22:24] <Alicia> "We've still got a while left before we leave, lets look around a bit more?" Alicia suggests, heading out of this alley and continuing to meander through the divine realm of Mystra.
[18:57] <Ko-BlameNitori> * Alicia turns to the bartender. "What do we owe you?"
[18:57] <Ko-BlameNitori> > "5 gold," he answers smoothly, stepping forward. He cracks a brief smile, "A little much, but we have to compensate for those who find themselves too distracted by what they found here to pay the bill."
[18:57] <Ko-BlameNitori> <Alicia> "It's fine," Alicia hands over the requisite number of coins. "Farewell," she waves, leading the little group back out.
[18:57] <Ko-BlameNitori> > As they exit out, Jessica giggles a little. "That was interesting. What are the odds someone who's met that angel-woman would happen to be there? It must've been magica nd fate."
[18:57] <Ko-BlameNitori> <Alicia> "Well, that's what the bartender said," Marie chirps as she flutters alongside the group.
[18:57] <Ko-BlameNitori> <Alicia> "We've still got a while left before we leave, lets look around a bit more?" Alicia suggests, heading out of this alley and continuing to meander through the divine realm of Mystra.
05[19:01] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[19:01] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
03[19:01] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[19:01] <Ko-BlameNitori> roll 1d100+5
06[19:01] * Hatbot --> "Ko-BlameNitori rolls 1d100+5 and gets 82." [1d100=77]
[19:05] <Ko-BlameNitori> You see many marvelous sights - magic unbound, commanded and shaped. You see spells given form and bodies, you see arcane masteries weaved, you see beings of incalcuable power work their craft. Midday has come now, Jessica still looking about. "You know, sis..." she says quietly. "Maybe we should stay longer?"
03[19:08] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@resnet210-228.resnet.wmich.edu) has joined #evildunes
[19:08] <Alicia> "No, Marie's right, we really shouldn't tarry here now that our business is done," Alicia shakes her head. "This isn't a place for mortals."
03[19:09] * Ko-BlameNitori is now known as Kotono
[19:10] <Kotono> Jessica stops, the pair talking close while Marie and Antenora are a little further down this wide, broad street. "Yes, well..." Jessica shuffles, "I still want to stay. You feel it too, don't you? We belong here."
03[19:10] * Taishyr is now known as taisick
[19:12] <Alicia> "It does call to me," Alicia admits, looking around wistfully. "But Marie's the one who really lives here, and if she says it's a bad idea I'm inclined to believe her."
[19:17] <Kotono> "
[19:18] <Kotono> "I know," Jessica admits, her eyes trailing away to look over the glowing city of magic. "But wouldn't it be good if we could stay? No devil attacks to worry about, no undead horrors, none of that? I think-no, I know that I'd be happy here."
06[19:21] * Alicia puts an arm around Jessica's shoulder. "I know, but shouldn't we try to make the best of things back home? It'd just be giving up if we stayed here."
[19:22] <Kotono> Jessica leans into the embrace, sighing. "I know. I have people I care about in Balmuria, but it hardly seems to matter right now. I love it here...and I'm never going to be able to forget it. Ever."
[19:25] <Alicia> "Don't, then," Alicia strokes Jessica's back. "Think of it as something to look forward to?" she suggests. "For most people death is a scary unknown. But if you stay true to Mystra, you know for sure that you'll end up here eventually."
[19:27] <Kotono> "Alright...then...I know, but..." Struggling to speak, "Take us home, okay, before I start wanting to stay so bad again?"
[19:28] <Alicia> "Okay, although we're going to Kelara first," Alicia warns. "Marie, Antenora, come on over - the ring's recharged!" she calls to the outsider duo, swapping her once more swirly multicoloured ring on.
[19:30] <Kotono> Antenora approaches over, smiling. "This is old but it bears repeating: This is so much better than Hell. I wish there was a simple way to make others understand that."
[19:32] <Alicia> "It's like this because of its inhabitants," Marie reasons as she alights on Alicia's heads. "If you filled heaven with selfish jerks who just want a free ride then it wouldn't be nearly so nice!
[19:35] <Kotono> "There has to be a way to make them understand..." Antenora murmurs, taking Alicia's hand. "I can't provide an answer, but there has to be a way. Then again, it does have chaos," With a little smile at the corners of her mouth, "That's certainly selfish in it's own way, hm?"
[19:39] <Alicia> "Enlightened self interest is no bad thing," Alicia muses as she takes Antenora and Jessica's hands, starting to focus on Kelara. "But really, people need more than the thought of a reward or punishment after their death to guide them through life. All the horrors of hell or the wonders of elysium are far removed from most people's everyday lives."
[19:39] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 256." [5d100=2, 34, 88, 72, 60]
[19:40] <Kotono> roll 1d7
06[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d7 and gets 7." [1d7=7]
[19:40] <Kotono> Woosh! You now stand in an empty, plain field. Nothing of note is around here, just a few trees. Looks like unused, wild land.
[19:42] <Alicia> "No idea where we are, but I can get us where we want to go easily enough," Alicia states after a quick look around, proceeding to teleport the group to Mystra's temple in Kelara.
[19:42] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[19:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 58." [1d100=58]
[19:44] <Kotono> Thus they appear right there, in the busy noon temple. It's quite busy indeed, a congregation at worship. The party gets some startled looks, but not as many as average.
[19:45] <Alicia> "So this is where you first learned about the Lady of Mysteries?" Marie asks as she takes off from Alicia's head, starting to flutter around curiously while Alicia looks a bit embarrassed at disrupting worship, looking around for Taldeer.
[19:50] <Kotono> Taldeer is leading the service today. She takes a moment to interrupt, "This is Marie, an honored servant of Mystra from Dweomerheart. She honors us with her presence, coupled with the presence of Knight-General Alicia. Marie, would be so kind as to speak words of wisdom from Mystra?" She steps away and walks to Alicia in the meantime.
[19:53] <Alicia> "Oh, she told you about me?" Marie beams happily, flying out to take Taldeer's place at the front of the church.
[19:53] <Alicia> "Hi everyone! Normally I just give lessons to children at the church in Balmuria, so I've never led a full service before - but I'll be happy to talk to you all today! In fact, one of my friends was just talking about how it's a shame people don't really know what's waiting on the other side, so I'll tell you all about Dweomerheart!"
[19:54] <Kotono> As Marie goes on, Taldeer speaks in a lower voice. "Welcome back. What brings you back today, Alicia?"
[19:54] <Alicia> As Marie prattles on, Alicia walks off with Taldeer. "Sorry to drop in so abruptly, but I've got it!" Alicia whispers excitedly, taking out the scrolls and handing them to Taldeer, "The means to heal those three men we rescued from Kesse!"
[19:57] <Kotono> "Oh, glory to Mystra!
[19:57] <Kotono> OOC - Gah.
[19:57] <Kotono> "Oh, glory to Mystra!" Taking the scrolls in hand as Antenora and Jessica linger, "I'll do heal them immediately."
[19:58] <Alicia> Naturally Alicia wants to stick around and see the happy event, so she follows along with Taldeer.
[20:02] <Kotono> Thus you are taken back! You go to the dwarf first, Taldeer going to stand besides his bed. She unwraps a scroll, beginning to chant! Magic weaves around him, his ruined body surrounded by new vitality!
[20:02] <Kotono> roll 2d10
06[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d10 and gets 9." [2d10=2, 7]
[20:03] <Kotono> As the scroll burns away, his ruined body begins to restore! "Wh..w.hat is this?" he whispers, as his eyes open. Empty...yet slowly eyes begin to form in the emptied sockets! His ears shimmer, a deep sigh coming. "Did...Did I just hear something?"
[20:04] <Alicia> "Yes!" Alicia speaks up. "By Mystra's will, your body is remade!"
[20:05] <Kotono> "I..." His eyes slowly reform over the course of a minute as he sits up! "I can see...I can hear..." He blinks several times, a few gruff tears trickling down his weathered cheeks. He looks to Alicia and then Taldeer, "Oh...thank you! I never thought I'd see again or hear again!"
[20:07] <Kotono> "Thank Alicia," Stepping aside, and in a lower voice, "I'll go heal the other two. If you would stay with him for a few moments?"
[20:07] <Alicia> "You're very welcome," Alicia beams. "For this to occur is a great victory against Shar," she briefly nods to Taldeer, taking a seat by the bed. "My name's Alicia Reynes. What was yours?"
[20:12] <Kotono> "Rubri'granit." He looks around slowly, drinking in the vision. His voice shakes still. "Thank you," He takes Alicia's hand in his own, strong gripped even now. "You stopped those bastards from turning Kesse into a wellspring of horrors."
06[20:15] * Alicia squeezes his hand back. "Ironically we would never have even known if they hadn't come to attack us," she admits. "But I'm glad things ended up with them in the ground. Do you have family still in Kesse?"
[20:19] <Kotono> "No. I'm not native to Kesse. I came from the west." Sitting up in bed, "I stumbled on the horrors in Halla and attempted to stop them. I ultimately failed and was taken prisoner."
06[20:22] * Alicia nods, helping Rubri up. "Right now we're in Kelara, far to the East on the other side of the jungle. If you want I can take you back at least as far as Kesse, though."
[20:23] <Kotono> "In due time, yes." Brushing himself off, "I never forget a debt, and I owe you and this Temple to Mystra much. I would not return home before repaying it to my satistifaction."
[20:25] <Alicia> "That's your perogative," Alicia allows. "How you seek to repay the debt is up to you, Rubri'granit - Mystra gives freely and will accept whatever you feel able to give in return."
[20:28] <Kotono> "I have hundreds of years of craft forged into my bones, coupled with Moradin's wisdom. I will make and enchant something worthy for your heroism and altruism."
06[20:31] * Alicia smiles. "We'd be honoured to benefit from your craft, in that case. Now," she stands up, "Do you feel like testing your legs and going to see how the others are healing? Be good to get the limbs moving again, I think."
Session Close: Mon Feb 09 20:38:52 2009
Session Start: Mon Feb 09 20:38:52 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[20:38] * Disconnected
02[20:39] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[20:39] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[20:39] * Topic is 'Lilitu>Armored Succubus>Alicia>G'renna'
03[20:39] * Set by Kotono on Mon Jan 19 01:49:35
03[20:39] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
03[20:39] * taisick is now known as tai-cls-woomphwoomphwoomph
[20:41] <Kotono> He gets up and tests those legs, walking forward and stretching. "The former lovers of Princess Giselle? Are those still alive, or are they other poor souls?"
[20:42] <Alicia> "There were two of them," Alicia confirms. "You three were the only ones we found still alive, I'm afraid."
[20:47] <Kotono> "Take what we can get," He nods as you head into the next room. Grantire sits up in his bed, body freshly restored! His hands run over his face and then legs and body, shivering all over. Taldeer brushes by as you enter, "One more," she murmurs back.
06[20:48] * Alicia nods briefly to Taldeer before focusing her attention on the bedridden man. "Hello, Grantire. I told you I'd find a way," she tells him warmly.
[20:53] <Kotono> He slowly stands up, before throwing his arms around Alicia. He doesn't quite lift her up off the ground, though he's close. "Now I can go back to Giselle...she's in so much pain, isn't she?"
[20:55] <Alicia> "Ah, well," Alicia is a bit startled by the hug but takes it with good grace, "She's had a rough time of it, yes. Glad to see you're so energetic, at least."
[20:57] <Kotono> "I've gotten everthing I hoped for! I'm alive again!" Smiling from ear to ear, "I'd givne up hope so many times, but it's finally come true!"
[21:01] <Alicia> "I'm happy for you," Alicia pats him on the back as she gently disentangles herself from him and gestures to the dwarf. "Have you met Rubri'granit, by the way? He's one of the others that was held at Halla."
[21:02] <Kotono> "No." Going over to him and offering his hand, "Grantire. Ah..." he begins, then just smiles, "Glad to see someone else made it out, too."
[21:03] <Alicia> "There's one more, who should be healed as well by now - lets go see him?" Alicia suggests, heading to the last room.
[21:03] <Kotono> "Yeah, I did. If I get my way I'll fill that damned temple with pure molted mithral and adamantine before I'm done." Shaking the hand fiercely, "The hubris and hatred of those foolish royals staggers me to consider."
[21:04] <Alicia> "You'll need a lot of metal," Alicia warns. "That temple's now a pit half a mile deep in the ground. Still an improvement by far, though."
[21:11] <Kotono> "I can get a lot of metal," The dwarf replies.
06[21:12] * Alicia smiles thinly. "I like your attitude, Rubri'granit," she commends him.
[21:14] <Kotono> "Hmph, I should get started on planning that." Starting to walk out, "On a related matter, where's the nearest forge?" He goes towards the last room in the meantime.
[21:15] <Alicia> "There's one at the other end of the temple. We make quite a lot of magic items here," Alicia tells him, pointing down the hall before heading into the last room.
[21:17] <Kotono> The group heads in! Taldeer has just finishes, sitting down at the man's bedside. He looks to be asleep, body restored as he rests. "He should be up in due time," she says, "His sleep has been erratic."
[21:18] <Alicia> "He might worry he's dreaming when he does wake up," Alicia notes with a smile. "Still, I'm glad everyone's fully restored, now. Praise be to Mystra," she briefly ducks her head in a reverent gesture.
[21:19] <Kotono> Taldeer mimics this, going to tuck him back in. "The two of you are welcome to stay here while you get your lives back together."
[21:19] <Kotono> The dwarf merely grunts at that, "I will, though I have business to repay you before anything else. The forge is thataways?" Nodding, "I'll be down there."
[21:20] <Kotono> "I want to go back to Kesse and Giselle," Grantire says quickly, eyeing the sleeping man with a smile that doesn't really reach his eyes.
[21:20] <Alicia> "We're far away from Kesse, but I can transport you across the jungle should you want to return," Alicia confirms. "But it's up to you what you want to do, now."
[21:21] <Kotono> "Please, take me there," Grantire insists, "Can you do it now?"
[21:25] <Alicia> "Hoping to get a jump on the competition?" Alicia asks, not having been born yesterday, before gesturing to the man on the bed. "I haven't really talked to this man, but I understand he was also in a relationship with Giselle as well."
[21:25] <Alicia> "It's not my place to say which of you is better for her - or whether either is better than any of her current suitors, but I think it might be a good idea if the two of you talked before we go back to Kesse."
[21:27] <Kotono> Grantire's smile goes away at that, but after a long look, he nods. "Yeah. Guess I do," he says, going pace besides the man's bed. We're gonna have to talk."
[21:29] <Alicia> "It's not uncommon for Kings to keep multiple mistresses," Alicia notes with a teasing smile. "You never know, Queen Giselle might adopt a similar approach. Anyway, I'll be able to take you both to Kesse tomorrow, so just relax until then."
[21:31] <Kotono> Taldeer rises at that, "Shall we,"
[21:31] <Kotono> OOC - GAh.
[21:33] <Kotono> Taldeer rises at that, "Shall we," she murmurs, "Follow me, Alicia."
06[21:33] * Alicia obligingly trails after the elf.
[21:34] <Kotono> Once the four womena re out of the room, Taldeer leads you back into her chambers. Once there, "Are you going to be in KElara long, Alicia?"
[21:35] <Kotono> Jessica smiles a little, "That was so good of you. They looked so happy now...and are we, sis? We could go see father and mother again?"
[21:36] <Alicia> "I was thinking of staying at least the night with them and then making a quick trip to Kesse on the morrow," Alicia confirms. "After that, well... I had thought of sticking around here a little, just to make sure things are improving after that so-called rebellion."
[21:38] <Kotono> "We can talk about that now or tomorrow or later? Kelara hasn't burned down, thankfully," With a faint smile as she goes to sit down, "You're welcome to come back here when you want, Knight-General. Lord Roth was generous with that title. When you've been mentioned, he makes a big deal out of making sure your title is added on."
[21:40] <Alicia> "Of course. If people forget one noble's title it's a small step to forgetting another's," Alicia observes as she likewise seats herself. "We can talk now, if you don't mind leaving my familiar in charge of the congregation a little longer. She'll offer a unique perspective, if nothing else."
[21:43] <Kotono> "I don't think she'll ruin it." Smiling faintly again, "There's been a lot of speeches about things while the nobles manuver and bicker. With allt he gaps, there's a power vacuum that's still filling. Your parents haven't been idle, either."
[21:44] <Alicia> "Good for them. If they have the werewithall to come out ahead in this, they deserve it," Alicia opines. "How are people responding to the speeches and maneuvering, though? Particularly outside the city walls?"
[21:45] <Kotono> "They're probably going to make it in this time. They're making really adroit plays from what I hear." Leaning back in her chair, "Some. There's lots of promises and it's enough to help pacify things."
06[21:47] * Alicia nods. "Just so long as the promises are met. If they get broken then things will be even worse than before..."
[21:48] <Kotono> "Order breaks down when it's empty lies, unless power supports it. It's imperitive that they keep those promises and not rely on brute force to shield themselves," Antenora adds in.
[21:49] <Kotono> "At least Father and Mother would know better than that, if they get involved?" Jessica says, "Right, sister?"
[21:51] <Alicia> "I think so," Alicia agrees with Jessica after nodding to Antenora's sage statement. "They've both worked hard in their own ways to get where they are."
[21:53] <Kotono> "As lon gas I'm not married off to some nobleman," Jessica mutters under her breath. "Can we go, Sis?"
[21:54] <Alicia> "You want to go see them now?" Alicia asks, getting up. "Alright then, let's see if we can pry Marie away from the altar?"
[21:55] <Kotono> OOC: Skip along?
[21:56] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[21:58] <Kotono> The Reynes estate has a cool breeze blowing through it, clouds rolling in. It'll rain soon. However, as you approach the front doors, you notice something. A few men loiter around there - men in armor and with weapons, keeping a general watch out. They're well kept but don't look like Kelaran soldiers. One of them breaks away, going to walk towards the group as they approach the manor house. "Hail and good day," he says, a young man with a
[21:58] <Kotono> manor house. "Hail and good day," he says, a young man with a quick step.
[22:00] <Alicia> "Hail," Alicia returns. Private guards? That seems rather ostentatious. She decides to check none of them are morally suspect while talking. "I don't recall there being guards posted last time I was here. Is there a problem?"
[22:03] <Kotono> "Lady and Sir Reynes hired us recently. You're Alicia Reynes, I believe?" He says this smoothly, all the while murmuring a few words of magic. There is a soft clinkle of chain as he does. You can see the tips of a chain shirt underneath a brown shirt and cloak - it has a silver cast to it, like mithral. "You match the descriptions...and except for you, all of you are wearing a fortune in magic. You must be shielding, then."
[22:03] <Kotono> fortune in magic. You must be shielding, then."
[22:06] <Alicia> "It's to my advantage to avoid being scried upon," Alicia confirms, smiling a bit. "So you're a warrior-mage, yourself? We should talk shop sometime - what's your name?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "Erikin. I work for the Rock Hawks, we're the group doing security here," he offers a gloved hand out. "Not while I'm on duty, though. Go ahead."
[22:08] <Kotono> "AT least Father and Mother hired competent security," Jessica says as she starts to continue on.
[22:09] <Alicia> "Yes, I want to see my family first, anyway." Alicia shakes his hand. "Good to meet you, Erikin." With that she heads on to the manor itself.
[22:09] <Alicia> "They must be doing well," Marie agrees as she flutters on by. "Who knew you grew up in such decadence, eh?"
[22:10] <Kotono> "She didn't let it go to her head." Antenora adds as you walk inside. Arthur Reynes is going down to thes tairs, deep in conversation with a page wearing travel worn clothes.
[22:12] <Alicia> "Hello, father," Alicia waves, wiping her feet before stepping inside.
[22:13] <Kotono> Arthur looks up, "Alicia, Bet-Jessica." Approaching them and waving away the page, "It's good to see you again. You beat the rain, too. Come in, we'll get you inside and have some warm tea. Your brother's back home now, too, you can go see him."
[22:14] <Kotono> After a moment, he does a double take. "My word, is that a flying...child...tiny...um...'
[22:15] <Alicia> "Just happened to be in Kelara so we thought we'd stop by," Alicia explains, giving her father a quick kiss on the cheek. "You've met Antenora before, and this is Marielle - she's my familiar."
[22:15] <Alicia> "Pleased to meet you!" Marie chirps, performing a little curtsey with her flattering plainswalker robes. "I'm a coure eladrin!"
[22:15] <Alicia> "And you can call me Marie!" she adds.
[22:17] <Kotono> "Pleased to meet you," Arthur returns with that, "The guards didn't give you any trouble getting in, did they?"
[22:18] <Alicia> "No, they were fine," Alicia shakes her head. "Although I'm curious at the necessity - have you had any threats?"
[22:24] <Kotono> "Better active against threats than to let them surprise you. Your friend said you had the same attitude," Starting to walk up the stairs, "He was so helpful to us."
06[22:25] * Alicia blinks. "Which friend was that?"
[22:27] <Kotono> "He called himself Esthan. He said you were good friends and he came to give us advice in the difficult times ahead." As you go up to the sitting room, keeping a brisk pace, "He also helped us get the Rock Hawk band and get them at a good price. Thank you so much for having him come by, he's really done so many favors for your mother and I."
[22:27] <Kotono> Antenora's breath escapes in a sharp hiss, her hand reflexivly going back for her spear.
[22:28] <Alicia> "Oh, that son of a..." Alicia grimaces, whipping around to look at her familiar. "Marie, sweep the grounds," she instructs, her familiar promptly turning incorporeal and zipping away. "Father, Esthan is *not* my friend. And any mercenaries he helped you hire are automatically suspect."
[22:30] <Kotono> "What...that can't be right,": Stopping at the top of the stairs, "Esthan is a good man. He's done so many useful things for us! He gave us incredible advice on managing the politics going on in Kelara right now, not to mention told us so many stories about you. He even knew techniques to make our wineries more efficient."
[22:31] <Alicia> "He's not a man at all," Alicia replies firmly. "He's a devil." Sighing, she puts a hand on her father's back, guiding him to the sitting room. "Come, lets sit down and then you'd better tell me all about how Esthan 'helped' you."
[22:33] <Kotono> "You're kidding," Let along with wide eyes, "He was the nicest, most charming man I've ever met! Are you sure you're not mistaken? He even paid respects to your husband and child's coffins. Aren't devils all monsters?"
[22:35] <Alicia> "They're not wild ravening animals - they're sneaky," Alicia insists. "Now please, tell me all about what he did, and whether you made any agreements with him," she then asks firmly, a worry gnawing in the back of her mind that the remains of her family have been desecrated, or worse.
[22:36] <Kotono> "No agreements. He said it was all because he was friends with you," With a look of puzzlement as ou head into the sitting room, "He even refused to take travelling money as a sign of our esteem."
[22:37] <Kotono> Antenora nods to Alicia and walks downstairs! Jessica goes closer to Alicia, "Father, Alicia's right."
[22:38] <Alicia> "This is deadly serious," Alicia confirms as they sit down. "Please, start at the beginning - how you met him. And when."
[22:44] <Kotono> "He came to us one evening. There was a torrential downpour and he simply asked to be able to stay inside while it passed. He talked his way into that and then struck up a conversation while he waited. When he heard my name, het alked about you...and it was so easy to listen to him. He kept saying the right words, and there was something about the way he talked. Such presence. I felt like I was listening to the finest oratory I'd ever heard
[22:44] <Kotono> I felt like I was listening to the finest oratory I'd ever heard."
06[22:47] * Alicia can't help but note that Esthan felt no need to break out the wondrous speechifying on her. Either that or her standards are higher. "What did he say in particular?"
[22:48] <Kotono> "It's a blur. He said about how you were so heroic and just. He said you understood the value of law and order and how paramount it was to society. He said he wanted to help us in return fo ryour services. I agreed."
[22:51] <Alicia> "How very nice of him," Alicia mutters sourly. "So how did he help you?"
[22:54] <Kotono> "He told us how we could make the nobility for sure once Beatrice mentioned she wanted into it...oh, it was easy to mention things around him. It just happened." Arthur smiles here, "He made it so wonderful just to talk about things. Conversations with him were unbelievable. He explained how we were in danger and needed protection, with both Kelara and all the danger you're in. He got us the Rock Hawk mercenaries at a large discount. There
[22:55] <Kotono> He got us the Rock Hawk mercenaries at a large discount. There was the business with helping the winery, and just the evenings of pleasant talk..."
06[22:57] * Alicia could just scream at the insanity of it all. "So how did he help you advance your station towards nobility?" she asks, deciding that's the path most likely to leave victims by its side. She'd actually been proud of her parents for getting their themselves, but now it seems she was premature...
[22:59] <Kotono> "He talked to us about the nobles. He seemed to know all of them fairly well and ways to out argue them. Whot o court and flatter, who to ignore, who to deal with. He gave us good arguments to use against them when needed, too. He said it was important for us to rise into power. We'd need it and we were worthy of it."
[23:00] <Kotono> "He knew that much?" Jessica frowns, "How would he learn something like that?"
[23:01] <Alicia> "Scrying and spying," Alicia shrugs. "He could even rip secrets right out of the other nobles' minds. He's a powerful devil with more magical talent than anyone else on the Prime and can call on the services of who knows how many other devils. This would be trivial for him."
[23:02] <Kotono> "I don't understand. If he's a mage beyond compare...why come to us then?" Arthur asks. "Why help us if he's your enemy?"
[23:03] <Alicia> "He doesn't want to be my enemy. He wants to be my master," Alicia concludes unhappily. "By doing this he's showing just how much power he has - if he can help you so much, then how much could he hurt you? It's the worst sort of taunting."
[23:05] <Kotono> "Oh, Alicia? Beth? Ithought I heard you!" The door opens to admit Beatrice Reynes, wearing a lovely blue dress and jewelry. "Oh, you beat the rain in. Excellent...what's wrong? You all look so worried."
[23:06] <Alicia> "Hello, mother," Alicia turns dispiritedly towards Beatrice. "Father was just telling us all about your newest friend."
[23:06] <Kotono> "Oh, Esthan!" Her face lights up, "I do hope he comes back soon! You should introduce us to more of your friends, he was delightful!"
[23:08] <Alicia> "No," Alicia shakes her head. "He's not my friend. He's an inordinately powerful fiend of the Nine Hells."
[23:08] <Kotono> "What...that's not possible!" Beatrice scowls, "There is no way such a civilized and well mannered man is anything but a noble, or perhaps evena Prince from a faraway land!"
[23:09] <Alicia> "A noble from hell, perhaps," Alicia sighs. "Devils are perfectly capable of being civilised and polite when it suits their purposes. All the better to make their enemies drop their guard."
[23:10] <Kotono> "...Oh." Beatrice says slowly, "I still can hardly believe it! I should go see what your brother thinks of this, they got along well too."
[23:12] <Alicia> "Just like everyone got along with that imbecile David," Alicia notes with a frown. "He's a monster that would just as soon see us all suffering an eternity of hellish torment."
[23:13] <Kotono> "You don't want to go to Hell. Antenora says it's horrible and Dweomerheart was so much nicer," Jessica pipes up.
[23:14] <Kotono> As Beatrice stumbles off in a shocked daze, "So are we in any danger then?" Arthur Reynes asks.
[23:15] <Alicia> "I don't know," Alicia concludes weakly. "That's the worst of it. This was his way of sending a message - but what will the next one be?"
[16:37] <Kotono> > As Beatrice stumbles off in a shocked daze, "So are we in any danger then?" Arthur Reynes asks.
[16:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> "I don't know," Alicia concludes weakly. "That's the worst of it. This was his way of sending a message - but what will the next one be?"
[16:38] <Kotono> "Really..." Arthur Reynes shakes his head again, rubbing his forehead. "He was like a dream come true."
[16:40] <Alicia> "What better way to tempt you?" Alicia concludes. "I'm sorry, father. It's because of me that you're getting mixed up with things like him. What about the Rock Hawks?" she glances at the window briefly, "What sort of contract do they have with you?"
[16:43] <Kotono> "Esthan introduced me to the leader of the troop, Elias Sandsmith. He negotiated a reduced rate for the Rock Hawk band as well. They've been nothing but polite, well trained and effective that I've seen."
[16:45] <Alicia> "I haven't sensed anything outwardly suspicious myself, admittedly," Alicia confesses, furrowing her brow. "It could be they're innocent and were simply manipulated, but even so... I think I should talk to them, or at least their leader."
[16:46] <Kotono> "Agreed." Antenora enters into the room, inclining her head to Alicia's father. "None of the three here are tainted by evil. This Elias may even be an upright person, though doubless Esthan is manipulating them in some manner as well."
[16:48] <Alicia> "Maybe he just appreciates how you defended law and order by killing that revolutionary guy here in Kelara?" Marie suggests as she flies in behind Antenora. "But you also killed the lawful leaders of Malmuth and Kesse, which was pretty chaotic, so I who knows?"
[16:49] <Kotono> "Alicia, what are we going to do now?" Antenora asks. "What do we need to do?"
06[16:50] * Alicia briefly glares at her familiar. "Thank you for that, Marie," she mutters dryly. "In any case, if Esthan's already been and gone there's not really much I can do about it, I'm afraid." Looking at her father, "When did you last see him, Father?"
[16:50] <Kotono> Arthur listens to all of this, shaking his head several times. "Elias Sandsmith is in Kelara proper. The Rock Hawks are renting out several rooms in an inn-and Esthan? A few days ago, he left to continue his travels.
[16:50] <Kotono> "
[16:52] <Alicia> "Missed him by a few days? How dreadfully convenient for him," Alicia grimaces. "Did he say where he was headed?"
[16:53] <Kotono> "He said he wasn't sure," Arthur answers back. "He was going to take him where his feet took him."
[16:55] <Alicia> "Hmm..." Alicia looks thoughtful for a moment as she considers. "We can try asking around the city if anyone saw him, although I doubt it'll help - last time we tried tailing him he left a false trail. For now I think we'll go have a chat with Elias Sandsmith - which inn is he staying at, and can you tell me anything else about him, Father?"
[16:57] <Kotono> "He's staying in the Seafoam, down on Breckenridge street. He's from Nodlitz, the entire band operates from there. He looks like he's been in a lot of fights - scars, a badly set nose, a limp. He's really soft spoken."
[16:58] <Alicia> "I think I'll go see how he knows Esthan, in that case," Alicia stands up. "I'm sorry my visit has to end up like this, Father, but if you have Esthan's attention then we can't afford to be complacent."
[17:00] <Kotono> "It's like a dream that's turned into a nightmare. Alicia, why?" Looking up at his daughter, "...all I can say is to protect yourself. I...it sounds like you'll need that."
[17:02] <Alicia> "We all do... speaking of that," Alicia glances at her sister. "Jessica, why don't you give your bracelet to Father? We can get you a new one back in Balmuria."
[17:04] <Kotono> Jessica nods, taking off the bracelet. "Father, if you're ever in serious danger, this'll summon Alicia."
[17:06] <Alicia> "At worst I might not be fully equipped for a fight but I'd still be able to help you escape from danger," Alicia nods. "Anyone want to come with me to see Mr Sandsmith?" she then asks the group.
[17:08] <Kotono> "I'll stay here," Jessica smiles and goes to sit down next to her Father. Antenora nods briefly. "I'll go with you, just in case there's trouble."
[17:09] <Alicia> Marie also elects to stay behind, leaving Alicia and Antenora to walk back to the city and reflect on why an inn in a landlocked city state would call itself Seafoam.
[17:13] <Kotono> On the walk back, Antenora looks to Alicia. "You okay?" she asks quietly.
[17:14] <Alicia> "No," Alicia replies with a sour look. "This has really ruined my day. I hate feeling so powerless whenever he comes up."
[17:15] <Kotono> "So do I. That's how he wants us to feel." Going to walk besides Alicia now, "He wants to dominate us in one way or another, to break us. We have to remember we're fighting for something better than he could ever imagine. That no matter what he does against us, that we're going to preservere and defeat each of his schemes in detail."
[17:18] <Alicia> "If only we could actually find him," Alicia grimaces, clenching a fist at her side. "Our one good shot at him, with all our allies standing together, and he deflects it like it was nothing!"
[17:22] <Kotono> "If he is a Pit Fiend, he has power over innumerable fiends. He can call on the wealth of a nation to aid his goals. He can call the mightiest of mundane devils to do his bidding without question. Without a doubt, he's skilled and connected enough to be untouchable as long as we play along with his games." Antenora looks up at the cloudy sky, as raindrops start to plummet down. "We need to find some morsel of truth about him. We need to fin
[17:22] <Kotono> "We need to find some morsel of truth about him. We need to find some way to gain an advantage on him and break this reactive pattern."
06[17:26] * Alicia pulls her hood up as she walks. "Hard to do when he can appear and disappear at will anywhere in the world, or even the planes. And no one seems to really know anything about him."
[17:27] <Kotono> "I doubt Esthan is his true name." Antenora lets the water splash on her face and hair, "A throw-away name disguises him in another layer of deception."
[17:29] <Alicia> "That contract he showed me referred to him as Esthan. Aren't there rules about having to use real identities for them to be enforcable?" Alicia glances at Antenora curiously. She doesn't know that for sure, but it would make sense.
[17:34] <Kotono> "Usually. I wouldn't put it beyond him to have some way of cheating that." Antenora looks back at Alicia, "One of the things about Hell is that those in charge ignore the rules that bind the masses. Those with priviledge have rights the rabble can't even dream about. He may have some manner of fooling you...or he never meant for the contract to be valid in the first place, or to be signed." With a souring look, "Bleh, I may be overthinking
[17:34] <Kotono> With a souring look, "Bleh, I may be overthinking this."
[17:36] <Alicia> "It was a very bad contract," Alicia agrees. "I was worried he may have actually provided a tempting offer, but I didn't even need to think before I tossed it." Shrugging as they walk onwards, "The thing is, though, we really know far too little for us to make any accurate suppositions."
[17:36] <Alicia> "Esthan is out of our reach for now, although I'll ask Taldeer to prepare a sending for Latha - perhaps she's heard something recently."
[18:10] <Kotono> Going closer to Alicia, "I know, but...you've won against Hell before and saved me. You'll do it again...and I'll be there for you wheneveryou need me there."
06[18:12] * Alicia gives the erinyes a smile. "Thank you, Antenora. You don't need to worry about me giving up - I'll keep going no matter how daunting the road ahead is," she reassures her friend.
[18:16] <Kotono> At that, the two continue onward The Seaform inn is on a busy street. IT's painted seafoam green, standing out from the other buildings.
06[18:18] * Alicia casts voice of the archon before heading into Kelara itself, and proceeds into the inn's common room, looking around for a scarred man with a broken nose.
[18:19] <Kotono> The common room is fairly quiet, mostly a few people eating or drinking here. No one here matches that description as you look about.
03[18:19] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@pix050-144.pix.wmich.edu) has joined #evildunes
06[18:21] * Alicia gets the attention of one of the serving staff. "Excuse me, I'm looking for a man named Elias Sandsmith - I believe he's staying here?"
[18:22] <Kotono> The maid nods quickly, "Go talk to Sandra, she's the woman at the desk taking reservations. She's handling Mr. Sandsmith's affairs.:"
[18:22] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia nods, going to do just that!
[18:27] <Kotono> SAndra is a middle aged woman of little note. She listens to Alicia and Antenora, then, "On what business do you need to contact Mr. Sandsmith on?"
[18:28] <Alicia> "It concerns a mutual acquaintance of ours," Alicia replies shortly.
03[18:30] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
[21:12] <Kotono> "This way," she nods, leading the two back. Alicia and Antenora are lead to a large suite on the third floor. Here Elias Sandsmith reclines on a couch, reading a book and resting. Sandra bows to him, "Sir, you have people here to see you."
06[21:13] * Alicia waits for him to register their presence before saying anything.
[21:16] <Kotono> "Yes," he whispers quietly, putting down his book. He looks Alicia over, "Ah...Alicia Reynes, daughter of our current client? What can I do for you?"
[21:18] <Alicia> "Pleased to meet you, Mr Sandsmith," Alicia inclines her head, checking on the off chance that he registers as evil - unlikely considering his men, though. "I understand you were introduced to my parents by a man named Esthan?"
[21:23] <Kotono> "That's right," Elias Sandsmith whispers.
[21:24] <Alicia> "I'd like it if you could tell me about how you came to know this individual," Alicia requests politely, a bit put off by his whispering but not showing it.
[21:26] <Kotono> "Esthan requested to stay anonymous on this matter," he replies. "I cannot answer your question."
[21:28] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia raises an eyebrow. "Would it surprise you to know, then, that Esthan is a fiend? I speak not in hyperbole, I literally mean that he is an outsider from the lower planes."
[21:29] <Kotono> "This is a fascinating claim," Smiling now politely, "Ma'am, my word is my bond." His voice is ever so quiet all the while, "Still...can you support what you said at all?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "I can," Antenora says quietly. "If I need to.
[21:30] <Kotono> "
[21:32] <Alicia> "That shouldn't be necessary, Antenora," Alicia waves the erinyes down before regarding Elias. "Without Esthan here and willing to reveal his true nature, I cannot. I could show you written correspondence from other devils relating to him, but words on paper are meaningless as proof. You would have to take my word for it."
[21:33] <Kotono> Steepling his hands together, "Try and convince me, then."
[21:39] <Alicia> "Esthan first came to my attention when I slew a Gelugon in Parsifal - a mining town in the United Baronies, far to the East. Written in the fiend's notes were details of a recent visit from Esthan, who was acting in the service of Martinet - Constable of Nessus," Alicia explains, before narrowing her eyes.
[21:39] <Alicia> "That's all you'll get from me for now, since as things stand I have no reason to believe you're not in league with the fiend. If you were to allay my concerns I might be able to share more."
[21:40] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check?
[21:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+39
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+39 and gets 40." [1d20=1]
[21:43] <Kotono> "Tsk," His voice is still whispered and still almost silent as he leans forward. "You're as good a speaker as he said you'd be. He instructed me to tell the full details of our agreement if you tried to talk it out of me."
06[21:43] * Alicia is hardly reassured by that, looking expectantly at the mercenary.
[21:46] <Kotono> "Esthan came to me. He offered to pay me triple our normal fee for the following service: Taking a reduced fee to protect the Reynes household. He said that Alicia Reynes has many powerful enemies, and she can'ts top any of them from coming to destroy her family. Since she's so...incapable of dealing with the enemies she's made, he has to ensure that they're safe."
[21:50] <Alicia> That colossal dick. "Trying to provoke me," she grits her teeth in intense irritation. "Fine, then. Do you know where he headed after brokering this... generous, agreement?"
[21:51] <Kotono> "I'm afraid not." Spreading his hands out now, "He has a message for you as well: If you can't stop the obvious enemy, how will you stop the Spark Hunters or the Order of the Lie?" A pause tehre, "I don't know what it means at all, he told me to tell you that."
06[21:52] * Alicia nods curtly. "Thank you for your time," she tells him, turning on her heel to leave.
[21:54] <Kotono> Antenora follows, her mouth twisted into a sour grimace. Elias says nothing as they head out, leaving them to their own devices.
[21:54] <Alicia> "We're going to Arborea tomorrow," Alicia announces as the leave the Seafoam Inn, heading towards the Temple of Mystra.
[21:55] <Kotono> Antenora nods tersely. "What for?" she asks. "In particular, how does it relate to destroying Esthan?"
[21:58] <Alicia> "Remember Latha mentioned how water from that plane really hurt Agares? I'm sure it'll work just as well on any other devil, so we're going to collect some. A lot, even."
[21:58] <Kotono> Antenora smiles at that. "Ah, like immersing a human in magma? I like the image of that."
[21:59] <Alicia> "Full immersion may be tricky, but I'm sure we can find use for a few barrels of the stuff," Alicia nods quickly.
[22:00] <Kotono> "A few barrels? How about a houseful?" Antenora's smile grows, "We should bring Marie for this, she'll be far better at negotiating or dealing with any matters related to this."
[22:02] <Alicia> "Naturally," Alicia agrees. "Jessica, too, since we're going straight there before we go home."
[22:03] <Kotono> "Right." Antenora slows down a moment, "I don't believe he has the gall to do this. Rubbing our faces in this so casually...and in a way where we're likely to find out."
[22:05] <Alicia> "He's trying to show how weak we are. How much we *need* him," Alicia all but snarls. "I can't deal with my enemies!" she mutters in a sing-song falsetto, before concluding darkly, "He should take a look at Halla before he says that."
[22:07] <Kotono> "He went around, he befriended your family, protected them, made them happier, and even visited your fucking family," Antenora's tone takes on a darker tint, a hot savagery. "I'm impressed at the raw level of callous provocation he's managed to use to inspire such complete fury."
06[22:10] * Alicia shudders. "I should check he hasn't done anything there... I doubt he has - why bother when he's made it so perfectly clear that he *could* and I couldn't do a thing to stop him - but I'm going to check, anyway."
[22:11] <Kotono> "I'll go with you," Antenora volunteers. "If I go sit down somewhere I'm going to punch a wall."
[22:13] <Alicia> That causes Alicia to crack a slight smile. "You haven't done that in a while, too," she manages a chuckle, shaking her head, "Gods, we need to calm down. Getting all infuriated like this only plays into his hands..." she takes a few deep cleansing breaths before adding, "Still going to Arborea tomorrow, though."
[22:14] <Kotono> "Yes. Lead on?" Antenora says. OOC - Going to the temple or the crypt first?
[22:15] <Alicia> OOC: temple, going to ask Taldeer to prepare a sending when she prays for spells tonight (if she has one prepared now that's cool, too)
[22:16] <Kotono> OOC: She can prepare one, she doesn't have one handy. If that's all you want there we can skip along past it. Do you have anything else there?
[22:18] <Alicia> ooc: nope, moving on
[22:22] <Kotono> With a few trees shading it, the Reynes family tomb is a somber stone affair. It's kept up well and carved in a classical style. The grounds of it are well maintained, a pair of twin stone doors ahead. Antenora stops as she approaches, murmuring a prayer before she continues.
[22:23] <Alicia> "I've never visited," Alicia admits conversationally as she goes to open the doors. "Not since they were interred, I mean."
[22:24] <Kotono> "Too many memories?" Antenora asks, the doors smoothly sliding open. Inside, there are many coffins. It's easy to pick out the two in question - for on each rests nine fire red roses wrapped in black silk. Each has a ribbon holding them together, scribbled with writing. Between the two coffins rests a scroll.
06[22:26] * Alicia shakes her head. "That's not it. It's just," her voice catches, almost imperceptively before she continues, "Bodies are just things. Empty shells with nothing left of those I loved. I never wanted to see them like that..." After opening the door she approaches and pauses at the new additions, her expression darkening. After a long moment, she sighs and casts detect magic.
[22:27] <Kotono> Antenora puts a hand on Alicia's shoulder, besides her as she casts detect magic. There is no magic around the coffins or flowers or scroll at all. "You're right. Sorry."
[22:28] <Alicia> "Nothing to apologise for," Alicia gives her friend a wan smile, walking up to the coffins. First of all she picks up the scroll and unfurls it to read its contents.
[22:32] <Kotono> "I know, but if I can ever do anything to ease your pain," she replies as Alicia goes to the scroll. In Common is the following: You can't protect them from me. Do you think you can stop the Spark Hunters from using your parents as a way to affect you? The Order of the Lie sees everything; they'd kill your family just to hurt you. As much power as you have, you're powerless against Hell by yourselves. AS long as you fight them alone, people
[22:33] <Kotono> people will die for your pride. Will you fill this crypt up with your family and friends? How many more will you bury because of your pride, Alicia?" There is a paragraph break there. "I can help you, and my Master can as well. The Spark Hunters are coming. The Order of the Lie has crept into this world like a miasma. You can't win alone. Next time I see you, remember this well. With my help...no one else needs to die."
[22:36] <Alicia> "Worthless empty words," Alicia intones bitterly, tossing the scroll aside and proceeding to unravel the ribbon binding the roses atop the smaller coffin so she can read what is written there.
[22:37] <Kotono> Each ribbon has the same simple messure, 'Sleep in peace those who cannot be protected by those they love, in the past, now and in the future.'
[22:37] <Kotono> *message
02[22:38] * Demedais (~ferixstad@pix050-144.pix.wmich.edu) Quit (Ping timeout)
[22:39] <Alicia> "You. Fucking. Bastard," Alicia grinds out furiously, tossing the roses and their ribbons atop the scroll and proceeding to immolate the lot with a burst of conjured flame. "He can't seriously expect this sort of taunting will convince me to join him?"
[22:40] <Kotono> Antenora watches the flame burn, before gently touching Alicia's shoulder again. "I don't know...but he's trying to make us desperate enough to kneel before him."
[22:43] <Alicia> "More like making me enraged enough to hunt him down and kill him," Alicia replies fiercely. "I don't care how many gelugons he packs the space between us with, next time we meet one of us will die," she swears.
[22:46] <Kotono> "He needs to die." Antenora squeezes Alicia's shoulder. "He's a dominating bastard who thrives on making us suffer and weaken. But please...don't throw your life away. I swear to you Alicia, there will be a day soon when we stop him. But don't go into one of his traps because you've lost your rationality."
06[22:46] * Alicia breathes deeply, trying to calm down at Antenora's suggestion. And thinking...
[22:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 planes, what do I know about the spark hunters (specifically base of operations and leader)
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 planes, what do I know about the spark hunters (specifically base of operations and leader) and gets 35." [1d20=18]
[22:48] <Kotono> "Jessica need syou. Your parents need you. The Guard needs you. I need you," she says very quietly. "We will defeat him, by every angel that's ever been born. But you'll be there with us when we do, alive and well."
[22:53] <Alicia> "You're right," Alicia finally nods. "Also, it occurs to me that our only knowledge that these Spark Hunters are after us comes from Esthan. And they don't have a reputation for standing idle when they have a target. I think he might be bluffing."
[22:55] <Kotono> "I hope so," Antenora smiles a little about that, going to hug Alicia. "Unless he's the one sending them or getting them to be sent somehow."
[22:56] <Alicia> "I'm tempted to ask them directly, but that could just cause more trouble..." Alicia murmurs, not really responding to the hug. "Let's... let's just go. I'm tired."
[22:57] <Kotono> "Let's go back to your parent's house? I'll get you some tea and dinner and you can lie down," Antenora says gently. "Let's rest and have a better day tomorrow?"
06[22:59] * Alicia nods. "Big day ahead tomorrow," she agrees, starting to walk out of the crypt. "We'll get him, one day. Him and all the others..."
[23:02] <Kotono> "We will. I'll be there by your side each time," Antenora leads Alicia out. "No matter what happens, I'll make sure you'll have someone to help you."
[23:02] <Alicia> OOC: I'm good to skip rather than continuing to mope
[23:03] <Kotono> OOC: Sure, no problem. Do you want to go straight to Arborea or did you want to touch any bases at home?
[23:04] <Alicia> OOC: Sending for Latha, take male-concubines to Kesse, then go to Arborea (after buying some barrels in Kesse)
[23:04] <Kotono> OOC: We'll start there tomorrow then? Go ahead and plan out your sending now, though, so we can start from the reply first thing?
[23:05] <Alicia> Message from Alicia Reynes. Esthan recently in Kelara until few days ago. Had any further leads, yourself?
[18:56] <Kotono> > OOC: We'll start there tomorrow then? Go ahead and plan out your sending now, though, so we can start from the reply first thing?
[18:56] <Kotono> <Alicia> Message from Alicia Reynes. Esthan recently in Kelara until few days ago. Had any further leads, yourself?
03[18:58] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[19:01] <Kotono> The next morning Taldeer casts that very Sending! Once it is done, "I received the following reply, Alicia. To quote: "In western desert fiefdoms, working to undo some of Esthan's work. Got tangled in unrelated matter, slowed down. Will be in contact soon."
06[19:05] * Alicia thanks Taldeer before asking, "What do you think I should do, Dweomerkeeper? I'm worried he's making me so angry that I can't think straight in how to deal with this..."
[19:10] <Kotono> Taldeer bows her head. Antenora and Jessica are with Alicia, though none have said anything lately. "I don't know. There's no easy answer to this. One who has the malice and power to attack you in such an indirect way with impunity is a nightmarish adversary. With the power he commands, this may not be a battle of steel and flesh, but a battle of the soul."
[19:13] <Alicia> "Mmm..." Alicia makes a thoughtful noise. "If only I could confront him instead of always showing up too late... or else get at something *he* cares about to force him to back off."
[19:13] <Alicia> "Well, if he really is the Walker - and how many other devils do we know that love spicy bread - taking care of his allies in Kesse is one thing," Marie suggests brightly.
[19:15] <Kotono> "Do you really think you can intimidate a devil?" Taldeer frowns, "If anyone can do it, it would be you, but how?"
[19:16] <Alicia> "Killing his master would be a start," Alicia reflects grimly. "Esthan moves around too much, but the one behind him has to have a power base - somewhere on Avernus..." she then sighs and shakes her head, "It doesn't matter what approach I take, there's going to be great danger in any case."
[19:17] <Kotono> "You mean raiding Hell?" Antenora perks up there, "Avernus is formidable and you'd need to be as prepared as possible."
[19:19] <Alicia> "I've done it before, and I've improved a lot since then," Alicia nods. "But one thing at a time - first we need to stop by Kesse and then we're going to Arborea." Looking to Taldeer, "Are Giselle's two friends up and about?"
[19:20] <Kotono> "This way..." Taldeer leads Alicia along. She finds them ready, waiting in one of the bedrooms. They shoot each other looks on occasion, but are quiet and waiting otherwise.
06[19:22] * Alicia looks to the one she hasn't properly met yet. "Good morning, I'm Alicia Reynes," she gives him a brief nod in greeting before addressing both, "Are you two ready to go to Kesse, then?"
[19:23] <Kotono> "Naren," he nods curtly. "I'm more than ready."
[19:25] <Alicia> "Alright. I'll see what I can do about getting you an audience with Queen Giselle, but after that you'll be on your own, so I hope you're prepared," she smiles slightly, extending her arms while Marie alights on her head. "Everyone join hands?"
[19:26] <Kotono> The party does so!
06[19:27] * Alicia teleports the group to the square leading to Kesse Castle.
[19:27] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen casually
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen casually and gets 85." [1d100=85]
[19:29] <Kotono> Woosh! The square leading to Kesse castle is bustling today! People come and go around you, many stopping to stare in the rain at the appearing group.
06[19:31] * Alicia knocks Marie off her head as she proceeds to pull her hood up and proceeds to approach the castle gates. "Everyone stay close, please," she instructs as her familiar grumbles and flies after her.
[19:32] <Kotono> Despite the gawking Alicia and company reach the castle gates without trouble. Thet wo men are looking about in soft wonder as the gates are reached, guards at the ready. "Who are you?"
[19:34] <Alicia> "Captain Alicia Reynes of the United Baronies," Alicia replies, pulling back her hood so they can see her face properly. "Respectfully, I'm here to request an audience with Queen Giselle." It's oddly comforting to do this in the proper and formal way instead of just jumping right in unannounced as she's had to do recently.
[19:38] <Kotono> There's some brief discussion amid the guards, before they nod. "We'll escort you in. This way..." Thus Alicia and company are lead along! They are taken not to the throne room, but a quiet room on the first floor. Here General Andram awaits, offering a hand to Alicia. "I remember thet wo men with you. Welcome back to Kesse," he nods to them, and then in a lower voice to Alicia, "Giselle's sedated, she's having a bad day. No audiences."
[19:38] <Kotono> Alicia, "Giselle's sedated, she's having a bad day. No audiences."
[19:39] <Alicia> "I understand," Alicia nods as she shakes his hand, then lowers her own voice to match while leaning closer. "Does this happen frequently?"
[19:40] <Kotono> "General..." Grantire says in soft wonder, "Giselle? Where is she then?"
[19:40] <Kotono> "Ah, I'll have you two dealt with in a moment," he says politely, "I'll need to talk to you once I conclude business with Alicia here." Then, back in the same low voice to her, "Sometimes. Some days are far more difficult on her than others."
06[19:42] * Alicia briefly shoots Grantire a look at his lack of decorum. What he calls her in the bedroom is his own business, but out here it's Queen Giselle!
[19:42] <Alicia> "This may or may not help her, then. These two men are..." she coughs delicately, "Former lovers of hers. We rescued them from the temple at Halla and they've been convalescing up until now. Since they recovered they've both expressed a strong desire for a reunion."
[19:48] <Kotono> "I'm aware," General Andram nods shortly. "Gentlemen, Queen Giselle is in...difficult situations, as I'm sure you appreciate. You can see her soon, but for the moment she's...mmm. Well, you can see her now, actually. She won't be awake until tomorrow."
[19:48] <Kotono> "Yeah, I don't care," Naren agrees, "I just want to see her!"
[19:53] <Alicia> "Maybe you should start to care," Alicia tells him, not liking that choice of words. "She's had a terrible time and now the duties of rulership thrust upon her with no warning - show some consideration."
[19:55] <Kotono> Bowing his head, "Alright, just...it's been too long. I want to be there for her if she's hurt!"
[19:56] <Kotono> Before Grantire can say anything to that, General Andram cuts him off. "I'll have you taken to go see her now." Going to the door, he briefly talks to a guard outside. He comes in and leads the two men off. Grantire and Naren both turn before they do, "Alicia," Naren says, "Thank you."
[19:58] <Alicia> "Please... please don't fight over her," Alicia replies. "She needs understanding and support, not competition. Just be there for her and don't push it, okay?"
[19:59] <Kotono> Grantire nods, "I'll try," he say ssimply, turning to go. Naren nods as well, before b oth leave. Once they're gone, "So excited and anxious. Maybe they'll manage to help her after all. Maybe...if there's anything that can help her."
03[20:00] * tainansi is now known as taiphoon
[20:01] <Alicia> "It might do her some good," Alicia allows. "As much as anything can... well, that was really the extent of my reason for visiting, General. Still, while I'm here - have things settled down much?"
[20:05] <Kotono> "Well...to the north, our relations with Sanaxt are ice cold. The only thin gthat's stopping a war is that they're having a nasty little argument internally on who's going to rule now. To the south, Evrai's starting to reinforce it's borders. They might have found out about our position and are ready to take advantage. Internally, we're getting by with a Queen who spends about half o her daze in an induced sleep because she's a shattered wr
[20:05] <Kotono> Queen who spends about half o her daze in an induced sleep because she's a shattered wrench of a woman." Looking right to Alicia, "Not well at all."
[20:05] <Kotono> *days
[20:09] <Alicia> It would be churlish to point out how bad things would have been under Kort/Albert/Armanda, so Alicia does not. "Hopefully those two can have some positive effect on her, then," she glances at the door Grantire and Narem left by. "Until next time, General, good day," she gives him a nod and turns to leave.
[20:10] <Kotono> OOC: Hopping back to Kelara now?
[20:13] <Alicia> OOC: we'll go back to Balmuria and buy three barrels then tomorrow morning we're going to Arborea (specifically Arvandor)
[20:14] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Roll relevant TP checks to make sure nothing goes awry?
[20:15] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to Kelara
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to Kelara and gets 42." [1d100=42]
[20:15] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to Balmuria
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to Balmuria and gets 14." [1d100=14]
[20:30] <Kotono> OOC: Who's going with you to there?
[20:32] <Alicia> OOC: Marie, Anty, and Jessica (assuming all are willing)
[20:34] <Kotono> Marie, Jessica and Alicia are all gathered together, waiting. So is Antenora; while Jessica looks happy enough, Antenora is far more reserved. "Oh, this will be fun again, won't it?" Jessica asks.
03[20:37] * taiphoon is now known as taiclsarrrrrrgh
[20:38] <Alicia> "Arborea's really nice," Marie confirms. "Not as nice as Elysium, but it has its charm. Lots of divine realms there, too, especially in Arvandor."
06[20:39] * Alicia slips on the plane shift ring and has everyone form a circle around the three sturdy wooden barrels she purchased yesterday. "Anywhere in particular you think we should aim for, Marie?"
[20:39] <Kotono> "Choose somewhere fun," Jessica opines.
[20:40] <Alicia> "It hardly matters since you'll miss anyway," Marie points out. "Aim for the tree of life, I suppose. Lots of interesting locations near there, so we're bound to arrive close to something worth seeing."
[20:41] <Alicia> "Tree of life it is," Alicia nods, getting everyone to join hands and then whisking them away to chaotic good heaven!
[20:41] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 231." [5d100=3, 42, 69, 21, 96]
[20:51] <Kotono> Wooosh! You appear in a starry night in a forest clearing. Above you a gorgeous bright moon and stars shine, a second layer of stars closer to the ground. No...it's fireflies. A great sea of luminous fireflies float in the air, making morphic constellations against the canvas of the night. Ahead of you are several gathered elves and eladrin. A female elf in a radiant white dress stands in front of them, at her side is a male elf in ceremo
[20:51] <Kotono> A female elf in a radiant white dress stands in front of them, at her side is a male elf in ceremonial golden armor. Behind all of this is a great table of food and drink. In Celestial, the gowned woman speaks, "...name of the Seladrine, let this night of joining be a blessed one!"
06[20:54] * Alicia feels oddly guilty about popping up in front of a wedding party, and promptly ushers her group away from the happy event, picking up their barrels as they go.
[20:57] <Kotono> "Hm?" The male elf at the head of it looks to them, "Humans?" he calls, "All are welcome here. You need not turn away, this is a night of festival and bliss."
[20:59] <Alicia> Well, they do have time to kill while they're here. Glancing at her familiar and getting a cheery nod, Alicia puts her barrel down and approaches the party. "Sorry, we didn't mean to intrude. You know how plane-shift works," she shrugs apologetically.
[21:00] <Kotono> The gathered eladrin and elves generally smile, "Come, join us. We're about to feast." The woman smiles, "You can regail us with the tales of why you appeared carrying barrels as we celebrate?"
[21:01] <Alicia> "Well, if you like," Alicia replies uncertainly, "But this is your happy day, I wouldn't want to step on any toes..."
[21:01] <Kotono> Jessica smiles at that, putting a barrel down. "It's kind of a strange story when you talk about it to someone else."
[21:02] <Alicia> "Strange stories are the best kind!" Marie exclaims as she flies alongside Alicia.
[21:02] <Kotono> A few of the elves and eladrin come forward. A strapping Tulani smiels ear to ear, "What do you think this is, Mechanus? The more the merrier! You'll add something to the festivities!"
[21:02] <Kotono> The gowned woman laughs to that, "In the name of Corelleon, let us celebrate this joining!"
[21:03] <Alicia> "Well, okay," Alicia elects to shed her inhibitions, nodding as she joins the group. "My name's Alicia Reynes. Thank you for your hospitality."
[21:04] <Alicia> "I'm Marie!" the resident coure adds brightly.
[21:06] <Kotono> "Jesica Reynes." Jessica smiles as the elves and eladrin go to the food and drink. Antenora lingers back carefully in the meantime. As the food is begun to be torn into, "EAt and drink up!" Food and various drinks are pressed into the hands of the group. "We'll sing and storytell the night away!"
[21:09] <Alicia> Marie flies back and gives Antenora a little push to get her to join everyone else. "Come on, they're not going to eat you!" she whispers.
[21:10] <Kotono> "Unless we get drunk enough," Antenora rolls her eyes, but follows along anyway. As food and drink are consumed - strong food and drink, incredibly tasty and yet flavorlly intoxicating, "Alicia Reynes!" A armored man calls, "Why in the name of Corelleon did you bring barrels to this realm?"
06[21:11] * Alicia gratefully accepts the food on offer and tastes a bit of everything. "The barrels are actually to collect water," she explains. "I've heard that the waters of Arborea are anethama to certain devils, although hopefully they'll upset any fiend."
[21:13] <Alicia> "Well, you're the one that always talks about eating eladrin, maybe a bit of turnabout would do you good!" Marie giggles in Antenora's ear before fluttering off to mingle.
[21:14] <Kotono> "Oh, devils," The tulani pats Alicia's back as he hands Jessica a mug of something wine-like. "Yeah, you'rel ooking for the strongest holy water and chaotic water you can find then?"
[21:17] <Alicia> "Definitely," Alicia agrees. "Something even a noncombatant could use to buy some time against weaker baatezu and enough to give me an edge against a greater one."
[21:18] <Kotono> Alicia finds someone putting some sliced fruit into one hand and a drink into another, drifting on by. Another eladrin drifts by, this one a little female coure eladrin. "Give 'em Hell for us! Hehehehehhehehehe!" Meanwhile Jessica giggles and starts talking to a nice, lithe pair of male elves, teasing and blushing. Antenora sips a mug that seems to have found it's way into her hands, while she still mostly lingers back.
[21:18] <Kotono> into her hands, while she still mostly lingers back.
[21:21] <Alicia> While Marie elects to regale the newlyweds with the sacred lore of Sune that she learned on the endless plains, Alicia struggles to deal with all the food and drink she's having foisted on her. "Please, let me finish one thing off before giving me another," she protests, nonetheless in good spirits.
[21:27] <Kotono> The gowned woman approaches Antenora, talking to her quietly. As this happens, the Tulain Eladrin grins. "Give them Hell, yes. Well, there's water, then there's holy or chaotic water, then there's special water. Why, everyone here knows that if you're looking for the best water, you have to find Evergold!"
[21:27] <Kotono> "Evergold!" A few elves chorus, "Beautiful Evergold!"
[21:29] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia briefly looks over at Marie who had never mentioned anything about that. The eladrin is too busy making suspicious gestures and talking animatedly with her audience to notice, however. "Where's Evergold, and what's so special about the water there?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "Why, Evergold is a magnificent fountain! The Gods themselves come to bathe in it at times!"
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC - Gah.
[21:32] <Kotono> "Why, Evergold is a magnificent fountain! The Gods themselves come to bathe in it at times!" The tulanis' voice drifts into near song, "It is where beauty is revitalized and where life and love are found!" In the meanwhile, Jessica's laughing away and chatting, while Antenora's finding herself drinking more of her drink as the elven woman talks to her animatedly. "Sune and Hanali Celanil both favor it. Truly, it is without peer in the multi
[21:32] <Kotono> "Sune and Hanali Celanil both favor it. Truly, it is without peer in the multiverse!"
[21:33] <Alicia> "Well, it sounds impressive, although do you think a mortal could gain access to it easily?" Alicia asks the faerie lord interestedly.
[21:37] <Kotono> "Anyone can with determination!" Waving about grandly, "Find the soul of this realm and contact it, and you will find it when the time is right!"
[21:38] <Alicia> "That sounds... somewhat vague," Alicia concludes after a moment.
[21:39] <Kotono> "Oh, come on. It'll make sense to you. Besides," Handing Alicia another drink, "I'll give you a better direction, then. Go to Brightwater. Sune and her friends love that pool. If anyone knows where it'll be, it'll be them."
[21:40] <Kotono> Meanwhile you can hear Antenora laugh a little in the distance, joined by the elven woman's laughter.
06[21:42] * Alicia is glad Antenora's loosening up. Throwing another glance at her familiar as she sips her drink she replies, "I'm not sure if my friend over there has ever been to Brightwater, so on the off chance she hasn't I don't suppose you could give me directions?"
[21:43] <Kotono> "Tell you what. In the morning I'll set you along the right path. That sound good to you?" Smiling now, "We'll party all night and travel all day. The way life should be lead."
[21:45] <Alicia> "Well, I'll probably teleport if Marie has been to Brightwater before, since we don't want to have to cart those barrels everywhere," Alicia admits. "But we can certainly spare a few hours here." Everyone's having fun, even the grumpy erinyes, so Alicia sees no reason to hurry them along.
[21:53] <Kotono> The night passes along in an incredibly pleasant blur. Alicia isn't quite sure when it happen.s One drink, or two, or something she ate? Or maybe i was just all the fun. There was singing, she's sure of that. Stories, a mishmash floating in her head. But she awakens with sunlight teasing her eyes, a gorgeous morning sky visible. The sun is a golden disk of breathtaking perfection. Despite all she ate and drank, she feels fine and refreshed.
[21:54] <Kotono> The sun is a golden disk of breathtaking perfection. Despite all she ate and drank, she feels fine and refreshed. She finds herself resting against a tree. A few other elves are resting against other trees as well. Jessica has one as well, snoring softly. Antenora is on the opposite side of one as Jessica, her ribbon gone and wings curled around her body as she sleeps.
[21:56] <Alicia> Marie flutters down out of the trees to join Alicia as she rouses herself, the two electing to eat some of the leftover food from last night while waiting on Jessica and Antenora waking up.
[21:57] <Kotono> As the two eat, they find the Tulani - his name is Noonbreath, Alicia can recall - waiting. "Ah, that was fun," he says agreeably as greets the two. "Your friends should waken soon with any luck."
[22:01] <Alicia> "I don't mind waiting," Alicia glances over at the pair with a smile. "It was a fun party."
[22:01] <Alicia> "I hope those two lovebirds put my lessons to good use," Marie adds cheerily.
[19:08] <Kotono> <Alicia> Marie flutters down out of the trees to join Alicia as she rouses herself, the two electing to eat some of the leftover food from last night while waiting on Jessica and Antenora waking up.
[19:08] <Kotono> > As the two eat, they find the Tulani - his name is Noonbreath, Alicia can recall - waiting. "Ah, that was fun," he says agreeably as greets the two. "Your friends should waken soon with any luck."
[19:08] <Kotono> <Alicia> "I don't mind waiting," Alicia glances over at the pair with a smile. "It was a fun party."
[19:08] <Kotono> <Alicia> "I hope those two lovebirds put my lessons to good use," Marie adds cheerily.
[19:11] <Kotono> Antenora beginst o stir at this. Her wings flutter and she groans. Noonbreath looks over, "If you don't have fun, you're not doing it correctly."
[19:12] <Alicia> "Morning, Antenora," Alicia calls over.
[19:15] <Kotono> "Morning," Antenora calls back, picking herself up. She shifts and adjust her armor, a faint scowl playing on her face. "Ugh. I remember singing and stories and drinking and all of it's a blur."
[19:17] <Alicia> "Then why are you frowning? You looked like you were having a good time last night," Alicia asks curiously.
[19:17] <Alicia> "It was nice to see you two loosen up for a change," Marie agrees, fluttering into the air.
[19:20] <Kotono> Antenora doesn't reply to that. She instead checks over her gear, before going to stand behind Alicia. "No reason," she says at last.
[19:22] <Alicia> "If you say so," Alicia shrugs. "Help yourself while we wait on Jessica waking up?" she then indicates the leftover food.
[19:22] <Alicia> Meanwhile Marie floats in front of the erinyes' face, "The fact that you frown for no reason at all is pretty sad," she opines.
[19:27] <Kotono> "Should we really be partying like satyrs when Esthan is wandering around our world?" Antenora says quietly. "There's so much evil out there still, so many people being hurt."
[19:32] <Alicia> That kills Alicia's mood pretty handily, although Marie speaks up in defence of the right to party.
[19:32] <Alicia> "It's not as if a few hours relaxing is the height of debauchery - how is spending last night partying any different than all the nights we spend playing games or having discussions or writing books or training?" she argues. "By that logic any moment not spent actively hunting evil is a moment wasted, regardless of what exactly you do with it."
[19:38] <Kotono> "Mph." Antenora looks down and away. "I just can't help but feel that we should be doing something tos top him, before he does something terrible."
[19:42] <Alicia> "We're doing everything we can," Alicia replies gently. "But since we don't know where he is, our options are limited." Still, she's sufficiently bummed out that she gets up and goes to wake up her sister rather than delay any longer.
[19:45] <Kotono> Jessica awakens with a big smile. "Morning, sis!" Smiling ear to ear as she blinks, "Mystra, I never knew you had a singing voice ilke that."
[19:46] <Alicia> "It's a hidden talent," Alicia replies with a faint smile. "You ready to get moving? There's plenty of leftovers if you want to eat first."
[19:48] <Kotono> "I'm not hungry." Sitting upa nd getting her things together, "This is such fun! Antenora, you were so fun, too. Even if you couldn't sing."
06[19:49] * Alicia goes over to grab one of the barrels before asking their friendly Tulani guide, "So, how far is it to Brightwater, Noonbreath?"
[19:53] <Kotono> "There's a passage to the Quarter of the Great Wheel within travelling range." Noonbreath smiles as the party gathers itself, starting to walk. "Many petitioners and eladrin love the games of chance and whimsy Tymora's realm provides."
06[19:54] * Alicia nods and gives him a smile. "Thank you for guiding us, by the way, it's very kind of you."
[19:55] <Kotono> "It should be fun! Tell Bat Wings," With a wide smile to Antenora, "That no matter what she's dealing with, this is a realm for fun and joy. Listen to Marie, she has it right. No frowning in Arborea! Now then, shall we?"
[19:58] <Alicia> "Of course," Alicia nods as she lugs her barrel along with her.
[19:58] <Alicia> "Just remember, if you see anyone that actually looks like a satyr, you're best off not joining their party," Marie warns.
[20:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 31." [1d20=15]
[20:01] <Kotono> "...I'd take too long to pass out, too," Antenora notes to herself. Thus, barrels in tow, the party begins to travel!
[20:01] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 15." [1d100=15]
[20:01] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 76." [1d100=76]
[20:01] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:01] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 35." [1d100=35]
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 34." [1d100=34]
[20:08] <Kotono> A few days of travel past. It's fine, easy travel. The forests are accomindating and the air is pleasantly warm. The nights pass in a blur of perfect dreams. Alicia feels half at home and half an alien visitor. It's a strange sense of acceptance and rejection, leaving her feeling off balance in a very subtle fashion. Jessica's mood is bubbly throughout, laughing with Noonbreath and Marie many a time. Antenora is more reserved. She often spe
[20:08] <Kotono> and Marie many a time. Antenora is more reserved. She often spends long periods of time staring off at the sky or keeping to herself. (More)
[20:18] <Kotono> It's a gradual and yet sudden thing. Instead of forests you find yourselves walking amid dozens of rich buildings. Buildings dedicated to chance and games, glimses inside showing games of all sorts. Four leaf clovers grow in grassy patches all about, laughing and frolicking eladrin seen all over. Elven petitioners and even a few mortals can be seen here and there. The street is made of pure silver.
06[20:19] * Alicia isn't really sure how to tell the difference between an petitioner and a mortal on most of the upper planes, anyway. "So, where to from here?" she asks Noonbreath once it's obvious they've moved into another realm.
[20:25] <Kotono> "Well, you travel through here. There's a path to Sune's realm here." Stretching out now, "I think I'm going to go try some games of chance. Care to join me if you have the time?"
06[20:26] * Alicia shakes her head. "We've already spent more time than we intended on travelling, and I prefer games of skill over chance," Alicia admits, setting down her barrel and offering the eladrin her hand. "It's been a pleasure travelling with you, Noonbreath - good luck."
[20:28] <Kotono> The hand is taken, Jessica doing the same. "It was fun. Good fortune with that Esthan and may Tymora's blessings smile on you."
[20:29] <Alicia> "Clean them out!" Marie gives him a cheerful wave as the group gathers their burdens and continues onwards in the same direction they've been heading.
[20:42] <Kotono> Thus you walk along these streets. Some time passes as you wander, no signs immediately about or directions. As this occurs, you come by a tent pitched between two larger buildings. A smiling human stands outside of it, talking to people as they pass. As Alicia's party comes closer, "Hey there, welcome to the Quarter of the Great Wheel! You look like fine folks there, on a girltrip away from Mystra and magic to have some fun here? Why don't
[20:42] <Kotono> on a girltrip away from Mystra and magic to have some fun here? Why don't the four of you come in here and we can play a rousing game of Odds!" The human wears green clothes, talking a mile a minute.
06[20:45] * Alicia gives the man a smile as she pauses. "Sorry, we're only passing through on our way to Brightwater, so I'm afraid we don't have time to play."
[20:46] <Kotono> "Ah, pretty ladies, pretty ladies," Smiling to that, "There's always time for games! There'se lovely prizes to be won! PRactical ones for your type, too!"
[20:48] <Kotono> "It sounds like fun, but it's up to my sister. Sorry," Jessica's tone drips with niceness.
[20:51] <Alicia> "Sorry, some of us have had really bad luck when it comes to chance," Alicia doesn't look in Antenora's direction, but she's certainly thinking of how she was affected by that deck. "Thank you, anyway." With that she continues onwards.
[20:56] <Kotono> "Too bad, too bad..." The man's calls fade away as the party continues to walk on. After a little while longer, the party comes to an open air auditorium. It descends down, with the center being a large pit in the ground. The descending hole before that is circular and large as a building, hundreds of seats lining it. Currently they're filled as people watch something going on below. It makes a ton of noise as you travel along. Peering ahea
[20:56] <Kotono> It makes a ton of noise as you travel along. Peering ahead, "Nothing but chance and trying to predict it..." Antenora murmurs. "I actually sort of like that. Analyzing and betting on the chance, that is. Trying to put some pattern to it."
[20:58] <Alicia> "Really? All seems like guesswork to me," Alicia shrugs, craning her neck to try and see what all the fuss is about in the pit.
[20:59] <Kotono> It looks to be over wrestling matches. People are betting on who will win as it proceeds, the odds changing wildly as the match unfolds.
06[21:00] * Alicia doesn't particularly care about wrestling matches, although she does elect to ask for directions from someone nearby just to make sure they're still on the right track to reach Brightwater.
[21:11] <Kotono> You seem to be going the right path. Several more hours of walking down just the right roads leads you a single, rose red path. As you walk it you can begin to hear gentle strummings of a lute. The buildings of chance and games seem to have vanished. In it's place is a gorgeous ruby red sunrise in the sky. Around you are pleasure-gardens. Song can be heard - not too far away and ahead, a gorgeous female elf sings a song of love and adoratio
[21:11] <Kotono> Song can be heard - not too far away and ahead, a gorgeous female elf sings a song of love and adoration for a male angel who sits amid blossoms of white flowers.
[21:13] <Alicia> "Pretty clear where Malcanthet got her inspiration from," Alicia mutters under her breath as she takes in their new surroundings. She steers clear of the elf and angel ahead, not wanting to disturb their romantic moment together.
[21:16] <Kotono> "She can oly dream her realm could measure to a celestial realm," Antenora mutters right back. Jessica sighs here, "Oh...Roald..." she murmurs, closing her eyes.
[21:18] <Alicia> Giggling a bit at Jessica's wistful sigh, Marie flutters alongside Alicia. "So are you actually planning on trying to ask Sune or Hanali yourself where to find Evergold?"
[21:18] <Alicia> "I doubt goddesses have time for us," Alicia shakes her head, "But hopefully we can find a guide somewhere here."
[21:20] <Alicia> "Maybe we'll see Empress Sullia?" Marie wonders, tugging briefly at her slinky plainswalker garment. "I can thank her for this outfit!"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Yeah..." Antenora murmurs, "Mmm."
[21:21] <Alicia> "Who knows?" Alicia asks, shifting her grip on her barrel a bit. "I'll just be glad when I can stop carrying this barrel everywhere. I never expected such an extended sojourn."
[21:31] <Kotono> "Empress Sulia?" Antenora look sto Marie as they start to walk, "Oh yes, the quasi-goddess or religious figure that was revered in those plains you visited?"
06[21:32] * Alicia nods. "For a while I thought that was just a strange name they used for Sune herself, but it turned out she was a favoured servant. If she's anywhere in the planes it's probably here."
[21:43] <Kotono> "That could prove enlightening if we meet her," Antenora says as the party continues on. Past gardens of beauty and serenity, quiet forest paths with little springs and brooks nearby, occasional bits of song or poetry leaking from them, or occasionally more excited noises. The path continues on, the din of a waterfall heard ahead. However, a statuesque human stands here, blocking the path. His beauty is without question, a faint golden tint
[21:43] <Kotono> blocking the path. His beauty is without question, a faint golden tint to his perfect skin. "Hail, in the name of Lady Firehair."
[21:47] <Alicia> "In the name of the Lady of Mysteries, I bid you greeting," Alicia returns in the same vein, setting her barrel down as she addresses the man. "We are peaceful travellers, seeking the fountain of Evergold."
[21:49] <Kotono> "A noble goal," He smiles benignly. "Ah, all of you are women?" he asks. "A group of nymphs and select worshippers of Sune frolic ahead. It is acceptable for the group of you to pass then."
[21:51] <Alicia> "Ah... yes, don't worry, we wouldn't do anything untoward..." Alicia blushes a bit at the implication. "Perhaps you could help us, however - do you know where the fountain might be found?"
[21:53] <Kotono> "Now, if it were the male equal to nymphs," Jessica giggles, "Say, are there male nymphs or something close to it?"
[21:54] <Kotono> "I do not," he admits, "I have never seen it myself."
[21:55] <Alicia> "Oh, well, no harm in asking," Alicia gives him a smile as she hefts her barrel once more. "Good day to you," she nods, resuming her walk.
[21:55] <Kotono> "That's amusing," Antenora chuckles, "A male nymph?" As she starts to walk again, "I can't say I've ever heard of anything like that, though."
[21:55] <Alicia> "They're only female," Marie tells Jessica as she flutters along. "But they really just look like pretty elves, so..."
[22:00] <Kotono> The waterfall is ahead. Here, in a pool, a gaggle of nymphs and a few select mortals bathe. They splash, laugh and frolic freely. Around the shores of this waterfall pool, nymphs and mortal women lie, being given long, soothing massages by eladrin. Others sit on a large picnic cloth in towels and robes, eating fine foods and laughing amid each other. Yet others lie in warm, soft mudbanks on the other side of the pool. A single male man watc
[22:01] <Kotono> Yet others lie in warm, soft mudbanks on the other side of the pool. A single male man watches all of this from away, painting on a mounted canvas. The path winds past and through all of this.
[22:04] <Alicia> "Think anyone here will know about Evergold?" Alicia asks the group.
[22:04] <Alicia> "There's quite a few, so maybe someone does," Marie agrees as they approach the waterfall. "Let's ask around!"
[22:09] <Kotono> As you approach, many of the assembled sort watch! One rises from being massaged, a towel just barely keeping her decent. "Visitors...oh, you're acceptable..." Looking over Alicia, "You too," with a look to Antenora, "But you?" With a slight shake of her head to Jessica, "You and the little eladrin don't fit in here!"
[22:11] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia replies deadpan. "You're seriously telling our friends to go away because they don't meet your standards of beauty? This place suddenly became a whole lot uglier in my estimation." With that she keeps on walking right past the stuck up bitches and their waterfall.
[22:12] <Alicia> Marie sticks her tongue out at the one who insulted her looks as she flutters along behind Alicia.
[22:13] <Kotono> Jessica scowls and follows Alicia. "Well, at least I'm not stuck up." Hurrying along, Antenora meanwhile looks to them and shakes her head. "I'd expect that from succubi."
[22:14] <Kotono> "Meow, says the old hag," One of the nymphs shoots back. "Goddess, you're so so so so OLD looking!"
[22:17] <Alicia> "Really," Alicia agrees, honestly rather shocked and not rising to the bait. "How do people like that even get into heaven?"
[22:17] <Alicia> "See, this is why I suggested Arvandor to start with," Marie opines, giving the nymph a dirty look and promptly conjuring up an illusion of several hideous hags of various stripes making themselves comfortable at the waterfall. Night hags, sea hags, annis hags, green hags - they're all represented!
[22:18] <Kotono> "They sound so spoiled," Antenora looks back, "I was born and raised in Hell and I'm prettier than they'll ever hope to be."
[22:19] <Kotono> Oh, that does it. The nymphs stare at the image, "Ooooooh!" One scowls, "Did you just insult us?! We=" This is cut off, as the painter says in a voice of song, "Quiet....let peace rule the day....Sune preaches love, not haaaateeee...." Then, to the retreating party, "I apologize...on their behaaaalf..."
06[22:24] * Alicia briefly pauses and looks back at the painter, starting to glow with celestial radiance - the first time she's used it since Shendilvari, but it feels appropriate, now.
[22:24] <Alicia> "Rather than apologise, you should impress upon your charges that beauty is merely skin deep. There's a particular layer of the Abyss for those who care only for the facade, and your friends would fit in perfectly there from what I've seen."
[22:26] <Kotono> As the nymphs and mortals watch, a few of them looking abashed, "So it is trueeee..." The man stops his painting, approaching Alicia and company. In a more normal voice, "I'm sorry. I shall endevour to teach them this lesson while I am with them, honored one."
[22:27] <Kotono> Jessica huffs, "They're so stuck up. So what if I'm not the prettiest!" With heat coming to her cheeks, "I have someone who loves me!"
[22:29] <Kotono> "Really. If they go farther down that path, they'll fit into Malcanthet's realm better than this one. Disgraceful," Antenora looks to them with a chilly gaze. "So much beauty and a neglected soul and empahty within."
[22:30] <Alicia> "Really, it's making me ashamed to be wearing the garb of Empress Sullia if it means I'm associated with people like that," Marie agrees indignantly.
06[22:30] * Alicia simply nods to the painter, glad at least someone here isn't a vapid whore. "Please do. I do not believe Lady Firehair would be proud to have such high-handed followers. Now, I will bid you good day." With that she turns to leave.
[22:32] <Kotono> The man stops there, shaking his head. "Here," he takes a ring off his hand, presenting it to Alicia. "Take this as my apology for this. I was to give it to one of the nymphs here, but I do not believe it suits them now. This ring bestows presence and charisma. You have outdone all of them."
06[22:33] * Alicia pauses, shuffling her grip on the barrel so she can accept the ring. "Your gift and your apology, I accept both. May the Lady of Mysteries grant you peace and serenity," she intones formally, as seems to befit the moment.
[22:34] <Kotono> "Travel well...follows of Sulia?" He also looks to Marie at that. "Ah, I understand why you're here now."
[22:34] <Alicia> Marie dismisses her illusion as well, the point having been made.
[22:36] <Alicia> "Mystra, actually," Marie replies, "But we're on good tems with Sulia. We're actually looking for Evergold, since we've heard its waters can be very effective against baatezu."
[22:38] <Kotono> "Aaaah. I hear Sulia is a favored servant of Sune. Perhaps a demigoddess from what I have heard, though I cannot verify it."
[22:38] <Kotono> OOC - Gah.
[22:38] <Kotono> "Aaaah. I hear Sulia is a favored servant of Sune. Perhaps a demigoddess from what I have heard, though I cannot verify it." With a look to Marie, "Do you know if that's true, ravelers? Ive never had the pleasure of meeting her."
[22:38] <Kotono> "Evergold...mmm. Continue onward, and you will find it in due time," he adds.
06[22:39] * Alicia nods. "That is our hope. Thank you for your consideration, sir," she favours him with a smile before resuming their journey.
[22:40] <Kotono> Once out of vision and earshot of all of that, "...I'm not that ugly, am I, sister?"
06[22:41] * Alicia puts down her barrel so she can give Jessica a hug. "Of course not," she reassures. "Roald doesn't think so either, does he?"
[22:42] <Kotono> Hugging back, "It's just not fair. I know I'm not as pretty as you or Marie or Antenora...but at least you're sis and the other two aren't human. But do they have to rub it in like that?" Sniffling, "You're lucky. You could get anyone to like you, Alicia."
[22:43] <Alicia> "They snubbed me as well!" Marie cries as she glomps onto Jessica's head.
[22:45] <Kotono> "It's alright," Antenora says quietly. "Most humans can't pray to compete with a nymph's beauty. There's no shame in that. Even the thought of a nymph's beauty gave Alicia pause when she first heard, and she's stunning by human standards."
[22:47] <Alicia> "Even if you're not some pampered looking courtesan, you're fit and healthy and have a good heart," Alicia consoles her sister. "Those are things that are more important in the long run - looks fade, after all. And Antenora's right, too - that sort of dominating inhuman beauty, it's not necessarily the best thing if it marks you apart from everyone else."
[22:48] <Alicia> "I can't believe they even called you old," Marie looks over at Alicia. "Not a grey hair or wrinkle in sight, too!"
[22:49] <Kotono> "It's a curse at times. A child saw me without my ribbon and wouldn't stop staring even after I put it back on," Antenora smiles, "You don't need to always be the cream of the crop unless you want the attention that badly."
[22:50] <Alicia> "The fact that you made your wings disappear is probably weirder than the wings themselves," Marie points out. "People don't really stare at me or Seira or Donald or Eudard any more - you could probably stop wearing it, at least in Balmuria, without anyone caring."
[22:51] <Kotono> "I could, but I'm used to it," Reaching up into her hair, "And...maybe one day, when I don't have bat's wings."
[22:52] <Alicia> "I think it's better like this," Marie goes on. "If you were just another archon or deva that'd be dull, but you're not - you're a renegade baatezu! A rogue erinyes! That's unique and exciting!"
[20:17] <Alicia> "I'm not going to make you carry two!" Alicia blurts out in reply.
[20:17] <Alicia> "Well okay, then how about looking at it this way," Marie begins. "As you are you're a symbol of how fiends can transcend their bitter nature, and if you were just another celestial then the message would be lost?"
[20:19] <Kosick> "Alicia, it's not like they're that heavy," Antenora reasons with a faint smile, "I do look at it that way. I'd still love to just be another celestial one day. Not a fiend who happens not to be evil, if that makes any sense at all."
[20:20] <Alicia> "Well if they're not heavy then why should I need to be relieved?" Alicia counters easily.
[20:20] <Alicia> "I suppose I can see it. I mean, there's comfort in belonging," Marie relents as she lands on Antenora's head.
[20:21] <Kosick> Antenora nods and smiles, as Jessica oomphs a bit. "Lucky you two," she observes.
[20:21] <Alicia> "I could polymorph Marie into something bigger and get her to take your barrel for a bit," Alicia offers to her sister.
[20:22] <Alicia> "Or she could wear your belt!" Marie suggests instead.
[20:23] <Kosick> "Let Marie do it, then?" Jessica says, "Make it ag ame where you can't let the barrel touch the ground?"
[20:25] <Alicia> "Even if I'm big I'm still pitifully weak," Marie whimpers as Alicia sets down her barrel and turns to the eladrin.
[20:25] <Alicia> "I'll lend you my belt, then. Come here," she beckons as Marie reluctantly flutters closer. A moment later where a coure once fluttered now stands a pretty aasimar girl. A naked one.
[20:25] <Alicia> "I hope you've got more than just a belt for me to wear," she huffs.
[20:27] <Kosick> Antenora chuckles, "You'll get romanced away by a strappling eladrin like that. Then again, it is Sune's realm."
[20:28] <Kosick> "That's kind of...um...." Jessica coughs, "You know, it's not like you set it all out like a free feast. I have some spare clothes in my pack if you need them."
[20:29] <Alicia> Digging into her backpack, Alicia hands her familiar one of her black tunics which on Marie's more petite frame functions as a barely-decent dress. She then slips her belt off and hands it to her familiar who tightens it around her waist before grunting as she picks up Jessica's barrel. "Huh... I think I can manage this," she nods after a moment.
[20:30] <Kosick> "Aaah." Stretching her arms out over her head, "So much nicer. Let's get going then? I 'd like leave those stupid ymphs behind for good! Oh, and sister, what was that ring he gave you?"
[20:32] <Alicia> "He said it boosted charisma and presence," Alicia replies as she starts walking again. "Probably works like my cloak, but we can get it identified once we return home."
[20:34] <Kosick> "That was unusually easy. Normally you have to find or take those sort of things off defeated evil oppositions, or have them made yourself." As you walk along the forest path, "That is a small blessing.'
[20:35] <Alicia> "Well, it sounded like it was a prize for some sort of beauty pageant back there, but all the competitors disqualified themselves on the congeniality test?" Marie laughs as she trundles along.
[20:44] <Kosick> Thus the trip continues on. The forest path winds along for at time, slowly breaking down to a stream. The path then follows this stream for a time as it slowly engorges into a mighty river. Here you can see sea elves swimming in it just below the surface, pairs of them laughing and playing and loving together. On the path ahead right now, you come to alarge, single roomed hut. IT's made of sterling silver and white marble, both tinted with
[20:44] <Kosick> IT's made of sterling silver and white marble, both tinted with ruby red. Lady Firehair's symbol adorns it in places, carved into the wall. Behind it the path forks in thre directions - continuing along the river, to the west, over the river via an arching, delicate bridge with various people on it, and to the east into some plains.
[20:45] <Alicia> Since she doesn't know which path to take, Alicia chooses to go into the hut to ask for directions. Knocking first, of course.
[20:46] <Kosick> The door is adorned with Sune's face and long, flowing red hair. Below it is written intot he stone, "Come, those that seek true love. Love will always find a way within." Knocking on the door brooks no response at all.
[20:46] <Kosick> The writing is in Celestial.
[20:47] <Kosick> Jessica follows along, whistling as she stretches again. "Hm? What's that," glancing over Alicia's shoulder, "No answer? Nobody home?"
[20:48] <Alicia> "Ah, actually, it says you should only go inside if you're seeking true love," Alicia draws back, "If either of you three are interested in that, feel free, but I don't think that's for me."
[20:48] <Kosick> "I'm okay with that," Jessica says quickly. "What about you, Marie? Antenora?"
[20:49] <Alicia> Marie shakes her head. "I'm too young to settle down, anyway."
[20:50] <Kosick> "I'll pass as well," Antenora agrees, eyeing Marie. "Besides you're already pledged to Alicia right now. A familiar/master bond is somewhat like being connected and married, isn't it?" The tips of her lips twitch upward as she looks away.
[20:52] <Alicia> "Most familiars are animals, so I don't think that's a typically accepted definition," Marie replies with a suspicious look towards Antenora.
[20:52] <Alicia> "Yes, well, moving on from that thoroughly disconcerting tangent," Alicia rolls her eyes, "Lets go see if anyone on that bridge can guide us?"
[20:53] <Kosick> Antenora smiels again, "What, I'mt rying to be more spontaneous and fit in here," Looking over her armful of barrel, "Besides, the two of you can read each other's feelings, talk together and are almost always together."
[20:53] <Kosick> "Right," Jessica does briefly crack a smile as she follows along. "Spontaneous doesn't mean vapid, either."
[20:55] <Kosick> Ahead, you can ee many a couple on the bridge. Some look out over the water, holding hands. Others sing of stay close to each other. One couple even has the man leaning out over the water, about to fall. A hand is to his head, as he goes, "Oh...but you'll never love me like SHE Loved me! My life is over! There are no heavens without her!"
06[21:02] * Alicia looks around for anyone on their own, or groups larger than two. If that's not possible she'll settle for a couple who don't look to be too preoccupied where she can ask for directions.
[21:02] <Alicia> "She spends more time with you than me, I think," Marie mutters towards Antenora while Alicia's distracted. "Who even went with her on her private and intimate spiritual retreat?"
[21:04] <Kosick> No luck on solos or groups, but there is a couple near the close side of the bridge. They're laughing a bit and looking out over the water, but not particularly spellbound. It's a pair of humans or human-alikes, one with fiery red-brown hair and tight leather clothes. The other is a man wearing well worn armor and with many a scar over his body. An ill fitting but beautiful smile is plastered onto his face. (More)
[21:04] <Kosick> An ill fitting but beautiful smile is plastered onto his face. (More)
[21:05] <Kosick> "Really?" Antenora's eyebrow twitches, "That was purely for her spititual health. After Malcanthet's realm, she needed purification and rest. I helped her with that, nothing more."
[21:05] <Kosick> "You want to, sis," Jessica slides up to Alicia, "You're the sweet talker."
06[21:07] * Alicia shrugs and approaches the two she noticed, clearing her throat politely. "Excuse me?" she begins, to get their attention.
[21:07] <Alicia> "Hmm?" Marie bats her eyelashes at Antenora. "And did you teach her that it's not sinful to give into lust, in the proper lawful context? Did you experience loving discipline together?"
[21:09] <Kosick> The man turns with a big old grin and looks Alicia over. "Hey there," he says, as the woman turns. She smiles as well, "Oh, more mortals?" she purrs. "You look like it and smell like iron and travel. Lost? Or looking to take a barrel plunge into the Ellse Faire?"
[21:10] <Kosick> For a moment Antenora starts to blush, but then it gets pushes upwards with a smirk. "OH! I see, I see...you're jealous of me spending that much time with Alicia, aren't you?" Looking Marie in the eyes with a smirk, "You want your master aaaall for yourself, and it just burns you up that I'm spending innocent time with her."
[21:11] <Kosick> "No, just travelers," Jessica says warmly, glancing back. "Don't mind the two in the back, they're like the quibbling heads of Demogorgon, only cuter."
06[21:12] * Alicia is certainly doing her best to ignore those two. "We're actually trying to find Evergold," she admits. "We were told to follow this path, but now that it branches we're unsure where to go. Might you have any advice for us?"
[21:12] <Kosick> "Evergold, eh?" Rubbing her chin as she smirks, "That's what the barrels are for?"
[21:13] <Kosick> "What's Evergold?" The scarred, armored man asks. "Sounds like a treasure horde."
[21:13] <Alicia> "A friendly Tulani told us that its waters would be very effective against devils," Alicia agrees. "It's a sacred fountain," she then tells the man.
[21:14] <Kosick> That gets a chuckle from the woman. "Oh, I suppose it would be. I know someone who bathed in it. It makes you postively radiant. It's also sacred, anarchic waters, so surely it would be good for scolding and punishing Baatezu."
[21:14] <Alicia> "That's not it," Marie replies with a blush of her own, sidling up to the erinyes and whispering, "I'm willing to share."
[21:14] <Alicia> "That's what we're hoping," Alicia agrees cheerily. "So do you know where it is?"
[21:15] <Kosick> Antenora smirks again and taps Marie on the head, "You can have her. Fascinating confession, though." Replying in a whisper, "My, what a naughty little eladrin you are."
[21:15] <Kosick> OOC: Make a charisma check, Alicia?
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[21:17] <Kosick> "I'm afraid not. IT's not something you can just quest to, not like that." Looking Alicia up and down slowly, "You might be able to find it. IT favors the beautiful and the radiant, as well as the good and free hearted. You fulfill at least some of those, I think."
[21:18] <Kosick> "Eh, oh well, it's not like I need gold here," The man shrugs, an arm arond the leather clad woman. "I was so sick of chasing down things like that. Mystic treasures and artifacts would be so much more enjoyable if you didn't have to defy death and impossible odds to find."
[21:18] <Alicia> "Ahh," Alicia nods understandingly. "Well, nothing much for it then but to continue our journey. Thank you for your time, at least." Then to the man she smiles, "Ah, but without those artifacts you have to face even worse odds when trouble finds you."
[21:19] <Alicia> "Clearly I haven't been disciplined enough," Marie agrees with a giggle as she flounces away from Antenora.
[21:19] <Kosick> "I know." Scratching at a scar ont he side of his face, "It got to be a helluva vicious cycle. I got lucky to escape it. Take it from me, I was at it for twenty years: It's not worth your entire life."
[21:21] <Kosick> "Yes, there are so many fun things to do. Like getting you regeneration. Those scars are distinctive but you'd have such a nice face without them," The woman purrs to him. "You don't really need two protective rings, do you?"
[21:22] <Alicia> "Maybe not, but while I've still got strength in me I'll use it to defend others," Alicia replies, starting to back away as the two resume flirting. "Good day to you both." With that she returns to the riverbank and continues on their original path, eschewing the branches.
[21:22] <Kosick> Antenora starts to say a few things, then just shrugs. She turns to listen to the conversation in front of her for the moment.
[21:22] <Kosick> "Enjoy yourself," Jessica says, and once you're moving again, "I wonder if he's dead or just retired?"
[21:24] <Alicia> "Probably retired," Alicia reasons. "If he was a petitioner then his flesh would be pristine."
[21:26] <Kosick> Lowering her voice, "Could you say something to those two," Jessica says quietly. "That was horribly embarrassing! It took all my effort not to blush like a firestorm! They'll listen to you."
[21:27] <Alicia> "I just tune them out," Alicia admits. "I'll talk to them privately when we next make camp, though."
[21:28] <Kosick> "Please," Jessica sighs. "It's like they turn into children when they et going!" Then in a normal voice, "I suppose. HE looked so happy there. Maybe that's his equivalent to settling down with a wife and a home?"
[21:29] <Alicia> "Well, it's like Marie warned us against staying too long in Dweomerheart?" Alicia reasons as they continue to follow the riverbank.
[21:30] <Kosick> The riverbank goes on, widening further into a hugely expanded river. As you walk you feel tired. The sky is still a beautiful red sunrise, but your body is telling you ti's time to rest. The path continues on straight for now, no one in the vicinity or anything disturbing.
[21:32] <Alicia> "Hmmm. Been a long day, lets make camp here?" Alicia suggests, intending to have a quiet word with Marie and Antenora individually once they're settled to suggest they tone things down a bit. But mostly she just wants to eat and rest.
[21:34] <Kosick> Dinner is a pleasant affair. Jessica cooks well from trail rations and uses the river water. The water itself seems to be most agreeable and pure, making the entire meal better. OOC - Ball's in you rcourt if you wanan do anything or just skip along.
[21:35] <Alicia> OOC: assume I tell the troublemakers to stop being so perverted and we'll make a nice little camp just off the path where we'll sleep until ready to challenge the new day
[21:35] <Kosick> OOC: Okay.
[21:37] <Kosick> roll 1d100
06[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Kosick rolls 1d100 and gets 96." [1d100=96]
[21:38] <Kosick> OOC: Who's keeping watch if anyone?
[21:38] <Alicia> OOC: Marie doesn't need to sleep so she'll keep watch throughout. Anty needs hardly any sleep so I guess she can keep watch at her convenience
[22:03] <Kosick> Antenora and Marie are killing time on watch as Jessica and Alicia snore. The 'night' has been utterly uneventful. As the time passes, "Sorry," Antenora murmurs.
[22:04] <Alicia> "She gave you a telling off, too, huh?" Marie asks knowingly.
[22:05] <Kosick> "Yeah." Antenora says, "I feel like I should have a sore bottom to go with that verbal spanking."
[22:05] <Alicia> The coure briefly looks pained. "Ordinarily I'd jump on that, but I'll let it slide this once."
[22:06] <Kosick> "Hehehe. Sorry." Antenora blushes there, "I still couldn't restrain myself. That wasn't my finest hour here today. It's not easy to be spontaneous and witty without going to far or putting barbs on it, though."
[22:09] <Alicia> "I thought it was pretty funny," Marie shrugs. "But I guess including Alicia in our sparring was a bit uncalled for."
[22:10] <Kosick> OOC: Make listen checks, both of you?
[22:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15." [1d20=9]
[22:11] <Kosick> roll 1d20+18
06[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Kosick rolls 1d20+18 and gets 28." [1d20=10]
[22:11] <Kosick> "I...hm?" Antenora cocks her head to the side, standing upa nd looking to the other side of the river. "Did you just hear music?"
[22:12] <Alicia> "No," Marie shakes her head, looking in the same direction as Antenora. "Maybe someone over there is serenading their lover?"
[22:12] <Kosick> "It sounded more like instruments." Antenora says. As she sits up, Marie can faintly hear something, a favorable wind making it drift this way. It sounds like lutes and flutes and pipes.
[22:13] <Alicia> "Oh, wait, I can hear it now. Wind instruments," Marie agrees. "Hopefully won't wake up those two - you know how Alicia gets when she doesn't have her eight hours."
[22:14] <Kosick> "Want to go see if it's going to get closer?" Antenora stretches, "I can stay here and hold camp, just in case something bizzare happens."
[22:15] <Alicia> "Sure, I'll go take a quick look," Marie shrugs, zipping over the river to see what the source of the music is.
[22:17] <Kosick> It takes going over the river and a bit of flying to see what's going on. Far ahead, in the open plans, a party is occuring. Courre eladrin fly in the air and play instruments, while dozens dance, laugh and frolic. Booze flows freely, couples occasionally going hand in hand and heading away from the main party. The partygoers are a mix of Sunites and creatures of all shapes and types. Most are appealing enough, though a few not so much.
[22:17] <Kosick> Most are appealing enough, though a few not so much.
[22:19] <Alicia> Looks like fun, but Marie doesn't really want to get sidetracked and so flies back to rejoin their camp and reassure Antenora that they should be free of molestation for the evening.
[22:19] <Kosick> Antenora listens to the brief report, "Good. One party was enough." As she stretches back, "What was with that nymphs back in the forest? That was so cold of them."
[22:20] <Kosick> With a scowl after, "They had no excuse. They were all quite intelligent, neither of you deserved to be tossed aside like rubbish."
[22:22] <Alicia> "It was odd," Marie admits. "I mean, they're typically benign nature spirits, although maybe it was the company they kept? It was that petitioner that insulted us first and got everything off on the wrong foot."
[22:23] <Kosick> "Maybe they're new, too." Antenora considers as she glances ahead. "It might have been a lot of fun, too. As much as I hate to admit it...I really had fun with that party a few days ago. There wasn't even a hangover afterwards."
[22:25] <Alicia> "Could be they weren't particularly good but were devout followers of Sune nonetheless?" Marie suggests. "Same way I got into Elysium by following Mystra even though my nature doesn't quite fit that plane. They'll probably change over time the longer they stay here, though."
[22:26] <Kosick> OOC: Spot checks, both of you?
[22:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
06[22:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 10." [1d20=4]
[22:26] <Kosick> roll 1d20+18
06[22:26] * Hatbot --> "Kosick rolls 1d20+18 and gets 21." [1d20=3]
[22:27] <Kosick> "That makes fair sense." Continuing to look out at the path for a time. "You weren't serious about Ali-" she begins, though stops as she squints. "Interruptions again? There's a group coming down the path."
[22:28] <Alicia> "We're off the path here, hopefully they won't wake the two mortals," Marie opines hopefully, looking down the path herself.
[22:30] <Kosick> They come into view easily enough, at about 200 feet away. A woman riding a white horse, a man wearing armor and walking alongsides her, a man in rune covered robes, and a dwarf wearing heavy armor and lugging along the a huge maul. "Looks like mortal travelers. Shouldn't be any harm then."
[22:33] <Alicia> "Unless they decide to pick a fight with the scout of a fiendish invasion force?" Marie asks with a slight smile.
[22:34] <Kosick> Antenora idly touches her ribbon. "If they have magic to see through it, um...well, we can always wake up Alicia at worst." Antenora smiles. "Crabby or not."
[22:35] <Alicia> "Be sad for them if it comes to that," the coure chuckles.
[22:36] <Kosick> The group comes closer! The woman is pretty, the dwarf is gruff, the man is mighty and the robed one is mysterious. They don't look particularly unusual at all. However, as they come closer..."Say, Marie." Antenora whispers, "Try detect evil and detect magic on the dwarf? He's like a blank spot to my mind. No intelligence at all."
[22:37] <Alicia> Marie dutifully checks the group over.
[22:38] <Kosick> No evil on any of them. The woman and the two men both have various magical arms and wonderous items. The dwarf seems to have no magic at all on him.
[22:38] <Kosick> "Good day,"The woman nods as they pass, an emblazoned symbol of ruby red lips on her breastplate. "Love and passion onto all your business, celestial friends."
[22:39] <Alicia> "Blessings of the weave upon you," Marie returns with a smile.
[22:39] <Alicia> OOC: just lips, there's no blood or anything like Mal-chan's symbol, right?
[22:40] <Kosick> "Safe travels," Antenora also adds as they walk by. The human in robes glances briefly. The armored man smiles in passing, while the dwarf grunts a greeting. OOC: Nope. Also you can make an KR check.
[22:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 and gets 17." [1d20=8]
[22:42] <Alicia> Once they've passed, Marie speaks up again, "He must have some really powerful ward on him - you can detect Alicia's mind, can't you?" she asks.
[22:43] <Kosick> "I can. That's why it puzzled me," Antenora watches them go. "It's like feeling the mind that's there."
[22:43] <Kosick> "No intellect at all and he didn't look like an artificial being. It could be some particularly potent ward, they looked well equipped."
[22:44] <Alicia> "I'd have detected magic if he was just a disguised golem, so it has to be a powerful defense against divinations," Marie nods. "Makes that so-called artifact ring of Alicia's look pretty poor in comparison, doesn't it?"
[22:45] <Kosick> "Yeah. That's a lot of power for a mortal to be trotting around with." As they fade out of sight in the other direction, "Do you think it's a mystery worth investigating?"
[22:49] <Alicia> "What would we do, mug them?" Marie snorts. "I think I've heard of the spell, anyway, it's not uncommon in Dweomerheart considering all the archmages floating around there. For all we know the robed guy's a wizard who just cast it on the dwarf because he kept getting charmed or dominated."
[22:50] <Kosick> "What's the spell," Antenora turns her eyes away, back to Marie. Curiously, "If it's out there, it would be good to know about it in case it matters in battle."
[22:51] <Alicia> "It's called Mind Blank, it's an eight circle one. Probably be the first one Alicia learns of that tier, too, I bet," Marie nods sagely.
[22:52] <Kosick> "Mind Blank, hmph." With a sour look as she goes to lie back on her elbows, "I bet Esthan will have that handy too."
[22:54] <Alicia> "He didn't when we ran into him at the Citadel of Light - I could detect his aura quite easily," Marie smiles. "But then that might've just been deliberate to make sure I spotted him. It's too good a defence to neglect if you have the magical power for it."
[22:55] <Kosick> "I'd wager it's intentional in that case. He wanted to find you and give you that bow." With her scowl deepening, "Can we go back to talking about horrible slanders against Alicia? I'm trying not to obsess over the lemure fucker while I'm here.
[22:57] <Alicia> "Sure. But you do know that sword of hers will repeat every word we've said when she gets up in the morning?" Marie asks micheviously.
[22:58] <Kosick> With a snort, "From all I've gathered, Hell Striker mute to the point of being anti-social."
[23:00] <Alicia> "To us, maybe," Marie smiles slyly. "Anyway, it's unseemly for a familiar to speak poorly of her master, so I'll have to decline."
[23:01] <Kosick> "Heh, heh." Chuckling now, "Just as well. We did get out of hand today." Eyeing Marie, "Share and share alike, hm?"
[23:02] <Alicia> "Share?" Marie raises an eyebrow, not sure what Antenora's getting at.
[23:03] <Kosick> "Playing innocent now?" Chuckling moreso, "Nevermind, I was only teasing."
[23:05] <Alicia> "Oh!" Marie laughs slightly, recalling what she said earlier about sharing. "That. Yeah, me too," she nods quickly.
[23:07] <Kosick> "Uh huh." Antenora looks up into the sunset sky, "She's just so charismatic sometimes. It's easy to get close to her and spend a lot of time with her. She's really most of my life right now. If I were a man, maybe..." Smiling innocently now, "I don't know, sometimes I just...This entire messw ith Esthan reminded me that she must be terribly lonely sometimes. I want to be close to her, intimiate to her as a friend. Like a sister."
[23:07] <Kosick> intimiate to her as a friend. Like a sister."
[23:10] <Alicia> "That's nice. Admirable, even," Marie nods. "But if you're going to make unseemly allegations about improper master/familiar conduct you should expect to receive in turn."
[23:10] <Kosick> "Naturally. But you're so free and wild. LIve and love earnestly. Isn't that a phrase eladrin live by?"
[23:12] <Alicia> "Among others. I mean, if you ask ten different eladrin for words to live by you'll get ten different answers," Marie shrugs. "It's not too easy for me to find love on the prime where no one's my size, though - so what's your excuse?"
[23:18] <Kosick> "I don't know...well, no, that's a lie. PArt of it is that I'm happy right now by myself. Another is that I know a lover would be in danger by being close to me. Hell would see it as a weakness to exploit. Alicia needs me around often, too." There's a stopa fter this, Antenora looking to Marie, "I'd be worthless to Alicia lovestricken or pregnant. Finally...I like to think I can overcome the limitations of the relative mortality put on me b
[23:18] <Kosick> "
[23:18] <Kosick> Finally...I like to think I can overcome the limitations of the relative mortality put on me by my change. I can continue to ascend and rise beyond what I once was.
[23:24] <Alicia> "You're still an outsider," Marie agrees. "I don't want to stay a coure forever and you shouldn't stay an erinyes forever - although I wonder just what you would turn into if you put your mind to it," she flutters over and peers at Antenora closely. "The usual baatezu promotions are off-limits... I wonder, do you know what your angelic ancestor was before falling?"
[23:26] <Kosick> "No. I was several generations removed. I would hope an angel of some sort. If I have any say in it at all, that's what I'll go for."
[23:29] <Alicia> "Considering your zeal for fighting evil you'd make a good planetar," Marie nods. "But I'd guess you'd probably need outside interference to become a typical example of another outsider type. But you might still turn into something suitably angelic all by yourself, even if it's new and unique!"
[22:40] <Kotono> > Finally...I like to think I can overcome the limitations of the relative mortality put on me by my change. I can continue to ascend and rise beyond what I once was.
[22:40] <Kotono> <Alicia> "You're still an outsider," Marie agrees. "I don't want to stay a coure forever and you shouldn't stay an erinyes forever - although I wonder just what you would turn into if you put your mind to it," she flutters over and peers at Antenora closely. "The usual baatezu promotions are off-limits... I wonder, do you know what your angelic ancestor was before falling?"
[22:40] <Kotono> > "No. I was several generations removed. I would hope an angel of some sort. If I have any say in it at all, that's what I'll go for."
[22:40] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Considering your zeal for fighting evil you'd make a good planetar," Marie nods. "But I'd guess you'd probably need outside interference to become a typical example of another outsider type. But you might still turn into something suitably angelic all by yourself, even if it's new and unique!"
[22:42] <Kotono> "Unique is a Pistis Sophia or Raziel. I'm not that unique," Antenora smiles at the sunset sky, "Or no, I'm not sure I want to be. I don't know. Just...I want to be an angel, not a strange outsider who wants to be one. Does that makes any sense at all?"
[22:46] <Alicia> "I understand, I guess," Marie agrees. "I suppose no matter what you become you'll still be you, and that's what's most important." She flutters up to land on the erinyes' head. "Have you thought about asking Mystra? She clearly has an interest in you since she extended her protection against that big red dragon."
[22:49] <Kotono> Smiling a little now and reaching up to use a finger to pat Marie's head. "That's why I've been studying her doctrine. It's where Alicia's going, so it's where I want to end up one day."
[22:56] <Alicia> "And since you're already an outsider of middling power you'll probably get to skip the entry-level position!" Marie adds happily as she makes herself comfortable. "Seriously, though, pray to Mystra for it. If you're sincere and She thinks you're ready, it'll happen."
[22:58] <Kotono> "Should I namedrop you for pointing me in that direction while I'm at it?" Laughing now, "I do wonder, you get praise and credit for helping convert worshippers to Mystra, like how devils get the same for soul collecting and damning? You're only a courre, I don't know if it's something you'd deal with much at your level."
[23:05] <Alicia> "Especially with access to the prime being so limited until recently," Marie nods. "But Mystra doesn't really rely on mortal worshippers the same way most other deities do - considering every spell cast that draws on the Weave is effectively a prayer to her, whether the caster realises it or not."
[23:05] <Alicia> "Before becoming a familiar I mostly worked as an errand-girl and diplomat - I used to work for Keeper of Names, helping her out whenever she visited the more chaotic planes. But I figure if you're going to be joining a heavenly choir, why not the ne I'm in?"
[23:06] <Alicia> *the one I'm in
[23:09] <Kotono> "Good sense. You know...one day, I wonder if we'll end up serving Alicia if she keeps rising. She has so much potential like all of the Crimson Guard." Thoughtfully chewing on her bottom lip, "Mystra's gone out of her way to favor Alicia. Maybe the point of this is to make sure she has support, now and in the future?"
[23:09] <Kotono> OOC - Gah.
[23:09] <Kotono> "Good sense. You know...one day, I wonder if we'll end up serving Alicia if she keeps rising. She has so much potential like all of the Crimson Guard." Thoughtfully chewing on her bottom lip, "Mystra's gone out of her way to favor Alicia. Maybe the point of this is to make sure she has support, now and in the future?" She pauses there, "WE cluster around her as she gathers more, and maybe we do the same? I don't know. That bit about soul ga
[23:10] <Kotono> and maybe we do the same? I don't know. That bit about soul gathering got me off on that tangent."
[23:13] <Alicia> "Yeah..." Marie sighs, laying on her stomach atop Antenora's head. "I thought it'd be fun to boss her around if she wound up a lantern archon, but she'll probably wind up becoming a proxy at this rate. Still, the higher she goes the higher she'll bring her followers, so we should do okay."
[23:13] <Alicia> She lowers her voice, "To be honest, I'm pretty sure I'm already stronger than a ghaele in some ways just from being her familiar."
[23:16] <Kotono> "You take abuse surprisingly well and your bowmanship is remarkable." Lowering her voice in kind, "You're right. This entire group of three in particular feel like they're meant for great things. Certainly the God-King, but..." There's a long, full stop here. "I wonder if it stops there?"
[23:19] <Alicia> "No way," Marie shakes her head. "The barriers have only been weakened and we've already got diabolical archmages and who knows what else strutting around the Prime like they own the place. Once they go down completely it's going to be a free for all."
[23:22] <Kotono> "Alicia has to be well supported for that day. No, all of them have to. At least we're advancing quickly, so we can do so. It feels like a pressure cooker or a forge...or Hells, whatever silly metaphor for being cast and strengthened in fire you like. I'm thinking like a devil again." A look of pique turns Antenora's lips down as she shifts in the grass. "I mean, most worlds surely have able champions and rising champions. This world lacks
[23:22] <Kotono> "
[23:22] <Kotono> I mean, most worlds surely have able champions and rising champions. This world lacks that base."
[23:27] <Alicia> "I remember Alicia said once that she used to consider anyone who could cast third level spells to be an archmage. I almost laughed in her face," Marie admits. "Even you've come a long way, though - I mean, you used to be an erinyes that couldn't even teleport, taking orders from an osyluth of all things. Now you run around beating up gelugons like it was nothing at all."
[23:31] <Kotono> "It makes sense in it's way. With this world being so sealed off and being unsealed in a short time period, it has to be done with all haste." Now smiling widely at that, "It's natural that I can use weapons well, but my talent has grown considerably."
[23:36] <Alicia> "You'd probably lose some of your physical might in exchange for greater arcane powers, if Mystra accepted you fully," Marie opines thoughtfully. "Of course, that might let you learn some of Alicia's tricks, so it'd be a plus overall. I just hope she can learn all the circles of magic before facing Daa-vid and what comes after - she's going to need them."
[23:38] <Kotono> "There's...oh, let's see. Esthan, Agares, The Master of Esthan who will remain nameless, Shar, Torm, Gurlan, Malcanthet possibly, maybe a few others I'm forgetting?" Ticking off her fingers one at a time, "If she somehow did all of that one day she'd have changed the cosmos."
[23:41] <Alicia> "Martinet and Ebony," Marie fills in the missing blanks. "Realistically I think we need to forget any deities, and probably Malcanthet as well."
[23:42] <Kotono> "I didn't include Martinet since I have no idea what level Esthan's playing on now. We need to make a diagram to keep up with all of these. The worst part? They're starting to work together a bit. If Esthan is the Walker, he was giving the Sharrans a little boost against us."
[23:50] <Alicia> "Alicia kinda has a point that Agares seems too visible and weak to have Esthan's service, although I guess it could've been a freelance thing - the spicy bread bit was a dead giveaway, in my book," Marie muses. "Never really heard of Shar working much with devils or demons, though. She pretty much hates everyone equally, but I guess there's a difference between a deity and her followers."
[23:54] <Kotono> "Agares seems to be have messed himself up quite well in the past year or three. I don't think Agares is his master. It might be MArtinet after all and he's snowing us, but no way to prove it right now. I'm more worried about the Spark Hunters. Alicia thinks they might be a bluff, but..."
[23:58] <Alicia> "Well, we haven't seen them yet, right?" Marie smiles hopefully. "You do realise the minute they do show up she's probably going straight to hell so she can fight some powerful devils that don't move around a lot like Esthan does? That ring she commissioned wasn't just for fun jaunts to the upper planes."
[23:59] <Kotono> "The trick is surviving that," Antenora smiles a bit there, "Alicia..." Closing her eyes now, "As if she hasn't worried enough lately, I'm doing extra time for extra worrying."
Session Time: Sun Feb 15 00:00:00 2009
[00:03] <Alicia> "What happens will happen. There's really only so much we can do, and just worrying is pointless," Marie points out sagely. "How about we pass the time with a game to keep our minds busy?"
[00:05] <Kotono> "As long as it's nothing about relationships or love. Though the plane certainly puts it at the forefront of one's mind." Antenora looks up then. "Until they wake up, let's just do that and relax." OOC - Ready to skip ahead now?
[00:06] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[00:06] <Kotono> Alicia and Jessica awaken a few hours later. Once breakfast is consumed the trail is resumed! OOC - Anyone doing anything unusual or just normal traveling procedure?
[00:07] <Alicia> OOC: just strolling along.
[00:11] <Kotono> This river soon leads to a beach, emptying out into a pristine blue sea. Here and there are isolated pairs of lovers, sunbathing or talking or whispering, or if one looks towards half concealed areas, far more obvious acts of love. Mena nd women splash through the water contentedly, swimming about. A footpath goes towards the west and east along the sandline. Dotting the western beach, just at the edge of your vision, is a beachfront house.
[00:11] <Kotono> Dotting the western beach, just at the edge of your vision, is a beachfront house.
06[00:12] * Alicia follows her gut instinct and goes...
[00:12] <Alicia> roll 1d2
[00:12] <Kobot> Alicia rolled 1d2 --> [ 1d2=2 ]{2}
[00:12] <Alicia> East!
[00:14] <Kotono> As you walk opposite the dune, "You know, we really should find a guide," Jessica suggests, "Wandering aimlessly is enjoyable enough, but we're not getting anywhere so far."
[00:16] <Alicia> "Well, like we heard, it's not the sort of place you can just get directions to," Alicia reminds her sister. "Just... think happy thoughts, we'll get there soon enough."
[00:16] <Alicia> "She's right," Marie agrees. "Belief is how the planes work, so just believe that we'll get there and we will."
[00:17] <Kotono> Sniffing the air, "Mmm. I like the smell of the beach," Antenora looks to it, "The bay near Balmuria is too rocky to make good beaches. What a shame."
[00:17] <Kotono> "I believe we'll find Evergold. I believe we'll find Evergold. I believe well find Evergold," Jessica chants steadily as she walks.
[00:18] <Alicia> "There's a few nice spots, but you have to go away from the city for it," Alicia tells Antenora as they stroll along, determined to find their goal.
[00:21] <Kotono> An hour of walking brings no end to the shoreline. However, over the dunes, you can see a beachouse. Nothing unusual there, but this one has a human leaning against the side. This man wears good clothes, sand clinging to them. His head is tucked against his knees as he sits, soft sobs escaping him. The sound of it drifts to the path.
[00:26] <Alicia> A jilted lover, perhaps? Still, it doesn't seem right for someone to be crying in heaven, so Alicia sets down her barrel as they draw near and approaches the man, squatting down opposite him and speaking up in a soft tone, "Tears don't suit this realm of joy and love. What ails you, sir?"
[00:55] <Kotono> Sniffing before he looks up, cheeks wet, "Oh, my beloved...she did not come." Wiping at his eyes, "Long have I waited for this glorious day and she is not here!"
[00:57] <Alicia> "She stood you up?" Alicia asks sympathetically. There probably are a lot of distractions here, although it seems somewhat inappropriate for a realm of pure love.
[00:58] <Kotono> "It seems so. She should have come from over there," Pointing at the sandy beach, "Fair Gwendolyn, my beloved. I wait here for you, but you are still gone!"
[01:00] <Alicia> "Well, maybe something delayed her?" Alicia asks. "Why don't you go look for her instead of brooding here?"
[01:01] <Kotono> "...oh. Yes, that would be a fine idea," Wiping at his eyes, "I just wanted to meet her here like we'd promised."
[01:05] <Alicia> "How late is she?" Alicia asks. "If it's not been too long then you might as well wait in case she's just been held up, but otherwise you're probably better off looking for her I think. Just moping isn't going to accomplish anything," she encourages, trying to lift his spirits.
[01:06] <Kotono> "About three hours," Drying his tears now as he stands up, "The emotion of it overwhelmed me."
[01:10] <Alicia> "That's longer than any reasonable delay," Alicia agrees. "You should go try and find your lady love instead of waiting - women like a man who's decisive, after all," she concludes with a smile.
[14:46] <Kokokokokoko> <Alicia> "She stood you up?" Alicia asks sympathetically. There probably are a lot of distractions here, although it seems somewhat inappropriate for a realm of pure love.
[14:46] <Kokokokokoko> > "It seems so. She should have come from over there," Pointing at the sandy beach, "Fair Gwendolyn, my beloved. I wait here for you, but you are still gone!"
[14:46] <Kokokokokoko> <Alicia> "Well, maybe something delayed her?" Alicia asks. "Why don't you go look for her instead of brooding here?"
[14:46] <Kokokokokoko> > "...oh. Yes, that would be a fine idea," Wiping at his eyes, "I just wanted to meet her here like we'd promised."
[14:46] <Kokokokokoko> <Alicia> "How late is she?" Alicia asks. "If it's not been too long then you might as well wait in case she's just been held up, but otherwise you're probably better off looking for her I think. Just moping isn't going to accomplish anything," she encourages, trying to lift his spirits.
[14:46] <Kokokokokoko> > "About three hours," Drying his tears now as he stands up, "The emotion of it overwhelmed me."
[14:46] <Kokokokokoko> <Alicia> "That's longer than any reasonable delay," Alicia agrees. "You should go try and find your lady love instead of waiting - women like a man who's decisive, after all," she concludes with a smile.
[14:48] <Kokokokokoko> "Yes, you're right." Standing up now, "Thank you for that, I needed it."
[14:52] <Alicia> "Any time," Alicia nods, happy to do her bit to brighten up Brightwater. "Good luck to you." With that she goes to rejoin her friends, having had a sudden inspiration. "You know, if we're looking for a hidden fountain, we're going about it wrong this way - we need to head off the beaten path and really explore the secret places of this realm."
[14:58] <Kokokokokoko> "That...yes, that does feel like a good leap of logic considering the realm." After a moment to weigh it over, "So...where do we go now then, Alicia?" Antenora looks about, towards the beaches and then towards the open fields opposite them.
[14:59] <Alicia> "For now lets just head inland over those fields," Alicia strikes off in that direction. "If any of you feel any sudden inspirations to go in a particular direction we'll go with that, but this should at least give us a start."
[15:03] <Kokokokokoko> "I will, sister." Jessica starts to walk in the fields, the sunrise sunlight washing over her. Thus the party takes to wandering this realm aimlessly! (More)
[15:03] <Kokokokokoko> roll 1d100
05[15:04] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[15:04] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[15:04] <Kokokokokoko> roll 1d100
06[15:04] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokoko rolls 1d100 and gets 60." [1d100=60]
[15:06] <Kokokokokoko> A few hours of this leads into more and more fields. At first this is uneventful, but eventually something is seen. In these quiet fields you very occasionally pass people far away, on picnics and the like. Most of them are close enough to where distance and disc retion is preferable anyway. But then...on the horizon, a tower. A gilded tower of rose-gold and light, tall and looming over this segment of the fields. While not being obvi
[15:06] <Kokokokokoko> While not being obviously indicative of the realm, it is certainly long and big anyway. You're still a fair ways from it when it comes into view - you'd need to go to it to get a better look.
[15:08] <Alicia> "Hmm. Want to check out that tower?" Alicia asks her companions.
[15:09] <Kokokokokoko> "I wonder if there are caves around too," Jessica mutters to herslef, before she glances. "I'm good either way."
[15:10] <Kokokokokoko> "Even if it's not Evergold, ther emight be information there or something worthwhile," Antenora suggests.
[15:11] <Alicia> "Maybe a wizard lives there?" Marie suggests as they head towards said tower.
02[15:17] * tai-shower (~ferixstad@resnet226-054.resnet.wmich.edu) Quit (Off to n I go.)
[15:25] <Kokokokokoko> The tower is surrounded by a fence of roses, all growing and weaved together. Roses of red, each one throbbing with color. There's a fair bit of space between the walls of roses and the tower. The tower itself is ten stories tall, circular in shape and very classical. There is a gap in the wall of roses ahead, a section of it ajar, almost like a fence gate.
[15:31] <Alicia> Naturally Alicia heads towards the opening as the simplest means of bypassing this fence of thorns.
02[15:32] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) Quit (Client exited)
[15:34] <Kokokokokoko> As the group approaches, the rose-gate swings open! Standing just inside of it is an angel. This angel has wings of rose-red and a beauty that words fail to describe. Her face is filled with patient hope and eternal longing. She wears only a bodysash of the lightest silk you've ever seen, almost ghost like. In a throaty whisper, "Welcome to Immemorium."
03[15:35] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5447a7db.wfd86b.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
[15:36] <Alicia> "Greetings," Alicia smiles to the angel, "We are travellers from the Prime and Elysium - my name is Alicia Reynes. What is this place?"
[15:40] <Kokokokokoko> "Here lies the legacy of Rosewild, the once and future servant of Sune. Time has forgotten her, yet there shall be a time when Rosewild rises once more." Her hair is as red as the roses, longer than her body and flowing in the wind like a trail of rose-red fire. Her eyes are closed. "When the time is right, Rosewild will return. Until that time, this resting place is dedicated as a trial ground. Those who whis to prove bravery, love,
[15:40] <Kokokokokoko> this resting place is dedicated as a trial ground. Those who whis to prove bravery, love, strength of arms and conviction, and passion may enter in."
06[15:44] * Alicia sets down her barrel. She's gotten rather bored of aimlessly wandering the planes and this sounds like a good way to challenge herself and perhaps learn a thing or two so that the trip won't be a waste even if they don't find Evergold. "As you say, fair guardian, then I would wish to pay my respects to Rosewild by testing myself, if you would permit it."
[15:44] <Alicia> Marie blinks before speaking up, "Me too!"
[15:44] <Kokokokokoko> "I would wish to as well," Antenora says, and Jessica just nods along agreeably.
[15:45] <Kokokokokoko> "Then so it shall be. Only pairs may go in together, the four of you will have to split into two pairs. Which two of you will enter first, then?" The angel's eyes open, all the golden glow of love within them.
[15:47] <Alicia> "How about Jessica and I go first, then you two?" Alicia suggests, looking first to her sister then to the two outsiders.
[15:47] <Kokokokokoko> "Go ahead," Antenora puts her own barrel down, going to stretch her back out.
[15:48] <Alicia> "Can you tell us anything about the tests before we enter, guardian?" Alicia asks the angel.
[15:49] <Kokokokokoko> "There are times when your strenght of arms is requisite, yet other times when it will be a bane." Stepping aside, "Enter into the tower when you are ready."
[15:50] <Alicia> "Give me your sword for a second, sister?" Alicia asks, so she can provide a stronger enhancement to the blade.
[15:50] <Kokokokokoko> The silver rapier is dutifully passed over.
06[15:51] * Alicia then casts greater magic weapon on it, and also casts voice of the archon on herself before leading the way into the tower.
[15:53] <Alicia> After giving the sword back, of course!
[15:54] <Kokokokokoko> Past the rose fence, there are small gardens and statues. A stone path leads to the entrance to the tower. It's a simple rose styled door made of wrought gold. As you walk to it, "I thought you would've invited Antenora to go with you. She's much stronger than I am."
[15:57] <Alicia> "If it comes down to strength then it would make things hard if you and Marie went in together, wouldn't it?" Alicia asks. "Besides, it's nice for us to do something like this together once and a while - and those two have been getting along so well since we came here that it'll give them a chance to show their love for one another," she concludes with a snicker.
[15:58] <Kokokokokoko> That makes Jessica laugh, pausing before the entrance door as she does so. "Well, at worst, they can redirect their bickering towards each other. Like a married couple." With a long, heavy laugh to finish that, "At least they've calmed down. Anyway, shall we?"
06[15:59] * Alicia nods and opens the door to head inside!
[16:02] <Kokokokokoko> Inside is a hollow floor. Here three dozen angels lie in kneeling in a circle around the center of the room. Each chants in Celestial, a ballad of love, hope and rebirth. In the center of the room stairs wind upward, little floating bits of rose-gold that loosely form a path to the next floor.
06[16:05] * Alicia elects to stay here for a bit and listen to the song before she goes up the stairs - she also takes a chance to look around for anything else of note on this floor, but regardless of what she finds she takes the time to admire the performance.
03[16:06] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@76.235.174.145) has joined #evildunes
[16:09] <Kokokokokoko> The performance is heartlifting and uplifting. AS Alicia looks around, it filters her view. She feels hope spread into her heart. As it does, she sees the floor has several statues, one at each cardinal point. Smaller statues fit between them, lining the walls, two between each statue. Each is of the same angel in different poses, a glorious one clad in silk and with a wild rose in hand. (More)
02[16:09] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@76.235.174.145) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
[16:09] <Kokokokokoko> rose in hand. (More)
03[16:09] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-174-145.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
[16:11] <Kokokokokoko> One of the angels stands up as the song progresses, going to stand directly in front of Alicia and Jessica. "It is beautiful. The loving bonds of sisterhood link the two of you intimiately." This angels has hair like the rose-gold you see in the stairs, body covered in golden armor. "There exists love in your hearts."
03[16:12] * Kokokokokoko is now known as Blondezilla
06[16:13] * Alicia smiles at the compliment, feeling uplifted by the song all around them. "You see us as we are, my friend. We have come to pay our respects to Rosewild and test ourselves in the trials found here."
[16:16] <Blondezilla> "To me, there is no doubt of your love." A rose appears in the angel's hand, it's gender unable to be easily discerned. Regardless of which it is, the creature in front of you is beautiful in a sense that mortal beings cannot approach. "Thus I shall test your courage of arms. Worry not on harming me, for in this place I am eternal. Now...!" OOC: Initiative.
[16:17] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[16:17] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{17}
[16:17] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+10 Jessica
[16:17] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d20+10 Jessica --> [ 1d20=2 ]{12}
[16:17] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+7 angel
[16:17] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d20+7 angel --> [ 1d20=12 ]{19}
03[16:17] * Blondezilla changes topic to 'Rose Angel>Aliica>Jessica cosplays Rei again. Scary!'
[16:19] <Blondezilla> From the angel's rose, four thorns fly out at the two women! Two thorns on each one!
[16:19] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+24 Alicia
[16:19] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d20+24 Alicia --> [ 1d20=6 ]{30}
[16:19] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+19 Jessica
[16:19] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d20+19 Jessica --> [ 1d20=13 ]{32}
[16:19] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+14 Alicia
[16:19] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d20+14 Alicia --> [ 1d20=6 ]{20}
[16:19] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+9 Jessica
[16:19] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d20+9 Jessica --> [ 1d20=18 ]{27}
[16:20] <Blondezilla> OOC - Flatfooted AC, Alicia?
[16:20] <Alicia> OOC: 24
[16:20] <Blondezilla> OOC - 1 damage to you and 2 to Jessica. More coming.
[16:22] <Blondezilla> The thorns fly in the air, arcing through! One grazes across Alicia's cheek, drawing a single droplet of blood! This blood hovers in the air, the thorn flying back to it! The two combine together, springing around Alicia! A tight dome of thorns surrounds Alicia completely! This dome has crimson roses blossom on it. As she is surrounded, Alicia can glimpse the same thing happen to Jessica before her view is blocked! OOC- Alicia. You're
[16:23] <Blondezilla> Alicia can glimpse the same thing happen to Jessica before her view is blocked! OOC- Alicia. You're surrounded by a dome of thorns and roses.
[16:23] <Blondezilla> The song of the angels changes, turning to a ballad of bravery in combat, to save your loved ones from all evils nad perils.
06[16:25] * Alicia draws Hell Striker in a smooth motion and sends the blade scything through the thorns around her to burn and cut them down!
[16:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -12 pa
[16:25] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+10 -12 pa --> [ 1d20=11 ]{21}
[16:25] <Alicia> roll 1d8+34+1d6
[16:25] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+34+1d6 --> [ 1d8=2 1d6=5 ]{41}
[16:27] <Blondezilla> Alicia cuts a large chunk of thorns away, makign some head way against the barrier! As the edges smoke and flame from the contact, Alicia finds she can almost see outside of them! Not quite, though, more barrier still surviving! OOC - Jessica's up.
[16:28] <Blondezilla> Alicia can hear some muffled sounds away, and then Jessica's voice! "Sister...help, please! Heeelp...me....they hurt...I can't get out..." OOC - Alicia, you're up.
[16:30] <Alicia> "Hold on, Jessica!" Alicia continues to hack through the wall of thorns, intending to step closer to the other dome as soon as she's cleared a sufficient path so that she can come to her sister's aid.
[16:30] <Alicia> OOC: full attack plus 5ft step, I'll roll them seperately so any that come after enough damage to kill my dome are applied to Jessica's
[16:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -12 pa divine might
[16:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+10 -12 pa divine might --> [ 1d20=13 ]{23}
[16:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 -12 pa divine might
[16:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+5 -12 pa divine might --> [ 1d20=9 ]{14}
[16:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20 -12 pa divine might
[16:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20 -12 pa divine might --> [ 1d20=18 ]{18}
[16:31] <Blondezilla> OOC: Two hits.
[16:31] <Alicia> roll 1d8+41+1d6
[16:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+41+1d6 --> [ 1d8=5 1d6=3 ]{49}
[16:31] <Alicia> roll 1d8+41+1d6
[16:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+41+1d6 --> [ 1d8=6 1d6=6 ]{53}
[16:32] <Blondezilla> With a mighty hack, Alicia clears a path out! Stepping forward, she assails the dome that cloaks Jessica, side by side! A deep gouge is ripped into this, thorns all around you! As this happens, you can hear, "Alicia, hold on! I'm coming!"
[16:33] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15
[16:33] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+10
[16:33] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{20}
[16:33] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{18}
[16:33] <Blondezilla> roll 2d6+8
[16:33] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 2d6+8 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{13}
[16:34] <Blondezilla> The remaining part of thorns between you and your sister is perforated twice, silver rapier-tip poking through to weaken it further! The angel cannot be seen right now, thorns block most of your view ahead. OOC: Alicia.
06[16:35] * Alicia gets the feeling that those plaintive cries for help she heard didn't really come from her sister, and Jessica's hearing her own false request for help in turn. Still, she needs to clear out these thorns before they can think about battling any other foes, so she continues to defoliate the area with extreme prejudice!
[16:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -12 pa
[16:36] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+10 -12 pa --> [ 1d20=8 ]{18}
[16:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 -12 pa
[16:36] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+5 -12 pa --> [ 1d20=9 ]{14}
[16:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20 -12 pa
[16:36] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20 -12 pa --> [ 1d20=3 ]{3}
[16:36] <Blondezilla> OOC: One hit.
[16:36] <Alicia> roll 1d8+34+1d6
[16:36] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+34+1d6 --> [ 1d8=4 1d6=1 ]{39}
[16:37] <Blondezilla> With a crackle of fire, Hell Striker cleaves through the thorns! JEssica is within, rapier drawn! "Alicia!" She says quickly, "You're safe!" She approaches through the hole, "Can you cut a path ahead so we can get out of these thorns entirely?"
[16:39] <Alicia> "I can, but we need to be ready so that we're not caught all over again," Alicia replies. "Hold still for a second," she channels a mirror image spell into her blade which ceases to flame as she gently taps her sister, causing several illusory duplicates to spring up around her!
[16:39] <Alicia> roll 1d4+4
[16:39] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d4+4 --> [ 1d4=2 ]{6}
03[16:40] * Blondezilla is now known as Koaway
03[21:28] * Koaway is now known as Kotono
[21:51] <Kotono> Six Jessicas are now in place of the one Jessica! Jessica readies herself in the meanwhile! OOC - Alicia.
[21:52] <Alicia> Now to hack through the wall of thorns between them and the angel, which Alicia does with gusto!
[21:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -12 pa
[21:53] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+10 -12 pa --> [ 1d20=16 ]{26}
[21:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 -12 pa
[21:53] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+5 -12 pa --> [ 1d20=2 ]{7}
[21:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+0 -12 pa
[21:53] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+0 -12 pa --> [ 1d20=19 ]{19}
[21:53] <Kotono> OOC - Two hits.
[21:53] <Alicia> roll 1d8+34+1d6
[21:53] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+34+1d6 --> [ 1d8=6 1d6=1 ]{41}
[21:53] <Alicia> roll 1d8+34+1d6
[21:53] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+34+1d6 --> [ 1d8=4 1d6=6 ]{44}
[21:58] <Kotono> Hacking through, Alicia clears an escape path! Now you can see the angel, about 60 feet away. It stands past the rose-gold stairs, rose petals and thorns swirling around it. Jessica slides out past Alicai deftly, silver rapier brushing aside a few thorns! She moves thirty feet, keeping low in tandem with all of her illusions! OOC - Angel is up.
[22:00] <Kotono> The angel's body is cloaked by roses and thorns! "Together, you could conquer anything. But apart?" This time, four thorns go out at Alicia!
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
[22:00] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+24 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{42}
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
[22:00] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+19 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{23}
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
[22:00] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+14 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{29}
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
[22:00] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{12}
[22:00] <Kotono> OOC - AC?
[22:01] <Alicia> OOC: 33
[22:01] <Kotono> OOC: 1 damage
[22:02] <Kotono> Alicia defends herself, blocking two thorns with her armor and a third batted out of the air! But a forth grazes her cheek again! Thorns and roses surround her in another prison of hard, sharp thorns blossoms around her, the back melding into the previous two sets! OOC - Jessica's up.
[22:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[22:03] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{16}
03[22:03] * asdgsdfasdf (~ferixstad@adsl-76-236-187-14.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
[22:03] <Kotono> OOC - Wait I'm sorry, you're up. Hurf durf. 1 stays in place, though.
02[22:03] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-174-145.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[22:03] * Kotono changes topic to 'Rose Angel>Alicia>Jessica cosplays Rei again. Scary!'
06[22:05] * Alicia could just blast through the thorns and then hit the angel with spellfire, but that would risk the noncombatant angels as well as damage the tower itself, which she can't consider as an option. Therefore with little else for it, she hacks through the thorns, this time prepared to defend herself from attacks afterwards!
[22:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+2 knowledge devotion nature?
[22:05] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+2 knowledge devotion nature? --> [ 1d20=5 ]{7}
[22:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 -12pa fighting defensively
[22:05] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 -12pa fighting defensively --> [ 1d20=1 ]{8}
[22:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+2 -12pa fighting defensively
[22:06] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+2 -12pa fighting defensively --> [ 1d20=7 ]{9}
[22:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20-3 -12pa fighting defensively
[22:06] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20-3 -12pa fighting defensively --> [ 1d20=13 ]{10}
[22:08] <Kotono> The hacks of Alicia fail to damage the thorny barrier! She hears a faint sound on the other side, but nothing comes of it as well! Then...
[22:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 (+4 morale)
[22:08] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 (+4 morale) --> [ 1d20=20 ]{29}
[22:09] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia.
06[22:09] * Alicia tries again!
[22:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 -12pa fighting defensively
[22:09] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 -12pa fighting defensively --> [ 1d20=16 ]{23}
[22:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+2 -12pa fighting defensively
[22:09] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+2 -12pa fighting defensively --> [ 1d20=7 ]{9}
[22:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20-3 -12pa fighting defensively
[22:09] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20-3 -12pa fighting defensively --> [ 1d20=16 ]{13}
[22:10] <Alicia> roll 1d8+35+1d6
[22:10] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+35+1d6 --> [ 1d8=2 1d6=4 ]{41}
[22:10] <Kotono> Hacking outward, Alicia is able to tag the thorns once! A large chunk of them are burnt away, but some of the barrier remains, still impedeing her! Distantly, she can hear Jessica shout, "No! I would never leave her behind!"
[22:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[22:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[22:11] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{23}
[22:11] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{25}
[22:11] <Kotono> roll 2d6+8
[22:11] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 2d6+8 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{15}
[22:11] <Kotono> Two rapier stabs pierce through the wall of thorns, making it buckle further with holes! This lets more sound in, as, "....then be silent!"
[22:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 (+4 morale)
[22:12] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 (+4 morale) --> [ 1d20=14 ]{23}
[22:12] <Kotono> Through the holes Alicia can see Jessica hacking and thursting! Bands of white energy course around her, but with a struggle and shout, she breaks them apart before they ensnare her! OOC - Alicia.
[22:13] <Alicia> Hopefully one more should do it!
[22:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+11 -12pa
[22:13] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+11 -12pa --> [ 1d20=6 ]{17}
[22:14] <Alicia> roll 1d8+35+1d6
[22:14] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+35+1d6 --> [ 1d8=8 1d6=2 ]{45}
[22:14] <Kotono> With another heavy slash, the barrier of thorns burns away and collapses! Alicia can see the angel where it still was, covered by it's barrier!
[22:15] <Alicia> Having cut her way to freedom, Alicia starts moving quickly towards their angelic foe. "Come on, we can't win if we stay on the defensive!"
03[22:19] * asdgsdfasdf is now known as taifkaughnephewonleg
[22:19] <Kotono> Jessica nods and follows, stopping 10 feet in front of Alicia! "This time he won't get us," she smiles low, "Got it!" The angel's hand comes out of the barrier, unmolested by the thorns! From this...OOC - What's your CL, Alicia?
[22:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[22:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[22:19] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{18}
[22:19] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{23}
[22:19] <Alicia> OOC: 14
[22:19] <Kotono> But nothing seems to happen! OOC - Alicia.
06[22:20] * Alicia attempts to bring down that thorny barrier, first of all! "Weave of magic, bend to my call and break this dweomer before me!"
[22:20] <Alicia> OOC: targetted dispel on angel. How many rolls?
[22:20] <Kotono> OOC: 3.
[22:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[22:20] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{21}
[22:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[22:20] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{19}
[22:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[22:20] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{15}
[22:22] <Kotono> Alicia attempts to disrupt the weave around th eangel, but nothing seems to happen! HIs magic does not break to Alicia's arcane words at all! Jessica hangs back, "Can you try that again? I can't get in close without getting torn apart by those thorns!" She does move ten feet closer and five feet away ,moving around him in the meanwhile! OOC - Angel is up.
[22:22] <Alicia> OOC: I have a move action
[22:22] <Kotono> OOC: Oh, okay.
[22:22] <Kotono> OOC: Strike everything after the resolution of yoru dispel then.
06[22:23] * Alicia moves forward, tumbling around the angel and staying close so she hopefully can't be seperated by another wall of thorns. "Wait until I've dispelled the barrier before attacking, Jessica!"
[22:25] <Kotono> "Got it, I know!" Jessica says, going around to the other side of the angel, tumbling past his thorns as well and positioning! OOC - Angel is up.
[22:27] <Kotono> The angel glows bright, a blinding flash coming from him! The light is overwhelming! OOC - Fort saves, both of you.
[22:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 (+4 morale)
[22:27] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 (+4 morale) --> [ 1d20=1 ]{9}
[22:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25
[22:27] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+25 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{33}
[22:28] <Kotono> The light leaves Alicia unharmed, but Jessica falls to her knees, her rapier clattering as she groans! OOC - Alicia.
[22:29] <Alicia> "Hang on, Jessica, I'll end this now!" Alicia calls, braving the thorns as she proceeds to throw caution to the wind and assail the angel with everything she has!
[22:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 knowledge devotion
[22:29] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+17 knowledge devotion --> [ 1d20=4 ]{21}
[22:29] <Kotono> OOC - Hold on a sec.
[22:29] <Alicia> OOC: okay...
[22:30] <Kotono> OOC: Sorry, I misread your line, go ahead and attack first.
[22:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 5th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers
[22:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+23 th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers --> [ 1d20=20 ]{43}
[22:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 5th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers crit check
[22:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+23 th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers crit check --> [ 1d20=5 ]{28}
[22:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 5th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers
[22:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+23 th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers --> [ 1d20=5 ]{28}
[22:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 5th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers
[22:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+23 th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers --> [ 1d20=14 ]{37}
[22:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 5th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers
[22:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+18 th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers --> [ 1d20=11 ]{29}
[22:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 5th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers
[22:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+18 th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers --> [ 1d20=6 ]{24}
[22:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 5th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers
[22:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+13 th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers --> [ 1d20=4 ]{17}
[22:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 5th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers
[22:31] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+13 th and 2nd level arcane strike, divine might, nonlethal, bracers --> [ 1d20=8 ]{21}
[22:31] <Kotono> OOC - TWo normal hits.
[22:32] <Alicia> roll 1d8+16+1d6+6d4
[22:32] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+16+1d6+6d4 --> [ 1d8=2 1d6=2 6d4=17 ]{37}
[22:32] <Alicia> roll 1d8+16+1d6+6d4
[22:32] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+16+1d6+6d4 --> [ 1d8=7 1d6=1 6d4=16 ]{40}
[22:32] <Kotono> roll 10d8+10
[22:32] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 10d8+10 --> [ 10d8=39 ]{49}
[22:34] <Kotono> The thorns shred at Alicia as she hacks through them! She lands two blows through them to the angel! Each time she does, the thorns seem to find her most vulnerable spots, stabbing and piercing through her protections painfully! OOC: 49 damage, Alicia. Jessica's stunned this round. Angel's up.
[22:38] <Kotono> The thorns are bloodied, both by Alicia and the angel! Yet it's attention is on her, unearthy grace looking at her rose petals fly out around her! OOC - Ref save, Alicia.
[22:38] <Alicia> OOC: spellfire
[22:38] <Kotono> OOC: 5 levels.
[22:38] <Kotono> The rose petals flow into Alicia as pure spelle nergy, doing her no harm! OOC - Aicia.
[22:38] <Alicia> Bloodied but not unbowed, Alicia retracts her blade for the moment. "That's a wonderful defence you have. A shame I must break it," she compliments, trying to dispel the angel once more!
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[22:38] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{29}
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[22:38] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{25}
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[22:38] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{23}
[22:41] <Kotono> This time, the barrier of defense fades away! The angel is exposed now after Alicia's dispellation! It is wounded across it's body and chest, golden armor stained rose! OOC - Doing anything with your move action?
[22:41] <Alicia> OOC: nope, holding position
[22:42] <Kotono> Jessica gets up and grabs her rapier, before thrusting at him once, flanking him with Alicia! "Go down! No one hurts Alicia!"
[22:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[22:42] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+17 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{21}
[22:42] <Kotono> BUt the blow glances off his armor, failing to do anything of note! OOC - Angel is up.
[22:43] <Kotono> Drawing his arms back to wrap around her/his chest, the angel emits another blinding flash of light! OOC - Fort you two.
[22:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[22:43] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{15}
[22:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25
[22:43] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+25 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{27}
[22:44] <Kotono> Jessica falls stunned again, while Alicia endures the powerful light without yielding! Thereafter, the angel attempts to tumble back and away!
[22:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[22:44] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{27}
[22:44] <Kotono> It gracefully flips back twenty feet and away from them, landing just past a singing, bowing angel!
[22:44] <Kotono> OOC - Alicia.
06[22:46] * Alicia moves swiftly after the angel, putting herself between it and Jessica as she lunges out to batter her foe with the flat of Hell Striker's blade!
[22:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 nonlethal, charging
[22:46] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+22 nonlethal, charging --> [ 1d20=5 ]{27}
[22:47] <Kotono> The charging blow hits right on the angel...'s breastplate, a mighty impact absorbed by it's armor! Jessica is stunned again, unable to move! OOC - Angel is up.
[22:48] <Kotono> "Superb...you move to protect her even now. I salute you!" Yet he retorts with a single heavy blow against Alicia, the rose in his hand used as a pure weapon?!
[22:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30
[22:48] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+30 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{47}
[22:48] <Kotono> OOC: 1 damage and will.
[22:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
[22:49] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+26 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{33}
[22:49] <Kotono> The rose does very little damage at all, yet Alicia feels strangey afllicted...but nothing seems to come of it! After, the angel backwards and to the sides again!
[22:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[22:49] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{32}
[22:50] <Kotono> OOC - Alicia, you're up.
[22:52] <Alicia> "Mystra, guide my blade..." Alicia whispers under her breath, again moving after her foe but more deliberately this time, not a heedless charge but still threatening with her fiery blades.
[22:52] <Alicia> OOC: true strike cast
[22:52] <Kotono> JEssica gets up and gets her rapier again, coming to Alicia's side but not quite reaching the angel! She moves to be able to go around him next round! OOC - Angel is up.
[22:53] <Kotono> The angel stands it's ground this time, striking out with it's bare hands now! "You leave me no choice!" he says, striking Alicia!
[22:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (-7 PA)
[22:54] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+20 (-7 PA) --> [ 1d20=6 ]{26}
[22:54] <Kotono> OOC - AC?
[22:54] <Alicia> OOC: 33
[22:54] <Kotono> The blow hits Alicia's own breastplate, failing to dent her! There after the angel flips away again!
[22:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[22:54] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{26}
[22:55] <Kotono> He goes around and lands at the foot of the rose-gold stairs, standing before the first one! OOC - Alicia.
06[22:56] * Alicia rushes after the angel, leaping gracefully above him to land on his far side and provide a perfect flanking opportunity for Jessica as her blade sings downwards to bash him on the back of the head as she goes!
[22:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 nonlethal -12 pa divine might
[22:56] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+28 nonlethal -12 pa divine might --> [ 1d20=14 ]{42}
[22:57] <Alicia> roll 1d8+43+1d6
[22:57] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+43+1d6 --> [ 1d8=8 1d6=1 ]{52}
[22:58] <Kotono> The angel is staggered massively by the blow, rocking back as his head is slammed back! A moment later, Jessica goes to his flank, weaving amid the tiny stairs to strike at him!
[22:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
[22:58] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+19 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{20}
[22:59] <Kotono> Yet despite a charge and a flank, Jessica's thrust narrowly misses! OOC - Angel is up, horrible, horrible luck.
[23:01] <Kotono> The angel grimaces and holds her head, "Enough, I concede," it says, going to kneel and touch it's head. Healing energy passes through its' body. "You've triumphed. I'll heal your injuries in a moment before you go on."
06[23:02] * Alicia relaxes and stows her blade. "Well fought," she compliments. "You were a worthy foe."
[23:03] <Kotono> "You are worthy as well," it goes to Alicia, her wounds healing! OOC - HP fully restored.
[23:03] <Kotono> Jessica sheaths her rapier, "You were like trying to hit a ghost. I could barely keep up with you."
[23:04] <Alicia> "Can you tell us anything of what to expect on the next floor of the tower?" Alicia asks, smiling in gratitude as they're healed.
[23:05] <Kotono> "You will go to floor 3 next; bypass floor 2." As it straightens up, the song changes to a peaceful melody of peace hard one in the forge of battle, of love's rewards after trials. "You will be tested further. Proceed."
[23:07] <Alicia> "Very well," Alicia nods, taking half a step up before cocking her head and glancing back, "Out of interest, why... actually, nevermind. It's probably a test pertaining to romantic love, I take it?"
[23:10] <Kotono> "Perhaps it is," With a slight smile, "You have no business going there with your sister."
[23:10] <Kotono> JEssica furrows her brow briefly, "I'll take your word for it." The rose-gold stairs are supportive despite being so slight, not sagging to Alicia's weight.
[23:10] <Alicia> "Understood," Alicia chuckles as she nods. "Come on, Jessica. Floor three it is!" She begins her asscent.
[23:11] <Kotono> A moment later, "I mean...nevermind, that sounded wrong. To floor 3!"
[23:11] <Kotono> Up you go! The second floor stair branches off to a single door and wall, nothing else visible past it. The door is dark, shadowed. The stairs continue upward as well.
06[23:12] * Alicia does not give into her curiousity and keeps going. Maybe Antenora and Marie can tell them about the second floor, assuming those two even get past the first.
[23:13] <Kotono> The third floor comes up to a room. This is a wide room with statues ahead, and a door of rose-gold that's ajar. The stairs abruptly end here for twenty feet, more rose gold twenty feet up as the path continues despite the interruption.
06[23:14] * Alicia takes a moment to study the statues before approaching the door, in case they have any clues regarding what's ahead.
[23:14] <Kotono> The statues are of an angel holding a rose in her hand. THis statue is distinctly feminine.
[23:16] <Alicia> Well, not really any different than the ones on the first floor. "Hmm, just in case we have to fight again..." Alicia casts shield on herself, then channels it into her sword and briefly taps Jessica to give her the same benefit. "Ready, sister?"
[23:16] <Kotono> "Sure." Stepping forward and walking to the door, "You want to go first?"
06[23:17] * Alicia nods and obligingly leads the way inside!
[23:20] <Kotono> Inside you come to an array of mirrors. There are hundreds of mirrors in this room. Freestanding mirrors, mirrors on thew alls, mirrors floating in the air. Trillions of reflected Alicias and Jessicas can be seen! It's a large room, wrapping around like a hall out of sight.
[23:20] <Kotono> "So many, so much glass!" Jessica's head whips about as she views them all. "So pretty."
[23:21] <Alicia> "A hall of mirrors? I hope we don't have to fight copies of ourselves," Alicia is a bit more guarded as she starts to walk down the hallway.
[23:25] <Kotono> As you walk, you see more images. These images are of Alicia and Jessica with various people. People you care about: family, friends, lovers, children. Jessica's are far more repetitive, mostly Roald, Alicia, Antenora or Marie.
[23:29] <Kotono> Jessica eyes all of them, focusing more on hers. "Just what I remember...yours have so many, but mine are just the people I know. I mean...no Beth? I guess not."
[23:30] <Alicia> A sad reminder of her amnesia, although Alicia doubts even if she could remember her life as Beth that there'd be much love in it. "Oh, sister, look at this one," Alicia tugs Jessica's arm and brings her over to a mirror showing a younger and softer looking Alicia cradling a baby while leaning her head against a man's chest. "That's me with Hans and Felix."
[23:31] <Kotono> "Oh!" Looking on with wide eyes, "You look so...happy." Smiling now, "He's so cute, too!"
[23:33] <Alicia> "Yes... it was good while it lasted," Alicia smiles wistfully, staring at the image for a long moment before she resumes walking. "I wouldn't worry too much about not having as many here. You haven't had that long to experience life, yet - if you look at it one way you're no older than my son was in that image there."
[23:40] <Kotono> Staying to watch it as she begins to walk again, "The past goes away from it. It slips away...like a stream. We can't go backwards in it except in our memories so we have to keep trying to make new happinesses. I read that and this reminds me of it." As Jessica speaks, you wrap around. Here, the mirrors blur and blend into one great wall of reflections. Alicia can be seen in it; her reflection is of a young woman in her blossoming prime, go
[23:40] <Kotono> Alicia can be seen in it; her reflection is of a young woman in her blossoming prime, gorgeous and unmarred by time and battle. Love and happiness shines in her eyes. Jessica appears much the same. Words in a neutral voice are heard, "You have made love and passion for yourselves. What of others? CAn you stand before the light and claim that you have made the world a better place?"
[23:43] <Alicia> "Yes I can," Alicia replies without hesitation. "I have loved, I have fought, I have inspired, I have taught. And in doing each I have helped others."
[23:45] <Kotono> "I haven't been here long. My other self died, but I've done all I can. Alicia, she's made me what I am today! Not an assassin who sold herself to the highest bidder, but a caring person who isn't a dead zone inside! I live because of my sister, and Alicia...I see the light in her eyes every day, and she sees the light in mine!"
[23:47] <Kotono> LIght shines within the mirror! The images of Alicia and Jessica twist and boil! Yet in the end, they stay the same. The mirrors slide away, revealing a rose-gold door. "So it is. The 5th floor awaits you. Your bond is strong inside and outside."
06[23:47] * Alicia gives her sister a proud smile. "I think that's the last floor, from how tall it looked on the outside," she remarks, going to open the door.
[23:49] <Kotono> "I'm pretty sure it looked closer to ten," Jessica says as you open the door! You find it's wrapped around to the other side of the stairroom, a door where one was not before. The stairs now go up, no gap in the rose-gold steps at all. "Still, that was easy. It's nice to know we're doign so well that the trial isn't even a trial."
06[23:51] * Alicia briefly gauges the difference between the floor and the ceiling and nods. "Ten might be right, actually," she concedes, going to ascend the stairs. "It's not all about force of arms, though, that's clear enough."
[23:56] <Kotono> Thus you ascend! The fourth floor is exactly like the second, the door into it dark and shadowed! The fifth floor is wide open like the first! The stairs continue up, but there is a gap in them like the third. The floor is wide open and decorated like the first. Here a man in plain clothes stands. HIs skin is red and scaly, his eyes pools of blood. An acrid scent fills your noses as you see him.
[23:57] <Alicia> "Hello," Alicia greets the man, assuming that despite his fearsome appearance he wouldn't be here without the blessing of those who rule this plane. "What test do you herald?"
Session Time: Mon Feb 16 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Kotono> "You don't know me. I don't know you. I am the child of Xynertan the demon and Yulia the human. Fiendish blood flows in my veins, the birthright of the Abyss." He stands up now, the smell around him battering you. The stench is overwhelmingly bad, making your stomachs dance in discord. "No one but the most twisted would look at me with anything except horror or disdain."
[00:01] <Kotono> (More)
[00:02] <Kotono> "Love? A fiction!" Sweeping his arm aside, "There is only the call to destruction! The only beauty that exists is the splendor of unfettered wrath and slaughter! I am everything you loathe and fear!"
06[00:04] * Alicia wrinkles her nose, the smell far more offensive than his appearance. "That begs the question of what you're doing here," she replies.
[00:05] <Kotono> "Only I can allow you to advance! THe price is one of your hands in marraige!" He demands, coming closer. "Show me your love or you will never rise a single step higher!"
[00:06] <Alicia> "Oh, come on!" It's all Alicia can do not to laugh in his face. "Don't be absurd - first you decry love and then you ask for us to marry you? That makes no sense at all!"
[00:07] <Kotono> "I don't care about your love. I want your bodies!" He snarls back.
[00:07] <Kotono> Jessica takes a step back, waving her hand over her face. "Uh, you're disgusting! You're joking, aren't you?"
[00:08] <Alicia> "If all you want is sex then why even care about getting married?" Alicia asks reasonably.
03[00:08] * taifkaughnephewonleg is now known as taisnksnksnksnk
[00:09] <Kotono> "I don't care for your questions! If you don't do it, you can march yourselves out of here!" he snaps again, growling!
[00:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 sense motive, is he for real? (+1 if he's evil, +2 if he's good)
[00:09] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+10 sense motive, is he for real? (+1 if he's evil, +2 if he's good) --> [ 1d20=20 ]{30}
[00:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[00:10] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{35}
[00:14] <Alicia> "Of course I can't marry a strange man I just met who vocally admits he only wants me for sex and lists wrath and slaughter as his favourite activities," Alicia counters. "You should be ashamed of yourself for even asking!"
[00:16] <Kotono> "Where's your love?!" Stepping forward again and bringing that stench even closer, "You cold hearted bitch! There's not a drop of compassion in your body!"
06[00:18] * Alicia valiantly doesn't pinch her nose, tempting as it may be. "Having compassion doesn't mean surrendering yourself to everyone that asks," she argues. "If you want love - or even just sex if you're that shallow - you need to earn it, not demand it from every woman who crosses your path as if it's your due! Who do you think you are?"
[00:20] <Kotono> "Earn it? Then what's compassion?!" Nearly screaming now, his voice causing echos all around you, "What the hell is it?"
06[00:22] * Alicia flinches a bit at the din before responding. "I'm giving you advice so you can improve yourself. But compassion is wasted on those who refuse to listen."
[00:30] <Kotono> Jessica steps forward, "It doesn't have to be throwing her body at you. She's trying to help you in the way she can. Compassion isn't doing what you want, it's doing something kind to try and aid another."
[00:31] <Alicia> "And yet you spurn it, focused only on your own pleasure," Alicia shakes her head sadly.
[00:34] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diploc heck?
[00:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+39 +2 if he's good
[00:35] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+39 +2 if he's good --> [ 1d20=4 ]{43}
[00:36] <Kotono> The man at last bows his head, "There is a certain...wisdom in your words." he relents at last, turning away. "Go on, get out of here. Go up."
06[00:38] * Alicia nods, pretty sure this was just an act for the test and not inclined to push him further because of it. "Thank you," she says before proceeding up the stairs.
[00:39] <Kotono> As you go up, out of the smell again, Jessica wrinkles her nose. "I'd ask, but..." Waving her hand, "At least we got past it?" The sixth floor is like the second and fourth, shadowed and door shut. The stairs continue upward.
[00:40] <Alicia> "Seems like every even numbered floor is just for romantic couples," Alicia mutters as she continues upwards. "He was probably just acting that way to test us - someone who really was that crazy wouldn't be here."
[00:41] <Kotono> "That means Antenora and Marie will get a repeat of what we're doing when we finish?" Jessica pauses a moment to stretch her back out. "Should we spoil it for them?"
[00:42] <Alicia> "I wouldn't dare speculate what form their love for one other takes," Alicia replies dryly as she ascends the stairs.
[00:44] <Kotono> The seventh floor is quiet. Dead quiet. The stairs have a gap again, and there is a small room with a door leading inside. This rose-gold door is ajar, waiting to be opened fully.
[00:44] <Alicia> Naturally Alicia goes to open the door!
[00:45] <Kotono> Alicia opens the door! It leads to a pleasant looking bedroom. A bed is here, a soft padded chair by a window with a view, a table, that sort of thing.
[00:46] <Alicia> "Hmm. Wonder what we have to do here?" Alicia muses, going to look out the window.
[00:48] <Kotono> There's no reply from Jessica as Alicia goes to the window. The view is lovely, letting you see the plains for miles around. As you stand there, "I don't know," Jessica mutters. "This entire trial is dragging. It was your idea, though."
[00:50] <Alicia> "We had a good fight with that angel on the first floor, and those mirrors were nice," Alicia opines, turning away from the window. "Hmm... it's cliche, but," she then looks under the bed.
[00:51] <Kotono> There's some books under the bed. "Yes, well...oh, and that'll help. Looking under the bed," Jessica sighs. "That's productive and useful thinking there.":
[00:52] <Alicia> "Last time I looked under a bed I found a secret passage!" Alicia retorts. "This time I found books... I hope they're not like that one Marie read at that Sunite shrine..." she concludes, pulling them out to take a look.
[00:53] <Kotono> The books are, well...graphic. The art is nice, at least. Someone spent a lot of time drawing very interesting and intimiate pictures. "This time you found perverted drawings?" Crossing her arms over her chest, "So they are. I'm sure those'll be useful here. You can give them to MArie and she can act like a pervert again. Great."
[00:55] <Alicia> "Let's not," Alicia replies, putting the books on the bed and looking around for anything else of interest in the room.
[00:55] <Kotono> There's a closed closet, a desk without much on it but a few drawers and a door on the side of the room.
06[00:56] * Alicia has a look in the closet!
[00:57] <Kotono> The closet has many a fine dress and piece of clothing in it. It's quite big, more like it's own room than a closet. Jessica eyes all of them, "Thinking about a change of clothes, sis? At least it would be different than armor day in and day out."
[01:00] <Alicia> "I don't think we should steal anything," Alicia opines, noticing but not commenting on the marked deterioration in Jessica's tone since they entered this room. "Although I suppose something here might be a clue or such as to how we should proceed."
[01:00] <Alicia> She then casts detect magic and scans the room, though mostly she looks to see if Jessica has any auras besides her items and the two spells Alicia cast on her.
[01:01] <Kotono> "Yes, you could use a clue. We do seem to be spinning our tails here. WE could be wandering the plains again, waiting for Antenora to try and be spontaneous! That's fun! Oh, and Marie could be Marie, and you could walk around all strong and silent." Scowling, "Or I could be home and with Roald, you know."
[01:02] <Alicia> "That's nice, sister," Alicia nods agreeably. "By the by, you do know you're under an enchantment, right?"
[01:03] <Kotono> "Really? What makes you think that? What a lovely idea...did you bump your head in the closet there? Gave those brains another bruise to go with the dozens of others you get when you run off with Antenora or Marie or the Guard? Then again, it's not like you hav ea husband to stay home and worry about."
[01:05] <Alicia> "It's to your credit that you're not as good at this as Beth was," Alicia remarks placidly. "Now, just hold still for a second, this might take a couple of tries - let the spell be broken!" she attempts to dispel the new aura on her sister.
[01:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[01:05] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{31}
[01:07] <Kotono> The aura vanishes! Jessica blinks then puts her hands on her cheeks, turning crimson! "Oh Mystra, I'm so sorry!" Shrinking away, "I don't know what happened!"
06[01:08] * Alicia laughs a bit. "Don't worry about it, really. I heard far worse from you before you lost your memory," she reassures her sister.
[01:08] <Kotono> Going to Alicia and wrapping her up in a hug, "Still, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'ms orry!"
06[01:10] * Alicia returns the hug warmly. "Really, it's fine. You were being manipulated, so it's not your fault - considering the things people can be made to do under enchantment, a bit of snippiness is getting off lightly."
[20:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> > "Really? What makes you think that? What a lovely idea...did you bump your head in the closet there? Gave those brains another bruise to go with the dozens of others you get when you run off with Antenora or Marie or the Guard? Then again, it's not like you hav ea husband to stay home and worry about."
[20:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> <Alicia> "It's to your credit that you're not as good at this as Beth was," Alicia remarks placidly. "Now, just hold still for a second, this might take a couple of tries - let the spell be broken!" she attempts to dispel the new aura on her sister.
[20:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[20:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+12 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{31}
[20:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> > The aura vanishes! Jessica blinks then puts her hands on her cheeks, turning crimson! "Oh Mystra, I'm so sorry!" Shrinking away, "I don't know what happened!"
[20:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> * Alicia laughs a bit. "Don't worry about it, really. I heard far worse from you before you lost your memory," she reassures her sister.
[20:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> > Going to Alicia and wrapping her up in a hug, "Still, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'ms orry!"
[20:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> * Alicia returns the hug warmly. "Really, it's fine. You were being manipulated, so it's not your fault - considering the things people can be made to do under enchantment, a bit of snippiness is getting off lightly."
03[20:11] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
03[20:11] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[20:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> With an abashed look downward, "I still feel guilty." Jessica says, "Especially that last remark."
[20:23] <Alicia> Alicia's expression briefly clouds, "Nothing I haven't heard before," she reassures her sister, before perking up, "Anyway, we've still got to solve the puzzle of this floor, so do you want to help me look for clues, now?"
[20:27] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Okay," Disengaging from Alicia, "Where were we on looking for things?"
[20:28] <Alicia> "So far we've found books of erotic pictures," Alicia gestures to the tomes she's left on the bed, "And a closet full of nice clothes. I'll go check those drawers, but you always had a good eye for spotting things that aren't meant to be found, so you might find something I've missed."
[20:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Right, I'll search," With that, Jessica gets to searching! OOC - Going to have her roll a search check, I think. Moment.
[20:39] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Do you mind Jessica taking awhile at it? She's thinking about taking 20 for 32.
[20:40] <Alicia> OOC: I'm not in a huge hurry
[20:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The two toss the room! With Jessica's help the two spend quite a while finding the following:
[20:45] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> - In the closet is a drawer half hidden into the wall and tucked away. Inside is a faint pink-colored powder in an envelope. Alicia's detect magic is still up and she can see magic clinging to it. (More)
[20:47] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> - In the mundane drawers are mostly silken underthings or dried flowers. However, a little rose-gold key is found wrapped in one of the silken pair of undergarments. (More)
[20:49] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> - While checking the erotic books, Jessica finds that there's a scrap of paper tucked inside. It's an improptu scroll of magic circle against evil. (More)
[20:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> - Finally, as she checks the walls, she finds a little false stone behind the head of the bed. Tucked into it is a simple silken scarf, which radiates magic as well.
[20:51] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Jessica hasn't checked the door on the wall, beyond finding out that it's not trapped. Her efforts have stayed to this room.
[20:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft on powder
05[20:52] -sebben.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:52] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[20:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft on powder
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft on powder and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[20:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft on scarf
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft on scarf and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[20:54] <Alicia> "Well, I doubt we'll run into any evil here, so we shouldn't need the scroll," Alicia muses. "Lets keep a hold of the scarf, envelope, and key for now, though." Giving them to Jessica to carry, she proceeds to open the door opposite the on they came in.
[20:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The door opens! It leads into a short hallway, five feet by five feet. It at another door, this one with a rose-gold lock.
06[20:57] * Alicia approaches the door and leaves the unlocking to Jessica.
[21:00] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Jessica unlocks the door! The key works marvelously! "Who hides a key in your nice underwear," Jessica looks back to Alicia. "Unless you're being terribly symbolic."
[21:01] <Alicia> "Well, it's better than under your pillow?" Alicia shrugs. "I don't really know," she concludes before opening the door to face whatever awaits on the other side.
[21:06] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The door opens! Inside you find a living room with a hearth, fire place, couches, chairs, and a pleasant window view. Here a beautiful human man and elven woman sit back to back, arms crossed. The woman is sitting to face you while you can only see the man's back. The elven woman's face is tear stained and a look of disdainful anger shows.
[21:08] <Alicia> "Ah, hello," Alicia greets them as she steps inside. "Is there a problem, here?"
[21:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "
[21:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "There is." Wiping at her eyes quickly, drying any leftover tears, "But it's none of your business!"
[21:09] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The man glances over his shoulder and sighs. "There is a problem. But maybe it is some of your business."
[21:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It's not! They came barging into here!" Glancing back tiredly, "You're so insensitive! You're just inviting these two strange women into our personal life!"
[21:11] <Alicia> "I see," Alicia nods slowly at the conflicting responses, idly checking if they're affected by any magic like Jessica was. "Well, we were passing through to pay our respects to Rosewild - what are you two doing here?"
[21:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[21:12] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "We're breaking up," the man sighs heavily, his short brown hair having long bangs that cover his eyes. He's well built and pretty, like a statue. Not unusual here, really. "We're fighting too much."
[21:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Jahn, stop that!" The elven woman yelps, "Please leave, this really isn't any of your business! You're just ignoring my protests, you stone headed, cruel...MAN!"
[21:14] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Sis..." Jessica whispers, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking,t hat this might be the trial?"
[21:15] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Man!" Wincing, "You said you'd never bring our races into it!" With a flare of anger, "That's dirty play! I said I'd love you no matter what our races were!"
[21:15] <Alicia> "Isn't a male elf still a man as well, or am I missing some subtlety of the language?" Alicia wonders before addressing the woman. "Well, this *is* Rosewild's Legacy - I can't see that you have any greater right to be here than we do," Alicia retorts, giving Jessica a brief nod - it could be like the last floor. "Although I must ask, did you two fight much before coming here?"
[21:16] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "No, but it doesn't matter. The love is dead," The female elf wipes her eyes, as Jahn rolls his eyes.
[21:17] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "And now you're ignoring me?" Jahn growls, "You two saw that, didn't you?"
[21:18] <Alicia> "Please, we're not here to take sides," Alicia tells the man, stepping fully into the room and standing to the side of the duo between them to emphasise said point. "But if you two really wish to break up, why are you still sitting here together? What are you even fighting about?" She could just dispel them, but she wonders if that might be cheating.
[21:18] <Alicia> Then again, is it even possible to help them with words when they're enchanted? She can try, at least.
[21:24] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "We came here to be together!" Wiping at her eyes, "Then that jerk said that this room was nicer than the house we kept. It was clean, unlike ours!"
[21:24] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Well, it was true," Jahn retorts, "You're always off int he forests instead of keeping the house up!"
[21:27] <Alicia> This is just inane. "If she's in the forest doesn't that mean that she's not the one dirtying the house, either?" Alicia asks reasonably. Before that can even sink in she adds, "By the way, you're both under an enchantment that's making you become more hostile to one another."
[21:29] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Well..." The man begins, before, "Excuse me?"
[21:30] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "YEs, what she said. You're the one that makes a mess when you get home...what?" Looking to Alicia, "That's impossible!"
[21:31] <Alicia> "You've both been acting differently since coming here, you say?" Alicia asks. "You don't think that the other is perhaps acting just a bit out of character? Or has your relationship up until now truly been characterised by bickering over the housework?"
[21:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It's the magic talking, but Alicia can help you," Jessica says to them, "Please, don't ruin a loving relationship over some cheap magic.:
[21:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I thought you were just being cruel and bitchy," Jahn looks to her, "You got nagging again and Jahn this, Jahn that!"
[21:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The female elf looks to him, "You're so terrible like that! It's always my fault! I'm the nag, or I'm not thinking now but 100 years in the future, or it's my fault for not cleaning up, since you have to enjoy the time you have and I have a lot more!"
[21:37] <Alicia> Aren't they both petitioners? It's not like the elf will outlive the human when they're both immortal spirits. Anyway, "To have magic used to pollute a relationship in the realm of love is an affront to my Goddess," Alicia nods sagely as she gestures to the pair. "Therefore in Mystra's name, let the spell be undone!"
[21:37] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 14." [1d20=2]
[21:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Alicia magic does no good! "See?" The man crosses his arms, "Nothing! That's just her being her!"
[21:39] <Alicia> "No, that was just a poor effort on my part. Magic is oft unpredictable," Alicia admits. "But perseverance pays off!"
[21:39] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The female elf stands up, rubbing her nose and glaring at him. "You...you insensible...MALE!" Huffing, "I hate you so much sometimes!"
[21:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 20." [1d20=8]
[21:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> This time the magic cracks around them! The two stop what they're doing and stare at each other, "Oh Jahn..." The female elf says, while, "Oh, Malma..." he murmurs, then at once, "I'm so sorry!"
[21:41] <Alicia> "There we go!" Alicia smiles. "Now don't you two feel better?"
[21:43] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh..." The two embrace and start to cry, holding each other! Jessica smiles herself, "Ah, that's a relief. What silly magic...though I suppose that was the point of it. Overcoming stupid, silly arguments and remembering how much you carea bout someone?"
[21:44] <Alicia> "Be nice if we could do it without me having to dispel it, but then it wouldn't be a very good spell," Alicia admits. "Anyway, we'll leave you two to make things up to one another..." she looks to see if there's any other doors here.
[21:45] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> No other doors at all. This room looks to be a dead end.
06[21:46] * Alicia backs off! Hopefully they way up will be clear. As they pass through the bedroom she suggests Jessica leave the scarf and envelope behind. This isn't some forgotten dungeon for them to loot, after all.
[21:48] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Doing so and returning them, "Do you have any idea what they were enchanted to do? The papermakes sense...doesn't that spell suppress some enchantments?"
[21:50] <Alicia> "It does, yes, regardless of whether the caster is evil or not. I really don't know what the scarf does, the powder is some sort of enchantment effect but I don't know quite what," Alicia replies as they head back to the stairway.
[21:53] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The stairway no longer has a gap! You can climb up freely to the next floor now.
06[21:54] * Alicia nods in satisfaction as she starts to climb up. "Maybe the powder was a love charm, some way to cancel the other enchantment out with an opposite effect? There's probably several solutions in there for people who can't just dispel magic like I can."
[22:00] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Up to the 8th floor! Like the other even numbered floors this one is quiet as well, shadowed and door closed. The path to the ninth floor is not interrupted, either.
[22:01] <Alicia> "Looks like this one isn't for us," Alicia muses, continuing onwards.
[22:06] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Up to the 9th floor! Here an ornate door awaits, brightly lit! The stairs stop here, no sign of a path to the tenth floor. The door is decorated by twin statues of a rose carrying angel.
06[22:08] * Alicia goes to open the door!
[22:15] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The door opens! Ahead of you is a gorgeous glass hall of rose-glass! The light refracts all over! Floating in the dead center of this double-tall floor is a glass coffin, smoky and opaque. Four angels surround it, singing as weet song of love and rebirth. As the two enter, the song changes to words of lyrical beauty. "Oh, you have ascended the tower? Your love and passion have rekindled the flames of romance and stayed strong in t
[22:15] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Your love and passion have rekindled the flames of romance and stayed strong in the hottest fires of turmoil."
[22:17] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia smiles as she approaches the coffin and the angels. "As we are here, would you tell us the tale of Rosewild?" she asks respectfully, wanting to know more about the one who warranted all this effort.
[22:24] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Listen well to the story of Rosewild, once beloved of Sune, forgotten by time. Yet she will rise again when the circumstances are right once more. Listen to Rosewild, the bringer of love and beauty, the Mistress of Passionate lives." (More)
[22:30] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Rosewild was an Angel created by the breathe of Sune, giving form to her desire for love and passion. She was often at Sune's side, and if not, spreading her believes. She became known as a figure of love, triumphing over the hatreds of the darkness of the mortal heart. The stories of her battles with evil are epic, even a tale of a brief confrontation with Belial, Lord of the Fourth Hell. Bright was the multiverse with her...and
[22:30] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Lord of the Fourth Hell. Bright was the multiverse with her...and yet, one day...she fell asleep, never to awaken. A great curse had come on her. Whom had laid it none could agree: Some said the diabolical fiends of Hell, others said the destructive scions fo the Abyss, yet others said a spurned lover turned to the darkness did so. Yet it was a curse that could not be undone easily even by Sune. By he rwords, Rosewild would sleep
[22:30] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> by Sune. By he rwords, Rosewild would sleep 'until the multiverse and the glorious stars were right again.'.
02[22:35] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) Quit (Hatbot)
[22:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Jessica listens to the long story, "Cursed to sleep forever...How horrible. Until times are right again; I wonder when that will be? Perhaps a lovely prince has to awaken her with his love, like in the bard's stories?"
06[22:36] * Alicia bows her head after hearing that tale. "It sounds as though her loss is deeply felt," she acknowledges, before looking up. "Know, guardians of Rosewild, that I seek to one day finally destroy a malign being who sought the forbidden power of the Fairest Star, and restore what once was to the Prime."
[22:36] <Alicia> "Perhaps that act will bring the multiverse back to rightness and allow Rosewild to awaken once more. Perhaps not, but I shall pray for her anyway."
[22:43] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> A single pin-point of light springs into life as Alicia finishes speaking. It comes from above the coffin, floating down to Alicia. "Your words are honored. Those who come and prove their love, passion and vigor are given reward by Sune. Take it in your hands and it shall manifest."
[22:44] <Alicia> Carefully reaching upwards, Alicia clasps her hands around the point of light and clasps it to her chest before she opens her palms to take a look.
[22:45] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Light flares around Alicia and Jessica! (More,also see PM.)
[22:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The light fades slowly, the energy in Alicia's hands radiant!
[22:51] <Alicia> Wordlessly, Alicia turns to Jessica and reaches out to clasp her hands over her sister's, bestowing Sune's gift to the one it will benefit the most.
[22:52] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Jessica's hands wrap around the light! "Sister..." she whispers, eyes going wide, "I...love you...sister..."
[22:52] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC - Gah.
[22:54] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Jessica's hands wrap around the light! "Sister..." she whispers, eyes going wide, "I...love you...sister..." The light flashes and then is gone! JEssica smiles...there is something different about it. "I feel...blessed."
[22:55] <Alicia> "Sune smiles upon us," Alicia smiles in return, bowing to the angels and the coffin. "Thank you," she concludes simply.
[22:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Thank you," Jessica bows deeply to them, "Thank you so much!"
[22:57] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Go then, and hold those words in your hearts forever," the angels bid.
06[22:58] * Alicia nods and proceeds to lead her sister back down the stairs. "I wonder how far Antenora and Marie will get..." she muses.
[22:59] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Good question..." Thus, the two descend down without incident. They find Antenora and Marie waiting outside.
[23:00] <Alicia> "Well, how was it?" Marie breaks off from chatting to the angelic guardian to accost the duo.
[23:00] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora leans up from resting against the stacked up barrels. "Well, you're not obviously injured, which is a good sign."
[23:02] <Alicia> "We did have one fight but it was nonlethal and we were healed afterwards. Overall it was productive and enlightening - I know that we'll find Evergold, now. Of course, you two are still free to go and test yourselves while Jessica and I wait."
[23:03] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Let's go," Antenora says, looking to Marie, "It shouldn't be too hard then, should it?"
[23:03] <Alicia> "Not if you keep love in your heart!" Marie agrees brightly, fluttering in past Alicia and Jessica.
[20:04] <Anastasia> > "Good question..." Thus, the two descend down without incident. They find Antenora and Marie waiting outside.
[20:04] <Anastasia> <Alicia> "Well, how was it?" Marie breaks off from chatting to the angelic guardian to accost the duo.
[20:04] <Anastasia> > Antenora leans up from resting against the stacked up barrels. "Well, you're not obviously injured, which is a good sign."
[20:04] <Anastasia> <Alicia> "We did have one fight but it was nonlethal and we were healed afterwards. Overall it was productive and enlightening - I know that we'll find Evergold, now. Of course, you two are still free to go and test yourselves while Jessica and I wait."
05[20:04] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
[20:04] <Anastasia> > "Let's go," Antenora says, looking to Marie, "It shouldn't be too hard then, should it?"
03[20:04] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[20:04] <Anastasia> <Alicia> "Not if you keep love in your heart!" Marie agrees brightly, fluttering in past Alicia and Jessica.
[20:05] <Anastasia> As the two walk to the front door of the tower, "Jessica looked so radiant and happy, didn't she?"
[20:06] <Alicia> "There must be something really nice inside," the eladrin agrees, flying instead of walking.
[20:07] <Anastasia> Antenora goes and opens the front door! Inside, the two find exactly what Jessica and Alicia did! The singing angels are singing the same song, the rose holding angel standing as they enter. "Welcome...how interesting. The bond between you is...ah...."
[20:08] <Alicia> Marie smiles radiantly at the angel, waiting to hear how her loving bond with Antenora could best be summed up.
[20:09] <Anastasia> "...u...unique." He or she finishes, "Yes, unique. Why did the two of you come to this tower together?"
[20:11] <Alicia> "Well we thought we'd pay our respects since Alicia did, but that nice gate guard outside said we could only go in two at a time," Marie explains, before adding, "Is it really unique? I mean, surely you must see a lot of stuff here..."
[20:11] <Anastasia> "We came to pay respects to Rosewild and attempt the trials. We came together since my master and her sister came together. Since it's two at a time and we were the two left, we cam etogether," Antenora answers.
[20:12] <Anastasia> "The ones that come here are often...close, in friendship or love. Your bonds...well..." Rubbing at it's chin, "It's not the sort of bonds we see here by those who wish to attempt the trials."
[20:14] <Anastasia> "Oh really?" Antenora crosses her arms now, "What are our unique bonds like then, hm?"
[20:16] <Alicia> "We're friends!" Marie insists. "I mean, if you'd said this was only for lovers then I might understand, I suppose." She then glances at Antenora, "Unless you want to change that?"
[20:17] <Anastasia> "Well...perhaps your bonds can deepen in the trials..." Thiking to himself, he gets cut off by Antenora rolling her eyes and then sighing, "No. Are you trying to get everyone to look oddly at you lately, Marie? First the sharing bit, now asking me if I want to roll around with you? Shouldn't a celestial have more dignity than that. Even if you're chaotic, that's below you."
[20:20] <Alicia> "Maybe it's because I spend so much time around you it's starting to tarnish my halo," Marie replies, sticking her tongue out. "Humour really is just lost on you, isn't it?"
[20:23] <Anastasia> Glaring at Marie, "Did you listen to me at all last night? I want to be better than that. I'd just as rather forsake pleasures of the body. You don't need to keep making jokes like that!" With a long look right back, "Besides, wouldn't Alicia have an idea of what's going on because you're linked?"
[20:25] <Alicia> "It's not telepathy, she just knows that I'm getting a little bit annoyed - she was a lot more upset when than this herself not long after entering the tower, though," Marie replies, sighing. "Fine, I'll stop, but really the setup just begged for that sort of line."
[20:27] <Anastasia> "Thank you." Antenora eyes Marie, then sighs. This sigh is cut off, however, by the gender neutral angel. "It's one of those sort of bonds. You two can go to the second floor and begin your trials there if you wish. It may be better for both of you to come back later."
[20:29] <Alicia> "I'm not one to turn down free advice," Marie speaks up. "Besides, if we're not even comfortable enough to engage in light-hearted flirtatious banter then clearly we need to work on our relationship more."
[20:31] <Anastasia> "That is true. What you said there is complete falsehood." The angel turns to Antenora, "Love and passion is a divine gift from the Goddess Sune, Sharress, Lliira and others who give us joy, love and light. Is there any purity in turning that away? Acts of love, given to those that care about each other deeply, are great gifts."
[20:32] <Anastasia> "If you reject those so out of hand, why are you here? Rosewild spent countless aeons working hard so that these feelings came. Someone who rejects them has no place here at all. This is a realm of love and bonds."
[20:35] <Alicia> "She's just learning, give her time!" Marie comes to Antenora's defence.
[20:35] <Anastasia> Antenora hangs her head but doesn't reply. Well, that's not quite right. She starts to a few times, before she says nothing. She then sighs long, "I apologize then, to you and to Rosewild. And Marie, don't make excuses for it, it's my error."
[20:38] <Anastasia> "There may be hope for your bonds to grow and learn. Go to the second floor," the angel stands away from the rose-gold stairs, "If you are wise and open, you will find a chance to become more inside."
06[20:51] * Alicia wants to say more, but doesn't think it appropriate to discuss speculations of Antenora's sexual experience in front of strangers. "It's up to you," she offers gently. "We don't have to if you don't want to."
[20:53] <Anastasia> "Let's just go back," Antenora says after a moment, "This isn't a place for me. I'm sorry." Turning away, Antenora goes to walk out, her cheeks red.
06[20:53] * Alicia gives the angels an apologetic look. "Give our best to Rosewild, anyway," she offers before flying off after Antenora.
[20:55] <Anastasia> Antenora goes out, just past the door. She hangs her head again, and once Marie catches up, "...sorry." she murmurs to her, then glancing bac to the gate where the angel and Alicia and Jessica wait.
[21:01] <Alicia> "It's okay. Um, just follow my lead?" Marie suggests before adopting a pleading expression and raising her voice as she starts to fly back alongside Antenora. "I'm sorry about calling you a braindead wannabe-modron! I didn't think they'd throw us out over one little remark!" she apologises profusely to the erinyes.
[21:02] <Alicia> Alicia raises an eyebrow as she watches the display as the two emerge. "That was unexpectedly brief."
[21:03] <Anastasia> Antenora walks back, shaking her head. "Sorry Alicia. It didn't work out for us. Don't blame Marie for it. It was my fault, no matter what she's saying. "
[21:04] <Alicia> Marie drops the act and shrugs. "You shouldn't feel guilty. I mean, considering your experiences and all, it's no wonder you'd have a warped view of romance..."
[21:05] <Anastasia> "Yes, well...it's not an excuse. I'm supposed to be better than my past now." Looking up now, "Let's continue then?"
06[21:06] * Alicia looks between the two for a moment before nodding and going to collect her barrel, bidding farewell to the angel and leading her group back onto the plains before she speaks up, "Do you want to talk about it?"
[21:07] <Anastasia> "I made an idiot of myself and let my irritation start a pointless fight, then acted like a fool in a shrine to the servant of the Goddess of love and passion. Yes, talking about how it was better to refrain and remain chaste is surely going to win favor and approval in those circumstances." Taking her own barrel, "Marie had a far better idea how to handle it."
[21:13] <Alicia> "I see," Alicia nods slowly. "Sticking to your principles is admirable, but rubbing them in the noses of those who believe otherwise isn't particularly polite," she admits.
[21:14] <Anastasia> "No, but what could I have done? Flirted back with Marie?" Shaking her head, "Ugh, I don't know. At least it went well for you two."
[21:15] <Alicia> "You flirted with her?" Alicia looks askance at her familiar.
[21:16] <Alicia> "Just a little!" Marie insists. "The other angels were talking about our unique love for one another, it seemed like the perfect setup!"
[21:17] <Anastasia> Jessica sighs. "What is it with you two here? Is it because you're outsiders? Is this plane messing with you two?"
[21:19] <Anastasia> "She meant well. Sort of. I think." Antenora drops her barrel and rubs her head. "Are we really that bad?"
[21:20] <Alicia> "Actually, the prevalent ethos of a plane has far more of an effect on mortal visitors than outsiders," Marie explains. "I guess maybe I'm being more friendly to Antenora than I used to, but that's because I'm not as scared of being murdered by her as I used to be? And so fun to tease!"
[21:23] <Anastasia> "Who knows," Antenora takes her barrel back up, "If I start flirting with any of you before we get home, hit me."
[21:23] <Anastasia> "She is sometimes, isn't she," Jessica grins to Marie. "When she relaxes and stops blaming herself."
03[21:24] * Demedais is now known as tai-study
[21:28] <Alicia> Marie bites her lip and chooses to refrain from the question that she'd so much like to ask in response to Antenora's line.
[21:28] <Alicia> "I really don't care who flirts with who, just so long as no one's made uncomfortable by it," Alicia sighs as they strike off into the unknown.
[21:33] <Anastasia> A few hours pass as the party wanders the plains. Your path meanders along, coming to what appears to be a rising hill. Carved into the back of the hill is a wooden door, a heart shaped knocker of rose-gold on it.
[21:35] <Alicia> "Anyone care for another detour?" Alicia asks, gesturing to the doorway.
[21:35] <Anastasia> Antenora shrugs, her barrel bouncing a bit. "I don't care either way."
[21:35] <Anastasia> "Oh, that's kind of cute, built into the hill. I'm game," Jessica approaches the door.
[21:36] <Alicia> "Since this is about the journey and not the destination, there's no point in not checking it out," Marie agrees, prompting Alicia to lead the party to the doorway, setting down her barrel and knocking on the door.
[21:42] <Anastasia> The door is opened by a dwarf! A manly dwarf, bare except for a loincloth! For ad warf, he's...quite attractive, in a very squat and stony way. He's muscled, too. "Human girls? What are you doing here?" Grunting at that, "Lost, or are you here on purpose?"
[21:44] <Anastasia> Jessica's lips twitch at that. "Uh....Alicia? This is your forte...I mean, I remember that Serge guy you met, um..."
02[21:44] * tai-study (~ferixstad@141.218.228.208) Quit (Ping timeout)
[21:44] <Alicia> "Not lost, but not here on purpose, specifically," Alicia admits, shooting her sister a faintly incredulous look before she resumes talking to the dwarf. "We've been walking all day and your door was the first sign of life we'd seen in the past few hours so we thought we'd investigate - we don't want to be any bother if we're disturbing you, though."
03[21:44] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@141.218.228.208) has joined #evildunes
[21:46] <Anastasia> "You're welcome to come in if you like, but this is suited to more earthy people. You wouldn't fit in so well, being tall and living out in the sun." Rubbing his red bearded chin, "Need directions somewhere?"
[21:48] <Alicia> "We're looking for Evergold, but I understand that it moves around and only reveals itself when ready, so directions would be moot," Alicia shakes her head. "For now we're simply enjoying the journey."
[21:50] <Anastasia> "Aaah, aaah. Good luck to you, then," Stepping back and going to close the door, "Enjoy the trip then."
[21:51] <Alicia> "Sorry for disturbing you," Alicia gives the dwarf a smile, picking up her barrel so they can resume their trip.
[21:52] <Anastasia> "I suppose even dwarves nee dlove," Jessica remarks as you start to walk again.
[21:55] <Alicia> "That they do, although it's not an image typically associated with them," Alicia muses as they once more plunge into the unknown. "Still, with it being so far out in the middle of nowhere I assumed it was more than just a residence. Oh, well, no harm done."
03[22:01] * Taishyr is now known as tai-test
[22:02] <Anastasia> Thus the group travels on! You find yourselves coming to a hill - a tall hill a few hundred feet or so. However, it is split flawlessly down the middle, a path of rose-gold leading through it's unexplainable cleft. It dominates the landscape around you.
[22:03] <Alicia> Why climb a hill when you can walk along a nice smooth path? Especially when lugging a barrel around. So Alicia has no qualms about following the inviting path laid out before her.
[22:11] <Anastasia> As you walk, you find the path starts to narrow tightly. Ahea dyou can see it come to a little impasse, but past it there is light. You can also hear the soft, bubbling sound of water ahead, drifting like a melody of music.
[22:12] <Alicia> Even if it's not Evergold a nice little stream sounds like a good place for them to make camp for a while, a sentiment Alicia voices to her companions as she leads the way through the narrowing path.
[22:14] <Anastasia> "That would be nice. The two of you can get some sleep," Antenora sasys as you reach the narrowest point. However, Antenora slows and stops there entirely. She frowns, doing nothing, about ten feet away from the narrowest point. "Wh..what?"
06[22:15] * Alicia pauses and looks curiously towards Antenora. "What's wrong?"
[22:17] <Anastasia> Antenora steps back, then steps forward and stops where she was. "I can't move further," she says. "I don't know, I just can't."
[22:18] <Alicia> "Maybe there's something really chaotic ahead?" Marie suggests. "Like, say... Evergold?"
[22:20] <Anastasia> Trying againa nd failing to advance forward, even after getting off the ground and flying, "I just can't. It might be." Scowling now, "I already managed to show I don't fit in here, so go on?"
[22:21] <Anastasia> "Antenora..." Jessica murmurs, "What do you think, sis?"
[22:21] <Alicia> "Maybe, but it might be something else - we shouldn't rush to get seperated," Alicia replies thoughtfully. Setting down her barrel, she takes out her ring of plane shift and hands it to Marie. "I'll go check to make sure it's safe and the rest of you wait here."
[22:23] <Anastasia> Alicia advances to the narrowest point! Ahead, she can hear bubbling water and almost see something...but she can't seem to advance easily. There's a faint, momentary resistance.
06[22:23] * Alicia doggedly presses on!
[22:26] <Anastasia> The resistance fades! Alicia presses on! She finds herself...alone past it. There's nothing of interest past the narrow gap. The sound of bubbling water is gone.
06[22:28] * Alicia retreats back a few steps to see if that causes it to resume.
[22:29] <Anastasia> Retreating back, Alicia can hear the sound again.
[22:30] <Alicia> "Hmm..." Alicia goes to the edges of the gap and presses her hands against the sides to see if there's some sort of illusion hiding any alternate paths.
[22:31] <Anastasia> The edges of the gap seem solid. "Any luck, sister?" Jessica calls over.
[22:32] <Alicia> "It stops after you go on too far," Alicia calls back, thinking for a moment as she considers this dilemma.
[22:32] <Alicia> "Maybe it's a portal!" Marie calls over. "Try thinking romantic thoughts!"
[22:33] <Alicia> Alicia can't say it's outside the realms of possibility, so she steps forward to where the resistance just begins to be felt but before the noise stops, and proceeds to... think about things that are her business and nobody else's.
[22:37] <Anastasia> Alicia thinks those thoughts! Nothing seems to change as she does so.
[22:38] <Anastasia> "Maybe it's some sort of trick?" Jessica scratches her head, "But what is it?":
[22:38] <Alicia> "Not doing anything!" Alicia calls back, deciding to cast detect magic and have a look around. "Can you see any magic around here?" she then asks, prompting her familiar to likewise investigate.
[22:42] <Alicia> "No!" Marie calls back, before asking Antenora in a quieter voice, "Are you sure you can't move? I can't detect any magic stopping you."
[22:43] <Anastasia> Antenora stays still. "No. I just...can't." she says, "I'm really trying here!"
[22:44] <Alicia> "Antenora still can't move, so it must be something that's deliberately hiding itself - like a portal to a hidden fountain where goddesses bathe? Maybe you're not thinking hard enough - let me try!" Marie calls over before she flies across to join Alicia.
[22:47] <Anastasia> Marie comes over and thinks her special brand of thoughts as well with Alicia! Nothing seems to happen at all.
[22:49] <Alicia> "Okay, maybe not," Marie pouts, fluttering around Alicia thoughtfully. "Why don't you try saying a prayer to Sune?"
[22:49] <Anastasia> Antenora stands back and watches, "Maybe I'm holding the three of you back?" she says quietly. "It won't even let me get close."
[22:51] <Alicia> "Oh, wait a second!" Marie stops as she feels a bit of resistance. "There's something here!"
[22:52] <Alicia> "I don't think that's it, Antenora, if we were all barred it wouldn't bother to stop you at all," Alicia replies as Marie focuses on some of the fun times she's had back in Dweomerheart with her fellow eladrin as she gently flutters her wings to press against the strange invisible resistance in the air.
[22:53] <Anastasia> Marie does so! Nothing seems to happen because of it, at least not obviously.
[22:53] <Alicia> Does she still hear the babbling brook?
[22:55] <Anastasia> Marie hears the babbling water from where she is before the narrowest point.
[22:55] <Alicia> "Didn't you say you couldn't hear anything after you went past this spot?" Marie asks, "'Cause I still can!" With that she flies down the rest of the passage!
[22:57] <Alicia> OOC: strike that, I guess
[22:57] <Alicia> Marie flies through the resistance while polluting her mind only to discover the noise stopped, so she flies back. "Well, scratch that idea. Try praying?"
06[23:00] * Alicia nods and utters a prayer to Lady Firehair, asking for her guidance and benediction in the search for Evergold, which she needs to fight a force of entropy and despair and protect the ones she loves. That done she tries walking through the area of resistance once more.
[23:01] <Anastasia> Alicia attempts to pass through again! AGain the sound stops and nothing is on the other side! However, she feels alone when she does. Lonely.
06[23:02] * Alicia steps back again to rejoin her friends and family. "I have an idea, actually - Jessica, can you come over here?"
[23:04] <Anastasia> Jessica trots over! "What's the idea, Alicia?"s hea sks.
[23:06] <Alicia> "This needs to be... actually, wait, it might work for all of us. Lets go back and get Antenora - you, too, Marie," Alicia amends, taking Jessica's hand and retreating back before she offers her free hand to the erinyes while Marie lands on Antenora's head, having caught on. "Try to go forward, now?"
[23:09] <Anastasia> Antenora takes the hand and shakes her head. "I hope itw orks," she says quietly as the party walks hand in hand in hand on head! Walking forward...geos without incident at all! Antenora sighs in relief, "So what's what it was. We're supposed to go forwards as a group?"
[23:11] <Alicia> "Looks like it," Alicia smiles, glad none of them have to miss out - assuming this really does lead to Evergold. "Of course, my hands are full now, so could each of you pick up a barrel and we'll go the rest of the way to see if it works to the end?"
[20:12] <Kotono> * Alicia steps back again to rejoin her friends and family. "I have an idea, actually - Jessica, can you come over here?"
[20:12] <Kotono> > Jessica trots over! "What's the idea, Alicia?"s hea sks.
[20:12] <Kotono> <Alicia> "This needs to be... actually, wait, it might work for all of us. Lets go back and get Antenora - you, too, Marie," Alicia amends, taking Jessica's hand and retreating back before she offers her free hand to the erinyes while Marie lands on Antenora's head, having caught on. "Try to go forward, now?"
[20:12] <Kotono> > Antenora takes the hand and shakes her head. "I hope itw orks," she says quietly as the party walks hand in hand in hand on head! Walking forward...geos without incident at all! Antenora sighs in relief, "So what's what it was. We're supposed to go forwards as a group?"
[20:12] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Looks like it," Alicia smiles, glad none of them have to miss out - assuming this really does lead to Evergold. "Of course, my hands are full now, so could each of you pick up a barrel and we'll go the rest of the way to see if it works to the end?"
[20:16] <Kotono> Barrels carried as they can, the party advances through the narrow gap! On the other side is a lush field surrounded by a dark halo of forest. Here it bubbles - a glorious natural spring, simmering warm. It's sides are paved and lined with gold, quite wide and at least hip deep. Statues of half clad nymphs and eladrin line it about, here and there.
03[20:18] * tai-wenchiestcornerofmysoul is now known as tai-jwrgoiwe
[20:21] <Ebiris> "I think this is it," Alicia breaks out into a grin as she reverently approaches the spring where the goddesses themselves bathe. At least a small subset of exceptionally beautiful, benevolent and free-spirited goddesses.
03[20:22] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:23] <Kotono> JEssica puts down her barrel and lets her eyes sweep over it. With a growing smile, "So we really made it?"
[20:24] <Alicia> "Last one in's a rotten egg!" Marie declares as she takes off from Alicia's head, landing beside the spring and immediately starting to strip out of her clothes after setting aside her bow and quiver.
[20:24] <Kotono> "No Goddesses about," Antenora lugs her barrel over, resting it against the golden side of the spring. Eyeing Marie, "Oh right. We're going to bathe in it too?"
[20:27] <Alicia> "I'm not sure, it seems a bit presumptious," Alicia muses. "On the other hand, perhaps it might be taken as an insult if we were to come all the way here and not take full advantage?"
[20:28] <Alicia> "We've been walking all day," Marie points out, already half out of her garment. Then after receiving a somewhat incredulous look from Alicia she amends, "You've been walking all day."
[20:30] <Kotono> "Well, these Goddess are caring and kind, right? It's not like they'd strike us down for the presumption?" Jessica considers, "And a bath would feel really nice after all that walking. My feet would love to soak, too."
[20:31] <Alicia> "Since we've been invited it would be a bit rude to reject their hospitality," Alicia finally agrees, starting to shed her armour, which her familiar takes as all the permission she needs to slip out of her outfit and dive into the water.
[20:36] <Kotono> Jessica follows suit, gently folding her clothes before she slips in. Antenora lingers a few moments, "It is a bit of a presumption..." she kneels and puts a hand into the water, then breathes out heavily. "But oh...that is warm!" She lingers a moment or two before joining the others as well. On slipping in, Alicia feels gloriously beautiful and warm. The water makes her body tingle pleasantly. As the others gets i, she can notice their ski
[20:36] <Kotono> pleasantly. As the others gets i, she can notice their skin is starting to glow a lustrious white.
[20:38] <Alicia> "Ahhh, this is heavenly..." Alicia sighs as she leans against the side of the spring with just her head above the water. Then on spotting the glowing state of her companions she blinks a few times and lifts her arm up to see if she's similarly affected.
[20:39] <Kotono> "Alicia? Jessica? Marie?" Antenora says, as Alicia finds her own arm shimmering. It feels so warm, skin smoothing over. Little discolorations are smoothing out, faint scars becoming unblemished skin once more.
[20:40] <Kotono> "Oh.." Jessica leans back, "This feels so good! It's like I'm being polished and washed all over by warm water."
[20:42] <Alicia> "I think we really are being polished," Alicia states as she sees her skin mending long forgotten wounds. Well, those scars had character, but all the same this feels really nice and she really doesn't care either way - it's not like she necessarily likes having them.
06[20:42] * Alicia looks curiously at Antenora while Marie ceases doing her backstroke through the water to likewise direct her attention to the erinyes.
[20:43] <Kotono> Antenora's skin is glowing much the same way as she slides up to her chin in the water, squatting. "It just feel so nice...but we're glowing." She finishes, almost laughing, lips twitching. "I was surprised, that's all."
[20:47] <Alicia> Still radiating the golden halo of celestial light from her form, Alicia just laughs a bit and shrugs. "So long as it's not permanent?" Sliding down further, she dunks her entire head in the water before popping back up and wiping her eyes. "Really, though, this is fantastic."
[20:52] <Kotono> As Alicia settles in, she feels a warmth building her body. Painlessness replaces a dozen little aches and pains from travel. Her skin looks flawless as a statue's. Looking to her friends, she can see them glowing as well. They look breattakingly gorgeous now, each one a vision of lovliness beyond what Alicia has seen from them before.
06[20:56] * Alicia stretches out a bit, working a few kinks out of her muscles as the heavenly spring does all the rest, sighing happily.
[20:56] <Alicia> "Wow, this is like getting the best makeover in the planes!" Marie carols exuberantly as she treads water amidst her far larger friends. "It's hard to believe this water could hurt anyone, even a fiend."
[20:57] <Kotono> Jessica giggles, "All of you look so incredibly beautiful!" Splashing water at Marie as she swims by, "I don't see how, either, but I'm sure it will."
[20:58] <Kotono> Antenora merely stays submerged in the spring, coming up to breath a few times and sigh in bliss. "This was worth the trip," she says, "Well worth it. Alicia...you look like an angel right now. Jessica's not far removed frmo it, either."
[21:01] <Alicia> "We all look stunning," Alicia agrees warmly, rubbing her limbs as if to work the waters surrounding her even more into her skin.
[21:01] <Alicia> "Hey, Antenora - take your ribbon off?" Marie asks, wondering what her batwings would look like with an angelic makeover.
[21:03] <Kotono> Antenora stands up in the water, dripping it as she's only now submerged to her hips. Her ribbon is tossed aside to the edge of the spring. Her wings glow white, almost a platinum shade of metallic. She goes to sit next to Alicia, "They feel warm, too. Feel them, Alicia?"
[21:04] <Kotono> Jessica saunters over to Alicia and Antenora as well, "They look better than that normal bat-color. Just don't start molting like that fallen angel?"
[21:05] <Alicia> "Haha, they're like an Arcadian Avenger's wings!" Marie cries out as Alicia agreeably reaches over to grasp the fleshy membrane of the erinyes' right wing and give it a light squeeze.
[21:07] <Kotono> It's hot as boiling water but not burning, the wings silken soft. Antenora breathes out at the squeeze, "They're sensitive right now. Gentler, Alicia." Going to slowly kneel back into the water, up to her chest with her wings just out of the drink, "Arcadian Avenger?"
[21:09] <Alicia> "Sorry," Alicia apologises quickly, letting go.
[21:09] <Alicia> "They've got metal wings, they kinda fake being feathered but not very well," Marie explains.
[21:12] <Kotono> Going to sit next to Alicia now in utter contentment, "Oh...and this was so worth it. Did I say that already? We should've come earlier." Antenora's voice is nearly a throaty purr, drifting into just that by the end.
[21:12] <Kotono> "Roald will love how I look after this," Jessica smiles wistfully, "I feel so gorgeous now. I feel like everyone's going to watch me as I walk by."
[21:14] <Alicia> "Well, how could we have known what we were missing?" Alicia asks with a smile before grinning wickedly at her sister. "Roald would think he'd died and gone to heaven if he saw you now?"
[21:16] <Kotono> "Oh Marie, if I ever get all stupid and judgmental about chaos again, hit me." Antenora's face is creased into a huge, relaxed happiness.
[21:17] <Kotono> "Oh yes," Looking down at her body, "He's such a sweet man, too. He deserves it."
[21:19] <Alicia> "Oh, I'm so proud of you!" Marie gushes at Antenora, "You've finally learned tolerance!"
[21:22] <Kotono> Sliding up to Alicia and resting her head on her shoulders, "Mmm-hmm. Now I just want to rest and enjoy this. It's so good here. WE aren't in any hurry to leave, are we? Rest against someone and just let the time go by..."
02[21:26] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5af124c2.wfd104.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[21:29] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5af124c2.wfd104.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
[21:29] <Kotono> Sliding up to Alicia and resting her head on her shoulders, "Mmm-hmm. Now I just want to rest and enjoy this. It's so good here. WE aren't in any hurry to leave, are we? Rest against someone and just let the time go by..."
03[21:29] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
02[21:30] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5af124c2.wfd104.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (Killed (scifi-classics.dejatoons.net (Nick Collision)))
03[21:31] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5af124c2.wfd104.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[21:31] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[21:31] <Kotono> Sliding up to Alicia and resting her head on her shoulders, "Mmm-hmm. Now I just want to rest and enjoy this. It's so good here. WE aren't in any hurry to leave, are we? Rest against someone and just let the time go by..."
[21:33] <Alicia> "We can afford to relax a bit," Alicia confirms, leaning her cheek on the top of Jessica's head in return. "Not too long, though. We don't want to get too attached and end up staying forever, after all," she chuckles.
[21:37] <Kotono> Time slips by as the girls rest. It's easy to loose track as your bodies seem to become mor eand more stunningly perfect. Alicia can feel her entire body warmed with a gentle heat from toe to hair. The other girls shine brightly, each one seeming to outdo the brightest, most etherial angel Alicia has ever seen. They seem to be less beauty and more works of utter perfection, transcending mere 'beauty'. Antenora's eyes are slitted open, her b
[21:37] <Kotono> transcending mere 'beauty'. Antenora's eyes are slitted open, her breathing slow and peaceful. Jessica's outright asleep, snoozing away.
[21:40] <Alicia> Marie has given up swimming and simply cuddled up against Alicia's chest as the whole group relaxes, while said paladin feels her own eyelids drooping after a while. Finally deciding that enough's enough, Alicia gently shakes Jessica awake, eliciting a muffled noise of discontent from Marie as she slips away from her own relaxation spot.
[21:40] <Alicia> "Come on," Alicia murmurs, "Think it's about time we got up."
[21:42] <Kotono> "If we have to," Antenora doesn't even raise her head quite yet. She looks up, depthless, ensnaring eyes goign wide. "Mystra, you look so...so...." Antenora struggles. "Perfect."
[21:42] <Kotono> JEssica sits up and yawns, stretching her arms. "I feel sooooo nice." She stands up and brushes her body off, "Hehehehe, I wonder if Roald will bleieve me that I bathed in the same spring where Sune does."
[21:44] <Alicia> "You clean up pretty good yourself," Alicia returns with an affectionate smile as she rises up, water sloughing off her radiant form as she stretches out and yawns.
[21:44] <Alicia> "You couldn't blame me for flirting with any of you, now!" Marie laughs as she flutters her wings and finally escapes from the water and takes to the air.
[21:46] <Kotono> Antenora slides up, splashing her legs in the water as she gently wrings out her hair. "If any of us were men...we'd be the luckiest man in existance." she concurrs. "Are we going to go straight home now, Alicia?"
06[21:47] * Alicia clambers out of the spring and uses her cloak as a towel to begin drying herself off. "Soon enough," she agrees. "The trip took longer than expected... not that it was anything but worth it."
[21:48] <Kotono> Giggling now as she dries off with her clothes, "Antenora, that sounds so wrong. If any of us were men, we'd be waiting back outside while the women bathed."
[21:50] <Alicia> "Then they'd get worried at us taking so long and come over to 'make sure we're okay' and get a nice peek?" Marie suggests, using an edge of Alicia's cloak to dry herself while Alicia does the same.
[21:50] <Kotono> Shaking her wings off to dry, "I don't know. From the way Marie talks, the eladrin here would make it amixed bath and let nature take it's course." After that, she goes to start sorting her armor and underpadding, slowly redressing.
[21:51] <Alicia> "Considering most of us don't really discriminate that much we might as well make it mixed to be fair," the eladrin laughs.
[21:51] <Kotono> "Oh, and we need to fill the barrels up," Jessica says once she's dressed. "I nearly forgot about it myself."
[21:51] <Kotono> "Ah yes, no wonder you kept saying what you did," Laughing with her, "Poor Alicia."
[21:54] <Alicia> "If you really get something out of it, more power to you," Alicia just shrugs as she begins to get dressed after having thoroughly dried herself off. "But considering I don't have anything you don't have yourself, I wonder why you'd even care."
[21:55] <Alicia> "That's a sad lack of imagination," Marie laments as she likewise starts to get dressed.
[21:57] <Kotono> Going to get a barrel and starting to fill it with water, "Alicia's right. They're just breasts. What's the big deal? They get in the way as much as they get attention."
[22:01] <Kotono> Antenora goes to fill her barrel up, bowing down to scoop it through the water once she gets dressed. She doesn't comment on this, instead getting a good barrelful.
[22:01] <Alicia> "That's like saying I'd only be interested in a man for his penis," Marie remarks dismissively as Alicia dunks the other barrel in the spring. "It's the beauty of the whole. And what's inside as well, that counts! I"
[22:01] <Alicia> *that counts!"
[22:02] <Kotono> "I guess," Jessica shrugs, finishing with her barrel. "It must be anoutsider thing, it doesn't make any sense to me."
[22:03] <Alicia> "Well okay," Alicia admits, "We do have different 'wholes' in that our appearances are notably seprate, but still, all the essentials are the same. Wouldn't it be more chaotic to fixate on those who have more notable differences in form?"
[22:04] <Alicia> "Love can transcend ethics just as much as appearances?" Marie replies with a grin, unphased.
[22:05] <Kotono> "Well..." Jessica grunts as she hefts her barrel, "Are we ready to go then?"
[22:06] <Kotono> "Besides, love doesn't mean sex." Antenora adds, her own barrel ready. "There's a lot of different types of love. I think you're just free spirited...or whatever other term you want to use."
[22:07] <Kotono> "Like Seira?" JEssica says quickly.
[22:07] <Alicia> "That's one of the smartest things I've ever heard you say," Marie beams proudly at Antenora. "This trip has clearly done you a world of good, my formerly close-minded friend!"
[22:08] <Alicia> "Seira has a preference for her own gender as well," Alicia agrees with her sister. "But she's never done anything to make me uncomfortable, so as far as I'm concerned that's her business."
[22:09] <Kotono> "Yes. So the answer is to have Alicia use Alter Self, make you a strappling boy eladrin, and go out on dates." Smirking now, "Or not. Anyway, are we ready to go?"
[22:09] <Kotono> "I gathered from what I've heard." Jessica goes on, flicking the last of the water out of her impossibly radiant hair and skin.
[22:11] <Alicia> "Actually..." Alicia pauses, hit by a sudden inspiration. "I just had an idea." Drawing Hell Striker, she approaches the spring and kneels before it, lowering the sword into the waters as its held lengthwise between her hands.
[22:12] <Kotono> "Hm?" Antenora's attention goes to Alicia, "What are you doing?"
[22:22] <Alicia> "Lady Firehair, Mistress of Revels, Mother of Cats," she prays to the three goddesses who rule over this realm. "In this holy place I pay tribute to your beauty and grace, your compassion and kindness. Though I seek battle and conflict, may it ever be against those who would crush joy, imprison hope, and pervert love."
[22:22] <Alicia> "In your names I beg, bless this blade, this stalwart defender of justice and light, that it may always strike true against those creatures of darkness who would seek to rob us of the love you show to us. Let this Hell Striker be a beacon in the darkness, a ward against despair and bitter entropy!"
[22:22] <Alicia> Her voice rising as she makes her impassioned plea for a blessing that could make all the difference against fiends like Agares, she concludes, "Grant me this boon, oh generous and fair Goddesses, that I might carry the fight in your names to bring light where there was darkness, life where there was death, and beauty where there was ugliness."
[22:24] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 9." [1d100=9]
[22:29] <Kotono> The spring shimmers red nine times! Each time Hell Striker glows in turn! After the last glow, the pool returns to it's color.
06[22:32] * Alicia didn't actually expect to get a reply! But then again, praying from a goddess's bathroom is probably going to get more attention than doing so back on the half-sealed Prime... "It shall be so," she swears as she rises up, stowing Hell Striker on her back and turning to the others. "Now we can go home."
[22:32] <Kotono> "What happened," Jessica eeps as the pool glows and ceases! "Did something happen, well besides the glowing?"
[22:33] <Alicia> "My plea was heard and measured," Alicia replies with a smile, replacing her freedom of movement ring with the plane-shift one before she stands by the two filled up barrels. "Now, is everyone ready?"
[22:34] <Alicia> Once her party is all in position, she plane shifts back to Balmuria! Or within a few hundred miles...
[22:34] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 217." [5d100=5, 14, 40, 61, 97]
[22:34] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 1." [1d9=1]
[22:35] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear standing on a few rocks just above the water line! The blue sea is all around you, horizon to horizon! There's just enough space to stand here!
[22:36] <Kotono> "Tsk!" Antenora flaps her wings immediately, off the small, slippery rocks and hovering. "Not the best return ever."
[22:36] <Alicia> Before they have a chance to get too comfortable, Alicia teleports them back to the hallway of her house in Balmuria!
[22:36] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 28." [1d100=28]
[22:37] <Kotono> Woosh1 The party then appears at home! Jessica sighs in relief, "Well...that was fun!" she says, "But I'm going to go out to the bakery now." With a coy smile, "I'll be back later, sister!"
[22:39] <Alicia> "Stay out as long as you like, or bring him back here if you need some privacy away from his family, I really don't care," Alicia smiles back at her sister, proceeding to seal the barrels and stow them under the stairs for now.
[22:39] <Kotono> OOC: Going to do anything immediately, or skip along?
[22:41] <Alicia> OOC: I'll get changed into casual clothing and hit the town myself (I'll stop my celestial glowing before leaving the house), basically socialising and keeping an ear open for anyone suffering romantic troubles that could use the help of Auntie Alicia.
[20:33] <Kotono> -----
[20:33] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, going to check on garrison and then get ring IDed right off?
[20:34] <Alicia> OOC: sounds like a plan
05[20:34] -sebben.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:34] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[20:46] <Kotono> The garrison is quiet at the moment. Going to get her ring looked over gets Alicia a lot ofa ttention. As she walks to Elle's shop, eyes are on her. Moreso than usual in Balmuria, a man even staring at her so long that he walks right into a wall.
[20:48] <Alicia> That's actually pretty embarrassing, making Alicia blush as she picks up her pace towards Elle's shop at the top of the hill.
[20:52] <Kotono> Alicia has a trail of followers eyeing her as she goes into Elle's shop! Inside, Elle is whistling as she positions a few scrolls on the scroll shelf. Alice isn't to be seen, but someone else is. Donald's lugging a heavy looking set of metal armor out, face red and huffing. "Where...over there...?"
[20:54] <Alicia> "Rotating the stock?" Alicia asks curiously as she approaches Elle, watching Donald struggling with the armour he's carrying out from the back.
[20:55] <Kotono> "Yeah," Elle turns back, "Oh, Alicia! Donald, just put that up front and assemble it back up? Thank you." While focusin gon Alicia as she says that, "By the Weave, you look amazing! " Her eyes fly wide, "That illusion magic is superb! What spell did you use?"
[20:57] <Kotono> Turning to glance at Alicia, "Hey Ali..." Donald begins, before dropping the armor in a din of crashing metal. His mouth tries to work once or twice or thrice, settling for staring instead.
[20:58] <Alicia> "It's not an illusion," Alicia smiles - even if having people stare is embarrassing, she still appreciates compliments. "I just got back from a trip to Brightwater." Then Donald does start staring, prompting her to shrug, "As you can see, it had an effect."
[20:59] <Kotono> Donald looks back and forth between Elle and Alicia several times. He then looks above, "Apology accepted!"
06[21:00] * Alicia can't help but laugh a little at Donald... well, being Donald. "Nice to see you, too, Donald."
[21:01] <Kotono> Elle's eyes flicker over to Donald, a sigh as she rubs her forehead briefly. "Just pick up the armor...but Brightwater? Indeed it did. The your angelic friend I met didn't look as dazzlingly radiant as you do now."
[21:02] <Alicia> "A lot of people have been staring," Alicia admits. "I suppose it is rather distracting... still, when you're invited to the bathing spring of the goddesses of love and beauty, you really don't say no."
[21:04] <Kotono> "So lucky." Elle looks on at Alicia, then sighs. "Is this permanent?"
[21:06] <Kotono> Donald starts picking up the armor blindly, staring at Alicia all the while. "I hope it is," he blurts, "You look...like if a succubus and an angel blended each other to make the sexiest warrior of light they could imagine. Just, by the sun, you're.....you're...."
[21:08] <Alicia> "I doubt the dazzling radiance will stay," Alicia admits, "But even so, it's even went and removed all of my scars - look," she pulls down the shoulder of her dress to expose her upper arm, tracing a finger just below her bicep, "I used to have a really long one right there, now it's as smooth as the day I was born. I doubt they'll return."
[21:08] <Alicia> She then gives Donald a brief smile as her attire is fixed, "Thank you, Donald, that's... sort of sweet."
[21:09] <Kotono> "Donald, you can compliment Alicia later. The armor, please?" She even smiles at him there. That's enough to pry his attention away, making him turn to the armor and start to assemble it. Once that's done, "You're fortunate. I have a scar from my adventuring days that I hate. I'd pay a pile of gold to get rid of it."
[21:12] <Alicia> "Well, you could try hunting for Evergold yourself, otherwise there's always a regenerate spell - I had to pick up a few scrolls of that recently for those men we rescued from Halla. To be honest, I always thought the scars added character, but I won't shed any tears for their loss," Alicia explains cheerfully.
[21:14] <Kotono> "Maybe another day. I have so much to do...but that's not the point. Come here for business or pleasure, Alicia?" Finishing up quickly with the scrolls, "What can I do for you?"
06[21:16] * Alicia produces the magic ring she was given and holds it up for Elle to see. "A few nymphs and petitioners we met there were exceptionally rude and talked themselves out of winning some sort of good manners contest. Their loss was my gain, but I don't know exactly what this ring does, other than increasing your presence."
[21:18] <Kotono> "Ah." Peering at the ring, "Standard identification or Analyse Dweomer?"
[21:19] <Alicia> "Normal identification should do," Alicia replies. "Considering where I got it I'm not expecting any hidden surprises."
[21:20] <Kotono> "Right. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable. Donald, if Alicia wants anything, help her." Elle takes it and goes off, "IT should be around an hour as usual."
[21:22] <Alicia> Having already taken the liberty of counting out the money before leaving the house, Alicia also gives Elle a small sack of gold for her trouble. "Thanks, Elle." Then going over to bother Donald, "Since I've been out of the loop lately with all these excursions, has anything exciting happened in town the past month?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "Um, let's see...I heard Demedais had some stuff, but I haven't gotten the straight of it." Turning to Alicia after a wayward glance at Elle as she goes back, "I heard there was a blast at the Temple of Gond. Something about the breast weapon using alchemy or something. Uh, Seira's inn has gotten some strange sorts lately. People really jus tinterested in her who came to find out about her. I get stuck telling stories for half the night whe
[21:25] <Kotono> out about her. I get stuck telling stories for half the night when that happens." (More)
[21:27] <Kotono> "There's been a lot more sea elves now that they've started really working for the city. They're getting more friendly with the sailors at the docks. We had one come into SEira's inn to sightsee. Um..." Scratching his chin, his eyes fixiated on Alicia, "Lots of little things like that. No ends of the worlds or gaping portals to Hell."
06[21:29] * Alicia chooses to ignore his little verbal slip, although she adjusts her posture slightly so as to put less emphasis on her chest. "Just all the usual fun and games?" Then, glancing at the armour, "So is this you taking a job here or what?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "Oh no, not like that. I've just been helping out in my free time. I mean, magic and I'm supposed to study it, yes?" As he goes back to working on the armor, positining it just so and then taking out a cloth to polish it, "Countess Stronger appreciates it when Alice isn't around."
06[21:32] * Alicia nods. "How's your magic coming along, on that note? Learned any new spells lately?" she asks, about to ask why she never sees him at the temple before remembering that he's a devout follower of Lathander and letting him off the hook.
[21:34] <Kotono> "Yeah, I've been working on one, Ray of Exhaustion. I've just about hammered out the problems with it lately. It's not as good as Vampiric Touch is supposed to be, buti t's strange. It seems like I'm either not hurt or I get in a lot of trouble before I can use that. So I needed something to even the score." Polishing the breastplate of the armor and starting to whistle, "Have you seen Seira lately? Last I heard she was off in Pallanth or M
[21:34] <Kotono> "Have you seen Seira lately? Last I heard she was off in Pallanth or Malmuth with Amaryl Gaial."
[21:36] <Alicia> "Oh, that is a useful spell," Alicia agrees. "As for Seira, no, I haven't seen her at all in the past month, but I've been off in Pallanth or the planes in all that time myself." Cocking her head she then asks, "Why'd she go to Malmuth, though?"
[21:38] <Kotono> "I think she wanted to see it and explore?" Shrugging, "As long as she doesn't start another war, it's all fine, right? So um...who went with you to Brightwater?"
[21:40] <Alicia> "I took my sister, Antenora, and Marie," Alicia replies pleasantly, before emitting a soft laugh, "Lovely place to visit, although I still prefer Dweomerheart."
[21:41] <Kotono> "Antenora, Marie, Alicia's sister," Donald murmurs under his breath, then, "It sounds great."
06[21:44] * Alicia raises an eyebrow. "My sister's attached and you'd probably be biting off more than you can chew with Antenora. Good luck with the coure, though, assuming you don't mind her being able to fit in the palm of your hand," she teases.
[21:47] <Kotono> Donald blushes at that, "Um....nevermind..." Dropping the polishing cloth and rubbing the back of his head, "I just meant...well..." Closing his eyes, "Lathander help me..."
[21:49] <Alicia> Laughing a bit, Alicia gives him a semi-apologetic look. "I'll let you get back to your work without distraction?" she offers, starting to head out.
[21:49] <Kotono> "Either that or you and Elle..." Donald mutters as Alicia turns her back.
06[21:50] * Alicia pretends she didn't hear that and quickly departs! She can kill some time in Seira's inn while waiting on the identify results.
[21:51] <Kotono> OOC: Loot topic post coming.
[21:58] <Kotono> OOC: It's up.
[21:58] <Kotono> Elle returns the ring as Donald lingers well away from the two. "...and there you go." she says, "Thanks for the business. Going to hold onto it or pawn it off?"
[22:01] <Alicia> "Well, my cloak already does mostly what it does except better," Alicia admits. "Still, it was a gift so it doesn't feel right to sell. Maybe I'll give it to Antenora - I've heard she needs the help with her singing, to be honest," she finishes in a conspiratorial whisper.
[22:02] <Kotono> "Really? You'd think they'd have given her a voice to tempt mortals in every which way. Ah well, maybe Hell doesn't appreciate music?" Chuckling to that, "So she's not incredibly perfect in every aspect?"
[22:04] <Alicia> "Well, when you can magically dominate someone just by looking at them, you tend to let your other skills stagnate?" Alicia suggests. "She has a nice enough voice, but according to Marie she can't carry a tune to save her life."
[22:06] <Kotono> "I suppose. She moves with incredible grace, has enough presence to draw a room to her, is superhumanely strong, has picked up her skills quickly..." Stopping here, "Tsh. She's just one of how many Erinyes? It's nice to know that she's not talented at every little thing she can do."
[22:09] <Alicia> "Well, she's picked up her skills quickly since coming here - she also spent six centuries in hell stagnating, by all accounts." Leaning on the counter as she converses, she goes on, "Outsiders might have a lot of advantages by default, but with hard work and dedication there's nothing they can do that a human can't equal. That's what I believe, anyway."
[22:11] <Kotono> "I don't know." Elle frowns as she glances at Donald, who's keeping busy back by some hanging staves. "Maybe some elite humans can keep up. But...oh Hells, I don't know. It bothers me to imagine an entire army of Antenoras, as perfect as can be. They're not even much more than mid level fodder for Hell. It hardly seems fair sometimes."
[22:16] <Alicia> "That's true," Alicia is forced to concede the point. "I've been training the guard for a year now, and in a one on one fight I wouldn't expect any of them to handle an erinyes..." She sighs at the bitter summation. "I suppose if nothing else there's the fact that most outsiders were weak mortals themselves at one point."
[22:19] <Kotono> "That's true," Elle copies Alicia's exact words with a smile, "Do you even notice anymore? You're as much of a normal human as Antenora is. You can fly with a few words, you can face down horrors, you're hopping planes of reality like it's nothing serious." (More)
[22:20] <Kotono> "I mean, I can't really talk. My magic's grown considerably in this time. Just...it hardly seems fair sometimes. "When I listen to the normal people, at Seira's inn or at the streets, ro even someone who has enough money to come in for something minor, it drives it home. They might ask me about my magic, or about one of you, or even occasionally the armored woman seen around your house."
[22:21] <Kotono> Stopping again now, "And...I don't know where I'm going with this now." Breaking into a tired laugh, running hands through her hair, "I think I lost my point awhile back."
06[22:21] * Alicia laughs a little. "Fantastic creatures can only be rivalled by humans who themselves become fantastic?" she suggests.
[22:22] <Kotono> "Hells engulfed by Silver Fire, I don't know." Blowing out another breath, "I think I was lured by your radiance to losing the point. I was so absorbed in that and trying to formulate where I was going...you know, maybe you should teleport home."
[22:25] <Alicia> "It's still somewhat early - I think I'll go for a walk," Alicia decides instead, pocketing the ring. "Thanks for your time, Elle."
[22:26] <Kotono> OOC: Going to do anything in particular or just walk?
[22:28] <Alicia> OOC: just stroll around, see what's what - pick up on the rumour mill
[22:28] <Kotono> OOC: Make a gather info check?
[22:28] <Kotono> OOC: +5 circumstancial bonus.
[22:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 25." [1d20=3]
[22:37] <Kotono> Alicia wanders about! It's easy to get people to talk...the problem is that they like to linger. People really seem taken with her. She finds out the following:
[22:39] <Kotono> - Sea Elves are seen more and more at the docks and even in town. They're becoming more social. Like the men and women who linger by Alicia and happily provide this information. (More)
[22:42] <Kotono> - With the city growing, houses outside of the western gate are growing. There's talk of another city area if this keeps up. Houses south of the southern are being discouraged more and more, presumably due to military reasons. The soldier who tells you this spends much of it staring into Alicia's eyes. (More)
[22:45] <Kotono> - There's been more traders from the Desert Fiefdoms coming this far into the Baronies lately. The Waukeenites seem happy about it, as does anyone who makes more money this way. The couple of merchants who tell you this seem to think Alicia's breastplate must be made of diamond, the way they're staring at it longingly. (More)
[22:45] <Kotono> OOC - Strike.
[22:46] <Kotono> - There's been more traders from the Desert Fiefdoms coming this far into the Baronies lately. The Waukeenites seem happy about it, as does anyone who makes more money this way. The couple of merchants who tell you this seem to think Alicia's bosom must be made of diamond, the way they're staring at it longingly. (More)
[22:47] <Kotono> Alicia would probably find out more, but she's getting a LOT of attention right now. To go on would beckon more of that, should Alicia choose to do so.
06[22:51] * Alicia doesn't do too much to dissuade the attention (aside from clearing her throat when people refuse to look at her face), since Sune surely wouldn't want this gift of beauty to be hidden. All the same, most of the gossip isn't particularly relevant to her.
[22:51] <Alicia> Making excuses from her latest friends, she finds some privacy and then teleports to the Barbarian Lands, near the lovely little glade that Rosamund calls home - she hasn't seen the unicorn in ages, and she should have a good idea of what's going on East of Balmuria.
[22:51] <Kotono> OOC: d100 it up.
[22:52] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen casually
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen casually and gets 49." [1d100=49]
[22:54] <Kotono> The glade smells of the earth and cool, moving air. Here sunlight comes easily through the foliage, shedding extra light into one point on particular. Rosamund lies on a bed of leaves and loose, soft forest things. Her stomach is enlarged, noticiably so.
06[22:55] * Alicia does recall that male unicorn she rescued from those trolls, and can't help but smile. Approaching, she looks to see if the unicorn is awake before greeting her.
[22:56] <Kotono> Rosamund looks up, "Oh...is that Alicia?" she says, "But you look so much different now!" With a soft little whinny to follow, "Is that you?"
[22:57] <Alicia> "Hello, Rosamund," Alicia nods, throwing a meaningful look at the horse's belly. "I could say the same to you."
[22:59] <Kotono> "Oh, it's a blessing! Soon there will be a foaling. I hope I will have twins, the fates willing it. My mate is gathering food and ensuring none disturb me now."
[23:01] <Alicia> "That would be lovely," Alicia agrees. "The world could always use more unicorns, I'd say," she goes over to sit down in front of Rosamund, smiling serenely. "It's been a while since we last spoke, so I just wanted to come over and check on how you were faring and find out what's happening in this forest. I'm glad to see you're doing so well."
[23:04] <Kotono> "You as well. Oh, the forest has been so much more alive since the Jannath followers have taken home here. The goblins are so much quieter as well, thanks to the giants." Resting her head forward onto the grass, "STill, there are some trolls and rogue goblins, or even simplier things like hungry wolves who are desperate."
06[23:06] * Alicia recalls the trouble she had with the followers of Jannath and the giants over the goblins... "But the followers of Jannath haven't battled the giants?" she checks.
[23:10] <Kotono> "Not that I've heard." Braying softly, "Oh, my foals kicked again. They're so energetic, ready to see and live life."
[23:11] <Alicia> "Oh!" Alicia melts into a sappy grin. "How close are you?" she asks, scooting closer.
[23:15] <Kotono> "A few days, perhaps less." Resting her head upwards now and lifting it, "The forest needs more of us to protect it and foster life. This coming birth will be a blessing for this land."
[23:19] <Alicia> "It really will," Alicia agrees. "With a family of unicorns and those followers of Jannath, things are really brightening up around here. Even the giants aren't so bad."
[23:20] <Kotono> Braying another time, "A little softer, foals...not until you're out." Thereafter, back to Alicia, "I'm happy for that. But look at you, you are the brightest one here of all.
[23:20] <Kotono> "
[23:22] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia inclines her head at the compliment. "I actually just got back from a trip to Brightwater - have you heard of Evergold? It's a sacred spring where Sune, Leira, Sharess all bathe. I had the chance to take a dip myself and this is the result."
03[23:29] * taifk is now known as tai-bangbangbangbang
[23:39] <Kotono> "How lovely, Alicia. No wonder you have such radiance!"
06[23:41] * Alicia smiles. "To be honest I was really just going there so I could get some chaotic holy water since I'd heard it was very effective on devils, and one in particular. But we met this nice eladrin who pointed us to Evergold, and well, when we got there it just seemed silly not to take advantage."
[23:42] <Kotono> "Yes, of...mmmmm." Wincing again, "The foals keep stirring. But Evergold, what was it like?"
[23:44] <Alicia> "Oh, it was exquisite," Alicia almost purrs. "I could've spent days in that water! It was like having every inch of my skin massaged and healed all at once when I was immersed. And it was so warm without being hot... it really was worth the trip."
[23:49] <Kotono> "So lovely," Rosamund says, gently tapping her horn against Alicia. "The other humans must appreciate it. Does this mean you will foal soon yourself?"
[23:51] <Alicia> "Ah, no," Alicia blushes. "While I've received my share of admiring glances, it hasn't progressed beyond looking."
[23:53] <Kotono> "Aaaah, it is...understandable. There are many humans and no press for them, are there not? But there are so few unicorns."
[23:57] <Alicia> "True..." Alicia allows a wistful smile, "Still, I'd like to be a mother again, someday. If I get the chance..."
[16:53] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Oh, it was exquisite," Alicia almost purrs. "I could've spent days in that water! It was like having every inch of my skin massaged and healed all at once when I was immersed. And it was so warm without being hot... it really was worth the trip."
[16:53] <Kotono> > "So lovely," Rosamund says, gently tapping her horn against Alicia. "The other humans must appreciate it. Does this mean you will foal soon yourself?"
[16:53] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Ah, no," Alicia blushes. "While I've received my share of admiring glances, it hasn't progressed beyond looking."
[16:53] <Kotono> > "Aaaah, it is...understandable. There are many humans and no press for them, are there not? But there are so few unicorns."
[16:53] <Kotono> <Alicia> "True..." Alicia allows a wistful smile, "Still, I'd like to be a mother again, someday. If I get the chance..."
[16:53] <Kotono> "Why aren't you, then?" The unicorn asks, as she brays again.
[16:55] <Alicia> "Haven't found anyone qualified enough to be the father yet, for one thing," Alicia replies. "More pragmatically, the life I lead isn't particularly conducive towards raising a family."
05[16:55] -sebben.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[16:55] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[16:58] <Kotono> "That's so sad. Children are innocent and pure." The unicorn's eyes squint, "Though mine are wearing my patience and energy now. They're going to be so impatient, I can tell already."
06[17:01] * Alicia chuckles. "It'll be even worse once they're out - you've got a lot of sleepless nights ahead, I'm sure. Still, it'll be worth it, all told. Have you considered names, yet?"
[17:05] <Kotono> "Arion, Antares, Princess, Violet." Laying her head down again, "It will not be determined until they are foaled."
[17:07] <Alicia> "Arion and Antares are nice," Alicia throws her support in for the first two. "Anyway, it looks like you need to rest, so I suppose I'll let you be..." she starts to get up.
[17:08] <Kotono> "Be well, Alicia. Come back and bring the others in a moon, when the foaling and births are done," she invites.
[17:10] <Alicia> "I will do. It'll be lovely to see your whole family, Rosamund - take care until then," she waves as she heads out of the grove, electing to spend a few hours walking back to Balmuria in order to see the outskirts for herself in case anything crops up.
[17:13] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[17:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 48." [1d100=48]
[17:16] <Kotono> At first Alicia passes through the fringes of the Barbarian Lands forests. They're mostly quiet, not much sign of activity. Past that, she begins to reach the scattered farmsteads and farmhouses east of Balmuria. They're mostly well kept and in good shape, the harvest going on. Many a farmer is taking in fresh fruits and vegetables, piling them high on wooden carts. She passes a four person patrol on horseback, fanning out and keeping a loo
[17:16] <Kotono> She passes a four person patrol on horseback, fanning out and keeping a loose watch on a large area. But overall, it's peaceful, quiet and productive. Not a sign of trouble nearby at all. It's getting on towards duskfall as Alicia spots the southern gate of Balmuria.
[17:17] <Alicia> Well, that was one way to work up an appetite, at least. Heading to the city, Alicia intends to go home for dinner and to catch up with her friends and family.
[17:18] <Kotono> Going home goes without incident, relatively. No one follows her too far, thankfully. However, you can see something as you approach. There seems to be a crowd gathered in Alicia's backyard, so much so that people are lingering and spilling out.
[17:20] <Alicia> This could be a concern. Taking a moment to cast voice of the archon, Alicia heads towards her house and around the back to see why all these people are on her property.
[17:23] <Kotono> Alicia can't really get far i without resorting to pushing or asserting authority, though she's free to if she wishes. She can hear Antenora, however. "...well, against the wor-my eyes are up here," she can be heard saying, peevishness overflowing. "This isn't about me. Mystra and the Seven Mounting HEavens are more important than mere concerns of the flesh. The flesh fades, but those are eternal."
[17:26] <Alicia> Oh, Antenora's preaching. Good for her! Alicia feels proud of her friend, but do they have to do this in her backyard? Asserting her rights as the homeowner, Alicia makes her way through the crowd with a few nudges here and there so she can get into her garden.
[17:27] <Kotono> As you press in harder and closer, you can see Antenora. She's surrounded by several people. Most aren't really paying much attention, more like staring at her. With a long look to one of them, "IT doesn't matter how beautiful I am. A succubus could be this enrapturing and she would be pure poison. That's the point I'm trying to make."
[17:31] <Alicia> Okay, this is actually somewhat creepy. "Need any help, Antenora?" Alicia asks as she finally manages to work her way through the throng.
[17:33] <Kotono> Antenora flashes a quick smile at Alicia. 'Please. This radiance draws people in like flies to honey.'
[17:35] <Alicia> 'It would be nice if they'd actually talk instead of just staring in such an unsettling manner,' Alicia replies. "Excuse me, everyone," she then speaks up verbally. "It's late and Antenora and I need to go inside for our dinner. If I could ask you all to leave, if you would be so kind?"
[17:38] <Kotono> 'I should've known better than to go outside, even briefly,' Antenora laments, 'I can't blame them.' As Alicia talks...OOC: Diplo check, -5?
[17:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+37
06[17:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+37 and gets 44." [1d20=7]
[17:39] <Kotono> Slowly the crowd disperses. However, many linger nearby or walk slowly, staring at the two women. One approaches, "My name is Jalen," he bows, a slender man with a slight limp. "I offer myself to either of you."
[17:42] <Alicia> On one hand, Alicia might applaud him for actually having the guts to talk to them instead of staring. On the other, a blanket offer made simply on looks alone is hardly commendable, less so when he makes it to either of them without care. "That's quite alright, sir," Alicia tells him, "We don't need people to 'offer' themselves to us."
[17:52] <Kotono> With brown eyes and a steady gaze, "You may not, but I do. I heard what you said...and the two of you are like Goddesses from the heavens."
[17:53] <Kotono> Antenora smiles politely, 'Oh damn it all,' she mutters mentally. "Jalen, if you want to dedicate yourself, go to the Temple of Mystra. We're merely servants, not Goddesses."
[17:55] <Alicia> "Antenora is right. Compared to Mystra we are but pale shadows," Alicia seconds. "Dedicate yourself to a cause or a belief. Dedicate yourself to someone you love. But don't dedicate yourself to a pretty face."
[17:57] <Kotono> "Beauty is fleeting. What lies beyond is eternal." Antenora adds, "Jalen, Alicia's right. Go."
[17:57] <Kotono> Jalen listens to this, looking at both of them very long. "I..." he says, "I understand." He quickly gets up and goes, though he shoots several looks back at the two.
[17:58] <Alicia> "I hope he does," Alicia says after he leaves, proceeding to lead Antenora inside. "How long were you out there, anyway?" she asks the erinyes.
[18:00] <Kotono> "About an hour? I went out the long way to practice and a few people noticed me. One thing lead to another." AS she blushes rather hotly once inside, "The damnable part is that I can understand when I look at you. It may have been wise to stay in Brightwater a few days after bathing. Of course the personal bath of the Goddesses of passion and beauty are going to enthrall."
[18:02] <Alicia> "A few people stared at me here and there, but mostly I was able to go about as I pleased when I was out earlier," Alicia replies. "Oh, by the way, I had this identified," she takes out the ring she received in Brightwater and holds it out, "It's yours if you want it, though it may make people stare even more."
[18:05] <Kotono> "So that's what it does," Antenora looks at the ring briefly. "Let me think about it." Going to sit inside, "Jessica's still gone and I haven't seen Marie lately. Do you have any idea how long this is going to last? I may go fly for a few days if I need to and get away fromt his."
02[18:05] * xorntoro (~ferixstad@141.218.228.98) Quit (And now I get to go for a thirty-minute walk in a blizzard.)
[18:07] <Alicia> "It's like my cloak, albeit on a slightly lesser scale," Alicia nods. "As for how long it'll last..."
[18:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 planes?
06[18:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 planes? and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[18:08] <Kotono> "I'll probably take it then. I was considering a cloak like that myself one day," Antenora works to start taking off her armor, putting it down carefully on the floor. "It was a fun trip...I can't help but wish we were still at that spring."
[18:09] <Alicia> "Should just be a few days. Anyway, I think Marie's at the temple, and Jessica's surely enjoying herself with Roald - I'll just have dinner alone, I suppose," she starts to head through to the kitchen after handing the ring to Antenora. "It really was lovely, wasn't it, though?"
[18:12] <Kotono> "I'll keep you company," Antenora rises once she's removed her armor, "It was incredible. It felt so good and so purifying and so enlivening. The trip was very much hit and miss, but that made all the misses worth it."
[18:14] <Alicia> "It did," Alicia agrees as she busies herself preparing a pot of soup. "Anyway, I've checked around town, things seem fairly quiet in Balmuria right now - I also visited Rosamund in the forest, and she's expecting children!"
[18:16] <Kotono> "Wonderful." Putting her head down on her arms as she rests over the table, "When are they coming?"
[18:18] <Alicia> "She expects within a month - it might even be twins, which would be a real blessing," Alicia smiles as she rapidly chops up some vegetables. "Anyway, Seira's apparently either in Pallanth or Malmuth right now, spending time with Lady Gaial. I haven't heard anything about Demedais, though."
[18:22] <Kotono> "Mmm." Closing her eyes, "I should see if I can find him...mmmm." Antenora reaches up, undoing her ribbon and letting her wings show. "If Arborea is the opposite of Baator, should I be taking what I saw and heard there more seriously? The eladrin and worshippers there seemed to live for happiness and pleasure."
[18:27] <Alicia> "I think there's something worthwhile to be found in all of the upper planes," Alicia reasons. "A lot of what you'd learn from Arborea might be different from what you'd get in Celestia, or even Elysium, but that doesn't mean it's not without merit. Fundamentally, they're all interested in living peacefully and happily."
[18:33] <Kotono> Blowing air out her mouth and messing up her bangs, "Mph. Every time I think I have it down I get another little reminder that I still have a lot to learn. Physical contact feels good and reassuring, and the springs were so nice. So...nice." Smiling a littl here, "Even if I usually spurn that, perhaps it's not the wisest course to ignore these good feelings entirely."
[18:36] <Alicia> "You do follow a rather ascetic philosophy," Alicia admits, dumping the ingredients into a pot of water and lighting the stove before she turns to the erinyes. "I won't tell you how to live your life in this regard, since it's not really a moral choice - as far as I'm concerned you should simply do what brings you happiness."
[18:41] <Kotono> Still looking away at nothing at all at this angle, "Mph. Happiness is being out of Hell and being here instead. Happiness is serving you instead of some wretched abomination from the Pit. Happiness is..." Grabbing her hair ribbon and then tossing it aside, "Is going flying at night and feeling the wind blow past you. I rather liked that just before I met you. Happiness is laughing when Marie makes a good joke once in a moon. Happiness is f
[18:41] <Kotono> Happiness is laughing when Marie makes a good joke once in a moon. Happiness is fighting with the Guard and all of you against the worst this world can make. Happiness is...watching all of you be happy, too. Demedais when he's with Pollyanna, Seira as she tries to change the world one gold coin at a time. Happiness is..."
[18:45] <Alicia> As Antenora hesitates, Alicia steps towards her and embraces the erinyes in a warm hug. "This?" she asks in a gentle reassuring whisper.
03[19:07] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-223-71.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
[19:12] <Kotono> Antenora leans up in it, her body warmth against Alicia. "This feels nice, yes. Touching in Hell is never for a good means. Never. But here it feels so different."
[19:18] <Alicia> "I gathered that was the reason for your inclination towards chastity," Alicia admits as she holds her friend. "But it doesn't have to be like that ever again. Even if you don't care to actively pursue romance, denying even the possibility is doing yourself a disservice."
[19:21] <Kotono> With a relaxed sigh as her body slackens against Alicia, "The same for you, too. Maybe one day?"
[19:24] <Alicia> "Exactly," Alicia draws back a bit to smile at Antenora, "I'm not going out of my way to look for it, since it doesn't really suit my lifestyle and I'm perfectly happy as I am - but if an opportunity ever did arise, I'd have no qualms about going for it." She then leans close to whisper, "You can do far better than Marie, though." Then with a laugh she goes back to watching over her stove.
[19:28] <Kotono> Laughing as well, "Can you imagine if she took that seriously? Asking you for an Alter Self so she can try and take me on date...or he, as the case would be."
[19:32] <Alicia> "I pray to Mystra I never get asked to do that for her," Alicia replies with an amused little shudder. "Even I have trouble telling just what she takes seriously - if anything."
[19:33] <Kotono> "Imagine if she did that and then asked you out on the date instead," Smirking to that and raising her voice high, "Oh Alicia...I know why Mystra sent me now! Come with me! I'll romance you from here to Dweomerheart!"
03[19:37] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
[19:38] <Alicia> "Blech," Alicia makes a face, "I'll be having nightmares, tonight." Turning away from the soup-pot after a few stirs, "In all seriousness, though, don't pay her too much mind. While she probably wouldn't refuse if you offered, I think she mostly just enjoys getting a rise out of you."
[19:40] <Kotono> "I know." Going to lie back down again, "Alicia, what are you going to do in the coming days?"
[19:44] <Alicia> "Well, as much as our current state may be a detriment to walking around town without a fuss, it's a tremendous boon to many of my arcane and divine abilities, so I'm not sure I'd want it to go to waste while it lasts," Alicia admits. "Since Balmuria is quiet, and the rest of the Crimson Guard occupied, I should find something productive to fill my time."
[19:45] <Kotono> "What though?" Antenora sits up and leans back now, "Is there any convienent dang...oh. How about one of those evil magical items?"
[19:47] <Alicia> "They're particularly convenient in this instance, yes," Alicia agrees.
[19:48] <Kotono> "So will you leave for that tomorrow," Antenora considers, "And which one, if so?"
[19:50] <Alicia> "Perhaps the demon armour," Alicia hums briefly, "There's also something else I've been toying with."
[19:52] <Kotono> "Oh?" Standing up now, stretching, "What is it?"
[19:54] <Alicia> "The Halls of the Vanquished," Alicia replies. "Last time we rescued Latha, Ascension, and Hell Striker. But I saw dozens of others being held there... and after seeing the upper planes for myself, the injustice of their captivity strikes home even harder."
[19:54] <Kotono> Antenora smiles frostily at that, "I would be more than game to challenge that. I doubt it will be an easy battle, however."
[19:56] <Alicia> "It wasn't the first time, but I've improved a lot since then," Alicia nods. "More important than the battle, though, is being able to sneak in undetected and find the release commands."
[19:57] <Kotono> "I would be surprised if it would be so easy a second time. The failure ofa d evil behind the lax security is lucky if he's not been hastily demoted." Her smile grows sharper, like a predatory animal, "A new devil would want to ensure that no mistakes of his predessor could be easily repeated. There will be many, many devils to send to oblivion, surely."
[19:59] <Alicia> "That would be a bonus, but the primary thrust is to free as many of those denied their rightful reward as possible," Alicia nods. "If you're interested we can discuss things with Elle tomorrow - I'd probably need a few scrolls for certain spells to accomplish this."
[20:00] <Kotono> "I'm interested, though the danger is not to be underestimated." Antenora stands up now, "If you go, I will be there at your side no matter what spawns of the Pit await.?
[20:02] <Alicia> "Believe me, I'm well aware of the danger after what happened last time. But even so, I could ask for no finer companion," she smiles proudly at her friend.
[20:03] <Kotono> "Then...until tomorrow?" Antenora vows.
[20:04] <Alicia> "Tomorrow it is," Alicia agrees, tasting her soup briefly before she ladles out a serving, "Sure I can't interest you in a bowl?"
[20:05] <Kotono> "No. I'm going to go prepare to fly tonight and clear my mind for tomorrow. Until then, unless you'd care to join me," Antenora throws a glance back.
[20:06] <Alicia> "If you don't mind waiting till I've had my dinner, certainly," Alicia smiles, getting out a hard roll and sitting at the dining table with her meal, having left the remainder of the pot for Jessica when she gets home.
[20:11] <Kotono> "I need to wait for the sun to set anyway," Antenora shrugs, going back to her room.
[20:15] <Kotono> The night passes peacefully. The next morning comes and dawns, the two going to Countess Stronger's shop. Shes' there early, yawning into her hand. "You two are to an early start. What can I do for you?"
[20:19] <Alicia> Actually they won't be going to Hell today anyway, since Alicia intends to go just before her plane shift ring recharges, and right now it's spent from yesterday. But that gives Elle time to make any scrolls she doesn't have in stock.
[20:19] <Alicia> "Looking for a few scrolls so we wanted to catch you before you'd set all your spells for the day, just in case there's any you don't have handy at the moment," Alicia explains.
[20:25] <Kotono> "Right," Rubbing her eyes, "Running off the far corners of Gods only know where again? What spells?"
[20:33] <Alicia> "Let's see..." Alicia considers her plan of attack. "Disguise self, first of all - preferably at a higher caster level than normal, since it may need to last a while. And an invisibility, just in case. Wall of Iron," she nods briefly, "And definitely Knock - although by any chance do you know of possibly a spell like Knock that could unlock a large number of locked objects in a confined area?"
[20:37] <Kotono> "Disguise self at a higher caster power? You'd need a stave for that and those are expensive," Elle considers, "Scrolls use the minimum amount possible. Invisibility is simple, as is Wall of Iron. I don't know of a Mass Knock spell."
[20:48] <Kotono> OOCL STrike.
[20:49] <Kotono> "Disguise self advanced scrolls are possible." Elle considers, "Invisibility is simple, as is Wall of Iron. I don't know of a Mass Knock spell."
[20:52] <Alicia> "Well, I'll settle for a normal Knock spell," Alicia relents. "If you can have them all ready for tomorrow morning, along with two vials of Silversheen?"
[20:56] <Kotono> "Done. You can pay me then," Elle stretches out, "So what's your plan this time?"
[20:58] <Alicia> "Now that I've experienced the upper planes for myself, the injustice of innocents being held prisoner in the lower planes rings ever more true," Alicia explains. "So I'm going to do something about it."
[21:03] <Kotono> "Ooooh. Careful then," Elle says, looking to Antenora, "You'd better keep a good eye on her now. I'm not going to be happy if som ething happens to one of my best customers."
[21:06] <Alicia> "I can't say for certain that we'll come out of this safely," Alicia admits. "But with your help I'm hoping we will. And many others, too."
[21:10] <Kotono> "We will. It won't be easy, but we will," Antenora says firmly, "Not Hell or Stygia's frozen torments will stop us."
[21:12] <Alicia> "Anyway, we'll see you tomorrow before we leave," Alicia gives Elle a little wave before heading out.
[20:47] <Kotono> -------------
[20:47] <Kotono> Antenora, Alicia and Marie gather inside of Alicia's house. Battle gear is worn as noon comes and creeps closer. "So what's the plan," Antenora asks, "So we have it down right. Also, do we have a contingency if things go against us?"
[20:57] <Alicia> "Based on the fact that none of the reinforcements teleported to us last time, I'm assuming the Halls have anti-teleport wards, so we're going to have to sneak in," Alicia begins. "I'll disguise myself with that scroll Elle gave me, and the ring of eternal celerity should keep any devils with true seeing from seeing through it - Marie will have to hide in my backpack while we're going in."
06[20:57] * Alicia then hands Antenora a set of creepy black robes liberated from one of the Sharran cultists. "These'll hide your armour while hopefully still fitting in - I took the liberty of cutting in holes for your wings already."
[20:59] <Kotono> Antenora sniffs the robes and grimaces, "Ah, cultist. Just the thing to smell like in Hell." She puts them on, the heavy robes covering her armor and body. Oh yes, Alicia. Do you still have that ring? I think I'd like it and it would be useful here in any event."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Oh, I thought I gave it to you yesterday..." Alicia searches her person for a moment before handing it to Antenora. "Anyway, I'll teleport us nearby and then we walk in like any normal devils would. There are admittedly several options we could take at this point;"
[21:07] <Alicia> "For one, I may have advanced to the point where I could dispel the bindings on the prisoners directly. It's not something I care to count on, though. Another possibility is simply coercing another devil to release them for us - even guards are likely to have overheard a few command words at the very least. It's somewhat risky, though."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Our best bet is to do what Beth and I did by finding the commands ourselves. When we near the secret door, Marie will drink the invisibility potion and proceed straight to the records room, where she can peruse the lists there - they're locked but she should be able to phase through the boxes to read what's inside."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Once she has a good number of them, she comes back out to rejoin us, giving us each a code for one of the more powerful sounding prisoners. We proceed to unbind them - then I'll throw up the Wall of Iron to cut off reinforcements, and Antenora and I eliminate all the devils on our side while Marie starts releasing all the prisoners she can."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Finally, I blast an escape route in the ceiling through which the prisoners can escape - with help from us as necessary if they can't fly."
[21:07] <Alicia> "The contingency is effectively that last part, if we're in danger of being overwhelmed I'll cut us a path out and we'll fly through it ourselves before plane-shifting back to the Prime."
[21:10] <Kotono> "Sounds reasonable enough." Antenora goes over it, "I have no illusions that this will be an easy battle..." Looking down quietly, "This'll be my first time going back to Hell, too. So, no failure will be tolerated. We have to succeed at this, or at least get away safely. We can't be defeated in that museum. Staying frozen for eternity would be the best thing we could hope for then."
06[21:12] * Alicia nods grimly. "If we get into any sort of trouble, retreat is preferable to any grand heroic gesture. We can always try again, provided we get away. Still, considering the types of devils present the last time, we should be capable of defeating any foes that appear to challenge us there, unless another Duke stops by."
[21:13] <Kotono> "I hope that whomever is running it's defenses is as lax as the previous one is, or circumstances make his defenses weak," Antenora says, then smiling a little, "Ready, Marie?"
[21:14] <Alicia> "No pressure," Marie grins back as Alicia hands her the plane shift ring.
[21:14] <Alicia> "Since Antenora and I will have our hands full fighting, its best if you hold onto this," she explains, also handing Antenora a small clay flask containing water from Evergold, a match for one she likewise has on her.
05[21:18] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:18] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[21:22] <Kotono> Taken and put under her robes, "I'll be paying as much attention with my mind as I can, so we aren't ambushed by anything unseen or hidden."
[21:25] <Alicia> "Alright, I'll cast my spells and then we'll go," Alicia speaks up, proceeding to use her magic to shield herself, empower everyone's weapons, and ward them against cold. "Also better get that silversheen on your spear, too," she tells Antenora, applying the liquid metal to Hell Striker.
[21:26] <Kotono> Antenora rubs the silversheen into the tip of her spear as Alicia finishes casting her spells.
[21:28] <Alicia> Finally, Alicia takes out the scroll of disguise self. "No laughing," she cautions the other two before she reads from it, an illusion of a hunchbacked and scary looking Bearded Devil superimposing itself over her form.
[21:28] <Kotono> Antenora cracks a smile. "You make a disturbingly ugly Bearded Devil."
[21:30] <Alicia> Marie politely covers her mouth and looks away while Alicia shows a fierce grimace of razor-sharp teeth. "No one should question it, at least," she replies in as guttural a voice as she can manage, hefting Hell Striker which currently looks like a jagged cold-iron halberd.
[21:30] <Alicia> "Now, get in my backpack and then plane shift us to Tantlin, Marie," she instructs her familiar, casting Voice of the Archon and taking Antenora's hand.
[21:31] <Kotono> Antenora squeezes Alicia's hand. "You'll scare all the lemures you see."
[21:33] <Alicia> "Remember to boss her around to stay in character!" Marie reminds Antenora as she clambers into the backpack hidden within Alicia's 'hump' and after receiving assent from the others she focuses on the ring currently worn more like a bangle around her dainty wrist, warping them to that most hated plane of Baator...
[21:33] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 191." [5d100=66, 11, 10, 10, 94]
[21:38] <Kotono> Wooooosh! So cold. There is no heat here. Only a cold that feels piercing even with her magical protections. Alicia's cheek aches. She can feel the touch of Agares on her cheek again as she appears, the foul caress making her face feel like dead, rotting flesh. The bleak, purple sky sheds barely any light, a deep shadow over everything. You stand on loose circles of ice, most no more than twenty feet wide. They float in a very loose surfac
[21:38] <Kotono> most no more than twenty feet wide. They float in a very loose surface, most dipping ominously down and far too close to letting water spill over; the oily black waters just below toxic to mind and identity. (More)
[21:39] <Kotono> Over this barely together, loose conglomeration of 'land' are several thicker pieces of ice, making jutting, minature mountains perhaps twenty to thirty feet into the air. They are slightly hidden, a chill, dry, flayind wind blowing off of them. On one a hundred or so feet away, an ice devil lies at the top, it's tail coiled down the 'mountain'.
06[21:41] * Alicia doesn't intend to stick around, teleporting the trio to just off the far side of the bridge leading to the Halls - the same place where she first met Agares, at that.
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 100." [1d100=100]
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d10 damage
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d10 damage and gets 4." [1d10=4]
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+80 mishap
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+80 mishap and gets 88." [1d20=8]
[21:46] <Kotono> Ugh! Alicia can feel a sense of domination, chains binding to her! The teleport wracks her body, appearing on a long bridge of ice! Buildings of ice are all around you. About twenty feet away are two vile creatures - a pair of ice devils walking this way! They stop at the apperance, mandibles chittering! "A mere Bearded Devil dares into this quarter! You presume far too much, foolish barbazu! Your life is forfiet for breaking this law!" OOC
[21:46] <Kotono> oolish barbazu! Your life is forfiet for breaking this law!" OOC - Let's roll initaitive here?
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 A and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M should it matter
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M should it matter and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 ID 1
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 ID 1 and gets 23." [1d20=18]
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 ID 2
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 ID 2 and gets 14." [1d20=9]
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 15." [1d20=10]
03[21:48] * Kotono changes topic to 'Ice Devil 1>Antenora>Ice Devil 2=Alicia>Marie'
[21:50] <Kotono> "Shit!" Antenora curses under her breath, as the first ice devil extends it's hand out! As whirls of cold and wind gush from it, "Impudent barbazu, and those who would dare with him, suffer!"
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 CL
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 CL and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[21:50] <Kotono> OOC - Ref saves.
[21:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 31." [1d20=10]
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 13d6
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 13d6 and gets 45." [13d6=1, 4, 3, 6, 5, 2, 5, 5, 3, 3, 5, 2, 1]
[21:51] <Kotono> OOC: Doesn't penetrate your resist after successful saves.
[21:52] <Kotono> The cold whips around Alicia and Antenora! Both of them dodge to the sides of the bridge, missing the worst of the freezing cone! 'Attack or hold?' Antenora asks swiftly. OOC: Antenora's up.
[21:52] <Alicia> "Don't waste time, we're getting out of here," Alicia replies in clipped infernal.
[21:53] <Kotono> Antenora hurries over to Alicia then! OOC - Alicia and Devil 2 are up.
[21:54] <Alicia> Satisfying as it would be to slay these fiends, Alicia has more important matters and so doesn't waste time in retrying the teleport!
[21:54] <Alicia> roll 1d100 c'mon
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 c'mon and gets 96." [1d100=96]
[21:55] <Alicia> OOC: similar area again
[21:56] <Kotono> Woosh! Alicia vanishes just as another cone of cold appears! this time you appear on a broken bridge, at the edges of it. This part of Tantlin lies in a cold ruin! Spikes of Baatorian Greensteel jut out of the surviving bridge, several lemures impaled on them. They struggle weakly and in vain, half coated in ice! Antenora grutns and looks around, "What? Is thijs it or...Is something interfereing with teleport?"
06[21:57] * Alicia looks around in some distress. "It might be," she admits. "I felt something terrible on the first one... I'll try again and if it fails I think we're going to have to call this off."
[21:57] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 45." [1d100=45]
[21:59] <Kotono> This time you appear on the right bridge! More fortune is on your side, no one is immediately within view. The bridge where you met Agares is...quiet.
06[22:00] * Alicia sighs in relief. "This is it," she mutters, still in Infernal. "It's just ahead, this way," is added as she starts to cross the bridge.
[22:01] <Kotono> MAtching Alicia's vile words with her own, "Nothing nearby. Let's go." With that, the two begin to walk!
[22:01] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 76." [1d100=76]
[22:03] <Kotono> You pass by a dozen sights that will haunt Alicia in her darkest dreams. A ice devil tormenting a Bearded Devil, ripping it's beard out one hair at a time, taking with it chunks of bloody flesh for each effort. A Hellcat feasts on a still writhing lemure, devouring it as it's mindless self fights futilely. A dozen Bearded Devils are frozen into the shape of a giant cross, where in an Ice Devil lies crucified. Written in blood red letters be
[22:03] <Kotono> where in an Ice Devil lies crucified. Written in blood red letters below it is, 'The Fate of those who defy Lord Levistus! Torment for 9,999 years for the crime of lesser treason against one's Lord.' (More)
[22:05] <Kotono> But at last...at last mercy is on you. You begin to approach the cave entrance to the Halls of the Vanquished. Like last time, two bearded devils stand guard. At one hundred feet away, Antenora stops. "Problem. There's something invisible a bit above them. Outsiders, two of them, above average intelligence."
[22:07] <Alicia> "Unless they give us trouble, ignore them," Alicia suggests, her thick bristly beard somewhat obscuring her lips as she whispers, continuing to march along as only a surly barbazu can, 'halberd' held in both hands as if anticipating violence at any moment.
[22:09] <Kotono> Antenora follows, walking along with them. She doesn't even deign to glance at the two barbazu guards as they enter! Nothing unusual as you approach, though ANtenora takes a moment, 'Ahead and inside, three superhuman intelligences. Might be ice devils, they're like the intellect fromt he last two.'
[22:11] <Alicia> 'We'll see in a moment,' Alicia replies, more comfortable talking telepathically where no one can overhear. 'Last time there was only once ice devil here, so unless they're visitors like us it could be they've spent a lot of effort on increasing security.'
[22:11] <Alicia> She idly wonders just where these resources have been diverted from - it could prove useful to take advantage of a weakness elsewhere, if she were to find it.
[22:13] <Kotono> Inside the foyer, three ice devils stand before the door leading to the Grand Hall. Each has the diabolical spears they prefer, the one in the center chattering as the two enter. "On who's authority do the two of you enter the Halls of the Vanquished on?"
[22:15] <Alicia> The erinyes should be the one to speak, and she knows more fiendish names. 'This is new. Make something up, some random devil of influence on a layer far from here,' she suggests to Antenora.
[22:20] <Kotono> Standing up straight and speaking in deep, imperious tones, "The authority of Mitanu of Maladomini!"
[22:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[22:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[22:23] <Kotono> The lead gelugon curtly nods and steps aside. "Enjoy the new exhibit ahead," it says, mandibles clattering together again.
[22:24] <Kotono> Antenora advances on with nary a look to them after, and looking to Alicia, "Stop slacking!"
[22:25] <Alicia> "New exhibit?" Alicia queries in her most scratchy and guttural voice, before suddenly recoiling in fear at Antenora's command. "Hsss! Yes, mistress!" she hunches herself inwards obsequeiously before scurrying ahead to lead the way for the erinyes.
[22:27] <Kotono> Stopping to glare at Alicia, "Do that again and I'll have you become an exhibit for piteous, pathetic wastes of diabolical flesh!" But as you advance on, something else could get your attention. IN the center of the grand hall something new has been added(Besides repaired floors, really.). In the center of the room is a pedestool, much like the ones that hold various trophies here. Here an Ice Devil stands, being pulled apart in several di
[22:28] <Kotono> Here an Ice Devil stands, being pulled apart in several directions. It's body is spread eagled as far as it will go, just starting to gruseomly rip apart. It's frozen in this state, a look of soul killing agony on it's alien face! Below it, on a plaque that burns with crimson fire, it reads 'Azanu. See well the price of failure and learn!'
[22:30] <Alicia> 'Former curator,' Alicia supplies for Antenora's benefit. 'My blades tasted his flesh but he retreated... perhaps it would have been better for him if he had not,' she muses. Rather than lingering, she makes a show of bowing and scraping to Antenora before leading her to the hall of captured demons.
[22:31] <Kotono> Antenora looks the statue over, "Fitting," she says. As she does, one of the western doors open. A classical harvester devil walks side by side with a man in plain, dented full plate armor. His face is cold, uncaring. "...why this is such a superior place. Practicing against the captives is safe, easy and effective." The harvester devil says, as Antenora goes for the eastern door with Alicia.
06[22:33] * Alicia ignores the falxugon and his dupe as she leads Antenora through the exhibits.
[22:39] <Kotono> You pass into the exhibit hall! There are several ice devils here, scattered apart and keeping a general eye on things. A pair of erinyes are examining a chaos beasts, sneering. Ahead are various slaad and chaos beasts, the hall turning north after.
[22:41] <Alicia> 'Definitely been a big increase in security - before it was nothing but barbazu and erinyes,' Alicia tells Antenora as she leads the erinyes around the corner, heading towards the secret door Beth found.
[22:45] <Kotono> The Erinyes are fortunately distracted and don'te ven glance at the two. Turning the corner, you come to the demons. More ice devils are here. Including a pair at the secret door. It's not a secret door anymore at all. It's been changed into a real, obvious door, the two ice devils keeping a vigilant guard.
[22:45] <Kotono> Besides the various ice devils, there's a cornugon, flanked by four fawning male erinyes. He examines a marilith frozen in place, rubbing it's chin. "Superb work," he growls and laughs.
06[22:48] * Alicia picks a large sized creature fairly near the door and starts to study it, using its bulk to shield them from the view of any nearby erinyes. 'Alright Antenora, tell Marie to get going - records are in the second door on the left once she goes through that passage.'
[22:51] <Kotono> A large hezrou is frozen in ice as Antenora sends to Marie, 'You're up. Records are straight ahead, second door on the left once you go through the passage.'
[22:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21." [1d20=7]
[22:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[22:54] <Alicia> 'Okay. Stay in touch, will you? I don't want to be alone here...' Marie responds, drinking the invisibility potion before she turns incorporeal and phases out of Alicia's backpack, embedding herself half in the frozen floor to avoid detection even from fiends with true seeing before she carefully scoots over to the passageway...
[20:35] <Kotono> * Alicia picks a large sized creature fairly near the door and starts to study it, using its bulk to shield them from the view of any nearby erinyes. 'Alright Antenora, tell Marie to get going - records are in the second door on the left once she goes through that passage.'
[20:35] <Kotono> > A large hezrou is frozen in ice as Antenora sends to Marie, 'You're up. Records are straight ahead, second door on the left once you go through the passage.'
[20:35] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+14
[20:35] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+14
[20:35] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21." [1d20=7]
[20:35] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[20:35] <Kotono> <Alicia> 'Okay. Stay in touch, will you? I don't want to be alone here...' Marie responds, drinking the invisibility potion before she turns incorporeal and phases out of Alicia's backpack, embedding herself half in the frozen floor to avoid detection even from fiends with true seeing before she carefully scoots over to the passageway...
[20:40] <Kotono> Marie scoots inside! Inside is a well lit hallway, several identical doors. A distinct feeling of needles crawling over Marie's flesh is felt even now. No one looks to be about. It's utterly, dead quiet here. Not a scrap of noise.
[20:42] <Alicia> As Alicia channels a Fly spell into her sword and idly taps it into her palm to gain the benefit of the spell without noisily casting, Marie shimmies up to hide inside the ceiling and then works her way to the second door on the left which she handily bypasses in her incorporeal state.
[20:44] <Kotono> Inside is a large room of filing cabinets, each a single box with writing over it. The room is vast, dozens of these around. It's quiet and peaceable beyond that.
[20:45] <Kotono> Meanwhile Antenora makes a show of examining the nearest statue, 'Lots of ice devils. They're quite smarter than the cornugons, interestingly. Nothing else or nothing that stands out that we haven't seen, at least right now.'
[20:46] <Alicia> Marie spends a few seconds checking the room over for magic or evil auras, while Alicia starts to meander away from the demons and towards the celestials. 'You'd think gelugons wouldn't be relegated to simple guard duty - I've never seen so many in one place before,' she replies as she does a count of all the ones she's seen in the halls.
[20:47] <Kotono> There's been at least a dozen so far and more ahead in the celestial areas. Marie sees that there's strong magic all over the room she's in, including the cabinets.
[20:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 24." [1d20=17]
[20:49] <Kotono> 'Whomever the new caretaker is, they're taking security seriously,' Antenora breathes, and then, 'Marie, how's it going?'
[20:49] <Alicia> 'Yikes, looks like they've upgraded the defences here. If I was corporeal I'd probably be fried to death and summoning in all sorts of guards right now,' Marie comments for Antenora's benefit as she starts to look over the cabinets for labels to see which ones relate to imprisoned mortals.
[20:50] <Kotono> There's a bunch with names of various mortals. About a fifth of them or so are these or could be these.
[20:50] <Kotono> 'Alicia, there's better traps. Marie says she'd be fried if she wasn't incorpreal,' Antenora sends to her.
[20:52] <Alicia> 'So where's all this coming from?' Alicia wonders as she eyes a familiar looking sword archon. 'There's no comparison at all with how it was last time - you'd think this was a front-line fortress or something...'
[20:53] <Alicia> Meanwhile Marie reads the name of the first mortal she finds and phases into the cabinet to see if she can find the command release code within.
[20:54] <Kotono> The cabinet is empty. Meanwhile, 'Well, Agares is gone and Azanu's a piece of art. Whomever the new caretaker is has enough clout to get plenty of gelugons and better security. Maybe Levistus is taking an interest? Maybe another Duke is?' Antenora pauses to consider as Alicia examines the frozen archon. 'If we have leisure, gathering some information could be productive.'
[20:56] <Alicia> 'Antenora?' Marie hopes the erinyes is listening in as she flits back out of the cabinet, quickly ducking into another random one to see what she can see.
[20:56] <Kotono> Empty again! Nothing at all is in there. No reply from Antenora at the moment.
[20:58] <Alicia> That's all Marie needs to write off this room. Phasing through the wall, she takes a peek in the room's neighbour - the first on the left after entering this hallway.
[20:59] <Alicia> 'Maybe. But I don't intend to stay any longer than necessary...' Alicia replies uneasily.
[20:59] <Kotono> The room looks like some sort of diabolical office, but it's empty. 'Marie, how's it going' Antenora asks after that. 'Alicia doesn't want to linger too long.'
[21:01] <Alicia> 'There's no one here, and the filing cabinets are all empty!' Marie replies, clear relief at hearing Antenora's lovely voice evident in her tone. 'The room next to it's an office I think but it's empty, too. I think these rooms are just decoys!'
[21:02] <Kotono> 'Oh HELLS.' Antenora thinks, 'Hold on.' Then to Alicia, 'Problem, the rooms in there are duds. Empty and trapped to the gills.'
[21:04] <Alicia> 'Clever... I bet they're not even warded against teleportation, too,' Alicia replies with grudging respect. Recalling the plan of the Halls she saw at the entrance and comparing it with its exterior dimensions, she tries to think of where another possible hidden room could be.
[21:06] <Kotono> The problem is that the Halls sink into a cave and close to the Styx. The dimensions are anyone's guess, since it's not like the front map out ther eincluded this secret or anything else like 'Hi, secret door here!'. It really could be anywhere.
[21:08] <Alicia> Well, last time there was a really obvious empty spot in the corner. 'Okay, tell Marie to first of all check above and below those rooms?' she asks the erinyes.
[21:09] <Kotono> 'Right,' Antenora says, 'Alicia wants you to check right above and below the rooms there,' she says, 'Watch out for the Styx, remember.'
[21:09] <Kotono> As you do, the cornugon gloating over the Marilith proceeds ahead, closer to Alicia and company. The male erinyes continues to fawn over him as he walks, "Move!" he bellows to Alicia and Antenora, "I wish to examine that exhibit now!"
[21:10] <Alicia> 'It's okay, corporeal water can't touch me like this no matter how nasty it is,' Marie tells Antenora as she ducks down through the floor below the office first of all.
06[21:11] * Alicia hisses and quickly scurries away from the cornugon with much bowing and scraping.
[21:14] <Kotono> Antenora does the same, "Sorry, sorry, sorry," she whimpers, scurrying away with Alicia as well!
[21:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[21:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[21:14] <Kotono> The erinyes sneer and smirk at the two, as meanwhile Marie goes up and down! Up is cold, solid ice. Below is frozen eyes, and a little lower, the water of the Styx. No sign of anything.
[21:14] <Alicia> Marie reverses course and flies up!
[21:15] <Kotono> Up is cold, solid ice.
06[21:16] * Alicia moves back amongst the demons once the cornugon has passed, not wanting to get too far away from the passage so Marie can find them easily.
[21:16] <Alicia> Speaking of said eladrin, she descends back to the same level as the empty rooms and decides to check out the one on the right of the empty records room.
[21:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9 arcana Alicia
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 arcana Alicia and gets 17." [1d20=8]
[21:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9 arcana Marie
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 arcana Marie and gets 26." [1d20=17]
[20:36] <Kolunch> The room to the right has racks and racks of weapons. The weapons look fairly plain and uninteresting from a glance, though most looked to be styled with angelic, archonic or various good aligned motifs.
[20:38] <Alicia> This must be where Alicia found Hell Striker. Back into the hallway, Marie looks to see how many doors she hasn't checked out.
[20:38] <Kolunch> There's three more.
[20:39] <Alicia> Marie quickly scoots through each, just poking in briefly to see what's what and move on, unless she sees anything interesting.
[20:42] <Kolunch> It's offices, mundane, empty record storages and a curator's office shell. Nothing in it looks too interesting on a glance.
[20:42] <Kolunch> 'Marie?
[20:42] <Kolunch> OOC - Gah.
[20:43] <Kolunch> 'Marie?' Antenora sends as she does, 'How's it going back there? There's several ice devils, erinyes and a horned devil out here. Careful.'
[20:46] <Alicia> 'There's only one erinyes I want to see,' Marie jokes back in an effort to keep her spirits up. 'Aside from what looks like an armoury of trophy weapons, there's nothing here - the rooms have all been cleared out entirely. The whole thing reeks of a setup - I'm coming back, okay?'
[20:47] <Kolunch> 'Okay.' Then to Alicia, 'She's coming back.' Then to Marie again, 'Tell me when you're back in the backpack.'
[20:49] <Alicia> Phasing back through the walls, Marie makes ample use of cover to avoid moving through the line of sight of any erinyes (except the one in the black robes) as she zips towards the bearded devil lurking by the marilith, once more hiding within Alicia's backpack before she returns to a corporeal state. 'Back,' she announces as Alicia starts at the shifting weight on her back.
[20:53] <Kolunch> 'Right.' 'Alicia, she's back.' Antenora says, as she makes a show of looking about at the various figures.
[20:55] <Alicia> A mental sigh is clearly conveyed from the paladin. 'I'm afraid to say we're stuck, then. I can't count on dispelling these bindings, and the guards are too numerous and powerful for me to magically compel them into releasing anyone... without those release commands there's no way we can get anyone out of here.'
[20:56] <Kolunch> 'Are we going to call it off then?' Antenora asks. She sighs as well, '...dammit. If nothing else, I want to try and find out about this new curator. They're proving disgustingly competent.'
[20:58] <Alicia> 'Considering there's more greater fiends here than they had in the desert invasion force, it's really not hard,' Alicia replies bitterly. 'If nothing else we can take some comfort in the fact that such a large number of gelugons are stuck here instead of actually causing trouble for anyone else.'
[20:59] <Kolunch> 'Let's get out of here then?' Antenora says, 'Before someone gets lucky. We can talk out of the hall, somewhere quiet.'
[20:59] <Alicia> 'If we can find an isolated guard somewhere...' Alicia considers thoughtfully as she starts to head back to the entry hall.
[21:00] <Kolunch> You pass into the entry hall! Here a pair of barbazu is examing Azanu with an intense scowls. No sign of the previous harvester devil and mortal. The way out is ahead.
06[21:02] * Alicia looks to see if the map from last time is still here, and if it's had any changes made.
[21:16] <Kolunch> The map from last time is here now. It's been updated to show the old secret rooms, labeled as offices, storage, ectera. Nothing else has been added.
[21:20] <Alicia> Nothing else for it, really. If Antenora still had her keen observational skills they might be able to try and find another secret door leading to the real offices, but as is they really have no chance. Still, perhaps they can get some information if nothing else... are those three gelugons still here?
[21:20] <Kolunch> Going back into the foyer, the two find the gelugons are still keeping watch.
06[21:25] * Alicia approaches the ice devils, keeping a somewhat respectful distance (ie they'd have to move to stab her) and throws a subservient look back to Antenora before addressing them in her best guttural hiss (though still with the exacting pronunciation that Infernal demands). "I heard once that exhibits can be fought. How does that work?"
[21:26] <Kolunch> Antenora scowls and nods to the barbazu. "I'm interested in this as well. My servant could use a sharpening."
[21:28] <Kolunch> "You need to petition the curator to approve it. Should it be approved, they will be temporarily thawed int he training halls. A letter from a devil with authority in Tantlin or a noble devil will reflect very well on your request."
[21:29] <Kolunch> The gelugon leans forward, chittering-snap-snap as it's mandibles come together. It eyes both of them, with a look of casual contempt for Alicia and leering at the robes erinyes.
06[21:30] * Alicia takes a half-step back from the gelugon, playing her part as a minor baatezu in the face of a greater one. "See old curator back there," she cocks her head towards the grisly exhibit in the front hall, "What can you tell us about the current one?"
[21:32] <Kolunch> "Curator Tenel came to power after the condemnation of Azanu for incompetence, laxity, embezzlement, chaotic sympathies, treason and failure of duty." With a laugh, "I hear that Azanu is awake unlike the others. He spends eternity being torn apart and watching other devils mock his failure every day!"
[21:33] <Kolunch> Another of them grins, a disquieting thing that sends chills down one's spine. "Curator Tenel is far more competent. Azanu's wastefulness let a mere mortal escape and infuried former Duke Agares."
[21:33] <Kolunch> *infuriated
[21:34] <Kolunch> The third laughs, a sound of unearthly, buggish things making noise. "Chaotic impulses! So wrapped up in his own corruption that he forgot the greater duties to Baator! Pathetic!"
[21:35] <Alicia> "Serves him right, then," Alicia bares her needle-like teeth in a rictus of a grin. "Although tales of the *former* duke's troubles have reached even other layers. Is Tenel an associate of that one?"
[21:39] <Kolunch> "Tenel is favored of Levistus. He is a true, greater gelugon," All three lower their eyes at this, a complete pause. "Curator Tenel has vowed to end the laxity and weaknesses of Azanu's pathetic regime!"
[21:42] <Kolunch> Antenora simply laughs. It's a haughty, horrible laugh. "Azanu and then Agares. How far did the incompetent corruption go?"
[21:44] <Alicia> She's still got it! "Would you tell this humble one where such an upstanding fiend might be found?" Alicia asks the Gelugon she first spoke to. If her respectful words aren't enough, there's also the kick of her suggestion spell to help things along.
[21:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 SR
05[21:44] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:44] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[21:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 SR
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 SR and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[21:44] <Kolunch> OOC: Make a diplo check?
[21:45] <Alicia> OOC: lets take 10 for 51?
[21:48] <Kolunch> "You can schedule an appointment with Curator Tenel. Submit the request to the Department of Inter-Devil Official Relations. Then again...that takes years." Looking keenly at the bearded devil, "You speak well for one of your caste."
[21:49] <Kolunch> "I've trained it well," Antenora smirks, "THIS bearded devil isn't allowed to be a complete, incompetent fool."
06[21:49] * Alicia briefly shoots a fearful look at Antenora. "Nothing less is expected," she agrees with some quick bowing and scraping.
[21:49] <Kolunch> "Don't you forget that," Antenora finishes.
[21:50] <Kolunch> roll 1d20+18
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kolunch rolls 1d20+18 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[21:51] <Kolunch> "This process can be speeded up immensely if you are willing to make it worth our while," One of the gelugons says. "The Barbazu is outstanding. I could use a servant who doesn't trip over it's own feet."
[21:52] <Kolunch> "No point." Going to touch the Barbazu's head with a smirk, "My master is impressed with it as well. Surely a promotion is no later than a decade away."
[21:54] <Kolunch> "Something useful then." The first one eyes, "Magic or worthwhile coin."
[21:54] <Kolunch> 'Alicia?' Antenora asks at this point.
06[21:55] * Alicia almost but not quite flinches away from Antenora's touch. 'Forget it, I was fishing to find out where he is so we can drop in unannounced, not get an appointment. We should go,' she responds.
[21:55] <Kolunch> "I'll consider it," Antenora says, then pulls Alicia along by the beard. "We're done here. Come, servant."
06[21:56] * Alicia hisses and follows along, having to move quite carefully to avoid having Antenora's hand noticably phase through her illusory beard and draw attention that way.
[21:58] <Kolunch> The two manage to stumble outside! Once outside, no ome immediately around, "Tenel, eh?" Antenora murmurs. "Now what?"
[22:00] <Alicia> "We have about an hour and a half before my disguise fades," Alicia replies, moving well up the road away from the hall and recasting voice of the archon once no devils are close by. "We could try asking around to get more information, but that depends on how similar hellish cities are to ones on the prime - do you even have things like taverns?"
[22:01] <Kolunch> "In forms, yes. There are places where devils gather. It depends on how fast we can find one," Looking about, seeing the streets quiet for the moment, "Catching up on the gossip would be to our benefit, both about Zquujaj and the going ons of the layer."
03[22:02] * Kolunch is now known as Kotono
[22:04] <Alicia> "I get the impression no one cares about Zquujaj anymore," Alicia muses. "Last time I was here there was a noticable tension - and you said things were going utterly chaotic the last time you were here. But now everything's under a tight lid - they wouldn't spare so many gelugons to guard a museum if a rogue pit fiend really was causing much trouble."
[22:04] <Alicia> "Anyway, lets see if we can find such a place and find out what's happening?"
[22:04] <Kotono> "I think the status quo returned," Antenora agrees as the two go to look about!
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 80." [1d100=80]
[22:09] <Kotono> It takes about fourty five minutes of wandering to find such a 'place'. It's a precisely carved and promptly neglected building of pure ice. Inside lesser devils congregate. Bearded devils, a few harvester devils, a steel devil, a pair of orthons. They all drink a foul looking, black, tarry substance from tiny glasses. The 'bar' is a small circle of stone about five feet wall. Inside of it is a hole in the ice, a rusty metal bucket drippin
[22:09] <Kotono> Inside of it is a hole in the ice, a rusty metal bucket dripping with Styx-water just besides it."Close enough to a tavern," Antenora mutters.
06[22:12] * Alicia nods. "Lets see what the word is, then?" Alicia suggests, intending to simply listen in for a bit in case any topics of interest come up while they settle into the tavern. Such as it is.
[22:12] <Kotono> OOC: Make a GI check? Antenora will assist you for +2 if possible.
[22:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 27." [1d20=10]
[22:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 11." [1d20=4]
[22:17] <Kotono> You find most of the patrons are in a strange state. They're simply dazed and blank, drinking tiny sips of the strage black drink. It leaves them glassy-eyed and inert. One bearded devil is not partaking and quite coherent. "What do you want," he asks, then "Superior one," he adds with a quick bow of it's head to Antenora.
[22:21] <Alicia> "There have been many changes in Tantlinn since we were last here," Alicia replies, voice low and guarded. "A duke has fallen, and the... interesting, museum of defeated foes is under new management. This has allowed certain arrangements to lapse, so we are attempting to discern the current state of things."
[22:21] <Alicia> That sounds suitably twisted and weasel-y, so shouldn't arouse any suspicion beyond typical baatezu plotting. Hopefully.
[22:22] <Kotono> Antenora nods, turning her attention away from Alicia to look around. The bearded devil eyes right back, "Came to the wrong place. Devils come here to forget."
[22:24] <Alicia> "Miserable wretches..." Alicia briefly surveys the other inhabitants. "They should return to being mindless lemures if that's all they care about."
[22:38] <Kotono> "It's pathetic. Their masters should flay them for this folly." The other barbazu scowls, "Tantlin has been such a mess since the last reorganization. The last millenia has been worthless."
[22:41] <Alicia> "Their masters are probably busy clicking their mandibles in that museum. Never before have I seen so many superior baatezu all in one place with nothing to do," Alicia remarks before asking, "Where did all those gelugon come from? Surely they have more important tasks than performing the work of our caste?"
[22:46] <Kotono> "Hmph. The new curator comes in with his own power and authority. They're all his own toadies, who flock to a greater gelugon." With a respectful 'sneer' of sorts, "AT least he enforces iron order. The attempts on the museum previously were disgraceful!"
[22:51] <Alicia> "We have heard of this incident," Alicia briefly shoots Antenora a look. "Whether this order is more than a facade has not yet been tested, though. Time will tell if this is an improvement or just a wasteful excess."
[20:14] <Kotono> > "It's pathetic. Their masters should flay them for this folly." The other barbazu scowls, "Tantlin has been such a mess since the last reorganization. The last millenia has been worthless."
[20:14] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Their masters are probably busy clicking their mandibles in that museum. Never before have I seen so many superior baatezu all in one place with nothing to do," Alicia remarks before asking, "Where did all those gelugon come from? Surely they have more important tasks than performing the work of our caste?"
[20:14] <Kotono> > "Hmph. The new curator comes in with his own power and authority. They're all his own toadies, who flock to a greater gelugon." With a respectful 'sneer' of sorts, "AT least he enforces iron order. The attempts on the museum previously were disgraceful!"
[20:14] <Kotono> <Alicia> "We have heard of this incident," Alicia briefly shoots Antenora a look. "Whether this order is more than a facade has not yet been tested, though. Time will tell if this is an improvement or just a wasteful excess."
[20:16] <Kotono> "I have no doubt he will. To suggest anything else is disloyal," Evenly speaking as he looks about the brain-addled room of devils, "Curator Tenel will be a worthy curator."
[20:26] <Alicia> "Perhaps, perhaps not," Alicia muses ambivalently. "Once Tenel has actually overcome any real challenges we might be better informed as to his abilities. Certainly there are some who might feel he is draining away more resources than he truly needs to defend a set of frozen statues so deep within Baator."
[20:26] <Alicia> She then shrugs as if to say she's only musing, "Then again, perhaps he is aware of some greater threat that we are not privy to."
[20:29] <Kotono> "He is our superior," The bearded devils bows his head low. As that happens, Antneora does likewise. "What of Duke Agares? I hear his ineffective flailings lead to his disgrace."
[20:35] <Kotono> "He had several incompetencies. Word of his failed adventure into a region of the Prime Material Plane spread. A word supposedly weak and ripe for the picking, our forces defeated by a few weak celestials and mortals?"
[20:38] <Alicia> "For such a disgrace he should have been stricken down to lemure status, not allowed to skulk off into the wastes of Avernus," Alicia declares angrily.
[20:45] <Kotono> "Mph. Avernus..." The bearded devil strokes it's horrible beard, "Far better than he deserves. Perhaps Zquujaj defeated him before his retreat?"
[20:48] <Alicia> "I doubt that Agares could survive an encounter with one who battled Bel to a standstill," Alicia mutters before cocking her head, "Though that was the last I heard of Zquujaj. Has he fled into exile with the demons he shamefully consorted with?"
[20:49] <Kotono> With a long look, "Were you not aware of the victory celebrations called for after Bel masterfully forced Zquujaj to retreat? The 999,999 paean recited was a work of brilliance as it described his masterstroke agasint the chaos-spawn."
[20:49] <Kotono> *999,999 word paean
[20:51] <Alicia> "We have only recently returned from another campaign outside the Hells," Alicia replies, oh so glad she never had to listen to such a dirge.
[20:52] <Kotono> "We are rather...outside of the changes," Antenora sends a wayward look to the bearded devil. "We have been unfairly deprived of hearing of Bel's glories."
[20:54] <Kotono> "In a masterstroke, his strategy entombed the demonic hordes into nine vast canyons in Avernus, slaughtering them with a strike force of devils from the air. In the glorious carnage Bel and Zquujaj faced each other! The legendary Abyss-Bane clashed against the chaos-spawn and sent him packing to the Abyss! No chaos spawn can stand against the power of Bel!"
03[20:56] * tai-evilmaylurkandsodoi is now known as tai-offtomemorial
[20:58] <Alicia> "Excellent," Alicia's mouth forms a hideous rictus of a smile. "Let him rut with the tanar'ri. Anyway, it is time we reported to our superiors - thank you for the illuminating conversation."
[21:00] <Kotono> Standing as well, "Hmph," Muttering as he starts to eye one blank-eyed bearded devil, your 'friend' raises it's glaive. "Time for business now."
06[21:01] * Alicia tenses warily, wondering if this signals an impending attack. If they're expecting a normal barbazu and erinyes they're going to be bitterly disappointed, though...
[21:04] <Kotono> The bearded devils trots over to the other bearded devil. It doesn't even look up as the other one slams a scroll down. "Guilty of desertion," it pronounces, "The punishment is oblivion!" As the few coherent devils look on in a mix of surprise and terror, the barbazu decapiates the blank-eyed devil! It's one smooth, easy stroke, sending it's head flying into the air!
[21:05] <Kotono> Antenora grunts, 'Come,' she sends to Alicia, 'Just a deserter. Let's go while the going is good.'
[21:06] <Alicia> Oh. Well, good for him... Alicia doesn't particularly care about internal baatezu discipline, so she readily follows Antenora out. Actually, isn't Antenora a deserter as well? Good thing nobody recognises her.
[21:07] <Kotono> Heading out, Antenora sighs briefly in the frozen-cold streets. "Ready?" she asks. "Let's go home already."
06[21:08] * Alicia takes Antenora's hand in her own and whispers, "Take us home, Marie."
[21:08] <Alicia> A command that her familiar readily obeys!
[21:08] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 197." [5d100=47, 27, 34, 58, 31]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 6." [1d9=6]
[21:09] <Kotono> Howling, chilly winds batter the party! The air is a little thin as you appear in the mountains - it looks like the Galkass Mountains. No sign of shocker lizards, just rocky peaks. You stand on a narrow mountain path, only about five feet wide at most.
[21:10] <Kotono> Antenora flies up a foot or so, breathing in deeply. "So much better. How did I ever not appreciate how suffocating Hell was?"
[21:12] <Alicia> Marie happily comes out of the backpack while Alicia dispels the disguise she wears. "It was *horrible!*" the eladrin exclaims. "Even the air hurt my skin, like I was flying through a cloud of needles!"
06[21:13] * Alicia sighs. "Just a pity the effort was wasted... we'll have to figure out a better plan if we're to free those souls. Anyway, lets go home," she proceeds to teleport the group back to her house.
[21:13] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 36." [1d100=36]
[21:13] <Kotono> "Everything has to be just so. Everything has to conform. Everything that doesn't is in error and will be destroyed." Stretching as Alicia teleports them back home...OOC - Anything else on your agenda right now, Alicia?
[21:14] <Alicia> OOC: not really, no
[21:23] <Kotono> ------(Sealant Ko)--
[20:22] <Kotono> ----
05[20:23] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:23] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[20:23] <Kotono> Gathering the Demon Armor to the altar of Mystra one morning, Shankar looks it over. The helmet sits atop the breastplate, like a snarling demon's face froen into steel. "Are you prepared to begin this quest, Alicia?"
[20:24] <Alicia> "I am," Alicia affirms having left her trusty breastplate at home so she can encase herself in this particularly ugly tin-can. For her part, Marie just hovers nearby and looks distastefully at the plate-mail.
[20:28] <Kotono> With a grimace Shankar taps the helmet, "I will divine what must be done, for the sake of shattering the evil on this armor," he proclaims. This praying, the following words come from his mouth, "You must don this armor and travel west, west to Wetwind Harbor. You must slink and observe, for an evil lurks in the shadows of that port. However...the curse of the armor is not a light one. All who see you will see a demon once you don it, not a
[20:28] <Kotono> All who see you will see a demon once you don it, not a heroic champion."
[20:31] <Alicia> "As if wearing a roasting tin-can wasn't enough, I have to do so in the desert?" Alicia looks rather distressed at the prospect. "Very well... help me put it on?" she asks, starting to assemble the full plate.
[20:32] <Kotono> This is done so. The armor feels slimy and sickening to Alicia's touch. Wearing it is heavy and painful, the metal seeming to dig into her joints and burrow at her sides. It smells like sulphur and brimstone, suffocating and not letting in quite enough air.
[20:33] <Alicia> "You couldn't pay me to sit on your head, now," Marie comments as she flutters nearby.
06[20:34] * Alicia sighs, already feeling debilitated. "Just come on - I've never even been to Wetwind Harbour, so we're going to have a lot of travelling ahead."
[20:35] <Kotono> Marie can see a horrible, gnashing, loathesome demon, not Alicia. Shankar looks on carefully, "You mway want to teleport out of town. Invisibility may avail you as well. Going out like that would cause a panic."
[20:37] <Alicia> "Even if I was invisible people would hear me clanking a mile away," Alicia shakes her head. "I'll probably have to rely on Marie a lot... anyway, I can take us to the desert and hopefully with some altitude Marie can spot the coast for us."
[20:38] <Kotono> "Travel with Mystra," Shankar bids, "For your burden already weighs heavily on you." Alicia's voice sounds different - like a menancing snarl, only barely holding back from ripping something limb from limb.
[20:39] <Alicia> "Wow, you sound really scary, too. Maybe you can convince the bad guys you're on their side?" Marie wonders as she alights on Alicia's hand. With a grimace the paladin attempts to cast her teleport spell despite the constraints of her armour, aiming for the oasis in the Northern desert used as camp by the celestials during the campaign there.
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d100 spell failure
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 spell failure and gets 15." [1d100=15]
[20:40] <Alicia> OOC: strike, teleport is verbal only
[20:40] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully and gets 45." [1d100=45]
[20:42] <Kotono> Wooosh! You appear amid the sands. The heat isn't nearly as savage as it normally is, the summer winding down and plummeting to it's endless cold depths. Most of the remnants of the celestials look to be gone. A lake remains as Alicia remembers it. Various desert animals flock to it's beard of greenery, drinking and resting. Fruit trees also grow here, ripe and ready. Even without a sign of a tent, there is a faint feeling in the air, a fee
[20:42] <Kotono> Even without a sign of a tent, there is a faint feeling in the air, a feeling of peace.
[20:43] <Alicia> "Looks nice," Marie opines. "Nicer than you, anyway."
[20:43] <Alicia> "This is hard enough, Marie, please stow it," Alicia returns, pointing to the Northeast. "Wetwind Harbor should be that way - fly up to see if you can spot it, or at least the coast?"
[20:44] <Alicia> "Sure, sure," Marie waves cheerfully as she starts to ascend.
[20:47] <Kotono> Marie flies up! OOC - How far are you willing to fly up, Marie?
[20:49] <Alicia> OOC: About a mile, give or take
[20:55] <Kotono> Ascending quite high, Marie can eventually see the coastline. She flies up really, really high. The ground is like a sandbox below...
[20:55] <Alicia> Scanning the coastline from side to side, Marie tries to discern any sign of man-made structures or roads.
[21:00] <Kotono> Marie can juuuust make out some buildings to the east.
[21:00] <Alicia> Good enough. Now she drops back down - wheee! "Found it!" she exclaims after returning to Alicia, briefly recounting what exactly she saw.
[21:01] <Alicia> "Alright, I'll take us a few miles up the coast from it and we'll work from there," Alicia nods, once more teleporting the duo!
[21:01] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 35." [1d100=35]
[21:03] <Kotono> Woosh! The two appear! Immediately teh scent of the sea can be smelled! You stand on rising sea cliffs, the cliffs descending to the east in a natural sloping bay. It's al ittle more pleasant here, a breeze coming from the ocean. Far to the east, one can glimpse what is perhaps a town.
06[21:04] * Alicia starts to follow the coast towards the town, keeping a sharp eye out for anyone else wandering in the area as she doesn't particularly want to bump into anyone, and also looking for sea caves and the like that could make appropriate hiding places.
[21:08] <Kotono> OOC: How deeply are you going to be looking? Make a spot check, anyway.
[21:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 A and gets 22." [1d20=15]
[21:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 M
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 M and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[21:09] <Alicia> OOC: just basically keeping an eye out as we walk, failing caves I'll settle for inlets with high ridges around them
[21:11] <Kotono> Marie has some luck! While you don't come on much of anyone out here, she does happen to glimpse something. 10 feet down from the cliffs, above the ocean's waters, is a natural sea cave. With a bit of flying or climbing it would be simple to gon in. It's a few miles from town still.
[21:13] <Alicia> Marie points it out and Alicia has a look to mark the location before continuing on. It'd be preferable to find a spot even closer to town but this might be all they can get.
[21:14] <Kotono> There's one othe rplace, a mile an da half from town. It's a deep ridge, where the cliffs and sand make a bit ofa natural hiding spot. This could service as well, albiet more exposed than the cave.
[21:16] <Alicia> "Okay, I'll have to wait here for now," Alicia tells Marie. "So I want you to scout out the town and then report back - just get the lay of the land, we'll do the actual investigation tonight after dark when hopefully I can sneak in unseen."
[21:17] <Alicia> "Okay. Try not to get killed by any misguided heroes!" Marie salutes cheerfully before zipping off towards the town at full speed in her incorporeal form.
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC: Going to hide and keep watch while Marie does her rhing, Alicia?
[21:30] <Alicia> OOC: pretty much
[21:35] <Kotono> Marie flies towards town! She approaches a short western wall to the city. Sand is piled high against the composite stone, bits of shell and fossils seen in the crude rocks. Inside the city, she can see a large dock and a medium sized city.
[21:36] <Alicia> Doing her best to avoid undue notice, Marie flits into the city and proceeds to explore, keeping an eye out for evil as she does so.
[21:39] <Kotono> The city is sandy and busy. Dusky skinned men load cargo and prepare caravans. Ships are loaded and prepared, while others are rested. Off duty sailors carouse and sing around. The town's essentially an overgrown square, with roads leading in straight lines up and down it's length. There's the occasional evil person, but nothing beyond faint evil on a basic scan of the city.
[21:41] <Alicia> Nothing too gripping, but she at least has the layout so Alicia should be able to teleport anywhere here with ease. Since she wants to be helpful, she spends an hour or so eavesdropping on various conversations around the docks, mostly just trying to get an idea of what's on the rumour mill around here.
[21:42] <Kotono> OOC: Make a GI check, +2 bonus?
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 28." [1d20=16]
[21:43] <Kotono> Eavesdropping, Marie hears the following:
[21:44] <Kotono> - With the seasons changing, this is one of the relatively tolerable periods of weather. People are talkinga bout it and enjoying it, instead of freezing cold or blistering heat. (More)
[21:45] <Kotono> - There's a story still being batted around, of a destroyed ship with only a few survivors. Wild stories surround it about Bey Onur, a dragon, a hero from the Crimson Guard and more. The stories are quite a mish-mash even now. everyone seems to know someone who knew a survivor on thes hip. (More)
[21:48] <Kotono> - There's a few trade groups quibbling for supremecy with what shipping is left after what the Pasha demands. One, the Whirling Sand Group, focuses more on caravans but is expanding. Another, the Green Stars, is doing the opposite. It's leading to a nasty littel rivalry focused in Wetwind Harbor.(More)
[21:50] <Kotono> - Lady Nuriska, a rich woman who lives in town, has recently been taken away by her husband for various crimes. Whispers says she was involved with both male and female servants, with each teller saying one, the other, or both. It's made quite the rumor mill story. (More)
[21:50] <Kotono> - A ship from the United Baronies recently docked. One person complains that it got better treatment than a foreign ship should deserve, really.
[21:53] <Alicia> Marie feels bad for Lady Nuriska, if all she was doing was spreading the love, but there's not really any indications of hidden lurking evil from all of that. Perhaps why it's hidden? Regardless she has little else to do, so she has another quick scoot around for notable evil auras before zipping back to Alicia.
[21:55] <Kotono> This goes without incident. Returning to Alicia also goes without incident, finding her in the ridge, waiting.
[21:57] <Alicia> After Marie relays her findings Alicia agrees that there isn't much to go on, and so the two wait until nightfall, occupying themselves with an impromptu chess tournament.
[21:58] <Kotono> Nightfall comes pleasantly enough. Well, as pleasantly as it can for Alicia. The temperature drops rapidly, warmth becoming chill with a startling speed.
06[22:00] * Alicia pulls her cloak in, for all the good it does when she has this wretched tin-can covering her, and waits another hour or so before declaring that it's time and starting to head towards the city.
[22:08] <Kotono> The two rise at this point and head towards the city. The western wall, with it's stacke dup sand, awaits them. It's quiet now, the night pierced by several lights within Wetwind Harbor.
[22:10] <Alicia> As they near the wall, Alicia sends Marie to look over the other side to make sure no one's in the immediate vicinity.
[22:11] <Kotono> The area by the wall is quiet. No real guard patrol, just a quiet, dark residentials treet.
[22:12] <Alicia> Marie returns and reports an all clear. Since the armour would prove a severe detriment to climbing, Alicia instead just casts Fly. As well as Message to allow quiet communication between her and her familiar.
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 fly spell failure
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 fly spell failure and gets 100." [1d100=100]
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 message spell failure
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 message spell failure and gets 48." [1d100=48]
[22:13] <Kotono> Casting successfully, Alicia ascends over thew all without incident!
[22:13] <Alicia> Both done, she flies over the wall and into the city. Following Marie's directions, she starts to head towards the docks, sticking to quiet alleys where possible and doing her best to avoid notice.
[22:15] <Alicia> Both she, Marie, and Hell Striker remain alert for any signs of evil as they move about.
[22:17] <Kotono> Slinking along, the two clear a good distance towards the docks. However, as she comes out of an alley, she can glimpse a tavern. It's wide open, manyp eople in the street outside of it. They're laughinga nd singing and boasting, ale flowing by the flagon. Only one radiates any evil(Faint), but many of them are about. A few dozen ahead.
06[22:18] * Alicia backtracks a bit so she can find a crossing where they're less likely to be spotted.
[22:22] <Kotono> Sneaking back and around goes without incident. Luck is with Alicia and Marie, reaching the docks from there is mercifully without incident. The docks are fairly quiet now, wound down and ships at anchor. Not too much isg oing on, though a few ship holds and windows do have lights on.
[22:24] <Alicia> Marie wonders exactly what they're doing, to which Alicia explains that they're 'slinking and observing'. With that cleared up, the two loiter around the docks for a bit then start to meander back through the city, mostly just keeping an eye and an ear out for trouble.
[22:29] <Kotono> As you loiter in the shadows, eyeing the dock grounds...OOC: Make a listen check, both of you?
[22:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 A
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 A and gets 15." [1d20=9]
[22:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 M
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 M and gets 26." [1d20=20]
[22:33] <Alicia> "Someone's coming!" Marie hisses through the message spell. "Hide!" As Alicia presses herself against the wall, Marie throws up the illusion of a pile of crates stacked up to conceal the fiendish looking paladin, and hides herself up by the surrounding rooftops of the alley.
[22:44] <Kotono> Coming into view is a man in a dark cloak. He walks by, sniffing the air. "Ugh...smells horrible." Looking about, "Damned dirty idiots." Hurrying along, he doesn't linger.
[22:44] <Alicia> Is he evil?
[22:46] <Kotono> The man radiates moderate evil.
[22:47] <Alicia> That's the likliest contender they've had so far. Waiting until he's left the alley, Alicia and Marie reconvene and agree that they should follow him, Alicia doing her best to stay quiet in spite of the armour and keeping their distance to the maximum extent possible while just keeping him in range of their magical detection. Speaking of that, Marie checks him over for magical auras.
[22:51] <Kotono> He is wearing some sort of magic clothing or armor under his cloak, for there is a magical aura.
[22:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[22:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 18." [1d20=11]
[20:07] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Someone's coming!" Marie hisses through the message spell. "Hide!" As Alicia presses herself against the wall, Marie throws up the illusion of a pile of crates stacked up to conceal the fiendish looking paladin, and hides herself up by the surrounding rooftops of the alley.
[20:07] <Kotono> > Coming into view is a man in a dark cloak. He walks by, sniffing the air. "Ugh...smells horrible." Looking about, "Damned dirty idiots." Hurrying along, he doesn't linger.
[20:07] <Kotono> <Alicia> Is he evil?
[20:07] <Kotono> > The man radiates moderate evil.
[20:07] <Kotono> <Alicia> That's the likliest contender they've had so far. Waiting until he's left the alley, Alicia and Marie reconvene and agree that they should follow him, Alicia doing her best to stay quiet in spite of the armour and keeping their distance to the maximum extent possible while just keeping him in range of their magical detection. Speaking of that, Marie checks him over for magical auras.
[20:07] <Kotono> > He is wearing some sort of magic clothing or armor under his cloak, for there is a magical aura.
[20:07] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
[20:07] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 18." [1d20=11]
06[20:08] * Alicia also quickly realises that sneaking after someone in full plate just won't work. "Marie, you follow him and I'll wait here," she tells her familiar, since she really has no way to be stealthy with this ridiculous tin-can getup.
[20:12] <Kotono> Thus Marie follows! The man hurries through the alleys, moving at a fast clip. The dry, slightly sandy ground leaves decent tracks, though he's doing an okay job at not leaving too many. AFter af ew minutes and several twisting turns, he comes into the back of ab uilding. He takes a key out, unlocking a backdoor and going inside.
[20:13] <Alicia> While Alicia hides on the neighbouring rooftop of the alleyway she was left at, Marie phases in through the wall to continue her pursuit. She idly wonders if other familiars have to work nearly as hard as she does.
[20:19] <Kotono> It's the backroom of somewhere. From the muffled noises ahead, past a heavy wooden door, it might be a tavern or some sort of festhall. There's a table and several plain chairs here. The black cloaked man is the only one in here. He pushes back his hood. He's of normal dusky skin, with a shaved head. He grins and goes to sit at the table, putting his feet up.
[20:20] <Alicia> Keeping herself well hidden, Marie has a look for any evil auras showing from the next room. Hopefully this man will do something incriminating shortly to justify her going to this trouble.
[20:23] <Kotono> Not much from the next room offhand that she can detect from here. The man yawns and waits. He takes out a few copper coins, spinning them on the table. After a minute of this, leaning forward, "Pah, bastard's late." Sighing deeply and deeper, "Damned wastrel."
[20:24] <Alicia> Yes, keep talking to yourself! Everything you say incriminates you even more! Just don't commit patricide/regicide and we'll be fine, so thinks the eladrin as she maintains her vigil.
[20:26] <Kotono> The man sighs and spins the coins again and again! AFter about five minutes, there's a soft noise at the bacvk door. Scooping up his coin with one deft move, a hand goes inside of his cloak.
[20:26] <Alicia> The plot thickens!
[20:28] <Kotono> The door opens! A short, stumpy man waddles in! He's almost short enough to be a dwarf, with an impressive gut that juts out a foot away from him. With a big, wide grin full of white teeth, "Ah, so sorry I'm late. Dinner was long," Patting that stomach of his as he goes to a chair, nearly tipping over as he walks, "Let's get to business."
[20:31] <Kotono> "Yeah, of course," Leaning back in his chair, "Everything's going fine. There hasn't been any serious change since yesterday's report. Here." Taking a pouch out and tossing it to the fat man, "It's a hair under 200 gold. Not the day's best take, but we've had far worse."
[20:32] <Alicia> Is the newcomer evil?
[20:32] <Kotono> Taking the pouch and tipping it upwards, a rain of gold and silver coins comes out, as well as a few more exotic ones. "Not bad, not bad. 200 after wages isn't terrible at all."
[20:32] <Kotono> The new comer radiates strong evil.
[20:33] <Alicia> A new contender! Marie might need to follow this one afterwards, but lets hear what they have to say, first...
[20:34] <Kotono> "Of course not, sir," the dark man agrees, "I gave Nala a 5 gold bonus like you approved. She's been working harder and setting a good example after that mess with Emel."
[20:35] <Kotono> Laughign so much that his gut shakes like a hurricane, "Good, good! Keep them happy. Yildiz got his quarter cut already?"
[20:35] <Kotono> "Yes. No complaints this time, either. Will that be all, sir?" The cloaked man starts to stand up.
[20:37] <Kotono> "Yes, yes, go ahead." Waving a hand and,a fter a moment, the fat man flips a gold coin to the dark cloaked man. "An extra tip. I'm appreciating your work here so far. Continue to satisify me and you'll be quite rich."
[20:37] <Alicia> Fat man is probably the kingpin, so Marie elects to stick around and see where he goes rather than pursue the underling.
[20:38] <Kotono> Grabbing the coin out of the air, "Thanks, sir," he says, pulling his hood back up. "Oh. I'll be a little late to work tomorrow. I have to take care of a bit of business."
[20:38] <Kotono> "Yes, yes," Waving his hand as he starts to count the gold carefully, "Go."
[20:39] <Kotono> The man does just that, hood up as he exits out of the room, closing the door behind him.
[20:40] <Alicia> Marie checks over the fat man for magic as she waits on him to make his next move.
[20:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 15." [1d20=8]
[20:42] <Kotono> He puts his face down itno the money, giggling. "Ah money. Money, money, moneeeeey." He then starts to put it back ito the bag, which then goes into his overstretched tunic. He stands up then, going to the door.
[20:45] <Alicia> Must be funny... it's a rich man's world. Marie only thinks it, she doesn't sing it out loud, though. Stealth is paramount, as she proves by sneakily following after her oversized quarry.
[20:45] <Kotono> Once outside, the man looks about briefly! He nods slightly and then vanishes from sight abruptly!
[20:46] <Alicia> Do his auras remain?
[20:46] <Kotono> The auras remain, yes. They're traveling down the alley at a good, speedy clip.
[20:49] <Alicia> Marie doesn't need a stupid invisibility spell to stay hidden, as she deftly flits from cover to cover in hot pursuit. She wonders if he ate one of those gnomish gems or whether he invested in metamagic training to cast that spell without any components, though.
[20:53] <Kotono> The man goes to the eastern part of town. He goes into a nicer place, a pleasant two story almost-mansion ahead. In the sahdows just before it he reappears, waddling over to it. It's painted white and with a watered, kept lawn on it, standing out from the desert all around the city. He unlocks the front door with a key, waddling on in.
[20:53] <Alicia> After a moment, Marie follows him inside!
[20:55] <Kotono> Inside is a richly, though not overwhelming richly, decorated mansion. The man goes to the second floor, into a rather small bedroom. It's mostly taken up by a bed with a silk canopy. It's very dark in here, only a few candles lit. There's the shadows of someone lying in the bed proper. "I'm hooome," he calls.
[20:56] <Alicia> Being an outsider, Marie can see perfectly well in the dark. Okay, it's monochrome, but even so the shadows offer no respite from her gaze.
[20:58] <Kotono> He can see the fat man take off his tunic and clothes, a sight best unseen. He wobbles over to the canopy, "Go ahead and sleep. I'mg oing to bathe tonight and do other things."
[20:58] <Kotono> A woman's voice comes out, "Yes, master," she says agreeably. "Anything you wish, master."
[20:59] <Kotono> Giggling at that, "Oh yes, servant. Keep talking like that for tomorrow."
[20:59] <Alicia> Is the woman evil? Or magical?
[21:00] <Kotono> No evil or magic comes from the woman behind the silks.
[21:02] <Alicia> While his bathing is a prospect best left uncontemplated, Marie does wonder about these 'other things'. The best thing for now is to go collect Alicia so she can wait near the house while Marie spies on him (hopefully after he's had his bath), so she goes off to find said paladin.
[21:02] <Kotono> Alicia is found waiting without incident. Well, as much as there can be no incidient when her master is cosplaying a demon, anyway.
[21:04] <Alicia> Reunited at last, the fun-loving duo make their way towards the fat man's house, with Alicia finding a convenient hiding spot nearby while Marie goes in to resume her scrutiny.
[21:05] <Kotono> The fat man is found wearing a silk robe, sitting in an office room. He looks to be scribing a letter when Marie finds him again.
[21:06] <Alicia> Marie tries to find a nice hiding place above and behind him where she might be able to catch a glimpse of what he's writing.
[21:10] <Kotono> Thsi isn't too hard. He's writing in Common, a letter to a 'Sir Allister.' He's talking about a joint venture in the field of female entertainment and how it would be highly profitable for both of them.
[21:11] <Alicia> Yuck. Marie is tempted to magic missile him for his objectification, but resigns herself to her information-gathering only role.
[21:13] <Kotono> Another page. He talks about how the laws on the subject are generally agreeable, but someone in the Pasha's service would smooth over many difficulties. He would be very grateful for any and all help on the matter. He ends it by signing 'Mr. Radafi.'
[21:14] <Alicia> Alicia was right about these desert people being perverted.
[21:16] <Kotono> Sprinkling sand on the pages of the still wet letters, Mr. Radafi gets up and stretches. He goes to a bookshelf and takes down a book, opening it from a bookmark and taking back to the desk.
[21:17] <Alicia> Marie takes a look to see what he's reading.
[21:19] <Kotono> It looks to be a book of laws. There's scribblings in the margins and notes, making some as he goes. Mostly tlittle things, like question marks, exclaimation marks or ilttle comments, like 'Easy loophole to exploit' or 'Problematic' or 'Research further'. The laws he's studying seem to be about trade, businesses and taxes.
[21:24] <Alicia> Marie just settles in to wait and observe...
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC: How long will Marie wait and watch?
[21:39] <Alicia> OOC: lets say half an hour if nothing happens
[21:42] <Kotono> He's at it for a half of an hour without stoppage.
[21:43] <Alicia> Marie gets bored and goes to explore the house for anything incriminating or otherwise exciting.
[21:48] <Kotono> The first floor is all various living quarters. The second floor...now the second floor is more interesting. Besides the bedroom and the study, there's a lush room full of silk drapes and soft couches. It smells faintly of incense. The walls are richly decorated with expensive paintings and tapestries. There's another room that has a set of plain wooden chests inside, each one obviously and heavily locked.
[21:48] <Kotono> each one obviously and heavily locked.
[21:48] <Alicia> Locks can't stop Marie from simply phasing directly into them. Which she does.
[21:49] <Kotono> The first one is filled with gold bullion. The second is full of finely layered silks, packed tightly as they can go. The third holds a black binded book and nothing else.
[21:50] <Alicia> Is the book magic? Or is there any other magic in this last chest?
[21:51] <Kotono> The book isn't magical, but the chest and it's lock is.
[21:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[21:53] <Alicia> Marie figures whatever magic it is must be a trap that'll go off if someone tries to open the chest. If she's already inside it, though... She chances assuming corporeal form within the chest.
[21:54] <Kotono> Nothing happens as far as Marie can tell. She's now deep in this chest.
[21:55] <Alicia> Wanting to be careful, she turns incorporeal once more and leaves, sneaking back to the study to make sure Mr Radafi is still where she left him.
[21:56] <Kotono> Mr. Radafi is where Marie left him. He's working away at his book, chuckling to himself on occasion.
[21:57] <Alicia> Okay, time to go back into the chest so she can read the secret locked away book!
[22:00] <Kotono> Going back, Marie opens the book! She finds it's written in Infernal! It looks to be a tretise written by Scax, Duke of Riches. It describes the procurement, adoration and worship of wealth. It discusses how to accure wealth on the back sof others, and how to ruin those that stand in your way, all while staying pristine.
[22:01] <Alicia> Yep, that's pretty incriminating.
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 Scax? (planes)
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 Scax? (planes) and gets 36." [1d20=19]
[22:04] <Alicia> Okay, now to finish her search of the house - she also checks for secret passages by phasing through the walls/floor/ceiling here and there in case there's any hidden rooms filled with more incriminating things.
[22:06] <Kotono> There's a hidden compartment in the floor of his bedroom. It has a bag of jewels in it. Otherwise, the house is fairly straightforward.
[22:07] <Alicia> Time to go report her findings to Alicia!
[22:08] <Kotono> Alicia is found in her hiding spot without incident, thankfully.
[22:11] <Alicia> After hearing all that, Alicia's convinced that they've found their hidden evil. So now it's time to prepare before making their move - she casts Shield on herself and Voice of the Archon on both her and Marie, then attempts to approach the house without being seen.
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 shield
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 shield and gets 20." [1d100=20]
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 voice 1
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 voice 1 and gets 1." [1d100=1]
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 voice 1 #2
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 voice 1 #2 and gets 2." [1d100=2]
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 voice 1 #3
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 voice 1 #3 and gets 17." [1d100=17]
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 voice 2
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 voice 2 and gets 59." [1d100=59]
[22:12] <Kotono> It's well into the night now. The house and surroundings are quiet. No lights are on inside or around. No sign of people, Alicia's approach to the mansion without incident.
[22:13] <Alicia> Okay, first things first is for Marie to phase in and unlock the door for Alicia, then she'll sneak up to keep an eye on Mr Radafi while Alicia follows at her own slower and more obvious pace.
[22:14] <Kotono> The door is easy enough to unlock! Alicia comes inside without incident again. Marie zips up, finding Mr. Radafi still at his bookwork! Alicia slowly climbs the stairs in the meantime. OOC: Are you trying to stay quiet at all, Alicia?
[22:15] <Alicia> OOC: sure, I'll make an effort
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20 move silently
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20 move silently and gets 17." [1d20=17]
[22:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 15." [1d20=1]
[22:16] <Kotono> Alicia ascends the stairs and makes it ot the second floor without incident, then to in front of the door to the study! Despite her heavy, creaking armor, she somehow manages to do it with relative quiet!
[22:16] <Kotono> Mr. Radafi doesn't even look up, absorbed into his work.
[22:19] <Alicia> With Marie prepared to interrupt any spells he might cast, Alicia walks brazenly into the room. "Good evening, Mr Radafi," she begins, resigned to her guttural demonic voice so she might as well get some use out of it.
[22:29] <Kotono> The door is opened! The man drops his book, eyes wide! "What the hell do you want," he sputters as he wobble to standing up!
[22:30] <Alicia> "To talk... for now," Alicia replies with a hint of menace. Said hint surely magnified considerably by her current voice and appearance. "Please, sit."
[22:32] <Kotono> He stands instead, "I don't know you," he hisses, "What the hell are you? Who the hell areyou?" he stands up, "I'm not going to be intimidated."
[22:35] <Alicia> Clearly she's not scary enough even like this. "All you need to know is that I'm a being with certain... philosophical, differences with your allies. And I'd like you to tell me about them." She steps closer, "Certainly you can choose to resist. I'm sure that would make things far more entertaining."
[22:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 intimidate
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 intimidate and gets 46." [1d20=18]
[22:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 moot
06[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 moot and gets 25." [1d20=14]
[22:37] <Kotono> Instantly the man is on his hands and knees in front of Alicia! "Of course, master," he says quickly, "What is it you need, sir?"
[22:39] <Alicia> That was quick. "You follow the teachings of that baatezu Scax, don't you?" Alicia asks. "Tell me, how were you introduced to those foolish methods?"
[22:41] <Kotono> Groveling with his face down at Alicia's feet, "I was originally in Mammon's service. I find his service the most pleasurable, despite my transfers, sir!"
[22:44] <Alicia> Wait a minute... he's a disguised devil, not a mortal dupe! That makes his grovelling before an apparent demon seem all the more pathetic. "I see... now, I want to know what your goals are in this city."
[22:45] <Kotono> "I'm just making a living, sir! I'm working in the human society to become rich!" He looks up with wet, sniveling eyes, "Human women in this realm are pliant and accepting. Services involving them are tolerated and there is easy money to be made."
[22:47] <Alicia> "And what do you do with your wealth?" Alicia presses disgustedly. "How do you advance the cause of the Nine Hells?"
[22:48] <Kotono> "I'm enriching myself, sir!" Looking up again, "I was broken away from my superiors in a battle I had to re-withdraw from, and I have been given leave to establish a base here, sir!"
[22:49] <Alicia> "How have they been keeping in contact with you, worm?"
[22:49] <Kotono> "I-I can make contact with them weekly!" He blurts out, "They deemed this sufficient for now!"
[22:52] <Alicia> "How do you make contact?" Alicia presses. "Do they not send others to keep tabs on you?"
[22:53] <Kotono> "Well...my previous masters are indisposed now," Whimpering even lower, "I've found my old master i-in Minarous are accepting of my situation and helping me, sir!"
[22:54] <Alicia> "So you haven't encountered any other baatezu here? You've only been dealing with mortals?"
[22:54] <Kotono> "Y-yes sir!" He says quickly, "Our r-regiment was wiped out by mortal heroes and celestials, sir!"
[22:56] <Alicia> "Very well. Tell me what sort of base you've built up here and what resources you have on hand," Alicia nods.
[22:56] <Kotono> "I-I've done well. I'm running a shop and bar using women to allure and attract customers with their bare skin." Answering his as he continues to grvel hard, "I've made several thousand gold as the human males love it."
[22:57] <Alicia> "They are simple-minded fools..." Alicia is forced to lament. "Tell me about this shop."
[22:59] <Kotono> "It is called the S-sultan's pride. Women dance and serve there in silk or in little to nothing, for the more well paying men. W-we treat the men well and they pay much gold, sir!" A pause here as he wipes his dripping nose, "Many of the richer merchants have come to favor it."
06[23:01] * Alicia will have to shut that place down. "What of your underlings? Tell me of those you've convinced to serve you in this place."
[23:03] <Kotono> "Many women...paying poor women fair coin is more than enough to have them work obdiently, sir! My troublefixer is named Malim, he knows the city well and is loyal for money. Yildiz is my front man so I can stay ou tof the spotlight. The rest are worthless servants, sir!"
[20:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> <Alicia> "They are simple-minded fools..." Alicia is forced to lament. "Tell me about this shop."
[20:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> > "It is called the S-sultan's pride. Women dance and serve there in silk or in little to nothing, for the more well paying men. W-we treat the men well and they pay much gold, sir!" A pause here as he wipes his dripping nose, "Many of the richer merchants have come to favor it."
[20:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> * Alicia will have to shut that place down. "What of your underlings? Tell me of those you've convinced to serve you in this place."
[20:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> > "Many women...paying poor women fair coin is more than enough to have them work obdiently, sir! My troublefixer is named Malim, he knows the city well and is loyal for money. Yildiz is my front man so I can stay ou tof the spotlight. The rest are worthless servants, sir!"
[20:15] <Alicia> "Have you made any contracts with any mortals residing here?" Alicia then asks.
03[20:15] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5af0e4f7.wfd96.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
[20:17] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "N-no sir!" LIcking at Alicia's armored boot, "I've just been making monneeeeeeeeeey!"
[20:20] <Alicia> "Out of human misery and desperation," Alicia pulls her foot back contemptously. "Are any here aware of your true nature?"
[20:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Noooo sir!" Looking up with pleading eyes, "I'll give you a quarter of the profits, sir!...wait, what?" He stops and blinks ahrd at that, "Out of human misery and desperation? What's wrong with that?"
[20:24] <Alicia> "You idiot, haven't you figured it out?" Alicia asks as she draws Hell Striker, not really having much left to ask anyway. "When you get to Hell, tell them Alicia Reynes sent you."
[20:26] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "What, what?" He looks up with quailing fear, "That n-name! I've heard of it! You're one of the C-C-Crimson G-g-guard! Please, spare me!"
[20:28] <Alicia> "By your own admission you're an advance scout for the Hells, bent on corrupting mortals and solidifying a base of operations for other fiends to use here. What possible reason could I have for sparing you?" Alicia asks indulgently.
[20:29] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Moneeeeey!" He looks up, "I'll give you half the profits! No, 60% of them!" Pawing at Alicia's boot, "The women are better off with al ittle money now! All they have is their bodies anyway!" Sniffling now, and with wide eyes, "I'll make you riiiich, so please spare me! I'm jus ta pathetic imp! I'll get turned back into a lemure if I fail!"
[20:31] <Alicia> "They're better off learning proper trades than degenerating themselves, anyway," Alicia returns. "If it makes you feel any better, though, fiends far greater than yourself have fallen at my blade. Perhaps they'll take that into consideration when demoting you."
[20:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Pleaaaaase! You d-d-don't need ot kill me! I'll do a-a-anything! You want the money, I'll give it to you! You want any of my servants, they're y-y-yours! I can get you things! I can be useful!"
[20:34] <Alicia> Well, she gave him plenty of opportunities, but he failed to say anything to capture her interest. "No sale," she concludes, her sword arcing down!
[20:34] <Alicia> OOC: init or just attack?
[20:35] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC" Initiative.
[20:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
[20:35] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 A --> [ 1d20=4 ]{11}
[20:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M
[20:35] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 M --> [ 1d20=9 ]{16}
[20:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+10
[20:36] <Rei-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{15}
03[20:36] * Infinite_Ko_Loop changes topic to 'Marie>Mr. Radafi>Alicia'
[20:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Go Marie.
[20:36] <Alicia> Marie remains hidden, prepared to shoot the fat man if he tries to use any magic before Alicia can perform her execution.
[20:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Alicia is a hair too slow, as the fat man gathers in power! OOC: Marie.
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
[20:39] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+22 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{40}
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d4+3+3d6+3 devil-slaying bow finally has a chance to shine
[20:39] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d4+3+3d6+3 devil-slaying bow finally has a chance to shine --> [ 1d4=1 3d6=7 ]{14}
[20:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+10
[20:41] <Rei-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{15}
[20:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> An arrow flies out, disrupting the man's concentration by arrow to the backside! He howls out in pain, "N-n-nooooooooooooooo!"
[20:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Alicia.
[20:42] <Alicia> Before Marie can chastise her for being too slow, Alicia brings Hell Striker down! Hopefully one strike is all it will take...
[20:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 knowledge devotion
[20:42] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+16 knowledge devotion --> [ 1d20=15 ]{31}
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 -12pa, divine might, 3rd level channel, smite
[20:43] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+24 -12pa, divine might, 3rd level channel, smite --> [ 1d20=14 ]{38}
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d8+42+1d6+2d6+3d4
[20:43] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+42+1d6+2d6+3d4 --> [ 1d8=8 1d6=6 2d6=6 3d4=8 ]{70}
[20:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Cathering in her arcane and holy power, Alicia cleaves through the fat man! Horrible green gasses escape his body as he deflates, withering away into scorched sand and dust! All that's left is said sand and dust, and a torn silken robe. Oh, and the horrible, horrible stentch in the air.
[20:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Free act
[20:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> .
[20:48] <Alicia> "Thanks, Marie," Alicia nods to her familiar. "We're going to have to shut down that shop of his, or at least change the management. For now, though, we want to ensure none of his underlings can benefit from his wealth."
[20:48] <Alicia> "So we're cleaning the place out?" the eladrin asks as she floats down from her hiding spot.
[20:51] <Alicia> "Precisely," Alicia nods. "First of all you'd better grab those hidden jewels you talked about, then I'll teleport us along with those three chests back to Balmuria. Hopefully we'll have satisfied the requirements for this armour as well, since if I keep looking like this things'll be hard..."
[20:51] <Alicia> So Marie dutifully goes to recover the bag of gems while Alicia goes to the treasure room.
[20:54] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> All of this goes without incident, Marie bringing the gems back to Alicia.
06[20:55] * Alicia then teleports herself, familiar, and all three chests to her study.
[20:55] <Alicia> roll 1d100
[20:55] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=39 ]{39}
[20:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Woosh! Alicia and her large chests return home safely! It's dark though, nothing going on in the night.
06[20:57] * Alicia starts to head out, half-expecting to be accosted by Antenora. Hopefully Marie will smooth things over, unless the erinyes' recently trained mindsight allows her to see past vulgar appearances.
[21:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora is standing just out of the room, arms crossed. "Hello Ali-!" She blinks hard, "Marie, what's going on here?"
[21:02] <Alicia> "Demon armour," Alicia explains. "It looks even worse when you wear it, hard as that may be to believe."
[21:02] <Alicia> "I tried sitting on her head earlier and I got a rash!" Marie wails for effect.
[21:03] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora snickers loudly at that, "Oh Marie. Done with it yet? IT looks and smells ghastly. Oh..." A pause after, "Wheneve ryou get out of it, go see Jessica. She's waiting for you to get back."
[21:05] <Alicia> "We'll be going back to clean up a few things, but that'll be tomorrow since I'm out of teleports. Hopefully I'm done with this wretched tin-can, at least... oh, and don't touch the chests in there, they're all trapped," Alicia nods as she heads out,
[21:05] <Alicia> intending to slip in the rear entrance to the temple neighbouring her house rather than head out onto the main street and through the public entrance.
[21:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Fortunately, it's nighttime and the city is quiet. Slipping into the temple is easy enough as well. However, in the main altarroom, are a group of robed young people, chatting and talking by the altar, with a few books between them. No sign of Shankar at all.
[21:09] <Alicia> "Marie, go ahead and warn them," Alicia hisses.
[21:09] <Alicia> Dutifully Marie flies ahead to meet her fellow followers of Mystra. "Hi!" she calls cheerfully, fluttering amidst the group. "What's everyone up to, here?"
[21:12] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> One young woman looks up, faint memories of acne still on her face. "Oh, I've heard about you! Your'e the eladrin in the service of Mrs. Reynes! We're studying and trading cantrips!"
[21:15] <Alicia> "Oooh, sounds fun," Marie grins. "Actually, Mrs Reynes is just outside, but she's feeling shy," she flutters a bit closer and lowers her voice, "She actually looks really ugly right now because of some nasty magic armour she tried on - doesn't flatter her figure at all, and you wouldn't believe the smell!"
[21:15] <Alicia> "Anyway, she wanted me to come and warn you so you wouldn't get surprised by her appearance - but if you're all good I bet she'll give you a few hints with your studies!"
[21:16] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> A young man with a smirk nods, "Oh, okay! WE won't freak out then."
[21:17] <Alicia> "Good! Just remember, her current hideous and wretched appearance, not to mention the utterly vile odour, are all signs of her devotion to Mystra. So don't make fun, either!" Marie adds before calling over. "You can come in now, Alicia!" which prompts a rather embarrassed looking demonic figure to creep inside.
[21:22] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The young ones stare. "Wooooooow," The girl drawls, "You're really devote dot Mystra, aren't you?"
[21:22] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "No kidding," A second young teenage boy says, "That's really intense!"
[21:23] <Alicia> "Sometimes you have to wear unpleasant disguises, though in this case it's nothing but a handicap," Alicia admits as she approaches the altar, hoping that imp was the hidden evil she had to root out as she places her gauntleted hand atop the stone.
[21:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Light comes from above! The demon armor glows white, white hot! Alicia's skin should burn away, yet her flesh is not even singed byt he heat! The armor seems to melt down in the light, swirling into a garb of flowing metal around Alicia! It solidifies into the roaring shape of Leonal when it's done, gleaming golden instead of dark.
[21:30] <Alicia> "Hmm..." Alicia steps back and studies herself a moment. "Still too heavy, but certainly a vast improvement. What do you all think?" she turns to the youngsters, mood considerably brightened.
[21:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The girl claps, "Oh, that looks so regal now! You look like a she-lion!"
[21:38] <Alicia> "Much better than that smelly ugly demon look you were sporting before," Marie agrees.
[21:39] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia smiles as she approaches the group. "So, what was that I heard about you all studying cantrips? Which ones are you working on, now?"
[20:24] <Kotono> > Light comes from above! The demon armor glows white, white hot! Alicia's skin should burn away, yet her flesh is not even singed byt he heat! The armor seems to melt down in the light, swirling into a garb of flowing metal around Alicia! It solidifies into the roaring shape of Leonal when it's done, gleaming golden instead of dark.
[20:24] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Hmm..." Alicia steps back and studies herself a moment. "Still too heavy, but certainly a vast improvement. What do you all think?" she turns to the youngsters, mood considerably brightened.
[20:24] <Kotono> > The girl claps, "Oh, that looks so regal now! You look like a she-lion!"
[20:24] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Much better than that smelly ugly demon look you were sporting before," Marie agrees.
[20:24] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia smiles as she approaches the group. "So, what was that I heard about you all studying cantrips? Which ones are you working on, now?"
[20:25] <Kotono> "Light!" One says, as Alicia's pains and burdens leave. Another stares at Alicia for severla seconds.
[20:26] <Alicia> "Always handy when you don't have a torch," Alicia agrees easily. "So how's it going for you all?"
[20:29] <Kotono> "Well, I came here to study," One woman says, and another man nods. "It's hard to choose with all the magic temples and schools starting up. I've met more mages in a month than I did in my entire life before."
[20:32] <Alicia> "So you're all practicing the scholarly art of the wizard?" Alicia clarifies with a smile.
[20:32] <Alicia> "I might not be too helpful since the sorcerous discipline has some important differences, but the important spell components are typically the same - I've had to work especially hard on perfecting somatic components myself since armour tends to make such subtle movements tricky, so if you need help with those I'm your woman."
[20:33] <Kotono> "Oh..." One of the staring men blushes at that, "Thank you, ma'am!"
06[20:40] * Alicia smiles indulgently as she begins to lecture. "So, light... unlike the dancing lights spell that my familiar favours, it relies on having an object to become the source of the light rather than simply springing up in thin air. A lot of wizards rely on finding convenient pebbles, but I find a coin is the best thing to use."
[20:40] <Alicia> She fishes a silver coin from her pouch, her gauntleted hands begining to perform the fairly simple gestures this cantrip involves. "Hidden mysteries be revealed, let my guiding light show the way!"
[20:40] <Alicia> roll 1d100 spell failure
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 spell failure and gets 33." [1d100=33]
[20:44] <Kotono> Alicia's silver coin glows with light! With a few ooohs and aaaahs, "Oh, that's so precise! You even managed it while standin gin that armor! Impressive!" Another smiles widely at that, "Wooooow!":
[20:47] <Alicia> "It took years of practice to be able to compensate like that, which admittedly could've simply been spent on learning new spells," Alicia concedes as she flips the coin. "But this is the path I've chosen - what you'll probably find is that every mage has their own opinions on the best way to master their magic, and I'm sure you'll all find your own paths as well, given time."
[20:48] <Kotono> "I can't imagine learning magic then bothering with that armor," One of the women admit. "If you're casting magic, can't you control things without evne needing that?"
[20:52] <Alicia> "There are spells that can protect as well as any armour," Alicia agrees, "But often they have short durations - great if you know you'll be facing combat, but if you're surprised it means you have to spend time on bolstering your defences even as you're being attacked."
[20:52] <Alicia> She then shrugs, "Of course, if you intend to use your magic solely for peaceful purposes you might not worry much about such, but it's a good idea to consider the possibility that others won't honour your pacifism."
[20:55] <Kotono> "Indeed," The boy says, "I mean, no one wants to mess with a wizard! But there are some stupid people out there"!
[20:56] <Alicia> "Not to mention other wizards who think their magic is better than yours!" Marie reminds him.
[21:03] <Kotono> "Those too," Laughing nervously at that, "Have yout wo met many of those?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "A few," Alicia nods. "Mostly we battle things like dragons, demons, and devils, but there are a few misguided people who want to try their luck. Still, you should be focusing more on your studies than thinking about such conflicts," she then chastises.
[21:11] <Kotono> "Thank you," The boy quickly nods, as one of the women laughs. "We shouldn't worry so much about battle, should we?"
[21:15] <Alicia> "Not at your age, no," Alicia shakes her head. "Ideally you'd never have to, but life isn't really that simple. Anyway, I should probably get going, but before I do how about I show you a few tricks with prestidigitation that I learned when I was starting out? They're perfect building blocks for moving onto more advanced spells."
[21:17] <Kotono> "Sure!" The acolytes call.
[21:20] <Alicia> Casting prestidigitation herself, Alicia proceeds to demonstrate the simple exercises she was taught herself so long ago at her home temple in Kelara, basic conjuring and alteration of magical substances that aren't useful in any real sense but help to reinforce certain fundamental arcane concepts that underline a number of first circle spells.
[21:27] <Kotono> This goes well enough, the students impressed greatly by it. Thus Alicia heads along...OOC: What are your plans now? You were going to rest and go back to Wetwind Harbor?
[21:29] <Alicia> OOC: didn't Jessica want to talk to me?
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC: Sure.
[21:30] <Kotono> That evening, once the lion's armor is removed and Alicia is settling down to eat and rest? It's quiet in the house, that is, until Jessica comes in. A radiant smile is on her face, humming music to herself. "Sister!"
[21:31] <Alicia> "Hello, Jessica," Alicia greets her sibling. "Antenora said you were looking for me, earlier?"
[21:33] <Kotono> Jessica smiles from ear to ear, her hands behind her back. "Sister..." She sits down besides her. "You've seen a lot of gemstones and jewelry, haven't you?"
[21:35] <Alicia> "I suppose... I've never been particularly fussed for them, but I've seen a lot," Alicia agrees, wondering where this is going.
[21:36] <Kotono> Presenting her hand to Alicia, she can see a pleasant gold ring with several small gemstones on it. "How does this one look?" she asks.
[21:39] <Alicia> Not being entirely dense, Alicia figures out where this has went. "Oh, sister!" she starts to smile, "It's lovely - does that mean Roald...?"
[21:40] <Kotono> Blushing all over, "He did!" She squeals! "It was so incredible, too! He got on his knees and everything right at the perfect tim eand...!"
[21:42] <Alicia> Getting up, Alicia wraps her arms around the older woman in a hug, "That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you!" Part of her can't help but wonder what Beth would've made of all this, but she's still sincerely happy on Jessica's behalf.
[21:47] <Kotono> With a tight hug back, "We're talking about the spring, maybe. But I'm so happy! He's such a good man, Alicia."
[21:50] <Alicia> "If he makes you happy then that's all that matters," Alicia replies sagely as she seperates a bit to study Jessica's expression. "Gods, you really do look blissfull, too. Have you told anyone else?"
[21:51] <Kotono> "Just Antenora," She gushes, "I was waiting to tell you first, but I was too excited!" Hugging Alicia again, "I think that trip to Evergold is what finally made up his mind, too. Oh sister!"
[21:55] <Alicia> "Marie will be happy as well when she hears," Alicia smiles as she goes to sit down on the couch, gently pulling Jessica along with her. "I really should get to know him if he'll be joining the family - same with his own relatives. Does this mean you're getting along better with his mother?"
[21:56] <Kotono> "Well..." Rubbing the back of her head, "Welle nough. We don't really get along that well, but we're restraining each other. Roald got a little upset with her about it and that helped."
[21:57] <Alicia> "Ah, well, can't have everything I suppose," Alicia shrugs. "So long as you two are happy that's the most important thing."
[22:03] <Kotono> "Thank you. I'm just glad you're happy for me, Alicia!" Smiling broadly now, "I suppose I'll need to take him to Kelara at some point to meet the family and spend more time with everyone here. Well..." Blushing a little, "I think he's a little intimidated by it. He really looks up to Seira and the Crimson Guard for something they did for him years ago."
[22:06] <Alicia> "Just say the word and I can take you there - I'll probably be heading back myself shortly, anyway," Alicia replies. "Past that... where are you two going to live?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "We don't know yet. He has the idea of going to Valandia lately, maybe...or maybe Kelara...but I want to stay here, too." Blushing even more, "So we really don't know, Sister."
[22:08] <Alicia> "Well, Spring's a ways off, so plenty time to figure it out," Alicia gives Jessica's hand a comforting squeeze. "It's too early to worry about the details for now, anyway."
[22:09] <Kotono> "Antenora said we should stay in Balmuria, but..." Shaking her head, "I think she was thinking only of safety. I know she meant well by that, but...that shouldn't be the only reason, either. It's not fair of Roald's stuck here forever because of me, either."
[22:11] <Alicia> "It's not like you've personally been attacked, anyway," Alicia admits. "You have that tiger and we'll pick you up another one of those bracelets as well, so if trouble does find you then help is near no matter what. Obviously I'd miss you if you moved away, but with teleportation I can visit no matter where you are."
[22:15] <Kotono> "Thanks," Hugging Alicia again, "But...Oh Mystra, I have to get a dress and bridesmaids and a celebration...Alicia..." Blushing a little, "I hate to ask but can I borrow a bit of money for all of this?"
[22:17] <Alicia> "Traditionally the bride's family does pay for the wedding, so don't worry about it," Alicia waves that off. "Speaking of that, though, if you want to put your rogue hat on I've got a couple of locked and trapped chests in the study that I need opened. Think you could help out?"
[22:20] <Kotono> "OF course," Jessica says agreeably, "Lead on, sister?"
06[22:22] * Alicia leads Jessica through to the study where the three chests are. "They've got magic traps on them, but I can suppress them for a bit if you think they're dangerous - want to have a look, first?"
[22:31] <Kotono> Thus the two go in there. Jessica nods as she kneels next to them, searching!
[22:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[22:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[22:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 21." [1d20=9]
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 13." [1d20=1]
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 23." [1d20=11]
[22:32] <Kotono> After a few checks, "Okay, I think I've found at least one of them. They're not too dangerous unless you trip them while accidentally disabling them," she says. "Or if you intentionally spring them."
[22:33] <Alicia> "Want me to dispel them just in case while you disable them?" Alicia offers.
[22:36] <Kotono> "Oh, just stand back," Waving a hand, "What's te worst that could happen...which means yes, dispel them," she adds a moment later. "I'm getting far too cocky."
06[22:38] * Alicia laughs a bit and casts detect magic so she can properly see the auras and then attempts a targetted dispel on the one Jessica's at now.
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d4
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[22:39] <Kotono> "Right!" Jessica quickly works while Alicia's magic is in effect!
[22:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32." [1d20=20]
[22:39] <Kotono> "Got it!" Jessica says, "That one was pretty easy."
[22:40] <Alicia> "Okay, now the middle one - you can try picking all the locks once we have the traps disabled," Alicia suggests as she makes another dispel.
[22:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[22:40] <Alicia> roll 1d4
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 15." [1d20=3]
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 31." [1d20=19]
[22:41] <Kotono> It takes a bit of fiddling, but then, "Got this one, too!" Jessica looks up, "One more?"
[22:41] <Alicia> "Here we go," Alicia again dispels the magical trap on the last one.
[22:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 27." [1d20=17]
[22:41] <Alicia> roll 1d4
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[22:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 27." [1d20=15]
[22:42] <Kotono> "That's the last of them," Sitting upat that, "Maybe I was right. Those traps weren't much of anything to disable."
[22:43] <Alicia> "Better safe than sorry - not like I had any reason to hoard my spells anyway," Alicia shrugs amiably. "Think you can pick the locks on them, now? I probably should've just looked for the keys while I was there, but it just never occured at the time..."
[22:44] <Kotono> "That will be easy enough without traps," Jessica gets to doing just that! Soon the chests pop open! OOC: Taking 10/20 since she can keep trying until she succeeds here.
[22:46] <Alicia> Once they're all open Alicia tries to estimate the value of the gold bars, assuming they're of a standard trade size.
[22:46] <Kotono> The gold bars are around 10k gold or so. Ballpark.
[22:49] <Alicia> "Not a bad haul indeed... those silks are probably worth a lot as well, not to mention the bag of gems Marie found," Alicia remarks. "Well, I'll deal with it tomorrow since I have to go back to Wetwind, anyway. Thank you, Jessica."
[22:49] <Kotono> Going over and hefting a gold bar, "Mmmm. What are you going to do with it all? The normal?"
[22:53] <Alicia> "Well, I may be getting into business myself," Alicia admits. "This all came from an imp that was running an inn/bordello."
[22:53] <Alicia> "If I just leave things then his underlings will just take over the business which is no good to anyone. And if I get rid of them then the women working there will be forced onto the streets. So I was thinking of arranging a takeover and seeing if I can get the place run along more respectable lines."
[22:56] <Kotono> "So...how do you make a bordello respectable? Turn it into a normal inn?" Scratching her head as she eyes Alicia, "Any ideas?"
[22:58] <Alicia> "Well I'd have to see what I have to work with, but I'd take Seira's inn as a good model to follow," Alicia agrees. "Even if they're being used as whores, the women working there surely have other skills that we can hopefully nurture so they can prosper without degrading themselves and relying on fleeting beauty."
[22:59] <Kotono> "I suppose. Still...Did Evergold rub off on you? The entire thing seems like you mean well, just not what you normally do. You go around and smite evil, not worry about women in cheap whorehouses." With a long look at Alicia, "Better than them being whores, though."
[23:02] <Alicia> "Maybe it did?" Alicia responds with a slight smile. "To be honest I don't usually have the need to get involved as such, since most of the foes I face don't support the livelihoods of innocents."
[23:02] <Alicia> "Besides, that imp said they were better off with the money they earned working for him... I'd hate to think that they'd be worse off for my intervention in killing him, so I suppose I want to ensure things will work out."
[20:54] <Kotono> ---
[20:56] <Kotono> OOC: Oh yes, roll your TP. Dhur.
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen casually?
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen casually? and gets 63." [1d100=63]
[20:57] <Kotono> Woosh! Alicia appears in the alley near the dock at just past the early morning. The docks are busy, ships being loaded and people hustling. The curses and songs of sailors are heard, the wind carrying the merciful moisture of the endless sea.
[20:59] <Alicia> While the imp was certainly informative, Alicia wants to learn a bit more about the operation he was running, so she heads out into the city and starts to ask around a bit concerning the Sultan's Pride, trying to find out the local opinion on the place and its staff.
[21:01] <Kotono> OOC: Gather info check it up.
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 21." [1d20=6]
[21:04] <Kotono> The Sultan's Pride is a special inn for those who have money or desires. It's talked about relatively openly by the people. It's a sanctioned establishment where the women are servile and often unclad. It's been growing in popularity lately and attracting good, wealthy patrons.
06[21:11] * Alicia really does loathe the Desert Fiefdoms for their attitude towards women. Likely as not if she did try to reform the place along more respectable lines it would be given a wide berth by the locals - to say nothing of sailors who'd surely only have one interest. Still, she's chosen to make the effort, so she'll see it through.
[21:11] <Alicia> Finding a private spot, she transforms Marie into her aasimar form (albeit slightly taller and better filled out than normal, to properly fit her new attire) and has her get dressed in Alicia's plainswalker's robes. Then she casts Voice of the Archon on her familiar, and message so they can stay in touch, and the duo then head to the Sultan's Pride itself.
[21:13] <Kotono> The Sultan's Pride has a sign in front of it, the building painted a reflective white. It's of a rich, old man sitting on cushions and being fed grapes by a pretty woman. The doors are currently closed.
[21:17] <Alicia> They've discussed what's involved, so Marie knows her part. While Alicia waits nearby, the eladrin goes to knock on the door!
[21:18] <Kotono> The door is knocked on! After a few moments, a sweet woman's voice calls from the other side. "We're closed right now, we're cleaning up. Come back in a few hours for normal business."
[21:19] <Alicia> "I'm looking for Yildiz," Marie calls back in her own sweet voice.
[21:20] <Kotono> "Oh yeah, what for?" The voice asks right back.
[21:21] <Alicia> "An offer! One he can't refuse!" Marie sing-songs. After catching a glare from Alicia she coughs and dampens her enthusiasm, "Ahem. It's business," she concludes.
[21:26] <Kotono> A little slit-hole opens the door. You see a woman's eyes, looking MArie over. "Ah, very wlel. Hold on." The door is opened after the sound of a latch is heard. Just inside is a pretty woman in a mundane white robe, gesturing you inside. "This way."
[21:27] <Alicia> Naturally Marie is checking for any evil auras as she steps inside and smiles at the woman. "Thank you."
[21:30] <Kotono> The woman isn't evil. Inside is a short hallway with a few side niches with stools. They're all currently empty. The woman has raven black hair and light brown skin, hair kept back in a ponytail. Past this is a large open serving room, soft chairs and sturdy wooden tables about. A bar is here, as well as several doors. Sitting at one table, working over some scrolls, is a scrawny man. He has a stubble of beard, the hints of gray in it showi
[21:30] <Kotono> is a scrawny man. He has a stubble of beard, the hints of gray in it showing his older age. He looks up, scowling, "Yeah? What is it? I heard you from the door, what do you want?"
[21:31] <Alicia> Is he evil?
[21:33] <Kotono> OOC: Faint evil.
[21:35] <Alicia> "How about we talk in private?" Marie suggests with a winning smile. "There's a few things we need to talk about, and I've got an offer for you as well."
[21:36] <Kotono> "This is private," Gesturing about, you see only the woman who let you in is in here besides the two of you. "Looking for work?"
[21:38] <Alicia> "Hahaha," Marie laughs indulgently at the implication, before shaking her head and tossing her pale lilac hair in what she thinks is a haughty gesture. "No, not exactly. Alright then, first thing's first - how much do you really know about Mr Radafi?"
[21:39] <Kotono> With a long sigh, "Stop being indirect. Cut it out and get to the point. I don't have patience for these sort of question and answer games."
[21:41] <Alicia> "Fine!" Marie claps her hands together. "Showing works better than telling, anyway - be warned, this is quite graphic," she cautions with a warning glance to the lady present.
[21:42] <Alicia> She then gestures to the side and conjures up an illusory image of Mr Radafi writing at his desk. Then a hideous looking demon enters the scene, prompting Radafi to get on his knees and make begging gestures. The demon proceeds to eviscerate Radafi, who transforms into an equally hideous bloated little imp in agonisingly detailed slow motion as he expires.
[21:42] <Alicia> The demon turns its nose up disgustedly and walks off the scene before both vanish.
[21:43] <Kotono> Folding his hands together, "Magic? I assume this means that Mr. Radafi is now...indisposed?" His voice says brusquely calm throughout. He only raises a single eybrow at the display of violent imp murder.
[21:45] <Alicia> "The scene you just saw was witnessed by someone we had monitoring him, yes," Marie nods. "Not to shed any tears, as an outsider this means he's not quite dead, but I still wouldn't count on seeing him any time soon. Unless you had plans to visit Hell yourself."
[21:46] <Kotono> "What do you want, then?" Asking this as he looks Marie over, "Are you here to kill me as well?"
[21:52] <Alicia> "Do I look like a demon to you?" Marie asks in mock offense. "No," she shakes her head and smiles. "I'm here to buy you out."
[21:53] <Kotono> "Really?" Raising an eyebrow again, "How much? This place makes money hand over fist. With Radafi gone..." Smiling a little, "My cut just went way up."
[21:56] <Alicia> "Please," Marie laughs softly. "Radafi underpinned this establishment - its foundations are going to get rocky enough with him gone. More pressingly, however..." she saunters closer, "That demon you saw there isn't dead - our spy certainly wasn't going to stop it. Now if it could find Radafi, it surely knows about his associates, just as we do..."
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC: Make an intimidation check, Marie?
[21:58] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 yay for not being tiny
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 yay for not being tiny and gets 25." [1d20=3]
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[21:59] <Kotono> The man's eyebrow twitches several times, as he blows out a long breath. "That's a...good point. How much money are you offering?"
[22:01] <Alicia> "Four thousand gold," Marie answers a bit below the limit Alicia had given her, wanting to leave room to manuever if he puts up a fight. "More than enough for you to start a new life somewhere far away and safe..."
[22:08] <Kotono> "Hmph." Eyeing Marie suspiciously, "Y-you gotta do better than that," he says, crossing his arms. "I got all the women I want here. I see a girl dancing, I can have her in the back in 2 minutes. It's a dream job."
[22:10] <Alicia> "Have you ever met a succubus?" Marie wonders idly, before shaking her head. "No, I don't suppose you have, otherwise you wouldn't be standing here talking to me... Five thousand, and I promise it's a better offer than you'll get from anyone else."
[22:13] <Kotono> After a long moment and a gulp down of air, "...F-fine," he snaps, "I get the message."
[22:15] <Alicia> "Excellent!" Marie claps her hands together. "I have an associate who'll arrive with the money momentarily - it's not the sort of coinage a lady should carry around, after all. In the meantime lets get to the paperwork, shall we?"
[22:15] <Kotono> "Feh," Standing up, "I keep it in the back. Stay here. You," Glancing at the quiet, obdient woman behind Marie, "Go get a signatory offical to witness this."
[22:17] <Alicia> Marie smiles at her new employee as she settles in to wait. Meanwhile Alicia teleports back home, intending to collect both Antenora and a crate with enough of those gold bars to cover the 5,000gp fee.
[22:17] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 74." [1d100=74]
[22:20] <Kotono> The teleport goes without incident. They all return, Antenora in tow. They return, finding Yidliz waiting with some papers and a older man in white wrappings. He sits, looking bored. Antenora and Alicia gets some looks, Antenora's armor and gear moreso.
[22:22] <Alicia> "Ah, you both made it," Marie nods in greeting to the duo as they enter with the crate carried between them. "If you'll just set that down over there my friend here can check everything's in order then we'll sign the paperwork, shall we?"
[22:22] <Alicia> "Oh, to make an old woman labour under such a burden," Alicia all but rolls her eyes as she helps Antenora set the crate down and pops the lid.
[22:29] <Kotono> Antenora helps but it down, before Yidliz slides a paper across the table to Marie. "Here, whomever is going to sign it, sign it. Also, what's in the box?"
[22:31] <Alicia> "The gold, of course," Marie answers, pointing to the neatly stacked gold bars now on display after Alicia's opened the box. "All yours, now." With that she goes ahead and signs 'Marielle' in loopy flowing script.
[22:32] <Kotono> "Yeah, done. Dammit." Rubbing his temples, he looks to the robed man. He looks over the signature and signs besides Marielle's(His name is Mezli). Then Yidliz signs, the man repeating the process after. He then speaks, "I have witnessed and co-signed. This deal is done."
[22:35] <Alicia> "Alright then," Marie nods cheerily. "Now, I suppose most of the staff won't show up until later, but are any around now?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "A couple. The first batch of girls is getting ready, we open soon enough," he says. "I can call them out or take you to them."
[22:41] <Alicia> "I should at least say hello, and I'll want to chat with everyone when they get here," Marie agrees. "I'll want to put my own spin on how things are run here, after all."
[22:44] <Kotono> Antenora can't help but shake her head, and to Alicia, 'I'm almost worried on what Marie's planning now. Why'd you have her sign?'
[22:45] <Alicia> 'My name's well known,' Alicia replies, 'I'd rather not have this place targetted for being associated with me. Don't worry, though, Marie won't do anything without my approval.'
[22:50] <Kotono> "This way," Yidliz shrugs, leading Marie back. OOC: Antenora or alicia coming?
[22:51] <Alicia> OOC: we'll stay with the gold
[22:54] <Kotono> Marie goes on back. In the bakc ia large dressing room. About five women mill about here, black haired. They range from robed to entirely naked, preparing, brushing hair, using wet clothes to bathe themselves, chatting, and so on. When Yidliz enters, they all shut up and stop, looking right to him.
[22:54] <Kotono> "It happened like I said," he says, "This here is Marielle. You listen to her now." He says, before leaving the room.
[22:58] <Alicia> "Hi there," Marie smiles engagingly to the group, counting on her innate charm to disarm their natural apprehension. "You all don't need to worry about getting dressed up... or undressed, as the case may be," she giggles nervously,
[22:58] <Alicia> "Since we won't be opening tonight. You'll still be getting paid, of course, but for today I'm looking to get to know everyone and find out where your skills lie - there's going to be some big changes around here."
[23:01] <Kotono> "Oh," The unclad girl looks at Marielle with long eyes, "You don't look like a native of here."
[23:06] <Alicia> "Well spotted," Marie smirks and taps one of her outrageously pointed ears. "But even so I'm hoping we can all get along - I want this to be a safe and happy workplace for all of us, after all. Now, I'll be interviewing each of you later on, along with everyone else when they show up, but I really just wanted to stop by and say hello first off... so hello!"
[23:09] <Kotono> One of the women, wearing a silken shrift that hides just enough to tease, nods. "Hello, ma'am," she says respectfully. The others murmur this as well.
[23:13] <Alicia> Well, Marie can't really blame them for being guarded, considering what their previous boss admitted to doing with them. "Well, that all said, you can relax for now - I'm sure we'll get to know each other more in the days ahead," she smiles brightly. "There's going to be a lot of changes in how this place is run, changes that I really hope you'll agree with me are for the better."
[23:13] <Kotono> There are more murmurs there, a normally dressed girl quietly asking, "What changes, ma'am?"
[23:16] <Alicia> "No prostitution," Marie replies bluntly before starting to ramble as is her habit. "Now, I've heard that this sort of thing is common and accepted in the Fiefdoms, but I can't believe any of you enjoy it."
[23:16] <Alicia> "And trust me, where I come from no one needs to pay for sex to have a good time, so I'm certain we can still run a flourishing establishment without that particular line of business, thank you very much."
[23:18] <Kotono> The women look at each other long, "But ma'am," the unclad one says with a bit of energy to her voice, "That is what paid us the best of our jobs. Lying with men kept us well enriched."
[23:27] <Alicia> "Rich in wealth but not in spirit!" Marie retorts, before momentarily looking abashed. "Look, everyone needs money to get by, I understand that, but there are better ways. I don't want to judge you for how you get through life when it doesn't really hurt anyone el..." she then trails off vacantly for a moment before her mind catches up.
[23:27] <Alicia> "Wait a minute! It does hurt people! Those men who buy love are only perpetuating their own inability to relate to the opposite sex in anything except a twisted mercantile fashion! Nobody's a winner from prostitution!"
[23:27] <Alicia> Content with her sudden burst of insight she goes on, "And anyway, even if you can make money now, do you think it'll still work when you start to become grey and saggy? Listen, if any of you really want to live that life, I can't stop you - you can walk out the door."
[23:27] <Alicia> "But if you stay I can promise that you'll not only be paid well, but you'll be treated well, too. And given a chance to learn skills and better yourselves so you can take life on your own terms and not be dependent on the carnal urges of rich deviants!"
Session Time: Sat Mar 07 00:00:00 2009
03[00:29] * Celenu (WinNT@user-544627a2.lns2-c12.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
02[00:34] * Alicia (WinNT@user-544627a2.lns2-c12.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[00:37] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
03[00:38] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
03[00:42] * Demedais is now known as Anansifk
[00:45] <Kotono> The women all listen, nodding in the right places. "But..." The unclad one looks up here, "Ma'am...we're making more money doing this than we could as bar servants or housecleaners or common workers. If we save up well, we'll have neough for when we get old."
[00:45] <Kotono> Another nods to it, wearing a robe and brushing her hair. "Yes ma'am," she agrees.
[00:50] <Alicia> Marie's starting to wish Alicia was here, she'd surely be more convincing. "You're really dead set on living that way?" she asks, mystified. "I honestly didn't expect that..."
[00:54] <Kotono> Another speaks, "Ma'am...We know the bosses get most of the money, but they still pay us better than common work to do this." Blushing and looking down, "Serving men while they look at my naked body and occasionally letting one have me isn't such a bad price."
[00:54] <Kotono> "Well, it pays the best," The naked one just shrugs at that, "Can you pay that well for something else?"
[00:58] <Alicia> "Yes!" Marie insists, knowing Alicia's stubborn enough to run this place at a loss if she has to. "If it's just about the money, don't worry - you will be paid as much as you were before. We can make this place a success without selling our bodies, trust me. Seriously, if everything else is equal, wouldn't you rather a job that didn't involve screwing an endless parade of strange men?"
[00:59] <Kotono> "Well..yes," The naked one admits, "Easier work for the same pay? Certainly, ma'am."
[00:59] <Kotono> The silk clad one considers, "What would you have us do then?"
[01:05] <Alicia> "My friends and I have a lot of ideas, but a lot of that depends on what you lot can do," Marie replies. "That's why I want you all to have a good think over your skills - or even things you're not sure about but want to try - like singing, acting, playing instruments - we can get you tuition!"
[01:05] <Alicia> Feeling that she's winning them over, Marie's exuberance returns, "We can get exotic wines and delicacies from all over, that's sure to bring in lots of patrons even without the sex. But that doesn't mean we'll scrimp on the entertainment - certainly I know you can all dance, if nothing else."
[01:05] <Alicia> "What I'm saying is, we're going to turn this into a fantastic place where all sorts of people can come and expand their horizons, not just a sordid den of vice for rich old perverts and sailors! Instead of being another seedy Fiefdoms bordello, this'll be the best darn tavern in the world!"
[01:06] <Kotono> "As long as we get paid, yes!" The naked woman says quickly, with a hint of energy. A few calls of that go up to Marie's words!
[20:08] <Kotono> -----(Stone Ko)--
[20:13] <Kotono> Severla days later, Alicia is passing through Kelara on business. As she approaches the Temple of Mystra there, she notices something. It's edifices above have some additions. Beautiful stone angels have been added to the roof, gazing out serenely over the city. Finely carved swords of stone, etched with flames, point to the sky in their hands. They're striking, made of a polished-smooth gray stone.
06[20:15] * Alicia was going to head in to pay her respects anyway, and takes approving note of the new decorations as she heads inside.
[20:18] <Kotono> Inside you find Taldeer in her rooms in due time. She's scouring over a pile of loose gemstones with a critical eye, motioning Alicia over. "Hold on..." she mutters.
06[20:18] * Alicia goes to take a seat and patiently waits for the cleric to finish what she's doing.
[20:19] <Kotono> It takes a good twenty minutes before she's done, wiping her brow. "Ah, sorry. Oh, did you see the statues out front? You haven't been here since they were installed, were you?"
[20:20] <Alicia> "I was going to say, yes," Alicia nods. "They look very striking - I approve."
[20:22] <Kotono> "They're more than just apperances. That dwarf has been quite busy," Gently starting to put the gems away into a silk bag, "They're animated and possess fearsome defensive powers when properly invoked."
[20:24] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia's eyes widen. "That's incredible - certainly I'd hope they'd never have to be used, but even so... Did I tell you about the attack on the temple in Balmuria? We could certainly have used such defences, then."
[20:28] <Kotono> "I heard, yes." Smoothing over her robes once she finishes, "From what he says, he's spent his life recovering methods of stonecraftsmanship. He's found a way to animate statues far better than simply making an Animated Object. I don't think they're true golems inthe sense of the word, but they're far from useless."
[20:31] <Alicia> "That's fantastic," Alicia smiles. "Has he shared his methods with the church? Certainly this is the sort of knowledge we should be preserving ourselves."
[20:35] <Kotono> "It's a difficult lesson to learn, for it relies on being a stone craftsman beyond normal peer." Rubbing her temples at that, "Some of the theory is useful, and we have a few starting to study stonework. But direct replication isn't possible without aid. A bound Earth Elemental or like creature might be able to help that, but I won't be experiementing until he's done here, out of respect for his work and what he's doing in thanks."
[20:35] <Kotono> done here, out of respect for his work and what he's doing in thanks."
06[20:38] * Alicia nods. "Fair enough. On a similar note, though..." she fishes in her backpack and produces a leather-bound book which she slides across Taldeer's desk. "I had my familiar translate and revise the gnomish magical theory that David used, and the acolytes in Balmuria have transcribed a few copies. Someone here might find it interesting."
[20:39] <Kotono> "Oh!" Taking the book and opening it quickly, "Oh yes, I'll have a good read of this. Thanks, Alicia."
[20:42] <Alicia> "It's an interesting approach to magic, and despite the source there's nothing particularly objectionable in there," Alicia smiles, leaning back. "So, is Rubri'granit still here, then? What's he up to now?"
[20:46] <Kotono> "He's 'whipping the smiths and stonemasons into shape', to take his words. He's taken anything even tangentially related to our church and is trying to improve them," Folding her hands together, "He keeps saying that he's going to use the extra time he's been given to improve the world and to spite that, ah, the phrase he uses is 'Dark Shadow Rutting Bitch'."
06[20:49] * Alicia laughs a little. "That's certainly a healthy attitude to take out of things," she notes. "I'd thought he might be impatient to return home, but I suppose if this is how he wants to use his time then more power to him."
[20:50] <Kotono> "Yes. I approve of it," Taldeer says, "Now then, what brings you here today, Alicia?"
[20:52] <Alicia> "Well I was passing stopping in Kelara anyway so I thought I'd drop off that book and check in to see how things are doing," Alicia replies. "And from the looks of it they're doing well, which is gratifying."
[20:53] <Kotono> "Yes." Smiling a little now, "What of faraway Balmuria?"
[20:56] <Alicia> "Things are rather peaceful for the moment, which is nice," Alicia thinks of a few notable happy events and smiles wistfully, "My sister is getting married in the spring, and a unicorn I know is expecting to give birth in just a few weeks."
[20:59] <Kotono> "Oh, congratulations!" Brightening at that, "Beth...it's amazing she's turned her life around so much, even with all that's happened."
[21:01] <Alicia> "Well... she's not really Beth, not any more," Alicia concedes. "But she's happy, and I hope if there's any part of Beth left that she's happy as well." Shaking her head she follows up with a shrug, "I'd intended to search for a way to recover her memories, but she asked me not to, so I can't really disagree."
[21:02] <Kotono> "She's wiser than Beth, then," Smiling a little to that, "To know that herself is happiness nad understand that her past self wasn't."
[21:02] <Alicia> "I sometimes wonder myself..." Alicia admits quietly, "But it's not a decision I can make for her."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Then let it be. Now then...who is she marrying, Alicia?"
[21:08] <Alicia> "His name is Roald, he's a baker. Nice young man," Alicia nods. "Younger than I'd go for, certainly, but he makes her happy."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Good for her. What of you, Alicia?" Asking this, "How is your family? How is Antenora?"
[21:12] <Alicia> "She's doing well - we recently visited Arborea and I think the experience did her a lot of good in expanding her horizons," Alicia chuckles slightly. "Certainly more than Marie's managed, bless her for trying."
[21:14] <Kotono> "She's a fascinating case from what you've told me. But Marie...she's true to her ethos and creation." Chuckling as well, "Now you're traveling the planes?"
06[21:16] * Alicia nods. "I recently had a horrible experience with a planar portal in Kesse. After that it really behooved me to acquire a way to safely travel them." She takes out her specially crafted ring and passes it to the elf to have a look, "Being able to visit the nicer ones at need is a definite plus."
[21:18] <Kotono> "What happened?" Asking that as she looks over the ring, "How nice. You know, they say those that travel the planes become part of them and leave this world behind," she remarks. "Is that true?"
[21:22] <Alicia> "Haven't left yet," Alicia shrugs. "Marie has warned me quite strongly about visiting Dweomerheart, though - and she's right. I went there to get those regeneration scrolls and I think it's best I don't return as long as I'm alive. But any one plane is infinitely big, and there's so many - I can see how people could spend their lives exploring them, with so much to see and do."
[21:22] <Alicia> "As for what happened, I was using this sword," she unsheathes the sword of the sealed gate and presents it to Taldeer, "Which inhibits dimensional travel to try and seal a portal to the Plane of Shadow. Instead it exploded and deposited me in the Abyss."
[21:24] <Kotono> "Ugh!" With a look of faint disgust, "All the horrible demons you must have endured! Thank Mystra you defeated them all and emerged out safely."
[21:26] <Alicia> "The worst part was the ones that were nice to me," Alicia shudders as she puts the sword away. "But yes, I managed to eventually find a portal to the Infinite Staircase and worked my way home from there. Now with that ring, though, I should be able to escape far more easily if something like that happens again."
[21:27] <Kotono> "Demons being nice to you?!" With a disturbed, sickened look, "Why would a demon ever be nice to you? They're the incarnations of hateful rage and whimsy. You're the exact opposite of that."
[21:30] <Alicia> "So I'd like to think," Alicia sighs, "But perhaps they thought I could be convinced to see things their way... I'd like to think that's impossible," she shakes her head, "But to be honest I felt like I was going crazy there. If I'd stayed long enough who knows what would have happened?"
[21:35] <Kotono> "Ah, that would be why. A good reason to avoid the Abyss, if you didn't have enough," Taldeer says.
06[21:37] * Alicia nods glumly. "It's not a nice place, at all."
[19:46] <Kotono> -----------------------------------------------------(Mount Polly, eh? Can that be right next to Amaryl's mountains? That would be awesome.)--
[19:47] <Kotono> Once the square's crowd is broken it's not too hard to pick up speed. Lord Salman travels in an entorage, an honor guard of soldiers around him as they ride on white horses, heading for the square. They're about three streets away now as Demedais gets in sight of them.
06[19:50] * Demedais advances forward quickly, dismounting and walking up to the honor entourage once he's about three-fourths of a block away. "Ah... I need to quickly inform Lord Salman of events in the main square."
[19:50] <Kotono> The honor guard parts, the entorage stopping. Lord Salman raises his voice, "Captain, what is the matter?" he calls.
[19:53] <Demedais> "An outsider was watching the preparations with the intent of disrupting the ceremony and killing us, at the least. He has been dispatched, however, and Alicia and Seira were calming the crowd as I left. I felt it necessary to confirm your safety after the event, and thus have come here." A slight pause. "Also, may I give you something?" he replies, after fishing through his backpack for the component to the Shield Other
[19:54] <Demedais> after fishing through his backpack for the component to the Shield Other spell.
[19:55] <Kotono> "Well done to have detected and dispatched this event," Lord Salman says, taking the ring offered. "This ring is magic?"
[19:55] <Demedais> "It is not, but wearing it will allow one of my more potent magics to be used, shielding you from any attacks that slip through." Demedais shakes his head. "Pollyanna can testify to its efficiency."
[19:57] <Kotono> The ring is put on. "We are impressed with the speed you have reacted to this. Is the square fully safe now?"
[19:58] <Demedais> "I believe so, yes. No threats were spotted within any range." Demedais nods.
06[20:00] * Demedais also invokes the spell at this, since it'll remain on Lord Salman for six hours after.
[20:01] <Kotono> "Ride at the head of the honor guard," Lord Salman instructs. "You have earned it, and it is ag ood defense in case other threats await in lurking danger."
[20:02] <Demedais> Demedais pauses for a short second, before, "Yes, milord." With that, he remounts, glancing to Pollyanna before he gets in formation and leads the honor guard back the four or so streets to the square!
[20:03] <Kotono> OOC: #evil.
[20:03] <Kotono> OOC: Er, #dunes.
[19:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> ----(Epic Ko)--
05[19:41] -sebben.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[19:41] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.114.105) has joined #evildunes
[19:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Alicia afternoon has passed well enough. As the day winds on, she finds herself meandering down a noisy street. As she does, sound springs into her mind. An ethereal voice, whispering in gorgeous murmurs. 'Where are you, Alicia? I wish to make contact regarding Esthan. Please respond, using allied priest for Sending. Latha.'
06[19:50] * Alicia covers her mouth and murmurs in reply as Marie looks on curiously. It could be a trick, but if it is Latha she really can't ignore it - and she did contact Latha via an intermediary cleric herself, recently. "In Baronies capital." No sense confusing her with name changes, "Staying at Lamplight Inn, will be back in Balmuria tomorrow. Will wait for you at inn if coming today."
[19:52] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Thus the reply is sent. 10 minutes pass, no immediate reply seems forthcoming. OOC - Going to go wait in the inn or...?
[19:52] <Alicia> OOC: yeah, I'll relax in the common room there
[19:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The afternoon crawls into death. The common room of the inn is busy. People eat, drink and act merry here as Alicia waits. There's no immediate sign of Latha as she settles in. However, as she does wait, a familiar face enters the room. Donald stretches and comes in, getting some looks as his armor clanks. On seeing Alicia, he heads over to her. "Tired of the festivities already?"
06[19:59] * Alicia looks up from her game of chess with her familiar, an illusory knight hacking apart a creepy looking wizard as Marie adds a visceral edge to the give and take of their pieces. "Hello, Donald," she nods, the eladrin also giving him a little wave.
[19:59] <Alicia> "I got a message from Latha that she's looking for me, so I told her to find me here if she's coming today. Don't want to risk missing her, so I'll just wait."
[20:09] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh wow, is that chess?" Looking down at the pieces, "That looks really fun! You're using magic to make it look like a real fight to kill th etime?" A distracted nod to Alicia after, his attention on the gameboard.
[20:11] <Alicia> "It helps Marie practice both her illusions and her tactical thinking," Alicia nods as Marie moves one of her goblins down the side of the board while the wizard blinks away and vanishes.
[20:11] <Alicia> "It also gives her an unfair advantage since I get distracted having to do two things at once," the eladrin pouts.
[20:11] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "How about I help you to make up for it?" Donald offers, grabbing a chair and going to sit close to Marie. "That should even the odds back up?"
[20:14] <Alicia> "Bishop to E4," Alicia speaks after a moment, gesturing where she wants her man in a funny hat to move so Marie knows which one she's talking about.
[20:14] <Alicia> "Sure, if you want," Marie shrugs as she moves Alicia's piece through sheer mental effort alone.
[20:23] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The thre settle into game! It's a fairly good game, a half hour passing. One can become lost in it's efforts, which is understandable. Still, it's hard to miss that a cloaked woman is approaching your table, face hidden by a hood.
02[20:23] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.114.105) Quit (Hatbot)
03[20:24] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-544640c8.lns3-c12.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
06[20:25] * Alicia is losing, so is quite glad of the distraction. "Latha?" she asks as she looks up, Marie doing likewise as she and Donald box in the last remnants of Alicia's pitiful resistance.
[20:27] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Donald looks up from furrowing his brow and concentrating. "Oh, hi!"
[20:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Gently pulling back her hood, Latha's face is revealed. She smiles warmly to both, going to sit down as well. "Peace and prosperity touch you," she greets. In a low whisper, "My work to undo Esthan's acts and bring him to judgment continue apace."
06[20:31] * Alicia nods as Marie sighs in relief and lets the illusion dissipate. "We can go upstairs to talk more privately," Alicia offers. "I have a room."
[20:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Can I come," Donald adds in.
[20:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Latha pulls her hood back up and stands. "Lead on, then."
[20:35] <Alicia> "Of course," Alicia nods to Donald, proceeding to lead everyone up to the single room she slept in last night. "It's good to see you again, Latha," she tells the deva as they head in, while Marie hovers close to the paladin and remains mostly silent.
[20:37] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Donald grins a little bit and goes to plop down on the bed, armor and all. The bed groans at that, the heavy metal weight bearing down on it. Latha pulls back her hood again, "It is good to see you as well. I wish our meeting was under better circumstances, but I fear that is not to be until Esthan is laid low."
[20:38] <Alicia> "It's only finding him that's the problem," Alicia goes to lean against the window. "Have you had much luck, there?"
[20:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "He leaves a trail. Intentionally, I'm certain of it. A trail of subtle perversions and nudges along towards the path of tyranny and domination. Never a chained or bought soul, only..little pushes. Masterful pushes, but no chains of immediate damnation are shackled to them. Oh no, he seems content to allow them to craft those themselves." (More)
[20:43] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "For if he wishes not to be followed, he could teleport with ease. We have evidence of that, and attempts to use magic to locate him are a universal failure. If he is indeed a diabolical magus, the strongest shielding magics are a grim reality we have to face. I suspect Mind Blank is at work, and perhaps secondary spells as well."
[20:45] <Alicia> "I suspected that as well," Alicia nods. "And he certainly does teleport, though - to walk from Pallanth to Kelara would take years, but he appears wherever he pleases. Recently he was in Balmuria where he infected a man with a virulent disease simply to send a message to Demedais..." she shakes her head in disbelief.
[20:45] <Alicia> "I have seen - felt - the worst that followers of Jubilex can do in that regard, but even such masterpieces of fiendish contagion can be cured. Not so with Esthan's disease - we went so far as to take the man to Ilmater's realm in search of a cure, but still none has been found."
[20:47] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> With a long, blown out sight. "Were it not for a lack of apocalyptic signs, I would worry that he is a Duke of Hell or something worse. His resources are deep and remarkable. The master he has spoken of intrigues me, for they are giving him resources that even a typical Pit Fiend would not have at beck and call."
[20:47] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh yeah, like when Agares was about to come or something? Wasn't there a bunch of signs in the desert, or am I forgetting? That entire time's like a mix of being half dead, exhausted or dazed."
[20:48] <Alicia> "No doubt there are schemes at work we can't perceive - certainly something more than that half-baked tale of rebellion he fed us," Alicia nods, before glancing at Donald. "Yes, that whole section of the desert seemed like it was becoming blended with Hell from all that was leaking through the portal."
[20:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Now Latha frowns at that, "That a devil would scheme against Asmodeus is entirely in character. That one so powerful would take an interest here and devote strong resources to it...that speaks ill, whatever fiend is behind it. I wonder...if he obtains access to the Crimson Guard, what can he gain on a scale that would be worthwhile?"
[20:51] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh yeah, I remember that now," Donald rubs the back of his head, "Well hell, there's a lot of stuff going on. What about that misty-crystal thing that's supposed to be so important? Or what about those ruins outside of town?"
[20:52] <Alicia> "The power of the Daa-vid. It can be nothing else," Alicia replies. "Recall what correspondence we found in the devil's fortress in the desert? They were restricted from interfering in matters pertaining to the gnomes by a power beyond them. If they could use us as proxies, however..."
[20:52] <Alicia> OOC: nix *the
[20:53] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "If a devil obatined the power that made the God-King so mighty, he could stand against Asmodeus." Latha frets at that, "A terrifying prospect. If a ruler of Hell had that power and the power of Hell proper, what would befall us all?"
[20:54] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Eh, that's why we're going to cut his head off and shove it up his brimstone scented ass before he gets that far?" Donald shrugs lightly. "I mean, that's a given, right?"
[20:55] <Alicia> "That's the plan, Donald," Alicia tells him. "But that doesn't mean we can take him lightly, given the massive resources he seems to have at his disposal." She then cocks her head and studies Latha, "So, what was your last lead on him, anyway?"
[20:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "He was raising troubles in the western desert and in Kelara and all the unincorporated lands there. Little things mostly, seeds that would grow into terror in due time."
06[20:58] * Alicia sighs. "But nothing we can use to track him?" she concludes. "Considering how he moves around so much, I honestly don't think it'll be possible for us to confront him unless he wishes it - and as last time he'll arrange an overwhelming force on his side."
[20:58] <Alicia> "With that in mind I almost think we'd be better off going to Hell and taking down his boss directly... except we don't know who he's taking orders from."
[21:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "He's presented a perfect front. As it looks like, our attempts are futile. Without a doubt, that is exactly what he wants. We have no hope except when he deigns to act and show his latest gambit." Now standing up, "Which is why we need to find a way to shatter what he has done in one way or another. Some way to catch him in a situation where we can win. I continue to undo his seeds, while trying to gather naything, something that
[21:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> I continue to undo his seeds, while trying to gather naything, something that will give an edge."
[21:03] <Alicia> "If there's anything we can do at all, just ask," Alicia offers. "We have many threats, true, but none more ultimately dangerous than Esthan."
[21:04] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Has he done anything to the three of you lately?" Latha asks. "Has anything changed since we last met?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "The diseased man I just mentioned was most recent, and before that he was in Kelara - when I contacted you via Dweomerkeeper Taldeer." Alicia grimaces at that, "Hiring mercenaries to 'protect' my parents because I couldn't. As if a few sellswords could do anything themselves against a Dogai or a Lilitu, anyway."
[21:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It's the thought that counts?" Donald says hesitantly, "Nothing like rubbing your face into an insult?"
[21:08] <Alicia> "Oh, he rubbed my face in it, alright," Alicia glowers, looking moodily out the window as her mood rapidly sours.
[21:09] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I'm worried our best chance may be to throw everything we have at him and hope we can triumph," Latha considers, "That, or...figure out his next move before he does it."
[21:10] <Alicia> "We need to know who he truly serves..." Alicia looks thoughtful, forcing herself to calm down. "He mustered a lot of fiends for that meeting we had with him in Pallanth. I doubt they'll have the same protections he has, so perhaps we could hunt down one of them and force it to provide the information we require?"
[21:25] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It's worth a try," Latha agrees, "If we can find any of his toadies."
[21:28] <Alicia> "Seira could likely scry on any of the ones she saw there," Alicia nods. "On another note, you might get some use out of this," she produces a small clay flask and hands it to the Deva. "You remember telling me how water from Arborea had a negative effect on Agares?"
[21:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yes." Latha says, "I recall that. Is this the same?"
[21:29] <Alicia> "Straight from Evergold itself," Alicia smiles slightly. "I procured a small source. If you find yourself in a tight spot with any baatezu it should hopefully help you out."
[21:31] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Thank you," Latha takes the clay vial, tucking it away into her clothes. "I have had to take stronger measures, or the beginnings of them." Raising up her arms, a pair of strudy leather bracers can be seen. "The magic in these is weak, but it is better than nothing. I found them amid untangling one of Esthan's schemes."
[21:32] <Alicia> "What do they do?" Alicia asks curiously. "I recently purchased a set of bracers myself," she pats the leather straps adorning her forearms, "That let me strike more quickly in combat."
[21:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "They're purely armoring," Latha answers, "Yet without cold metal's way of weighing down my body. Even the best crafted armor leaves me feeling heavy and immoble."
06[21:41] * Alicia nods. "Marie can't wear armour either, but we got some clothes for her that offers some degree of protection... not that it admittedly did much good for her, today," she explains, gesturing to her familiar who smiles and tugs on the silken fabric she wears. "If you need any special equipment, please don't hesitate to ask for help in that regard - I don't want to see you hurt, after all."
03[21:43] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
02[21:44] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-544640c8.lns3-c12.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit
Session Close: Sun Mar 15 23:13:22 2009
Session Start: Sun Mar 15 23:13:22 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[23:13] * Disconnected
02[23:13] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[23:13] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[23:13] * Topic is 'Marie>Mr. Radafi>Alicia'
03[23:13] * Set by Infinite_Ko_Loop on Wed Mar 04 20:41:02
03[23:13] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
03[23:25] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[23:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Thank you for your generosity. If I do, I will." Latha offers, "My blessings give me most of what I need, while brave mortals struggle with far less. Let me not be the one to take the cup of plenty from those that need it more."
[23:29] <Alicia> "Up to you," Alicia allows. "So, what do you intend to do, now?"
[23:30] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Esthan has striken close to home for you. I'm going to Kelara to ensure that no other surprises were laid," Latha says. "I would also like to see your family's home myself. If Esthan has been there...there is no harm in being familiar with it, just in case."
06[23:33] * Alicia nods. "He's made it clear he can strike there at any time," she agrees with a slightly pained expression. "Still, I don't think we're going to find him by just following him. I'll ask Seira about scrying on one of his underlings, since I think that's our best chance of unravelling his schemes."
[23:34] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Stay in touch." Latha offers, "My aid is yours on any matter to defeat him."
[23:35] <Alicia> "The same goes for us," Alicia replies with a smile. "On another note, we made a second trip to the Halls of the Vanquished recently."
[23:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Where's that," Donald speaks up, "It sounds violent."
[23:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "How was it?" Latha asks, overruning Donald's words in a rush, "Did you free the others?"
03[23:39] * Demedais is now known as Taishyr
06[23:40] * Alicia shakes her head as Marie shushes Donald. "No, they've changed the layout since last time, so I wasn't able to find the release commands. The guards have also been increased considerably - for every barbazu that was there when we broke you out there's now a gelugon."
[23:40] <Alicia> "But I've come up with a method that should allow me to free some without needing the command words, so I'll be going again some time soon."
[23:42] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "If you need a strong arm to aid you, say so," Latha promises. "I will fight to the last breath to ensure that no more are enslaved as trophies."
[23:44] <Alicia> "Thank you for the offer, but if things work as I expect I shouldn't even need to draw my blade," Alicia shakes her head. "I just wanted you to know that something was going to be done, considering your own experiences."
[23:45] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Latha starts to answer, as Donald mutters something low under his breath. She raises an eyebrow, looking right at him. "Thank you, Alicia. You have my eternal thanks for this." Turning back to Alicia, "May Celestia bless your efforts.
[23:45] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "
[23:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 listen, what did he say?
[23:46] <Alicia> OOC: taking 10 for 17
06[23:50] * Alicia decides to just ignore Donald's mutterings. "You don't need to thank me any more, Latha," she smiles. "Anyway, you probably want to get back to chasing down Esthan - we'll be in touch if we hear anything, ourselves."
[23:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Pulling her hood back up, Latha turns to go. "Until we meet again," she says, heading out.
06[23:51] * Alicia waves, her familiar hesitantly doing likewise. "The Halls of the Vanquished was where I met Latha," she fills in for Donald. "It is not a nice place, no."
[23:53] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh." Donald shakes his head, "Hey, good reason to go wreck that place then, isn't it?"
Session Time: Mon Mar 16 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Alicia> "Very much so," Alicia agrees. "Anyway, we don't need to linger here any more, so I think Marie and I will go back out to see how the festivities are going. Have any plans yourself?"
[00:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I'm kind of tired," Donald yawns, "I didn't do much todya, but I'm sleepy. I don't get it."
[00:01] <Alicia> "I thought elves didn't sleep?" Alicia raises an eyebrow curiously.
[00:03] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Scowling at Alicia, "I mean tthat I need to ...nevermind, I still think like a human," Donald turns pitch-red. "Just...just..." Throwing his hands into the air, "Maybe I just want to lay low today?"
[00:04] <Alicia> "Go have a nice trance!" Marie encourages him. "You'll feel better afterwards."
[21:18] <Kotono> ----
[21:18] <Kotono> You're in a deep void. A deep...something. Nothing is there. Only your most basic awareness. From deep in this void, "Seira...Seira...Seira...! SEIRA!"
[21:19] <Kotono> OOC: Strike, wrong room. Dur.
[21:20] <Kotono> It's warm here. You're so warm here. So warm and comfortable. It's a good feeling. A happy feeling. It feels long forgotten, but very very familiar. In the distance, you can hear two people talking. "...I don't know..." A woman's voice says.
06[21:21] * Demedais blinks at this. "Eh? What the..."
[21:22] <Kotono> You can't quite seen - your face feels like it's pressed against something. "I know..." A man's voice says, full of worry. It sounds a bit familiar, too. "But he'll be taken care of here. The priests, they're good men."
06[21:23] * Demedais frowns, attempting to move what's pressing on his face, even as his suspicions kick into full gear. He also tries to remember where the voice was from...
[21:35] <Kotono> Demedais struggles. He can see cloth - he's pressed against something warm and covered by cloth. "I still don't know..." The woman's voice is wistful, "I think...no...I know this isn't right. He's our baby. We can keep him. No matter how hard it will be."
[21:37] <Demedais> "Oh for the love.of." Demedais mutters, or tries to, as what's going on has made itself perfectly obvious as he tries to grab the cloth and yank it away.
[21:38] <Kotono> There's a pause here, then, "Do you feel that strongly?" The cloth isn't too hard to push back, a tiny hand moving it. He can see up a little - a woman's face, a woman with soft brown hair. She has large, warm eyes that sparkle blue. Meanwhile, the man's voice picks up. "If you feel that strongly...but...can we really give him a life worth leading?" Around you, large droplets of rain fall down.
06[21:39] * Demedais tries to adjust himself to see the man, since he can't seem to recall the woman's face.
[21:46] <Kotono> The man's face is familiar. It's...younger than it should be. But it's a face he knows. Croger? It looks like him. Quite a lot like him. He bites his lip, looking down. "Alright," he says after a few more moments. "...Alright. If you feel that strongly, let's go home. It'll be hard...but we'll make it, together. Our child...what should we name him?"
06[21:47] * Demedais pauses at this, before wishing he could let out a stream of expletives long enough to drown out most of existence.
[21:52] <Kotono> The woman starts to speak, then frowns. "...It's odd. I just had the strangest idea for a name. Demedais...I've never heard it before...but feels right. Demedais...yes. We could name him that. He'll grow up to be a strong, handsome young man. I swear it to you, my child."
06[21:53] * Demedais starts trying to break out of this. "Okay, this is good enough. Good to see you two, but I've indulged curiousity long enough, would like to go now, kay thanks..."
[21:55] <Kotono> "Is that all?" A voice insists, a quick, impatient voice. "A chance to grow up with your parents. To find a peaceful, happy life with them. A chance have everything you never had before. A life with no dragons, no devils, no insane battles or duties. A world of normal peace."
[21:55] <Demedais> "... you know, you just blew your chance to convince me." Demedais replies.
[21:57] <Demedais> "And... yeah. In the end, between duty and peace, I choose duty. So hey, thanks for the offer, but no."
[22:00] <Kotono> The image shifts. Demedais sees himself running in a field, playing with children(Like himself?). He sees himself being read to by his mother, a bedtime story. He sees his father training him with a wooden sort, ruffling his hair after a good workout. "You will never have a chance for this again. The power to manipulate time is banned to mortals by divine edict. Only I can give you this chance, Demedais. Think long and hard on it."
[22:00] <Kotono> Only I can give you this chance, Demedais. Think long and hard on it."
[22:02] <Demedais> "I thought about it a long time ago." Demedais replies. "And I do appreciate the offer. But... no. There's too many reasons why not, and my own happiness? Isn't worth any of those reasons alone. You're the Magus of Time, aren't you? Tell me, how do we free the people in this place without harming them?"
[22:05] <Kotono> "Your will is so strong..." With that, everything is gone. "The thread is chosen then, with your iron will. Come then...I await above!" Blink. Demedais stands with the others, bar Alicia. The others stand there, rigidly straight and unmoving. The door into the tower is open.
06[22:05] * Demedais looks to the others in confusion, before looking for Alicia. As the one missing... "Alicia! Marie! Any of you here?" he bellows, looking into the tower.
06[22:06] * Demedais grimaces again, before glancing to Seira, Amaryl, and Pollyanna.
[22:07] <Kotono> All of them are utterly rigid. Their eyes are open - you can see clock faces instead of eyes. The clocks are turning rapidly.
[22:09] <Demedais> "I take it this is your handiwork... giving them the same choice, are you, Magus of Time?" Demedais calls upward, before going to stand with Pollyanna, one hand on her shoulder. "I can but guess what road you've chosen for her..."
[22:10] <Kotono> As Demedais does that, Alicia emerges out of the tower's front door.
[22:11] <Demedais> "Alicia! You alright?" Demedais says as he spots her, turning.
06[22:11] * Alicia doesn't seem her usual composed self, looking around for a moment before her eyes settle on the bald man. "Demedais? Yes, I'm... I'm unhurt," she confirms as Marie flutters into view, looking at Alicia with undisguised pity. "You... you rejected what he offered?"
[22:13] <Demedais> "Yeah, though I owe him one anyway." Demedais shrugs, speaking loosely as if a bit stunned. "He showed me my parents. ... Croger's my dad. But there's no way I'm ditching you guys on this."
[22:14] <Alicia> "Croger? The... by Mystra's lost spell! Is there no depths to Esthan's depravity?!" Alicia asks indignantly, her fury for the moment managing to return a semblance of normality to her and push aside her temptation to relive a more innocent time.
[22:15] <Demedais> "Yeah, that was my response. Which is also probably another part of why the entire thing didn't work." Demedais grins a bit, approaching feral. "Yeah, I think I'm gonna need to try and pull a few favors..."
[22:17] <Alicia> Demedais's comment about not ditching the others shames Alicia for her own weakness, and she nods briskly. "Alright... I wasn't sure what was affecting you all so I went ahead to deal with the source, but if you came out of it by yourself then the others should as well?" she looks expectantly at the remaining three, as if they'll spring to life at any moment.
[22:17] <Demedais> "Presuming they don't take the bait, so to speak." Demedais nods, hand still on Pollyanna's shoulder as he rubs gently.
[22:18] <Kotono> Pollyanna abruptly shudders all over, falling to her knees. Looking up, eyes wild and panicking, "No...I..."
06[22:18] * Demedais quickly kneels down to her. "You alright, dear...?"
[22:19] <Kotono> "I couldn't do it...I couldn't do it..." she repeats, looking straight ahead. "I'm so sorry...I couldn't....It's my fault again...It was just a trick. It was just a trick, wasn't it, Demedais? Wasn't it?"
06[22:19] * Alicia looks away, unwilling to admit just how tempted she is by said bait. Even being nigh certain it isn't real, part of her wants to believe...
[22:21] <Demedais> "Tell the truth, I've no clue, but either way... we're here now." Demedais holds her close, before a slight grin. "Oh, and pretty good odds I can have you meet my dad!"
[22:22] <Kotono> Looking up, blank eyes, "What?" Pollyanna says, voice a hollow shell of itself.
06[22:23] * Demedais shakes his head. "It doesn't matter right now. ...what I was offered was a life with my birth parents, away from the temple." Keeping Pollyanna close, Demedais sighs. "...thank you."
[22:24] <Kotono> Seira abruptly blinks her eyes and staggers a bit. She is now aware again.
01[22:24] <Seira> "Hmph."
06[22:24] * Demedais looks over to Seira, not moving from his position. "Heh."
[22:25] <Kotono> "I..." Pollyanna just leans on Demedais for a time, closing her eyes.
06[22:25] * Alicia wordlessly looks to the last member of the group, wondering what the runaway noble will choose...
01[22:25] <Seira> "I was offered a happy life. I wanted to have a life like that when I was ten." She snorts again. "Whatever command over time this Magus might have, he doesn't understand my perfect world one bit."
06[22:25] * Demedais nods softly and lets her lean on him, keeping her close.
[22:25] <Kotono> "It's not the monsters. It's the damned tricks that are the real danger. He's attacking our will and our spirits as fiercely...no, more fiercely, than our bodies and lives."
[22:26] <Demedais> "He is." Demedais says softly, keeping the rest of his thoughts quiet.
01[22:27] <Seira> Just then noticing the state that Amaryl is in, Seira bites on her lower lip.
[22:29] <Kotono> Amaryl stands there, like a statue of time. Very slowly, she begins to fade away. Her body is starting to become transparent, like a ghost fading in the glorious light of the dawn.
01[22:30] <Seira> "We chose this life over heaven itself, remember?" she says, grasping at her. "Whatever he's showing you, don't be tricked! There's nothing you can't achieve on your own if you work towards that!"
[22:30] <Alicia> Seeing Amaryl vanish, as if moving into another timeline rather than simply remaining insensate in a fantasy, hurts Alicia's resolve even more, the paladin staring in morbid fascination as the scene plays out.
06[22:31] * Demedais turns as well, somewhat speechless.
[22:31] <Kotono> It's like trying to hold onto semi-solid air. It's difficult, her arm passing in and out of Seira's hand. Her face stays blank, impassive. "She's choosing her own paradise?" The Magus of Time is heard aloud, "What can you offer her that is better than that?"
01[22:34] <Seira> "Real happiness, one forged with her own two hands!" Seira calls back. "What's the use of being given something, if you don't work towards it? Can you even enjoy its fruits? Take pride in your accomplishment?" She tries to shake Amaryl's shoulders. "Do I have no place in your paradise, Amaryl? Because I'm right here!"
[22:35] <Kotono> "S...ra..." Amaryl murmurs. She is shaken, almost fading away like mist - almost, but not quite. She lingers like that several seconds. Her voice is faraway, a sleeper's dream voice. "Se...ra...?"
01[22:37] <Seira> "I'm here!" Seira repeats urgently. "And if that matters to you, then don't listen to that mage's lies! Don't believe him, and return to me! Because I am right here, waiting for you!"
[22:38] <Kotono> Thump. Thump. It's only a few beats of a heart, only a few seconds. Amaryl falls forward, abruptly solid. She lands on Seira, leaning into her.
01[22:39] <Seira> "You've made it," Seira whispers, holding her close.
06[22:39] * Demedais smiles slightly.
[22:39] <Kotono> "I was somewhere happy, Seira..." Amaryl blinks her eyes open, smiling. "It was a happy place, but I heard you calling."
[22:40] <Kotono> Pollyanna looks up, a deep sigh uttered. "Another trial down...damnations all to Helm." Standing up now, "Nearly defeating us with visions of paradise, more dangerous than a dozen swords."
01[22:41] <Seira> "I was somewhere that made me happy, too," Seira tells her, smiling sadly herself. "My family wasn't torn apart, my dead friends didn't have to die. But that wasn't the future I wanted to myself, even if he truly could make it a reality."
06[22:41] * Alicia knows no one would call for her like that... looking in her familiar's direction she only gets a sad yet understanding smile in reply. "Lets go, then?" she offers to the group, trying to muster up her resolve.
[22:42] <Demedais> "Everyone ready?" Demedais asks, moving to help Pollyanna up.
[22:43] <Alicia> Wordlessly, Alicia turns and heads back through the door, Marie following close behind.
01[22:43] <Seira> "Almost," Seira says, calling for Detect Magic to see whether the spell on Amaryl had faded away and needs to be refreshed.
[22:43] <Kotono> OOC: What's the duration on blur?
01[22:44] <Seira> OOC: 16 minutes
[22:44] <Kotono> OOC: It's gone.
[22:44] <Kotono> OOC: MI should be too.
01[22:44] <Seira> OOC: Consider it recast
[22:45] <Kotono> OOC: Righ.t
01[22:45] <Seira> roll 1d4+4
06[22:45] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+4 and gets 5." [1d4=1]
[22:45] <Kotono> Visibility is bad in here - only about twenty feet in any direction. Ahead, you can see a stair hugging against the right wall, leading upward. Because of this, you can't even see all of this bottom floor.
06[22:46] * Alicia was heading for the stairs before and that's where she goes now, casting Shield as she puts her foot on the bottom step.
06[22:47] * Demedais follows Alicia, trying to peer through the mist in a bit of confusion.
06[22:53] * Seira supplements her senses with detect magic, keeping near the rear once more.
[22:53] <Demedais> roll 1d20+26 nom
06[22:53] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+26 nom and gets 37." [1d20=11]
01[22:55] <Seira> "Mists, bad," Seira mutters, looking around warily.
[22:56] <Demedais> "This mist's really thick." Demedais mutters as they ascend. "Proceed with caution."
[22:56] <Kotono> Thus the party begins to climb up! They climb and climb and climb and climb and climb! 5 minutes of this, the floor long since lost in the hazy mists. Now you see something above - the stairs connect to a series of platforms above, floating stone and glass walkways.
06[22:57] * Alicia doggedly keeps on going till she gets to the platforms, then looks for further stairs. Might as well keep going till they reach the top.
06[22:58] * Demedais follows Alicia's lead, uneasily eyeing the floating walkways. "Unsupported walkways, my eternal nemesis."
[22:59] <Alicia> "I can cast feather fall, but we're probably high up enough that it'd wear off long before you touched the ground," Alicia cautions.
[23:00] <Kotono> The party comes out! There is a 3x3 grid of stone platforms here, nine in total. They form a perfect square, with the lower lefthand one being where you are and the upper right-hand one having stairs continuing up. They are connected on straight lines with glass walkways. Each stone platform, besides the two with stairs attached, has a grandfather style clock sitting on it.
[23:01] <Demedais> "I have my ring." Demedais notes, swapping that on with a slight grin before looking at the clocks directly. "Is this... an actual puzzle?"
06[23:02] * Alicia starts walking to the platform on the left so she can investigate the clock there.
[23:03] <Kotono> OOC: You started on the lower lefthand, Alicia. There wouldn't be another platform there. Do you guys want a quick map for this?
[23:04] <Demedais> OOC: I think I've got it, but.
[23:04] <Alicia> OOC: well, left would be 'forward' then. From A1 to A2, basically. Going clockwise.
06[23:04] * Demedais looks at the clock Alicia
[23:04] <Demedais> 's walking to, in an attempt to read it before she steps on.
[23:08] <Kotono> You walk over the glass walkway without incident. The party reaches the platform, the clcok here saying it's 4 o'clock. It tic-tocks softly, steadily.
06[23:09] * Demedais glances to the two adjacent clocks.
[23:09] <Kotono> The one ahead of you is at 7 o'clock. The one to the right is at 5 o'clock.
[23:10] <Demedais> "Guessing we go right." Demedais notes.
[23:10] <Alicia> "As good a guess as any," Alicia allows, heading onto said walkway.
01[23:10] <Seira> "I'm not convinced this is an actual riddle, so we might as well," Seira agrees.
06[23:11] * Demedais nods and follows Alicia.
[23:12] <Kotono> The party advances to the center platform! The clock here reads 5 o'clock. Nothing happens on the walk to there.
06[23:12] * Demedais checks the three surrounding ones again.
01[23:13] <Seira> "Up and then right again?" Seira suggests.
[23:13] <Kotono> The one going ahead is 8 o'clock. The one going back down is 2 o'clock. The one continuing to the right is 6 o'clock.
[23:14] <Demedais> "Following the pattern, right again." Demedais says.
[23:14] <Alicia> "Suits me," Alicia agrees with Seira, since going to six puts them far away from seven, so just incrementing the numbers won't help.
[23:15] <Kotono> The party advances to 6 o'clock! Upwards is the stairway going up, downwards is a clock set to 3 o'clock.
06[23:15] * Alicia continues on to the stairs and heads up! Hopefully.
[23:15] <Demedais> "Let's go ahead?" Demedais shrugs, advancing with Alicia.
[23:16] <Alicia> "Maybe it would've been an obstacle if we didn't have these bracelets?" Marie suggests, tapping hers as she floats alongside Alicia.
[23:16] <Kotono> The party advances to the stairs without incident! Thes tairs ahead await.
[23:16] <Demedais> "Possibly, yeah." Demedais nods, looking up the stairs.
06[23:16] * Alicia heads up the stairs.
01[23:16] <Seira> "I do wonder if they are an actual deterrent or just another trap," Seira muses. "I guess it won't hurt to trust a bit."
[23:16] <Kotono> "Maybe so, or we're really lucky," Pollyanna follows along with Alicia. "Either way, I'm thankful."
[23:20] <Kotono> The party starts to ascend higher! As they do, the mists in the center of the tower begin to swirl. As they do, "Two thousand years ago, the fruit of the folly of the Gods nearly rent apart Creation," The voice of the Magus of Time speaks. "The world lies in a shattered state because of unchecked arrogance and foolhardy indulgence."
[23:21] <Demedais> "Huh." Demedais says quietly to himself, eyeing the mists.
06[23:22] * Alicia doesn't mind the history lesson, simply listening in as she marches up the stairs, half an eye on the swirling mists.
01[23:22] <Seira> "Is it really so shattered?" Seira voices.
[23:23] <Alicia> "Aren't you the one with the big plan for fixing those wastes?" Marie asks Seira. "Sounds like they're pretty shattered."
[23:23] <Demedais> "Esthan exists." Demedais comments.
[23:23] <Kotono> In it, an image forms. An image of a shoreline, the sea lapping against it. It is nighttime, the stars in the sky sparkling with magnificent beauty. Yet one of them grows bright, brighter and bigger. "Who but fools would allow the Fairest Star to pass into mortal hands? Who would let a mortal tinker with the very stuff of Creation?"
01[23:24] <Seira> "Not irreparably so!" Seira protests to Marie.
[23:24] <Demedais> "What is the Fairest Star? How was it made?" Demedais asks as he advances.
[23:24] <Kotono> "Seira, maybe we should be paying attention to this," Pollyanna whispers, "Trick or not, this does sound important."
[23:24] <Alicia> "Well sure," Marie agrees. "But shattered doesn't imply irreparably. I droped a plate once and it shattered into lots of pieces, then Alicia fixed it with magic so it was good as new!"
06[23:25] * Seira snorts, but nods at Pollyanna. "Don't worry, I am. I can just carry on a conversation in the meantime, so it's all good."
[23:28] <Kotono> In the sky, the star becomes bigger and brighter, rapidly blotting out everything as it plummets down to the ground! "When you look into the night skies, the stars are not meaningless dots of light. The stars are Creations, far, far, far away."
[23:29] <Demedais> "Huh."
[23:29] <Kotono> "It's like what we saw in the museum?" Amaryl speaks up here.
[23:30] <Alicia> "You mean alternate prime material planes?" Alicia asks curiously, recalling her conversation with G'renna on the subject. One of the few memories involving the succubus that doesn't overly trouble her.
[23:31] <Kotono> "Creation is the domain of the Gods. Yet, over time, the Gods had grown indulgent to mortals. Partly as result of the endless divine wards, partly as giving their worshippers too much...partly out of simple blindness. Things beyond mortality became within the reach of mortals. Magic beyond the nine mortal circles, immortality, the capacity to become far more than one was born as." (More)
[23:32] <Kotono> *wars
[23:34] <Kotono> "Yes, you are correct." The image shatters apart as this great, bright star impacts! The jolting shock sends an earthquake throughout the tower! "When a part of Creation itself, unshaped by divine hand, fell to another Creation, the Gods allowed it to be touched by mortal hands."
01[23:34] <Seira> "There is something within me that cries out at the injustice of being lectured about the mortals's foolishness from one of the foolish mortals who were actually responsible for all this," Seira mutters in distaste.
[23:34] <Alicia> "You've never tried to convince someone to learn from your mistakes?" Marie asks innocently.
01[23:35] <Seira> "My mistakes are usually so horrible no amount of convincing is necessary to learn from them."
[23:35] <Kotono> "Yes, my mistakes..." The mists fade apart, back into a thick, vision cloying mess. "Come closer, continue to climb closer to me."
06[23:36] * Demedais blinks. "Eh." A slight shrug.
[23:36] <Alicia> "It sounds more like he's blaming the Gods for letting things come to a head," Alicia muses as she continues to ascend while watching the show.
01[23:37] <Seira> "Yeah, but it has the whole 'oh you foolish immature kids' ring to it," Seira responds, following Alicia. "Torm's a god and he went nuts, right? I think there's plenty of failure upstairs without even starting on us."
[23:37] <Kotono> "I think that's the point," Pollyanna points out, "All he just said was saying that the Gods made a mistake and are flawed."
[23:38] <Alicia> Marie nods. "No one came out of that war with anything to be proud of," the eladrin affirms sadly.
01[23:38] <Seira> "How about Talinn and his side?"
06[23:39] * Demedais shrugs again. "I'll refrain judgment 'til I've heard the entire thing."
[23:42] <Kotono> As you continue to climb, higher and higher and higher, "The one who touched the Fairest Star was Daa-vid. He took it with him, spending time studying it. For in his hands he had something that transcended mortality. For with Creation, one can make and remake. Yet...with absolute power, corruption follows. Daa-vid, in time, became the God King Daa-vid. Not a mortal anymore, but recreated into a divine being of immense power." This time the
[23:42] <Kotono> Not a mortal anymore, but recreated into a divine being of immense power." This time the mist swirls again, "It is Ao's, the Overgod, law that any beings that wish to assume divinity must be approved by him. This is one of the sacred duties of the divine, to ensure that this mandate is never violated."
01[23:43] <Seira> "This actually brings up an important question!" Seira exclaims. "Is the power of the star inherently corrupting like that, or is it just the regular lure of power leading to a fall from grace deal?"
[23:44] <Demedais> "Just amplified to an insane extent, I'd presume." Demedais muses.
06[23:44] * Seira shrugs. "If it's just that, we'll be fine with it."
[23:44] <Alicia> Overgod... surely a being with such power could have stopped Daa-vid before he achieved his divinity if he wasn't up to standards? For all she knows everything went according to some secretive plan known only to Ao. "Do we even know that Daa-vid struck first?" Alicia volunteers a disturbing possibility, her voice quiet.
01[23:46] <Seira> "He had 'rape fortresses' numbering in the dozens and turned a fellow gnome into an insane artifact. I'm pretty sure he was a very bad person."
[23:46] <Kotono> "That is a wise question, but it is not time for the answer to that. Not yet." In the mists, you can see a blasted wasteland. An endless field of slain angels, obliteration on a cosmic scale. "As arrogant as the Gods were...you are as wise as they should have been, Alicia. All too late they realised their heresy. For was not Daa-vid correcT? He was divine. It was his right and nature to seek worship now. Even with a heart of evil, he would
[23:46] <Kotono> Even with a heart of evil, he would be no worse than Shar or Cyric or a dozen others."
06[23:48] * Demedais considers this. "So... No offense, Seira, but this entire story sounds like a metaphorical ton of dragons colliding in air."
01[23:48] <Seira> "It's okay. It's actually a funny image. I bet there's a spell for that!"
[23:49] <Alicia> "I know that, Seira, but... if a different approach had been taken?" Alicia sounds uncertain. "A cornered animal will fight... maybe his foul nature was spurred by the hatred he received from all corners of creation? As far as we know, all of the horrible things he did all came during the war, didn't they?"
[23:49] <Kotono> "As the war began...it was not Ao who came from Beyond to bring his wayward Gods to task. The Gods were summoned to the place of meeting by another. He...or it, called itself the Arbiter. In that meeting, it laid down divine law and order, commanding all Gods."
06[23:49] * Demedais blinks at this.
01[23:49] <Seira> "Just think about it from another angle, then, Alicia," Seira suggests. "To say that because one Shar exists a second must be allowed to also exist is a logical fallacy."
[23:50] <Demedais> roll 1d20+14 Arbiter? Angelghostdude mentioned this, too.
06[23:50] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+14 Arbiter? Angelghostdude mentioned this, too. and gets 18." [1d20=4]
06[23:50] * Seira frowns. "I'd kill the first one if I got the chance, and it's not hypocritical in the least to prevent evil assholes from fully reaching godhood."
[23:51] <Demedais> "Arbiter? Who is that? I've heard of it, but not much else."
01[23:51] <Seira> roll 1d20+11 what Deme said
06[23:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 what Deme said and gets 13." [1d20=2]
06[23:52] * Alicia shakes her head. "That's not what I meant... he didn't have to be evil." It sounds heretical, as Mystra is among the deities she's questioning, but even so... "I just think if they were going to stop him, why did they wait until he'd achieved such power?"
[23:52] <Kotono> "The Gods were to be punished. They would be forced to withdraw and distance themselves, while a mortal would be the one to wound the God-King. They would work together, to build a suitable prison, arena and court for Daa-vid. For he said that as they had neglected mortalkind with this fallacy, this matter shall be ended and judged by mortalkind, not the divine."
01[23:53] <Seira> "I'm pretty sure the fortresses, at least, predate Daa-vid's battle with the gods," Seira says slowly. "But if you would like to know for certain, I will research this matter further."
[23:54] <Alicia> "It doesn't matter," Alicia replies. "What Daa-vid is now matters far more than what he could have been, after all."
[23:54] <Kotono> "Daa-vid...was evil. Of that there was no doubt. The creature you call Lagann, ou saw his torment and fate at the hands of Daa-vid. He consigned with the devilkind freely. His heart was black, of that there is no doubt. But now, listen. For the tale reaches it's most important part."
06[23:54] * Demedais listens, saving questions for the end and or when they meet face to face.
06[23:54] * Seira is willing to listen to the story's climax before asking more.
[23:57] <Kotono> "Talinn was the greatest mortal hero on this world. He was chosen by the Arbiter, given a weapon to wound the God-King. He did so, surviving only by dint of will. Thus, wounded and assailed, the God-King was imprisoned. The true battle against Daa-vid comes when mortals meet him once more. There the the delayed judgment against the Gods will be wrought."
01[23:58] <Seira> "Didn't he forge the weapon?" Seira can't help but ask.
[23:58] <Alicia> "Given a weapon? He didn't craft it himself?" Alicia asks, this information conflicting with her earlier understanding.
[23:58] <Kotono> "He did. He was given it in the sense that the knowledge came to him through the movements of the Arbiter in the background."
01[23:59] <Seira> "Aarondaq, wasn't it?" Seira presses on. "Can you tell us where it rests now?"
[23:59] <Demedais> "I see. Please continu-" Demedais then shrugs.
Session Time: Sat Apr 04 00:00:00 2009
[00:01] <Kotono> "I can in due time. You have felt it's aura of death once before." There is a moment there, snowy, high mountains seen. "The seal around Arondaaq underestimated the destructive power of the blade...or was it the will of the Arbiter? I know not, but it's wards have begun to weaken. If not taken or re-sealed, waves of death will travel west into Pallanth, and eventually west ntil there is no more west to go. The silver dragon you fought was a
[00:01] <Kotono> and eventually west ntil there is no more west to go. The silver dragon you fought was an innocent victim of Arondaaq's energies."
06[00:02] * Alicia shivers. That's the weapon she has to wield? Such a horrific thing should not be...
[00:02] <Demedais> "Oh. That's what was causing that? Charming." Demedais grimaces.
01[00:03] <Seira> "Hmph. It's just like with the shard, isn't it? It all depends on if the wielder is strong enough to resist the lure of power."
[00:03] <Kotono> "You shiver...you are wise again. Talinn did not believe Arondaaq would be needed again. He wished for it to be sealed for all time, for whomever wields it burns away their life with every swing. IT will be another choice you will have to make in the coming times. For you have chosen the hard reality over your own paradises."
[00:04] <Demedais> "Talinn was an optimist. Granted, I can't say I don't understand. That place was just... yeah." Demedais muses on this.
[00:04] <Alicia> "If it were me I would have destroyed it," Alicia notes quietly.
01[00:04] <Seira> "Lagann stabbed me in the face when we just met. Leave befriending the sword to me!"
[00:05] <Kotono> "Arondaaq can yet be resealed. Gods willing, for all time. But should you take it, you will have the power to kill the divine...for what little time you live after it. Make no mistake, nothing can prevent your death once you have taken Arondaaq. To bear it is to throw away your live, sacrifice it for momentary power."
06[00:06] * Demedais glances to Seira, before thinking. "How many more seals must be broken before it returns to this world?"
[00:09] <Kotono> "The process has begun. But be wary...one of your enemies has an inkling of where it is. Should he or his master hold Arondaaq, a catastrophe will rise up from the Pit unlike any other. Yet his threads of time seldom go to it without interference, for he does not fully appreciate how close he is to finding it."
[00:10] <Demedais> "Yeah, that's what I was worried about." Demedais comments.
01[00:10] <Seira> "Esthan, right? So who's his real master?"
06[00:11] * Seira blinks. "For that matter, is he even really Esthan?"
[00:12] <Kotono> "That I cannot tell you. For those with divinity can resist even my view of Time. It's master is an abomination who has a spark of the immortal within it's heart. He shields those who work for him...Esthan's threads are shadowy the further away from the present I look."
06[00:12] * Demedais pauses at this. "Oh. That's just lovely."
01[00:13] <Seira> "Asmodeus or a nasty god, then?"
[00:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 planes does that description mean anything to me?
06[00:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 planes does that description mean anything to me? and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[00:14] <Alicia> "Could be an arch-duke or one of the Lords of the Nine," Alicia fills in. "Something far beyond Agares, that's for sure."
01[00:15] <Seira> "Since you're being so helpful and all, and you can see some of Esthan's moves," Seira says, "can you tell us more about them? Just what the hell is he after? Why do we matter? Why interfere in Pallanth so much?"
[00:16] <Alicia> "He wants Daa-vid's power to support his revolution against Asmodeus, surely," Alicia posits her theory. "And we're in the best position to take it."
[00:16] <Kotono> "I know scant little about him. While I can see past much of his protections, the aegis of his master prevents some understandings. But...enough of Esthan for now. Come. You are almost to me." Indeed, you can faintly see a ceiling and a hole that the stairs go into above.
[00:16] <Demedais> "We matter because we're the closest to getting what he wants, and he's interfering in Pallanth because I suspect he thinks Arondaaq's around there." Demedais guesses. "Right?"
06[00:17] * Alicia takes a deep breath and picks up the pace. "This is where we prove our worth in trial by combat?" she asks.
[00:17] <Kotono> There is no reply to either of those.
[00:17] <Alicia> Well, only one thing for it... Keep going!
01[00:18] <Seira> "It sounds a bit too convenient," Seira mutters. "But I suppose it's not something I need answered right this instant."
[00:18] <Demedais> "Trial by cup of tea would be nice." Demedais shrugs, still advancing.
06[00:18] * Seira does decide to cast Shield in case Alicia has it right.
[00:21] <Kotono> The party walks up! Here there is no mist! There is a stair on the far wall continuing up and up and up and up and up. Here sits a single throne, a stone lined pool of water besides it. Here sits an ancient, tired creature. It's short like a dwarf, it's beard white and reaching down to the floor. His face is wrinkled and wrinkled twice over, skin nearly covering his eyes. He is stooped, using a simple wooden cane to lean against. He wears m
[00:21] <Kotono> e is stooped, using a simple wooden cane to lean against. He wears metal armor, a sleek black color. "It's been two thousand years...I've spent it watching so damned many threads. Hundreds of possibilities to who would be the ones to reach here! Who would be the ones with the might, wisdom, and suicidal determination to reach this lofty place?"
01[00:22] <Seira> "Disappointed?"
[00:23] <Demedais> "I'd offer tea as consolation except I don't have any on me. Nor ale, for that matter."
[00:23] <Kotono> "No." Looking up at Seira, "No...I'm not. Not anymore. You threw away paradise to reach here. You're the biggest monsters mortalkind could produce. You'll kill, subvert, plunder...you'll do anything to reach your goals."
06[00:24] * Demedais glances to Pollyanna.
01[00:25] <Seira> "Thanks? You know all the right words to say. Are the next ones out of your mouth going to be those that tell us how to safely free the inhabitants of this forest?"
[00:25] <Kotono> "So? It's my duty. If you don't approve, take it up with Helm," she says.
[00:25] <Alicia> Is she a monster? Giving up a chance to return to her old life, with her lost family? Maybe she is... Alicia is hardly her usual combative self as she stands partly to the side of the group, half-dreading the impending battle.
[00:25] <Kotono> *Pollyanna says.
[00:25] <Kotono> Amaryl stays close to Seira, "You're wrong...Seira's not a monster. I know her."
[00:25] <Demedais> "So I take it making a funny face isn't appropriate at this time." Demedais shrugs.
[00:26] <Kotono> The gnome's eyes fix onto Alicia now, stopping. Everything -stops-. Demedais stops. Seira stops. Marie stops. Everything stops but her and the gnome. "But you," he goes on, "You still have doubts."
06[00:26] * Seira flashes Amaryl a smile.
[00:30] <Alicia> Put on the spot, unable to dodge the question as she had before... "Yes," Alicia admits softly. "I..." she swallows and shakes her head, "No, what you offer, it's a retreat from reality. I can't accept that. But unsealing ancient horrors, returning the world to its old state... even now I see vile Gods and terrible fiends treating the world as their playground, and we're barely half-done..."
[00:34] <Kotono> "It's your destiny as long as you follow this path. The Gods; no, the Arbiter, will have you face worse and worse horrors, like a blade put into the furnace to temper it. Before your time is done, you may cross blades with some of the worst abominations in all the realities." Extending one hand out, "That is your fate now. In the other hand," Holding his other hand out, "Is motherhood. Love. Life. If you are willing to continue on your path
[00:34] <Kotono> "Is motherhood. Love. Life. If you are willing to continue on your path, so be it...but tell me one thing. Tell me that you're willing to let your husband and child die again. For this time, their blood is on your hands. You hold their fate in your hands. This is another choice you must make: Your family, or the darkest horrors there are. Love...or a likely death and eternal torment at the hands of things best never comtemplated. Only the s
[00:34] <Kotono> Love...or a likely death and eternal torment at the hands of things best never comtemplated. Only the screams of your loyal friends will provide you any succor for eternity. No wonder the Abyss craved you. Damnation in it's depths would be merciful compared to the path you walk now!"
[00:35] <Kotono> "It's your choice," he finishes again. "Think on it well."
06[00:39] * Alicia clenches her fists, her brow starting to sweat. "Damn you... I don't care what horrors I have to face!" her voice starts of weak but turns into a shrill snap. "I'll endure them all, but what's the point if my current path only makes a worse world for everyone else?" she sweeps her arm expansively.
[00:39] <Alicia> Taking a deep breath, she presses on, "Hans and Felix are dead, and have been for a long time. They're not coming back, but their souls rest peacefully where they will. I won't have you put this false choice before me!" With a half-step towards the Magus, "The future concerns me!"
[00:39] <Alicia> "Not any self-indulgent 'what if' from a possible past, but the very real consequences of what I do in the here and now!"
[00:41] <Kotono> "Then you've made your choice. It is not your first and it will not be your last. But know this and know it forever: The power I have could have brought them back. Understand the choice you have made Alicia. When you go home after this, look at your home. Is an empty bed and cradle and full graves worth a shell of your sister and a devil, no matter how much they love you and are grateful to you? Long after this is a memory, ask yourself tha
[00:41] <Kotono> love you and are grateful to you? Long after this is a memory, ask yourself that." (More)
[00:43] <Kotono> "Now then..." Time resumes. To the others, nothing has happeneda ta ll, in between breaths of being. "You've all made your choices." He says. "What comes next is two fold. We will battle; your choice has made this inevitable. For my second betrayal, I was promised peace in eternity unlike my kin. I desire it, I grow weary of this world. After the battle, in an infinite moment before I die, I will tell you everything you wish to know."
[00:43] <Kotono> I will tell you everything you wish to know."
06[00:44] * Seira doesn't need more incentive to start casting!
[00:44] <Kotono> OOC: Let'sroll initiative here?
06[00:44] * Demedais shrugs, quickly throwing up his devotions. "Then... thank you.
[00:44] <Demedais> roll 1d20+!
[00:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 A
06[00:44] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+! and gets Error: Numeric values only." [1d20=13]
06[00:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 A and gets 18." [1d20=13]
[00:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M and gets 13." [1d20=6]
01[00:45] <Seira> roll 1d20+11 nerveskitter
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 nerveskitter and gets 23." [1d20=12]
[00:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Pollly
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Pollly and gets 21." [1d20=14]
[00:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Amaryl
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Amaryl and gets 23." [1d20=17]
[00:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 Magus
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 Magus and gets 25." [1d20=10]
[00:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 Magus
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 Magus and gets 26." [1d20=16]
[00:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Magus
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Magus and gets 8." [1d20=3]
03[00:47] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Amaryl=Seira(23)>Pollyanna(21)>Alicia(18)>Marie(13)>Magus 3(8)'
01[00:47] <Seira> OOC: Deme at 14
03[00:47] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Amaryl=Seira(23)>Pollyanna(21)>Alicia(18)>Demedais(14)>Marie(13)>Magus 3(8)'
[00:47] <Kotono> ---FIXING INITIATIVE---
03[00:48] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Amaryl=Marie(23)>Pollyanna(21)>Alicia(18)>Demedais(14)>Seira(13)>Magus 3(8)'
[00:48] <Kotono> OOC: Magus 2 is up.
[00:50] <Kotono> The Magus of time raises one gnarled hand up! In it, a clock can be seen! It moves painfully slow, a wave of molasses-like waves passing over everyone! OOC: Wiill everyone, after SR For Deme.
[00:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 32." [1d20=12]
[00:50] <Kotono> OOC: Got your SR on the nose, Deme. Will saves.
[00:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 A
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 A and gets 37." [1d20=13]
[00:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 M
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 M and gets 25." [1d20=10]
01[00:51] <Seira> roll 1d20+20
06[00:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 and gets 28." [1d20=8]
[00:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[00:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[00:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20 it doesn't matters ince Amaryl needs a 20. Poor girl.
06[00:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 it doesn't matters ince Amaryl needs a 20. Poor girl. and gets 8." [1d20=8]
[00:52] <Demedais> roll 1d20+18 weee
06[00:52] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+18 weee and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[00:53] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia and Demedais passed. The rest of you are slowed, except that the penalty to attack, AC and reflex saves is -6 instead of -1.
[00:54] <Kotono> The waves of movement leave much of the party barely movinga t all, impossibly going in slow motion! Thereafter, the Magus holds up a hummingbird in his hand! It goes from a baby to a pile of dust in mere moments, the Magus moving much faster now! OOC: Amaryl and Marie are up.
01[00:54] <Seira> "I can reverse it!" Seira exclaims, recognizing the magical effect even as it takes hold of her. "If you just wait a moment!"
[00:55] <Alicia> Marie frowns a bit, for once her empathic link serving as a hindrance rather than a boon, as Alicia's disturbed thoughts distract her rather than provide a calming centre. For now she tries to focus on the insanely fast (from her perspective) gnome, wanting to hit him with a magic missile when next he casts.
[00:55] <Alicia> OOC: readied action to zap him
[00:56] <Kotono> Amaryl moves in slow motion, managing to fire off a pair of arrows despite moving at the speed of mud!
[00:56] <Kotono> OOC: I read good. Amaryl'll hold instead. Polly will as well since she's slowed down blues. Alicia?
[00:57] <Alicia> OOC: Seira can get her word in
[00:57] <Kotono> OOC: Deme?
[00:58] <Demedais> OOC: Deme will also stall, sure.
06[00:58] * Seira doesn't waste any time, hands moving sluggishly to form arcane seals that call for the magic of Haste upon herself and her allies!
[00:58] <Kotono> OOC: Seira?
[00:58] <Kotono> The magic echos out, speed returned to the party! OOC: Any of you going now, or waiting on the Magus 3 to act?
[00:59] <Alicia> OOC: I go
[00:59] <Demedais> OOC: Deme will go after Alicia
03[00:59] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Amaryl=Marie(23)>Pollyanna(21)>Demedais(14)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Magus 3(8)'
[00:59] <Kotono> OOC: Go Alicia.
06[01:00] * Alicia steps a bit away from the group, moving fifty feet around to the side at a quickened pace before she focuses on the magus, weaving her own magic and sending a crackling ray of dark-red energy lancing out at him!
[01:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 ranged touch
06[01:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 ranged touch and gets 40." [1d20=20]
[01:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 ranged touch crit check
06[01:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 ranged touch crit check and gets 24." [1d20=4]
[01:00] <Kotono> OOC: SR?
[01:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 boo
06[01:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 boo and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[01:02] <Kotono> Alicia fires forth a bolt of energy! The enervation hits the gnome, but fizzles away into nothing! OOC: Are you also going to go, Deme? Amaryl and Polly are going to fire.
03[01:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Amaryl=Marie(23)>Pollyanna(21)>Demedais(14)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Magus 3(8)'
[01:02] <Demedais> OOC: Yes.
03[01:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Marie(23)>Demedais(14)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Magus 3(8)'
03[01:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Marie(23)>Demedais(14)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Demedais>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Magus 3(8)'
03[01:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Marie(23)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Demedais>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Magus 3(8)'
06[01:04] * Demedais grimaces and rushes at the magus yet to act, sending his blade sweeping upward once he's close with a prayer to Helm!
[01:04] <Demedais> roll 1d20+28 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +2 Charge)
06[01:04] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+28 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +2 Charge) and gets 37." [1d20=9]
[01:04] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[01:05] <Demedais> roll 2d8+11 mainly using this hit to get DR bypassing, since it seems like he's tricked out
06[01:05] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 2d8+11 mainly using this hit to get DR bypassing, since it seems like he's tricked out and gets 25." [2d8=8, 6]
[01:06] <Kotono> The blade has trouble even hitting the gnome, striking him hard but barely leaving a mark at all! A moment later, the archers come firing!
[01:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 (+2 haste)
[01:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 (+2 haste)
06[01:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 (+2 haste) and gets 28." [1d20=15]
06[01:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 (+2 haste) and gets 31." [1d20=18]
[01:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[01:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[01:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 10." [1d20=2]
06[01:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 16." [1d20=8]
[01:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (+2 haste, +2 helmet)
06[01:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (+2 haste, +2 helmet) and gets 35." [1d20=14]
[01:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (+2 haste, +2 helmet last use))
06[01:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (+2 haste, +2 helmet last use)) and gets 37." [1d20=16]
[01:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 haste attack, remind me to roll Amaryl's after this, I forgot it.
06[01:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 haste attack, remind me to roll Amaryl's after this, I forgot it. and gets 37." [1d20=18]
[01:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[01:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 32." [1d20=18]
[01:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
06[01:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 14." [1d20=5]
[01:08] <Kotono> roll 4d8+4d6+40
06[01:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+4d6+40 and gets 73." [4d8=3, 4, 1, 7][4d6=5, 4, 4, 5]
[01:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again
06[01:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again and gets 31." [1d20=18]
[01:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again
06[01:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[01:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again crit?
06[01:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again crit? and gets 15." [1d20=2]
[01:08] <Kotono> roll 1d8
06[01:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 and gets 4." [1d8=4]
[01:09] <Kotono> Amaryl and Pollyanna send a pincusion the way of the gnome! A few hit, few of them doing any serious damage to him at all! OOC: Magus is up. Did you want to MM him now, MArie?
[01:10] <Alicia> OOC: if he's casting, sure!
[01:10] <Kotono> OOC: Roll your SR and we'll resolve it first?
[01:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[01:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 24." [1d20=8]
[01:10] <Kotono> OOC: DAmage.
[01:10] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
06[01:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 20." [5d4=2, 4, 2, 3, 4]
[01:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 concentration check
06[01:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 concentration check and gets 26." [1d20=1]
[01:11] <Kotono> The magic missiles fire! They hit the gnome, momentarily disrupting his concentration and one of his spells! OOC: Magus 2 is up.
[01:11] <Kotono> --FIXING INITIATIVE--
03[01:12] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Marie(23)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Magus 3>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Demedais(8)'
[01:14] <Kotono> The Magus reaches out, touching Demedais in retort!
[01:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 touch AC, Deme?
06[01:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 touch AC, Deme? and gets 28." [1d20=9]
[01:14] <Demedais> OOC: 15~
[01:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 SR
06[01:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 SR and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[01:15] <Kotono> The touch on Demedais is like a wilting death, yet it crumbles before him! Thereafter, the Magus withdraws thirty feet back, behind the throne! OOC: Magus 1 is up.
[01:17] <Kotono> Thereafter, he holds up his hand! Green mists flow out, engulfing the archers, Seira and Alicia! The mists burns horribily, acidic and toxic! Further, it's dense and they can't see anything in it at all!
[01:17] <Kotono> roll 2d6 all of you but Deme take this.
06[01:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 all of you but Deme take this. and gets 7." [2d6=2, 5]
[01:17] <Alicia> OOC: I am 50 feet away from those guys, if it matters
[01:17] <Kotono> OOC: Then you're off the hook, Alicia.
[01:17] <Kotono> OOC: I forgot you moved, my bad.
[01:18] <Alicia> OOC: and Marie's incorporeal right now
[01:18] <Kotono> OOC: She's okay then.
[01:19] <Kotono> After that mist comes forth, hiding and counfounding, the magus moves another sixty feet back, near the upward stairway! OOC: MArie?
[01:19] <Alicia> Marie flies up out of the fog which doesn't hurt but does block her view, settling in position up in the air above and ready to zap the magus when he tries casting again.
[01:20] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, Seira. Bear in mind that your movement is also hamstrung in it and you can't see. Marie was off the hook since she was incorpreal.
01[01:21] <Seira> "Stay strong and remember the ring," Seira whispers to Amaryl, disappearing from sight in the noxious cloud even as she calls upon Waukeen's divine power and silently tries to make her way out of the area. When in doubt, always go up!
01[01:21] <Seira> OOC: I figure I can make 5+5 feet up like this?
[01:21] <Kotono> OOC: You can't 5ft step in a solid fog.
[01:22] <Kotono> OOC: Oh wait, devotion? Dur.
01[01:22] <Seira> OOC: No, but a move ends up in traveling 5ft, right? And I'm using Travel devotion to move again, which is 5ft more.
[01:22] <Kotono> OOC: Yeah, a double move of ten is fine.
[01:22] <Kotono> Seira moves up, still engulfed in burning fog, but closer to freedom! OOC: Alicia.
06[01:24] * Alicia doesn't like the look of those stairs and doesn't really want to be stuck chasing the Magus all over the tower, so she moves sixty feet closer and then throws up an invisible wall behind the gnome to block his retreat in that direction!
[01:24] <Alicia> OOC: wall of force to block the stairs
[01:31] <Kotono> A wall of force springs into effect, blocking off the stairs! The Magus turns now...OOC: Marie?
03[01:32] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)(Fog damage here)>Marie(23)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Magus 3>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Demedais(8)'
[01:32] <Alicia> Marie fires a salvo of magic missiles once more to interrupt the Magus's spell!
[01:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[01:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 33." [1d20=17]
[01:32] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
06[01:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 17." [5d4=1, 4, 3, 1, 3]
[01:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 DC 37
06[01:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 DC 37 and gets 41." [1d20=16]
[01:33] <Kotono> The Magus is stricken, but withstands the blow! A moment later, a shimmering field of force appears in front of him! OOC: Amaryl's up.
[01:34] <Kotono> Crying out, Amaryl stumbles forward in the acid fog! Pollyanna does the same, struggling! OOC: Shec an't do much but stumble closer to being out. Ditto with Polly. Deme.
[01:35] <Kotono> Amaryl also has the moment to activate the magic in the ring of spell storing.
06[01:37] * Demedais approaches 50 feet to try and reach the base of the stairs or as close as possible, muttering two prayers as he does - one for protection, one for power! OOC: Protection Devotion and Divine Power up.
[01:38] <Kotono> The stairs are still 40 feet away and blocked off with a wall of force, but Deme's closer and empowered now! OOC: Magus 2 is up.
[01:38] <Kotono> --FIXING INITIATIVE--
03[01:39] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)(Fog damage here)>Marie(23)>Seira(13)>Amaryl>Magus 3>Alicial>Pollyanna>Demedais(8)'
[01:41] <Kotono> Pointing his finger out, "Be wary of this one in the future!" he says, a black ray of enervation coming out at Alicia! But as it arches at her, the ray splits into two!
[01:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[01:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 29." [1d20=10]
[01:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[01:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 35." [1d20=16]
[01:42] <Kotono> OOC: Touch AC?
[01:42] <Alicia> OOC: 15. Spellfire, though.
[01:43] <Kotono> OOC: Moment, I need to read the text or something.
[01:45] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, works as normal, +6 spellfire.
[01:47] <Kotono> Alicia quickly absorbs the spell, stopping it! But the Magus works again a moment later, as this time his hand points out! A strange purple ray comes from his hand, right at Alicia!
[01:47] <Kotono> OOC - Gah, premature.
[01:48] <Kotono> Alicia quickly absorbs the spell, stopping it! But the Magus works again a moment later, as this time his hand points out! A strange purple ray comes from his hand, right at Alicia! As it fluxuates in the air, it splits apart into two, the second arching off to go at Demedais!
[01:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 Deme SR
06[01:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 Deme SR and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[01:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 to hit Alicia
06[01:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 to hit Alicia and gets 24." [1d20=5]
[01:48] <Kotono> Alicia glows a strange, ominous purple-red color!
[01:49] <Kotono> roll 2d6 acid damage for the ones in teh fog.
06[01:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 acid damage for the ones in teh fog. and gets 6." [2d6=3, 3]
[01:49] <Kotono> OOC: Marie.
[01:49] <Alicia> Marie maintains her readiness to shoot the magus on his next spell!
[01:49] <Kotono> OOC: Seira?
06[01:50] * Seira proceeds in her quest of leaving the fog area, calling upon the spell of Draconic Might along the way.
[01:51] <Kotono> SEira goes twenty feet, reaching the end of the fog! She can see again! OOC: Amaryl.
[01:51] <Kotono> Amaryl does the same, getting out of the fog unseen! OOC: Magus 3.
[01:52] <Kotono> OOC: Marie?
[01:52] <Alicia> Marie shoots!
[01:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[01:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 30." [1d20=14]
[01:52] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
06[01:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 19." [5d4=2, 4, 1, 4, 3]
[01:52] <Kotono> This time her magic hits the barrier in front of the Magus, shattering into oblivion! The Magus casts unimpeded, gesturing at Alicia! A fireball bursts around her, shaking the ground with it's impactful fury! OOC: Ref, Alicia.
[01:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[01:53] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 32." [1d20=16]
[01:53] <Kotono> roll 10d6
06[01:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 and gets 26." [10d6=6, 1, 2, 4, 2, 5, 1, 3, 1, 1]
[01:53] <Kotono> roll 26*1.5
06[01:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 26*1.5 and gets 39."
[01:53] <Kotono> OOC: 39 base fire damage you need to make a will save.
[01:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
06[01:53] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 34." [1d20=10]
[01:54] <Kotono> Alicia is hit by the fireball, dodging but finding the flames to burn far hotter than usual, scorching her like a dry tinder! OOC: Alicia.
06[01:55] * Alicia quickly turns herself invisible then moves seventy feet to switch herself onto the opposite side of the platform, not moving any closer to the magus. Even as she's burnt and assailed, it feels oddly like going through the motions... but still she fights.
[01:56] <Kotono> Pollyanna also escapes the fog, coughing and shuddering! OOC: Deme-Deme.
06[01:58] * Demedais seems to be wearing an iron mask as he charges the gnome again, lashing out with a brutal cut upward across his face again!
[01:59] <Demedais> roll 1d20+29 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +2 Charge +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -4 PA)
06[01:59] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+29 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +2 Charge +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -4 PA) and gets 30." [1d20=1]
[02:00] <Kotono> Demedais charges with all he has, striking out at the gnome! Yet his blade betrays him, missing by a milimeter! OOC: Magus 2 is up.
[02:00] <Kotono> --FIXING INITIATIVE--
03[02:00] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)(Fog damage here)>Marie(23)>Demedais>Amaryl>Magus 3>Alicial>Pollyanna>Seira'
[02:01] <Kotono> The Magus goes to Demedais and reaches out to touch him! Fast and hard!
[02:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[02:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 23." [1d20=4]
[02:02] <Kotono> roll 6*1.5
06[02:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6*1.5 and gets 9."
[02:02] <Kotono> OOC: 9 damage to int, wis and charisma, Deme.
[02:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 SR
06[02:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 SR and gets 32." [1d20=12]
[02:02] <Kotono> OOC: Got it on the nose. Bummer.
[02:03] <Kotono> A moment later, the Magus is casting again! "Now, listen!" he says!
[02:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[02:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 22." [1d20=2]
[02:03] <Kotono> But this spell fizzles on Demedais's resistance entirely! OOC: MArie?
[02:04] <Alicia> Marie is tapped out... so she puts some faerie fire on the gnome. It might help if he copies Alicia's last move?
[02:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[02:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 35." [1d20=19]
[02:04] <Kotono> Faerie fire surrounds the gnome! OOC: Deme?
06[02:05] * Demedais growls gutturally, seemingly incapable of anything but ravaging his opponent - but ravage he does, blade turning into an instinctual cyclone of slashes!
[02:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+26 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA)
[02:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+26 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA)
06[02:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+26 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA) and gets 36." [1d20=10]
06[02:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+26 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA) and gets 36." [1d20=10]
[02:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+21 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA)
06[02:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+21 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA) and gets 37." [1d20=16]
[02:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+16 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA)
06[02:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+16 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA) and gets 22." [1d20=6]
[02:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+11 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA)
06[02:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+11 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA) and gets 19." [1d20=8]
[02:06] <Kotono> OOC: Three hits.
[02:07] <Demedais> roll 6d6+66
06[02:07] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 6d6+66 and gets 93." [6d6=5, 2, 5, 5, 5, 5]
[02:08] <Kotono> IN all his fury, Demedais thrusts forward! He impales the gnome right in the chest! HE staggers a moment, smiling as he looks down at the blade. Stop. Everything stops again. Everything but all the lliving beings here stops. "It's done. You've made your choice. The Resort waits upstairs."
06[02:09] * Demedais stares ferally at the gnome, trying to withdraw his sword to cut downward again!
[02:10] <Kotono> The sword comes out! There's a gaping hole in the gnomes chest, blood frozen as it starts to run down from the wound! The injury seems frozen in place entirely. OOC: You can attack again if you like, Deme.
06[02:10] * Demedais blinks at the blood. "...Not bleed? Why..."
06[02:12] * Alicia becomes visible once more. She didn't really do anything... she's not sure she even wanted to, given how lacklustre her contribution was compared to the battles that took them here. "How do we free the other guardians from protecting an item that will soon no longer be here?" she asks tiredly.
[02:12] <Kotono> "Time is frozen. We exist between ticks of the clock here." Turning to Alicia, "Tell me why you wish to save them, then."
06[02:12] * Seira doesn't become visible herself, but nevertheless approaches. "Isn't it obvious?" she asks. "It's what we do."
[02:13] <Alicia> "Because they deserve to live their own lives on their own terms, not to be beholden to a task set down centuries ago that no longer holds any meaning," Alicia answers with a bit of fire, this at least being something she feels strongly about in unequivocal terms.
[02:13] <Demedais> "...don't... bleed?" Demedais seems immensely confused at this, missing the rest of the conversation.
[02:14] <Alicia> Marie floats over to Demedais and gives him some pretty lights to look at, albeit staying well away from the reach of his sword.
[02:14] <Kotono> "Hehehehe...I can free them if you care to. They'll appear over Pallanth, fitting in. It's where they're supposed to be, if it wasn't for all of this."
[02:14] <Alicia> "I do care," Alicia responds earnestly.
01[02:14] <Seira> "Please do," Seira agrees. "And hey, you're nice for an evil gnome!"
[02:14] <Demedais> "...light..." Demedais stares, seemingly enraptured.
06[02:17] * Demedais then tries to grab one.
[02:18] <Alicia> Sadly they are intangible.
[02:18] <Kotono> As Demedais sees the pretty lights, the gnome continues. "I can dispel the enchantment on his mind. There will never be another chance for him to have this...and he earned it by right of arms." Meanwhile, Demedais grabs at the ethereal lights! PRetty!
[02:18] <Alicia> "Please do!" Marie bobs agreeably in the air.
06[02:19] * Demedais opens hand, sees nothing in there, twitches and slashes at the light!
[02:19] <Kotono> Demedais moves very fast for a few seconds, then his mind is restored!
06[02:19] * Demedais blinks.
01[02:19] <Seira> "Welcome back!" Seira greets.
[02:19] <Kotono> "Pretty light?" Pollyanna comes up to Demedais, "What the hell?"
03[02:20] * Nao (Mokou@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #evildunes
[02:20] <Demedais> "Thank you." Demedais rubs his head, looking with a mix of sorrow and thanks to the gnome, before looking to Pollyanna. "I'll... explain later."
06[02:20] * Alicia patiently waits for the gnome to go about freeing the guardians like he said he could.
06[02:20] * Demedais then looks back to the gnome. "... may I ask your name?"
[02:21] <Kotono> "They'll vanish back into the real world the moment the timestop ends and I pass," he says.
[02:21] <Kotono> "My name...I erased it from time. Let it be forgotten." The Magus of Time says, "Some secrets must be lost to the ages."
[02:21] <Alicia> That's good enough for her.
01[02:22] <Seira> "Though speaking of names, could you tell me Lagann's? And more about how he used to be? Any other method I've tried got me stabbed, either literally or in my mind."
06[02:22] * Demedais nods slightly. "... thank you. That's... really all I can say here..."
[02:23] <Kotono> "His name was Yandrazrt, master of metal. What remains of him is the shattered leftovers when the God-King punished him."
06[02:23] * Seira nods, even though no one can see her. "Is there a way to help him? Or should I just help him start over?"
[02:25] <Kotono> "Yandrazrt is dead. You call him Lagann now." The gnome laughs, "He made his choice. He made the best one he could, even if it lead to all the pain he's gotten. Tell me, did you find him in the God-King's prison?"
01[02:26] <Seira> "Yeah. Why?" Seira frowns. "And just because he died before doesn't mean he can't regain his memories. And his sanity. Does it?"
[02:28] <Kotono> "It may be possible, but it will require powerful magic. He will need to receive a heal spell boosted to a level beyond that of the nine mortal circles of magic, then resurrected into a prepared body. Even that...it will be a long road for him."
01[02:28] <Seira> "Don't suppose you could help him with the memory part, having control over time and history and all that?"
[02:28] <Alicia> "Wouldn't it be kinder to let him pass on?" Marie wonders. "Or are you the only gnome that's allowed that?"
[02:29] <Kotono> "No. I lack the power to change any of the actions 2,000 years ago or longer. If not..." With a look of tired eyes right to Seira, "Even if not, I cannot affect the divine without consent. His fate was the act of the God-King."
06[02:30] * Seira takes that as her cue to appear. "I'll ask him once we've made more progress, then. It's not like I'll force Lagann to stick around against his will. Okay, so since this is taken care of, and so is the fate of the guardians, you were mentioning the seals on Arondaaq?"
[02:30] <Kotono> "The Gods put him in that ruin. Why, I do not know, but I believe they had mercy on him. To put him in your path, they must accept the possibility."
06[02:31] * Seira nods in agreement.
[19:07] <Kozzz> > "Yandrazrt is dead. You call him Lagann now." The gnome laughs, "He made his choice. He made the best one he could, even if it lead to all the pain he's gotten. Tell me, did you find him in the God-King's prison?"
[19:07] <Kozzz> <Seira> "Yeah. Why?" Seira frowns. "And just because he died before doesn't mean he can't regain his memories. And his sanity. Does it?"
[19:07] <Kozzz> > "It may be possible, but it will require powerful magic. He will need to receive a heal spell boosted to a level beyond that of the nine mortal circles of magic, then resurrected into a prepared body. Even that...it will be a long road for him."
[19:07] <Kozzz> <Seira> "Don't suppose you could help him with the memory part, having control over time and history and all that?"
[19:07] <Kozzz> <Alicia> "Wouldn't it be kinder to let him pass on?" Marie wonders. "Or are you the only gnome that's allowed that?"
[19:08] <Kozzz> > "No. I lack the power to change any of the actions 2,000 years ago or longer. If not..." With a look of tired eyes right to Seira, "Even if not, I cannot affect the divine without consent. His fate was the act of the God-King."
[19:08] <Kozzz> * Seira takes that as her cue to appear. "I'll ask him once we've made more progress, then. It's not like I'll force Lagann to stick around against his will. Okay, so since this is taken care of, and so is the fate of the guardians, you were mentioning the seals on Arondaaq?"
[19:08] <Kozzz> > "The Gods put him in that ruin. Why, I do not know, but I believe they had mercy on him. To put him in your path, they must accept the possibility."
[19:08] <Kozzz> * Seira nods in agreement.
03[19:08] * Kozzz is now known as Kotono
[19:09] <Kotono> "What you do with him is another choice for you to make. It may be a fool's quest to do anything but leave him as he is. It's for you to decide," the gnome says.
06[19:09] * Demedais rubs his head. "What do you know about Ao and the Arbiter, if I may ask?"
[19:12] <Kotono> "The seals around Arondaaq were created by Talinn and other survivors of the war, to ensure that the dread sword would rest. In Talinn's eyes, he wanted it to be forgotten forever. But despite everyone's best efforts, the seals have degraded."
01[19:13] <Seira> "So how do we break them altogether? The last time we were in the area, we didn't notice a way, and believe me, we looked."
[19:15] <Demedais> "And, if needed, do you have any knowledge of how it would be resealed? Assuming we use it and get done using it, I'd rather it be broken or sealed permanently somewhere that's not of worry."
[19:15] <Kotono> "You'd have to go and find the source of the aura, to the east of the dragon's lair. That's where Arondaaq is and where the weakened seals lie. But," Now he looks to Seira, "You want that sword. Let me say it again, it is likely best left to the past. The power it holds will burn you away like a paper in the fire. But it is your choice. To reseal it, go there and study the wards. I believe you have sufficient skills to do the needed work wi
[19:16] <Kotono> I believe you have sufficient skills to do the needed work with time."
[19:16] <Alicia> "Mystra said it was the only thing that could slay Daa-vid..." Alicia interjects softly. She'd be far happier destroying the vile thing, or at least sealing it away for eternity...
01[19:16] <Seira> "I need the sword is a more apt statement," Seira muses. "Alright, study the wards. I can do that! What about Demedais's question about Ao and the Arbiter? I always thought they were one and the same."
[19:17] <Demedais> "I see." Demedais muses. "It might be the only thing currently in existence that can slay him... but remember, Talinn made it - a mortal man. Perhaps we can create a more suitable weapon ourselves..."
01[19:18] <Seira> "If we believe the earlier story about the end of the war, this Arbiter placed the idea into Talinn's mind in the first place." Seira frowns. "Anyway, we certainly can't let Esthan get it, so I intend to get the sword and reseal it later if it is not needed."
[19:19] <Kotono> "Ao is the Overgod. He commands all the Gods and does not concern himself in mortal affairs. The Arbiter seems to have much of the same status, and came forth when the war broke out. I do not understand either, as they are beyond the Gods as much as the Gods are beyond us. I do not know if the Arbiter is Ao, or if they are two seperate beings. It is beyond my ken."
01[19:21] <Seira> "Something occured to me," Seira says. "The gods were supposed to leave our world alone until we started unsealing it, at the very least, right? Then wasn't Shar, well, cheating by actively helping her servants years earlier? Isn't there some mechanism in place to enforce compliance?"
06[19:21] * Demedais waits to hear what the Arbiter is before he tries to reason this through. At this, though, he lapses into thought
[19:22] <Alicia> "How do you know she was helping them until we started breaking the seals?" Alicia asks bitterly. "They were perfectly capable of being sadistic bastards without getting free Nightwalkers handed to them."
01[19:23] <Seira> "Albert discovered the shadow dragon serving her as a kid," Seira says, matching Alicia's bitterness. "In Shar's own temple, conveniently below his home. If that's not helping them or guiding events, I don't know what is."
[19:23] <Alicia> "Is it any different than finding Kondrux?" Alicia replies.
01[19:25] <Seira> "He wasn't actively trying to convert anyone."
[19:26] <Demedais> "No, just rape, pillage and destroy." Demedais comments.
[19:27] <Alicia> "So?" Alicia asks. "A dragon is a creature of the prime just as anyone else? It choosing to convert people is no different than any other servant of a god preaching to gain more followers. And... why do we even care?" she finally concludes. "Clearly all this happened, therefore it was allowed by whatever uncaring all-knowing beings in charge of all of this don't actually mind it."
[19:31] <Kotono> "The dragon was sealed there in an unrelated affair. It was merest fortune that Albert stumbled on it. Alicia is correct. It was a matter of the Prime, nothing more."
01[19:31] <Seira> "Just hoping that if these beings looked the other way, they might do it again if someone were to help us take the fight to her, I suppose," Seira says. "As it just so happens, a weapon exists capable of striking back at her."
06[19:35] * Demedais thinks. "How was Arondaaq made?"
[19:35] <Alicia> "Doesn't do any good if the hand holding the weapon gets smited from five hundred miles away?" Marie points out. "Don't get me wrong, it's a really great goal, but actually doing it is another thing entirely."
01[19:36] <Seira> "If we overcome Daa-vid, that goal would become just a tiny bit closer."
[19:36] <Kotono> "Arondaaq was created by the elves who aided Talinn the Seeker. They were aided by various divine agencies and wills, for it's power is beyond that of normal mortal hands to craft."
[19:37] <Demedais> "Right." Demedais muses further.
01[19:38] <Seira> "The next logical step is to ask you if you know of more weapons that might be of use," Seira reasons. "A shard of goodness would not go amiss."
[19:38] <Alicia> "Can you tell us where the remaining Resorts are?" Alicia asks the gnome tiredly. Might as well focus on them first, since Arondaaq is worthless if they can't even reach Daa-vid.
Session Close: Sat Apr 04 19:46:37 2009
Session Start: Sat Apr 04 19:46:37 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[19:46] * Disconnected
02[19:46] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[19:46] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[19:46] * Topic is 'Maruna > Riina > Elemental > Miruz '
03[19:46] * Set by Ebiris on Sat Apr 04 14:55:53
03[19:46] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[19:46] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia smiles a bit at the help. The jungle might be huge and unexplored, but it's less than having to search the whole world.
[19:47] <Kotono> "When you have all five, go visit Ajan again." He says, "But be warned that events will begin to move rapidly once you do. Do not do so until you are ready."
01[19:47] <Seira> "I've always thought for some reason that a sixth Resort existed," Seira says, confused.
06[19:48] * Alicia knew that at least. "The Final Resort?"
01[19:48] <Seira> "Yeah. It's in the ruins, then?"
06[19:49] * Demedais nods. "Just knowing its location helps." Demedais notes, before frowning. "Isn't that..."
[19:50] <Kotono> "The Final Resort, yes." A nod to that, "The Fairest Star."
01[19:50] <Seira> "Oh!"
06[19:51] * Seira blinks, and holds up her sword. "Then this was literally made of a broken off bit of Creation?"
[19:51] <Demedais> "That's what I thought." Demedais nods. "I'd ask how we'd get rid of the Fairest Star period, but since you've mentioned it's divine-related I suspect you wouldn't know."
[19:53] <Kotono> "They're a tiny bit of Creation formed by the God King from the Fairest Star." A slight nod to this, "That is beyond my knowledge, yes."
01[19:54] <Seira> "I don't think I'll bother you about every bit of knowledge I've ever tried to seek," Seira says, sounding regretful, "but if you don't know of any weapons that could be of use to us, would you be able to help me find Kangap and Goldan? Or even... what was his name, Lesarp? The dragons that might still remain in the world?"
[19:56] <Kotono> "Kangap and Goldan vanishes into the ruins. They are near the Fairest Star, I suspect. Lesarp is connected to it as well. I suspect that you will reach them in due time as your quest reaches it's final phases."
[19:57] <Alicia> "Bet we'll have to fight them to prove we're ready for Daa-vid," Marie opines optimisticly.
06[19:57] * Seira pouts. "And here I heard they were somewhere near Kelara. Alas."
06[19:58] * Demedais looks to everyone else, wondering if there are any more questions.
[19:59] <Alicia> Alicia doesn't look especially talkative.
[19:59] <Kotono> "ARe there any more questions," The Magu sof Time asks.
06[19:59] * Seira shrugs. "I already asked all I wanted. The only ancient weapon we even heard about is that ominous-sounding Bloodstar. So since the Magus doesn't know about it, I'm good."
[20:01] <Demedais> "There is... none, no." Demedais raises his hand, before frowning. "Okay, awkward question. Do you want a blessing, or would you rather not? I figure... given your situation, you have the right to choose.
[20:03] <Kotono> "No. I made my peace and deal with the Gods long ago." A shake of his head to Demedais, "I need no more words."
[20:04] <Demedais> "Then..." Demedais lowers his hand. "Thank you, is all I have left." With that, he steps back.
01[20:04] <Seira> "Have fun in the afterlife!"
06[20:04] * Demedais glances to Seira unreadably.
06[20:05] * Alicia doesn't say anything. Mucb as the gnome's proven to not be all bad, she still bears a grudge for forcing her to make such a hateful choice.
[20:06] <Kotono> "With my death and the freeing of the bound here, this realm's purpose is nearly finished. When you claim the Fourth Resort, you will be returned to reality and this place will be sealed, for the powers nad magic of Time have no place in the mortal world. Climb, and finish this quest." Time starts again. It's hard to explain quite how you know, but you do. The gnome looks up, the barest smile on his face as his body turns to dust, from the
[20:06] <Kotono> The gnome looks up, the barest smile on his face as his body turns to dust, from the wound in his chest outward. With apuff of air, the Magus of Time is blown away into nothing.
[20:06] <Alicia> With time restored, Alicia dispels her wall of force and then heals herself, before starting up the stairs.
[20:06] <Alicia> roll 16d4+16
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 16d4+16 and gets 53." [16d4=4, 1, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 4, 4, 2, 1, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1]
01[20:07] <Seira> "It's a shame, but...." Without finishing, Seira follows Alicia.
06[20:07] * Demedais nods with a bit of sadness, before looking to Amaryl and Pollyanna and gesturing them to come with.
[20:08] <Kotono> Amaryl comes quietly. Pollyanna lingers at where he was, "It's a shame, yes. He made his own choices, like he liked to say. From the sounds of it, he's the lucky one of the gnomes."
[20:09] <Alicia> No eulogies or regretful words from Alicia. He may not have been a true force of malevolence, but that doesn't stop her from hating him.
[20:09] <Alicia> Or hating herself. It's hard to tell.
01[20:09] <Seira> "Those that died in the war are probably luckier," Seira mutters.
[20:10] <Demedais> "Sounds like it, yeah... " Demedais nods to Pollyanna, still somewhat quietly.
[20:11] <Kotono> Thus the party climbs! They climb for twenty minutes, up and up and up and up. AT last they come to an end. There is no platforms here, just the stairs ending, the cone of the tower becoming a narrowing steeple top. But floating in the air here, just in reach from the last stair, is a jeweled ring.
[20:12] <Alicia> Since she's in the lead, Alicia picks up the ring. Using the hand that doesn't wear the ring of eternal celerity.
06[20:12] * Demedais stands close by, watching.
[20:14] <Kotono> Alicia takes the ring! IT is in her hand as lights flash! In an instant, the party is gone! They stand now in the gate room that lead to that mysterious realm. The portal flickers and fades into blackness, the Fourth Resort in Alicia's hand glimmering. Celebrimbor is there, "What...Ah, you're back. The strange occurances are your doing?"
01[20:15] <Seira> "If by strange occurences you mean fey being freed all over Pallanth, then yes?"
[20:15] <Demedais> "'fraid so." Demedais nods slightly.
06[20:16] * Alicia pockets the resort for now until they can have it identify. "Unless there were other occurences."
[20:16] <Alicia> identified*
[20:16] <Kotono> "That is the Resort?" His ancient eyes look over the jeweled ring, "Well done. There was a surge of energy about twenty minutes ago from the portal. I couldn't identify it satisfactorily."
01[20:17] <Seira> "That was when the evil gnome in charge of the place died," Seira says. "He said he was freeing everyone at that time."
[20:17] <Demedais> "Yeah, that'd be everything inside going back to the natural order of things, and the place closing down." Demedais says.
[20:17] <Alicia> "I wish you'd stop calling him that," Marie tells Seira.
01[20:17] <Seira> "Actually! How long were we gone?" Seira asks.
01[20:18] <Seira> At Marie's words, she blinks. "But it's true! He was a very bad person. He just was helpful, on top of that."
[20:19] <Kotono> "A little over a day," Celebrimbor says.
06[20:19] * Seira nods to herself. "That would be consistent with what I expected."
[20:19] <Alicia> "I suppose he was a bit cruel..." Marie relents, looking worriedly at Alicia.
[20:23] <Alicia> roll 1d100 Alicia, Marie, Seira, Amaryl go to Balmuria (very familiar)
06[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 Alicia, Marie, Seira, Amaryl go to Balmuria (very familiar) and gets 87." [1d100=87]
[20:23] <Alicia> roll 1d100 Alicia and Marie go back for the rest (seen casually)
06[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 Alicia and Marie go back for the rest (seen casually) and gets 55." [1d100=55]
[20:23] <Alicia> roll 1d100 Alicia, Marie, Cel, Deme, and Polly go to Balmuria (v familiar)
06[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 Alicia, Marie, Cel, Deme, and Polly go to Balmuria (v familiar) and gets 94." [1d100=94]
[20:23] <Alicia> We're fine.
[20:28] <Kotono> Okay.
[20:28] <Kotono> ---
[21:07] <Kotono> -------(Kokokoko)--
[21:11] <Kotono> With her own solemn, pained mood, Alicia heads under the waves. Transforming into a sea elf, she swims the green waters of the Bay of Sparkling Stars. She finds the sea elves busy and bustling, working away and friendly. A few even greet her by name as she finds Darlina. She's in her home, by Namor as floats in the water, making a few very crude, yet oddly effective, attempts to swim.
06[21:15] * Alicia calls over from the door, pleased to see Namor coming along so well - considering the elven lifespan she wasn't sure how long it'd take for him to start swimming or talking. "Darlina? Can I come in?"
[21:15] <Alicia> Since she's underwater she's forgone armour and heavy clothes, merely wearing a slightly long blue tunic that's tied tightly around her waist by her belt, all her normal gear kept inside her portable hole in case she needs it.
[21:18] <Kotono> "Alicia!" Darlina's face lights up as she waves over. "Come in! Oh, it's good to see you! How are you?"
[21:21] <Alicia> "I'm well," Alicia lies, swimming inside. No sense bringing Darlina down with her foul mood, and hopefully she'll feel better after some time with these two. "Little Namor looks energetic," she smiles, holding out a hand towards the water baby.
[21:22] <Kotono> The baby sea elf swims towards Alicia - well, not quite. It tries to, getting closer with some muss and fuss. He latches onto her hand, playing with her fingers with rapt attention. "He has been the last few days. Maybe he knew you were coming to visit, he likes your visits."
[21:24] <Alicia> "And I like him," Alicia beams, pulling the baby close and cradling him against her bosom. "Have you been a good boy while auntie's been away?" she fusses genially over Namor for a moment, ticking him with her other hand.
[21:27] <Kotono> "Goo...gah..." The baby reache sup for Alicia's face, fingers touching it. Darlina swims over, joining Alicia at her side. "He's been a very good boy."
06[21:30] * Alicia spends a few more minutes fussing over the infant before returning her attention to the older sea-elf. "I'm glad," she smiles. "It's nice here... with you two, I mean. It puts my mind at ease."
[21:32] <Kotono> "Oh Alicia..." Smiling as she puts a hand on Alicia's shoulder, "You're welcome here anytime you like. It makes me glad you said that. You're the reason Namor's here."
[21:34] <Alicia> "It was a close run thing, wasn't it?" Alicia agrees, leaning back a bit and letting Namor float just above her, relaxing in the water. "Still, we saved him..." She does her best not to picture her own son in the sea-elf's place, but it's a struggle.
[21:35] <Kotono> "We did." Namor smiles and goes for Alicia's face, laughing an innocent laugh as he looks into her eyes. "How is the world above the water, Alicia? How is Balmuria? IS it going as peacefully well as everything here?"
[21:37] <Alicia> "Balmuria's fine, yes," Alicia confirms. "I actually just got back from Pallanth, we were looking for one of the gnomish artifacts. We also found a lot of fey and spirit creatures who were bound to protect it, much like how Oolu was once confined, but they're freed now." That at least is an unassailable bright spot on the whole experience as far as she's concerned.
[21:38] <Kotono> "Oh! How lovely." Going to smile now as she watches Namor above, "Oolu will think well of that. They must be very grateful to you."
[21:40] <Alicia> "Most of them probably won't even know it was us," Alicia admits. "Still, I'm just glad they're free - many of them were powerful and generally benevolent, so I can hope they'll have be a good influence on wherever they choose to settle, now."
[21:43] <Kotono> "You sound happy about it," Namor drifts back to Alicia, pressing against her bosom and resting there again.
[21:46] <Alicia> "I am - to be honest, freeing those bound people was more important to me than the artifact we retrieved," Alicia replies as she cuddles the baby. "They were forced to protect the artifact from us, and were powerful opponents. Now that they're free they'll hopefully provide some counter against the glut of evil outsiders that seem to run nearly unchallenged across the world these days."
[21:52] <Kotono> "Good, good. You seem worried about them whenever it comes up," Going to start to rub Alicia's shoulders, "Sometimes, when you're talking...you can see it in your eyes."
[21:57] <Alicia> "Mmmm..." Alicia closes her eyes as her shoulders are massaged, "It does bother me... there was a lot that happened there to bother me, but that's something that's been nagging at me for a while."
[21:57] <Alicia> "Making the world a better place is most of my reason for living, and it just feels like this business with the gnomes only serves to open the door for greater and greater horrors... I stamp them out when I find them, but I can't be everywhere and I'm not going to live forever..."
[21:57] <Alicia> Holding the baby elf closer, she only concludes, "What sort of world am I helping to create for little Namor and all the others who'll follow?"
[22:00] <Kotono> "You're making a world where children like Namor are happy and safe, instead of murdered. You're making a world where people you help think the world of you. Don't talk like that, Alicia. MAybe you're right a little...but that's why Namor was born, wasn't it? At least part of it? If things are going to get worse, we're going to need a blessed child like him."
[22:03] <Alicia> "It's a lot to live up to..." Alicia eyes the innocent child in her arms. How old would Felix be, now? What sort of boy would he have become? "I had a chance to give it all up, too..."
[22:04] <Kotono> "What do you mean?" Gently rubbing Alicia's shoulders all the while, "Are you thinking about retiring?"
[22:07] <Alicia> "No," Alicia decides it's too hard to explain. Best to just forget about it - it surely wouldn't have been real, anyway. So she tells herself. "Trouble would just find me if I tried, and since I have the strength to oppose would-be tyrants and despoilers I need to use it."
[22:16] <Kotono> "I see...." The massage continues, gentle touched. Namor reaches up to Alicia, feeling her nose. "Alright, I won't press about it then, Alicia. But you can always come here when you need to. If you need anything here, you can have it."
06[22:20] * Alicia turns around to face Darlina. "Thank you, Darlina. I'm glad it's not an imposition, me coming here... why don't we all go for a swim outside, and then have lunch?" she suggests, wanting to just relax and hopefully take her mind off things.
[22:21] <Kotono> "Alicia," Looking her right in the eye, "You're never an imposition here." Smiling now, Darlina looks down at Namor. He's still playing with Alicia's nose, and, "Mama," he says aloud.
[22:23] <Alicia> Alicia's eyes widen and she looks down at Namor in shock. "He... he talked... Has he done that before?"
[22:24] <Kotono> "Well, unless you count that one time..." Darlina looks down to him, "Oh, Namor!"
06[22:26] * Alicia holds the baby up to Darlina. "Mama," she mimics the elven diminuitive form for mother, encouraging him to repeat it. "Say it again, sweetie."
[22:27] <Kotono> "Mama," Namor repeats, reaching out for Darlina's face. Her hand gets him halfway, as her eyes widen and water. "Oh Namor...See, Alicia," Wiping at one of her eyes, "You brought that out of him."
[22:29] <Alicia> Grinning happily, Alicia leans towards the baby, "Say 'auntie'," she encourages, her mouth forming the words in an exaggerated fashion.
[22:30] <Kotono> "Mama!" Namor says again to Alicia, staring right into her opened mouth. "Mama!"
[22:31] <Alicia> "Oh, well, one step at a time," Alicia chuckles, patting his head and then handing him to Darlina. "Say 'mama'."
[22:34] <Kotono> "Mama! MAma!" Namor repeats over and over as Darlina cradles him. She smiles down at him, "That's right, Namor! Mama!"
03[22:34] * Sierra_DeadDeadDeadsky is now known as Sierra_StillAlive
[22:35] <Alicia> "Is it normal for elves to start speaking so young?" Alicia can't help but ask, not being fully aware of the elven life-cycle.
[22:36] <Kotono> "Not this young," Darlina marvels, "But Namor's far froma n ordinary child."
[22:38] <Alicia> "He's a little prodigy," Alicia observes happily, at least for now thoroughly distracted from her issues. Leaning down, she kisses him on the top of his head, "Aren't you, sweetie?"
[22:43] <Kotono> "Mama!" Namor giggles and laughs to Alicia. "Mama! Mama! Mama!"
06[22:45] * Alicia laughs and continues to fuss over the child, encouraging his first words. He might not be hers, but it's still nice...
[22:48] <Kotono> OOC: WAnan skip ahead a bit, Alicia?
[22:48] <Alicia> OOC: by all means
[22:49] <Kotono> After lunch, Namor is put to nap. Darlina lingers over him, "Are you going to stay longer, Alicia," she asks.
[22:50] <Alicia> "I'll probably head home around nightfall," Alicia decides, content to stay under the sea where there's no responsibility for a while longer.
[22:53] <Kotono> "Alicia, I just want you to know...you're always welcome here. I worry about you when you come back with such ill tiding and heavy burdens on your heart."
[22:56] <Alicia> Appreciating the sentiment, Alicia gives the older-though-feels-like-she's-younger elf a hug. "Thank you, Darlina. I really do appreciate it... coming here helps ease my burdens, though. I won't ever see my son again, and no one could ever replace him, but... well, there's room in this old heart for another," she concludes affectionately.
[19:38] <Kotono> > "Mama!" Namor giggles and laughs to Alicia. "Mama! Mama! Mama!"
[19:38] <Kotono> * Alicia laughs and continues to fuss over the child, encouraging his first words. He might not be hers, but it's still nice...
[19:38] <Kotono> > OOC: WAnan skip ahead a bit, Alicia?
[19:38] <Kotono> <Alicia> OOC: by all means
[19:38] <Kotono> > After lunch, Namor is put to nap. Darlina lingers over him, "Are you going to stay longer, Alicia," she asks.
[19:38] <Kotono> <Alicia> "I'll probably head home around nightfall," Alicia decides, content to stay under the sea where there's no responsibility for a while longer.
[19:38] <Kotono> > "Alicia, I just want you to know...you're always welcome here. I worry about you when you come back with such ill tiding and heavy burdens on your heart."
[19:38] <Kotono> <Alicia> Appreciating the sentiment, Alicia gives the older-though-feels-like-she's-younger elf a hug. "Thank you, Darlina. I really do appreciate it... coming here helps ease my burdens, though. I won't ever see my son again, and no one could ever replace him, but... well, there's room in this old heart for another," she concludes affectionately.
[19:40] <Kotono> The hug lingers a few moments, "Just remember that," she asks. "For all the times you have trouble outside and above the water."
[19:46] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, what was next on your agenda, 'licia?
[19:48] <Alicia> OOC: Go to hell and try to sneak some people out of the Halls of the Vanquished
[19:52] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Who would you take with you, if anyone?
[19:53] <Alicia> OOC: I'll go alone
[19:53] <Alicia> OOC: But I'll ask Elle if she can cast Invisibility on me just before I leave
[19:55] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, gimme a few to prepa nd prepare.
[21:06] <Kotono> -------
[21:06] <Kotono> Okay, quickly refresh me on your plan, Alicia?
[21:06] <Alicia> Empty out my portable hole, buff myself, get Elle to cast invisibility on me, then plane-shift to Stygia and teleport to the Halls.
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 5d100
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d100 and gets 249." [5d100=51, 22, 73, 55, 48]
[21:09] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 4." [1d9=4]
[21:14] <Kotono> Woosh! Invisible and unseen, Alicia appears standing on an ice floe! It floats on an oily black sea, a chilly snowstorm obscuring vision out into the ocean. The bitter cold licks and tears at Alicia, making her shiver all over. It's liek chains and whips of ice, breaking and subduing her down. The ice floe is a large, jagged chunk of ice. In the center is a rising pillar of ice 30 feet tall. In it are many figures, all frozen in, save for t
[21:14] <Kotono> In the center is a rising pillar of ice 30 feet tall. In it are many figures, all frozen in, save for their faces, which just penetrate the ice out. Each face is human, each face the crying face of a tormented soul. They speak as one and many, a legion of voices in torment. A thousand cries for mercy come from them.
[21:17] <Alicia> OOC: For reference, I've got Shield, Enlarge Person, Resist Energy (Cold), and Fly up right now. As well as Elle's invisibility.
[21:18] <Alicia> OOC: Also I plane-shifted just before noon, so the ring'll recharge in a minute
[21:18] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, I was wondering why you hadn't buffed. Just say that in the startup next time.
06[21:19] * Alicia pauses for a second to get her bearings upon arrival in Baator, idly swapping the plane shift ring for her freedom of movement one before she eyes the pillar of tormented souls. Approaching to within thirty feet, she checks it over for evil.
[21:22] <Alicia> Probably a trap, she decides... it's not what she came here for, anyway. Focusing on the exterior of the Halls of the Vanquished, she proceeds to teleport to just before where the path slopes down towards the entrance.
[21:22] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen casually
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen casually and gets 15." [1d100=15]
[21:28] <Kotono> The tormented cries echo in Alicia's ears as she teleports successfully! As she appears, her throat catches. For coming out of the Hall of the Vanquished is a nightmare best forgotten. It's wings are of sulphuric bat-fire, screaming with hate. It's maw drips with sizzling green poison, it's scales as red as the brightest hellfire. Around it's neck sits a pentagram of burnt black iron. It walks as tall as it's 12 feet of height would suggest
[21:28] <Kotono> It walks as tall as it's 12 feet of height would suggest. Six orthons walk behind it, writhing with maggots and dripping rusty colored blood that congeals instantly on hitting the ground.
[21:31] <Alicia> A pit fiend! Oh, but how Alicia is sorely tempted to test her mettle against this greater fiend - but she has more important things to do than simply slaughter baatezu, as satisfying as it would be to mete out oblivion to them on their own doorstep. Floating upwards and well above the grisly procession, she lets them pass by underneath her.
[21:33] <Kotono> The vile creature below passes, heading back into STygia, body steaming in the cold. It is soon gone, not lingering in this cursed place.
[21:34] <Alicia> Chances are it'll come running once she starts causing trouble in there, just as Agares had... although if she does this right she'll be in and out without even having to swing a blade in anger. Floating downwards, she approaches the entrance itself, pulling down her blindfold a moment to check for any invisible sentries lest she bump into them.
[21:37] <Kotono> Around the outer door are two Erinyes. They have bows and arrows at the ready, eyes sweeping about constantly. On both of their foreheads, three words of law and three words of evil are enscribed. They are painful, difficult to read, yet Alicia knows of what they are on a fundamental level, the meaning transcending mere words.
[21:40] <Alicia> Hmm... a downgrade from the trio of gelugons? Alicia isn't sure... something about those words... she doesn't think these two are the run of the mill model. Still, so long as the ring of eternal celerity protects her from their searching gaze - about the only thing it's good for, lately - so much the better. Lifting her blindfold back up to use her eyes once more, she floats carefully inside.
[21:43] <Kotono> Going into the foyer, Alicia finds the trio of gelugons waiting there again. They stand in front of the door, stolidly waitinga nd keeping a watch. Past here lies the hall, and the passages that lead to the frozen statues of the brave and doomed.
[21:45] <Alicia> Slipping between the ice devils, Alicia makes her way to the halls on the right, where hopefully a few people will be relieved of their torment by the time she's finished.
[21:45] <Kotono> OOC: Make a move silently check?
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+4
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+4 and gets 19." [1d20=15]
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 28." [1d20=3]
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 35." [1d20=10]
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 44." [1d20=19]
[21:48] <Kotono> As Alicia slips by, the gelugons perk up! "What is that?" one says aloud, the three silent another second. "Footsteps! Unseen visitor, halt and show yourself!"
[21:49] <Alicia> OOC: I'm flying...
[21:54] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, quick and dirty. I'll call flying a +30 circumstancial bonus here since you make a lot less noise gliding than walking. Goa head and reroll your move silently check?
[21:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+34
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+34 and gets 49." [1d20=15]
[21:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 45." [1d20=20]
[21:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
[21:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 33." [1d20=8]
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 26." [1d20=1]
[21:58] <Kotono> Alicia quietly glides past the gelugons! The Grand Hall is relatively quiet here - no one is imemdiately coming or going.
06[21:58] * Alicia floats over to the passage on the right leading towards the exhibits themselves, ignoring the plight of the former caretaker.
[22:01] <Kotono> Thus Alicia goes into the hall of the chaos creatures! Here the gelugons stand guard! A few lemure stand in a corner, simpering in fear. A bearded devil is near them, examining a frozen Slaad. It taps it with it's glaive every now and again, muttering.
06[22:03] * Alicia is mostly interested in liberating the mortals, although she might try for a celestial or two if the opportunity presents itself. Carefully floating near the ceiling, she moves past the chaos creatures and the demons towards more promising prospects...
[22:05] <Kotono> The demons are busier! An erinyes(?) with bat wings glares at a frozen demon-ape creature. Past them, Alicia reaches the celestials and archons. More gelugons are about here, no respite from them at all. You can see frozen angels, archons of all ranks, eladrin and other blessed creatures.
06[22:06] * Alicia idly looks around for the coure eladrin that she released but failed to rescue the first time.
[22:08] <Kotono> She sees him next to a gelugon and a frozen eladrin with fiery red hair locked into iceshape. It's face is locked in pain and torment.
[22:09] <Alicia> OOC: her, she was a girl
06[22:10] * Alicia bites her lip. A coure would be easy enough to grab and stuff in the hole while no one was looking, but not if she's right next to one of the guards. Still, she might be able to snag a little eladrin on her way out once everyone's distracted. Moving along, she starts towards the end of the twisting passage, where the mortal heroes are kept.
[22:13] <Kotono> Here all the mortals are lined up. Dozens and dozens of hereos, all frozen fast. You note that more gelugons are here - nearly as many as heroes. They stand stolically, unmoving, waiting, watching.
[22:15] <Alicia> OOC: just to clarify, there are < 24 gelugons here?
[22:16] <Kotono> OOC: You'd have to fly around and count. There's a bunch and heavy on the ground here.
[22:16] <Alicia> OOC: is there room to walk at all? I mean, gelugons are big, and then there's the exhibits themselves... any chance I could get a map?
[22:17] <Kotono> OOC: Sure, hold on. Opening paint.
06[22:24] * Alicia blinks and shakes her head for a moment, the place seeming far larger than she remembers... Well, her plan is basically the same, although it means she's putting a considerably smaller dent into things. It should still accomplish her ultimate goal, however. Floating onwards, she makes her way to the very end of the hall.
[22:25] <Kotono> Alicia flies to the end of the hall without incident. One of the gelugons scratches at it's manible briefly as she does.
[22:26] <Alicia> Looking down, Alicia tries to get an idea based on the sizes and poses of the heroes of how many she could cram into her portable hole...
[22:28] <Kotono> Most of the heroes are human sized or not too far. Humans, elves, dwarves, ect. There's some smaller - a pixie is one, for example. There are some bigger, one Huge sized giant in particular. But she could get 8 to 10 in, perhaps?
[22:29] <Alicia> And if one were to draw an imaginary line on the far side of the ten mortals closest to the end of the hallway, how many gelugons would be between that line and the wall?
[22:31] <Kotono> On a glance, 5. Further, more would be looking right that way from the gelugons on the other side.
[22:34] <Alicia> Well, that doesn't bother Alicia, considering she's spent the past several weeks working on this plan and developing spells ideally suited towards it. Admittedly the scope is lessened, but the heart of it remains the same Now to finally put all her dedicated preparation to the test...
[22:34] <Alicia> OOC: just before I start off, what's the distance from the far wall to my imaginary line?
[22:34] <Kotono> You mean to the far wall near the entrance to here from the celestials/archons, or the far back wall?
[22:35] <Alicia> OOC: the back wall, but knowing the total length of this hallway doesn't hurt
[22:36] <Kotono> The hallway is 200 feet long in total. From that point ot the back wall is 50 feet.
[22:41] <Alicia> Now to get things started! Positioning herself 90 feet back from the rear wall and 25 feet up, Alicia incants a spell, "Snow and rain, dance and swirl at my will!" she calls, causing the rear 80 feet of the corridor to be consumed in a blinding blizzard! As soon as that's done she flies into the maelstrom before anyone can centre on her voice, advancing 60 feet!
[22:48] <Kotono> A blinding blizzard breaks out, covering everything! It howls and sounds, yet Alicia doesn't hear a speck of noise in it from the gelugons! OOC: Goa head and act? You're right in the thick of the blizzard.
[22:51] <Alicia> Likely they're all rabidly communicating via telepathy. Alicia can't help but respect their discipline, but she doesn't have time to worry about such. Now she casts a second spell, conjuring up an invisible wall of force within the blizzard to wall off the last 50 feet of the corridor from any reinforcements.
[22:51] <Alicia> That done, she floats back to far wall a further 30 feet away to avoid any area spells targetted at the sound of her spellcasting.
[22:53] <Kotono> If spells come, Alicia doesn't see them in the blizzard! It continues to rage in the meantime! OOC: Still no action that you can detect in the howling snowstorm. Go.
06[22:54] * Alicia now pulls down her blindfold and floats down so she's only fifteen feet high, so she can have a better idea of what's going on.
[22:57] <Kotono> The gelugons are standing stone still. Each touches a mortal hero, while flickering with an unholy aura around them! The statues are covered in hemispheres of ice, forming up around them as you watch, covering gelugons as well.
[22:58] <Alicia> OOC: Just to check, there's 10 mortals in this section and 5 gelugons (or at least there were when I cast sleet storm). Are all the statues so affected?
[22:58] <Kotono> OOC: Yes. They're being covered with hemispheres of ice.
[23:01] <Alicia> Well, looks like she'll have to get violent after all. She really has to give these gelugons credit for their ingenuity, these being the first ones she's ever seen to use their ice-conjuring powers with any degree of skill... not that it'll save them. Casting improved invisibility, she flies over to a random gelugon at least thirty feet away, poised within five feet of it and ready to strike...
[23:02] <Kotono> Quickly flying to one of the uncovered gelugons, Alicia positions as more hemispheres of ice spring up! OOC: Go ahead and act, it's pretty distracted.
[23:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 knowledge devotion
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 knowledge devotion and gets 28." [1d20=8]
[23:06] <Alicia> The smell almost makes Alicia gag... part of her worries that she'd underestimated them further. Still, even if it is some vile poison she's almost as resistant to such as the devils themselves are, so she'll persevere until it becomes a genuine concern.
[23:06] <Alicia> For now, however, she settles for violently eviscerating the first of five gelugons - she needs them out of commission before she can start on dismantling the icy barriers and rescuing the frozen mortals.
[23:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 36." [1d20=5]
[23:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 51." [1d20=20]
[23:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. crit check
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. crit check and gets 33." [1d20=2]
[23:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 40." [1d20=14]
[23:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 42." [1d20=16]
[23:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 34." [1d20=13]
[23:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 divine might, 4th and 2nd level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 26." [1d20=5]
[23:07] <Kotono> OOC: All hits/crits except the 20.
[23:07] <Kotono> OOC: Er, 26.
[23:08] <Alicia> roll 12d6+120+10d6+30d4
06[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d6+120+10d6+30d4 and gets 274." [12d6=2, 3, 4, 4, 6, 6, 2, 4, 6, 2, 3, 2][10d6=6, 5, 4, 6, 2, 6, 2, 2, 6, 1][30d4=3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 3, 3, 1, 2, 1, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 1, 1, 3, 2, 1, 4, 1]
[23:09] <Alicia> OOC: +6, forgot the str bonus from enlarge person
[23:09] <Kotono> OOC: I forgot unholy aura but it hardly matters. That does require a fort save for each hit, though.
[23:10] <Alicia> roll 5#1d20+22
06[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5#1d20+22 and gets 149." [5#1d20+22 = 24, 42, 23, 24, 36]
[23:10] <Kotono> OOC: One failure, a natural 1. Ouch. 1d6 str damage.
[23:10] <Kotono> roll 1d6
06[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 and gets 3." [1d6=3]
[23:11] <Kotono> The gelugon is torn apart, rendered into oblivion without a word said! Alicia's body buckles as it does, the touching of it's vile aura weakening her muscles and might! OOC: Go ahead and act, Alicia?
[23:12] <Alicia> OOC: Can I get a line on more than 1 gelugon to hit with whirling blade?
[23:12] <Alicia> OOC: from my current position
[23:12] <Kotono> OOC: You can get 2, sure.
[23:13] <Kotono> OOC: However, remember, hemispheres of ice are going up. You're going to have to deal with those, too.
[23:14] <Alicia> Somewhat surprised that no ice storms or cones of cold have suddenly rained on her position - they surely heard the rending of flesh even if the fiend refused to cry out - Alicia hurls her blade at two of the icy devils in a line before flying adjacent to a third, ready to mete out more punishment!
[23:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 divine might
06[23:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 divine might and gets 39." [1d20=13]
[23:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 divine might
06[23:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 divine might and gets 35." [1d20=9]
[23:14] <Kotono> OOC: Both hit.
[23:15] <Alicia> roll 2d6+25+2d6
06[23:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+25+2d6 and gets 33." [2d6=1, 1][2d6=3, 3]
[23:15] <Alicia> roll 2d6+25+2d6
06[23:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+25+2d6 and gets 34." [2d6=2, 2][2d6=2, 3]
[23:16] <Kotono> OOC: Make a fort save? +4 poison resist applies.
[23:17] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
06[23:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 39." [1d20=13]
[23:19] <Kotono> The horrible, chalky smell lines Alicia's mouth and throat further! She feels momentarily drained, everything taking a black tint! But she resists it, as her blade whirls through the two gelugons! This time counterfire comes, four cones of cold coming right at her position! OOC: Make four ref saves?
[23:20] <Alicia> roll 4#1d20+16
06[23:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4#1d20+16 and gets 99." [4#1d20+16 = 29, 24, 22, 24]
[23:25] <Kotono> roll 14d6 saved
06[23:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 saved and gets 49." [14d6=6, 3, 1, 5, 2, 1, 2, 6, 2, 4, 5, 5, 2, 5]
[23:25] <Kotono> roll 14d6 saved
06[23:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 saved and gets 49." [14d6=3, 5, 3, 2, 5, 5, 5, 4, 1, 5, 1, 3, 1, 6]
[23:25] <Kotono> roll 14d6 saved
06[23:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 saved and gets 49." [14d6=5, 5, 1, 6, 2, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 1, 2, 6]
[23:25] <Kotono> roll 14d6 saved
06[23:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 saved and gets 57." [14d6=2, 5, 5, 4, 5, 2, 4, 5, 4, 4, 6, 4, 6, 1]
[23:25] <Alicia> OOC: cold resist 30
[23:25] <Kotono> OOC: No damage on any of those, I think?
[23:26] <Alicia> OOC: nope. Did they hurt each other?
[23:27] <Alicia> OOC: I don't really care that much, they'll probably SR it away anyway, lets move on?
[23:41] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[23:42] <Kotono> The cones of cold fly about wildly, Alicia dodging and protected against them, taking no harm in the sleet storm! OOC: Alicia?
[23:43] <Alicia> Now to kill gelugon 2 of 5 in the exact same efficient manner as the last! She could actually stand to ease up a little, perhaps, considering how easily the last one expired... then again, the weakening of her muscles and the burning in her throat tells her not to slack off if she wants to end this quickly.
[23:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
[23:44] <Kotono> Alicia quickly moves into position! The gelugons stay on guard, even as the scent in the air grows fouler! OOC: You can attack.
06[23:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 36." [1d20=7]
[23:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
06[23:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 43." [1d20=14]
[23:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
06[23:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 31." [1d20=7]
[23:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
06[23:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 26." [1d20=2]
[23:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
06[23:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 29." [1d20=10]
[23:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed.
06[23:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, flying, invis. He's flat footed. and gets 29." [1d20=10]
[23:45] <Kotono> OOC: All but the 26 and 29 hit.
[23:46] <Alicia> roll 6d6+57+6d6+12d4
06[23:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6d6+57+6d6+12d4 and gets 142." [6d6=6, 6, 1, 4, 6, 3][6d6=3, 6, 1, 3, 4, 6][12d4=3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4, 1, 2]
[23:47] <Alicia> roll 3#1d20+22 fort saves
06[23:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3#1d20+22 fort saves and gets 97." [3#1d20+22 = 32, 25, 40]
[23:47] <Kotono> This gelugon, savaged and ripped, is torn apart as well! Yet as Alicia does, returning another to oblivion? OOC: Fort again, +4 due to poison, with an unrelated -1.
[23:47] <Kotono> OOC: Passed the unholy aura ones. Make the poison one now.
[23:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25
06[23:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 and gets 39." [1d20=14]
[23:48] <Kotono> Alicia resists the chalky coating in her body, vision tinting darker nonetheless! Her head feels full of chalkdust, frozen chalkdust! To this, in retort, two cones of cold come at Alicia!
[23:48] <Kotono> OOC: Ref x2?
[23:49] <Alicia> roll 2#1d20+16
06[23:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2#1d20+16 and gets 58." [2#1d20+16 = 22, 36]
[23:49] <Kotono> roll 14d6 saved
06[23:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 saved and gets 60." [14d6=3, 3, 6, 6, 1, 6, 6, 6, 4, 3, 4, 1, 6, 5]
[23:49] <Kotono> roll 14d6 saved
06[23:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 saved and gets 55." [14d6=6, 5, 3, 3, 4, 1, 3, 6, 3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5]
[23:49] <Alicia> OOC: Also, I'm blinded by my blindfold, so my vision is kinda moot.
[23:52] <Kotono> Once again Alicia endures cones of cold, two gelugons now slain! As she does,
[23:52] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[23:53] <Kotono> Once again Alicia endures cones of cold, two gelugons now slain! As she does, "Surrender." A voice sounds from all around you. It's a cold voice, a voice that croaks slightly and chitters. "There is no escape now. Your tricks will be dispelled and you will be punished for your violation of the law. Surrender and I will take that into consideration."
[23:53] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and act, Alicia.
06[23:56] * Alicia doesn't dignify that with a response, not really wanting them to be able to tie this back to herself. Unfortunately the poisonous dust filling the air is starting to become a real concern, and she doesn't particularly have time to play around with killing the other three gelugons. It's not her original plan, but so few such things survive contact with the enemy...
[23:56] <Alicia> First of all, can she reach any of the exhibits, or will she have to smash down some icy walls first?
[23:57] <Kotono> All of the exhibits are covered now. Icy domes will need to be wrecked.
06[23:59] * Alicia flies over to the dome furthest from any gelugons and smashes through it with her sword!
Session Time: Wed Apr 08 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8 -13pa
06[00:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 -13pa and gets 20." [1d20=12]
[00:00] <Alicia> roll 2d6+35
06[00:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+35 and gets 45." [2d6=5, 5]
[00:01] <Kotono> With a powerful strike, Alicia dives down and hits the dome hard! THe ice shatters, an opening made into it! A cone of cold comes, but the dome stops it this time! OOC: Alicia, go.
[00:03] <Alicia> Stepping into the dome, Alicia unfurls her portable hole and drapes it over the occupant before flipping it around so that the tortured mortal soul is safely ensconced within the nondimensional space!
[00:04] <Kotono> This is done! The frozen statu is now stuck within her portable hole! As takes him in, however...OOC: Fort again, +4 poison, -2 unrelated?
[00:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 unrelated my foot
06[00:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 unrelated my foot and gets 31." [1d20=7]
[00:05] <Kotono> OOC: Bad phrasing, but you still made the save.
[00:06] <Alicia> OOC: shall I go ahead and act?
[00:07] <Kotono> Alicia resists the coating, cloying feeling of the foul chalk-dust poison as she does, the feeling getting worse. "This is your last chance for leinency," the voice sounds again. "Your fate will be decided by the Most High and Right Lord Ariyan."
[00:07] <Kotono> OOC: Your'e up.
[00:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 who's that? (planes)
06[00:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 who's that? (planes) and gets 36." [1d20=16]
[00:12] <Alicia> This isn't exactly how Alicia had wanted things to go, but the poison was an utterly unexpected development. Next time she'll be better prepared, and for now she'll at least have rescued one soul from hell... that's enough, isn't it? Considering how vast these Halls are, she's not so sure...
[00:12] <Alicia> But she does know that the poison will hit her sooner or later, and she has a bad feeling it won't just weaken her. It's time to leave while she still can. The question is, does she leave out the front door, or will she have to employ her trump card? First of all, she lifts up her blindfold to check she's still invisible and not covered in highly visible glitter or anything like that...
[00:15] <Kotono> The storm is still going. Alicia's still invisible on a glance.
[00:16] <Alicia> Excellent. No need for them to know about that, then... taking to the air, she dispels her wall of force and then flies out of the storm, intending to race straight past any fiends that happen to be waiting just on the other side of her perfect barrier.
[00:17] <Kotono> Alicia dispels the barrier, flying through it! A dozen gelugons there are waiting, weapons drawn and ready! OOC: Alicia?
06[00:19] * Alicia soars over their heads, content to let them think she's still playing around within the sleet storm as she actually flies full tilt through the mortal section and towards the celestials...
[00:22] <Kotono> Alicia flies like a bullet! As she does, she reaches where the celestials begin! The path ahead is completely iced over! Massive, thick walls of ice interpose itself between her and proceeding forward! OOC: Make another fort save? +4 poison, -3 otherwise. +1 total.
[00:22] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
06[00:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 31." [1d20=8]
[00:22] <Kotono> Alicia successfully rsists again! The chalkiness is becoming palpable, but she manages to endure and continue functioning! But it feels like a cloying, dark miasma within her lungs now! OOC: Alicia?
[00:30] <Alicia> A part of Alicia idly wonders just where all this damn poison is coming from. Wouldn't a cloudkill spell be vastly cheaper and more efficient? Well, the fact is that she's becoming deeply concerned. Still, there is one option to provide yet more protection. Casting alter self, she assumes a shorter and fuller version of herself, becoming Alicia the dwarf!
[00:30] <Alicia> Now stout and possessing an innate resistance to poison, she moves up to the wall of ice, ready to carve a path through it!
[00:31] <Kotono> Alicia transforms, becoming stout and dwarven! With added resistance she hurries up to the wall, unseen still! OOC: Alicia?
06[00:32] * Alicia slices viciously through the wall and then quickly flies through, hopefully before anyone can target the breach with area spells!
[00:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8 -13pa
06[00:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 -13pa and gets 25." [1d20=17]
[00:33] <Alicia> roll 2d6+35
06[00:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+35 and gets 43." [2d6=6, 2]
[00:34] <Kotono> Alicia shatters through the icy wall quickly! AS she does, cones of cold come flying from another cluster of gelugons! While her haste avoids most of the cones, two still are far enough back to get her as she jets through!
[00:34] <Kotono> OOC: Ref 2x?
[00:34] <Alicia> roll 2#1d20+16
06[00:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2#1d20+16 and gets 59." [2#1d20+16 = 32, 27]
[00:35] <Kotono> roll 14d6
[00:35] <Kotono> roll 14d6
06[00:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 and gets 57." [14d6=6, 6, 4, 2, 2, 6, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 3]
06[00:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 and gets 53." [14d6=6, 1, 4, 6, 6, 4, 6, 3, 3, 6, 4, 1, 1, 2]
[00:35] <Alicia> OOC: +2, dwarf bonus vs spells~
03[00:36] * ChanServ changes topic to 'Maruna > Riina > Elemental > Miruz (Ebiris)'
03[00:36] * ChanServ sets mode: -qo Kotono Kotono
03[00:36] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Kotono Kotono
[00:37] <Kotono> Alicia quickly endures the spells, getting through the cones of cold unhurt!
[00:37] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead?
06[00:38] * Alicia flies over this particular defence line, deciding to accept the additional few seconds to swoop down towards the coure eladrin she failed to save the first time and snag her in the portable hole before resuming her full speed race for the exit!
[00:39] <Kotono> OOC: Make a fort save? +4 and -4 cancel out, so even.
[00:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
06[00:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 33." [1d20=9]
[00:41] <Kotono> Alicia feels even more coated, even more violated as she scoops up the little eladrin! But she's freed it, gotten it into her hole and resisted the poison once more!
[00:42] <Alicia> No more delays, no more side-trips, it's time to flee! Hopefully she'll be out of the poison's area of effect soon as she flies as fast as she can for the exit! She won't make the mistake of sticking around to duke it out with a... duke, this time!
[00:43] <Kotono> Alicia flies past the celestials at full speed! She zooms to the greater demons! At the juncture between the greater and lesser demons, another pure wall of ice has been erected!
[00:45] <Alicia> This time Alicia hurls her sword at the icy wall before she even reaches it, from thirty feet away. She'll fly through straight after it, but the fraction of a second should be enough for the devil's icy cones to miss her!
[00:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+11 -13pa
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+11 -13pa and gets 19." [1d20=8]
[00:45] <Kotono> OOC: Damage.
[00:46] <Alicia> roll 2d6+38
06[00:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+38 and gets 43." [2d6=3, 2]
[00:47] <Kotono> Alicia has her sword cut through! Many cones of cold come flying, but none hit her! Hellstriker is coated in ice when it returns, hwoever!
[00:48] <Alicia> Well, it's a flaming sword, it can surely burn its way out. But not until she's escaped, since the light from the flames would give away her position invisibility or no! Anyway, she flies straight through the shattered hole she carved before anyone has the bright idea of resealing it, continuing her dash for freedom!
[00:49] <Kotono> Alicia zips through, apst more gelugons! She's racing past the lesser demons, towards the chaos beasts now! She can see the door to the ground hall, covered with even more hard, heavy ice! OOC: Fort, -1 total?
[00:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 32." [1d20=9]
[00:50] <Kotono> Alicia zips through once more! She endures the chalk-feeling, growing steadily stronger! It's getting hard to breathe, but she endures it all! OOC: Alicia, go.
[00:51] <Alicia> Okay, she'll have to give away her position for a moment and hope she can endure... Reaching the icy wall, she ignites Hell Striker in a rush of flame, calling upon the sword's rage to bolster her flagging strength for the home stretch as she carves through this barrier!
[00:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -13pa
06[00:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 -13pa and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[00:52] <Alicia> roll 2d6+35+1d6
06[00:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+35+1d6 and gets 46." [2d6=3, 3][1d6=5]
[00:54] <Kotono> Channeling Hell Striker's fire, Alicia cuts through the ice around the door ot the grand hall! It cuts through well, leaving the passage ahead opened! However, cones of cold come from the new passage, spreading out at her like the icy hand of death! OOC: Ref x6, Alicia.
[00:54] <Alicia> roll 6#1d20+18
06[00:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6#1d20+18 and gets 168." [6#1d20+18 = 22, 23, 27, 29, 36, 31]
[00:55] <Kotono> roll 14d6
[00:55] <Kotono> roll 14d6
06[00:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 and gets 56." [14d6=4, 2, 4, 2, 6, 2, 3, 6, 1, 6, 3, 6, 5, 6]
06[00:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 and gets 58." [14d6=4, 4, 2, 2, 2, 6, 6, 6, 5, 6, 4, 3, 3, 5]
[00:55] <Kotono> roll 14d6
[00:55] <Kotono> roll 14d6
[00:55] <Kotono> roll 14d6
06[00:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 and gets 58." [14d6=6, 5, 1, 5, 3, 2, 6, 2, 6, 6, 6, 2, 3, 5]
[00:55] <Kotono> roll 14d6
06[00:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 and gets 43." [14d6=4, 1, 3, 4, 1, 6, 5, 1, 4, 2, 3, 1, 2, 6]
06[00:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 and gets 51." [14d6=3, 4, 5, 2, 6, 1, 5, 6, 5, 5, 2, 2, 4, 1]
06[00:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 and gets 48." [14d6=4, 2, 5, 4, 1, 6, 2, 5, 5, 1, 3, 1, 5, 4]
[00:56] <Kotono> Despite the storm of frosting ice, Alicia endures all of them without harm! Ahead, she can see six gelugons blocking the way, just past the barrier of ice! Ahead, in the grand hall, all the other doors are covered with an oily black ice! Standing in front of the door to the exit is a large gelugon. It's body is bulky and muscular, waiting with a cruel scourge in hand.
[00:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 CL
06[00:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 CL and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[00:57] <Kotono> OOC: Go Alicia.
[00:59] <Alicia> The caretaker! Oh, Alicia so badly wants to kill him... but no, his punishment from his superiors for allowing this to happen will be enough. On the other hand, that black ice could be a problem... still, it's the only thing standing in her way, so she douses Hell Striker's flames and quickly flies over to it...
[01:00] <Kotono> OOC: Which door, Alicia? The one to the out?
[01:00] <Alicia> OOC: naturally
[01:01] <Kotono> With a sneer, "Do not let the unseen escape! Radius, attack for radius!" It commands as Alicia starts to fly close! OOC: Let's do initaitive here, Alicia?
[01:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[01:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[01:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 six gelugons
06[01:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 six gelugons and gets 13." [1d20=8]
[01:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Caretaker
06[01:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 Caretaker and gets 26." [1d20=15]
03[01:03] * Kotono changes topic to 'The Caretaker>Gelugons>Alicia'
[01:05] <Kotono> As Alicia watches, solid fog springs up around the Caretaker! It cloaks it from view, the door covered by twenty feet of thick, cloying fog! The gelugons thereafter fire cones of cold about! OOC: The gelugons are basically guessing with the cones of cold. 90-100 that any of them catch you in one.
[01:05] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[01:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 84." [1d100=84]
[01:05] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[01:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 15." [1d100=15]
[01:05] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[01:05] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[01:05] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[01:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 34." [1d100=34]
06[01:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 72." [1d100=72]
06[01:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 89." [1d100=89]
[01:05] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[01:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 84." [1d100=84]
[01:05] <Kotono> OOC: No joy. Okay, make a fort save, -2 total?
[01:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[01:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 42." [1d20=20]
[01:06] <Kotono> Yet all the cones miss Alicia, mercifully, as the choking dust gets even worse! Alicia's vision is getting a bit hazy around the edges! OOC: Alicai.
[01:06] <Alicia> OOC: +2 from rage as well
[01:08] <Alicia> Now to hopefully breach the final layer of defence and make her exit, Alicia flies straight into the solid fog, able to pass through it just as easily as air before she comes to a stop adjacent to the black wall, preparing to cut through it and then escape...
[01:09] <Kotono> Alicia reaches the wall successfully, flying past all! OOC: Were you charging or just setting up?
[01:09] <Alicia> OOC: just setting up so I can hit and move immediately on my next go. Can't charge what I can't see, anyway.
[01:10] <Kotono> roll 1d2
06[01:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d2 and gets 1." [1d2=1]
[01:10] <Kotono> Alicia passes through the wall of solid fog thanks to Freedom of Movement! She reaches the other side! The Caretaker then utters a horrible word of the utmost lawful power...but it has no effect on Alicia! More cones of cold fly!
[01:10] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[01:10] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[01:10] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[01:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 47." [1d100=47]
[01:11] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[01:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 8." [1d100=8]
06[01:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 87." [1d100=87]
[01:11] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[01:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 53." [1d100=53]
[01:11] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[01:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 26." [1d100=26]
06[01:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[01:11] <Kotono> OOC: Go Alicia.
06[01:11] * Alicia hacks into the wall with all her might!
[01:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -13 pa
06[01:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 -13 pa and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[01:11] <Alicia> roll 2d6+38
06[01:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+38 and gets 46." [2d6=2, 6]
[01:12] <Kotono> The black ice breaks! Flecks of black, oily water go flying all over! OOC: Make a ref save, Alicia?
[01:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
06[01:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 29." [1d20=11]
02[01:13] * Demedais (~ferixstad@141.218.226.88) Quit (Mrf, back later, off to class and I forgot dinner ah well.)
[01:13] <Kotono> Alicia nimbly dodges the black water! Past it are the three gelugon outside, blocking the way ahead with their bodies! The moemnt the wall breaks, three cones of cold come right at Alicia! OOC: Refx3, then take your movea ction.
[01:13] <Alicia> roll 3#1d20+18
06[01:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3#1d20+18 and gets 73." [3#1d20+18 = 20, 29, 24]
[01:13] <Kotono> roll 14d6 saved
06[01:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 saved and gets 50." [14d6=2, 4, 5, 2, 5, 1, 5, 3, 3, 1, 6, 2, 6, 5]
[01:13] <Kotono> roll 14d6 saved
[01:13] <Kotono> roll 14d6 saved
06[01:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 saved and gets 42." [14d6=1, 3, 5, 2, 3, 2, 6, 3, 2, 2, 5, 2, 3, 3]
06[01:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 saved and gets 49." [14d6=6, 4, 2, 3, 4, 3, 6, 2, 1, 1, 4, 6, 1, 6]
[01:13] <Kotono> Alicia again endures three blizzards of pure chill, surviving unscathed! OOC: Alicai?
[01:14] <Alicia> OOC: Can I fly above the 3 ice devils?
[01:14] <Kotono> OOC: You'd have to clear away some more ice to do so. You cut a hole into it but they're large creatures so it evens out.
[01:15] <Alicia> OOC: oh, you mean they're adjacent to the wall?
[01:16] <Alicia> OOC: in any case, I'll ust move adjacent to one of them
[01:17] <Kotono> OOC: How. You blew a hole in the ice to escape out, right, to get to the door. The three gelugons are in the way. It's not like you can move left to right with the wall and ice.
[01:18] <Alicia> OOC: well, I move through the hole? So I'm next to the one blocking my way? Or am I already next to it? If I am I'll just continue my full attack.
[01:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 (+3 from knowledge +2 from invis, he's flat footed)
06[01:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 (+3 from knowledge +2 from invis, he's flat footed) and gets 26." [1d20=16]
[01:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 (+3 from knowledge +2 from invis, he's flat footed)
06[01:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 (+3 from knowledge +2 from invis, he's flat footed) and gets 8." [1d20=3]
[01:19] <Kotono> OOC: Oh, I see. I misread your line in the first place. Attakc on then, yeah.
[01:19] <Kotono> OOC: No dice on the ihts, though.
[01:19] <Alicia> OOC: lets move on, then?
03[01:19] * Kotono changes topic to 'The Caretaker>Gelugons>Alicia=3 gelugons'
[01:20] <Kotono> Alicia steps forward and swings, but can't land any hits! Behind her, she can hear the caretaker utter a horrible, profane word of the darkest evil now! OOC: Will save, -2.
[01:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
06[01:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 25." [1d20=1]
[01:21] <Kotono> roll 2d6 str damage for 2d4 rounds
06[01:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 str damage for 2d4 rounds and gets 4." [2d6=2, 2]
[01:21] <Kotono> roll 2d5
06[01:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d5 and gets 4." [2d5=2, 2]
[01:21] <Kotono> roll 2d4
06[01:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4 and gets 6." [2d4=2, 4]
[01:21] <Kotono> OOC: That and dazed for one round.
[01:21] <Alicia> OOC: lets move on, then?
[01:22] <Kotono> The word's raw savage WRONGNESS dazes Alicia, stunting her strenght! As Alicia is dazed...OOC: Make a fort save, -3?
[01:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
06[01:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 24." [1d20=1]
[01:24] <Kotono> roll 1d6 int damage
06[01:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 int damage and gets 1." [1d6=1]
[01:24] <Kotono> roll 1d6 wis damage
06[01:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 wis damage and gets 1." [1d6=1]
[01:25] <Kotono> Alicia's very will and wisdom is eroded by the chalk clinging to her! Somewhere her dazed mind, Alicia knows that this poisoning is running deep in her veins! She can feel her very blood slowing down and choking with it! Meanwhile, the gelugon she attacked guesses at her location and returns the favor!
[01:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[01:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 23." [1d20=3]
[01:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[01:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 19." [1d20=4]
[01:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
06[01:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 29." [1d20=19]
[01:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[01:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[01:25] <Alicia> OOC: AC 30, 50% concealment
[01:26] <Kotono> OOC" So no hits.
[01:26] <Kotono> Even stunned, Alicia withstands the storm, as more cones of cold come at her, two more!
[01:26] <Kotono> OOC: refx2.
[01:26] <Alicia> roll 2#1d20+18
06[01:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2#1d20+18 and gets 61." [2#1d20+18 = 26, 35]
[01:26] <Kotono> roll 14d6 saved
[01:26] <Kotono> roll 14d6 saved
06[01:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 saved and gets 48." [14d6=3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4, 1, 6, 6, 3, 3, 3, 5, 1]
06[01:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14d6 saved and gets 47." [14d6=4, 4, 1, 1, 5, 6, 4, 3, 2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 5]
[01:27] <Kotono> Despite that chill, Alicia endures! If the Caretaker or others do something obvious, Alicia can't make heads or tails of it in her state! As she recovers, ready to strike back...OOC: Alicia, your'e up. Another 1 point of int and wis damage.
[01:28] <Kotono> "Surrender!" The cAretaker's voice demands, "There's no saving you now!"
[01:29] <Alicia> She tried being nice, she really did... but that's over now, she absolutely cannot delay for one second longer. "DROWN IN THE STYX!" she screams in Infernal as she suddenly *explodes* in a massive nova of pure magical energy! The pure white energy screames out in a sphere 120 feet wide all around Alicia, ravaging fiends and utterly disintegrating the icy structure all around them!
[01:29] <Alicia> roll 18d8 DC 26 reflex half, they'll fall down anyway
06[01:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 18d8 DC 26 reflex half, they'll fall down anyway and gets 92." [18d8=8, 7, 6, 6, 1, 1, 7, 7, 8, 6, 1, 8, 5, 5, 7, 4, 4, 1]
[01:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 ref gelugon 1
[01:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 ref gelugon 2
06[01:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 ref gelugon 1 and gets 23." [1d20=9]
[01:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 ref gelugon 3
06[01:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 ref gelugon 2 and gets 29." [1d20=15]
06[01:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 ref gelugon 3 and gets 32." [1d20=18]
[01:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 caretaker
06[01:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 caretaker and gets 39." [1d20=20]
[01:31] <Kotono> Around Alicia is calm! Splashes of black Styx-water dominate as everything is demolished. The path out is clear, no obsticles left. Only the Caretaker behind her stands, floating in the air, mere inches above the Styx!
[01:31] <Kotono> OOC: You still have your move action, Alicia.
[01:32] <Kotono> "What..." The Caretaker hisses at that, "That fire...how?!"
[01:33] <Alicia> So tempted to kill him, so very tempted. But if she stays the poison will kill her just as surely as any blade. So Alicia flies straight out of the ruined Halls, hoping to clear the dimensional anchor that prevents her true escape.
[01:34] <Kotono> Alicia flies out and away! The Caretaker makes no offensive action at her as she is freed, out in the chilly air and out of the Hall's grasp! OOC: Your'e up. Another -1 int/wis. Go.
[01:34] <Alicia> Quickly, she swaps her freedom of movement ring for her plane-shift one and attempts to return to Balmuria!
[01:34] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[01:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 285." [5d100=52, 72, 87, 38, 36]
[01:34] <Alicia> roll 1d9
06[01:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d9 and gets 1." [1d9=1]
[01:35] <Kotono> Thus Alicia appears! She floating just over the water, in the stormy ocean! Thunder and lighting crackle, but it's not Hell, not by a long shot!
[01:37] <Alicia> Now she focuses on Rosamund's grove, knowing that the unicorn or her mate would be able to cure her of the vile poison that continues to ravage her mind and body. Hopefully the coure will have been released from her bindings within the portable hole, while the mortal will already have passed to his proper afterlife, but she has to get healed now before it's too late. "Teleport!"
[01:37] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully
06[01:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully and gets 26." [1d100=26]
[01:37] <Kotono> OOC: -1 more to both.
[01:38] <Kotono> Thus Alicia appears in Rosamund's grove! It's serene here. So serene...Alicia's vision is blurring, but she can see unicorns...two big ones and a small one.
[01:40] <Alicia> So she's given birth now... not the first meeting Alicia wanted with the little one, but her need is dire. Dropping her portable hole and letting it flutter open on the ground so that anyone within can escape, or at least get fresh air,
[01:40] <Alicia> she dispels her invisibility and staggers towards the unicorns, looking like a stout giant rather than her normal self thanks to the various other spells she has on. "Rosamund," she gasps out, throat raw and scratchy, "Poisoned! I need help!" she gets out with an economy of words.
[01:42] <Kotono> Alicia wobbles as she walks forward, Rosamund coming. Her vision is starting to go black entirely. Her ears feel clogged with chalky dust, the words muffled of, "Who are..." sound distant and patched. But the unicorn's horn touches Alicia's hand! Alicia's vision clears somewhat, coughs coming. Coughs that feel like it expels the dust making it so hard to breathe. OOC: -1 more, poison is now negated.
06[01:45] * Alicia coughs and retches, returning to her normal proportions (albeit scaled up) as she cancels her transformation into a dwarf, then shrinking as she ends the enlarge spell. "Oooohhh," she moans, clutching her head and blinking away the instinctual tears as her eyes attempt to flush out the vile poison. "Thankyou," she gets out amidst her difficulties, having so much trouble focusing...
[01:47] <Kotono> You feel soft fur against you, supporting you. "Oh Alicia! Rest, rest!" Rosamund's voice comes out of the haze. But despite all of this, Alicia's focus slips a little more. Sleep. Sleep comes like a visitor saving her from an abyss best not pondered.OOC: We'll pick up from there next time?
[01:48] <Alicia> OOC: I'd fight to stay awake and make sure I wasn't leaving anyone to suffocate in my portable hole, but ok
[20:21] <Kotono> <Alicia> she dispels her invisibility and staggers towards the unicorns, looking like a stout giant rather than her normal self thanks to the various other spells she has on. "Rosamund," she gasps out, throat raw and scratchy, "Poisoned! I need help!" she gets out with an economy of words.
[20:21] <Kotono> > Alicia wobbles as she walks forward, Rosamund coming. Her vision is starting to go black entirely. Her ears feel clogged with chalky dust, the words muffled of, "Who are..." sound distant and patched. But the unicorn's horn touches Alicia's hand! Alicia's vision clears somewhat, coughs coming. Coughs that feel like it expels the dust making it so hard to breathe. OOC: -1 more, poison is now negated.
[20:21] <Kotono> * Alicia coughs and retches, returning to her normal proportions (albeit scaled up) as she cancels her transformation into a dwarf, then shrinking as she ends the enlarge spell. "Oooohhh," she moans, clutching her head and blinking away the instinctual tears as her eyes attempt to flush out the vile poison. "Thankyou," she gets out amidst her difficulties, having so much trouble focusing...
[20:21] <Kotono> > You feel soft fur against you, supporting you. "Oh Alicia! Rest, rest!" Rosamund's voice comes out of the haze. But despite all of this, Alicia's focus slips a little more. Sleep. Sleep comes like a visitor saving her from an abyss best not pondered.OOC: We'll pick up from there next time?
[20:22] <Kotono> <Alicia> OOC: I'd fight to stay awake and make sure I wasn't leaving anyone to suffocate in my portable hole, but ok
[20:23] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and split the difference by making a fort save, then, say?
[20:23] <Alicia> OOC: any penalties?
[20:24] <Kotono> OOC: No, just a straight fort save.
[20:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 39." [1d20=17]
[20:28] <Kotono> Alicia feels dim, tired, drained. Yet her vision does clear somewhat, resisting an urge to close her eyes and surrender to encroaching oblivion. Rosamund licks Alicia's face a few times, horn brushing away dirt and sweat. "The poison has taken much out of you. You're safe here."
[20:29] <Alicia> "Can't... can't think right," Alicia moans, her mind feeling as though it's been swathed in cotton wool. "Need to see if others safe... are safe..." she corrects her poor grammar with a somewhat confused look, turning around to look in her portable hole.
[20:30] <Kotono> The portable hole lies ont he ground. You see a tiny arm reach out of it, feeling about. The other big unicorn goes to it, looking down into the hole, while the little one stays close to Rosamund's flank.
06[20:32] * Alicia reaches down to help the eladrin out. "I rescued them from bad- from Hell," Alicia explains shortly, rubbing her eyes with her free hand and still seeming terribly out of sorts. "Poison was big surprise."
[20:36] <Kotono> The little coure eladrin comes out and looks around, blinking. "Sunlight, warm...I'm not in Stygia anymore?" As the eladrin blurts that out, "You're not talking right. You need more rest, Alicia," Rosamund warns. "The poison may have already done serious damage."
[20:38] <Alicia> "Okays..." Alicia nods slowly, assuming the mortal - she has no idea who he or she even was - is now in their appropriate afterlife. "I take you home later," she promises the eladrin before frowning deeply and hitting the side of her head. "I *will* take you home later."
[20:40] <Kotono> "You don't look so good," The eladrin eyes Alicia, "Fuddled, I say. But unicorns, sunlight...aaah, I'm free!" Plopping back onto the grass, "Thank the light!"
[20:42] <Alicia> "Bad poison," Alicia nods emphatically. "If okay I lie down here a bit?" she starts to struggle out of her armour, seeming to have a great deal of trouble with one of the straps before she gives up and just snaps it - albeit with considerably more effort than she'd like. Ah well, she can fix it later.
[20:45] <Kotono> The armor clatters down and away, "So I'm on the Prime, or somewhere else," The eladrin looks to Rosamund, who nods after a moment. "I'll have to do something ot make this up to you," the eladrin goes on. "You can tell mea bout it when you feel better?"
[20:46] <Alicia> "S'fine, you relax for now," Alicia agrees, deciding to just lay down where she is on the soft grass.
02[20:49] * Nao (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Ping timeout)
[20:49] <Kotono> Alicia feels rest come over her, the eladrin rubbing her hand. "Don't worry, I'll protect you," it says with a grin. Meanwhile, Rosamund says to Alicia, "I'll go make sure your friends know you're here, so they can come get you and get you more help. Is that okay, Alicia?"
06[20:51] * Alicia murmurs something incoherent, half burying her face in the soil. She just can't *think*! It's maddenning, and she doesn't want to think about her inability to think... just sleeping sounds best right now.
[20:52] <Kotono> OOC: Skip along a bit then?
[20:53] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[20:56] <Kotono> Meanwhile, in Balmuria...
[20:58] <Kotono> It's a fine afternoon for Seira when a guard comes with word for her to meet Commander Oberuth at the southern gates. It's sunny and as warm as the season permits. People come and go in a hurry, though on approaching, the southern gate is blocked off. There's some onlookers back from it - for sitting just inside the gate is a white unicorn. It's horn is unhidden, though it slinks back a little. Commander Oberuth is by it, talking to it, as
[20:58] <Kotono> though it slinks back a little. Commander Oberuth is by it, talking to it, as Seira approaches.
01[20:59] <Seira> "What a pleasant surprise!" Seira says, jogging the rest of the way over.
[21:00] <Kotono> Rosamund comes closer to Seira, "Oh, Seira! Alicia's at my grove. She had to be cured of poison and isn't in her right mind. She said she came back from Hell and freed creatures from there. It would be best if you take her back so she can get better help. I was able to neutralize the poison, but I couldn't reverse the damage it had done. Her mind isn't right."
[21:01] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth nods curtly to that, "That's essentially why I called you here. Seira, take another person or two with you and go retreive Alicia." He instructs.
06[21:02] * Seira scowls. "That's not right, no." She glances at the Commander. "Sir, I could just teleport over and return the same way with Alicia, if it's Rosamund's grove. If you could prepare some help back in the temple of Waukeen, we'll just treat her there."
[21:05] <Kotono> "There's a little, faerie like creature she freed with her," Rosamund adds as well, "Though it seems to be in fine shape as well."
[21:05] <Kotono> "Go then," Oberuth nods curtly again.
01[21:06] <Seira> "I'll be back with them both," Seira vows, and places her hand on Rosamund's back lightly before activating her ring!
01[21:06] <Seira> roll 1d100 seen casually?
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 seen casually? and gets 8." [1d100=8]
[21:08] <Kotono> Wooosh! The two appear in Rosamund's grove! Alicia lies in her underclothes, her armor lying on the grass besides her. She looks to be asleep. A large adult unicorn lies at one side of her, while a baby one lies besides both of them. A little coure eladrin flutters in the air, sing-songing, "Free again! Free again, no more stinking baatezu or sub zero chills!"
[21:08] <Alicia> OOC: not in my underclothes! In my regular clothes. Sans armour.
06[21:09] * Seira approaches and looks Alicia over, businesslike, invoking the detect magic spell.
[21:10] <Alicia> Alicia looks healthy enough. Not any sign of blood or bruising on her. Her breathing is regular and even, too.
02[21:10] * tai-sick (~ferixstad@141.218.226.88) Quit (Ping timeout)
[21:10] <Kotono> "Ack, a half dragon?" Flying over to her, "Hi! Are you one of Alicia's friends?"
01[21:11] <Seira> "We're heading back," Seira says, picking up Alicia herself. Lagann is more than able of taking care of her armor. "Yep. We're friends, and you're welcome to come with us. Do you need to be treated as well?"
06[21:12] * Alicia stirs as she's jostled, immediately struggling in Seira's grip and reaching for her blade! She relaxes a bit as she realises who it is. "... Seira?"
[21:12] <Kotono> Flying around the rising armor and settling on Seira's shoulder, "I'm fine. I was frozen solid in the Halls of the Vanquished, but now that I'm not there, I'm great! Really, I just want to do something to make it up to Alicia, and by extension her friends, certainly, to make it up to them. I never thought I was going to be free again!"
01[21:13] <Seira> "Rosamund called me, so I came to bring you back," Seira tells Alicia, smiling disarmingly at her. "You and your little pal are heading back home in a few moments."
06[21:14] * Alicia frowns. "Can go back if I want," she explains slowly. "Wanted rest first... TO rest first," she briefly scowls. "Can't think right..."
[21:15] <Kotono> "What you need is a cleric's touch. Are there any nearby, to whereever you're going to teleport us to," The eladrin speaks up here.
01[21:15] <Seira> "I'll stop by some time to chat," Seira tells the unicorns, looking at Alicia worriedly. "I don't doubt that. But it's alright to get help, isn't it?" she says. "And yeah, little buddy. Hop on?"
[21:16] <Alicia> "Can get drinks... bottles.... POTIONS!" Alicia blurts out the last triumphantly as she gropes for the correct terminology. "Not going back like... like sick broken head woman! Let me fix self first," she reaches for her floating armour.
01[21:17] <Seira> "I'll help you with your armor," Seira offers. "And we'll return to a private room. It will be alright, trust me!"
06[21:18] * Alicia starts to put on her armour, at least managing that more through muscle memory than anything else, so it's done with little fuss. Except she seems to have forgotten about the strap she tore earlier, so it doesn't quite fit her as snugly as it should, hanging off her side oddly. She frowns and pulls at it experimentally...
06[21:18] * Seira silently calls upon Lagann's help with a makeshift strap made of metal that would hold for now.
[21:19] <Kotono> The metal of the armor twists slightly, supporting Alicia's armor into a useable, wearable form. Rosamund laughs a little at all of this, "Just take good care of her. Come back when there isn't an emergency going on."
01[21:20] <Seira> "I'll make sure to do that," Seira promises, and thinks of her room rather than the temple of Waukeen, as she originally planned on.
01[21:20] <Seira> roll 1d100 I know this place
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 I know this place and gets 22." [1d100=22]
[21:20] <Alicia> "Ahhh!" Alicia twitches and reaches for her portable hole as she vanishes.
[21:21] <Kotono> Just in time! Alicia grabs her portal hole as the three reach Seira's room without incident.
01[21:22] <Seira> "Potions, right?" Seira asks Alicia, helping the paladin over to her bed. "I'll bring back a few. Can you wait a few moments?"
03[21:24] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@141.218.15.220) has joined #evildunes
03[21:24] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
06[21:25] * Alicia frowns a bit as her hand vanishes into the hole briefly, having a slight struggle to fold it up properly. "Can wait," she nods primly, doing her best to act with proper decorum.
[21:25] <Kotono> The eladrin floats over to Alicia, "I'll tell you a story in the meantime. How about that?"
01[21:25] <Seira> "Sounds like fun," Seira agrees, and uses Dimensional Door to flash over to the main area of the Temple of Waukeen.
[21:26] <Alicia> "Sure!" Alicia nods and smiles at the eladrin. "Thank you, Dawnhope," she beams, inordinately proud of herself for remembering the coure's name. In her current state it was a challenge, anyway.
[21:27] <Kotono> OOC: Going to buy/borrow/sweet talk potions, Seira?
01[21:27] <Seira> OOC: Yes!
[21:28] <Kotono> OOC: Which of those? >_>
01[21:28] <Seira> OOC: The latter two? The first if I have to.
[21:29] <Kotono> OOC: Make a quick diplo check?
01[21:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 45." [1d20=18]
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC: Gilartal just says he'll charge the garrison for it and hands over the lesser restorations.
06[21:30] * Seira calls upon her pearl as she teleports back!
[21:31] <Kotono> OOC: Roll?
01[21:31] <Seira> OOC: DD
[21:31] <Kotono> OOC: Oh wait, DD. Durrr.
[21:32] <Kotono> Seira is soon back, bearing potions! Alicia has been listening to a story about the fun and right eladrins chasing off an entire realm of evil, cruel demons, no matter what the curse.
06[21:32] * Alicia seems quite unreserved and very entertained by the story.
06[21:32] * Seira hands over a potion bottle, and knocks another against it lightly before raising it in salute. "Bottoms up?"
[21:33] <Kotono> "Then, the Tulani..." Dawnhope stops thes tory here, "Oh good. Hold on and drink up."
[21:33] <Alicia> "Oh! Thank you!" Alicia gushes, fumbling with the stopper and quickly knocking back the potion that will hopefully return her faculties.
[21:33] <Alicia> roll 1d4 int
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 int and gets 3." [1d4=3]
06[21:34] * Seira looks on expectantly.
[21:34] <Alicia> "Ahh..." the fog clears, although some still lingers around the edges. "That... I think that did it," Alicia nods, blinking a few times as she mentally parses a few sentences. "Yes, the rest should hopefully come back to me soon enough. What do I owe you?"
01[21:34] <Seira> "How about a story?" Seira offers, holding another potion within reach should Alicia want it. "It sounds like it would be a good one."
06[21:36] * Alicia waves off the potion, instead picking up the snapped strap from her armour's side and casting a mending cantrip to fix it before she affixes the clasp properly. "I went to the Halls of the Vanquished again," she begins. "Dawnhope here was one of the people I failed to save the first time I went there with my sister."
[21:37] <Kotono> Dawnhope settles onto Alicia's lap, looking up with cupped hands under it's chin. "Oh, do tell."
06[21:37] * Seira nods, hopping on her desk to listen comfortably. "And you returned victorious, I see."
[21:39] <Alicia> "Not as much as I'd hoped," Alicia grimaces openly. "I'd planned it out, I thought quite well. The defences were vastly improved - now there's five ice devils for every one bearded devil that was there the first time! They weren't actually a threat, though, and I was able to work around them easily enough." She sighs and shakes her head, "I just never anticipated the poison."
[21:40] <Kotono> "Tsh, it's always what you don't expect. See, devils are kind of slow to change, so they make up for it with overwhelming plans and traps. Like that." Flutteringi t's wings a little, "Wow, someone got pissed if they had that many."
01[21:41] <Seira> "You can't really expect everything," Seira reasons. "And a win's a win, I'll say. Invite me along next time? Sounds like the cause's a pretty worthy one."
[21:41] <Alicia> "It's the perfect defence, I suppose," she concedes. "Devils are immune to poison, and had I used the release codes to try and have a group of prisoners fight out, they'd have been laid low by the poison as well." She then waves what appears to be a jet-black handkerchief in the air, "Luckily I had this, so that's how Dawnhope and one other were able to escape safely with me, avoiding that fate."
[21:42] <Kotono> "See? Nasty traps, but once you out-thought them, they couldn't compensate," Dawnhope nods quickly. "Good work!"
01[21:43] <Seira> "And now that you know of the poison, it could be defended against as well," Seira muses.
[21:43] <Alicia> "The other was a deceased mortal hero, so they've already went to their proper afterlife," she then explains the absence of said other. "Anyway, poison is easy enough for us to neutralise, I just never saw it coming."
[21:43] <Alicia> "If I had I could have easily liberated as many as ten, but once they started pumping in the gas I had to flee before it overwhelmed me... which it finally did, just as I was on the front doorstep."
[21:44] <Kotono> "Oh good. That's what burns me about that. Those poor heroes, they've brave enough to stand up to Hell and they get an afterlife of torment for it. Assholes," Growling low, very unpixie like as it kicks at the air, "Oooooh, they get me riled up."
06[21:46] * Alicia nods and smiles at the eladrin. "Yes, after my recent visit to the upper planes myself it really drove the injustice home. Just wish I'd had a contingency for poison - I'm normally all but immune to them myself, so it just never occured that one could be a threat. I must have breathed in several pounds of the stuff before I got out, though."
[21:48] <Kotono> "So someone's whipping them into shape, eh?" Rubbing it's tiny chin, "That really sounds like someone's taking it's defenses seriously. You said it was Bearded Devils last time?"
01[21:48] <Seira> "And ice devils this time. Fun."
[21:48] <Alicia> "Anyway, Seira, as to your very kind invitation..." Alicia gives the half-dragon a speculative smile. "I might have an idea for the next sortie that could clean out the place entirely, although naturally I couldn't do it alone."
01[21:49] <Seira> "You probably could if you put your mind to it," Seira says honestly, "but thanks for including me!"
[21:50] <Alicia> "It used to be run by a normal gelugon with a band of erinyes and barbazu minions, but now there's some sort of gigantic greater gelugon running the show with a veritable horde of gelugon lackeys," Alicia nods. "Did you get unfrozen at all since my first attempt to free you, Dawnhope?"
[21:51] <Kotono> "No such luck," With a little sigh there, "There's raids on occasion, but I bet a few of them had bad results if they've improved it that much. Do you know what happened to force the change so much?"
[21:53] <Alicia> "Me, basically," Alicia replies. "I only managed to escape with an astral deva, a shiradi eladrin, and this intelligent sword," she pats Hell Striker, "But the former caretaker paid a very heavy price for it happening. I can only hope the current one will suffer for this latest breach."
01[21:54] <Seira> "And another bright spot appears?"
[21:54] <Kotono> "Oh? Do tell!" Looking up at Alicia again, "What happened to old Azanu?"
[21:55] <Alicia> "He was made into an exhibit himself," Alicia can't help but look a little queasy at the memory, not able to call upon her usual composure right now. "Frozen in the centre of the main hall in the midst of being dismembered... although with my explosive exit he's probably floating in pieces across the Styx right now."
[21:55] <Kotono> With a growing grin, "It couldn't have happened to a nastier devil!"
01[21:57] <Seira> "It probably could, he had superiors, surely," Seira mutters.
[21:58] <Kotono> "Oh yeah. Way to spoil my fun," Hands on hips and glaring up at Seira, "Oh well, still, enjoy the moment! Anyway! Alicia! Seira!" Looking between them, "I owe Alicia here a big debt, and you by extension since you're her friend. Can I do anything to help you?"
06[21:59] * Seira snorts. "I do my best." At the offers, she shakes her head. "Be free, spread the goodness?"
06[22:00] * Alicia smiles and pats Dawnhope on the head. "Don't worry about it, really. Just consider us friends and that's enough for me - I'll be able to take you home tomorrow once my ring of plane-shift recharges. Which one are you from, anyway? I know most eladrin are from Arborea, but I know one that lived in Elysium."
[22:02] <Kotono> "Arborea." Nodding to that, "I stay here and there at it. Before this, I was spending time in Waukeen's part of Brightwater? It's fun there every couple of centuries."
06[22:02] * Seira is happy to hear that!
[22:02] <Kotono> "But still, I want to do something. Anything," Looking to the two, "Is ther eanyone hre I can help? Maybe I can tutor someone? Maybe I can just stay around your houses for awhile? Anywhere's safer with a coure around."
02[22:03] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@141.218.15.220) Quit (asdfgfdsa)
01[22:03] <Seira> "There's always someone to tutor," Seira says. "What are your specialties?"
[22:04] <Alicia> "I was in Brightwater recently, I can take you there," Alicia nods. "And I actually already have a coure living with me, although I'm sure Marielle would love to meet you. She'd appreciate the support in her crusade against law, at any rate," she concludes with a light giggle, somewhat uncharacteristic of her.
06[22:04] * Seira quirks her lips in a smile.
[22:05] <Kotono> "Oh, this and that. Chaos, Good, Fun times. Some religious dogma of the Brightwater Gods as well." Then to Alicia, "Oh, you have an eladrin at your house? Let me go meet her, and really, you don't have to take me back right away. Let me see if I like it here first? It might be just the thing after so long in Hell!"
[22:06] <Alicia> "Well, I certainly don't mind if you want to stay, by all means," Alicia agrees happily.
01[22:06] <Seira> "Stop by the temple some time, then, when you have the time?" Seira asks of the eladrin. "Gilartal might enjoy a conversation with you, Dawnhope."
[22:06] <Kotono> "Sure," Nodding away, "Which temple? Is there more than onehere? Where exactly are we, anyway?"
01[22:07] <Seira> "We're in the city of Balmuria on Prime. The temple I mentioned is of Waukeen. You can't miss it!"
[22:08] <Kotono> "Right, I'll find it. Gilartal, got it," Nodding rapidfire to that, "Balmuria? Not a bad name. Kind of long. It's not very snappy, but it'll do."
[22:08] <Alicia> "There's a few other temples as well," Alicia confirms before asking, "How long were you down there, anyway?" She isn't sure but she thinks she recalls Beth mentioning a coure as one of the new arrivals when she was searching the records.
[22:09] <Kotono> "To be honest, I'm not sure." Scratching it's nose for a moment, "I'll find out later, don 't worry. It's not like I'm going to get old and die off or anything! A few years, a few centuries, it's all time."
01[22:10] <Seira> "If you're really curious, I could show you a map," Seira offers.
[22:10] <Kotono> "Oh sure," Looking to Seira now, grinning, "I can check a map, but after I meet that o ther eladrin. I haven't seen one and had a good conversation in too long. I'll come by later when I'm ready for a history lesson?"
[22:11] <Alicia> "I suppose so," Alicia concedes to the eladrin's point. "Anyway, I better go and reassure Marie and Antenora that I'm not dead, and you can meet them as well if you want, Dawnhope," she offers, getting up.
01[22:11] <Seira> "If you'd like. Who am I to stand in the way of friendship?" Seira hops to her feet. "See you later, then, Dawnhope, Alicia?"
[22:12] <Kotono> "Right, let's go!" Perching on Alicia's shoulders, "I'll see you! Thanks!"
[22:12] <Alicia> "Bye, Seira... um, thanks for putting up with my odd behaviour," Alicia blushes a bit. "You won't tell anyone, right?"
06[22:13] * Seira looks offended. "Oh, come on!"
[22:14] <Alicia> "Good!" Alicia nods quickly. "I appreciate it, thanks!" she smiles before heading out.
[22:14] <Kotono> OOC: Skip along a bit, Alicia?
[22:14] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[22:16] <Kotono> The walk home is without incident. Mostly. Dawnhope takes in Balmuria, fluttering about and chatting to random people asyou pass. Then again, gawks and looks aren't really that unusual for Alicia. As you get close to your house, about a block away, "Interesting city. So what do you do here when you're not giving Hell the old one-two?"
[22:19] <Alicia> "Well, there's plenty of mortal villains to fight. Then there's exploring ancient ruins and uncovering forbidden mysteries, that's always good for a laugh... or mind-shattering trauma, depending on what day it is," Alicia's mood switches from jovial banter to impending depression rather quickly.
[22:19] <Alicia> She tries to shake it off, knowing that she just accomplished something wonderful this very day, the eladrin being pure proof of that, but it's hard - her focus is shot all to hell right now, pun not intended. "I write a lot, not that it matters since no one ever reads it..." she goes on as her mood continues to plummet.
[22:21] <Kotono> "Oh, you right?" Smiling now, "Reading can be fun! Can I read what you wrote?" As you get closer to home, Dawhope settles for flying in front of you. "C'mon, I bet you're a pretty good writer! How about me and that Marielle spend some time reading your stuff?"
[22:24] <Alicia> Approaching within a mile at least allows Alicia to pick up on Marie's mood, which seems cheerful for a moment as her familiar presumably gets confirmation that she's safe, then concerned as she picks up on Alicia's depression. However, the brief surge of happiness gives Alicia's own mood a kick towards the nicer spectrum.
[22:24] <Alicia> "You probably wouldn't be interested," she blushes and waves it off, smiling nonetheless. "It's all magical theory and combat tactics, that sort of thing."
[22:25] <Kotono> "I'm always interested!" Nodding along, "After all, with all those devils, you have to learn to fight!" Flapping behind Alicia and pushing lightly on her head, "C'mon, hurry up! I wanna read it now!"
06[22:27] * Alicia laughs easily and lets herself be pushed along, almost sensing a mental shrug from her familiar. "Oh, you're interested in that? Marie could give you tips - she's a really good archer."
[22:30] <Kotono> Pushed along, you reach home. Inside, you find Marie, Jessica and Antenora all waiting. Jessica wears an apron, stained with flour. Antenora wears her armor and is a bit sweaty, her wings twitch-flapping behind her. She has a cloth, using it to wipe down her forehead. "Alicia!" "Sis!" Greeting hit them both.
[22:30] <Alicia> "You're late!" is Marie's greeting, although she's smiling anyway.
[22:30] <Kotono> "Oh, your'e Marielle!" Dawnhope comes forward, "Nice to meet you! I'm Dawnhope! Alicia got me out of Hell so I thought I'd drop bye."
[22:30] <Kotono> Antenora frowns a little bit, "Alicia? Where were you, anyway?"
06[22:31] * Alicia waves to the group. "Had a bit more trouble than expected, but I'm safe as you can see," she even does a classy little pirouette. "Not a scratch on me!"
[22:31] <Alicia> "Oh, you were kept in that horrible place?" Marie flutters over to her counterpart, giving her a friendly eladrin hug. "It must've been horrible for you!"
[22:32] <Kotono> Hugging Marie back, "Oh, it was, it was! Those devils are terrible hosts!"
06[22:32] * Alicia laughs a little. "And they say I can't rhyme..." she mutters under her breath.
[22:33] <Kotono> "Really," Antenora says, obvious tensenses in her voice. With stiff posture, her back fully straight, "Alright then." Antenora nods curtly, slipping away and out of the room.
[22:33] <Kotono> "Oh, you're in such a good mood, sister," Jessica trots over, "Sit down, I'll have some fresh bread ready soon."
[22:33] <Alicia> "I can just imagine!" Marie nods as she parts from the other coure. "You're..." she briefly gives Alicia funny look then just shakes it off and returns her attention to the eladrin, "You're safe now, at least."
[22:34] <Kotono> "Yep!" Nodding, "I promised Alicia I'd read some of her writing. Say, how about the both of us do that? Maybe over some of that bread and something nice to drink? It'll be fun!"
[22:34] <Alicia> "I'm actually not," Alicia abruptly deflates. "Things didn't go according to plan at all!" she moans disconsolately, leaning on her sister. "Hey... what's wrong with Antenora?" she asks quietly before just yelling, "Antenora!" she waves at the erinyes' back, "You look upset! What's wrong?"
[22:35] <Kotono> "I don't know, she was out back practicing," Jessica replies as she looks as well. Antenora didn't particularly linger, already out of the room.
[22:36] <Kotono> "Well, you did fine," Dawnhope speaks up, "What's with her? Weren't those bat wings? Is she some sort of freaky succubus? That's...I'm worried now. Was that one?"
[22:37] <Alicia> "Awww, I hope she's not angry because I brought another eladrin home..." Alicia pouts.
[22:37] <Alicia> "She's an erinyes, but don't worry! She's reformed!" Marie reassures her new friend.
[22:37] <Alicia> "Also... um, Alicia?" Marie looks askance at her mistress, "I didn't want to say anything, but... you're acting really odd. Are you sure you're alright?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "An erinyes...reformed? Wow." Scratching the side of it's head, "I'd heard that fiends can rise in theory, but I'd never seen one. Then again, you got me out of that Hall, so you're way above average. But anyway, she's acting fine! I'm rubbing off on her, that's all."
[22:38] <Kotono> "Alicia," Jessica frowns, "Come, let's sit and have something ot eat." She glances at Marie as well, briefly.
[22:40] <Alicia> "Oh, you should've seen me earlier!" Alicia blurts out, whirling on Marie. "I got poisoned down there and couldn't even string two sentences together!" She flounces over to sit down.
[22:40] <Alicia> "Seira got me a potion to fix some of the damage - she's such a sweetheart - but I'm still a bit loopy." She then eyes Marie suspiciously, "It got worse when I could sense your feelings," then as Marie starts to fidget nervously the paladin grins, "But your natural cheeriness brought me out of a bad mood, so I forgive you!"
[22:41] <Kotono> "See? That's the idea!" Dawnhope flutters along with Alicia.
[22:41] <Alicia> "Uh huh..." Marie flutters back a little. "Well, you're home now, so you can relax and settle down?" It's odd, as much as she always wanted a more expressive Alicia, it just feels so off that she can't appreciate it very much.
[22:42] <Kotono> Jessica sends Alicia another look, going to the kitchen and fetching a steaming loaf of bread. "You've been a little quiet lately," she observes.
[22:42] <Kotono> "Right," Dawnhope goes over to the bread, sniffing. "Can I have some, and another bit ot take out? I wanna meet that erinyes now. It's not going to hurt me or anything, is she?"
[22:43] <Alicia> "Just yell if she threatens to eat you," Marie advises, still watching Alicia.
06[22:43] * Alicia finds her mood instantly souring, which is reflected by the depressed expression on her face. "I don't wanna talk about it," she huffs.
[22:44] <Kotono> Jessica slices off bits of bread, passing them over to Dawnhope, who flutters off with them. Then she makes a big couple of slices for Alicia, then goes and gets a bit of water to go with it. "Come on, Sis," Jessica sits next to her. "Tell Sis all about it."
[22:44] <Kotono> "Right," Dawnhope calls back from outside.
[22:47] <Alicia> "You'll think I'm a horrible person," Alicia warns.
[22:47] <Alicia> "No we won't!" Marie blurts out. "I was there and I don't think any less of you!"
[22:48] <Kotono> "Oh, you're a fine person, Alicia!" Jessica pats her arm, going to lightly hug her. "Just tell me and Marie. Keeping secrets isn't healthy when they're bothering you. They'll sour into nasty things, things that beings like Shar take advantage of."
06[22:51] * Alicia can't really refute it, just leaning on her sister instead. "When we were in that forest in Pallanth, looking for the Fourth Resort, it was being guarded by a wizard with powers over time..."
[22:51] <Alicia> "I don't know if such things are possible, but it seemed real, and he was able to see past the protections of the Ring of Eternal Celerity, so perhaps they were, for him... He tried to convince us to give up before we faced him."
[22:52] <Kotono> "Go on," Jessica holds Alicia closer, "What did he do?"
[22:53] <Kotono> Meanwhile, Dawnhope flutters in, a bit wide eyed. He doesn't say a word, but settles in besides Alicia, gnawing on a bit of bread.
[22:53] <Alicia> "He offered to send me back, to before Hans and Felix were killed... so I could stop it from happening," Alicia explains as Marie settles on her lap. "Even showed me what would've happened if I'd been there at the time..."
[22:54] <Kotono> "Oh Alicia..." Bowing her head as she goes quiet for a few moments, "You're beating yourself up inside over it, aren't you?" Jessica whispers to her, "Did he torment you with that?"
[22:56] <Alicia> "I refused, obviously..." Alicia leans on Jessica as she haltingly speaks. "I couldn't, I just... I didn't know if it was even real, what if it was just some trick to trap me in a fake illusion? But..." she clenches her fists, "I don't think he was lying... even at the time I didn't think that."
[22:58] <Kotono> "So?" Jessica smiles, "The past is the past. It's about living in the now and the future. Even if you ran off into that dream, what about us? You're my sister and I need you. Antenora thinks the world ofyou and she needs you. Everyone in the city thinks you're nearly a Goddess and they want and need you. I know you can't compare it to that, but...you can't go back and dwell on the past forever, can you?"
[22:58] <Kotono> .you can't go back and dwell on the past forever, can you?"
[23:00] <Kotono> "I don't really follow all of this," Dawnhope speaks up, "But I'm really glad you were here to get me out of that Hall, instead off in some illusion or whatever it was!"
06[23:04] * Alicia snorts. "Either way I'm abandoning someone... you're right, I'd have regretted leaving this life behind." Massaging her forehead, she goes on, "It's just... it's a choice no one should have to make, it's like they were dying all over again..." She barely even notices Dawnhope's return, so wrapped up in her angst.
[23:05] <Kotono> "It wasn't, but you made it. Don't let the guilt from it ruin what you chose, okay?" Jessica smiles brighter, "If you need to feel sad, do that. If you need to cry, do that. But mourn and move on."
[23:06] <Kotono> "Alternately, get it out of your system by having a lot of wild fun? Live in the moment for a little while?" Dawnhope continues, between bites of bread.
[23:07] <Kotono> Almost laughing, "That comes later, but yes, it's a part of things. I think. I'm usually pretty happy."
[23:07] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[23:07] <Kotono> Almost laughing, "That comes later, but yes, it's a part of things. I think. I'm usually pretty happy." Jessica looks to Dawnhope and then Alicia, trying not to smile. "That's how it goes in books."
[23:08] <Alicia> Nodding to her sister, Alicia does sniffle just a little, but tears don't flow - her eyes are still somewhat dry from crying away all that poison clogging them earlier, anyway. Deciding to change the subject, she looks at the new eladrin, "You and Antenora didn't get along, I take it?" she asks, putting on a smile.
[23:08] <Kotono> "I think she wanted to be alone, um..." Looking down, "I won't repeat what she said, but it was really rude. Sure, I might taste good with garlic, but I'd rather have someone my size find that out!"
[23:09] <Kotono> Keeping Alicia close to her, "Yes, she may not be feeling social. She's running cold today, it happens." Jessica's smile tones down, lips relaxing. "Catch her in a better mood later."
[23:10] <Alicia> Marie and Alicia both snicker at Dawnhope's joke, although Alicia asks, "Is she mad I didn't bring her along earlier today?"
[23:10] <Kotono> "I don't know," Dawnhope shrugs. "I didn't ask."
[23:11] <Kotono> Jessica shrugs again, "I don't know, either. I've been either ar Roald's or in the kitchen today. I said hello to her this morning, that was it."
[23:13] <Alicia> "I'll go talk to her," Alicia decides, lifting herself up to her feet. "Since you've all gotten me to talk about what's bothering me I might as well pay it forward."
[23:14] <Kotono> "Right," Jessica smiles brightly now, "Come back when you're done."
06[23:15] * Alicia nods, snagging up a slice of bread and chewing on it as she heads out the back.
[23:15] <Kotono> You find Antenora outside. She's staring off into the sky, secluded in the shadows of the house and the fence.
06[23:17] * Alicia goes to lean on the fence near Antenora. "What's wrong?" she asks bluntly before kicking herself. She normally does far better, but she's still not firing on all mental cylinders. Oh well, maybe direct will work?
[23:18] <Kotono> Antenora doesn't turn to look at Alicia, though her arms cross over her chest. "You could have taken me with you, you know. Instead of going with how many people into a fortified stronghold in Hell?"
[23:22] <Alicia> "I wanted to sneak in and out without them having a clue, not fight a mass battle," Alicia explains. "Next time - and there will be a next time - I'll want you there, since I won't pull the same trick twice."
[23:22] <Alicia> She steps closer, putting a hand on Antenora's shoulder, "And there's no one I'd rather have at my side in a real fight," she concludes. At least her sincere charm hasn't been hampered by her fuzzy thinking.
[23:24] <Kotono> "Alicia, what happened if you made a mistake? What happens if a devil got in a lucky shot?" Not reacting ot the touch at all, "If I'm there, at least I can die happy knowing that I did everything I could to prevent it. If you'd fallen and vanished deep into the Pit, I'd never live it down. Never."
06[23:28] * Alicia frowns at that. "You might be happy with some grand storybook sacrifice, but not me," she retorts, hand dropping away. "Having us both die isn't any better than one of us dying just because it suits some noble ideal. If I had died down there I'd be a lot happier knowing that you were safe than knowing that I'd damned us both."
[23:29] <Kotono> "Do you think they'd just let you die down there?" Antenora stiffens up again, "You'd be LUCKY if all that happened is that you were on display in that damned Hall. Martinet...he'd have the powre to make sure you end up in Nessus instead of passing on, or his master would. Dammit, do you think your soul is something to gamble so uncaringly?"
[23:33] <Alicia> That actually stings. "It's not a gamble," Alicia replies fiercely. "You've been right here, Antenora - you were there when we went to study the defences, you've seen me working on new spells specifically so I could pull this off, you know I've bought magic items specifically for how they'd be used in this one goal!
[23:33] <Alicia> "This was built upon months of work and preparation, not some... whimsical dart toss!" she honestly looks quite aggrieved, feelings showing plain on her face. "You can call it a risk, but don't you dare say that it was some half-assed scheme I pulled out of my ass and rode through on luck alone!"
03[23:34] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[23:43] <Kotono> "There's still chances! You saw how tightly that new caretaker had things set! There's no way at all it was going to be easy and you know it!" Snapping back now, whirling to turn with eyes and a face locked in a furious grimace, "It was a risk you didn't have to take! You KNOW oblivion is the best you can pray for if they beat you there! Even as strong as all we are, do you think we can save you from the depths of the Pit? Even if we did, b
[23:43] <Kotono> Even as strong as all we are, do you think we can save you from the depths of the Pit? Even if we did, by then, there might not be anything left worth saving!"
[23:47] <Ebiris> "You're wrong, Antenora," Alicia replies tightly. "I had to take it. It doesn't matter what defences they have or how badly they can hurt me, that place is an abomination, and I won't rest until every damned soul is freed from it!" she insists passionately. "This life isn't easy, but it's what I chose!"
[20:10] <HelicopterKo> <Alicia> "This was built upon months of work and preparation, not some... whimsical dart toss!" she honestly looks quite aggrieved, feelings showing plain on her face. "You can call it a risk, but don't you dare say that it was some half-assed scheme I pulled out of my ass and rode through on luck alone!"
[20:10] <HelicopterKo> * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[20:10] <HelicopterKo> > "There's still chances! You saw how tightly that new caretaker had things set! There's no way at all it was going to be easy and you know it!" Snapping back now, whirling to turn with eyes and a face locked in a furious grimace, "It was a risk you didn't have to take! You KNOW oblivion is the best you can pray for if they beat you there! Even as strong as all we are, do you think we can save you from the depths of the Pit? Even if w
[20:11] <HelicopterKo> > Even as strong as all we are, do you think we can save you from the depths of the Pit? Even if we did, by then, there might not be anything left worth saving!"
[20:11] <HelicopterKo> <Ebiris> "You're wrong, Antenora," Alicia replies tightly. "I had to take it. It doesn't matter what defences they have or how badly they can hurt me, that place is an abomination, and I won't rest until every damned soul is freed from it!" she insists passionately. "This life isn't easy, but it's what I chose!"
[20:12] <HelicopterKo> "Not like that!" Antenora's voice rises several octaves, becoming a near shout. "You don't need to go into Baator by yourself! How many have gone in and never come back! Do you want to be one, Alicia? DO YOU? You chose this life, but like hell if you have to go it alone!"
[20:17] <HelicopterKo> *decibels
06[20:20] * Alicia flinches a bit both at the volume and content of Antenora's speech. "Of course I don't want that!" she insists. "But It's a managable risk - I wasn't just jumping in half-cocked, I went in there with a plan that minimised the danger as much as possible. If I was bringing along others, the risk would've increased beyond my ability to easily cover."
[20:23] <HelicopterKo> "Then don't leave me next time!" Antenora steps forward. "Alicia, no matter how much you minimise it, the danger is always going to be real. Please, for everyone's sake," Looking away and lowering her voice, before breathing in and out with shaking shoulders, "Do you want Jessica crying at your grave?"
[20:29] <Alicia> Such emotional blackmail! Oddly, Alicia is proud in some small respect that Antenora's developed her conversational skills thus far. Not too fun being on the receiving end, though. "I can promise that, at least," she allows, "Since next time will require a completely different approach. Look..." she turns around to lean on the wall next to the erinyes,
[20:29] <Alicia> "It's not that I don't appreciate your concern, really, don't take it that way. But I worked really hard on this, for a long time, and you need to have some respect for my planning skills."
[20:32] <HelicopterKo> "Alicia, I have all the respect in the world for your skill." With a grim smile, "I have as much respect for what Hell will do if they get a clean shot at you on in Hell." Wiping at an eye a moment, "Alicia...just don't make any plans alone again. Two stand a fighting chance even if something happens to you."
[20:36] <Alicia> It may be a hard promise to keep, but she just sounds so desperate... Alicia can't withstand it. "Alright, I won't," she relents. "Anyway, now that we've cleared that up, I think I'll finish dinner then turn in early. Even if none of them managed to scratch me, I did wear myself out quite badly."
[20:38] <HelicopterKo> Antenora smiles ever so slightly. "Thank you." With slumping posture and shoulders, "Take care of yourself. Don't get so wrapped up in doing the right thing that you lose track of that. You'll do more if you're steady for a year than you'll do in a week of frenzy."
06[20:41] * Alicia chuckles, a melancholy sound. "Reminds me of that story I used to tell Felix, about the tortoise and the hare," she admits. "Anyway, do you want to join us for dinner before I turn in?"
[20:42] <HelicopterKo> "N-" Antenora starts, before she cuts herself off. Instead, "Yes, let's go have dinner. No matter what, we should celebrate a success."
06[20:43] * Alicia rewards the erinyes with a beaming smile, before leading her back in to join the others.
[20:45] <HelicopterKo> "By the way," Antenora falls in step with Alicia, pausing. "Another one? Really?"
06[20:47] * Alicia has the good grace to blush. "She was one of the ones that Beth and I released the first time, but was 'killed' when Agares struck me down. Felt like I owed her, since it only happened because she was trying to protect me."
[20:49] <HelicopterKo> "Ah. Still...aren't there any cute lantern archons out there?" With an overdrawn sigh, "I think they're cuter the coure, anyway."
[20:50] <Alicia> "Certainly more innocent," Alicia is compelled to agree.
[20:52] <HelicopterKo> "Yes," Rubbing her forehead, "I do wonder if Marie ist just a bad seed, though."
06[20:53] * Alicia recalls Dawnhope's blunt comment after her conversation with Antenora. "No... if anything I might think she's more reserved than is typical for her type."
[20:54] <HelicopterKo> Antenora stops cold, rubbing her temple slowly. "You know...nevermind. Let's just go and hope you're wrong."
[20:57] <Alicia> "It makes sense when you think about it," Alicia continues undeterred. "She says she used to work for an archon before me, and she lives on a less chaotic plane of existence..."
[20:57] <HelicopterKo> "You know what?" Antenora stops in front of the door inside, "How about we go have dinner somewhere else? I'll treat you."
[21:01] <Alicia> "Oh, come on!" Alicia pats Antenora on the back, "Didn't you have fun in Arvandor? I know you can get along well with them when you let yourself relax!"
[21:02] <HelicopterKo> "I'd rather have funw ith just you," Antenora mutters, going to open the door as she slumps down.
[21:04] <Alicia> "We'll go do something fun together tomorrow, promise!" Alicia assures the grumpy erinyes as they finally rejoin her sister and the two coure.
[21:09] <HelicopterKo> "I'll hold you to that," Antenora says, as the two go in to meet the bridages of cute pixie chaos.
[21:09] <HelicopterKo> ---
[21:09] <Alicia> roll 1d4
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[22:00] <HelicopterKo> ---
[22:00] <HelicopterKo> OOC: Going to go anywhere in particular, or just walk and think randomly?
[22:01] <Demedais> OOC: Demedais did have plans but that dashed his mood badly, so... From the top of the summit in any direction, is there any city-like area or set of houses?
[22:03] <HelicopterKo> Demedais takes to wandering down the mountain. It is an easy walk, his body spry despite the turmoil in his heart. He walks for a time, looking about. Amid them, one place stands out. It's a plain little house tucked against the side of the cliff. A chimney emits gentle white smoke.
06[22:05] * Demedais strays toward the house, aiming to see if there is anyone actively willing to talk there.
[22:09] <HelicopterKo> The door to the house is open. Demedais can smell food cooking. Garlic and onions and other such things, as well as cheese. A middle aged man in chain mail and a tunic sits just inside, propped up against a wall, his chair at an angle.
06[22:09] * Demedais knocks on the door. "Ah... excuse me."
[22:10] <HelicopterKo> The man looks up, black haired and clean shaven. "Yes?" He asks, "You're welcome to come in and take a load off your legs."
[22:11] <Demedais> "...thank you." Demedais replies, stepping in. "I'm sorry to intrude, but..."
[22:12] <Demedais> "Oh. Demedais." Demedais adds as an afterthought.
[22:12] <HelicopterKo> "It's fine. Company's a reason to celebrate, not apologize." He stands up, his chair clattering back into place. He goes over to Demedais, "Let me get you something to eat. Oh, and Crega."
[22:13] <Demedais> "...Thanks, Crega." Demedais smiles as best he can.
[22:16] <HelicopterKo> Going and getting a ladle, a thick stew of cheese and broth is poured. It smells like garlic and onions, a pale white color. "It's rich, but I figure, you're in Martyrdom. Enjoy what you can here."
[22:17] <Demedais> "Heh. I'm but a visitor here..." Demedais shakes his head as he accepts the bowl. "Forgive the bizarreness of this question, but what Gods reign here?"
[22:19] <HelicopterKo> "Ilmater does, though it is part of the House of the Triad in Arcadia, so all those of the Triad hold special dominion here." Sitting opposite Demedais, "You don't really look like the noraml sort here, either."
06[22:20] * Demedais nods slightly. "I'm not, no. And what Gods reside within Arcadia?"
[22:21] <Demedais> A pause. "Sorry for being indirect, but... I'll explain in a minute. Right now, I'm just trying to build a frame of reference from which I can explain."
[22:22] <HelicopterKo> "Arcadia is mainly dominated by the House of the Triad," he goes on, "I understand. The House of the Triad is Ilmater, Helm, Tyr, though there's also Siamorphe."
[22:23] <Demedais> roll 1d20+14 K:R Siamorphe if applicable
06[22:23] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+14 K:R Siamorphe if applicable and gets 22." [1d20=8]
[22:26] <Demedais> "I see." Demedais says, sipping the soup a bit. "Excellent. Thank you... Ah. Part of the reason I ask is because for a long time, our world was... much like a sealed jar. Nothing went in or out, effectively. I have heard that Torm no longer resides here - that does not surprise me. But... what has happened to the void that he has left?"
[22:29] <HelicopterKo> "Well," Leaning back, "I haven't really followed that all that much. I hear Helm's more active these days. But he's the God of Duty and covered some of those matters already."
06[22:31] * Demedais nods slightly, before inclining his head in thought. "... I see. I suppose my next question is clear, and yet I still feel like it is not my time to venture there..."
[22:32] <HelicopterKo> "Venture where," Crega inquires, raising an eyebrow.
[22:34] <Demedais> "Toward where Helm resides. ...in my world, I am a paladin and sworn follower of Helm, and perhaps his greatest agent amongst men, though I cannot state that with certainty, as much the world is still unknown to us. But... much has happened, and we have an unclear view of what has happened, there." Demedais replies.
[22:36] <HelicopterKo> "Naturally, you want to go to him," The man says as he listens. "Why are you in Martyrdom, then?"
[22:38] <Demedais> "...One day, a man came to our temple with an unnatural illness. I sought to cure him, but all my talents, and that of a comrade, were of no avail. Upon learning that this was caused by a devil of immense power, I brought him here in the hope that he could be healed. I am here today, visiting." Demedais says, eyes closing halfway through.
[22:38] <HelicopterKo> "If anywhere can, it's here," Crega nods approval. "How is he doing?"
[22:39] <Demedais> "They need the blood of a saint related to him to cure it."
[22:40] <HelicopterKo> "That's...." Trailing off, "That's utterly insane."
[22:40] <Demedais> "Heh." Demedais grins. "That was my reaction."
[22:41] <Demedais> "I was an oprhan, raised and adopted by the Temple of Helm... when I was eighteen, I swore to protect any who came under my roof, and do what I could. He is no exception. Indeed... he's perhaps the embodiment of my oath, in more ways than one."
03[22:41] * Demedais is now known as taifk
Session Time: Fri Apr 10 00:00:00 2009
03[00:03] * taifk is now known as Demedais
[00:04] <HelicopterKo> ---
[00:04] <HelicopterKo> OOC: STreerike that.
[00:05] <HelicopterKo> "I see, I see," Leaning back in his chair again, making the back of it wobble, "You sound like a good person. Protecting everyone who comes to you and being the lead servant of Helm on your world? If that's not a saint, surely it's close?"
[00:07] <Demedais> "...Haven't always been able to protect everyone." Demedais says, thinking on Shamal. "That, and... there are other issues there. Though..." (More)
[00:10] <Demedais> "The devil, the one that inflicted this, was doing so to try and strike at me, to undermine my confidence. He's been pursuing myself and a group of friends for a while now. ... His use of the man with the illness was to taunt me. Without any other recourse, I brought him here to be mended. It was just a few days ago... when I learned..."
[00:14] <HelicopterKo> "You learned that...?" Crega presses, "What did you learn?"
06[00:16] * Demedais is silent for a moment. "I was tested by an opponent of immense talent, who subjected everyone in our group to an individual temptation. Mine... sent me back to the moment I was left on the doorstep, and offered me the chance to live with my birth parents instead." Demedais chuckled. "The tempter approached it badly, but ... he was able to show me something. The faces of my birth parents."
[00:16] <Demedais> "My mother was a very beautiful woman, so clearly I didn't take after her in any way. My father... was the man I brought here for treatment."
[00:17] <HelicopterKo> "You are-" Crega stops there, "...That explains it all."
[00:20] <Demedais> "Yes." Demedais nods. "But... I suspect I do not qualify for sainthood as it stands. Call it a hunch, but... the Helm I devoted myself to was the Helm of many years ago. I have absolutely no hesitation in following the truth of Helm's teachings now, but... in my world, the truth is only beginning to be known. Even I..." A shake of the head.
[00:21] <HelicopterKo> "You're uncertain." Crega says after a few more moments, "You doubt yourself?"
[00:26] <Demedais> "...In part, yes." Demedais says after a moment, closing his eyes. "I have dedicated, and will continue to dedicate all I am to Helm. Yet I have also sworn to protect and save all those I can... The fact that he is my father... Truth be told, that's only relevant so far as it puts me as perhaps the only person who can help him."
[00:29] <HelicopterKo> "Did the devil who did this know he was your father?" Crega asks as he focuses his eyes on Demedais. They are deep, long eyes, ones that meet his but are difficult for Demedais to look back into.
06[00:30] * Demedais still makes the effort to match Crega's stare. "Given he tempted me first with finding out who my father was, I certainly believe so."
[00:31] <HelicopterKo> It's really hard. Yet as hard as it is, Demedais feels enthralled by that gaze, fascinated by something in it. "Does he know you well? Does he know of any indecision you may hold on these matters?"
[00:33] <Demedais> "He knows everyone in my group well, and seems hideously well-informed. Given this, he probably could figure out that I had for a while felt like I should try to find him, though I had no good way of doing so and as such let the issue rest."
[00:35] <HelicopterKo> "I suspect that he tries to force your hand. The only possible person who could save your father is you, according to what you say. But your heart is torn by indecision. Why this devil has chosen to give you this corundrum; does he seek to crack your strength of faith with an impossible choice?"
[00:39] <Demedais> "Or go to him crawling and begging for help. Which -isn't- happening, but..." Demedais shakes his head, before meeting Crega's eyes again. "...It is possible that that is what he seeks, but if so, he misaimed, for he gave me someone I can, in the end, find a way to do something for. He chose someone I could protect."
[00:40] <HelicopterKo> "I think you need to go to your father, then," Crega's gaze travels to the door. "PRotect him, however you can. That's your duty and your oath, isn't it?"
[00:42] <Demedais> "It is." Demedais nods slightly, standing. "Thank you very much, Crega." There is a slight smile on his lips. "It helped to sort this out and think this through."
[00:43] <HelicopterKo> "Listening it something anyone can do. Go to him. Go to your father that you just found. Don't waste any more time, Demedais."
06[00:43] * Demedais nods slightly, bowing before departing and heading back up the hill.
[00:46] <HelicopterKo> The trip back is without incident and easy enough. The hill presents no problems; Demedais reaches Granta and Croger. Croger is still lying in the circles, Granta sitting besides him.
[00:47] <Demedais> "No change?" Demedais muses, kneeling as well.
[00:48] <HelicopterKo> "No. Alicia and Antneora went for food, they haven't returned yet." Granta replies. "HAve you soothed your inner thoughts?"
[00:50] <Demedais> "Mostly, yes. It has occurred to me that there is another thing I should do here, but... I believe I am calmer now. And good, Alicia likely needed the meal." Demedais replies.
[00:51] <HelicopterKo> "Have you made a decision yet?" Looking down to Croger once more, who still sleeps peacefully, "As his son, your words carry weight."
[00:54] <Demedais> "If Ilmater will listen to a paladin of Helm's plea, I am willing to try that." Demedais replies. "Regardless, there is no safe place on our native plane for him so long as Esthan roams there. Thusly, this is logically the best place for him while a cure is sought. And if it means my own blood as the only road... I am committed to protect those who have come to me."
[00:57] <HelicopterKo> "When you are ready, I will take you to petition Ilmater," Granta says. "HIs mercy is infinite. Surely he will not decline your request, though he may require a service for it to spread his ethos."
06[00:59] * Demedais nods to this. "I understand. And... I believe myself to be ready now." A look to Croger, before a silent nod again.
[01:00] <HelicopterKo> "Would you like to wait for the other two," she asks.
[01:01] <Demedais> "...heh. Yes." Demedais nods. "That'd be wise. My apologies."
[01:04] <HelicopterKo> Antenora and Alicia return about twenty minutes later. On the two returning, "Demedais wishes to petition Ilmater directly," Granta says.
[01:05] <Alicia> "Alright," Alicia nods after getting over her brief surprise. "Is there anything we can do to help?"
[01:06] <Demedais> "If you could stay with Croger in the event he awakens, it'd be much appreciated." Demedais nods, a slight smile on his face
[01:07] <HelicopterKo> "He shouldn't. The circle is devised to keep him asleep, for the ritual I had researched is easier with him asleep." Granta speaks, "You can wake him by moving him from the circle, should you desire."
[01:07] <Alicia> "We'll watch over him to keep him safe, at least," Alicia offers agreeably.
[01:08] <Demedais> "...Oh." Demedais pauses, before chuckling. "Makes more sense than what I was thinking. And... thank you, Alicia." Another smile to the two, before Demedais looks to Granta. "Please, lead on."
06[01:09] * Alicia gives Demedais a supportive smile. "Good luck."
[01:09] <Demedais> "Thank you." Demedais nods back to Alicia.
[01:12] <HelicopterKo> Demedais and Granta walk now, walking ahead. They walk deeper into the open air temple. It doesn't really seem to be long, the destination coming in sight in easy time and a short walk. Ahead is seven beautiful angels. They sing a song of martyrdom of soul soothing beauty, each unclad. Their bodies are perfection given form, yet they are marred. Little bleeding wounds cover them, deformites all over. Yet...somehow they make them even
[01:13] <HelicopterKo> deformites all over. Yet...somehow they make them even more beautiful. It is impossible to look at them squarely, yet you can see the wounds and the magnificence they bestow. They stand in a wide square. In the center sits a single throne of rose thorns and blossoms, all bound together with red string. "Go. Stand amid them and pray your request to Ilmater. The Crying God will hear."
[01:16] <Demedais> roll 1d20+14 K:R check here
06[01:16] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+14 K:R check here and gets 17." [1d20=3]
06[01:17] * Demedais inclines his head slightly. "Kneel in front of the throne, then?" he asks softly.
[01:18] <HelicopterKo> "Yes," Granta stands back.
06[01:21] * Demedais nods, and advances the appropriate distance slowly, before kneeling in front of the throne.
[01:22] <HelicopterKo> The angels sing louder at this. IT's like a cascade of purifying thought coming in contact with Demedais. He can see himself standing alone, the last man defending that must be defended. An impossible battle against hordes, yet he stands proud and true even as he is overwhelmed. Satisfaction and joy fills his heart.
[01:29] <Demedais> And just as quickly he wrenches his thoughts back to the task at hand, a mite embarrassed. "The Crying God, The One Who Endures... Ilmater, I, a mere soldier and follower of Helm, have come here to beseech you for your aid, and in your infinite mercy. My father, Croger, has been stricken by demonic illness far beyond my capacity for healing. He lies in your temple now, sleeping, under the care of your servant, Granta." (More)
[01:34] <Demedais> "I entreat thee, Crying God, to bless him with your tears and cleanse this illness; I pray to thee, One Who Endures, to remove this infernal curse from his spirit, mind and body; I request thee, Ilmater, to make him whole again. In this, I am at your mercy."
[01:40] <HelicopterKo> A single teardrop of blood comes from one of the thorns of the throne, falling onto Demedais' head. It vanishes on contact, yet the song around him reaches a chorus of praise.
06[01:40] * Demedais nods his understanding. "Thank you, Ilmater, for your mercy and understanding."
03[01:41] * HelicopterKo is now known as Kotono
[01:42] <Kotono> The angels resume their song, sweet as always.
[01:42] <Demedais> With that he stands, bows, and then walks respectfully backward ten paces before turning and leaving the circle, nodding to Granta with a warm smile. "Thank you. The ritual you've planned should work with my blood."
[01:43] <Kotono> "Let us hurry then," Granta quickens her pace. Thet wo return to Croger, Alicia and Antenora thereafter. Granta stands back, but is already speaking. "Onto his chest, Demedais," is all she says.
06[01:46] * Demedais nods as he also approaches. "How much will suffice?" he asks, taking off the Fourth Resort and drawing his sword enough to have the edge available for cutting himself with.
[01:46] <Kotono> "It should not be much, but I am not certain." Granta considers, "Start slow and add more as needed."
[01:46] <Kotono> Antenora raises an eyebrow at this, "Good luck, Demedais," she says, standing nearby.
06[01:47] * Demedais nods slightly, and kneeling over Croger's sleeping form, grips the blade of his sword with his hand, allowing the blood to flow onto Croger's chest!
06[01:47] * Alicia holds off on any questions since it sounds like they have things well in hand, simply standing back and observing.
[01:51] <Kotono> Threadsplitter runs red as Demedais slices his palm and hand open! Droplets of blood run down the blade, drizzling down onto Croger's chest! Each drop glows rose-red as it lands! Foul brimstone scented smoke rises up in retort, fading away in a few seconds. From his chest, as more blood falls, it emerges out! A long fang, expanding out as it reaches the air! It is several inches long and growing, wrapped in rose thorns and red string! For a
[01:51] <Kotono> It is several inches long and growing, wrapped in rose thorns and red string! For an instant, cracks run up and down the fang, before it shatters into brimstone that dissolves on touching the ground. OOC: Seven damage, Deme.
[01:52] <Demedais> "Is that all that is needed?" Demedais says, relenting for a moment.
[01:53] <Kotono> "It's done," Granta says with a smile. "I believe that he is saved now."
06[01:54] * Demedais nods slightly, healing himself just enough to staunch the bleeding as he steps out of the circle, also smiling softly.
[01:54] <Alicia> "That's wonderful!" Alicia claps her hands together once. "Congratulations, Demedais - you beat Esthan's sick game and saved your father."
[01:55] <Kotono> "Good. It took a lot, but it's one defeat for Esthan," Antenora says. "It's a step forward to sending him screaming back into Baator."
[01:55] <Demedais> "Heh." Demedais says, shaking his head. "Thank you, Granta. I owe you."
[01:56] <Kotono> "There are no thanks needed. Ilmater will provide for me, and his wisdom will bring it's own reward. This triumph is that reward." Approaching Croger, she begins to rub away the circles. "With this influence gone, he should awaken soon."
06[01:57] * Demedais nods his head slightly.
[01:58] <Kotono> "Would you like privacy with him," Granta asks after the circles are half smudged and wiped away.
[01:59] <Demedais> "... I would, for a few minutes." A wan smile to Alicia and Antenora. "I'm sorry, but one last time... We'll figure out our plans after this, alright?"
[02:00] <Alicia> "That's perfectly fine, Demedais, don't worry about it," Alicia assures him. "We'll be over there when you're ready," she points to the collection of cookfires she was at earlier.
[02:01] <Kotono> Antenora gets up, "I'll keep Alicia occupied," She chuckles, "We were having a wonderful time over there before. Come and get us when you're ready."
[02:02] <Demedais> "Alright." Demedais grins, before kneeling down next to Croger again. Though at Antenora's words, he almost pauses mid-kneel with an unreadable glance at the two.
06[02:02] * Alicia shrugs at Demedais giving her a funny look before she heads off.
[02:04] <Kotono> Antenora doesn't seem to notice, the two going off. Croger's starting to stir, moving his eyes a little.
06[02:05] * Demedais removes his armor's gauntlet and places his non-bloody hand on Croger's shoulder as he awakens, content to let him awaken at his own pace.
[02:06] <Kotono> Croger awakens a few moments later. His eyes open. He looks right into Demedais' eyes. "The hurt man said I'd be better when I woke up." His voice is relaxed and calm, "You're back, too."
[02:07] <Demedais> "I am. And yes, we believe you're well now." Demedais says, smiling.
[02:08] <Kotono> "Great. Demedais, I want to thank you. I thought I was going to die when I was traveling to Balmuria. I thought my time was up."
06[02:10] * Demedais shakes his head. "I... I made an oath when I was eighteen, to protect anyone that came to the temple looking for aid. So long as I have that capability..." A squeeze of Croger's shoulder. "I won't fail." His right hand - the cut one - is notably out of Croger's line of sight.
[02:12] <Kotono> "You didn't." Slowly starting to sit up, supporting himself each step of the way, "You're really a hero. I'd heard all the stories and bar tales, but this makes me appreciate it. You took me to the realms of the Gods to save me, just some random commoner who was sent to you by an enemy."
06[02:13] * Demedais shakes his head. "You came to me, you asked my protection. That was all that was needed. ...Though, I have a question."
03[02:14] * Carthrat (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #evildunes
[02:14] <Kotono> "If I can answer it, I will," Croger says, "If I can do anything to repay you..."
[02:15] <Demedais> "...Don't worry about repayment." Demedais shakes his head. "When I came here this time, it was to find the final part of the cure for you. Did Granta tell you what she thought would be needed?"
[02:16] <Kotono> "A family member who was a saint, or Ilmater's aid," He answers, "Seeing as how I don't have any surviving family..." He shrugs. "Ilmater was very merciful to an old man."
02[02:16] * Nao (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Ping timeout)
[02:16] <Demedais> "No surviving family? What happened to your wife, then?" Demedais replies.
[02:25] <Kotono> "She passed recently," he answers, "A brief illness...but she was old."
[02:26] <Demedais> "I see. And...Granta said you had one child?" Demedais asks kindly.
[02:27] <Kotono> "She did?" With a look of momentary surprise, "Yes, but we had to give him up when he was a baby."
[02:27] <Demedais> "Whom did you give him to?"
[02:28] <Kotono> "The T..." He stops there, utterly cold. His eyes widen as he tries to speak. Nothing coherent comes out, "D-Demedais, were you, were you raised by the Temple of Helm?"
06[02:32] * Demedais doesn't respond for a second, sitting back a bit as he kneels. "...only a little bit ago, I was adventuring with the rest of the Crimson Guard and allies, when each of us were singled out by the master of the place and tested... tempted. My temptation was... on a rainy day, a cloth over me. I pulled the cloth back... and saw a woman, one with soft brown hair..."
[18:42] <Kotono> <Demedais> "I see. And...Granta said you had one child?" Demedais asks kindly.
[18:42] <Kotono> > "She did?" With a look of momentary surprise, "Yes, but we had to give him up when he was a baby."
[18:42] <Kotono> <Demedais> "Whom did you give him to?"
[18:42] <Kotono> > "The T..." He stops there, utterly cold. His eyes widen as he tries to speak. Nothing coherent comes out, "D-Demedais, were you, were you raised by the Temple of Helm?"
[18:42] <Kotono> * Demedais doesn't respond for a second, sitting back a bit as he kneels. "...only a little bit ago, I was adventuring with the rest of the Crimson Guard and allies, when each of us were singled out by the master of the place and tested... tempted. My temptation was... on a rainy day, a cloth over me. I pulled the cloth back... and saw a woman, one with soft brown hair..."
[18:44] <Kotono> "C.." He starts to speak again, but Croger's words can't seem to form. He simpl stares, slack jawed.
06[18:48] * Demedais bows his head. "He gave me the option to start over again, in that new, different time, with... with that family. ...I said no." Looking to Croger, "Because it would have meant abandoning my duty here, and... would have involved abandoning those I swore to protect. But before the vision ended... I saw my father, as well." (More)
[18:49] <Demedais> A slight pause, before Demedais chuckles. "I'm no saint... but by Ilmater's mercy..." With this he holds up his other hand, the cut still present but not bleeding. "...my blood still worked.
[18:52] <Kotono> Croger tries to speak again as his eyes take in Demedais' wounded hand. His words come for nothing, trying over and over to speak. "I...It's true then...Demedais?" He manages at last.
[18:53] <Demedais> "...given the list of evidence for it..." Demedais says softly. "I think so... Father."
[18:57] <Kotono> "Oh...My boy..." Croger embraces Demedais roughly, "I never thought I'd see you again!"
06[18:58] * Demedais returns the embrace happily. "Things... work out sometimes...!"
[19:00] <Kotono> "It must be fate. To find out that my son has become such a legendary hero and done all of this..." Croger says warmly.
[19:02] <Demedais> "Heh. I've still got a lot more to do..."
[19:05] <Kotono> "I do, too," Croger murmurs, "I wish your Mother had lived to see this day."
[19:06] <Demedais> "I'm sure she's happy, still." Demedais replies, shaking his head. "Unless she wanted a son that didn't beat up devils and demons for a living. Then there's an issue."
[19:08] <Kotono> "She'd be proud of you," He insists, "She never stopped wondering about you."
[19:10] <Demedais> "Heh." Demedais grins. "That's... good to hear." A final pat on the back, before he pulls out of the embrace a bit, looking to Croger. "All this said... Estahn
[19:10] <Demedais> "All this said... Esthan isn't likely to take this recovery of yours too well."
[19:12] <Kotono> "He's not human, is he?" Leaning back himself, "You said he was a fiend of some sort, a devil?"
[19:14] <Demedais> "A devil, who himself is immensely powerful, and has the aid of an even more powerful devil as his support." Demedais shakes his head. "Kinda bluntly, he likely divined that you were my father, and was thus going to use you to strike at me..."
[19:16] <Kotono> "I trusted him entirely. He passed himself off well," Croger grimances. "Do you think he'll try repeat the same thing?"
[19:19] <Demedais> "Not likely - and I don't blame you for trusting him. He's... very talented, at times. This being said, I wouldn't be too surprised if he tries to strike at you directly." Demedais replies. "Just to hammer the point home."
[19:21] <Kotono> Croger smiles a little there, "I was afraid of that, but...That hurt man...I saw a man covered in wounds in my dreams. He said that I'd recover and find wisdom here to guide others to mercy. That man, that was Ilmater, wasn't it?"
06[19:22] * Demedais nods. "Ilmater told me as well of this. Personally, I'm hardly opposed. Gives us time to eliminate Esthan as a threat... and perhaps after that you can see about spreading what you learn here in Balmuria?"
[19:23] <Kotono> "Yes, I want to. All of this, I wouldn't be here if not for Ilmater. I wouldn't have found out about you if not for him. Despite the pain he was in, he made sure I recovered. There has to be a lesson in that."
06[19:25] * Demedais nods. "Then that solves both issues there." A pause. "...on an unrelated note, do we have a family name?"
[19:26] <Kotono> "No. We've been commoners. Well enough off commoners, but still commoners. You, though...Demedais Dragonslayer, or Demedais Fiendbane? You certainly are famous enough to have a family name of your own now."
06[19:27] * Demedais chokes a bit. "Ah... heh. I'll figure something out, then. Main reason I ask is, well... I may bring my fiancee to see you."
[19:28] <Kotono> "Fiancee?" Widening his eyes, "I had wondered if perhaps the other woman I saw was with you, the black haired one. She was captivating."
[19:33] <Demedais> "Alicia? No. She's an ally in the Crimson Guard. And if you've heard tales of me, she's perhaps the unsung hero of sorts - she's managed to defeat foes that..." Demedais shakes his head with a grin.
03[19:34] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[19:34] <Kotono> "I've heard of her, but..." Stopping there. "Seeing her in person, well...you'd have been a very lucky man."
[19:35] <Demedais> "Heh. Perhaps, but I'm more than happy with Pollyanna." Demedais shakes his head.
[19:43] <Kotono> ---
[19:44] <Kotono> Okay Deme. Do you have any ranks in GI?
[19:44] <Demedais> OOC: Nope.
[19:44] <Kotono> OOC: Do you, Alicia? You're with him and can help if you'd like.
[19:45] <Alicia> Nothing better to do.
[19:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 32." [1d20=16]
[19:46] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Antenora will support
06[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Antenora will support and gets 16." [1d20=9]
[19:47] <Demedais> roll 1d20+4 Aid Another?!
06[19:47] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+4 Aid Another?! and gets 11." [1d20=7]
[19:51] <Kotono> One has to admit that it's really not that rotten a duty to draw. Spending time talking with the blessed, happy and the celestial is far from a trying task. You find that there's not much in teh way of arcane magic being sold here. Healing magic is offered abundantly, as is all sorts of restorations and the like. Clerical magic in general can be found in a few places. There is one place to try, but it's apparently a crapshoot. A Mercane ho
[19:51] <Kotono> but it's apparently a crapshoot. A Mercane holds a small shop a ways downhill of the open air temple to Ilmater. He tends to have odds and ends, as it's said he does business with a number of the travelers that come here.
[19:52] <Demedais> "Worth a shot?" Demedais shrugs after managing to disengage himself from a long talk about holy trees.
[19:52] <Alicia> "I've dealt with Mercane before," Alicia informs the group. "They're fair bargainers, but they just have what they trade for, not what they make - it's pot luck whether they have what we need, and that's some *serious* magic you're looking for, Demedais."
06[19:52] * Demedais nods. "Makes sense. We can inquire, at least."
[19:53] <Kotono> "It's possible we could also find something unrelated but useful there, if it is a matter of fortune," Antenora walks at Alicia's side. "If all else fails, perhaps Marie and I could visit Dweomerheart? If anywhere has those to buy, it would be there."
06[19:54] * Demedais shrugs and nods a bit. "Your call there."
[19:54] <Alicia> "Well, really it's yours - you're the one that wants this magic after all," Alicia replies as she leads the group towards the Mercane encampment.
[19:55] <Demedais> "Details." Demedais shakes his head. "But alright. Let's see if he's got anything."
[19:56] <Kotono> It takes an hour or two to walk down the Mercane's shop. It's an orderly four story house built into the side of the ever rising slope of Martyrdom. It's painted a faint blue color, standing out from the stone around it. A sign hanging just outside of the building says, 'Bang the door knocker to be admitted'.
06[19:57] * Demedais reads the sign, before using the door knocker on the door.
[19:59] <Kotono> The door knocker is shaped like a goblin's mouth, the iron half circle inside of it hitting the stone door hard! The sound is followed by the faint sound of footsteps, then the door being opened. Coming to the door is a blue skinned humanoid with sharp, long ears and wearing a dark blue robe with red accents. "Customers?"
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 3." [1d100=3]
[20:00] <Demedais> "Yes." Demedais nods agreeably. "We've come looking for a few different items."
[20:02] <Kotono> The Mercane stands aside, looking over Demedais - well, more over his shoulder at Alicia and Antenora briefly, then his attention goes back lighting swift to Demedais. "Come in." Standing aside, you can see that a neatly organized shop lies ahead. Rows on rows of shelves of goods sit, each one neatly positioned. Signs about say things like 'Ask before you touch something! It's dangerous!', 'If you break it, that's considered purchasing it!'
[20:02] <Kotono> 'If you break it, that's considered purchasing it!' and 'Unless you're dying, keep walking if you're looking to buy healing.'
06[20:03] * Alicia gives the Mercane a brief smile, stepping inside and contenting herself with an idle look around the store while Demedais enquires about his needs.
[20:04] <Kotono> Antenora follows, and silently to Demedais and then Alicia, 'Be wary. His intellect is superhuman.'
06[20:05] * Demedais finds the signs somewhat amusing, stepping to a somewhat clear spot in the store as he lets Alicia and Antenora look around. "My apologies, but do you have any scrolls of Teleport Circle available?"
[20:06] <Kotono> Most of the goods are lined up on shelves. There's a fair few, ranging from wonderous items to scrolls to weapons and armor. Alicia could spent awhile looking if she likes. "Do be careful not to touch anything!" The Mercane raises his voice to Alicia, "Occasionally, there might be an unknowingly cursed item, ors omething that can discharged if improperly handled." Then, to Demedais, "Let me check. I think I have a scroll or two in of that c
[20:06] <Kotono> "Let me check. I think I have a scroll or two in of that circle. Maybe. Those are rare and quite precious." He goes to a little table in a corner, taking out a well torn book and flipping it's pages.
[20:06] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:06] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 49." [1d100=49]
06[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 90." [1d100=90]
[20:07] <Alicia> "Don't worry, I won't touch anything," Alicia confirms, just looking.
[20:08] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:08] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 91." [1d100=91]
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 50." [1d100=50]
[20:11] <Kotono> "Let's see...I have two in. A scroll of Meteor Swarm, which is wonderful if you want to cause extrodinary fiery harm to someone. I'm afraid it can't teleport you much. But...it's your lucky day. The other scroll happens to be Teleport Circle. Funny story, I bought it off an astral deva who insisted it was a scroll of Time Stop. It turns out that it had an illusion changing it to look like a scroll of Time Stop and not Teleportation Circle.
[20:11] <Kotono> a scroll of Time Stop and not Teleportation Circle. Why, I'll never understand." Meanwhile, Alicia looks about. Near her is a rusty cloth bag and a tan colored cloth bag.
06[20:13] * Alicia already has the last word in nondimensional storage on her person, so the magic bags don't interest her too much. Overhearing the Mercane she laughs under her breath at the serendipity of actually finding the beyond-mortal-magic desired on the first try.
[20:14] <Demedais> "Heh. It does seem rather serendipitous." Demedais muses. "Is the illusion still present on it?"
[20:16] <Kotono> "I dispelled it," He answers. "It can be yours for 5,000 gold or the equivalent in goods, gems or other methods of payment. I'm quite flexible."
[20:19] <Demedais> "I think I'll have to pay in gems and gold, as most magical good on me are things I use consistently. My apologies." Demedais says.
[20:27] <Kotono> "That will do," The Mercane says, going to get a scroll down from one shelf in particular.
06[20:28] * Demedais nods and withdraws the appropriate coinage and gem combination from his bag with a nod.
06[20:28] * Alicia drifts over towards Demedais while the Mercane is busy. "Have you thought about getting something to let you fly, Demedais?" she suggests.
[20:29] <Kotono> Antenora dutifully follows, "That is a consideration. Plus, flying is lovely and useful both."
[20:30] <Demedais> "I have, yes... perhaps this would be a good place to find something, you think?"
[20:30] <Alicia> "He seems to have a wide selection, no harm in asking," Alicia shrugs, after a brief glance at Antenora following her description.
06[20:31] * Demedais nods. "Fair enough. I'll wait until he's pulled the scroll down before asking."
[20:32] <Kotono> The scroll is brought over, wrapped in a little cloth cover. "You can examine it beforehand if you'd like," he says.
06[20:37] * Demedais accepts the scroll, glancing at it for a second. "I think I'll have to trust you on it, though I'm not afraid to do so. Arcane magic is not my area. On a side note, do you have any tools or items that would allow for flight?
06[20:37] * Alicia obligingly casts Detect Magic and takes a look at the scroll.
[20:37] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[20:38] <Alicia> "I'm afraid the spell is beyond me, but the power of magic on the scroll is consistent," Alicia offers.
06[20:39] * Demedais nods slightly. "Very well, then."
03[20:40] * Kotono is now known as Anastasia
[20:40] <Anastasia> "Ah," Clapping his hands together, "Will you be buying, then?"
[20:41] <Demedais> "The scroll, yes." Demedais nods. "Though perhaps we should wait until everyone's finished transactions and looking?"
[20:42] <Anastasia> "Is there anything else any of you are interested in?" The Mercane looks to all three.
06[20:43] * Alicia shakes her head. "Nothing I'm looking for, no," she affirms.
[20:44] <Demedais> "Um. If you have anything that would enable a form of flight...? Not a scroll, I can't cast those. I guess I'm looking along the lines of a ring or a tunic, or something in that vein."
[20:44] <Anastasia> "Let me check..." He paws through the book again.
[20:44] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 65." [1d100=65]
[20:44] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 85." [1d100=85]
[20:44] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
[20:44] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 91." [1d100=91]
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 18." [1d100=18]
[20:44] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
[20:44] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 26." [1d100=26]
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 21." [1d100=21]
[20:46] <Anastasia> "No, nothing in that vein. I do have a Serpentine Owl, but it's of limited use before it's magic fades." Closing up the book, "If you're staying in Martyrdom, I can have you notified if anything useful comes in."
[20:46] <Alicia> "We'll be leaving tomorrow," Alicia shakes her head, turning to Demedais. "Maybe ask Elle if she can make something?"
[20:47] <Demedais> "I'm afraid I'm not, no. We're looking to go back tomorrow. Thank you for checking, though." Demedais says, before nodding to Alicia. "Most likely option, yeah." With that he hands the appropriate amount of coins and gems over in a bag! "Thank you for the scroll."
[20:48] <Anastasia> "Good business with you," The Mercane takes the money and gems, looking them over.
[20:48] <Demedais> "And with you." Demedais nods slightly, looking to the other two. "Ready?"
06[20:49] * Alicia nods and heads out. "Do you have anything else you want to do while we're here, then?"
[20:50] <Demedais> "Not that I can think of, no. Is your ring recharged?" Demedais asks.
[20:51] <Anastasia> "I suppose we must return," Antenora says, "This is a pleasing realm to have visited."
[20:51] <Alicia> "Tomorrow at noon," Alicia reminds him.
[20:52] <Demedais> "Oh, right." Demedais mutters. "Sorry, staying awake near-constantly makes me forget usual timings.
[20:53] <Anastasia> "Are we going to do anything or just kill the time," Antenora looks between the two.
[20:53] <Alicia> "Well, if you've got nothing else you need to do, how about we just wander around until tomorrow?" Alicia suggests. "If our trip to Brightwater was any indication, we're sure to find something interesting here if we look for it."
06[20:55] * Demedais considers, before shrugging. "Sure, I'm game. When you guys need to rest, though, wouldn't mind staying at the Temple. ...Croger's gonna stay there for a while, at least."
[20:55] <Alicia> "I don't think you can get tired here," Alicia muses, starting off away from the Mercane's establishment in a random direction.
[20:56] <Demedais> "Maybe?" Demedais muses, following Alicia.
[20:57] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[20:57] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 10." [1d100=10]
[20:57] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 72." [1d100=72]
[21:00] <Anastasia> The three end up wandering Marytrdom for awhile. While they see many a fascinating site and miraclous thing, nothing of extreme notice occurs doing this time. The next day winds around well enough, Alicia's ring recharged.
06[21:01] * Alicia slips the plane-shift ring onto her finger in exchange for the freedom of movement one. "Time to go," she announces, offering her hands to the others and then plane-shifting them back to Balmuria!
[21:01] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 341." [5d100=6, 82, 95, 84, 74]
[21:01] <Alicia> roll 1d9
06[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d9 and gets 5." [1d9=5]
[21:03] <Anastasia> Woosh! The three appear in rugged mountains! The sun is distant and cloud covered. Around you, you see high ountain ridges, the party stnading on a little slope. In the distance, one can spot skittering, crackling lizards scurrying away.
06[21:03] * Alicia doesn't linger, instead teleporting the group to her house!
[21:03] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 79." [1d100=79]
[21:13] <Anastasia> ----
[21:17] <Anastasia> Home. Rest. Alicia gets a good, long night's sleep in her bed. No troubles. No dreams of Abyssial maidens, no dreams of family lost, just a deep sleep that is oblivion until near dawn. Come morning, as Alicia rises, she can smell something. Something really good. It smells like fruits and milk and cream and honey.
06[21:18] * Alicia sniffs a bit, wondering who's been experimenting in the kitchen. Getting up and making her bed, she cleanses herself thoroughly with a magical scrub-down and ties up her hair, before getting dressed and following her nose...
[21:21] <Anastasia> In the kitchen, you find a Dawnhope fluttering about. She's setting the table, while Antenora carries a pot behind the eladrin, a resigned expression on her face and a sigh uttered. "Oh, good morning Alicia! Since neither of us sleeps much, I thought it would be good to do something nice for you."
[21:24] <Alicia> "It does smell nice," Alicia agrees, shooting a brief grin at Antenora as she goes to sit down. "How you talked Antenora into helping must be a story in itself, though..."
[21:25] <Anastasia> "I have my ways," Dawnhope sits down on the edge of the table, as Antenora turns away and goes to get something else. Giggling now, "It's a secret."
[21:27] <Alicia> "I guess Jessica's still sleeping... where's Marie, though?" Alicia asks. She can sense Marie's presence somewhere through the empathic link, but that doesn't give away too much information.
[21:34] <Anastasia> "She's out getting some flowers for the table setting," Dawnhope chirps.
06[21:36] * Alicia just shakes her head. "You really don't need to go to such trouble," she insists, smiling nonetheless. It is rather sweet.
[21:38] <Anastasia> "You didn't need to risk your life to get me out of there," Dawnhope sing-songs back, "But I'm free and I can do this for you!"
[21:41] <Alicia> "A fair point," Alicia admits as Marie flutters in and deposits a small basket of crysanthenum's on the table.
[21:41] <Alicia> "Good morning!" the normally resident eladrin chirps, receiving the same greeting back from her master.
Session Close: Fri Apr 10 21:49:48 2009
Session Start: Fri Apr 10 21:49:48 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[21:49] * Disconnected
02[21:50] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[21:50] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[21:50] * Topic is 'The Caretaker>Gelugons>Alicia=3 gelugons'
03[21:50] * Set by Kotono on Wed Apr 08 00:19:26
[21:51] <Anastasia> "She seems devoted to you," Going to get some more spoons, fluttering int he air all the while, "How do you get through to a fiend, anyway? Magic?"
[21:54] <Alicia> "Well, it partly helped that she was already something of a rogue when I met her, although she perhaps hoped that bringing me in would help her return to Hell in triumph," Alicia begins.
[21:54] <Alicia> "In the time we spent together I was able to persuade her that the baatezu approach to life is ultimately unfulfilling and self-defeating, although you should probably ask her herself exactly what made her change her mind."
[21:56] <Anastasia> "You did it with just words? Really? Do you have a gold tongue? Forget gold, maybe platinum." Hesitating int he air, Dawnhope doesn't advance. Meanwhile, Antenora returns with a face and puts it in the cente rof the table without comment again.
[21:59] <Alicia> Marie puts a few flowers into the vase while Alicia elects to take pity on the erinyes by suggesting something she might find more enjoyable, "Do you want to help me with training at the garrison today, Antenora?" she offers.
[19:20] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Well, it partly helped that she was already something of a rogue when I met her, although she perhaps hoped that bringing me in would help her return to Hell in triumph," Alicia begins.
[19:20] <Kotono> <Alicia> "In the time we spent together I was able to persuade her that the baatezu approach to life is ultimately unfulfilling and self-defeating, although you should probably ask her herself exactly what made her change her mind."
[19:20] <Kotono> > "You did it with just words? Really? Do you have a gold tongue? Forget gold, maybe platinum." Hesitating int he air, Dawnhope doesn't advance. Meanwhile, Antenora returns with a face and puts it in the cente rof the table without comment again.
[19:20] <Kotono> <Alicia> Marie puts a few flowers into the vase while Alicia elects to take pity on the erinyes by suggesting something she might find more enjoyable, "Do you want to help me with training at the garrison today, Antenora?" she offers.
[19:21] <Kotono> "Certainly," Antenora's words come all too quickly. Amid that, a strange broth is poured in a bowl for Alicia. "Eat up!" Dawnhope says brightly.
06[19:23] * Alicia takes a spoon, digs up a scoop, and puts it in her mouth! Then, assuming no horrifying surprises, she swallows it!
[19:26] <Kotono> Alicia finds that it's quite good and worths wallowing. Kind of sweet and creamy at once. As everyone starts to eat, save Antenora, "You know, I flew around a bit and I got a lot of attention," Dawnhope says between tiny mouthfuls. "But it was like surprise was tempered by it being expected now, like how one person said when I asked. Balmuria's had a lot of big events happen recently, and from the way people talk about you, you're one of th
[19:26] <Kotono> and from the way people talk about you, you're one of the big players?"
[19:29] <Alicia> "Mmm, this is good," Alicia compliments the chef, having another spoonful before continuing the conversation. "Yes, when Marie first arrived I polymorphed her into an aasimar a lot to avoid attention, but by now people are quite used to coure flying around," she explains.
[19:32] <Kotono> "It's good! The people here all treat religion and magic and flying coure as something still new, but they're used ot it. It's really strange, so..." With a bright, bubbly smile, "I can teach people here. I also heard about shadows attacking and demons and worse. In light of that, you need someone to teach them how to be good, loving and happy."
[19:33] <Kotono> "You're being useful." Antenora observes, though her gaze is right on Marie. "I suppose you could laze around here if you wished, but going out and helping people is a far better use of your time."
[19:35] <Alicia> Marie's jaw drops at the blatant insult, too stunned even to speak.
06[19:35] * Alicia somehow ignores it, even though her familiar's indignation is felt loud and clear - she can speak for herself, after all. "Well, if that's what you want to do you'll have my full support," she offers approvingly.
[19:36] <Kotono> Antenora winces a little, "Too obvious?" she murmurs.
[19:38] <Kotono> Dawnhope eyes Antenora, but doesn't comment either. "There's a lot of interesting churches here. Mystra's not so bad. I'm not a big fan of old Helm, but Waukeen's fun. Still, there's no one to really have fun. No church to Lliira or Sune or even Sharess? Any big city needs those so people can unwind. I'll have to compensate."
[19:38] <Alicia> Marie just sniffs and turns her head away from Antenora, crossing her arms huffily. "I'm not even going to dignify you with a response."
[19:39] <Kotono> "I thought you'd have fun with Dawnhope, that's all," Antenora almost snaps, looking away as well, then burying her face in her hand.
[19:40] <Kotono> "Less venom, maybe?" Dawnhope wavers a hand back and forth.
[19:41] <Alicia> "Settle down, you two," Alicia waves her hand between Marie and Antenora, before addressing Dawnhope. "I wouldn't say Mystra isn't fun, but I can see the merit in Sune, Lliira, and Sharess's messages. I suppose Balmuria's somewhat choked with competing religions already, though, so it might be hard to squeeze in."
[19:43] <Kotono> "Well, I'm not planning to preach for them as much as the themes they embody." Dawnhope flutters up from her food now, "I need to check out the temple of Waukeen and see exactly which way they lean. Seira sounded pretty sensible, but some temples of Waukeen can be rougher."
[19:44] <Alicia> "I've met some who were pretty cut-throat, but the one in Balmuria seems fairly gentle," Alicia agrees, continuing to work away on her breakfast. "Anyway, whatever you can do to spread love and joy around will surely be well received," she beams at the little eladrin.
[19:45] <Kotono> "Right. Waukeen's nice, but she's still ultimately about the money. Oh well." Fluttering a little more, "See you three around!"
[19:48] <Alicia> "Watch out for crazy Tormites!" Marie calls after her.
[19:48] <Kotono> Getting up, "How about we get going then," Antenora says, looking ahead at the door.
06[19:50] * Alicia gets up and clears the table, leaving the dishes aside to be cleaned later. "I'll just get my armour and sword first," she nods.
[19:50] <Alicia> "I'll come too!" Marie offers sweetly. "Don't want anyone thinking I'm lazy, after all!"
[20:00] <Kotono> They day begins to unfold like any other. Training goes well in the morning, Alicia's charges showing slow, steady improvement over the time she's trained them. Breaking up for the noon meal and a short break, the trio begins to walk away from the garrison training yard. But just as you do, a private approaches, saluting. "Sir," he begins, "Commander Oberuth requests your presence, sir."
06[20:01] * Alicia gets up and returns the salute. "Where will I find him, private?"
[20:02] <Kotono> "In the general briefing room, sir," he salutes a second itme.
[20:02] <Alicia> "Alright, I'll be there presently. Thank you," Alicia dismisses the man before turning to Marie and Antenora. "Wait here, you two? I'll be back shortly," she tells them before heading off.
[20:04] <Kotono> "Sure," Antenora says, as she heads along. Finding Commander Oberuth in the briefing room, you find a familiar face with him. Darryl's look brings back flashes of Erenholm and the dead, empty village that was left behind in the wake of tragedy. He now wears leather armor and has a heavy pack on the floor besides him. He stands as Alicia enters. "Alicia," Commander Oberuth's gaze is on her, "One of the Erenholm survivors wanted to talk to yo
[20:04] <Kotono> "Alicia," Commander Oberuth's gaze is on her, "One of the Erenholm survivors wanted to talk to you."
[20:06] <Alicia> "Ah," Alicia pauses for a moment as she calls up the man's name from the vault of her memory, "Darryl, right? You didn't have to go through the Commander - you could have just visited me at home," she offers kindly. "What can I do for you?"
[20:08] <Kotono> "I didn't want to impose. I wanted to thank you again, forI feel I won't return to the United Baronies. At least not for a long time. There's also the matter of what I'll be doing, and I wanted you to know. Ever since this happened, I haven't been able to forgive or forget what the Sharrans did to Erenholm."
06[20:09] * Alicia nods understandingly, not blaming him at all for feeling that way. "Go on."
[20:10] <Kotono> "I realize that these times are changing. With all the religious revivals, there may be other Erenholms. Other pointless sacrifices to Shar. I...I can't allow that." Looking down, hand on the hilt of a shortsword belted to his side, "I've decided what I want to do with the rest of my life now."
06[20:11] * Alicia has a good idea, but prefers not to state any conclusions. "What will you do, Darryl?"
[20:12] <Kotono> "Hunt them. If even another single Sharran appears anywhere I can reach, I'll kill them." He draws his shortsword out, then a dagger with his other hand. "I want you to see that by my most sacred vow, these weapons will run red with the blood of anyone who bows to that abomination of a Goddess."
[20:17] <Alicia> "Living for vengeance is a sad thing indeed, Darryl," Alicia begins, before shaking her head, "But one I understand all too well. And regardless, by opposing their ilk you'll be protecting others from their future depredations, which is laudable in itself. Just... be careful that you do not find yourself adopting their ways to fight them - that would be handing her a victory like none other."
[20:18] <Kotono> "I'll never become like them," Darryl's voice has a hint of winter in it as he sheathes his blades. "I swear that to you."
[20:18] <Kotono> "Alicia's words are wise. Hunt them, but remember that you're not a cold blooded killer like them. When you have to kill, kill for the right reasons. Kill to protect others, not to satisify an endless emptiness in you."
[20:21] <Alicia> "Have you ever killed a thinking being before, Darryl?" Alicia asks, curious on that point.
[20:22] <Kotono> "No." Admitting this as he locks eyes with Alicia, "When the time comes, I will."
[20:26] <Alicia> "It's a shame that this tragedy would turn you into a killer, but," Alicia shrugs, "Speaking as a killer like few the world has seen, it's not my place to judge. You have your reasons and I respect that this is a decision you've made after many months to consider, rather than a spur of the moment choice."
[20:26] <Alicia> She cocks her head to the side, studying the man intently, "My last concern is whether your skills are up to the task you've set before yourself."
[20:27] <Kotono> "I've begun to train hard and well," he says, "Using both of these at the same time to efficiently eviserate my foes."
[20:29] <Alicia> "The two-bladed style is a very difficult one to master, though it's also one that I have learned in my time..." Alicia takes on a speculative tone. "Perhaps I might be able to provide you with a few pointers before you set off?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "Before you say anything rash, if that's what you're thinking, I was going to have the garrison assemble you travel supplies and a small donation of traveling money," Commander Oberuth now looks Darryl over carefully, "This would compliment this gift. Going to stop Shar's schemes is admirable, but do so when you're fully prepared."
[20:33] <Kotono> After listening to both, "I don't want to dally forever, but I know your offer is a good one. Thank you, ma'am, I accept."
[20:35] <Alicia> "There's little point running off without a plan, either," Alicia notes. "But there are other dangers to the people besides cultists, and perhaps you might put an end to them on your travels if you're so inclined. Lets step outside so I can properly gauge your skills?"
[20:47] <Kotono> Darryl follows Alicia out, back to the yard where Antenora and Marie wait. Antenora hangs back and watches, while Darryl looks about, "Are there practice weapons, or will we use our real ones?"
[20:49] <Alicia> "Practice weapons," Alicia confirms, going to one of the weapon-racks and picking out two short swords for herself and a short sword and dagger for Darryl, all with appropriately dulled edges. Handing over the weapons, she gives him a moment to get a feel for them as she steps back.
[20:49] <Alicia> "Now, lets spar so I can see what you can do already, then we'll see what advice I can give you," she offers, bringing up her weapons with one high and one low to guard herself.
[20:54] <Kotono> OOC: Basically just going to be trying to figure out how good he is?
[20:55] <Alicia> OOC: yeah, just light sparring I'm not looking to start a proper fight
[21:01] <Kotono> An hour of sparringa nd duelling commenses! Darryl is soild but not great. He knows what he's doing and for a normal person he's capable of defending himself. He's not anywhere close to your league.
06[21:06] * Alicia gives him advice throughout, not just on basics like how to best hold his weapons and what strikes to use, but also useful tactics about positioning and accepting risks to get in hits to disarm or trip an otherwise difficult foe.
[21:06] <Alicia> In conclusion, "There's more I could teach, but you have the basics established and there's no better teacher than genuine experience in a real battle. If you pick your battles properly you could go far," she encourages him.
[21:12] <Kotono> Taking a moment to rest before getting up, "Thank you." he says, "I'll remember what you taught me and repay it ten fold to the Sharrans."
[21:13] <Alicia> "So where will you be going first?" Alicia asks, wondering if he has any leads.
[21:15] <Kotono> "Malmuth. It's a large empire and it's recently lost something. From what I've studied about Sharran rituals, this appeals to them." Brushing himself off, "From there, I'll see what I've found and how I feel."
[21:18] <Alicia> "As good a direction as any," Alicia agrees. "One last piece of advice then; there's only so much a person can do alone."
[21:18] <Alicia> "You'll be hunting those who delight in striking from the shadows and going after you at your weakest. Having someone to watch your back out there can be more important than any skill with a blade - keep an eye out for those sympathetic to your cause for any help they can offer." Plus it helps to keep you more grounded and less crazed with vengeance, but no need to belabour that.
02[21:26] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (BRB -=SysReset 2.53=-)
03[21:52] * Anastasia (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #evildunes
03[21:52] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Anastasia Anastasia
[21:54] <Anastasia> "I will." Leaning, one hand on a hip, "I hope I'll make a lot of people grateful to me, then."
[21:56] <Alicia> "Good luck out there, Darryl," Alicia offers her hand to him.
[21:57] <Anastasia> The hand is taken, a firm handshake. "Thank you, Alicia. Thank you for everything." He then goes to Antenora and Marie, "I remember seeing both of you at Erenholm as well. Thank you." He bows to them. Then back to Alicia, "I'll prepare my supplies and leave on the 'morrow,then."
[21:58] <Alicia> "Remember to speak to Commander Obureth about those supplies he offered," Alicia advises, giving him a wave before she joins Marie and Antenora.
[22:02] <Anastasia> "Mystra travel with you and watch you," Antenora smiles to him, "May you succeed to your wildest dreams, Darryl." As he travels back into the garrison, "You know...it was enlightening to see that happen again. From the ashes of evil rises another person to oppose it."
[22:04] <Alicia> "Hopefully he has what it takes," Alicia nods thoughtfully. "It's a hard path to walk, but... he seems set on it anyway."
[22:06] <Anastasia> "Did you have any plans for the afternoon," Antenora asks, "Or were you going home?"
[22:08] <Alicia> "I think I'll check up on things in Wetwind, then go shopping if need be. It's been about a week since we last looked in, so best to make sure everything's under control there," Alicia muses.
[22:10] <Anastasia> "Mmm. I think I'll stay here and visit Jessica," Antenora says after some thought. "I wanted to do some things in Balmuria today."
06[22:11] * Alicia nods. "We'll have to head home and get changed there first, anyway, so we'll head back now," she states, starting out of the garrison.
[22:11] <Alicia> "What are you going to be doing today, Antenora?" Marie asks curiously, fluttering along with the duo.
[22:17] <Anastasia> "Catch up with Jessica, visit the Temple of Gond, study at the Temple of Mystra, train," Ticking off fingers, "That's about it."
[22:18] <Alicia> "Sounds like a full day ahead," the eladrin agrees cheerily, seemingly having forgiven Antenora for her earlier ill-founded implication.
[22:19] <Anastasia> "You know..." Antenora hesitates, "Maybe you could come with me, Marie?"
[22:21] <Alicia> "You can if you like," Alicia quickly offers, eager to have those two make up with each other. "There's no need for both of us to visit the festhall."
[22:21] <Alicia> "Alright then!" Marie agrees happily, alighting on Antenora's head.
[22:21] <Anastasia> OOC: Skip ahead a bit then?
[22:22] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[22:22] <Demedais> I'll do that once WMUnet stops failing.
[22:22] <Demedais> OOC: ...strike
[22:26] <Anastasia> After going home and changing, Alicia's off and gone. Antenora and Marie find Jessica just leaving. "Oh hello," she says, "You two must be in a good mood."
[22:26] <Alicia> "I'm always in a good mood!" Marie replies brightly.
[22:28] <Anastasia> "Something like that," Antenora's eyes roll up towards Marie.
[22:29] <Anastasia> "Well, I'm going to visit Roald. We were going to have a picnic today, but two of his workers are sick so he's stuck at the bakery all day." Frowning with an exaggerated sigh, "I said I'd keep him company there."
[22:31] <Alicia> "The sacrifices you must make for the one you love," Marie sighs wistfully. "Oh! You better watch out - Alicia was talking about going to Kelara yesterday and she was saying it might be nice if you could introduce Roald to your parents!" she warns.
[22:33] <Anastasia> Antenora smirks a touch at that, while Jessica pales. "Oh, that means Mother will...oh Mystra." She sighs. "Thanks, Marie. Though speaking of...have you two seriously met Roald yet? I don't think you have, Antenora. You might have, Marie?"
[22:34] <Alicia> "I've seen him once or twice but we haven't talked that much," the eladrin admits, shrugging cutely.
[22:35] <Anastasia> "Why don't you two come with me?" Smiling brightly, "It'll brighten his day up to meet the two of you."
[22:36] <Alicia> "Sure! We're not doing anything urgent, anyway!" Marie answers for the two of them.
[22:37] <Anastasia> "I was going to..." Antenora starts, before facepalming. "Oh well, I suppose. The Temple of Gond can wait until tomorrow."
[22:38] <Anastasia> "See, that's the right attitude. What's a few more bits of synchronized metal versus meeting someone," Jessica picks up her pace, "Let's go and have some fun!"
[22:39] <Alicia> Marie hangs down over Antenora's face, regarding her quizzically from her upside down vantage. "Come on, the temple'll still be there afterwards - there's plenty of hours in the day for two non-sleeping fun-loving girls like us!"
[22:40] <Anastasia> "See," Antenora begins, "Those 'syncronized bits of metal' are like mana to my sensibilities." Rolling her eyes up, "And-" There's a cutoff there, Jessica butting in. "Antenora, really. I know you like them, but that's bordering on the asocial. Come on, loosen up." Taking Antenora's arm, "Marie, tell her to loosen up or we'll need to take her back to Arborea. Maybe a few more wild nights of eladrin parties will help in that case?"
[22:41] <Anastasia> Maybe a few more wild nights of eladrin parties will help in that case?"
[22:44] <Alicia> "Well, it's nice that she has interests beyond just smiting evil and looking down on chaos - I mean, everyone has to have hobbies, right?" Marie offers in Antenora's defence. "It's a bit surprising since it doesn't really fit you, but that just makes it cuter."
[22:46] <Anastasia> "Hobbies are well and good, but come on. Didn't you tell me awhile ago now nice it was to be close to people? That requires going to meet and talk with them, not spending it with some bits of metal." Smiling along as she walks, "Please, Antenora."
[22:46] <Anastasia> "Cuter, eh?" Antenora shakes her head as she laughs, "Fine, I'll go. You don't have to argue that strongly. I'm going."
[22:48] <Alicia> Marie takes off from Antenora's head and flutters cheerily between her and Jessica as they leave the house and start the walk across town to Roald's family's bakery.
[22:48] <Anastasia> As they walk...
[22:48] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19
03[22:48] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-70-113-75-254.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
03[22:48] * Anastasia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[22:48] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19
06[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+19 and gets 31." [1d20=12]
[22:51] <Anastasia> The three take a relaxed, easy walk. They head to the side of the hill with Seira's inn and Elle's shop, walking northward on the throughfare there. As you do, passing fairly busy streets and crowds of people, Antenora stops. In Marie's head, 'Hold on a moment. 20 feet ahead, walking towards us. The two men in studded leather, with the battleaxes and falchions? See them, Marie? Nothing. They're not there as far as my mind sees.'
[22:52] <Anastasia> Marie? Nothing. They're not there as far as my mind sees.'
[22:53] <Alicia> Marie surreptitiously looks over the three indicated for magic and evil.
[22:55] <Anastasia> Jessica stops as well, glancing back at Antenora. She frowns at her.
[22:57] <Alicia> 'They've got magic weapons and armour that I can detect, so it can't be an anti-divination effect,' Marie replies inaudibly. 'Better keep moving unless you want to look suspicious, by the way,' she adds.
[22:57] <Anastasia> Antenora walks to the side, away from those men. 'This way,' she sends to Marie. JEssica frowns even more, but follows after Antenora.
[22:58] <Alicia> Marie gives Jessica a little shrug and follows Antenora as requested.
[23:01] <Anastasia> The men pause as they approahc, watching the two. They lean in and talk to each other briefly. One's aburly blonde man, the other is a lean black haired man. Both are tall, over six feet and in good shape and form. "Excuse me," the blonde man calls in a pleasing voice, "Are you Jessica Reynes and Antenora?"
[23:02] <Alicia> Marie has a baaaad feeling about this.
[23:04] <Anastasia> Antenora looks them over, "What do you want," she asks, as Jessica slinks back behind Antenora. The passing crowds look back and forth, a few giving long, unkind looks to Jessica as the men are 15 feet away.
[23:05] <Alicia> Poor Jessica. You'd think by now people would've gotten over her trying to kill that archbaron guy... Marie would give them a piece of her mind, but she's more worried about the armed men that Antenora can't sense.
[23:08] <Anastasia> "We'd like to talk about Alicia. We came to meet her. We had friends who the Crimson Guard saved and we'd like to thank her in person." The black haired man smiles.
[23:09] <Alicia> "She's not here right now," Marie informs them, relaxing a little bit - Alicia does lots of nice things, it's natural that there should be grateful people out there. "Who are your friends?"
[23:14] <Anastasia> "They were victims of Malmuth's aggression," Ten feet away, the two approaching with warm smiles. "The quick victory in the war ensured they would not be further harmed."
[23:17] <Alicia> Marie looks up directly above Antenora, gauges a distance of 100 feet, and elicits a burst of purple faerie fire in the sky at that point to reveal any hidden foes!
[23:17] <Alicia> OOC: SR?
[23:18] <Anastasia> OOC: Yes.
[23:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[23:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 35." [1d20=19]
[23:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[23:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 17." [1d20=1]
[23:25] <Anastasia> Above, one of two figures appears lined in Faerie fire! It has long wings, flapping in the air! It's body is more or less humanoid. The other target fizzles. The two men start to draw their weapons a split second later! Jessica quickly sprints back several feet, fumbling in her pouch for a tiger statuette! Antenora flies straight up 50 feet, before plummeting down at them in a speedy surprise charge down at the blonde one! OOC: Party has
[23:25] <Anastasia> speedy surprise charge down at the blonde one! OOC: Party has a surprise round. Jessica saw the drawing weapons and is getting her tiger ready, while Anteora's going on the offensive.
[23:27] <Alicia> Marie tries again with the faerie fire, trusting Antenora that there's a second foe up there!
[23:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[23:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 20." [1d20=4]
[23:27] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+25 (+2 charge, +1 flying, +2 FS 9/10, +7 smite, +2 bane, -10 PA)
06[23:27] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+25 (+2 charge, +1 flying, +2 FS 9/10, +7 smite, +2 bane, -10 PA) and gets 33." [1d20=8]
[23:28] <Anastasia> roll 2d8+1d6+2d6+66
06[23:28] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d8+1d6+2d6+66 and gets 79." [2d8=6, 2][1d6=1][2d6=2, 2]
[23:42] <Anastasia> As a Dire Tiger springs into life, and Marie's spell fails, Antenora charges forward! She impales the blonde soldier with ease, ripping away her spear from his body! Despite a grotesque wound, red blue turning frozen as it falls away from the man's body! "Begone from this place! There's nothing here for you but oblivion and defeat!" OOC: Let's roll initative here.
[23:42] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 17." [1d20=12]
[23:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[23:42] <Anastasia> "Get out of here, now," Jessica calls to the people, who gawk and stare at the battle springing up around them! A few are already starting to run!
[23:43] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+10
06[23:43] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 25." [1d20=15]
[23:43] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Blonde
06[23:43] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+5 Blonde and gets 19." [1d20=14]
[23:43] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+5 Black
06[23:43] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+5 Black and gets 12." [1d20=7]
[23:43] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+11 faeriefired thing
06[23:44] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+11 faeriefired thing and gets 15." [1d20=4]
[23:44] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+8
06[23:44] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[23:44] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+2 TIGER
06[23:44] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+2 TIGER and gets 13." [1d20=11]
03[23:45] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Marie>Jessica>Blonde>Antenora>Winged creature>TIGER>Black>?????'
[23:46] <Anastasia> OOC: Your'e up, Marie.
[23:46] <Alicia> Marie wonders if she's missing, but nonetheless she tries to paint the sky with faerie fire again to reveal the other flying interloper, before quickly moving beside Jessica to guard her!
[23:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 SR, constant guardian on Jessica
06[23:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 SR, constant guardian on Jessica and gets 35." [1d20=19]
[23:47] <Anastasia> This time, another figure appears! It's a man covered with horrid barbs, quite large adn with a bow in it's hands! OOC: Taking yourm ove action?
[23:48] <Alicia> "Stay back until there's an opening, Jessica!" Marie warns Alicia's sister, not wanting her to run in and get clobbered like she did against that troll.
[23:48] <Alicia> OOC: move was spent positioning near Jessica
[23:48] <Anastasia> "Got it!" Jessica shouts back, readying a bracelet on her arm, "Everyone! Run! Call the Crimson Guard! Hurry!" Jessica shouts! OOC: Readying an actino to use her bracelet of friends in case things get really bad really fast. Right, Marie. Blonde man is up.
[23:49] <Anastasia> The blonde man changes in an instant! In it's place ia horrid gelugon! It's body is clad in studded leather, shifting to fit it's size! In one hand is a battleaxe of human size, in the other is a falchion! It makes a quick swipe with the battleaxe at Antenora!
[23:50] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+26
06[23:50] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 29." [1d20=3]
[23:51] <Anastasia> Antenora deflects the axe with her spear, spinning it back! A split second later, a massive vaccum of deathly cold air enamnates out from him in a cone! OOC: Ref saves you threea fter it checks SR for Anty.
[23:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 How many actions does this guy get?
06[23:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 How many actions does this guy get? and gets 24." [1d20=11]
[23:52] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+15 (Move equivalent+standard+swift)CL check
06[23:52] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+15 (Move equivalent+standard+swift)CL check and gets 35." [1d20=20]
[23:52] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+15 Jessica reflex
06[23:52] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+15 Jessica reflex and gets 30." [1d20=15]
[23:52] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+21 Antenora
06[23:52] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+21 Antenora and gets 28." [1d20=7]
[23:53] <Anastasia> roll 15d6 half cold, half unholy typed. Jessica evades, other two take half damage.
06[23:53] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 15d6 half cold, half unholy typed. Jessica evades, other two take half damage. and gets 46." [15d6=2, 5, 6, 1, 1, 2, 5, 4, 1, 2, 6, 1, 3, 4, 3]
[23:53] <Alicia> OOC: Marie has improved evasion, so no damage for her
[23:53] <Anastasia> OOC: Just Antenora then. 23 damage. Say the base wins out over the corrupted part, so 12 cold and 11 unholy. Antenora has a bit of cold res to soften that. 5 I think?
[23:54] <Alicia> OOC: yeah, so 18 damage
[23:54] <Anastasia> OOC: Yeah. 7 cold and 11 unholy. 18 total, right. Just walking through it myself.
[23:54] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+1
06[23:54] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+1 and gets 11." [1d20=10]
[23:54] <Anastasia> roll 1d20-1
06[23:54] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20-1 and gets 9." [1d20=10]
[23:54] <Anastasia> roll 1d20
06[23:54] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20 and gets 16." [1d20=16]
[23:56] <Anastasia> Antenora blocks most of the cold with her spear, while Jessica and Marie duck and miss most of the air! A few people nearby are flashfrozen, nothing but ice statues in that horrible blast! Antenora snarls, "Die now!" She calls, moving out of his range and repeating her diving charge of last time! "Listen to her! Flee!"
[23:56] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+29 (+2 charge, +1 flying, +2 FS 8/10, +7 smite, +2 bane, -6 PA)
06[23:56] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+29 (+2 charge, +1 flying, +2 FS 8/10, +7 smite, +2 bane, -6 PA) and gets 34." [1d20=5]
[23:57] <Anastasia> Antenora charges again, but her spear is blocked by crossed battleaxe and falchion! The gelugon clatters back at her, "Your lives are forfiet by decree!" OOC: Winged creature is up.
[23:58] <Anastasia> Above, one can hear laughter. The winged figure shakes in cackles! "Oh, the spirits of the dead are crying out already! Such a cold death knocked them right out of their bodies!" As he does, a bolt of lighting slams down from above, going right for Antenora's head, crackling all the while!
[23:59] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+12 CL check
06[23:59] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+12 CL check and gets 29." [1d20=17]
[23:59] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+21 Antenora reflex again
06[23:59] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+21 Antenora reflex again and gets 32." [1d20=11]
[23:59] <Anastasia> roll 10d6 half lightning half unholy, made the save.
06[23:59] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 10d6 half lightning half unholy, made the save. and gets 34." [10d6=3, 4, 2, 6, 2, 4, 2, 1, 4, 6]
Session Time: Sun Apr 12 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Alicia> "It's the Spark Hunters... call for Alicia! Now!" Marie yells stridently to Jessica as she sees the devils able to fend off Antenora's attacks.
[00:00] <Anastasia> "Got it!" Jessica acts, even as Antenora is grazed by it, only some of the lightning crackling into her body! She grimaces but stays up in one place! OOC: JEssica's acting now.
03[00:00] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Marie>Jessica>Blonde>Antenora>Winged creature>Jessica>TIGER>Black>?????'
03[00:01] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Marie>Blonde>Antenora>Winged creature>Jessica>TIGER>Black>?????'
[00:02] <Anastasia> Pulling on her bracelet, "Alicia Reynes!" Jessica calls! OOC: Alicia is aware Jessica's trying to summon her. She can come or stay as sh ewishes.
[00:02] <Alicia> OOC: Do I act immediately?
[00:03] <Anastasia> OOC: You'll be able to and appear next to Jessica, yes.
06[00:04] * Alicia promptly appears adjacent to Jessica. She doesn't look like herself, more like a middle aged and slightly overweight woman with greying hair and black robes worn. Rather than waste time with questions, she immediately begins to cast a spell, turning her sister invisible! "Jessica, hide!" she instructs, reaching for her portable hole.
03[00:04] * Alicia changes topic to 'Marie>Blonde>Antenora>Winged creature>Jessica>Alicia>TIGER>Black>Barbed'
[00:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 knowledge devotion for Alicia
06[00:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 knowledge devotion for Alicia and gets 28." [1d20=8]
[00:04] <Anastasia> "Spark Hunters!" Antenora shouts to Alicia, "Above too!" Meanwhile, the tiger pounces on the black haired man as Jessica points at him!
[00:05] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+22 (+2 charge) claw 1
06[00:05] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+22 (+2 charge) claw 1 and gets 41." [1d20=19]
[00:05] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+22 (+2 charge) claw 2
06[00:05] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+22 (+2 charge) claw 2 and gets 37." [1d20=15]
[00:05] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+16 bite
06[00:05] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+16 bite and gets 29." [1d20=13]
[00:06] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+20 rake
[00:06] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+20 rake
06[00:06] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+20 rake and gets 33." [1d20=13]
06[00:06] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+20 rake and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[00:07] <Anastasia> roll 2d4+8
06[00:07] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d4+8 and gets 15." [2d4=3, 4]
[00:07] <Anastasia> roll 2d4+8
06[00:07] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d4+8 and gets 16." [2d4=4, 4]
[00:07] <Anastasia> roll 2d4+4 rake
06[00:07] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d4+4 rake and gets 9." [2d4=3, 2]
[00:08] <Anastasia> roll 2d4+4 rake
06[00:08] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d4+4 rake and gets 7." [2d4=1, 2]
[00:08] <Anastasia> roll 2d6+4
06[00:08] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6+4 and gets 8." [2d6=1, 3]
[00:08] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+24 grapple for tiger
06[00:08] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+24 grapple for tiger and gets 37." [1d20=13]
[00:09] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+20
06[00:09] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 24." [1d20=4]
[00:09] <Anastasia> Pouncing ont he untransformed creature, the tiger pounces and claws and bites and rakes it! It holds it down hard, grappling with it and mauling away! The black haired one grunts and tries to escape the grapple!
[00:09] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+24
06[00:09] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 33." [1d20=9]
[00:09] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+20
06[00:09] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 36." [1d20=16]
[00:10] <Anastasia> It staggers and manages to break the hold the tiger has on it, stumbling slightly back! From above, a voice with terrible, terrible tones speaks! Each word is like a furnance blast of boiling hate! "Now, perish inferior creatures!" WIth that, a rain of arrows comes from above!
[00:11] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+33 arrow Antenora
06[00:11] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+33 arrow Antenora and gets 47." [1d20=14]
[00:11] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+33 arrow Antenora
06[00:11] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+33 arrow Antenora and gets 42." [1d20=9]
[00:11] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+28 arrow Tiger
[00:11] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+28 arrow Tiger
06[00:11] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+28 arrow Tiger and gets 33." [1d20=5]
06[00:11] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+28 arrow Tiger and gets 38." [1d20=10]
[00:11] <Anastasia> OOC: -5 from the second
[00:11] <Anastasia> OOC: So 33.
[00:11] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18 Tiger
06[00:11] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 Tiger and gets 20." [1d20=2]
[00:12] <Anastasia> roll 4d8+22+4d6
06[00:12] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 4d8+22+4d6 and gets 56." [4d8=5, 7, 6, 4][4d6=3, 2, 3, 4]
[00:12] <Anastasia> roll 4d8+16 tiger
06[00:12] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 4d8+16 tiger and gets 37." [4d8=1, 6, 7, 7]
[00:14] <Anastasia> The arrows fly like the wrath of a vengeful God! Both the tiger statue and Antenora are considerably wounded, pincushioned! Antenora cries in pain, wobbling! OOC: Marie's up.
[00:14] <Anastasia> More people run, seeing the horrible gelugon and beating a hasty retreat away from it!
[00:15] <Alicia> "Marie, get Antenora out of there! Plan B!" Alicia tells her familiar, wanting to pull Antenora out of range from a full attack and buy her room for a charge.
[00:16] <Alicia> "Got it!" Marie replies, using her bracelet to switch places with Antenora before she immediately flies back to join both her and Alicia, protecting them with her aura, and Antenora with her constant guardianship. Without armour Alicia's going to get hit no matter what happens, anyway.
[00:18] <Anastasia> Antenora shudder,s "Careful of those arrows," she pants, "Evil. Sickening evil!" The blonde gelugon licks at it's hand, a tiny tongue coming out from it's mouth! Another horrible vaccum of cold comes from it, going for the clustered heroes!
[00:18] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+15 CL
06[00:18] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+15 CL and gets 32." [1d20=17]
[00:18] <Anastasia> OOC: Ref saves, all.
[00:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 A
06[00:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 A and gets 29." [1d20=11]
[00:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 M
06[00:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 M and gets 19." [1d20=6]
[00:19] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+21 Antenora
06[00:19] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+21 Antenora and gets 31." [1d20=10]
[00:19] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+15 Jessica
06[00:19] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+15 Jessica and gets 20." [1d20=5]
[00:19] <Anastasia> roll 15d6 Halves for Alicia and Anty, Jessica evades, Marie hates her dice and takes full.
06[00:19] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 15d6 Halves for Alicia and Anty, Jessica evades, Marie hates her dice and takes full. and gets 60." [15d6=1, 1, 2, 6, 6, 4, 4, 6, 2, 6, 3, 4, 3, 6, 6]
[00:19] <Alicia> OOC: improved evasion, still half for Marie
[00:20] <Anastasia> OOC: Right.
[00:20] <Anastasia> OOC: Pure cold damage this time.
[00:20] <Anastasia> The gelugon then runs around to the side of the street, near the end and alleys! He's ten feet to the north of the clustered party! OOC: Antenora.
[00:21] <Alicia> "Wait, Antenora, don't go just yet," Alicia cautions.
[00:22] <Anastasia> Antenora sags on her spear, "Shit...we need reinforcements." She grimaces. Pain lingers in her voice, "We're outmatched right now!" OOC: She's holding.
[00:25] <Anastasia> LAughing even more, "They're asking why they had to die! It's so fucking funny!" The invisible winged creature continues to cackle! "Oh, they're so scared!" A moment later, another lightning bolt comes down at Antenora!
[00:25] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+12 CL
06[00:25] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+12 CL and gets 29." [1d20=17]
[00:25] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+21 ref
06[00:25] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+21 ref and gets 28." [1d20=7]
[00:25] <Anastasia> roll 10d6 pure lightning this time halved
06[00:25] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 10d6 pure lightning this time halved and gets 34." [10d6=1, 3, 1, 2, 4, 6, 6, 4, 4, 3]
[00:26] <Anastasia> Antenora is hit again! She twists her body to miss most of the lightning botl, but she still gets shocked! SSmoke rises from her body, frozen patches dripping blood from arrow wounds! "Go...to...Hell..." She grinds out to him. OOC: Jessica's up.
[00:28] <Anastasia> Jessica meanwhile hides unseen for now, ducking into an alley invisible! OOC: I'll her hide, it's nottoo relevant but it's worth checking anyway.
[00:28] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18
06[00:28] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 34." [1d20=16]
06[00:28] * Alicia had been planning to turn Antenora invisible, but now even a lucky shot could see her off it calls for a change in approach. Touching Antenora's shoulder, she channels healing energy into the renegade erinyes. "Go for the archer, destroy or take away his bow," she hisses urgently. "Now, before he has a chance to fire again!"
[00:28] <Anastasia> OOC: Alicia.
[00:28] <Alicia> roll 18d4+18
06[00:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 18d4+18 and gets 73." [18d4=4, 1, 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 1, 4, 3, 4, 2, 2, 4, 2]
[00:29] <Alicia> That done, she withdraws Hell Striker from her portable hole. She wishes dearly she had time to put her armour on, but she'll have to make do...
02[00:29] * Demedais (~ferixstad@resnet211-066.resnet.wmich.edu) Quit (Back later, heading home.)
[00:30] <Anastasia> "Thanks," Antenora breathes in raggedly, taking to the air! She charges upward, spear bursting into light as she does, going right for the highlighted archer!
[00:33] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+36 (+2 charge, +4 two handed, +2 FS 7/10, +7 smite)
06[00:33] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+36 (+2 charge, +4 two handed, +2 FS 7/10, +7 smite) and gets 40." [1d20=4]
[00:34] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+25
06[00:34] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+25 and gets 44." [1d20=19]
[00:35] <Anastasia> Antenora's unseen spear lances out, hitting with a barely seen bow! But no bow is seen flying from him, no disarming obviously successful! OOC: Tiger is up.
[00:36] <Anastasia> "Dammit!" Jessica whimpers, "Get the other one! The tiger breaks away, the black haired one unable to have a weapon handy due to grappling and at least unable to attack ita s it pounces on the blonde gelugon!
[00:36] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+22 charge
[00:36] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+22 charge
06[00:36] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+22 charge and gets 34." [1d20=12]
06[00:36] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+22 charge and gets 27." [1d20=5]
[00:36] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+16
06[00:36] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 22." [1d20=6]
[00:36] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+16
06[00:36] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 18." [1d20=2]
[00:36] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18
06[00:36] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[00:36] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18
06[00:36] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 19." [1d20=1]
[00:37] <Anastasia> But this time, the gelugon is ready! It blocks each blow with it's blades, enduring the tiger's charge with perfect, cold deflections! The black haired man shifts, turning into another gelugon! It then positions, advancing right towards Alicia and swinging it's battleaxe at her unarmoed body!
[00:38] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18 (-6 PA)
06[00:38] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 (-6 PA) and gets 28." [1d20=10]
[00:38] <Anastasia> OOC: AC?
[00:38] <Alicia> OOC: 22
[00:38] <Anastasia> roll 1d8+11
06[00:38] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d8+11 and gets 18." [1d8=7]
[00:38] <Anastasia> A split second later, a cone of cold erupts around Alicia, billowing out to freeze her solid! OOC: Ref, Alicia and Marie.
[00:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 A
06[00:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 A and gets 24." [1d20=6]
[00:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 M
06[00:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 M and gets 27." [1d20=14]
[00:39] <Anastasia> roll 15d6 pure cold damage, both passed
06[00:39] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 15d6 pure cold damage, both passed and gets 50." [15d6=1, 4, 3, 6, 2, 4, 6, 1, 6, 6, 5, 1, 1, 1, 3]
[00:40] <Anastasia> Alicia endures the cone, Hell Striker's flaming blades parrying some of the freezing air current! It provides warmth and respite, dulling hte worst of the cone! Meanwhile, above, the faintly seen archer moves 10 feet down and away, before snapping off an arrow at Alicia!
[00:40] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+33
06[00:40] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+33 and gets 48." [1d20=15]
[00:41] <Anastasia> roll 2d8+11+2d6
06[00:41] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d8+11+2d6 and gets 27." [2d8=4, 3][2d6=6, 3]
[00:41] <Anastasia> The arrow flies straight down, hitting Alicia right int he shoulder! The touch of it reviles her entire body, as if pure hate burns in her wound! (More)
[00:42] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+14
06[00:42] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+14 and gets 31." [1d20=17]
[00:43] <Anastasia> roll 10d6
06[00:43] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 10d6 and gets 38." [10d6=2, 2, 2, 6, 6, 6, 1, 6, 2, 5]
[00:43] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19 ref
06[00:43] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+19 ref and gets 20." [1d20=1]
[00:44] <Anastasia> From the right, the hilltop has a figure on it! Elle's hands crackle with lightning, as a lighting bolt hits the barbed devil head on! Besides her, Donald sprints down the hill, leaping over grasses and with his sword out! "We're coming, we're coming!" he calls! OOC: Marei's up.
[00:44] <Alicia> Gritting her teeth and using her flaming blade to ward off the cold and reeling from the arrow penetrating her vulnerably flesh, Alicia nonetheless continues to command the battle despite all that assails her. "Marie, thin out their numbers - banish the fliers!"
03[00:44] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Marie>Blonde>Antenora>Winged creature>Jessica>Alicia>TIGER>Black>Barbed>Elle>Donald'
[00:45] <Alicia> "Got it!" Marie nods, using her devil-slaying bow to fire off her precious banishing arrows, first at the mouthy spellcaster!
[00:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 27." [1d20=3]
[00:45] <Anastasia> OOC: Hit.
[00:46] <Alicia> OOC: will save, DC 20 +2 for each DR component Marie beats (silver and holy)
[00:46] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+15 DC 24
06[00:46] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+15 DC 24 and gets 26." [1d20=11]
[00:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 arrow 2
06[00:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 arrow 2 and gets 31." [1d20=12]
[00:46] <Anastasia> OOC: Hit.
[00:46] <Alicia> OOC: same will save
[00:46] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+15 DC 24
06[00:46] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+15 DC 24 and gets 20." [1d20=5]
[00:46] <Alicia> roll 2d4+6+6d6+6 damage to take on her way back to Hell
06[00:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+6+6d6+6 damage to take on her way back to Hell and gets 35." [2d4=2, 4][6d6=1, 2, 2, 6, 2, 4]
03[00:47] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Marie>Blonde>Antenora>Jessica>Alicia>TIGER>Black>Barbed>Elle>Donald'
[00:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 regular arrow at rival archer
06[00:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 regular arrow at rival archer and gets 33." [1d20=19]
[00:47] <Anastasia> OOC: Whiff.
[00:47] <Anastasia> OOC: Wait no hit, sorry.
[00:47] <Alicia> roll 1d4+3+3d6+3
06[00:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+3+3d6+3 and gets 24." [1d4=3][3d6=5, 6, 4]
[00:48] <Alicia> "You guys can thank Esthan for that - his gift actually came in handy after all!" Marie jeers at the devils after sending one of them packing and wounding another.
[00:49] <Anastasia> Two arrows fly! They both hit, the faeriefired figure winking in the air, then gone, banished away! A moment later, an arrow hits the rival archer, grazing and sticking into it's leg! The blonde gelugon fires off another vaccum of freezing air at Alicia and Marie, before turning his attention to the tiger!
[00:49] <Anastasia> OOC: Ref, you two.
[00:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 A
06[00:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 A and gets 24." [1d20=6]
[00:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 M
06[00:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 M and gets 25." [1d20=12]
[00:49] <Anastasia> roll 15d6 both passed
06[00:49] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 15d6 both passed and gets 44." [15d6=3, 5, 5, 6, 2, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 4, 4, 3, 1, 1]
[00:49] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+25
06[00:49] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+25 and gets 28." [1d20=3]
[00:49] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+20
06[00:49] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[00:49] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+20 crit check
06[00:49] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+20 crit check and gets 38." [1d20=18]
[00:49] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+15
06[00:49] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 33." [1d20=18]
[00:50] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+15 crit
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+15 crit and gets 28." [1d20=13]
[00:50] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+10
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 18." [1d20=8]
[00:50] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+25
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+25 and gets 36." [1d20=11]
[00:50] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+20
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 21." [1d20=1]
[00:50] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+15
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 30." [1d20=15]
[00:50] <Anastasia> OOC: Also erase the +10 attack, by the by.
[00:50] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+24 bite
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+24 bite and gets 37." [1d20=13]
[00:50] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+24 tail
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+24 tail and gets 37." [1d20=13]
[00:52] <Anastasia> 10d4+55+3d8+33+2d6+5+3d6+5
06[00:52] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 10d4+55+3d8+33+2d6+5+3d6+5 and gets 154." [10d4=3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 2, 2][3d8=3, 1, 2][2d6=3, 6][3d6=4, 4, 5]
03[00:52] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Marie>Blonde>Antenora>Jessica>Alicia>Black>Barbed>Elle>Donald'
[00:52] <Anastasia> The tiger is ripped apart savagely! It shatters into stone, slain and the magic forever ruined! OOC: Antenora's up.
[00:56] <Anastasia> Antenora glides a bit in the air, going for the archer's bow full out! OOC: Also using FS 6/10 and healing herself 10 HP. Five foots tepping to use range to get to him and full attack/disarm.
[00:56] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+26 (+4 two handed)
06[00:56] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+26 (+4 two handed) and gets 42." [1d20=16]
[00:57] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+25
06[00:57] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+25 and gets 31." [1d20=6]
[00:58] <Anastasia> Spear thrusting out, something falls from above! A sleek black longbow, a notch to fire through in the center, shaped like a screaming face! It lands in an alley a little away from it all! Thereafter, Antenora attacks him head on!
[00:58] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+16
06[00:58] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 36." [1d20=20]
[00:58] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+11
06[00:58] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+11 and gets 30." [1d20=19]
[00:58] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+16 crit check 1
06[00:58] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+16 crit check 1 and gets 21." [1d20=5]
[00:58] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+11
06[00:58] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+11 and gets 20." [1d20=9]
[00:59] <Anastasia> roll 2d8+4d6+22
06[00:59] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d8+4d6+22 and gets 46." [2d8=3, 7][4d6=6, 1, 1, 6]
[00:59] <Anastasia> Antenora rips into his body twice, unseen bloods sending flecks of green, hissing blood raining down! OOC: Jessica's up.
[01:00] <Anastasia> Jessica continues to hide as instructed! OOC: Alicia.
[01:01] <Alicia> "Hell Striker, you better get me through this..." Alicia whispers, calling upon her holy blade to sustain her ravaged flesh as she lays into the Gelugon before her with unmatched fury, putting her all into killing it before it has a chance to kill her!
[01:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike
06[01:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike and gets 44." [1d20=13]
[01:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike
06[01:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike and gets 34." [1d20=3]
[01:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike
06[01:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike and gets 42." [1d20=11]
[01:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike
06[01:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike and gets 38." [1d20=12]
[01:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike
06[01:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike and gets 27." [1d20=1]
[01:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike
06[01:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike and gets 39." [1d20=18]
[01:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike
06[01:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 bracers, divine might, raging, 1 5th, 2 3rd, 1 2nd level arcane strike and gets 32." [1d20=11]
[01:03] <Anastasia> OOC: 4 hits.
[01:04] <Alicia> roll 4d8+88+8d6+4d6+52d4
06[01:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d8+88+8d6+4d6+52d4 and gets 259." [4d8=3, 2, 3, 5][8d6=4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 1, 6, 4][4d6=1, 2, 5, ]
03[01:04] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Marie>Blonde>Antenora>Jessica>Alicia>Barbed>Elle>Donald'
[01:06] <Anastasia> Alicia staggers and thrusts, throwing all her arcane might into it! It's barely enough, ripping into the gelugon! It's far tougher than a normal one, only breaking apart on the very last blow! IT shatters into ice, melting away into black smoke! The glowing barbed devil vanishes a moment later! Donald continues charging down, as Elle advances, calling on more arcane words!
[01:06] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+14 sR check
06[01:06] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+14 sR check and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[01:06] <Anastasia> Yet this time, her words amount to nothing at all! Donald approaches within 30 feet of the blonde gelugon, his bastard sword drawn, "Hey bug, over here!" OOC: Marie.
[01:07] <Alicia> "Don't... don't let the other one escape, Marie," Alicia whispers to her familiar. "We need to question it!"
[01:07] <Alicia> Marie nods, drawing her bow and aiming at the gelugon, waiting for it to lose its combat focus as it prepares to use its magic so she can interrupt it with a furious salvo of arrows!
[01:07] <Alicia> OOC: readied action
[01:09] <Anastasia> The blonde gelugon eyes Marie, before starting to run for one of the alleyways nearby! OOC: You can react to this and shoot if you'd like.
[01:10] <Alicia> OOC: can it reach the alleyway and get cover from Marie with a move action? If so she'll move to get a clear shot and shoot it while its in the alley
[01:10] <Anastasia> OOC: It cna, yeah.
[01:11] <Alicia> Marie flits off to the side so she's still facing the gelugon, able to shoot straight down the alleyway at it as it starts to cast!
[01:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 inevitable
06[01:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 inevitable and gets 27." [1d20=2]
[01:11] <Anastasia> Marie moves fast, moving to get a view into the alleys as she pursues! Once in it's protection, the gelugon begins to concentrate...And also, a few allies away, Marie can see the bow that fell! However, the faeriefire glowing barbed devil is right besides it now! OOC: Make your AoO?
[01:12] <Alicia> OOC: AoO?
[01:12] <Anastasia> OOC:Er, held action. Dur.
[01:12] <Alicia> OOC: that was the 27, which surely misses
[01:13] <Anastasia> A moment after Marie fires and misses, the gelugon vanishes away! Above, Antenora looks around - and in a moment, begins to plummet for the alley the bow fell into!
[01:13] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+22 (+2 FS 5/10, +2 charge, +1 flying, -4 PA)
06[01:13] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+22 (+2 FS 5/10, +2 charge, +1 flying, -4 PA) and gets 35." [1d20=13]
[01:14] <Anastasia> roll 2d8+2d6+38
06[01:14] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d8+2d6+38 and gets 47." [2d8=4, 1][2d6=1, 3]
[01:14] <Anastasia> Diving into the alley, Antenora can be heard calling out, "Return to the Pit!" OOC: Jessica's still hiding. Alicia, are you doing anything?
03[01:15] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Marie>Antenora>Jessica>Alicia>Barbed>Elle>Donald'
[01:15] <Alicia> "Alicia, it fled but the barbed devil is still there!" Marie yells over, pointing down said alleyway.
[01:16] <Alicia> "We need to take it prisoner! Incapacitate it!" Alicia yells, quickly moving to get a lead down said alleyway and drawing the smaller blade she was able to hide within her robes earlier. Getting a bead on the hamatula, she hurls the Sword of the Sealed Gate at it with all the force she can muster, the blade whirling through the air on wings of magic!
03[01:16] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@76.235.206.249) has joined #evildunes
03[01:16] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[01:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 -4 nonlethal, 5th level arcane strike
06[01:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 -4 nonlethal, 5th level arcane strike and gets 41." [1d20=15]
[01:16] <Alicia> OOC: divine might, too
02[01:17] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@76.235.206.249) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
[01:17] <Anastasia> OOC: Hit.
[01:17] <Alicia> roll 1d8+24+5d4
06[01:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+24+5d4 and gets 46." [1d8=7][5d4=3, 3, 4, 2, 3]
03[01:17] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-206-249.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[01:17] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[01:18] <Alicia> OOC: -4 since that was 1-handed, not 2-handed
[01:19] <Anastasia> The Sword of the Sealed Gate flies like a boomerang, taking a chunk out of the Faerie Fired side of the invisible barbed devil! With a furious roar, the Barbed Devil tears into Antenora!
[01:19] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+30 claw
06[01:19] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+30 claw and gets 47." [1d20=17]
[01:19] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+30 claw
06[01:19] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+30 claw and gets 42." [1d20=12]
[01:20] <Anastasia> roll 6d8+16
06[01:20] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 6d8+16 and gets 35." [6d8=6, 2, 1, 3, 6, 1]
[01:21] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+34 grapple on Antenora
06[01:21] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+34 grapple on Antenora and gets 45." [1d20=11]
[01:21] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19
06[01:21] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+19 and gets 31." [1d20=12]
[01:21] <Anastasia> roll 4d8+9
06[01:21] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 4d8+9 and gets 31." [4d8=8, 8, 1, 5]
[01:22] <Anastasia> Antenora is embraced and shredded by the devil, hugged against it's body! Her blood runs down her armored form, impaled in a dozen spots! Elle trots along, casting more support magic from the rear!
[01:23] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+14
06[01:23] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+14 and gets 20." [1d20=6]
[01:27] <Anastasia> But again it fizzles! Donald runs on the wings of haste, reaching the side of the barbed devil! He takes a quick swing at him, all while activating an aura of protection!
[01:27] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+20 (+1 haste)
06[01:27] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+20 (+1 haste) and gets 27." [1d20=7]
[01:27] <Anastasia> roll 1d8+7
06[01:27] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d8+7 and gets 9." [1d8=2]
[01:28] <Anastasia> Donald manages to open a minor wound on the body of the barbed devil as he reaches down! OOC: Marie?
[01:29] <Alicia> Marie looks expectantly at Alicia, only to be told, "Get me next to it. It's time to end this." With her orders clear, Marie zips over to the opposite side of the barbed devil from Donald, then promptly trades places with Alicia!
[01:29] <Anastasia> Antenora tries to escape the horrid grapple she is in, desperate!
[01:29] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+34
06[01:29] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+34 and gets 45." [1d20=11]
[01:29] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19
06[01:29] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+19 and gets 26." [1d20=7]
[01:30] <Anastasia> But Antenora's stuck on it's painful, terrible barbs! OOC: Jessica's still hiding as instructed. Alicia?
06[01:30] * Alicia attempts to take the hamatula down, dropping her longsword so she can use her two-bladed sword to the fullest brutal effect!
[01:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike
06[01:31] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike and gets 42." [1d20=14]
[01:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike
06[01:31] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike and gets 36." [1d20=8]
[01:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike
06[01:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike and gets 31." [1d20=8]
[01:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike
06[01:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike and gets 24." [1d20=1]
[01:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike
06[01:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike and gets 19." [1d20=1]
[01:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike
06[01:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 +2 flanking, -4 nonlethal, divine might, 4th and 2 1st level arcane strike and gets 29." [1d20=11]
[01:32] <Anastasia> OOC: All hit except the two 1s.
[01:32] <Alicia> roll 4d8+88+8d6+4d6+24d4 nighty-night
06[01:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d8+88+8d6+4d6+24d4 nighty-night and gets 222." [4d8=3, 8, 4, 4][8d6=6, 2, 5, 5, 6, 6, 4, 5][4d6=5, 3, 3, 2][24d4=3, 1, 3, 4, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 4, 3, 1, 4, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3, 2]
[01:33] <Anastasia> With a furious onslaught, Alicia rips into the hamatula! She clobbers it over and over, knocking it down and out! Antenora falls to her knees, bloodied and huffing for air! OOC: Battle's over. Free act.
06[01:34] * Alicia promptly heals herself as much as she can!
[01:34] <Alicia> roll 12d4+12+20
06[01:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d4+12+20 and gets 66." [12d4=2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, 1, 2, 2]
[01:34] <Anastasia> "We...we won..." Antenora has her head bowed, coughing as she heals herself with her hands. OOC: +12 HP.
[01:35] <Anastasia> "Man, you think they'd get the idea that they're gonna lose if they attack us. But noooo, they have to keep trying." Donald kicks the downed Hamatula.
[01:35] <Alicia> "It's a good thing you summoned me," Alicia shakes her head. "That was brutal..." she trails off, looking over to the frozen statues of passersby caught in the cone of cold and wincing.
[01:35] <Alicia> Belatedly she drops the old-lady disguise as well.
[01:36] <Anastasia> "I got lucky." Antenora looks up, pale. "I only noticed them because they didn't appear to my mind's eye. If I hadn't and they had been free to ambush us or surprise us, we'd be dead now."
[01:36] <Anastasia> "You only noticed them because you didn't see them?" Elle approaches with a frown on her face, "That doesn't really make sense."
[01:37] <Alicia> "How did they do that, anyway?" Marie sounds confused. "I mean, I could detect their magic gear but not any magic on them, nor their evil auras... and your spear didn't light up, either. Isn't it supposed to do that around them?"
[01:37] <Anastasia> "Oh, Alicia, heya," Donald turns. "I was about to ask who the old lady was."
[01:37] <Anastasia> "We'll find out," Antenora uses the alley wall to help herself stand up, shakinga ll over. Undoing her rope, she kneels. "Can someone dispel it's invisibility?"
[01:38] <Anastasia> "And I mean, I saw them but I couldn't see them with my mind. It made them stand out, like they were an illusion or protected." she clarifies.
[01:38] <Alicia> "Have some respect for your elders, sonny," Alicia snorts, dumping the hamatula's bow into her portable hole and then picking up her longsword and sheathing it. "Let me heal you some more, first," she says. "Marie, use your bracelet on me a few times?"
[01:39] <Alicia> Marie nods, using her bracelet except she and Alicia don't switch places. After a few attempts Alicia nods, "That's enough," she says, reaching over to heal Antenora a little.
[01:39] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
06[01:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 15." [5d4=1, 2, 3, 1, 3]
[01:39] <Anastasia> As Alicia handles the longbow, it's screaming mouth howls out. It speaks in Infernal, "All praise to the master of the Pit!"
06[01:40] * Alicia is quite glad to have it dumped in the hole where no one can hear it. "I'll get the gear left by the gelugon gathered up then deal with our prisoner," she says, going to quickly dump anything left by the dead ice devil in the hole as well.
[01:40] <Alicia> "What about those poor people?" Marie asks, looking at the icy statues in subdued horror.
[01:41] <Anastasia> Antenora straightens further, "Shut up," she snaps at it, as Donald follows along. You find studded leather, a pouch, it's weapons and a ring. "So how come you were disguised like that, anyway?"
[01:41] <Anastasia> Elle looks and then shakes her head, "The wrong people in the wrong place," she goes over to one, touching it with her fingers before jerking them back. "Frozen solid."
[01:41] <Alicia> "Travelling incognito," Alicia waves it off before regarding the statues. "We have to get them off the street. People shouldn't have to see this..."
[01:42] <Anastasia> "More victim's of Hell's endless, pointless hate." Antenora sighs as she works with the invisible hamatula.
[01:42] <Anastasia> "I'll take care of it," Elle says quietly. "Go ahead."
06[01:43] * Alicia conjures up a tent from her survival pouch. "You can use that to cover them up as you move them," she tells Elle, wanting the unfortunate dead to have at least that much dignity afforded to them. She then approaches the Hamatula and attempts to dispel its invisibility, while leaving the other spells intact on it.
[01:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[01:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 22." [1d20=10]
[01:44] <Anastasia> The first attempt fails, it's magic clinging to it's body.
06[01:45] * Alicia just shrugs. "It's improved invisibility, it'll wear off long before the faerie fire does," she notes, conjuring up another tent. "Lets get it wrapped up and we can take it to the garrison?"
[01:45] <Anastasia> Donald looks them over, humor dropping. He goes to help Elle without further comment. As they do, a detachment of guards comes from the south, Commander Oberuth and Pollyanna at point. They come at a sprint, "How's the situation," Oberuth says as he looks around, eyes lingeirng on the statues.
[01:46] <Alicia> "Four devils attacked me, Jessica, and Antenora while we were walking," Marie informs the Commander. "Two were disguised as men and two were invisible in the air. We summoned Alicia as soon as we realised how strong they were... they were really liberal with their area effect spells, though..."
[01:47] <Alicia> "The Spark Hunters," Alicia adds as she sees about wrapping the comatose Hamatula up. "Esthan said they'd come for us. I suppose they got tired of waiting..."
[01:47] <Anastasia> "Damnation." Looking at the three as Elle and Donald deal with them, covering them, "Let's get you to the garrison for debriefing and healing if you need it..." Trailing off as he looks into the alley where Antenora finishes her bindings, "What's that?"
[01:48] <Anastasia> "What Alicia said. A personal assassination attempt on us." Standing up, a hand on her hip, "We're lucky it wasn't far worse. If I hadn't gone with Jessica..."
[01:48] <Alicia> "One of the devils," Alicia fills in. "If it's one of Hell's elite mortal hunters I want to know everything it knows before I send it howling back to the pit."
[01:48] <Anastasia> "I'd be okay," Jessica speaks up quietly, unseen yet. "I know how to take care of myself and they couldn't hit me with any of those spells."
[01:49] <Anastasia> "Bring it along," Oberuth says, "I'll have clerics summoned to get all of you patched up that need it." OOC: Ready to skip along a bit?
[01:49] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[01:52] <Anastasia> The Spark Hunter is kept bound up and dragged along. Once in the garrison and with it tied, knocked out and secured, "Run down everything that happened," Looking to Marie, "You were there for all of it?"
[01:57] <Alicia> The eladrin nods. "We were walking up market road when two men approached us. Antenora said she couldn't sense their minds, and I checked them over for evil and magic - nothing on them, but I did sense magic on their gear. They recognised Antenora and Jessica and said they wanted to thank Alicia for what she did in the war with Malmuth."
[01:57] <Alicia> "Then Antenora said she could sense two outsiders in the air above us. I painted them with faerie fire so we could see them, then the other two drew their weapons - that's when the fight started, and they turned into ice devils."
[01:57] <Alicia> "After one of them blocked Antenora's attack I realised they weren't normal devils, that's when I told Jessica to summon Alicia, while they sprayed ice cones at us."
[01:57] <Alicia> Taking a deep breath, she forges on! "Alicia got Jessica to hide, and Jessica's magic tiger was destroyed. I banished their flying spellcaster back to Hell and Alicia killed one ice devil before the other teleported away. Then she knocked out the barbed devil after Antenora had disarmed it."
[01:57] <Alicia> "And that's about when you showed up!" she concludes.
[01:59] <Anastasia> "I could detect the flying two, which is what tipped us into combat and maybe saved our lives. The two gelugons were shielded better, though not invisible like the two above. Of course, they were high enough up where most means of detection would fail from the ground."
[02:00] <Anastasia> Antenora goes to sit heavily in a chair, as a few clerics from the temple of Helm and Mystra come in. They tend to the party, casting healing magic and bandaging. OOC: You can recover full HP.
06[02:01] * Alicia is grateful for the healing, also taking the time to ditch her robes (her normal clothes are underneath) and put on her armour. Finding the book amidst the devil's things, she opens it up and takes a quick flick through to see if it reveals anything before they interrogate their captive.
[02:01] <Anastasia> "We got two of them. It could have been worse," Oberuth says after some thought, the hamatula referred to visible now, it's magic having worn off. It looks like a normal hamatula, but a pentagram is carved into it's forehead, penetrated by a crackling spark of black.
[02:02] <Anastasia> The book looks to be a book of Baatorian riddles. They are cold and sometimes gruesome, yet make all too much logical sense when the answers are read.
[02:02] <Anastasia> "We'll need to question this one now," Nudging it with her foot again, "We'll have to try our best to get it to talk."
06[02:03] * Alicia wonders if it's actually some sort of code, but puts it away for now. "Anyway, we need to securely restrain our friend here then wake him up and see about answers. Even secured he'll still be dangerous, though... we shouldn't take too long with him."
[02:04] <Anastasia> "I recommend having af ew archers ready to shoot him if he tries to conjure magic or do anything dangerous, just in case," Antenora speaks up.
[02:04] <Alicia> "Can do!" Marie salutes.
[22:04] <Kotono> > Antenora goes to sit heavily in a chair, as a few clerics from the temple of Helm and Mystra come in. They tend to the party, casting healing magic and bandaging. OOC: You can recover full HP.
[22:04] <Kotono> * Alicia is grateful for the healing, also taking the time to ditch her robes (her normal clothes are underneath) and put on her armour. Finding the book amidst the devil's things, she opens it up and takes a quick flick through to see if it reveals anything before they interrogate their captive.
[22:04] <Kotono> > "We got two of them. It could have been worse," Oberuth says after some thought, the hamatula referred to visible now, it's magic having worn off. It looks like a normal hamatula, but a pentagram is carved into it's forehead, penetrated by a crackling spark of black.
[22:04] <Kotono> > The book looks to be a book of Baatorian riddles. They are cold and sometimes gruesome, yet make all too much logical sense when the answers are read.
[22:04] <Kotono> > "We'll need to question this one now," Nudging it with her foot again, "We'll have to try our best to get it to talk."
[22:04] <Kotono> * Alicia wonders if it's actually some sort of code, but puts it away for now. "Anyway, we need to securely restrain our friend here then wake him up and see about answers. Even secured he'll still be dangerous, though... we shouldn't take too long with him."
[22:04] <Kotono> > "I recommend having af ew archers ready to shoot him if he tries to conjure magic or do anything dangerous, just in case," Antenora speaks up.
[22:04] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Can do!" Marie salutes.
[22:04] <Kotono> "Pollyanna will return shortly as well," Oberuth speaks up now. "Once you do, two should be enough with the rest of us here."
[22:07] <Alicia> "Okay, lets drag it down to a cell... and get a blindfold or a bag to put over its head or something?" Alicia asks. "Restraining or gagging it won't stop it using magical abilities, but if it can't see anyone that'll stop it from targetting a lot of them."
[22:08] <Kotono> "Right," With that, the hamatula is dragged to a cell. The thickest, biggest one they have. Thick black clothes are tied around the devil's eyes, his body held in rope and with chains bolted to the floor added on as well. Antenora and Oberuth stay in front, while Pollyanna has her bow ready, by the door to the cell.
06[22:13] * Alicia has Marie use her bracelet to top off her spellfire first of all so she can heal the thing, then taps it with the Sword of the Sealed Gate to renew its dimensional anchor. That done, she casts Voice of the Archon and begins to slowly heal it, intent on stopping as soon as it stirs.
[22:14] <Alicia> OOC: rather than rolling, how about we assume average and I heal 3hp per round until it wakes up? How many charges would that take?
[22:15] <Kotono> OOC: 5 charges, 15 HP restored. Lining.
[22:15] <Kotono> On the fifth invocation of spellfire, the hamatula's forehead pentagram sparks black. It begins to stir instantly, straining hard against it's chains! They shudder under the immediate strain, but there aren't any signs of breaking.
[22:17] <Alicia> "Be still!" Alicia orders harshly in infernal, stepping back and resuming in common. "I have questions for you."
[22:18] <Kotono> "There are no answers for you. You have been sentences to die for high crimes." It's voice is a terrible thing to listen to. Pollyanna's color turns paler as it's voice is heard, Comamnder Oberuth going to grasp the hilt of Wrath of the Mundane, knuckles going red and white.
[22:19] <Kotono> *sentenced
[22:22] <Alicia> "I care not for your laws," Alicia replies, voice dripping with contempt. "The gelugon who fled the battle and left you to be taken prisoner," she begins with an easy one, "What was the contingency plan for if you were forced to flee without carrying out your primary mission?"
[22:23] <Kotono> The hamatula does not reply to that. Instead, it's face looking at Alicia, blindfolds and all, "Your only hope is surrender yourself. No mortal has survived the Spark Hunters long."
06[22:25] * Alicia laughs in its face. "We both know I wouldn't receive any mercy if I were to gift-wrap myself and sit politely on Hell's doorstep, so don't insult us both by offering any sort of choice."
[22:27] <Kotono> "Bow to the powers of the Pit and you will be remade in their image. It is the only mercy you can hope for." As it speaks, sparks and cinders crackling out of it's mouth in a smoky miasma, Antenora shakes her head.
[22:28] <Kotono> "We're not interested. Shouldn't you be the one asking for mercy? If you're lucky, we'll only imprison you or take you to the Heavens. If you're unlucky, your master will be able to tell you all about your failure in person, when you reappear in Baator."
[22:32] <Alicia> "Better to die than become a lemure," Alicia remarks. "Now, I actually have a lot of questions, but it's clear you're uncooperative, and I don't particularly feel like indulging your theatrics. So you will answer all of my questions honestly and in full, so that we can both get through this far more quickly," she concludes, magical force put behind her statement.
[22:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 29." [1d20=13]
[22:32] <Alicia> OOC: DC 22 will save
[22:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 34." [1d20=15]
[22:34] <Kotono> OOC: That should be several points lower, wrong save. It still passed.
[22:36] <Kotono> "You will learn nothing," The hamatula spits out. It seems unmoved, Antenora grimancing.
[22:40] <Alicia> "This will hurt, but understand it is not out of some misguided belief that you'll tell me what I want to know if I inflict enough pain," Alicia explains, sighing. "It's simply to weaken your defences enough that I can compel the information out of you magically instead of continuing this tiresome runaround."
[22:40] <Alicia> With that said she gestures to the fiend and utters one word, "Whither," as a crackling beam of red energy lances forth!
[22:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 20." [1d20=4]
[22:40] <Kotono> This time, Alicia's enervation withers itself, unable to effect the hamatula at all.
[22:41] <Alicia> "I have lots of spells," Alicia feels compelled to explain after that falls flat, trying again.
[22:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 22." [1d20=6]
[22:41] <Kotono> Once again Alicia cannot conjure strong enough magic to effect the chained devi.
[22:41] <Kotono> Devil.
[22:42] <Alicia> And again! Why not?
[22:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[22:42] <Kotono> Once again, Alicia's spell can't penetrate it's unholy defenses!
06[22:43] * Alicia rubs her head briefly. "I swear, it's like outsiders are immune to this spell..." she mutters under her breath before trying once more.
[22:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 31." [1d20=15]
[22:43] <Alicia> roll 1d4
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[22:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 maybe I'll crit?
06[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 maybe I'll crit? and gets 38." [1d20=20]
[22:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 maybe I'll crit? hahaha
06[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 maybe I'll crit? hahaha and gets 26." [1d20=8]
[22:44] <Alicia> roll 1d4
06[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 2." [1d4=2]
[22:45] <Kotono> This time the Hamatula's body twitches with the spell, the power impact of Enervation making it's body wither visibly!
[22:45] <Kotono> 'They do seem highly resistant,' Antenora replies in Alicia's mind. 'I wish we had their fortune. The shadows the Sharrans had applied it to us liberally.'
06[22:45] * Alicia proceeds to heal it a bit, albeit stopping short of waking it up again hopefully, so she can get another enervation in before rousing it for the interrogation.
[22:46] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 17." [5d4=2, 3, 2, 4, 1]
[22:46] <Kotono> The hamatula is sitll out.
[22:47] <Alicia> 'This is the first time I've had it work on an outsider... makes me glad I never became a pure sorceress or I'd be truly impotent against fiends,' Alicia replies irritably as she casts another one for luck.
[22:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 30." [1d20=14]
[22:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 31." [1d20=13]
[22:47] <Alicia> roll 1d4
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[22:48] <Kotono> Another beam hits it, withering it even more! It lies on the gorund, inert and far less fearsome!
06[22:48] * Alicia heals it awake so Marie can deliver the suggestion to it.
[22:48] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
06[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 18." [5d4=3, 1, 3, 3, 3]
[22:49] <Kotono> After another healing, the hamatula bolds awake again! It struggles, but barely disturbs it's chains this time.
[22:49] <Alicia> "Marie, tell it what we want again," Alicia requests her familiar who still benefits from her earlier cast voice of the archon spell.
[22:50] <Alicia> Marie is only too happy to oblige. "Answer all of Alicia's questions truthfully and to the full extent of your knowledge," she tells it.
[22:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[22:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 29." [1d20=13]
[22:50] <Alicia> OOC: DC 22
[22:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[22:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 6." [1d20=1]
[22:52] <Kotono> The hamatula's head bobs forward slightly at this, no immediate reply to that coming as the magic weaves around it.
03[22:52] * Taishyr is now known as tai-extremelysick
[22:52] <Alicia> "Firstly, tell us what your contingency plan was if you failed to kill your targets on the initial attack," Alicia asks it.
[22:54] <Kotono> "Use several short range, field of vision teleports and establish a temporary base in a location to be determined," It answers, as the pentagram on it's forehead crackles with black sparks again.
06[22:56] * Alicia frowns slightly at that. "What does the sparking on the scar on your head signify?" she asks.
[22:59] <Kotono> "It is the mark of the Spark Hunters. The finger of Aesmadeva carves it into our skulls. When it sparks like this, one of it's powers is activating."
[23:00] <Alicia> "Which power?" Alicia asks, annoyed at the interpretation it's putting on 'full extent of your knowledge'.
[23:02] <Kotono> The sparks are growing brighter! "When our minds are compromised, it will negate the magic or kill us if it fails, to prevent loss of important information to targets who get lucky and defeat one of us."
[23:03] <Alicia> "Marie, tell me when the magic goes away from the spark?" Alicia asks her familiar as she casts a targetted dispel on the spark, leaving the dimensional anchor and suggestion spells alone.
[23:03] <Alicia> Marie dutifully studies the magical auras on the hamatula!
[23:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 dispel
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 dispel and gets 15." [1d20=3]
[23:03] <Kotono> Alicia's first dispel does nothing to stop the magic coming from the pentagram on it's head. (Strong magic, by the way. You can roll for school if you wish.)
[23:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9 no reason not to
06[23:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 no reason not to and gets 28." [1d20=19]
06[23:04] * Alicia tries again, not wanting to have her interrogation cut short nor have their prisoner return to Baator.
[23:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[23:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 15." [1d20=3]
[23:05] <Kotono> Once again, Alicia's magic fails! The sparks are starting to shroud the face of the hamatula in shadows!
[23:06] <Alicia> "You're not getting away that easily!" Alicia growls. "Mark of the spark, be cast to the dark!" she falls back on an old spellcasting crutch, not wanting to leave this to chance!
[23:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[23:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 17." [1d20=5]
[23:07] <Kotono> Again, Alicia's magic cannot stand up to the pentagram! Antenora narrows her eyes, "Dammit..." she swears low. "Is there anything we can do?"
[23:10] <Alicia> "You're not going to dispel it with weak spells like that, Alicia - cut it off his head instead!" Marie suggests urgently, having been counting Alicia's spell usage and knowing she's running dry anyway.
[23:11] <Alicia> "Dammit!" Alicia curses, knowing her familiar is right. Stepping forward, she grabs the top of the barbed devil's head and brings Hell Striker to bear, flaying the skin from the hamatula's forehead to remove the magically sparking scar, even if she has to cut down to bone to do it!
[23:14] <Kotono> Alicia does improptu surgery, hacking at the pentagram! As she begins to cut it, she has an intense feeling of woe and danger. It makes her palms sweaty, her skin turning clammy.
[23:15] <Alicia> "It's not going to work!" Alicia trusts her instincts, stepping back. Surely they took precautions against this as well? She's going to have to dispel it! "Mystra, heed my call! Strip away this hateful dweomer from my sight, that this assassin may answer for his crimes!"
[23:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[23:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 26." [1d20=14]
[23:16] <Kotono> This time, the sparking ceases!
[23:28] <Alicia> "Aura's gone! Quick, ask him stuff in case it comes back!" Marie calls over.
06[23:29] * Alicia has been utterly thrown off from her interrogation after all of that, but forges on after a second to compose herself! "What do you know of a devil named Esthan?" she asks impulsively. Wait, that wasn't what she... oh, who cares. He's probably a well connected fiend, so it's a good chance!
[23:35] <Kotono> "Esthan stands in the graces of the Constable of Nessus. He serves Aesmadeva as well. He trains our servants in magic at times. He embodies the perfect truth of Nessus, as any Pit Fiend does."
06[23:36] * Alicia snaps her fingers. Wheels within wheels here... but this is useful information, at least. "Do you know anything of his recent activities on the Prime?"
[23:37] <Kotono> "No, yet he stood behind us when Aesmadeva gave us our orders. He was to talk to him after we had left his infernal presence." The Hamatula's body quivers.
[23:38] <Alicia> "Aesmadeva personally gave you your orders for this mission? And Esthan was present at the time?" Alicia asks, raising an eyebrow. Well if this doesn't put a brand new spin on things...
[23:39] <Kotono> "Yes." The Hamatula's pentagram is starting to spark again, magic starting ot radiate once more.
[23:41] <Alicia> She doesn't have much time, nor the spells left to dispel it properly, she's going to have to go through her next questions quickly. "How many Spark Hunters are there in total?" Now to get to what she originally meant to ask - knowledge she can use to destroy the entire organisation.
[23:42] <Kotono> "13 True Spark Hunters. I am 11 of 13."
[23:44] <Alicia> "Tell me where your headquarters are, and describe them and their immediate surroundings in as much detail as you can remember," Alicia orders next, wanting information she could use to target a teleport.
[23:51] <Kotono> "They lie in Fortress Malsheem, within the Third Circle of Malsheem. It is nine chambers, each nine miles large. Each area is guarded by the True Blooded," More sparks start to come, it's pentagram going again, "The walls are of brass and gold, the floors of the stone of Nessus. The face of the King of Hell watches over us from every wall. There is no light."
[23:53] <Alicia> She was afraid it would be in Nessus, but it's perhaps unavoidable... Regardless, assaulting it would be far more difficult than taking the Halls of the Vanquished. "We're done," she announces, waving her hand and dismissing the Suggestion spell.
[23:54] <Kotono> The sparks on it's head start to sizzle and then stop entirely. Antenora looks to Alicia, then, 'Now what?' In a terse voice, 'What he is said is not light words.'
06[23:54] * Alicia thinks for a moment...
[23:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 planes Aesmadeva
06[23:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 planes Aesmadeva and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[23:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 planes Malsheem
06[23:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 planes Malsheem and gets 34." [1d20=14]
[23:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 planes Who would be happy to take a Spark Hunter off our hands?
06[23:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 planes Who would be happy to take a Spark Hunter off our hands? and gets 25." [1d20=5]
[23:59] <Alicia> "Now... you've been as helpful as you could be, but you're too dangerous for us to keep around here while you're conscious, even while weakened," Alicia explains to the Hamatula before striking it on the side of the head with the flat of Hell Striker!
[23:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 -4 nonlethal
06[23:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 -4 nonlethal and gets 23." [1d20=1]
[23:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 -4 nonlethal
06[23:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 -4 nonlethal and gets 28." [1d20=11]
Session Time: Mon Apr 13 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Alicia> roll 1d8+15+2d6
06[00:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+15+2d6 and gets 26." [1d8=5][2d6=2, 4]
[00:00] <Kotono> Clang! Another blow to the hamatula's head is enough to knock him back out!
[00:00] <Kotono> "What did all those names mean?" Commander Oberuth asks, as Pollyanna at last lowers her bow. "Aesmadeva, Malsheem, all of it."
06[00:01] * Alicia takes a deep breath and turns to the others. "I hate to admit it, but destroying the Spark Hunters is beyond us. I know little of Aesmadeva, but Malsheem is Asmodeus's personal fortress in the deepest layer of Hell. We won't be able to get in there easily, and getting out would be far harder."
[00:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 Marie planes Aesmadeva
06[00:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 Marie planes Aesmadeva and gets 23." [1d20=3]
[00:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 Antenora wanted to roll too, but SR was laggy
06[00:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 Antenora wanted to roll too, but SR was laggy and gets 24." [1d20=8]
[00:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 Antenora wanted to roll too, but SR was laggy
[00:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 Antenora wanted to roll too, but SR was laggy
06[00:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 Antenora wanted to roll too, but SR was laggy and gets 36." [1d20=20]
06[00:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 Antenora wanted to roll too, but SR was laggy and gets 21." [1d20=5]
[00:04] <Kotono> "It is beyond us," Antenora hangs her head, murmuring words under her breath in Celestial. "It is said that only a handful of mortals have ever been to that darkest pit of Hell. Perhaps one day, but if we can barely withstand a Spark Hunter's attack..."
[00:05] <Alicia> "We would've done far better if Alicia hadn't been caught by surprise without her gear!" Marie argues. "And there's only thirteen and we've taken down two - we could bleed them if they keep coming to us!"
[00:05] <Alicia> *bleed them dry
[00:05] <Kotono> "Alright." Oberuth grunts to all of that, "Fortunately, Seira's school is showing results and our new class in the Guard is gaining experience. Adding to the city's defenses is going to become an even larger priority."
[00:06] <Kotono> "Marie," Antenora turns to her, "Do you think that if we somehow reach Malsheem, that only the Spark Hunters will bother to fight us?"
[00:06] <Alicia> "No, I meant that if they keep coming here then eventually they'll run out," Marie explains.
[00:07] <Kotono> "If we live that long. Plus, he said he was 11 of 13. I'm not sure, but if that means he's one of the weakest?" Spreading her hands, "I'm not optimistic, that's all."
[00:07] <Alicia> "Be that as it may," Alicia raises her hand in a calming gesture, "We still have number 11 here to deal with. I'm not inclined to send him back to Hell where he can inform his superiors of everything he told us, and Antenora's earlier suggestion has some merit. Do you know of anywhere in Elysium we could take this fiend where he'd be kept safe from causing trouble ever again?"
[00:08] <Alicia> Marie thinks that over...
[00:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 plus whatever circumstance bonus she gets from having lived there?
06[00:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 plus whatever circumstance bonus she gets from having lived there? and gets 24." [1d20=4]
[00:08] <Kotono> "You know, why don't we take him to Dweomerheart or Celestia?" Antenora adds. "WE have friends in both places, or even Arborea."
[00:10] <Alicia> "I'm not sure where specifically, since it's outside my usual area," Marie admits, "But if we appeared with him in Elysium we'd probably get attention from people who do know what to do with him pretty quickly."
[00:12] <Alicia> "Alright..." Alicia nods to that. "So Marie and I will take him to Elysium tomorrow morning. For now just keep him under guard and bash his head every few hours to make sure he doesn't wake up?"
[00:14] <Kotono> "He won't," Oberuth says, drawing hsi sword. "I'm going to ensure that myself. If you're done with him, dismissed for now. Go rest and recover, that was not an easy battle from your report."
02[00:15] * tai-extremelysick (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-216-208.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[00:15] <Alicia> "There's still that ice devil probably in town, since he said they wouldn't teleport far," Marie cautions. "We could try searching for it?"
[00:16] <Kotono> "The three of us I can do that. Marie and I can fly without limit and detect evil." Antenora volunteers.
[00:16] <Kotono> *The three of us can do that
[00:17] <Alicia> "It would probably be best to stick together, considering how dangerous a combatant it could be. And... where's Jessica?" Alicia belatedly asks. Leaving her sister alone when she's a target doesn't sit well at all.
[00:18] <Kotono> "She's outside," Pollyanna speaks up.
[00:18] <Alicia> "Thanks, Pollyanna," Alicia gives the younger woman a smile. "Lets go get her?" With that she and her familiar head out.
[00:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[00:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 22." [1d20=6]
[00:27] <Kotono> roll 5d8
06[00:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 and gets 25." [5d8=7, 6, 4, 5, 3]
[00:27] <Kotono> roll 25*1.5
06[00:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 25*1.5 and gets 37.5."
[00:30] <Kotono> -------
[00:31] <Kotono> Thus Elle goes back to work! As Alicia, Antenora, Jessica and Marie linger, work goes on apace. It's only when Elle's scream comes from the back room that the tranqulity is shattered, Alice tearing away from her post and hurrying back in a run.
06[00:31] * Alicia likewise bolts into the room, Marie flying right behind her and both with weapons ready!
[00:33] <Kotono> Antenora and Jessica bring up the rear! Elle is working in a small room, a magic circle engraved onto the floor. A bench of stone and wood is where the bow sits, hissing and the mouth of it leering while emitting wisps of red and black. She is on one knee, clutching her chest.
03[00:33] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-253-124-68.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[00:33] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[00:33] <Kotono> "Elle!" Alice goes to her side in a bolt, "Do you need help?"
06[00:35] * Alicia likewise approaches Elle and attempts to heal her while Marie hangs back and covers the room with her bow.
[00:35] <Alicia> roll 10d4+10
06[00:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 10d4+10 and gets 31." [10d4=2, 4, 2, 1, 3, 1, 1, 2, 4, 1]
[00:35] <Kotono> "I'm...okay. My protections got the worst of it," As you get closer, you see that the front of Elle's dress is gone. If there were men here, it would be indecent...if her flesh wasn't cracked and ruined, until Alicia heals it. "Someone left a present for someone trying to analyse the bow."
[00:37] <Alicia> "Accursed thing..." Alicia uses a mending cantrip to fix Elle's dress before she regards the bow. "Are you sure it's a one-time thing? It spoke earlier... it might have a fiendish intelligence all of its own."
[00:37] <Kotono> A few moments later, she scowls, looks down and murmurs words fo magic. Her dress mends as Alicia also casts, fixing doubletime. "It might. I got some information, but not all of it. Fortunately, I saved it for last. Regardless, I'm not trying it again."
06[00:40] * Alicia opens up her portable hole and promptly tosses the bow in. "If it's intelligent it can be confined along with its owner. I want nothing to do with it, either."
[00:48] <Kotono> "That's wise," Antenora murmurs. "What about the rest of it?"
[00:50] <Alicia> "We sell it all to Elle here," Alicia gestures to the mage, "Who gets a quarter herself for her part in the battle, naturally, and the rest gets split between you, me, and Donald." Alicia then sighs, "And I'll give my share right back to Elle, since I need a new bracelet of Friends for Jessica, and some more banishing arrows for Marie."
[00:50] <Kotono> Going over to it, Elle lists off the items and effects. After abit of discussion, "And you want more banishing arrows and another bracelet? Give me a few days."
[00:50] <Kotono> "I'll help pay for the arrows and bracelet," Antenora speaks up, "It's worth the money."
[00:51] <Alicia> "Thanks," Alicia gives the erinyes a brief smile. "Shame about the tiger, though..." she deflates. "I'll need to see if there's something else I can get for Jessica that might last a bit longer."
[00:53] <Kotono> "I'll look into it. It's for a good cause for both of us," Chuckling now, "That's about all, I'm going to call it a day after that."
[00:54] <Alicia> "Oh, before we go," Alicia pauses, "Have any potions of invisibility handy? I'll buy one for Jessica, in case she gets caught by herself it'll give her a chance to retreat."
[00:55] <Kotono> "Sure," Elle says, going to get just that. OOC: Good here? Also, add that to your purchases and retabulate totals for Anty chipping in half and that new purchase?
[00:56] <Alicia> OOC: done
[00:56] <Kotono> OOC: Going to do anything or just move along to the next morning?
[00:57] <Alicia> OOC: nothing further I can do right now
[00:57] <Kotono> OOC: Who's going with you to drop off the devil?
[00:59] <Alicia> OOC: I'll take Marie, and suggest that Anty and Jessica maybe hang out near the garrison until I get back
[01:00] <Kotono> While Antenora and Jessica linger outside, Alicia and Marie go inside. They find the Spark Hunter still tied up, bound and unconcious. Guards salute as the two pass, Commander Oberuth in the room. "Going now," he asks, "It shouldn't be waking up for a year if I hit it as hard as I thought I did."
[01:05] <Alicia> "Good," Alicia nods. "Although its innate spell resistance could still be a problem, I have a way around that." Removing the chains pinning it to the wall, she opens up her portable hole and dumps the Hamatula inside before folding it up.
[01:05] <Alicia> "Should be back after noon, sir," she salutes to the commander before she and Marie vanish to Beleirin, the swampy layer of Elysium most commonly associated with imprisoning horrible evils best left forgotten.
[01:07] <Alicia> roll 5d100 if it matters, not aiming for anywhere in particular
06[01:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 if it matters, not aiming for anywhere in particular and gets 252." [5d100=82, 59, 46, 53, 12]
[01:08] <Kotono> Thus Alicia appears! A light mist is around you, as you stand on a sandbar in a swamp. Water moves sluggishly about, the swamp quiet. Yet the fog seems to have it's own light, like tendrils of illumination weaving around you. The air is clean and clear.
06[01:09] * Alicia promptly opens up the portable hole (wouldn't do to have the prisoner suffocate) and dumps out the hamatula on the sand. She then folds it back up and pockets it. "So now we wait?" she asks her familiar.
[01:10] <Alicia> "Yeah, someone'll probably notice soon enough," Marie agrees amiably.
[01:13] <Kotono> Light bursts around you. Ahead, overwhelming radiance shines. It glows as the mists curls around it, it's form impossible to look at. Silver fire runs along it's body, the size of a titan, floating a foot over the water. Blue fire throbs in it's angelic wings, like the auras of magic made into a fiery form. In words that overwhelm you to hear, "In the name of the Mother of All Magic, I come." It's voice is neither male or female.
[01:13] <Kotono> "In the name of the Mother of All Magic, I come." It's voice is neither male or female.
[01:13] <Alicia> "Well that was quick!" Marie cheers.
[01:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 planes, who's this? Alicia
06[01:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 planes, who's this? Alicia and gets 21." [1d20=1]
[01:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 planes, who's this? Marie
06[01:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 planes, who's this? Marie and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[01:16] <Alicia> "Honoured one, I am Alicia Reynes, servant of Mystra," Alicia bows respectfully before the deific servant, a hand over her chest. "I regret to sully this place with evil, but I bring with me number 11 of the 13 Spark Hunters."
[01:16] <Alicia> "We have not the capabilities to effectively bind such a creature on the Prime, nor do we wish to send it back to the Pit where it can report to its superiors and potentially regain its station."
[01:20] <Kotono> The hamatula rises into the air, shrieking. It's scream sounds far away, insignifigant. In a flash, it is emtombed in a clear gem, which glides into the swampwaters and vanishes below into it. "It will so be done. In this morning, a miracle has been given in Balmuria. While there are many difficult trials ahead for you, do not falter, for the Mother of All Magic will continue to watch over you."
[01:23] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia looks up and smiles. She'd avoided going directly to Dweomerheart rather than disturb her goddess with this, but it looks like She's taking an interest anyway. "I also have the creature's weapon, which we believe is intelligent. Likely it would be better kept safe here than anywhere else," she explains, opening up her portable hole and producing the vile longbow.
[01:26] <Kotono> The bow flies in the air, the mouth on it twisting into a grimace of terrified agony. It hovers around the Star of Mystra like a moon, up and down, swirling about in no pattern. "The enchantment on this weapon cannot be purified, true. However, your charge has the unique chance to destroy it. One of the conditions to lay it low is for a creature born of Baator's heritage to bear it as they preform a sacred deed. Mystra asks that you send yo
[01:26] <Kotono> they preform a sacred deed. Mystra asks that you send your charge Antenora out with the bow, so that she may sever it's magic apart once and for all."
[01:28] <Alicia> "Really?" an expression of surprise briefly flashes across Alicia's face. "What deed must she perform?"
[01:29] <Kotono> "That will be revealed to her, for this is her test and her trial as well." The bow flies away from the Star of Mystra, landing before Alicia. "It will be a matter she must overcome on her own, another step on the path she has chosen to walk."
[01:31] <Alicia> It's all Marie can do not to squeal happily at that, while Alicia simply picks up the bow and places it back in the hole. "I understand, and will see if she's willing," the paladin nods. She's a bit nervous to send Antenora out alone considering the current threat, but Mystra will surely provide...
[01:34] <Kotono> "She will provide," The Star of Mystra speaks, "Assay your nervousness. Know that Mystra is pleased with you and will continue to provide Balmuria and Kelara with her blessings. While the devil Esthan walks amid you, have no fear. As long as you have faith and hope, you will emerge triumphant."
06[01:36] * Alicia does feel considerably relieved to have this sort of backing. "Thank you - it sets my heart greatly at ease to hear that," she smiles at the star, having to squint a little in the face of its overwhelming light.
[01:37] <Kotono> "It is time. Return." With that, the light is gone. Alicia stands in the cell she was just in, back in the garrison.
[01:38] <Alicia> Well, that saves her having to wait a few hours. Alicia swaps the plane shift ring for the freedom of movement one and looks to see if the Commander is still around.
[01:38] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth is gone. The cell is empty now.
06[01:40] * Alicia heads out to find Antenora and Jessica while Marie flies along happily beside her. "Did you hear that?" the eladrin carols, "Mystra's got our backs on this one, Alicia!"
[01:41] <Kotono> Jessica and Antenora are watching some soldiers train while chatting. The chat stops as Alicia approaches, "How'd it go?" Jessica asks.
[01:43] <Alicia> "A Star of Mystra appeared to personally seal the fiend away," Alicia begins, "And also reassured us that Mystra is pleased and watching over us," she goes on with a slight smile.
[01:48] <Kotono> "Oh, I remember the one we saw! Isn't that an honor?" Jessica falls in step with Alicia, while Antenora hangs back.
[01:49] <Alicia> "Certainly more than I expected," Alicia admits. "The Star also said something else," she turns to the renegade erinyes, "Something for Antenora."
[01:49] <Kotono> "Huh?" Antenora blinks, turning her attention to Alicia, as a little surprised look blooms. "For me?"
[01:52] <Alicia> "That bow of the Hamatula's," Alicia begins. "Supposedly it can only be destroyed one way - if a creature born of Baator wields it in the performance of a sacred deed." From behind Alicia, Marie grins at Antenora with immeasurable good cheer.
[01:53] <Kotono> "Oh." Antenora blink-blinks. "Oh. I see, that means me, doesn't it?"
[01:56] <Alicia> "If you're willing, it would be a test you must overcome on your own, and a step along the path you've chosen," Alicia explains with all due seriousness.
[01:56] <Alicia> Said effect is ruined by Marie blurting out, "You could get those fluffy white wings you've dreamed of!"
[01:57] <Kotono> "Then..." Antenora looks to Alicia, "If that's what Mystra's saying, that's what I'll do. But, will everything be alright here, if I'm gone and you have to go off, Alicia?"
[02:00] <Alicia> "I don't think it's necessary that you go immediately," Alicia shakes her head. "We can wait until either Demedais or Seira returns before you shoulder this burden."
[02:01] <Kotono> "Then I'll wait for one of them," Antenora agrees, "I need a little time to think. Can I talk to you later, Alicia?"
[02:02] <Alicia> "Of course," Alicia replies gently, "Take all the time you need - I'll be there when you're ready."
[02:04] <Kotono> Antenora goes off without further word. Once she's gone, "As happy as I am for Antenora, it's going ot be strange if she's gone awhile." Jessica opines, before looking towards the path home, walking in that direction.
[02:06] <Alicia> "Hopefully it won't be anything that'll take too long," Alicia agrees, walking along with her sister. "Still, it'll be a good experience for her to go out and do something by herself outside of my shadow."
[02:08] <Kotono> "That might be the point." So considering as she walks, "What about you? How do you feel about it? I think Marie made her thoughts known."
[02:11] <Alicia> Marie grins happily at that while Alicia gives it more serious thought. "I've probably taken her for granted, thinking on it... I'm used to her always being around, or at least being safe at home while I'm out doing something dangerous. It's strange to be on the other side, even though realistically I know she can handle herself."
[02:12] <Kotono> "Yes. That and...I keep reading and hearing about outsiders. It's not like they're like us. They have a purpose, which isn't just lying around and keeping me company. But..." Looking over her shoulder at Alicia, "I also don't really think of her like that. She has wings, but she's my friend, too."
[02:13] <Alicia> "Outsiders are people too!" Marie chirps.
[02:14] <Kotono> "I'm sure you are, no matter what Antenora says," Jessica laughs.
[02:15] <Alicia> "They might think and feel differently from most people, but they're not impossible to relate to," Alicia shrugs. "Some are more notably inhuman, but that only makes them as different as an elf or a dragon. There's all sorts of creatures to be found, and enough similarities if you care to look."
[02:16] <Kotono> "Something to remember," Jessica says as the group heads towards home.
[19:01] <Kotono> ---
[19:02] <Kotono> Thus Seira heads to the Temple of Waukeen. Past the merchants and sellers, finding Mia waiting for her. "Oh Seira, yo'ure here," she bubbles. "High Priest Gilartal told me you'd be along."
06[19:04] * Seira smiles at the bubbly acolyte. "Mia! Always a pleasure to see you." She leans a bit closer to her, whispering conspiratorially, "I have another idea for a magic-lite item we might find a market for."
[19:08] <Kotono> "Really? After that last failure, I'm all ears," Smiling, "I heard you came for something else, though, so we can talk about it while we go to the altar?"
06[19:08] * Seira blinks. "A failure? I thought you had the right design and opportunity."
[19:09] <Kotono> "Well yeah, but," Scratching her ear, "It kind of blew up part of Gond's Temple, 'member? I'm still not getting along so hot with that artisan...but don' tworry about that, it'll work itself out in time!" Smiling again as sh ewaves a hand, "What's your idea?"
06[19:11] * Seira frowns ever so slightly. "You know I could help with that," she chides Mia. "Sliding over little things like blowing up a temple during research. Once I'm done here, I'll see if I could help. If you wait too long, someone else might seize the chance!"
[19:12] <Kotono> "Oh, thanks!" Her smile growing, she takes Seira's hand. "I'll hold you to that promise!"
06[19:14] * Seira is all smiles once more! "I wouldn't have given it otherwise!" Heading inside towards the altar at a sedate pace, she says, "Getting back on track, have you ever used a sunrod or a tindertwig?"
[19:15] <Kotono> "Oh sure. They're useful when you're on the road," Passing past all the merchants and fountain, into the quieter back section of the open temple, "Why do you ask?"
01[19:17] <Seira> "Perishables have their place, but are they really practical over the long haul?" Seira asks her. "You mentioned being on the road, and that's fine, but what if we wanted to keep the city borders lit to spot intruders more easily? What if we wanted light out in the streets after dark? Using lots of torches is a pain, and so is designing lamps that wouldn't go out at the first rain."
[19:18] <Kotono> "Magic, you mean?" Continuing on as they head to the altar, "Or a new form of alchemy?"
01[19:20] <Seira> "I'm hoping to try both approaches," Seira responds. "You've seen the floating balls of light I use at my inn, right? Well, I don't need something that would last for thousands of years, so a simplified version would do. And at the same time, we could try and research an alchemical approach that might be cheaper and have different applications while using those artifacts as inspiration!"
[19:21] <Kotono> "Right." Nodding along as she goes to the altar, "It would have to be cheaper than using like magic, though, or the market would bera out using magic."
06[19:24] * Seira nods. "If you succeed with the goblins, then having a cheap supply of perishable components might make the difference." She considers. "The final price needs to be below fifty gold, or it's pretty futile, though."
[19:26] <Kotono> "The lower the better." Stopping at the altar, "Let me think that over. Anyway, I was supposed to do the invocation for your purification here? Apparently it doesn't really agree with the High Priest so much. Are you ready?"
01[19:28] <Seira> "Take your time," Seira agrees. "I want to bring the past glories, and I could if I used my resources fully, but what happens if I'm not around? I don't want to leave behind relics, but to open the door to useful items anyone can use, not just the very rich. A middle ground between magic and the mundane."
[19:30] <Kotono> "Yes. I mean, until a few years ago, magic was so rare. Now it's becoming outright common in this city." Leaning forward, "But even then, magical services aren't cheap."
06[19:31] * Seira nods. "And until we can easily craft such things as barrels of lots of tasty neverending food it would be nice to start somewhere!" she agrees. "Also, I'm pretty sure I'm ready."
[19:32] <Kotono> "Right," Using a pair of metal tongs, Mia lifts up the Night's Circle to the altar. "Okay, this is my first time doing this, I'm going to go slow to make sure I get it right. Just wait a few, Seira." she says, starting to concentrate and pray.
06[19:33] * Seira observes with interest, as it's hardly the first time she has needed to wait in her life.
[19:35] <Kotono> Thus, Seira waits! Mia calls on names in a whisper, praying! She nods after a minute or so, "Touch it and you'll understand what you need to do," she says. "May Waukeen watch over you and make sure your trip is both good and profitable!"
01[19:36] <Seira> "Thanks! May your own research bear fruit soon!" Seira returns, doing as she was instructed.
[19:38] <Kotono> Touching the chakram, Seira understands! She must follow the trade roads to the east. It is Waukeen's will that there one day be a safe overland trade route through the Barbarian Lands to Pallanth. There is one that will oppose it, hidden away in a 100 foot hill in the Barbarian Lands. Travel to the northeast and find it, and ensure he will not be a problem by hook or crook.
06[19:41] * Seira is left somewhat confused, as surely the planned portals would be more efficient, until she recognizes the value of redudnancy. "Not a problem!" she states confidently, before tilting her head as she gazes at Mia. "Well. Slight problem. Is this a go alone sort of thing?"
[19:45] <Kotono> "According to what I read, yes. It's meant to be a trial and a deed of a spirit against the evil within."
01[19:48] <Seira> "I guess I'll leave Lagann home this time, then." Seira frowns. "It would be a bit lonely." Pausing, she tells the orb, "Please only stab the bad people while I'm gone."
[19:57] <Kotono> Lagann agrees in Seira's mind, words flowing as there is a faint clink of metal all around her.
01[19:59] <Seira> "East it is, then," Seira repeats to herself out loud. "I guess I'll go." She eyes the chakram, before picking it up and placing it at her belt. "Any recent news of the Barbarian Lands, Mia?"
[20:02] <Kotono> "There was a giant in who had soe chained up goblins a little while ago. Now that I think about it, it was the same day as that explosion..." Rubbing the back of her head, "I hear there's some wild women in there as well, worshipping someone called Jannath."
01[20:03] <Seira> "I met them," Seira responds. "They throw a great party!"
[20:07] <Kotono> "Heh, heh," Mia smiles, "Good luck, Seira!"
01[20:09] <Seira> Despite the drain on her very essense that the chakram maintains, Seira smiles back. "What Waukeen wants, Waukeen gets! I'll be back in a flash!"
[20:09] <Kotono> OOC: Taking off, eh? Any preparations or note or just heading right out?
01[20:10] <Seira> OOC: I'll bring the ring of teleport along, but that's it. Lagann will stay home.
[20:14] <Kotono> OOC: Right.
01[20:14] <Seira> OOC: I'll roll FL if/when I need it.
[20:14] <Kotono> OOC: Heading east how long before you start to go north?
01[20:15] <Seira> OOC: I'll start going north around the area where the giant smith was, since it seems like the giant area
[20:15] <Kotono> roll 1d100
05[20:15] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Kotono invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:15] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-70-113-75-254.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[20:16] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 86." [1d100=86]
[20:16] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 93." [1d100=93]
[20:16] <Kotono> Seira travels east and north for two days! She passes into the Barbarian Lands, making a good time. She's traveling htrough the forests right now, making a soild pace...OOC: Make a listen check, Seira?
01[20:16] <Seira> roll 1d20
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20 and gets 2." [1d20=2]
[20:21] <Kotono> It's pretty quiet here. Nothing of note is happening - that is, until a pair of goblins dart out 30 feet ahead of Seira! They have shortbows readied and drawn, calling, "Hey you!" In rough Common," Stop right there!"
06[20:22] * Seira stops. "Hey," she calls back to them in Common. "What's up?"
[20:23] <Kotono> "Arms up! Don't make a move to your weapons," The left goblin calls. "You're going to do what we tell you or you'll get an arrow!"
01[20:25] <Seira> "Now that's just rude," Seira chides him, nevertheless raising her arms. "On whose authority are you trying to stop me from traveling farther?"
02[20:25] * aisarerukedoaisenai (~ferixstad@resnet227-247.resnet.wmich.edu) Quit (Ping timeout)
[20:26] <Kotono> "The authority of this arrow, elf blooded!" The other goblin hisses, while the other one starts to look long and hard at Seira. "You got any gold on you?"
06[20:27] * Seira appears to think about it, looking over the goblins with a critical eye. Surely they are evil to rob innocent travelers without provocation!
[20:28] <Kotono> They're wearing dirty clothes, having a quiver of arrows slung over their backs. One has a few clay jars on a belt at his hip. The one on the left is evil, the on on the right isn't.
06[20:29] * Seira mulls over this. "Alright, let me ask this differently. I heard in Balmuria that there were giants in these parts that pretty much enslaved goblins and had them do their bidding. Are you like that, or is this an independant operation?"
[20:30] <Kotono> "You're asking too many questions!" The one on the right says, voice rising, "Just give us some gold!"
01[20:34] <Seira> Even her nigh-infinite patience has limits. "Do you even know who you're holding up?" Seira asks, though this time her incredulity is eclipsed by anger.
01[20:34] <Seira> OOC: Can I intimidate them now?
[20:34] <Kotono> OOC: Sure.
01[20:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 fun times
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 fun times and gets 25." [1d20=2]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 13." [1d20=9]
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 7." [1d20=4]
[20:38] <Kotono> The two goblins stare and start to shake. "W-who are you?" The one on the right asks in a little voice.
01[20:40] <Seira> "Ah, now we're getting places," Seira says pleasantly. "I'm Seira. I would say it's a pleasure to meet you, but it's really not. You are directing bows at me, and even though they would be ineffective it's hard to resist setting you on fire. Please place them on the ground and answer my previous question."
[20:42] <Kotono> The one on the left drops his bow, while the one on the right holds onto it. "Um...we're just trying to strike out on our own and get some traveling money!" The one on the left blurts out. "We ain't got nothing to do with those giants!"
01[20:43] <Seira> "Where are you traveling?" Seira asks in a conversational tone of voice, lowering her hands now that there's hardly any need for it.
[20:43] <Kotono> "Um...maybe south, maybe west? Outof here!" The one on the left ontinues to blurt, knees knocking1
01[20:44] <Seira> "Why travel somewhere else, though? Isn't this your home?"
[20:45] <Kotono> "W-we want to get outta here!" The left goblin continues. "Time to move on and away from the giants!"
01[20:46] <Seira> "Do you have any useful skills?" Seira asks reasonably. "You could just try working to get the money. I bet it'd be quicker, too, and far less deadly!"
[20:48] <Kotono> "Who wants to hire goblins as mercenaries? WE're fighters!" The one on the right proclaims. "Not farmers or herders ora nything like that!"
01[20:49] <Seira> "My first was really alchemy, but I actually would. I don't really discriminate based on race." Seira tilts her head curiously. "How about it?"
01[20:49] <Seira> *first thought
[20:53] <Kotono> "Y-y-you would? Really?" The one on the left gawks, "Really?" The one on ther ight stares with shaking hands, "But aren't you some sort of freakishly powerful wizard, if the stories are true?" The goblin on the right squints.
06[20:54] * Seira nods. "I am a powerful wizard, yes. Didn't you hear the stories about wizards? They like to hire people to do things for them. It makes them happy."
[20:55] <Kotono> "W-well then," The one on the left takes a breath, "What sort of work do you have, anyway? H-how much does it pay? How dangerous is it?"
[20:56] <Kotono> "It's not some sort of frightening experiments, is it?" The other one shudders. "I hear there was a w-wizard years ago that di dthat. Turned goblins into horrible horrible things!"
01[20:56] <Seira> "Oh, that?" Seira snorts. "Yeah, that happened. I killed him. He wasn't a very nice wizard, now was he?"
[20:57] <Kotono> OOC: Make a bluff check here?
01[20:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+12 believe me!
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 believe me! and gets 14." [1d20=2]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 and gets 19." [1d20=18]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 and gets 18." [1d20=17]
[20:59] <Kotono> The two stare long at Seira, but don't reply immediately. "Really, but...so h-how much exactly, anyway?"
06[21:02] * Seira looks a bit confused. "Really. Unless there were more like him? But I'm not like that. Any research I do is on stuff like precious metals." She consider the matter of salary. "Like I said, I'm not into discrimination, so you would get paid same as any normal Guard recruit just starting out."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Really?" The one on the left considers for a time, "They'd take goblins in...well..."
[21:06] <Kotono> The one on the right stares long at Seira as they consider. "It's worth a try," he mutters.
01[21:08] <Seira> "You could either travel with me for a bit until I return to Balmuria, or come over with a letter of recommendation I'll draft for you," Seira tells the goblins. "Either way, you want to make a living and get respect, right? As long as you keep to the rules, which are pretty easy to follow, you'll have all that and more!"
[21:10] <Kotono> The two look to each other, whispering away for a time. This goes on for maybe a full minute, before the one on the right looks back. "Give us the letter," He says, "We'll take that."
06[21:15] * Seira takes out her writing supplies and drafts a simple letter to him in Elven briefly detailing the situation and asking him about integrating the goblins in hopes of getting more recruits if this turns out well. "The first hurdle you'll have to overcome is trusting me that this," Seira hands the sealed letter over, "says what I say it does.
01[21:15] <Seira> If you can't trust those who would be your commanding officers, then there's little point in trying." She smiles. "But if you can do this, then a whole new world of opportunity opens before you!"
[21:16] <Kotono> The letter is taken. "We'll see," He says, before the two eye Seira and beat a hasty, quick retreat from her, heading towards the southwest.
06[21:17] * Seira certainly hopes they'll take her advice, before proceeding onwards. It is a shame; she should have asked them about the landmark Waukeen had described to her.
[21:31] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 33." [1d100=33]
[21:31] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 74." [1d100=74]
[21:45] <Kotono> The next several days pass without incident. Your trip deeper in is not opposed, it is in fact peaceful. On the ninth day as she travels, just past noon, something curious happen.s The ground trembles and shakes, lightly rustling the trees and everything around.
01[21:47] <Seira> Dragons-- Seira stops herself. That's not likely. Which leaves giants. Discarding her illusory appearance, she tries to see if she can gain some altitude without too much trouble to see better into the distance.
[21:48] <Kotono> The shaking stops as Seira takes off for flight. She flies up, dodging a few falling branches as she does. Seira can see a lot of loose branches and see a few old trees tipple over as far as the eye can see.
06[21:49] * Seira decides to clear the treetops and then make way towards the spot where trees have toppled over to investigate.
[21:50] <Kotono> Seira clears the treetops. From here, she can see that many a tree fell. But more fell far on the horizon, to the northwest. It's several miles away from here, her perspective granting her great visibility.
01[21:51] <Seira> That certainly seems like an invitation, and Seira flies in that direction!
[21:53] <Kotono> Seira flies for perhaps an hour. At this point she sees that most of the trees ahead have been knocked over. Rising out of the ground is a hill, a tall hill. Cracks run along it's surface, like a dome about to shatter open.
01[21:55] <Seira> With a casting of Heroism and See Invisibility, Seira approaches!
[21:56] <Kotono> Lowering down, Seira sees that the hill is horribly cracked. The ground quivers every few seconds, pushing outward and strained more each time.
06[21:57] * Seira tries to spot an entrance, either artificial or formed from a crack so wide she could pass through.
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC: Spot check then?
01[21:58] <Seira> roll 1d20+12
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 and gets 24." [1d20=12]
[21:58] <Kotono> There are several cracks big enough to wiggle down and through if Seira wishes. The hill is latticed with cracks now, seriously damaged.
06[21:59] * Seira finds one that wouldn't get her trapped should a quiver occur just as she's squeezing in, before proceeding inside.
[22:00] <Kotono> The hill expands out downward several hundred feet. At the bottom is some sort of bottom, but it's so dark and deep that Seira can't tell. However, Seira can see something rising up from it! A bird's screetch echos overwhelmingly from below. Whatever it is, the shadowy outline is HUGE! Dragonsized and then some!
03[22:02] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@76.235.172.202) has joined #evildunes
03[22:02] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
01[22:04] <Seira> There's really no time to waste, then. Though it might be futile, Seira calls upon Stoneskin and casts Shield, Mirror Image and Draconic Might before proceeding below. If her caution is unwarranted, then all she'd done is wasted a few spells.
02[22:09] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@76.235.172.202) Quit (Broken pipe)
03[22:09] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
03[22:10] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-172-202.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[22:10] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
02[22:12] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-172-202.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
03[22:12] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-172-202.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[22:12] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
03[22:15] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[22:16] <Kotono> As Seira invokes Stoneskin and Shield, she can see something rising up! It's absolutely huuuuge! It's some sort of gigantic bird, flying upward at a charge! It's plumage is a pleasant gold color, cloaked and only faintly visible in the few strands of sunlight that trickle from the broken hill! OOC: You got two spells off, but something is obviously coming up at you and coming up pretty fast.
01[22:17] <Seira> OOC: Stoneskin is swift, so I've got Shield and MI up?
[22:18] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
01[22:18] <Seira> Darkness doesn't trouble Seira, and she's ready for anything, be it negotiate, dodge or retaliate!
01[22:18] <Seira> roll 1d4+4
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+4 and gets 7." [1d4=3]
01[22:18] <Seira> roll 1d10+10 FL
06[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 FL and gets 20." [1d10=10]
01[22:19] <Seira> roll 1d20+16
06[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 and gets 27." [1d20=11]
[22:19] <Kotono> Seira waits! It's only 100 feet down now and rising fast! It's huge and rising fast, right towards the upwards! Notably, it's going to take up a lot of space as it rises. Even if it's not coming for Seira, it's going to be hard to dodge!
01[22:26] <Seira> The advantageous move is to strike at the gigantic roc while she has the chance, but even if it's as mindless as its smaller brethen, Seira doesn't want to attack first. She resigns herself to withdrawing through the crack and flying off to the side, opting to see what the roc would do once out of the dome.
[22:29] <Kotono> Flying out, Seira hurries along! It's a good move, as the impact sends the hill shattering! Dirt, stone and wood go flying! As the roc emerges, the sunlight makes it's body glitter like gold! It circles above the hill, and in Auran, "Free!"
01[22:30] <Seira> It is a language Seira knows! "That's nice to hear," she calls over to the orc in Auran, her images echoing her words. "Who trapped you there, if I might ask?"
01[22:31] <Seira> OOC: amusing typo, but roc
[22:31] <Kotono> OOC: Roc yes. Snerk.
[22:34] <Kotono> The roc flies about, it's wings making small gales of wind with it's flaps. It comes around to Seira after several circuits of the area. It's eyes are like pools of gold and brown fieldstone mixed together. "I care not anymore, for I am free! Free at long last! My heart beats again! My thoughts are free! The sun shines on me!"
06[22:37] * Seira takes a good look. Though it's a primitive means of judging character, knowing whether the roc reads as evil would make this black and white once more! Until she has proof of the creature's darkened heart, however, she responds with an honest sympathy, "Having your thoughts hijacked is one of the worst things that could happen to you, yes. And having the sun around is nice."
01[22:37] <Seira> She gives the roc a midair bow as best as she can. "I'm Seira. What's your name?"
[22:39] <Kotono> The roc continues to fly about. It only answers after a little time. "I have no name. My kind do not require them. If you must call me something, Roc suffices. Then Seira, who are you and why do you come to this place as I am freed?"
01[22:41] <Seira> "I was asked to investigate this hill." Seira gestures at the now-shattered formation. "I have received a vague warning about a threat of some sort, but it wasn't very clear, thus my questions about the nature of your captor. Even if my investigation doesn't bear fruit, however, I would still like to help someone who had been trapped unjustly."
[22:43] <Kotono> The bird's attention is all on Seira now. "Who told you? Why? Answer my questions first."
01[22:45] <Seira> "Waukeen. She requested my help in this matter." Seira gestures at the chakram at her belt. "Apparently, it is the best way to destroy Shar's hold on this nasty weapon."
[22:46] <Kotono> "I care little for your task, dog of Waukeen. Out of my sight!"
[22:47] <Kotono> The roc's beak snaps fiercely as it's wings flap harder.
01[22:48] <Seira> "What is it with me and rude people this week?" Seira mutters. "Do you have a problem with Waukeen?" she asks, raising her voice. "I find it hard to believe that she was the one who trapped you here. If that is what you're implying, do you have any proof? And if not, why not accept help when it's freely offered? I would do it even if I didn't have a task to finish at this place."
[22:50] <Kotono> You can see the fury in the bird's eyes, a very unanimalistic look. "A charlatan of Waukeen resulted in my loss of my previous perch, thus my cursed travel to this land that resulted in my imprisonment! I want nothing to do with the servant of such a dog of a Goddess!"
06[22:52] * Seira considers the roc's words. "It may well be true," she admits. "Until recently, Waukeen's influence on this world was tenuous at best due to the seals placed upon it. Someone claiming to follow her or even genuinely thinking they were might have done this to you, but I would like to assure you that it was not the will of Waukeen herself.
01[22:52] <Seira> As proof of that, why not let me reimburse you to restore her good name? I could help you find a better perch than what you had, and make other reparations."
[22:56] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check?
01[22:56] <Seira> roll 1d20+26
06[22:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+26 and gets 43." [1d20=17]
[23:00] <Kotono> The roc's gaze is terrible to view, "Prove it. Prove to me that you are sincere, Waukeenite. I know your type would sooner part with your lives than your money. Give me gold or jewels to hold, to prove that you are not another worthless charlatan."
01[23:04] <Seira> This is a problem. She really does like to have cash. The real issue, however, is that she lacks funds right now. The same goes for jewels, naturally. She somehow doubts the roc would be pleased with a hundred gold and change. In the end, Seira withdraws a small ioun stone.
01[23:04] <Seira> "I don't have much in way of mundane funds on me," she admits. "But this stone is very expensive, and doubly so for a mage like me. It increases my magical prowess, and right now I'm using it to compensate for the curse laid upon me by the chakram."
[23:06] <Kotono> "You are a wizard? How do I not know you offer me a chunk of stone with a passing illusion of magic on it and not something of true value? Do you not have anything of gold or jewels?"
06[23:07] * Seira points at the images floating around her. "Well, yes, I am." She fishes in her pockets before withdrawing her money pouch and showing the insides to the roc. "You could have that instead if you would like, but the stone is worth more than twenty times this."
[23:08] <Kotono> "Give me both, then."
[23:08] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[23:08] <Kotono> "Give me both, then."
[23:09] <Kotono> The roc at last looks up to Seira, intent.
06[23:10] * Seira blinks, but then looks dubiously at the roc. Nevertheless, she quickly shrugs and drops the ioun stone in the pouch, draws it closed and offers it on her outstretched hand.
[23:11] <Kotono> The claws of the roc take the bag tightly, nearly ripping it out of Seira's hand. "Fine. This other, better perch. Where do you speak of?"
01[23:12] <Seira> "I can think of several options. The real question is what you are looking for in a home," Seira responds. In a way, it seems like a test run for her future employment with Ajan. "Such as climate, and whether you would prefer an isolated area or one near others you could talk to or visit."
[23:14] <Kotono> "Mountains. Warm mountains and solitude. Nothing more, nothing less."
01[23:15] <Seira> "Are you troubled by lightning and electricity? I believe regulars rocs would be, but you're anything but that."
06[23:15] * Seira feels a bit sad that he doesn't fancy the cold, since having a roc live near her winter home would've been grand.
[23:17] <Kotono> "Lightning and electricty? I have no love of them...but do you speak of the natura lightnings or another source of them?"
01[23:20] <Seira> "Shocker lizards. We have lots of them in the Galkass Mountains. So much that they can be a nuisance even for a wizard like me. But I have ways of dealing with them, and they're hardly everywhere," Seira elaborates. "The mountains themselves are very pleasant and reasonably warm, and while not entirely isolated, hardly anyone ever comes to visit them.
01[23:20] <Seira> If this does not suit you, I could make enquiries with my friends in the south."
[23:21] <Kotono> The roc's gaze turns to Seira, Those pests taste good for a light snack. I will see this Galkass Mountains you speak of, then."
06[23:23] * Seira nods, and tries to estimate whether her ring is capable of teleporting the both of them.
01[23:26] <Seira> "At the speed I travel, it would take... oh, a couple of weeks?" Seira estimates. "Unfortunately I cannot teleport us both straight to the destination. Unless you have faster means of travel for us both, if I just serve as guide?"
[19:14] <Kokokokokoko> <Seira> "Shocker lizards. We have lots of them in the Galkass Mountains. So much that they can be a nuisance even for a wizard like me. But I have ways of dealing with them, and they're hardly everywhere," Seira elaborates. "The mountains themselves are very pleasant and reasonably warm, and while not entirely isolated, hardly anyone ever comes to visit them.
[19:14] <Kokokokokoko> <Seira> If this does not suit you, I could make enquiries with my friends in the south."
[19:14] <Kokokokokoko> > The roc's gaze turns to Seira, Those pests taste good for a light snack. I will see this Galkass Mountains you speak of, then."
[19:14] <Kokokokokoko> * Seira nods, and tries to estimate whether her ring is capable of teleporting the both of them.
[19:14] <Kokokokokoko> <Seira> "At the speed I travel, it would take... oh, a couple of weeks?" Seira estimates. "Unfortunately I cannot teleport us both straight to the destination. Unless you have faster means of travel for us both, if I just serve as guide?"
[19:15] <Kokokokokoko> The roc starts to fly, "Guide. Come here and get on my back. It will be far faster than your small flight."
01[19:16] <Seira> "To be fair, I can teleport myself just fine," Seira says, following the roc's instruction and rendezvousing with it. "Although I'd love to learn how to fly faster, of course. Do you think that's something that comes with age?"
[19:21] <Kokokokokoko> The roc starts to fly, the forest becoming small and tiny below as it ascends, then begins to fly fast! "Size and time."
06[19:23] * Seira gives the roc directions, consulting her maps of the region from time to time to keep them on course. "Working on the size, with magic and all. Time's not something I have much of, given all the nasty fiends that seem drawn to Prime."
[19:29] <Kokokokokoko> The roc doesn't immediately reply, soaring ot the southwest in the meantime. Far below the Barbarian Lands are a vast sea of green, passing on by. OOC: Do you want to chat or skip along some, Cor? Your call.
01[19:30] <Seira> OOC: We can skip if it's not chatty
[19:36] <Kokokokokoko> Time passes. It's a few days of travel, making far faster time. There are occasional breaks, the roc diving at wild rivers and coming out with fish in both talons, swallowing them down whole. But it's pace is relentless, save for rest and food. Soon, the Galkass mountains loom to the southwest, coming closer and closer.
06[19:38] * Seira directs the roc to the mountain where Kondrux's lair used to be. Even if she later uses the lair itself, the mountain top should be more than comfortable for her new friend.
[19:41] <Kokokokokoko> He flies there, the mountains stretching out all around. His eyes sweep over the mountains as you ascend higher, "I can see them, hiding in holes or skittering like vermin over the ground."
01[19:42] <Seira> "Want me to clear the area enough for an approach?" Seira suggest. She certainly has enough fire for that.
[19:43] <Kokokokokoko> The roc does not answer as you ascend to that lofty mountain, circling over it's peaks. Instead, it bellows forth a great bird cry! The sound echos chaotically in the peaks, crashing around like the hammers of an angry God. Should any linger as I descend down, do what you will to them."
06[19:45] * Seira keeps an eye out! Size is useful for intimidation as well, that much is obvious.
[19:45] <Kokokokokoko> OOC: Make a spot check for reference?
01[19:46] <Seira> roll 1d20+10 sure
06[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+10 sure and gets 21." [1d20=11]
[19:59] <Kokokokokoko> As the bird chooses a peak, flying around it, Seira can see most of the lizards have scurried away. Only one or two stay out, heads poking out of burrow holes in the mountain.
06[20:01] * Seira encourages this behavior with a handy fireball!
01[20:01] <Seira> roll 10d6 fire~
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10d6 fire~ and gets 35." [10d6=4, 3, 4, 4, 6, 2, 4, 1, 3, 4]
[20:05] <Kokokokokoko> Woosh! Three lizards are burnt alive, charred and fried! The few others skitter away and into the holes entirely, out of sight!
01[20:07] <Seira> "So what do you think?" Seira asks matter of factly. "Due to those critters, it's basically unclaimed. There was a dragon living here, but he was very bad so now he doesn't live here anymore. You'll have peace, quiet, food and warmth! Plus the view is great! Why, there is a little grove not far from here that's very pastoral!"
[20:11] <Kokokokokoko> Flying, the roc lands atop the tallest peak in the vicinity. It perches here, looking over the domain, then up at the sky. It is quiet for a time, it's wings folding back. "I like these mountains. Get off here and wait. I shall explore these mountains on my own for a time."
01[20:12] <Seira> roll 1d20+4 epic sense motive!
06[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+4 epic sense motive! and gets 16." [1d20=12]
[20:14] <Kokokokokoko> roll 1d20+1
06[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokoko rolls 1d20+1 and gets 16." [1d20=15]
01[20:15] <Seira> "Sure thing!" Seira says cheerfully, quite trustworthy!
[20:17] <Kokokokokoko> OOC: Going to do anything but wait and kill time?
01[20:17] <Seira> OOC: I guess I could use the chance to refresh my spells, but that's it.
[20:19] <Kokokokokoko> roll 1d100
06[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokoko rolls 1d100 and gets 20." [1d100=20]
[20:23] <Kokokokokoko> Several hours pass. The duskfall is coming as the roc at last returns. It descends, perching atop the mountain once more. It looks down to Seira, "Perhaps you are the exception that proves the rule."
01[20:25] <Seira> "Or you just had bad luck with servants of Waukeen in the past?" Seira counters. "She clearly felt bad about it and sent me along. Not to brag or anything, but I hold a reasonably high position in her clergy, and I wouldn't if my views were aberrant or ran counter to her wishes."
[20:31] <Kokokokokoko> The roc's gaze travels down, "Perhaps."
01[20:32] <Seira> "Spend some time here," Seira offers. "You said you liked it, right? I'll come back some time and bring others for you to meet. It's unreasonable for you to believe me like that straight away, but I think it's like flying. Time helps." She frowns suddenly. "I'm not sure size would, though, in this case."
03[20:36] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-3e886235.tcl119.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:36] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:38] <Kokokokokoko> "My nest will be here."
[20:38] <Kokokokokoko> The roc flaps it's wings once, before alightning up from it's perch once more.
03[20:39] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
01[20:39] <Seira> "Sure thing! Anything else I could help you with?"
[20:43] <Kokokokokoko> "I am sufficient."
06[20:44] * Seira nods. "I'll be going, then. If you ever need me, contact Balmuria." Seira points in the right direction. "I doubt you could miss it. Pretty city."
[20:45] <Kokokokokoko> With it's wings folded up, the roc begins to perch there. "If you are not the exception to the rule, perhaps I will."
01[20:46] <Seira> With a wave, Seira teleports back to the temple to Waukeen in Balmuria.
[20:46] <Kokokokokoko> OOC: d100.
01[20:47] <Seira> roll 1d100 ring
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 ring and gets 79." [1d100=79]
[20:47] <Kokokokokoko> Woosh! Seira appears in front of the fountain at dusk. The Temple is still noisy, but quieting down. Shops outside are shutting for the night, merchants heading for inns to rest. The few that are immediately about give Seira a look, though not too much of one.
06[20:48] * Seira gives them a nod, before proceeding inside. Mia should be found easily enough, and if not, she could afford the search.
[21:03] <Kokokokokoko> OOC: Okay, while loot is figured out for whatever, you wanted to talk to Elle?
01[21:04] <Seira> OOC: Yes!
[21:05] <Kokokokokoko> Elle is found at her shop as always. Finding her in her back rooms, and sitting down for a drink, "How've you been? I haven't seen you around Balmuria lately."
01[21:07] <Seira> "I've been going through forests and all that good stuff," Seira tells her. "Met a roc. He was intelligent and really, really large. Huge. Larger than an adult dragon."
[21:10] <Kokokokokoko> Elle whistles, sipping a glass of wine before going up to a bookshelf. As she does, "Did you fight it?"
01[21:11] <Seira> "I wanted to. But I'm not really as rash as some people think, so I just befriended it instead." Seira pauses briefly, before clarifying, "Without fighting." She mulls over this for a few more moments. "Maybe he'll agree to fight me for fun some other time."
[21:14] <Kokokokokoko> "Oh good." Coming back with a book, carried like it's somewhat disdainful, held out a foot in front of her, "There's good news and bad news. The good news is that someone left a powerful magical tome for you as a gift."
06[21:14] * Seira shakes her head at Elle. "Don't you know it's customary to give the bad news first, so that there's something left to soften the blow?"
[21:15] <Kokokokokoko> "Hehehe." Without much of a smile, "The bad news is that it was left in care of Alicia by the devil Esthan."
06[21:16] * Seira looks at Elle askance. "Are you trying to tell me that Alicia cut a deal with Esthan?"
[21:17] <Kokokokokoko> "No. It was more complicated than that. He appeared...they fought...Alicia wasn't able to touch him. He derided her and asked her to join him. When she refused, he smiles and said he'd left a gift. These were it; the book left for you will sharpen your mind."
01[21:18] <Seira> "Huh. No strings attached, no promises on our side?"
[21:21] <Kokokokokoko> "You'd have to ask Alicia for better clarity, but yes. He left a book for you, Alicia and Demedais. Rare books I can't reproduce. Nearly a hundred thousand gold coins in value all combined."
06[21:24] * Seira is impressed by Esthan producing such a book and parting with it so easily even more than she is with his ability to avoid Alicia's attacks. "Let me see. My mind got sharpened by the remnants of Daa-vid's magic and a crazy pit fiend. An evil icy goddess made me stronger. I guess I'll thank Esthan kindly for bringing me one step closer to defeating him?"
[21:24] <Kokokokokoko> "You know, there's so much I could say to that." Elle puts the book down on the table, "Alicia said it was your choice. She was going to burn hers, so as not to be in debt to Esthan."
01[21:28] <Seira> "I have more resources to draw upon, now," Seira muses. "Don't worry, I am no longer desperate to blindly jump into things just to keep up with the outsiders. I've been meaning to Commune with Wakueen, in large part due to meeting the roc I mentioned, so I could spare a couple of questions on this. If there are secret strings attached, Waukeen could warn me away from this course of action."
01[21:28] <Seira> She twists her face, then. "Could you ask Alicia to wait on the book-burning until I've done that, Elle? And even if she doesn't feel like using a book Waukeen's decided to clear as safe, tell her I'm offering to buy it off her hands? She could give the money to an orphanage or another worthy cause."
[21:37] <Kokokokokoko> "I would if she was in Balmuria. She left the day after," Elle shakes her head. "Commander Oberuth said she was going away from this world, to one of the realms beyond for a time."
01[21:39] <Seira> "I might leave again soon, so I'm really asking you for when she returns," Seira elaborates. "After all, either of us could use a Sending, but it's neither an urgent matter nor one I'd want to discuss over twenty five words or less."
[21:41] <Kokokokokoko> "I will then. Where are you going," Elle inquires with a littl esmile, "Zipping off to the far ends of the known world again?"
01[21:42] <Seira> "In a way, yes. Elle, I can't tell you everything since it's a secret only few of us know and it's best to keep it that way, but remember the trip the Guard took to the Amaryl mountain range a while back?"
03[21:45] * Kokokokokoko is now known as Kotono
[21:48] <Kotono> Elle nods, "Yes, I'm aware of it," she says. "I remember the loot from the dragon."
[21:48] <Kotono> After a moment, Elle winces. "Loot? Mystra, I sound like a gruff adventurer all over again."
01[21:50] <Seira> "Ah, loot." Seira allows herself a smile as she daydreams. "Elle, it turns out that the greatest loot of all is there. So far, as I trained, I was ultimately trying to devise ways of surviving Daa-vid's onslaught to get within knife range with him as my goal. But what went after that was put aside, as if I couldn't even get close through his miles upon miles of elemental attacks, what was the point?"
01[21:50] <Seira> "And now... now the way to destroy him is at hand."
[21:55] <Kotono> "You found something?" Elle looks to Seira intently, "Another Resort? An artifact? Something stronger hidden away in those mountains, Seira?"
01[21:57] <Seira> "This time, my intel is reliable. It's an artifact." She pauses uncomfortably. "A life-stealing artifact. I understand what that means, so when I get it, could you skip the lecture and help me look for a loophole?"
[21:58] <Kotono> Elle stops, before she frowns. "It's that damned sword, isn't it? Arondaaq? The life stealing sword? I've read some of the books the Guard has brought back about it."
06[22:01] * Seira nods. "That same intel said its wards were failing, and Esthan and his cronies were closing in on its location. Even if the latter was exaggerated, which I have no reason to believe, its presence corrupted a silver dragon and killed many elves. Allowed to rest there as the wards corrode...."
06[22:01] * Seira shakes her head. "I've been assured that the danger would be contained to me, the sword bearer, if I broke it out."
[22:04] <Kotono> "Still, the fact that you're already saying you'll need a loophole says a lot." Elle runs her hands through her hair, "You can't let Esthan have it, true, but if the stories I've read are even remoately accurate?"
01[22:05] <Seira> "I intend to ask Waukeen about that as well." Seira grimaces. "If it shortens my lifespan to a single month by the mere virtue of holding it in my hands, then taking it out wouldn't help one bit. We won't be ready to face Esthan within that time, not to mention Daa-vid."
[22:07] <Kotono> "Ask then. I don't want you to throw away your life after all you've done." With a waxen smile as she looks to Seira, "I want to see you become a master of all magic, not a sacrifice."
06[22:10] * Seira laughs. "Like I told you earlier, I'm past blind recklessness! I can afford to plan and research a bit. And speaking of research!" She becomes animated all of a sudden. "I've been meaning to study the golden frame of that inevitable Demedais dismantled. Remember? The crazy one that was after me. I'm thinking, a clockwork body driven by sentience and magic. Why not adapt it for my pal Lagann?"
[22:22] <Kotono> Elle nods, "That could be a fascinating project, and an insight into how Inevitables work too."
01[22:24] <Seira> "Feel like helping me out, then?"
[22:28] <Kotono> "When?" Elle stands up alreayd, though. "I'm interested."
01[22:30] <Seira> "When I get back," Seira tells her. "Remember those strange little moving statues Demedais found? I get to borrow one from time to time. Along with having Lagann to help out, I figure we'll have all the advantages we could possibly need, here."
[22:31] <Kotono> "Right," Elle nods gravely to that, "When are you leaving, and who's goin gwith you?"
01[22:34] <Seira> "A Desjardin was key in sealing it away," Seira responds. "It's only fair that one gets an offer to be there for this occasion. Beyond that? It would be incredibly dangerous, so I'd rather keep things that way. But just as a precaution, could I copy the Telepathic Bond spell, Elle? I've been meaning to use it with Permancy and keep in touch that way."
Session Close: Tue Apr 21 22:35:03 2009
Session Start: Tue Apr 21 22:35:03 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[22:35] * Disconnected
02[22:35] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[22:35] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[22:35] * Topic is 'Marie>Antenora>Jessica>Alicia>Barbed>Elle>Donald'
03[22:35] * Set by Anastasia on Sun Apr 12 00:14:51
02[22:36] * Seira (~corwin@bzq-79-181-132-222.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
03[22:36] * Anna is now known as Seira
03[22:36] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[22:36] <Kotono> "Who are you going to bond it with?" Elle inquires.
01[22:38] <Seira> "I, uhh, I think--" Seira looks uncomfortable. "I should ask the person, first. Right?"
[22:42] <Kotono> "...yes, that would be wise," Elle rubs her forehead, before she laughs. "You haven't asked that person yet, have you?"
01[22:43] <Seira> "I guess I do act rashly sometimes," Seira admits, leaning forwards and adding in a conspiratorial tone, "Let's keep it a secret, alright?"
Session Close: Tue Apr 21 22:49:11 2009
Session Start: Tue Apr 21 22:49:11 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[22:49] * Disconnected
02[22:49] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[22:49] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[22:49] * Topic is 'Marie>Antenora>Jessica>Alicia>Barbed>Elle>Donald'
03[22:49] * Set by Anastasia on Sun Apr 12 00:14:51
03[22:50] * Anna is now known as Seira
03[22:50] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
Session Close: Tue Apr 21 23:03:04 2009
Session Start: Tue Apr 21 23:03:04 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[23:03] * Disconnected
02[23:03] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[23:03] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[23:03] * Topic is 'Marie>Antenora>Jessica>Alicia>Barbed>Elle>Donald'
03[23:03] * Set by Anastasia on Sun Apr 12 00:14:51
02[23:04] * Seira (~corwin@bzq-79-181-132-222.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[23:07] <Kotono> ---
[23:08] <Kotono> Gilartal listens to Seira as she talks, then stands. "A Commune spell again?" Outside, Balmuria is cool and rainy, a quiet day that people hurry through, to the dyr insides and warm fireplaces.
01[23:09] <Anna> "I think I'm at a crossroads, again," Seira says to that. "Just like I was at that time."
[23:13] <Kotono> "I see." Gilartal looks away from the window briefly, then to Seira. "HAve you devised your qustions?"
01[23:15] <Anna> "This time, I've made several lists." Seira dutifully shows the lists in question. "I've written the questions from my perspective, so if they need to be adjusted since you'll be the one asking them, we could spend a moment on that now, Gilartal.
01[23:15] <Anna> The idea is that each list has a tree, and once it's been asked to my satisfaction I'll indicate that and we can move on to the next one without going through every question."
[23:16] <Kotono> OOC: What's your list, anyway? PM it to me?
06[23:18] * Anna consults one of her lists. "Actually, this part here might be redundant. I've told you in brief about my recent quest, right? Would you know anything about the roc or the servant of Waukeen that he claimed had tricked him?"
03[23:19] * Anna is now known as Seira
03[23:19] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
01[23:19] <Seira> OOC: Right, peer, etc
[23:28] <Kotono> "I haven't heard anything of it," He responds as he prepares, "Quite the list. More questions than I can ask, too."
01[23:29] <Seira> "The last list is there to pad it in case some of the real questions turn out unnecessary," Seira tells him, settling in for the wait.
[19:36] <Kotono> -------------------------------(Super Ko)--
[19:37] <Kotono> Thus, Gilartal casts Commune! He calls on the name of Waukeen, asking her questions for wisdom and profit! When it is done, "Very well. The answers were clear and the spell was successful," he reports. "To your first two questions, about the roc and the servant, the answer was yes. The third question's answer was that it was pointless, as he has passed."
06[19:39] * Seira nods. "As was expected, perhaps. But I know I feel better already!"
[19:40] <Kotono> "To her dogma, she said yes. To Brightwater, she said yes." To both of those, he pauses, "To the three questions about the mystic books, the answer was the same. '
[19:40] <Kotono> The dweomers are not poisoned, but beware of the Pit.
[19:40] <Kotono> OOC: Gah, stupid paste.
[19:40] <Kotono> "To her dogma, she said yes. To Brightwater, she said yes." To both of those, he pauses, "To the three questions about the mystic books, the answer was the same. 'The dweomers are not poisoned, but beware of the Pit'."
01[19:41] <Seira> "To all three?" Seira asks to clarify.
[19:42] <Kotono> "Yes." Gilartal answers, "The same words, the same warning. IT is not usual for Waukeen to give such a verbose answer."
01[19:43] <Seira> "I know how the appeal works," Seira affirms. "It might've been better to ask for a clarification, but I suppose it wouldn't have done much good, here, if she doesn't wish to answer clearly. What of Arondaaq?"
[19:44] <Kotono> "It is dangerous for you to carry, and that it cannot be recovered by mortal magic," he answers.
01[19:45] <Seira> "Well, there's a horrible prospect."
[19:46] <Kotono> "There it ends. What will you do now?" Gilartal asks, going back to sit. His gaze travels outside briefly, "A dangerous weapon that cannot be mitigated by mortal magic, eh?"
06[19:47] * Seira nods curtly. "Higher magics exist, but that bitter combination of answers all but ensures I won't live to see it. Not that I can't see a way out, of course, but...." Seira sighs. "What will I do if Esthan seizes it before I'm ready? What will we all do?"
[19:52] <Kotono> "How dangerous is it, exactly?" Gilartal asks, "You've said a little about it, but your face is troubled."
01[19:55] <Seira> "There are no clear accounts," Seira hedges, "but it is believed that using the sword in battle even once is a death sentence to the user, even if he had transcended mortal limitations. I've hoped that merely carrying it wouldn't be so debilitating, but...." She sighs again. "There's really no way to ask how long I'll survive if I took it with Commune, is there?"
[19:59] <Kotono> "I could ask. If Waukeen can and will answer is according to Her will." Gilartal's gaze takes in the rainy weather outside, "Can you do anything else but take it?"
01[20:01] <Seira> "Reseal it. But that is not without problems. The original seals were forged by an alliance of truly exceptional mages. The only two who might qualify on our world right now is a cleric of Torm and Esthan." Seira grimaces. "So yeah. Let's say I did the impossible and reinforced the seals. What's to stop Esthan from breaking through them? My very efforts might well point him in the right direction."
[20:02] <Kotono> "I don't know." Gilartal shakes his head, "I can divine Waukeen again should you find that helpful."
01[20:05] <Seira> "Maybe." Seira considers the suggestion. "I could refine some of my other questions as well, and if Waukeen is in the mood to help there as well, it would be welcome. For example, I'm taking her warning to mean as bewaring seduction, pretty much, though not in the literal sense.
01[20:05] <Seira> Using fiendish power is easy, and it comes freely at first. It is all too easy to forget that eventually, a price would be asked for the next favor, and you might be too far gone to care. Does that sound about right, or do you have a different interpretation?"
[20:05] <Kotono> "No, I think that's wise. It may be the meaning, or the only meaning, but I feel it's entirely correct."
01[20:08] <Seira> "It is a bit like gambling. You need to know when to quit." Seira colors lightly. "I have a problem with that, sometimes, but as long as there is no price or strings attached, I'll keep at it. The moment things change, well, I am surrounded by enough level-headed people to point it out."
[20:09] <Kotono> "That's also wise. You need to know when to take your profits and walk away, or you can lose everything you've earned."
03[20:11] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5443eb55.lns1-c9.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:11] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
01[20:12] <Seira> "But just staying out of the game altogether while the house is letting you win is also a mistake, I feel," Seira comments. "In the end, these so-called gifts would help us bring down Esthan, Daa-vid and the rest of those who'd menace us. To just throw that away?" She shakes her head.
01[20:12] <Seira> "Alright. On the sword, again, I want to keep the decision of what to do with it my own. But if Waukeen were to grant an answer on the subject, I would like to know whether possessing it would kill or incapacitate me within a matter of months."
03[20:13] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
06[20:18] * Seira briefly sketches down a pair of questions. "If it is possible, ask these two first, Gilartal, and then proceed to the remaining list? Judging on the answers I get, I'll have a few moments to draft two more follow-up questions, should we need them."
[20:26] <Kotono> Taking the questions so far and reviewing, "Alright," he says, beginning! Thus he casts, writing down answers as he receives them, the spell going on! The first answer is 'It is likely', 'One of the many dangers' for the second.
06[20:28] * Seira looks like she bit into a sour lemon right off the start, and begins writing as the second answer is heard.
[20:28] <Kotono> The third is 'Unclear', as is the fourth . The fifth is 'Unknown.' The sixth is yes, the seventh 'Unclear' again. The eight is 'Yes, but beware the difficulty' and then, 'Hurry, now' Gil scribbles.
[20:28] <Kotono> OOC: Strike.
[20:28] <Kotono> The third is 'Unclear', as is the fourth . The fifth is 'Unknown.' The sixth is yes, the seventh 'Unclear' again. The eight is 'Yes, but beware the difficulty' and then, 'Hurry, now' Gil scribbles. 'I need a question fast.'
01[20:33] <Seira> 'Will it get Esthan or another fiend a way into my mind, similar to the time I heard Gurlan's thoughts?' Seira has already written, and then adds the final question of 'Can Desjardin be trusted with the resealing of Arondaaq?"
[20:33] <Kotono> Gil nods and asks those questions! When it's done, "Whew. You made it just in time. The answers are no and yes."
06[20:39] * Seira nods. "A gamble, after all, I see. I'll make it. And it sounds like sealing's on the horizon. I'll just have to add an alert so that I'll snag the sword if someone approaches its defenses and hope we can unseal Daa-vid within the time I'll have left."
[20:41] <Kotono> "Good luck," Gil considers, "It sounds like you'll need all of Waukeen's luck, and some of Tymora's too."
01[20:42] <Seira> "Fun times," Seira agrees, recovering from her disappointment already.
[20:46] <Kotono> ----
[20:51] <Kotono> Amaryl is resting in Seira's inn. Her and Donald are sitting at a table when Seira finds her, huddled together over a book. Amaryl's finger is tracing words as they speak in Elven.
06[20:56] * Seira fetches another chair, sitting down next to them. "Slow day?" she asks, looking through the inn's interior.
[21:02] <Kotono> The inn has people about, though it does look a bit slow. "Seira!" Amaryl's face lights up.
[21:02] <Kotono> "Oh, it's just elven poetry." Donald looks to Seira, a momentary 'Help' look flashing over his face. "Amaryl thought I should read some."
06[21:03] * Seira nods thoughtfully. "You really should. I believe reading it in your room to let your mind absorb it is even better!"
[21:05] <Kotono> Donald takes the book, "Sure, Seira," he says, and in nearly one word, "ThanksAmarylSeeyoulater!"
[21:05] <Kotono> "T-thanks..."A maryl blushes faintly.
01[21:06] <Seira> "Any particular poetry you two were reading?" Seira asks curiously as Donald makes good on his escape. "I should still remember some from my formal education."
01[21:06] <Seira> *poem
[21:07] <Kotono> "It was the Third Collection of Poems on the life cycle of trees," Amaryl speaks up, scooting over closer. "Donald's an elf but doesn't really know how to act like one."
06[21:09] * Seira nods. "It's pretty relaxing. Better to read it while surrounded by actual trees. Or recite it, actually, since you would be reading about the glory of trees off dead trees and that kind of kills the mood."
[21:09] <Kotono> "That is a good point," Blushing even more and lowering her head, "I should take him to the forest next time."
01[21:11] <Seira> "I know of a good place, so I'll tag along," Seira offers. "How about it?"
[21:13] <Kotono> "Oh, ifyou'd like! You can recite them too!" Amaryl smiles widely, "How many of them do you know?"
01[21:15] <Seira> "All the seven classical collections, at least?" Seira responds, thinking about it. "Then it gets spotty, since you'd usually cherry-pick what you like rather than memorize obscure texts in their entirety."
[21:18] <Kotono> "Lovely!" Amaryl's eyes grow wide at that, "Saul had you get a good education then."
01[21:21] <Seira> "Paid for one since he couldn't be bothered in person, more like," Seira mutters under her breath. "I've always had near-perfect recall, so studying was a breeze. Because of that I usually prefer riddles that require me to solve them rather than recite an answer, but I do get to enjoy the arts when I have time for them!"
[21:22] <Kotono> "Yes, you are so smart," Coloring once more, "Did you say something else, though? I thought I heard something, but I missed it."
01[21:23] <Seira> "Probably more boasting of how smart I am, just ignore me when I do that."
[21:24] <Kotono> "Oh." Looking down at her hands, "Seira, where were you today? Busy again with the Guard?"
01[21:25] <Seira> "I don't actually do it much--" Seira starts to protest, a hint of panic in her voice. At Amaryl's question, she pauses. "I've visited with Gilartal, actually. I might need to leave again, even though I just got back."
[21:27] <Kotono> "Oh. As in today?" Amaryl plays with her hands under hte table.
01[21:30] <Seira> "You know something? Nah. It doesn't have to be today. I sometimes get caught in the rush to tidy up any loose ends, that's all." Seira leans back precariously in her chair. "Did you have plans?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "I just wanted to spend some time with you," Amaryl admits as she blushes, "You've been busy again, Seira."
01[21:34] <Seira> "How about I check if I could bring you with me this time?" Seira suggests. "It might be fun. Well, it might involve bearing a difficult curse as we fight off all sorts of evil creatures, but if we're together I bet that would be fun!"
[21:52] <Kotono> "I'd like that," Amaryl scoots her chair right next to Seira now, "Can you do that?"
01[21:54] <Seira> "If you would share in the curse, it might be possible," Seira says thoughtfully. "It's not math. It's not even magic, but more of divine petitioning. Those are often vague and left to the whims of the gods, so a strong conviction and sprit could go a long way in helping Waukeen make her decision!"
[21:58] <Kotono> Nodding along to that, "Okay, Seira."
01[21:59] <Seira> "It might be a pretty horrible curse," Seira cautions. "Because nothing is really free. Is that still alright?"
[22:01] <Kotono> "Of course, Seira. After all, you asked," Smiling to her now, "That's good enough for me."
01[22:03] <Seira> "Speaking of asking," Seira says casually. "There's this spell I've wanted us to do together."
[22:05] <Kotono> "Oh?" Coloring deeply, "Well, it has been a little while since you've been busy..." She reaches out, taking Seira's hand. "As a way to welcome you back home?"
01[22:09] <Seira> It wasn't what she was angling to ask about, but Seira's thoughts derail at Amaryl's words. A welcome home sounds like an excellent idea, and anything else can wait!
[22:13] <Kotono> Much later in the day, nice things have happened. As the two now sit eating dinner quietly...OOC: Feel free to bring up the spell or whatever else you wanted to, Seira?
01[22:16] <Seira> "So there's this spell," Seira says out of the blue. "With it, we could stay in touch even if I'm at the other end of the world. It works by connecting people telepathically, allowing them to talk pretty much like Latha or Antenora can, except eschewing distance altogether. Recently, I finally managed to master it."
[22:19] <Kotono> "The entire world? That's incredible," Amaryl's hands go to her face. "How long does it last?"
01[22:20] <Seira> "It's an auxiliary spell, mostly for combat applications, so the regular duration is tactical," Seira informs her. "However... with another spell I've taken time to learn, I could have it last indefinitely."
[22:21] <Kotono> "Forever?"
01[22:22] <Seira> "Well, there are always counter-spells, and antimagic, and...." Seira trails off. "Forever. Pretty much. Unless we break it."
[19:47] <Koaway> <Seira> "So there's this spell," Seira says out of the blue. "With it, we could stay in touch even if I'm at the other end of the world. It works by connecting people telepathically, allowing them to talk pretty much like Latha or Antenora can, except eschewing distance altogether. Recently, I finally managed to master it."
[19:47] <Koaway> > "The entire world? That's incredible," Amaryl's hands go to her face. "How long does it last?"
[19:47] <Koaway> <Seira> "It's an auxiliary spell, mostly for combat applications, so the regular duration is tactical," Seira informs her. "However... with another spell I've taken time to learn, I could have it last indefinitely."
[19:47] <Koaway> > "Forever?"
[19:47] <Koaway> <Seira> "Well, there are always counter-spells, and antimagic, and...." Seira trails off. "Forever. Pretty much. Unless we break it."
[19:49] <Koaway> "Well..." Taking Seira's hand and blushing, "I'm good with it, Seira."
06[19:50] * Seira lets out a relieved breath. "I've been hoping you'd say that!"
[19:53] <Koaway> "Did you think I'd say no," Amaryl asks in a little, quiet voice
[19:53] <Koaway> .
01[19:54] <Seira> "That you would think about it, actually," Seira confides in her. "Solely to prolong my anxiety, of course."
[19:56] <Koaway> Deflating, "Oooooooooooh." Amaryl picks at her dinner, "When will you cast it?"
01[19:59] <Seira> "How about this evening?" Seira offers. "All it requires on my side is half an hour of meditation, and then the ritual to invoke the bond." She leans closer to Amaryl, whispering, "Remember those days I worried a lot? It's okay, now, since I stopped doing that."
03[20:02] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-544310cf.lns4-c7.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:02] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
03[20:02] * Koaway is now known as Kotono
[20:03] <Kotono> "Then, we'll do it tonight," Amaryl vows, "When you're ready to cast the spell."
[20:08] <Kotono> ---
[20:08] <Kotono> OOC: What's on your agenda now, Seira?
03[20:09] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
01[20:09] <Seira> OOC: Let's hit the temple of Waukeen together and see whether Waukeen is amenable to a fun fun planar adventure for us? I'll try for the anklet.
[20:16] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[20:16] <Kotono> ===
[20:17] <Kotono> Amaryl and Seira are about to head to the temple of Waukeen. As they are just about to leave, they notice Donald's at the front door. Commander Oberuth stands in front of him, the two talking together.
01[20:18] <Seira> "Commander," Seira greets, nodding at him. "Donald. Anything going on?"
[20:22] <Kotono> "Yes. A few days ago, a pair of goblins came to the garrison with a letter they claimed was written by you. I came to check it's veracity." He withdraws the letter from his tunic. "It looks like yours."
01[20:23] <Seira> "And that's my seal," Seira affirms, squinting at the paper and then pointing it out. "I'll reserve a magical one for next time, Sir. I just didn't expect to be hiring while walking through the woods."
[20:26] <Kotono> "I didn't expect to have goblins come calling, so I'll call it a wash." Taking the letter back once it's examined, "Why'd you bring them here? They said you persuaded them after an ambush went wrong."
[20:28] <Kotono> "Goblins?" Donald looks to SEira out of the corner of his eyes, "Did we need some arrow decoys?"
01[20:29] <Seira> "That's pretty much what happened," Seira agrees, before elaborating. "After convincing them that holding people up was a bad idea, I found out that they didn't want to be slaves to the giants and that the only skills they had were as mercenaries."
06[20:29] * Seira shrugs. "Humans aren't the only ones in the guard, and we reform criminals who genuinely want to change. Why not give a similar chance to our neighbors?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "Why not?" Oberuth shrugs, "I didn't expect I'd have a half dragon Colonel here, or a pixie angel or whatever else. Goblins are only mildly unusual these days," With a shake of his head, "Alright, as long as it's legitimate, they'll get a shot."
01[20:32] <Seira> "I conceived the following idea when confronted with the situation," Seira tells Oberuth. "Local guides. They know the terrain better than most of our men. We could pair patrols with the goblins as we send those out into the Barbarian Lands. After they've undergone a certain period of acclimation and learning our rules."
[20:33] <Kotono> "They're not half bad archers, if untrained," Oberuth agrees, "I'm having them work with the archery units and Pollyanna's keeping an eye on them. That's about the best use for them that I can think of, too."
06[20:35] * Seira nods. "I certainly hope more will follow, once we present a viable alternative to the giant domination." She glances at Amaryl. "Want to see if you could help Pollyanna with the training, if you get the time?"
[20:37] <Kotono> Amaryl nods, "Of course, Seira."
[20:38] <Kotono> "Carry on," Oberuth turns to go, "Oh yes, I don't know if you've heard, but I almost forgot. There was another devil incident a few days ago. ESthan."
01[20:39] <Seira> "You can set them on fire if they give you lip over being an elf," Seira tells Amaryl, turning fully towards her. "We have great healers--" At Oberuth's words, she pauses. "I think Elle mentioned that he stopped to drop off some books? It must've been a shipping mistake. I didn't order those."
[20:44] <Kotono> With a thin smile, "Alicia's gone to Ysgard to seek training. Be careful, she said she was outmatched by him."
01[20:47] <Seira> "I heard that as well," Seira says evenly. "Sir, I believe I would like to take the Shard along. Esthan seems unconcerned with Balmuria itself, so the chances he will strike it while we are not present are slim. It is far more likely I will encounter him elsewhere if he decides to come after me, and that is our only means of holding him back."
[20:48] <Kotono> "...Take it," Oberuth says after a moment's consideration. "Where are you going now?"
01[20:50] <Seira> "I need to work off some frustration, so we were on our way to the temple of Waukeen," Seira responds. "It is my hope that Waukeen has need of me somewhere filled with evil people I could punish in her name."
[20:51] <Kotono> "Go ahead. When your'e done with that, report to the garrison, as I'll need to talk to you fairly soon. But for now, go on." Oberuth turns away fully now. "Travel careful, SEira."
01[20:52] <Seira> So much to do, so little time! "Of course, Sir!" Seira agrees, and with a wave at Donald proceeds to her destination.
[21:01] <Kotono> After a quick stop by the garrison to pick up the Hammer of the Shard, Amaryl and Seira come to meet Mia. She meets them at the altar, "Oh, back already," Preening briefly over her robes and vestments, "What can WAukeen do you for you?"
01[21:04] <Seira> "The last time? It was a warm-up!" Seira declares brightly. "We wanted to ask Waukeen if she allowed us to take on a quest together to reform that creepy anklet."
[21:05] <Kotono> "I don't think this ritual works that way..." Mia scratches her nose, "Pray to Waukeen? Maybe she'll make it so?"
06[21:07] * Seira expected as much, and has come fully prepared to petition Waukeen properly once her intentions were made clear to Mia.
[21:14] <Kotono> OOC: d1000?
01[21:14] <Seira> roll 1d1000
05[21:14] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Kotono invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:14] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[21:14] <Seira> roll 1d1000
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d1000 and gets 381." [1d1000=381]
[21:15] <Kotono> Seira prays for a time. Amaryl joins her as well, kneeling besides her.
[21:15] <Kotono> roll 1d1000 why not
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d1000 why not and gets 477." [1d1000=477]
[21:18] <Kotono> Seira and Amaryl pray for a time. Nothing seems to happen to it, however. When Amaryl finally stands up, stretching her back out, "Did anything happen?"
01[21:19] <Seira> "Not terribly sure," Seira admits. "A lot of my prayers go like this. In fact, all of them do. That's why, when I really need to ask Waukeen something, I ask Gilartal for help."
[21:20] <Kotono> "That's why it's called faith?" Amaryl hazards that, as Mia shakes he rhead. "I don't see anything's changed. Maybe make an offering to her?" With a little shrug as she thinks, "It might be worht a chance."
01[21:25] <Seira> "Helm answers to Demedais," Seira mutters quietly. "An offering?" she asks, raising her voice. She mulls over this. "The principle is solid, Mia. We need to prove our conviction, and it often takes more than words. Also, by requesting an exception to the established rules, we must carry an added burden. Some of that price might well be represented by a worthy offering."
06[21:25] * Seira takes off her amulet and places it on the altar. "I don't really know if Waukeen would see this as acceptable, but lowering my defenses seems suitably symbolic, here."
[21:30] <Kotono> "Oh Waukeen, take this offering of magic and value," Mia prays, "Listen to the pleads of your loyal servants who seek to enrich you and your earthly church!"
[21:34] <Kotono> The pendant glimmers on the altar, before turning to solid gold! The gold spreads apart into large golden coins, each one stamped with a stylised face of Waukeen. The coins fall in a pattern, spelling out, 'The deal is accepted.'
06[21:35] * Seira beams!
[21:37] <Kotono> "Oht, hat actually worked." Mia looks at the altar, going to scoop up the coins. "I guess she liked the price."
01[21:38] <Seira> "Your intuition as Waukeen's priestess is excellent!" Seira compliments Mia, musing, "It's nice when everyone's happy."
[21:42] <Kotono> "So what were you going to take out? That anklet, you said?"
06[21:46] * Seira nods at that. "It's very unique, and so should represent a unique challenge!"
[21:59] <Kotono> "Alright, I'll go get it and come back." Mia's gone a little time, then the anklet is there. She begins to pray, calling forth on Waukeen! "Alright," she says, "Touch it to understand, Seira."
06[21:59] * Seira does so without delay.
[22:08] <Kotono> You and Amaryl must travel to the Plane of Shadow. Travel to Halla in the Shadow Plane and strike Shadow's Breath with a sword of the sun's light.
[22:08] <Kotono> OOC: GAh.
[22:09] <Kotono> You and Amaryl must travel to the Plane of Shadow. Travel to Halla in the Shadow Plane and strike Shadow's Breath with a sword of the sun's light. During this time one of you m ust wear the bracelet of shadows. Doing so will make you undo a shadow, barely able to interact int he world. Choose wisely.
06[22:09] * Seira pales.
[22:10] <Kotono> "Seira?" Amaryl is at her side, "What's the matter? You're so pale!"
01[22:10] <Seira> "It's a horrible place of horrible things. Anyone would be," Seira responds faintly.
[22:12] <Kotono> "Where is?" Amaryl presses.
01[22:12] <Seira> "Halla. On the Plane of Shadow."
[22:13] <Kotono> Amaryl shivers at the last word, taking Seira's arm. "It...it must be a for a good reason." she whispers, "To go to that accursed realm."
01[22:15] <Seira> "The last time I was there, Shar's servants knew of my arrival within moments." Seira shivers. "I couldn't outrun them. Things start to blur, later, but I don't recall anything going by Shadow's Breath while there, and I really have no idea how to strike it with a sword of the sun's light."
[22:16] <Kotono> "There must be a hidden meaning to that." Amaryl considers, holding Seira close. "A sword of the sun's light?"
[22:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[22:17] <Kotono> "I can't think of anything, but perhaps it's symbolic? Maybe magic that creates daylight?"
01[22:18] <Seira> "I have fire. Even divine fire, in a pinch." Seira relaxes in Amaryl's grasp, thinking over Waukeen's message.
01[22:18] <Seira> roll 1d20+20
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 and gets 28." [1d20=8]
06[22:28] * Seira begins to calm down as her ingrained rational thought processes take over. "Right. So we'll need a really rare bastard sword much like this one," she says, holding up the Resort, except it's all glowing and golden. At least that means we don't have to actually go to the Plane of Shadow until then. I think."
01[22:29] <Seira> roll 1d20 where would I be likeliest to find one?
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20 where would I be likeliest to find one? and gets 8." [1d20=8]
01[22:33] <Seira> "Mia, would you mind asking Gilartal for his presence?" Seira asks, waiting until the acolyte follows her request and leaves them alone before kissing Amaryl.
[22:34] <Kotono> Amaryl returns it and blushes fiercely! "S-Seira, in p-public," she glows like a cherry red fire ember.
01[22:35] <Seira> "No one ever looks at the altar," Seira tells her, not sounding particularly apologetic. "I just had to do it, before the curse made me all scary and creepy."
[22:36] <Kotono> "Still!" Shaking her head and putting her hands to her cheeks, "Um...um..." She doesn't get much coherent out before Mia returns. "Ah, Seira? Sorry, he's meeting with someone from the Desert Fiefdoms and Kelara. Delicate trade negotiations, I couldn't even get in the room."
01[22:40] <Seira> "It happens," Seira says with a shrug. "I'd feel bad if I took Gilartal away from that. I do wonder who I could ask to plane shift us. I figure Lathander's realm is the place to start looking for glowy sun blades, but as for getting there? I don't think even Elle could, so we'll need to rely on the clergy for help."
[22:40] <Kotono> "I can hav eyou summoned as soon as he's available," Mia offers.
06[22:41] * Seira consider that. "I'd really appreciate that," she tells her honestly. "Now, all that remains is accepting the curse. Let's go see the Commander after that, Amaryl? He did want to talk about something, and it seems like we have a bit of time left."
[22:44] <Kotono> Going to the garrison, you find Commander Oberuth in the briefing room. Once the two of you sit down, "I thought you were leaving."
01[22:46] <Seira> "It turned into a planar trip, so we're waiting on Gilartal to become available," Seira responds. "What did you wish to discuss, Sir?"
[22:46] <Kotono> "A few things. First of all, I understand you're looking into creating pathways that allow instant travel between places?"
01[22:48] <Seira> "Almost true, Sir. I intend to use a star formation where every spot linked to the portal network has to cross the hub. It, in turn, would be very much defended by magic, traps and able men."
[22:49] <Kotono> "From what I've heard and read, it could make overland travel far less important. The implications are staggering if you're successful." Steepling his hands together, "How possible is it? How long?"
06[22:51] * Seira considers the various aspects of the question. "Waukeen had recently hinted that retaining and developing other, more mundane means of travel is still important," she decides to start with. "But the implications for success are quite important, yes.
01[22:51] <Seira> Only the Guard, those present here today and Lord Salman know of these intentions so far, although the heads of the aligned temples in Balmuria would be filled in as the project reaches practical implementation." (more)
01[22:54] <Seira> "How possible it is? Well, Sir, I both have a place in mind for a hub, and an example of a working portal linked to it. I have the magical means to replicate the enchantment to fixate a portal. All I need are the funds to go ahead with the project full tilt, and the scrolls to open the initial portals. The latter could be seen as a subset of the former, in many ways.
01[22:54] <Seira> Time is, thus, a function of the funds I have available."
[22:58] <Kotono> "I know Lord Salman gifted you with money for the first portal to Victoria." He nods to that, "Knowing you, yes, it's going to happen. How much money do you need?"
01[23:01] <Seira> "It takes under fifteen thousand for a stable portal in a single direction," Seira says with a wince. "Lord Salman helped me along, yes, but even with his funding I don't yet have enough to create a one-way portal, not to mention working on the return trip."
[23:02] <Kotono> "Expensive, but I would think so, otherwise it might have been done before," Oberuth runs a hand over his chin, "If it's successful, perhaps Lord Salman will contribute more to others? The economic and military applications grow bigger the more I think on it.
[23:02] <Kotono> "
06[23:04] * Seira nods. "Perhaps. My goal is to start with Kesse, Sir, since that is one market we simply cannot reach by mundane means. Nothing would demonstrate the usefulness of the networks as much as a stable, two-way portal there and caravans guided by Waukeen making use of it."
[23:06] <Kotono> "Sensible but we'll need our defenses in order. While Shar's dogs are dead, I've heard what you plan to do over there. Projecting power that far and having a way to come easily to our realm could be exploited. The reports you gave lead me to think war's less of a possibility and more of an inevitability."
01[23:07] <Seira> "Come easily to our realm?" Seira asks with a smile. "It would be anything but easy."
[23:09] <Kotono> "That's the idea." Oberuth smiles right back. "The point stands. IF Sanaxt or the other one gets into a war with Kesse..."
01[23:10] <Seira> "It does," Seira agrees. "We might well avert it yet by such a blatant display of magical might, so I'm not ready to give up just yet. Caution, however, will be the order of the day."
01[23:10] <Seira> "In case you would like to invest as well, Sir, you could talk to Demedais," Seira says then. "He's been placed in charge of gathering the scrolls we need."
[23:11] <Kotono> "I may. There's various mundane details to be worked out. But since Lord Salman is interested, most of them will work themselves out."
06[23:12] * Seira is hopeful for the future!
[18:36] <Kotono> OOC: You were going to wait for Gil to catch up with you?
01[18:36] <Seira> OOC: Yep
[18:38] <Kotono> The rest of the day passes without incident. That evening, after the sun sets and the city settles down for another night, Seira and Amaryl meet with Gilartal. He's yawning and resting deep in his chair as they enter his chambers. "Profit onto you," he murmurs. "What did you need to see me about?"
03[18:40] * bleen is now known as tai-meltingintoexhaustionandpu
01[18:40] <Seira> "The quest we're about to go on requires us to head to Lathander's realm, for a start," Seira says, not sounding entirely certain. She doesn't let that stop her, however. "I've been hoping you could help us."
03[18:40] * tai-meltingintoexhaustionandpu is now known as tai-meltingintoexhaustion
[18:41] <Kotono> "Lathander's realm?" Rubbing his eyes clear, "What good can I do you if you're going there? Besides transport, I suppose?"
01[18:43] <Seira> "Since it's a quest just for us two, asking for you help in getting us started was all I was hoping, yes."
[18:45] <Kotono> "I could," Gilartal eyes the two, "In the interests of being completely forthright with you, you may also want to consult with Claris in Valandia. As I recall, he worships Lathander?" Smothering a second yawn into his hand, "He would know more specific and useful information than I, likely."
01[18:47] <Seira> So does Donald, although Claris is an actually sane choice Seira had forgotten about. "Once I've left Balmuria, I would be under a curse," she voices. "I'm not entirely certain how to approach Claris without causing panic."
[18:49] <Kotono> "Sending?" Amaryl voices, "That could work."
[18:50] <Kotono> "That is a problem, though," A quick agreement to Amaryl, "Or other matters. Why do you need to go to Lathander's realm, regardless?"
01[18:51] <Seira> "Could I trouble you for that, then?" Seira asks Gilartal, nodding at Amaryl's words. "I wouldn't be able to cast the spell until tomorrow at the earliest, and I don't want to wait too long before leaving." The more she delays, the longer there is time for hesitation to appear. "I was thinking of looking for a Sun Blade in his realm."
[18:54] <Kotono> "Very well." Gilartal stands up, "Best tod o it immediately, before my tiredness overwhelms my concentration entirely. What is the message you wish to send?"
06[18:58] * Seira considers the message for a minute. "Seira needs to meet you confidentially. Will try to teleport over with Amaryl. Where could you meet her? Might be slightly undead." She tilts her head. "How about that?"
[19:01] <Kotono> "Slightly undead," Snorting violently, "This will go over like a man who can't pay his debts. Very well. I'll be back after the spell's cast." Gilartal is gone for several minutes, returning without incident. "To quote: Official temple room we met at last time. I will be prepared. Come at dawn."
06[19:03] * Seira can't help but worry what Claris will be preparing for. "I might as well put Shadow's Breath on, then. No time like the present to see just how slightly it will be."
[19:05] <Kotono> Seira puts the anklet on! Her entire body blurs, shivering all over! Her skin turns into wisps of black, her feet lifting off the ground as she floats in the air! (More in PM.)
[19:09] <Kotono> "S-seira?" Amaryl comes over to Seira, looking at her. To Seira, the world seems dim, out of focus, somewhat hazy. Like looking at a reflection of the world through a glass prism.
01[19:10] <Seira> "Told you I had to take my chance while I still could," Seira says, smiling crookedly.
[19:10] <Kotono> Gilartal stares openly, "Waukeen's treasury! You really do look like a shadow."
06[19:11] * Seira gestures at her boots. "How about trying those on, Amaryl? They're a magical, one size fits all pair."
[19:12] <Kotono> "O-okay," Amaryl looks down at Seira's feet, "Will they still be all shadow-like when you take them off?"
[19:12] <Kotono> OOC: Strike.
[19:13] <Kotono> "O-okay," Amaryl looks down at Seira's boots, kneeling down to put them on and tie them up. "So we'll leave at dawn then?"
01[19:13] <Seira> "That's the plan. Think we'd better ask for a room at the temple so we don't freak anyone out on the street?"
06[19:14] * Seira tries to call upon the power of her earrings to see if they could shift her appearance to a livelier one.
[19:16] <Kotono> Nothing happens when Seira attempts to call on the magic.
06[19:19] * Seira dismisses it altogether, prefering to remain a shadowy half-dragon. "Lagann?" she voices, holding out the golden chakram. "Can you do something with this?"
[19:22] <Kotono> Seira can see the chakarm float in the air, shadowy and blurry, moved by Lagann.
01[19:24] <Seira> "Enough tests for now, I suppose," she muses. "I always see the world so vibrantly, especially after I messed around with that deck. Now?" Seira sighs in dejection. "Let's just find a room. You'll sleep and I'll... float or something to pass the time."
[19:25] <Kotono> OOC: Skip along some then?
01[19:26] <Seira> OOC: Yes
02[19:27] * tai-meltingintoexhaustion (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-182-189.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[19:32] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-206-191.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[19:32] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[19:39] <Kotono> The night passes without incident. Amaryl rises an hour before dawn, bathing and and eating in that time before preparing. Once dawn looms, the eastern sky starting to lighten, "Ready?" Amaryl asks Seira.
01[19:42] <Seira> "Almost," Seira responds, holding out a hand. "Can you give me one of your arrows, please? Not the silver ones, but just the a regular arrow."
[19:48] <Kotono> Amaryl holds out one of her normal arrows on request.
06[19:49] * Seira tries to grasp it!
01[19:49] <Seira> roll 1d20+5
06[19:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 and gets 15." [1d20=10]
[19:50] <Kotono> It takes a great force of will, but Seira is able to touch the arrow, taking it into her hand!
[19:50] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[19:50] <Kotono> It takes a great force of will, but Seira is able to touch the arrow, taking it into her hand! It turns shadowy like her, grasped and in her possession.
06[19:51] * Seira examines it for a bit, before casting green faerie light on it and letting it drop from her hands.
[19:52] <Kotono> The arrow returns to solid-ness once out of Seira's possession. The faerie fire stays on it even after dropping.
06[19:53] * Seira nods curtly. "Alright. We can do this! Amaryl, you'll need to be my eyes, since I can't see too far into the material world. And my diplomat, I suppose, so that good-meaning people don't try to help me pass on before my time."
[19:54] <Kotono> "A-alright," Amaryl nods hesitantly. "I will."
01[19:54] <Seira> "I've had time to worry over it tonight, and I'm thinking positively again!" Seira says cheerfully. "Get your ride and I'll teleport us to Claris's temple?"
03[19:56] * asdgsdfasdf (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-186-233.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
02[19:58] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-206-191.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[20:01] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-544351b1.lns6-c7.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:02] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:10] <Kotono> "You want me to bring a pegasus here?" Amaryl asks.
03[20:11] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
01[20:11] <Seira> "I could fly, and we might need to go to places where you'd need that, too," Seira reasons. "Even if I memorized a spell, it'd only work the once. I figure Waukeen wouldn't give me any abilities I didn't possibly need for this quest, since I'm not exactly your regular shadow."
[20:13] <Kotono> "Okay..." Amaryl blushes and hurries off. About a half hour later she returns with Gurren, leading the pegasus through the temple. Priests partw ay outside, a few trailing to stare and gawk. Mia hurries behind Amaryl and Gurren, holding her hands up. You can hear her call, "Hold on, there's no cause for alarm. It's just a pegasus! It's just visiting a guest here!"
06[20:15] * Seira stopped by with her own pegasus before, and it never really was cause for panic. She chides herself for not considering the possibility, but it is too late by then. As soon as Amaryl is near, she'll reach for her and try to teleport them over to Valandia, just before the temple to Lathander.
[20:16] <Kotono> OOC: I'll assume you make charisma checks until you get intouch with the two, then teleport? roll a d100.
01[20:17] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[20:17] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 4." [1d100=4]
[20:22] <Kotono> Woosh! Sunlight isa ll around you. You appear in the upstairs chambers of the Temple of Lathander in Valandia. Light shines in as the dawn's rays are magnified. The sunlight seems too bright to Seira's eyes, painful, overwhelming. Amid the searingly bright light stands Claris.
06[20:23] * Seira winces. "Ah, Claris. Could you turn off the sun, please?"
[20:27] <Kotono> Claris approaches without hesitation, though you can dimly catch vision of others. Others in white and gold robes, hanging back. "What has happened to you, Seira? Answer me first." Claris is in front of you, blocking a bit of the too bright sunshine. Mercifully for your eyes.
06[20:30] * Seira holds her arm to cover her eyes. "I suppose something was lost in the Sending. Confidentiality implies discretion, doesn't it, Amaryl?" Even as she asks that, Seira points at her shadowy feet. "I'm on a quest from Waukeen to break Shar's vile hold on this anklet. And you can't gain something without paying for it, right? We need Lathander's help, so you were our first choice."
[20:32] <Kotono> "These men are trustworthy. I had to be certain miserable had befallen you. Did it not before with the balor Gurlan?" Peering at her, "I understand. What aid do you need to break this vile curse, then?"
[20:32] <Kotono> *something miserable
06[20:34] * Seira would glare at Claris if she could. "Oh, sure, bring up another depressing chapter of my past as I'm relieving one already. And I was upfront with you that time as well, wasn't I? You know Gilartal, is he the kind of man who would entrap you?"
[20:36] <Kotono> "Seira, I apologize, but I will not take light chances." Claris says, "Better safe than dead."
01[20:37] <Seira> "I guess that's where we differ," Seira says, before grumbling, "Can you do something about the light? It really hurts, I'm not just saying that."
[20:38] <Kotono> "This way," Claris leads you out of the room, into a hall that's far less bright. Seira can see better here, her eyes not overstimulated by bright sunlight.
06[20:41] * Seira sighs in relief as soon as they've left Claris's chambers. "The shades, they did nothing," she complains, taking them off. "So, back to the curse. The quest is two-fold.
01[20:41] <Seira> First, we need to seek out a Sun Blade. Going to Lathander's realm seemed like our best chance, and you would know more than anyone both where to head and be able to help us get there, too. Next, we need to head to Halla on the Shadow Plane with the blade in question. This latter part makes me wonder just why Waukeen--"
01[20:41] <Seira> Noticing that her hand is shaking, Seira grabs it with the other to still it. "Right. First, the Sun Blade."
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 17." [1d20=2]
[20:50] <Kotono> "Those are sacred blades of Lathander. Yes, I doubt any lie in easy finding in this world," Claris frowns to that, "I would not think they would be given lightly; they are the gifts to high champions of Lathander. I may be able to find out more if I consult holy texts, my memory fails me."
01[20:51] <Seira> "We probably can't leave until the next dawn anyway, can we?" Seira asks, frowning. "I should've put a request for help with planar travel into my message. I doubt you have those sorts of spells ready normally, after all."
[20:54] <Kotono> "No. Follow me, it will be best if I escort you to private quarters for the day, so there is no chance of a panic." Claris says, and lower, "Sorry Seira. I don't intend to inflict unneeded distress on you in a time of trial."
01[20:55] <Seira> "It's... okay." Seira sighs. "Sure, it's depressing that I scare people and my appearance makes little kids cry. But I chose this for myself, even knowing what was likely to happen."
[20:57] <Kotono> "You're doing the right thing, even if it's hard." Amaryl comes to Seira, hand passing on and through Seira's arm. "The right thing isn't usually the easy thing, is it?"
06[20:58] * Seira focuses on her hand, trying to reciprocate. "It's usually me who goes on lecturing about needing to deserve the rewards through putting in effort and personal sacrifice," she says, smiling. "It'll be okay."
01[20:58] <Seira> roll 1d20+5
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 and gets 12." [1d20=7]
01[20:59] <Seira> Seira's smile slips slightly.
[21:00] <Kotono> Seira is lead to a room on the second floor, escorted by Claris. It's a plain guest room, windowless save for one that has thick curtains drawn over it. It's not fancy, but it's dim. Pleasant. "I'd put you in a better room, but all of our honored rooms have large windows to let in sunlight," Claris says, "Apologies."
01[21:01] <Seira> "I wouldn't be able to enjoy it, anyway," Seira says honestly. "I'll just take you somewhere nice afterwards," she adds for Amaryl's benefit.
[21:01] <Kotono> OOC: Are you going to do anything but cool your heels here?
01[21:03] <Seira> OOC: I'll wait, really.
[21:04] <Kotono> The day crawls by. Later in the afternoon, Claris returns. He brings a thick, old, yellowbound tome with him. "Seira?" he asks as he enters.
01[21:05] <Seira> "Still here," she calls back, floating in the center of the room. If she thinks about it as swimming and closes her eyes, it's actually quite relaxing.
[21:06] <Kotono> Going to a plain wood table in the room and placing the book down, "You can read Celestial, yes?"
[21:06] <Kotono> Amaryl sits on the bed, reading a thin booklet as she waits. She looks up at this, approaching Claris.
06[21:07] * Seira floats over as well. "Sure."
[21:10] <Kotono> Claris taps a page. It flows around an image, of an armored man holding a sword of golden sunshine, lines of light coming from it. The snippet reads 'The Swords of the Burning Sun are the sign of Lathander's favor. Please him in this world for his most devoted shall be gifted with them.' "It goes onto say a few pages later that Lathander gives them to servants who please them, as well as some of his personal heralds."
[21:12] <Kotono> as well as some of his personal heralds."
06[21:12] * Seira nods to that. "It's consistent with what I've expected. How could someone who doesn't serve him outright gain such a blade, however?"
[21:13] <Kotono> "Our clergy in this world is still weak and small. It is growing at a good speed, but such a boon is not one we can give out. Perhaps one day." Claris lets his hand fall away from the book. "To find a servant of Lathander or to summon one, or to go to his realm would be our best chances."
01[21:14] <Seira> "The latter is still my choice," Seira affirms. "I figure landing a blow against Shar's darkness is something Lathander would get behind, right?"
[21:18] <Kotono> "Yes. However, in your current form, caution would be the watchword." Steepling his hands together, "Lest one make a mistake and a battle is joined before words can bring peace."
01[21:20] <Seira> "If it were easy...." Seira says, trailing off. "Anyway, it's not like just anyone could take me out before I got a chance to talk to them. Although I admit to being curious if I read as a shadow to your magical sense or not, Claris."
[21:25] <Kotono> "One way to find out," Claris invokes a few words under his breath, holding his holy symbol. After, he nods. "You do. As a faint one, but you do."
01[21:27] <Seira> "Order's Wrath would work on me and everything?"
[21:29] <Kotono> "Order's Wrath?" Claris looks puzzles, "I don't see how this would be a question of law or chaos. Good or evil, perhaps so."
01[21:29] <Seira> "Faint Evil, check. Faint not life, check?"
[21:31] <Kotono> "I cast to detect undead, not evil or law." Claris shakes his head again, "I don't have detection for evil memorized today. I can get another to cast it if you wish."
01[21:32] <Seira> "Nah, we could check come morning, just before we leave. You'll need enough plane shifting spells to get back as well. You said you'd help, right?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "I did. Until tomorrow then," Claris rises, "I must go prepare."
01[21:33] <Seira> "If I could trouble you for some basic information on where we're going, that would help," Seira admits. "I was never that interested in the planes, and I'm paying for that now."
[21:36] <Kotono> "Ah. The House of Nature is the realm of Lathander and other aligned Gods, such as Chauntea, Mielekki and Silvanus. It rests in the realm of Elysium. Where Lathander rules, it is said that it is always high noon. When those who revere Lathander pass from this world, they are born in the sun beams that shine down on His realm."
01[21:37] <Seira> "Seems like you'll be my eyes in more than one way," Seira says, glancing at Amaryl speculatively. She nods to Claris. "Sounds painful. Where should I head while there, if I want to seek out the help of powerful yet intelligent servants of Lathander?"
[21:39] <Kotono> "Dawnspire is the tower of Lathander. It touches the sun itself on it's highest layer, where Lathander holds formal court or councils of war against evil. The closer you get to it, the more followers and settlements that live under His norishing sunlight."
06[21:40] * Seira considers this. "A direct approach. I like it! I'll beat the stupid ones who won't listen to reason until they cry, and ask for help with my mission as I go along, even if I have to end up petitioning Lathander himself!"
[21:41] <Kotono> "
[21:41] <Kotono> "Cautious and soft, Seira," Claris rises, "Prepare for the morrow, for I will be here at dawn."
01[21:42] <Seira> "Right. Since I'm going to be there, want me to pick anything up for you? Something for the temple, as thanks for the help?"
[21:43] <Kotono> "Holy symbol, sacred texts, anything you can," Claris answers.
01[21:43] <Seira> "It's a promise."
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC: Skip ahead once you have your spells set?
01[21:44] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[21:45] <Kotono> OOC: Lemme know when you're set.
01[21:45] <Seira> OOC: Done
[21:48] <Kotono> Claris comes over the next morning. He's in golden robes, freshly cleaned and with a mace on his belt. Once he enters, "Are both of you ready to leave?"
01[21:49] <Seira> "Pretty much. Let's aim for Dawnspire, then!"
[21:50] <Kotono> Once the three manage to unite hands, Claris calls on the power of Plane Shift! Reality b ends around you, twisting and warping! (More)
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 5d100
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d100 and gets 317." [5d100=7, 99, 70, 44, 97]
[21:53] <Kotono> So bright. The sunlight dazzles Seira. It's bright all over. The sun dominates the sky, warmth filling everything with radiant sunlight. It's outright blinding for Seira: She can hardly see ten feet ahead of her face. "Oh! It's so gorgeous!" Amaryl gawks, "I feel...like I'm home."
06[21:54] * Seira closes her eyes with a sigh. "I'm conflicted. It's nice, yes, but you don't mind guiding me, do you, Amaryl?"
[21:55] <Kotono> "Take my hand," Amaryl extends outwards.
06[21:55] * Seira tries to!
01[21:55] <Seira> roll 1d20+5
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 and gets 12." [1d20=7]
01[21:56] <Seira> "It's not as easy as it might seem," Seira laments.
[21:56] <Kotono> 'Try again," Amaryl urges, offering her hand out. "You can do it, Seira."
[21:56] <Kotono> Meanwhile Claris is looking about, eyes fixiated on the burning-bright sun.
01[21:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+5
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 and gets 6." [1d20=1]
01[21:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+5
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 and gets 24." [1d20=19]
[21:58] <Kotono> Third time is the charm! Amaryl takes Seira's hand! "Come on, Sir Claris," Amaryl says as she leads Seira along. Claris looks forward, "A-ah." After murmuring a quick prayer to Lathander, he follows along as well. OOC: Content with skipping along a bit?
01[22:00] <Seira> "Here," Seira says, dropping a ring into Amaryl's palm. "I can't really use it now, and you might need it if someone just goes and attacks without listening, first."
[22:01] <Kotono> "My role here is done," Claris begs off, "Travel safely, both of you. This place...I know from my studies that if I do not leave soon, I never will."
01[22:01] <Seira> "I was about to say that, but was hoping you would bring it up," Seira agrees, opening her eyes to look at Claris as he leaves, despite the pain. "I appreciate your help."
[22:02] <Kotono> "Travel with Lathander's life and aid," Claris bids, "May your quest reach a fruitful end."
01[22:04] <Seira> "We're together. How could we possibly fail?" Seira asks with a smile, settling comfortably on the pegasus next to Amaryl, although that takes far more effort than she makes it seem.
01[22:04] <Seira> OOC: Skip along?
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 61." [1d100=61]
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 1d6
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 and gets 1." [1d6=1]
[22:05] <Kotono> You walk for a little time, in a strange happy, pained daze. Keeping track of how long is hard, but Amaryl stops. "Wait, Seira," she says, "I see something coming towards us. It's like a glowing white ball."
01[22:06] <Seira> "How far is it?" Seira asks, knowing it would be futile to look herself.
[22:07] <Kotono> "About one hundred...no, ninety feet," Amaryl reports. "No, eighty. It's not hard to see...seventy now. It doesn't look dangerous or hostile."
01[22:08] <Seira> "Try greeting it?" Seira offers. "We might as well ask for directions."
[22:08] <Kotono> "Hello?" Amaryl calls. "Hello there?"
[22:09] <Kotono> "Hi!" A child-like voice calls, then, "...aaaaa!"
[22:09] <Kotono> "...um...it's running," Amaryl says, her cheerful words dropping.
01[22:10] <Seira> "Lantern Archon?" Seira chances. "Could you not run away, please?" she calls after the fleeing ball of light, raising her voice. "I need your help. If you're scared, you don't have to come closer, and I won't chase you!"
[22:10] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check, -10?
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 19." [1d20=4]
[22:12] <Kotono> "Aaaaa!" No answer from it, but Amaryl does. "It's still going." With a sigh, "Let's hurry on. I can see something far on the horizon, Seira. Let's go to it and see what it is?"
01[22:14] <Seira> "Next time, let's try introducing ourselves first? It might help," Seira suggests, not letting the incident get to her. "And let me know when we're close enough to that something on the horizon? I've got a spell that would help me be more persuasive. You too, if you'd like!"
[22:22] <Kotono> "Right," Amaryl says agreeably, "I'll keep a watch out." The dazzling sunlight is even stronger, somehow. It's so bright here, so overwhelming. "Let me know if you need anything, Seira?"
01[22:23] <Seira> "I'm... surprisingly comfortable. If I just hold on to you and close my eyes."
[22:26] <Kotono> Amaryl reaches back, hugging Seira. "It's okay. I'll be the strong one today. I think I can do that."
[22:27] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 48." [1d100=48]
[22:30] <Kotono> After another hour or so, Amaryl speaks up, "Seira, something's coming. Several somethings. They look humanoids but have wings like gold."
06[22:31] * Seira casts Voice of the Dragon upon herself, before reaching out towards Amaryl and trying to do the same.
01[22:31] <Seira> roll 1d20+5
06[22:31] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 and gets 20." [1d20=15]
06[22:31] * Seira follows it up with Heroism, for good measure.
[22:32] <Kotono> The spells are cast! Amaryl peers ahead, "They're not trying to hide. Four of them - they're wearing armor, too. Angels, I think?" she says in a shaking voice, "Like Latha when she visited the court. They're so beautiful to look at, but I'm scared, too."
01[22:32] <Seira> "We're starting at a disadvantage, but remember that we're on a holy quest. Justice is with us," she tells Amaryl while they have the time. "And our story is so strange no one would try lying with it."
[22:35] <Kotono> "Right," Amaryl says. A few moments later, "Halt!" A powerful, commanding voice bellows in the sky, "In the name of the Morninglord!"
[22:37] <Kotono> "Seira?" Amaryl whispers back to her an instant later. "You heard that, didn't you? Obey them?"
01[22:37] <Seira> "Of course," Seira says aloud, thinking to Amaryl, 'How far away are they?'
[22:38] <Kotono> 'About 120 feet and closing,' she answers.
01[22:38] <Seira> "We came to see the Morninglord," Seira says loudly, "so we would follow legitimate orders given in his name, naturally."
[22:40] <Kotono> "We come in peace and for aid." Amaryl raises her voice, "We are not going to attack."
[22:42] <Kotono> Closer now, the voice sounds, "I see a creature of shadow. Identify yourself and why you have come to this realm, then. What aid do you seek?"
[22:43] <Kotono> "The shadow you see is Seira, a noble warrior who is trying to break the curse on one of Shar's vile t-tokens!" A slight stutter, but otherwise Amaryl's voice is in control. "In pursuit of this we need a Sun Blade and have come to this realm for that."
01[22:43] <Seira> "Even though I hold this form on the outside, can't you see past that, honored servant of Lathander?" Seira asks. "As Amaryl had said, this is but a curse from Shar's leftover influence."
[22:45] <Kotono> There is brief discussion amid the angels, voices only faintly heard. "Come with us," The angel commands. "We shall resolve this matter with one who can see past the follies of magica nd illusion, to see the heart of the matter."
01[22:46] <Seira> "Of course," Seira repeats. "A shame we had to meet under such circumstance, but like I said, my name is Seira and this is Amaryl. What about you?"
[22:50] <Kotono> "I am Staralia," The angel's voice - a man's voice, you think - declares. Thus your flight heads down. As it does, 'Oh! They're leading us to a small city, Seira.'
01[22:51] <Seira> 'If I scare any kids there, apologize for me, please?' Seira sends back.
01[22:52] <Seira> "Nice to meet you," she voices out loud to the angel.
[22:55] <Kotono> 'I will,' Amaryl soothes. Soon you touch down on the ground. Seira can see a city around her dimly, lead along. You come inside, at last to somewhere where your eyes function on a meaningful level. It is a warm house, decorated with furs and gold. Behind and around you are four angels, fearsome and clad in light golden armor. One turns to you, the voice of Staralia. "You may sit if you desire. I will return in a moment."
[22:55] <Kotono> "You may sit if you desire. I will return in a moment."
01[22:55] <Seira> "I really can't. I have to float all the time until I break the curse," Seira responds with an apologetic shrug. "Nice to finally put a face to the name, too."
[23:00] <Kotono> A nod before he vanishes back. Soon he comes with a woman of unsurpassed beauty. It is like looking on a ray of the morning's sun, her hair light-white. Her face is radiantw ithout being overpowering. Not a flaw is on her body, everything perfect. She wears gold full plate armor from head to toe, yet walks without a sound. Her eyes take onto Seira, "It is true. Behind the mask of shadows likes a creature with a noble, true heart and apperan
[23:00] <Kotono> "It is true. Behind the mask of shadows likes a creature with a noble, true heart and apperance. An anklet is clamped to her ankle like a poisoned leech."
06[23:03] * Seira is briefly speechless, and it's hard for her to stop herself from thanking the beautiful angel. "Seira of Balmuria, here from Prime." She focuses on manifesting her hand before trying to place it on Amaryl's shoulder. "Amaryl, likewise. We're on a quest to destroy Shar's vile hold on the anklet in question."
01[23:03] <Seira> roll 1d20+5
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 and gets 6." [1d20=1]
06[23:04] * Seira winces, and retracts her hand.
[23:05] <Kotono> "I am a Dawnbringer, a Planetar in the service of the exalted Morninglord." Her voice seems to make the light more bearable. "Tell me, what in your quest brings you to the House of Nature?"
01[23:09] <Seira> "There was a conflict on Prime, between our forces and the servants of Shar," Seira starts with. "We prevailed, but far too many relics remained behind. After they sacrificed something priceless to me to that vile thing, it was only proper to retaliate in kind, won't you agree? As long as I get to see Shar's influence exorcised and the magic in the anklets used for good, a curse is nothing!"
01[23:09] <Seira> She pauses. "I appealed to Waukeen, and she said I had to return to the place of that battle, Shar's stronghold, on her plane of residence and strike the anklet down with a Sun Blade. What better place to find it than Dawnspire?"
[16:21] <Blondezilla> > "It is true. Behind the mask of shadows likes a creature with a noble, true heart and apperance. An anklet is clamped to her ankle like a poisoned leech."
[16:21] <Blondezilla> * Seira is briefly speechless, and it's hard for her to stop herself from thanking the beautiful angel. "Seira of Balmuria, here from Prime." She focuses on manifesting her hand before trying to place it on Amaryl's shoulder. "Amaryl, likewise. We're on a quest to destroy Shar's vile hold on the anklet in question."
[16:21] <Blondezilla> <Seira> roll 1d20+5
[16:21] <Blondezilla> * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 and gets 6." [1d20=1]
[16:21] <Blondezilla> * Seira winces, and retracts her hand.
[16:21] <Blondezilla> > "I am a Dawnbringer, a Planetar in the service of the exalted Morninglord." Her voice seems to make the light more bearable. "Tell me, what in your quest brings you to the House of Nature?"
[16:21] <Blondezilla> <Seira> "There was a conflict on Prime, between our forces and the servants of Shar," Seira starts with. "We prevailed, but far too many relics remained behind. After they sacrificed something priceless to me to that vile thing, it was only proper to retaliate in kind, won't you agree? As long as I get to see Shar's influence exorcised and the magic in the anklets used for good, a curse is nothing!"
[16:21] <Blondezilla> <Seira> She pauses. "I appealed to Waukeen, and she said I had to return to the place of that battle, Shar's stronghold, on her plane of residence and strike the anklet down with a Sun Blade. What better place to find it than Dawnspire?"
[16:26] <Blondezilla> "Sun Blades are rarely loaned or given to outsiders," Dawnbringer proclaims, her voice enrapturing. There is a magnetism to it that attracts attention, no, demands it. "Your quest is not without merit, however."
01[16:27] <Seira> "Because rarely is not never," Seira notes, agreeing. It should just be illegal to be this pretty and flawless.
[16:30] <Blondezilla> Amaryl stares, nodding along with Dawnbringer. Her eyes are wide, stuck on the angel. "There is a way you can prove yourself worthy of one, the Bringing of the Radiance."
06[16:32] * Seira is hardly different from Amaryl in that regard, she just hides it much better. "It is a given that I'll make the attempt. Can you tell me what I should do, Dawnbringer?"
[16:36] <Blondezilla> "Deep in the wild recesses of the House of Nature, in Mielekki's realm, lies an ancient fortress shrouded in eternal night. Travel there and bring a glorious dawn to it's blackened skies."
06[16:38] * Seira startles at the name. Could she-- but what are the odds, really. She forces herself to focus on the task before her. "How can even a corner of the House of Nature be shrouded in night, Dawnbringer?" she asks, not really understanding and resolving to learn more about the planes the next chance she gets.
[16:39] <Blondezilla> "That is a question you will understand when you arrive," Dawnbringer says, "Will you accept this task, Seira?"
01[16:40] <Seira> "Of course," she responds instantly. "I'm still not clear on the means to do so, mind, but it sounds like I'll understand it when I get there and you wouldn't send me on a task you thought was beyong my abilities at present, right?"
[16:43] <Blondezilla> "Correct. From here, travel under the sun's light for two days. You will then enter Mielekki's realm, where you will find the path to lead you to your goal." Dawnbringer stands and leaves, coming back with a scroll. PResenting it to Amaryl, "It is likely that your friend's form will incur other incidents. This bears my word that you are not a threat to this realm."
01[16:44] <Seira> "I told you there would be nice people who'd understand!" Seira tells Amaryl happily, floating around her in circles.
[16:49] <Blondezilla> "Thank you," Amaryl stands and bows, before grinning to Seira. "I had thought so. This is paradise."
[16:50] <Blondezilla> "The two of you may leave when you wish. Do you require food before you go," Dawnbringer inquires. "Natural food will not be difficult to find on the way, either."
01[16:51] <Seira> "I don't know if I need to eat like this," Seira admits, "but some food for the road would be great, if only for Amaryl. We won't forget your kindness, so if you're ever on Prime, feel free to stop by!"
[16:55] <Blondezilla> "I thank you for your kindness." One of the other angels hurries away, coming back with a travel sack. It bulges with fruits and vegetables, and also comes with a waterskin. He presents it to Amaryl, who opens it up, smiles and puts it away. "Thank you so much."
01[16:57] <Seira> "Let's go?" Seira offers to Amaryl. "It's probably important to follow directions precicely, so we won't teleport along the way."
[16:58] <Blondezilla> OOC: Skip along a bit then?
01[16:58] <Seira> OOC: Sure
[17:00] <Blondezilla> roll 1d100
[17:00] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=48 ]{48}
[17:00] <Blondezilla> roll 1d100
[17:00] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=36 ]{36}
[17:01] <Blondezilla> The day passes. Twice you encounter celestials under the blinding sun - one group of Hound Archons on a pilgrimage, the other a lone Astral Deva. Both relent when Amaryl shows them the scroll, little coming of it. While there is no night here, Amaryl makes camp at the right time, choosing to rest. "Do you want to keep watches, Seira?" she asks.
01[17:03] <Seira> "I'm afraid that's rather futile," Seira admits. "I can't see too far even if I make the effort. Lagann probably has a better range than I do, right now. I could just prepare an Alarm spell tomorrow if you think we'll get sneak-attacked here."
[17:06] <Blondezilla> "I doubt it, but...go ahead? It never hurts to be prudent." Setting up camp, "How do you feel, Seira?"
01[17:08] <Seira> "Really happy. Didn't think I'd be camping in heaven with you so soon. Might need to invest in better shades," Seira says thoughtfully, floating about idly. "For tonight, I'll just ask Lagann to keep a watch and float underground so no one spots me and attacks. Tomorrow, I'll have Alarm up and everything."
[17:09] <Blondezilla> "It's so nice here...I worry a little that we may never go home after this, but...Even if that's true, I'm okay with that as long as you're here, Seira." Amaryl smiles with warmth that rivals the blinding sunlight.
06[17:10] * Seira really hopes that they do, since being undead for the afterlife would be a pain. And she likes seeing past her toes. Even so, she can't help but think it would work out, smiling back.
[17:12] <Blondezilla> roll 1d100
[17:12] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=29 ]{29}
[17:12] <Blondezilla> The' night' passes without incident. OOC: Seira, switching spells?
01[17:13] <Seira> OOC: Seems prudent
[17:15] <Blondezilla> OOC: Let me know when you're done?
01[17:17] <Seira> OOC: Done
[17:20] <Blondezilla> The next day begins, travel resumed! As it goes...
[17:20] <Blondezilla> roll 1d100
[17:20] <Blondezilla> roll 1d100
[17:20] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=56 ]{56}
[17:20] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=40 ]{40}
[17:22] <Blondezilla> The second day of travel is a blur for Seira. It's too much sun and brightness, a headache throbbing in her head. Despite that, she loves it here. It's a strange combination, leaving her feeling confused. But as Amaryl begins to slow down, yawning, she exclaims, "Oh look! Seira! I can see forests ahead now! That will mean shade, too."
01[17:23] <Seira> "And right on cue, too!" Seira agrees. "Want to rest here, or make the push and get to the shade, first?"
[17:23] <Blondezilla> "Let's get in the shade," Amaryl says, hurrying.
06[17:24] * Seira does her best to follow suit.
[17:26] <Blondezilla> Aaah! Shade! AS you step in under the trees the sunlight is diluted. Brightness becomes tolerable, Seira's eyes able to see. You stand at the edge of a thick, well grown forest. It's peaceful here, birdsong and burbling brook noise filling her ears.
06[17:27] * Seira sighs in relief. "It feels even better here," she murmurs, settling down next to a large tree and gesturing for Amaryl to come closer.
[17:29] <Blondezilla> Amaryl does so, curling up near ghostly Seira. "It's like home. It smells just like it...so good." Closing her e yes, "One of the good things about Pallanth. Not that I miss it."
01[17:31] <Seira> In response, Seira starts reciting the very poem Amaryl was reading with Donald, taking her time.
[17:37] <Blondezilla> roll 1d100
[17:37] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=65 ]{65}
[17:42] <Blondezilla> The rest passes well enough. In the morning, Amaryl is eating breakfast. AS she munches down an apple, a sound is heard. It's the sound of a horse neighing, coming froma head somewhere.
01[17:43] <Seira> 'Want me to hide and let you handle it?' Seira asks telepathically, halway hidden in the tree's trunk.
[17:44] <Blondezilla> 'Go ahead.' Amaryl says, standing up.
06[17:45] * Seira disappears from sight entirely, staying close enough that should Amaryl need her, she would be right there.
[17:46] <Blondezilla> "What is it?" Amaryl can be heard shortly later. Then, 'Seira, there's a unicorn here! It's pressing aside some branchers with it's horn, showing an animal trail. It's starting tow alk down it, stopping to look back at me every few feet.'
06[17:46] * Seira flies back up. This must be the path Dawnbringer was talking about, and a clear invitation for them to follow!
[17:47] <Blondezilla> Ahead, Seira can see a little animal trail in the forest. A unicorn leads the wall, a slightly small one. It has a mane of blonde fur, keeping a fast pace as it proceeds on.
01[17:49] <Seira> "Let's go, then," Seira suggests. They'll have to proceed on foot, but that's not really a problem with the sun's glare mitigated here.
[17:59] <Blondezilla> The two take to the walk, heading along. The unicorn stays a few hundred feet ahead, often just glimsped. It's a wild path, overgrown at points but steadily leading deeper and farther in the forest. Hours pass by in this way. As you do, you notice the sunlight creeping in through the trees is lessening.
01[18:01] <Seira> "So this is what she meant," Seira muses, looking up to see if the sunlight seems to be disappearing naturally due to the abundance of flora.
[18:05] <Blondezilla> "Yes," Amaryl hurries along. After a little more, the sunlight has ceased. It's like a quiet night has settled over the forest. The only source of light is the unicorn - it's horn glows with radiance as it falls back, only twenty feet ahead now.
01[18:06] <Seira> "If you need more light, just tell me," Seira says quietly, herself able to see perfectly and feeling a bit guilty over that.
[18:08] <Blondezilla> "I'm fine," Amaryl says. With that, the two proceed on. Ahead, the forest thickens in an impenetrable screen. Here the unicorn stops, turning it's gaze right to Seira.
06[18:09] * Seira looks back at the unicorn curiously. "We're supposed to proceed on our own?" she asks, gesturing ahead.
[18:11] <Blondezilla> The unicorn nods, looking Seira in the eyes all the while.
06[18:12] * Seira floats closer to the screen of trees, so that she might tell whether Amaryl could make her way through them.
[18:13] <Blondezilla> It's thick, but one could pass through with some effort.
01[18:14] <Seira> "Could you look after Gurren?" Seira asks the unicorn, turning back. It would be horrible if he were just eaten by something while waiting for them.
[18:16] <Blondezilla> The unicorn goes over to Gurren, the two looking eye to eye. Then the unicorn goes back to Seira, bowing it's head at her.
01[18:17] <Seira> "Thanks!" Seira waves Amaryl over. "I'll scout ahead, but won't get too far. You're comign, right?"
[18:17] <Blondezilla> "Of course," Amaryl says, falling in step with Seira.
06[18:18] * Seira thus floats ahead through the foliage!
[18:31] <Blondezilla> Ahead, Seira sees that the foliage. In the center, in perfect black, rests a forgotten citadel. It's defensive walls are vacant and covered with fines. A river runs in front of it, no bridge across it's rapidly running waters.
01[18:33] <Seira> It certainly seems like a trial for Amaryl. And she had a pegasus along, too! Seira floats closer to one of the sturdier-looking vines, seeking to cut through it with the Resort and use it to help Amaryl get across the river.
[18:38] <Blondezilla> Many of the vines are thick and heavy, Seira able to take her pick of good ones. OOC: How are you using it exactly?
06[18:39] * Seira intends to find a reasonably lengthy vine of those that passed her initial check, and try to cut off one end. As long as she can carry it over to the other bank of the river, Amaryl could use it to climb across.
[18:49] <Blondezilla> This goes well enough. Amaryl eyes the vine, putting her bow away. "Climb it?"
01[18:51] <Seira> "I'm sorry, I didn't think we would need fly spells," Seira apologizes. "Just go over to this side slowly?"
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[21:04] <Blondezilla> With that, Amaryl starts to climb!
06[21:04] * Seira helps by imbuing Amaryl with Heroism, before watching over her!
[21:04] <Blondezilla> OOC: What's the boost on Heroism?
01[21:04] <Seira> OOC: +2 on saves/skills/attacks. Please take 10!
01[21:04] <Seira> OOC: I'll even aid if I can!
[21:06] <Blondezilla> OOC: You can try, sure. She can't take ten and make the DC as is, so she'll need to check.
01[21:09] <Seira> roll 1d20+5 trying!
[21:09] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+5 trying! --> [ 1d20=16 ]{21}
[21:10] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+4
[21:10] <Rei-chan> Blondezilla rolled : 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{6}
[21:11] <Blondezilla> Amaryl starts to cross, but her muscles give out on her! With a cry she slips and falls into the river, splashing into the fast moving current!
06[21:13] * Seira tries to catch Amaryl before she's swept away!
01[21:14] <Seira> roll 1d20+5 cha
[21:14] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+5 cha --> [ 1d20=18 ]{23}
[21:15] <Blondezilla> OOC: Make a strength check, say, since you're trying to catch her?
01[21:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+5
[21:15] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{11}
[21:15] <Blondezilla> Fortunately, Amaryl is not heavy even with her gear Seira grunts and is able to catch her, flickering between shadow and reality!
06[21:17] * Seira struggles to help Amaryl over to the opposite bank.
[21:18] <Blondezilla> Flying over, SEira is able to make it, muscles straining! Amaryl falls on the far bank, down on her knees. "Oh Seira!" She sighs, "Sorry! My grip gave right away when I tried to pull myself along."
01[21:20] <Seira> "Don't worry about it," Seira tells her, shaking her head. "We should've prepared better. Spending a few moments to make a knotted rope would've helped you across easily, but I guess I got caught up in the moment." Calling on the magic of prestidigitation, Seira spends several moments to help Amaryl dry her clothes.
[21:22] <Blondezilla> Once dried, Amaryl stands. "Let's find an entryway to this now, or do you want ot just fly in?"
01[21:24] <Seira> "It would be inconsiderate to our hosts if we didn't try and go through the front gate," Seira responds. "Besides, we don't know the situation. No one said we actually had to get to the center of the citadel, and we might miss out on some important clues by taking a shortcut."
[21:27] <Blondezilla> Thus, the two advance ahead! The gate into the place is a long closed wood gate barred with a dark metal. It looks very sturdy and solid.
06[21:28] * Seira has scrolls of Knock, naturally, but first sees if there is a lock she could force open.
[21:28] <Blondezilla> OOC: Searching?
01[21:28] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 yes
01[21:28] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 also, traps
[21:28] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+23 yes --> [ 1d20=20 ]{43}
[21:28] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+23 also, traps --> [ 1d20=15 ]{38}
[21:28] <Blondezilla> Seira finds a lock mechanism in the center, binding everything together. She doesn't find any traps, though.
06[21:30] * Seira gets her tools, trying to make the mechanism cooperate. Manifesting at will can only help her, here, by getting straight to the core of the device.
01[21:30] <Seira> roll 1d20+15 open lock
[21:30] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+15 open lock --> [ 1d20=7 ]{22}
[21:31] <Blondezilla> No dice. Seira tries once but can't get it to go.
06[21:32] * Seira spends a bit more time positioning her tools just right, before trying again as many times as needed.
[21:32] <Blondezilla> OOC: Taking 20?
01[21:33] <Seira> OOC: I could roll 20 times
01[21:33] <Seira> OOC: Yes >_>
[21:35] <Blondezilla> Fiddling with the lock awhile, Seira gets it to pop! The metal bars part and lift up, the gates folding open! Ahead is what looks to be a classical styled courtyard. Lying in it, surrounded by grasses...Seira's breath quickens. A gemstone the size of a large boulder rests there, as black as midnight's hues.
01[21:36] <Seira> If there was ever a time to cast Detect Magic....
[21:38] <Blondezilla> "Oh..." Amaryl gasps, hands to her mouth. "Is that...Is that a gem? Oh Seira, that...you could buy Pallanth ten times ovre with that!"
06[21:39] * Seira looks at Amaryl in surprise. "Any ideas? I don't see any magic, so can this really be related to the whole bringing the dawn back bit?"
01[21:39] <Seira> roll 1d20+10 I have appraise
[21:39] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+10 I have appraise --> [ 1d20=14 ]{24}
01[21:39] <Seira> OOC: Actually, +1, so 25
[21:44] <Blondezilla> "A gem that size, just sitting here? It must be," Amaryl shakes her head, "Most diamons are tiny! That thing must be thousand and thousands of carats!"
[21:44] <Blondezilla> *diamonds
01[21:44] <Seira> "You think anyone would mind if we took back a piece?" Seira wonders idly.
[21:45] <Blondezilla> "Let's worry about that after we finish? It would be a waste if we ruined our chances by doing that first thing," Amaryl considers,
[21:45] <Blondezilla> "Let's worry about that after we finish? It would be a waste if we ruined our chances by doing that first thing," Amaryl considers, "Maybe afterwards, just a little bit?"
01[21:45] <Seira> Nonetheless, she observes the diamond from close by. Perhaps it functions as a sun and merely went out? Then, she would need to reignite it.
01[21:46] <Seira> "Even a little fraction of a diamond costing in the tends of millions gold..." Seira says quietly, trailing off. Merely laying her eyes on the gem is enough to make her quite happy.
[21:47] <Blondezilla> The diamond looks flawless. It's cut surface reflects Seira's shadowy face a dozen times in each glance. "It's...amazing. Seira, even if we can't get a Sun Blade here, if we took that...we could just buy one somewhere else, couldn't we?"
01[21:49] <Seira> "I wonder whether that would be cheating?" Seira muses, reaching out to touch the diamond's surface. If it seems safe, she'll take a look inside it to see whether it's a normal diamond the rest of the way. 'Only horrible people would have such a blade after they killed its rightful owner and would be willing to just sell it. I don't want to finance them.'
[21:50] <Blondezilla> The gem is still a gem inside. It isn't hollow or anything. "Well, maybe someone else would, someone good who has an extra." Going to run her hands along the surface, "It's cool to the touch, like ice."
01[21:51] <Seira> "Maybe," Seira allows, if skeptically, withdrawing from the enormous diamond and floating around to see what her options are now.
[21:53] <Blondezilla> There's a stairway on each of the four walls, letting one climb up to the battlements. There's adoor straight ahead, a small little attached stone room with a door in the southeast corner, and the gemstone. Amaryl lingers by the gem.
[21:53] <Blondezilla> OOC: Floating around or up or what? Gave you more detail now that you'r enot staring at the diamond.
01[21:53] <Seira> "Give me a moment to check out the battlements?" Seira requests, flying up and then making a sweep of the citadel's defenses.
[21:55] <Blondezilla> OOC: Make a search check?
01[21:55] <Seira> roll 1d20+23
[21:55] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+23 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{43}
[17:34] <Kotono> > The diamond looks flawless. It's cut surface reflects Seira's shadowy face a dozen times in each glance. "It's...amazing. Seira, even if we can't get a Sun Blade here, if we took that...we could just buy one somewhere else, couldn't we?"
[17:34] <Kotono> <Seira> "I wonder whether that would be cheating?" Seira muses, reaching out to touch the diamond's surface. If it seems safe, she'll take a look inside it to see whether it's a normal diamond the rest of the way. 'Only horrible people would have such a blade after they killed its rightful owner and would be willing to just sell it. I don't want to finance them.'
[17:34] <Kotono> > The gem is still a gem inside. It isn't hollow or anything. "Well, maybe someone else would, someone good who has an extra." Going to run her hands along the surface, "It's cool to the touch, like ice."
[17:34] <Kotono> <Seira> "Maybe," Seira allows, if skeptically, withdrawing from the enormous diamond and floating around to see what her options are now.
[17:34] <Kotono> > There's a stairway on each of the four walls, letting one climb up to the battlements. There's adoor straight ahead, a small little attached stone room with a door in the southeast corner, and the gemstone. Amaryl lingers by the gem.
[17:34] <Kotono> > OOC: Floating around or up or what? Gave you more detail now that you'r enot staring at the diamond.
[17:34] <Kotono> <Seira> "Give me a moment to check out the battlements?" Seira requests, flying up and then making a sweep of the citadel's defenses.
[17:34] <Kotono> > OOC: Make a search check?
[17:34] <Kotono> <Seira> roll 1d20+23
[17:34] <Kotono> <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+23 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{43}
[17:39] <Kotono> The citadel's defenses are solid stone with mounted positions for archers to work. A few metal pots sit about as well. Nestled next to one, Seira finds a small book, having fallen between pot and wall. The smell of oil and smoke clings to this place as Seira sees the book.
06[17:41] * Seira tries to take the book!
05[17:42] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[17:42] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[17:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[17:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 10." [1d20=4]
[17:44] <Kotono> Taking the book goes without incident, now in hand.
[17:44] <Kotono> OOC: STrike.
[17:44] <Kotono> OOC: Misread the numbers.
01[17:45] <Seira> roll 1d20+6 I'll try again!
06[17:45] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 I'll try again! and gets 10." [1d20=4]
[17:45] <Kotono> Seira's hand goes through the book like smoke in the air, twice in a row.
06[17:45] * Seira doesn't intend to give up, now that it's come to that.
[17:46] <Kotono> Seira now has the book in hand, after several more tries. "Find something?" Amaryl calls down from below.
01[17:47] <Seira> "Think so," Seira responds, floating back as she peruses the book curiously.
[17:49] <Kotono> It looks to be a journal of sorts. The first several pages are splattered with al iquid and ruined. Past those, it begins talking about the journey to Mieliekki's realm, to complete a trial put forth by agents of Lathander. The next entry reads the following: (More)
[17:52] <Kotono> Most of it is unsorted notes and ramblingas, if penned in here or there. "There's 12 dials. A clock's face????" "The gem's hard to move. Do we need it in there? I'm not sure. How do we move it??" "3rd: ???? Nothing happened???? 5th: Dangerous. 9th: DAngerous. 11th: Safe. Try more later." "It grows, then shrinks, then grows as the day passes? I don't get it."
06[17:54] * Seira drops the book next to Amaryl as she touches down, to allow her to read it as well. "Seems like the real goal is inside," she points out. "Let's go in and try the safe route first to see what the whole thing is about?"
[17:55] <Kotono> Amaryl takes the time to read the notes, "Hmph. It reads like a puzzle." Tucking the book into her backpack, "Okay, Seira. The door straight ahead, or that little attached room?"
01[17:57] <Seira> "I'm tempted to just go ahead, but you're right, let's examine the room by the southeast first," Seira responds after a moment. "It doesn't seem like a part of the puzzle, so we might find something useful to us there."
[17:59] <Kotono> HEading to the little attached building, Amaryl finds that the door opens without trouble. Inside lies a few old but clean beds. A fireplace still has old ashes lying in it, a window letting in a few rays of sunlight. There's a bookshelf with a few scattered books about, resembling the one Seira found, as well as quills, inkpots and various writing supplies.
03[18:03] * Nao is now known as Kallen
01[18:03] <Seira> If nothing particularly glows with magic, Seira will just brief through the scattered books, asking Amaryl to help with skimming through their contents.
[18:06] <Kotono> No magic about. The books are all unused, blank pages one and all. There's nothing else of note around that Seira sees as this occurs. "It's almost like this room is a hostel," Amaryl looks about it, "Will this trial take that much time?"
01[18:08] <Seira> "It might take days," Seira muses. "Especially since it's difficult for me to prepare for several different situations. Let's not think about the time and try to solve the puzzle we were handed?" She gestures towards what seems like the main entrance. "Time for us to see what the dials mean."
[18:10] <Kotono> The two head under the cover of eternal night to the door leading deeper into the citadel. Past it, there is a stairway going straight up, long and broad. Just before it are doors to the east and west, one crafted of glowing yellow quartz and the other of luminencent purple quartz.
01[18:11] <Seira> There would be time to explore those. For now, Seira decides to head up.
[18:14] <Kotono> The stairs go up several stories, the darkness absolute. Only the pair's darkvision allow them to see at all, climbing higher and higher! At last, you come to the top! Here, a long, square room stretches out in every direction. On the far wall is a circle, twelve points to it at regular patterns. To the left and away from that a bit are a pair of levers. As you see this, a stone slab rises out of the ground in front of the wall, hovering i
[18:14] <Kotono> a stone slab rises out of the ground in front of the wall, hovering in place and glowing with green faerie fire.
06[18:16] * Seira checks to see whether the clock's hands are pointed at a particular hour.
[18:17] <Kotono> Coming closer, you can see that the clock's 'points' are in fact dials. They are all set to the bottom, pointing down. There's no hands, just the circle of a clock's face. Amaryl trots along with Seira. "Seira, were you any good with riddles as a child?"
01[18:19] <Seira> "If they had patterns or required me to memorize something," Seira responds, frowning. "But I would often outsmart myself or fail to see the forest for the trees. Quite embarrassing, so I have mixed feelings about riddles if I have to work on them on my own."
06[18:22] * Seira decides to examine the surroundings for magic, even as she adds, "From the notes and what we've found here, it's quite possible that affecting the dials on the face of the clock somehow affects the size of the diamond. If it became smaller, it would be possible to carry here to this pedestal, and in turn, the faerie light might turn it into a sun, lighting things up?"
01[18:22] <Seira> She shrugs. "We probably would need to set the time to dawn, like Dawnbringer told us to."
03[18:29] * Mykasi is now known as Demedais
[18:32] <Kotono> All about is an ambient aura of strong magic.
[18:32] <Kotono> "What about the slab there, then," Amaryl points at it, "There's writing on it, if you haven't looked since we got closer."
01[18:33] <Seira> "Just thought it was there to serve as a pedestal for the diamond," Seira admitted, taking a closer look.
01[18:33] <Seira> *admits
[18:34] <Kotono> Written in Celestial is the following: "The key to the way ahead is at the hour of Celestia and the highest point of the day."
01[18:36] <Seira> roll 1d20+11 planes, what is the hour of Celestia?
06[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 planes, what is the hour of Celestia? and gets 19." [1d20=8]
01[18:37] <Seira> "Highest point of the day would be noon, which figures as being important," Seira muses. "I'm still going to try and go with dawn for the other one, unless you have a better idea, Amaryl."
[18:38] <Kotono> "The hour of Celestia and the highest point of the day," Amaryl crosses her arms as her face screws into thought. "Oh, that would make sense for that. For the other, is there an hour or number associated with Celestia, something thatw ould have meaning for a riddle?"
01[18:39] <Seira> "There is no number assosiated with the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia," Seira says indignantly. "The seven clearly doesn't count."
[18:40] <Kotono> "Oh." Amaryl then laughs, "That makes sense, too. That wasn't too hard. So the 12th and the 7th dial, as if it was a clock face?"
06[18:42] * Seira mutters to herself, checking the dials from proximity. She is still a bit unclear of whether they are set manually, or the two levers she had spotted off to the left are responsible for moving the mechanism, and decides to spend a bit of time analyzing it.
[18:43] <Kotono> The dials are in perfect position according to the numbers on a typical clock face. It looks like you can turn the dials so that they point upward instead of downward. Getting up to the 12 dial will require flight or some acrobatics, though.
06[18:45] * Seira can certainly fly, and has the Telekinesis spell prepared, so that part at least would be a breeze. "How about we do this together?" she offers. "I'll fly up to the twelfth dial, and once you see me grasp it, reset the one corresponding to seven. I'll make my move then."
[18:45] <Kotono> "Right," Amaryl says, going into position, "Tell me when you're ready, Seira?"
06[18:46] * Seira is prepared, and since seven was listed first, gives Amaryl the signal to turn her dial as soon as she manages to properly materialize and grab onto her own.
[18:47] <Kotono> Amaryl turns the seventh dial! As it turns up, a light glows just above the dial, materializing as it points up! A yellow, glowing stone of pure quartz hovers in the air, big enough to fill up the palm of a hand.
06[18:47] * Seira turns the twelfth dial upwards, at that.
[18:50] <Kotono> Above the twelth dial, a purple luminesence appears! As the dial reaches it's peak, a stone of purple quartz appears there, the same size as Amaryl's.
06[18:52] * Seira blinks. "Huh. So we have the keys to the two doors below," she says, reaching out for the purple quartz. "Let's take this one, first, and return for the other afterwards?"
[18:53] <Kotono> The stone is cool like a night breeze in Seira's hand. "As you like," Seira sees Amaryl looking up, "You're so smart, too. You're going to tear through these if they're all like this, like a dire bear on a rampage."
01[18:55] <Seira> "I'm kinda flattered," Seira says, floating down with the quartz and heading downstairs. "But also, kinda vexed, since I didn't realize the part about seven until you pointed that out. But that's okay, since we make a great team and will breeze through the challenges!"
[18:56] <Kotono> As you walk, click-claking on the ground, "Oh, good! I don't think that would've been missed too long. As soon as you pointed out it's full name, it was obvious."
06[18:57] * Seira seems embarrassed. "Maybe. And right after I told you how I sometimes miss what's right there in front of me."
[19:00] <Kotono> "Well," Blushing now, almost lighting up the air, "Don't sell yourself short! We'll get these!" As you talk, you reach the doors below once more.
06[19:02] * Seira floats over to the purple-themed door. If the quartz in her hands doesn't cause a change in it, she would try pressing it against the door's surface.
[19:04] <Kotono> Once Seira is in front of the door, the purple quartz floats out of her grasp! It pulses with a blinding purple light, dazzling your eyes! As they clear, vision returning, you see the door of purple quartz is gone. A pitch black path lies ahead, lit only with a few fake torches, made entirely of purple faerie fire.
06[19:06] * Seira grumbles about the brightness, before floating over to Amaryl and grasping her shoulder. "Even if it's wasted, a Blur spell as an extra precaution," she says, imbuing Amaryl with the magic.
[19:07] <Kotono> "Thank you," Amaryl says, starting to walk ahead, "I'm not sure I'm worried about a fight in the Heavens, but..." She sighs, "I still feel so happy here. When I close my eyes a moment, I have vivid daydreams of settling down here with you, letting everything else go to whatever it will."
01[19:09] <Seira> "There could still be magical traps that could be fooled by something so simple," Seira responds, smiling at Amaryl's words. "And it's strange, isn't it? How merely being here is so blissful?"
[19:10] <Kotono> "I read a few of your books after we came here the first t-time," Blushing more now, "How mortal life is a prelude to eternal life in these worlds. It reminds me of how a child wants to be an adult so badly."
01[19:12] <Seira> "I suppose that's one way of looking at it," Seira agrees, nodding thoughtfully. "If we do really well in the life we have, we might even get to skip the death part and proceed onwards!"
[19:15] <Kotono> As you proceed downward of the hall, you come to where a tower has been built into the wall ahead, it's circular length half shown as it juts out. A wooden door leads into it. As you approach, a stone slab rises from the floor, glowing with purple faerie fire.
01[19:16] <Seira> More for them to read! Seira obliges.
[19:18] <Kotono> "Night is not a time of death, but only a time of sleep and preparation for another day's brilliant life. Do not fear the night, for Selune dances with Lathander, one following the other's lead forever." This one is written in Celestial as well. On being read, the slab sinks back into the floor, the words vanishing from the stone. The door then opens wide, showing a stairway ascending up the circular tower's interior.
[19:18] <Kotono> showing a stairway ascending up the circular tower's interior.
01[19:19] <Seira> "This would be the night route, then," Seira voices, heading up the stairway.
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03[19:23] * Ko-DayoftheLaggyTentacle is now known as Anastasia
03[19:23] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Anastasia Anastasia
[19:23] <Anastasia> "Selune dancing with Lathander? What a lovely image," Amaryl smiles as you begin tow alk, "The sun and the moon, forever in a romantic dance, one doomed to fade out of sight as the other rises into the sky?"
02[19:25] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
01[19:25] <Seira> "It has a very strong charm," Seira agrees with a smile. "Though I'd see it as an endless chase than being doomed to fade out."
03[19:28] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #evildunes
03[19:28] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Kotono Kotono
02[19:28] * Anastasia (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Kotono))
[19:32] <Kotono> Thus you ascend up! The stairs go up a time, coming up to a small chamber. Here, in pitch black darkness, you see a pedestool. It has a slot for a small, palm sized stone. Above, the ceiling is painted with murals: Of the sun and moon, twined together and yet always apart. A voice whispers in your mind, 'Tell, how can the sun and the moon unite into unison at last?'
01[19:33] <Seira> "Eclipse?" Seira chances, responding with the first thing that came to mind.
[19:34] <Kotono> "Hm?" Amaryl says aloud, looking around, "W-" As she speaks, a chuckle sounds in her mind. 'Spoken wisely.' In the pedestool, a purple luminescense glows! The stone that opened the way past the purple quartz door lies there now. 'Take your spoils of victory, wise one.'
01[19:36] <Seira> "Thanks!" Seira responds out loud, since it's obvious whatever guardians this citadel has can hear her. She briefly fills Amaryl in on the telepathic conversation through their bond, while going to claim the stone.
[19:37] <Kotono> "I heard it, too," Amaryl says aloud, "But you answered so quickly!" Seira takes the stone, holding it in her hand once more.
01[19:40] <Seira> "I wonder whether dusk and dawn would also qualify," Seira muses, leading the way back to the room with the clock. "I see the moon and the sun together on those a lot."
[19:41] <Kotono> "Maybe there was more than one answer?" Amaryl trots back down with Seira, the two reaching the stairway leading back up to the clock-dial chamber above without incident. "Some riddles can be answered in several ways."
01[19:42] <Seira> "That's what I'm banking on," Seira agrees. "You take the next one! It's bound to be the sun path, and I'll probably be blinded and in pain and have a headache on top of that. Not best for concentration."
[19:44] <Kotono> "Right," The two head back upstairs. As you do, you see that the stone slab here has changed color: This time glowing with black faerie fire. Amaryl goes to take the yellow, glowing stone.
01[19:44] <Seira> "Let's see how the diamond is doing outside?" Seira proposes. "Before we open the next door, I mean."
[19:45] <Kotono> "Okay," Amaryl says as she has the stone in hand, "Oh, it's warm!" Going to the slab, glancing at it, "Oh Seira, the writing changed!"
06[19:46] * Seira floats over to take a better look!
[19:47] <Kotono> Written in Celestial once more: Unite Day and Night together in front of the sun to create the beginning of the miracle of dawn.
01[19:50] <Seira> "So if I have the representation of night, and you've got day, we need to place them by the diamond?" Seira muses. "Then we should probably just go through the other door first or whoever's administering the test might think we're cheating."
[19:50] <Kotono> "Okay," Amaryl agrees, "Lead on then, Seira? You're the one who understands this better than I do."
01[19:52] <Seira> "A lot of this is just conjecture," Seira tells her with a shrug, leading the way to the golden door as requested. "We can't do much without a goal, so even a temporary one coming about from speculation is fine! If we learn more as we try to approach it, we can always adjust!"
[19:53] <Kotono> Reaching the golden door, the stone in Amaryl's hand floats up! A blinding flash of yellow light dazzles you, and when you can see again, the door ahead is open! A dark path is ahead, lit only by torches made of pure yellow faerie fire.
06[19:54] * Seira floats ahead, pleasantly surprised by the fact that the pain to her eyes was merely momentary.
[19:55] <Kotono> Ahead, you come to a tower, much like the path on the purple door. Identical, in fact. A stone slab coated in yellow faerie fire rises at just the same time as the other one did, too.
06[19:55] * Seira waits for Amaryl to approach it first, floating by her side.
[19:57] <Kotono> Amaryl approaches it! You can read the following: :Creation is the key to everything, yet one must not forget the blade of destruction. For the sun's rays can destroy if focused too harshly, burning away with fire.
[19:58] <Kotono> As it's read, the wooden door opens wide, showing a stairway going up.
01[20:01] <Seira> "Fire. I can deal with fire," Seira says, taking the lead once more.
[20:03] <Kotono> You come up into a room! A pedestool is here, a yellow, glowing stone sitting on it! It is surrounded by a cone of pure, bright white light from above, covering it in a sheath of illumination. Yet a shadow stays over the stone proper, keeping it in the center of the cone, yet unlit.
01[20:04] <Seira> "As expected," Seira says in resignation.
[20:05] <Kotono> "So what do we do here?" Amaryl asks, eyes on Seira.
03[20:08] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5af069ce.wfd101.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
06[20:10] * Seira sighs. "It would probably hurt quite a bit. There is a certain chance that you would be allowed to pass without too much trouble, but I could also be wrong, and I'll never forgive myself if I asked you to do something like that." But promises of destruction and bright light seem very painful, so Seira decides to try another option.
01[20:10] <Seira> "It's not really cheating if I'm merely using all the resources at my disposal," she says, invoking Telekinesis and trying to pull the glowing yellow stone through the curtain of light and shadow towards her."
03[20:12] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:19] <Kotono> Seira pushes the stone through the curtain of light! As it passes through, the stone catches aflame! It exits the cone of light burning into ash, fading into nothing at all. A few moments later, the stone reappears in the center of the cone, where it was before.
[20:20] <Kotono> "Ah, it burned a stone up? That must be as hot as magma to do that!" Amaryl gasps.
01[20:21] <Seira> "Or it actually does count as cheating," Seira mutters. While the spell is still active, she tosses a copper coin in the air and guides it towards the curtain of light with her mind.
[20:24] <Kotono> The coin enters the cone of light! It shudders and melts down as it hits the light, bubbling into molten copper that quickly sizzles away into nothingness!
06[20:27] * Seira decides to try and discharge the spell's energy at once in a single, powerful thrust! She flings the stone towards her, seeking to get it through the defenses before it burns up, and catch it on the other side.
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[20:29] <Kotono> Seira thrusts out of the gem quickly! But not quickly enough - before it gets out, the stone cracks and begins to melt! The stone hurtles towards Seira, the light in it fading as it crackles into hissing liquid, fading away. A moment later, it has returned to the center of the cone.
[20:30] <Kotono> "Hm," Amaryl eyes the entire process, "Getting it out fast doesn't look like it'll work. We need another way to approach this problem, then?"
01[20:32] <Seira> "Next plan it is," Seira agrees, getting another copper piece and considering it. She casts Darkness upon it, before tossing the coin in the direction of the deadly cone.
[20:33] <Kotono> The coin flies into the cone! It lands near the middle, the darkness momentarily stopping the cone of ilght - but then it's started to be pushed back, shrunken in duration and distance quickly!
06[20:36] * Seira repeats the process, but rather than throwing this coin keeps on holding it as she heads for the pedestal, relying on her memory. She invokes the Haste spell and Waukeen's gift to her beforehand, so that even if the protection lasts just for a little bit, it might just be enough!
01[20:38] <Seira> roll 1d10+10 FL
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 FL and gets 19." [1d10=9]
[20:39] <Kotono> OOC: Make a dex check, +7 bonus? Also make a charisma check, to see if you can grab the stone.
01[20:39] <Seira> roll 1d20+14 dex
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 dex and gets 27." [1d20=13]
01[20:39] <Seira> roll 1d20+6 cha
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 cha and gets 13." [1d20=7]
[20:41] <Kotono> Seira reaches out! She has the speed to do it, but there's a problem! She fails to grasp the stone! The darkness is being pushed away quickly, her hand still out around the stone she can't grasp! OOC: Go ahead and act and try again or withdraw or whatever.
06[20:41] * Seira won't get another chance like this until the next day, and thus tries again!
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+6 cha x2
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 cha x2 and gets 17." [1d20=11]
[20:42] <Kotono> OOC: MAke a dex check?
01[20:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 16." [1d20=2]
[20:42] <Kotono> With all her speed, Seira is just able to get the stone out in time! It doesn't fade away or melt, untouched by the searing lights!
06[20:44] * Seira stops well away of the fiery cone, before concentrating on the darkness and dismissing the magic altogether. "Barely safe?" she chances, taking a look around.
[20:45] <Kotono> "Got i1" Amaryl smiles from ear to ear, peering down at the yellow stone Seira holds. "Well done!"
01[20:47] <Seira> "Magic's nice and useful like that!" Seira agrees happily. "Let's go see if the writing's changed again?"
[20:47] <Kotono> "Back to the clock room then?" Amaryl says, starting to walk downstairs.
01[20:49] <Seira> "Yep!"
[20:49] <Kotono> On returning, you find that the text on the slab hasn't changed. IT still glows with black faerie fire.
01[20:50] <Seira> "Let's see if we're right about the diamond, then," Seira decides, leading the way out.
[20:51] <Kotono> The two return back outside into the night, the huge diamond sitting where the two left it before.
01[20:51] <Seira> "I'm worried about the levers," Seira admits. "Are they just for show, then?"
[20:52] <Kotono> "We can try them if we go back there?" Amaryl asks.
01[20:53] <Seira> "Let's see if bringing both keys over to the diamond won't change anything, first," Seira decides after mulling it over. "We'll just have to bet on not being able to utterly make an unrecoverable mess of things if we get something wrong."
[20:54] <Kotono> The two go over to the diamond! As you approach the diamond, the two stones begin to glow a little brighter.
06[20:56] * Seira offers Amaryl the purple stone. "Want to be Selune? I'll be Lathander!"
[20:56] <Kotono> 'Okay!" Then Amaryl laughs and blushes horrifically, "That means, um...you're the well...you're the man?"
06[20:58] * Seira laughs herself. "There's no deep meaning to it. If this stone gets warmer, it won't bother me as much, right?" With those words, she continues to approach the diamond.
[21:00] <Kotono> The two reach the diamond, the stones glowing more as they stand there right before it.
06[21:01] * Seira touches her stone to the one in Amaryl's hands after several attempts that go astray. "Caught you!" she says with a smile.
[21:02] <Kotono> The two stones unite! There isa flash of light, thes tones shattering into dust! The dust sprinkles over the diamond, which shrinks! It is now the size of a basketball, much reduced in stature. It glows with black faerie fire for several seconds.
06[21:03] * Seira just stares, as soon as her eyes adjust and the pain recedes. "This was the quickest I've ever seen two dozen million gold vanish up in sparkles."
[21:04] <Kotono> "It's still bigger than any other precious gemstone I've seen is," Amaryl leans down, picking it up and holding it to her chest. "It's bigger than my head still!"
01[21:05] <Seira> "You know, I really wanted a small bit of it," Seira grumbles. "If only to bring back and show everyone a black diamond. And to make you something out of it."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Well, now what?" Holding the gem, "
[21:07] <Kotono> "Well, now what?" Holding the gem, "What do we do now, Seira?"
01[21:07] <Seira> "Black faerie fire to black faerie fire," Seira responds instantly, already floating back inside. "The writing did mention it would only be the start!"
[21:12] <Kotono> The two return to the clock room! Here, the center of clock's wall has recessed, a slot for an object just about the size of the gem. The slab of stone flaots there, covered in white faerie fire.
06[21:13] * Seira goes to read it, just in case.
[21:14] <Kotono> In Celestial once more: From the darkness, the birth of light will come. Night will once again change to day, lighting the sky above.
01[21:15] <Seira> "I think it's safe," Seira tells Amaryl with a nod. "Let's usher in the dawn."
[21:18] <Kotono> "Right," Amaryl goes to the wall, reaching up and slotting the black diamond in! As it's placed in, the gem turns into a white diamond! Brilliant sunshine comes from it, a ray from it angling upwards...but the ceiling is in the way! It diffuses on it, the entire room suddenly becoming very uncomfortable!
[21:18] <Kotono> roll 1d12 damage, divine typed, you can take an action after this
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d12 damage, divine typed, you can take an action after this and gets 2." [1d12=2]
[21:19] <Kotono> "Aaaah!" Amaryl staggers, "It hurts! Seira, what's happening!?"
01[21:22] <Seira> "The levers!" Seira exclaims, pointing at the nearest one. "Turn that one!" For her part, she floats closer to Amaryl and tries to make contact even briefly.
01[21:22] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 21." [1d20=15]
[21:23] <Kotono> OOC: Doing anything or just making contact/holding on?
06[21:23] * Seira imbues Amaryl with Draconic Might through that touch!
[21:25] <Kotono> AS Amaryl is strenghtened, she pulls the nearest level towards her! The ceiling pushes upwards, rising up smoothly several feet with that pull, before the lever resets it's position! Meanwhile, more burning light fills the room!
[21:25] <Kotono> roll 2d12
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d12 and gets 9." [2d12=1, 8]
[21:25] <Kotono> "Ugh!" Amaryl grimaces, "We're on the right track? Try the other one or pull this one in a...ow! in the other way?"
06[21:28] * Seira tries pulling the other lever in the same direction Amaryl had. "I think you're going about it the right way!" she calls over to her, asking for Lagann to pitch in as well!
01[21:28] <Seira> roll 1d20+6 cha
06[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 cha and gets 12." [1d20=6]
[21:29] <Kotono> Lagann is able to pull the level's metal, even if Seira is not! AS he pulls, the ceiling begins to retract, sliding back and opening up the sky! But it's not fast enough, even as it opens, more of the beam's light searing!
[21:29] <Kotono> roll 3d12
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d12 and gets 21." [3d12=11, 7, 3]
[21:29] <Kotono> "It's working," Amaryl cries even as the three of you are blistered by the light, going to the level and pushing it in the same direction, "Give this one all we have!"
01[21:29] <Seira> All Seira can do is keep on trying to pitch in!
01[21:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15." [1d20=9]
[21:30] <Kotono> Together, the three pull! The ceiling retracts all the way, the beam now reaching into the sky! The black sky turns bright, illuminated! The pain ceases! For several moments the light lingers on, Amaryl sighing, "Ow...ow...ow..." she rubs herself, "We did it!"
01[21:31] <Seira> Worrying about her, Seira channels what little healing energy she possesses into Amaryl.
01[21:31] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 29." [3d8=7, 3, 4]
01[21:31] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 21." [2d8=5, 6]
[21:32] <Kotono> "You did," From the light above, a glorious voice can be heard. "You have succeeded with lighting the dark sky." Amaryl's wounds mend in the meanwhile!
01[21:34] <Seira> "Better?" Seira asks, tilting her head. Thanking Lagann for his part silently, she looks up at the sky. "Even though it hurts to look at, now, having light really is nicer," she speaks, feeling the need to say something. "I can't help but wonder if it's just a test, and the forest will return to darkness once we've left."
[21:37] <Kotono> "It is a test, and now is the final chapter." The voice above descends down. It is a figure impossible to look at, clad in light overwhelming. The light around coaleses around it, shielding it. "Can you withstand the full fury of Noon? You have proven your brains are sufficient, prove that your bodies are!"
01[21:41] <Seira> "If that's how it has to be," Seira says guardedly, drawing her blade. Her first response was 'Bring it on!' but it seems a bit rude to say to some likely-angelic figure that's only doing its job in testing the two of them.
[21:42] <Kotono> "It is. For the glory of the Dawn Father, prepare!" The figure booms, 30 feet above! OOC: Initiative here, I think?
01[21:42] <Seira> OOC: Do I get some knowledge check on him?
[21:42] <Kotono> OOC: You can if you like. K:P
01[21:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+11
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 and gets 23." [1d20=12]
[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Amaryl
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Amaryl and gets 17." [1d20=10]
01[21:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 light
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 light and gets 22." [1d20=14]
03[21:44] * Kotono changes topic to 'Figure of Light>SEira>Amaryl'
[21:44] <Kotono> The figure of light descends down to the floor, overwhelmingly glowing! Seira can hardly look at it! From it's hands a pair of beams of light come forth, one at Seira and one at Amaryl!
[21:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 ranged touch Seira
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 ranged touch Seira and gets 20." [1d20=1]
[21:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 ranged touch Amaryl lucky Seira
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 ranged touch Amaryl lucky Seira and gets 35." [1d20=16]
[21:44] <Kotono> roll 4d12
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d12 and gets 29." [4d12=9, 7, 4, 9]
[21:46] <Kotono> Seira ducks and weaves out of the way of the blast, while Amaryl is zinged full on! She cries out in pain, "Sei..seira! Careful, it really hurts!" She staggers, shoulder smoking and seared! OOC: Seira.
01[21:50] <Seira> "Where the hell are you looking?" Seira snaps at their opponent, targetting it with a ray of her own.
01[21:50] <Seira> roll 1d20+6 cha
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 cha and gets 8." [1d20=2]
[21:51] <Kotono> Seira fires a ray, but it crackles and fizzles into shadow, wasted! Amaryl then steps up firm, firing a hail of arrows! "We won't lose!" she calls, "Seira needs that Sun Blade!"
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 (+2 heroism, +2 draconic might)
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 (+2 heroism, +2 draconic might) and gets 30." [1d20=12]
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 (+2 heroism, +2 draconic might)
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 (+2 heroism, +2 draconic might) and gets 38." [1d20=20]
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 (+2 heroism, +2 draconic might) crit?
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 (+2 heroism, +2 draconic might) crit? and gets 30." [1d20=12]
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 (+2 heroism, +2 draconic might) crit?
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 (+2 heroism, +2 draconic might) crit?
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 (+2 heroism, +2 draconic might) crit? and gets 23." [1d20=10]
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 (+2 heroism, +2 draconic might) crit? and gets 14." [1d20=1]
[21:52] <Kotono> Amaryl fires several arrows! A few go off course, but several soar right for the figure, one even aimed right at it's heart! But light flares around it, incinerating the arrows into nothingness, not a single one touching it! OOC: Angel is up.
[21:53] <Kotono> This time, the figure of light stays put, firing two rays at Seira! "At you." It says, firing!
[21:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
[21:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 23." [1d20=4]
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 20." [1d20=1]
[21:53] <Kotono> OOC: Touch AC? That's also hilarious.
01[21:54] <Seira> OOC: Touch AC is 22, so yes, it is
[21:55] <Kotono> roll 4d12
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d12 and gets 37." [4d12=8, 11, 11, 7]
[21:55] <Kotono> A burning hot ray hits Seira in the hand, the powerful light leaving even her seared! OOC: Seira.
01[21:55] <Seira> Scowling, Seira attempts to retaliate with a boosted cone of fire! It doesn't make much sense, but if she can be set on fire, maybe so could this upstart!
01[21:56] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 12." [1d20=6]
06[21:56] * Seira follows it up by breathing flames, getting slightly worried.
01[21:56] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 21." [1d20=15]
01[21:56] <Seira> roll 8d8+2d8 fire+holy dc20
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 8d8+2d8 fire+holy dc20 and gets 34." [8d8=1, 1, 7, 5, 3, 5, 2, 3][2d8=6, 1]
01[21:57] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[21:57] <Kotono> The flames gush out around the angel! But more light concentrates around it, drawing in the radiance from all around! The fire is stopped, not harming the angel in the least! Amaryl is on the move now, snapping off two arrows that become four!
[21:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[21:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[21:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 14." [1d20=3]
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 26." [1d20=15]
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 29." [1d20=18]
[21:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 29." [1d20=18]
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC: +4 to all, dur.
06[21:57] * Seira moves closer to the angel, sword drawn.
[21:58] <Kotono> Amaryl fires well, more arrows going right at the being of light! Yet all of them burn away into nothing! "Seira!" She calls, "It's not working! I can't get an arrow past her light!" OOC: Angel is up.
[21:58] <Kotono> The angel continues to stand still, firing off a beam at each of them this time!
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 Seira
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 Seira and gets 27." [1d20=8]
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 Amaryl
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 Amaryl and gets 27." [1d20=8]
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 4d12 Amaryl ow
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d12 Amaryl ow and gets 17." [4d12=4, 2, 6, 5]
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 4d12 Seira ow
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d12 Seira ow and gets 17." [4d12=8, 1, 3, 5]
[21:59] <Kotono> Both women are struck again, seared by the overwhelming light! OOC: Seira.
01[22:00] <Seira> "If magic won't do it--"
06[22:01] * Seira attempts to attack the angel in melee, sending out a command to Lagann to support her!
01[22:01] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 23." [1d20=17]
[22:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Lagann attacks
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Lagann attacks and gets 21." [1d20=14]
[22:01] <Kotono> OOC: Go Seira.
01[22:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+20 spellruin
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 spellruin and gets 23." [1d20=3]
[22:02] <Kotono> Seira and Lagann both hack at the angel! But their blows are lost in the light around it, blocked and not laying a speck on the divine figure of radiance! "Seira, any ideas? My arrows aren't working!" Amaryl calls. OOC: Amaryl's up.
01[22:03] <Seira> "Conjuration!" Seira calls over to her. "Something to summon allies to aid me!"
[22:05] <Kotono> Amaryl holds Seira's pendant, as...
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 1d4+1
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+1 and gets 2." [1d4=1]
[22:05] <Kotono> A pair of celestial dogs appear, snapping and biting at the angel!
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 aiding another Seira
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 aiding another Seira
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 aiding another Seira and gets 18." [1d20=16]
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 aiding another Seira and gets 4." [1d20=2]
[22:05] <Kotono> OOC: +2 on your next attack on it, Seira. Angel's up.
[22:06] <Kotono> Beams of light once more come from the dazzling, overwhelming angel! It barely glances at the dogs, firing one at one of them and one at Seira!
[22:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 doggie zap
06[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 doggie zap and gets 28." [1d20=9]
[22:06] <Kotono> roll 1d2 which dog?
06[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d2 which dog? and gets 1." [1d2=1]
03[22:06] * Kotono changes topic to 'Figure of Light>SEira>Amaryl=Celestial Dog'
[22:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 Seira
06[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 Seira and gets 29." [1d20=10]
[22:07] <Kotono> roll 4d12 ow
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d12 ow and gets 33." [4d12=5, 9, 8, 11]
[22:07] <Kotono> Seira is stricken once more! Light writhes and gathers to the angel, all while Seira is fried hard! OOC: Seira.
01[22:08] <Seira> If only she had another Darkness charge left....
[22:08] <Kotono> 'S-Seira!' Amaryl calls, 'We need to do something else, anything! We haven't even been able to scratch it!'
01[22:10] <Seira> 'We do,' Seira agrees, strangely calm. 'I'll try another attack. Whatever happens, I'll drop down afterwards. I'll need your help with a potion when I do, and then we'll think about our next move.'
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+6 stabbings?!
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 stabbings?! and gets 18." [1d20=12]
01[22:11] <Seira> roll 1d20+20 impromptu SA, lifetheft
06[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 impromptu SA, lifetheft and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[22:12] <Kotono> Seira stabs out again! Yet again, light clusters from the bright sky around the angel! Her blow is lost in it, stopped and foiled by the gathering light! OOC: Amaryl's up.
01[22:12] <Seira> OOC: No, I move now >_>
[22:12] <Kotono> OOCL Okay then.
06[22:12] * Seira tumbles down to land next to Amaryl, utterly shocked.
[22:12] <Kotono> 'Any ideas? We're losing...you look bad and I hurt all over,' Amaryl thinks.
01[22:13] <Seira> 'It's not that we're losing,' Seira thinks back bitterly. 'It's that we can't win. In that case, we need to shift towards survival. Don't die, that's an order.'
[22:14] <Kotono> 'I'll try,' Amaryl says, 'What now? I can buy you somet ime if you need it.'
[22:15] <Kotono> Amaryl takes a potion out and feeds it to Seira!
[22:15] <Kotono> roll 3d8+5
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+5 and gets 22." [3d8=4, 7, 6]
[22:15] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4 hope for 15+
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 hope for 15+ and gets 11." [1d20=7]
[22:15] <Kotono> But the potion passes right through Seira, doing no gooda ta ll! OOC: Angel's up.
[22:17] <Kotono> More beams of light come! One at the dog, and one at Amaryl!
[22:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 wuff
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 wuff and gets 22." [1d20=3]
[22:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 Amaryl
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 Amaryl and gets 21." [1d20=2]
[22:17] <Kotono> OOC: Sec, need tos ee if Amaryl's touch AC is enough here. It's close.
[22:18] <Kotono> roll 4d12 nope, 18 with the +2 deflection
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d12 nope, 18 with the +2 deflection and gets 31." [4d12=3, 5, 11, 12]
03[22:24] * Retrieving #evildunes modes...
[22:24] <Kotono> Amaryl is hit right int h echest, falling to her knees! She cries out in deep pain, "S-seira..." she whispers, "Sorry...I'm not sure if I can go on..." she says. Then in her head, 'We...we have to do something...to stop it...that light...we haven't gotten a blow in past it.' OOC: Seira.
[22:24] <Kotono> roll 4d12 dog
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d12 dog and gets 33." [4d12=2, 10, 9, 12]
[22:24] <Kotono> The dog is also hit, fried as well in the meantime.
Session Close: Tue Apr 28 22:26:14 2009
Session Start: Tue Apr 28 22:26:14 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[22:26] * Disconnected
02[22:26] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[22:26] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[22:26] * Topic is 'Figure of Light>SEira>Amaryl=Celestial Dog'
03[22:26] * Set by Kotono on Tue Apr 28 21:07:23
03[22:26] * ChanServ sets mode: +o CC
03[22:26] * CC is now known as Seira
01[22:27] <Seira> Paling, Seira directs Lagann to pull one of the levers in the opposite direction, while trying to take the potion Amaryl was holding earlier.
01[22:28] <Seira> roll 1d20+6 I'll use my move action after this
06[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 I'll use my move action after this and gets 17." [1d20=11]
01[22:28] <Seira> roll 3d8+5
06[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+5 and gets 19." [3d8=3, 4, 7]
[22:29] <Kotono> As Amaryl staggers back, the levels move the opposite way! The ceiling lowers and begins to close! As it does, "S-Seira!" Amaryl calls, "What happened the last time the beam got stopped from going into the sky?!"
01[22:31] <Seira> "I don't know what else to do!" Seira calls back. "Retreat, heal yourself. I'll be right behind you. Maybe it will be different once we're outside!"
[22:32] <Kotono> With those words, Amaryl runs to the stairs and out, hurrying with all her speed! OOC: Angel's up.
[22:32] <Kotono> The angel draws a blade, glowing with the radiance all around! Without a word, it charges Seira!
[22:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 13." [1d20=7]
[22:33] <Kotono> Luckily for Seira, her blade passes through her harmlessly! OOC: Seira, you're up.
06[22:34] * Seira slips out of the angel's reach, and withdraws several steps before turning invisible.
[22:34] <Kotono> OOC: Amaryl's up and running in the meantime. Angel's up.
01[22:34] <Seira> Rather than a real hope that it would help, she wants to buy enough time for Amaryl to use her potions.
[22:35] <Kotono> Seira vanishes from sight, but the angel is inexorable! It matches her little step away, swinging right for her!
[22:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[22:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 (-4 nonlethal)
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 (-4 nonlethal) and gets 34." [1d20=15]
[22:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 22." [1d20=8]
[22:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 AC?
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 AC? and gets 24." [1d20=15]
[22:36] <Kotono> roll 3d6+13
06[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d6+13 and gets 28." [3d6=5, 6, 4]
[22:36] <Kotono> Seira is hit with the flat of it's blade, staggered and seeing stars all around her! OOC: Seira.
06[22:37] * Seira flees towards the outside, trying to move through the walls!
[22:38] <Kotono> Seira flees away, heading outside! If there's pursuit, she doesn't see it as she reaches the courtyard!
[22:38] <Kotono> roll 3d8+3
[22:38] <Kotono> roll 3d8+3
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+3 and gets 18." [3d8=2, 5, 8]
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+3 and gets 12." [3d8=3, 5, 1]
01[22:40] <Seira> 'If there's still light around the angel when it comes out,' Seira thinks to Amaryl, 'I'll try and draw its attention. Can you see about twisting the eleventh dial up? It was listed as safe, maybe that's what we need.'
[22:41] <Kotono> 'I'm halfway down the stairs? WAnt me to go back up?' Amaryl asks, the courtyard full of light.
01[22:42] <Seira> 'Wait for me and regain your strength, I'll join you there.'
[22:42] <Kotono> 'Right,' Amaryl responds.
06[22:42] * Seira does that without delay, since the angel didn't seem to have flied through the roof after her.
01[22:43] <Seira> *flown
[22:43] <Kotono> Seira gets halfway up the stairs, finding Amaryl leaning against a wall there. A potion is in her hand, a few empty ones lying at her feet.
06[22:43] * Seira tries to help herself to it.
01[22:44] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 17." [1d20=11]
01[22:44] <Seira> roll 3d8+5
06[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+5 and gets 19." [3d8=2, 7, 5]
01[22:44] <Seira> "This must be what Alicia felt like," she says quietly. "That was the strongest blow I have ever landed. It was just pushed aside, as if it were nothing."
[22:45] <Kotono> "There's got to be a trick we're missing," Amaryl rubs her side and winces. "I made a perfect shot and it didn't get through. It's that light around it, every time we do something, it fails."
01[22:46] <Seira> "I tried to lure it outside, and it didn't go for it," Seira says, catching her breath even as she tries to reach for another potion. "That dial is my idea. The other would be to just take the glowing stone and smash its face with it."
01[22:46] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 10." [1d20=4]
[22:46] <Kotono> "Worth a try," Amaryl says as she holds the potion up for Seira. "It has to be some riddle again."
01[22:47] <Seira> roll 1d20+6 again?
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 again? and gets 22." [1d20=16]
[22:47] <Kotono> Amaryl drinks the last potion down!
01[22:47] <Seira> roll 3d8+5
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+5 and gets 11." [3d8=2, 3, 1]
[22:47] <Kotono> roll 3d8+5
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+5 and gets 24." [3d8=5, 8, 6]
01[22:47] <Seira> "That's so cheap, after telling us it's a test of brawn and not brains!" Seira complains.
[22:48] <Kotono> "This entire thing has been about thinking. Mind games, riddles, tricks. That means this has to be a trick, right? IT'sr eally a final test of our mind."
01[22:50] <Seira> "A trick?" Seira muses. "We have another one, actually. Can I borrow your belt? Draconic Might should serve you just as well for the next dozen minutes or so, and if we don't get something done in that time it won't really matter."
[22:51] <Kotono> Amaryl hands over her belt. "What are you thinking of?"
03[22:53] * Anastasia (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #evildunes
01[22:54] <Seira> "That it would buy me ten more seconds of serving as a distraction," she says, putting it on, before trying to cast a spell on Amaryl's bow. "If we succeed in taking down the aura of light, let's hit it with all we have. Use the ring I gave you, too. We can't afford to hold back."
01[22:54] <Seira> OOC: Weapon of Energy/Fire
03[22:57] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@76.236.179.191) has joined #evildunes
03[22:57] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
02[22:57] * Demedais (~ferixstad@adsl-76-236-179-191.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Taishyr))
03[22:57] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
02[22:58] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5af069ce.wfd101.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (scifi-classics.dejatoons.net sebben.dejatoons.net)
02[22:58] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (scifi-classics.dejatoons.net sebben.dejatoons.net)
03[22:59] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5af069ce.wfd101.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[22:59] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[23:01] <Anastasia> "Okay," Amaryl nods, "I'll do it."
01[23:02] <Seira> "Remember. Eleventh dial, it might even work!" And with that, Seira heads back into the fray!
[23:02] <Anastasia> The two hurry up the stairs! They find the angel waiting there, beams of light in her glorious hands! She says not a word, as...OOC: Init again?
01[23:03] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 17." [1d20=11]
[23:03] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+7
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 16." [1d20=9]
[23:03] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+8
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 18." [1d20=10]
03[23:03] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Anastasia Anastasia
03[23:03] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Figure of Light>SEira>Amaryl'
[23:03] <Anastasia> Two beams of light come from the figure, standing ahead, 20 feet ahead of the far wall! One beam at Seira, one at Amaryl!
[23:03] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19 Seira
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+19 Seira and gets 30." [1d20=11]
[23:03] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19 Amaryl
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+19 Amaryl and gets 25." [1d20=6]
[23:03] <Anastasia> roll 4d12 S
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 4d12 S and gets 23." [4d12=8, 2, 12, 1]
[23:03] <Anastasia> roll 4d12 A
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 4d12 A and gets 22." [4d12=10, 4, 2, 6]
[23:05] <Anastasia> The beams fly forth, searing both women harshly! OOC: Seira?
06[23:05] * Seira waits to see whether her request from Amaryl bears any fruit, first!
[23:06] <Anastasia> Amaryl sprints ahead, running up to the dial! She hops up, twisting the dial! Nothing seems to happen! OOC: Sera?
03[23:06] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Figure of Light>Amaryl>Seira'
01[23:08] <Seira> 'Try getting our sun, next,' Seira sends dejectedly to Amaryl, holding the Resort ahead of her defensively.
[23:08] <Anastasia> The angel fires off beams at both once more as Seira defends herself, "Don't you see that you can't win?" It asks as it fires!
[23:08] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19 Seira
06[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+19 Seira and gets 39." [1d20=20]
[23:08] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19 Seira crit?
06[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+19 Seira crit? and gets 34." [1d20=15]
[23:09] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19 Amaryl
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+19 Amaryl and gets 30." [1d20=11]
[23:09] <Anastasia> roll 8d12 SEira hope variance doesn't hate you
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 8d12 SEira hope variance doesn't hate you and gets 35." [8d12=6, 2, 6, 4, 5, 4, 7, 1]
[23:09] <Anastasia> roll 4d12
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 4d12 and gets 25." [4d12=9, 4, 10, 2]
01[23:10] <Seira> "Of course I see that!" Seira snaps back. "I'm not stupid!"
[23:11] <Anastasia> Seira gets hit right in the face, staggered back! Amaryl is hit in the back, slammed into the dial! But she shudders and leaps up, wretching the white diamond free! It turns back to black as it is removed, the beam ceasing! Darkness falls once more! The light around the angel fades...Dawnbringer is revealed, lowering her hands. "Just in time. I had feared you would get yourselves hurt or slain, for the answer seemed to elude you."
[23:11] <Anastasia> or slain, for the answer seemed to elude you."
[23:12] <Anastasia> Amaryl falls to her knees, sagging in relief. "Got it?" she says, "Oww...I'm exhausted and wounded. Did we do it?"
01[23:13] <Seira> "I tried to keep to the rules!" Seira protests. "It's only after we took pretty horrible damage that I decided to hell with those rules."
06[23:13] * Seira thinks they got hurt aplenty, at that.
[23:14] <Anastasia> "That was the point." With a warm smile to Seira, "You see, this place is used as a trial for followers of Lathander as well, to see if they are worthy of having a Sun Blade. The problem is, many are like Lathander himself - joyous, exuberant, bright. Like him, they occasionally tear off more than they should. Far too many Sun Blades were being lost in the Lower Planes or to evil menances, so we devised this as a screening test."
[23:14] <Anastasia> menances, so we devised this as a screening test."
[23:15] <Anastasia> Amaryl doesn't comment at all, resting instead.
06[23:15] * Seira returns the belt to Amaryl, worrying about her well being should the spell end before she does this. "Are you really this strong?" Seira asks Dawnbringer. "If I were to fight you, all this frustration would be my reward?"
[23:16] <Anastasia> "That was the power of the Sunstone Amaryl holds. It protected me, as no force you could muster could penetrate it. My own skill barely came into the battle."
01[23:19] <Seira> "I would be a bit worried about planetars lying as part of a test, but I don't exactly follow the rules myself all the time." Seira gestures at her shadowy, draconic form for good measure. "But that's just the banter portion of the fight we skipped. More to the point, we have a devil back on Prime that's apparently just as strong.
01[23:19] <Seira> I can't honestly promise that I won't try to fight him to protect others, so if that makes me ineligible for a Sun Blade, we'll have to look elsewhere."
[23:21] <Anastasia> "No. You succeeded." Going to Amaryl and gently taking the stone out of her hands, "Your purity was determined before I talked to you. This was a test of the mind and will and you passed." She floats up, going to place the Sunstone in place. Amaryl, you are the solid one. Stand about five feet, straight behind me, and hold out your hand? Worry not, the light will not harm you now."
[23:22] <Anastasia> Amaryl does so, holding out her hand.
06[23:22] * Seira floats over for a good viewpoint, but doesn't get in the way.
[23:24] <Anastasia> The Sunstone is placed back into the slot! A beam of light comes, forming around Amaryl's hand! It shapes into a golden blade, long and like a sunbeam givne form into metal! Amaryl gasps as she holds it, the blade glowing with sunlight!
01[23:28] <Seira> It doesn't matter than she was burnt within an inch of her life, or that sunlight is painful enough to look at that it almost overcomes the pleasure she gets from spending time in what amounts to paradise. As she witnesses such a unique event, Seira feels all the closer to her goals, and not just the immediate one of purifying the anklet.
01[23:28] <Seira> The thought of a return to Halla on the Shadow Plane does not bring about nothing but worry, for the first time.
[15:57] <Komorningstuff> <Seira> I can't honestly promise that I won't try to fight him to protect others, so if that makes me ineligible for a Sun Blade, we'll have to look elsewhere."
[15:57] <Komorningstuff> > "No. You succeeded." Going to Amaryl and gently taking the stone out of her hands, "Your purity was determined before I talked to you. This was a test of the mind and will and you passed." She floats up, going to place the Sunstone in place. Amaryl, you are the solid one. Stand about five feet, straight behind me, and hold out your hand? Worry not, the light will not harm you now."
[15:57] <Komorningstuff> > Amaryl does so, holding out her hand.
[15:57] <Komorningstuff> * Seira floats over for a good viewpoint, but doesn't get in the way.
[15:57] <Komorningstuff> > The Sunstone is placed back into the slot! A beam of light comes, forming around Amaryl's hand! It shapes into a golden blade, long and like a sunbeam givne form into metal! Amaryl gasps as she holds it, the blade glowing with sunlight!
[15:57] <Komorningstuff> <Seira> It doesn't matter than she was burnt within an inch of her life, or that sunlight is painful enough to look at that it almost overcomes the pleasure she gets from spending time in what amounts to paradise. As she witnesses such a unique event, Seira feels all the closer to her goals, and not just the immediate one of purifying the anklet.
[15:58] <Komorningstuff> <Seira> The thought of a return to Halla on the Shadow Plane does not bring about nothing but worry, for the first time.
[16:00] <Komorningstuff> From the Sunstone and Sun Blade, waves of warm sunshine soothe your wounds away! Amaryl holds the blade close to herself, "It's so gorgeous..." she whispers. "Seira, we really did it!" OOC: HP restored to full.
01[16:00] <Seira> If there was ever a time for a victory pose, that time is now, and Seira obliges!
03[16:00] * Komorningstuff is now known as Kotono
[16:01] <Kotono> "Come with me. We will return to my dwelling, so that you may rest the night," Dawnbringer declares.
01[16:02] <Seira> "Would this place continue to be used by others for their trials?" Seira asks the planetar.
[16:03] <Kotono> "Yes," Dawnbringer answers, "It will be reset and restored to it's starting condition once you leave."
01[16:04] <Seira> "If you could wait a few moments, I would like to leave behind a note for those who might follow," Seira requests. "I've been thinking of doing that earlier, but it seemed impertinent before actually beating the trials."
[16:09] <Kotono> "As you wish," Dawnspire waves her hand.
01[16:14] <Seira> She can't really explain the trials as that would defeat their purpose, but just as she drew certain strength from the knowledge that others have been there before her and made progress, perhaps others could benefit from knowing their task is not an insurmountable one.
01[16:14] <Seira> In one of the books left in the small building by the gate, Seira writes down, "There might be more than one answer to every riddle, but as long as you keep your mind on the goal and have your wits with you, you can prevail!" She seals the note with her magical crest, and leaves the book behind, returning happily to Dawnbringer.
[16:17] <Kotono> An evening of rest passes, recovery and a chance to recharge passing. OOC: Do you want to adjust your spells?
01[16:20] <Seira> OOC: Done
[16:26] <Kotono> OOC: What are your plans after you rest, by the way? Do you know yet
[16:26] <Kotono> ?
01[16:27] <Seira> OOC: This is a nice chance to ask the pretty lady stuff. Is she up to answering a few of my questions?
[16:28] <Kotono> The next morning, after a pleasant rest, Amaryl and Seira rise. Dawnspire can be found in her dwelling. OOC: Knock yourself out.
06[16:30] * Seira floats over, before asking, "So what do your duties entail, Dawnbringer, if you don't mind me asking? Beyond administering that test, I mean."
[16:32] <Kotono> "I administer the challenge, as well as overseeing this immediate area of Lathander's realm. In life, I was long ago a cleric of Lathander, said to have never rested a day in a crusade against a world filled with demons. In the realms beyond, my soul found the peace and stability that eluded me in mortal life."
01[16:33] <Seira> "You actually remember your past life?" Seira asks curiously.
[16:35] <Kotono> With a wan, longing smile, "No. I know the stories, for long ago I stumbled on what I had been. I could have recovered the memories, but that life is behind me."
01[16:37] <Seira> "Well. Umm. You know how people can come back from the dead?" Seira looks slightly uncomfortable. "What if someone tries to bring another back after years have passed? Will they even understand what's going on?"
[16:37] <Kotono> Amaryl wears the Sun Blade at her belt, a faint, glowing yellow light enaminating from the hilt on occasion. She stays quiet for now.
[16:38] <Kotono> "Most do not remember anything but fragments of what waits after death, recovering their past selves instead." With a long look at Seira, "Is this a matter you are considering? Worry creases your brow."
01[16:41] <Seira> "More like I know someone who might be. I'm not unaffected, but I don't really know what to think, either." Seira does feel troubled. "I don't really understand the process. Donald was brought back pretty quickly. Then, in another case, it took a week, but I used Gentle Repose. Would that just put someone's afterlife on hold?" Realizing she's starting to ramble, Seira coughs.
01[16:41] <Seira> "In any case, everyone returned as themselves in any case of being back from the dead that I've seen, even if it took days. But shouldn't they have lost their memories of their mortal lives from the start?"
[16:44] <Kotono> "When they are restored, they regain themselves, regain those memories. If one was returned as an empty shell of what they were, what point would there be to raise the dead?"
01[16:45] <Seira> "And the memories they spent in their heaven are lost in turn?"
[16:47] <Kotono> "It varies somewhat, some do retain fragments, or more if a greater being intervenes. But generally not."
01[16:48] <Seira> "It might sound strange, but is there some sort of waiting period for souls to see whether they'll get returned to the mortal coil by their friends and all that?"
[16:51] <Kotono> "Most souls migrate to the Outer Planes fairly soon after death. They linger by the body for a short time, though it's exceedingly difficult to detect them there. Then they reappear in the divine realm or plane they are suited to, reborn as an outsider, a petitioner, or becoming one with a part of existance." A slight grimace passes her face, "The Lower Planes twist that, of course, turning you into tormented fodder or food for a horrible b
[16:51] <Kotono> The Lower Planes twist that, of course, turning you into tormented fodder or food for a horrible being and then oblivion."
01[16:55] <Seira> "Bad places all around," Seira agrees. "Well, that's enough for me to think about, for now. I did have other things I was wondering about, though. Information, mostly, which I can't easily get back home. Such as, is it considered bad form to look up people that have passed on and visit them? Or where I could find out more about a large group of red dragons that seem to live on Astral.
01[16:55] <Seira> Or how one bypasses fiendish defenses, because there's a balor I have a score to settle with, and he doesn't seem to leave his home much. Don't really know where to go for the answers, either, and I feel bad trying to turn to Waukeen for relatively minor things like that."
[17:02] <Kotono> "Most, evne if you find them, won't remember those they knew in mortal life. If that person was particularly a paragon or favored of a God, it is possible they might. So the exercise may very well be pointless." The Planetar considers this a short time, "I can tell you if I know anything of them. I may, for I have heard many things in my millenias."
01[17:05] <Seira> "The dragons are really the most pressing issue, I guess," Seira considers. "I think they are evil and stuff, but I have hope I'll change them! Isn't it pointless to stereotype entire types of dragons? All the red ones I've come across so far had been very nice, while the golden and silver ones were a mixed bag."
[17:06] <Kotono> "That is...unusual," But with a shrug, "Dragons are not outsiders, they have the potential to change short of catastrophic events, albeit rarely."
06[17:08] * Seira has seen or heard of plenty of examples of outsiders changing their stripes, so it can't be that hard! "I've been hoping to learn more of what drove them to Astral in the first place, and maybe see how I match up to a red dragon. Quests like this always have some sort of one on one duels, so I'd like to know where I stand there."
[17:12] <Kotono> "An older dragon is a deadly opponent, even for a powerful outsider. You possess considerable skill at arms, but the greater ones would still overcome you. Hm." Giving Seira a critical look, "Of course, you may continue to improve."
01[17:14] <Seira> "I'm been thinking about summoning a dragon or two and just fighting them, so maybe it'd help," Seira muses. "Okay. What about a balor going by Gurlan? He lives in this green castle thing. There's supposedly some defenses around it that make it very difficult for those who don't fit his worldview to gain entrance, so I was wondering whether there was another way in."
[17:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
06[17:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 28." [1d20=5]
[17:17] <Kotono> "I've heard of him, nasty demon." Thinking, "I haven't heard that much on him, however."
01[17:18] <Seira> "Where could I find more? Any ideas? I'd try Mechanus, but they don't like me much."
[17:21] <Kotono> "Celestia is completely opposed to the Abyss' ethos, in both order and good. I would start there, if you have any contacts or allies there." She says.
06[17:22] * Seira nods. "Is there actually point to going after him, beyond it being personal and all? From what I understand, someone will just take his place if I killed him, and even if I tried to stay and reform the realm, it would just end up destroying me in turn. So isn't this an exercise in futility?"
[17:28] <Kotono> There's a pause here, "Yes, I agree with you in part. When you fight Infinity, one cannot expect to win by simply killing one facet of it. The Abyss is infinite, endless horros waiting and lurking in it's darkest depths. From what I understand, this is a matter I grappled with long in my mortal life. As long as evil exists in the multiverse, we must fight it, all while fighting for and waiting for a day when reality itself can be saved. A d
[17:28] <Kotono> Your acts may seem like a single stone thrown into the ocean. Yet this stone is one of many by like minded souls, each one weakening the Abyss a little bit more."
01[17:32] <Seira> "Speaking of the evil infinity, another issue I've struggled with for quite some time is that it seems like the forces of both Hell and the Abyss have a stronger hold on Prime than, well, you guys. Sure, I won't say you don't help, especially when we ask for it against a particularly loathsome creature, but why are things set to work that way?
01[17:32] <Seira> We recently had a lantern archon visit, and her words were, I believe, that people are much safer even with a lantern archon around. Do you just lack in outsiders that you could send to help us out?"
[17:45] <Kotono> "Good doesn't force you to come to it, Evil tempts and tries to. Have you ever wanted to take an easier path, even though it was wrong? It's the nature of things, Seira. Good leaves you with the choice to come to it, not sending out bastions of angels to seduce you into doing the right thing."
01[17:48] <Seira> "And it really shouldn't, either! The seducing part, I mean." Seira coughs again. "But realistically, the vast majority of people can never hope to encounter one of you, so isn't there a missed opportunity in passing all your knowledge and values along? If it's being done through intermediaries, something inevitably gets lost in the process."
[17:52] <Kotono> "There are prophets and the like," Amaryl does speak up here, "Maybe it's because the words of the Gods wer ehidden from us for so long, in meaningful ways?"
01[17:54] <Seira> "So they're taking their time helping people adjust?" Seira muses. "Could be, I suppose. This also made me think of this hypothetical situation. Say someone, after triumphing over the self-styled God-King Daa-vid, decided to seal off Prime again, but only from the lower realms. Shar and her friends won't like it much, but would the dwellers of Elysium and Celestia lend a hand in that?"
[17:55] <Kotono> "I don't know. Those are matters far beyond my dealings," Dawnspire admits. "Such a thing woul be a cosmic event."
01[17:57] <Seira> "If we keep on succeeding, maybe one day we'll get to find out," Seira says, smiling. "Oh, and about those people I mentioned before?" She floats closer still to the planetar and whispers two names to her. "Like I said, I wouldn't want to just drop in on someone who passed on and bother them, but if there's a chance to meet them and they don't mind...."
[18:01] <Kotono> "It would depend on what realm they migrated to, and if they retained memories. Do you know where they would have ended up?"
01[18:03] <Seira> "Mielliki's realm, for the first. That's just next door, right? She was a champion, too, so there's that chance you mentioned. And, uhh, not a clue for the... second person. She died almost two decades ago, when I was just a baby."
[18:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 Shamal K:P check for her. Could also be K:L for her, but the mod's the same
06[18:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 Shamal K:P check for her. Could also be K:L for her, but the mod's the same and gets 25." [1d20=2]
[18:05] <Kotono> "I don't know the name, but if you head back to Mielekki's realm, you may be able to find her, if you're right," Dawnspire answers after some thought. "Shamal, you said?"
06[18:07] * Seira nods. "I might return some time, then. When I look like myself."
[18:10] <Kotono> "After this...but still, careful. I want to stay more and more," Amaryl murmurs. "It's been three or four days, hasn't it? If we stay much longer for now, we may never leave."
01[18:13] <Seira> "Speaking of that, would you be able to help us get back?" Seira asks their host. "We've recovered enough, and it's really time for us to head back to Prime and prepare for the next part of our quest."
[18:14] <Kotono> "Very well. I understand your need, for to tarry and get to a portal may take you too long to resist Elysium's lure." Standing now, "Come to me and tell me of where you wish to go."
01[18:16] <Seira> "Home, the city of Balmuria that rests by the Bay of Sparkling Stars," Seira says without hesitation. "We can't travel across the planes on our own just yet, and we'll find help there with traveling through Shadow and back."
[18:17] <Kotono> With that, Dawnspire calls on the proper names! In a flash, you appear there! The western gate into Balmuria is visible in the distance, Dawnspire nodding to you before vanishing a few moments later.
06[18:19] * Seira can't help but be impressed. "She's so strong..." she mutters. "I'm months away still from even an inaccurate form of transportation, but that woman--" Seira shakes her head. "I don't suppose it matters. I can make myself invisible for a quarter of an hour. Let's try and reach Elle's shop in that time?
01[18:19] <Seira> If she's ready to help us, we could teleport to our destination and have the quest over with by noon!"
[18:21] <Kotono> Going to Elle's is without incident. Certainly, you get looks, but the city guard give syou an escort, just in case. Elle is found at her shop, "Oh Seira...wow, you look horrible. What happened to you?"
01[18:23] <Seira> "To break the curse on this anklet, I have to be a shadow of myself," Seira responds with a fake smile. "We've already completed the first part of the quest, so all that remains is me asking you for your help in getting me to the Plane of Shadow over Halla. You can call upon Shadow Walk, right?"
[18:24] <Kotono> "I can if I need to," Elle continues on, "Do you need a scroll of it?"
01[18:25] <Seira> "You can just cast it on the two of us, if you're capable of it today, and I'll teleport us the rest of the way," Seira responds. "If all goes well, we'll be back today!"
[18:34] <Kotono> "I have a scroll of it," she says, "That should work just as well for it." Elle goes to the scroll rack, coming back with one of them.
01[18:35] <Seira> "It would do," Seira agrees. "Thanks, I'll pay you back."
[18:36] <Kotono> "Go on," Elle says, "We can talk after you're done with that."
06[18:37] * Seira nods, and after taking Amaryl's hand, focuses on the entrance to Shar's temple.
01[18:37] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[18:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 78." [1d100=78]
[18:38] <Kotono> OOC: You mean in Halla proper?
01[18:39] <Seira> OOC: Yes
01[18:39] <Seira> OOC: I've viewed it more than once, I should be fine
[18:39] <Kotono> OOC: You do remmeber it was too far to go in one normal TP shot? You had to make a stop in the jungle or use greater TP, remember.
01[18:39] <Seira> OOC: My bad. Interim stop, Kelara, works?
01[18:40] <Seira> roll 1d100 Kelara, ring TP
06[18:40] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 Kelara, ring TP and gets 40." [1d100=40]
[18:40] <Kotono> Seira and Amaryl appear in Kelara, a little outside the city proper. It's gray and rainy here today, serving as cover as the two appear.
06[18:41] * Seira doesn't waste time before the next teleport!
[18:42] <Kotono> It's still before the dawn in Halla. The crater stands at your feet, left as you left it before. There is a faint chill in the air here, as well as utter silence. Not an animal stirs, not a bird sings.
01[18:44] <Seira> "Almost there," Seira says quietly. "Want to try fighting with the blade, Amaryl, or going to stick to your bow?"
[18:46] <Kotono> Amaryl draws the Sun Blade forth. Sunshine seems to spring from it, pushing away the shadows of night. Her face is illuminated by it, "This," she says, "If the Plane of Shadow is as you say it is, doubtless that we will need this weapon's power before the day is done."
01[18:47] <Seira> "Right. Besides, we've used up the Flame Arrow spell, and there wasn't any time to replenish it, yet," Seira muses, secretely chiding herself over that. "I figure I'll just place Weapon of Energy into the ring as a placeholder. As soon as we encounter the enemy, you could invoke it. Even a Sun Blade becomes more formiddable, then."
06[18:50] * Seira contemplates further, and then snorts. "I hope it doesn't become a habit, but let's trade again. That belt for a spell that helps you out with the blade."
06[18:53] * Seira casts Heroism and Draconic Might upon Amaryl, and stores Shield into the ring. "Use that one," she says, "since it'd go a long way towards helping with Shadows. Then, we'll just place the combat spell within the ring, and I'll use the scroll. Simple, so far, wouldn't you say?"
[18:55] <Kotono> Amaryl uses the spell in the ring, shield invoked, "I get it so far," she says.
06[18:56] * Seira places Weapon of Energy into the ring after making contact with Amaryl, and then reads from the Shadow Walk scroll!
01[19:00] <Seira> roll 1d10+10
06[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 and gets 12." [1d10=2]
[19:02] <Kotono> "I'm ready," Amaryl says once all the spells are cast. "Are you?"
01[19:04] <Seira> "I'd like to think so," Seira affirms, calling upon the magic in the scroll upon them both. "Don't forget, you can break the spell at any time and return!"
02[19:09] * Kallen (Mokou@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Ping timeout)
[19:10] <Kotono> Calling on the mage, the roiling, coiling dark Plane of Shadow draws you in! You stand in a twisted visage, darkness all about you. The shadows are mammoth here, neverending! There is no color here, only darkness. Ahead of you is not a crater, but a grand temple, crafted of shadows and immeasurably immense. In it you can faintly hear singing, paeans of praise being belted out.
[19:11] <Kotono> Amaryl's blade glows with a faint sunlight, holding the all consuming shadows at bay. She shivers all over, "It's so cold here, so...wrong." She draws her blade in closet o her, "B-but...the Sun Blade, it's warm now."
01[19:12] <Seira> "We're... supposed to deal with that temple, aren't we?" Seira asks, with equal parts wariness and resignation.
[19:13] <Kotono> With a badly shaking hand, Amaryl goes to rest against Seira. "I...I think so. Was that why we were quested to come here, Seira?"
01[19:15] <Seira> "Unfinished business... I guess." Seira slaps her cheeks twice to waken herself, before drawing the Resort. "Alright! I can do this. I have my magic, and I'm not alone. We can do this, Amaryl!"
[19:15] <Kotono> "We will!" Amaryl nods, "Forward bravely?"
06[19:18] * Seira casts Bull's Strength upon herself from a scroll, and then grows in size as transformative magic she had not used in ages flows through her again. "I'll open the way," she promises, flying ahead!
[19:20] <Kotono> Ahead, the temple is unfenced and unguarded. Vast doors, as tall as a ten story tower, lead the way in. As you approach, you can hear the singing growing louder. Only one word of it can be made out to your ears, but it is made out clearly. "Seira....Seira....Seira...." The vast doors open ajar, a path to enter if one wished.
06[19:21] * Seira enters, seeking to end this mockery of a temple!
[19:25] <Kotono> Thus the two enter in! Everything is morphic, shadows twisting around you! Seira sees the shadows writhing all aroun dher! Masks of dying smiles and twisted love, all singing the same dreadful song. It is narrow here, narrow and small. A hall? A narrow hall. It's not a natural place. You cannot process it. It is of shadow and nothingness, yet as soild as everything. Ahead, they shamble towards you. The skeletons of ogres and minotaurs, club
[19:25] <Kotono> Ahead, they shamble towards you. The skeletons of ogres and minotaurs, clubs and greataxes at the ready. In the rearguard, skeletons with bows and arrows mechanically, coldly ready them!
[19:25] <Kotono> "W-what's going on,' Amaryl thinks to Seira, a note of fear in her voice. 'I...everything's wrong here. Aaah! Skeletons!' Amaryl has the Sun Blade out and drawn, readied!
06[19:27] * Seira is beyond terrified herself, but she can't show that side of her to Amaryl, not now. It might prove fatal. "You want oblivion?!" she shouts angrily. "Have it, then! Perish in fire!"
[19:27] <Kotono> OOC: Init, then. I think the intent on boths ides is obvious.
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Amaryl
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Amaryl and gets 11." [1d20=4]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20-1 Ogre 1
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20-1 Ogre 1 and gets 15." [1d20=16]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20-1 Ogre 2
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20-1 Ogre 2 and gets 17." [1d20=18]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20-1 Ogre 3
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20-1 Ogre 3 and gets 6." [1d20=7]
01[19:27] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20-1 Minotaur 1
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20-1 Minotaur 1 and gets 4." [1d20=5]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20-1 Minotaur 2
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20-1 Minotaur 2 and gets 14." [1d20=15]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20-1 Archer 1
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20-1 Archer 1 and gets 13." [1d20=14]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20-1 Archer 2
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20-1 Archer 2 and gets 18." [1d20=19]
03[19:29] * Kotono changes topic to 'Archer 2(18)>Ogre 2(17)>Ogre 1(15)>Minotaur 2(14)>Archer 1(13)>Amaryl(11)>Seira(9)>Ogre 3(6)>Minotaur 1(4)'
[19:29] <Kotono> The first of the archers reacts the quickest, firing a single arrow at Seira!
[19:29] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[19:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[19:30] <Kotono> But it's not even close, a miserable shot! The second ogre lumbers forward, striking at Seira with it's club! It's bones crackle and move mechanically, unhidden by flesh!
01[19:30] <Seira> OOC: My ac at the moment is 30
[19:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 13." [1d20=2]
01[19:30] <Seira> OOC: No, wait. 26.
[19:31] <Kotono> But Seira easily jumps over the club swing, dodging deftly! The first ogre does the same, dumbly swinging at Seira!
01[19:31] <Seira> OOC: If base is 26, then Large drops it by one and it's 25. Okay!
[19:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[19:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 crit?
06[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 crit? and gets 23." [1d20=12]
[19:31] <Kotono> roll 2d8+9 ow
06[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+9 ow and gets 18." [2d8=3, 6]
[19:32] <Kotono> This one catches Seira before she's recovered from her jumping leap, a club slam that hits her foot, sending a thrill of pain through her! One of the minotaurs makes it as well, going to try and put an axe right into Seira's skull!
[19:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 17." [1d20=5]
[19:32] <Kotono> But this one Seira deflects away with a filck of her blade, as an archer fires on Amaryl!
[19:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[19:33] <Kotono> But Amaryl's armor stops the arrow cold, sending it to the ground instead of any closer to her! OOC: Amaryl's up.
[19:33] <Kotono> 'Use the ring?' Amaryl quickly asks.
01[19:33] <Seira> 'I'll hold them off, go for it!' Seira responds mentally.
[19:33] <Kotono> Amaryl invokes Seira's ring, the Sun Blade glowing with red hot flames! OOC: Seira.
06[19:36] * Seira focuses her attack on the minotaur, ignoring the ogre that managed to hit her as a lucky strike!
01[19:36] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 Resort
06[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 Resort and gets 38." [1d20=19]
01[19:36] <Seira> roll 4d8+11
06[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4d8+11 and gets 27." [4d8=2, 5, 1, 8]
01[19:37] <Seira> 'Lagann!' she calls upon her little buddy's aid, entrusting him with the hammer she's carrying, even as she proceeds to tear into the skeletons.
01[19:37] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[19:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 18." [1d20=4]
[19:38] <Kotono> OOC: Also hit.
01[19:38] <Seira> roll 4d8+11
06[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4d8+11 and gets 36." [4d8=5, 7, 5, 8]
01[19:38] <Seira> roll 1d20+13 claw
06[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 claw and gets 16." [1d20=3]
01[19:38] <Seira> roll 1d20+13 bite
06[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 bite and gets 29." [1d20=16]
[19:38] <Kotono> OOC: Hit. It's still up, so damage. Hit on claw and bite, I mean.
01[19:39] <Seira> roll 1d6+3 magic
06[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6+3 magic and gets 6." [1d6=3]
01[19:39] <Seira> roll 1d8+3 magic
06[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d8+3 magic and gets 10." [1d8=7]
[19:40] <Kotono> Seira slashes the minotaur's ribs apart, rips off one of it's horns with ease! However, the unholy beast yet lingers to unlife! The third ogre comes around, going near by not quite to range of hitting Seira, as does the other minotaur! (More)
[19:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 Lagann dur
06[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 Lagann dur and gets 18." [1d20=10]
[19:41] <Kotono> roll 1d8+2
06[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+2 and gets 3." [1d8=1]
[19:43] <Kotono> Lagann has the Hammer of the Shard smash into the zombie minotaur as well, rocking it further! It yet stays up, as the second archer fires, this time at Amaryl!
03[19:43] * asdgsdfasdfhdfgsdfg is now known as Demedais
[19:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 okay, pausing after this roll resolves
06[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 okay, pausing after this roll resolves and gets 23." [1d20=16]
03[20:06] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-544794a8.wfd84b.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:06] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[21:42] <Kotono> Amaryl dodges the arrow, as the second ogre pounds Seira again!
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 14." [1d20=3]
[21:42] <Kotono> But this blow fails completely, sidestepped, as another orge dumbly tries this on Seira!
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 23." [1d20=12]
01[21:42] <Seira> OOC: Still 25
[21:42] <Kotono> But again, another miss, the minotaur swinging now as large sized Seira withstands the storm of challengers!
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15." [1d20=2]
[21:44] <Kotono> Clang! The sound of metal is heard as it hits the ground, also missing Seira, as the first archer goes for Amaryl!
[21:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 24." [1d20=17]
[21:44] <Kotono> But she deflects this blow, then surges forward! She's going for the ogre creeping around Seira, taking it's potshot as she gets close enough to slash at it with her Sun Blade!
[21:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 14." [1d20=3]
[21:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 18." [1d20=3]
[21:45] <Kotono> roll 2d10+16+1d6+3d6 (Undead is a favored enemy and skirmish with swift hunter)
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d10+16+1d6+3d6 (Undead is a favored enemy and skirmish with swift hunter) and gets 39." [2d10=9, 4][1d6=2][3d6=1, 3, 4]
[21:46] <Kotono> The Sun Blade cuts through it's bony body like it's smoke on the wind, greviously slicing much of it apart! OOC: SEira.
06[21:47] * Seira decides to persist against her own target! Once it has been destroyed, she'll see about advancing slightly to take on the other ogre, as Amaryl seems to have her own handled.
01[21:47] <Seira> roll 1d20+21 flanking?
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 flanking? and gets 39." [1d20=18]
01[21:47] <Seira> roll 4d8+11
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4d8+11 and gets 26." [4d8=2, 8, 1, 4]
03[21:49] * Kotono changes topic to 'Archer 2(18)>Ogre 2(17)>Ogre 1(15)>Archer 1(13)>Amaryl(11)>Seira(9)>Ogre 3(6)>Minotaur 1(4)'
[21:49] <Kotono> OOC: It's down. Two orges are still on you, remember.
06[21:50] * Seira strikes against the other ogre, as planned, commanding Lagann to switch targets to help Amaryl.
01[21:50] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 23." [1d20=9]
01[21:50] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 19." [1d20=6]
01[21:50] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 23." [1d20=10]
[21:50] <Kotono> OOC: All hit.
01[21:50] <Seira> roll 4d8+11
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4d8+11 and gets 25." [4d8=3, 3, 1, 7]
01[21:50] <Seira> roll 1d6+3
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6+3 and gets 6." [1d6=3]
01[21:50] <Seira> roll 1d8+3
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d8+3 and gets 11." [1d8=8]
[21:51] <Kotono> Seira hacks intot he other one, nearly sundering it apart with a claw and a bite! Her mouth tastes of dead bones and ash, revolting her, yet the unholy creature is nearly destroyed! The ogre and minotaur on Amaryl go to try and level her down hard!
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 22." [1d20=11]
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 31." [1d20=18]
[21:52] <Kotono> But Amaryl, protected and magicked, is able to move like the wind, dodging each blow nimbly! The second archer slowly, achingly fires another shot at Seira!
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[21:52] <Kotono> As it misses, the two orges swing at her, as the other archer fires at Seira!
[21:52] <Kotono> OOC: Amaryl, I mean.
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 12." [1d20=1]
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 15." [1d20=4]
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[21:53] <Kotono> But none of them land a blow, as Amaryl holds her ground! Light spills from the Sun Blade, pushing the walls of pressing shadow back! "Go back to rest!" Amaryl shouts in Elven!
[21:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 29." [1d20=14]
[21:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 21." [1d20=11]
[21:53] <Kotono> roll 4d10+32+2d6 ogre
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d10+32+2d6 ogre and gets 64." [4d10=4, 10, 5, 6][2d6=2, 5]
03[21:53] * Kotono changes topic to 'Archer 2(18)>Ogre 2(17)>Ogre 1(15)>Archer 1(13)>Amaryl(11)>Seira(9)>Minotaur 1(4)'
[21:55] <Kotono> Hacking the ogre apart, it's bones burst into golden flame and burn away! Amaryl sighs in relief, turning to face the minotaur! Meanwhile, the Hammer of the Shard dances about! (Taking Lagann's missed action real quick.)
[21:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 23." [1d20=15]
[21:55] <Kotono> roll 1d8+2
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+2 and gets 8." [1d8=6]
[21:56] <Kotono> Lagann hits the ogre in the back, crunching a few more bones and staggering it even more! OOC: Seira, you're up.
06[21:56] * Seira works on methodically dispatching the ogre with the Resort, first!
01[21:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+19
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 and gets 27." [1d20=8]
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC: Hit. Rolld amage?
01[21:57] <Seira> roll 4d8+11
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4d8+11 and gets 20." [4d8=2, 2, 4, 1]
03[21:57] * Kotono changes topic to 'Archer 2(18)>Ogre 1(15)>Archer 1(13)>Amaryl(11)>Seira(9)>Minotaur 1(4)'
06[21:57] * Seira advances on the minotaur, calling out, "I'll try to clear the path, take out the archers!"
01[21:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21." [1d20=7]
01[21:58] <Seira> OOC: Strike, then!
06[21:59] * Seira proceeds into melee with the minotaur!
[21:59] <Kotono> The ogre's skeleton is ripped apart one last time, crumbling around Seira! The minotaur menaces Seira, but her enhanced reach lets her fend off it's blows, before it takes another bigs wing at Amaryl!
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15." [1d20=2]
[22:00] <Kotono> But it's another bad one, missing her completely! OOC: Archers and ogre are up.
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Amaryl
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Amaryl and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Seira ogre charge
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 Seira ogre charge and gets 28." [1d20=17]
[22:00] <Kotono> OOC: AC, Seira?
01[22:00] <Seira> OOC: Still 25
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 2d6+9
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+9 and gets 13." [2d6=2, 2]
[22:01] <Kotono> More arrows fly, missing! Seira gets clubbed in the back, her open flank taken advantage of by the skeletal ogre, slamming her hard! "Got it," Amaryl calls, running past the minotaur who takes a quick swipe at her!
[22:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 26." [1d20=13]
[22:01] <Kotono> But Amaryl makes it past, charging the first archer!
[22:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 20." [1d20=3]
[22:01] <Kotono> roll 2d10+16+3d6+1d6
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d10+16+3d6+1d6 and gets 27." [2d10=1, 1][3d6=4, 1, 3][1d6=1]
03[22:01] * Kotono changes topic to 'Archer 2(18)>Ogre 1(15)>Amaryl(11)>Seira(9)>Minotaur 1(4)'
[22:01] <Kotono> It's skull is cracked open, body withering away in a blast of sunlight! OOC: Seira.
01[22:02] <Seira> Two enormous skeletons surround her, so Seira strikes at them equally, a blow reserved for each!
01[22:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 ogre
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 ogre and gets 30." [1d20=11]
01[22:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+14 minotaur
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 minotaur and gets 18." [1d20=4]
01[22:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+13 ogre
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 ogre and gets 24." [1d20=11]
01[22:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+13 minotaur
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 minotaur and gets 33." [1d20=20]
01[22:03] <Seira> roll 4d8+11+1d6+3 ogre
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4d8+11+1d6+3 ogre and gets 33." [4d8=7, 1, 1, 4][1d6=6]
01[22:03] <Seira> roll 4d8+11+1d8+3 minotaur
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4d8+11+1d8+3 minotaur and gets 43." [4d8=8, 7, 4, 3][1d8=7]
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 9." [1d20=1]
[22:04] <Kotono> Seira fights well, chipping away at both of them with jeweled strikes and claws! As they withstand, the minotaur takes another swing at her!
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 17." [1d20=4]
[22:04] <Kotono> But misses, as the ogre does the same, while the last archer fires at Seira!
[22:04] <Kotono> OOC: Amaryl. Dur.
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 22." [1d20=11]
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[22:04] <Kotono> But both fail once more, as Amaryl advances on the last archer!
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 26." [1d20=9]
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 2d10+16+3d6+1d6
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d10+16+3d6+1d6 and gets 42." [2d10=4, 6][3d6=4, 5, 1][1d6=6]
03[22:05] * Kotono changes topic to 'Ogre 1(15)>Amaryl(11)>Seira(9)>Minotaur 1(4)'
[22:05] <Kotono> Cutting it apart, the unholy monster vaporizes into motes of pure white sunshine! OOC: Seira.
06[22:05] * Seira repeats her previous attack pattern, not having anything witty to say to the soon-to-be-dead skeletons.
01[22:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+19
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 and gets 25." [1d20=6]
01[22:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 33." [1d20=19]
01[22:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 33." [1d20=20]
01[22:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 29." [1d20=16]
01[22:05] <Seira> roll 4d8+11+1d6+3 ogre
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4d8+11+1d6+3 ogre and gets 36." [4d8=6, 5, 4, 2][1d6=5]
01[22:06] <Seira> roll 4d8+11+1d8+3 minotaur
06[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4d8+11+1d8+3 minotaur and gets 32." [4d8=2, 4, 5, 2][1d8=5]
[22:07] <Kotono> With that last surge, the two skeletons crumble into ruin! Amaryl looks about, face framed in angelic, glowing sunlight! "Is that the last of them," she asks, still carrying on in Elven.
01[22:08] <Seira> "Of the welcoming party," Seira responds with a shrug, shaking ashes off her sword. She keeps to Elven herself, not having a particular attachment to Common, approaching Amaryl.
[22:09] <Kotono> Amaryl's hand is steady now, as she starts to walk. "Come on," she says, "There's more of them, you're right."
01[22:09] <Seira> "You're sensing them?" Seira asks in surprise, keeping next to her.
[22:11] <Kotono> "The Sun Blade, it's burning like a torch in my hand. I just...I don't know. I just think there are." she shrugs, not even stopping her step.
01[22:11] <Seira> "Maybe you lucked out and it's a blade with a purpose," Seira suggests, smiling. "Those are fun."
[22:13] <Kotono> As you walk, you get the feeling of walking downstairs. The shadows grow longer, darker. All around you, whispering the deadly song of emptiness. The caroling grows stronger, you can hear it reverbating in your soul...like as weet, sweet song to close your eyes...
06[22:14] * Seira unconsciously shifts closer to Amaryl and the Sun Blade.
[22:15] <Kotono> Amaryl shivers, as the sensation of walking down stairs grows sharper, more like plummeting down a chasm. "I..." Amaryl slows briefly.
[22:15] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[22:15] <Kotono> She stops entirely, bowing her head, "What...it..." she blinks, "Seira, I feel like I should close my eyes and go to sleep...I feel tired, suddenly."
03[22:16] * Demedais is now known as deadtai
01[22:18] <Seira> "We'll die if we stop," Seira tells her quietly. "Or worse. We won't be allowed to die. The blade, focus on--" Seira's eyes widen suddenly. "Call upon its special powers! It might help!"
[22:19] <Kotono> "It's not so bad...everything dies, anyway." Amaryl's eyes droop down, her gaze down at the floor. "There's no point to any of it..." But with a sluggish movement, Amaryl manages to weakly spin the Sun Blade overhead! Bright sunlight bursts around you, shadows banished back immediately! The singing sounds farther away, a whisper held easily at bay.
06[22:20] * Seira has been hoping to reserve that spell, but....
01[22:21] <Seira> "No point? I thought that, too, when I was taken to Shar," she admits bitterly. "But then I got away. And now, we're back, on our own terms!" She calls upon Haste, so that they might reach their destination quicker, and hopefully before the Daylight runs out.
[22:26] <Kotono> "Y-you're right," Amaryl stammers out, as she spins the blade further! The sunlight extends out farther, as the two start to hurry along! Then...you are there. No change, no movement, just there. Chills run up and down Seira, for you stand in the altar room of the Temple of Shar! You can see where the sacrifices are made, the unholy altar dripping with fresh blood! Far above, twisting like mirages on the horizon, you can see the balconies.
[22:26] <Kotono> a falchion in it's hand. From it's mouth comes the song of oblivion, sung by a million voices crying in a tandem of profound despair. Behind him stands another shadow, smaller. It sings a song of regret and vengence, hiding away in the darkest places of the heart. The third stands to the other side of the first, singing of grinding your foes into the dust, hastening the eternal descent into oblivion.
01[22:30] <Seira> "So all you can do now is cry and lament your fate?" Seira calls to the shadows. "Come, and I'll end you once and for all!"
[22:40] <Kotono> "Begone!" Amaryl calls! As you talk, the shadows advance! They continue to sing those dreadful songs, all the while! OOC: Init?
01[22:40] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 11." [1d20=8]
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 and gets 14." [1d20=12]
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 16." [1d20=12]
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Amaryl
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Amaryl and gets 12." [1d20=5]
03[22:40] * Kotono changes topic to 'Shadow 3>Shadow 2>Amaryl>Seira=Shadow 1'
[22:41] <Kotono> The third shadow leaps at Seira, singing as black flames crackle around it's fist!
[22:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (+3 arcane strike) AC?
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (+3 arcane strike) AC? and gets 31." [1d20=11]
01[22:42] <Seira> OOC: 26 due to haste
[22:42] <Kotono> roll 2d8+6+3d4 and 1 vile
06[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+6+3d4 and 1 vile and gets 23." [2d8=5, 6][3d4=1, 1, 4]
[22:42] <Kotono> The shadow is relentless, striking hard into Seira's stomach! The blow is not yet overwhelming, but it is a strong, quick one! The second shadow follows, going for Amaryl!
[22:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 38." [1d20=19]
[22:43] <Kotono> roll 2d8+2 and Amaryl needs a fort save
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+2 and Amaryl needs a fort save and gets 16." [2d8=7, 7]
[22:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 35." [1d20=19]
[22:44] <Kotono> The shadow strikes Amaryl once and falls back, 15 feet away! Amaryl grows as she staggers, "No, I will return you to whence you came!" she declares bodly, Sun Blade glowing as she runs in and strikes!
[22:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[22:44] <Kotono> roll 2d10+16+3d6+1d6
06[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d10+16+3d6+1d6 and gets 35." [2d10=1, 1][3d6=5, 4, 4][1d6=4]
[22:45] <Kotono> The blow cuts through the shadow, making it sparkle, crackle and wither partially! OOC: Seira, you're up.
02[22:47] * deadtai (~ferixstad@76.236.179.191) Quit (screw this, i can't deal with it)
06[22:48] * Seira downs a tonic and calls upon holy fire, seemingly uncaring of whether her actions would harm Amaryl! Even as she does so, ten pairs of phantom teeth assault the falchion wielder, striking it from all sides!
01[22:48] <Seira> roll 10d6 manyjaws, first, force, ref DC 22
06[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10d6 manyjaws, first, force, ref DC 22 and gets 40." [10d6=4, 2, 4, 6, 6, 2, 6, 5, 3, 2]
[22:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 16." [1d20=8]
01[22:49] <Seira> roll 10d6 holy fire, swift spell, ref dc 23
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10d6 holy fire, swift spell, ref dc 23 and gets 40." [10d6=1, 4, 2, 6, 4, 3, 3, 5, 6, 6]
[22:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 12." [1d20=4]
[22:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 21." [1d20=6]
01[22:49] <Seira> OOC: Tonic makes it empowered, so that's 60 holy damage
[22:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 14." [1d20=3]
01[22:49] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 1." [1d4=1]
03[22:50] * Kotono changes topic to 'Shadow 3>Amaryl>Seira=Shadow 1'
[22:51] <Kotono> The jaws and wash of holy fire are overwhelming! The shadow attacking Amaryl is burnt away inot nothing (A song of loss, a final, despairing cry from a young woman) as the falchion one is savaged! It nonetheless charges Seira!
[22:51] <Kotono> OOC: You have reach on him.
06[22:51] * Seira strikes it with the Resort, smiting her enemy!
01[22:52] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 smite, impromptu SA
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 smite, impromptu SA and gets 23." [1d20=4]
[22:52] <Kotono> Despite the quick attack, it misses as it swings at Seira, singing all the while!
[22:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 (+2 charge, -7 PA)
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 (+2 charge, -7 PA) and gets 33." [1d20=11]
[22:53] <Kotono> roll 2d4+28+1d6 (cold) and 1 vile, Seira
06[22:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4+28+1d6 (cold) and 1 vile, Seira and gets 36." [2d4=3, 3][1d6=2]
[22:54] <Kotono> The blow cuts into Seira's side, a deep but not threatening wound to it! Meanwhile, the third one swings hard at Seira!
[22:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 (+2 arcane strike)
06[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 (+2 arcane strike) and gets 22." [1d20=3]
[22:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 (+2 arcane strike)
06[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 (+2 arcane strike) and gets 35." [1d20=16]
[22:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 20." [1d20=6]
[22:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
06[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 13." [1d20=4]
[22:55] <Kotono> roll 2d8+6+2d4 and 1 vile
06[22:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+6+2d4 and 1 vile and gets 20." [2d8=4, 3][2d4=3, 4]
[22:55] <Kotono> A black-flaming fist hit's Seira's jaw, knocking her back a few steps! Amaryl takes the change, looping around and going to the back of the falchion shadow with nary a word!
[22:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[22:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 20." [1d20=3]
[22:55] <Kotono> But her blow misses, glowing blade blocked by shadows! OOC: Seira?
06[22:57] * Seira dances out of reach, maintaining her focus despite the heavy damage she is taking, and sending a second gout of holy flame towards her enemies!
01[22:57] <Seira> roll 10d6 holy fire, first
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10d6 holy fire, first and gets 41." [10d6=5, 4, 6, 3, 4, 3, 4, 5, 3, 4]
01[22:57] <Seira> OOC: 60 holy, dc is 23
[22:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 25." [1d20=17]
[22:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 14." [1d20=3]
03[22:58] * Kotono changes topic to 'Amaryl>Seira=Shadow 1'
01[22:58] <Seira> roll 10d10 die, dammit!
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10d10 die, dammit! and gets 53." [10d10=5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 9, 7, 6, 4]
01[22:58] <Seira> OOC: Force, dc22
[22:58] <Kotono> OOC: d10s? Also, I'm not done yet.
01[22:58] <Seira> OOC: Sorry! It was me maintaining the concentration for my Manyjaws, should be d6
01[22:58] <Seira> roll 10d6 still die!
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10d6 still die! and gets 31." [10d6=2, 1, 1, 6, 4, 1, 6, 5, 2, 3]
[22:59] <Kotono> The breath is too much! The shadows both start to break apart! As they perish, the main shadow takes it's swings!
[22:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (-7 PA) Seira
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (-7 PA) Seira and gets 22." [1d20=2]
[22:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 Amaryl
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 Amaryl and gets 26." [1d20=11]
[22:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 Seira
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 Seira and gets 24." [1d20=14]
[22:59] <Kotono> But not a single blow of this lands, as the shadows are vaporized! OOC: Free act.
06[23:00] * Seira laughs in triumph! "Two thousand gold was a small price to pay to watch them burn!" she declares vengefully.
[23:02] <Kotono> Amaryl looks about, "Whew." Looking to Seira, "Who were they?"
01[23:03] <Seira> "If I had to guess?" Seira asks, walking wearily towards the altar. "The same ones who trapped me here, and killed my familiar in this very room."
[23:04] <Kotono> "Really?!" Amaryl gasps as youw alk up. "I don't believe it, but...." she slows, "Seira, was that it? If this is the altar room, do we finish the quest here?"
06[23:06] * Seira snorts. "I was detached when I was telling the story to our new friend, asking him to help Giselle. But yes. This must be why Waukeen gave me this mission, a chance to face them and clear my doubts." She smiles at Amaryl, dispelling her transformative spell. "There's no one else I would rather have had at my side for this, or for any other adventure."
[23:06] <Kotono> That makes blushes creep all over Amaryl's face, "Seira...I...thank you."
06[23:08] * Seira offers her hand to Amaryl. "Let's finish this, then? I'm wearing the anklet, and you have the Sun Blade. We can complete this quest together, like we petitioned Waukeen, and then trash this accursed altar and go home."
[23:09] <Kotono> "Right," Amaryl holds the Sun Blade, "Hm. Raise your leg up so I can get a clean swipe at the anklet?"
01[23:09] <Seira> "It's probably symbolic, so a touch of its tip is fine," Seira voices.
[23:12] <Kotono> Amaryl touches the Sun Blade to the cursed anklet! In that moment, sunlight spills from the blade as if it was a waterfall, gushing out and filling the room! Shadows are banishes from your sight, as the anklet shudders and cracks all over! With a tear it breaks into pieces, each bit flying about, glowing like a sunstone! The temple is torn apart in an instant, rendered into nothing but shadowstuff! "The...the sword!" Amaryl gasps, as her a
[23:12] <Kotono> rendered into nothing but shadowstuff! "The...the sword!" Amaryl gasps, as her arms point upwards! You see now that you stand int he real world, at the lip of the crater to Halla. The sun is just beginning to rise, it's dawn rays catching the sky pointed Sun Blade. (More)
[23:13] <Kotono> Around you fly the glowing specks of the ruined bracelet. They glitter like stars, falling to the ground. Dozens of them, tiny gemstones of yellow now, dotting everything like a cascade of stars.
06[23:15] * Seira laughs. "One foul temple to Shar, history!" But however wounded she is, there's something far more important, and she gathers Amaryl into a hug.
[23:16] <Kotono> With the sword nearly knocked behind her back, Amaryl is held, "C-careful!" she sputters, "Not while I have a sword overhead..." But once it's positioned better, it's returned. "That was so exciting!"
01[23:17] <Seira> "Plus I'm over my case of etherealness!" Seira exclaims happily. "Ah, it's been such a pain these days!"
01[23:18] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[23:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 32." [3d8=8, 8, 1]
01[23:18] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[23:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 18." [2d8=3, 5]
01[19:59] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 67." [1d100=67]
01[19:59] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 7." [1d100=7]
01[19:59] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 8." [1d100=8]
01[19:59] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 23." [1d100=23]
[20:01] <Kotono> ---
[20:02] <Kotono> A day or two of teleportation work goes without incident. Once that required if mundane task is finished, Seira returns home and rests. Donald is with her the next day, "So," he begins, "You're going to Lathander's realm and you're inviting me?"
01[20:04] <Seira> "That's it in a nutshell," Seira agrees. "There was a very nice planetar I could introduce you to, so if you ever had any questions for Lathander's celestial servants, it would be a good chance to ask them."
03[20:09] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5af0c5df.wfd107.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
[20:11] <Kotono> "Oooooh! I'm in!" Donald nods very quickly, "Is anyone else coming?"
01[20:13] <Seira> "Amaryl and Gilartal." Seira checks her weapons briefly. "I'm ready, in any case. How about you?"
[20:14] <Kotono> Donald hurries away, coming back in armor and weapon both. He carries his helmet under his armor, "Oh yeah," he says, "I'm really ready for this!"
06[20:15] * Seira leans over and whispers to him, "It's the first planetar I befriended. Please don't make her hate me."
[20:18] <Kotono> "Why would I do that?" Donald's face twists into a puzzle, "A Planetar is an angel, isn't she?"
06[20:21] * Seira shrugs. "No idea how you could do this, either. But seeing you so eager, I just had to say it." She smirks, pulling Donald along. "Let's go, we're late as is."
[20:23] <Kotono> Hurrying along, over Donald's protests, the two head to the Temple of Waukeen. Gil is there with Amaryl, waiting. Gil paces and waits, while Amaryl has the Sun Blade rest on her lap. She runs her fingers along the flat of it, sparkles of light rippling along it's length.
01[20:23] <Seira> "It's just like a new toy, isn't it?" Seira asks, announcing her presence.
[20:24] <Kotono> "Oh!" Amaryl turns red as the insides of a watermelon, half rising and then sitting, nearly dropping her weapon onto the ground. "S-S-Seira! Ah...well....maybe a little?"
01[20:25] <Seira> "Let's go and ask Dawn if it's okay to keep it, then!" Seira says happily.
[20:26] <Kotono> Gilartal grimaces slightly as he approaches, "Drop you off and then return back," he clarifies as the four gather.
01[20:27] <Seira> "You could come and meet her, too, if you'd like," Seira offers.
[20:29] <Kotono> Gilartal shakes his head, "I'll pass on it," he says after a few moments, beginning to intone his prayers to Waukeen!
[20:29] <Kotono> roll 5d100
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d100 and gets 301." [5d100=84, 30, 61, 36, 90]
[20:31] <Kotono> You appear in the warm sunshine, standing in an open field. The feelings of bliss overwhelm you immediately, as Donald looks around. He looks up the sun and waves at it, "Oh, it's so WARM here!"
06[20:33] * Seira takes the time to enjoy it, herself. "If I can't find an easy way back, I'll contact you, alright?" she tells Gilartal. "I think we'll be fine, though. Thanks again!"
[20:35] <Kotono> Amaryl smiles as she watches Donald, "It's very pleasant here, and this time Seira doesn't look like a shadow monster!"
[20:35] <Kotono> Gil nods and quickly casts Plane Shift once more, WAukeen's blessings moving him along.
06[20:35] * Seira pouts. "A monster is a bit much," she protests.
[20:38] <Kotono> "Did you look that bad," Donald glances to Seira.
01[20:39] <Seira> "Claris made warding signs, and a lantern archon ran away, crying," she says with a sigh, grabbing hold of Amaryl and Donald and teleporting them to the settlement Dawnbringer lives at.
01[20:39] <Seira> roll 1d100 I saw it twice, I guess?
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 I saw it twice, I guess? and gets 16." [1d100=16]
[20:44] <Kotono> "Oh, that-" Donald begins as the two teleport! The settlement is appeared in without incident. It's bright here, the sun's light radiating warmth over all.
06[20:44] * Seira cheerfully heads for the home she met Dawnbringer at, believing it to belong to her.
[20:47] <Kotono> INside the home you find Dawnbringer, who lets you in. "Seira, Amaryl. You have been victorious?"
01[20:48] <Seira> "As you can see!" Seira announces, turning around. "No shadowy bits or creepy aura of undeath!"
[20:50] <Kotono> Amaryl nods and blushes, "Seira was magnificent!
[20:50] <Kotono> "
[20:50] <Kotono> "Hi," Donald follows along, "Nice to meet you. Wow, this is really the House of Nature? I can feel it in my bones!"
01[20:52] <Seira> "Amaryl was the magnificent one," Seira counters. "I wish I could show you the way she seemed to glow as she tore through Shar's evil servants-- actually, wizard. I so can!" At Donald's words, she appears embarrassed. "Ah, and this is Donald, a knight of Lathander! He's kinda my student, so I brought him along. Do you mind?"
[20:56] <Kotono> "You have my congratulations on your victory over Shar's depravity." To Donald she nods, "Welcome to this holy realm, warrior. I do not, as long as you possess means to ensure that he is not entrapped here forever."
[20:57] <Kotono> "Student?" Donald begins to protest, but smiles, "I don't know, I like it here," Donald scratches the back of his head, "It feels like home and happiness and a really good day all rolled into one."
01[20:57] <Seira> "I'm stronger," Seira says simply in answer.
[20:58] <Kotono> "You do. It is not a bad fate, but one who serves Lathander should have patience. Come to this place when your work in the mortal realm is done." Dawnbringer says.
01[21:01] <Seira> "Pretty much the real reason I think he'll go back without coercing when it's time," Seira agrees. "He can't possibly feel like he earned it if he didn't prove himself to Lathander more on Prime to deserve the afterlife, right? But I also thought that some form of positive encoragement was in order. It was pretty hard on him for a while, since he really wanted to become a paladin and just couldn't."
[21:09] <Kotono> "Hey, it's not like I wasn't here before, technically," Donald crosses his arms, "If you look at it like that, everything since then has been extra work."
01[21:10] <Seira> "Shh, we're not supposed to talk about that."
[21:10] <Kotono> Dawnbringer laughs, "Seira is right. There is a time and a place to be here. Until then, enjoy your mortal life."
[21:12] <Kotono> Amaryl clears her throat, "Ma'am, about the Sun Blade...."
01[21:13] <Seira> Ah, the other reason they came. "Yes," Seira adds. "Shar's temple went up in flames, and our quest is done. But the weapon was formed in our hands, and not loaned out. We're not really clear on protocol with what happens next, I have to admit."
[21:20] <Kotono> "Amaryl, you wielded it?" the planetar asks, and after Amaryl nods, "Amaryl, if you would, would you show me your hands?"
06[21:21] * Seira is curious what this is all about, herself.
[21:25] <Kotono> Amaryl approaches, presenting her hands to the planetar. She takes them in her own, putting them palm up and peering at them. In her eyes dance sunlight, blazing as hot as fire.
[21:25] <Kotono> Donald stands on tip-toes, watching.
[21:43] <Kotono> Letting Amaryl's hands go, "You'll bear it well," she decides, "For now, take it. Should it be fated to return here, it will in it's own time."
06[21:45] * Seira couldn't really see anything unusual, and so dismisses it as an angel thing. "Thanks! I'm sure it would serve Amaryl well!"
[17:28] <Kotono> > Dawnbringer laughs, "Seira is right. There is a time and a place to be here. Until then, enjoy your mortal life."
[17:28] <Kotono> > Amaryl clears her throat, "Ma'am, about the Sun Blade...."
[17:28] <Kotono> <Seira> Ah, the other reason they came. "Yes," Seira adds. "Shar's temple went up in flames, and our quest is done. But the weapon was formed in our hands, and not loaned out. We're not really clear on protocol with what happens next, I have to admit."
[17:28] <Kotono> > "Amaryl, you wielded it?" the planetar asks, and after Amaryl nods, "Amaryl, if you would, would you show me your hands?"
[17:28] <Kotono> * Seira is curious what this is all about, herself.
[17:28] <Kotono> > Amaryl approaches, presenting her hands to the planetar. She takes them in her own, putting them palm up and peering at them. In her eyes dance sunlight, blazing as hot as fire.
[17:28] <Kotono> > Donald stands on tip-toes, watching.
[17:28] <Kotono> > Letting Amaryl's hands go, "You'll bear it well," she decides, "For now, take it. Should it be fated to return here, it will in it's own time."
[17:28] <Kotono> * Seira couldn't really see anything unusual, and so dismisses it as an angel thing. "Thanks! I'm sure it would serve Amaryl well!"
03[17:28] * CC is now known as Seira
[17:28] <Kotono> Amaryl colors from head to toe at that, drawing her hands to her chest, "T-thank you..." she whispers, "I....I'll use it well.
[17:28] <Kotono> "
01[17:31] <Seira> "Since we're here and all, can I trouble you with something?" Seira asks Dawnbringer. "You told me your stance on interefering with Prime, but just giving some guidance in the form of passing along scripture is fine, isn't it?"
[17:31] <Kotono> "Congratulations!" Donald comes over to thump Amaryl on the back.
[17:31] <Kotono> "What do you wish?" Dawnbringer asks.
01[17:32] <Seira> "Something for this one to make him a better knight of Lathander, and a bit of guidance for the clergy of Lathander in our country. Since our world was blocked off for a pretty long time, some of the doctrine is a bit aged. A refresher course can't go amiss!"
[17:34] <Kotono> "Oh, that sounds pretty good. I admit, I have some questions. I'm not as good with doctrine as a priest, but..." Starting to think, "Oh, and there are some more normal question. Like, for example, how come the majority of the members in the Crimson Guard are girls? That doesn't even make sense, almost all soldiers and warriors are men."
[17:36] <Kotono> "We'll talk," Dawnbringer goes to Donald, "Why don't you two rest here while we do?"
[17:37] <Kotono> "Oooph!" Rolling with the thump to her back, Amaryl turn.s On Donald's words, she turns very red. "What's wrong with that," she murmurs under her breath, "Men are so garish and brutish..."
01[17:37] <Seira> "Maybe Dawn'll fix him," Seira whispers to Amaryl. "I've yet to lose hope!"
[17:45] <Kotono> --------------
[17:45] <Kotono> Okay, just the two of you 'porting over?
01[17:47] <Seira> OOC: Yeah, after casting nondetection upon myself
03[17:47] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[17:48] <Kotono> Okay.
[17:48] <Kotono> ----
[17:48] <Kotono> Oh yes, dur. Where in Pallanth? Once you declare, roll your trusty d100.
01[17:49] <Seira> roll 1d100 Cel's home, we can walk the rest
06[17:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 Cel's home, we can walk the rest and gets 69." [1d100=69]
02[18:00] * openthegatesleteternitybegin (~ferixstad@76.236.179.191) Quit (Broken pipe)
[18:01] <Kotono> -----
02[18:09] * Alicia (WinNT@user-514db137.l2.c1.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (Ping timeout)
Session Close: Sat May 02 18:09:43 2009
Session Start: Sat May 02 18:09:43 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[18:09] * Disconnected
02[18:10] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[18:10] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[18:10] * Topic is 'Amaryl>Seira=Shadow 1'
03[18:10] * Set by Kotono on Wed Apr 29 21:58:48
02[18:10] * Seira (~corwin@bzq-79-180-140-43.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
03[18:10] * Riina is now known as Seira
02[18:10] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (sebben.dejatoons.net scifi-classics.dejatoons.net)
02[18:10] * Kallen (Mokou@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (sebben.dejatoons.net scifi-classics.dejatoons.net)
02[18:10] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) Quit (sebben.dejatoons.net scifi-classics.dejatoons.net)
Session Close: Sat May 02 18:13:34 2009
Session Start: Sat May 02 18:13:34 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[18:13] * Disconnected
02[18:13] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[18:13] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[18:13] * Topic is 'Amaryl>Seira=Shadow 1'
03[18:13] * Set by Kotono on Wed Apr 29 21:58:48
03[18:13] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
Session Close: Sat May 02 18:18:41 2009
Session Start: Sat May 02 18:18:41 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[18:18] * Disconnected
Session Close: Sat May 02 18:18:41 2009
Session Start: Sat May 02 18:19:38 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
Session Close: Sat May 02 18:19:38 2009
Session Start: Sat May 02 18:19:38 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
03[18:19] * Now talking in #evildunes
03[18:19] * Topic is 'Amaryl>Seira=Shadow 1'
03[18:19] * Set by Kotono on Wed Apr 29 21:58:48
03[18:19] * ChanServ sets mode: +o CC
[18:20] <Kotono> Getting Celebrimbor to Balmuria goes relatively without incident. As the two walk one evening towards Elle's shop, "What is it you wished to discuss?" Celebrimbor asks, "The council's time is rather occupied lately, as repercussions from Amaryl's departure continue to slide and snake about. In these days, reasonabe brevity is a virtue."
02[18:20] * Seira (~corwin@bzq-79-180-140-43.red.bezeqint.net) Quit
03[18:20] * CC is now known as Seira
01[18:21] <Seira> "I don't suppose there's anything I could do to help with that?" Seira asks, really hoping the answer won't be along the lines of 'you've done enough'.
[18:27] <Kotono> "For the moment, no." Celebrimbor turns his gaze back to Seira, "Most of these matters have to resolve themselves. In a month or a year, when it's all settled, there will be opportunity. Then again..." A slow and a stop there, "Kortan has been busy, more concerned with his realm than council politics lately. Hm. There may be..."
01[18:28] <Seira> "It sounds like you've got an idea after all," Seira points out.
02[18:30] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-208-166.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (scifi-classics.dejatoons.net batcave.dejatoons.net)
03[18:31] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-208-166.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
[18:31] <Kotono> Stopping as he climbs up the hill, the sunset's last rays playing across the building tops, "The saying is that nature abhors a vacuum. When a predator dies, or a king is slain, someone else rises up to take that place in due time. In essence, the Council's short membered right now."
01[18:32] <Seira> "You want me to find someone worthy, then?" Seira muses, tapping her lips. "I'm pretty sure I could corner dad. If I use dirty tactics and pretend to cry, it's as good as a done deal."
[18:36] <Kotono> "That was exactly my thought," With a little smile on his face, "How long as he been off in the far reaches, reading books? I do believe he could use a returned to more civilized pursuits."
06[18:38] * Seira nods. "We're certainly moving ahead with that project. He would do more good for it if he actually stepped back and coordinated that effort." The tips of her lips curve into a smile. "If someone told us several years ago that Malmuth, the Baronies and Pallanth would be cooperating on the magical rejuvenation of the world, would we have believed them or called them fools, I wonder?"
[18:43] <Kotono> "The latter, certainly," As you walk up the hill, yous ee people heading down it. A motley assortment of natives, travelers and even an elf, going here and there and everywhere. "This feels like a time the bards will sing of in the future."
01[18:45] <Seira> "I hope to provide them with plenty to sing their hearts out about," Seira agrees, still smiling. "This is part of why I asked you to come, you know. Together with Elle, you'll be able to tell me if what I want to achieve is possible with mortal abilities."
[18:48] <Kotono> "Very well then. Let's go meet her and discuss this, then?" Tot hat, Celebrimbor continues his walk, heading right for Elle's shop.
06[18:49] * Seira skips ahead of him, opening the door with, "Hi, Elle!"
[18:51] <Kotono> Alice, not Elle is found inside. She's examining the scrolls, looking over. "Goa head into the back," she bids them, "Countess Stronger's resting there."
06[18:52] * Seira waves at Alice, and proceeds inside.
[18:55] <Kotono> Elle is back in her sitting room, eyes closed and a wet rag on her forehead. She opens her eyes as Seira enters, slowly peeling it off.
01[18:55] <Seira> "Bad day?"
[18:56] <Kotono> "Headache. I've been busy...well, busier." Sitting up straighter, "Scion," she stands up as he enters, "I've been running between Mihail's caves and here and a dozen other things lately."
01[18:57] <Seira> "I've been running around, too," Seira responds, "though I delegate more than you do, it seems. Need any help with those caves?"
[18:59] <Kotono> "Right now it's all in the theoretical stage," Waving her hand, "We can talk about it later. You came to visit about something tonight?"
[19:00] <Kotono> Celebrimbor goes to sit, resting deep in a chair.
06[19:01] * Seira nods, closing the door behind them. "See, it's like this. In fact, it might even help you out! We have all these mages learning spells and casting them together and all that. But a lot of the magical energy just ends up being wasted, and I figure that's a shame." She taps her lips again.
01[19:01] <Seira> "You know how if you climb, someone could help you? Or if you fight against someone, or any other time. So why should magical spells and rituals be any different?"
[19:02] <Kotono> "What do you mean, exactly?" Elle goes to put the wet cloth back on her forehead, "Tutoring more upcoming wizards? I had the impression your school does that in spades."
[19:04] <Kotono> "I doubt that's it," Celebrimbor eyes towards Seira, gaze sliding towards her. "This wouldn't require getting the three of us together, three of the best wizards in the region."
01[19:04] <Seira> "More like aiding one another," Seira tells her, nodding at Celebrimbor. "It might be easier to explain if you know of this spell... I think it was the Mystic Surge? You empower another with magical energy, much like Heroism does for the mundane tasks."
[19:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
06[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 26." [1d20=2]
[19:10] <Kotono> "I'm familiar with it," Celebrimbor nods, "It's a universal schooled primer spell, that enhances the capacity of a spell you or the target casts within the next few seconds."
[19:11] <Kotono> "It works well enough," Elle considers, rubbing her forehead with her wet cloth, "I've not used it, but it sounds useful, especially for an appretence to cast on a master to aid in casting or combat."
06[19:12] * Seira nods. "It's pretty limited in what it does, but I think it helps drive the idea on. Let's say we're faced with an ancient arcane seal. Is our only recourse to leave it alone and get stronger, so that we might overwhelm it one day? Right now, I would say yes. But if several mages banded together.... Right now, even a dozen casting Dispel at once would only have the same result, but if eleven of them cast it into you...."
[19:14] <Kotono> "There's a problem with that," Celebrimbor speaks up here, "One casting of Mystic Surge is the same as ten. Seperate castings of the same spell don't work as multiples, they overlap with the same energies. Otherwise, casting Mage Armor six times would make you a walking slab of impenetrable defense."
[19:14] <Kotono> "That just means Mystic Surge wouldn't be suitable," Elle murmurs there, "If Mystic Surge was the answer, we wouldn't be here, anyway."
[19:15] <Kotono> "Yes, so there must be more to this," Celebrimbor glances at Elle, before curling up into a slight smile, "There should be."
01[19:15] <Seira> "Well, yeah," Seira speaks. "If it were as easy as finding a dozen capable of casting it, we wouldn't need to meet." She smirks at Elle. "Seems like we're finally on the same page! In any case, what about a ritual? They often do what we normally can't. Like the one granted to the Temple of Mystra and spread onwards, of purying evil artifacts. Perhaps a ritual is the right direction."
[19:17] <Kotono> "In theory, many things are possible, as long as they aren't forbidden. I believe magic to manipulate time's the best example here? It's a matter of how efficient or realistic it is." Now thinking to herself, "Hmm. In other words, you see all your studens as part of a possible magical link or ritual circle?"
01[19:18] <Seira> "On some level, it would be even more wasteful than magic being cast separately," Seira theorizes. "I can't really see all that magical energy being fully channeled into the designated caster, not as we just try to make it happen, anyway. But at the same time, it would allow feats of magic that for now lie beyond mortals." At Elle's words, she nods. "Voluntary participation, of course."
[19:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
06[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 37." [1d20=13]
[19:19] <Kotono> "It can take years or lifetimes to move something beyond theoretical and into reality," Celebrimbor's brow furrows here, "It would be, most likely, wasteful, pouring on much to accomplish relatively less in a straight return for the power, though still more than one alone could do. You would need something to channel this, be it special training, a magical focus or what have you. In theory."
[19:20] <Kotono> "Yes, but if it takes a hundred years, what's the point," Elle laughs, "We don't have a century to throw away on a research project. Faster results are far more desirable."
01[19:20] <Seira> "Special training is easy enough," Seira points out. "And if something could be done in a century, it could be done faster, too. Didn't we just talk about how the world was changing before our very eyes?"
[19:21] <Kotono> "That doesn't mean anything is possible with minimal effort," Celebrimbor retorts, "Though I concede the basic point."
[19:22] <Kotono> "You'd need to develop the basic training, have willing students who are willing to train and retrain until it's shaped into something viable," Thinking now, "That you can provide, Seira."
[19:22] <Kotono> "As well as replacements, just in case. What if the magical energy overwhelms one of them, or it draws too much and slays some? Relying on the bare minimum is always a way to court folly."
01[19:23] <Seira> "I figure that teaching the methods is easy enough," Seira responds. "As long as they don't have to give away their magical energy, it's the same as learning about any other facet of magic. And I believe many would volunteer for the practicals, too, since nothing about the procedure I want to develop would prevent them from being the beneficiery, either."
06[19:25] * Seira snaps her finger suddenly. "Remember the book on spellgem research?" she asks Celebrimbor suddenly. "It had two ways about drawing power, too. Since it offered a safe route, can't we use the knowledge you have from that?"
[19:26] <Kotono> "...!" Celebrimbor's face changes entirely, "Why yes, I do. That...that..." He bows and closes his eyes, "That may just be possible, or at least a very useful key to figuring this out."
06[19:28] * Seira nods at his words. "I hardly expected to walk out of here today with the practical means of joining wizards together for the purpose of casting a spell of truly epic powers. It's bound to take time. I just hope we'll find a rough draft towards achieving it."
[19:29] <Kotono> "I'll need copies of the relevant notes, and I'll need some time to do my own research on it," Elle decides, "But it could very well be possible if that's as applicable as we think it is. Working with an aide is much easier than working blind."
01[19:30] <Seira> "So we invest a bit of energy into it now, but all future ventures become easier thanks to help from others," Seira adds. "And they learn from the experience, too, far more than normal apprentices would."
[19:31] <Kotono> "My main concern is finding a way for it to work without harm to the contributors," Celebrimbor now faintly smiles, "Excuse me a moment." He stands and rises, leaving the room.
[19:31] <Kotono> Elle waetches him go, "How long have you been thinking over this idea, Seira?"
06[19:33] * Seira feels guilty that Celebrimbor left at such a time, but finds herself admitting, "Ever since I realized that even with a Teleportation Circle scroll and the material components, I still couldn't cast the portals on my own just yet."
[19:34] <Kotono> "Portals are incredible magic. Opening a Gate is at the pinnacle of mortal magic as it stands." Elle shrugs, "Then again, I wonder. I never dreamed I'd cast sixth circle magic as freely as I do now. You may be right."
06[19:34] * Seira winces. "Don't get me wrong! I always hoped that my students would be able to achieve greater cooperation, and this would bring them all that closer! And I wanted to make some artifacts one day that would require magic like this, but-- well, it was all into the distant future, and this is now."
[19:35] <Kotono> "Oh yes, yes." Elle starts to laugh, which makes her cloth slide down over her face. The muffled laughter turns into an irritated sigh, taking it off and flinging it onto a table. "Lately, every day's been the future."
01[19:37] <Seira> "It's fun, isn't it?" Seira asks with a sudden grin.
[19:39] <Kotono> "Tiring. I need to go get a healing spell if these headaches continue," Rubbing her temples, "I'm overdoing it. I need to take an enforced few days off soon. I know it's because I'm doing too much right now."
06[19:40] * Seira considers, before touching Elle on the forehead.
01[19:40] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 22." [2d8=7, 5]
01[19:40] <Seira> "Better?"
[19:40] <Kotono> Elle sighs in deep relief. "Yes, thank you." She looks up with a smile, "That should remedy them for the immediate time." As she speaks, Celebrimbor returns. On sittin again, "Where we were?"
[19:40] <Kotono> *where were we?
01[19:42] <Seira> "Magical cooperation, and what I intend to achieve with it. I wish I could take credit for all this stuff, but it's mostly legends I read about. I don't know if they're true or not, but they're certainly worthy goals, I find.
01[19:42] <Seira> Such as... if my students could share in the making of one spell stronger, couldn't they store that magical energy into an artifact they were all attuned to? It might, in fact, make it safer to participate in rituals, if the magical energy went through such an intermediary!"
[19:45] <Kotono> "Like a storage for energy? Speaking of..." Elle speaks up now, "I've been thinking about something ike that, if one of my plans works out."
06[19:46] * Seira looks briefly distracted, but then nods. "In a way. It could draw magical energy from those mages, much like a spellgem undergoing refinement, but not store it in any particular pattern. And not be hazardous, of course."
[19:49] <Kotono> "It could," Elle nods, "The trick would be working it all out." As she speaks, there's a brief noise outside. Then Alicia enters in.
01[19:50] <Seira> "Hi!" Seira greets her. "Sorry I couldn't meet you back at the inn. How have you been?"
[19:50] <Alicia> "Alice said I-" Alicia blinks and pauses. "How did you know I was just there?" she asks Seira curiously.
01[19:51] <Seira> "Amaryl told me. Come in!" Seira waves Alicia inside. "We're having a discussion that'll surely please Mystra!"
[19:53] <Alicia> "Er... okay," Alicia nods, slightly offput as she fully enters Elle's backroom. Catching up can wait if they're having an important discussion... although she should still be polite. "Elle, Lord Drake," she nods to each in turn by way of greeting.
[20:01] <Kotono> "Oh, Alicia. We're talking about magic circles and cooperative magic...or would it be more a form of metamagic?" Thinking on that, "A way for many to contribute to a greater effect. ARe you familiar with Mystic Surge?"
[20:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 knowledge arcana?
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 knowledge arcana? and gets 24." [1d20=14]
01[20:01] <Seira> "If it's metamagic, it would be a new brand of it," Seira muses, quickly catching Alicia up on the conversation so far.
[20:03] <Alicia> "I think it's a fourth circle spell that boosts a spell cast immediately afterwards, somehow?" Alicia hazards. "Sorry, but my understanding of magical theory probably lags behind all of yours."
[20:03] <Kotono> "It would be. As I was saying, with those caves, I was thinking of a way to be able to contain vast amounts of heat energy at once, and steam energy if things come to it."
[20:04] <Kotono> "No apology." Celebrimbor chuckles, "Magic's not a science to you but an art. Besides, practical experience is important, too."
01[20:04] <Seira> "You want to provide free heating for the city, essentially?"
03[20:04] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[20:06] <Kotono> "I don't know." Elle shrugs, "I was looking at Mihail's caverns and wondering about things to do with them. I was thinking...the sea's a serious problem with them, but how about embracing it instead of constantly holding it at bay? The idea I have," Elle stands up, grabbing several long scrolls and spreading them out. You can see diagrams of the city beneath and the caverns, as well as several pillars and waterways drawn in. "Half collapse
[20:06] <Kotono> as well as several pillars and waterways drawn in. "Half collapse the walls into controlled flows and use that for cooling. The problem is that it requires heat management on a level far beyond anything easily produced."
06[20:07] * Alicia peers over the table to see what Elle's drawn, but lacking in any scholarly knowledge of geology or architecture she's somewhat lost.
[20:08] <Kotono> "Some sort of permanent item to absorb or vent steam into another dimension or space?" Celebrimbor proposes, "Or some means of dealing with it, like ice paraelementals that are strong enough to constantly endure the steam and convert it to water that could be funneled out safely?"
01[20:09] <Seira> "Why not just went it though, I don't know, the walls or the ground?" Seira suggests. "Or even into a metalworks?"
[20:09] <Alicia> "If a greater ice paraelemental dies in an area of volcanic activity it can have strange permanent effects," Alicia volunteers, happy to have some practical experience to chip in.
[20:09] <Kotono> "Well, the point is to make those damned caverns less of a glaring disaster waiting to happen," Elle continues on, tapping her work, "The question is how? This is the best idea I've had and I've been fooling with those ways to deal with all the excess steam and heat. It reminds me something of your idea for containing and channeling energy."
[20:10] <Kotono> "Really?" Celebrimbor raises an eyebrow, "What example do you speak of?"
01[20:12] <Seira> "Is the amount of lava even finite?" Seira wonders.
[20:12] <Alicia> "I just got back from Ysgard where I was training on one of the floating islands of Muspelheim," Alicia explains. "It was a strange land where ribbons of frozen cold ice criss-crossed mere feet away from liquid hot magma. Apparently a wizard had summoned an ice paraelemental there while making his last stand aeons ago, and the effects still linger."
01[20:12] <Seira> "Nasty!"
[20:12] <Kotono> "The metal cost would be prohibitive. The heat is enough to possibly melt and wear metal or iron. I would need adamantine or more exotic or magically treated materials. And to be honest, I'm not quite sure," Sighing as she rubs her head, "I've been meaning to send some fire elementals to probe as deep into the works as they can, but I've never gotten to it."
01[20:12] <Seira> "I can do it," Seira volunteers. "Not a problem."
[20:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
06[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 36." [1d20=12]
[20:13] <Kotono> "Ah, the outer planes. Such are a finite but useful example, for often times they rely on rules in contrast to our own." Nodding nonetheless, "Muspelheim is a land of fire, much like these caves sound. It is an apt comparison."
[20:14] <Kotono> "Will drowning be a problem? You may ahve to go into lava," Elle warns with a raised eyebrow.
01[20:14] <Seira> "I don't think we can do much until we know just what we're facing down there," Seira voices. "If the lava will keep on flowing, then there's no way but to find a solution for diverting it. If the amount is finite, it could possibly be drained, perhaps in batches. And I have a spell to breathe in lava, so I'll be fine!"
[20:15] <Alicia> "What about using walls of force to channel the lava?" Alicia suggests. "They would be expensive to make permanent, but surely cheaper than such a vast amount of adamantine."
01[20:16] <Seira> "I'd really like to make use of that resource than spend effort on containing it," Seira admits with a frown. "Can't we try the former, first?"
[20:27] <Kotono> "That's worth a try," Elle agrees to them, "The next day you're free, let me know. It doesn't have to be right away. And yes, that may very well be more economical."
01[20:29] <Seira> "Plus..." Seira hesitates. "I didn't see it at the time, but the whole matter with Mihail was a mistake. An unfortunate misunderstanding. If we could use what he build towards benefitting Balmuria...."
[20:30] <Kotono> "It would do something to make that fiasco mean something," Elle nods crisply.
01[20:31] <Seira> "I doubt we'll get somewhere further today," Seira says, looking over the gathered mages. "The first step seems to be exchanging the notes we have on similar processes, studying them, and gathering again afterwards. Would that be alright?"
[20:32] <Kotono> "In a few weeks?" CElebrimbor concludes at that.
01[20:32] <Seira> "Might as well," Seira agrees. "I do have plans that would eat up a week or two."
[20:33] <Alicia> "What would those be?" Alicia asks curiously. "Also, I heard from the Commander that you did something with one of those horrible things we found in Halla. What happened there?"
[20:34] <Kotono> "Oh yes, how was your trip," Elle asks at that. "I almost forgot in the rush."
01[20:35] <Seira> "Two of them, actually," Seira responds. "I petitioned Waukeen, and managed to redeem that chakram. But then I tried to do something about the anklet, and Waukeen turned me into a shadow and sent me to destroy Shar's temple on the Plane of Shadow. Did you know that while there's a crater in our world, there, an actual temple remained on that plane?"
[20:37] <Alicia> "The plane of shadow isn't a precise mirror of our own world," Alicia agrees with a faint frown. "Personally I found the crater to be a vast improvement."
01[20:39] <Seira> "I made a matching one over there, along with Amaryl," Seira says with a snort. "Those losers were also around, in shadow form. But I made a far superior shadow to them."
06[20:40] * Alicia covers her mouth as she almost snorts. "Twice? Couldn't happen to a nicer lot, at least."
06[20:41] * Seira nods. "The anklet broke into gems. Elle here should have your share of it, actually!"
[20:42] <Kotono> "I can produce the money if you like, though if you're going to buy anyway," spreading her hands, "I can just as easily give you store credit."
01[20:42] <Seira> "I want to buy something, too," Seira admits. "I'll need to go bug Dad for cash, first, though."
01[20:43] <Seira> "It's so expensive I'm just too impatient to save up for it," she mutters a moment later.
[20:43] <Alicia> "We had the anklet appraised at fifty thousand, didn't we? So between the three of us that'd be... sixteen six six six and change? Assuming the gems worked out to the same value," Alicia considers before nodding to Elle, "Store credit is probably fine, I'll get back to you on that. What about the chakram?"
01[20:44] <Seira> "It's holy and stuff." Seira nods. "Very shiny."
[20:45] <Alicia> "I can't use a chakram any more than I can use a shuriken. I take it it's otherwise worth the same?"
01[20:45] <Seira> "Pretty much. I could use it, but I just lack a good reason to do so."
06[20:47] * Alicia nods. "Speaking of things left here, has Elle passed on Esthan's 'gift'?" she asks the colonel, voice dripping contempt on the last word.
01[20:48] <Seira> "I heard about it," Seira affirms. "I petitioned Waukeen and looked over it myself. There are no traps or strings attached, so I'm quite amused at how he helped me get one step closer to defeating him for good."
[20:51] <Alicia> "I suppose that's one way to look at it," Alicia replies dubiously. "Anyway," she turns to Elle, "You were asking about my trip? It actually went really well - we had to prove ourselves first, but the training was very beneficial. I feel better than I have in years, and I know for a fact I'm a lot tougher than I was, now."
[20:51] <Alicia> To her credit, she keeps a perfectly straight face at the reference to feeling better than she has in years.
01[20:53] <Seira> "If it meant giving him a quarter, well, things would be different," Seira muses. "I won't seek power at any price. How about yours? I told Elle that if you didn't want it, I could buy it off your hands and just... I don't know, give the money to some public works project of yours. Some worthy cause." She shrugs. "I could probably make it if I sold a few things."
06[20:56] * Alicia grimaces unhappily at Seira's offer. "I'm not going to profit off of a devil's dubious goodwill," she replies sternly. "If you're fine with putting yourself in his debt that's your decision to make, but I'm not having anything to do with it."
01[20:59] <Seira> "That's your call, of course," Seira responds, sounding equally dubious. "I don't really see it as putting myself in his debt. It's not like I asked for the book from Esthan."
01[20:59] <Seira> "And there are no bad effects from your familiar using the bow he delivered, once it was cleared by Mystra, right?" she adds, curious.
[21:03] <Alicia> "It's not about 'bad effects' it's about symbolism," Alicia retorts. "That bow was an obvious trap designed to empower his master, yes, and was effectively destroyed and remade by Marie's actions into something worthwhile."
[21:03] <Alicia> "Even if I don't use that book to imprint a part of it onto my very being, however, even if I sold it, that would be me accepting his generosity at face value. Any benefit I could gain is tainted by that, and I find that unacceptable."
01[21:04] <Seira> "But it's weird, isn't it?" Seira asks, pouting. "You're going to toss it in his face when we see him next, right? So what happens if we kill him then? Is it okay to use or sell it at that time?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "At that point I might consider myself to have earned it like any other treasure we might claim from a fallen foe," Alicia shrugs. "That's different from putting myself in a position where Esthan can pop up after any triumph I might claim and be able to truthfully say that I did it thanks to his help."
[21:07] <Alicia> "You might just think it's a matter of pride, and you're not far off, but it's important to me that I can succeed without his charity."
01[21:07] <Seira> "Oh, it's not like I desperately need it or anything," Seira mentions. "I just wanted to understand you better."
[21:08] <Alicia> "I don't think it's that hard to understand," Alicia looks away. "Sorry for coming across so preachy, but everything happening with Esthan lately has me highly strung..."
01[21:10] <Seira> "I just look at it from a different viewpoint, that's all," Seira elaborates. "Say that using something like this ends up being the difference between wounding Esthan and dealing with him once and for all. Or will let me use one more spell, which will end up mattering and saving another.
01[21:10] <Seira> If I think of it that way, it's strange for me to wait until I can triumph over him normally. In any case! You asked what I had in mind for the next week or two, right?"
06[21:12] * Alicia nods, encouraging Seira to go on.
01[21:14] <Seira> "I have a pretty good idea where a certain sword is sealed, several spells and skills that help with finding and analyzing wards, and the troubling knowledge that Esthan is closing in on it, that it would keep on harming innocent people if left alone, and that I can't just bear it without dying in a matter of months. Therefore, I intend to try and seal it off once more."
[21:15] <Alicia> "Ahh," Alicia nods in dawning understanding. "Sealing it away, or putting it where it can do no harm would be a good idea, yes. So you know where it is, specifically?"
01[21:16] <Seira> "I have a very good idea, and I don't really want to say more until I've used Nondetection for good measure," Seira responds. "I was going to head to Pallanth to talk with Lord Desjardin about this. While petitioning Waukeen for a few answers, she assured me that I could rely on him in this matter."
06[21:18] * Alicia nods again, having grown to respect the old elf over her dealings with him. "Well, if there's anything I can help with on that, let me know. It's not something I want left lying around freely, either."
01[21:18] <Seira> "I was going to try and see him later today. Want to come along, then?"
[21:20] <Alicia> "I'd like some time to catch up with my sister and familiar, since I got back less than an hour ago, but sometime after lunch would suit, yes," Alicia agrees.
01[21:21] <Seira> "You know where to find me," Seira tells Alicia. "If you'd like, I could even delay by a day or two. It's an urgent matter, but not so much that I'd rush off unprepared if a few days would help me along."
[21:31] <Kotono> OOC: So you guys are going to 'port to Pallanth? I'll use your roll way back at the start for this.
[21:31] <Kotono> ---
[21:33] <Kotono> Appearing in Pallanth is wtihout incident. Finding Desjardin is a little more work, requiring some walkinga nd hustle. But eventually you are taken into his presence. He is in grand sitting room, as large as an open field. The ceiling is made of leaves that emit soft sunshine through them. He sits in one of these patches, music floating in the air, it's source unseen.
01[21:34] <Seira> "It's quite the pleasant room," Seira says as they are taken to see him. "Thank you for seeing us on such short notice."
[21:36] <Alicia> "Lord Desjardin," Alicia bows respectfully to the elderly elf, letting Seira handle the talking since she knows what she's actually here to request.
[21:36] <Kotono> "Is it about the Resort?" He asks, "Or what happened as you obtained it?"
01[21:37] <Seira> "Only very indirectly so," Seira responds, alert at his words. "Has there been trouble in Pallanth as the result of all the fey being released from their ancient prison?"
[21:39] <Kotono> "The Council has been more interested in chasing it's own politics," With a cold, bitter snort, "Because the fair lady Gaial eloped with you. There have been...murmurings," he lingers on that word, "Of stranger things. A village that gave into a week of festive celebration spurred on by nothing. Of dancing faeries and will o' the wisps in the moonlight."
[21:40] <Alicia> "At least that all sounds harmless enough," Alicia offers, not wanting to be drawn at all on the subject of Seira's love-life and its political ramifications. "Certainly they deserve a celebration after finally being relieved of their ancient duty."
01[21:41] <Seira> "I'm certain things would calm down soon enough on the festive fey front," Seira responds, studiously ignoring any talk of elopment. "In any case, what we've learned as we got towards the Resort is the reason we are here today."
[21:45] <Kotono> "Go on," Gesturing to Seira, "Speak what is on your mind, then."
01[21:47] <Seira> "I'll get straight to the point, then, Lord Desjardin. It concerns the sword your family helped Talinn the Seeker seal off, once it was no longer needed. During our quest, we've learned that the seal was breaking, and that the devil Esthan was getting close to it. And if that was not enough,
01[21:47] <Seira> the effect of the failing wards was what had corrupted that dragon and lead to the deaths of several elves nearby. We simply cannot leave such a matter unattended."
[21:51] <Kotono> "So that's what was behind that?" With a murmur as he rubs his chin long, "What are you going to do about it?"
01[21:53] <Seira> "Reseal it," Seira says firmly. "Both the heretical Time Magus guarding the Resort and Waukeen herself seem to agree that together, we should be up to the task. With such words, how could we not give it a try?"
06[21:54] * Alicia is here for moral support!
[21:55] <Kotono> "I wish the two of you well then," Desjardin says. "When will you do it?"
01[21:57] <Seira> "As soon as possible, really," Seira admits. "If you cannot spare the time for such a task, Lord Desjardin, would it be possible to have what information you have on the original seal? I figured that if it existed at all, it would be safely with you."
[21:58] <Kotono> "You mean for myself to come as well?" Eyeing Seira now, standing up, "Irregardless of if so, I know little to nothing about it. If I had, perhaps I could have diagnosed the dragon's condition or what happened at Council."
01[21:59] <Seira> "It was an option," Seira admits.
[22:01] <Kotono> "My ancestors did not have much faith in the future. By and large, they seemed to want the past to be forgotten. What they left us was often little to none." Juai Desjardin sighs.
06[22:02] * Seira presents a confident front. "We'll just have to prove them wrong, then! Thank you for your time; we'll get right on that riddle of the seal."
06[22:03] * Alicia diplomatically says nothing about cleaning up their messes. "Well, we'll see what we can do ourselves to unravel it from the start. If nothing else perhaps we can move it to a place it can do no harm."
[22:04] <Kotono> "When it's done, come back to me," he says, and then after a moment, "If you do so, you deserve a reward from Pallanth, and not in the least myself."
01[22:05] <Seira> Any reward is hardly why she'd do this. Seira just nods noncommittally, and waits to be dismissed.
[22:06] <Alicia> "Avoiding another tragedy like with that maddened dragon is paramount," Alicia affirms.
[22:06] <Kotono> After af ew more moments, "You've done more help to Pallanth than our esteemed ancestors or the Gods above. Why a half breed and few humans care so much about us..." He shakes his head there. "For that reason, go and succeeed.
[22:06] <Kotono> "
06[22:07] * Seira is yet again reminded why she doesn't reside in the land of her birth.
[22:09] <Alicia> Normally Alicia would say something nice like 'you'd do the same for us,' but she gets the feeling it wouldn't be welcomed. "We simply want to live in the best world we can," she replies diplomatically. "By your leave," at that she departs.
06[22:09] * Seira bows, and follows after Alicia.
[22:09] <Kotono> "Thank you," he says, and after a pause, "...and for what it's worth, this old elf means it."
06[22:10] * Alicia gives Lord Desjardin one last smile before exiting. "Alright, shall I take us to the hoard chamber or somewhere else?" she asks Seira as she prepares to teleport once outside.
01[22:11] <Seira> "Let's try the main entrance. I would like to start from scratch," Seira requests.
[22:11] <Alicia> "You mean the ravine we landed in the first time?" Alicia clarifies before taking Seira's hand and attempting to teleport there!
[22:11] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully
06[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully and gets 69." [1d100=69]
[22:12] <Alicia> OOC: first teleport is to Elandra's Rest or whatever, seen once I guess, just outside.
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to the mountains
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to the mountains and gets 64." [1d100=64]
[22:15] <Kotono> OOC: Just outside the main entrance, yes?
[22:16] <Alicia> OOC: the junction leading to the big open ravine and the tunnel with the spell shooting riddle about immortal things and one other tunnel that goes I can't remember where
01[22:16] <Seira> OOC: Yep
[22:17] <Kotono> Woosh! On command, Seira and Alicia teleport twice! They appear in the frozen mountain. The cold instantly clings to them, like the grips of a grappling demon. The short air is noticed instantly, breathing becoming a tricky, difficult task.
06[22:18] * Alicia belatedly casts resist energy (cold) on both of them.
01[22:18] <Seira> "I wonder," Seira says, as they appear in the cold mountains, after thanking Alicia for the spell. "I have pretty ears, don't I? Just like any elf's!" She fetches a mirror to observe them critically. "But it's always half-breed this, half-breed that. Because someone I never got to meet was human and gave birth to me. And they all treat it so naturally, like I'm in the wrong if I'm offended by that."
[22:20] <Kotono> The floor is still coated in thick ice, the air still thing. It is much how you remember it, nothing having obviously changed in this ancient, primal place.
[22:21] <Alicia> "Well, it's been my observation that most elves consider themselves innately superior to humans, even if they're nice about it," Alicia shrugs. "They probably see your human half as a failing... although since a dragon could be considered a step up..." she trails off thoughtfully.
01[22:23] <Seira> "Far too many occupy themselves with what's on the outside," Seira grumbles. "I even worry, sometimes, that I should have stayed away from this if I need to keep this disguise going all the time or risk people swear and gape at me."
[22:25] <Alicia> "People don't react that badly to your appearance, for all that red dragons are stereotypical creatures of terror and legend," Alicia offers. "Although I suppose they do stare, at the least. Still, better for them to get used to it than to hide it, surely?"
01[22:26] <Seira> "I'll let you in on a little secret," Seira says, starting to head towards the area she believes holds Arondaaq. "I may not look like it, but I'm actually quite vain, so it bothers me."
[22:30] <Alicia> "Well, Amaryl doesn't seem bothered by your appearance in the slightest," Alicia consoles as she trots alongside Seira. "Isn't that what matters most?"
01[22:31] <Seira> "Pretty much," Seira agrees. "As long as she and you guys are fine, I'll get over it."
[22:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1 aid?
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+1 aid? and gets 11." [1d20=10]
06[22:34] * Seira intends to start searching as soon as she reaches the area where the chill becomes supernatural. By calling upon an extended Detect Magic spell, Lagann's help with metal-detection, be they mechanisms, traps or the actual sword, and is normal senses, as well as help from Alicia and the deck-granted power, she hopes to discover something they overlooked last time.
01[22:34] <Seira> A difference in the magical ambience, a nook, anything that points to the sword they now know indeed resides there.
[22:36] <Kotono> OOC: This will take four hours. Roll a fort save, each of you? I'll tell you to roll another or inform you of a failure and the bad results after the first one.
[22:37] <Alicia> OOC: I'll recast resist energy when relevant
[22:37] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[22:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 24." [1d20=2]
[22:37] <Kotono> OOC: Sorry, read take 10 as take 20. That's only an hour, make one check?
01[22:38] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 32." [1d20=17]
[22:39] <Kotono> The two search away! They find no unusual magic, first of all. As for Lagann, he detects some trace metals in the rocks. Nothing like a sword, just odds and ends and the like. After an hour, you feel poor, the negative energy of the area weakening you with the thin air. Nonetheless, the two heroines endure the worst of it, finishing up in the now treasureless lair. With a collapsed giant statue nearby, the two finish with no obvious leads.
[22:39] <Kotono> With a collapsed giant statue nearby, the two finish with no obvious leads.
01[22:41] <Seira> "Depressing," Seira admits. "I'll need to try again tomorrow. I've thought of using Arcane Eye to start things off."
06[22:42] * Alicia wheezes slightly with every breath but doesn't seem too bothered. "Nothing? Maybe the aura here is something else... anyway, I can teleport us back to Balmuria so we can try again tomorrow in that case."
01[22:42] <Seira> "Let's go with that," Seira agrees dejectedly. "If we get nowhere after a few attempts, I'll try to think of a fresh approach."
[22:43] <Alicia> "Alright," Alicia takes Seira's hand and teleports them to one of the rest stops they used between the Citadel and Elandra's Rest on their first trip here.
[22:43] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully and gets 40." [1d100=40]
[22:43] <Alicia> And from there back to Balmuria!
[22:43] <Alicia> roll 1d100 very familiar, my house
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 very familiar, my house and gets 19." [1d100=19]
[22:44] <Kotono> OOC: You get home and rest up and feel better. Change your spells and let me know when you're good, Seira, and you guys and roll the 'prots back.
01[22:46] <Seira> OOC: I'll only have Nondetection, Greater Resistance, Break Enchantment and TK memorized (the first two precast), the rest would be open slots for later memorization.
[22:48] <Alicia> Today Alicia brings her familiar, leaving Antenora in charge back home and teleporting the group first to the same rest stop as yesterday.
[22:48] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully
06[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully and gets 44." [1d100=44]
[22:48] <Alicia> Then she casts resist energy on herself and Seira to ward off the cold and then teleports to the mountains.
[22:48] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully
06[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully and gets 8." [1d100=8]
[22:50] <Kotono> OOC: Entrance again?
[22:50] <Alicia> OOC: yeah, same as yesterday
[22:50] <Kotono> Woosh! The two women and Marie appear in the mountains! Once again it's cold(Abated!) and thin of air, as if life is not meant to thrive here, but to wither away and die.
01[22:51] <Seira> "We'll try to scout a bit, and if it doesn't work, I'll try just breaching the seal," Seira says. "If that also doesn't work, I have a few spells I want to try out next."
[22:51] <Alicia> "Okay, first thing's first, we never did get past that door," Alicia points to the southwest. "We assumed it was a trap, but even so, Marie can investigate safely." Walking over to the passage without entering, she asks her familiar to go and look on the other side of the door.
[22:51] <Alicia> Marie salutes, turns ethereal, and zips off to do as requested.
01[22:52] <Seira> "Another thing," Seira says once Marie's left. "I have Telepathic Bond available, so we could connect ourselves to her so that we could help if there's any trouble on Marie's end."
[22:53] <Alicia> "Marie, wait!" Alicia calls.
[22:53] <Alicia> Marie stops and flies back, turning corporeal once more. "What is it?"
[22:53] <Alicia> "Seira can set up a telepathic bond so we can stay in contact," Alicia explains. "Go ahead, Seira?"
01[22:53] <Seira> "Or we could do that! Okay, I just need ten minutes...."
01[22:53] <Seira> OOC: Preparing it, then casting on us three.
[22:54] <Kotono> The casting goes without incident.
[22:54] <Alicia> 'Don't think anything naughty!' Marie titters before turning incorporeal and going to see what's past the door.
[22:55] <Kotono> Marie flies down the corridor! On reaching the door, she pokes through! She finds out that behind is nothing but a trap mechanism. No passage seems to rest behind the locked, obvious door.
01[22:55] <Seira> 'Do I seem like a person who does that a lot?' Seira wonders.
[22:56] <Alicia> She flies back. 'I was talking to Alicia,' she reassures Seira, before speaking aloud. "Anyway, nothing there but some gears and junk flush with the door. Looks like your first guess was right."
01[22:58] <Seira> "I studied it with quite the overwhelming amount of time and magic," Seira confirms. "But Alicia is right, too, it was very much worth a check. Let's try the dangerous area next? I could cast, umm, Heroism on you to help with that."
06[22:59] * Seira blinks. "I think it works with Greater Resistance, too, so that would help even more."
[23:00] <Alicia> "Help me with what?" Marie asks curiously. "Are there other doors?"
01[23:00] <Seira> "Possible effects from being near the sword, if they extend into your ethereal form? It was forged with divine inspiration, after all, so who knows."
[23:02] <Alicia> "If it's magic it can affect me," Marie nods. "Just... not all the time. It's like flipping a coin," she shrugs. "Lead on?"
06[23:03] * Seira nods. "There is only a certain part of these caverns that reeks of death magic, right? Since we can't find anything, the next logical step is to check the walls, ground and ceiling around that section. Can you look for evil or magic and such?"
06[23:04] * Seira gets Lagann out into the open. "You could also take this guy along. He's really nice, now, and maybe he'll get a feel for the sword if you get near it."
[23:05] <Alicia> Marie nods before looking at the stabby ball of hate. "I'm not sure if I can - any objects I carry vanish when I turn incorporeal, and creatures just drop right through me."
01[23:06] <Seira> "Worst case, he'll just reappear when you return, right? Lagann won't be upset over that."
[23:07] <Alicia> "You're sure he won't stab me?" Marie seems a bit hesitant. "I've got a lot of sharp metal objects in my quiver..."
01[23:07] <Seira> "He promised he wouldn't stab my friends when I asked a few weeks ago."
[23:08] <Alicia> "Okay. Cast your other spells on me first?" Marie asks.
06[23:08] * Seira calls upon the pearl to cast the Greater Resistance spell, and takes a bit of time to memorize and cast Heroism.
[23:09] <Alicia> Duly empowered, Marie flitters a bit closer and struggles to wrap her arms around the metal sphere that's as big as she is, wings fluttering madly to keep herself afloat as she holds on tightly before turning incorporeal!
06[23:10] * Seira is ready to catch Lagann if this doesn't work!
[23:10] <Kotono> Marie's arrows shake slightly, but no stabbing doom comes to immediately claim her.
[23:14] <Kotono> Marie vanishes, Lagann drops, as does her gear and clothing!
06[23:14] * Seira catches Lagann, raising an eyebrow. "Huh."
[23:15] <Alicia> Alicia blinks. "Marie?"
[23:15] <Alicia> "Hey!" Marie bobs in the air in a semblance of confusion. "That's never happened before!"
01[23:16] <Seira> "Should we feel honored to be witnessing a historical event?" Seira asks with a smirk.
[23:17] <Alicia> "Not funny!" Marie protests, blinking back into her humanoid form in all her perky glory, proving that purple is her natural colour. She then dives down to recover her clothes which are quickly shucked on before she turns incorporeal again.
[23:18] <Kotono> Marie's clothing once again decides her natural chaotic glory is not to be denied, falling right off. Lucky for Seira, maybe?
06[23:18] * Seira turns towards Alicia. "It's a tiny bit funny, though, isn't it?"
[23:18] <Alicia> "It's alarming more than anything else... why didn't that happen a minute ago?" Alicia asks in confusion.
[23:19] <Alicia> "Grrr!" Marie growls cutely despite lacking lips right now. "Just... just hold onto my stuff, Alicia. We'll figure it out when we get home."
06[23:20] * Seira shrugs. "Beats me. Want to try this another day and return to Balmuria? Maybe Elle could figure it out."
06[23:20] * Alicia dutifully bends over to pick up Marie's items. "Do you feel okay otherwise?"
[23:22] <Alicia> "I'm fine... I think," Marie returns. "Lets just get this over with, can we?"
01[23:22] <Seira> "Sure thing. Let us know if there's a problem, and we'll blast the wall apart coming after you, if we have to!"
[23:23] <Alicia> "Where do you want me to search, anyway?" asks the disgruntled eladrin.
01[23:24] <Seira> "All over. It might be best if you just went into the rock and back again, on straight lines, to not get lost."
[23:24] <Alicia> "Okay... I'll do that now." With that Marie drops straight down through the floor, dropping down sixty feet unless she encounters anything strange, then she retreats back up to rejoin the other two.
[19:03] <Kowork> OOC: That dropdown search first, where was it? Back in that entire trapped hall or right in the entryway where you're standing?
01[19:03] <Seira> OOC: In the -2 con area
[19:03] <Alicia> OOC: right in the entryway
[19:03] <Alicia> OOC; what seira said
03[19:03] * Kowork is now known as Kotono
[19:04] <Kotono> OOC: So let me get this straight. You're going sixty feet down and 15 feet in walls?
01[19:05] <Seira> OOC: I think we changed the 15ft to 60ft. She'd ideally go down the 60, then go back up. Then go right 60, then back. Etc, to complete a circle.
[19:05] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:05] <Alicia> OOC: yeah, we're doing this now
[19:09] <Kotono> Thus, Marie goes searching! The first parts are mundane and of no interest. The caves and the chasm both reveal little of note. As you get closer to the lair, Marie's search not having turned anything up yet...OOC: MAke a fort save, you guys.
[19:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 A
06[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 A and gets 35." [1d20=14]
[19:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 M
06[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 M and gets 11." [1d20=1]
01[19:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 20." [1d20=5]
[19:10] <Alicia> OOC: 50% chance of affecting Marie if she's incorporeal? (if it's magic)
[19:10] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 47." [1d100=47]
[19:12] <Kotono> As you search near the defeated, Polar Ray shooting statue, there is a ripple in the air. Alicia is able to defend herself, spirit long used to these sort of attacks! Marie is missed by pure fiat chance, but Seira shudders! She feels utterly drained, exhausted! The walls and air itself seems to thin further, losing color and luster. OOC: You're exhausted, Seira.
[19:13] <Alicia> "There's nothing here but ice and rock," Marie observes as she returns from a foray into the wall.
01[19:14] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
06[19:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 35." [1d20=13]
06[19:16] * Seira slumps, using Alicia to keep herself upright. "Time to try and break the enchantment?" she suggests, staring at the statue balefully.
[19:17] <Alicia> "You want me to try dispelling it?" Alicia clarifies as she offers her shoulder to Seira. "That didn't have much affect when it was stretched across the tundra and I tried it there."
01[19:18] <Seira> "No, I'm thinking of trying the actual spell myself. If something bad happens, get us out?"
06[19:18] * Seira shrugs lethargically. "It breaks curses, doesn't it? Worth a shot."
[19:19] <Alicia> "Okay. Marie, come here?" Alicia beckons her familiar over, who turns corporeal and parks her naked bottom on top of Alicia's head as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Luckily Alicia can't see anything, and by force of habit doesn't think anything untoward is occuring as she prepared to teleport them out if needed.
06[19:21] * Seira tries Break Enchantment on the off chance it would actually do anything!
[19:22] <Kotono> Seira casts break enchantment! Seira doesn't feel any better after invoking it.
01[19:23] <Seira> "This curse is so unfair," Seira mutters, invoking Heroism. She follows it up with Arcane Sight, taking her time, before trying to study the freaky necromantic death pattern.
01[19:23] <Seira> OOC: Spellcraft, taking 10 +1 ignorance for 35?
[19:24] <Kotono> OOC: Isn't that the exact same result you rolled a few lines ago?
[19:24] <Alicia> "Maybe it's a red herring?" Marie wonders, turning incorporeal once more and floating around idly.
01[19:26] <Seira> OOC: That was to tell what happened to me, now I'm trying to basically analyze it like I did the Sharran portal.
06[19:40] * Seira blinks. "What if... there is a sliver in the sword's prison?" she theorizes. "Just a tiny one, so it projects its death energy at this section of the lair. To be certain, we should look at the magic just outside the mountain, about the same height and location as the death aura."
[19:50] <Alicia> "You mean like a light from a lighthouse?" Alicia asks uncertainly. "But where would it be projecting from?"
06[19:52] * Seira nods. "It would be a very good analogy," Seira agrees. "I originally considered such a possibility unlikely since the entire lair would surely have been caught in it, as well as other reasons... but what if it's a very focused beam? Then, we could calculate a rough trajectory, and check both directions. We'll just draw a line between both affected walls in the tunnel and extend them outwards."
[19:53] <Alicia> "Alright, I think I get what you mean," Alicia nods, pausing a moment to cast Fly on herself. "So we want to check the exterior and then track it back to its source."
01[19:55] <Seira> "Yep! Even if I can't help with bypassing any traps it might have in my present condition, my mind's still as sharp! I could help you find it, at the very least!"
[19:56] <Alicia> "We can always come back later once we know where to look," Alicia decides as she starts to head back to the ravine exposed to air and then fly up and over to check the near side of the mountain's exterior.
[19:57] <Kotono> OOC: You guys are going to walk bac to the main entrance and fly out, basically>
06[19:57] * Seira follows as best she can in her state.
[19:57] <Alicia> OOC: sure, yeah
[19:57] <Alicia> Marie follows along as well, chipper as ever.
[19:58] <Kotono> The thin air burns at your lungs as you walk back out. Despite the dizziness that follows, the party returns to the icy floor of the lair's entrance without incident. OOC: This puts you out of the -2 con zone for now, adjust HPa ccordingly.
[20:01] <Alicia> And the party continues onwards on their previously planned course to check the mountain exterior.
01[20:02] <Seira> Picking one of the two possible direction at random by flipping a coin, Seira decides to check that one first.
06[20:02] * Alicia was going to go for the nearest, but defers to Seira's expert judgement and reasoning.
06[20:03] * Seira believes Waukeen would guide her to their destination!
[20:03] <Kotono> The flight up without incident. The sky is breathtakingly blue and clear today, not a single cloud in the sky. They ascend over the latest cluster of peaks, flying on and down. On the far side, this set of peaks generally descends down for a time, a relative valley below. OOC: Could all of you make spot checks here?
01[20:03] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 24." [1d20=11]
[20:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
06[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 A and gets 26." [1d20=19]
[20:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 M
06[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 M and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[20:04] <Alicia> OOC: +2 for Marie
[20:07] <Alicia> "There looks to be something strange over in that valley," Alicia points down, "Hard to tell, but it looks like something unnatural sticking out of the rock. That might be worth investigating once we've checked the mountainside."
01[20:08] <Seira> "Great!" Seira agrees. "More clues already. That's pretty nice."
06[20:09] * Alicia decides to stuff Marie's belongings in the portable hole as she flies down the mountainside, since she's getting sick of carrying them and Marie is staying incorporeal for now.
[20:10] <Kotono> As you continue to ascend down, it happens. With a sagging chill, the mountainside's air seems to thin. Your bodies feel numb, weakened. The aura of necromancy has returned. You are descending down the far side - nothing is immediately different here at all. Just more jagged upturning rock.
[20:12] <Alicia> "Lets see if we can work out if its at an angle?" Alicia suggests. "You stay here and I'll move a bit away from the mountain, then we can both move up and down together to work out its angle if it stops affecting one of us?"
01[20:13] <Seira> "You've read my mind," Seira agrees, not minding remaining in the deathly aura since she was already caught in it.
06[20:13] * Alicia and Marie fly two hundred feet away from the mountain. She then points up and starts ascending until the aura ceases to affect her.
06[20:14] * Seira follows at a far more lethargic pace.
[20:15] <Kotono> Doing this, the group finds that the aura is less an angle and more of a spreading circular radius. It's width and range spread out, a defininte curve to it found. The far end of the circle slices into the mountain and the dragon's lair. Below, it would logically engulf all of the ground, including the odd things Seira saw. OOC: I'm also ruling it's been about an hour now, Alicia. Make a fort save, you two? Seira, you're already exhausted,
[20:15] <Kotono> OOC: I'm also ruling it's been about an hour now, Alicia. Make a fort save, you two? Seira, you're already exhausted, so this won't make you any worse for now.
01[20:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 29." [1d20=14]
[20:16] <Kotono> OOC: By you two, I emant Alicia and Marie.
[20:16] <Kotono> OOC: Since Seira's already exhausted.
[20:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 A
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 A and gets 22." [1d20=1]
[20:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 M incorporeal
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 M incorporeal and gets 34." [1d20=19]
[20:16] <Kotono> The work gets to Alicia. She feels tired and exhausted, fatigue catching up to her inevintably.
06[20:17] * Alicia wheezes softly with each breath, but continues with the task at hand. This shouldn't take long, and once they have a direction they can make a fresh start in the morning.
[20:18] <Alicia> "I'm a bit tired, but lets see if we can investigate those strange objects on the ground before we return?" Alicia suggests as she flies back to rejoin Seira. Being at a lower altitude would be nice, anyway.
01[20:18] <Seira> "Alright," Seira agrees. "Think that strange spot in the valley is the epicenter?"
[20:19] <Alicia> "I'm not certain, but we can test that theory tomorrow if we don't actually find anything today," Alicia shrugs as she starts to fly down.
06[20:20] * Seira descends slower, letting Alicia take the lead.
[20:24] <Kotono> Alicia flies down! About 500 feet from the ground, the aura grows worse, more debilitating. Her vision swims, body shaking. Below, you can see that it looks like crumbled, ancient, huge tents of a sort, far bigger than what humans might use. But you also see no activity down there, many of the tents downed or ripped or forgotten. OOC: -3 con modifier now instead of -2, Alicia hits it first since she's at point.
06[20:25] * Alicia promptly retreats back up, swaying dizzily. "It gets worse. We should come back with protection against negative energy," she suggests to Seira, eager to go home and rest.
01[20:25] <Seira> "Rest sounds good. Let's go for it, then."
[20:26] <Alicia> Marie alights nudely on Alicia's head as she returns to physical form, and the paladin takes Seira's hand before teleporting them all to the road between the Citadel and Elandra's Rest...
[20:26] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 99." [1d100=99]
[20:26] <Alicia> OOC: similar area, since that was studied carefully
[20:27] <Kotono> Woosh! With a jarring sensation, you stand on a chunk of road. Nothing immediate is happening: Looks pretty dull. Road is road is road is road, even if it's not the road you were looking for.
06[20:28] * Alicia doesn't even stick around long enough to check, simply assuming she had it right and attempting to teleport to her house in Balmuria.
[20:28] <Alicia> roll 1d100 very familiar assuming we're within 1500 miles, else it becomes a false destination
06[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 very familiar assuming we're within 1500 miles, else it becomes a false destination and gets 11." [1d100=11]
[20:30] <Kotono> Woosh! Alicia and company appear at Alicia's house once more. It's very pleasant here. It's warm, it's alive, Dawnhope is screaming bloody murder to an amused Antenora, the former keeping her dignity with her arms. You know, same old same old home.
01[20:31] <Seira> "Until tomorrow," Seira bids Marie and Alicia, staggering back towards her own place.
[20:31] <Alicia> "Did it happen to you as well?!" the naked Marie asks as she flies off Alicia's head towards Dawnhope.
[20:31] <Alicia> "Uh... bye," Alicia waves to Seira, not liking the way things are developing at home.
[20:31] <Kotono> "Oh it's terrible!" Dawnhope whimpers, "And she's thinking it's funny and won't give me my clothes back!"
[20:33] <Alicia> "What if it's happened to all eladrin?!" Marie wails as Alicia sighs and takes out her familiar's belongings from the portable hole and puts them on the table. "I heard once that the Yugoloths found a way to stop all the devils and demons from teleporting! What if someone's targetting us the same way?!"
[20:33] <Alicia> "Targetting you by making your clothes fall off?" Alicia asks dryly.
[20:34] <Kotono> Antenora chuckles as she passes over the clothes without incident. "Clearly, th e forces of Sune and Sharess are waging a BITTER campaign against the clothed state of coure eladrins. Excuse me now." Nearly laughing, but not quite, Antenora nods to Alicia and walks away.
[20:34] <Alicia> "I promise Marie, we'll... look into it, once things with that sword are settled," Alicia placates her familiar before joining Antenora in retreat.
[20:35] <Kotono> Dawnhope quickly dresses, "It really isn't fair? What if Marie's right! I need to look into it? Let's do that, Marie?"
[20:35] <Kotono> What happens there is anyone's guess, but the next day, after resting up, the three gather once more. OOC: What are your preps here?
[20:36] <Alicia> OOC: two, Marie's work is done
[20:36] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[20:38] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to rest stop studied carefully
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to rest stop studied carefully and gets 43." [1d100=43]
[20:38] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to amongst those tents, seen once
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to amongst those tents, seen once and gets 79." [1d100=79]
[20:38] <Kotono> OOC: Off target.
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 8." [1d10=8]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 9." [1d10=9]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 3." [1d9=3]
[20:43] <Kotono> Woosh! It's...not so cold here? It's chilly but not cold. You stand on hilly ground, a wind from further east bringing inevitable, steady warmth. To your west lie mountains beyond any ken, seen and familiar in a way, like the eastern mountans of the tundra. Ahead of you lies hilly lands, warmer hilly lands. Sparse trees decorate them, an untamed wilderness as far as the eye can see.
06[20:44] * Seira gets a good look. She might return here to explore, one day!
[20:44] <Alicia> "I... overshot?" Alicia blinks and looks around briefly. "Well, now we know what's on the other side, but lets not delay while we're warded." She then tries to teleport back.
[20:44] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 51." [1d100=51]
[20:45] <Kotono> OOC: Aiming at the tents or above them?
[20:45] <Alicia> OOC: the ground about 50 feet from them
[20:46] <Kotono> You now stand in the air once more, flying. The negative aura buffers you, weakening you once more. (-3 con is in effect.) You stand above ancient tents, nature having done much to weather away the giant structures. Yet several of them remain, like a campsight placed in this inhospitable mountain.
[20:47] <Kotono> OOC: Sorry, forgot about Death Ward. No con lossf or now.
[20:47] <Alicia> "Lets look around while we have the time?" Alicia suggests, walking over to the nearest intact tent to look inside.
01[20:48] <Seira> "Do you mind checking for magic while we're here?" Seira requests of Alicia. "I only have the one charge of the spell." She does agrees to searching through the ancient tents.
06[20:48] * Alicia obligingly casts detect magic. "Surely strong necromantic?" she murmurs.
[20:49] <Kotono> Alicia enters the first tent. Inside, she finds it's abandoned and empty. Pots and animalskin bags lie here, far, far oversized. Most of them are drawn tight or lidded, but some of the bags have developed holes. From one, hunks of metal ore spill out. From another, salt lies in a puddle on the ground around it.
01[20:50] <Seira> "I figure the wards might have abjuration or conjuration, and there might be something else of note," Seira explains, asking Lagann to keep a tab of the metals found nearby.
[20:51] <Alicia> "A giant camp?" Alicia wonders, pausing to soak in the magical auras and identify them. If she can. It's not really her forte.
[20:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 10." [1d20=3]
06[20:52] * Seira nods to herself, doing a customary search through the tent as Alicia looks at the magical side of things.
[20:52] <Alicia> "Strong magic, but I was never too good at telling the schools apart," Alicia apologises, going to search the next tent.
01[20:52] <Seira> OOC: 10 for 35
[20:53] <Kotono> The next tent has several cradles large as a full grown man. One of them as a skeleton lying in it, it's body smashed savagely and mostly reduced to powder. The sides of that cradle are broken and shattered. The other cradles are intact and empty.
06[20:53] * Seira will keep with the mundane searches alongside Lagann for now. She could always take a look at the auras Alicia discovers afterwards.
[20:53] <Kotono> Seira finds that this was perhaps storage. Salt, various non precious rocks, animal furs, sealed jars of frozen water, a bag with gold and silver ore, primitive and oversized tools, that sort of thing.
[20:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+2 knowledge nature, can I id the giant type from the skeleton?
06[20:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+2 knowledge nature, can I id the giant type from the skeleton? and gets 20." [1d20=18]
[20:54] <Kotono> The furs are somewhat decayed and rotted, though they were well kept and thus not totally gone.
01[20:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+16 nature!
06[20:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 nature! and gets 20." [1d20=4]
[20:55] <Alicia> "Frost giants," Alicia tells Seira, continuing to search the tents in sequence.
06[20:55] * Seira nods in agreement, following.
[20:56] <Kotono> The next tent looks to have been a religious center of sorts. A statue fo the Frostmaiden Auril is here, crudely carved out of stone. Her features are exaggerated, the entire thing well overscaled. A band of blue ice like a dagger shaped lightning bolt resides in her hand.
[20:56] <Kotono> Seira searches the second tent, finding little of interest besides the cradles. However, the cradles has writing on the sides. OOC: What languages can you speak?
01[20:57] <Seira> OOC: Common, Elven, Draconic, Sylvan, Orc, Celestial, Gnome, Dwarven, Abyssal, Infernal, Aquan, Ignan, Auran, Terran
[20:57] <Kotono> OOC: Make an int check?
01[20:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+10 okay
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+10 okay and gets 29." [1d20=19]
06[20:58] * Alicia examines the dagger for a moment - is it a sculpted part of the statue or is it a seperate item? And is it magic?
06[20:59] * Seira copies the script, her hand quite steady as she writes the names down on a scroll, before moving on.
[21:02] <Kotono> The dagger is made of ice and not a part of the statue, but fitted into Auril's stony grip. It radiates no magic. As Alicia examines it, Seira searches the room. Hidden at the foot of the statue's back lies animal furs, writing enscribed into them like crude scrolls.
01[21:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+17 architecture
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 architecture and gets 20." [1d20=3]
[21:03] <Alicia> Auril already hates Alicia, but Alicia isn't so petty as to trash her statue when it's been sitting idly here for who knows how many hundreds of years. Moving on, she continues searching the tents one after the other.
06[21:03] * Seira copies them onto the same scroll, noting carefully which lines came from which tent, and follows. She leaves the search for metals to Lagann, as usual.
[21:04] <Kotono> The next few are more or less empty, nothing of note. Three later, as the tents to search find down, Alicia finds a room lined with animal furs. Each fur has verses written in an unknown tongue on it, as if banded together they tell a great tale. Lagann finds no metals of note in that or any of the rooms, including the current room.
06[21:05] * Seira opts to inscribe them as well, rushing herself a bit, before moving onwards.
06[21:06] * Alicia wishes she's brought Marie along, now, but sees that Seira is transcribing the writings so she goes to search the remaining tents.
[21:06] <Kotono> One other tent is without incident. The last tent is full of broken items and weapons and armor, all crude and alls hattered beyond repair.
01[21:07] <Seira> "Alright," Seira declares. "Let me take a look at the magic, now?"
06[21:07] * Alicia stops at the entrance to this tent. "Something's... wrong, here," she intones, checking for evil within as she shudders.
06[21:07] * Seira casts Detect Magic!
[21:09] <Alicia> "It's in the rubble, something buried... it's evil," Alicia warns Seira as she steps forward and uses Hell Striker to sweep away much of the junk around the source of the aura.
06[21:10] * Seira takes a look for evil, herself, staying alert.
[21:13] <Kotono> As Alicia sweeps the junk around, there is a dreadful howling, like the gust of a winter blizzard! In words Alicia can't understand(Seira, make an int check), furious anger is vented! Shimmering, pale blue and ghostly, the image of a vast frost giant appears! It wears crude, heavy full plate armor and carries a frost hissing axe in it's hands! It's apperance shakes you utterly, as...OOC: Fort saves, you two.
01[21:14] <Seira> roll 1d20+10 int
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+10 int and gets 18." [1d20=8]
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 34." [1d20=10]
01[21:14] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 fort
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 fort and gets 35." [1d20=16]
[21:14] <Kotono> Despite it's visage, an apperance of nightmares and terror, the two women stand brave and true! A moment later...OOC: Initiative. Whatever it is, it's -not- fucking friendly. At all.
[21:14] <Alicia> OOC: if it's a summon it can make a DC 20 will save or gtfo
[21:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[21:15] <Kotono> OOC: It's not.
[21:15] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 19." [1d20=14]
01[21:15] <Seira> "We didn't do it!" Seira protests in Aquan.
01[21:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 8." [1d20=2]
03[21:15] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia>????>Seira'
[21:16] <Alicia> OOC: what creature type is it?
[21:17] <Kotono> OOC: Use K:R.
[21:17] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 knowledge devotion and basic info
06[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 knowledge devotion and basic info and gets 16." [1d20=4]
[21:19] <Alicia> "A ghost?" Alicia decides to see if her blade can touch it, rushing forward to slash at the giant's mid-section!
[21:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 -9pa
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 -9pa and gets 30." [1d20=12]
[21:20] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 57." [1d100=57]
[21:20] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[21:20] <Alicia> roll 1d8+32+2d6+1d6+1d8
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+32+2d6+1d6+1d8 and gets 54." [1d8=5][2d6=2, 5][1d6=4][1d8=6]
[21:22] <Kotono> Alicia's blade slams into the howling giant, ripping into it's ghostly stomach! If this slows it much, it doesn't seem to notice! It swings it's ethereal axe in a fury at Alicia!
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 (-3 PA)
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 (-3 PA) and gets 29." [1d20=2]
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 28." [1d20=6]
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 22." [1d20=5]
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 13." [1d20=1]
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 4#1d100
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4#1d100 and gets 257." [4#1d100 = 84, 33, 70, 70]
[21:23] <Kotono> OOC: AC without armor, Alicia?
[21:24] <Alicia> OOC: 15 touch AC, 20 if natural armour is counted
[21:24] <Kotono> OOC: Second fails to get through it's own incorpreality, so two hits.
[21:24] <Kotono> roll 3d6+24 (Omitting cold damage)
[21:24] <Kotono> roll 3d6+24 (Omitting cold damage)
06[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d6+24 (Omitting cold damage) and gets 39." [3d6=5, 5, 5]
06[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d6+24 (Omitting cold damage) and gets 29." [3d6=1, 1, 3]
[21:25] <Kotono> One axe blow passes through Alicia like water and does no harm, and another misses! But two are real enough, cutting and hacking into her with a bloody fury! OOC: Seira.
01[21:26] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 32." [1d20=19]
06[21:30] * Seira doesn't waste time calling upon Stoneskin upon seeing the effect the ghost's axe had on Alicia's body. She moves to a superior spot, drawing the Resort, and gestures at the ghost, calling upon a boosted cone of fire!
01[21:30] <Seira> roll 18d6 fire?!
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 18d6 fire?! and gets 55." [18d6=2, 2, 5, 4, 1, 6, 2, 5, 3, 2, 2, 6, 3, 3, 2, 2, 4, 1]
01[21:30] <Seira> roll 1d100 hit?
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 hit? and gets 52." [1d100=52]
[21:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 DC, Seira?
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 DC, Seira? and gets 24." [1d20=11]
01[21:31] <Seira> OOC: Ref 25, haha, go go domain spells
[21:31] <Kotono> The fire burns through the ghost, the tent aflame! Fire burns around you, shedding heat! This tent is old and looks to be VERY FLAMMABLE! Flames are running about it with a quickness, some of the rubble on the ground burning! Smoke begins to fill the air! OOC: 'licia.
06[21:32] * Alicia decides it's time to buy some room and backflips away from the giant before fleeing out of the tent and casting mirror image!
03[21:32] * miseryballosheadache (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-208-166.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has left #evildunes
[21:33] <Alicia> roll 1d4+5
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+5 and gets 8." [1d4=3]
03[21:33] * miseryballosheadache (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-208-166.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
01[21:33] <Seira> roll 1d10+10 forgot to roll the precast F:
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 forgot to roll the precast F: and gets 15." [1d10=5]
[21:33] <Kotono> Alicia hurries out, avoiding the smoke and fire! The giant roars in utter anger at Seira, before charging her dead on, one overwhelming assault!
[21:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 (+7 smite good, -12 PA)
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 (+7 smite good, -12 PA) and gets 33." [1d20=8]
[21:34] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 25." [1d100=25]
[21:34] <Kotono> The blow is enough to cleave a mountain apart, but the axe passes through Seira as if it wasn't even there, doing no harm! OOC: Seira.
06[21:35] * Seira strikes back herself with the Resort, before breathing yet more fire at the bloodthirsty giant and flipping out of reach towards the outside and Alicia!
01[21:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+22 smite
06[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 smite and gets 28." [1d20=6]
[21:36] <Kotono> OOC: d100.
01[21:36] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 80." [1d100=80]
[21:36] <Kotono> OOC: Damage.
01[21:36] <Seira> roll 3d8+11+6d8
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+11+6d8 and gets 51." [3d8=5, 1, 7][6d8=8, 4, 4, 4, 1, 6]
01[21:37] <Seira> roll 8d8+2d8 fire+holy breath
06[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 8d8+2d8 fire+holy breath and gets 53." [8d8=8, 5, 2, 7, 3, 6, 4, 3][2d8=7, 8]
01[21:37] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 99." [1d100=99]
01[21:37] <Seira> OOC: Save 23
[21:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 20." [1d20=7]
01[21:37] <Seira> roll 1d20+17 tumble away~
06[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 tumble away~ and gets 25." [1d20=8]
[21:38] <Kotono> Seira tumbles out of the tent, as the ghost shudders and ripples away! It's gone, as the tent catches aflame and burns like a piece of paper in the pits of Hell! OOC: Free act.
06[21:39] * Seira quicky douses the edges of the fire with summoned water, to avoid the rest of the camp catching fire as well. "So it's been dispelled for a while," she tells Alicia. "Seems like the only way to put it to rest is to take care of what lead to this state, and he yelled something about daring to slaughter his home."
[21:40] <Alicia> "Well... that was unexpected," Alicia relents a bit, looking to see if the evil aura is there. "This must have happened hundreds of years ago... would the ones responsible even still be alive?"
01[21:41] <Seira> "I was thinking more of taking the corpse back with us and interning it on hallowed ground," Seira elaborates. "If last rights are read to it, it might be enough?"
[21:42] <Alicia> "They worshipped Auril. Do you know any of her clergy who'd actually care to help?" Alicia asks, raising an eyebrow as she backs away from the pungent smoke of ancient burning tent.
01[21:42] <Seira> "No, but I'm pretty sure I could find someone who doesn't like her and can make sure the ghost won't return," Seira muses.
06[21:45] * Alicia belatedly heals herself. "How would they ensure it doesn't return? He doesn't seem as easy to convince as the last ghost we met."
01[21:46] <Seira> "Asking the clergy of Selune might help," Seira muses. "It's not like we can do anything right away, I suppose. Did you see any distinct magical auras here besides the necromancy?"
[21:46] <Kotono> The tent burns, collapsing soon and making a bonfire of sorts.
06[21:47] * Seira heals Alicia herself, as well.
[21:47] <Alicia> "Why Selune?" Alicia asks uncertainly, before shaking her head, "No I couldn't pick out any auras. But I mean if any deity besides Auril were to care about this ghost, wouldn't it be Kelemvor?"
01[21:47] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 23." [3d8=2, 2, 4]
01[21:48] <Seira> "Whatever works," Seira agrees. "Let's take the precious metals along, and head somewhere where we can decypher the writings in peace?"
[21:50] <Alicia> "Before that I want to see what the source of that evil aura was - it's still there, just fainter," Alicia replies, casting resist energy again to protect herself from heat and wading into the ruins to find the source.
06[21:51] * Seira comes close enough for Lagann's detection range, and pin-points the aura for him, asking whether he sense anything from there.
[21:52] <Kotono> OOC: Where exactly are you going, Seira? With Alicia into the tent ruins?
01[21:53] <Seira> OOC: Detect Metal ranges 30ft, right? I want to spot the aura of evil with DE, and come within 30ft of it.
[21:53] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[21:54] <Kotono> Between detect evil and Lagann, the two are able to pinpoint the place in question. 10 feet down into the cold ground(Not so frozen thanks to the inferno you're surrounded by, it's embers finishing up now.), as if buried.
[21:56] <Alicia> "There must be a hollow, otherwise I wouldn't be able to detect it through so much dirt," Alicia tells Seira, clearing away some of the debris and then stabbing Hell Striker through the ground directly above the aura source, and jostling it around a bit to loosen the surrounding earth.
06[21:57] * Seira observes the proceeds, switching to focus on her magical sight.
[21:57] <Kotono> Ripping into the ground, Alicia finds that there is indeed a hollow. Resting in the ground is an old skeleton, a lareg axe still in it's grip. It's body still wears crude plate armor. An old cloak, decorated with eagle's feathers, sits on it's shoulders and covers it's skull and face.
[21:59] <Alicia> "Look familiar?" Alicia wonders aloud, digging a bit more of the earth away so she can hopefully see the source of the vile aura.
[21:59] <Kotono> The aura comes from the skeleton itself. It's about the same size as the ghost you just fought, more or less.
01[22:00] <Seira> "Nothing reads as magical, so he must already be inbued with this horrible aura rather than keep on drawing upon it."
01[22:00] <Seira> *imbued
06[22:00] * Alicia hums thoughtfully, and is then surrounded by a shimmering aura of white energy before she taps the skull to discharge the holy power into it.
[22:00] <Alicia> OOC: Dispel Evil
01[22:01] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 31." [1d20=18]
[22:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 22." [1d20=9]
[22:01] <Kotono> OOC: DC?
[22:02] <Alicia> OOC: 23
[22:03] <Kotono> The skull crumbles into dust at Alicia's touch. Much of the skeleton does the same, breaking apart, as if the years catch up to it all at once. However, Alicia can see that the faint evil continues to taint this place.
[22:05] <Alicia> "What?" Alicia takes a step back. "I... didn't expect that to happen," she admits. "Why would the corpse crumble but the aura remain? It should've been the other way around..."
01[22:06] <Seira> "For what it's worth, I think we need to resolve whatever issued it had in life and his frustration in death before it could be destroyed for good," Seira says with a shrug. "Hopefully this would put it down long enough."
[22:08] <Alicia> "Exorcism would be better. I can't imagine anything he cared about however many centuries ago has any relevance today," Alicia decides. "Regarless it seems like this is irrelevant to the sword we seek."
01[22:09] <Seira> "I'm somewhat tempted to ask you to blast a hole through the wreckage of this tent. What we seek could be below... but it's probably best to avoid something like that until we've decyphered the writings on the furs, isn't it?"
[22:11] <Alicia> "Lets go home and investigate that angle, then," Alicia nods and backs out of the ruined tent, wiping her feet in the snow to get the ash off. "Ready?"
06[22:11] * Seira gathers all that drew her interest, and nods. "Sure!"
06[22:12] * Alicia teleports them back to the roadside rest stop!
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[22:12] <Alicia> And then to Seira's inn!
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 14." [1d100=14]
[22:14] <Kotono> You appear at Seira's inn without incident. As you appear, blessed warmth once again embracing you. Seira's backyard has a fair bit going on - Amaryl and Pollyanna are there, shooting at targets set up! Seira appears just as a pair of arrows whizz by her, one going by her left ear and one by the right!
[22:15] <Alicia> "Gyah! Didn't think it was in use!" Alicia exclaims, ducking down.
01[22:15] <Seira> "It's okay," she says, not in any hurry to get out of the way. "Fire can't hurt me and I have Stoneskin. I'm sure it'll be fine!"
[22:15] <Kotono> A flaming arrow gets Alicia where he head was a moment ago, the narrowest sort of miss! "S-Seira!" Amaryl yelps! "Gaaah! Duck! We're practicing out here!"
[22:16] <Kotono> Pollyanna winces, "Sorry, sorry! I didn't get you, did I, Alicia?"
06[22:16] * Seira laughs, approaching the pair of archers. "That's one of the more exciting greetings I got in a while!"
06[22:17] * Alicia pats her head as she stands up and quickly strides out of the firing line. "Just missed. Lucky I was warded against flame or I might've been singed... I didn't think anyone would be here."
[22:17] <Kotono> "That's why we're practicing here," Amaryl colors bright. "Seira, how was it out east?"
01[22:18] <Seira> "Cold. How are the goblin recruits? All those arrows flying around made me think of that affair, for some reason."
[22:19] <Kotono> "They're doing alright. I'm off duty today, so," Putting her bow up, "Why don't we go inside and talk, at least?"
01[22:19] <Seira> "So who was winning, before we showed up?" Seira asks curiously as she starts heading inside.
[22:25] <Kotono> OOC: What's your setup for the next day?
01[22:26] <Seira> OOC: I'll cast Extended Heroism on myself and Alicia, and presume she uses cold res, then we'll teleport to the mountain and go east~
[22:26] <Alicia> OOC: since fighting looks in the offing I'll bring Marie and Anty, we'll teleport to say five hundred yards to the east of the camp and keep waking from there
[22:28] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, so Amaryl, Marie and Antenora. Make sure they're in the #elysium topic? Heroism on those two, and cold res on everyone?
01[22:28] <Seira> OOC: I'll use the second extended Heroism on Amaryl, actually. You don't mind, Alicia?
[22:28] <Alicia> OOC: got to look out for your girlfriend I guess
[22:29] <Alicia> OOC: cold resistance on PCs and Amaryl. The two outsiders have innate resistance.
[22:29] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[22:29] <Kotono> OOC: Roll your TPs when ready?
[22:29] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to rest stop
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to rest stop and gets 48." [1d100=48]
[22:29] <Alicia> OOC: greater magic weapon on team Alicia as well
[22:29] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[22:30] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to camp seen casually?
06[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to camp seen casually? and gets 18." [1d100=18]
[22:31] <Kotono> Woosh! The fiv eappear! The moment they do, they feel weakened and dull, vitality sapped away! Amaryl whimpers low in her throat, coughing, "I can barely breathe. This place is horrible!" she declares. "It feels as if I have one step into my sickbed."
[22:31] <Kotono> OOC: -3 con to all due to ongoing effect, ect.
[22:32] <Kotono> Antenora sniffs the air, and with a scowls, "Reminds me of Caina, only without the charm," she observes.
[22:32] <Alicia> "Lets just keep moving, hopefully with distance we'll feel better," Alicia sighs, starting to march to the east.
[22:33] <Alicia> "And the crushing glaciers?" Marie asks perkily, today dressed in a loose green dress that's easy to throw on, and with her bow and arrows slung around her hips.
01[22:33] <Seira> roll 1d10+10
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 and gets 18." [1d10=8]
[22:34] <Kotono> As the party travels in the relative 'lowlands', 45 minutes pass. It starts sloping upward jaggedly, though nothing the party can't handle. The camp is left behind. Here, there is a break. The rocky ground has a cairn of stones lying there, weathered but intact.
[22:35] <Kotono> Amaryl lingers closer to Seira, her hands standing on the hilt of the sun blade strapped to her belt.
[22:36] <Kotono> Antenora approaches, poking the cairn with the butt of her spear. "Mean anything to any of you?"
01[22:36] <Seira> "It will be a beautiful place once more, as soon as we take care of what caused this to come into being," Seira whispers to Amaryl, keeping close to her in turn.
[22:37] <Alicia> "Could be a burial marker," Alicia wonders, having a quick look for any evil while Marie checks for magic.
[22:37] <Kotono> "Probably." Antenora agrees, "I don't see any evil. Keep going?"
[22:37] <Alicia> "There might be directions like on the endless plains?" Marie wonders, looking all around on the cairns for any inscriptions.
[22:38] <Kotono> OOC: Search check, Marie?
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+1 and gets 4." [1d20=3]
[22:39] <Alicia> "No such luck," Marie shakes her head and then flies up on the off chance they show an arrow from above to indicate a direction.
[22:39] <Kotono> Marie flies up. It's an irregular pile of stones, pointing in no particular direction. The center ones look to hav emoved out slightly, as if something has pushed them from below, perhaps. Rising ground?
06[22:40] * Seira decides to check the cairn as well!
[22:40] <Alicia> "Hey, it looks like something pushed up from below!" Marie cries, fluttering back down. "Could be undead! Want me to check it out?"
01[22:40] <Seira> roll 1d20+25
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+25 and gets 40." [1d20=15]
06[22:40] * Alicia sighs and holds out her hands. "I'll hold your things," she agrees as Marie hands over her weapons and then turns incorporeal, her dress falling onto Alicia's arm before she descends through the earth where it rises.
06[22:41] * Seira returns to Amaryl's side, since Marie has taken the direct route.
[22:41] <Kotono> Marie descends down! Ten feet into the earth,s he comes onto a skeleton! It's the framework of a giant, long ago rendered unto it's grave. It's fleshless bones move, constantly pushing upwards in fain, struggling.
[22:42] <Kotono> Antenora peers down and then coughs. "Damnably short air. Is there anything magic can do about it?"
01[22:42] <Seira> "Clerical magic. Don't have it, sadly. Yet."
[22:42] <Alicia> "At least we're not actually up any of the mountains. It's far worse there," Alicia shakes her head as Marie returns.
[22:42] <Alicia> "There's an animated skeleton down there trying to dig its way out, but without much luck," the eladrin explains. "Another giant."
01[22:43] <Seira> "Want me to set it on fire?"
[22:43] <Alicia> "There's ten feet of earth in the way," Marie bobs in the air. "I doubt it's going anywhere, and if we deal with the source of the necromantic aura that'll make it settle down, right?"
01[22:44] <Seira> "That's the idea," Seira agrees. "Let's go further east?"
[22:44] <Kotono> "Let's," Antenora hurries along, a slow but ground eating pace.
[22:45] <Alicia> Marie returns to corporeal form and starts to get dressed again, recovering her weapons as well, while Alicia sighs. "I know it's difficult, but you should still wear underwear if you're going to wear dresses, Marie," she remonstrates.
[22:45] <Alicia> "Layers take too long!" the angelic fairy huffs in reply.
[22:45] <Kotono> "Besides, it's not like she has anything to hide. For a fairy, she's very cute," Antenora snickers.
[22:46] <Kotono> Amaryl coughs and leans on Seira briefly, "Will this get worse before we reach it, Seira?" she asks.
[22:46] <Alicia> "There's nothing wrong with a bit of modesty," Alicia replies primly, batting Marie off her head and continuing her journey.
01[22:46] <Seira> "For all that they protest when I say something like that..." Seira mutters quietly to Amaryl, shaking her head. "Probably," she responds to her query. "It's worse that the aura back in the lair, after all."
01[22:46] <Seira> *about that
[22:47] <Alicia> "I like wearing lots of clothes, but I just can't anymore!" Marie folds her arms indignantly. "I can't even wear shoes since they take forever to lace up!"
[22:47] <Alicia> "Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of your new limitations," Alicia reassures half-heartedly. "Then you can go back to normal."
[22:49] <Kotono> Another thirty minutes of walking. The lower altitude, relatively, at least means the thin air isn't quite so bad. Still, as you walk, you csee something ahead. Flickering in and out of vision is a tall pillar, about another ten minutes away. It's about as large as a wizard's tower, as if crafted greatly over scale.
03[22:49] * miseryballosheadache is now known as LouisCypher
01[22:50] <Seira> "If that wasn't an invitation...."
[22:50] <Alicia> "A mirage? Or a symptom of the failing wards?" Alicia shades her eyes as she regards the tower ahead, before picking up her pace towards it.
01[22:51] <Seira> Once they've cut the distance to the tower in half, Seira intends to cast a Bull's Strength spell upon herself.
01[22:51] <Seira> *upon Amaryl.
[22:52] <Kotono> After another 5 minutes, they can see that the pillar is covered in vast arcane symbols. OOC: Make spot checks, all.
[22:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 A and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[22:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 M
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 M and gets 21." [1d20=15]
01[22:52] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 17." [1d20=4]
[22:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[22:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 34." [1d20=15]
[22:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[22:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[22:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 24." [1d20=11]
[22:55] <Kotono> Antenora stops here, holding up her spear. "Careful!" she peers ahead, "Thirty feet ahead, they're barely visible, but I can see wraiths hiding in the ground, poking up to look."
01[22:55] <Seira> Sounds like a great time to cast Draconic Might!
[22:56] <Alicia> "Damn," Alicia pauses, starting to cast shield while Marie hovers close by her shoulder to benefit from the same spell while protecting Alicia in her own way.
[22:57] <Kotono> As the party reacts and prepares, teh wraiths come rising up and out! Seven of the ghostly things, shaped like shady men and women, hands reaching out! Amid them are two others, large ones that seem to throb with unholy undeath! OOC: Well, you avoided a painful ambush. Initiative?
[22:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 A and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[22:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M and gets 13." [1d20=6]
06[22:58] * Seira casts Shield as well!
[22:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 15." [1d20=10]
01[22:58] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 14." [1d20=8]
[22:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Amaryl
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Amaryl and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[22:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 seven wraiths
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 seven wraiths and gets 21." [1d20=14]
[22:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 big wraith 1
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 big wraith 1 and gets 24." [1d20=11]
[22:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 big wraith 2
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 big wraith 2 and gets 14." [1d20=1]
03[22:59] * Kotono changes topic to 'Dread Wraith 1>Wraiths(7)>Amaryl>Antenora>Seira=Dread Wraith 2>Alicia=Marie'
[23:01] <Kotono> One of the large ones charge right at Alicia, cold hands going to try and touch her and siphon away her life force!
[23:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 touch AC, Alicia?
06[23:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 touch AC, Alicia? and gets 33." [1d20=17]
[23:01] <Alicia> OOC: 23 vs incorporeal
[23:01] <Kotono> roll 2d6 and fort
06[23:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 and fort and gets 8." [2d6=2, 6]
[23:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
06[23:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[23:02] <Kotono> Alicia's body is touched by the hands, making her shudder all over! The mere contact is a violation, undeath energies lapping at her soul! A moment later, the wraithes surge forward in a wave! Two go at Alicia first, flanking her on either side!
[23:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[23:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[23:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 20." [1d20=15]
06[23:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 15." [1d20=10]
[23:02] <Kotono> OOC: Forgot flanking, doens't matter.
[23:02] <Kotono> But Alicia's quick reflexes save the day, as two others go for Seira and two for Antenora!
[23:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 AC here, Seira?
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 AC here, Seira? and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[23:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 AC here, Seira?
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 AC here, Seira? and gets 18." [1d20=11]
01[23:03] <Seira> OOC: 27 vs incorporeal
[23:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Antenora, AC 18
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Antenora, AC 18 and gets 26." [1d20=19]
[23:03] <Kotono> roll 1d4 doesn't penetrate her DR
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 doesn't penetrate her DR and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[23:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 no 1
06[23:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 no 1 and gets 40." [1d20=15]
[23:05] <Kotono> The last goes for Amaryl, tearing at her!
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 18." [1d20=13]
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 1d4 and fort
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 and fort and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[23:06] <Kotono> The horde of spirits is on them, tearing and ripping at the party! But none of them score the wounds that siphon away life and herald the eternal damnation of undeath! OOC: Amaryl.
[23:06] <Kotono> Amaryl's golden blade is out, shining with sunlight that shines right through the wraithes! Yet, unlike normal, they seem a little more solid, undisturbed! "Go back to the grave!" she calls.
[23:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[23:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[23:07] <Kotono> But her blow misses the wraith, the sun blade a narrow, weak miss onto it! OOC: Anty's up.
[23:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 not my finest moment there
06[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 not my finest moment there and gets 29." [1d20=19]
[23:08] <Kotono> roll 3d10+24
06[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d10+24 and gets 46." [3d10=6, 6, 10]
03[23:08] * Kotono changes topic to 'Dread Wraith 1>Wraiths(6)>Amaryl>Antenora>Seira=Dread Wraith 2>Alicia=Marie'
[23:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 not my finest moment there why did I not confirm the crit first why
06[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 not my finest moment there why did I not confirm the crit first why and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[23:09] <Kotono> As Amaryl slashes, one glowing pass of the sword dissolves the wraith into nothingness! Antenora flies up away from her attackers quickly, hurling her rope at the large dread wraith menacing Alicia!
[23:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 31." [1d20=12]
[23:10] <Kotono> The rope wraps around the wraith, making it's body seem even more solid! It struggles in it's grasp, bound by the rope! OOC: Seira and the second dread wraithe are up.
[23:11] <Kotono> The second wraithe is quick, going right for Amaryl with a panicked haste, reaching out for her!
[23:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[23:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 26." [1d20=10]
[23:11] <Kotono> roll 2d6 and fort
06[23:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 and fort and gets 7." [2d6=4, 3]
[23:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[23:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 21." [1d20=5]
[23:11] <Kotono> roll 1d8 con drain owwies
06[23:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 con drain owwies and gets 7." [1d8=7]
[23:12] <Kotono> OOC: +2 for heroism, still fails the DC.
[23:12] <Kotono> The touch of the beast turns Amaryl into gray, waxen color, making her nearly fall over! She cries out in wordless dismay!
06[23:16] * Seira snarls at the presumptious shadow, ducking away from her own assailants and making her way to Amaryl's side. Once there, she dives right into the large shadow with the Resort!
01[23:16] <Seira> OOC: Stoneskin, I'll tumble as much as I can
[23:16] <Kotono> OOC: You can tumble. Carry on.
01[23:16] <Seira> roll 1d20+20 smiting the wraith
06[23:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 smiting the wraith and gets 27." [1d20=7]
[23:17] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[23:17] <Seira> roll 3d8+11+6d8 die!
06[23:17] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+11+6d8 die! and gets 63." [3d8=8, 4, 7][6d8=4, 6, 7, 3, 8, 5]
[23:17] <Kotono> OOC: d100, Seira, dur dur.
01[23:18] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[23:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 58." [1d100=58]
[23:18] <Kotono> OOC: Carry on.
01[23:18] <Seira> OOC: I did, feel free to let it die!
[23:18] <Kotono> The dread wraithe is smitten by the power of the Third Resort, staggered back and steaming in the sunlight! IT hisses at SEira, intact if woundeD! OOC: Team Alicia's up.
[23:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 knowledge devotion
06[23:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 knowledge devotion and gets 16." [1d20=6]
06[23:19] * Alicia attempts to slay the larger wraith currently harassing her!
[23:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -5 power attack
06[23:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -5 power attack and gets 34." [1d20=14]
[23:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -5 power attack
06[23:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -5 power attack and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[23:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -5 power attack crit check
06[23:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -5 power attack crit check and gets 33." [1d20=13]
[23:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -5 power attack
06[23:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -5 power attack and gets 19." [1d20=4]
[23:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -5 power attack
06[23:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -5 power attack and gets 29." [1d20=14]
[23:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -5 power attack
06[23:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 -5 power attack and gets 15." [1d20=5]
[23:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -5 power attack
06[23:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 -5 power attack and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[23:20] <Kotono> OOC: 4 hits, no d100s thanks tot he ghost rope.
[23:20] <Alicia> roll 5d8+80+4d6+8d6+4d8
06[23:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d8+80+4d6+8d6+4d8 and gets 164." [5d8=1, 6, 6, 3, 6][4d6=1, 1, 6, 2][8d6=5, 3, 2, 6, 2, 1, 3, 6][4d8=5, 6, 5, 8]
03[23:20] * Kotono changes topic to 'Wraiths(6)>Amaryl>Antenora>Seira=Dread Wraith 2>Alicia=Marie'
[23:21] <Alicia> Marie meanwhile fires a barrage of arrows at one of the wraiths flanking Alicia, sticking protectively close!
[23:21] <Kotono> With it's body visible and an easy target, Alicia obliterates the wraith, it's form withering back into the realms beyond!
[23:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
06[23:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 33." [1d20=10]
[23:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
06[23:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 30." [1d20=12]
[23:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
06[23:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 27." [1d20=14]
[23:21] <Alicia> roll 3#1d100
06[23:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3#1d100 and gets 90." [3#1d100 = 4, 53, 33]
[23:21] <Alicia> roll 1d4+3+1d6+1d4
06[23:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+3+1d6+1d4 and gets 13." [1d4=1][1d6=6][1d4=3]
[19:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> Marie meanwhile fires a barrage of arrows at one of the wraiths flanking Alicia, sticking protectively close!
[19:37] <Kotono> > With it's body visible and an easy target, Alicia obliterates the wraith, it's form withering back into the realms beyond!
[19:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
[19:37] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 33." [1d20=10]
[19:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
[19:37] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 30." [1d20=12]
[19:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[19:37] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 27." [1d20=14]
[19:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 3#1d100
[19:37] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3#1d100 and gets 90." [3#1d100 = 4, 53, 33]
[19:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d4+3+1d6+1d4
[19:37] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+3+1d6+1d4 and gets 13." [1d4=1][1d6=6][1d4=3]
[19:39] <Kotono> Marie fire an arrow at the horde, shooting off and with one shot shocking and disturbing her target! The two wraiths on Alicia continue to assail her, flanking the paladin!
[19:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 24." [1d20=17]
06[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 21." [1d20=14]
[19:39] <Kotono> OOC: Touch AC?
[19:39] <Alicia> OOC: 23 vs incorporeal
[19:39] <Kotono> roll 1d4 and a fort save
06[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 and a fort save and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[19:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 24." [1d20=2]
[19:41] <Kotono> As Alicia fends off the ghosts, one touching her but coming to little effect, with the two on Seira flying over at the movement! One goes to Seira, however, while one goes to Amaryl's flank!
[19:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Seira
06[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Seira and gets 24." [1d20=19]
[19:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Amaryl ACs?
06[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Amaryl ACs? and gets 16." [1d20=9]
01[19:41] <Seira> OOC: 27 vs them
[19:41] <Kotono> roll 1d4 and fort save
06[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 and fort save and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[19:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 DC 15
06[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 DC 15 and gets 12." [1d20=1]
[19:43] <Kotono> roll 1d6 at least she can hope this one rolls low
06[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 at least she can hope this one rolls low and gets 6." [1d6=6]
[19:45] <Kotono> The touch gets Amaryl right between the shoulderblades! She screams at the top of her lungs, yet it barely makes any sound! 'S-Seira...!' the thought slams into Seira's mind, as Amaryl crumples over! Of the last two, one pursues Antenora, while another goes for Marie!
[19:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 21." [1d20=16]
[19:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Marie
06[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Marie and gets 20." [1d20=15]
[19:45] <Alicia> OOC: AC 25 for Marie
[19:46] <Kotono> roll 1d4 and fort
06[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 and fort and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[19:46] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
01[19:46] <Seira> "This can't be happening!" Seira exclaims in disbelief, looking around wildly at the surrounding wraiths.
06[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 40." [1d20=18]
[19:46] <Kotono> Antenora is grazed, not seeming to even feel it in her fury! Amaryl lies there, as...
[19:46] <Kotono> roll 1d100 stabilization
06[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 stabilization and gets 62." [1d100=62]
[19:47] <Kotono> "Dammit!" Antenora swears, holy fury filling her! Healing energy touches Amaryl, as she charges all out at the dire wraith!
[19:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (+2 charge, +7 smite -9 PA 9/10 FS +10 HP Amaryl)
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (+2 charge, +7 smite -9 PA 9/10 FS +10 HP Amaryl) and gets 23." [1d20=2]
[19:50] <Kotono> roll 1d100 since that puts her just at it's AC
06[19:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 since that puts her just at it's AC and gets 76." [1d100=76]
[19:51] <Kotono> roll 2d8+62
06[19:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+62 and gets 74." [2d8=4, 8]
03[19:52] * Kotono changes topic to 'Wraiths(6)>Amaryl>Antenora>Seira>Alicia=Marie'
[19:53] <Kotono> Antenora pounces forward, impaling the dread wraith in the back! It's form twists as holy power fills it, ripping apart into it's second oblivion! Amaryl rises to her knees at this, dazed and shaking all over! Her flesh is pale as fresh milk, her gaze bloodshot and hands shaking! OOC: Seira.
01[19:57] <Seira> "Lagann, strike!" Seira snaps angrily, gesturing at the Sun Blade. She breathes a gout of flame at the wraith that's right in her face, ducking to step protectively over Amaryl and summoning phantom teeth of force to gnaw at the one that almost destroyed the elf!
01[19:58] <Seira> roll 10d8 fire
06[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10d8 fire and gets 44." [10d8=3, 6, 7, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4, 8]
01[19:58] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 91." [1d100=91]
01[19:58] <Seira> roll 10d6 force
06[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10d6 force and gets 40." [10d6=5, 1, 4, 6, 6, 5, 1, 5, 2, 5]
01[19:58] <Seira> OOC: Saves are 23 and 22, respectfully
01[19:59] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[20:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
06[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 13." [1d20=9]
[20:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
06[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 9." [1d20=5]
[20:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 second will AoO you since they crave liiiife
06[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 second will AoO you since they crave liiiife and gets 9." [1d20=4]
03[20:01] * Kotono changes topic to 'Wraiths(4)>Amaryl>Antenora>Seira>Alicia=Marie'
[20:03] <Kotono> The two close wraiths are torn apart by flame and force, as the Sun Blade raises up! It goes for one of the nearby wraiths, directed!
[20:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 26." [1d20=16]
[20:03] <Kotono> roll 2d10+8
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d10+8 and gets 12." [2d10=2, 2]
[20:03] <Kotono> One of the surviving wraiths screams, shaking all over as the Sun Blade penetrates it! OOC: Alicia and Marie.
[20:06] <Alicia> "Marie, get Amaryl out of there!" Alicia snaps as she slices into the two wraiths surrounding her, while her familiar disengages 30 feet from the wraith attacking her before trading places with a hopefully willing Amaryl.
[20:06] <Alicia> OOC: wraith gets aoo on Marie
[20:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Marie liiife
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Marie liiife and gets 9." [1d20=4]
[20:07] <Kotono> OOC: Resolve Alicia's attacks first.
[20:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -5pa, will attack the two flanking me in sequence, moving to the next after the first dies
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -5pa, will attack the two flanking me in sequence, moving to the next after the first dies and gets 37." [1d20=17]
[20:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -5pa
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -5pa and gets 26." [1d20=6]
[20:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -5pa
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -5pa and gets 19." [1d20=4]
[20:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -5pa
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -5pa and gets 27." [1d20=12]
[20:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -5pa
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 -5pa and gets 12." [1d20=2]
[20:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -5pa
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 -5pa and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[20:08] <Kotono> OOC: All but the 12 hit. Roll d100s.
[20:08] <Alicia> roll 5#1d100
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5#1d100 and gets 237." [5#1d100 = 4, 23, 73, 57, 80]
[20:08] <Alicia> roll 1d8+16+2d6+1d6+1d8
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+16+2d6+1d6+1d8 and gets 35." [1d8=2][2d6=4, 2][1d6=3][1d8=8]
[20:08] <Alicia> roll 1d8+16+2d6+1d6+1d8
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+16+2d6+1d6+1d8 and gets 38." [1d8=1][2d6=5, 4][1d6=4][1d8=8]
[20:08] <Alicia> roll 1d8+16+2d6+1d6+1d8
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+16+2d6+1d6+1d8 and gets 39." [1d8=5][2d6=5, 1][1d6=4][1d8=8]
03[20:08] * Kotono changes topic to 'Wraiths(2)>Amaryl>Antenora>Seira>Alicia=Marie'
[20:09] <Kotono> Alicia rips through the phantasms with aggressive fury, putting th em to rest! A moment later, Marie is where Amaryl was! Amaryl lies on the rocky ground, spasming and coughing! OOC: Wraiths are up.
[20:09] <Kotono> The wraith on Antenora continues to chase her, going to claim her life force!
[20:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 7." [1d20=2]
[20:10] <Kotono> The other reaches out for Seira!
[20:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 24." [1d20=19]
[20:11] <Kotono> But they both miss, foiled away quickly! Amaryl staggers, trying to rise and failing, 'S-seira...I can't...see right...it hurts...are you there, Seira? What should I do? I'm so cold...'
01[20:13] <Seira> If she's like that, using the ring is dangerous! 'Get ready to leave,' Seira thinks back to Amaryl. 'I'll be there soon. It'll be alright!'
[20:14] <Kotono> In her daze, Amaryl thus defends herself and waits! Antenora flies back 30 feet in an instant, boots glowing, before she charges the wraith on her!
[20:15] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (+7 smite, +2 FS 8/10, +2 weapon, +2 charge, -14 PA)
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (+7 smite, +2 FS 8/10, +2 weapon, +2 charge, -14 PA) and gets 25." [1d20=5]
[20:15] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[20:15] <Kotono> roll 2d8+1d6+82
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+1d6+82 and gets 92." [2d8=3, 3][1d6=4]
03[20:15] * Kotono changes topic to 'Wraiths(1)>Amaryl>Antenora>Seira>Alicia=Marie'
[20:16] <Kotono> Charging right into the phantasm, Antenora's charge obliterates the defiant wraith, leaving only one lefT! OOC: Seira.
06[20:16] * Seira would like nothing more than to tear the wraith apart with her bare hands, but she can't lose herself like this, not when Amaryl needs her. She makes her way over to Amaryl, reaching her due to calling upon Waukeen's power, and redirects the phantom teeth at the wraith to destroy it.
01[20:16] <Seira> roll 10d6 force
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10d6 force and gets 33." [10d6=1, 6, 1, 4, 5, 1, 5, 3, 4, 3]
[20:16] <Kotono> With those teeth of force, the last phantasm is obliterated! The rocky heighs are silent, savef or the hard, strained intake of breath in the thin air! OOC: Free act.
06[20:17] * Seira picks Amaryl up, holding her close to her chest. "Can you take us back, Alicia?" she requests.
06[20:17] * Alicia puts her sword away and marches straight towards Seira and Amaryl. "Marie, Antenora, get over here. We're leaving," she announces in a clipped voice.
[20:18] <Kotono> "Far too close," Antenora says, trotting along. "Everyone else alright?" Then, looking down at Amaryl, "We'll get you safe."
06[20:18] * Alicia first teleports the group to the rest stop on the road.
01[20:18] <Seira> roll 2d8+10 heal
06[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 heal and gets 19." [2d8=4, 5]
[20:18] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 42." [1d100=42]
[20:18] <Alicia> And then to the temple of Waukeen in Balmuria.
[20:18] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully
06[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully and gets 6." [1d100=6]
[20:20] <Kotono> The temple of Waukeen is sunny and busy. The apperance of the five gets many a look from the churchgoers, while Amaryl groans softly in Seira's arms.
01[20:21] <Seira> They can wait in Gilartal's chambers, and Seira strides towards them. It is hard to believe the temple lacks in restorations or even a heal spell.
[20:26] <Kotono> The next day, the group meets at Seira's inn. Amaryl isn't there this time as they meet, ready to go...OOC: Do your dicing for the TPs?
[20:26] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to rest stop
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to rest stop and gets 99." [1d100=99]
[20:26] <Alicia> OOC: off target
[20:27] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 6." [1d10=6]
[20:27] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 10." [1d10=10]
[20:27] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 7." [1d9=7]
01[20:27] <Seira> roll 1d10+10
06[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 and gets 20." [1d10=10]
[20:28] <Kotono> Woosh! The party teleports...and my, it's...green here. Very green. You stand in the middle of Pallanth somewhere, not your destination at all. The trees are all wrong, the path far different from the one you aimed for.
[20:28] <Kotono> Antenora cocks her head about, "Miserable luck. Try again?"
[20:29] <Alicia> "We might still be close enough, anyway," Alicia hazards, attempting to reach the site of yesterday's battle.
[20:29] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 12." [1d100=12]
[20:29] <Alicia> OOC: wait, that should've been similar area, not off target above, if it actually matters
[20:30] <Kotono> OOC: It's fine, nothing happened in this case so I'm just going to handwave it.
[20:30] <Kotono> With a second teleport, the party appears at the bttleground from yesterday!
06[20:31] * Seira quietly casts an extended Shield.
[20:31] <Alicia> At this stage Alicia casts shield, sharing the benefit with her familiar who remains close at hand. "Keep an eye out for any other troublemakers," she suggests as she leads the way towards the tower ahead.
[20:31] <Kotono> As you start to walk ahead, "Can you imbue with that spell as well," Antenora asks, "I'm not entirely confident about stopping ethereal attackers again, I had trouble with the lesser wraiths."
06[20:32] * Seira glances at Antenora. "Left the ring at home, but Alicia could, probably."
[20:32] <Alicia> "Sure," Alicia nods to Antenora, channeling a shield spell into her sword and tapping the erinyes lightly to transfer it over.
06[20:32] * Seira decides she might as well activate her boots, at that.
[20:32] <Kotono> "How's Amaryl doing?" Antenora asks as they start to walk ahead towards the pillar again. "Resting comfortably?"
01[20:33] <Seira> "It's not fair. Bad luck like that... it's not easy for her to come along as it is."
[20:34] <Kotono> "She survived. She'll grow stronger after that," Antenora peers ahead, a hand over her eyes to stop sunglare. "Alicia trains the city guard, you know. Have her do some drills with her, focusing on speed and defense?"
[20:35] <Alicia> "It wasn't bad luck, she was facing things she really shouldn't have been," Alicia puts in her thoughts. "I wouldn't even dream of bringing any of the guardsmen along for something like this - they'd get massacred."
01[20:35] <Seira> "I know you mean well," Seira responds, "but I'm actually quite confident in my own methods."
01[20:36] <Seira> "It is a simple truth that our homes are hardly safe. It's not like our enemies will just cooperate on that out of the goodness of their hearts."
[20:37] <Kotono> As you approach, you can see the pillar more clearly. It flickers in and out of sight, more towards in sight as you approach. It is often only an outline, sometimes flaring into full visibility. From it, lines of barely visible power run, wrapping around in the starts of what might be some sort of dome.
[20:38] <Alicia> "They're safer than here," Alicia replies bluntly. "None of those wraiths were able to really hurt any of us three, but Amaryl didn't stand a chance against them. She shouldn't be pressed to fight the same things we do."
01[20:39] <Seira> "She's really strong and one day you'll see it, too," Seira says stubbornly.
[20:39] <Kotono> "She's stronger than most," Antenora agrees, "But even a strong man dies if they face something too much for them." But she stops here, looking ahead at the pillar.
06[20:41] * Alicia frowns as she approaches the dome. "She won't thank you for your faith in her abilities if it gets her killed."
06[20:42] * Seira doesn't react besides looking depressed.
06[20:43] * Alicia experimentally picks up a rock or clod of dirt and tosses it at the dome once she's fifty feet away from it.
[20:43] <Kotono> The dome ripples as the rock slowly pushes through it, landing on the other sidea fter several long seconds of extra hang time.
[20:44] <Kotono> The start of the dome is large, with the entire thing perhaps reaching high into the sky. It's no small affair, but instead the start of something vast. Perhaps, as you can only see a few of the lines near the pillar, fading into unseen-ness after.
06[20:44] * Seira tries pushing past the dome herself.
[20:45] <Kotono> Seira pushes past the pillar! It's like walking through mollasses. Slow and hard, but not impossible. On the other side she feels as if death has come to touch her! She is bombarded with feelings of her end, as if another breath will be her very last. OOC: Seira, the -3 you're under increases to -6 here. If you don't run back out immediately, note that in topic HP.
06[20:46] * Seira grunts. "Horrible place."
[20:47] <Kotono> "How bad?" Antenora calls, her voice sounding drawn out and distorted to Seira's ears, but normal to everyone else.
01[20:48] <Seira> "Very."
06[20:48] * Seira tries going ahead a bit to see if the situation would get worse. "But nothing here can hurt us, really, right?"
[20:48] <Kotono> Seira goes ahead several steps. It doesn't feel any more hellish than it already is.
[20:49] <Alicia> "Marie, wait here for a second, then try to swap places with me once I'm through? I want to check in case it blocks teleportation," Marie tells her familiar as she pushes through the barrier. Once she's through, Marie uses her bracelet to trade places.
[20:49] <Alicia> *Alicia tells her familiar
[20:49] <Kotono> "Is this the barrier, then?" Antenora trots over to the pillar, eyeing it long.
[20:49] <Kotono> OOC: d100?
[20:49] <Kotono> OOC: I know it's not TP.
[20:49] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 16." [1d100=16]
[20:50] <Kotono> Marie appears outside of the barrier! Alicia doesn't travel, however.
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: Gah, premature.
[20:50] <Kotono> Marie appears outside of the barrier! Alicia doesn't travel, however. This results in Marie being right pressed against Alicia's stomach, under her breastplate and armor and against her skin.
[20:51] <Alicia> Marie cries out before promptly turning incorporeal to escape!
06[20:52] * Alicia grimaces and proceeds to pull several sharp objects along with Marie's clothing out from under her own attire, handing them over as Marie reverts to her humanoid form and redresses. "We won't be able to teleport out of here... and I bet that's what's also holding back the worst of the deathly aura, so I wouldn't dispel it even if I could."
[20:53] <Kotono> Antenora turns and shakes her head, "That's almost funny," she observes. "At least you didn't end up inAlicia's innards."
01[20:53] <Seira> "This actually isn't funny," Seira mutters. "But pretty damn horrible. Let's go."
06[20:53] * Alicia looks even more queasy at Antenora's observation, but nonetheless draws her sword and advances to the tower itself, Marie warily following.
06[20:54] * Alicia also recasts shield on Marie so she won't have to stay too close to benefit.
[20:54] <Kotono> The others step past the barrier, Antenora grimacing all over. "Just trying to lighten the mood," she notes as they head in! OOC: Just going to head further in?
06[20:54] * Seira draws the Sun Blade with a grimace. "The air itself is dead, the mood stillborn with it."
[20:55] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 48." [1d100=48]
[20:55] <Alicia> OOC: till we reach the tower itself and see what's what
[20:56] <Kotono> OOC: You're AT the pillar mentioned. You approached it and saw the lines of power coming out from it.
[20:56] <Kotono> OOC: Hell, Antenora went to look at it.
06[20:57] * Seira looks for a door to kick in.
[20:57] <Alicia> OOC: sorry, I thought there was a dome around it and we were at that
06[20:57] * Seira casts Draconic Might for that very exalted purpose.
[20:58] <Kotono> The pillar doesn't seem to have a door. Just magical runes and symbols all over it's surface, as it flickers in and out of sight! The dome is only hinted at, the pillar being a part of it, or perhaps a stake driven into the ground, like a tent's stake.
01[20:58] <Seira> roll 1d20+24 spellcraft
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 spellcraft and gets 36." [1d20=12]
[20:58] <Kotono> OOC: Studying the symbols or some such?
01[20:59] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[20:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 I'll aid
06[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 I'll aid and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[20:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9 as will Marie
06[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 as will Marie and gets 21." [1d20=12]
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: Can you aid spellcraft untrained?
01[20:59] <Seira> OOC: Familiars use the master's skills, no?
[20:59] <Alicia> OOC: it's trained only
[21:00] <Kotono> OOC: I mean Antenora may try to help if it's not trained only. But it is, so moot.
[21:01] <Kotono> It takes some time, the flickering pillar making it harder. But with patience and skill and help, Seira starts to decypher the symbols. They are marvelously complex and of high magical skill, beyond that of wizards of this age. It is an abjuration, to ward against the energy of Arondaaq and to stop teleportation, travel, divinations, almost everything that could get through. Four pillars are connected on the cardinal compass points, this is
[21:02] <Kotono> Four pillars are connected on the cardinal compass points, this is the eastern one. The dweomer connects in the center. This pillar has started to fail, it's magic damaged and eroded. Seira notices that the way it's designed is very friendly to read, making understanding it and replacing what was lost not too difficult at all. It's as if someone made an effort to make it so.
01[21:03] <Seira> "They tried to contain the sword, as we've thought, and block teleportation, divinations and just about anything. And they left a manual behind. I'm a bit insulted, but that's just my bad mood talking, likely."
06[21:04] * Seira tries to estimate just how easy fixing the pillar would be, or which materials and magics would be required.
[21:04] <Kotono> OOC: K A check?
[21:04] <Alicia> "Why insulted?" Alicia asks, rubbing her eyes briefly after straining to read the flickering symbols herself.
01[21:05] <Seira> OOC: I'll take 10 for 32
[21:05] <Kotono> "If they did that, did they suspect the wards may fail eventually?" Antenora keeps her gaze travelling around all the while, keeping watch.
03[21:05] * taibed is now known as asdgsdfasdfhgdfsa
01[21:06] <Seira> "It's like an explanation for a child," Seira elaborates unhappily. "Desjardin wasn't kidding when he said the old fogies didn't have a bit of hope for the future generations."
06[21:06] * Seira tries to estimate where the other pillars would be, how one might approach a working pillar, and where the epicenter is.
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 21." [1d20=2]
[21:07] <Kotono> "I'll take the condesension if it seals this sword back up." Antenora's peers ahead briefly, before turning back to Seira.
[21:07] <Alicia> "Yes, perish the thought that magic not only be the preserve of ancient hidebound scholars who fear sunlight," Alicia muses dryly. "Makes you wonder why they didn't just use the permanency spell, though."
01[21:07] <Seira> "Yes, well. If we can't even handle sealing the sword that only wounded the God-King, we're pretty damn far from taking him on."
06[21:08] * Seira frowns. "Maybe they had. This energy cheats pretty strongly, given the wraiths operated in sunlight."
[21:09] <Alicia> "They probably didn't care about anyone fighting that guy, they just wanted to make sure anyone who found this place could reseal it easily. Y'know, to stop it making local dragons go crazy and stuff?" Marie wonders.
01[21:10] <Seira> "Okay, I have what we came here for," Seira announces. "We need a week and about ten thousand gold worth of diamond dust and ink and all the good stuff."
[21:11] <Alicia> "I can afford that. Lets get out of here and teleport home, then?" Alicia suggests, eager to be away.
[21:11] <Kotono> "Let's," Antenora agrees. "The sooner the better."
01[21:11] <Seira> "I'll pitch in, naturally," Seira says, hardly sounding happy. "Let's go, yes."
06[21:12] * Alicia attempts to retreat back out of the barrier!
[21:12] <Kotono> The party is able to leave the barrier without incident.
[21:13] <Kotono> "I can contribue, too," Antenora offers, "I have some money and it's a good cause. Are you going to reseal the barrier and let Arondaaq lie?"
[21:13] <Alicia> "We'll probably need it eventually, but best to keep it well protected until that day comes," is Alicia's opinion on the matter.
01[21:13] <Seira> "I'll key myself in," Seira responds. "It seems possible. When it's time, I'll wield it."
[21:14] <Alicia> "We'll see what happens when the time comes," Alicia replies ambivalently as she teleports them to the rest stop.
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 55." [1d100=55]
[21:14] <Alicia> And then back home.
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 33." [1d100=33]
[21:15] <Kotono> OOC: What are you guys going to do now?
01[21:15] <Seira> OOC: This
[21:15] <Kotono> OOC: Going to go buy supplies and reagents and come back to this, eh? Same party/setup as last time? Post in the loot topic for how much you're buying?
[21:15] <Alicia> OOC: we'll pay 3,333gp each while Seira does secretive magic work for a week?
01[21:16] <Seira> OOC: Pretty much. Any final check will have IGNORANCE behind it.
01[21:17] <Seira> OOC: And the wards would be hacked so only I could return if we ever decide to go there.
[21:18] <Kotono> OOC: Declare who's going back on the next day and make your TP rolls?
01[21:18] <Seira> OOC: Alicia will watch over me, hopefully?
[21:18] <Alicia> OOC: Shouldn't be any fighting, so Marie and Anty can stay behind.
[21:18] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to rest stop
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to rest stop and gets 77." [1d100=77]
[21:18] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[21:19] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to just outside barrier
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to just outside barrier and gets 77." [1d100=77]
[21:19] <Alicia> OOC: seen casually, sinc we spent a while there
[21:19] <Kotono> The pair teleports to the mountains! It's a cloudy, bitterly cold day. Seira and Alicia appear as desired, the flickering barrier ahead of them.
[21:20] <Alicia> "How long do you expect this to take?" Alicia asks, looking around to make sure no fresh undead are in the vicinity.
[21:20] <Kotono> OOC: Spot check?
[21:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[21:20] <Kotono> It looks pretty quiet today. Nothing's afoul.
01[21:20] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 25." [1d20=12]
[21:21] <Kotono> It looks pretty quiet to Seira, too. Nothing's off or wrong.
01[21:21] <Seira> "A lot. If spending prolongued time here will be bad for our health, we'll just have to take more than a week."
[21:23] <Alicia> "Well, better get to work," Alicia braves the barrier, pushing towards the pillar so she can make herself comfortable as possible while watching over Seira.
06[21:23] * Seira starts working on the wards.
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 61." [1d100=61]
[21:23] <Kotono> OOC: Make a spellcraft check, Seira?
01[21:23] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 41." [1d20=17]
[21:24] <Kotono> The first day passes in a painful, wheezing haze. Alicia and Seira feel tired and worn outat the end, but the day's work seems to have gone well enough. It was mostly setting the stage for the more complex repairs.
[21:26] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to rest stop
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to rest stop and gets 78." [1d100=78]
[21:26] <Alicia> roll 1d100 home
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 home and gets 33." [1d100=33]
[21:29] <Kotono> The next day, the two meet at Alicia's house, ready to go whenever they are ready.
[21:30] <Alicia> Before they do, Alicia asks, "Seira, did you notice any sores or lesions on your body last night?"
06[21:30] * Seira shakes her head. "You had, then?"
[21:31] <Alicia> "Yes. I'm assuming it's a symptom of the negative energy at the wards - channelling positive energy cleared it right up, but if it didn't affect you maybe it's something else... Well, I'll see how I feel after today. Ready to go?"
01[21:32] <Seira> "I'd suggest you stay outside the dome, and I've prepared an Alarm spell. That should help."
[21:32] <Alicia> "Alright. I'll be close at hand if necessary, regardless," Alicia agrees, teleporting them to the rest stop.
[21:32] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 91." [1d100=91]
[21:32] <Alicia> And then to the dome.
[21:32] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 28." [1d100=28]
[21:33] <Kotono> Woosh! It's still overcast and death-cold here, the thin air brutal. But there's no immediate problems here at all, the pillar and dome waiting for you.
06[21:33] * Alicia settles just outside the dome, lighting a campfire while she keeps watch.
06[21:33] * Seira casts Alarm first, setting it to be audible, before breeching the barrier and resuming her work.
[21:34] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 6." [1d10=6]
[21:34] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 54." [1d100=54]
[21:34] <Kotono> OOC: Make a spellcraft check, Seira.
01[21:36] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 28." [1d20=4]
[21:36] <Kotono> Seira works hard this day, making more progress. She's used about 1/5th of the reagents now, the pillar flickering ever so slightly less. An unnatural silence stays over the area the entire day, utter lifelessness.
01[21:37] <Seira> "Let's go," she says after a miserable day's work, backing away from the pillar. "I don't think I can do more today."
06[21:38] * Alicia is only too eager to go home after today. A trip to Ysgard would be nice once this is done, she reflects.
[21:38] <Alicia> roll 1d100 rest stop
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 rest stop and gets 57." [1d100=57]
[21:38] <Alicia> roll 1d100 home
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 home and gets 10." [1d100=10]
01[21:40] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 18." [2d8=6, 2]
[21:41] <Kotono> The next morning, the two meet up at Seira's inn, another day of this looming.
[21:41] <Alicia> "Another lesion last night," Alicia reports. "I think once this is done I'll go back to Ysgard for an afternoon. The positive energy there will be good for me."
01[21:42] <Seira> "I'm not immune to this, either," Seira admits. "I'll try to push myself today, in hopes of getting the critical part done."
[21:42] <Alicia> "The sooner the better," Alicia agrees as she teleports them onwards.
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d100 rest stop
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 rest stop and gets 53." [1d100=53]
[21:43] <Alicia> roll 1d100 dome
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 dome and gets 96." [1d100=96]
[21:43] <Alicia> OOC: off target
[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d10
[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 10." [1d10=10]
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 2." [1d10=2]
[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 1." [1d9=1]
[21:43] <Kotono> Splash! The two of you appear amid loose ice floes! The problem is that the ice isn't that solid - you plunge right through after a second into hyperfreezing water!
[21:44] <Kotono> OOC: Strike.
[21:44] <Kotono> Thet wo appear on a floe of ice! It's freezing here! It's just solid enough to support you, cracks and cobwebs forming, but the entire thing isn't giving!
[21:45] <Alicia> "Off target," Alicia grimaces, thankfully warded against cold. "One moment..." she tries again.
06[21:45] * Seira commits the spot to memory out of mere curiousity.
[21:45] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 24." [1d100=24]
[21:45] <Kotono> This time you appear without incident! There is no sunlight at all, dead black clouds hiding the sky. Alicia finds she can barely see anything, Seira's darkvision helping her out.
06[21:46] * Alicia pops down a fire from her survival pouch to provide light and warmth.
06[21:46] * Seira just grimaces, and gets to work after setting the Alarm spell.
[21:46] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 57." [1d100=57]
[21:46] <Kotono> OOC: Make a spot check, Alicia?
06[21:47] * Alicia settles into a routine of channeling a fraction of positive energy into herself every hour in hopes of staving off the negative energy before it becomes a problem.
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[21:48] <Kotono> At perhaps noon, give or take some time as it's all a blur, '60 feet away, past the barrier. They're coming right at Seira. 4 of them.' Hell Striker dutifully reports to Alicia.
[21:49] <Alicia> "Seira, get over here! You've got trouble coming!" Alicia calls, igniting her blades and casting shield as she prepares for battle.
01[21:50] <Seira> "Tch." Seira retreats instantly, taking Alicia's warning seriously despite detecting nothing herself.
01[21:51] <Seira> roll 1d10+10 FL
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 FL and gets 20." [1d10=10]
[21:52] <Kotono> As Seira comes over and Alicia snaps off a spell, four figures can be seen charging forward! Four giant skeletons, each having an ancient, rusty greataxe in hand! Yet these skeletons spring and move with stunning, nimble agility and grace! OOC: They're about 50 feet away now, let's roll initaitive.
[21:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 13." [1d20=6]
01[21:52] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Giant 1
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 18." [1d20=12]
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Giant 1 and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Giant 2
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Giant 3
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Giant 2 and gets 23." [1d20=17]
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Giant 3 and gets 17." [1d20=11]
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Giant 4
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Giant 4 and gets 11." [1d20=5]
03[21:53] * Kotono changes topic to 'G2>G1>Seira>G3>Alicia>G4'
[21:53] <Kotono> With dazzling speed for creatures of their size, the first and second skeleton sprint ahead! They charge, one going for Alicia and one going for Seira!
[21:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (+2 charge) Seira
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (+2 charge) Seira and gets 29." [1d20=9]
[21:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (+2 charge) Alicia ACs?
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (+2 charge) Alicia ACs? and gets 34." [1d20=14]
01[21:54] <Seira> OOC: 27
[21:54] <Kotono> roll 4d6+18 Seira
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d6+18 Seira and gets 34." [4d6=2, 6, 3, 5]
[21:54] <Alicia> OOC: 33
[21:54] <Kotono> roll 4d6+18 Alicia
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d6+18 Alicia and gets 31." [4d6=1, 5, 3, 4]
[21:55] <Kotono> The two catch the women on the defensive, each wounded from the axe slash! The wounds feel worse than they are, bodies already overstrained! OOC: Seira.
01[21:58] <Seira> Stoneskin comes into being belatedly around Seira, as she stares balefully at the giant assaulting her. She flips away, the Sun Blade appearing in the hands as she touches down in a crouch, but rather than use it Seira sends a boosted cone of fire at the giant, angling it upwards and with a shift sideways, close enough to strike its buddy as well!
01[21:58] <Seira> roll 18d6 fire
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 18d6 fire and gets 61." [18d6=2, 1, 1, 4, 3, 6, 2, 4, 3, 1, 6, 2, 5, 6, 4, 6, 1, 4]
01[21:58] <Seira> OOC: DC 25
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 13." [1d20=3]
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[22:00] <Kotono> The flames lick and burn the two skeletons, sending cracks all over! The third giant does not attack directly, but instead makes a massive leap into the air!
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+45
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+45 and gets 65." [1d20=20]
[22:00] <Kotono> Leaping dozens of feet high, it sends it's axe flying at Alicia in a deadly missile of death!
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 33." [1d20=15]
[22:00] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[22:00] <Alicia> OOC: 33
[22:01] <Kotono> roll 4d6+18 and make a ref save
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d6+18 and make a ref save and gets 26." [4d6=1, 3, 1, 3]
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 28." [1d20=12]
[22:02] <Kotono> Alicia is hit by the axe dead on! It clobbers her, nearly sending her flying like a discus! Only her supernatural toughness and balance keeps her where she is! OOC: Alicia.
[22:02] <Kotono> The axe lands besides her, heavily lying there!
06[22:02] * Alicia elects to fight defensively, keeping her guard up as she steps around the giant attacking her so Seira's former playmate can't get at her easily, flaming blades slicing viciously into the oversized bones!
[22:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 devotion
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 devotion and gets 23." [1d20=13]
[22:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 27." [1d20=4]
[22:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 29." [1d20=6]
[22:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 33." [1d20=15]
[22:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 36." [1d20=18]
[22:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 16." [1d20=3]
[22:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 17." [1d20=4]
[22:04] <Kotono> OOC: All hit. Pain.
[22:04] <Alicia> roll 6d8+66+12d6+6d6+24d4
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6d8+66+12d6+6d6+24d4 and gets 220." [6d8=2, 5, 5, 8, 1, 5][12d6=3, 6, 4, 6, 1, 6, 4, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3][6d6=6, 5, 6, 4, 3, 3][24d4=1, 3, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 2, 4, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2]
03[22:04] * Kotono changes topic to 'G2>Seira>G3>Alicia>G4'
[22:06] <Kotono> Alicia runs to the side, flaming blance dancing a duet of death with the skeleton! It's bones are shattered, raining down like fresh fallen snow around her! The last giant comes to join in the blizzard, rushing ahead and making a more restrained leap, hurling it's axe at Seira!
[22:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+45
06[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+45 and gets 54." [1d20=9]
[22:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 AC Seira?
06[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 AC Seira? and gets 25." [1d20=7]
01[22:07] <Seira> OOC: Still 27
[22:07] <Kotono> Seira flips back, landing on the haft of the axe and using it to jump to safety, avoiding the spinning blade of death! The first giant lunges forward, swinging at the retreated Seira!
[22:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 34." [1d20=16]
[22:08] <Kotono> roll 4d6+18
06[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d6+18 and gets 30." [4d6=3, 2, 4, 3]
[22:08] <Kotono> Slash! Another heavy slash draws more blood from Seira! Stoneskin serves her well, as she feels dizzy from the wound! OOC: Seira.
01[22:11] <Seira> Hmph. Who the hell does this giant think she is?! Seira carves her seal with the Sun Blade's glowing form into the skeleton's bones!
01[22:11] <Seira> roll 1d20+20
06[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 and gets 33." [1d20=13]
01[22:11] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 33." [1d20=18]
[22:12] <Kotono> OOC: Two hits.
01[22:12] <Seira> roll 4d10+18
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4d10+18 and gets 45." [4d10=4, 3, 10, 10]
01[22:12] <Seira> Rather than hit it with her claw, Seira breathes fire at the skeleton in conclusion!
01[22:13] <Seira> roll 8d8+2d8 fire+holy
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 8d8+2d8 fire+holy and gets 55." [8d8=7, 6, 5, 5, 5, 6, 4, 4][2d8=6, 7]
[22:13] <Kotono> OOC: Irrelevant for the save, it's dead on a pass or a fail.
03[22:13] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira>G3>Alicia>G4'
01[22:13] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 2." [1d4=2]
[22:14] <Kotono> The skeleton collapses, fire and sunblade wrecking it into worthless old bones! The third one charges Alicia, hand twisted into a grotesque claw as it menaces her!
[22:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[22:14] <Kotono> OOC: Current AC?
[22:14] <Alicia> OOC: 36
[22:14] <Kotono> Clang! Ailcia's breastplate absorbs the impact, stopping the claw from carving into her! OOC: Alicia.
06[22:14] * Alicia retaliates, trying to put this skeleton down as efficiently as she did the last!
[22:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 42." [1d20=19]
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike crit check
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike crit check and gets 36." [1d20=13]
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 33." [1d20=10]
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 30." [1d20=12]
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 29." [1d20=11]
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 16." [1d20=3]
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 divine might, -4 fighting defensively, 4th level arcane strike and gets 17." [1d20=4]
[22:15] <Kotono> OOC: All hits. Pain, ect.
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 7d8+77+12d6+6d6+24d4
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 7d8+77+12d6+6d6+24d4 and gets 228." [7d8=4, 5, 8, 7, 5, 1, 8][12d6=3, 5, 1, 3, 1, 5, 1, 6, 4, 1, 2, 6][6d6=4, 2, 1, 6, 3, 5][24d4=4, 4, 4, 3, 1, 2, 2, 3, 1, 1, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 4, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1]
03[22:15] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira>Alicia>G4'
[22:16] <Kotono> As more bone cofetti flies, the last survivor mindlessly charges Seira with it's claw!
[22:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 34." [1d20=16]
[22:16] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
01[22:16] <Seira> OOC:L 27
[22:16] <Kotono> roll 1d8+12 It wishes it still had it's axe
06[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+12 It wishes it still had it's axe and gets 18." [1d8=6]
[22:17] <Kotono> It's not a deep wound, but Seira gets another stab in her leg, another injury! OOC: Seira.
01[22:17] <Seira> It seems another wishes to learn more about pain, Seira muses to herself, striking at it with all her might before relying on Waukeen's blessing to open up the distance between them.
01[22:17] <Seira> roll 1d20+20
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 and gets 28." [1d20=8]
01[22:17] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
[22:17] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[22:17] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 28." [1d20=13]
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 30." [1d20=16]
01[22:17] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 29." [1d20=15]
[22:17] <Kotono> OOC: All hit.
01[22:18] <Seira> roll 4d10+18
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4d10+18 and gets 39." [4d10=7, 3, 4, 7]
01[22:18] <Seira> roll 1d6+2
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6+2 and gets 4." [1d6=2]
01[22:18] <Seira> roll 1d4+2
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+2 and gets 4." [1d4=2]
[22:19] <Kotono> Seira's blade is highly effective against the skeleton, scarring it's bones with yellow light! Her claws and bite, not quite so much, as it still survives! It rocks a bit, but still looks defiantly dangerous! OOC: Alicia.
06[22:20] * Alicia charges the giant, leaping high up to stab her blade right into its spine!
[22:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -12pa divine might
06[22:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -12pa divine might and gets 35." [1d20=20]
[22:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -12pa divine might crit check
06[22:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -12pa divine might crit check and gets 17." [1d20=2]
[22:20] <Kotono> OOC: It has reach on you with it's claw and since it's freakin'g huge. Just FYi, though I suspect you'll take it since you did crit.
[22:20] <Alicia> OOC: tumble
[22:20] <Kotono> OOC: Why do I always forget that? Better than not, I suppose. Anyway, damage.
[22:21] <Alicia> roll 2d8+54+2d6+1d6+1d8
06[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+54+2d6+1d6+1d8 and gets 72." [2d8=5, 2][2d6=1, 2][1d6=2][1d8=6]
[22:21] <Kotono> Leaping up, Alicia shatters the spine of the giant, sending a third rain of bone down around her! OOC: Battle's done. Free act.
06[22:21] * Seira heals up the damage, not wasting time.
01[22:22] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 35." [3d8=7, 5, 8]
[22:22] <Alicia> "Urgh..." Alicia heals herself, not wanting to let wounds fester in this environment.
[22:22] <Alicia> roll 10d4+10
06[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 10d4+10 and gets 31." [10d4=1, 3, 1, 4, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1]
[22:22] <Alicia> roll 4d4+4 for me
06[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d4+4 for me and gets 13." [4d4=2, 3, 1, 3]
[22:22] <Alicia> roll 2d4+2 for Seira
06[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+2 for Seira and gets 9." [2d4=3, 4]
[22:23] <Alicia> OOC: and the remaining 3 with lay on hands for me
01[22:23] <Seira> "It better not ruin my work from earlier," Seira mutters. "I've tried to be methodic, today."
[22:23] <Alicia> "Why did they throw away their weapons, anyway?" Alicia looks at the discarded axes after healing herself. "Anyway, we do still have a few hours left in the day, so might as well get back to it."
06[22:24] * Seira checks them axes for awesome magic that would have destroyed her very spirit had it struck.
[22:31] <Kotono> The axes are non magical.
01[22:32] <Seira> "Skeletons," she says as if it explains everything, and shambles back to the pillar.
06[22:32] * Alicia resumes her wait, continuing her habit of channeling a smidge of positive energy into herself each hour until they depart.
[22:32] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 8." [1d100=8]
[22:32] <Kotono> OOC: Make a spellcraft check, Seira?
01[22:33] <Seira> OOC: Can I take 10?
[22:33] <Kotono> OOC: No.
[22:33] <Kotono> OOC: This is very complex, long work. I need a check here.
01[22:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+25 (+1 ignorance)
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+25 (+1 ignorance) and gets 31." [1d20=6]
[22:34] <Kotono> Despite the interruption, SEira is able to compensate! She reaches the end of the day feeling satisfied with her work. It's been a good effort, she feels. Good work, good stuff.
[22:34] <Alicia> Time to go home!
[22:34] <Alicia> roll 1d100 rest stop
06[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 rest stop and gets 90." [1d100=90]
01[22:35] <Seira> "They broke up my rhythm, but I think things went even better this way," Seira muses.
[22:35] <Alicia> roll 1d100 home
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 home and gets 15." [1d100=15]
[22:37] <Kotono> OOC: Make a fort save, Alicia?
[22:37] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[22:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 29." [1d20=7]
01[22:39] <Seira> roll 2d8+10 heal
06[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 heal and gets 19." [2d8=6, 3]
06[22:42] * Seira bums some more healing from the Temple of Waukeen, including a lesser restoration for good luck. Mia could surely help her.
[22:43] <Kotono> This goes without incident, clearing up the last of Seira's problems. The two meet at Alicia's the next day...
01[22:43] <Seira> "If something happens, I've made some notes in Draconic," Seira tells Alicia quietly. "My dad or Celebrimbor should be able to continue the work on the seal. I don't think we should pause it."
06[22:44] * Alicia seems a bit tired when she greets Seira, but nothing major. "We're halfway done by now, aren't we? Just keep at it - I'll take you somewhere nice once we're done," she promises.
01[22:45] <Seira> "I hope I don't rot from the inside before we're done!" Seira says cheerfully, and casts all her spells in preparation.
06[22:45] * Alicia does likewise before teleporting away.
[22:45] <Alicia> roll 1d100 rest stop
06[22:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 rest stop and gets 13." [1d100=13]
[22:45] <Alicia> roll 1d100 dome
06[22:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 dome and gets 61." [1d100=61]
[22:46] <Kotono> The two appear at the dome without incident! It's snowing here, a light snow that turns your flesh numb when a flake comes in contact with it. A thin crust of it is on everything, like half frozen, leaking pus.
01[22:47] <Seira> "Oh, for crying out loud," Seira mutters, setting up two Alarm spells this time, both further into this cursed area so that they touch each other and just come up to her.
[22:48] <Alicia> You'd think things would get better from their efforts, not worse... Alicia sets up a campfire by the edge of the barrier as she settles in for the miserable wait.
[22:48] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 80." [1d100=80]
[22:48] <Kotono> roll 1d100+20
06[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100+20 and gets 118." [1d100=98]
[22:52] <Kotono> The snow is starting to fall harder. Nonetheless Seira continues to work, brushing flakes out of her eyes, occasionally letting out tiny jets of fire to do so too. Alicia stays by her campfire, keeping a watch out in a small zone of warmth. OOC: Would the both of you make listen checks?
[22:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 22." [1d20=15]
01[22:52] <Seira> roll 1d20+3
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+3 and gets 14." [1d20=11]
01[22:53] <Seira> roll 1d10+10 FL
06[22:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 FL and gets 17." [1d10=7]
[22:55] <Alicia> "Seira, get out here!" Alicia calls, getting up. "Something's coming!" And it's almost certainly not friendly.
01[22:55] <Seira> Stoneskin's up as soon as she receives the warning, now, and Seira swiftly retreats towards Alicia, casting Shield as soon as she is able to do so.
06[22:55] * Alicia casts mirror image, for her part.
[22:55] <Alicia> roll 1d4+5
06[22:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+5 and gets 8." [1d4=3]
[22:56] <Kotono> As Seira retreats, the two have a little time. Faraway, they can hear song on the snowy breeze. It's words are becoming clear - it's a song, singing of loss and death, of eternal seperation in winter's heart. OOC: Would both of you make will saves? This is a mind effecting ability.
[22:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 29." [1d20=5]
01[22:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+23
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 and gets 24." [1d20=1]
[22:58] <Kotono> Great sadness fills the two women at that song. The singer must be so dreadfully lonely, for her melancholy fills every word she sings.
[22:59] <Alicia> "Oh, Mystra... it's hopeless..." Alicia moans, her posture slumping. "We should just go..."
01[22:59] <Seira> "It's doing something to my mind again," Seira laments, torn between anger and despair. "It's always like that!"
[23:00] <Kotono> The song is getting closer. "Help me...I'm so cold..." The singer laments, "I beg of you, help me!" Far away, int he snowy winds, you can see something approaching, wearing a thick fur mantle and cloak against the storm.
01[23:01] <Seira> "Let's help her?" Seira asks Alicia uncertainly. "Anyone caught in this horrible place could use a hand."
[23:02] <Alicia> "Lets just go," Alicia sighs bitterly, calling over to the figure, "We'll take you somewhere warmer!" she tries to encourage her, before muttering, "For all the good it'll do."
[23:02] <Kotono> It comes closer. You can't see her face, hidden b a fur hood. But you can see glimpses of a body beneath, blue and unclad, the cloak undone int he center. Yet the blue body is torn with festering, rotting wounds, ruining any beauty.
[23:03] <Kotono> "Come to me, please. I don't want to be alone any more," The woman begs, reaching her fur clad arms out.
06[23:03] * Alicia replaces her freedom of movement ring with her plane shift one before she takes Seira's hand and holds out her free one to the maimed woman. "Take my hand, I'll get us out of here."
01[23:04] <Seira> "Let's go!" Seira adds, reaching out her own hand. "This place is horrible. There's no point in staying here!"
[23:05] <Kotono> The woman is close. She smells of charnel death and rot, her hood not hiding her face now. A skull looks back at you, tears of blood falling from her empty eyes, like fragile rubies. "Oh, free me," she offers a half bone, half dead flesh hand out.
06[23:06] * Seira is briefly stunned into inaction by such a horrific display.
[23:06] <Alicia> It's all Alicia can do not to flinch at the appearance. But as she isn't acting hostile, she gives her the benefit of the doubt, taking the walking corpse's hand before plane-shifting them to Ysgard. That place might lift their spirits, and even if not at least it's better than here.
[23:06] <Alicia> roll 5d100 she gets SR and a will save if she doesn't want to come
06[23:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 she gets SR and a will save if she doesn't want to come and gets 133." [5d100=9, 49, 58, 14, 3]
[23:07] <Kotono> The two teleport away! They appear standing on a mountain's slope, a brilliant fjord of glaciers and water below. The sun is high in the sky, providing warmth to the cold air. The figure screams, gripping her sides. "W...what is this place? It HURTS!" Yet Seira and Alicia feel better, constitution restored and bodies filling with pure healing energy!
[23:08] <Alicia> "I... I don't understand, it should be healing you?" Alicia is stunned by this development, considering that - physically at least - she feels great.
01[23:09] <Seira> "Would it heal someone already dead?" Seira asks, looking at the figure in a sort of horrified fascination.
[23:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 planes, would it?
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 planes, would it? and gets 21." [1d20=1]
01[23:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+13 likewise
06[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 likewise and gets 20." [1d20=7]
[23:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
06[23:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 27." [1d20=7]
[23:12] <Alicia> "Then... she'll either find her rest, or she'll be restored fully to life like anyone else who dies here," Alicia replies uncertainly, before trying to console the figure, "Bear with the pain - it'll be over, soon!"
01[23:14] <Seira> Feeling responsible, Seira hugs the figure, channeling more of that healing energy into her. Prolonguing it seems just too cruel.
[23:14] <Kotono> The woman writhes, her cloak blowing back as she does. A dead body greets you - skeleton and rotten flesh, face a skull screaming out. Her bones shudder all over, cracks running over them. Putrid flesh screams out, dissolving as she falls to her knees! Words come, garbled words. "Why...it...hurts...so alone...please..." She looks upa t Alicia, "Don't...want to be...al...one..."
[23:14] <Kotono> OOC: Roll it then?
01[23:14] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[23:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 32." [3d8=4, 7, 6]
[23:15] <Alicia> She may be undead, but she's done nothing wrong in her existence that Alicia can see, and she'd prefer to offer comfort. Clasping the rotting hand, Alicia follows Seira's example. "Shhh," she whispers. "I know it hurts, but you'll feel better soon," she promises.
[23:15] <Alicia> OOC: 15hp lay on hands
[23:15] <Kotono> The screams echo in your ears as you touch her, deathly chill running through you. While the chill doesn't damage you, but raw negative energy does as you hold her.
[23:16] <Kotono> roll 2d6+10 both of you. You have fast healing 2 each round while here, remember.
06[23:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+10 both of you. You have fast healing 2 each round while here, remember. and gets 17." [2d6=1, 6]
06[23:16] * Seira doesn't despair, channeling yet more of the positive energy!
01[23:16] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[23:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 15." [2d8=1, 4]
[23:17] <Kotono> Despite the dreadful, deathful touch, you hold to the woman. Her body crumbles as you 'heal' it, collapsing into a pile of dust. Her skull is intact, empty eyes looking up at you. No more words come, time erasing her undead existance in this realm.
01[23:17] <Seira> "If she'll be restored," Seira says, looking uneasily at the skull, "how long would it take?"
06[23:18] * Alicia looks faintly sick as she steps back. "If... if it'll happen, she'll be reborn with the dawn tomorrow. If not then at least she'll have found peace in her proper place."
06[23:19] * Seira hopes that Waukeen guides the woman's soul along, if no one else is up to the task.
[23:20] <Alicia> "We should stay here until then, at least, all things considered... we can bury her if necessary when the time comes," Alicia says morosely. "Someone back home will probably contact us with a sending when we don't return at the usual time, but it can't be helped."
[23:21] <Kotono> The day passes. The crushing despair leaves after about an hour, mood restored. That evening...
[23:21] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[23:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 72." [1d100=72]
[23:21] <Kotono> 'Alicia, are you alright? Respond if in trouble or confirm if not.' Shankar's voice is heard in Alicia's head.
[23:22] <Alicia> "We're fine, had to make an unexpected trip to Ysgard. We'll be back later tomorrow," Alicia replies before glancing to Seira. "That was Shankar. He never told me he could cast fourth circle spells, now. Good for him," she smiles faintly.
01[23:23] <Seira> "Congratulations," Seira says earnestly. "Things are fine back home?"
[23:24] <Alicia> "I hope he would've said if there were any problems, although it's possible he would've wanted to avoid alarming me if there were," Alicia admits with a shrug. "Sounded okay, so I'll assume things are fine."
01[23:25] <Seira> "Alright," Seira agrees. "I'll leave myself the ability to memorize a fifth circle spell the next morning, so that I could respond to any situation like this without waiting a day next time."
[23:25] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[23:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 25." [1d100=25]
[23:27] <Kotono> The night passes. With the coming dawn...as light comes over the mountain tips, the dust swirls and forms! Legs and arms of ice blue are formed, a body and head reappearing! A naked blue woman lies there, of impeccable beauty. The ground beneath her frosts over with ice in an instant, her breathing beginning. It turns the air around her face into a mask of white mist.
06[23:28] * Seira comes closer, smiling at her. "Are you alright, now?" she asks, keeping her eyes on the woman's face.
[23:28] <Alicia> "It did work!" Alicia grins... although something should be done about her modesty. Did any of her furs survive?
[20:17] <Kotono> <Seira> "Alright," Seira agrees. "I'll leave myself the ability to memorize a fifth circle spell the next morning, so that I could respond to any situation like this without waiting a day next time."
[20:17] <Kotono> > roll 1d100
[20:17] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 25." [1d100=25]
[20:17] <Kotono> > The night passes. With the coming dawn...as light comes over the mountain tips, the dust swirls and forms! Legs and arms of ice blue are formed, a body and head reappearing! A naked blue woman lies there, of impeccable beauty. The ground beneath her frosts over with ice in an instant, her breathing beginning. It turns the air around her face into a mask of white mist.
[20:17] <Kotono> * Seira comes closer, smiling at her. "Are you alright, now?" she asks, keeping her eyes on the woman's face.
[20:17] <Kotono> <Alicia> "It did work!" Alicia grins... although something should be done about her modesty. Did any of her furs survive?
03[20:17] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:17] <Kotono> Her fur cloak survived. It's old, ratty and stained with rather unpleasant things, but it survived. The woman's gaze flickers about as she sits up. She looks at her hands and then her arms, holding the up. "Am I alive again? Is this another winter's dream?"
01[20:18] <Seira> "Oh, you're alive, alright," Seira says, her smile widening as she offers her a hand. "Nice to meet you! I'm Seira, and this is Alicia!"
[20:19] <Kotono> The freezing woman takes Seira's hand. Frost lines her palms, sending numbness up to Seira's shoulder, as if her arm was flash frozen. She stands up, looking herself over. "It seems to be true...This is no dream. I am alive?"
[20:19] <Kotono> roll 2d6+10 cold damage, Seira.
06[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+10 cold damage, Seira. and gets 17." [2d6=1, 6]
[20:19] <Alicia> Well there's some magic that could fix that, although since it's just us girls right now... Seira's preferences notwithstanding - hopefully they can wait a bit to get the woman settled. "We brought you to the Heroic Domains of Ysgard," she explains. "I wasn't really thinking straight at the time, but it seems to have been to your benefit since the power of this realm has restored you."
01[20:21] <Seira> "It's not a dream," Seira affirms. "I can't move my arm. I'm sure in a dream things would go much smoother."
[20:22] <Kotono> "I know not that realm," she mutters as she then looks to the sky and then the ground. Her eyes - like pools of blue ice, snowflakes spiralling in endless revelry within - lock onto the half dragon. "What is you desire from me, then? For what reason have you restored me to life?"
01[20:22] <Seira> "You asked for help," Seira responds, sounding a bit confused. "You didn't want to be alone or suffer, so we tried to help you."
[20:23] <Alicia> "To be honest, it was an accident - a happy one, admittedly," Alicia explains, picking up the cloak and casting a mending cantrip on it. "Do you know how you came to be in your undead state?"
[20:24] <Kotono> "Help? Fah, who believes that against the heart of winter? An accident, eh?" You can feel a cold wind flowing from her, the temperature around you dropping, sending gooseflesh up your arms.
[20:25] <Alicia> "Would you rather we had left you to rot?" Alicia asks dryly as she follows up with a cleaning cantrip, restoring the cloak to full and fluffy untainted goodness before she holds it out towards the woman.
01[20:25] <Seira> "Restoring you to life in this way was the accident," Seira clarifies. "But the desire to help you was real enough. And if you want to achieve something and try, you sometimes arrive at your destination!"
[20:29] <Kotono> "...." There isn't a reply straight away. She looks at her cloak and then Seira, "...mph." She crosses her arms, looking away. "...." "...." "...." There isn't a reply for the longest time. "No matter, I owe you a debt." Now turning back to Alicia, taking her cloak and putting it on before continuing, "Is there anything you desire from me?"
[20:30] <Alicia> "Information would be nice," Alicia replies. "You're obviously a fey spirit of winter. How was it that you came to become a walking corpse instead?"
[20:33] <Kotono> "My mind is hazy. I recall falling weak and ill. A fey does not sicken as you humans do, yet I remember it well. I remember lying in the snow, fading away. I remember being tormented by lesions and disease, falling into a haze of fever. Then...endless days of hunger and groping, never finding what I needed."
01[20:33] <Seira> That sounds disturbingly familiar, but hopefully they'll be done before it happens to them, Seira muses to herself.
03[20:34] * thebladewillkeepondescending is now known as Demedais
06[20:34] * Alicia nods regretfully. "A symptom of the necromantic energy pervading the mountains you call home. We were working to resolve that problem when you appeared before us yesterday - do you have a name we can call you, by the way?"
03[20:34] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Demedais
[20:37] <Kotono> "Neve." The air grows cold and colder around you, frost forming on the tips of Alicia's armor and the tip of Seira's claws. "The source of what laid me low?" She looks long into Alicia's eyes, "It seems I owe you another debt to come."
01[20:37] <Seira> "Wanna be friends, Neve?" Seira jumps in with, sounding quite eager and unable to restrain her excitement any longer. It seems like the fey isn't a bad person after all!
[20:38] <Alicia> "Well met, Neve," Alicia tries not to show discomfort at the decreasing temperature. She smiles faintly at Seira's enthusiasm, and makes a more restrained question of her own, "The question is, what will you do now with your restored life?"
[20:54] <Kotono> She walks around the two, eyes on them all the time. A chill wind blows, carrying flakes of delicate, sharp snow. It forms around them, a small, loosely organized tornado of frost. "I am winter's heart. Those who stumble into my blizzards die a frozen, loneyl death. There is no mercy in winter, only the inevitability of Auril's breath and touch." THe wind picks up, sending the snow flakes into you like bullets, leaving numbing patches. "By
[20:55] <Kotono> THe wind picks up, sending the snow flakes into you like bullets, leaving numbing patches. "By all rights, you would hate what I will do. Every lost traveler would motivate you to stop me, in the names of mercy, protection and good." (More)
[20:57] <Kotono> Her hand reaches out, drawing freezing death on Seira's cheek, then Alicia's. It freezes your blood in your veins, heartbeast slowing, slowing, slowing, slowing. Her cloak starts to blow in the wind, each flap sending gusting flurries scattering about. "Knowing all this, what will you do?"
06[20:57] * Alicia actually starts to smile as she wipes the snow from her face. "There would be no worse fate for one such as you than to simply leave you here in this realm, if that is your creed," she observes knowingly.
01[20:58] <Seira> "Talk you out of doing bad things to innocent people?" Seira asks with a shrug. "If you were just some evil, mindless killer you would've attacked us by now, so you must actually be really nice on the inside and understand reason!"
[21:01] <Kotono> "Hmph." Of the two, the fey's attention goes to Alicia. "A smart mouth, but I cannot deny you may be right. You hold me in your debt and in your power, like a lost traveler in the blizzards. What will you do with me." She leans in to breath this into Alicia's ear, her mind freezing over. She can barely think, thought processes crawling. Then she goes to Seira, "Eternal optimism." She almost scowls, but instead smiles like silk. "You see muc
[21:01] <Kotono> She almost scowls, but instead smiles like silk. "You see much light in your view of the world?"
[21:01] <Alicia> "This is a realm of stunning snow-capped mountains, and vast frozen glaciers," Alicia explains, spreading her arms to encompass the wide vista spread out before them. "Yet look, our flesh mends even now from your hoary frost," she indicates her deadened cheek as it tinges pink and then reverts to its normal fleshy tone.
[21:01] <Alicia> "Even those who would freeze to death in your unforgiving blizzards will rise, hale and whole, with the next dawn. There is no merciless Winter to be found here, Neve."
01[21:03] <Seira> "I tend to take the proactive approach," Seira tells Neve brightly, trusting Alicia to explain the situation to the fey. For her part, she just wants to offer another option, rather than coerce Neve into cooperating. "So I guess I do. See light, I mean. Lots of it!"
[21:06] <Kotono> With a sigh, "It seems I am wholly within your powers, then. I am in debt to you and you hold me over a fate I cannot abide." She stops, the cold lessening. "What will you do now, then?"
01[21:07] <Seira> "I was thinking of going back home," Seira muses, glancing at Alicia. "Sounds good to you?"
[21:09] <Alicia> "Certainly, but we could hardly bring a spirit of ice and frost to the more temperate climes we call home," Alicia replies. "Honestly, though, for all that I find Neve's creed repugnant... how dangerous is she if left alone? You speak of waylaying travellers, but how many have you even seen in your mountains?" she asks curiously, eyeing the fey.
[21:09] <Alicia> Considering their legendary status even among the elves of Pallanth, she can't imagine anyone ever braves them.
01[21:10] <Seira> "I was pretty much thinking about Prime, sorry," Seira voices. "And hey, if you're looking for a place to stay, Neve, I've got a lair I'm not using in the area. It's pretty cold and the mountains are beautiful!"
[21:14] <Kotono> "A lair? So you desire a guardian for it?" She turns her attention to Seira. Her eyes flicker over to Alicia,b ut she doesnt' reply to her question.
06[21:15] * Alicia frowns a bit at the direction this is turning, but waits in case Neve chooses to address her concerns in her own time.
01[21:15] <Seira> "I was just thinking you might want it. For yourself, not to serve me or anything like that."
[21:17] <Kotono> With a hiss, "Just giving it to me? This grows beyond comprehension! Are the two of you so mighty and well planned that I am nothing but a toy to you, to aid on a lark? Are you even the humans you look to be?"
01[21:18] <Seira> "If I lost my home, it would be nice if someone let me stay at their place. That's how I think. So if I want to be treated like that when I fall on bad times, I need to act like that to others myself. That's just how it works, I think. Is that so strange?"
[21:19] <Alicia> "Seira perhaps... doesn't quite appreciate your nature," Alicia allows diplomatically. "Now, as to my own question?" she presses, eyeing the ice spirit warily.
[21:22] <Kotono> "I am not sure, my mind is still hazy," she snaps at Alicia, like a smack of cold air across her brow. "...mph. Where do the two of you live? Somewhere warmer?"
[21:23] <Alicia> "Far, far to the South of your home, yes," Alicia replies. "You would not like it there."
06[21:23] * Seira nods. "It's pretty warm. Not desert-warm, but we live near one. I suppose if you wanted to visit and see it for yourself, I could take you some time."
[21:24] <Kotono> "...." More silence, long silence. At last, Neve replies, "I accept your offer of the lair," she speaks.
06[21:25] * Seira smiles!
[21:25] <Alicia> "Now we come to the question of how you will repay your debt," Alicia announces. "We will return you to the mountains, and you may act as you see fit there, following your natural impulses as you would like," she begins, baiting the hook...
[21:26] <Kotono> "And?" Neve approaches Alicia now, "Speak. Will you want to come play with me, cute kitties? Or use me to further your own ends, to freeze the lifeblood of your enemies, or bury them under a tombstone of snow?"
[21:29] <Alicia> "It's a simple bargain for you to fulfill - surely unimportant if travellers are so rare," Alicia smiles winsomely in reply, knowing her fairy tales. "On your travels across your frozen home, should you come across any traveller who calls out to you by your name, you are to show them mercy."
[21:29] <Alicia> "You will offer them succor and shelter as befits their needs, and guide them safely to where they wish to go." She leans closer, "A trifle, is it not?"
[21:30] <Kotono> A low, freezing snap of a growl comes from Neve's throat. "So I see. This is your entertainment and price? But I have little choice but ot accept."
[21:32] <Alicia> "It is not entertainment," Alicia shakes her head, expression grim. "It is insurance - I would rather not have your future victims on my conscience. If you dislike it then you can stay here, where your own brand of 'entertainment' will have no permanent repercussions on your victims."
01[21:33] <Seira> "Isn't it better if you teach those you come across about the harshness of winter, anyway?" Seira asks. "If they die, they can't spread the word to others, after all."
[21:35] <Kotono> A smile full of chill takes over Neve's face. She reaches out, touching Alicia's cheek again. She feels so cold, so frozen. "Tsch. You can't fool me. You would do well as one of my sisters, were I to feed you my blood. No matter how you dress it up, I understand cruelty. But again, I have no choice. I accept."
01[21:36] <Seira> The blood-feeding part is a bit creepy, but Seira tries to show it. She didn't know there were fey vampires!
[21:37] <Alicia> "One creature's cruelty is another's salvation. Compared to others I've dealt with, you're an innocent babe, Neve," Alicia replies, letting Ysgard work its magic on her frozen cheek. "If the terms are accepted, however, we shall return to the Prime."
[21:40] <Kotono> Neve nods, "Lead back to that fair realm, then."
06[21:41] * Seira offers Neve a hand, taking Alicia's with the other.
[21:41] <Alicia> "Mother of all magic, gird us with your protection against Auril's frozen embrace," Alicia incants first, warding herself and Seira against the cold. That done, she holds hands with the other two.
[21:42] <Kotono> This time, the freezing touch only lines Alicia's grip with painless ice.
06[21:43] * Alicia then plane shifts the party to the mountains, aiming for the pillar but knowing they'll be lucky to land within a hundred miles of it.
[21:43] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 190." [5d100=8, 16, 11, 89, 66]
[21:46] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 5." [1d9=5]
[21:48] <Kotono> Uh oh. Oh sure, freezing water and icebergs don't hurt you right now. Warding against the cold helps. Splashing down is a bit of a pain, as you land in a great frozen sea, floes of ice about! Neve hovers an inch over the water, he toes barely not touching it.
06[21:49] * Alicia doesn't delay, following up with a teleport spell to reach the pillar.
01[21:49] <Seira> As Seira is still holding onto Alicia, even as she sputters, she imbues the both of them with the ability to breathe the water safely!
[21:49] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 38." [1d100=38]
[22:02] <Kotono> Woosh! The pillar has bleak sunshine trickling down from above. Crusty snow stays about, but no more falls from the skies.
01[22:03] <Seira> "As always, so bleak and lifeless," Seira mutters, staring balefully at the pillar.
[22:04] <Alicia> "The mountain lair Seira talked about is over there," Alicia points to the nearby cracked mountain for Neve's benefit. "Keep going till you feel better, if you stay within the vicinity of this pillar you'll just get sick again until we've fixed it, which is still going to take a few days."
01[22:05] <Seira> "Also, it has a few defenses which might be dangerous even to you," Seira picks up from where Alicia's left off. "If you listen carefully, you won't have any trouble whatsoever!"
[22:05] <Kotono> Shuddering, Neve does so. She glances back and nods, flying off without comment, hurrying.
06[22:08] * Seira imbues herself and Alicia with extended Heroism, and then proceeds to make up for lost time with the sealing of the pillar.
06[22:09] * Alicia keeps guard just outside the worst area, using her previous habit of channelling a bit of positive energy into herself on the hour every hour.
06[22:09] * Seira goes with the same Alarm pattern as last time, although it did prove ineffective so she places the indicators fifty feet away, now.
[22:10] <Kotono> OOC: Roll spellcraft, Seira?
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 40." [1d20=16]
[22:14] <Kotono> Seira makes good progress. The pillar is flickering far less as she finishes. Oftentimes she has trouble touching it. Near the end of the work, Alicia notices she feels better, not so oppressed. OOC: Alicia, your con modifier outside of the pillar is -2 now instead of -3.
06[22:16] * Seira hopes she wouldn't need to make use of magic along the lines of ethereal jaunt to finish the job, retrieving her tools of the trade and rejoining Alicia. "I think tomorrow will be the decisive day," she confides in the paladin.
[22:18] <Alicia> "Good, the sooner it's over the better," Alicia smiles, taking them home.
[22:18] <Alicia> roll 1d100 rest stop
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 rest stop and gets 20." [1d100=20]
[22:18] <Alicia> roll 1d100 home
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 home and gets 39." [1d100=39]
[22:20] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia, into #dunes?
[22:20] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[22:21] <Kotono> Mgh. It's far too early to be woken up. It's not quite dawn, Amaryl tranced out next to you. A knock sounds on your door, "Seira?
[22:21] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[22:21] <Kotono> Mgh. It's far too early to be woken up. It's not quite dawn, Amaryl tranced out next to you. A knock sounds on your door, "Seira?" Donald's voice calls, another knock. "Seira, wake up, there's someone for the garrison here to see you.":
01[22:23] <Seira> Donald wouldn't do this without a good reason. Probably. Seira puts on a robe and spends a brief instant fixing her hair and the circlet nestled in it, before slipping outside and closing the door behind her. "Who's here to see me?"
[22:24] <Kotono> Amaryl stirs as Seira goes out, a few groggy words missed. "A messenger," he replies, wearing loose nightclothes, Guardianil held in his off hand. "He said he had orders from Commander Oberuth to wake you."
01[22:25] <Seira> "Well, I'm awake," Seira responds, not sounding upset or sarcastic. Her gaze drifts down to the sword in Donald's hands. "Do I need to arm myself before I meet with this messenger?"
[22:25] <Kotono> "Oh no. Well, um...you know, better an ounce of a sword than a pound of reincarnation magic?" Blushing now, "It's not like there wasn't a devil attack all that long ago."
01[22:27] <Seira> "Got it, tell the messanger I'm on my way and stay here to guard the place," Seira instructs Donald, ducking back inside to grab the Hammer of the Shard and the Resort. She also decides to put her earrings on, fixating the image of herself in a robe to prevent embarrassing accidents along the way, before considering herself ready.
[22:30] <Kotono> On exiting out to the inn proper, Seira finds the messenger waiting. He's a normal soldier, awake enough, though drinking water. He salutes as soon as Seira comes out, "Ma'am, Commander Oberuth has ordered you to report to the meeting room of the garrison as soon as possible."
01[22:31] <Seira> "Let's be on our way, then," she responds, returning the salute and heading off at a brisk pace.
02[22:49] * Demedais (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-208-166.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (scifi-classics.dejatoons.net batcave.dejatoons.net)
03[22:49] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-208-166.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[22:49] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[23:14] <Kotono> --
[23:16] <Kotono> Dawn comes. Pollyanna is waiting at Seira's inn, chatting with Donald. They're drinking hot tea together, conversation overheard, "...home front." Donald says, "I can't stand fighting in water or boats. The last time I did, it was like this musclebound fir eelemental decided to ruin my day."
06[23:17] * Seira is ready herself, and has dispatched a messenger to the Temple of Waukeen upon her return, with the explicit instructions to wait for Gilartal to awaken and then hand him a missive from her. That should handle one matter. The other is talking to Amaryl; Donald could entertain Pollyanna a bit longer easily enough.
[23:20] <Kotono> Amaryl's in her room. She's changing into her day clothes when Seira enters, just finishing lacing up her boots.
01[23:21] <Seira> "You heard about the situation," Seira says without preamble, leaning against the doorframe. "I'm headed back there, and without Alicia's backup this time around."
[23:26] <Kotono> "Who's going with you? You aren't going alone, are you?" Amaryl's color drains into nothing, "You can't go alone!
01[23:28] <Seira> "Not alone," Seira responds. "Pollyanna's coming along, and I'm trying to hire Gilartal's services. But I have one more open spot on the team." She hesitates. "You fell off a horse. It was more horrible than I could put into words, but the only way ahead I can see is to learn a lesson from it and proceed ahead. It's the same thing Waukeen taught me, when she gave me that quest and sent us to Halla."
[23:47] <Kotono> "Seira, I..." Wiping at her eyes, "...but...what if I...What if I die, Seira?" Looking into her eyes, "Will I become a wraith then?"
01[23:50] <Seira> "I won't let that happen," Seira states categorically. Her gaze softens as she looks back. "You know that. But... we were just too overconfident for our own good. It crossed into presumption. You're not ready yet to fight in melee; neither was I until well into my service and training. Archery's a perfectly respectable trade, and we need to stick to the things we're good at.
01[23:50] <Seira> My spell selection's included in that; this time, I'm focusing more on playing to my strengths and fighting the kind of battle I'm best at."
[23:52] <Kotono> "Okay..." Amaryl takes a breath and then, "If that's what you say, it has to be tre, doesn't it?"
[23:52] <Kotono> *true
01[23:54] <Seira> "I understand how you felt," Seira admits. "The combination of having a sword seemingly made just for you call to you, and the desire to fight alongside the people you like, instead of suffering the frustration from seeing them take all the lumps. But that's not how it is. Having support is invaluable, and the thought alone is enough.
01[23:54] <Seira> There is no need for you to rush into the battle headon to be able to share its burdens."
[23:57] <Kotono> "I understand. Without archery support, infantry withers and dies." So saying, she reaches out and takes Seira's hand. "Is that what you're trying to tell me now, Seira?"
06[23:58] * Seira squeezes Amaryl's hand. "That, and playing to your strengths is important. As is planning. With both on our side, how can we fail?"
Session Time: Wed May 06 00:00:00 2009
[00:08] <Kotono> "Okay," Amaryl blushes and squeezes back, "Are we going then?"
[00:18] <Kotono> Thus the three gather, waiting on Seira to teleport...OOC: Ball's in your court.
01[00:18] <Seira> roll 1d100 rest stop
06[00:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 rest stop and gets 41." [1d100=41]
06[00:20] * Seira uses the three scrolls of Endure Elements, here, and then casts an extended Heroism spell over herself and Amaryl. Not left out, Pollyanna gets Greater Resistance instead. "Hopefully, we'll reach our target on the next teleport," she announces. "Then, I'll need you to be alert and try and be strong against the elements and the aura. I'm close, I know it! All I need is another day at most!"
01[00:21] <Seira> roll 1d10+10 FL
06[00:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 FL and gets 11." [1d10=1]
01[00:21] <Seira> roll 1d100 next to the tower
06[00:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 next to the tower and gets 96." [1d100=96]
[00:22] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[00:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 7." [1d10=7]
[00:22] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[00:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 9." [1d10=9]
[00:22] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[00:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 2." [1d9=2]
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> <Seira> roll 1d100 rest stop
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 rest stop and gets 41." [1d100=41]
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> * Seira uses the three scrolls of Endure Elements, here, and then casts an extended Heroism spell over herself and Amaryl. Not left out, Pollyanna gets Greater Resistance instead. "Hopefully, we'll reach our target on the next teleport," she announces. "Then, I'll need you to be alert and try and be strong against the elements and the aura. I'm close, I know it! All I need is another day at most!"
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> <Seira> roll 1d10+10 FL
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 FL and gets 11." [1d10=1]
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> <Seira> roll 1d100 next to the tower
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 next to the tower and gets 96." [1d100=96]
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> > roll 1d10
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> > roll 1d10
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 7." [1d10=7]
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 9." [1d10=9]
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> > roll 1d9
[21:04] <Kobreakfast> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 2." [1d9=2]
[21:05] <Kobreakfast> Woosh! You appear in the morning sunshine. The sky is partly cloudly and lets down enough light ot see by. You stand on a rocky, small island. It's perhaps the size of the garrison, only a short, scrubby growth of grasses stopping it from being pure rock. The air is cool but not cold. As the three of you appear, your eyes are transfixed ahead! Two great creatures engage in combat in the waters beyond! Things of tentacles, like octopi b
[21:05] <Kobreakfast> Things of tentacles, like octopi but massively larger! They grapple one another, fighting all out! Past them, surrounding the island in a long ring, are more of them. Each of those is watching the two fight. A single one is as large as a house!
[21:06] <Kobreakfast> "What...oh my..." Amaryl gasps. "What are those?!"
01[21:06] <Seira> roll 1d20 knowledge: something
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20 knowledge: something and gets 18." [1d20=18]
03[21:06] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@pix050-176.pix.wmich.edu) has joined #evildunes
03[21:06] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[21:06] <Kobreakfast> OOC: Arcana. What's that make your final score?
01[21:07] <Seira> OOC: 40
[21:13] <Kobreakfast> Pollyanna gawks, "I've never seen...it's liek that damned thing took the ocean now!"
01[21:14] <Seira> 'Amaryl, get us to that pillar!' Seira thinks urgently. On her own, she could probably take out several of these things, but it would pretty much depend on whether she got a move on them. In this situation, it's pretty damn hopeless to fight, not to mention utterly pointless.
[21:15] <Kobreakfast> "S-S-S-Seira...wha-what are we going to do," Amaryl whimpers, fumbling for her ring! As she does, putting it on, you can see the ring refocus! Watery eyes turn to you, a dozen glares fixiating on the trio! In Aquan one word is said, in baleful tones: INTRUDER! "Got it!" Amaryl nods, "Take my hands now!"
[21:16] <Kobreakfast> Pollyanna does so without delay!
06[21:16] * Seira never let go!
[21:16] <Kobreakfast> roll 1d100 I'll rule it seen casually for her since she only saw it from faraway seriously and not much at all
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kobreakfast rolls 1d100 I'll rule it seen casually for her since she only saw it from faraway seriously and not much at all and gets 75." [1d100=75]
[21:18] <Kobreakfast> Woosh! You appear at the pillar without incident, just before it! OOC: -2 con now and not -3, remember.
[21:19] <Kobreakfast> Pollyanna shivers, "I'm not sure which is worse, but at least this one isn't a disgusting abomination times ten."
06[21:19] * Seira sighs in relief. "Damn kraken, ocean freaks that they are. I didn't want to have to kill them all."
[21:21] <Kobreakfast> Amaryl shakes all over, "S-so many of them! I never dreamed of a creature like that, let alone an entire flock!"
01[21:22] <Seira> "Never. Never ever ever! Never take that ring off!" Seira tells Amaryl, grasping her hands. "That's why you have it! It's your last resort, in case horrible things happen! It can't help you in your pocket, but it could've saved you life even if one of those freaks had grabbed you!"
[21:24] <Kobreakfast> "Ah..." Amaryl colors entirely, "S-Seira, I was just su-surprised by them and my hands were shaking!" Bowing her head as she blushes like a star nova, "S-ssoryy..."
01[21:25] <Seira> "Just keep the kraken in mind the next time you think about going anywhere without it," Seira says, sighing. "What if you just think you're going for groceries, but suddenly, Esthan appears?"
[21:26] <Kobreakfast> Amaryl hangs her head and nods, "I understand," she says in a small voice.
06[21:27] * Seira nods. "Alright. First, I'll memorize another teleport spell, since we went off course quite a bit. I don't know what went wrong... maybe I tempted fate when I spoke about being near sealing this damned thing back up."
[21:28] <Kobreakfast> "It's the nature of the spell," Pollyanna starts looking about, "I talked to Countess Stronger about it and got her to explain how it worked. There's a chance it always goes awry, yes?"
06[21:29] * Seira grimaces. "Well, yes, but I'm usually ever so careful!"
06[21:30] * Seira takes off her ring of protection, handing it over to Amaryl. "Since that one's spent right now, you would get a better benefit out of wearing this today."
[21:32] <Kobreakfast> Amaryl puts it on without comment. Pollyanna shivers, "We're going to be here most of the day, arne't we?"
01[21:33] <Seira> "Yeah. Just give me a moment," Seira requests, and once a third teleport spell had been memorized she says, "There would be an Alarm spell around me. It gives me a warning from twenty feet away." She pauses briefly. "Please don't make me rely on the Alarm spell. Also, stay together at least until a fight breaks out. There are certain spells I can only use when the two of you are relatively nearby."
06[21:35] * Seira considers. "The conditions inside the field are several times worse," she warns the two at last. "Under no situation are either of you to step inside. Even to save me. Doing so would likely mean you'll die for nothing. Besides, I'm a dragon, so I'll be fine in the end. Is that clear?"
[21:36] <Kobreakfast> "Got it," Pollyanna agrees, "No problem. Anything else?"
01[21:37] <Seira> "Listen to my orders. In lieu of said orders, the battleplan is a fighting retreat. We are not defending anything, and the longer you can deny your enemies a chance of melee while peppering them with ranged attacks, the better. I will ensure that gap remains open longer than normally."
[21:38] <Kobreakfast> "Good luck then," Pollyanna gazes about, settling into her vigil. OOC: Ready to moave along a bit?
01[21:39] <Seira> OOC: Yes. As I said, this time the Alarm is centered on where I am.
01[21:39] <Seira> OOC: And there's only the one
[21:40] <Kobreakfast> roll 1d100
06[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Kobreakfast rolls 1d100 and gets 57." [1d100=57]
[21:40] <Kobreakfast> OOC: Roll spellcraft?
01[21:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 30." [1d20=6]
[21:42] <Kobreakfast> Seira struggles. She only just barely finishes this day's work, exhausted and pushed to the utmost. But it looks to be a success! From here, there's only 2 days or so or work left, assuming no errors. She's only used about 60% of the reagents, too.
01[21:44] <Seira> "We'll need to stay at Elandra's Rest tonight," Seira announces, stumbling back to the boundary and the small campfire Amaryl and Pollyanna have going. "I could get us all the way back, but I don't like doing it with no guarantees, and we've spent the ring already."
[21:45] <Kobreakfast> "At least nothing happened," Amaryl murmurs, "Let's go? The sooner we're gone from this place, the better. I can'ts tand it here."
06[21:46] * Seira takes her valued scroll of Teleport out, wrapped carefully in a water-resistant bag, and places it at her belt. "Let's," she agrees, and invokes the teleportation spell as soon as her hands are linked with Pollyanna and Amaryl.
01[21:46] <Seira> roll 1d100 rest stop
06[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 rest stop and gets 59." [1d100=59]
06[21:46] * Seira packs the scroll safely away once she finds herself at her destination.
[21:47] <Kobreakfast> OOC: Doing to do anything of note or just resting here?
01[21:47] <Seira> OOC: Just resting, then will recast the same spells and go over.
01[21:47] <Seira> OOC: The next dawn, I mean
[21:52] <Kobreakfast> The night passes without incident, Seira finding and feeling nothing wrong. The next day dawns...OOC: Ball in your court.
06[21:53] * Seira casts all the spells in preparation, finishing with Endure Elements, before teleporting them over to the pillar!
01[21:53] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 5." [1d100=5]
[21:53] <Kobreakfast> Woosh! This time teleport is reliable and works without problem!
[21:53] <Kobreakfast> "Same as yesterday," Pollyanna asks.
06[21:54] * Seira nods, and gets to work without preamble!
[21:54] <Kobreakfast> roll 1d100
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Kobreakfast rolls 1d100 and gets 24." [1d100=24]
[21:54] <Kobreakfast> OOC: Lucky. Roll your spellcraft?
01[21:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 37." [1d20=13]
[21:55] <Kobreakfast> The work is hard and harder. SEira feels pushed to her limits, just barely able to get anywhere. Buts he does at last, the barrier strengthening! The pillar barely appears now, only a faint outline! Near the end, "Seira, it feels better out here now," Amaryl calls.
01[21:56] <Seira> "I knew I was getting there!" Seira exclaims, gathering the remaining reagents. "Tomorrow's the decisive day, so we'll have to stay sharp!"
[21:56] <Kobreakfast> "Let's go?" Pollyanna stands, "One more day and we'll be free of this place entirely."
06[21:56] * Seira nods, and teleports them to Elandra's Rest.
01[21:56] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 23." [1d100=23]
01[21:57] <Seira> "Want to go back to Balmuria, today, or just stay here another night and return triumphant in the end?" she asks the two.
[21:59] <Kobreakfast> "Let's wait until tomorrow," Pollyanna decides.
06[22:01] * Seira nods once more, decisively this time. "Let me memorize a Sending and update them," she decides, eventually casting it directed towards Elle, 'We're alright, tomorrow is the decisive day. Will return around this time. If we're not back, then something happened, please try to contact us.'
02[22:05] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@pix050-176.pix.wmich.edu) Quit (Ping timeout)
[22:05] <Kobreakfast> 'Okay. I will. Be careful.' That's the reply Seira gets back.
01[22:05] <Seira> "You're fine, aren't you, Amaryl?" Seira asks after checking herself for those signs of creeping necrotic aura that she had almost grown accustomed to. "No lesions or anything nasty from all the exposure? How about you, Pollyanna?"
[22:08] <Kobreakfast> When she goes to privately check herself, Seira finds a patch of dead skin across her stomach. It's pale with patches of roiling black underneath. Amaryl shakes her head, "No, I haven't. I'm just tired every evening."
03[22:09] * Kobreakfast is now known as Kotono
06[22:09] * Seira twitches from disgust and tries to use her stronger healing spell upon herself.
01[22:09] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 26." [3d8=4, 5, 2]
[22:11] <Kotono> The skin repairs itself. This leaves Seira pristine once more, the dead sking one.
01[22:11] <Seira> If Pollyanna reports feeling fine as well, Seira would just use the other spell on Amaryl and go to bed, eager to finish the task she set out to do.
01[22:11] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 19." [2d8=1, 8]
[22:13] <Kotono> Pollyanna is fine. The night passes, the three regathering int he morning. OOC: Ball's in your court, Seira.
01[22:13] <Seira> The same spells that have served her thus far get cast, and then Seira teleports the three of them to their destination!
01[22:13] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 89." [1d100=89]
[22:15] <Kotono> The teleport is mercifully without incident! You made it back safely.
[22:17] <Kotono> Pollyanna readies her b ow, "One more day. Good luck, Seira."
06[22:20] * Seira gets back to work, her entire body tingling with an excitement even the evil aura permeating this place cannot entirely extinguish! Her first and main priority is to fix the seal. If she is able to do so, and only then, will she try placing an additional clause of only allowing entry to herself and denying it to all else.
01[22:20] <Seira> It carries a certain risk of Esthan walking about aimlessly and literally walking into it, but surely stumbling upon a strong, unshielded aura of death once walking past an invisible barrier would be just as enlightening.
[22:25] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 57." [1d100=57]
[22:25] <Kotono> OOC: Make a spellcraft check, Seira?
01[22:26] <Seira> roll 1d20+34 ignorance?!
06[22:26] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+34 ignorance?! and gets 50." [1d20=16]
[22:28] <Kotono> Seira works harder than she ever has in her life. A haze falls over her as she struggles, putting every drop of energy into it! Her hands dance around a nearly invisible pillar, putting the final touches on! There is a brilliant glow all around as the last symbol is drawn, then...it's done. The pillar is gone. "Seira? Seira?" You can hear Amaryl calling, and then, 'Seira, where are you?' You can see her beyond the edge of the pillar's dome,
[22:28] <Kotono> 'Seira, where are you?' You can see her beyond the edge of the pillar's dome, calling out.
01[22:29] <Seira> 'I never moved,' Seira thinks back. 'What do you see now?'
[22:29] <Kotono> 'Just an empty mountain space,' Amaryl thinks back, 'It's the same, but I still don't see anything past it, the pillar or you. It's like you aren't there.'
01[22:30] <Seira> "Can you hear me?" Seira asks out loud.
[22:30] <Kotono> No response.
06[22:33] * Seira nods to herself, and collects everything she brought along. A small fire disintegrates her bound notes on the artifact, no longer needed as her task is done and she has them committed to memory. Then, once the ashes themselves have been destroyed by an acidic breath, Seira steps outside the barrier, mentally alerting Amaryl that she's coming out and not to shoot her accidentally.
[22:35] <Kotono> Seira steps out! There's no aura here now, no death. It's just like normal mountains. Thin of air and chilly, but not deadly at all. "You did it!" Amaryl cheers, "You really sealed it back up!"
06[22:36] * Seira grins tiredly. "I think I'm allowed to say it just the once. I'm a great wizard!"
[22:36] <Kotono> Pollyanna sits down heavily on the rocky ground, "Ah." Falling backwards, spread out, "For all that this was a legendary deed, I'm glad it's done.:
06[22:37] * Seira channels some positive energy into herself, snorting. "Yeah, yeah. Give me a few minutes to memorize another teleport, and we'll head back?"
01[22:37] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[22:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 13." [2d8=1, 2]
[22:37] <Kotono> Amaryl goes to hug Seira, then, "Sure. I can't wait!"
01[22:38] <Seira> roll 1d100 rest stop!
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 rest stop! and gets 29." [1d100=29]
01[22:38] <Seira> roll 1d100 home, yay~
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 home, yay~ and gets 26." [1d100=26]
[20:15] <Kotono> ---
[20:15] <Kotono> OOC: What did you wanna do, Seira?
01[20:15] <Seira> OOC: I'll go bug Saul for cash
[20:18] <Kotono> OOC: Roll your TP for it? Going alone, too?
01[20:18] <Seira> OOC: Yeah, unless someone wants to come along. I'll say I'm visiting him.
[20:19] <Kotono> OOC: Amaryl'll tag along, if you'r eokay with that. Donald wouldn't mind coming as well, he's kinda restless.
01[20:21] <Seira> OOC: I'll purchase two more scrolls of Endure Elements, just in case.
01[20:21] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 95." [1d100=95]
[20:21] <Kotono> OOC: I'd rule that studied carefully, sot hat's off target.
[20:22] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 10." [1d10=10]
[20:22] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 8." [1d10=8]
[20:22] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 6." [1d9=6]
[20:22] <Kotono> OOC: By the by, note the purchase in the loot topic real quick.
[20:24] <Kotono> Woosh! You immediately notice something is wrong! The brutal cold instantly makes your body go numb! You stand on a hellish, broken ground, waste as far as you can see! The sky is a dying purple-red, lightning dancing freely from horizon to horizon! In mid distances, none closer than 100 feet, large black tornados dance and whirl! Dozens of them, as if mating in the wind's torments! Great clouds of dead dust and rocks fly with them, hurling
[20:24] <Kotono> Great clouds of dead dust and rocks fly with them, hurling and tossed about!
01[20:25] <Seira> "Not again," Seira mutters in dismay, calling upon the teleport spell once more!
[20:27] <Kotono> OOC: Make a concentration check? The intense cold is enough tow arrant one under these conditions.
01[20:27] <Seira> roll 1d20+5
06[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 and gets 25." [1d20=20]
01[20:28] <Seira> roll 1d100 come on!
[20:28] <Kotono> OOC: Go for it. d100
06[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 come on! and gets 80." [1d100=80]
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d6 cold damage, all of you.
06[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 cold damage, all of you. and gets 3." [1d6=3]
01[20:28] <Seira> roll 1d10+10
06[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 and gets 14." [1d10=4]
[20:29] <Kotono> Despite the horrific cold, Seira and company wink away! You appear in the golden halls as econd later! Donald grunts all over, "What in the name of all that's holy was that?" He growls, "Did we take a side trip into the Abyss?"
01[20:29] <Seira> "Don't be silly, that's impossible!" Seira snaps, before looking sheepish. "Sorry. My aim's been off lately."
[20:30] <Kotono> "I-it's okay," Amaryl rubs her body all over, "I-I think we'll get feeling back in a moment or three."
[20:30] <Kotono> "Oh. Oh. Duh. That's why no one goes south of the desert?" Donald's eyes light up.
01[20:31] <Seira> "It was worth than usual. Much worse. We're trying to fix that, but...." Seira trails off, imbuing Donald and Amaryl with healing to help them recover.
01[20:31] <Seira> OOC: CMW and CSW, brings them back to max
[20:37] <Kotono> The healings go well enough. "Thanks," Donald stops his shivering, "So anyway, we're going to go meet your Dad? Idon't think I've ever been here, but wow. No wonder you stockpile lairs. This place is...wow."
01[20:39] <Seira> "You never know when a lair might come in handy," Seira agrees. "It sounds cool when you say you have it, and if you meet a potential enemy and befriend them, you can give them a lair you're not using at the moment! Why, just a few days ago, Alicia and I met this fey who lost her home and now she's living in one of them!"
[20:40] <Kotono> That makes Amaryl giggle. "Seira, it sounds like you're giving homes to stray dogs and animals! I almost wonder if you were meant to be a forest protector instead."
[20:41] <Kotono> "I wish the dogs I give leftovers to were as cute as fey," Donald crosses his arms as he starts to walk.
01[20:41] <Seira> "Well, the other one went to a really huge, intelligent roc--" Seira quickly shakes her head. "But it would be a really bad idea to even suggest it this way around them! Because it might seem like an insult and lead to a really terrible fight."
[20:46] <Kotono> "Well, was the fey cute," Amaryl asks as the three trot along, "Curiously now. Or was it even more alien than a roc would be?"
01[20:49] <Seira> "Pretty cute," Seira confirms. "But even more alien than the roc, at the same time. Just being near her was--" She searches for the right words. "Like, when I helped her get up, my entire arm went numb merely from the touch. She's pretty dangerous even to simply to be near without the air of magic, and it seems to be unconscious, a part of her and not some defense she brought up."
[20:50] <Kotono> "Rather like Antenora or Latha or you," Amaryl bites down on her lip, "Beautiful beyond compare and obviously not mundane and boring."
[20:53] <Kotono> "Uh oh," Donald mutters, "Seira, why don't I go ahead of you two?" With that, Donald picks up his pace considerably.
01[20:53] <Seira> "I like to think that I fit in well with people and don't go on about about the endlessly beauty of deadly winter," Seira tells Amaryl with a teasing smile, gesturing slightly at Donald in confirmation.
01[20:53] <Seira> "It sounds like you're talking just the way I am, when I'm moping or feeling inadequate. But you know that I'm pretty direct when I'm not forced to deal with diplomacy, so if I really thought that, I would've said as much. Don't sell yourself short!"
[20:56] <Kotono> "Well..." Amaryl colors, "You're so pretty! Alicia's so graceful and magnetic! Demedais looks like he could kill a bear with his bare hands! Antenora looks too perfect to be human. Latha....and youg et the idea. I'm just an elf." Blushing hotly, "Do I compare at all to them?"
01[21:00] <Seira> "I guess you're right, then," Seira deadpans. "I'll go marry Demedais because he can kill bears." She laughs, placing her arm around Amaryl's shoulders. "I think you're missing an important piece of the puzzle in your analysis. Who asked whom out to begin with?"
[21:02] <Kotono> "Oh...well..." Blushing even more, "I still feel so...No amount of makeup and fancy clothing can make up for some of that."
01[21:03] <Seira> "It's not that I don't understand. I kept on having doubts for the longest of time. Remember? You kept having to reassure me so much it's almost embarrassing to recall right now. But I got over it. Now it's simply your turn to do that. You're pretty and I like you. That's how it is."
[21:10] <Kotono> "Mmm." Amaryl doesn't reply, isntead being close to Seira for a little time. "Okay." With a breath, "Let's go see Saul then?"
01[21:12] <Seira> "That's the spirit!" Seira agrees. "Want me to ask dad if he thinks people who teleport all over the place and to different planes adventuring are mundane and boring? It might be funny!"
[21:16] <Kotono> Amaryl cracks a smile at that, "Let's go find out?"
06[21:16] * Seira leads on with a smile of her own!
[21:19] <Kotono> Saul is found in the one of the golden halls. Several books are spread out around him, reading by himself and quiet as Seira approaches. Donald's already there, sitting next to him and reading a book as well.
01[21:19] <Seira> "Hey, Dad!" Seira calls over, waving for good measure. "I've got me a question about this adventuring thing. I don't think I'm doing it right."
[21:21] <Kotono> "Well." Saul snaps his book shut, the sound echoing all about, "If you've been doing it wrong all this time, that's a serous concern."
01[21:22] <Seira> "True enough," Seira agrees. "This decline is pretty recent. See, I adventure as always, but I just end up with a net loss. It's like there's no more bad people with expensive things for me to fight around these parts. Tell me, in your great wisdom, how did your generation deal with this dilemma?"
[21:27] <Kotono> "Trade, old money, those manner of things. Sometimes getting by without." With a chuckling glint in his eye, "In my day, we didn't have a shop in Balmuria that could see almost anything."
01[21:28] <Seira> "I do that too!" Seira insists. "But those profits are strictly separated and merely go into more and more ventures along the same vein, so that everyone could benefit in the process and all that good stuff."
[21:28] <Kotono> "In other words, you need more investiment capital?" Eyeing Seira now, "Is this leading up to asking me for a loan?"
06[21:29] * Seira colors. "Oh. Uh, I-- you see, there is this outfit I want. It's super-expensive, the belt along is a hundred thousand gold!"
[21:31] <Kotono> With the faintest smirk on his face, "Seira, what do you want the money for? Particulars. If I'm going to consider investing in you, I want to know the details."
01[21:33] <Seira> "I think I would look good in armor," Seira responds, glancing at Amaryl. "I would, right?" She returns her gaze to Saul. "But really well-made armor suitable for a mage is pretty expensive, and like I said, there's all sorts of accessories. I tried gathering enough money for it on my own, but I can't even regain my losses, much less collect enough. Please feel pity on me and give me gold."
[21:37] <Kotono> "Seira, do I look like money grows on trees? Do I look like a bank?" At that, Saul interrupts himself, "Actually, no, I do. It's the duty of a cleric of Waukeen to consider those matters. Be that as it may, how MUCH money are you tinking of here?"
01[21:38] <Seira> He does, and it's nice of him to acknowledge that fact! "Well, like I said, a hundred thousand may sound like a crazy amount but it's just what I need to get this belt I really like! And if you have twice as much, I bet I could get matching armor, too!"
[21:39] <Kotono> "Seira." Crossing his arms, "That much money could buy a chunk of Malmuth. Before I commit to anything, what's your usual return on an adventure? How much do you take in? What's your stake with the others?"
06[21:40] * Seira grimaces. "I think I lost twenty thousand or whereabouts on recent adventures? But I was doing really well earlier! I'm sure it's just a slump!"
[21:41] <Kotono> "Hm..." Thinking now, "Your last few hauls, how much were they worth? What sort of goods did you take in??"
06[21:45] * Seira considers the question. "First, it must be understood that I'm not a pauper. I do have considerable capital, I merely can't touch it easily if I want to remain effective against the fiendish invasions on our world and all that stuff. On the subject of recent earnings...
06[21:45] * Seira considers the question. "First, it must be understood that I'm not a pauper. I do have considerable capital, I merely can't touch it easily if I want to remain effective against the fiendish invasions on our world and all that stuff. On the subject of recent earnings...
01[21:45] <Seira> I was on a quest by Waukeen to redeem an anklet that unfortunately devalued it, through no fault of me own, I believe, and had considerable expenditures along the way. Something similar happened on my venture into the frosty east of Pallanth.
01[21:45] <Seira> I can't say I was not rewarded for these ventures, and I feel good with what I did, but that doesn't translate to actual money I can use to buy what I set my eye on, regrettably."
[21:51] <Kotono> "In other words, non monetary payment." Steepling his fingers together, drumming them against each other, "Of course, emotional matters compound difficulties with loans. I admit, I wouldn't want to have to forclose on your inn if you fail to pay. Further, my own assets are somewhat in decline, thanks to Filetta's interference."
01[21:52] <Seira> "Which I've managed to stop," Seira feels the need to point out. "In any case, it doesn't have to be a standard loan. I could just make you a partner on the venture I'm going ahead with. It'll change the world!"
[21:53] <Kotono> "Go on..." Saul makes a gesture.
06[21:56] * Seira briefly outlines the linked teleportation circles she intends to use for trading, builing on an alliance between the temples of Waukeen and Helm. It is sound enough, in her mind, that she doesn't need to use some sales pitch.
01[21:56] <Seira> "Waukeen's caravans would have exclusive trading rights, of course, and her temples would become even more valued than before for the exotic, distant goods they would offer. And that doesn't even go into the prospects of offering paid, instant transportation to those who could afford it."
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC: make a diplo check, Seira?
01[21:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 31." [1d20=4]
[21:58] <Kotono> "Well, that's a pretty good idea and you have a good pitch to go with it." Saul rubs his chin, "How much were each of the circles to complete again?"
01[22:00] <Seira> "Thirteen thousand, eight hundred and twenty-five gold, if I do all the preparations myself," Seira tells him. "Per direction. But there would only need to be two such circles established for every new location, rather than a mesh of teleport lines going back and forth forming a complex net."
[22:01] <Kotono> "In essence, these circles are what are compromising your profit margin? Since your'e investing in those, you're in monetary difficulties?"
01[22:04] <Seira> "That's part of it," Seira admits. "Any amount of cash I have goes towards constructing more temples and public works to support them and benefit the local population, or into making this project a reality. But even if I stopped all such investments, I'm not sure I could easily recover from the setback I suffered in Kesse, despite all the help I've already received from my friends."
[22:06] <Kotono> "Tell you what then. I'd rather not loan you money straight out. Loaning money to family is usually a bad idea. Business and family don't mix like that." Now he sits up and then stands, "However. More indirect is agreeable. A road from Pallanth to Balmuria would be useful for everyone. To fund this would for the public good."
01[22:09] <Seira> "Since you're so agreeable to that, how about two roads?" Seira asks Saul. "You know what happened in the east, and despite the work on Waukeen's temple there, its clerics could only do so much to help when aid must travel incredible distances.
01[22:09] <Seira> Besides, if we showed Pallanth's ruling class that they could benefit from the idea without necessarily connecting it to traveling to our lands, it might go over better. Especially since it's coming from someone sitting on the council with them and all."
[22:11] <Kotono> "Tell you what. We start at one road. If that goes well - as a proof of concept - I may be agreeable to underwrite more of them. Not that I don't trust you, but this is revoluntionary uses of magic, not seen in ages. I'm not going to make an assumption on it's viability until it's been executed."
[22:11] <Kotono> "In other words, if you put up, I'll help you," Saul finishes.
01[22:16] <Seira> "Since we're going the business transaction route," Seira muses, "then I'm afraid I must ask for one more thing before I'm satisfied with the deal. We'll need someone on the inside to present the idea to the Council. I could ask Celebrimbor, naturally, but then it leads to arguments between two camps.
01[22:16] <Seira> If you do it, however, being party to the plan, it can be spun as Pallanth's own endeavor, or a joint one, perhaps. Not some foreign proposal the Council needs to accept, but an idea the nobles and the king can judge on its merits, without foreign affairs and too much politics getting in the way."
[22:16] <Kotono> "Naturally." Saul considers, "Is Celebrimbor aware of this? Are any of the Council to be counted on as automatic allies?" Saul presses.
01[22:21] <Seira> "I'm not certain," Seira admits. "I've discussed the general idea with Celebrimbor, but not in the context of Pallanth or with the current timeframe in mind. I will need to broach it openly when we go and visit Pallanth later today or tomorrow. As for the rest of the council? I think only Silverleaf hates me, but it's kind of irrational and there's not much I can do about it."
06[22:21] * Seira glances sideways at Amaryl. "There'll likely eventually be another seat that automatically hates me, no matter who fills it, but that's still a long shot from majority."
[22:21] <Kotono> "I can manage that," With a looong look at Amaryl, "Well then, I have been here awhile. Pallanth would be a good change of pace. Shall we?"
01[22:23] <Seira> "Never one to turn down a free teleport!" Seira chirps. "But first, want to give us a tour?" She turns towards Amaryl once more, fully this time. "It's your first time visiting, isn't it?"
[22:27] <Kotono> OOC: Want to skip ahead a bit now, Seira?
01[22:28] <Seira> OOC: Yeah.
[22:36] <Kotono> Once that's all said and done, "Do you have return magic prepared," Saul asks Seira. Donald lingers back, while Amaryl is beisdes Seira.
01[22:38] <Seira> "In case there's a mishap?" she asks. "Yes, one. And Amaryl has a teleportation ring for emergencies, while I keep a scroll with the spell around. But I think I'd like to stay in Pallanth tonight, if that's possible." Her look encompasses both Donald and Amaryl this time, since it wouldn't do to force such a decision on them.
[22:38] <Kotono> Amaryl blushes and looks away, "I...well..." As she hesitates, "I'm game!" Donald says cheerfully.
01[22:39] <Seira> "It doesn't have to be the Citadel," Seira whispers to Amaryl. "If you're just not ready for that, yet."
[22:40] <Kotono> "Go ahead and go without me. Your business is important and...I'll be ready one day, just not today. Okay?" Amaryl whispers back.
01[22:44] <Seira> "No. No it's not," Seira tells her quietly, shaking her head. "Besides, I was thinking of visiting that fey I mentioned earlier. I thought you might want to come along, to see that she's not some... some threat or anything. To get to know her a little better. Even so, if you'd rather I just returned to Balmuria with you today, say the word and we'll be there in an instant."
[22:48] <Kotono> "Well..." Amaryl hesitates for a time, "Um...where in Pallanth are we going?"
01[22:49] <Seira> "A certain mountain range. It gets pretty cold, there, but I have the right spells. And that horrible aura is gone, now."
[22:50] <Kotono> "On, wait." Amaryl backs up, "I thoguht we were going to the Citadel and I meant where in the Citadel of Light, or did I get mixed up?"
01[22:52] <Seira> "Oh!" Seira nods at that. "Yes. We were going to need to stop midway, and the Citadel was a good choice. We could have used the chance to fill Celebrimbor in on the idea that was discussed today, and then Dad would stay behind and we'll go on towards the mountains."
[22:56] <Kotono> "Oh...well..." Amaryl takes a long breath, "I...I can try?"
06[22:56] * Seira takes Amaryl's hand, and nods at her dad. "We're ready. You still remember your old pal's place, don't you?" she asks teasingly.
[22:59] <Kotono> Balbast is thirty feet away! SEveral tables and people are between you and him, as he shifts! His human form fades, revealing the slaad underneath! He spins his glaive with skill, "Oh, you're just aching to get to go nurse at Helm's saggy bosom, aren't you?" OOC: Well, he got lucky. Init?
[22:59] <Kotono> OOC: Aaack.
[17:09] <Kotono> <Seira> "No. No it's not," Seira tells her quietly, shaking her head. "Besides, I was thinking of visiting that fey I mentioned earlier. I thought you might want to come along, to see that she's not some... some threat or anything. To get to know her a little better. Even so, if you'd rather I just returned to Balmuria with you today, say the word and we'll be there in an instant."
[17:09] <Kotono> > "Well..." Amaryl hesitates for a time, "Um...where in Pallanth are we going?"
[17:09] <Kotono> <Seira> "A certain mountain range. It gets pretty cold, there, but I have the right spells. And that horrible aura is gone, now."
[17:09] <Kotono> > "On, wait." Amaryl backs up, "I thoguht we were going to the Citadel and I meant where in the Citadel of Light, or did I get mixed up?"
[17:09] <Kotono> <Seira> "Oh!" Seira nods at that. "Yes. We were going to need to stop midway, and the Citadel was a good choice. We could have used the chance to fill Celebrimbor in on the idea that was discussed today, and then Dad would stay behind and we'll go on towards the mountains."
[17:09] <Kotono> > "Oh...well..." Amaryl takes a long breath, "I...I can try?"
[17:09] <Kotono> * Seira takes Amaryl's hand, and nods at her dad. "We're ready. You still remember your old pal's place, don't you?" she asks teasingly.
[17:09] <Kotono> > Balbast is thirty feet away! SEveral tables and people are between you and him, as he shifts! His human form fades, revealing the slaad underneath! He spins his glaive with skill, "Oh, you're just aching to get to go nurse at Helm's saggy bosom, aren't you?" OOC: Well, he got lucky. Init?
[17:20] <Kotono> "Of course," Saul wraps magic around himself, snapping his fingers! A few moments later, you stand in Celebrimbor's garden. Saul takes a long breath after, coughing with a ragged, racking tone. "Pfah."
01[17:22] <Seira> "I don't want the inheritance that much," Seira tells him, concerned. "Are you taking care of yourself?"
[17:23] <Kotono> "I am. My magic's still not quite right, even afte rall this time and work on countering the damage." Straightening, "That wasn't as bad as it has been."
01[17:24] <Seira> "Wanna visit Ilmater's realm some time?" she offers. "I hear it's good for that sort of thing, if you still aren't back to full strength after all the time that's passed."
[17:34] <Kotono> "I may," Saul agrees, "Talk about it later, let's go get Celebrimbor. Are you going to come along?"
01[17:35] <Seira> "It would be rude not to say hello at the very least," Seira responds. "We won't be staying long, however."
[17:38] <Kotono> Celebrimbor is needed to be summoned by servants, the group meeting in a quiet, lush sunroom. A trio of elven boys sing and play instruments, the melodies soft as silken embraces. "Well," Celebrimbor clears his throat, "Glad to see you're not grown moldy why away."
[17:38] <Kotono> Saul makes a flippant gesture with his hand, "I'll save that honor for you."
06[17:39] * Seira just waves, for her part. "Since Dad's got things to take care of here, now, I'm hoping he'll be staying for a while."
[17:45] <Kotono> "Oh, at least Council will be more interesting now," Celebrimbor agrees, "I heard you were busy out east, Seira."
01[17:47] <Seira> "Word travels fast," she says with an amused snort. "But I was hardly alone. Alicia, Antenora, Pollyanna and Amaryl invested just as much into making that project a success."
[17:47] <Kotono> "Oh yeah," Donald goes tos it in a chair, "Off sealing this or killing that or befriending a fey."
[17:51] <Kotono> "I heard." Sitting now, "Scion Desjardin has prepared a reward - he was quite insistent about it." Going to sit himself, "Have you seen him yet?"
01[17:54] <Seira> "Didn't have the chance to, no," Seira responds. "I'm not sure how to feel about that. We certainly weren't in this for some reward."
[17:56] <Kotono> "Seira," Saul looks longways at her, "Are you turning down perfectly good profit?"
01[17:58] <Seira> "I might be considering it," Seira admits, herself glancing at Amaryl as she asks, "Do you think it cheapens what we did if we end up getting money for it?"
[17:59] <Kotono> "I don't know," Amaryl admits, "Is it money, though?"
[18:00] <Kotono> "Seira. What will Waukeen think if you start taking up a vow of poverty?" Saul rubs his forehead, "If you feel that guilty, do something good with the money or whatever it is."
01[18:01] <Seira> "Well, I'm easily convinced, if nothing else," Seira relents. "There's no harm in seeing what he had in mind, and there's really no need to offend him if he thinks so strongly about it. I could always turn it down afterwards."
[18:04] <Kotono> "Yeah. I mean...you know, do the work, get the rewards?" Donald shrugs.
[18:04] <Kotono> "As youw ish," Celebrimor shrugs.
[18:05] <Kotono> "Do you know what it is," Amaryl murmurs, "I'm curious now."
[18:05] <Kotono> Celebrimbor shrugs himself again, "I didn't think to ask at the time."
01[18:06] <Seira> "How about we go and visit him, then?" Seira offers. "Dad can catch you up on this idea we're trying to work on, in the meantime, Celebrimbor. I'm sure you've already heard parts of it from me, but we're going forward with it right now."
[18:07] <Kotono> "Good luck," Celebrimbor bids. Then after a moment, he takes a long, critical look at Donald. "You there, Donald. Seira, if you don't mind, I'd like to borrow him for a little while."
01[18:08] <Seira> "If he doesn't mind, I'm good," Seira agrees. "I'll be back for him later today, unless it's something lengthy?"
[18:09] <Kotono> "Um, s ure?" Donald blink-blinks.
[18:10] <Kotono> "Give me a week." Celebrimbor says, "I'd like to discuss certain matters with him."
01[18:11] <Seira> "Maybe there's a pretty girl he wants to introduce you to," Seira whispers to Donald, leaning over to him. "Be on your best behavior!" Turning towards Celebrimbor, she nods with a smile. "Sure thing! Use a Sending if you need me and I'll be here."
[18:26] <Kotono> Thereafter, the two leave Donald and Saul behind. Going to meet Desjardin in the same place as last time, "Is it done," he asks as the two enter, Amaryl keeping behind Seira.
01[18:28] <Seira> "The barrier is back to full strength, from what I could tell," Seira confirms, gracefully stepping to the side just a little bit. "I like to think that we've shown that arrogant past generation that there's hope for us yet."
[18:30] <Kotono> "Hmph." With a tired, leery eye, "Good. The cold lands will be safe from anything but it's eternal chill now?"
01[18:32] <Seira> "Barring outside intervention, yes," Seira affirms. "Although even the endless cold may not be as dangerous to travelers and residents alike in the future."
[18:42] <Kotono> "You've done Pallanth a service once again," He says, standing up. "Come with me."
01[18:43] <Seira> It is true enough, and with a brief nod at Amaryl, Seira follows.
[18:50] <Kotono> You travel deep into Juai Desjardin's abode. You go into stone lined basements, down several sets of stairs. The forest-fresh air is a memory here, air slow moving and musty. Everything is dim and plain, only darkvision allows sight at all.
06[18:51] * Seira stays near Amaryl, not having any difficulty seeing in these parts and ready to help her should it become necessary.
[19:04] <Kotono> Down along, nay, endless hall the three walk. Cobwebs line the way, making your nose twitch and the desire to sneeze manifest. You come to a heavy door banded with a dark metal. Stopping here, "Past this door is the wealth of the Desjardin clan for several generations. I added my own as well in my younger days..." His hand goes to the door, a sigil of an hourglass flashing like liquid fire across the surface. "In particular, I have a few th
[19:04] <Kotono> surface. "In particular, I have a few that may be of direct interest to you and your friends. One is a double-sword from lands far to the west. With what the Council has heard now, I believe these lands must be Kelara. Your ally Alicia uses a sword like it. Another is a set of darts, designed for an arcane caster. You can convert magical energy into them. The last..." With a heavy snort, "Is a weapon that Torm would have loved, a powerful
[19:04] <Kotono> "Is a weapon that Torm would have loved, a powerful mace of peerless construction and enchantment from ages past. True evil will find it unbearable to be stricken by."
01[19:06] <Seira> "The old Torm, I presume," Seira comments. "An impressive collection, it goes without saying."
[19:08] <Kotono> The doors swings open. Here lies the treasures of a thousand ages. Gold and jewlery and statues and silks and so many things that Seira's eyes are momentarily dazzled. It is a alrge chamber, devoted to storing long forgotten wealths. Near the door, three rest on a carved oaken table inlaid with mithral and agates. A double-sword, colored red and blue; a plain, leather gripped mace, and a three-set of darts.
[19:09] <Kotono> "Take one of them," Desjardin invites, "As thanks from Pallanth."
01[19:09] <Seira> 'I wanna take it home!' Seira barely manages from exclaiming, though she certainly thinks it before she comes to her senses.
01[19:10] <Seira> *to stop from
01[19:11] <Seira> roll 1d20+20
06[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 and gets 30." [1d20=10]
01[19:16] <Seira> "We do have an archdevil problem," Seira muses slowly to herself. "Do you think this mace is powerful enough to get past an archmage pit fiend's protections?"
[19:18] <Kotono> "It is both holy and a bane to types of evil." Juai Desjardin agrees, going forward to lay a hand on it's head. "Centuries ago, I swung this mace in battle. I never had a true chance to use all fo it's power. A few stray undead once were all I dealt with...far, far more it was trolls and goblins and a dozen pests unworthy of being slain with this fine weapon."
01[19:23] <Seira> "I see," Seira says solemnly. "In such a case, I believe I could not serve as a master for such a fine weapon with a history of its own. I am not well-suited to swinging a mace around, and while magic goes a long way towards allowing me to do so, it's not practical enough to switch from the sword I use right now. If you would have it, I would graciously accept the darts, Lord Desjardin."
[20:20] <Kotono> "Take them," He gestures at them, "May they serve you well, as well as you've served Pallanth."
06[20:21] * Seira does so, picking up dart after dart.
[20:23] <Kotono> There are three darts total. Each one is soft felt and silver, gleaming tips sharp as needle daggers.
01[20:26] <Seira> Seira's hand lingers over the third dart, finally picking it up. She turns to look back at Juai Desjardin, not quite frowning. "At the risk of sounding ungrateful," she says somewhat ackwardly, "this feels a lot like myself taking credit for what was a group effort."
[20:29] <Kotono> "It's for your entire Guard," Desjardin explains, "You're merely the one I saw first to give it to."
06[20:30] * Seira inclines her head. "On behalf of the Guard, then, I would like to thank you for your generosity, Lord Desjardin."
01[20:40] <Seira> OOC: Okay! Two castings of Endure Elements on us two, then two Extended Heroism, then to the rest stop and use the ring to get to the lair's main entrance
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d100 rest stop
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 rest stop and gets 84." [1d100=84]
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d100 lair!
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 lair! and gets 4." [1d100=4]
[19:46] <Kotono> ---
[19:46] <Kotono> Okay Seira, repeat what you said in P<M?
01[19:47] <Seira> As Deme suggested, we'll look around for stuff. I have DM, and we have the time, so taking 20 with Deme aiding.
[19:51] <Kotono> If you need to move rubble, how areyou going to do it? Magic? Muscle?
01[19:52] <Seira> Kensai focus + magic?
01[19:52] <Seira> We have the time, so if it's something we can move, we'll do it. If not, we'll return another day.
[19:52] <Kotono> Okay. Do you have K: Archtexture or engineering or anything like that?
01[19:53] <Seira> At +15, yes. +4 for greater heroism, maybe +4 divine since Waukeen surely approves of this?
[19:54] <Kotono> The divine bonuses are gone. I was going to say that, but I was so rushed to get to work on time yesterday that it got lost in the hustle. But yeah, roll it?
01[19:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+19
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 and gets 20." [1d20=1]
[19:57] <Kotono> It'll take several hours of work. You have to move a lot of rubble and chuck stuff around, but you manage to find the staff Filetta used. No sign of her body, just a few bloodsplatters. The staff is okay, a bit scraped up, but nothing devastating.
[20:03] <Kotono> ----
[20:03] <Kotono> Okay, are you going alone, Seira?
01[20:03] <Seira> I took Amaryl along last time, so we'll go again
[20:05] <Kotono> Okay, roll TPs?
01[20:05] <Seira> I'll refresh spells, but basically I'll have lvl6 stuff blank and lvl5 all TPs
01[20:06] <Seira> roll 1d100 rest stop
06[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 rest stop and gets 74." [1d100=74]
01[20:06] <Seira> roll 1d100 lair
06[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 lair and gets 10." [1d100=10]
01[20:06] <Seira> Endure Elements, etc
[20:06] <Kotono> OOC: Where in the lair?
01[20:06] <Seira> Entrance, I wouldn't want to be rude
[20:07] <Kotono> Brr! The air is thin and cold, crisp enough to cut like a dagger. The ice on the floor and the walls is thicker, stronger. From above, in the crevasse, snow comes down from a cloudy gray sky. Several inches of it lie on the ground here.
01[20:08] <Seira> "Neve!" Seira calls loudly. "Hey, Neve! It's Seira! I'm here to visit! Is it okay?"
[20:10] <Kotono> "Neve?" Amaryl calls as well, taking a few hesitant breaths.
01[20:11] <Seira> "If she can't hear us, we'll just have to wait a bit and I'll try a Sending," Seira tells her, deciding to give the fey some time to respond, first.
[20:13] <Kotono> A chilly wind comes. From the passage leading to the former lair of the silver dragon Neve emergies. She is followed by the howling winds of winter, blowing the snow about. "Seira," she greets here.
06[20:14] * Seira gives her a friendly wave, smiling. "You heard us! That's great, Sendings take forever to prepare and cast." She gestures at her companion. "Neve, this is Amaryl. Amaryl, Neve. Now we're all acquainted!"
[20:15] <Kotono> A frosty gaze is what Amaryl gets. After, "You have come. What is it you desire from me?"
01[20:17] <Seira> "I realized that I really left this place in a terrible state. We were looking for what it was that was causing all the death around these parts, so we weren't too careful with the lair. A few things broke... I wanted to offer you some help in cleaning up?"
[20:19] <Kotono> A long look, "You constantly emote caring and kindness." She says it without feeling, then, "I do not mind this. I have crafted it with ice to my tastes. There is much space here as well, more than sufficient to use."
01[20:20] <Seira> "It's only polite to clean after yourself, and it's a great custom to help people move in, I find," Seira says. "But if you managed on your own, that's okay. What about the traps? Are they bothering you? If it's a pain to deal with them, I can disable those you don't like."
[20:22] <Kotono> "I've stayed in the dragon's former lair area," She answers, then after a moment, "Why is there a broken, giant statue lying there?"
01[20:24] <Seira> "It was one of the traps and it was too dangerous to approach to disable safely," Seira responds. "It had to be broken, pretty much, since I'm only in the habit of gambling with my life when it's absolutely necessary. And, umm, that's one of the things I wanted to help you with tidying up. I could... fix it, I suppose. If you'd like to keep it instead?"
[20:25] <Kotono> "I haven't found that one yes." With a look of slight alarm, "That would be prudent, yes."
01[20:25] <Seira> "I'm pretty sure it can't hurt anyone ever again," Seira states categorically. "But if you like the way the giant statue looks, sure, why not!"
[20:28] <Kotono> "What is the story about that," Amaryl speaks up here, "The statue, I mean."
01[20:31] <Seira> "It was attacking us on sight or something painful like that," Seira responds, happy that Amaryl is getting involved in the conversation. "With magic. Actually...." It takes a few moments to draw the memory out, and then Seira begins to tell the two of how they ventured to this lair and faced all the defenses within.
[20:34] <Kotono> AS the story is told, "Hmph. I recall a dragon did live in this area, though we seldom interacted." Neve finishes, "So it was twisted by the necromancy as well?"
[20:36] <Kotono> "How wonderful!" Amaryl is blushing by the end, "You fought so skillfully, it sounds like."
01[20:37] <Seira> "Unfortunately," Seira confirms for Neve. "I came here hearing about her. I wanted to become friends, but she just went out of her way to venture out and kill villagers for no reason we could discern and didn't explain herself when we finally met." She smiles at Amaryl's enthusiasm. "I'll admit to enjoying the challenge of the fight, but it's still regretful thing had to come to that."
[20:41] <Kotono> "Sometimes you don't have a choice. Sometimes the trolls and goblins have to be stopped. That's how it is in the warmer regions of Pallanth," Amaryl shrugs eloquently, "I see that as we travel. The things we oppose, we have to stop. We can't let shadows or monsters run free."
[20:43] <Kotono> "An interesting story, nonetheless," Neve lightlys cowls, "Your power is without question. Able to transvere the planes with a thought, able to defeat the dragon and it's servants with ease and survival."
01[20:45] <Seira> "We live in interesting times, so there's plenty of stories to be shared," Seira says pleasantly, ignoring Neve's no-doubt fake scowls. She understands the need to put up a front, after all. "How about you? Want to tell us one?"
[20:47] <Kotono> "Oh yes. I think you won't like them, though," Neve retorts, "Do you wish to hear how travelers froze to death in blizzards?"
01[20:48] <Seira> "Probably not, unless they were really bad," Seira admits. "Don't you have a happier story to share, though?"
[20:49] <Kotono> "Not in particlar," Crossing her arms here and narrowing her eyes, grumpy, "I am winter. Does winter play with you and send you home with milk and cookies, or does it give you frostbite if you endure it too long?"
01[20:51] <Seira> "Winter can be fun, too!" Seira protests. "Winter has pretty snow, and a bit of chill is nice once in a while. And snow elves! You can make them! In the snow... in winter...." Seira trails off. "You just caught me off guard so this doesn't count! I'm sure there's plenty of perfectly nice, fluffy things winter stands for!"
[20:51] <Kotono> "You know." Amaryl syas, "What about a snowball fight? Or making snow angels? Or enjoying a walk in the winter? It's not like winter is entirely evil like you make it want to be."
06[20:52] * Seira nods enthusiastically. "Like all that!"
[20:55] <Kotono> "Hmph." Crossing her arms even more and looking away, Neve doesn't respond.
01[20:56] <Seira> "How about icy treats? Everyone loves them!" Seira insists. "Even in summer. Especially in summer! It's a little taste of winter to brighten up your day!"
[20:56] <Kotono> "Oh yes!" Blushing a little now, "Sir Celebrimbor will make you iced drinks with a bit of magic in the summer, if the Council asks nicely enough. It's very pleasant."
06[20:57] * Seira can't help herself, she laughs at that.
[20:58] <Kotono> Amaryl starts to laugh as well, shaking. "He complains it's a waste of his ability, but when His Majesty thinks it's a good idea on a hot day..."
01[20:59] <Seira> "An archmage... making snow cones...." Seira wipes away a tear. "Oh, it's just too much."
[20:59] <Kotono> Amaryl b reaks into another round of laughter, "It's very practical, though!"
01[21:00] <Seira> "How about we have some, now?" Seira suggests. "We could even have a contest, of who makes the best treats!"
[21:03] <Kotono> "Do we really have the," A stop for a breath, winded, "The materials for it?"
[21:03] <Kotono> Neve glares, "Winter is about freezing alone inthe snow! It's not about treats!"
01[21:04] <Seira> "An entire elven court disagrees!"
[21:07] <Kotono> "...gah!" Throwing her arms up into the air, "You're missing the entire point of winter!"
01[21:09] <Seira> "Then tell me, honestly," Seira asks Neve, placing her hands on her hips, "if your winter is all about being alone, are you happy with that sort of winter? Are you never sad? Bored? Lonely? If you don't have anyone around to count on when you're in trouble, how can you get by?"
[21:12] <Kotono> "What, do you think I'm human? I'm the incarnation of winter!" Neve snaps, "That's meaningless to me!" Yet she growls, "I...usually don't get in trouble. The necromancy was an exception!"
[21:12] <Kotono> "Really? Weren't you dead?" Amaryl blushes here, "Sorry, but that seems like a big mistake to make."
01[21:13] <Seira> "I could be mean and insist that it only takes one mistake, one moment of weakness and then it's all over," Seira muses, tapping her lips thoughtfully. "But I won't be. Besides, were there two exceptions, in this case?"
01[21:14] <Seira> *weren't
[21:15] <Kotono> "What was the second?" Neve asks crossly, glaring at Seira.
01[21:16] <Seira> "When you returned to life, and Alicia made you an offer you couldn't refuse," Seira tells the fey fairly bluntly. "You can't tell me you weren't troubled, then."
[21:19] <Kotono> "Hmph." Now with a blush, "T-that's not the point!"
06[21:22] * Seira finds Neve's behavior utterly adorable, but doesn't voice her thoughts in case her audience doesn't share them.
01[21:22] <Seira> "You're right," she says instead, taking Neve's hand in hers. Seira has no idea whether the fey can turn off her ability to harm her by a mere touch, or if she'd even want to, but it doesn't matter. "The point is that we're friends, and I'll be here for you when you need me. If you're troubled. Even if you're just lonely and don't want to admit it."
[21:24] <Kotono> Her hand jerks away very quickly, only a momentary, chilling touch. "Youa re absolutely, revoltingly sappy!" Neve turns away entirely, back to Seira. "What, do you hope this will rub off on me and I'll start sounding like you?"
02[21:28] * Nao (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Ping timeout)
01[21:29] <Seira> "I don't want to force you into anything, if that's what you mean," Seira responds, retrieving a small feather and stretching her hand out past Neve, so that the fey could see it without turning back towards her, if she's too embarrassed for it right now.
01[21:29] <Seira> "Take this. It's a magical feather, so that if you ever want to see me on your own, just send it towards me. My magical crest is on it, so even if you don't add a message, I'll know it's from you and come straight away!"
[21:30] <Kotono> After a few moments, Neve takes the feather. "I see," is all she says in reply.
[21:30] <Kotono> 'She's so cute when she pouts,' Amaryl observes in Seira's mind. 'You seem to put her so off balance.'
01[21:31] <Seira> 'Her cuteness is not to be denied,' Seira agrees with Amaryl, before taking her hand. 'But it really is the best when I make you blush!'
[21:33] <Kotono> Amaryl does just that, blushing deeply. "Seira..." she says aloud, eeping and going to cover her mouth with her hands. 'I mean, Seira!'
03[21:33] * Nao (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #evildunes
01[21:34] <Seira> "I wonder," Seira voices. "Are there spells to allow you to visit warmer climates without discomfort? Something similar to the magic that lets us be here, perhaps."
[21:34] <Kotono> OOC: ?You could make a K:A check on that, Seira, that's well within your knowledge.
01[21:34] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
06[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 and gets 29." [1d20=8]
[21:35] <Kotono> "You're the mage," Neve retorts, "You're asking ME?"
01[21:36] <Seira> "I'm asking myself!" Seira exclaims. "And I'm pretty sure the same spell would work. If you ever want to see our home, you could!"
[21:37] <Kotono> "Hmph. Maybe I will." After a few moments, "Your region is mild, is it not? It could use a visit from the heart of winter."
01[21:38] <Seira> "It's pretty comfortable," Seira agrees. "And you're always welcome, you know that."
[21:40] <Kotono> "I'll remember that," Neve murmurs, "Is that all?"
01[21:41] <Seira> "If you were thinking about taking a nap or something like that, we could return another time," Seira offers. "And if you've got nothing better to do, I've got all sorts of funny stories to tell from the time I was training with the Guard and a clear schedule for the rest of the day~"
[21:48] <Kotono> On arriving home, Seira and Amaryl find Donald right at the front of the inn. His hair is nicely cut now, wearing a green tunic instead of his armor. His posture is straight and correct, "Hello, Seira," he greets her with a carefree smile.
01[21:49] <Seira> "Hi! Did you sell your armor?" she asks, getting straight to the point.
[21:50] <Kotono> "Oh no." Blushing and rubbing the back of his head, "Sir Celebrimbor gave me a crash course on elven etiquette. Um, I'm supposed to keep doing this and acting like this. Oh yeah, Gilartal's looking for you!"
01[21:51] <Seira> "I was right?!" Seira exclaims excitedly, skipping closer to Donald and grasping his hands eagerly. "It really was a match-making deal? Is it his granddaughter? Does he have a granddaughter?"
[21:52] <Kotono> After a moment, Donald's hand goes to his belt. A rapier rests there, "By the way, is it okay if I do something with this? It's really not much of a weapon..." Donald mutters, then, "Um...well...I did meet one really nice girl...but...um..." Blushing up now, "Seira!"
01[21:53] <Seira> "Ignore this un-elf-like behavior," Seira says primly, letting go of him as if nothing had happened. "Ahem. You simply must tell me all about her."
[22:01] <Kotono> "Grrrr..." Nearly growling at that, "She's about 150 or so, really cute, um, she like poetry and riding in the forest and singing."
[22:01] <Kotono> Amaryl giggles at that, "What's her name? I may know her."
01[22:02] <Seira> "A valid point," Seira agrees, nodding. "There might be priceless insider information waiting just within reach."
01[22:03] <Seira> 'Why is it elflike to give up a perfectly good magical armor and walk around in a tunic?' Seira telepathically asks Amaryl in the meantime. 'It's a shirt! It doesn't stop the bad people and their weapons!'
[22:04] <Kotono> 'I don't know. Elves wear armor too. Maybe it's just wearing it for the point of, like training? Ask him?'
[22:04] <Kotono> "Fine. Her name is Yasyla." Donald sighs as he says that, "She's minor nobility, I believe."
01[22:04] <Seira> 'Maybe the point is to get him to complain to his wizened master, which would mean there is nothing further to teach him!'
01[22:05] <Seira> "Doesn't immediately ring a bell," Seira says instantly. "To me, anyway. How about you, Amaryl?"
[22:06] <Kotono> "I've met her a few times. She's nice." With a polite smile, "Good for you, Donald."
[22:07] <Kotono> 'She's a bit vapid.' Amaryl says, and then, making an awkward face, 'Er, I mean that'....well, no, that is true.'
01[22:07] <Seira> "I'm glad for your sake, too," Seira tells Donald honestly. "You probably gathered that from earlier. Or any other time. Anyway! What's the deal with the rapier?"
01[22:08] <Seira> 'Maybe some of his lip will transfer over to her?' Seira muses thoughtfully, before blushing lightly. 'Not that way! Well, maybe that way, too?'
[22:09] <Kotono> "SEIRA!" Amaryl gasps aloud, coloring all over her face.
[22:09] <Kotono> "Well, you see, app-huh?" Donald begins, "What's wrong, Amaryl?"
01[22:09] <Seira> "It is a gift I have," Seira says proudly. "One of my most valued powers. Don't dwell on that and tell me about the rapier."
[22:10] <Kotono> "Okaaaaay. Well, apparently I need to learn a 'graceful' weapon." Donald makes a farting noise with his lips, "Yeah, that's what I think of it. Dammit, a bastard sword is a good enough weapon! What am I going to do, stick someone to death with this thing?"
[22:10] <Kotono> "That's exactly it," Amaryl says, "A rapier's a weapon built around thrusting."
01[22:11] <Seira> "Is it magical?" Seira asks, ever practical.
[22:12] <Kotono> "No. It's well made, but..." Drawing it, "It's not even made of silver or adamantine or anything. Feh." Donald offers it to Seira, "Can you take it? I'd rather go back to my bastard sword and a shield."
01[22:14] <Seira> "I could, but that would be pointless," Seira responds, politely shaking her head. She takes Amaryl's hand and shows Donald the ring on her finger. "You need to get one of those, and then imbue it with the Keen Weapon spell. I could do it for you, or Elle, or Abagail or even Alice. Call upon it in combat, and charge a spell through your weapon as it hits."
01[22:14] <Seira> She smirks. "You might just think about switching weapons at the result."
[22:16] <Kotono> "Really?" Donald says, "But if I did that, couldn't I just do it with my bastard sword and get the same result?"
01[22:19] <Seira> "Each weapon's different, for one," Seira tells him. "In fact, how about a small reading assignment? Explore what a keen rapier could do with the Weapon of Energy spell, boosted by a channeled spell. Compare it to a bastard sword attempting the same. There's also the matter of a shield, which you could use far more easily with the rapier. Worth a try, don't you think?"
[22:25] <Kotono> Donald sighs, "Okay, okay, okay. I will, teacher. Do you want me to practice my grammar and spelling tonight, too?"
01[22:26] <Seira> "Sure, whatever makes you happy," Seira says flippantly. "So Gilartal was looking for me? Did he say what he wanted?"
[22:27] <Kotono> "No, just a message for you to come to the temple as soon as you can," Donald shrugs now, adjusting the collar of his tunic.
01[22:28] <Seira> "I'll do that, then," Seira says. "Wanna come, Amaryl?"
[22:30] <Kotono> Amaryl considers several seconds, then smiles and takes Seira's hand. "Sure. I'm not tired yet."
06[22:30] * Seira gives Donald a wave. "Later!"
Session Close: Thu May 14 22:34:22 2009
Session Start: Thu May 14 22:34:22 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[22:34] * Disconnected
02[22:34] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[22:34] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[22:34] * Topic is 'Seira>Alicia>G4'
03[22:34] * Set by Kotono on Mon May 04 21:16:39
03[22:34] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[22:38] <Kotono> You find Gilartal in his chambers, as per usual. He's looking over several documents, "Seira, there you are!" he says quickly, "Come over here."
02[22:38] * Alicia (WinNT@user-54444c44.lns3-c10.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[22:38] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
01[22:39] <Seira> "I'm here," she needlessly announces her presence, stepping closer as requested. "What can I help you with?"
[22:40] <Kotono> "We've struck gold," Gilartal says solemnly. "In more than one way."
01[22:41] <Seira> "I'm always happy at the striking of gold!" Seira chirps. "Need heavy-dury magic to help retrieve and process it?"
01[22:41] <Seira> *duty
[22:43] <Kotono> "As a matter of fact, being literal was one way. In the Galkass Mountains, on the Valandia side. In the low hills, we have someone who came back with about six sackfuls of pure gold nuggets. He found a rich vein and he says it was thanks to Waukeen. He's getting a cut in exchange for directing us to it and giving us the rights. So yes, some help there is nice and we've been celebrating today because of it. But that's not the main reason."
[22:44] <Kotono> So yes, some help there is nice and we've been celebrating today because of it. But that's not the main reason."
06[22:45] * Seira nods. "I've been considering spells that might be adapted to help with transportation of large amounts of minerals, and Lagann can also pitch in, here," she comments, otherwise listening to the real reason Gilartal was looking for her.
[22:46] <Kotono> "We were minting and pressing coins with Waukeen's face on them," Gilartal begins, "But a batch came out...differently."
01[22:47] <Seira> The only way to have gold coins, really, Seira privately thinks. "Oh?" she asks curiously.
[22:49] <Kotono> Gilartal takes a heavy sack from his belt, spilling out a few dozen coins. He sorts them, each one imprinted differently. "Our printer swears up and down that he printed these normally, but each one came out as part of something. Here." Sorting them around into a square...OOC: Make an int check?
01[22:49] <Seira> roll 1d20+10
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11." [1d20=1]
[22:50] <Kotono> The printings connect to make a map! It doesn't ring any bells, though, though in the bottom corner there's the image of a roaring dragon, along with a stylized S.
01[22:52] <Seira> "It's a map," Seira states, frowning. A bead of sweat trails down her cheek as she puts all the efforts of her mental faculties towards resolving it, before giving up with a sigh. "And since it came from Waukeen, I'd wager it involves me?"
[22:53] <Kotono> Tapping the one coin with the dragon and the S, "I think so. I sure of it." Gilartal says, "Any ideas of where it is offhand? Can you make heads or tails of it?"
[22:53] <Kotono> Amaryl laughs a little at that, "That was terrible."
01[22:54] <Seira> "I'll need to research the matter, I'm afraid," Seira responds, ignoring the pun. She never knew Gilartal could tell jokes, live and learn....
[22:55] <Kotono> "They're yours." Putting the sack by Seira, "I can't get over the feeling that it's something very important."
01[22:56] <Seira> "Thanks," Seira tells him, taking the coins. "It's not often that Waukeen sends me a message." Not often at all, she adds mentally, maybe twice in her entire lifetime. "I'll get started on decyphering it right away."
[22:57] <Kotono> "I'll help," Amaryl volunteers, "If it is from her, it's naturally important."
01[22:57] <Seira> "Let's go see Elle?" Seira suggests. "She'll have all sorts of books I don't, and if I don't recognize the map she might! She's not cursed to flunk geography forever, after all."
[18:27] <Kotono> ------(Ninja Ko)--
03[18:27] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[18:29] <Kotono> Elle is found in her shop. She's resting at the counter, Alice busy sorting scrolls, while a broom sweeps up dust of it's own volition. "Oh, Seira," Elle calls, yawning, "Back in one piece again? Always good to see."
06[18:30] * Seira waves at Alice, before nodding. "My world-saving count went up."
[18:32] <Kotono> "Oh good, that means you have money," Elle chirps, "That's how it usually works? Here on business then?"
01[18:33] <Seira> "I do have some capital!" Seira agrees, quite happy over that development. "And there's something I want to order, but that can wait. Mind giving me a hand with this map?" And she places the bag of coins on the counter.
[18:33] <Kotono> "Coins? Huh?" Elle double blinks, "That looks like a sack full of coins, not a map, or am I missing something?"
06[18:34] * Seira begins arranging them together. "It's a message from Waukeen. That it's a map seems clear enough, once you set them just right...."
[18:35] <Kotono> Elle examines them for a time, as...
[18:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[18:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 21." [1d20=13]
[18:36] <Kotono> "Oooooooh," Elle takes about fifteen minutes, standing up after. "Alice, bring me a map of the southern Galkass Mountains. The one in the old Malmuthian style. I think I've seen this somewhere before."
06[18:37] * Seira snaps her fingers. "Of course! That's the general area where the gold vein was found, we were told, right?" she says, glancing at Amaryl for confirmation.
[18:38] <Kotono> "I think so," Amaryl murmurs, "That sounds right."
[18:39] <Kotono> Once Alice brings an old, well kept map, Elle spreads it out. It looks to be of various old mountains. Pointing to one bit, "See this here? I thought it looked familiar. Back when I adventured, I spent some time wandering in this area. But the map ends here," she gestures, then to the coins, "But the coins continue it. From the way it's designed, I'd estimate it leads into some sort of cave."
06[18:42] * Seira gets a clean piece of paper and attempts to transcribe the two maps into a single one, focusing on the relevant section of it. "It seems very much like an invitation."
[18:43] <Kotono> "I'd say so," Elle agrees. Transcribing it, you find it looks to indeed be a map into some sort of cave. A rough outline of a way to go, leading into some deep chamber in the ground.
03[18:45] * TaiChie is now known as Demedais
06[18:46] * Seira considers. "I'm a bit low on teleportation spells, but I could make the attempt," she voices, glancing speculatively first at the map, then at Amaryl. "It seems important, so I shouldn't really miss it. Coming with me?"
[18:49] <Kotono> "I will," Amaryl agrees. Elle stands up and stretches, "I can take you there myself. I'm familiar with the area, though you'll have to manage the way back."
01[18:50] <Seira> "That's hardly a problem," Seira assures her.
[18:52] <Kotono> With that, Elle gathers the two and teleports!
[18:52] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[18:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 66." [1d100=66]
[18:53] <Kotono> The three appear in the higher foothills of the Galkass Mountains. The air is chilly here, winter blowing in it. Ahead of you is a rocky way, Elle pointing, "Just follow that incline up," she points, "If I read the map right, the cave should be a bit past it."
01[18:54] <Seira> "At least the cold won't be a problem," Seira muses, before giving Elle a grateful smile. "Thanks! You've helped lots already!"
[18:56] <Kotono> Elle nods and vanishes away with a few more words of power!
[18:56] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 82." [1d100=82]
06[18:57] * Seira consults the map, before following it cautiously. "It could be a challenge," she warns Amaryl, "so if things get violent, just try to keep your distance and remember about the teleportation ring, alright?"
[19:04] <Kotono> "Got it," She says, starting to ascend up the rocky slope.
01[19:06] <Seira> "So, you and Waukeen?" Seira asks curiously along the way. "When did that happen?"
[19:08] <Kotono> "Hm? Wait, what?" Amaryl turn sto Seira, "What do you mean exactly?"
01[19:09] <Seira> "'If it's from her, it's naturally important'?" Seira repeats. "Things like that. It sounds like you have been successfully converted!"
[19:10] <Kotono> "Well, if it's from the Goddess you revere, I would think it's important!" Amaryl blushes hotly to that, "THat just makes good sense! But um..."
01[19:11] <Seira> "So I got my facts wrong, but I'm still right about it?" Seira asks innocently.
[19:13] <Kotono> "To be honest?" Looking upwards as sh ewalks, picking her way up the slope, "I haven't really decided. Waukeen seems very nice, though I'm not done studying her. Though...why do you follow her? Because your father did?"
01[19:18] <Seira> "That's certainly true for how it started," Seira agrees. "I was probably brainwashed as a kid!" she complains with a pout. "But then I just decided to follow her all on my own. Follow what I think Waukeen stands for, anyway. I sometimes worry if I'm right and need reassurances, but I suppose I'm not the only one to ever worry about things like that." (more)
01[19:20] <Seira> "In the end, Waukeen is here to help everyone. That's at the core of her teachings, even if some prefer to focus on other, equally important parts. You can always see it, heroes who appear and smite the evil, free the land and its people. It's always uplifting, but aside from Waukeen, is there anyone who cares about what happens next?
01[19:20] <Seira> About the lives of those people now that they don't need to be rescued anymore? About bettering them? She works towards enriching their lives in every possible way, and that's a vision for the world I share."
[19:22] <Kotono> "Hmmm." You reach the top of the ridge. Ahead is a little slope downward, a cave entrance about halfway down. "Like how you defeated the silver dragon, but Lord Chillander is now looking after everyone that was hurt and making sure rebuilding goes well?"
Session Close: Fri May 15 19:24:15 2009
Session Start: Fri May 15 19:24:15 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[19:24] * Disconnected
02[19:24] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[19:24] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[19:24] * Topic is 'Seira>Alicia>G4'
03[19:24] * Set by Kotono on Mon May 04 21:16:39
03[19:24] * ChanServ sets mode: +o CC
[19:24] <Kotono> "Hmmm." You reach the top of the ridge. Ahead is a little slope downward, a cave entrance about halfway down. "Like how you defeated the silver dragon, but Lord Chillander is now looking after everyone that was hurt and making sure rebuilding goes well?"
01[19:24] <CC> "A bit. We're involved as well, actually! I really need to check in and see how the temple's construction is going. Once it's been equipped, the residents will have far more goods available to them, not to mention knowledge, since we believe in the importance of education. But yes. In that sense, you could see Waukeen as Lord Chilander, except the entire world is the domain she cares about improving!"
[19:29] <Kotono> "I'll think about that..." Amaryl's eyes dart ahead, "No sign of shocker lizards, by the way."
01[19:30] <CC> It must be her new friend in action! Seira silently thanks the roc for his efforts.
02[19:30] * Seira (~corwin@bzq-79-178-108-221.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[19:30] * CC is now known as Seira
01[19:31] <Seira> "Don't misunderstand, though," Seira feels the need to add. "Waukeen likes people just fine if they don't devote their lives to her, as long as they work towards the same goals as she. And the same's with me. Only go for it if you want to see her goals become reality above all else."
[19:32] <Kotono> "Anyway," as she picks her way down, "That makes a lot of sense to me. I understand that far too well. Everyone in my family was depending on me, and all the people we watched after below us. If I failed them...no, when I failed them..."
01[19:33] <Seira> "I don't think that was right," Seira tells her. "People shouldn't depend on some distant figure and pile all their hopes and dreams on her. They should act towards those goals on their own. With our support, sure, but they shouldn't start counting upon it as something granted automatically."
[19:38] <Kotono> "Yeah." Stopping at the mouth of the cave, "They have to also provide for themselves, or they'll just depend on that source of power?"
01[19:41] <Seira> "What happens after we're gone?" Seira asks in response. "Even if gone just means we're left to explore the world or other planes. Does what little of the world we've done our best to cultivate just shut down and die? Will people have become so dependant on us for everything, that they'll starve to death?" (more)
01[19:44] <Seira> "Will some upstart pit fiend take over, because no one bothered training with us around, and nothing can keep such threats in check? It all comes down to that famous story, of how two people come across a starving man sitting by the riverside. One gives him a fish, and the man is happy for that day, getting to eat for the first time in a while.
01[19:44] <Seira> It is an undeniably good deed. The woman who comes across him next week, however, listens to his plight carefully and walks away, returning with a fishing rod afterwards. She teaches him to use it before leaving, asking for nothing in return aside from doing the same to others, if the man happens to come across those who share his earlier plight. That woman is Waukeen."
[19:46] <Kotono> "That makes even more sense when you say it like that," Amaryl considers, "So that the world won't depend on a few elite heroes to save it every time and every day?"
01[19:52] <Seira> "The world would both improve, whether it's living standards or the way society treats foreigners and outsiders, and it won't depend on us for defense, yes," Seira agrees. "That's right. And another thing? It's alright to make mistakes. I've made them. So have you. It's how you act after you realize you've made one that matters."
[19:57] <Kotono> "Okay...!" Amaryl smiles at that, though she stops with a shiver, "Seira, can we talk about this inside of the cave, at least? It's a bit chilly out here."
06[19:57] * Seira needs no further incentive to proceed inside!
[19:59] <Kotono> The two head inside. According to Seira's map, it should wind downward and ahead for a ways. Indeed, the path into the cave seems to do just that. The walls are rugged and rough, unremarkable natural stone.
01[20:00] <Seira> "Lagann, if there's gold, let me know?" Seira requests, following the path.
[20:11] <Kotono> Lagann is looking. No metal so far as you walk along. AFter about 200 feet, the path comes to a dead end, a natural stone wall ahead. But the map indicates it should go on awhile longer.
06[20:11] * Seira tries to pass through the wall as if it weren't there. In the worst case, she'll just embarrass herself in front of Amaryl.
[20:15] <Kotono> OOC: Make a wills ave?
01[20:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 28." [1d20=6]
[20:17] <Kotono> Seira steps forward! She passes through the wall as if it wasn't there! The path continues on ahead. Starting at about 30 feet from here, the walls become smooth. Not a single anomaly or sharp edge on them. If you polished them, you suspect they might shine, they're so smooth.
01[20:18] <Seira> 'As expected, the path ahead is open,' she thinks to Amaryl.
[20:20] <Kotono> Amaryl follows! You can see no barrier now, as if it was never there. "An illusion," she marvels, "Oh, and look at the walls ahead! That's certainly not natural!"
01[20:21] <Seira> "It looks very nice," Seira voices, following the path further.
[20:24] <Kotono> You wander down. The floor is slippery, it's smooth surface letting water easily condense on it. From far away you can hear the sounds of moving water. You come to a three way intersection. The map has it going ahead and straight, while there's another path down and a bit off-center straight, and a side path winding to the west.
01[20:25] <Seira> "The map it is," Seira decides. "If Waukeen wants me to explore the rest of this underground complex afterwards, we can always do it after seeing where she wants me to go, first."
[20:29] <Kotono> Following the map, the sound of running water fades. You walk for about twenty minutes, passing along. (More)
[20:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 19." [1d20=2]
[20:31] <Kotono> OOC: Make a spot check, Seira?
01[20:32] <Seira> roll 1d20+11
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 and gets 29." [1d20=18]
06[20:33] * Seira raises a hand to halt their progress, before inspecting the vents she had seen very carefully.
01[20:34] <Seira> roll 1d20+24 search traps
06[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 search traps and gets 41." [1d20=17]
06[20:37] * Seira imbues Amaryl with Spider Climb, before pointing the dangerous section ahead out to her. "I'll fly across and check the ceiling," she tells her. "If it seems safe, follow across it?"
[20:38] <Kotono> "Okay," Amaryl agrees and waits.
06[20:38] * Seira flies across, keeping close to the ceiling.
[20:41] <Kotono> OOC: Make another search check for the ceiling?
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24 search traps
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 search traps and gets 34." [1d20=10]
06[20:44] * Seira makes sure to tap it a few times for good measure, and if nothing happens, she can wave Amaryl over.
[20:46] <Kotono> Amaryl comes over without incident. "What was all of that," she says, as she descends back down to the floor past all the vents.
01[20:47] <Seira> "Not sure," Seira admits. "A pressure plate, however? Best to just avoid and not spend time tinkering with."
[20:48] <Kotono> "Let's go, then?" Amaryl turns ahead, "We''ll have to be more careful."
06[20:48] * Seira resolves to check the way ahead more!
[20:52] <Kotono> OOC: Going to be actively searching?
01[20:52] <Seira> OOC: Yes, I'll take 10
[20:55] <Kotono> You proceed on another thirty minutes. Seira's pace is somewhat slower as she carefully searches ofr magical items. The path starts to slope downwards a touch more, until you come to an intersection. Straight ahead is a door shaped like a long maw, wide open. There's natural passages on the east and west wall, the western one looking somewhat collapsed, with a lot of loose rubble about.
06[20:56] * Seira consults the map!
[20:57] <Kotono> The path continues to the eastern passage, which should soon spike and continue straight.
01[20:58] <Seira> East it is, though Seira becomes more and more curious about this place. She can't help but wonder who lives there, and if they're evil, which is as good as transferring the deed onto her name.
[21:05] <Kotono> The path indeed does hook! It goes on for about five minutes. You're near the end of the map - just some more walking and you should reach your destination.
06[21:06] * Seira doesn't let up on her cautionary examination of the area ahead. She hardly has anywhere to be, and the person she'd most rather spend time with is just next to her.
[21:08] <Kotono> OOC: Make spot checks, you two?
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 29." [1d20=12]
01[21:09] <Seira> roll 1d20+11
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 and gets 15." [1d20=4]
[21:13] <Kotono> Amaryl slows down after a little more walking, "Hold on," she hisses, "Sixty feet ahead...there's a little nook in the wall! Something's hiding in it!"
06[21:14] * Seira taps Amaryl lightly, imbuing her with Draconic Might, even as she looks at the nook Amaryl's incidated.
[21:16] <Kotono> You can faintly see something in there. You're too far away to tell what it is, though.
06[21:19] * Seira calls upon Haste for them both, just in case, and then comes closer to take a better look. "If it's a lizard or something, shoot it?" she requests from Amaryl, realizing that she could unfortunately get surprised in this situation.
[21:20] <Kotono> Amaryl has her bow drawn and readied! You advance closer and closer...at thirty feet, you can tell it's a skeleton. An old, dusty skeleton of something large. It doesn't seem to be moving.
01[21:20] <Seira> roll 1d20+15 nature, what is it?
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 nature, what is it? and gets 30." [1d20=15]
01[21:22] <Seira> "Minotaur, I guess?" Seira ventures, calling upon Detect Magic to examine the area.
01[21:22] <Seira> roll 1d20+24 also, search
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 also, search and gets 34." [1d20=10]
[21:26] <Kotono> "How scary..." Going to it and tapping it's horn, "This is as big as a shortsword. Have you ever seen a live one?"
01[21:27] <Seira> "Can't recall if I did," Seira responds. "Maybe if I thought about it a lot, but if I had it probably didn't leave much of an impression. Besides, unicorns and pegasi are prettier."
[21:29] <Kotono> "Oh, that's obvious. A man with a bull's head isn't pretty, it's terrifying and freakish."
01[21:31] <Seira> "I'm kinda ambivalent on that, because I get lots of looks, myself," Seira muses. "It'll stop once I'm fully a dragon, but right now, it's just troubling, so I'll reserve the 'freakish' moniker for evil things."
[21:32] <Kotono> "Oh. Sorry." Holding her arm, "...Seira...when I finish studying dragons, I might become a little like that, too. Does that mean..."
01[21:35] <Seira> "That people might stare at you?" Seira asks. "I don't know. Alicia is optimistic, but even when elves just see me as how I was born, they use names like half-breed. I won't be troubled, though, so that's not a worry, at least!"
[21:35] <Kotono> "...thanks..." Amaryl flushes. "Thank you, Seira."
01[21:36] <Seira> "I'm the one who should be grateful," Seira says sincerely. "I never even realized, until it was contrasted by all that... but you never looked down on me like that, even when it might've been a shock at first. I really, really appreciate that!"
[21:40] <Kotono> "...thanks..." Her flush grows, "...thank you." Thens he looks ahead, "But...um...let's find the end of this then talk? In case there's anything dangerous ahead?"
01[21:41] <Seira> "I sincerely doubt there's anything like that," Seira states with confidence, "but we can get to our destination first, of course. Waukeen was pretty blatant in her public intervention, so it must be very important."
[21:50] <Kotono> Advancing on, you come to a large open cavern! Here fresh wind blows, the vast chamber having a small lake on the far side. Here and there there are dots of things - a beautiful teakwood drawer, with a pile of gold coins at it's base. A set of scales, a small pile of gemstones sitting on each scale. A large pile of books, each one well kept despite the humidity. A suit of full plate armor, next to a tapestry hung on the wall. All about you
[21:50] <Kotono> A suit of full plate armor, next to a tapestry hung on the wall. All about you are various treasures, left about. In the center of the room is a pile of copper coins, with an imprint of something huge on it, as if something laid on it before and left them molded in that shape.
01[21:51] <Seira> "Looks like a new map," Seira announces, but nevertheless looks around for magic and traps, first.
01[21:51] <Seira> roll 1d20+24 traps
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 traps and gets 28." [1d20=4]
06[21:53] * Seira decides it's safe enough to approach the mold.
[21:54] <Kotono> OOC: Make an K:A check?
01[21:58] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 and gets 34." [1d20=13]
01[22:03] <Seira> "Well, it really is a dragon's lair," Seira declares. "A red dragon's, at that, most likely." She glances at Amaryl speculatively. "Do you ever have urges to just roll around in obscenely enormous piles of gold and gems, or is that just me?"
[22:05] <Kotono> "...well...um..." Amaryl turns red as the dragon that may have once lived here, "Do you want to?"
01[22:06] <Seira> "Sometimes," Seira responds, eyeing the coins anew. "It must be fun if all the cool dragons do it, right?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "Why don't you?" Amaryl invites, "Let me watch you at first?"
01[22:08] <Seira> The temptation becomes impossible to ignore at that point, and Seira approaches the pile. She nudges it with her foot cautiously, and then steps on the coins.
[22:08] <Kotono> The pile is very coin-y. Nothing unusual happens besides a seductive, alluring clinkle sound of coins moving.
06[22:09] * Seira shivers in excitement, and allows herself to drop down on it, flapping her wings once to arrest her fall and avoid any unfortunate bruising.
[22:10] <Kotono> The splash of coins around you is hard, yet it doesn't bother your skin. Seira feels a deep, contented giddiness well up inside of her.
01[22:10] <Seira> "It's great," she tells Amaryl quietly, enjoying being surrounded by the coins, "but I think that's as far as I'll try it today."
[22:12] <Kotono> The coins feel very comfortable. Despite her words, Seira feels a deep, primal connection here, a desire to not move, but to luxuriate in this bed of money.
06[22:13] * Seira brushes her hands through them, as if she were swimming lazily, closing her eyes.
[22:15] <Kotono> Seira feels very relaxed. Tension leaves her body, replaced with a fundamental sense of rightness. This is where she should be...mmm....how long Seira laid there, she couldn't say. Time slipped away from her like coins through the hands of a wastrel.
01[22:16] <Seira> With a deeply contended sigh, Seira opens her eyes at last and rises to her feet.
01[22:16] <Seira> *content
[22:18] <Kotono> Around her is wealth. Everything is gold, gleaming with raw monetary opulence The lair she was at before is transformed, riches beyond her imaginings all about. Gemstones the size of small balls are stacked up together, atop ten foot long bars of soft gold. Impossibly perfect workds of art are here and there, craftsmanship beyond Seira's wildest dreams. Artifacts of magic are mounted on the walls, each one radiating overwhelming power.
[22:18] <Kotono> Artifacts of magic are mounted on the walls, each one radiating overwhelming power.
01[22:19] <Seira> Seira's breath catches for a moment, before she sighs again, this time in disappointed. "I feel asleep, didn't I?" she asks herself out loud.
[22:20] <Kotono> "You did." A woman's voice speaks from behind you. Her tones are regal and commanding, rich in every word. "This is what your dragon's blood craves, to make a lair worthy of your heritage."
01[22:21] <Seira> "As long as my wealth-gathering doesn't hurt anyone, it should be fine," Seira reasons, turning around. It's rude to speak to people without facing them, after all.
[22:27] <Kotono> The bakc of the horde is dominated by a golden throne. The woman that sits on it is large, dressed in finery of unimaginable wealth. To look at her nearly shatters Seira apart, an incredible sensation of power felt on looking at her. "A good philsophy to have, red dragon."
01[22:30] <Seira> "I have my moments," Seira responds after a few moments of silence, taking refuge in audacity in the face of an existence so far above her own.
Session Close: Fri May 15 22:34:24 2009
Session Start: Fri May 15 22:34:34 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
Session Close: Fri May 15 22:34:34 2009
Session Start: Fri May 15 22:34:34 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
03[22:34] * Now talking in #evildunes
03[22:34] * Topic is 'Seira>Alicia>G4'
03[22:34] * Set by Kotono on Mon May 04 21:16:39
03[22:34] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[22:37] <Kotono> The woman draws your attention in, vision dimming as you stare at her. "You do," A hint of a smile can be discerned, "We owe you a debt, Seira. Creatures of beyond can do incalcluable damage to the world, and thus to trade and profit. Were you not able to stop it, it would have been a tragedy beyond all others, no matter what happened."
01[22:39] <Seira> "Like I told Elle, that world-saving counter was triggered again?" Seira says with a matching smile. "I hope you don't think less of me for not seeking to force that battle in the first place. I understand Alicia and Antenora's reasoning, but it was a gamble I don't think I would've taken myself, not with what seemed to be at stake."
[22:47] <Kotono> "You did well. Battle isn't always the best solution," The Goddess speaks, the light from the wealth around you blinding your eyes. "You deserve a reward for this, Seira, for catastrophy was narrowly averted. When the creature's pure essence was revealed and forced into the Prime Material, it could have destroyed everything."
06[22:49] * Seira nods curtly, having suspected as much. "At least the gamble worked, and it won't be returning again. And Dad chided me the last time I tried to turn down a reward just for doing my job, so I've learnt my lesson, there."
[22:59] <Kotono> Waukeen gestures, "Come to me, my dragon." Her words are few, but carry a joyous, pressing weight to them.
06[23:00] * Seira steps closer to her goddess, wondering whether she'd get a hug all the while.
[23:06] <Kotono> Waukeen touches Seira's head, her touch like golden liquid fire! In a moment Seira can feel everything - every trade. Every gold coin. Every good passed back and forth. She can see all of them, comprehend an impossible totality of trade and money and back and forth and impossible to comprehend. So much...so much more than she could put to words, so much money.
01[23:09] <Seira> Seira's head swims from the influx of information, and she finds herself letting go, riding out the waves of sensations battering her psyche. In a rare moment for her, Seira can't find anything to say, unable to even gasp.
[23:10] <Kotono> "Be it in this place or another, begin to build your horde. As you grow, your nature will demand it as an inexorable desire. This place is well protected and forgotten, should you desire to use it. The treasure that remains is a worth starting horde for you. Add to it."
01[23:12] <Seira> "I... I will, Waukeen," Seira promises, her voice wavering before she gets it under wraps. She smirks, then. "Can't promise it would all be piles of gems and valuables, much as I enjoyed falling asleep on them. All sorts of wondrous magical items appeal to me more!"
[23:14] <Kotono> The light is overwhelming and then...Seira blinks. It's dark in here. Arms are wrapped around her? Amaryl? She rests her head against Seira's chest. She can feel the coins beneath her, shifting slightly.
01[23:15] <Seira> This is pleasant, too. Seira decides to lay there and wait for Amaryl to wake up, her mind on what she had just been privy to.
[23:18] <Kotono> "...mmmm..." Amaryl murmurs. "Seira?"
01[23:19] <Seira> "I was right, wasn't I?" Seira voices, not moving from her spot.
[23:21] <Kotono> "Seira, I..." Amaryl sits up instead, "...I feel...strange."
01[23:23] <Seira> "In a good way?" Seira asks, looking up at her. "Or strange in a 'let's teleport back quickly' way?"
[23:24] <Kotono> "I...I feel like it's good." Amaryl look sto Seira, "I just feel better. More...I don't know.
[23:24] <Kotono> "
01[23:25] <Seira> "So do I," Seira admits. "I think this whole sleeping on a pile of valuables deal idea is a good one."
[21:08] <Kotono> ------
[21:09] <Kotono> As Seira prepares to leave home, she finds Donald waiting at the front door. As a few goesbyes pass intot he inn(And stop and stare at Seira in a starstruck fashion), "Oh Seira, wait! I wanted to catch you before you go!"
01[21:13] <Seira> "How about coming along, then?" she suggests, slowing down to allow him to catch up.
[21:13] <Kotono> *As a few people go by. I dunno what the fuck happened there.
[21:14] <Kotono> "Oh, okay." Donald trots at a good speed, "You know what, there's really something about what Celebrimbor had to show me! Just yesterday, I've started feeling great! I have lots more energy now, more than I even had as a human!"
01[21:15] <Seira> "Are you sure it's not Waukeen's favor?" Seira asks, guessing it to be more likely from what she'd heard recently. "It's quite possible she approved of something I've done so much that she gifted you with... energy that makes you feel great."
[21:17] <Kotono> "Really?" Donald scratches at his head as you walk down the hill, past a few horses lead by a tired looking old man, then a cart full of goods. "Wouldn't she give you that first, though?"
01[21:17] <Seira> "She gave me a hug," Seira says with a wide smile.
[21:19] <Kotono> "Oh, she...wait what?!" Donald falls flat over, vaulting onto his face with an OOOMPH! He nearly starts tumbling down the hill, only stopped by good reflexes. "OW!" As he looks up, rubbing his nose, "Oh man. You didn't stop with just a scion, now you're getting that way with WAUKEEN? Seira, you're really scary and impressive!"
01[21:20] <Seira> "It was a perfectly innocent hug," she says, still smiling. "I'm headed to see Abagail. Want to tag along? You might be interested in what I have to say."
[21:22] <Kotono> Springing back up with a leap, "Still, you HUGGED Waukeen? No lying?" He trots along with Seira, "That's unimaginable!" As you reach the bottom of the hill, you see a man with a wooden cart here. He's waving a sheet of paper in the air, several copies of it stacked up. "Read about it! Read about it!" he calls, "Balmuria's first local information sheet, printed every two days!"
01[21:23] <Seira> "Yeah, no lyin-- Hey, mind getting that for me?" she asks, gesturing.
[21:27] <Kotono> Donald fishes out a few silver coins, trading it for a sheet of paper. As the vendor thanks him, "It's written in common. Makes sense," he murmurs as he reads, "Hm. It's talkinga bout current events in Balmuria, as well as other information. Hm. A recipe for mince pie, warnings about the plague in Parsifal, an advertisement for the temple of Gond." Passing it over to Seira, "It's like a collection of various information."
[21:27] <Kotono> "It's like a collection of various information."
06[21:28] * Seira nods to herself. "Make sure you get a copy every time. Or, better yet, the early edition. We can't let ourselves be blindsided, now can we?"
[21:28] <Kotono> "Early edition?" Donald looks odd there, "You mean, like an edition ahead of this one?"
01[21:30] <Seira> "The way I understand the process," she says, continuing along her way, "there must be a basic sheet which then gets copied, much like you would with Amenuensis. So naturally, there would be an edition that gets compiled, first, and only then reproduced. And even that takes place before it is sold, for you can't run out of supply when there's demand.
01[21:30] <Seira> Thus, we could have early warning of anything troublesome being distributed to the populace."
[21:32] <Kotono> "Oh. You mean like monitor them and make sure no one is printing out lies?" Donald asks. "Sure, I could do that."
01[21:35] <Seira> "That is one aspect, but it's not all so... distasteful, really," Seira muses. "Say the Guard is about to arrest a gang of perpetrators, but the writers of that sheet find out about the raid in advance and try to get more issues sold by printing it? Or alert a criminal in some other way? The possibilities are really too numerous to bother recounting."
[21:36] <Kotono> "Oh." Thinking on that, "That would make sense, but wouldn't they just get arrested for aiding criminals then?" Donald says, "But if they could figure out who the criminals were before we could catch them, wouldn't it be better to have them help us?"
01[21:37] <Seira> "That's exactly right," Seira agrees, smiling again. "If we establish a good working relationship with them, they could hand us that information, and in return receive some sort of gesture from us when we make the arrest. Brief access to the prisoners, perhaps? Something to make it worth their while, and help them sell more issues without compromising their profits."
[21:42] <Kotono> "Mmm. That makes sense. You're so smart." With a surprised look at Seira, "Maybe you can have Commander Oberuth talk to them, even, and make it official?"
01[21:43] <Seira> "Take it upon yourself to deal with the situation in any way you see fit," Seira tells Donald. "If that road takes you to the Commander, I see no problems with it."
[21:45] <Kotono> Abagail's eventually found just past the west gate of town. Here several groups of men are working, building new walls and houses outside of the city. A few guards are about as well as she directs everything.
01[21:46] <Seira> "I'm glad to see you so well and vibrant," Seira greets Abagail pleasantly. "Can you delegate your duties for a few minutes?"
[21:46] <Kotono> Abagail briefly chats with a soldier, then steps away. "Of course."
01[21:48] <Seira> "First of all, congratulations. Your work was admirable, as always," Seira says, leading Abagail and Donald away from the commotion into a more secluded spot.
[21:49] <Kotono> You go under a few loose trees, Abagail primly sitting beneath it. "Oh, you mean that affair under the water. It was fine work, though it was somewhat bothersome."
01[21:50] <Seira> "You saved people from a fate worse than death," Seira points out, sitting by her side. "And death as well, eventually, I suppose. You have every right to take pride in your accomplishment, rather than downplay it."
[21:51] <Kotono> "Yes, but it was so bothersome." Abagail grimaces, while Donald grins ear to ear.
[21:51] <Kotono> "Oh, I get it! You wore something tight and it pressed into your chest, didn't it?"
01[21:52] <Seira> "Don't make me regret bringing you along."
01[21:53] <Seira> "I heard you wore a dress to your underwater sortie?" Seira then inquires, turning to glance at Abagail. "If true, I approve. It shows just the right amount of arrogance a mage should display in the face of bandits and other creeps."
[21:54] <Kotono> "Oh come on," Donald leans back with a bigger grin, "You could act like you weren't so haughty, Abby."
[21:55] <Kotono> "I did." Abagail sends a withering look at Donald. "Excuse me for having taste and refinement. I see that your new body does little to repair your boorish country bumpkin sensibilities."
[21:55] <Kotono> "Ah, I have my head on right," Donald goes to lie back in the grass, "But you'll get old early if you always act like the world's such a TERRIBLE imposition on you. You had an adventure! It's not like you went to a funeral!"
01[21:56] <Seira> "Yes, I've all but given up hope on that," Seira admits, ignoring Donald for the time being. "I've taken him to see a Planetar specialist in Lathander's realm, I tried leaving him in the capable hands of an elven archmage... I think it's pretty much a lost cause."
[21:57] <Kotono> Stiffening her back and looking to Seira, "Obviously."
01[21:57] <Seira> "There is actually a reason I asked Donald along," Seira says. "But first...." She holds a pair of scrolls to Abagail, wrapped carefully to protect them from the elements. "In case you are ever in real trouble."
[21:58] <Kotono> "What are they," she asks as she takes them. She stands an curties to Seira. "Thank you."
01[21:59] <Seira> "The magic of Teleportation, and the ability to call for help even if you end up stranded on a different plane. Wherever you are, I will always come to your aide, Abagail."
[21:59] <Kotono> "Thank you," With wide eyes, "Those spells are not lightly made or given."
01[22:01] <Seira> "And once you can safely add these spells to your spellbook, you will have become one of the mightiest mages of the Realm," Seira says in a serious tone of voice. "I would still like to maintain our assosiation at that time, but it would be one of partners, I hope."
[22:02] <Kotono> "...I will remember that," Abagail's eyes shine, "Seira...thank you."
06[22:04] * Seira smiles again, now that the official part is over. "It may seem like I'm teleporting all over the place, nowadays, but I always keep you in my thoughts. You two, in fact, and this brings me to the next topic I wanted to broach. You both know some of my plans for Kesse, I trust?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "Yeah," Donald cranes his neck up, "You talk about them sometimes. You want a presence over there, as well as a magical circle to get people back and forth in the blink of an eye? Oh, and I bet you want a few lairs over there, too."
01[22:08] <Seira> "I'll have you know lairs are the best currency a mage has when dealing with hostile fey and similar beings," Seira says with a huff. "I'm not collecting them because I like it or anything."
[22:09] <Kotono> "Oh yeah. What was that about? AMaryl said something about a N...neve, wasn't it?" Donald looks up at the sun, squinting, "Fey are nature spirits, right?"
01[22:11] <Seira> "Neve, yes. She's very nice, but she has trouble expressing her feelings. But most importantly, she lost her home, and since I had one in the area I gave it to her."
[22:12] <Kotono> "Fascinating. What type of fey is she," Here Abagail speaks up, "I don't think I've ever met a fey. What are it's characteristics? I've read about pixies, for example, but those are weak fey with minorp owers."
01[22:14] <Seira> "She is... quite possibly strong enough to take me out if she were serious about it," Seira tells them, keeping her voice serious enough that Abagail would understand she's not making a joke. "She's a pretty shade of blue, and calls herself the Heart of Winter. When I convince her to visit with us, I'll introduce you."
[22:15] <Kotono> "The Heart of Winter...I'll have to research that. Once I do, could I meet her? The chance to study a fey isn't common."
01[22:16] <Seira> "She can feel insulted by the strangest things, so you'll need to keep treating her properly when you meet," Seira cautions Abagail. "Donald will have to be sent off on a quest somewhere for the duration, of course."
[22:17] <Kotono> "Hmph," Donald laughs, "I can shut up if it's that serious, Seira. Really."
[22:17] <Kotono> "A boor like you? I doubt it!" Abagail huffs, "I sincerely doubt it!"
01[22:17] <Seira> "She's... awkward with people. She's always been alone. It makes me sad just thinking about it."
[22:22] <Kotono> "Yeah, being alone will mess you up." Donald agrees, "Pushing people away by being cold and huffy only hurt yourself."
01[22:23] <Seira> "So!" Seira claps her hands. "We've gone awfully off track. Donald, I've made you participate in the Guard's activities and command others as part of your training. Abagail, your own development and skill inevitably made you cross paths with the Guard as well.
01[22:23] <Seira> But I have other plans for you two, if you would like to go beyond the mundane. You two do excellent work here, and will continue to do so, no doubt. But there are opportunities that... more than once in a lifetime, these once are those that literally come once in an age. And I would like to offer you the chance to participate."
[22:24] <Kotono> "Sure," Donald says, Abagail nodding along. "What are they? You've teased us, so please, share."
01[22:27] <Seira> "The world is far more vast than we have ever considered," Seira tells them. "It might be a secret for now for most of the populace, but the interaction with Kesse, teleportation mishaps I was privy to and the religious quests Alicia and Demedais went on all seem to suggest this. The sheer enormity of the world is staggering.
01[22:27] <Seira> The opportunities awaiting those who would ceize them, endless. The dangers from nasty things left alone to plot, demonstrated all too aptly by Kesse. We need to go out there and rediscover the world our ancestors freely traversed!"
[22:31] <Kotono> "How big IS the world," Donald sits up, "You know, nowt hat I think about it, no one really knows. You might know as far as the sea coast if you're lucky, or to the desert or jungle. Thousands of miles, but no end in sight."
[22:32] <Kotono> "Of course, between the desert, sea, and the wastelands, you can only go so far anyway," Abagail shrugs, "But with teleportation magic now..."
01[22:33] <Seira> "It was almost doubled with the discovery of Kesse, and if what Demedais says is accurate, all that together is less than a single, albeit largest, block of inhabited land in the place Helm sent him to."
[22:33] <Kotono> "Yeah, what Seira said," Donald listens, "...woah. That really is staggering."
06[22:34] * Seira turns towards Abagail. "History is a valuable reservoir of knowledge. Mapmaking skills are invaluable, since the world has been changed in fundamental ways. Both have been sealed off for me by magic too strong to counter without a Wish.
01[22:34] <Seira> It is you who would have to study those subjects, devoting your time to them. You must come up with spells to help us orient ourselves in foreign lands, to help guide us towards civilization after we emerge after a teleport. Can I count on you for that?"
[22:37] <Kotono> "I will," Abagail vows, "I'll start looking into it immediately."
06[22:41] * Seira nods. "As I often tell you, your progress with your current project is quite admirable. However, I hinted at you finding people to delegate the bulk of the work to, previously. If you've taken that advice to heart, it should be possible for you to devote more time towards a new project without a drop in productivity for the former, just as important one."
01[22:41] <Seira> She turns towards Donald, next. "And thus, our teleportation network would grow. For what point is there in making contact with far-off countries if it takes a mage of my level to send even a few people across? And for that, we would need trained men and bolstered defenses.
01[22:41] <Seira> Demedais and myself would take care of the central point, but the Waukeen temples at the destinations and their defense is something I would like you to handle. Are you up to the task? Make sure you fully understand the need for secrecy and the importance of the project before giving me your answer, please."
[22:44] <Kotono> "Okay, but explain it again carefully. If it's that important," Sitting up now and stretching a kink out of his neck, "I want o make sure I have it right, and not just a 'Okay Seira' and mess it all up."
06[22:48] * Seira grins. "That's exactly what I was hoping to hear, Donald. There is the obvious means of preventing a Teleportation Circle from working, although I'd appreciate it from getting out to the general public. The destination can be blocked, such as by a slab of stone. However, how would one prepare to drop it before the portal had already been misused at least once? What of invisible beings making use of it? There are serious security issues involved, and they must be balanced against the complications security measures would give to the legitimate travelers and the costs involved at each point. We can hardly spring for a Hallow at every destination, after all! I had the idea of using animated messenger bird, myself, and it is also possible to recruit trustworthy people whom I would connect with a Telepathic Bond made permanent, placing one at the point of origin and the other at the destination, but that would place a burden on them
01[22:48] <Seira> There are serious security issues involved, and they must be balanced against the complications security measures would give to the legitimate travelers and the costs involved at each point. We can hardly spring for a Hallow at every destination, after all!
01[22:48] <Seira> I had the idea of using animated messenger bird, myself, and it is also possible to recruit trustworthy people whom I would connect with a Telepathic Bond made permanent, placing one at the point of origin and the other at the destination, but that would place a burden on them.
01[22:49] <Seira> This is what I would like you to tackle and resolve to my satisfaction."
[22:50] <Kotono> "Right," Donald nods at the end of it, "That's a lot, but I think I can manage it.":
01[22:51] <Seira> "We don't really need to diversify our defenses, as long as we keep their nature a secret," Seira muses. "They would also be sufficiently different from the convergence point."
01[22:52] <Seira> "As long as you can find a pattern that works, we'll go with that," she adds.
[22:52] <Kotono> "Got it," Donald says again, then, "I have a few ideas...hmm..." Starting to rub his chin, "I'll see you later then, Seira? I'm going to go think about this."
01[22:54] <Seira> "Just one more thing, before you go," Seira says, and here she addresses them both. "We've gone into the final stage, here. It is a matter of months at the most before the first functional portal is operational. Months!"
[22:56] <Kotono> "Got it," Donald calls back, "I understand that! I won't mess around!"
06[22:57] * Seira waves at him, and then glances speculatively at Abagail. "I will need to draw upon your background for this question," she tells her. "How much would wealthy people pay for instanteneous transportation such as this? A few minutes, most of them spent on checking your papers at each point, and you can be at any major city in the world."
[23:01] <Kotono> "If you can do that reliably..." Abagail considers this for a time, "The very rich could use it for leisure. The more moderately rich would prefer to use it for business ventures. A few hundred is possible, though the exact amounts depend on how rich you have in mind, and how many people you want using these."
01[23:03] <Seira> "Waukeen's caravans would path freely, as a tithe to my beloved goddess," Seira tells Abagail. "But Waukeen encourages trade, travel and knowledge. How could I ever prevent those rich enough to afford the magical transportation the chance?" She grins sneakily. "And however could I possibly not take their money for the privelege?"
[23:05] <Kotono> "Naturally. It's a pass to coin your own fortune, if you can pay the startup costs. Not to mention the control you'll have over the elites. If one offends you, they can't use the roads any more. That's a degree of power that would make you one of the most important people in the country. Well, again."
01[23:10] <Seira> "I can't say I haven't anticipated that," Seira allows. "Which is all the more reason I'm striving to be the first to make such a thing possible."
[23:12] <Kotono> "I'll look into it," ABagail decides, "Ultimately, it will come down to how many people you want to allow to use it."
01[23:14] <Seira> "I'll take a look at Donald's guidelines, when the time comes," Seira says with a nod. "Anyone in government, army and officially belonging to one of the temples assosiated with us, for starters, at a guess."
[23:16] <Kotono> Abagail nods, "It's worth thinking over, but...tonight?" Rising, "I should see how the houses are going."
06[23:17] * Seira nods, deciding to rest in the tree's shade for a while, herself.
[20:03] <Kotono> ----
[20:04] <Kotono> OoC: You wanted to catch up with Mia and Latha, yes?
01[20:04] <Seira> OOC: Correct!
[20:05] <Kotono> OOC: DEscribe the sending you were going to use then?
01[20:05] <Seira> 'If you have a free day, can you stop by and help me with something, please?'
[20:07] <Kotono> 'As you wish' Is the gist of Latha's reply. Will you have Mia waiting for her? Where do you want to meet?
01[20:08] <Seira> I'll wait home and ask Mia to come and hang out with me
[20:11] <Kotono> Seira's inn is noisy out front. In the private rooms, as Mia and Seira wait, "Nice," Mia looks around, "Could you show me around this a bit?"
01[20:14] <Seira> "This serves as a library," Seira tells her. "It's actually set out very much like the one at the temple. A lot of useful, general knowledge you never know when it might come up handy. The really dangerous or exotic stuff is hidden farther away, of course." She runs a finger across the spine of a book, before withdrawing it.
01[20:14] <Seira> "Basic magical theory, for example. If I had reread it before talking to you the last time, it might have saved us a bit of embarrassment."
[20:15] <Kotono> "Heh, heh," Mia blushes all over, "Yeah well...Oh, do you have any keepsakes around here? Surel you've accumulated several over the years? Those always have good stories."
01[20:17] <Seira> "The mistake was mine, really, so you have nothing to feel bad about," Seira tells Mia openly. It doesn't befit someone of her stature to hide her errors of judgement, or she might serve as a bad example. "And the research I pointed you towards might still be of use, just not quite the way we both expected." She considers the acolyte's question, then.
01[20:17] <Seira> "I have quite a lot of trophies in the dining room of the inn. You saw the spear collection, no doubt?"
[20:19] <Kotono> "Yes. What were they all from? Some of them were so big!" Mia says, "It was so impressive!"
06[20:20] * Seira laughs. "From very bad places, mostly! All sorts of fiends and nasty creatures died so that I might have an impressive display mounted on my wall."
[20:21] <Kotono> "I'm sure each and every one of them deserved it!" Mia chirps.
01[20:21] <Seira> "Of course! Some even begged for it by challenging me to savage combat!"
[20:23] <Kotono> "So tell me about them! The stories have to be legendary!" Mia says, "Please?"
01[20:25] <Seira> However could she refuse? And thus starts the exciting tale of when they took the ancient gnomish fortress in the Desert Fiefdoms away from the fiends who made it their home!
[20:25] <Kotono> At about the midway, as the erinyes warlock is cast back into Hell, there is a knock on the door.
01[20:26] <Seira> "Can you get that, Lagann?" Seira asks, pausing in the tale.
[20:27] <Kotono> The metal doorhinge turns and the door drags open! Latha enters, pushing down her hood. "Good afternoon. You needed to talk to me, Seira?"
01[20:29] <Seira> "Thanks for coming!" Seira tells her, all smiles. "I was just reminiscing, actually, so take a seat. I wanted some help and to ask a personal favor, but I didn't really know where to find you so I went with a Sending."
[20:32] <Kotono> Latha goes to sit, "What is it you need, Seira?"
01[20:35] <Seira> "I'll tell you the rest later," Seira promises to Mia, before nodding at Latha. "First, have you two actually met?"
[20:40] <Kotono> "Briefly," Latha nods to Mia, "She serves Waukeen."
01[20:44] <Seira> "Great!" Seira exclaims, making herself comfortable in an armchair opposite Latha, with Mia to her left. "The two of us have been working on a project to make affordable, endless sources of light for the people of Balmuria. If that succeeded, we intended to go beyond that, beyond even the borders of our country. We were thinking about using alchemy for that,
01[20:44] <Seira> but an off-handed comment by Alicia made me recall that you can basically cheat where it comes to enchanting objects with Continual Flame. Would you be willing to lend your time and powers for this goal, Latha?"
[20:46] <Kotono> Latha blinks as she takes that in, "So you want me to, in effect, make lamps and torches?"
06[20:49] * Seira nods. "In effect. We'll give them to every household, and sell more to those who want extras. And there's a market for accompanying products, since people like shades and all sorts of shapes for their lights. If handled right, it won't even put anyone out of business. Is it too demeaning a task to ask of you?"
[20:52] <Kotono> "Seira." Latha holds a hand up here. "I appreciate the spirit of what you wish, but I'm an angel. I've been sent to this plane to stop Esthan and right wrongs, not be a lampmaker. My place is at battle, not invoking my powers for a trivial matter. Besides, is not continual flame a simple spell for you to cast? Even barring that, would it not make more sense to have a simple lantern archon do this, should you so insist?"
[20:52] <Kotono> simple lantern archon do this, should you so insist?"
01[20:54] <Seira> "I thought it could be fun to do this together?" Seira asks, pouting. "I can always summon a lantern archon, but it feels a bit wrong, because they can't really refuse, while I could actually ask you normally."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Seira." Latha takes a long breath, "I am not a toy to use to make simple amusements. I was created to smite evil. My soul is devoted to this concept from the very deepest depth."
01[20:57] <Seira> "Well, I can take no for an answer," Seira agrees with a sigh, deflating slightly. "Can I still ask for your opinion on something else?"
[20:59] <Kotono> "Okay," Latha settles back down, as Mia snaps her fingers.
01[21:01] <Seira> "I was also hoping you might have an idea for what kind of armor might work well with me," Seira admits. "I know it doesn't directly translate to smiting evil and killing Esthan, but you've seen a lot in your life, and you might've come across something I haven't, because no suit I've tried thus far really felt like it was made for me. It's a sensation that's quite difficult to explain, actually."
[21:05] <Kotono> "No, I understand," Latha smiles in understanding, "I was trained to forge armors, but I can't stand wearing it. Your'e an arcane mage, which makes it even harder."
06[21:08] * Seira nods. "Yet there must be ways to get around that limitation. Alicia has trained her body and spirit to allow it, and the spellgem-granted powers effectively make us sorcerers, but even Demedais's full plate does not inhibit him while calling upon their powers.
01[21:08] <Seira> And I know a mage that compensated for her muteness, so a similar approach heavily relying on stilled spells should also be plausible. And there's always the comfort of mithral. But am I missing something, Latha?"
[21:14] <Kotono> "Donald does thes ame with his training. While good equipment can reduce the interference of armor, it can't eliminate it. Even Celestial armor, forged in the fires of heaven, don't alleviate it. It seems to be a matter of compensating yourself, not relying on armor." She thinks here a few moments.
01[21:16] <Seira> "So this is something you can't pour money at, but have to train yourself to attain?" Seira attempts to clarify.
[21:18] <Kotono> "Yes, as far as I'm aware. I was only of the fourth circle for crafting. The fifth and sixth deal with the truly powerful and quasi divine. The seventh circle practices just below the bridge of Al-Sihal...The creations of those three levels are forbidden to be known of only by the elite, as it is where the greatest tools of law and good are made. My mace, for example, was made by one of the second layer."
[21:18] <Kotono> was made by one of the second layer." (More)
[21:22] <Kotono> "For practical mortal purposes, it's not possible by our craft." Latha concludes, "If the heavens can not lightly do it, if at all, then I am fairly certain it is unlikely to be possible."
01[21:24] <Seira> "So you have to do something pretty impressive to even have a shot at this," Seira muses. "Alright. What about the celestial armor you mentioned? How does it work?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "It's chain mail that is far less encumbering, easier to wear and allows you to fly. The processes are remarkable, but it's only seldom made, and given out rarely, never sold. It only rarely disrupts a wizard's casting when worn."
01[21:28] <Seira> "I'm torn, really," Seira admits. "It looks great on Alicia. Mithril armor, I mean. And I recently had my defensive spells dispelled in a burst. I can't exactly waste time raising them up against an opponent who could do that to me. It looks more and more like I should invest in bracers of armor."
[21:30] <Kotono> Raising her own bracers, "I wear these. They're very weak ones, though."
06[21:33] * Seira looks disappointed. "I wanted to go against type, you know? Ditch the robes, get some shining armor? But I guess it was not to be."
[21:36] <Kotono> "It can be done. How did those two train?" Latha asks, "Can you replicate it?"
01[21:39] <Seira> "Not for... oh, years." Seira sighs. "I still appreciate knowing, so thanks for filling me in on my limitations."
[21:40] <Kotono> "Sorry I couldn't be much help," Latha apologizes, "Have you asked Alicia? She may know more, having done it herself and studied Mystra."
01[21:42] <Seira> "It's always difficult to approach her," Seira admits. "She's like this big sister figure, so every time I do that it's the same as admitting I can't make do on my own."
[21:43] <Kotono> "Really?" Antenora says, "I thought it would be the other way around, since you out-rank her."
[21:44] <Kotono> *Latha
01[21:47] <Seira> "That just means I've been killing evil stuff longer than she here, in the Baronies," Seira responds. "She has... well, experience, and age, and... it's really difficult to put this in the right words. But it's comforting. And at the same time, I don't like to show her an incompetent side of myself."
[21:50] <Kotono> "Mmmmmm." Thoughtfully pondering that over, "She's a very warm person as you get closer to her. I don't think she's reject you or think lesss of you for help.'
[21:51] <Kotono> *she'd
01[21:52] <Seira> "I can't ask her help with dressing, even if it's for battle," Seira deadpans. She raises from her armchair. "I'll just figure something out. This handles the personal stuff, but I actually had a real reason to ask for you to spend some time with me, Latha.
01[21:52] <Seira> You mentioned Esthan earlier, and I am of a mind to visit the child he had affected. I was thinking that you would like to accompany me on that, as that time we found him."
[22:00] <Kotono> "Of course," Latha says, "Ensuring the child has a life free of Esthan's malice is certainly a good thing."
01[22:02] <Seira> "Amaryl wanted to see the school, I think, so it might be a good chance to show her around and use the pretext to see our friend," Seira muses. "I could teleport us over, if that fits your schedule, Latha."
01[22:19] <Seira> "Seems like we'll have to adjust our plans," she tells Mia, then. "Still, if an angel tells us it's alright to summon a lantern archon, we'll just roll with that. Could you handle the supplies and marketing end of things? The research you've already done into this could probably be channeled into creating an alchemical alternative for firewood, since even the basics can be in demand in all sorts of places."
[19:11] <Kotono> -------
[19:11] <Kotono> OOC: Seira, what did you wann ado? There's talking, there's Yoshi and a few other things you wanted to hit offhand?
01[19:13] <Seira> OOC: Right-o. If order matters, I'll bring Yoshi over first, since it's an obligation that shouldn't wait.
[19:16] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Taking anyone or going yourself?
[19:16] <Kotono> OOC: Er, by yourself?
01[19:17] <Seira> OOC: Amaryl would surely want to come. Beyond that... Elle or Donald, if they want to?
[19:18] <Kotono> OOC: Donald'll tag along, sure. Elle will see it once it's in Balmuria, she's busy making items and such. Any spells cast before TP?
01[19:20] <Seira> There's what I precast. GMW has joined that list for now, btw (I'm listing such on the memorized spells page) for her splitting bow. Also, water breathing on us, since we'll kinda need it.
01[19:20] <Seira> ------
[19:20] <Kotono> Okay.
[19:20] <Kotono> ----
[19:21] <Kotono> OOC: Roll TPs?
01[19:22] <Seira> roll 1d100 oasis
06[19:22] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 oasis and gets 81." [1d100=81]
01[19:24] <Seira> roll 1d100 entrance chamber to the base
06[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 entrance chamber to the base and gets 42." [1d100=42]
[19:27] <Kotono> OOC: You mean the steel jungle, or that one rusty door just out of the water?
01[19:28] <Seira> OOC: Just out of water
[19:35] <Kotono> Woosh! The trio appear just out of the water in the upward sloping tunnel. If they were to go on, the gnomish fortress would be found. Amaryl instead goesto the edge of the water, "Yoshi should be back in his lair now?"
01[19:35] <Seira> "Or near it," Seira responds, stepping into the water. "We'll have plenty of time on the water breathing spell, so that's not a worry."
[19:38] <Kotono> Donald follows along, "Good thing all those River Winders weren't hostile. It was a nice change of pace in retrospect. Everything else wanted us dead and deader past that point. Except those weird headless crystal men. Say, Seira, are we just going to leave them in there?"
01[19:40] <Seira> "A good point," Seira admits. "There are certainly things within we won't leave forever, like that mindless being or the winter-something-or-other. Sealed evil in a can always finds a way, right? Case in point, Daa-vid." Seira shakes her head. "But that's not really what you asked. What do you think should be done with the crystal constructs we can command with the gnomish keys?"
[19:43] <Kotono> "A can? What?" Donald cocks his head, "Nevermind. Sealed evil in a can..." Donald just shakes his head in return. "I don't know. Any bright ideas?"
01[19:45] <Seira> "Well, it's a lot like a can. It's this small confined space evil is stowed into and forgotten, but then foolish adventurers end up opening, thus unleashing it on the world. In many ways, it's a lot like the Magic Jar situation. So why not use a can in the phrase?"
[19:50] <Kotono> As Donald splashes into the water, "Nevermind," he repeats, "So Yoshi's a fair bit of swimming away...you know, why didn't we just teleport closer to him instead of swimming for awhile?"
01[19:51] <Seira> "This spot is unique, right?" Seira asks, letting Donald lead. "It's got a door with the base's designation on it, and it's been torn by Lagann in a fairly specific way. Are you seeing where I'm getting at?"
[19:53] <Kotono> "Yeah, yeah, don't want to end up surrounded by kraken." Donald starts to walk along the bottom, "Let's just hurry then?"
[19:53] <Kotono> Amaryl shivers.
01[19:54] <Seira> "We got out of there just fine, right?" Seira asks brightly. "In fact! Let's return some day and challenge them to a duel over their stuff!"
[19:58] <Kotono> Donald half grins, half shakes his head. "Maybe." Thus, the trio swim to Yoshi. They find him where they first met him, surrounded by his pile of 'gems'.
01[19:59] <Seira> "Yoshi!" Seira calls out to the dragon-snake, waving. "Let's go home!"
[20:09] <Kotono> "Dragon!" Yoshi swims towards Seira, wrapping around her.
01[20:10] <Seira> "That's a yes," Seira says with a smile, extending her hands to Amaryl and Donald. "Ready to return?"
[20:11] <Kotono> "Hello Yoshi," Going to pet the dragon's head fondly, "I'll be a little like you some day, and Seira already is. That's right, dragon!"
[20:11] <Kotono> Donald just watches the snake go, "Yeah, I'm ready. What about his horde?"
01[20:12] <Seira> "It's Yoshi's to decide! We'll talk about that as I introduce him to Elle, really."
01[20:15] <Seira> roll 1d100 oasis
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 oasis and gets 78." [1d100=78]
01[20:16] <Seira> roll 1d100 backyard, home!
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 backyard, home! and gets 39." [1d100=39]
[20:16] <Kotono> OOC: Going to do anything else with Yoshi immediately?
01[20:16] <Seira> OOC: Yes! I want to intro him to Elle. Can I take him to her shop, or is it impossible due to size?
[20:17] <Kotono> OOC: He's not that freakin' huge. He can wrap around you, too, like a snake-mummy wrapping.
01[20:18] <Seira> OOC: I laugh and bring him along
[20:19] <Kotono> After finishing up the three plus Yoshi head ot Elle's shop. Elle isn't to be immediately found, but Alice is. "If you're looking for Countess Strong...aaaaaaaah!" Ailce screams, "SNAKE! GIANT SNAKE!" She bolts up in a hurry, a wand in hand. "SNAAAAAKE!"
01[20:19] <Seira> "How can you have a fear of snakes?" Seira exclaims in dismay. "You're a mage! Besides, it's a dragon. He just looks like a snake."
[20:20] <Kotono> Donald steps in front of Alice, "Don't worry, Elle, we have it under control," he hollers, "Calm down, calm down. it's just a half dragon, half snake. It loves Seira."
[20:21] <Kotono> Amaryl starts and then starts to giggle, "Alice, it has dragon blood. It's a noble creature and it doesn't have a fear aura like a dragon! You have no reason to be afraid!"
06[20:21] * Seira pats Yoshi's head.
[20:22] <Kotono> Ailce doesn't say a word, but starts to flee to the back. In a hurry, she nearly runs into Elle running to the front. "What's going-" Alice breezes past her, leaving the magess blinking. "...Seira. Oh. Oh. So that's what...Oh. Ooooh. Alice, do you...nevermind." turning and finding Alice gone, "Just, ah, stay out here for a moment. I'm talking with a client."
01[20:23] <Seira> "Sorry! I didn't think your assistant had a fear of dragons!" Seira calls back apologetically. "Even those that look like snakes!"
[20:24] <Kotono> "That makes two of us!" With that, Elle goes to the back and comes out maybe a minute later. She exhales hard, "So, let's get to the point of this. It's a lovely snake. A half dragon, from the looks of it?"
01[20:25] <Seira> "Yes," Seira agrees, smiling. "His name is Yoshi. I wanted you to meet him, but I actually took care to bring him here because I thought he might want to be one of your customers."
[20:26] <Kotono> "Don't worry. Even if it's dangerous, I won't let it hurt you," Donald lingers at Elle's side. For her part, Elle goes to the snake, leaning into it's face to study it. "Yoshi? Hello, Yoshi. WHat do yo uwant to buy?"
[20:27] <Kotono> Yoshi peers at Countess Stronger, coiled around Seira. It's head extends from Seira's neck, flicking a forked tongue out at her. "Dragon. Shinies."
[20:27] <Kotono> "Draconic...and a few words of it." Elle stands up straight, "From what I know of half breeds, it's smarter than a snake, but hardly human intelilgent? That fit?"
01[20:28] <Seira> "You don't have a policy about trying out items, as long as they don't leave the store or break down in the process, right?" Seira asks. "A headband of intellect would suit him really well, I think, but I want him to make an informed decision on his own. It's his money, after all."
[20:29] <Kotono> "Oh." Now with a little knowing look, "You want to make him smarter? How much smarter?"
01[20:30] <Seira> "All the way, of course! Why stop at half measures? Yoshi could afford it, and if he comes up short, I'll front the difference easily enough."
[20:31] <Kotono> "You're lucky. I have one of those on hand," Elle goes to the back, "Hold on. I can't sell it to you - it's an order for someone who hasn't come to claim it yet - but it's worth a try to see how much he likes it."
06[20:32] * Seira nods. "I can always loan out my own to him for a while, but it's really up to Yoshi whether he just wants to stay with me and play with his loot or travel with me and gather ten times that."
[20:35] <Kotono> Donald follows Elle, who comes back with a gold and platinum wrought circlet of leaves and laurels. It's craftsmanship suggests delicate, non human hands, so fragile it looks like a droplet of sweat will cleave straight through it. Approaching Yoshi, "Put this on his head? I don't know how fast he'll learn and adapt with it, so I'm curious too. I've never tried increasing an animal's intellect so markedly.
[20:35] <Kotono> "
[20:35] <Kotono> I've never tried increasing an animal's intellect so markedly.
[20:35] <Kotono> > "
01[20:36] <Seira> "Ah, but Yoshi is a magical beast! A dragon! He literally has the prerequisite smarts in his blood and every fiber of his being!" Seira responds, taking the circlet from Elle and placing it carefully on Yoshi's head.
[20:38] <Kotono> "Dragon blood is better than an animal's blood," Elle watches as the circlet is put on. Yoshi stirs his head about and back and forth. "Dragon?" He repeats, his voice more hesitant. "Dragon. Dragon." He twists around, looking into Seira's eyes, face in front of hers.
01[20:39] <Seira> "It may be confusing," Seira tells him, speaking slightly slower than normal. "Yes, you are a dragon." She gestures to her side. "This is Elle, my friend. She let you borrow a part of her loot. Do you like it?"
[20:40] <Kotono> "That's right. Seira's a dragon," Amaryl goes to the side of the wrapped pair. "A big old, cute dragon. Can you say any of that?"
[20:48] <Kotono> "Dragon. Seira. Seira is cute dragon." Yoshi works through those one word at a time, "Cute dragon. Seira."
01[20:49] <Seira> "Yoshi is a very nice dragon, too!"
[20:50] <Kotono> "Yoshi! Nice dragon." Yoshi works with it, as Elle intently watches.
[20:51] <Kotono> "The progress already is interesting...hmmm. His mind's using the intellect naturally.:
01[20:52] <Seira> "Amaryl," Seira continues, gesturing at the elf, before proceeding onwards. "Donald. The nice wizard who ran away in terror was Alice. We like her but she needs to adventure a bit to toughen up."
[21:02] <Kotono> "Amaryl. Donald. Alice. Seira. Yoshi. I am..." It tries to speak, "Dragon. Horde. My horde. Where is my horde?" Yoshi looks about.
[21:03] <Kotono> Donald cracks a grin at that, "Yep, it's a dragon."
01[21:03] <Seira> "We left it back at your previous lair," Seira informs him. "Since no one was there to oppose us, and you left it alone before while going traveling through the water currents, I thought it would be safe for a day. Would you like me to bring it over to your new home?"
[21:04] <Kotono> "Yes! Horde!" Yoshi spins tolook Seira in the eye, "Horde!"
[21:04] <Kotono> "Don't worry, we'll get it. Seira has a horde, too. Maybe you can share a horde with her?" Amaryl giggles.
01[21:05] <Seira> "Consider it done!" Seira promises to Yoshi, before her expression grows serious. "I told this to Elle before, but it is important that you listen as well. By traveling with me, you can gain a larger horde than your wildest dreams. Would you like that? I can't promise it would be entirely safe."
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[21:10] <Kotono> "Yes!" Yoshi agrees, "Big horde!"
[21:11] <Kotono> "Of course," Donald whistles, "Any dragon's going to answer like that."
06[21:12] * Seira laughs, shaking her head. "Well, that part was easy. The next is about using it. I want you to think about trading some of your horde with some of Elle's. Like the great circlet she let you borrow."
[21:16] <Kotono> "Trade horde?" Peering at Seira, "Horde has to be big! Huge! What is given for it?"
01[21:20] <Seira> "The capstone of the trade is what you're wearing," Seira starts with. "Aside from looking very handsome on you, it allows you to talk to me like this, and to think of new ways to get loot. By itself, it would be priceless, but like I said it's only the best part, not the entire thing.
01[21:20] <Seira> Four thousand golden coins are the other part. Have you ever tried sleeping on a loot made of golden coins? It's very comfortable! And four thousand make for a really enormous bed!"
[21:26] <Kotono> "Mmmm, treasure," Yoshi considers, "I am...awake now. I want treasure. Horde. I want horde. I want horde like that."
01[21:27] <Seira> "Being awake is important to propely get and enjoy one's treasure."
[21:30] <Kotono> "See? Seira will help you get that," Cheerfully smiling now, "Get it, Yoshi?" Amaryl beams.
[21:30] <Kotono> "Yes, yes, I can help you with that. Seira and I will work out the details," Elle smiles broadly, "It's not that expensive for a big dragon like you, surely."
01[21:31] <Seira> Yoshi's gems should cover forty thousand, Seira figures, unless she seriously overestimated his treasure. In that case, however, she'll just have to pick up the slack. "You can afford it, and I think you should, to be a proper dragon. But the choice has to be yours, you understand."
[21:32] <Kotono> "Want it," Yoshi says decisively, curling around Seira's midsection.
01[21:33] <Seira> "And there we have it," Seira tells Elle with a grin. "You said you didn't have a circlet like this for purchase, but how about a lesser version?"
[21:37] <Kotono> "I have a one," Ellegoes and comes back with a more mundane circlet made of rope, iron and silver highlights.
01[21:38] <Seira> "You'll have to make do with this one for a while," Seira tells Yoshi, glancing at his face. "But it just means you only part with some of the horde in return, until the real one is finished. How does that sound?"
[21:40] <Kotono> "Okay." Yoshi agrees, "Trust you, dragon Seira."
01[21:41] <Seira> "That's a smart choice," she responds, grinning.
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[21:56] <Kotono> -----------------------------
[21:57] <Kotono> A few days later, Elle and Celebrimbor are gathered again at Elle's shop, at Seira's request...OOC: Go ahead and start?
03[21:57] * asdgsdfasdf is now known as asdgsdfasdfhdfgsdfgjfghdfgh
01[22:00] <Seira> "I have good news and bad news," Seira opens with. "The good news is that I think I can adapt the spell on that scroll you found," she says, nodding at Elle, "into a ritual that would allow me to advance with my immediate project of creating portals."
01[22:00] <Seira> She seems to deflate, then. "The bad news is that it's a go-around for what I truly hoped to find, and having seen once again the wonders the world had in the time of the gnomes, I once again realize how far away from them we are, unless we master such ways of using magic." She looks hopefully at Celebrimbor. "Unless you've had a breakthrough of your own?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "We were discussing spell pools and the like," Celebrimbor begins, "And various applications there of. I've made some considerable progress towards the theory. The spellgem research isn't that far removed from it; the aspect of gathering in energy works veryw ell on a different scale."
01[22:09] <Seira> "As the point of this meeting is, beyond updating each other on our progress, to find ways of helping one another. Is there any ways the Baronies could provide aid to your research?"
[22:12] <Kotono> "I could use assisstants - low knowledge ones, mostly to test the theory in action," Celebrimbor continues, "If successful, it means I'm mostly done."
01[22:14] <Seira> "I'll ask around the school for volunteers," Seira promises. "We're due a few graduates, if I'm reading the progress reports right. There must be those who'll take research over a job as an artificer or adventuring."
[22:17] <Kotono> "It will help," Celebrimbor says, "How goes teleportation circles? Success yet?"
01[22:19] <Seira> "And we arrive at the third reason I've asked you to come." Seira takes a deep breath. "I'll make the attempt the day after tomorrow."
[22:21] <Kotono> "Oh, good. I'll want to be there," Celebrimbor agrees, "Where is the first connection to be made?"
01[22:23] <Seira> "From the temple of Waukeen here, in Balmuria, to the ancient temple of Helm chosen to serve as the hub. It's symbolic in many ways, but I won't bore you with details. Rather, did my old man make any progress on your end? If he had brought the idea up and gained support for it, the second portal would be opened to the Citadel, rather than back to Balmuria, a week after the first had stabilized."
[22:26] <Kotono> "He's been making steady progress. Politics take time, but if I hurry him he should have it well in hand," Celebrimbor agrees, "I believe this can be done."
06[22:26] * Seira smiles in amusement. "How is he liking politics?"
[22:28] <Kotono> "He does well enough at it. He gets people to go along with what he wants. When your father focuses, he's very charismatic. He knows all the right people, too."
[22:28] <Kotono> "As for liking it?" Celebrimbor strokes his chin, "I've seen him with growing energy and involvement."
01[22:32] <Seira> "It sounds I should interfere, like any loving daughter would," Seira mutters quietly to herself, nodding. "Right," she says, raising her voice. "That fits." Placing the topic aside for the moment, she asks, "You want to come for the ritual, naturally. Would there be more interest from Pallanth? It's naturally kept secret, but I'm sure we could accomodate a couple incognito guests."
[22:34] <Kotono> "I can fulfill that role as well. There's no need ot drag the entire Council there. Also, in the small chance something goes awry, that limits the risk to us."
[22:34] <Kotono> "Ah yes. We trust you, but not enough to put everyone in the same place as the magical experiment." Elle's voice is tinted with dark amusement, "Sensible, but..."
06[22:35] * Seira laughs. "For what it's worth, I would be very surprised if it exploded in my face. And pissed off, can't forget that. An investment of slightly over fifteen thousand!"
[22:38] <Kotono> "I've lost worse before in my youth," Celebrimbor laughs as well, "A magical staff, ruined by a stupid mistake. Angry is a gross understatement."
01[22:40] <Seira> "Staves can do that," Seira agrees. "So do scrolls, now that I think about it. It won't hurt to take the proper precautions, you're right. We can always use illusion magic to display the scene at a later date, when we can make this information public."
[22:44] <Kotono> "That will work," Celebrimbor says, "So the day after tomorrow?"
06[22:45] * Seira nods resolutely. "I'll need to gather the supplies and prepare everything. If you happen to see him, tell Dad he can show up if he wants to? Not that I care either way or anything."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Of course you don't." Celebrimbor's chuckle is dry as the desert wind.
06[22:47] * Seira crosses her hands in front of her chest. "Of course not." The topic must be changed yet again, and she chooses to ask, "By the way, any chance you've managed to reproduce a spellgem or three so far?"
[22:48] <Kotono> As Elle laughs, "Seira, you're acting your age."
01[22:48] <Seira> "Yes, well. Don't get used to it," she says with a huff.
[19:13] <Kotono> > "I've lost worse before in my youth," Celebrimbor laughs as well, "A magical staff, ruined by a stupid mistake. Angry is a gross understatement."
[19:13] <Kotono> <Seira> "Staves can do that," Seira agrees. "So do scrolls, now that I think about it. It won't hurt to take the proper precautions, you're right. We can always use illusion magic to display the scene at a later date, when we can make this information public."
[19:13] <Kotono> > "That will work," Celebrimbor says, "So the day after tomorrow?"
[19:13] <Kotono> * Seira nods resolutely. "I'll need to gather the supplies and prepare everything. If you happen to see him, tell Dad he can show up if he wants to? Not that I care either way or anything."
[19:13] <Kotono> > "Of course you don't." Celebrimbor's chuckle is dry as the desert wind.
[19:13] <Kotono> * Seira crosses her hands in front of her chest. "Of course not." The topic must be changed yet again, and she chooses to ask, "By the way, any chance you've managed to reproduce a spellgem or three so far?"
[19:13] <Kotono> > As Elle laughs, "Seira, you're acting your age."
[19:13] <Kotono> <Seira> "Yes, well. Don't get used to it," she says with a huff.
[19:13] <Kotono> "It's refreshing to see. You don't have to be trying to save and better the world every moment of your life," Elle continues to chucklew armly.
01[19:15] <Seira> "There is no way to argue with that which doesn't sound childish," Seira concedes after searching for a suitable retort and failing.
[19:19] <Kotono> "Excellent!" As Elle glows with mirth, Celebrimbor clears his throat. "Ahem."
01[19:19] <Seira> "We're getting off track, right? We shouldn't!"
[19:23] <Kotono> "Indeed. As I was saying, Saul's doing well with politics. I'm sure he'll be along with us to see your first teleportation circle, too." Celebrimbor hides a little smile not at all, letting his show on his face.
01[19:25] <Seira> "A permanent one!" Seira exclaims. "This... it's a real legacy. Even if a horrible monster from beyond eats our world, it'll still remain! Floating... in nothingness...." Seira shakes her head. "But improbable gloom aside, it's finally something I'll make that's here to stay and help people. Generations of people!"
[19:26] <Kotono> "That's what will make you remembered," Celebrimbor murmurs, "You have a vision for the future that has the drive of humankind and the long term of elves and your draconic totem."
[19:26] <Kotono> *long term view
01[19:28] <Seira> "Plus it's really cool!" Seira adds mischievously. "I can put my initials and Waukeen's symbols on the circles and no one will be able to erase them for more than thirty minutes, give or take!"
[19:32] <Kotono> "Momuments to the future..." Celebrimbor considers it even longer, "Yes, yes, this project may just succeed yet. Is there anything else? I should begin my preparations for this event soon, then."
01[19:33] <Seira> "Since everything was largely prepared aside from the final component, so to speak, we're pretty good to go," Seira responds in a businesslike fashion.
[19:36] <Kotono> "Until then," Celebrimbor rises, "We shall gather at your inn when we are allr eady to go and teleport?"
01[19:38] <Seira> "There wouldn't be a reason to, as the temple of Waukeen is within walking distance. But we can gather there all the same."
[19:47] <Kotono> OOC: Skip along?
01[19:47] <Seira> OOC: Yep
03[19:52] * tai-auuuuuuuuuugh is now known as Demedais
[20:03] <Kotono> ---
[20:04] <Kotono> Several people gather at the Temple of Waukeen at the appointed time. Seira with Amaryl tagging along. Elle and Celebrimbor are there, as well as Gilartal and Father Ceiar. Finally, amid all of them, Saul stands as well. They all watch and wait on Seira...
03[20:05] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Demedais
06[20:15] * Seira is as ready as she'll every be, having prepared a tatoo ahead of time. Drawing it upon her body was a new experience, but a mirror, some trickery with mage hand and a bit of trial and error with normal paints before switching over to the magical components of her spell allowed her to create a very serviceable and even flattering image of Waukeen over her front. (more)
01[20:18] <Seira> To avoid messing with things too much, she forgoes her usual precast spells and much of her magical attire, opting for a simple robe and only those items that are necessary for the ritual. The procedure should be simple enough, with the preparations over and done with. (more)
01[20:21] <Seira> First, the symbolic drawing of a five radius circle on the stone floor in the center of the chamber, keeping the image of the fortified destination chamber at the forgotten temple of Helm in mind the entire time. A second, seven feet radius circle of runes is in appearance, there to ward people off lest they step onto the platform by accident in the future.
01[20:21] <Seira> Then, as the work on the inner runes completes and they glow brightly before dimming to almost nothing, Seira finally invokes the spell from the scroll!
[20:22] <Kotono> Everyone watches without a noise, letting Seira do this difficult, precise work without interruption.
01[20:25] <Seira> It would be a hilariously bad time for a random devil attack, Seira muses idly, calling upon Permanency to seal the newly-formed portal.
[20:26] <Kotono> OOC: Any relevant checks to make?
01[20:26] <Seira> OOC: Amusingly enough, with the tattoo spell I barely scrape by the requirements! No nat 1 for me? Although if you'd like we could risk an explosion for kicks.
[20:28] <Kotono> Seira begins the long, hard work of casting Permanency! She falls into her work, the hours slipping by in a haze. It is a long ritual, the twenty four hours each creeping by at a steady, driving clip. Her friends stay the entire time, a few murmured words and potions passed around a little past halfway. Seira battles her own exhaustion, working along with as much focus as she can continue to muster. (More)
[20:28] <Kotono> working along with as much focus as she can continue to muster. (More)
[20:30] <Kotono> Six hours...ten hours. Sixteen hours...minutes become eternities as Seira works. Her inner concentration is supreme, keeping her focus intact as she works. She calls on the names that hold back the flow of time, extending it into eternity. Calling on the Quaruts of time to be held at bay, warding away the chaotic maelstrom of time endless. At last, with a bevy of words of power that shake the entire room, the magic is complete! Seira finds
[20:31] <Kotono> At last, with a bevy of words of power that shake the entire room, the magic is complete! Seira finds herself slipping down to her knees, exhausted. But, she can tell, the magic is done. It's done -right-.
[20:33] <Kotono> The one at Seira's side first is Saul. He gets on one knee, "Tired?" He says with a cocky grin, "Superbly done. The magic looks stable to me. It seems you really have gotten the right side of this magic down."
06[20:35] * Seira laughs, pressing a hand against the stony surface, and the secondary circle wavers, becoming invisbile to the untrained eye. She is exhausted, and the trip she wanted to take would have to be delayed by at least a day, but she just resist one last, flashy touch. (more)
01[20:35] <Seira> A simple Detect Magic spell, able to be cast by anyone with the little bit of magical training, would bring the outwardly circle into the visible spectrum once more, thus warning people of where to step. And those without it may well just pass this simple storage room by without a second glance. (more)
01[20:35] <Seira> "I know it worked," she responds confidently. "I could feel it. This works. This will keep on working!"
[20:36] <Kotono> "In Waukeen's name, ship away this tiredness. Trade it to another who can make better profit of it!" Saul murmurs, as Seira feels her fatigue vanish. "So this will take us to that submerged desert temple now?"
[20:36] <Kotono> Amaryl approaches slower, "It worked, didn't it?"
01[20:37] <Seira> "Only one way to find out, isn't it?" Seira asks with a grin, taking Amaryl's hand and stepping forward with her. "See you there!"
06[20:42] * Seira appears with Amaryl in a ten by ten feet room that only fits the circle and not much else. It has one exit covering an entire wall, currently left opened, and a corridor leads from it, eventually splitting into many side rooms designated as future departure areas.
01[20:42] <Seira> The destination chamber carries Helm's crest, just as the chamber of origin bore one of Waukeen, but Seira pays it no mind as she steps outside to make room for the portal to be used once more.
[20:43] <Kotono> "It worked!" Amaryl look sabout, "Seira, that's so amazing!"
[20:44] <Kotono> A moment later, Saul and Celebrimbor appear, then Father Ceiar and Gilartal and Elle. "I'm impressed. That was no small feat of wizardry," Elle goes to look about the room, "It's only half of one loop, but it's a big first move."
01[20:45] <Seira> "Hehe! It is, isn't it?" Seira asks giddily. "I might be tipsy from all the chanting and the drawing, and my tattoo is flaking uncomfortably, but I wouldn't trade this for the world!" She tilts her head a moment afterwards. "Well, maybe the flaking. It's actually really itchy and I didn't pick up Prestidigitation today. Yesterday?" She looks confused briefly.
[20:45] <Kotono> "Praise be to Helm," Father Ceiar bows towards the crest of Helm on the door, "This venture does seem to be a success thus far."
[20:46] <Kotono> "You did well, Seira. If you're still tired after the Restoration, go sleep," Saul says, "Can you manage a teleport back home?"
01[20:47] <Seira> "Probably," she agrees. "And I'm fine, really! Sleep is no cure for extreme happiness!"
[20:48] <Kotono> "Let's return to Seira's inn?" Celebrimbor suggests, "Celebration can be had there for those who still have the energy."
01[20:49] <Seira> "Right," Seira agrees. "Drinks will be on Donald!"
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: Roll your TP back? Anyone who you can't fit Celebrimbor will greater TP back.
01[20:51] <Seira> roll 1d100 ring, inn
06[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 ring, inn and gets 77." [1d100=77]
[20:53] <Kotono> It's morning but the party is started at Seira's! Celebration and a large meal is ready there. Donald helps serve it out as everyone sits back and relaxes. Commander Oberuth is there as well, toasting Seira. As everyone settles in to eat and talk, currents of pleasant conversation rippling in the air. "Excuse me. Colonel Seira?" Private Smoot approaches. His voice is utterly respectful. "Sorry to disturb you, ma'am.
[20:53] <Kotono> "
[20:53] <Kotono> His voice is utterly respectful. "Sorry to disturb you, ma'am."
01[20:55] <Seira> "It's okay, it's okay!" she says happily. "Is this just you being respectful, or does it concern Guard business?"
[20:56] <Kotono> "Neither, ma'am." He says, avoiding Seira's gaze. "I have a message for you. Someone wishes to meet with you here. However, his appearance would be highly disruptive, but it is terribly urgent business. He assures you that he wishes to meet under a white flag."
[20:58] <Kotono> "A white flag? What the hell?" Commander Oberuth puts down a tankard, "Private, start explaining yourself. Who wants to meet with us that needs a white flag to do so?"
01[20:58] <Seira> "Ah, I see," she says, before telling him, "Hold still, please," and casting Detect Magic and Detect Evil.
[21:00] <Kotono> "He said he is a cornugon, sir," Private Smoot reports, "He wishes to make it very clear this is for a matter of mutual danger. He has no desire ot bring any harm to us in this matter, sirs."
01[21:01] <Seira> "Mmm. Commander, would you mind accompanying me?" Seira requests, thinking to Amaryl, 'I'll go see what this is about' before nodding. "We're the ones in a position of power, so it would be us both or none at all. But we'll hold to that truth as long as he does. Lead the way?"
[21:02] <Kotono> "Donald, get the Hammer of the Shard ready, just in case," Commander Oberuth says shortly, rising. "I intend to, Seira."
01[21:03] <Seira> "Even without the right spells, we're more than enough to deal with a cornugon," Seira mutters, but agrees with the sentiment of always being prepared. "You know where it's at, Donald."
[21:03] <Kotono> "Devils?" Saul says it like a foul curse, an Infernal inflection to the word. "Seira, do you want Protection From Evil cast on you before you leave?"
[21:03] <Kotono> "I do, yeah," Donald hurries off and away. Elle looks up from her plate, "Damnations. If you need any help at all, let Amaryl know. We'll come running."
01[21:04] <Seira> "Sure," she agrees after a moment's thought. "I've got a pearl to let you recast it, too."
[21:04] <Kotono> "Let me borrow that," Saul goes to SEira, "Waukeen, ward away the magics of duplicity and the touch of the fiendish!" OOC: Protection from Evil on you, Seira
01[21:05] <Seira> OOC: Cool. I doubt we'll need it, but it's stupid to turn down 'don't mind rape me' spells
[21:07] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth and Seira follow Private Smoot. He leads them outside of the south gate. Just outside, in the various spring up and small buildings around it, Private Smoot leads you to one. It's not far from where Shamal lived, Seira can note if she cares to. It' sjust a simple one story homestead sort of building.
01[21:09] <Seira> "So, private, how exactly did you come across a cornugon?" Seira asks curiously.
[21:11] <Kotono> "I was on the patrol out and I heard someone call to me from this building. I...well, I felt like I had to listen. He was just so persasive. Once I was in there, well..." A helpless shrug, "He talks very well, ma'am."
01[21:12] <Seira> "Oh, I know! Incidentally, we should probably have people patrol in pairs, Sir."
[21:12] <Kotono> "We do," Oberuth growls, "Private, WHY were you alone?"
[21:13] <Kotono> "Ah...my partner for the day is sick, sir," He explains, "The replacement assigned was running late, so..."
[21:13] <Kotono> "Next time, have the gate guards GET someone to go with you," With a chilly evenness in his voice, "Do you understand, Private?"
01[21:14] <Seira> "It's best to stick with a tried and true method that's been reached through countless years of trial and error," Seira adds. "Just common sense."
[21:16] <Kotono> "S-s-sirs!" Private Smoot stands aside, as Oberuth opens the door and strides in.
06[21:18] * Seira looks around for fiends and various magical and evil auras as she follows. "So, here I am, although not entirely alone," she announces. "We're here to talk. And listen, naturally."
[21:20] <Kotono> You walk in! The room is mostly empty, bits of old furniture tossed to the sides of the room. In it, in front of a fireplace glittering with red hot coals, stands the creature. It's midnight black scales and wings dominate, it's body a momument ot perfect diabolical construction. "I finally meet you in the flesh, Seira." With a terrible smile that shows teeth that could rip your throat out with a mere bite, "You've not met me, but your imp
[21:20] <Kotono> that could rip your throat out with a mere bite, "You've not met me, but your impact has been felt all the same."
[21:20] <Kotono> "Explain your reason for this, devil," Oberuth doesn't quite bark it like an order, but it's certainly the same in tone.
06[21:21] * Seira sincerely doubts the fiend could actually rip her throat out any more she could his. "Yes, how about we get to the chase? I assure you we can simply have the pleasantries afterwards. I enjoy flattery as much as any mage."
[21:23] <Kotono> "Hah." With a feral, hateful look, "Yes. For as much as you ruined my plans in the Desert..." He trails off, eyes like little burning coals from the fire place. "I was given new orders from a superior two days ago. I am to lure my hated enemies into a trap and attempt to slay them - the Crimson Guard."
01[21:24] <Seira> "Ah. You are rather out of luck, then," Seira notes. "Also, does your superior hate you? Because there was this pit fiend that sent his subordinates to their death before while informing us of their arrival ahead of time. It seemed to amuse him. Hey, maybe it's even the same one!"
[21:27] <Kotono> "Oh yes. Esthan," With a snarl at that name, "He's been using my servants like pawns in his own schemes, and has the a uthority and power to do so. I've lost important agents thanks to his meddling. A contact in Parsifal, a barbed devil in Victoria..." With a snap, "And now he seeks to use me in the same way. All for his silken tongued crusade against you. I don't intend to be another burnt offering to him."
[21:27] <Kotono> another burnt offering to him."
01[21:29] <Seira> "I would say I feel sympathy, but...." Seira pauses. "You know what? I actually do feel it, a tiny bit. Enough to keep me interested in what it is that you want, and what it is that you can offer me in return for that."
[21:30] <Kotono> "I can't oppose Esthan politically. His authority is without question." Folding his arms as he snarls and paces back and forth in front of th efire, "He uses so much magic on himself that I would be shredded like tissue paper unless I surprised him, and even then I would most likely die slightly slower. I have no resuorce to him by yourselves...but neither do you, do you?"
01[21:32] <Seira> "That depends," Seira responds with. "I'll be uncharacteristically open with what is essentially an enemy and say that Esthan has his base of power, and we have ours. In either, we are unbeatable. Outside of them, it becomes a matter of who has more resources and better intelligence on hand."
[21:33] <Kotono> "He can call on enough devils to law anyone low. His magic is that of an archwizard." With a dour, deep smile, "I know for a fact that the times he's met you, he's had so much magic on him that you'd never stand a chance of winning. However, if you can get him when his defenses are somewhat lower..."
01[21:34] <Seira> "I'm listening," Seira indicates.
[21:35] <Kotono> "I can give you the location he'll be at in about a week," Going on now, "He'll still be terribly formidable, but if you hit him hard and before he can bring all his power to bear..." Spreading his arms out, "You may be able to defeat him."
01[21:39] <Seira> "And what's in it for you?" Seira inquires. "Is that when the deadline given to you for an attack on us expires?"
[21:41] <Kotono> "About. If you succeed, we both continue on with our plans and lives. Perhaps I rebuild and defeat you one day. Perhaps you kill me. Or we never fight." With an intense look at Seira, "But we allhave a chance then with Esthan gone."
03[21:42] * Demedais is now known as tai-stomachaughblagh
01[21:45] <Seira> "Mmm, yes." Seira nods. "You liked my honesty before, right? I'll continue it, then. Even if we accept as truth Esthan being more powerful than us, we are not the ones with a week's deadline. Your chances of killing us are fairly small. Your chances of surviving under a boss of Esthan even if you do kill us all are even slighter,
01[21:45] <Seira> especially since he has some sort of plans for us and would kill you for ruining them. So while we could benefit from this, it won't be as much as you would. Thus my question of what you can bring to the table to sweeten the deal."
01[21:46] <Seira> *a boss the likes of
[21:46] <Kotono> OOC: Bluffing there Seira, or do you really mean it?
01[21:47] <Seira> OOC: I'm not looking for a bribe, I'm interested in information. If that's not clear, let me add a line.
[21:48] <Kotono> OOC: Go for it.
06[21:48] * Seira pauses briefly. "Esthan's dealings in Prime, his little projects... they would come to a stop if he's gone. Tell me about them and about his goals here along with that location, and I can ensure that you won't pick up where he left off, thus clearing my conscience of dealing with you in the here and now."
[21:50] <Kotono> "His greatest plans are beyond me. I am a minion to him, not an equal," Slamming his fist into the wall hard, "I know what I do of him from my own counter-spying, but it is limited. I don't even know what his true plans for you are. He did send one of my servants to destruction for little reason, just to work against Alicia Reynes."
01[21:52] <Seira> "What little you know is fine with me," Seira responds evenly. "Let's not mince words. You're pretty much screwed. Go against Esthan and die. Follow his wishes and die regardless of success. Desert and die painfully. Only by working with us do you not die!" Seira frowns. "But why should someone who defeated Esthan, the one you couldn't lay a finger on, let you just pick up where he left off?
01[21:52] <Seira> Assuming you don't want to die next anyway, curbing your potential activities is the only way out I can offer you."
[21:57] <Kotono> "If you don't cooperate with me, Esthan continues what he's doing. Do you think you have a prayer of defeating him alone?" Glaring right back at Seira, "You need my help as much as I need yours."
01[22:00] <Seira> "I was just like you," Seira says, nodding. "I raged about stopping him, and how it had to happen. My dad told me I would get my chance. It only made me angrier, but it remains a truth." She peers at the fiend. "That date within a week is the best date that fits within your schedule.
01[22:00] <Seira> But ours is more flexible, not to mention extended. For all we know, it might be a close call in a week, while in a month we might have another, better one. An almost-perfect chance to take Esthan out."
[22:01] <Kotono> "And let you go back to corrupting all these poor people who would never go afoul without you?" Commander Oberuth steps forward there, "We will defeat Esthan in due time AND you. Don't presume to treat us as equals or as a superior, devil. You will cooperate with us on OUR terms, not yours. Or what? You get slain by us and go racing to curseed oblivion or becoming a pitiful oozing pile of devil shit?"
01[22:01] <Seira> "Yes, that option does not appeal," Seira agrees. "Although I think I said it far nicer."
[22:05] <Kotono> "So let's review. You cooperate with us and then get the hell out of this world. You don't and either Esthan kills you or we kill you, stuffing your miserable soul into whatever nightmare form gives monsters like you pause. Or if you're particularly foolhardy, I cut your miserable head off here and mount it over the front gate of the city. Choose." Oberuth draws his sword with a soft snicker-snack of steel escaping it's bonds. "As I see it
[22:05] <Kotono> Oberuth draws his sword with a soft snicker-snack of steel escaping it's bonds. "As I see it, at least working with us gives you the chance to torment other devils in Hell."
01[22:06] <Seira> "Oh!" Seira exclaims. "Threats are fine and proper, but we really shouldn't attack until the obvious sign of a double-cross, Sir! For all we know, this might be the first time a fiend dealing with us has enough sense to cut his losses and deal honestly!"
[22:09] <Kotono> "Hah." Oberuth raises his blade, "Seira's right again. The choice is yours, devil."
01[22:09] <Seira> "I don't know what sort of gossip goes around me, but as long as a deal is fair and doesn't endanger the people I'm sworn to protect, I will hold on to it," Seira promises.
[22:11] <Kotono> With a growl that belches up from the deepest pit of it's chest, "Impudence! You inferior creatures have no right to dictate terms to me! You are nothing but rotting bags of flesh wrapped around a soul!"
01[22:12] <Seira> "Cut the self-aggrandizing crap!" Seira snaps back. "We're sacks of rotting flesh? I'm a dragon, dammit! Show the proper respect to those you come begging to kill your untouchable boss!"
[22:14] <Kotono> With a hiss as it steps back, "You have a week because that's my limit. At that point, I'll be thrown away as Esthan uses me as another chip against you. Plus, when I'm dead, he can easily assume all the diabolical power in this world. He'll have even more authority and all you'll have to show for it is a meaningless victory over me!"
06[22:16] * Seira snorts. "I can be flexible. Tell me all you know but the location itself, then. If I'm convinced the situation is as dire as you say, I may reconsider my terms."
[22:20] <Kotono> "In a little under a week, you will receive word from Bey Kerem. He will ask to see you as soon as possible. Of course, it is an ambush and a trick. I'm to lure you in for my overdue revenge and kill you. Of course..." With a feral smile, "I don't think I'm expected to win, but to die chasing my desire. All while you do Esthan's work. So he can claim that he helped you eliminate a great evil afterwards."
[22:20] <Kotono> helped you eliminate a great evil afterwards."
01[22:24] <Seira> "No, no." Seira shakes her head. "While this helps establish your credentials, I meant more like which part of it would allow him to easily assume all the diabolical power in this world, to quote you."
[22:25] <Kotono> "I control all the diabolical actions from around the edge of your civilized world at the Jungle to deep within Malmuth. What's to stop him from setting himself up if I'm dispatched? He has the power and authority to do so."
06[22:29] * Seira is quite incredulous at such brazenness, but decides not to show it. "I... see. Okay! So what's the deal you offer us, specifically? Are you going to be pitching in and doing your best to coup poor Esthan?"
[22:30] <Kotono> "I give you the location and time when we have a chance at him with as few defenses as possible. We hit him hard as possible. It's a poor plan, no tactics. But with such a foe and so little time, there's no choice."
01[22:31] <Seira> "How specific can you be with the time, and how far in advance?" Seira inquires. "The place, can it be chosen well ahead of schedule? Can you tell me of Esthan's defenses, both active and passive, as well as why he would have lowered them at this time?"
[22:34] <Kotono> "A day or two in advance. Preparations must be cautious - if he detects anything wrong in advance, teleportation ruins our efforts," Going on now, "I know of a few. Complete protection from any sort of scrying or detection. All of my own commissioned attempts have failed completely. A belt he wears underneath his clothing enhances all of his abilities. When he suspects battle or danger, he casts myraid defensive and augumenting spells. He
[22:34] <Kotono> When he suspects battle or danger, he casts myraid defensive and augumenting spells. He can't keep all of those up all the time. As long as his foes stay in line with his plans, it's not a problem. But if he get surprised..."
01[22:35] <Seira> "So we're talking two-three minute duration spells?" Seira asks. "He must have his favorites, or a certain order he prefers to use to get his defenses up."
[22:36] <Kotono> "That I can't help you as much with," With a growl again, "He keeps his secrets well, and since detection is impossible once cast..." With a look of complete disdain, "It limits the information I have there."
01[22:38] <Seira> "Sounds right to me," Seira agrees, glancing at Oberuth. "Sir?"
[22:39] <Kotono> "Stay here," To the devil first and then to SEira, "We'll return. Come with me, Seira."
06[22:40] * Seira nods.
[22:42] <Kotono> Once out, Obreuth heads back itno the city. Only once through the gates, and to the gate guards, "Have pages gather Captain Alicia and her friend Antenora, as well as her famiilar. Have them meet us at the garrison." Once that's done and the two are a little more inside, "He can sit his unholy ass down while we decide what we're going to do. He came to us, no need to rush to a judgment now." With a vindictive smile after, "Some anxiety wil
[22:42] <Kotono> He came to us, no need to rush to a judgment now." With a vindictive smile after, "Some anxiety will do him some good. It'll build some character."
01[22:43] <Seira> "No it won't," Seira states. "Gnomes wrote something about devils being literally made of hate and something like that. I think they ignored all the free-floating stupidity, however."
[22:45] <Kotono> "It will at least make me feel better," With a smirk, Commander Oberuth leads Seira back to the garrison. The two are soon joined by Alicia, Antenora and Marie in the typical meeting room. Oberuth sits at the head of the table as he does, "Seira, explain the situation to them."
01[22:46] <Seira> "Right. There's a cornugon who is our sworn enemy but I've never met. He says he works for Esthan, and Esthan finally told him to commit suicide by attacking us. Instead, he wants us to jump Esthan along with him in a week and change. He'll supply the exact place and time in advance, and Esthan is said to be without most of his defenses."
[22:48] <Alicia> "Clever," Alicia mutters. "So either we kill Esthan and get him off the hook, or Esthan kills us and he can say it all went as planned. Or this is just another scheme by Esthan to try and point out how much more powerful he is than us, again."
[22:49] <Kotono> "Typical Baatezu scheming," Antenora's face is dour as she listens, "No matter which choice you choose, it looks like you're doing them a favor."
06[22:49] * Seira nods. "For what it matters, there is another option. All of the above scenarios have Esthan on the scene, and we may just have the means to kill him within our grasp, now."
[22:51] <Alicia> "I've improved some since my last encounter with him, as have the rest of us," Alicia acknowledges. "Still, it could be a trap nonetheless. Antenora, you mentioned that you can perceive deception, now?"
01[22:52] <Seira> "If it's a trap, I think we should go for it," Seira voices. "It all but ensures no attack on the city until that time, and if there is one and we're being sent to a diversion, we can have a capable force back and ready for it."
[22:53] <Kotono> "I can," Antenora look sto Alicia. "If you want me to, say the word."
[22:54] <Alicia> "Nothing ventured, nothing gained eh?" Alicia smirks. "I think it would be a good idea to have a chat with this Cornugon if possible to iron out the details and find out exactly what his agenda is."
[22:54] <Kotono> "Seira's logic has merit," Oberuth says as he listens to them, "Though a fake up and a punch to our main base while it happens is a possibility."
01[22:55] <Seira> "As I've said, those remaining behind would be extra ready and alert, since the window of attack would necessarily be so narrow," Seira reasons. "Also, we can't really ambush Esthan with our entire forces, so we'll have plenty to spare for guarding those living here."
[22:58] <Kotono> "Agreed with both. Go to him, ask him what you will nad accept the offer if no red flags come up," Oberuth says.
01[22:59] <Seira> "He basically got all cocky and said we work together until Esthan's been defeated, and then it's up in the air. Either we kill each other some day, or our paths never cross." Seira snorts. "He got stupid after that, and refused to abandon his plans for Prime while boasting of having a hand in every devilish dealings here Esthan's not involved in himself,
01[22:59] <Seira> so I think we'll go with his original offer and kill him at a later date, just as he wished."
06[23:01] * Alicia sighs. "The joy of dealing with fiends..."
01[23:01] <Seira> "However did they survive to be that old, right?"
[19:38] <Blondezilla> <Alicia> "Nothing ventured, nothing gained eh?" Alicia smirks. "I think it would be a good idea to have a chat with this Cornugon if possible to iron out the details and find out exactly what his agenda is."
[19:38] <Blondezilla> > "Seira's logic has merit," Oberuth says as he listens to them, "Though a fake up and a punch to our main base while it happens is a possibility."
[19:38] <Blondezilla> <Seira> "As I've said, those remaining behind would be extra ready and alert, since the window of attack would necessarily be so narrow," Seira reasons. "Also, we can't really ambush Esthan with our entire forces, so we'll have plenty to spare for guarding those living here."
[19:38] <Blondezilla> > "Agreed with both. Go to him, ask him what you will nad accept the offer if no red flags come up," Oberuth says.
[19:38] <Blondezilla> <Seira> "He basically got all cocky and said we work together until Esthan's been defeated, and then it's up in the air. Either we kill each other some day, or our paths never cross." Seira snorts. "He got stupid after that, and refused to abandon his plans for Prime while boasting of having a hand in every devilish dealings here Esthan's not involved in himself,
[19:38] <Blondezilla> <Seira> so I think we'll go with his original offer and kill him at a later date, just as he wished."
[19:38] <Blondezilla> * Alicia sighs. "The joy of dealing with fiends..."
[19:38] <Blondezilla> <Seira> "However did they survive to be that old, right?"
[19:39] <Blondezilla> "Let's get it over with," Antenora stands up, "Let's go?"
02[19:39] * Shizuru (~corwin@bzq-79-179-135-140.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
06[19:40] * Alicia nods, standing up. "Marie, you might as well just go home and keep an eye on things there, just in case this is a distraction?" she suggests to her familiar, who agreeably flutters off back home.
01[19:40] <Seira> "He might kind of run away if we keep on bringing more and more people," Seira says hesitantly. "For all his bravado, he doesn't seem like a particularly brave cornugon."
[19:41] <Alicia> "Well, why don't just you and Antenora go at least, then?" Alicia allows. "Just make sure to ask him some probing questions so she can confirm any deception on his part?"
01[19:42] <Seira> "Should work," Seira agrees. "As long as we don't tip him off. Having their side think they've lured us into a trap is one of the better outcomes."
[19:44] <Alicia> "I'll wait nearby but not close enough to draw notice?" Alicia offers.
01[19:45] <Seira> "Sounds reasonable."
[19:47] <Blondezilla> Thus the group heads out to the southern gate. The city is lively but unremarkable, no signs of the diabolical horror that waits just outside of town...
06[19:48] * Alicia casts message so she can stay in contact with Seira and Antenora, before stopping to wait at the edge of the scattered housing to the Southeast of the city. "Good luck," she wishes.
01[19:49] <Seira> "Can't hurt to have it on our side," Seira agrees, leading the way to the house the devil had occupied.
[19:51] <Blondezilla> Just outside, Antenora stops. "I'll activate the spell now. It lasts about a minute and a half." Antenora's eyes close shut, "I can activate it and re-active it at will, though I don't know if he'd be sharp enough to notice it...but it's likely he can, being a commanding upper rank devil."
01[19:52] <Seira> "Not to mention paranoid due to circumnstance."
[19:53] <Blondezilla> "Yes." With that, Antenora removes her hair ribbon and looks to Seira, "Go ahead. Let me go in second."
06[19:54] * Seira needs no other invitation to go inside.
[19:54] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 and gets 35." [1d20=20]
[19:56] <Blondezilla> Seira and the Antenora enter! The horned devil is still pacing by the fireplace, eyes like burning souls in Hell glaring at the two. He takes a long look at Antenora, and with a snarling hiss that sends the scent of brimstone washing over you, "Traitor."
06[19:56] * Seira rolls her eyes. "Our new friend, Antenora. Antenora, this is... actually, what was your name?"
[20:02] <Blondezilla> "Armanzas," With a rumble, the two outsiders lock eyes. Antenora smiles a little, "Antenora is close enough."
01[20:05] <Seira> "Right, right. Well, if you want to see a model of a successful outsider doing right for herself and following the winning team, you can look all you want," Seira says. "It's okay if you want to give it a try, too. I usually only offer this to fiends about to die pointlessly, but why not make an exception now?"
[20:06] <Blondezilla> "Enough foolishness!" Snapping as he turns back to Seira, "What is your answer? I grow restless waiting on it!"
01[20:08] <Seira> "The Guard would like to have a formal contract of some sort," Seira tells him in response. "An outline of dos and don'ts, so to speak, and of our responsibilities under our agreement. Go ahead and detail the terms?"
[20:21] <Blondezilla> Snapping his fingers, a bit of paper flies from the rubble and lands in his hand. "Here."
[20:21] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+6
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+6 and gets 13." [1d20=7]
[20:21] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 and gets 25." [1d20=10]
06[20:22] * Seira stretches out her own to take it, hopefully also to focus the devil on her and away from Antenora.
[20:24] <Blondezilla> The paper is given to Seira. Meanwhile, Antenora is quiet...
06[20:25] * Seira glances at it with her magical senses, only reading if it seems clean.
[20:26] <Blondezilla> Seira does not detect any magic.
06[20:27] * Seira reads the contract, so helpfully drafted for their convenience.
[20:34] <Blondezilla> It's full of legalese and the lik. It basically outlines things - not to mess with each other, not to betray each other, not to use any information gained here for scrying or backstabbing, that sort of thing. It would take a bit of time and analysis to really get into, since it's so trenched in fancy devil wordwork.
06[20:36] * Seira just looks for the expiration date signing such a contract would have on the truce between them, from which point it would be safe to kill Armanzas. As well as who the signatories are, naturally.
[20:39] <Blondezilla> Until Esthan is dead and all parties have parted safely, or until the attempt fails.
01[20:41] <Seira> "Until the attempt fails and all parties have parted safely," Seira speaks, pointing out that bit in the contract. "And in both cases, parting safely would mean actually leaving beyond the distance of the teleport spell on your part for a period of twenty four hours."
[20:58] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+6
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+6 and gets 14." [1d20=8]
[20:58] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 and gets 25." [1d20=10]
[21:02] <Blondezilla> "It says until Esthan is dead AND all parties have parted safely, or until the attempt fails," He points out. "They are not connected."
01[21:03] <Seira> "No, I think you don't understand," Seira insists. "I want us to part safely if the attempt fails as well. If we're forced to abort this attack on Esthan, it would hardly suit us for you to backstab us at that point."
[21:06] <Blondezilla> "If the attempt fails..." With a sardonic grin, "I care little because my life here can be measured in tea cups. But so be it, if you wish."
06[21:07] * Seira nods. "That's one down," she says, glancing at the part with the signatories again.
[21:10] <Blondezilla> "Then what's the rest?" Waiting, "Is the contract acceptable?"
[21:10] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+6
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+6 and gets 18." [1d20=12]
[21:10] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 and gets 25." [1d20=10]
01[21:14] <Seira> "I think so," Seira agrees. "You do realize, as you've brought it up yourself earlier, that by continuing Esthan's plans for this world you will come into direct opposition with us and no protection on the part of this contract?"
[21:19] <Blondezilla> "That bridge can be burned when we reach it," With a leering smile at Seira, "If Esthan kills me and continues to torment you, does that matter?"
[21:19] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+6
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+6 and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[21:19] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 and gets 19." [1d20=4]
06[21:22] * Seira nods thoughtfully. "Okay. I think I can recommend this to the Guard once I've made it past my reservations," she says reassuringly. "Unfortunately, you should know me by reputation. I distrust devils and would like to double-check everything. Upside? You don't have to suffer through that with a paladin. So let's start with what troubles me the most."
06[21:22] * Seira holds up the paper. "This contract seems pretty thought out for something you apparently came up with at a last moment. Why is that?"
[21:23] <Blondezilla> Steepling his hands together as he glares at Seira, "That is last minute. Any devil worth the shit off a lemure's back can write something lik ethat."
01[21:24] <Seira> "So you didn't have time to consider the implications. How do I know you won't change your mind and stab me in the back?"
[21:29] <Blondezilla> "If I do, Esthan has me as fodder and I die." With a long, withering look, "Would I even be here if not?"
01[21:31] <Seira> "Ah, but not if you are following his wishes right now!" Seira points out. "Maybe he just wants you to... oh, I don't know. Mess with our heads. Show off. Do something pointless again. After all, we only have your word that he wants you dead and has ordered you to kill us within a week."
[21:32] <Blondezilla> "If he is, I'm dead either way," With a long, flat look again, "Does it matter then?"
01[21:33] <Seira> "Hey, it's not like I'm refusing!" Seira insists. "But I want to be certain before I leap into a contract with a fiend like that. You have to understand, you must've done this countless times in other situations. You're sure he thinks you've outlived your usefulness? Because his intentions matter to us, even if not to you, and would help me towards making up my mind."
[21:39] <Blondezilla> "So be it. I have no intention of backstabbing you on this affair." It's all the devil says.
01[21:40] <Seira> "Nice. Alright. How many of us are expected to be the signatories?"
[21:40] <Blondezilla> "You are sufficient as it encapsules the guard," he says.
01[21:44] <Seira> "I think this also needs to be in the contract, specifically," Seira says. "Namely, that you'll tell us right after we sign of any plans Esthan or any other devils might have within the timeframe regarding this world. It was a bit over a week, right?"
[21:51] <Blondezilla> "I'll tell you anything relevant to the situation," Is all that the devil says.
01[21:52] <Seira> "Close," Seira agrees. "But if I'm signing for the Guard, then I need to receive information on anything involving the Guard within that timeframe."
[22:05] <Blondezilla> "Involving this situation, yes."
01[22:05] <Seira> "Oh, you tease," Seira deadpans. "Come on, let's sign it. Devils first."
[22:07] <Blondezilla> Taking the paper, the devil signs it with a flick of it's nail and a bit of blood.
06[22:14] * Seira rolls her eyes and signs her name in ink.
01[22:15] <Seira> "Time for you to tell us what you came here to tell us," she says once she's done.
[22:33] <Blondezilla> "In a day or two in advance of it, as I said before." Drawing up now, "Is there any other information you need until then?"
01[22:34] <Seira> "I thought you had the location at least, but I suppose I got it wrong," Seira muses. "How will you contact us?"
[22:35] <Blondezilla> "Sending is sufficient," He replies, "Or a grabbed travelers, should the need make sending impractical."
01[22:37] <Seira> "Just use a sending to set up a meeting," Seira tells him. "I'll have to hurt you if you mess with anyone the way you did with that private."
[22:42] <Blondezilla> "So be it. Until then." In a flash, the cornugon is gone.
06[22:42] * Seira makes sure he's really gone and not just hiding, before returning to regroup with Alicia.
[22:43] <Blondezilla> Antenora follows. As they catch back up with Alicia, "He's deseperate on the surface and he wasn't lying. I think he's probably very afraid of Esthan and believes what he said."
01[22:45] <Seira> "It remains to be seen what Esthan thinks. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, and if it's all a big trap by Esthan at least our new friend won't be getting desperate like attacking our citizens for no reason."
[22:46] <Blondezilla> As the two rejoin Alicia, "Yes. A small victory. The trick is figuring out if this is a plan, or a broken plan...o ra greater plan by someone above even Esthan. You can never tell."
[22:48] <Alicia> "It wouldn't surprise me if Esthan was fully aware of everything that just transpired," Alicia remarks unhappily, sighing. "I hate it when fiends tell me to kill other fiends. It makes everything so muddy."
01[22:48] <Seira> "I hate it too, but I don't think it's too muddy. We want them both dead, right? This just affects the order in which they die."
[22:49] <Alicia> "Assuming all goes as planned, yes," Alicia nods.
[22:49] <Blondezilla> "That's a big if." Antenora can't help but smile there, "But we'll do it for sure."
01[22:52] <Seira> "Yes. I really must pay them back for messing up with my party and generally disrupting my travel plans, after all."
[22:53] <Alicia> "If it removes Esthan from the field then it can only free up that much more time in the future?" Alicia essays a smile. "That said, it is a bit of a strain when we still have to finish other matters as well."
01[22:55] <Seira> "Agreement on all counts, really. And I'm uncertain whether we should alert our contacts in the Fiefdoms. The pretext, at least, sounds like having something to do with them. It might be common courtesy to alert the top ranks."
[22:56] <Blondezilla> "Alicia, I have another idea as well. If this is going ot be some place we'll have minimal time to work with, we made need a lot of teleporting capacity. Can we borrow Celebrimbor's ring again, or otherwise purchase extra scrolls of teleportation? In case we need mobility when matters come to it."
01[22:57] <Seira> "I'm not sure I follow," Seira admits. "We'll need two telepors at most, surely, and I can provide for one quite easily."
[21:04] <Kotono> ---
[21:05] <Kotono> Settling down in front of the lake, glancing back at Armanzas without comment, "Got a fishing pole," Oberuth asks. "Or any sort of prop for this?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "Not handy I'm afraid, but we can probably improvise something with some deadwood," Alicia replies, scouring around a bit for some handy as they settle down by the lake where it edges the road close to the village.
[21:07] <Kotono> Alicia gathers some out without incident. Oberuth looks out over the lake in the meantime. 'You know devils better than I do. Do you think this is going to work now, or is it a trap?'
[21:10] <Alicia> 'The cornugon wants Esthan dead, of that I'm fairly sure,' she replies telepathically, opening up the portable hole and taking out Hell Striker which she covers with fallen leaves and half sits on as she sets camp. 'But killing Esthan and us aren't necessarily exclusive. If we present ourselves as easy targets even after beating Esthan, he might try to take advantage of our weakness.'
[21:12] <Kotono> 'The second verse of the problem: Is this a greater plan by Esthan or another devil, or a real bit of rebellion and backstabbing?' Oberuth glances behind him casually, as he leans forward into the ground. He digs a bit, coming out with a few worms after a moment's effort.
[21:13] <Alicia> 'Actually, there's something I'm curious about,' Alicia admits, glancing over to the skulking baatezu. "Armanzas, wasn't it?" she calls over.
[21:13] <Kotono> "Yes," Armanzas' voice rumbles low in his chest, a grumble of hellfire and sulphur. "What is it you desire now?"
[21:15] <Alicia> "I'm just wondering. Has word got out in Hell of late regarding Esthan's treachery against the Overlord?" she asks casually.
[21:16] <Kotono> "IF I were you, mortal, I would clarify your words most intently right now," Armanzas speaks with burning hatred, his entire body seeming to ripple with it.
[21:18] <Alicia> "Well, when Esthan tried to recruit us to his cause a few months ago, he explained how he worked for a powerful devil that intends to usurp control of the Nine Hells. Admittedly I've considered that he could have simply been bluffing, I'm not quite sure why he'd bother," Alicia responds. "Given his priveleged position in the current regime, it seems doubly strange."
[21:19] <Kotono> "Hmph." Armanzas is silent a long time, "He speaks words of foolishness, or perhaps has imagined himself with the bravo and regal might of Lord Mephiso or the Fly Lord."
[21:22] <Alicia> "There were many devils present when he explained his treachery to us, and I have given this information to a few baatezu that I've sent on their way home. I find it unfathomable that those tasked with ferreting out disloyalty among your kind are unaware of the situation, so I can only conclude that there is another ploy at work, here," Alicia goes on with her speculations.
[21:23] <Kotono> After a longer pause, "It may be so. It may ver well be so." He admits this, his tail spearing out. Black spreads into the lake as it comes back out with a fish, withering dead within seconds. He rips it from his tail, biting it apart and eating it savagely. Tossing a few bones back into the water, half crushed in his grip, "You've learned from the traitor well enough, I see."
[21:26] <Alicia> "We've taught each other a thing or two," Alicia inclines her head briefly. "The tale of Baron Molikroth seems apt, but merely copying a ploy used by another doesn't sit right, either. Regardless, there is far more to Esthan than him simply being a superior who casually discards the pawns of his underlings."
[21:28] <Kotono> Armanzas grunts to that, "Yes, you are correct. There is far more to Esthan than one would assess unless your eye is that of a devil." His voice holds a certain, cold restraint now. "Ones of his statue that also master arcane magic are true elites. Yet he seems to hold no noble rank, only the title 'Of Nessus', which in itself is a great honor, and the authority to do so."
[21:33] <Alicia> "Hmm... I wonder if 'Esthan' is merely a facade worn by another fiend of more renown?" Alicia posits thoughtfully. "Such a tangled web that has been woven around him... perhaps before the day is out we will have some answers?"
[21:34] <Kotono> 'Nothing so far,' Latha's voice sounds in Alicia's head. 'We're just looking around in general, though we saw Seira and Donald head into a store.'
[21:35] <Kotono> "Hmph. I wonder..." Rumbling now as he thinks, "To copy Baron Molikroth is not impossible. Nor are a dozen other schemes of renown, such as the Four-Cross. But to speculate this, he could be almost anything then. Perhaps even one of the paragons..."
[21:36] <Alicia> 'It's rather early, yet,' Alicia returns to the deva. 'Just try to blend in as you can? Best not to raise any fuss that might tip our foe off.'
[21:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 paragon, in a hellish context? (planes)
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 paragon, in a hellish context? (planes) and gets 27." [1d20=5]
[21:38] <Alicia> "Paragons?" Alicia raises an eyebrow. "I confess that in all my dealings with your kind, that's not a term I'd heard before."
[21:40] <Kotono> The air becomes tense, quiet. "It is not a matter that mortals must concern themselves with." His presence broods deeply on you, "Unless you wish to peer into the depths of Hell, paladin." He offers a hand out, "Do you?"
[21:44] <Alicia> "I've done more than peer, already," Alicia replies offhandedly. "If you're so concerned with being secretive I'll just ask Antenora later."
[21:46] <Kotono> "Certainly she will tell you if she knows. She obeys you like you were a Lord of the Nine." With a sardonic contempt in his voice, "Your taming and breaking of her is impressive, I must admit. You crushed her will and filled her head with pointless inanities."
[21:50] <Alicia> "I prefer to think of it as opening her eyes to the realities of existence," Alicia replies. "Certainly, her will is far less crushed than it was when she was a mere cog in the infernal meat-grinder."
[21:51] <Kotono> "As part of Hell she has more authority and majesty than she could ever have as your lapdog." With a snort of utter, hateful contempt, "What all of your words matter on the day that Lord Asmodeus crushes the light from the top of the Heavens forever?"
[21:52] <Kotono> "I understand," Oberuth focuses on the lake for a bit, "Your own self importance is paramount. If you aren't the best, you can't keep going in the same stupid circle over and over, can you?"
[21:52] <Alicia> "Just like your authority and majesty as Esthan's disobedient lapdog?" Alicia returns with a nasty smirk.
[21:53] <Kotono> Oberuth's expression changes there, holding up a hand.
[21:53] <Kotono> OOC: Goa head and reply in #dunes.
[21:55] <Alicia> "Speak of the devil..." Alicia frowns slightly, getting up and putting Hell Striker into the hole. "Sounds like your master got here ahead of us."
[21:56] <Kotono> "Excellent," Now cutting himself off from the previous, "Now is the time to strike him."
[21:56] <Alicia> "Can you conceal yourself?" Alicia asks. "I'd rather not charge in like a pack of demons if I can help it."
[21:58] <Kotono> With a soundless motion, Armanzas vanishes from sight. "Good enough if I bring up the rear."
06[21:59] * Alicia nods curtly, casting a spell to bolster and encourage those around her as she starts walking briskly towards the town. "Don't do anything foolish."
[22:00] <Kotono> Oberuth begins to walk as well! The two head into town without incident - it looks sleepy and quiet. Two disguised celestials are waiting outside one building in the meantime, chatting lightly and looking at one of the hanging signs.
[22:00] <Alicia> OOC: heroism also cast on self and Obureth
06[22:01] * Alicia nods to Latha and Antenora and approaches the duo. "He's in the inn?" she confirms quietly.
[22:03] <Kotono> With a slight nod, Antenora looks to it. In Alicia's mind, 'Waiting on the other two now. They should be along any time.'
[22:05] <Alicia> 'We can't fight him inside, it'll be a bloodbath,' Alicia states regrettably. 'Best if we can catch him as he leaves.'
[22:06] <Kotono> As they talk, an elven couple approaches the party, Seira and Donald.
[22:06] <Kotono> 'How do we get him out then? We can't really wait all day here, it'll look bad if he has nayone keeping an eye out.' Antenora continues to chatter with Latha about nothing at all.
06[22:07] * Alicia nods to the new pair, deciding to follow Antenora's example and verbally express her enthusiasm for the weather. 'If we attack him in the inn it'll be a bloodbath,' she sends over telepathy to everyone else. 'We need some way to get him out of there.'
[22:08] <Kotono> "Hello there," Antenora bubbles, "You two look so nice together! I'm Elfana."
[22:08] <Kotono> 'How?' Latha questions, 'If we tip our hand doing it, the advantage goes back to him.'
01[22:09] <Seira> "Umm. Thanks," Seira responds, visibly disturbed at such a random case of befriending. 'How about I shoot him with the bow, Alicia hits him with the sword of not teleporting, and the rest try to evacuate the inn's residents?'
[22:11] <Kotono> Antenora gives off an offended look, turning away from Seira. Latha chuckles to herself, patting Antenora' sshoulder.
[22:12] <Alicia> 'I really don't want to start a fight in such a cramped area full of innocents...' Alicia sounds hesitant. 'Nothing we could maybe use as a distraction?'
01[22:14] <Seira> 'I think it's best to keep it indoors. Esthan might have agents here, and a free for all on the street with residents running around in terror would deliver that same bloodbath,' Seira responds mentally, before grabbing Donald's hand more tightly. "Well, this was nice, but I think I'm famished. How about a bite to eat?"
[22:15] <Alicia> 'Wait, I might have an idea... Seira, do you have dimension door or teleport prepared?'
01[22:15] <Seira> 'The latter.'
[22:16] <Alicia> 'I'll go in first. I can use walls of force to cut Esthan and myself off from everyone else. Then you can teleport everyone else in on my side of the walls and we attack?'
01[22:17] <Seira> 'No element of surprise, but I'm good with that. Lead the way, I'll follow whenever you say so.'
[22:18] <Alicia> 'It should be obvious enough,' Alicia responds grimly, heading inside...
[22:18] <Kotono> 'OOC: Just you, Alicia?
06[22:18] * Seira follows with Donald, quite naturally, although she would be headed for the counter.
[22:19] <Alicia> OOC: that was my plan, since the others need to all stay together so Seira can teleport them
01[22:22] <Seira> OOC: Strike
06[22:22] * Seira instead spends the time chatting with Donald, while mentally asking Latha to describe the location Esthan was at.
[22:23] <Kotono> Alicia heads in! The tavern has a few elves about, talking and relaxing. As Latha fills Seira in, Alicia sees Esthan. His hood is up, casual gaze as he chats with two lithe elves. One is a man and one is a woman, both pretty enough. They're talking low, about 40 feet away and right in front of the fireplace. There's a few tables between you and his table, too. He sits at the back of the table, his table also betwen him and you. His two gue
[22:23] <Kotono> He sits at the back of the table, his table also betwen him and you. His two guests sit on either side of him.
[22:24] <Alicia> Either side of him around the table, or either side as in shoulder to shoulder?
[22:25] <Kotono> The former.
06[22:26] * Alicia estimates whether she can use one wall of force to completely box Esthan off from every other patron of the inn, or whether she'll need two intersecting ones for the job.
[22:26] <Kotono> OOC: You could do it in one wall.
[22:26] <Kotono> OOC: Wait. how tight a fit do yo uwant here?
[22:27] <Alicia> OOC: I want enough room for Esthan plus 5 other medium sized creatures at the bare minimum, preferably a little more
[22:27] <Kotono> OOC: You'd have to get the other two in it. Youc ould do it in one wall with your CL, but there's just not enough space there for five creatures.
[22:28] <Alicia> OOC: okay, with two walls to create some angles to play with would that allow more room?
[22:28] <Kotono> OOC: Not really. He's back by the fireplace, so you're pretty much against a wall without much space behind him.
[22:31] <Alicia> OOC: how many elves in here besides the two with Esthan?
[22:32] <Kotono> OOC: Five. They're scattered here and there, mostly isolated. No one's too close to him.
[22:32] <Alicia> OOC: and there's definitely no way I could use two intersecting walls to expand the area?
[22:34] <Kotono> OOC: He's back against the fireplace. There's just not any space to work with there behind him, so no.
[22:34] <Kotono> OOC: Unless youc an make the wall go away or something.
[22:36] <Alicia> 'It's no good, the angles aren't right...' Alicia sends to the others, voice strained as she struggles to wrap her mind around the layout of the inn. 'Any other ideas?'
01[22:38] <Seira> 'I can call upon benign transposition, if that helps at all?'
[22:38] <Alicia> 'I don't think so...' Alicia sounds unsure.
01[22:40] <Seira> 'A variation on my earlier suggestion, made to work with your plan, then? You seal Esthan off as best you can, Latha, Antenora, Donald and the Commander could protect anyone caught in the crossfire until we sort things out.'
[22:45] <Alicia> 'Actually, wait, I see a way now,' Alicia responds. 'Get ready, I'm going to have these up in a flash,' she warns as she meanders over towards the rear of the inn...
[22:45] <Kotono> OOC: How close are you getting?
[22:46] <Alicia> OOC: lets say halfway across the inn, so 20 feet?
[22:47] <Kotono> Alicia meanders closer! The elves are continually talking and chatting with ESthan. He glances up as Alicia approaches, a pleasant smile on his face as he looks to her, before going back to his conversation.
06[22:47] * Alicia returns the smile with one of her own, uttering a silent 'Now!' as time sloooows and... stops.
[22:48] <Alicia> OOC: time stop boots activated, 2 rounds start now
[22:48] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead.
[22:49] <Alicia> Immediately Alicia casts a spell as the world ceases around her, conjuring forth an invisible wall of force along the back wall of the inn, stopping just past Esthan himself. She then walks forward to the far wall herself, drawing her sword as she goes.
[22:50] <Kotono> OOC: Was that one or both rounds?
[22:50] <Alicia> OOC; one round, move and standard
[22:50] <Kotono> OOC: Go on.
[22:50] <Alicia> In position now, she casts once more to draw another wall of force, this one at an angle stretching from Esthan's table to a third of the way back from the far wall, effectively creating half of a funnel with Esthan plugging it. For good measure she channels an enervation into her sword as time restarts and Seira hopefully does her part...
06[22:53] * Seira immediately focuses on a part of the inn between the wall visible to her and Esthan, aiming to teleport their group over!
[22:53] <Alicia> 'Aim for the area on Esthan's left, there's more room there!' she quickly adds!
01[22:53] <Seira> Ooc: Strike~
06[22:54] * Seira immediately focuses on a part of the inn between the farther wall and Esthan at Alicia's suggestion, aiming to teleport their group over!
01[22:54] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 16." [1d100=16]
[22:55] <Kotono> Woosh! In a moment, the party appears within that tight space! OOC: SEira, you have your nonstandard actions left. Everyone else has their turn but Alicia, who time stopped. Go ahead and go first, Seira?
06[22:55] * Seira calls upon Haste as she arrives, and draws the artifact bow on loan from Pollyanna as she steps back!
01[22:55] <Seira> OOC: Haste on all of us, moving so that I'm not in FA range for Esthan by any measure, but still within 30ft
[22:56] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Donald will go first to try and hammer smack him.
[22:56] <Kotono> Donald charges forward, Hammer of the Shard out! He swings it as it breaks into arcane fires! "Hi, asshole!"
[22:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28 (+1 haste, +4 arcane strike 1 4th level spell)
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 (+1 haste, +4 arcane strike 1 4th level spell) and gets 34." [1d20=6]
[22:58] <Kotono> OOC: +20.
[22:59] <Kotono> roll 1d8+10+4d4
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+10+4d4 and gets 17." [1d8=3][4d4=1, 1, 1, 1]
[22:59] <Kotono> roll 1d4
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 and gets 2." [1d4=2]
[22:59] <Kotono> In a moment, the Hammer of the Shard hits Esthan's chest! It barely seems to dent him, but his entire body ripples with rainbow colors! A moment later, Antenora charges in, using her reach to stab over Donald's shoulder!
[23:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+35 (+1 haste, +2 charge, +2 bane, +7 smite, +2 FS, +12 ignorance, -15 PA)
06[23:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+35 (+1 haste, +2 charge, +2 bane, +7 smite, +2 FS, +12 ignorance, -15 PA) and gets 53." [1d20=18]
[23:03] <Kotono> roll 2d8+122+1d6+2d6
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+122+1d6+2d6 and gets 140." [2d8=3, 5][1d6=5][2d6=1, 4]
[23:04] <Kotono> Antenora charges in, plunging the Black Horn spear into Esthan! She snarls without a word, as Oberuth positions and prepares, while holy energy slams into Esthan!
[23:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 holy smite
06[23:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 holy smite and gets 21." [1d20=6]
[23:04] <Kotono> OOC: Moment, checking hammer.
[23:06] <Kotono> roll 10d6
06[23:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 and gets 39." [10d6=5, 4, 3, 4, 6, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3]
[23:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30
06[23:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 and gets 37." [1d20=7]
[23:06] <Kotono> The holy energies wrap around Esthan, slamming him even harder! "Guh..." He grins viciously, hood tossed back by the assault! "Not badly done..." OOC: Init.
[23:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 15." [1d20=7]
01[23:07] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 18." [1d20=12]
[23:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Donald
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Donald and gets 13." [1d20=10]
[23:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 25." [1d20=20]
[23:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 Latha
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 Latha and gets 14." [1d20=6]
[23:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Oberuth
06[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Oberuth and gets 12." [1d20=6]
[23:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 nerveskitter
06[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 nerveskitter and gets 36." [1d20=19]
[23:08] <Alicia> OOC: Obi has readied action!
[23:08] <Kotono> OOC: I'm aware, but I'm rolling in case he doesn't use it.
03[23:09] * Kotono changes topic to 'Esthan>Antenora>Seira>Alicia>Latha>Donald>Oberuth(Holding)'
[23:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[23:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 24." [1d20=13]
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 16." [1d20=5]
03[23:09] * Kotono changes topic to 'Esthan>????1>Antenora>Seira>????2>Alicia>Latha>Donald>Oberuth(Holding)'
[23:10] <Kotono> Esthan takes a few steps back, trying to regroup! But Oberuth charges him at the same time, as words of power are weaved around him!
[23:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, -8 PA)
06[23:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, -8 PA) and gets 31." [1d20=10]
[23:12] <Kotono> roll 1d8+2d6+21
06[23:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+2d6+21 and gets 30." [1d8=5][2d6=1, 3]
[23:13] <Kotono> roll 2d8+2d6+42+1d6
06[23:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+2d6+42+1d6 and gets 58." [2d8=2, 1][2d6=4, 4][1d6=5]
[23:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+46 concentration attempt go
06[23:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+46 concentration attempt go and gets 62." [1d20=16]
[19:47] <Kotono> > OOC: I'm aware, but I'm rolling in case he doesn't use it.
[19:47] <Kotono> * Retrieving #evildunes modes...
[19:47] <Kotono> * Kotono changes topic to 'Esthan>Antenora>Seira>Alicia>Latha>Donald>Oberuth(Holding)'
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+11
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+11
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 24." [1d20=13]
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 16." [1d20=5]
[19:47] <Kotono> * Kotono changes topic to 'Esthan>????1>Antenora>Seira>????2>Alicia>Latha>Donald>Oberuth(Holding)'
[19:47] <Kotono> > Esthan takes a few steps back, trying to regroup! But Oberuth charges him at the same time, as words of power are weaved around him!
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+21 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, -8 PA)
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, -8 PA) and gets 31." [1d20=10]
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 1d8+2d6+21
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+2d6+21 and gets 30." [1d8=5][2d6=1, 3]
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 2d8+2d6+42+1d6
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+2d6+42+1d6 and gets 58." [2d8=2, 1][2d6=4, 4][1d6=5]
[19:47] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+46 concentration attempt go
[19:47] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+46 concentration attempt go and gets 62." [1d20=16]
03[19:48] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[19:53] <Kotono> Esthan is stabbed in the throat, his words dying in a moment of misconcentration and blood! "Guh..." He coughs again, "Very good..." He grimaces, as a wave of terror washes over the party! OOC: Fear aura. Will saves if you're not immune to fear?
[19:54] <Alicia> OOC: +10 everyone!
[19:54] <Alicia> OOC: morale, and +6 resistance from Latha
[19:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+41
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+41 and gets 58." [1d20=17]
[19:55] <Kotono> OOC: Antenora is in a holy fury and immune. Donald's next.
01[19:55] <Seira> roll 1d20+35
06[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+35 and gets 53." [1d20=18]
[19:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 Donald
06[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 Donald and gets 32." [1d20=9]
[19:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+29 Latha
06[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+29 Latha and gets 42." [1d20=13]
[19:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+26 Oberuth
06[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 Oberuth and gets 38." [1d20=12]
[20:03] <Kotono> A wave of the utmost terror assails the party, buckling them! But nonetheless they hold on, courage coming from deep within! One of the elves shifts! In it's place is an ice blue Gelugon, freezing cold and terrible! Yet it is muscled, far more developed than before! With a nimble gesture of it's hand, a cone of cold gushes out, freezing a pair of the elves! As this happens, the two flashfrozen, "Do you want the entire city to be frozen ali
[20:03] <Kotono> As this happens, the two flashfrozen, "Do you want the entire city to be frozen alive," Esthan gasps, holding his wounds and throat. "If you defeat me here...this entire city...dies!"
[20:04] <Kotono> roll 15d6
06[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 15d6 and gets 48." [15d6=3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 1, 6, 5, 1, 6, 4, 4, 1, 3]
01[20:05] <Seira> "You are not in a position to be bargaining," Seira snaps at Esthan. "You are in a position to be bleeding to death! Antenora, take that bastard out!"
[20:06] <Alicia> "Follow his orders and you won't be given the chance to respawn in Hell when we kill you, I promise you that!" Alicia glares hatefully at the murderous gelugon.
[20:07] <Kotono> Antenora takes those words to heart, screaming as she steps a little forward and lashes out over and over at Esthan!
[20:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA)
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA) and gets 25." [1d20=4]
[20:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA, +7 smite)
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA, +7 smite) and gets 31." [1d20=8]
[20:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA)
06[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +2 bane, +2 FS, -10 PA) and gets 17." [1d20=6]
[20:10] <Kotono> roll 1d8+44+2d6+1d6
06[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+44+2d6+1d6 and gets 57." [1d8=2][2d6=3, 6][1d6=2]
[20:10] <Kotono> OOC: +2 more.
[20:11] <Kotono> Antenora catches Esthan once, stabbing into his weakened guts! She rips out her spear, "Then we'll do something about it! We're not going to be paralysed again by another domineering threat!" OOC: Seira.
03[20:12] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth=Esthan>????1>Antenora>Seira>????2>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
03[20:14] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth=Esthan>Gelugon>Antenora>Seira>????2>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
01[20:15] <Seira> "That means you," Seira tells Esthan, smirking at him. The faster he is taken down, the lesser the casualties, and treating the harm to the bystanders as insignificant just might make the devils see that tactic as a failed one. "So how does it feel to be the one sold out by the higher ups for a change, eh Esthan?"
01[20:15] <Seira> She raises the bow, and an arrow of brilliant energy appears notched in it for the briefest of moments, before she sends it at the fiend, two lesser arrows of light joining it a moment later.
01[20:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 impromptu SA, disjointing
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 impromptu SA, disjointing and gets 24." [1d20=1]
01[20:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 we all knew it was coming
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 we all knew it was coming and gets 29." [1d20=6]
01[20:16] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 31." [1d20=13]
[20:16] <Kotono> OOC: Last one hits.
01[20:16] <Seira> roll 3d6+5
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d6+5 and gets 14." [3d6=5, 3, 1]
06[20:16] * Seira calls upon her stronger Mirror Image spell after that, images springing up!
01[20:16] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[20:18] <Kotono> Seira fires three arrows! One of them narroly hits, while the magic disjoining one misses and is wasted! As Esthan staggers, a force arrow ripping through his shoulder, the other elf transforms as well! It is another muscular, dominating gelugon! With a quick motion, it freezes another poor elf to death! The elves, watchinga nd just starting to reach, scream! A few start to run away! Licking his lips with a bloody tongue, "How many...will
[20:18] <Kotono> Licking his lips with a bloody tongue, "How many...will die...your hands..." Esthan gasps! OOC: Alicia.
[20:19] <Alicia> "You three, for a start!" Alicia snaps back as she nimbly ducks amidst the trio battling at Esthan's exposed side, attempting to slip around to his exposed flank and stab him!
[20:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 DC 25 tumble to get through him
06[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 DC 25 tumble to get through him and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[20:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 knowledge devotion
06[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 knowledge devotion and gets 30." [1d20=6]
[20:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 -6pa flanking divine might 4th level arcane strike critical strike
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 -6pa flanking divine might 4th level arcane strike critical strike and gets 46." [1d20=18]
[20:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 -6pa flanking divine might 4th level arcane strike critical strike crit check
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 -6pa flanking divine might 4th level arcane strike critical strike crit check and gets 31." [1d20=3]
[20:21] <Kotono> OOC: Crit.
[20:21] <Alicia> roll 2d8+56+1d6+4d4
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+56+1d6+4d4 and gets 82." [2d8=4, 8][1d6=5][4d4=4, 2, 2, 1]
[20:22] <Alicia> roll 1d4 negative levels from channeled enervation
06[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 negative levels from channeled enervation and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[20:22] <Alicia> OOC: and he's dimensionally anchored
03[20:23] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Gelugon>Antenora>Seira>Gelugon2>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[20:23] <Kotono> Stabbing Esthan in the back, his body goes rigid! He slides off Alicia's sword and onto his knees, half kneeling and out! Gasping as he does, "Heheh...hehe...don't think...that I didn't prepare...punishment...if this..." Then he's down, down and out! OOC: Latha's up.
[20:26] <Alicia> 'Hold on a second and I'll take down the wall so we can kill those gelugons,' Alicia sends telepathically as Esthan is disabled.
[20:27] <Kotono> Latha looks down at Esthan, "Got it," she breathes back, eyes burning vengence as she watches the gelugons! Donald does the same, holding, as does Oberuth! The first gelugon rushes towards the door, going for the last fleeing elf in the room in a clawing charge!
[20:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (-6 PA)
06[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (-6 PA) and gets 35." [1d20=14]
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d10+18
06[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10+18 and gets 19." [1d10=1]
[20:28] <Kotono> Blood goes splattering as the elf's back is clawed away, it's broken body tossed aside like a bit of broken matchwood! Antenora growls deep in her throat, as she waits just a little more! OOC: Seira?
06[20:32] * Seira bets on the mangled elf still being alive, trying to switch places with him and prevent the devils from rushing out of the inn the normal way, while delivering the victim towards Latha and others who might heal him.
[20:33] <Kotono> Seira is in luck, for the teleport works, the elf and Seira switching places!
06[20:34] * Seira imbues herself with Waukeen's gift, stepping right next to the nearest devil as she draws the other Resort.
[20:35] <Kotono> The second gelugon makes gestures as a freezing pentagram appears beneath it's feet!
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 24." [1d100=24]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d6
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 and gets 6." [1d6=6]
[20:38] <Kotono> The guts of the inn between the wall and door are now filled with Hamatula! Six of them, a barrier of diabolical power between Seira and the gelugons vs the party! OOC: More, Hamatula are up.
03[20:38] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Gelugon>Antenora>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatulax6>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[20:40] <Kotono> The Hamatula turn as one at the gelugon's gesture towards Seira, six unholy blights ripping at her with a terrible diabolical fury! OOC: Six will saves.
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 37." [1d20=13]
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 41." [1d20=17]
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 28." [1d20=4]
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 27." [1d20=3]
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 31." [1d20=7]
01[20:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 26." [1d20=2]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this 1
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this 1 and gets 22." [5d8=6, 2, 5, 6, 3]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this and gets 27." [5d8=6, 7, 8, 2, 4]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this 3
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this 3 and gets 16." [5d8=2, 2, 2, 2, 8]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this 4
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this 4 and gets 27." [5d8=6, 2, 5, 8, 6]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this 5
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this 5 and gets 22." [5d8=6, 8, 1, 3, 4]
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 5d8 halve this 6
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 halve this 6 and gets 23." [5d8=1, 2, 8, 6, 6]
[20:43] <Kotono> Seira is lost in as ea of black horrors, consumed! She concentrates and utters a few words magic, repelling the worst away and enduring the storm, hurt but intact! OOC: Alicia.
[20:44] <Alicia> With a sweep of her hand, Alicia drops the diagonal wall of force, exposing the summoned horrors to the aura of her blade that so detests extraplanar creatures trespassing on the prime. "Now!"
[20:44] <Alicia> OOC: DC 20 will or gtfo if you're a summon
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 1
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 1 and gets 29." [1d20=17]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 2
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 2 and gets 13." [1d20=1]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 3
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 3 and gets 30." [1d20=18]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 4
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 4 and gets 22." [1d20=10]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 5
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 5 and gets 31." [1d20=19]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 will 6
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 will 6 and gets 19." [1d20=7]
03[20:44] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Gelugon>Antenora>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatulax4>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[20:44] <Kotono> Two of the hamatula shudder and vanish away!
[20:45] <Kotono> OOC: Anything else this round or was that it, Alicia?
[20:45] <Alicia> OOC: that's me done
[20:46] <Kotono> OOC: I'll have the NPCs go in order since they were holding. Makes it easier for me to manage than putting them all = anyway, and there's ont much difference.
[20:46] <Kotono> Latha kneels besides the wounded elf, mending his wounds!
[20:46] <Kotono> roll 1d8+5
06[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+5 and gets 12." [1d8=7]
[20:46] <Kotono> His wounds recover, his eyes cracking open! OOC: Donald.
[20:48] <Alicia> OOC: oh, using my move action to channel an enervation, actually, so noted
[20:49] <Kotono> Donald hangs back just a moment, crafting an enervation that fires at the first gelugon!
[20:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 touch
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 touch and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[20:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 SR
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 SR and gets 16." [1d20=3]
[20:49] <Kotono> The magic spell crumbles against the gelugon, failing to penetrate it's planar power! OOC: Oberuth.
01[20:50] <Seira> 'Donald, you've got the hammer of smiting devils, use it!' Seira thinks at her protege, glaring at the gelugons while dismissing the hamatula as a minor annoyance.
[20:51] <Kotono> Oberuth charges to righ tin front of the two hamatula in the middle, "Come at me, all of you! I'll rip you to devil-bleeding shreds!" Establishing himself there firmly, Oberuth strikes at the left-center one!
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+29 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, +1 str from stance, also bumps con by four for HP in topic)
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+29 (+1 haste, +2 heroism, +1 str from stance, also bumps con by four for HP in topic) and gets 45." [1d20=16]
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d8+3d6+17
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+3d6+17 and gets 38." [1d8=8][3d6=4, 3, 6]
[20:53] <Kotono> roll 1d8+6 barbed defense damage on Oberuth
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+6 barbed defense damage on Oberuth and gets 12." [1d8=6]
03[20:54] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Antenora>Gelugon>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatulax4>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[20:54] <Kotono> OOC: Antenora's taking her held action next.
[20:55] <Kotono> Oberuth wades into the middle of the pack! Antenora follows, just off the ground as she charges and stabs at the same one Oberuth hit, keeping her distance!
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 (+1 haste, +2 GMW, +2 charge, +1 flying, +2 FS 6/9, -7 PA)
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 (+1 haste, +2 GMW, +2 charge, +1 flying, +2 FS 6/9, -7 PA) and gets 27." [1d20=2]
[20:57] <Kotono> Antenora's spear is deflected off a barb, missing the soft body underneath it's barbed defenses! OOC: Gelugon 1 is up.
[20:59] <Kotono> The first one turns back to Seira, loosing a massive cone of cold at it, one that doesn't even seem to bother the other gelugon! OOC: Ref, Seira.
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: Strike.
[20:59] <Kotono> The first one focuses on Seira next to him, loosing a massive cone of cold at her! OOC: Ref, Seira.
01[21:00] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 38." [1d20=11]
[21:01] <Kotono> Seira dances out of the way, avoiding the cone entirely! OOC: Seira.
06[21:02] * Seira leaves her sword in Lagann's capable hands, gesturing at the gelugon, and an orb of electricity strikes at her target in retaliation!
01[21:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+17 ranged touch
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 ranged touch and gets 26." [1d20=9]
[21:03] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[21:03] <Seira> roll 1.5*15d6 fort dc24 or entangled
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1.5*15d6 fort dc24 or entangled and gets 97.5." [15d6=1, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4, 4, 3, 2, 5, 3, 6, 6, 2, 5]
[21:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 29." [1d20=11]
[21:04] <Kotono> OOC: Goa head and resolve Lagann?
01[21:04] <Seira> OOC: He's just holding it for me
06[21:04] * Seira keeps herself near the gelugon, and between it and the door out.
[21:05] <Kotono> The gelugon is shocked all over, taking the orb right in the chest! It withstands the blow, but is shaken! OOC: gelugon and hamatula are up.
[21:07] <Kotono> "Finish them!" The second gelugon snaps as it vanishes away! To that, eight rays of fire concentrate onto Oberuth!
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 SR
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 SR
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 SR
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 SR
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 SR and gets 22." [1d20=10]
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 SR and gets 21." [1d20=9]
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 SR and gets 19." [1d20=7]
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 SR and gets 24." [1d20=12]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 22." [1d20=4]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 30." [1d20=12]
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 26." [1d20=8]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 37." [1d20=19]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 38." [1d20=20]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 crit check
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 touch vs AC 27 crit check and gets 19." [1d20=1]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 24d6 Rotten luck.
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 24d6 Rotten luck. and gets 80." [24d6=5, 6, 5, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 3, 5, 4, 1, 5, 3, 2, 2, 6, 1, 1, 2, 4, 6]
[21:10] <Kotono> roll 18d6 dur.
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 18d6 dur. and gets 68." [18d6=6, 2, 5, 6, 5, 2, 2, 4, 3, 4, 1, 6, 1, 3, 3, 6, 3, 6]
[21:12] <Kotono> Oberuth withstands the form, lanced dozens of times but staying up! OOC: Alicia.
06[21:13] * Alicia almost blasts the hamatula with a holy smite, but recalls the elf that Latha just healed. There's too big a risk it would hurt him. So she settles for trying to banish them summoned devils instead, where her sword failed. "Begone, back to the pit!" she snaps, magic unwinding at her command!
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #1
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #1 and gets 24." [1d20=14]
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #2
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #2 and gets 29." [1d20=19]
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #3
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #3 and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #4
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 dispel check on hamatula #4 and gets 22." [1d20=12]
03[21:14] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Antenora>Gelugon>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatulax3>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[21:14] <Kotono> Another hamatula vanishes, leaving only three more to fight the party! OOC: That it, Alicia?
[21:15] <Alicia> OOC: I'm done
[21:17] <Kotono> Latha angles, hitting the injured hamatula with the edge of a holy smite!
[21:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 22." [1d20=7]
[21:18] <Kotono> But the holy energies crackle and fizzle on the hamatula! OOC: Donald's up.
[21:18] <Kotono> Gathering energy into himself with a few quick words, Donald charges the right most hamatula head on!
[21:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+34 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +20 true strike, -13 PA)
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+34 (+2 GMW, +1 haste, +20 true strike, -13 PA) and gets 35." [1d20=1]
[21:19] <Kotono> Somehow, Donald's foot slips and the Hammer of the Shard slams into the floor instead, his entire charge ruined! OOC: Oberuth
[21:19] <Kotono> Oberuth tears into the wounded hamatula with a fury undimmed by his burning wounds!
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+29
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+29 and gets 43." [1d20=14]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+29
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+29 and gets 33." [1d20=4]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 31." [1d20=7]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 39." [1d20=20]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 crit check
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 crit check and gets 24." [1d20=5]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 4d8+68+12d6
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+68+12d6 and gets 136." [4d8=3, 5, 5, 8][12d6=6, 2, 4, 3, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5, 2, 4, 2]
03[21:20] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Antenora>Gelugon>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatulax2>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[21:21] <Kotono> roll 1d8+6 barbed defense
06[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+6 barbed defense and gets 11." [1d8=5]
[21:21] <Kotono> Oberuth ignores the wounds on his wrists as he savagely tears the hamatula apart! It's torn into four parts, falling to the ground and vanishing away! OOC: Alicia.
[21:22] <Kotono> OOC: Er, Antenora. Man.
[21:22] <Kotono> Antenora swiftly moves back, before channeling her boots and charging another of the hamatula!
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 1d20+26 (+1 haste, +1 fly, +2 charge, +2 FS 5/9, +2 bane, +2 GMW, +7 smite -15 PA)
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 (+1 haste, +1 fly, +2 charge, +2 FS 5/9, +2 bane, +2 GMW, +7 smite -15 PA) and gets 45." [1d20=19]
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 1d20+26 (+1 haste, +1 fly, +2 charge, +2 FS 5/9, +2 bane, +2 GMW, +7 smite -15 PA) crit of owwies?
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 (+1 haste, +1 fly, +2 charge, +2 FS 5/9, +2 bane, +2 GMW, +7 smite -15 PA) crit of owwies? and gets 42." [1d20=16]
03[21:23] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Antenora>Gelugon>Seira>Gelugon2=Hamatula>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
[21:24] <Kotono> roll 4d8+1d6+2d6+2d10+252
06[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+1d6+2d6+2d10+252 and gets 287." [4d8=8, 7, 4, 1][1d6=1][2d6=1, 2][2d10=8, 3]
[21:25] <Kotono> Antenora's charge is nearly perfect, piercing right between it's barbed eyes! It simply fades away, as if it never was, torn asunder thrice over with nary a spark of dissent! OOC: Gelugon.
[21:25] <Kotono> The gelugon scowls and simply vanishes away! OOC: Seira.
03[21:25] * Kotono changes topic to 'Oberuth>Antenora>Seira>Hamatula>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
06[21:26] * Seira scowls and wills the remaining devil to disappear.
01[21:27] <Seira> OOC: dismissal, dc21
[21:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 18." [1d20=6]
[21:27] <Kotono> The last devil blinks and vanishes away! OOC: Fight's over. Go ahead and act?
06[21:28] * Alicia stabs her sword brutally down into Esthan's form, admittedly it's unlikely to kill him without any holy power, but it'll certainly keep him out for a while.
[21:28] <Alicia> OOC: couping him, basically
06[21:28] * Seira reverts to her usual disguise, placing her weapons away. "If Armanzas is to be believed, this is over."
[21:29] <Kotono> Alicia tears Esthan's throat out again, keeping him down and out!
[21:29] <Alicia> roll 2d8+84
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+84 and gets 92." [2d8=5, 3]
[21:29] <Alicia> roll 2d4 negative levels
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4 negative levels and gets 6." [2d4=2, 4]
[21:30] <Kotono> Latha goes to the frozen pair of elves, running a hand over each of them and murmuring a prayer in Celestial. She then stands, "I will go dispel the fear that surely spreads through this village. Let them not be afraid of any evil."
[21:30] <Kotono> Oberuth goes over to Esthan, kicking his hood down, "He's still alive...don't devils vanish when they die?"
01[21:30] <Seira> "That's because he's not dead," Seira says, checking up on the elf saved by Latha's efforts.
01[21:31] <Seira> roll 2d8+10 heals
06[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 heals and gets 20." [2d8=3, 7]
[21:31] <Kotono> The elf's wounds heal further. He stares in utter disbelief, "Oh...oh...oh..."
[21:31] <Alicia> "It takes a holy blade to slay one such as he," Alicia explains, dismissing her disguise. "Donald, would you ensure he stays unconscious? If we kill him now he will merely respawn in the pit."
[21:32] <Kotono> "Oh sure," With the Hammer of the Shard in hand, "Play beat on the devil? I'm game."
01[21:32] <Seira> "Yeah, pretty much," Seira agrees with the stuttering elf. "It wasn't your idea to have a pit fiend waltz into your village. It was just some mad scheme of his, and your bad luck."
06[21:33] * Alicia cancels Antenora's disguise as well, sheathing her sword. "Lets aid Latha? She can take charge of Esthan once we've done what we can here..." she suggests, weary now that the battle is done.
[21:42] <Kotono> OOC: #dunes, Alicia.
[21:42] <Kotono> The elf stares at Seira, "Oh. I'm not hurt. Just...oh...oh..."
01[21:43] <Seira> Not anymore, he isn't. "I'll ask Waukeen for help with those who weren't as fortunate," she promises to him, helping the elf to his feet. "She is very busy, but there's always a chance she would smile on us."
[21:46] <Kotono> "Y-yes..." As the elf stammers, Donald whistles and slams the Hammer of the Shard into Esthan's groin a few times.
01[21:46] <Seira> "Yes, Donald, you keep on... doing that. Call me if there's anything." With those words, Seira decides to guide the traumatized elf out of the inn, and hopefully towards his home.
[21:50] <Kotono> Wham! Wham! WHAAAM! Seira hears this as she leads the elf a few trees down. He stays outside the door, "Thank you," He manages, "Thank you. Thank you." Licking his lips, "Um...thank you, yes. C-can I ask your name?"
01[21:51] <Seira> "It's Seira. The crazy elf's Donald, and with him there is Commander Oberuth. He has a proper full name and everything, but we tend to call him The Commander. You've seen him in action, I'm sure you understand why. And the ones who stepped out before are Alicia, Antenora and Latha. Now we're all acquainted, aren't we?"
[21:55] <Kotono> "Ah...y-yeah." Rubbing his head, "Wait! Seira?! I've heardof you!" His eyes widen, "I heard you're an honored face in the court of His Majesty! Are you the same Seira as that?"
01[21:57] <Seira> "Who knows?" Seira shrugs. "So many of us floating around. But more to the point, who can I talk to about helping with the repairs of the inn? I don't feel right just leaving like this, and it's not something I can trouble Waukeen with, unlike the other request."
[22:00] <Kotono> "Ah...Syrana wasn't in right now..." Gathering himself, "That...that would be appreciated, ma'am. I can get thehelp to them."
01[22:01] <Seira> roll 1d20+15 appraise for the general area
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 appraise for the general area and gets 16." [1d20=1]
06[22:06] * Seira retrieves five gems, handing them over to her traveling companion. "This looks like it'll cover me. You certainly know how to find me if it's not enough, and if I overshot the target, just... do something nice for the kids with the remainder, will you?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "Oh...th-thank you," The gems are taken with wid eeyes. "I will. Seira," He looks to her, "I won't forget today. All of you...this is like a dream I'll never be able to forget."
01[22:09] <Seira> "You'll need to get over to introducing yourself if you want me to reciprocate," Seira notes with a teasing smile.
[22:10] <Kotono> "A...Ardan." He manages to get out.
01[22:11] <Seira> "I have a good memory, so I'll remember you," she promises. "I'll stop by in a while, once things calm down. If there's anything I can do to help your village at that time, don't hesitate to ask."
[22:13] <Kotono> "I'll remmeber that." Arwan agrees.
03[22:52] * Demedais is now known as WyrmYearRecursMillenially
[22:52] <Alicia> roll 3d8+15
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d8+15 and gets 27." [3d8=6, 4, 2]
[21:49] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------(Magnum Ko Loop)--
[21:51] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> The third floor of the Seafoam is as Alicia remembers it. Elias Sandsmith lies on a couch as you enter. "Alicia Reynes again?" He looks to her, "Ah yes, I remember you."
[21:52] <Alicia> "Well met, Elias Sandsmith" Alicia returns levelly. "I trust all has been well for you and yours since our last conversation?"
[21:54] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "Passable," He sits up on the couch a bit, "What's your business with me today?"
[21:54] <Alicia> "Your benefactor, Esthan, is gone from this world," Alicia explains bluntly. "He won't be returning. I wanted to know how this would affect your arrangement with my family."
[21:56] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "Well." Sitting up now, "You killed him?"
06[21:58] * Alicia shakes her head. "No. Tempting as it was, we decided it would be more productive to take him alive. Regardless, he has been moved to a location in another realm, one that he is highly unlikely to ever leave."
[21:59] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "Taking your words on face value?" Sitting forward and looking into Alicia's eyes, "He paid us nine months ahead. After that, we'll see."
[22:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 sense motive
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 sense motive and gets 20." [1d20=7]
[22:02] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> roll 1d20+7 will
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Ko-TerrorofMrNTori rolls 1d20+7 will and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[22:03] <Alicia> "Your company is well regarded, Mr Sandsmith," Alicia inclines her head, "All I can ask is that you treat your clients fairly. I simply wanted to make sure you weren't involved in any contingencies that Esthan may have prepared for this occassion."
[22:05] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "He paid us, that's all."
[22:07] <Alicia> "Fair enough," Alicia accepts that. "Fair warning, though, if he does have any sort of revenge attack plotted, you might find yourself having to really earn that pay."
[22:13] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "This has been an easy job. Jobs never stay easy forever." With a little bit of a curt smirk, "By the way. Was all you said about Esthan the last time true?"
[22:14] <Alicia> "Every bit of it," Alicia confirms. "Why?"
[22:17] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "I put out some feelers about what you said and what Esthan said." Putting his feet up now, "I hear my feelers suffered severe setbacks in the category of living, especially when it involved things like the Order of the Lie and the Spark Hunters."
[22:20] <Alicia> "Esthan is in very high up with the Spark Hunters. They attacked me in Balmuria at his behest and the one we interrogated spoke very highly of him," Alicia confirms. "The Order of the Lie is murkier. He professed to be eluding them at one point, but I find that hard to believe given his otherwise priveleged position."
[22:20] <Alicia> "Still, I'm certain the truth will come out once my allies have interrogated him."
[22:22] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "I don't really want to know. Curiosity already got friends of friends killed." With a tsk-tsk of his tongue, "What I'm getting at is that I suspect Esthan may have had a role in it. If he's what you say he is...It all does fit together. That's all."
[22:26] <Ko-TerrorofMrNTori> "That may be safest. If you don't have any stake in finding out, don't. Hell has a very long memory." Antenora raps on her breastplate, "I know very well."
06[22:26] * Alicia nods. "He's worked very hard to keep his secrets secret," she muses. "Anyway, I'm glad we know where things stand. May the Red Knight watch over your battles, Elias," she bids him goodbye.
[21:07] <Kotono> -----------------(Assassin Ninja Ko)---
[21:11] <Kotono> Abagail is found not at her work, but at Elle's shop. The two are in the front, a scroll between them as the chat away. Alice meanwhile watches and minds the store, smiling politely to Seira after taking a long glance at her shoulders.
06[21:13] * Seira decides to give the two their time, stopping to chat with Alice for the time being. "Are you all better, now?" she asks, cutting straight to the chase. "I'm sorry about that dragon I brought with me."
[21:15] <Kotono> "Oh yes, I'm fine. I'm used to using dragons as spell components, not as real living monsters." With a brittle smile as she folds her handstogether, "But it's no matter! Can I help you today?"
01[21:15] <Seira> "I'm just visiting," Seira responds. "So does it mean you see me as a walking container of spell components?"
[21:18] <Kotono> "Oh no, of course not!" Alice smiles now, "Countess," she raises her voice, "I know your'e trying to talk, but Seira's here." She then pointedly slips well away, going to adjust some of the wands on display.
[21:19] <Kotono> Elle and Abagail both look up, the former smiling. "Oh Seira! You look well today."
01[21:20] <Seira> "I like to think so as well," Seira agrees, as she approaches them. "Did I offend Alice somehow? I don't think she likes me."
[21:23] <Kotono> As Abagail looks to Alice with a bit of an amused smirk, Elle just shakes her head, "She really doesn't like big lizards or snakes. I don't think it's personal."
01[21:24] <Seira> "So I could be the nicest dragon in the world and it wouldn't matter? Fun." Seira grimaces. "That aside, Abagail, remember that talk we had about heading off into the unknown to explore?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "Oh yes." Standing up striaght from her slight hunch, "I do recall it. What of it?"
[21:30] <Kotono> Countess Stronger sighs a little, "Don't make a fight out of it with her, Seira. It's a phobia, that's all. It's not rational. I tried, I really did."
01[21:38] <Seira> "This isn't my fighting face," Seira responds, pointing at herself. "This is my I give up face. I've tried, it didn't work. Thus, back to the trip! We'll be departing in two-three days, if you're ready on your end, Abagail."
[21:40] <Kotono> "I can be. Where will we be going?" Abagail straights, "Oh, I'll have to prepare for a proper journey, yes. I'll need supplies and spending money, as well as to put things in order here while I'm gone, but none of it shoudl be too terrible to set up."
06[21:42] * Seira nods. "I'll cover shelter and transportation, but I expect you to have something in reserve, just in case. Navigation, however, will be all you. As for where we'll be headed? Past the frozen mountains of Pallanth lies a fertile land. I've seen it, once, and I intend to start our explorations there."
[21:47] <Kotono> "I'll be ready. We'll need rations, soap, some fresh water just in case...oh, hmph. I'll have to go ask the Commander again about foraging..." Thinking as she ticks off things, "I'll have to memorize prestidigation, too."
01[21:50] <Seira> "Amaryl can do the foraging thing," Seira says, not bothered by the prospect. "And if it comes to that, magic would provide. I'll grab a few scrolls for a rainy day. Speaking of those, keep a rope trick in store." Seira then looks speculatively at Elle. "Interested in coming along? There's certainly a spot, especially for you, and we'll travel in style."
[21:52] <Kotono> With a little smile, "No thanks, my days of wandering in the wilderness and smelling like spell components and cantrips are behind me. It does make me feel nostalgic, though..." Her smile is long, distant and very enwrapping, her entire face twinkiling with mirth. "Don't light any forests on fire...or accidentally dry up wells...or get a swarm of bees chasing you...or shocker lizards, anything to do with them..."
[21:52] <Kotono> or get a swarm of bees chasing you...or shocker lizards, anything to do with them..."
01[21:53] <Seira> "If a forest goes up in flames, it will totally be on purpose," Seira solemnly swears.
[21:55] <Kotono> Abagail can't seem to help but laugh at that, while Elle joins in. "Oh yes, Seira, of course. So it'll be the three of you?"
01[21:57] <Seira> "That was always the plan," Seira responds, smiling herself. "But if Abagail wants to bring someone along, I can swing it. For now, I think Yoshi should mind the house and learn more. Taking him into the unknown without some basic education might go badly for any first contact we make with other nations."
[21:57] <Kotono> "Speaking of, I meant to ask you. What did yo usee beyond those mountains?" Elle's question is friendly as she pauses and goes over to the scroll rack. "What's it like over there?"
01[21:58] <Seira> "Warm. Grassy." Seira shrugs. "Pretty much like the warmer parts of Pallanth, but definitely from the other side of the divide."
[21:59] <Kotono> "Or the grassland plains in Malmuth. But something bothers me," Elle goes on, "If it's warm and grassy past those mountains, why is the area before it so cold?"
01[22:01] <Seira> "I can see several possible explanations. One of them is that the great war that ravaged our world in its past ruined the environment in the area. Another is far more benign; the higher you go, the colder it is, and there might be unique conditions trapping the cold front in those areas, but not past the mountains. And, of course, the truth could lie somewhere in between."
06[22:02] * Seira shrugs. "Or the avatar of Lathander could live there. Who can tell, without seeing for herself? So I'm going to do just that."
[22:02] <Kotono> "Magic. It makes sense to me." Abagail smirks a little, "Seira's also right. Perhaps the grasslands are the exception ahead, not the rule?"
01[22:04] <Seira> "There is something past the jungles. There must be something beyond the ocean, the waste and the endless cold as well!" Seira declares. "We know people visited there. We know the world was much larger. If civilization endured here, however diminished, it could've done so elsewhere on the world as well!"
[22:15] <Kotono> "If. What if not?" Elle asks, "What if it's just empty, untamed land?"
01[22:19] <Seira> "Free realestate."
06[22:20] * Seira smiles wryly. "Plus Demedais, at the very least, was hallucinating when he brought back this." She shows the golden coin Demedais shared upon return from the quest given to him by Helm.
[22:20] <Kotono> "I suppose so, if we're the only ones that can get to it," Abagial considers, "If so, you could make yourself queen of a new nation...if you can get a population."
01[22:21] <Seira> "The idea has merit," Seira drawls out. "After all, being immortal and quite powerful, there's no reason not to share your fortune with others."
[22:24] <Kotono> "I haven't seen one lik ethis," Taking the coin and flipping it up and down, "Goo dpoint."
01[22:24] <Seira> "He thought I would like the souvenier. What can I say, he knows me well?"
[22:25] <Kotono> Handing the coin back, "It's a good one," Elle starts to grin a little, "Although, it could be faked or from another plane."
01[22:26] <Seira> "Without a little mystery, life would be boring anyway," Seira says, still unconcerned. "I'll be sure to bring you back a really neat gift, Elle."
[22:28] <Kotono> "Here," Presenting a scroll to Seira, "Just in case something goes very wrong, one greater teleport. If you need to use it fine, if not, just return it when you get back."
06[22:30] * Seira raises both eyebrows at that. "Congratulations," she says after having a moment to process the offering. "I'll be sure to return it to you safely."
[22:31] <Kotono> "I've been working and working," Elle admits, "It's so much easier to learn magic that I'm really breaking all the boundaries I thought existed." With a blushing smirk, "Soon I'll be hitting the highest circle that is known to exist by mortal means. To think..."
01[22:31] <Seira> "Please give me discounts on teleportation circle scrolls when you do~"
[22:34] <Kotono> "Heheheheee." Laughing, "I'll talk to you about it on the day I succeed in casting it."
06[22:35] * Seira laughs as well, having no doubt that this day is not too far.
[19:30] <Kokokokokoko> -------(Arabian Kos)--
[19:32] <Kokokokokoko> As Seira prepares for her trip one evening, Donald knocks and comes into her room. "Oh Seira." He strolls in, stretching. "You have some guests who want to see you. Berjand and a couple of women."
01[19:33] <Seira> "Mind showing them in?" she requests, having a pretty good idea as to their identities from her earlier meeting with Berjand.
[19:34] <Kokokokokoko> "Sure," Donald turns away, "Oh yeah, you're going out to past Pallanth?"
06[19:36] * Seira nods. "Remember that chat we had with Abagail? It's finally happening. I'd invite you along, but I really want you to focus on ensuring the temples of Waukeen throughout the land are fortified, and ready to receive the teleportation circles."
[19:37] <Kokokokokoko> "No, it's fine. Here, I don't have to worry that much about being killed or facing down whatever monster you guys stumble on." Waving as he goes out, "I'll send them right back, Seira."
01[19:40] <Seira> "Sure thing," Seira agrees, shaking her head at the impossibility of dying, considering the fiend she'd help take down recently. She stands up, closing the door leading further into her study, and retrieves four glasses and a bottle of wine in preparation.
[19:46] <Kokokokokoko> As Seira sets up the bottles and glasses, Donald leads the three in. Berjand is dressed as last time. Esra and Jale follow behind him. Both are dressed in sleek desert robes of white, tinted in a few places with gold. They carry light weapons, a dagger on each visible. Each wears a golden chain wrapped around their forehead, delicate. In the center it holds aloft a golden coin, decorated with Waukeen's face.
[19:46] <Kokokokokoko> In the center it holds aloft a golden coin, decorated with Waukeen's face.
06[19:47] * Seira turns towards her guests, waving them over. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" she asks, holding up a glass.
[19:49] <Kokokokokoko> Berjand steps aside to sit. Esra sketches a curtesy to SEira, using her robes to do so. "It has been long. Have you profited in the meantime?"
01[19:50] <Seira> "Lots and lots!"
[19:51] <Kokokokokoko> "May the Merchant's Friend guide you to more," Jale repeats, "You appear very prosperous, Seira. This hill is good property and your inn stands out very well."
01[19:53] <Seira> "That's its purpose," Seira agrees. "Plus I like staying near Elle. How about you two?" she asks, gesturing towards the wine in invitation. "How's life been treating you?"
[19:55] <Kokokokokoko> They go to sit as well, tasting the wine. "It's been well." Esra's voice is warm, well trained now. With a coy smile, "Our lives have improved since we were taken in under the guidance of Waukeen."
[19:57] <Kokokokokoko> "Isonu's been re-teaching them as a project," Berjand passes on the wine after a single sip, "Some combat as well, so they can defend themselves better."
01[19:58] <Seira> Under swordpoint, at that. But it seemed like a better fate than jail, and Seira believes she was proven right about their potential. "I will have to thank Isonu for taking personal interest, then," she muses. "Knowing how to defend yourselves is important, especially where you reside."
[19:59] <Kokokokokoko> "There have been no other giant scorpions, thank all that care to hear," Berjand grimaces openly there, but with a smile. His voice stays even, only tightening a little, "These skills are enough to stymie street rubbish and thugs."
01[20:01] <Seira> "Perhaps, one day we will do something more organized against the thugs rather than offer the populace another way."
03[20:01] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-514d1ef8.l3.c1.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:01] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:08] <Kokokokokoko> "Maybe," Berjand is quiet for a little as he considers that. Jale just smiles to that, "Seira, I had wanted to meet you again. Here." She withdraws something from her robe - a short dagger wrapped in tanned leathers. It's hilt is worked into the shape of a stick-shaped dragon in flight, mouth roaring. "It's not enchanted, but purely a piece of art." She stands and cursties again, "A gift to you. May it profit you well."
[20:08] <Kokokokokoko> She stands and cursties again, "A gift to you. May it profit you well."
03[20:10] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
06[20:13] * Seira accepts it, speechless for a moment. "Thanks." She studies the dagger. "Art. I enjoy it, I mean." Holding up the dagger before placing it on a shelf next to her decorative green dragon scale, she repeats, "Thanks, I love it."
[20:15] <Kokokokokoko> Esra smiles to that, "It is pleasing to you?"
01[20:17] <Seira> "Of course!" Seira insists, returning to the sitting area. "Who wouldn't be touched by a gift like that?"
[20:21] <Kokokokokoko> "I speak sincerely when I say my life has improved," Jale goes on now, smiling all the while, radiant. "Anyone could have tossed us into jail for what we did. With your social standing, it would have been nothing for you to do. You helped up stand up instead."
01[20:23] <Seira> "As long as you one day help others make that same choice, and offer them a better way, I will be happy," Seira says in response, after brief contemplation. "I'm certain that chance will present itself, given our involvement with the poor and disenfranchised in Arad. If, at that time, you'll need my help to accomplish something like this, don't hesitate to call upon it."
[20:27] <Kokokokokoko> "We will. Isonu drives the same into us every day," Jale laughs lightly. "His lessons on it are very persistant."
06[20:28] * Seira laughs as well. "How admirable. Did you come here to take a little vacation from all that preaching? I'm sorry for going on like that, then."
[20:38] <Kokokokokoko> "No, it was Isonu's decision that we see mor eof the world," Esra says, "To better understand trade."
06[20:38] * Seira nods in understanding. "How much more of the world, then?"
[20:39] <Kokokokokoko> "This time, just Balmuria. Other times, he's spoken of sending us to other realms when the times are right." Esra explains.
06[20:40] * Seira raises an eyebrow. "If it's a realm of fire, or Waukeen's domain, use a Sending. I won't miss out on such a chance."
[20:41] <Kokokokokoko> Berjand laughs, "I believe they meant other kingdoms, not realms beyond this one."
[20:41] <Kokokokokoko> Esra blushes, "Realms beyond....oh. I remember the lesson Isonu gave us on them. No, I meant places such as Malmuth."
01[20:42] <Seira> "Try Pallanth as your next destination," Seira suggests. "I believe you would benefit the most from it."
[20:45] <Kokokokokoko> "It will depend on where I need to go afar next time, probably," Berjand admits, "I would guess going to the west as more likely, perhaps Kelara or even Nodlitz beyond it. Most trade from further east congregates here now."
01[20:47] <Seira> "Business before pleasure it is, then, I suppose," Seira relents. "Where is the mage that brought you here, now that I think of it?"
[20:48] <Kokokokokoko> "Allister's studying," Berjand's smile weakens a little, "He's been grumpy the entire trip. I'd have asked if he wanted to come, but I didn't want to argue with him again."
01[20:50] <Seira> It is entirely his loss, if going to see one of the greatest mages in Balmuria would lead to grumbling and grumpiness. "That's a shame, I suppose," she muses. "There's nothing wrong with offering aid in transportation, especially when spreading Waukeen's will across the land. As matter of fact, I'm headed to Arad soon, and I wouldn't have a problem bringing more people along."
[20:56] <Kokokokokoko> "If that's an offer, we'll take it. At worst, Allister gets grumpy and travels back alone." Berjand grins now.
01[20:57] <Seira> "It is most definitely an offer," Seira confirms. "You've come at a fortuitous time."
[21:02] <Kokokokokoko> "When?" Berjand goes to half stand, "If it's now, I'll go talk to Allister."
01[21:05] <Seira> "I could leave now, or wait as long as a day. Since I will have company for the trip, however short it is, I'll leave it up to you three."
Session Close: Mon Jul 13 21:06:28 2009
Session Start: Mon Jul 13 21:06:28 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[21:06] * Disconnected
02[21:06] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[21:06] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[21:06] * Topic is 'Oberuth>Antenora>Seira>Hamatula>Alicia>Latha>Donald'
03[21:06] * Set by Kotono on Thu Jul 09 20:28:48
03[21:06] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[21:07] <Kokokokokoko> There's a moment when the three murmur amid themselves, "The morning is fine. I'll talk to Allister about it." Berjand concludes then
[21:07] <Kokokokokoko> .
01[21:08] <Seira> "That works perfectly for me," Seira affirms.
[21:08] <Kokokokokoko> "We should go then and get to bed," Berjand stands. As he does, Ersa and Jale rise. As one, "May the Golden Goddess watch your every step, Seira."
06[21:09] * Seira smiles pleasantly. "Likewise, Berjand." She nods to each of her guests in turn. "Esra. Jale."
[21:10] <Kokokokokoko> OOC: Hop along a bit? Also, loot post coming for the dagger, fo rrefence.
01[21:10] <Seira> OOC: After my line, sure
[21:11] <Kokokokokoko> OOC: Sure.
06[21:11] * Seira uses a Sending to Lady Malika later that day, once she is alone. 'Lady Malika,' the message goes, 'I would like to visit tomorrow. Would that be at all possible?'
[21:18] <Kokokokokoko> 'It is acceptable. Come to the palace or a guard station, an escort will be provided.'
01[21:18] <Seira> OOC: skip away~
[21:19] <Kokokokokoko> roll 1d100
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokokoko rolls 1d100 and gets 58." [1d100=58]
[21:19] <Kokokokokoko> Ah, dawn. Really, it's just the time to wake up. It's triply fun when it's from Donald rapping on the door. "Seira, you awake? Seira? Wake up, it's Guard business."
01[21:21] <Seira> "I'm up," Seira says instantly, as she had been preparing herself for a trip the previous evening, and isn't caught off guard as she might be otherwise. "What's going on?" she asks, quickly dressing.
[21:21] <Kokokokokoko> "Commander Oberuth's here to see you," He calls back, "Something about Demedais."
06[21:23] * Seira finishes attaching the sheath of her sword, and grabs her cloak off the bedside table, affixing it wiht a clasp it as she strides towards the exit. "Let's go," she tells Donald, stepping outside, and sends, 'Seems I'm leaving earlier than expected today,' to Amaryl.
[21:38] <Kokokokokoko> 'I understand,' Amaryl sends back, 'Let me know what happens! Love you!' As you go out, you find Oberuth sitting at one of the tables. His clothes are wrinkled and mussed, his breastplate just barely staying in place. His eyes are baggy and bloodshot. "At ease," he says around a yawn. "Don't worry - I look terrible because I was up all night, unrelated to this business."
01[21:40] <Seira> "Then a rest seems in order, Sir," Seira says, just a bit of chiding entering her voice. "What is the Guard business regarding which I could be of service?"
[21:42] <Kokokokokoko> Donald goes and gets Oberuth a glass of warm tea, which he gulps down. Running a hand through his messy haira fterwards, "Demedais. In short, he'll be gone awhile. In long, Pollyanna was told from above that Demedais is needed for a higher purpose for a time. He is Uatu's realm, but we were told not to disturb him, as the time of prophecy is all consuming. Make of all that what you will."
01[21:44] <Seira> "Any chance you've got Prestidigitation on hand?" Seira asks Donald quiestly as he brings tea for the Commander. She nods at Oberuth's words, listening to them intently. "Sounds like he's having a grand old time, Sir. Why is this worriesome? Uatu had been a stalwart ally of ours from the start."
[21:46] <Kokokokokoko> "I'm fine, dont' worry about it," Oberuth waves a hand. "It's not really troublesome. However, if Demedais is to be gone a time, you need to know and we need to be able to compensate."
06[21:48] * Seira nods. "You need to know that I am only ten minutes away, wherever I go, Sir," she says, after mulling it over. "Either Elle or the temple of Waukeen can summon me back with the spell of Sending from any corner of the world, and I have the means of instant transportation back. Since the scrolls for the former exist in store, it is unlikely you would fall out of contact with me."
[21:50] <Kokokokokoko> "I'm aware." He smothers another yawn in his hand, "I'm not ordering you to stay in Balmuria. Eudard's back, I believe Antenora and Latha are around, and there's also Pollyanna and others. Donald too." A third yawn, "Just be aware."
01[21:53] <Seira> "Speaking of her, how is Latha finding her current assignment?"
[21:55] <Kokokokokoko> As another cup of tea is brought, Oberuth drinking it down as fast as the first, "She's been dealing with a matter with Antenora - the half blooded celestial you brought back - and been working with the Guard a little bit. It's not her that needs the adjustment, it's more of the common soldiers. They're adapting far faster than the previous times, though."
01[21:58] <Seira> "They better, if they don't want to be left behind by the times," Seira agrees, thinking to Amaryl, 'Seems like Demedais will be listening to Helm for the foreseeable future.'
[21:59] <Kokokokokoko> 'Oh!... you mean that in a literal sense, don't you?'
[22:00] <Kokokokokoko> "Yes." With a fourth yawn, "If this is prophecy or some such, I expect it'll be attention getting whenever Demedais finishes. But that's in the future." Standing up, "I'm going home and getting some sleep. Safe travel, Seira."
01[22:02] <Seira> 'That's how it sounds like! On the one hand, he's lucky! On the other, I wouldn't leave you behind to chat with Waukeen for such a prolongued time. Decisions, decisions....' She smiles at the yawning Oberuth, promising, "I always do, Sir. Sleep well."
[22:05] <Kokokokokoko> 'Oh my! How long is it then?' Amaryl's gasp can be heard in Seira's mind, 'Decades? Centuries?'
01[22:08] <Seira> 'I think that would be a bit cruel even for an elf,' Seira notes dryly, seeking out breakfast and something warm to drink along with it. 'I suppose we'll see? My money would be on weeks, with an option for two-three months.'
[22:16] <Kokokokokoko> 'Oh. Going soon?'
01[22:17] <Seira> 'Afraid so. I never asked, but want to come? I'm going to visit with Lady Malika, and then try to head to Kesse. Might even stop in Kelara for some social event.'
[22:18] <Kokokokokoko> 'You're leaving today? Um...' Amaryl thinks, 'Okay, let me get some things together. Give me an hour or two.'
01[22:20] <Seira> 'I can do that,' Seira agrees, finally collecting her breakfast for the day and settling down to eat. 'I'm glad, you know. For the company, and that you don't mind being seen in public like that.'
[22:22] <Kokokokokoko> With a little giggle in Seira's mind, 'Thakns! I'll see you then!' OOC: Ready to skip along a bit?
01[22:22] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[22:25] <Kokokokokoko> That morning, Seira and Amaryl meet Berjand and friends - including Allister. They all gather, gear prepared and ready to go.
01[22:27] <Seira> "I'll aim for the temple entrance, if that is alright," Seira suggests, offering her hand to Allister.
03[22:29] * Kokokokokoko is now known as Kotono
[22:30] <Kotono> Hand taken, "It is," Berjand says, "I'll need ot take them back to Isonu right away anyway."
01[22:31] <Seira> "On three, then!" Seira announces, counting out loud. "One, two,--"
01[22:31] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:31] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 99." [1d100=99]
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 9." [1d10=9]
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 2." [1d10=2]
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 3." [1d9=3]
[22:35] <Kotono> Seira calls on her magic! For a moment, she feels suspended in the ethers of teleportation, thrashing about without moving. She appears lying down. She rests in a patch of greenery against a palm tree. Exotic scents tease her nose, the hot early morning sun shaded by the trees. No one else is around.
01[22:37] <Seira> 'This is new,' Seira thinks to Amaryl. Even ancient barriers erected with transmortal magics left the bond between them intact, so if they are still on the same plane....
[22:38] <Kotono> 'So pretty...' Amaryl murmurs, 'Seira...'
[22:38] <Kotono> As you clear your eyes, you can also begin to hear something. Beautiful music - a lute, a flute and faint singing. It's very well sung, you can tell even from here. The beauty of it sounds somehow chillingly ethereal.
01[22:39] <Seira> 'Teleportation shouldn't do that,' Seira thinks, taking a look around the area she found herself in. 'Can you hear that lute?'
[22:41] <Kotono> No reply immediately. Behind you is a natural spring, full of crystal clear water. On the other side are several colorful silken tents, topped with center poles with crescent moons.
01[22:42] <Seira> 'Can you teleport back home? Right now?' The lack of a response is always worrying. For her part, she travels towards the source of the music.
[22:43] <Kotono> OOC: Seira, make a charisma check?
01[22:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+7
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+7 and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[22:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[22:45] <Kotono> 'I'll...I'll try...' Amaryl's voice whispers into Seira's mind. Seira travels across the oasis. Coming around, she finds a richly dressed man sitting on a pile of pillows on the ground. His burnished skin is like sandy brass, a big smile on his face. A scimitar rests on his side, unsheathed. It is made of precious platinum, yet looks greatly eroded and tarnished, sand pitted. Yet somehow it sparkles in the little pit-marks. (More)
[22:46] <Kotono> sand pitted. Yet somehow it sparkles in the little pit-marks. (More)
[22:48] <Kotono> In front of him dance four women. Each wears transparent silks and is stunningly lovely. Two have fire red hair and two have midnight black hair, all of them with it so long that it dances just above the sand itself. They are slightly elven in apperance, ears curling into points. Each one of them sings a complex, enthralling melody. It is a ballad ot the travels of the sand in the desert winds at night, on the wings of frost denied. The re
[22:48] <Kotono> It is a ballad ot the travels of the sand in the desert winds at night, on the wings of frost denied. The rest of the music doesn't seem to come from anywhere at all, but is still heard. "Aaaah!" Sitting up as Seira approaches, "Welcome, traveler of the sands! Come, have a drink with me and partake of my hospitality!"
01[22:49] <Seira> "Thank you for the offer," Seira responds, coming closer. "Am I the only traveler to come through these parts today?" As she talks with the man, she questions Amaryl, 'Did you make it back?'
[22:51] <Kotono> "You are welcome here. I would not dream of turning away a fellow wanderer of the wastes!" As the richly dressed man speaks, almost laughing happily in his every word, "Yes, you are the only one I have seen." Meanwhile, 'I'm home...Seira, where are you? Where's everyone else?'
01[22:52] <Seira> 'I have... no idea,' Seira thinks back in irritation, which quickly gives way to frustration. 'Teleportation doesn't work that way!' She looks worried on the outside as well. "I wasn't traveling alone, but we all got separated. I have to look for my friends. Could you please help me?"
[22:54] <Kotono> "Ah, you are stricken. Come, sit, I have servants who will look." He claps his hands, several white clad and masked men emerging from the tents. The tips of elven ears can be seen, sa well as sky-blue eyes. "Tell them what they look like and they will venture into the wastes to find them."
06[22:55] * Seira decides to take a chance. If none of the elfin men register as evil to her senses, she would describe her traveling companions to them, and wait to see the results.
01[22:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+16
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 and gets 19." [1d20=3]
01[22:59] <Seira> "I can't possibly leave them be and enjoy myself while my companions brave the wastes," Seira declines politely, shaking her head. "I thank you again for your hospitality. Once I have delivered my friends to their rightful destination, I will return and partake of it, but not before."
[23:00] <Kotono> The richly dressed man stands. His humorous twinkle in his eyes fades. "You would insult me and turn down my hospitality, traveler?"
01[23:02] <Seira> 'I need to know. Did you hear singing, a lute or a flute?' Seira asks Amaryl, going over her options.
[23:02] <Kotono> 'I-I heard those,' Amaryl repeats. 'Seira, what's going on?'
[23:02] <Kotono> As Seira thinks, she can notice the half dozen white clad man fanning out and around. The singing stops, the four dancing women all looking at Seira with frosty blue eyes.
01[23:04] <Seira> 'Fey.' She refocuses her mind to the dilemma at hand. "You misunderstand," she insists. "You have asked me to celebrate with you, and I want that very much.
01[23:04] <Seira> However, could you possibly enjoy such a celebration if you knew your friends were stranded, along and afraid in the wastes, and it was your fault? Your food would taste as ashes, and I would ruin the party for everyone with my sour mood and worries.
01[23:04] <Seira> Rather, if we searched together and found my friends, we could all enjoy the aftermath without reservation. Would that not be the preferred outcome?"
[23:05] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check, Seira, +2?
01[23:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+31
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+31 and gets 40." [1d20=9]
[23:06] <Kotono> "Worry not." The man's voice softens again, "My servants will use magic to find your friends. They are as good as saved." With a light, dismissive gesture, "Come. By the time we have finished eating, your friends will join us. You are my guest: There is no need for you to expend your own effort."
[23:07] <Kotono> 'Fey, like in where the Resort was kept? Seira, be careful!' Amaryl thinks, 'Do you want me to go alert the Guard?'
01[23:09] <Seira> 'I don't want to fight a pointless battle, and I don't know the terrain. I'll bet on dealing with them, since I don't have just myself to worry about,' Seira thinks back to Amaryl, nodding to the man. "Very well, I shall rely on your hospitality, then. My name is Seira. How should I address you?"
01[23:09] <Seira> As she awaits an answer, Seira mentally adds, 'Can you just wait with Elle and stay in touch? If the fey play an underhanded trick Lagann can't save me from, you'll know, and you would know where to come, too.'
[23:10] <Kotono> 'I'm running to Elle's right now,' Calling into Seira's mind, 'I'll be there. I see Donald ahead...he's going to Elle's again, anyway. Just in case. Careful, Seira!'
[23:11] <Kotono> "Call me Majanna." He smiles broadly to this, "Servants," he claps his hands, "Fetch our guest fresh food and drink!"
01[23:12] <Seira> 'Majanna is my host, it appears,' Seira thinks in response, returning the smile and giving the descriptions of her traveling companions, including that of Amaryl.
[23:14] <Kotono> Servants hurry away. Meanwhile, 'In Elle's now...whew. Starting to tell them. Shout if you need anything, I'll have us there as soon as possible, even if I have to get Elle to give me a scroll! Find the others, too!'
01[23:15] <Seira> 'I'll see if the fey help me with that,' Seira promises, sitting down next to Majanna, but finding herself unable to relax until those whose lives were entrusted to her have been returned safely.
[23:17] <Kotono> As Seira sits and fails to relax, "I can speak Elven as well, if you'd prefer that," Majanna leans back now, "Tell me, you and your friends got seperated in the wastelands?"
01[23:18] <Seira> "Yes. It was the strangest thing. One moment we were together, nowhere near this oasis, and the next I found myself lying on the ground, all alone," she responds, visibly agitated. "And I'm a polyglot. I lack a real preference."
[23:19] <Kotono> "Aaah, truly a well cultured woman." Food is brought - rare fruits, some Seira hasn't even seen before. Crystal clean water and juices as well go with it. "How about this?" He asks in Sylvan next.
01[23:20] <Seira> "My education extends to this," she returns in the same language.
[23:20] <Kotono> "Outstanding," Shifting into Draconic now, "I am most impressed. From your clothes, you are a well seasoned traveler? A magic caster, perchance?"
01[23:23] <Seira> "I travel all over," Seira agrees. "I've even made friends with the fey of Pallanth on my journeys. Our mindsets tend to be conflicting due to our different natures, but I find that meeting common ground with them is possible more often than not."
[23:24] <Kotono> Chuckling to that, "Perhaps it is. What were they like?"
01[23:25] <Seira> "A lot like you. I quite enjoyed the time spent with them, but at the time I wasn't worried sick over my lost companions."
[23:28] <Kotono> "You are perceptive." With a stop here as he sits up, "But children of two races often find themselves adrift on the dusty paths of life and the world."
01[23:28] <Seira> "They do," she agrees. "True story, that. But I got over it."
[23:30] <Kotono> "A testament to your will," He agrees, sa his head perks up, "Ah, there they are! Look, they return with your friends."
06[23:30] * Seira looks!
[23:31] <Kotono> With the half dozen white garbed men walk Berjand, Jale, Esra, Allister and Amaryl. "Come, join us," Majanni calls over to them. "Servants, more food! Put meat to cook!"
01[23:32] <Seira> 'Incidentally, are you still with Elle?'
[23:33] <Kotono> 'Yes. We're talking now and Elle's making preparations in case intervention's needed. How is it there?' Amaryl asks back.
01[23:33] <Seira> 'It might be needed. They're lying to me. Wait until I ask, or if I suddenly stop responding?'
[23:34] <Kotono> 'Understood.' Amaryl replies. Meanwhile, 'Amaryl' approaches first, going to sit next to Seira. "Oh, we're all fine," she smiles to Seira. "Mr. Majanni? Thank you so much! We were lost and scared!"
[23:34] <Kotono> Berjand goes to sit down, "Yes, food and drink! Let us celebrate!"
06[23:36] * Seira stands up, brushes herself off, and then smiles. "Ah, there come my friends!" she exclaims. "Even the friends that I invented! My, what a coincidence to see you here, friends who don't exist!" Her disguise melts away. "It's okay, Majanni. After all, you could make a case of me lying as well.
01[23:36] <Seira> Now, are you going to return my friends to me, or do I need to establish the superiority of dragons over your troupe?"
01[23:36] <Seira> OOC: This is totally intimidation
[23:37] <Kotono> OOC: Go for it.
01[23:37] <Seira> roll 1d20+25 we could've been friends :/
06[23:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+25 we could've been friends :/ and gets 27." [1d20=2]
[23:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21
06[23:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 32." [1d20=11]
[23:39] <Kotono> Majanni stands up. With a gust of hot wind from the desert skies, your 'friends' blow away into images of nothing, gone. "Is that what you think, dragon?" He says coolly, "You insult me twice over! I shall punish your overweening arrogance, lizard!" OOC: Roll init, you failed to scare him.
01[23:39] <Seira> roll 1d10 FL
06[23:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10 FL and gets 1." [1d10=1]
01[23:39] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[23:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 22." [1d20=16]
[23:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[23:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 20." [1d20=14]
03[23:40] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira>Majanni'
[23:40] <Kotono> The other servants stand aside, Majanni stretching. OOC: You can act if you like with whatever.
01[23:41] <Seira> "A lesson is needed, I see!" Seira snarls, calling upon Waukeen's grace to deliver her towards the impudent djinni, Resort drawn, where she proceeds to attack him for all she's worth!
01[23:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+19
06[23:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 and gets 22." [1d20=3]
01[23:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[23:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 30." [1d20=16]
01[23:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 22." [1d20=9]
01[23:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 29." [1d20=16]
[23:42] <Kotono> OOC: Two hits.
01[23:42] <Seira> roll 3d8+9+5d8
06[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9+5d8 and gets 33." [3d8=1, 2, 7][5d8=3, 4, 2, 3, 2]
01[23:42] <Seira> roll 1d6+2+5d8
06[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6+2+5d8 and gets 28." [1d6=6][5d8=8, 2, 1, 6, 3]
[23:43] <Kotono> Seira charges in, bloodying Majanni, stabbing his chest hard! He grimaces as he utters a horrible word of arcane power! Abruptly...
[23:43] <Kotono> roll 1d4+1
06[23:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+1 and gets 3." [1d4=2]
[23:45] <Kotono> Seira's vision goes dark, extinguished! Utter blindness envelops her! "Be cursed for insulting me! Have your precious freedom...for even if you escape this illusion, you will never find your friends here! They will become my servants!" OOC: You're blinded. You can't see anything. You're up.
06[23:49] * Seira envelops herself in Stoneskin, flying straight up, and casts Ray Deflection, while phantom images spring all around her.
01[23:49] <Seira> roll 1d4+4
06[23:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+4 and gets 6." [1d4=2]
[23:49] <Kotono> Seira only hears silence and the wind blowing...OOC: You're up again.
01[23:49] <Seira> 'Lagann, is the djinni near?' Seira thinks to her constant companion.
06[23:52] * Seira screams loudly in outrage, waiting for her eyesight to clear!
[23:53] <Kotono> Seira's vision clears a few moments later! She flies above the desert, no sign of the tents. A simple, untouched oasis sits below. With her See Invisible enhanced eyes, she can see a rainbow arching over the surface of the oasis.
06[23:53] * Seira looks for any sign of the others!
[23:54] <Kotono> OOC: Make spot?
01[23:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+11
06[23:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 and gets 21." [1d20=10]
01[23:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+17 the previous was spot
06[23:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 the previous was spot and gets 28." [1d20=11]
[23:54] <Kotono> Seira doesn't see any sign of her friends. (More in PM.)
[23:56] <Kotono> 'Seira?' Amaryl asks. 'Seira?'
01[23:57] <Seira> 'Amaryl, can you ask Elle what she knows about fey mirages and rainbows?' Seira asks, reigning in her rage. 'Split realities?'
[23:57] <Kotono> 'On it,' Amaryl says. 'Hold on.'
06[23:58] * Seira flies about the oasis for the meantime, looking for any sign of the others' passing.
[23:59] <Kotono> The sand is trackless, the sky clear. No signs of intelligent life at all, just endless desert all around you. After about a minute, 'Elle's getting a book about it, it sounds familiar to her. Hold on just a little more, I'll be reading it to you.'
Session Time: Tue Jul 14 00:00:00 2009
01[00:00] <Seira> It's either wait and bide her time, or destroy the oasis in her anger. Seira opts for the former, however close a call it might be.
[00:01] <Kotono> After another minute or so, 'Seira, listen: Mirage Mullahs are fey that reside in the desert. They appear as rich merchants served by beautiful men and women, with the exact forms varying according to the taste of the leading Mirage Mullah. They are very dangerous, as they take insults and slights as great offenses. Further...' Amaryl's voice stops, 'Oh Seira...they lure desert travels in with hospitality, getting them to stay overnight. I
[00:02] <Kotono> 'Oh Seira...they lure desert travels in with hospitality, getting them to stay overnight. (More)
[00:02] <Kotono> 'If they stay until the next sunrise...they become fey servants and Mullah themselves.'
01[00:03] <Seira> 'How do these freaks die?' Seira asks Amaryl evenly. 'And how do I find them?'
[00:04] <Kotono> 'Hold on, I'm still reading!' Amaryl says, voice sharp. '...sorry. Hold on.' Her tone becomes meek a moment later. 'Okay...: Each Mirage Mullah is bound to an oasis. Above the oasis should be a rainbow, but it's invisible. You need magic to see it. Can you see it, Seira?'
01[00:04] <Seira> 'Of course,' Seira returns instantly. 'That's why I asked. It is the only thing out of place.'
[00:06] <Kotono> 'Mirage Mullah seperate their victims into illusionary versions of the same oasis. They exist in all of them, both as home and as a bound prison. To defeat one, you must go into the rainbow - hold on, you need certain magic to do that, but it's technical and I'll come back to it - free any people it's trying to convert into fey at the current time, then draw it out of it's illusions. Then you can slay it. They're magic resistant and despit
[00:06] <Kotono> Then you can slay it. They're magic resistant and despite cold iron, like most fey.'
[00:07] <Kotono> *despise
01[00:08] <Seira> 'I don't have cold iron with me,' Seira thinks back with regret. 'Well, as long as they can be killed. I'll need to go into the oasis while I still have my magic about me. What is the technical part?'
[00:12] <Kotono> 'There are three ways to get into the illusions, besides the Mullahs taking you in. The first is a knock spell. That will let you enter, but it provides no means to escape. The second is a dispel magic. If successful, it will let you enter and exit any of the illusionary parts freely for a minute per dispel. The last is Phase Door. You can use the spell to open 'doors' into each illusion.'
01[00:16] <Seira> Swallowing her pride, Seira grimaces and thinks to Amaryl, 'I'm asking for that intervention. Can you ask Elle to bring you and Donald here? I may not have enough dispel magic spells in reserve to successfully get everyone out on my own.'
01[00:16] <Seira> 'Only two Knock scrolls on me, too,' Seira adds, 'so more might be useful, just in case.'
[00:17] <Kotono> 'Right.' Amaryl whispers back. 'Elle's saying that she needs just a few to prepare. She's getting some greater teleport scrolls ready. Need any others besides that and knocks and dispels?'
01[00:18] <Seira> 'If a dispel allows you to take people out of the illusion, then it should be enough. If we actually have to teleport everyone out of each one, however, I'll be short on that, too, without Elle's help. How soon can you be ready?'
[00:19] <Kotono> 'Elle's saying ten minutes. Do you want us to bring anyone else, too?'
03[00:22] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
01[00:22] <Seira> 'If we delay any longer by asking others along, my spells will run out. And I don't want to leave our captive friends in that state any longer than necessary.' Seira grimaces anew. 'Captive friends. That never sounds well. It feels even worse. We can't--' Seira pauses, collecting her thoughts and composure alike.
01[00:22] <Seira> 'Can you have Elle teleport over to the version of the oasis I'm in, if I describe it well enough?'
[00:23] <Kotono> 'She said she's using Greater Teleport, so yes. Describe it,' Amaryl says after a few moments, 'Give me a relaly good description and she says it'll be enough.'
06[00:23] * Seira has nothing better to do for the next ten minutes, and it sure beats worrying over those who placed their trust in her.
01[00:26] <Seira> OOC: Greater MI has expired, Ray Deflection has 4 minutes left on it. Travel devotion wears off, Stoneskin has godly duration.
[00:26] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:46] <Kotono> <Seira> 'If a dispel allows you to take people out of the illusion, then it should be enough. If we actually have to teleport everyone out of each one, however, I'll be short on that, too, without Elle's help. How soon can you be ready?'
[19:46] <Kotono> > 'Elle's saying ten minutes. Do you want us to bring anyone else, too?'
[19:46] <Kotono> * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[19:46] <Kotono> <Seira> 'If we delay any longer by asking others along, my spells will run out. And I don't want to leave our captive friends in that state any longer than necessary.' Seira grimaces anew. 'Captive friends. That never sounds well. It feels even worse. We can't--' Seira pauses, collecting her thoughts and composure alike.
[19:46] <Kotono> <Seira> 'Can you have Elle teleport over to the version of the oasis I'm in, if I describe it well enough?'
[19:46] <Kotono> > 'She said she's using Greater Teleport, so yes. Describe it,' Amaryl says after a few moments, 'Give me a relaly good description and she says it'll be enough.'
[19:46] <Kotono> * Seira has nothing better to do for the next ten minutes, and it sure beats worrying over those who placed their trust in her.
[19:46] <Kotono> <Seira> OOC: Greater MI has expired, Ray Deflection has 4 minutes left on it. Travel devotion wears off, Stoneskin has godly duration.
[19:46] <Kotono> > OOC: Okay.
03[19:47] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
05[19:48] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[19:48] * Hatbot (~Net_Smart@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
[19:48] <Kotono> After just about ten minutes, reinforcements arrive! Elle appears, with Donald and Amaryl with her. Dusting herself off, "What's going on," Elle asks quickly, before peering ahead at the oasis. "Oh, there's the rainbow right over it."
01[19:49] <Seira> "It's there, yes," Seira confirms. "Can you both see it?" she asks Elle and Donald.
[19:51] <Kotono> "Yeah," Donald has his sword drawn, trotting to the edge of the oasis. "What's our plan?"
06[19:52] * Seira casts Dragonskin, Bear's Endurance and Shield upon herself, and Heroism on Amaryl. "We dispel, we head towards it, and we get everyone out. One by one, if we have to. Then, we kill the fey that didn't want to play nicely when he had the chance. How about this plan?"
01[19:53] <Seira> *and Mirror Image
01[19:53] <Seira> roll 1d4+5
06[19:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+5 and gets 7." [1d4=2]
[19:55] <Kotono> "It's a good plan," Donald agrees, cracking his neck back and forth, taking off his helmet to dry his brow before putting it back on. "If you're ready, let's go do this?"
01[19:56] <Seira> "Waiting on you," Seira agrees, ready to go!
[19:59] <Kotono> Donald reaches forward, dispelling wisps of magic gathering around his hand, "Weave, be undone!" he calls, touching the rainbow!
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 33." [1d20=13]
[19:59] <Kotono> OOC -10.
[20:01] <Kotono> The red band of the rainbow swells and expands! A shivering band of enlarged colors appear - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. In each you can see an oasis and camp, each one large enough to walk into the image. "According to that book, we have one minute per dispel," Donald says, "So choose one and let's try?"
01[20:02] <Seira> "Let's try to go together for the first time," Seira suggests, heading towards the violet camp. "If the djinni continues to avoid battle and retreats, then we could try splitting up."
[20:03] <Kotono> The group heads into the violet camp! You appear on the other side of the oasis, the tents quiet and waiting ahead. (1 round down, 9 to go)
06[20:04] * Seira hurries towards the tents!
[20:06] <Kotono> It takes a few moments to hurry around the side of the oasis. On reaching it, you find the tents here are empty, no sign of anyone. "Search or try another one," Amaryl asks, "Seira?" (3 rounds down, 7 to go.)
01[20:07] <Seira> "A casual search would do for now," Seira decides, following her own words. "Just long enough we can still make it to the indigo camp if nothing is spotted."
[20:09] <Kotono> OOC: Roll search then?
01[20:09] <Seira> roll 1d20+26
06[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+26 and gets 28." [1d20=2]
[20:12] <Kotono> Seira and company search about! A quick search turns up thtat the tents are empty here. Nothing of immediate note at all. (4 down, 6 to go.)
01[20:13] <Seira> "Damn. Let's try indigo, for now," Seira announces.
[20:15] <Kotono> The party hurries back to the rip and steps out! Once there, "There's a little more time on my dispel? Indigo, right, let's go!" Donald leads the way in! (7 down, 3 to go.)
06[20:16] * Seira follows closely!
[20:18] <Kotono> Stepping out, you appear on the other side of the oasis once more! You can hear music - drum beats, flutes and strings in a warm, festiv emelody, coming from the other side where the tents are. (8 down, 2 to go.)
01[20:18] <Seira> "I favor the direct approach," Seira tells her companions, hurrying ahead!
[20:25] <Kotono> As the dispel magic fades and the immediate escape route vanishes, Seira and company come around to the tents! Here they find Jale lying about, laughing and feasting. Several white wrapped men are with her, women dancing. Majanni is laughing with her...though his humor is gone in an instant as he sees Seira and company approach.
01[20:27] <Seira> "Didn't I tell you?" Seira asks the fey, striding over with the Resort drawn. "You had a choice, letting my friends go and becoming my friend in turn. You chose to try and trap them into slavery. The punishment for that offense is death!"
[20:27] <Kotono> "Guh..." Jale looks over as Majanni grimaces, a wid esmile on her face. "Oh...Seira..." she burbles, laughing.
[20:27] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[20:28] <Kotono> Majanni stands, "How did you get here, lizard?"
[20:28] <Kotono> Donalds wings his blade, "We cut and touched our way in. I'd really suggest you consider surrendering. Seira's pissed."
01[20:28] <Seira> "The time for talking is over. The time of shooting you with arrows, however, is just beginning!"
[20:29] <Kotono> Elle sighs, "Fey, you die here as many times as takes, even if we have to drag you out after we free everyone. I'd hate to do it, but...well, yes, Seira is quite furious."
[20:29] <Kotono> Amaryl has her bow ready, locked righ ton Majanni!
01[20:30] <Seira> With a cry of "Death to slavers!" Seira charges the fey!
[20:31] <Kotono> OOC: Let's roll init.
01[20:31] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 21." [1d20=15]
[20:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 white garbed men
06[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 white garbed men and gets 14." [1d20=11]
[20:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 women
06[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 women and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Majanni
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Majanni and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Donald
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Donald and gets 22." [1d20=19]
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 Amaryl
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 Amaryl and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Elle
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Elle and gets 27." [1d20=20]
03[20:33] * Kotono changes topic to 'Elle(27)>Donald(22)>Seira(21)>Dancing Women(17)>White Men(14)>Majanni=Amaryl(11)'
[20:36] <Kotono> Elle has a rod in hand, as she makes arcane gestures! An orb of freezing ice shoots at Majanni!
[20:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 25." [1d20=11]
[20:36] <Kotono> roll 13d6
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 13d6 and gets 55." [13d6=5, 5, 6, 2, 5, 2, 5, 4, 4, 6, 4, 3, 4]
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 55*1.5
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 55*1.5 and gets 82.5."
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 ref
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 ref and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[20:38] <Kotono> A freezing sphere bursts around Majanni! It covers him in ice, making him howl! Donald makes quick gestures, a pair of black, enervation rays going for Majanni!
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 25." [1d20=12]
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 14." [1d20=1]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 36." [1d20=20]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 crit?
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 crit? and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 2d4
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4 and gets 4." [2d4=2, 2]
[20:45] <Kotono> The first enevation crumbles, but the second hits Majanni right on! His body withers as he falls backwards, holding his hands out! "By the desert, stop! Stop! Quarter! I'll free your friends!" He coughs at that, covered in frozen patches and looking like a raisin left in the sun too long. OOC: Seira, you're up.
01[20:46] <Seira> She hates being without her disguise, she hates worrying about her friends, and most of all she hates not being in control, someone having the leverage of hostages against her. All that hate, and the accompanying guilt for letting the situation come to pass, channeled into an attempt to dispel the illusion of her enemy with swiftness, before she has a chance to face him for real.
01[20:46] <Seira> "You lie!" she cries out angrily. "This is more of the same trechery you've tried before!"
01[20:46] <Seira> roll 1d20+5 this is mine
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 this is mine and gets 22." [1d20=17]
[20:54] <Kotono> "I'll make it worth your while," He gasps as he holds his frozen hands, trying to wring life into them, "I have something you'll value, dragon!"
01[20:55] <Seira> "Your first step in bargaining for your life is dispelling these illusions and reuniting me with my traveling companions," Seira tells him, seething.
[20:56] <Kotono> With a few moments of concentration, the women and women vanish. Jale blinks and looks about. A few moments later, Berjand and Esra appear. They book look dazed, smiling. Then Allister appears. He has a long, jagged wound on his side, clothes bloodsoaked. His eyes are wild with fiery fury, "There...you...are...fey..." he gasps. "Thought you...could get away..."
06[20:57] * Seira forces herself to slowly move towards Allister, bestowing healing energies to him. "Yes, he did think that," she adds. "Continue."
01[20:57] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 33." [3d8=7, 4, 7]
[20:59] <Kotono> Allister's wounds mostly mend to that touch. As his eyes clear of pain, "Take this," A jewel surrounded by a thin plating of platnium and with a dainty golden chain is tossed to the sand by Majanni. "Take this and flee this place. Analyse it's magics, you'll find it to benefit you, dragon."
06[21:01] * Seira has Lagann deliver the golden chain to her hands, as she is past caring for any possible traps. Her allies would finish the fey off should he try that. A part of her wishes for just that to happen. "Flee?" she asks oddly. "You are telling me to flee, worm? Apologize to those you have taken prisoner at once!"
[21:04] <Kotono> The chain doens't do anything terribly nasty to Seira. Majannit akes a look at them, "I beg your mercy for what I have done." He says quickly.
01[21:05] <Seira> "Have there been other travelers you have likewise ensnared?" she demands, while examining the Waukeeneers to see whether they accept the apology.
[21:07] <Kotono> Berjand looks about, "What's goin gon?" he manages to ask at last.
[21:07] <Kotono> Ersa and Jale are both dazed, "Apologize for the party...what is happening?"
[21:07] <Kotono> Allister glares death at him, "I know your tricks, Fey. I will not become some enthralled servant to you! Your apology isn't worth the sand that you spat out of your mouth!"
01[21:08] <Seira> "Majanni intended to keep you us all as enthralled slaves," Seira informs them. "His error of judgement almost cost him his life. It still might, if he is not truthful in his dealings with me."
[21:09] <Kotono> "I can answer that," Allister glares, "All of the servants are, likely. That's how Mirage Mullah work. They transform travelers into fellow fey."
[21:09] <Kotono> "Yes, but it's already done," Majanni says, "They're happy like this. They'll never get old or die."
01[21:10] <Seira> "They still might, because you will release them into my custody," Seira states. "If they decide to later seek you out and become fey on their own, I would not prevent that."
[21:12] <Kotono> "T-That's impossible! The transformation doesn't reverse!" Majanni sputters.
[21:12] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[21:12] <Kotono> "T-That's impossible! The transformation doesn't reverse!" Majanni sputters. "If you take them away, they'll sicken and die!"
01[21:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 21." [1d20=4]
06[21:16] * Seira makes eye contact with Elle, wondering whether the beleaguered fey is being truthful. 'Think he's lying?' she also mentally asks Amaryl.
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 28." [1d20=14]
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4 Sense Motive
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 Sense Motive and gets 6." [1d20=2]
[21:17] <Kotono> "It's possible. I remember reading something about that and what happens if you take them away from their oasis," She says hesitantly.
06[21:17] * Seira tilts her head. "Restore their minds and free will, then. That neither transforms their natures or takes them away from the oasis."
[21:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 28." [1d20=11]
[21:19] <Kotono> "I can't," Majannis ays, "The transformation is permanent."
01[21:19] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 there's surely a spell to undo brainwashing without resorting to Wish
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 there's surely a spell to undo brainwashing without resorting to Wish and gets 42." [1d20=19]
01[21:32] <Seira> "Summon those you have converted into fey before me," Seira demands.
02[21:32] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5af28bec.tcl124.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (scifi-classics.dejatoons.net batcave.dejatoons.net)
[21:35] <Kotono> Eight women and a dozen men in white wrappings come forth as Majanni claps his hands.
06[21:36] * Seira invokes Break Enchantment, focusing on eight women and eight men, the regrettable limitation the spell has for her.
03[21:37] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5af28bec.tcl124.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[21:37] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[21:41] <Kotono> OOC: You actually have that memorized?
01[21:41] <Seira> OOC: As I said in #e, I'm using Alacritous Cogitation
[21:42] <Kotono> OOC: Oh, okay, dur.
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC:" Anyway, make CL check?
01[21:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+16
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC: It caps at +15.
01[21:43] <Seira> OOC: Huh. So it does. 24, then.
[21:46] <Kotono> Calling on Break Enchantment, Seira can feel the magic shatter! The servants stare at Seira, a man speaking first. "I...I...what? Majanni, what happened?" He whirls to him, "I remember the feast and then...what did you do to me?"
01[21:47] <Seira> "Majanni is a fey, and he decided to take travelers that came across his oasis as eternal companions," Seira speaks, stepping closer to those freed of the fey's influence. "I've just broken his hold over you, and the clouding influence upon your minds should be no longer!"
[21:48] <Kotono> "You bastard!" One of the beautiful women moves to cover herself with her arms, "You said you'd make sure I got back in the morning!"
[21:49] <Kotono> Majanni takes a few steps back, "It's d-done. But even so, they can't leave the oasis or they'll die!"
01[21:51] <Seira> "Hmph," Seira snorts, crossing her hands under her chest. "That's what you said about the chances of these people to regain their right minds again!" She addresses the erstwhile slaves next. "My name is Seira, and I'm a wizard. What Majanni says now is true, but it needn't remain that way forever! I swear to you now, that I will find a way to free you completely, and allow you to leave this place one day!"
[21:53] <Kotono> "You..." Another of the men draws a scimitar, "Majanni! You betrayed us!"
[21:54] <Kotono> One of the women smiles to Seira, "Thank you, but in this body now..." Smiling like a cat, "Oh Majanni, look what you did. Even if I went along with it at the time...Rape is rape." With a snap as her fist hits into her palm, "Let the Pasha throw your bones to the wind."
06[21:56] * Seira smiles back at her, though it dims with the woman's next words. "I believe in personal choice," she tells her. "That's all I intend to do. Research a way to give each of you one. The choice to return to who you were, or remain fey. The choice to leave the oasis, or to remain of your own free will."
[21:59] <Kotono> "S-stop them!" Majanni takse several more steps back.
[22:00] <Kotono> ""It'll be your choice," Elle speaks up now, "As for Majanni...Seira? This is your affair, so to speak."
01[22:01] <Seira> 'I'm too angry to choose rationally,' Seira meanwhile thinks to Amaryl. 'I can try to intervene, but to do so for a slaver and a rapist?'
[22:01] <Kotono> 'Is it worth keeping your world to trash like that? I can't really answer that...' Amaryl says quietly. 'People can change, but...'
01[22:05] <Seira> "Think quickly, Majanni," Seira speaks up, her voice carrying over the angry ramblings of his freed slaves. "What can your pitiful life offer to the people of the fiefdoms who would travel through these parts? I won't expect sincere remorse, but if there is something you can do to make up for your villainous deeds, let us hear of it."
[22:06] <Kotono> "...Tsch! I have one more card..." Looking right to Seira, "I can give you a special touch of the fey. Call them off and I'll give it to you!"
01[22:09] <Seira> "Let's hear more about this last card of yours," Seira says evenly.
[22:17] <Kotono> "I can give you or another..." He lokos to Donald, "The elf would be good for it, a tiny touch of fey blood. A bit of fey heritage. It's power will flow within you."
06[22:18] * Seira suspected as much, and thinks to Amaryl, 'Does that interest you?' She squirms ever so slightly. 'I know that you sometimes want to be a bit different, even though you're fine just as you are.'
[22:19] <Kotono> 'Not really. I like studying dragons and you,' Amaryl blushes as she speaks in Seira's mind, looking down. 'The fey I met...I don't like most of them so far.'
[22:20] <Kotono> "Me?" Donald scratches at his armored head, "I wasn't even born an elf. I mean, do I get to act all mysterious and powerful and hop around the forest all the time? Well...do I get some nymphs to go along with me if I took that?"
06[22:21] * Seira nods briefly, having come to a decision. "I would return tomorrow with enough magical energy to free those still captive," she promises, addressing those transformed into fey against their will as she rolls her eyes at Donald. "And I won't stop working on a way to let you leave.
01[22:21] <Seira> The highest levels of mortal magic are just around the corner for me, and beyond them lies more magic still. I've glimpsed it before, and if need be I would attain it to release you from the bonds of the oasis. All I ask in return is that you place your trust in me. Can you do that?"
[22:23] <Kotono> "Oh come on," Donald mutters after Seira finishes, "I bet you'd wonder about pretty nymphs too."
01[22:24] <Seira> Isn't he dating a vapid elf who's the next best thing to one? But Donald is doing well enough to ruin her pledge as it is, and she wouldn't contribute to that as she awaits her answer.
[22:25] <Kotono> "You saved us," One woman replies, as the others nod along with her. "We'll listen to you."
06[22:28] * Seira nods back at them. "Much as I hate to admit it, I might need Majanni around for the time being. He will cater to your every wish for as long as you remain his guests, and I will be stopping by frequently to ensure that is so. His blood dirtying my blade also happens to be an important component in the divination spells.
01[22:28] <Seira> Should he cross me again by mistreating any of you, there would be no escape from my wrath wherever on the planes Majanni tries to run."
[22:30] <Kotono> "So be it," One of the men says, scimitar out.
06[22:32] * Seira nods again, and approaches Elle, casting Detect Magic. "Waukeen would frown upon turning down something offered in such a way," she says quietly. "Are you interested in his suggestion? Donald is already a winged elf, and it didn't help his common sense. Fey blood would be a push in the wrong direction for him."
[22:33] <Kotono> Elle's lips curl into a smile, "I can't say that I am." She looks to Donald, smiling more widely as she does. "I don't know. He's so earnest it's charming...he's not going entirely in the wrong direction all the time."
01[22:35] <Seira> "It can be," Seira agrees. "Still, if you're not interested, I'll take Majanni up on his offer. Please watch me carefully and with mage sight, and if it's a trick, shoot. Through me if you have to."
[22:37] <Kotono> "Hey Seira," Donald calls as he approaches, "Talking to Elle about it? Any idea what that offer'll do?"
01[22:38] <Seira> "The only thing I know for certain is that it would tell me whether I can trust Majanni's word, now that he had been properly cowed," Seira responds quietly. "Like I told Elle, if it's another trick, take him down without mercy."
[22:39] <Kotono> "Sure, got it," Donald agrees, "Careful Seira."
06[22:40] * Seira approaches Majanni once more, at that. "The last time I trusted you, I regretted it. Don't make me regret my poor judgement twice."
[22:40] <Kotono> "You can trust me," Majanni says very quickly.
01[22:41] <Seira> "I can trust you to value your hide," Seira corrects him. "This bit of fey blood? If there are no effects I would find adverse, I'll try it."
[22:42] <Kotono> "Come here, then." Majanni extends his hadn out, "I'll do it."
06[22:43] * Seira holds out her hand in turn.
[22:44] <Kotono> Seira takes Majanni's hand! For a moment her innards feel warm, then the feeling is gone. Majanni frowns. "It didn't work...there's another bloodline that flows in you already, perchance?"
01[22:45] <Seira> "Donald it is," Seira decides, waving him over.
[22:46] <Kotono> "Me?" Donald approaches over, "Now...oh. You don't look any different?" Frowning to Seira, "So now what?"
01[22:47] <Seira> "I don't look any different," Seira affirms. "Since you're the only one who's interested, want to give it a try?"
[22:48] <Kotono> Donald heistates, then shrugs. "Sure, why the hell not? If I end up some immortal 90 pound elf running around the forests, well...Lathander must like or hate me and I'm not sure which." He takes his gloves off, offering a hand out. "Do your worst."
01[22:49] <Seira> "You'll probably just be slender and prettier," Seira assures him, since Majanni didn't seem to try any trick with her.
[22:50] <Kotono> The hands touch! Donald seems to blur a moment, before he stumbles backwards. His ears are a little longer and sharper, his eyes a deep forest green. "Gaaaah..." His voice is slightly higher pitched, a little more like music.
01[22:51] <Seira> "Does Lathander hate you?" Seira inquires.
[22:52] <Kotono> "I'm okay," Donald rubs his eyes, taking off his helmet. His features are more refined, prettier, delicate. "I feel fine...I think I do."
01[22:54] <Seira> "You look fine," Seira agrees, and gravitates towards Elle and Amaryl once more. "There's still time to change your mind, as it seems harmless. I don't see any deception or enchantment."
[22:55] <Kotono> "I'm fine," Elle smiles briefly, as Amaryl looks to Donald, "He looks nicer now," she blushes, "Very elven."
06[22:57] * Seira smirks, reverting to her half-elven disguise. "Strange, how gaining the touch of a fey does that." She gravitates towards Allister, Berjand, Esra and Jale. "How about any of you? As small compensation for all that took place. It seems benign, now that the proper relationship of power had been established."
[22:58] <Kotono> "I had a go at it once justn ow. I'll pass," Alliste rnearly spits. Berjand shakes his head, "This isn't natural. I just want to leave." Esra and Jale look amid each other, Jale speaking. "Is it true what he said, that fey live forever?"
01[23:00] <Seira> "To a point. The beauty part is all true, however, even if for many of them it is only skin deep. Consider this an opportunity. How you use the benefits you derive is entirely up to you, and a touch of fey blood does not carry any innate, evil taint with it."
[23:02] <Kotono> "I'll try it," Jale says, "It sounds like a rare chance."
06[23:02] * Seira nods, and watches carefully for anything improper.
[23:03] <Kotono> Jale approaches, Majanni holds a hand out. He breaths heavily, "It takes my own essence to do it. I cannot do it twice," he protests, "Or it will greatly weaken me."
[23:04] <Kotono> "So?" Jale's hand plays with the end of her dagger, "Fey, you tried to enslave us under the guise of friendship and are now begging for mercy?"
01[23:04] <Seira> "And that would be such a shame," Seira adds in agreement. "Jale's quite right, and I think those you have formerly held in thrall would feel more comfortable with you weakened."
[23:07] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check, Seira?
01[23:09] <Seira> roll 1d20+29 sure
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 sure and gets 34." [1d20=5]
[23:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Jale assists.
06[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Jale assists. and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[23:14] <Kotono> "Ghsg." With a desperate look to Seira, "I...will try," he says at last, snatching Jale's hand! She seems to blur for a moment as well! Her skin has a duskier tint, going from slender to incredibly lithe and slim.
[23:14] <Kotono> Majanni falls over, twitching on the sand and coughign.
01[23:14] <Seira> "Until tomorrow, then," Seira announces, and leans closer to Jale to whisper, "How are you feeling?"
[23:18] <Kotono> "Dizzy. But very special." She spins a little, "I feel so beautiful now. I feel different, exotic. Alive."
01[23:20] <Seira> "The opportunity was properly seized," Seira tells her. "Now it's up to you to build upon it." Raising her voice, she says, "Ready to resume our journey? There can't possibly be another mishap so close to our destination."
[23:23] <Kotono> "Go ahead, we'll return back to Balmuria," Elle says, "Good luck with the rest."
06[23:24] * Seira looks at Elle fondly for a long moment. "Without you...."
01[23:24] <Seira> Rather than finishing that sentence, she gathers her original traveling companions and teleports for the temple of Waukeen in Arad.
01[23:24] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[23:24] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 33." [1d100=33]
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> > "Dizzy. But very special." She spins a little, "I feel so beautiful now. I feel different, exotic. Alive."
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Seira> "The opportunity was properly seized," Seira tells her. "Now it's up to you to build upon it." Raising her voice, she says, "Ready to resume our journey? There can't possibly be another mishap so close to our destination."
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> > "Go ahead, we'll return back to Balmuria," Elle says, "Good luck with the rest."
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> * Seira looks at Elle fondly for a long moment. "Without you...."
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Seira> Rather than finishing that sentence, she gathers her original traveling companions and teleports for the temple of Waukeen in Arad.
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Seira> roll 1d100
[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 33." [1d100=33]
[19:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Woosh! The four of you appear where you desired this time! You stand comfortably inside the Temple of Waukeen in Arad, air cool and pleasant enough for the desert.
[19:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Ah, back," Berjand exhales deeply, "No fey this time?"
06[19:49] * Seira glances at Jale with a raised eyebrow, before saying dryly, "We should be safe."
[19:56] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Thank you," Ersa says as Jale looks aobut again. "What is your business coming in Arad?"
01[19:57] <Seira> "An ongoing negotiations Isonu has been helping me with," Seira says rather vaguely. "It's delicate, and has not been going well, so I decided to make another personal appearance in hopes of advancing it."
[20:00] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Good luck," Berjand says gravely, "Ersa, Jale, with me. Seira has business to attend to now."
[20:00] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Both bow to Seira, "May you find profit ahead," the say, before following Berjand.
06[20:01] * Seira certainly hopes so, and inclines her head at the three. "Don't hesitate to call on me if there's a need," she offers as they depart.
[20:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Heading to the palace now?
01[20:04] <Seira> OOC: With Amaryl, yes
[20:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Seira and Amaryl head to the palace gates. You are escorted in to Lady Malika's chambers. You find her sitting on her divan, a male servant feeding her grapes. "Hail, Colonel Seira," she greets, "You look well..." She narrows her eyes at Amaryl, "Lady Amaryl as well, welcome."
[20:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Amaryl curties briefly, standing behind Seira. "Lady." she returns with respect in her voice.
01[20:09] <Seira> "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Lady Malika," Seira responds with a respectful bow. "And for the compliment. You look as radiant as always, it goes without saying."
[20:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "We are always pleased to be met by our neighbors to the east." Malika eats a grape, slowly and relaxingly. After, "Let us get to our business then. What desires made you request this meeting?"
01[20:15] <Seira> "I was hoping to secure your help in the matter of Lady Cemile," Seira says, getting straight to the point as instructed. "My appeal to the Pasha appears to have failed. I realize that to try it again would be too confrontational.
01[20:15] <Seira> I don't want to meddle in the internal affairs of a neighboring ally, and it could well be that in persisting, I could draw the opposite reaction. And yet, I still cannot leave this matter alone." Which certainly explains why she had come to Lady Malika, who might not be the best person to ask about Lady Cemile.
[20:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Lady Malika eats another grape, resting her head on one hand as she regards Seira. "Ah, Cemile. I have talked to the Pasha about this lingering matter. You must understand that he views her circumstances poorly. Bey Kerem has tried as well, but the Pasha's mind is very set. To change it will not be an easy matter. It would take someone with a tongue of silver and perhaps great enticements to soften the resolve of the Pasha."
[20:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> and perhaps great enticements to soften the resolve of the Pasha."
01[20:22] <Seira> "What if I said that I view her as a loophole to a contract I have recently signed in order to rid the world of Esthan?" Seira asks, deciding on this argument. "I suspect that what the Pasha resents is restoring Lady Cemile's status and previous life. However, should it be viewed as a matter of swapping her current prison for a different one, things might go more smoothly.
01[20:22] <Seira> I could accept her into my custody, and the Baronies would support me in this, should the Pasha be willing to do so." (more)
06[20:25] * Seira pauses, before elaborating. "The contract in question was made with a devil poised to replace Esthan on our world. I cannot use what I've learned of him during that time to take him out. However, I have good reason to believe that it is the same devil that controlled the lesser one controlling Lady Cemile's body at the time.
01[20:25] <Seira> Having her around to recount the experience and help with the investigation would allow me to have that same information through a different venue, thus enabling me to take him out and drive the fiendish presence on our world into a great disarray. That may well be a goal the Pasha finds palatable, wouldn't you agree, Lady Malika?"
[20:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "He may, if presented properly." Her smile is smooth, "Seira, it may be possible indeed. Of course, he may simply allow you to interview her for a brief time to get that information."
01[20:34] <Seira> "I'm waiting on information from an independant source, so having her around to correllate it would be far more helpful, and less disturbing to the Pasha's daily life," Seira notes. "However, I would be remiss if I did not admit to you, Lady Malika, that I have a personal stake in this as well. I was the one who handed her over to be judged.
01[20:34] <Seira> I deeply regret the way this situation has hit the Fiefdoms and its ruler, but that does not change the fact that I sent an innocent person into indefinite incarceration."
[20:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Hmmmmmmm." Lady Malika is silent a time. She rises up, going to lean over and whisper something into her servant's ear. He bows to her and departs. Once that's done, Lady Malika holds her arms over her chest, "You speak with conviction and nobility. But..." Lady Malika is bittersweet, a smile long trammeled, "The Pasha's will is absolute in his domain. I will try with the words you have given me, Seira. You rooted out the evil, so l
[20:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> I will try with the words you have given me, Seira. You rooted out the evil, so let your will be heard by him. Perhaps yet abayance can be found."
06[20:43] * Seira bows deeper still this time, adding her honest appreciation at the deed to the courtesies she must maintain in present company. "I hope that it will be enough," she says gratefully upon straightening up. "I greatly appreciate your help in this."
[20:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Return in a week's time," Malika bids, "By then I will hav eworked my will on the Pasha as best I can. You are welcome. The debt we owe you is not a small one."
[20:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Thank you," Amaryl murmurs, making her own curtesy again. "I have no official standing with Pallanth or Balmuria, but perhaps if exile is an option, friends in Pallanth could take her, or friends in Balmuria."
01[20:47] <Seira> "I will do so without fail," Seira promises, before smiling at Amaryl's words. "Balmuria would easily agree to this, as I've indicated, if that is an acceptable compromise."
[20:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I'll have it as an option as well." Malika says, "Is there other business then? If not, I should go and begin to make the arraingements I must make for this."
01[20:51] <Seira> "It's not business, as such, but Waukeen has diverted me to deal with a fey slaver taking refuge at an oasis in the wastes," Seira says in reflection. "I can try to ascertain its specific location and inform you of it. I'm also examing my options, as it might be possible to keep the fey in check and have him aid travelers as penance for his past evil deeds,
01[20:51] <Seira> perhaps saving those weary who must travel through those parts."
[20:53] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Mmmm. Truly?" With a rub of her arm then, "A fey? Very well, inform me when you return."
01[20:57] <Seira> "I can find no other explanation why every time I go off course, I end up going to places which could use my help," Seira says with a light shrug of her shoulders. "Divine providence is my best bet."
[21:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Malika nods to that, "It may be so."
[21:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Resting a day and TPing back over to the oasis?
01[21:07] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[21:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Roll TP?
01[21:08] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 17." [1d100=17]
[21:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Woosh! Seira and Amaryl appear at the oasis once more. The rainbow over it remains as it was before.
06[21:11] * Seira calls upon the Knock spell!
[21:12] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Part of the rainbow opens up like a door, revealing a path within!
06[21:13] * Seira takes Amaryl's hand and heads inside, after casting Heroism upon her, just in case.
[21:14] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Hand in hand, the two head inside. You come out on the other side of the oasis, the tents opposite it. Amaryl begins to walk around. "Do you think they spared Majanni, despite what we said?"
01[21:16] <Seira> "I hope so," Seira responds, after thinking it over. "If they just killed him after we've left him weak, I would feel responsible, as if I had them do my dirty work for me. No, had they truly wanted Majanni dead despite my request, I would have obliged them myself."
02[21:16] * Harriet (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Ping timeout)
[21:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Coming back, you find several of the transformed fey sitting around. Majanni runs around, bringing them food and drink. His color is bad, his steps weak. The still enchanted servants stand aside, waiting without word.
06[21:18] * Seira sees no reason to prolongue this, calling out for the harmful spell upon them to be undone!
01[21:18] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 31." [1d20=16]
[21:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Calling on her magic, the spell shatters! The remaining entrapped fey all turn to Majanni at once! The aware ones smirk a bit, as Majanni whimpers and takes several steps back. "Stay bakc!" he shouts.
01[21:21] <Seira> "I have to ask," Seira voices, not much caring for his feeble protests. "Why do all this? If you had just let travelers stay with you without tricking them, they might well have returned of their own will, or sent others to keep you company and party with you. Many might have undergone the transformation to fey, given the benefits it would hold. So why did you have to coerce people?"
[21:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Slipping back as a few of the white garbed men talk to the newly awakened fey, "It-It's my right!" he mewls.
01[21:27] <Seira> "Well, then I guess it's the right of those victimized by you to beat you into a bloody pulp," Seira reasons. "I'm glad we had this chat." She gives a wave to the others. "I'll be back to check up on things a lot, and I'll figure out a means for you to call me quicker if he forgets his trouncing and tries to regrow a spine."
01[21:35] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 77." [1d100=77]
[20:21] <Kotono> ---
[20:23] <Kotono> Seira goes and gets a pair of glasses of rich wine from a passing servant. As her and Amaryl both have a sip, "Excuse me," A rugged faced man comes up, in a uniform that's a size or so too big for him. He's not too old, but a notably younge rwoman is with him, one who has perhaps just reached her majority. She has black hair, tied back, and a black gown. "Colonel Seira? Lady Gaial?"
01[20:25] <Seira> "Mmm?" Seira turns towards the two, holding her wine glass casually. "Hello."
[20:27] <Kotono> "Lord Kesper," He offers a hand - somehow small, as if weight has been dropped - "I've heard of you in bardsong and in traveler's words for quite some time now. I'm honored to make your aquaintence, even if you aren't twenty feet tall and don't shoot fire out of your nose. Ah well, bards never get the stories right. This is Lady Eliza, my niece."
[20:27] <Kotono> "Charmed," she murmurs, eyes on Amaryl more than Seira. "A noble from the realm of Pallanth this far from Pallanth? Remarkable."
01[20:28] <Seira> "I could be," Seira muses with a light shrug of her shoulders. "Magic." It really does explain everything. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintence, Lord Kesper, Lady Eliza."
[20:30] <Kotono> As music plays softly, carrying through the noise of indistinct conversations, it all merging together into a backdrop of meaningful/meaningless sound, "You're one of the senior officers in the Crimson Guard, yes? Part of my purview is dealing with guards and patrols. You are perhaps the most qualified person I know of to speak on these matters."
01[20:34] <Seira> "I'm always happy to talk about work or help on such matters," Seira agrees. "And having traveled extensively, I've been exposed to several varying methods of training guards and arranging patrols. Is there anything in specific that draws your interest, Lord Kesper?"
[20:36] <Kotono> Lady Eliza nicely smiles to Seira, then, "Ah, Lady Gaial, if I may steal you for a few moments? I fancy myself a student of elven matters."
[20:36] <Kotono> 'Seira?' Amaryl asks in Seira's mind, 'Do you mind, or do you want me to stay with you?'
01[20:37] <Seira> 'Wouldn't dream of monopolizing your time like that,' Seira responds happily. 'Let me know if it gets boring and I'll come and rescue you?'
[20:39] <Kotono> Amaryl takes the inviation, wandering away with Lady Eliza. As they go, "The generals are fine. You see, we're expanding our range of patrols in Kelara. I hear the Baronies have a very active and wide ranging Guard, so the potential for advice and aid is obvious."
02[20:41] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@c-98-210-201-139.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
03[20:41] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@c-98-210-201-139.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) has joined #evildunes
03[20:41] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
01[20:43] <Seira> "We try to use locals and scouts at the outer range of our patrols," Seira responds. "It tends to work much better than regular troops who might not notice something is amiss, or would have trouble navigating the area. There was also another method I've run across, where troops too far from their bases are stationed for extended time to man outposts.
01[20:43] <Seira> They get relieved every few weeks, perhaps a couple months for especially far outposts. It seems like a sound method to implement, particularly if magic is available in limited fashion to cut down on travel times."
[20:45] <Kotono> "Mmm, yes." Lord Kesper walks along, near the dance floor, his face screwed in thought. He stops to get a passing drink from a servant before going on. "After that business of the aborted rebellion, having our patrols in top shape is paramount. Fortunately, Kelara's holdings are not so large as to make that problematic."
06[20:48] * Seira nods thoughtfully. "A balance must be struck, between the soldiers staying in an area long enough to befriend the population and gain sensitivity to any changes, and from having them be there so long their loyalties might waver or letting their skills stagnate. Ideally, if said balance is reached, the population has faith and confidence in the military, and through it, in its leaders.
01[20:48] <Seira> The soldiers, in turn, feel like they are a part of something worthwhile, and guarding the civillians is not just a job for them any longer."
[20:49] <Kotono> "Yes, a sense of identity." As he ponders on this, Lord Kesper punches at the air, "That's a good, fine theory if you can impliment it. It makes the men have a sense of morale and of being something more than another petty group of armed soldiers.
[20:49] <Kotono> "
01[20:52] <Seira> "And while it's fine to project an image of absolute trust in them, it's always a good idea to stay informed from alternate sources," Seira continues. "People are flawed, and once in a while, a rotten apple might rise to a command position. Landing a position where they might abuse their power would be a decent test for officers' moral fiber."
[20:53] <Kotono> "Ah yes, the value of multiple sources of intelligence," Nodding along as you pass a small gaggle of chatters, one of them steps away. He is a kindly faced old man, like a grandfather. "Pardon. Colonel Seira," He offers a hand out, "I had wanted to catch you. Lord Lahn of the ruling council."
06[20:55] * Seira gives the proffered hand a firm handshake. "I have been caught, then, Lord Lahn."
[20:55] <Kotono> "Lahn," Kesper says with even, neutral tones.
[20:56] <Kotono> "Kesper," With a twinkle in his eyes as he speaks, "I know I interrupted you, for which I cry pardon. But a chance to meet a living legend is not something an old man should miss."
01[20:56] <Seira> "I've been to Kelara before. Doubtlessly, I'll come visit again," Seira notes with a smile.
[20:59] <Kotono> "Yet my time in this world is not unlimited at this age." His grip is firm and able. "I also hear you open temples in realms beyond Balmuria, in the name of the Merchant's Friend?"
01[21:04] <Seira> "Why yes!" Seira agrees, suddenly a whole lot more interested. "Our goal is to unify Waukeen's temples throughout the land under the goal of expanding knowledge and bettering society. So far, we've managed that with Balmuria, Victoria and Arad in the Fiefdoms.
01[21:04] <Seira> Valandia and the Citadel of Light are quite close to being brought into the loop, as well as another temple in Pallanth further east, and there is construction of two more all the way over in the distant land of Kesse."
[21:07] <Kotono> "I had heard of...hm, Kesse?" Lord Lahn stops there, "Pardon, but I've heard not of that realm."
01[21:09] <Seira> "It's past the jungle, Lord Lahn," Seira elaborates. "Not as unpassable if you have the aid of magic, it turns out. And since we're on the subject, I've long contemplated a closer tie with Kelara. It doesn't presently have a temple to Waukeen, does it?"
[21:11] <Kotono> "No, it does not. I think we may be on the same mindtrack. If it may be coming, it is only wise to accept it and coordinate the efforts so it benefits Kelara well." As Lord Lahn goes on, '...S-Seira?'
01[21:12] <Seira> About to respond, Seira pauses to take a sip of her wine, thinking back, 'Yes? What is it?'
[21:13] <Kotono> '...nevermind.' Amaryl's voice lightens, 'Just a misunderstanding. Sorry, Seira.'
01[21:13] <Seira> 'Are you sure? Nothing's so important I can't come and bail you out!'
[21:14] <Kotono> 'It's nothing.' Amaryl replies back. 'I'll explain it when we're back together.
[21:14] <Kotono> '
01[21:17] <Seira> If Amaryl thinks she can handle whatever it is, Seira won't charge off to the rescue. "I do prefer to work with the local authorities whenever possible," she responds, placing her now-empty glass down on a nearby servant's tray. "It is an honor to meet someone who wants to help spread Waukeen's message, Lord Lahn."
[21:18] <Kotono> "Come pay me a visit when the time is right for that." Lord Lahn steps away, "My apologies again, Lord Kesper. I'll not interrupt you any further."
01[21:20] <Seira> "Of course, Lord Lahn," Seira agrees, turning slightly towards Lord Kesper once he had stepped away. "Where were we?"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Talking about intelligence," Lord Kesper supplies, "About multiple viewpoints."
01[21:23] <Seira> "Ah, so we were." Seira grabs herself a fresh glass of wine, and taps it thoughtfully. "I'm afraid I can't say much beyond the general that you've requested, here, Lord Kesper. Intelligence gathering is not something we can casually chat about in such a setting. I cannot overstate its value enough, however.
01[21:23] <Seira> Near the end of King Ferdi's reign, having the right intelligence allowed us to prepare properly, both for the possibility for an invasion and for the real thing, when it finally came."
01[21:26] <Seira> 'Well, it looks like I might get to build another temple,' Seira meanwhile thinks to Amaryl. 'How is being studied going?'
[21:34] <Kotono> "Of course, discretion is important. There will be other times when discretion is not such a concern," Lord Kesper parts away, "Thank you."
[21:34] <Kotono> 'Oh? Excellent! And...it's going well enough.'
06[21:36] * Seira raises her glass to salute the man as he leaves, before taking a sip. 'Mind if I join you? I could use a short break from being all official.'
[21:38] <Kotono> 'O-okay,' Amaryl answers after a hesitation.
06[21:39] * Seira takes a look around. A beautiful elf can't be hard to spot in the crowd.
[21:41] <Kotono> You find Amaryl and Eliza tucked away in a corner, sitting at a table. The two are drinking wine, a servant freshening glasses. Eliza is listening to Amaryl, the two smiling and laughing.
01[21:42] <Seira> "Hi," Seira greets them, gracefully sliding into an empty seat.
[21:46] <Kotono> "Hello, Colonel," Eliza inclines her head, "Amaryl was telling me about the eastern reaches of Pallanth. It's endless cold until insurmountable mountains reach to the top of the sky, challenging Lathander's majesty with their rude intrusion?"
[21:47] <Kotono> "Seira," Amaryl laughs and smiles, a faint blush playing as she drinks more wine. "Tell her about the mountains you named after me!"
[21:47] <Kotono> 'Please?' Amaryl adds in your mind, 'I think I'm getting a bit drunk...this wine is hitting me hard, and I've already drank one more glass than I was planning to.'
01[21:49] <Seira> "Since you're on first name basis, Seira would be just fine for me," she tells Eliza. "The Amaryl mountain range? It's easily the most majestic and deadly of them all, and that was before a beautiful personification of the winter took residence there." To Amaryl's mental request, she responds, 'The solution is easy, then. Drink water instead! I could help you with that.'
[21:51] <Kotono> 'Yes well...' Amaryl shrugs lightly, 'No ,that may be wise. I'll do that.'
[21:51] <Kotono> As Seira settles in, Taldeer and Alicia approach.
06[21:52] * Seira gives them a wave, looking around the table. If there aren't enough chairs, she'll have to arrange for a servant to bring more, or get them herself from a neighboring table.
[21:52] <Alicia> "Seira, you've met Taldeer," Alicia begins introductions as she approaches. "Amaryl, this is Dweomerkeeper Taldeer, the head of the church of Mystra in Kelara. And, I don't believe I've met your new friend..."
01[21:53] <Seira> "We've met, yes," Seira says, smiling at Taldeer. "This is Lady Eliza."
[21:54] <Alicia> "A pleasure," Alicia bows to the Lady in question.
[21:55] <Kotono> There's enough chairs with one spare. "I'm honored," Amaryl smiles as she listens.
[21:56] <Kotono> "I'm honored, Knight-General," Lady Eliza stands to slightly curtesy to Alicia. "Lady Seira was telling us of the Amaryl Mountains."
[21:57] <Alicia> Ahh, Mount Amaryl... Alicia keeps the wince that she feels off of her face as she takes a seat. "Yes, Seira named them herself," she notes pleasantly.
01[21:59] <Seira> "They needed an elven name, and there wasn't one I liked better," Seira admits. "I was a bit worried it wouldn't work well, but I think the name took off."
[22:01] <Kotono> "That's a lovely name," Eliza drinks down a glass of wine as she listens, "It's quite the honor to Amaryl."
06[22:03] * Seira is happy that people agree with her on this! "You mentioned being interested in elves?" she asks Eliza. "Have you ever traveled to Pallanth?"
[22:05] <Kotono> "Oh no, it's too far," Eliza murmurs, "There are some elves in Kelara that hear stories from."
[22:07] <Alicia> "If you travel by ship it's a journey of less than two months," Alicia notes. "Far quicker than crossing the desert and forest."
01[22:07] <Seira> Someone to keep in mind once instanteneous travel between the two lands has been established. "That's a shame. I imagine it's not quite the same listening to stories."
[22:10] <Kotono> "Oh, it's like reading a book," Eliza agrees. "Each story and book is a new block into the imagination."
01[22:12] <Seira> "Are there any good stories to be shared, in that case?"
[22:17] <Kotono> The evening passes. It's past midnight, drinks having been had and the times passed. The guests are starting to leave, most gone. Seira, Alicia, Marie and Amaryl have just met up with Alicia's family. Jessica is sitting in a chair brought out into the ballroom, sleeping against Roald. Roald is swishing a glass of wine about, but not drinking. "Ah. A marvelous party," Beatrice announces, clapping her hands.
[22:17] <Kotono> "Ah. A marvelous party," Beatrice announces, clapping her hands.
[22:18] <Alicia> Naturally Alicia has refreshed hers and Marie's disguises a few hours ago. "Things went quite well," she agrees politely, honestly rather bored herself.
01[22:18] <Seira> "It was quite pleasant," Seira agrees, having found it a change from her daily routine. "We must do this again some time."
[22:18] <Kotono> Amaryl is next to Seira, smiling and a bit wobbly on her feet, but otherwise okay. "It was most fun."
[22:19] <Kotono> Arthur yawns deeply, "Ah yes, Alicia. Seira. Are the two of you staying in town past tomorrow?"
[22:20] <Alicia> "We'll be returning to Balmuria tomorrow," Alicia replies. "Seira, would you care to go on a trip to the elemental plane of fire?" she then asks the half-dragon. "I was thinking of searching there for something to help with the Winterwight problem."
01[22:21] <Seira> "I love fire," Seira responds. "As long as I can make my appointment in a bit under a week's time, it should be fine."
[22:25] <Kotono> "Alright." With that, Arthur starts to lead the two back...OOC: Move along?
[22:25] <Alicia> OOC: yep
01[22:25] <Seira> OOC: Sure
[19:42] <Kotono> ------
[19:42] <Kotono> You want to resume where you left off and go towards Kesse?
01[19:42] <Seira> Works for me.
[19:47] <Kotono> Okay. Make your TPs?
01[19:48] <Seira> roll 1d100 Kelara
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 Kelara and gets 49." [1d100=49]
01[19:48] <Seira> roll 1d100 Kesse
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 Kesse and gets 85." [1d100=85]
[19:48] <Kotono> Where in Kesse?
01[19:48] <Seira> Palace entrance, where I've been teleporting before
[19:48] <Kotono> Okay.
[19:49] <Kotono> Oh yeah, are you alone or...?
01[19:52] <Seira> I've been meaning to continue the trip with Amaryl, same as I originally started it. If she's busy and/or someone wants to come along, I can adjust.
[19:52] <Kotono> Amaryl's fine. Okay then.
[19:52] <Kotono> ---
[19:52] <Kotono> It is a cool day with a cold, hard wind. Kesse is subdued - only guards and a few peasants are about when Seira appears. Amaryl shivers and draws into herself at this wind.
[19:53] <Kotono> "Let's get inside? It's not pleasant here at all," Amaryl murmurs as she looks about. "It reminds me of Lord Chillander's domain a little with that wind."
01[19:54] <Seira> "Fire was more pleasant," Seira says by way of agreement, heading towards the gates. "Think you'd like to visit the plane of fire some day? There's an evil efreet that picked a fight with me, and he seems to live there."
[19:55] <Kotono> "Perhaps, how hot is it?" Crackling a little smile as guards eye Seira and approach, ushering her ahead, "How long do you plan to stay here, Seira?"
01[19:57] <Seira> "Pretty hot. Enough so that food chars if you leave it out in the open too long. As for staying here, if we're not needed, just a day or so to ensure that the work on the temples is on schedule."
[20:01] <Kotono> The two are taken to General Andram as Amaryl considers this. You meet him in a rich, plush office deep within the castle. Two guards stand just outside, opening the door for Seira. General Andram looks up from a set of parchments as Seira enters.
06[20:04] * Seira lowers her head in greeting. "General Andram. I hope we did not come at a bad time."
[20:05] <Kotono> The General is wearing a thick greatcoat, pushing the papers aside. "Welcome back to Kesse. You rather did - there's border problems again to both the north and the south. Nothing dire, but flareups of normal border incidents and the like."
01[20:08] <Seira> "Then the timing was rather fortuitous," Seira points out, "since part of the reason for my visit was to ask whether you've come to a final decision on my proposal. I have prepared all the resources on my end, so all I would need right now is to hear that 'yes' from you to go ahead with the program."
[20:10] <Kotono> General Andram considers this for a short few moments, "Intelligence and these incidents are both pointing towards a war as soon as our rivals can manage it. If they both assail us at once...I don't think a foreign outpost will stop them. If you commit to this, you're going to become embroiled in a war. If you're willing to accept that, then yes."
01[20:15] <Seira> "What about a foreign outpost with a one-way portal to send more troops to the combat theater, and magical ways to alert us of a need for more soldiers?" Seira asks. "I've talked to Lord Salman, and he agreed to support this endeavor. Still, avoiding war outright would be better than having to win it. Are your neighbors in league with one another?"
[20:19] <Kotono> "We can't prove it, but Evrai and Sanaxt do seem to be showing signs of unusual cooperation." General Andram stands now, "While with winter coming any campaign will be low intensity, the coming spring would see full out war if that were to occur."
01[20:23] <Seira> "It just means we have several months to try and make people see reason. Going to war because of past grievances easily addressed is stupid. I'm sure you could find plenty against them if you tried.
01[20:23] <Seira> I think my chances to mediate would be pretty decent, especially if I demonstrate an ability to have a force rivaling their own here. You're worried they're both going to attack, so it logically follows the threat of attack would be far lower if they didn't think they could overwhelm you with numbers."
[20:28] <Kotono> "Then we agree," General Andram sticks a hand out, "I'll be blunt. Our chances in a two front war with weak leadership are not great. Any aid is appreciated."
01[20:30] <Seira> "I'll see about avoiding that unfortunate situation altogether, if possible, and mitigate it if battle becomes the only solution," Seira affirms, accepting his hand to shake it. "I could be as blunt with your neighbors as you are being here, of course, but it seems to me that it would have an adverse effect.
01[20:30] <Seira> Is there a way for you to arrange negotiations with them, and allow me to meet with their leadership?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "I have someonein Evrai who owes me a couple of favors..." Quietly thinking, "I may be able to, yes. There's no guarantee. If they're hellbent on it, the messenger will probably come back short a head."
01[20:33] <Seira> "If there's actual risk of them doing it, I could use magic to send a message across," Seira suggests, frowning. "Killing the messenger goes beyond petty."
[20:33] <Kotono> With a dark, amused smile, "It sends a very pointed message. No, no magic. If it happens, we'll know their intentions for sure."
01[20:36] <Seira> "I wouldn't risk the lives of my subordinates like that," she notes in response. "You would know your neighbors best, but I believe that the messenger should be informed of the risks and allowed to opt out if they don't want to take the risk."
[20:37] <Kotono> "I have loyal men that will do it. Besides, what's one man these days?" Leaning back, "AT times of war, a single life is cheap."
[20:38] <Kotono> "That's such a sad thing to say," Amaryl looks down to her feet, "What about all the grieving mothers and children left behind by those cheap lives?"
[20:39] <Kotono> "Kesse has been raised on the backs of widowers and childless mothers," General Andram's voice becomes steely, "We survive."
01[20:41] <Seira> "People die in wars," Seira admits. "But Amaryl's point is quite valid, and aren't we doing this to avoid the bloodshed altogether? Our actions lose meaning if we let it become a matter of numbers. If we accept the death of a single messenger, why not more of them? The line would get difficult to draw." As the general speaks again, Seira nods.
01[20:41] <Seira> "Yes, you survive. Kesse survives. But don't you want more than that, to prosper and move ahead? That's hard to achive if entire generations pass away in combat."
[20:46] <Kotono> "That's the goal, but I'm a realist. You're an optimist." General Andram now nods a little to Seira, "I hope you're right. I really do...but I've seen optimists before and buried each one of them."
01[20:49] <Seira> "I'll make you one, some day in the future," Seira promises. "While we're in the present, however," she goes on, changing the subject, "I want to inquire about the progress on the temples."
[20:50] <Kotono> "They progress well enough. Land has been taken and they're being constructed," General Andram says after checking a bit of parchment.
[20:51] <Kotono> Amaryl sighs a little, 'Between your stories and this...I hope you're right and you can help them, Seira. That cold way he tossed aside the concept of an innocent man dying sent a shiver down my spine. Is war truly so common here?'
01[20:52] <Seira> "Is there any way I could be of help, there?" she asks. "Even if just to recruit for the position of the high priest?" To Amaryl, she thinks back, 'Seemed that way to me. The Fiefdoms are a lot like this with their attitude, and if I'm meddling there, I'm contractually obligated to meddle here as well and try to help.'
[20:54] <Kotono> "For now, no. In that due time, yes. A high priest is a concern. The Kelemvorites aren't entirely pleased with this as well - they're bristling at competition." Taking another sheet of paper and reading it, "If a war is coming, that won't matter since they'll know they have more important work to do."
[20:54] <Kotono> 'Yes, but the Fiefdoms have some good things to it. Then again, they aren't surrounde dby enemies.'
01[21:00] <Seira> "That's quite morbid," Seira voices. "Well, unless they plan to start a bloody uprising to get their quota of death for the death god, I'm sure we could come to a reasonable arrangement. Waukeen is quite accomodating."
01[21:00] <Seira> 'A very good point,' Seira thinks to Amaryl. 'Maybe if we change that part, the rest would naturally follow.'
[21:02] <Kotono> Snorting, "We will see. Have you also come to see Giselle?"
01[21:04] <Seira> "If it's a good day," Seira says delicately. "I've learned my lesson the last time. Good intentions alone can't solve such deeply-entrenched issues in mere months."
[21:05] <Kotono> "She had a brief court today. She's with her personal bard now - you know the one, you brought him - and listening to him. To be honest, he does her as much good as anything. She's not right, but she's very calm when she's with him."
01[21:08] <Seira> "I won't interrupt, then. But I'll visit again." Seira searches her pack for several moments, before withdrawing a feather. "This holds my personal mark, and would carry a message to me anywhere in the world. Other means of communication exist, most far more convenient, but this is unique enough to reach me where others might get blocked. I wanted you to have it."
[21:09] <Kotono> It's taken, "How do I use it?"
01[21:12] <Seira> "Write a brief message with it on paper or parchment, and then will it to reach me while you're holding the feather," Seira responds. "That would trigger the magic and transform it into a carrier pigeon that would tirelessly seek me out until that missive has been delivered."
[21:13] <Kotono> "I'll do that," Andram puts the feather onto his desk, "We'll meet again when?"
01[21:15] <Seira> "Soon after we get our answer from Evrai. I could keep in touch from time to time via the Sending spell, or you could initiate it, whichever you might find more convenient, General."
[21:16] <Kotono> "Understood," General Andram rises, offering his hand out.
06[21:18] * Seira shakes it. "Before we leave, would it be possible to have the most up to date maps you have of this region?" Seira inquires. "I've been trying to create a world map from a collage of various local ones, and it would aid me greatly in that goal."
[21:22] <Kotono> "If you like." A soldier is sent out, returning with a map about ten minutes later, which is presented to SEira.
01[21:28] <Seira> roll 1d100 I know this place
06[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 I know this place and gets 85." [1d100=85]
[21:29] <Kotono> Amaryl and Seira are escorted to see Lady Malika once more. She awaits for them, lying on her divan. "The two of you look well," Lady Malika observes.
01[21:30] <Seira> "No evil fey this time," Seira responds, after greeting her properly. "We've returned as you bid us to, Lady Malika."
[21:34] <Kotono> "Good. I have spoken to the Pasha on this matter, Seira." As a servant fans her, "He is willing to allow Lady Cemile to be exiled far away, on certain conditions."
01[21:35] <Seira> "Which conditions would they be?" Seira inquires, giving her full attention to Lady Malika while ignoring the servants.
[21:37] <Kotono> "First of all, Celime is not to go to the Baronies or Kelara. She must be further removed from the Fiefdoms," Ticking off fingers as she goes, lazy and toying with them, "Pallanth is acceptable, as is Malmuth, or anything farther."
06[21:39] * Seira glances at Amaryl briefly, before responding. "That should be possible to arrange. Is there more?"
[21:43] <Kotono> "The second condition is that she be adequately provided for. Imprisioned or not, she is still nobility."
01[21:44] <Seira> "I'm sensing that the Pasha's feelings on this matter are rather complex," Seira feels obligated to say. "As with the first condition, I don't foresee a problem."
[21:46] <Kotono> With the hint of a smile, "It may be so. The final condition is that the Pasha will hold you accountable should misfortune come to Cemile, or should she cause the Fiefdoms further harm."
06[21:48] * Seira glances at Amaryl again, much longer this time. "I did make it clear that I'm interested in Lady Cemile's case, not in Lady Cemile, right? You were here. I didn't say something ambiguous on accident, did I?"
[21:50] <Kotono> Do that, Malika starts to laugh as Amaryl blushes. "There was not. As you are advocating for her, he places that responsibility on you. That is all."
01[21:51] <Seira> "Really? Because it sounded just like--" Seira shakes her head. "Alright, I get it now. It's a responsibility I would accept gladly, Lady Malika. Could you be so kind as to convey my gratitude to the Pasha?"
[21:52] <Kotono> "I shall." Malika rises now, "Cemile will be released in due time then, you will be contacted then."
01[21:53] <Seira> "I will be just a teleport or two away," Seira says, bowing respectfully. "And I must thank you once more for making this possible, Lady Malika."
[21:58] <Kotono> "Thank you," Amaryl follows up with that, "Be well, Lady."
[21:58] <Kotono> OOC: Ready to move along a bit now, Seira? What's next on your agenda?
01[21:58] <Seira> OOC: Okay! Next I would like to regroup with Abby and talk to her about preparations.
[22:01] <Kotono> OOC: Roll your TP back to Balmuria.
01[22:01] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 1." [1d100=1]
[22:03] <Kotono> Abagail is found at Seira's inn, chatting away with Donald. Well no. More accurately, Donald is chatting to her as she looks at him crticially. As Donald goes on about magical theory, "Ah Seira, there you are. You'll agree with me - Donald looks somewhat lithe, like a woman now, does he not?"
01[22:03] <Seira> "Donald always looked like a woman," Seira says dismissively. "That aside, I'm back, so we can finally leave. Did you have enough time to prepare for everything?"
[22:04] <Kotono> "What the hell?!" Donald blurts, "I'm a man, dammit!"
01[22:04] <Seira> "Elf."
[22:05] <Kotono> Abby turns away from him, "I've done my preparations and have supplies. Some potions, a few scrolls, rations as well as mundane backups."
[22:05] <Kotono> "That's right. Elf."Amaryl smiles sweetly to him, "You're a very cute boy elf. Some humans say that girl and boy elves look alike, though..."
06[22:06] * Seira nods. "Can I pass the casting of Endure Elements to you, as well as the locator spells we've discussed? Having Phantom Steeds for us all in store is something I can provide, as well as shelter for the night."
[22:07] <Kotono> "That raises a question of how wer'e going to travel. Phantom Steed may be faster, but if it's unknown land, is it wise to skip past everything like a hurricane?" Abagail rises, getting a drink of water from the bar before returning. "How are we going to travle?"
[22:08] <Kotono> With a tired groan, "Nevermind, I'm going to go practice my magecraft." Donald mutters and stomps off.
01[22:08] <Seira> "That depends," Seira admits, taking a moment to wave sweetly at Donald.
01[22:08] <Seira> "The divination spells we've talked about. If you managed to get one that has a range of a mile or more, it would make sense to use the steeds to get towards civilization all the faster."
[22:13] <Kotono> Abagail nods to that, "Yes."
01[22:14] <Seira> "So we're decided. Let's go in the morning? That would give us a chance to prepare just the right spells before departure."
[22:14] <Kotono> Abagail nods, "In the morning then."
06[22:14] * Seira gives her a smile, before heading off after Donald.
[22:23] <Kotono> Donald is found in his room. He has his old silver greatsword in hand, going through a few basic motions and practices.
01[22:26] <Seira> "There's a difference between friendly teasing and mocking," Seira says, announcing her presence. "You can tell between the two, right?"
[22:27] <Kotono> "Oh yeah, sure." Donald grunts as he works, nearly knocking over a glass beaker with a heavy, hard swing. "Duck, by the way."
06[22:29] * Seira makes certain to duck without questioning him. "Good. Didn't want to leave without making sure of that. All things considered, everyone wonders sometimes about the course they're on. We all even have regrets, I bet. I doubt..." Seira seizes the tip of her wing. "Well, this, let's say. Alicia must wonder as well, certain times."
[22:35] <Kotono> His blade whisles just over Seira's head as he completes a one handed release, regrouping his sword back. "Yeah. Seira, I don't need a pep talk." He puts his sword down, grinning, "Come on, I'm not an idiot. I can play along too."
01[22:37] <Seira> "It's not a real pep talk," she says, straightening up. "This is more me asking if you're happy with your life, because I have access to pretty impressive magic and even more impressive friends. I could trade for a wish to return you to what you were, if that's really what you want to be."
[22:39] <Kotono> "Eh." Donald puts his sword down next to a pile of books, "I haven't asked, have I?"
01[22:40] <Seira> "So you haven't," Seira agrees, smiling. "Want a souvenier from wherever it is I'll find myself at?"
[22:42] <Kotono> "Sure. It's you, Amaryl and Abagail going?" Donald goes and gets a beaker full of water, drinking from it. "Past the eastern mountains?"
01[22:43] <Seira> "Yeah. And things look like they might heat up on the Kesse front, so want to come along for that when it happens? We may get to test your defenses for the teleportation circles after all, if things go badly."
[22:44] <Kotono> "Let's see...war there or are the Sharrans making a resurgance?" Donald finishes drinking, going to sit on his bed, tossing aside a few scrolls and a broken wooden sword as he does.
01[22:44] <Seira> "Possible war. Far less possible if we manage to avert it, and actually give all the people in that region something to aspire for besides Kelemvor worship."
[22:45] <Kotono> "Let me know if it does, if nothing's going on here. Hopefully with Esthan dead, we're really the strongest force now."
01[22:47] <Seira> "Even if we weren't, would that stop us?" she asks with another smile.
[22:49] <Kotono> "No. So let me know," Donald lies back on his bed, before he grunts and shifts. He reaches under the covers, taking out a slim book. "Oh, that's where that poetry went." He tosses it aside.
01[22:51] <Seira> "It's good for you," Seira tells him cheerfully. "And if you don't know the entire book by heart when I'm back, I will devise a spell that would read poetry to you whenever you fall asleep."
[17:15] <Kotono> -----------\
[17:18] <Kotono> Amaryl is ready with Seira. She has her travelling gear on and a warm cloak over all of it. Abagail, in contrast, strides in wearing a rich blue mantle, hair tied back in a ponytail. She wears knee high leather boots, a loose, belted gray dress going with it. They meet in Seira's quarters, the morning ahead and ready of them.
06[17:21] * Seira is herself dressed in ancient gnomish fashions, being a mage and thus capable of traveling in style. "Endure Elements should let us stay comfortable as we travel to the east. And it'll let you meet Neve like you wanted to, Abagail, and without freezing half to death, at that."
[17:22] <Kotono> "As you like. Who should I cast it on?" Abagail asks, "I've only read of the cold mountains to the east. This should be a worthy time of it."
01[17:23] <Seira> "All three of us, since we don't know how things will go. Teleporting to a place I've only seen once carries a risk, and it helps to be prepared." Seira hands a small pearl over to Abagail. "And with this, you could actually cover us all."
[17:23] <Kotono> "I was about to say, I only memorized it twice. Very well." With that, Abagail casts Endure Elements on all, magic wrapping around the three!
01[17:25] <Seira> "Let's go, then," Seira announces, and takes hold of Abagail and Amaryl as she teleports them to the entrance to Neve's home.
01[17:25] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[17:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 95." [1d100=95]
[17:26] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[17:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 7." [1d10=7]
[17:26] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[17:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 8." [1d10=8]
[17:26] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[17:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 7." [1d9=7]
[17:27] <Kotono> You stand in a winter wonderland. Planes of ice stretch out as far as the eye ca nsee, frozen tundra untouched by the feet of mortalkind for countless ages. Ahead of you stretch out vast mountains, looking on the horizon like talons streaking towards the sky. The air is impossibly clear, cold and clean.
01[17:28] <Seira> "Good thing we prepared ahead of time," Seira muses, calling upon the magic of teleportation once more!
01[17:28] <Seira> roll 1d100 success this time?
06[17:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 success this time? and gets 71." [1d100=71]
[17:30] <Kotono> "A mis-" Abagail begins as she turns to Seira, the three vanishing again! You appear in the stony, snowy mountains, the thin air felt immediately. It is freezing cold here, your magic preventing the wrath of winter from draining your vitality and body warmth. The loose snow on the icy, slippery floor has been moved into a few banks. OOC: Make a spot check, Seira?
01[17:30] <Seira> roll 1d20+11
06[17:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 and gets 25." [1d20=14]
[17:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[17:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 33." [1d20=13]
01[17:31] <Seira> "Yes, like I was saying, it's tricky teleporting to places you don't frequent daily," Seira agrees, taking a look around.
[17:31] <Kotono> Amid the snow you can see a creature lying in it. A large white bear, with a coat of fur just like the frozen snow.
03[17:33] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
06[17:34] * Seira blinks. "Neve, you've redecorated?" she calls out. "Or brought friends over?"
[17:35] <Kotono> "Bear?" Amaryl's hand is on her arrows, reaching over her shoulder.
[17:36] <Kotono> From the shadows Neve emerges, slowly walking up to the pile of snow and the bear. She goes to lay a hand on it, "I find this creature a pleasing, useful servant, nothing more."
01[17:36] <Seira> "Let's be frank, a bear can't menace the manifestation of winter," Seira tells Amaryl. "He would only be here if she wanted him to-- and there she is!" Seira waves at Neve with a smile.
[17:38] <Kotono> The bear lies down at that touch, little black eyes staring at Seira and company.
[17:38] <Kotono> "What is it you want, Seira?" Neve asks, a chilly breeze blowing in from above, skittering a bit of snow about.
01[17:39] <Seira> "Several things," she answers. "First, I was passing through and wanted to say hi. Since teleporting so far from home isn't something I do daily, it was a good chance to do that! Also, I wanted to introduce Abagail to you, because she said you were very admirable and she wanted to make your acquaintance."
[17:41] <Kotono> "Charmed," Abagail steps forward, making a deep curtesy.
[17:43] <Kotono> Neve looks Abagail over, "One who has manners." A slight uptake of her lips, "Welcome to endless winter. Have you come to feel your lifeblood slow as the cold fills every speck of your body?"
01[17:43] <Seira> "Is this your way of asking if she wants a hug?" Seira inquires curiously.
[17:44] <Kotono> "Tsh." With a chilly, freezing look at Seira, "Perhaps you do? For the only ones that come from the east seem to be women. Are men a forgotten thing in the melting light of summer?"
01[17:46] <Seira> "Nope. Plenty of them back home," Seira responds. "Actually, that's the other thing I wanted to talk about. Alicia mentioned meeting you, but she has to be wrong. Endure Elements will make it easy for you to travel to Balmuria, so I figured I'd ask you there and prove that you aren't the subject of some nasty prophecy."
[17:50] <Kotono> "Ah, propechy." Neve's smile returns as she steps away fromt he polar bear. "Alicia came asking of omens and portents, mentioning a most suicidal goal. Are you looking to leave this mortal coil in the heart of a howling winter as well?"
01[17:50] <Seira> "Aww, don't be like that. I'm sure I'll beat the odds!"
[17:51] <Kotono> Amaryl s hivers.
[17:52] <Kotono> "Will you? This is no mortal trifle to run off to and slay before returning home for supper." Neve's look is darkly humorous, the cold of the chamber seeming to increase twentyfold, your limbs growing cool and numb. "Were a Winterwight to come for me, I would pray to any God that listens to end my suffering quickly."
01[17:54] <Seira> "Or you could call me," Seira mentions with a smile. "I'll come running, though it wouldn't be to end your suffering. That would be because I'm crazy enough to think I'd have a chance and save you!"
[17:57] <Kotono> "You are crazy. If anyone survives the Winterwight's wrath and remembers you, they can inscribe it on your burial stone." Neve chuckles now, "Your bravado is a disservice to your continued life span. Seira, I do not speak of this lightly. A winterwight is removed from a normal threat as a mane is removed from a balor."
01[17:59] <Seira> "Neither do I. If I'm that confident about my chances, I just might have something beyond bravado and insanity up my sleeve," Seira tells her, still smiling. "But enough talking about depressing death stuff. I really did come to ask if you wanted to go on a trip with us, whether back to Balmuria or past the mountains no one's ever traveled across in our lifetime.
01[17:59] <Seira> Either way, it would be a chance for you to get out for a while, and for us to get to know you better. How about it?"
[18:02] <Kotono> "You are obviously superior to mundane rubbish. You exude the rights and honor of nobility," Abagail smiles to her, "I would be honored if you would come with us."
01[18:03] <Seira> "And you already know we like you, so that goes without saying," Seira adds, gesturing as herself and Amaryl.
[18:05] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check, Seira?
01[18:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[18:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 46." [1d20=19]
[18:08] <Kotono> Neve turns away, crossing her arms. "Perhaps the lands untouched by true winter need to be remedied of this failing..."
01[18:11] <Seira> One day, Neve would actually be honest with her feelings, Seira hopes! "Sounds good to me. Do you have a preference here? Seeing the unknown versus visiting my home, where all sorts of people strange and mundane live."
03[18:14] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@c-98-210-201-139.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) has joined #evildunes
03[18:14] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[18:14] <Kotono> "Let us go to the unknown," Neve turns back to Seira, "I wonder now what lies beyond these cold mountains."
01[18:15] <Seira> "Every single one of us here does," Seira agrees. "Abagail, can you manage another casting of Endure Elements?"
[18:31] <Kotono> "Do you have another pearl?" Abagail asks, "I can if I have to, but it will take a higher circle slot."
01[18:32] <Seira> "No, don't carry more than the one. But it should be alright. I doubt we'll find civilization today, so you'll get a chance to refresh the spells."
[18:33] <Kotono> "Alright." Abagail focuses, calling on words in Draconic and Elven to wrap elemental protections around Neve!
06[18:34] * Seira uses that as her chance to invoke her last teleportation spell, mentally summoning the image of the scene of her accidental teleportation past the mountains to aid her!
01[18:35] <Seira> roll 1d100 low is good!
06[18:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 low is good! and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[18:36] <Kotono> Woosh. The air is gentle and cool. The sun is near high noon, a bright, clear blue sky above you. You stand in gently rolling hills, a few trees about. Not a sign of civilization can be seen. It is quiet, save for birdsong.
01[18:39] <Seira> "Well, let's see if we know where we are," Seira muses, seeking out the mountains.
[18:39] <Kotono> Amaryl kneels down and checks the ground, "Soft. It's hilly but not overly rocky. Smells fresh," she observes, "But not foresty at all."
[18:39] <Kotono> The mountains loom back behind you. From the direction of the sun, Seira can tell that the mountains are to the west, roughly. They are faraway on the horizon.
[18:39] <Kotono> "It's the countryside." Abagail shrugs, "Surely some civilzation is not too far away?"
06[18:40] * Seira nods to herself. "Yes, seems like we're where I intended us to be. How about you try that divination now, looking for a hamlet-sized settlement or anything larger?"
[18:40] <Kotono> Neve's feet touch the ground, grass beneath her turning blue-white and frosting over. Her breath mists in the cool air, "Quaint is the word I'd use, or untouched."
[18:41] <Kotono> Abagail nods, kneeling down and focusing as she calls on her magic!
01[18:41] <Seira> "Quaint works," Seira agrees, while Abagail works her magic. "And I've been curious for a while, now. Can you actually control that chill, Neve?"
[18:42] <Kotono> "Why would I even consider that? The earth deserves winter's embrace as much as anything else."
[18:43] <Kotono> "...Impossible..." Abagail murmurs, her spell finished.
01[18:44] <Seira> "That we can go against our nature is, more than anything, what puts us above animals," Seira responds. "Nothing works better at showing you're special than--" At Abagail's outburst, she gives the younger mage her full attention. "What's impossible?"
[18:45] <Kotono> "Nothing. Not a touch of civilization within 70 miles all around us." Abagail stands up, dusting off her knees. "Either the divination has been foiled or we really are in completely untouched lands."
01[18:45] <Seira> "How far away is any real civilization in Pallanth from the mountains?" Seira asks Amaryl.
[18:46] <Kotono> "Several hundred miles at least," Amaryl answers. "It means we may be in outreaches, though this hardly frozen, dead earth."
01[18:46] <Seira> "What if it's a patch of land in between two frozen wastelands?"
[18:49] <Kotono> "That could be it," Neve starts to walk forward, leaving freezing footprints behind. "If this land is empty, then surely there should be no objection to winter's heart bringing it close to ice covered perfection."
01[18:51] <Seira> "You're right," Seira agrees. "It also logically follows that if we manage to make contact with sentients, bringing winter's heart closer to them before we properly befriended them might be a wrong first move." She contemplates something, before nodding to herself. "Alright. Let's not take any chances, here. We should all study this area for an hour or so, in case we need a speedy retreat.
01[18:51] <Seira> After that, we could just take a stroll towards the east and see what we find, if anything. Alternately, I could get us phantom steeds to cover more distance."
[18:52] <Kotono> "If we're nont in a hurry, I'd rather walk," Amaryl says, "It's the journey, not the destination, is it not?"
01[18:53] <Seira> "It's both! But I'm fine with walking. I do that a lot."
[18:55] <Kotono> Abagail sighs lightly, "At least cool water for sore feet tonight should be easily gotten."
01[18:55] <Seira> "And I have a couple healing spells. Plus you could still get the horse, it'll just have to pace itself."
[18:57] <Kotono> "That is a marvelous idea," Abagail smiles to that, "I accept the offer."
06[18:58] * Seira splits her time between memorizing a Phantom Steed spell, casting it and firmly committing the area to her memory before she's ready to proceed.
[19:00] <Kotono> The hour of time passes, a phantom steed summoned! With Abagail on it and Amaryl walking next to Seira, "Let's go? We're heading in what direction? East? North? South? Or even west, if you want to explore what's closer to the mountains?"
01[19:02] <Seira> "East, for now. Remember how we talked about exploring what's past the ocean? We would've gone on in a straight line until we found something, and this isn't much different."
[19:03] <Kotono> Thus, the party sets out!
[19:03] <Kotono> roll 1d100 Random encounter chance before anything else
06[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 Random encounter chance before anything else and gets 96." [1d100=96]
[19:07] <Kotono> You travel for perhaps two hours. As the sun begins it's afternoon descent into the western sky, you begin to notice birds far above. At first one or two large, black vulture like birds, but more begin to fly high above the party. Four, then six.
06[19:10] * Seira eyes the birds above, but resolves not to do anything as long as they don't try to attack them.
[19:10] <Kotono> Amaryl peer sup, "Vultures?" She asks aloud, "They're carrion hunters. They don't usually circle above anything but prey, though."
07[19:10] * Ginrai is on IRC (Ginrai)
01[19:10] <Seira> "I was thinking the same thing, so it's weird. Not sure why they'd do that."
[19:10] <Kotono> Neve merely looks up and smiles, "They can try if they're suicidal. Otherwise, they're not even worth our attention."
01[19:11] <Seira> "Perhaps we're not the ones they're circling," Seira muses out loud. "That might mean there's someone besides us here."
[19:13] <Kotono> "Maybe ,but I haven't smelled or seen any carrion. It tends to be easy enough to spot." Amaryl keeps her gaze upwards. "Well, as ong as they don't do anything else, it's harmless enough."
06[19:13] * Seira resolves to proceed.
[19:14] <Kotono> After about another ten minutes, the terrain still hilly and empty, it's up to 10 birds. Amaryl peers up, "More of them...are they gathering for something?"
01[19:16] <Seira> "I'll go take a look," Seira says, casting Shield and Dragonskin and foregoing her disguise altogether. "Maybe one of them's like Roc and we could communicate. If communication breaks down, well, sucks for any birds that attack."
06[19:17] * Seira flies up!
[19:18] <Kotono> "Careful!" Amaryl cries, "If they attack, fall back so we can support you!"
06[19:19] * Seira salutes Amaryl before rising higher still.
[19:20] <Kotono> Seira flies up 100 feet! The birds are 180 feet above her. They do look like vultures, but a bit too big...OOC: You can make an K:N check if you like.
01[19:21] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[19:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 25." [1d20=8]
06[19:23] * Seira tries to cut that distance by 120 more feet, as she activates the magic in her shades for a divination of her own.
[19:24] <Kotono> Seira gets to within sixty feet. A few of them caw at her, staring down.
01[19:27] <Seira> "Why are you following us?" Seira demands to know in Draconic.
[19:28] <Kotono> There is no reply, ten sets of red eyes staring at Seira.
01[19:28] <Seira> "Do you understand me?" Seira asks in Abyssal, then in Infernal.
[19:31] <Kotono> The birds stare at Seira with those sharp red eyes. They caw as one...and then fly off, ascending upwards and away.
06[19:33] * Seira decides against following them, instead taking a good look around for any unusual terrain.
[19:34] <Kotono> From here, Seira can see that a ways ahead there's a thickening forest. However, it stands out mainlyb ecause there's a vast, long gash in it, as if part of the forest was removed.
01[19:34] <Seira> Good enough for her! She descends to ground level, and shares this little tidbit with the others.
[19:35] <Kotono> "Curious creatures," Abagail considers, "Natural creatures aren't my areas of study, though."
[19:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 26." [1d20=11]
[19:36] <Kotono> "I know about them. Those red eyes don't sound the least bit natural, but I don't recall anything like that." Amaryl just shrugs at the end, "Of course, they may never have been seen by another person in our kingdoms before, so."
01[19:36] <Seira> "What would they be?"
[19:38] <Kotono> "I'm really not sure. It could just be a local variant on vultures or something magical." Amaryl starts to walk again as she looks up, "If they come back again, maybe we can find out more?"
[19:38] <Kotono> "They're just birds." Neve looks ahead, "You said there was a broken forest ahead"
01[19:39] <Seira> "Maybe," Seira agrees. "For now, let's take a look at the unnaturally-growing forest." At Neve's words, she nods. "Yes, that. Sounds like a great way to see if we're the only sentients within miles."
[19:42] <Kotono> You spend another hour on foot, the afternoon wearing on. You come to the forest over a few more hills! Ahead, you can see it grows over hills that begin to become more like little bumps in a plain. A vast gash hundreds of feet wide is in this forest. The trees outside of it are tall and ancient. The 'gash' is full of half rotted, felled trees, and the start of new trees and saplings growing amid them.
01[19:43] <Seira> "So, any idea when this happened based on the age of the saplings, or what caused this to begin with?"
[19:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 28." [1d20=13]
[19:44] <Kotono> Amaryl goes to the saplings and checks them out. "Oaks, pines, that sort of thing. A mish-mash of trees..." She kneels in the dirt for a little bit, "These old trees look like they were bowled over or uprooted, but...you'd need to be big as the biggest dragon to do that. And this width..." She looks about, "This happened maybe a year or two ago?"
01[19:46] <Seira> "How about direction?"
[19:47] <Kotono> "I'm...not sure entirely, but if I had to guess from the angle of the trees?" Amaryl points ahead. "I think."
[19:47] <Kotono> "So there's something really big here? Bigger than a giant or a titan?" Abagail looks about warily, "What could be so huge?"
01[19:48] <Seira> "I can think of plenty things," Seira responds. "Keep together, and teleport if there's any actual danger. The spot we started out from works for that."
[19:51] <Kotono> "Understood," Amaryl begins to advance, picking her way through the forest ruins.
[19:52] <Kotono> Neve just walks along, freezing dead wood and alive wood with equal opportunity. "If it comes, I'll have it slavering in my feet as it meets the loving touch of eternal winter. Worry not."
06[19:52] * Seira laughs. "Why can't you just say that you'll protect us if it comes to that?"
[19:54] <Kotono> Growling as she picks up her pace to get a little ahead of the rest, "Don't get the wrong idea. I just want to bring eternal cold to such a magnificent creature!"
01[19:55] <Seira> 'She's not doing this because she likes us. She's just passing by,' Seira thinks to Amaryl, catching up to the fey.
[20:00] <Kotono> The rest of the afternoon is spent following the ruined path through the woods. Nightfall creeps on, still no end to the forest in sight. Smothering a yawn in one hand, "It doesn't feel that late, but it is getting dark," Amaryl speaks, "Should we make camp soon?"
01[20:01] <Seira> "I can't spring for a mansion just yet, but a house isn't out of the question," Seira suggest, looking about for an area to cast her spell.
[20:02] <Kotono> With a little looking, Seira's able to find a place where she could wedge her secure shelter into it.
06[20:04] * Seira does so, summoning the spell from the depths of her mind. "That should give us plenty of space to rest comfortably," she announces to the others. "Tomorrow, Abagail, you might want to have an extra spell of location. Only Neve would actually need the endure elements magic, and I have a few scrolls of that for emergencies."
[20:05] <Kotono> The cottage appears as created, from nothing at all! "I'll do that, and finally," Getting off her horse and wincing, "That was too long to be on horseback."
06[20:08] * Seira brushes her hand over Abagail's shoulder, calling upon a healing spell. "This might help with the symptoms, at least," she says, casting a look about. "I wonder if we'll actually find something. There's bound to me more people besides the countries we know of, but would they necessarily be here? If not, maybe I can actually claim the land for myself...."
[20:13] <Kotono> "It's possible we're just out in the far countryside, but more spells tomorrow should give us a better idea," As you head inside, Amaryl going to rest, Abagail smirks, "Queen seira"
[20:13] <Kotono> "It's possible we're just out in the far countryside, but more spells tomorrow should give us a better idea," As you head inside, Amaryl going to rest, Abagail smirks, "Queen Seira?"
01[20:14] <Seira> "It does have a nice ring to it, I keep on telling people," Seira returns with a smile.
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 91." [1d100=91]
[20:22] <Kotono> Rest goes welle nough. Or it does, until Seira awakens with a start! The ground is shaking all over, the secure shelter shuddering! Amaryl is on her hands and knees on the floor, blinking, "W-w...E-earthquake?!!"
01[20:23] <Seira> "Or a giant something, everyone out of the cottage!" Seira calls out, following her own advice without wasting any time.
[20:24] <Kotono> Abagail stumbles out half asleep, while Neve hurries and awake! As you come out, you see that the night sky and moon are blotted out by something gigantic! The forest ahead of you is being obliterated, tossed aside like matchsticks! Whatever it is is beyond huge, a great gaping maw and creature charging ahead at your structure! It's as if a mountain has come to life!
[20:24] <Kotono> "Aaaaaaah!" Amaryl screams, "Ring, here, I have the ring ready!"
[20:25] <Kotono> "My..." Neve stares up, eyes so wide as to be gigantic. "That is..." OOC: All of you make will saves?
01[20:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 18." [1d20=1]
01[20:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+22 will
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 will and gets 25." [1d20=3]
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Amaryl
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 Amaryl and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[20:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Abagail
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Abagail and gets 12." [1d20=5]
[20:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 Neve
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 Neve and gets 23." [1d20=1]
[20:27] <Kotono> OOC: Everyone but Amaryl is shaken.
01[20:27] <Seira> "No time to decide, teleport us," Seira says tersely.
[20:27] <Kotono> "It's...Oh god oh god oh god...that's death. It's death..." Abagail wheezes in and out, transfixed as she stands by Amaryl.
[20:28] <Kotono> As it closes in, the maw of a great beast unknown...Amaryl uses her ring!
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 1." [1d100=1]
[20:28] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear where you spend time studying, back to where you started. Seira's heart pounds several times a second, a shaking terror filling her body. Abagail falls onto her rear, speechless. Neve starts to speak, but her words and voice shake uncontrollably.
06[20:29] * Seira takes deep breaths, her eyes closed.
[20:29] <Kotono> Amaryl, in a relatively calm and only somewhat shaky voice, "What in Waukeen's good name WAS that? There can't be a creature that large! It shouldnt' be possible!"
01[20:30] <Seira> "Either it is and we found it, or it's magic," Seira rationalizes, trying to recover her senses.
[20:36] <Kotono> The fear clings to you, only letting go with great effort. "I...what..." Neve breathes.
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 19." [1d20=4]
01[20:37] <Seira> "Come morning, we don't go east," Seira mutters. "In fact, we'll go north. Which is not east."
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 Amaryl, turns out her and a MM5 Virago have the same mod. Go fig.
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 Amaryl, turns out her and a MM5 Virago have the same mod. Go fig. and gets 26." [1d20=11]
[20:38] <Kotono> "Y-y-yeah." Abagail sits and stares tothe east, "Oh my..." she holds herself, as if in the grips of the shakes.
[20:42] <Kotono> "So...we just camp out here?" Amaryl asks, taking her pack and digging into it.
01[20:43] <Seira> "I don't see much choice," Seira admits. "I honestly didn't expect to encounter anything that it would be downright stupid to fight."
[20:45] <Kotono> "I can keep a watch," Amaryl says. 'Seira, I...I didn't...I managed to react fast enough, even with how scared I was. I did, didn't I?'
[20:46] <Kotono> "I know not what that was, but in the name of all that is, I can think of no better name than Beast. Never have I seen anything like that," Neve sits onto the ground.
01[20:46] <Seira> 'You did great,' Seira reassures her, settling down as she says, "I'll help with the first one."
[20:48] <Kotono> As Abagail and Neve find what sleep they can, "Seira," Amaryl murmurs, "I've never heard of that thing either. Is it possible this is why there's no cities around here, that we are in the domain of some impossible predator?"
01[20:49] <Seira> "There's no such thing as an impossible predator," Seira responds just as quietly. "And if there had to be one, it would be man. Or elf. You know what I mean."
[20:51] <Kotono> "Be that as it may, it was gigantic and it came right for us. That mouth was bigger than a giant!" Amaryl frets and then leans into Seira, "How do we fight something that big?"
01[20:53] <Seira> "We'll need a really big sword?" Seira puts her arm around Amaryl. "If we really had to fight, we could try trapping it. Outsmarting it and choosing our battlefield. From that point on, however, it would have to be magic."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Absolutely, unless we can get dragon riding giants to fight it," With a shaky laugh there, "We can manage it. I know we can, but...let's be very careful."
01[20:58] <Seira> "We'll need to have a watch despite the cottage next time," Seira agrees.
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: Ready to skip along?
01[20:59] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[21:02] <Kotono> The night passes. The dawn comes, bringing an end to the tense night...Abagail has risen, "So what do we start with today? Going north?"
01[21:03] <Seira> "Yes. We'll travel north, see the sights, and try the spell then. Afterwards, if nothing comes up, I'll try teleporting us to our resting spot to try the spell there as well, and return us to the north once more. We'll know more afterwards."
06[21:05] * Seira prepares a phantom steed for Abagail's benefit, before judging herself ready to depart.
[21:07] <Kotono> Thus the party takesto the north!
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d100 random encounter dice
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 random encounter dice and gets 38." [1d100=38]
[21:08] <Kotono> Most of the morning and then noon pass without incident. The hilly terrain continues without an immediate end in sight. You pass a few deer drinking from a stream, and a couple of flocks of normal birds, but nothing too awry otherwise as you pass the noon hour by.
01[21:10] <Seira> "I've been thinking," Seira speaks suddenly. "There's wildlife. Clearly, that means this region isn't filled with horrible beasts of murder. And people would be even more resilient than just dumb animals, so even a horror like last night's visitor wouldn't just prevent civilization from forming."
[21:11] <Kotono> "That assume it's rational," Abagail speaks up now, "And not something purpose driven or with motives we don't understand. Further, I'm not sure I want to start guessing the motives of a living mountain of hungry terror.":"
01[21:12] <Seira> "A living mountain of hungry terror either must feed itself constantly to stay alive, or doesn't eat people, at least not in quantities that would make them go extinct," Seira argues.
[21:13] <Kotono> "That even assumes it's intelligent or it has a motive," Neve tosses her hood and hair back, "Or that there were ever mortals here to begin with. We could be the first mortals here in millenia."
01[21:13] <Seira> "That, however, is a good point. It's a point that would make me terribly sad, but a valid one nonetheless."
[21:14] <Kotono> "Let's keep going?" Amaryl says, "If we can find something with travel, that'll make all this a lot easier."
01[21:15] <Seira> "Ruins would be fine, too!"
[21:16] <Kotono> Evening comes. The hills continue, no sign of an ending after the day's travel. Getting off her horse and wincing, "Shall I cast Locate City now, Seira?" Abagail inquires.
01[21:16] <Seira> "I think it's a good time for that, yes."
06[21:16] * Seira quickly adds, "Remember, even a tiny hamlet is fine!"
[21:17] <Kotono> Abagail kneels and focuses, casting the magic! When ti is done, "Not a thing," she announces, "Zero."
01[21:17] <Seira> "My next step is a bit risky, but I want to teleport us back briefly, so you could recast the spell near our previous camp site."
[21:19] <Kotono> "If you're sure and we have a quick escape," Abagail agrees.
01[21:19] <Seira> "Amaryl, myself and you all have a way to escape. The more we know...."
06[21:19] * Seira spends an hour studying the location they found themselves in, before casting the teleportation spell, aiming for an area half an hour's walk away from the dangerous forest.
01[21:19] <Seira> roll 1d100 seen once
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 18." [1d100=18]
[21:20] <Kotono> You appear in a wasteland. The forest around is gone. The ruins of it lie all about you, broken trees and wide craters about. There is a dead silence here, not even a single bird's tweets to disturb it.
06[21:21] * Seira keeps watch, flying up to observe, while Abagail has time to cast her spell.
[21:23] <Kotono> Seira ascends! The entire forest around here is gone, laid into ruin. As Seira gets alook around, "Nothing again," Abagail calls up.
06[21:23] * Seira frowns, descending. "In that case, our campsite awaits."
01[21:23] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 72." [1d100=72]
[21:24] <Kotono> Woosh! You return safely. "Let's make camp? I'll take first watch again," Amaryl suggests.
[21:24] <Kotono> "I could use the sleep," Abagail agrees, "Good, take it."
06[21:24] * Seira summons secure shelter again. "Watches are a good idea, yes, but there's no reason we can't sleep in style."
[21:24] <Kotono> "Yes, sleep would be good after that day's rest. Too much as far as I care fo rit."
[21:24] <Kotono> OOC: Ready to settle in and sleep for the night?
01[21:24] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[21:24] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 87." [1d100=87]
[21:25] <Kotono> roll 1d100+40
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100+40 and gets 105." [1d100=65]
[21:25] <Kotono> It's a few hours past sunset. Seira and Amaryl are waiting, resting...when it happens. The ground begins to shake, not a full on earthquake, but a few lurching shudders.
06[21:27] * Seira wakes the others, intending to teleport everyone to their starting point as soon as they are ready.
[21:27] <Kotono> As the party awakens, the shaking gets worse! "Again?" Neve growls, "How?"
01[21:28] <Seira> "Misfortune. Luckily, magic gets over it!"
01[21:28] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 74." [1d100=74]
[21:29] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear in the night at your starting point once more. "No shaking. It's gone and we'r away from it." She goes to sit, "You can go back to bed, I'll keep watch."
01[21:30] <Seira> "This time, we'll return in the morning and press ahead to the north once more," Seira states. "If this is an area ruled by these beasts, we'll just have to push through and find what lies beyond it."
[21:31] <Kotono> "Maybe we should rethink it and use those phantom steeds, too," Abagail speaks up, "So we can find what there is to find faster, since there's open danger here."
06[21:32] * Seira considers the suggestion. "It sounds like a good idea to me. Amaryl, Neve?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "I'm for it," Amaryl agrees. "Let's go until we find something."
[21:35] <Kotono> OOC: TP roll.
01[21:35] <Seira> roll 1d100 northern rest stop
06[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 northern rest stop and gets 4." [1d100=4]
[21:37] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear without incident. The hills you were resting on are broken all about you. You stand not in a hill, but in a flattened, steep crater.
01[21:38] <Seira> "This... is creepy," Seira voices, looking around. "Keep watch while I prepare the four steeds?"
[21:39] <Kotono> Amaryl does that, as Neve peers about. "Did it jump up and down to make this?"
01[21:40] <Seira> "Still sounds better than the other theory, where a god or more doesn't like us being here and tossed meteorites down to teach us a valuable lesson."
[21:41] <Kotono> OOC: Makign the steeds?
01[21:42] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[21:44] <Kotono> The steeds appear as summoned. As Neve gets onto hers, "To the north, then?"
01[21:45] <Seira> "That's our best bet at this moment."
[21:47] <Kotono> After about an hour and a half of super-speed travel, the hills slacken. Ahead are lake filled plains, large lakes dotted about liberally.
06[21:49] * Seira decides to pause near one such lake, using water breathing upon herself to see whether it's really another crater that was filled up with water.
[21:51] <Kotono> Seira swims in! The sides and bottom are muddy - but to a casual eye, it's easy to tell that mud or not, that it does look to be in the shape of a water filled crater. There's also not any fish that Seira sees.
06[21:52] * Seira comes out of the water, drying herself. "What if we're on the outskirts, alright, but the civilization here is made up of beasts like the one we saw? Happy thought of the day."
[21:53] <Kotono> "An entire civilization of them? Thank the Gods that those mountains are there, then," Amaryl's eyes widen, "Perish that thought!"
[21:54] <Kotono> "Beasts like that don't have a proper society or place," Abagail insists, "Even if there is more than one, they're still beasts."
01[21:54] <Seira> "We have to advance as far and as quickly as possible, and see if there is anything beyond them," Seira decides. "It won't be as comfortable, but we'll be resting within Rope Trick tonight."
[21:56] <Kotono> "Yes, exactly," Neve says with...well, not warmth, but approval in her voice. "Beasts are useful servants or hinderances, but little more."
[21:56] <Kotono> "Okay, then let's go and hope we don't have to," Amaryl spurs her steed along.
01[21:57] <Seira> "Let's get past the hinderances, then," Seira voices, catching up to Amaryl. "My house isn't large enough to keep one as a pet."
[22:00] <Kotono> Another hour of travel passes. The lakes end - but ahead, yo usee a plane. Lying about this vast plane, stretching to the north as far as the eye can see, are the ruins of war. Catapults, siege engines, weapons, broken armor, thousands of skeletons. They all lie on the broken plains. While not fresh, the metal is not fully rusted over and t earth has not buried the remnants.
06[22:01] * Seira snaps her fingers, halting the steed slowly through its neck-breaking pace. "Finally!"
[22:02] <Kotono> Abagail stares ahead, "That's...did an entire army battle here and lose? It's a graveyard of war." Her voice is a little hoarse, "There's so much as far as I can see ahead!"
01[22:03] <Seira> "That was insensitive of me," Seira admits. "I was so excited and they've been dead for a long time, that-- never mind. Abagail, we need to know where all these men came from. If we go there, we'll learn what they fought for. We might even help, in some way."
[22:04] <Kotono> "Hmph," Neve looks ahead, "It's just bones. If they come to like, we remind them that they're dead with as much force as it takes."
[22:04] <Kotono> *life
01[22:04] <Seira> "Large-scale battles like that don't just happen spontaneously. Now that I've seen the scene of one, I can't leave it without knowing the reason behind it."
[22:05] <Kotono> "Let's go?" Neve starts to lead her horse towards the wreckage and planes. "Magic will fell any undead in any event."
[22:05] <Kotono> "Of course," Abagail does likewise, "I'm curious now, just...did that creature do this?"
01[22:05] <Seira> "Without Abagail to give us a direction, we'll just be going blind."
06[22:06] * Seira frowns. "I hope not. But if it did, then the help I mentioned giving becomes a possibility."
[22:07] <Kotono> "Okay then," Amaryl takes the lead, "I can take point, I have good eyes."
[22:10] <Kotono> OOC: Going ahead?
[22:13] <Kotono> Abagail stops and kneels, casting Locate City!
[22:14] <Kotono> "...nothing..." she murmurs, "Within 70 miles, at least."
06[22:14] * Seira takes a deep breath, but then nods. "Alright, let's try our luck and proceed ahead for now."
[22:15] <Kotono> As you reach the edge of the war graveyard, your phantom horses stop, a mere step away from entering it.
01[22:15] <Seira> "O-kay," Seira drawls out, calling upon detect evil and detect magic.
[22:16] <Kotono> Everything ahead radiates moderate magic but no evil.
01[22:18] <Seira> "Necromancy, but no evil?" Seira muses out loud. "That doesn't make terribly much sense. Let's get a hundred feet between us and the graveyard. Abagail, summon something and send it inside."
[22:19] <Kotono> The party does so! To Abagail's summons, a golden eagel appears! It flies ahead...and stops just before the war graveyard, not flying into it.
01[22:21] <Seira> roll 1d20+23
06[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 and gets 33." [1d20=10]
01[22:23] <Seira> "Keep the eagle around," Seira decides. "I'll try heading inside on foot. If anything happens, I'll switch myself with it."
[22:23] <Kotono> The eagle flies besides Abagail. "Seira," Amaryl takes Seira's arm, "If anything happens, teleport out, please."
01[22:24] <Seira> "It was something terrible that did this. I don't think I can just walk away." She pats Amaryl's arm, smiling. "I'll try my best to be careful."
06[22:24] * Seira then tries to step a foot into the graveyard.
[22:24] <Kotono> OOC: Make a will save?
01[22:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
06[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 38." [1d20=16]
[22:25] <Kotono> Seira steps into the graveyard! A faint sense of desparing resignation mixed with a mourner's tears fills her, but her will keeps in check.
06[22:26] * Seira looks around for any other magical signatures, as well as any identifiable marks on the corpses.
[22:27] <Kotono> The skeletons are bare and broken, no signs on them. The moderate necromancy is now strong necromancy and there's another aura, too.
01[22:28] <Seira> A sword that hasn't finished rusting all over, weapons in general... some might have crests upon them, things to tie them to a banner of a country or a noble house. Seira looks for those.
[22:29] <Kotono> Seira looks about. Several of the broken bits of armor do have a sigil, as well as the hilts of some swords. It is of a white teardrop.
06[22:30] * Seira takes one of the swords with her, and then attempts to leave the graveyard and rejoin the others.
[22:30] <Kotono> "Anything?" Neve inquires as Seira returns, "This mystery niggles at my curiosity."
01[22:31] <Seira> "The necromancy is stronger, and there's enchantment as well. Given our shared experience with such effects, it might be more prudent to focus on finding who this crest belongs to," she says, showing the sword she took with her.
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 18." [1d20=5]
[22:33] <Kotono> "I don't know that sigil. I know a few with teardrops in them, but not a single white one." Peering at it, Abagail looks to Seira, "It could serve as a base for divinations, though."
01[22:34] <Seira> "Let's go around this place, but press on to the north. If we don't find anything with your divination come evening, we can reconsider our plans."
03[22:34] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
01[22:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 27." [1d20=14]
[22:35] <Kotono> "Very well," Neve pushes on her horse. OOC: Move along now?
01[22:35] <Seira> OOC: Yeah
[22:36] <Kotono> OOC: Going around it via east or west?
01[22:36] <Seira> OOC: East
[22:38] <Kotono> It takes about an hour and a few fragments of the next to find an end to the vast war graveyard. You start to go around it, skirting it's eastern edge. You travel north for two hours, noon passing. Ahead, you see the end of the graveyard...and the shore. Ahead lies the store, the ocean waters coming up to a beach. The graveyard ends about 300 feet before the shoreline. About the shore a few old tents are dotted about. Jutting out of the w
[22:38] <Kotono> About the shore a few old tents are dotted about. Jutting out of the waters in various points are broken ships, as if dashed against the shores.
01[22:40] <Seira> Tents might have something she can use, documents she might peruse. Something of use. Seira sets her horse towards them.
[22:41] <Kotono> "All broken." Abagail stares as he rhorse goes, "That's more sihps than the harbor in Balmuria could hold. Was this an entire invasion from afar that failed?"
01[22:42] <Seira> "That would fit with what Demedais said about the land he was in, at least. Larger empires mean larger armies," Seira reasons. "But if so, what were we invading? We might just have to travel to the south once we're done here."
[22:42] <Kotono> "They, you mean? Good question." You reach the tents. A few of them still stand. You could go inside of them if you wish.
06[22:43] * Seira snorts. "I must be more tired than I thought. I'll go search. Abagail, check the area here and the tents themselves for magic."
[22:43] <Kotono> Abagail does so as Seira goes to search! OOC: Make a search check?
01[22:44] <Seira> OOC: I'll take 20 for 46, the others can aid for that magical 50?
[22:45] <Kotono> Abagail doesn't find any magic. Seira does find a bastard sword that's intact, with a white teardrop emblem on the hilt. One tent has a statue of a crying, gray faced man in rough robes. The statue is small, about the size of Seira's hand. There's tiny writing enscribed to the base, but Seira can't read it.
06[22:47] * Seira calls upon Comprehend Languages, trying to understand it with magic.
[22:48] <Kotono> It reads as the following, 'Free us from our tears, Saint-Martyr! We strike in your name against the Destroyer!'
01[22:49] <Seira> It would have been nice if the writing gave a destination, or travel times, but you can't have everything. "Proceeding to the north might be our best bet, if an entire army had to come across the sea to deal with this Destroyer," she muses out loud.
[22:51] <Kotono> "And failed, from the looks of it," Neve looks to the sea, "Should we wish to walk, perhaps I can aid us in that, if we are willing to go slowly. But is there a better way? Can you summon and conjure up a ship, Seira?"
01[22:52] <Seira> "I could, but phantom steeds are extremely fast, and mine can fly and walk on water," Seira tells her. "We'll be fine, and for the night, we'll rest in rope trick."
[22:52] <Kotono> "These horses are superior. We can proceed on without any more magic," Abagail leads her horse to over the water, "Seira can help ups breath ewater if something happens."
01[22:53] <Seira> "That's true," Seira agrees. "Let's go on, then, and hope the trip is a brief one with the aid of our magic."
[22:54] <Kotono> You racea long over the water! About fourty five minutes pass before you see it on the horizon. Ahead lies a large island, blanketed with forest. The shores are one great harbor, dozens and dozens of ships being built. Stone-gray castles and towers compose a vast city around these harbors.
01[22:57] <Seira> "We'll slow down to allow them to see us, and travel near the waters to make them believe the horses are treading water and not actually flying, to lower their threat assessment," Seira tells her companions. "Let's use the front entrance and see what happens."
[21:00] <Kotono> > "And failed, from the looks of it," Neve looks to the sea, "Should we wish to walk, perhaps I can aid us in that, if we are willing to go slowly. But is there a better way? Can you summon and conjure up a ship, Seira?"
[21:00] <Kotono> <Seira> "I could, but phantom steeds are extremely fast, and mine can fly and walk on water," Seira tells her. "We'll be fine, and for the night, we'll rest in rope trick."
[21:00] <Kotono> > "These horses are superior. We can proceed on without any more magic," Abagail leads her horse to over the water, "Seira can help ups breath ewater if something happens."
[21:00] <Kotono> <Seira> "That's true," Seira agrees. "Let's go on, then, and hope the trip is a brief one with the aid of our magic."
[21:00] <Kotono> > You racea long over the water! About fourty five minutes pass before you see it on the horizon. Ahead lies a large island, blanketed with forest. The shores are one great harbor, dozens and dozens of ships being built. Stone-gray castles and towers compose a vast city around these harbors.
[21:00] <Kotono> <Seira> "We'll slow down to allow them to see us, and travel near the waters to make them believe the horses are treading water and not actually flying, to lower their threat assessment," Seira tells her companions. "Let's use the front entrance and see what happens."
[21:04] <Kotono> As the party slows down and approaches, they get closer. They can see the docks and the people standing there. Most wear plain brown or gray clothes, little distinctive color. They are slightly tall humans, lean and gray skinned. They stare ahead without any particular expression on their faces.
01[21:05] <Seira> "Cast tongues, just in case?" Seira asks Abagail queitly. "My own spell should be enough to understand them, at least, but if we need to say something back, casting right next to them might be a bad idea."
[21:06] <Kotono> Abagail does so, chanting words of seven languages as she invokes her magic! The gray humans don't say anything, watching without expression.
01[21:07] <Seira> "Ask them who the leader is?"
[21:08] <Kotono> "Hail! I ask of you, who is your leader?" Abagail calls out.
[21:10] <Kotono> Seira can understand the words they speak thanks to her magic, "Our leader is the Saint-Martyr Holiheant." They have tired voices, lacking warmth or coldness or energy or boredom. "We are the Forsaken of Yasyvant."
01[21:13] <Seira> "Let's find out how long has it been since the previous visitor, and what is the procedure to seeing this saint-martyr," she murmurs to Abagail quietly.
[21:14] <Kotono> "Have others come to visit you before?" Abagail calls, "Can we see this Saint-Martyr Holiheant?"
[21:15] <Kotono> "The other Forsaken come to us before each Crusade. You may if you wish. Head to the Church of the Holiheant." Again they answer, though this time, one of them points ahead, deeper into the city. "It is our Church of the Forsaken."
01[21:16] <Seira> "What are the Forsaken?" Seira asks via Abagail. "How does one become a Forsaken, how many are there, and what do they have Crusades against?"
[21:17] <Kotono> "What are the Forsaken, and how does one become a Forsaken. Are there a lot of you? What is this Crusade and what is it against?" Abagail calls, then in lower tones, "The small of my back is shivering. I feel like I'm talking to a construct."
[21:17] <Kotono> "How cold and utterly without hope," Neve smiles a little, "They have no proper cold flair, but there is a lack of heat in them that I approve of."
01[21:19] <Seira> "It remains to be seen what the saint-martyr is like," Seira muses quietly. "Still, whatever happens, keep the means of teleportation at hand."
[21:20] <Kotono> "We are the Forsaken, cast out of our land by the Destroyer. If you have been cast out of your land by the Destroyer, come, joins us. The Saint-Martyr Holiheant said that one day we would be saved in the eyes of the Gods and reclaim or lands. The Crusade is when each generation goes to fight the Destroyer. It is our purpose to prepare each generation to fight the Destroyer. Until we succeed, we shall forever be Forsaken."
[21:20] <Kotono> fight the Destroyer. Until we succeed, we shall forever be Forsaken."
[21:21] <Kotono> After that is said and understood, "A curse?" Abagail murmur sto Seira, "Some manner of great curse that has taken them all?"
01[21:21] <Seira> "Only one way to find out. Ask them who or what the Destroyer is, and to describe the being."
[21:24] <Kotono> Abagail does so, waiting for the answer. It comes with the same lack of pause or emotion as the rest. "The Destroyer was sent to punish us as Forsaken. Until it is slain, we will forever be Forsaken. The Destroyer is destruction. It is our punishment."
01[21:25] <Seira> "Let's just go to the church," Seira mutters. "It's useless to try and find out more here."
[21:25] <Kotono> "They're telling us everything and yet..." Abagail looks away, "Gods, they have no sense of pride, either! They're like constructs, truly! How pathetic!"
[21:26] <Kotono> "Perhaps winter's heart would give them some meaning to life as it embraces them?" Neve murmurs with a frosty smile, "If they are so worthless and feelingless, it would even be a blessing to them."
01[21:27] <Seira> "Or we could go to the church and find out more. Just saying." With that, Seira heads farther into the city where the church was said to be.
[21:29] <Kotono> The city is paved with gray stone, so smooth and worn that it's faintly slippery to walk across. The towers and buildings are not decorated. You pass by many, many humans, all the same. The only new thing is that this close you can note that each wears a pendant with a tiny white teardrop. The buildings are all similiar as well, almost identical to each other.
[21:30] <Kotono> Abagail grabs the arm of one of them, a woman, "Where is the Church of the Holiheant?"
[21:30] <Kotono> The woman points ahead, to a large building that you can't see the end of, merging into the greater city all about.
01[21:31] <Seira> "Ask her if she changed when she joined the Forsaken, or if she was born that way?" Seira asks on a whim.
[21:31] <Kotono> "Excuse me. Were you born as Forsaken?" Abagail asks.
[21:31] <Kotono> "Yes. We are all Forsaken here." The woman answers without feeling, "This is the land of the Forsaken."
01[21:31] <Seira> "Are there other lands?"
[21:33] <Kotono> Passing that question along, Abagail gets the following reply, "There are the other two lands of the Forsaken. Other lands mean nothing to us, for they are not Forsaken."
01[21:33] <Seira> "Where are those?" Seira inquires, if only to know what to avoid.
[21:35] <Kotono> "There is Mene to the east and Uluian to the south." She answers, "The three Tribes were broken, Forsaken of each other."
06[21:36] * Seira glances at Neve. "Don't suppose you heard the names before?"
[21:37] <Kotono> "I'm afraid not," Neve smiles slightly, "Three islands of it...Oh Seira, will anyone miss one of them? Winter would be so welcome here. Come, stop and watch as an eternal blizzard overtakes them. It will be divine." Sliding up to Seira's side now, "Would snow and ice not liven up this miserable pile of stone?"
01[21:38] <Seira> "I can honestly say no one will probably miss them. But snow and ice still wouldn't liven things up, so that's neither here nor there. Let's see if the priest here is a drone, a zealot or a fraud."
[21:41] <Kotono> "You do that," Neve turns away, "You say winter won't liven this place up? Let's just show how wrong you are, Seira."
01[21:41] <Seira> "Aww, come on! You promised you wouldn't do that if you came along! Are you really that fickle?"
[21:45] <Kotono> "Neve, please don't," Amaryl goes up to her, grabbing the elbow of her fur coat, "That isn't what will help them! It'll just put them out of this drab existance! And...I'd have to fight you if you did. They don't deserve to freeze to death."
[21:48] <Kotono> A freezing arctic winds blows, Neve glancing back. "Fickle? Please. They beg for it. These aren't living beings, they're just pathetic globs of mud and pointlessness. They're pathetic even for humans!"
06[21:51] * Seira takes hold of Neve's other arm. "Just stop and think for a moment. You think their existence is pathetic, and you want to do something that will help them. It's not about the glory of winter, or about hating them! It's about you wanting to do something for them and not knowing how!" She forces Neve to look at her, saying, "I can save these people. Give me a chance to prove it, please."
[21:53] <Kotono> "Why should I care? I'll want ot do the same thing even if they're saved." Neve meets Seira's eyes, her own eyes having a raging storm of snowflakes flying in them. "Do you forget so easily what I am, thinking I'm an easily housebroken pet? Go on a heartwarming quest to bring them light and love, slay the Destroyer and become a legendary hero. I'll still bring the portents of winter afterwards."
01[21:54] <Seira> "So what you are trumps who you are?"
06[21:56] * Seira gestures at the monotone people about. "That's funny. I always see you as you. As someone unique. Not as something who can't deny its nature, or a pet. Are you really telling me you're just like them, deep down?"
[22:00] <Kotono> Neve smirks now, "I follow you because you are stronger than I and for the debt I owe." Another wind blows, Seira swearing that she can see a few snowflakes in it, whizzing by her. "They're unique all in one: Unique in being worthless mud. Fine then, I propose a wager. Let us go to this Church and meet with the Saint-Martyr. If you can find one decent reason to hold back winter there, I'll follow along with what you say and leave them be."
[22:00] <Kotono> one decent reason to hold back winter there, I'll follow along with what you say and leave them be."
01[22:03] <Seira> "We don't need to go that far for a decent reason, Neve," Seira tells the fey, shaking her head. "You'll be lonely again. Isn't that reason enough to hold back, unless you are forced to act in self-defense?"
[22:04] <Kotono> "You'll have to kill us to do that, or we'll have to kill you," Amaryl adds, "Either way, you'll be alone again like Seira said."
01[22:05] <Seira> "I don't know if I could do it," Seira admits. "But either way, I couldn't stay, as much as I like you."
[22:06] <Kotono> "You're infinintely better than them," Abagail goes on, "They are worthless dreck. But that means you can use them or ignore them if you please. Slaughtering them is a waste of resources and ill fitting of a noble creature like you. Only fools would do so!"
03[22:14] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[22:14] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahea dand make a diplo real quick first?
01[22:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
05[22:15] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[22:15] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[22:15] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
03[22:15] * Seira sets mode: +v Hatbot
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 43." [1d20=16]
01[22:16] <Seira> OOC: Let's bludgeon her into submission with aiding all the way to 47 >_>
[20:41] <Kotono> > "Neve, please don't," Amaryl goes up to her, grabbing the elbow of her fur coat, "That isn't what will help them! It'll just put them out of this drab existance! And...I'd have to fight you if you did. They don't deserve to freeze to death."
[20:41] <Kotono> > A freezing arctic winds blows, Neve glancing back. "Fickle? Please. They beg for it. These aren't living beings, they're just pathetic globs of mud and pointlessness. They're pathetic even for humans!"
[20:41] <Kotono> * Seira takes hold of Neve's other arm. "Just stop and think for a moment. You think their existence is pathetic, and you want to do something that will help them. It's not about the glory of winter, or about hating them! It's about you wanting to do something for them and not knowing how!" She forces Neve to look at her, saying, "I can save these people. Give me a chance to prove it, please."
[20:41] <Kotono> > "Why should I care? I'll want ot do the same thing even if they're saved." Neve meets Seira's eyes, her own eyes having a raging storm of snowflakes flying in them. "Do you forget so easily what I am, thinking I'm an easily housebroken pet? Go on a heartwarming quest to bring them light and love, slay the Destroyer and become a legendary hero. I'll still bring the portents of winter afterwards."
[20:41] <Kotono> <Seira> "So what you are trumps who you are?"
[20:42] <Kotono> * Seira gestures at the monotone people about. "That's funny. I always see you as you. As someone unique. Not as something who can't deny its nature, or a pet. Are you really telling me you're just like them, deep down?"
[20:42] <Kotono> > Neve smirks now, "I follow you because you are stronger than I and for the debt I owe." Another wind blows, Seira swearing that she can see a few snowflakes in it, whizzing by her. "They're unique all in one: Unique in being worthless mud. Fine then, I propose a wager. Let us go to this Church and meet with the Saint-Martyr. If you can find one decent reason to hold back winter there, I'll follow along with what you say and leave them be
[20:42] <Kotono> > one decent reason to hold back winter there, I'll follow along with what you say and leave them be."
[20:42] <Kotono> <Seira> "We don't need to go that far for a decent reason, Neve," Seira tells the fey, shaking her head. "You'll be lonely again. Isn't that reason enough to hold back, unless you are forced to act in self-defense?"
[20:42] <Kotono> > "You'll have to kill us to do that, or we'll have to kill you," Amaryl adds, "Either way, you'll be alone again like Seira said."
[20:42] <Kotono> <Seira> "I don't know if I could do it," Seira admits. "But either way, I couldn't stay, as much as I like you."
[20:42] <Kotono> > "You're infinintely better than them," Abagail goes on, "They are worthless dreck. But that means you can use them or ignore them if you please. Slaughtering them is a waste of resources and ill fitting of a noble creature like you. Only fools would do so!"
[20:42] <Kotono> * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[20:42] <Kotono> > OOC: Go ahea dand make a diplo real quick first?
[20:42] <Kotono> <Seira> roll 1d20+27
[20:42] <Kotono> -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
[20:42] <Kotono> * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
[20:42] <Kotono> * Seira sets mode: +v Hatbot
[20:42] <Kotono> <Seira> roll 1d20+27
[20:42] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 43." [1d20=16]
[20:42] <Kotono> <Seira> OOC: Let's bludgeon her into submission with aiding all the way to 47 >_>
[20:45] <Kotono> "They are wastes," Neve agrees. Far away, you can hear a howling wind cascading through the air, ripping through alleys nad around towers like winter's breath. A shiver runs down your back as this wind passes over your body. "Very well then, you amuse me. Lead on, Seira."
01[20:47] <Seira> Neve seems to indicate that she values their friendship, in her very roundabout and mean way, Seira muses to herself, doing just that and leading the way to the temple. Perhaps, one day, Neve won't need to go out of her way to insist it's for some other reason.
[20:50] <Kotono> As a chill wind blows ahead, you continue walking down the gray path. Eventually, you come to a thick, long building. It stretches farther than you can see, buttressed by other buildings. It is silent here, not a word spoken. A plain door leads inside, open. Above it, an engraven image of a tear is carved into the stone.
01[20:52] <Seira> It seems to match the description, and Seira knocks twice on the doorframe before proceeding inside.
[20:53] <Kotono> There is no answer. As you head inside, you see it is a long hall that stretches on far. It's chilly in here, perhaps cooler than outside. The walls are decorated with slotted insertions, light wooden coffins resting within them. This stretches farther than you can see. About this place, men in coarse robes and with long chained necklaces with teardrop amulets walk.
[20:54] <Kotono> "Tsch..." Amaryl looks in and then steps back, "Those are...!"
[20:55] <Kotono> "Charming." Neve's smile comes as she steps inside, "At least they're not the walking undead." With a slip of her lips downward as she pulls her fur coat tighter around herself, Neve glances to Seira.
01[20:56] <Seira> "I don't think they are," Seira drawls, peering closer just to be on the safe side.
05[20:57] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:57] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
03[20:57] * Seira sets mode: +v Hatbot
01[20:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 16." [1d20=3]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Abagail
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Abagail and gets 31." [1d20=18]
[20:59] <Kotono> "I don't think so...all of this, it almost reminds me of Ilmater at his most fatalistic," Stepping inside with the last of them, Abagail looks about. "All the quiet suffering."
01[21:00] <Seira> "I thought the same, except I also thought zombies." Seira shrugs. "Bad experience with zombies." With a glance at Abagail and then at the closest of the robed men, she requests, "Think you could ask them where we could find the Saint-Martyr, and whether he's available?"
[21:01] <Kotono> Amaryl's hand goes to the hilt of her sunblade, almost starting to lift it out of it's sheath. She stays close to SEira, biting down on her lips.
[21:01] <Kotono> The man raises a hand, pointing ahead and deeper in. You can see his face - it's sallow and drawn, old.
01[21:02] <Seira> "It might be a curse," Seira whispers to Amaryl, drifting closer to her. "There was that time I didn't look that lively myself, remember? Let's give them a chance, for now."
06[21:05] * Seira is, however, not so naive she foregoes relying on the divination her shades are enchanted with, glancing at the priests as she follows their directions.
[21:05] <Kotono> As you walk along...how long is it? There is a pervading sense of timelessness to this place. You can't answer how long you pass by walls filled to the brim with coffins. Robed men pass you by as you walk. None speak a word, your progression unimpeded. Every so often, a set of ten stairs takes you on a slope downward. Torches light the walls, flickering, guttering light given. Each stair is engraved with a teardrop in the center. (More)
[21:06] <Kotono> Each stair is engraved with a teardrop in the center. (More)
[21:08] <Kotono> As you come down the...you aren't sure how many sets of stairs it's been or how long...a man in robes walks besides you. He is old, walking with a cane and a limp. One eye is whited over, the other on the party as they walk together.
01[21:10] <Seira> This must be the first sign of anyone caring, so naturally Seira attempts to strike conversation! "Hello," she greets him in Common. If that fails, Abagail might do better with her Tongues spell. Or not, if it already expired during the incredibly lengthy walk, but that's a bridge they can cross if they get to it.
[21:17] <Kotono> The man merely shakes his head and continues walking.
[21:18] <Kotono> "Hello?" Abagail tries as well, to no avail. "You know, this is terribly rude, holy grounds or not. When's the last time you've had visitors?"
01[21:19] <Seira> "That's a very good point," Seira agrees, keeping near her. "Maybe Holiheant would be chattier than this?"
[21:21] <Kotono> No reply. The man just keeps walking on.
01[21:21] <Seira> "Well, if we must...."
06[21:21] * Seira keeps on walking ahead.
[21:21] <Kotono> Amaryl shrinks down into herself, shoulder slumping. "I hope this ends soon.":
[19:12] <Kobrb> * Seira is, however, not so naive she foregoes relying on the divination her shades are enchanted with, glancing at the priests as she follows their directions.
[19:12] <Kobrb> > As you walk along...how long is it? There is a pervading sense of timelessness to this place. You can't answer how long you pass by walls filled to the brim with coffins. Robed men pass you by as you walk. None speak a word, your progression unimpeded. Every so often, a set of ten stairs takes you on a slope downward. Torches light the walls, flickering, guttering light given. Each stair is engraved with a teardrop in the center. (More)
[19:12] <Kobrb> > Each stair is engraved with a teardrop in the center. (More)
[19:12] <Kobrb> > As you come down the...you aren't sure how many sets of stairs it's been or how long...a man in robes walks besides you. He is old, walking with a cane and a limp. One eye is whited over, the other on the party as they walk together.
[19:12] <Kobrb> <Seira> This must be the first sign of anyone caring, so naturally Seira attempts to strike conversation! "Hello," she greets him in Common. If that fails, Abagail might do better with her Tongues spell. Or not, if it already expired during the incredibly lengthy walk, but that's a bridge they can cross if they get to it.
[19:12] <Kobrb> > The man merely shakes his head and continues walking.
[19:12] <Kobrb> > "Hello?" Abagail tries as well, to no avail. "You know, this is terribly rude, holy grounds or not. When's the last time you've had visitors?"
[19:12] <Kobrb> <Seira> "That's a very good point," Seira agrees, keeping near her. "Maybe Holiheant would be chattier than this?"
[19:12] <Kobrb> > No reply. The man just keeps walking on.
[19:12] <Kobrb> <Seira> "Well, if we must...."
[19:12] <Kobrb> * Seira keeps on walking ahead.
[19:12] <Kobrb> > Amaryl shrinks down into herself, shoulder slumping. "I hope this ends soon.":
[19:15] <Kobrb> The robed man follows the party. You continue to walk. You continue to walk. You continue to walk. You continue to walk. The dead are all around you. You continue to walk. You continue to walk. You continue to walk. You-at last. Something. You come to a great, wide open, circular place. It is plain, save for a single gilded coffin of precious gold. On the coffin's lid is engraved a teardrop, cast in gray against the dull gold.
[19:15] <Kobrb> On the coffin's lid is engraved a teardrop, cast in gray against the dull gold.
01[19:16] <Seira> "Saint-Martyr Holiheant, I presume?" Seira speaks, perhaps to herself.
[19:18] <Kobrb> "Here is the Saint-Martyr Holiheant." The robed man prounces in deeply accented Common, standing ahead of the others. "I am Lanex, servant of the Saint Martyr. You have come to the holiest of holies here. What business do you have with us Forsaken?"
[19:21] <Kobrb> "...why?" Amaryl shakes her head, "Why to all of this? This church is nothing but a masoleum! All of you look only a few steps removed from walking death. What's so holy about this place?"
01[19:21] <Seira> "Seira, servant of the Golden Lady," she returns with a mental roll of her eyes, preferring to go with the themed greeting. "These are Abagail, Amaryl and Neve," Seira continues the introductions, gesturing at each of her companions in turn. "As Amaryl put it, all we want at the moment is understand better what the Forsaken and their enemies are, and the circumstances that lead to this situation."
[19:24] <Kobrb> Lanex walks to the golden coffin, kneeling before it. His hands lock in prayer, though he speaks normally. "Long ago, we lived in the fair shores just out of reach of this island. Our ancestors committed the Falling. This Falling was something so terrible that all others turned against us. For our hubris and folly, the Destroyer came. Our homes were laid waste, our generations turned to dust. Only a few survivors found the way to a few isla
[19:24] <Kobrb> our generations turned to dust. Only a few survivors found the way to a few islands that rose off the coast of the land." (More)
[19:26] <Kobrb> "We were to be exterminated even there...but the Saint Martyr intervened. Such was his power that it earned us a communtion of our sentence of oblivion. We would be allowed to live on these islands and survive...we were bound to them. As penance, each generation must prepare for the Crusade, to attempt to battle the Destroyer. Should we succeed, we will no longer be Forsaken."
01[19:26] <Seira> "This Falling, did it perchance happen about two thousand years ago?" Seira interjects, briefly tallying up the years to the gnomish war that ravaged their world.
[19:27] <Kobrb> "I know not." He answers, "The measures of time have been lost to us. Islands rose from the ground, mountains rose in the Earth, so that the Destroyer would only hunt us Forsaken. Beyond that, I know not."
01[19:28] <Seira> "Well, here's the thing. I've met another culture that experienced something like this. Terrible act by ancestor, loss of past prestiege, everyone hated them, the works. Except for the wide extermination, that is. I didn't have a problem with them, though, so we became friends. How about telling me more? If you fight the Destroyer, then you must know about it in detail. Let's start there?"
[19:28] <Kobrb> "What power would curse you like that, Shar?" Staying very close to Seira here, "What sort of mercy is that? We saw that graveyard...that was the past Crusades, wasn't it? What point is there trying and trying and feeding generations to that monster?"
[19:29] <Kobrb> Abagail snorts, "Amaryl, shhhh." She goes to her, whispering something into her ear.
[19:30] <Kobrb> "The Destroyer is the Destroyer. It is always there. It confronts us on our Crusade...and surely consumes those rare few who attempt to go to the shores otherwise. If you have been to the shores and survived, you are blessed beyond compare to have eluded the Destroyer."
[19:31] <Kobrb> "What of weaknesses? Can you hurt it? Does it dislike fire...or cold, perhaps, or heights?" Neve bears ahead a little, "Old man, speak clearer."
01[19:31] <Seira> "Oh, now I understand. Generation after generation goes to fight and the crusades are eradicated entirely, without anyone even sending back word of what the Destroyer looks like?"
[19:32] <Kobrb> "Thrown fire fails against it. Magic crumbles before it. The legends say the Destroyer is of power akin to the wrath of the world." Bowing his head down in deeper meditation, "No Crusade has succeeded, yes."
01[19:32] <Seira> "Does it go against your religion to have scouts in ships off to shore, or runners, or anything to gather information?"
[19:33] <Kobrb> "Those that do...do not return." The answer is quiet, simple. "If only one did...perhaps that one would end our time as Forsaken."
01[19:34] <Seira> "How do you know there is a Destroyer, then, and that the men you send out don't just... die to plague, or famine, or run away?"
[19:35] <Kobrb> "It is our fate and so taught," The old man replies. "Were it not true, would not we have returned to the shores yet?"
[19:35] <Kobrb> "The wrath of nature?" Neve raises an eyebrow here, before chuckling.
[19:35] <Kobrb> "The world," Abagail murmurs.
[19:36] <Kobrb> "Yes, yes," Neve's chuckles continue. "I wonder if it's just an overgrown fey?"
01[19:36] <Seira> "Wrath of nature is a good one," Seira agrees, nodding at Neve with a smile. "And what if this simply means that some past Crusade succeeded, and now every following one has your Forsaken settle down on the land, as you were foretold?"
[19:37] <Kobrb> "We would know." Looking up to Seira now, "We would know. I have no doubt we would find out our lives are our own again. We would know!" His voice rises a little.
[19:38] <Kobrb> '...Seira...it's likely we did run into the Destroyer, so where are you going with this?' Amaryl asks.
01[19:38] <Seira> 'He doesn't know that. He admitted he can't know that! So I want to see where he draws his faith from.'
[19:38] <Kobrb> "I've heard the stories of the few fey that the Guard has fought..." Abagail considers, bowing her head, "The Lord of the Hunt was a mighty one. But even one that strong was nothing like..."
01[19:39] <Seira> "For the sake of argument, let's say I'm entirely wrong here," Seira allows. "All I'm trying to understand is how you would know. Would the Saint-Martyr tell you? Would Ilmater appear and give all of you a vision? How is this supposed to work?"
[19:39] <Kobrb> "A Lord of the Hunt?" With both eyebrows going up, "Impressive..." Neve murmurs, "Useless onw, but impressive."
[19:40] <Kobrb> "We would know...We would know!" Looking up at Seira, ragged, "Who is this Ilmater you speak of?"
01[19:40] <Seira> "A god. This might actually be a good matter to discuss. Which ones are you aware of?"
03[19:46] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5440e162.wfd80a.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[19:46] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[19:56] <Kobrb> "We are Forsaken. There is the Saint Martyr. That is all." Returning to bow before the coffin, "I know not of tohers."
01[19:56] <Seira> "Will asking if the Saint-Martyr is still alive offend you?" Seira inquires curiously.
[20:01] <Kobrb> "The Saint Martyr rests here." With his head bowe dlow, "How else do you become a Martyr?"
01[20:05] <Seira> "Well, given that death is not always the end and you people seem to expect him to lead you back once you stop being Forsaken, it's an understandable question," Seira remarks. "And a curse placed upon you was mentioned. I can't quite understand its details, however. Does it force you to live here and repent? Is there more to it?"
[20:08] <Kobrb> "It is our duty and our responsibility. Our curse." Lanex answers in a quieting tone. "We bear it and are bound here."
01[20:08] <Seira> "I'll really need more clear answers," Seira insists. "Is it a sense of duty, however strong, or a supernatual imperative literally binding you to these three islands?"
[20:10] <Kobrb> "It is." Lanex answers, "It is our curse and our duty. We bear it and are bound here."
01[20:10] <Seira> "But it's not a yes or no question..." Seira mutters sadly to herself, before glancing at her companions for help.
[20:13] <Kobrb> "It might be both?" Abagial murmurs, and then in even lower tones to Seira, "He's a gloomy fanatic. Even if it's not a curse, if all the people are like this, they may as well be ensorcelled."
01[20:16] <Seira> "I have an idea, but it'd go really badly if there's an actual, divine curse," Seira quietly responds. "If the mountains really sprung up as a response to some evil act committed generations ago, there just might be one." Speaking up, she addresses the robed man once more, "Are there any records, even religious texts, that I might consult?"
[20:17] <Kobrb> "The sacred texts are only to be read by those sanctified into this church," the old man replies, "They are sealed away."
06[20:19] * Seira tries a new tactic. "You have to win against the Destroyer to be pardoned as a people, right?" she asks. Not letting him a chance to respond, she continues, "And that's all there is to it. There's nothing saying I can't help you with that. When we arrived a short while ago, we were offered to join you, so there's no problem here."
[20:26] <Kobrb> "If you could slay the Destroyer...but how? Generations have failed." Looking up raggedly to Seira, "What might to you possess to challenge it?"
01[20:28] <Seira> "Let's pretend for the moment that I'm just that good," Seira states. "You are clearly sanctified into the church, unless I'm misunderstanding something. So there doesn't seem to be anything wrong about you handling your sealed records. I don't need to read them myself; it would help your ally in this fight, however, if I knew the exact circumstances of what formed this situation."
[20:31] <Kobrb> "I..." There is a few moments of hesitation there, "That ar-argument is sophistry."
[20:31] <Kobrb> "Is it really? You have someone going out of their way to try and help you and you're babbling about sematics?" Abagail rubs her forehead, "Were you raised with no manners at all? Help us help you."
01[20:33] <Seira> "Abagail really put it best," Seira agrees. "You have spirit in you, or you wouldn't get almost impassioned about claiming you were promised redemption. So how can you just meekly turn it away, when it's here?"
[20:34] <Kobrb> He hesitates a little longer, "I...I..." OOC: Make a diplo check here, Seira?
01[20:34] <Seira> roll 1d20+29 let me help you
06[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 let me help you and gets 45." [1d20=16]
03[20:34] * Kobrb is now known as Kotono
[20:40] <Kotono> "...There are...a few things I can tell you." He decides at last. "The sacred texts speak only in simile and shielded reference to the past. Of the Destroyer, I can tell you three things."
01[20:40] <Seira> "I'm listening," Seira tells him, now that they're getting somewhere.
[20:44] <Kotono> "It...it's wounds heal in an instant. It is said that even if you find a weapon that can fully damage it...it's wounds heal trivially as you or I breathe. Second, it moves like a charging God of destruction when it desires, rushing ahead across fields in a blink of an eye. The last is of it's apperance." With a shaking hand, words of draconic are murmured. (More)
[20:49] <Kotono> The image before you is gigantic. It has a deep, dark brown shell on it's back, the entire creature someone animal like. It's maw is vast, full of incredibly sharpened teeth. It has a long, heavy tail. It's claws look like they could rip an armored man apart in the barest moment. "T...this is close to it's true apperance, as recorded within the sacred texts. Forgive me, Saint-Martyr..."
01[20:51] <Seira> It does seem like the freakishly huge creature that destroyed two of her cabins. "Do the text say how the Saint-Martyr saved those left of your people?" Seira asks. "You said that you were still being killed even as you fled to the islands, right?"
03[20:55] * Taishyr is now known as gonetoro
[20:57] <Kotono> "Yes. He intervened - how is not recorded, only that the act occured."
01[20:59] <Seira> "If there is only one Destroyer, and three islands, each in a vastly different direction, how were they all attacked? Or were you persecuted by something else?"
[21:00] <Kotono> "The Destroyer always appears. As to how, I know not," Lanex answers, "It is a mystery I cannot answer."
01[21:02] <Seira> "If it's a barrier, either protecting the islands, or containing the beast to the mainland..." Seira muses out loud. "Don't suppose you could tell me about the locations of any ancient monuments? Come to think of it, it would also help to know how magically advanced your society is, when the next Crusade is scheduled for, and why you're the only one who appears to speak this language here."
[21:07] <Kotono> "What lies inland is lost. The Destroyer took our lands and reduced them to rubble. The last Crusade was a few years ago, we are rebuilding for the next one...and my speaking of your words is magic."
01[21:09] <Seira> "Figures," Seira admits. "What's the highest magical circle your mages have power over?"
[21:16] <Kotono> "Third...this spell here is a difficult one for me to manage," The man admits, "Before a crusade, one occasionally reaches higher, but...the Crusade takes them."
01[21:22] <Seira> "Let's see if we can't change that," Seira tells him brightly. "Lanex, is there a way for you to get in touch with the other islands? I'll need to scout this beast, and prepare for battling it. I'll contact you soon enough, but it would be a terrible waste if another Crusade were launched in the meantime.
01[21:22] <Seira> Nothing would change by doing the same thing over and over again, so your best chance for success lies in waiting for me and then striking in tandem to win your redemption and land back."
[21:33] <Kotono> "We are in contact on occasions on ship, preparing before Crusades," he answers.
01[21:35] <Seira> "And you can make this decision?" Seira asks. "To act prematurely would result in pointless sacrifice. I need to be assured that I'll have the time for my preparations to proceed."
[21:42] <Kotono> "It can be done," He says hesitantly.
01[21:44] <Seira> "Let's make this last Crusade count, then," Seira states.
[21:48] <Kotono> 'What's your plan then, Seira,' Amaryl asks.
[21:48] <Kotono> "Hmmm..." Neve merely smiles and chuckles.
01[21:51] <Seira> "Let's return for now," Seira decides. "The initial research is best done home. A legendary monster like that could only be one thing, so I want to confirm it if I can." Returning her attention to Lanex, she asks, "How about maps? Do you have any of this region, as well as an idea of how to find the Destroyer quickly, without having to travel days looking for it?"
[21:52] <Kotono> "The Destroyer finds those who set food on the shore. As for maps, no, only sea charts leading from here to the shore, and otthe other two islands. I do know that the shore is known as a peninsula.
[21:52] <Kotono> ""
01[21:53] <Seira> "I realized as much. Sea charts would help, as a start."
[21:54] <Kotono> "Go to the docks and ask for them. You will be given them if you want," Lanex answers again.
01[21:55] <Seira> "That's what we'll do," Seira declares. "We'll be back soon enough."
01[22:07] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 61." [1d100=61]
[22:08] <Kotono> Woosh! With sea charts procured, the party returns to the point that this all started. Amaryl breaths in deeply, "Ah, this is so much better."
[22:08] <Kotono> "So then..." Abagail looks about, "Seira, what are we going to do form here?"
01[22:13] <Seira> "Hit the books," Seira responds. "I can only think of the legendary tarrasque as a deadly creature of such size, so either it's the right guess or we've discovered something even more exotic. What we've learned should suffice to identify it positively, and give us an idea of which spells to prepare even if nothing turns up.
01[22:13] <Seira> But every beast has a weakness, so once we know this one's, it's a battle we've already won!"
[22:15] <Kotono> "Easier said than done..." Abagail murmurs, "But yes, let's return to Balmuria and study? Countess Stronger surely can help us, as can our various contacts."
01[22:18] <Seira> "I have a spell that can take out anything alive, and even regeneration would be staggered by it," Seira reasons. "If a way to immobilize the creature further can be found, say by drowning it or discovering its weakness for holy blades, then that's our ace right there."
[22:30] <Kotono> "Mmm..." Abagail considers, "That may work, but we'll need to return. Are we going to now, or stand here for the Destroyer to find us again?"
01[22:32] <Seira> "We're definitely returning. Neve, seems like you'll get to visit our home!"
[22:35] <Kotono> "This should be good..." Neve eyes Seira.
01[22:36] <Seira> "It's okay, we don't have any lifeless people around. You'll like it there!"
01[22:38] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 40." [1d100=40]
[19:47] <Kotono> ----------------------------(City Ko)---
[19:50] <Kotono> Seira's backyard is cool with the evening's gentle airs. Amaryl looks about and smiles openly, while Abagail dusts her clothes off, murmuring potent words of arcane power around herself. Neve merely looks about, sniffing.
01[19:52] <Seira> "Anything you'd like to see first?" Seira asks Neve, gesturing towards the entrance to the inn. "You've heard enough about our city, so it could be up to you. Or I could choose, if you'd prefer that."
[19:54] <Kotono> Huddling into her fur coat, "It reeks of humans here..." With a wrinkle of her nose, twitching away, "Show me something interesting, Seira."
[19:55] <Kotono> "It does, doesn't it," Amaryl almost smiles at that, while, 'Seira, will you be okay without me for a little while?'
03[19:58] * tai-sick is now known as tai-hack
01[20:00] <Seira> 'Sure. The visit to the crypts is still bothering you?' Seira thinks back, while voicing, "You can't possibly smell humans, certainly not where we are, can you? Never mind. How about Countess Stronger's abode? She usually has something interesting in store."
[20:05] <Kotono> "As you wish," Neve starts to follow Seira, as Amaryl smiles slightly, 'I'm a little tired and want to lie down. And...well, it's not all human smells, but the city does have it's own distinct smell.'
01[20:08] <Seira> 'By all means, get some rest!' Seira returns perkily. "Then I guess I wish!" she goes on to tell Neve, leading the way through the inn. "We can return later and you could listen to my bard. Or, better yet, tell him a story of your own about the glory of winter, and he could spread it on."
06[20:08] * Seira glances at Abagail in the meanwhile, in silent invitation if she chooses to join them.
[20:10] <Kotono> Abagail nods, falling in with Neve and Seira.
[20:23] <Kotono> Through the busy streets you head to Elle's. Neve gets some curious looks nad a few whistles. The cold smiles she returns usually sends any minded males quickly away, your trip uninterrupted. You find Alice deep in conversation with a long haired elf, leaning heavily on an ornate gold cane. A man in full plate armor is examining a familiar Yugoloth's longsword, giving it a practice swing with deft speed.
[20:23] <Kotono> giving it a practice swing with deft speed.
01[20:25] <Seira> "A pretty nasty Yugoloth used that blade," Seira whispers to Neve, ignoring the elf and Alice altogether. "Countess, are you in?" she asks, raising her voice slightly, enough for it to carry over to the adjoining room Elle might be using at the time being.
[20:25] <Kotono> "Yugoloth...oh, ah yes, I recall what those fiends are." As Neve smirks, "Selling cursed arms of darkness, Seira?"
01[20:26] <Seira> "It's not cursed. I checked."
[20:26] <Kotono> Alice murmurs something to her guest, then, "She's at the Temple of Mystra and then the Garrison, Seira. She should return within the hour. You can go get comfortable in the back if you like."
01[20:28] <Seira> "Thanks, but it might suit us better to just catch up to her," Seira tells Alice, nodding, and leads the way back outside. "As for the selling part, who am I to oppose Waukeen's will?" she asks Neve with a smirk of her own, deciding to try intercepting Elle at the garrison. They could always wait for her there and, perhaps, meet the Commander.
[20:28] <Kotono> Abagail heads for the back, while the sword bearing man turns to Seira. "You..." he murmurs, "Seira of the Crimson Guard?"
06[20:29] * Seira pauses at the doorway, glancing back curiously. "In the flesh."
[20:30] <Kotono> "Hmph." As Neve pauses, her own response mitigated as she turns to look at the man, she holds her ground.
[20:32] <Kotono> The armored man approaches Seira. He's not too old, maybe a human of 25 or so years. He wears his armor well, decorated with a battered insignia of a hawk rising into the air, holding a glittering diamond in it's talons. He wears a gold stud in both ears. He offers one hand out, "Profit onto you, profit and good will."
01[20:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15." [1d20=2]
01[20:36] <Seira> "Profit and good will," Seira agrees, shaking it.
[20:37] <Kotono> "I would meet with you tonight, Seira," He goes on, his grip like crushing iron. "I have made reservations at your inn. My name is Dannan."
01[20:40] <Seira> "You are in luck. I've just returned to Balmuria, and plan to spend the night here," Seira notes, judging his reaction for surprise.
[20:40] <Kotono> He just nods, no sign of surprise on his face. "Until then," He says, stepping aside and back to the blade he was examining.
[20:40] <Kotono> Neve watches him, a little smirk as a few snowflakes fall from her shoulders.
06[20:41] * Seira has the ability to soundlessly detect evil and uses it in that instant, as the man appears distracted.
06[20:41] * Seira glances at the elf and Alice for completeness's sake, before echoing, "Until then," and continuing on her original course.
[20:42] <Kotono> The trip to the garrison is without incident. You wait a little there, before finding Elle coming into it. You happen to run into her just heading into the court yard. A few soldiers follow her, escorting. "Ah, Seira," With a sunny nod, "Here on business too?
[20:42] <Kotono> "
01[20:43] <Seira> "Just showing Neve around," Seira says, before gesturing at the fur-covered fey. "Neve, Countess Stronger. Countess, Neve."
[20:44] <Kotono> "Neve..." Countess Stronger doesn't miss a beat, "It's a pleasure."
[20:44] <Kotono> Neve merely smiles, reaching out and taking Elle's unofffered hand. Elle's arm shivers as they shake hands, "Good day to you, Countess."
01[20:46] <Seira> "Business, was it?" Seira picks up the conversation. "What business it is that requires an escort by soldiers, I wonder."
[20:48] <Kotono> "There's problems in Parsifal and Valandia. Shocker Lizards are coming out of the Galkass Mountains in a swarm. I've been supplying the garrison and teleporting over goods to help with the defense and cleanup."
06[20:49] * Seira grimaces. "Are they an actual threat, or more of a nuisance and waste of resources?"
[20:50] <Kotono> "A few hundred swarmed Parsifal," Elle says without grimness, just smiling. "Alicia, the Commander and trained archers had been dispatched and traveled by Alicia's magic. They routed them. In western Valandia, Pollyanna's been leading that side and they've had several encounters with large groups. They'd have success there, too. So it seems to be under control."
[20:51] <Kotono> "Hundred?" Abagail gasps, "Not just a dozen or a few more, but hundreds?"
01[20:51] <Seira> "With such opposition, it might as well be thousands," Seira says dismissively. "Does this mean you're still busy, or can you take half a day off tomorrow?"
[20:52] <Kotono> "I can take some time if I need it." Waving a hand, "Teleportation is easy and quick these days."
01[20:52] <Seira> "Since I'm showing Neve around and she likes interesting and powerful people, I figured I'd invite you along."
[20:56] <Kotono> "I'll drop by tomorrow then." Elle smiles slightly to Neve, "Excuse me, but I really am busy right now."
06[20:57] * Seira nods, even though it's hard to conceal her disappointment. "A shame you couldn't meet the Commander this time," she tells Neve. "He's really strong. I figured we could've even had a practice match, but...."
[21:02] <Kotono> "Perhaps he is. The humans from this city do seem unusually mighty." Neve smirks now.
[21:03] <Kotono> "Oh yes. Might is something we have great quantities of. The vast empire to the east bowed to us, we've defeated enemy devils and smashed dozens of schemes. The Crimson Guard is the nobility of powerful officers and advenruers in this realm, doubtless."
[21:03] <Kotono> Abagail says that with a little preening smile.
01[21:04] <Seira> "Yes, but he's just crazy strong," Seira says in admiration. "Oh well. Like Elle said, our homes are only a teleport away." At Abagail's words, she smiles. "Good times."
[21:08] <Kotono> Elle waves as she goes off. Neve looks around briefly, then, "What else is there ot see in this city?"
01[21:10] <Seira> "We haven't really seen the garrison, but it's not the same now, so we'll leave it for another day. Since we're staying at my inn for the night, it's meaningless to spend time there just yet. How about the temple of Gond? It has dwarves who build things, and those things sometimes explode spectacularly."
[21:16] <Kotono> "Lead on," Neve smirks, "Explosions, distasteful explosions?
[21:16] <Kotono> "
01[21:18] <Seira> "A friend of mine from Waukeen's temple managed to destroy several rooms with the addition of a single alchemical compound," Seira says proudly. "The plume of smoke was seen for the longest of distances!"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Explosion sand smoke. Utterly distasteful," Neve snorts.
[21:20] <Kotono> Abagail nods, "Fireball and it's like are terribly garish...though one cannot say they are not effective at what they do."
01[21:21] <Seira> "True enough, I wouldn't want to be there for the actual explosion," Seira agrees pleasantly. "But the Gond guys were so angry, it made the whole thing entirely too funny. We won't tell them that, though."
[21:23] <Kotono> "
[21:24] <Kotono> "It was amusing from all reports," Abagail agrees as yous tart to walk down the streets. "Terribly uncivilized, certainly, but amusing."
01[21:25] <Seira> "They banned her from the grounds for a while." Seira rolls her eyes. "As if that was the only time something exploded."
[21:32] <Kotono> The rest of the walk is spent in this pleasant conversation. As you approach the temple of Gond, torches are being set out to light it for the evening. The gates to the temple are still open.
06[21:33] * Seira decides to inquire about a tour for her guest. It's still not that late that she can't get away with such a request, she hopes.
[21:41] <Kotono> As Seira enters inside, she finds that a pair of men are dragging a giant chunk of metal towards the exit. It's scorched and burnt, smoke rising from it. An angry looking man in seared, charred robes follows them. "Do you know how much work that was?" he berates them, "We'll hav eto melt it down and start over!"
01[21:42] <Seira> "I could set it on fire for you," Seira offers casually.
[21:46] <Kotono> "Ah, Colonel!" The charred man doubletakes, "Colonel Seira of the Crimson Guard! Welcome, welcome," Hecomes up to her, "Sorry you had to see such a disgraceful display."
06[21:47] * Seira shakes her head, before offering him a smile. "It's past time I visited, and don't worry about appearances. I meant it, too, you know. I could melt that for you, if you'd like."
[21:50] <Kotono> "Could you? I twould save us some time. Thank you, sir!" With a look at the two men, "Drag that back into the smithery now!"
01[21:52] <Seira> "It's been a while since I set something on fire," Seira says by way of explanation. "Would you mind showing us around in the meantime?" She gestures at her companions as she introduces them. "You would surely know of Abagail, and this is Neve, a friend from the far east."
[22:00] <Kotono> "Oh yes, yes," Bowing ot both of them, "Follow me."
[22:00] <Kotono> Neve just smiles frostily, the smoke rising from the metal turning white, into chilly white.
01[22:01] <Seira> "I wonder what would happen if you froze it right after I melted it down," Seira muses to Neve, indeed following as requested.
[22:03] <Kotono> "Heat and cold together make things expand and break. Try it on a rock sometime," Neve answers, "It has to do with ice and size."
01[22:05] <Seira> "I wonder if it can make colossal monster carapaces expand and break," Seira says with a smile.
[22:11] <Kotono> "Perhaps if you applied enough. Hmmm..." neve starts to consider that, "Nothing cna resist enough cold."
01[22:12] <Seira> "And nothing should resist my fire," Seira comments. "It could be worth trying. What's your effective range with enough cold to matter?"
[22:17] <Kotono> "Close," Neve answers, "The sort of concentrated cold to freeze something to death quickly."
01[22:19] <Seira> "If we're closer than thirty feet to that monster, we're probably doing something wrong," Seira voices in displeasure.
[22:20] <Kotono> "Verily," Abagail murmurs. "If it gets that close to us, we've probably lost."
[22:22] <Kotono> "Perhaps it is so," Neve says as you are lead into one of the stalls. Here, clockwork figures are on display, tick-tocking along. A clockwork elf figurine stands at attention atop the stall, six inches tall and on guard.
01[22:23] <Seira> "We can control the distance some, due to having access to flight and winged mounts, and magic can open the effective range for Amaryl and I, but...." Seira shakes her head. "I suppose we'll know more once we get a chance to read on the creature." The rest of the planning put off for now, she approaches the clockwork elf to admire it from close by.
[22:24] <Kotono> As you get closer, you double-blink. You see that it looks like yourself in wizard's robes. A slender man is on the other side of the stall, "Oh, Colonel! I didn't know today was the day!"
01[22:25] <Seira> "Today clearly is," Seira agrees easily enough. "What day would today be?"
[22:29] <Kotono> "These were commissioned for the Guard, ma'am," He answers, "I didn't think you'd be by to pick up yours so soon. I hadn't heard, anyway."
01[22:31] <Seira> "Who commissioned them, out of curiousity?"
[22:33] <Kotono> "Miss Antenora. She does a lot of business with me," Answering that as he presents the figurine to Seira, "Here. You're welcome to it."
06[22:35] * Seira nods to herself. "Makes sense. She really likes the clockwork models." Seira accepts it, tapping her representation lightly on its forehead. "My thanks, it's a delightful creation."
[22:42] <Kotono> "It's metal. Metal doesn't normally act that way," Neve leans in to peer at it, "How? Why?"
[22:43] <Kotono> "It's a type of creation from Mechanus and some of the priests here are instructed in it." Abagail answers, "It's quite noble and elite."
01[22:44] <Seira> And Neve doesn't normally act that way, though Seira doesn't voice it, instead feeling happy she chose Gond's temple to visit. "Can I commission one for Neve?" she asks the priest at the stall.
[22:48] <Kotono> Peering at Neve over, "I can make one of her..." he says at last, "I'm honored to have your business, Colonel."
01[22:49] <Seira> "This seems like a venture to make everyone involved happy, then," Seira agrees, letting Neve hold the tiny, clockwork Seira while she peruses the other figurines.
[22:51] <Kotono> There's a half finished one of Alicia, Demedais, Jessica, Marie and others. Ther'es fully made ones of more generic things, trolls, soldiers, elves, dwarves, and so on.
[22:51] <Kotono> "Really? Will it freeze fast on the first frost?" Neve challenges. "They look delicate."
01[22:52] <Seira> "Depending on the metal it's made of, and that's without even taking magic under account," Seira tells her, looking for one of a sea elf.
03[22:56] * tai-hack is now known as asdgsdfasdf-ill
[23:00] <Kotono> Seira finds a sea elf, dashing and with little mechanical drops of 'water' on it.
01[23:01] <Seira> "Are you selling this one?" she asks, pointing it out to the priest.
[23:02] <Kotono> "Oh yes, 50 gold," He answers, "It's for sale."
06[23:04] * Seira offers the money, easily having that much on hand. While the transaction takes place, she uses the chance that Neve's attention is elsewhere to whisper, "Speaking of the figurine for her, I think I've read about something called blue ice? I recall it being as good as metal, enough to forge weapons and armor from it, so would it be possible to use something like that as the base for Neve's gift?"
[19:29] <Kotono> <Seira> "This seems like a venture to make everyone involved happy, then," Seira agrees, letting Neve hold the tiny, clockwork Seira while she peruses the other figurines.
[19:29] <Kotono> > There's a half finished one of Alicia, Demedais, Jessica, Marie and others. Ther'es fully made ones of more generic things, trolls, soldiers, elves, dwarves, and so on.
[19:29] <Kotono> > "Really? Will it freeze fast on the first frost?" Neve challenges. "They look delicate."
[19:29] <Kotono> <Seira> "Depending on the metal it's made of, and that's without even taking magic under account," Seira tells her, looking for one of a sea elf.
[19:29] <Kotono> * tai-hack is now known as asdgsdfasdf-ill
[19:30] <Kotono> > Seira finds a sea elf, dashing and with little mechanical drops of 'water' on it.
[19:30] <Kotono> <Seira> "Are you selling this one?" she asks, pointing it out to the priest.
[19:30] <Kotono> > "Oh yes, 50 gold," He answers, "It's for sale."
[19:30] <Kotono> * Seira offers the money, easily having that much on hand. While the transaction takes place, she uses the chance that Neve's attention is elsewhere to whisper, "Speaking of the figurine for her, I think I've read about something called blue ice? I recall it being as good as metal, enough to forge weapons and armor from it, so would it be possible to use something like that as the base for Neve's gift?"
[19:30] <Kotono> "I don't know, I've never worked with it. If I had some, I could try," The man admits after some consideration.
01[19:33] <Seira> "I travel a lot, so I'll try to find some," she returns.
03[19:37] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-54464c28.lns3-c12.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
[19:37] <Kotono> "Sure thing, Colonel," He replies. Meanwhile, Abagail examines another of the clockwork figurines, a little deer. Neve looks about.
03[19:37] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
01[19:38] <Seira> "Want to see where they make all the pretty explosions?" Seira asks with a smile.
[19:44] <Kotono> "Ugh, explosions. No." Neve makes a look of disgust, "How about somewhere else?"
01[19:47] <Seira> "In that case, how about I melt that lump of metal for them and we'll return to the inn for now?" she suggests. "Other than listening to a few tales told the way only a bard could and meeting Donald, we could find out what a strange man I never saw before wants from me, and how he even knew I would be around.
01[19:47] <Seira> The rest of the interesting spots around the city are just too far to properly visit, since it's late, so we could do that tomorrow."
03[19:48] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[19:50] <Kotono> "Very well," Neve agrees to that.
[19:51] <Kotono> "I do wonder who that man was. He looked like a brute of a warrior. Not the normal sort for Waukeen to recruit, and his emblem was unusual." Abagail sniffs.
01[19:52] <Seira> "On that note, could I trouble you to check with the Temple of Waukeen, Abagail?" Seira requests. "The last time someone was looking for me, it was an insane Inevitable, and he came there first. If I've had visitors or people wishing to see me, Gilartal would know. Same for the emblem and the greeting used, he might recall those."
[19:54] <Kotono> "Such a menial task..." Abagail sniffs, "But very well. Where shall I meet you?"
01[19:55] <Seira> "I'll be home, likely in the dining area," Seira responds, fully aware that the task is menial, and not commenting on that.
[19:56] <Kotono> OOC: Ready to skip along then?
01[19:56] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[20:01] <Kotono> OOC: Gimme a sec on combat in #dunes.
[20:08] <Kotono> Seira returns home! She finds Donald minding the front door, currently dragging a passed out man outside. He looks up from his work, "Ooof...oh hi," he looks over his shoulder.
01[20:09] <Seira> "Hi. Having fun, as usual?"
[20:10] <Kotono> With a toss the drunken, plainclothes man is tossed outside. Dusting his hands off as he falls in step with Seira, "Sure. There was a big party in here and a few people got drunk. It's good exercise these days."
[20:10] <Kotono> Neve stops at the door inside, looking at the draconic entrance. She eyes it long and warily. "How...distinct."
01[20:12] <Seira> "It's... me, don't you think?" Seira asks her, grinning. "Donald, speaking of fun, how would you like to take a brief vacation with us in a few days? We'll be going hunting this terrible monster that could swallow a giant whole with ease."
[20:14] <Kotono> "It is." Neve agrees, "It's..." Her words stop as she stares up at the door a while longer.
01[20:14] <Seira> "In a good way, right?"
[20:15] <Kotono> "Sounds normal enough." Donald goes back in. The inn is very busy - people are about from all over. You see a few elves baout as well, as well as a single dwarf alone. Humans of all stripes and shapes are around. "Got a name for the creature? Sounds kinda dragon like."
01[20:15] <Seira> "Yes. It goes by... the Destroyer!"
[20:19] <Kotono> "Hmmm...haven't heard of it," Donald shrugs, "Oh well. Oh yeah, Seira." Stopping there, "There's a guy who wants to see you tonight. His name's Dannan, said he talked to you earlier."
01[20:20] <Seira> "He'll wait a bit, at least until I hear back from Abagail," Seira decides. "Unless you know what he's all about?"
[20:21] <Kotono> "I don't." Lightly shrugging, "I didn't ask, I was kind of busy at the time and he didn't stay around."
06[20:22] * Seira accepts that excuse and drops the matter for now. "How about showing Neve around, then? She likes interesting people, so you'll do."
[20:24] <Kotono> "Sure!" Going over, "Oh Neve, we met. Come on," He reaches out for Neve's arm, recoiling and rubbing his hand. "Gaaah, like ice...well, that was obvious." Neve just glares at him as Donald smiles. "Anyway, come on."
06[20:26] * Seira resolves to waiting on Abagail and hoping the combination of Donald and their bard entertains the fey enough, and perhaps gets her to part with a story or two about winter.
[20:27] <Kotono> Abagail returns after about ten minutes of Donald and Neve listening to the bardsong. Neve looks interested enough, most people giving her a certain wide birth. Donald stays close enough, despite some shivers. Abagail returns then, going to sit next to Seira. "He was there briefly. He stopped in, donated a bit of gold and then departed."
01[20:29] <Seira> "And they didn't have an idea about the hawk symbol?"
[20:30] <Kotono> "Gilartal said it didn't ring any bells, but he'd take a check into it tonight. It'll take him a few hours." Sitting down now and waving for a glass of something to drink, "Well, if he's after you, donating to the church of Waukeen is a decent cover."
03[20:32] * tai-nebulizer is now known as tai-blrgh
01[20:32] <Seira> "Well, we'll know soon enough, I suppose. People who are after me in a bad way just can't restrain themselves, and keep on trying to kill me soon after meeting me properly."
06[20:33] * Seira pats Abagail's shoulder. "Thanks, by the way."
[20:35] <Kotono> "Hmph. It was a servant's work. I mean, really, it's beneath us. Why didn't you just get a guard or a minion to do it," Abagail snorts, "It's beneath a cultured wizard."
01[20:36] <Seira> "There are levels of trust, and much as I have trust in our guards, there are certain things only a very few people close to me would be entrusted with," Seira tells her quietly. "I would appreciate it if you didn't repeat this."
[20:37] <Kotono> "Ah, very well then." A short nod to that, taking a wineglass as it is brought to her. She sips at it, "I suppose discretion is important."
06[20:38] * Seira nods. "And I wouldn't ask you to do something I wouldn't do myself. The only reason I didn't just to to the temple on my own is because of my guest."
[20:41] <Kotono> "Yes." Looking ahead at Neve as she focuses on the bardsong. It's a story of a desperate battle between a cruel young man and his noble hearted clone. "She has a noble's sense of propriety, yet she lacks a certain...compassion? Freezing that entire city would truly have been a waste of effort, even if it had appeal at the time."
01[20:43] <Seira> "There are many things she lacks," Seira finds herself agreeing. "But at the same time, it feels as if... it feels much like a muscle she never exercised, for lack of a better example. Neve is a good person, I believe, but she is having trouble accepting it herself, perhaps, and she doesn't know how to properly express this."
[20:44] <Kotono> "It's possible." Taking a deeper drink from her wineglass as she listens about how the clone finally triumphs in a difficult battle, going on to save what's important to him, "It's also possible that she's intimidated or grateful, or biding her time."
01[20:47] <Seira> "It's quite likely she's all of those at once," Seira agrees once more. "Does that really precludes having the right emotions, though? I as good as told her that I wouldn't fight against her if she acted on her own. We were too far, and in a land Alicia wouldn't know of, as far as Neve thought. There was nothing stopping her from establishing her own frozen kingdom on those isles or beyond."
06[20:47] * Seira gazes at the fey thoughtfully. "Nothing but the loss of our friendship, really. So I've decided to believe that she logically realized the folly of surviving on her own, and just uses that to justify actually wanting to be around me and my other friends."
[20:49] <Kotono> "Perhaps. Fey don't entirely think like we do," Abagail muses, "Hmph, now I'm curious. I should read of them more."
01[20:55] <Seira> "In the worst case scenario, if a devil can change her colors so entirely, I have good reason to hope?" Seira suggests. "And reading would be a good idea. Start on the research tomorrow, and I'll join you as soon as I am able to."
[20:56] <Kotono> "True, I suppose. I wonder...wast that the exception that proves the rule, or proof that anything can change?" Drinking more of her wine as the sotry reaches a romantic conclusion between clone and his fetching female love interest, "I can imagine what you think."
01[20:57] <Seira> "The former is a great argument, but if you study it, it becomes false. You prove the rule, perhaps, but that in no way precludes other exceptions to the rule, does it?"
[20:59] <Kotono> "The theory is that an exception to the rule proves the rule because it's so damned rare and noteworthy that reinforces th enorm," Abagail retorts. "It doesn't beg another exsample."
01[21:02] <Seira> "An exception to the rule proves that exceptions exist," Seira insists. "Once you get a foot in the door, that door can never close fully, and the exception in question fills that role. True, it would need to be extraordinary circumstances that lead to it. Such as, perhaps, returning from death and undeath alike,
01[21:02] <Seira> and facing people stronger than you that treat you with genuine kindness from the bottom of their hearts?"
[21:05] <Kotono> "Maybe. I suppose one of us will be proven right in time?" Neve continues to listen away, Donald chatting all the while at her.
01[21:09] <Seira> "What I'd really like is if it weren't just another rare exception," Seira says wistfully. "I try to give all those I face at least one chance to change. What if, some day, more will take it? It doesn't matter if they just play along. I'm sure that if they spend time with me, even simply traveling and seeing the world, helping people and finding enjoyment in that,
01[21:09] <Seira> that more could find it within themselves to question their old habits!"
[21:11] <Kotono> "Well..." Abagail considers, "I read once that there was a mass migration of outsiders. A heavenly Fall of sorts...so maybe, you could find a way to do that in reverse somehow? But if it were easy, wouldn't it be heard of more? Hmmm..." Reflectively looking down at her image in her wineglass, "Some of our prisoners take to the rehabilitation program. Some turn out to be sincere, some don't. Some don't even want to try."
[21:11] <Kotono> Some turn out to be sincere, some don't. Some don't even want to try."
01[21:13] <Seira> "And there must be another group, those few who don't start as sincere but end up turning around," Seira points out. "I have to believe people like this exist. As for hearing about outsider migration on such scale? There's nothing wrong with taking things one step at a time. I don't have to convert the Abyss to call this a success.
01[21:13] <Seira> Plus, if we just wait on other people to do this for us, this may never be achieved, like with oh so many ventures."
[21:14] <Kotono> "Mmmm." Abagail finishes her wine, waving for another. "True. It does take time. Waukeen's teachings told you that?"
01[21:15] <Seira> "In part. The rest is my own interpretation, but Waukeen must approve, because I ask her from time to time if I'm keeping true to her path."
[21:15] <Kotono> "Mmm." Another quiet pause, "Oh yes, speaking of her, are you going ot find out what Dannan wants? Will you needmy support in case he's hostile?"
01[21:17] <Seira> "It might be a good idea to have you along, as I suppose I might as well meet with him now," Seira responds. "There's more than just magic that I could teach you, and this might be a good chance for us."
[21:19] <Kotono> Abagail nods and rises, "Very well then."
06[21:20] * Seira decides to go and look around for Dannan, then.
[21:23] <Kotono> You find Dannan in his room after a bit of searching. He stands at the window, watching a slow rain beginning, splattering against the windowsill. His hands are behind his back, back to you as he looks out at the rain. For a moment he's like that, before he turns. "Ah, Seira!"
01[21:24] <Seira> "It seems my business took me away for longer than expected, but I'm here now," she responds.
[21:25] <Kotono> Abagail stays behind Seira, watching.
[21:26] <Kotono> "Entirely respectable. Business is the backbone of the world. Through it flows commerce, wealth and prosperity." He advances forward, still wearing his full plate armor. He extends a hand out to Seira, taking off his gauntlet to do so. His hands are callosed and heavy hands, a few small scars here and there. "I'm here to talk to you about that."
06[21:29] * Seira shakes it, much like earlier that day when they met last. "It is indeed one of the few subjects I can keep on discussing for hours on end without tiring myself out or any signs of boredom."
[21:30] <Kotono> "Oh yes, I'm the same! But let me introduce myself properly. I am Dannan. In particular, I am High Holycoin Dannan, profited greatly by the patronage of the Golden Lady. In technical terms, I am one of Waukeen's personal representatives for the mortal planes. A proxy of Waukeen's will."
01[21:32] <Seira> roll 1d20+13 sure
06[21:32] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 sure and gets 27." [1d20=14]
06[21:35] * Seira judges that if it were a ruse, it would be far too easy to discover and thus pointless. "It is an honor that cannot be expressed in mere words," she tells Dannan. "One I'm striving for, myself."
[21:37] <Kotono> "Waukeen thinks very highly of you. She tasked me here to discuss with you what you're doing and the various acquisitions you're planning." Dannan goes to the table in the room, sitting down. "She's pleased with your efforts so far. Balmuria is becoming a city that very much represents her ideals. Temples have been seeded elseware, greatly expanding her influence and bringing more to her faith."
06[21:39] * Seira rubs the back of her head in embarrassment. "I guess you could say it's my hobby, building temples to her."
[21:42] <Kotono> "A commendable hobby. She said that you once told her you wished to be her servant. Your initiative in these areas speaks well of your true dedication." Dannan makes a gesture with his hand, as if drawing. A large gold coin appears on the table, Waukeen's face emblazed on it. It shimmers a moment, before appearing as real as everything else. "You lost a symbol of Waukeen a time back. Here." He slides the coin to Seira, "This coin will bri
[21:42] <Kotono> Here." He slides the coin to Seira, "This coin will bring you Waukeen's own luck."
01[21:44] <Seira> "I won't let it be taken from me, whatever the circumstances," Seira promises quietly, reaching out towards the coin, first with hesitation but then firmly as she makes up her mind.
[21:45] <Kotono> The coin feels right in Seira's hand. "It'll protect you when you need it the most." Dannan promises now, "Keep it with you at all times."
01[21:47] <Seira> "I'm grateful for everything Waukeen's done for me, for this world...." Seira trails off, feeling frustration. "It sounds so plain. But I believe Waukeen knows how I feel!"
[21:50] <Kotono> "She does. She's held her hand and voice from you, for Waukeen believes very much in letting you blaze your own trail. You've not dissapointed her." Dannan folds his hands in front of him now, "Instead of standing idle or wasting your gifts, youv'e done much to bring glory to her and prosperity to your home and the lands around it."
01[21:52] <Seira> "It leads to healthy societies and better lives, and in turn, that improves trade, knowledge and the economy even more. What better way to spend my time than for goals such as this?"
[21:55] <Kotono> "Exactly. It all feeds on each other. Doing Waukeen's work brings a brighter tomorrow, for it lays the foundations of it today. Without trade...well, do you remember your city ofBalmuria when you first arrived at it? Look at how it has prospered and it's people have a better lot now."
01[21:57] <Seira> "It really is an excellent example," Seira agrees, "since it achieved in a few years what would normally take a generation or two."
[21:59] <Kotono> "Your work has let Waukeen's blessings blossom here beautifully. You look to expand outward, too. That's the main reason I'm here. Waukeen wants you to understand what you're getting into before you commit to them. Whilet here is great potential for profit, there is great danger as well."
01[22:01] <Seira> "So you're here for guidance, and to help me think through some of my projects?" Seira clarifies, making herself comfortable for this discussion. "It would be quite helpful to have a fresh outlook on things, even if it didn't come with Waukeen's blessing. Please, go ahead."
[22:04] <Kotono> "To the north, past the jungles, lies several kingdoms. You're looking to expand into them?" Dannan begins, "Kesse, Sanaxt, Evrai?"
01[22:07] <Seira> "It figures that the most troublesome short-term venture would be the first," Seira mutters with sigh. "We broke Kesse. We had a very good reason to do it, and Kesse quite deserved it, but from the moment it surrendered it became our responsibility. So yes, I'm looking into projecting our might into that region.
01[22:07] <Seira> Though I would never repeat it outside this room, Kesse is a protectorate of the Baronies at this point. Therefore, I have accepted it as my responsibility to ensure it reaches such a time it no longer needs our aid, and has indeed become a better place, just like Balmuria. Its neighbors, too, if I can manage it."
[22:11] <Kotono> "That land is a land of violence, grimness, darkness, and despair. The three kingdoms and the states around them have long had bloody wars and brutish lives. Your goal is noble if dominating; however, if ou go in, do not do it by half measures. War looms on the horizon there, as it has many times. If you are not willing to confront this, the area will be nothing but a loss to you."
01[22:13] <Seira> "It's just like the situation here, just a short while ago," Seira states firmly. "We did all we could to reach peaceful coexistence with Malmuth, but we prepared for the worst even as we hoped for the best. And it took a war to get us to where we are now, a war I fully participated in. I understand this much, even if I hold hope that this time around, another war may not be necessary."
[22:19] <Kotono> "It's far more entrenched in them. They've had so many wars between each other that they can't count them all. Remember that." Dannan says, and then, "You're also expanding ot the far est?"
[22:19] <Kotono> *east
01[22:25] <Seira> "There is that, but what would your advice be? I haven't spent time in Kesse and the surroundings, and if I took the time to properly gather all the information before acting, it might be too late. Right now, I'm trying to approach the matter with the carrot and stick routine,
01[22:25] <Seira> hoping to show everyone the benefits of Waukeen's ways while keeping an armed force around to prevent Kesse's neighbors from attacking it. Should I try more? Would it just be better to focus on one aspect instead of advancing both in parallel? The summit I tried to arrange, would it likely be a waste of time regardless of my words and actions?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "It is a difficult path, no matter which you choose. Sanaxt and Evrai are justified and have a just cause for war. To defuse that will be difficult, but the war that will come will be blooduy too. There isn't an easy answer. If you commit to this, commit to it true and be willing to ride out the difficulties until profit comes."
01[22:39] <Seira> "It's not easy," Seira agrees with a grimace. "Everyone is justified, but neither is, at the same time. But must a war come, under any situation? Does Waukeen see no way of avoiding it, regardless of my actions?"
[22:42] <Kotono> "She has not told me that much. The future, while we can see far into it, is always somewhat fluid. But..." He grimaces as well, "It is like a diabolical contract, correct and yet sentencing you to damnation. It's right and wrong at once and makes it very difficult."
06[22:44] * Seira rests her arms on her knees as she leans forward, steepling her fingers. "I see. Then I'll give it a try, even if the chance is slim, because while it exists I have to make my attempt to seize it. This is enough for me." She pauses. "You've asked about my plans for expansion? I intend to explore into every corner of the world, so it's not just the east, but east is where my eyes are cast now."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Good. But it's what lies east that I also want to talk to you about. They call themselve sthe Forsaken, and you look to fight the Destroyer that menances them?"
01[22:49] <Seira> "I intend to do my research, first. As you can see, I'm hardly rushing to the battle. I just had to present it that way so that they won't throw another human wave at that beast in a futile attempt at redemption that's no better than suicide." Seira nods, then. "But yes, if the situation is as I see it, then I would help those people."
[21:39] <Kotono> > "It is a difficult path, no matter which you choose. Sanaxt and Evrai are justified and have a just cause for war. To defuse that will be difficult, but the war that will come will be blooduy too. There isn't an easy answer. If you commit to this, commit to it true and be willing to ride out the difficulties until profit comes."
[21:39] <Kotono> <Seira> "It's not easy," Seira agrees with a grimace. "Everyone is justified, but neither is, at the same time. But must a war come, under any situation? Does Waukeen see no way of avoiding it, regardless of my actions?"
[21:39] <Kotono> > "She has not told me that much. The future, while we can see far into it, is always somewhat fluid. But..." He grimaces as well, "It is like a diabolical contract, correct and yet sentencing you to damnation. It's right and wrong at once and makes it very difficult."
[21:39] <Kotono> * Seira rests her arms on her knees as she leans forward, steepling her fingers. "I see. Then I'll give it a try, even if the chance is slim, because while it exists I have to make my attempt to seize it. This is enough for me." She pauses. "You've asked about my plans for expansion? I intend to explore into every corner of the world, so it's not just the east, but east is where my eyes are cast now."
[21:39] <Kotono> > "Good. But it's what lies east that I also want to talk to you about. They call themselve sthe Forsaken, and you look to fight the Destroyer that menances them?"
[21:39] <Kotono> <Seira> "I intend to do my research, first. As you can see, I'm hardly rushing to the battle. I just had to present it that way so that they won't throw another human wave at that beast in a futile attempt at redemption that's no better than suicide." Seira nods, then. "But yes, if the situation is as I see it, then I would help those people."
[21:44] <Kotono> A nod to that, "To break the cycle of death there and open an entire new market to Waukeen's guidance would be commendable. There lie resources and chances for entire nations to be borne there and connected to Waukeen's guidance.
[21:44] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[21:45] <Kotono> A nod to that, "To break the cycle of death there and open an entire new market to Waukeen's guidance would be commendable. There lie resources and chances for entire nations to be borne there and connected to Waukeen's guidance." Stopping to steeple his scarred hands together, "Of course, the barrier to this has to be eliminated and there in lies the deepest problem. Of what drew the Destroyer I know relatively little - Waukeen's wisdom w
[21:45] <Kotono> Of what drew the Destroyer I know relatively little - Waukeen's wisdom was that the past and what caused it is irrelevant, that the present and a brighter future are what must be anticipated and planned for instead.
[21:45] <Kotono> "
01[21:48] <Seira> "We happen to be in agreement," Seira responds, nodding curtly. "Much like with the sea elves, while it's quite important to learn of our past so that we don't repeat the mistakes made by our ancestors, there should be no lasting mark of shame on entire civilizations for something no one in the last few dozen generations has had a hand in."
03[21:53] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@24-247-151-205.dhcp.klmz.mi.charter.com) has joined #evildunes
03[21:53] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[21:54] <Kotono> "Yes...but that leads us back to the Destroyer. To do anything with those people and lands, you'll have to get rid of it. Until it is, the Destroyer is there to continue this ghastly cycle."
[21:54] <Kotono> OOC: Gah ,again.
[21:56] <Kotono> "Yes...but that leads us back to the Destroyer. To do anything with those people and lands, you'll have to get rid of it. Until it is, the Destroyer is there to continue this ghastly cycle." Rubbing his hands over his face, "Mortal weapons can't damage it effectively, beyond even the resistance to damage powerful outsiders and fey enjoy. Only weapons made with power beyond the limits of the ninth circle can hurt the Destroyer."
01[21:57] <Seira> "If it's not too bright, I should be able to deal with it. If not permanently, then at least as a temporary solution while I look for a better one. If all else fails, I can just try to beat it up and then plane shift it to the positive energy plane."
06[21:58] * Seira considers this further. "I have one suitable weapon and the means to wield it at a distance, and two others are used by my allies. It might be possible to borrow them for the purpose of dealing with the Destroyer."
[22:04] <Kotono> "Waukeen warns you this - The Destroyer will not fall easily. With the bonds you have created and when the time and your might are right, challenge it with your best plan. For when you do, a treasure will revel itself to you."
01[22:08] <Seira> "I think the immediate danger of their pointless suicide has been resolved, for now, so I should have time," Seira agrees. "I might give it a try, but if the plan isn't working then I'll take a break as I look for a better one. Perhaps I can even try exploring into other directions...."
[22:17] <Kotono> "There may be secrets yet waiting in that land, if you can search it while the Destroyer still walks, but it will be fraught with danger." Dannan warns.
01[22:20] <Seira> "I get it. I'll try to play it safe and keep an escape route or two prepared for now. What about heading out into the ocean, or past the wastes? I'm interested in your opinion, here, rather than asking for Waukeen's guidance. As someone who travels a lot as part of his calling, do you think it's better to focus one's efforts, or on the contrary,
01[22:20] <Seira> to spread out and try to advance from every possible direction?"
[22:24] <Kotono> Dannan is quiet for a time now, leaning back in his chair and regarding Seira. His armor creaks, a soft, slight movement of metal. His eyes are narrow, "I wondered the same thing. My answer ultimately was that I follow what will advance Waukeen's goals the best. Be it focusing on one thing or working on ten things, whatever I feel is best. If you have the energy and focus to do all of that, do so. If not, there's no shame in doing one thin
[22:24] <Kotono> If you have the energy and focus to do all of that, do so. If not, there's no shame in doing one thing and making sure you do it right."\
06[22:27] * Seira considers. In a way, it's not an answer, but at the same time Dannan's words reassure her. "I might give it a try, then. I can think of few things that would please Waukeen as much as connecting everyone on this world together once more."
[22:29] <Kotono> "Waukeen wants you to make your own path. If you fall down, pick yourself up and keep walking." Holding up his hands, "In my path here, I fell more times than I care to think about. I was outbid, I was outfoxed. Who would think a dumb warrior can become a good trader and mogul? I wasn't even a genius, but I was stubborn and persistant."
01[22:31] <Seira> "That's certainly my intention," Seira states, before adding sympathetically, "And it's a shame that people looked down on you because of something like your occupation."
[22:33] <Kotono> "There's fools out there, fools aplenty. It's why we have to keep spreading Waukeen's doctrine." Putting his hands down now, "It's why it's absolutely vital."
01[22:36] <Seira> "I'll do my best," Seira assures him, resting her chin on her joint hands. "Earlier, you mentioned Waukeen wanting to caution me on my ventures. Did they include the purification of the land, or the spread of means of teleportation or, perhaps, fixing the portal to the plane of water?"
[22:41] <Kotono> "I was told about these matters. On the rest, if she is silent, it means for you to make your own path. Waukeen thinks highly of you, however, so I would assume they're good ideas." With a trace of a smile himself, "I would speculate that those sound like ways to improve trade and wealth. Surely she would smile on them."
06[22:44] * Seira returns the smile. "Hearing that alone is reassuring. And if there is some other way I could be of service, all I'd need is to be pointed in the right direction."
[22:47] <Kotono> "You're doing fine service here." Dannan chuckles warmly, "Countess Stronger's shop is doing lovely business, in a large part due to the efforts of the Crimson Guard. I hear there hasn't been a magic shop like that here in thousands of years. The marketplace is bustling, even with winter coming. So much trading, radiating out of this city."
01[22:50] <Seira> "I'm hoping to provide her with helpers and clientelle alike, but these things often take time. Still, she and her business are on a level I haven't seen anywhere else on our world. Hard to believe that a couple years ago she set up shop on this hill, isn't it?"
[22:51] <Kotono> "When an emerging market surges, it's best to be there to make sure this happens. It's like investing. Invest in the right time with growth opportunity and you'll get a huge return on your investment."
01[22:55] <Seira> "I wish my own business here got that huge return," Seira mutters, before eyeing Dannan curiously. "Do you think asking Amaryl's maids to work at the inn would make all the difference? Having a maid catering for you is quite the unique experience, and it would be doubly so because they're elves. If I give them a form of joint ownership, it might be a great incentive, too!"
[23:20] <Kotono> "I don't know theme nough to gauge that," Dannan answers after some thought, "Beauty and sex sells, though."
01[23:21] <Seira> "They wouldn't really be selling the latter, but one out of two isn't bad?"
[23:25] <Kotono> "Indeed." As he settles back now, "I'll be leaving in the morning. My work is seldom done. I have to go off the Prime Material after this, and I was just getting used to it again."
01[23:28] <Seira> "It's a shame, but you will always be welcome back. Even if it's just for a visit or a brief vacation," Seira tells him, thinking to ask about how he gets around but deciding against it at the last moment. "In the meantime, in case I don't see you again before you leave, I would like to wish you success in your endeavors."
[23:32] <Kotono> "You as well. Waukeen will watch you."
[20:04] <Kokokokoko> ----
[20:04] <Kokokokoko> OOC: What was next on your agenda, Seira?
01[20:05] <Seira> Let's take Elle and Neve on a small teleporting trip tomorrow. I'd appreciate it if Abby started on the research as I've asked. If Amaryl and/or Donald want to come along for extra Neve befriending, there's spots for that.
[20:18] <Kokokokoko> Elle, Seira and Neve meet together at Elle's shop. Amaryl is there, as is Donald. The latter is smiling and whistling, standing near to Countess Stronger. "So where are we going now?"
01[20:23] <Seira> "I thought we could show Neve what surrounds Balmuria," Seira elaborates. "There's more to see in the city itself, but a lot of it might seem similar to someone out of town, so we're switching locations a bit. First, we could visit with Rosamund, and then we'll have a quick teleport over to Oolu."
[20:25] <Kokokokoko> "Oh, that should be fun," Donald grins ear to ear, lithely sliding over to Seira, each step almost like skipping over the ground, "We hardly even need to teleport, if you don't mind spending most of the day in travel."
01[20:25] <Seira> "But where's the fun in that?"
[20:26] <Kokokokoko> "Traveling is for those who lack magic," Neve smiles like ice, "Let us enjoy that we do not."
01[20:28] <Seira> Agreeing that there is no cause to waste their time, nor in any particular desire to travel after the last few days, Seira focuses on her destination and calls upon the magic of teleportation!
01[20:29] <Seira> roll 1d100 grove
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 grove and gets 4." [1d100=4]
[20:29] <Kokokokoko> OOC: d100 and where exactly are you...okay. Into the grove itself?
01[20:29] <Seira> OOC: Yes, hopefully she and her family wouldn't be too hard to find
[20:35] <Kokokokoko> You appear in a cool, shadowy place. Trees are all around you, adding shade. Above you hear light, playful laughter. Fairy-like beings dart in the trees above in a dance of playful life. Ahead, you see a unicorn and young foal, the latter walking slowly behind it's parent, another unicorn behind it.
01[20:35] <Seira> "Hi!" Seira calls over to them, waving. "Sorry for intruding!"
[20:36] <Kokokokoko> "Nice," Donald looks around, "In a sylvan-fey-ish sort of way." Amaryl just looks around, then to the unicorns.
01[20:37] <Seira> "It's a change of atmosphere," Seira agrees, waiting for the unicorns to respond.
[20:37] <Kokokokoko> "Seira..." Rosamund begins, but a sharp snort comes from her nose. Her gaze travels to Neve.
06[20:38] * Seira lets her gaze travel to Neve as well.
[20:39] <Kokokokoko> Neve merely smiles, pushing her hood back and stepping forward. Snow falls from her shoulders, leaving patches of snow and ice in the wake of her footsteps. "I am Neve." She even bows, "Seira felt it would be a good outing to bring me here." Her smiles curves, like daggers of frost. "Do you concur?"
06[20:40] * Seira rolls her eyes, and approaches Rosamund. "I wanted to introduce the two of you to each other."
[20:41] <Kokokokoko> From above, the playful laughters turns into gasps and cries, pixies flying upward and away. "Introduce us?!" Rosamund steps back, "Why in the name of the Earth Mother have you brought her here?! Do you know what she is and what she will bring?""
01[20:41] <Seira> "What will she bring?" Seira asks curiously.
[20:42] <Kokokokoko> "Why, what I always bring. Eternal winter," Neve smiles to Seira now, like pure ice. "Ah, a fey and unicorn's grove. It's just where the unyielding, heartless soul of winter should reside. But do not blame me, it was not my idea to come to this place."
01[20:44] <Seira> "Why do you always have to do that?" Seira complains. "You even admitted you had no plans of coming here for that, so why can't you introduce yourself more normally? There's no reason to pick a fight when you don't really want to hurt anyone here, is there?"
[20:45] <Kokokokoko> "I don't think you understand anything at all." Neve turns back to Seira. "Look at them. The pixies are fleeing as if the Reaper was coming for them, and the unicorns are wary to the point of fear. Tell me, for all your intellect, did you think on this at all? How would other fey and creatures of nature react to me?"
06[20:47] * Seira decides to forego her usual disguise. "Yes, yes, it's a tough life. If I go into foreign human cities as I am, people would be wary and fearful, too. That doesn't mean I have to breathe fire and act menacingly just because I can. I'm sure that if Rosamund spent a bit of time with you, she'd change her mind, but you have to cooperate, too!"
[20:51] <Kokokokoko> "You are a complete fool." Neve speaks with utter cold, approaching Seira now. Rosamund and her mate stay around their child in the meantime, protecting the foal. "An utter fool who let some quixotic desire blind her to the simpliest of realities. With a word, this place will become a monmument to eternal winter. Unicorns will freeze to death and the pixies will become will o' the wisps of ice, frozen to this descrated ground. To them,
[20:51] <Kokokokoko> frozen to this descrated ground. To them, I am the end of life and the beginning of the eternal cycle of winter." A few snowflakes fall down on Seira's shoulders, sizzling away there.
01[20:56] <Seira> "I'm a fool because I believe that people aren't defined by their circumstances of birth? Because I think that life's experiences could change someone?" Seira grits her teeth angrily. "Apparently I'm also a fool for believing you when you said you wouldn't do anything to people who didn't deserve it. But you know something?
01[20:56] <Seira> For all of your power and supposed meanness, you spend an uncanny amount of time provoking me and those around me. I think it's because you're not sure about wanting to freeze helpless people to death anymore, but that's hard to admit, so you're trying to spark a fight. Because then you would only be acting in self defense, and have no choice but to revert to what you think is your true nature."
[21:02] <Kokokokoko> "...you truly are a fool," Cold contempt comes in a smirk from Neve, "So single minded that you don't even grasp the most simple words." Before this can go any farther, Amaryl pushes her way between the two. "Enough! L-Let's go before this gets any worse!"
06[21:11] * Seira begins to nod to Amaryl, before stepping forward and grasping Neve's hands in her own, blocking out the cold as much as she can. "I'm sorry, I think I was born that way," she tells Neve matter-of-factly. "I can grasp the words, alright. You ask me for permission to attack, or try to pick fights with the residents, but you don't go through with it.
01[21:11] <Seira> Rosamund said you will bring eternal winter. Not could, will. She seems so certain, but instead of cold winter all I've seen were cold words. If your one and only goal was to doom this grove and its inhabitants, you would have done it as soon as we've arrived. You would have tried tricking me into coming. You wouldn't be agreeing to leave, now, as Amaryl mediates, since you didn't do anything." (more)
06[21:12] * Seira glares at Neve. "Fine. If you think I've pushed you into a corner where you either have to admit this or act, even if you're not certain you want to, then do it. Start with me. I'll stay here until you either relent or freeze me to death. If I'm such a hopeless fool that has no chance of saving a single person, then this is where my dream should end."
[21:16] <Kokokokoko> roll 2d6+10 cold damage
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 2d6+10 cold damage and gets 16." [2d6=2, 4]
[21:23] <Kokokokoko> "Aaaah." Seira's arms go cold, lances of numb ice running up her veins. Touching Neve is mind bendingly cold, as she pulls Seira into an embrace. "Is that what you want, little foolish dragon? Close your eyes then and I'll take you to a winter that never ends. Relax now and feel your lifefire sputter, cough and die out. But you won't be alone. Winter is coming...and from this grove, it will spread. Your frozen corpse will have a perfec
[21:24] <Kokokokoko> and from this grove, it will spread. Your frozen corpse will have a perfect seat to watch all you cared about fall into winter's wrath. That's all your dream will become."
[21:24] <Kokokokoko> "Seira!" Amaryl shouts, "Get away from her!" She comes up to Neve's side, "Let go of her, I can see the ice! Stop it!"
[21:26] <Kokokokoko> Donald looks back to Elle, the two sharing a quick nod.
01[21:26] <Seira> "So all you wanted was a hug?" Seira asks weakly, her arms pulling the fey closer. "You could have just asked. Is my dream so bad? You are my friend, and I want to share it with you. Please, choose me."
[21:27] <Kokokokoko> roll 2d6+10
06[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 2d6+10 and gets 15." [2d6=1, 4]
[21:30] <Kokokokoko> Seira's vision tints with ice, her eyes frosting over. Her hands aren't there - utterly numb, frozen through. Through them, Seira can dimly see that it's starting to snow. It's a beautiful snow, the ground turning white like the shores of heaven. 'SEIRA!' Amaryl's shout echos in her mind. OOC: I'm going to call init here to organize things better.
[21:31] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+3 Donald
06[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+3 Donald and gets 10." [1d20=7]
01[21:31] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 22." [1d20=16]
[21:32] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+8 Amaryl
06[21:32] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+8 Amaryl and gets 20." [1d20=12]
[21:32] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+4 Elle
06[21:32] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+4 Elle and gets 5." [1d20=1]
[21:32] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+6 Neve
06[21:32] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+6 Neve and gets 17." [1d20=11]
03[21:33] * Kokokokoko changes topic to 'Seira(22)>Amaryl(20)>Neve(17)>Donald(10)>Elle(5)'
[21:33] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+3 group init for the unicorns
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+3 group init for the unicorns and gets 21." [1d20=18]
03[21:33] * Kokokokoko changes topic to 'Seira(22)>Unicorn family(21)>Amaryl(20)>Neve(17)>Donald(10)>Elle(5)'
[21:33] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Doing anything but talking and holding for the moment, Seira?
01[21:34] <Seira> OOC: Killing her was exactly what I had in mind when I took her sightseeing. That's a vote for... talking and holding, I think. Let me find the words.
[21:34] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Sure, by all mean.s
01[21:36] <Seira> "You're still holding back," Seira gasps. "And you're not taunting me anymore. You don't want to do it, Neve. Are you trying to make my other friends stop you? Just... just stop it yourself, if you lack the conviction to follow through! If you can't swiftly kill your friends with your own hands! Or do you really feel nothing, nothing at all?!"
[21:38] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Make a diplo check, Seira?
01[21:39] <Seira> roll 1d20+37 wasting my ignorance here, seems appropriate
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+37 wasting my ignorance here, seems appropriate and gets 47." [1d20=10]
[21:41] <Kokokokoko> Meanwhile, Seira can dimly see Rosamund and her child retreating from the grove, while the male unicorn remains! Then, 'Damn it Seira, say something to me!' Amaryl's voice is in Seira's mind.
01[21:42] <Seira> "I just don't want to see my friends fight," Seira says quietly, thinking the same to Amaryl. "Is that a weakness? Is that wrong?"
[21:44] <Kokokokoko> "Seira..." Amaryl hesitates at that...OOC: Amaryl's holding since your words got her not to intervene quite yet. Neve's up.
[21:45] <Kokokokoko> roll 2d6+10
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 2d6+10 and gets 15." [2d6=2, 3]
[21:48] <Kokokokoko> Seira's ears frost over. Words come in muffled echos, her lower arms and elbows senseless now, frozen with ice overlapping them. "You need a lesson, fool." Neve whispers into Seira's ear, the ice growing thicker there by the moment. "What are your dreams in the howling maelstrom of winter's heart? What are the dreams of a fool worth?" Neve flies up 20 feet, holding up Seira with both arms. "Look down at the earth as winter comes for it
[21:48] <Kokokokoko> holding up Seira with both arms. "Look down at the earth as winter comes for it, fool." Then...(More)
[21:49] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+11 will Amaryl
06[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+11 will Amaryl and gets 26." [1d20=15]
[21:51] <Kokokokoko> roll 4d6+4d6 You can make a ref save if you like, Seira, ice shards are going to be flying all over the place. Amaryl gets one too.
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 4d6+4d6 You can make a ref save if you like, Seira, ice shards are going to be flying all over the place. Amaryl gets one too. and gets 21." [4d6=1, 1, 1, 4][4d6=4, 1, 5, 4]
[21:52] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+20 ref Amaryl this is her good save
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+20 ref Amaryl this is her good save and gets 21." [1d20=1]
01[21:52] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 25." [1d20=1]
[21:55] <Kokokokoko> A field of flying ice shards surrounds Neve and Seira, Amaryl stuck in it as ewll! They penetrate and stab, freezing entries all over Seira's body! OOC: Seira, remember, you just talked so you're welcome to go whenever you want. Donald's up.
[22:04] <Kokokokoko> "Seira!" Donald calls, "Get out of there!" Crackling negative energies form around his hand, "I can't take a shot unless you do!"
03[22:08] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-220-93.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[22:08] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
06[22:09] * Seira screams angrily as Amaryl is showered with icy shards, pushing Neve away. "Fine! Fine! I won't forget this lesson!" She yells more at the fey, but instead, a wave of fire erupts in Neve's face at point blank range.
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 8d8+2d8 fire+holy dc16
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 8d8+2d8 fire+holy dc16 and gets 50." [8d8=7, 3, 7, 1, 8, 4, 2, 4][2d8=8, 6]
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[22:10] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+23
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+23 and gets 39." [1d20=16]
[22:17] <Kokokokoko> The blast of holy fire catches Neve right in the face! She screams and shields her face with her hands, and between that, "Tsch!" Her burnt face looks back at Seira, hands falling down, "I..." she begins, but a pair of black rays come from Donald, cutting her off! OOC: Donald's acting.
03[22:17] * Kokokokoko changes topic to 'Unicorn family(21)>Amaryl(20)>Neve(17)>Donald(10)=Seira>Elle(5)'
[22:17] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+13 SR
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+13 SR and gets 18." [1d20=5]
[22:18] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+13 SR quick cast ray
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+13 SR quick cast ray and gets 30." [1d20=17]
[22:18] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20 touch AC
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20 touch AC and gets 11." [1d20=11]
[22:18] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d4
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d4 and gets 2." [1d4=2]
[22:19] <Kokokokoko> The black beam strikes Neve in the arm, withering it! "Seira, to us!" Donald cries, as Elle steps forward. OOC - Elle's up.
[22:20] <Kokokokoko> Buckling from that ray, "I was going to say," her voice wheezes a bit, "That at least finally you act to save your life." Neve floats in the air, gravity having no hold on her. Snow falls all around you, "Run then. Flee from winter with your life."
[22:23] <Kokokokoko> From Elle's hand a ray flies as well, darker, going for Neve!
[22:23] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+15
06[22:23] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+15 and gets 29." [1d20=14]
[22:23] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20 touch
06[22:23] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20 touch and gets 10." [1d20=10]
[22:24] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Actually, I have to check that, she has good touch AC.
01[22:25] <Seira> "My life?" Seira laughs bitterly. "All bets were off when you attacked Amaryl. She wasn't involved. She wasn't involved in this, dammit! All this, all this to prove some stupid point?! To teach me a lesson?! You're the one who's going to learn--"
06[22:25] * Seira swipes at her eyes angrily. "You put others at risk so carelessly, and you think I'm going to flee? I put everything on the line for you, and you spat at me!"
[22:26] <Kokokokoko> The beam whizzles by, narrowly missing Neve! Neve narrows her eyes back, "I said for you to flee, you fool!" She snaps, "Do you ever listen to anything?" Meanwhile Amaryl readies her bow, snapping off a single arrow, "Get away from her, Neve!"
[22:26] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+17
06[22:26] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+17 and gets 19." [1d20=2]
03[22:27] * Kokokokoko changes topic to 'Unicorn family(21)>Neve(17)>Donald(10)=Seira>Elle(5)>Amaryl'
[22:27] <Kokokokoko> But the arrrow hits a shard of ice still flying, deflected away! Meanwhile, the male unicorn holds for a moment...OOC: Neve's up.
06[22:27] * Seira answers by having doubles of her spring up.
01[22:27] <Seira> roll 1d4+5
06[22:27] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+5 and gets 7." [1d4=2]
[22:29] <Kokokokoko> At that, Neve flies back and upwards! She moves 120 feet away, split evenly between rising and moving away from Seira. OOC: Donald's up.
[22:31] <Kokokokoko> Donald advances a bit, channeling magical power into himself! OOC: Resist energy, cold. Seira, you're up.
06[22:33] * Seira pursues, marking Neve with a targetting ray.
01[22:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+16 sr
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 sr and gets 31." [1d20=15]
[22:33] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Success.
[22:33] <Kokokokoko> OOC: How far/fast can you fly towards her, Seira?
01[22:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+16 ranged touch
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 ranged touch and gets 28." [1d20=12]
[22:33] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Hit.
01[22:33] <Seira> OOC: 30ft
[22:33] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Okay, so still 90ft away.
02[22:34] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-220-93.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
03[22:35] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-220-93.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[22:35] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[22:35] <Kokokokoko> Elle invokes words of power around herself as well, advancing ahead 30 feet after. She just shakes her head quietly, intent. OOC: Amaryl's up.
[22:45] <Kokokokoko> Amaryl readies her position, drawing arrows an dfiring!
[22:46] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+15
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+15 and gets 28." [1d20=13]
[22:46] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+15
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+15 and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[22:46] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+15
[22:46] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+15
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+15 and gets 21." [1d20=6]
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+15 and gets 23." [1d20=8]
[22:46] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+10
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+10 and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[22:46] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+10
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+10 and gets 18." [1d20=8]
[22:46] <Kokokokoko> OOC: -2 to each for range.
01[22:46] <Seira> OOC: +5
[22:46] <Kokokokoko> OOC: So +3 total. One hit then, bad set of rolls.
[22:47] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d8+3
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d8+3 and gets 8." [1d8=5]
[22:49] <Kokokokoko> Arrows fly freely, on eof them grazing Neve! It pierces her skin, drawing a little bit of blood! Meanwhile the unicorn holds, while Neve flies away again! She's now 210 feet away from Seira, 240 from Amaryl.
[22:49] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Donald's up.
[22:49] <Kokokokoko> 'Seira?' Amaryl asks in her mind, 'Watch out...is it a trap, or is she retreating or what?'
01[22:51] <Seira> 'It was all a trap,' Seira thinks back angrily. 'If she thinks she can run away after this--'
[22:51] <Kokokokoko> Donald shakes his head, "I can't do much with how fast she's moving," he scowls, "Elle?" To that, Elle nods, "As soon as she gets a little farther away," she replies in the meantime. OOC: Elle's holding a moment. Amaryl's up.
01[22:52] <Seira> OOC: No, it's my go
[22:52] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Oh, sorry, my bad. Go.
06[22:53] * Seira is still within range, and sends a disorienting ray at Neve even as she cloaks herself in stoneskin, flying further up in pursuit.
01[22:53] <Seira> roll 1d20+16 sr, ray of dizziness
06[22:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 sr, ray of dizziness and gets 30." [1d20=14]
01[22:53] <Seira> roll 1d20+21 ranged touch
06[22:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 ranged touch and gets 38." [1d20=17]
[22:53] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Hit. Effect?
01[22:53] <Seira> OOC: Pretty much slow on her
01[22:53] <Seira> OOC: Only move or standard actions for her
[22:54] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Rigth.
[22:54] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Actually, what'st he range on that spell?
[22:54] <Kokokokoko> OOC: You're over 200 ft away, remember.
01[22:54] <Seira> OOC: 100ft+10x16ft for me
01[22:55] <Seira> OOC: Aiming to be 180ft away after this
[22:56] <Kokokokoko> OOC: Okay.
[22:57] <Kokokokoko> Firing off ahead again, Seira fires! The glowing beam strikes Neve, slowing down he rmotions greatly! OOC: Amaryl's up now.
[23:00] <Kokokokoko> "Ugh..." Neve flutters in the air, and with a shout, "You want to keep chasing death, do you?"
[23:01] <Kokokokoko> Amaryl moves fourty feet ahead, calling on Sniper's shot as she fires off a single long range attack! OOC: 200 ft away, so just barely within the only -2 range.
[23:01] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d20+20
06[23:01] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d20+20 and gets 38." [1d20=18]
[23:02] <Kokokokoko> roll 1d8+3+3d6
06[23:02] * Hatbot --> "Kokokokoko rolls 1d8+3+3d6 and gets 21." [1d8=4][3d6=5, 4, 5]
01[23:02] <Seira> "You went out of your way to make me your enemy! Well, have a fucking prize, because it worked! I'm chasing death? Don't make me laugh! It's you who is fleeing the inevitable!"
[23:03] <Kokokokoko> This arrow is aimed true, piecing Neve's hand! She gestures with it, bloody arrow and all! "You want me so badly! Come to me, Seira!" Her voice becomes that of a singing siren, beautiful and alluring! OOC: Make will, Seira?
01[23:04] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
06[23:04] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 28." [1d20=6]
[23:04] <Kokokokoko> OOC:Sonic, mind effecting if that matters.
01[23:04] <Seira> OOC: Not really
[23:06] <Kokokokoko> OOC: You're captivated by her voice. You want to do nothing more than come in front of her by the most direct route possible. Donald's up...but it's 4 10 and I have work, so we'll pick up there next time.
[18:57] <Kobreakfast> <Seira> "You went out of your way to make me your enemy! Well, have a fucking prize, because it worked! I'm chasing death? Don't make me laugh! It's you who is fleeing the inevitable!"
[18:57] <Kobreakfast> > This arrow is aimed true, piecing Neve's hand! She gestures with it, bloody arrow and all! "You want me so badly! Come to me, Seira!" Her voice becomes that of a singing siren, beautiful and alluring! OOC: Make will, Seira?
[18:57] <Kobreakfast> <Seira> roll 1d20+22
[18:57] <Kobreakfast> * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 28." [1d20=6]
[18:57] <Kobreakfast> > OOC:Sonic, mind effecting if that matters.
[18:57] <Kobreakfast> <Seira> OOC: Not really
[18:57] <Kobreakfast> > OOC: You're captivated by her voice. You want to do nothing more than come in front of her by the most direct route possible. Donald's up...but it's 4 10 and I have work, so we'll pick up there next time.
03[18:57] * Retrieving #evildunes modes...
03[18:57] * Kobreakfast is now known as Kotono
[19:05] <Kotono> "Almost ready?" Donald asks, holding just a little more. OOC: Donald's waiting on Elle a moment. Seira.
06[19:06] * Seira flies closer, as her eyes cloud over.
01[19:06] <Seira> OOC: +60ft more, for 120ft distance
[19:07] <Kotono> OOC: 120ft moved total your round, basically?
01[19:07] <Seira> OOC: 60ft moved, my base speed is 30. I was 180ft from her, now I'm 120.
[19:07] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:08] <Kotono> 'Unicorn family(21)>Neve(17)>Donald(10)=Seira>Elle(5)>Amaryl'
02[19:11] * Demedais (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-206-185.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[19:13] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-212-202.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[19:13] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
03[19:13] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
[19:13] <Kotono> In an instant, Elle and Donald blink and vanish away!
[19:14] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[19:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 99." [1d100=99]
[19:14] <Kotono> OOC: Oh, for the love of...
01[19:17] <Seira> OOC: 45ft closer, then, since I can't climb at full
[19:17] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:18] <Kotono> No sign of them after the teleport! OOC: Amaryl.
[19:18] <Kotono> 'Seira? Seira?' Amaryl questions, gritting her teeth and firing more arrows! "Neve, get away from Seira!"
[19:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
[19:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
[19:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 20." [1d20=2]
[19:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 36." [1d20=18]
06[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 20." [1d20=2]
06[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 21." [1d20=3]
[19:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[19:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 24." [1d20=11]
06[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 21." [1d20=8]
[19:19] <Kotono> roll 1d8+3 Hatbot just doesn't much like you guys today, does he?
06[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+3 Hatbot just doesn't much like you guys today, does he? and gets 8." [1d8=5]
[19:21] <Kotono> Of that storm of arrows, only one manages to hit, drawing a grazing wound on Neve. The cold iron rips right through her skin! Meanwhile, the unicorns wait and protect themselves...OOC: Neve.
[19:24] <Kotono> "Oh Seira...come here, Seira..." she calls and sings, "I gave you a chance to run away...You too, Amaryl!" Her voice raises, as...
[19:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 18." [1d20=7]
[19:24] <Kotono> Amaryl's eyes cloud over as well! OOC: Donald's up but not doing anything you can see for obvious reasons. Seira, you're up.
06[19:25] * Seira flies straight up to catch up this time around, having traveled horizontally earlier.
[19:25] <Kotono> OOC: How far away does that put you then?
01[19:25] <Seira> OOC: 30ft closer now, 105ft away
[19:25] <Kotono> OOC: Thanks.
[19:25] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 17." [1d100=17]
02[19:28] * Demedais (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-212-202.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[19:28] <Kotono> About twenty feet away and twenty above, Elle and Donald appear! Donald has his sword ready, "Thanks Elle!" He then dives straight down at Neve, Guardianil flashing with arcane fires, "Surrender or die!" He calls, sword striking out at Neve!
03[19:28] * Kotono changes topic to 'Unicorn family(21)>Neve(17)>Seira>Elle(5)=Donald>Amaryl'
[19:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+26 (+1 GMW, +2 charge, +3 Arcane strike 1 3rd, 1 2nd, 1st; +1 haste, -5 PA)
06[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 (+1 GMW, +2 charge, +3 Arcane strike 1 3rd, 1 2nd, 1st; +1 haste, -5 PA) and gets 30." [1d20=4]
[19:30] <Kotono> roll 1d10+16+6d4
06[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10+16+6d4 and gets 27." [1d10=1][6d4=2, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2]
[19:32] <Kotono> Driving Guardianil into her arm, Donald's other hand draws quick arcane symbols, before going to thrust his hand into Neve's chest!
[19:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20 touch attack, will calc if it's close
06[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 touch attack, will calc if it's close and gets 1." [1d20=1]
03[19:32] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-221-15.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[19:32] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
03[19:32] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
[19:33] <Kotono> The touch is close, but Neve whirls out of the wa, spraying snowflakes over Donald! Meanwhile, Amaryl approaches on the ground, another fourty feet closer and the unicorns hold! OOC: Neve's up.
[19:35] <Kotono> As this happens, Rosamund runs up to Amaryl. Amaryl's eyes clear as she does! OOC: Neve's up now
[19:35] <Kotono> .
[19:36] <Kotono> "All of you...listen to my song..." Neve grimaces as she sings, music coming even as blood comes from her wounds!
[19:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[19:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 18." [1d20=7]
[19:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[19:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 34." [1d20=18]
[19:38] <Kotono> Donald's eyes cloud over, while Elle's eyes grow narrow, intense! OOC: Seira, you're up.
[19:38] <Kotono> OOC: Wait, mindfreeze aura resolves.
[19:38] <Kotono> OOC: Nevermind, Elle's outta range.
[19:38] <Kotono> OOC: Carry on.
06[19:39] * Seira flies thirty more feet up, almost directly following Neve's diagonal path.
01[19:39] <Seira> OOC: 75ft away from her in a direct line
[19:40] <Kotono> OOC: Right-o.
[19:42] <Kotono> As Donald stands before Neve, slack jawed at her singing, Elle growls. "Oh damn it," she sighs, flying forward to Donald! She touches him, his eyes clearing! OOC: Amaryl.
[19:44] <Kotono> "T-thanks..." Donald blushes as he glances at Elle, straightening himself up! Amaryl meanwhile snaps out, "Damn it, Seira trusted you and now this? Do you have any s hame?" With that, she moves a little closer, opting for one powerful arrow this time with Sniper's shot!
[19:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[19:44] <Kotono> roll 1d8+3+3d6
06[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+3+3d6 and gets 11." [1d8=1][3d6=1, 3, 3]
[19:51] <Kotono> The shot arrows is uncannily accurate, nailing Neve in the leg for another wound! At this, Neve grimaces. There is a flash of cold as she continues to sing! OOC: Mind freeze aura, shes' choosing to affect Donald with it and he's the only one in range currently. Will for him.
[19:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[19:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 21." [1d20=10]
[19:52] <Kotono> OOC: And Elle moved adjacent to him, dur, so she has to save too.
[19:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[19:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 24." [1d20=8]
[20:00] <Kotono> Donald and Elle are dazed, looking confused! OOC: Seira.
06[20:00] * Seira flies straight towards Neve without a care in the world, taking the most direct path, even as Lagann rages vilely about the Betrayer in her mind. Once she is but thirty feet away from the fey, Lagann takes hold of her weapon and strikes without notice, finally in range.
01[20:00] <Seira> OOC: Moving 30ft horizontally +15ft vertically again
01[20:00] <Seira> OOC: I end up 30ft away. Attack goes through?
[20:01] <Kotono> OOC: Sure.
01[20:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+10+7+4 maim
06[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+10+7+4 maim and gets 27." [1d20=6]
[20:03] <Kotono> Lagann directs a sword at Neve, but she manages to sidestep the slash at the last moment! Meanwhile, Donald and Elle are stunned. Amaryl takes a breath, and resting against Rosamund, fires one accurate shot!
[20:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 27." [1d20=7]
[20:03] <Kotono> But this arrow misses as well! OOC: Neve.
[20:05] <Kotono> Neve continues to sing, her mind freeze aura doing it's work!
[20:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Donald
06[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 Donald and gets 26." [1d20=15]
[20:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 Elle
06[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 Elle and gets 19." [1d20=3]
[20:05] <Kotono> OOC: Elle is stunned, Donald's shaken.
[20:08] <Kotono> As Elle goes limp in the air, eyes rolling bakc into her head, Donald rallies, shaking but coherent! OOC: Seira.
01[20:10] <Seira> Lagann strikes at the fey angrily with the Resort, even as Seira finally flies up to her, surrounded by eight of her doubles.
01[20:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+21 smite
06[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 smite and gets 30." [1d20=9]
[20:10] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[20:10] <Seira> roll 3d8+4+6d8
06[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+4+6d8 and gets 36." [3d8=7, 2, 2][6d8=2, 2, 2, 1, 7, 7]
01[20:11] <Seira> roll 1d20+16
06[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 and gets 35." [1d20=19]
01[20:11] <Seira> roll 1d20+16 crit?
06[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 crit? and gets 32." [1d20=16]
01[20:11] <Seira> roll 9d8+12
06[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 9d8+12 and gets 66." [9d8=8, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 6, 2]
[20:12] <Kotono> The Third Resort dances under Lagann's control, stabbing Neve in the stomach with pulsing energy, then ripping out through her side! The wounds are considerable, leaving her staggering int he air, crystal ice blood falling down like a rain of tears from her midsection! OOC: Donald's up.
01[20:12] <Seira> OOC: I'd be 5ft away, as she wants me to.
[20:13] <Kotono> As Seira finishes moving, her mind clears! OOC: At the end o fyour turn, you come in range of Donald's circle and this protects you now. Donald's up.
[20:14] <Kotono> Despite his shakes, "Enough of this, Neve..." Donald murmurs tiredly, voice shaking. "You can hurt me or Seira...but burn in Baator for hurting Elle!" With that, hsi sword glows with power and he strikes!
[20:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 (+1 GMW, +2 charge, +3 Arcane strike 1 3rd, 1 2nd, 1st; +1 haste)
06[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 (+1 GMW, +2 charge, +3 Arcane strike 1 3rd, 1 2nd, 1st; +1 haste) and gets 44." [1d20=11]
[20:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 (+1 GMW, +2 charge, +3 Arcane strike 1 3rd, 1 2nd, 1st; +1 haste)
06[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 (+1 GMW, +2 charge, +3 Arcane strike 1 3rd, 1 2nd, 1st; +1 haste) and gets 38." [1d20=5]
[20:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28
06[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 and gets 42." [1d20=14]
[20:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
06[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 35." [1d20=12]
[20:15] <Kotono> OOC: -2 to ecah due to shaken, doesn't matter.
01[20:15] <Seira> OOC: +flanking, so it evens out
[20:15] <Kotono> roll 4d10+4+24d4 (added in DR)
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d10+4+24d4 (added in DR) and gets 86." [4d10=2, 4, 8, 10][24d4=3, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1, 4, 2, 4, 1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 3, 2, 4, 1]
[20:16] <Kotono> Neve is torn apart bitterly, Donald's blade flashing with arcane fire as he mauls her side! Elle is meanwhile dazed, as Amaryl fires her arrows, one powerful and accurate shot!
[20:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[20:16] <Kotono> roll 1d8+3+3d6
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+3+3d6 and gets 13." [1d8=1][3d6=6, 2, 1]
[20:17] <Kotono> It gets Neve in the eye, a hissing pop as her eyeball explodes into a rain of icy blood! Screaming as she grasps at the arrow, "S-stop...spare me..." she hangs limp in the air, "I beg you!" OOC: Neve's holding at the moment.
03[20:18] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:20] <Kotono> OOC: That means you're up, Seira, by the by.
01[20:25] <Seira> Her fists igniting with fire, Seira backhands Neve ruthlessly, her hand aiming at her temple.
01[20:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 25." [1d20=10]
01[20:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 27." [1d20=12]
[20:26] <Kotono> OOC: No hits on either of those. Anything else?
01[20:26] <Seira> OOC: Yes, moment
[20:27] <Kotono> OOC: Sure.
01[20:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+10 impromptu SA
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+10 impromptu SA and gets 14." [1d20=4]
01[20:30] <Seira> Lagann receives new instructions at the last moment, even as Seira fails to take out Neve, striking with the flat of the blade.
01[20:30] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 (-4+2)
06[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 (-4+2) and gets 31." [1d20=12]
01[20:30] <Seira> roll 3d8+4
[20:30] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
06[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+4 and gets 26." [3d8=8, 6, 8]
[20:33] <Kotono> Clang! With that flat blow of the blade, Neve is clocked hard! She begins to go limp and fall in the air, her one intact eye slamming shut as she falls! OOC: She's out, free act. You wanted you or Donald to try and grab her in PM, Seira?
06[20:33] * Seira roughly snags up one of Neve's arms, indicating for Donald to get the other.
[20:34] <Kotono> Donald drops his sword and shield in a moment, grabbing a hold of Neve! Between the two of them it's not too hard to arrest her fall. "Got her, let go," Donald says quickly, "I'm warded against cold, you aren't."
01[20:36] <Seira> "It's alright," Seira tells him, starting to descend while matching Donald's speed as best as she can. "She can hurt me, right?"
[20:36] <Kotono> "Oh she can hurt you," Donald mutters, "Once we get down I'll heal you some. What the hell, though?"
01[20:38] <Seira> "How can someone act rational and irrational at the same time?" Seira is beyond puzzled, she's dumbstruck. "She wasn't lying to me or tricking me, was she? You spent time with her. She was haughty, condescending, superior... she was a fey Abby! How does she go from that to killing her friends and unicorns?!"
06[20:40] * Seira shakes her head back and forth. "I'd suspect an idiotic trick to teach me some pointless lesson about cruelty and self-preservation, but she kept going after it. I'd suspect a magical enchantment, dammit, but she begged for surrender in the end!"
[20:40] <Kotono> "I don't know." Donald takes the brunt of the load as you ascend down, Amaryl and Rosamund running close as you get towards the ground. "Well, we spared her life, so you can ask her in depth once she's neutralized."
06[20:41] * Seira binds Neve's hands behind her back, then her feet, and finally both ropes together, before fashioning a gag she won't be able to be rid of or bite through. "We can do that. Or we can toss her in a dungeon for a week so I don't do anything stupid."
[20:43] <Kotono> Elle alights behind Seira, "Or we could finish her and let whatever God cares to claim her sort it out? That battle was entirely too unexpected and dangerous."
01[20:44] <Seira> "I want to do that," Seira admits quietly, "but then I think, what if it were anyone else? Not someone I see as a friend? And we can't execute someone who surrendered and we've incapacitated. I studied about her kind enough after meeting her, and wanting to know more about her. She shouldn't be able to escape, and if no one is around within thirty feet, it should be safe."
[20:45] <Kotono> Oh Seira!" Amaryl goes to Seira's side, shivering. "You're still deathly cold!"
[20:46] <Kotono> "I want to know why, too," Donald looks down at Neve, kneeling next to her, "If she was a little faster or we were a little slower, it would've cost us our ilves."
01[20:49] <Seira> "And you... saved me from myself," Seira says slowly, gazing at Amaryl. "I took things too far this time. The real test should be living for a friend's sake, not dying for them. That's not the lesson she wanted to teach me, but I'll remember it all the same."
[20:49] <Kotono> Donald goes to Seira, channeling his helmet to heal her wounds in the meanwhile.
[20:50] <Kotono> roll 4d8_13
06[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8_13 and gets Error: Numeric values only." [4d8=8, 6, 7, 8]
[20:50] <Kotono> roll 13+8+7+6+8
06[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 13+8+7+6+8 and gets 42."
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: 42 HP.
01[20:50] <Seira> roll 2d8+10 me
06[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 me and gets 16." [2d8=2, 4]
01[20:53] <Seira> roll 1d100 home
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 home and gets 18." [1d100=18]
[21:48] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Okay, go ahead and roll teleprt?
01[21:48] <Seira> roll 1d100
05[21:48] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:48] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[21:48] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 91." [1d100=91]
[21:53] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> You've been there how often?
01[21:54] <Seira> I'd say seen casually works best. I spent some time there before, but only visited the once.
01[21:54] <Seira> Elf disguise, btw
[21:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d10
[21:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d10
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d10 and gets 4." [1d10=4]
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d10 and gets 6." [1d10=6]
[21:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d9
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d9 and gets 4." [1d9=4]
[21:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> -----
[22:04] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Woosh! Seira appears somewhere in the forest. She stands knee deep in cool spring waters, the chilly air lapping at her face. Ahead of her, swimming in the deeper waters of a middling sized lake, is an elven woman. Even from here, Seira can tell she's gorgeous.
06[22:07] * Seira decides to swim over to the gorgeous woman! Her detours thus far had consistently been to places she was needed at, or to learn things Waukeen wishes for her to know. This might well be the latter, and the water is so pleasant, after all.
[22:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> As Seira swims closer, the woman turns! Her dark brown hair is long and wet, clinging to her bare back as she stares at Seira! Her beauty utterly overwhelms her, enrapturing her! OOC: Make a will save?
01[22:08] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 26." [1d20=4]
[22:09] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Seira's eyes nearly burn away at such beauty, but she holds her vision in check! "Aaah!" The woman swims a bit away from Seira, "Who are you?!"
01[22:10] <Seira> "Seira," she responds, pausing as she leisurely keeps herself afloat, not pursuing the beauty in the least. "I'm not sure how I got here, but the lake's water was so nice I decided to take a swim. Am I bothering you?"
01[22:11] <Seira> roll 1d20+26
06[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+26 and gets 28." [1d20=2]
[22:12] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Make a diplo check, Seira?
01[22:12] <Seira> roll 1d20+30
01[22:13] <Seira> OOC: I guess I'll take 10 for 40 if Hat's dead
02[22:15] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) Quit (Broken pipe)
[22:16] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Hesitating a moment, "In your clothes? How did you find my secret spring in the first place?" Her voice is melodious music.
01[22:17] <Seira> "It probably looks bad, huh?" Seira asks, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment. "But I suppose it wouldn't look good, either, if I just saw you and started taking off my clothes." She smiles self-deprecatingly. "Like I said, I'm not sure how I got here. But when I splashed into this beautiful spring, my clothes got wet as it is, so I figured I might as well make the best of it and greet you."
[22:19] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "You don't know how you got here? Hmph." Now scowling, "Oh, I bet it isn't your fault. No, it truly isn't. Someone's playing a prank...and a dangerous one. Elf child, did yo usee anything unusual before you found yourself here? Any unusual forest creatures?"
01[22:21] <Seira> "Oh, I'm sorry." Seira looks genuinely contrite. "My teleport was redirected en route. So I honestly don't know why I was dropped into your lake, but no one actually abducted me. I didn't mean to mislead you."
[22:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh." Now peering at Seira, "You're a wizard. That explains much of this."
06[22:23] * Seira nods eagerly. "Yes! I was thinking of visiting some acquaintances, but they were too far away for regular travel. I also have some time, though, so I was hoping to relax for a while since I ended up in such a nice place? Before, every time I went off course, I was sent to really terrible weather, or horrible people who wanted to kill me were right there."
01[22:23] <Seira> She sniffs. "I can't believe it. A teleport can go off course and not lead to horrible, life-threatening situations!"
[22:24] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I...see...." The elven creature stares at Seira, "Definintely a wizard. What's your name?"
01[22:26] <Seira> "It's Seira! I didn't pause halfway before, that's my entire name," Seira responds, all smiles again. "What is yours? You are very beautiful, you know. Easily amongst the most gorgeous women I've ever had the pleasure of meeting!"
[22:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh, I mist have misse-" She stops there, "Wait...is Seira a common name among elves?"
01[22:29] <Seira> "It's a proper elven name," Seira says defensively, "even if I've never actually met another Seira before."
[22:29] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> ".....do you know of a creature called the Magus of Time?" She asks, eyeing Seira warily.
06[22:31] * Seira tilts her head, reminiscing. "I thought he was a terrible person, keeping all the fey imprisoned and bent to his will the way he did. But then, he actually turned out... I'm not sure. I like to think he was repentant, since he did tell us how to free everyone. Why?"
[22:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "You're her...!" With a wild look, "I was one of those. The fey, that is. I didn't see you as you traveled in, but I heard your names."
01[22:34] <Seira> "Secret spring, dangerous prank, unusual forest creatures, elf child," Seira counts, nodding to herself. "Makes sense." She looks slightly wary. "Does that mean that you liked him and want me to go away? I don't want to bother you at your home."
[22:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "You're very powerful if you defeated the Magus of Time and you just appeared here. How else am I supposed to react?"
01[22:39] <Seira> "I don't know how to react, either! I haven't met many fey before, and they've usually treated me badly," Seira admits. "But if you don't treat everyone as a friend when you meet them, then no door will open before you..." she adds quietly, musing to herself, before glancing back at the fey. "Don't you think so?"
[22:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I suppose..." Blushing now as she swims a little closer to Seira.
[22:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC:G Ah.
[22:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I suppose..." Blushing now as she swims a little closer to Seira, "I'm Arel."
01[22:44] <Seira> "Hi!"
[22:46] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Stopping ten feet away and standing, using her arms to cover her bare bosom, "Are you going to be staying long?"
01[22:48] <Seira> "A while, but probably no more than a few hours," Seira responds, mentally calculating. "Like I said, I was trying to visit a few acquaintances, and I might need to help them with something, so I'll need some daylight left to work with. In the time I have, though, do you think we could talk? I would really like to understand fey better."
[22:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Very well." Walking out of the water and going to the bank of the lake, the nymph clads herself in fall leaves. It makes a dress of red and gold, cloaking her body. "What about fey do you desire to know, Seira?"
01[22:52] <Seira> "It's nothing specific. At least, nothing I can just ask about." Seira makes a face. "Could you just tell me about yourself? I think talking, interacting with others is the key to understanding them."
[22:53] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Taking a few breaths and tossing her hair, waterdroplets come in a spray. They catch the watery fall sunlight, sparkling like rainbow gems as they land on the ground. "A nymph may be like anther nymph, but different fey are not alike. Do men go mad with lust when they see a pixie?"
01[22:54] <Seira> "Well, I, uhh, suppose there are men like that," Seira says awkwardly.
[22:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Fey are as diverse as human and demihuman kind...." She stops there, "That is a terrible, terrible idea to think of."
01[22:56] <Seira> "It is, so let's not!" Seira agrees quickly, before changing the topic slightly. "But what you've just said is something that you do. Or can do. Not what you are. And certainly not who you are, right?"
[23:00] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "What I'm saying is that fey are as diverse as humans or elves, mostly." Twirling down and going to sit indian style on the ground.
06[23:04] * Seira takes off her cloak, shakes it a few times and then finds an empty spot where she won't accidentally set anything on fire, and breathes some of it on it, enough to dry the magical cloth. Then, she spreads it over the ground and sits atop it.
01[23:04] <Seira> "You have no idea how much hearing that uplifts my spirit!" Seira insists emphatically. "Until now, just about every fey I've come across insisted to act just like how you would expect, after reading about them in a book. In fact, you could swear those books were written with those specific fey in mind! As an individual, it made me despair."
[23:05] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "We do, however, have trends. Humans are full of change, dwarves are mountain dwellers, elves are forest kin. It's the same as us. Were you a man, I could have you madly in love with me."
06[23:06] * Seira nods slowly. "But would you? I mean, what's in it for you?"
[23:09] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "If I desired to, yes. Some men are handsome...and nymphs breed true. It's how more nymphs are made," She looks down to her stomach, "That's why."
01[23:12] <Seira> "But I wasn't kidding when I said you are truly gorgeous," Seira tells her, clearly not comprehending. "And you have a nice disposition, from what I've seen so far. Wouldn't it be better to just find someone you liked and have them like you back through getting to know you? Just making someone fall for you because you can... why would you choose that?"
[23:15] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I don't want a long term mate. Your kind are not bad, but...we also serve our trees and groves. We call a nymph who does such a bound nymph who has abandoned nature."
03[23:17] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
01[23:17] <Seira> "So it can happen, and happen enough that there's a name for it." Seira nods to herself once more. "What about casual encounters? It's not really for me, but I didn't mean to imply you should settle down with someone. Just that I don't see why you would even think of resorting to magical compulsion with all that you have going for you."
[20:18] <Kotono> > "If I desired to, yes. Some men are handsome...and nymphs breed true. It's how more nymphs are made," She looks down to her stomach, "That's why."
[20:18] <Kotono> <Seira> "But I wasn't kidding when I said you are truly gorgeous," Seira tells her, clearly not comprehending. "And you have a nice disposition, from what I've seen so far. Wouldn't it be better to just find someone you liked and have them like you back through getting to know you? Just making someone fall for you because you can... why would you choose that?"
[20:18] <Kotono> > "I don't want a long term mate. Your kind are not bad, but...we also serve our trees and groves. We call a nymph who does such a bound nymph who has abandoned nature."
[20:18] <Kotono> * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[20:18] <Kotono> <Seira> "So it can happen, and happen enough that there's a name for it." Seira nods to herself once more. "What about casual encounters? It's not really for me, but I didn't mean to imply you should settle down with someone. Just that I don't see why you would even think of resorting to magical compulsion with all that you have going for you."
[20:28] <Kotono> "Why would you think that," The nyphm cocks her head to the side, looking at Seira.
01[20:31] <Seira> "I got it wrong?" Seira asks uncertainly. "It's just... you said that if you liked someone, you'd be able to make them fall madly in love with you. It didn't sound like they had a choice, you know?" Seira breathes out in a drawn out sigh. "So I misunderstood something again?"
[20:36] <Kotono> "I'm radiantly beautiful." With a little smirk at Seira, "Haven't you ever fallen in love at first sight with someone? Had a deep crush on someone you barely even know?"
06[20:37] * Seira withdraws slightly. "I think it's a given." She laughs then, shaking her head. "But even I'm not that self-assured, much less in that area!"
[20:41] <Kotono> Now starting to watch Seira with an amusement that radiates off her, "You have that much power and you're not 'that self assured?' Really?"
01[20:43] <Seira> "Is it strange? I'm confident about my chances in battle, and I usually have confidence during negotiations, but there are many aspects of daily life where I just wing it, pretty much."
[20:50] <Kotono> "Huh." Eyeing Seira curiously now, "If you can go out in battle and in things like negotiations, why is normal life hard?"
01[20:54] <Seira> "Because you can't just bludgeon someone into submission, I guess," Seira suggests with a snort. "You can force your will on someone if they are belligerent towards you. But just walking down the street, it can be different and I won't know how to respond. I've just taken to using a near-constant disguise to fit in better,
01[20:54] <Seira> which is a lot like avoiding the issue, but I'm not really sure what to do about people who stare. It's not like I can smite them in Waukeen's name for something like that."
[20:58] <Kotono> A nodding along to it, "Social battles are far more subtle. You can't just brain someone to make them accept you or not stare at you and let you fit in. What do you look like out of the disguise, then?" With a long, peering look to Seira, "Something unusual?"
01[21:02] <Seira> "Not all that much. I think it's the wings, really," Seira responds, doing away with the illusionary magic for now. "I suppose some of it comes from seeing those I face in one of the kinds of combat as a peer or an equal. But while I respect the civllians I live near, I feel that if I tried to treat them that way, it would be fake or undeserved."
[21:08] <Kotono> "That's tough." Crossing her arms, "Maybe the answer ist hat you aren't equal to them."
01[21:10] <Seira> "I think so, too," Seira agrees. "Because my conviction is on a different level. I didn't have special gifts that set me apart from anyone else as a child, so I'm different because of the training I've gone through, the studying I've done, the risks I've taken. And yet, I still don't want to treat anyone differently."
[21:16] <Kotono> "You could be pretty charming if you worked on it." Eyeing Seira, "You have a good way with words. Just treat them well enough. I can't stop males from staring at me, so I turn it into an advantage.:"
01[21:20] <Seira> "I'm sure people strong enough to like you and still resist exist, if you ever feel like chatting with a man casually," Seira tells Arel. "This turning things into an advantage idea sounds like a really good one, even if I can't think of anything specific right now. Maybe it'll come to me in time?"
[21:21] <Kotono> "It's very rare." Thinking for a little bit on that, "What does all of that have to do with fey, though?"
01[21:23] <Seira> "We went off on a tangent," Seira says sagely. "It happens a lot with me. As do certain misunderstandings, which was the reason this happened in the first place."
[21:24] <Kotono> "So get to the core of what you want then," Arel leans forward.
01[21:26] <Seira> "I... we could talk a lot, but really...." Seira stumbles over the words, uncertain of just how to say it. "What I really want to know is, can a fey and someone like me be friends? Or are we just too different?"
[21:28] <Kotono> "Sure, why not?" With a light shrug, "Talk to a pixie, they'll be your friend. Or those bound nymphs or what have you. Why?"
01[21:31] <Seira> "Aren't the bound nymphs those nymphs who acted against their nature?"
[21:39] <Kotono> "Sure, but they still made friends," With a dismissive shrug, "It's what you asked."
01[21:43] <Seira> "It is," Seira agrees, although she's no surer right now than before meeting her. It might be one of those things that take time to sink in, however. "Arel, you've been very kind despite the circumstances that brought me here, and I think that knowing what you said will help me. I should probably get going, if I don't want to be too later, however."
[21:46] <Kotono> "Be safe, dragon." With a slight bow to Seira, "You are an interesting sort."
01[21:47] <Seira> "It must be the interesting times I live in," Seira returns with a grin, collecting her cloak. As she twirls it around herself to clasp it around her neck, Seira's elven glamor returns. "Be safe," she echoes, nodding at Arel, and tries to teleport to the outskirts of the village once more.
01[21:48] <Seira> roll 1d100
05[21:49] -fantasy.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:49] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[21:49] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 52." [1d100=52]
[21:49] <Kotono> This time your teleport is without incident. You eappear on the outskirts of the village, byt he lake.
06[21:50] * Seira knows the route, and decides to go and see the inn that was damaged by their battle
[21:58] <Kotono> Seira approaches the inn. She finds a band of elves working on it, restoring the damage. The front has been torn down, working on the inside and working towards the outside.
06[21:59] * Seira hangs unobtrusively and listens to their conversation until she's noticed. That would be her chance to inquire if there's anything she can help with.
[22:04] <Kotono> OOC: Are you trying to outright hide or..."?
01[22:05] <Seira> OOC: No, just hanging back without obstructing their work, you know?
[22:05] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[22:06] <Kotono> They don't talk too much at first, working away on a side wall. After about a half hour, they take a break. They chat over water and berries, talking about how they hope to have the side wall done in a few days. As they talk, one looks Seira's way, nudges another one an dlooks to her. Soon a few of them are looking at her, and one calls, "Is something the matter, traveler?"
01[22:08] <Seira> And this is her cue! "It looks like a lot of work," she says, nodding lightly in the direction of the wall. "Was there a fire?"
[22:09] <Kotono> "Monsters," One of the elves makes a strange sign with his hands, shielding away evil. "There was a battle here, out of the complete blue."
06[22:11] * Seira recoils, mirroring the warding. "How terrible! Was it recent?"
[22:13] <Kotono> "A little while ago." Another elf answers, "Did you hear about it and the miracle afterwards?"
06[22:15] * Seira gives him a strange look, as if she would be there, acting surprised if you already knew all about it. "No," she responds, shaking her head. "I'm afraid not."
01[22:15] <Seira> *if she
[22:17] <Kotono> "One of the victims returned to life." There's some murmurings about it, "Real magic."
01[22:19] <Seira> This is an actual surprise for Seira, and she doesn't even have to fake it or her interest. "Oh? Who was it? How was it? Death-- I mean-- I probably shouldn't ask, but...."
[22:22] <Kotono> "The story's jumbled. Something about scrolls and a traveler. A human, no less."
01[22:23] <Seira> "A human woman?" Seira asks on a hunch. "Wearing a cloak? Just left without asking for any reward after delivering her miracle?"
[22:24] <Kotono> "That sounds right," One of the elves nods slightly.
01[22:26] <Seira> "I never believed I would hear another story about her," Seira muses, shaking her head in wonder. "I've been traveling from the east, and there is another village where she stopped just long enough to save children from a troll." She looks uncertain for a brief moment. "At least I think it would be the same woman. How many human mages can travel through the countryside?"
[22:34] <Kotono> "Not many," One ventures to guess. "Not many at all.":
01[22:38] <Seira> "Need some help with the reconstruction?" Seira offers suddenly. "If a visitor will go so far towards those she meets along the way, it's the least my pride would allow me to offer in turn!"
[22:40] <Kotono> "Go visit with the town elder. I know there's been money put into it already, but more couldn't hurt," One of the elves points, "There's a bakery over there. He's in there for lunch now, I think."
01[22:42] <Seira> "I think I will!" Seira agrees, smiling, and after making sure she has the directions for the bakery, heads there at a leisurely pace.
[22:45] <Kotono> The bakery is as Seira remembers it. The smell of fresh food and bread fills the air, a few elves about eating dinner. The town mayor is at a table, eating and resting. His eyes are distant as he eats, staring off into the watery sunlight.
01[22:47] <Seira> "Would you be the mayor?" Seira asks, coming closer. "Sorry to disturb your lunch like that, but I wanted to volunteer. For helping with the repairs to the inn, I mean."
[22:52] <Kotono> Startling and turning to Seira, "I was indisposed," He murmurs, "That is a generous offer, traveler. Thank you for your kindness." He rises and bows to Seira, "There is no need for it. The scions of the noble houses have made a concerted effort to ensure that the repairs will be done in a timely manner and taken care of."
01[22:54] <Seira> "That's just money, though, right?" Seira asks him. "There's actual work that remains to be done. I don't know how to explain it, but after hearing about your human visitor, I just got so fired up! I'd really like to do something, too!"
[22:55] <Kotono> "Do you know carpentry or woodworking," The mayor asks, "Or how to do repairs as such?"
01[22:56] <Seira> "Some of the former, but I've done all sorts of jobs as I traveled, so I'm pretty confident in my repairing skills!" Seira reports brightly.
[23:01] <Kotono> "Go ahead and go see the workers outside and tell them that. If they'll take you, you're welcome to help." The mayor says.
01[23:03] <Seira> She seems to be going back and forth a lot, but since that's the only way to eventually get ahead....
01[23:03] <Seira> "Thanks! It's an honor to be a part of this!"
06[23:03] * Seira follows the instructions, and returns to the construction site.
[23:04] <Kotono> You find the elves just starting to get back to work. One of them, with brown hair like tree bark, turns back. "Back again?"
02[23:07] * Demedais (~ferixstad@24-247-151-205.dhcp.klmz.mi.charter.com) Quit (Ping timeout)
01[23:07] <Seira> "This is where I'd need to be if I were to help," Seira returns with a smile. "The mayor told you to decide where I could do the most good. Now, I've done a bit of everything during my travels, but my abilities in design and construction are something I'm especially proud of!"
[23:08] <Kotono> "You know how to do this work?" He asks, "Mind proving it?"
01[23:09] <Seira> "What do I need to do?" Seira asks with just a hint of challenge. She's not too worried, as she's always picked up on things pretty quickly, and that's even without Lagann around to help her by providing a second opinion.
[23:11] <Kotono> "We're rebuilding that part of the wall." Pointing at a half finished side wall, "Slot some of the wood into place?"
06[23:13] * Seira hasn't been studying the workers for nothing. Even if it weren't her true focus, her mind catalogued everything, placing all sorts of tiny, irrelevant details into the recesses of her mind, ready to be drawn out at a moment's notice. She's helped with the rebuilding effort before, but that's not enough. She'll do one better and follow their methods to be accepted.
[23:14] <Kotono> OOC: Make an int check then? Basically untrained craft.
01[23:14] <Seira> roll 1d20+12
06[23:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 and gets 23." [1d20=11]
[23:17] <Kotono> Seira works with all eyes on her! She does the task and does it well, the wood fitted in without any flaws. As she finishes, the elf nods his head, "Well, I'll..." He stops himself, "You're skilled enough."
01[23:19] <Seira> "Thanks," she tells him, grinning and offering her hand. "I'm Xerandalla. Let's get along well!"
[19:15] <Kotono> ----
[19:18] <Kotono> Seira spends the next few days learning the job. Her superior mind lets her pick up on things with stupifying speed, learning everything she can as fast as she can. With an extra hand that shows an unbeliable flair for learning, the work gains acceleration. At the end of the fourth day, the side walls are done and it's time to finish up the next day or two by putting up the front. That evening, the group is standing outside the tavern at s
[19:18] <Kotono> front. That evening, the group is standing outside the tavern at sunset. As you look over your handiwork, "Have to admit your'e damned good," one of them says to Seira.
01[19:19] <Seira> "I believe that anything is possible with effort!" Seira chirps in response.
[19:21] <Kotono> "Where'd you learn to work like this," Another asks, "You're stronger than yo ulook, too."
06[19:23] * Seira pouts. "I can't tell if you're praising me or insulting me, you know!" she mutters, but keeps her tone of voice light enough. "I said I travel all over, right? And I travel on my own. I have to be, pretty much, and I mentioned that I pick all sorts of things here and there from the very start."
[19:24] <Kotono> "Hehhehe," Laughing to Seira, "Your uncouth, but you're full of surprises."
[19:25] <Kotono> Another goes to Seira and gently clasps her shoulder, "Xerandalla, let's all of us go have some wine to celebrate our progress."
01[19:26] <Seira> "I sometimes even surprise myself, just a tad, to keep life interesting," Seira responds with a smile. "Wine, was it? I'm game."
03[19:28] * finditkindafunnyfinditkindasad is now known as taifk
03[19:31] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5af2cad0.tcl128.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[19:31] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[19:36] <Kotono> ---
03[19:36] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[19:37] <Kotono> Ah, memories. Seira's been to Saul's house in the Citadel before. A polite servant escorts her in, bowing as she enters the rich mansion. "Ma'am," she murmurs. "Shall I inform the master that you're here?"
01[19:38] <Seira> Somehow, it doesn't feel like home. Must be the formality, Seira muses to herself. "That would be appreciated," she returns, nodding at the servant.
[19:44] <Kotono> Seira is lead through childhood halls and memories. The mansion has been pleasantly restored, paint freshed and plants rejuvenated. Saul is found looking over a ledger, writing away. He looks up, putting down an ink quill. "Ah, so you've returned home?"
01[19:45] <Seira> How ironic! "Something like that," she agrees. "I was passing through Pallanth, and since I've been hoping to get a minute or two of your time, it felt like a good opportunity."
06[19:45] * Seira walks up to Saul and gives him a hug, smiling as she lets go. "But if you're too busy for that, a simple visit is fine, too."
[19:50] <Kotono> "All smiles," Saul straightens up after the hug, "Are you happy to see me, or do you have a plan in motion? Or both?"
01[19:51] <Seira> "Don't be silly, Dad, of course it's both!"
[19:52] <Kotono> "Excellent! I was afraid you were going sentimental." LEading Seira out and into a rich, well appointed room that glitters with gold all over, "So what's the scheme, Seira?"
01[19:54] <Seira> "I'm not really scheming," Seira responds, choosing the gaudiest sofa of the three present to sit herself in. "But my plans are about ready to advance to the next stage. The problem is that I'm not sure which one it'd be, so I figured I'd start by passing the torch over to you and asking you about the progress your team has made on the restoration of the wastes. Is it still a distant, future dream?"
[19:57] <Kotono> "Well." Putting his feet up and resting back in a deep, stuffed chair made of interwoven leaves and soft cotton, "With all we have - the shard of positive energy from Irenes' fortress, the knowledge we've gathered, some hints here and there? It's possible. The main trick is going to be having enough power to make it work, I think."
01[19:57] <Seira> "How about raw magic and permanency?"
[20:03] <Kotono> "No good." Shaking his head, "This isn't something that works like that. This is far, far more primal. Mortal magic as we know it is insufficient to mend these wounds. That shard is a big part of the key to this puzzle, but we still need a lot of raw power."
01[20:06] <Seira> "But the same kind of power, you mean..." Seira muses out loud, nodding to herself. "Well, we know getting Teleportation Circle scrolls is a definite possibility. How about a Gate scroll? It should work for just under a minute, and if we devise a ritual that utilizes it and open it to the plane of positive energy...."
06[20:07] * Seira considers this a bit further. "If we open the Gate from this plane, nothing from the destination would be able to go through except actual energy."
[20:08] <Kotono> "Risky, but I think it may be an excellent catalyst," Saul nods, "It's worth trying. If we can flood a bit of the wastes with positive energy, we can study how it impacts the area. Of the most interest is if it's a permanent cure for that part or just a temporary repreive."
01[20:11] <Seira> "I'm not sure it's really that risky if we prepare properly," Seira says doubtfully. "It's not an inherently dangerous place, especially if used in moderation, and I could drop the spell if things go wrong.
01[20:11] <Seira> A few seconds of exposure would tell us at least that, and I doubt the impact from that would be stronger than from continual exposure to the shard we currently have. If that didn't somehow make the wastes implode in all this time and through all your testing, we should be fine, or have a safety zone where we could abort before anything horrible happens."
[20:16] <Kotono> "If you prepare properly, it isn't. Good." Looking up to Seira, "You're aware that too much positive energy is fatal as too much negative energy?"
01[20:17] <Seira> "That's why I mentioned moderation first and foremost," Seira confirms. "We can take precautions, and nothing alive is in the area for hundreds of miles. The only ones who might be affected are the lingering ghosts, and even in their case, it might be a lucky release."
[20:18] <Kotono> "I have no idea in the case of outsider ghosts." Saul muses, "But otherwise, yes. A few miles to the south or west of Irenes' old home should be sufficient for a simple test. Or maybe a little further, just ot make sure the shard there doesn't interfere."
06[20:21] * Seira raises her eyebrows. "Don't we want to try the spell with it? We could devise a ritual to supercharge it, or use it as a focus, a lense that would spread that power onwards while diluting the individual effects, much like turning a localized geyser into sprinkling rain for dozens of miles all around it."
[20:31] <Kotono> "Not the first time. The first time, we try it just to see what happens. If something unexpected happens an we lose that shard, we've suffered a big setback," Saul explains, "The first time is a test, nothing more. Once it's done we can try stronger and more focused measures."
01[20:32] <Seira> "If you're paying, who am I to argue?" Seira asks with a predatory smile.
[20:35] <Kotono> "Why Seira, would you make your own man pay with his own coin for this, while you revel in endless riches of battle and plunder?" Saul raises an eyebrow.
[20:36] <Kotono> *old man
06[20:36] * Seira makes a show of tapping the knuckles of her right hand against the solid gold adorning her sofa. "Mmm, shiny."
[20:38] <Kotono> "If only that was my own gold. But it's all dedicated as a monument to Waukeen's glory," With a deep sigh, "My riches are her riches. If only!"
01[20:39] <Seira> "And they'll continue to be Her riches. Just in some lucky angel's hand."
[20:42] <Kotono> "Ah, perhaps I will sacrifice a little bit for Waukeen's glory..." Saul considers, "Perhaps." Looking to Seira, "Where will you be getting those scrolls? I don't think Celebrimbor's up to the great ninth circle, nor is your friend Countess Stronger in Balmuria."
[20:42] <Kotono> "I want details, not just a vague answer about an angel's hand," Saul adds as plit secon ldater.
[20:42] <Kotono> *second later.
01[20:44] <Seira> "We do have someone, right here, who could make one, but I think asking him's a bust. My plan is fairly simple. Brightwater or Mechanus. Either should have a scroll such as this, and planar travel is something I can accomplish."
03[20:46] * taifk is now known as finditkindafunnyfinditkindasad
[20:48] <Kotono> "It's possible. Why Mechanus, though. Last time I remember, you were on the outs with them over a Kolyarut." Saul narrows his eyes, "So what's the reason there?"
01[20:49] <Seira> "I still am, for now. But Demedais has a contact of some sort there. I'm unclear on the details, but it was enough to get a Teleportation Circle scroll. That gives me an opening to try for Gate, too. If that fails, the money's safe for the time being, so it's a win-win situation, I'd say."
[20:50] <Kotono> "Mmmm. Good luck there." Saul relaxes back into his chair, "When will you be going off to the great beyond?"
01[20:52] <Seira> "I'll try to play it safe and try to arrange it via Sendings. It would really depend on the other party." Seira conjures up several scenarios, trying to pick the best approach, before realizing she's taking too long and tabling it for the time being. "I suppose that's our progress here. Mind if I ask you for some insight?"
03[20:52] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5af2cad0.tcl128.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
[20:53] <Kotono> "Insight's free to family," Saul smiles, "Ask away."
01[20:53] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
[20:53] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+17 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{23}
01[20:56] <Seira> "I want to have the best angle to meet with King Lorthan and have him listen to my request, and I want to be at my best for my presentation," she states. "What would your suggestions be?"
[20:58] <Kotono> "Dress well, look and speak the part. Be polite, know when tos peak and when to listen. You should know most of that or I wasted a lot of money on tutors." Saul strokes his chin, "A present to the court may work if it's done right, but if not it may appear to be petty bribery beneath someone of your stature."
01[21:00] <Seira> "The last thing I want is for this to have the appearance of bribery, so I'll avoid that pitfall," Seira says thoughtfully. "What about securing the actual meeting? The way I understood it, it is highly irregular to receive a private audience."
[21:01] <Kotono> "It is. I can send a request along, as you're an emissary of an allied, friendly kingdom. Considering your prestige and stature, it should be able to be swung." Saul considers that, "No problem."
06[21:03] * Seira nods slowly. "I'd like that, just as long as it is understood that this is a private matter. An internal Pallanth matter, if anything, and not to do with my official position."
[21:05] <Kotono> "I'll make the distinction. Anything else I should know about how to set this up?"
01[21:07] <Seira> "That you don't know what it's about actually works for the best. Don't go the extra mile for this, Dad. I just need to get in the door, and I'll try to take it from there. If my plan is a stupid one, it would be best if you weren't personally connected to it, beyond merely passing a request on through the proper channels."
[21:10] <Kotono> "True, but by making it and being your father, I'm connected no matter what." With a lithe, light shrug, "So you can tell me."
06[21:13] * Seira looks uncertain. "Well, if you must know, much of it concerns Amaryl. I could talk to someone on the Council, of course, but if I go about it that way, I might be seen as a foreigner trying to meddle in Pallanth's internal affairs and unduly influencing it. I am, I suppose, trying to meddle, but I'm not actually plotting it covertly, so I'll attempt the direct approach and see where it gets me."
[21:15] <Kotono> "Ah. Amaryl..." Saul is quiet for a little time, "Very well, on that I'll take your word for it."
01[21:17] <Seira> "So!" Seira says, intent on shifting the subject. "Speaking of spellgems. Last I talked to Celebrimbor, he was having slow progress with the benign method of producing them, but given your presence and expertise, is there hope for any completed specimens? I would be in the market for one or two, naturally!"
[21:35] <Kotono> "I've been more busy, but yes. I'll talk to him while you're off at your meeting, once I set that up?"
01[21:39] <Seira> "Yeah, I get that part, being busy," Seira agrees, nodding once more. "It's just not as critical as the other matters, being more a matter of prestiege or research. As a society, we'll need that knowledge once we get far enough ahead to match the past glories, but it's just not the same as making certain the world's still here and not under fiendish control, right?"
[21:41] <Kotono> "Yes." Saul rises t to that, "Very well then, let me go put the gears into motion."
01[21:43] <Seira> "Sounds like fun," Seira agrees. "And dad, you're not going to miss this coming birthday, too, are you?"
02[21:48] * finditkindafunnyfinditkindasad (~ferixstad@76.235.172.133) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[21:52] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-172-133.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
03[21:52] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[21:57] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:57] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=33 ]{33}
[22:05] <Kotono> ---
[22:09] <Kotono> Thus Seira goes to her backyard. At high noon, a man appears there. He looks humanoid, with slightly gray-metallic skin. His features are symmetrical, pleasing to the eye. He wears a solid colored gold tunic and pants. He bows, "Seira of Balmuria?"
06[22:10] * Seira returns the bow. "Yes. I'm afraid I don't have your name."
[22:14] <Kotono> "Melem." He offers a hand out to Seira, "Melem of the Third Line of Intermeet."
06[22:16] * Seira shakes the offered hand. "Would you like anything, such as a drink, perhaps, before we discuss my options?"
[22:17] <Kotono> "Let's go inside and talk?" Looking up to the clear sky, "A drink would be good."
06[22:22] * Seira plays the part of the host at that request, showing Melem in and then around the main area of the inn. It is a quick tour, and they end up at a corner table in the end, waiting for their drinks. It is secluded enough to discuss business, while having lively entertainment just across the room, to brighten up what might well be boring legalese.
[22:24] <Kotono> Melem listens to the bard sing about this and that, listening to red and gold dragons and a blue dragon attacking, then a white dragon's winter rampage. As drinks come and he takes a sip of his own, "So, let me go over the basics of what I understand. My boss had a friend of yours as a client, yes? A Demedais?"
01[22:26] <Seira> "Yes. I've wished to accompany Demedais on his business to Mechanus, but the herald announced in no uncertain terms that I would be liable to be arrested if I had done so. Atop the injustice of it all, which I'll spare you, I would like to challenge the sentence Mechanus has for me, and do so while having immunity for the duration of my stay there.
01[22:26] <Seira> It could be diplomatic immunity, if that makes things easier, but my main worry really stems from an Inevitable from Mechanus breaking his own rules to take me out. If there was one like it, who is to say more overzealous one won't try as well, unless I had something like this on my side?"
[22:29] <Kotono> "I got a brief of the situtation - I'll wnat you to go into more detail in a moment - and it sounds atypical. That will probably work in our favor if the Inevitable violated protocol. Hmmm...actually, tell me now. Tell me all about what happened and why."
01[22:32] <Seira> "Mmm." Seira takes a long sip from her drink. "It is a fact that I broke a contract I agreed to make. At the same time, however, the case is littered with extenuating circumstances, and expert opinion and character witnesses alike should favor me heavily."
[22:33] <Kotono> "Go on," Melem nods, "Tell me about thos extenuating circumstances. I'll need to hear them and make a judgment to how much they'll help."
01[22:36] <Seira> "Very well," Seira agrees, counting her reasons as she raises a digit for each, respectively. "I did not truly enter a contract with the intention of latter breaking it, so there were no false pretenses. I was coerced into making it, having it as the lesser of two evils, while my other option at the time was the endless torture of my very soul.
01[22:36] <Seira> I felt that the terms of our contract were, if not violated, then certainly pushed heavily against the boundaries set for them. The contract was already partially broken through no act of my own by a golden dragon resting in the higher planes." (more)
06[22:37] * Seira pauses. "I suppose the greatest ones of all are that I've kept every single contract before and since, and that the one to officially break it was Waukeen. As I was acting on the explicit advice of the patron of contracts, gained through the Commune spell, and she was the one who made it so, it was clearly judged acceptable."
[22:40] <Kotono> "Hmmm." After having a good listen and another drink, Melem hesitantly nods. "That's a lot of points. Okay, now what happened with the Kolayrut? What did he do to go out of bounds?"
01[22:44] <Seira> "And this is the other part, which should also have a bearing on my case," Seira responds. "As I'm not a repeat offender, nor should this act have appeared as particularly heinous, how did I get the attention of a Kolyarut to begin with? When we scried on Mechanus by accident, we were contacted, informed of our offenses and later told to pay a fine.
01[22:45] <Seira> The Kolyarut, however, refused to discuss matters, and the first I knew of him was when he literally shot me in the back, draining me. Following that, he even went so far as to take civillian hostages and approached my commanding officer to negotiate their exchange for me. Even if valid by the laws of Mechanus, that was a clear violation of our own.
01[22:45] <Seira> More so, he apparently traveled in the company of a fiend while trying to eliminate me, which doesn't strike me as particularly balanced. From his writings, later gained, we gathered that the fiend managed to affect the Kolyarut's judgement later on."
[22:47] <Kotono> "Mmm. The fiend is the main concern." Listening ot that and nodding along in a few places, "What sort of fiend was it? Do you know?"
01[22:48] <Seira> "I believe Waukeen to have confirmed for me that it was the archfiend Esthan. Perhaps you've heard of him? He did manage to make a name for himself in all sorts of places."
[22:49] <Kotono> "Not immediately, but fiends aren't my area of expertise. I'll look it up when I get back."With a brisk nod, "Can you prove he was influnencing the kolyarut?"
01[22:52] <Seira> "I can have a copy of the Kolyarut's journal prepared for you," Seira offers. "It wasn't easy to decipher, taking some time, but the writing style and tone clearly change the more he mentions being in the fiend's presence.
01[22:52] <Seira> Given all that I've recapped so far, is it that unlikely that a decision to send an Inevitable after me in the first place was unduly influenced by my fiendish enemies to tie me up with either fighting for my life or legal issues with Mechanus, while their own plans advance?"
[22:54] <Kotono> "It's...remotely possible. A fiend would have to have a ton of pull to be able to do that. Indirectly is easier, perhaps passing in a tip to the right ear about what you'd done and hoping Mechanus would act." Rubbing his chin now, "if it's that, someone could've gotten lucky. It's also entirely possible that your offense was simply noted and ruled worthy of intervention."
06[22:55] * Seira nods. "There could be many like it or, perhaps, more deserving, but if the hand sorting them into slots that decide where the complaints should go was affected in some way...." She trails off, shrugging. "It's not like a judge had to be bribed for something like this to occur."
03[22:56] * Taishyr is now known as Mykasi
06[22:57] * Seira snorts in sudden amusement. "And we haven't even once mentioned how skewed a world is, where breaking free of a fiend's hold is a capital offense punishable by death."
[22:57] <Kotono> "Highly unlikely. If one was somehow corrupted, it wouldn't last long." With a faint smile, "That's just how Mechanus is. It's not about right or wrong, it's just about the laws. It's the first lesson any good teacher on Mechanus law tells you."
01[22:59] <Seira> "I was thinking confoundment, actually, or telekinesis." Seira shrugs. "Besides, this doesn't have to be true, does it? It only has to have reasonable chances of such to create doubt. As long as we're don't twist the truth, it shouldn't matter if we're reaching in places."
01[23:00] <Seira> OOC: I meant 'certain' when I said the first 'true'
[23:02] <Kotono> Thinking on this a little, hands steepled together, "Listening to this, I think you'd have a decent chance of setting things right, or at least degrading it down to something you can atone or pay a fine or compensation for. Have you had any other inevitables sent after you after you destroyed that one?"
01[23:03] <Seira> "I, uh, actually didn't. I'm your client, right?"
[23:05] <Kotono> "Oh, I was under the impression it was neutralized, and yes." Nodding to that, "Is it on ice somewhere?"
01[23:08] <Seira> "Actually, Demedais destroyed it. I just didn't want to create trouble for him in case it broke some Mechanus rule. He did it to save the civillians abducted, you must understand, since the Kolyarut threatened they wouldn't survive if I wasn't handed over. Regardless of Demedais's wishes, that was impossible as I was away on urgent business at the time, and largely incommunicado."
[23:10] <Kotono> "Right." After a pause to process this, humming to himself, "So no other inevitables in pursuit. You must not be that high a priority then."
01[23:11] <Seira> "Or they've decided it's not cost-effective. I'm not a pushover, and I've learned a few things from that series of encounters. But why should I watch over my shoulder or be barred from an entire plane?"
[23:12] <Kotono> "Cost effectiveness doesn't enter into it if it's a serious offense. I know someone who they sent twenty improved kolyaruts after." With a hearty chuckle, "But you're right. Your offense isn't anywhere in that league and the lack of a second attempt is telling. You're also right, better to resolve this than risk an Inevitable showing up at the wrong time."
01[23:13] <Seira> "I also don't actually hold any strong ill will towards Inevitables, despite the bad blood caused by all this. It would be a shame to fight pointless battles."
[23:14] <Kotono> "Good. Now then, remember that it's possible that you may still have to pay a fine or do some sort of recompense to finish this matter. Do you have a reserve of funds to call on in that contingency?"
01[23:17] <Seira> "I do, although if the fine is ridiculous or I get insulted too much, I might just decide to live with the excitement of potential ambush," Seira responds with another shrug. "So how would this work? Will you or someone working with you keep in touch with me? Or would I need to make an appearance in court myself?
01[23:17] <Seira> The only legal procedure we've experienced in Mechanus through Demedais was somewhat unusual, after all."
[23:20] <Kotono> "You won't come to Mechanus until you're ready to commit to this. It'll take some preparation while we set up our case and make it as strong as we can. A few months, by your time reckoning? I'll be in touch every few weeks to give yo ua status report. Get in contact with me if anything relevant happens or if another Inevitable appears." A pause to wipe his mouth after he finishes with his drink, producing a clean gray cloth to do so. "Yes
[23:20] <Kotono> A pause to wipe his mouth after he finishes with his drink, producing a clean gray cloth to do so. "Yes, a Caim-Septus hearing on the quick would be."
01[23:22] <Seira> "I don't mind committing, if I'll get a fair hearing," Seira tells him.
[23:23] <Kotono> "When it's time then, I'll come for you." Rising, "I'll be in touch."
01[23:26] <Seira> "Sure thing. And you're always welcome if you feel like a visit," Seira says, likewise standing up.
[23:26] <Kotono> "I may take you up on that if I need to get first hand accounts of anything," Offering his hand out again, "Thanks for the drink."
06[23:27] * Seira shakes it with an amused smirk. "And you're also allowed to relax and take a day off, I hope. In any case, the offer's a standing one."
[23:28] <Kotono> "I'll take a day off once you're off the hook with Mechanus," Tipping his head towards Seira, "I try not to rest much when I'm on a case."
01[23:30] <Seira> "Touche."
[23:36] <Kotono> ---
[23:37] <Kotono> Amaryl is found at Elle's shop. Elle, Amaryl and Donald are all sitting around a suit of heavy looking, dented steel armor. Elle's currently looking at it, eyes glowing blue.
[23:37] <Kotono> "My guess?" Donald eyes it, "Something that takes a lot of lumps but keeps going. Resistance to physical harm?"
06[23:37] * Seira decides to take a look of her own at the magical aura.
[23:38] <Kotono> The item radiates faint magic.
01[23:39] <Seira> "Do I get a guess, too?" Seira asks from behind Donald.
[23:39] <Kotono> "Oh, Seira!" Donald turns, "Gah, we were all so wrapped up in studying this that we didn't even notice you'd come in!"
[23:40] <Kotono> "Way to state the obvious," Elle rolls her eyes, "Hello, Seira."
01[23:41] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
[23:41] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+24 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{33}
01[23:42] <Seira> "Hi." Seira gives a small wave. "Nondetection, if we're discussing the aura. That's my guess."
[23:43] <Kotono> "That's mine for the primary effect," Elle turns, "But I suspect it's just a mask for what this armor does." Tapping it with her knuckles, "I traded some scrolls and potions for it, and we've spent the afternoon ttrying to figure it out."
[23:43] <Kotono> Amaryl nods along, "It's mostly out of my depth, but I'm learing listening to it."
06[23:44] * Seira considers it briefly. "How about a targetted greater dispel, then?"
[23:46] <Kotono> "I could." Elle admits, "We're really getting nowhere just guessing at it, fun as it may be."
06[23:47] * Seira decides to try her luck with a regular one!
01[23:47] <Seira> roll 1d20+10
[23:47] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{27}
[23:48] <Kotono> The magic aura targeted is disrupted! A secondary aura springs up now.
06[23:48] * Seira is already studying the item, quite naturally. This is now a level playing field!
01[23:51] <Seira> "Maybe protection from the effects of certain spells?" Seira suggests. "Based on a globe of invulnerability?" A gleam enters her eyes, and she smiles. "Let's try it out! Donald, go put it on."
[23:51] <Kotono> Donald eyes Seira, "Do I look like I want to be a spell target today?
[23:51] <Kotono> "
01[23:51] <Seira> "Yes."
[23:51] <Kotono> Amaryl smiles, "Oh come now, Donald. Seira wouldn't harm you."
01[23:51] <Seira> "Much."
[23:52] <Kotono> Elle can't hide her smile, "She won't, I'm sure. Just do it, Donald."
[23:52] <Kotono> Eyeing Seira warily, "Well...okay," Donald says after Elle speaks, standing up. He starts removing his normal armor, tossing it aside as he changes into the battered set.
01[23:53] <Seira> "Along with the aura, the battered state might suggest that the best way to get at the wearer is through brute force," Seira explains her reasoning, while she waits for Donald to be done.
[23:54] <Kotono> "It might, or it's just not well maintained," Donald sighs and stands in front of Seira.
06[23:55] * Seira snorts. "Magical armor? Right." She levels her gaze on Donald, and tells him, "Don't resist," before casting Detect Thoughts.
06[23:58] * Seira is utterly stumped. 'Amaryl, please be honest with me,' she thinks, her mental voice grave, while pretending to observe the armor Donald is presently wearing.
[23:58] <Kotono> 'Yes?' Amaryl asks, as Donald watches. "Any ideas?"
[23:59] <Kotono> Elle goes over as well, "Did the spell work?" she asks Seira.
01[23:59] <Seira> "You better not resist until I say we're done," she mutters, casting another spell, this one intent on switching places with Donald. 'Do I... smell bad?' she thinks hesitantly. 'I don't see how that's possible, being a wizard!'
Session Time: Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 2009
[00:01] <Kotono> '...' Amaryl stares at Seira, as she and Donald change positions. 'You smell good.'
06[00:02] * Seira thoughtfully traces a claw across the armor, intent on nicking Donald's left hand.
[00:04] <Kotono> The claw smoothly passes over Donald's skin, unable to scratch him.
01[00:05] <Seira> 'Then Donald is just being mean,' Seira thinks back. "Got it on the third try, it seems." She narrows her eyes. "But maybe we should test it, just to make sure." She draws the Resort. "Isn't that right, Donald?"
[00:07] <Kotono> Donald steps back, holding up his hands. "If you got it, there's no need to test," Smiling hastily and taking another few steps back, "You smell great today, SEira! Has nayone mentioned that?"
01[00:07] <Seira> "Don't lie to me," she says, even as her eyes narrow further still. "And why are you even smelling me?!"
[00:09] <Kotono> "Lathander, Seira!" Stepping bakc, "Can't you take a joke! Come on, you think I can't identify Detect Thoughts when it's cast?"
06[00:10] * Seira rolls her eyes with a long-suffering sigh. "There are some things you don't joke about," she tells him tiredly, before turning her attention towards Elle. "It seems like a Stoneskin protective effect. I'll leave it to you to poke Donald with sharp needles to judge its effectiveness? I'm only here to steal Amaryl away, after all."
[00:11] <Kotono> "Donald, Seira's right," Elle crosses her arms now, "That's unkind to say to a proper lady."
[00:11] <Kotono> "Okay," Amaryl stands up, "Thank you for having me, Countess."
[00:12] <Kotono> As Donald hangs his head, Elle turns to Seira. "It was nice to se eyou. I'll stop by tonight to catch up with you and let you know how effective the armor is."
01[00:12] <Seira> "Next time I'm testing it with fireball," Seira mutters, before smiling at Elle. "I'm always there for you, of course!"
[00:13] <Kotono> With a smile and a wave, the two depart out. As they walk out, "Needed me for something, Seira?" Amaryl asks.
01[00:15] <Seira> "Besides just wanting to spend some time with you after getting back, you mean?" Seira nods. "I've recently decided to be more direct, but I also don't want to talk about some things around other people. I guess what I'm getting at is that I want to understand everyone better, and since you're very important to me, I wouldn't leave you out of this."
[00:19] <Kotono> "Oh." Amaryl smiles brightly to Seira, "Well..um...how about we talk over dinner then?"
01[00:21] <Seira> "How about I treat you, then?" Seira suggests in turn. "Someplace we don't usually go to. Just pick the spot."
[00:22] <Kotono> "How about we eat in," Amaryl blushes, "Just the two of us," With a movement as she takes Seira's hand, and in a low voice, "You've been busy lately."
01[00:25] <Seira> "I intend to take it slowly for the next few weeks," Seira muses out loud as they head the short distance back to their home. She pauses only briefly to ask for some dinner to be brought over to their room, but Amaryl has all of her attention.
01[00:25] <Seira> "It takes time to advance my goals, and I've already done all I can for most of them at this juncture. There's always more... but if I overextend myself like that, I'm just as likely to end up driving the people close to me away, and I don't want that."
[00:28] <Kotono> "You don't have to do everything in the world. There's just one Seira," Amaryl smiles warmly to her, sitting down next to her, holding her hand. "I'm patient, though."
01[00:32] <Seira> "It can be hard, judging where to stop," Seira admits. "Especially since I enjoy what I do." She shakes her head briefly. "But it's not about me. I'm... well, I'm worried that you haven't spoken of Pallanth. Or even tried to visit any of the childhood friends you once mentioned having. I can't begin to tell how you're feeling about this, so I decided to take a risk and ask directly."
[00:33] <Kotono> "Well..." Amaryl bites her lip, "Balmuria isn't really my home, not yet. It's still new and fresh to me and I don't understand how humans think deeply." Playing with a lock of her hair, "But Pallanth isn't my home now, so I'm focusing on here to make Balmuria my home."
01[00:34] <Seira> "What if you made both equally your home?"
[00:37] <Kotono> "I could, but..." Amaryl just smiles and shrugs, "I'm happy in Balmuria with you, Seira."
06[00:41] * Seira smiles at that, supporting her chin one her clasped hands as she gazes at Amaryl. "I'm not saying it right. I want us to stay here as well. But home is more than just a place to live. It's an... it's an important attachment. Pallanth was such a large part of our lives. Is it alright to just cut it off, and wait until we can just treat it as a regular neighboring country? Doesn't it feel awkward?"
[00:42] <Kotono> "I made my choice and I don't regret it." Looking into Seira's eyes with a gentle, warming smile, "Maybe one day. But a few days, years or decades won't matter to us. What's 20 or 40 years to a dragon and an elf?"
01[00:47] <Seira> "I can't help but worry," Seira voices. "I wonder, sometimes, if it was really a clearcut choice, between one or the other. And if you might regret it one day, isn't it better to see if we can do something about it, rather than wait for that possibility to blindside us?" She sighs, strangely melancholic.
01[00:47] <Seira> "It's strange. The more complete a split exists, the more I'm uncertain whether it should. Were the differences truly that irreconcilable? Fey might be one thing, but can't we get along with other elves, or find some common path in life that benefits us all?"
[00:47] <Kotono> "Oh, I see..." Amaryl reaches out, cupping Seira's cheek. "You're still thinking about Neve, aren't you?"
01[00:51] <Seira> "Neve. Kesse. You. I pushed you just as much as I had in every other situation, and it was fine as long as things were going my way. But if they start collapsing, I can't escape the doubts," Seira says miserably.
01[00:51] <Seira> "The only reason you left was because I forced the issue by asking you to leave early with only a note behind. And it was just as a prank, at that. Maybe if I kept at it, I could have won your family over, and you wouldn't be forced to choose.
01[00:51] <Seira> I was really angry at them at the time, but maybe that's just because I wasn't objective. They can't have been all bad if you stayed all that time, could they?"
[00:52] <Kotono> "Seira. I love you." Amaryl whispers, "Don't regret what you did with me. I...can't...and I won't stand for it. In the poetics, you are like the man who had the sun and wanted the moon as well. Should you not be content with what you've done, instead of mourning for what more you could do?"
01[00:59] <Seira> "I'm happy when I'm with you," Seira states with conviction. "I just also have a constant need to... fix things. Everything. It's very important to me, and I feel like something is missing when I don't try my best."
01[00:59] <Seira> She leans into Amaryl's touch. "There is this voice inside me, insisting I could do it here as well. Do something. But you're so important to me, that for the first time in my life I'm not sure if I should listen to it."
[01:00] <Kotono> "Seira, I'm happy. You don't need to fix anything with me right now..." Leaning in closer to her, "Okay? Just be here with me."
01[01:05] <Seira> "I guess I'll tell it to take a break, then," Seira promises quietly, meeting Amaryl halfway.
[20:35] <Kotono> ---
[20:35] <Kotono> The three head deeper in, Latha looking to Demedais now. "What's going on?"
[20:38] <Demedais> Once in the antechamber, Demedais turns to Latha, trying to sort his thoughts. "So glad I cast Detect Scrying... A succubus is scrying on Saul. Notify Alicia, Seira and Saul just in case, but it's probably best to not have anyone show any reaction. Better to know we may have an intruder than not."
[20:38] <Kotono> "I understand," Latha says, momentarily closing her eyes.
[20:39] <Demedais> "Goddamnit, on the one hand I hate ruining parties, but on the other people need to know."
[20:41] <Kotono> "You're right." Pollyanna nods, biting her lip, "Want me to slip away and go get our gear briefly, dear?"
[20:41] <Demedais> "If you want, that might be best - just grab my sword. Thanks, dear, and stay warm. It's possible this'll result in nothing."
[20:42] <Kotono> Pollyanna nods and goes to slip out the back. As she goes, "I can fight barehanded if I'm called onto, but most of us don't have much of our gear with us." Latha considers briefly. "Will this lead to a battle?"
[20:43] <Demedais> "The other bit of info that's relevant, I'll share later if she doesn't make a move." A glance to Latha. "I don't honestly know. I have only a few things on me, myself, but... there are four trained arcane mages in the room. Hopefully, that'd be enough."
[20:45] <Kotono> "By Celestia, I hope as well." Latha turns towards the door back out to the party.
[20:45] <Demedais> "Go on in. I'll be there in a bit."
[20:46] <Kotono> Latha nods and leaves Demedais alone for a few. OOC: If you're doing anything or just waiting, say so.
[20:46] <Demedais> OOC: I'll reapproach Saul enough that Detect Scrying kicks back in.
[20:49] <Kotono> Demedais goes by the door. The scrying is still taking place.
[21:21] <Kotono> ---
[21:22] <Kotono> The chilly winds blow harsh, Commander Oberuth's reddened face clashing against them. Once outside, in a low voice as you stand on the hillside, "You're aware of the situation with your father tonight?"
01[21:23] <Seira> "I'm aware there's a possible situation, yes," Seira affirms. "Sir, this is my home. I can defend it, and defend it quite well, even if a platoon of fiends decide to crash the party."
[21:25] <Kotono> "I have no lack of confidence in that. I would like this pest ferreted out and dealt with as soon as possible." Going on there, "That's all. I'm going to run to the garrison and make a few preparations. You're in command if anything happens while I'm gone."
06[21:26] * Seira salutes sharply, however ridiculous may the act appear in an elven noble's dress. "Understood, Sir."
[21:26] <Kotono> With that, Commander Oberuth does just that, jogging of fin slightly ill fitting finery.
06[21:28] * Seira decides to rejoin the party, pausing at the doorway to take stock of the grounds and then the inside of the inn.
[21:29] <Kotono> The grounds outside are quiet, night's fall having sequestered them.
[21:29] <Kotono> The inside of the inn is full of friends, chatting and drinking.
01[21:30] <Seira> Either no one is in the immediate area, or their defenses against her magically-augmented sight are superb. Regardless of the case, Seira decides to seek out Celebrimbor and greet him properly, as it seems that Alicia, Antenora and Amaryl are occupied for now.
[23:00] <Kotono> OOC: Seira, what's your MO going to be here. Just a GI check or more or what?
01[23:01] <Seira> OOC: I want to make three GI checks, two of them concealing the third effectively. I'll look for high level scrolls (Gate and TP Circle) and leads on a gith silver sword, while also trying to find info on the green castle
01[23:01] <Seira> OOC: I'm good with following up on the more promising leads and RPing that
[23:02] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and make the checks.
01[23:02] <Seira> OOC: I'll use extended Heroism~
05[23:02] -fantasy.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[23:02] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[23:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[23:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
01[23:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[23:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 19." [1d20=5]
01[23:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[23:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[23:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 Donald aids in order'
06[23:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 Donald aids in order' and gets 14." [1d20=13]
[23:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 Donald aids in order'
[23:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 Donald aids in order'
06[23:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 Donald aids in order' and gets 2." [1d20=1]
06[23:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 Donald aids in order' and gets 19." [1d20=18]
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 Saul ditto
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 Saul ditto
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 Saul ditto and gets 13." [1d20=12]
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 Saul ditto
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 Saul ditto and gets 11." [1d20=10]
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 Saul ditto and gets 7." [1d20=6]
[23:07] <Kotono> You are talking to a tiefling, it's fangs flashing as it smirks at you. "Scrolls, eh," You stand between two small tents, standing aside as a few dwarves storm past, "I know a fella here who sells those sorta scrolls. It's the Scrollorium, this meek elf runs it. Name's Old Sorroweyes. Blacker 'n the heart of a balor."
01[23:08] <Seira> "Is he an honest broker, whatever his personality flaws?" Seira asks the tiefling.
[23:11] <Kotono> "Oh, he's honest 'nough, 'cept for being so depressed that you think his heart's depressed coal," The tiefling laughs, glancing ahead and scowling. "Gotta go!" With that she abruptly dashes off.
[23:11] <Kotono> Saul eyes her as she flees, steppin further out of the path. "A shopping trip could be worth our time."
06[23:12] * Seira follows her gaze, just to see what got the tiefling fleeing, even as she nods at her dad.
01[23:13] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[23:13] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[23:15] <Kotono> A burly earth elemental stomps along, going right past the party.
06[23:16] * Seira doesn't get involved, even for a pretty face, and decides to lead Donald and her dad to the aforementioned Scrollorium.
[19:16] <Infinite_Ko_Army> <Seira> "Is he an honest broker, whatever his personality flaws?" Seira asks the tiefling.
[19:16] <Infinite_Ko_Army> > "Oh, he's honest 'nough, 'cept for being so depressed that you think his heart's depressed coal," The tiefling laughs, glancing ahead and scowling. "Gotta go!" With that she abruptly dashes off.
[19:16] <Infinite_Ko_Army> > Saul eyes her as she flees, steppin further out of the path. "A shopping trip could be worth our time."
[19:16] <Infinite_Ko_Army> * Seira follows her gaze, just to see what got the tiefling fleeing, even as she nods at her dad.
[19:16] <Infinite_Ko_Army> <Seira> roll 1d20+15
[19:16] <Infinite_Ko_Army> * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[19:16] <Infinite_Ko_Army> > A burly earth elemental stomps along, going right past the party.
[19:16] <Infinite_Ko_Army> * Seira doesn't get involved, even for a pretty face, and decides to lead Donald and her dad to the aforementioned Scrollorium.
[19:17] <Infinite_Ko_Army> Scrollorium is found past a herd of humans and dwarves in armor, hauling around giant rods of a strange, purplish metal. It sits with the image of a scroll on a sign next to the tent. Beneath it, in black writing, 'Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.'
01[19:20] <Seira> "I guess she wasn't kidding when she mentioned that depression," Seira mutters, moving the tent's flap aside and stepping in past it.
[19:20] <Infinite_Ko_Army> Saul peers down at it, "Oh, how marvelously charming. It sounds like someone who'd be better suited to having the Greys."
01[19:21] <Seira> "The Greys?"
[19:22] <Infinite_Ko_Army> Donald trots along, "The Greys? Nevermind," Peering inside, Donald sees just behind Seira's shoulder. All about you are piles after piles after piles of black parchment scrolls. Sitting in a deep, gothic carved chair with crying fiends is an elf. He wears black head to toe, only his hands and eyes uncovered. His eyes are pools of sorrow, drawing you into a world of despair. His hands are clean and white. He peers at you, "Welcome
[19:22] <Infinite_Ko_Army> His hands are clean and white. He peers at you, "Welcome..."
[19:22] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Hades," Saul murmurs, "Later."
06[19:23] * Seira tones down her natural cheer, nodding at the black-clad elf gravely. "Hello."
[19:24] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "If scrolls are what you seek, you may peruse." He looks on at them.
01[19:24] <Seira> "Could you direct us to the most powerful ones?" Seira requests.
[19:25] <Infinite_Ko_Army> He points to a pile in the back wordlessly.
[19:25] <Infinite_Ko_Army> Donald smiles, "Thanks," she says cheerfully, going over to look at them.
06[19:26] * Seira looks at the wares as well. Even though she's on the lookout for Gate and Telelportation Circle scrolls, a Wish or Miracle would not go amiss, as well as anything equivalent.
[19:27] <Infinite_Ko_Army> *he
[19:28] <Infinite_Ko_Army> The best pile is a pile of 7th, 8th and 9th spells by and large. No wishes or miracles, but there is are two teleportation circles to be found.
06[19:29] * Seira examines them for anything untowards, even as she asks, "No scrolls of Gate or similar, I take it?"
[19:30] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Gate is popular," The elf replies.
07[19:32] * Ginrai is on IRC (Ginrai)
01[19:32] <Seira> "Oh, it is," Seira agrees, glancing at Saul. 'I've found enough for us to connect Pallanth to the Baronies,' she thinks to her father. 'Anything we're interested in beyond that?'
[19:34] <Infinite_Ko_Army> 'Look for higher power stable spells that'll be useful in the Abyss.' Saul persues a little more, then, "Good sir," smoothly speaking now, "You seem to have an admirable output of magical arcana."
[19:34] <Infinite_Ko_Army> *Staple
01[19:37] <Seira> 'Like what?' Seira asks, thinking it through. 'Power words won't do much in scroll form. Disjunction or prismatic sphere?'
[19:38] <Infinite_Ko_Army> 'Would be good,' Saul answers as Donald browses through a few more scrolls.
[19:38] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "I do," he agrees, "For in my quill I find the essence of magic."
[19:39] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Excellent, excellent." Saul nods along, "Yet it is a disservice that all your scrolls just sit here, hoping someone comes to find them."
06[19:41] * Seira decides not to bother with the former, given they have greater dispel and antimagic field on their side, but looks for a scroll of prismatic sphere.
[19:44] <Infinite_Ko_Army> There is a scroll of prismatic sphere, found after some digging and searching.
[19:44] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "They will stay here," Intoning this, "For to spread them would lead to too many...running out...failure..."
01[19:45] <Seira> "How about working on commission?" Seira asks, taking her newfound scroll and the two teleportation circles. "If I ordered a few scrolls, would you scribe them? Could you send them across the planes, for an extra fee?"
[19:49] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "It would be a great bother..." Looking down, "The effort is daunting..."
[19:49] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Of course, yo uwouldn't go uncompensated for the extra expense," Saul interjects.
01[19:50] <Seira> "The extra fee implies that," Seira agrees. "Which is the greater bother? Fulfilling a request, or actually ensuring the final product reaches the customer?"
[19:51] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Both are...ah, I like to go where my muse takes me. Then, the effort of sending it about...both are bothers." He admits that, but after a pause, "How much of an extra fee would mitigate this?"
01[19:53] <Seira> "Ten percent," Seira responds instantly. "Given that I would like to order in the area of a dozen scrolls, and you can probably guess what interests me, it might well be worth the bother, wouldn't you say?"
[19:54] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Only ten percent...I can hardly find the effort..." He murmurs, "Perhaps a quarter would be better suited..."
[19:54] <Infinite_Ko_Army> OOC: Gah.
[19:54] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Only ten percent...I can hardly find the effort..." He murmurs, "Perhaps a quarter would be better suited..." He looks down at his hands, "A dozen scrolls, so much writing, so much effort..."
01[19:56] <Seira> "An effort you are committing to anyway," Seira points out, "except this way, you would be assured that your creations would not be gathering dust in a pile off to the side. Rather, they would see use." She rubs her chin, then, nodding to herself. "But the effort is quite extraordinary. I could go as high as fifteen percent."
[19:57] <Infinite_Ko_Army> OOC: Make a diplo chec here, Seira?
01[19:58] <Seira> roll 1d20+32
06[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+32 and gets 45." [1d20=13]
[19:58] <Infinite_Ko_Army> After some pause, "I believe my hands can find the motivation...tell me, what are the spells...?"
01[19:59] <Seira> "A pair of Gate spells, with the rest being Teleportation Circles," Seira responds. "I might need more variety later, but this is where my focus lies at the moment."
[20:00] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Ten teleportation circles?" he asks right back.
06[20:00] * Seira nods.
[20:03] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "That would be a substancial amount of money...I would require a down payment of 10% in good faith." He says after some thought.
01[20:04] <Seira> "What sort of informatio nwould you need in order to have the scrolls delivered to me?" Seira inquires, accepting his request with another nod.
[20:05] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Plane to be sent to, name, location..." He says after a little thought again.
01[20:06] <Seira> "Works for me," Seira agrees, thinking to her father, 'Who do you want to use as the recepient?'
[20:15] <Infinite_Ko_Army> 'The Guard? The Commander?' Saul replies, 'Someone likely to be there at all times.'
01[20:20] <Seira> 'Although Donald's with us, I still have someone back...' Seira muses in response. 'Okay. We'll settle the score properly once we return, but how much do you have on you to cover the purchases? A ten percent advance is about seven thousand, and these three scrolls should amount to twice that.'
[20:26] <Infinite_Ko_Army> 'I have my gear on me.' Saul answers back, 'What about you?'
01[20:27] <Seira> 'I can cover ten thousand easily enough,' Seira muses, before giving the elf they're dealing with a description for her bard back home, as well as the location and any further details that he would need to make a delivery.
[20:28] <Infinite_Ko_Army> He nods along to it, "It shall be done," he promises, "Once the down payment is made."
[20:33] <Infinite_Ko_Army> From the edge of the tent flap, a shining white light leaks into the tent.
06[20:35] * Seira withdraws a piece of parchment, writing down some numbers on it. 75,785 gold for the order, including the tip. 7,578 gold for the ten percent advance, 13,475 for the current purchase of two circles and the prismatic sphere, another 3,000 if he has moment of prescience... at the light, she decides to glance outside and see what's going on.
[20:37] <Infinite_Ko_Army> Outside, it seems that the ground and all the stairways in the void beyond have turned into glittering images, like stars in the night sky. People all about are staring up and gawking.
06[20:38] * Seira spends a few moments admiring the image, committing it to memory, before she returns to her business. "I have goods that would cover the price well enough," she announces, "although if you would prefer a load of platinum and gems you would have to direct me towards someone who trades in them."
[20:41] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "The goods will do. What are they?"
[20:42] <Infinite_Ko_Army> Donald goes outside, whistling as he sees the starlight. "I didn't know it got like that here...pretty. Oh, I want to compose poe...dammit, no!" Donald growls, throwing up his arms and coming back inside. "Stupid fey blood..."
06[20:43] * Seira retrieves a fist-sized gem and a rod, holding them out. "From a quick appraisal, there will be about a thousand left, which could go towards covering the order we'll be placing."
01[20:43] <Seira> 'Isn't it your elf blood?' she thinks to Donald in amusement.
[20:45] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Very well," After some peering at the goods, "I accept."
[20:45] <Infinite_Ko_Army> 'Whatever!' Donald groans.
01[20:45] <Seira> 'Go ahead, compose some! The girls will love it, I guarantee that!'
06[20:47] * Seira holds the rod and gem over, asking, "How long would it take before the order is ready?"
[20:49] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "A week and some odd days, perhaps," He says after some time, "If I devote all my time to it."
01[20:51] <Seira> "Let's make it a round two weeks?" Seira proposes.
[20:54] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Is it a deal," The elf offers his bare hand out to Seira.
06[20:55] * Seira shakes it!
[20:56] <Infinite_Ko_Army> As you step back out into the starry light, Donald makes a rude, obscene gesture at the stairways. "Ugh." Turning to Saul and Seira, "So what was that Greys thing, anyway?"
01[20:58] <Seira> "Come on, in all seriousness, discussing poetry doesn't emasculate you," Seira tells Donald sympathetically, patting his shoulder. "I know I'm not the right person to ask, but it's true!"
[20:58] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Just...be quiet." Donald turns away, as Saul smirks.
06[20:59] * Seira rolls her eyes. "Let's stay on the manly topic of the Greys, then."
[21:04] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "It's an effect that Hades does. It drains your will with apathy and despair," Saul says, "It makes it difficult to leave. If you fail to leave and succumb, you'll become a spirit trapped in Hades forever. It's somewhat like Elysium."
01[21:05] <Seira> "Except horribly bad," Seira comments. "Nice. So are we going to try and use those warding spells when we proceed? Since they last only a few hours, I'm not sure how good it'd be."
[21:15] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "We'll need to have some, maybe alternating. I'm still thinking about it," Saul says, and then, "Now what?"
[21:16] <Infinite_Ko_Army> OOC: Next search?
01[21:16] <Seira> "I'm not holding out much hope, but maybe there is a lead on a gith silver sword?" Seira responds, adding telepathically to Donald and Saul, 'And as we do all that, anything on Greenrot or the key to it, if we've camouflaged our actions well enough.'
01[21:16] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[21:21] <Infinite_Ko_Army> After some time, you come across a gold skinned human of beauty. His smile is calming, "Ah, the gith silver swords?" he enquires back.
01[21:23] <Seira> "Why yes!" Seira agrees pleasantly. "I would like to study one, or purchase altogether, if that's the only way I could gain what I seek."
[21:26] <Infinite_Ko_Army> The man eyes Seira, "You don't know the githyanki very well? They don't sell them or loan them out. Getting your hands on one is a feat."
01[21:28] <Seira> "I figured if I had a lead on something they wanted, they might let me look at their fancy swords," Seira responds cluelessly. "And if someone doesn't care much about the githyanki reputation and possesses one of those swords, we could come to some agreement, too."
[21:34] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Well...easier said than done, but you'd be good off to go to the Astral and discreetly ask aroun dthere. If you do, there's a portal to a city in the Astral not far from here and someone who might be able to help you."
01[21:35] <Seira> "Is that a one-way portal?"
[21:35] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "It's a doorway like all the Infinite Staircase passages, so you can return through it...the city charges for it, but it's not too expensive."
01[21:37] <Seira> "Ah, that would be quite useful!" Seira agrees. "Where is this portal, and which city does it connect to?"
[21:39] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "It's downwards, I can point out the stairway. Hard to miss, it's one of the tent city entrances." He points down with a long, tapered blue finger. "The city's named Dyrani."
[21:39] <Infinite_Ko_Army> 'Weren't we just there...' Donald says, 'Haven't you caught that yet, Seira?'
01[21:40] <Seira> 'I hoped it would be another city,' she thinks back irrately, while thanking the gold-skinned human with a smile.
[21:40] <Infinite_Ko_Army> 'I dunno, but maybe we should've asked about it while we were there?' Donald says, 'We did go through Dyrani in a hurry.'
01[21:41] <Seira> 'Didn't want to waste our time there needlessly, that's all. Still, not like I can't get to Astral when I want to....'
[21:46] <Infinite_Ko_Army> Asking around, you end up in a tent full of drunken sorts of all types. As drinks flow and people laugh, you end up talking to a bald man with scars all over his body. He only wears a loincloth. He looks at Seira as she asks, "The Green Castle?"
01[21:47] <Seira> "The Green Castle," she affirms.
[21:48] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Why do yo uask?" he returns right back.
01[21:51] <Seira> "I heard the entryway is a puzzle, and I like to find out the solutions to puzzles. So if I knew how the puzzle worked, there would be no need to go out of my way and study it in person," Seira responds with a shrug.
[21:54] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Got business with Gurlan?" He asks back. OOC: What spell sdo you have active on you, Seira?
01[21:56] <Seira> OOC: Superior Resistance, Heroes's Feast and my regular item-granted disguise
[21:56] <Infinite_Ko_Army> OOC: Carry on.
01[21:56] <Seira> OOC: I think permanency/contingency doesn't get recognized? If it does, you know what I use.
01[21:57] <Seira> "Mmm, how about this?" Seira offers. "You think like a decent sort, so tell me about what interests me and I'll sate you curiousity in turn. A question for a question."
01[21:59] <Seira> OOC: Oh, and TP bond on us all
[21:59] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "You first," he answers, "You came to me, not the other way around."
06[22:00] * Seira shrugs, mentally activating her shades for a quick look. "It sounds fair, but how do you know you actually hold the information I'm interested in?"
01[22:01] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 33." [1d20=15]
[22:03] <Infinite_Ko_Army> OOC: Cl on the glasses is 1, remember, unless yo upaid for the higher CL.
01[22:03] <Seira> OOC: You told me I'd use my level for them
[22:03] <Infinite_Ko_Army> OOC: I did? Okay then.
[22:08] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "You don't," he answers back. "But I ain't giving it away for free."
01[22:09] <Seira> "Maybe I know someone who wants to give him a bloodied nose," Seira muses. "Metaphorically speaking, of course."
[22:12] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "A balor has enemies? The Plane of Water is wet." Crossing his arms, "Yeah, I know a little bit about it. I was there once a time ago."
01[22:14] <Seira> "Through the green door?" Seira asks him. "It would be useful to know how to get past it."
[22:19] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "You need a rotting key. Want one?" He leans back now, body lithe and shifting as he does so.
01[22:20] <Seira> "I dislike handling rotting things, but better a key than the entire door, right?"
[22:21] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "I need it to be worth my while." He nods slightly to that.
01[22:23] <Seira> "You're either working for him and would want me to get past the door to be properly trapped in his realm, or you hate the son of a bitch and will do it as a service to see him get the bloody nose he so richly deserves." Seira shrugs again. "Either way, isn't it already worth your while?"
[22:27] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "No. You're the one who needs it, not me." He looks ahead, "I'm not a charity and I'm not going to hand it over out of the goodness of my heart, so stop dreaming."
06[22:28] * Seira snorts. "Fair enough. But in that case, I'll need to know both how to get past the door and about the layout inside, to get all the way to his castle. Can you deliver that?"
[22:31] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "I can give you an idea. The Abyss changes often; so don't be surprised if it isn't exactly how I said."
01[22:33] <Seira> "I won't sue if the layout's changed," Seira agrees. "What are you looking for, in form of compensation?"
[22:38] <Infinite_Ko_Army> The man looks out at nothing in particular, "You look kind of cute."
[22:39] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "No." Saul answers immediately. "That's out of the question."
01[22:41] <Seira> "Thanks, I try to stay in sha--" Seira cuts herself off, looks at Saul, then thinks some more. "Thanks anyway."
[22:41] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Hmph. What about you," His eyes turn into Donald.
[22:42] <Infinite_Ko_Army> Donald is starting to grin, but that suddenly turns into a deep pallor. "Hey, what?!" he sputters, splittle flying. "NO! You son of a bitch!" Donald growls, hand going to the hilt of his sword, "Fucking pervert!"
01[22:43] <Seira> "Hey," Seira notes casually, stepping aside, "isn't it about time to cut the jokes? He might really pierce you with his sword, and not the way you're looking for."
[22:44] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Depends. Looking for a fight? I can do that, too. I've killed over a thousand without blinking an eye." The man looks steadily at Donald. "Your hoice if you want to join them."
[22:47] <Infinite_Ko_Army> The slither of steel is a hiss as Donald half draws Guardianil, but relents and slides it back down. "I'll be outside," he says, stomping off.
01[22:47] <Seira> "It's bothersome to count, so I can't say if I've killed more than you," Seira tells him evenly. "Now, there could be cash involved in the transaction, or a further exchange of information." Seira jerks her head towards Donald. "If neither appeals, then I'm following him."
[22:52] <Infinite_Ko_Army> Thoughtfully eyeing Seira, "I have a spot of wetworks that I need dealt with. Do it and I'll tell you wha tyou need to know. Got a devil that needs to die."
06[22:53] * Seira gives him a calculating look. "Who is the devil in question?"
[22:54] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Bex Heart-slayer. A bearded devil. He's here, but I'd rather not do the work myself." Hea nswers, "Can you handle a bearded devil?"
01[22:56] <Seira> "I'll think about it, then," Seira tells him. "I know where to find you when I make up my mind. I've done it before, haven't I?"
[22:57] <Infinite_Ko_Army> "Yeah," He nods again, "I'll be 'round."
06[22:58] * Seira departs with a wave.
[19:09] <Kotono> ----
[19:12] <Kotono> Demedais finds himself in a tent. The maimed and injured are all about. His first one is a man with his leg broken and shattered, sobbing and grasping at Demedais as he begins to work. "Make it stop hurting...please..."
[19:13] <Demedais> "Calm down, sir. I'll do what I can to make sure it heals properly..." Notes in his left hand as he looks over the leg carefully. Demedais works to try and mend what damage he can as he sets the leg to heal properly.
[19:15] <Kotono> Demedais finds his hands working of their own accord, resetting and mending the broken bone. The wounds seem to subside under his touch, bandages sealing away flesh. The man's breathing becomes far calmer under this, "You are a saint...sir...thank you...tell me...is our empire being punished by the Gods?"
[19:20] <Demedais> "Doubtful." Demedais shakes his head gravely. "This chaos is a result solely of the changes in this world; a disruption of the order therein. The people of Malmuth... have been through so much already, so much chaos. The Gods would not willfully inflict more malicious chaos upon this land, I do not believe. I must move on. Rest and make sure that the leg fully recovers." With that, he moves on swiftly after a nod, putting his helmet into his bag as he
[19:20] <Demedais> putting his helmet into his bag as he moves.
[19:22] <Kotono> "Thank you..." The man calls as Demedais goes to the next, a man with grey streaked hair. He wears the tattered remnants of a Malmuthian uniform, bloodstained. He has several bruises and deep cuts over his body, loosely bound and kept together. He groans as Demedais approaches.
[19:24] <Demedais> "Hold still. I'll heal what I can..." Again the notes spread in his left hand, again the hand pressing on wounds to heal up the victim.
[19:27] <Kotono> The man eyes Demedais as he's healed, "...thanks..." he murmurs, then groans. "If His Majesty was still here...If only...this wouldn't have happened."
06[19:29] * Demedais presses his lips together slightly. "Perhaps, perhaps not. This world is changing; none fully manage to ride the waves that are made. Everyone must work together to ensure that these changes do not fell humanity. I must go; stay at rest for a bit longer to make sure you are fully recovered." With that he leaves to the next person.
[19:31] <Kotono> The next person is a child. His arm is twisted and broken, a bloodied shirt tied around a head gash. "Daddy...?" he asks, peering at Demedais through one good eye, the other swolloen shut.
[19:32] <Demedais> "Rest a moment, child. I'll heal you as best I can." Demedais replies softly, repeating the same actions again with a bit more care.
[19:34] <Kotono> The child cries as his wounds are tended, sniffling. "I miss Daddy...Daddy...can you go help Daddy stand up? The house fell on him and Daddy wouldn't get up."
[19:38] <Demedais> "...I'm sorry, child." Demedais grimaces sadly. "If my friends find him, they'll surely do what they can for him... I have to go heal others here, but be a good boy, alright? Take care of yourself, and help others if you can, child." Touching the child on the forehead softly, he murmurs, "When you can, find a temple to Helm, and they'll help you find your family if they can, alright? Take care." With that and a heavy heart, Demedais keeps moving.
[19:39] <Kotono> The next is an old man. He looks to Demedais, his body bruised all over and beaten. "Go on," he waves, "Go to the younger ones instead."
06[19:40] * Demedais reaches down and touches the man's shoulder quickly. "I can't pass you by... but I will keep moving. This should help you mend faster." OOC: CLW.
[19:41] <Demedais> roll 1d8+5
06[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d8+5 and gets 6." [1d8=1]
[19:43] <Kotono> The man's wounds soothe as he smiles, "Lathander bless you," he murmurs, "Be well." The next is a woman, perhaps 25. She's holding a crying baby, her leg having a long deep cut down it.
[19:43] <Demedais> OOC: Which one's hurt, the baby or the woman?
[19:44] <Kotono> OOC: Woman.
06[19:45] * Demedais smiles slightly. "Hold still for just a moment, ma'am, and I'll work to heal that leg..." With that, he utilizes the notes again.
[19:48] <Kotono> The wound is bound and dressed, mended! "Thank you sir," she blushes, reaching into a pocket of her dress. She presses a few coins to Demedias, "The pain is gone."
06[19:49] * Demedais raises his hand in refusal. "Keep it, ma'am. I do this because I am here and capable. But thank you." With that he moves on again.
[19:50] <Kotono> The next is a soldier, asleep. His chest and sides are swollen, horrifically beaten. His breathing is agonized.
06[19:50] * Demedais grimaces at the wounds, before laying hands on the man's chest and using the notes to try and mend the bad beating the man had taken.
[19:51] <Kotono> The man is mended in the tent. Around you more look on, a tired guard pacing smiling, "Thank you, sir," he salutes, "Thank the Empire Queen Tant has people like you coming to aid us!"
[19:54] <Demedais> "She requested for aid; I and my allies came out of friendship. They go even now into the town to try and do what they can, I would suspect." Demedais replies calmly with a slight nod, looking to see if any more here are wounded.
[19:55] <Kotono> There are about a half dozen more wounded people.
06[19:56] * Demedais nods slightly and continues work, moving as quickly and efficiently as he can. While working on one, he looks up and asks, "Are there trained healers attending at any of the other tents?"
[19:58] <Kotono> "Yes," A nod, "But there are so many wounded," The soldier admits, "Hundreds if not thousands."
06[19:59] * Demedais quickly finishes up on the last one here, before standing. "Can you take me to one?"
[20:00] <Demedais> "I wish to talk to them quickly."
[20:00] <Kotono> Demedais is so taken. The next tent is much the same, injured people all about. A swarthy, sweaty man works amid them, bandaging and fiddling about. He looks tired as the guard gets his attention. "Yeah? Please be quick, my services are needed everywhere."
[20:01] <Demedais> "I'm well aware." Demedais nods, fishing out the notes. "What's your name, sir? Tell me that and I'll be done here quick."
[20:02] <Kotono> "Harman Silbody," He says, running a hand down his face.
[20:04] <Demedais> "Harman Silbody... Alright." Demedais hands the notes over. "I need to go to the city soon, I suspect; take these notes. They'll help you heal, and will allow magical healing on anyone you focus on them with for a minute - faster than most procedures. I need them back but not for a while; use them to tend to all the people here, I beg of you."
[20:05] <Demedais> "If you finish, hold onto them; I'll find you and retrieve them again once I'm finished with what else needs to be done. And thank you for your work." Demedais finishes in a rush, nodding. "Sorry, I'm in just as much a rush as you." With that, he quickly turns and leaves the tent to try and find the rest of the group.
[20:12] <Kotono> ----
[20:13] <Kotono> Thus, the trio of angels take to the air. The sunset paints everything a dark, fading red as they soar along. Below, they can see the city in ruin, a few buildings shuddering and collapsing as they fly above. "Alicia," Latha calls, "Do you have any idea on the force behind this attack? Could it be a baatezu reprisal?"
06[20:17] * Alicia cast heroism on herself before taking off, and then her eyes glowed blue to detect any magic as they started ascending up and soaring over the city walls. Her decanter is held ready to put out any fires below, keeping an eye out for anyone who might need immediate help as they overfly the ancient capital.
[20:17] <Alicia> "Reprisal for what? I'm not aware of Malmuth having any ties with Hell," she replies to Latha. "And magical beasts like remhoraz don't fit... I don't think this is extraplanar in origin."
[20:17] <Alicia> She also cast Shield.
[20:17] <Kotono> "It wouldn't stun me, but from all we heard, ESthan's defeat crippled diabolical forces in the region. Besides, Alicia's right. Why Malmuth?" Antenora scans the ground below as well.
[20:19] <Kotono> "Yes, that is true. My knowledge of your world is not entirely complete yet," Latha follows along as you fly, penetrating into the city below, flying along. OOC: How high are you up/what's the radius if anyon arcane sight?
[20:20] <Alicia> OOC: 120ft range on arcane sight, we're flying about 100 feet up
[20:22] <Kotono> Thus you fly on, past the outskirts and slowly into Malmuth proper. As darkness comes as the sun has set entirely, you reach the middle of the city. There is a square there, utterly pristine. The entire square radiates overwhelming magic even from here, throbbing like the sun at noonhigh.
[20:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 spellcraft
06[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 spellcraft and gets 37." [1d20=12]
[20:27] <Alicia> "Hold up," Alicia cautions. "That square, it's got some incredibly powerful magic on it - I bet there's something in there that's hiding from us. The controller of the aura will have the same sort of power within as a demon lord has over his layer." There's probably remhoraz hidden in there, too - it's too odd that none have been seen on the way here.
[20:28] <Kotono> "That sort of power?" Latha sotps in the air, floating up and down, "Truly? What are we facing that can cause such magic?"
[20:32] <Alicia> "I don't know," Alicia admits. "It's a very limited area, but even so... I doubt an antimagic field would protect us against such power, although I might have a chance at dispelling it." Since that's what they came here for, she takes a deep breath. "Lady of Mysteries, hear your servant! Unwind the woven fabric of the Weave, break the spell that would bring an empire low!"
[20:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 greater dispel
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 greater dispel and gets 31." [1d20=12]
[20:33] <Kotono> The magic does not give way to Alicia's dispelling.
06[20:34] * Alicia isn't willing to go charging in and fight the master of that area while it grants such an overwhelming advantage, so she attempts her spell once more, throwing her all into it!
[20:34] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 greater dispel
06[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 greater dispel and gets 38." [1d20=19]
[20:36] <Kotono> Alicia calls on all her power, Mystra's might in dispelling the weave channeled through her! The magic snaps and breaks apart! But as it does, a deathly chill passes over Alicia! OOC: Will save.
[20:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 (+6 if evil)
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 (+6 if evil) and gets 34." [1d20=10]
[20:44] <Kotono> Below you see a ruined square. Two remorhazes are below, waiting and watching towards the sky. Below, a hissing vortex of black can be seen, whirling into the ground like a whirlpool.
[20:45] <Alicia> Any magic?
[20:45] <Alicia> Aside from the lingering aura of the spell I killed.
[20:45] <Kotono> Alicia can detect overwhelming magic from the whirlpool.
[20:46] <Kotono> *Strong
[20:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 spellcraft and this is?
06[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 spellcraft and this is? and gets 30." [1d20=5]
[20:48] <Alicia> "Well, I've dealt with the defences - that must be the portal they came from," Alicia explains. "If we leave it intact it could be used to track whomever's responsible. On the other hand, it also lets reinforcements through - thoughts?" she asks for the counsel of her friends before committing to action.
[20:49] <Kotono> "A tempting situation..." L atha peers down now, "Perhaps head into it and strike down the evil directly?"
[20:49] <Kotono> "And walk into a suicide trap," Antenora banters back, "At a guess, t he level of magic indicates that whomever is doing this is powerful enough to cover that obvious weakness, or make it suicidal to attempt."
[20:50] <Kotono> "Not everyone is a paranoid devil," Latha's smile is thin, "But I fear you may be right. The risk and rewards are both high."
[20:52] <Alicia> "Lets kill the two remorhaz first, then we can experiment with the portal assuming nothing else comes through? Stay high for now and I'll try to kill them safely," Alicia suggests, flying downwards to the side of the square, intending to drop enough to draw level with the beasts and fling Hell Striker out with a whirling blade spell before ascending out of reach of any reprisal.
[20:54] <Kotono> As Alicia flies down to level, about to throw, a terrible burst of cold erupts around her! OOC: Make a ref save.
[20:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
06[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 12d8 halve this and also one negative level.
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 12d8 halve this and also one negative level. and gets 70." [12d8=6, 6, 7, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 5, 1, 8]
[20:58] <Alicia> OOC: do any of us see where that came from/hear anyone casting spells?
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: You can make a listen check.
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and roll for Latha/Anty too.
[21:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 Anty
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 Anty and gets 34." [1d20=12]
[21:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 Latha
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 Latha and gets 44." [1d20=16]
[21:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+2 me
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+2 me and gets 14." [1d20=12]
[21:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 Latha spot since DC 40 lets her see invisible dudes
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 Latha spot since DC 40 lets her see invisible dudes and gets 44." [1d20=16]
[21:01] <Kotono> Latha cocks her head, "Alicia, it's in the ground!" she cries down! OOC: You basically got surprised rounded. I'm going to call init here.
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 Alicia
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 Alicia and gets 22." [1d20=15]
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 Anty
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 Anty and gets 10." [1d20=5]
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8 Latha
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 Latha and gets 13." [1d20=5]
[21:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 remorhaz 1
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 remorhaz 1 and gets 21." [1d20=11]
[21:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 remorhaz 2
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 remorhaz 2 and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[21:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 ?????
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 ????? and gets 36." [1d20=20]
03[21:03] * Kotono changes topic to '????(36?!)Alicia(22)>R1(21)>R2(19)>Latha(13)>Antenora(10)'
[21:05] <Kotono> From the ground it rises! It wears the garb of a warrior, armor and helmet! It's transparent and ghostly, shimmering blue-black! In a voice like chilled death, "Rise," it says, touching the 1st remorhaz! OOC: Alicia, sec for real now.
[21:06] <Alicia> OOC: any knowledge to ID it? (plus knowledge devotion anyway)
[21:07] <Kotono> OOC: K:R.
[21:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 Alicia religion
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 Alicia religion and gets 22." [1d20=8]
[21:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 Latha religion
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 Latha religion and gets 24." [1d20=1]
[21:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 Anty religion
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 Anty religion and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[21:14] <Alicia> This is serious, so Alicia brings out the big guns! To start with, she activates her magic boots to suspend the flow of time! Once time is frozen she channels a Moonbow spell into Hell Striker and casts Greater Invisibility. Then she positions herself sixty feet above the wraith and casts True Strike.
[21:14] <Alicia> Then as time starts up once more, she hurls her blade down at the wraith on the same spell she intended to use on the beasts!
02[21:15] * Demedais (~ferixstad@141.218.13.79) Quit (Ping timeout)
[21:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+37 -14pa, divine might (-2 if he can see invis, otherwise he's flat footed)
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+37 -14pa, divine might (-2 if he can see invis, otherwise he's flat footed) and gets 50." [1d20=13]
03[21:15] * Demedais (~ferixstad@pix013-079.pix.wmich.edu) has joined #evildunes
[21:15] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[21:16] <Alicia> OOC: evil?
[21:16] <Kotono> OOC: Yes.
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 2d4+55+2d6+1d6+24d6+1d8
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+55+2d6+1d6+24d6+1d8 and gets 166." [2d4=3, 3][2d6=1, 2][1d6=1][24d6=4, 4, 2, 2, 2, 4, 6, 6, 3, 3, 2, 2, 6, 5, 4, 5, 2, 5, 6, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5][1d8=4]
[21:18] <Alicia> After Hell Striker returns to her hand, she flies back up to rejoin Latha and Antenora, or at least ten feet below them.
[21:18] <Kotono> Alicia's whirling blade strikes into the wraith, making it flicker and break apart, but manages to reform after a split second, still intact! At this, the first remorhaz moves up in the air, approaching Alicia! The second mills about on the ground, waiting! OOC:Latha'n'Antenora.
[21:20] <Alicia> "Use blade barrier, the wraith can't defend against that!" Antenora suggests quickly to Latha, the blonde deva nodding as the dynamic duo both conjure overlapping fields of foreful blades, with the wraith in the centre so it has to deal with both, while the groundbound remorhaz is stuck with Antenora's!
[21:20] <Alicia> OOC: DC 21 reflex for Latha, 24 for Anty
[21:21] <Alicia> roll 15d6 Latha
06[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 15d6 Latha and gets 51." [15d6=1, 1, 5, 3, 2, 3, 4, 1, 6, 6, 3, 3, 6, 1, 6]
[21:21] <Alicia> roll 15d6 Anty
06[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 15d6 Anty and gets 46." [15d6=5, 3, 1, 5, 2, 1, 3, 6, 4, 1, 3, 1, 4, 4, 3]
[21:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 ref
06[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 ref and gets 34." [1d20=15]
[21:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 ref
06[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 ref and gets 27." [1d20=8]
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30 ref remorhaz
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 ref remorhaz and gets 34." [1d20=4]
[21:22] <Kotono> The wraith is impaled on dual blade barriers, the remorhaz as well! They all avoid the whirling blades, but barely! OOC: ??? is up.
[21:24] <Kotono> The wraith gestures, calling on arcane powers that engulf the three angels!
[21:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 23." [1d20=7]
[21:24] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia, make a ref save.
[21:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
06[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 22." [1d20=4]
[21:24] <Alicia> OOC: +6 vs evil
[21:26] <Kotono> roll 12d8 halve this and -1 level.
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 12d8 halve this and -1 level. and gets 56." [12d8=5, 5, 1, 8, 7, 6, 4, 5, 3, 4, 6, 2]
[21:27] <Kotono> Alicia feels chill weakening her body again, form ravaged by negative life forces! OOC: Alicia.
[21:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 knowledge for remorhaz
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 knowledge for remorhaz and gets 14." [1d20=1]
06[21:30] * Alicia drops and shifts a bit to get a bead on the wraith through the flying remorhaz, and lets Hell Striker fly with a vengeance to tear into both!
[21:30] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 -8pa, divine might, 6th level arcane strike remorhaz
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 -8pa, divine might, 6th level arcane strike remorhaz and gets 35." [1d20=6]
[21:30] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 -8pa, divine might, 6th level arcane strike wraith
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 -8pa, divine might, 6th level arcane strike wraith and gets 42." [1d20=12]
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC: Hit the wraith.
[21:30] <Alicia> roll 1d100 miss chance
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 miss chance and gets 100." [1d100=100]
[21:31] <Alicia> roll 2d4+43+2d6+1d6+6d4+1d8
06[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+43+2d6+1d6+6d4+1d8 and gets 78." [2d4=3, 1][2d6=5, 6][1d6=1][6d4=4, 1, 3, 4, 1, 1][1d8=5]
03[21:31] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia(22)>R1(21)>R2(19)>Latha(13)>Antenora(10)'
[21:32] <Kotono> The wraith breaks apart with a howling keen, screaming to the highes tsky as Alicia's blade puts it to rest! OOC: R1 is up.
[21:32] <Kotono> The first remorhaz continues to ascend up ,as the second mills about! OOC: Latha'n'Antenora power hour.
[21:34] <Alicia> Latha summons a holy warding around the trio, protecting them from evil, while Antenora employs her own magic boots to charge the ascending monster and swiftly withdraw out of range!
[21:34] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 -2pa flying charging
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 -2pa flying charging and gets 32." [1d20=2]
[21:34] <Kotono> Antenora charges and retreats, missing but getting away safely! OOC: Alicia.
[21:35] <Alicia> "Keep your distance, I'll pick them apart while they can't see me!" Alicia calls to the two angels, flying in to slice at the creature's belly and then continue onwards away from possible reprisal!
[21:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 critical strike, invis
06[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 critical strike, invis and gets 44." [1d20=15]
[21:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 critical strike, invis crit check
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 critical strike, invis crit check and gets 48." [1d20=15]
[21:36] <Alicia> roll 4d4+30+1d6+1d6
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d4+30+1d6+1d6 and gets 49." [4d4=2, 3, 1, 4][1d6=6][1d6=3]
[21:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 CL for see invis, there was a mistake in your cunning plan, at least in theory.
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 CL for see invis, there was a mistake in your cunning plan, at least in theory. and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[21:38] <Kotono> OOC: Not that it matters.
[21:40] <Kotono> Alicia snakes in and stabs the the flying remorhaz, scoring a wound while it can't defend itself! Meanwhile it ascends up closer to the angels, while the one on the ground waits! OOC: Latha'n'Anty.
[21:40] <Alicia> Both Antenora and Latha attempt to dispel the magic on the flying one to send it plummeting back into their limited blade works!
[21:40] <Alicia> OOC: how many dispel checks?
[21:41] <Kotono> OOC: Two.
[21:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[21:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 18." [1d20=8]
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 for the other dispel
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 for the other dispel and gets 29." [1d20=19]
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 for the other dispel
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 for the other dispel and gets 16." [1d20=6]
[21:42] <Kotono> Latha's magic dispel is enough to send the remorhaz crashing down hard into the blade barriers!
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 5d6 falling and roll BB damages.
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d6 falling and roll BB damages. and gets 18." [5d6=3, 5, 1, 5, 4]
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 15d6 Anty DC 24 half
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 15d6 Anty DC 24 half and gets 44." [15d6=3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 5, 5, 4, 1, 6, 2]
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 15d6 Latha DC 21 half
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 15d6 Latha DC 21 half and gets 53." [15d6=4, 2, 6, 5, 6, 2, 6, 2, 1, 1, 1, 4, 1, 6, 6]
[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30 1 fishing
[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30 1 fishing
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 1 fishing and gets 43." [1d20=13]
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 1 fishing and gets 42." [1d20=12]
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC: CL checks, BB can be resisted.
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC: I forgot to check the first time. Doeth.
[21:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 Anty
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 Anty and gets 26." [1d20=10]
[21:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 Latha
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 Latha and gets 35." [1d20=19]
[21:45] <Kotono> The blade barriers fail to hurt it, it's wounds mending as it passes through them instead! OOC: Alicia.
[21:47] <Alicia> "Drop the barriers, they're only healing it!" Alicia yells, disappointed that taking down that powerful spell didn't remove their enhancements. They must have been specially bred... well, they'll stil die like anything else, she resolves as she flies down to stab into the head of the untouched remorhaz and then up again out of reach!
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 critical strike, invis -4pa
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 critical strike, invis -4pa and gets 36." [1d20=11]
[21:48] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[21:48] <Alicia> roll 2d4+22+1d6+1d6
06[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+22+1d6+1d6 and gets 31." [2d4=3, 1][1d6=3][1d6=2]
[21:49] <Kotono> Alicia scores yet another wound on it, weakening it further! Meanwhile the two on the ground stay near the vortex! OOC: Latha'n'Anty.
[21:49] <Alicia> Both of the devas nod grimly and focus on the magic they brought into being, causing the endless scything of blades throughout the square to... end.
[21:50] <Kotono> The blades vanish! OOC: Alicia.
06[21:51] * Alicia decides to hurry things along, flying down to slash along the back of her current target before overflying it and coming to rest on the ground on its other side.
[21:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 invis -4pa
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 invis -4pa and gets 34." [1d20=9]
[21:51] <Kotono> OOC: hit.
[21:51] <Alicia> roll 2d4+22+1d6
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+22+1d6 and gets 34." [2d4=4, 2][1d6=6]
[21:53] <Kotono> Alicia wounds it again, more damage but not close to bringing it down! They continue to trash about and defend the vortex! OOC: Latha'n'Antenora.
[21:54] <Alicia> Seeing Alicia has things well in hand, the dynamic duo are content to wait, dropping down to wait sixty feet up in the air and prepared to act only if Alicia gets herself into trouble.
[21:54] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia.
06[21:55] * Alicia now grimly sets to finishing this remorhaz off, unleashing a dizzying flurry of brutal strikes into its chitinous hide before neatly sidestepping back and away from any frenzied thrashing that might ensue!
[21:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 bracers, divine might, 4th level arcane strike
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 bracers, divine might, 4th level arcane strike and gets 50." [1d20=17]
[21:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 bracers, divine might, 4th level arcane strike
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 bracers, divine might, 4th level arcane strike and gets 40." [1d20=7]
[21:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27 bracers, divine might, 4th level arcane strike
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 bracers, divine might, 4th level arcane strike and gets 31." [1d20=4]
[21:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 bracers, divine might, 4th level arcane strike
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 bracers, divine might, 4th level arcane strike and gets 24." [1d20=2]
[21:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 bracers, divine might, 4th level arcane strike crit check
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 bracers, divine might, 4th level arcane strike crit check and gets 50." [1d20=17]
[21:56] <Kotono> OOC: Hit and a crit.
[21:56] <Alicia> roll 6d4+69+2d6+8d4
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6d4+69+2d6+8d4 and gets 110." [6d4=2, 3, 4, 4, 1, 2][2d6=3, 1][8d4=4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 3, 1]
[21:56] <Kotono> OOC: Roll damage, then it's going to take a held action.
[21:57] <Kotono> Biting out blindly, the remorhaz chomps at it's unseen tormentor, hoping!
[21:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 (-20 PA)
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 (-20 PA) and gets 38." [1d20=13]
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[21:57] <Kotono> roll 1d100 if relevant
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 if relevant and gets 12." [1d100=12]
[21:57] <Alicia> OOC: 38, it's not relevant!
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC: Doesn't matter, ze whiff.
[21:58] <Kotono> But it misses, it's blind bite for nothing! It's greviously wounded, torn apart! OOC: Latha'n'Antenora.
[21:59] <Alicia> Alicia seems to have things under control, so they've got no need to interfere.
[22:00] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia.
06[22:01] * Alicia attempts to finish the wretched beast off with another flurry of strikes, again moving slightly as she attacks to avoid reprisals.
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike and gets 40." [1d20=7]
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike and gets 41." [1d20=14]
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike and gets 39." [1d20=17]
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike crit check
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike crit check and gets 37." [1d20=15]
[22:02] <Kotono> OOC: The dice favor you. Total success.
[22:02] <Alicia> roll 8d4+92+3d6+3d6
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 8d4+92+3d6+3d6 and gets 127." [8d4=1, 1, 3, 4, 1, 3, 3, 3][3d6=2, 2, 1][3d6=1, 5, 5]
[22:02] <Alicia> roll 12d4 as well
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d4 as well and gets 28." [12d4=1, 3, 1, 4, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2]
03[22:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia(22)>R2(19)>Latha(13)>Antenora(10)'
[22:02] <Kotono> The remorhaz is slaughered, lying on the ground and slain at last! Only the other remains, this one going to bite at where Alicia was as it's friend dies!
[22:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 (-20 PA)
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 (-20 PA) and gets 42." [1d20=15]
[22:03] <Kotono> roll 1d100 relevancy?
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 relevancy? and gets 11." [1d100=11]
[22:03] <Alicia> OOC: I 5ft stepped after attacking, anyway
[22:03] <Kotono> But it's errant! OOC: Latha'n'antenora, and okay.
[22:03] <Alicia> The two angels might feel like pretty decorations for all the impact they're having right now, but why interfere with a good thing?
[22:04] <Kotono> Thus the eye candy holds position! OOC: Alicia.
[22:04] <Alicia> Since it so helpfully moved next to her, Alicia obliges by whipping Hell Striker out with a flurry of blows to tear the creature apart, neatly stepping to the side afterwards so any retalation at the source of the attacks will bear no fruit!
[22:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike and gets 49." [1d20=16]
[22:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike and gets 34." [1d20=7]
[22:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike and gets 32." [1d20=10]
[22:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+37 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike crit check
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+37 divine might, 4th level arcane strike, critical strike crit check and gets 45." [1d20=8]
[22:05] <Kotono> OOC: One hit but it's a crit.
[22:05] <Alicia> roll 4d4+46+1d6+1d6
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d4+46+1d6+1d6 and gets 63." [4d4=1, 4, 4, 2][1d6=1][1d6=5]
[22:07] <Kotono> Alicia rips into it, dealing a savage wound! OOC: A/L time.
[22:08] <Alicia> Seeing that it looks close to being finished, the two swoop in to hopefully finish it off!
[22:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 -2pa charging flying Anty
06[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 -2pa charging flying Anty and gets 39." [1d20=9]
[22:09] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[22:09] <Kotono> OOC: Fort save after damage, Antenora.
[22:09] <Alicia> roll 2d8+34 and -1 con
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+34 and -1 con and gets 47." [2d8=7, 6]
[22:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 and gets 31." [1d20=3]
[22:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 Latha flying charging
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 Latha flying charging and gets 34." [1d20=5]
[22:11] <Kotono> OOC: Whiff on Latha.
[19:03] <Alicia> <Kotono> Alicia rips into it, dealing a savage wound! OOC: A/L time.
[19:03] <Alicia> <Alicia> Seeing that it looks close to being finished, the two swoop in to hopefully finish it off!
[19:03] <Alicia> <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 -2pa charging flying Anty
[19:03] <Alicia> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 -2pa charging flying Anty and gets 39." [1d20=9]
[19:03] <Alicia> <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[19:03] <Alicia> <Kotono> OOC: Fort save after damage, Antenora.
[19:03] <Alicia> <Alicia> roll 2d8+34 and -1 con
[19:03] <Alicia> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+34 and -1 con and gets 47." [2d8=7, 6]
[19:03] <Alicia> <Alicia> roll 1d20+28
[19:03] <Alicia> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 and gets 31." [1d20=3]
[19:03] <Alicia> <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 Latha flying charging
[19:03] <Alicia> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 Latha flying charging and gets 34." [1d20=5]
[19:04] <Kotono> Antenora plunges down and spears it, as Latha charges and narrowly misses! A minor wound is open, but the beasts still resists! OOC: Alicia.
[19:05] <Kotono> 'Alicia(22)>R2(19)>Latha(13)>Antenora(10)
[19:06] <Alicia> Now that those two are in melee with it, Alicia is even more obligated to finish it off quickly. Ducking underneath its flailing limbs, she swings Hell Striker up to shear through the joints of several, before whirling about and slashing up again to hack into the beast's spine!
[19:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 invis
06[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 invis and gets 46." [1d20=18]
[19:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 invis
06[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 invis and gets 36." [1d20=13]
[19:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 invis
06[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 invis and gets 23." [1d20=5]
[19:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 invis crit check
06[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 invis crit check and gets 37." [1d20=9]
[19:07] <Kotono> OOC: Crit and a hit.
[19:07] <Alicia> roll 6d4+45+2d6
06[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6d4+45+2d6 and gets 71." [6d4=4, 1, 2, 1, 3, 3][2d6=6, 6]
[19:09] <Kotono> roll 1d2
06[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d2 and gets 2." [1d2=2]
[19:10] <Kotono> The beast is not downed yet! It roars in it's torment, biting it's gigantic maw up at Antenora as she impales it!
[19:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[19:10] <Kotono> OOC: +20 more for a total of 29. Whiff
[19:10] <Kotono> .
[19:10] <Kotono> But Antenora is already moving away, flying back and missing the closing maw by a split second! A bone crunching crash of noise echos about! OOC: Latha'n'Antenora.
[19:11] <Alicia> The two angels continue hammering away at the monster, glad to finally have a chance to contribute to the battle!
[19:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27 Latha, flying
06[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 Latha, flying and gets 39." [1d20=12]
[19:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 Latha, flying
06[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 Latha, flying and gets 38." [1d20=16]
[19:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 Latha, flying
06[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 Latha, flying and gets 29." [1d20=12]
[19:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 Latha, flying
06[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 Latha, flying and gets 25." [1d20=13]
[19:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 Anty flying
06[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 Anty flying and gets 50." [1d20=20]
[19:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 Anty flying
06[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 Anty flying and gets 33." [1d20=8]
[19:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 Anty flying
06[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 Anty flying and gets 33." [1d20=13]
[19:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 Anty flying
06[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 Anty flying and gets 34." [1d20=19]
[19:12] <Kotono> OOC: Roll the crit confirms forAntenora?
[19:12] <Kotono> OOC: Latha hit twice.
[19:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 Anty flying crit
06[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 Anty flying crit and gets 34." [1d20=4]
[19:13] <Kotono> OOC: Antenora hits once, normal hit.
[19:13] <Alicia> roll 2d8+24 Latha, DC 24 fort or stunned
06[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+24 Latha, DC 24 fort or stunned and gets 34." [2d8=5, 5]
[19:13] <Alicia> roll 1d8+17 Anty
06[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+17 Anty and gets 22." [1d8=5]
[19:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+35
06[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+35 and gets 40." [1d20=5]
[19:14] <Kotono> The beast is stricken over an over, toughened body weakened and mauled! It's bloodied and beaten, but still thrashing about! OOC: Alicia.
[19:15] <Alicia> What does it take to kill one of these horrors? Alicia knows since she just killed this one's friend, but even so it's a trial, she thinks as she rakes her blade all over its form, turning chitin into shredded debris!
[19:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 invis, forgot knowledge devotion
06[19:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 invis, forgot knowledge devotion and gets 45." [1d20=16]
[19:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 invis
06[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 invis and gets 30." [1d20=6]
[19:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 invis
06[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 invis and gets 34." [1d20=15]
[19:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 invis crit check
06[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 invis crit check and gets 31." [1d20=2]
[19:16] <Kotono> OOC: One normal hit. Terrible dicing.
[19:16] <Alicia> roll 2d4+15+1d6
06[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+15+1d6 and gets 23." [2d4=1, 3][1d6=4]
[19:16] <Kotono> Yet still the beast clings to life! Alicia's blade cuts in, another savage wound, but yet it bleeds all ove rinstead of perishing! OOC: It's up.
[19:17] <Kotono> OOC: Incidentally, have Latha and Antenora make fort saves?
[19:17] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 Latha
06[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 Latha and gets 31." [1d20=15]
[19:17] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 Anty
06[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 Anty and gets 35." [1d20=7]
[19:18] <Kotono> OOC: Carry on.
[19:18] <Kotono> This time the beast goes for Latha, biting at it and trying to engulf her in agonies!
[19:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 47." [1d20=20]
[19:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 kerit?
06[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 kerit? and gets 34." [1d20=7]
[19:18] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[19:18] <Alicia> OOC: AC 35
[19:18] <Kotono> roll 2d8+55 close does not beat DR
06[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+55 close does not beat DR and gets 61." [2d8=4, 2]
[19:20] <Kotono> Latha is caught in it's maw, biting deep into her chest! Latha sticks her arms out, preventing it from biting her in two! With a cry she's able to escape, bloodied but her life saved! OOC: Latha'n'Antenora.
02[19:21] * Laggy (~Laggy@adsl-68-126-203-26.dsl.pltn13.pacbell.net) Quit
[19:23] <Alicia> This one definitely seems tougher than the other one - perhaps the Malmuthians had hurt its more easily killed friend? Still, it can't have much fight left in it, surely, the angels think as they descend upon it seeking blood!
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 -5pa Anty, flying
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 -5pa Anty, flying and gets 30." [1d20=5]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -5pa Anty, flying
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -5pa Anty, flying and gets 38." [1d20=18]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -5pa Anty, flying
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -5pa Anty, flying and gets 33." [1d20=18]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -5pa Anty, flying
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 -5pa Anty, flying and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 -2pa Latha, flying
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 -2pa Latha, flying and gets 45." [1d20=20]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 -2pa Latha, flying crit
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 -2pa Latha, flying crit and gets 26." [1d20=1]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -2pa Latha, flying crit
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -2pa Latha, flying crit and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -2pa Latha, flying crit
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -2pa Latha, flying crit and gets 19." [1d20=4]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -2pa Latha, flying crit
06[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 -2pa Latha, flying crit and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[19:24] <Kotono> OOC: One hit for Antenora, Two for Latha.
[19:24] <Alicia> roll 1d8+27 Anty first in case it dies since she has better saves
06[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+27 Anty first in case it dies since she has better saves and gets 31." [1d8=4]
[19:24] <Alicia> roll 2d8+34 Latha
06[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+34 Latha and gets 45." [2d8=3, 8]
[19:25] <Kotono> OOC: It's down but both need fortification.
[19:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 Anty
06[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 Anty and gets 40." [1d20=12]
[19:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 Latha
06[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 Latha and gets 17." [1d20=1]
[19:26] <Kotono> roll 10d10 fire damage to Latha's weapon. Bummer.
06[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d10 fire damage to Latha's weapon. Bummer. and gets 56." [10d10=3, 7, 3, 7, 6, 9, 1, 6, 10, 4]
[19:26] <Kotono> OOC: What sorta shape is her weapon in now?
[19:28] <Alicia> OOC: 18 hardness, 60hp. Fire damage is halved to 28, so 50/60hp. When GMW wears off it has 50hp max so I dunno if it'll go down to 40/50 or 42/50 (taking proportionate damage)
[19:29] <Kotono> Latha's mace is charred and fire smeared but intact. Antenora lowers to the ground, "Mystra's fire...these things are far too strong."
[19:30] <Alicia> "I thought the Hounds of the Hunt were bad..." Alicia sags as she appears in the visible spectrum, healing herself with spellfire. "I'll summon an elemental and send it through the portal to report back," she adds, conjuring forth several small fire elementals and ordering them in Ignan to go through the portal, take note of their surroundings, and immediately return to report their findings.
[19:30] <Alicia> roll 12d4+12 healan
06[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d4+12 healan and gets 42." [12d4=4, 4, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 3, 3, 1, 2, 4]
[19:30] <Alicia> roll 1d4+1 elementals
06[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+1 elementals and gets 4." [1d4=3]
[19:30] <Kotono> The elementals pass into the gate...and do not come back.
06[19:31] * Alicia heals Latha as they wait. After twenty seconds she shakes her head and draws the sword of the sealed gate. "It's too big a risk to leave, I'm going to shut it down."
[19:31] <Alicia> roll 12d4+12 Latha healan
06[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d4+12 Latha healan and gets 49." [12d4=1, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 2, 3]
[19:32] <Kotono> "Wisest. It may just be a one way gate or some other trickery, but..." Antenora glares at the gate.
[19:32] <Kotono> Latha's wounds mend. "My thanks."
[19:33] <Alicia> "A pity the wraith wasn't talkative," Alicia shrugs as she plunges her blade into the whirling vortex.
[19:35] <Kotono> The Sword of the Sealed Gateway is plunged into the vortex! It turns white and blue for several moments, before vanishing away like a mirage in the night!
[19:36] <Kotono> Far away in the sky, one can glimpse a flare of bright light, momentary and beautiful.
06[19:36] * Alicia nods in satisfaction and sheathes the sword. "Alright. Lets double back to find the others then we can get started on retaking the city? If they've ran into- spoke to soon," Alicia cuts off her planning with a head shake, flapping her wings to take to the air. "Come on, they need help!"
[19:37] <Kotono> OOC: I'll intro you back into #dunes in a few.
[19:38] <Alicia> roll 3d4+4 additional healan
06[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d4+4 additional healan and gets 15." [3d4=4, 3, 4]
[19:19] <Ko> ---
05[19:19] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[19:19] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
03[19:20] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[19:21] <Ko> Thus Alicia and compay teleport to Waukeen's temple! Chaos flares around them, a battle raging! Magic and sword fly freely, priests of Waukeen holding the line just behind brave soldiers! They fight in the plaza around the fountain, back and forth! They battle against great hordes of walking dead, fresh and still bloody. They advance without care, many being vaporized by holy power. From above, a light snow falls as the night embraces Balmuria
[19:21] <Ko> From above, a light snow falls as the night embraces Balmuria. Leading the troops is Commander Oberuth, cutting a deep swath through the lifeless. Amaryl hangs back, firing off withering barrages of arrows. Gilartal leads te priests, calling on Waukeen's power. Farther back, in the marketplace, a beam of light can be seen reaching to the heavens, fighting amid a great storm of undeath.
06[19:22] * Alicia doesn't hesitate, Hell Striker immediately cleaving out into the nearest undead! "Latha, use your aura to protect everyone!" she instructs the deva.
[19:24] <Ko> Latha does so, holy energies surrounding as she takes to the line! Saul growls, "Cursed undead, begone!" he calls as sacred power comes from him! OOC: Go ahead and resolve an attack, Alicia.
[19:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 devotion
06[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 devotion and gets 18." [1d20=2]
[19:25] <Ko> "Alicia!" Commander Oberuth calls as he cuts a dead elf in two, still splurting mostly fresh blood, "Rally! The odds continue to turn to us! Crush the dead and return them to their graves!"
[19:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 -9pa
06[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 -9pa and gets 41." [1d20=19]
[19:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 -9pa crit check
06[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 -9pa crit check and gets 27." [1d20=5]
[19:25] <Ko> OOC: Crit.
[19:25] <Alicia> OOC: evil?
[19:26] <Alicia> roll 4d4+68+2d6+1d6+1d8 it's undead, why am I asking?
06[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d4+68+2d6+1d6+1d8 it's undead, why am I asking? and gets 91." [4d4=1, 3, 3, 4][2d6=2, 3][1d6=1][1d8=6]
[19:28] <Ko> The former human explodes into flames and light, vaporized by one massive cleave! Around you soldiers fight on, pushing back the horde of undeath, as more explode from holy power around you. Farther ahead, a rousing female voice, familiar to Alicia, calls, "Defilers of flesh and money, begone from this sacred place!" Agathaiel calls, "Waukeen shall not brook your blasphemy!"'
[19:29] <Ko> "Alicia! Sir Saul!" Amarylc alls, as arrows cut through the dead like a scythe through wheat, buckling the horde of undead further.
[19:31] <Alicia> It's a small world alright. Glowing against the night with celestial radiance, Alicia hopes to both make herself a target to take the pressure off others and lend an inspirationally noticable presence as she scythe's through the undead with a fury!
[19:32] <Ko> OOC: Undead are going to resolve on you.
[19:32] <Ko> The hordes of undead bite and chomp at Alicia as she shines with holy power!
[19:32] <Ko> roll 6#1d20+5
06[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Ko rolls 6#1d20+5 and gets 99." [6#1d20+5 = 24, 9, 7, 19, 21, 19]
[19:33] <Ko> Yet Alicia is untouched in the storm, ravaging through them! OOC: Alicia, go ahead and go.
06[19:35] * Alicia hesitates a moment in her sword-swinging, flapping her wings to ascend a few feet above the fracas and identifying the biggest cluster of undead she can see that hasn't yet entered the melee, calling upon Mystra's wrath to unmake them in a bright nova of holy power!
[19:35] <Alicia> roll 5d8 DC 22 will half (also blinded if fail)
06[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d8 DC 22 will half (also blinded if fail) and gets 19." [5d8=6, 5, 4, 1, 3]
[19:35] <Ko> roll 12#1d20+3
06[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Ko rolls 12#1d20+3 and gets 147." [12#1d20+3 = 12, 14, 9, 10, 9, 12, 20, 22, 6, 18, 7, 8]
[19:36] <Ko> The undead are shattered, Alicia's holy energies laying them low! As this happens, the undead horde buckles! Yet...Alicia's vision tints black momentarily. Her heart stops. Her blood runs as cold as mountain water. Her soul whispers to her, "Ailcia Reynes...above...this is not your battle. These are unworthy of you."
[19:39] <Alicia> Inexorably, Alicia's neck tilts and her gaze tilts upwards, her perceptions slowing to a crawl as the noises and sights of battle dim around her, focusing instead upwards towards where destiny calls.
[19:41] <Ko> Amid the snowy moonlight, a blot of black and sickly green floats above Balmuria. It is death. Alicia feels it in the core to her being. It is a black shawl and robe of death, housing oblivion in the face of a leering skull, wielding a scythe. "Your fated day of death has come. Oblivion awaits you, and I shall take you across the river Styx to it!"
[19:44] <Alicia> Alicia's blood quickens, remembering the dream she had after her first fight with Esthan. If she's to die, then Death won't take her without knowing it was in a fight. "Take me if you dare," she whispers, the surrounding zombies buffeted away from her by the powerful stroke of her wings as she propels herself upwards with all her speed!
[19:46] <Ko> Below Alicia, Balmuria is covered in snow. Undead roam the streets, clashing with the city guard. At the temples it seems the worst, yet beams of light from the heavens extend down, flashes of sacred power. Save at the Temple of Torm and Elle's shop. At the former fires seem to spring up like pillars of hatred, striking out. At Elle's shop, arcane power of all sorts flares, a dazzling display even from above. But above...(More)
[19:46] <Ko> a dazzling display even from above. But above...(More)
[19:49] <Ko> Above oblivion waits. A green light surrounds it in a thirty foot radius, a mantle of entropy. As Alicia ascends it speaks to her, "Few have the courage to race towards oblivion. For that, I salute you as I claim your soul!" OOC: You have time to cast a buff if you like.
[19:52] <Alicia> As she ascends, words of power fly from Alicia's lips and her body is consumed in flames! Yet they do her no harm, instead the bright orange fires roll off her body as if she were embodying the sun itself, chasing away the darkness of night as she takes to the sky. Levelling her flaming blade at the creature as she reaches the same height, seperated by a hundred feet, she accepts the challenge.
[19:52] <Alicia> "If you are truly Death, then I will face you with no hesitation. But if you are a pretender, I will scatter your bones across the sky for the whole world to see," she promises.
[19:53] <Ko> "Then...by my cursed scythe Morddrohung, your time has come!" With that, Death menaces Alicia! OOC: Init here.
[19:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[19:53] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 15." [1d20=8]
[19:54] <Ko> roll 1d20+6
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Ko rolls 1d20+6 and gets 20." [1d20=14]
03[19:54] * Ko changes topic to 'Death>Alicia'
[19:54] <Ko> OOC: What was the buff, by the by?
[19:54] <Alicia> OOC: Fires of Purity
[19:56] <Ko> "That's useless," Death traces lines of power in the air! His bony arms glow with eldritch runes, forming arcane patterns as magic shatters around Alicia! OOC: Greater Dispel Magic. Any reponse to it?
[19:56] <Alicia> OOC: spellfired
[19:57] <Ko> The magic flows into Alicia, strengthening her instead! OOC: Go.
[19:58] <Alicia> "Already you disappoint," Alicia shakes her head, drifting forward forty feet before she hurls Hell Striker at the creature with all her might, a spell carrying it true and then back to her waiting grasp after its attack!
[19:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 knowledge
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 knowledge and gets 21." [1d20=5]
[19:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36 divine might, 4th level arcane strike
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 divine might, 4th level arcane strike and gets 54." [1d20=18]
[19:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36 divine might, 4th level arcane strike crit check
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 divine might, 4th level arcane strike crit check and gets 53." [1d20=17]
[20:00] <Ko> OOC: Lucky you.
[20:00] <Alicia> roll 4d4+54+2d6+1d6+4d4
06[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d4+54+2d6+1d6+4d4 and gets 84." [4d4=4, 2, 2, 1][2d6=5, 2][1d6=6][4d4=2, 3, 1, 2]
[20:02] <Alicia> roll 1d8 forgot
06[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8 forgot and gets 3." [1d8=3]
[20:02] <Ko> Alicia's blade sails through the air, cutting deep into the incarnation of death! Yet it stands there, only mildly injured at best. Holding the air, it approaches Alicia, charging at her and reaching out! OOC: CL check for the fires first.
[20:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
06[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 28." [1d20=10]
[20:03] <Ko> The scythe leaps out at Alicia, looking to sever her apart as the fires sputter out around it!
[20:03] <Alicia> OOC: deflect, +8 AC
[20:03] <Ko> roll 1d20+25 (+2 charge, +1 haste, -6 PA)
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Ko rolls 1d20+25 (+2 charge, +1 haste, -6 PA) and gets 32." [1d20=7]
[20:03] <Alicia> OOC: AC 42 for this attack
[20:04] <Ko> A field of force springs up around Alicia, blocking the attack entirely! A moment later, dreadful waves of fatigue weaken Alicia as snow falls down from dark clouds above! OOC: You're fatigued. Go.
[20:06] <Alicia> It's not in her interests to get into a slugging match just yet while she's still taking her foe's measure - especially when she knows the power of that scythe. So instead Alicia whips Hell Striker up in a single rising slash to bisect her foe before she twists and floats away and down, gaining fifty foot's grace.
[20:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 divine might, rage
06[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 divine might, rage and gets 39." [1d20=6]
[20:06] <Ko> OOC: Hit.
[20:06] <Alicia> roll 2d4+27+2d6+1d6+1d8
06[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+27+2d6+1d6+1d8 and gets 47." [2d4=1, 4][2d6=3, 6][1d6=2][1d8=4]
[20:08] <Alicia> OOC: wait, sorry, did that wrong. Forgot fatigue
[20:08] <Alicia> OOC: -1 on the attack roll and -2 on the damage (unless it misses)
[20:09] <Ko> OOC: Still hits.
[20:10] <Ko> Alicia flies downward after wounding Death! It's wounds seem to be only temporary inconvinences, healing at a phenominal rate, vanishing away in moments. It chuckles, "Think you can slay the bringer of death? Taste oblivion for your folly!" With that it charges Alicia again!
[20:11] <Ko> roll 1d20+29 (+2 charge, +1 haste, -2 PA)
06[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Ko rolls 1d20+29 (+2 charge, +1 haste, -2 PA) and gets 43." [1d20=14]
[20:11] <Ko> OOC: AC?
[20:11] <Ko> roll 2d6+27 and fort, DR applies
06[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Ko rolls 2d6+27 and fort, DR applies and gets 34." [2d6=1, 6]
[20:12] <Alicia> OOC: 42 using deflect
[20:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
06[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 34." [1d20=8]
[20:17] <Alicia> OOC: DC 23 fort save or he's blinded, btw
[20:18] <Ko> OOC: Fromw hat?
[20:18] <Alicia> OOC: holy aura
[23:18] <Alicia> <Ko> Alicia flies downward after wounding Death! It's wounds seem to be only temporary inconvinences, healing at a phenominal rate, vanishing away in moments. It chuckles, "Think you can slay the bringer of death? Taste oblivion for your folly!" With that it charges Alicia again!
[23:18] <Alicia> <Ko> roll 1d20+29 (+2 charge, +1 haste, -2 PA)
[23:18] <Alicia> * Hatbot --> "Ko rolls 1d20+29 (+2 charge, +1 haste, -2 PA) and gets 43." [1d20=14]
[23:18] <Alicia> <Ko> OOC: AC?
[23:18] <Alicia> <Ko> roll 2d6+27 and fort, DR applies
[23:18] <Alicia> * Hatbot --> "Ko rolls 2d6+27 and fort, DR applies and gets 34." [2d6=1, 6]
[23:18] <Alicia> <Alicia> OOC: 42 using deflect
[23:18] <Alicia> <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
[23:18] <Alicia> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 34." [1d20=8]
[23:19] <Alicia> OOC: AC actually 39 from rage/fatigue, and that save was at +30 from holy aura
Session Close: Fri Oct 09 23:27:06 2009
Session Start: Fri Oct 09 23:27:06 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[23:27] * Disconnected
02[23:27] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[23:27] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[23:27] * Topic is 'Death>Alicia'
03[23:27] * Set by Ko on Thu Oct 08 20:00:01
03[23:27] * ChanServ sets mode: +o CC
06[23:31] * Alicia mentally curses. Ordinarily she'd take her time, employing her maneuvrability to whittle down her foe while avoiding a decisive confrontation until he was so weak it would be a foregone conclusion. The reaper's uncanny regenerative powers show how futile that would be, however - the two blows she's struck already were not inconsequential, yet already there's barely any sign of them.
[23:31] <Alicia> On the other hand, she's already tired and her reserves are all but depleted - at the pace she was setting she could last a minute longer, but likely have nothing to show for it even assuming Death doesn't get lucky. So instead she has to fall back on her old training, the fighting style Kossuth tried to take away from her.
[23:31] <Alicia> If she throws everything she has into one single overwhelming assault, even without the speed and multiple angles of attack she once enjoyed, she just might be able to win. Of course, if it doesn't work she'll have nothing left to use, but it's her only realistic hope of victory.
[23:31] <Alicia> "Kill me, then," she dares, flames burning hotly around her, "But only if you survive *this*!" is added as she lashes Hell Striker out, a curtain of flame suddenly ringing her and enveloping the reapear as her blade slashes into the bones of his leading arm.
[23:31] <Alicia> Shaving up his forearm and shoulder, she rends bone into dust on her follow-through, before rearing back enough to power the holy falchion through her opponent's ribcage! Shattering through resistance, she concludes with a final obliterating strike at his skull, throwing every last drop of strength into it!
[23:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might
06[23:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might and gets 42." [1d20=11]
[23:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might
06[23:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might and gets 51." [1d20=20]
[23:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might
06[23:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might and gets 43." [1d20=17]
[23:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might smite
06[23:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might smite and gets 45." [1d20=16]
[23:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might crit check
06[23:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might crit check and gets 49." [1d20=18]
[23:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might crit check
06[23:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might crit check and gets 45." [1d20=19]
[23:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might smite crit check
06[23:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 -5pa bracers 1 4th 2 3rd 1 2nd 2 1st level arcane strike divine might smite crit check and gets 32." [1d20=3]
[23:32] <Kotono> OOC: My God. Everything but the 3 is a connect. Hatbot likes your style today.
[23:34] <Alicia> OOC: also, what's Hell Striker's CL? Using Wall of Fire, too
[23:34] <Alicia> roll 12d4+212+8d6+4d6+4d8+56d4
06[23:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d4+212+8d6+4d6+4d8+56d4 and gets 445." [12d4=4, 1, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 4, 3, 4][8d6=5, 2, 4, 4, 5, 3, 1, 3][4d6=3, 1, 5, 5][4d8=2, 4, 7, ]
[23:37] <Kotono> With all her fury, Alicia tears into death! Her blade shatters it's ribs apart, it's bony legs falling like burning snow! She thrusts through it's skull, shattering it into a burst of fire! For a moment, it all falls...then the scythe takes to the air, it's now empty shawl and lantern doing the same. You hear laughter all around you, "Ho ho ho hooo! You have destroyed my physical body...but death does not die! Repent of your foolishness in
[23:37] <Kotono> "Ho ho ho hooo! You have destroyed my physical body...but death does not die! Repent of your foolishness in oblivion!" OOC: Make a fort save first?
[23:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30
06[23:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 and gets 50." [1d20=20]
[23:39] <Kotono> Green light turns Alicia's skin pale, but she endures! The lantern and shawl fall backwards 60 feet, the scythe striking as it too follows!
[23:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 (+1 haste, -2 PA)
06[23:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 (+1 haste, -2 PA) and gets 45." [1d20=18]
[23:39] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[23:39] <Alicia> OOC: 31
[23:39] <Kotono> roll 2d6+27 and fort
06[23:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+27 and fort and gets 35." [2d6=3, 5]
[23:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30
06[23:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 and gets 46." [1d20=16]
[23:40] <Kotono> The scythe cuts into Alicia's soul, rendering it all over! The pain is physical and spiritual, requiring her utmost training and strenght to resist from screaming, screaming forever! OOC: Alicia.
[23:40] <Alicia> OOC: remember my 32 knowledge check earlier on these guys? Do I know anything about what it's doing now and how it might be killed?
[23:45] <Alicia> Dammit, was it all for nothing? "You have been bested!" Alicia screams her defiance, swinging her sword now to shatter the scythe into kindling and shrapnel. "If you will not accept it and die, I will shatter your every tool and see you impotent!"
[23:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36 4th level arcane strike
06[23:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 4th level arcane strike and gets 41." [1d20=5]
[23:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 4th level arcane strike
06[23:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 4th level arcane strike and gets 38." [1d20=7]
[23:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 4th level arcane strike
06[23:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 4th level arcane strike and gets 24." [1d20=3]
[23:46] <Kotono> OOC: The scythe moved back 60ft, remember.
[23:46] <Alicia> OOC: strike
[23:47] <Alicia> OOC: sorry, thought the lantern and shawl went away and the scythe stayed
[23:47] <Kotono> OOC: No big, I wasn't as clear as I could've been.
[23:49] <Alicia> "Accept your defeat with some measure of grace, impudent wraith!" Alicia spits at the collection of floating objects as she gestures at it and a beam of silvery light illuminates the sky, lancing through the one proclaiming itself as Death!
[23:49] <Alicia> roll 6d8 DC 27 reflex half spellfire
06[23:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6d8 DC 27 reflex half spellfire and gets 14." [6d8=1, 2, 4, 4, 1, 2]
[23:49] <Kotono> OOC: Aiming at anything in particular or just it in general?
[23:50] <Alicia> OOC: it's a 5ft wide beam, not really any good for precise targetting. It'll roll right over the whole thing
[23:51] <Kotono> The beam of spellfire hits the phantom...but barely seems to have an effect, if any at all! From it's remnants a pale beam comes out at Alicia!
[23:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 CR check yes it has CR 24. Scary.
06[23:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 CR check yes it has CR 24. Scary. and gets 28." [1d20=4]
[23:51] <Alicia> OOC: I'll spellfire that, thanks
[23:52] <Kotono> OOC: 1 CL. Braindead of me.
[23:52] <Kotono> OOC: Actually strike that, that is pretty dumb of me.
[23:53] <Kotono> All around Alicia, fog spreads, obscuring her vision into a misty sea of white and gray! OOC: You're in the middle of a fog cloud. Go.
[23:56] <Alicia> It really wants to play things that way? Fine then, Alicia heals herself a little and flies straight up to hopefully exit the cloud while keeping some of it between herself and the wraith's last position.
[23:56] <Alicia> roll 3d8+15
06[23:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d8+15 and gets 33." [3d8=6, 4, 8]
[23:57] <Kotono> asAs Alicia emerges out, healing her wounds, she sees Death below!
[23:57] <Kotono> OOC: Gaaah.
[23:58] <Kotono> As Alicia emerges out, healing her wounds, she sees Death below, having come to the center edge of the fog cloud, 30 feet away and down! At this, a dreadful chill overtakes Alicia! OOC: Will.
[23:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30
06[23:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 and gets 38." [1d20=8]
Session Time: Sat Oct 10 00:00:00 2009
[00:02] <Kotono> Terrible fear overtakes Alicia, but she throws it off! Thereafter, the remanants fly 60 feet back, 90 feet in total from Alicia! Below, the battle rages! Alicia can see the horde of undead broken before Waukeen's temple, the guard surging forth and finishing them! And yet...Alicia feels a pull, Jessica's will drawing her forth! OOC: Jessica's bracelet of friends is activated, you have the option of answering it or not.
[00:02] <Alicia> OOC: of course!
[00:04] <Kotono> The battle vanishes away! You stand in the front courtyard of Mystra's temple. Shankar and the priests lead th eguard, driving back undead! However, 30 feet away, Jessica, Dawnhope, Roald and Hugo ar emenaced! A pitch black, transparent image of a dessicated man looms over her, reaching out for her! Light seems to stop when it reaches it, a pure zone of inky oblivion! "Alicia!" Jessica calls, rapier drawn and a long, jagged scratch down he
[00:04] <Kotono> "Alicia!" Jessica calls, rapier drawn and a long, jagged scratch down her arm. OOC: Roll init.
[00:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
06[00:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15." [1d20=9]
[00:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[00:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 30." [1d20=17]
[00:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Hugo
06[00:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Hugo and gets 21." [1d20=16]
[00:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 Jessica
06[00:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 Jessica and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[00:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Dawnhope
06[00:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Dawnhope and gets 20." [1d20=13]
03[00:07] * Kotono changes topic to '???(30)>Hugo(21)>Jessica=Dawnhope(20)>Alicia(15)'
[00:08] <Kotono> The phantom reaches out for Jessica, clawing at her!
[00:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 melee touch
06[00:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 melee touch and gets 33." [1d20=17]
[00:08] <Kotono> roll 2d6 Jessica damage
06[00:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 Jessica damage and gets 5." [2d6=4, 1]
[00:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[00:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15." [1d20=9]
[00:09] <Kotono> roll 1d8
06[00:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 and gets 7." [1d8=7]
[00:10] <Kotono> OOC: 7 con drain to Jessica.
[00:10] <Kotono> Jessica's entire body becomes lesser, withering as the black unlight from the phantom weakens her yet further! OOC: 1 more damage to Jessica. Hugo's up.
[00:10] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[00:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 19." [1d100=19]
[00:11] <Kotono> Hugo looks to the phantom, frowning...OOC: Jessica.
[00:12] <Kotono> Jessica shudders, "Roald..." she gasps, "Run! Alicia!" With that, Jessica tumbles back as fast as she can! Dawnhope flies up and away, shooting off an arrow in retreat!
[00:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 courre have good dex at least
06[00:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 courre have good dex at least and gets 27." [1d20=13]
[00:13] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[00:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 8." [1d100=8]
[00:13] <Kotono> The arrow goes right through the phantasm, like smoke throughsunlight! OOC: Alicia.
[00:14] <Alicia> "Get to shelter, I'll hold it off!" Alicia calls desperately, the attack on Jessica blowing away all thoughts of the duel she just left. Without a moment's hesitation she hurls herself at the wraith, ignoring the protests of her tired muscles as Hell Striker sings forth in a discorporating slash!
[00:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 knowledge
06[00:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 knowledge and gets 19." [1d20=3]
[00:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -11pa
06[00:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -11pa and gets 26." [1d20=6]
[00:15] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[00:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 43." [1d100=43]
[00:15] <Kotono> Alicia's blade travels forth, yet passes through the spirit like nothingness! It whirls to her, the snowy moonlight casting it pure black! With a dreadful finality, it raises it's hand to Alicia!
[00:15] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 touch
06[00:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 touch and gets 22." [1d20=6]
[00:15] <Kotono> OOC: Touch AC?
[00:16] <Alicia> OOC: 16
[00:16] <Kotono> roll 2d6 and fort
06[00:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 and fort and gets 10." [2d6=5, 5]
[00:17] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30
06[00:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 and gets 42." [1d20=12]
[00:17] <Kotono> Alicia shudders but withstands the life-draining touch! Yet the very presence of this abomination saps her life force! OOC: 1 damage, DR does not apply.
[00:17] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[00:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 61." [1d100=61]
[00:18] <Kotono> Hugo frowns further, "Alicia?" he asks, as a holy blast of power bursts around the wraith!
[00:18] <Kotono> roll 5d8
06[00:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 and gets 26." [5d8=5, 3, 8, 3, 7]
[00:18] <Alicia> OOC: the wraith also takes 15 damage for touching me due to fires of purity
[00:18] <Kotono> roll 1d100 checking if this applies
06[00:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 checking if this applies and gets 83." [1d100=83]
[00:19] <Kotono> Holy fire and energies burn the wraith, licking at it's form, as Hugo stands there without fear. Jessica continues to retreat back, taking Roald with her, as Dawnhope fires another arrow!
[00:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[00:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 27." [1d20=13]
[00:19] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[00:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 35." [1d100=35]
[00:19] <Kotono> But this arrow passes through safely as well! OOC: Alicia.
[00:21] <Alicia> "I'm here, Hugo," Alicia manages to glance his way and give him a smile despite it all as she wards off the wraith. "Go with Jessica, you'll be safe with her," she instructs, tone a mix of worry and affection that's belied by the vicious sweeping arcs she makes with her blade, trying to drive the spectre back with her assault!
[00:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 -1pa
06[00:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 -1pa and gets 47." [1d20=17]
[00:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 -1pa
06[00:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 -1pa and gets 34." [1d20=9]
[00:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -1pa
06[00:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -1pa and gets 21." [1d20=1]
[00:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 -1pa crit check
06[00:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 -1pa crit check and gets 45." [1d20=20]
[00:21] <Alicia> roll 1d100 crit
06[00:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 crit and gets 16." [1d100=16]
[00:21] <Alicia> roll 1d100 normal
06[00:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 normal and gets 8." [1d100=8]
[00:22] <Kotono> Yet again, Alicia's blows pass through it like nothing, her fiery power unable to impact it! Snarling with wordless, terrifying fury, the wraith attacks her again!
[00:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 touch
06[00:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 touch and gets 17." [1d20=1]
[00:22] <Kotono> But this time, Alicia weaves down and dodges it at the last moment!
[00:22] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[00:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 53." [1d100=53]
[00:23] <Kotono> Hugo shakes his head, "Bad." He says it calmly, as more holy power burst around the wraith!
[00:23] <Kotono> roll 5d8
06[00:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d8 and gets 23." [5d8=6, 1, 7, 2, 7]
[00:23] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 will for half
06[00:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 will for half and gets 30." [1d20=16]
[00:24] <Kotono> roll 1d100 checked and it does apply
06[00:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 checked and it does apply and gets 87." [1d100=87]
[00:24] <Kotono> The holy power batters the wraith again, laying it low as it's dreadful aura continues to leech away at Alicia! OOC: -1 HP again, forgot to mention on it's turn. Dawnhope.
[00:25] <Kotono> Dawnhope flies up and lobs off an arrow, as she calls, "Shankar! Hurry, give us some support when you can spare it!"
[00:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[00:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 20." [1d20=6]
[00:25] <Kotono> But this arrow is a flat out miss, hitting the snow covered ground! OOC: Alicia.
06[00:27] * Alicia wishes Antenora had been able to come along, her assistance would be greatly appreciated in tying up this elusive wraith. On the other hand, even if she had come she'd still be stuck at the temple of Waukeen and no help at all.
[00:27] <Alicia> "Mystra bless you, Hugo, but I can't let you get hurt - go with Jessica!" she insists of her charge, lashing out at the wraith as her arms start to grow heavy and ache from the constant overexertion.
[00:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 -1pa
06[00:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 -1pa and gets 37." [1d20=7]
[00:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 -1pa
06[00:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 -1pa and gets 41." [1d20=16]
[00:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -1pa
06[00:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -1pa and gets 31." [1d20=11]
[00:28] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 -1pa crit check
06[00:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 -1pa crit check and gets 41." [1d20=16]
[00:28] <Alicia> roll 1d100 normal
06[00:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 normal and gets 23." [1d100=23]
[00:28] <Alicia> roll 1d100 crit
06[00:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 crit and gets 43." [1d100=43]
[00:28] <Alicia> roll 1d100 normal
06[00:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 normal and gets 53." [1d100=53]
[00:29] <Alicia> roll 2d4+19+2d6+1d6+1d8+15
06[00:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+19+2d6+1d6+1d8+15 and gets 52." [2d4=1, 3][2d6=2, 5][1d6=5][1d8=2]
[00:29] <Kotono> Alicia puts all she has into it, thrusting hard! The vicious blow leaves a piercing in the pure black shadow, it's flickerings more erratic after that strike! Yet it does not relent, going for Alicia once more!
[00:29] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[00:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[00:29] <Kotono> roll 2d6 an dfort
06[00:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 an dfort and gets 11." [2d6=5, 6]
[00:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30
06[00:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 and gets 31." [1d20=1]
[00:29] <Kotono> roll 1d8 ow
06[00:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 ow and gets 5." [1d8=5]
[00:30] <Kotono> This time the touching hand goes right to Alicia's heart! She feels it skip several beats, cluched and squeezed! Her vision swims ,legs buckling terrifically! OOC: Hugo's up.
[00:30] <Kotono> OOC: 1 more radius damage, too.
[00:30] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[00:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 44." [1d100=44]
[00:31] <Kotono> At that, Hugo retreats back and away, leaving Alicia be! Dawnhope snaps off another arrow!
[00:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[00:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 25." [1d20=11]
[00:31] <Kotono> But this one narrowly misses a swell! OOC: Alicia.
[00:32] <Kotono> "Alicia, stand firm," An angelic, riveting voice calls over the din of battle and cries, familiar as her head spins with battle lethargy and exhaustion.
06[00:35] * Alicia stumbles, knowing she's at her limit. It's easy to visualise herself perched atop a delicate but razor sharp knife-edge, teetering on the brink, falling inexorably downwards and knowing there's nothing she can do about it. "I..." she grips her blade fiercely with the last dregs of her furious strength, "Will not," she glares at the wraith with all the indignant rage she can muster,
[00:35] <Alicia> "Be killed, by the likes of *you*!" she roars her defiance, Hell Striker's last sortie before her muscles seize up on her a thing of terrible beauty, seeming to blur into shards of silver as she slashes and impales her foe with this last gasp!
[00:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 -5pa
06[00:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 -5pa and gets 39." [1d20=13]
[00:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 -5pa
06[00:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 -5pa and gets 41." [1d20=20]
[00:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 -5pa
06[00:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 -5pa and gets 36." [1d20=20]
[00:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 -5pa crit check
06[00:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 -5pa crit check and gets 34." [1d20=13]
[00:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 -5pa crit check
06[00:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 -5pa crit check and gets 17." [1d20=1]
[00:35] <Alicia> roll 1d100 normal
03[00:36] * Laggy|TF2 is now known as Laggy
06[00:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 normal and gets 5." [1d100=5]
[00:36] <Alicia> roll 1d100 crit
06[00:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 crit and gets 5." [1d100=5]
[00:36] <Alicia> roll 1d100 normal
06[00:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 normal and gets 38." [1d100=38]
[00:36] <Alicia> OOC: oh, it took 15 damage when it sapped my con there, at least
[00:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[00:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 12." [1d20=4]
03[00:37] * Kotono changes topic to '???(30)>Hugo(21)>Jessica=Dawnhope(20)>Alicia(15)>???(12)'
[00:38] <Kotono> Alicia's body can go no further. He slashes come to naught, utter exhaustion taking her! Movement is almost impossible, utter bone-dead weariness blurring her vision. Shewobbles on her feet, as the wraith triumphantly raises a hand to rip her beating heart out!
[00:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[00:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 36." [1d20=20]
[00:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 crit
06[00:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 crit and gets 36." [1d20=20]
[00:38] <Kotono> roll 4d6 and fort
06[00:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d6 and fort and gets 15." [4d6=3, 6, 4, 2]
[00:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
06[00:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 31." [1d20=5]
[00:40] <Alicia> OOC: another 15 damage, choke on it
[00:40] <Kotono> Alicia staggers at the punch, grazing her heart and making her vision turn black and white, color draining out. The world is cold all around her, heat vanishing from her limbs. Amid this, she can dimly see an arrow fired, even as her sacred fires burn the wraith!
[00:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[00:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 29." [1d20=15]
[00:40] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[00:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 66." [1d100=66]
[00:41] <Kotono> roll 1d4+3
06[00:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+3 and gets 7." [1d4=4]
[00:41] <Kotono> An arrow strikes the wraith, as Alicia feels her body wanting to collapse, wanting to crumble back and away. OOC: Alicia.
[00:43] <Alicia> It doesn't matter. She can rest while she's dead, and so long as this monstrosity mocks her with its continued existence, that just won't happen. Beset now by painful cramps and a worrying dulling of her vision, Alicia has to rely on pure skill to overcome this challenge, her strikes coming forth more carefully, more measured... more weak.
[00:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
06[00:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 38." [1d20=12]
[00:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21
06[00:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 and gets 38." [1d20=17]
[00:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[00:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 28." [1d20=12]
[00:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 crit check
06[00:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 crit check and gets 35." [1d20=14]
[00:43] <Alicia> roll 1d100 normal
06[00:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 normal and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[00:43] <Alicia> roll 1d100 crit
06[00:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 crit and gets 57." [1d100=57]
[00:43] <Alicia> roll 1d100 normal
06[00:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 normal and gets 73." [1d100=73]
[00:44] <Kotono> OOC: 2 more damage, forgot th eaura two rounds, just FYI.
[00:44] <Alicia> roll 8d4+66+6d6+3d6+3d8+45
06[00:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 8d4+66+6d6+3d6+3d8+45 and gets 179." [8d4=2, 2, 4, 1, 1, 3, 4, 2][6d6=3, 5, 3, 6, 6, 5][3d6=5, 5, 2][3d8=6, 2, 1]
[00:45] <Kotono> With the last of her strength, Alicia strikes over and over and over! The phantasm screams as it breaks apart! Alicia's vision is hazing over, dizziness taking her. Yet she feels someone supporting her, a protective energy all about. OOC: Free act.
06[00:47] * Alicia wants to collapse, to fall and let the cold ground or the warm support catch her, it hardly matters to her - anything's better than standing up on her weak and shaking legs.
[00:47] <Alicia> She spares a brief glance to see who came to her aid, clutching Hell Striker's hilt hard enough to make her knuckles turn white because if she slackens even a little it will surely fall from numb fingers. She can't let herself relax, because if she does then she won't be able to get up again, and this battle is far from over.
[00:49] <Kotono> Alicia feels strength re-fill her body. Her wounds vanish, some of her vitality returning. Hopiel smiles gently as he supports her, "Wish it was under better circumstances, isn't that how the saying goes? Mystra summoned me to protect this temple, no time to talk, there's more undead to be obliterated." OOC: Heal spell, CL 17.
[00:53] <Alicia> Alicia gives the planetar a wan smile, that perks up as she's healed - it's no substitute for proper rest, and her heartbeat remains a worryingly unsteady thump in her chest... but there may be a way to fix that. "Let me borrow your sword for a second? I remember how it works," she asks, releasing her death grip on Hell Striker and offering one hand to Hopiel.
[00:56] <Kotono> Hopiel passes her his sword. "Do you know what's going on? My summoned duty is to ensure no undead violate this temple; I can't leave far from the grounds."
06[00:58] * Alicia activates the sword that once belonged to one of Torm's faithful, feeling renewed from the brief contact before she promptly offers it back, feeling physically refreshed in all respects - though sadly her mental wear and tear remains, her magic all but gone.
[00:58] <Alicia> "No," she shakes her head, "Several cities have been attacked like this, but to what end I don't know." Hefting her own blade, she quickly looks around for the biggest trouble spot nearby she can try to lend support in.
[00:59] <Kotono> The temple looks cleared. Shankar and company are holding a line with the guard, but no more zombies menace. They lie about by the dozens, slain a second time.
[01:02] <Alicia> Seeing nothing nearby, Alicia flaps her wings and starts to ascend for a clearer look of the surrounding streets, "Please tend to my sister?" she asks Hopiel, "The wraith struck her fearfully as well, but the magic in that blade should mend her."
[01:04] <Kotono> With that, Alicia takes to the air. She can see the city as she ascends. To the north, the Temple of Gond has a bonfire going outside of it, guardsmen and priests celebrating amid a pile of burning zombie corpses. The Temple of Torm is empty to the east, an entire block cleared saved for a few priests. The streets are marked with ash and soot. Most of the streets here seem...quiet, she could fly to the east to see the old city if she wishe
[01:04] <Kotono> she could fly to the east to see the old city if she wished.
[01:06] <Alicia> The battles over there seemed all but won from what she was able to tell while duelling with death, and she's reluctant to leave her family alone after such a close call. Landing back on the grounds, she goes to seek out Jessica and company, the flames enveloping her form finally dissipating, although she remains a visibly glowing presence.
[01:07] <Kotono> Thus Alicia heads into the temple. Inside it is quiet - Jessica sits on the ground, Roald supporting her. Dawnhope rests on her shoulders, massaging them. Hugo sits nearby, smiling. Hopiel is just leaving, hurrying away with the barest nod.
06[01:09] * Alicia gives the planetar a nod in return, walking over to fondly ruffle Hugo's hair. "Those bracelets continue to be a sound investment," she remarks, giving her sister a tired smile.
[01:09] <Kotono> Jessica smiles as well, coughing. "We survived, though it was close."
[01:10] <Kotono> Roald tends to Jessica's armwound, using strips of his shirt to make a bandage. Hugo smiles and follows Alicia.
[01:10] <Kotono> "Are you going back out to fight?" Dawnhope flies up and flutters to Alicia. "Is the battle done?"
[01:12] <Alicia> "It was," Alicia nods to Jessica, not sure how many did not survive. To Dawnhope she shrugs, "It's done here, at any rate... who knows which city will be struck next, though? I've never heard of such a disaster at this."
[01:13] <Kotono> "It's the sort of story that's the herald of the End Days on a world, or an apocalyptic judgment," Dawnhope whimpers softly, "So many innocent people denied proper rest and violated..."
[01:15] <Kotono> "What all has happened?" Jessica shifts to look fully at Alicia, rubbing her eyes, "Malmuth and now Balmuria?"
06[01:16] * Alicia nods grimly. "We'll be burying the dead for days... so many of them far from home, murdered in Malmuth or the Citadel and then desecrated to be pressed against Balmuria. It's beyond my understanding, the sort of power needed to do something like this even once, but three times in the space of a few hours?" She sighs and shakes her head, "These are dark days."
[01:19] <Kotono> Thus, after saying goodbyes, Alicia heads to the Temple of Waukeen. She finds the city quiet, the battle seemingly won. Commander Oberuth is not there; however, guards are able to tell him that he's overseeing casualities and reports at the garrison. Thus, Alicia heads for the garrison. She finds Commander Oberuth sitting in one of the barracks rooms. On one bed Elle lies, body desiccated. Her breathing is raggedly shallow. Xavier is ther
[01:19] <Kotono> On one bed Elle lies, body desiccated. Her breathing is raggedly shallow. Xavier is there as well, keeping watch and he goes from bed to bed, seeing to injured soldiers. Commander Oberuth rises, "She'll live," he says immediately. "We're simply out of easy means to mend the drain that struck her."
06[01:22] * Alicia considers taking her to the temple of Mystra, but isn't sure if Hopiel will still be there with the battle over, and doesn't want to aggravate Elle with an unnecessary trip. "A wraith?" she asks softly, before shaking her head. It doesn't really matter. "It's done now, anyway... for now. Have we learned anything about what's behind this madness?"
[01:24] <Kotono> "I think that's what those were? Totally black and ghostly? We fought one at the Temple of Waukeen and slew it," Oberuth looks to Elle, checking her breathing. "Right now reports are still coming in. The focus of the attack was twofold - Temples and Elle's shop, Luna Del Stronger."
[01:24] <Kotono> OOC" Gah.
[01:24] <Kotono> "I think that's what those were? Totally black and ghostly? We fought one at the Temple of Waukeen and slew it," Oberuth looks to Elle, checking her breathing. "Right now reports are still coming in. The focus of the attack was twofold - Temples and Elle's shop, Luna Del Stronger." After doing so and finishing his check of her, "Mages and temples. Priests and wizards. Magic."
06[01:27] * Alicia nods disconsolately. "Malmuth was the same, although it was remhoraz not undead - just one wraith we found by a portal they presumably arrived by."
[01:27] <Alicia> "We sent summoned elementals through but they never returned, so we shut it down... there were no bodies in the city, for all the devastation - I think they were animated and used here," she summarises the pertinent information from their first battle on returning to the prime.
[01:28] <Kotono> "There wouldn't be. I noticed how fresh the bodies were, and..." Oberuth looks to Alicia. "The ones slain by the wraith rise as wraiths as well. Alice..." A small sigh escapes him,
[01:28] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[01:29] <Kotono> "There wouldn't be. I noticed how fresh the bodies were, and..." Oberuth looks to Alicia. "The ones slain by the wraith rise as wraiths as well. Alice..." A small sigh escapes him, "Elle's shopkeep. She bought Elle time when an extra wave hit her shop. She paid the price for it and nearly took Elle down after."
06[01:32] * Alicia closes her eyes for a long moment, visualising the young mage and wishing she'd gotten to know her better... she was always pleasant to talk over magic with when she visited the shop, but it never went any deeper. Now it never will. "Gods above and below, what a nightmare," she breathes out. "They could be moving onto Victoria, or Arad, or anywhere else even now."
[01:35] <Kotono> "WE've sent word around." Commander Oberuth says quietly. "AS far and as wide with Sendings as we can. No one should be surprised, so they'll have a fighting chance." Standing up now, "There's time to mourn the lost later; you're right that this may not be done yet. Besides the half-messages of sending, do we have any idea who is behind this? The devils again?"
06[01:40] * Alicia shakes her head. "If their invasion in the desert last year had succeeded, we wouldn't even be seeing half the devastation we've seen today. Whatever's behind this, it's far worse..." She breathes out slowly, "When I arrived with Latha and Lord Saul, I was challenged by a creature in the sky - it claimed itself as Death incarnate,"
[01:40] <Alicia> "though its bluster was overblown. I shattered its earthly shell, but the spirit remained to fight on until I was summoned to my sister's side as the battle turned against her at the temple of Mystra."
[01:40] <Alicia> She frowns, "It matches the descriptions Seira got of a creature involved in the attack on the Citadel of Light, so I suspect it departed to oversee the next attack when its army here was broken. Whether it was the mastermind or merely a lieutenant, though..."
03[01:41] * Laggy is now known as Laggy|TF2
[01:43] <Kotono> "Death? All that makes me think of is Kelemvor or Shar." Crossing his arms, "Which leads me to Shar. It feels like perhaps a reach, though. Why would Shar do this to the entire world? If it was just Balmuria, I could see it as a reprisal for Kesse."
[01:47] <Alicia> "Though Shar holds no love for any other deities, I suspect that if she had a temple here it would have suffered the same fate as the others," Alicia speculates. "My feeling is that the Dark Six is behind this. When we were travelling to the Abyss, I had the opportunity to consult a sage on them, and while he knew little,"
[01:48] <Alicia> "he did mention that the price one of their number asked for assisting him in the past was an oath to never pay homage to a God. The attacks on the temples match that, and apparently the Six are all undead liches of immense power - power enough to make Esthan look like a street-corner trickster. The scale of these attacks backs that up."
[01:48] <Alicia> She then forestalls the obvious question by explaining, "I have no idea what their goal in all this was - if it was to create mayhem and despair then they've succeeded beautifully, but I can't imagine it's as simplistic as that."
[01:50] <Kotono> Rubbing his temples now, "Motives into motives. I miss when it was a simple question of independance or survival. To the why...why such hatred of the Gods? If they are ancient and powerful, perhaps they had ties to the gnomes and shared their disdain for them?"
[01:54] <Alicia> "Liches are notoriously atheistic," Alicia admits, going by stories and legends she's heard, "They have to be to deny their own souls ever having a place in the hereafter. Not to mention power hungry - I suspect they hate the Gods for the exact same reason Daa-vid did, even if they don't have any relationship with the God-King."
[01:54] <Alicia> "I'm leery of speculating on their plans and motives without any solid leads, though," she concludes.
[01:54] <Kotono> "Good sense." At that, Commander Oberuth starts to speak but stops. He is silent, furrowing his brow. "Damnation," He whispers. "Valandia."
06[01:56] * Alicia almost cringes. She'd be there in a heartbeat, but it's a physical impossibility - her magic is just gone. Not for the first time today, she damns herself for wasting effort on those futile teleports across the bizarre geography of Greenrot. "How bad?" is all she can impotently ask.
[01:57] <Kotono> "Mostly a succesful defense." With a momentary smile that doesn't last, "They took Claris, however."
[01:58] <Alicia> "Took?" Alicia picks up on the word choice. "I heard that Lord Celebrimbor had been abducted from the Citadel - was this the same?"
[01:59] <Kotono> "It appears so. The exact word was abducted. It was a Sending, so brevity was required. He fought bravely at the front line and ensured victory, but..." Oberuth slams his fist into his knee. "Dammit!"
[02:02] <Alicia> "It feels like we're staring the apocalypse in the face," Alicia murmurs. What will they do if another attack comes tomorrow? Glancing again at Elle, she comes to a decision. "Excuse me, sir, I may be able to do something for Elle and anyone else similarly afflicted. I have to go back to the temple and hope Hopiel hasn't departed yet."
[02:02] <Kotono> "Go." Oberuth says briskly.
06[02:02] * Alicia nods and heads out the door, taking wing as soon as she's out of the building and flying back to the temple with all the speed she can muster!
[02:03] <Kotono> Below, Balmuria is draped in snow. Bodies lie about, slain zombies left to rot for now. They are covered with Auril's mercy, Alicia flying to the Temple of Mystra. She finds Hopiel there at the gate, watching vigilantly. He lights the entire courtyard up, banishing away the tendrils of night.
06[02:05] * Alicia lands a few feet from the tall Planetar and unbuckles Hell Striker's sheath from her belt, holding it out. "Hopiel, would you like to trade swords for a little while?" she asks, "Many others have been afflicted by wraiths, and we daren't wait for priests to recover their spells while things are so uncertain - Treasure of the Soul could see them back up far more quickly."
[02:06] <Kotono> "I understand," Hopiel offers the blade hilt first to Alicia. "I suspect that is why I was chosen. This treasure has been a great aid in my works since I received it. I owe you a great debt for bestowing it on me."
[02:07] <Alicia> "I am glad you are putting it to good use," Alicia smiles, accepting the greatsword as she hands over the falchion. "Take care of Hell Striker until I return," she offers, taking flight back to the garrison a moment later.
[02:09] <Kotono> The flight to the garrison is without incident. Night has settled into Balmuria, time trickling by. Commander Oberuth is listening to a page report as Alicia returns. He nods in places, dismissing him with a wave as Alicia returns. "More reports. The Temple of Helm did well - Father Ceiar lead much of the defense, and he and Eudard defeated another wraith. The Temple of Gond used some sort of fire alchemy to aid in a victory. The Temple
[02:10] <Kotono> The Temple of Gond used some sort of fire alchemy to aid in a victory. The Temple of Torm..." Oberuth shakes his head here, "No one wants to talk about it. The witnesses refuse to."
[02:13] <Alicia> "I saw some of it from the sky while I was fighting the reaper," Alicia informs Obureth. "Pillars of fire rose from the ground to consume the undead... for all his flaws, we can't accuse Torm of abandoning his followers," she admits going towards Elle's stricken form.
[02:13] <Alicia> Taking the redhead's hand, she clasps it around her sword's grip and whispers to her to focus on its magic, will herself to recover.
[02:14] <Kotono> Elle's body recovers, her breathing ceasing a moment before it becomes smooth. Her sleeping face relaxes and goes slack.
06[02:15] * Alicia retrieves the sword, letting Elle rest and working with Xavier to identify the others suffering from wraith-touch and having them use Treasure of the Soul in the same manner.
[02:20] <Kotono> This goes well enough. Xavier's work is tireless as, "Ma'am, we're lucky it wasn't worse?" he inquires as he passes by Alicia.
[02:24] <Alicia> "You can say that so long as but one survives, though it's cold comfort on a night like this," Alicia replies in a melancholy tone. "I just wish we at least knew why. Not knowing makes all the death that much more senseless."
[02:25] <Kotono> "I don't understand it, either." Xavier admits, looking away, "Some of the soldiers asked me who did this, and if it was Malmuth again. They want someone to blame."
06[02:28] * Alicia nods. "It's human nature. Without a face for our enemy, without a name to rail against, it's that much harder to keep from just sinking into despair at the sheer random unfairness of it all. I can only hope that in the days ahead we can find those responsible and put them to the sword as they deserve."
[02:28] <Alicia> Her tone which started off as a resigned lecture slips into something approaching cold fury at the end.
[02:30] <Kotono> "So do I, ma'am." Xavier says, then heads away to help another. Once Alicia is done, Commander Oberuth is back, having gotten more reports. "I have the rest of the information now. Waukeen's temple did fine, as did Mystra's. ELle's shop...you already know." He nods curtly, "Alicia, how much more do you have in you?"
[02:31] <Alicia> "Physically I'm perfectly fine - Hopiel saw to that," Alicia replies. "But my magic is all but exhausted - I can't teleport any more, today."
[02:33] <Kotono> After a pause, "Go rest." Oberuth says at last, "We need you fresh and at full power. Sending you out again will only drain you further and could get you killed."
[02:37] <Alicia> "Alright, sir - assuming no interruptions I should be back at full strength by sunrise tomorrow," she nods, saluting before she departs to return Hopiel's sword and reclaim her own before finally getting to rest in her own bed, a true luxury after the hike up those endless stairs.
[19:16] <Kotono> ---
[19:18] <Kotono> After much work and effort, Seira's work comes to an end! Teleport Circle is cast, made permanent with words of magic! A few moments later, organized soldiers salute, "Ma'am, ready and waiting to go through on your order."
01[19:20] <Seira> In her exhaustion from the feat, Seira saves them from having to listen to an extended speech, simply stating, "Go on and help those people."
[19:20] <Kotono> "Please," Amaryl nods, going to support Seira. "Thank you, all of you."
[19:20] <Kotono> The soldiers salute crisply before walking through, vanishing several at a time towards Malmuth. Watching them go, Amaryl smiles. "You did good. Each one of those will help all those innocents hurt in Malmuth."
01[19:21] <Seira> "Supplies we send should help even more, but the idea itself, of help being just around the corner... that would support those in Malmuth, I hope."
[19:26] <Kotono> "Yes." Amaryl looks on, quiet. "Magic will as well, won't it?"
06[19:28] * Seira nods. "I've done my part for the day, but if Dad thinks he's getting out of it so easily, he has another thing coming. Let's pick him up and see if we can help some with Malmuth's restoration? If not that, then at least with making the refugee site more livable in the short term."
[19:30] <Kotono> "Sure." With that, Amaryl and Seira find Saul at Waukeen's temple. He and Gilartal are deep in talks with an elven page, Saul seperating from them as Seira comes calling. "The permanency is finished?"
01[19:32] <Seira> "Went like a charm," Seira affirms. "We're about to go through ourselves and bring that gnomish barrel along, but a couple of wishes, limited or not, are bound to either help with the rebuilding of Malmuth or to provide in some form to their impromptu refugee camp."
[19:34] <Kotono> "I can manage that," Saul says, "Give me some time to set up the right spells. I'll meet ou at the portal. While I'm sorting my magic out, any other spells?"
01[19:36] <Seira> "Anything that summons food and drink and one to purify water, in case their supply becomes tainted. Whatever we don't end up using can go towards healing those still wounded. I'm drawing a blank on the spells for reconstruction, though, so let's stick to the divinations where we can. They seem like they'd be a good idea during this time."
[19:37] <Kotono> "Good,' Saul says, "I'll meet you there then." OOC: Ready to move along?
01[19:38] <Seira> OOC: Yes. And we have maids to help us distribute the supplies!
[19:40] <Kotono> Malmuth is full of Balmurian soldiers. In full uniform they bring food and water and clothes and a dozen other supplies, working with blue garbed Malmuthian soldiers shoulder to shoulder. Demedais and Donald work with them, helping. Saul watches amid all the tents, a momentary smile. "I wonder how long it'll last..." he murmurs, "Can you make an answer to that, Seira?"
01[19:43] <Seira> "It will last, if we work towards that end," she responds, pausing herself to observe.
[19:44] <Kotono> Saul isn't long for watching, setting forward. "Let's go. No time like the present to work towards the future."
06[19:49] * Seira agrees, deciding to meet with the officer in charge, so that their relief efforts might be coordinated.
[19:50] <Kotono> On talking to a soldier, "Queen Tant is overseeing everything herself, ma'am," he reports, "She also has standing orders for any requests from the Crimson Guard to be routed directly to her."
06[19:53] * Seira indicates for the soldier to lead the way, even as she questions the need for a queen to be so hands on during this.
[19:56] <Kotono> You find Queen Tant in her tent. She looks tired but energetic, black circles under her eyes even as she looks alert. "Colonel Seira, we thank you for your efforts and aid," she begins, "By all means, speak."
01[19:59] <Seira> "Supplies are en route as we speak, Your Majesty," Seira assures her, keeping her own tiredness from presenting itself as overtly. "However, there is some we could do right now, mostly to do with food distribution and caring for the injured. The spells for the latter are limited, but even a lost limb might be restored; the problem is with deciding who gets treated first."
[20:00] <Kotono> "The young have priority," Queen Tant says, "For they have the most energy to help in the restoration."
01[20:03] <Seira> "We'll start with those, then," Seira agrees, inclining her head. "And afterwards, we would like to try and aid that restoration along with the strongest magic we have at our disposal. Where would our efforts be best applied?"
[20:05] <Kotono> "The outer areas of the city, closest to the tents. Houses, places to live out of the elements. The last few days have been mild, but ou rluck with not hold forever."
01[20:07] <Seira> "My father should do something about that," Seira states, ready to take a back seat. Coordinating the relief efforts is one thing, but her dad is the one with the actual magical might to change things here.
[20:08] <Kotono> "I will. By your leave," Saul bows, "Allow my actions to speak louder than empty words." With Queen Tant's nodding assent, Saul looks to Seira and walks outside.
06[20:09] * Seira follows, taking stock of the grounds for the houses they can begin mending, and thus make livable.
[20:10] <Kotono> Wandering the outer streets, you find a block with several salvable houses and shops. Saul looks them over, nodding to himself. "These will do." He announces. "Seira, stand back. This magic isn't dangerous, but...when I cast the crowning magic, Limited Wish is very primal. Never take such magic lightly."
01[20:11] <Seira> "It's because I'm not taking it lightly that I think we might accomplish more than make a few rudimentary huts, Dad," she responds, nevertheless listening to his request.
[20:16] <Kotono> Thus, Saul begins. He uses powers to craft stone into shapes and mud into stone, working away over several minutes. When that is done, several houses in rudimentary shape and minorly restored, Saul stands in the street. Raising his hands to the sky and chanting words that echo about, "Reality, listen to my words! I am Saul, archmage, and you shall do as I say in my name and my name alone! I command you, craft unto this! Restore what was sh
[20:16] <Kotono> I command you, craft unto this! Restore what was shattered!" To that, stones rise up and shift, buildings recementing and reconstructing the rest of the way! Saul's entire body stretches out, raising his arms to the heavens as blue light surrounds him! The reconstruction takes hour-long seconds, Saul falling to one knee as they finish. Yet around you...several buildings are pristine, as if never destroyed.
01[20:19] <Seira> "This has to be draining, but we can't argue with results, can we?" Seira asks Amaryl, admiring her father's work.
[20:20] <Kotono> Amaryl stares as building after building restores itself, "Oh..." she gasps, as Saul coughs several times before rising. "It's done. I'll need to rest a time...but it's done."
[20:21] <Kotono> Clearing his throat, "Seira, are you going to stay here all day? I appreciate the company, but I also know you probably have a dozen things you want to go do, too."
01[20:22] <Seira> "I'll head back and rest for tomorrow. Thinking of spending the night here? With you around, weather is hardly a concern, is it?"
[20:23] <Kotono> "It isn't. Go then." Saul bids. OOC: Going home and resting?
[20:25] <Kotono> ----
[20:25] <Kotono> Finding Alicia on returning home is simple. She's resting at home from the last few days, her portable hole on hand. OOC: It's your ball with the lantern, Seira, go ahead.
01[20:28] <Seira> After borrowing a scroll of the Identify spell from Elle's shop and asking Gilartal for his help with casting Death Ward on them in case something goes horribly wrong, Seira is ready to try identifying the lantern Alicia pried from Death's cold fingers, using Waukeen's holy ground for it.
01[20:29] <Seira> OOC: Right, just the grounds, then
06[20:31] * Alicia opens up the portable hole and reaches in to take out the sickly glowing lantern after ensuring no one's standing too close.
06[20:31] * Seira casts Heroism, just in case.
[20:33] <Kotono> The lantern sheds a terrible green light all over as it's withdrawn! Even here, youc an feel it's sickly wrath leech and tear at you! OOC: Make fort saves, both of you?
01[20:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 and gets 26." [1d20=5]
[20:33] <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d20+21 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{38}
03[20:33] * Kobot was kicked by Alicia (Alicia)
[20:34] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 37." [1d20=15]
[20:34] <Kotono> The two withstand the terrible light, even as they feel it lick at their souls.
01[20:35] <Seira> "Oh, great fun," Seira gripes, attempting to activate the scroll.
[20:35] <Alicia> "It's probably best if we can destroy it, but I don't know how it would even be possible considering Hell Striker didn't manage a scratch," Alicia admits, skin crawling as she sets it down on the ground.
01[20:36] <Seira> "My fire might burn it some, but I wonder what would happen if it were to explode...."
[20:36] <Kotono> OOC: What's the casting time on Identify?
01[20:37] <Seira> OOC: It's insane and an hour. Can the lantern be in the hole until I'm almost done?
[20:38] <Kotono> OOC: I'd rule no and that you need the item on hand.
01[20:39] <Seira> OOC: Let's try. Step way back and be ready to inevitably save me?
06[20:40] * Alicia hangs back thirty feet from Seira, knuckling back a yawn. "It's like when we were working on the seals around that sword in the mountains," she observes tiredly.
01[20:40] <Seira> "Except more lethal, seems like?"
[20:40] <Kotono> As Seira begins to cast identify, the light of the lantern continues to weaken her a few seconds later! OOC: Make another fort save, Seira?
01[20:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
06[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 and gets 24." [1d20=3]
[20:43] <Kotono> Seira just barely withstands the light a few seconds into her casting! It continues to tug at her all the while!
[20:45] <Alicia> "I might have an idea," Alicia suggests, casting antimagic field and then stepping towards the lantern so it overlaps her field while Seira is just outside.
06[20:47] * Seira is ready to retreat, if Alicia's idea doesn't work.
[20:47] <Kotono> Alicia nulls magic within the field...and yet, the sickly green light continues to radiate out! OOC: Make a fort save, Alicia.
[20:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 27." [1d20=5]
[20:47] <Kotono> OOC: Is that including modifiers from being anti-magiced, Alicia?
01[20:48] <Seira> "Doesn't seem like it works," Seira tells Alicia, interrupting her casting and stepping back. "Put it away, I've got another idea."
[20:48] <Alicia> OOC: Crap, divine grace is Su. -8
[20:48] <Kotono> Alicia's body buckles under the magic, weakening as tremors pass through her!
[20:50] <Alicia> "Get away!" Alicia snaps, realising just how horrific this monstrosity truly is and dismissing her antimagic field with a quick word. She needs to get this thing back in the hole right quick.
01[20:50] <Seira> "I am! Just put it away already!"
[20:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 presumably save is required every round
06[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 presumably save is required every round and gets 32." [1d20=11]
[20:51] <Kotono> Alicia withstands the light again as the antimagic is gone! OOC: Go ahead and act.
06[20:51] * Alicia unfurls the hole once magic flows once more and quickly punts the lantern in before closing it up again.
[20:51] <Kotono> The dreadful feeling of the lantern's light is gone.
[20:53] <Alicia> "It's like a wraith's touch, but not only does it need powerful magic to undo, it'll only be healed on holy ground," Alicia explains to Seira, skin waxen and pale. "Could you ask your father to prepare a restoration spell for me next time you see him?"
01[20:53] <Seira> "Gilartal could do it just as well," Seira assures Alicia. "Hang on a second, I'll go find him?"
[20:55] <Alicia> But Saul is more likely to do it for free... "If you ask him to prepare the spell I'll come back tomorrow, then," she agrees.
01[20:56] <Seira> "Considering we were attacked by wraiths, and further attacks might still happen, he is likely to have a spell or two in reserve," Seira elaborates. "Don't worry, it's on the house!"
06[20:56] * Alicia nods and sticks around. If she can get herself healed now it's better than waiting till tomorrow.
[20:57] <Kotono> Finding Gilartal is without incident. "Very well," he says after listening, "Under the circumstances, your health is important to our future profits." With that, Alicia is so mended!
01[20:58] <Seira> "Plus Waukeen sent an astral deva to indicate her support. She actually doesn't do that very much," Seira adds. Or at all, really, which must make this pretty special. "My plan's simple enough. Lagann reported that he wasn't affected by this, so we'll try again tomorrow. He'll prepare an unseen servant to aid him, and the identify spell, while we wait safely back and ready to assist. How about that?"
[21:00] <Alicia> "I like to think I'm a sound investment," Alicia returns dryly, healthy colour returning to her cheeks. "Thank you." She then nods to Seira, "That could work, yes."
[21:08] <Kotono> --
[21:09] <Kotono> Seira is resting with Amaryl, going over arcane tomes. As she does...
01[21:16] <Seira> 'So I'm going to need you not to react,' Seira thinks to Amaryl once her response had been sent. She points out a passage in the book, asking out loud, "Isn't this a most curious mix of celestial and elven?"
[21:16] <Kotono> "It is," Amaryl comes closer and peers down, 'Hm?'
01[21:20] <Seira> 'It seems I was contacted by the freaks behind this thing. They want me to go meet them at Kondrux's old lair at midnight, and to keep everything magical behind but the Resort.' Out loud, she muses, frowning, "I'm not quite sure why this book would introduce such a pattern at so late a stage, however.
01[21:20] <Seira> It's almost as if it is written in code. I think I'll need your help to see if it is, and decypher it if I'm right. Do you think you could help me out with the research, Amaryl?"
[21:21] <Kotono> "I can," Amaryl nods, "It'll be a good learning exercise!"
01[21:22] <Seira> 'The fun part is that they want me to keep this to myself, and if I'm being watched right now, I can hardly speak about it.' She agrees, saying, "Yeah. How about we split it? I'll work on the elven angle, and maybe track Dad down or something, and you see about the celestial script?"
[21:23] <Kotono> "I'll work on it. I know people to ask..." Amaryl says, "It sounds fun!"
01[21:26] <Seira> 'Like Latha. Astral devas usually lack telepathic abilities, so if they don't know her to such detail, it might be safe even if you are watched as well. What kind of idiot do they think I am? "Tell no one"... right, that just ends in everyone dying.' She nods, standing up. "It's decided, then. I'll head out to get more reference books. See you in the morning?"
[21:27] <Kotono> "Alright!" Amaryl says brightly. "Have fun!"
01[21:28] <Seira> "Oh, I intend to. You know how I love research!"
[21:29] <Kotono> OOC: What are you doing now, Seira?
06[21:32] * Seira leaves for the Temple of Waukeen, where she utilizes the set of portals to get to Malmuth, intent on seeking out her father and Donald, whomever of them she comes across first.
[21:33] <Kotono> In Malmuth, Donald is found first. He's in the tent city, eating dinner when Seira chances on him. "Hey Seira," Donald calls, night settled deeply over Malmuth now, sitting next to a torch, "How're things in Balmuria?"
01[21:34] <Seira> 'Don't want to rush you, and don't act unnatural if we really are being watched, but try to get in touch with Alicia and Antenora through Latha, if you can?' Seira requests from Amaryl even as she waves at her protege. 'I have only five hours left.' To him, she says, "Pretty quiet, all things considered. Your sword's busted, so I figured I'd go loan out mine for a while."
[21:37] <Kotono> 'I'm working on it,' Amaryl thinks back, as Donald draws Guardinil. "Sure, it still needs repairs. I haven't used the Resort much, but it handled well?"
01[21:39] <Seira> "You know how magical armor fits the wearer?" Seira asks, handing the Resort over, sheath and all. "This blade's like that, except far more. I thought about having Lagann work on Guardinil, but it'd really take more time than we have, you know? Got to always keep on our toes, watch out for abductions by wraith, that sort of thing."
[21:40] <Kotono> Donald draws it in one smooth motion, giving it a swing, "Damn! It really does!"
[21:40] <Kotono> "Oh yeah, sure," he adds, getting up and takin ga few swings with the Resort.
01[21:40] <Seira> "Thought you'd like it. Guard it with your life, or else," she threatens him with a smile.
[21:41] <Kotono> "Oh yeah, sure." He says again, making a heavy thrust with it, hair flying about artistically. "Whoo, this sword is incredible!"
06[21:43] * Seira rolls her eyes, and goes to find her father, this time to part with the ring of spell-storing and the gifts she had received recently from Elle and Queen Tant.
[21:44] <Kotono> Saul is found reading his spellbook, resting in a private tent. "Oh, there you are." Saul looks up, "Still running around all the known world like a flash?"
01[21:45] <Seira> "That's me," she affirms. "Just couldn't stay away. If we're allowed to keep to the current pace of the reconstruction, how long do you think it'll take?"
[21:46] <Kotono> "Months instead of a generation." Saul closes his book, "Magic will speed things along a hundred fold."
01[21:46] <Seira> "Just be sure to take care of yourself, alright?" Seira asks him, jokingly adding, "I won't be around forever to take care of you, Old Man."
[21:47] <Kotono> "Uh huh." Looking to Seira with a smile, "Going to become a big dragon and fly off to some remote mountain to sit on a pile of gold?"
01[21:49] <Seira> "That's exactly what I'll do," Seira affirms. "But the real reason I'm here is since I figured you'd get more use out of these than me," she tells him further, presenting her rods of metamagic and the ring of spell-storing. "We might get to shave off a week from the rebuilding efforts yet!"
[21:50] <Kotono> "These will help, sure," Saul looks them over, "But I also know you need these in battle. Why give them to me now?"
01[21:51] <Seira> "That's why I'm keeping the pearls," Seira responds, making a show of them. "They're tactical. What you have here is strategic resources at best, and if we're attacked suddenly, I can't use them effectively anyway."
[21:52] <Kotono> "Right, right." With a chuckle, "Fine then."
[21:52] <Kotono> 'Antenora knows as she's talking to Alicia now,' Amaryl sends back to Seira. 'It's passed on.'
01[21:54] <Seira> 'Right. I'm going, you know. I wish I had a good way to contact Demedais as well....' Seira gives her father another smile, and departs in search of a house where she could have some privacy.
[21:55] <Kotono> There's plenty of ruined houses where Seira can have all the privacy and rubble she wishes.
01[21:58] <Seira> Once there, Seira removes anything magical she has on her sans the ring of teleportation and the diadem of intellect. From there, the items go into two neat piles, the bow, armor and boots into one, and the scrolls along with the rest of her magical things into the other. Lagann, whom she then instructs to fill Demedais or Donald in once it is midnight, rests by itself.
06[21:59] * Seira then resolves to wait until a quarter to midnight.
[19:13] <Kotono> ---
[19:13] <Kotono> Okay Seira, where exactly and when are yout eleporting?
01[19:13] <Seira> Minute to midnight, I'll TP to the horde site
[19:14] <Kotono> Okay. Moment, waiting on 'licia's reply so I can get timing in order.
[19:15] <Kotono> Roll your TP check.
01[19:15] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[19:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 48." [1d100=48]
[19:16] <Kotono> ---
[19:20] <Kotono> It's dark. Everything around Seira is dark. DId she appear in the horde? She can't tell...but her skin shivers. It's cold here, a chill that smells of death and rot. Distantly, occasional flickers of electricity arc about, barely penetrating the bleak blackness. Sitting ahead of you is a grand stone throne. It's carved of solid ash colored rock, engraved with skeletons paying tribute to something unseen.
01[19:20] <Seira> "Nice and creepy, I see," she voices.
[19:24] <Kotono> He walks forward. Every muscle in his body is defined, plate armor lusterless gray. He is clean shaven and bald. His body is gigantic, as if a statue's perfection was given a body of flesh to show off. A heavy hammer is slung over his back, the face of it a screaming maw of a bebelith. He stands just behind the throne, dominating it. "Seira of the Crimson Guard. Wait there."
01[19:25] <Seira> "Nothing else to do here, is there?"
[19:26] <Kotono> Smirking as he stares at her, so tall as if to be a tree deigning to look down on here, "Of course not. You are already defeated; it's only a matter of seeing what your fate is."
[19:26] <Kotono> As they talk, there is a shimmer in the air. Alicia appears near Seira, teleportation magic placing her down safely.
01[19:27] <Seira> "The banter part, right? I love it!" Seira responds, before jumping at Alicia's arrival. "You too?!"
[19:28] <Alicia> "Colonel. Fancy meeting you here," Alicia greets Seira dryly, dressed in black leggings and a short dress of the same colour, her wings hugging her shoulders like a white-feathered cloak against the chill of night. "I'm here to negotiate the ransom of Claris and Lord Drake," she announces with a wary glance at the nearby giant. She was expecting a skeleton...
01[19:29] <Seira> "I don't think we get to negoatiate. We're already defeated."
[19:30] <Alicia> "I wouldn't count us out just yet..." Alicia remarks guardedly, waiting to see what their host has to say.
[19:30] <Kotono> "Exactly." Crossing hs arms over a chest large enough to serve a large dinner over, "I am here to first offer a courtesy. Renounce your disgusting servitude to the powers and you will have a far preferable fate than any other you could have now."
01[19:31] <Seira> "Killing me with your overwhelming power is one thing, but must you also insult me?" Seira asks, quite upset with the offer.
[19:32] <Alicia> "I have never regretted my service to the Mother of all Magic," Alicia crosses her arms over her own far less abundant chest. "I do not believe submitting myself to you or your kin would grant any satisfaction. If you have no interest in negotiating the release of your prisoners then we have nothing more to discuss."
[19:34] <Kotono> "Then lament your foolishness for eternity." Cracking his knuckles, "You will surrender the Resorts to me. In return, I will return the elf wizard."
01[19:36] <Seira> "This is what it is all about?" Seira asks in surprise. "Really?"
[19:37] <Kotono> "What this is about is of no concern to you. The term proposes is as it is."
[19:37] <Kotono> *proposed
01[19:37] <Seira> "So who the hell are you?"
[19:38] <Kotono> "You'll get no helpful information to scour the Planes with your pitiful magic with, wizard." Crossing his arms again and smirking, "The terms are here."
[19:39] <Alicia> While Alicia does like Lord Drake and barely knows Claris, she's not about to leave the priest in the lurch. "Return both of them and I will give you the third resort," Alicia makes her counter-offer.
01[19:39] <Seira> "You know, for overconfident, all-powerful mages, you guys are pretty worried I might find somethig with that pifitul magic of mine."
[19:46] <Kotono> "The terms are as they are," Looking to Alicia, gaze down on her with contempt, "There is no bargaining. Do yout hink only one of the Resorts is enough to free both of them?"
02[19:49] * Alicia (WinNT@user-544498f7.lns5-c10.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (atarians.dejatoons.net sebben.dejatoons.net)
01[19:50] <Seira> "And being the nice, genocidal people that you are, you will of course return the hostages and promise to never do it again?" Seira asks skeptically.
03[19:52] * Alicia (WinNT@user-544498f7.lns5-c10.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[19:52] * ChanServ sets mode: +a Alicia
[19:52] <Kotono> "You can join the winning side," With a look to Seira, "Renounce the Gods you give homage to."
[19:52] <Alicia> "You want these things. Badly," Alicia replies, her frosty gaze looking right back. "You can either get this one for the small price of returning your hostages, or you can try to take it from me. You haven't tried that, and I think, for all your bravado, that we both know why."
01[19:53] <Seira> "If you're serious about the whole me joining you guys part, how about supplying me with that information I'll scour the planes for?" Seira counters with a snort. "You can't seriously expect me to leap into it blind."
[19:58] <Kotono> "Taking it from you? Simple. If all you understand is force, then you can die here." As the massive creature cracks it's knuckles. "So desperate for any scrap of knowledge you can steal. My name is Melancton. Scream my name as you, for you WILL lament!" OOC: Init.
[19:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 25." [1d20=20]
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 23." [1d20=18]
01[19:59] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 14." [1d20=8]
03[19:59] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia(25)>Melancton(23)>Seira(14)'
[19:59] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia.
[20:01] <Alicia> "The advantage here is yours. When we next meet you will die, just as the false Death did," Alicia promises, quickly stepping over to take Seira's arm in hand and teleports them to her bedroom.
[20:01] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 66." [1d100=66]
[20:02] <Kotono> "Hmph!" Melancton laughs as the lair of Kondrux vanishes! You appear in Alicia's bedroom without incident, safe and far warmer! OOC: Go ahead.
01[20:03] <Seira> 'We're back, negotiations failed. Where are you?' Seira thinks to Amaryl. She grimaces. "That went as splendid as I imagined."
[20:03] <Kotono> 'I'm with Latha,' Amaryl sends back. 'You aren't hurt, are you?'
[20:03] <Alicia> "He might follow us," Alicia notes as they arrive, starting to grab the things she left in her room, starting off by slipping on the ring of freedom of movement.
01[20:04] <Seira> 'No. In case he follows, can you two alert the Commander?'
[20:04] <Kotono> 'On it,' Amaryl thinks right back.
01[20:04] <Seira> "He might," Seira agrees. "I left my things with Donald and Dad, in case it was a diversion to lure me away and attack here or Malmuth."
[20:06] <Alicia> "Can you collect them?" Alicia asks, looping her belt of giant strength around her waist next. "I've half a mind to go back once I've gotten properly dressed."
01[20:07] <Seira> "You think he'll just be waiting for us?" Seira asks in surprise. "I suppose I could, if you don't mind coming along to Malmuth for a bit."
[20:08] <Alicia> "Not if he has any sense," Alicia concedes, calming down a little and looking more thoughtful. "And it might not solve anything, anyway... I suspect Melancton is just an expendable pawn for his masters. They wouldn't risk anyone important on facing us, given the risks involved."
01[20:09] <Seira> "Who they are does seem to get confirmed more and more with every piece of information," Seira muses. "You know, even though Waukeen doesn't think it would help, let's break the remaining seals starting tomorrow."
[20:11] <Alicia> "The idea has merit," Alicia agrees. "It's abundantly clear that all bets are off, and any protection our world might have enjoyed from its seclusion is now gone - and in fact a liability since it hampers our own ability to respond to these assaults. The only thing that worries me is that we could be overextended by the guardians in the ruins and ill-prepared for further attacks."
01[20:12] <Seira> "If our enemies attack in strength, we won't be able to hold this city," Seira states grimly. "And if they keep on sending minions, then even Arad, Valandia and the Citadel managed to hold off the attack without too great casualties without us present."
[20:14] <Kotono> 'He's been told,' Amaryl sends back. 'Anything else, Seira? Where are you?'
06[20:14] * Alicia relents in the face of Seira's undeniable logic. "Alright, let me finish getting dressed then I'll teleport us back to Malmuth - you can retrieve your things and we can bring Demedais back so we can get started tomorrow morning."
01[20:16] <Seira> 'In Alicia's bedroom. Just wait there with them, until we're certain there is no follow up attack?' she responds mentally. "We can get there by the portals easily enough, without wasting spells. You're getting low on them, aren't you?"
[20:17] <Alicia> "I have enough, but who knows how many I'll need if pressed?" Alicia shrugs as she gets started on fastening her armour in place. "Between Antenora, Marie, and Dawnhope the house should be safe from surprise attacks, at least."
01[20:18] <Seira> "The garrison and temple of Waukeen should likewise be prepared, as well as the Malmuthian contingent," Seira adds, waiting for Alicia to be finished.
06[20:20] * Alicia takes a few minutes with her armour but after that her weapons and jewellery are in place quick enough, topped off by whipping her golden cloak onto her back and fastening it. "Right, lets go," she nods, intending to give Marie a quick update before they head off to the temple of Helm to use their portal.
06[20:21] * Seira keeps ahead of Alicia, to give the paladin time to talk to her familiar and houseguests in private.
[20:23] <Kotono> Gathering up Donald, Saul and Demedais is without incident. Seira gets her gear back. As they talk amid the tents of the refuge city, "Melancton?" Saul asks, "That was the brute's name?"
[20:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 planes
06[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 planes and gets 27." [1d20=4]
01[20:23] <Seira> "Yeah," Seira agrees, detailing the surroundings and its appearance.
01[20:23] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 25." [1d20=12]
[20:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+26 Saul'll try too
06[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 Saul'll try too and gets 43." [1d20=17]
[20:24] <Alicia> "Enormous bald man in full plate, had a bebilith-themed warhammer," Alicia chips in. "He laughed when I mentioned killing the entropic reaper that called itself Death. Either he didn't believe me or it really was a minor pawn to them." She hopes it's the former, but...
[20:28] <Kotono> While it doesn't ring any bells for either of the women, "Melancton...that's a titan's name. Melancton the Black Flower, who crusaded from Arborea into the Abyss. He vanished for over six millenia and then returned to Arborea to wage war on it, forsaking his ties there and embracing what he fought against in the Abyss. The legend says he was routed by the Court of the Stars, running from Arborea as fast as he could."
01[20:29] <Seira> "So even those guys can be routed," Seira mutters to herself.
[20:29] <Kotono> "Titans are feriously powerful," Saul continues as he thinks, "Not quite a solar, but mighty champions of chaos and usually good as well. But they're not invincible, no."
[20:29] <Alicia> "A weak-willed turncoat, then," Alicia mutters in disgust. "Good on the Court for giving him the kicking he deserves."
[20:30] <Kotono> "But like a bad copper in the mud, he's come back," Saul notes, "Bad on them for not finishing the job."
01[20:31] <Seira> "Seems like we will. Eventually." Seira grimaces. "Just hold down the fort until we do?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "You know, I hear Aborea is pretty fun," Donald interjects, "If he's a fallen titan of theirs, y'think they might have an interest in stopping him?"
[20:32] <Alicia> "Perhaps with the seals undone they might be able to send a stronger force to do just that," Alicia muses. "But if not I'll be happy to do the job myself."
[20:32] <Kotono> "Maybe one or two of us can go and try that?" Donald says now, "Saul can plane shift, or Latha or even Demedais there."
01[20:33] <Seira> "We might spend a Sending to give them a heads up that Melcanton resurfaced," Seira muses. "Any idea who was his boss?"
[20:34] <Kotono> "His father is said to have died, but his mother's name is known as Heliana." Saul says after a little more thought, idly tugging on one of his ears. "She's one of Lady Morwel's many ladies in waiting in the Court of Stars."
01[20:34] <Seira> "It might be awkward to ask her, so maybe someone else, like one of his old training buddies...."
[20:35] <Kotono> "It's the best lead I have, unless one of us goes over there and tries to dig up some old friends of his," Saul merely shrugs. "Awkward, yes, but if anyone knows him, it's his mother."
[20:36] <Alicia> "Telling his mother may not be the best idea, she might just sit on the information out of misplaced love for her son," Alicia notes. "I know a Tulani named Noonbreath who might help if asked. They're pretty high up the eladrin ladder, so he's sure to have connections."
01[20:36] <Seira> "We can't go, Donald shouldn't... Latha would be the best bet, here, if a Sending to Alicia's contact doesn't help," Seira agrees.
[20:38] <Kotono> "Noonbreath? How many celestials do you know?" Saul glances at Alicia askance.
01[20:39] <Seira> "If even I know a couple, why shouldn't Alicia be familiar with lots of them?" Seira asks curiously. "Anyway, how about trying the Sending now? We'll know after a few minutes what to do next."
[20:40] <Alicia> "A few," Alicia shrugs in reply. "I have an eladrin as my familiar, after all. Still, we shouldn't forget that ultimately, Melancton is just a playing piece - maybe a knight or a rook rather than a pawn, but dealing with him won't solve the real problem."
01[20:41] <Seira> "If nothing else, it might stay the hand of the bastards attacking us, perhaps long enough for us to find a way to deal with them, or information to aid us with that."
[20:42] <Alicia> "Anything that inconveniences them is good, yes," Alicia nods. "I just didn't want us to get our hopes up that killing him would solve our problems."
01[20:43] <Seira> "Nothing's ever that easy," Seira agrees.
[20:51] <Kotono> "Noonbreath, then," Saul murmurs, "What's the message, anyway?"
06[20:52] * Alicia spends a moment counting words and getting it in her head, lips moving inaudibly before she finally nods in satisfaction and recites, "Message from Alicia Reynes: Melancton, son of Meliana, traitor to Arborea, is working with Dark Six to wreak havoc on Prime. Let interested parties know."
[20:55] <Kotono> Saul leads the party into a tent so he can cast in peace. AS this happens, "You know, we're going to look like fools if this isn't the Dark Six." Donald sits down and leans back onto his elbows. "We're still just guessing it's them, right?"
[20:55] <Alicia> "Hmm... alright, lets reword it," Alicia relents.
[20:55] <Alicia> "Just say 'unknown party' instead of Dark Six?"
[20:55] <Kotono> Saul stops his murmurs, "Well, make up your mind on a message. Sooner than later - besides which, I'd like to sleep tonight so I can be refreshed and able to reset my spells."
01[20:55] <Seira> "It's a good enough estimate, but how about god-haters?" Seira suggests. "Unknown party works too, I guess."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Alright."
[20:57] <Kotono> As Saul begins his preparations once more, "So let's see." Donald starts ticking off fingers, "Incredibly powerful remorhazes, undead of all stripes, an entropic reaper/Death itself, depending on who you believe and now a dark titan. Any pattern that any of ou see?"
01[20:58] <Seira> "How about we go with Magic and Death?"
06[20:58] * Alicia shakes her head. "I'd wager their ultimate goal is Daa-vid. They're probably arrogant enough to believe they can suborn his power for themselves. But I can't see a method to their madness."
[20:59] <Alicia> "Seeing them try to get past Ajan would be a sight, though..." she admits.
01[20:59] <Seira> "And I wonder if it's as simple as that," Seira muses. "They'll need all five Resorts, so why ask for just two? If they can't gain entrance on their own, too, then just the one would be enough. Why insist on the two?"
[21:00] <Kotono> Donald holds up his thumb and forefinger in a circle, then bounces his other hand off the circle. "We're still on the outside trying to get in. Nothing quite explains everything well and everything raises more questions than it answers. Like that. Why only two resorts? Why not drag Demedais there with Polly and get all 5 in one swoop?"
[21:02] <Alicia> "It could just be a step along the way, with further plans aimed at the remainder," Alicia shrugs. "Who knows what they'll do next?"
01[21:02] <Seira> "Maybe the answer here is, it's not the amount of the Resorts, but they want the specific two we have? In that case, Ajan might know what makes them different."
[21:03] <Kotono> "You know, I've always wanted to meet that giant dragon." Donald says, "Maybe we should ask him."
[21:04] <Kotono> Saul clears his throat, "Can I have some quiet to concentrate on my magic?"
06[21:04] * Seira is happy for the interruption, because letting Donald meet Ajan is not on her agenda.
06[21:04] * Alicia tries not to give Seira's dad a disapproving look. It's not like they're beating him up or shaking him around.
[21:05] <Kotono> After ten minutes pass, "The reply was that he'll look into it," Saul says, "And be in touch at the proper time."
[21:06] <Alicia> "That's all we can ask," Alicia nods in satisfaction.
01[21:07] <Seira> "Then all that remains is the question of who's going tomorrow," Seira voices. "I'd like to bring Amaryl with me, but beyond that...."
[21:07] <Kotono> "I wish to stay in Malmuth for now." Saul says, "Far too many need help still."
01[21:08] <Seira> "Donald will help with that, and providing security," Seira agrees.
[21:09] <Alicia> "I think it'd be best with just the three of us," Alicia voices, indicating herself, Seira, and Demedais. "We shouldn't pull more than we have to from the defence of Balmuria."
01[21:09] <Seira> "I don't really want to leave her behind since negotiations broke down," Seira admits.
[21:11] <Alicia> "She's also our link to Balmuria if something happens there, though," Alicia points out logically. "If we bring her then we won't know anything happened until someone has ten minutes after the fact to cast Sending."
01[21:14] <Seira> "I can't really argue with that, but Balmuria should be fine with its current defenses. With Pollyanna, Antenora and the Commander there, they should be able to defend it."
06[21:17] * Seira considers. "How about we ask Elle to cast Telepathic Bond on herself, us and say Donald? That way we'll keep in touch with Malmuth as well, in case anything were to happen."
[21:17] <Alicia> "If you're dead set on bringing her I can't really dissuade you," Alicia relents. "I just hope you know what you're doing - those ruins aren't a safe place, they're designed to kill off anyone too weak to face Daa-vid, after all."
01[21:19] <Seira> "It's a pretty screwed up situation where I think she'll be safer in mortal peril-filled ruins with me rather than back home," Seira admits.
06[21:21] * Alicia sees little point in discussing it further. "Anyway, lets go home. Big day tomorrow."
[21:24] <Kotono> ---
[21:24] <Kotono> It is late in the evening. Marie's sleepless night, like most others, is quiet. Until, naturally, someone starts knocking and rapping on the front door.
[21:26] <Alicia> Well, knocking is better than banging it down. Besides, there's a few other sleepless outsiders in the house and some of them are even tougher than she is, so she's got no fear of going to open the door and see who it is.
[21:27] <Alicia> Of course, if she sees any evil through the door she might hesitate.
[21:29] <Kotono> No evil. Opening the door, ou find a beautiful, strapping Tulani there. His presence illuminates the night and pushes back the chill. "Good evening, I apologize for calling at this late hour. I'm here to see the Crimson Guard."
[21:30] <Alicia> Does she recognise this particular Tulani?
[21:32] <Kotono> Noonbreath, Tulani met in the quest for Evergold.
[21:33] <Alicia> "Oh, hi Noonbreath!" Marie smiles brightly. "Come on in, I'll go wake up Alicia." Adding in a conspiratorial whisper, "She gets cranky and talks about needing eight hours, but so long as she doesn't have to cast anything it won't matter." Showing the Tulani to the living room first of all she then flies upstairs to go and wake up Alicia.
[21:35] <Kotono> Noonbreath goes to wait. Alicia is found without incident, doing that curious thing called sleeping.
[21:37] <Alicia> And she's promptly woken up and told what's happening before she can chastise her familiar. Climbing out of bed she puts on a somewhat odd looking dressing gown with half the back missing to accomodate her wings. Repressing a yawn, she goes downstairs to greet the Tulani.
[21:38] <Alicia> "Thanks for responding to my message so quickly," she offers with a tired smile.
[21:39] <Kotono> Antenora is out there, yawning herself and curled up in a chair. She watches him blearily. Noonbreath bows his head, "I apologize for the late hour, but we all felt that swiftness was essential."
[21:42] <Alicia> "It's fine, so long as I don't exert myself it shouldn't interfere with tomorrow's plans," Alicia nods, giving Antenora a sympathetic look. If it wasn't for that exhaustion spell she'd probably be bright and peppy even at this hour. "Will the Court of Stars be sending forces against its wayward son?"
[21:43] <Kotono> "There are many possibilities. Before we go into details, I'd like yo uto tell me everything you know about what's happened and about Melancton. If it's not too much trouble."
[21:43] <Kotono> Antenora smothers another yawn, murmuring an apology. Her wings curl up around herself, sinking deep into her chair.
06[21:55] * Alicia nods. "It started... yesterday, actually. Or the day before, technically. We were in the Abyss en route to Green Castle to slay the balor who lives there when we received word from home that Malmuth - that's the neighbouring empire - had its capital attacked by remorhaz. We returned to the prime and went to Malmuth's aid."
[21:55] <Alicia> "Once there we were told that the beasts emerged from the centre of the city and wreaked general havoc, but specifically focused on razing every temple they could find. All who were killed vanished upon death. We were able to slay most of the remorhaz,"
[21:55] <Alicia> and found a spellcasting wraith guarding the portal they arrived from - it was also bolstered by powerful magic that mimicked the sort of control a God has over its realm, albeit over a very small area. I dispelled that from outside before we killed the wraith."
[21:55] <Alicia> "I sent a few elementals through the portal to investigate, but they never returned so I sealed it shut. Then we heard that the Citadel of Light - capital of the elven kingdom of Pallanth - had been beset by undead who razed their temples. Again all those who died vanished, and their most powerful archmage was kidnapped."
[21:55] <Alicia> "Balmuria was attacked next, again by undead. We returned to aid in the fight, seeing that the undead we fought were the unfortunates who had died in Malmuth and Pallanth. Again their focus was the temples, but we beat them back."
[21:55] <Alicia> "In the process I fought an Entropic Reaper that called itself Death. Crushing its body failed to quiet it, and the battle was unresolved. Another attack of undead happened at Valandia, where a powerful cleric of Lathander was kidnapped after breaking the back of the attack. Arad in the desert fiefdoms was also attacked."
[21:56] <Alicia> "Earlier today we scried on the Reaper, finding it regenerating on the Negative Energy Plane. We went there and gave it a final death. Then around dinnertime myself and Seira received telepathic messages telling us to come alone and unarmed to the lair of the dead blue dragon Kondrux at midnight, bringing the resorts of the gnome god-king."
[21:56] <Alicia> "If we didn't comply then their two hostages would suffer for it. So we did, where we met Melancton. He first offered us a chance to join him, then demanded all the resorts for one of the hostages. I offered one resort for both hostages but he refused to negotiate, then decided to just attack us for them."
[21:56] <Alicia> "Being unarmed, I didn't consider the odds favourable, so I teleported us away, and Seira's father recognised the name when we mentioned it, so I thought you'd be a good person to tell in case anyone back home had an interest in taking Melancton down... we need all the help we can get," she concludes.
[21:58] <Kotono> "Melancton is a sensitive matter." AFter so listening, "So this is what became of him," Rubbing his chin as he thinks, "Long ago, Melancton was a righteous titan who went into the Abyss. He defeated many and grew emboldened. He sought to travel to Amdrolynne. Are you familiar with the sad legend of Androlynne?"
[21:59] <Kotono> *androlynne
06[22:00] * Alicia glances at Marie. "I've heard of it, yes. Greater numbers of eladrin have been going there recently, haven't they?"
[22:04] <Kotono> Antenora blinks and rubs her eyes, "Isn't that..." Stopping to yawn, "The prophecy from Helm, we thought it mentioned Androlynne."
[22:05] <Kotono> "We wish to save those poor children. Interesting, but aside for the moment. He was thought lost at Androlynne, another having given all to try and free the lost children. But after about 6000 years, he returned to Arborea, this time as a champion of the Abyss and a destroyer."
06[22:07] * Alicia nods in agreement to Antenora, although she can't recall the wording offhand. "The Abyss can have that effect, I've noticed," she agrees sadly. "We don't think he's working with any demons, now, though. None of what's happened shows any ties to the Abyss."
[22:09] <Kotono> "Interesting. He was send packing by the Court of the Stars. The way I've heard it told, he only escaped by throwing his pride away and fleeing at the last moment. From there, he vanished into the multiverse. If he has returned, Queen Morwel would like this affair settled at long last."
[22:14] <Alicia> "Well, any thing you can offer would be appreciated - we're badly overstretched, and the world as a whole just isn't ready for the sort of power these creatures can throw around with abandon," Alicia resists the urge to sigh. "The sad thing is, we're certain Melancton is just a bit-player in a larger scheme, so even getting rid of him won't solve our problems."
[22:16] <Kotono> "Queen Morwel is more than willing to help your fair city and those of this world. This sort of evil will not be unopposed. She has a request, however; Melancton is to be taken alive. Pragmatically, Queen Morwel wishes to know who controls him and what happened to him in Androlynne long ago, and also wishes him to stand in judgment in the Court of Stars. If there is any good left in him, perhaps he can yet be saved. If not, then he can be
[22:16] <Kotono> perhaps he can yet be saved. If not, then he can be put to rest for eternity."
06[22:17] * Alicia doesn't like this condition, but they have the right to request it. "I can't promise, but if it comes down to it we'll try and subdue him if we can. We have our suspicions on who he serves, but we've yet to acquire any confirmation."
[22:18] <Kotono> "I understand. I know that in battle you may not have the luxury." Noonbreath stands up now, "I will return to Arborea briefly, and come back to Balmuria at high noon. Pass on my regards to the rest of the Guard, I've heard well of all of them."
[22:19] <Kotono> "Thank you." Antenora sits up, stretching out and adjusting a plain white nightgown as she does. "We're all in this together, for the sake of this world."
[22:20] <Alicia> "I'll let everyone know in the morning," Alicia nods. "If myself or colonel Seira aren't around, you can liaise with Commander Obureth."
06[22:20] * Alicia likewise rises since everyone else is.
[22:20] <Kotono> "Understood." Going over to offer a hand to Alicia, "Next time we meet, let it be at another bacchae and in far more enjoyable situations."
[22:21] <Alicia> "We can celebrate once this is settled," Alicia returns, clasping his hand.
[22:21] <Kotono> OOC: You're going to rest thent ell everyone in the morning?
[22:23] <Alicia> OOC: yep.
[22:23] <Kotono> -----
[22:24] <Kotono> Sleep is a good thing for Seira - until it's disturbed. As she blinks away the noon light from her eyes, "Seira," Amaryl murmurs, wearing a silk nightgown of blue as she stirs her. "Guards are here." Her voice is quick, "It's about Celebrimbor! They say they found him outside town!"
01[22:24] <Seira> "Found him?"
[22:26] <Kotono> Amaryl nods, "He's alive, but..." Amaryl shakes her head, "He's at the garrison. Commander Oberuth wants you there immediately." Amaryl turns at that point, shrugging out of her nightgown and starting to dress. "I want to go with you, too."
01[22:26] <Seira> "Not even a question," Seira agrees, getting ready swiftly.
[22:27] <Kotono> Dressing quickly, the two come to the garrison. In one of the meeting rooms, Commander Oberuth stands. Sitting in a chair, wrappedin blankets, is Celebrimbor. He stares straight ahead, unseeing and listless.
[22:27] <Kotono> "The guards found him just before dawn," Oberuth reports, gruff-voiced, "He was standing outside the southern walls, shivering.
[22:27] <Kotono> "
01[22:29] <Seira> "Celebrimbor?" Seira asks, kneeling next to the elf's chair. "You managed to escape?"
[22:30] <Kotono> Celebrimbor stares ahead, no reply at all. Oberuth views down at them, "He hsan't responded to anyone. He'll walk if you lead him and sit if you push himd own a bit, but no communication at all."
01[22:32] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 42." [1d20=18]
01[22:35] <Seira> "We have to keep the body alive," Seira says at last, tearing her eyes away from Celebrimbor and standing up. "If we manage to rescue his soul, it should be reversible."
[22:36] <Kotono> "Celebrimbor?" Amaryl says quietly, holding his hands. "Celebrimbor? Scion?" She tries, "Can you hear me? It's Amaryl..."
[22:37] <Kotono> "I'll have him taken care of," Oberuth says quietly, "There was one other thing." Oberuth hands Seira a small wrapped scroll. "This was found on Celebrimbor. It's message is plain."
06[22:37] * Seira unwraps it.
[22:37] <Kotono> Written in Draconic and penned in black ink is the following: YOUR ONLY WARNING.
01[22:39] <Seira> Yes, she's definitely taking Amaryl along. "We're committed," she says out loud. "We'll break the other seals, and bet on the good coming after all the bad. It's not like those seals actually hold our enemies out, so maybe this would inspire the heavens to reciprocate."
[22:41] <Kotono> "It's worth a shot." Oberuth checks Celebrimbor's blankets, then turns. "If I understand what's going on though...all our expectations can go out the window already. Whomever's doing this has found a way to cheat on a cosmic scale. No matter what, we'll have to stop that."
01[22:44] <Seira> "As good a description as any," Seira is forced to agree. "On the one hand, we have that damn Arbiter that seems to worship balance, and on the other we have a group of villains who just don't care. If their counterparts won't cheat back, then we'll just have to alter the reality and open a path for them on our own, the way I see it."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Yes. Also remember, that just removing the seals doesn't fix the cheating or the power they have. It may be a step in the right direction, but I don't expect it to make this all go away. It's on the Crimson Guard." Oberuth looks upward, "I have no doubt about that. Gods only know why, but we're the ones who have to protect everything that matters worth a damn. At the end of the day...we have ourselves."
[22:46] <Kotono> At the end of the day...we have ourselves."
01[22:48] <Seira> "That's how it is," Seira agrees bitterly. "You know, Sir, it's always easier to accept when you don't have the responsibility of standing between those things and the civilians. When it's just you in the balance, it's easy to take risks, but here...."
[22:50] <Kotono> "I know." Commander Oberuth's fist clenches, "I'm no holy man. I tried reading all those high books and it didn't do anything to help me. What I do know is power, and we have it. What I do know is responsbility, and we have even more of that. The final thing I know is that we're going to bring justice for each and every victim to the wicked. That's what the Crimson Guard will do."
01[22:53] <Seira> "It's time for us to provide another miracle, then," Seira says at that. "And in the meantime, unless Elle is needed directly for the city's defense, could you spare her for a while? We have ancient communication orbs, and waiting before fixing them has proved to be a mistake. We shouldn't delay in that."
[22:54] <Kotono> "So be it." Oberuth looks down at his fist. "Dismissed. Time's wasting and we don't have any more to waste."
06[22:54] * Seira gives Celebrimbor's shell another look, before taking Amaryl's hand. "Let's go," she says quietly. "There's nothing we can do here, at this time."
[21:29] <Tiny_Ko_Army> ---
[21:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Which entrance to the ruins are you taking?
01[21:30] <Seira> OOC: Let's go with flair and take the sea-based one.
[21:33] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Thus Seira takes to the sea! She swims into the ruins, passing through the eternal halls! Past the destroyed undead beehive, past rooms and through the magics! Seira thus enters the room of Ajan. He is facing her, looking to her. "You have come, Seira." He intones, the room rumbling with his voice.
01[21:33] <Seira> "Hello," she greets the ancient dragon. "How has it been?"
[21:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Another attempted to force the ruins. He is no more." Ajan's nostrils flare with smoke, "Your quest for the Resorts continues?"
01[21:36] <Seira> "We've gathered them," Seira informs him. "We plan on coming in force tomorrow, and seeing if we could help free you, but there's some trouble back home that's preventing us from that. It's possible your visitor was related to this. Was it something undead, by chance?"
[21:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "So the time looms close..." Ajan says, "It was a vampire." After that his head comes close to SEira, almost close enough to breath smoke onto her. "BUt listen to me now, and listen well, Seira."
01[21:38] <Seira> "All ears!"
[21:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "The fourth seal may be broken. When the fifth one is, bring all you care and fight with along with you for the breaking, for great blessings shall come...but only break it when it is time. For when the fifth seal is broken, the battle with the God-King draws nigh. The sixth door shall open and to it your destinies."
06[21:43] * Seira nods to that. "Not something to take lightly, I understand. We were hoping to find aid with our problem with those invading undead from the negative energy plane, but opening all the seals may not be what we need right now. Any chance you could help us get rid of that obstacle, Ajan? It's a group hailing from Bleak Rendor and connected to the Neverborn."
[21:44] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "The Neverborn..." Ajan's scales seem to shimmer with pure heat, rolling off of him. "I know of what you speak of, Seira. But...are you sure this is what you desire? What they are is a blasphemy to all the Gods that be."
01[21:46] <Seira> "Desire? Not so much. But these god-hating freaks are attacking our world and abducting our people. Those they don't kill and convert into more fodder. And they've shown a strong interest in the Resorts, which made us think you might know something. We can't just ignore this situation."
[21:49] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Very well. Of Ao, the Overgod, one of his dominions is to decide if a being is worthy of divinity. It is his choice and his choice alone. No God can live that he does not accept. This includes those mortals that seek to ascend past the limits of mere existance. Those that fail...are cast down, becoming mummy-kin known as Hunefer, cursed by Ao. But it is not a Hunefer we speak of, Seira. There is another that Ao judges."
01[21:51] <Seira> "Those who are about to be born as gods?" she guesses.
[21:52] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Ao judges the children of the Gods as well. Should a child of the Gods be chosen as unworthy...Ao's curse falls on them. They are ripped from the mother's womb, cast away from the Outer Planes forever. These cursed, lost children are known as Neverborn. Divine children, slain befor ethey could be born and sentenced by Ao to live for all time with no hope of salvation."
01[21:53] <Seira> Ao sounds like a pretty horrible being, Seira muses to herself. "If they're slain, how can they still affect reality so badly?" she asks the dragon.
[21:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "They live on, as unborn fetuses touched with undeath. Why Ao allows them to continue to exist I know not, but...the curse of Ao prevents the Gods from interfering with them. Legend says that most atrophy forever, lost of all hope. But not all."
01[21:56] <Seira> "So some do reach a sort of horrible consciousness, and they emrbace their nature?"
[21:56] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Yes, in essence." Ajan agrees.
01[21:57] <Seira> "Then the question becomes, how do I find them, how do I kill them, and who can help me with that." Seira blinks. "Three questions, actually, but you know...."
[21:59] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "The Gods cannot interfere with a Neverborn because of Ao's curse. Mortal beings are not so limited. As to finding them...they cannot enter the Outer Planes. They must be in the inner or material planes."
01[22:01] <Seira> "I wonder if that Bleak Rendor is where I would find my enemy," she muses out loud. "I don't suppose you'd be able to point me in the right direction? It's not easy to find guides for the negative energy plane."
[22:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I do not, though I have heard of it. I know of this process of divinity well, for the God-King perverted it with the Fairest Star. It is deep in the realm of negative energy...one will need a powerful guide of death to lead ou into it. Further..." Looking to Seira, "Do you know who the parents of the Neverborn are? Do you know of it's apothesis?"
06[22:09] * Seira starts to shake her head, before she pauses, and recites the relevant information gained by the limited wish spell. "There might be some prophecy alluding to the parents, but I'm not good at prophecies," she adds afterwards. "Still, how about Shar? I don't like Shar, can we go with that?"
[22:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "No, for...I have an idea." Ajan rumbles all over, "I believe I have a possibility. It is said that Talos, the Stormfather, sired children in the Abyss. Most were born as powerful half fiends, not enough for him. He sought to consort with the vilest of the Abyss for stronger children."
01[22:14] <Seira> "So the child, if belonging to him, would be vulnerable to... and that's as much as I could follow," Seira admits. "I mean, it's an evil god of storms, right? Does this tell me using lightning is a bad idea?"
[22:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "No. He consorted with the most vile woman in all the Abyss, the rising Queen of Succubi...yet I never heard of a child coming from it, yet it is said that there was indeed a child in the darkest whispers."
[22:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Gah, premature.
[22:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "No. He consorted with the most vile woman in all the Abyss, the rising Queen of Succubi...yet I never heard of a child coming from it, yet it is said that there was indeed a child in the darkest whispers." Now looking to Seira, "If this is true, you have two who have an interest in the Neverborn and can aid you further."
01[22:19] <Seira> "I'll, uh, consider sending Malcanthet a note," Seira says delicately.
[22:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Talos may be more productive, but the choice is yours of allies and information to seek." Ajan says.
01[22:21] <Seira> "He could just send his minions to impede us, I suppose, but the risk's worth taking," Seira muses. "Especially if it is the Dark Six who are involved. They hate all gods, and that would include him, right?"
[19:32] <Kolunch> > "No. He consorted with the most vile woman in all the Abyss, the rising Queen of Succubi...yet I never heard of a child coming from it, yet it is said that there was indeed a child in the darkest whispers." Now looking to Seira, "If this is true, you have two who have an interest in the Neverborn and can aid you further."
[19:32] <Kolunch> <Seira> "I'll, uh, consider sending Malcanthet a note," Seira says delicately.
[19:32] <Kolunch> > "Talos may be more productive, but the choice is yours of allies and information to seek." Ajan says.
[19:32] <Kolunch> <Seira> "He could just send his minions to impede us, I suppose, but the risk's worth taking," Seira muses. "Especially if it is the Dark Six who are involved. They hate all gods, and that would include him, right?"
[19:32] <Kolunch> "Talos is a God, yes," Ajan answers.
01[19:33] <Seira> "I kno-- I mean, yes." Seira nods quickly. "We'll definitely try that direction, thanks!"
[19:34] <Kolunch> "Good fortune to you." Neck extending back and away from Seira now, "I believe that if any can overcome a Neverborn, it will be the ones to defeat the God-King."
01[19:35] <Seira> "Come to think of it, did anyone ever do this? Overcome a Neverborn?"
[19:37] <Kolunch> "They are creatures of legend. I have heard that heroes long ago did once, but it is a dreadful task. Even cursed and Neverborn, such a child possesses awesome power."
01[19:39] <Seira> "I don't suppose you'd remember who, or how?"
[19:43] Performing System Backup...
03[19:43] * Retrieving #evildunes modes...
Session Close: Wed Oct 21 19:43:33 2009
Session Start: Wed Oct 21 19:43:33 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[19:43] * Disconnected
02[19:43] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[19:43] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[19:43] * Topic is 'Alicia(25)>Melancton(23)>Seira(14)'
03[19:43] * Set by Kotono on Fri Oct 16 20:05:56
03[19:43] * Nabuu is now known as Seira
03[19:43] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[19:44] <Kolunch> "It was tens of thousands of years ago. The names of the heroes are lost to time and eternity," Ajan answers. "I do know the name of the band - The Swiftwings."
01[19:45] <Seira> "It might not provide answers to us in time, but at least that should keep the scholarly types busy and focused," Seira muses. "Thank you again, Ajan."
[19:45] <Kolunch> The great red dragon rumbles his assent. OOC: Returning to Balmuria onw?
Session Close: Wed Oct 21 19:49:37 2009
Session Start: Wed Oct 21 19:49:37 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[19:49] * Disconnected
02[19:49] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[19:49] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[19:49] * Topic is 'Alicia(25)>Melancton(23)>Seira(14)'
03[19:49] * Set by Kotono on Fri Oct 16 20:05:56
03[19:49] * Nabuu is now known as Seira
03[19:49] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
03[19:50] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
Session Close: Wed Oct 21 20:20:24 2009
Session Start: Wed Oct 21 20:20:24 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[20:20] * Disconnected
02[20:20] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[20:20] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[20:20] * Topic is 'Alicia(25)>Melancton(23)>Seira(14)'
03[20:20] * Set by Kotono on Fri Oct 16 20:05:56
03[20:20] * Nabuu is now known as Seira
03[20:20] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[20:38] <Kolunch> ---
[20:39] <Kolunch> As the rain continues to fall, "Marie, you can fly," Saul asks, "Could you go up and see if anything's nearby? As long as it's raining -a nd with Limbo it's anyone's guess how long - visibility's poor."
[20:41] <Alicia> "This isn't like wild Limbo, at least," Marie comments happily as she nods and zips up a few hundred feet to take a look around their surroundings.
[20:47] <Kolunch> In the ripping rain, Marie can see a stone house ahead. It's made of multicolored stones, like a wet rainbow in the growing downpour.
[20:48] <Alicia> The eladrin then flies back down to rejoin the two men in her life. "I saw a house that way," she points. "Very colourful, it looked nice!"
[20:51] <Kolunch> As the party walks in that direction, Eudard shielding his face and peering ahead, "Better than what I imagined Talos' realm would be...though the heavy rain still fits."
[20:52] <Kolunch> Saul walks ahead, pace brisk. "We'll find out exactly how different from our imaginations soon. We can chatter once we're out of the rain. Time is important."
03[20:53] * Mystia is now known as Mystia_GhostFood
03[20:58] * Laggy (~Laggy@64-71-1-82.static.wiline.com) has joined #evildunes
03[20:58] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Laggy
[20:58] <Kolunch> Thus you reach the house - colorful stones bounce off water, a stone door barring further entry in. It's about the size of a small house, unremarkable besides teh coloration. Saul goes to the door and knocks.
[20:58] <Alicia> Marie happily follows along, hovering just over Saul's shoulder.
[20:59] <Kolunch> The door opens! Answering is a vaguely menancing, vast creature. It fills up the door three times over, a terrible odor coming from it. The hezrou looks down, rumbling low in it's throat. "What do you want?"
[21:01] <Alicia> Marie chokes in surprise, almost reaching for her bow before she restrains herself. It's a follower of Talos, not any demon lord, so maybe it's like an uglier smellier Antenora? She can but hope...
[21:02] <Kolunch> Saul puts a hand over his mouth, "We're looking for Talos." He grimaces, "Or his court, or a someone who can speak for him. We have a matter of supreme interest to him."
[21:03] <Kolunch> Eudard has his hand on his blade, besides Saul and silent, face a mask of displeasure.
[21:04] <Kolunch> "Keep going thataways," He jerks a thumb at the horizon, where snow is beginning to fall on a stony, grassy field. "You'll know it when you see it."
[21:04] <Alicia> Visualising the creature as alike to her erinyes friend has helped Marie enough that she can give the demon a faint smile. "Thanks, you're a sweetheart!" she assures him brightly.
[21:10] <Kolunch> The creature grunts and closes the door behind him. Saul immediately makes pace, "Come now," he says, "The sooner the better, I think."
[21:12] <Alicia> Marie nods and flies along. "He wasn't terribly friendly, but I guess Antenora used to be like that, too. I'm sure deep down he's really nice."
[21:12] <Kolunch> "Perhaps," Saul says as the sun comes out, the storm passing, "He was likely dragged along with Talos if anything."
[21:13] <Alicia> "If he really wanted to stay evil he could've went back to the Abyss," Marie nods sagely.
[19:08] <Kotono> <Alicia> Marie chokes in surprise, almost reaching for her bow before she restrains herself. It's a follower of Talos, not any demon lord, so maybe it's like an uglier smellier Antenora? She can but hope...
[19:08] <Kotono> > Saul puts a hand over his mouth, "We're looking for Talos." He grimaces, "Or his court, or a someone who can speak for him. We have a matter of supreme interest to him."
[19:08] <Kotono> > Eudard has his hand on his blade, besides Saul and silent, face a mask of displeasure.
[19:08] <Kotono> > "Keep going thataways," He jerks a thumb at the horizon, where snow is beginning to fall on a stony, grassy field. "You'll know it when you see it."
[19:08] <Kotono> <Alicia> Visualising the creature as alike to her erinyes friend has helped Marie enough that she can give the demon a faint smile. "Thanks, you're a sweetheart!" she assures him brightly.
[19:08] <Kotono> > The creature grunts and closes the door behind him. Saul immediately makes pace, "Come now," he says, "The sooner the better, I think."
[19:09] <Kotono> <Alicia> Marie nods and flies along. "He wasn't terribly friendly, but I guess Antenora used to be like that, too. I'm sure deep down he's really nice."
[19:09] <Kotono> > "Perhaps," Saul says as the sun comes out, the storm passing, "He was likely dragged along with Talos if anything."
[19:09] <Kotono> <Alicia> "If he really wanted to stay evil he could've went back to the Abyss," Marie nods sagely.
[19:13] <Kotono> The travels ahead are long. You go through blizzards, ice storms, rain, driving rain, winds, dryness, heat, cold, grasslands, mountains, rocky islands, beaches, savanna, thin air, depressions and more. The terrain is constantly altering, constantly moving. But after some long time of this, the party ranging from baked to soaked to frozen to parched, the world around you changes. You stand in an ancient circle of stones, crude stone bloc
[19:13] <Kotono> You stand in an ancient circle of stones, crude stone blocks forming a vast ring. Storms play in the sky, lightning the size of dragons clashing far above. Standing before you is a slaad - electric yellow, murmuring. In his words are thunderclaps and lightning flashes. These words speak to you, speaking of endless mysteries of cyclic change. The creature is as large as one of the stone slabs, towering over the party.
[19:14] <Kotono> Eudard stands ahead of Saul, sword undrawn but shield raised. He regards the creature coolly, "We seek Talos, to seek his council on a grave matter involving him."
[19:17] <Alicia> "It's super-important," Marie seconds, floating between the two men and projecting inoffensiveness. "We wouldn't dream of disturbing the Stormlord if it wasn't."
[19:19] <Kotono> With the whispers of titanic sonic clashes of thunder leaking from it's mouth in a torrential buffet of sound, the slaad speaks of Progression. In the skies duels of lightning bolts rage, forming into shapes. Creatures mundane, exotic, legendary and unknown are all seen, in endless dances of war. With it's hand crackling with the eye of ball lightning, it extends it's hand out to Marie, utterly dwarfing her.
[19:20] <Kotono> Saul's voice is low, yet carries to Marie with precise words. "Chaos calls to chaos, perhaps?"
[19:21] <Alicia> Either that or it's hungry. Slaad are notorious devourers of unwary courre. Still, they won't get far by showing hesitation at this stage, and she's far from an ordinary example of her rank. Fluttering forward, she alights her feet on the creature's outstretched palm.
[19:23] <Kotono> Like a rocket into the heavens, Marie ascends up! She is thrust into the endless war of thunder! As she does, the slaad speaks of Meeting. Around her a dragon is bitten apart by a titanic lizard-king, while an angel is sent flying by an eye tyrant, crashing through a wobbling naga. The slaadi speaks of..."SPEAK."
[19:28] <Alicia> It's probably best that she's been designated for this. Being the familiar to an incredibly charismatic paladin does wonders for her own social skills. Keeping herself calm and her voice collected, she gets to the point - beating about the bush surely won't win points here.
[19:28] <Alicia> "The Prime Material where Daa-vid is sealed is currently under assault by a cabal of ancient liches and their servants. These liches themselves pay homage to a Neverborn cursed by Ao..." she can't help but hesitate on the next part, aware that it's rather impolite, but it's too late to back out now.
[19:28] <Alicia> "We believe the Neverborn is the result of a dalliance between the Storm Lord and the Queen of Succubi."
[19:30] <Kotono> Wind. The wind is what speaks. Marie goes flying, the slaad vanishing as you are hurtled into the sky! Saul and Eudard come rocketing with you, nary a scream as the three of you progress forward! It is the endless journey that lasts forever, over before you can breath a single breath. (More)
[19:33] <Kotono> Ahead of you lies a throne. A throne made of stormclouds and thunder, of snow and rain, of fog and ground and earth and everything. The throne is as large as the Baronies eight times over, stretching far and yet so small as to be seen fully by Marie's eyes. Around the three of you stand Elements - rain, fire, sun, fog, snow, parch, more. They are bodies, but they are what they are. Marie simply understands by looking at them, the knowledge
[19:33] <Kotono> Marie simply understands by looking at them, the knowledge as natural as knowing a mother's face. This calvacade surrounds the throne, each speaking. Each one speaks of what they are, creating an endless din of everything. (More)
[19:37] <Kotono> In one hand, the one who sits on the throne holds in one hand the green fields and forests of Balmuria, full of life. In the other he holds the Wastelands, dead and frozen. One eye is an empty oblivion, the other teams with rainbow life. In a voice that masters and directs the din of everything around you, overawing Marie to her soul and beyond, "You have audience. Speak."
[19:38] <Kotono> The clank of Eudard's armor is easily lost in the din, as he falls to his knees and bows his head. Saul does much the same, "We beileve your child, spawn of Malcanthet, is with the Dark Six, interfering with the matters on Earth."
[19:41] <Alicia> Technically it's not spawn since it never had a chance to be spawned... Marie jumps in before Eudard can piss off the god of storms. "We are not certain, but we have had indications from multiple sources of the Neverborn's parentage," she interjects.
[19:41] <Alicia> "We were hoping, given the unnatural destruction it is fostering and its attempts at interfering with Daa-vid's imprisonment, that you might have some wisdom that could help us, Lord of Storms."
[19:46] <Kotono> "So be it." With that, wisdom flows into Marie's mind! Understanding blossoms instantly as she grasps a truth...The Neverborn will be surrounded by an aura of the utmost negation. Only the hardiest souls can survive within a hundred feet of it, and even they are utterly crippled without protections against negative energy. To face it without such is the greatest folly imaginable. Death Ward at the minimum will be absolutely needed.
[19:46] <Kotono> Death Ward at the minimum will be absolutely needed.
[19:46] <Kotono> Saul murmurs, "I see..." he whispers, "To wound the Neverborn..." he murmurs, "Thank you, Storm God."
[19:51] <Alicia> Marie is startled by the sudden influx of knowledge. It's not what she expected, but it's very practical and useful, so she shouldn't be at all surprised. At Saul's words she wonders if Talos has granted each of the three a different piece of the puzzle.
[19:51] <Alicia> "Thank you," she nods earnestly. It's a sensible precaution against undead, but she knows Alicia may have decided to just tough it out and count on her innate strength of spirit to see her through. Now they know better. She then wonders what to say next. Somehow 'We'll gut your undead abomination of a son like a pig' doesn't cut it, even for a forthright deity.
[19:51] <Alicia> "We'll put this knowledge to good use," she temporises. "On behalf of Mystra, and the entire Prime Material, I thank you." Even though it wouldn't be needed at all if he had kept it in- with a vast effort of will she cuts off that thought and forces herself to think of something different. Dear Mystra, she's going to get them killed!
[19:53] <Kotono> He reaches forward. Thunder and lighting touch Eudard, racing to his sword! Eudard screams soundlessly, as, "Servant of Helm, take this as a boon, for I owe Helm a debt. This blade will cut true, even against the Neverborn."
[19:55] <Alicia> Marie recalls watching Alicia being split apart by a tremendous blade of lightning before her body was regenerated as she accepted the blessing of the Storm in those ruins. He may have changed his ways somewhat, but she'd certainly never call Talos gentle.
[20:00] <Kotono> Eudard falls to his knees all over again, drawing his blade with a shaking hand. It is as if lighting was formed into a sword, crackling and hissing. Lightning dances amid the blade, metal gone and forgotten. Eudard looks up with a shaking head, "T-thank you...s-storm lord," he manages.
[20:03] <Alicia> That's pretty neat. Marie idly wonders how it now compares to Demedais's recently Helm empowered sword, or Alicia's Kossuth empowered one. Or Seira's font of creation powered one, for that matter. My, she does know lots of people with impressive swords, doesn't she?
[20:04] <Kotono> "Be warned - Malcanthet will have interest in this matter as well. If you choose to parley with her, be warned, for she is a serpent terrible. Should you ignore her, be warned, for her machinations and view reach far." At that, it is gone. The three of you stand in open fields, the cold winter air blowing around you, half melted snow here and there. Far away, you can see Balmuria's western gate.
[20:06] <Kotono> Saul takes a few breaths and stands up, dusting himself off, "I know how to wound the Neverborn now, but it won't be easy." Saul says, "How about the two of you?"
[20:06] <Alicia> "I don't think any of us really want to go cap in hand to the Queen of the Succubi for help, do we?" Marie asks as they return to the Prime. "Talos told me that anyone within a hundred feet of the thing would be crippled without protections against negative energy, even if they're strong enough to avoid being killed alright."
[20:08] <Kotono> "Not particularly," Eudard is silent, walking slowly behind the rest of you. Saul is speaking as he looks to the clear sky. "Though the second half of his warning is worth weighing. One way or another, Malcanthet will make herself nosy, won't she?"
[20:10] <Alicia> Wouldn't be the first time, but Marie isn't inclined to go blabbing that around freely. "We can deal with that, I'm sure. So, how do we hurt the thing if we've not been gifted with an incredible sword of divine lightning?"
[20:11] <Kotono> "It's two fold." Saul ticks off fingers, "First of all, it must be a weapon beyond that of normal mortal construction. A weapon made of true might and true magic unknown to all but the greatest craftsmen to ever live. Secondly, the weapon must be alive."
[20:13] <Alicia> "Well, Alicia's got a sword that was made be a mighty planetar, that was then empowered by the God of fire, and it possesses as much a sentient will as you or I. Does that count?" Marie asks hopefully as she flutters along back to Balmuria.
[20:14] <Kotono> "I'm not sure ,but it's on the right track I'm sure." At this, Eudard shakes his head and picks up his pace.
[20:14] <Kotono> "I know a third part," he interjects, "Allow me to share this wisdom."
[20:14] <Alicia> "Go ahead?" Marie turns to Eudard, smiling invitingly.
[20:16] <Kotono> "Any cursed undead close to the Neverborn will be impossible to turn and heal impossibly fast. His minons will be tougher, faster and stronger than other undead of their type."
[20:19] <Kotono> "Facing the Neverborn wil be troublesome then," Saul murmurs, "If not worse than we alreayd knew it ot be."
[20:19] <Alicia> "That'll make things difficult..." Marie makes a face. "But it's good we know now rather than finding out too late - I doubt it'll just have a few zombie guards. We'd probably end up facing all six of those horrid liches along with a few dozen wraiths. Might be better to try and chip away at the supports rather than diving in to take off the head first, even though it's not our usual style."
[20:22] <Kotono> "It does seem like this won't end in one mere battle," As you approach the gates, soldiers on guard saluting Eudard and Saul and Marie all at once, "If it does drag on," Saul's hands are behind his back, "I don't trust Malcanthet to not meddle. Perhaps we should look to establish some measure of understanding with her? I doubt she'll aid us, but if we can stop her from worsening the situation by meddling?"
[20:25] <Alicia> Marie makes a face at that concept. "Don't expect Alicia to go for that," is all she says.
[20:26] <Kotono> "Yes, I know." Eudard makes the same face, "But I'd rather be a realist and deal with it before we have some servant of hers complicating matters." Thus the three head back...OOC: Wanna wind down here for this, unless Marie wants to do something else?
[20:27] <Alicia> OOC: Marie will go home and hang out with Jessica and Hugo and Dawnhope now, so we're done
[23:04] <Kotono> ----------
[23:06] <Kotono> Alicia, Latha and Antenora head home, Marie fluttering around as they walk on the dark streets of early night. A lull in the conversation has come as you approach home. In this quiet there is a peace, but it is a peace broken like all others are. "Alicia." Antenora's lips twitch upward, her face softening and warm. "I feel like we did so much good today, but yet there's so much more to be done. Despite all we did, I feel...no, I crave to d
[23:06] <Kotono> but yet there's so much more to be done. Despite all we did, I feel...no, I crave to do more."
[23:09] <Alicia> "Seeing the horrors our foes are capable of only drives home how much more we have to do," Alicia nods. "And for all we accomplished, we'll still have to face Glaciante Devarim once more in the future..." her expression twists into one of wry amusement, "I suppose the Dark Five just wouldn't have had the same ring to it."
[23:11] <Kotono> "The entire scheme is ingenious, if we have the truth of it," Latha looks to the night sky, "I believe with all my heart that the phylacteries are in Bleak Rendor, the one place we can't reach. As long as one of the greatest tragedies and mysteries in the Heaven's history continues, the Dark Six are immortal. Such intelligence and guile, wasted on blasphemies."
[23:11] <Kotono> "It wouldn't," Twisting into a sardonic grin, eyes glittering, "The Chartruse Guard wouldn't have the same ring, either."
[23:13] <Alicia> "At least Glaciante, in his overweening confidence, may have delivered the key to solving this mystery into our hands," Alicia gives Latha a smile.
[23:13] <Alicia> "That actually sounds really cool!" Marie enthuses, alighting on Antenora's head. "You guys should make up a cadet branch and call them that!"
[23:14] <Kotono> Antenora rolls her eyes up, "Uh huh. Sure. They can be further served by the Pumpernickel and Brown Legions."
[23:15] <Kotono> "The sage of the Planeswalker's Guild said Glaciante was overcompensating. I think it saved our lives. For all his planning, he neglected to simply obliterate us while we were naked and defenseless."
[23:15] <Kotono> "The sage of the Planeswalker's Guild said Glaciante was overcompensating. I think it saved our lives. For all his planning, he neglected to simply obliterate us while we were naked and defenseless." Latha's gaze focuses ahead, Alicia's house in view. "Some claim evil is self defeating; this isn't always true, but it was here."
[23:18] <Alicia> "At least with the brown legion you'd never know that they were terrified of the enemy?" Marie asks mischeviously, leaning down over Antenora's brow.
[23:18] <Alicia> "He was smart enough to avoid having his neck snapped by me the moment we broke out of his prison. And he did make a sincere effort to stop us recovering our belongings by sending the Neverborn's get, I think," Alicia reasons. "But to be honest I doubt he considered us a threat up until the very moment he was beaten."
[23:19] <Kotono> Antenora smirks, "Sometimes I wonder how you ever reached Dweomerheart, with that dirty mind of yours."
[23:19] <Kotono> "I doubt they'll make the mistake again," Latha considers, "We'll have to defend ourselves better and choose our own battles well."
[23:22] <Alicia> "We'll need to sort something out for dealing with portals that strip us and drop us into trouble," Alicia agrees, drifting towards Latha so the grown ups can have their sensible conversation apart from the other two.
[23:22] <Alicia> "Wizards love their ribald humour," Marie opines sagely. "You know how Alicia rhymes her spells when she's stressed out? You'd be amazed how many common cantrips started out as dirty limericks."
[23:23] <Kotono> "There's magic that does that, isn't there? Seira can cast it," Getting to the front door, Latha opens the door. You find it's pitch black inside, not a scrap of light on. Not that it's really bothersome to you, with darkvision and all.
[23:24] <Kotono> "Uh huh." Antenora just smirks, "I'm sure you could tell me all of them in detail. But anyway, how time consuming is that spell, Alicia?"
[23:26] <Alicia> "Only a minute or so from what I recall," Alicia replies, going to light a lantern. "Any idea where Jessica and Hugo are, Marie?" she asks her familiar.
[23:26] <Kotono> As you light the lantern, shedding light inside, "Sister?" Jessica calls out. "Are you home?" Her voice comes from upstairs."
[23:27] <Alicia> "I'm not sure, actually," Marie admits. "They weren't around - oh, there we go," Marie trails off with a shrug.
[23:27] <Alicia> "We are," Alicia calls back. "Everyone safe and sound." Notwithstanding Amaryl's brief death, but there's no need to belabour that.
[23:28] <Kotono> "Could you come up here?" Jessica calls, "Please?"
[23:29] <Alicia> "Coming," Alicia calls back, wondering what Jessica needs as she heads up the stairs and towards her sister's bedroom.
[23:29] <Kotono> Antenora eyes, "Want company or is this a sistery matter?"
[23:32] <Alicia> "It's alright, you might as well get something to eat since your ring will take a week to start working again," Alicia waves off Antenora, prompting Marie to eye the former baatezu.
[23:32] <Alicia> "So we can look forward to seven days of you glowering at the kitchen table and stabbing your food like it was your worst enemy?" she enquires sweetly. "And sleeping half the day away like a lazy sloth, to boot!"
[23:33] <Kotono> "Well, at least I HAVE to eat..." Antenora begins, but Alicia misses this. She heads upstairs, the door to Jessica's room open. It's completely dark here, Jessica sitting on her bed in the darkness. Her gaze is at the door as you enter.
[23:34] <Alicia> "Everything okay, sister?" Alicia asks as she steps inside, wondering why she's sitting up all alone in the dark. It's somewhat creepy.
[23:35] <Kotono> "You look tired." Jessica's eyes follow Alicia in the darkness, "Sit down."
[23:38] <Alicia> Well, it has been a long day. Since she didn't bring any candles Alicia just casts a light cantrip to illuminate the bedroom as she goes to take a seat next to Jessica. "I'm not nearly as tired as I was when this whole mess started," she reassures, hoping she'll elaborate on what's bothering her.
[23:40] <Kotono> "Good." Jessica half smiles, kicking her feet down. After a moment, she speaks again. "It's strange being able to see in the dark now. It's been happening over the last few weeks, along with dreams."
[23:41] <Alicia> Well, that explains why the- wait, what? "What?" Alicia blinks in surprise. "Dreams?" Seeing in the dark is strange, but odd dreams grab her attention more, since she's had her fair share of them and they always seem to herald changes.
[23:43] <Kotono> "Yes. The last few weeks. I started seeing in the dark at the same time. Each night, I'd start to dream of you, Latha, Antenora, Marie, Dawnhope, Hugo. Just living life, but in time you'd begin to glow gold and white. All of you would, but me...until the end of the dream, when I began to as well. You were gone, so I went to Shankar to consult on this matter."
[23:45] <Alicia> "Go on," Alicia invites, starting to have an inkling of where this is leading. She's more familiar with the concept of a fiendish presence tainting a place, so it's equally possible that the presence of so many celestials (or close relatives) living in close proximity has had an influence on their mortal housemate.
[23:47] <Kotono> "He cast a few spells on me and read some books. He said that the Outer Planes have a way of affecting the Prime Material and mortals if they're exposed too much. Elysium and Dweomerheart, for example. He said there was one way to find out, with an incantation he'd taught me recently."
[23:47] <Alicia> "Which incantation?" Alicia asks interestedly, crossing her legs as she turns to face Jessica fully.
[23:48] <Kotono> "Alter Self. You're familiar with it. If this works..." Jessica shrugs, "I was waiting for you to come home to find out.:
06[23:51] * Alicia reaches over to squeeze her sister's hand. "Whatever happens, you're still you," she reassures.
[23:51] <Kotono> "I already got that speech from Shankar." Squeezing back, "I'm not sad, it's just a lot to take in. Now then..." Jessica calls on arcane words! Magic flows around her, and with a pop...a little Lantern Archon floats where Jessica once was. "...oh my..." Jessica murmurs, bobbing in the air.
[23:53] <Alicia> "Oh!" Despite being half prepared for it, Alicia is still a little startled. "How does it feel?" she asks. "You should be able to fly just by thinking where you want to move - the spell makes it as easy as walking in your real body."
[23:54] <Kotono> Jessica does so, drifting towards Alicia's head. "It's...simple, natural and easy. I get it...and Alicia," Her voice turns into gushing, "Your head...!"
[23:56] <Alicia> "Oh, come on!" Alicia gives her sister a flat look of mock exasparation. "I get enough of that from Marie and every pixie I ever meet. Besides, you're just a big ball - you'd roll right off."
[23:56] <Kotono> "You could have played along," Bobbing in the air with laughter, "Let's go downstairs? The simplest way is to just show this to everyone."
[23:57] <Alicia> "Antenora will probably hug you to her bosom," Alicia laughs a little herself as she gets up, going to lead her transformed sister downstairs.
[18:38] <Kotono> > "I already got that speech from Shankar." Squeezing back, "I'm not sad, it's just a lot to take in. Now then..." Jessica calls on arcane words! Magic flows around her, and with a pop...a little Lantern Archon floats where Jessica once was. "...oh my..." Jessica murmurs, bobbing in the air.
[18:38] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Oh!" Despite being half prepared for it, Alicia is still a little startled. "How does it feel?" she asks. "You should be able to fly just by thinking where you want to move - the spell makes it as easy as walking in your real body."
[18:38] <Kotono> > Jessica does so, drifting towards Alicia's head. "It's...simple, natural and easy. I get it...and Alicia," Her voice turns into gushing, "Your head...!"
[18:38] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Oh, come on!" Alicia gives her sister a flat look of mock exasparation. "I get enough of that from Marie and every pixie I ever meet. Besides, you're just a big ball - you'd roll right off."
[18:38] <Kotono> > "You could have played along," Bobbing in the air with laughter, "Let's go downstairs? The simplest way is to just show this to everyone."
[18:38] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Antenora will probably hug you to her bosom," Alicia laughs a little herself as she gets up, going to lead her transformed sister downstairs.
[18:40] <Kotono> Downstairs, Latha is fixing up a plate of fruits, vegetables and meat. Meanwhile, Marie and Antenora sits down, the former on the latter's head. "Then..." Antenora gestures with a butter knife, "I charged the wraith...Hm? Alicia? Who's that?
[18:40] <Kotono> "
[18:42] <Alicia> "It's Jessica," Alicia replies, gesturing to her orb-like sibling, prompting Marie to look over.
[18:42] <Alicia> "Oh, Mystra, I was only gone for a few hours and you died?! And became a lantern archon - never saw that coming," she mutters briefly under her breath before taking off and floating around Jessica. "I'm so sorry!" she keens, hamming it up shamelessly.
[18:43] <Kotono> Antenora blink-blinks, "Who?" she asks very quietly, "How? Why?"
[18:44] <Kotono> Jessica laughs as she flies around Marie, a giant glowing ball-lantern lapping the eladrin. "All of you, by being yourselves, because apparently the Outer Planes are like that."
[18:45] <Kotono> Latha puts down the plate of food, "Are you saying our presence caused you to spontaneously shed your mortal life and become a spirit?" Her voice raises, "I've heard of the Planes affecting the mortal realm, but rarely so pronounced!"
[18:46] <Alicia> "She's not really an archon," Alicia explains for any who don't get it. "She's using magic like I did earlier today. She's touched by the planes but not an actual spirit."
[18:46] <Alicia> "Yes, we're very corrupting like that," Marie nods earnestly.
[18:48] <Kotono> "You are at least," Crossing her arms and glaring at Marie, "I understand that. Even before Alicia began to ascend, she certainly changed me. With you visiting Dweomerheart and spending most of your time around outsiders, perhaps it was expected. When the mortal and the eternal meet, the mortal crumbles away like ash in the wind."
[18:49] <Kotono> "Oh, lighten." Jessica flies over to Antenora, "It's not as if I died. Besides, Marie is a fine example of a celestial as far as I care."
[18:50] <Alicia> "Thank you!" Marie beams happily, glad someone at least gets it.
[18:51] <Kotono> Starting to orbit around Antenora's head, "Marie, don't you think Antenora still takes things too seriously? What about you, sis?"
[18:51] <Kotono> With a warm chuckle, Latha goes back to making the meal. Quietly, in Alicia's mind, 'She is somewhat like an aasimar now?'
[18:53] <Alicia> "Oh, she's fine the way she is," Alicia waves off criticism of the resident reformed baatezu, in no real mood for an argument. "So where are Hugo and Dawnhope, anyway?" she asks her sister. 'Possibly,' she replies to Latha, 'There's no obvious tells in her normal appearance, though.'
[18:54] <Kotono> As Jessica orbits Antenora, the erinyes watching her go 'round and 'round, "They're at the temple. Commander Oberuth's ordered each temple to have a military detachment on grounds until further notice, so I felt it was nearly as safe a place as I could find in Balmuria. Besides, I needed to do some things today."
[18:55] <Kotono> 'I do wonder. We're leaving an imprint on the world. By the time Mystra calls you to Dweomerheart, I wonder if this house will be sacred ground for Mystra's followers?'
[18:59] <Alicia> "I'll go and pick them up - might as well have everyone together for dinner," Alicia decides, giving Latha a faintly unamused look. 'Hopefully not, I'd rather not see pilgrims picking through my house to make relics of my hairbrushes and cutlery.'
[19:02] <Kotono> Latha's voice is light in your mind, 'Your housedress will become a sacred artifact, worn by the high priestess of Mystra on special holidays. Flippant or not, look at Jessica. We ARE leaving our mark on the material realm, Alicia. Perhaps those who spend a night here will find inspiration from Saint Alicia, or have maladies healed? This isn't abstract theory, but reality. Your sister shows it.'
06[19:09] * Alicia thinks back to her experience with Dendragam's Tomb in the endless plains, and is forced to nod as she heads out, continuing the telepathic conversation despite distance. 'Maybe you're right, but it's still rather disconcerting.'
[19:14] <Kotono> Latha puts the food down as she goes, leaving the others to eat and be merry. She makes to follow Alicia, keeping within range. 'I believe that Mystra may wish for you to start thinking of yourself less as a human and more of what you are - a celestial champion. You are infintely larger than life; your very presence will change the order of things with enough time. Your very body is so sacred it is sanctified. You have begun to transcend m
[19:14] <Kotono> Your very body is so sacred it is sanctified. You have begun to transcend mortality.' Hurrying to catch up to Alicia in the meanwhile, switching to speaking aloud, "The first time I met mortals, they wished to bow to me as a Goddess incarnate. It was...ah yes, awkward is the right word."
[19:17] <Alicia> Since Latha's following Alicia slows pace to match her and talk aloud. "I don't expect anyone who enjoyed such treatment would make a particularly good angel," she notes agreeably.
[19:18] <Kotono> "Naturally." Smiling now, "Arrogance is a sin that has caused celestials to fall to the Depths Below. I encourage you not to be arrogant, but to understand your new place in the order Mystra has set forth for you. She has given you holy titles and decreed that you shall be an eternal spirit. It is not your lot to be a human, watching the years erode at them. It is your fate to be their guardian, protector and humble guide."
[19:25] <Alicia> "The way I see it, what I've been doing has taken me this far, so it must be good enough to stick at it," Alicia shrugs. "I don't want to be some distant pinnacle of holiness that all but taunts others with her unattainable virtue."
[19:25] <Alicia> "I'm temperamental, proud, and oh so very violent - but despite it all, I always try to do the right thing. I like to think that's something people can understand and relate to, and be inspired to try themselves."
[19:27] <Kotono> "I'll let you know a secret I'm sure you've noticed," As you walk to the temple, people come and go. Further, several soldiers are on watch, marching near the gates. Many of them salute you as you enter. "Celestials, are pure as we are, aren't perfect. Sometimes we feel things just as you do. I've felt the tuggings of anger, righteous and otherwise. I've felt the intoxicating lure of lust, the corroding grasp of pride. We are not celestial
[19:27] <Kotono> I've felt the intoxicating lure of lust, the corroding grasp of pride. We are not celestials because we are beyond them, but because we overcome them."
[19:33] <Alicia> "I know that," Alicia smiles at Latha after returning the passing salutes. "But perception matters. There's a thin line between presenting something to aspire to, and an unrealistic ideal. That's why I'm loathe to distance myself from my humanity."
[19:36] <Kotono> Latha is quiet after that, nodding after some time. "Yes. Antenora even embraces a found humanity now. She said to me once that she was making up for a lost childhood. Look at her and Marie, it's like loving sisters quibbling."
[19:42] <Alicia> "For all that it can be tiresome on occassion, I think they're good for each other," Alicia nods, accepting the subject change. "And sometimes their arguments carry a small nugget of wisdom here and there."
[19:45] <Kotono> "Yes." As you walk through the temple's courtyard, wizards and worshipers going about their nightly duties, "The old human saying is true - opposites attract and allure. For all they squabble over law and chaos, they are attached to each other. Oftentimes, this leads to one of them saying something profound...sometimes." Latha starts to laugh, "Othertimes, it does seem to engender pettiness."
[19:46] <Alicia> "You weren't here when they decided to settle things with a sandcastle building contest," Alicia laughs a little herself as they seek out Hugo and Dawnhope. "If Hell and the Abyss ever came up with that, we'd all be doomed."
03[19:48] * Yomi is now known as Seira
[19:49] <Kotono> Laughing as well, "I got the story. Did they truly decide that it was the right way, while..." Shaking her hread ruefully as you head to the cathedral, "Antenora retains a teaseful-ness to her when she likes someone and is in the right mood, doesn't she?"
[19:52] <Alicia> "She used to have quite a mouth on her," Alicia snorts quietly, recalling those early days with the devil in the house. "These days only Marie catches the brunt of it. Since Marie only showed up after she'd come around, I shudder to think how things might have went had she been around from the start."
[19:53] <Kotono> "Catstrophic?" As you enter the cathedral, you see Hugo and Dawnhope sitting by themselves, a book spread between them as Dawnhope flutters above it, reading and pointing to it. "Love takes many forms, though. Friends who argue as much as enemies is one of them."
06[19:55] * Alicia nods to Latha, tabling the conversation for now as she approaches Hugo and Dawnhope. "Hello," she gives them both a big smile, reaching over to ruffle Hugo's hair. "What are you reading?"
[19:57] <Kotono> "Alicia," Hugo smiles up to Alicia, hugging her. Dawnhope flutters, "It's the story of the ghaele eladrin Sandsun who lead a group of desert efreeti away from law and evil." she says, "It's inspirational!"
[19:58] <Alicia> "Oh, that does sound good," Alicia agrees, hugging Hugo back. "Do you two want to come home for dinner and we can all read it together afterwards?" she offers.
[19:59] <Kotono> "Dinner!" Hugo stands up, while Dawnhope agrees and hops onto Hugo's shoulder.
06[20:00] * Alicia gives the little eladrin a brief smile, picking up the book in one hand and taking Hugo's with the other as she leads the little group back home.
[20:04] <Kotono> Thus dinner comes and passes, the story told. The evening begins to wear on. Antenora is sitting on one of the chairs, listening and yawning. Latha and Marie guide Hugo through a simple game of cards, while Dawnhope watches. Jessica has returned to her normal form, humming to herself as she watches as well. Nonetheless, Antenora rouses herself. "Alicia," she calls over to her.
[20:06] <Alicia> "What is it?" Alicia asks, looking up from the card game in progress.
[20:07] <Kotono> "It's a nice night. How about we go get some fresh air," she says, getting up, "A breath of it before it's time to sleep."
06[20:08] * Alicia suspects it's more than that, but is happy enough to play along. "Alright," she nods, getting up as well. "We'll be back shortly," she assures everyone else, heading out with Antenora.
[20:10] <Kotono> Antenora goes out back, going to sit on a pile of wood. She turns her gaze up to the starry night sky, winter's cold gusting about. A little bit of snow lingers in shaded places, dotted about like tiny hordes of snowy treasure. After a few moments of studying the sky, "You look like you bit into a lemon every time Malcanthet's name was mentioned. I just want to let you know that I won't let anyone from Malcanthet's realm interfere with us
[20:10] <Kotono> I just want to let you know that I won't let anyone from Malcanthet's realm interfere with us or get close to you, no matter what agenda they pursue."
03[20:13] * Aya (~Laggy@64-71-1-82.static.wiline.com) has joined #evildunes
03[20:13] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Aya
02[20:14] * Laggy (~Laggy@64-71-1-82.static.wiline.com) Quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Aya))
03[20:14] * Aya is now known as Laggy
[20:14] <Alicia> "Am I that transparent?" Alicia asks, leaning against the garden wall and letting her wings dangle over it. "Hopefully it won't come to anything - I know what Lord Saul said, but the Neverborn seems to have has thrown itself fully behind Pale Night. I can't see Malcanthet wanting to risk entangling herself with another demon queen if she gets involved."
[20:17] <Kotono> "I can tell," With a murmur as soft as a cloud's breath, Antenora turns to gaze onto Alicia, "I can see Malcanthet meddling. It is her spawn, and she may see a chance for power, Pale Night be damned. But I'm hardly an unbiased judge." Going to stand and approaching Alicia, settling right next to her in the same posture, "I won't let you be hurt, I won't let you be tempted...and Mystra help me, I won't let them turn you into some sort of su
[20:17] <Kotono> I won't let you be tempted...and Mystra help me, I won't let them turn you into some sort of succubus thrall. Even if I end up having to face Malcanthet herself."
[20:20] <Alicia> "Hmph. If she sends Ebony then I might not actually be too upset for a chance to get some payback there," Alicia admits, looking upwards to the clear sky above. "Between Marie and Latha we shouldn't have to worry too much about enchantments, anyway."
[20:22] <Kotono> Antenora follows Alicia's gaze, thew intry sky full of tiny starlights. "Ebony can die. But if another comes..." Antneora looks to Alicia, "I'll be ready. If you need anything of me to help with this, ask it and I'll do it for you."
[20:26] <Alicia> Since Antenora's hinting so blatantly, Alicia finally consents to address the elephant in the room. "If I run into G'renna then I won't fight her unless I have to. Even if her intentions weren't pure as the driven snow, she went out of her way to help me, and I have to respect that. I don't know if there's really any goodness inside of her, but it's more than I've seen from any other demon."
[20:30] <Kotono> "What if she offers to change herself, in exchange for your bed? What if she offers some other honeyed bargain that sounds oh so tempting and reasonable?" Antenora looks to Alicia's face, "Alicia. I beg of you, take these words to heart. When a demon, devil...any of the ones below do that, it's only a way to worm closer to claiming your immortal soul. If I had thought carnal pleasure would have claimed you, I would have done it. If riches
[20:30] <Kotono> If I had thought carnal pleasure would have claimed you, I would have done it. If riches would have swayed you, you would be a mogul now. If power was your game, you would rule this world. For a pure soul as yours, nothing is too much to offer. Once fallen, the terror you would make in the Abyss..."
[20:34] <Alicia> "Please, Antenora, give me a little credit," Alicia turns to regard her friend. "I'm not that naive. Just because I have qualms about chopping the head off of someone who helped me in the past, doesn't mean I'm inclined to throw my life away for her good graces."
[20:36] <Kotono> "Then why do you look so worried whenever anyone says Malcanthet," Antenora's voice is rising, heat coming from it. "I remember how you were, Alicia. They got to you, more than you want to admit to anyone else."
06[20:43] * Alicia sighs and looks away, not wanting to admit this, part of her thinking it's entirely right and the other that it's entirely wrong. "I don't want to have to kill G'renna, but if we meet again I probably will. Her loyalty to Malcanthet will overrule whatever fragile understanding we reached, and I'll have no choice but to stand against her. That's why I don't want to ever see her again."
[20:45] <Kotono> "You're fond of her." Antenora's voice is softening a little, taking a long breath before she speaks. "Do you..." She asks, "Is that what hurts you so inside, the fear of that?"
[20:52] <Alicia> "This is supposed to be a secret, but I managed to become fond of you long before any of the things I tried to teach you sank in," Alicia admits, leaning towards Antenora and lowering her voice. "Had you lived down to my initial expectations and fears, I'd have hunted you down and painfully returned you to Hell. I'd have done it, but it would have killed me inside."
[20:52] <Alicia> She straightens up once more, "So I appreciate it that you spared us both such a difficult experience, but I doubt G'renna would be so accomodating."
[20:54] <Kotono> Antenora's quiet for a long time at that. She just looks to the sky, at last sighing. "I understand, Alicia. Gods help me, I do. I became fond of you before I even considered truly changing my ways." She kicks at the ground, kicking at it, "Does she feel the same way about you, do you think? Is there any shreds of real feeling there, or just demonic manipulation and lusts?"
06[20:58] * Alicia shrugs helplessly. "She's of a breed known for being consumnate manipulators, and is an exemplar of all any succubus could aspire to be. She openly boasted of previous conquests, and yet still somehow I got the sense she considered me differently. But that could simply be part of her manipulative charm."
[20:58] <Alicia> "I really don't know, Antenora," she shakes her head. "But if it were to be tested, I expect I'd be disappointed."
[21:01] <Kotono> Antenora goes over, putting her arm around Alicia. She's quiet after that, letting thew ords linger in your hearts and minds. "As much as I loathe demons, if you think there's a chance she could be changed..." She looks away, "What the hell could I do? Kill her? I'd be a hypocrit of the worst sort. But to imagine her worming into your graces...I..." Antenora sighs again. "I can't stomach the thought of a succubus being that close to you. D
[21:01] <Kotono> "I can't stomach the thought of a succubus being that close to you. Damn it..." With utter disgust in her voice, "Mystra, you would think I would have the wisdom to put aside the emnity of the Blood War and the hate of chaos if there was hope for her, but even with that, I just can't."
[21:03] <Alicia> "It's alright, Antenora, really," Alicia pats her back, "She's a succubus. Of *course* it's right to be suspicious - we'd be utter fools not to be." Deciding a subject change is in order since this isn't really going anywhere, she puts on a mischevious smile and continues, "On the other hand, I did offer to get you a marilith one time, didn't I?"
[21:04] <Kotono> Antenora just looks down for a time, a weak smile. "I'd rather have Marie, anyway. She's more fun than a marilith could ever be."
[21:06] <Alicia> "She is, isn't she?" Alicia agrees, all the mariliths she's met having been rather disagreeable types. "It'll be nice to bring her along on this one, too, I think. She's been housebound too long."
[21:07] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmmm." Antenora looks back up at the sky, "Alicia? Can I ask you one more thing?"
06[21:08] * Alicia nods absently, wondering what else is on her mind.
[21:10] <Kotono> "If G'Renna offered to reform earnestly, would you take the risk with her, even knowing how I feel?" Antenora's voice is very soft, blending into the night breeze.
[21:14] <Alicia> Why does it sound like she's being asked to choose? Still, like Antenora herself said, it would be immensely hypocritical to refuse. "I couldn't refuse if someone offered that, even if I thought they were full of it. But it wouldn't be pleasant, as you well know," Alicia replies seriously.
[21:16] <Kotono> "I know." Antenora's gaze is distant, letting another silence form. "I don't want to lose you. I never told anyone, but after you got home, I..." Antenora looks down, "I was worried. I was worried that you'd run back into the Abyss, never to be seen again. It would kill me inside. The thought of chaos taking you away..."
[21:19] <Alicia> "That won't happen," Alicia swears. "I was very vulnerable that time, and barely understood what was being done to me. Now I'm forewarned, as Latha says, my body is sanctified, and my magic is sufficient to flee the Abyss with only a word."
[21:21] <Kotono> Finally starting to smile, a weak one that looks like it could slip away, "Praise Mystra. If you need or want anything...I'm there." Antenora looks Alicia in the eyes, "No matter when, what or at what price."
[21:23] <Alicia> "I know I can count on you, Antenora," Alicia acknowledges her friend's steadfast and uncompromising support with a smile of her own. "But I don't intend to place you into a position where you have to pay a price on my behalf."
[21:27] <Kotono> "If it does come to that, I'll pay it without a cloud in my heart." Antenora kneels before Alicia, "You are my superior, my savior and my best friend. I would fall into Hell again to save you. I love you with my heart and soul and always will, until the end of time. Also, I know you'd do the same for me if you had to."
06[21:28] * Alicia looks a bit embarrassed, taking Antenora's hand and pulling her upright. "I would. Because we're friends," she affirms quickly and uncomfortably. "So you really don't have to kneel before me."
[21:29] <Kotono> "Alicia." Antenora chuckles, "Love isn't a dirty word. Besides, you'd be off the market if I wanted you like that. I love - as a friend."
[21:30] <Kotono> Antenora then rises, going up with Alicia.
[21:32] <Alicia> "It's the kneeling, not the love that makes me uncomfortable," Alicia explains, shaking her head. "I'm not your Queen, Antenora."
[21:36] <Kotono> "Alicia..." Antenora begins, before shaking her head with a smile. "Never mind it...though..." With a thought, "Is G'renna why you're so uncomfortable with anything close to that?"
06[21:39] * Alicia rolls her eyes. "No, I didn't see anything sexual in your kneeling, but thanks for putting that image in my mind," she replies exasparatedly.
[21:40] <Kotono> "Not what I meant." Starting to smile a little warmer now, "A female succubus DID traumatize you rather throughly."
[21:42] <Alicia> "I got better," Alicia shows a smile of her own. "Now come on, the others are probably wondering about us - lets go back inside?"
[21:44] <Kotono> "Let's," Antenora goes, following Alicia along. "After all, Marie has a dirty mind. She'll be wondering all sorts of sordid things. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
[20:55] <Kotoro> ---
[20:55] <Kotoro> Ooof! Abruptly Seira finds herself in a forest, the Abyss gone! It's dark and sunset-y here, red sunlight coming down. The air is clean, fresh, un-Abyss tainted.
01[20:57] <Seira> "Undo it!" Seira demands as soon as she gets over her disorientation, and puts two and two together. That damn, cheating balor! Now, all she can do is place her faith in the wish imbued with Lagann, and hope its power is enough to undo this single, terrible event.
[21:00] <Kotoro> OOC: What are you trying here? Limited wish for...? Clarify exactly.
01[21:01] <Seira> OOC: Wishes can literally undo misfortune and transport people wherever. Limited Wishes can undo the harmful effects of spells, so I was hoping it could undo this or give me a reroll.
[21:03] <Kotoro> OOC: I'll give you a caster level check against Lsyscrea's caster level, say. I'm not quite sure how to handle this offhand but it seems like a fair enough method for the moment.
05[21:03] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:03] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[21:04] <Seira> roll 1d20+18 I'd like to use the +10 ignorance bonus here as well, if you'll let me
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 I'd like to use the +10 ignorance bonus here as well, if you'll let me and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[21:05] <Kotoro> OOC: Okay, assuming it says any check.
[21:05] <Kotoro> roll 1d20+22
06[21:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotoro rolls 1d20+22 and gets 32." [1d20=10]
01[21:05] <Seira> OOC: Good thing I did!
[21:06] <Kotoro> OOC: By the way, for this one(do it now) and in the future, write up your wish. Don't make it over technical/hedging or it'll autofail, but I want to hear in your words what you're diong to do IC with them. This appiles to you as well for yours, 'licia.
01[21:07] <Seira> Lacking in imagination as Lagann is in anything not having to do with metal, Seira aligns her mind with his, calling upon the arcane might to reshape reality, and uncast the vile magic used so cowardly on her!
[21:11] <Kotoro> For a moment reality twists on itself, Seira feeling her body weaken...but in an instant, then...OOC: Back to #dunes in a few.
[21:39] <Kokokokokoko> ----
[21:39] <Kokokokokoko> Okay, prep up spells first. Are you going to visit Neve alone or...?
03[21:39] * Kokokokokoko is now known as Kotono
03[21:39] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Kotono
01[21:43] <Seira> Okay. I want to take Abby along, and my spells would be greater teleport+limited wish for lvl7, superior resistance +2 blank slots for lvl6, and as posted for lvl0-5.
[21:44] <Kotono> Okay.
01[21:44] <Seira> If the elven rod wasn't returned by Abby yet, we'll return it as we go
[21:44] <Kotono> Okay.
01[21:44] <Seira> I mean, I asked her to, but she might not have had the time. Anyway, that's about it.
[21:44] <Kotono> Are you using regular or greater TPs over there?
01[21:45] <Seira> Greater TP to get there, we'll see re: return
03[21:48] * Laggy (~Laggy@64-71-1-82.static.wiline.com) has left #evildunes
[21:48] <Kotono> Where are you TPing to?
01[21:49] <Seira> The entrance
01[21:50] <Seira> With heroism precast
[21:50] <Kotono> Wooosh! The air is thin and the cold bitter as the two appear at the entrance to the silver dragon's lair. Abagail grimaces, "The cold is still damnable here," she shivers, rubbing her arms.
01[21:52] <Seira> "I doubt we'll be staying long enough that it's an issue," Seira tells her, before raising her voice. "Neve! There's something I need to speak to you about."
[21:52] <Kotono> No immediate reply.
01[21:53] <Seira> She might not be there, but on the off chance she's somewhere, hiding, Seira decides to see whether Neve's unique fur coat is anywhere within her range of detection.
[21:54] <Kotono> OOC: How far is your range?
01[21:55] <Seira> OOC: 1160ft
[21:57] <Kotono> Neve is above and outsider, Seira can detect.
[21:57] <Kotono> *outside
01[21:59] <Seira> "I'll take us there?" Seira offers, deciding to fly up to Neve rather than attempt a short-range teleport that might not go over too well.
01[21:59] <Seira> *take us to her
[22:01] <Kotono> As you take a shivering Abagail up, Seira ascends! In a little rocky crevice in the mountain above, you find Neve's fur coat. It lies there tucked between the rocks, yet there is no sign of Neve nearby.
06[22:02] * Seira spends a moment staring at it curiously, estimating how long the coat had been lying there.
[22:03] <Kotono> There's a bit of snow atop it but not too much. The coat is folded strangely - none of the interior can be seen, only the furry exterior.
06[22:05] * Seira frowns, but finds a spot where they wouldn't immediately freeze to death, and then casts a Sending with Neve as the recipient.
01[22:08] <Seira> 'I came to talk with you about an important matter regarding us both. Are you home? Can you meet me at the entrance?'
[22:09] <Kotono> Seira sends the Sending! There is no reply. As Abagail shivers bitterly, her lips turning blue, "A-a-anything?"
06[22:10] * Seira shakes her head to the negative. "Under the circumstances, we should look at the coat," she says, doing as much.
[22:11] <Kotono> "To wear it?" Abagail says with open hope, "This c-cold is completely uncivilized. Don't you have the means to protect from the elements, Seira?"
01[22:12] <Seira> "To see whether it was folded this way for a reason," Seira responds. "If this fails, we'll do something about the cold or just leave."
[22:14] <Kotono> The interior of the coat is stained. Written in icy blue in the center is the following, "I once heard a story that creatures called snakes shed their skin and leave it behind. That's a preposterous story. Isn't it?" Then, below that, "Then again, what does a one eyed near zombie have here?" Below even that, at the bottom hem of the jacket, "It was a good vacation to the east, wasn't it?"
06[22:17] * Seira drops it back, standing up abruptly. "We're returning for now," she states. "I'll take us to the capital of Pallanth. You could teleport us back home from there, correct?"
[22:17] <Kotono> Abagail reads over Seira's shoulder, "...you don't think she...?" Amid her shivers, "Seira?"
01[22:19] <Seira> "I don't know," Seira admits. "You're right. This is why I brought you. I need someone to think straight when it comes to her." She takes our a pair of scrolls of Endure Elements, and hands one over to Abagail. "Let's see if she went back, as this implies? She couldn't have gotten far, going by the snow."
[22:21] <Kotono> Abagail immediately casts, her shivering stopping. With a momentary smile of utter relief, rubbing her fingers and forearms, "Sorry, run your ideas by me? My mind was concentrating on not turning into a solid block of ice."
01[22:22] <Seira> "She tried to return to where she came from," Seira says slowly. "That's what I think it means. Except she can't, since there is an all-encomassing barrier in that direction. If we head after her, we might be able to catch up to Neve."
[22:23] <Kotono> "Maybe." Goign to rub her shoulders together now, "Is there any better way to find her than blindly open? A dweomer that can speed this up? If speed is important..."
[22:24] <Kotono> *blindly go. Weird typo.
01[22:25] <Seira> "I don't have a large mirror to scry for her with. Amaryl might have been able to track her, but I can't really bring her here until the next day at the earliest." Seira looks miserable. "I don't know. This isn't what I expected to see when coming to warn her and remove the curses upon her."
[22:26] <Kotono> Abagail considers a few moments, "Maybe she wanted a fresh start after all of what happened with you? Like selling a summer residence that a loved one dies in and buying a nicer one after."
01[22:30] <Seira> "I'll try to find out, then," Seira decides, memorizing another Sending and then directing it to Neve once more, the message being, 'I was wrong. I won't apologize, but I intend to restore you to how you were. I'll return in a week.'
[22:33] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check?
01[22:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+37 okay
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+37 okay and gets 40." [1d20=3]
[22:35] <Kotono> There is no reply. Abagail watches throughout, resting and breathing deep anda little rapidly. "Is it possible she's..." Abagail trails off again, "Be it of her own volition or another creature or accident?"
01[22:38] <Seira> "I don't know. I can't tell, if she's not talking to me," Seira says, though she's calmed down by now. "We are returning. If you can allot the time for it, I would like you to scry for her daily. Since we still have some of Neve's blood for exactly this purpose, even if the reasoning behind it was different, you might be met with success and answer that question, at least."
[22:38] <Kotono> "I'll do the first one today," Abagail agrees, "I can spare an hour for this."
06[22:39] * Seira nods, and takes hold of Abagail's arm, focusing on a frozen elven village serving as their rest point.
01[22:39] <Seira> roll 1d100 ring
06[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 ring and gets 49." [1d100=49]
[22:39] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and roll your TPs.
01[22:39] <Seira> roll 1d200 limited wish to TP to the Citadel
06[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d200 limited wish to TP to the Citadel and gets 80." [1d200=80]
[22:39] <Kotono> OOC: d200?
01[22:40] <Seira> OOC: Typo.
01[22:40] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 53." [1d100=53]
[22:40] <Kotono> OOC: Stopping there?
06[22:41] * Seira intends to report to the elven council about what they have discovered about the nature of their enemy and Celebrimbor's fate, after which she would focus on opening a path from the Citadel to Balmuria, by way of the temple of Helm.
[22:42] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, for the sake of making sure you get everything done in order befor eyo ugo, we'll skip over yet another infodump. Okay.
[18:35] <Kotono_Ibis> ---
[18:35] <Kotono_Ibis> Okay Seira, what' son your agenda here?
01[18:36] <Yomi> Slightly adjust my spell list, then scry and such. I assume my fourth permanent TP circle went off without a hitch?
01[18:36] <Yomi> Citadel->Temple of Helm
03[18:37] * Yomi is now known as Seira
03[18:37] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[18:37] <Kotono_Ibis> Yeah, nothing apocalyptic happened.
01[18:37] <Seira> Edits to the posted spell list: Helical Mirage->Resist Energy, Heroism->MCaE, Greater Invisibility->Voice of the Dragon, Greater Mirror Image x2->blank, GMW->Scrying, Empowered Flame Whips->Greater Heroism, Twinned Ray of Dizziness/Twinned Melf's Unicorn Arrow->Greater Teleport x2
[18:37] <Kotono_Ibis> Okay.
[18:37] <Kotono_Ibis> For reference, what are the curses you put on Neve?
01[18:39] <Seira> Bestow Curse: -4 penalty, -6 decrease to con, -6 decrease to cha, each turn/50%. The last one was removed when she was released.
[18:39] <Kotono_Ibis> Okay.
01[18:39] <Seira> I'm pretty sure it was con and cha, anyway.
[18:39] <Kotono_Ibis> Just making sure I had them straight.
01[18:39] <Seira> So she should have a -14/-19 penalty to the roll, depending on how well I'm considered to know her
[18:40] <Kotono_Ibis> Okay, go ahead and make the relevant rolls for scrying?
01[18:40] <Seira> roll 1d20+18 SR
06[18:40] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 SR and gets 19." [1d20=1]
01[18:41] <Seira> Abby can try, I guess. If she fails, I'll do something else today and try again tomorrow.
[18:41] <Kotono_Ibis> Seira spends an hour and promptly realizes her spell was resisted. A 1? Again? Really?
[18:41] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+11
06[18:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+11 and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[18:42] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+12 (-10 body part) will
06[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+12 (-10 body part) will and gets 14." [1d20=2]
[18:42] <Kotono_Ibis> ---
[18:43] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Forgot the -4 for curse but with a 2 it's irrelevant.
[18:44] <Kotono_Ibis> After Seira's spell fizzles, Abagail spends an hour casting. The two stand by a polished silver mirror, watching as reality comes into form. You see a glinting, glacial view. Ice caves, perhaps? Pure, solid ice. Within one Neve lies, wearing a slightly darker fur coat and leaning against a icewall. She is eating what looks to be frozen meat and broken up ice.
06[18:46] * Seira breathes out a sigh of relief. "She wasn't abducted or worse. That's good." She spends a few moments just observing Neve, before casting her preparatory spells in order, extending their duration whenever possible.
01[18:46] <Seira> "Would you like to come along, or stay here and watch?" Seira then asks Abagail, when she feels ready to proceed. "If you use Message on me, we should be able to remain in contact either way."
01[18:48] <Seira> OOC: Extended MCaE, Extended Resist Energy/Cold, Voice of the Dragon, Greater Heroism.
[18:48] <Kotono_Ibis> Abagail watches, "Frozen dinner?" With a sidelong look at Seira, "I thought Message didn't extend that far?"
[18:48] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Okay.
01[18:48] <Seira> "No, but it works through the scrying spell."
[18:48] <Kotono_Ibis> Thus Abagail nods and casts Message!
[18:48] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d100
06[18:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d100 and gets 25." [1d100=25]
01[18:50] <Seira> "You should be able to read the situation even without it, given this," Seira adds, gesturing at the massive mirror used as a medium for the scrying process. "I might need your help, here, so stay sharp." And then, taking a deep breath and schooling her features, Seira teleports to the outer edge of the scrying spell, the farthest she can manage from Neve.
[18:51] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Scrying only sees 10ft around the sensor, do bear in mind.
01[18:51] <Seira> OOC: It's so I don't land in her lap
[18:54] <Kotono_Ibis> Woosh! So Seira appears. She stands inside pure ice - the walls are ice, everything is frozen. Neve sits against a wall, eating some sort of frozen meat. Her gaze barely breaks away as Seira appears, her breath misting in the air. "How abrupt. The great archmage can't be bothered with common courtesy?" Neve's good eye stares at Seira, a strip of fur over and covering her empty eye socket.
01[18:55] <Seira> "You didn't get my Sendings?" Seira asks, taking a look around. Should there be a conveniently empty spot of wall opposite of Neve, she would claim it for herself to sit facing the fey. "In any case, I was worried that the demons got you, so I decided to forego the week and scried for you."
[18:57] <Kotono_Ibis> Neve's mono-eyed gaze settles onto Seira as she sits next to her. "What do you want now?"
06[19:01] * Seira nods curtly. "I would like you to listen. We didn't understand each other that well before, and it bothers me a lot, but that aside, I'm sure you realize I wouldn't have done this without a very good reason. There has been a series of attacks on our world by demons and liches.
01[19:02] <Seira> The latter hit uncomfortably, too close to home. I felt terrible, thinking that a fate worse than death claimed you again, and that was when I was forced to reevaluate what I have done." Seira sighs. "I'm not sure why, but you happen to be among the very few matters in the world I can't react to objectively.
01[19:02] <Seira> Still, because I've made mistakes and hurt us both, does it mean I just give up and leave you to fend for yourself if they decide to come after you, as they have for every strong, worthy being on Prime?"
[19:07] <Kotono_Ibis> "At first I thought you were a fool. Now I know better," Neve tosses her food aside, standing up. "You're a devil. Oh no, demons and liches are coming for me! I'll make you better, but you'd better do what I say now! I've had long enough to stew in my curses and losses, surely I'll come groveling back at a chance to be made whole, no matter what flimsy excuse you have for it?"
01[19:09] <Seira> "And yet, I didn't ask you for anything. First, I wanted to warn you, and I did. Next, I will remove the curses, so that you have a real chance if they do come for you. There is nothing past it."
[19:10] <Kotono_Ibis> Neve watches Seira with silent chilliness. "Do it then."
06[19:11] * Seira nods once more, and takes out her spellbook. "I'll need about a quarter of an hour to acquire the right spells. If you would like to use that time to finish your breakfast, we would both be ready by that time."
[19:12] <Kotono_Ibis> Neve seems content to watch Seira quietly, not offering conversation but simply waiting. OOC: You can go ahead if you like.
06[19:14] * Seira calms herself, opening her mind to the arcane as she settles into her meditation, memorizing the spell she needs to break a curse upon Neve. Once she is done, Seira puts her spellbook away, and stands up, approaching the fey. "You will need to relax as much as you are able. I can't really make the situation any less difficult between us as is."
[19:14] <Kotono_Ibis> Neve crosses her arms but after a moment she nods. "Very well."
06[19:16] * Seira nods herself, unwilling to force a cure on someone even if it is within her power. She first undoes the chains on Neve's magnetic personality, before following up with her health, and culminating with removing the last, most insidious of the curses upon her. Taking a few steps back, she observes Neve silently.
[19:17] <Kotono_Ibis> Neve's posture grows stronger. There is a different gleaming in her eye, her shoulders held higher. "...mph. Thechains of magic are indeed gone." Neve admits.
01[19:19] <Seira> "I'm not at the stage where I could heal your eye," Seira admits, "but I do have the right contacts. It's only gold, so I'll secure the necessary scroll. However, the emergency situation back home truly is dire, so that might take time. Perhaps only a week. Perhaps longer. I apologize, but my duties to those I am sworn to protect limit my ability to act independantly at such a time."
[19:22] <Kotono_Ibis> "So be it." Neve's gaze is distant, chilly and frozen. "Demons and liches, hm?"
01[19:25] <Seira> "If you see or hear of doll-faced demons, just do your best to avoid them, for Pale Night's servants never travel alone," Seira tells Neve, brushing bits of snow off her clothing in preparation of returning.
[19:26] <Kotono_Ibis> "They don't? Very well." Neve merely nods, expression unchanging.
06[19:28] * Seira gives Neve one last look, before she nods as well and teleports over to the mountain where she left the Roc to form a nest for itself.
01[19:29] <Seira> OOC: Greater TP again
[19:32] <Kotono_Ibis> Woosh! Seira appears in the Galkass Mountains, the chilly air whirling about her. The sky is cloudy and hazy, sharp winds blowing about.
06[19:34] * Seira is more than protected from chill, not even giving the weather a second thought. Instead, she looks for any telltale signs of the creature she had befriended previously.
[19:34] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Going to basically look around for the birdie?
01[19:42] <Seira> OOC: Sorry! Yes. Or signs of nests.
[19:43] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Make a search check?
01[19:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+34
06[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+34 and gets 53." [1d20=19]
[19:45] <Kotono_Ibis> Seira follows a trail of feathers, coming to a high peak. Atop this peak nests the great roc seen before. The chill sunshine shines down on the majestic bird as it surveys all the mountains from its lofty perch.
01[19:47] <Seira> "Hello again, Roc," Seira greets it. "I've heard of the great exodus of the lizards from these mountains, so it is not too much to hope that you have been doing well?"
[19:47] <Kotono_Ibis> From above the great bird looks down. It speaks in the words of the wind, "I have hunted well."
06[19:48] * Seira reciprocates, quite naturally. "My appreciation. I lost a very dear friend to those things, once upon a time."
[19:50] <Kotono_Ibis> "They hide in the stone from my pussiance and wrath. Let them be eaten."
06[19:54] * Seira smiles at the nice thought of shocker lizards cowering before their inevitable doom. "I have come today with a request," she says, however, getting back to the reason for her visit. "There have been attacks on our city and those of our allies. Cowardly attacks that came without warning or reason, guided by demons and their ilk.
01[19:54] <Seira> Would you concent to lending your strength to our defense? Even if no further attacks come, our citizens would be, without a doubt, reassured to see you in our midst." Once they were prepared for the idea, of course, Seira doesn't add.
[19:57] <Kotono_Ibis> "I am willing, for I owe you a debt. However, is it not your Lady's words that nothing is for free? A quantity of human coin could be useful and proper compensation."
01[19:59] <Seira> "I was prepared to negotiate proper compensation," Seira agrees, having expected as much. "But if I might ask, what value is gold to you? Only dragons collect gold for gold's sake. Any other being I have come across thus far merely sees gold as a means to acquiring that which they truly wish to possess."
03[19:59] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5447166e.wfd83a.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[19:59] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:00] <Kotono_Ibis> "It is a useful tool and many value it for it's wealth. That is why."
01[20:01] <Seira> There is quite a bit Seira wants to ask. Such as where the Roc intends to spend his gold, or which store owner would even understand Auran enough to negotiate for purchases. Instead, she merely inclines her head. "A suitable reason to satisfy my curiousity. What sort of rate did you have in mind?"
[20:02] <Kotono_Ibis> "A human may work for a single circle of gold. I am worth at least a thousand humans, so a thousand gold coins."
06[20:04] * Seira inclines her head once more. "The terms you have specified are acceptable. I would consider our oral agreement a binding contract, but if you wish for one, I could produce a written contract instead and give you a copy to keep."
[20:05] <Kotono_Ibis> "Your word will do."
01[20:06] <Seira> "As will yours," Seira tells the Roc with a bright smile, before trying to get in touch with Amaryl, asking mentally, 'Are you busy?'
[20:07] <Kotono_Ibis> 'Only a little - I'm taking a bath,' Amaryl sends back, 'What's going on, Seira?'
06[20:09] * Seira takes a long moment to respond. 'Hmm? Ah, right. I talked to the Roc and we've reached an agreement. He will aid us in return for a fee, which is of a thousand golden coins. I can handle that, so all we really need right now is for the Commander to decide where Roc's services would be most needed, and to prepare the populace. I was thinking of Valandia, myself.'
[20:10] <Kotono_Ibis> 'I can go talk to him...hold on, let me get out.' There's a pause of several moments, then, 'Or send Donald to do it.'
01[20:11] <Seira> 'That's what Donald's for! No need to rush, take your time,' Seira relates happily.
[20:12] <Kotono_Ibis> 'Okay. When will you be back home?'
01[20:14] <Seira> 'Probably too late to join you, but what do you think about a short trip to Astral afterwards? I had an idea about something I could do to better myself.' Or die trying, it goes without saying.
[20:14] <Kotono_Ibis> 'I'll be ready,' Amaryl sends back, 'Whenever you are.'
01[20:15] <Seira> 'Thanks,' Seira thinks, settling to wait as she fills the Roc in on recent events that are common knowledge in the Baronies, making small talk.
[20:15] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Killing time or going somewhere with this, by the by?
01[20:16] <Seira> OOC: Just want Obi to decide where the Roc will go and guide him there/give directions. This can happen off screen.
[20:18] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Easily enough done. Okay, going to meet up with Amaryl?
01[20:19] <Seira> OOC: Yeah
[20:20] <Kotono_Ibis> Amaryl and Seira meet in their private quarters. Amaryl is dressed and ready to go to battle, "There's little rest when everything is on the line, no?"
01[20:21] <Seira> "Unless you count all the time we spend out of battle, just going somewhere or waiting," Seira responds with a smirk. "Let's go grab Abagail, and I'll run my plans by you two. If there's anything stupid, I'm hoping you'll catch it and stop me."
[20:24] <Kotono_Ibis> Amaryl leans in and gives Seira a light kiss right on the lips. "Promise I will." With that the three meet in the garrison, a quiet room put aside. Abagail sits primly in a high wooden backed seat, while Amaryl sinks into her own, hands in her lap. "Well then?" Abagail asks, "What's your grand plan?"
01[20:28] <Seira> "We were considering heading into the ruins to seek further blessing from our patron deities in a manner that would not harm the restrictions placed upon all parties," Seira begins her perhaps unnecessarily officious explanation. "The idea is that if they act too much, the other side gets a wedge in.
01[20:28] <Seira> Unrelated to this, I wished to take this chance to get as much done, as much built here on this world while I still had the chance. One of those things I wished to mend was the gate to the Plane of Water, which required me to head to Astral.
01[20:28] <Seira> But when I thought of those two ideas together, I realized that Waukeen had already opened a path for me by bequesting me to seek out the red dragons of Astral to gain her approval. If I need the strength to challenge Pale Night's servants and allies, it might well lie there."
[20:30] <Kotono_Ibis> "Dragons? Plural?" Abagail cocks an eyebrow up, "That sounds deleriously dangerous. A single dragon is enough to put your life in danger, multiple is suicidal."
01[20:31] <Seira> "That would not change, even if I became as powerful as possible as a mortal," Seira points out. "All that would, in fact, change is how many of the dragons I could put down before being slain myself. Therefore, I have theorized that Waukeen does not wish me to battle a draconic horde, but to accomplish a different task."
[20:33] <Kotono_Ibis> "What's the task then?" Amaryl quietly asks, "Seira..." Shaking her head, "A group of reclusive red dragons, what goal is to be found there?"
01[20:36] <Seira> "This was back when I still held onto my preconceptions of how dragons of certain types are beholden to their supposed natures," Seira responds, frowning. "The single example of Ajan aside, of course, and he was bound and could possibly have been lying about certain matters.
01[20:36] <Seira> I remember asking Waukeen if I could affect the red dragons the way they wished to affect me, and turn them around. Since I was told I could try... also, Waukeen can't possibly want me to commit genocide to prove myself. Maybe she wants to see if I can approach the dragons and negotiate with them, before leaving the group alive?"
[20:38] <Kotono_Ibis> "That...that makes sense," Abagail says after some squinty-eyed thought, narrowing in on Seira. "Waukeen's a trade goddess. Negotionation and diplomacy are her calling cards. Certainly she may understand the need for strength at arms, but it's not her nature."
01[20:41] <Seira> "Plus the red dragons aren't harming anyone!" Seira agrees, fervently hoping this is indeed the case. But wouldn't they have heard about it in their travels? She shakes her head. "It must be a trial Waukeen has placed before me, and I might discover its next part as I embark. Or I might not realize a single thing until after I've returned."
01[20:41] <Seira> If I return. "So the questions here are, really, is this a foolish idea, and if not, what should I do to prepare myself before setting out on this quest?"
[20:45] <Kotono_Ibis> "It's a large risk. If the dragons are hostile, can you get out of there in one piece?" Abagail puts her hands together, "Where in the Astral is it? If you have confidence in yourself and in Waukeen, I'd try."
01[20:47] <Seira> "It really depends on magic working for me or against me," Seira admits. "If I see the sign of hostility, I can command Lagann to get me away. Unfortunately, if planar travel of any kind is forbidden in the area where they stay, he would be unable to protect me in this way. And, of course, this doesn't even account for the slim possibility of being attacked on sight or ambushed."
[19:07] <Kotono> > "That...that makes sense," Abagail says after some squinty-eyed thought, narrowing in on Seira. "Waukeen's a trade goddess. Negotionation and diplomacy are her calling cards. Certainly she may understand the need for strength at arms, but it's not her nature."
[19:07] <Kotono> <Seira> "Plus the red dragons aren't harming anyone!" Seira agrees, fervently hoping this is indeed the case. But wouldn't they have heard about it in their travels? She shakes her head. "It must be a trial Waukeen has placed before me, and I might discover its next part as I embark. Or I might not realize a single thing until after I've returned."
[19:07] <Kotono> <Seira> If I return. "So the questions here are, really, is this a foolish idea, and if not, what should I do to prepare myself before setting out on this quest?"
[19:07] <Kotono> > "It's a large risk. If the dragons are hostile, can you get out of there in one piece?" Abagail puts her hands together, "Where in the Astral is it? If you have confidence in yourself and in Waukeen, I'd try."
[19:07] <Kotono> <Seira> "It really depends on magic working for me or against me," Seira admits. "If I see the sign of hostility, I can command Lagann to get me away. Unfortunately, if planar travel of any kind is forbidden in the area where they stay, he would be unable to protect me in this way. And, of course, this doesn't even account for the slim possibility of being attacked on sight or ambushed."
[19:08] <Kotono> "Dragons are all highly skilled with magic, yes?" Abagail considers as she ponders this, voice speculative. "I would imagine they'd have the best wards and protections around a signifigant group lair or site of importance that they could have. The chances of being able to shift or teleport out of it...not good. Not good at all."
01[19:09] <Seira> "Would you normally do that?" Seira wonders. "Teleporting through Astral often has no meaning, so why ward against it?"
[19:12] <Kotono> "I don't know. It depends on how the dragons think. How do dragons think," Looking right at Seira, "Aren't they reclusive?"
01[19:15] <Seira> "So you're thinking they're paranoid enough to prepare for everything?" Seira shrugs. "I suppose they had the time for it, if so. But it would be pretty nasty of them to let me in unchallenged, and only then to try and kill me. If their hostile intentions are shown clearly as I approach, I might be able to escape yet."
[19:16] <Kotono> "It would be nasty. It would also be intelligent to lure you in and then crush you en masse. If they want you dead, I can hardly think of a better way," Abagail smirks a little, "Besides, aren't most dragons arrogant in regards to us? They see us as lesser beings, at least according to the studies?"
06[19:18] * Seira can't really argue with that. "It would show far more cunning and trepidation towards said lesser beings than anything we've seen so far of the dragons we came across, but again, that hardly means it can't happen," she agrees.
[19:19] <Kotono> "Besides, it may not be you they fear, but what about other dragons or immortals?" Abagail nods along, "I'd be as well prepared as possible and have a few powerful outs."
01[19:21] <Seira> "Any idea if there's a spell that breaks through dimensional anchoring, even if only temporarily?" Seira asks next, wondering whether Wish in any of its forms might be able to accomplish that task.
[19:24] <Kotono> "None that I know of," Abagail answers offhand.
06[19:27] * Seira considers this some more. "Anti-magic should stop it, but won't let me escape, either. A powerful dispel might suppress the effects, however."
[19:30] <Kotono> "Anti-magic is a double-bladed sword," Amaryl frowns, "Can you defend yourself against giant dragons without magic?"
01[19:34] <Seira> "Surprisingly well!" Seira agrees. "But yes, any direct escape plan would be based on hoping for a strong suppressant of the spell keeping me grounded via Greater Dispel. I'll probably only have one chance at this, too. I certainly hope I don't need to do this at all, however."
06[19:34] * Seira frowns. "We're back to the part where we're considering Waukeen is sending me into mortal peril to either slay red dragons or get eaten. If we work off the negotiations and trade angle, then what could Waukeen expect to gain from me contacting the red dragon horde?"
[19:36] <Kotono> "I don't know...would a red dragon know? Ajan?" Amaryl considers this fo ra time, frowning more as she does. "We're speculating without really knowing what we need to know."
01[19:38] <Seira> "How about we go and see him?" Seira muses, finding herself nodding alongside Amaryl's words. "I could use the chance to introduce you to him, too."
[19:38] <Kotono> "Okay," Amaryl smiles hesitantly, "Waukeen will protect me...I'm sure of it. She made sure I came back to you." Amaryl stands, "Let's go then?"
01[19:42] <Seira> "She likes you a lot, and I can see why," Seira agrees, smiling back with far more confidence. Turning towards Abagail, she asks, "Please help Elle in the near future? She is working on making really impressive ancient orbs of instant communication operational once more, and they could prove invaluable in case of another attack on our allies.
01[19:42] <Seira> Or, alternately, as the means to keep in constant touch with members of the Guard when they're away on matters such as this one."
[19:44] <Kotono> "I am. I'm helping her, working with Eudard, Xavier and the Helmites on defense, consulting with Commander Oberuth..." Abagail leans back in her chair, rubbing her temples. "There's barely enough time to get a full night's rest so I can refresh my magic."
06[19:45] * Seira directs a smile at Abagail as well. "At least we have the best excuse to get one?"
[19:46] <Kotono> OOC: Ready to move along to Ajan now? If so, which way are you taking?
01[19:47] <Seira> OOC: I'll give us water breathing and head through the sea, I think
[19:53] <Kotono> The swim through the sea is chilly and wet, much like the normal winter sea. You pass by forgotten gates and defeated bees, reaching Ajan. He is waiting, staring down at you as you enter. His voice shakes all the firmanents of the earth, "You have returned, Seira..." His burning red eyes settle onto Amaryl, "The touch of Waukeen is with you. You may pass as you please."
01[19:55] <Seira> "Ajan, Amaryl. Amaryl, Ajan," Seira introduces the two, gesturing when is appropriate. Ajan seems to appreciate directness, so she doesn't dawdle. "I have," she proceeds to say. "Our pact calls for me to venture to the Astral to seek out the red dragons there. I find myself unable to delay this much longer. Could you help explain to me just what is happening?"
[19:57] <Kotono> "On what matter?" Ajan rumbles, the scent of smoke filling the chambers, coming from his nostrils. "What has provoked you to challenge them? The actions of the Dark Six?"
06[19:58] * Seira nods. "I feel that if I prove myself before Waukeen in this manner, I would gain her support against the Dark Six, who are directly aided by a Neverborn and Pale Night. Against such odds, I don't believe I can put this off any longer."
03[20:02] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5af2ae8f.tcl126.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:02] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:03] <Kotono> "Proceed to the Astral and seek your destiny, dragon." Ajan snorts, flames leaping out around his eyes. "You have always wanted to be a dragon, no?"
01[20:06] <Seira> Maybe not always, but certainly a key part of her life. "I really don't want you to take this the wrong way, especially given how much you've helped me in the past," she tells Ajan, "but if I'm misinterpreting Waukeen's wishes, I'm likely to die and then I can't succeed in my goals, including the key one of slaying Daa-vid and ending this prison."
06[20:06] * Seira pauses. "From my understanding, seeking the dragons out might result in me becoming one of them, but will my mind still be my own? Will I be allowed to return? Is that what Waukeen has in mind?"
[20:07] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check here, Seira?
05[20:07] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:08] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[20:08] <Seira> roll 1d20+47 still have voice of the dragon up
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+47 still have voice of the dragon up and gets 58." [1d20=11]
[20:09] <Kotono> "What becomes of you on your success or failure will be the ultimate test," Ajan peers down at Seira, "That is the fire that will test your soul and temper your scales. I cannot answer that question, for your own destiny lies in your claws. If you are truly a dragon, you will make your own destiny there, no matter the will of inferior creatures. If you cannot, you will be made or discarded by superior creatures. Such is the way of dragons.
[20:10] <Kotono> superior creatures. Such is the way of dragons."
03[20:12] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
01[20:14] <Seira> "I'm comfortable with having my fate in my own hands, and I fear no tests," Seira says in a measured tone of voice. "Thank you, Ajan. Lack of knowledge is a terrible thing. With no idea what to expect, I worried over having to wage needless battles against the entirety of that clan."
[20:21] <Kotono> Ajan's scaly lips curl up, showing several long, white, sharp tearing teeth. His eyes blaze, burning with crimson fires. "If you must have some knowledge then, know this: For all of a dragon's physical might, it's greatest asset is the powerful mind, intellect and will that drives it. A dragon lacking those is no better than a wild animal."
01[20:22] <Seira> It would be pretty shameful to fail after this, so Seira nods once more. "Thank you once more for your time, Ajan," she tells the wyrm. "I'll be off to seize my destiny, then."
[20:23] <Kotono> Amaryl gulps and bows as well, "T-thank you," she murmurs.
[20:26] <Kotono> "Go. If you succeed and return to the seals, there is still the matter of your servitude to me once all matters are done." Ajan gazes, "Then we shall talk of things, things that you must know."
01[20:27] <Seira> "I have not forgotten of that," Seira agrees, and steps back, before turning around and walking out of the chamber.
[20:29] <Kotono> Once you are walking back with Amaryl and through the first portal, "So it's your will and your mind that's important and not your might?" Amaryl asks aloud.
01[20:31] <Seira> "Might can't be meaningless, but this likely means there is a battle of wits or something along those lines?" Seira ventures. "My preparations could make all the difference, here, though I'm hardly a slouch without them. Still, sounds pretty dangerous. What are you going to do?"
[20:32] <Kotono> As you travel along, coming back ot the ocean, Amaryl takes her time in considering. Just before you go into th ewaters, "Seira." She says at last, "You think you can triumph?"
01[20:33] <Seira> "I will triumph, whatever the tests."
[20:33] <Kotono> "Then I'll be here for you, or at your side there, or whatever else you wish." Stopping now, "Always."
01[20:36] <Seira> "It's insanely dangerous, but is defending the eladrin children in the Abyss or fighting ancient liches at their fortresses any safer?" Seira snorts. "If you go, there's just one thing. You can't show weakness before the red dragons. You're trying to become one in your own way, and to be meek towards them might be dangerous. Can you handle that? Some might be as powerful as Ajan."
[20:37] <Kotono> "...I will." Amaryl promises, "I will."
01[20:38] <Seira> "Let's go, then. I saw a vision of a valley I think I need to seek out, so that's as good a starting point as any. Lagann will take us to Astral, and if we're in luck, the way onwards would be revealed to us."
[20:40] <Kotono> OOC: Going to exit out and then plane shift along?
01[20:41] <Seira> OOC: Yes. Normally, I'd appear within 5d100 miles of the valley, but I dunno how Astral works with that
[20:42] <Kotono> OOC: Distance is mostly irrelevant in the Astral so it hardly matters.
01[20:42] <Seira> OOC: Yeah. PM question first, please?
[20:43] <Kotono> Thus Seira returns home and rests...OOC: Resting for the day? Go ahead and switch spells/prepare?
01[20:43] <Seira> OOC: Yeah, sec
[20:46] <Kotono> OOC: Lemme know when.
01[20:50] <Seira> OOC: dune
01[20:51] <Seira> OOC: ready~
[20:53] <Kotono> Thus Seira and Amaryl prepare in Seira's room. Once ready and finishing a glass of water, "Are you ready?" Amaryl asks, "I think I am, as much as I'm able."
01[20:56] <Seira> "Time to see the dragons," Seira agrees, enchanting Amaryl's bow and then calling upon Lagann's power to transport them towards their starting point.
01[20:56] <Seira> OOC: GMW
[21:00] <Kotono> All about you is hazy silver. You float in the Astral Sea, emptiness from horizon to horizon. A silent, peaceful timelessness settles over you, Amaryl looking about several times. "This is the Astral? It's truly as empty as your books said it would be."
01[21:01] <Seira> "It's certainly boring to travel alone," Seira agrees, taking Amaryl's hand and gesturing forward. "Be bold, make your own path. That's what Ajan was saying, right? Then the way lies here."
[21:03] <Kotono> "Let's go then," Amaryl nods, as thet wo start to fly ahead. OOC: Good to move along?
01[21:03] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[21:05] <Kotono> Thus you fly into endless silver expanses. How long you fly...you do not know. Time escapes you within a few 'moments' of moving, leaving everything behind. Ahead...you see something. A small red shape is flying in the Astral, coming in your direction.
01[21:07] <Seira> Dragonskin and Heroism are both defensive spells, unmistakenly so, and Seira imbues herself with them both in a flash as she pauses, sharing the latter with Amaryl, all extended past their natural ability. Voice of the Dragon is a somewhat more tricky proposition, but at least it should allow Seira to sound like one of them, so she invokes it too, before resuming her wait for the shape to draw closer.
[21:10] <Kotono> The shape takes some time to approach. It is...a dragon? A human sized dragon, scales of glossy red and pouncing ahead in the air. With a loud, boisterous voice, "Halt, I am Scorch!" It pronounces. "What business do you have passing here, humanoid?"
06[21:12] * Seira has already halted, considering that she might be on the verge of tresspassing, and having no desire to do so unannounced. "My name is Seira," she introduces herself in Draconic. "My destiny lies ahead."
[21:13] <Kotono> "Destiny?" The little dragon laughs all over, "What destiny does a little flea like you have? If you know what's good for you, you'll turn around and go home!"
01[21:17] <Seira> "If I were not guided to this place for my final transformation, I would not be here," Seira calmly points out.
[21:18] <Kotono> "Oh yeah?" The little dragon scowls, a hint of flame leaking from it's mouth, "How do I not know that you're just a lying bandit trying to get out of being cooked?"
01[21:19] <Seira> "If a dragon's greatest asset is their sharp intellect, then I am more suited for being here," Seira points out again, this time with just a bit of haughtiness as she exhales mesmerizing golden flame. "Unless you are secretly the oldest of wyrms, the one you addressed as a flea can rend you limb from limb. What purpose is served by blindly picking unwinnable fights?"
[21:20] <Kotono> OOC: Make an intimidation check, +3?
01[21:20] <Seira> roll 1d20+35
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+35 and gets 51." [1d20=16]
[21:21] <Kotono> The little red dragon skirks back, "F-fine!" With a snap it turns tail and hurries away, "I'-I'll let you pass!"
06[21:22] * Seira inclines her head at the fleeing red dragon for Amaryl's benefit, and follows it at a pace that comfortably keeps it in sight without giving the appearance of chasing the small dragon down.
01[21:23] <Seira> OOC: Laf, forgot the +10 from VotD
[21:24] <Kotono> Amaryl cracks a smile, "That was just a wyrmling dragon?"
01[21:25] <Seira> "At least they're not all ancient and hopelessly set in their ways?" Seira responds with a smile of her own. She hardly relaxes just because an outer perimeter guard was terrified by someone of her power, however. The true test is not even yet to begin.
[21:27] <Kotono> As you fly on, you quickly see Scorch vanish. A moment later, the silvery horzin begins to glow with a faint hint of red. You can feel a faraway heat lick your bodies, from so far away, yet felt teasing you.
[21:29] <Kotono> Amaryl squints and peers ahead, a hand over her eyes, "Red? Its' getting a bit warm, too. You feel that, Seira?"
01[21:30] <Seira> "This might be the valley of lava. I considered this," Seira admits. "But judging durations on Astral is next to impossible, so warding you against the heat might have run out at the wrong time, and I didn't want to risk that. If it becomes too much, hold back?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "Okay." With that you advance on! You fly for a time, the heat and glow maintaining an evenness. You fly for a little while until...it approaches out of the Silver Sea, not hiding itself. A large sized dragon, propelling itself with it's wings. "Hail!" It calls as it comes closer.
01[21:34] <Seira> Once more, Seira finds herself coming to a halt. "Greetings. I am Seira," she returns, introducing herself to this new dragon as well. "I come here because it is time for me to embrace my true nature fully."
[21:35] <Kotono> "I am Kalfyra. I am traveling, looking for a mate." So announcing, the dragn stops 50 feet away, hovering in the Silver Sea. "A worthy dragon to couple with me."
06[21:38] * Seira just barely stops herself from launching into coughing fit, stumped by this development. "If I took this the right way, I'm sorry, but I'm already taken. If I didn't, then I guess I'll have to apologize again, if only for different reasons."
[21:39] <Kotono> With a snarling snap, "You presume foolishly, humanoid! To think, degrading myself to mate with you!"
01[21:41] <Seira> It takes supreme force of will not to extoll her virtues in the face of this, but Seira preserves. Rather, she calmly waits for the anger to pass. She had apologized in advance, after all.
[21:43] <Kotono> Quivering all over from scale to claw with the utmost fury, "Such arrogance! I deign to allow you some information on me and you mock your superior being?!"
01[21:47] <Seira> Seira's lips part in a snarl. "Don't push it, Kalfyra," she tells it threateningly. Ajan said that she is not to care for the will of the inferior, but pass on as the superior being she seeks to confirm herself as, and so she lets her anger show openly. "Only a wyrm might presume to treat me so callously and have a prayer of avoiding consequences. Do not mistake politeness for subservience!"
[21:48] <Kotono> "You dare to act as if you are equal to me?!" With a gust of flaming mirth, "Pathetic! You are as flammable and weak as the rest! You will scream and die in my fires if I deign to burn you!"
01[21:50] <Seira> "Equal? Hardly," Seira states with disdain, flames gathering in her palms. "Fire, you said? Fine. It is a worthy handicap. We'll see which of us burns the hardest as I restrict myself to that single element!"
[21:51] <Kotono> With a roar, Kalfyra gushes flames at Seira, eyes burning with fury! OOC: Goa head an dmake a ref save if you care to.
01[21:52] <Seira> It is a hard call, and the one Seira makes is perhaps foolish, but if she dodges first, she in effect forfeits. If she is the one to endure and force Kalfyra to flinch, that is a clear advantage.
01[21:53] <Seira> OOC: I won't save, and will mock him if he does. If I don't burn to death.
[21:53] <Kotono> roll 8d10 fire damage which is completely irrelevant.
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 8d10 fire damage which is completely irrelevant. and gets 46." [8d10=4, 1, 7, 3, 10, 10, 5, 6]
[21:54] <Kotono> Fire washes over Seira...yet burns her not at all, leaving her unscorched and unbothered! Kalfyra snarls again, "Magic, doubtless."
06[21:55] * Seira meets the sheathe of flames with a sneer, practically looking down at Kalfyra's words despite their relative sizes. "Excuses, the refuge of the weak," she says scornfully, breathing a stream of golden flames back!
01[21:55] <Seira> roll 8d8 FIRE
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 8d8 FIRE and gets 46." [8d8=1, 5, 7, 8, 5, 6, 8, 6]
06[21:57] * Seira draws the staff that is Elle's greatest gift to her, holding it before her as she moves into an openly aggressive stance. "That was my true nature. But if you would like to see my fire magic, just say the word. I will get serious."
[21:58] <Kotono> "Tsch..." Glowering at Seira, the dragon turns away, "Youa ren't worth my t ime!" With that it flies past Seira, not looking her way in the least.
06[21:59] * Seira doesn't give him the time of day, either, though even as she resumes her advance towards her nebulous goal, the staff remains in her hands.
[21:59] <Kotono> As you begin to fly again, "Curious," Amaryl says aloud, "That wasn't a very old dragon, either."
01[22:01] <Seira> "Either this is coincidence, as we meet progressively older dragons as we come closer to the core hosting the supreme ones, or it is a way of testing the unworthy," Seira muses quietly in response. "Either way, the chances are our next encounter with a dragon will be with one I will need to go all out against to best, or find some common grounds with.
01[22:01] <Seira> Granted Waukeen's nature, I will strive for the latter."
[22:03] <Kotono> "Like a circle of tests, hm? That's logical," Amaryl flies along. As she does, the horizon begins to burn in the distance, leaping flames glimpsed at the edge of the red tinted Silver Sea.
01[22:04] <Seira> "That, or the young ones preferring to explore more, or being used for the more menial tasks," Seira agrees. "Would you dispatch an old dragon to guard the perimeter?" But the burning horizon soon occupies her attention, and she peers ahead at it.
[22:05] <Kotono> It's leaping flames, coming out of nothing and flickering into the sky. "That's a good point. Why waste the important ones first?"
06[22:07] * Seira intends to come closer and see if it's a dragon entertaining itself with its breath. If it's not one of the old ones she'd mentioned to Amaryl, talking her way past it should be doable.
[22:09] <Kotono> Thus you fly along for a time. The flames come no closer, yet you travel ahead. How long are you at it? You are not sure. Time folds and twists onto itself, passing without notice. But eventually, you find yourself in front of it. A huge dragon, red as bunished hot metal. It stares down at you, sitting in the AStral Sea as if solid. "Who comes here?"
01[22:12] <Seira> "My name is Seira. My nature is a proud red dragon," she introduces herself, bowing respectfully.
[22:13] <Kotono> "My name is too complicated for a humanoid. Valin will do." It answers, it's voice booming across the Astral. "Why have you come here?"
01[22:14] <Seira> "I entered into a pact with an elder wyrm on Prime by the name of Ajan. Through this pact, I grew to embrace my new nature. Now, I am ready to take the final step in my transformation," Seira responds. Hiding the truth is meaningless. She is here to seize her destiny, not to skulk about and steal it from the unwary.
[22:17] <Kotono> "So you're Ajan's thieving little spawn?" With molten red eyes that bristle with fiery hate, "You think you can confront us after wiggilng out of your fate?"
01[22:20] <Seira> "Those decisions were all made without true understanding of the facts," Seira responds evenly. "I wish to gain that understanding now. If I had inadvertantly wronged you, Waukeen would have me pay suitable amends. That I came openly shows my intentions louder than any words I might say in my defense."
[22:22] <Kotono> OOC: On second thought, make diplo here, I thnk
[22:22] <Kotono> .
01[22:23] <Seira> roll 1d20+49 okay
06[22:23] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+49 okay and gets 60." [1d20=11]
[22:26] <Kotono> The dragon watches, Valin silent until Seira is done. "You have commendable courage for a lesser being. I wonder...did Ajan use you, or did you sign yourself over willingly?"
01[22:30] <Seira> "I believe that I should impart my story fully, or at least the salient points," Seira responds, spending several moments gathering her thoughts before proceeding. "I will quite naturally present myself in as good a light as possible, but my story contains no falsehood, evasions or half-truths. All I will add is my perspective.
01[22:31] <Seira> Everything started as a blue dragon my friends and I could not hope to deter appeared, threatening the city I was sworn to protect and its citizens. The only way to defeat it was to approach Ajan for aid; this aid he provided to us reliably, but he asked my friends and I to enter into a blood pact with him in order to gain his help. I did so without reservation.
01[22:33] <Seira> Eventually, I learned that I could draw upon it to a degree, and I turned to study it, yet only in a peripheral manner. In my subsequent dealings with Ajan, I did not receive any warning against this, beyond a vague sense that doing so might have consequences one day. I fully intended to meet them, when they were revealed to me.
01[22:35] <Seira> Finally, it was as I was granted a rare audience with my patron deity, Waukeen, I asked to become her servant on Prime, her avatar in all matters, and after asking me if I was certain of this, she had transformed me in some way I do not truly grasp as of yet. Waukeen told me it was the first step, and that the process would be complete, once I sought out the red dragons of Astral.
01[22:35] <Seira> Even to this day, I am not certain how Ajan's shared power is related to another plane, and I find myself eager to learn the truth behind this situation."
[22:38] <Kotono> Valin listens with infinite patience, a draconic smirk of teeth and fire by the end. "Your soul was forfiet...but it seems that Waukeen deigned to spare you. Amusing that she would interfere in a binding, mutual agreement."
01[22:41] <Seira> "She likes me. It might be because I like her back," Seira responds honestly. "This is the sense I've gotten. Despite the restrictions placed on our world, she was always there just out of sight, yet constantly aiding those who need her, including myself." She pauses, before asking the key question here,
01[22:41] <Seira> "Excuse me, but why would my soul be forfeit? Was the pact not based on... it might be foolish of me, but I saw it much like a magely apprenticeship."
[22:45] <Kotono> "Nothing at all? Hah." The dragon chortles loudly, "Then again, perhaps Ajan wanted someone who could survive this long."
01[22:48] <Seira> "At another opportunity, when I asked him to break a curse on me, he demanded serving him for a certain duration to help him find an out of the way lair," Seira volunteers. "I felt the terms we agreed upon as we entered that bargain were straight and to the point.
01[22:48] <Seira> It never occured to me that a loophole might have been present from the very start of my dealings with Ajan." Seira hesitates. "Well, no. I doubt everyone. But this never occured to me in any serious manner."
[22:49] <Kotono> The dragon smiles now, all teeth. "Tell me, how is Ajan doing this millenia?"
01[22:50] <Seira> "He's actually pretty unhappy and sour," Seira admits. "And I don't need to be some sort of genius to guess that he, too, came from this place once upon a time?"
[22:51] <Kotono> "He did far more. Ajan created it." With it's own dire amusement, "Long ago, even for a dragon. Before he forsook everything he made here for his own purposes."
01[22:53] <Seira> Wow, he's really, really old. Seira very carefully doesn't say this. "There was a great war on Prime, between the gods united and a an aspirant mage-king. He took the side of the gods, from what limited information available to us after all those millennia. I wouldn't know if that was his reason for venturing into Prime, unfortunately."
[22:55] <Kotono> "Heheheheheheh. Long ago, Ajan proposed that even dragons were inferior to the spirits of mortal kind, the outsiders. He theorized that the soul was the ultimate form of power and that even the Gods were ultimately only extrodinarly powerful outsiders. Yes, he would have involved himself in that."
06[22:58] * Seira quirks a smile at that. "I find this ironic, I admit. He called the dragons superior beings. To have him change his mind so completely is a bit shocking, but I suppose given the millennia...." She finds herself trailing off.
[23:00] <Kotono> "Indeed. What will your fate be then, Seira? What do you seek here?"
01[23:04] <Seira> "In the short term, I seek power. The power to oppose those who would dare threaten our world and way of life. Liches and fiends, banding together to strike cowardly in the night, those whose greatest wish is to slay innocent children incapable of resisting en masse." (more)
01[23:04] <Seira> Anger seeps into Seira's voice, but she keeps it as cool and respectful as she is able, given her company and the situation she is in. "A dragon in Waukeen's service can oppose them on even grounds, I am certain, and drive off their unwelcome blight." (more)
01[23:05] <Seira> She pauses once more, suddenly reflective. "After that... I believe that dragons are supreme, majestic beings. And I believe in a concept the mortal lands have, of noblesse oblige. Privelege entails responsibility, and dragons are among the top of the priveleged. I wish to shoulder that responsibility properly."
[23:06] <Kotono> "Your words mean nothing to us. We are red dragons...you speak like a gold or a silver dragon! What worth are you to us? What worth are we to you?" Valin challenges right back, leaning in to be nearly face to face, Seira's vision consumed with his draconic head.
01[23:12] <Seira> "Ah, now I understand," Seira responds, unmoved by the draconic head consuming her field of vision. She had faced far more terrible things. Losing Amaryl will forever remain at the top. After experiencing that.... "Some things, I don't yet understand, so I might not sound like a proper red dragon. But those come with age, and I will acquire them!" Seira states firmly.
01[23:12] <Seira> "What I need is the power to crush my opposition! Your worth, to me, is so I could meet Pale Night's challenge head on, as is proper! In return... the maker of this place brought me into the fold. The goddess of contracts broke a contract in my defense. I'm not a bystander. I'm not some castaway. I'm always on the front lines, and I always prevail, growing ever stronger and richer!"
[19:37] <Ko-IndarknessNitoridwells> <Seira> "In the short term, I seek power. The power to oppose those who would dare threaten our world and way of life. Liches and fiends, banding together to strike cowardly in the night, those whose greatest wish is to slay innocent children incapable of resisting en masse." (more)
[19:37] <Ko-IndarknessNitoridwells> <Seira> Anger seeps into Seira's voice, but she keeps it as cool and respectful as she is able, given her company and the situation she is in. "A dragon in Waukeen's service can oppose them on even grounds, I am certain, and drive off their unwelcome blight." (more)
[19:37] <Ko-IndarknessNitoridwells> <Seira> She pauses once more, suddenly reflective. "After that... I believe that dragons are supreme, majestic beings. And I believe in a concept the mortal lands have, of noblesse oblige. Privelege entails responsibility, and dragons are among the top of the priveleged. I wish to shoulder that responsibility properly."
[19:37] <Ko-IndarknessNitoridwells> > "Your words mean nothing to us. We are red dragons...you speak like a gold or a silver dragon! What worth are you to us? What worth are we to you?" Valin challenges right back, leaning in to be nearly face to face, Seira's vision consumed with his draconic head.
[19:37] <Ko-IndarknessNitoridwells> <Seira> "Ah, now I understand," Seira responds, unmoved by the draconic head consuming her field of vision. She had faced far more terrible things. Losing Amaryl will forever remain at the top. After experiencing that.... "Some things, I don't yet understand, so I might not sound like a proper red dragon. But those come with age, and I will acquire them!" Seira states firmly.
[19:37] <Ko-IndarknessNitoridwells> <Seira> "What I need is the power to crush my opposition! Your worth, to me, is so I could meet Pale Night's challenge head on, as is proper! In return... the maker of this place brought me into the fold. The goddess of contracts broke a contract in my defense. I'm not a bystander. I'm not some castaway. I'm always on the front lines, and I always prevail, growing ever stronger and richer!"
03[19:37] * Corwin is now known as Seira
03[19:38] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
03[19:39] * Ko-IndarknessNitoridwells is now known as Kotono
03[19:39] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Kotono Kotono
[19:40] <Kotono> "So you want power? The ability to lay your enemies low and feast on the lamentations they cry out?" Valin's great maw crackles with flames, licking against Seira's body. "Now that I understand. What will you do to possess might, Seira?"
[19:43] <Seira> "What I must, short of selling my soul or my allies. Such things are beneath me," she states in disdain. "That's what the petitioners of demons do, weak in body and spirit."
[19:48] <Kotono> "Then you..." Valin glides 20 feet back, still mammoth and gigantic against the backdrop of the Silver Sea aflame. "One on one. If you are a dragon, you can survive this and are worthy of attention! If not, burn in the ashes of history forever!"
02[19:50] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
03[19:50] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) has joined #evildunes
[19:50] <Kotono> "Then you..." Valin glides 20 feet back, still mammoth and gigantic against the backdrop of the Silver Sea aflame. "One on one. If you are a dragon, you can survive this and are worthy of attention! If not, burn in the ashes of history forever!"
03[19:51] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[19:52] <Seira> "A duel?" Seira asks, as there had been enough misunderstandings that day already. "To surrender or death?"
[19:54] <Kotono> "Surrender," He agrees, "Tell your second to get out of way, lest she burn away."
06[19:54] * Seira gives Amaryl her most reassuring smile, nodding at her.
[19:55] <Kotono> Amaryl takes a breath, smiles to SEira and flies back and out of the way. At that, Valin is coming right at you! OOC: Roll init.
[19:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 9." [1d20=4]
03[19:56] * Corwin7 (~cor@193.254.233.38) has joined #evildunes
[19:56] <Kotono> Amaryl takes a breath, smiles to SEira and flies back and out of the way. At that, Valin is coming right at you! OOC: Roll init.
[19:56] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+5
[19:56] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 9." [1d20=4]
02[19:57] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) Quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Corwin7))
03[19:57] * Corwin7 is now known as Seira
03[19:57] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[19:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[19:57] <Seira> roll 1d20 L
06[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20 L and gets 18." [1d20=18]
03[19:58] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lagann>Valin>Seira'
[19:58] <Kotono> OOC: Open Lagann. Terrible luck.
[19:59] <Seira> OOC: Lagann will hold. And wonder why he didn't use nerveskitter on me.
[20:00] <Kotono> Valin looms over Seira, maw going for her to bite her apart!
[20:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+26 (+2 charge, -10 PA)
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 (+2 charge, -10 PA) and gets 44." [1d20=18]
[20:01] <Kotono> roll 2d8+21
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+21 and gets 25." [2d8=1, 3]
[20:01] <Kotono> Seira's body is grazed by the dragon's razor sharp teeth, a few little trills of blood trickling down her obdy! She's able to evade the worst, rolling back with the overwhelming force of the bite! OOC: Seira.
02[20:05] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) Quit (Broken pipe)
03[20:06] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) has joined #evildunes
[20:06] <Seira> Seira's eyes widen despite herself at the unexpectedly swift attack, and she dodges back, firing off a pair of rays designed to halt the dragon in its tracks, even as a powerful orb of cold boosted to the top of her ability seeks out her opponent! While destined to wound it, Seira is actually betting on Valin to take precautions against the cold, while she begins to execute her real plan.
[20:07] <Seira> OOC: Tumbling back and away, twinned ray of dizziness, maximized empowered orb of cold/impromptu SA
[20:08] <Seira> roll 2#1d20+18 SR for ray of dizziness
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2#1d20+18 SR for ray of dizziness and gets 55." [2#1d20+18 = 33, 22]
[20:08] <Kotono> OOC: One success on the ray.
[20:08] <Seira> roll 1d20+20 ranged touch
06[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 ranged touch and gets 29." [1d20=9]
[20:09] <Seira> OOC: Valin's limited to a standard or a move action per round for 18 rounds
[20:09] <Seira> roll 1d20+20 ranged attack, flat footed
06[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 ranged attack, flat footed and gets 27." [1d20=7]
[20:09] <Seira> roll 90+5d8 cold
06[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 90+5d8 cold and gets 111." [5d8=1, 7, 7, 1, 5]
[20:11] <Kotono> Between ice ray and dizzy ray, Valin wobbles in the air! His majestic wings are at the wrong angles, his head shaken back and forth, "What...manner..." OOC: Lagann?
[20:12] <Seira> OOC: Lagann is still holding
[20:13] <Seira> "I'm honoring you by not holding back," Seira tells Valin, eyeing the dragon while maintaining her defensive stance in the sea of nothingness.
[20:15] <Kotono> "Gh..!" The dragon continues to try and right itself, "Ajan wouldn't send a weakling. Bastard." The dragon shakes it's head in ane ntirely human gesture, "Power enough. Now go ahead before I change my mind!"
[20:16] <Seira> Figuring that she had proven her worth, here, Seira bows to the dragon and proceeds onwards after waiting for Amaryl to rejoin her side.
[20:17] <Kotono> Amaryl rejoins Seira's side as they fly ahead. "That was wonderful! He didn't know what struck him!"
[20:18] <Seira> "Even though he did manage to strike first," Seira admits with disdain directed towards herself, healing her wounds and then warding her skin against such attacks. "I should have been swifter."
[20:18] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 25." [3d8=1, 4, 5]
[20:18] <Seira> OOC: Using stoneskin, too
[20:19] <Kotono> "Perhaps, but...why no magic? Magic flows quickly here, and a dragon that big should have some?" Amaryl stops to look back, before flying on with Seira.
[20:21] <Seira> "It's not just the magic," Seira agrees quietly. "He could have mauled me on a charge. Should have, in fact. Either, this is some part of a test, again, or perhaps I'm being lulled into a false sense of security. There's also the possibility of making me run out of my own spells by making me underestimate the dangers. I really can't come up with a favorable idea."
[20:23] <Kotono> "Then we'll just have to do the best we can," Amaryl says as you fly for a time. How long Seira knows now...but it gets warmer. The heat grows around you, the air starting to shimmer-twist with waves of boiling air. Amaryl stops, wiping her brow, "Seira, the heat is getting unbearable..."
[20:26] <Seira> "Wait for me here, then?" Seira suggests. "If it's yet another dragon, once it lets us pass you'll be able to catch up by heading towards me.
03[20:34] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-54456f9c.lns6-c11.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:35] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:37] <Kotono> Amaryl nods, "Seira, be careful. I know, I know, I keep saying that, but..." With a weak smile that doesn't last long, "If it's not liches and demons, it's dragons."
03[20:38] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
06[20:40] * Seira takes the warning to heart, casting keen edge on the Resort, and Shield upon her person. If it expires before she reaches her goal, that's just too bad. "Dragons can stand up to the other two," she responds with a slight smile of her own. "I'll show those bastards they shouldn't have messed with us." And with those words, she's ready to proceed towards her next test.
[20:45] <Kotono> Thus Seira flies along for a time! How long she flies is unknown, but the Silver Sea catches fully aflame! AS if she stepped into the firest pits of Avernus itself, the entire air burning! Ahead, a single pair of vast red eyes can be seen in the bonfires all around you, watching.
06[20:47] * Seira heads straight towards those eyes, not showing any fear or reservation. A strange realization overtakes Seira, as she understands that she doesn't feel those things, either. Her mind is focused on making her way to the goal, occupied with the best method to deal with every obstacle along her way, but what it decidedly lacks are thoughts of retreat or defeat.
[20:50] <Kotono> The eyes stay at the same distance from you as you advance, the flames roaring higher. The Astral is gone - all about you is flame. Fire burns in it's most intense way, yet not a bit of it damages Seira. From the flames, "I am Inferno. I have been given eternity to craft the answer to a single question: What is the destiny of dragonkind?"
02[20:56] * Alicia (WinNT@user-54456f9c.lns6-c11.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (scifi-classics.dejatoons.net atarians.dejatoons.net)
02[20:56] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) Quit (scifi-classics.dejatoons.net atarians.dejatoons.net)
03[20:56] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-54456f9c.lns6-c11.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:56] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
03[20:56] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[20:58] <Seira> "I'm Seira, and I did not have an eternity to contemplate that, but my answer right now start with 'to acquire wealth and power'," she says, hovering inside the crackling fire. "That pursuit is the means through which this destiny will be revealed, I believe. And above all, we are to forge it ourselves, whatever our destiny might be. It is something we must seize for ourselves, and not receive handed down from others."
[21:01] <Kotono> The flames sear hotter around Seira! Her vision is nothing but fire, her body bathed in fire! "You speak as a dragon should. How large is your horde?"
06[21:07] * Seira is forced to consider this question for a bit. "My actual, dedicated horde is slightly under fifteen thousand gold in worth, kept safe in a dedicated lair. That is, however, because most of my funds are put towards securing more of it, all three hundred thousand of them invested into the power side of the equation." It is as accurate an account of her finances as possible, since putting a price on artifacts is pointless.
[21:09] <Kotono> "A fascinating reply." Inferno rumbles, as his eyes vanish. Ahead lies a path of fire, leaindg Seira onward, "What you seek is ahead. Only Tiamat knows if you are able to grasp it without failing, dragonling."
[21:11] <Seira> Waukeen has confidence in her, and Seira never had any issues with Tiamat, either. "Thank you," she says, politeness costing her nothing, and proceeds onwards through the path made for her.
[21:14] <Kotono> How long does Seira fly? She doesn't know. Her magic crumbles away from her, the times seeming to pass, sufficient to elapse the magic already cast. Her mind hazes over with the walk through the Inferno of the Silver Sea, lost into itself. She dreams of fire and chaos, of burning destruction all around her. Within the chambers of her deepest heart, eyes drooping shut, "What are you, crossbreed? A bastard child of human and elf, desperately
[21:15] <Kotono> eyes drooping shut, "What are you, crossbreed? A bastard child of human and elf, desperately seeking to be neither." OOC: The various spells you ahve cast have elapsed.
[21:18] <Seira> "I want to be a dragon, that is true. But I'm not forsaking my heritage," Seira responds out loud, believing the everpresent voice to be capable of hearing her. "Instead, it is that heritage of human and elf that I will use to bring out my utmost potential as a dragon!" Her face twists. "Also, I'm not a bastard child. My parents were properly married."
[21:21] <Kotono> Seira feels her body burn, sizzling away. It hurts so much, but at the same time, the pain is a distant imitation of real agony. "Only a true dragon is a superior being! Halfbreeds have no place in true dragon-kind! What good is only half a dragon and half of a lesser species?"
[21:25] <Seira> "The greatest of the red dragons is trapped as a guardian for the prison of the gods!" Seira calls back. "I will surpass that! I'll draw on my nature to know when to gamble, when another dragon would be hesitent with their hoard. I'll pause and think things through when a lesser red dragon might charge in and lose a battle that did not have to be lost. What kind of superior being would I be if I fell to stagnation? If I were happy with my lot as a true dragon
[21:26] <Seira> If I were happy with my lot as a true dragon and ceased improving, forgot all the lessons I have painstalkingly learnt to get me that far?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "Ambition burns brightly within you." Seira's eyes open. She stands atop a cliff, a clifface above a vast canyon-valley. Far below a ribbon of red runs, endless magma glimpsed. Alla round her the Silver Sea burns, and in the air ahead of her...dozens...no...hundreds of red dragons! The attention of all are on Seira, yet one dominates. This one is beyond gigantic, dwarfing a metropolis in size. It's head is as large as Balmuria's old city,
[21:33] <Kotono> This one is beyond gigantic, dwarfing a metropolis in size. It's head is as large as Balmuria's old city, eyes the size of giants nothing but a single roaring mote of flame in each. "You have come willingly to us, after escaping with your soul intact?"
03[21:34] * Corwin7 (~cor@193.254.233.38) has joined #evildunes
[21:35] <Kotono> "Ambition burns brightly within you." Seira's eyes open. She stands atop a cliff, a clifface above a vast canyon-valley. Far below a ribbon of red runs, endless magma glimpsed. Alla round her the Silver Sea burns, and in the air ahead of her...dozens...no...hundreds of red dragons! The attention of all are on Seira, yet one dominates. This one is beyond gigantic, dwarfing a metropolis in size. It's head is as large as Balmuria's old city,
[21:35] <Kotono> It's head is as large as Balmuria's old city, eyes the size of giants nothing but a single roaring mote of flame in each. "You have come willingly to us, after escaping with your soul intact?"
02[21:35] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) Quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Corwin7))
03[21:35] * Corwin7 is now known as Seira
[21:35] <Seira> "Yes," Seira responds, waiting to see what the truly massive dragon wishes to say next.
[21:37] <Kotono> "Ajan chose well. What greed burns in this little elf-child! What raw need for power! What ambition!" The dragon laughs, as if all the heat in Hell were cascading around and out of it. Seira feels the heat melt her flesh away, her bones turning to slag...or is that just her mind....it's hazy. The heat is unto Lathander's hottest rays, surely, rivalling Kossuth's fury! "Ajan must have thought he glimpsed the spirit of a dragon in you."
[21:37] <Kotono> "Ajan must have thought he glimpsed the spirit of a dragon in you."
[21:42] <Seira> Her greed and ambition are greater than she had admitted even to herself before, Seira had learned on this pilgrimage, but she doesn't shy away from her true nature. Her very being shivers from the shock of having her flesh and bones slowly destroyed as her mind lives on.
[21:45] <Kotono> With another blast of heat, Seira's vision is gone, burning away into void. "But Ajan is locked far away, prisoner of his own hubris and slavery. Why should we not devour your soul now, growing stronger from your ample draconic qualities? It would make a pleasing snack."
02[21:51] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) Quit (Broken pipe)
03[21:51] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) has joined #evildunes
[21:51] <Seira> "I would say that Waukeen would stop you," Seira says, breathing heavily to regulate her breath. She can't tell if she even has a mouth to speak of, but that is irrelevant, since she intends to respond. "That would even be true! But that's not why you should choose differently! You need me, you need what I can become given the chance! That is the only reason I am even being asked rather than outright devoured! You, all of you, you already realize this. And I
[21:53] <Seira> And I will get there, whatever it takes. I won't stop, and I'll claw my way towards the very top, and then, you'll have the strongest ally you could ever wish! Between that and a mere snack, the choice is not a choice at all!"
[19:54] <Kotono> <Seira> Her greed and ambition are greater than she had admitted even to herself before, Seira had learned on this pilgrimage, but she doesn't shy away from her true nature. Her very being shivers from the shock of having her flesh and bones slowly destroyed as her mind lives on.
[19:54] <Kotono> > With another blast of heat, Seira's vision is gone, burning away into void. "But Ajan is locked far away, prisoner of his own hubris and slavery. Why should we not devour your soul now, growing stronger from your ample draconic qualities? It would make a pleasing snack."
[19:54] <Kotono> * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) Quit (Broken pipe)
[19:54] <Kotono> * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) has joined #evildunes
[19:54] <Kotono> <Seira> "I would say that Waukeen would stop you," Seira says, breathing heavily to regulate her breath. She can't tell if she even has a mouth to speak of, but that is irrelevant, since she intends to respond. "That would even be true! But that's not why you should choose differently! You need me, you need what I can become given the chance! That is the only reason I am even being asked rather than outright devoured! You, all of you, you
[19:54] <Kotono> <Seira> And I will get there, whatever it takes. I won't stop, and I'll claw my way towards the very top, and then, you'll have the strongest ally you could ever wish! Between that and a mere snack, the choice is not a choice at all!"
[19:55] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check, Seira?
03[19:56] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
[19:56] <Seira> roll 1d20+35
06[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+35 and gets 45." [1d20=10]
03[20:02] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5445ee12.lns4-c13.telh.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:02] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:03] <Kotono> Rumbling fires can be heard - endless crackles of burning, heat buffeting Seira, yet not felt on any body at all. It sears into her spirit, he very conciousness burning in agony. The pain is very real now, her mind overtaken by it. "Offer to us then. Give us tribute and beg for our power then, humanoid child! Plead for the power you crave!"
03[20:05] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:10] <Seira> "Dragons don't beg!" Seira screams, twisting in agony. She can't muster the faculties for a thought-out response, but Ajan's insistence of behaving as a superior being rather than inferior one guides her limited answers. "Ally yourself with me or kill me! The former, you won't regret!"
[20:11] <Kotono> OOC: Make another diplo, +5 bonus?
[20:11] <Seira> OOC: Can I take 10?
[20:11] <Kotono> OOC: If you really want. It's your skin.
[20:14] <Seira> OOC: I'll grab 10 for 50, okay
[20:22] <Kotono> Roaring fury cascades around Seira, mocking laughter. "You want power, dragon?" Abruptly Seira's vision returns. She stands intact, atop the cliff over the vast chasm below. The Silver Sea itself burns, shaking as if seized with fury! The dragons ahead of you howl and roar, cascading down into the ribbon of lava seen deep! Down and down they go, the shaking growing stronger! Only one remains, the vast one who addressed you before. (More)
[20:22] <Kotono> Only one remains, the vast one who addressed you before. (More)
[20:24] <Kotono> From the deep chasm below, the lava rises in a great tornado! IT wraps around the gigantic dragon, mere house and city sized ghostly dragons whirling around his body like armor! "Then prove you are superior! None but dragons have ever withstood my fury! Survive and we shall treat with you, Seira!"
[20:24] <Kotono> OOC: Roll init here.
[20:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+11 augh, Lagann uses Nerveskitter on me
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 augh, Lagann uses Nerveskitter on me and gets 17." [1d20=6]
[20:26] <Seira> roll 1d20 L
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20 L and gets 2." [1d20=2]
[20:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 22." [1d20=18]
03[20:26] * Kotono changes topic to 'DRAGON OH FUCK DRAGON>Seira>Lagann'
[20:27] <Kotono> The mammoth dragons rears it's head back! In it the heat of the Sun itself is born, cascading into a great gout of flame! It races to Seira, as if to burn her ot the tiniest cinder, engulfing her all over! OOC: Ref save.
[20:27] <Seira> roll 1d20+28
06[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+28 and gets 34." [1d20=6]
[20:31] <Kotono> roll 24d10 failed the ref, half fire damage and half nontyped.
06[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 24d10 failed the ref, half fire damage and half nontyped. and gets 149." [24d10=10, 1, 8, 4, 3, 8, 1, 10, 9, 8, 6, 10, 8, 3, 9, 9, 3, 4, 5, 5, 4, 9, 2, 10]
[20:31] <Seira> OOC: -6, right
[20:32] <Kotono> Then in a moment, time pauses! Nine dragons dance around, images swirling and twisting together! The dragon's movements are faster, as a black aura surrounds it's body! Seira is buffedeted with pure fire, burning even her as she's caught flat on her feet! The agony is unreal, even as the dragon gathers more fire into it's mouth! OOC: Seira.
[20:33] <Kotono> roll 1d4-1
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4-1 and gets 3." [1d4=4]
02[20:39] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
03[20:41] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) has joined #evildunes
[20:44] <Seira> Seira's mind clears even as she is badly burned, instantly seizing on the dragon's terms. She is to survive, not to win, so that's what she will do. First, she will let Lagann strike at one of the draconic images to test it, and then her plan would be fully formulated.
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and go if Seira's holding, Lagann.
03[20:45] * Kotono changes topic to 'DRAGON OH FUCK DRAGON>Lagann>Seria'
03[20:45] * Kotono changes topic to 'DRAGON OH FUCK DRAGON>Lagann>Seira'
[20:45] <Seira> roll 1d20+25 CHARGE
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+25 CHARGE and gets 38." [1d20=13]
[20:45] <Seira> roll 1d9
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d9 and gets 9." [1d9=9]
[20:45] <Kotono> An image is hacked apart, one impossibly vast dragon down and yet eight remain! OOC: Seira?
06[20:47] * Seira wordlessly sends five ghostly unicorns to their demise, each picking a dragon for itself!
[20:47] <Seira> roll 5#1d20+18 ranged touch
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 5#1d20+18 ranged touch and gets 141." [5#1d20+18 = 27, 24, 28, 26, 36]
[20:47] <Seira> roll 1d8
[20:47] <Kotono> OOC: All hit touch AC, roll dice for each one to see if they get an image.
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d8 and gets 1." [1d8=1]
[20:47] <Kotono> OOC: SNerk.
[20:47] <Seira> roll 1d8+8
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d8+8 and gets 10." [1d8=2]
[20:48] <Seira> OOC: Sec
06[20:49] * Seira instantly sends an empowered orb of cold on the heels of the unicorn that found the correct target, before falling back twenty feet!
[20:49] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 30." [1d20=12]
[20:49] <Seira> roll 1.5*15d6 cold, fort dc26
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1.5*15d6 cold, fort dc26 and gets 82.5." [15d6=1, 2, 6, 3, 4, 1, 6, 5, 6, 4, 1, 4, 5, 1, 6]
[20:52] <Kotono> The unicorn and orb slam into the dragon! It's massive frame doesn't even twitch at the blows, it's head snaking forward to Seira! As it goes to bite down, "Impressive bravery to ignore your defense and strike at me instead! Your tombstone will brag of it!"
[20:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+29 (-20 PA)
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+29 (-20 PA) and gets 38." [1d20=9]
[20:53] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[20:53] <Seira> OOC: Not that
[20:53] <Kotono> roll 4d8+37 owwies
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+37 owwies and gets 52." [4d8=7, 1, 6, 1]
[20:54] <Kotono> Seira is taken into that mouth, bitten and chewed! She has to slip between two teeth, bleeding immensly as she dives out of the dragon's maw before it closes tighter for another, likely fatal, bite! Her vision swims, even as the dragon sends a strange wobbling ray at Seira!
[20:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+32 ranged touch
06[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+32 ranged touch and gets 42." [1d20=10]
[20:55] <Kotono> OOC: Ray of dizziness. One standard or move action per round. Lagann's up.
[20:56] <Seira> Lagann proceeds to eliminate the massive dragon's images!
[20:56] <Seira> roll 1d20+23
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 and gets 34." [1d20=11]
[20:56] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 2." [1d4=2]
[20:56] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 29." [1d20=11]
[20:56] <Seira> roll 1d3
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d3 and gets 1." [1d3=1]
[20:56] <Kotono> OOC: Doesn't hit his AC.
[20:56] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 21." [1d20=8]
[20:56] <Seira> OOC: Minus another image
[20:57] <Seira> Even as he finds Seira's target for her, Lagann cloaks Seira under invisibility!
[21:03] <Seira> "With all my spells brought down in preparation?" Seira can't resist but ask incredulously. "If you had wanted to test my magical defenses, you shouldn't have stripped them prior to granting me this audience!" But it's all a test, and even one where she is not expected to best her opponent.
[21:03] <Seira> Still, her original tactic of forcing the opponent on the defensive by using cold has failed, so Seira falls back for two hundred feet, banking right for another fifty afterwards, watching the dragon's action and whether it's tracking her with its eyes. A lesser globe of invulnerability is her chosen defense this time around.
[21:12] <Kotono> The dragon's eyes don't track. Instead it's eyes abruptly glow, as it looks around and then spots Seira! With eyes narrowing, "Goodbye, dragonling!" It says, as a storm of fire erupts around Seira! OOC: Ref.
[21:12] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
06[21:12] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 31." [1d20=9]
[21:14] <Kotono> Yet Seira soars up and over the fire storm, avoiding the super-hot fires and the agony they would inflict! Despite the agony she retains her reason, her body obeying commands even to the last! OOC: Lagann.
[21:19] <Seira> Well, this is unfortunate. Seira no longer has the means to actually take the dragon down. If he can see her, she has effectively lost her chance to wear him down with a horde of summoned unicorns, and Seira doesn't have anything else left that could allow her to even survive for long, much less take down such an opponent, as even luck has its limits. Not that she had any so far, of course.
[21:19] <Seira> "So how long am I to survive before I am acknowledged?" Seira calls out to her opponent. "I'm under no illusions that I could take you down. At present, I estimate my powers to equal an old dragon, perhaps even a wyrm on a truly good day, but anything past that is merely wishful thinking."
[21:19] <Seira> OOC: Lagann will wait on me
[21:22] <Kotono> At this the vast dragon stares, teeth on display as it...smiles? "You're still talking? Three strikes and you live! You are not some sniveling weakling humanoid, lusting after power they cannot have."
[21:25] <Seira> "I'm not stupid," Seira says, shrugging. "I could not possibly take you down even at full strength. I'm hardly at that point. My plan was to try and trick you into certain courses of action to take control of the battlefield, but both such attempts were either seen through or fell apart due to a bit of atrocious luck. Whichever the reason may be, I don't know, but it seems clear to me that winning does not have to come through beating you in a martial or magi
[21:26] <Seira> beating you in a martial or magical contest."
[21:27] <Kotono> "You had no chance. Mere trickery will not fool another dragon easily." The ghost dragons spin around the vast one, as he regards Seira. "Perhaps I will make an investment in you. If I give you power, what will you do with it?"
[21:30] <Seira> Perhaps she was too naive, but the hope of seeing her spells form up just right was just too alluring. "Pale Night and a cabal of ancient liches picked a fight with me. I'll take the fight back to them, all the way into Pale Night's abode. But first, there is an uppity balor who presumes too much. I will crush his bones into powder and take everything of value he has for myself." Seira pauses briefly. "This would be my plan for the next two months."
[21:32] <Kotono> "I will grant you an inkling of power. In return, you shall pay me tribute. When this balor is slain, you will bring me a quarter of his riches. If you have satisfactorily impressed me at that time, we will continue ahead."
06[21:35] * Seira would be indignant if she weren't being beaten like a drum. She might have achieved a semblance of parity, attack-wise, but she can't really take another attack and the dragon doesn't even seem troubled by hers. "What am I to do to impress you further?" she asks instead, businesslike.
[21:37] <Kotono> "Naturally, the amount of treasure you bring back to me from the balor," With a toothy dragon-smile, "My horde must grow bigger."
[21:38] <Seira> "I better hope that he frantically increases it before his untimely death, then," Seira agrees, allowing herself to show a smile of her own.
[21:39] <Kotono> "Then choose what you desire: Draconic Might, Draconic Energy or Draconic Magic." The great red wyrm asks. "What power do you fancy, dragon?"
02[21:45] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[21:45] * Seira (~cor@193.254.233.38) has joined #evildunes
[21:45] <Kotono> "Then choose what you desire: Draconic Might, Draconic Energy or Draconic Magic." The great red wyrm asks. "What power do you fancy, dragon?"
[21:48] <Seira> "Might," Seira responds after thinking it through for a while. Magic is key, but Might is where she finds herself lacking the most, and it makes sense to eliminate any weaknesses before working on polishing her strengths.
[21:56] <Kotono> With that, ghostly dragons race around Seira! The fire burning with in her grows hotter!
[21:58] <Seira> Fierier fire is not what she expected when she made that choice, though Seira can hardly argue, burning merrily!
[21:59] <Kotono> "Go then. Return with the balor's treasure!" With that Seira finds herself standing besides Amaryl, the latter waiting and looking ahead.
[22:00] <Seira> "Sorry to keep you waiting," Seira says nonchalantly. She would topple over, but her inner fire keeps her upright even when her body wants to give out.
[22:01] <Kotono> "Seira!" With a yelp, "You're...you're hurt! Badly!"
[22:01] <Seira> "Yes! I fought a great wyrm and he bit me in half! Twice!"
[22:02] <Kotono> "Let's return to Balmuria and get you healed!" Looking Seira over with wide eyes, "You're about to drop over!"
[22:03] <Seira> "Mmm. Yes. Arrogance only gets you so far. But get far I did!" Seira states proudly, recovering slightly before she is ready to return.
[22:04] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 16." [2d8=2, 4]
[22:06] <Seira> "Right then. We so need a cheaper way to travel," Seira says once that is done, retrieving a scroll while giving Amaryl a loaf of bread. "We'll probably be tired as is upon return, but no need to collapse entirely from exhaustion if we're somewhere we can't fend for ourselves." She's not too worried, however, given Lagann's presence.
[22:07] <Seira> roll 2d8+5
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+5 and gets 14." [2d8=6, 3]
[22:07] <Kotono> Amaryl works throughthe loaf of bread, "As long as we can manage the teleport back to Balmuria we should be okay."
06[22:08] * Seira hands Amaryl the teleportation ring, at that. "If we remain conscious long enough, it should do the trick. Whenever you're ready?"
[22:08] <Kotono> "Ready," Amaryl says, ring in hand!
06[22:09] * Seira invokes Heroism once more with the help of a pearl, and then concentrates on the scroll in her hands.
[22:09] <Seira> roll 2#1d20+30
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2#1d20+30 and gets 79." [2#1d20+30 = 45, 34]
[22:09] <Seira> OOC: Plane shift home
[22:10] <Kotono> roll 5d100
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d100 and gets 191." [5d100=24, 11, 42, 56, 58]
[22:10] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 5." [1d9=5]
[22:11] <Kotono> Exhaustion licks at the two women are you appear in the night's caress. It's dark here, the air cold and windy. Around you the shadows of rising mountains loom all about! Amaryl sags, "...think I can make it..." she says.
[22:12] <Seira> "Aim for home," Seira suggests, ready to defend them until they arrive safely, exhaustion be damned.
[22:12] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 11." [1d100=11]
[22:12] <Kotono> Woosh! The two of you appear in your bed. Amaryl immediately sits down like a ton of bricks, falling back.
06[22:13] * Seira leans back, dropping down beside Amaryl. "Lagann, wake us if there's an apocalypse,
06[22:13] * Seira leans back, dropping down beside Amaryl. "Lagann, wake us if there's an apocalypse," she bids tiredly, intending to rest and rest....
[21:03] <Kotono> ---
[21:09] <Kotono> Thus drawing the circle and creating the proper words of power, Seira invokes the magic to draw Agathaiel into this world! Amaryl and Donald stand back and watch the magic, as a ray of light arches from the heavens! In golden glow Agathaiel appears, the magic circle glowing against her. "You have summoned me, Seira. What matter of business does this require?"
[21:10] <Seira> "Hello," Seira greets the deva. "I recently received a suggestion that appealed to me. Among the things I wanted to talk to you about, it would be first. Would you like to work with me and my friends on a closer basis, without the need to be summoned for every specific task?"
[21:13] <Kotono> "A more permanent contract?" she asks right back, her hands rippling against the barriers of the circle's magic.
[21:25] <Seira> "Sorry," Seira says apologetically. "The barrier kind of goes with the territory. Terrible things might happen if I omit it, it's not that I don't trust you or anything like that." Shaking her head, she finally addresses the question. "Yes, although I would prefer to see you as a friend and ally rather than a hired hand, as such. What do you think?"
[21:27] <Kotono> "My duties are what Waukeen wills for me," Agathaiel says this as golden light gently presses against the circle, "A contract is a fine form of friendship for me. A contract brings glory to Waukeen."
[21:31] <Seira> Outsiders are weird, even the nicest ones. Seira tilts her head. "I'll take your word for it. Maybe, after a while, you'll find it more fun to bring glory to Waukeen by my side than elsewhere." Without pausing, Seira presses on. "Speaking of Waukeen and glory, we tend to get more than our share of rewards in the course of our duties.
[21:31] <Seira> If you were to enter this contract with us, you'll naturally get an equal share to do with as you will, tithe to Waukeen in full, turn it towards projects she would approve of or spend it on setting yourself apart from Waukeen's other servants."
[21:32] <Kotono> "Of course. Reward is the natural consequence of friendship," Agathaiel smiles now, "Friends enrich you in spirit and in money."
06[21:33] * Seira laughs. "So since I seem to have your agreement, what now? I don't think the scope of the spell allows for a partnership of this sort, so do I appeal to Waukeen to have our contract approved?"
[21:36] <Kotono> "A proper contract must be drawn. If you are not trained as such, a priest of Waukeen should be. His name is Gilartal, he should have the requisite training?"
[21:37] <Seira> "Donald, would you mind asking Gilartal for his services?" Seira requests of the neo-elf, before returning her attention to Agathaiel. "Good idea. While we wait, do you mind if I ask you for advice on other matters?"
[21:41] <Kotono> "Sure," Donald grins, "Nice to see you again...o rwait, have I met this one?" scratching at his long ear, "Gah, it's getting to the point where I can't keep the incarnations of good straight. Oh well!" With that Donald hurries off.
[21:41] <Kotono> "If you will draw profit from my words, yes, speak," Agathaiel nods.
[21:44] <Seira> "You have, actually!" Seira calls after Donald, rolling her eyes. "Mmm. I think I will. Amaryl has a beautiful blade, and I was thinking about how nice it would be if she had an armor to match it." She smiles briefly in happiness. "What started as an idle thought, however, grew into more as I realized that she was outgrowing it, and considering our opponents, it is never good to stay behind.
[21:44] <Seira> I remember discussing armors with Latha, once upon a time, and I recall that there are certain designs that the heavens don't usually part with, one of which could fit her quite well. And that 'usually' made me figure that it might just happen, if we tried."
[21:54] <Kotono> "There are. Crafted atop Celestia, wrought in remote hamlets in Elysium, woven of chaos and light in Arborea. To find one with Waukeen's favor, I would trawl and search the roads of trade. Gather information on such and follow the paths that gold flows on. Prove yourself to her and you may find what you seek."
[21:56] <Seira> "Would it demean you to accompany us as a guide and traveling companion?" Seira asks fairly bluntly. "You'll have to excuse me, but I'm not fully up to date on which tasks are demeaning for an astral deva, and which are acceptable requests."
[21:59] <Kotono> "If you are to follow Waukeen's path, I will do so," Agathaiel states simply.
[22:00] <Seira> "Great!" Seira exclaims, smiling. "There's more I wanted to learn from you, but it can easily wait until we've left on our way. It would be pretty exciting to have another point of view on Waukeen's path while on the road!"
[19:38] <Kotono> ---
[19:38] <Kotono> <Seira> I remember discussing armors with Latha, once upon a time, and I recall that there are certain designs that the heavens don't usually part with, one of which could fit her quite well. And that 'usually' made me figure that it might just happen, if we tried."
[19:38] <Kotono> > "There are. Crafted atop Celestia, wrought in remote hamlets in Elysium, woven of chaos and light in Arborea. To find one with Waukeen's favor, I would trawl and search the roads of trade. Gather information on such and follow the paths that gold flows on. Prove yourself to her and you may find what you seek."
[19:38] <Kotono> <Seira> "Would it demean you to accompany us as a guide and traveling companion?" Seira asks fairly bluntly. "You'll have to excuse me, but I'm not fully up to date on which tasks are demeaning for an astral deva, and which are acceptable requests."
[19:38] <Kotono> > "If you are to follow Waukeen's path, I will do so," Agathaiel states simply.
[19:38] <Kotono> <Seira> "Great!" Seira exclaims, smiling. "There's more I wanted to learn from you, but it can easily wait until we've left on our way. It would be pretty exciting to have another point of view on Waukeen's path while on the road!"
[19:38] <Kotono> "We should begin by taking to the trades of this city. Let us investigate your prospect," Agathaiel says, "If you would remove this circle and barrier?"
06[19:39] * Seira steps on a rune marking the barrier that keeps the deva bound, eliminating the construct. "Of course."
[19:40] <Kotono> The circle flares away, golden lights hining. Agathaiel shifts, becoming a slight, red headed woman wearing rich white robes. "For the moment, allow me to observe your work in Balmuria."
[19:43] <Seira> "I tend to delegate a lot, so I'm... not even sure I have any pressing business to tend to," Seira admits, glancing at Amaryl briefly. "Do I? There's the inn, and it's in very good hands. Abagail is handling Guard business and acting as liason to Elle. The magical research's hit a lull on account of one of the mages involved being abducted by horrible liches, and I can't work on connecting more of the allied cities together until my order of teleportation cir
[19:45] <Seira> until my order of teleportation circle scrolls arrives."
06[19:46] * Seira waits for Amaryl to correct her, even as she offers to Agathaiel, "Of course, if seeing more appeals to you, just pick an aspect of my duties or ventures here, and I'll give you a guided tour."
[19:47] <Kotono> "Everyone's tied up with the Dark Six," Amaryl murmurs back.
[19:48] <Kotono> Agathaiel shakes her head, "No, I mean to allow me to observe your work in Balmuria, pursuing your goal of superior armor. Let me see the workings of the trades here as you do."
[19:50] <Seira> "I think I understand better," Seira responds with a slow nod. "In that case, how about we wait a few minutes for Gilartal to arrive? Once we've settled the contract, I'll take us to Waukeen's realm to start working on that goal."
[19:59] <Kotono> OOC: What's your plan now? Have Gil draw up a contract then...?
[20:00] <Seira> OOC: She suggested that Waukeen's realm might hold either such armors or ways to craft them. I'll plane shift there with her and Amaryl to ask.
[20:00] <Seira> OOC: She actually suggested any celestial realm might, but I don't want to go to other places unless I have to
03[20:01] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-544750d2.wfd87a.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:01] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:28] <Kotono> Thus Gilartal gets to work. After abouta half day you meet in his private quarters. He looks sleepy, sipping tea as he presents a several page document to Seira, neatly scribed in ink. Agathaiel is nearby. "This is it. Read it and make sure the terms are acceptable for you."
03[20:29] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
06[20:35] * Seira reads through it while allowing Agathaiel to look over her shoulder rather than wait her turn, if she so wishes.
[20:37] <Kotono> OOC: Make an int check, by the by?
[20:38] <Seira> roll 1d20+13
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 and gets 29." [1d20=16]
[20:41] <Kotono> It's a fairly complex legal document, but Seira can hash it out without trouble. It's essentially pledging service in the name of Waukeen in exchange for gold, wealth and other such considerations. It sets a normal share structure, and encourages both parties to glorify Her name.
[20:42] <Seira> It's overly complex, but if this is the way one befriends an astral deva like her, Seira is quite willing to put in the extra effort. "Looks solid and comprehensive," she comments, giving Gilartal a grateful smile. "You're satisfied with this as well, Agathaiel?"
[20:44] <Kotono> "I am." She nods, "The contract is to my liking."
06[20:44] * Seira is the first to put her name upon it, further sealing the contract with her arcane mark.
[20:46] <Kotono> Agathaiel approaches, one finger running down the middle finger of her opposite hand. In golden blood she signs in Celestial, the wound fading away a few moments after. "Now then, shall we proceed?"
[20:48] <Seira> "Since my goal is fairly open-ended, I don't have a particular starting point," Seira responds to her. "If you could take myself and Amaryl towards a well-traveled marketplace on the right plane, however, we should be able to proceed from there."
[20:49] <Kotono> "We should start with home, here," Gesturing about, "It may deal mostly in mundanity, but Waukeen will provide in time, be it in coin, information or other help. Our path may well take us beyond this world, but in the fullness of profit and time."
06[20:51] * Seira pauses. "Now I think I understand. You believe we should first look here, on Prime? I'm not certain how to go about it, however, since I believe I would know if someone was in possession of such an armor and willing to part with it."
[20:53] <Kotono> "Let us ask around first? Information is one of the greatest keys ot profit," Agathaiel says, "Allow me to watch as you search for information about in Balmuria?"
06[20:55] * Seira consider the suggestion. "It is true that we have become one of the premier hubs of trade and travel in the world, and with traders and caravans travels information," she admits. "Very well. In that case...." Seira looks at Gilartal. "Before I turn towards other sources, such as the elven trading post or the harbor, is it possible to find out whether there have been any rumors of exceptional armors or smiths right here, at the church's promenade?"
[20:56] <Kotono> "It's simple enough to find out." Gilartal nods slightly, "I'll send a few acolytes and servants to get the latest appraisal; I have not heard today's since I was involved in this contract."
06[20:56] * Seira nods. "I will return after touring the city, then, if it is acceptable?"
[20:59] <Kotono> "It won't take long, I get reports every day, if you care to wait first," he says, "No more than a half of an hour."
[20:59] <Seira> "Might as well," Seira agrees.
[21:00] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahea dand make a GI check with a +15 bonus, Seira, to simulate this?
[21:00] <Seira> roll 1d20+27 okay
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 okay and gets 28." [1d20=1]
[21:05] <Kotono> Soon Gilartal has the information in question. "Aye, here we go," he murmurs, "There's a few good blacksmiths in the city these days - most of them work for the Guard and take out secondary contracts. There's some good work being done in Gond's temple. Far to the north in Armasea there's a well renowned blacksmith getting a good name for himself. As for armors? A merchant's been passing around a story that he let a rare armor slip through
[21:06] <Kotono> A merchant's been passing around a story that he let a rare armor slip through his hands recently."
06[21:06] * Seira perks up at the last mention. "Any notion where it took place, or in which way the armor was rare?"
[21:10] <Kotono> "I have his name: Jarn, he's staying at the Dawn Pointe Inn," Gilartal answers, "You can pursue it face to face - I'd hurry, he has a reputation as an evening drunk."
[21:12] <Seira> "I'll chase down what information I can here, before teleporting elsewhere," Seira decides. "My thanks. Jarn, then, and a visit to Gond's temple afterwards."
[21:16] <Kotono> Thus the three leave! As they walk out into the afternoon chill in the Promenade, "Two months," Amaryl says aloud, "A little less now."
[21:17] <Seira> "I think we'll manage to find something for you in that time," Seira voices, a bit taken off guard by the sudden change of topic. "You've more than proven your offensive abilities, but I still can't help but worry about your defense."
[21:21] <Kotono> "Yes." Amaryl blows out a frosty breath that lingers in the air, "Yes, I know. But only two months! That's barely any time at all to me, even at the insane pace we scurry about on."
[21:25] <Seira> "Unfortunately, our enemies are the ones to dictate the pace?" Seira responds with regret, after fishing for a suitable response. "I can enjoy just relaxing for a while, but mostly my outlook on time is different from yours. I wonder if living through a century would change me?"
[21:27] <Kotono> "You are still young?" Agathaiel walks on Seira's other side, as you pass by a few merchants carrying a box full of what looks to be covered salt. "Time is the greastest teacher of patience."
[21:28] <Seira> "Patience, I've got in spades, when I need it," Seira voices. "It's more that I feel antsy to be sitting and waiting when there're things I could be doing."
[21:32] <Kotono> "When the time is right, decisive action is important. But rushing is folly," Amaryl shakes her head, "Everyone in Balmuria always seems to be in such a hurry. That's all."
[21:33] <Kotono> "All the better that they have energy to pursue Waukeen's gifts of wealth. Proper ambition is one of her gifts, too," Agathaiel says brightly, voice rising. "These virtues are not mutually excusive."
06[21:34] * Seira taps her lips thoughtfully. "And sometimes, it's just more fun that way. Chasing you wasn't folly, rush though it might have been."
[21:37] <Kotono> You walk along. The sky is getting cloudy, heavier, darker clouds rolling in. As you come closer to the inn, "Tymora protects the brave and the bold. She too resides in Brightwater, and Her lessons are wise as well." Agathaiel takes a momentary glance at the sky.
[21:40] <Kotono> With a blush creeping up, "It...well, it worked out." Amaryl eeps.
06[21:41] * Seira laughs, closing the rest of the distance and holding the door to the inn open for Amaryl and Agathaiel to enter before her.
[21:48] <Kotono> Just inside, you find a skinny man with a big red nose waiting at the front desk, whichi s currently unoccupied. He scowls, wearing clean clothes and with his arms crossed.
[21:50] <Seira> It's just as well they don't across the hostess that doesn't like her. Seira approaches the man, asking rather easily, "Anything wrong?"
[21:51] <Kotono> "Yeah, I've been waiting twenty minutes," he grouses, "Of all the miserable luck!"
[21:53] <Seira> He wouldn't be doing that if he picked the right inn, but Seira instead offers, "The wait can be made more pleasant. How about a round of drinks? My treat."
[21:55] <Kotono> "Oh, now you're talking," With a grin, "Nice to..." he eyes Seira and then blinks, "Wait...wait, wait. You look..."
[21:56] <Seira> "Like a dragon? Thanks, I get that a lot. My name is Seira. How do you do?"
[21:58] <Kotono> "Oh...of the Crimson Guard?!" He gawks openly now, "I-I'm honored!"
[17:15] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> > With a blush creeping up, "It...well, it worked out." Amaryl eeps.
[17:15] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> * Seira laughs, closing the rest of the distance and holding the door to the inn open for Amaryl and Agathaiel to enter before her.
[17:15] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> > Just inside, you find a skinny man with a big red nose waiting at the front desk, whichi s currently unoccupied. He scowls, wearing clean clothes and with his arms crossed.
[17:15] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> <Seira> It's just as well they don't across the hostess that doesn't like her. Seira approaches the man, asking rather easily, "Anything wrong?"
[17:15] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> > "Yeah, I've been waiting twenty minutes," he grouses, "Of all the miserable luck!"
[17:15] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> <Seira> He wouldn't be doing that if he picked the right inn, but Seira instead offers, "The wait can be made more pleasant. How about a round of drinks? My treat."
[17:15] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> > "Oh, now you're talking," With a grin, "Nice to..." he eyes Seira and then blinks, "Wait...wait, wait. You look..."
[17:15] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> <Seira> "Like a dragon? Thanks, I get that a lot. My name is Seira. How do you do?"
[17:15] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> > "Oh...of the Crimson Guard?!" He gawks openly now, "I-I'm honored!"
01[17:17] <Seira> "Yes, of the Crimson Guard," she responds. "I'm here on business," Seira confides in the man, as it is hardly a secret, "although not Guard business, at that."
[17:18] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Of course!" A gush of words follow, "Don't let me slow you, ma'am!"He steps aside, "I'm only a humble merchant."
06[17:21] * Seira laughs. "It just so happens that I've recently pondered about the meaning of life," she elaborates, smiling. "Not in the what are we here to do, really, sort of way, but more in the sense of finding balance between rushing towards our goals and making ourselves busy every moment of the day, and just taking the time to relax once in a while.
01[17:21] <Seira> In this case, my business can wait, and showing Balmuria's good side to visitors can easily take precedence. To make a long story short, what would you like to drink?"
[17:37] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "I'm...wow." With a cocky smile now, "Don't mind if I do. But I haven't even introduced myself! Name's Jarn."
[17:38] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> Amaryl ever so slightly smiles to this, but hangs back.
01[17:39] <Seira> "Unbelievable," Seira muses, as her smile widens at that. "Why don't you three find us a table, while I get our order?" No one is asking for anything in particular, so she would just improvise with the selection.
[17:40] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> A table is gotten, the group sitting down. Drinks are gotten without incident. As everyone settles in, "I'm Amaryl," Amaryl offers, "Jarn, you're a merchant?"
[17:40] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> Agathaiel maintains a friendly silence, observing.
[17:41] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Uh huh," Jarn smiles to that, "Born and raised. My dad was a merchant and my grandfather was a merchant. My son'll be a merchant, Gods willing."
01[17:42] <Seira> "And this is Agatha," Seira introduces, observing the disguised deva as she does so. Her true name and assosiation with them would pretty much reveal her true nature, and Seira isn't sure whether Agathaiel wants that out in the open. "Waukeen can only smile in approval," she then continues without a noticeable pause. "Where do you hail from?"
[17:46] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Se.." He takes a drink, "I mean Victoria. I've been spending more time over here - goods from the desert and further west flow here, money from Malmuth comes north, not to mention all the unusual wares. It's the best place to make coin now."
01[17:48] <Seira> "Now that we have this chance to talk, would you mind if I asked you a question of a professional nature?" Seira inquires. "If there was something the Baronies could do to help trade along, or improve conditions for it, what would it be?"
[17:50] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> He takes a longer drink from his mug, setting it down. He rubs his red nose, "More of it. With all the money in Balmuria combined with all the goods and it's position, I'm making about five times what I used to make. Are you kidding? This city is a goldmine."
[17:50] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Waukeen's blessings have touched this city. Prosperity for all follows," Agathaiel murmurs quietly, refraining from drink and food.
01[17:51] <Seira> "Waukeen was concerned with ensuring that there were suitable trade routes from Balmuria to our neighbors," Seira muses, "but since I tend to travel differently from the merchant folk, I sometimes wonder whether their condition and upkeep is suitable."
[17:55] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Well, the Baronies roads are safe. I've heard of occasional bandits in the less well traveled Baronies, but I also hear about them being dealt with efficiently from Victoria or Balmuria. You see soldiers patrolling, both local and army detachments."
06[17:57] * Seira nods, finally tasting her own drink. "Perhaps, one day, golems could keep the roads entirely safe for travel, freeing the soldiers from this duty," she comments. "It might be an interesting project to tackle, one of those days."
[17:58] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> It's average booze. Not bad, not worth selling the farm for. "Golems...?" Jarn scowls, "What are those?"
01[17:58] <Seira> "Mmm. Think of what I had in mind as clay soldiers, stationed by the sides of the road to assist the travelers."
[17:58] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> With a little smile, "Magical constructs." Amaryl says, "They follow orders. They can be made of anything, metal, stone, gems, clay, what have you."
06[17:59] * Seira nods. "I think that clay is both the cheapest way to make them, and also one that doesn't take up precious metals or other important material that could be used elsewhere."
[18:00] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Oh, magic." With a knowing nod, "Shoulda guessed that. If you come to Balmuria for anything, it's the magic. The wizards, the temples, the money..." With a deep, heavy drink, "Still smells a bit funny. Heard the dead walked," Making the sign of the evil eye over his shoulder, "Like a story, but the city won."
01[18:02] <Seira> "We do seem to have a bit of a bad luck, where it comes to the living dead," Seira admits with a quiet sigh. "And it's just another reason to have more in the way of resources, I suppose."
[18:05] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Terrifying. If it wasn't for the Crimson Guard..." He stops here, looking at Seira all over again. He shakes his head back and forth, "Dad used to like to tell me stories about fantastic kingdoms. Said he heard about them on the road. Thing is, it was always 'They rose high and higher, then collapsed'. Mythic ages."
01[18:07] <Seira> "That's the way such stories tend to go," Seira agrees. "The Guard is trying to scribe a different one on the pages of history, but I'm afraid only time will tell whether we are successful. After all, the collapse in the myths is always related to some manner of folly, and those could be circumvented by studying the mistakes of the past, perhaps?"
[18:09] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Those who fail to study history are condemned to repeat it," Amaryl says around a sip of her own wine, "A very old proverb from Pallanth."
01[18:09] <Seira> "It would help if those who occupied themselves with the study of history also acted to ensure its mistakes weren't repeated," Seira says with another smile. "But yes, a very fine sentiment, I have to agree."
[18:10] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Guess so." Jarn shrugs his light shoulders, "Never thought Malmuth would fall so far, but just like that in a generation? Me? I'm gonna stay here where it's safe and on the rise."
06[18:10] * Seira shrugs. "To be fair to Malmuth, it still remains much like it was before, just smaller on a geographic scale. Given its original size, the empire is still quite vast."
[18:12] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Guess so. But they're buyin' up iron like crazy, still are. Who can keep going without iron? If the Baronies crossed their legs again, they're stepping in it." Jarn finishes his drink, waving a serving girl over for another. Once that's procured, "Plus they're humiliated. You should listen to the Malmuthians when they get drunk. Not a lick of 'em are happy."
01[18:15] <Seira> "We never annihilated their capital, so here's to hoping they eventually realize who their real friends and enemies are?" Seira suggests, her smile slipping slightly. This calls for a change of topic, and she might as well introduce the one she had originally come to this inn for. "Politics aside, how has your business fared you?"
[18:15] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "They started it with King Ferdi," Amaryl whispers, "It's sad, but they made their own bed and laid in it."
[18:16] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Well, well, well." He takes a long drink from his mug, nearly draining it down. With a growing smile, "I came in with dates, figs and other such delicies from the Fiefdoms. They've sold higher than I expected." He pats his stomach, "You could stand to lower your taxes a few notches, but..."
01[18:17] <Seira> "But then those excellent soldiers protecting the merchants from bandits wouldn't have their top of the line equipment," Seira picks up, her smile returning in full.
[18:18] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Mph." Finishing his drink right now, "Yeah, guess so."
06[18:22] * Seira nods thoughtfully. "I find myself in the market for such fine equipment as well, myself," she admits, low enough that she isn't overheard past their table. "I know it's quite rare for a mage such as myself to wear armor, but I've been meaning to equip myself in such a way for a while, now."
[18:26] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Oh, armor? Oh, did I miss a deal on armor not long ago!" Throwing his hands up, splashing a bit of ale, "I'm always on the lookout for side deals to earn some extra gold. A little back in Victoria, there was a guy from the Fiefdoms passing through. Azure was his name. He came through one night, talking up a few merchants. Said he had some incredible, once in a lifetime deals. So I make sure to notice where he's staying and give
[18:26] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> once in a lifetime deals. So I make sure to notice where he's staying and give him a visit." (More)
[18:28] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "He says he's sold some of his goods, but he has one he thinks I'd like. Shows me this armor...wow." Making a gushing whoosh of air from his mouth, "Lit up the entire room like a goblinfucking burst of sunshine. Gorgeous. Could have stared at it all day, would've given stormy applause until my hands fell off if someone put it on stage and sold tickets to see it. Problem was, I couldn't afford it on the spot. Told him I'd get back
[18:28] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> Problem was, I couldn't afford it on the spot. Told him I'd get back to him in a few days once I russled up the funds. But by the time I did, he was gone. Heard he slipped away in the night."
01[18:31] <Seira> "That's quite a shame," Seira commiserates. "Was the price that high?"
[18:37] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "10,000. I'm convinced it was a steal!" He shake shis head, "I bet it was stolen or something, but the Hells withi t. Who gets that sort of chance? I bet Luna del Stronger would've bought it for ten times that! I'd be rich!"
01[18:39] <Seira> "It does sound like one," Seira agrees, nodding thoughtfully. "So it was a man from the Fiefdoms? You could tell that by the way he looked?"
[18:44] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Yeah. Said he as from when I asked, too." With a nod and finishing off another drink, "Damn shame."
01[18:45] <Seira> "A shame," Seira repeats once more. "Did Azure talk to any of the local merchants while in Victoria, you think?" she inquires. "It was just a couple weeks ago, right?"
[18:46] <Ko-Nitorisonfire> "Yeah." Jarn smiles lightly now, eyes a bit bloodshot. "He was talking to a bunch of people."
01[18:47] <Seira> "Did you happen to catch any names in particular, from Victoria itself?"
03[20:04] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-54456c04.lns6-c11.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[20:04] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
03[20:19] * Ko-Nitorisonfire is now known as Kotono
03[20:53] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:54] <Kotono> "Red Meyer was one of them." With another drink down the gullet, "Big man, all red hair. I know he ws involved."
01[20:55] <Seira> That should be enough information to follow up on, Seira muses, helping Jarn to Agathaiel's serving.
[20:56] <Kotono> He swills down the wine as well, leaning back. "Good stuff. So Colonel Seira...What's it like with magic? I mean, casting it. You know, making dragons appear and fireballs burst."
01[20:57] <Seira> "I'm not really sure what you mean. Are you asking me if I enjoy it?"
[20:57] <Kotono> "What's it like casting magic? How does it feel?"
[20:58] <Kotono> Amaryl smiles at this, "It's channeling Mystra's Weave. I can use a little of it, it's like..." She considers, "It's like drawing something from inside and knowing just what to say. It makes my fingers tingle and my face feel like it's blushing."
01[20:58] <Seira> "It's a lot of fun. A feeling of power, of course, and often of control," Seira responds, reminiscing. "Sometimes, it is so exciting that you can't help but rhyme."
[21:00] <Kotono> "It's very hard, though, even when you can do it. When you finally feel like you've mastered a spell, there's new ones that are even harder." Amaryl thoughtfully looks down to her wine.
01[21:02] <Seira> "I personally like the challenge of matching the right spells to a situation you have yet to encounter to be the best," Seira muses. "Although if I fail spectacularly in that area, it can be quite depressing. I don't often do that, but still...."
[21:03] <Kotono> "Huh. Sounds like..." Yet another drink goes down, Jarn grinning. "Sounds kinda like...training, you know? Er, trading. Trading." Shaking his head as more ale goes down, "Like that. FIguring out markets and what to bring."
01[21:05] <Seira> "It is a lot like that, except it may reflect on lives. You tend to be more conservative by nature, since a loss in that area is not one you could ever recover from."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Almost." Amaryl smiles shly ot Seira.
06[21:07] * Seira is a mix of relief and sadness at the reminder. "Almost," she agrees.
[21:14] <Kotono> Agatha coughs delicately now, "Be well," she says, "But as a token of advice, restraint is a virtue as well. Drink will weather your body away and fog away your memories, as well as deplete your coffers."
[21:14] <Kotono> Jarn just finishes his drink, "Yeah, yeah, now you sound like a wife."
06[21:16] * Seira laughs, rising from her seat. "I find Agatha's advice to be quite sound in matters relating to trade and negotiations, so I wouldn't dismiss her words out of hand, however they might seem. We will be off, then. Take care, Jarn."
[21:19] <Kotono> "Thanks," Jarn raises his glass, as the party walks out. Once they're outside into the chilly air and away from the warmed air of the inn, "Are we going to head to Victoria and pursue that now, Seira?" Amaryl asks.
01[21:20] <Seira> "No reason why not," Seira agrees. "We've been there before, and we can use the ring to teleport to the front gates, then ask around."
[21:23] <Kotono> "Let's do then?" Amaryl says. OOC: If you are, go ahead and roll TPing, then assuming it works, go ahead and do a quick GI check?
01[21:23] <Seira> roll 1d100
05[21:24] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:24] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[21:24] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 93." [1d100=93]
01[21:26] <Seira> OOC: I dunno, does it qualify as studied carefully? We did spend over a day there.
[21:26] <Kotono> OOC: That's fine, you're familiar with tit and use it as a TP destination fairly often.
01[21:28] <Seira> Arming herself with a bout of Heroism to last her through most of the day, Seira begins questioning the traders and guardsmen about Azure, the traders from the
01[21:29] <Seira> Arming herself with a bout of Heroism to last her through most of the day, Seira begins questioning the traders and guardsmen about Azure, the trader from the Fiefdoms, and the visually-impressive Red Meyer.
01[21:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+14 GI
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 GI and gets 27." [1d20=13]
[21:40] <Kotono> Red Meyer is easy to find out about. He runs a merchant house in Victoria and can be found there if Seira wishes. Azure is far less forthcoming. SEira hears a few rumors - a man selling wonderous goods, but nothing concrete.
01[21:41] <Seira> Then Red Meyer is where she and her companions are headed next, to hear more than rumors.
[21:42] <Kotono> You find his merchant house: Red's Exotics. Entering in, you find a blonde haired woman standing inside, wearing an expensive looking dress and jewelry. "Good day!" She carols, "I...oh, Colonel SEira of the Crimson Guard and Lady Amaryl." She immediately makes a deep curtesy. "To what can we attribute the honor of this visit, ma'am."
01[21:47] <Seira> "Good day," Seira pleasantly returns, gesturing to her left. "This is Agatha." Perhaps, the woman could take the subtle hint and introduce herself in turn, so that Seira's response about the nature of her visit could be made properly.
[21:50] <Kotono> "I'm Marigold," she replies, "The hostess of Red's Exotics. Are you here on business, Colonel?"
01[21:51] <Seira> "Yes, although not official Guard business," Seira responds. "Call me Seira, if that's easier for you. I am interested in perusing your wares, if this is not too much trouble."
[21:53] <Kotono> "Of course," With a deep curtesy again, "Let me get Mr. Meyer for you. He would love to personally escort you, ma'am."
06[21:53] * Seira smiles, thanking the hostess.
[21:56] <Kotono> Within a few moments, she brings back a big, fat man. He has a shock of red hair, as red as pure fire. His face is the same, a thick fur jacket hanging from his massive frame. He comes forward, offering a beefy hand out. "Ah, Colonel Seira of the Crimson Guard! My modest trading house is far too little to properly entertain you, I'm afraid."
01[21:59] <Seira> "Not at all," Seira protests, accepting the trader's hand and shaking it. "I've heard about your exploits and decided to pay you a visit. Would you care to showcase your most recent acquisitions?"
[22:03] <Kotono> His grip is strong enough. "Certainly. Is there a piece in particular you're looking for, Colonel?"
01[22:05] <Seira> "In a sense," Seira agrees. "What sparked my interest was the news of a trade made with one Azure hailing from the Desert Fiefdoms. Might I see what you have gotten from his wares?"
[22:05] <Kotono> "Ah. Azure." Folding his hands together into a clap, "I should have known."
01[22:07] <Seira> "Why would that be?" Seira asks curiously.
[22:08] <Kotono> With a composed smile, "Azure sold...interesting items, as I'm sure you're aware of. Items of a mystical nature, I believe. The most strange things, too. Marvelous things, but strange."
01[22:11] <Seira> "I find myself in the curious position of both being interested to purchase his wares, and wondering if they legitimately belonged to Azure to sell in the first place," Seira elaborates with a small sigh. "I came to you in hope of both seeing one of his wares in person, and hearing more from you on the subject. Your help would be most appreciated, Sir."
[22:12] <Kotono> "Of course, I'm always happy to help the protectors of the Baronies," Gesturing, "This way.
[22:12] <Kotono> "
01[22:12] <Seira> "Thank you," Seira returns, following.
[22:14] <Kotono> You are lead back into soft, rich rooms. Here pieces of art from the Fiefdoms hang, rich displays of desert wealth. Amid them, there is a simple cudgel lying atop a fireplace. It looks completely out of place as Red Meyer stands before it. "This is it - looks normal enough right now."
01[22:17] <Seira> "If I may?" Seira voices, invoking the spell to see the magical auras of things, and taking a second look at the cudgel.
[22:18] <Kotono> The cudgel radiates magic.
01[22:19] <Seira> OOC: School, strength?
[22:20] <Kotono> OOC: Evocation, strong.
06[22:21] * Seira nods in approval. "It is decently strong. What is this cudgel supposed to do?"
[22:22] <Kotono> "Touch it." Red Meyer invites, "By all means."
06[22:23] * Seira does so at his invitation.
[22:25] <Kotono> The cudgel glows with a sheen of energy! It ripples over the surface of the cudgel, like a second skin.
06[22:26] * Seira observes it curiously for a moment longer.
[22:26] <Kotono> The energy continues to ripple. It's very pleasant to look at, entralling.
[22:26] <Kotono> *enthralling
01[22:27] <Seira> "Its ability is not revealing itself to my eyes," Seira admits. "To know more, I would need a more intrusive spell than I would like to cast at the moment."
[22:28] <Kotono> "It's definintely magic. Anyone with eyes can tell you that," Red Meyer smiles a little, "If you'r einterested in buying it? Considering it's uncertain status, I'd be willing to sell it to you at cost."
01[22:28] <Seira> "Oh?" Seira asks curiously, admiring the pleasantly glowing cudgel. "How much would it be, at cost?"
[22:31] <Kotono> "Seven thousand gold." He answers, "For what it may be, this is an absolute steal."
01[22:33] <Seira> Smiling, Seira glances towards the trader, moving her eyes away from the alluring sheen of energy. "And might I inquire about your own profit margin from this entire affair?" she wonders good-naturedly.
[22:35] <Kotono> "Even. It's at cost, I bought it for a mere 7,000 gold." Offering his hand out again, "Anything to help the guard...though, I have been thinking about opening an office in Balmuria. Would you know anything about that?"
01[22:39] <Seira> "We are always looking for enterprising people to increase the city's revenue and the quality of life for its citizens," Seira responds. "A boost to trading is one of the best ways of accomplishing this. Would you mind telling me more about that Azure person, first, however?" she requests politely. "While the product is genuine, I would still like to hear more about this trader."
[22:43] <Kotono> "He was a strange fellow. He was from the Fiefdoms, I believe. He said that he had acquired certain interesting goods he was willing to sell. Very easy to listen too, helluva talker. He'd make a great seller." Red Meyer rubs his jowly chin, jiggling. "He had the goods too."
01[22:45] <Seira> "Any idea where he was coming from, where he was headed? His plans? The rest of his merchandise?" Seira inquires calmly, giving the curious weapon a look for evil on the off chance there is foul play at hand.
[22:49] <Kotono> "He left rather abruptly," Shaking his head, "I do wonder if he was being chased." No evil, no evil at all. "He had a glowing set of armor and a cold iron sword in his possession."
[21:03] <Koaway> > "Even. It's at cost, I bought it for a mere 7,000 gold." Offering his hand out again, "Anything to help the guard...though, I have been thinking about opening an office in Balmuria. Would you know anything about that?"
[21:03] <Koaway> <Seira> "We are always looking for enterprising people to increase the city's revenue and the quality of life for its citizens," Seira responds. "A boost to trading is one of the best ways of accomplishing this. Would you mind telling me more about that Azure person, first, however?" she requests politely. "While the product is genuine, I would still like to hear more about this trader."
[21:03] <Koaway> > "He was a strange fellow. He was from the Fiefdoms, I believe. He said that he had acquired certain interesting goods he was willing to sell. Very easy to listen too, helluva talker. He'd make a great seller." Red Meyer rubs his jowly chin, jiggling. "He had the goods too."
[21:03] <Koaway> <Seira> "Any idea where he was coming from, where he was headed? His plans? The rest of his merchandise?" Seira inquires calmly, giving the curious weapon a look for evil on the off chance there is foul play at hand.
[21:03] <Koaway> > "He left rather abruptly," Shaking his head, "I do wonder if he was being chased." No evil, no evil at all. "He had a glowing set of armor and a cold iron sword in his possession."
01[21:06] <Seira> "It sounds interesting enough," Seira agrees. "I'll bite. I'm afraid I don't travel with seven thousand in gold, but I could offer a suitable trade, if you wished, or return another day."
[21:07] <Koaway> "Feel free to return. I'll hold the item for you, Colonel," Red Meyer says graciously.
03[21:08] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
01[21:10] <Seira> "My thanks," Seira says once more. "If you had to take a guess, would you bet on our entreprenuer from the Fiefdoms having sold his sword and armor somewhere in the capital, or on having left town with them in his possession?"
[21:12] <Koaway> "Well," Rubbing his jowls, "Colonel, I haven't personally heard of them being seen and Azure did leave in ahurry. It's quite possible someone bought them and is staying low, but I'd guess he still has them.:"
06[21:14] * Seira nods slowly. Even as she considers her options, however, she suggests, "If you open an affiliate in Balmuria, might I suggest setting up at the newly-built area? Land is cheaper, and existing business don't have that much of a presence there, yet, so competition would not be as fierce as in the city-proper."
[21:15] <Koaway> "Ah, a recommendation? I'd be glad to listen to it," Red Meyer grins, "I'll remember that."
01[21:16] <Seira> "Leave me a message at my inn if you are in need of further help to get established in Balmuria," Seira offers. Not that she expects such a need to come up with a successful merchant, but just in case.
[21:17] <Koaway> "I thank you, Colonel," Red Meyer sticks his hand out again.
06[21:17] * Seira shakes it, in turn, before politely excusing herself.
[21:23] <Koaway> Once out, Amaryl turns, "No matter. At least we know more, but now what?"
[21:24] <Koaway> Agathaiel walks along in the chill air, "A righteous weapon being bandied about for such easy sale by a shady man? A curious thing."
01[21:24] <Seira> "We are at a crossroads," Seira announces, once the three of them have left Red's Exotics and are touring Victoria's streets. "To use a Sending to this Azure and attempt to set up negotiations. To teleport to the Fiefdoms and see if my contacts there know of Azure. Or to try and track him down." Here, she glances at Amaryl pointedly. "Something you should succeed at far better than I."
06[21:25] * Seira shrugs, then. "This might well be a celestial agent, just as the goods could have been ill-gotten. I've come across an avatar of Waukeen in Balmuria, once. It stands to reason such things might happen elsewhere as well."
[21:26] <Koaway> "There's one way to find out, but how are you going to find him? Magic?" Amaryl shivers a little in the chilly air, "It's cold out here today."
01[21:28] <Seira> "Magic is always a way," Seira agrees, sharing her cloak with Amaryl. "I was thinking more along the lines of spreading out and looking for clues as well as questioning people at the larger cities around us. Perhaps even use Sendings to dispatch such requests. If we can establish some sort of pattern to Azure's movements, we could then use the last place he was said to have stayed to track him down."
[21:29] <Koaway> "Well, if he's heading to Balmuria it'll be easy to find him. But what if he's heading to the west?" Agathaiel considers as Amaryl shivers against Seira, "Are your contacts as strong out of this kingdom?"
01[21:32] <Seira> "Yes, in the major cities where one would wish to trade," Seira responds without much hesitation. "I doubt your average village has seven to ten thousand gold put together, so there's little point in looking for a merchant trying to sell his wares -- or someone acting like one -- in them. And given the recent attacks, the guards would be more alert, and thus liable to remember more.
01[21:32] <Seira> Mmm. All things considered, I suggest we teleport to the capital of the Fiefdoms. It would also give me a chance to see the damage it took for myself, its rate of recovery, and help out if need be, which are neat pluses."
[21:34] <Koaway> "Very well. Let us travel there," Agathaiel says, "You shall cast the magics?"
06[21:34] * Seira allows Lagann to carry them away to her room at the temple of Waukeen there.
01[21:35] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 77." [1d100=77]
[21:39] <Koaway> Woosh! Seira arrives without incident. You find your room well kept and very clean. The air is warmer here, Amaryl rubbing her hands together. "Who are we going to see?"
01[21:41] <Seira> "Nice and warm, isn't it?" Seira asks happily, routing around in the closet for cloaks matching local fashions, three in number.
[21:43] <Koaway> Thick white robes and wraps are the order of the day. Several have been prepared, smelling nice and new.
01[21:45] <Seira> "Let's touch base with the clerics here, and ask them to find out about Azure as a personal favor, before doing anything else?" Seira suggests, changing into a suitable robe before proceeding to seek the locals out.
[21:48] <Koaway> Thus the party changes robes. Isonu is found in front of a crackling warm fire, reading a thick book. He closes it as Seira enters, "Ah, Seira! It's been some time. How are the fair lands ot the east? How are you?"
01[21:49] <Seira> "Fairly well, all things considered," she returns, offering him her hand. "And you?"
[21:50] <Koaway> "Profit comes as it does." The hand is taken, as well as a short bow after. "Lady Amaryl. M'lady," To Agathaiel last, "There has been murmursin the palace of trouble in the east, as well as some recent troubles of our own."
01[21:54] <Seira> "All related, no doubt," Seira agrees somberly, before her expression lightens as she gesturs at her side. "This is Agathaiel. Agathaieal, High Priest Isonu."
[21:56] <Koaway> Agathaiel glows, her disguise passing. The deva kneels before the high priest, "Holycoin, may the path of wealth and prosperity be revealed to your eyes."
[21:57] <Koaway> "Ah...thank you," With a slight start, "A servant of Waukeen honors me. Are you on business of Waukeen here, Seira?"
01[21:58] <Seira> "Quite so," Seira agrees, smiling. "You could say that Agathaiel is supervising on this one, for me."
[21:58] <Koaway> "We are seeking a man named Azure," Agathaiel rises and stands back, "Seira, I leave this matter to you."
01[22:04] <Seira> "Quite true," Seira agrees. "I have two concerns in mind, here. One is that he might have merchandise I desperately wish to have. The other is that I worry about the legitimacy of said merchandise in his hands to begin with, and wish to be reassured. We know he hails from this region, as far as reports of him go. Do you think you could help us learn more about this man?"
[22:05] <Koaway> "I can ask my contacts," he agrees, "It'll take a little time to rattle out information - a day if you're lucky, but more likely several."
01[22:10] <Seira> "That is perfectly alright," Seira assures him, "although I would like to have initial confirmation of the man operating out of here before all else. If we knew a bit about his origins and moral fiber, I could attempt to use a Sending to him while we search for yet more information."
[22:11] <Koaway> "It will be done. Until then, the hospitality of this temple is yours," Isonu rises, "I'll begin immediately."
01[22:12] <Seira> "Is there anything I can help our clergy with, either directly at this temple, or in the city itself?"
[22:15] <Koaway> "There may be. For the moment enjoy the temple, I will be in contact," Isonu says, bowing and departing.
06[22:17] * Seira acquiesces, intent on showing the grounds to Agathaiel and Amaryl for the remainder of the day. Come morning, they should be armed with more information and more useful spells.
[22:30] <Kotono> <Seira> "Quite true," Seira agrees. "I have two concerns in mind, here. One is that he might have merchandise I desperately wish to have. The other is that I worry about the legitimacy of said merchandise in his hands to begin with, and wish to be reassured. We know he hails from this region, as far as reports of him go. Do you think you could help us learn more about this man?"
[22:30] <Kotono> > "I can ask my contacts," he agrees, "It'll take a little time to rattle out information - a day if you're lucky, but more likely several."
[22:30] <Kotono> <Seira> "That is perfectly alright," Seira assures him, "although I would like to have initial confirmation of the man operating out of here before all else. If we knew a bit about his origins and moral fiber, I could attempt to use a Sending to him while we search for yet more information."
[22:30] <Kotono> > "It will be done. Until then, the hospitality of this temple is yours," Isonu rises, "I'll begin immediately."
[22:30] <Kotono> <Seira> "Is there anything I can help our clergy with, either directly at this temple, or in the city itself?"
[22:30] <Kotono> > "There may be. For the moment enjoy the temple, I will be in contact," Isonu says, bowing and departing.
[22:30] <Kotono> * Seira acquiesces, intent on showing the grounds to Agathaiel and Amaryl for the remainder of the day. Come morning, they should be armed with more information and more useful spells.
[22:30] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and swap spells?
01[22:36] <Seira> OOC: LVL4 slots empty for myself, LVL7: Limited Wish, Greater Teleport
[22:36] <Kotono> OOC: That it for your change/prep?
01[22:37] <Seira> OOC: Yeah
[22:38] <Kotono> The next morning dawns. Isonu meets you over breakfast, but you notice that the doors are barred and shut. "Sandstorm," I show Isonu opens, "Not a terribly bad one, but unpleasant. Still, I did find some useful information."
01[22:40] <Seira> "Oh?" Seira asks curiously, buttering up a roll.
[22:41] <Kotono> Amaryl takes a few figs, wihle Agathaiel abstains. "Azure's name is familiar, though he hasn't bee in Arad in a several months. He's a low end merchant, getting by but not prosperous."
01[22:42] <Seira> "Thus it is rather strange that he is selling magical weaponry in a hurry in foreign lands," Seira picks up, taking a bite.
[22:46] <Kotono> "It doesn't make good sense, no." Isonu says, as a faint howl of wind can be heard. "Perhaps he stole it, or chanced on a lost treasure?"
01[22:48] <Seira> "Perhaps it is so," Seira agrees. "Does he have any sort of shop open in Arad, or family, per chance?"
[22:53] <Kotono> "Not that I heard of. He was a traveler, going about the Fiefdoms." Putting his hands together, "His reoputation wasn't terribly good or terribly bad. Entirely an average, forgettable sort. Which makes this the more puzzling."
01[22:55] <Seira> "I believe I will treat this as an opening toward honest trading and use a Sending after all," Seira decides. "If, over the course of our negotiations or your investigation, my doubts are raised about the legitimacy of Azure as a merchant, I could always take measures."
[22:55] <Kotono> "I would think he got lucky then?" Amaryl scratches her head, "Perhaps he's underselling the value of them like Red Meyer thought? If he's untrained...?"
[22:57] <Kotono> "There is the question of why he fled Victoria? Is he being pursued or in trouble, or is he paranoid?" Agathaiel looks to Seira, "How are you going to find him now? Scrying?"
01[22:58] <Seira> "We could decide such things on the spot," Seira agrees with Amaryl, before responding to Agathaiel's concerns. "It is entirely possible he appears to flee, if he recently came into good fortune and worries about getting robbed or killed for possessing his wares." She withdraws her spellbook, leafing through it slowly.
01[22:58] <Seira> "Scrying is fairly nasty towards someone you bear no ill will towards. I will attempt a Sending, as I've stated, and only resort to scrying if I have reason to."
[23:01] <Kotono> "Let's see how that goes then? With this sandstorm..." Amaryl coughs, "We can't simply go out and walk to im."
06[23:03] * Seira memorizes the Sending spell, before starting with the arduous task of preparing a message for her magic to deliver. She decides to deviate from the norm usually used in Sendings, and go with, 'I am Seira, a mage. I wish to purchase your wares. If you agree, please speak aloud the name of the city you are in.'
06[23:08] * Seira shrugs. "No answer, not even a less than polite 'go away', which just begs me to attempt scrying next." Even if her chances of success are slim, she feels the need to try.
[23:09] <Kotono> OOC: Going to try scrying straight away?
01[23:09] <Seira> OOC: Well, it takes an hour, but yes
[23:10] <Kotono> OOC: You have that portable scrying shard?
01[23:11] <Seira> OOC: I don't think I got around to buying it. No suitable mirrors, then?
[23:12] <Kotono> OOC: The temple would have a cleric font for it - which you could mimick with limited wish - but not the arcane component. It's the priciest and one they wouldn't really use.
01[23:13] <Seira> OOC: Sure, I'll blow the limited wish on this
[23:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 (+5 secondhand)
03[23:14] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
[23:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 (+5 secondhand)
06[23:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 (+5 secondhand) and gets 26." [1d20=17]
[23:14] <Kotono> OOC: DC?
[23:14] <Kotono> OOC: DC?
01[23:15] <Seira> OOc: 29 for lvl7 spells, which this emulates. Score!
[23:17] <Kotono> You see what look sto be a dingy room. A man is throwing bags and handfuls of coins into several heavy wooden chests, working at a feverish pitch. His skin is dark, as is his hair. He wears a simple traveler's clothes, face a mask of panic.
06[23:18] * Seira frowns. "Well, he's certainly in a panic. Let's add to it by teleporting right over?"
[23:21] <Kotono> "Quite the panic," Amaryl checks her gear over briefly, "You have the ring on you, right?"
06[23:23] * Seira hands it over, continuing to study the feverish man. "Take us over there, and we'll see if he's in need of protection or jail time."
[23:25] <Kotono> "Got it," Amaryl says, invoking the ring!
[23:25] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[23:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 92." [1d100=92]
[23:27] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear in a dark, faintly smelly inn room. It reeks of old sweat and ale here, the bed dirty and unmade. One complication - it's not your quarry Azure here. It's a large, muscled man and a blonde woman. They're not wearing much, very occupied with each other and what their tongues can find in each other's throats. Amaryl gawks and turns into a little elf flare, glowing as bright red as lava. "Ooops..." she whispers.
[23:27] <Kotono> red as lava. "Ooops..." she whispers.
[23:30] <Kotono> OOC: Strike.
[23:31] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear in a dark, faintly smelly inn room. It reeks of old sweat and ale here, the bed dirty and unmade. Several wooden chests are here, Azure filling them with bags of gold and coin as fast as he can.
01[23:32] <Seira> "Who are you in such a hurry to flee from, Mister Azure?" Seira asks, casually striding to occupy a spot that cuts off any escape, be it through door or window. And looking at him through her evil-detecting shades, of course.
[23:33] <Kotono> No evil. Azure whirls around, eye sgoing wide. "Aaaah!" He fumbles, drawing a dagger from his shirt. "Get away ,thieves!"
01[23:36] <Seira> "How rude," Seira says with a huff. "At least call us tresspassers, if you must. All I want is a few minutes of your time. If you don't want to sell me anything in your possession, that is well within your rights. But I have strong concerns regarding the legality of those possessions, and your strange behavior has forced me to act in such a manner.
01[23:36] <Seira> If you persist in this paranoid fashion, I will have to make this inquiry an official one, and this is something I believe we would all like to avoid, wouldn't we, Mister Azure?"
[23:37] <Kotono> "We don't mean any harm. We just need to make sure everything's safe for you," Amaryl adds into this.
[23:37] <Kotono> OOC: Make diplo, Seira?
01[23:37] <Seira> roll 1d20+37
06[23:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+37 and gets 54." [1d20=17]
[23:38] <Kotono> Azure's tenseless lessons, taking a few big breaths. "O-kay, you sound trustworthy," he says, putting his knife away. "Seira from the United Baronies?"
01[23:40] <Seira> "In the flesh," Seira agrees with a curt nod. "If you are indeed being pursued, nothing short of a demon lord would get to you while we are present, so you may relax. Now, would you mind telling me what has you so jumpy? It is a rare day that such exploits of merchants reach Balmuria all the way from the capital."
[23:41] <Kotono> Azure's hands shake, "It's this loot. It's cursed." Shaking his head back and forth, "The money might be too, but I'm gonna risk it. Made enough to retire in luxury. All 'cause I found that battlesite."
06[23:42] * Seira tilts her head slightly, indicating for him to proceed.
[23:44] <Kotono> "I was blown off course by a sandstorm...really bad. I stumbled into a battle-ground. It was...lots of broken things and black sand. I found the loot in it and made it back to an oasis, just barely."
01[23:46] <Seira> "Sounds like a fair found," Seira says evenly, shrugging. "Where does the curse come in?"
[23:47] <Kotono> "Started getting bad feelings as I sold it all. Bad feelings. Like I was being watched. Things were right. They were going to get me." Shaking his head along and along and along, "They were gonna come and take it all away."
01[23:48] <Seira> "How long have you been selling it?" Seira asks curiously.
[23:49] <Kotono> "Several months. A piece here, a piece there. Quiet. I know they'd get me if I made more noise." Azure shakes his head, "Sold it all, but...gotta get back and hide safely now. I can't let them get my gold!"
01[23:51] <Seira> "I assure you, if anyone were literally watching your steps with magic, these mysterious they would have stepped in far earlier," Seira muses, tapping her lips. "I could, of course, check if there is any curse at all at play, here, although I doubt that, either. Could you tell me more about the nature of this battle ground and what you found there?"
[23:54] <Kotono> "Y-yeah, okay." After another shaky breath, "It was in the desert, way out there. Everything was really quiet. No bodies, just the bear...and the sand. Patches of sand that were black as night, and others white as snow. It felt creepy. Really creepy, but the stuff as lying around there, waiting to be taken."
01[23:55] <Seira> "Bear?"
[23:55] <Kotono> *gear. B and G are close on th ekeyboard.
01[23:55] <Seira> OOC: Strike~
01[23:59] <Seira> "It is possible it was a battlesite where a follower of heavens fell, and might even attribute for the sensation of being watched," Seira suggests, thinking it over. Plenty of battles took place in that region, leaving dead sand behind. "As long as you did not sell anything to particularly unscrupulous people, however, I would not worry about any sort of reprecussions
01[23:59] <Seira> and suggest that you relax about such things. If you are worried over the more mundane problems, such as being robbed by those who envy your fortune, Balmuria has an excellent standard in keeping the law, and plenty of qualified mercenaries for hire to guard your person, if I might say so."
Session Time: Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Kotono> "M-maybe, but..." He runs a hand down his face, "You said checking for a curse, too? Like heavens? Angels? Like an angel cursed me?"
[00:01] <Kotono> "Perhaps so if you hold something not meant for mortal hands, but not likely." Agathaiel replies, "If you committed no sin, it is unlikely you are cursed by the heaven.s"
01[00:01] <Seira> "That's highly unlikely," Seira states. "There might be, in exceedingly rare cases, a curse left on objects from a violent passing of their owner, but again I don't believe that to be the case. Just to be on the safe side, once an hour's passed, I could check for such matters."
[00:06] <Kotono> "Y-yeah," Azure nods, going to sit besides his gold boxes. "It's gotten worse as time has passed, too."
01[00:08] <Seira> "I can dispel curses, too," Seira decides to state, in order to help the man calm down. "As Agatha has said, if no sin was committed, you should suffer no ill effects. Oh, where are my manners? This is, of course, Agatha, and last but not least, Amaryl." She gestures at her companions as she makes the belated introductions.
[00:12] <Kotono> "Hello." Soft in voice and smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Azure." Amaryl says.
[00:13] <Kotono> "H...hello." Takin ga gulp in return, "Yeah, you do that. See about the curse as soon asyou can then."
01[00:14] <Seira> "If I might return to that subject," Seira then says, "I am interested in the collection you manage to acquire and sell. In the armor, in particular, but the rest of it as well. If possible, I intend to try and track it down for purchase. As we must wait for a bit until I can call upon those magics, I would appreciate hearing about those dealings, unless they were made in confidence."
[00:24] <Kotono> "I-I'll tell you." A slight nod follows, "I sold it to a man who called himself Laraiel. When I started making my pitches to merchants there, he came up and made an offer. We got along well and it was generous, so I went along with it. Said he was heading back towards Arad."
01[00:25] <Seira> "From Victoria?" Seira inquires, also intent on getting what few contact details might be available.
[00:26] <Kotono> "Yes." A nod there, "That's what he said."
01[00:28] <Seira> "And aside from the armor?"
[00:29] <Kotono> "I sold a man named Red Meyer a cudgel," He goes on, "He's in Victoria. I sold a traveling merchant named Ali a cold iron sword in the Fiefdoms.
[00:29] <Kotono> "
06[00:29] * Seira nods. "Just those three, then? A strange set of equipment."
[00:32] <Kotono> "Yeah," Answering that with a quick nod, "You just know they're magic when you look at them."
01[00:33] <Seira> "You do," Seira agrees. "I ran into Red Meyer the other day, and saw the cudgel. How much did you get for each of them, if I might ask?"
[00:34] <Kotono> "5,000 for the cudgel, 10,000 for the armor and 6,000 for the sowrd," he answers, "21,000 gold in total, roughly."
06[00:36] * Seira grins at the sneakiness of the Victorian merchant. "Might I suggest using gems and platinum for most of your monetary needs?" she voices. "They tend to make travel far lighter and easier. That aside, however, would you take me up on my offer of transportation towards your next destination? I should be able to take you and your gold along, if you so wish."
[00:38] <Kotono> "You mean...magic?" He looks to Seira again, "I heard you can go across the known world in as econd."
01[00:39] <Seira> "I can," she confirms.
[00:39] <Kotono> "Yes, exactly that." Agathaiel smiles faintly, "Arcane magic trivilizes miles into inches."
[00:40] <Kotono> "Okay," Licking his lips, "It'll get me away from THEM, anyway."
01[00:41] <Seira> "Just think about your destination, Balmuria, Arad, or something new altogether," Seira suggests to the man. "Take your time, gather your things for travel. Once you are done, I will be ready as well."
[00:43] <Kotono> "Balmuria'll work," Azure says quickly, "Somewhere they wont' find me...they think I'm going back to the desert, I just know it."
06[00:44] * Seira nods, and settles against the wall to meditate, finding herself a position where she can observe the outside world through the window. Once an hour has passed, she can just start by trying to sense the magic in the room, and see whether Azure has anything left over that he couldn't properly identify, or any sign of magic upon his person or his gold.
[00:47] <Kotono> Azure radiates faint magic, Seira finds.
01[00:47] <Seira> Raising an eyebrow imperceptively, Seira tries to estimate the nature of said magic.
[00:48] <Kotono> OOC: Spellcraftin'?
01[00:48] <Seira> OOC: Yep
[00:49] <Kotono> OOC: Taking ten or rolling/total what?
06[00:50] * Seira takes a moment to reinforce her faculties with Heroism before attempting to discover the exact nature of the aura.
01[00:50] <Seira> OOC: 10 for 38
01[00:51] <Seira> This time, Seira's eyebrows climb all the way past her shades. "What do you know, there really is a curse," she says loud enough to catch everyone's attention. "Azure, please stand still and breathe normally, while I attempt to remove it from your person?"
[00:54] <Kotono> "Ah, an easy solution," Agathaiel smiles.
06[00:54] * Seira presses the palm of her hand to Azure's forehead, channeling enough arcane power to force its way through the curse and eliminate it altogether.
01[00:54] <Seira> OOC: Remove Curse
[00:54] <Kotono> Azure's eyes widen, "They cursed me, oh no..!" he shudders, trying to breathe normally. With that burst of arcane power, Azure's eyes go wider. "...i...it's gone." he says, "That nameless dread is fading away!"
06[00:55] * Seira continues observing the unfortunate man calmly to confirm that the magical auras indeed are leaving his person.
[00:56] <Kotono> The auras are gone. With a smile, "I feel so much better! Why was I so worried...there's nothing wrong at all!"
01[00:58] <Seira> "It is by no means no certainty, but I estimate the curse was of a divine origin," Seira says for Azure's benefit. "Either you've crossed a cleric in some way, or the objects you've found carried something with them... but things should be just fine from now on. Let's go to Balmuria once you've settled your affairs here, then?"
[01:00] <Kotono> "It could have been an object warded to prevent evil from taking it and you were merely unlucky." Agathaiel considers, "Or perhaps the black sand you spoke of?"
[01:00] <Kotono> "I'm ready to go, gold and all," Azure states.
01[01:01] <Seira> "All fine possibilities," Seira agrees. "Just come closer, then, everyone. I will aim for a section of the street just outside my home. You could stay there for the day, Mister Azure, and then choose where to settle down. On three, one, two...."
01[01:02] <Seira> Once everyone is ready, she counts to three and calls upon her strongest teleportation spell, certain to deliver them all on target without fail.
[01:21] <Kotono> The rest of the day's sendings are simple. Isonu promises to sending you late the same day or tomorrow depending on when the sandstorm lessens. OOC: Rest of the day is peaceful. Going to change any spells.
01[01:23] <Seira> OOC: (lvl5) TK, Cloudkill -> blank slots; (lvl4) Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, GMW -> blank slots; (lvl7) Twinned Ray -> Greater Teleport, Twinned Unicorns -> Limited Wish
06[01:24] * Seira intends to see if the next day bears any fruit, and if Isonu does not contact her by lunchtime, she could investigate the smith in Armasea in the meantime.
[01:26] <Kotono> Just before lunch, word comes back. 'Ali is a legitimate merchant, but not in Arad right now. Laraiel is related to celestials and can talk in Arad.'
01[01:29] <Seira> That name was a large giveaway, and Seira's pleased that her hunch was met. "I will be there in half an hour," she sends back, "and I would appreciate it if an audience could be arranged. Thank you, Isonu."
[01:33] <Kotono> After a half hour, the three women gather. "On your mark, Seira," Amaryl says.
06[01:36] * Seira imbues herself with a pair of spells to give herself a boost of confidence and to draw more deeply on her draconic nature, and then accepts Amaryl and Agathaiel's hands. "Towards successful negotiations," she pronounces, calling upon a powerful spell of teleportation to deliver them to her room at the temple in Arad.
01[01:36] <Seira> OOC: Heroism, Voice of the Dragon
[01:44] <Kotono> Woosh! Thus the trio appears! In your room Isonu awaits. A man of regal stature and bearing with deepset black eyes waits. He wears fine traveling clothes with a rich cloak. His skin is like marble, hair dark curls. "Seira," he offers a hand out to her.
06[01:45] * Seira shakes it firmly, inclining her head in greeting. "Laraiel?"
[01:46] <Kotono> "The same." His grip is unrelented, hand smooth as melted iron. "I hear you were after Azure, the man I bought celestial armor from?"
[01:46] <Kotono> "I've informed him of the situation," Isonu states as he stays stead.
[01:46] <Kotono> *seated
01[01:49] <Seira> "That makes the situation even simpler," Seira says with a smile directed at the priest. "Thank you once more, Isonu." Returning her direction to Laraiel, she gestures towards her girlfriend. "This is Amaryl. I was seeking a superior armor for her, as we are about to return to the Abyss to take the fight to our enemies. Her safety is paramount in my eyes, and I believed Azure had just what we needed."
[01:51] <Kotono> "I've heard of the Crimson Guard. You've done good work in this world. You're correct, the armor is powerful, or it would be if it wasn't damaged." Laraiel stays standing, his marvelous voice filling the room and enthralling. "It bears battle scars and it's effectiveness has been compromised."
[01:51] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[01:51] <Kotono> "I've heard of the Crimson Guard. You've done good work in this world. You're correct, the armor is powerful, or it would be if it wasn't damaged." Laraiel stays standing, his marvelous voice filling the room and enthralling. "It bears battle scars and it's effectiveness has been compromised. It could be repaired given the proper skill."
01[01:54] <Seira> "I know of two artisans who might be up to the task," Seira says, not missing a beat. "Perhaps even three. Of course, it is near impossible to tell, given I know next to nothing about the battle scars in question. Would you be willing to assist us in this matter, either by allowing us to purchase the armor, or by doing that and helping us restore it to its former glory?"
[01:56] <Kotono> Laraiel gestures to Seira's closet. "I placed it in there. I ask for a favor in return."
01[01:57] <Seira> "Of course," Seira says instantly. "If it is within my power to help, I am always ready to do so for our friends here in Arad."
[02:04] <Kotono> "I need another magical item I possess fully analysed. I fear it may be a cursed arm of the dark side."
01[02:05] <Seira> "The sword Azure mentioned?"
[02:06] <Kotono> "No, unrelated to this." Taking it out from a pocket, Laraiel shows you a pair of bloodied iron gauntlets. They're small but stained in dark lifeblood. "I do not detect evil, but my spirit is uneasy when I hold them. I would like to remove any question about them."
06[02:08] * Seira nods. "Alright," she says, heading towards her closet to withdraw the armor from it and laying it up on her bed. She gestures next to it. "Please put the gauntlets here, and I will attempt to observe them both at the same time."
[02:09] <Kotono> The gauntlets are placed down without incident.
06[02:09] * Seira calls upon Detect Evil and Magic in sequence, studying both objects.
[02:11] <Kotono> No evil but there is magic.
01[02:12] <Seira> OOC: Spellcraft 38 for unique effects/enchantments/school/etc?
06[02:15] * Seira nods to herself, and asks those gathered to make themselves comfortable as she begins preparing the necessary spells. A magic circle against evil and the spell of Identify would be necessary for something a celestial suspects just might be dangerous. Once their arcane patterns are seared into her mind, Seira invokes the former in its extended variant, and attempts to use Identify on the gauntlets.
06[02:21] * Seira observes herself for any foreign auras mingling with her own. If none are in presence, she rounds up the request by having Lagann use a Wish on Legend Lore for the gauntlets, while she herself calls upon similar magic to cast Analyze Dweomer for both of the objects.
01[02:23] <Seira> roll 10*1d4 legend lore minutes
06[02:23] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10*1d4 legend lore minutes and gets 20." [1d4=2]
[02:25] <Kotono> Seira takes out the armor! It is made of silver and gold, but terribly battered. Despite it, it glows beautifully!
01[02:27] <Seira> "I'm sorry it took--" Seira trails off, frowning in dismay. "Ah, well. At least those were two hours well spent. Laraiel, the gauntlets have the most basic of enchantments upon them, which is then further imbued by delivering a moderate amount of negative energy upon those struck with them. While necromantic in nature, it is hardly a vile or evil or even nasty enchantment.
01[02:27] <Seira> They also aren't old or important enough in the general scheme of things, so rather than believe a simple pair of gauntlets managed to outwit me, I think I'll go with harmless in the way you were afraid about."
[02:28] <Kotono> "Good. Still distasteful, but worthy of putting away in a corner, not needing to destroy or purify," Laraiel says, "Thank you, Seira."
06[02:30] * Seira shrugs. "Don't mention it. And I wouldn't call it distasteful, truly. A simple inflict light wounds spell would harm a person more. Just as positive energy could be harmful if you spend too much on that plane, negative energy has its own reasonable uses."
06[02:31] * Seira decides to add, "Plus, there is nothing vampiric about this ability. It does not drain from the target to yourself."
[02:32] <Kotono> "I still dislike using the tools of death. Let life reign instead, not death." The guantlets are taken, "The armor is yours to do what you will with. I trust you will put this armor to good use."
01[02:33] <Seira> "It is my hope as well," Seira returns with a smile, taking the change of topic in stride. There is little sense to argue over tastes regarding such matters. "If there is any way I might be of use in the future, don't hesitate to call upon me, Laraiel."
[02:34] <Kotono> "I know not how long my duties on this world will last. If they take me in your path, I will come calling," He offers his hand out again to Seira. "Be safe and walk in peace."
01[02:35] <Seira> "You too," she says, taking the proffered hand once more.
[02:36] <Kotono> "Be well, sorry I didn't say much." Amaryl blushes, "But you have such a lovely voice!"
[02:36] <Kotono> "Be well, brother in arms," Agathaiel shakes hands with Laraiel.
06[02:36] * Seira laughs. "It can be easy to get overwhelmed with new people, can't it?" she tells Amaryl.
[02:41] <Kotono> "Oh yes," Amaryl colors again, "SometimesI just want to stay home for a few months and rest."
01[02:41] <Seira> "I think we can manage that, in two months's time," Seira voices. "We'll surely earn our time off by then."
[02:43] <Kotono> "But now what?" Agathaiel goes over to the damaged celestial armor, "Who shall repair it?"
01[02:45] <Seira> "The smith we heard of," Seira states. "That is our next target. As Elle is busy as sin, we'll have to try our luck in Armasea, next. I'll memorize teleporting spells, and once I'm done we can try and see that rumored person."
01[02:46] <Seira> OOC: Identify, MCvE -> blank lvl4 slots, Teleport x2 -> blank lvl5 slots.
[02:50] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, roll TP.
01[02:50] <Seira> roll 1d100 try the first!
06[02:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 try the first! and gets 54." [1d100=54]
[18:13] <Kotono> ----
[18:15] <Kotono> Questioning around, Seira can find her destination is a bit outside the city of Armasea. Mercer lives there, known as an extrodinarily skilled blacksmith. Seira would know he repaired the Sword of the Sealed Gate using Linthrum and the fragments of the blae.
[18:15] <Kotono> *blade
[18:15] <Kotono> OOC: If you wanna TP over or make travel arraingmenets feel free.
01[18:17] <Seira> Since there is still plenty of sunshine left, and she doesn't want to risk teleporting blindly based on such descriptions, Seira decides to find horses for herself and her companions and ride over to Armasea's outskirts in search of the smith Mercer.
[18:18] <Kotono> OOC: Going on mundane horseback or what?
01[18:18] <Seira> OOC: Yeah. It's just nearby, right?
[18:18] <Kotono> OOC: You do know that's not a mere day's journey or anything by normal means.
[18:18] <Kotono> OOC: It takes a bit of travel to get there, you guys haven't been in a long while though.
01[18:18] <Seira> OOC: I'm in Armasea, and it's still over a day? Okay.
[18:19] <Kotono> OOC: No, I mean that you're in Balmurai right now. I'm talking about from Balmiuria TO the destination.
[18:19] <Kotono> OOC: If you're going to TP over and take horses(Yeah, I said it funny a line up), roll the TP then and I'll move you along.
01[18:20] <Seira> OOC: I was pretty sure I wanted to teleport to Armasea from the start, but okay
01[18:20] <Seira> roll 1d100
03[18:20] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[18:20] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[18:20] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 75." [1d100=75]
[18:25] <Kotono> Getting horses in Armasea is without incident and easy enough. You go to find Mercer. A large, smoky stone building lies a few miles out of Armasea. A wide chimney emits great black puffs of smoke out, the entire air smelling of metal and fire. There is little decoration outside, the building entirely ulitarian.
[18:26] <Kotono> Amaryl sneezes, rubbing her nose. "It is most assuredly a smithery. Human smiths are always so smoky!"
01[18:26] <Seira> Flashiness has its moments, but a quiet, reserved confidence is also fine, Seira muses to herself. At Amaryl's words, she perks up. "How do elven smiths work, then?"
[18:27] <Kotono> "I'm not trained in the arts, but I can tell you there is far less smoke involved." Sneezing again, Amaryl follows that up with a cough.
01[18:28] <Seira> "We'll have to visit one of them some day and solve this mystery, then," Seira responds with a short laugh, heading up to the door to knock on it twice.
[18:29] <Kotono> After a few moments, a loud, roudy voice calls, "Yeah, what do you want? C'mon in!"
06[18:30] * Seira opens the door, preferring to deliver her greeting in person. "Seira of the Crimson Guard. I'm looking for Mercer?"
[18:31] <Kotono> As Seira enters, she is buffered by heat! Inside are several forges, blazing hot! In this vast room hang cooling and cooled arms, armor and shields in the front half. In the back half are the forges, where the crafter works. He is a big man - six and a half feet tall, flame scarred and wearing a leather apron over his clothes. He wields a hammer as he pounds on a shield, forcing it into place. "Seira, eh? Captain Alicia send you this way?
[18:31] <Kotono> "Seira, eh? Captain Alicia send you this way?" He speaks over the din of his hammer.
01[18:33] <Seira> Mmm, heat. "You came highly recommended," Seira chooses to respond, before introducing Amaryl and Agathaiel to the smith. "We have quite the unique suit of armor that needs to be in top shape, perhaps even surpassing its original capabilities. I'm reasonably confident the likes of it weren't seen on this world for millennia, at least not in the hands of mortals. Interested in the job?"
[18:35] <Kotono> "Damned right I am." With a few more poundings to shape it, Mercer takes the shield in tongs, dropping it into a vat of water! As it hisses and a storm of steam rises out, "Is it more Linthrum?"
01[18:36] <Seira> "Why don't we just show you?" Seira asks, a smile playing on her lips, as she waits for Amaryl to reveal the celestial armor to Mercer.
[18:38] <Kotono> Amaryl takes the armor out of the carrying sack, placing it onto a nearby table! The forge-light catches in the armor, reflected into the brilliance of an inferno. Mercer looks to it, a low whistle in his throat. He goes over, running his hands over the damaged suit of mail.
[18:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 27." [1d20=13]
[18:38] <Kotono> "This isn't from here, is it? Not from anywhere we're supposed to be?" His hands work into the grooves and gashes, "This construction is beyond any other smith besides myself."
01[18:40] <Seira> "Its nature speaks rather lightly about its origin," Seira agrees. "I know what it is capable of now, and I know what similar designs are made to do. I even have an idea or two of my own about how to adjust those. What I can't possibly tell is whether it would be possible to fix it according to such designs in a short amount of time."
[18:43] <Kotono> "I need to examine it." Hefting the armor up with one hand, holding it close to his face with squinted eyes, "Do you know what it's forged of?"
06[18:44] * Seira is about to say no, when she pauses, and mentally asks Lagann to determine that for her.
01[18:48] <Seira> "Mithral, gold and alchemical silver," Seira reports, detailing the exact composition and how the metals uniquely bind to each other. "I believe it carries itself much like a comparable mithral armor in most ways."
[18:50] <Kotono> Rapping against the tiny chain-links with his finger, "Gold's too heavy for effective armor and much too soft. Alchemical silver can hold an edge...mithral is very good." He eyes it again, "It must be using the gold for some purpose, but what? The armor's too damned light. Magic?"
01[18:56] <Seira> "Speaking of..." Seira trails off, and links her mind closer with Lagann. She can project colorful images in the air easily enough, and her familiar has an endless knowledge of designs. Together, they should be able to display the way the metals come together, and the functions of magic binding them.
01[18:56] <Seira> Truthfully, Lagann could have sufficed in fixing the armor altogether, but setting up a suitable smithy for him would just take too long while they're pressed for time. That doesn't mean his knowledge can't come useful, however.
[18:58] <Kotono> Watching the designs raptly, Mercer's hammerhand twitches around his instrument. "Oooooh...that's how...and the alchemical silver bonds to the gold...and the mithral..." he nods to himself, "And the arcana..."
01[19:02] <Seira> "The most heavily damaged parts are that last, the arcana."
[19:03] <Kotono> After some time of examination, Mercer nods. "I'm not a wizard, but I have picked up some arcane knowledge." He reaches out with his hammer, going through one of the projected images. "It'll need something to reignite the magic. Something powerful and suitable, the stronger, the better. You're a wizard, got anything like that?"
01[19:05] <Seira> "If you mean a suitable magic spell, I'm tapped out for today," Seira admits, "but tomorrow I could work something out. If you had a different idea, I could try spells that go well with this armor's nature."
[19:05] <Kotono> "It might, but not. Something more solid. Something magic or symbolism. Like a sphere of magical power, or the heartblood of an angel." With a shrug, "You know, like in the storytales?"
06[19:06] * Seira is silent for a bit, before asking, "What about a dragon's blood?"
[19:09] <Kotono> "It might, at that. Dragons are naturally magical." Nodding ot that, "If it was reforged in dragon's blood, that could do it. The stronger the dragon, the better." With a critical eye at Seira, "Wasn't there a dragon in Balmuria years back? Still got his blood around?"
01[19:10] <Seira> "In a sense," Seira muses, turning to examine the pendant she had given Amaryl what now seems like such a long time ago. "That, and some of my blood to serve as catalyst to bind the two together, perhaps...."
[19:11] <Kotono> "It would be good. Got anything else to add to that," As Seira examines the pendant. "It doesn't have to be just one thing, as lon gas they all harmonize and they're all powerful."
01[19:14] <Seira> "Only the spells I mentioned previously," Seira responds, glancing at Amaryl and Agathaiel for any ideas.
[19:16] <Kotono> "A holy relic, or perhaps something else?" Agathaiel says after some thought.
[19:17] <Kotono> "Maybe..." Amaryl considers a moment, "No. Nevermind."
01[19:17] <Seira> "How would pure, positive energy mesh with things?" Seira volunteers, mulling it over, before turning towards Amaryl. "Yes?"
[19:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 30." [1d20=16]
[19:20] <Kotono> "It...like life-energy? Potentially quite well, but I've never worked with anything like that so I don't know for certain," Mercer says.
01[19:22] <Seira> "Would you be averse to having my familiar on hand?" Seira inquires, even as she continues to peer at Amaryl questioningly. "He is quite knowledgeable in the field, and it feels as if such an arrangement would cover all angles."
[19:23] <Kotono> "It was a foolish idea," Amaryl frowns.
[19:23] <Kotono> "That metal ball? If it helps, sure. I could use a second...not what I imagined, but why not?"
01[19:24] <Seira> "He could talk to you directly, if you'd like, though I'll have to ask him not to overwhelm you," Seira responds. "That aside, for the moment, I would like an estimate. How long would such an endeavor take, and how much would you like to charge for it?"
[19:26] <Kotono> "Hells." Scratching on a burnscar on his forearm, "Half a week? A week? It took me three days to remake that Sword of the Sealed Gate, this shouldn't be much longer. As for payment? I want physical copies of those images the ball's making."
01[19:29] <Seira> "Would you be averse to checking with myself before employing the techniques that went into the construction of this armor?" Seira asks him back. "We might have been granted the armor itself, but crafting more of them without any control might get someone we want to keep happy to frown instead."
[19:32] <Kotono> "What do you mean, checking in with you?" Mercer asks.
01[19:33] <Seira> "Passing on the word and letting me run a background check on anyone eager to get their hands on shiny celestial armor," Seira elaborates. "From my understanding, they are restricted use gear even on the higher planes, so if some unscrupulous group got any into their hands, I can only see that lead to badness for all involved."
[19:34] <Kotono> "If you think I can copy this entirely, you're wrong. I can't copy the magic involved. I might be able to find a new process or two out of it, but I'm not a wizard. Making magic from nothing isn't possible."
01[19:35] <Seira> "I see. In that case, I don't believe that to be a problem," Seira asserts, though she glances at Agathaiel out of the corner of her eye for confirmation just the same.
[19:36] <Kotono> Agathaiel nods faintly in return.
[19:36] <Kotono> "Then leave what you're going to leave and come back in three days," he bids.
01[19:38] <Seira> "I can leave the armor here," Seira offers, "and go collect another possible item, perhaps indeed of a holy origin. That way, you could familiarize yourself with it, and tomorrow I will arrive with the remaining would-be components. Is that acceptable?"
[19:40] <Kotono> "Fine." Mercer says. OOC: Seira, what all are you going to give him, by the way?
01[19:40] <Seira> OOC: The armor for now.
01[19:41] <Seira> OOC: I'd like to TP over to Malmuth and have a chat with Saul, in case he has a good idea. He's a mage, a cleric and he studied the happy healing orb, so he should be quite knowledgeable.
[19:49] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. If you're using normal TPs roll 'em.
01[19:51] <Seira> "Amaryl," Seira says once they leave Mercer's abode, wanting to confirm something before they teleport onwards. "You know me by now, don't you? Saying something halfway and then letting it be just makes me more and more curious."
[19:52] <Kotono> Amaryl sighs, "I know. I spoke before I controlled my tongue. I had the idea to offer up the Sun Blade intot he armor."
01[19:54] <Seira> "It's certainly holy enough, and should work just fine," Seira agrees. "But it is also a physical sign of approval we went through hell to receive. Even before usefulness comes in as a factor, I would be hesitant to see you give that up."
[19:57] <Kotono> "Yeah, I thought it would be betraying what we went through." Amaryl agrees, "That's why it's foolish."
06[19:59] * Seira shakes her head. "While the idea isn't workable, as is, how is it foolish to suggest it, when it might inspire others?" She draws the sword Pallanth had graced her with, admiring its beautiful blade. "There are certainly other swords that hold a lot of significance, which was what Mercer was talking about, yet wouldn't constitute any betrayal if used."
[20:00] <Kotono> "Oh, Flash of Heaven! Even the name fits!" Amaryl's cheeks light up with a blush, "Surely that would bring good fortune?"
01[20:02] <Seira> "Quite," Seira agrees, sheathing the blade. "Now, let's go see Dad and ask him for his opinion? I quite value it, even if it doesn't look like it at times."
[20:04] <Kotono> "Let's!" With that, Amaryl takes Seira's hands! OOC: Go ahead and do the TPing thaang.
01[20:04] <Seira> roll 1d100 ring
06[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 ring and gets 12." [1d100=12]
[20:08] <Kotono> You find Saul within one of the restored buildings. A light crust of snow is on the ground, the wind chill. But inside it's warm, Saul sitting in front of a fireplace and drinking hot tea. "Your timing is better than it usually is. I just finished today's magic."
01[20:09] <Seira> "That was a criticism, wasn't it?" Seira asks Amaryl, frowning. "He sees his loving daughter, and the first thing out of his mouth is this." She shakes her head sadly.
[20:10] <Kotono> "Well, Waukeen is perfect. The rest of us..." With a little wavering of his hand ,"We should try to improve ourselves to be better like Waukeen."
[20:10] <Kotono> Amaryl crackls a smile to Seira, "I think, ah, I'll just sit down and have some tea, too."
01[20:11] <Seira> "Fine, fine." Seira plops to the ground by her father. "I figure you would've said something if there were any problems, so the situation here is same old, same old?"
[20:13] <Kotono> "We're doing the best we all can." Saul gestures to other soft seats by the fire, "Queen Tant's running herself raw trying to keep Malmuth running and repair the capital so thousands more don't die of exposure."
[20:13] <Kotono> Agathaiel remainds standing, behind Amaryl's chair.
01[20:14] <Seira> "If you are in need of more supplies, we can certainly manage that," Seira voices. "I'll also be around in the near future, and help how I can."
[20:15] <Kotono> "The Baronies are sending what they can. We need wood - so much wood. Wood for fires, wood temporary cabins, wood for splints..." Saul grunts, "The Faran Preserve is being gutted for wood."
06[20:16] * Seira considers. "What about Pallanth? They can send aid as well, if they were so inclined. Luckily enough, the network of the working portals allows for that."
[20:18] <Kotono> "I've sent word through there," Saul agrees, "They're helping, but we have an entire displaced, mammoth city. Without those circles, it would be far worse than it is."
01[20:20] <Seira> "I suppose," Seira agrees. "So," she then continues, leaning her back against Saul's seat, "would you like to hear what we're running about for this time, Dad?"
[20:22] <Kotono> "Money?" Tapping his chin, "You do go through money faster than a princess in a jewelry store, but...no, probably not. My blessing for Amaryl...no, you didn't wait on that. Spiritual advice as a cler...okay, that's a fantasy." Saul chuckles, "You want me to cast magic for you?"
01[20:23] <Seira> "Spiritual advice is fine," Seira responds. "And do you really want me to react to the second one, oh absentee father of the decade?"
[20:24] <Kotono> Amaryl blushes very much now.
[20:24] <Kotono> "We all make mistakes." Saul waves his hand, "At least Amaryl can't get you pregnant without magic I'd rather not consider. But since this does seem to be unusual, go on. What do you want, Seira?"
01[20:25] <Seira> "I hate you," she mutters, before putting on a smile. "About that shard of positive energy. Do we need it for further studying, or can we use it for a greater good?"
[20:25] <Kotono> Amaryl coughs very much, droplets of tea splattering about.
[20:26] <Kotono> "The one preserving Irenes' sanctuary?"
[20:26] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[20:26] <Kotono> "The one preserving Irenes' sanctuary?" Saul considers, "I've studied it as much as I'm going to, I think."
01[20:28] <Seira> "Yes. I realize that without it, the sanctuary may well rot unless we manage to fix the wound in the world," Seira responds. "Some of it, leftover from the war. Other parts, no doubt due to the Neverborn and its lich followers fouling up the region with their filth. Be it as it may, however, would it be of use here? If we brought it over to the refugee camp of Malmuth, it might serve to heal and nuture."
[20:29] <Kotono> "It couldn't hurt," Saul reasons, "If you're okay with losing that foothold in the Wastes, I have no objection."
01[20:30] <Seira> "I considered the benefits of using it in the reforging of celestial armor we managed to track down for Amaryl, so my primary concern was that we have managed to get from it all we could," Seira admits. "I still think it might work out nicely, but even for such a worthy cause, I'm not about to deprive a city of needy people of a chance of better existence."
[20:31] <Kotono> "As I said, it couldn't hurt. I'd want it to be protected - I can take care of that. Well meaning accidents might happen, and who knows the attention it'll draw?" Saul steeples his fingers together. OOC: Seira, make a CL check on see invis.
01[20:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 36." [1d20=18]
01[20:37] <Seira> Porceline. Invisibility. That's all Seira needs to know as she springs to her feet with a cry of "Ambush!", magic focusing at her fingertips!
01[20:38] <Seira> roll 1d20+11 Lagann uses nerveskitter
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 Lagann uses nerveskitter and gets 13." [1d20=2]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 27." [1d20=13]
03[20:39] * Kotono changes topic to 'Assassin(27)>Seira(13)'
[20:40] <Kotono> The assassin's face does not show any emotion as she silently gildes over the ground, running as if on air! Her iceaxe lashes out at Seira as she runs past the rest of the surprised group!
[20:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 and gets 32." [1d20=2]
[20:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 43." [1d20=18]
[20:40] <Kotono> OOC: Flatfootd aC?
01[20:41] <Seira> OOC: Like 22
[20:41] <Kotono> roll 1d6+17+6d6 and fort
[20:41] <Kotono> roll 1d6+17+6d6 and fort
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+17+6d6 and fort and gets 47." [1d6=4][6d6=5, 4, 4, 6, 2, 5]
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+17+6d6 and fort and gets 37." [1d6=4][6d6=3, 3, 2, 4, 1, 3]
[20:41] <Kotono> OOC: DR applies if you have stoneskin up.
01[20:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 alas, no
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 alas, no and gets 31." [1d20=12]
01[20:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+19
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 and gets 32." [1d20=13]
[20:44] <Kotono> Seira is mauled twice by the axe, rips into her side and chest! The assassin springs back 15 feet in a smooth leap, bouncing off the ceiling and landing in a crouch! Seira feels her flesh start to stiffen at the wound, the edges of it turning to alabaster...but fading afte ra few moments! OOC: Seira goes then init.
06[20:46] * Seira calls upon stoneskin's protection, calling out to Saul, "Dad, do you have Glitterdust in reserve?"
[20:47] <Kotono> "I do!" Saul calls back in a breath! OOC: Saul has his spells as in the topic, which includes one glitterdust. All the earth/wish/repair ones are used up for the day.
01[20:49] <Seira> As the situation seems dire before it even had a chance to properly develop, Seira retaliates with a powerful orb spell that should bypass any defenses this fiend would have, while images spring up all around her!
01[20:49] <Seira> roll 1d4+5
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+5 and gets 8." [1d4=3]
01[20:49] <Seira> roll 1d20+18 impromptu SA, empowered/maximized orb of cold
06[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 impromptu SA, empowered/maximized orb of cold and gets 33." [1d20=15]
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[20:50] <Seira> OOC: Evil or not?
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: No evil.
01[20:51] <Seira> roll 90+5d6 fort 26 or blinded, I'll use soothsaying on another orb next round
06[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 90+5d6 fort 26 or blinded, I'll use soothsaying on another orb next round and gets 110." [5d6=3, 4, 1, 6, 6]
01[20:52] <Seira> roll 110+45
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 110+45 and gets 155."
[20:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 fort
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 fort and gets 31." [1d20=14]
[20:53] <Kotono> The freezing sphere strikes the assassin right in the chest! Waves of ice spread ove rher body, a blizzard's wrath knocking her back! OOC: Init. Roll for Amaryl and Saul, Seira?
01[20:54] <Seira> OOC: Agatha is sitting this one out?
[20:54] <Kotono> OOC: Which orb, Seira, by the way.
[20:54] <Kotono> OOC: Agathaiel, but I'll roll her.
[20:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[20:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 24." [1d20=16]
03[20:54] * Kotono changes topic to 'Assassin(27)>Agathaiel(24)>Seira(13)'
01[20:54] <Seira> OOC: Oh. I have an empowered orb of cold (which I used maximize on here), and a normal orb. I'll use the normal next round, given the chance, and benefit from the metamagic.
[20:54] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
01[20:55] <Seira> roll 1d20+8 A
06[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+8 A and gets 16." [1d20=8]
01[20:55] <Seira> roll 1d20 L
06[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20 L and gets 19." [1d20=19]
01[20:55] <Seira> roll 1d20+1 S
06[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+1 S and gets 8." [1d20=7]
03[20:55] * Kotono changes topic to 'Assassin(27)>Agathaiel(24)>Lagann(19)>Amaryl(16)>Seira(13)>Saul(8)'
[20:57] <Kotono> "What's happening," Amaryl sputters, dropping her teacup! As it explodes out in a burst of broken pottery, the assassin clutches it's frozen chest! She leaps into the air, splitting into two fading images! Just like that, she's gone! OOC: Free act.
06[20:58] * Seira gapes, unable to believe it. "The audacity..." she murmurs, using this chance to treat her wounds, in case the assassin returns.
01[20:58] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 32." [3d8=7, 3, 7]
[20:59] <Kotono> "What happened?!" Amaryl repeats, leaping out of her chair and drawing a handful of arrows and her bow in one movement!
[21:00] <Kotono> "Assassin." Saul barks out words to glitterdust, filling the room...but nothing is revealed. He goes over to Seira, calling on energies to restore her!
[21:00] <Kotono> roll 3d8+15
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+15 and gets 28." [3d8=8, 4, 1]
01[21:00] <Seira> "I... a woman of porceline." Seira gestures to two deep wounds torn out of her body. "Same look and approach as the molydeuses, so I struck, given how she was sneaking up on us, invisible and with a drawn weapon."
[21:04] <Kotono> "An assassin from the Dark Six?" With a deep gasp, "I didn't hear a thing!"
01[21:05] <Seira> "It was luck and paranoia that allowed me to catch her, really, and I was still too late to do more than sound the alarm before she struck," Seira says regretfully.
[21:07] <Kotono> Saul intones again, washing away the last wounds. "He snuck in without us noticing. If ont for that..."
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 3d8+15
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+15 and gets 31." [3d8=5, 8, 3]
01[21:08] <Seira> "Did you see that creepy alabastor festering near the wounds, just before it faded?" Seira asks, dismissing her images but still jumpy. "You think it was a creepy Abyssal disease or poison? They are beyond horrifying!"
[21:13] <Kotono> "The answer is what will our reply be?" Agathaiel reports, "We were assaulted."
01[21:14] <Seira> "Do I need some special healing? Really, what Antenora got was so terrible I couldn't think straight!"
[21:15] <Kotono> "Just in case, come here," Saul gestures, "I'll cast a Heal on you."
01[21:16] <Seira> "Right away!"
[21:17] <Kotono> Saul prays to Waukeen, Seira receiving restorative energies! She feels well enough now, her wounds completely gone from the previous healing magic.
06[21:17] * Seira sighs in relief, just before a shudder goes through her body. "Thanks. Now I can worry about the terrible things targetting us without worrying over turning into an abomination."
01[21:18] <Seira> roll 1d20+26
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+26 and gets 37." [1d20=11]
[21:20] <Kotono> "Scry it?" Amaryl answers, "And return the favor?"
01[21:21] <Seira> "That is possible," Seira agrees. "This thing teleported rather than shifting to another plane, which suggests a base of operations exists here, somewhere. We should try doing this tomorrow."
[21:22] <Kotono> "But before that, if you're not going to immediately act, did you have anything else to ask me," Saul presses.
01[21:24] <Seira> "Ah, yes." At this, Seira's professional demeanor returns, as if by magic. "I was thinking of using the aforementioned shard in the reforging of the armor, as I've said. Since we believe there is a better use for it at the moment, I'm thinking of other symbolic, powerful and divine objects that might fit together well, here. Your amulet is one candidate, the sword from Pallanth another. What else?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "Well." Saul goes back to sitting, picking up his teacup he put aside. "Colonel Seira, hero of the second Malmuthian order, member of the Order of the White Horizon, she who fought back the horror beyond reality...what holy artifacts do you have handy?"
01[21:32] <Seira> "Of a specifically holy nature?" Seira considers. "My sword, if it qualifies, and the coin Waukeen bestowed upon me. I would be loath in parting with my only physical link to her, and we can't sacrifice one of the keys to Daa-vid's prison."
[21:34] <Kotono> "
[21:34] <Kotono> "Don't you have keepsakes, like the featers of a solar, or the bottled love of a tulani? By Waukeen, Seira, did I forget how to have you take proper souvineers?" Saul shakes his head, "Truly, I have found my failing with you."
01[21:35] <Seira> "Dad, it's so creepy to just go around and pluck the feathers of angels only to hoard them for use in future arcane rituals."
[21:37] <Kotono> "That's why Waukeen granted you the charm and face of an angel," Saul smirks a little bit, "Hmm. If you do want angel feathers..." Saul looks to Agathaiel. "Especially if you happen to be molting."
[21:37] <Kotono> Agathaiel smiles now, a slightly tense one. "I do not molt. If you desire one of my feathers, you need but ask."
06[21:38] * Seira shakes her head in amusement. This does brings to mind the ritual having to do with the gate to the plane of Water, and how she's gathered all of the components for it but the sword scrapings, so Seira uses the chance to consider auspicious combinations for reigniting the flames of justice in celestial armors.
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC: K:A.
01[21:44] <Seira> roll 1d20+25
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+25 and gets 33." [1d20=8]
01[21:47] <Seira> "Alright. That certainly gives me a good idea of what to go for. What about restraint? I would appreciate advice on that. The only reason I'm not considering the aforementioned shard is because it has other uses still. But what of using the sword and the amulet?"
[21:56] <Kotono> "Seira." Saul looks to her, "The sword is your choice. For the amulet? Hell." Scratching at his chin again, "You've made it your own. If you think that's what needs to be done, well, don' be wrong."
01[21:57] <Seira> "I meant more... I don't know." Seira shrugs. "Mercer mentioned that we should avoid things clashing with one another, and I just want to make sure all the nice magical and holy items can play nicely with one another."
[22:01] <Kotono> "I'd choose one strong item then than trying to mix several and avoid the problem," Saul says after some thought.
01[22:03] <Seira> "Thanks, that does help me realize something," Seira responds. "Alright, I think we have a working plan. Let's rest the night here and then see about trying to scry on our assassin? And Dad, do you think you could use your Dragon Ally spell to summon a golden dragon in service of Waukeen? If we could barter for one of his or her scales, that might well serve to compliment our efforts with the armor."
[22:07] <Kotono> "If you like, though you're paying for it," Saul answers back, "If you're okay with that, fine."
01[22:08] <Seira> "For such a task, it shouldn't be more than a thousand gold, especially if you have the magic of regeneration on hand."
06[22:09] * Seira shrugs. "If we explain the situation, ask nicely for the dragon's blessing and offer full reimbursment for the trouble, it should be fine."
[22:10] <Kotono> "Then so be it." OOC: You're going to rest the night, restore spell sand start anew in the morning? Goa head and switch up spells in topic, tell me when you're good.
01[22:11] <Seira> OOC: Done
01[22:12] <Seira> OOC: Minor edit! Done for real.
[22:22] <Kotono> OOC: Which do you want to do first the next morning
[22:22] <Kotono> ?
01[22:22] <Seira> OOC: First, a scrying!
[22:24] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and declare which scrying and all that.
01[22:24] <Seira> OOC: Right. Does Malmuth at present or Saul have the means for me to scry from?
[22:29] <Kotono> OOC: Saul doesn't have scrying gear handy, and Malmuth is in ruins, so no.
06[22:30] * Seira will attempt to teleport to Balmuria to try her scrying from there, and also use the chance to touch base on several matters with others of the Guard. She can always return to talk more with her father later that morning.
01[22:30] <Seira> roll 1d100 home!
06[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 home! and gets 63." [1d100=63]
01[22:31] <Seira> OOC: I'll use the soothsaying boost on greater scrying, if possible
[19:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Seira> OOC: First, a scrying!
[19:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> > OOC: Go ahead and declare which scrying and all that.
[19:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Seira> OOC: Right. Does Malmuth at present or Saul have the means for me to scry from?
[19:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> > OOC: Saul doesn't have scrying gear handy, and Malmuth is in ruins, so no.
[19:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> * Seira will attempt to teleport to Balmuria to try her scrying from there, and also use the chance to touch base on several matters with others of the Guard. She can always return to talk more with her father later that morning.
[19:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Seira> roll 1d100 home!
[19:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 home! and gets 63." [1d100=63]
[19:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Seira> OOC: I'll use the soothsaying boost on greater scrying, if possible
01[19:55] <Seira> OOC: The soothsaying boost is actually impossible to use out of combat, which this is
[19:56] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Scrying on the assassin? Caster level check.
01[19:56] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 31." [1d20=13]
[20:05] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Seira calls on all her magic...but the scrying fails.
[20:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Waiting on your reaction/what you do next/whatever, really. Ball's in your court. I fyou were waiting o me.
01[20:08] <Seira> "Well, that's that," Seira says to herself good-naturedly, deciding to prepare better the following day. For the time being, she decides to pay a visit to Alicia's residence.
[20:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Alicia's house is quiet. The door is ajar, however, the smell of food inside. You can hear laughing, light and carefree.
06[20:12] * Seira contemplates sneaking inside for all of a second before laughing at the thought and knocking on the doorframe as she calls out, "Anyone home?"
[20:13] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Come in!" A happy voice calls, Dawnhope's laughter carrying with it. "Oh Seira, is that you?"
01[20:14] <Seira> "No!" Seira responds brightly, stepping inside at the invitation, even as she seems slightly dubious. "Who's home right now?"
[20:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Hugo is eating cookies, Dawnhope fluttering ove ra metal pan of them. "It's just us two right now!" she carols, "Hi! Jessica was here but she just vanished...but change is good! Oh, Alicia and the others aren't with you? They're still traveling the Planes?"
[20:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Hugo smiles widely at Seira, "Seira!" he calls and waves.
06[20:18] * Seira waves back, returning the smile. "I was hoping to catch Alicia, Jessica or Marie, actually. Would I have better luck if I returned later today?"
[20:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I'm not sure. Jessica's hopping between Dweomerheart and here a lot. Marie's with her, and I don't know about Alicia." Floating over to Seira's shoulder and perching there, "Oh! Donald works at your inn, doesn't he?"
01[20:19] <Seira> "That bum? Sure. You need him to do some demeaning task for the greater good?" Seira's eyes practically light up at the possibility.
[20:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Oh no." With a grousing, "I had abet with him and he won." Dawnhope flies off, coming back with a few coins, grunting as she wobbles in the air. "Here, give those to him for me? But...does he need to do something good? Has he sinned and needs to atone, hm?"
06[20:21] * Seira shrugs, even as she wilts ever so slightly. "Probably. We both know the same Donald, right? What was the bet about?"
[20:23] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "On who could find a dragonscale first!" Pouting, "I was going to check his room for one since I just knew he had one, but would you believe he had it in his pocket?"
06[20:24] * Seira briefly worries that Donald nicked one of the scales she keeps as trophies, but dismisses the thought, shaking her head. "Well, your loss. You had to have realized your chances of getting your hands on one were nonexistent, so it was a bad bet to make."
[20:26] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Yeah, yeah." Grumping, "Oh well, it was fun! Here!" Dropping the coins into Seira's hand, "Oh, Jessica wants to see you when she can. She wants to give you something for Roald."
01[20:27] <Seira> "She would be in luck, given I want to see her as well," Seira responds. "If she gets in touch with Donald back at my home, he'll know how to find me, alright?"
[20:29] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Okay!" With a little smile, "You won't even reconginze her!"
01[20:30] <Seira> "Just as long as she hasn't taken to wearing porcelain," Seira responds, smiling herself, and follows her sudden, strong urge to pat Hugo's head.
[20:31] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Hugo smiles at Seira, taking her hand. "Hi!" he repeats, "Want?" He holds up a cookie to Seira.
01[20:33] <Seira> "I could go for a cookie," Seira agrees, accepting it. To Dawnhope, she says, "I'm afraid I can't really stay, or the possibility exists horrible things will happen. If Alicia should happen to touch base with you, warn her about invisible pale-faced assassins with flying axes? I'll try to deliver a message, myself, but there's only so much a vague, twenty-five word warning can do."
[20:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Will do!" Dawnhope says, as Hugo goes to Seira. He looks into her eyes, "Careful."
01[20:35] <Seira> "I'm very strong," Seira insists, and after a quick hug to Hugo and wave to Dawnhope she decides to seek out Demedais and Pollyanna.
[20:37] <Tiny_Ko_Army> As Seira walks, she finds Pollyanna at the temple of Helm. "Seira," she smiles faintly, rising from her prayers. "Demedais is with Commander Oberuth right now."
01[20:39] <Seira> "I won't interrupt, if it is important, as long as you can pass on both a warning and a request from me," Seira responds, looking around for a quiet booth or out of the way corner to occupy.
[20:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> You go to an out of the way corner, Pollyanna smile growing. "We've been going between here and Malmuth. I've heard what's going on from the Commander."
01[20:42] <Seira> "I'll start with the warning, then, to get it out of the way. Some weird porceline-skinned assassin approached me invisible in Malmuth. She had some sort of flying axe that returned to her, and tried to infect me with each strike. Luckily, whatever it attempted to do, it failed at. It was pure luck that allowed me to even catch her, and she brazenly walked into a very well-guarded room to strike at me."
[20:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Helm!" With a softly curse of divinity, "I'll have Demedais prepare invisibility purge magics."
01[20:45] <Seira> "When I tried to scry for her, the Greater Scrying spell was repelled without much fanfare," Seira adds, "and she was able to teleport away after a brief exchange. I suggest not holding back, and preparing most thoroughly.
01[20:45] <Seira> Of course, I cannot state for certain I was the target, but an assassin so focused wouldn't seek to silence me if she were after my father or anyone else in that room. She would just strike and teleport away, I believe, so take this as my intuition, drawn from a subjective interpretation of the facts."
[20:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "We'll be as carefula s we can then," Pollyanna insists, "What's the request?"
01[20:49] <Seira> "Amaryl and I have been looking for a suitable armor for her, the better to protect her from the ongoing threats, and we finally chanced upon a celestial armor Waukeen has let cross our path. It is worn down with battle and time, however, and requires reforging.
01[20:49] <Seira> I intend to use a powerful magical item as a catalyst, there, but I would also appreciate a keepsake from Demedais, for its many symbolic values. I am trying to ask Alicia as well, of course, and will provide one as well. It would... well, it would make me happy if he helped out with this, even if the request embarrassed him."
[19:12] <Kotono> > "Helm!" With a softly curse of divinity, "I'll have Demedais prepare invisibility purge magics."
[19:12] <Kotono> <Seira> "When I tried to scry for her, the Greater Scrying spell was repelled without much fanfare," Seira adds, "and she was able to teleport away after a brief exchange. I suggest not holding back, and preparing most thoroughly.
[19:12] <Kotono> <Seira> Of course, I cannot state for certain I was the target, but an assassin so focused wouldn't seek to silence me if she were after my father or anyone else in that room. She would just strike and teleport away, I believe, so take this as my intuition, drawn from a subjective interpretation of the facts."
[19:12] <Kotono> > "We'll be as carefula s we can then," Pollyanna insists, "What's the request?"
[19:12] <Kotono> <Seira> "Amaryl and I have been looking for a suitable armor for her, the better to protect her from the ongoing threats, and we finally chanced upon a celestial armor Waukeen has let cross our path. It is worn down with battle and time, however, and requires reforging.
[19:12] <Kotono> <Seira> I intend to use a powerful magical item as a catalyst, there, but I would also appreciate a keepsake from Demedais, for its many symbolic values. I am trying to ask Alicia as well, of course, and will provide one as well. It would... well, it would make me happy if he helped out with this, even if the request embarrassed him."
[19:13] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmm." Biting her lip as she thinks, Pollyanna looks with half lidded eyes at Seira. "Okay, I have an idea, but let me talk to Demedais and see what he thinks. I'll stop by the inn in a few hours?"
01[19:15] <Seira> "Thanks, it's all I ask!"
[19:15] <Kotono> Bowing her head and murmuring a word of prayer, "Helm watch over you, Seira, and keep you from evil."
01[19:18] <Seira> "If anyone's watching, it would be Helm, wouldn't it?" Seira asks with a smile, waving to Pollyanna. There's some time for errands, and she decides to return home for the time being, and coordinate with Amaryl in person.
[19:22] <Kotono> Amaryl's find at Seira's inn. The insides are buzzing with people getting food and drink, pleasant smells throughout. Masculine bardsong fills the air, Donald sitting with Amaryl. The two are sharing a bowlful of cut up apples and fruits. "They're fresh," Amaryl says in a chiding voice, "They're much better."
[19:22] <Kotono> "They're also not greasy, meaty or able to make me drunk," With a look of disdain, "Just fruit for lunch? Really?"
01[19:24] <Seira> There is an easy joke here, but Seira heroically resists making it. "Depends on the fruit, doesn't it?" she brazenly barges into the conversation.
[19:25] <Kotono> "Donald...oh, Seira!" Amaryl's face lights up, "I was just telling Donald how he needs to eat more fruit, nuts and vegetables. You're a fey-elf, not some burly human or dwarf."
[19:26] <Kotono> Grumbling under the general buzz of conversation flying all about, "I'd rather have a hunk of beef, some bread and a good ale."
01[19:26] <Seira> Donald was a pretty fruity human to begin with, too. Seira shrugs. "Not a nuts fan, myself, but I support the rest?"
[19:27] <Kotono> "Of course you aren't," Donald mutters under his breath, then exhales heavily. "I can take on ten barbazu without breaking a sweat. I say I'm doing things right, like eating." Standing up then, "I think I'm going to go get in some practice with the Guard."
01[19:28] <Seira> "But what happens if a dozen jumps you?" Seira asks him innocently.
06[19:29] * Seira snaps her fingers, then, and golden coins appear floating above them, as if by magic. And it really is, as aside from a little sleight of hand, Lagann is helping her float Donald's won bet from Dawnhope. "Before I forget, here."
[19:30] <Kotono> Donald gives a big, long blink. "Oh, sure." He scoops up the coins, "What for? Did I buy you something and forgot?"
01[19:32] <Seira> "Something about a bet? Good job tricking a little kid out of her hard-earned money." Seira gives him an exaggerated thumbs up.
[19:33] <Kotono> "Oh, that!" Snapping his fingers, "Well, she bet I couldn't come up with a bet that I could beat her at." Donald grins, "Didn't work out so well for her! Besides," Whistling now, "I'm sure Waukeen improves of me enriching myself?"
[19:34] <Kotono> Amaryl looks between the two and puts a hand to her face. It doesn't stifle the giggles that come.
06[19:34] * Seira nods firmly. "You are a true paragon of Waukeen's teachings. Lathander must be so proud!"
[19:35] <Kotono> "He is." Stretching now, "I think I'll go track down and beat up a few demons and devils to chase this down." Donald turns and walks out, leaving the inn.
06[19:36] * Seira waves at Donald as he goes, grinning. "I missed this," she admits to Amaryl quietly.
[19:38] <Kotono> "It's so earthy." Amaryl nibbles at a cut apple slice, "Running about the cosmos, feeling everything we've felt? It's overwhelming. I have dreams of vivid paradise and nightmarish horrors. Every time I'm happy, I yearn to go to Elysium, for I know I would be even happier there. When I feel fear, it dims in comparison to the Abyss and the terror that gripped so hard there. These feelings...these feelings here are nothing to those, but that'
[19:38] <Kotono> These feelings...these feelings here are nothing to those, but that's why they're so good. I can understand them."
01[19:41] <Seira> "The Abyss is... terrifying, yes," Seira admits. "Ever since the first time I was trapped there. It's not the certain, horrible death or the torture to come before it, but the sheer... unnaturalness. You know, you were there." She shudders.
01[19:41] <Seira> "I wonder why it is that I can understand the nightmares, but Elysium or Celestia just don't mean the same to me they should to sane people. I'm happy enough there, but there's still something missing...."
[19:45] <Kotono> "Everything is wrong in the Abyss. No...Wrong. Wrong. Capital w." Amaryl puts down her fruit, going to slide close to Seira. "I don't know, Seira. Are things different for dragons like that?"
01[19:48] <Seira> "Maybe it's that strange deck I played with that has a hand there, but really, I think it must be my ego, my obsession with exploring and building... any combination of those." Seira shrugs. "I suppose it might change one day. But rather than a topic that makes me uncomfortable, how about turning the tables on you?" She turns to observe Amaryl, taking her hand under the table.
01[19:48] <Seira> "Sorry about Dad, yesterday. He babbles in his crazy old person way, sometimes. I don't remember raising him to be like that."
[19:50] <Kotono> Amaryl smiles a tthat, "He's very caustic. The two of you have a relationship that Sir Ambrose would call 'hateful lovers'."
01[19:52] <Seira> "I will pretend this never crossed Sir Ambrose's mind," Seira says quietly, blanching.
03[19:53] * Cidward (~Melanchth@pool-96-231-68-153.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #evildunes
[19:53] <Kotono> "....SEIRA!" Amaryl eeps, "I didn't mean it like that! Oh Waukeen, not like that!" Amaryl holds her hands up, wobbling back in her chair and nearly falling out! "I mean...I mean...not like that!"
06[19:55] * Seira focuses on catching Amaryl and steadying her chair. It's better than continuing that particular thread of thought.
[19:56] <Kotono> Amaryl wobbles back and forth, Seira preventing her from falling out! "I mean just...just...Seira! How could you think that!? It's wrong, dirty, perverted and a crime against nature! It's just an expression!"
01[19:57] <Seira> "I blame you!"
[19:59] <Kotono> "It's not my fault! Your mind is still tained from the Abyss!" Amaryl whispers back, "That has to be it!"
03[19:59] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-514d755e.l2.c2.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
03[19:59] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Ebiris
01[20:00] <Seira> "Let's just agree to blame Dad?" Seira offers hopefully as compromise.
[20:02] <Kotono> "O...okay." After a few moments of that, "L-let's just eat lunch and relax for a little while then?"
03[20:03] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
01[20:07] <Seira> "We can do that, or I could ask you if you want kids," Seira muses. "I didn't really think about it until Dad brought it up. But this keeps on occupying my mind, now, and that is probably because I don't know if you ever wanted... and this is where I pause before I babble."
[20:08] <Kotono> Amaryl turns red as a efreet, but as she speaks, Seira finds her words drowning out in a rush!
01[20:10] <Seira> Caught by surprise, Seira can only stare owlishly, no doubt making a fool of herself.
[20:11] <Kotono> Amaryl's blush grows even hotter as she whispers something, lost as the rush fades. "...it would be strange, since who would bear the child and who would use the magic, Seira?!"
01[20:13] <Seira> Oh Waukeen, smite me now. "I, uhh, my mind blanked out. I, umm, swear it's true. Can you repeat all that?"
[20:14] <Kotono> "S-Seira...!" Amaryl turns redder, "Oh. My. Goddess! Are you...is this...like sex talk to you?!" She says in a mortified whisper, "Oh. My! Let alone out here?!"
01[20:17] <Seira> Even Seira can feel and display embarrassment, and this is indeed one of those moments. "I honestly don't remember your answer. I just remember asking if you ever wanted to, you know, or had dreams of ever having kids. And the rest is just blank until now." Her shoulders sag slightly. "You know I joke about things, but I wouldn't do something like that to you!"
[20:19] <Kotono> "Uh...uh...let's just...uh...let's just go talk in private!" Amaryl rises, scurrying away and back to their private rooms as fast as her well trained legs can take her. She whizzes past a serving girl, blowing past a man entering. Commander Oberuth blinks as Amaryl runs by her, watching her go before he scans. He sees Seira, approaching to her.
01[20:20] <Seira> "Is this life or death, Sir?" Seira asks, standing up abruptly and moving to follow her. "Because I'm in a crisis!"
[20:22] <Kotono> "Go ahead. I mainly came for a drink." Commander Oberuth steps aside Seira.
01[20:23] <Seira> "Please stay! Whatever you want, it's on the house!" Seira hurriedly says, almost without stammering, and rushes after Amaryl.
[20:25] <Kotono> Seira finds Amaryl back in their bedroom, the slender elf girl sitting on their bed. She's looking at Seira as she hurries in.
06[20:30] * Seira visibly steadies herself. "Alright. I can explain this. I can." She felt happy, glorious and warm, literally overwhelmed with love as the rest of her senses blacked out. Even she wouldn't believe it was entirely innocent and unrelated, however, so that part will never see the light of day. "We all know thanks to Dad's lack of tact that magic can manage anything and everything.
01[20:30] <Seira> I was just wondering if you ever... I don't know, had dreams about children. And the reason I asked wasn't to proposition you, but because I realized that I haven't really thought about this at all before, but I'm hardly normal." She pauses, frowning. "I can't explain why I just blanked out there, though, but it's not what you thought! Just take my word for it? Please?"
[20:32] <Kotono> "Okay. I will!" Amaryl nods back and forth, blushing hotly as she plays with her fingers. "Is it...I mean...nevermind!" Amaryl shakes her head back and forth. "I want children...perhaps one in a century, then perhaps fifty to eighty years before having another."
01[20:36] <Seira> "Maybe Waukeen was playing a prank on me? Or Lathander, since I was teasing Donald earlier? Helm sometimes does it, so others might, too...." Seira trails off. "One in a century, huh?"
[20:38] <Kotono> "I know. It's a bit fast...only a century per child, but...I like children," Amaryl admits with a growing blush.
01[20:39] <Seira> "I think that so do I," Seira muses slowly. "But I never really thought about having my own. Is that weird?"
[20:46] <Kotono> "Most women do think of them." Amaryl murmurs.
06[20:49] * Seira sighs, taking a seat by Amaryl. "It's probably another sign I need to relax more rather than run from place to place, chore to chore all the time. Maybe I'll be able to have some normal dreams, then."
[20:51] <Kotono> Amaryl curls into Seira, "When this is all over, let's do that. Just that and forget aobut everything else."
01[20:53] <Seira> "I'd like that," Seira says, relaxing.
Session Close: Mon Nov 30 20:59:12 2009
Session Start: Mon Nov 30 20:59:12 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[20:59] * Disconnected
02[21:00] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[21:00] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[21:00] * Topic is 'Assassin(27)>Agathaiel(24)>Lagann(19)>Amaryl(16)>Seira(13)>Saul(8)'
03[21:00] * Set by Kotono on Sat Nov 28 21:02:54
03[21:00] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Yomi
02[21:01] * Seira (~corwin@bzq-79-182-74-4.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
03[21:01] * Yomi is now known as Seira
[21:08] <Kotono> After a little time of relaxation, there's a knock on Seira's door. "Seira?" Donald calls.
01[21:09] <Seira> "Yes?" Seira asks, extricating herself and answering the door in person.
[21:11] <Kotono> Donald's there, "You have a couple of guests here," he jerks a thumb backards, "Alicia's sister and the Commander. Are you going to come out or should I tell them you'll be awhile?"
01[21:12] <Seira> "Can you please ask them to meet us in the reading room?" Seira requests. "We'll be right there."
[21:15] <Kotono> Donald goes and does just that. Amaryl smooths her clothes out, standing up. "Do you want to go right away now?"
01[21:16] <Seira> Prestidigitation makes them more than presentable, and Seira smiles at Amaryl. "We shouldn't keep our guests waiting."
[21:21] <Kotono> Thus you head to your reading room. Amid the bookshelves Commander Oberuth stands. He doesn't really fit in - too big, armored, like a warrior in a laboratory. Everything seems too small for him. Jessica sits demurely in a seat, a book in her lap. White wings wrap around her, kindness and a smile radiant on her face.
01[21:23] <Seira> "Might not recognize her, indeed," Seira murmurs, nodding at Alicia's sister with a smile before coming closer and offering the Commander her hand.
[21:30] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth takes it, his grip harder than steel and his cheeks red. "Colonel," he nods solemnly, "Jessica is here on her own business, go ahead and deal with her first. We'll talk after that."
[21:31] <Kotono> "Seira," Jessica comes over to Seira, book under one arm. "Mystra has chosen to bestow Her blessings on me, so that the glory of magic and good can spread farther."
01[21:32] <Seira> "She chose well, then," Seira says, glancing at the book.
[21:35] <Kotono> It's a book on elementary magic. It's good light reading for Seira, for those days where she wants mental junk food. "Thank you. Roald has been taken to Dweomerheart as well, so that we may be together. He is grateful for your offer of support in Valandia, though it's not needed in Dweomerheart." Jessica goes back to her chair, ruffling in a sack. She comes out with a wrapped loaf of bread. "Roald baked this with help from Mystra's servant
[21:35] <Kotono> She comes out with a wrapped loaf of bread. "Roald baked this with help from Mystra's servants. A thank you gift...eat it not when you are hungry, but as fortification before a great battle."
01[21:36] <Seira> "It will keep until then?" Seira asks with an amused twist of her lips, accepting the gift.
[21:37] <Kotono> "It will." Jessica looks into Seira's eyes, "Our fates did not intertwine how they were expected to, but we are grateful. When our marriage happens, we hope to see you there."
01[21:38] <Seira> "We'll be happy to attend," Seira responds for herself and Amaryl, inclining her head.
[21:40] <Kotono> Amaryl grins, "Lovely! When will it be?"
[21:41] <Kotono> "We were going to wait until spring, but in Dweomerheart the seasons matter little. When things have calmed down, we will have our wedding." Jessica answers brightly.
01[21:42] <Seira> "A lot of dreams are pending on our success, then," Seira notes.
[21:43] <Kotono> "Yes. I must be going," Jessica nods slightly, "There's so much I have to do to prepare."
01[21:45] <Seira> "Oh!" Seira exclaims. "There was a request I wanted to make of you or Marie, since Alicia is away on business. Did Dawnhope pass that on?"
[21:48] <Kotono> "Oh yes." Jessica's face alights with red, "My mind is newly opened to all of Mystra's wisdom. My every lax moment is spent in contemplation of magic. It's easy to neglect other matters for that."
06[21:51] * Seira details the situation with the armor once more, finishing with, "And so I'm hoping to have a symbolic gift from my friends in the Guard to remake it better than before."
[21:53] <Kotono> "Mmm." Jessica considers, "A symbolic item would be simple enough. A bit of jewelery, an article of clothing, a lock of hair, that manner of thing?"
01[21:54] <Seira> "Using a lock of hair here is kind of creepy, and jewelry is both needlessly expensive and not personal enough. Clothing seems to be the right idea, though."
[21:57] <Kotono> "Hmmm. What sort? A shirt? A skirt?" Jessica asks, "Alicia uses magic to repair damage to her clothes so she has few throw-aways, but there are a couple."
01[21:59] <Seira> "Whatever symbolizes her the most, yet she can part with?" Seira says vaguely.
[22:00] <Kotono> "Hmmm. Old armor?" Jessica frowns then, "She usually wears her armor."
01[22:01] <Seira> "Marie might have a clue?" Seira suggests. "I heard she was helping you move around, so she probably won't be too far, right? Whatever I might say, I feel like I'm presuming too much."
[22:02] <Kotono> "I'll talk to her and see what she thinks," Jessica says, "One of us will com eback tonight."
06[22:02] * Seira smiles. "Thank you again for considering my request."
[22:19] <Kotono> Thus Jessica leaves. Commander Oberuth goes to sit them, overfilling a delicate elven chair. His blonde hair and red face fill Seira's vision as he waits. "At ease." He begins, "I fended off an assassination attempt today."
06[22:20] * Seira listens patiently, even as she chides herself with not reporting to him at once after the attempt on her own life."
[22:26] <Kotono> "Elle's magic alerted us - some sort of owman with an axe, we were able to fend her off with help from the Guard before anything too untold happen. Fortunate for us." Oberuth goes on, "Was it a member of the Dark Six or a servant that you know of?"
03[22:27] * Cidward is now known as Sierra_MeltingBrain
01[22:27] <Seira> "She attacked me last night in Malmuth, while we were visiting my father," Seira responds with a wince. "Porcelain skin, flying axe, invisible and teleports away when counter-attacked?"
[22:29] <Kotono> "The axe fits," A nod, "We didn't get a good look at her before she fled."
01[22:31] <Seira> "I was too lax in properly alerting everyone to the threat," Seira admits, more to herself than for anyone else's sake. "My arrogance in considering myself the only likely target for assassination from those liches was clearly unfounded. I apologize, Sir."
[22:33] <Kotono> "Yes. I understand that communication is difficult when you're traveling the planes, but...no harm done." Oberuth continues from there, "When will you and Alicia be back in Balmuria together?"
01[22:35] <Seira> "I don't intend to leave this plane until Alicia's return, so it really depends on her. I could try to use a Sending to communicate with her, if you would like, Sir?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "Do so," Oberuth says shortly.
01[22:39] <Seira> "It would take about half an hour under the circumtances," Seira warns him, fetching her spellbook. "Aside from a warning about the attack and the question about her schedule, should there be anything else?"
[22:39] <Kotono> "For now that's fine," Oberuth says, "I'll wait."
06[22:42] * Seira can't help glancing at Amaryl as she tries to clear her mind. If it were her armor, she would naturally ask the Commander to contribute something as well, even with his dislike of magic's potential to disrupt the binding. For Amaryl, though.... 'Is there anyone else you would like to ask for a symbolic contribution?' she thinks to her. Amaryl has a mentor figure of her own, after all.
[22:43] <Kotono> Commander Oberuth is quiet during this, as Amaryl looks back to SEira. 'I'm fine. I think that's enough - he said not to add too much, too.'
01[22:48] <Seira> Once she is done, Seira casts the magic and takes great care to pronounce the following, letting the tone of her voice deliver the message that everything on the home front is fine. "Commander and myself attacked by invisible assassin on two occasions. Attempting to scry back, everything under control. Do you know when you will be back?"
[20:18] <Kotono> <Seira> "It would take about half an hour under the circumtances," Seira warns him, fetching her spellbook. "Aside from a warning about the attack and the question about her schedule, should there be anything else?"
[20:18] <Kotono> > "For now that's fine," Oberuth says, "I'll wait."
[20:18] <Kotono> * Seira can't help glancing at Amaryl as she tries to clear her mind. If it were her armor, she would naturally ask the Commander to contribute something as well, even with his dislike of magic's potential to disrupt the binding. For Amaryl, though.... 'Is there anyone else you would like to ask for a symbolic contribution?' she thinks to her. Amaryl has a mentor figure of her own, after all.
[20:18] <Kotono> > Commander Oberuth is quiet during this, as Amaryl looks back to SEira. 'I'm fine. I think that's enough - he said not to add too much, too.'
[20:18] <Kotono> <Seira> Once she is done, Seira casts the magic and takes great care to pronounce the following, letting the tone of her voice deliver the message that everything on the home front is fine. "Commander and myself attacked by invisible assassin on two occasions. Attempting to scry back, everything under control. Do you know when you will be back?"
03[20:27] * Yomi is now known as Seira
01[20:32] <Seira> "She says it would be soon," Seira responds, taking in the missive. "Apparently, Alicia was attacked as well, but things turned for the better. She also mentioned gaining an ally."
[20:34] <Kotono> "Good. We'll wait on her then," Oberuth nods, "No sense in repeating myself."
06[20:37] * Seira is dubious that Alicia meant soon in the sense of right this instant, but humors the Commander and resolves to give it a few minutes.
[20:43] <Kotono> In the mean time, "Do you remember one of your first missions, Seira? I sent the Guard off to deal with some goblins who were attacking outlying farms."
01[20:43] <Seira> "I gained my funniest nemesis from that one," Seira reflects, smiling.
[20:44] <Kotono> "It's like that." Oberuth looks down at his hand, balled into a fist. "But it's on such a larger scale. Not just a day's horseback ride away, or a few weeks of travel. But far more, in this world and others."
01[20:46] <Seira> "What's like that?" Seira asks in confusion, not making the connection at first.
[20:48] <Kotono> "I'm thinking. We're not just Lord Salman's mailed fist. We're more than that, far more." Commander Oberuth shakes his head then, "I'm rambling. It's something I've been thinking over."
01[20:49] <Seira> "The prelude to an empire of our own?"
[20:50] <Kotono> "Empires are for fools." Oberuth doesn't look up, "When you cut the head off, the body dies. Not quite..." Oberuth is interrupted, a knocking on the door. "Seira, Antenora and Alicia are here," Donald calls.
01[20:51] <Seira> "Call it a Union, then," Seira suggests. "Only of full states, rather than Baronies." At Donald's prompting, she raises her voice, calling out, "Come in, come in!"
[20:52] <Kotono> The door opens, Alicia and Antenora entering. OOC: Feel free to intro yourself, Ailcia.
06[20:54] * Alicia comes in as invited. "I'm glad to hear you had better luck with that assassin than I did, Seira. Jessica warned me to dodge the first strike, but the second came before I could even draw my blade, and I was turned into stone in the blink of an eye. Just a pity you couldn't kill it."
01[20:55] <Seira> "She hit me, I hit her back, she teleported. I've been trying to scry on her, but my first attempt went south." Seira shrugs. "I'll get her tomorrow. Want in on this?"
06[20:59] * Alicia shakes her head. "We have more immediate concerns. We managed to gain the aid of Xerona, guardian of Celestia's pinnacle, to aid us when we go to Mother's Mountain. With her power she should be able to hold off Pale Night long enough for us to hopefully find what binds the children to Androlynne and destroy it."
[20:59] <Alicia> "But she is eager to make haste, and furthermore Latha has had to take her station in Celestia until we are done... something she may not be able to leave easily afterwards. I would prefer to follow her to Androlynne today and plan for our attack. Would you be able to come?"
06[21:00] * Seira blinks. "You want to attack... today?"
[21:01] <Alicia> "Ideally tomorrow," Alicia replies. "Ascending Mount Celestia was some exertion and I'd rather have all my spells."
[21:02] <Kotono> "To free Xerona to wield the Liath-Flail, Latha had to take her place. Standing before the light of Chronias, she risks stepping into it and ascending Celestia. If that happens, she'll be lost to us." Antenora starts to explain, her voice level with a quick undercurrent, words tumbling out. "That's why."
06[21:05] * Seira glances at Amaryl. "That's why," she repeats to herself. "You're certain she can neutralize Pale Night entirely? What about the Neverborn?"
[21:06] <Kotono> Amaryl looks to Seira and nods slightly, "If it's for Latha, we have to do what we have to do, but I do wish I had that armor for it."
[21:09] <Alicia> "That's for the future," Alicia shakes her head. "The objective here is solely to free the children. Once that's been accomplished we can deal with the Dark Six and the Neverborn without the threat of Pale Night's plans for the sacrifice hanging over us. Hopefully with Latha back among us."
[21:09] <Alicia> "I do not know if Xerona can neutralise Pale Night entirely, but she is among the greatest of Celestia's wardens, and wields an artifact composed of Celestia's purest essence, which should prove a threat even to a demon lord. She is our best chance at holding off Pale Night long enough to search the mountain."
06[21:10] * Seira nods. "We'll go," she answers simply. "Is there a spot on the team for Agathaiel? I contracted with her on a long-term basis, and even without that, I know she would want to help with something like this."
[21:11] <Kotono> "Who will go? The more forces we have the better, surely." Antenora looks to Alicia.
[21:13] <Alicia> "If she understands the risks and is willing, I'd gladly have her support," Alicia agrees. "I'll collect Marie and Jessica, then we can regroup here for transport. Ask Donald as well?"
06[21:15] * Seira nods. "I'd like us to delay leaving for an hour to settle some affairs, mostly regarding the aforementioned armor," she says. "That doesn't present a problem, I hope?"
[21:16] <Alicia> "It'll take me that long to go home and back," Alicia shakes her head. "Assuming Marie and Jessica are there, but it's the best place to start looking."
[21:16] <Kotono> "You'll be going off? The Guard needs to talk once this matter is settled," Commander Oberuth says, "But for now, go and bring justice to those who would defile our lands."
01[21:17] <Seira> "You wanted to talk to us both, didn't you, Sir?" Seira asks. "There is no reason to delay that, if you had something to say."
06[21:17] * Alicia nods her agreement with Seira.
[21:17] <Kotono> "It's complicated," Commander Oberuth waves it off, "The Dark Six are what need to be stopped right now.
[21:17] <Kotono> "
[21:18] <Alicia> "Very well. Until then, sir," Alicia gives him a salute and a smile before she exits.
[21:19] <Kotono> OOC: Who all is getting athered up?
[21:21] <Alicia> OOC: Alicia, Seira, Amaryl, Anty, Marie, Agatha, Donald, Jessica?
06[21:21] * Seira heads over to her writing desk and prepares several missives for Abagail to distribute to their close allies. That should take care of everything she can't handle in person in the time she has, and recruiting Donald and Agathaiel wouldn't take long, so the rest of the time would be spent waiting on Pollyanna's response and gathering supplies to negate poison and detecting the true natures of those going.
[21:25] <Kotono> As all this happens, Seira meets up with Pollyanna in her back rooms. Pollyanna carries a backpack with her, "So I talked to Demedais. He gave me two items for you to choose from, your choice."
06[21:25] * Seira is eager to see the selection!
[21:28] <Kotono> She takes out two things - a pair of bracers and a suit of heavy clothing. "These are his bracers of wrathful smiting." Placing them down on top of the clothes, "He was toying with selling them, so why not use them for a better cause? The other is a suit of clothing enhanced by the wild magic of the jungle ruins."
01[21:30] <Seira> "I personally think that channeling divine energy to smite things is of higher compatibility to a celestial armor," Seira voices. "If it were an arcane archmage armor, then the wild magic, definitely. But here, that probably wouldn't fit as well."
[21:32] <Kotono> Pollyanna hands over the bracerst o Seira. "Use them well." she offers to her.
06[21:32] * Seira accepts them gratefully, chirping, "My thanks!"
[21:34] <Kotono> OOC: That it, Seira? Antyhing else or ready to move along?
01[21:35] <Seira> OOC: If Alicia has something to give me, I'll TP over to the friendly smith, give him stuff, and TP back so we can plane shift
[21:35] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia, where you?
[21:38] <Alicia> As everyone regroups, Alicia presents Seira with a single white-feathered quill. "I've used this on some of my latest treatises on battling demons," she explains, before glancing sidelong at her familiar. "Marie tells me it's terribly gauche to use one of your own feathers like that, but what's done is done. It has a nice symbolism for what you're trying to achieve, at any rate."
01[21:42] <Seira> "Yes, quite!" Seira agrees. "I'm supplying a new source of magic to rekindle the fading one in the armor, and besides, Dad suggested that symbolism would round out the arcane part quite nicely. I won't take more than a few minutes to teleport over and back." Beaming, she extends her hands to Agathaiel and Amaryl, ready to teleport the three of them over to just outside Mercer's house.
[21:44] <Kotono> Woosh! The three of you blink and appear over there without incident. IT's cloudy and smoky here, the air thick with the smell of burning metal.
01[21:45] <Seira> "We have our support from the core of the Guard, Alicia and Demedais," Seira voices, before they would enter. "And an equally symbolic tie in to Waukeen, if you want to ask Agathaiel's help for it, as she had offered, Amaryl. Have you decided on the magical catalyst?"
[21:46] <Kotono> "What do you think? Is this enough already or...?" She looks to Seira.
06[21:47] * Seira shrugs. "I think the answer lies in the importance in which you hold Waukeen. If I were to answer, it would be meaningless."
[21:48] <Kotono> "Let's do it," She decides after a moment, "If you're willing."
01[21:56] <Seira> "In my opinion, for what it's worth, you can't ruin an armor made at least partially from symbolism and goodness by suffusing it with the love and respect of your friends and patron deity," Seira voices, as the decision has already been made and she would no longer affect it with her words. "Is the amulet your choice for the final component?"
[21:58] <Kotono> Amaryl nods, "I think so. I think it'll work." With a hesitant smile to Seira, "Thank you for all of this."
06[22:00] * Seira draws the Flash and nicks her index finger, letting a drop of blood fall on the amulet's surface. "And that seals it, then. I've always felt it incomplete, but that all ends now. It might not be my heartblood, but in all this, it's the thought that counts, doesn't it?"
[22:02] <Kotono> "Yes." Amaryl matches Seira's smile, "Let's go in. Let's reforge this armor now?"
06[22:02] * Seira needs no further prompting!
[22:05] <Kotono> Inside you find Mercer with the armor, having it laid out over a table. He's waiting, arms crossed and hammer in hand. "So that's it?" he asks, "Have you gathered everything?"
01[22:06] <Seira> "It seems so. I won't be able to leave Lagann here, as I expected to, but I'll likely return before you're done."
[22:08] <Kotono> "Alright." he says, "What are you going to give me to work with here?"
01[22:10] <Seira> "Dragons and arcane magic are interchangeable," Seira states, showing Mercer the amulet, no traces of her blood remaining on it. "And to compliment it, symbolic gifts from those close to us, all with a distinct divine nature. Together, they should give birth to a beautiful armor."
[22:12] <Kotono> Looking them all over, "Right, I'll get on it." He looks over each, "With this and the knowledge I have, it should be easy."
01[22:13] <Seira> "I'm glad you're confident," Seira tells him with approval. "We'll stop by as soon as we're able to, in this case, in two to three days."
[22:14] <Kotono> "Sure." Taking them up, "I'm going ot get to work." He looks meaningfully to the door.
01[22:15] <Seira> "We'll be taking our leave, then," Seira says, teleporting them back to her home.
01[22:15] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 75." [1d100=75]
[22:16] <Kotono> OOC: That i for you guys?
01[22:16] <Seira> OOC: Yeah
[22:17] <Kotono> Thus, everyone gathers. Alicia, Seira, Amaryl, Antenora, Marie, Agathaiel, Donald and Jessica. It's a crew, half celestial, partially draconic and with a few odds and ends. Donald is the one that speaks first, "Well, since I'm the only man here - again - how about we get going?"
01[22:18] <Seira> "Just don't scream like a little girl again," Seira stage-whispers to him.
[22:19] <Kotono> "I will take us," Agathaiel steps forward, "Join in a circle with me."
06[22:20] * Alicia speaks up beforehand. "Before we go I should caution you that regardless of what Xerona looks like, she is a peerless champion of Celestia and possessed of great wisdom. Treat her with respect." Despite saying it's for everyone she's mostly looking at Donald as she makes this warning.
01[22:21] <Seira> "Well, at least if she's that smart and important, she must have experience in dealing with certain types of men," Seira says hopefully, also looking at Donald.
[22:22] <Kotono> "Oh, by..." Donald glares at both, "Thank you for your support."
06[22:22] * Seira grins back at him.
[22:23] <Kotono> At this, you are taken through the folds of reality, passing into another dimension! You stand in the wild forest once more, around a vast tree. This is familiar, having been here several times in the last few days.
[22:24] <Alicia> "It seems we always arrive at the same place regardless of who does the plane shift," Alicia notes thoughtfully. "At least I know the way well enough," she concludes, setting off for Pascorel.
01[22:25] <Seira> "The wards here are quite impressive," Seira agrees. "Maybe one day, we could do something like this back home as well?"
[22:26] <Kotono> Thus the partyhurries to Pascorel! You find it at peace - a soft blue light suffuses the entire town. The children play and laugh, the men at arms at peaceful rest. Reaching Lady Honeydip's abode, you find her with Xerona. The two are discussing things in low words, a conversation aborted as the party enters.
[22:26] <Kotono> Xerona steps forward, the Liath-Flail held to her bosom. "I am Xerona, Judge of al-Sihal."
06[22:28] * Seira waves, her eyes drawn to the Liath-Flail briefly. "Seira. Nice to meet you!"
[22:28] <Kotono> Donald holds his tongue and stays back. Amaryl comes forward, "Amaryl Gaial, Lady of the House of Gaial."
01[22:29] <Seira> It's still as impressive-sounding as the first time she heard it, and Seira wishes her bum of a father got them a last name as well. Something to consider when they return Celebrimbor's soul, definitely.
06[22:30] * Alicia performs the requisite introductions for anyone too shy to speak before getting to business. "We came as soon as we could, although we won't be fully ready until tomorrow when we can prepare our magic. What's the situation here?"
[22:30] <Kotono> "Agathaiel of Waukeen," The astral deva is otherwise quiet. To this, "I am ready, whenever Mother's Mountain is to be challenged." Xerona speaks. "Most of my power will be involved in the Liath-Flail, generating a protective field to shield you."
01[22:31] <Seira> "I have a couple questions about our plan, then. Would a mere Undetectable Alignment be enough here to shield and you and the Liath-Flail? Would Pale Night be able to feel your approach?"
[22:32] <Kotono> "I doubt mortal magic will conceal the full Truth of the liath-Flail." Xerona so answers, "With it's power, subtlety will be difficult."
01[22:34] <Seira> "Teleportation is impossible here, and it's at least several hours at our top speed. If there is something we can do to approach with a degree of subtlety, I feel it better than the alternative. What are our options, in this case?"
[22:34] <Kotono> "There is some respite. LEsser evils will not be able to come close to the Liath-Flail."
01[22:35] <Seira> "What's a lesser evil, to have a sense of scale?"
[22:36] <Kotono> "Approximately around the level of a glabrezu." Xerona answers.
[22:36] <Alicia> "I could cast a Veil as before, but given the presence of the flail I doubt it would meaningfully disguise our presence. Some sort of diversion might be our best bet at clearing a path as much as possible - do you have anything to offer on that track, Lady Honeydip?" Alicia asks the fairy general who lives in a gingerbread house.
[22:36] <Kotono> "So we can't be mobbed to death," Antenora considers, "Between that and a diversion, we surely can reach the mountain."
[22:37] <Kotono> "We can, if we really need to," Lady Honeydip agrees. "I've had some preparations made, just in case."
[22:37] <Alicia> "I don't want you to overcommit and risk being exposed to a counterattack, but some sort of feint would be ideal," Alicia nods.
01[22:38] <Seira> "Since we're not leaving today, it would also help if we knew more about its capabilities," Seira voices. "I'll freely admit I know next to nothing, beyond it being crucial to our plan. If no lesser evils can approach, does it mean they can't even target us with spells? Can they spot us? How close can they come?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "We'll take care of it. When are you going?" Lady Honeydip then looks to them, "Tomorrow?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "They won't be a threat," Xerona promises. "The feeble darkness they embody is nothing compared to the Liath-Flail's light."
06[22:39] * Alicia nods, comforted by that. "It's when we reach the Mountain itself that the real danger arises. Aside from the mother of demons herself, there are likely powerful fiendish abominations best left unknown lurking there. We'll be busy." To Honeydip, "Tomorrow morning would let Seira and I use our magic to the fullest."
[22:41] <Kotono> "Once we ascend to her fortress, then the real battle will begin. Doubtless we'll face things best unknown, as well as the Dark Six." Amaryl looks to Seira, "One night's rest until that."
[22:41] <Kotono> "That's fine. We'll be ready in the morning," Honeydip agrees, "Finally...succeed and this nightmare ends."
[22:43] <Alicia> "If we do succeed, it's likely the demons will throw everything they have across the river to try and wreak as much havoc as they can before anyone leaves," Alicia cautions. "It would be a good idea to try and get things subtly in place for evacuation - if the children can leave there is no need to hold Androlynne."
[22:43] <Kotono> "I know." Honeydip smiles, "We've taken that into account, too."
[22:44] <Alicia> "Good," Alicia matches that smile. "Did you learn anything useful from Lyscrea after we left you?"
01[22:44] <Seira> "And it seems we'll get to taste Roald's latest creation sooner than we expected," Seira says, sighing. "Alright, that was my one moment of depression before my enthusiasm and optimism bounce right back! Tomorrow, we'll destroy the fiends that keep the children bound here. Makes me wish we had a bard along, in some ways."
[22:44] <Kotono> "Enough information to make a good feint." Honeydip smiles grimly, "As much as a demon's plans will hold."
[22:45] <Alicia> "Excellent," Alicia nods. "For all that this is sooner than we'd expected, it's surely sooner than our foes expect as well. With the grace of heaven we might catch them napping."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Yep, and we'll send them to oblivion," Donald grins now, "Marilith, dretch, balor or whatever else, they're all going to lose."
[22:48] <Kotono> "So then...let's rest and prepare?" Amaryl asks.
[20:44] <Kotono> ---
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 5d100
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d100 and gets 277." [5d100=70, 9, 42, 71, 85]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 9." [1d9=9]
[20:44] <Kotono> Marie appears standing on a tinyr ock on the ocean! A large wave is coming her way, looming above her!
[20:45] <Alicia> Wow, Alicia's right. Every time! Marie doesn't hang about though, and teleports to Elle's shop, where she and Alicia have spent lots of time.
[20:45] <Alicia> roll 1d100 very familiar
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 very familiar and gets 92." [1d100=92]
[20:45] <Kotono> OOC: Tease bot.
[20:47] <Kotono> Woosh! Maire appears in Elle's shop! Elle is there, kneeling down as she polishes a suit of armor. Her expression is distant, her work automatic.
[20:48] <Alicia> "Elle!" Marie cries, holding out the steadily cracking ruby. "We've got Celebrimbor's soul, but something's been done to him! Seira said you'd be able to fix him!"
[21:08] <Kotono> Elle looks up sharply, "The ruby's also going fast...to me, quick!"
[21:09] <Alicia> Marie flies over and offers the ruby. "He appeared as a ghost but Seira talked him into the ruby - she said he could be restored to his body!" she rattles out quickly.
[21:10] <Kotono> Taking Marie in hand, Elle barks off words of power! A second later, you are in the garrison room holding Celebrimbor! "I can do it quickly enough - is there anything else I need to know, Marie?"
[21:12] <Alicia> "They might still have some control over him, I don't know!" Marie replies quickly. "He was fighting it, but said he felt them in his mind."
[21:13] <Kotono> "Magic Circle," Elle Marie down, quickly tracing lines of arcane magic about! A warding circle flares into light around Elle, as she hurries to Celebrimbor. "This will hopefully hold a possessing presence at bay, at least. I don't have time to do anything stronger."
[21:14] <Alicia> "My aura does the same thing anyway," Marie points out. "Agathiel used dispel evil on him, that made him act himself again, but like he said he still felt them in his mind."
[21:14] <Kotono> "Damn." Elle nods, "We'll have to chance it. Give me the gem."
[21:14] <Alicia> The cracking gem is readily handed over.
[21:15] <Kotono> The gem is starting to fall apart in Elle's hands as she quickly places it into Celebrimbor's mouth. "Gods willing, it should flow right back in."
[21:17] <Alicia> Marie holds Alicia's spells in reserve in case something bad happens. Rainbow Pattern might've been a good idea, after all.
[21:42] <Kotono> The gem shatters in Celebrimbor's mouth! There is a silent moment, before Celebrimbor shakes all over! His eyes fly open, leaping his to his feet! He clutches his head, lines of white alabaster starting to trickle down his face! (More)
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 29." [1d20=11]
[21:43] <Kotono> Celebrimbor goes tense, before falling to his knees in a heap. He breathes in and out and hacks for air.
[21:43] <Alicia> "Lord Drake?" Marie flies down to his level, looking at him worriedly and checking for any signs of malign influence.
[21:44] <Kotono> OOC: He radiates overwhelming evil.
[21:44] <Kotono> "It's...purge it." Celebrimbor looks up, eyes wide and terrified. "It's in my mind. I beg of you, purge it away!"
[21:45] <Alicia> "I don't have any magic that can help," Marie admits, looking pleadingly at Elle.
[21:47] <Kotono> Elle nods, "Then I'll call on the Weave itself." Elle thus begins to call, "Mystra, hear me! I call on the Weave...purge away this taint!"
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 29." [1d20=14]
[21:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
06[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 33." [1d20=9]
[21:51] <Kotono> Celebrimbor grunts, for a moment his eyes clearing...but it lasts only the barest moment! Celebrimbor shakes all over, "It's still there. His voice, his words."
[21:53] <Alicia> "If I stay close then my aura should suppress any compulsion or domination," Marie offers, flying next to him once more. "At worst we can wait for Alicia and the others to come back... do you have any spells of your own that might help, though?"
[22:02] <Kotono> "I can get them. Just stay here." Elle says, turning away and hurrying out of the room. "Call for help if anything happens, Marie."
[22:03] <Alicia> Marie nods and focuses as hard as she can on bolstering her innate aura to ward off any evil from Celebrimbor. "Just hang on, Lord Drake. You'll be okay, soon!"
[22:05] <Kotono> "Marie." Celebrimbor's voice shakes, "LIsten. Someone should hear this. Alabaster...Dralen...whatever he calls himself now. He's waiting at the top of Mother's Mountain. His servants are there with him to bar further passage into Pale NIght's realm."
[22:06] <Alicia> "What's past the top of the mountain?" Marie asks. "We thought it led to Bleak Rendor, but we weren't planning to go that far - we'd hoped to find what's keeping the children bound to Androlynne somewhere on the mountain itself."
[22:08] <Kotono> White starts to creep from CElebrimbor's brow, reaching into his eyebrows and turning them pale. "Pale Night's realm. That's where the children are...six of them. Six spheres. Six spheres of souls. Every single eladrin child murdered in Androlynne is there in agony."
[22:09] <Alicia> "You mean like this?" Marie asks, producing an illusion of Glaciante's orb. That said things were vile is not news, sadly, but now she at least knows who's souls went into them. "Is it the orbs themselves that bind the still living children, too?"
[22:11] <Kotono> "The orbs are the key to that realm and to Bleak Rendor. In Bleak Rendor lies the final sphere...the seventh sphere. It's where Glaciante's soulf esters, forming a new body. As long as the final sphere is intact, the Dark Six will never die. But listen...Dralen is not the only one there. Beyond there, with madness as his crown, is Sylian."
[22:13] <Alicia> He's not reformed yet? Good news there, at least. "What about the mountain, though? Do you know how Pale Night keeps the children from ever leaving Androlynne?" she presses, considering this a more immediate concern.
[22:20] <Kotono> "A curse... as long as the six spheres are intact, the seventh sphere will live. As long as the six spheres are intact, the children of Androlynne are cursed. Smash the six spheres and I believe the children will be set free."
[22:21] <Alicia> Oh, fiddlesticks! They're going to have to hold off Pale Night, defeat six monstrously powerful liches, a semi-divine undead fetus, and innumerable hordes of undead and demon minions? This is so not what they'd planned for! And Marie can't even warn them...
[22:23] <Alicia> "Yeah... that's really not what we were expecting," she admits quietly. "None of them have any of the protection they need to face the Neverborn - or even survive on the negative energy plane at all, really."
[22:24] <Kotono> "No." Shaking his head, "You don't understand. The six spheres arein Pale Night's realm. Six spheres, suspended in the air." Shaking ihs head back and forth, "As large as a house."
[22:26] <Alicia> "Oh, I thought you meant those spheres!" Marie gestures to the illusion she made of Glaciante's orb. "Almost makes me wish for some angles... But they're still gonna have to go to Bleak Rendor for sphere seven, right? And that's where the Neverborn and Dark Six hang out."
[22:28] <Alicia> "Would Bleak Rendor be accessible without going up the mountain if those six spheres are broken? That's make things a lot easier."
[22:28] <Kotono> "Six and one...six and one..." Celebrimbor mutters as he holds his head. His eyes turn white, irises bleaching of color. "That's what it always is. Six and one. Six and one. Seven. Six are the key, seventh is the power. Do you understand? Six orbs, six powers, six liches, six spheres. One Neverborn, One Pale Night, A Seventh Sphere...do you?"
[22:30] <Alicia> "I think so," Marie nods, straining her aura as best she can while hoping Elle hurries up. She's not sure Celebrimbor can last much longer. "I'll send word to the others to blow up those spheres and then they can leave, but Bleak Rendor will remain vulnerable? There'll be nothing tying them to Androlynne anymore?"
[22:34] <Kotono> "Free the eladrin. They're the key. Six spheres of them." Celebrimbor nods horsely, coughing. His hands are turning white, as he holds his head in them. "Sylian understands it. It's him. It's all him. He scares me more than the Neverborn, Marie. Older. Too old. Too many secrets in his eyes. They're all afraid of him. Glaciante, Dralen, Mudan." As he babbles, Elle rushes into the room. Gilartal is with her, as is Abagail. "More's coming, so get out of the
[22:34] <Kotono> Gilartal is with her, as is Abagail. "More's coming, so get out of the way, Marie." Elle barks.
[22:38] <Alicia> Marie zips behind Celebirmbor as ordered, but makes sure he isn't out of reach of her aura. She trusts it more than the magic circle Elle drew, anyway.
[21:27] <Kotono> ---
[21:28] <Kotono> Creeping mist surrounds Alicia as she plunges down! Mist all over, a silent, cold mist. Ahead of her she sees light, a faint light through the mist...
06[21:29] * Alicia glows quite brightly herself, not having dimmed her radiance at all since beginning the climb up this mountain - hopefully if her sister and Antenora are below they'll see it. "Jessica? Antenora?" she calls loudly, flying downwards through the fog.
[21:32] <Kotono> Smoke. Alicia smells smoke. Ahead of her flames leap. The valley is on fire. Fire is everywhere. The old dirt path is ruined, blood stained. Ahead she can her the laughter of rough men, cruel. She can hear the crying of a child, agonized. Ahead she can see her house burning. Her head throbs, a headache exploding out. Bandits...the sound of them, the noise of them, the smell of them...the cry of her child...her head...
[21:32] <Kotono> the smell of them...the cry of her child...her head...
[21:35] <Alicia> "No..." Alicia grimaces, fighting to shake it off. It's a cruel illusion, nothing more. "Jessica! Antenora!" she calls out their names again, more loudly this time. She tries to look out for magical signatures shining through the mist, hoping arcane sight will avail her if normal vision fails, if she can catch any trace of their familiar magical items.
[21:36] <Kotono> OOC: Make a will save.
[21:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 and gets 37." [1d20=1]
[21:39] <Kotono> Alicia...can't. She can't look away. Her magic is lost as she stares and finds herself walking ahead. Her house is a burning ruin. Her husband's head sits on a planted spear, a grimce of agony his final expression. Her child lies on the ground, beaten and somehow alive, despite his brains lying about around him. Bandits are everywhere...her friends are there. Antenora...Latha...Jessica...Marie...Seira....Amaryl...all lie there, broken. Bandits violate the
[21:39] <Kotono> Antenora...Latha...Jessica...Marie...Seira....Amaryl...all lie there, broken. Bandits violate them while they are dismembered, mocked. Utter despair cascades through Alicia...she failed again. Too late. Too late. Too late. Too late. Too late. Too late. Too late. Her lips move, mouthing this over and over.
06[21:43] * Alicia tries to summon the familiar fury, righteous anger that has served her in the past to overcome adversity and take vengeance... but it just won't come. What's the use? It won't change anything. Even if she derives some temporary satisfaction, they're still dead. Slackening her grip on Hell Striker, she curls up and awaits her own death...
[21:44] <Kotono> They're around her. Laughing. Leering. Failure. They see her failure. They know what she is - weak, pathetic, false. She feels sorrow overwhelm her..."ALICIA!" Antenora's voice screams, yet is only heard distantly, faraway. "ALICIA!"
[21:46] <Alicia> Poor Antenora, crying out for her even as she suffers. She was foolish to ever put her trust in someone like Alicia. A pity there's nothing she can do, though.
[21:46] <Kotono> "ALICIA!" Antenora's voice is louder, more focused. She feels a pain in her arm, a sharp one! (10 points of nonlethal damage.) "Open your eyes!"
[21:49] <Alicia> Her own torture comes now? It's not as if anything they do to her can compare to the horrors she's seen. Let them do their worst - she'd spit at them if she could work up the will to care.
[21:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
06[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 14." [1d20=5]
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 1d3+9
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d3+9 and gets 12." [1d3=3]
[21:51] <Kotono> The next blow is harder, overwhelmingly painful! (12 nonlethal damage) Her cheek stings from a slap, her head clearing slightly. "Alicia!" Antenora's voice is even louder, "I said open your eyes! Please!"
[21:51] <Alicia> OOC: Can I?
[21:51] <Kotono> OOC: You can try, sure.
[21:53] <Alicia> Has... has Antenora recovered and beaten back her tormentors? Alicia looks up, trying to look past the leering men towards where she last saw her friend lying broken on the ground.
[21:53] <Kotono> OOC: Make a will save.
[21:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+35 forgot the wis damage on the last roll
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+35 forgot the wis damage on the last roll and gets 38." [1d20=3]
[21:54] <Kotono> Alicia's eyes open! Antenora is flying in the gray mist, unscathed! Jessica is slung over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, her hand raised and slightly bloodied. The taste of blood fills Alicia's mouth. "Alicia, wake up!" Antenora calls, "Can you hear me now?"
[21:55] <Alicia> Memories ebb back into Alicia's mind, slowly at first and then in a torrent as she realises what just happened. Harshly biting out the words to the spell, she invokes a sphere of anti-magic around herself to ward off the terrible mind-sapping effect of the mist here!
[21:56] <Kotono> Alicia's mind clears! Antenora smiles broadly, as Jessica stirs and groans. "Welcome back. Let's go back up before something worse happens...whereever this is."
[21:58] <Alicia> OOC: Do I have my sword?
[21:58] <Kotono> OOC: It's in hand.
[21:59] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia shelves her self recriminations for the moment, rewarding Antenora with the grateful smile she deserves, "You saved us both." Sheathing Hell Striker so there's less risk of dropping it, she fans out her wings, "Straight up and stay close, the mist can't hurt us while my antimagic holds, but we need to catch up with the others quickly."
[21:59] <Kotono> "Right," With that, Antenora begins to fly up! OOC: Move you two back to #dunes now, unless you want to do anything else here?
[22:00] <Alicia> OOC: Hell no
[21:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> ---
[21:59] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Home. Rest. Battle worn and having seen things beyond mortal ken, it is so easy to rest. Dinner comes - Jessica makes it, Antenora sits down to eat with you. Dawnhope is there, smiling and chatting away. Hugo sits as well, Marie fluttering about. Latha sits nearby, quiet. It's a very simple meal, bread, meat, vegetables, cheese. Amid this, "You fought well, Jessica." Antenora says.
[22:01] <Alicia> "You made a valuable contribution," Alicia seconds. "It's a shame about the rapier, but it needed to be replaced anyway." She then turns to Antenora, "And thank you again for rescuing us both from that mist. I hate to think what would have happened to us without you."
[22:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Jessica just smiles, "I'm trying not to think about it. All of it was so unbelievable."
[22:02] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Dawnhope perches on Hugo's head, as Hugo passes her up a little bit of tomato. "Each time you come back, all of you look more impressive."
[22:02] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "You saved me from my own, too," Antenora's blush comes as she looks down into her food, "I was back in Hell. You were there with me and...I refused to believe that."
[22:04] <Alicia> "I saw all of you being hurt," Alicia answers vaguely as to her own experience, her gaze encompassing everyone present. "I knew it was just an illusion, but... it somehow got stuck in my head anyway. Sapped away at my will."
[22:05] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Same for me." Jessica says after a bite of cheese and bread, "All my logic and protests were swept away. I couldn't do anything but close my eyes and wait for the end."
[22:07] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "That's what makes you special, Alicia. Even when you succumbed, you still inspired me to save all of us," Antenora looks up to her now, a blush and a smile married together, twitching. "But still...I'm trying to forget that...succubus...thing."
[22:08] <Alicia> "It was revolting, wasn't it?" Alicia makes a face at that, grimacing at her plate before she tries to dismiss it and looks up. "What about your part, Latha?" she tries to engage the deva, hoping this won't be like picking at a scab. "Did you have to block anyone from crossing the bridge during your tenure as guard?"
[22:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Latha's gaze is still distant, still so far away. "No. All that came were worthy. To describe it...I cannot. It is beyond words." Latha is quiet now, "All of us need to see Commander Oberuth tomorrow. Within the light, time was relative. He's planning a very important matter."
06[22:11] * Alicia blinks at that, wondering how Latha knows. "I think he mentioned something yesterday, when we got back from Celestia," she admits. "Bleak Rendor still awaits, but we should take tomorrow to rest anyway. We'll go to the garrison after breakfast?"
[22:20] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yes." Latha looks down then, silent. After a few moments of this, Dawnhope flutters up and perches on Alicia's head. "So tell us about the battle!"
[22:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora gazes at Latha sidelong, "Alicia's a good storyteller," she agrees.
[22:28] <Alicia> "Well, our first opposition was Lord Drake, above a vile lake at the Mountain's foothills" Alicia begins, pushing her mostly cleared plate away and leaning back. "Makes me wonder if we'll find Claris the same way," she adds as an aside,
[22:28] <Alicia> "But Seira had Agathiel exorcise the control the Dark Six had over his spirit, then somehow confined his soul into a gem long enough for Marie to return him to Balmuria and his body. So that wasn't much of a battle at all..."
[22:28] <Alicia> "The first real battle came as we reached the mountain proper, and were engaged by a swarm of tiny undead... eyeball things. As they flew wildly around us all, a marilith riding a howling dragon - the one we saw the other day," she nods to Latha, hoping to bring her more into things, "Emerged screaming about flanking us."
[22:28] <Alicia> "She had no other forces nearby to flank with, though, so I think she was just saying that to sound like she knew what she was doing. Has anyone ever actually encountered a marilith who lived up to the 'legendary general' stereotype, by the way?" she breaks off her tale curiously, looking around the table.
[22:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora shakes her head, "I think it's just propaganda by demons, or by mortals terrified of them." Witt a pfft sound as she blows on her tongue, "We're beyond such petty hype. They're nothing but succubi without what makes them succubi, playing at being a warrior."
[22:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I wouldn't be so sure!" Dawnhope waggles a finger, "That sounds a lot like arrogant overconfidence! Pride comes way before the fall!"
[22:34] <Alicia> "I think the succubus comparison is apt, though," Alicia inclines her head a little, but not enough to dislodge the coure on her head. "I fought one on the astral who admitted to being newly promoted from succubus when I taunted her. And Estaci's brothel in Golmendicoria had lots of mariliths featured in the advertising."
[22:35] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Interesting." Antenora takes a bite of meat, wiping her chinw ith a napkin as red juice dribbles down. "Perhaps the ones we've met haven't grown into the role, either. A newly promoted devil knows how to act and what to do, but without the guidance of order and law? A new marilith would be lost."
[22:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It's not like newly promoted eladrin are deaf, dumb and stupid!" Dawnhope sticks out her tongue at Antenora, "I'm sure they have instincts too!"
[22:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Marie, I think oyu're losing your touch," Jessica's face quirks into a little smile, "Dawnhope's replacing you here."
[22:39] <Alicia> "Maybe the mariliths who know about tactics aren't dumb enough to show up on the front lines?" Marie volunteers, before indignantly flying over to park herself on Jessica's head. "Even if Alicia abandons me for another model, you won't cast me aside, will you?" she asks in a whiny tone.
[22:39] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I'm here." Jessica reaches up and pats Marie, "Perhaps you rubbed off? The desire for change seized Alicia, Marie?"
[22:40] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "A good point. Those balors barely even slowed us down. Mystra...." Thoughtfully having crackling white light cascade amid her fingers, "We're becoming the legends."
[22:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Hugo smiles, "Change. Good. Bad." Hugo shrugs, going back to his meal.
[22:41] <Alicia> "That's right, Hugo," Alicia smiles indulgently at the young man. "Sometimes things change for the better, sometimes the worse. Change for its own sake is silly, though."
[22:42] <Alicia> "I'm not broken so don't fix me?" Marie summarises hesitantly.
[22:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Still." Jessica brings a bit of bread up to Marie, "Thanks for saving Celebrimbor. You did good."
[22:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora turns ot Hugo, "Still innocent as a child...I wonder..." She gazes at him for a time, "Did we make the right choice?"
[22:46] <Alicia> "I was just the delivery girl," Marie shrugs, accepting the bread and nibbling on it. "It's what we coure normally do in the heavens, anyway."
[22:46] <Alicia> "Hugo did not need to see the things we saw today," Alicia concludes firmly.
[22:49] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I'm sure you'll get promoted from that one day," Antenora grins at Marie, before returning to Hugo. She is quiet, lips pursed, "I don't reject what you said, yet...the hottest forges make the strongest greensteel. I wonder...I wonder what could have been?"
[22:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Besides playing innocent pranks and frolicking with your kin?" Jessica chuckles, "I saw a few in Dweomerheart."
[22:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Hugo smiles right back to Antenora, "I'm happy." He says, then goes back to eating his food.
[22:51] <Alicia> "Obviously we get time off," Marie folds her arms indignantly. "Would you want heaven to be all work and no play? The thing is, though, if you slack off and play all the time, that's all you're trusted to do. If you work hard, you're rewarded with more work and greater responsibility. So everyone finds their own niche."
[22:52] <Alicia> "Innocence should be treasured, I think," Alicia responds to Antenora's musings. "He'll find his own path, when he's ready."
[22:52] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "You still get to play forever, if that's what your soul craves." Antenora's quiet expression and gaze settle on Marie. "Luckier than a lemure that crawled up to being a Lord of the Nine."
[22:53] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Speaking of!" Jessica claps her hands, "We haven't had any devil problems since Esthan was stopped?"
[22:54] <Alicia> "Haven't seen any," Alicia agrees with Jessica. "I doubt they'll be out of our hair forever, but they're probably taking their time to determine a new strategy."
[22:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Mmmm." Antenora is quiet, "Alicia. Have you thought about..." she trails off, "What we saw in our visions on the mountain at all?"
[22:57] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Hm? You know, if you don't want to talk about devils, you could just say so," Jessica cracks a slight smile, "That wasn't very transparent."
06[22:59] * Alicia smiles at Jessica. "It's still more tactful than bluntly announcing it," she observes. "Anyway, to be honest I hadn't given it much thought - since we got Xerona on our side things were too hectic for much introspection."
[23:00] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora looks about, "I just think...there's a family here. A good family, a good place to grow and live. That's all." Going back to her food while looking at Alicia sidelong, "Marie would make a good playmate, too."
[23:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Now scowling a little, "What are you two talking about?" Dawnhope peers down, nearly upsidedown to look into Alicia's eyes.
06[23:04] * Alicia raises her gaze towards Dawnhope first and then to Jessica and Hugo. "Sorry, we're being rude, aren't we," she acknowledges. "While in Celestia, I had a dream about my son, Felix."
[23:04] <Alicia> "It's a little confusing, since it was a potential future, but I was able to talk with him... right now he's with Mystra, though. Along with my husband," she explains, voice remaining calm and pleasant as she focuses on the pleasant experience in Celestia, easily chasing away the nastiness Pale Night's realm dredged up.
[23:05] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh...oh!" Jessica blinks slowly at first, "Then...are you going to bring them here, Alicia?"
[23:06] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Hugo grins as he eats, "Playmates are fun!"
[23:10] <Alicia> "I don't know," Alicia admits with a wince. "In the beginning, I prayed for their return with all my heart. Over time, though, I've gotten used to the idea that they've moved on and are happy - like Marie," she gestures to her familiar. "Now though, I know they're with the Goddess I love, but also that they're still watching over me..."
[23:10] <Alicia> "I don't know if they're happy as things are or want to come back or what," she shrugs helplessly. "Even if there's nothing I can do right now, I think if I made a proper effort I could find a way to resurrect them. I just don't know if I should."
[23:12] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora takes a long drink of wine before she answers. "Alicia. I think they're happy where they are, and they'd be happy here. If Mystra gives you the means of bringing them back, I have no doubt she has confidence in this. I think the greater question is will it make you happy?"
[23:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Wait, they're not outsiders or absorbed into things? Are they like held petitioners?" Dawnhope's voice lilts upwards, "That sounds unusual!"
06[23:19] * Alicia squirms a bit. This was far easier when it was just a sad fact of life, not something she had direct power to choose. "I don't know the specifics of it," she admits to Dawnhope before addressing Antenora.
[23:19] <Alicia> "It's complicated," she begins, knowing how weak that sounds. "I've moved on. Changed. For Felix I doubt it would matter, I'll always be his mother. But for Hans... I'm not sure I could be the wife he remembers."
[23:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "You're not going to stay at home and cook any more." Antenora nods slightly, "I admit..." she stops here, "Would he be happy with you running around? Would he feel jealous of others who had close relationships with you? Yet...I believe that the love would endure, but..." With a thoughtful sigh, "Your doubts raise a good point."
[23:25] <Alicia> "He wasn't controlling," Alicia shakes her head quickly. "But... I did give up that life for him. And when I think back on our time together... it's a warm memory, but... it's wistful," she frowns, trying to articulate this but not sure if she's being successful. "We never had a chance to fall out of love, but still I don't think I'd have those same feelings now."
[23:27] <Alicia> "How cruel would it be to bring him back into this world, only for the life he knew to remain broken?" she concludes.
[22:00] <Koaway> "* Alicia squirms a bit. This was far easier when it was just a sad fact of life, not something she had direct power to choose. "I don't know the specifics of it," she admits to Dawnhope before addressing Antenora.
[22:00] <Koaway> <Alicia> "It's complicated," she begins, knowing how weak that sounds. "I've moved on. Changed. For Felix I doubt it would matter, I'll always be his mother. But for Hans... I'm not sure I could be the wife he remembers."
[22:00] <Koaway> > "You're not going to stay at home and cook any more." Antenora nods slightly, "I admit..." she stops here, "Would he be happy with you running around? Would he feel jealous of others who had close relationships with you? Yet...I believe that the love would endure, but..." With a thoughtful sigh, "Your doubts raise a good point."
[22:00] <Koaway> <Alicia> "He wasn't controlling," Alicia shakes her head quickly. "But... I did give up that life for him. And when I think back on our time together... it's a warm memory, but... it's wistful," she frowns, trying to articulate this but not sure if she's being successful. "We never had a chance to fall out of love, but still I don't think I'd have those same feelings now."
[22:00] <Koaway> <Alicia> "How cruel would it be to bring him back into this world, only for the life he knew to remain broken?" she concludes.
[22:01] <Koaway> "Just because the past is gone doesn't mean you can't build a bright future. Look at me...compared to what you helped me with, forging a loving, new relationship would be simple," Antenora smiles wistfully herself, "No matter how good a point the doubts raise, remember that, too. Don't be scared."
[22:01] <Koaway> "On the other hand, it's natural to move on." Dawnhope leans over to speak into Alicia's ear, but loud enough to be heard. "Forever's a long time. Love, life and move along."
[22:02] <Koaway> "A test." Latha says clearly, her gaze still far away and unfocused. "A choice between what you've left behind and the future Mystra has shown you at her side."
06[22:06] * Alicia looks askance at Latha. "Why does it have to be a test?" she asks, not liking the implications. It's tremendously cruel if so. "Why can't it just be a private decision, if it has to be a decision at all?"
[22:08] <Koaway> "You've held lives and souls in your choices before, Alicia. Everyone does, even if they don't realize it." Her eyes bore into her, like lasers of light. "Every action works towards the truth. Every action is part of the truth. Every choice chooses to embrace the truth or to reject it foolishly."
[22:14] <Alicia> "If Mystra or Celestia wanted my family restored, they should have done it when I asked," Alicia returns, tone becoming frosty. "Keeping them on ice all these years as I try to rebuild my life, only to dangle the possibility when I've moved on is wrong, no matter who's doing it."
[22:17] <Koaway> Latha stares right back at Alicia, "The truth is not..." A full stop here, her gaze turned away from Alicia. "I must watch my words. They are not entirely normal now." Rising up, Latha bows her head, "Thank you for the meal. I will go...rest a time."
[22:18] <Koaway> As everyone else stares at her, Jessica clears her throat. "Thank you. You're excused."
[22:20] <Alicia> Alicia's head droops, feeling bad for making Latha feel less welcome after all they just went through, but unable to apologise for finally giving vent to something that's been niggling at her since their trip through Celestia. "I think I'll turn in early as well," she announces a moment after Latha's left, carefully removing Dawnhope from her head and getting up as well.
[22:21] <Koaway> "It's been a long few days." Antenora says aloud, "We need rest and time to let our stresses melt away." Antenora rises, "I'm going ot go pratice."
[22:21] <Koaway> Dawnhope flutters by Alicia, "Want me to bring you some warm tea?"
[22:23] <Alicia> "No. Thank you," Alicia forces a smile for Dawnhope as she shakes her head. "I'm just going to go sleep. Good night, everyone," she turns to the rest of the room, giving Hugo a kiss on the top of his head in passing.
[22:32] <Koaway> roll 1d100
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Koaway rolls 1d100 and gets 41." [1d100=41]
[22:34] <Koaway> The next morning comes. Alicia sleeps a dark, endless sleep. Oh, she dreams - she knows it, yet they slip through her hands like sands through the hourglass. She awakens the next morning before the dawn, the smell of something good wafting in. Of cooking food, perhaps? Her stomach rumbles slightly. Alicia can also hear singing, faint and muffled.
[22:35] <Alicia> As is her usual custom, Alicia gets cleaned up and dressed before she goes downstairs to investigate breakfast.
[22:36] <Koaway> As Alicia gets cleaned up, there's a knock on her door. "Alicia?" Antenora calls.
[22:37] <Alicia> "Just a second," Alicia calls, taking a moment to put on her tunic and tie it up at the back - clothes were so much simpler before wings. "Okay, come in," she allows as she works the fastenings, now decent.
[22:41] <Koaway> The door props open. Antenora comes in, carrying a tray. Fresh steam rises from it, food and drink balanced. Dawnhope flutters in with her, carrying a basket of flowers, struggling mightily to keep it up. "Breakfast," Antenora says with a bright smile. "Marie'll be along."
06[22:43] * Alicia sees right through this. "You don't have to coddle me," she makes a face, knowing exactly why they're feeling the need to do just that and wishing she hadn't snapped last night.
[22:44] <Koaway> "Alicia." Antenora to her, presenting the tray. "For Mystra's sake, you faced down abominations that should never see the light of day! You deserve some pampering! I spent two hours cooking this for you, too!"
[22:46] <Koaway> "Ooof...ooof..." Dawnhope makes it to Alicia's nightstand, starting to arrainge the flowers in the basket. "You don't wanna know how hard these flowers were to get, by th eway."
[22:47] <Alicia> "You faced them as well," Alicia points out reasonably, sitting on her bed before giving Dawnhope a smile and genially patting her head. "I appreciate that you worked hard, and I don't want to seem ungrateful. But this is really about what I said to Latha, isn't it?"
[22:48] <Koaway> "Alicia. I get pleasure from serving you." Antenora says warmly, her smile quite strong and quite unrelenting. "That's my relief and relaxation. Let's just enjoy ourselves for the moment? Your oats are getting cold."
06[22:52] * Alicia then accepts the tray, setting it down on the bed beside her and grabbing a spoon to start on those oats Antenora's so worried about. "At least have something yourselves then," she asks. "I don't want to eat alone."
[22:52] <Alicia> Although she can't help but entertain a suspicion that perhaps the intent here is to keep her in her room so as not to disturb anyone else? Antenora would surely be the first to accept that sacrifice.
[22:55] <Koaway> They're oats, though they taste of apples. Antenora takes a bit of pear, nibbling on it. "It tastes fine, but I still don't like eating. If I'm to learn a lesson about it, I fear it's going to be lost on me."
[22:57] <Koaway> "Eating's fun," Dawnhope flutters over to the tray, taking a tiny finger of oats and sampling. "What's so bad about it as long as you don't indulge in gluttony?"
[22:58] <Alicia> "The lesson is to be part of the world. You have to acquire food to survive, either by hunting, foraging, or bartering," Alicia replies, glad of something normal to talk about. Well, normal by their standards. "If you don't require sustenance then that's one less chain linking you to the world. You could be a hermit with no impact on anything."
[23:00] <Koaway> "There are blessed hermits out there," Antenora smiles coyly now, "To forsake everything and live along, pursuing enlightenment and wisdom. It is not a false path."
[23:01] <Koaway> "Oh, don't backtalk!" Dawnhope flicks a bit of oat at Antenora, "That sounds like some batty archmage who can call on great magic but can barely hold a conversation with another person. What's so holy about that?"
[23:03] <Alicia> "I'm with the eladrin on this one," Alicia agrees. "We're people of action at heart, and that's how it should be."
[23:04] <Koaway> "Perhaps so." Antenora eats away at her fruit, "Baatezu are lonely creatures, no matter how many thralls they command and how many superiors they scrape to. For all the iron chains around them, not a one truly supports them."
[23:07] <Alicia> "They still interact with the world, in their own destructive way," Alicia notes after a mouthful of porridge. "But to take your hermit example, a hermit with no need for sustenance could brick herself up in a cave till the end of time."
[23:07] <Alicia> "A hermit who requires food would have to forage or hunt for it, or perhaps make infrequent trips to barter. This keeps her involved in the world, where perhaps she might hear of something that demands she come out of seclusion for the greater good."
[23:09] <Koaway> "True." Antenora chomps down on her pear again, licking her lips clean. She swallows it, "You know Mephistopheles as a fiery archdevil who commands Hellfire, yes?"
[23:09] <Alicia> "And rules over frozen Cania, yes," Alicia nods.
[23:11] <Koaway> "I remember once hearing that it wasn't always like that. Mephisto was as cold as his realm. Of course, that devil was soon beheaded for high treason." Antenora finishes her pear, "But the image of a cold stoic lingers in my mind now."
[23:13] <Alicia> "Aren't you guilty of high treason?" Alicia asks, blinking. "There's really not much comparison..."
[23:14] <Koaway> "I'm not done yet." Antenora smiles now, "A cold stoic that cares about nothing but his own perfection and growth, no matter what. It strikes me as material."
03[23:15] * Koaway is now known as Kotono
[23:16] <Kotono> "Kind of like Alicia's example? It's a little bit of a stretch." Antenora gets Dawnhope perching on her head, "Why go to such a hassle and contort that to fit into your train of thought?"
06[23:17] * Alicia isn't sure herself, but makes a guess. "Perhaps to show that ascetic contemplation can be bad in certain ways, just as anything else can?"
[23:20] <Kotono> "Yes, that." Antenora is quiet for some time after, "My thoughts are difficult to follow at times. My very frame of reference is alien to a human or an eladrin. It's not condescension, but instead what I've learned. Baatezu are all about logic...Alicia understood that. Saying that she loved me and wanted me to be pure would have never worked. She challenged my logic on it's foundations. When I reference a great superior devil...I'm doing much the same. Me
[23:20] <Kotono> When I reference a great superior devil...I'm doing much the same. Mephisto IS Caina. He is it's embodiment, master and lord. The lessons Caina teaches are him."
[23:25] <Alicia> "And yet if the treasonous devil you mention is correct, he hides and distorts his own history. What logic can be derived from a false premise?" Alicia asks thoughtfully. "Of course it could have been wrong - it's one devil's word against another, isn't it?"
[23:27] <Kotono> "Devils lie almost as much as Yugoloths, but not from a lack of trying," Antenora chuckles. "He could have been telling the unvarnished truth or a complete falsehood."
[23:33] <Alicia> "I'd like to think if it was true then it would be more well known," Alicia muses. "But considering how our history turns to mush after a few centuries here on the prime, I'm not really in any place to cast judgement."
[23:33] <Alicia> "Jessica and I were talking about this the other day - the gnomes had a massive presence all over the world two thousand years ago, but now if you were to ask most people about gnomes you'd have them explained as little more than ground-bound pixie-like pranksters."
[23:35] <Kotono> "Curious indeed. Though perhaps your world is a special case." Antenora thoughtfully takes a slice of bread and gnaws on it. "When the desired truth changes in Baator, so do the records and the official line. Spouting an old truth now...that's treason. Those who like the old truth enough to champion end up dead. So it's easier for Baatezu knowledge to slip beneath the waves, at least in Baator."
[23:38] <Alicia> "Well, if it were just humans I could accept it. Two thousand years is an immensely long time. Many tens of generations have passed for us, enough time for tales to be distorted and records lost. But elves have little more knowledge, and for them it has only been a handful of generations. Jessica speculated that there must have been a deliberate effort to forget."
[23:39] <Kotono> "Quite possible. With all that's happened here, I wouldn't put it past the pale." Half eating her bread before putting it back on the tray, "Perhaps in a few thousand years no one will remember Della, but instead remember Antenora the deva?"
[23:42] <Alicia> "Which would you prefer?" Alicia asks curiously as she tears off a piece of bread for herself.
[23:42] <Kotono> "I'm not sure." Antenora looks to Alicia, "In two thousand years, do you want people to remember Alicia...or Saint Alicia, or the angelic Alicia, servant of Mystra?"
[23:50] <Alicia> "I'd want them to remember my beginnings," Alicia nods decisively. "I wasn't born under a portentuous star or groomed by divine agents. I didn't come from a line of heroes or struggle growing up through great trials."
[23:50] <Alicia> "And yet for all the mundanity of my origin, I still achieved great things - I like to think that could be inspirational for other young people who perhaps fancy themselves as having a bit of talent with a sword, today or in the future."
[23:51] <Kotono> "I'd like to think that too. I'd like to be known as an angel of fury and redemption joined together." Antenora slides close to Alicia now, "That someone from the darkest roots can rise high."
06[23:54] * Alicia smiles approvingly. "If anything, it makes your accomplishments more impressive." She then cocks her head and her smile takes an amused turn, "For all that I wonder if there are those in Baator right now enjoying a bit of reflected glory from a once erinyes being among those to thwart Pale Night yesterday."
[23:55] <Kotono> "Sure." Antenora giggles to that, cocking her head back and looking Alicia in the eyes. "Let them be jealous and cling to our glory."
[23:58] <Alicia> Letting out a little laugh at that, Alicia finishes off her bread and stands up. "Come on, lets get things cleaned up and then we'll go see what the Commander has planned at the garrison?"
[23:59] <Kotono> "Of course, Alicia." Antenora stands up, right behind Alicia. "I think Della would in a way crave the position I have. I've gained more station and elevation than any devil could dream of."
Session Time: Sat Dec 12 00:00:00 2009
[00:02] <Alicia> "Even so, it'd be nice if your success encouraged a few more to start dreaming," Alicia smiles as she picks up the tray, starting for the door.
[19:53] <Kotono> ---
[19:54] <Kotono> Elle rests in her shop. She looks out the window as cold winds and a chilly rain blow, sipping a cup of tea. She still wears black, putting the cup and saucer down as Alicia enters. "I heard you found success in the Abyss?"
[19:55] <Alicia> "We did," Alicia agrees, going to take a seat by the redhead mage. "Wasn't time to really stay and see exactly how things panned out, but I hope everyone was able to evacuate safely with the warning we gave."
[19:56] <Kotono> "Good. Alice..." Elle runs a hand over her face, "You did good. All of yo udid. Thank you." Elle looks long to Alicia, "I've been studying the Bleak Rendor problem. The way to it is open onw?"
06[19:59] * Alicia gives Elle a sympathetic look as she mentions her apprentice. "I hope Alice can rest a little easier from this. We should be able to go to Bleak Rendor and finish things now - we don't know where it is, but Lord Drake would."
[20:00] <Kotono> "You'll need protections." Elle crisply nods, rising up. "Have you prepared any of your own?"
[20:04] <Alicia> "No, I'm not able to," Alicia shakes her head. "We'd mostly be relying on Seira or any scrolls you can provide to survive the effects of the plane itself. To approach the Neverborn requires specific divine magic that Seira's father or Demedais could muster." Not that she's seen much of the latter, of late.
[20:09] <Kotono> Elle goes back, coming back with a tiny statuette. It is carved, a serene child of white stone with contented smile. "I've made something that'll help. I knew your path would take you to Bleak Rendor sooner or later."
[20:10] <Alicia> "Considering the rate we go through scrolls, a permanent item might be more efficient," Alicia agrees, leaning over to examine the statuette, smiling at its calming aspect. "Did you carve it yourself, too?"
[20:13] <Kotono> "No. An eladrin did." Smiling faintly to that, "There's a lot of them in town and...a pixie, too."
[20:16] <Alicia> "They brighten things up after the horrible battle we endured," Alicia nods her head. "It's well made, though - I suppose having such small hands makes fine details easier for them than us. So how did you enchant it?"
[20:18] <Kotono> "A spell that repels planar effects. I'm sure you're familiar with it?" Now with a longer look at Alicia, "It won't stop the attacks of creatures within Bleak Rendor, but I think it'll hold the wasting energies of the endless depths of oblivion at bay."
[20:18] <Kotono> "It had better," Calling in as she flies in, Lady Honeydip enters into Elle's shop. She wears her armor and spear, "Lady Alicia!"
[20:19] <Alicia> "Lady Honeydip!" Alicia gets to her feet in surprise. "I didn't expect to see you here!" She then looks between Elle and the general in surprise, wondering if Honeydip is the pixie Elle just mentioned.
[20:21] <Kotono> "I'm here from the Court of the Stars." Honeydip flies over, shimmering bright. A human sized woman with transparent gossamer wings approaches Alicia, wearing a breastplate and carrying a spear. "Were not all the courtiers in a righteous fury, we would be having a celebration that would be spoken of for all eternity."
[20:22] <Alicia> "So the withdrawal went as planned?" Alicia asks, looking the now human-sized Honeydip up and down.
[20:24] <Kotono> "Ah yes." Honeydip is as blonde as her name now, hair cascading to the floor and coiling up from it. She is delicate as a flower and twice as pretty, armor kept in place with delicate ribbons here and there. "The children of Androlynne are free, the defenders safely evacuated. A good thing, as the realm itself has begin to shift wildly with Pale Night's wrath."
[20:27] <Alicia> "Good," Alicia nods. "The demons are welcome to whatever's left. As we broke the seals we felt a great joy and saw many lights ascending - I think even the children murdered over the years to Pale Night's depravity have found peace. Dark Six aside, it remains a great victory."
[20:30] <Kotono> "Her Majesty Queen Morwel conveys her thanks and gratitude. She has ordered the eladrin host to assail Bleak Rendor with all we have. The crimes the children have told Her of have no place to exist!" Hitting the ground with the butt of her spear right after, "Bringing Pale Night ot justice will be a far longer task, but the Neverborn is exposed and vulnerable now."
[20:31] <Alicia> "You know how to get there?" Alicia perks up at that. "We were intending to make our own attack soon, so it would be best if we worked together."
[20:32] <Kotono> "With the eladrin children gone, our divinations are having much more success. It seems their defenses have been spread wide open."
[20:36] <Alicia> "Two of the liches are currently regenerating and one has abandoned the others to explore the Far Realm," Alicia offers. "That leaves three remaining, plus the Neverborn and any other servants they have."
[20:36] <Alicia> "Given what was thrown at us during their initial attack on our world, such servants shouldn't be discounted easily, but you're right that this is the best time. Seira has gone off on an errand of her own tomorrow, but we'd be able to make our attack tomorrow I'm sure."
[20:38] <Alicia> OOC: her own today
[20:40] <Kotono> "Queen Morwel bids you to join her champions in the attack. Lady Gwynharwyf directs the attack and welcomes you to her side." LAdy Honeydip says.
[20:42] <Alicia> "I'll have to check with Seira since she outranks me," Alicia admits slightly awkwardly, "But hopefully she should be willing to fight under Gwynharwyf's command. Where would we muster?"
[20:53] <Kotono> "Here. I've been invested with the power to be able to return us to where we need to go," Lady Honeydip says brightly, "Once we have victory, Queen Morwel will properly honor all of you."
[20:57] <Alicia> "Fair enough. Seira owns an establishment next door so we should find her there when she gets back," Alicia nods, before finally turning back to Elle, a little bit embarrassed that they've waffled on for so long without her. "Sorry, Elle. This is Lady Honeydip, former general of Androlynne. And this is Elle Stronger, Balmuria's premiere spellcaster," she performs the requisite introductions.
[21:03] <Kotono> "Charmed!" Lady Honeydip smiles, as Elle returns the same.
[21:04] <Kotono> "Go ahead." Taking the figurine and passing it into Alicia's hands, "In case you need it. If it makes it through in one piece, bring it back to me when you're done."
[21:04] <Alicia> "How do I activate it and what are the limitations on use?" Alicia asks as she accepts the gift.
[21:07] <Kotono> "Tap it on it's head and concentrate. Do the sameto turn it off. It should last for up to 10 minutes a day."
[21:09] <Alicia> Hopefully Bleak Rendor isn't that big, then. "It could be a lifesaver when we're out there," she nods, not wanting to seem ungrateful. "I'll keep it safe to return to you, Elle, I promise."
[21:13] <Kotono> "Good luck," Elle clasps Alicia's shoulders, and after a moment, "Life's too short to waste. When this is all over...we should live life."
[21:14] <Alicia> "You should take a break from running this shop," Alicia returns seriously. "I was thinking of organising a trip someplace nice and quiet for a few days to get some relaxation and decompress once the immediate threat is gone. Be nice to have you along."
[21:16] <Kotono> "Yes, I think that would be best." Elle says, "I've made enough money to buy a few Pasha, but...I need to get away from this. Where are we going?"
[21:18] <Alicia> "I haven't decided exactly. I saw a nice island in the middle of nowhere once... or perhaps one of the Heavens - Bytopia. Nothing ever happens there. It'd be very relaxing, I'm sure," Alicia nods earnestly.
[21:20] <Kotono> "Until then," Elle says, "Then we'll all go."
06[21:21] * Alicia gives the redhead a quick hug. "Keep safe, Elle," she asks before parting, gesturing for Honeydip to come with her out of the shop as she puts away the statuette.
[21:22] <Kotono> Once out and into the cold air, Honeydip wraps her wings around her. She shivers, "The endless nightmare's over. It's been so long since I've been anywhere but Androlynne..."
[21:23] <Alicia> "But the battle never ends, does it?" Alicia smiles wanly. "Still, you've earned some respite." Cocking her head curiously, "If you don't mind my asking, though, why are you human-sized right now?"
[21:24] <Kotono> "To fit in. The children love pixies," Lady Honeydip smiles, "Before I went to Androlynne, I could change my shape into that of a human. Over time there, I lost the ability since I never used it. Now that it's over, I asked Queen Morwel to restore my ability."
[21:26] <Alicia> "Ahh," Alicia nods. "Marie - you remember, my familiar? - she often complains whenever I have to alter her form to human stature. Says it's too clumsy and big," she laughs a little as she leads the general to the dragon-shaped inn.
[21:27] <Kotono> "Coure complain about EVERYTHING!" Throwing her hands up into the air, "The happiest lot of grumbling complainers I've ever met!"
[21:29] <Alicia> "So it's not just her, then?" Alicia nods understandingly. "I know she isn't even serious most of the time, she just does it out of principle, I think."
[21:32] <Kotono> Heading inside to the inn, you find Donald drinking and watching over the crowds. He waves you over, "Seira's in the back. Her and Amaryl and a few others just got back from up north."
[21:32] <Kotono> "Coure..." Lady Honeydip rubs her temples, "I think they do it just to get a reaction sometimes."
[21:34] <Alicia> "Thanks Donald," Alicia nods, going in the direction indicated as she continues her conversation. "I think that's about right. Marie adores having a good argument. I think that's why she gets on so well with Antenora - anyone who actually disliked bickering would've had a terminal falling out long ago."
[21:34] <Kotono> "I talked to Antenora while you were at Gomendicoria," As you slip into the back, "I got the impression she's fond of Marie."
[21:36] <Alicia> "She wasn't at first, but they've grown on each other," Alicia nods, looking around for Seira.
[21:37] <Kotono> Going back, you find Seira, Amaryl, Agathaiel and SAul in Seira's reading room. Amaryl is wearing brand new armor, as the others chatter away.
[21:38] <Alicia> "Seira," Alicia calls as they approach. "Lady Honeydip's hear to talk with us about the attack on Bleak Rendor."
[21:38] <Alicia> *here
01[21:39] <Seira> "We're all ears," Seira responds for everyone present, nodding at Alicia and smiling at the transformed pixie. "Please, have a seat, the both of you."
[21:45] <Kotono> "The Dark Six have committed unforgivable wrongs against the Court of Stars. Now that the way to Bleak Rendor is exposed, Queen Morwel will not sit idle. She has dispatched Lady Gwynharwyf to lead the eladrin host in assailing Bleak Rendor. She invites you to join her."
01[21:46] <Seira> "That's easy enough," Seira responds without needing to think it over. "I'll come. What's the plan?"
[21:48] <Kotono> "We will reduce Bleak Rendor to dust on the wind," Lady Honeydip goes to sit down, spear placed over her lap. "What the Dark Six have done cannot be allowed to stand. The exact stratagies will depend on what we find in Bleak Rendor."
[21:49] <Alicia> "You said divinations had been able to pierce it though, yes?" Alicia asks. "What has been learned so far?"
01[21:49] <Seira> "Do you know how to find it?" Seira inquires. "We might have a way, through Celebrimbor, but he is not yet well enough to tell us that. If you have other means, it would be a welcome surprise."
[21:50] <Kotono> "Our divinations have been successful in the wake of Androlynne being resolved." A short nod, "Undead and lots of them. Our clerics and champions are preparing to return the dead to rest."
06[21:51] * Seira nods slowly. "That would make things easier, and preparations quicker. From what we know, there are seven orbs, six of them granting the liches power and the seventh holding their souls within. We already possess three of them, so taking three more to complete the set and concecrating the ground there should destroy that seventh orb and much of their power."
[21:52] <Alicia> "As well as their ability to regenerate their forms after we kill them," Alicia interjects this very important point. "Glaciante and Alabster are currently reforming within the seventh orb, so if we can get to it before they are whole again it would save a lot of trouble."
[21:52] <Kotono> "Yes. All of you are welcome to come. The sooner we succeed, the better." Lady Honeydip says.
01[21:53] <Seira> "Yes, the need for haste is paramount," Seira agrees. "We might even leave today, if you could handle the spells I normally prepare for Amaryl," she adds, glancing at Alicia. "There's nothing we could do about Death Ward upon such short notice, regrettably, but perhaps our allies would have enough of it to spare."
[21:54] <Alicia> "As to the Neverborn itself, we've learned it can only truly be harmed by artifact-level weapons that possess intelligent will of their own," Alicia adds. "Hell Striker fits, as does a sword one of our allies was granted by Talos. Do any of your forces have appropriate armaments?" she asks Honeydip.
[21:54] <Kotono> "I would think, but I cannot answer that fully." Shaking her head now, "Bring them."
01[21:55] <Seira> "Magic might work as well, so I'll keep a few spells in reserve for facing that abomination," Seira promises.
[21:58] <Alicia> "If we're all able to go today, I can go to find the others at my house and we can set off once reunited?" Alicia asks. "Someone should be able to find Eudard at the temple of Helm, or at least find out where he is from there."
06[21:59] * Seira takes that as a yes, and voices, "I'll meet up with Eudard. Amaryl, Agathaiel, any reservations about going to fight the Dark Six?"
[22:00] <Kotono> "None," Amaryl calls, "Let's finish this."
[22:01] <Alicia> "It's really more of a Dark Three right now, anyway," Alicia sallies forth in an upbeat tone. "We'll meet back here in an hour, then?"
03[22:01] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
01[22:01] <Seira> "Club Donald into coming along, then? Like I said, I'll touch base with the Temple of Helm," Seira speaks, smirking at Alicia's words.
[23:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> -----
[23:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Once outside in the lit Oblivion, "What troubles you?"
01[23:18] <Seira> "I don't even know if 'troubles' is the right word, but it's a subject I find myself struggling with from time to time," Seira admits. "The way we live life, what happens to us after we die violently in battle. Do our souls become angels, finding contentment if forgetting all the meaning their life ever had? Do we just fade away?
01[23:18] <Seira> And if that's truly our reward, why is it that the magic of reincarnation and resurrection exists, and is sometimes even successful? Does invoking it mean committing a horirble sin against those it is used on, or a valid option?"
[23:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Honeydip blink-blinks. "Wow. I didn't expect a theological quandry."
01[23:21] <Seira> "It's one whose practical applications come up quite a bit. Such as now." Seira looks down. "A lot of lives were lost in the assault on our cities, back home."
[23:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> With a pause and tapping her fingers aagainst her other forearm, "I'm a general, Seira, not a priest. I know the basic cycle of souls...but my true skill is saving the children of Androlynne. I can give you my opinion, but it's just an amateur one."
01[23:25] <Seira> "I've listened to professional ones and they seem to be the 'pick what suits you best' kind," Seira says with some degree of frustration. "I want to plead with Lady Gwynharwyf to do something about this injustice, but I don't even know if I would be doing more harm than good, if that request were entertained!"
[23:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Gwynharwyf shrugs after a little time. "Mortal lives are fragile, temporary things. It's a shell that tempers the soul within it. Once a soul moves beyond the Prime, it leaves behind life. It is a tragedy to the living, but to others, it is the first step of a journey...and bleh, now I sound like a priest. See? That's the spiel I've heard priests give out in Androlynne. That's not what you want, is it?"
[23:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> *Honeydip. Weird typo.
01[23:30] <Seira> "You got that right," Seira agrees with a snort. "Elle Stronger is one of the nicest people I know, and I still consider her my master in matters arcane, even if now we are as equals. Alice was her apprentice and friend, and she was turned into a wraith by the Dark Six.
01[23:30] <Seira> If only two less days had passed, a Limited Wish would have been enough to return her to us, yet as things stand now, that path is forever closed before mortal magic available to us. And even if we could react in time, is it truly fair to offer such a chance to one person while ignoring all the others who died just as bravely in defense of our citizens?"
[23:32] <Tiny_Ko_Army> With a shrug, "It wasn't fair that the children of Androlynne tormented. It wasn't fair that I buried thousands of friends in the long, long centuries I fought in Androlynne. But no matter how unfair it was at times, I did the best I could with what I have. I don't have any regrets."
01[23:34] <Seira> "That's where the difference lies, though, doesn't it? Celestials can't be returned to their previous lives as easily as mortals, from what I can tell. And while Lady Gwynharwyf may not be able to help you, she just might be able to help me."
[23:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "What I'm saying is to follow your heart." Lady Honeydip looks right into Seira's eyes, "Do the best you can with what you have. Sometimes it will be enough, sometimes it won't. But as long as you do that, you'll end up alright."
01[23:36] <Seira> "Then it won't do something unspeakably terrible? All that'll happen is that the fallen might get a choice to return, if they should agree?"
[23:37] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "If you can get someone do allow it, yes. If. If not, you tried and it wasn't meant to be. They're where their souls had to go. There's nothing wrong with that. Death is as natural as living."
06[23:38] * Seira takes Honeydip's hand, smiling. "Thanks. I'm sure I'll find myself wrestling with this question again, but for now, this helped me make up my mind. When would it be possible for me to make my appeal?"
[23:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Well...there's going to be a celebration in the Court of the STars. IT's ag iven you'll be invited. You could petition Queen Morwel herself."
01[23:41] <Seira> "I'll do that, then," Seira asserts, before hesitating. "Honeydip... on a far more personal note...." She fidgets. "Do you think it would be alright if I tried to look up my mom? I know some petitioners or celestials wouldn't like to see a reminder of their mortal lives. But I never really got to meet her...."
[23:41] <Tiny_Ko_Army> With a gentler smile, "Do you know what realm her soul flew to? Was she devout to a power?"
06[23:42] * Seira shrugs in a show of nonchalance. "She married a priest of Waukeen. That's as good a starting point as any, right?"
[23:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Right. Most petitioners and souls forget their mortal life. It's not impossible to reverse, though it usually requires being a power or having the power who has the soul agreeing to it. I think. I'd get a second opinion from someone who knows this better before committing to it blindly."
01[23:46] <Seira> "I wouldn't want to bring her back against her will," Seira agrees. "That's... that's just terrible. I wouldn't even know who to ask, though."
[23:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Waukeen. If she claimed her soul, she'd have dominion over her." Honeydip says instantly, "And if she doesn't, a Goddess can probably tell you who does."
01[23:48] <Seira> "An audience with Waukeen? Well, at least I can speculate that my chances of getting one would be decent enough without sounding haughty," Seira muses. "Thanks. It really helped to talk about this."
[21:56] <Kotono> ----
[21:57] <Kotono> The wind blows through your hair. The wildflowers that are weaved in send fragrant scents blowing about the balcony. From hear you can see far - the endless starry sky. The forest below. Amaryl runs to the edge of the balcony, hands on the cusp. She lenas forward, her hair rippling in the breeze. "Aaaaah!"
06[22:09] * Seira hops lightly on the railing by Amaryl, tilting back to get a better angle at her face. She starts falling, but uses her wings to hold steady in an impressive feat of acrobatics at the last moment. "It's magical," Seira voices. "This place, us, here together... don't you feel that, too?"
[22:10] <Kotono> "Oh yes." Amaryl leans far over the edge, hopping back at the last moment. Her hair flies about, the flowers staying put within as it blows. "I feel like we've stepped into bardsong and legend."
06[22:12] * Seira admires Amaryl with a soft smile. "The tale of how you heroically slew a balor, facing it off unflinchingly in Pale Night's inner sanctum? Of how the skies were filled with the cries of freed children, of how the earth trembled with the fury of the Mother of Demons?"
[22:14] <Kotono> "Or how you melted the body of the foul Neverborn and..." Amaryl stops to blush, "Oh Seira!"
01[22:14] <Seira> "Yes, that wouldn't really be suitable for impressionable young minds," Seira agrees with a laugh. "We'll have to come up with a suitable replacement."
[22:15] <Kotono> As you talk, the sky grows slightly brighter. Above, a falling star streaks through the sky, leaving a trail of fairy-dust light in it's wake. Amaryl starts to reply, but her gaze goes up to it. "Oh, do you see that, Seira?"
06[22:15] * Seira is quick to make a wish!
[22:19] <Kotono> Amaryl follows the star as it drops beyond the horizon. "Like the Fairest Star...there's still work to do, even as far away as it is."
01[22:20] <Seira> "There's always work to do, but at least we can do it on our terms?" Seira counters, her eyes lingering on the horizon a moment longer, before they return to take Amaryl in once more.
[22:23] <Kotono> Amaryl matches Seira's gaze, "Our terms, our time. It's our time, Seira. Isn't it?"
01[22:24] <Seira> "Waukeen seems to agree, with the trust she's put into us," Seira says with a slight shrug. "But I think it would be, even if she hadn't. We're doing what we chose to, and we don't have any regrets, right?"
[22:26] <Kotono> "I don't have any..." Amaryl admits, "Well, maybe one. But it's a reasonable one!"
01[22:28] <Seira> "Is it one which is in my power to dispel, my lady?" Seira asks with flourish, although the offer is a most genuine one.
[22:28] <Kotono> "Just that I wish The Lady of Stars were with us...Goddess in her vault, she is magnificent, isn't she?"
01[22:31] <Seira> "Unfortunately, this lies beyond my power," Seira admits, although her good mood remains. "But we have quite a lot ahead of us. Who knows what the future holds? This might be a nice goal to join the rest of ours, to make ourselves entirely worthy of attention, and not just for one accomplishment."
[22:33] <Kotono> "Mmmm." Amaryl smiles and looks ot the sky again, "To the future..." Amaryl goes back to the edge of the balcony, "Do you believe in fate, Seira?"
01[22:34] <Seira> "I believe some things are aligned to happen just so, if we don't intervene," Seira muses thoughtfully, staring up at the sky. "But I don't think there is inescapable fate that would take place regardless of our wishes."
[22:36] <Kotono> "Just curious. I heard Antenora talking about it a little while ago and it stuck with me. It's a question for the philosophers." Turning back to Seira now, "It's a silly question."
01[22:38] <Seira> "Antenora takes it too seriously," Seira guesses, feeling pretty spot on there. "The best example I can give you is that I'm becoming a red dragon, rather than suffer through my supposed fate of watching my father sacrifice himself to save me. And yet, at the same time... what I've learned so far tells me that this is exactly what would have transpired, if I remained passive in the face of all this."
[22:40] <Kotono> "Mmmm. Would I have stayed in Pallan-no." Shaking her head, "That's too much to think about now. Seira, I..." Looking to Seira, "Hold me. Let me rest about you and enjoy this dream?"
01[22:43] <Seira> "Was it destiny?" Seira asks. "Quite honestly, I don't know. Does it matter, really? My feelings for you are not driven by some outside source. They took root naturally, as I spent time with you. That's all I need to know." She stands up, balancing herself on the balcony's railing, and extends a hand down to Amaryl. "Rather than rest, might I have this dance, Lady Gaial?"
[22:49] <Kotono> "Oh yes!" Amaryl takes that hand, "Lead on, Siera?"
01[22:52] <Seira> As she pulls Amaryl up, Seira calls upon the the powers of a wish, murmuring, "A moment for the two of us, a dream amongst the stars." And then she steps back, wishing for the magic to achieve the impossible and provide everything necessary for one magical dance.
[22:55] <Kotono> In a flash of light, Seira and Amaryl rise up! "W-what?!" Amaryl looks about as the two ascend! You soar to the stars...or does th estarry night soar to you? But you find yourself amid great lights all about, everything below tiny! Pure silver starlight bathes the both of you, shining incandescently!
01[22:59] <Seira> "When words fail, I call upon the purest of all languages," Seira says, making the first move as music picks up all around them. She smiles softly at Amaryl. "I tried my best to tell you how I feel, because celestial or elven just can't compare."
[23:01] <Kotono> "Oh..." Amaryl looks about, starry tears trickling down her cheeks, "It's...oh....Seira you..."
06[23:06] * Seira pulls Amaryl close, the music becoming a waltz as they glide across the skies. And amidst it all, the thought that her feelings got through is the most prominent of the lot.
[23:09] <Kotono> The dance weaves through the sky, Amaryl staying close. Her eyes are wide throughout, taking everything in. "This is..." A globe of warm light passes you by, shedding starlight onto you.
01[23:11] <Seira> "This realm approves," Seira murmurs. "My magic would not be able to do so much, so close to its rightful ruler, if that were not so. It's nice to have her blessing."
[23:13] <Kotono> Amaryl reaches out, touching the star! Her body breaks apart into starlight, scattering about the realm! It whirls, leaving a trail of stars behind it, before wrapping around Seira and reappearing where she was.
01[23:14] <Seira> Intrigued beyond words, Seira reaches out to touch it, hesitating just a moment as she waits for Amaryl to follow her lead at the same time.
[23:15] <Kotono> You are the sky. You are the stars. You see everything around, breaking apart...and reforming in a moment, head dizzy and vision tinted with light.
06[23:18] * Seira giggles as she reforms, finding herself truly happy, and gives Amaryl a twirl.
[23:19] <Kotono> Amaryl clings close after, "Aaah...dizzy..." she murmurs. "Give me a moment!"
01[23:25] <Seira> "You lead, then," Seira relents, placing her head on Amaryl's shoulder, her cheek resting on it as she admires the elf from nearby. "There are times when I want to surrender it all as well, and you're the one I trust to keep me safe."
[23:26] <Kotono> "Oh Seira..." Amaryl leads very slowly, taking steps around the stars. "That's what I want..."
[23:32] <Kotono> Thus the night passes in a blur. The dream continues on, on and on and on and on. Seira awakens, Amaryl curled against her in rest. The sunshine of the morning spills into her room, her bed as comfortable as she remembers it. Images of the dream flickerin her mind, like memories of a time long aawy, vivid yet.
06[23:34] * Seira brushes her hand through Amaryl's golden tresses lazily, trying not to wake her.
[23:35] <Kotono> "Mmm...Seira?" Amaryl awakens as Seira does this, already stirring. "I...we're home?" she asys, "The dream I had...oh! Seira! The gown! You're still wearing it!"
01[23:37] <Seira> Curses, golden opportunity wasted! Seira just realizes it herself, and leans back into her pillow. "I suppose there's always next time...."
[23:37] <Kotono> "Oh Seira...I had..." Amaryl sits up, hugging her. "We're back home now?"
01[23:39] <Seira> "It was a very pleasant experience," Seira muses, still brushing her hand through Amaryl's hair. "Approaching a dream, flirting with it, yet never quite crossing over entirely. And for all those marvels, it wouldn't have been the same without you there with me."
[23:40] <Kotono> With a sigh, "It was wonderful...." Closing her eyes, "Let's go out and see everyone? It feels like it's been so long. How about the Commander, or Elle? They've both been here and Elle's suffered so, too."
01[23:42] <Seira> "Elle and Celebrimbor," Seira agrees. "Maybe we can try and get in touch with Honeydip afterwards? She promised she'd check if there would be a better place for Celebrimbor to heal at than with us."
[23:42] <Kotono> Nodding along, "Let's go to Elle's shop then?" Amaryl says.
01[23:46] <Seira> Though it's somewhat disappointing, she must leave her bed, and as Seira does so she calls upon prestidigitation to make the two of them presentable. "We can probably even afford to go as we are," she voices afterwards. "I had Dimension Door prepared in advance, so we could just appear back here at a moment's notice, and Lagann can mind our things while we're out."
01[23:46] <Seira> And their gowns aren't sheer and see-through like Queen Morwel's, Seira muses to herself, although they perhaps cling to their forms a bit more than anything the two of them normally wear.
[23:47] <Kotono> Thus the two go! You find Elle's shop open. Elle isn't to be seen, but Alice is there. She comes out, "Oh, good morning. Countess Stronger is in the back right now and isn't accepting visitors right now. If you don't mind waiting a little bit?"
01[23:48] <Seira> Seira's grip tightens on where she's holding onto Amaryl's hand, before she realizes what she's doing and stops herself from actually causing Amaryl pain. "We can wait," Seira agrees, going with the situation. "How are you?" There, that should be generic enough.
[23:49] <Kotono> Amaryl stares, "...Alice.." she whispers in shock.
[23:49] <Kotono> "I'm fine, the wounds are long healed." With a slight smile, "Will you be wanting to buy anything today?"
01[23:51] <Seira> "The possibility of that is over ninety percent," Seira agrees. "But that doesn't matter. Would it be alright if I hugged you?"
[23:52] <Kotono> "Ah..." Blinking at that, "I wasn't aware my near death experience made me suddenly of interest to you, Colonel Seira." She blushes nonetheless, "But thank you."
06[23:52] * Seira takes that as a yes, wrapping her arms around Alice. "I know you don't like me for a reason beyond my control, but I'm really, really glad you're alright."
[23:54] <Kotono> "Ah..." Blushing even more, "Thank you, Seira. I am as well. The wraiths touch makes me appreciate life all over again."
01[23:55] <Seira> "They do, every time," Seira agrees solemnly. Without letting Alice go, she says, "Amaryl and I just got back from a trip to the planes. What day is it?"
[23:56] <Kotono> Jus tas Alice is about to answer, a door to the back open. Elle comes out, Donald right behind her. Elle's face is slightly red, but she turns to Seira. "Oh, good morning Seira!"
01[23:58] <Seira> "Morning," Seira returns, still operating largely blind. With all her heart, she hopes it's not a cruel glimpse of a 'what if', and peers closer at Elle to try and see if she's flushed from exertion, embarrassment or crying.
[23:59] <Kotono> Elle just looks red faces, though her breathing isn't fast. Donald's blushing way more, but hanging back. "Here on business?"
Session Time: Mon Dec 21 00:00:00 2009
01[00:01] <Seira> "Business is on the menu, yes, but I'm also in a hugging mood." And with that cryptic response, Seira doesn't let Elle a chance to react before embracing her next. "Like I was saying, which day is it? It feels like we've been gone for weeks across the planes."
[00:02] <Kotono> "It's-" Elle begins, but another voice cuts through. "Ah, hello," Saul walks in, lugging a bulging sack with him. "Ah, Countess, I'm here to make some orders."
01[00:04] <Seira> The universe is messing with her! But alright, she'll play along, for now. "Such a shame I was here first, old man," Seira states pointedly. "Elle, what do you think about making my cloak even stronger?" She giggles. "Sorry, accidental if bad pun."
[00:05] <Kotono> "I think the size of my order will trump that,"S aul grunts as he places the sack down, "So Seira, what did you get...oh." He stops and looks at Alice, rubbing his chin, "Was that yours?"
06[00:06] * Seira worriedly looks at Elle and Alice.
[00:06] <Kotono> Elle and Alice look at Saul with complete and utter blankness. "Excuse me," Alice says.
[00:07] <Kotono> "Oh, maybe it's like that. Well, I kept talking about money." Saul kneels before the sack, opening it. "Just because you're drink on magic and wine doesn't mean you can stop thinking about Waukeen's tenets or what's happening around you, Seira."
06[00:09] * Seira winces, and decides to just confess and sort things out together. "While on that trip of mine, I kept on wishing that the terrible deaths during the attacks of the liches could have been averted?" She avoids looking at Alice as she adds, "I really hoped someone would listen, but I didn't know... I'm really happy someone did, if...." She finally finds herself lacking words to continue.
[00:10] <Kotono> "I..." Alice stares back. "I'm pretty sure I'm alive and I've been alive!"
[00:11] <Kotono> "No, you did die." Saul looks up, "I suspected that we were being rewarded in an indirect way. The way we were peeled away and it was so easy to talk and everything was magical? The Court of Stars owed us, to."
01[00:12] <Seira> "Let's keep it that way!" Seira agrees, suddenly cheerful beyond belief, and grasps Alice's hands. "You're a really brave, decent person. And Elle loves you very much. So just, please, keep on working together, alright?"
[00:12] <Kotono> "So you...money..." Amaryl sighs, "Isn't that awaste?"
[00:13] <Kotono> "Ah...okay..." Alice stares, her words slow and halting.
[00:13] <Kotono> "Of course not. Waukeen preaches and teaches the value of money. With this, I'm going to make sure that nothing like this happens again by strengthening us. I suppose I should share this with all of you, too."
01[00:16] <Seira> "Don't forget what you owe me for those two circles back and to Pallanth!" Seira chirps. "Well, there's only one of them so far, but the second isn't far behind!" Turning towards Elle, she smiles brightly. "My cloak! Please think about it, I even have that amulet we got from the djinn, so if I could mix the two together for a really overwhelming final product, it would be so useful!"
[00:19] <Kotono> "I will..." Elle says, still looking between them.
01[00:19] <Seira> Taking Amaryl's hand, Seira flees the shop while she still can!
[19:42] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, what's next on your agenda, Seira?
01[19:43] <Seira> Once out, Seira decides to see about Celebrimbor, and whether they could be useful in some way to the old elf. Only afterwards can she allow herself to hope that Alice wasn't an exception, and actually check for herself.
[19:45] <Kotono> Celebrimbor is found at the garrison, under protective guard. He rests in a cot, propped up on pillows and reading from a thick old book. "It's over?" he asks as Seira enters.
01[19:47] <Seira> "The battle is, for all intents and purposes," Seira responds, finding a spot on the cot where she wouldn't inconvenience him and leave enough place for Amaryl, if she chooses to sit there as well. "Our allies also recovered Claris, while the Neverborn and five of the liches were destroyed.
01[19:48] <Seira> The sixth went into exile, and Androlynne experienced a fundamental change, as the trapped eladrin children were freed from its curse." She pauses slightly. "But what matters here is how you're doing."
[19:50] <Kotono> "Which one?" CElebrimbor leans forward over his book, staring into Seira. "Which one got away?" Amaryl meanwhile stands next to Seira for the moment.
01[19:52] <Seira> "It is as you think," Seira states. "To fight him meant the likelihood of many deaths; perhaps, the failure of our plans, and Pale Night's triumph. It is regrettable, but letting him go is the choice I made so that we could free them and turn the war around."
[19:58] <Kotono> With a shudder that consumes his body, Celebrimbor leans back and closes his book. Lying down, "It's over....it's over...but Seira, do not forget him. I see him in every dream I have. Every living nightmare that pushes into my dreams I see his face."
06[20:02] * Seira takes Celebrimbor's hand gently, as she promises, "I will protect you. If he returns, I'll be there to stop him. It really is over, you can believe that."
[20:04] <Kotono> Celebrimbor lies back, then exhales out. He sits up after that, "I'm going to return to Pallanth soon. I want to put this nightmare behind me. Is your father going to return soon?"
01[20:07] <Seira> "He has been working in Malmuth, trying to make the city habitable once more based on a plan we cooked up together. How about joining him there once you've spent some time back home?"
01[20:07] <Seira> It might sound callous, but Seira firmly believes that any hurdle must be overcome, unless the person who went through a traumatic experience wants to be ruled by it for the rest of their lives, a mere shadow of their former self. And Malmuth, with her father by his side, would be one of the safest places in the world for Celebrimbor.
[20:09] <Kotono> "Maybe. I had forgotten about Malmuth. How badly was it sacked?"
[20:09] <Kotono> "Razed to the ground." Amaryl answers right back, "Magic and emergency relief prevent a total collapse, but hardship is all about there. The loss of property and live is incalculable."
01[20:11] <Seira> "It was taken completely by surprise, and by foes that were best at ambushes and demolitions," Seira supplies the specifics. "We've done all we could when it came to the people, but Dad is trying to make the sacked portions of the city livable again, and keep the weather cleared, while relief forces help with the distribution of food and essentials."
[20:13] <Kotono> "Queen Tant's doing her best to keep things going, too." Amaryl looks to Seira, "Demedais and Pollyanna have been there as well, helping with relief. But still, so many suffering for the whims of madmen."
[20:15] <Kotono> "The Council...how have they reacted." Resting his ancient arms down, "And, no matter how insane they are...HE had a reason for this. I fear that the true villian may have escaped with a victory of his own."
01[20:16] <Seira> "I said that our forces were helping," Seira agrees, looking slightly puzzled as she glances back at Amaryl. "Perhaps we'll see if there's anything we could help with today as well." At Celebrimbor's words, Seira nods grimly. "We are still trying to determine the reason for their sensical assault on us, but my private theory is that Sylian did this merely to be in a position to cut a deal with us."
01[20:17] <Seira> *nonsensical
[20:18] <Kotono> "Wait." Amaryl starts to speak but chokes on her own words, "You're saying that Sylian did this all just to get your blood and get away with it?"
01[20:21] <Seira> "Unless more information comes to be known, yes, it is quite possible that I am the reason for all these deaths and the suffering," Seira says neutrally. "All for having the luck of facing a horror from beyond when it tried to destroy our world."
[20:23] <Kotono> "No...could one mad wizard have that much knowledge and control over events to do this? His planning went back millenia, Seira!" Amaryl's words shake, "That's just not possible."
01[20:25] <Seira> "I'm not that conceited," Seira responds, shaking her head. "He clearly had a different plan at the time, perhaps this mad scheme about allowing the Neverborn to be born via the Pale Mother and controlling a new deity devoted to him. What I mean is that after that unexpected event of our battle against that being, he might have changed his plans, leading to the attacks on our world."
[20:28] <Kotono> "Maybe..." Amaryl says, "Perhaps we should research Sylian then? Hasn't he changed names a few times, too?"
01[20:31] <Seira> "I believe what we need the most right now is to do all we can for those who suffered through the attacks, and recover our strength," Seira voices. "Mental fatigue is dangerous, and we can't keep on rushing around with the weight of the world on our shoulders. In the long run, it is better to have a slow week and, perhaps, we can visit Mechanus's comprehensive library afterwards."
[20:34] <Kotono> "We should. He was named...Adammal before, I think?" Frowning as she thinks, "That sounds right?"
01[20:35] <Seira> "I can recall those names and a title," Seira agrees, musing, "I think Alicia mentioned something about a third name briefly."
[20:41] <Kotono> "Perith?" With a frown, "That sounds right, but I'd check. After we've had some time to rest, we should marshal what information we have on him?" Amaryl says.
01[20:42] <Seira> "I'm not about to head out into chaos and insanity after him, but we should do all we can to be ready," Seira firmly agrees.
[20:42] <Kotono> "Alright." Amaryl then smiles, "It's good to see you're recovering, Celebrimbor," Amaryl turns to him, "Don't overdo it at your age."
06[20:44] * Seira leans over to whisper, "But if you want to overdo it, anyway, there are many eladrin around who'll be lining up to nurse you back to health. Just say the word!"
03[20:45] * Ebiris (WinNT@95.146.4.95) has joined #evildunes
03[20:46] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Ebiris
[20:46] <Kotono> Celebrimbor's eyes sparkle a moment, "Ah, at my age..." Almost cracking into a smile, "I'll recover."
01[20:49] <Seira> "I'll come back again, and if you need anything, or even just want to go home, ask someone to call me? I'll be right there," Seira promises, standing up and smiling down at him.
[20:52] <Kotono> As you leave out, Amaryl stays close. In your mind, 'He's looking better...but now what, Seira?"
03[20:53] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
01[20:57] <Seira> 'Remember all those trapped people whose bondage to Majanni could not be broken, even if their slavery was ended with magic?' Seira responds, not seeing much reason to keep the conversation personal but following Amaryl's wishes easily enough. 'Perhaps, a carefully-worded Limited Wish might suffice to severe it for those who don't want that sort of life, or ameliorate their conditions. What do you think?'
[20:59] <Kotono> 'That's a fine idea.' Amaryl smiles now, 'It would be a good storybook ending, too.'
01[21:01] <Seira> 'I've spent some time struggling with the issue, but nothing I came up with thus far seemed like it would work. Even now, I would prefer to wait until I could call on the actual Wish, but it feels a bit cruel, if this attempt succeeds,' Seira elaborates further. 'After last night, I suppose my confidence about manipulating reality around me for a good cause is higher.'
[21:02] <Kotono> Amaryl takes Seira's hand, stopping in a quiet hallway of the garrison, out of view of the guards protecting Celebrimbor. 'I like that.'
01[21:07] <Seira> 'If nothing else, we'll make sure they all know, both the transformed people and Majanni, that we haven't forgotten about them and are still involved,' Seira muses, even as she eyes Amaryl speculatively. 'I could also threaten him with grave bodily harm to make him share that bit of fey power with you, at that. It disagrees with me, but you might be a different story. The power certainly liked Donald.'
[21:09] <Kotono> 'Mmm.' Amaryl considers, then aloud, "Before we go and commit to that, let's talk to Donald. He's had a time to live with it, I want to see what he thinks of it now."
01[21:11] <Seira> "To be fully decided, why don't you see how a human's been dealing with it, too? Jale also partook in this power, after all," Seira proposes. "But Donald's right here, so we can easily check with him first!"
[21:12] <Kotono> "Let's," Amaryl says, "Let's check home and then Elle's shop?"
06[21:13] * Seira can't argue with this plan!
[21:16] <Kotono> You find Donald at the Inn. His feet are up at a table as the morning passes, a big grin on his face. He looks out the window, snacking on meat and mead. He hums a merry, bawdy song under his breath, humming away.
01[21:17] <Seira> "Donald, my buddy, my pal!" Seira greets him. "Why are you so happy and lewd this fine day, pray tell?"
[21:18] <Kotono> "Oh, no reason." His grin just rises at that, "So Seira, conquerer of demon-god-babies and protector of beautiful elf maidens, what deeds are you up to today?"
01[21:19] <Seira> "Breaking the hateful curse of a desert djinn upon innocent travelers. Pretty tame in comparison," Seira responds. "How about you, and your daily plans?"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Im, ah, going to b ebusy today." Coughing and clearing his throat, "You're going to give Majanni the one-two now?"
01[21:20] <Seira> "It's a possibility, but he might've learned his lesson, if not humility, from the previous experience."
[21:21] <Kotono> "About thta," Amaryl sits down, "There's th epossibility he might give me the same power he gave to you. Donald, what's it like?"
[21:23] <Kotono> "Being fey-blooded?" Blowing his tongue out in a distinct farting sound, "I feel as limp-wristed as a perfumed diplomat sometimes...it helps when I go kill a few demons to remind me I'm a man. Yes, I'm a terrible human man with the grace of a drunken dragon. You'd probably love it."
01[21:25] <Seira> "Your words are tempting my fist," Seira mutters none too quietly. "Would it kill you to... not generally be disgusting? You seem like you're trying to be that! On purpose!"
[21:26] <Kotono> Amaryl gasps, hands to her lips. "Donald! That's...so...exactly what you said." Amaryl hangs her head and sighs, "Seira, he never listens. Poetry and grace are lost on him."
01[21:28] <Seira> "Let's go visit Jale in Arad?" Seira offers to Amaryl, throwing Donald a glare. "We shouldn't really spend more time here, in case the drain of tact is contagious."
[21:29] <Kotono> "Oh, grow up." Donald grins even more, "I'm a man in an elf's body. Look, my honest opinion is that it would suit you...though how a elf/dragon/fey works is anyone's guess."
01[21:30] <Seira> "I offered to turn you back," Seira reminds him icily. "One day I even might, and forget to put your gender back right." Not giving him a chance to respond, she takes Amaryl's hand and attempts to teleport to her room in the temple of Waukeen in Arad.
01[21:30] <Seira> roll 1d100
05[21:30] -obsidian.ab.ca.lunarnet.org:@#evildunes- Seira invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:30] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
01[21:30] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 16." [1d100=16]
[21:39] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear in your room without incident!
01[21:40] <Seira> "Let's see if Isonu can direct us towards Jale?" Seira suggests, stepping out into the corridor as a part of her is all too happy to show off the new gowns she and Amaryl have.
[21:43] <Kotono> Thus you head to Isonu. As the two of you walk, temple goers pause to stare at the two, often spellbound! The gowns ripple andshimmer in the light, men and women both entranced! As you pass through one hall, one can notice one of the entranced people is none other than Jale.
01[21:45] <Seira> "Jale!" Seira calls out amiably, waving at the young woman. She approaches, checking whether Esra is nearby, as the two often seem to be.
[21:47] <Kotono> Esra isn't around. Jale looks up abruptly at Seira, "Oh!" With a gasp, "S-Seira! Those gowns are gorgeous!"
01[21:50] <Seira> "Would you believe we're sky-clad?" Seira asks with a laugh.
[21:50] <Kotono> "Ah..." Blushing, "Waukeen's gold, yes, I may!"
[21:51] <Kotono> Amaryl twirls about, "They're just lovely!"
01[21:53] <Seira> "I like yours the most," Seira compliments Amaryl, admiring her. "The person wearing it draws my undivided attention like no other."
[21:54] <Kotono> "Oh Seira..." Amaryl colors deeply red, as Jale continues to stare. "C-can I help you, Seira, with anything?"
01[21:57] <Seira> "We were hoping so," Seira agrees, seeking a spot where they won't be standing in the middle of a hall and guiding Jale there. "Amaryl wanted to ask you if you could share you experiences," she says as they walk, "from the touch Majanni's power."
[21:57] <Kotono> Going into an empty prayer and donation room, "Oh, you mean...oh yes." She finds a wooden chair and sits down, "About being fey-blooded?"
[21:58] <Kotono> "That's right," Amaryl says, "Seira suggested I undergo the same."
[21:59] <Kotono> "It's like being more sensitive. To the wind, to the air, tothe patterns of night and day. I can smell sunrise, I can hear sunset." She starts to speak, quickly, "Nature is alive to me. Everything around is is a great, grand life form that we can only see the smallest bit of."
01[22:00] <Seira> "I had a similar experience," Seira muses thoughtfully. "Although in my case, it came as a slight price, as other things not of nature seemed dimmer afterwards. Is it like this for you as well?"
[22:01] <Kotono> "Donald neve rmentioned anything like that." With a despairing sigh, "He probably thought it was indisgestion! That...that...human!"
06[22:01] * Seira covers her laugh with a cough just in time. "Mom was human," she protests chidingly. "So's Jale, really! Donald's just Donald, he'd be the same regardless of birth."
01[22:02] <Seira> *race of birth
[22:05] <Kotono> "That's how it is. I don't like all the changes all the time, but I'm learning to adapt to them." Jale finishes, "No offense taken."
01[22:05] <Seira> "Donald tests the most patient of people," Seira says apologetically.
[22:06] <Kotono> Turning red and looking down, "Sorry. Donald vexes me. I would think the God of Fools must surely protect his every step."
01[22:06] <Seira> "Well, he gained longevity, money and fame," Seira says. "Maybe there's something in that."
01[22:07] <Seira> "I'm not one of those things that look dimmer, am I?" Seira suddenly asks Jale with just a touch of worry.
[22:08] <Kotono> "Maybe Lathander need a new jester?" Grumbling now, "I could believe it!"
[22:08] <Kotono> "No...no, not at all," Jale says after a few moments, "Not at all."
01[22:11] <Seira> "Lathander's little error in judgement aside, do you want to consider this some more?" Seira asks Amaryl. "Consult with someone else as well, perhaps?"
[22:12] <Kotono> "I do. Can we think about it for a little bit? I don't need to rush into this like Donald did."
01[22:15] <Seira> "We have the time before us," Seira agrees. Though she would very much like to see how Amaryl might fare with a touch of a fey, there truly is no need to rush anything. "We can just pay him a visit and try the wish, first? I can't reliably cast it enough to cure everyone, even if given a week, so there is plenty of time."
[22:18] <Kotono> "Okay," Amaryl agrees, "Ready to go?"
01[22:19] <Seira> "Thanks for your help," Seira tells Jale with another smile. "Don't be a stranger, alright?"
06[22:21] * Seira calls upon the magic of an unerring teleport this time around, to reach their destination without diversions.
[22:22] <Kotono> Woosh! Y ou appear before the oasis as you did once before! It's as Seira remember it mostly, down to the invisible rainbow being in place.
06[22:26] * Seira uses a scroll of Knock to allow them entry, deciding to conserve the limited wishes in her possession.
[22:27] <Kotono> The rainbow breaks apart, the colors ofa ll the rainbow appearing! "Which one was it?" Amaryl asks.
01[22:28] <Seira> "Indigo," Seira states with confidence, headed that way.
[22:29] <Kotono> Thus you step through! Ahead of you lies a beautiful oasis, colorful tents of silk standing in the heat of the desert. You can hear music in the distance.
06[22:30] * Seira heads towards the music, although she's not so overconfident she neglects to ask Lagann to crush all their enemies should her mind be taken over.
[22:32] <Kotono> As you advance ahead, you see men and women at dance! They enjoy themselves, eating fine foods and drink. Majanni walks about, serving them and hustling, sweat pouring down his face.
01[22:34] <Seira> "Hi!" Seira announces their presence, once she and Amaryl are close enough. "How's the party going?"
[22:41] <Kotono> "Join us!" A man calls, "Seira! Welcome back!"
[22:41] <Kotono> Majanni whimpers and turns to Seira, bowing.
06[22:46] * Seira acknowledges Majanni's presence, but only tells him, "Keep up the good work," before turning away. 'Or else' needs not to be said. "I think we could spend some time partying with you all later," she then addresses the crowd, "but I've recently hit a breakthrough in my studies of the arcane.
01[22:46] <Seira> If there is anyone who would like to be freed of their form, their ties to this place or both, I am confident enough to try this."
[22:47] <Kotono> There's some discussion, before a woman comes forward. "We've grown to rather like this. No work, no sickness, just what we want to do every day. Majanni serves our every whim. It's like heaven."
06[22:48] * Seira considers this, asking, "Have any travelers came across you in the meantime?" while she formulates an answer.
[22:49] <Kotono> "None so far," A man answers, shirtless and deep tanned. He eats at a dark colored fruit, lounging back on a bed of pillows.
01[22:51] <Seira> It would have been nice to be told this at the onset, Seira muses, but at least she learned a lot doing research, and it'll surely be useful some other time in the future. "In that case, I will work on the means to let you contact me, should anything happen that requires my help. With such a foundation in place, I don't see a problem in letting things stand as they do."
[22:57] <Kotono> "Thank you," The man nods, "We owe you so much for liberating us, Seira."
01[23:00] <Seira> Embarrassed, Seira quickly tries to change the subject. "Yes, umm, so this fey thing! Would you mind sharing your experiences?" The more information Amaryl has, the better-informed her decision becomes.
[23:01] <Kotono> Information comes flowing! "It's like being alive int he air!" Another says, "My senses are awakened to the heartbeat of the desert!" A third comments, "It's not quite human, but human at the same time. Emotional."
[23:02] <Kotono> Amary listens to all of these, nodding in the right places. "I see, I see..."
01[23:04] <Seira> "To put this in the proper perspective," Seira whispers to Amaryl, "I think they got a bit more than just the first touch, and spending all their time surrounded by nature must sharpen the senses as well."
[23:06] <Kotono> Amaryl mentally says back, 'My thoughts as well. But they seem happy now...maybe they're too affected to know better, but if they're happy...'
01[23:08] <Seira> 'I can actually try to dispel a fake happiness, if you're worried over that,' Seira suggests telepathically. 'It is far more likely, saddened as I am to say, that the thought of living in paradise under eternal youth is preferable to the prospect of making a hard living traveling the sands with caravans their entire lives.'
[23:09] <Kotono> 'If that's what they think...we've seen too much misery. What happiness we she should be cherished, not disturbed.' Amaryl looks to all of them, smiling. 'Agreed?'
[23:09] <Kotono> *see
06[23:10] * Seira smiles as well. 'Of course. I really don't think it's fake. It might not be their ideal lives, but they seem to like it over any alternatives they can think of.'
[23:12] <Kotono> 'Let's go home then?' Amaryl suggests.
01[23:14] <Seira> Having spent some time at the party, Seira finds the suggestion agreeable, and says her goodbyes, using Lagann's limited wish to breach the wards around the oasis and then teleporting back with the aid of her teleport ring.
01[23:14] <Seira> roll 1d100 home
06[23:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 home and gets 43." [1d100=43]
[23:17] <Kotono> Woosh! Thus Seira and Amaryl appear home! OOC: Ball's in your court. Were you going to Malmuth or...?
06[23:19] * Seira decides to go to Malmuth, and as the trip through the portal network takes them through Waukeen's temple, they might just encounter Saul along the way. Even if not, Seira tries to devote much of her time to just looking around, and estimating if the miracle with Alice was replicated elsewhere as well, or if it were an isolated incident.
[23:21] <Kotono> Thus you walk Malmuth! You findthe city ruins overflowing! People work to reassemble things as best they can. Seira thinks there are more by the time she finds Saul, but it's nothing she can prove. Saul sits in his room there, in front of the fire. Pollyanna is there as well. Pollyanna has a gaggle of children around her as she talks, "Then Lord Helm, through the wisdom of His Champion the Noble Demedais..." Saul rises and meets you halfwa
[23:21] <Kotono> through the wisdom of His Champion the Noble Demedais..." Saul rises and meets you halfway, "Story hour," he replies with a straight face.
06[23:22] * Seira blanches, and thinks to Amaryl, 'Please promise you'll never call me something like that in front of the kids. I'll do the same, I swear!'
[23:23] <Kotono> 'Okay!' Amaryl adds very quickly.
01[23:24] <Seira> "We're here to help," Seira tells her father, leading them away from the children. "Anything that needs a wish, limited though it might be?"
[23:25] <Kotono> "There's some buildings that could use them," Saul leads them outside into the chilly air, "The more and the faster they rebuild, the better."
01[23:26] <Seira> "My thoughts exactly," Seira agrees. And once they're alone, she bluntly asks, "Is it just wishful thinking, or did more than just Alice get another chance at life?"
[23:29] <Kotono> "Nothing I can prove." Saul stops just outside, his breath misting in the cold air. "Faces I haven't seen...but it's a huge city in flux. I see hundreds of unfamiliar faces each day."
[23:30] <Kotono> "I think that what happened happened. It's a fable and plays by a fable's rules, Seira. That's what the Court of Stars is like. Embrace it for what it is and stop worrying."
01[23:31] <Seira> "I was going to say the same thing," Seira admits. "I think it might be alright to let go, now, and to move on towards the future once more."
[23:33] <Kotono> "Like sighing over the Queen?" With a rakish grin as he starts to walk along now.
01[23:34] <Seira> "She's very sighable," Seira agrees instantly. "But she wasn't the only one who caught your eye, was she?" she then teases.
[23:35] <Kotono> "I do believe you've forgotten you should be thinking about profit," Saul points as he walks down a side alley, cutting through a pair of vast stone buildings. As you pass people hurrying along the cold streets, "Have you made any money today?"
01[23:37] <Seira> "I lost seventy five gold in scroll components, so my net profit today is negative," Seira unhappily states. "I still need to hand Elle the rods of metamagic back. The time when I can afford them is still too far away, although I've found out which of the two is more useful to purchase and have around, so that's something."
[23:38] <Kotono> "Ah Seira. Seira, Seira, Seira." With a long sigh, "You must work harder! Harder!" Turning back and clapping his hands together, "Let's go restore those buildings now."
01[23:39] <Seira> "I hate you, mister carries a sack of gold around," Seira mutters. "And don't think you're getting out of it so easily! Do you like Lady Honeydip? Spill!"
[23:40] <Kotono> "Oh look," Saul point sahead to a ruined building, scraps of stone about, "There it is, Seira!"
01[23:44] <Seira> "We can just ask her later," Seira tells Amaryl, and steps ahead, approaching the wreck. "Mind over matter," she intones, summoning her arcane reserves. "Substance over ruin. My will, imposed upon this reality I reject! Restore this land to its former glory!"
[23:57] <Kotono> To Seira's words, the stone wraps back in place! A building reforms, reassembling from dust and ruin!
01[23:59] <Seira> "It's such an empowering feeling, to be able to do this," Seira whispers. Even if it takes away from her ability to cast spells for a while, a throwback to those days she wore a leather armor for protection and to conceal her true skill.
Session Time: Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 2009
[00:07] <Kotono> "It's magic. No, Magic." Saul smiles as he watches the work.
01[00:09] <Seira> "So it is," Seira agrees with a smile of her own. Then, as she turns around, she broaches another subject. "Dad, we talked to Celebrimbor earlier today. I suggested that he spend some time here, working with you, if that's no trouble."
[00:11] <Kotono> "He's welcome to it," Saul nods, "How's he doing?"
01[00:13] <Seira> "Better, though he's having nightmares. Waking ones, too, by the sounds of it. I was tempted to offer the services of a spell I once came across used in short-term memory manipulation."
[20:30] <Kotono> > To Seira's words, the stone wraps back in place! A building reforms, reassembling from dust and ruin!
[20:30] <Kotono> <Seira> "It's such an empowering feeling, to be able to do this," Seira whispers. Even if it takes away from her ability to cast spells for a while, a throwback to those days she wore a leather armor for protection and to conceal her true skill.
[20:30] <Kotono> > "It's magic. No, Magic." Saul smiles as he watches the work.
[20:30] <Kotono> <Seira> "So it is," Seira agrees with a smile of her own. Then, as she turns around, she broaches another subject. "Dad, we talked to Celebrimbor earlier today. I suggested that he spend some time here, working with you, if that's no trouble."
[20:30] <Kotono> > "He's welcome to it," Saul nods, "How's he doing?"
[20:30] <Kotono> <Seira> "Better, though he's having nightmares. Waking ones, too, by the sounds of it. I was tempted to offer the services of a spell I once came across used in short-term memory manipulation."
[20:31] <Kotono> "Maybe as a last resort." Saul briskly begins to walk back, "It's not something to be done lightly."
01[20:33] <Seira> "Maybe a better spell dealing with trauma could be developed?" Seira muses, falling into step. "Something that lets you keep the memories, but as if through a veil. As if they happened to someone else, or as facts, without the emotional responses they awake, or with those dimmed appropriately."
[20:37] <Kotono> "It's possible and a worthy tool. Still, memories are what we are. They aren't to be tinkered with recklessly." Saul slows down, "It may be willing and it may be excusable, but it's still changing what a person is."
01[20:39] <Seira> "Isn't that what happens when you die, anyway?" Seira wonders. "All the angels I've come across so far treat it as a good thing. Maybe there's another component to what a person is, that being the soul, and certain experience can leave a taint on it to dim it, much like the curse on your spirit. If we could dim such memories and let the affected people's spirits heal in peace, wouldn't it be a success?"
[20:41] <Kotono> "I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but that we should be very careful. There's a vile spell - you know what those are by now - called Mindrape. It allows the caster to totally control, change and absorb the victim's memories. That's what it can be if used recklessly, Seira. On the othe rhand..." Shrugging, "A fireball thrown by a hero to defend a city and a fireball thrown by a demon to set things ablaze aren't any different from each other besides intent.
[20:41] <Kotono> thrown by a demon to set things ablaze aren't any different from each other besides intent."
01[20:42] <Seira> "That's not really fair," Seira protests. "I know of a bard spell and an entirely neutral wizard spell beyond my present reach that achieve similar results without any vile implications. A fireball really is the best example here, and the point is one I fully agree with."
[20:48] <Kotono> "What I'm saying is that you hold an entire person's memories and mind in your hands. Make sure you're doing it for the right reasons before yo udo it."
01[20:49] <Seira> "That goes without saying," Seira agrees.
[20:50] <Kotono> Once you reach back inside and the warmth there, "Staying long?" Saul asks, "I'll have some tea and food prepared if youa re."
01[20:55] <Seira> "Might as well, right?" Seira consults with Amaryl. "You'll get yet another chance to see Dad in a normal setting, where he's not forced to keep up appearances by being snarky."
[20:59] <Kotono> Thus you go inside. Tea and food are indeed provided, the three setting down. As Saul sips his slowly, blowing on it to send steam about, "So." Looking to the both of them, "How do you like hopping across the world in a few words?"
01[21:00] <Seira> "It got a lot better once I could do it without going off course."
[21:03] <Kotono> "Why is teleportation unreliable?" Amaryl nibbles on a tea cake, "Dimension Door has no such limitation."
[21:05] <Kotono> "You're attempting to whisk yourself away to another part of the world like that," With a snap of his fingers, "Magic isn't easy or logical many a time."
01[21:06] <Seira> "I have a wild theory about that," Seira announces. "It might be a stopgap measure. A way to prune the worthy from the idiots who accidentally reached such magic, perhaps due to the gift of magic in their blood. Just as those who cast fireball on themselves save us from their progeny, so would a mage teleporting around without being capable of handling what he comes across if he veers off his course."
[21:09] <Kotono> Saul chuckles after drinking more tea, "That's quite ruthless of Mystra if so. I didn't think she had that sort of practical mindt o her."
01[21:10] <Seira> "So setting yourself on fire is fine, but this is a bit much?" Seira asks with a snort. "Still, I can't find any reason whatsoever why the same spell, a bit more power pushed into it, suddenly breaks all the restrictions on the basic form without any sense of scale. The restrictions end up feeling artificial as a result."
[21:12] <Kotono> "Magic doesn't always follow reasonings. There's a system to it, the Weave, but it ultimately does what it will. We learn how to bend it to our mind and will as best we can to compensate." SAul drinks more tea, one eyes squinted shut as he regards Seira. "If I ever have leisure, Alicia and her crew of whitewings mostly revere Mystra? The theological debate this question poses could be a good one."
01[21:14] <Seira> "Yes, you... have fun with that," Seira says dubiously, thinking there must be better ways to talk to Alicia about than 'Mystra's Weave doesn't make sense, let's discuss why'.
[21:16] <Kotono> As Amaryl watches the two and nibbles on her food, Saul eyes SEira right back with a smirk. "You've never been much for your theology lessons."
06[21:19] * Seira rolls her eyes. "I like to debate the knowledge I come across, but in the case of the divine, I would get better results arguing with a wall. It's just entirely too pointless to study. Once you are actually in the rare, coveted position to engage Waukeen in a true theological debate, you've probably picked up knowledge you can't learn at those two millennia old lessons anyway.
01[21:19] <Seira> All in all, a waste of my time."
[21:19] <Kotono> "Really? Seira talks about Waukeen all the time!" Amaryl blurts out, "She seems very taken with her!"
01[21:20] <Seira> "That's because I've decided I know what she stands for and to follow that until she tells me I'm wrong," Seira admits. "I just might have hit on the right path, though."
[21:20] <Kotono> "You're as stubborn as a rock, you know that?" Saul starts to really smile then, "I can see you and a priest butting heads until both of youw alk away with migraines."
01[21:21] <Seira> "Oh, please. I know about tact. I can nod at all the right places!"
[21:24] <Kotono> Saul nods.
01[21:24] <Seira> "I can't help but love her, though," Seira adds suddenly. "On a personal level. I can't comprehend it or form it into words, but there were countless times when I felt her presence at my side, times when I had no one else and might have given up otherwise. Even if I don't have a clear memory of it all, I was and remain quite literally touched by her caring."
[21:25] <Kotono> "No, no. Mockery aside, you're onto something. There's intellectual faith and there's spiritual faith. You have the second, it's something you feel and experience. It's much like a wizard vs a sorcerer."
01[21:27] <Seira> "I never really thought about it in that way."
[21:30] <Kotono> "There's a type of divine agent who uses that. They're very close to their divinity, but it's all faith and force of personality. They're far less common than normal clergy, though." Saul says thoughtfully, "I've met one and it was a time ago."
01[21:33] <Seira> "Those must have been difficult times for the clergy," Seira sympathizes. "We might see more like them nowadays."
[21:34] <Kotono> "It was the way things had been for as long as anyone knew." Saul sips a little more tea, before adding a bit of honey to it. "We might lament not reaching farther, but it never seemed to work out."
01[21:35] <Seira> "You're still young! You'll get there!"
[21:36] <Kotono> "It was not Waukeen's will.
[21:36] <Kotono> OOC: GAh.
[21:38] <Kotono> "It was not Waukeen's will." Saul says smoothly, clearing his throat. "That's all."
[21:42] <Kotono> Amaryl swishes her tea around, "You know...about that..."
01[21:42] <Seira> "Amaryl and I talked about this, just the other day," Seira muses, finally drinking of her cooling tea. "If you've done everything you could, and still continue to make the effort, but find your efforts in that area barred, then yes, such is Waukeen's will. If not... it's just a convenient excuse, isn't it?"
[21:43] <Kotono> "Yes. But...our world was different until just a few years ago. Limited, no? Maybe it really was Waukeen's will?" Amaryl says.
[21:45] <Kotono> "Having done my own research and seen these events, I think Amaryl's right. The state of our world isn't the state it was created in." Saul puts down his feat, going for a bit of bread instead. "Something or someone was preventing things from going too far. Look at the power so many have gained os fast."
01[21:45] <Seira> "At the time, quite possibly so," Seira agrees. "We don't know enough... it might have been Ao's verdict, or something along those lines. Given that Waukeen supports us in our quest to change the world and make it more accessible to her, it would not do to look to the past for reasons to stop trying."
[21:47] <Kotono> "That's why I'm looking ot the future," Saul says, "You do the same thing so much."
01[21:48] <Seira> "I'll race you to that coveted Wish?"
[21:48] <Kotono> "It pains me, but you'll win," Saul sighs deeply, "You're rising like a meteor in reverse."
01[21:50] <Seira> "I still have much to learn, though! Such as how to always turn a profit."
[21:52] <Kotono> "No one profits every day." Saul sighs to that, "I've had days where I've lost more money than I care to think about. Which is really just making excuses, but yo ushould be aiming ot profit overall from every situation. Where have you failed lately?"
01[21:55] <Seira> "Even with your help and what scarce donations I've managed to secure, the portals continue to be an enormous sink," Seira muses. "I've also been burning through components and resources of various kinds at a surprising rate in recent days. I'm optimistic that the short-term sacrifices would be more than worth it in the future, as what happened with our family amulet and its ultimate loss,
01[21:55] <Seira> but that doesn't change the situation right now."
[21:57] <Kotono> "That means you need to go find an excuse to liberate more stolen wealth from the grip of evil?"
01[21:58] <Seira> "And that's where the true failure lies. I've managed to fail at that sacred duty on three separate occasions!" Seira laments.
[22:00] <Kotono> "Really? When?" Saul leans forward, "I'm here for absolution, my child."
06[22:03] * Seira clasps her hands before her morosely. "There was a truly unique spear I wanted to bring back with me, but a wall of pure magical force separated me from it! And then, I came across an axe that would take down the mightiest of foes in one lucky strike, yet I did not even give it a second glance.
01[22:03] <Seira> And... and I even left a lich that managed to fight Alicia and Donald off unarmed, in a field of antimagic... I didn't even check if he had a true artifact, such as one to allow him to cast a powerful spell in that field of negated magic."
[22:04] <Kotono> "I can excuse the spear, walls of force are bothersome." Saul ticks that one off, "The axe is bad and the lich is...unexcusable." Saul buries his face into his hands, "One of the Dark Six and you let his treasures pass you by? Oh Seira..."
01[22:06] <Seira> "There must be a lucky demon out there, now, wearing something that should have been properly sold by me," Seira says sadly.
[22:08] <Kotono> "Hmph." With a grumpy look, "Ah well, work harder next time."
01[22:10] <Seira> "I worked really hard to make up for it, when we went after the Neverborn!" Seira says proudly.
[22:41] <Kotono> ---
[22:42] <Kotono> As Hugo goes running past you into the water, Marie in pursuit, Donald stops. Seira and Elle catch up, "Can you two swim in dresses?" he asks, as Elle stands besides him.
06[22:43] * Seira considers taking Lagann into the water after using powerful magics to ward him, but some dislikes are entirely irrational and it would be churlish of her to force the issue. Instead, and calls upon the magic of a limited wish to reshape her gown into a two-piece swimsuit that maintains the perfect balance between tantalizing and sluttish.
01[22:43] <Seira> Once that is taken care of, a warm spot to leave Lagann at, where he'll have a good vantage point over everything, becomes her priority. "That's a silly question, Donald. I have magic."
[22:45] <Kotono> Elle takes off her dress, wearing sturdy cloth undergarments beneath. Donald's smile grows and a blush takes to him. "These will do," she says, "I didn't plan on using magic like Seira, but...my, that's an interesting type of clothing. Where'd ou get the idea?"
01[22:46] <Seira> "I visited that oasis just recently," Seira responds, figuring the question was directed to her. "Now, normally, cloth cut this way would get all soggy and become sheer and seethrough, but magic is involved!"
[22:54] <Kotono> Donald just grins and hurries into the water. He splashes at Seira, "Really? One way to find out!"
[22:57] <Kotono> Elle starts to laugh, heading into the water as well. "Don't make me summon a giant wave, you!"
01[22:58] <Seira> "And yes, I could have swam in the gown!" Seira calls out, diving below the waves and swimming for a while until emerging past the surface. "See? Entirely reliable!"
[22:59] <Kotono> Donald swims like a fish, keeping up with Seira in slow, strong strokes. Elle does alright for herself, Donald swimming rings around her. The two splash each other, giggling. Elle turns to Seira, "Very reliable, yes."
01[23:02] <Seira> "And the actual idea to use the gown didn't come to me just now," Seira confides in her. "I've been thinking of ways to replicate what Demedais uses to call his armor, except to have it apply to clothes. In a way, this is a test for that."
[23:03] <Kotono> "Oh, that's a marvelous idea!" Elle's eyes grow wider, "Of course! If you did it right, you could change your entire look in a moment!"
[23:03] <Kotono> "I guess," Donald starts to tread water, "If clothes are that...ooof!" Elle's elbow goes firmly into Donald's stomach.
[23:03] <Kotono> Farther away, you hear Hugo laughing and splashing, Marie's words of play a counterpoint to that.
01[23:04] <Seira> "Clothing for every occasion!" Seira exclaims. "You're never caught off guard. And you could even consider armor clothing of a sort, so it would have a great appeal to adventurers and soldiers as well, not just rich nobles."
[23:05] <Kotono> "We'll have to investigate this when we get back!" Elle claps her hands together, "Donald, remind me of that!"
06[23:06] * Seira raises an eyebrow at this perfect opening. "Is there something you two would like to tell me?"
[23:06] <Kotono> "Sure," As he rubs his stomach, "Hm...oh." Donald suddenly goes quiet, blushing.
06[23:06] * Seira turns her gaze on Elle, as Donald folds.
[23:06] <Kotono> Elle does the same, "Well...we're sort of...courting each other," she says quietly. "We haven't made it official yet."
01[23:07] <Seira> "I can keep a secret," Seira responds, and then pats Donald on his shoulder. "My friend," she tells him with a serious face. "Your fortune is vast. Elle is a beautiful, kind person. Truly, one of a kind!"
[23:08] <Kotono> "Yeah, that's exactly what I think. Beautiful, kind, lovely, pretty, gorgeous..." Donald looks to her, a blushing smile.
[23:09] <Kotono> Elle turns redder, abruptly splashing Seira before diving down into the water!
06[23:10] * Seira sinks as a result, more than capable of holding her breath for a while, and just floats by herself in the silence.
[23:12] <Kotono> It's peaceful and restful...Seira does come up for air in due time. At this point, Donald and Elle are swimming around, leisurely floating back and relaxing.
06[23:14] * Seira continues floating, except this time it is on the surface of the sea as she stares up at the sky, carried gently by the waves. 'Did you find something better than swimming to entertain yourself?' she inquires with Amaryl, unwilling to disturb Elle and Donald while they're enjoying themselves together.
[23:19] <Kotono> 'I followed Antenora and Jessica...I was curious...and...Antenora's practicing making...sandcastles. I don't get it.' At this, Saul flies over the surface of the water, just above it. "You three," he calls, "We're going to have a game on the beach. Come back over?"
[23:20] <Kotono> Elle rights herself in the water, starting to swim, "Sure. I don't want to get all wrinkled because I was swimming too long."
06[23:21] * Seira briefly loses her composure, sending her scrambling to find her purchase lest she drown gracelessly. 'I... what...' She sighs mentally. 'Dad's calling us for some sort of game. Want to come and play?'
[23:21] <Kotono> 'Sure, we'll be along.' Amaryl replies.
01[23:22] <Seira> "Amaryl's coming too," Seira relays, swimming back to shore leisurely.
[22:12] <Kotono> ---
[22:13] <Kotono> Ah, sunbathing. Alicia's mind is pleasantly blank. Her body is brozing all over, her wings soaking in rays of sunshine. What disturbs this paradise of warmth is Jessica's voice. "Hey..sis..." she says.
[22:13] <Alicia> "Mmmm?" Alicia asks, shading her eyes as she sits up and turns towards her sister.
[22:14] <Kotono> "Look up," Jessica says, pointing towards the island volcano
[22:14] <Kotono> .
06[22:14] * Alicia turns her gaze inland, really hoping it's not an imminent eruption.
[22:14] <Kotono> A bit of black smoke can be glimpsed from the volcano. Not a lot ,but it sure stands out against the blue sky.
[22:15] <Alicia> "Hmm... Elle!" Alicia calls over to the redhead who's been studying lava and such for quite some time given Balmuria's subterranean problem. "Does that look like it's about to erupt to you?" she asks, pointing to the volcano.
[22:18] <Kotono> Elle trot sover, "Does what...oh, the volcano." Peering up, "Well, it's not unheard of for a volcano to belch out smoke for no reason, or as a prelude to an eruption. I wouldn't say anything is imminent unless we have the worst luck in the cosmos. There's more signs. Earthquakes, smoke, that sort of thing."
[22:19] <Alicia> "Good. It'd be annoying to cut things short so suddenly," Alicia nods in satisfaction, settling back down on the fluffy sand and relaxing once more.
[22:20] <Kotono> Elle watches it a few moments more, sitting next to Alicia. "Say." Elle lowers her voice, "Doing anything right now besides sunbathing?"
[22:20] <Alicia> "My schedule is utterly free," Alicia confirms happily.
[22:22] <Kotono> "I was thinking about stealing a bottle of something sweet from you and going for some privacy." Delicately whispering, "I want an all over tan. Got anything left, and would you like to come?"
[22:24] <Alicia> "I've still got plenty of food and drink," Alicia smiles, patting her side where she's sequestered the portable hole before she sits up and gets to her feet. "Lets find a nice spot, then?"
[22:24] <Kotono> Jessica gently clears her throat, "Ah, mind if I come as well? I wanted to do the s ame," With a little blush as she looks down, "I want to be even all over...no pale skin for my wedding night."
[22:25] <Alicia> "Sure, it's just us girls," Alicia smiles genially at her sister.
[22:25] <Kotono> "Sure, we'll get tipsy and tanned," Elle smiles gamely, and then herself, "It never hurts to be pretty and prepared...you two are lucky. Outsiders never seen to have bad hair or look unappealing."
[22:27] <Alicia> "You could easily do the same," Alicia chides as she starts heading down the shore away from everyone else. "I got busy with prestidigitation as soon as I woke up before anyone else could see," she confesses.
[22:28] <Kotono> "So did I," Elle turns red as the three saunter away, leaving the others behind. "Look at Latha and Antneora..completely unfair." With a little HUMPH!, Elle glances back, "It's enough to drive a woman mad, if she didn't have magic to compensate."
[22:29] <Alicia> "Latha has the benefit of never sleeping to start with, although I'll grant you Antenora," Alicia admits, looking for someplace nice and isolated and sundrenched for the three to have their little private party.
[22:30] <Kotono> After a bit of walking, you find some rocks providing shielding, as well as plenty of sun past them and open beach. "How does she do it? Does she ever look terrible in the mornings," Elle lies down on the sand, starting on her undergarments. "I look terrible without a cantrip first thing."
[22:33] <Alicia> "She'll sometimes look a bit dishevelled, but never bleary-eyed, and her skin is never pallid," Alicia replies, hopping down into their nice cove. "I suppose if her flesh can turn aside a blade it's made of sturdier stuff." First of all she opens up the portable hole, taking out a bottle of fruity wine and using that same cantrip to chill it. "Here looks nice, doesn't it?"
[22:34] <Kotono> "Yours is, too. Do you still have the same problems," Elle inquires, as Jessica nods to Alicia. "This is good."
[22:35] <Alicia> "My skin's a lot easier to take care of, actually," Alicia admits, starting to undo the skimpy fabric surrounding her body to reveal said skin. "But I have to brush my hair a lot to keep it nice and shiny, and the wings add an extra complication to grooming."
[22:36] <Kotono> "I know!" Jessica removes her own clothing, setting it against the rocks and shaking it out. She sits, going for the wine. "Naeys told me that there's special brushes you can use when you need to have them look nice. Full angels don't need them, but for half bloods, they're very useful."
[22:38] <Alicia> "I find cantrips do the job well enough - I was actually complimented on my wings at the dance at the Court of Stars," Alicia smiles, popping open the bottle for a swig before she hands it to Elle and sits down. "I've been meaning to ask Latha or Antenora about etiquette. Where do wings fall on the spectrum between hair and breasts for intimacy when you compliment them?"
[22:39] <Kotono> "I don't have the foggiest," Giggling at that, Elle gets the bottle and swallows a good mouthful. "Aaah...say, do they...feel good? How sensitive are they?"
[22:40] <Kotono> "I haven't had the honor yet, but..." Jessica lies on her stomach, then bursts into giggles.
[22:40] <Alicia> "They're a little more sensitive than most skin," Alicia replies, fanning one out and turning to look at it. "Like your fingertips or your lips - they have to be that way to really feel the air currents and move properly when you're flying."
[22:41] <Kotono> "When you get excited, they can feel good to touch too," Jessica has a little blush here, "They're also a bit ticklish, or at least mine are."
[22:43] <Alicia> "Of course, they're big targets in a fight, so that sensitivity goes both ways," Alicia admits with a wince as she recalls the various stabs and burnings they've taken.
[22:44] <Kotono> "Oh. Bad side effect." With a visible wince, Jessica shakes her head. "Antenora never mentioned any of this. I always assumed they were tough and didn't have much feeling to them."
[22:46] <Alicia> "She commented on their sensitivity when hers first changed from fleshy to feathered, I think," Alicia casts her mind back, shifting around and laying on her back to resume sunbathing now that she's fully exposed, closing her eyes. "Marie doesn't feel a thing in hers, but they're so thin they might as not even be there. Antenora's old wings were probably inbetween."
[22:47] <Kotono> Elle lies back down, fully basking in the sun. "I wonder how Seira's are...I could probably magic up my own if I wanted them, but...Gods, I'd have to rebuy my entire warddrobe."
[22:48] <Kotono> "It's worth it." Jessica takes another drink of wine, "Roald thinks they're lovely, too." Lowering her voice, "He told me he thought they looked incredible on you and Antenora, Sis."
[22:51] <Alicia> "I was lucky Mystra adjusted my armour when I first got them, but having to adjust or replace all my old clothes was a pain - everything has to be openable, I can't just tug a pullover on," she laments, tilting her head idly towards Jessica.
[22:51] <Alicia> "They do look nice, which is strange when you think about it. I mean, humans aren't supposed to have extra limbs or feathers. I suppose the image of angelic perfection is engraved enough in our culture, though."
[22:54] <Kotono> "Angels and celestials always look appealing to us." Jessica kicks her legs in the air, "Maybe it's the awy we're meant to be?"
[22:55] <Kotono> Elle sits up for another drink, then brushes off her body and lies back down. "It might be a more primal response than that, yes. I see what you're cutting at."
[22:55] <Alicia> "Like Elle said, they have well formed bodies, wings or not," Alicia replies idly. "Since most of them were once mortals at one time, it makes sense they'd want to retain a connection to that form."
[22:57] <Kotono> "That's why it rankles. Antenora? Not a wrinkle on her face! Not a gray hair on her head! Not a sag to her breasts! Completely unfair." Growling a little, "If not for magic, I'd be spending a small fortune on vanity items that wouldn't be doing half the job mgaic is."
[22:59] <Alicia> "She's looking good for a six hundred year old. But then, isn't Amaryl three or four times older than any of us as well?" Alicia muses, not particularly caring. "You'd never guess it, though."
[22:59] <Kotono> "It is intimidating. I'm not much beyond plain." Jessica says with a faint sigh, "Antenora and Alicia could be fairytale princesses, entire kingdoms battilng over their beauty."
[23:01] <Kotono> "With elves and outsiders, age barely matters." Elle grumps, sitting up and leaning forward. "I can see why Seira went for Amaryl. She's beautiful in an exotic way that humans aren't."
[23:01] <Alicia> "And yet which of us is getting married soon?" Alicia banters back, crossing her arms behind her head and crossing her legss as she lays back and soaks up Lathander's love. "Elves don't really do anything for me, personally. I prefer a man with some meat on his bones."
[23:02] <Kotono> "I prefer a man with some meat between his legs," Elle says, then starts giggling. "Mercy be, if we go that far, I hope Donald is as well equipped for love as he is for battle."
[23:03] <Alicia> "Wasn't he naked when you brought him back to life the first time and made him into an elf?" Alicia tilts her head towards Elle, pushing herself up a bit and reaching for the bottle.
[23:03] <Kotono> "I honestly don't remember. I was distracted by primal magics." Elle lonuges back, "Do you? I mean...I've neve rseen a male elf naked."
[23:05] <Alicia> "I was distracted for the same reason," Alicia admits as she takes a swig from the bottle and then resumes laying down. "But if everything's proportionate then they'd probably be quite lacking."
[23:07] <Kotono> Jessica goes for the bottle then, as Elle keeps talking. "I hope he's an exception then. Mouths are nice, but there's no substitute for being taken hard. Maybe Ic an work with enlarge person...?"
[23:07] <Kotono> After a beat, "Ever did anything lik ethat? You were married, weren't you, Alicia, and you were a sorcerer by then?"
[23:08] <Kotono> "Using Mystra's mercies for that..." Jessica half laughs, "I'm not sure if I'm mortified or not."
[23:10] <Alicia> "Not a very good one - I didn't learn shapechanging magic till I was older," Alicia admits, blushing at the images conjured. "We tried using cantrips a few times, but mostly just as part of foreplay. Too much mental focus needed to worry about when you're busy, if you take my meaning."
[23:13] <Kotono> "Oh yes." Elle blushes even more, "I tried Unseen servant once...it didn't work out so well." Coughing deeply, "I was young and very curious."
[23:13] <Kotono> "....right." Jessica leans up then, "Just do it the old fashioned way. It's worked fine for me and Roald."
[23:15] <Alicia> "Never learned that one," Alicia replies, laughing softly at Elle's admission, "But I have heard stories when I was at the temple. If nothing else it's better than summoning something. But not by much."
[23:16] <Kotono> "Oh Gods...what can you summon that would work? Aren't most...no, not going to think about that," Elle starts to laugh too. "I'm surprised I've never heard of magic to work with this. Love making is as much a part of life as everything else. Then again, I suppose wizards that desperate to it aren't going to be the type to spread the information."
[23:17] <Kotono> As you talk, one can notice shadows from above.
[23:17] <Alicia> "Or they'd just use charm spells," Alicia makes a face, opening her eyes in irritation as she feels the sun being blocked out.
[23:18] <Kotono> Once can notice three fliers coming down to meet you - Antenora, Marie and Seira. The three can see the sunbathing trio now, in all their born glory.
06[23:18] * Seira waves awkwardly.
06[23:19] * Alicia debates whether to cover herself up since Seira's here, but after a moment's indecision decides not to bother. She's seen it all before and it's not like Alicia has anything Seira doesn't. "How goes life with your maids?" she asks dryly.
01[23:20] <Seira> "I asked for a raincheck on account of our findings," Seira responds, landing in their midst to avoid blocking their sunlight. "Turns out this island is neither all natural nor is it abandoned. And all I wanted was to find the hot springs! It should have had hot springs! This is so unfair...."
[23:20] <Alicia> "What?" Alicia asks for clarification with a rising sinking feeling.
01[23:21] <Seira> "Oh, it's nothing that needs immediate handling," Seira quickly elaborates, waving her hands. "Nor is it necessarily dangerous." And thus she details their journey into the volcano, and their findings there, including their thoughts on the unusual dragon.
06[23:24] * Alicia sighs. "So much for a relaxing break," she sits herself up, reaching over for her clothes. "I suppose we'd better do something about it, then. It's going to get loose eventually anyway, so we might as well do it now and find out what it wants."
01[23:24] <Seira> "I don't intend to brag, but even naked, I should be a match for an old dragon," Seira says. "With Antenora and Marie along, all of us properly warded and prepared, we should be able to either free the nice prisoner or destroy the sealed evil in a volcano. Let's just wait for tomorrow before doing anything?"
[23:25] <Alicia> "Seira and her two lovely maids will defend the world and defeat evil!" Marie proclaims, alighting on Seira's shoulder. "Yay, Seira! You're the greatest dragon genius in the universe!" she cheers exuberantly.
01[23:26] <Seira> "See?" Seira asks with a smile.
[23:27] <Alicia> "Right..." Alicia's eyebrow tics a little at the display. "If you're confident enough then I suppose I'll defer to your superior dragon knowledge. You know where we all are if you need further help."
01[23:29] <Seira> "I'll need to consider the right magic to protect all three of us, plus something to dispel the barrier... maybe a wall of force in case the tablets we've found are supposed to be used to free this dragon."
[23:30] <Alicia> "I can make sure Marie can cast that spell a few times for you tomorrow," Alicia shrugs interestingly before grabbing the wine bottle for a drink and then laying down again. "Anything else you need?"
01[23:32] <Seira> Ah, the many ways to respond to that... Seira chooses to shrug, and turns to Marie and Antenora. "I'm not in a mood to go looking for the hot springs anymore, lest we find a mysterious fiendish obelisk next. That means my schedule's free till evening, so you two get to choose what we do next."
[23:35] <Alicia> "We could have lunch?" Marie suggests.
[23:38] <Kotono> "We could, or we could join them?" Antenora gestures, "If we're not racing off to do this, we may as well relax...and it's not like we didn't have eyes at Glaciante's fortress." Stretching back, "I'll go along with whatever, though."
[23:39] <Kotono> Jessica listens to it all, staying lying down. "Unbelievable," she says, "Mystra must have blessed us to be magnets for trouble."
[23:39] <Kotono> Elle is blushing slightly, but, "You think a dragon's here, Seira? An old dragon only gets stronger, you know. It could be a dreadful wyrm by now."
01[23:40] <Seira> "It's difficult for me to believe that everything we come across is horrible and out to destroy us," Seira admits with a frown. "I'm really banking on it being friendly."
[23:41] <Alicia> "Or at least grateful for us releasing it from cruel imprisonment," Marie seconds.
01[23:42] <Seira> "A very good point!"
[23:42] <Kotono> "That's the key. As long as it's grateful, we'll hav ean edge." Antenora smiles a bit, "Even an evil dragon will be in an awkward position. Of course, if it's a monster or a fool..."
[23:43] <Alicia> "If it communicated asking for help I'm sure it'll be reasonable," Alicia replies lazily, kicking her legs in the sand as she settles down.
01[23:44] <Seira> "It would be so exciting to meet a friendly dragon who doesn't want to shake me down for my hard-earned gold!" Seira exclaims happily. "No extortion, no threats, just some nice, pleasant conversation! Maybe he could even give me a few tips!"
[23:44] <Kotono> "It's a fine thought," Antenora says, stretching back again.
[23:45] <Alicia> "I can introduce you to Nexumbra!" Marie tells Seira. "He *loves* conversation!"
01[23:45] <Seira> "The flirty dragon?"
[23:47] <Alicia> "Yep," Marie nods. "I bet you'd get along great!"
[20:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> <Seira> "It's difficult for me to believe that everything we come across is horrible and out to destroy us," Seira admits with a frown. "I'm really banking on it being friendly."
[20:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> <Alicia> "Or at least grateful for us releasing it from cruel imprisonment," Marie seconds.
[20:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> <Seira> "A very good point!"
[20:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> > "That's the key. As long as it's grateful, we'll hav ean edge." Antenora smiles a bit, "Even an evil dragon will be in an awkward position. Of course, if it's a monster or a fool..."
[20:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> <Alicia> "If it communicated asking for help I'm sure it'll be reasonable," Alicia replies lazily, kicking her legs in the sand as she settles down.
[20:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> <Seira> "It would be so exciting to meet a friendly dragon who doesn't want to shake me down for my hard-earned gold!" Seira exclaims happily. "No extortion, no threats, just some nice, pleasant conversation! Maybe he could even give me a few tips!"
[20:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> > "It's a fine thought," Antenora says, stretching back again.
[20:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> <Alicia> "I can introduce you to Nexumbra!" Marie tells Seira. "He *loves* conversation!"
[20:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> <Seira> "The flirty dragon?"
[20:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> <Alicia> "Yep," Marie nods. "I bet you'd get along great!"
[20:58] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "That'll be fireworks," Elle looks up, "What color is he again? Copper? Bronze?"
[20:58] <Alicia> "Brass," Marie reminds, since Elle was probably too drunk to remember much from last night.
[20:58] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Ah. Brass." Elle smiles gamely and goes to take another swig, "If you guys are staying around...Alicia, got a few more bottles?"
[20:59] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I wonder if it's a vacation if you get so drunk that you don't remember most of it?" Jessica says aloud, then just starts to smirk. "Ah well, as long as it's fun, no?"
01[20:59] <Seira> "Nexumbra might teach me some things," Seira allows, shrugging. "Could be nice. Next time I'm leaving for Astral, I could invite you along and you'll get us in touch, Marie?"
06[21:00] * Alicia reaches over for the portable hole and fumbles it open before retrieving two more bottles of random beverages, chilling them appropriately. "Help yourselves," she invites lazily.
[21:00] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora eyes them, "Are we staying, Seira? I want to have a few drinks if we are," Her gaze lazily drifts to the half-dragon.
[21:00] <Alicia> "If I'm not doing anything, sure," Marie replies with a glance at Alicia, waiting on Seira's permission to stay or for her to lead them off on further adventures.
[21:01] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Stay," Elle says as she takes another swallow, "Getting drunk and girl talk while tanning is something we...well, never get to do. Run off to save this, cast this magic to stop that..."
01[21:02] <Seira> "Let's stay and then we can all have lunch together?" Seira suggests, merging both suggestions. "It would be my treat, this time around."
[21:03] <Alicia> With permission given, Marie strips by the simple expedient of going incorporeal for a second, then she expands into her elven form and goes to lay down by Jessica, grabbing a bottle along the way. "The sun does feel nice like this," she smiles as she settles down to bask in the rays.
[21:04] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora sits down, removing what little she wears and going for a long drink. After that, she offers the bottle up to Seira and Marie. "I wanted to get this sort of feeling but a chance hadn't come up yet. I hate tan lines so much...so uneven. So unwhole."
06[21:05] * Seira follows suit, trying to find a spot for herself by Elle, accepting Antenora's offer along the way.
[21:05] <Alicia> "Cover yourself so you get no tan?" Alicia suggests to Antenora.
[21:05] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Don't even answer that one, Marie," Jessica reaches over to razz her hair, as Elle pats thes and right next to her.
[21:06] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "That can work, but it's boring." Stretching back in thes and then lying on her back, Antenora sighs as sun roasts her. "Mmm...so warm. What were you three up to before we interrupted?"
[21:06] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "The merits of Unseen servant." Elle speaks with an utterly straight face, closing her eyes as she sunbathes.
[21:06] <Alicia> "Just different fashions," Alicia replies unconcernedly. "We were only chatting. Nothing as exciting as you've been doing."
01[21:07] <Seira> "Really? I always found the spell lacking in use," Seira admits to Elle. "So you found one?"
[21:08] <Alicia> "It's no substitute for a maid?" Marie asks Seira.
[21:08] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Something like that..." Elle cracks an eye at Seira, "It's just an old story. So..." With a little teasing smile, "How are you and Amaryl doing, Seira?"
[21:08] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Jessica starts to say something, but cracks up instead. "Oh-oh-oh! No it isn't!" She says as she starts to convulse with laughter.
06[21:08] * Alicia snorts an aborted laugh at Marie's comment but doesn't elaborate.
06[21:10] * Seira nods at Marie, before shrugging. "Alright. Can't complain, really. You know when you're happy, but nothing really unique keeps happening, so it feels like there's not much you can say but 'alright'?"
[21:10] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> As Elle colors as red as her hair all over, "Shush! Anyway! You two look to be so madly in love. The looks you do, the way Amaryl just hangs on you..."
[21:11] <Alicia> "Would Amaryl approve of you laying around naked with all of us, though?" Alicia wonders idly, sitting up and turning over to lay on her belly.
[21:11] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "They are. Anyone can tell." Antenora says as she takes a second drink, "Mmm...these are good. Alicia, where'd you get these? It's like drinking squeezed fruits that make your head fuzzy."
[21:12] <Alicia> "I picked up a few extra when we were shopping at the great market," she adds for Antenora's benefit.
01[21:12] <Seira> "She might be disappointed she was left out, but I'm sure she'll get her chances!" Seira replies brightly. "I know certain people would expect us to sigh and keep on saying each other's names, but that's not really the only way to be, is it?"
[21:13] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Invite her?" Jessica rolls over onto her side, "This is getting to be a bit of a party, anyway. And no, of course not. I love Roald, but...how often do I drag him around with me and make doe eyes at him?"
[21:13] <Alicia> "Keep this up and it'll just be Donald, Saul, and Hugo all left alone," Marie giggles.
[21:13] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Mmm. It's so dedacent, but..." Antenora eyes the bottle she has, putting it down after some thought. "It makes you feel warm and relaxed all over."
[21:15] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "If a ship passed by, they'd think they'd found legendary sirens on the beach," Elle sits up as her blush lingers, going back to the bottle for a sip. "And then some guys off to the side."
01[21:15] <Seira> "I can see if she's up," Seira offers. "And even to pass it on to Latha or Abagail, if they're around. Dad can keep Donald out of trouble and Hugo entertained for a while."
[21:15] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Jessica leans over, whispering something into Elle's ear. Elle turns red all over, giving Jessica a silent glare.
[21:16] <Alicia> "We should have a look for merpeople or sea elves later," Marie suggests brightly. "In a place with water this nice there'd surely be undersea settlements nearby."
[21:17] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "It's nice like this. Wearing clothes gets bothersome." Antenora says, "Every now and again I get in the mood to just walk out without anything on. It's not like I'm going to freeze to death in the Prime, anyway."
01[21:17] <Seira> "How about we do that after lunch?" Seira offers. "It could be a nice diversion."
[21:17] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Oooh, that could be fun!" Elle grins, giggling endlessly. "Maybe tomororw after the dragon, or today works?"
[21:17] <Alicia> "It's not normally my thing, but the sun does feel nice," Alicia mumbles into her forearms as she lazes on the sand.
[21:19] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora shifts over towards Alicia, keeping her voice low. "Doesn't it?"
[21:19] <Alicia> Turning her head onto her side to look at Antenora in faint confusion. "It does," she re-affirms, wondering if she's going somewhere with this.
01[21:20] <Seira> "I prefer how nice fine clothes feel on your body, but it feels nice to experiment and do something different from time to time as well," Seira muses, turning on her side to face Elle. "So you were mentioning magical experiments, and then just went mum on the whole thing?"
[21:21] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Elle turns redder, looking about. "Well...can you keep a secret? A really embarrassing one?"
[21:21] <Alicia> Marie perks up with interest.
01[21:21] <Seira> "I have kept many a secret," Seira promises.
[21:22] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> After a pause, "I've wondered if you have a secret enjoyment of this," Antenora keeps her voice respectfully quiet.
[21:23] <Alicia> "Are you saying I'm a repressed exhibitionist?" Alicia asks archly, her own voice remaining at normal volume.
[21:23] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Well...when I was very young, I was very...curious. About love and love making. So I tried an Unseen servant spell. It was...um..." Turning redder, "Don't tell me you haven't done something that embarrassing!" Elle stops, going for a very long drink of sweet wine, then pushing it at Seira.
[21:24] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "More or less." Antenora lazily answers back, voice quiet and quite relaxed. She yawns after, "What do you think?"
06[21:25] * Seira drinks from the offered bottle, her own remaining nearby on the ground, and then returns it to Elle. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but I haven't experimented with magic in ways it wasn't intended to be used according to the books I studied from. Does that make me a boring wizard?"
[21:25] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Jessica looks back and forth, following the conversations. She takes another bottle, "Drunk it is," she says aloud.
[21:25] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Yes," Antenora calls over, "You're a very boring wizard, Mistress!"
[21:26] <Alicia> "I'm not ashamed of my body," Alicia pushes herself up, exposing more of said body to view. "But if you're asking if I get some naughty thrill out of this, I'm afraid I'll have to leave you disappointed."
[21:26] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "It lead to all sorts of strange wonderings...' Elle settles back into the sunlight, lying down. "You and Amaryl have never come up with interesting uses for ag rease spell or a floating disk?"
01[21:27] <Seira> "I can think of many uses for grease, but floating disk?" Seira asks in surprise. "How would that one work?"
[21:28] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Mmm. Maybe, maybe not," Chuckling at Alicia as she sits up as well, "It doesn't mean that. Maybe you just like to flaunt it."
[21:28] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Not anything I can think of," Jessica says after scrunching up her brow and frowning.
[21:28] <Alicia> "Something to sit on? Since it floats, if you can't fly then it's the next best thing?" Marie wonders herself.
06[21:29] * Seira tries really hard to imagine a perversion of said spell. "For the thrill of dangerous public locations without painful and embarrassing burns?"
[21:29] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "That's it. Positioning and support," Elle with a rising grin at Marie.
01[21:30] <Seira> "Wouldn't flight be better?"
06[21:30] * Alicia reaches over for one of the bottles to have a drink before answering Antenora. "I hardly favour revealing clothes, and given our present company there's only one person who'd actually appreciate my flaunting. Two if you count Marie. You're reading too much into things."
[21:30] <Alicia> "Too short duration and it's unavailable for novices," Marie tells Seira.
[21:31] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Well...Elle and Donald, me and Roald, Seira and Amaryl...there's plenty of us in relationships right now," Jessica's voice is sleepily drowsing as she rests deeply. "Families will follow?"
[21:31] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Mmm." Antenora just gazes at Alicia, "Maybe so. For a normal mortal, you're quite comfortable with your body. That's all. You also did seem to like Pistis Sohpia's realm, and they aren't big on possessions - including clothes."
01[21:32] <Seira> "Flaunting, appreciated!" Seira calls over to Alicia, toasting her before turning her attention to Jessica. "I don't know. It's a pretty large step, and at the same time, does it change anything?"
[21:32] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "That's true," Elle adds.
06[21:33] * Alicia shrugs, which flaunts some of her assets entirely by accident. "Wings aside, I don't have anything that everyone else here doesn't have."
[21:34] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I don't know. Alicia, does having a family change much?" Looking to her, "It's also because you have a lot to be casually proud of. I swear I thought your bustline got bigger after youg ot your wings, too. It's entirely cheating."
01[21:34] <Seira> "You know, if it weren't mortifying beyond belief, I'd suggest you talk to my Dad," Seira tells Elle. "The way he talks, he must have read a book on perverting magical potential, if not written parts of it. I can just see it, the Complete Guide to Erotic Spells or something along those lines."
[21:35] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Meanwhile, "Hello?" Abagail calls, approaching. Latha follows her along, Amaryl hanging in the rear. Amaryl is blushing considerably.
06[21:35] * Seira waves at the three.
[21:35] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "A dirty old wizard? Funny, a stereotype of that came up just before you got here. I wonder..." Elle grins wickedly.
[21:35] <Alicia> "I think the extra back muscles give better support to accentuate them more?" Alicia muses in response to the question, cupping one of her breasts a moment before letting go. "Having a family changes lots, so I don't really know where to begin..."
01[21:35] <Seira> "If you do ask him, tell me all about it! It's not actually troubling at all to talk to you about all that!"
[21:36] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "One would think that Sharess is sponsoring a lavish 'celebration' with noblewomen," Abagail observes, kneeling down and putting aside her dress in due time, underclothes following. "Why the lack of clothes?"
[21:36] <Alicia> Marie waves to the newcomers. "Come in! Have a drink! Take off your clothes!"
[21:37] <Alicia> "We're appreciating Lathander's love across our whole bodies," Alicia smiles in response to Abagail, settling back down on her belly again.
[21:37] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "That might be it. If you flex your wings just so..." Antenora sits up, her wings going rigid. Her chest accentuates out, "Yes, just like that, Alicia. If you want to impress somoene, but it's taxing to hold too long."
[21:37] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Latha smiles wide at that, "Ah, taking in Lathander's bounty?"S he joins the others, lying a bit away. "Always a blessed idea."
06[21:37] * Seira can't help but be envious for a moment, but she quickly pushes the thought aside.
[21:37] <Alicia> "With your lawful discipline I bet you could keep it up all day," Marie tells Antenora with a grin.
[21:37] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Amaryl goes for the wine, taking a long drink before starting to fumble through her clothes.
[21:38] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora does just that, "If I need to. So appreciate the flaunting?"
[21:39] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Now that's just rubbing it in!" Elle sits up, "You get extra support there because you have wings?" Pointing at finger at Antenora, Alicia, jessica...and then just throwing up her hands as she turns to Seira, "Don't those wings have anydownside?"
01[21:39] <Seira> "Well, that does bring to mind a spell that can be perverted," Seira mutters to Elle. "A shame it wouldn't work on dragons...."
[21:39] <Alicia> Marie nods happily in response to Antenora. "Your hard work does not go unrecognised."
[21:40] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora grins at Marie, "Even if it's another woman...it's hard to ignore the pride that you feel when someone else thinks you're alluring. Even as an angel I still feel it, even if it's easy to ignore."
[21:40] <Alicia> "They were really awkward to sleep with at first, and I sometimes catch them on doors," Alicia mumbles to Elle.
[21:40] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "What spell?" Elle turns, and then to Alicia, "Ow. Do you well...molt?"
01[21:41] <Seira> "Mine are actually pretty flimsy and smooth," Seira muses. "I don't really need any extra support, since innate magic takes care of that. Otherwise, there's no way they would hold my weight in the air even to glide down. And the spell of enlargening, of course!"
[21:41] <Alicia> "No. If I pluck a feather it grows back within a day, but they never fall off of their own accord," Alicia replies. "Despite what Marie tried to tell me beforehand."
[21:41] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Amaryl finishes unrobing, lying against Seira, having a view of the other women as she rests against her shoulder and chest. "Yours feel nice to touch. They're smooth, yes."
[21:42] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I love it when that happens...I wish it happened more," Abagail nods to Antenora, "Mens hould appreciate the loveliness we show and the effort we go through to have it."
[21:42] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Marie told you that?" Jessica groans out loud, "I can just imagine going around the house, cleaning up feathers once a month."
[21:43] <Alicia> "I never thought Alicia would get wings when I said it," Marie defends herself. "I was just teasing Antenora!"
[21:43] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Tease, tease, tease. If you're not careful, you'll say things you regret!" Antenora snipes right back, "Just saying what comes to mind is dangerous."
[21:44] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Don't answer that, Marie," Jessica says immediately.
[21:44] <Alicia> Marie opens her mouth, then shuts it, then pouts. Quietly.
[21:45] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Aaaah." lying spread out on the sand all over, "A tan is a sign of Lathander's gifts to the world. Having one all over means you accept his love without reservation. That's what one enterprising mortal told me once, anyway."
[21:45] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora smirks at Marie, "One for me." She even juts her wings out and chest forward, before going for another drink.
[21:45] <Alicia> "Sounds like he was just trying to get you naked with him," Alicia laughs softly. "Did it work?"
[21:46] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Yes." Latha shakes her head, "He was a gentleman and a priest of Lathander. HAd he made a motion, well..." After some pause, "I may have been taken by him. Lathander loves new life and urges all life to make more new beginnings. It's not as dominate as the pleasure seeking of Sune or Sharess, as it's ulmately jus ta means to an end."
[21:47] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "So wait." Elle turns her head on the sand towards Latha, "Lathander wants his divine servants to sire and bear half-celestials?"
[21:48] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Donald missed a chance there," Amaryl murmurs to Seira.
[21:48] <Alicia> "I don't think they do it with just anyone," Alicia pokes her head up, thinking Latha's almost-seduction sounds quite nice.
01[21:48] <Seira> "Donald missed a lot of chances," Seira murmurs back.
[21:49] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "When the times are right, yes. It's not like we sleep with any mortal who likes us." Latha lightly laughs as well, "Had Donald been interested, perhaps I would be carrying his child now. I don't advertise the teaching myself."
01[21:49] <Seira> "I never imagined," Seira admits. "Wow. Just wow."
06[21:50] * Alicia really wants to tell Latha she could do so much better. But Elle is right there. "It's got to be a mutual attraction, the same as any other coupling, right?" she asks instead.
[21:50] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Lathander loves new life and birth. Those who serve him are honored to carry out his will." Latha says openly, but smiles nonetheless. "Of course. Love is essential. Perhaps a celestial loves easier, as they love all at heart."
[21:50] <Alicia> "Besides, don't you serve Celestia and not Lathander now, anyway?" Marie asks, looking over. "What do the Hebdomad think of that sort of thing?"
[21:51] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "It is so much easier to love since I changed," Antenora scratches at her chest and chin, "I've found depths of affection I never dreamed of before."
01[21:51] <Seira> "I wonder if for a mage summoning one celestial after another, it is only a matter of time," Seira voices.
[21:53] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "It depends on whom you serve. Those who take a vow of chastity do not indulge in such, buth others may. Birth is a miracle; just as much as healing or magic. When a celestial falls in love with a mortal..." A pause here, "It does depend. Some celestials will not allow the relationship to go, even if it tears them apart for a century of regret. They do not feel they can honor it and their duties. Others do, but it is only a brief passion. A fe
[21:53] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> their duties. Others do, but it is only a brief passion. A few others may be forbidden by a superior or a duty, though this is rare. And in some cases, a celestial may temporarily be relieved of duties to pursue a mortal lifetime of love with another."
[21:54] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Celestia did show us our children, Alicia," Antenora says, letting her voice drift into longing.
06[21:54] * Alicia tenses a bit, that memory opening up a whole other can of worms she could well do without considering. "It did," she allows.
01[21:55] <Seira> "So it's only about having kids?" Seira inquires.
[21:55] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Your children?" Amaryl leans up now over Seira, "As in...?"
[21:56] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Love has a placeas well. Rutting for mindless bliss does not." With a faint tensing her voice, "We make love for dedication, honor and to pleasure those have fallen into loves caresses for."
[21:56] <Alicia> "Felix, my son," Alicia sighs. "He died years ago, but Celestia showed me... a potential future, or something. I don't really understand it. It's confusing."
[21:56] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora reaches out, wrapping an arm around Alicia. "It's okay. We saw our children on Celestial...Alicia saw her lost son. A potential that may or may not happen."
[21:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> *Celestia
[21:57] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Alicia, is your heart still torn?" Latha sits up, scooting closer to her.
[21:57] <Alicia> "It raised more questions than it answered," Alicia lifts her head, resting her chin on her forearms.
[21:59] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I don't know anything about this," Elle says as she reaches for one of the bottles, "But..." Her words are a bit slower now, tripping over each other. "But you know what? If you can beat a god-child, you can solve this problem too. We'll help Alicia if she needs it, right?"
01[21:59] <Seira> "It's nice when love has its place as well," Seira muses, before looking at Alicia. "Anything we could help, even if it's just listening?"
[21:59] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Amaryl smiles, "Alicia, if there's anything we can do, say so."
[22:08] <Alicia> "It's not a problem I can fight," Alicia laments. "It's... I just don't know what the right thing to do is. It's supposed to be simple - you die, then you go on to whatever, becoming a petitioner or an outsider like Marie or Latha," she gestures to the two resident celestials. "No regrets, no worries, just continuing on to find your soul's right place."
[22:08] <Alicia> "For all that I mourned when they died, for all that I begged the Gods to give them back, in time I at least took solace in the knowledge that they weren't suffering the way I was. That they didn't have to miss me and the life they were robbed of - they had their own futures, still. Only now it's more complicated."
[22:08] <Alicia> "From what the dream in Celestia told me, my husband and son are both with Mystra, and both are still watching over me. And I don't know what I should do - I mean, if I tried I probably could get them resurrected. That sort of magic's suddenly becoming far more common."
[22:08] <Alicia> "But is it right? I don't think we can simply go back to being the same family we were before. I'd be pulling them away from their own lives, possibly splitting them apart. But I don't even know what sort of lives they have if they aren't normal petitioners or outsiders."
[22:08] <Alicia> "It's just..." she shakes her head despairingly, "It's not how things are supposed to be. It's like some sort of exception was made just for me, but it's not something I ever asked for or wanted. And I have no idea what they want!"
01[22:10] <Seira> "Can you go over and talk to them?" Seira asks, sitting up. "It might be just what you need to decide."
[22:10] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora holds Alicia, "Then...go to them, Alicia. If you know...Mystra won't bar you."
[22:11] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "It sounds like you need a good cry," Amaryl says a she listens to it all. "I...If you need any help...I wish I could say more, but that's so complex...Seira, what do you ...oh."
[22:13] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "What I think is..." Elle sits up, head supported by her hands, "You do need to do something rather than letting this gnaw at your heart. As it is now, it sounds like you're confused and powerless."
06[22:13] * Seira glances at Amaryl, before adding, "When I talked to Dad after finding him again, he told me that he wanted to bring my mother back, even after all this time. But it's not like I can just treat her as one. I didn't even remember her without using pretty damn powerful magic on myself. But I want to meet her, anyway.
01[22:13] <Seira> I won't pretend to understand your situation, Alicia, but the advice I gave you is what I'm trying to do, myself."
[22:14] <Alicia> Just go and talk to them... it's so absurdly simple and beyond the realms of any possibility in the past, yet with how things are now who knows? It probably is that simple. "I just don't understand why I couldn't have had them back when I asked. Why keep them in some... half-state all these years? It makes no sense."
[22:14] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "We have the power to change the world. Why should we let ourselves wallow in despair?" Latha meets Alicia's eyes with her own, warm and shining with glorious light. "I do not thik Mystra would act to hurt you."
[22:15] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Mystra has to have had a reason. Alicia...I know you say you shouldn't treat Mystra as a mundane source of knowledge and resources, but if there was every a reason to ask her!" Antenora says, each word fiercer.
06[22:16] * Alicia takes a deep calming breath as she sits up. "Thank you, everyone," she looks gratefully around the group. "I think you're right. After we're done here, I'll go to Dweomerheart in search of answers myself. It's the only way I can put my mind to rest."
[22:17] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Okay. Alicia...I'd like to go with you," Antenora says, "I serve Mystra too and...my heart says that you should have someone with you for this journey."
[22:17] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "See?" Elle smiles, passing a bottle to Alicia, "That's the spirit! Speaking of spirits, here, take a good drink."
06[22:19] * Alicia takes a swig, the cool liquid refreshing her throat. "Thank you, Antenora, but this is something I'll have to do on my own."
[22:20] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora sighs, "I knew you'd say that. I..." Antenora looks away, "I know you're strong, but you shouldn't have to face this alone. If that's your wish..." Antenora reaches for the bottle after Alicia, drinking deep. "Then let's celebrate the truth you're going to find and the peace that will follow?"
[22:21] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "After that, going back to chatter and getting drunk sounds fine," Elle smiles sappily at Alicia, "I'm a good ways there anyway."
[22:21] <Alicia> "Yes, Elle, we know you're a lightweight," Alicia gives the redhead a wry smile back.
[22:22] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "But you never get all the way drunk," Elle points a finger back after, forcing another bottle at Alicia, "What you need is to cut loose. I think ou need to get drunk, have fun and just forget about everything for a little while. You all agree with me, right?"
[22:23] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "RIGHT?" Elle asks again after a moment.
[22:23] <Alicia> "Right!" Marie calls, cowed by the scary drunk archmage.
[22:24] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Ah. Right!" Abagail follows after a moment, turning red.
[22:26] <Alicia> "Oh, I don't know," Alicia reaches for a bottle, "What if I'm one of those mean drunks?" she asks impishly, before tossing a gulp back.
[22:26] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "It's so terribly dedadent but a good time is in order," Antenora says gently, taking another bottle and drinking again. As she gulps down liquid release, "Then I'll just have to get drunk with you and be a nice drunk! Nice drunk, mean drunk?"
01[22:26] <Seira> "What, you expect me to agree with the wisdom of getting drunk and loosening one's control over themselves?" Seira asks Elle with an arched eyebrow. "Doing it is one thing, but approving of it is quite another!"
[22:27] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I think we need some more," Amaryl sits up, "These bottles are going down rather fast..."
[22:27] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Then save your dissaproval for your hangover!" Elle tosses a bit of sand at Seira. "Come on everyone! We're gonna get good and happy now!"
06[22:27] * Alicia opens up the portable hole and retrieves two more bottles. "We'll be dry tomorrow unless anyone feels like going on a shopping trip," she warns as the last of her booze is produced.
[22:28] <Alicia> "Just make sure you're not *too* nice," Marie tells Antenora with a laugh as she helps herself to some wine.
[22:28] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Oh?" Antenora arches an eyebrow.
01[22:29] <Seira> "Speaking of shopping trips, would you like to come along with me when I go on mine?" Seira asks Antenora, glancing at Latha afterwards. "Or you, for that matter. We never really get to do something like that."
[22:29] <Alicia> "Well, you can be if you want to be. Just don't say I didn't warn you is all," Marie appends with a smile.
[22:29] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Latha passes on the wine, lying back in the sun instead. "Happiness is an ephreal, passing thing in the mortal world. To hold it long is like holding a ray of sunshine in your fist."
[22:30] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora takes another long pull, "Alicia, have you ever been really drunk before? Besides that time with the ambrosia, I don't think I have."
[22:30] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "A few times for me!" Elle raises a hand up, "It's fun when you have a lot of friends!"
[22:31] <Alicia> "I wasn't actually drunk then," Alicia restates. "But generally it's not something I've done much. Most alcohols taste wretched to me unless I reflavour them with magic. These ones are a nice exception."
[22:32] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Very rarely." Amaryl sips a bit of spirits, then hugs onto Seira. "Mmm...thanks for inviting me!"
[22:33] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "So!" Latha considers for a time, "I believe the custom is to talk about something embarrassing or amusing when you get drunk? Stories?"
[22:34] <Alicia> "Didn't we do that last night?" Alicia wonders, taking another pull then passing her bottle along to Jessica. "Still, I'm sure that well hasn't run dry just yet... so who'll start?"
[22:35] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Well, just really embarrasing stories!" Elle breaks into giggle, "The worst the better! I'll use mine to start - I tried to get happy with an Unseen Servant! Someone else tell a new one!"
01[22:35] <Seira> "You already said that! It doesn't count!" Seira protests.
[22:35] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "That's a good idea, Seira. Sorry. Shopping trip, yo usay?" Latha adds. "To where?"
[22:36] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "it does too!" Elle sticks her tongue out, "You tell a really embarrasing story you wouldn't normally tell, Seira! Something risque!"
[22:36] <Alicia> "Give us details!" Marie insists to Elle. "Make it a story, not a statement!"
[22:36] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> After yet another drink, Antenora blinks and grins. "Oh yeah. Shopping trip and a really good story!"
01[22:37] <Seira> "The biggest market in the skies?" Seira asks with a grin. "I'm looking to find a few exotic things." At Elle's prodding, she considers. "Fine, then! Indulge Marie, and I'll respond in kind."
[22:37] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Well, I could...but after Seira!" Elle points at her, "Fine then! Oh...one day..the lonely, pretty and very lusty archmage Elle Stronger lamented the lack of men in her life! Then an idea struck! A spell to make a willing servant appear! So she got naked," she stands up, wobbling and spinning around, "Just likethis, right?"
[22:38] <Alicia> "Were you this drunk, too?" Alicia asks, laughing.
[22:39] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Maybe!" With a wink, Elle goes on. "So she bent over..." Elle does just that, hands on her feet, "And cast unseen servant! She said, "Servant, get to work!"" She falls forward then, sending sand all over her front. "But alas, unseen servants aren't really manly. At all."
[22:39] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I'm onto it," Antenora calls back to Seira.
[22:39] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "...wow." Amaryl just stares, slack jawed.
[22:40] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "She's drunk," Jessica agrees sagely, working down another long shot to catch up.
01[22:40] <Seira> "Whatever gave you that idea?"
06[22:40] * Alicia just shakes her head. "Poor Elle..."
[22:41] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Elle giggles in the sand, slowly rolling around and getting up. "Men! Even conjured men let you down! But Elle knows that the Gods gave us fingers too!" With a smirk at that, "And that's my story! Elle got a very happy night's sleep after all. Your'e up, Seira!" She promptly goes for more wine, chugging a good part of the bottle down.
06[22:41] * Seira mentally flips through the basic spells, before voicing, "Try Animate Rope next time?"
[22:41] <Alicia> "Antenora can help you with that!" Marie seconds. "She's a natural with it!"
[22:41] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Abagail is just starting to speak, before breaking into hoarse laughter!
01[22:42] <Seira> "Oh?" Seira looks over at Antenora. "I fancy myself somewhat of a natural with rope as well."
[22:42] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora turns very red, extending down her throat and chest. "You know," With a sultry smirk, "I did wonder if my Mistress would ever command me to something like that..." Antenora reaches out, drawing lines on Alicia's shoulder. "But alas, she purged the naughtiness out of me in sunshine and light."
01[22:43] <Seira> "It's good that you have a new Mistress to bring out your hidden talents, then, isn't it?"
[22:43] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Oh yes, erinyes have those magic ropes," Latha is starting to laugh as well, trying to control herself. "Seira, I do believe you're up though."
[22:43] <Alicia> "Clearly I didn't do a good enough job if you're talking like that," Alicia responds archly.
01[22:43] <Seira> "Any specifics, or should I just pick anything suitably embarrassing?" Seira inquires.
[22:44] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora looks Alicia in the eye, "Guess not!" Going for another drink and passing the bottle over to Alicia, "One ropist servant and one exhibitionist mistress! A match made in...um...Mechanus? Between Celestia and Baator, anyway."
[22:44] <Alicia> "Try to top Elle's story if you can!" Marie encourages.
[22:44] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Seconded!" Jessica calls, "Tell us a great one!"
06[22:44] * Alicia happily accepts the bottle and takes a swig before passing it around. "Tie yourself to one of those big cogs sometime?"
[22:44] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Amaryl takes one of the bottles, having a very long drink. "It's not fair. You humans race along to everything...and you'll drink all the wine before I get drunk, too!"
[22:45] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora starts to giggle, "Oh MY. That's quite the image. Get fed into one just enough and at just the right angle?"
[22:45] <Alicia> "But you're so petite, you'll surely get drunk with less," Alicia encourages Amaryl, before blushing at Antenora running with her idea. "You've clearly thought this through."
01[22:45] <Seira> "Well, I never used magic for sex since I just didn't see the appeal of it, but I did once upon a time have an error of judgement of truly mortifying proportions," Seira says, offering Amaryl her mostly untouched wine bottle.
[22:46] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Amaryl drinks, then puts it back in front of Seira. "Oh?"
[22:46] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I try." With a full bow towards Alicia, "I have to keep up with Marie's pervertedness! I won't let chaos win the battle of perversion without a fight!"
[22:46] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Don't-" Jessica begins, before laugh/sighing/gawking at once, somehow. "No, answer that one, Marie. But don't interrupt Seira!"
[22:47] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Give us more!" Elle turns to Seira, "That's not anything good yet! What was it?"
[22:47] <Alicia> "Just keep working those wings and I'll let you win this round," Marie replies quietly, taking a moment to ogle before paying attention to Seira.
[22:47] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora does just that, then reaches over to pat Marie's head. "Good courre."
01[22:48] <Seira> "You were present for that one, actually," Seira elaborates to Amaryl, before turning to the others. "When that circus came to Balmuria, I got it in my head to experience everything it had to offer. And one of those things just had to be a very special perfume that makes you irresistible to either men or women. Naturally, I wanted to pick both, but alas, even such magic had its limits, so I had to choose."
06[22:48] * Alicia recalls that whole fracas with Mihail and winces, taking an especially deep drink. Better to be more inebriated for this one.
[22:50] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora follows suit, as more and more booze is consumed around. Amaryl starts blushing a lot now too.
01[22:50] <Seira> "I didn't really understand what it would do. I just expected to look irresistible, the way we normally think about beautiful people we see. Instead, it caused every man who laid eyes on me to become slavishly devoted to me. And, of course, I compounded it by trying to test it on Demedais, first thing. He was practically a monk with that bald head, and a man of incredible integrity, so that would've been fine, right?"
[22:51] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> At this, Elle breaks into laughter, "Oh Demedais! Bald head, big armor and all so serious!"
06[22:52] * Seira shakes her head. "When he suddenly barked, 'Yes, Mistress!' I thought I would die of fright."
[22:52] <Alicia> "Ouch... poor Demedais," Alicia shakes her head pityingly.
[22:52] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Hahahahaaaa!" Abagail breaks into loud laughter, "Demedais said THAT?"
[22:53] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "So Demedais mimicked Antenora? Quite something to imagine!" Latha calls.
01[22:53] <Seira> "I didn't mean for any of that to happen!" Seira insists. "Honest! I'm just glad I picked that perfume and not the other."
[22:53] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Oh my...I wouldn't have been able to stay off you..." Amaryl is quite on Seira, "Not that I can anyway."
[22:54] <Alicia> "That would have been very awkward," Alicia nods quickly, glad it never came to that.
[22:54] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "That one's not bad," Elle rubs her chin thoughtfully, squinting. "Who else has a really good story like these?"
01[22:54] <Seira> "I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself," Seira admits.
01[22:55] <Seira> "But come on! Like the Charm spell, it doesn't actually steal someone's will from them! I thought it would be like that!"
[22:55] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Just as well." Jessica says, "Ah ewll, lesson learned...I went by some of those tents, too."
[22:55] <Alicia> "I actually have a story about using compulsion magic," Alicia volunteers after a worried glance at Antenora.
[22:56] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I have one," Latha says, "Lathander's realm is good for these if yo ustay awhile. Does anyone else have one - I can save mine if I need to."
[22:56] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Go ahead, Alicia," Latha says.
[22:56] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora curls up around Alicia, resting her head on her shoulder and giving Marie a lazy smile, nuzzling into her shoulder.
[22:57] <Alicia> "You can go after me, then," Alicia smiles at Latha before addressing the group. "This occured during my visit to Shendilvari... which is a place full of sordid stories at any rate, but I'll just give you this one."
[22:58] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Oooh...that's Malcanthet's realm, Queen of Succubi. This should be good," Amaryl calls as she blushes, drinking yet more.
[22:59] <Alicia> As Marie looks curiously at Alicia and Antenora, the former continues. "I'd just escaped from the charmingly-named 'Rape Room' of the Radiant Sister Ebony and ended up in the hedge maze of a marilith."
[22:59] <Alicia> "Disguising myself to look somewhat fiendish, I managed to sneak out without being noticed, and happened across four succubi who were standing around and gossiping... a bit like we're doing now, actually," she admits with a giggle.
[22:59] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "An interesting sign, that one," Abagail observes.
01[23:01] <Seira> "At least visually, it's not that bad to be compared to a succubus," Seira muses, for her part.
[23:01] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Ah, succubi. It's the right setting for a story about them." Elle flops over onto her stomach, kicking her legs into the air.
[23:03] <Alicia> "Anyway, I decided to avoid them since four was more trouble than I wanted, and a little ways away I came across a cambion. I managed to flirt with him a little to get directions to the Puzzling Hedge, which is where I needed to go to flee the Abyss."
[23:03] <Alicia> "However, he seemed quite eager to cash in on the implied promise of my flirtations once he'd given me the information I needed. Naturally not wanting to spread my legs for any random demon-spawn, I used a compulsion spell and told him to go have his fun with the four succubi I'd just seen."
[23:03] <Alicia> She laughs and shakes her head, taking another swig of booze. "I teleported away, so I don't know exactly what happened to him. But... well, you can probably use your imagination."
[23:05] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Oh wow." Antenora giggles widely, "They probably thought they'd won a prize!"
[23:06] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Maybe." Elle smirks, "Alicia, that sounds about right for the Abyss. So you played Abyssal matchmaker?"
[23:07] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I would have thought it would have been a bit more like Elle's story," Abagail rises up to sit up, "How's that terribly embarrassing?"
01[23:08] <Seira> "Indeed," Seira agrees. "Abagail, you should go after Latha to show Alicia how it's done."
[23:08] <Alicia> "Sorry, it was more like Seira's, wasn't it?" Alicia admits. "Well, I'll give you a sex story next time it gets round to me. For now it's Latha?"
[23:08] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "You can tell yours first," Latha says warmly, "I can hold mine as long as it's needed."
[23:12] <Alicia> "I've got one," Marie volunteers. "It's more about me being the victim of magical misuse than doing anything myself, though..."
01[23:13] <Seira> "Not every embarrassing situation has to be of our making," Seira muses. "Just as long as it makes for a good story?"
[23:13] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora smirks at Marie, going over to wrap around her and rest. "Make it a really good story, Marie!"
[23:14] <Alicia> "Okay," Marie nods brightly. "Alicia knows I used to date a pixie. It was back when I was working as a herald for Keeper of Names - he was in Arborea but I ended up there a lot myself, so we had lots of chances to meet up..." she trails off and reddens at Antenora's sudden public display, but gamely tries to continue!
[23:15] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "She get even touchier when she's drunk?" Jessica giggles as she finishes off one of the bottles, "Keep going...and Elle..couldn't you use magic to get us more?"
[23:15] <Alicia> "Anyway, I had some time to myself so we'd arranged a meeting on one of the verandas of Grandfather Oak," Marie continues, adjusting her position somewhat to accomodate the affectionate angel. "So there I was, innocently waiting... when someone goosed me!"
06[23:15] * Seira decides to mirror Antenora's actions, curling around Elle as she listens to Marie.
[23:16] <Alicia> "Everyone's so suddenly friendly... perhaps I shouldn't have picked up so much wine from Sune's realm?" Alicia giggles at the various cuddling going on.
[23:16] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Feeling touchy too?" Elle asks with a bit of a blush. Amaryl simply follows, keeping her place on Seira.
[23:16] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Or you did it juuuust right," Antenora starts giggling, "Sune approves?"
01[23:16] <Seira> "Someone?" Seira asks to keep the story going.
[23:17] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Go on, Marie," Latha says gently, "I want to hear the rest of it."
[23:19] <Alicia> "Well, I looked around, and no one was there!" Marie explains, looking around in apparent confusion to demonstrate her actions at the time. "I shrugged it off as my imagination, but then it happened again! And I could hear Navio's voice whispering in my ear - that was his name by the way, Navio. Well, you all know how pixies can turn invisible?"
[23:19] <Alicia> "He kept feeling me up in broad daylight on a crowded veranda, and no one had a clue! Well, there was a passing planetar who gave us an odd look... darn true seeing."
06[23:19] * Seira nods in sympathy.
[23:20] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "My, what a tricky little fey." Jessica laughs into her hand, "Poor Marie...was it good foreplay at least?"
[23:20] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Elle hesitates, before resting against Seira as well and listening. "In public? Isn't that the same thing Antenora was talkinga bout. Exhi...whatever?"
[23:20] <Alicia> "That sounds rather improper," Alicia comments disapprovingly, only for Marie to shake her head quickly.
[23:20] <Alicia> "He had really talented hands! I didn't mind at all! In fact, it was really exciting... so I turned incorporeal and led him on a merry chase to somewhere more secluded - this was when turning incorporeal didn't make you drop everything, by the way. And, you can probably imagine the rest..."
[23:21] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Courre gets lucky. You know...do you have any baby courres around in your sordid past?" Antenora challenges as she holds Marie right.
[23:21] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "If it was fun, itw as fun." Elle grins, "Decorum is for people without courage."
[23:22] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Or modesty," Latha clears her throat, "Not everyone weants to see that."
[23:22] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Baby courre...that would be...tiny? Super tiny?" Jessica fumbles with the concept, "Small enough to be near invisible?"
[23:22] <Alicia> "We went someplace private before we actually did anything more than light petting over my clothes," Marie tells Latha defensively.
[23:22] <Alicia> "And, uh, no. No children yet!"
[23:22] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I was talking to Elle." Latha smiles right back, "A fine story. Who wants to go next?"
[23:23] <Alicia> Marie settles back in Antenora's embrace now that she's done, grabbing a bottle with her free hand for a drink before passing it to Antenora.
[23:24] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I can." Antenora takes her own drink and passes it right back to Marie, licking the rim before Abagail speaks. "I have ag ood one...but mercy, if any of you ever tell it to another..."
[23:25] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Lips are binded!" Jessica draws a little pattern over her lips, "We won't tell a soul!"
[23:25] <Alicia> "Whatever gets said, it stays on the beach," Alicia promises sollemnly.
01[23:26] <Seira> "What's the point of betraying a friend?"
[23:26] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Well, you know the spell alter self?" Abagail takes a breath, "Iw as curious about the other sex, so...I changed myself into a man." She lowers her head as she turns fire red and keeps going. "It's different. There's an undercurrent of aggression to how you see things. Your manhood does what it will. When you touch it..mmm. It's very focused. It's messy, too."
06[23:27] * Seira breaks out into laughter. "I used that spell, myself, but I never got the urges to get messy as a result."
[23:28] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Jessica starts laughing as well, "I always wondered! How does it feel?"
[23:28] <Alicia> "I think everyone who's learned that spell as at least tried it, if only to have a look," Alicia admits. "I didn't explore it in such detail, though."
[23:29] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "...good. It's so much...easier. You just move your hand and...in a few minutes, you scream and it's over. You get it all over you too. It doesn't taste very good, but I don't know if that was the magic or me or if that's normal. I haven't done it again because I felt very strange after I changed back."
[23:29] <Alicia> "Men have it so much easier," Alicia seconds that sentiment with a sight, swigging some wine then passing the bottle along.
06[23:30] * Seira gets a speculative look in her eye. "This conversation has been so educational," she murmurs.
[23:30] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Antenora sighs as well, "They must. They just use us sometimes, I think. All the charm, then they put it in, splurt and leave us to get big and fat. Even erinyes get pregnant and it's like that."
[23:31] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> Latha is starting to smile, "You've somewhat pre-empted my story, though my own is more...interesting, I think, at least philsophically."
[23:31] <Alicia> "Well, go on," Marie smiles, "You've kept us in suspense long enough!"
01[23:31] <Seira> "It has to be more than that," Seira insists, before Latha's words gain her attention. "I second Marie's request!"
[23:32] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "As I mentioned, Lathander instructs us to spread life, no? But what happens if I fell in love with a woman? Two women cannot consumate a relationship in a way that leads to a child." Latha folds her hands together, "So he required us to spend some time as the other gender using our shape changing abilities."
[23:34] <Alicia> "I've heard some outsiders talk about gender just being a choice," Alicia glances briefly at Antenora who first offered such a perspective, before regarding Latha and trying to visualise her as a man. "It's still hard to picture you that way, though."
[23:34] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "Really? It makes a certain sense, one supposes..." Elle frowns in deep thought, "So you know how to insert and to receive goods?"
[23:34] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "I did. I made love to another woman as a man." Latha simply smiles, "Once your shape is alterable, gender becomes an irrelevant concept. Most of us still assume one gender or another, but...it's simply a shell for our divine spirit. When necessity dictates, it changes."
01[23:35] <Seira> "So how did it go?" Seira asks, interested. "What's the story behind it? What happened to her, to you two? Were you in love?"
[23:36] <Merry_Christmas_Ko> "It is," Antenora admits, "It's easy to get caught up in all the mortal regards to it - I do a lot, somewhat just to tease - but gender isn't quite so solid for us. Marie got the same ability lately, so..."
[23:36] <Alicia> "Yes, and Antenora's been begging me to use it," Marie agrees. "I've been too shy, but maybe Latha's right and I should!"
[16:28] <Kotono> "<Alicia> "I've heard some outsiders talk about gender just being a choice," Alicia glances briefly at Antenora who first offered such a perspective, before regarding Latha and trying to visualise her as a man. "It's still hard to picture you that way, though."
[16:28] <Kotono> > "Really? It makes a certain sense, one supposes..." Elle frowns in deep thought, "So you know how to insert and to receive goods?"
[16:28] <Kotono> > "I did. I made love to another woman as a man." Latha simply smiles, "Once your shape is alterable, gender becomes an irrelevant concept. Most of us still assume one gender or another, but...it's simply a shell for our divine spirit. When necessity dictates, it changes."
[16:28] <Kotono> <Seira> "So how did it go?" Seira asks, interested. "What's the story behind it? What happened to her, to you two? Were you in love?"
[16:28] <Kotono> > "It is," Antenora admits, "It's easy to get caught up in all the mortal regards to it - I do a lot, somewhat just to tease - but gender isn't quite so solid for us. Marie got the same ability lately, so..."
[16:28] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Yes, and Antenora's been begging me to use it," Marie agrees. "I've been too shy, but maybe Latha's right and I should!"
[16:28] <Kotono> "It was a doomed relationship in many ways. She...the story is best told another time, but she keeps a fond place in my heart." As Marie blurts that out, Latha changes. Her form fills out, becoming well defined and muscular. Her features grow masculine, growing several inches taller. Her chin becomes stronger, her eyes soulful and deep. "A body is just a body. What's important is the spirit and soul that is housed within it."
[16:28] <Kotono> soul that is housed within it."
[16:29] <Kotono> Antenora has the good graces to turn a bit reddish, going for another drink as she watches Latha transform. "It is an appealing shell, no?"
06[16:30] * Seira intends to get that story some day, but for now just admires this casual display of magic used slightly differently that how she is used to.
06[16:30] * Alicia gives Latha an appreciative eye. "You wear it well," she approves. "So, does that mean you have children? Given how old you are, you could have thousands of descendants, couldn't you?"
[16:30] <Kotono> "Niiice..." Elle looks Latha well over, "You make a gorgeous man. Celestia or Lathander sure knows how to make them!"
[16:33] <Kotono> "I could. I have none." With a shrug of her, no, his shoulders that move his well scuplted chest, "It's never quite worked out, and I was on ice for a good part of this time. I think I may keep this form for a time. There are reasons. First of all, if you want to do it, do it, Marie. You may find it an illuminating experience. Second of all," Latha slightly bows her head to Alicia and then Antenora. "I owe the two of you an explanation for the argument on
[16:33] <Kotono> "I owe the two of you an explanation for the argument on Mertion. When I spoke, I spoke from the perspective of gender being an irrelevant concern. I had forgotten that it is not so much for you."
[16:40] <Kotono> Jessica stares at Latha, "...My." Going for one of bottles with wine left, "We have visual entertainment now! I for one completely support this, as Amaryl and Seira shouldn't be the only ones with something nice to look at here!"
01[16:40] <Seira> "I'm just fine, thanks."
06[16:41] * Alicia had forgotten said argument in all honesty. "Don't worry about it, Latha. We all have our own tastes," she reassures, taking a drink.
[16:42] <Alicia> "But isn't your natural form still female?" Marie asks. "I can change into a male human or elf," she demonstrates just that, shrinking in some places and growing in others to turn into a rather effeminate elven man still stuck in Antenora's cloying embrace, "But as a courre I'm always a girl."
[16:42] <Kotono> Antenora follows Alicia by taking a drink of her own, "You know.....wow." Looking down at Marie, "Nice."
[16:43] <Kotono> "So? A form is just a form. Love endures no matter what the body." Latha so speaks, as she then looks to Amaryl. "Amaryl, do you have one?"
[16:43] <Alicia> "It's kinda liberating, actually," Marie wriggles 'his' toes and stretches 'his' arms. "Not sure if I'd want to stay this way, but it's interesting to try out."
[16:43] <Kotono> Amaryl is looking over Latha with a detached, curious air. "I do," she says, going for a bottle for a long swig before anything else.
01[16:43] <Seira> "So it's Amaryl turn to taste embarrassment?" Seira asks, lightly trailing her fingers up Elle's side.
[16:45] <Kotono> "I like it." Antenora answers to Marie, "You're...so...can you make yourself more muscular? Not as much as Latha, but not so elven-fey-ish?"
[16:47] <Kotono> Amaryl's eyes go to Seira's fingers, but says nothing. Instead, "I'll tell it like Elle's story. The first day of spring...It was warm and the cold had at last left Pallanth. I chose to spend the day away, taking a horse to see the countryside on my own."
[16:47] <Alicia> "I can look that way, but it wouldn't be real," Marie admits, making a few cosmetic changes to suit Antenora's tastes, still lithe but showing lean corded muscle, voice lowering so as not to interrupt Amaryl. "It's just an appearance, so my physical capabilities aren't changed. Alicia has spells to make me strong, though..."
[16:49] <Kotono> "The trail was rough, so I clung to my horse and leaned forward. As he went over the muddy, rocky path...it started feeling good down there. All the shakes and bumps..." Amaryl now colors, drinking yet more wine, blinking her eyes and rubbing them after. "It felt really good...and I'dnever really felt like that before, I was still inexperienced."
06[16:51] * Alicia covers her mouth as she laughs softly at Amaryl's tale.
[16:51] <Kotono> Abagail smirks, "My, I know how that goes. A good horse can be your transporation AND a valuable friend like that!"
[16:52] <Kotono> "Ah yes. I...well, I kept going on the rough path..and...well, it was my first time reaching climax. Out in the forest, clinging to my horse as I screamed like a goblin, not quite sure what was happening."
[16:53] <Alicia> "I think you need a really comfortable saddle, though," Alicia comments. "Otherwise you just end up numb and sore. I suppose that's the advantage to being a noblewoman?" Sadly she's never had that much fun on a horse herself.
01[16:53] <Seira> "Since you're so experienced, now," Seira says sultrily, turning over to embrace Amaryl, "does it mean that you look forward to riding through rough terrain, now?"
[16:54] <Kotono> Amaryl blushes, "I have your terrain, and it's very good terrain, thank you!" Coughing, "Seira, what was your first time then?"
[16:55] <Kotono> "I'd call that a good reason for a saddle!" Elle perks up a bit, "I wish I'd thought of that instead of hoping for a spell to od the job."
01[16:56] <Seira> "I suppose it's embarrassing enough, if not for the reasons you might think," Seira admits ruefully. "I've read all about it, so I decided to give it a try. Without the aid of magics, of course. It felt somewhat strange, and it made me confused, so I didn't really try to repeat the experience for a few more years."
[16:56] <Alicia> "The mount spell?" Alicia suggests amid her laughter.
[16:57] <Kotono> "Or for a really bracing time, Phantom Steed!" Elle perks up to call that out.
[16:57] <Kotono> Abagail openly shudders, "Gods, with how fast those move, but you barely feel anything."
[16:58] <Kotono> "That's not so bad. I was lucky, though...my first time was with Roald, actually, once he groped around enough to find out what felt really good for him to touch!" Jessica sighs wistfully, "I guess I don't count, though."
01[16:59] <Seira> "That's right," Seira agrees. "You and Antenora owe us all a properly embarrassing story, not just something like that!"
[17:02] <Kotono> Jessica considers, turning very red. "I have...one. It's a really, really dirty story though...are you sure it's okay?" Looking about, "My only real expereince is with Roald..." Turning to look away, "Beth might have had a bunch of stories, but I had to start all over."
01[17:02] <Seira> "I think most of us are drunk enough it wouldn't bother us," Seira assures her.
[17:03] <Alicia> "Don't hold back," Marie agrees, deciding to switch back to female form before having Antenora pressed up against her causes too obvious a male reaction.
[17:07] <Kotono> Jessica takes a very long breath. "Roald and I had been working at the bakery all morning. We'd been flirting...little things, touching his hand, brushing against each other. After the morning rush, we made an excuse to go back and get some supplies, right? Our passion exploded out...I knelt and took him in my mouth. He greatly enjoys this and I wanted him to have his release. As he did, I drew back...I can't stand the taste of it. So it got on my face...
[17:07] <Kotono> I drew back...I can't stand the taste of it. So it got on my face...and as it finished, I heard the sound of a door slamming. I turn and...his mother's right there, looking at me as he's dripping down my cheeks and chin."
[17:08] <Kotono> Antenora turns and visibly winces, "Mystra...the social misstep!" Openly gaping, "That's like telling your superior that those demons aren't so bad?"
06[17:08] * Alicia winces sympathetically. "No wonder she was always so cold to you," she shakes her head, glad she's drunk because otherwise the image of her sister doing that would be far too much.
06[17:09] * Seira coughs to mask laughter than might be inappropriate.
[17:09] <Kotono> Elle just laughs, laughs and laughs and laughs. "That's why you swallow..!" With a sing-song, "No mess at all!"
[17:09] <Kotono> Latha laughs as well, trying to hold it in and failing. "Mortifying."
01[17:10] <Seira> "Or lock the door," Seira adds sagely, once she gets her immediate amusement under control. "The talent with locks comes in surprisingly handy, especially while living with tactless people."
[17:10] <Kotono> "Ah...yes." Jessica mutters, looking down. "Thta's one of the reasons. I can't believe we forgot that, but we were hurrying to get back there! We'd been flirting all morning!"
01[17:11] <Seira> "Public and semi-public places add to the excitement," Seira recites for herself, nodding slightly.
[17:11] <Alicia> "Well, it could've been worse. When you started I was worried it might have ended in some bread being baked with special ingredients," Marie giggles, switching to courre form and flying over to sit on Alicia's head.
[17:12] <Kotono> Antenora shrugs and goes over to Latha, resting against him. "Mmm...firm."
06[17:12] * Seira laughs, hugging Amaryl close to her.
[17:13] <Kotono> "That's a terrible image," Jessica glowers at the courre, crawling in the sand over to Alicia. She flicks at the tiny fairy with her fingers, "Bad! Bad!"
[17:13] <Kotono> "Who's next?" Amaryl calls out, "I wanna hear another one!"
01[17:14] <Seira> "Antenora's up, unless she's working towards having one of those embarrassing, sexy moments with Latha," Seira voices innocently.
[17:14] <Kotono> Latha looks to Antenora, "Alicia said she has one...though Antenora. Do you have a story, or are you hoping to get closer to me?"
[17:14] <Alicia> "Ack!" Marie raises her hands to defend herself and when that fails she dives down and into the safety of Alicia's cleavage. For her part, Alicia just blinks in surprise, before shrugging and taking a deep drink.
[17:15] <Kotono> "Well..." Antenora's words are a bit slurred by onw, "Y'see, Marie was fun to hug and then she changed back...you're firm, manly...you smell like a man now, even! 'sides, Seira's nearly feeling up Elle's side over there and no one's saying anything! Am I so commanding that every time I go to someone it'sthe talk of the group?"
[17:16] <Kotono> Jessica looks down at Marie, "Comfortable?" she challenges with a word. "Tell a story, Antenora! Tell a goodone!"
[17:16] <Alicia> "It's because you're so repressed normally but when you get a little booze into you you're a wild woman!" Marie calls over, nodding happily to Jessica.
01[17:17] <Seira> "Ah, but I'm shameless and not claiming it's anything but some harmless fun!" Seira calls back to Antenora, adding after Marie's words, "And yes, being so awfully repressed all the time is another good reason!"
[17:18] <Kotono> "You're projecting that you want to end up waking up at someone's side when this is over," Latha says very gently, then after a moment, "....hm." Looking to Alicia, "Perhaps a change of form would refocus you. Alicia, you can change Antenora's form, can't you?"
[17:18] <Kotono> Antenora turns redder, "I have a story then!" she blurts out, "I get it, I get it!"
[17:19] <Kotono> Elle turns redder, shifting slightly in the sand. "Well," she drawls out, "You did make a few passes at me just now. But it's okay, you're too cute to be mad at!"
[17:19] <Alicia> "Actually, here," Alicia casts a quick spell causing Marie to squawk as she expands into a large golden beach-ball lantern archon, which she then bats over towards Latha and Antenora. "Have fun with her."
[17:19] <Kotono> "Aaaaw!" Antenora glomps the archon right to her chest, "So cute!" Holding Marie like a vice grip to her, "Very well, let me tell mine."
[17:20] <Alicia> Marie grumbles a little at her predicament but allows herself to be molested.
01[17:20] <Seira> "I missed doing that very much," Seira asserts quietly to Elle, listening to Antenora's no-doubt exciting story!
[17:20] <Kotono> Abagail eyes the two wizards, but keeps any thoughts to herself.
[17:22] <Kotono> "I had a nightmare once. It was shortly after Alicia came back from Malcanthet's realm." Antenora leans against Latha, holding Marie to her. "A succubus had the two of us in chains, naked and defeated." After a pause, "I can stop here with this one if you like. It may be a little disturbing. I say full welli twas a nightmare."
01[17:23] <Seira> "Don't you have nicer dreams about yourself and Alicia, naked in chains?" Seira can't help but ask.
[17:23] <Alicia> "I'd say you're supposed to be telling real stories not imagination spots, but considering where you came from any real stories might not be much better," Alicia sighs as she lays down and sprawls out on the sand. "Do as you will."
[17:24] <Kotono> Antenora turns very red, "Yes, my previous life has no stories that suit the palettes here." After a moment to blush even more, Antenora drags Latha along, lying next to Alicia. "On second thought...Alicia, why don't ou just tell one of your stories? You said you had another one. I'm sorry, but...let's just pretend I didn't tell one, alright?"
[17:26] <Alicia> "Hmmm... okay," Alicia murmurs as team celestial cuddle up to her, laying on her back. "On the topic of bedroom magic, I've only got two other stories - I wasn't very imaginative when I was younger and I haven't exactly been busy in recent years. One involves illusions and one involves transmutations - which do you all want to hear?"
[17:27] <Kotono> "Illusions!" Elle calls out.
[17:27] <Kotono> "Transmutations!" Jessica says at the same time.
[17:27] <Kotono> "Both!" Amaryl turns yet redder, going up to give Seira a quick peck on the cheek. "Make them both good!"
[17:27] <Kotono> "Illusions," Antenora says quietly to Alicia.
01[17:28] <Seira> "One of them to cover Antenora's debt, and another to get a new round started!" Seira quickly agrees. "Let's start with illusions!"
[17:29] <Alicia> "Oooh, a tie," Alicia laughs. "Elle called it first, so illusion it is. This was back when I'd known my husband-to-be for a few weeks. About... twelve years ago, nearly, back when knowing second circle spells actually meant something. I only knew one, so I probably wouldn't even be able to graduate Seira's school in this day and age..."
01[17:30] <Seira> "Different times," Seira agrees. "I considered myself a fully-fledged mage with Magic Missile!"
[17:30] <Kotono> "Different times, different days, less sag," Elle grouses as she cups one of her breasts, murmuring a few slurred owrds of magic.
[17:31] <Alicia> "Third circle was world-shaking stuff," Alicia laughs softly. "Anyway, the sole second circle spell I knew was Mirror Image. It's a fantastically useful spell, even today. Back then I'd been giving a demonstration for some of Kelara's knights on how to handle magical threats. Hans was watching, and after he'd seen me create several illusory doubles of myself, he was... intrigued."
01[17:32] <Seira> "Aww, it's all in your head!" Seira exclaims towards Elle. "You're beautiful, so don't you dare say otherwise!"
[17:32] <Kotono> "Oh, here we go,"Elle starts to grin like a cat. "I like where this is going!"
06[17:32] * Seira is intrigued at how Mirror Image can be perverted, and listens intently from this point on.
[17:32] <Kotono> "Of course I am, Seira! But time still pulls them down," With a glower at her cleavage, "Bah."
01[17:33] <Seira> "Reverse Gravity," Seira whispers in Elle's ear, leaning over.
[17:33] <Kotono> Elle giggles but doesn't reply.
[17:35] <Alicia> "So, we went back to his place, and he asked for a more private demonstration. So I used the spell and started undressing for him, making a little show of things... he didn't know where to look, I thought his eyes would pop right out," she giggles at the memory.
[17:35] <Alicia> "Of course, once I got naked and we started to move things along, he had a fun time of trying to find the real me amidst all my doubles. They pop just as easily to molestation as they do to being stabbed."
[17:35] <Kotono> "HAHAHAHAAAA!" Antenora breaks up into howling laughter, "Hans' sword pierced your mirror images?!"
[17:36] <Kotono> "They do go right away if you ever prick them with a pin," Elle says with an entirely straight face.
01[17:36] <Seira> "Just imagine, if the spell you'd used created physical doubles...." Seira says, trailing off.
[17:37] <Kotono> "Or if you thump them with a rod!" Jessica follows up.
[17:37] <Alicia> "Just his hands, we weren't that quick on the mark," Alicia replies, blushing. "It was funny seeing how eager he was as he reached out, and then the disappointment as the illusion vanished away. Anyway, someone else now - I'll save my other story for when it comes back to me."
[17:38] <Kotono> "I'll go." Latha, after a hesitation, goes to one of the less drunk bottles, finally indulging. She drains most of it away, then finishes the job.
[17:40] <Alicia> "Making up for lost time, there," Marie comments admiringly at Latha's ability to put away a whole bottle in just a few seconds.
[17:42] <Kotono> Latha lies stomach down on the sand, his back sunned. "One day in Celestia, I was walking the beaches. Sort of like here, only holy and not so naked." Thoughtfully playing her lips, "Though Marie fits now - it was indeed a lantern archon I chanced on."
[17:42] <Kotono> "Not so fun then," Amaryl mutters a bit too loud.
[17:42] <Alicia> "Feel free to use me as a prop," Marie offers from her position clutched to Antenora's bosom.
[17:42] <Kotono> "Not by half," Abagail replies back in her own quiet voice, eyes taking in Latha.
01[17:44] <Seira> "It does make me wonder if you could appear differently to other people at the same time," Seira admits.
[17:44] <Kotono> "Perhaps. Now then..." Taking a breath, "I came on a Lantern Archon." He pauses for several seconds, "It had passed by some mortal travelers. It said it didn't understand what they were doing. So I asked it what they were. It said it took off their clothes and started wrestling." With a half dramatic sigh, "So I tell the lantern archon that they're making a form of love and not to worry about it. But...!"
01[17:45] <Seira> "They really were wrestling in the nude?"
[17:45] <Alicia> "Oh, those silly lantern archons!" Marie giggles. "They're so innocent it's a crime!"
[17:46] <Kotono> "No. It said, with a completely innocent delivery, that it wanted to make love with me, too, since it looked fun. A lantern archon propositioned me."
06[17:46] * Seira is amused by the turn this story had taken.
[17:46] <Alicia> "Awww. A pity they lack the equipment," Alicia comments, reaching up to poke Marie. "Did you at least give it a friendly hug like Antenora's doing?"
[17:47] <Kotono> "It's a shame." Antenora agrees, hugging Marier ight into her bosom.
[17:48] <Kotono> "I was half cracking up and half mortally embarrassed. Thank Celestia I was alone. The thing is...when I managed to tell it no, it got insistent. It started flyinga round my head, saying that it really wanted to make love with me NOW!"
06[17:48] * Alicia bursts out into laughter at the image that conjures up.
01[17:48] <Seira> "It really does sound like a lantern archon," Seira admits with a sigh. "Did you do a little dance for it and told him it was making love, the deva style?"
[17:49] <Kotono> Antenora looks right to Marie, somehow holding in her mirth. "Sot hat lantern archon was you in a previous life?"
[17:49] <Kotono> Latha starts to let the humor take him, rocking back onto his haunches. "I eventually Plane Shifted to Arcadia and then back to Celestia to get away."
[17:50] <Alicia> "Awww, you're such a tease!" Marie accuses Latha. "That poor archon probably went and found someone else to harass after you left."
[17:50] <Kotono> "I had to retreat!" Latha insists, "It was for everyone's good!" After a thought, "So who's next?"
[17:52] <Kotono> "I have another but..." Jessica reddens even more, "If you really want to hear it."
01[17:52] <Seira> "Of course!"
[17:53] <Kotono> "You know," Antenora moves along, taking Marie with her and a bottle. She sits next to Jessica and drinks, before hugging onto her. "I should complete the set of angels, hm?"
[17:53] <Alicia> "You do get around," Alicia tells Antenora, straight faced. "Go on, Jessica, assuming Antenora doesn't distract you too much."
[17:54] <Kotono> "Marie's rubbing off!" Antenora chirps, as Latha startsto eye Antenora.
[17:55] <Alicia> "Something's rubbing, alright!" Marie exclaims.
[17:55] <Kotono> Jessica laughs, "Alright. This one...I..." Jessica bites her lip, "This one is really embarrasing, but it's also relevant."
[17:55] <Kotono> Antenora grins, and in a faint whisper to Marie, "Too bad you're not in a form where you can show the appreciation?"
[17:57] <Alicia> "Alicia changing my shape doesn't stop me from changing it myself," Marie counters.
[17:57] <Alicia> "It stays on the beach, whatever you say," Alicia reassures Jessica, morbidly curious.
[18:00] <Kotono> "Before Mystra remade me, I had mastered some magic...including the infamous alter self." Her blush deepens. "In our lovemaking, Roald wanted to penetrate my backside. Ride me in the wrong way. I wasn't too interested, but he wanted it so...I offered a trade. An eye for an eye...a penetration for a penetration." Blushing hard and starting to sweat a bit, "I was curious about alter self, too! But mainly, I wanted him to drop it. He did, but I felt so dirty
[18:00] <Kotono> "I was curious about alter self, too! But mainly, I wanted him to drop it. He did, but I felt so dirty..."
[18:01] <Alicia> "Ohh... he called your bluff and made you regret it?" Alicia makes a disgusted face, shuddering at the mental images conjured.
01[18:02] <Seira> Alter Self appears to be the most unintentionally perverted spell of all time, tying with Grease, Seira muses.
[18:02] <Kotono> "Oh yes. He won that round. But...the undercurrent was like electricity. It was so dirty and forbidden," With a rapidly growing blush, "I couldn't get enough of him when I thought of that...to the point that he got me caught up in the heat of the moment and I offered him what he wanted with no strings."
01[18:03] <Seira> "Roald has an unexpectedly perverted side to him," Seira voices. "You'd never know from just talking to him!" She peers at Jessica, then. "So how was it?"
[18:03] <Kotono> "What a sex life." Elle sighs dramatically, "Donald at better be able to live up to this!"
[18:04] <Alicia> "Mmm... and weren't you telling me yesterday you wanted to stay chaste until marriage?" Alicia adds with a raised eyebrow. "Is this some definition of the word I'm not familiar with?"
01[18:04] <Seira> "In fact, yes! It's called a technical virginity!" Seira exclaims.
[18:05] <Kotono> "It hurt." Taking a shuddering breath in and out, then repeating it, "He said he'd never been that hard and he loved it...hm? Oh that." Coughing even more, "He's been inside of me plenty of times! I mean chaste until we're married in Dweomerheart, Alicia! It seems wrong to do that right in Mystra's realm without making it official! A subtle slight."
[18:05] <Alicia> "She really wouldn't care, trust me," Marie comments.
[18:05] <Kotono> "Oh, so you're not a virgin...but you are one in Mystra's realm?" Antenora grins all over, "That's a downright diabolical distinction."
[18:05] <Kotono> "Really?" Antenora looks down at Marie, "You're making her sound like Sune."
01[18:06] <Seira> "I also think she wouldn't care," Seira agrees.
[18:06] <Alicia> "Mystra isn't hedonistic, but nor is she uptight," Marie replies. "She's the Goddess of magic. Sex falls right outside of Her portfolio."
[18:06] <Kotono> "Do a few words make love in the heavens?" Latha challenges, "A few on Celestia may care more, but love making isn't a sin when it's love."
[18:06] <Alicia> "Various examples given by Elle and Alicia notwithstanding," she amends.
[18:07] <Kotono> "They both give very nice samples!" Amaryl says after finishing another bottle of wine.
[18:07] <Kotono> "That's not the point!" Antenora blushes, "Well it is, but...I think it's cute of them! Sweet!"
[18:09] <Kotono> "It is. The eladrin of Queen Morwel's court...how many of them are married? Further, Queen Morwel herslef has two consorts that we know of, and yet she is holy. Antenora, you're overthinking it. Baatezu make love dirty because that's what they are."
[18:11] <Kotono> "I'm not saying hedoism is acceptable to me, but making love with someone you love isn't wrong." Latha goes on, "Remember what I said last time. Just relax, Antenora."
[18:11] <Kotono> Antenora goes quiet, blushing a whole lot. Latha clears her throat, "Where were we? I think someone else is up? Marie, you've been quiet the last few minutes."
[18:11] <Alicia> "Marriage is just a ceremony to recognise what's already there. You shouldn't need to act different before or after it," Alicia echoes those sentiments.
[18:13] <Kotono> "In other words, a bit of sleeping around is fine. Go get your rocks off with someone," Elle calls, "You don't need to stay boring and chaste until you find someone perfect."
01[18:13] <Seira> "I might have another mortifying story," Seira picks up, "but whether I might tell it will depend on Amaryl." She turns towards the elf. "Remember, it was just before Alicia returned with the plan to free Androlynne's children?"
[18:14] <Alicia> "Hmm..." Marie considers, but is saved by having to come up with a story by Seira. "Lets hear Seira's, first."
[18:14] <Kotono> "Sure," Abagail calls, scooting closer to Seira across the sand.
[18:15] <Kotono> "I'm okay with it. I already told you about how I learned to love with a saddle." Amaryl says.
06[18:16] * Seira laughs. "Alright. It was really all Dad's fault, with how he kept on going about magic misuse and children. But really, it also got me thinking, so I decided to ask Amaryl if she wanted to have them."
01[18:19] <Seira> "So there I was, trying to explain my thoughts, but it was pretty sudden and lacked preparation, and I think she misunderstood at first. So she started discussing the mechanics, and all of a sudden, I can't think as my mind goes blank! It felt... it was like an incredible high, and I had no idea where it came from.
01[18:19] <Seira> But I only caught her last words, as Amaryl was now looking at me expectantly, looking for an answer. So I confessed I didn't hear a thing and asked her to repeat it. She was mortified! She accused me of treating it like a sex talk, and how I was corrupted by the Abyss and ran off, all red. In the middle of a crowded inn, at that."
06[18:19] * Seira snorts. "And did I mention that the Commander just happened to stop by?"
[18:20] <Alicia> "Well, we know it's possible," Alicia glances briefly at Latha as Seira starts, before staring as the story goes on. "Goodness! That must have been horrible!"
01[18:20] <Seira> "I have no idea what happened! This time, it really wasn't my fault!"
[18:22] <Kotono> "It was so strange...do you know what happened?" Amaryl is blushing a bit.
[18:22] <Kotono> "Oh, that's a bad one. Not quite as bad as Jessica's story with Roald's mom, but...bad." Elle makes a visible whimper.
06[18:22] * Seira shakes her head slowly. "And to think, that while I was certain my magical knowledge and stubbornness could take care of the mechanics, if need be, I never realized it would be as simple as, say, Alter Self." At Amaryl's words, she shrugs. "Sorry. Like I told you when I apologized, I really have no clue. It might be a divine joke of some sort."
06[18:23] * Alicia frowns thoughtfully. "Actually... you say it happened shortly before I came back from Celestia? Because while we were there, I was granted a blessing I could share with three others - it was a euphoric feeling, and you were one of those I chose to share it with, Seira." She blushes. "So I suppose I'm at fault."
01[18:24] <Seira> "See?" Seira tells Amaryl. "There was a perfectly good explanation! Alicia made me feel good, in a completely innocent way."
[18:24] <Kotono> "Oh!" Turning and away from Seira, Amaryl puts her hands on her hips, jiggling with what she has as she does. "So what you're saying is that you got my Seira all hot and bothered?"
01[18:24] <Seira> "I wasn't bothered," Seira quickly interjects.
[18:24] <Alicia> "Well, it was Celestia, really. I just pointed it at her," Alicia smiles embarrassedly.
[18:25] <Kotono> "Oh, so you just got her hot?" Amaryl challenges.
[18:25] <Kotono> "A dream for the ages," Antenora smirks at Amaryl.
[18:26] <Kotono> "Fascinating..." Elle sits up, "Hey, I have a question!"
06[18:26] * Seira laughs.
[18:27] <Kotono> "Yeah?" Abagail answers from her position, sunning near Seira.
[18:28] <Kotono> "None of us are qualified to ride unicorns here, right?" Elle looks about everyone.
01[18:28] <Seira> "What is the unicorn-riding qualification?"
[18:29] <Alicia> "That's just a myth," Alicia points out. "I was worried when I first met Rosamund but she hasn't been troubled by me at all."
[18:29] <Kotono> "That you're a virgin!" Amaryl gawks at Seira, "You didn't know that one?"
01[18:29] <Seira> "But we've all met Rosamund! Come on, that can't be a requirement with that lusty mare!"
[18:30] <Kotono> "That's why it's just a myth," Antenora calls back.
[18:30] <Kotono> "So that raises the question...how many people have you slept with?" Elle looks around. "Which of us has been the most times around the block?"
[18:31] <Alicia> "Two," Alicia replies for herself, shrugging. It's hardly an obscene number, so she has nothing to be ashamed of.
[18:32] <Kotono> "One," Amaryl answers, looking to Seira and kissing her. Elle turns to them and blushes, "Ten...or eleven...not quite sure on that last one."
[18:32] <Kotono> "Seven." Latha says, "Yes, I'm fairly sure it's a coincidental number and nothing more."
[18:32] <Kotono> "One," Jessica answers, "Only Roald for me!"
01[18:33] <Seira> "There was this time I got a bit too friendly," Seira says, slightly embarrassed, "but only one for me as well."
[18:33] <Kotono> Abagail is quiet, before, "None," she announces.
[18:33] <Alicia> "Sixteen," Marie volunteers, mortified at beating the three thousand year old.
01[18:33] <Seira> "How can you not be sure?" Seira asks Elle curiously.
[18:34] <Kotono> "Long story," Elle waves it off, "Abagail, you've never...?"
[18:34] <Alicia> "How old are you, Abagail?" Alicia asks curiously, regarding the professed noble wizard.
01[18:34] <Seira> "It might be just a few years, but when I was your age, Abagail, I would have answered the same thing," Seira says earnestly.
01[18:34] <Seira> "There is no rush!"
[18:35] <Kotono> "My studies and culture are paramount." Abagail blushes but looks Elle in the eye. "18."
[18:35] <Kotono> "Well, that's too bad. You're missing out...or we can do something and get you with someone. Hey Seira, is your Dad on the market?" Elle calls.
[18:36] <Alicia> "I thought you were older... I was about your age when I had my first," Alicia smiles kindly. "But there's no rush, wait until you find someone worth it."
01[18:36] <Seira> "Don't worry, Abagail, I will protect you from their drunk advances," Seira promises to the younger mage, ignoring Elle.
[18:36] <Alicia> "Or ask Elle for tips on what magic will tide you over in the meantime!" Marie laughs.
[18:37] <Kotono> "As long as you know how to use your hand it's fine anyawy!" Elle stumbles over, patting Abagail's back.
01[18:37] <Seira> "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm definitely setting some time aside for additional research," Seira states firmly. "This wealth of information must not go to waste! You agree, don't you, Abagail?"
[18:38] <Kotono> As Abagail blushes, Elle nods, "You know, that raises another question. How do all of us swing? I know Seira and Amaryl prefer women."
[18:39] <Alicia> "Gender is irrelevant for some of us, right Latha?" Marie speaks up.
01[18:39] <Seira> "Why don't you share another of your lusty, drunk Elle stories instead?" Seira says.
[18:39] <Kotono> "Yes. I like both when it comes down do it," Latha answers.
[18:39] <Kotono> "Answer it and I'll tell you all a great one," Elle banters back.
[18:40] <Alicia> "Men only, here," Alicia raises her hand. "But with all the shapechanging magic flying around, who knows what that's worth these days?"
01[18:40] <Seira> "I'm a lot like Marie that way, although I have my own requirements. Beauty, intelligence, or that special spark I'm looking for!"
[18:40] <Kotono> "Women only,"A maryl answers.
[18:40] <Alicia> "You'd totally kneel down for Queen Morwel!" Marie accuses Alicia.
06[18:41] * Alicia blushes. "Certain exceptions can apply. But they're exceptions, not the rule."
06[18:41] * Seira swoons at the mention of Queen Morwel's name.
[18:41] <Kotono> "So would I," Antenora admits as she reddens. "We can all have exceptions."
[18:42] <Kotono> "Men." Abagail answers, while Jessica blushes, "Just men. I do sort of like breasts, though. They're so soft and appealing looking to me. But nothing else about women...is that strange?"
01[18:42] <Seira> "It's only strange if you play with Alter Self to get your optimum result," Seira teases.
[18:43] <Alicia> "Maybe your subconscious is missing the lost childhood memories of nursing?" Marie suggests as she nuzzles into Antenora's breasts.
[18:43] <Kotono> Antenora holds Marie close, blushing. "Breasts are symbolic of life, yes."
[18:44] <Kotono> "It's just a thought...Roald is aman and I'm happy with him, so.." Jessica turns redder.
[18:44] <Alicia> "If I want to look at those I just need to look downwards," Alicia observes easily. "Nothing exciting there."
[18:44] <Kotono> Elle clears her throat, "I like men...though maybe if Seira keeps making passes at me I'll be tempted," She breaks into laughter.
01[18:45] <Seira> "And really, really nice to hold?" Seira suggests with a shrug. "There's no reason to look for excuses, when the obvious one is available." At Alicia's words, she protests, "And that's actually wrong! It's a lot like saying that sexy clothing doesn't do anything for you, if you've already seen the person naked. There's a certain thrill from admiring other people!"
[18:45] <Kotono> Amaryl turns yet redder, "elle!" she protests, "Don't say things like that!"
06[18:46] * Seira holds Amaryl closer to her, laughing as well.
[18:46] <Alicia> "I suppose," Alicia sighs in response to Seira. "I mean, I can recognise a beautiful woman when I see one. It just doesn't really do anything for me."
[18:47] <Kotono> Elle smiles and pats Amaryl's head.
01[18:47] <Seira> "That's just fine," Seira responds. "I'm not out to change the world this way."
[18:48] <Kotono> "Anyway," Elle says, "Who's up now? Marie, you had one?"
01[18:48] <Seira> "I'm still waiting on you!"
[18:48] <Alicia> "Didn't you say you were going to tell us something really good once we'd given our scores?" Marie asks.
[19:10] <Kotono> "Oh right." Elle thoughtfully goes on, then stands. "So one day," Elle begins to walk circles around the group, a wobbling jog that makes all sorts of her anatomy fascinating. "I'm walking along without a care in the world, no?"
[19:11] <Alicia> "Right," Alicia nods lazily as Elle acts out her story.
[19:12] <Kotono> "Then...!" Elle stops in her tracks, falling onto her rear. She gets herself up, sand all over her bottom. She shakes it off, wiggling it good. "Anyway, so then I see the cutest man I've ever seen! Masculine with a good jawline, a body that Mystra and Waukeen would get in a catfight over, these green eyes that look like he could make you explode into bliss with just a sensual stare."
[19:13] <Kotono> "Ooooh, Jessica sighs, "He sounds like a Prince on the run from his duty!"
[19:14] <Kotono> "How about a genie noble on a tour of the world, disguised?" Abagail's eyes go distant, "Tall, dark and very rich."
[19:14] <Alicia> "There's a sting in the tale yet, I bet," Alicia comments, betting Elle wouldn't be telling a story with too happy an ending.
[19:15] <Kotono> "So I go talk to him! I don't throw myself at him, I'm ladylike...but we hit it off. He asks me for a drink and we go have a few. I keep making moves," Elle acts them out - rubbing against someone, brushing her hand against his, sharing a glass, "And he keeps returning them. It's going great and I'm thinking that I might even have to give it up on the first date...he's just too perfect!"
[19:16] <Kotono> "The catch must be a huge one," Latha's starting to smile at all of this.
[19:17] <Alicia> "I'm betting on angry wife making an appearance," Alicia nods knowingly.
[19:18] <Kotono> "Then, over our drink...we kiss. It's like fire. It's like my hair crackled with electricity. I'm gone at this point. I tell him that my room's lonely...and he says we should make sure it stays full." Elle lies down, legs apart. "We go back to my room, kiss awhile and I lay down just like this." Crooking her finger over, "Come here...I need you! Now!" So what does he do? He smiles, "Sorry, I like men," and walks right out. "Just like THAT."
[19:18] <Kotono> "Sorry, I like men," and walks right out. "Just like THAT."
[19:18] <Kotono> "...that son of a bitch!" Amaryl squawks, "What a terrible, terrible MAN!"
[19:19] <Kotono> "That bastard!" Jessica follows up, "You open your flower to him and he tosses it into the gutter? Inexcusable!"
[19:19] <Alicia> Alicia's face falls. "No way. You're kidding - no one could be that cruel. Especially someone in Balmuria who'd know you're a powerful wizard!" she insists.
[19:19] <Kotono> "This was before Balmuria. I should've mentioned that," Elle slaps her head, "Back when I was adventuring. Anyway?"
[19:20] <Alicia> "Even so... he flirted with you, kissed you, did everything except go all the way, and *then* he comes out with this revelation?" Alicia shakes her head, refusing to believe such a perverse scenario.
[19:21] <Kotono> "I spent like twenty minutes in shock before I get up!" Elle stands, starting to jog around again. "I throw on my clothes and try to find him! Nothing! I go back to my room in a foul mood and go to my pack for my nightclothes...and my pack is a lot lighter. See, back then, even basic magic could earn you easy traveling money, right? Somehow he pickpocketed me at some point in the process."
[19:23] <Alicia> "You should scry on him!" Marie insists. "Right now! Find out where he is and take your revenge!"
[19:25] <Alicia> "Marie!" Alicia scolds her familiar. "For all that it's deserved, we don't want to break up our party with expressions of dire vengeance."
01[19:26] <Seira> "We can scry on him tomorrow," Seira agrees. "How awful! I'll smite him for you, Elle!"
[19:27] <Kotono> "I did years later. The matter's settled. That's another story though." Elle says cheerfully, "So, anyone got any more good dirty stories? Marie?'
06[19:28] * Seira looks towards Abagail hopefully.
[19:28] <Kotono> "I have a small one," Abagail admits, "It's not much of a story, but I can tell it."
[19:29] <Alicia> Marie turns incorporeal to escape Antenora's grasp and then flies over to Jessica before turning back into a lantern archon and nuzzling against her side.
[19:30] <Kotono> Antenora sticks her tongue out at Marie, "You are no fun at all!" Antenora calls.
06[19:30] * Seira smiles encouragingly at Abagail, while waving Marie over, in case the little lantern archon feels like flying over later on.
[19:30] <Kotono> "Go on," Latha says with sidelong eyes atMarie and Antenora.
[19:30] <Alicia> "I'm lots of fun!" Marie insists, taking Seira's invitation and going to settle herself between the master and apprentice.
[19:31] <Kotono> "Well...I mentioned how I tasted my seed when I was a man? I've done that as a woman, too. I was curious." She looks down, drawing with a finger in the sand, "When I'm in the mood, it feels sexy."
01[19:32] <Seira> "What's the difference, there? Does the magic change it entirely?"
[19:32] <Kotono> Elle curls up down, smiling as she listens.
[19:32] <Alicia> "By that I really hope you just mean your lubrication and not your actual period," Alicia asks, making a face.
[19:32] <Kotono> "Yes. My natural form was far sweet-ew! No!" Abagail gags, "That's such a pain, isn't it? I hate those so much! I feel so big, bloated and miserable for nearly a week."
[19:33] <Kotono> "I know." Jessica sighs, "And I'm always in the mood when I'm bleeding, but Roald won't do anything while I am."
01[19:33] <Seira> "I just use fire spells more. It seems to help quite a bit."
[19:33] <Alicia> "They get easier as you get older," Alicia reassures.
[19:34] <Kotono> "I want to curl up and cry when they hurt," Amaryl looks down, "Isn't there magic that helps with that?"
[19:35] <Kotono> "It's a natural process, so healing magic does nothing." Elle makes a gentle woosh sound, yawning as she rests down. "Alter self helps, but I feel -really- weird the time I tried that. I did miss the period, but...I was really off until my next one."
01[19:35] <Seira> "With all that's been said so far, I have to wonder if anyone ever used illusion magic to disguise themselves as another person. An actual person they mimicked, I mean," she clarifies. "And who knows? We might be the first group to find a cure!"
[19:35] <Alicia> "A warming cantrip helps a lot," Alicia volunteers. "To be honest, after I had Felix mine got a lot better."
[19:36] <Kotono> "I know someone who got them much worse after a child." Abagail grumbles, her skin tanning well away in Lathander's light. "If a child was the automatic answer, I'd find a man tomorrow."
[19:36] <Kotono> "It isn't something we worry about," Antenora says, which earns her glares from th eother women.
01[19:37] <Seira> "It can be so easy to hate you, sometimes."
[19:37] <Kotono> After giving Antenora a very rude gesture, Amaryl turns to Alicia. "Have ou had to fight with yours? I have once and it made everything so much worse. I felt so slow in battle, too."
[19:38] <Kotono> "Well, I've had most biological functions since I was redeemed, but not that one. Then again, erinyes can reproduce, which is something many devils have difficulty with. So..." Antneora just smiles back ot each of them.
[19:38] <Alicia> "Hah," Alicia snorts in laughter. "The first time I used that excuse on my old teacher, he worked me twice as hard! I wasn't allowed to use my womanhood as any excuse for weakness."
[19:38] <Kotono> "Asshole," Elle grumbles, eyes closing. "Kick him in the balls."
[19:39] <Kotono> "I'm always worried I'll stain my armor or leak, too." Amaryl grouses, "A cantrip fixes it, but it's so embarrasing if anyone sees!"
06[19:39] * Alicia shakes her head. "He was right to do it. Enemies won't care what my time of the month is when they attack. Since then I've been able to focus past the discomfort."
[19:39] <Kotono> "You're right." Latha turns to Alicia, "It's not a pain I deal with, but if you had an obvious weak time of the month, Baator and your othe renemies would pounce on it."
01[19:40] <Seira> "So!" Seira exclaims, trying to refocus the discussion away from Baator and enemies. "Marie, how about another exciting tale of your carefree life?"
[19:40] <Kotono> "It's not fair! Male arriors don't have to deal with this!" Amaryl clings closer to Seira. "Men...stupid men!"
06[19:41] * Seira brushes Amaryl's hair softly. "This time, it's really no fault of their own."
[19:41] <Kotono> "I bet Lathander or Torm or Helm or someone dumped it all off on the women at Creation. I just know someone plotted it out." Amaryl growls.
01[19:42] <Seira> "Torm. Definitely Torm. We'll punish him later, dear, alright?"
[19:42] <Kotono> "Can we kick him in the groin?" Amaryl says with wide, hopeful eyes.
[19:43] <Kotono> Jessica eyes Amaryl, "Down girl. Not all of us hate men, you know."
01[19:43] <Seira> "We can make a special exception for Torm."
[19:43] <Kotono> "Oh, I think I can contribute a story to that now," Antenora perks up a bit, "It's more of a curiosity, but I think it'll bea musing."
[19:43] <Alicia> "Oh, I've got a good one!" Marie replies happily from her position nestled between Seira and Elle. "In fact, you and Amaryl might be familiar with this yourselves. I've recently discovered that telepathy is an amazingly useful ability."
[19:44] <Alicia> "You can be sitting around in any sort of normal context, as civil as you like, but if you know someone with telepathy there's never a dull moment! They can keep your mind busy with all sorts of salacious and exciting dirty talk!"
[19:44] <Alicia> "Like right now, Antenora's exercising every creative muscle in her head to get me all hot and bothered so I'll come crawling back to her bosom. It's like we're making love without even touching!"
[19:44] <Kotono> Antenora stops, turning very red. "Um..." She sputters and glares at Marie, "You're taking it out of context!"
[19:44] <Alicia> "No, no!" Marie insists, "Keep going! I'm having a great time!"
01[19:44] <Seira> "No, I'm pretty sure no context can make it innocent," Seira says with a grin, pressing closer to Marie.
[19:44] <Kotono> "See?" Amaryl stage-whispers, "Miss only likes men is cracking!"
[19:45] <Kotono> Antenora tries a little more to speak, but it's a lost cause as her tongue betrays her. "In my defense, at least I wanted it to be male Marie so his flagpole could rise?" she tries.
06[19:46] * Seira opens her mouth to comment, but seems unable to say something to that.
06[19:47] * Seira then blinks. "So if I used alter self, you'd be all over me?" she finally asks.
[19:47] <Alicia> "I got her to start talking about things she'd do to my real form as well, though," Marie insists proudly.
06[19:47] * Alicia just looks at Latha and shakes her head in amused despair.
[19:47] <Kotono> "You know?" Jessica says, " A drunken fling wouldn't be that bad. Mercy knows that most people have had one."
[19:48] <Kotono> Antenora blushes and scoots back to Alicia. "It's just...I was trying to get a rise out of you! Really!"
06[19:48] * Seira shrugs uncertainly. "Well, the offer is there. Probably. If you still remember it while sober."
[19:48] <Alicia> "And your hard work is appreciated - we should do this more often," Marie insists. "It's a great way to pass the time and exercise your imagination."
[19:49] <Kotono> "I wish Alicia liked to be teased like that more...I bet she wouldn't chat and tell," Antenora sniffles, next to Alicia. "You wouldn't, would you?"
06[19:50] * Alicia pats Antenora sympathetically on the back. "That's my secret to keep," she smiles.
[19:50] <Kotono> Antenora hugs Alicia. "See?" Antenora sticks her tongue out at Marie. "Alicia's thoughtful!"
[19:51] <Kotono> "It's almost like childrne...almost." Latha starts to sigh, then goes ahead and does it loudly.
[19:51] <Alicia> "Alicia also doesn't want perverted mental messages being sent to her at all hours of the day," Alicia insists cooly.
01[19:51] <Seira> "So if you get a rise out of Marie, will you reward her with a kiss?" Seira asks with a smile.
[19:52] <Kotono> "But..." With a quivering lip and looking up at Alicia, "How will Donald get suspicions to think we're lovers, then, if we don't tease a bit?"
[19:52] <Kotono> Antenora turns and blushes, "Seira! You're not helping...!" Her blush intensifies, "Hmph."
[19:53] <Kotono> Elle is quiet, eyes shut as she lies in the sun.
[19:53] <Kotono> "You two are really cute like this," Amaryl says hesitantly, "I think you'd like it if you kissed!"
[19:53] <Alicia> "She's made all sorts of hints, but no promises. You know how those lawful types are, that means she won't deliver," Marie bobs up and down slightly between Seira and Elle.
[19:53] <Kotono> "W-well," Antenora glowers, "You wouldn't even turn into a man when I asked, so what makes you think you've earned anything anyway?"
01[19:54] <Seira> "And it is such a shame, too," Seira commiserates with Marie. "Who wouldn't? I'll take that bet, if you're talking to me!"
[19:55] <Alicia> "Not interested," Alicia gives Amaryl a pleasant smile. "I'm sure I could do far worse, but even so..."
[19:55] <Kotono> "I think that it wouldn't hurt you to enjoy yourself, Antenora," Latha says, "Let your clouded mind take you where it will. No one's going to accuse you of anything."
[19:55] <Kotono> "Latha!" Antenora whirls to her, blushing, "Do you really have to chip into this, too?"
[19:56] <Kotono> "You and her would be like lightning..." Amaryl sighs, "Maybe you won't know until you try it? I wasn't 100% sure until Seira and I..."
[19:56] <Alicia> "You're making it far too easy for everyone, Antenora," Alicia just shakes her head. "Now, didn't you have a story you were going to tell us?" she tries to move things along.
[19:57] <Kotono> "Very well." Antenora stays close to Alicia, but sits up. She hesitates a moment, "Are all of you familiar with Belial, Lord of the Fourth?"
01[19:58] <Seira> "Amaryl was actually talking about you and Antenora," Seira whispers quietly to Marie. "She's really supporting you two, in whatever gender you might be!"
[19:58] <Kotono> "Sure," Latha calls, "In this light, I'm glad we've never faced servants of the Fourth Hell."
[19:58] <Alicia> "The one who's far too friendly with his daughter?" Alicia asks, making a disgusted face.
[19:59] <Alicia> "One day, maybe," Marie replies cheerily to Seira.
[19:59] <Kotono> "That's the the common belief. Incest...ugh." Antenora grimaces, "He's sired children from women, men - don't ask - animals, undead, aberrations, outsiders, inanimate objects...everything. ANYWAY. Let me go on."
[20:01] <Kotono> "A baatorian legend says that Belial 'blessed' womankind. In the mists of time, he decreed that mortal women shall feel his touch of pain and suffering once amonth. It is a sign of the degenerate nature of women, bidding them to give into the urges of pleasure and pain." Antenora goes on, "Female clerics of Belial are said to undergo a ritual where they are always on their period, always in pain from it."
01[20:01] <Seira> "He's a veritable dragon!" Seira exclaims, before waving her hands before her. "Not that this applies to all dragons or anything!"
[20:02] <Alicia> "I can't imagine that church getting many converts," Alicia grimaces.
[20:03] <Kotono> "You'd be surprised. The fourth hell is not short on souls." Antenora then closes her eyes, "I've seen a woman who aided her brothers in descecrating a kingdom. What's a woman who wants period pains compared to that?"
[20:03] <Kotono> "Dreadful!" Amaryl gasps, "That's...can we go back to talking about Antenora? That story's a nightmare!"
01[20:04] <Seira> "Tell us something new about yourself?" Seira requests Amaryl, trying to dismiss the story from her mind without much success.
[20:04] <Kotono> "In the context of this?" Amaryl starts to blush and giggle, finishing her bottle of wine off. "How about...we each say something we like that's dirty? Something fun like that?"
01[20:05] <Seira> "It might be fun," Seira agrees.
[20:06] <Kotono> "I like...when Seira takes her time and really plays with me to get me warm before we get too heavy." Amaryl answers, "Rushing ahead can be fun, but..."
[20:08] <Kotono> "I like it when Roald makes me kneel down in front of him. I'm not too fond of the act and I can't stand the pace, but there's something so manly about it when he does that." Jessica plays with the sand, before sitting up and stretching, scratching her stomach. "It makes me feel like a woman."
[20:08] <Kotono> *taste, not pace.
[20:10] <Kotono> "Being treated like a woman is important. Sometimes, I just want to be whisked off my feet," Amaryl agrees. "Just...it's lovely when Seira does that. Sometimes I just want to submit to a strong...well, a woman, but I get the point, Jess."
[20:11] <Kotono> "Jess?" With a fully raised grin, "Ama...Marly?" Starting to giggle at that, "Back at you."
[20:11] <Alicia> "Antenora used to make really horrible jokes about eating eladrin," Marie begins, taking off and flying over and around the former erinyes.
[20:12] <Alicia> "They were disgusting, but I've heard of people eating off one another as well as doing what Jessica talks about - actually, we saw some succubi in Androlynne being used as tables with people eating off them. Anyway, I wonder what it'd be like to be basted with sauce and licked clean," she giggles while floating around.
[20:12] <Kotono> "Those jokes seem like a prophecy!" Amaryl cheers, "Right Antenora?"
[20:13] <Kotono> "Oooh, being licked all over...oh my. I have to try that. Some sweetened syrup like for candy and..." Jessica starts to blush very much, "A week to go, a week to go..."
01[20:13] <Seira> "I've always wondered about meeting a double of myself," Seira admits, for her part. "You know, like that. It's a shame that every time it seemed like it could happen before, I was in mortal peril."
[20:13] <Kotono> "Isn't that just masturbation?" Antenora bites her lip, "Or maybe not, but...well Marie didn't like me wanting to eat her. Funny that."
[20:14] <Alicia> "Didn't we meet doubles of you and Demedais in those gnome ruins once?" Alicia asks. "Actually, there were some mirrors in Celestia that conjured doubles as well when Antenora, Latha, and I went there recently. But none of us actually tried them."
[20:14] <Kotono> "I just want a man to take me," Abagail admits, as Elle gently snores. "Bend me over my books, press my breasts and aching nipples into the pages and fill me up. Then other times I want it to be long and romantic..."
01[20:15] <Seira> "I don't know! But wouldn't it be fun to find out?" Seira giggles, nodding at Alicia in acknowledgement. "Yes, that was one of the times I thought of. Maybe you could give me directions to those mirrors?"
06[20:15] * Alicia glances over at Elle and snorts. "Such a lightweight..."
[20:15] <Alicia> "It's high up the mountain, so it might be hard to reach, but we could try getting there someday if you want," she then nods to Seira.
[20:15] <Kotono> "I like..." Antenora considers, "Domination is important to a devil. I'd like to be dominated," Antenora admits, "I've given up the lust for powwer, but the thought of completely giving myself to a lover is repellant and oh so arousing at once."
[20:16] <Kotono> "You could," Latha says, "Climbing Celestia is a journey of enlightenment. You may find the answer before you even reach there, or find it's a question without an answer you need to hear."
[20:17] <Kotono> "Alicia?" Amaryl turns to her, "Before we get sidetracked, don't you have one?"
[20:17] <Alicia> "Awww," Marie settles down behind Antenora and turns into a male elf, kneeling and embracing her from behind. "I'm too delicate to properly dominate anyone... at least physically."
01[20:18] <Seira> "Get a whip?" Seira suggests with a grin.
[20:18] <Kotono> Antenora turns red at this embrace, leaning into Marie. "That's sweet of you." She squirms against Marie, "A whi-dammit, Seira, you stole my thought!" With a glare, "Are you one of the mind devils now?"
[20:19] <Kotono> Jessica makes a cracking sound, "Alicia, don't you still have that one yo ufound?"
01[20:19] <Seira> "No, but if it's domination you want, I can be good at that!"
[20:19] <Alicia> "Gave it to Taldeer," Alicia replies to her sister, before considering Amaryl's question.
[20:19] <Kotono> "Pity," Jessica says, "That whip looked like it was...interesting...in the right situation."
[20:20] <Alicia> "I like rough sex," Alicia replies unashamedly. "This actually ties into what I said earlier about transmutation magic. Aside from my husband, my only other partner was a very strong astral deva - he nearly broke my hand the first time we shook hands, and crushed the life out of poor Latha with a hug!"
[20:20] <Alicia> "Anyway, I have some magic that makes me tremendously strong as well, so I used that and..." she grins and shakes her head, "It was unbelievably intense. We were literally pulverising the rock around us. The only problem was the short duration of the spell, so we couldn't keep it up too long."
01[20:22] <Seira> "That's... strong," Seira admits, before continuing, "Speaking of transmutation, Evard must have been one lusty mage. I never really realized, but all those tentacled-this, tentacle-that spells must have been designed with one thing in mind."
[20:24] <Kotono> "That...hm. I always thought you'd want to be seduced and tenderly taken," Latha looks to Alicia.
[20:24] <Alicia> "Maybe he just really liked squid?" Marie considers, resting 'his' head on Antenora's shoulder.
[20:24] <Kotono> "Seduction's good, but it doesn't mean you lie back like a rug," Amaryl smiles. "Sex is a two person deal!"
[20:24] <Kotono> Antenora presses into Marie, "Do you like the pain part?"
[20:25] <Alicia> "There's room for that sort of thing," Alicia tells Latha, "And it can be very satisfying - my husband and I were normally quite tender, but I was also far stronger than him. But with Strength of Light it was just so primal and unrestrained - it hurt, but it was a good pain. The kind that reminds you you're alive."
[20:25] <Kotono> "Or a one person," Abagail sighs, drinking more wine.
01[20:26] <Seira> "What about Bigby, then?" Seira exclaims. "I bet there's a Bigby's Groping Hand spell in some esoteric spellbook!"
[20:26] <Kotono> "Make one!" Amaryl urges, "One I can learn for you, too!"
01[20:27] <Seira> "It would need to be Seira's Searching..." she trails off. "I've got nothing. I guess it was not meant to be?"
[20:27] <Kotono> "That's intense to think about..." Antenora murmurs, "I'm very strong, but I'm always careful to use just enough strenght, especially around you. I was completely off."
[20:28] <Alicia> "I'm strong for a human, but that's it - you two and Seira are both stronger than me normally," Alicia glances between Latha and Antenora first. "I had to use my most powerful magic to give Strength of Light a proper seeing to. But it was very satisfying."
[20:28] <Kotono> "Are you and him anything more than a one night fling?" Latha enquires, "Or just a casual relationship?"
01[20:29] <Seira> "Sounds like friends with benefits," Seira voices.
[20:29] <Kotono> "That was my inference as well. Strength of Light was not subtle about wishing to sow his oats." Latha shakes her head, "But he was so strong and charming that it was, well...charming."
[20:30] <Kotono> Antenora sniffles, wiping at her eyes.
[20:31] <Alicia> "I'd known him for longer than I knew my husband when we first got together," Alicia replies unapologetically. "But he's not the type to settle down, and it was something I was long overdue for. A fling is about right, for both of us." She pauses and glances worriedly at Antenora. "Are you alright?"
[20:31] <Alicia> Marie winces, reverting to her courre form and flying up onto Antenora's shoulder. "Sorry, I didn't mean that," she apologises quietly.
[20:32] <Kotono> Antenora sniffles again, starting to cry. "I-I'm f-fine." she says, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "It just hit me how pathetic I was. All of that...it was just hating even the people I took into my most intitimate..."
[20:32] <Kotono> "What?" Amaryl leans forward, "Antenora, what happened?"
06[20:32] * Seira gently extricates herself, moving closer to Antenora to lay a hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner.
06[20:33] * Alicia scoots over, having an idea of what Antenora's referring to and putting a comforting arm around her. "It's alright. That's all in the past now," she murmurs gently.
[20:34] <Kotono> "It hit me...it hit me at once. All of this...everything I've done..." Antenora starts to cry again, voice breaking up. "I'm nothing but a filthy rapist and murderer! I took it in anger and then continued the cycle of mistery in Baator! Even this, something so warm and good for everyone...I descrated it!"
01[20:35] <Seira> "I don't feel desecreated, so you must've done a bad job of it?" Seira voices, hugging Antenora. "That's not you. It hasn't been you in a long, long time."
[20:36] <Alicia> "Shhh," Alicia gently rocks her friend back and forth as the group embraces around her. "You were, but you're a different person now. That Della is gone, now."
[20:37] <Kotono> "It is me! The only devil I may have called a friend...raped me...so I forged evidence of disloyalty and got permission to rape, castrate and kill him." Antenora stares at Seira, "Or when I felt the urge, taking a subordinate and forcing myself on them! Or when a superior saw me and used me as long as he pleased!" Antenora sobs. "And I did it to get more position and favor, making others hate me for nothing of worth at all!"
01[20:38] <Seira> "Would you rape me, given the chance? To advance, for gain of some sort?" Seira asks Antenora.
[20:40] <Kotono> Sobs come first, Antenora unable to answer for a time. Between them, "I...Gods, I know not but...but...I feel each touch on me. I feel the hate. I remember their eyes when lorded over them in triumph and bliss! I was intoxicated on it! The power! The domination! What I wanted to bring to all of you! Domination of spirit, mind and body! If Alicia had fallen to me I...I..."
[20:41] <Kotono> Amaryl tries to answer, her eyes wide and no words coming.
[20:41] <Kotono> Elle sleeps on the beach, unawares.
[20:42] <Alicia> "It didn't happen, though. There's no sense fretting about what ifs," Alicia says sternly. "As for what you really did do in the past... regret it, and learn from it. You know better, now."
[20:42] <Kotono> Antenora clings to Alicia and the others, sobbing wordlessly. Latha whispers to her, "Let it out. That's not who or what you are now. Let the wound's rot excise itself in your sorrow."
01[20:43] <Seira> "You can't forgive yourself for what happened," Seira tells her. "But that, more than anything, shows that you have changed. The person who did those things wouldn't give them a second thought. Looking back, there would only be elation, not regret. Even if you can't accept this now, remember it, because one day you'll know this as truth."
06[20:43] * Alicia silently squeezes Antenora and lets her work through this, while Marie glomps onto her shoulder.
[20:43] <Kotono> "How could an entire society work lik ethat?" Abagail asks, features slack. "I can't grasp it."
[20:45] <Alicia> "It's all they know," Marie tells Abagail quietly. "You have to remember that most of the planes are extremes - all the nasty domineering people on Earth, they get moderated by everyone else. But when they end up together in Hell, there's nothing to balance them. The heavens are so nice for the exact same reason."
[20:45] <Kotono> Antenora listens and sobs away. After some time she wipes her eyes, sniffling and wet. Her face is ruined, eyes puffy and nose running down her lips and chin. "S-sorry.." wiping herself clean with her hands, "Everyone...thank you for your words. I...Marie...it wasn't your fault. A gelugon...held me just as you held me there. I felt him grow large as he took me, so large that I tore and bled in agony."
[20:46] <Alicia> The colour drains from Marie at that little nugget from Antenora, and she starts to cry herself before hugging her friend all the more tightly. "I'm so sorry!"
[20:47] <Kotono> Abagail looks pale and waxen, unable to speak, staring.
06[20:47] * Seira brushes Antenora's tears away, pressing against her. "That will never happen again. I promise. I'll never let it happen again," she swears, much like the oath she had made to Celebrimbor just days previously.
[20:48] <Kotono> "T-thank you..Seira, Marie." Antenora sniffles again, "Celestia showed me my children...but what sort of mother..." Taking a breath in, "I care about all of you so much. I know love...but I don't know it as a lover yet. I tease Marie so much, but sometimes...I just don't know."
01[20:49] <Seira> "Weren't you listening earlier, with Abagail?" Seira tells her gently. "It's alright to take it slow. Getting to know people, living life, without rushing to sleep with someone. The rest will come naturally."
06[20:49] * Alicia didn't even know gelugons came with that equipment. "I'm sorry, Antenora..." she murmurs. "Seira's right, we won't let what happened in your past reoccur, ever. You've earned your right to love and happiness on your own terms."
[20:51] <Kotono> "Love is love. Find someone who you're drawn to and love, and let nature take it's course." Latha goes to hug Antenora from her one open side, "if Marie makes you feel that way, go with her. If another does, do it. Even if Alicia does...love isn't something to be afraid of. Follow it."
[20:52] <Kotono> Cleaning her face off again, "I was teasing Marie about he-his body even a moment before that. Funny, isn't it?"
[20:53] <Alicia> "It's not something you've ever talked about. Sometimes it can be a little thing that lets an unhealed wound re-open," Alicia murmurs, rubbing Antenora's back.
[20:54] <Kotono> "I...I think I alluded to it with you once?" Antenora hiccups. "But I forced it right back down."
01[20:55] <Seira> "Don't feel forced to keep up appearances," Seira says suddenly. "Ever. And that goes past you, too. Your friends are always here to help you, but they need to know something's wrong, first, and that's why you always need to make the first step."
[20:56] <Alicia> "Never in any detail," Alicia agrees, nodding. "I think... I think we've had enough stories for today. Lets just relax and enjoy being surrounded by those we care about?"
[20:56] <Kotono> Antenora clings to everyone, "I just want to be held. Alicia and Marie and Latha and Seira and..." Gulping down hard, "I don't want to be alone. I want to feel people next to me. Can you tell me what romantic love is like?"
[20:58] <Alicia> "I think we've had enough dirty sex talk," Alicia agrees. "Seira, Amaryl, why don't you two get all mushy and tell us all how much you love each other?"
[20:59] <Kotono> Amaryl goes to touch Antenora's cheeks, drying them. "It's like...I'ma lways by her. My heart is her heart, my thoughts are hers. Magic or no. She's why I wake up in the morning."
01[20:59] <Seira> "It's a lot like that," Seira says softly to Antenora, following Alicia's request. "Wanting to be held, not wanting to be kept apart. Something that comes naturally without forcing it, and you're so comfortable around each other, but always feel happy to see their face again in the morning. Not imagining your life without them, and being so happy just by having them in your life."
[21:00] <Kotono> "Funny," Antenora whispers through a hoarse throat, "That's how I think of Alicia, Marie, Jessica, Latha, you, almost everyone I'm close to. When I wake up, I wonder what Alicia will want to do today. About how fun it will be to argue with Marie over this and that. What Jessica'll make for dinner."
[21:01] <Kotono> "You know..." Jessica crosses her arms, "Maybe that explains something. You don' have a sense of boundaries like we do. You're loving so much because it's new to your nature?"
[21:02] <Alicia> "You hardly ever eat dinner, anyway," Marie accuses lightly.
01[21:03] <Seira> "It's very possible to feel it towards more than one person, although that's not necessarily your case," Seira speaks. "Maybe you could try spending some time alone with just a single person, and seeing later if it feels any different when you're with them? If your thoughts drift to another?"
[21:03] <Kotono> "You do seem...close to many people, especially Alicia and Marie." Latha does consider this with a smile, "Maybe we're mistaking those cues because you don't quite grasp better?"
[21:03] <Kotono> "Donald would mistake a tree for a blade of grass, let alone a woman's heart," Amaryl mutters under her breath.
[21:05] <Alicia> "You've said before that you're young in the sense that really matters," Alicia tells Antenora, brushing the sand out of her hair with her fingers. "But there's time enough to figure things out at your own pace - any of us will help in any way you need."
[21:05] <Kotono> "I love Alicia so much...and Marie too." Rubbing her eyes, "I miss them in particular when they aren't around. They're...they're my light. I rely on them so much." Antenora rests on Alicia, "Thank you."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Antenora." Latha starts to smile, "I have an idea here."
01[21:06] <Seira> "Sometimes, you can't see certain things when you're too close to them," Seira voices. "It's like that saying, not seeing the forest for all the trees. I'll admit, it's part of the reason I asked you out, on top of wanting to get to know you better. I think it'll help."
[21:07] <Kotono> "Blind ot what's in front of you is the human saying," Antenora smiles weakly at Seira.
[21:08] <Alicia> "Most sayings become that way for a reason," Alicia opines before humouring Latha. "What's your idea, Latha?"
01[21:08] <Seira> "The elven blood must be stronger," Seira responds with a shrug. "I'll keep that in mind."
[21:11] <Kotono> "Antenora. I'd like to date you," Latha says, running his hand across Antenora's cheek. "I believe Marie would as well. Let's help you find the love you want."
[21:13] <Kotono> "That sounds so sweet," Amaryl smiles, "Seira, we could take Antenora out on a date too. Well, half a date and half just having fun, but..."
[21:14] <Alicia> "I've got no problem sharing with people I love, but teasing aside I don't want to do anything you're not comfy with," Marie tells Antenora, sitting down on her shoulder between her and Seira.
[21:15] <Kotono> Antenora takes a few breaths, "I...let's do that." Antenora agrees, "In seriousness, can you change back to a man right now, Marie? I just...I want to be close to men to see how that feels, too."
01[21:15] <Seira> "Amaryl and Marie spoke what's on my mind," Seira agrees. "The offer is there, Antenora, and not just as empty teasing and flirting, now."
[21:16] <Alicia> "Okay!" Marie takes off and goes next to Latha, manifesting her male form and smiling winsomely as she kneels down as primly as she can with that extra bit between her legs.
[21:16] <Kotono> "I accept your offer, too." Antenora smiles warmly at Seira.
[21:17] <Kotono> Latha smiles at Alicia, "You could add a few mor emen to the mix," she says, a teasing glint to her eye.
[21:18] <Alicia> "I could, but I think a threesome is enough to start with," Alicia replies, disentangling from Antenora and going to sit next to her sister so she's not in the way.
[21:19] <Kotono> "I rather do want to see you as a man, though." Antenora says with the weakest hint of a tease in her voice.
[21:20] <Alicia> "Maybe one day we'll have to infiltrate a male only monastery," Alicia offers with a shrug, smiling slightly in return.
01[21:20] <Seira> "I could try a limited wish to affect us all for a few minutes," Seira suggests, sober enough to consider herself capable of taking charge of such magic, if inebriated enough to suggest it.
[21:21] <Kotono> "All of us as men? That would be...bizzzare. Interesting, but bizzare. But goodness...at least it would be nice to look at," Jessica colors.
[21:23] <Alicia> "I like my body just the way it is, thank you very much," Alicia smooths out an invisible dress. "As Antenora said earlier, it's worth flaunting, so I certainly won't shroud it in a male visage."
[21:24] <Kotono> "Well..." Jessica blushes, "Turn me into one then? I'll bite and...well...haven't you ever wanted to be able to relieve yourself standing up?"
[21:24] <Alicia> "And yet you'll happily turn me into a zombie pixie," Marie sniffs accusingly, turning away from Alicia.
[21:24] <Kotono> "Crude," Abagail observes, her skin well tanned all over now.
[21:25] <Kotono> "It isn't really fair," Latha's eyes sparkle at Alicia. "You seem so creative with alter self until it comes down to you."
[21:25] <Kotono> Antenora very slightly laughs at that.
[21:26] <Alicia> "Her favourite form with it is a frumpy old woman. I think it's a case of expressing her true nature," Marie interjects.
01[21:26] <Seira> "Yes, it does seem a bit unfair," Seira concurs, deciding to join in on the fun.
06[21:26] * Alicia colours slightly. "There's something to be said for the dignity that comes with age."
[21:27] <Kotono> "Come on, sister! Let's be brothers!" Jessica says, as red as a beet but still going. "Loosen up a bit."
01[21:27] <Seira> "However could you refuse this invitation?"
[21:29] <Alicia> "You're all far too carefree," Alicia grumbles, picking up an empty bottle to use as an impromptu club, channelling an alter self spell into it and bonking Jessica to turn her into a male aasimar of a similar body type, working out as basically what Alicia presumes she'd look like as a man.
[21:29] <Alicia> She's entirely average down there, Alicia not wanting to be accused of short-shafting her (so to speak) or harbouring illicit thoughts of enjoying something bigger.
[21:30] <Kotono> Jessica looks over his body, his voice strong and deep. "I feel so much...different." He walks about a bit. "It's like my body is subtly different...and that part," A gesture at the most notable change, "Is really different."
[21:31] <Kotono> "You're cute like that," Latha says, then with a mischevious smile, "Say...Alicia. Why don't you have Antenora join us?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "Latha!" Antenora gasps.
[21:33] <Alicia> "We might as well invite Donald and Saul over if this keeps up," Alicia sighs. "There'll be no women left on this island."
01[21:33] <Seira> "There'll be plenty of time for illicit magics later," Seira voices, standing up. After a few steps to get clear, she shakes the sand off herself. "This is where I make a quiet exit. See you all later?"
[21:33] <Kotono> Amaryl smiles and bows, "Thank all of you. We'll see you later tonight?"
[21:33] <Alicia> "Do you need your maids?" Marie calls after Seira.
[21:33] <Kotono> "Heh, leaving as your fun dries up," Jessica waves to them, "We'll see you later."
01[21:34] <Seira> "Who said about the fun drying out?" Seira asks her with a grin, picking up her gown.
01[21:34] <Seira> *said anything
[21:34] <Kotono> "It's in good fun," Latha banters back, "You'll appreciate men more after having been one."
[21:34] <Kotono> "Well..." Antenora blushes, "That aside, there's something I want to do first before we even talk about that."
06[21:35] * Seira pauses, then. "Well, if my maids want to follow us, we won't forbid them, but I can safely give them a few hours off, until it's time to eat."
[21:35] <Alicia> "See you later, you two," Alicia calls after the elf and half-dragon, dismissing the spell on Jessica because that's quite enough.
[21:35] <Kotono> Jessica blinks, "Aaaw. I wanted to see if I could drink more as aman!"
[21:36] <Kotono> "We'll stay for now. We still owe you that bet later, Seira," Antenora calls.
[21:36] <Alicia> "There's barely a drop left," Alicia points to all the empty bottles.
[21:37] <Kotono> As Seira and Amaryl wander off, "Marie?" Antenora looks to her.
[21:37] <Alicia> "Yes, Antenora?" Marie asks right back.
[21:38] <Kotono> "Dammit." Jessica groans, "I'm drunk but the sort of drunk where you want more? What aobut you, sis?"
[21:38] <Kotono> "Thank you." Antenora looks into her eyes, "I teased you so terribly. I...I'd like to offer you a kiss." Blushing down to her neck, "For being such a good sport. If you want it."
[21:41] <Alicia> "Oh, offer it now when you're all puffy and snotty!" Marie laughs, but before any offense can be taken she throws her arms around Antenora and gives her a big wet smooch.
[21:41] <Alicia> "I'm actually feeling a little bloated and sleepy," Alicia admits, wandering off a bit to give the trio some space, standing over Elle. "Not as bad as our resident archmage, though."
[21:41] <Kotono> Jessica trots over, wobbling on her feet. She rests against Alicia, "How about the three of us here take a nap? We'll wake up golden brown and tanned, too."
[21:42] <Kotono> Antenora gently returns it, letting Marie have her way mostly. She looks into Marie's eyes, "Thanks for being you," she goes to touch Marie's lips. "I think I can feel that you liked it, too. Or is that just your hip?"
[21:42] <Kotono> Latha chuckles, "You didn't even complain about chaos. You must really have it for her."
[21:43] <Alicia> "Nice enough place for it," Alicia agrees, settling down on her belly opposite Elle and resting her head on her forearms.
[21:43] <Alicia> "I'm not used to this body," Marie looks down and blushes.
[21:44] <Kotono> Jessica lays down next to her, yawning, "Mmm...sleepy...not a bad morning. But really...that rough? I thought my story of Roald's seed on my face was bad."
[21:44] <Alicia> "I gave as good as I got," Alicia asserts with no small amount of pride.
[21:44] <Kotono> "I don't mind," Antenora smiles like silk, "If I didn't like a hard ones, after all..."
[21:45] <Kotono> Jessica looks back and giggles, "At least she rebounds well. But really? That sounds so, so..."
[21:46] <Alicia> "It was passionate," Alicia concludes. "I wouldn't let a man hit me or knock me around or anything."
[21:46] <Kotono> "Good." Jessica's yawn widens, "Mmm....do you swallow? Any ideas how to get past the taste..." Jessica's voice is drifting, "Wanna make Roald happy."
[21:46] <Alicia> "Well, how about we all go for a swim and wash away those tears?" Marie suggests brightly to Antenora and Latha. "Unless either of you has any other ideas?"
[21:47] <Alicia> "Make him eat lots of fruit," Alicia replies amid a yawn of her own. "I don't really know, sis. I'm not that experienced myself."
[21:47] <Kotono> "Night..." Jessica yawns, "See you...hope Elle doesn't snore..."
[21:48] <Alicia> "She hasn't yet," Alicia mutters tiredly.
[21:48] <Kotono> "Hoping I do something about what I did?" Antenora pats Marie's cheek.
[21:49] <Alicia> "I'll wait until you're sober before getting my hopes that high," Marie replies gallantly.
[21:50] <Kotono> Antenora shifts her hips juuuust a little. "If you're sure..." she says, starting to get up.
[21:55] <Alicia> "Seductive minx," Marie grumbles, getting up as well. "Latha's seeming a lot better today, but I bet you can help her even more to get over her depression, couldn't you?" she glances at the deva part of their menage a trois.
[21:56] <Kotono> "Giving me something to think about has helped," Latha rises as well. "Antenora, if you want anything, tell us."
[21:57] <Kotono> Antenora brushes sand off her body slowly, taking her time about it. "Everything has an upside. To be honest...seeing you like that is gratifying. You can't hide that behind words and lies, no matter who you are."
[21:58] <Alicia> "Just give me some time to get more used to controlling it," Marie embarrassedly looks down at herself. "Or we can go into the water where it's less noticable..."
[21:59] <Kotono> "That's so cute," Antenora pats Marie's cheeks, starting to head to the water. "So...it makes my breath come faster. Don't you like looking a man engorged?"
[22:00] <Kotono> "Of course." Latha shrugs as she steps into the waters, "That's not good or evil, just normal."
[22:01] <Alicia> Marie glances appreciatively at Latha while following. "I never said I didn't..."
[22:01] <Kotono> "And you looked at me all morning like this," Antenora swirls hip deep in water, "So what's wrong if I see your manhood like this for a little while? It's not like you haven't found this body of mine arousing the entire time?"
[22:03] <Alicia> "It would be nice if you found my real body nice to look at as well, though," Marie blushes as she wades into the surf. "Still, I suppose you have earned it... look until you're satisfied!" 'he' poses a little for effect.
[22:04] <Kotono> "Like a statue," Antenora admires, "You know...I'm almost tempted to..." she admits, "I know that's the wine talking at least partially, but..."
[22:06] <Kotono> "It's just your body." Latha swims further out, "Erinyes breed, so it's going to be much like a mortal's response."
[22:07] <Alicia> "We have been getting pretty frisky with all the teasing," Marie agrees, glancing at Latha. "I know I'm pretty worked up, as you can both see. But there's no rush," starting to follow Latha to deeper water. "Lets just see where things take us?"
[20:27] <Kotono> ----
[20:29] <Kotono> A night passes. As Seira and a few others go off, it leaves others alone. Right now Jessica and Alicia lie on the beach, Hugo within eyeshot as he works on a sandcastle. The others are playing and a bit away. Jessica looks up at the sun, face and flesh a burnished tanned color. "Mmm...you know." Jessica breaks the silence, "The headache went away faster this time."
[20:30] <Alicia> "I think being out in the sun helps," Alicia remarks, dressed once more and working on the cookfire. "That and the fresh air."
[20:31] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmm, but that's not all." Jessica's eyes are closed as she stares up. "So many things are different. When I told my first lie after my transformation, it was a little one. A social lie that I told without a second thought. I felt how wrong it was as I spoke it. I knew it was wrong, sister. I knew it in my gut."
[20:33] <Alicia> "Well, angels are resistant to poisons, which alcohol is when you get down to it," Alicia turns towards Jessica. "I've never had anything like that happen to me, though. I think your change was more thorough than mine?"
[20:34] <Kotono> "It may have been. Alicia..." With a little smile as she sits up, "I know this sounds like a pretentious bit from a bad storybook, but I...I know I'm not human, not now. I have new instincts."
[20:35] <Kotono> Hugo's laughter is heard from far away, as Dawnhope yelps. She's pinned in a sandcastle, behind little bars of sand. "Jail door!" Hugo laughs.
[20:36] <Alicia> "I saw your body consumed... it was like the stories of the phoenix," Alicia nods to Jessica, before glancing over at Dawnhope and Hugo, smiling at their antics. "Has Dawnhope been bad, Hugo?" she calls over.
[20:37] <Kotono> "No!" Hugo calls back, "She's in the Red Prison!"
[20:37] <Kotono> "I felt it. I...sort of died?" Jessica flexes a wing forward, playing with her feathers. "My old body's dust. This one, it knows things."
[20:38] <Alicia> "What's the Red Prison, Hugo?" Alicia asks, curious if it relates to his confinement in that horrible gnome laboratory.
[20:42] <Kotono> "The Red Prison, the Red Prison!" Hugo sing-songs as Dawnhope reaches out of the sandbars, trying to escape!
[20:42] <Kotono> "Hm?" Jessica looks over to them, "It sounds like something he probably overhead?"
[20:42] <Kotono> *overhead
[20:42] <Kotono> *overheard
[20:45] <Alicia> "Maybe. He was in there a long time," Alicia agrees, letting the matter drop. "Anyway, you still have the same functions I do, rather than being like Marie or Latha," she tells her sister, "So I don't know... What other things do you know?"
[20:47] <Kotono> "Magic is so beautiful now. Alicia, cast something. A cantrip's fine, just be slow about it." Jessica gives hugo another look, then back to Alicia. "Magic is so much more profound now."
06[20:49] * Alicia nods agreeably, lifting her arm and wriggling her fingers as she incants, "Hand of the mind, take what I desire," using the mage hand cantrip to lift a small burning branch out of the fire, floating it in the air.
[20:51] <Kotono> Jessica's breath catches. "It's marvelous. I can feel something moving around you when you do that." Jessica comes closer to the stick. "I know other things. Urges. I want to do Mystra's will, and when I do it, I feel happiness...no, exultation. I saw Shankar instructing a novice on magic, and I felt a fierce pride...Mystra's will was being done."
06[20:56] * Alicia rotates the branch around a little before replacing it back in the fire and ending the spell. "It sounds like you're more in tune than I am," she admits. "I remember when Mystra gave me this form, for one moment I got to experience the fullest extent of the Weave, but it's all gone now," she taps her temple, "Just a memory."
[20:57] <Kotono> "Mystra gave me more than you. I don't know if it means I need more, or if she has more planned for you." Jessica rolls over onto her side, "Once we leave, you're going straight to Dweomerheart?"
[20:59] <Alicia> "I think I will," Alicia nods. "I'll grant Marie teleport magic, so she can take you to Kelara or anywhere else you need to go."
[21:01] <Kotono> "I'm going to go back to Dweomerheart too - I need to talk to Roald so we can finish our preparations, then back to Balmuria. I can manage both myself." Jessica sits and scratches at her arm, "Say, Sister...I just want you to know, anyone you bring is welcome to come to the wedding. No matter who it is, alright?"
[21:03] <Alicia> "What's that supposed to mean?" Alicia looks askance at her sister, lips quirking upwards. "Are you implying I know some sketchy characters who might perhaps be inappropriate to bring?"
[21:04] <Kotono> "Maybe. I meant...your family." Jessica looks into Alicia's eyes, "If it's what Mystra desires to be."
[21:05] <Alicia> "Oh." Alicia's smile fades away, turning to poke at the fire with a stick. "We'll see."
[21:06] <Kotono> Jessica comes over, sitting next to Alicia. "Sister...I don't know why Celestia did what it did, but I know Mystra would only act in your best interests. You've done so much to serve her."
[21:09] <Alicia> "I hadn't. Back when it happened," Alicia replies distantly. "There was nothing special about me back then. I'd even discarded my vows and left the service of the church. Hans wasn't particularly religious, and Felix certainly couldn't have been. We weren't important at all. Any of us."
[21:10] <Kotono> "I was just a baker's wife to be." Jessica takes another stick in the fire, stirring the embers. "There wasn't anything special about me. I just made meals and kept the house clean for my sister and her family. I wasn't important at all and I only paid lip service to Mystra."
[21:15] <Alicia> "But underneath all that, you had the skills of one of the world's most feared assassins," Alicia gives her sister a weak smirk. "Then again, it was a different time. I was good enough to cut a bloody swathe through Kelara in my vengeance at that time, even if my skills would seem utterly inconsequential by today's standards."
[21:16] <Kotono> "What I mean is...Mystra may know better than all of us put together. Maybe she saw what you'd rise to?" Jessica returns that look with a warmer smile.
[21:20] <Alicia> "And if my family had lived I'd have merely remained a housewife of no importance, ultimately killed by that pathetic revolutionary I helped have executed earlier in the year?" Alicia wonders. "What ifs are never satisfying to consider."
[21:21] <Kotono> "Then let's look at the now. Mystra intervened. We know Mystra wouldn't do this without a good reason. So..." Jessica smiles, "I believe that this will work out."
[21:24] <Alicia> "I suppose we'll see," Alicia sighs. "I don't really want to think about it, to be honest."
[21:24] <Kotono> "Subject change?" Jessica asks with a chuckle.
[21:25] <Alicia> "Lets go play with Hugo and Dawnhope," Alicia nods, getting up and wandering over to the duo. "How's life in the Red Prison treating you?" she asks the eladrin while sitting down next to the castle.
[21:26] <Kotono> Dawnhope's out and free, flying abuot the sandcastle. Hugo's lying down and smiling. "Fun!" They both call.
[21:27] <Kotono> Jessica sits down, playing with the sand. Meanwhile Elle lies in the shade, Donald bringing her some water. Dawnhope lands atop Alicia's head, "You two look like sailors now, all tanned up."
[21:29] <Alicia> "Not really the look we were going for," Alicia admits with a shrug. "But it's nice - I normally cover up to avoid tanning, but that just ends up with the back of my neck and my hands being coloured and standing out against the rest of me."
[21:30] <Kotono> "It's cute," Dawnhope settles in to Alicia's head, "Amaryl said all o fyou drank the rest of the wine by yourselves though. I wanted some more!"
[21:31] <Alicia> "We could go shopping later. Wouldn't take long with teleportation," Alicia offers.
[21:32] <Kotono> "If you want. Getting drunk again could be fun." Jessica giggles, "Maybe with a different crowd. I still can't believe that...maybe a lot less wine next time, too."
[21:32] <Alicia> "I didn't expect things to go the way they did," Alicia agrees.
[21:33] <Kotono> Jessica blushes, "Nevermind it. Anyway, I'm giong to get something to eat. What about you, sis?"
[21:34] <Alicia> "Sure, I'll have whatever's on the go," Alicia agrees.
[21:35] <Kotono> "C'mon." Jessica rises, "We'll find something."
[21:35] <Alicia> "You two want anything?" Alicia asks Hugo and Dawnhope as she gets up.
[21:37] <Kotono> "Already ate," Dawnhope goes back to Hugo, as Hugo smiles. "I'm okay, Alicia."
[21:38] <Alicia> "Okay. Have fun," Alicia musses Hugo's hair in passing as she follows Jessica.
[21:39] <Kotono> As you go and get food, you find fruits and water available. Amaryl and Saul are there, eating. "Oh, Alicia!" Amaryl smiles to her and offers some fruit up, "Donald was looking for you. He says that Elle wants to chat. She's over in the shade."
[21:40] <Alicia> "Oh, right," Alicia nods as she grabs an orange, distractedly peeling the skin off. "I'll go see her, then." And with that she goes to visit the redhead.
[21:41] <Kotono> Thus Alicia goes! AS she approaches, Elle sits up and groggily gestures, Donald laughing and walking off. "Alicia," Elle calls blearily, voice low. Her eyes are bloodshot.
[21:42] <Alicia> "You look like hell," Alicia winces at Elle's state, moving to sit down next to her, offering an orange segment.
[21:42] <Kotono> Elle turns it away, instead drinking water. "That wine was great...but this is the worst hangover of my life!" With a groan as she lies back, "What exactly was that devil's brew?"
[21:44] <Alicia> "Devil's brew?" Alicia raises an eyebrow. "All we had earlier was firehair red, fruit medley, and moon white. Have you been drinking anything else?"
[21:47] <Kotono> "Straight from Baator!" Elle rubs her eyes, "I'm going to swear off drink and stick to it this time!"
[21:47] <Alicia> "You should," Alicia agrees, patting her shoulder. "It clearly doesn't agree with you."
[21:48] <Kotono> "I know." Running a hand through her hair, "Something...Seira took a pass or two at me too, I remember that. I think Amaryl was along for that ride." She shakes her head back and forth. "I'm still trying to remember everything."
[21:49] <Alicia> "She did? They did?" Alicia's eyes widen. "Goodness... talk about shameless..." she shakes her head. "Probably for the best you fell asleep before you did anything you'd regret."
[21:51] <Kotono> "I guess she had or has a crush on me? She did work so hard to become my apprentice...she's a sweet girl." Taking another long drink of water. "Of course, she does this a few days after Donald and I..."
[21:52] <Alicia> "And Amaryl always seemed so innocent..." Alicia glances over to where she left the others. "I'm honestly shocked."
[21:53] <Kotono> "I know! Why now, too? I'd consider trying anything once, but right after Donald and I...Gods, do you think they're trying to sabotage Donald?" With a half scowl, "I know he can be childish..."
[21:55] <Alicia> "I don't know... they were drinking as well, but that's no excuse," Alicia shakes her head. "Seira's off exploring the volcano with Antenora and Marie, but Amaryl's over there. Do you want to confront her or try and pretend like it never happened?"
[21:57] <Kotono> "I'm not sure." Sitting up on her elbows, "Maybe it was just the drink, or I'm blowing this out of proportion." With a half scowl, "I don't want to make something out of it if it's just drunk talk. Do you remember how drunk those two were?"
[21:58] <Alicia> "They were... merry. You were the only one who got really smashed," Alicia gives Elle a faintly chiding look. "But Seira and Amaryl both seemed quite in control of themselves."
[21:59] <Kotono> "Hmph." Rubbing her head, "I'm going to try and forget most of that...I can't even look at Jessica's face right now without wanting to laugh and burn up alive."
[22:00] <Alicia> "Yes..." Alicia looks faintly awkward. "It's not the sort of thing you really want to know about your sister, believe me. Not that I was much better with some of the things I said..." Alicia gives Elle a light shove, "Of course it's your fault for getting us all started. Dirty gossip that you are."
[22:01] <Kotono> Elle gives Alicia a push back, a nd with a wicked glare, "Now now, this is almost like foreplay to you, isn't it?"
[22:03] <Alicia> "You know, there's a spell that summons a horde of invisible servants. I'm pretty sure I could cast it right now if you gave me a reason," Alicia challenges Elle.
[22:03] <Kotono> Elle burns up, her face a pyre of embarrassment. "Oh Gods...I remembe rnow. Seira said something like she'd be happy to be MY Unseen Servant behind me."
06[22:04] * Alicia chuckles. "Maybe she was just teasing you and you're reading too much into things?" she offers optimisticly.
[22:05] <Kotono> "Mph." Elle glowers, "Latha makes a cute man, too. The timing is also bad...He's be a fascinating conquest."
[22:06] <Alicia> "I know," Alicia looks around guiltily. "If she'd been a man from the start I'd have been sorely tempted. Now her, Antenora, and Marie are trying some sort of threesome experiment to teach Antenora about love. I think I'm going to need to be out of the house a lot in the near future."
[22:07] <Kotono> "...." Elle settles for staring, "What?"
06[22:09] * Alicia pats Elle's hand gently. "You slept through a lot. Latha asked my permission to court Antenora because she has warped views on such things since she used to be a devil. Naturally Marie got involved, and I honestly don't want to know more."
[22:10] <Kotono> "...Wait. So Latha is...and I thought Antenora wasn't..." Holding her head, "Or are they all changing gender and..." With a shake of her head, "Does this make any sense to you at all?"
[22:11] <Alicia> "Latha is staying male for a while. Marie... well, she'll be male for Antenora, I suppose. And no, it's..." Alicia shakes her head and gestures vaguely, "I'm not entirely comfortable with it, but so long as they're happy and no one gets hurt I'll keep my oar out of it."
[22:11] <Kotono> "Oh, now you have an oar, too. They go to you with that magic?" Elle says, before giggling - and then wincing, rubbing her head. "Ugh."
[22:12] <Alicia> "Figure of speech," Alicia shakes her head before looking askance at Elle. "Normally I wouldn't, since this is nature's way of telling you drinking is bad, but if you want I can do something for your hangover."
[22:15] <Kotono> "Please," Elle sits up, "I'd be grateful."
[22:15] <Kotono> AS this happens, Saul strolls up. "Oh, I hate to bother you, but there's a dragon flying in the sky."
06[22:16] * Alicia nods sollemnly, drawing her hand through the air as she incants upon primal magic! Then stops abruptly, "What?" she stands up and steps back to better see above the treeline, scanning the sky.
[22:16] <Kotono> Alicia hurries out! A vast dragon flies above, heading for the center of the island. It's red scales burn against the blue sky!
[22:17] <Alicia> After a brief mental conference with Marie, "His name is Caesin, the dragon from the volcano. Sounds friendly." Suitably reassured, she goes back to sit by Elle again. "Now, where were we... I was about to invoke my most powerful magic to cure your hangover like some alcoholic's djinn, wasn't I?"
[22:18] <Kotono> "Oh, that's it?" Elle says, "How completely anti-climatic!" With a laugh, "Please."
[22:18] <Kotono> Saul shrugs and wanders off.
[22:20] <Alicia> "Weave of magic, bend to my will! Purify and cleanse this foolish drunkard!" Alicia then incants, using a wish of a limited variety to excise Elle's hangover and clean her up a bit.
[22:21] <Kotono> Elle looks much better, a long breath out as she sits fully up. "Thanks." Going for some of Alicia's orange now, "You know though, it wasn't all bad. In it's way is was fun to bond with everyone. I feel like we know each other's dirty little secrets...it's like being gossiping sisters.""
[22:22] <Alicia> "It was somewhat liberating," Alicia agrees, popping an orange segment into her mouth and chewing. "And I've enjoyed everything we've done on this island since we got here - after the month we've had it really is a breath of fresh air."
[22:23] <Kotono> "I know. We're always so busy...running around, saving the world. There was something so, so, so...natural to this." Chewing her orange down, "And..."
[22:24] <Alicia> "And?" Alicia prods after a moment when Elle trails off.
[22:27] <Kotono> "It was...erotic." Elle also shrugs, "There was a current in the air. Certainly this may have been because I was drunk and by Seira, but..." Averting her gaze from Alicia, "Everyone felt so magnetic. There was a heat to it."
[22:28] <Alicia> "Uh... huh," Alicia pales slightly. "Well, I suppose... Latha did look very nice."
[22:28] <Kotono> "She did. The way Antenora and Marie were going too..." Elle thoughtfully plays with a bit of her hair. "Did ou feel it?"
[22:31] <Alicia> "I know my familiar felt it," Alicia gestures vaguely at her head, "The link and all. But I can't say..." she shakes her head and sighs, "I was afraid of that as soon as Seira showed up. It was relaxing when it was just you, me, and Jessica. But there was an extra tension in the air people started showing up who enjoyed looking at naked women."
[22:33] <Kotono> "Yeah." A brief little nod there, "You're right. There was sexual tension. It was...intoxicating." Elle admits that, "Caught up in the heat of the moment's passion."
[22:35] <Alicia> "I didn't really like it," Alicia shakes her head. "It's not the sort of relaxation I came here for."
[22:37] <Kotono> "It was...different. I don't know if I liked it." Playing with a bit of leftover orange, "I could see the look in Seira's eyes, or the looks Marie gave Antenora, or the ones you gave Latha, or a few others." Scrunching up her face, "Like a bacchae party in Arborea."
[22:38] <Alicia> "I wasn't making bedroom eyes at her," Alicia insists defensively. "I just had a good look to see the changes then tried to avoid looking after that."
[22:39] <Kotono> "I think looking at a man's part like that is bedroom eyes," Elle nudges Alicia. "Just...I don't know what to make of the entire thing now."
[22:42] <Alicia> "It is what you make of it," Alicia shrugs. "Go have a torrid affair with Seira and Amaryl. Tell them you're not interested. Go see if there's room for one more in the brewing celestial threesome. Or just try to forget about it."
[22:43] <Kotono> "I guess." Elle smirks a little, "You know...you're a bit of a prude, aren't you? You look like you want to crawl into a hole and hide."
[22:44] <Alicia> "I gave you my dirty bedroom stories, didn't I?" Alicia sniffs. "I'm just glad no one tried to seduce me yesterday... for all that perhaps I should be insulted, I'll choose to be grateful."
[22:45] <Kotono> "I could give you a practice try?" Elle says brightly.
[22:46] <Alicia> "It might be amusing to upset Donald, but I'll pass," Alicia shakes her head, smirking.
[22:47] <Kotono> "I don't wnat to step on-oh, Seira," Elle looks up as the half dragon approaches. "Hello there!"
01[22:47] <Seira> "Hi. Finally up and about?" Seira asks, smiling.
[22:47] <Kotono> "Finally. I had the worst hangover!" Elle sighs dramatically, "Only magic kicked it away for good."
06[22:47] * Alicia decides now would be an *excellent* time to make a graceful retreat. "I'd better see what Jessica's up to," she smoothly gets to her feet. "Seira," she nods in passing greeting to the half-dragon as she makes tracks away.
01[22:48] <Seira> "Magic is all-powerful," Seira agrees. "We found another red dragon, and it's friendly!" She returns the nod, before her attention refocuses on Elle. "It's going to give us gifts!"
[22:48] <Kotono> "Wonderful." Elle smiles as Alicia leaves, then clears her throat. "We need to talk, so..."
01[22:50] <Seira> "We need to talk," Seira agrees, her smile slipping as she now bites her lower lip nervously.
[22:57] <Kotono> "Seira...did you really...did you really invite me to a three way affair with you and Amaryl?" Elle says, her own smile going.
01[23:01] <Seira> "I might have said that if it didn't work out with Donald, I'll seduce you?" Seira says hesitantly. "And I was flirting with you, but I might have also been just a tiny bit serious, deep down?"
[23:02] <Kotono> Elle clears he rthroat, rumbling. "Ah. I...well..." She picks about, "You had it for me bad, didn't you? You wanted to be my apprentice so bad."
06[23:04] * Seira looks down in shame. "I said too much and made you uncomfortable, didn't I? I was always afraid it'd happen, because I was never good enough for someone like you."
[23:05] <Kotono> "Seira, stop that." Elle's voice stays soft, "Seira. I like men." Looking right to her. "I'll try anything once or twice, but I'm not like Amaryl. You have a beautiful lover who obviously worships the ground you walk on. Why come after me, right after I get with Donald?"
01[23:10] <Seira> "It's not about Donald," Seira mumbles. "It's about you. I don't know. You keep on getting hurt, and I hate that, but now I'm doing it to you, too."
[23:11] <Kotono> "Seira." With a small smile as she looks to her, "Do you want to hurt Amaryl? Do you think she's happy seeing the woman she loves try and bring another into her embrace, right in front of her?"
01[23:13] <Seira> "I don't know about that, either." Just as hesitantly, Seira raises her head. "Elle, is it wrong to love more than one person?"
[23:14] <Kotono> "Well...I've loved more than one of my lovers." Elle leans back now, "I think the mistake lies in trying to have more than one at once. You can keep one person happy, but it's hard. Really hard - look at people who are together but have fallen out of love. Parents that fight, cold beds, resigned fates every day for the rest of their lives. How could you manage two people and the jealousy?"
01[23:17] <Seira> "When we were allowed to meet with Queen Morwel, in the Court of Stars," Seira tries to explain, "I fell utterly in love with her, and so did Amaryl. And it didn't feel wrong. There was no jealousy at all!"
[23:18] <Kotono> "Seira, I think she's magic." With a smile, "Because, if anyone can do it, it's a mythical angel-fairy queen. Seira, look. What I'm saying here is that you have Amaryl. Before you broaden your horizons, make sure you aren't hurting her or anyone else. What good is it if you lie with me, only to lose her?"
01[23:21] <Seira> "I... wasn't going to be hasty," Seira says miserably. "It's not, it's not sex, I-- Elle, I wouldn't have forced myself on you when you were drunk like that! Please, you have to believe me!"
[23:23] <Kotono> "I do." Elle says, "Seira. If it were just us having fun and Donald wasn't in the picture?" With a lithe little shrug, "Hell, I might try it. The fact is that other people are involved and other hearts. One of my lovers was married." Going on now, "I ruined a marraige because I couldn't keep my dress down. People get hurt so easily in relationships."
01[23:25] <Seira> "I don't want to lose you," Seira says, wanting to get it out if it ends up being her last chance. "I wanted to never lose you. Is it too late, and I ruined everything?"
[23:26] <Kotono> "Seira." Elle looks at her, "I'm fine. For Mystra's sake, you were drunk and I was really drunk. Everyone makes mistakes when they're drunk and doesn't understand when to shut up. I'd rather I had kept my mouth shut about Unseen Servant."
01[23:28] <Seira> "I wasn't that drunk," Seira insists, shaking her head. "I won't hide behind excuses. I missed teasing you, and... and I went too far. I'm sorry that I did." She takes Elle's hands in hers. "Will you forgive me?"
[23:29] <Kotono> "Fine, fine, you're forgiven." With a warming smile, "But seriously, are you and Amaryl those sort? Id idn't think you two would be so adventurous!"
06[23:32] * Seira blushes. "I said that in a spur of the moment, and you told me not to hurt her... she... Amaryl understood, but she wasn't sure...." Trailing off, Seira sighs, dropping her head. "What if she was just humoring me? She's already given up so much for my sake...."
[23:33] <Kotono> "Before you look to go any further with anyone, find ou twhat she thinks. What good is gaining something if you lose everything to get it?" Elle goes to pat Seira's shoulder.
06[23:37] * Seira hesitantly hugs Elle, resting her head against her. "My best friends, Amaryl... I'm a terrible person, doing what I did. I don't even know how to make it up to you. Is there anything within my power, Elle?"
[23:38] <Kotono> "Don't mope." Elle smiles and blushes, "We all made our mistakes yesterday. If anything...that chat was...um..." Turning red and seperating. "Keep as ecret?"
06[23:38] * Seira nods, looking at Elle in bemusement.
[23:40] <Kotono> "I thought it was liberating and...well...erotic." Turning red, "That chat, that is. There really was an undercurrent to everything, the looks people were giving each other...so it's not like you're the only g uilty one."
01[23:44] <Seira> "It's not what you think!" Seira blurts suddenly. "Before. I mean, what you said before. It wasn't like that. I only started liking you after getting to know you. It wasn't... shallow...." She takes a deep breath, holding it in before letting it all go. "I never thought I would say this in a situation where the only possible option was rejection," Seira admits afterwards.
[23:46] <Kotono> Elle blushes, "That's fine, Seira. I mean...I've wanted some men the moment I see them. Crushes are okay. You're not any more shallow than me."
01[23:48] <Seira> "Do I need to apologize to Donald as well?" Seira asks, looking even more mortified with the prospect.
[23:49] <Kotono> "You think I told him? Hahahhaaa!" Elle laughs, looking around. "Uh, no."
06[23:52] * Seira sighs in relief, before shifting awkwardly. "So, umm, do you want me to just make myself scarce until you say it's alright?"
[23:53] <Kotono> "Seira. I'm embarrassed with what I told you, but I'm an adult. I'm fine." Elle says.
[23:57] <Kotono> After amoment, Jessica facepalms hard.
[23:57] <Kotono> OOC: STrik.e
01[23:58] <Seira> "I'll go find Amaryl, and apologize to her as well," Seira says, far more relieved.
[23:58] <Kotono> "Sure." Elle sits back, "Seira?"
01[23:58] <Seira> "Yes?"
Session Time: Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Kotono> "Did anything happen after I passed out?"
01[00:00] <Seira> Seira's face falls. "Yes. Are you sure you want to know?"
[00:02] <Kotono> "Yes. Alicia mentioned some of it...Antenora, Latha and Marie. From what Amaryl has said before, Antenora's not a very good liar then."
01[00:04] <Seira> "Her life as a devil... there... rape was involved, and torture, and guilt," Seira says uncomfortably, trying to seize on Elle's words. "Amaryl said Antenora wasn't a good liar?"
[00:04] <Kotono> Elle grimaces, "A good thing to miss. Oh no, I've heard her mutter a time or two about Antenora being in denial. If she's in a relationship with two women..." With a light shrug, "Well, that makes her a liar then? Nevermind." Putting it aside, "I need to go find Donald. I'll see you later."
01[00:05] <Seira> "That would make sense," Seira agrees, adding, "I'll... see you later, too, Elle."
[00:09] <Kotono> Going off, Seira finds Amaryl. She's sitting at the edge of the waves, water lapping against her legs. She looks out into the ocean, absorbed and quiet.
06[00:10] * Seira takes a thorough look around to ensure there's no one near them, before taking a spot by Amaryl's side that would allow her to continue observing the area. "Before I say anything else, I'm sorry, Amaryl," she starts with.
[00:11] <Kotono> Amaryl looks up, hesitating. She blushes and looks away, "Seira...if you're talkinga bout that...it's okay." Sniffling, "I know I'm not as pretty as Elle. I know I can't satistify you by myself."
01[00:15] <Seira> "I'm one of those people who are too good for alcohol. They can mess things up pretty well on their own, without even being drunk," Seira tells her. "I love you, and I don't need anything or anyone but you, Amaryl, but I also make terrible mistakes on my lonesome. This was one of the biggest in my life. But you won't just believe my words, will you?
01[00:15] <Seira> So I'm going to treat this like a battle and place my life on the line." After saying that, Seira nods slowly to herself. "I have done something so terrible it remains the only way."
[00:16] <Kotono> "S-Seira?" Amaryl sniffles again, looking up to her. "What do you mean by that? Are you...?"
01[00:19] <Seira> "I'm going to beg for your forgiveness," Seira says, returning the look. "With just a few careless words, I made you cry. And I'm supposed to be the one who thinks several steps ahead? If I'm the sort of person who would make her girlfriend feel this way, I don't deserve to live." She shakes her head.
01[00:19] <Seira> "I kept on telling you how important you are to me, but you can hardly believe me when I say the things I had yesterday, can you?"
[00:20] <Kotono> Sniffling yet more, "S-seira, are you...are you s-saying that..." A few tears trickle down, "T-that you're going to...h-hurt yourself because of me?"
01[00:23] <Seira> "Because of me," Seira points out. "I'm the villain, here. I said something I can't take back, and I hurt you the way I promised I never would. I can only beg you to forgive me, and to name my punishment. I'm placing myself in your hands, to do with as you wish, all for a chance to be forgiven."
[00:25] <Kotono> Amaryl considers, then lowers her head. "Draw your sword and..." Amaryl sniffles, "Cut my head off. While the blade's still wet with my blood, plunge it into your heart...w-we'll both surely be damned to the Lower Planes for this, so we can be tormented together." Despite tears, she looks right up at Seira. "Seira, don't even say anything like that!" Her voice changes into an angry, angry bark, "It worked so well when you let Neve nearly k
[00:25] <Kotono> Her voice changes into an angry, angry bark, "It worked so well when you let Neve nearly kill you! Don't ever say anything like that, first of all!"\
01[00:30] <Seira> "You're not Neve," Seira tells her quietly. "Amaryl, I've learned something from that time. Do you know what it was? That I was wrong to try and throw my life away like that, because that life was yours. When you were taken from me... when that happened, I couldn't think, I couldn't move right.
01[00:30] <Seira> There was only one person I thought of, at that time, again and again. Why am I such an idiot? Why did I forget it even for a second?"
[00:31] <Kotono> Amaryl twitches, her shoulders convulsing. Her voice rises several tones of volume, "I don't know, you tell me! For the sake of Pallanth's crown, you tried to seduce Elle while I was cuddling with you! Cuddling with you!" Waving her arms, "I left Pallanth for you and you do that while I'm clinging to your side, inf ront of everyone!?"
06[00:37] * Seira is about to protest that Amaryl is not the only insecure one, and that she always wonders if Amaryl is fully happy with her whenever she brings up a beautiful woman, but those are excuses. It's not fair to Amaryl to use her worries to deflect the very real problem that she herself had created.
01[00:37] <Seira> "Amaryl, I love you," Seira finds herself saying instead. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, in this world or the next, past our mortal lives and into eternity. I'll never again give you cause to doubt me. Marry me."
[00:39] <Kotono> "Seira," Her voice stops cold at those last words, "W-what?" Her eyes go wide, staring completely at her.
01[00:42] <Seira> "We said we'll stay together and not worry about the future, waiting to discover what we want, didn't we?" Seira asks her. "I do. I can be a terrible person, but I love you and I've found my answer. I'm only sorry it couldn't have been a day earlier. I can't promise I'll never make you cry again, but never again will it be because of cruel carelessness like that.
01[00:42] <Seira> That, at least, even someone like me can vow."
[00:44] <Kotono> "S-Seira..." Amaryl chokes, swallowing hard as she cries. "Oh...s..s...sss...Seira..." Gasping that out, "Y...you want ot make me your wife...? I...I...can we even get married in human lands...I mean...you really want to?"
01[00:49] <Seira> If Elle could be a countess with third circle magic, it is highly unlike that anyone would stop a dragon with limited wish at her disposal, but Seira doesn't say that. "I don't know," she admits honestly. "The law's not clear on that. There really are no laws, because a family is something codified in law to start a family, and only very few have the magic necessary to overcome the obvious--"
01[00:49] <Seira> Noticing she's babbling, Seira stops and takes a deep breath. "I had vague plans. I would talk to King Lorthan, and see if I could get him to start a new noble house, acknowledging my father's many successful ventures and contributions to Pallanth. Then, I would perhaps no longer be beneath your station, and careful appeals-- but none of that framework exists. I don't know. But we'll find a way."
[00:50] <Kotono> "I..." Starting to really cry, "Oh...Seira!" With a glomp she flies into Seira's arms, sobbing. "You...oh Seira!"
01[00:53] <Seira> "It's always you," Seira whispers, holding Amaryl. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. You're beautiful, you're kind... I've never found you lacking. Never, in nothing."
[00:54] <Kotono> Sobbing into SEira, there isn't much of a reply for a time, just the movement of sand and water. "Oh Seira...oh..." She brokenly sobs away.
01[00:58] <Seira> "My studies into the arcane, trying to master the height of mortal magic. My ties into the draconic. Even... even the Guard and Waukeen," Seira manages to get out with difficulty. "They are more important than anything in the world for me. Those goals define what I am and what I do.
01[00:58] <Seira> But if you feel any of them is coming between us, I'll choose you over them, Amaryl. And not just now, but in a year, in a century, forever. Because you are the one who defines who I am, the only one I truly need."
[01:00] <Kotono> "Seira...I...I..." Hugging Seira to her, "I love you so much!"
01[01:06] <Seira> "I'll make you happy," Seira promises, bringing Amaryl even closer to her. "I'll always... you'll always feel how much I love you back."
[01:09] <Kotono> "Oh Seira..." Hugging to her and sniffling loudly, "...do you have a ring of trinket of engagement or anything?"
06[01:11] * Seira only has two rings, and they'd used them both interchangeably in the past. Somehow, they don't have the right message, so she stalls briefly, accessing her poor familiar's power to search for any precious metals in the vicinity.
01[01:17] <Seira> No such luck, which leaves her with but one recourse. "My magic," she calls with a note of despair, "come to my aid at this important time! Platinum, gold, processed, raw, I don't care! Just let me do this right, without messing up!"
[01:21] <Kotono> To Seira's call, gold appears from the air! It dances about Amaryl's finger, forming a ring of gold!
01[01:22] <Seira> "It needs an emerald," Seira says apologetically, "but for now, can you please make do with this? It's my commitment, shaped by magic."
[18:48] <Kotori-away> <Seira> But if you feel any of them is coming between us, I'll choose you over them, Amaryl. And not just now, but in a year, in a century, forever. Because you are the one who defines who I am, the only one I truly need."
[18:48] <Kotori-away> > "Seira...I...I..." Hugging Seira to her, "I love you so much!"
[18:48] <Kotori-away> <Seira> "I'll make you happy," Seira promises, bringing Amaryl even closer to her. "I'll always... you'll always feel how much I love you back."
[18:48] <Kotori-away> > "Oh Seira..." Hugging to her and sniffling loudly, "...do you have a ring of trinket of engagement or anything?"
[18:48] <Kotori-away> * Seira only has two rings, and they'd used them both interchangeably in the past. Somehow, they don't have the right message, so she stalls briefly, accessing her poor familiar's power to search for any precious metals in the vicinity.
[18:48] <Kotori-away> <Seira> No such luck, which leaves her with but one recourse. "My magic," she calls with a note of despair, "come to my aid at this important time! Platinum, gold, processed, raw, I don't care! Just let me do this right, without messing up!"
[18:48] <Kotori-away> > To Seira's call, gold appears from the air! It dances about Amaryl's finger, forming a ring of gold!
[18:48] <Kotori-away> <Seira> "It needs an emerald," Seira says apologetically, "but for now, can you please make do with this? It's my commitment, shaped by magic."
[18:49] <Kotori-away> "It's...oh..." With wide, teary eyes Amaryl looks at the ring, clutching close to Seira. "I...I love it!"
03[18:49] * Kotori-away is now known as Kotono
01[18:52] <Seira> For a change, Seira tries to listen to her instincts which tell her that however she might yearn to understand the reason for Amaryl's acute distress, this is neither the time nor the place for a conversation like that. "Dad will nag, again," she says, her voice mimicking that of her father's. "Seira, how dare you not ask for my permission and guidance again, oh, what a worthless daughter I have."
[18:54] <Kotono> Amaryl giggles. "Oh Seira...when...when will be be married then? A 5 year engagement is standard, though perhaps longer since we've not known each other very long."
03[18:56] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
01[18:59] <Seira> "If the point of delaying an engagement to tell whether I want to spend my life with you, I don't need the extension," Seira responds. "Do you?"
[19:00] <Kotono> "W-well...no! Of course not, but..." Blushing hotter and hotter, "It's only proper! Knowing each other and getting married like this? It's a scandal! But...I know you don't want to wait, and..."
01[19:01] <Seira> "I like a good scandal, but I like seeing you happy far more," Seira says honestly. "Do you think we'll avoid a scandal otherwise, and you'd like that?"
[19:01] <Kotono> "Well...not really..." Amaryl says slowly, before she manages to nod. "Okay, Seira."
01[19:03] <Seira> "I'm sorry for that part, too," Seira says just as slowly, feeling uncomfortable. "It feels like I've dragged your name through the mud, the way things are. And I ended up taking you away from it, too...."
[19:03] <Kotono> With a glomp that wobbles Seira on her feet, " Don't say that, Seira! I...I...we're going to be married!"
01[19:04] <Seira> "In only five short years or so!" Seira chirps.
[19:06] <Kotono> That gets a tighter hug.
01[19:07] <Seira> "Where else do you see yourself in those five years?" Seira asks suddenly. "We don't talk about our goals much, beyond the immediate or the truly remote, do we?"
[19:09] <Kotono> Clinging to Seira as the waves play at your ankles, splashing against them, "With you." Kissing Seira's jawline, "Oh Seira...I..." She leans back, eyes red and puffy. "Kiss me, my wife."
01[19:13] <Seira> Screw goals. Raising herself on her tiptoes, she meets Amaryl halfway.
[19:14] <Kotono> This goes as well as it always does and then some. When the two at last part, "Let's go...take me somewhere special so we can be together as a bonded couple," Amaryl purrs, red faced. "All I want to see is you right now, Seira."
01[19:16] <Seira> With her magic drained, teleportation is not really an issue if she wants to actually be able to return, and so Seira takes hold of Amaryl's hand. "If you don't mind a little walk, I saw a beautiful grove a short walk away?"
[19:17] <Kotono> "Let's," Amaryl takes Seira's hand, hurrying away. OOC: Sec in here.
[19:19] <Kotono> *Seira
[20:27] <Kotono> ---
[20:27] <Kotono> Latha has hurried away well from the mansion, towards the forest. She stops near it as Antenora and Marie catch up. "...Yes?"
[20:28] <Alicia> "We... were wondering if you needed some help?" Marie replies lamely at the somewhat brusque reaction.
[20:28] <Kotono> Antenora blushes just as well, scratching the back of her head. "Marie said that if we're dating that we should support each other, and she's right."
[20:30] <Alicia> "If you want privacy that's fine!" Marie adds. "Just... if you'd rather not be alone, we're here for you. Whatever you need," she concludes, nodding emphaticly.
[20:31] <Kotono> "I need to entertain Sharess' entertainment," Latha delicately blushes now, "Do the two of you need to do the same?"
[20:33] <Alicia> "Well, that cucumber did put me a little bit in the mood," Marie smiles slyly. "Maybe it had a stronger effect on you since I'm an eladrin, but... I'd like to help you, if you want helping. What do you think, Antenora?"
[20:34] <Kotono> Antenora radiates red, "We haven't even had a first date yet..." she mutters. "D-do the two of you need my help?"
[20:35] <Alicia> "We've known each other long enough that we shouldn't need formalities like that," Marie asserts, "But I don't want anyone to feel pressured." Maybe she should've just left Latha to relieve herself by herself...
[20:37] <Kotono> Biting at her lip, "I feel warm too." Taking a breath out, "...Okay."
[20:39] <Alicia> "Okay," Marie grins, taking Antenora's hand and skipping towards Latha. "If anyone feels uncomfortable or wants to stop, please just say so. I don't want anyone complaining after the fact! Because I sure won't be giving either of you any reason to, I promise," she concludes, voice lilting low and sultry.
[20:44] <Kotono> Antenora gulps, "You two...take care of me well. I trust you," she looks to both of them.
[20:45] <Kotono> "I will," Latha says quickly.
[20:46] <Alicia> Marie nods as well, shifting to a male form since Antenora has made her preferences clear on that. "Lets get a little bit further down the beach so we're not too close to everyone," she suggests with a silent apology to Alicia for not being able to get farther than a mile away before indulging herself.
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d100
05[21:22] -eraniss.tx.us.lunarnet.org:@#evildunes- Kotono invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:22] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #evildunes
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 83." [1d100=83]
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 29." [1d100=29]
[21:41] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 95." [1d100=95]
[22:19] <Kotono> ----
[22:22] <Kotono> Amaryl lies in bed. The night air is freezing cold, snow falling outside, once again defying the bay this year. Wearing a gauzy, almost transparent nightgown of green silk, Amaryl hums to herself...
[22:22] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead, it's your bal, Seira.
01[22:26] <Seira> "Would you like to visit Pallanth tomorrow?" Seira asks, lying by Amaryl's side. She turns and raises herself on one arm to gaze at her, the other reaching down to cup her cheek.
[22:26] <Kotono> Amaryl turns to her, "Whatever for? Business or pleasure?"
01[22:27] <Seira> "We want to tell all our friends," Seira responds. "Don't we? At the very least, don't we want to tell Lord Ambrose straight away?"
[22:29] <Kotono> "Oh!" Reddening at that, "My mind was daydreaming about the snow. Yes, we should."
06[22:31] * Seira leans down to kiss Amaryl, unable to resist her when she's blushing so. "I have my duties to the Guard," she says, pulling away slowly. "But in everything else, we'll make the decisions together. That's what I'm doing right now. Planning for the week ahead."
[22:32] <Kotono> "We'll go then." Amaryl decides, a kiss back. Her skin is still deeply tanned, not a tanlight in sight. "It was an eventful vacation. It's good to be back home. Can we wait one more day..." Amaryl looks out, "I never got to challenge you to making snow angels or a snowball fight."
01[22:34] <Seira> "It can wait," Seira agrees. "Although most trips won't take too long, there is no great rush, either." Snow angels remind her of her next destination, and she breaches the subject with certain hesitance. "Would you be mad if I also said that I wanted to heal Neve? Dad could do so easily enough, if I ask him just right."
[22:35] <Kotono> "..."" Amaryl pauses, "Heal her eye, you mean? Why?"
01[22:37] <Seira> "She's not blameless in the least, but the reason she does not have it anymore is because I cajoled her to travel with me. The anger at the betrayal and the disappointment over what could have been have dissipated already, but my guilt remains."
[22:38] <Kotono> Biting at her lower lip. "If that's what you want...okay." Amaryl goes to touch Seir'as cheek, brushing at the side of her hair.
01[22:40] <Seira> "I'll live with the guilt if you want me to avoid her entirely," Seira says, leaning into her touch. "But you have to tell me. When you want something, when there's anything I can do for you, when things bother you... I can be surprisingly stupid sometimes, so if you don't talk to me, I might not notice."
[22:42] <Kotono> "I'd rather not go." Amaryl says with no hesitation, "After what she did...if you want to heal her I respect that. But I don' twant to deal with her."
01[22:43] <Seira> "I won't stay for tea and scones," Seira promises with a quick smile.
[22:44] <Kotono> Smirking to Seira as she looks into her eyes, "Did you have fun on our vacation?"
01[22:46] <Seira> "There are parts of it I wish I could have done differently, but proposing to you or freeing a fellow dragon from unfair captivity? Those alone would be worth it, and we had plenty of fun on the beach, too."
[22:47] <Kotono> "Oh yes." Giglging now, "Little miss I don't like women seemed so happy to run off with Latha and Marie, Donald got set on fire, we got tanned and...you proposed to me. It was nearly a perfect vacation."
01[22:52] <Seira> "It's good that she found someone who could respond to her," Seira agrees. "A shame we never got to try and set her up with people. I still think having actually normal dates would've been a better life experience for her than some wild threesome with angels."
[22:52] <Kotono> "I don't know." Amaryl starts to giggle back at Seira, "I was swept off my feet by a dragon and it's worked out well."
01[22:54] <Seira> "I wasn't very draconic at the time," Seira reminisces. "Sometimes, I wonder if I chose the right path. People were just starting to accept me here and in Pallanth, as the two countries interacted more and more, and then this...."
[22:57] <Kotono> "So?" Amaryl nuzzles Seira, "The nations are closer than ever. Trade, cooperation, the elven mission...King Lorthan has spoken so well of you and the Baronies."
01[22:59] <Seira> "Do you want to see him, too?" Seira seized on the opportunity. "Maybe I could just lay out my case directly and see if he approves? Dad will be grouchy if this works, so just that would already be worth it."
[23:00] <Kotono> "..." Amaryl thinks, "How are you going to petition him? Have you planned it out?"
01[23:04] <Seira> "Yes, actually," Seira responds, happy to test her idea against another's intellect. "The only real question for me was, do I take the risk and be direct, or do I try to arrive at this in sound roundabout way? I don't want to even have the appearance, however untrue, of having interfered unduly in Pallanth's politics, but being too sneaky would lead to the same accusations.
01[23:04] <Seira> In any case, Dad is actually an accomplished mage. He provided the funding that now connects Pallanth to Balmuria and Malmuth alike, being a visionary who believed in the idea, and just look at how well it may serve Pallanth now, in the aftermath of the attacks. This is even without getting into the multi-national research team he leads,
01[23:04] <Seira> which is close to retrieving the vast stretches of land we now treat as lifeless wastes."
06[23:04] * Seira shakes her head. "If it weren't for this mess, we would already be doing the first stage of testing. That future is also right over the doorway."
[23:05] <Kotono> "I think that's right." Amaryl nods along, "Play up our accomplishments to the elven nation. Make several strong points and why this honor is both deserved and to Pallanth's benefit."
01[23:07] <Seira> "There is another reason I can bring up, if that fails to convince His Majesty," Seira continues, nodding back at her. "Even my closest allies there have called me a half-breed. Be it part dragon, or part human, even if I have risen above the usual treatment people like that receive, others like me are not so fortunate.
01[23:07] <Seira> Just think of the impact it would make, if a noble house were to be formed by the elf who married a human? The impact in every direction of society?"
[23:12] <Kotono> "The social ramnifications would be world changing," Amaryl pauses in thought, "A half elf in full noble power..." With a whistle, "It would create shockwaves."
01[23:14] <Seira> "Wanna hear what the truly insidious part is?" Seira asks conspiratorially. "I won't ever have it! Dad's, like, immortal or something. All I'll have is a fancy heiress title I'll never, ever get to cash in on. But the shockwaves would go on regardless, and I can only hope they better everyone's life in the end."
[23:14] <Kotono> "Hehehe," Amaryl giglges. "Let's do it then, Seira."
01[23:17] <Seira> "We only get the one chance of it, but if it works, I'll tie Dad to a home he won't abandon again for a decade without a word! And! I'll have a last name!" Seira rushes through the words excitedly, halting suddenly afterwards and blushing lightly. "I would still rather have yours, though. We can do that, can't we?"
[23:19] <Kotono> "Well...if it's a new house, the same name isn't possible," Amaryl turns very red. "It's against the rules."
01[23:20] <Seira> "When someone in your position marries, they can't share the same name afterwards?" Seira asks, momentarily stumped. This is a hurdle she had never expected!
[23:21] <Kotono> "Well, if you are part of a new house, yes! When a house inter-marries with another, one of them joins the other house." Smiling a bit, "Since you'd be part of a new house...I don't imagine you'd drop your new name with the house new."
01[23:24] <Seira> "It's confusing," Seira admits. "Just in case, let's think up names rather than leave it to Dad? He'll just go with boring and uninspired ones. I..." Seira considers, finally nodding, "I rather like Ariil, as a tribute to Waukeen's best friend and possibly more. What do you think?"
[23:28] <Kotono> "Three vowels?" Amaryl thinks, "How about another consonant?"
01[23:29] <Seira> "Another L at the end?"