[18:02] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, so after the requisite honeymoon downtime and the like, are y'all going to be doing anything immediately towards what Ribby told you?
[18:02] <Feather> OOC: Let's go talk to the circle
[18:03] <Gildas> OOC: I'm fine with that. I'll take one of the books that mentioned the sea of fire in passing.
[18:03] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[18:03] <@Kotono> roll 1d100+15
[18:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100+15 and gets 86." [1d100=71]
[18:03] <@Kotono> roll 1d100+15 subtables!
[18:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100+15 subtables! and gets 107." [1d100=92]
[18:05] <@Kotono> It's a fine summer's day. The party walks the relatively well-traveled path towards the Circle. The morning sunshine fights to pierce the canopy, bits of sunshine peeking through the otherwise deep shade. As you go...OOC: PErception, y'al.
[18:05] <@John> roll 1d20+15
[18:05] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+15 and gets 35." [1d20=20]
[18:05] <Gildas> roll 1d20+16
[18:05] <Feather> roll 1d20+13
[18:05] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+16 and gets 34." [1d20=18]
[18:06] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+13 and gets 19." [1d20=6]
[18:06] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+14 Myann
[18:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 Myann and gets 25." [1d20=11]
[18:07] <@Kotono> By pure chance, John happens to glance the party's right. About 25ft away, he can see a ripple behind trees and foliage. It's like heat rising from a hot road, but thinner somehow. For a bare moment, he can see the outline of a humaonid figure within it.
[18:08] <@John> "Hullo!" John calls out a greeting to the man in the heat ripple.
[18:09] <Gildas> Gildas blinks, his attention drawn to John and then to the direction he's calling.
[18:09] <@Kotono> "Eh?" Myann looks to John, a confused little frown on her face.
[18:10] <@Kotono> The ripples fade. There's a moment of stillness - before the foliage between it and the party begins to ripple, as if a sudden wind disturbed it, as...OOC: Init.
[18:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Myann
[18:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 Myann and gets 7." [1d20=5]
[18:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11 ???
[18:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 ??? and gets 19." [1d20=8]
[18:10] <@John> roll 1d20+7
[18:10] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[18:10] * Kotono changes topic to '???(19)>John(9)>Myann(7)'
[18:10] <@John> "S'a guy over there," John says, not having any inkling that it's a hostile guy.
[18:11] <Gildas> roll 1d20+3
[18:11] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+3 and gets 9." [1d20=6]
[18:11] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[18:11] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 24." [1d20=16]
[18:11] * Kotono changes topic to 'Feather(24)>???(19)>John=Gildas(9)>Myann(7)'
[18:12] <@Kotono> On turning and seeing, Myann points at the spot 25ft ahead. "There! It looks human, but its eyes - and it has a knife out!" OOC: Feather, you won init. Open.
[18:13] <Feather> "Huh. So there really is a guy over there," Feather muses, before Myann's warning wins over and he charges the strange man!
[18:13] <Feather> roll 1d20+13+2-4 nonlethal, charge
[18:13] <Feather> roll 1d20+13+2-4 nonlethal, charge
[18:13] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+13+2-4 nonlethal, charge and gets 28." [1d20=17]
[18:13] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+13+2-4 nonlethal, charge and gets 30." [1d20=19]
[18:13] <@Kotono> OOC: It can be critted, if those are threats.
[18:13] <Feather> roll 1d20+13+2-4 nonlethal, charge crit?
[18:14] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+13+2-4 nonlethal, charge crit? and gets 15." [1d20=4]
[18:14] <Feather> roll 1d20+13+2-4 nonlethal, charge crit?
[18:14] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+13+2-4 nonlethal, charge crit? and gets 14." [1d20=3]
[18:14] <@Kotono> OOC: Two normal hits, d100 on each since he still has total concealment.
[18:14] <Feather> roll 2d100
[18:14] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 2d100 and gets 95." [2d100=11, 84]
[18:14] <@Kotono> OOC: One hit.
[18:14] <Feather> roll 1d6+3+5d6+1d6 can't have everything, all is nonlethal except the last d6 of fire
[18:14] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d6+3+5d6+1d6 can't have everything, all is nonlethal except the last d6 of fire and gets 31." [1d6=3][5d6=4, 1, 6, 3, 6][1d6=5]
[18:15] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 vs 31 can't win
[18:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 vs 31 can't win and gets 26." [1d20=16]
[18:18] <@Kotono> Feather charges in, the flat of his blade slamming the air. It hits something hard, making it appear. It looks like a man dressed in skintight, white material. It is strangely shiny like metal, but doesn't quite look like it otherwise. He has a vicious, barbed knife in one hand as he doubles over, holding his ribs. You get a glimpse of his eyes - empty eyesockets. Instead, tiny roses and thorns
[18:18] <@Kotono> grow out of them, creeping out and wrapping around the top of his head in place of hair. Revealed, he snarls in Common, "Bastards!" It comes out as more of a gasp, one arm staying around his ribs. The other hand rises up, knife in hand, trying to slice Feather apart!
[18:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+13 AC?
[18:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 AC? and gets 15." [1d20=2]
[18:18] <@Kotono> But Feather deftly parries the blow, the clang of metal on metal echoing in the forest. OOC: John and Gildas, go.
[18:19] * Joins: Feather_ (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net)
[18:19] <Feather_> "For fuck's sake, what's wrong with your eyes, man?!"
[18:20] <Gildas> Gildas points at the area Feather is fighting and casts Faerie Fire to hit the other individual as well! OOC: It's going to be blue.
[18:20] <Gildas> After that, he shapeshifts into his Dire Bear form and moves to flank the creature with Feather!
[18:20] <@Kotono> Myann scowls, "You do know who I am, don't you?" she fires back, "If you're hoping to entertain me, it's not working. Stop this." Meanwhile, blue faerie fire surrounds the rose-eyed man, highlighting him all over. A moment later he growls as Feather flanks him.
[18:21] <@John> John rushes up to help Feather. "Was only saying hello!" he protests, throwing a punch for good measure.
[18:21] <@John> roll 1d20+14
[18:21] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+14 and gets 23." [1d20=9]
[18:21] * Quits: Feather (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net) (Ping timeout)
[18:21] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[18:21] <@John> roll 1d10+5
[18:21] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d10+5 and gets 15." [1d10=10]
[18:22] <@Kotono> WHAM! Right in the face. The man's head snaps back, dazed further from the hit right in the kisser. As he rolls back with that, Myann just stays back and chants, a flying wooden block coming from above to bash the strange creature.
[18:22] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[18:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 17." [1d20=6]
[18:22] <@Kotono> roll 5d6
[18:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d6 and gets 13." [5d6=4, 1, 4, 3, 1]
[18:23] <@Kotono> The block makes a heavy smacking sound when it hits the man right upside his rose and thorn covered head. He stumbles back before falling to a knee, "Yield!" he cries. "I'll surrender!" OOC: Feather, you're up. Feel free to respond if you're going to take it or not, y'all.
[18:24] <Feather_> "Drop that knife, then!" Feather orders. "And no acting fishy!"
[18:25] <@Kotono> The knife is dropped on request. He thenafter raises his arms up, hands open. A visible wince comes as he raises his arms, but he does it. OOC: Free act.
[18:25] <@John> "What was all that all about?" John asks indignantly. "You attack everyone that says hello?"
[18:25] <Feather_> "Yeah, what's with the stalking?" Feather asks. "And the knife?"
[18:25] <@Kotono> Myann crosses her arms, a tight frown on her face. "Terrible manners," she chimes in, going to lean against a nearby tree and staying back.
[18:26] <Gildas> Gildas stays shapeshifted for the time being.
[18:27] <@Kotono> With a groan, the man lowers his arm to cradle his ribs. "I was called to kill all of you," he says, right to the point. "Though I see now that it was a fool's errand."
[18:28] <Feather_> "What you get for trying to up and kill someone! So who was it?"
[18:28] <@Kotono> This draws a sigh from Myann, "Who and why?" she asks.
[18:30] <@Kotono> "If you promise to let me walk away from this, I'll tell you," he says, slowly and carefully. "I hear your kind," A hint of venom in his voice as he looks to Myann, "Can't break your word once you give it." As he speaks, the roses deepen into a bloodier shade of red.
[18:31] <@Kotono> "I'm not the one you need to ask," Myann retorts back, "Ask the others. They're my friends." She emphasizes the last point with a glare.
[18:32] <Gildas> Gildas shapeshifts back. "Would you let someone go if the situation was reversed?" He folds his arms.
[18:32] <Feather_> "That looks mighty painful," Feather muses. "Hey, Gildas, is that like it was for you?"
[18:32] <@John> "I was just being friendly," John says, amazed that it turned into an assassination attempt.
[18:34] <Gildas> "Not exactly." He responds. "I suggest you tell us all the details. I think we're a lot more dangerous than whoever sent you anyway."
[18:34] <@Kotono> Feather's words draw a wince as the assassin again holds his ribs. "Guhg." Incoherently he gasps, "Not...the point," To Feather he says just that, "I'm not talking if I'm not sure I'm walking out of here alive."
[18:35] <Gildas> "Well we didn't just kill you, did we?" Gildas says, sounding surprisingly exasperated.
[18:35] <Feather_> "Depends on what you got to say," Feather tells him. "Won't kill you if you don't try anything. How's that?"
[18:41] <@Kotono> That seems to satisfy him. "Does the name Esona Guldleaf ring any bells for you? Lives to the east, in Volgard?" He pauses to wince and sit carefully, "She thought you all had something to do with unnatural events around here. They had a failed colony here because of problems, including the walking dead." Slowly he breathes out, "Ugh, ribs are in a bad way," he says with a hint of a pained frown.
[18:41] <@Kotono> "Thought you all might be behind it. Wanted to eliminate it for the sake of everyone else in the Vastwoods." A pause, "She was right, you're a bunch of horrific bastards," he spits out blood, glaring up at Myann, "Just not the type to summon the undead."
[18:42] <Gildas> Gildas grimaces. "That woman..." He shakes his head. "It would be her, wouldn't it."
[18:42] <@John> "Never heard of her," John shrugs. "But hey, we're not the ones ambushing people in the woods!"
[18:43] <@Kotono> "Before you met us," Myann supplies, "A bitch, but at least she's right about the undead needing to be stopped. Then again, I say that about the Sidhe, too."
[18:43] <Feather_> "So... huh. Her colony fails and she blames us? Personally?"
[18:44] <Gildas> "I suggest, and this is simply my opinion, we ask our friend here to send a message back to her. Perhaps inform her that we'll be coming to see her to quell any more of this nonsense." He folds his arms again, not looking thrilled.
[18:44] <@John> "But we killed the necromancer didn't we? Are there more still about?"
[18:45] <Feather_> "Not that I know," Feather tells John, before shaking his head. "No reason to talk with crazy people. They'll just twist everything."
[18:45] <@Kotono> "It isn't really about the colony," he says, pausing to again spit up blood. "It's about the undead."
[18:46] <Feather_> "We killed them all," Feather says. "Well, there's the one skeleton left, but it's unkillable or something so we trapped it. Why, did we miss any?"
[18:47] <@Kotono> "Not that I've seen," The assassin coughs and wipes his lips with the back of his hand. His white bodysuit's arm is stained red from it. "I can also believe your kind doing that, so I can see I was wasting my time here to begin with."
[18:48] <Feather_> "What's your kind?" Feather asks curiously, poking at the thorns coming out of his eyes.
[18:49] * Joins: Feather (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net)
[18:49] <@Kotono> OW! The thorn sticks into Feather's hand, drawing blood! At the same time, a bit of color returns to the assassin's face. OOC: 2 points of damage, Feather.
[18:50] <Feather> "Fuck, and you're calling us freaks?" Feather cries out, shaking his hand.
[18:50] <@Kotono> "Your kind," The assassin's voic esounds steadier now, glaring at Myann. "The Fair Folk. You think I was born this way," he says, voice dropping into a snarl. "I got away. The rest of my family wasn't so blessed."
[18:50] <Feather> "Oh." He blinks. "Oh. Then yeah, we'll let you go if Gildas says it's true. Myann here, she's just like you."
[18:51] * Quits: Feather_ (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net) (Ping timeout)
[18:51] * Feather tilts his head. "And come to think of it, why do you keep on telling people who attack us you're not entertained? It never helps! They just hate you more!"
[18:52] <Gildas> "You were cursed by the Sidhe?" Gildas asks, this time actually listening to his voice to see if he can sense any deception in it.
[18:52] <@Kotono> At this Myann sighs long, shoulders slumping. "Yeah, centuries under a Sidhe curse. I understand completely. But someone touched by the Sidhe usin-" She stops and turns to Feather, "In this case, I assumed he was a Sidhe since look at him," she gestures at his rose and thorns upper head.
[18:52] <@Kotono> OOC: Sens emotive, Gildas.
[18:53] <Gildas> roll 1d20+15
[18:53] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+15 and gets 33." [1d20=18]
[18:53] <@Kotono> "Anyway," Going on from that, "The Sidhe hate killing and life thieves. I'd say working as an assassin is horrible, but you're doing it to spite that, aren't you?"
[18:54] <Feather> "It never helps, Dear," Feather repeats. "I know you mean well, but...." He shakes his head, turning towards the eyeless man. "Listen, we might even be able to help you with the eyes thing if you're an okay sort. Had a problem with a fey curse on my own eyes before."
[18:55] <Gildas> "I wonder what they'd do if we made a business of breaking Sidhe curses on people." Gildas muses. He nods to Featehr afterwards. "Yes, he's telling the truth and I expect this is just a more advanced version of what you went through. Although..." He casts a quick Detect Magic on the former assassin to see if he can glean any other information.
[18:56] <@Kotono> "This is after help," The man replies tightly, focus on Feather. "The rest of my family is an overgrown tangle of blood roses now." Very slowly he exhales, "But if you could, I'd give you every coin I've ever earned."
[18:56] <@Kotono> OOC: Spellcraft, Gildas.
[18:56] <Gildas> roll 1d20+16
[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+16 and gets 23." [1d20=7]
[18:57] <Feather> "Eh. We're rich since angry assholes keep on trying to kill us. Most of them don't got no reason beyond wanting to abduct slaves or something. So we can look into that later, I reckon. Now, you were saying that crazy woman wants revenge on something we got no hand in? If you're not back, she gonna send another?"
[18:58] * Feather pauses, and then asks Myann, "That mean it's too late for his family?"
[19:00] <Gildas> "I don't think she's crazy, really." Gildas inserts. "Just... determined."
[19:01] <Feather> "She held a grudge for a year over meeting us the once!"
[19:02] <Gildas> "I don't think it's about that, really. She probably thinks we sabotaged the crystal spiders somehow. She also might have received false information... she seemed to hate the Sidhe when we met her."
[19:04] <Feather> "Anything's possible," Feather allows. "But if you thought we were all fey, she wouldn't be blaming us for the undead...."
[19:05] <@Kotono> "Too late," Myann shakes her head, "Much too late, I'm sure."
[19:05] * Feather grimaces, before looking at the assassin for his answer.
[19:06] <@Kotono> Gildas can tell this man was once altered. His body has long managed to adapt through surprisingly powerful magical intervention. Whomever saved him was a better spellcaster than most. The fey alterations and his body are more or less in harmony now.
[19:07] <@Kotono> "If I clear it up or if I just lie, it should b e the end of it," he says, "I've worked for her before. She's not the sort to waste time on false errands."
[19:08] <Gildas> "I'd like to talk to whoever did what they did... I think you could've ended up in a much worse situation." Gildas surmises. "We could probably do something... after we finish our current task." He says, mostly to the others. "I'd still like to speak with her. Or at least send her a letter of some nature."
[19:08] * Feather gives Gildas an uncertain look, before he says, "Right. Well then, we were just gonna see a bunch of these weird druids that got ties to fairies. But they themselves are pretty good at tracking down cursed people and helping them, so maybe they'll have an idea for your eyes here?"
[19:09] <@John> John just shrugs, knowing nothing about this woman or fey curses. "If she causes more trouble we can go on a trip I guess?"
[19:09] <@Kotono> "Too late for that," The man says, "He died a decade ago. He was old when he saved me," His voice drops a bit, "Alright then," He manages to slowly stand up - his legs are wobbly, but he's up.
[19:10] <Feather> "Let's get going, then," Feather says, starting to lead the way.
[19:12] <Gildas> Gildas places a hand on the man's shoulder and infuses him with a Lesser Vigor. "I don't know how much The Circle can help him, since you've probably been like this for a really long time, right? Your body's mostly adapted to it... But there's no harm in asking."
[19:12] <Feather> "Never harm in trying."
[19:13] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, heading to the circle now?
[19:13] <Feather> OOC: Yeah
[19:17] <@Kotono> The trip to the Circle is without incident. You find the tree there, waking up as Gildas meditates. "Ho-hum, ho-hum! Good morning! Ho-hum, is it time to open the way up?"
[19:17] <@Kotono> The still somewhat wounded assassin just keeps his mouth shut at this point.
[19:18] <Gildas> "Yes, please. To the Circle." One of these days, to the sky... one of these... wait. ...Nah, it couldn't be that easy, could it? He stands up.
[19:20] * Quits: Feather (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net) (Ping timeout)
[19:21] <@Kotono> Thus the path revealed is up. Up the party goes and then down, finding the Circle quiet. None of the normal faces are around, save for the purple panther. It lies there, head resting on its paws as it watches the party approach.
[19:21] * Joins: Feather_ (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net)
[19:22] <Gildas> "Good afternoon." Gildas says with a nod. "I hope... ah... where exactly do the others go when they're not here? Kral I can understand... but the fish?"
[19:23] <@Kotono> "Elsewhere," The panther's reply is laconic, no other answer for a few moments. "The fish have the most places to go of us all. But there is a gift waiting here for you," Attention turns to Feather and Myann, "As well as something else for all of you."
[19:25] <Gildas> "I'll have to ask them sometime." He says with a small smile. "We're here on... some interesting errands today." He takes out the book he brought and starts to thumb through it idly as he glances over at Feather and Myann at the mention of a gift. "I'm not sure any of the other mundane ones can compete with something from all of you."
[19:29] <@Kotono> What appears before Gildas is a book. It has a cover of red crystal and the pages look to be ultra-thin, almost liquid like crimson crystal. "For all of you. A book that makes stories real. But beware, because the stories are not simple nor easy nor safe. It was made by a man who studied the gift for an entire lifetime, the manifestation of will over reality."
[19:30] <@John> "Sounds pretty dangerous," John says, peering over at the book.
[19:30] <@Kotono> To John's eyes, the book seems to gently pulse with power, in time with his own heartbeta.
[19:31] <Gildas> "Stories... real?" Gildas blinks, leaning in to see if he can decipher the magic behind the book beyond what he's already been told.
[19:33] <@Kotono> OOC: Spellcraft.
[19:33] <Gildas> roll 1d20+16
[19:33] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+16 and gets 22." [1d20=6]
[19:34] <@Kotono> There's incredibly potent power within this book. It's decidely psionic in nature and Gildas can't decipher anything more.
[19:35] <Gildas> "How exactly does it work? I mean... does a story have to be written first for it to be invoked?"
[19:37] <@Kotono> "Yes. Write and focus your mind's eye on it. John will be best with it, as his mind has the same power." The panther explains, "To use it or not is your choice. It is something the Circle has held for a long time, but has never used."
[19:38] <@John> "Never written a story before..." John mutters, unsure if any good would come of starting now.
[19:38] <Gildas> "Well, that might be the key we're looking for..." Gildas opens his other book to the passage he was looking for. "Does the name Ribby mean anything to you? Wandering little thing... about... this tall?" Gildas leans down to demonstrate.
[19:44] <@Kotono> The panther slowly licks his chops. "Yes," Is the answer.
[19:46] <Gildas> "I'll have to hear his whole story sometime, too." Gildas makes a note. He turns the book over and holds it in front of the panther's face. "He came and told us that he found the location of where the Sidhe put the secret to their mantles. It's under the sea of fire down below."
[19:47] <Gildas> "He basically told us how to go there and... ah... well, find it, I suppose is the bottom line. We thought you all might have some other knowledge that might assist us."
[19:50] <@Kotono> The chop-licking ceases. The panther's gaze bores into Gildas at his words, "Fascinating. What will you do with it?"
[19:51] * Quits: Feather_ (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net) (Ping timeout)
[19:52] * Joins: Feather_ (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net)
[19:52] <@John> "Well we dunno really," John speaks up, "If we took away all their mantles they might stop being crazy, but I guess they like their mantles and not all of them are troublemakers so... we have to figure out more I guess?"
[19:52] <Gildas> "It's hard to answer that question, because we don't have any idea what it actually is." Gildas takes a breath. "But... If we could understand what corrupted the fey... why they have this... unnatural devotion to their mantles..." He looks down at the grass. "I think it'd be for the best. It'd be something that would cease hostilities... you'd never again have children captured, or people
[19:52] <Gildas> cursed... There'd be harmony. At least, that's the thought."
[19:53] <Gildas> Gildas turns and nods to John and gestures at him. "We can't say what we'd do exactly, but... I don't think we can simply ignore the opportunity, either."
[18:04] <@Kotono> "Do as you will," The panther replies, "It will be your hunt?"
[18:05] <Gildas> "Well, we have some preparations we need to make first... We need to find a member of the Sidhe who would know the actual location. The older, the better." Gildas looks around. "I would never think to ask someone their age, but perhaps the Dreamer would fit that requirement...?"
[18:06] <Feather> "If not that, maybe the Dreamer'll know who fits the bill?
[18:06] <Feather> "
[18:07] <@John> "Also we need to get through red hot lava," John adds.
[18:07] <@Kotono> "Can't forget that part," Myann chimes in, "This is all for nothing if we can't get beneath the lava sea."
[18:09] <Gildas> "I have a feeling that book may be the key." Gildas says.
[18:10] <@Kotono> "Would be handy if it is," Myann remarks, as meanwhile the panther goes back to licking its chops.
[18:10] <@Kotono> "The Dreamer will come to you when it is ready," The panther says, "It is not here right now. I am not certain if it knows, but it will be able to set you on the right path."
[18:11] <Feather> "Sounds good," Feather says, not actually sounding like he means it. "There's also our new pal here, with the thorny eyes. It's been a while for him, but any chance of helping him out somehow?"
[18:14] <@Kotono> The panther walks up to the assassin, staring into his eyes. As he does, he grows larger, until they are eye to eye. Without a word, the panther bites deeply into the assassin's head. As blood and brains and rose vines fall away, the panther eats. Yet the assassin doesn't fall. Instead he stands there, head back to normal once the eating is done - but the blood and gray matter on the ground
[18:14] <@Kotono> don't vanish, either. "Not by my hand," The panther finally replies. "Whoever did this knew how to stabilize the situation. The others may be able to help...the fish. Yes, the fish."
[18:15] * Feather gapes at the scene.
[18:15] <@Kotono> The assassin blinks after it is done, reaching up to touch his head gingerly. "What in the hell?" he whispers, staring in sohck.
[18:15] <@Kotono> *shock
[18:16] <@John> "Eww! You alright there?" John asks their new friend in alarm.
[18:16] <@Kotono> Myann's eyes widen and she turns a bit green at this.
[18:16] <Feather> "Uhh. Fish gonna bite him too?" Feather asks with a wince.
[18:16] <@Kotono> "The fish never bite," The panther shoots back, immediately. "Not for this."
[18:17] <Gildas> Gildas wrinkles his nose because damn. "Ah... well, I hate to just leave him here and wait, but... I'm not sure what else we do."
[18:17] <Feather> "Rrrright." Feather nods slowly. "Any idea when they gonna come back from all the places they gotta go to?"
[18:17] <@Kotono> "Not today, not tomorrow, but soon. One day, and for the rest of your life," The voice comes from above, a lyrical and feminine tone.
[18:17] * @John looks up.
[18:17] <@Kotono> Myann looks up as well.
[18:18] * Feather follows everyone's lead!
[18:18] <Gildas> Gildas indeed follows suit.
[18:21] <@Kotono> "They will return when the time is right, soon." The panther says, not looking up. Above you is a single wind as long as a man is tall. A white dove's wing, slowly descending. The only mouth on it is a single pair of ruby-red lips, looking as if they were painted on. Despite being a mere bit of artistry, they move as if alive. "Today is but tomorrow come early. Tomorrow is a promise. I promise
[18:21] <@Kotono> you that we will try. Like the dandelions on the wind." At this, dandelion fluff blows through the air on a newborn breeze. "The wandering child is but the lost child come early. The lost child is but a survivor. I promise you that you will survive."
[18:22] <@Kotono> "What?" Myann says, staring up, then back down at the others, then back up.
[18:22] * Feather blinks, before turning towards the assassin. "Uh, guess we'll camp outside and visit again tomorrow? That's the only part I got."
[18:23] <Gildas> roll 1d20+12 as requested
[18:23] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+12 as requested and gets 22." [1d20=10]
[18:23] <@John> "Yeah but, doesn't 'tomorrow never come'?" John asks, thinking that it's just flowery talk about nothing.
[18:26] <Gildas> Gildas winces for a moment, then moves to kneel down as if something just overtook him. "Gah..."
[18:26] <@Kotono> "Tomorrow is but today, as was yesterday and the day before." The wing replies, coming down. It wraps around the assassin, who is suddenly stone still. A feather moves like a prehensile tail, stroking his cheek. "I promise you that you will survive. Like the dandelions on the wind." Another gust of air and puffy white dandelion fluff, scattering all about. "I thank all of you for this. Tomorrow
[18:26] <@Kotono> may have never come without today's labors."
[18:26] <@Kotono> "Gildas?" Myann goes to him, "You alright?"
[18:27] <Feather> "Time to go!"
[18:27] <@Kotono> "Wait," The panther approaches, "Feather and Myann. Search the grasses behind you. You are still due your wedding gift."
[18:27] <Gildas> He takes a breath and nods very slowly. He quietly responds "Just... a moment. I'll be all right."
[18:28] * Feather scratches his cheek and decides to take a look, to not offend their creepy friends.
[18:29] <@Kotono> Myann joins him, and mutters to Feather, "It doesn't make any sense to me, either." In the grasses you find a single scroll, wrapped in golden cord.
[18:29] <Feather> "Unwrap it?" he whispers to Myann.
[18:30] <@Kotono> "What is a return but tomorrow's promise? A promise is my vow that tomorrow will come. That, I promise you," The wing says, as it begins to rise, assassin lifted up with her. He says not a thing, nor does he move, just like a statue.
[18:32] <@Kotono> Myann does so. She scans it and murmurs, "...goodness! This a scroll of the spell Heal, one of the greatest restoratives there is! This could have fixed Gildas's arm in an instant, or heal someone to full health in a second."
[18:32] <@John> "Uh... so he's gonna be fixed by the time we get back, right?" John asks, unsure if this is just a random kidnapping or not.
[18:32] <@Kotono> OOC: Loot post.
[18:34] <@Kotono> "It will be fixed tomorrow, when tomorrow comes," The panther growls, "It speaks in riddles and allusions, but if it believes he can be altered, it will be so. Camp outside a day and see."
[18:34] <@Kotono> The panther pauses to lie down, shrinking back down to size, "If he does not have a mantle, there is still hope. Whomever saved him was worthy of respect."
[18:35] <@John> "Well, nice day for it at least," John supposes. "We going now?"
[18:36] <Gildas> Gildas stays in a kneeled position and seems to just be catching his breath at the moment.
[18:36] <@Kotono> OOC: Heading back out, y'all?
[18:36] <Feather> OOC: y
[18:37] <Gildas> OOC: Yar.
[18:37] <@Kotono> Thus the party heads back out. Setting up camp is easy and soon enough Myann has a nice lunch cooking over the campfire. As she stirs it, a sigh escapes her, "I'm as lost as all of you are there. It doesn't make any more sense to me even if I am a Sidhe. I have no idea what that wing was, either."
[18:38] <@John> "Yeah, wish people would just say what they mean, right?"
[18:39] <Gildas> "For a moment, when it came down... " He shakes his head. "I just was overcome with sickness. I don't know why. They truly are a ... unique sort." Gildas takes a breath and casts a spell on himself. OOC: Greater Resistance.
[18:40] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[18:41] <@Kotono> "You know, if we get to the bottom of this, we should see about having the world make more damned sense," Myann remarks as she stirs lunch. "It's one thing to have the insane locked away in a sanitarium, but it's another to have them running around with great magical power."
[18:43] <Gildas> "They do tend to keep to themselves, though. I mean, had we never come here, we'd never have even... seen anything particularly odd. Well, besides the panther."
[18:43] <Gildas> "But what's one purple panther that talks in comparison to a taffy monster?" He smiles.
[18:46] <@Kotono> OOC: Ready to move along, y'all?
[18:47] <@John> OOC: yeah
[18:52] <@Kotono> The next morning dawns...rosy. The entire area around the camp and the Circle's tree is covered in new grown roses. Red roses as far as the eye can see.
[18:53] <@John> "Flowers shouldn't grow overnight," John says unhappily, sitting up from his bedroll and looking around.
[18:53] <Feather> "Hope they didn't plant that guy," Feather mutters, eyeing the roses warily.
[18:56] <@Kotono> Myann does the same, "There's a lot of things that shouldn't happen," she agrees with John. Yet as you look around, you see a figure approaching. An unremarkable man clad in simple, homespun clothes. His face, brown eyes and brown hair are completely unremarkable.
[18:56] <Gildas> "Well, in theory, Myann got planted when she got saved..." Gildas recalls.
[18:57] <@John> "Hullo?" John calls to the man. Hopefully it won't lead to violence...
[18:57] <Feather> "That you? Hells, never got your name before, did we?"
[19:00] <@Kotono> He nods - slowly and carefully. "I didn't want to give it," he remarks, voice the same. "Elusar." He looks around slowly, carefully, "I never thought..." he runs a hand over his face, "Let alone that it would happen so quickly. What the wing said was that the old man stopped and stabilized the progression before a mantle could get involved. That it was like a stable resosil change rather than
[19:00] <@Kotono> the full effect of the Fair Foilk."
[19:01] <Feather> "Makes sense."
[19:03] <@John> "Lucky," John says, nodding.
[19:03] <Gildas> Gildas nods to Elusar. "Well, I'm glad things worked out for you. What do you plan to do now?"
[19:18] <@Kotono> "I owe all of you...and even that wing thing," he says, "I'm going back to Volgard to clear things up with Ms. Guldleaf."
[19:20] <Gildas> "Don't get yourself into trouble."
[19:20] <Feather> "Sounds good," Feather says a bit dubiously. "Gildas, still gonna try and send a letter?"
[19:20] <@John> "Yeah, good luck getting back there," John adds.
[19:21] <Gildas> "I would like to have a conversation with her." He says with a nod to Elusar. "Could you please pass that on?"
[19:21] <@Kotono> "I will," he says, "If you have a letter, better to take it now than wait for the trip back."
[19:22] <Feather> "And hey, if you hear about good ways to travel in lava, let us know?"
[19:23] <Gildas> Gildas shakes his head. "I don't have time to write everything I need to say. You can have her send a letter to our village if she wishes."
[19:24] <@Kotono> "I will," he says, turning to depart. OOC: Okay, so are y'all gonna return home now, pending news about the Dreamer?
[19:24] <@John> OOC: sure
[19:25] <Feather> OOC: Actually, can we talk to the bugbear dwarf?
[19:25] <@Kotono> OOC: Forgar? Sure.
[19:26] <Gildas> OOC: While we're there, I wouldn't mind taking a second shot at the book with his magic doodad device.
[19:26] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure, we'll cover that IC.
[19:26] <@Kotono> Forgar's place is on the edge of town. You get there well before lunchtime, finding him directing Mr. Smiles. Said golem is moving a brand new scrollcase, positioning it just so. "Oh, customers?" He looks and sees the party, "Heard you went out on a field trip."
[19:27] <@Kotono> *Smiley
[19:28] <Feather> "News travels fast!" Feather says with a grin. "And we're here as customers, maybe. I guess. So say you wanted to go into a sea of lava. How would you do it?"
[19:28] <Gildas> "Something like that." Gildas says, holding onto the Book of Realized Fantasies.
[19:30] <@Kotono> Myann goes to sit in a chair near one of the scrollcases. "Preferably without having to get a Sidhe of lava or fire to help us. I think we've had our doses of unentertaining madness for the year."
[19:32] <Gildas> "I think this book could help with that. In... some fashion."
[19:32] <@Kotono> "You jump in," he shrugs, "You'd die horribly, but you'd get in." After a beat and gesturing for Smiley to put down the scrollcase, "You mean surviving the dip? That's tougher. A wall of force can stop lava, but it doesn't stop heat. If you could get a ship reinforced by that and with something to absorb the heat AND something to supply air? I don't see why not." He chuckles after, "So much
[19:32] <@Kotono> easier said than done."
[19:33] <@Kotono> Giving the book a glance, "Fancy. Don't think I've ver seen a forgefucked book made of quartz."
[19:33] <Feather> "What I'm thinking, Smiley could do it? Yeah? And if not, you could make a Smiley that could?"
[19:34] <Gildas> "It's apparently something that makes stories real. So if we said, say, something that could carry us down through lava safely and back... it might work." Gildas says. "But I'd like some time to try and examine it first... I couldn't make heads or tails of it before."
[19:34] <@John> "Be a trick getting a ship down from here to there though," John says.
[19:34] <@Kotono> "Go on," He jerks a thumb back at the setup, "Give it your best shot."
[19:35] <Feather> "Could build it there, though," Feather muses.
[19:35] <@Kotono> "Smiley would met," he says, stomping on over to it, "Lava's just melted stone, after all."
[19:35] <Gildas> Gildas does over to try again!
[19:35] <Gildas> roll 1d20+16+2
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+16+2 and gets 19." [1d20=1]
[19:35] <Feather> "Huh. So no way you can think of to make a golem or ship or whichever that works?"
[19:38] <@John> "Here, I've got an idea," John says, taking the book off Gildas and looking for something to write with - should be easy enough in Forgar's scroll shop. Suitably armed he opens the book and scribbles, 'And then John knew exactly what the book does.'
[19:38] <@Kotono> As Gildas settles in to get to work, "I can think of ways," he retorts, "They're just going to incredibly expensive and difficult." Going to settle back, "Look. In theory, give me enough money and access to an archmage and I could cast a spell that would let me make a wish reality." Waving a hand, "Just like waving away a bad smell. With the right resources, skill and time, magic can do anything.
[19:38] <@Kotono> But it's rarely cheap or easy." OOC: What's your PP supply, John?
[19:38] <@John> OOC: 14, lets say I'm on 13/14 for my inertial armour
[19:39] <Feather> "How expensive we talking about here?"
[19:40] <@Kotono> OOC: All 13 PP are expended. More coming.
[19:43] <@Kotono> On writing in the book, John's mind is momentarily drained dry. It's like having his thoughts sucked out and spat aside. But new knowledge comes in to fill it. The book can make fantasy reality. It consumes your mental energies (power points) to create vivid fantasies that seem as reality. These effects can sometimes become actual reality. The stronger the effect, the less likely it is to work
[19:43] <@Kotono> or to last. On the flip side, anything that happens in the fantasies doesn't last, including injury or death.
[19:44] <@Kotono> "Expensive," he fires back, "Tens of thousands of gold coins. You'd best start saving up. I can have an exact figure once we decide on something and I make some estimates."
[19:44] <Gildas> Gildas watches John!
[19:45] <Feather> "Make some estimates," Feather tells Forgar immediately. "Give us options, okay? We'll pick what works best and work for that."
[19:46] <@Kotono> "Sure." Forgar goes back and brings ink, quill and parchment. He begins to scribble away, "One of you do me a favor and grab me some lunch?" he asks, "I'll be at this-" Suddenly mushrooms sprout up from the table, around his work. "Right. Mushrooms."
[19:47] <@John> "Ooof, sucked all the magic out of me!" John says in surprise. "Worked though. Yeah, you just write what you want and it'll take away your magic to make a fantasy. Sometimes they even stick around, but not if it's something big. Uh, and anything that happens doesn't last? Dunno how that squares with stuff sticking around, but that's what I know. Any of you want to write in it? I can't use it again today anyway," he offers the book around.
[19:47] <Feather> "Huh. Mind if I try?" Feather asks.
[19:48] <@John> "Go for it," the book is handed over.
[19:49] <Gildas> "I wonder if you have to be specific." Gildas asks aloud. "Or if you could just write 'give me the power to take us beneath the lava safely' or something."
[19:50] * Quits: Feather (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net) (Ping timeout)
[19:51] * Joins: Feather_ (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net)
[19:51] * Feather_ is now known as Feather
[19:51] * Feather writes how he wants Forgar to have a nice ham sandwich since he's helping them plan things.
[19:52] <@John> "Well it's a fantasy, so I dunno if it'd work for that," John says. "Try and use it to get under the lake or something first? Scratch a message on the wall and then we can check if it's actually there tomorrow?"
[19:53] <@Kotono> OOC: Spell charges, Feather?
[19:53] <Feather> OOC: 6/6 lvl0, 5/5 lvl1, 2/2 lvl2
[19:54] <@Kotono> Feather's brain burns. IT feels like raw, liquid power is being funneled into his mind, alighting within his thoughts, and then channeling out of his body. As Forgar plucks a mushroom up, it is suddenly a ham sandwich instead. OOC: Both level 2 charges gone and 4 level 1 charges gone.
[19:55] * Feather nods in satisfaction, feeling straightly lightheaded.
[19:57] <@Kotono> Forgar gives the sandwich a look, before taking a bite out of it. "Ham and...mushrooms? It's stil pretty damned good," he says, eating it rather quickly.
[20:00] <Gildas> "I wonder if we can all write in it at once?"
[20:00] <@Kotono> "Good question," Myann murmurs, "That panther mentioned someone who studied the gift made it. If Feather can use it...hmm. You don't suddenly feel lik ea creepy child's stalking you, Feather?"
[20:01] <Feather> "Nah." Feather shudders. "Always had my magic, nothing strange about it."
[20:02] <@John> "Nothing strange about mine either," John grumps.
[20:03] <Gildas> "Wait." Gildas looks over. "I have an idea. Why not write something like 'we have the knowledge to pass through the lava without harm,' or something like that?"
[20:03] <Gildas> "Maybe we're just overcomplicating it."
[20:04] <Feather> "So we have it, until we don't? And by that time we're knee-deep in lava?"
[20:05] <@John> "Well no if you know it you can write it down," John says. "Might turn into gibberish later on, but only way to know's to try, right?"
[20:06] <@Kotono> "Maybe try it a little more removed, then?" Myann suggests, "Like writing down that we know who can help us reach the lava?"
[20:06] <@Kotono> "Er," Clearing her throat, "I mean, get through the lava."
[20:06] <Gildas> Gildas points at Myann. "That's an idea. We could also just wait for the Dreamer and see where that leads us. They might have the knowledge."
[20:07] <Gildas> "I mean... they put the secret beneath the lava in the first place, right? So they had to have... gone through there."
[20:10] <@Kotono> The party blinks. A moment ago, you swear Forgar was eating a ham sandwich. But he's plucking up the same mushroom as he was when it transformed, raising it up to take a bite.
[20:11] <@John> "Yeah, see," John says, pointing. "And that was with a little thing like a sandwich."
[20:11] * Feather nods. "What I was thinking."
[20:11] <Gildas> "Right, but there's nothing preventing you from writing the knowledge of how the book works down, right?"
[20:11] <@Kotono> "Yeah, I think I get it now. It's an actual, real fantasy. But just that, a fantasy."
[20:11] <@Kotono> OOC" Gah.
[20:12] <@Kotono> "Yeah, I think I get it now. It's an actual, real fantasy. But just that, a fantasy." Myann says, curiously going over and giving the mushroom a looksee. Forgar takes a bite and places it down, "Doesn't taste the least like ham, either. I can sort of remember what the sandwich was like...but like how you remember eating something in a dream."
[20:12] <@John> "Well go on then, write down that you know how to safely get through lava and write what you figure out on another bit of paper?" John suggests.
[20:14] <Gildas> "All right." Gildas nods and stands up. He gets another piece of parchment ready to write anything down and then puts in the book 'I have the knowledge of how to pass through lava safely'.
[20:15] <@Kotono> OOC: Spell slots remaining?
[20:15] <Gildas> OOC: 1/1 lv5, 1/2 lv4, 3/3 lv3, 4/4 lv2, 4/4 lv1 and 6/6 0
[20:16] <@Kotono> OOC: Everything from 5th-3rd is gone, as well as all but one 2nd level spell. I'll let you choose which. 1st and 0 level are intact. More comign.
[20:17] <Gildas> OOC: Roger.
[20:17] <@Kotono> Knowledge fills Gildas's mind. It's an alien swarm of knowing, his spells rising up and bursting into liquid fire in his mind. It channels out as incomprehensible and potent magical diagrams fill his mind to bursting. But he KNOWS! He seems to know so much, if he can just write it down and put it into words...!!!
[20:19] <Gildas> Gildas tries to write down the thoughts filling his mind, taking additional parchment if needed to do so!
[20:20] <@Kotono> Gildas scribbles away. Such wonderous things and idea,s a blur of creativity - but after a few moments you're suddenly back where you are, standing over the book. The knowledge you had is gone like dust on the wind, as is all the writing you did. You can remember that you -knew-, but you can't remember WHAT you knew. It's like a maddening gap.
[20:22] <Gildas> Gildas blinks and frowns. "So it won't even let you write it... interesting."
[20:24] <Gildas> Gildas looks over at John. "You can still remember how to use the book, right?"
[20:24] <@Kotono> "It's like..." Myann frowns and considers, "It's like we're daydreaming from the moment you write in the book until it ends."
[20:25] <@John> "Yeah, well it's like you write in it and it happens," John affirms. "But that's pretty basic stuff so it'll probably stay with me longer. And I've seen you all use it too, so y'know... I know it for real now, don't I?"
[20:26] <Gildas> Gildas shakes his head. "No, I think you have to be the one who writes in the book. I think it's made of mental magic."
[20:26] <@John> "Well alright, I'll try the lava thing tomorrow," John shrugs.
[20:27] <@Kotono> "I could try channeling my mantle's power into it," Myann idly suggests, "Though I think it's a terrible idea, like we're just asking for insane or horrible things to happen. Which means if you have the same idea, please don't ask."
[20:28] <@John> "Yeah, but y'know what you could do?" John says, "If you want a break from the mushrooms and stuff you can write in that you're a normal elf, get a few minutes peace and quiet up there."
[20:28] <Gildas> "We could also all try writing the same thing." Gildas suggests.
[20:29] <@Kotono> "I'm not sure I even want to try it," Myann hesitates here a moment, "I know that sometimes I start to lose my grasp on what's real and what's not, like the Sidhe do. It's just...I have so much strangeness in my life already, and now I'm married. I don't want to bring any more on our house."
[20:29] <@John> "Yeah, good point," John nods.
[20:30] <@Kotono> "Playing with unknown magical items is dangerous. Lucrative, but dangerous," Forgar agrees. "If you're serious about working with this book, I'd take lots of notes and work carefully. See if you can puzzle out the rules it follows, whatever they are."
[20:32] <Gildas> Gildas nods. "That's an idea. Perhaps we ask John to try the lava knowledge tomorrow and see what happens, then just wait for the Dreamer?"
[18:01] <@Kotono> The next day, the party gathers at John's. The book is there as...OOC: Go ahead and do your thing, John.
[18:05] <@John> "Okay," John holds the book up on his knee as he sits with legs crossed, staring at the still mostly blank first page after yesterday's stories. Thinking a moment, he reaches down and begins to scribble across it. 'That day just after breakfast, John had a startling realisation! He knew exactly what he'd have to do to get safely beneath the sea of lava. Who knows what kind of adventures he'll have down there?' He figures a little narrative flourish can't hurt, and so he writes in the style of the weak prose of awful bard stories that he's most familiar with.
[18:06] <Gildas> OOC: I'm just going to cast Greater Resistance on myself in the mornings until further notice.
[18:06] <Gildas> Gildas watches John write!
[18:08] <@Kotono> John feels his brain burn, energy leaving him. But it's a good feeling, as the party suddenly find themselves somewhere far warmer. You stand in a 30ft by 70ft tube, 10ft tall. The walls are all perfectly clear, a sea of lava in all directions. Ahead is a steering wheel - John remembers building this...this...lava submersible. Ahead is a ship's wheel. It's hot here, but not so hot as to be
[18:08] <@Kotono> unbearable.
[18:08] <@Kotono> OOC: -10 PP.
[18:08] <Gildas> Gildas blinks. Then blinks again. "A..... ...what?"
[18:10] <@John> "Haha, it worked!" John crows, stepping up to take the wheel which he starts just spinning around randomly. "Yeah, I didn't write the rest of the story so I don't think we'll actually get to have proper adventures down here."
[18:10] <@Kotono> Myann looks about, eyes wide and a hand going to her mouth. "Oh....goodness!"
[18:10] <Feather> "How does it come back up?" Feather asks, touching the clear wall carefully.
[18:10] <@Kotono> Woosh! At this, the ship begins to shake and swirl about in all directions! OOC: Acrobatics checks, y'all.
[18:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[18:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 20." [1d20=7]
[18:10] <@John> roll 1d20+18
[18:10] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+18 and gets 20." [1d20=2]
[18:10] <Feather> roll 1d20+16
[18:10] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+16 and gets 19." [1d20=3]
[18:11] <Gildas> "Are we... we're not really down there, are we? This is all just a fant--" Gildas is cut off by the sudden shaking!
[18:11] <Gildas> roll 1d20+14
[18:11] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+14 and gets 15." [1d20=1]
[18:12] <@Kotono> The shaking sends the party off balance. In particular, Gildas is sent sprawling down, prone! When it stops, the ship is at a slight upwards angle. Outside, you can see a blurry, indistinct shape. It seems to be made of shadows and darkness. It is just outside of the ship's front nose, blurry appendages - tentacles or arms or something else, you can't say for sure - coming up to strike the nose
[18:12] <@Kotono> of the sub! OOC: Init here.
[18:12] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+4 blurry fantasy
[18:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 blurry fantasy and gets 8." [1d20=4]
[18:12] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Myann
[18:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 Myann and gets 5." [1d20=3]
[18:12] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[18:12] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 20." [1d20=12]
[18:13] * Kotono changes topic to 'Feather(20)>Blurry Fantasy(8)>Myann(5)'
[18:13] <@John> roll 1d20+7
[18:13] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[18:13] * Kotono changes topic to 'Feather(20)>John(9)>Blurry Fantasy(8)>Myann(5)'
[18:13] <Gildas> roll 1d20+3
[18:13] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+3 and gets 17." [1d20=14]
[18:13] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas, init.
[18:14] * Kotono changes topic to 'Feather(20)>Gildas(17)>John(9)>Blurry Fantasy(8)>Myann(5)'
[18:14] <@Kotono> OOC: Open Feather.
[18:14] * Kotono changes topic to 'Feather(20)>Gildas(17 prone)>John(9)>Blurry Fantasy(8)>Myann(5)'
[18:15] * Feather stares at the tentacles outside, and then shakes his head firmly.
[18:15] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas.
[18:16] <Gildas> Gildas spends the moment just getting back up to his feet! "Um... Maybe try and turn the wheel to get us out of here...?" He asks.
[18:16] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. John.
[18:17] * Kotono changes topic to 'Feather(20)>Gildas(17)>John(9)>Blurry Fantasy(8)>Myann(5)'
[18:17] <@John> "Or ramming speed!" John says brightly, for all that he has no idea how to work any of this stuff, and so he just spins the wheel around a bit. "Yeah, sorry I didn't write in a proper monster or anything, so it's like this."
[18:18] <@Kotono> OOC: Make an int check. Goooooooood luck.
[18:20] <@John> roll 1d20-1
[18:20] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20-1 and gets 11." [1d20=12]
[18:20] <@Kotono> The ship spins more or less ahead! It rams HARD into the creature ahead, knocking it back! (More)
[18:20] <@Kotono> roll 10d6 RAMMING SPEED and more coming
[18:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 RAMMING SPEED and more coming and gets 27." [10d6=3, 1, 1, 2, 6, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4]
[18:21] <@Kotono> The impact buckles the sub, which stops suddenly -a nd sends everyone rushing forward! OOC: Acrobatics checks again, y'all.
[18:21] <@John> roll 1d20+18
[18:21] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+18 and gets 19." [1d20=1]
[18:21] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Myann
[18:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Myann and gets 20." [1d20=7]
[18:21] <Gildas> roll 1d20+14
[18:21] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+14 and gets 19." [1d20=5]
[18:23] <@Kotono> OOC: Feather?
[18:23] <Feather> roll 1d20+16
[18:23] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+16 and gets 34." [1d20=18]
[18:25] <@Kotono> The party is thrown forward. Feather immediately plants his feet hard, stopping his momentum. Myann reaches out for him, a lasso of stringy fungi appearing in her hand. It throws out on its own accord, wrapping around Feather's wrist.This lets her hang on, preventing a further impact. But Gildas and John are not so lucky, racing on towards face-first impacts with the front of the sub!
[18:25] <@Kotono> roll 6d6 ow, John and Gildas full, Feather and Myann none
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6 ow, John and Gildas full, Feather and Myann none and gets 14." [6d6=1, 3, 6, 2, 1, 1]
[18:25] <@Kotono> WHAM! The two impact loudly, plastered against the front of the sub. The pain is considerable, as...OOC: Blurry Fatnasy is up.
[18:25] * Feather winces, steadying himself against the wall. "Gotta add some padding to this thing if we build it...."
[18:26] <@Kotono> Dropping the lasso and getting her balance, "No kid-" Myann begins, as the blurry fantasy dives in from above! (More)
[18:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 51." [1d100=51]
[18:27] <@Kotono> The fantasy seems a little more solid now - tentacles. Yes, flaming red tentacles that strike at the very top and middle of the submarine!
[18:27] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:27] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:27] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:27] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 23." [1d20=13]
[18:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 16." [1d20=6]
[18:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 16." [1d20=6]
[18:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 14." [1d20=4]
[18:27] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 18." [1d20=8]
[18:27] <@Kotono> roll 4d8+12
[18:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+12 and gets 39." [4d8=6, 8, 8, 5]
[18:28] <@Kotono> The top of the sub cracks all over, the assault of tentacles making visible stress points. But it holds, at least for now! OOC: Myann's up.
[18:29] <@Kotono> Myann stares up, "Any other ideas?" she fires back, as...OOC: Holding. Feather.
[18:30] <Feather> "Hey, where's that book?" Feather calls out. "Let me write in some, uh, grappler arms or somethin' to this here thing!"
[18:32] <@Kotono> The book isn't around that you see, at first. Then after a moment, you can see it sitting on the floor, next to the sub's wheel.
[18:32] <@Kotono> "Grappler arms?" Myann turns and stares, "How does a ship have arms that grapple?"
[18:34] * Feather dashes for it and sits down to write in the book, 'And then, at their darkest moment, John's ship grew arms and punched the tentacled creature away!'
[18:34] <@Kotono> OOC: Spell charges?
[18:35] <Feather> OOC: 2 lvl2, 5 lvl1, 6 lvl0
[18:35] <@Kotono> OOC: All but two level 0 spells. More.
[18:36] <@Kotono> FEather feels his body hum, his brain on fire as magic becomes something else and flows out. Suddenly, the wheel has as a lever on either side of it. Outside of the ship, you can see gleaming metal arms!
[18:36] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas.
[18:36] <Feather> "Use the arms to fight back!"
[18:37] <Gildas> Gildas moves over to pull the right lever!
[18:37] <@Kotono> OOC: Int check.
[18:38] <Gildas> roll 1d20+2
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+2 and gets 19." [1d20=17]
[18:38] <@Kotono> Gildas pulls the lever, experimenting. An arm comes up, going for the tentacled blur.
[18:38] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11." [1d20=1]
[18:38] <@Kotono> It fumbles at it, aim good but the blurry mess evading capture. You think. OOC: John. Rotten luck.
[18:40] <@John> Hauling himself up, John lunges at the other lever!
[18:40] <@Kotono> OOC: Int check. +2 since you saw how Gildas did it.
[18:40] <@John> roll 1d20+1
[18:40] * Hatbot --> "John rolls 1d20+1 and gets 16." [1d20=15]
[18:40] <@Kotono> The other arm comes up to deliver metallic justice to the lava menace!
[18:40] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 13." [1d20=3]
[18:41] <@Kotono> But the arm flails uselessly! Myann grunts, "Oh damn it!" she says, going to Gildas's lever and giving it a sharp pull.
[18:41] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 (+2 example)
[18:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 (+2 example) and gets 12." [1d20=9]
[18:41] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 14." [1d20=4]
[18:42] * Kotono changes topic to 'Feather(20)>Gildas(17)>John(9)>Myann>Blurry Fantasy(8)'
[18:42] <@Kotono> The arm comes to life, flailing and failing again. At this, tentacles rain down on the sub once more!
[18:42] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:42] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[18:42] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 13." [1d20=3]
[18:42] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 18." [1d20=8]
[18:42] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[18:42] <@Kotono> roll 3d8+9
[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+9 and gets 23." [3d8=4, 7, 3]
[18:44] <@Kotono> WHAM! WHAM! CRAAAAACK! More blows come. With ineffective arms and bad luck, the top of the sub is free to be plummeled. It gives way and rushing lava pours in. There are a few moments of sublime agony as the party burns alive - then you stand in John's house once more, safe and sound, John having just finished writing. OOC: All damage and resources restored, except what Feather and John used to
[18:44] <@Kotono> write into the book.
[18:44] <@Kotono> OOC: Free act.
[18:44] <Feather> "We'll need better arms," Feather says warily.
[18:45] <@Kotono> "AAAAAAAaaaa...aaaah?" Myann's scream of pain becomes a confused whimper, shuddering once before looking around. She slumps down into a nearby chair, burying her head into her hands. "John, next time we do anything with lava, make a point to emphasize the ship WON'T BREAK."
[18:45] <Gildas> Gildas blinks, then blinks again.
[18:46] <@John> "Aaaaoobwohuh!" John makes his own strange noise of pain and confusion. "Lets just not bother with lava anymore? It's all make believe anyway, right? Just use it for fun."
[18:48] <Gildas> "I think it might be best... to just wait until we hear from The Dreamer, then go from there." Gildas says. "We may find a way to bypass the lava... somehow."
[18:48] * Feather decides to keep quiet about how he thought it was fun, and worth the few moments of imaginary horrible death.
[18:48] <@Kotono> "I think..." Myann slowly exhales again and again, "I think it would be useful if employed wisely, for training."
[18:48] <Feather> "What sorta training?"
[18:48] <@John> "Yeah, we could fight dragons and stuff!" John perks up, "It'd seem real enough but there'd be no harm in the end."
[18:52] <@Kotono> "What John said," Myann remarks, "That strikes me as the best use for it so far."
[18:54] <Gildas> Gildas nods. "That'd be interesting."
[18:54] <@Kotono> As the party chats, there's a knocking on the door, followed by, "John, y'all in there?" Sounds like Samuel. "It's Samuel from the tavern, heard the others were seen coming your way."
[18:55] <@John> "Yeah, come in," John calls over.
[18:56] <@Kotono> Samuel does just that. "Shit alive, you all need to come see this. They've all been having one devil of a morning. They pulled a carrot out early and it's longer than a two hander sword. Then they reckon to check the pigs and...well, you should see it all yourselves."
[18:57] <@John> "Got me curious now," John says, heading out after Samuel.
[18:58] * Feather peers at Gildas.
[18:58] <Gildas> "It's exactly what you think it is." He responds to the unasked question.
[19:00] <@Kotono> The party heads on over to the pig pens first. Here you see the Missus inside, wearing an old and mudstained dress. A few pigs have been herded away from the others. They tend to stand out, as they each have a dangling mushroom growing from their forehead. "Careful of these pigs," she says, "If you touch one...well, you'll see."
[19:01] <@John> "I thought you meant they'd be giant pigs," John says disappointedly.
[19:01] <Gildas> "That I don't have anything to do with." Gildas states firmly.
[19:03] <@Kotono> "Yeah," Myann looks on and hms, "Maybe feeding them all those special mushroom was ill advised?" Myann asks, hopping over the fence and in. She goes over to the pig and gently pats the mushroom atop its head. "...oh. Oh." she murmurs, before looking back over. "Say, can any of you think of uses for mushrooms that cause mushroom hallucinations by skin contact?"
[19:03] <Feather> "Uh, is that what touching them does?" Feather asks, patting another.
[19:03] <@Kotono> OOC: Regular or mushroom?
[19:04] <Feather> OOC: Mushroom
[19:04] <@John> "Are they fun hallucinations?"
[19:04] <Gildas> "We could use it as a combat spell." Gildas says. "If someone hits us, then they'd be afflicted, correct?"
[19:05] <@Kotono> Feather paaaaaaaaaaaa....the world becomes a swirl of colors. It's like he's swimming in the air. Colors all over, colors and shapes. He can feel and taste them rather than see them. What he sees is the taste of bacon, a wonderfully crackly, greasy, boiling thing to his eyes. All his cares fade away, replaced by a serene wonder.
[19:05] <Feather> "Nice bacon..." he repeats in wonder.
[19:06] <@Kotono> "I can ask the mushrooms to stop making people hallucinate before they're butchered," Myann remarks, "Which should solve any problems with edability." At the same time she goes to Feather's side, going to support him.
[19:06] <@Kotono> Feather is being held by a mushroom. Mushrooms all over - his eyes widen as his nose tastes the mushrooms besides him. It brings a giggle to his lips as he floats on and on and on.
[19:07] <Gildas> "Do you think you could turn it into one of those spells you hit us with?" Gildas asks. "So the next person who touches us gets... hmm... infected, perhaps is the word?"
[19:07] <@Kotono> "Maybe. Probably." Myann says, "Hold that thought." A pause as she starts to lead Feather away, "Come on, there's time for the special mushrooms later," she murmurs, "Come with me."
[19:08] <Gildas> "That must be some strong stuff."
[19:08] <@Kotono> The Missus nods, "I touched one and ended up trying to make snow angels in the mud." she remarks, "It doesn't last long, at least, but it acts on contact."
[19:10] <@John> "Do the pigs set each other off?" John asks, wondering if they've built up a tolerance for it.
[19:12] <@Kotono> Myann examines the pigs a moment, "I think they're developed a tolerance," she says, "Come on, Feather. Snap out of it." She lightly flicks the side of his head. At the same time, Feather can taste mushrooms glaring at the other mushrooms, before his vision clears and reality is normal again.
[19:13] <Feather> "Huh."
[19:15] <@Kotono> The Missus follows Myann out of the muck. "I'd say it's strange, but right now the giant vegetables are still getting all the attention. Did you know we've already harvested enough for the year? There's some traders in town and we're doing good on that alone."
[19:17] <@John> "You know we could set up proper trade routes with the other towns nearby," John suggests. "They don't have to grow as much food so they can make other stuff to trade with us for our food, we can get more finished goods and stuff in turn."
[19:19] <@Kotono> "Robert's been talking about that," Samuel adds in, "When he gets a few in him. Carve some real roads out of the forest."
[19:19] <Gildas> "I wonder if those gem-fruit trees will grow up here with these conditions..." Gildas says. "Those might sell for a lot."
[19:22] <@Kotono> "It's something to see about," Myann murmurs, as...OOC: Are y'lall ready to move along now?
[19:22] <Gildas> OOC: Sho
[19:28] <@Kotono> The next few days pass in the normal routine. Summer is onto the Vastwoods. The days grow long, warm and bright. One night the party sleeps - unremarkable, resting safely in their beds. Yet the normal fog of dreams begins to part. The party finds themselves fully dressed and equipped, standing before a trio of doors free-standing in an open field. Each door has a plaque on it, engraved with
[19:28] <@Kotono> writing. OOC: It's been a few days, so assume full resources.
[19:30] <Gildas> Gildas blinks and looks around before looking to see what each plaque says. "I guess she found us."
[19:30] <@Kotono> "Eh?" Myann slowly looks around, rubbing her eyes, "I reckon she did."
[19:30] <Feather> "Myann?" Feather asks, squinting at everyone in turn. "Gildas? John? This what I think it is?"
[19:31] <@John> Noting the coherency of his thoughts, John nods. "S'a dream but not a regular one, right? And we're all real together?"
[19:31] <@Kotono> The first plaque reads, "For gentle dreams." The second plaque reads, "For what dreams may come." The third plaque reads, "For those who wish to brave nightmares."
[19:31] <@Kotono> "I'm here," Myann goes over to Feather. "I think it's the Dreamer's work."
[19:32] <@John> "So... we're adventurers, right? We can handle nightmares?" John figures, looking over at the third door.
[19:33] <Gildas> Gildas rubs his chin and gestures at the plaques. "I agree with John."
[19:34] <Feather> "Guess we could. Why are we here again? I know we wanted to ask something...."
[19:35] <@Kotono> "I think it's because she's a Sidhe," Myann remarks, "Why help when you can get some entertainment first?" A sigh follows as she crosses her arms under her breasts.
[19:35] <@John> "We wanted to know where the mantles are, right?"
[19:35] <Gildas> "No, we're asking her about the oldest Sidhe."
[19:36] <Gildas> Gildas continues. "But if -she- is, then... yes. I think."
[19:37] <Feather> "I kinda wanna see what's a gentle dream," Feather admit. "Can we take a peek or something?"
[19:39] <@John> "Figure we can try and see what's what," John shrugs agreeably.
[19:40] <Gildas> "Well, it's a dream, so... anything goes, probably."
[19:41] * Feather tries to open the first door and peer past it.
[19:43] <@Kotono> The door of gentle dreams is opened. Ahead is silky darkness, nothing visible except for black.
[19:44] <Feather> "That look gentle to you?"
[19:44] * @John peers in. "Seems restful so long as there's nothing waiting to jump out at you."
[19:46] <Gildas> Gildas nods and carefully opens the third door to see if there's any visible difference.
[19:46] <Feather> "I guess...."
[19:47] <@Kotono> The third door is exactly the same as the first door.
[19:47] <@Kotono> Myann peers down it, "Hmph. No free peeks?"
[19:49] <Feather> "Yeah I just wanna ask her some questions, not fight my dead friends in a nightmare," Feather declares, going through the first door.
[19:50] <@Kotono> "Wise choice," Myann murmurs, "There's enough sorrow in the world without nightmares. She follows Feather.
[19:51] <@John> "May as well stick together," John says, following after them.
[19:51] <Gildas> Gildas shrugs and follows!
[19:52] <@Kotono> Thus dreams come as...OOC: Congratulations, this is a party split point. Gildas in here, Feather in #evildunes and John in #terrorofdunes.
[19:52] * Parts: Feather (~DarkFlame@bzq-79-183-31-180.red.bezeqint.net)
[19:54] <@Kotono> Gildas walks ahead. He stands on a rugged mountain path. A chill wind blows as the thin air invigorates him. The path winds upwards and higher up, towards what looks to be a monastery. Below is further mountain and on the ground is a vast forest, a sea of green.
[19:57] <Gildas> "Peculiar." He walks up the path! He looks around, taking in the scenery as he goes.
[19:58] <@Kotono> It's a mountain. At least as far as Gildas knows, as mountains and the Vastwoods don't really mix. Going up, you find the mountain monastery to have a closed gate. There's a bell, however.
[20:00] <Gildas> He shakes his head, amused, to say the least. He steps over to ring the bell to announce himself!
[20:05] <@Kotono> The bell is rung. It sounds like a hammer hitting hot iron. Nonetheless, the gate to the monastery melts away. You see the monastery has no floor, but instead a pool of water. Not that it stops the robed figure ahead from approaching. It looks like Porridge on a glance, down to a cocky smile and axe. However, he walks atop the water no matter how wrong that is.
[20:06] <Gildas> "Interesting feat." He admits aloud. He simply waits for the figure to approach!
[20:09] <@Kotono> "Everyone learns it here," he says, speaking in Porridge's voice. "We learn how to walk on water and mine gold here. Want to get mining?" The axe is drawn, but now it is a pickaxe instead. "We're going to be rich!"
[20:10] <Gildas> Gildas shakes his head. "I'm not much of a material person. I'm just passing through."
[20:14] <@Kotono> "That's too bad. But you know who else also passed through?" Porridge jerks a thumb back. To the side isn't the monastery anymore, but instead the Vastwoods. You can see the hunter Esha, walking along.
[20:15] <Gildas> "Well, good luck with your mining." He nods and goes to catch up to Esha. OOC: Is the mountain gone, too?
[20:21] <@Kotono> Reality blurs a little bit as you chase after Esha. You were...something. Running, running and running. Ahead is...OOC: Let me pause this room here, since you finished your bit quickly. I'lls ee if I can finish the other two rooms before it gets much past pausing time.
~
[19:56] <@Kotono> Feather's swimming along, minding his own business. It's a beautiful, crystal clear lake with wonderfully cool water. Reclining chairs are scattered about the shoreline, each one taken up by a figure. Beyond that it's a gentle, rolling plain with only a few trees. The sun shines down brightly.
[19:58] * Feather swims closer to shore to circle the lake and peer at the figures resting nearby.
[20:01] <@Kotono> There's the dire bear that attacked the Holset farm (getting a great tan). The next is taken up by the Missus, who lies on her front to sun her back. She isn't wearing anything, but doesn't seem alarmed. The third is Feather's wyvern armor. It's simmering away in the sunlight, surrounded by a haze of humidity. The fourth is the Dragon Emperor, snoozing away. The last is a large green mushroom.
[20:01] <@Kotono> It's smiling, though you can't elaborate on how you know that, as it has no mouth.
[20:02] <Feather> "Why green?"
[20:06] <@Kotono> "You can't understand the heart of a woman or a mushroom. No man can." The mushroom replies in the voice of Brutes. At this, the mushroom blushes bright purple.
[20:10] <Feather> "Can you? And tell me what's going on?" Feather asks the Missus. "Uh, never got your name. That's mighty embarrassing...."
[20:11] <@Kotono> She flips over, her body that of Myann's, even if her face is still that of the Missus. "Oh, you humans never thought to ask?"
[20:13] <Feather> "Don't always ask for a name when you're just passing by," he responds. "Then time passes and it gets all awkward for humans. But you could tell me, since it's a nice dream?"
[20:18] <@Kotono> "Missa," she giggles, and in the voice of a kobold with broken Common, "Missa send you? Shiny pottery ready!"
[20:20] <Feather> "Maybe I did hear it but misunderstood..." Feather says embarrassedly. "Hey, it sounds a lot alike! Them elven names...."
[20:22] <@Kotono> The Dragon Emperor rises, "You should ask," he says, solemn. "You never know when the last chance is. Death comes for us all. More iron," he adds, absently.
[20:23] <@Kotono> The dire bear also rises, speaking in a gentle voice, like the white dragon's, only kinder. "Tomorrow is today, but not everyone makes it to today. Do you understand?"
[20:23] <Feather> "Well, your death came because you sent dragons and stuff to kill us," Feather reasons, getting out of the water. To the bear, he just shakes his head, saying, "I don't even get how you're talking, nevermind what you're saying. Sorry."
[20:27] <@Kotono> The Missus speaks up at this, "It means don't waste today. You never know when it's your last." Her body is now that of the Sidhe Scholar, rising up in one smooth, fluid leap.
[20:28] <@Kotono> "I fear for the future," The dire bear intones, "Because each day, more things are lost. I fear that todya we won't make up enough to make the losses worthwhile."
[20:29] <@Kotono> "I fear for the past," The Dragon Emperor says, gravely, "That we'll make too much and the past will lose all meaning to us."
[20:31] <Feather> "I fear I'm wasting my time." Feather snorts. "So yeah, you know why we wanted to have this chat? Just give it to me straight, are you the one to go to? Or is there someone else we should ask tomorrow, or the tomorrow that comes after?"
[20:32] <@Kotono> "I fear that you won't ever understand." Myann's voice from behind Feather. Her arms wrap around him as she whispers into his ear, "But come ahead if you wish to learn of the phantasm's garden, or stay and seek the council of your dreams."
[20:36] <Feather> "I'm plenty happy, actually," Feather admits. He shrugs. "Got no worries, no need for any council or whichever. Just the one question. So I guess it's the going ahead for me?"
[20:38] <@Kotono> "Go," Myann murmurs, "Go and find the answer ahead."
[20:41] * Feather heads for the trees.
~
[19:57] <@Kotono> John's resting against a remnant of a brick wall. All about him are the ruins of a city. In spite of that, the area is covered with greenery that grows up through it and bright sunshine removes any gloom from it. The air is fresh and clean.
[19:59] <@John> "Huh, how'd I get here? Hey, Feather! Gildas! Myann?" he calls out his friend's names to see if they're nearby, pushing off the wall and looking around.
[20:02] <@Kotono> No answer from them. Instead, from far away, "John? Over here?" It's a woman's voice. Em's offhand, maybe?
[20:04] <@John> "I'm coming!" he shouts back, heading towards the voice. He's pretty sure it's not Myann's voice, and there are certainly less fun people to dream about than Em. Might get a bit awkward if he reunites with the others though...
[20:08] <@Kotono> Ahead is a city square. An improptu bar has been set up, Samuel manning it. Myann in mushroom hawk form sits on his shoulder, bird-napping. Em and Lesea are having a drink at the bar. Nearby, Myann in elf form is trying to hammer a lute back into shape, but it somehow seems utterly unimportant.
[20:10] <@John> "Hullo," John greets everyone, ambling over. It does seem a nice restful setup, he'll give it that. "Anything up here?"
[20:12] <@Kotono> "We were just talking about mushrooms," Myann in dire panther form walks up to the bar, sitting as well. Despite being a panther, she manages to sit like a human. It seems wrong somehow. "Would you like to join us?"
[20:12] <@Kotono> "We were just talking about you," Em giggles, sipping her drink. "Would you like to join us?"
[20:13] <@Kotono> "We were just talking about the mind," Lesea nods, "Would you like to join us?"
[20:15] <@John> He blushes at Em's suggestion for all that Myann's confuses him more by her appearance than her words. Lesea seems the most normal one here given that's what they've talked about a bunch in real life. "Figure that's a lot to keep track of in a conversation," he mumbles, rubbing his head.
[20:19] <@Kotono> "It's not hard," Myann says, her normal panther form going to sit next to the dire panther form. "You just have to be insane, like a Sidhe."
[20:20] <@Kotono> "I don't think so," Lesea says, rather gently. "But I think the mind is the most important. The gift isn't well understood, but I think it should be. If more people could use it, it would help everyone."
[20:20] <@Kotono> Em merely yawns and stretches, "I reckon I need to meet that one maiden," she says, "The pool's over the hill, isn't it?"
[20:23] <@John> "S'just magic, isn't it?" John shrugs weakly, falling on his old standby. "Uh... yeah, maiden sounds pretty good," he agrees with Em, vague alcohol-clouded but pleasant memories flashing through his mind, images of the lovely half-elf mixed in as well.
[20:24] <@Kotono> Em smiles - she seems more mature, somehow, more like Myann rather than a teenager creeping into adulthood. "If it was just magic, you wouldn't be so special."
[20:25] <@Kotono> Lesea rises, going to wrap around John from behind, arms over his shoulders. "People with the gift fascinate me. They make the most vivid dreams. The power of the mind over reality, is it any surprise?"
[20:26] <@Kotono> Eltia chimes in from behind you, "I've been studying this gift for a long time. I've never found an answer that satisfies me."
[20:26] <@Kotono> "But," Dire panther Myann finishes, "I never walk away unsatisfied, either."
[20:27] <@John> "Yeah but... s'not like any of the stuff I do's different than Feather or Gildas does," he says, stiffening in Lesea's embrace. If this was a normal dream he'd unthinkingly go with the signals he's getting, but it's not and his natural shyness gets in the way. Not to mention there's a fey watching or even planning it all and his friends could wander by any moment...
[20:31] <@Kotono> Lesea whispers into John's ear, "You may understand one day, if you seek the phantasm's garden. Come, come, come, come." AFter that whisper, the illusory maiden from John's half-remembered night appears ahead. "Come ahead and join your friends in seeking the phantasm's garden, or stay here and explore your dreams."
[20:33] <@John> "Uh, yeah I better catch up with them," John says. They're counting on him and all! But damn if he'll have a hard time looking Lesea and Em in the eye tomorrow... at least the maiden's never around most of the time! Sliding free of the psychic noblewoman's embrace he gives the various bar patrons a weak little wave before striding off after the maiden and the phantasom garden, wherever that is.