047.2 "Hey! Listen! This is Orval's! I can feel it!"

[Corwin]

[20:13] <Kotono> Under the veil of tragedy do the three go. Josa, Whurric and Arachiel head towards the ruins of Mr. Farzahd's mansion. The remnants simmer in the air, the taste of smoke still lingering about. A blackened, collapsed shell stands before you, as Josa bows his head for a long moment. "This will not be pleasant work," Josa confesses, "But let us dirty our hands and complete it with all the haste
[20:13] <Kotono> given to us by the vigor of the Elffather."
[20:16] * Arachiel flits through the air over to the wreckage. "I'll see if I can find anything!" She begins darting into small spaces, looking!
[20:16] * Whurric sighs as he looks over the wreckage and shakes his head, before replying to Josa's statement. "Aye, let's just hope we find something in here..." he comments. "I hope to at least find something of my brother's survived that fire..."
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6  and gets 21." [1d20=15]
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 84." [1d100=84]
[20:22] <Kotono> It's poking and digging. The building is ruined, needing to work away. Great heaps of burnt wood and stone are moved or broken aside as you sift and sift and sift. All is ruined, melted slag and burst of smoke. After this much work, you move aside another set of boards....hm? Lying amid the ruin is a pristine, untouched, pearl white teardrop shaped stone. It sheds it's pearly light gently
[20:22] <Kotono> around itself.
[20:23] <Arachiel> "Hey! Listen! This is Orval's! I can feel it!" Arachiel shouts.
[20:24] <Kotono> Josa wipes his sweaty brow, "Remarkable. I never saw him with anything like it...it's not even burnt or charred."
[20:24] <Whurric> "Listen t'what? I don't hear anyth...wait, this is my brother's?" Whurric asks as he moves to examine the little stone. "...What is it? Don't recall seeing him with it."
[20:25] <Arachiel> "I think I've seen him hold it, but I don't know what it is! He never said!" She bounces happily in the air.
[20:25] <Arachiel> "Maybe there's more here?"
[20:25] <Kotono> It's about the size of a gold coin, it's light gentle and strong. Whurric feels strangely drawn to it.
[20:26] * Whurric picks up the little stone. "Any ideas, Josa?" he asks, even as he tries to get some idea of what it might be as he turns it over in his hands, examining it himself.
[20:27] <Kotono> The stone feels good in Whurric's hand! As he lifts it up, the sun above glows brighter! All around you the sunlight becomes warm and eveloping, dimming the world around you!
[20:30] <Kotono> "What?" Josa shields his eyes and looks around, "Aaah, it's so warm! What manner of sorcery or intervention is it?"
[20:30] <Whurric> ooc: any spellcraft check for identifying it's purpose?
[20:30] <Kotono> OOC: K:R. Also sec, dog again. ARgh.
[20:31] <Whurric> roll d20+5 even better, I have +1 more to that check! =p
[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Whurric rolls d20+5 even better, I have +1 more to that check! =p and gets 12." [d20=7]
[20:41] <Arachiel> roll 1d20+2 K:P
[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Arachiel rolls 1d20+2 K:P and gets 16." [1d20=14]
[20:43] <Arachiel> "Ummm...that's from Celestia, I think. It's a beam of light from the Heavens! Something's happening!" Arachiel sounds excited.
[20:47] <Kotono> The light grows brighter, dimming the world around you! A single teardrop of pure light falls from the radiance above, hovering before you! Slowly it expands - into a man-shaped being. It is radiant and beautiful, face filled with unknowable wisdom and kindness. He wears armor of pure gold and has white feathered wings, his words closer to enthralling song than simple, base utterances. To
[20:47] <Kotono> his hand the teardrop stone flies, hand closing around it. "The sorrow and righteous anger of a goodly soul snuffed out before it's time has called me here."
[20:49] <Arachiel> roll 1d20+2 K:P What pokemon is that!
[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Arachiel rolls 1d20+2 K:P What pokemon is that! and gets 13." [1d20=11]
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: K:P if anyone cares to make it.
[20:50] <Whurric> roll d20+2 K:P why not, let's try and figure it out too
[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Whurric rolls d20+2 K:P why not, let's try and figure it out too and gets 7." [d20=5]
[20:50] <Whurric> ooc: ah well
[20:50] <Kotono> "What..." Jos abreathes, "A celestial! To what..."
[20:50] <Arachiel> "A solar! Uhm, wow. Hello, sir!" Arachiel snaps still.
[20:51] <Whurric> "...is this about my brother's message?" Whurric asks, remembering the little archon's words previously
[20:51] <Arachiel> "I don't know?"
[20:52] <Kotono> "Your brother was cut down prematurely in his life, all by Shar's hand." The solar explains. "Senaril's evil cannot be allowed to run unchecked any further. Arachiel, we have a new duty for you."
[20:53] <Arachiel> "Sir, yes sir! How can I help?"
[20:54] <Kotono> "We would grant you the form of a mortal, as well as skills long lost to you. Aid Whimsical Sweets and ensure that Senaril's vile evil ends here."
[20:55] <Arachiel> "I can do that! Yes! Uhm...can you answer me a question though? Do you know if Orval's soul is okay? It's really important to his brother here. Please?"
[20:56] <Whurric> "So my brother really is dead..." Whurric mutters and sighs. There was a small part that hoped otherwise given that cryptic message, that somehow his brother had forseen and prepared or just...something. He pauses at Arachiel's question and focuses his eyes on the solar as well, nodding in wait for the response.
[20:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+34
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+34 and gets 39." [1d20=5]
[20:59] <Kotono> "His soul travels towards Dumathion's realm," The solar says, even as Arachiel speaks. The moment he does, the Lantern Archone xplodes out into light! When it fades...OOC: Describe yourself, Arachiel.
[21:02] * Whurric sighs with a little bit of relief at that, glad that his brother wasn't one of those whose soul was being destroyed in that fire. "What about the lass, Yur..." he starts to ask but stops as he's surprised by the explosion of light and starts rubbing his eyes in concern for the little ball of light.
[21:04] * Arachiel stands, white-blonde and willowy, her face a soft heart shape beneath her hair. She wears a cloak on her shoulders, with shining chain over her chest. A large, dark wooden bow is strapped across her back. She wears a jeweled necklace around her neck, and has soft, supple leather gloves on her hands. She wears a set of forest-green breeches, and a pair of brown leather boots. She blinks, carefully looking around. "...this is so WEIRD!"
[21:07] <Kotono> "...goodness!" Josa stares a moment and then a few more moments!
[21:08] * Arachiel raises one arm, then the other. "These are arms?" She floats around for a moment...before realizing too late that she can't float anymore, and falls on her face!
[21:08] <Arachiel> "Ow."
[21:08] * Whurric rubs his eyes a bit longer until the glare of light is gone and his vision is back, and stares at the little archon's mortal shell in surprise. "...you remind me a bit of that other lass, Balyss, now," Whurric notes after a bit of examination. Not so much looks, per se, but still there's a bit of familiarity there.
[21:08] <Kotono> "Help and aid them, Arachiel." The solar continues on, pausing a moment to wince. Then the light fades, the solar rising up and away as well!
[21:09] <Arachiel> From the ground, Arachiel waves! "Bye! Thank you! I'll do my best!"
[21:09] <Whurric> "You alright there?" the dwarf stops to give her a hand up... but lets go as he realizes the solar is leaving. "Wait! What about that lass, Yuria? You didn't answer that!" he calls out.
[21:11] * Arachiel pushes herself to her knees, then to her haunches, looking up. "This will take some getting used to."
[21:14] <Kotono> Josa offers a hand, "It seems that fate will not leave us completely adrift an the oceans of sorrow, regret and despair."
[21:15] * Arachiel takes the hand and pulls herstlf to her feet, a bit wobbly. "Celestia's pretty awesome, yeah. I guess they want Senaril brought to justice as much as we do, huh?"
[21:18] * Whurric sighs. "Would have been nice if he'd stuck around to answer that question or help out himself, but I imagine there are other things that require his attention," Whurric comments with a shake of his head. "Still, it was good to know my brother has joined with our ancestors at least, rather than lost for all eternity to that fire."
[21:18] <Kotono> "Indeed!" Josa nods, "Let us return now and prepare for our next move," Josa says, "Perhaps Farzahd has been apprehended and justice can follow knowledge."
[21:19] <Whurric> "Shouldn't we keep searching around this wreck?" Whurric asks. "There might still be more to find..."
[21:20] <Arachiel> "That means we could try to bring him back, if you'd like, Whurric. He did say he'd be back." Arachiel says moving some things around in earnest now, looking throu gh the wreckage.
[21:22] <Kotono> "If you wish," Josa says, as...OOC: Does anyone here have ranks in search?
[21:23] <Arachiel> OOC: Yes!
[21:23] <Arachiel> roll 1d20+6 Search!
[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Arachiel rolls 1d20+6 Search! and gets 8." [1d20=2]
[21:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Josa tries as well.
[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Josa tries as well. and gets 20." [1d20=17]
[21:26] <Kotono> It's a lot of hard, dirty work. As the sun comes down you manage to pry a few things out of the rubble...OOC: Loot post incoming.
[21:27] <Whurric> ooc: I'm happy managing the ones with search skills and just carrying the loot.
[21:28] <Kotono> OOC: Post.
[21:29] <Kotono> With a few recovered items before you, Josa wipes his brow again. "Little remains," he observes, eyeing the symbol of Shar with open disdain.
[21:31] * Arachiel eyes the symbol with open dislike. "That thing must be destroyed!"
[21:31] <Whurric> "Had hoped to find something of Yuria's to bury with her if nothing else," Whurric says sadly. "An empty grave does the lass no great justice. But I supposed we should go see about Farzahd then if there's nothing else left to find amongst this mess."
[21:33] <Arachiel> "I don't think the knife is Orval's either...but I remember this teaset. It was in the entry hall when we got here. It was self-pouring and had poison in it, before Aaeru burned the poison away."
[21:36] <Kotono> "Let us destroy the symbol," Josa nods, "Whurric, can you destroy it?"
[21:40] * Whurric nods obligingly as he raises his axe, tossing the symbol on the ground and then bringing his axe to bear on it, imagining one of the nymph/succubi's faces on it for lack of a better mental image of what Senaril looks like.
[21:41] <Kotono> CRACK! The symbol is cut in twain, ruined! Once done Josa kicks it away, "Shall we return now?"
[21:43] * Whurric nods. "Aye, let's go see that Farzahd fellow like you'd mentioned earlier."
[21:44] <Arachiel> "He's the one that hired us!"
[21:46] <Kotono> On returning to the Temple of Waukeen you get cleaned up. Once done you find a messenger waiting for you. "Holycoin Isonu wishes to inform you that Farzahd has been found," he says, "Would you come with me?"
[21:47] <Whurric> "Aye, let's go see what the man has to say for himself," Whurric answers easily enough for his part, ready to follow the messenger.
[21:49] <Kotono> It's a quiet, clean and empty room. Sitting on the floor is Mr. Farzahd. He has a swollowen shut eye and looks down, staring off at nothing at all. He looks up on your entry, looking away.
[21:55] * Arachiel frowns at the man.
[21:55] * Whurric just stands inside the room, off to the left side of the door, leaning against the wall and stares at Farzahd silently with crossed arms. Josa will surely say things in such a verbiose and grand manner that after a while the man is sure to break and tell them everything he knows just so long as Josa shuts up. If the candymancer doesn't start the questioning after a while, well, he can start asking stuff then.
[21:57] <Kotono> Josa comes forward, kneeling next to him. "Why?" he asks this, "Why betray us to a Sharran? Did we offend you? Were you bribed? Why?" After a beat and no answer, Josa intones a few words of magic.
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 19." [1d20=15]
[21:58] <Kotono> After this Josa frowns, "Hmph. It seems that this won't loosen your tongue. Perhaps another can...convince you?" A glance at Whurric and Arachiel follows.
[22:01] * Arachiel defers to Whurric, having previously had no experience interrogating people.
[22:04] * Whurric nods and detaches himself from the wall as he steps right next to the man, standing above him while he's sitting on the floor. Placing his hand on the man's shoulder, clasping it tightly. "My brother died on that little expedition of yours," he says slowly. "As did a very good friend. Now, honestly, I don't really care about your reasons for it. Fact of the matter?
[22:04] <Whurric> They're dead...and Senaril isn't." He tightens his grip on the man's shoulder painfully and tries to lift him up a bit with the one hand as he presses his face to Farzahd's, his eyes narrow with anger. "So you -will- tell me. Where. Is. She?"
[22:06] <Kotono> OOC: Intimidate check, +2 bonus.
[22:06] <Whurric> roll d20+13
[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Whurric rolls d20+13 and gets 27." [d20=14]
[22:10] <Kotono> Farzahd's face crumbles at Whurric's glare, "I..she...she said she was going into the desert!" He blurts out! "I don't know where!"
[22:17] * Whurric drops him back to the ground and keeps looking at him with narrowed eyes, trying to tell if he's telling the truth or not about that being all he knows.
[22:17] <Kotono> Josa nods to this, "The desert. Hmmm..." Humming to himself a moment, as...OOC: Sense motive, Whurric.
[22:18] <Whurric> roll d20+12
[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Whurric rolls d20+12 and gets 21." [d20=9]
[22:24] <Kotono> After all that thought, Josa at last nods, "Well Whurric," he asks, looking to him.
[22:28] <Whurric> "He seems t'be telling the truth, not sure what else we can get out of him," Whurric finally says as he turns his back on Farzahd and back to Josa. "As for the desert, all I can think is that Senaril knew what the rest of us were planning before we learned of this, and was hoping to ambush the rest of us as well. Assuming she is focusing on killing everyone that works for you above all else, anyhow. Could be somethin' else too."

[Corwin]

[20:12] <Kotono> "She knew enough to give us a poisoned job," Josa agrees, face utter grimness, "Now she hides in the desert like a rat."
[20:14] * Arachiel hesitates for a moment, then walks forward and kneels down by the man. "...why? Why did you do it? We only wanted to help you!" She looks very, very sad.
[20:14] <Whurric> "So now what, go meet back with the others or is there anything left t'do over here?" Whurric asks.
[20:16] <Kotono> Mr. Farzahd meets Arachiel's eyes, still shaking, "The money," he licks his dry lips, "Two thousand marks to let her use my Wetwind Harbor residence and set up this job. She was so, just so persusasive!"
[20:17] <Kotono> Josa does pause a moment at that, "There is one more thing," Josa announces, "Those marks, where are they? Your other crimes aside, you owe us compensation for losses and damages inflicted."
[20:17] <Arachiel> Arachiel's face scrunches up in anger. "Your greed caused the death of two good people!"
[20:19] <Kotono> Mr. Farzahd flinches back, "It was so easy. It was the easiest money I've ever made!" He blubbers, shaking back from Arachiel, "I didn't even have to lift a finger! I had a worker send the message and that was it! She came to me and made me that incredible offer! How was I supposed to say no!"
[20:20] <Arachiel> "By saying no!"
[20:20] <Whurric> "You didn't think it was just a wee bit suspicious?" Whurric snorts, not at all impressed with the man.
[20:21] <Kotono> Josa comes over and kneels, "By having the common fortitude and compassion to resist being little more than a lackey of the Lady of Loss! To do what any other person with a heart or a shred of humanity in them would do!"
[20:23] <Kotono> Mr. Farzahd wilts under those glares and words, "I just...it was so easy!" he says, shaking his head! "It hardly matters. The Guard took the money when they found me. I'll never see it again..." he sighs, "It's all ruined!"
[20:23] <Arachiel> "It's your own fault, and you deserve it!" Arachiel stands, moving toward the door, done with the man.
[20:27] <Kotono> Once outside, Josa turns to the two, "I shall endevour to talk to the city authorities, so that we may perhaps reclaim that ill-gotten money as fair compensation for his injuries on us. Do you have any other ideas?"
[20:27] * Whurric shakes his head. "None, really."
[20:29] * Arachiel shakes her head.
[20:29] <Kotono> "Superb, I shall apply my full might of intellectual power and words to procuring us a war fund against Senaril," Josa says, "Please, rest while you can, for the coming days may be hectic ones and I would be remiss to have employees who are not prepared to the utmost for this cataclysmic confronation coming currently."
[20:31] * Arachiel looks briefly confused as the jumble of words assemble in her head, then nods.
[20:34] <Kotono> OOC: Ready to skip along a bit, then?
[20:35] <Arachiel> OOC: Ya
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 Diplomacy for Josa mk1
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 Diplomacy for Josa mk1 and gets 28." [1d20=10]
[20:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 Diplomacy for Josa mk2
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 Diplomacy for Josa mk2 and gets 37." [1d20=19]
[20:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 Diplomacy for Josa mk3 (+2)
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 Diplomacy for Josa mk3 (+2) and gets 27." [1d20=7]
[20:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 Diplomacy for Josa mk3 (+2) reroll for skill focus: diplo
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 Diplomacy for Josa mk3 (+2) reroll for skill focus: diplo and gets 21." [1d20=1]
[20:38] <Kotono> About an hour later Josa returns as the two of you rest. He has a small sack along with him, plunked down on the table before him. "Well, some of fate's mercies are on us. I was able to talk the guard out of some of the money recovered from Farzahd."
[20:41] * Arachiel looks like she has something disgusting in her mouth. "That's good, I suppose. What are you gonna use it for?"
[20:44] <Kotono> "When we gather again, we'll have funds ot prepare for whatever comes next," Josa says, then he takes a long, drawn out sigh. "Mercies." He goes to sit, "What an accursed day."
[20:45] <Whurric> "Well let's just hope t'others aren't having more troubles heaped upon their day," Whurric says with a shake of his head. "Would be rather horrid if their fears came true."
[20:46] <Whurric> "Not that it's very likely if Senaril's off in the desert, mind you," Whurric notes after a bit of pause. "So hopefully they've had a peaceful enough time warning people."
[20:46] * Arachiel nods, looking worried. "I hope everything is okay with them."