040 "You three are... Balmurians, definitely. Only one of you even looks human."

[Corwin]

#ed

[20:00] <Kotono> Stepping through the portal is like being yanked ahead by unseen hands. There is a distinct moment of vertigo, then you stand. You stand in the dark forest. Alla round you is thick, impenetrable forest, no sign of anything at all.
[20:00] <Janson> No cart tracks?
[20:07] <Kotono> OOC: Make a survival check?
[20:08] <Janson> roll 1d20+12 +14 for searching for tracks
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+12 +14 for searching for tracks and gets 24." [1d20=12]
[20:09] <Kotono> You find wagon tracks going in one direction, straight into the impassable woods ahead.
[20:09] <Janson> roll 1d20+13 also rolling nature to figure out properties of this fey realm?
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+13 also rolling nature to figure out properties of this fey realm? and gets 20." [1d20=7]
[20:13] <Janson> Different than the Phoenix's realm, but that's not saying much... moving to the side of the tracks, Janson feels his way through the trees and undergrowth to help determine what's illusion and what's real as he begins to scurry along parallel to them. But not before pulling out his cloak and putting it on, the dappled pattern helping to aid concealment. For the same reason he's happy enough
[20:13] <Janson> to remain a goblin right now and benefit from the smaller profile.
[20:17] <Kotono> OOC: Make a will save for disbelief?
[20:18] <Janson> roll 1d20+7
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+7 and gets 8." [1d20=1]
[20:20] <Kotono> Janson intelectually knows it's an illusion...but it still seems real to his touch. Real as any other forest.
[20:21] <Janson> That's the sign of a high quality illusion! Still, he's not without other recourses - if he can see magic then it's quite easy to pick one from the other, so he pauses for a moment and surveys the foliage with the eye of a warlock, concentrating long enough to pick out the strands of magic and better identify the paths of what's real and what's fake for when he starts moving again.
[20:23] <Kotono> OOC: Spellcraft.
[20:23] <Janson> roll 1d20+13
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+13 and gets 17." [1d20=4]
[20:25] <Kotono> There's magic ahead of you with those trees that should be an illusion. However you can't work out the details about it.
[20:27] <Janson> Okay, he'll have to brute force it. Raising his hand and clenching a fist, a hand of solid earth erupts from the soil and starts flailing around randomly on the path ahead. Even if illusions can fool him into believing they're solid to the touch, a mindless construct will just go right through them, and he should be able to see what it breaks through or impacts off rather than passing through
[20:27] <Janson> with no resistance.
[20:29] <Kotono> The hand flails around, eventually passing through a good hunk of the path ahead!
[20:29] <Janson> OOC: does this help with disbelieving?
[20:30] <Kotono> OOC: Yeah, you can make another save with a +4 bonus.
[20:30] <Janson> roll 1d20+11
[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+11 and gets 30." [1d20=19]
[20:31] <Kotono> This time, the patch of trees ahead shimmers and fades away! Ahead is a path through a thick forest!
[20:31] <Janson> A little time spent now ensures a much faster journey ahead! Ducking down to the side of the path so he can scurry hidden through the undergrowth, Janson starts to follow it along!
[20:33] <Kotono> It's maybe ten minutes of this, traveling along. Soon enough the forest thins...hm? Ahead the moon is impossibly huge in the sky, shining down silvery light everywhere. Ahead lies a grand manor house, three stories big and quite tall. Atop the center is what looks to be a belltower. The entire thing is surrounded by no fence, just a big, lush green lawn. No sign of the wagon, though it's
[20:33] <Kotono> tracks continue on ahead.
[20:34] <Janson> Wherever that wagon goes, that's where Janson wants to be! Making use of the dwindling cover now that the bright moonlight makes discovery more likely, Janson continues to follow the tracks. They probably go into a servants entrance or something like that.
[20:37] <Kotono> The tracks go straight ahead to the front entrance! It's a grand doorway big enough to admit a wagon and then some! It's shut, though great iron pullrings are there to remedy that.
[20:38] <Janson> To be obvious or not... Stealth has worked so far, so instead Janson looks for any windows near the front door he could potentially climb up to and unlock for a sneakier entrance.
[20:39] <Kotono> There are several windows, yes. They don't even look locked.
[20:39] <Janson> Scrambling up the wall with the ease of a spider, Janson peeks through the one nearest the front door!
[20:40] <Kotono> It looks to give a view of a beautiful pavillion, curtains of the finest silk and a staircase of marble rising up. Statues are about, as well as works of art.
[20:41] <Janson> Carefully opening the window and trying to be quiet, Janson clambers inside and then looks for any sign of the cart or its passage.
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: Make a will save.
[20:44] <Janson> roll 1d20+7 +3 vs enchantment
[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+7 +3 vs enchantment and gets 8." [1d20=1]
[20:45] <Kotono> Janson feels muddy headed a moment as he steps in, the window closing shut behind him of his own accord! OOC: K:N, +3 bonus.
[20:45] <Janson> roll 1d20+16
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+16 and gets 18." [1d20=2]
[20:48] <Kotono> You realize it too late, the magic having caught you before you had a chance to realize it. This entire house is ensorcelled with illusion and misdirection. Getting in is easy, getting out is far, far, far more difficult. Directions, the layout and even what's in the manor will change at the whimsy of fey and chaos.
[20:50] <Janson> Oh, poo. Well if he's going to be stuck here... Janson drops down to the floor and then reverts to his natural form, taking off the filthy robes and stuffing them in his backpack so he's left wearing his nice expensive clothes - he might as well be comfortable and look good! Also his eyes are enchanted with their own fey magic, which might help - seeing through darkness, magic, and invisibility
[20:50] <Janson> is hopefully a boon? He takes a good look around his surroundings, getting his bearings for what little they're worth.
[20:53] <Kotono> It's a beautiful pavilion as he saw it. There's several doors on each wall save the direction out of the manor. Further there are the stairs going upwards. Dozens of directions to choose from.
[20:55] <Janson> The only way to beat randomness... is to outrandom it! That's why Janson picks the third stair on the left and walks towards it, veering off only at the very last possible instant and skipping over to the staircase to the right of that one and going up it!
[20:59] <Kotono> Janson ascends up! The stairway goes up and up and up and up! He finds himself walking up a narrow tower now, the stairs winding along the wall. Above Janson can begin to hear a heavy sound, the ringing of a vast bell.
[21:00] <Janson> Hah, reached the belltower on his first guess! He can exit that way... although doing so would leave him without having solved the mystery of what they plan to explode. Well he'll go up and take look from the belltower - the view should be illuminating if nothing else.
[21:02] <Kotono> It takes a few minutes of going up the stairs...it's narrow here. So narrow. The bell hangs, and small 5 ft walkways around it. You're quite high up - it must be at least ten stories up here! All around the manor you see dark forest, tinted by the silvery moonlight! OOC: Make a spot check.
[21:02] <Kotono> The bell also radiates faint magic, Janson can note.
[21:02] <Janson> roll 1d20+10
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+10 and gets 13." [1d20=3]
[21:02] * Janson takes a moment to examine said magic,
[21:02] <Janson> roll 1d20+13 spellcraft
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+13 spellcraft and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[21:04] <Kotono> The bell is enchanted ot ring at the will of another, or whenever someone begins to climb up towards the belltower. It's fairly basic magic as...ack! It comes t him from above, soaring down! A bat bigger than any other bat Janson's seen! It flies right past in him a hurry, quickly trying to take a big mouthful of Janson out! OOC: Surprise rounded. It's attacking then we roll init.
[21:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 +2 charge, flatfootedAC? (Forget if you have uncanny dodge)
[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 +2 charge, flatfootedAC? (Forget if you have uncanny dodge) and gets 20." [1d20=12]
[21:05] <Janson> OOC: I do, but I'm unarmoured so 10
[21:06] <Kotono> OOC: Does that protect you from SA when surprised or is that just saving you rAC?
[21:06] <Janson> OOC: it does unless it's a 10th level rogue
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 2d6+4 chomp
[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+4 chomp and gets 9." [2d6=3, 2]
[21:07] <Janson> OOC: also yeah, my AC would be 14, sorry
[21:07] <Janson> roll 1d20+4 init?
[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+4 init? and gets 21." [1d20=17]
[21:07] <Kotono> The bat flies right by him, taking a big bite out of his shoulder as it ends up 15 feet from him after! It's covered in spines here and there, far too big and nimble! OOC: Inityes.
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[21:08] * Kotono changes topic to 'Janson>Bat'
[21:09] <Janson> "Wait, wait!" Janson calls to the bat, trying to establish dialogue and moving back to show a lack of aggression, "Lets talk this out, I don't want to hurt you! You like nuts? I've got some nuts if you're hungry," he tries offering.
[21:09] <Janson> OOC: total defence and hopefully wild empathy?
[21:10] <Kotono> It's voice snarls, "I crave flesh!" It retorts in Common, "Lady Senaril has not invited you to her manor home, intruder! I have neve rseen your face before!"
[21:12] <Janson> "Well, yeah, but..." Janson hesitates, not particularly having a good 'but' to follow on with there. "I mean, I was lost in those woods and I thought I could get shelter here! Is Lady Senaril so cruel as to turn away an unfortunate wayfarer?" he improvises.
[21:12] <Kotono> OOC: Try a diplo check there, say.
[21:14] <Janson> roll 1d20+2 stupid tame talking bat
[21:14] <Rei-chan> Janson rolled : 1d20+2 stupid tame talking bat --> [ 1d20=6 ]{8}
[21:17] <Kotono> The bat does not seem swayed! In fact, it's coming back at you again, trying to bite Janson!
[21:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 chomp AC?
[21:17] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 chomp AC? --> [ 1d20=5 ]{13}
[21:17] <Janson> OOC: 21
[21:17] <Kotono> But the bat flies by, unalbe to get a chomp and now on the other side of the bell! It flies startingly good, dipping and moving about!
[21:17] <Kotono> OOC: Go.
[21:18] <Janson> "Okay, screw you, you're no help at all!" Janson yells up at the bat before darting back down the narrow staircase! Hopefully it can't follow there.
[21:19] <Kotono> Janson runs back down the staircase! Indeed, the bat shows no signs of following, out of sight and not coming into it!

[Corwin]

#t

[20:38] <Kotono> Mmm....mmmm....aaaah. Awakening. Awake? Mmm. Andrea's blurry eyes open reluctantly, her ears working better first. Crackling. The crackling of fire. Her nose works next. The smell of food? Then her eyes at last blink away a haze. A bed? She's in a bed, tucked in? Warm, ruddy firelight dances about in a fireplace to the right, covering the rooms in golden light and pale shadows. A room.
[20:38] <Kotono> A rich room, like the guest room of a noble's villa.
[20:41] <Andria> "Well...I have to give them points for it not being a cell, I suppose," Andrea mutters as she tries to stand, looking around in confusion, this not exactly being the treatment she was expecting.
[20:43] <Kotono> Andrea's body feels groggy and unresponsive. It takes a few tries. She finds she's clad only in her undergarments, her dress nowhere in sight. There's no windows, but there are two doors. One opposite the bed, another off to the right side wall.
[20:45] <Andria> "Gaaah," she mutters as she clings the blankets to her body, leaning against the wall for support. "Scratch that, this is worse than a cell..."
[20:46] <Kotono> As Andrea does that, there is a sharp sound! A knocking on the door, three deep knocks!
[20:49] <Andria> "If you're the one that undressed me, you stay the heck out unless you want a fist to your face, otherwise come in!" Andrea calls out as she tries to make a makeshift dress out of the blankets, wrapping them around herself to better protect her modesty for now.
[20:51] <Kotono> The door opens! An elf enters - a tall male elf, dashingly beautiful. He wears finely tailored clothes of earth colors, his ears adorned with several earrings each. He carries a longsword on belt and a bow and arrow on his back. He makes a fluidly graceful bow to Andrea, "I am the Hunter of the Manor, Lady Andrea. Lady Senaril welcomes you to her manor."
[20:54] <Andria> Andrea raises an eyebrow, a little surprised at her name being known. The only one amongst them that technically should know it was Sannuth...although it wouldn't exactly be hard to track her name down either as an employee of Whimsical Sweets. Still kind of a little disturbing though. "I can't say I cared for the invitation, but the place is nice," she finally responds.
[20:57] <Kotono> "As for now, you are in Lady Senaril's care. Please be aware that the Lady has several rules that guests must follow. Disobeying them will show you to be of poor breeding, miserable manners and further incur the justified wrath of Lady Senaril. Secondly, please do not attempt to escape or wander the manor. The other door there," Looking the other, "Is a bath, if you wish to freshen
[20:57] <Kotono> yourself up. Please do so once I leave. Within a half hour, servants will come to prepare you for an audience with Lady Senaril. Please follow all their instructions at all times."
[20:59] <Andria> "...and clothes?" Andrea replies drily, pointing at her makeshift dress.
[21:00] <Kotono> "The maids will provide proper dress." The Hunter of the Manor says, "As well as all other needed amentities." With another bow he takes a step back, going out the door and closing it behind him.
[21:02] <Andria> "...well alright then," Andrea says lamely to the door, before sighing. "Okay, I guess I'm going along with this in the meantime and finding out more about Lady Senaril..." she mutters as she heads towards the door the elf pointed out as the bath.
[21:09] <Kotono> It's a beautiful bath. It's of carved stone with soft ivy growing along the edges. Andrea finds the bathwater perfect, leaving her smelling faintly of the fresh forests and open air breezes. Once Andrea dries and emerges out, she finds them waiting. Two elf maidens, absolutely identical. Both have black hair and pleasant smiles, wearing maid's clothes. "Please, come," they instruct.
[21:11] <Andria> "So what are your names?" Andrea asks as she approaches the two.
[21:12] <Kotono> "We serve Lady Senaril. You may call us Maid." The two answer, smiling toe ach other. A moment later they are at Andrea's sides, starting to work off her improptu dress, "We have to get you dressed for your audience!"
[21:13] <Andria> "...alright then," Andrea says with a frown, letting the two do what they have to.
[21:14] <Kotono> Where the dress comes from Andrea isn't sure. It's black and with a long trailing hem, the edges of it on the hem and the arms turnining purple. They do Andrea's hair up, one of them sprinkling some sort of liquid into it. "M'lady, Lady Senaril thinks black is far better a color for you and some change is in order. I am taking the liberty of dying your hair black."
[21:15] <Andria> "...wait, what? Hey, I like my hair color! I was born with it!" Andrea exclaims as she jerks away. "Now I'm going to need to take another bath!"
[21:16] <Kotono> The maids as once stop, "M'lady, Lady Senaril insists. Please obey, it would be churlish otherwise to ignore her wishes."
[21:19] <Andria> "Yes, well, I have no desire to dye my hair. What other wishes does she have?" Andrea asks with a frown as she crosses her arms.
[21:20] <Kotono> The two maids exchange a look, "If you resist, we will be forced to tell Lady Senaril you are disobeying her rules. You will be punished for this."
[21:22] <Andria> Andrea frowns. "Okay, right, the other elf said something about stupid rules. What's wrong with my hair though?"
[21:23] <Kotono> "Lady Senaril has decided a change is in order," They answer, "Please cooperate. If you desire, you may ask her yourself once you meet her."
[21:25] <Andria> "Well...can't you get a wig, or something?" Andrea offers as a compromise. "A wig would be acceptable, wouldn't it?"
[21:33] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplomacy check there?
[21:35] <Andria> roll d20+18
[21:35] <Rei-chan> Andria rolled : d20+18 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{35}
[21:36] <Kotono> The two maids consider, before one withdraws a black wig. "Very well," they relent, putting it on and getting Andrea into the dress! From there they busy themselves - lots of black jewelry and putting a black choker ribbon around her neck.
[21:40] <Andria> "Please tell me there won't be black make-up..." she mutters as she looks at all the things the maids keep bringing out, though she's at least humoring them, for now satisfied with her small wig victory.
[21:42] <Kotono> "Oh no," The maids say, a makeup kit withdrawn from nowhere, all white, "Pale faced." They start to work away all the while, turning Andrea's face bone white.
[21:44] <Andria> Andrea groans, but plays along, though she's beginning to wonder if she wouldn't have been better off fighting to the death...
[21:45] <Kotono> Soon enough Andrea is finished! The maids rise, "Please come with us. You may wish to close your eyes and have us take your hand. The manor's halls can be disturbing to the uninitiated."
[21:50] <Andria> "I think I can walk without holding hands," Andrea says drily. As if the manor's halls could be scarier than hell.
[21:52] <Kotono> Thus you head out! The halls are long, door after door after door. Yet the steps you take seem too big, too long. Too much. Too much. Too much. Each step forward - too much again - seems to be going far. The maids are yet walking normally, as you pass by ornate doors framed by art and filigree.
[21:54] <Andria> Andrea frowns, but tries to keep up with the maids, even as she wonders what's causing whatever weird effect is happening.

[Corwin]

#ed

[21:21] <Janson> Bah, that wasn't any good. Is everyone in here going to be so murderous? If so it could sorely test his intention to be friendly and polite and... oh that little fucker punctured holes in his waistjacket! Fingering the bloody wound in his nice expensive garment, Janson wears a mournful look, not even looking which way he's going as he wanders down another corridor.
[21:22] <Kotono> Janson goes back down and through a corridor. Ahead is now an archway, made of beautiful white marble. Past it looks to be a garden, with a grand fountain in the middle. However, no water comes from the fountain at all, bone dry.
[21:24] <Janson> Still remaining well alert for magic and invisible nasties, Janson goes through the arch to investigate the various flora filling the garden...
[21:24] <Kotono> JAnson can note that there is water in the fountain - just invisible. It looks to be a garden of roses of all types and colors, yet all are tinted faintly silver by the moonlight above. OOC: K:N check.
[21:25] <Janson> roll 1d20+13
[21:25] <Rei-chan> Janson rolled : 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{14}
[21:26] * Janson approaches the fountain, wondering what the point of invisible water is - is it magic or something? Aside from that, are there any paths through the garden besides where he came from?
[21:33] <Kotono> There are two other paths winding off into the garden. The water radiates faint magic.
[21:34] <Janson> roll 1d20+13 spellcraft 'dis
[21:34] <Rei-chan> Janson rolled : 1d20+13 spellcraft 'dis --> [ 1d20=14 ]{27}
[21:35] <Janson> Well, if he ends up here long enough to get really thirsty it's nice to know. Otherwise he just keeps right on walking, moseying on down the left path through the garden.
[21:37] <Kotono> You walk and walk and walk...how long you walk you aren't sure. It's such a big garden, going on and on and on and on...mmm? Ahead of you lies another archway, into what looks to be a pleasant sitting room. Lots of chairs and tables with food.
[21:39] <Janson> If there's food there's probably people? Janson hopes they'll be more reasonable than that unsociable bat and passes the archway to have a look around.
[21:41] <Kotono> Within there is not a soul...hm? Check that. Sitting at the table is a woman. She wears a cascading blue dress, criss-crossed weapons slung on her back. Her features are beyond gorgeous, stilling Janson's heart. She slowly eats a grape, as if savoring a miraclous treasure.
[21:42] <Janson> "Ah! Hello!" Janson turns and smiles at the woman, offering a polite bow in greeting and praying to Jannath for friendliness. He'd much rather befriend her than that ugly bat, anyway!
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC Make K:N here.
[21:44] <Janson> roll 1d20+13
[21:44] <Rei-chan> Janson rolled : 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{31}
[21:44] <Kotono> So beautiful...cascading hair...you can barely look at it...she smiles at you. "You've caught me at a disadvantage, I'm afraid," she says, popping the grape down. "Do tell how you've come to this place, human."
[21:46] <Janson> "Sorry about that, my name's Janson," he offers belatedly, looking down respectfully and preserving his eyes. "I'm actually looking for someone called Senaril. I was following tracks in the forest and found the mansion... I didn't expect it to be ensorcelled so much."
[21:48] <Kotono> "Ah, Whimsical Sweets." Her smile is so coy as she smiles, her hair a brown cascade, "In the flesh am I, Senaril. Your timing is superb, your friend is being prepared for an audience. Ah, this may be interesting after all!" She rises, "Come, come, come."
[21:50] <Janson> "Oh, nice to meet you, then," Janson raises his gaze and follows along. "The reason we're here, really, is that considering the things you've had Sanuth buy on your behalf, it sounds like you want to blow something up. We just wanted to make sure it wasn't anything we cared abou... wait, what!" he abruptly stops. "Which friend? Who's here?" he blinks in confusion.
[21:51] <Kotono> With an amused smile and chuckle, "Andrea. Do you think your intrusion wasn't noticed or your actions left unchecked?" With a wrinkle of her nose, "At least her garb will be interesting. Yours is so pedestrian."
[21:52] <Janson> "What?" Janson looks down sadly at his expensive and well tailored garments. "And I treated myself to these especially thinking they'd be nice? What's wrong? Is it the colour or the cut?" he asks self consciously/
[21:52] <Kotono> "You wouldn't understand," With a dismissive wave, "We'll talk soon. This way."
[21:53] <Janson> "Okay... by the way, your bat in the belltower has a real attitude problem," Janson continues blathering on quite cheerfully now that he's found the mastermind. "You'd be better off with a fruit-bat, they're much more friendly and nice."
[21:55] <Kotono> There's no reply as you are lead into the halls...and soon enough you find yourself in a sitting room. A pretty one, full of chairs and soft things. It is dominated by a vast throne, made of pure wrought gold and decorated with strange, reflective shell. She goes to sit there, too big for her and yet she dominates it, not the other way around. It's as if the throne is too small to steal your
[21:55] <Kotono> eyes away from her. "Take a seat. Any will do."
[21:56] * Janson cheerfully takes the seat nearest the throne, turning it to face her. "But about the clothes - yours are really nice, and I think they just look better on you because nymphs normally go around naked - it's a refreshing break from the norm. So I mean, if you've got an opinion... I don't want to waste any more money at that shop if they're no good, y'know?"
[21:59] <Kotono> With a dry chuckle, "Variety is the spice of life. Quite frankly, it feels like you've worn those too long. If you wear a pair of clothes for more than a half day or so, they're so wretched boring!" Making a sour face, "So boring. So miserably boring!" As Senaril goes on, a door opens! Two maids step aside, admitting in another! She wears a black dress with purple trim, tight around her
[21:59] <Kotono> waist and flowing to the bottom, a trailing hem behind it. She wears black jewelry and a black choker ribbon around her neck. Her face is mad eup to be pale white, lips a sallow red. Before you stands Andrea, as the maids bow as one, "As you requested, Lady."

[Corwin]

#d

[19:46] <Kotono> Thus the two proceed on! They head east through the New and then the Old City, then have to go long ways around to continue past that. By mid-afternoon they're in the open farmlands and freestanding houses east of the city, no immediate sign of anything awry.
[19:50] <Aaeru> "Do you think that, like Selune would give us a sign?" Aaeru wonders, looking about at the farmland surrounding them.
[19:50] <Kotono> "If she has, I haven't seen it," Neveril admits, "Do you?" She pauses to rub her stomach as it loudly rumbles, "I could also use some lunch.
[19:50] <Kotono> "
[19:52] <Aaeru> "Sorry!" Aaeru immediately apologizes, pausing herself to look for anything edible that doesn't belong to someone else. "I'm always fasting, and have been for like a month and I forgot all about how people need to eat. I'll figure something out!"
[19:53] <Kotono> OOC: Make a survival check, say?
[19:53] <Aaeru> roll 1d20
[19:53] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20 and gets 6." [1d20=6]
[19:54] <Kotono> Nothing around immediately looks edible. Neveril shakes her head, "I'm okay, but I'll get something eat when we go back. Do you want to go much farther?"
[19:56] * Aaeru frowns as her brief search turns up nothing, but then an idea pops into her mind. "It'll take really really long to get back! How about we just ask the farmers if they need help with anything, and I can do that while you get some food? And, and they might know something about gates and demenses and fey and such! What do you think?"
[19:57] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Make a GI check then, say?
[20:00] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+10 can do!
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+10 can do! and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[20:06] <Kotono> Food is gotten! You hear all sorts of wild stories - fey stealing goblins and children, or fey sneaking in to steal food. Gates leading to heaven or hell said to be somewhere inthe forest ahead, or great big giants who control armies and kingdoms of their own in the Barbarian Lands. Nothing really soild, just a lot of varying stories.
[20:09] <Aaeru> "Let's see the forest, at least?" Aaeru suggests to Neve, paying particular attention to stories listing gates. They are the only ones with a location of sorts, after all. "We can, umm, maybe spend an hour or two walking there, tops? If we don't see anything, we can just try to go back and ask Sylvie what she thinks again."
[20:15] <Kotono> "Okay," Neveril says, as the two walk!
[20:15] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 90." [1d100=90]
[20:17] <Kotono> An hour or two passes yet. You're getting to see more ofrest instead of open plains, but you still don't come across any gates or signs. Lathander is well past his zenith now, heading closer and closer to the horizon and the rise of the night.
[20:19] <Aaeru> It can't really be called a proper forest yet, Aaeru thinks, deciding to keep going for now.
[20:24] <Kotono> A few more hours past. It's getting close to nightfall now, more trees yet. The homesteads and farms are becoming less common now, though still no sign of any gates or anything wary. It's mostly just peaceful countryside out here.
[20:26] <Aaeru> "That was a mistake," Aaeru declares, pausing to rest her back against a tree. "Sorry, Neve. I made a wrong choice again. We probably didn't get what Selune was saying after all."
[20:28] <Kotono> Neveril stretches and goes to sit a moment, "It's been fun to see the countryside," she says brightly, "We can rule this out at least...oh, what was it that she said, exactly?"
[20:32] <Aaeru> "It is," Aaeru admits. "It's been a while since I just, like, walked around for fun. It's not really the same on the job-- well, I guess it's a job too, but you're here?" Neve's request catches her attention, and she forces herself to recall the prophecy, the process helped by the lack of any rush, time-wise, and the many times they had repeated it earlier while trying to work it out. "Somewhere to the east, which Balyss pointed at, there is this demense thing. And what is that anyway? But it says east, too, which is weird because why say it if you're pointing at the direction? Anyway, there was also all this gates of natural world bit, and I kinda thought it might be the end of the world. Does the world have an end? But a fey realm really makes more sense because we had one here, and that means more could be here too!"
[20:36] <Kotono> "I don't know," Neveril admits, "A fey realm's gates can be almost anywhere. If I see one I'll probably know it, but..." she shrugs, "It could have meant east in a more metaphorical sense. Like she comes from the east, or is a noble those lands." Thinking on it a bit, "At the end of the world? At the north end of the world cold air comes, from the south end hot air comes. The east and west end
[20:36] <Kotono> are for Lathander and Selune, going back and forth in an eternal dance. That's the story I heard about it."
[20:37] <Aaeru> "I hope Selune didn't send us to Lathander because, you know, it would've been lots easier to just say so. Ah, but don't tell Balyss on me!"
[20:39] <Kotono> "I won't!" Neveril promises, and after a pause, "Do we go back now or do we try looking more?"
[20:40] <Aaeru> "It's probably too late to go back, huh? Wanna look until you get tired, and then we'll just camp out for the night?"
[20:42] <Kotono> "Mmmm..." Neveril stretches and yawns, "We'd be traveling well into the night. We could just camp here? It's getting late and I'm a little sleepy after walking all day."
[20:42] <Aaeru> "We can do that!" Aaeru agrees. "You need to tell me these things! Like when you're hungry or tired or-- hey, are you cold? I'll keep you warm!"
[20:43] <Kotono> Now that gets another smile from Neveril, "I was, like, hoping you'd say that!"

[Corwin]

#ed

[22:00] <Janson> "Well I've been away from the house since..." Janson trails off and stares at Andrea. And mentally downgrades the value he places on Senaril's fashion opinions. "Uh... Andrea! That's, um..." he puts on the biggest smile he can, "You make anything look good!"
[22:01] <Kotono> "Excellent!" Lady Senaril gives Andrea a once over, "A marvelous new look for you. If I added a holy symbol to Shar you'd fit right into her church. Far better than that red-headed, dashing heroine look you had coming into here. It's so much newer!"
[22:02] <Janson> "So... you like new things, right? Does that mean you're planning to blow up something old?" Janson asks before any thoughts of Andrea and Shar can settle.
[22:02] <Andria> "Janson?" Andrea exclaims in surprise before she glares at Senaril, and takes off the wig. "Lady, there is so much wrong with what you just said, I don't even know where to start! That said, I -like- my looks!"
[22:03] <Andria> She does pause and gives credit where credit is due "The dress is cute though, I'll give you that much."
[22:04] <Kotono> With a bored look at Janson and turning to Andrea, "Your looks are far too boring. Quite frankly I'm bored of the old ones. It's absolutely intolerable that you took that wig off!" With a sudden rising, "But it back on! Your old hair is boring, played out, uninteresting!"
[22:06] <Andria> "My looks are great! I have lots of admirers who love my red hair! And a boyfriend to boot!" she declares.
[22:09] <Kotono> With a distinct glower, Lady Senaril waves a hand at Andrea! OOC: Will save.
[22:09] <Andria> roll d20+16
[22:09] <Rei-chan> Andria rolled : d20+16 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{18}
[22:10] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:10] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=48 ]{48}
[22:13] <Kotono> Abruptly Andrea flashes! Her skin turns green, her forehead turning sloping and body gaining more muscle mass! Her jaw juts out, her hair turning a slightly duller red shade. "If you reject change," Senaril says with a smirk, "Change will find you."
[22:15] * Janson winces. "Oh, hey, that's just too far!" he protests, standing up. "Look, how about this," his own appearance shimmers and is replaced by a dark skinned figure covered in tattoos, but said tattoos and skin are obscured by myriad chains bound around him almost like a mummy, mimicking the appearance of the chain devil he drowned in hell. "Now do I look novel enough for you to talk to
[22:15] * Janson me?" he asks, hoping to get her attention before Andrea suffers worse.
[22:16] <Janson> His voice also sounds gravelly and sinister in proper infernal fashion!
[22:16] <Kotono> "A faux-chain devil," she snorts, "Mildly more interesting, but bonus points for effort," Nodding to that, "So let's get to business now. WHat ARE you two doing snooping in my business?"
[22:17] <Andria> "Lady, I was perfectly willing to play along with your idiocy, but if you don't change me back to human, I will rearrange your face the hard way and see how -you- like change!" Andrea growls out, slamming a fist into her other palm to make sure there is no misunderstanding of what she means to do.
[22:17] <Janson> "Like I said, you're buying up what looks like components for a really big bomb. We want to make sure you're not going to use it to blow up anything you shouldn't," Janson reiterates since she clearly lacks the attention span to have paid attention the first time.
[22:18] <Kotono> "Shush now, child," With a wave at Andrea, "You're boring me." Turning to Janson, "Wouldn't you like to know? Is this where I politely make a villian's exposition and tell you all of my plans?"
[22:20] * Janson crosses his arms. "If you were smart you'd have said 'Oh dearie me no! I'm just using it to help mine out some adamantium on my land!', but if you're a villain then please go on," he invites.
[22:20] <Andria> "Janson, just so you know, I'm probably going to do something stupid," Andrea declares, before she starts stomping towards Lady Senaril. She wasn't exactly bluffing earlier.
[22:21] <Kotono> "I'll have to decline," With a smirk all the while, leaning back in her throne, "Why don't you -" She pauses a moment, "Oh, is it a fight you want, little pig girl?"
[22:21] <Kotono> After a moment, "It would be interesting if you stop her for me, Janson," Senaril declares, "Far more interesting than simply killing her."
[22:22] <Andria> "Lady, you're the one looking for a fight. I came her peacefully, played dress-up doll, and then you turned me green. If you thought I was just going to stew and take all that, you were dead wrong."
[22:23] <Janson> "Oh, you nymphs are bitches. Every single one of you," Janson complains bitterly, moving to stand between Andrea and the fey, and regaining his normal appearance as well because he doesn't like being a devil even with illusory chains. "Wait, Andrea - she might be the only one that can change you back," he hisses, "Just try to play along a little longer!"
[22:23] <Andria> "Yeah, well she can either change me back with her face still pretty, or rearranged. That's entirely up to her."
[22:24] <Janson> "Or she can do something worse to you before you even get your hands on her!" Janson insists. "You might not even have fists in a second, think about it!"
[22:26] <Kotono> "We're just better than you," Senaril smirks at Janson and Andrea, "I can't help it if you're miserable, boring, uninteresting mortals." Smirking all the while at Andrea, "You only live at my pleasure." Leaning back even more, "Oh yes, your friend is entirely correct, Andrea. I command nature to my whim. What makes you think you have a prayer of anything but a miserable death?"
[22:26] <Andria> "Then I'll bite her to pieces!" Andrea bites back to Janson as she glares at Senaril one last time. "Change me back or else!" (ooc: any chance of rolling gimped intimidate?)
[22:26] <Kotono> OOC: Go for it.
[22:26] <Andria> roll d20+13
[22:26] <Rei-chan> Andria rolled : d20+13 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{22}
[22:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 matching!
[22:27] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+13 matching! --> [ 1d20=20 ]{33}
[22:28] <Kotono> Senaril doesn't look the least bit intimidated!
[22:28] * Janson decides he has one chance for defusing this, and works a little bit of his own fey magic on the nymph as he glances back at her!
[22:28] <Janson> OOC: DC 16 will charm monster
[22:29] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 ironically so is her will save.
[22:29] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+13 ironically so is her will save. --> [ 1d20=16 ]{29}

[Corwin]

#ed

[20:12] <Kotono> Lady Senaril just looks dully amused, "So BORING," as abruptly the beauty around her becomes overly radiant, like a nova of pure lucious feminimity! OOC: Fort both of you.
[20:13] <Andria> roll d20+14
[20:13] <Janson> roll 1d20+5 damn you Andrea
[20:13] -obsidian.ab.ca.lunarnet.org:@#evildunes- Janson invited Hatbot into the channel.
[20:13] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-24-28-0-36.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[20:13] <Andria> ooc: blame rei-chan
[20:13] <Andria> roll d20+14
[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+14 and gets 17." [d20=3]
[20:13] <Janson> roll 1d20+5
[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+5 and gets 12." [1d20=7]
[20:13] <Andria> ooc: and hatbot
[20:15] <Kotono> The vision is too much! The eyes of both Janson and Andrea are overwhelmed, going dark to the world! Only the image of her beauty is seared into your vision, seeing nothing else but darkness! Your ears still work, as you hear Lady Senaril's laughter! OOC: Both of you are blinded. This encounter could be going better. Much better.
[20:15] <Janson> "There, y'see?!" Janson grumps at Andrea. "Because I sure don't, I'll tell you that much!"
[20:17] <Andria> "She was being a bitch whether we played along or not, at least this way I get to punch her maybe!"
[20:17] <Janson> "Oh, find. Go and punch her! See how far you get!" Janson waves randomly, abruptly sitting down. "I surrender."
[20:18] <Andria> "Fine!" Andrea says as she tries moving in the direction of Lady Senaril and swinging.
[20:20] <Andria> roll d20+11 swing?
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+11 swing? and gets 13." [d20=2]
[20:20] <Andria> ooc: about what I figured
[20:20] <Kotono> Andrea blunders around blind, swinging and hitting only air!
[20:21] <Kotono> "Lovely." Senaril's voice is heard, laughter full of open mocking. "Less boring! Most fools throw their lives away. How does it feel now, hm? Completely defeated and helpless...if you're going to be boring I'll just kill you here and save us both the boredom, girl."
[20:22] <Janson> "At least most nymphs would give you a look at everything when they blind you," Janson cups his chin in his hand and sits on the floor grumbling as Andrea flails around nearby and Senaril mocks them.
[20:23] <Andria> "You'd think I was boring no matter what I did, you've said as much, so yeah, screw you and your high horse!" Andrea curses as she tries swinging again.
[20:23] <Andria> roll d20+11 swing-in-the-dark~
[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+11 swing-in-the-dark~ and gets 15." [d20=4]
[20:24] <Kotono> Andrea swings, as Senaril laughs, "Say hello to your Goddess then," Her voice is heard, the soft hissing rattle of weapons drawn! "Tell her to watch as the Destroyer rides again...it'll be damne dinteresting, no matter what!" OOC: She's attacking you, hold on a sec while I resolve.
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 17." [1d20=6]
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 19." [1d20=13]
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 20." [1d20=9]
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 19." [1d20=13]
[20:25] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[20:25] <Andria> ooc: all hit~
[20:26] <Kotono> roll 1d8+1+1d8+1+1d6+1+1d6+1 and 4 con damage (DR applies to each.)
[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+1+1d8+1+1d6+1+1d6+1 and 4 con damage (DR applies to each.) and gets 19." [1d8=7][1d8=1][1d6=5][1d6=2]
[20:27] <Kotono> Unseen blows rip into Andrea's body from all directions! Pain flares as her wounds bleed! Janson feels a fleck of something warm splatter on his cheek, Senaril laughing and laughing, "Let's see if you have anything new in th ere! One day, I swear I'm going to find someone with a new and exciting anatomy! But knowing you, it'll be the same damned boring makeup!" OOC: Go ahead and act, Andrea
[20:29] <Janson> "Andrea, please surrender!" Janson begs as he hears the sounds of brutal violence, rising to his feet and focusing on the sounds of Senaril's laughter...
[20:29] <Janson> roll 1d20+10 listen, should be DC 20 to pinpoint the square she's in?
[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+10 listen, should be DC 20 to pinpoint the square she's in? and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[20:30] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead. She's not being quiet at all.
[20:30] <Janson> OOC: waiting on Andrea
[20:32] <Andria> "No, dammit! Not until she either turns me back or stops saying all that crap! It's stupid, but I have my pride!" Andrea declares, tears of frustration dripping down her face. Between the wounds, rnnuy clown-makeup, and orcish features, she probably makes a pretty pathetic sight all around as she swings again.
[20:33] <Andria> roll d20+11
[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+11 and gets 19." [d20=8]
[20:33] <Kotono> OOC: That actually hits her AC, d100.
[20:33] <Andria> roll d100
[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d100 and gets 92." [d100=92]
[20:33] <Kotono> OOC: Hit. She gets an AoO on you for it but hit.
[20:34] <Andria> roll d3+5 non-lethal
[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d3+5 non-lethal and gets 7." [d3=2]
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 AoO
[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 AoO and gets 16." [1d20=5]
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d8+1 and one more con
[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+1 and one more con and gets 8." [1d8=7]
[20:36] <Janson> "If we die here I'm never going to forgive you!" Janson tells Andrea as he rescinds his offer of surrender and springs backwards, blindly throwing an eldritch blast at the merry nymph who he sees with crystal clarity in his current sorry condition but not in any fashion that's helpful to aim by.
[20:36] <Janson> roll 1d20+7 zoi!
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+7 zoi! and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[20:36] <Janson> roll 1d100
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d100 and gets 26." [1d100=26]
[20:38] <Kotono> There's a dull thudding SMACK as Andrea's shot hits home! At the same time there's a wet tearing, pain exploding in Andrea's chest! "You stupid...hahahahhahahahahahhaaa! Boring to the end!" she snarls, as Janson fires and nothing seems to happen! Then more tearing happens, ripping into Andrea! OOC: She's going to town on you. Again.
[20:38] <Andria> "She's the one being unreasonable! I've already stated my terms of surrender, if she wants me alive to do something interesting, then she's going to do her part too!"
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 26." [1d20=15]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 13." [1d20=2]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 AC?
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 AC? and gets 10." [1d20=4]
[20:39] <Janson> "You stupid idiot! You don't dictate terms when you're being killed!"
[20:39] <Andria> ooc: It's 8 right now with the blindness, so one actually misses.
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d8+1+1d6+1+1d6+1 and 3 points of con. Ow.
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+1+1d6+1+1d6+1 and 3 points of con. Ow. and gets 11." [1d8=4][1d6=3][1d6=1]
[20:39] <Kotono> Again Andrea is ripped into, blood flowing like wine and her head spinning in agony! OOC: Both of you go once this damage is resolved in #elysium.
[20:41] * Janson staggers around before the throne, keeping himself moving so he can better convince himself he's doing something useful, trying now to send Senaril to sleep since she's so exquisitely bored.
[20:41] <Janson> OOC: DC 15 will
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 23." [1d20=10]
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and act again, Andrea.
[20:45] <Andria> Andrea has said all she can, Lady Senaril has already spit on her pride, and even if she knows how this is going to end, she can't stop herself from swinging again.
[20:45] <Andria> roll d20+11
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20+11 and gets 29." [d20=18]
[20:45] <Andria> roll d100
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d100 and gets 91." [d100=91]
[20:45] <Kotono> OOC: Damage and you eat another AoO. At least you're smacking a bitch.
[20:45] <Andria> roll d3+5
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d3+5 and gets 6." [d3=1]
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 AoO
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 AoO and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 AoO crit?
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 AoO crit? and gets 13." [1d20=2]
[20:46] <Andria> ooc: crit
[20:46] <Kotono> roll 3d8+3 and 1 con, pending me checking on if the con damage is multiplied.
[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+3 and 1 con, pending me checking on if the con damage is multiplied. and gets 15." [3d8=2, 2, 8]
[20:46] * Rudy (~Carthrat@c122-107-250-100.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
[20:47] * Rudy (~Carthrat@c122-107-250-100.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #evildunes
[20:48] <Andria> Andrea falls silently, biting her screams quiet, already having acknowledged her fall, and not wanting to give the benefit of last screams as she falls.
[20:49] <Kotono> OOC: Make a listen check, Janson?
[20:49] <Janson> roll 1d20+10
[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11." [1d20=1]
[20:49] <Kotono> Janson only hears a dull thump, then the sounds of weapons tearing flesh and bone, Senaril's laughter overtaking it all!
[20:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 She likes overkill.
[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 She likes overkill. and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[20:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 crit Im not even going to bother rolling the rest of the dice.
[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 crit Im not even going to bother rolling the rest of the dice. and gets 23." [1d20=12]
[20:50] <Kotono> roll 3d8+3 and 3 more con, time to play taps. :(
[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+3 and 3 more con, time to play taps. :( and gets 14." [3d8=2, 3, 6]
[20:50] <Kotono> Amid this horrible estascy of bloody carnage Senaril laughs and laughs and laughs! "Aaaaah, blood! Blood and guts...and how disspointing, she's just another boring woman inside!" Her voice is a lunatic purr, "What of you, Janson? Shall I find out if you have anything interesting inside?"
[20:52] <Janson> "Oh, Jannath, you killed her!" Janson realises in despair, his next attack dying in his hand. His arms fall to his sides. "What's the use? Even if I by some miracle I beat you I'd just starve to death wandering your mansion." He turns his face down, though the nymph's maddeningly beautiful form still burns on the echoes of his vision. "She should've given up..."
[20:55] <Kotono> "She should have. It's more interesting - most people are fools like her." Chuckling in your darkness, "Now what should I do with you...something interesting...Perhaps a toy for Marianne? She's a lovely creature, have you met?"
[20:55] <Janson> "Seen her but we haven't been introduced," Janson replies, through clenching as the stench of gore starts to reach his nose.
[20:57] <Kotono> It's a rich scent, filth joining it shortly later. As Andrea's earthly remains befoul your nasal cavity, "She's going to make a hugemark on the world...you could be one of her warm ups. On the other hand, you'll miss all the entertainment as she wakes up. Choices, choices, choices..."
[20:58] <Janson> "I don't want to surrender for you just to hand my execution off to someone else," Janson retorts, a fitful orange glow manifesting between his fingers again. A cornered animal is the most dangerous kind... although cornered *and* crippled isn't so threatening, sadly.
[21:02] <Kotono> "Mmmm hehehhehe," Senaril laughs lightly, "Well...you want to live? What can you do that's entertaining! Oh Janson," With a long sigh, "Do you know how boring it is to be this old? Do you know how predictable life gets? How hard you have to struggle to let in even a little chaos?"
[21:05] <Janson> "Well, I can change my shape," Janson suits action to words, his voice altering as well as he morphs into a nymphish elven woman who cound be Senaril's identical twin. "Could have a different one every day!" 'she' offers in the nymphs own voice, albeit sounding more strained than Senaril has since meeting him. "Besides that I'm good with magic items, and I can cook and clean," that sums up
[21:05] <Janson> the resume, most of Janson's skills just not useful in a mansion otherwise.
[21:06] <Janson> Wait, those are domestic not entertainment skills! "I can do acrobatics, too!" she adds hastily.
[21:07] <Kotono> Her voice comes from away. A cold, hard voice, "I'll take him as a servant," she says, Senaril's amusement dying down.
[21:07] * Janson turns towards the sound of the voice, even if she can't see, and reverts back to his natural and reassuringly male form.
[21:09] <Kotono> "If you like, Lyris," Senaril's voice becomes smooth, seductive. "He's yours."
[21:10] <Janson> "Will I get my sight back?" Janson asks hopefully. "Hard to serve, otherwise..."
[21:10] <Kotono> Footsteps come closer to Janson, a hand taking his arm rather roughly. "He is," she agrees laconically, and in a lower voice, "Follow my lead so you don't walk into the wall. Talk later."
[21:10] * Janson follows her commands and falls silent, nodding once and doing his best to walk in step with her without stumbling around, submitting to her authority with the ease of long habit.
[21:12] <Kotono> You are escorted. As you walk, the sound of doors closing behind you, "She killed Andrea?" Lyris asks in a harsh, probing voice.
[21:13] <Janson> "I couldn't see, but that's sure what it sounded like," Janson replies, sounding pained. "You didn't see a body?"
[21:14] <Kotono> "...I just needed to be sure," Lyris says, a tightness going into her voice. Her grip is tighter on Janson's arm, pulling him along.
[21:14] * Janson doesn't reply, deciding it better to wait until she gives the go ahead for a proper discussion before he asks his many questions, submitting to being led along without protest or reluctance.
[21:15] <Kotono> You go along for a little time, eventually guided to sit down. You're sitting on something soft - a bed, perhaps. You hear another female voice - Marianne? "What are you doing with him, Lyris?"
[21:15] <Kotono> "Tell her what happened to Andrea," Lyris says, "Tell her what Senaril did to her."
[21:19] <Janson> "I dunno how she got here in the first place," Janson admits with a shrug, "But when I saw her she'd been dressed up all in black - even a wig, and covered in thick pale makeup. She didn't like it, and when she took off her wig Senaril flipped her lid. Andrea's... was," he winces, "A spitfire. They went back and forth a little before Senaril lost her patience and blinded us. I could only
[21:19] <Janson> really hear what happened then, but... blind and unarmed? It sounded grisly, what I could hear over the laughing." He clenches and unclenches his fists, 'looking' down. "Nothing I could do helped."
[21:20] <Kotono> There's silence after that, footsteps going away from Janson. You hear Lyris' voice, "Just stay here," she commands, "Marianne and I will be back shortly."
[21:21] <Janson> "Not like I can see to go anywhere," Janson replies with bleak humour, sitting until he hears them leave.
[21:22] <Kotono> The door shuts behind them right after. OOC: Going tod o anything orj ust sit around?
[21:24] <Janson> Once he hears the door shut, Janson gets up and starts to carefully feel his way around the room, slow and soft to ensure he doesn't knock anything over or do any other damage. If he has an idea of where everything is, it gives him something to work with if he has to fight or run in here. Once he's examined the room to his satisfaction he'll go back to sitting where he was and waiting on
[21:24] <Janson> their return, and likewise stop and immediately do that if he hears anyone in the hall outside.
[21:28] <Kotono> It's a typical bedroom, feels like. Bed, what may be a dressed, a few doors, that sort of thing. About halfway through, Lyris' voice is heard, loud enough to carry, "She ripped her apart, dammit!" Her words crackle with anger!
[21:29] <Janson> Hearing that, Janson softly pads back to the bed and sits down as he was. It does sound like Lyris disapproves of Senaril's methods... although given the short fuse the nymph had, he's surprised she never noticed before.
[21:30] <Kotono> "So?" Marianne's voice challenges back, "She attacked her!" She's also getting loud, and notably angry.
[21:31] <Kotono> "DAMMIT, Marianne! That's the one rule I've ever asked for with this business! No killing!" Lyris snarls, "I don't care WHAT shit she's feeding you about the past! She took her apart like a damn cattlecow at the butcher!"
[21:32] <Janson> Ahh, but Marianne is more accomodating... and possibly the superior partner in the enterprise? Janson resolves to try and observe their social dynamics a bit and see if he can do anything to inflame Lyris's indignation further so long as he's staying here. Of course first he needs to get on her good side...
[21:33] <Kotono> "...Lyris." Marianne's voice's lowers, the conversation dropping back out of easy listening range.
[21:33] <Janson> He doesn't want to leave the bed with them so close to coming in, but Janson does lean forward a bit and hold his breath, straining to hear...
[21:33] <Janson> roll 1d20+10
[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+10 and gets 12." [1d20=2]
[21:35] <Kotono> You can't quite hear anything until Lyris raises her voice again! "I don't care if I'm a ghost or I killed a thousand before!" Snapping that off with fury, "I'm alive now and I don't care about any of that! If she's telling the truth, to hell with the past!"
[21:37] <Kotono> "You knwo it's true!" Marianne snaps right back, "Every night I've been seeing it in my dreams since we met her! Can you imagine it, that sort of power? The world's afraid of me! Everything is! It's like being the old Emperor of Malmuth, everyone has to do everything you want!"
[21:38] <Janson> Sounds like Lyris is trying to atone for something. That's commendable! Marianne definitely sounds like she needs that sort of stabilising influence in her life.
[21:39] <Kotono> You hear...nothing. The conversation seems to die off, silence returning after that. OOC: Going to do anything now or just cool your heels?
[21:40] * Janson is now thoroughly confused. They're not coming back in? That makes it seem like the entire conversation was staged for his benefit... now he doesn't know how to deal with it. He waits a few minutes to be sure, but if there's still no sign of them he'll go back to searching the room.
[21:42] <Kotono> After about a minute the door is heard opening again. You hear footsteps, passing you and stopping on the other side of the room.
[21:43] * Janson turns his sightless gaze to follow those footsteps.
[21:44] <Kotono> There's no reply, no reply at all. Just quiet for now, no sound of footsteps moving.
[21:46] <Janson> Well in that case Janson just resumes 'looking' down. While normally a cheerful and loud presence, Andrea's brutal death occuring just a few minutes ago coupled with the tense atmosphere have him taking a more cautious attitude to his dealings with people around here.
[21:47] <Kotono> After a few more moments of this, you hear rustling, then footsteps coming to you. "Eat," Lyris commands, pushing something into your hands.
[21:48] * Janson feels it to try and determine what it is!
[21:48] <Kotono> It's semi familiar - dried fruit, feels like.
[21:49] * Janson takes a few bites. "Thanks," he essays, "Was worried it might have been meat, but this I can eat."
[21:50] <Kotono> After a few bites Lyris raises something cool and metallic ot his lips, "Drink," she instructs.
[21:51] <Janson> He doubts its blood or poison at this point, so Janson imbibes agreeably.
[21:53] <Kotono> It tastes like weak beer. Mostly water, honestly. "Your eyes can be treated, but it will require magic," she goes on.
[21:56] <Janson> "Yeah, I didn't figure there'd be a herbal remedy," Janson replies weakly. "I guess as sights to have burned into your unseeing eyes go, Senaril's at least well shaped. She seemed quite nice, if a little bit high strung, up until Andrea took the wig off."
[21:56] <Kotono> That gets no immediate reply, more food and drink forced onto Janson.
[21:58] <Janson> At least they're not letting him starve, so Janson obediently eats up. "So, don't suppose you know what all the stuff Sanuth was buying really is for?" he asks hopefully. "We were thinking 'giant firebomb'."
[21:58] <Kotono> "....maybe," Lyris grunts at that, ceasing the feeding after. You hear her footsteps going back the way it came, more rustling.
[22:00] <Janson> "Any idea how Andrea ended up in here, anyway? Last I saw she was headed back to town because the portal was too dangerous to try without her equipment," Janson continues trying to get at least some answers out of this debacle. Of course Andrea was entirely right in her prediction.
[22:01] <Kotono> "...we captured her on the way back to Balmuria," Lyris' voice is tight again, "She had the sense thent o surrender."
[22:03] <Janson> Janson's head sags. "I won't complain, I can tell you feel bad already. I tried to convince her to do the same, but I think she'd just hit her limit."
[22:03] <Kotono> "Senseless..." Lyris mutters, "She was so young."
[22:05] <Janson> "You know the saddest part?" Janson asks heavily. "She and her boyfriend went to Hell to rescue me and Wayland not long ago. Her boyfriend was killed there, but she and his dad went to Valandia and managed to get him resurrected just a few days ago. How's he gonna deal with this, now?"
[22:06] <Kotono> It's the soft impact of a fist hitting something. It's not Janson, he doesn't feel a thing. Lyris doesn't say an ything, but you acn hear her breathing. It's picking up, almost ragged.
[22:10] <Janson> Sounds like he's getting to her. "She wanted to be buried next to her parents... I dunno if Senaril would rather just string her up or something horrible, though."
[22:11] <Kotono> "....." No reply again, Lyris heard nearby but no words follow...until, "Her parents?"
[22:13] <Janson> "They got killed by bandits when she was really little... I don't know much more than that. Not the sort of thing that gets talked around the campfire a lot," Janson replies, staring into nothingness.
[22:14] <Kotono> No answer at all again. Lyris is quiet, then, "...go to sleep," she says, "Rest."
[22:15] <Janson> "You're the boss, now," Janson agrees dryly, shuffling his boots off and dropping his backback beside them before swivelling up onto the bed and laying on his side fully clothed, using his own cloak rather than getting under the blankets. Now if only he could work out what approach to take with Marianne...
[22:17] <Kotono> Sleep comes. It's a strangely dreamless sleep...the sign that you've awoken is the shake of your shoulder. "Awaken," Lyris can be heard again.
[22:18] * Janson rolls towards the shaking, blinking and suddenly siezing up in terror as the fact that he's blind registers, before further memories filter through the haze of waking up and he relaxes. Right... nymph. Cheating not even naked nymph at that. "Morning?" he hazards, carefully and slowly sitting up so as not to bump into Lyris.
[22:19] <Kotono> As you sit up food is pressed into your hands again. Druid fruit from the feel of it. "Eat," she commands once more.
[22:20] <Janson> "This routine'll probably get old for the both of us pretty soon," Janson reckons as he dutifully eats like the invalid he is. "Have any plan for today?"
[22:21] <Kotono> "Getting you fixed," Lyris says, pressing weak beer into Janson's mouth thereafter again. "We'll be leaving once you eat."
[22:22] <Janson> "Where to?" he asks after drinking the beer.
[22:23] <Kotono> "Balmuria," Lyris says, "It'll be a day's journey."
[22:25] <Janson> "Yeah, did it yesterday following that cart," Janson nods, knowing well the way. Reaching down he gropes for his boots to put them on. "What about once I can see?"
[22:26] <Kotono> "..." No reply at first, "Worry about that once it's done," is what Lyris says at long last.
[22:27] * Janson nods, deferring to Lyris's taciturn nature and not pressing further. Once his boots are on he slings on his backpack and adjusts his cloak over it, standing up. "Guess I'm in your hands."
[22:28] <Kotono> Thus you begin your trip. A long walk in darkness, Lyris leading you along. She is silent during it, even as you again feel sun on your cheeks and hear pleasant birdsong.
[22:30] <Janson> "Where's Marianne?" Janson can't help but ask after a little while of walking under the sun. He did get the feeling the two were pretty tight.
[22:30] <Kotono> "With Senaril," Lyris says curtly, "Worry not about her right now."
[22:32] <Janson> "They seem to like each other a lot at least... or something like 'like'..." Janson muses quietly.
[22:33] <Kotono> "Just...be silent." Lyris says, voice tighter yet.
[22:34] * Janson takes the hint and drops it.

[Corwin]

#d

[21:47] <Kotono> Sleep wracks Aaeru into a deep, restful slumber. Morning comes early...it's before the dawn, but her song awakens Aaeru. Neveril's voice stirs her from slumber, sweet words singing to the rise of Lathander.
[21:48] * Aaeru comes out of a pleasant dream into a far more pleasant reality, listening to Neve while her eyes are carried towards the night sky. No better way to greet the dawn can possibly exist.
[21:49] <Kotono> When at last her song ends the morning light has washed away the darkness. "Good morning!" she calls brightly!
[21:50] <Aaeru> "Morning!" Aaeru responds, smiling happily. "Did you sleep well?"
[21:52] <Kotono> "Very well!" Neveril says, "Shall we return today, or...?"
[21:53] <Aaeru> "I kinda want to keep looking," Aaeru says, not quite pouting. "I'm a bit stubborn, you know."
[21:56] <Kotono> "I do need something to eat," Neveril says gently, "Again."
[21:57] * Aaeru finds herself stumped suddenly. "Oh. Oh!" She looks about reflexively....
[21:57] <Aaeru> roll 1d20 survival?
[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20 survival? and gets 10." [1d20=10]
[22:00] <Kotono> Fortunately there's a small stream nearby that looks pure enough, plus you find a wild fruit tree.
[22:00] <Aaeru> "I'll get you some fruits!" Aaeru offers, perking up. "I'll try them first to see if they're fine. Wanna get a drink first?"
[22:02] <Kotono> Food and water is easily gotten and partaken of. Once done, "That's better," Neveril says, "Maybe w'ell get lucky if we keep looking?"
[22:03] <Aaeru> "Maybe!" Aaeru is quick to agree. "And maybe we'll, like, see another fey and ask them!"
[22:09] <Kotono> "Let's go then," Neveril says, as they continue to travel!
[22:09] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 75." [1d100=75]
[22:09] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 73." [1d100=73]

[Corwin]

#d

[20:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 14." [1d20=3]
[20:11] <Kotono> A few more hours of wandering pass. The countryside is forested and heavy as you meander, though no sign of a gate yet.
[20:15] * Aaeru laughs to herself, making another stop to look for a natural source of food. "It's kinda funny, I think," she tells Neve. "It's fun since we never really went just to walk in a forest, but it's also sorta frustrating since we're, like, walking in circles."
[20:15] <Aaeru> roll 1d20 can I survive?
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20 can I survive? and gets 20." [1d20=20]
[20:16] <Kotono> Oh, Aaeru finds a beautiful supply of apples, fruits and vegetables! As Neveril snacks, "This really is fun," she says with complete agreement. "It's just a sahme we're not finding anything."
[20:18] * Aaeru nibbles on an apple to keep Neve company, after ensuring there is plenty left for her. "Did you keep track of how long it took us to get here? Because I thought I did but I'm probably wrong."
[20:22] <Kotono> "It's been a few more hours, hasn't it?" Neveril says, "Want to keep looking?"
[20:24] <Aaeru> "No better idea," Aaeru admits with a shrug.
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 62." [1d100=62]
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 56." [1d100=56]
[20:30] <Kotono> You wander and wander...at last, Neveril stops and points! Ahead is an archway of trees, on the edge of the forest proper. "Aaeru, I think that could be one!"
[20:32] <Aaeru> "--and then my sister wait what really?" Perking up, Aaeru dashes forward towards the trees forming an arch together and raises her head to peer at the spot where they meet.
[20:38] <Kotono> It looks normal enough to Aaeru, but Neveril nods, "I can tell," she says confidently, "The nature of it looks the same as the last time with the Phoenix Keeper."
[20:38] <Aaeru> "Yay!" Aaeru draws Neve in a hug and twirls her around in celebration. "We found it, we found it!"
[20:41] <Kotono> "Now we just need to find a way to open it or get someone who can," Neveril says.
[20:43] <Aaeru> Still holding onto Neve with one hand, Aaeru knocks on the wood with the other. "Lady Senaril!" she calls. "Hi! Can we talk?"
[20:44] <Kotono> Nothing happens besides some wood getting knocked on.
[20:46] <Aaeru> "Please don't be shy!" Aaeru urges. "My name is Aaeru, and this is Neve. Selune told us we should come, so we're not, like, someone suspicious!"
[20:48] <Kotono> Again no reply, as Neveril gently clears her throat, "Beloved, they don't work that way."
[20:49] <Aaeru> "Well who doesn't, like, watch their door?" Aaeru asks in a huff, her face falling. "We can't even leave or note or anything like that! And after you found it, too!"
[20:59] <Kotono> "Well, we need to find a way to open it. Right?" Neveril says, "Okay, we leave a trail behind us so we can trace our way back, get help and someone who can open it, like a druid or wizard or someone, and then we can go in."
[20:59] * Aaeru nods. "You can do that spell, right, the one that tells you where you are?"
[21:05] <Kotono> "I can find out which way is north," Neveril answers.
[21:07] <Aaeru> "And we went east, right? So if we look around here to really know, like, the area, we could find the arch later! And if you find where north is, and we go straight west, and we find something right there, then we'll know where to go east from!" Aaeru momentarily looks confused, but then nods to herself in satisfaction. "It should work. Wanna try it?"
[21:13] <Kotono> Neveril intones magic words, nodding to herself! "Alright," she says, "Let's do that."

[Corwin]

#t

[20:17] <Kotono> The rest of the evening passes and sleep then comes. The next day Wayland and Sylvie come to Whimiscal Sweets. Oddly, the only other ones there are Josa, Silver and Simmer. No sign of Aaeru, Andrea or Janson at all. "Ah, finally at least a few others come," Josa greets, "By chance, have you seen any of our colleages who have not graced us with their radiant presences yet?"
[20:22] * Wayland shakes his head. "We've been studying all day."
[20:23] <Kotono> "Troublesome and troublesomer." Josa rises to pace, "Janson and Andrea have been absent since overseeing on Sanuth. Aaeru has been gone all yesterday and all today, too."
[20:23] <Kotono> Sylvie goes to sit down, biting her lip at mention of Janson. "Well, we did find out a little bit about Senaril. It's thin, but it matches our suspicions."
[20:24] * Wayland nods. "Apparently, Senaril was some sory of fairy death god...or something like that."
[20:29] <Kotono> "Essentially. It's most likely a fey," Sylvie explains, "Possibly having to do with the far east, past the Amaryl Range. Destroyer, great destroyer, something like that."
[20:31] <Kotono> "Of course," Josa shakes his head, "How troubling! How miserable a hand fate has given us! But no matter," Nodding, "The question is what do we do now? I ask all of you that, bearing in mind three of our companions have gone missing, lost in the tempetous winds of chance."
[20:31] <Wayland> "Definitely going to be a team effort." Wayland nods.
[20:33] <Wayland> "Well, they can't have gone too far. They should be fine, they're here in the city. Let's go search out Aaeru at City Hall and we can go see to the others. Were they headed back to the silk shop, or somewhere else?"
[20:34] <Kotono> "I can do City Hall," Simmer volunteers, raising a hand. "I wanted to see it anyway. I hear it's flammable!" After a beat she holds her hands up, "Not that I will, but Ineed something to daydream about when I'm bored."
[20:37] <Kotono> "Right," Sylvie says, "Let's go check there."
[20:40] <Kotono> City Hall. Getting a meeting with Aaeru's contact takes some time, but soon enough you're before him. "Ah, how can I help you?" he enquires to the genasi, Sylvie and Simmer.
[20:42] <Wayland> "We're looking for a friend of ours, her name is Aaeru. She tol us she was coming her to get some information for an investigation. We haven't seen her since this morning, though. We were wondering if you could help us find her."
[20:43] <Kotono> "We're looking for Aaeru," Sylvie says politely, all smiles, "We haven't seen her since yesterday."
[20:43] <Kotono> "I haven't seen her since early yesterday..." he trails off and frowns, "She was most distressed over Mr. Sanuth." His voice is soft and thoughtful, "I recommended she seek an augury and directed her towards the Lunatics of Moonholm, as nothing I found suited her tastes or desires for information."
[20:47] <Wayland> "Moonholm, eh? We've got friends over there. Might as well go see what they know. Thanks for your time." Wayland nods.
[20:53] <Kotono> Moonholm is found, Balyss found inside. She has a sack slung over one shoulder, casual tunic and skirt worn. "Oh," she smiles to the three as you head out the gates of Moonholm, "You guys keep coming back and back."
[20:54] <Wayland> "I take it Aaeru was here, then?" Wayland grins.
[20:58] <Kotono> "Yesterday," she nods, "Got a divination...oh!" She fishes into her sack and withdraws a scroll, "Give that to Josa? It's a bill for services rendered. How'd that work out for her?
[20:59] <Kotono> Sylvie smiles politely, though you can hear her slightly sigh. "Sure! You haven't seen her since then?"
[21:01] <Wayland> "We don't actually know, she's missing." Wayland shakes his head.
[21:04] <Kotono> "Well hell," Shaking her head, "She and her girlfriend took off East after the divination." With a slight frown, "She was looking for a Senaril or some such."
[21:05] <Kotono> "Great, we haven't seen her sinc ethen and we've been trying to find her," Sylvie mutters, "What was the divination, exactly?"
[21:08] <Kotono> Through the gates of the natural world, into the demense of the East," Balyss replies after some thought, "I think they went after it."
[21:11] <Wayland> "Great." Wayland shakes his head. "Hopefully she's just lost, and not actually in trouble."
[21:11] <Kotono> "Oh great," Sylvie suddenly sighs, rubbing her forehead. "If it's as far east as it might be, we're in trouble."
[21:11] <Kotono> Simmer just shrugs, "Well, if she's alright she'll come back in her own time, right? Mayb eher and Janson have gotten back by now, or Andrea too?"
[21:15] <Wayland> "And if she found Senaril, she could be in real trouble."
[21:16] <Kotono> "I know," Sylvie sighs, "But we don't have any real way to follow them." AFter that and a louder sigh, "Fuck. I'm inclined to wait on them and hope they return safe, rather than blundering out on our own."
[21:19] <Wayland> "Damn." Wayland growls. "I suppose we should head back, then."

[Corwin]

#d

[21:21] <Kotono> It's into the afternoon now. Wayland and the others await as...at last! Aaeru and Neveril come upstairs, travel stained but intact! "Well finally!" Sylvie looks over, exhaling loudly, "You alright?"
[21:22] <Aaeru> "We found Senaril!" Aaeru reports. "Well, we found her secret fey realm gate thingy, but it's enough, right?"
[21:24] * Wayland stands and claps Aaeru on the shoulder. "Good to see you safe. We were worried about you. Have you seen Janson or Andrea?"
[21:24] <Aaeru> "Umm, no. Why?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "They're missing," Simmer pipesup, "But it's another fey...gods." Shaking her head, "Did those ley lines put all the other fey in a bad mood, too?"
[21:25] <Aaeru> "I dunno. We knocked but it's like there's no one home, and Neve told me we needed a wizard to open the gate."
[21:26] <Kotono> "Well, it needs a trigger or someone who can open it," Neveril speaks up.
[21:29] * Aaeru looks expectantly at Sylvie.
[21:29] <Kotono> "I can try," she speaks up, "Sure. How soon do we need to leave?"
[21:34] <Wayland> "The sooner the better, I'm thinking."
[21:36] <Aaeru> "Let's go, then! We can make it by evening-- oh, don't forget to eat first!"
[21:40] <Wayland> "Hmm, we should grab some extra potions and nectars from the cabinet." Wayland says, going over to the cabinet.
[22:34] <Kotono> Soon enough the party takes course and leaves! It's not a short trip, the four making decent time nonetheless. Afternoon gives way to evening as you make time, heading along. As you do...you can see them ahead. Two people. One is Lyris, guiding another person - Janson. He stumbles and walks uncertainly. The two are a goodly ways ahead - a couple of hundred feet.
[22:35] <Aaeru> "Janson!" Aaeru exclaims, hurrying towards the pair. "And Lyris? Weren't you, like, with Andrea?"
[22:35] <Janson> "Aaeru?" Janson calls, before his face falls at the mention of Andrea, unseeing eyes remaining unfocused throughout.
[22:36] <Kotono> Lyris stops at that call, looking ahead to the party. "Janson!" Sylvie calls, hurryign over towards him, "Janson!"
[22:36] <Aaeru> "Yeah, it's me," Aaeru responds. "Hey listen, I found Senaril's place! We're going there to talk to her now. Wanna come too?"
[22:38] <Janson> "You don't want to go there..." Janson replies heavily. "Andrea..." he hesitates, licking his dry lips nervously, "Andrea's dead. Senaril killed her."
[22:38] <Aaeru> "Say what?"
[22:39] <Kotono> Lyris watches this with a stone cold expression, eyeing the others as they approach.
[22:39] <Janson> If Janson could see he'd look at Aaeru right now! He doesn't really want to repeat himself, but after a moment... "Senaril killed Andrea. Cut her to pieces."
[22:40] <Aaeru> "But... why?"
[22:41] <Janson> "Because she's crazy and Andrea was 'boring' that's why!" Janson snaps.
[22:41] <Kotono> Simmer's face falls at that, "Oh...damn. Andrea?"
[22:41] <Kotono> Sylvie stops and sighs, "Murdered her?"
[22:42] <Wayland> "...she what!?" Wayland shouts.
[22:42] <Aaeru> "That's wrong! That's so so so-- I, I'll stop her! Right now! That stupid no good-- we're going right now!"
[22:42] <Wayland> "Damn right we are." Wayland stands.
[22:42] <Janson> "We didn't have a chance. She's a nymph, blinded us just to look at her... Andrea wouldn't give up, though," Janson puts a somewhat more brave spin on Andrea's demise.
[22:43] * Aaeru shakes a trembling fist. "I-I-I'll bring her back! To justice! Just like that evil Sharran!"
[22:45] <Kotono> Lyris takes a step forward, "You'll have to kill Marianne, too." she announces. "In fact...not only for Andrea, but for everyone else."
[22:45] * Wayland turns to Lyris, his expression less than friendly. "Explain."
[22:45] <Aaeru> "But-- wait--" Once again, Aaeru is utterly stumped. "Aren't you the good guys? You don't kill people, and you're helping Janson!"
[22:46] * Janson turns his unseeing gaze to Lyris. "I know you don't like this, Lyris... can't you turn Marianne against her?" he asks, sensing nobody is going to quit despite his suggestion.
[22:47] <Kotono> "Marianne made her choice," With a cold, bleak tone suffusing her words, "If what Senaril has told us is true, Marianne could be a calamity that would wipe out the entire region to the last soul."
[22:47] <Aaeru> And that doesn't help with her confusion one bit! "Choice? What choice?"
[22:48] <Janson> "She... she did say that Marianne would make a huge mark on the world when she 'wakes up'," Janson offers.
[22:48] <Wayland> "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Wayland asks.
[22:49] <Kotono> "A Destroyer?" Sylvie pipes up at this, at Janson's side. She puts an arm around him, "The books I studied spoke of a Destroyer that caused great havoc."
[22:50] <Janson> Under normal circumstances Janson is sure he's enjoy being sandwiched between two women like he is now, but the situation is too bleak for him to muster much enthusiasm.
[22:51] <Aaeru> "Can someone just tell me what the hell is going on and use small words, dammit?!" Aaeru finally snaps as she reaches the limits of her patience.
[22:51] <Kotono> "It means that Marianne..." Lyris stops, "...we had another chance. We only remember a little bit, but...Marianne was the Destroyer. Senaril is certain of it and what she's done to unlock a few of those memories..." Lyris' expression goes from cold to distant, eyes far away, "A beast as huge as a mountain, nothing but killing intent."
[22:51] <Kotono> "I am kind of lost," Simmer agrees, "It's like coming in halfway to a story."
[22:52] <Aaeru> "And?"
[22:52] * Wayland turns to Simmer. "Senaril is the name of an ancient fey creature of destruction, on a massice scale. It was supposed to have been slain a long time ago."
[22:53] <Janson> "And Marianne really wants to be that again?" Janson asks, guessing so from what he overheard last night. "Isn't there anything she values more while being a powerful human mage capable of reason and emotion?" he asks, disbelievingly. Being a mountain-sized pile of killing fury sounds horrible!
[22:54] <Aaeru> "What is she, stupid?" Aaeru agrees. "What's the point?"
[22:55] <Kotono> "Not quite a fey. The name it's more known as is Tarrasque." Going on from that, "Power. She's talked about the power she could have, the control. Senaril wants to wake her up and restore her. How...I don't know...or I didn't, but...Janson said she's gathering a firebomb. It makes sense on reflection, because...she's also been studying the biggest fire source in the region - the Inferno beneath
[22:55] <Kotono> Balmuria. If you combine the two..."
[22:56] <Kotono> Sylvie stops cold, staring for a few moments. Only one word seems sufficient from her to reply, "Fuck."
[22:57] <Janson> "Oh Jannath... she's gonna blow up Balmuria?" Janson pales. "That's definitely something we care about."
[22:57] <Aaeru> "She is an idiot," Aaeru decides. "She wants to be strong? She wants control? She's the one being controlled!" Aaeru exclaims. "Marianne should fix her life first!"
[22:57] <Kotono> "Why?" Simmer blinks, "I'm all for explosion sand fire, ut what's the point for her?"
[22:57] <Janson> "Probably some dark soul harvesting ritual?" Janson shrugs, completely guessing but it sounds good to him.
[22:58] * Wayland goes a bit paler blue. "This is beyond our scope. We need to involve the Crimson Guard."
[22:58] * Aaeru snaps her fingers all of a sudden. "Lyris, you came from her place, right? Do you know how to open that gate?"
[22:58] <Kotono> "Something to awaken the Destroyer," Lyris says, "It's just speculation, but..it fits."
[23:03] <Aaeru> "Let's see how she does it from a cell!" Aaeru states. "Let's go there, beat the everloving crap out of that horrible bitch, and kick some sense into Marianne while we're at it! Like, she wants to wake up? I'll wake her the hell up! And you, Lyris! She's your friend, isn't she? I talked to John. He likes you both! He thinks you're great! Don't give up on her without beating, like, tons of sense into her first!"
[23:09] <Janson> "Or at least... she cares about you Lyris, I'm sure if push comes to shove, she'll pick you over Senaril. And you just know if she ends up a monster, that nymph'll have a hold of the leash," Janson offers supportively to his new boss.
[23:09] * Wayland pops his knuckles, tugging on his gloves. "I'm going to give this Senaril woman a beating she won't soon forget. Or maybe one she won't remember."

[Corwin]

#d

[20:03] <Kotono> "I can get us in," Lyris says after a moment, "The manor itself is magical, perhaps alive. Getting to one place or another can be erattic."
[20:05] <Janson> "Yeah, I think it moves at Senaril's whims," Janson puts in. "Hopefully she's crazy enough that she'd be happy to try her hand at taking everyone on directly, but if she wanted she could have us running in circles indefinitely. I dunno how aware she is of who or what's in the mansion, though."
[20:05] <Aaeru> "You... think she might keep us in circles and run away herself?" Aaeru asks at that.
[20:06] <Kotono> Lyris takes a moment to consider it, "I don't know. She's often erratic when Marianne isn't involved."
[20:06] <Janson> "She covets novelty, so she probably would prefer to meet any new 'guests' for what it's worth."
[20:09] <Wayland> "I'm new, -and- blue. I'm pretty novel." Wayland nods grimly.
[20:09] <Kotono> "Can we work this out back in town," Sylvie speaks up, "We need to get Janson healed and prepare. We'll probably need to rest tonight and shop in the morning, and then go out full steam."
[20:09] <Janson> "Do we have that long?" Janson turns to Lyris.
[20:10] * Aaeru also turns at Lyris!
[20:11] <Kotono> Lyris nods, "I don't think anything's happening right away...and Marianne knows I wanted Janson cured to serve better."
[20:12] <Janson> "Okay. I'll make sure not to get close enough to properly look at Senaril when we get back," Janson nods, waiting to be led along once more like the invalid he currently is.
[20:13] <Aaeru> "I-- but--" In the end, the need to get Janson cured overwhelms the need to go and punish Senaril, and Aaeru nods herself.