B 001

[Corwin]

[18:15] <Alicia> [19:28] <Anastasia> It takes a bit of preparation, but soon the scales are in a simple cloth bag. "You will bear this bag and the ominus of the evil still staying in these scales," So Shankar intones. You are now in front of the Altar of Mystra, the hall cleared out for the moment. "Are you prepared, favored of Mystra?"
[18:15] <Alicia> [19:29] <Alicia> "I am prepared," Alicia replies sollemnly, ready to accept the quest she is to be given.
[18:15] <Alicia> [19:36] <Anastasia> "Then..." The bag is given to Alicia. "While bearing these, you will find your own defenses compromised. While in this state, you must travel the north with haste. In the hills before the Armasea mountains, there is an old keep. I have seen you were there once before, to eventually capture a basilisk. Deep below it lies a creature that must be slain before it awakens."
[18:15] <Alicia> [19:37] <Alicia> "What kind of creature is it?" Alicia asks before she departs.
[18:15] <Alicia> [19:37] <Anastasia> "It is in some way related to scales. I do not know if it is a dragon or another beast with scales, but it is evil. Be wary of it, Alicia."
[18:16] <Alicia> Thanking Shankar, Alicia goes to collect Marie and a horse before she departs with all possible haste towards the rotten keep where they found a basilisk and all manner of nasty oversized beetles, last time.
[18:19] * Koaway is now known as Anastasia
[18:24] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
[18:24] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 5."12 [1d100=5]
[18:25] <Anastasia> Three days of travel pass serenly. At the end of the third day, Alicia happens to be passing a cluster of farming homesteads, a small village. As she rides through, a group of men leading horses and donkeys towards a central stable stop. One stares at Alicia, wide eyed. "Hey! Hey!" he calls amid the sunset's pleasant orange and red hues.
[18:26] * Alicia canters her horse over, Marie currently sitting on its back just in front of the saddle bearing Alicia. "Can I help you?" she asks politely.
[18:28] <Anastasia> The men, sun tanned and muscled, herd the horses to stop. "Are you travelling, ma'am," he asks respectfully. "We'd be glad to put up a hero here."
[18:30] <Alicia> "Well, it is getting close to the end of the day," Alicia admits before dismounting. "If you're offering, I'd be happy to accept your hospitality. My name is Alicia Reynes," she introduces herself, deciding to spare them the full title routine.
[18:33] <Anastasia> "CAptain Reynes," One of the workers murmurs in near awe, "Welcome to our village." He comes forward, taking her horse's reigns. "Please, we'll make you comfortable."
[18:35] <Anastasia> One of the men eyes Marie warily, "What is that, ma'am," he asks carefully.
[18:36] <Alicia> "You're too kind," Alicia smiles warmly as Marie takes to the air and flutters along beside her. "This is my friend, Marie," she introduces her familiar, who gives a cheerful wave.
[18:36] <Alicia> "I'm a coure eladrin!" the violet-tressed little fairy chirps brightly by wave of further explanation.
[18:36] <Alicia> by way*
[18:37] <Anastasia> "...aaah..." The man nods easily, "Well, we'll fix you up a hot meal and prepare a bed. Anyone that stopped Malmuth from invading has to be good in our books."
[18:39] <Alicia> "They deserved what they got, for launching such a cowardly surprise attack," Alicia agrees levelly as she follows the group along. "Hopefully it's a lesson they won't forget."
[18:44] <Anastasia> Alicia is well fed and gets a decent bed to sleep on. All in all it's a pleasant end to a day of travel, the next few days passing without incident. Just past noon on a warming, bright day, Alicia comes to the keep - or what is left of it. Only two walls are still up, the northern and eastern wall. The western and southern walls have collapsed, most of the keep gone in a large sinkhole. A hole that has no bottom that can be seen on a casua
[18:44] <Anastasia> most of the keep gone in a large sinkhole. A hole that has no bottom that can be seen on a casual glance, half surrounded by the remnants of a keep.
[18:46] * Alicia dismounts her horse and ties it to a tree a fair distance from the keep so it'll hopefully be safe from random basilisk/beetle attacks. "Okay, to keep safe from any basilisk gazes, I'm going to need to wear this blindfold Elle made me - I'll still be able to 'see' well enough, but only for thirty or so feet, so you'll still need to act as a guide, okay Marie?" Alicia tells her familiar as she dons the blindfold.
[18:47] <Alicia> Marie is amenable to this, and has Alicia follow her towards the South wall of the keep so she can check out the lay of the land before advancing.
[18:52] <Anastasia> OOC: Does Marie have knowledge: dungeoneering or archtexture or anything like that?
[18:54] <Alicia> OOC: no
[18:56] <Anastasia> The ground looks somewhat unstable and shaky. The sinkhole's edges are abrupt, coming within about five feet of either wall. Below, in the hole, you can see it's collapsed down about sixty feet. There's a lot of rubble of a castle keep and a half crumbled natural cave below. There's lots of secluded places and paths into it, chaotic and smashed together.
[18:58] <Alicia> "Lots of holes... we did have to go underground anyway, didn't we?" Marie asks as she sweeps for evil and magic. "You should probably just cast fly and then I'll lead you down one that's big enough for you to fit."
[18:59] <Alicia> "Okay," Alicia agrees, casting said spell before the duo carefully descend down towards the natural caverns at the base of the hole.
[19:00] <Anastasia> OOC - Did you put on the blindfold yet?
[19:00] <Alicia> OOC: put it on when I dismounted my horse
[19:06] <Anastasia> Thus Alicia descends down. Her vision is black, yet she can see by means far removed from mortal vision! As Alicia descends, Marie can see several opens. A large room has landed on it's side, it's door still open and going downward into it. There's a long cleft on the side of the rubble, another passage. There's a secondary sinkhole on the northwestern part, going down as well.
[19:06] <Alicia> Is the sinkhole big enough for Alicia to fit in?
[19:07] <Anastasia> All of the holes or passages look big enough for Alicia's relatively large human body tos queeze into.
[19:08] <Alicia> "Down to the very bottom, right?" Marie confirms, eliciting a nod from Alicia. "Okay, down here, then," she leads the paladin down the sinkhole.
[19:09] <Anastasia> Marie leads Alicia to the hole. It's fairly steep down, though it's wide enough for now to fly in and downward. THe ground is very soft here.
[19:09] <Alicia> The duo keep flying downwards without touching the sides, neither needing anything by way of illumination.
[19:10] <Anastasia> Sixty more feet down. The passage starts to curve, narrowing. It's becoming very narrow - while not enough to stop, there won't be any room to really fly as much as crawl ahead. It looks to go on ahead a ways more, too, no end in sight.
[19:13] <Alicia> "Hmm, hold up a second?" Marie asks, before darts ahead of Alicia down the narrowing tunnel to see if it just thins out to nothingness or if it's worth forcing their way through.
[19:16] <Anastasia> Thus Marie heads on. After about three hundred feet, the corridor has narrowed, but stayed steady. It would be possible for Alicia to continue on it, but it would be a tight squeeze. At the end of it, she can see that it's starting to open up again. Far away, she can hear the sound of water.
[19:19] <Alicia> Three hundred feet is far too risky - the ground here seems hardly stable, and it could settle above them, suffocating her poor mistress. That simply won't do. Flying back to rejoin Alicia, "It's too risky, if any of the earth fell atop you you'd have no chance of digging your way out," she reports. "Lets back up a bit then try going through that gap in the rubble farther up?"
[19:19] <Alicia> "Alright," Alicia trusts Marie's judgement, honestly having no real desire to crawl through a rabbit-hole, herself. And so they fly back up to try another path.
[19:21] <Anastasia> The two return back up to the settled bottom of the sinkhole. There's two other passages - the broken room's open door and the cleft in the side.
[19:21] <Alicia> What directions are they in, respectively?
[19:22] <Anastasia> The cleft goes to the east and down, the keep is in the center and goes down through the open door.
[19:23] <Alicia> Since the keep door is closer to the direction they were headed through the sinkhole, Alicia suggests they go that way, first. So they do.
[19:28] <Anastasia> The keep door leads to a room, a small, collapsed hall. Amid the rubble, another door ont he side survives, leading downward further. But with a glimpse in, you can see it's almost a straight shot several hundred feet down.
[19:29] <Alicia> Since both of them can fly, this is not a problem. "This way," Marie tells Alicia as she flies down through the broken doorway.
[19:32] <Anastasia> Down and down and dow and down and down and down the duo goes! Marie can see farther, so she's the first to see it. Several hundred feet down lies the bottom - a large pool of water, more like an underground lake. Much dirt and rubble has fallen into it, half clogging it. It's a series of minature rivers, dams and blckages ow, thugh it manages to be fed and drain from two seperate points in the wall. All in the water and around it, however
[19:32] <Anastasia> All in the water and around it, however...are beetles. Large beetles, at least a dozen of them.
[19:34] <Alicia> "Lots of giant beetles down there," Marie tells Alicia, looking to see how much clearance there is at the bottom of this hole from the ceiling to the floor. Hopefully they can fly above the oversized insects without worry.
[19:36] <Anastasia> About fourty feet. There's a fair bit of space on a glance.
[19:37] <Alicia> "Should be easy enough to keep our feet safe, at least, just don't drop any lower than I go, okay?" the eladrin instructs as she descends to the bottom of the tunnel and takes a look at the surroundings of the clogged lake.
[19:39] <Anastasia> There's a lot here. The lake takes about 100 feet circular, hitting against the northern and western walls entirely, and slightly coming to the edge of the southern wall in places. There's a bit of dry land here and there, as well as islands of rubble. There's a lot of half rotted plants here. The beetles don't seem to react to your presence.  OOC - Make a spot check, Marie?
[19:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 19."12 [1d20=14]
[19:43] <Alicia> "Well... there's another sinkhole down there, but it's going to be a lot of trouble for you to get down there," Marie hims thoughtfully, slowly turning in place to survey the walls and see if there's any safe and dry paths leading out of here.
[19:43] <Anastasia> OOC - Search check or spot, whichever is better.
[19:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 8."12 [1d20=3]
[19:45] <Anastasia> Marie doesn't find anything of particular note on a looking about, besides noting that there's a lot of rubble and beetles.
[19:49] <Alicia> "Okay, I'm going to scout ahead down that hole to see if it leads anywhere. Wait here a second?" Marie asks, taking charge in her new role as trailblazer as she turns incorporeal and then zooms down below the water and down the sinkhole.
[19:51] <Anastasia> Woosh! Marie dives through the water, ghostly as can be! The sinkhole goes down for thirty feet, narrowing considerably. At the end of this, it emits a small, gentle waterfall down. Here is another half collapsed chamber. Here, several half eaten, stone beetles can be seen. On the northern wall another cleft can be seen, quite large. Amid all the stone beetles...(More)
[19:52] <Anastasia> It's large, thorns covering it's reddish back. It easily chomps on the leg of a petrified beetle, maw crushing the stone down.
[19:53] <Alicia> OOC: any knowledge to ID it?
[19:53] <Anastasia> OOC: K:N.
[19:53] <Anastasia> OOC: Check that.
[19:54] <Anastasia> OOC: Arcana, sorry. Hence why I always check.
[19:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 18."12 [1d20=11]
[19:56] <Alicia> Marie takes a moment to look over this chamber for any advantageous terrain Alicia might be able to use before she goes to report back.
[19:56] <Anastasia> OOC: Spot check.
[19:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 15."12 [1d20=10]
[19:58] <Anastasia> Marie notices there's some rubble well to the side. It would be a good place to get cover or to hide.
[20:01] <Alicia> Trying her best to be stealthy (which is pretty darn much when you're flying and incorporeal), Marie tries to angle around for a better look behind those rocks at the source of that unsettling aura.
[20:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 hide
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 hide and gets 31."12 [1d20=7]
[20:03] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+19
[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+19 and gets 38."12 [1d20=19]
[20:05] <Anastasia> Marie slinks around! This works well, she can see behind the rocks! What lies in wait there is horrible! A creature with spikes and barbs all over it's horrid body, it's entire form twisted and wreched! However, a gruesome smile is on it's face, as it's looking right at Marie! OOC - Does Marie have SR or is she immune to hold person? I forget her immunity list.
[20:07] <Alicia> OOC: no SR or immunity to paralysation
[20:07] <Anastasia> OOC: Will save then.
[20:07] <Alicia> OOC: 50% miss chance vs incorporeal
[20:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 31."12 [1d20=18]
[20:07] <Anastasia> OOC: Wait, disregard anyway. It's humanoid only.
[20:08] <Alicia> OOC: good point
[20:08] <Anastasia> Magic washes over Marie, but nothing happens! However, the vile thing is looking right at her! OOC - Initiative.
[20:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 23."12 [1d20=16]
[20:08] <Anastasia> "Lost, little one?" It leers at Marie, "I'll send you home...!"
[20:08] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+6
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 9."12 [1d20=3]
[20:08] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Marie>Barbed Devil'
[20:09] <Anastasia> The overgrown basilisk stays where it is, gnawing on the stone statue peacefully.
[20:10] <Alicia> "No thanks, I was just leaving!" Marie replies, firing a barrage of magic missiles as a parting gift before she shoots up straight through the ceiling and out of reach from any retaliation.
[20:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 SR
[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 SR and gets 31."12 [1d20=19]
[20:10] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 15."12 [5d4=1, 2, 1, 2, 4]
[20:10] <Anastasia> The missiles slam into the devil, making his body wince back! Nonetheless, you hear it's laughter as you flee up the tunnel and away, into the conforting darkness! No followup spell comes...Did Marie make a clean break? OOC - Go.
[20:11] <Alicia> Flying through solid earth as if it were air, then through the water of the lake above, Marie rejoins Alicia. "There's an overgrown basilisk down there, but there's also a barbed devil, so you'd better be careful!" she warns.
[20:12] <Alicia> "The devil saw me, so they'll probably be ready," she then adds apologetically.
[20:12] <Alicia> "That's alright, Marie, they know we're coming and we know they're there, so it evens out," Alicia replies comfortingly as she casts shield upon herself.
[20:13] <Anastasia> There's no immediate pursuit, nor any roars of a chasing pursuer. Just the quiet, beetle filled cave...
[20:14] <Alicia> "Is there enough room to fly around down there to keep above them both, by the way?" Alicia then asks as she casts mirror image.
[20:14] <Alicia> roll 1d4+3
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+3 and gets 4."12 [1d4=1]
[20:16] <Alicia> "Not really, no," Marie replies, eliciting a sigh from the paladin.
[20:17] <Alicia> "Oh well, can't be helped. Okay, here's the plan, you stay incorporeal and zip around to the rear of the chamber, while I swim straight down and attack from the front. Once you hear the fight start, that's your cue to come out and provide supporting fire, okay?"
[20:18] <Alicia> "Got it!" the eladrin bobs up and down in agreement before she zips back into the lake and through the earth below, positioning herself just within the wall at the rear of the devil plus basilisk chamber.
[20:19] <Alicia> Meanwhile, Alicia, now suitably prepared, takes a deep breath before she dives into the water and easily parts her way through it thanks to her freedom of movement ring, aiming for the sinkhole Marie went through before.
[20:21] <Anastasia> So Marie positions, as Alicia does as well! As she gets close, she can 'see' the chamber below! The basilisk is moving towards the hole, as the devil is behind it. However, there is another, identical devil now hiding behind the rocks...
[20:24] <Alicia> Marie surely wouldn't be so sloppy as to miss a second evil aura, so it sounds like the devil called reinforcements after being alerted by Marie's arrival. Well, it's not the only one... safely obscured from vision by the cascading waterfall, Alicia calls upon Kossuth's favour to summon a fire elemental adjacent to the basilisk, waiting a moment for them to react to its arrival before she makes her own presence plain.
[20:25] <Anastasia> OOC - Is the elemental going to attack, or just get attention.
[20:26] <Alicia> OOC: it'll defend itself if attacked, but since it lacks direct orders and Alicia isn't being attacked herself, it has no reason to pick a fight.
[20:35] <Anastasia> In a flash of fire, the elemental appears. With a hiss in words that escape Alicia's understanding, the basilisk whirls and turns on the elemental, while the visible Barbed Devil peers upward at the watery sinkhole passage! OOC - This entire thing is getting complicated, so let's do intiativehere.
[20:35] <Anastasia> roll 1d20-1
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20-1 and gets 12."12 [1d20=13]
[20:36] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+6
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 22."12 [1d20=16]
[20:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 elemental
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 elemental and gets 26."12 [1d20=19]
[20:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 Marie
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 Marie and gets 10."12 [1d20=3]
[20:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 Alicia
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 Alicia and gets 16."12 [1d20=10]
[20:37] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+6 hiding
[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+6 hiding and gets 22."12 [1d20=16]
[20:38] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Fire Elemental>Barbed Devil(Visible)=Barbed(Hidden)>Alicia>Basilisk>Marie'
[20:39] <Alicia> The elemental reacts to the clear perceived threat from the basilisk and so delivers a fiery punch to the back of the head!
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 7."12 [1d20=1]
[20:40] <Anastasia> The burning blow is quick, but whizzes and misses the large target entirely! AT this, the visible devil glares up the hole! With a gesture, a greasy black miasma surrounds Alicia!  OOC - Will save.
[20:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17
[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 30."12 [1d20=13]
[20:43] <Anastasia> roll 5d8 halve this
[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 5d8 halve this and gets 25."12 [5d8=4, 8, 8, 3, 2]
[20:43] <Anastasia> The miasma drains the life out of Alicia, as if it can destroy her from within! However, she bravely amnages to resist the worst of the choking blight! OOC - Alicia.
[20:46] <Alicia> Well fine, if they want to play it that way. Alicia leaps out of the waterfall sword first at the devil that just attacked her! "Die monster! You don't belong in this world!"
[20:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 smite
[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 smite and gets 26."12 [1d20=3]
[20:48] <Anastasia> Alicia dives down like a meteor, her white glowing blade narrowly missing the barbed devil! As she splashes down onto the watery floor, "Aaaah...!" The devil dodges adroitly, "Interference again?" With an irritated snarl, "How do you keep finding us?" Meanwhile, the basilisk attempts to bite the elemental back!
[20:48] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+23
[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 34."12 [1d20=11]
[20:48] <Anastasia> roll 2d8+8
[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d8+8 and gets 13."12 [2d8=2, 3]
[20:48] <Alicia> OOC: DC 14 reflex save or else the basilisk will catch on fire for 1d4 rounds
[20:49] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+11
[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+11 and gets 26."12 [1d20=15]
[20:49] <Anastasia> CHOMP! The elemental bites into the flaming man before him! It chews, a few sparks gushing out of it's mouth! OOC - Marie.
[20:50] <Alicia> Marie slips through the wall at the sounds of battle being heard, and decides to hold for a second, in case either of the two devils tries to use a spell-like on Alicia which she could hopefully interfere with.
[20:52] <Anastasia> OOC: Elemental is up then. Okay, you're holding, Marie.
[20:52] <Alicia> The elemental tries again to bravely punch the basilisk about the face!
[20:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 25."12 [1d20=19]
[20:53] <Anastasia> OOC - Hit.
[20:53] <Alicia> roll 1d6+1+1d6
[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d6+1+1d6 and gets 3."12 [1d6=1][1d6=1]
[20:54] <Alicia> OOC: DC 14 or catches fire for 1d4 rounds
[20:54] <Anastasia> Slam! The basilisk is punched right in the face! The flaming blow doesn't do much damage, but it does leave a few light burns around it's face!
[20:54] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+11
[20:54] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+11 and gets 20."12 [1d20=9]
[20:55] <Anastasia> Meanwhile, the visible Barbed Devil is on Alicia with haste! "Mankind ill needs you! Die, and let your foolish protections be lost!" With that, it lauches itself at Alicia!
[20:55] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18 claw
[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 claw and gets 27."12 [1d20=9]
[20:55] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18 claw
[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 claw and gets 27."12 [1d20=9]
[20:55] <Anastasia> OOC - AC?
[20:55] <Alicia> OOC: AC 31, image AC 16
[20:55] <Anastasia> roll 1d8
[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d8 and gets 4."12 [1d8=4]
[20:56] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18 claw cleave
[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 claw cleave and gets 20."12 [1d20=2]
[20:56] <Anastasia> roll 1d7
[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d7 and gets 4."12 [1d7=4]
[20:56] <Anastasia> roll 1d6 claw 2
[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 claw 2 and gets 5."12 [1d6=5]
[20:56] <Anastasia> The barbed devil's claws rip into Alicia with speedy haste, but only images are destroyed! As this hpapens, the hidden devil rises...OOC - Marie?
[20:57] <Anastasia> OOC - Strike, redoing in the MI rolls.
[20:57] <Anastasia> roll 1d4 claw 1
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d4 claw 1 and gets 1."12 [1d4=1]
[20:57] <Anastasia> OOC - Both miss, since it homed in on you right off. No images lost, both are clean whiffs.
[20:57] <Anastasia> The barbed devil's claws rip into Alicia with speedy haste, but only images are destroyed! As this hpapens, the hidden devil rises...OOC - Marie?
[20:57] <Alicia> Marie fires off a salvo of dazzling magic missiles to ruin whatever it is that particular fiend has planned!
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 SR
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 SR and gets 29."12 [1d20=17]
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 17."12 [5d4=3, 4, 1, 3, 1]
[20:58] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+21 DC 32
[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+21 DC 32 and gets 22."12 [1d20=1]
[20:58] <Anastasia> It's concentration is critically ruined, the magic missiles disrupting it's magic! It reels back, dazed from the bolting! OOC - Alicia.
[21:00] * Alicia quickly gauges the positions of the combatants without having to look thanks to her blindsight, estimating if she can position herself to catch all three in straight line.
[21:01] <Anastasia> Alicia could catch the barbed devil next to her and the basilisk in a line, but the rocks prevent the hidden barbed devil from being open.
[21:02] <Alicia> In that case she'll just focus on attacking this devil for the moment, proceeding to deliver a flurry of hopefully eviscerating magically aided strikes!
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 fire 3rd and 2nd level arcane strike
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 fire 3rd and 2nd level arcane strike and gets 26."12 [1d20=7]
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 holy 3rd and 2nd level arcane strike
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 holy 3rd and 2nd level arcane strike and gets 27."12 [1d20=9]
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 fire 3rd and 2nd level arcane strike
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 fire 3rd and 2nd level arcane strike and gets 18."12 [1d20=4]
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 holy 3rd and 2nd level arcane strike
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 holy 3rd and 2nd level arcane strike and gets 31."12 [1d20=18]
[21:03] <Anastasia> OOC - Last hit. What the freak, bot?
[21:03] <Alicia> roll 1d8+7+2d6+5d4 at least it's holy
[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+7+2d6+5d4 at least it's holy and gets 26."12 [1d8=4][2d6=1, 1][5d4=4, 3, 1, 2, 3]
[21:04] <Anastasia> Slash! Alicia jousts well, but can't manage to land a telling blow! Still, a gash in it's stomach leaves this barbed devil notably wounded! Meanwhile ,the basilisk works on it's flaming dinner!
[21:04] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+23
[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 33."12 [1d20=10]
[21:04] <Anastasia> roll 2d8+8
[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d8+8 and gets 17."12 [2d8=3, 6]
[21:04] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+11
[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+11 and gets 25."12 [1d20=14]
[21:04] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Barbed Devil(Visible)=Barbed(Hidden)>Alicia>Basilisk>Marie'
[21:05] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Barbed Devil(Visible)=Barbed=Marie(Hidden)>Alicia>Basilisk'
[21:05] <Anastasia> CHOMP! With that the elemental is bitten open, turned into a hot lunch for the basilisk! OOC -Marie and the barbs are up. Marie?
[21:06] <Alicia> Marie decides to try and get the basilisk's attention to keep some of the pressure off Alicia, flying around the side of the room and positioning herself right in front of its snout as she discharges a set of magic missiles in a wide array to hit all the hostiles present. As a side benefit, she's close enough for her aura to protect Alicia.
[21:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 SR barbed fighting
[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 SR barbed fighting and gets 20."12 [1d20=8]
[21:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 SR barbed hidden
[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 SR barbed hidden and gets 19."12 [1d20=7]
[21:07] <Alicia> roll 3d4+3 for the basilisk
[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d4+3 for the basilisk and gets 10."12 [3d4=1, 3, 3]
[21:07] <Anastasia> The single missiles are shrugged off by the barbed devils, but the three hit the basilisk good and hard! Meanwhile, the one on Alicia grins with sharp teeth! "Is that it, blind woman?"
[21:07] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18
[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 28."12 [1d20=10]
[21:07] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18
[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 29."12 [1d20=11]
[21:08] <Anastasia> roll 1d4
[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d4 and gets 4."12 [1d4=4]
[21:08] <Anastasia> roll 1d3
[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d3 and gets 3."12 [1d3=3]
[21:08] <Anastasia> Two images are destroyed, obliterated! However, Alicia is unharmed yet! Meanwhile, the hidden rubs it's magical missile stricken shoulder, glaring at Marie! Around Marie, a grid of three dimensional energy forms! OOC - Will save.
[21:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 unless he's specifically targetting Marie alone (which would be odd with Alicia nearby), he'll probably hit the basilisk as well
[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 unless he's specifically targetting Marie alone (which would be odd with Alicia nearby), he'll probably hit the basilisk as well and gets 17."12 [1d20=4]
[21:09] <Alicia> OOC: 50% miss chance, too
[21:09] <Anastasia> OOC: That's reasonable.
[21:09] <Anastasia> roll 1d100 1-50 whiff
[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 1-50 whiff and gets 90."12 [1d100=90]
[21:10] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+6
[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 7."12 [1d20=1]
[21:10] <Anastasia> roll 10d6 full damage to poor Marie and dazed one round
[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 10d6 full damage to poor Marie and dazed one round and gets 38."12 [10d6=5, 2, 5, 1, 5, 3, 2, 5, 4, 6]
[21:10] <Anastasia> roll 5d8 basilisk
[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 5d8 basilisk and gets 21."12 [5d8=8, 3, 1, 7, 2]
[21:11] <Anastasia> The pure order devastates Marie, leaving her dazed and aching! The basilisk is caught int he crossfire, littered with rings and letting out a screech! OOC - Alicia.
[21:13] * Alicia winces at the pain reflected through her familiar's empathic link, even if the spell didn't hurt her at all. "To hell with this," she glowers, shifting position slightly so she has a straight line shot at both of the hamatula before she discharges a blinding white nova of spellfire to wash over both of them, and likely core a rather long tunnel through the earth beyond!
[21:13] <Alicia> roll 18d8 DC 22 reflex half
[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 18d8 DC 22 reflex half and gets 81."12 [18d8=7, 7, 5, 3, 3, 3, 1, 8, 5, 7, 4, 6, 1, 5, 2, 1, 5, 8]
[21:13] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+14
[21:13] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+14
[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+14 and gets 20."12 [1d20=6]
[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+14 and gets 22."12 [1d20=8]
[21:15] <Anastasia> The beam of spellfire erupts in eldritch flames! It bores through the hamatula right besides Alicia, staggering him with a massive hole in his stomach1 The rocks provide no cover against this borelike beam, grazing the shoulder of the rock hiding hamatula! The rock hider hisses, "What in the name of Levistus was THAT?" he glowers back at Alicia. Behind him, a long tunnel is bored into the earth, making the wall it goes through shudder! OOC
[21:15] <Anastasia> making the wall it goes through shudder! OOC - Basilisk is up.
[21:16] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+2
[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+2 and gets 5."12 [1d20=3]
[21:16] <Anastasia> The basilisk lets out a strange noise, before movinga way and back towards the statues! Meanwhile, Marie is dazed, unable to do much of anything! OOC - Two devils are up now.
[21:17] <Anastasia> The one behind the rocks stands, wincing, "Try and finish her," he says aloud, before vanishing away! The one next to Alicia takes that to heart, trying to grab onto her even with a hole in his stomach, black fluid drippling out!
[21:17] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18
[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 22."12 [1d20=4]
[21:17] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+18
[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 25."12 [1d20=7]
[21:17] <Anastasia> roll 1d2
[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d2 and gets 2."12 [1d2=2]
[21:17] <Anastasia> Alicia's last image is finished off, shattered, but her own body isn't hit! OOC - Alicia.
[21:17] * Anastasia changes topic to 'Barbed Devil(Visible)=Marie>Alicia>Basilisk'
[21:19] <Alicia> "I can do a lot worse than send you back to Hell, you know," Alicia promises, her eyes sadly unseen for him to gauge her deadly sincerity. "Where did he go?" she asks, levelling her holy blade at the baatezu.
[21:19] <Anastasia> "How should I know? I'm the summoned one," he retorts back to Alicia. "Kill me or not, I care little beyond a chance to rip your body to shreds."
[21:21] <Alicia> "Worthless," she sneers, not having much else she can do except kill him - if he was just summoned he'll end up back in Baator within the hour no matter what. More with resignation than fury, she hacks into the devil to end its presence on her world.
[21:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 26."12 [1d20=10]
[21:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15
[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 35."12 [1d20=20]
[21:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 crit check
[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 crit check and gets 26."12 [1d20=11]
[21:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+11
[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+11 and gets 25."12 [1d20=14]
[21:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10
[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 25."12 [1d20=15]
[21:21] <Anastasia> OOC - One hit. Hatbot is taunting you.
[21:22] <Alicia> roll 1d8+7+2d6 all it needs, I expect
[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+7+2d6 all it needs, I expect and gets 19."12 [1d8=6][2d6=2, 4]
[21:22] <Anastasia> With one slash into the the barbed devil, it's cursed form withers into nothingness, slain! Meanwhile, the basilisk isn't attacking, but looking about and gnawing back on the statue again. OOC - Combat's over, free action.
[21:23] <Alicia> Marie whimpers as she reverts to corporeal form. "Some healing would be nice," she whines. "All that order... ergh, it was worse than Torm's temple."
[21:23] <Alicia> "There, there," Alicia soothes as she lays hands on the eladrins wounds, soothing them as best she can before following up with a use of her new wand of healing
[21:23] <Alicia> roll 1d8+1
[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+1 and gets 5."12 [1d8=4]
[21:24] <Anastasia> For it's part, the basilisk continues to eat petrified beetle in a most contented sort of way, though it's enchanted eyes are eyeing Alicia.
[21:24] <Alicia> Marie then goes back to incorporealness, preferring its relative security for the moment. "The basilisk at least seems harmless... I don't think it's what I was sent to slay. Or those devils, even, since it was meant to be something that was sleeping here."
[21:25] <Anastasia> As Alicia talks, the wall with the spellfire hole shudders again. A few rocks rain down from the ceiling.
[21:25] <Alicia> "There's still that crevasse in the rock we saw further up," Marie suggests. "Or you could explore that new tunnel you dug, but I doubt it's safe. Lets head back up before it caves in?"
[21:26] <Alicia> "Good idea," Alicia agrees, flying back up through the waterfall.
[21:26] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 93."12 [1d100=93]
[21:26] <Anastasia> As Alicia flies up, the side wall shudders again! There is a crack as she ascents up an dholds her breath, the wall to the north collapsing! As she reaches the lake, some falling stones beat and tug at her, the water's direction abruptly changing as  part of thwa ll collapses! OOC - Ref save.
[21:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 17."12 [1d20=4]
[21:28] <Anastasia> Alicia isn't quick enough! A rock hits her side, disrupting her movement! It's a second too long, as she finds herself dazed and caught up in a partial collapse! Rocks hit her, forcing her down amid a stream of falling water!
[21:28] <Anastasia> roll 8d6
[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 8d6 and gets 26."12 [8d6=3, 3, 4, 1, 2, 5, 2, 6]
[21:29] <Anastasia> Slam! Crash! Alicia lands hard on rubble! Water is falling down around her, rocks raining slowly! The entire damaged wall has collapsed, giving the lake above a place to drain down! Water is gushing at a good clip, as some beetles are falling as well.
[21:31] <Alicia> Alicia's 'vision' is perfect within 30 feet, and Marie has nothing to fear from being battered by any rocks, so between the two of them they do their best to negotiate a safe and unobstructed path up through their original ingress to this chamber. Plus freedom of movement ensures Alicia can move through water as easily as air, so if they keep their heads cool they should be able to escape if it's at all possible.
[21:31] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 94."12 [1d100=94]
[21:31] <Anastasia> OOC - WE'll pick up there tomorrow.
[21:32] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[21:48] <Ebiris> roll 1d20+13 why not
[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+13 why not and gets 27."12 [1d20=14]

[Corwin]

[18:29] <Alicia> [21:29] <Anastasia> Slam! Crash! Alicia lands hard on rubble! Water is falling down around her, rocks raining slowly! The entire damaged wall has collapsed, giving the lake above a place to drain down! Water is gushing at a good clip, as some beetles are falling as well.
[18:29] <Alicia> [21:31] <Alicia> Alicia's 'vision' is perfect within 30 feet, and Marie has nothing to fear from being battered by any rocks, so between the two of them they do their best to negotiate a safe and unobstructed path up through their original ingress to this chamber. Plus freedom of movement ensures Alicia can move through water as easily as air, so if they keep their heads cool they should be able to escape if it's at all possible.
[18:29] <Alicia> [21:31] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
[18:29] <Alicia> [21:31] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d100 and gets 94."12 [1d100=94]
[18:29] <Alicia> [21:31] <Anastasia> OOC - WE'll pick up there tomorrow.
[18:29] <Alicia> [21:32] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[18:29] <Alicia> [21:48] <Ebiris> roll 1d20+13 why not
[18:29] <Alicia> [21:48] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+13 why not and gets 27."12 [1d20=14]
[18:30] <Kotono> As Alicia flies back up to the level of the shattered lake, ther est of the lake lurches! With ag reat groan it collapses, the walls all shuddering! The rest of the lake and the rock supporting it plummets below! However, Alicia is just quick enough, evading it and rising back upwards, towards the tunnels! Below, there is a great din of crashing, as...
[18:30] <Kotono> roll 1d100+20 (Due to debris and impact damage from falling)
[18:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100+20 (Due to debris and impact damage from falling) and gets 61."12 [1d100=41]
[18:31] <Kotono> Below, there are several nasty lurches. The new collapsed floor shakes several times and groans, like rock splitting. However, it seems to hold.
[18:31] * Alicia sure isn't about to test it, and continues flying straight up through the vertical tunnel system until she's safely above ground!
[18:32] <Alicia> She doesn't even really need Marie to guide her, since her flying speed when ascending is just slow enough that she has time to react as her blindsight filters in any new information.
[18:33] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 45."12 [1d100=45]
[18:33] <Kotono> You hear a few rumbling below in the distance, but nothing critical. Soon enough, you return to the surface. You find the ground here has several new cracks and lines near the edges, the walls upward to the surface clearly under stress. However, everything's intact for the moment.
[18:35] <Alicia> Safely above ground, Alicia lifts her blindfold in order to perform a visual survey. "This... could be problematic," she admits.
[18:35] <Alicia> "Maybe the cave-in might have killed whatever it was that was sleeping down there?" Marie suggests, ever the spirit of optimism.
[18:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[18:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 9."12 [1d20=1]
[18:36] <Kotono> roll 20d6
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 20d6 and gets 68."12 [20d6=5, 2, 5, 1, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4, 3, 5, 5, 3]
[18:37] * Nad (lol@85.121.84.34.internex.100megabiti.fiber.nex.ro) has joined #dunes
[18:37] * Nad (lol@85.121.84.34.internex.100megabiti.fiber.nex.ro) has left #dunes
[18:37] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 63."12 [1d100=63]
[18:38] <Kotono> The ground shudders and shakes a few more times. After that, however, it seems to cease it's immediate tremors.
[18:39] <Alicia> "Well, I'm not inclined to risk going down there, now," Alicia admits as she takes a moment to cast prestidigitation and dry/clean herself off. "It's far too dangerous. On the other hand, you're quite safe so long as you stay incorporeal, so how about you check out that crevasse we found down the first hole?"
[18:39] <Alicia> "Okay, but heal me a bit more, first?" Marie asks. "That hamatula really did a number on me."
[18:41] <Alicia> Alicia has no qualms about seeing to her familiar's safety, and uses the wand twice more on her, then casts Message so they can stay in contact at least for a couple of hundred feet. "Come back after five minutes even if you still have more to explore," she instructs.
[18:41] <Alicia> roll 2d8+2
[18:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+2 and gets 11."12 [2d8=8, 1]
[18:41] <Alicia> Nodding in agreement, Marie turns incorporeal and then descends back into the pit while Alicia tries to find a relatively stable and elevated position from which to wait.
[18:42] <Kotono> Thus Marie goes down the cleft! It goes downward at a winding rate, often going straight vertically down. However, it seems to veer away from the center chamber for awhile. Soon Marie will be out of message range following this path.
[18:43] <Kotono> Alicia can fly to the top and find a safe vantage point easily enough, the ground is weakened but not immediately collapsing.
[18:45] <Alicia> Alicia settles down to wait, scanning her surroundings in case that barbed devil shows up, unlikely as it may be when he could have teleported anywhere on the planet. Marie herself continues to doggedly follow the path, knowing that when the five minutes are nearly up she can just zip straight through the earth to the surface in a fraction of the time.
[18:48] <Kotono> Without about a minute left, Marie comes to a large opening in the side wall of the cleft. Here she can see the ruined lake, several crushed beetles and a crushed basilisk amid the rubbles.  The floor is half giving, water emptying into cracks and heading to unseen destinations downward. In several places therea re larger holes, choked with rubble. Everything's half collasped or the verge of collapsing further.
[18:50] <Alicia> All roads seem to lead to this lake, it seems. So as to not worry Alicia, Marie zips straight back up to the surface so she can deliver her report, whereupon she's instructed to try checking out a few of the remaining holes to see if anything's down there. Which she does.
[18:50] <Kotono> OOC: You m ean the holes in the lake?
[18:51] <Alicia> OOC: yeah
[18:51] <Alicia> OOC: the mostly clogged ones
[18:53] <Kotono> Descending downward, Marie passes through the clogged holes! BElow is a 90 foot free fall full of muddy, loose earth at the bottom. Here, amid lots of rubble and mess, is a large repilian creature. It's body has been battered and beaten, face down in the muck. It lacks wings, but it's scaled body did have long claws. Whatever it was, it's been rather painfully crushed.
[18:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 25."12 [1d20=13]
[18:54] <Alicia> OOC: any knowledge to ID it?
[18:54] <Kotono> OOC: K:A.
[18:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 21."12 [1d20=14]
[18:57] <Alicia> Well, Alicia will certainly be pleased to know that she succeeded in killing the evil scaly thing, however indirectly. Flying around a bit within the chamber, the eladrin has a quick look for anything else of interest before she retreats.
[18:58] <Kotono> OOC - Spot or search, whichever is higher.
[18:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[18:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 7."12 [1d20=2]
[19:00] <Kotono> Marie pokes around, but doesn't see anything of particular interests. Unless rocks, stones and water interest her.
[19:01] <Alicia> They do not! Therefore she flies back up to the surface. "Good news, Alicia!" she beams. "It turns out you killed the big scaly evil thing, after all! I'm so proud of you!"
[19:02] * Alicia looks somewhat nonplussed, but just shakes her head and snorts after an explanation is provided. "It's not a method I'd care to repeat. Anyway, we might as well head home, now. I doubt that hamatula will come back here."
[19:03] <Alicia> And so the pair return to Alicia's horse and ride back to Balmuria.
[19:04] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 69."12 [1d100=69]
[19:09] <Kotono> The trip back is oddly without any sort of incident at all. For some reason Alicia can't shake off a strange, faint feeling of foreboding, but nothing comes of it. On returning to the temple and Shankar, he greets you warmly before the altar, "You have come back unscathed. ARe you ready to divest your burden, Alicia?"
[19:11] <Alicia> "I am," Alicia replies, feeling far less foreboding once inside the house of Mystra as she hands the bag of scales over to the priest.
[19:12] <Kotono> The bag of scales are placed on the altar by Shankar! As they are, the bag glows with the light of a thousand dawns! The bag melts, flowing into the scales. What lies on the altar now are glittering scales, like polished diamond with hints of a deep, peaceful red fire within.
[19:15] <Alicia> "Well, Seira will be pleased, at least," Alicia manages a smile. Although really, now it's just 'good' skin of an intelligent creature that she intends to wear... oh, well, she's a draconic creature herself, so she knows her culture best.
[19:15] <Alicia> "They are pretty, but now we need a new bag!" Marie pipes up from over the paladin's shoulder.
[19:16] <Kotono> Shankar gathers the scales, "I'll get a sack from storage," he says, "Are you hurt at all, Alicia? Do you need any magics?"
[19:16] * Alicia shakes her head. "No, I took a few bumps in a cave in, but the journey back was more than enough time for me to take care of my injuries," she assures him.
[19:17] <Kotono> "Mystra be with yo-oh." Shankar stops, "There is a small matter I should bring to your attention."
[19:17] <Alicia> "Yes?" Alicia asks pleasantly.
[19:18] <Kotono> "Your ward, Antenora?" Shankar goes on with a certain police delicateness, "I ran into her in the libraries, where she was reading some of our holy texts. I broached a discussion with her about Mystra and Her teachings, naturally."
[19:19] <Alicia> "She's been showing a bit more interest, lately," Alicia nods. "I haven't really pressed her on the matter myself, so what did she say?"
[19:20] <Kotono> "It was an...interesting discussion. She seemed primarily interested in the more estoric parts of the philosphy," Shankar begins to walk towards the back, lugging armfuls of scales with him. "The afterlife, the disposition of souls, Dweomerheart. Her perspective was...very...ah..unique."
[19:22] <Alicia> "She's very knowledgable about the planes, albeit rather skewed in one direction," Alicia agrees as she follows Shankar.
[19:22] <Alicia> "She never talks to me about that stuff. I could tell her tons!" Marie mutters indignantly as she flutters along behind them.
[19:24] <Kotono> "I suppose. Now, she was interested, but she was also more than willing to argue or even contradict some of the teachings." Into the back, and towards more servicable rooms. Shankar goes for a plain storage room, rustling up a large burlap sack. "I don't have a particular objection as long as she doesn't try to oppose Mystra's teachings. But it's clear that her point of view is often vastly different than normal."
[19:25] <Alicia> "What points did she argue about?" Alicia asks curiously.
[19:25] <Alicia> Marie, sadly, is ignored.
[19:27] <Kotono> "Perhaps you should go and do that?" Shankar looks to Marie with his own smile. "Just exactly how souls go, distributions. She talked like an outsider might, and one with a peculiar mindset. There wasn't any curiosity or awe about what lies after death. It was more...clinical to her."
[19:31] <Alicia> "It's a lot less mysterious once you've actually been there, but I don't think she's ever been to any of the upper planes, has she? Doesn't make them less impressive, mind you," the eladrin nods thoughtfully.
[19:31] <Alicia> "Yes, well that's not a great surprise Shankar," Alicia admits. "Antenora is an outsider, like Marielle. And yet very much not like Marielle, too. She has seen many souls pass on to a far crueller place than the one Mystra reigns over."
[19:34] <Kotono> "Mmm. I see." Shankar goes quiet at that. He tries to speak a few times, but settles for bagging thes cales up and passing them to Alicia. "Your works are more impressive the more I hear of them."
[19:38] <Alicia> "Antenora herself deserves a lot of credit for how she's turned herself around," Alicia replies modestly as she accepts the scales. "For obvious reasons, her true nature isn't something we want spread around. Not only would it cause her difficulties with those who don't believe her change of heart, it would also encourage the more naive to trust any fiend who claims to be misunderstood."
[19:38] <Alicia> "And considering the bezekira that appeared here recently, and the hamatula that escaped me at the keep, we need to be especially vigilant against such creatures."
[19:39] <Kotono> "Mystra often grants me protective magics against evil," Shankar says quietly. "At times even when I don't pray for them, instead of other spells."
[19:42] * Alicia looks slightly disquieted at that. "I think that shows the seriousness of the situation better than anything I could say," she replies sollemnly.
[19:46] <Kotono> "Walk carefully," Shankar says quietly, "But I'll support you, Alicia. Good luck."

[Corwin]

[18:52] <Nyarlatoko> Okay. First off, is there anything Alicia needed to do or look into now that she's back?
[18:54] <Alicia> I know Deme's already done it, but she'd be remiss if she didn't check out the temple of Torm.
[18:54] <Nyarlatoko> Okay-o.
[18:54] <Nyarlatoko> ---
[18:58] <Nyarlatoko> After resting from her trip back, Alicia heads towards the Temple of Torm. It is a bright day that speaks of spring and vitality in the air, sunshine coming down from a seemingly endless font.  The Temple of Torm is fairly busy - people come and go, heading in and out. The entrance doors are wide open, admitting all that care to enter.
[19:03] <Alicia> Looking resplendent in her gleaming mithral breastplate with golden cloak fluttering breezily in the air behind her, her ornate and sanctified blade visible on either side from underneath as it lies strapped across her back, Alicia looks the very ideal of womanly paladinhood, walking tall and proud as she enters the temple.
[19:03] <Alicia> While her own affiliation is plain by the holy symbols embossed onto her armour, she still cuts a figure that resonates with the ideals of Torm's clergy... at least, the doctrine that has been taught for the past thousand years by the God of Paladins, anyway. She hopes it's something that still holds meaning to them even as the Loyal Fury's current nature becomes slowly more apparent.
[19:07] <Nyarlatoko> As you walk towards thet emple, many part away respectfully from Alicia. She has a clear path that unfolds as she walks. On entering the temple, you can hear a man giving a sermon. He speaks with a voice like thunder, resonating. "...and to stand against all with the fury of a thousand suns! Those that violate the sacred laws will be consumed by this ever waiting, vigliant fury!" A few dozen people are in front of the altar, listening rap
[19:07] <Nyarlatoko>  A few dozen people are in front of the altar, listening raptly. Beyond that, other people walk by, including many acolytes. Many of them look to Alicia, often subtly.
[19:10] * Alicia takes position near the front of the congregation so she can listen in on this sermon, though even the first little snippet sounds discouraging. Still, if she can get a clear handle on just what they're preaching now, it'd make it easier for her to formulate her own arguments. Throughout it all she keeps her eyes dead on the priest, gaze flat and unreadable.
[19:13] <Nyarlatoko> The man speaking has an undeniable charisma to him. His face is young and bright, his movements sharp. "See here!" he points his finger to Alicia, his gaze meeting her own without blinkinga way in the least. "Here is a fine exemplar of fury! She has hard fury in her heart, does she not, as a hero should."
[19:18] <Alicia> Alicia's lips curl into a thin smile. She can use this, certainly. It's not an approach she'd ever dare take with Mystra's faithful, but then... it's one they'd never need. "Shall I tell you of fury, young priest?" she asks, her voice soft yet so very unyielding.
[19:19] <Nyarlatoko> "If you've come to embrace fury, then by Torm, yes," He gestures for Alicia to come forth, the congregation parting away from her. His own voice does not give, it challenges Alicia back with it's strong, strident tone. "Surely you know of it well, for all your deeds."
[19:47] * Alicia cooly and calmly steps forward, turning around with a dramatic flourish of her cloak as she faces Torm's faithful. "Fury... it is a wondrous thing. It strips away all doubts and reservations. It is more than simply losing your temper, feeling angry, it is an all-consuming and pure state of mind, one that distills everything into its most simple and primal form."
[19:47] <Alicia> "It is not easy, I hope, for most of us civilised beings to feel it so deeply, and for many it is an empty and impotent sensation, anyway, knowing we can do nothing but rail against injustice. But for when you have both fury and the power to act on it..." she shakes her head, a wistful yet bitter smile on her lips as she savours the memory, "It's intoxicating."
[19:47] <Alicia> "Stripped of all doubt, all hesitation, fury can drive you to do things you never thought possible before. To strike out at those who wrong you! To crush them with no mercy, make them feel despair and quail before your righteous wrath! But how easy is it, in such a state, to also forget compassion, justice, righteousness? The very things that would seperate us from those who would serve the likes of Malar or Bane?"
[19:47] <Alicia> She pauses a moment, letting that sink in before she finally speaks, and now her voice carries its own certain shame and regret, though it still rings clear through the temple. "I know how easy it is. I have made mistakes, proven myself unworthy as a paladin as I became no better than a beast, myself, focused only on sharing my pain through the purest expression of vengeful fury."
[19:47] * Alicia sighs after all that, not really having wanted to share so much, even without detail. But if it can make even one of those people think twice before lapping up this doctrine of hate, it's worth it. "Fury sounds great in concept, as a simple drive to right wrongs. But too often it masters you, seperating you from everything you once held dear."
[19:47] <Alicia> "In my case, I was lucky, in a way. I was weak and human, and simply unable to maintain the rage and pace I was setting. Likely I would have burnt out and died, one way or another, had I not rediscovered my faith and purpose, through Mystra. I may feel anger and yes, even fury, at wrongness and evil - but fury is a poor substitute for justice, I've found, hard as it may be to see when it has its claws into you so thoroughly."
[19:50] <Alicia> "All of you should think very carefully about pledging yourself to an ideal of losing control and acting without restraint," she concludes firmly. "There are other Gods who preach that doctrine, and they don't make any pretense about what they are."
[19:54] <Nyarlatoko> The silence that settles at the end of Alicia's words is incredible. It's as if the entire temple, nay, the entire city has gone silent listening to Alicia's speech. The worshippers of Torm stare by the end, enraptured by the fiery, wise words that came forth. Behind you, even though you cannot see him, Alicia feels burning, hot gaze(s?) on her. But even as she does, "WEll said!" A man from the crowd says, then another starts to clap. In
[19:54] <Nyarlatoko> "WEll said!" A man from the crowd says, then another starts to clap. In a moment a refreshing wave of cheers, claps and calls washes over Alicia like a spring breeze. (More)
[19:57] <Nyarlatoko> "That's right," Another calls, "You're right. All this rage...it sounds more like Malar..." This man is older, shaking his head wearily. "We've been through so much in six years now. TWo wars with Malmuth, ghouls, personifications of evil walking the streets, devilish tigers, dragons...Are we supposed to rage against it all?"
[20:02] <Alicia> "Indeed," Alicia steps to the side a bit, so her gaze can fall upon both the clergy and the congregation, challenging them but in a positive and hopeful manner. "Whatever happened to chivalry? Humility? Duty and protection? These are the things Torm has always stood for, and these are the things that people everywhere need. Not fiery talk of fury and punishment!"
[20:08] <Nyarlatoko> The young faced cleric returns Alicia's look evenly. "Yet, there is always a time for fury," he counters Alicia's words with a smooth, strong interjection. "For there are many wrongs in the world! Your fury shall protect by striking those down that do not deserve chivalry or protection! Balmuria has been attacked by a treasonous empire, by dragons and by the very spawn of the Hells!" His voice strengthens, "Did you not see the slinking, i
[20:08] <Nyarlatoko> His voice strengthens, "Did you not see the slinking, invisible servant of the vile Asmodeus recently slain in our own town? Woe unto you if you attempt humility and protection to that!"
[20:09] <Alicia> "I'd think protection would be quite nice to have when devils are around," Alicia returns dryly, so intellectually insulted that she can't even bring herself to give him a more in depth reply. Sometimes short and sweet gets the job done just as well.
[20:12] <Nyarlatoko> "Yet, you council to put aside fury!" He points a finger at Alicia,"What protection can there be without the strength it grants? Oh Torm, show us the way!" He appeals to the altar, and then to the crowd, "Would you have your family and friends torn apart by them, souls forever enslaved to an unimaginable pit?"
[20:12] <Nyarlatoko> roll 1d1000
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Nyarlatoko rolls 1d1000 and gets 521."12 [1d1000=521]
[20:18] <Alicia> "No," Alicia shakes her head, eyes narrowing. "Did I not say before that I still feel anger and fury, on occassion? But that fury is tempered with mercy and compassion - you on the other hand are offering nothing *but* fury. You said that there are those who do not deserve chivalry? I say to you that chivalry is a fundamental code of honour, not a fancy justification to be used when easy then discarded if it becomes inconvenient."
[20:18] <Alicia> "You've set out your stall quite clearly on this, and so I will ask a very simple question: In the gospel you preach, what does Torm offer that Bane does not?"
[20:24] <Nyarlatoko> Alicia's narrowed eyes lock with his! The two wills come into near physical contact! "The rage is our power, for justice! Fury is what is right and just, for there are many to be overthrown! Your words are a heresy to Torm's teachings, comparing his righteous wrath with that of Bane!" His voice thunders angrily!
[20:24] <Nyarlatoko> "...no, she's right," The old man speaks up, his own voice raised. "Fury, rage, hatred. I've lost family members to these wars and I've outlived all those I grew up with. How many of them died to 'righteous fury?'"
[20:25] <Nyarlatoko> A younger woman looks to the man with disdain, then, "But without fury, what is there? Chivalry sounds so stupid? Why should you give any mercy to enemies?"
[20:29] <Alicia> "Because you are *better* than they are!" Alicia tells the foolish woman sternly. "They would have you fight evil on its own level," she sweeps a hand at the priests of Torm. "When such hatred and vileness already runs rampant in the world, they would have you feed it with more hate."
[20:29] <Alicia> "Would you live in a world where no prisoners were taken in war? Where cities were sacked instead of occupied? Where people imposed their will and fury upon those weaker, simply because they can, because their power gives them the right? That is what you are being offered!"
[20:31] <Nyarlatoko> "Those that follow the wrong path deserve nothing but that!" The priest snarls, a twisted, angry expression of fury overtaking his face. "Those that oppose the will of Lord Torm should be punished for their heresy! Even now, you dare to come into His house and spread your vile whisperings! You, who coddles devils and desecrates all that is holy!" He points at Alicia dead on, "You...your gall is only outmatched by your  misplaced courage!"
[20:33] <Nyarlatoko> There is a pause there, the congregation looking on at the young priest and Alicia...
[20:34] <Alicia> "I only seek to see that Torm's true message is not lost," Alicia replies fiercely. "For untold millenia the True has been an exemplar of the very best that justice and righteousness had to offer. Now his message is tainted - I don't care if you're simply deluded or if Torm himself really says that this is the way things are now, I will *not* accept it! Not even a God can be forgiven for such betrayal!"
[20:37] <Nyarlatoko> "You wound stand against the True, the Loyal Fury!?" Raising himself up, "You...you have been completely debased by the deviltry you take into your own home! The whispers of Asmodeus have turned you against all that is just!"
[20:41] * Alicia shakes her head. "You truly are blind..." she says, finally deciding to look into the hearts of those present for the evil that no doubt lurks.
[20:41] <Alicia> "You don't even know what the word 'just' means anymore, do you? It's simply a label for yourself, so everyone else is automatically unust, is that it? You cannot dictate what is good and what is evil - they are eternal constants upon which the planes turn, not mere subjective labels up to the creative interpretation of any one group."
[20:47] <Nyarlatoko> "You..." With a fury that seems to radiate off him like an aura of fury, "Leave! LEave this holy place, deceiver of souls!" His voice is nothing more than the angry snarl of a furious man, even as he points out. "BEGONE, heresy bringer!"
[20:56] <Alicia> "It would be so very interesting to ask you to make me," Alicia muses. "But I believe I've made my point," she focuses her gaze on each of the non-evil acolytes in turn. "There will be difficult days for Torm's church ahead, and it will take brave men and women who remember the old ways to ensure that the Loyal Fury does not become spoken of in the same breath as the Black Lord and the Lady of Loss."
[20:56] <Alicia> Waiting just a moment longer to make it very clear she's not intimidated, Alicia then turns and walks towards the door with purposeful steps, head held high.
[21:01] <Nyarlatoko> Thus Alicia departs out, even amid the furious calls of the preacher. As she is called a heretic, a whore, a vile agent...others follow. Many of the worshippers walk out behind her, following Alicia's lead. Back outside into the spring sunshine, warm with the promise of the coming summer.
[21:03] <Alicia> "He's really trying to provoke me into unleashing my fury, isn't he?" Alicia comments loudly with a frown at some of the bad names he's calling her as she stops just outside the temple and regards her new followers.
[21:05] <Nyarlatoko> It's about half or so of the congregation that was listening to the preacher. The old man is amid them, not looking back. He does sigh however, "Captain...you're right. As long as fury keeps going, there will be more wars, murders and losses. What's happened there? I remember my teachings that Torm was a merciful God."
[21:10] <Alicia> "The Gods have been distant from us for thousands of years, and now they are coming back," Alicia's own voice is somewhat melancholy. "It's possible that Torm has changed in that time. But to see such a bastion of justice and light sink so low into mindless hate, it's a very sad thing."
[21:10] <Alicia> "And sadder still if they use the goodwill people naturally have for brave and loyal Torm to push this new agenda - if a church of Shar somehow managed to be built in Balmuria, it would still get few worshippers simply because of her reputation. Using Torm's good name to corrupt, though... it's so insidious, even Cyric would be proud."
[21:15] <Nyarlatoko> Outside, people come and go on the streets. Workers, merchants and peasants, a few listening as well. "Gods protect us..." The old man murmurs.
[21:19] <Alicia> "Some of the acolytes there weren't bad people, there's still a chance that things could get turned around," Alicia reassures them. "If any of you care at all about Torm, you should keep the ideals of honour and chivalry close to your hearts and work within the temple to ensure they are never forgotten. I fear my own further presence will merely prove a provocation."
[21:23] <Nyarlatoko> A young man from the crowd steps forward, "I will," he says quietly, before turning around and going back into the Temple. The rest listen to Alicia.
[21:30] <Alicia> It's times like this that Alicia wonders if she missed her calling by becoming a sword of the church instead of joining the clergy. "Thank you, and good luck," she calls after the young man, before backing off a little from the church. "And I thank the rest of you, for listening to me. The world is changing so fast, right now, these simple truths - what is right and what is wrong, these things will never change, no matter what anyone says."
[21:39] * Nyarlatoko is now known as LuKo_Blight
[21:39] <LuKo_Blight> ----
[21:40] <LuKo_Blight> One morning, as Jessica cheerfully puts down fresh bread and fruit for breakfast, "OH, sister. Antenora mentioned she wanted to talk to you today."
[21:42] <Alicia> "Did she say what about?" Alicia asks, taking some of the bread while Marie lands on the table and eyes an apple.
[21:44] <LuKo_Blight> "Oh, Marie. I sliced up some apples for you if you want some," Jessica whistles a bit, going and then coming back with a plate of thinly sliced applie pieces. "Yes. She talked about a fallen angel on your last trip out. She's been out of sorts since then. Hits too close to home, I suppose."
[21:47] <Alicia> "Oh, you're so wonderful!" Marie simpers, grabbing a slice of fruit. "I can't even bite into apples that size, they're too big for my teeth to get into."
[21:47] <Alicia> "We still don't even know if she was ever an angel, it could just be a convenient disguise," Alicia murmurs as she works to finish off her own breakfast.
[21:49] <LuKo_Blight> Reaching out to pat Marie's tiny head, "I know. It's like how I have to slice up the fish into small pieces for cats." Smiling as she sits as well, drinking water, "Antenora didn't mention that...but she was irritated. "What exactly happened, by the way?"
[21:51] <Alicia> "We were fighting Malmuth's general Olburt, who'd turned into some sort of regenerating half-demon monstrosity with weapons where his hands should be... my Gods, how does he open doors?" Alicia briefly looks distracted by that tangent. "Or wash himself? Ugh... best not to go there," she shakes her head. "Anyway, we had him dead to rights, and that's when she showed up."
[21:52] <LuKo_Blight> "I don't know. Do most demons and devils wash?" Jessica does consider. "Nevermind. I'm not sure I want to know. So she appeared when you had him beaten? What did she do?"
[21:56] <Alicia> "Nothing," Alicia grimaces. "She didn't have to. Just looking at her, we were all completely overcome with despair. It wasn't even real emotion, more like... the idea of it, if that makes any sense - we didn't feel it for any reason, there were no agonised thoughts of sad events, it was just feeling without meaning, and it utterly paralyzed us."
[21:58] <LuKo_Blight> "How terrible..." Jessica bows her head. "That sounds like slow torture."
[22:00] * Alicia nods. "If I had any will to think, I would have certainly despaired at my helplessness, but I wasn't even allowed that much. Instead we could only stand there like drooling idiots while she smugly said she hadn't expected we would catch her but she wouldn't make the same mistake until it was time for a reckoning, when I would answer for my sins."
[22:00] <Alicia> "Then she took Olburt and teleported away, leaving us to stew in mindless depression for hours in that pitch black cave until we came to our senses."
[22:03] <LuKo_Blight> "I see." Jessica sounds sour at that, "So that's why Antenora called her a sanctimonious bit...well, you understand, sister?" With a faint blush at that strong words, "Do you feel alright now? Has it lingered?"
[22:06] * Alicia smiles. "I'm fine, now. I've had to deal with real tragedies that mean far more than some ensorcelled emotion. Though I will need to find some way to deal with it for when I next face her - it seems just having a strong will isn't enough."
[22:06] <Alicia> "You should hire a bard to sing a cheerful song - some of them can use magic that manipulates emotion like that, as well," Marie suggests helpfully.
[22:20] * WorkerDroneSierra is now known as Sierra_Mikain
[22:21] <LuKo_Blight> "Mmm. A bard..well, good luck anyway," Jessica slowly eats her breakfast. "Be careful, alright?"
[22:23] <Alicia> "I will," Alicia promises, frowning at Marie's disturbingly sensible suggestion. Oh, well, she can cross that bridge when she comes to it. Finishing off her breakfast, she excuses herself and goes out into the garden to likely find Antenora.
[22:28] <LuKo_Blight> Antenora isn't training back there for once. She's sitting instead, looking up at the distant morning sun.
[22:29] * Alicia walks over to sit next to the erinyes. "Morning," she greets, letting Antenora open up however she wishes.
[22:31] <LuKo_Blight> "Morning," Antenora turns over to Alicia, gaze glancing at her before returning to the sun. "It's disgusting, isn't it...no, not that. Depressing."
[22:33] <Alicia> "Something tells me you're not talking about the sun," Alicia observes.
[22:35] <LuKo_Blight> "I wasn't aiming to be subtle, no," Antenora continues to stare at the sun. "Even now...I don't understand it, or I don't want to. How could someone go from this to the night? Wouldn't you know that it's so empty compared to this?"
[22:40] <Alicia> "Just think back to all the arguments you offered to me a while ago?" Alicia suggests. "It's not like they were irrational. And you shouldn't underestimate a person's capacity to delude themselves into thinking they're still serving justice or freedom or whatever even as their methods become more and more unpleasant. They get the best of both worlds, that way - all the smug superiority of being 'good' with none of the annoying limitations."
[22:41] <LuKo_Blight> "Yeah, but I know those temptations were shit now. Nothing but shit." Antenora cracks a smile at Alicia's words. "I know, I guess. Just..." She continues to look up. "It hit close. That and that despair...it's like she knows but she can't turn away despite that."
[22:46] * Alicia nods. "It's hard to be completely deluded, anyone would have some doubts, but... well, honestly, Antenora, aside from fiends who proudly embody their morals and ethics, very few people would ever think to consider themselves evil, no matter what they do. It's always other people that are evil, those that don't see things as clearly. All it needs is just a little rationalisation to cling to."
[22:49] <LuKo_Blight> "That's why I wanted to talk to you," Antenora turns her gaze to Alicia, "Were you going to follow up on anything? We don't have a name, but if we can find any information at all to help...regardless of what it is."
[22:53] <Alicia> "I passed on what I knew to Elle, she said she'd look into it for me," Alicia replies. "Past that... well, we really are blind. All we have is a physical description, which from what Christopher said could be wholly inaccurate."
[22:55] <LuKo_Blight> "Alright. I know that. It might not even be a fallen," she adds after. "If it is, though...I want to try and get through to her." Antenora turns to Alicia. "It's the least I can do. Don't you agree?"
[23:01] <Alicia> "If she can be reasoned with, certainly," Alicia replies. "Still, I think her appearance and empty words of apology are nothing more than a mask to hide her true reprehensible nature. But I won't complain if I'm wrong. From what we've seen, at least, she hasn't done anything worse than you did."
[23:02] <LuKo_Blight> "We can hope...and wait for any information Elle may dig up," Antenora considers at that. "Until then..." she gets up, going to get a practice spear.
[23:06] <LuKo_Blight> Later...
[23:09] <LuKo_Blight> Late one afternoon, in a haze of warm sunshine on the verge of becoming embers, Alicia heads to Elle's shop. The message to come came in a most mundane way - by a simple page. But regardless, Elle is waiting there, just finishing up a sale. She's chatting animately with Engan, who's laughing. "But we can talk about that later. Excuse me and enjoy." Stepping away from him, "Come on back, Alicia."
[23:12] * Laggy (~Laggy@adsl-68-126-204-218.dsl.pltn13.pacbell.net) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
[23:12] * Laggy (~Laggy@adsl-68-126-204-218.dsl.pltn13.pacbell.net) has joined #dunes
[23:12] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Laggy
[23:13] <Alicia> Nodding in greeting to Engan as she passes, Alicia approaches Elle, her familiar fluttering through the air alongside her. "I got your message, Elle."
[23:14] <LuKo_Blight> Engan smiles briefly, carrying a wrapped package out. PAst that, Elle leads Alicia back into the private areas of the shop. Sitting down, "I've been researching based on what you gave me."
[23:15] <Alicia> "I know it wasn't much," Alicia admits regretfully as she sits down opposite the redhead while Marie perches on the armrest. "Getting a name would have made things so much simpler."
[23:17] <LuKo_Blight> "It would've. As it is, I'm not finding much. My own books on this arne't turning up anything even close. A name would help a lot, but..." She spreads her hands. "I suspect you'll need to look into wider and bigger places for information."
[23:19] * Alicia nods. "I suppose it can't be helped. Oh, well, you might be able to assist with something else. Marie," she indicates the eladrin, "Pointed out that some bardic magic can manipulate emotion as well, which could be used to cancel out her aura of depression. Do you know if there's any magic we can use that might help? Or have any magic items along those lines?"
[23:24] <LuKo_Blight> "I have a few locations if you want to go afarfield to look," Elle adds, before, "Well...there Good Hope. It's bardic magic, but you may find it helpful if you can get ascroll or two of it. It counters spells like crushing despair. Break Enchantment might help, but you'd have to be ensorcelled already, and it sounds like this is pointless in this situation. Past that? Unless you can find something obscure or find Mind Blank..." She sprea
[23:25] <LuKo_Blight> Unless you can find something obscure or find Mind Blank..." She spreads her arms. "If I get more information on her, I might be able to whip up something custom. No guarantees, and itw ould probably be expensive, but I could try."
[23:28] <Alicia> "I'd need a bard to cast any bardic magic, anyway, even from a scroll," Alicia shakes her head. "Don't trouble yourself trying to make a spell, but if you hear of any items up for sale or anything, try to get a hold of one and I'll buy it off you?"
[23:28] <Alicia> "What locations?" Marie pipes up. "Libraries of secret lore, ancient repositories of forbidden knowledge, that sort of thing?" she grins.
[23:30] <LuKo_Blight> "I will." To Marie's words, "Well, some are like that. The problem is that most libraries of magic are either old, lost or in the possession of people who understand them. These people aren't often overly friendly." Steepling her hands together, "For example, the Pasha of the Fiefdoms has a few books that might be relevant to this, or so I've heard. There's more than that...do you want to hear about them?"
[23:31] <LuKo_Blight> "Well, that's not quite true. We do have one big one in our grasp - Saul's looking through IRenes' library on request, but he's also looking for a cure for his condition."
[23:32] <Alicia> "No harm in at least knowing about them," Alicia replies. Though, really, looking through a library without even a name to go on sounds futile to her.
[23:35] <LuKo_Blight> "Well, let's see. First of all, the Fiefdoms have a private collecting in the palace of the Pasha. NAturally, it's not open to the public. There's a few books in the capital...they'd be simple for you to get access to, but it's not the largest collection. Most anything mystical in the Baronies has gravitated towards Balmuria. The elves have various collections...Seira could probably get into the library of the Drake house or the Gaial, a
[23:35] <LuKo_Blight> Seira could probably get into the library of the Drake house or the Gaial, and there's more besides. There's also Kelara. You know this better than I, but there's a Temple of Mystra there. Surely there's at least a few books there. Then...I did read of a forgotten library once. It's supposed to be very old and lost over a thousand years ago, that sort of thing. All I know is that it intentially hidden in a volcano to protect it after som
[23:35] <LuKo_Blight> All I know is that it intentially hidden in a volcano to protect it after some sort of struggle over it's contents. It's well to the west and north, well past Kelara, from what I remember."
[23:36] <LuKo_Blight> "If it's a fallen angel, you could also try various religious libraries. It's possible you'll find something relevant there as well."
[23:39] * Alicia nods. "It's equally possible that she only fell during the period we were cut off from the outer planes, and so no library on the planet will reference her..." Alicia stops as an idea suddenly occurs. "Wait a second, I know just who to ask! Elle, can you do me a huge favour and cast a Sending spell to someone?"
[23:40] <LuKo_Blight> "Sending? Sure." Looking at Alicia, "Who?"
[23:43] <Alicia> "An astral deva named Latha - who better than an angel to ask about any possible fallen? Even if she doesn't know herself, she's better positioned than anyone to find out," Alicia smiles, glad she came up with that idea. This could simplify things enormously.
[23:43] <Alicia> "But I'd never seen or heard of her before..." Marie mutters under her breath.
[23:44] <LuKo_Blight> "Alright. What do you want me to tell her?" Elle nods, "You know it's 25 words, so make them count."
[23:45] * Alicia works through a few mental permutations, using her fingers to count. After a minute she nods. "Got it: Message from Alicia Reynes. Encountered woman with black wings. Carried overwhelming aura of despair, paralyzes any looking. Think fallen angel. Any recognition? Need information."
[23:45] <Alicia> "Pity there wasn't room for a please in there..." she adds afterwards with a slight frown.
[23:46] <LuKo_Blight> "Drop your last name?" Countess Stronger suggests, rising up now. "Regardless, I'll return after I've cast."
[23:47] <Alicia> "I suppose, how many Alicias can she know? Yes, do that," Alicia nods after thinking about it.
[23:48] <LuKo_Blight> Thus Elle departs out...OOC - Going to do anything while you wait?
[23:48] <Alicia> OOC: I can wait ten minutes without getting distracted
[23:48] <LuKo_Blight> OOC: Oh, I'm sure Alicia can. MArie....but nevermind, that is a derail.
[23:51] <LuKo_Blight> roll 1d100 Oh yeah.
[23:51] * Hatbot --> "LuKo_Blight rolls 1d100 Oh yeah. and gets 87."12 [1d100=87]
[23:52] <LuKo_Blight> After a little over ten minutes, Elle returns. She's sipping a glass of water as she sits down. "It's done," she says simply. "Ahem: Familiar. I have heard stories about a creature like that. Despair is overwhelming. Legends vary. Meet at Arad safe house. Bring others if possible."
[23:54] <Alicia> "Arad?" Alicia's face falls. "Okay... how many teleport scrolls do you have handy, because I'll need to buy two of them."
[23:55] <LuKo_Blight> "Tell you what..." Elle eyes Alicia. "You already owe me a favor. How about we just put it on that tab, and when this has blown over, I'll collect?"
[23:56] <Alicia> "You're a very kind and generous woman, Elle Stronger," Alicia stands up. "Thank you."
[23:57] <LuKo_Blight> For some reason, Countess Stronger chuckles. "No, thank you," she says. "How many people are going? If it's simple enough, I'll cast the teleports myself to save money."
Session Time: Sat Jun 14 00:00:00 2008
[00:00] <Alicia> "I think Seira's off in Pallanth or somewhere, so it'll be me, Marie, and Antenora for sure. I'll see if Demedais wants to come, if I can find him," Alicia replies with odd feeling of foreboding regarding the inevitable favour.
[00:00] * ragetoro (Taishyr@58.194.238.102) has joined #dunes
[00:00] <LuKo_Blight> "Good then. I'll see you soon." Smiling now, "Do enjoy."

[Corwin]

[15:30] <Anastasia> --------(Rabite Ko goes here--
[15:30] <Anastasia> OOC: Were you going to prepare to jaunt over to Arad, or did you want to do something else before that?
[15:32] <Alicia> I'll just head right over, but lets do #evil first so Deme can talk to me?
[15:32] <Anastasia> Okkay, #evil.
[18:26] <Anastasia> ---------------------------------------------------------(Samurai Ko goes here)--
[18:31] <Anastasia> In an instant, Alicia and friends are somewhere far different. The sound of chimes is the first thing she hears. A gentle lapping of chimes, endless and sublime. She stands up to her ankles in a dark blue tide, at the edge of a beach. In front of you is a long, endless beach, with tents and buildings constructed about at the foot of a mountain. This mountain...what a mountain! While the sky is night with endless stars, the mountain has cou
[18:31] <Anastasia> While the sky is night with endless stars, the mountain has countless paths leading into it. (More)
[18:33] <Anastasia> Above, a vast, endless mountain rises into the heavens, becoming nothing but pure light. Here and there on the paths you can see citadels of white stone, flawlessly constructed and of breath taking beauty. On the beach you see occasional beings - some are angels, some are celestials, some look like humans, elves, dwarves and countless other races. "...aah. It's your first time to the Seven Mounting Heavens. Everyone begins at the bottom th
[18:33] <Anastasia> "...aah. It's your first time to the Seven Mounting Heavens. Everyone begins at the bottom their first time, no matter what." Latha says, standing besides Alicia.
[18:36] * Alicia nods slowly as she looks up at the mountain in awe. If ever there was a place in all the planes that fit her, it would surely be here. "Yes, this is only the third time I've left the Prime," she admits. "I've been to the Elemental Plane of Water, and then there was Stygia, where we met."
[18:38] <Anastasia> roll 2d4
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d4 and gets 4."12 [2d4=1, 3]
[18:38] <Anastasia> Antenora hisses gently, hurrying out of the water. Her legs have steam rising from them in spurts.
[18:44] * Alicia hurries after Antenora, leaning over to lay hands on her shins and heal the burns. "That's unpleasant," she remarks, good mood now soured. "At least it won't steal away your memories," she tries to find some bright side.
[18:47] <Anastasia> OOC - Strike, misread something.
[18:49] <Anastasia> Antenora stands in the surf a moment, eyes transfixed upward. She doesnt' say anything, seemingly enraptured simply by looking.
[18:50] <Alicia> "How far up is the Keeper, anyway?" Alicia asks as she walks onto the beach, still gazing up the mountain.
[18:52] <Anastasia> "The one we seek is on Mercuria, the second level," Latha starts to walk out of the surf. "It's possible you or Antenora will find yourselfs drawn to a challenge as you ascend. It's not absolute, for if you already have full mastery of a virtue it wishes to test, you are not sidetracked."
[18:54] <Alicia> "Well, we'll see. Overcoming challenges is a good way to learn," Alicia smiles slightly, her boots fortunately high enough on her legs to have avoided becoming filled with water by the time she reaches dry sand.
[19:02] <Anastasia> Antenora walks forward slowly, gaze still upward. She doesn't contribute anything, just walking instead.
[19:02] <Anastasia> "Ahead are mostly mortals who endevour to live here, either to learn or to repent. There's also a several shop shere that cater to planar travellers," Latha notes.
[19:04] <Alicia> "Have they arrived recently since the weakening of the seals, or are they from... other, worlds? Like the one Antenora and I met on?" Alicia asks curiously, wondering how so many people from the Prime could have made it here while alive.
[19:08] * Sierra_RendSlaughterDevour is now known as Sierra_Mikain
[19:14] <Anastasia> "They come from many places," LAtha confirms gently. "Pilgrims who seek the brightest light they can."
[19:16] * Alicia nods. "I take it just flying up the mountain won't work, will it?"
[19:18] <Anastasia> "Each level of Mount Celestia is infinite, sav efor the paths that ascend upward," Latha smiles at that. "As the sky above is infinite..."
[19:20] <Alicia> "Figured," Alicia smiles in return. "I met a harvester devil recently that said I was hopeless because they were infinite, but it wouldn't work if the lower planes were the only infinite ones, would it?"
[19:21] <Anastasia> "Indeed," Latha smiles back easily, walking along and past a row of tents. Up the beach you go, people smiling at the passing three. Antenora is still silent, gaze about and far away.
[19:21] * Alicia returns the smiles but doesn't stop to chat. They're on a quest, after all, and have things to do afterwards as well.

[Corwin]

[18:17] <Ebiris> [19:14] <Anastasia> "They come from many places," LAtha confirms gently. "Pilgrims who seek the brightest light they can."
[18:17] <Ebiris> [19:16] * Alicia nods. "I take it just flying up the mountain won't work, will it?"
[18:17] <Ebiris> [19:18] <Anastasia> "Each level of Mount Celestia is infinite, sav efor the paths that ascend upward," Latha smiles at that. "As the sky above is infinite..."
[18:17] <Ebiris> [19:20] <Alicia> "Figured," Alicia smiles in return. "I met a harvester devil recently that said I was hopeless because they were infinite, but it wouldn't work if the lower planes were the only infinite ones, would it?"
[18:17] <Ebiris> [19:21] <Anastasia> "Indeed," Latha smiles back easily, walking along and past a row of tents. Up the beach you go, people smiling at the passing three. Antenora is still silent, gaze about and far away.
[18:17] <Ebiris> [19:21] * Alicia returns the smiles but doesn't stop to chat. They're on a quest, after all, and have things to do afterwards as well.
[18:17] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5440c49f.wfd78a.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
[18:18] * Ebiris sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[18:18] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[18:20] <Anastasia> The starry sky is a gorgeous backdrop as the three begin to walk up the beach. As they pass by tents and settlements, a gentle rythym of chimes can be heard. Each wave is like a soothing, gentle chime's noise, washing away discomfort with every sound. Behind the tents are myriad paths slowly winding upward to the mountain, some leading to vast keeps or castles, and others leading up into the light above. Around many sections of the paths L
[18:20] <Anastasia> Around many sections of the paths Lantern Archons can be seen. They fly about in games, the sound of happy laughter coming from them as they frolic in peace. (More)
[18:21] <Anastasia> "Any path leading upward into the light will do. It's not the path you take, but your inner worthiness and purity that determines how you ascend in Celestia." Latha adds.
[18:24] <Alicia> "Well, then," Alicia starts heading towards the nearest path, smiling slightly at the cheerful lantern archons as she passes. "I've heard it can take millenia to reach the top of the mountain, but since we're only going to the second layer hopefully it won't take quite so long."
[18:27] <Anastasia> Antenora is silent, lingering behind and often watching without a word. Latha follows right behind Alicia. "I have no doubt your purity is sufficent to pass with minimal problem to the second level."
[18:29] <Alicia> "Oh yes, level, not layer," Alicia nods at the correction. "Shouldn't confuse the two, really. Anyway, here's hoping we can get to where we need to go with no fuss."
[18:30] <Anastasia> The path is easy to walk, the stones solid and supporting. As you walk, occasinally lantern archons fly by, laughing and fluttering about. Latha smiles indulgently at them, even when one goes in circles around her. Higher above, greater celestials can be seen in the air - one that bears a trumpet in it's hands is glimpsed, another that is like radiant light given form soaring higher up.  BUt thus, higher and higher the trio walks! It's har
[18:30] <Anastasia> BUt thus, higher and higher the trio walks! It's hard to tell how long it is - Alicia finds herself often feeling oblivious to time, deeply at peace. There is a sense of belonging here, powerful and subtle at once.  (More)
[18:34] <Anastasia> Far below, the beaches fade to a thin strip of sand, at the edge of a vast, dark sea. This sea glitters with it's own lights, occasinally vast leviathans and whales glimpsed peeking to the surface.  But that isn't what gets your attention as you ascend. (More)
[18:36] <Anastasia> Standing imposed on the path is a woman. She wears a breastplate and has a spear in hand. Her face is a gentle mask of disapproving anger, white wings jutting from her back. "Hold there," she says, blocking further ascent.
[18:37] * Alicia promptly stops as instructed. She's certainly not going to go around disobeying resident celestials in the plane of perfect law and goodness.
[18:39] <Anastasia> Antenora looks up, before her face melts into a look of slightly pained surprise. Meanwhile, Latha nods respectfully to her, before quietly stepping aside and ab it away from the other two.
[18:41] <Anastasia> "I never imagined that I'd meet the two of you together," The woman's voice is strong, her eyes resolute as she stares. "At least you," She raises her spear to Alicia, "Were protecting the innocents whom I was ensorcelled into attacking. But you..." Her look turns to Antenora. "You seek to ascend the sacred mountain?"
[18:45] <Alicia> Recognition wells up within Alicia as she glances briefly back at Antenora then at the dragonrider she dominated just before they met. Well, she did always warn the erinyes that she would have to confront her past misdeeds, although she never expected it would occur in this manner. She decides to hold her tongue, thinking it better if Antenora apologises herself without any interference on either side from Alicia.
[18:46] <Anastasia> "You're right." Antenora admits after several long, silent moments. "I cost you your life, and all for a scheme to kill and gain power. It's worthless now, but...I'm sorry."
[18:46] <Anastasia> OOC - Gah.
[18:47] <Anastasia> "You're right." Antenora admits after several long, silent moments. "I cost you your life, and all for a scheme to kill and gain power. It's worthless now, but...I'm sorry." Taking a breath out, "If you want to hold what I did before against me, so be it. But...I can only offer what I can do now and hope that offsets what I did."
[18:52] <Anastasia> "You speak as if I've demanded your apology," Sha'ru says sternly. "I have not, nor have I asked you to approve of my words. That isn't why I'm here. I don't seek revenge or an apology or anything..." Her face changes slightly, becoming tired. "Why? I just want to know why you did what you did. I had a life, friends, a lover faraway, hopes for a long, happy autumn to my life in due time. You stole all of that from me."
[18:54] <Anastasia> "And..." Her gaze turns to Alicia, "Why? Why did you care about the fate of a creature like her? You saw her engineer over a dozen needless deaths and spread wanton destruction. Why? You had no hope...she wasn't even a mortal creature. Why?"
[18:57] <Anastasia> "...there's no good reason for it," Antenora admits soon after, looking to the eyes of Sha'ru. "It was the lust for power and little else. I wanted my own little domain, with myself at the top of a rigid caste, enjoying all of the benefits of being supreme. It is...it was my nature. That's all." After a pause, "There wasn't a shard of anything redeeming about it. You were the victim of evil and the controlling hatred that flourishes in the
[18:57] <Anastasia> You were the victim of evil and the controlling hatred that flourishes in the Hells."
[18:58] <Alicia> "Because she asked," Alicia replies simply. "True, I did not think it at all likely that I would convince her to change her ways, but in simply acknowledging the mere possibility of redemption she did more than any fiend I have encountered before or since. You cut to the heart of it when you say that she isn't mortal - if I killed her, what then?"
[18:58] <Alicia> "She'd return to Baator and eventually work her way back up to a position where she could threaten innocents on other planes once more. Causing her to change gave the possibility of a permanent solution. It does nothing to help you or the others she killed, true, but neither does vengeance."
[19:05] <Anastasia> "...I see. That is why..." she listens, quiet. "Thank you. In my sleep, my spirit still stirred to know this. That it was your nature...and that your nature could change. It makes me think that my death wasn't a worthless waste of a life. I only ask you to walk further and improve yourself. If the person that caused my fate can turn away, then perhaps all the deaths may one day have found a meaning. Human..." Her look turn sto Alicia, "Tha
[19:06] <Anastasia> Human..." Her look turn sto Alicia, "Thank you."
[19:08] * Alicia shakes her head. "Please, don't thank me. Had I been more skilled you might not be here, today," she reples humbly.
[19:09] <Anastasia> Antenora bows her head, but doesn't speak. Sha'ru smiles again, "Perhaps so...but I remember how hard mortal life was. Now...now I'm going back to sleep," she murmurs. "Thank you, my Goddess...thank you for giving me this chance to remember and to answer this question." Her form glows a moment and then is gone. Slightly above, you see a lantern archon flying off and downward, laughing like a child as it flies towards the other lantern arch
[19:11] <Anastasia> archons below.
[19:11] <Anastasia> Quietly, Latha steps forward. She looks to both Alicia and then Antenora. Gently, "There's still a ways
[19:11] <Anastasia> OOC - Gah.
[19:11] <Anastasia> Quietly, Latha steps forward. She looks to both Alicia and then Antenora. Gently, "There's still a ways to walk. Come."
[19:12] * Alicia watches the archon leave. "I was going to say, it did seem odd that she remembered her mortal life," she observes quietly, before nodding to Latha. "You okay, Antenora?" she then asks the erinyes before resuming their journey.
[19:14] <Anastasia> "It happens on occasion with favored mortals that have earned it, but...it's not common," Latha murmurs as she walks.
[19:14] <Anastasia> "No." She says this openly enough. "But let's go. There's no point crying about it, and if it put her to rest, then it was for a good reason."
[19:15] * Alicia nods, not pushing her further as she follows after Latha.
[19:18] <Anastasia> The path ascends higher and higher! Alicia soon finds that the light becomes brighter, like a nova sun shedding endless explosions in the flawless heavens. They are walking to the edge of it, the path ascending, yet it is perfectly fine to see in.  Ahead, at the end of the path, countless paths end here, connecting to a single plateau-peak. Here a portal of the purest silver stands tall, twenty feet circular.  A few lantern archons linger
[19:19] <Anastasia>  A few lantern archons linger close, slowly passing through the portal. There is a single being standing guard of it - an angelic creature, with long white wings, plate armor and vibrant red hair. A greatsword is in her hand, seemingly alive with it's own burning righteous flames. On approaching, Latha bows deeply. "Guardian of the Portal," she says to this being, it's gender impossible to tell, even if it has one. It's armor is of pure go
[19:19] <Anastasia> It's armor is of pure gold, gleaming endlessly, enthrallingly pure. (More)
[19:20] <Anastasia> "Deva," The being respectfully answers Latha, "Rise. Ah, I see. A mortal who has business on Celestia? Her purity is in no doubt, her goodness shines bright. And...a risen?"
[19:21] <Alicia> "Thank you for your kind words, Guardian," Alicia echoes Latha's respectful bow.
[19:21] <Anastasia> "That's right," Antenora bows very deeply, keeping her gaze respectfully downward ever so slightly.
[19:22] <Anastasia> "I see." he murmurs again. "Your name is Alicia. I see now, you have served the light well and helped bring this child home. Step foward and advance, I shall not oppose your ascent to Mercuria."
[19:24] * Alicia rises up, sparing a somewhat curious glance at the guardian's flaming greatsword and wondering if it has any connection with Hell Striker. But she doesn't really have time to investigate such things. "Thank you," she repeats, stepping through the portal.
[19:25] <Anastasia> As Alicia does, "Risen...I see that you truly wish to change. You may ascend in the hopes that you will no more call the Pit home. You may pass." As Alicia goes, Latha follows with her. (More)
[19:26] <Anastasia> Stepping through the portal is estascy. Alicia feels herself grow, becoming...becoming more. There is a sense of unity that grows stronger within her very bones. Ahead is an endless, gentle rising hill and paths upward. It is hardly a rugged mountain, however, as much as verdant ascending paths, river filled valleys and gorgeous walkways. The air is lsightly thin, but it is easy to breathe. A golden glow suffues everything, tinting the wor
[19:28] <Anastasia> "Welcome to Mercuria. It is a vale where those that serve good build their eternal homes.  It is a place where great heroes have their mortal remains put to rest as their spirits soar above. It is a place of peace, life and learning. Come. Our path to the Keeper is a pleasant one, but it is not short."
[19:28] <Anastasia> tinting the world with it's view.
[19:29] * Alicia takes in a deep breath, unable to help herself from spending a moment simply savouring the experience. But... "Yes, you're right," she nods to Latha, "I feel it would be far too easy to become distracted, here, but we do have pressing business."
[19:30] <Anastasia> "It takes time for mortals to adapt. Some don't and instead live here until they pass on in peace." Latha smiles gently at this, "Let us continue on."
[19:30] <Anastasia> Antenora nods absently, taking it all in and keeping her relative quietness intact.
[19:30] <Anastasia> roll 1d100
[19:30] <Rei-chan> 6,0Anastasia rolled :6,0 1d100 --> 6,0[ 1d100=70 ]4,0{70}
[19:33] <Anastasia> It is a long walk. Yet is a walk that does not fatigue Alicia at all. It isa  walk in verdant, hilly fields of endless waves of grain.  Alicia passes over dozens of beautiful, serene bridges, each carved with stonework far beyond any she could have dreamed of before. Great masoleums are sighed, often atop great hills, angels in flight singing eternal songs of praise.  You come past hamlets of beings of pure good, houses of crystal or air o
[19:33] <Anastasia> You come past hamlets of beings of pure good, houses of crystal or air or light or a thousand other impossible things and glorious designs. But at last, after not long enough, you come to your destination. It is a small, simple building on the sunny side of a gentle hill. It is made of plain white stone, humble, yet tall enough to have seven stories.
[19:34] <Anastasia> "Here," Latha walks towards it's open doors, a few contented golden animals lying in the sun near the door. "The keeper will be inside."
[19:36] * Alicia follows after Latha, relying on her to perform any requisite introductions before she makes her request for information.
[19:39] <Anastasia> You enter inside. The room you enter into is pleasant - there is not a single book here, but instead a room with a large table and chairs. A fresh meal is laid out, steaming hot. Sitting at the head of the table is a being with a two small white wings coming from his back. His face is somewhat old yet his eyes are quite alert. He smiles warmly, "Ah. Seekers of knowledge? Come, eat with me. There's no need to be shy. You've come a long way
[19:39] <Anastasia> You've come a long way and you deserve a rest."
[19:41] <Alicia> "I hardly feel any aches or fatigue at all, here," Alicia admits as she goes to take a seat at the table. "But nonetheless, I thank you for your hospitality. My name is Alicia, and these are my friends, Latha and Antenora," she decides to just introduce herself, since he doesn't seem as intimidating as she'd suspected.
[19:42] <Anastasia> Antenora nods, going to sit near Alicia. "It's an honor," she says politely.
[19:42] <Anastasia> Latha sits as well, "It's been too long, but...business." she says with a warm smile to him.
[19:43] <Anastasia> As the party settles into the comfortable seats, "That's good. You fit into this place well, I see. Now then..." He takes a moment, "As you eat, would you humor an old man and tell me what you're looking for and why you've come to me?"
[19:45] <Alicia> "It seems I have been targetted by a being that we suspect - though don't know for sure - is a fallen angel. She appears much as a human, nearly a foot shorter than I, with great feathered black wings. This," she settles the black feather on the table, "Belonged to her." (more)
[19:47] <Alicia> "When confronted, she imposed such a feeling of utter despair as to utterly paralyse myself and Antenora - as well as an eladrin who happens to be one of the most mind-numbingly cheerful beings I know - with depression." (more)
[19:48] <Alicia> "She seems to be gathering up foes that I and my friends have faced in the past, promising them the chance to set things right by taking vengeance against us. When we faced her, she simply escaped while we were indisposed, saying that the time was not right for my reckoning, but that soon it would be, and I would pay for my sins." (more)
[19:50] <Alicia> "Latha spoke of a similar tale she had heard, involving an archon who looked after a young mortal hero. He was slain by enemies he had spared in the past, who had all banded together. At his death, this same being appeared and proclaimed that the hero had paid for his sins, as the archon could only look on in helpless despair."
[19:50] <Alicia> "However, we have no firm details of this being and how we might defend ourselves from her. Latha suggested that you might have the answers we seek."
[19:51] <Anastasia> OOC: Go ahead and make a diplo check with a +7 bonus?
[19:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25
[19:51] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+25 --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{30}
[19:52] <Anastasia> The old man listens as he sips from a glass of golden liquid. "I see. Thank you for indulging this old man's feeling sinstead of pressing to the urgent point," he murmurs with a smile. "I have information that could help you, yes."
[19:55] <Alicia> "Our need is not so pressing as to forego simple manners," Alicia demurs. "But any information you might have on her would be greatly appreciated, as secrecy seems to be her ally."
[19:55] <Anastasia> "This being has run afoul of the heavens before, for she has targetted heroes of the heavens before. To your question? If she is a fallen angel, it is one that has hidden her previous identity from us successfully. It is more than possible this is nothing more than a guise fora far darker being, but none know the truth. She is shrouded in mystery, as we do not even know her name." (More)
[19:57] <Anastasia> "Millenia and millenia ago she was first recorded. Since then she has been sighted on occasion, but never defeated or caught in time. Her game is always the same; she targets a mortal or a small group of them. She gathers those that wish vengence on them and turn them into an army against them, often into fightening new forms. What we know of her comes from the one mortal to come the closest to defeating her." (More)
[19:59] <Anastasia> "Like you, this mortal was a great hero whom attempted to defeat her. He came to me thousands of years ago with the same questions as you..." He stops here, a long drink and a pause. "This man had made himself an enemy of all evil, opposing them where ever he could. He was determined to defeat her...and he nearly did. Most of these stories end with her appearing with an army and slaying her foes. But this one? He tracked her down before sh
[19:59] <Anastasia> But this one? He tracked her down before she could. He found that she had created a base of power within his own world, hidden away at the fringes of it."
[20:02] * Alicia nods. "That's like what we found, she had taken her followers to caverns underneath a remote mountain range. She said she didn't expect me to find her - she even apologised," Alicia snorts, "But she also said she wouldn't make the same mistake again, so I suspect she'll be harder to track, now."
[20:04] <Anastasia> "I see. That you confronted her before she was ready is encouraging. Too many never find her until it's too late." The old celestial continues on, gentle. "This hero gathered his allies and assaulted her base. Deep in a primeval forest it laid - a gorgeous, rising castle of the purest light. They fought in, defeaing all she had gathered. It was a hard battle and many that went perished before the final confrontation. But a few made it to h
[20:04] <Anastasia> But a few made it to her throne room."
[20:05] <Anastasia> "There she sat alone, waiting. She said she was sorry...but that she would have to punish them directly now. For their sins, she would crucify them to the sky so that their blood could rain to the earth in penance for a thousand years."
[20:07] <Alicia> "She did speak to her followers of creating a Realm of Light," Alicia puts in thoughtfully there, having an oddly disturbing thought that years from now, this ancient keeper of knowledge will tell another unfortunate mortal the sad story of what happened to Alicia Reynes. "So many apologies, too. To her victims and her followers, it seems."
[20:09] <Anastasia> "Yes...while the heroes lost that day..." A sad moment of silence, "One did escape to tell me of the apocalyptic battle. She apologized as she ripped them limb from limb with her bare hands. Blades deflected away for her or missed on the most flukish of chance occurances. Magic fizzled before her and she was every place at once. She turned everything into an endless golden field that blinded and was untouchable. But..." A stop here. "The r
[20:09] <Anastasia> But..." A stop here. "The reason one of them escaped is also a ray of hope."
[20:11] <Alicia> "There is?" Alicia asks queasily, not liking the sound of this apocalyptic battle. Considering how much more powerful everyone of note seems to have been historically before the cataclysm, it speaks very poorly of her odds.
[20:12] <Anastasia> "The one that escaped was a wizard. As part of his magicks, he invoked True Seeing. When he looked at her with that...for a moment, everything was powerless. He was able to escape untouched with a single teleportation spell."
[20:15] <Alicia> "Ah," Alicia perks up. "Yes, that reminds me - the man she kidnapped, who she left behind without changing after we confronted her, he said that while she looked beautiful normally, when he turned away and just saw her out the corner of his eye, it was something else he saw. He couldn't describe it properly - it seems like it was something so utterly alien that his mind simply couldn't grasp it, but it terrified him more than anything else."
[20:16] <Anastasia> "...!" The old man's face brightens at that, "He did? Fascinating. That I've never heard before. That man must have been exceedingly lucky to have survived."
[20:17] <Alicia> "It's strange, she could have easily taken him away while we were paralysed, but she left him there," Alicia explains. "She apologised to him and said she would never forget his sacrifice."
[20:20] <Anastasia> "Mmmm." The old man considers for a little while, "I see. You've provided us another tibdit of information on her. For a being that shows so little of herself, this is like gold. Having known of so many of her victoriers, I've become convinced that the key to defeating her lies in what she hides. Powerful heroes have come to naught against her despite their best efforts."
[20:21] <Alicia> "I had thought that her aura of despair was the only thing to worry about, that if we could defeat that then we could face her, but from what you've said, she's entirely formidable even without it. Although..." she cocks her head, "How did this man and his allies avoid it when they confronted her?"
[20:24] <Anastasia> "They prepared a magical ward against it that he had commissioned." The answer comes, "It was effective against the despair, at least." He pauses a moment, before a small tome appears before Alicia. "Take this. With that a ward against her despair can be created. The wizard who escaped passed the knowledge onto me, for he knew that it would be needed again someday. I have a request in light of that. Should you find more information about h
[20:24] <Anastasia> Should you find more information about her or ways to combat her power, ensure this information reaches me."
[20:27] <Alicia> "I will," Alicia promises as she accepts the tome. She has to be prepared for the possibility that she might fail, and the knowledge could help someone else in the distant future. "Although, if True Seeing weakens her to such a degree, it's possible that by ensuring we all have that spell on us before we face her that victory lies within reach."
[20:28] <Anastasia> "It would only be prudent," The Keeper agrees.
[20:31] <Alicia> "You have been a most gracious and helpful host, Keeper," Alicia concludes gratefully. "Before we depart, is there anything you would ask of me?" she enquires. It's only fair, whether he asks for knowledge from her or some task on behalf of the heavens, she's happy to repay him.
[20:33] <Anastasia> "I'm aware of you already," He smiles gently, "You're invovled in very important things. It makes her apperance all the more worrisome."
[20:34] <Alicia> "It probably will mess up things for a lot of people should she kill me and my friends before we conclude our business with the gnomes," Alicia tactfully understates. "Although depending on what timescales she works on, she might be waiting till after then, anyway - she seemed to truly not expect discovery at this stage."
[20:37] <Anastasia> "Yes. You have many reasons to keep fighting. Please...don't lose," The Keeper says. "Good luck."
[20:37] <Alicia> "Thank you for everything," Alicia smiles in reply as she pushes away her now empty plate and rises, bowing respectfully before she departs.
[20:39] <Anastasia> "Thank you," Antenora murmurs as well. Latha merely gets up, "Until we have a chance to talk under better conditions. I have to see to these two returning to their homes now."
[20:39] * Sierra_Beautysleep (~Melanchth@pool-71-163-228-200.washdc.east.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[20:39] <Alicia> "If you can take us to Parsifal, that would be ideal," Alicia tells Latha.
[20:44] <Anastasia> "I shall attempt it," Latha agrees. "Come."
[20:44] * Alicia approaches the deva and waits for her to work her magic so they can get to business. She'll have plenty of time to explore the heavens once she's dead, after all.
[20:45] <Anastasia> roll 5d100
[20:45] <Rei-chan> 6,0Anastasia rolled :6,0 5d100 --> 6,0[ 5d100=283 ]4,0{283}

[Corwin]

[18:31] <Kotono> ---------------------------------
[18:35] <Kotono> IT is a beautiful sunrise. It appears as if a day is just beginning in the mountains. You stand next to a mountain path, a well travelled road leading ahead. No one seem sto be around, though you do see thin plumes of chimney smoke far in the distance of the road.
[18:36] * Alicia compares the surrounding mountains with what she recalls of the Galkass range from her travels over and under them.
[18:37] <Kotono> It looks more or less the same. The air's not too thin here, so it's not terribly high up.
[18:38] <Alicia> "Is that Parsifal up ahead?" Alicia asks Latha, gesturing to the visible smoke in the distance. She's never actually been there herself, after all.
[18:41] <Kotono> "It may be. It's difficult to pintpoint locations with this means of travel," Latha admits.
[18:45] * Alicia nods understandingly. "I've been on a missed teleport, before," she replies, at least knowing what Latha means. Before she actually gets to walking, she compares the slope of the mountain with the direction of the smoke, using the rising sun to mark East. Since the Galkass Mountains should be sloping downwards to the West from what she knows, that'll at least give a clue if they're on the correct range.
[18:46] <Kotono> The smoke is coming from the south-southeast, which is ascending. To the north is descending.
[18:49] <Alicia> "Hmm. Thinking about it, I don't think we're actually on the Galkass mountains. They rise up very steeply on the East side, and more gently on the opposite direction. If we were at their Northern limit where we'd be seeing a rise to the South, we'd be able to see the sea from here," Alicia reasons.
[18:51] <Kotono> "It's possible," Antenora thinks a moment. "I can fly and take a look around?"
[18:52] <Kotono> Meanwhile, Latha smiles to Alicia. "I have to be going now. There's still much for me to do. Alicia?"
[18:53] <Alicia> "Oh," Alicia turns to Latha, "I'm sorry, you surely must have more important duties than ferrying us about," she looks slightly abashed at her imposition. "Thank you for all your help, Latha. I hope we next meet under better circumstances."
[18:54] <Kotono> "You'r ewelcome. Alicia, you've gotten yourself into world changing events and you see forces trying to oppose what you and your friends may bring." With a warm smile to Alicia, Latha lightly clasps her shoulder. "Be careful but be true."
[18:55] <Alicia> "I will," Alicia gives the deva a smile before she turns to Antenora, "How about you fly straight up for a few hundred feet then see if you can see the bay or any other recognisable landmarks, then we'll work from there?" she asks the erinyes.
[18:57] <Kotono> Antenora does just that! As she ascends upward, "Be careful..." Latha adds, before vanishing. Thus, in the sunrise, Antenora ascends upward! SHe goes up right a high ways before returning. "I can see the bay and Balmuria. We're not all that far south of the city, we're at the fringe of the route to Parsifal."
[18:59] <Alicia> "Well, I suppose this is why I'm a paladin and not a ranger," Alicia mutters embarrassedly. "Okay, lets get moving on to Parsifal, then?"
[19:02] <Kotono> "On foot? If haste is a concern, we should get horses as soon as possible," Antenora adds, starting to walk.
[19:03] <Alicia> "Think we're close enough to Balmuria that we'll save time even with the doubling back?" Alicia asks, since she can't see the city herself from here and doesn't know exactly how far it is.
[19:04] <Kotono> "It's a few hours of walking if we hurry, or we could try and get some from over there," Antenora gestures towards the rising south, "There's a little village there. It looked like a roadside sort of thing."
[19:07] <Alicia> "Lets see if there's anything we can find at the village?" Alicia suggests, "Since you can fly and I've got these boots," she briefly lifts a foot and taps her heel, "Horses won't give us that much of an increase in speed, anyway, so we can just press on if there aren't any available there."
[19:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 23."12 [1d20=5]
[19:11] <Kotono> "Right," Antenora takes to the air, soaring high above and out of sight. Thus the two continue on! Getting horses is easy enough, Alicia has the pull this close to Balmuria to get them for free. THus the travel begins!
[19:11] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 5."12 [1d100=5]
[19:11] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 87."12 [1d100=87]
[19:11] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 4."12 [1d100=4]
[19:14] <Kotono> As you ascend upward, the trail becomes steeper and rockier. It's only for the fact that the trail is very nicely worn that it's easily passable at all. But it is, thousands of hooves and feet having made it a bearable trip for travellers. A few days later it's not far from Parsifal. However, as the two women ride on in the afternoon drizzle, you see that a caravan has stopped ahead. It's resting in the middle of the road, unmoving. There's s
[19:14] <Kotono> It's resting in the middle of the road, unmoving. There's some commotion that you can see from fairly far off, around the front of the caravan.
[19:16] <Alicia> "Could be trouble," Alicia murmurs, spurring her horse to pick up the pace to a trot as they approach the caravan.
[19:17] <Kotono> As you approach, you see that there's been some sort of scuffle. A man lies on the ground, bleeding and with a circle of people around him. A kneeling man works next to him fervently, trying to styme a flow of blood from the downed man's head. A few others are around a shock faced, pallid man. HE's a little older, into his thirties. He looks disbelievingly, holding a slightly bloodied club.
[19:19] <Alicia> At that, Alicia jumps off her horse and sprints towards the injured party. "Let me through, I'm a healer!" she calls, rushing over to lay hands on his wound and channel enough positive energy in to either fully recover him or empty her reserves.
[19:20] <Kotono> Alicia pushes through the caravan, mostly men but a few decently dressed women as well. They part at Alicia's words, giving her access to the man. Her touch mends his injury, his blank eyes slowly becoming focused again. The massive gash on his head seals to her healing. (8 points used.) (More)
[19:21] <Kotono> Antenora hangs back, not offering anything to the situation. As the man is mended, "Oh thank Gond..." is murmured from the caravan, a few people expressing that sentiment. The stricken man coughs and blinks, in his thirties as well and slightly balding. "What...what ahppened?"
[19:23] <Alicia> "That's what I'd like to know," Alicia declares, turning her attention to the man with the bloody club.
[19:24] <Kotono> "IT's not what you think," hbe manages to stammer, dropping the club. "Thank you, thank you, thank you..." he babbles out swiftly, "It was an accident, he's my brother!" he gushes this in a few rushing words.
[19:25] <Alicia> "Is this true?" Alicia asks the injured party.
[19:25] <Kotono> "I...don't know." He sits up, rubbing his head. "I was leading the horses and then I heard something. I started to turn and then everything went white.":
[19:26] <Kotono> One of the women shakes her head, "None ofus saw it, we found it when the caravan abruptly stopped."
[19:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 sense motive, what's my read on club boy?
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 sense motive, what's my read on club boy? and gets 15."12 [1d20=9]
[19:29] <Alicia> "Alright, what's your story?" Alicia asks the suspect.
[19:30] <Kotono> "I..I..." He breathes out a few times, "I was coming to see how Pike was doing. This club is my weapon in case we run into bandits or anything, and I was playing with it a bit as I did, swinging it. It slipped and..."
[19:33] <Alicia> "And you knocked your brother out?" Alicia concludes, deciding to see what evil lurks within this man's heart. Although likely as not, if they are siblings and the wounded party doesn't want to make an issue of it, there's little she can do regardless.
[19:34] <Kotono> "It hit him right flush in the head as he turned," he answers. "I twas a lfuke!
[19:34] <Kotono> "It hit him right flush in the head as he turned," he answers. "It was a fluke!"
[19:38] <Alicia> "Well, what do you think?" Alicia asks the man she healed. "As an officer in the United Baronies guard, I could have him arrested for assault, but if you'll vouch for him then I'll let it drop."
[19:39] <Kotono> There is a pause, the now uninjured man rubbing his healed but still blood stained head. "He's my brother, ma'am," he says quietly. "If he said it was an accident...then it was an accident."
[19:40] <Alicia> "Alright then," Alicia nods, backing off towards her horse. "Be more careful in future," she warns the group. "Next time there might not be a healer nearby."
[19:41] <Kotono> "T-thank you," The not now injured man says shakily, leaning on one of the women and slowly going to sit. His brother looks to Alicia long, face neutral.
[19:42] <Alicia> "Is there a problem?" Alicia asks primly in response to the look she's getting.
[19:42] <Kotono> "I just wanted to thank you," he says after a few more moments, turning away and going towards his brother.
[19:44] <Alicia> "You're welcome," Alicia returns, saddling up and resuming her journey to Parsifal.
[19:44] <Kotono> Once the two are out of range of the c aravan, "Did you think it was an accident," Antenora asks aloud.
[19:47] <Alicia> "Probably. I doubt the attacker is the murderous type, but without knowing their history who knows what could have provoked him if it really was intentional? But if the wounded party doesn't want to press charges and it's only assault instead of murder, there's not much I can do, or would want to," Alicia reasons.
[19:48] <Kotono> "Mmm." Antenora nods to that, "I suppose that acting like an inquisitor and ferreting out the truth isn't preferable here, either."
[19:52] <Alicia> "A witness would have simplified things greatly," Alicia admits. "I'd still prefer to think it was a genuine accident, but if it was intentional at least the victim should be more alert in future. Only they know what motive there could be."
[19:52] <Kotono> "Still.." Antenora glances back, before spurring her horse along. "At least you did good by saving his life?"
[19:53] * Alicia nods. "Deliberate or accident, it's likely either way that he'd have died if we hadn't come along when we did."
[19:54] <Kotono> The rest of the trip to Parsifal is without incident. You arrive in the early afternoon, past a few caravans. The entryway to the city is a vast gate, dozens of wagons being loaded up with iron and goods to begin the trip to Balmuria. Two guards man the front gate, keeping a steady gaze out.
[19:56] * Kotono is now known as Blondezilla
[19:58] <Alicia> Some distance from Parsifal, enough that they can see the city but without any individuals being clear, and also some ways from the nearest caravan, Alicia calls a pause. "If there are devils lurking in the city, chances are they'll recognise us on sight. Since that makes it harder for us to gain surprise, I'm going to cast a spell to disguise us - you'll need to take off your disguise ribbon for it to work, though."
[19:58] <Blondezilla> Antenora looks about, seeing no one nearby, before she removes it. She tucks it away carefully. "What's your idea?"
[20:02] <Alicia> "Give me your hand?" Alicia asks, channeling an alter self spell into her dagger and then nicking Antenora's flesh, not even hard enough to draw blood past her innate resistance but enough to bestow the spell. This promptly turns the erinyes into an aasimar, several inches shorter but with a somewhat similar build, softer and more gentle facial features, and radiantly blonde hair.
[20:02] <Alicia> "If we get into a fight you might want to change back, since your skin won't be as tough anymore, and your wings are gone so long as the spell lasts."
[20:04] <Blondezilla> Antenora lightly checks her hair, smiling a tiny bit. "I like it...if a fiend sees us and guessed what I'm supposed to be, they'll still probably be wary, though."
[20:04] * Alicia then casts the same spell on herself, likewise becoming several inches shorter (they're both tall enough to stand out, normally, after all) and her skin gaining a dark tan while her eyes become green. Her hair shortens, hardly needing to be pulled back at all, and shifting colour to a light brown. "It was either that or a tiefling. I figured this one would give us less trouble from everyone besides the devils."
[20:06] <Blondezilla> With a slight nod, Antenora rides her horse onward. "Something about this does bother me, though," she goes on.
[20:07] <Alicia> "Yes?" Alicia asks as they press on towards the gate.
[20:09] <Blondezilla> "That devil used Demedais. Do you think it assumed that we'd never hear of it?"
[20:11] <Alicia> "It had to have considered the possibility, yes. It's even possible that it's prepared a trap for us - another reason for us to be travelling incognito," Alicia admits. "But regardless of whatever it may have planned for, there's no way we can simply ignore it."
[20:13] <Blondezilla> Smiling to this, "Good. As long as you know..." she continues riding on, "LEt's go then?"
[20:13] * Alicia nods and continues onwards to the city gate.
[20:15] <Blondezilla> The city gate is quite busy. A caravan is leaving now, bustling by. The guards look at Alicia and Antenora, though neither move to stop them directly. One does call, as his eyes linger on thet wo, "Keep your noses clean in here."
[20:17] <Alicia> "Will do," Alicia nods in passing, sidling close to Antenora, at least as much as their horses allow, once within the town proper. "Lets do an inwards spiral around and through the town, first? Even if our quarry can mask his alignment and any magical signature of a polymorph spell, your spear should let us know if we get close no matter what."
[20:29] <Blondezilla> Thus the two begin to walk and search around! IT takes some time to do a loop of all the streets, the afternoon wearing on. AFter about an hour you've done a solid riding loop of the city, Throughout, there are no signs of Antenora's spear glowing, even when you go close to the paths to the mines inside of the mountain.
[20:32] <Alicia> "Well, it's possible that the devil has already left," Alicia admits. "It's equally possible that it's moving around at the same time we are, and we've just missed it. Lets make another pass, and if we don't get anything we'll find an inn to stay in? If we try again at night, it's more likely our prey will be stationary."
[20:34] <Blondezilla> "Good thinking," Antenora agrees. Another hour passes as they loop. Antenora's spear is still unreacting, silent. It's later in the afternoon now, miners starting to come out from the shafs and emerging into the sunlight.
[20:36] <Alicia> Alicia calls a halt before the full hour passes, giving them time to acquire a room at a convenient inn and then retire to its privacy before her spell wears off. "Lets wait until the middle of the night before we go out again," she suggests, settling in to relax while she waits.
[20:38] <Blondezilla> The rest passes easily enough. Antenora gets a short nap and food can be gotten. Near midnight, after waiting awhile, "Is this late enough," Antenora asks.
[20:39] <Alicia> "I think so," Alicia briefly looks out the window. "Everyone should be in their beds by now, so even an enterprising baatezu won't have much to keep it busy at this hour." Casting alter self on herself and channeling another into Antenora, she repeats their disguises from earlier in the day. "Lets go see what we can see, shall we?"
[20:41] <Blondezilla> Thus the two begin tow alk the dark streets of Parsifal!
[20:41] <Blondezilla> roll 1d100
[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d100 and gets 32."12 [1d100=32]
[20:42] <Blondezilla> After a half hour, the pair are walking through a quiet, silent, terranced street. Here nice houses can be seen, each well developed two story affairs. As Antenora passes close to them, the night is cut by a bright light coming from her weapon. She stands in front of one of those hoses, a little metal, waist high gate blocking access to it's stony yard.
[20:43] * Alicia looks around for any traces of evil (besides Antenora's sad aura).
[20:45] <Blondezilla> Nothing that you can detect, but the building is fairly sturdy and made of the local mountain stone. There are a few windows, however, though they're closed with curtains.
[20:46] <Alicia> "Lets go all the way around that one to make sure it's the source and not one of the surrounding buildings?" Alicia suggests, indicating the nearby house after Antenora's spear starts to glow.
[20:47] <Blondezilla> The light fills the streets and area nearby, as Antenora nods tersely. "Let's just hurry in case it's keeping watch," she says. "The light isn't exactly subtle."
[20:50] <Alicia> "Easily fixed," Alicia replies, producing a waterskin from her survival pouch. Promptly upending it to spill the contents out, she then slots it over the glowing black unicorn horn, allowing only a sliver of light out. "Just remember to take it off once things turn violent."
[20:58] <Blondezilla> For some reason Antenora chuckles at that, despite the terseness in her body and the tight grip on her spear. "Good thinking, Mistress," she says,  before starting to swiftly movea round the house, easily going around the fenced gate.
[20:59] * Alicia follows the temporary aasimar, ensuring they complete a wide enough circuit around the house to remove all doubt that their target lies within.
[20:59] <Blondezilla> The spear stays lit the entire time. It's a plain two story building, a sturdy stone door and windows on both floors. No light comes from the house.
[21:04] <Alicia> "Found our target," Alicia whispers, pointing up to the second storey window. "The aura's fairly strong. Could be anything past an osyluth, I'd wager." Backing off sufficiently that she's unlikely to be heard by anything within, she casts Fly on herself, followed by Shield. "Might as well remove the disguises, there's no need for subtlety at this point."
[21:05] <Blondezilla> Antenora shifts back and transforms, as Alicia casts those two spells! As she finishes...
[21:05] <Blondezilla> roll 1d100
[21:05] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d100 and gets 74."12 [1d100=74]
[21:06] <Blondezilla> OOC: Carry on.
[21:13] <Alicia> 'Hell Striker, can you detect anyone else in there near the devil?' Alicia asks her sword.
[21:14] <Blondezilla> 'No.' Hell Striker answers.
[21:16] <Alicia> That simplifies things enormously! "Okay, here's the plan," Alicia tells Antenora, "We fly directly above the target. I demonstrate Mystra's gift. If it survives that, you dive down to melee it, while I keep in reserve to act if it tries to teleport away or something like that?"
[21:17] <Blondezilla> "That should work." Antenora says quietly, tense and waiting.
[21:19] <Alicia> Plan set, Alicia flies up above the building, positioning herself almost directly above the evil aura, but slightly towards the interior, intending to angle her attack so it pierces the roof, goes through the devil, then exits out the wall between the first and second floor before digging into the ground outside.
[21:19] <Blondezilla> OOC - Are you passing by the window or going around?
[21:20] <Alicia> OOC: going around, don't intend to tempt fate by presenting a clear view in case our boy chances to look out.
[21:21] <Blondezilla> So Alicia positions, settling in the air above, exactly where she wants to be.
[21:23] <Alicia> 'Still no one near it?' Alicia confirms with her sword.
[21:23] <Blondezilla> 'No,' Hell Striker confirms.
[21:26] <Alicia> "Now," Alicia whispers as she unleashes the fury! Like a divine smiting from the heavens, a lance of incandescent spellfire erupts from her floating form, coring a perfectly smooth five foot wide hole through the roof before slamming into the hopefully unaware devil and then continuing its unstoppable trajectory through the side wall and drilling into the ground below!
[21:26] <Alicia> roll 15d8 DC 22 reflex
[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 15d8 DC 22 reflex and gets 61."12 [15d8=1, 6, 2, 4, 7, 3, 8, 7, 5, 4, 1, 2, 1, 8, 2]
[21:28] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+14 (-4)
[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+14 (-4) and gets 25."12 [1d20=11]
[21:32] <Blondezilla> A piercing lance of spell fire shoots thorugh the roof! It creates a hole as it bores straight down! Inside you can glimpse a blue scaled figure like ice, bug featured as it dodges to the side, it's shoulder painfully clipped! IOt's body is wrapped in an aura as black as night, a spear in hand!  Antenora prepares meanwhile, diving through the opened hole! However, even with this, the gelugon doesn't seem surprised!
[21:32] <Blondezilla> With a furious scream as white energy surrounds her, Antenora dives down!
[21:33] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20 (-3 PA +2 FS 7/8, +2 charge, +1 flying)
[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 (-3 PA +2 FS 7/8, +2 charge, +1 flying) and gets 29."12 [1d20=9]
[21:33] <Blondezilla> Her glowing spear strikes out, but the gelugon's black aura seems to absorb and deflect the blow! OOC - Initiative.
[21:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 9."12 [1d20=3]
[21:34] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 20."12 [1d20=15]
[21:34] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+5 Brr
[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+5 Brr and gets 16."12 [1d20=11]
[21:34] * Blondezilla changes topic to 'Antenora>Gelugon>AliciaMiko'
[21:34] <Alicia> 'Hold on a second, Antenora, let me dispel that aura!' Alicia sends, hoping she's still paying attention to telepathy.
[21:35] <Blondezilla> Swiftly attacking as she hovers just inside the building, Antenora holds! 'Right,' she answers, and then aloud, "Back to Hell with you, bug," she calls forth bravely!
[21:39] <Blondezilla> The gelugon looks up, it's mandibles chittering together! "You're dead and you haven't realized it yet," he retorts, spinning his spear defensively as he strikes back!
[21:39] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20 (-1 CE)
[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 (-1 CE) and gets 29."12 [1d20=9]
[21:39] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15 (-1 CE)
[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 (-1 CE) and gets 27."12 [1d20=12]
[21:39] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+10 (-1 CE)
[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+10 (-1 CE) and gets 25."12 [1d20=15]
[21:39] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+14 (-1 CE)
[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+14 (-1 CE) and gets 18."12 [1d20=4]
[21:39] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+14 (-1 CE)
[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+14 (-1 CE) and gets 25."12 [1d20=11]
[21:40] <Blondezilla> roll 2d6+9
[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 2d6+9 and gets 17."12 [2d6=4, 4]
[21:40] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+13 fort
[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+13 fort and gets 20."12 [1d20=7]
[21:41] <Blondezilla> roll 1d6
[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d6 and gets 2."12 [1d6=2]
[21:41] <Blondezilla> Fencing back, the gelugon grazes Antenora's leg! However, the blow effects her entire body! It's like she's been dunked in freezing water, moving as if in slow motion! OOC - Alicia.
[21:43] <Alicia> While tempted to fire off another shot of spellfire, Alicia sticks to the plan even as the gelugon is likely regenerating from her initial assault. "In Mystra's name, end the foul blight upon the weave before me!" she calls, trying to dispel any protections the devil has in place.
[21:43] <Alicia> OOC: targetted dispel, how many spells does it have up?
[21:43] <Blondezilla> OOC - Two. Roll for Unholy Aura first, the the unnamed second.
[21:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 29."12 [1d20=17]
[21:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 21."12 [1d20=9]
[21:45] <Blondezilla> The unholy aura around the gelugon shudders and winks away into nothingness! Befeft of it's field of darkness, the gelugon looks upward, "Alicia Reynes..." It hisses, "Do you think that your lapdog can hurt me?"
[21:46] <Alicia> "There was a time when your kind might have been intimidating, but that time is long past," Alicia replies bravely.
[21:46] <Blondezilla> In very slow motion, Antenora brings her spear back around! She still blazes with holy ferver, even she struggles to move at anything approaching speed!
[21:46] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20 (+2 FS 6/8, +1 fly, -1 slow)
[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 (+2 FS 6/8, +1 fly, -1 slow) and gets 37."12 [1d20=17]
[21:47] <Blondezilla> roll 1d8+11+2d6+1d6
[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d8+11+2d6+1d6 and gets 29."12 [1d8=7][2d6=5, 4][1d6=2]
[21:48] <Blondezilla> Despite her slowed speed, Antenora's glowing spear penetrates the gelugon's side! The creature hisses at this injury, "Is it?" He asks this as the spellfire burn on his shoulder mends slowly, vanishing away! OOC - Alicia, you're up.
[21:50] <Alicia> That spear has to go, Alicia decides. While the fiend no doubt has nasty claws, they're not as dangerous as the polearm of numbing cold. "Mystra, guide my blade to break all in its path..." she incants softly.
[21:51] <Blondezilla> As Antenora struggles and looks around in her frozen state...
[21:51] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+18
[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+18 and gets 20."12 [1d20=2]
[21:52] <Blondezilla> "Is it gone?" Antenora asks tersely, head whipping about, as she looks about! OOC - Alicia.
[21:54] <Blondezilla> OOC - Strike the true strike and Anty's action, though the roll'll stand if need be.
[21:54] <Alicia> OOC: Is Anty's spear still glowing?
[21:54] <Blondezilla> Antenora's spear has gone dark, fading.
[21:55] <Alicia> "Dammit!" Alicia curses, missing the days when most of the fiends she encountered couldn't teleport. "It could be anywhere in the world by now." Floating down to rejoin Antenora, she settles for healing the erinyes.
[21:56] <Blondezilla> OOC - How much LoH or whatever?
[21:56] <Alicia> OOC: 15
[21:56] <Blondezilla> OOC: Okay.
[21:57] <Blondezilla> So Alicia does. Antenora sighs in relief as her injuries are tended, "Tha-" However, Antenora's words are cut off! Suddenly, the two find themselfs in a vast hailstorm, slamming around them and on the roof of the building!
[21:57] <Blondezilla> roll 3d6 blugeoning
[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 3d6 blugeoning and gets 11."12 [3d6=1, 5, 5]
[21:57] <Blondezilla> roll 2d6 cold
[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 2d6 cold and gets 9."12 [2d6=4, 5]
[21:58] <Blondezilla> Antenora is just starting to move again normally at that, words bitten off! She looks upward, though a heavy hailstorm is making seeing quite a trick! "It didn't go that far?"
[21:58] <Blondezilla> OOC - Alicia, you're up.
[22:00] <Alicia> "No, it didn't," Alicia curses. "Come on, lets get out of here!" At that she flies through the hole in the wall her spellfire made and then flying up to roof level outside of the hailstorm, reasoning that if the gelugon positioned itself to sight the roof for its attack, the reverse will work against it. How hard can it be to spot a gigantic frosty blue insect?
[22:01] <Blondezilla> Once outside, not hard! Getting outside of the hailstorm helps - it's 120 feet straight up from the roof! OOC - That was your move action, doing anything else with your standard?
[22:03] <Alicia> "Straight up!" Alicia tells Antenora, trying to dispel its Fly spell and provide a very unpleasant landing for the fiend.
[22:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 c'mon, it'll be awesome~
[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 c'mon, it'll be awesome~ and gets 15."12 [1d20=3]
[22:05] <Blondezilla> Despite calling on dispellation, the gelugon stays in the air! Antenora flies straight up at this, battered by hailstones and cold! On emerging from the top, she closes to within twenty feet of the fiend! "Bastard," she snorts to him. "AT least you have some twisted form of bravery. How many souls did it take for you to get that?" Meanwhile, as she flies past Alicia, the paladin finds her wounds healing! OOC - FS 5/8, +10 HP. Gelugon is
[22:05] <Blondezilla> OOC - FS 5/8, +10 HP. Gelugon is up.
[22:07] <Blondezilla> With a gesture, the gelugon's body is wreathed in darkness once more! He looks down at Antenora from his airy perch, the city below! Parsifal is largely asleep and dark, though a few lights nearby the devil's house have begun to show, as the hailstorm vanishes! He flies another 30 feet up, (150 above Alicia.) "That's right. Come on, traitor. You just can't stand the sight of me." OOC - Alicia.
[22:08] * Alicia flies up another thirty feet herself, wishing the fly spell wasn't so darn slow at vertical movement, and tries dispelling it again. "You don't deserve to use magic under Mystra's watch."
[22:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 aura
[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 aura and gets 27."12 [1d20=15]
[22:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 fly
[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 fly and gets 31."12 [1d20=19]
[22:10] <Blondezilla> The devil softly falls sixty feet, now 90 feet above the roof and 60 above Alicia! As he falls, Antenora stabs at his falling body!
[22:10] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+18
[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+18 and gets 33."12 [1d20=15]
[22:11] <Blondezilla> roll 1d6 rounds of feather fall
[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d6 rounds of feather fall and gets 5."12 [1d6=5]
[22:11] <Blondezilla> roll 1d8+11+2d6
[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d8+11+2d6 and gets 27."12 [1d8=7][2d6=3, 6]
[22:12] <Blondezilla> Antenora successfully amnages to rake it's chest as it falls! As it does, Antenora dives down like a hawk in flight, aiming right for him with a devastasting aerial charge!
[22:12] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+21 (-2 PA +2 charge, +2 FS 4/8, +1 fly)
[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+21 (-2 PA +2 charge, +2 FS 4/8, +1 fly) and gets 31."12 [1d20=10]
[22:13] <Blondezilla> Antenora comes within a hairesbreath of hitting, but her charge is evaded when it floats to the side in it's descent! This time it's bug face looks less amused as it vanishes again! OOC - Alicia.
[22:14] * Alicia rotates around in flight, trying to catch sight of it in case it's brave enough to stick around for more.
[22:15] <Blondezilla> The gelugon is now on the street outside of it's house, 70 feet below.
[22:16] <Alicia> "There it is!" Alicia points the fiend out for Antenora's benefit, dropping down thirty feet herself and preparing to unleash another burst of spellfire if it tries to teleport again.
[22:17] <Blondezilla> Antenora follows suit, diving down again and plummeting! She goes right for him, her fury overwhelming!
[22:17] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+21 (-2 PA +2 charge, +2 FS 3/8, +1 fly)
[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+21 (-2 PA +2 charge, +2 FS 3/8, +1 fly) and gets 27."12 [1d20=6]
[22:18] <Blondezilla> Antenora's spear thrusts down hard! However, it misses by a few inches, scraping the rocky street and missing the gelugon! As the spellfire wound on it's shoulder closes up entirely, it begins to...OOC - Readied action, Alicia?
[22:22] <Alicia> Well, on reflection, carving out a hole over a hundred feet deep in the middle of the street probably isn't a good idea. What if someone falls down it, tomorrow? The short term goal of killing a devil must be tempered with respect for the consequences. Therefore Alicia holds off a bit, in case he teleports to somewhere more advantageous for her to shoot him from. It's entirely possible he's restricted to short range hops like dogai, anyway.
[22:23] <Blondezilla> There are a few lights adding plenty of luminence in addition to Antenora's spear! Houses have lanterns and torches being lit, some commition slowly beginning at all the noise! The gelugon sscowls at Antenora, "Persistant little bitch," he says, before attacking her full out in retort!
[22:24] * Alicia just drops another thirty feet, coming into range for her to join the melee.
[22:24] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20 (-1 PA)
[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 (-1 PA) and gets 25."12 [1d20=5]
[22:24] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15 (-1 PA)
[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 (-1 PA) and gets 19."12 [1d20=4]
[22:24] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+10 (-1 PA)
[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+10 (-1 PA) and gets 18."12 [1d20=8]
[22:24] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+14 (-1 PA)
[22:24] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+14 (-1 PA)
[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+14 (-1 PA) and gets 31."12 [1d20=17]
[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+14 (-1 PA) and gets 26."12 [1d20=12]
[22:25] <Blondezilla> roll 2d6+3
[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 2d6+3 and gets 8."12 [2d6=1, 4]
[22:25] * Blondezilla changes topic to 'Antenora>Gelugon=AliciaMiko'
[22:25] <Blondezilla> Antenora dodges the spears, though her wrist gets a vicious bite into it!  However, even as a bit of blood flows, the erinye sisn't deterred! OOC - Anty's up.
[22:26] <Blondezilla> Taking this chance, Antenora attacks the devil, simply trying to land a bevy of hits in return and quickly!
[22:26] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+21 (+2 FS 2/8, +1 flying, first hit is her smite)
[22:26] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+21 (+2 FS 2/8, +1 flying, first hit is her smite) and gets 29."12 [1d20=8]
[22:27] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+14
[22:27] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21."12 [1d20=7]
[22:27] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+9
[22:27] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+9 and gets 22."12 [1d20=13]
[22:27] <Blondezilla> However, Antenora can't seem to hit the damned devil! Her spears clash with his own, none managing to strike! OOC - Alicia and the gelugon are up now.
[22:28] * Alicia follows after Antenora, weaving through the fiend's guard as she finally joins the melee with her own smite!
[22:28] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 tumble
[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 tumble and gets 32."12 [1d20=19]
[22:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 +1 flying +6 smite +1 1st level channel
[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 +1 flying +6 smite +1 1st level channel and gets 30."12 [1d20=5]
[22:30] <Blondezilla> Alicia swipes at the fiend hard, but can't quite penetrate his guard! It's mandibles clatter together again, "Slow as a lemure," he taunts, before vanishing away yet again! OOC - Antenora is up.
[22:31] <Blondezilla> Antenora looks about...
[22:31] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+18
[22:31] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+18 and gets 35."12 [1d20=17]
[22:32] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+6 Gelugons don't get hide? Huh.
[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+6 Gelugons don't get hide? Huh. and gets 18."12 [1d20=12]
[22:32] <Blondezilla> Antenora points to the window where this all started, "I saw it in there," she says, before flapping her wings and taking to the air, flying to that window! OOC - Alicia and the 'gon are up.
[22:34] <Alicia> Well, she can shoot upwards without fear of hurting anyone, so Alicia does just that, flying close to the building and then either using the large blue target visible through the hole in the wall, or if it's not visible then the glowing aura of evil, and fires an almost vertical diagonal blast of spellfire at the fiend!
[22:34] <Alicia> roll 15d8 DC 22
[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 15d8 DC 22 and gets 73."12 [15d8=7, 6, 2, 6, 6, 1, 7, 4, 7, 2, 5, 7, 2, 3, 8]
[22:35] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+18
[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+18 and gets 23."12 [1d20=5]
[22:35] <Blondezilla> roll 73/2
[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 73/2 and gets 36.5."12
[22:36] <Blondezilla> This time, the gelugon is caught flush on, just as it reacts! Whatever it was doing is lost, as spellfire burrows through it's stomach! IT screams as it's burnt, seriously injured! OOC - Antenora's up.
[22:37] <Blondezilla> Pouncing on this chance, Antenora flies through the window and charges full out!
[22:37] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+21 (-2 PA +2 charge, +2 FS 1/8, +1 fly)
[22:37] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+21 (-2 PA +2 charge, +2 FS 1/8, +1 fly) and gets 23."12 [1d20=2]
[22:38] <Blondezilla> Even as Antenora reaches a split second afte rthe building gets another flaming hole, her spear hits the wall instead of the gelugon! OOC - Alicia and the 'gon are up.
[22:38] * Alicia flies straight through the hole she just made, charging the gelugon all out to try and finish it while it's weak!
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 tumble
[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 tumble and gets 17."12 [1d20=4]
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 charging, raging, 2nd level channel
[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 charging, raging, 2nd level channel and gets 41."12 [1d20=19]
[22:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 charging, raging, 2nd level channel crit check
[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 charging, raging, 2nd level channel crit check and gets 34."12 [1d20=12]
[22:39] <Blondezilla> OOC - Creeeet.
[22:39] <Alicia> roll 2d8+20+2d4+2d6 holy
[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+20+2d4+2d6 holy and gets 35."12 [2d8=1, 3][2d4=2, 3][2d6=3, 3]
[22:40] <Alicia> OOC: +6 more damage, forgot rage boost
[22:40] <Blondezilla> Just as the gelugon begins to do something, Alicia is there! She plunges her holy blade into the gelugon, as it strikes at Antenora wrathfully!
[22:40] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20 (-1 PA)
[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 (-1 PA) and gets 23."12 [1d20=3]
[22:40] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15 (-1 PA)
[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 (-1 PA) and gets 23."12 [1d20=8]
[22:40] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+10 (-1 PA)
[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+10 (-1 PA) and gets 12."12 [1d20=2]
[22:40] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+14 (-1 PA)
[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+14 (-1 PA) and gets 21."12 [1d20=7]
[22:40] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+14 (-1 PA)
[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+14 (-1 PA) and gets 22."12 [1d20=8]
[22:41] <Blondezilla> His fury is nothing but a waste, Antenora dodging and parrying! She does this just long enough for Alicia to stab into it's chest! THe gelugon hisses at this, dropping it's spear as it falls to one knee, out on it's feet! OOC - Antenora's up.
[22:42] <Blondezilla> Huffing from the exertion and her minor injuries, "Finally," Antenora manages to get out, "Go back the Hell!" With it's g uard down and body mostly broken, Antenora strikes!
[22:42] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20 (-1 PA +2 FS 0/8, +1 fly)
[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 (-1 PA +2 FS 0/8, +1 fly) and gets 21."12 [1d20=1]
[22:42] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+13
[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+13 and gets 31."12 [1d20=18]
[22:42] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+8
[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+8 and gets 10."12 [1d20=2]
[22:42] <Blondezilla> roll 1d8+11+2d6
[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d8+11+2d6 and gets 24."12 [1d8=3][2d6=4, 6]
[22:43] <Blondezilla> OOC - +2 damage.
[22:43] <Blondezilla> The gelugon falls back at this wound, on it's back but still alive! OOC - It's not acting as it's unable. Alicia?
[22:44] * Alicia quickly and efficiently decapitates the regenerating fiend with her holy blade.
[22:44] <Alicia> roll 2d8+31+2d6 coup de grace
[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+31+2d6 coup de grace and gets 47."12 [2d8=3, 6][2d6=6, 1]
[22:44] <Blondezilla> OOC - It's gone.
[22:44] <Blondezilla> With that final blow, Alicia ends the life of the gelugon! It turns into black ice, melting into nothingness! OOC - Free action.
[22:45] <Blondezilla> "..whew..." Antenora scowls as it's gone. "It put up a good fight for a gelugon."
[22:46] <Alicia> "Slippery devil, wasn't he?" Alicia sighs, flicking the ichor off her blade as her rage peters out. "It wasn't even a real fight, it just kept running. Anyway, you might want to put your ribbon back on, then we'll find out who lives here, assuming they didn't run off during the fight."
[22:47] <Blondezilla> "True, but it was hellish to even land a blow on," Antenora flicks her spear clean, before putting on her disguise ribbon. "If it was lairing here, we'll need to search the house anyway."
[22:48] * Alicia takes a moment to cast detect magic before she embarks on a door to door search of the house.
[22:49] <Blondezilla> It's a fairly nice house. Two stories, nice furniture, good beds. You don't find anything magical with detect magic, but you don't find anyone else in the house, either. As you finish the second floor and go to the first, there is a heavy pounding heard from the door. "Open up in the name of the city guard!"
[22:50] * Alicia goes to answer the door! She'll want to ask the guards about who lives here, anyway. She makes sure her sword is stowed away before she answers, not wanting to make any intimidating gestures before they all clarify that they're on the same side.
[22:51] <Blondezilla> A fiveset of guards are here and waiting, armed with greatswords and spears. The front man is a burly, rough and tumble sort, wearing a well worn set of plate armor. "Hands where we can see them," he warns quickly, "What the hell are you doing in Pike's house?"
[22:53] * Alicia holds her hands at her sides, palms towards the guards. "Captain Alicia Reynes, Crimson Guard," she identifies herself. They're on the same side, but she's almost certain she outranks everyone here. "I don't know who Pike is, but he was harbouring an Ice Devil in here."
[22:54] <Blondezilla> There's a pause there, but the lead man eyes Alicia right back. "Alright. Can you prove any of what you just said?"
[22:58] <Alicia> "The fiend's spear is still upstairs, they're quite distinctive and far too big for any human to wield. If there are any clerics attached to your garrison able to detect evil, the aura will also linger where we killed it for at least a day - though the body melted," Alicia verifies the fact of the fiend's presence.
[22:58] <Alicia> "As for my identity, I have nothing to prove that I'm Alicia Reynes, but this proves my rank and station," she takes out the Crimson Guard armband she took off while travelling incognito and shows it to the leader.
[22:59] <Blondezilla> There's a pause as the guar dlooks it over, then nods to one of this men. "Go get that spear then," he instructs. "You look legitimate. How come we haven't heard of anything going on until now?"
[23:01] <Alicia> "We didn't want to tip off the fiend of our presence and risk it fleeing or preparing a trap for us, so we arrived incognito. We detected its presence in this building while searching the town, and attacked it from there," Alicia explains. "Who's this Pike person you mentioned? If he's harbouring a devil here, I want to meet him."
[23:03] <Blondezilla> "He's not here now. He makes his living guiding caravans," he adds, "He's off doing that. Anyway, this is his home." Shifting his shoulders under the weight of his armor, he waits a few moments. Soon the spear is dragged downstairs. There's some silence as it's looked at, before, "Well...alright. You don't look like robbers, either. Captain, I'm Captain Green and I command the night watched and patrols of Parsifal. I'd like a report of w
[23:03] <Blondezilla> I'd like a report of what happened here."
[23:04] <Alicia> "Of course, Captain," Alicia nods respectfully. "Why don't we go to the garrison and I'll have one written up for you?"
[23:05] * tiredofthis (Taishyr@58.194.238.102) has joined #dunes
[23:07] <Blondezilla> OOC - SKip ahead a bit?
[23:08] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[23:09] <Blondezilla> It's nearly dawn by the time everything is said and done. Alicia's at least provided food and water, as is Antenora. The two sit in a comfortable enough room now, an old oak table with old but cushioned chairs. The entire garrison here is slightly dirty and run down, used. "I see. Do you th ink this Ice Devil was the only one of it's kind here?"
[23:12] <Alicia> "We only heard of one travelling here along the road from Balmuria, and we never detected any others while we were here, for what that's worth," Alicia replies. "It's not impossible that another could have slipped by us, although I think if that gelugon had any allies close at hand it would have tried to get help."
[23:13] <Blondezilla> "That's a good sign. STill, we're going to search the entire town for anything. I'm having Pike's house be searched top to bottom as well in case he's involved in this at all. Still...Pike's a good man, I've known him for six years now."  A weary shake of his head. "You just stumbled on the devil there?"
[23:15] * Alicia nods. "It was lurking around in the room we killed it in," she confirms. "It wasn't very talkative as to its business there - it may have just noticed the house was empty and taken it as a convenient hideout. When was Pike last in town, though?" she asks, intending to compare it with the devil's likely arrival based on the timeframe of Demedais' story.
[23:16] <Blondezilla> "Three or four days ago. He left to guide a caravan," Green says, "I saw him when I was walking home from work, they left and sunup."
[23:17] <Alicia> "He'd have been here when the devil arrived, then," Alicia nods. "I'm not saying he's definitely in league with the Nine Hells, but it's still something that bears investigating."
[23:18] <Blondezilla> "Hmph. Dammit." Green runs a hand over his face, "If there's any evidence of it either way, we'll find it. Is it normal for you to be up all night?" He switches gears, "If you need to rest, I'll arrainge a room and we can resume this after the searches are completed."
[23:20] <Alicia> "Been resting all day," Alicia admits, "Since we decided it would make more sense to carry out the search at night when the devil was less likely to be moving around. We'll probably head back to Balmuria tomorrow, so staying around for today shouldn't be a problem."
[23:21] <Blondezilla> "In that case..." Green rises, "Follow me. I'm going to go oversee the search before I hand this off to the daytime commander."
[23:23] <Blondezilla> On reaching Pike's house in the sunrise's light, you find that something has been found. On the first floor a set of four scrolls has been piled up. They're made of simple parchment, but the men are keeping a distance from them. "Sir," one reports to Green. "We found these. I have no idea what they say..it's sure as anything not Common."
[23:24] <Alicia> "Could be infernal," Alicia notes, wishing Marie was here. "Want to take a look?" she asks Antenora.
[23:25] <Blondezilla> Captain Green goes over, takin ga scroll at random. He shakes his head, "It's Elven to me, too. I can't make out anything of it." On that, Antenora steps forward and scans it, before she chuckles darkly. "You know Alicia, I was worried when we came here that this would be a completely chaotic town with no order beyond what rowdy miners would feel like. I must say that I've been pleasant surprised twice now. Not only is the guard quite or
[23:25] <Blondezilla> I must say that I've been pleasant surprised twice now. Not only is the guard quite organized, but the ice devil kept copies of his weekly reports."
[23:26] <Alicia> "She's very hard to impress," Alicia notes as an aside towards the resident guards. "What's he say in his reports?"
[23:28] <Blondezilla> Captain Green gives Antenora an odd look, but doesn't pursue it besides bristling a bit. "Give me a moment." She checks between the scrolls a few times. "Alright, each scroll is a weeks' report, so he got here about a month ago. The first scroll is mostly about setting up and scouting out the town discreetly, as well as assessments. The town guard is organized but not strong enough to be any sort of threat, according to him. Oh, and his
[23:28] <Blondezilla> The town guard is organized but not strong enough to be any sort of threat, according to him. Oh, and his name is Kortische."
[23:29] <Blondezilla> "Let's see. He said with all the miners and men who focused on simple manual labor, there was excellent odds of easy soul procurements, as well as an acceptable range of ways to arrainge fatalities with making them appear as accidents."
[23:29] <Alicia> "A month?" Alicia blinks in surprise. Just how long were they in Celestia for? "Wait, wait a second - I thought the devil we were tracking was called Esthan?"
[23:30] <Blondezilla> "It means that the devil Demedais dealt with wasn't who we killed," Antenora says after a moment. "Maybe he went to see Kortische or had business here as well? I'll see if I find anything on Esthan as I read."
[23:31] <Alicia> "Thanks," Alicia nods, somewhat discomfited that yet another devil could have slipped through the cracks. It seems they're turning up everywhere, lately.
[23:32] <Blondezilla> "Alright. The first week ends with the observation that he's using temporarily empty houses as safe houses, as a decent part of the population earns work travelling with caravans to Balmuria. He finishes the report by wishing that 'Sir Helinus' finds his diabolical works acceptable in weakening the forces of good around Balmuria." She puts that scroll down, going for the second
[23:32] <Blondezilla> .
[23:34] <Alicia> "That must be the name of his superior back in Baator," Alicia muses, resolving to ask Antenora if she recognises the name once they have some privacy.
[23:35] <Blondezilla> "Alright..." Antenora purses her lips as she reads onward. "The second report deals with a soul harvesting. A miner named Arlen was approached and agreed to sign an infernal contract for 2,000 gold." Antenora's voice hardens here, "He reports that the mortal was so taken by the gold that he barely even looked at the contract and signed away."
[23:35] <Blondezilla> At this point, Captain Green's face drains of color. "Wait, Arlen?"
[23:36] <Alicia> "Know him?" Alicia asks the Captain.
[23:36] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+16
[23:36] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+16 and gets 34."12 [1d20=18]
[23:36] <Blondezilla> "...he died a few weeks ago in a mining accident." Captain Green shakes his head. He was passing through an old shaft, but a beam gave way and the cave in did him in."
[23:40] * Alicia grimaces. "I suppose Kortische didn't want to wait before dragging his soul down to Hell..."
[23:40] <Blondezilla> Antenora sighs deeply, but keeps reading on. "That took most of his week. He then reports exactly what you said. He arrainged it so a beam would collapse at a point where he could safely hide in the rocks nearby and then teleport away undetected. He gloats that the mortal was so stupid that he didn't even think to ask for a protection clause."
[23:42] <Blondezilla> "For what it's worth, Kortische is probably going to be very unhappy when his superior demotes himf or failure," Antenora says, her voice very soft. "It's a small comfort that the devils are ruthless enough to punish their own with gusto and abandon."
[23:43] <Alicia> "It's impossible to kill a devil permanently unless you go to Hell yourself," Alicia puts in for the benefit of the others. "But by defeating him here we've ensured he'll likely be demoted into a far less potent form, and suffer greatly for the experience."
[23:43] <Blondezilla> Captain Green is pale, "I knew Arlen. We'd usually wave when we saw each other in the morning, when he was going to mine and I was going home."
[23:44] <Alicia> "Keep reading," Alicia asks Antenora. "There could be more, perhaps even some that haven't been killed, yet."
[23:44] <Blondezilla> "The next week he started to hone in another target, but he received word that Esthan from Nessus was coming at the behest of Sir Martinet." Antenora's voice cracks a little at that. Her voice becomes strained, "To confer on the current mortal situtation and the problem of the mortals in Balmuria."
[23:45] * Alicia guesses Antenora is familiar with Sir Martinet, but such questions can wait until they're alone. For now she listens to the rest of the report.
[23:48] <Blondezilla> In a slightly shaky voice, "He arrived without incident. They discussed matters. The loss of a harvester devil underwater had compromised plans to harvest near Balmuria in the ocean. Further, the loss of 2 Erinyes from a mysterious, black winged woman further weakened plans around Arad. However, Kortische goes into detail about his plan: That he was being quite successful in Parsifal, and that the souls he gathered would be extremely use
[23:49] <Blondezilla>  He believes that Parsifal can be subverted into a base of operations if the mortals in Balmuria don't find it. If they do, he says he was assured by Esthan that there is a secondary place and that Sir Martinet assures that Sir Helinus should have no objections to his plans being temporarily stalled."
[23:50] <Alicia> "Mysterious black winged woman?" Alicia repeats dryly. "Oh, I can just taste the irony..."
[23:51] <Blondezilla> "The first possibly good news from his," Antenora's voice lacks any humor, instead, it cracks again. 'Alicia, get rid of Captain Green.'
[23:52] <Alicia> "Captain, if you'll forgive me," Alicia turns to her fellow captain, "Antenora and I need to discuss this in private. Could you excuse us for a few minutes?"
[23:53] <Blondezilla> "...yeah," he says after a moment, looking rather shell shocked. "That's fine." He turns, going out. His voice can be heard, "I don't care if yo uhvae to rip every floorboard up with your bare hands, I want no part of this house unsearched! Now!"
[23:53] <Alicia> Once the two women are left alone, Alicia turns expectantly towards Antenora in order to hear whatever was too shocking to reveal in front of anyone else.
[23:57] <Blondezilla> "Any devil that isn't a lemure or a nupperibo knows the name Martinet." Antenora says without any hesitation, though her voice is still a little unsteady. "He's the Constable of Nessus and the Enforcer of Asmodeus' will. He holds the rank of Duke of Hell, as well as extralegal powers as Asmodeus sees fit to decree. This includes holding equal rank with a Lord of the Nine while no official business."
[23:59] <Alicia> "Oh," Alicia deflates a little. "As if Agares wasn't enough... Though on the bright side, it means our mysterious 'M' is likely to be him instead of Mephistopheles. That's... slightly better, isn't it?"
Session Time: Wed Jun 18 00:00:00 2008
[00:00] <Blondezilla> "Marginally," Antenora grunts, though she almost smiles here. "The reason he's so well known, as well as being very prominent in internal Hellish affairs, is that he's said to be the most infuriating devil in the Nine Hells. In Cania, we all heard of the time he visited Mephistopheles and made him fall into a such a rage that he levelled an entire mountain afterwards."
[00:00] <Blondezilla> OOC - Strike, slight miswording.
[00:00] <Blondezilla> "Marginally," Antenora grunts, though she almost smiles here. "The other reason he's so well known, as well as being very prominent in internal Hellish affairs, is that he's said to be the most infuriating devil in the Nine Hells. In Cania, we all heard of the time he visited Mephistopheles and made him fall into a such a rage that he levelled an entire mountain afterwards."
[00:02] <Alicia> "What about Sir Helinus? Is that name familiar at all?" Alicia asks, wondering if Martinet's seeming unpopularity with his peers could possibly be played to any advantage. Probably not, since all devils seem to hate those of similar rank, anyway, so it likely won't make any meaningful difference.
[00:02] <Blondezilla> "The name's familiar. I want to say it's a cornugon or maybe a pit fiend, but if it, it's not an overwhelmingly well known one. Thankfully." Antenora replies.
[00:03] * Alicia nods. "Is there anything else in those notes? Where Esthan went next, any private suspicions regarding this secondary place?"
[00:06] <Blondezilla> "I haven't finished. Let me." Antenora goes back to the scrolls. "Esthan stayed barely a night. He mentions that he had to visit an agent to the north - something about a temple with a God he has a contract with and something there he wants to investigate."
[00:07] <Alicia> "North could be... oh hells!" Alicia curses as recognition blooms. "He has a contract with Helm - he's trying to investigate Uatu!"
[00:09] <Blondezilla> "These hellish plans keep getting better and better." Antenora's voice is growing less and less enthused by the moment. "At least the supply of them in is relatively finite now. THat's it. He was investigating another mark, but his reports end there. I think we just managed to save another soul, since he said he was close, and he dated it for tonight."
[00:11] <Alicia> "We've done all we can here, I think it's time now to head up to Armasea," Alicia decides. If Esthan can make Demedais dance to his whims then she can hardly count on Helm's guardians to protect Uatu from him. Admittedly the crystal being itself may be perfectly capable of warding off any fiendish assault, but what if the fiend tries a more insidious tack? "Lets get going, it's a long journey ahead of us."
[00:12] <Blondezilla> "We can get horses here. Are you going to want to teleport once we reach Balmuria or get some pegasi?" Antenora's already walking, after gathering up all four scrolls. "That would be even quicker once we get down there."
[00:14] <Alicia> "We'll switch to Pegasi once we get to Balmuria since there's no need for stealth at this point," Alicia nods, going to tell Captain Green that they have to leave on urgent business before doing just that.

[Corwin]

[18:40] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> ---------
[18:42] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[18:46] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The trip back to Balmuria is a fast paced one. Alicia and Antenora ride horses as fast as they safely can, making good downhill time. There are no serious interruptions and a strident pace gets them back to Balmuria well under a week. On reaching the city, the two come into the southern gate. Here a caravan is being inspected. It's lead by a new member of the Crimson Guard, recently graduated. He's currently watching as a few soldie
[18:46] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> He's currently watching as a few soldiers toss the contents of a caravan's interior, searching. The guards that are just watching stiffen to salute as Alicia is seen approaching.
[18:48] * Alicia has never even met any of the Crimson Guard besides Seira, Demedais, and Obureth, so unless he has some sort of insignia she probably won't recognise him. Since she's in the military and on urgent business, she also has no qualms about skipping ahead of the caravan, returning the salutes she gets from the guards as she heads into the city.
[18:51] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> There isn't any opposition to the two entering the city. You can hear something as you pass though, "How come they get to go ahead?" The caravan owner bitches loudly. But nonetheless, the two head into the city. Once past the gates, "Are we going straight for the pegasi or resupplying or resting first?" Antenora asks.
[18:52] <Alicia> "Couple of things," Alicia replies. "We'll stop by Elle's and drop off that book the Keeper gave us so she can look into making those wards while we're gone. Then we'll give the Commander a quick report, stop in to let Jessica and Marie know where we're headed, then get moving. No point in delaying any further than that, Esthan has a big enough lead already."
[18:57] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora simply nods as the two ride on. Reaching Elle's shop goes without incident. Here you come in to a pleasant old man in rumbled traveller's clothes chatting with Elle most animatedly. Alice smiles and comes out from her position, intercepting Alicia. "Good day," she says. "Can I help you with anything? Countess Stronger is entertaining an old friend at the moment."
[19:00] <Alicia> "Hopefully you can, Alice," Alicia smiles back, taking the celestial book out from her backpack and placing it on the counter. "Elle should know what this is about, but feel free to have a look yourself - it details how to make a ward against the supernatural despair aura of a creature I recently encountered. I don't want you to make it just yet, just take a look over to see if it's do-able and give me a costing?"
[19:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh. Of course," With a ghost of a smile glimpsed from under her hood, Alice starts to read the book. She flips at a surprisingly fast pace, nearly a page ever ten seconds or so. "...mmmm. It's fairly advanced, but I think the Countess can pull it off. One of the components is going to be bothersome, however."
[19:03] <Alicia> "Which one's that?" Alicia asks curiously.
[19:05] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "A tear from a creature that has never felt despair in it's life." Alice answers, flipping back a few pages.
[19:07] <Alicia> "My familiar would've been fantastic for that if we'd done this a week ago," Alicia grumbles. "On the other hand, wouldn't crocodile tears - or tears from any other animal, do? They don't have the capacity to feel despair, after all."
[19:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It may," Is the answer Alice gives. "It's symbolic magic, it's about fulfilling the intent of the magic, not the letter of it. I'm no expert, but I'll bring it up with the Countess."
[19:09] <Alicia> "Okay," Alicia nods. "Hold onto the book and have a think about it between the two of you? I'll be out of town again for a few days, but I'll stop by once I come back and we'll see how feasible it is then?"
[19:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Of course," Alice nods again, "Good travels then, and come back with gold to buy here." She adds this part with her own little smile, "The Countess says that the Crimson Guard will let her buy her own Kingdom if she ever retires."
[19:11] <Alicia> "We'll see," Alicia smiles slightly, "Although I'm not sure how profitable this excursion will be. Anyway, I'd best get going. Goodbye, Alice," she waves, heading out and then making her way to the garrison.
[19:14] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Finding Commander Oberuth passes without incident. He's overseeing an inspection of the garrison defenses, including a few archers on the roof. He climbs down, meeting the two on the side of the garrison.
[19:18] * Alicia proceeds to give the commander a quick summary of what they learned about the despair woman, stressing the ward she's got Elle and Alice investigating and the creature's vulnerability to the True Seeing spell. Then moving onto more immediate matters. "We also learned of a devil travelling through the Baronies - the trail first led to Parsifal where we encountered a Gelugon that was in the business if buying souls."
[19:18] <Alicia> "It's back where it belongs, now, but among its correspondence we found a note indicating that the devil we were originally pursuing is headed to Armasea to investigate Uatu. Therefore we need to make use of two pegasi so we can pursue, and maybe beat him there if we're lucky."
[19:19] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> With a growing look of indignation, "More of them? Go ahead and take them...and will you need any more forced dispatched with you?" The Commander asks, "We need to keep snuffing out t hese bastards whenever they slither into view."
[19:20] <Alicia> "I think the two of us should suffice," Alicia replies. Not much point bringing Demedais along, after all, though she's not about to explain that matter to the Commander.
[19:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "
[19:22] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Go on then with all due haste," Oberuth nods once more. "I'll be composing a letter to Lord Salman. It's high time we start training more people about how these devils work. They're brazenly stealing souls now, that can't go on."
[19:24] <Alicia> "We make sure to warn the faithful at Mystra's temple about the dangers of such deals, but perhaps more widespread education would not go amiss," Alicia agrees. "Anyway, we'll be off." Though before leaving she makes sure to instruct someone to return their two horses to that nearby village, then quickly stops by home to let Marie and Jessica know where they're headed. And then they're away!
[19:25] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Going home is a pleasant but momentary respite. Jessica smiles bravely and tells Alicia and Antenora to be careful. But soon, even despite that, the two are in the stables. Two full grown pegasi await, Antenora lingering away a moment before sighing and getting on. "Do you think we'll beat him there?" she asks as thet wo begin ascend skyward.
[19:27] <Alicia> "If we catch him," Alicia replies confidently, gently petting her pegasi's neck before she mounts it. "But that's a big if. So lets get moving and find out, one way or another."
[19:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: How are you travelling? Anything special?
[19:29] <Alicia> OOC: fly up, straight line towards the temple on top of Uatu.
[19:29] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d100 yeah right
[19:29] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d100 yeah right and gets 80."12 [1d100=80]
[19:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The trip is a short, flying one. The only rests are those that are absolutely needed, the two women hurrying with an abundant speed. Below the terrain slowly changes from verdant fields and farms to rising hills. You proceed towards Pilltain and Armasea with all due haste. You are nearly there when you see it. Not the temple, but instead, a great field of mist. A field of mist that hides and cloaks, unmoving and solid.
[19:34] <Alicia> "It'll be dangerous to fly through that, I think. Lets continue on foot," Alicia suggests, guiding her pegasus to land on the road leading up to the temple so they can proceed with solid ground at their feet (or hooves).
[19:40] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Thus the pegasi and riders land. As you advance, the two find themselves quickly enveloped in fog. The fog is thick, the mists blocking out anything else. Yet ahead, in the mists, you can see a gate. TWo men in full armor stand guard at it, watching ahead endlessly.
[19:41] <Alicia> "Hail," Alicia calls in greeting as she approaches the guards.
[19:43] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The air is crisply cool here, as Alicia feels it. A feeling of being close to something, a new eye in her mind opening wide. It's a sharp, tangy, intense feeling, but one that brings her a feeling of peace. "What is your business here in the house of Uatu?" One challenges back to Alicia. "The mists have parted ways for you. What do you seek here?"
[19:45] <Alicia> "I wish to know if another has been here, recently," Alicia replies. "His name is Esthan."
[19:45] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "None have come past us in recent times," The answer is said, "The last were two others of the Guard that you belong to."
[19:48] <Alicia> "Hmm..." Alicia glances at Antenora, "It's possible we got here ahead of him. Or he might have already been rebuffed..." turning her attention back to the guards she raises her voice again, "Do these mists block passage for some?"
[19:48] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It would be fortunate," Antenora agrees in return.
[19:48] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "The mists protect Uatu, as we all do," The guard answers back.
[19:51] <Alicia> "Your duty to protect Uatu, does it supercede all else?" Alicia asks curiously, pondering the situation with Esthan.
[19:51] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yes." The answer comes without a single second of hesitation.
[19:52] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The other speaks then, "Our Lord has decreed our duty is to do so. It rules above all other."
[19:53] <Alicia> "Good. The one known as Esthan is a baatezu who would seek to use Uatu for the benefit of the Nine Hells," Alicia tells them. "He has a compact with Helm that offers him some degree of sanctuary from the Watcher's faithful. But if your duty to Uatu would supercede any such arrangements, I can rest easy."
[19:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "We will brook none coming closer without approval," the first says solemnly. "Uatu must be protected."
[19:57] <Alicia> "Very well. I will trust you to execute your duty in this matter," Alicia nods respectfully before she turns her winged steed around to depart the way she came. "Farewell."
[19:58] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> As the two depart and out of the mists, "Are you going to let the matter stay on that?" Antenora asks quietly.
[20:00] <Alicia> "We can't stay here indefinitely waiting for Esthan to show up, especially when it's just as likely that he's already been rebuffed and went on his way," Alicia reasons. "We'll return to Balmuria by the roads, on the off chance we run into him en route - we may have overtaken him even with his head start, since this terrain makes slow going which we were able to fly right over. But there's little else we can do at this point."
[20:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "He may still be in the area or coming to it. Alicia, I'd like to stay and search about for a few days and see if he's left any sort of a trail." Antenora says, "I intensly dislike the idea of leaving a devil we know of wandering freely in our backyard."
[20:03] <Alicia> "If you think it's possible at all to find a trail," Alicia nods. "I agree with you, this isn't something I want to let lie, I'm just not sure what we can do. I don't mind spending a few days looking around the vicinity, though."
[20:04] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I can search for trails, try to stir up information in any nearby farms or settlements and generally see if anyone's found anything." Antenora answers, "Alicia, if you need to attend to the other things, I can also manage this alone." She smiles for a moment, "And...I'd like a chance to try this alone. I got a reminder that one day you're going to be in Celestia and I need make sure I can keep on a decent path alone."
[20:08] <Alicia> "Well, I'd only ever visit Celestia for the same reason that Marie isn't native to Arborea even though she's an eladrin," Alicia points out. "But even if I'm not going to be around forever, it doesn't mean you should necessarily go it alone. When dealing with devils, you really need someone to watch your back."
[20:10] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Well, Dweomerheart, but it's the same idea. Didn't you feel how Celestia drew you? I felt it...you never feel like that when you're condemned to Hell." Her own smile becomes nothing but a memory, but she continues on. "But...alright. Let's go then."
[20:13] <Alicia> "I understand what Latha meant about visitors choosing to stay forever, yes," Alicia admits. "Tell you what, though, since you wanted to try going it alone, why don't you take the lead on this one and I'll follow your lead?" she offers.
[20:17] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "In that case, we shoudl fly around to the nearest towns and look for any information. It's a bit of a longshot, but asking about rumors as well as for an Esthan may turn something up. There's a chance we could tip him off, but he'll find out sooner or later if word about Kortische reaches him." So thinking, "We can keep our eyes open for travellers as we fly as well, but that's a bit of a longshot."
[20:18] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Also, Antenora scowls at herself, "My opinion our odds seems to be more evident than I'd like to admit."
[20:19] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> *on our
[20:21] <Alicia> "There's no harm in trying, regardless," Alicia replies supportively. "Do you want to try and circle around the temple area or make our way down the road to check villages on the route South?"
[20:22] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "The latter, then the former and then the latter again if all else fails." Antenora decides, starting ot have her pegasus rise. "ARe you any good at gathering information?"
[20:24] <Alicia> "I have some knack for making people talk. Plus I have a lot of pull in the Baronies with people who recognise me," Alicia replies, likewise urging her mount upwards. "It's all dependant on people knowing what we want to find out, though."
[20:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC - I'm going to skip you guys along a bit. What's your mod on gather information?
[20:29] <Alicia> OOC: +12
[20:31] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Okay. You have the better mod so Antenora'll try to assist you. She's going to try to play your status up and you guys have plenty of flash with the pegasus. I'm going to assign a +2 bonus on account of that. Would you make 3 gather info checks?
[20:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14
[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 and gets 31."12 [1d20=17]
[20:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14
[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 and gets 22."12 [1d20=8]
[20:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14
[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21."12 [1d20=7]
[20:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+6 aid Alicia 1
[20:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+6 aid Alicia 2
[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+6 aid Alicia 1 and gets 23."12 [1d20=17]
[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+6 aid Alicia 2 and gets 17."12 [1d20=11]
[20:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+6 aid Alicia 3
[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+6 aid Alicia 3 and gets 12."12 [1d20=6]
[20:35] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> There's a small village not too far south, situated in Pilltain's hilly terrain. It's tucked away and near a steadily flowing river that eventually empties into the bay. As you search about you eventually end up in it's town tavern, talking with residents at the end of the day. Amid all the attention you get, th etwo happen to chat up a big, flourstained man with a face like dough. "Whazzat?" he asks. "Esthan? I know that name!"
[20:37] <Alicia> "Where'd you hear it?" Alicia asks casually, not having any need to be harsh or press the helpful and observant man.
[20:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Really?" Antenora smiles at that, looking happy and interested. She sits next to him, "We'd appreciate it as a favor if you told us about him. It's very important."
[20:39] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It was a couple of days ago." He smiles to both, looking at the appealing women with just enough restrait to not be ogling. Barely. "Strange guy - he had a hood on and gloves like it was winter still. He came in and said he smelled spiced bread and that he wanted a loaf. Now, it was kind of late and I didn't want to  make a new batch...but he put a gold coin on the counter." His eyes gleam, "So I made him a batch. We chatted a bit
[20:39] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> So I made him a batch. We chatted a bit while he waited."
[20:40] <Alicia> "He say anything about his travel plans?" Alicia asks, countenancing the possibility that he'd just go around telling fake travel plans to random strangers for just this eventuality.
[20:43] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I didn't get to ask many questions now that I think about it. He got me to talk about my kids, my wife, the town, that strange old temple...not so much about him. He did mention a friend in Armasea proper - the actual town, not the barony." He thinks a few minutes, "You know, the only time he wasn't getting me to talk was when he ate a fresh loaf of that bread.  I swear, he reminded me of a cat that got into the cream then."
[20:44] * Alicia idly wonders if that makes him an odd devil for having such an appetite, or if Antenora really is a hardcore ascetic, after all. "Was he planning on visiting the town, do you know?"
[20:45] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I don't know. He wasn't so talkative about himself. I put him on a traveller right away. A lotta travellers don't like to talk about themselves or are more interested in pumping for information." He shrugs with a little smile, "Like now, ma'ams."
[20:45] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora smiles as well, "Yes, and we thank you very much for that. DId he mention anything else at all?"
[20:48] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I did get one more question in. I asked if he was rich since he paid a whole gold for a loaf of bread. He chuckled and said that he had plenty of gold...and that there's always ways to spread it around." He stops there, "You know, I got the idea he wanted something there, but...damn, what if he's one of those freaks that..." he shivers. "Unless he was a girl under there. I don't know, I just had the feeling he wanted something."
[20:49] <Alicia> "Uh..." Alicia looks slightly uncomfortable. "Er, yes. Probably best you didn't give him what he wanted, I think we can all agree on that. Thank you for your time, sir, you've been most helpful."
[20:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora almost chuckles herself, but thinks better of it. She leands out to pat the man's hand, "Thanks for your help. If I pass through again I'll be sure to patrionize your shop and it's wares."
[20:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> With an agreeable look to Antenora and Alicia, "It's fine." He raises a mug of ale to them, "Good luck."
[20:51] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia nods, heading towards their horses. "Well then, to Armasea, then?" she asks Antenora.
[20:53] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> AS the two ascend into the air again, "Yes. It might be a dead end or a misdirection, but...it's better than searching futilely." After checking her spear and preparing to soar above, "Esthan from Nessus, tied to Martinet. He has odd tastes, too. He must not have any skill or desire for combat, since he's seemed to have wanted to avoid it."
[20:54] <Alicia> "What makes you say that?" Alicia asks curiously as they head towards the town.
[20:54] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "The odd tastes or wanting to avoid combat?" Antenora asks back.
[20:55] <Alicia> "Avoiding combat," Alicia clarifies, since they haven't had any leads indicating that he's been actively avoiding it, it more seeming that it just hasn't come up around him.
[20:58] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "He got Demedais to escort him, yes? What self respecting devil needs a known enemy - especially one tied to destroying the gate from Hell to this world - to do his battles? I suppose it could be simple arrogance and cruelty. But the risks are great, as we're on his trail because he enlisted Demedais. It seems a strange risk to take unless he needed the help or needed the insurance. If he's from Nessus and on business from Martinet,
[20:58] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> If he's from Nessus and on business from Martinet, I don't see why he'd waste time and compromise his mission unless he had to."
[20:59] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "We've already used it to ruin one potentially profitable soul harvesting operation and it's entirely possible we'll find another in Armasea at this rate. Why endanger all of that?"
[21:00] <Alicia> "Ah, you're right," Alicia admits. "It could have simply been a way to taunt an enemy in using Demedais like that, but it does seem like a large risk, especially in retrospect. It could well be that we're pawns in some convoluted infernal politicking, at this rate."
[21:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It's possible that's it as well. I mean..." Antenora takes a breath. "Infernal politics are incredibly complicated, twisting and full of betrayls obvious and subtle. What if Martinet wants this web of operatives to fail for whatever reason? What if this is some squabble between Agares and Martinet, especially in light of his failure with the portal? What if this is a third, fourth or fifth party interjecting and using Martinet's na
[21:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> fourth or fifth party interjecting and using Martinet's name wittingly or unwittingly?"
[21:04] <Alicia> "How galling, that even when we defeat one fiend we're merely advancing the agenda of another," Alicia sighs unhappily. "But then, if we do nothing then we're letting the agenda of the first one proceed. All we can do is follow our instincts and try not to second guess ourselves."
[21:05] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yes. Unless if we can go to Hell itself and dispatch of the problems..." Antenora's quiet here. "Since if you kill a devil in Hell they're truly dead. If we ever have to confront Agares, we'll have to do in his domain or in Avernus, if we got so lucky and he's desposed of his rank." Thoughtfully riding along, "You know...I don't think it's possible to hate Hell more each day that I awaken, but I do."
[21:07] <Alicia> "As we're seeing, it works very hard to earn such ill feeling," Alicia replies over the beating of their steeds' wings. "So much effort and intrigue, all to sow misery and pain."
[21:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "If we hurry...maybe we can prevent a few more souls from finding out about that first hand," With that, Antenora lightly spurs her flying mount along. OOC - Skip ahead?
[21:08] <Alicia> OOC: sure

[Corwin]

[18:05] <Kotono> "Mmm, yes, Claris..." Gilartal murmurs, "Very well, that's a good reason to strike before the iron goes cold."
[18:08] <Seira> "And there is an even better one," Seira continues. "Ferdi's fall is being misrepresented quite badly in Valandia. No doubt this isn't gaining us any friends, and I don't need to tell you about how it affects any dealings we have with that population, or the Malmuthians. However, this also presents an opportunity.
[18:08] <Seira> At this market I'm proposing we arrange, a show -- an attraction, if you will -- displaying what truly happened in that battle should both draw customers and faithful alike, and alter their perceptions of their supposedly just war and king."
[18:17] <Kotono> "It's worth a shot, though I doubt it'll affect any diehards," Gilartal says as they enter his quarters. He goes and sits, fixing himself a glass of wine. "I've been listening to what I can from the Valandian and Malmuthian traders since the war. There's still a lot of shock regarding it and disbelief."
[18:17] * Ko is now known as Laggy
[18:18] <Seira> "Magic is still treated as wondrous by most people," Seira muses. "That will soon pass, I think, but if we act soon enough we could still sway the majority. And, hopefully, the travelers to and from Malmuth. If they, in turn, could spread the word back in their country? Well, perhaps we could avoid the next war outright."
[18:20] <Kotono> "If you avoid it long enough, people will eventually grow old, die and the new generation won't have the attachment to Malmuth." Agreement comes there, "It's not changing all of them, it's holding it down long enough until a new generation identifies as part of the Barony of Valandia and not of the Malmuthian Empire."
[18:22] <Seira> "And hopefully remembers that dealing with god kings and assorted fiends is something you really, really shouldn't attempt even under the best of conditions. Or the worst, I suppose." Seira shrugs. "In any case, there's little chance of me arranging all of this at present. I'm tied up with several touchier situations at once, and can't really spare the time or energy to this venture.
[18:22] <Seira>  But that doesn't mean others couldn't pick up the slack, right?" Seira glances at Gilartal.
[18:24] <Kotono> "...mmmm. You know, I'd normally charge an arm and a barony for this service. But damn..." He thinks as he leans back, "I can't really turn away from constructing a new temple to The Lady. Not as the head priest of a temple myself. No, that wouldn't do for decorum, nor would Waukeen be amused, I imagine. Alright."
[18:27] <Seira> "I'm hardly washing my hands off the project," Seira adds at that. "My attention is elsewhere at present, but it won't stay the same. And I have quite a lot in the way of what I could offer towards its success."
[18:28] <Kotono> "I know. Still, it's only natural to reflect on lost profit." After that, he extends his hand, "But in the long run, spreadin gthe Lady's word will generate even more profit."
[18:30] <Seira> "And it needn't be the long run, either. Did I mention how the area is undeveloped, despite being a natural trading hub, much like Balmuria? Or how it fits even more than us to be the place where Malmuthian and Baronies trade and import-export meet? Or how the attraction I mentioned would doubtlessly draw yet more people to it, people who would buy things at the market where it would be shown?"
[18:32] <Kotono> "That's all true, in a good case outcome," Gilartal says after listening to Seira's words. "Alright then. I'll set things in motion."
[18:36] * Seira nods. "That, and a few clerics you could spare for the Arad venture would cover this part of my visit," she tells him. "In the latter's case, I feel that the higher positions would be supplied directly by Waukeen herself guiding a few of her servants my way,
[18:36] <Seira> but I believe that it would foster better relations if we had a kind of an exchange program between the established temples to promote unity." She tilts her head curiously at that. "And thinking about it, didn't we get one such visitor recently? I believe the Commander mentioned something along those lines."
[18:44] <Kotono> "Do you mean the few visitors from Malmuth?" Gilartal asks.
[18:44] <Seira> "That must be it," Seira agrees.
[18:48] <Kotono> "Yes, they cam eon the day the wave occured," Gilartal goes on. "We were all caught up in it, people flocked in and the virtues of the Goddess were gone into most in depth. They just happened to be here, but they got most into it."
[18:51] <Seira> "How did they seem?" Seira asks curiously. "And did they bring any news of their land or queen?"
[18:53] <Kotono> "They were quite into the service. I talke dto them later. They hail from Purinn. From what I got out of them, the situation behind the border is settling thanks to judicious use of the surviving armed forces. Queen Tant seems intent on ruling and not brooking casual dissent."
[18:56] <Seira> "Well, that's... entirely unsurprising. What about the priests themselves? Do you think we can count on our friends across the border to work with us to try and maintain the calm, if the need ever arises?"
[18:57] <Kotono> "Isn't it?" With a slight bit of amusement there, "Possibly, yes. AT the end of the day we want to make money, not quibble over national boundaries, unless it's profitable. It usually isn't."
[18:59] * Seira nods once more. "I might visit them in person some day to see for myself, then."
[18:59] <Kotono> "One day..." Idly swishing his wine around in the glass, "Was there anything else, Seira? If not, I really should go back to those negoiations, they paid good coin for our mediation."
[19:05] * Seira raises her hands. "No, and thank you for your time. I'll be leaving this evening, so if that would be sufficient time to select a few delegates for Arad, they can meet me at my residence to leave along with me."
[19:07] <Kotono> "I'll grab a few," He says, "Until then, then."
[19:07] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[19:14] <Kotono> That evening, two other people come to join Seira at her inn. Two men, one middle aged and with a slight gut, but with eyes like a hawk. The other is a younger man, wearing fine robes of gold spun cloth. "Good day, ma'am," he says respectfully to Seira on meeting her inside.
[19:15] <Seira> "Evening," she greets them, smiling amiably. "Would you two like a drink before we leave?"
[19:16] <Kotono> "Certainly," The big man says quickly, while the younger man shakes his head. "I'd better not just before going. I'll regret it, I'm sure."
[19:19] * Seira arranges for a beverage of his choice, saying, "I'm Seira, as I'm sure you've been told. I prefer to work on a first name basis, and to know the capabilities of those who travel with me. I also like to cut to the point, and am somewhat blunt, I've been told."
[19:21] <Kotono> "It's a pleasure," The big one offers his hand out, eyeing Seira. "Wow, is it true you're...wow." he says. "Then I'll be blunt. You're really dragon blooded now?"
[19:24] <Seira> "Pretty much," she agrees.
[19:28] <Kotono> "Fascinating..but we're heading to Arad?" He asks, "That's what the high priest said."
[19:29] <Seira> "That's true," Seira confirms. "That land really needs our guidance, so we'll need to work hard for a better future for everyone!"
[19:33] <Kotono> "We're getting there by magic," The younger interjects at that. "And sure. As long as I can make som emoney at the same time."
[19:34] <Seira> "Of course," she retorts, sounding almost offended. "After all, if you only give and give, how long can you really sustain whatever beneficial programs you are running?"
[19:36] <Kotono> "By taking and taking," The young man's eyes gleam at that. "The Lady smiles on those who makes a profit and t rades well."
[19:39] <Seira> "Also true," Seira agrees. "But too much taking and the angry, hungry peasants revolt and that's the end of it. Since one can trade and make a great profit even when everyone is better off--" Seira pauses mid-sentence. "In fact, if everyone is better off, it means they have more money to spend on things they purchase.
[19:39] <Seira> So, as you see, making a profit while channeling some of one's time and energy into works that better society really just helps them back in the process."
[19:42] <Kotono> "Itneresting point," The young man murmurs, as th eolder one drinks away. "That'st rue. It's like mining a mine out right away. You get one big lump, but nothing else."
[19:44] <Seira> "And it collapses or releases poisonous gases. Or explodes. That's always the exact opposite of fun." Seira shrugs. "But hey, if we're ready to travel, let's go and see how things are in Arad."
[19:46] <Kotono> Both rise, "This should be good," The older one says, "I've heard of teleportation, but 've never had it firsthand."
[19:48] * Seira nods. "All you need to do is grab a sleeve, each. We'll be going in three, two, one--"
[19:48] <Seira> Once the two have complied, Seira thinks back to the area of Arad she had studied for her previous trip, and calls upon her ring.
[19:49] <Seira> roll 1d100
[19:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 57."12 [1d100=57]
[19:50] <Kotono> OOC: Do you mean the alley Elle uses to teleport in or another place?
[19:50] <Seira> OOC: Yeah, I studied it with Elle that hour
[19:52] <Kotono> The evening light is settling in as you appear in Arad! A few torches are lit, helping hold off the pleasant night. Only a few people are about, the market stalls closed for the dya.
[19:53] <Seira> "Not bad, is it?" Seira asks happily. "A shame that I couldn't bring a pegasus along, but my teleports right now have limitations."
[19:56] <Kotono> "Impressive," The younger murmurs, "This is really Arad?"
[19:57] <Seira> "A part of it. We'll be going to check up on an acquaintance I have here, first, and then head for the temple itself. That works?"
[19:59] <Kotono> "Of course. Lead on," The older smiles from ear to ear, "I wnat to see this now."
[20:04] <Kotono> OOC - Moving on to where now? Stupid moment.
[20:04] <Seira> OOC: I want to check up on that woman I met the other time? She gave me a place to reach her, so I'll give it a try.
[20:05] <Kotono> OOC: Ahmed's Tavern, yes.
[20:05] <Seira> OOC: Sounds right when you say it
[20:06] <Kotono> It takes a little searching, but it's easy enough. Despite guard patrols, Arad isn't too hard to get arounda t night as long as you look not-poor, which the three are. Most guards simply smile and nod. Ahmed's Tavern is a shabbier part of town, worn buildings and people hanging out ont he streets. It's name is on a large wooden sign over the entrance, the sound of bawdy laughing and singing heard.
[20:10] <Kotono> The large one sniffs th eair, "Mmm, I smell booze. Cheap booze, but still booze."
[20:12] <Seira> "Booze in a tavern. Sounds right to me," Seira comments, walking inside. She gives the premises a glance, scanning for the woman she's there to find.
[20:13] <Kotono> The tavenr is packed and busy! It's also very noisy, though it does seem to take notice of the three interesting fellows that just walked in. Especially Seira...She also doesn't see Nara on a glance, though admitteldy it's a very busy and filled up tavern, so that's not unexpected.
[20:14] <Seira> Well, she can certain spend half an hour there, scanning the crowd and the comers and goers. Should that not prove fruitful, she'll just have to ask the barkeep."
[20:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 16."12 [1d20=9]
[20:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 20."12 [1d20=12]
[20:16] <Kotono> OOC - Make two spot checks, Seira?
[20:19] <Seira> roll 1d20+2 what spot?
[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+2 what spot? and gets 21."12 [1d20=19]
[20:19] <Seira> roll 1d20+2 what spot?
[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+2 what spot? and gets 12."12 [1d20=10]
[20:19] <Kotono> It takes a few minutes to start looking around, mixing in. As Seira does...
[20:22] * Seira stands up and makes her way to the exit, signaling for the pair of priests to stay back and wait for her.
[20:22] <Kotono> By the time Seira makes it to the exit, the woman is out to the street. She's wearing a dress and cloak, head down as she's walking away in a decent but not overwhelming hurry.
[20:23] <Kotono> She's about fourty feet away from Seira right now.
[20:23] * Seira checks to see how many people are sharing the street with them!
[20:23] <Kotono> About twenty here and there. They're very spread out, in small gaggles or alone.
[20:25] * Seira gestures just ahead of the woman, the words of a simple spell coming to her lips. The effect won't be noticed straight away, she figures, since a summoned small puddle of grease shouldn't draw immediate attention.
[20:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 24."12 [1d20=19]
[20:27] <Kotono> OOC - DC? Also wow.
[20:28] <Seira> OOC: It's just lvl1, so 21. Well, init? Or she makes a balance check walking?
[20:29] * Seira heads after the woman, naturally.
[20:29] <Kotono> OOC - Lemme go ahead and have her reacting to not slipping, then we'll do initiative.
[20:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 8."12 [1d20=2]
[20:31] <Kotono> The woman steps forward into the field! She slips forward and slides, arms waving out, "Waaah!" It's not exactly a quiet noise, but with surprising grace, she manages to right herself...and then fall flat on her back trying to move forward! OOC - Initiative here, sure.
[20:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 ow
[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 ow and gets 13."12 [1d20=10]
[20:31] <Seira> roll 1d20+12
[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 and gets 19."12 [1d20=7]
[20:32] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira>Thief'
[20:32] <Kotono> OOC - Go ahead.
[20:34] * Seira approaches the patch of grease and the downed thief, and observes her coolly. "Didn't anyone teach you not to steal from wizards?" she asks disapprovingly. "Now, you're going to be entirely too helpful and follow me around until I get tired of you... or you're going to be around until I get tired of you, anyway, and then I'll toss you in a dungeon and throw away the key."
[20:34] * Seira shrugs. "But you get to choose, of course. Free will is important."
[20:38] <Kotono> "Ugh..." The woman groans, her face a mask of disoriented pain. She struggles and tries to get up! OOC - Do you want to take that held action right off or wait and see if she can even move in the grease?
[20:39] <Seira> OOC: The latter
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 26."12 [1d20=20]
[20:40] <Kotono> The woman reacts with rather surprising speed, getting upa nd starting to move easily through the greasy surface! OOC - Seira, wanna go on her now?
[20:43] * Seira rolls her eyes, and the hard-headed thief finds another patch of grease beneath her feet, courtesy of a pearl that glows briefly.
[20:45] <Kotono> As the woman stumbles forward, a second patch of grease appears!
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 13."12 [1d20=8]
[20:46] <Kotono> This time, she's so offbalance that she falls instantly, going down face first! "Aaaah!" she cries, a loud thump as she lands.
[20:46] <Kotono> OOC - Seira, go ahead and go. You two are on the same tick now, so.
[20:46] <Seira> "Please, this is embarrassing." Seira shakes her head.
[20:47] <Seira> "Do we need to use fire?" Seira asks as she moves around the greased road, her hands igniting. "We can use fire."
[20:48] <Kotono> OOC - Trying to Intimidate her?
[20:48] <Seira> OOC: She gets to act, presumably, so next standard action unless you give me the check for free
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and make the check now, I'll give yo usome leeway. +2 bonus for being quite notably controlling and scary.
[20:51] <Seira> "You have just slipped upon grease. Twice. Your body and clothing are covered with it." Seira tilts her head, projecting curiousity. "Is it really such a good idea to annoy the wizard with the fiery temper?"
[20:51] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 41."12 [1d20=19]
[20:52] <Kotono> The poor thief is just trying to struggle to her feet, but she slips and falls onto her hands and knees. From ehre she looks up at Seira, "Gaaaah! Don't cook me and eat me!" she cries, "Fine, fine, just don't hurt me!"
[20:53] <Kotono> At this point, most of the casual street goers and hangerouters are looking towards Seira and the downed woman, watching with obvious awe and interest.
[20:54] <Seira> "My stuff," Seira tells her with a smile that doesn't really reach her eyes. "Give it back. Now."
[20:55] <Kotono> "I-I-I didn't take that one, it was my partner who was going for the other thing!" she blurts this out in a moment, "I went for the other one and it was too hard to get and you saw me but I think you didn't even notice her! She got clean away with it by now!"
[20:56] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[20:58] * Seira shakes her head. "No, the right thing to say is that she is living on borrowed time unless things are resolved to my satisfaction. Incidentally, I am not satisfied and that makes your prospect of living quite bleak." The flames in Seira's hands dance quite menacingly, distorting the air around them. "You will now deposite any weapons or ill-gotten gains you have on you.
[20:58] <Seira> Then, you will take me to your partner. Then, once I have been reunited with my things, I will decide on your punishment." Seira's smile turns quite evil, now. "Also, I require a lock of your hair, and I don't have the time to waste. Get to it."
[21:00] <Kotono> "A...aaaah..." Shaking all over, the woman haltingly takes out a small knife. She stares at Seira, but reaches out and cuts away a small lock of black hair.
[21:00] <Kotono> "Holy hell...by the Pasha... A real dragon wizard?" The murmurs from the watchers are all heard.
[21:01] <Seira> "Drop it," Seira says, indicating the knife. "And work on the rest." The flames extinguishing in an instant, she bends down to pick up the strand of hair.
[21:04] <Kotono> The knife clatters to the ground. The hair is picked up as well, the woman staring in open terror.
[21:06] <Kotono> Her face is visible from here. She's a slightly attractive woman, still youngihs and with dark hair and dark eyes. Her skin is well tanned.
[21:07] <Seira> "Me having this means that I can cast a spell on you from anywhere," Seira states, gesturing for the woman to rise to her feet slowly as she pockets the hair. "As the old cliche goes, you can run, but you wouldn't be able to hide. Now, your name."
[21:10] <Kotono> "Esra..." The scared woman gasps out, as you can see more people coming out of buildings, watching.
[21:10] <Seira> "Let's go. We are returning to the tavern. You will tell me about your partners along the way, and then we will go and find all of them. Is that understood?"
[21:12] <Kotono> "J-Just Jale," Esra answers as she finally manages to get up. "S-she won't be at the t-tavern now."
[21:14] <Seira> "But my companions are," Seira explains, as if to a small child. "We are not far. We'll go in, collect them, and you will lead me to Jale, describing her along the way. If I get my things, the chances of you two escaping with your lives are quite high. Do you understand, or must I speak slower?"

[Corwin]

[15:29] <Kotono> ----
[15:29] <Kotono> Did you have any plans once you returned to Balmuria again?
[15:30] <Demedais> I'd like to stop in on Pollyanna/Eudard/the new kids/Engan, in that order, assuming more devils don't ask for an escort.
[15:30] <Kotono> Right-o.
[15:30] <Kotono> ----
[15:31] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Ebiris invited Hatbot into the channel.
[15:31] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@70.114.135.18) has joined #dunes
[15:31] * Ebiris sets mode: +v Hatbot
[15:32] <Kotono> Finding Pollyanna takes some time.  She's practicing her archery behind Seira's inn, burnt targets falling apart under carefully aimed barrages of flaming arrows.
[15:32] <Demedais> "Hey." Demedais says as he loops around, watching the whole scene intently.
[15:34] <Kotono> Pling, pling, pling. Three more arrows are fired, slamming into the wooden targets. They smoke and shudder, under an irrestable assault. "Demedais!" She turns and breaks into a smile, "Where were you? All I heard is that you had some urgent duty again."
[15:36] * Demedais grins sheepishly. "Yeah... Got dragged out of town on two different errands, to Parsifal and then to meet with someone in Arad briefly. Fortunately, thanks to Stronger, the latter was a short, peaceful day trip. How have things been here? I've heard about your exploits with the hellcat..."
[15:39] <Kotono> "Ugh, that thing," Witha  grimace, "Half of the guard around ended up cornering it and beating it to death." With a look of sharp distate, "No one was seriously hurt, thankfully."
[15:42] <Demedais> "Good. Such tactics... well, they aren't pretty, but they're effective in the end." Demedais nods once, a slight grimace himself. "Other than that, things have fared well for you?"
[15:42] <Kotono> "Well enough," Pollyanna answers, smiling as she gently puts down her bow. "Especially now that you're back." Coming forward, she looks Demedaisa right in the face, "Unless you're going to, I don't know, run off again by tomorrow?"
[15:47] <Demedais> "As far as I know, that won't be occurring." Demedais grins back, looking her in the eyes with a slight smile. "It had been my intent to stay here for a while initially, but getting called off to Parsifal put a dent in that plan. So.."
[15:50] <Kotono> "Good, good," Pollyanna leans upward, smiling as her hands are behind her back. "Speaking of dents, you didn't have any falls this time?"
[15:52] <Demedais> "No, thankfully." Demedais flushes a bit at this, rubbing his neck.
[15:53] <Kotono> "Good..." At that, Pollyanna deflates, blushing. "You know, I think you rubbed it off on me instead. REmember how I went off on that mercenary trip recently with a few others?"
[15:53] <Demedais> "Yes...?" Demedais says, nodding.
[15:54] <Kotono> "Well, there was a fall," With a sudden, accusing glare, "We fell right into a giant pit of mud while chasing the quarry."
[15:57] <Demedais> "..." Demedais bites his lip, face composed. "Ah. ...Well, that would be slightly frustrating, yes."
[15:59] <Kotono> Leaning foward and lightly banging a hand against Deme's chest, "If you've passed on that talent to me, I swear by Helm...:
[16:00] * Demedais grins a bit. "Well, it is somewhat amusing, though the timing sounds inconvenient."
[16:01] <Kotono> "Try going to finish a quarry while you're dripping thick, goopy mud head to toe," Glaring back with her arms crossed, "Not to mention that the big idiot couldn't keep his mouth shut!"
[16:02] * Demedais bites his lip again, but then nods solemnly. "Aye, I'd imagine that'd be frustrating... wait. What big idiot?"
[16:03] <Demedais> "Presumably one of the men you were working with?"
[16:04] <Kotono> "Rods, yes. The one who took this entire mess for the follows of Gond." The look Demedais gets back is rather irritated, Pollyanna going to wipe her arms off, even though they're clean. "Yes, because a woman's sexy when she's dripping mud head to toe and looking like a savage!" With another glare at Demedais, "And if the next words out of your mouth are 'I want to see you all muddy'..."
[16:08] <Demedais> "No, I wasn't planning on saying that." Demedais says, straight-faced suddenly. "So it was for the temple of Gond this started? I didn't hear how it ended; did you catch the quarry?"
[16:12] <Kotono> "Oh yes. He died, but he was trying to kill us too. Poor thing..." Her expression softens. "The part where it got interesting is where it cried out for Gond as it died. Between that and the large bounty, we all placed it as some sort of internal Gond affair gone wrong. I know Rods went to look into it further, but I didn't go any deeper in. I'm not terribly interested into poking around into anything like that."
[16:14] * Demedais nods. "Do your duty and let those whom it concerns work it out. There is little that can be done from the outside, much of the time."
[16:15] <Kotono> "Yeah. I got a over a thousand gold for the entire affair, so it was time very well spent," Smiling a tiny bit at that, "You know..." Taking a moment, "Demedais, how much longer are you going to be...you know. Tied up with your duty," she asks slowly.
[16:19] * Demedais smiles back as well, a bit sadly. "I do not know. If I did, you would be the first to learn of it... but I do not know."
[16:20] <Kotono> "Mmm..." Pollyanna looks away, "When you deal with things like that, fighting for your life for gold...sometimes you remember that all you really want is a warm home and a happy life."
[16:26] <Demedais> "...I cannot say I'm sure I will ever have a peaceful life, Pollyanna." Demedais says slowly. "Happy? I hope for that. Someplace to return to, to depend on? I would like that. But...peaceful? I'm not sure that's in the deck for me, so to speak."
[16:32] <Kotono> "Did I SAY peaceful?" Pollyanna challenges back. "I know that. I'll settle for happy and warm."
[16:39] * Demedais (Taishyr@58.194.238.102) Quit (Broken pipe)
[16:40] * tiredofthis (Taishyr@58.194.238.102) has joined #dunes
[16:41] <Kotono> "Did I SAY peaceful?" Pollyanna challenges back. "I know that. I'll settle for happy and warm."
[16:41] * tiredofthis is now known as Taishyr
[16:41] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[16:41] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
[16:42] * Demedais grins at that. "Point taken in both regards."
[16:43] * Corwin is now known as Seira
[16:44] <Kotono> "Like...oh...a house, a home, a nice cat and dog, a few children...?" Pollyanna asks slowly
[16:44] <Kotono> .
[16:55] * Demedais blinks a bit slowly at that, the grin still lingering on his face slightly. "I have no objections to any of this, though children I think would be... a bit more problematic than the rest of the list." A moment's pause, then, "Firstly, with how Balmuria's been cleaning up it's so hard to find an unclaimed one on the streets lately!" With this, Demedais quickly steps back.
[16:59] <Kotono> "Oh, of course not. I don't want my own little Deme that way. I'd rather make one the old fashioned way," With a smile and a very long look, "Just don't delay forever, alright? ...we get in a lot of danger and we both get hurt. We may not have forever."
[17:00] <Demedais> "...We'll see. I fear for a child's safety, as well..." Demedais nods once. "And... can we make one agreement right now?"
[17:01] <Kotono> "Yes?" Pollyanna asks, looking into Demedais' eyes.
[17:02] * Demedais looks deep into Pollyanna's eyes, and intones gravely with a slight grin, "Any children? Please, let us avoid the name Demedais for them."
[17:18] <Kotono> "Aaaaw. I wanted to have Demedais jr." With a bit of a laugh, she reaches out and hugs him. "Alright, it is your name, after all."
[17:19] * Demedais hugs back, before looking Pollyanna in the eye. "Are you aware where the name comes from?"
[17:21] <Kotono> "No." Answering, Pollyanna waits.
[17:22] <Demedais> "...Will you keep this between us? I'm surprised it's not more well known, but I suppose it's a testament to... well, something." Demedais frowns a bit.
[17:22] <Kotono> "Alright." Pollyanna waits, "Spill it...I will, but I'm curious now too."
[17:23] <Demedais> "...Father Ceiar and a few of the other priests are book lovers." Demedais says with an odd flush. "The name... was that of a main character in one of the stories."
[17:25] <Kotono> "So?" Pollyanna leans forward a bt, a puzzled look on her face "What's so wrong about that?"
[17:27] <Demedais> "...The name of the story was, if I recall correctly, something along the lines of... 'Heated Love Amongst The Garden's Fallen Petals' or something equally... well. You get the drift." Demedais looks away, clearly somewhat uncomfortable.
[17:27] <Kotono> "...oh. That's so romantic," SMiling at the image, "There's nothing wrong with that at all."
[17:30] <Demedais> "Ah. Well... yes, I suppose there wouldn't be." Demedais says, still a bit disturbed. "It's just a rather awkward name for a priest to name an orphan."
[17:33] <Kotono> "So? As long as it's not Longtongue or Marion Bigbreasts, who cares? It's your name, nothing else." Smiling at that and poking Demedais in the ribs, "It's a good name."
[17:38] <Demedais> "Well, moving on from that... " Demedais says slightly loudly. "...There's some things we should definitely talk about, then; one of my... perhaps more irritating traits, even to myself, is that I plan far ahead of time, but..." A moment of thought. "It would make it easier on the priests, too, most likely, and with the new arrivals my room could be used for that purpose, so..."
[17:40] <Kotono> "Are you telling me that..." Pollyanna asks, letting Demedais finish.
[17:41] <Demedais> "...Yes. On the other hand, you're going to probably curse my nonexistant sleep schedule before long." Demedais says with a slight grin.
[17:45] <Kotono> "When then?" Pollyanna asks breathlessly, "And hey...shouldn't you be on one knee?"
[17:52] <Demedais> "Is that how this works?" Demedais asks with a quizzical grin, before moving to one knee. "And.. I don't know. Soon... It will take time to plan out where would be easiest, what time to handle all this... but... if you want it..."
[17:53] <Kotono> "I'll plan it." Pollyanna says with a big grin. "I can get some people to help. Seira and Alicia are both women, they'd understand..." she says distantly. "Yes, I really want it. We'd have it at your temple, of course?"
[17:57] <Demedais> "That would be preferable, yes." Demedais nods. "Something more to talk with them about. Heh, Father Ceiar will likely be overjoyed at this."
[17:58] <Kotono> "Oh..." Embracing Demedais warmly, "Now...we'll just have to get you to be ablet o dance a bit, too. For the celebration afterwards."
[17:59] <Demedais> "Now that may take a miracle of Helm's own." Demedais grins at that. "I... heh. It's for this that... I can say I don't know where my duty will end..."
[18:04] <Kotono> "I know, but...I'll make it so you have a good place to return to when you can."
[18:04] <Demedais> "..." Demedais grins at Pollyanna, eyes focused on her. "If that is what you feel should be done... but so you know, it is not the only option."
[18:05] <Kotono> "Well yes, I know there'll be times I'll go with you. Just so you aren't hurt," she asnwers.
[18:05] <Demedais> "Heh.
[18:07] <Demedais> "Heh. Speaking of which..." Demedais slowly rises back to two feet. "Devils... well, they will likely be more common, and more likely to want to strike at anyone here. It may not hurt to learn more about them... and we can see about enhancing your bow to let you strike them more easily."
[18:14] <Kotono> "Good." With a shiver, "That hellcat was problematic enough. I know that most devils are even stronger than that. Like the Erinyes that used to have this," Going to her bow, she picks it up and looks it over.
[18:16] * Demedais nods. "Irritably so; to pierce their defenses, a good weapon is usually needed, and despite all their idiocy they're usually good enough to not bring along a weapon good enough to kill them."
[18:19] <Kotono> "Pityt hat," Pollyanna observes, "But don't you need a holy weapon to do that?"
[18:20] <Demedais> "Not always..." Demedais gestures to his sword. "There are ways to ensure your weapon strikes just as effectively on most all opponents; you simply lose the greater efficiency that, say, a holy weapon would have."
[18:31] * Demedais is now known as InfiniteOregano
[18:33] * InfiniteOregano (Taishyr@58.194.238.102) Quit (Corwin fanservice, away!)
[18:33] <Kotono> ----
[18:33] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[18:36] <Kotono> Pleasant days pass as spring blossoms and gushes.  One morning finds Alicia with little to do. No duty today, a day of rest and freedom. Jessica's humming and fixing lunch, Antenora's off flying somewhere on watch. Really, it's very peaceful. "Sister," Jessica calls as she chops vegetables.
[18:38] * Alicia comes in from the garden where she's simply been sitting and enjoying the morning sun. "What is it, Jessica?" she asks upon entering the kitchen, for once not wearing her armour. Although she still retains her usual black undershirt and leggings that she wears with her breastplate, seemingly ready to go at a moment's notice if necessary.
[18:42] <Kotono> Jessica's working away, chop-chopping. She keeps her gaze on that, working over a carrot. "When you first got here, did yo uever guard the entry gates or go on basic patrols? For the Crimson Guard, that is."
[18:44] <Alicia> "No," Alicia shakes her head as she leans on the dining table. "I've been attached to patrols outside the city once or twice, but I've never been on gate watch or walking the beat. They don't really use officers for that, even outside the Crimson Guard. Why the interest?"
[18:45] <Kotono> "Oh, I was talking to one of the new recruits to the guard. Morund, I think? He was leading a patrol and he mentioned that the first class of the Guard did things like that at first, and Commander Oberuth is repeating it for them." Glancing back at Alicia, "But you came in independantly, didn't you?"
[18:48] <Alicia> "That's right. I never trained at that academy or anything, I just happened to be passing through the United Baronies when I heard word of what you... Beth, had done. My plan was to go to Balmuria and investigate the matter, but I ran into Lord Salman en route."
[18:48] <Alicia> "He was impressed enough with my skills that he offered clemency in exchange for service, and thats how I joined the Crimson Guard." She looks thoughtful for a moment, "I think there were four originally, not counting the Commander, but Seira's the only one left - Demedais came in later as well."
[18:49] * Disconnected
[18:50] * Attempting to rejoin channel #dunes
[18:50] * Rejoined channel #dunes
[18:50] * Topic is 'Rei-chan loves her fellow demons, right?'
[18:50] * Set by Ko-Nitoriisbananasforjustice on Sat Jun 21 07:10:06
[18:50] * Ebiris_ is now known as Ebiris
[18:50] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[18:55] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5af1ccc2.tcl125.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (Ping timeout)
[18:55] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[18:57] <Kotono> "Yes. I heard about one of them - A Shamal? She died around the time of Kondrux. Then there was a countess who went back to Armasea. The last isn't talked about so much, for some reason." AS Jessica talks, there's a steady, loud knocking on the door. "Ah. Alicia, would you?"
[18:58] <Alicia> "Defected to Malmuth," Alicia fills Jessica in on the last one as she heads into the hallway and opens the front door.
[19:01] <Kotono> At the door is not trouble - thankfully. It's Pollyanna instead, wearing a contented smile. "Oh Alicia. Can we talk," she asks quickly.
[19:03] <Alicia> "Good morning, Pollyanna," Alicia gives the younger woman a smile in reply. "Come on in - from how you look I'll assume it's not trouble," she adds as she leads her to the kitchen.
[19:03] <Kotono> Once inside and with a glance to Jessica, "It's not. Alicia..." A blush covers her face, "HAve you ever...had any experience planning a wedding? Anything like that? You come from a good family, don't you?"
[19:06] <Alicia> "Ah, yes, as it happens," Alicia admits, blinking as she's somewhat caught off guard. "My sister-in-law and I don't really get along, so I didn't have much to do with that one, but I had plenty of first-hand experience with my own... wait a second..." she trails off, leaning towards Pollyanna. "You mean... you and Demedais are...?"
[19:07] <Kotono> Her blush grows, but Pollyanna nods back quickly. "And I have plenty of money for it too from that mercenary work with Rods."
[19:09] <Alicia> "Congratulations!" Alicia beams. "That's wonderful news - for both of you! Have you decided when?" she asks enthusiastically. Ah, young love... it does take her back.
[19:12] <Kotono> "Not yet. Maybe in the late summer or early fall..aaah." Smiling and blushing all the while, "I need some time. AFter all of this...I just want the nicest, happiest wedding you could imagine."
[19:16] <Alicia> "That gives lots of time to prepare, yes," Alicia nods, sitting down at the dining table and gesturing for Pollyanna to do the same. "Having it at Vigilance is probably a given, so I won't even bother talking up the services of my own church," she goes on wryly. "A fantastic dress should be easy enough for you to afford as well, although getting Demedais into something formal might take more convincing..."
[19:18] * Sierra_Mikain is now known as Sierra_Comatose
[19:20] <Kotono> "Oh yes," She nods to the first bits, listening well. "A good dress, a brocade, good food, good drink, a celebration...bridesmaids." She thinks a minute, before smiling. "Yes, you can be one if you want. As for Demedais...I'm sure he'll go along with it once I explain things to him."
[19:26] <Alicia> "You only get married once," Ideally, "So he should be able to bear with it, yes. And I'd be happy to be a bridesmaid for you," Alicia accepts graciously. "Speaking of that, though - the guestlist. How big an event are you thinking?"
[19:28] <Kotono> Blushing again, "Big. I want to have a big, nice wedding. Very nice." He says this with determined energy, "All our friends will have to come. Jessica," Raising her voice to carry, "You can come too if you're listening! You can even invite that pixie thing I heard about and Antenora."
[19:31] <Alicia> "That's my familiar, I'll let her know," Alicia agrees, referring to Marie who's currently out and about on her own errands since it's a quiet day. "I'm glad you want a big one, though - considering how famous Demedais is, your wedding will likely get a lot of attention whether you like it or not. Planning it this way from the start makes things easier."
[19:31] <Kotono> "Oh! Congratulations too!" Jessica calls back, "I'll make you some lunch with us."
[19:31] <Kotono> "That too...and it's good security, just in case." With a slight frown, "It wouldn't do for some enemy to make trouble for us that day."
[19:33] <Alicia> "It would hardly be an auspicious start, no," Alicia agrees. "Though with all of the Crimson Guard and a good number of allies present, it would be foolhardy for anyone to try anything... loathe as I would be to fight in a bridesmaid's gown."
[19:50] <Kotono> "No worse than ball gowns," Pollyanna murmurs, but she doesn't pursue that. Instead, "Yes, that's why. Plus it will be such a happy day, won't it?"
[19:54] <Alicia> "It had better be," Alicia nods. "If the wedding goes poorly it's a very poor omen for the marriage itself." She then stops and cocks her head, "Fighting in a ball gown? There just has to be a story behind that."
[19:55] <Kotono> "Oh yes." Pollyanna smiles at that, "I remember now...Shamal and Lyselle. I heard the story." There's an odd pause there, before she lowers her voice. "It's about the time your sister...came to Balmuria."
[19:58] <Alicia> "Oh." Alicia takes the hint, letting the subject drop. "Well, nevermind that. Anyway, you might want to keep an eye on Demedais as the date gets closer - some men like to get a little bit wild right before they settle down. Demedais doesn't really strike me as the type, but there's always going to be someone who tries to instigate something. I'd say Donald, except they don't actually like each other very much."
[19:59] <Kotono> "Heh, heh." Thinking a moment, "A night of relevry...I'll have to remember that, yes. What, did it happen to you?"
[20:02] <Alicia> "Yes. Luckily Hans behaved himself... honestly, I think most men would, since otherwise they wouldn't be interested in marriage, anyway. But there were a few bawdy tales spread around about that evening..." she smiles fondly in recollection of simpler times. "Such parties seem more for the benefit of the groom's friends than anyone else, really."
[20:03] <Kotono> "Men." With a fond snort herself, "I doubt Demedais will get him into trouble. Frankly...he's been travelling with you, Alicia and Seira. Each of you is beautiful in your own ways. If he's not going to cheat by now..." With a long, surprisingly deep sigh out, "I think. I don't think he would."
[20:05] <Alicia> "Well, he's a paladin of Helm, so it doesn't get much more duty-bound than that. If he's making that sort of commitment to you, I'd take it as a given," Alicia reassures supportively.
[20:06] <Kotono> "Excellent." Going to sit down now at last, "I'm just excited. It's so much," she gushes, "I'd fallen for him so hard, but he'd always been so worried about his duty."
[20:10] <Alicia> "Yes," Alicia unfortunately has to turn to more pragmatic matters. "Maybe once the business with Daa-vid is finished he'll be able to settle down for real, but until then he's still going to be away a lot. But having a wife and home to return to might spur him on more than simple faith," she concludes with an upside, not wanting to truly rain on Pollyanna's parade.
[20:12] <Kotono> "I hope so...most men go mad just thinking of down there," Pollyanna coughs. "I hope between that and someone he loves and a good home it'll be enough to settle down one day. Or at least enough to have a good family. I know he'll probably have a busy exciting life no matter what."
[20:14] <Alicia> "I don't know. For some, at least, raising a family has more allure than any sort of excitement or adventure," Alicia replies wistfully. "And making the family could be more exciting, regardless," she adds with an amused grin.
[20:17] <Kotono> WIth a blush, "
[20:17] <Kotono> WIth a blush, "Yes I know. But..." A shake of her head, "I don't know. I just suspect that's what's in the cards."
[20:20] <Alicia> "Well, once it does, you do what you can to keep him home," Alicia declares firmly, leaning forward on the table towards Pollyanna. "Even if you're fine with letting Demedais go running off for weeks at a time, a child shouldn't be deprived of their father."
[20:21] <Kotono> "Well..." Pollyanna blushes, "Or their mother, since I know I want to go with him sometimes."
[20:24] <Alicia> "Well, that's your decision to make," Alicia relents a bit. "But if I were you I'd get the wanderlust out of my system before starting a family."
[20:25] <Kotono> "Perhaps so, yes. But it's not wanderlust entirely." Leaning back, "I know Demedais will need to go out at least occasionally. I'd rather fight with him than pine over him and hope he comes back unhurt. All the tales...the falls, beaten by a giant fire elemental, shocked nearly to death, stabbed, burnt, slashed, bitten, clawed, hexed, cursed and more."
[20:28] <Alicia> "It is pretty dangerous out there, yes," Alicia acknowledges. "At least he feels comfortable enough to be honest with you about all that, though. I'm not sure being ignorant would really be better, considering what you might imagine."
[20:31] <Kotono> "Yeah. I went with him to the Barbarian lands recently. The giant we fought there..." Pollyanna takes a moment to let herself shiver. "He towered over us and fought like a score of men instead of just one."
[20:33] <Alicia> "I ran into them, myself, although I didn't have to fight any. On that last excursion to the ruins, though, we had to fight over a half dozen frost giants. Horrible things, they were," she idly rubs her ribs where she took that horrendous axing.
[20:34] <Kotono> "Yes. The one we fought used poison of some sort as well. It's spear numbed Demedais fiercely. Helm help us if they ever come towards Balmuria," With that Pollyanna nods sympathetically.
[20:36] <Alicia> "I don't think there's enough there to really threaten the city, and they seem to know well enough not to cause too much trouble or else they'll have everyone trying to bring them down," Alicia states with some confidence.
[20:37] <Kotono> "Good." Sitting back now and closing her eyes, "There's always the devils, too."
[20:39] <Alicia> "Yes..." Alicia wonders if Pollyanna knows about Esthan, but decides it's not her place to say. Demedais told her and Antenora, so he's clearly not protecting the fiend, after all. "But how did we get onto these unpleasant subjects when we were discussing your nuptials?" she tactfully returns to the original purpose of the conversation.
[20:41] <Kotono> "Good question. Now..." Closing her eyes, "Silk. I think I want silk. Real silk for a wedding gown. Don't you think that would be lovely?"
[20:44] <Alicia> "Very elegant," Alicia agrees warmly. And the cost is really not an issue at all for her, anyway. "I picked up some silk clothes in the Desert Fiefdoms when I was passing through there, but I wound up selling them because I was trying to travel light at the time." Plus they were a bit more showy than she likes, but a gift is a gift. "Felt very nice to wear, though."
[20:49] <Kotono> "Yes. It would be nice to wear good clothes instead of just mundane things like armor. It gets tiring, doesn't it? In fact, I think this is the second time I've seen you not in armor."
[20:53] <Alicia> "Considering I actually do get attacked in my own home from time to time, it's just prudent..." Alicia looks somewhat irritated. "Makes me glad I went to the trouble of getting it made of mithral, since wearing a steel breastplate all the time would be a tremendous pain. I'm probably taking a chance even doing this, but I wanted to relax, today."
[20:53] * Alicia smooths out her shirt over her belly and leans back as if to emphasise her state of increased relaxation.
[20:54] <Kotono> That gets Pollyanna to sigh. "I feel bad for you. All you're doing is defending us from horrors beyond our world, but you're in constant danger because of it."
[20:56] <Alicia> "It is annoying that I'm not even safe in my own home," Alicia admits with a sigh of her own. "Still, between myself, Antenora, Marie, and even Jessica, it's a lot harder for anyone to sneak in than it used to be, and we're quite capable of fending off any attacks."
[20:59] <Kotono> "Indeed...say, speaking of her, will she be around. I've wanted to meet her." Pollyanna speaks up. "A little flying girl would be another thing I'd never thought I'd see."
[21:01] <Alicia> "I think she's at the temple, next door," Alicia gestures in the direction of her church. "Since she's actually from Mystra's divine realm, she's fairly popular there. You'd probably like her, though. She's an archer, too," the paladin smiles. "Had to enchant her bow quite heavily for those toothpick little arrows to do much good, though."

[Corwin]

[18:40] <Kotono> The days begin to pass by as Alicia rests. One evening, after dinner, Alici ahas a knock on her room's door. "Alicia," Antenora calls, rapping.
[18:43] * Alicia wouldn't be resting in her bedroom unless it actually was bedtime, so clearly she must be doing something else. Probably cleaning it up. Regardless, she's here, and her visitor is not, so she offers a simple solution to this dilemma. "Come on in," she calls, setting aside some sheets she'd been folding.
[18:45] <Kotono> Antenora enters.  She closes the door behind her, "I needed to talk to you about something," she says, coming right to the point and approaching.
[18:49] * Alicia sits down primly on the bed and pats the mattress beside her. "You know my door's always open. What's wrong?" she asks with a concerned look towards the erinyes.
[18:50] <Kotono> Antenora sits as well. "It's nothing impo...well, I suppose this much money is important, but it's more of speculation." Sitting next to Alicia, "Lately I've come into a lot of money from our various trials...but I find myself at loose ends on what to spend it on. I've had one idea, but the costs are quite high."
[18:52] <Alicia> "Well, it's your money. Almost all of mine goes towards improving my equipment so I'm better able to survive future trials, and there's nothing frivolous about that even if the amounts involved are certainly vast." Pulling one of her legs up slightly so she can turn towards Antenora, she asks, "What did you have in mind, then?"
[18:54] <Kotono> "Enhancing my rope to be able to entangle etherial creatures. I remember the struggles we had against the Deathshriekers." Looking downward, "Countess Stronger's assisstant said it would be extremely expensive and just on this side of possible."
[18:58] <Alicia> "Really? I know making a sword able to touch such creatures without fail is a rather rudimentary enhancement, I'm surprised it would be so much more difficult to apply to a rope. You're right, though," she nods, "The Deathshriekers were horrendously difficult to deal with, and preparing for similar foes in the future only makes sense."
[18:59] <Kotono> "I was thinking of having them be made solid while entangled entirely," Antenora answers. "That's why."
[19:02] <Alicia> "Ah!" Alicia's face lights up in a smile. "Yes, that would certainly be a big difference - a solid ghost wouldn't be able to fly or phase through walls, you'd be able to keep it entangled with your own... gifts at rope use," Alicia finds herself glad Marie isn't around to make the obvious comment, "And it would be an easy target for anyone else to hit. The appeal is very understandable."
[19:05] <Kotono> "Yes." Looking ahead, "Oddly, I've remained able to entangle with the best of them. I should take advantage of this," Antenora says, looking ahead now. "I wanted to ask if you had any other ideas, though."
[19:11] <Alicia> "Well, I was somewhat more pedestrian and defensive with my purchases. An amulet of natural armour and an improvement to my armour that makes near-fatal hits like that giant inflicted - I can't do much if I'm constantly forced on the defensive, after all, and it was becoming clear that I needed the help. Likewise, this blindfold," she taps her black headband, "Is just the thing for when the next dogai appears."
[19:11] <Alicia> "If you're already confident in your defences - which would be a fair assessment from what I've seen, then there's no real harm in going for an exotic and specific countermeasure for a particular foe. You might not get much use out of it most of the time, but when you do use it, it'll really stand out and make your life far easier."
[19:11] <Alicia> *that giant inflicted less likely
[19:18] <Kotono> "That's one way to think of it," Antenora agrees. She goes quiet for a little after that. "That's also not why I came here, Alicia. Not entirely."
[19:19] <Alicia> "Well, go on," Alicia gestures invitingly, currently all ears.
[19:22] <Kotono> "I've been thinking. Does...being angry make your paladin's code hard to maintain?"
[19:31] <Alicia> "Hmmm... it's a tough question," Alicia admits as she thoughtfully considers it, recalling what she tried to get across to the followers of Torm. "Being angry, by itself, doesn't conflict with the code. In fact, I could be the most hateful and pitiless woman on earth - in my head - and it still wouldn't conflict with my code so long as I kept my feelings bottled up and continued to behave in the manner expected."
[19:31] <Alicia> "The code is very much about *what* you do, not *why* you do it. But at the same time, it's supposed to serve as an affirmation of my honest devotion to a set of ideals that govern my behaviour. While it's possible to follow the code to the letter without really clinging to any of the reasons behind it, it just seems pointless that anyone would bother."
[19:31] <Alicia> Pausing a moment, Alicia smiles and shakes her head, "I went a bit away from your actual question there, forgive me - with all that we've learned about Torm, I admit it's a subject I've been pondering. To answer your question succinctly; yes. Being angry does present more challenge to maintaining my code, but it is not an insurmountable challenge by any means. Hard does not mean impossible, afeter all."
[19:37] * Disconnected
[19:38] * Attempting to rejoin channel #dunes
[19:38] * Rejoined channel #dunes
[19:38] * Topic is 'Nihasa > Blonde > Brunette > Inuga > Demara'
[19:38] * Set by Ebiris on Sun Jun 22 21:20:08
[19:38] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[19:38] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[19:38] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[19:38] <Kotono> "..." Antenora looks down again. "Do you think...I could do it, Alicia?" Antenora asks, still quiet.
[19:41] * Seira (~corwin@bzq-79-181-117-113.red.bezeqint.net) has joined #dunes
[19:41] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[19:43] <Alicia> "Yes," Alicia answers without hesitating. "Despite your origins, you've shown all the commitment to fight injustice that any paladin could ask for. And you've shown that your word is beyond reproach, so I do not think that you would shirk any of your obligations should you choose to shoulder them. If this is what you want, Antenora, you have my full and proud support."
[19:44] <Kotono> Antenora looks up, smiling. "I'd hoped you'd say that..."s he murmurs to Alicia warmly. "I still haven't decided, quite, but..."
[19:46] <Alicia> "Well, let me know - there is more to being a paladin than simply having a good heart, but I'd be happy to train you in all that's required," Alicia reaches over to clasp Antenora's hand and give it a warm squeeze. "If it were anyone else I'd mandate all sorts of horrible tests to make sure they were ready and committed, but after all we've been through they'd be entirely superflous."
[19:47] <Kotono> The squeeze is returned, "I know. I don't worry about the tests...I worry about what they'll do to try and make us fail...or fall."
[19:50] <Alicia> "Well, if some fiend does come under a mask of peace to try and corrupt you, you'll know all the tricks, won't you?" Alicia replies amusedly. "To be honest, I don't think any devils would even risk the attempt on either of us, now. They'd be too scared of ending up just like you."
[19:51] <Kotono> "Don't do that," Antenora says quietly. "Do you think that they won't come up with better ways to try and defeat us? They've had eternity to come up with diabolical plots...and only one needs to work."
[19:55] <Alicia> "Perhaps so," Alicia acknowledges, her demeanour turning more serious. "That means we have to be better than they are. Always and forever. A daunting prospect, but don't you think it's inspiring, too?"
[19:58] <Kotono> "It could be," Antenora agrees quietly, still being thoughtful. "It could be." To that she gets up, "Thank you, Alicia."
[20:00] <Alicia> "You're very welcome," Alicia replies as she likewise stands up.
[20:02] <Kotono> "Oh." Antenora stops a moment, "Where was Marie, by th eway?"
[20:04] <Alicia> "She asked me to change her into an aasimar so she could go for a walk without getting as much attention. That was about half an hour ago," Alicia replies. "Why? Miss her?"
[20:07] <Kotono> Making a slightly exaggerated face, "No. I was more thankful because she'd have surely shot off her mouth if she was here."
[20:08] <Alicia> "She'd probably have started complaining the minute you mentioned getting a method to better combat incorporeal foes, I think," Alicia returns dryly. "Would you prefer if I didn't mention it to her?"
[20:10] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@70.114.135.18) Quit (Broken pipe)
[20:15] <Kotono> "Indeed," Antenora flashes a momentary smile before leaving Alicia's room.
[20:24] <Kotono> ---

[Corwin]

[19:03] <Ko-HuntforAcrina> ---
[19:05] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[19:08] <Ko-HuntforAcrina> The message that waits for Alicia is simple. It was delivered by page again, bearing a single short note: Come to the Luna Del Stronger. Nothing overtly unusual about that, really. It comes in the afternoon, after the day's labors are winding down. On arriving, Alicia finds Elle there, sipping tea and paging through a leather bound tome.
[19:09] <Alicia> "Good afternoon, Elle," Alicia greets the redhead pleasantly, "I got your note."
[19:10] <Ko-HuntforAcrina> With a casual rap of her knuckles, Elle hits the side of the leatherbound book. "Where'd you get this ward? It's a few cuts above the average."
[19:13] <Alicia> "The Keeper of Knowledge, on the second level of Mount Celestia," Alicia answers honestly. "It seems our mysterious - though still sadly nameless - foe has caused her share of problems in the past, as well."
[19:14] <Ko-HuntforAcrina> "Like a bad copper that keeps turning up?" Countess Stronger grimaces, "I see. How urgently do you need this?"
[19:17] <Alicia> "I wouldn't say it's pivotal right now - I don't plan on taking any further action until Seira returns and she can track down her aunt, but having them ready sooner is obviously preferable," Alicia admits after a moment's thought.
[19:17] <Alicia> "On a somewhat related note, she seems to have a notable weakness to spells that pierce illusions - True Seeing was specifically mentioned. I'm not sure if it's a spell you or Alice can cast, but would you have any idea of where scrolls of it could be acquired?"
[19:19] <Ko-HuntforAcrina> "Alright. There's one issue there I need to talk-hm?" Elle suddenly looks at Alicia a little oddly, "As a matter of fact, I do. It's funny, I was going to send you there once all this resolved for that favor."
[19:20] <Alicia> "Well, we can get to that in a second - what did you need to talk to me about, first?" Alicia asks, content to get Elle's issues dealt with first.
[19:21] <Ko-HuntforAcrina> Elle bites her lip before she answers. "The notable component, the tears? Did you want me to get them from an animal like you told Alice?"
[19:22] * Alicia shrugs openly. "That was just an off the cuff suggestion, I'm no expert on crafting magic items - whatever you think works best probably is best, Elle."
[19:24] <Ko-HuntforAcrina> "As a rule for these sort of things, the stronger the creature you use the better. I have some ideas for it. The best would be getting the happiest, strongest creature you can think of to donate, though. At worst...I'll probably summon something that suffices."
[19:26] <Alicia> "Irritatingly enough, Marie really would have been perfect if she hadn't fallen victim to that same aura of despair. She's still as obnoxiously cheerful as ever, but since she's experienced despair now then she doesn't fit the bill," Alicia admits. Thinking on it further, "There were some pixies I ran into in Pallanth who might qualify, but that's some ways off."
[19:27] <Ko-HuntforAcrina> "Pixies can't work. I was thinking about trying to summon an eladrin, as they're perfect for it," Elle nods to herself, "If you're willing to go allt he way to Pallanth, I can try those as well. Really...I'm more concerned with this ward working than anything else."
[19:29] <Ko-HuntforAcrina> *Can
[19:29] * Ko-HuntforAcrina is now known as Kotono
[19:31] <Alicia> "Well, lets look at it this way," Alicia considers, "How much extra would you charge for having to summon something yourself, compared with the price of two teleport scrolls? Since it'd take well over a month to get there and back by boat, and I don't want to waste that much time."
[19:32] <Kotono> "Yeah. Economics wins, then." Elle nods to herself. "Alright, I'll look into it. As for the other thing? Alicia, you've occasinally found things in your wandering that are...odd, haven't you?"
[19:34] <Alicia> "You've bought a few of them," Alicia points out easily enough.
[19:36] <Kotono> Elle laughs. "Yes. This one can't really be bought, though. Now then..." Closing her eyes a moment, "Before I settled here, I had my days where I lived as an adventurer and wanderer. As we know, it's a highly overrated profession unless you want money and life threatening danger. Still, it does have occasional perks and things to make it more worthwhile." (More)
[19:38] <Kotono> "I'd swung north of Balmuria towards Armsea and Pilltain. I'd been seeing a lot of plains lately and I figured more diverse scenery would be pleasant. Plus, a nasty little spat there had just settled out again so there would be opportunities. Anyway, while climbing a mountain path, I happened to stop to eat and do some reading. I cast detect magic by chance...and found a segment of the path wall radiated magic."
[19:40] <Alicia> "An illusion or trap?" Alicia asks, settling in to listen to the story.
[19:40] <Kotono> "Investigation showed that it was an illusionary wall that lead into a cave. Being the typical adventurerous sort, I didn't think that perhaps it was best left alone. Oh no, I went in headlong." With her own chuckle again, "Aaah. It's there I met him. Or her. Or it. I was never quite sure on that part."
[19:42] <Kotono> "You see, deeper inside was the blasted remnants of a wizard's tower, as well as a curious man...and then it was a dwarf, then a dog...and so on. Whatever it was liked to mutter to itself, but it didn't seem to be any danger to me, so I started searching around. I pegged it as a wizard's tower that went sour, so why not?"
[19:42] <Alicia> "So... some sort of insane polymorphing... thing?" Alicia hazards, trying to picture it.
[19:44] <Kotono> "Close enough. Ask your familiar to try and describe something so chaotic it can't hold a single form for long. That's close enough, I suppose." After a moment, "When I started, the thing went ballistic, naturally." Elle grimaces there, "It said it wouldn't let a commoner pillage his tower...how it tried to attack, so I defended myself by magic missiling him in the face. It hurt him, but it also made it stop. It took the form of a young man a
[19:44] <Kotono> It hurt him, but it also made it stop. It took the form of a young man and grinned at me. He said he was fine if it was another wizard then." (More)
[19:46] <Kotono> "To get to the point, I spent the next few days with it. It is some sort of wizard and/or sorcerer. Yes, I'm not sure which. It ried to figure it out. Oh, did I try." Holding her head and rubbing her temples a moment, "Anyway, whatever it is, it calls itself Sevren. It's completely and utterly insane, but it's some form of spellcaster."
[19:48] <Kotono> "It has one goal - to recreate it's tower. I helped it a bit in exchange for getting to look at it's...'spellbook'," Elle makes finger quotes there, before rubbing her temple again. "There was some sound magical theory in there, b ut only fragments. It had been altered into something I couldn't really follow. But...he seemed to have a way to combine structured and freeform magic in a narrow niche to achieve remarkable results."
[19:51] <Kotono> "In particular, he can produce...scrolls, sort of. Anyone who can manage magic can use them, and they're often of advanced things within his niche. This includes True Seeing, as his niche is illusion, riddles and general chaos. He's great in that narrow range and almost incompetent anywhere else."
[19:51] <Alicia> "Hmm... I have heard of advanced methods of spell preparation that wizards can employ to prepare more spells than normal by sacrificing their higher level repertoire, and a technique for sorcerers that's something of the same concept in reverse, but only in passing," Alicia considers. "So he's still there? Randomly shapechanging and puttering around his ruined tower?"
[19:52] <Kotono> "Now then!" Elle takes a moment to take a breath, "I'd traded him a bit of aid in exchange for scrolls once in awhile." she goes on, stopping as Alicia speaks. "It's not ruined anymore. I got word recently that he finished it and he had something for me as thanks. But...I'd been there a few times and he wanted someone new to see his 'artwork'."
[19:53] <Alicia> "So that's the favour you wanted of me? Just to visit your friend?" Alicia blinks. "There has to be a catch."
[19:54] <Kotono> "Oh yes. That's why I don't want to do it myself and why I'm so happy to pass it onto someone else and accept his request for someone else to see his 'artwork'. While it's not dangerous, the path into his abode is now full of riddles, oddities and...difficulties. Imagine a ruin, take out all the danger and replace it with demented riddles, illusions, traps and Mystra what have you."
[19:56] <Alicia> "Oh... well, Marie would certainly have fun with all that," Alicia nods glumly. She doesn't let the frown last, though, since it sounds like a potentially very productive endeavour. "So how do you get there?"
[19:57] <Kotono> "I'm going to teleport you there," Elle says brightly, "Then I'm going to go home and have a lovely cup of wine while you pay back your favor to me and pick up that gift once you get to Sevren. Marie will have fun with it, and I'd recommend that you bring your sense of humor, too. A big one."
[19:58] * Alicia puts on a brave face. "Can't be worse than those pixies," she declares.
[19:59] <Kotono> "Right." Elle says, her hand going over her face. "I'd bring my weapons, but you shouldn't need them, I think. Still, just in case..." Shaking her head after a moment, "Going to bring anyone but yourself and your familiar?"
[20:00] <Alicia> "Might as well limit the exposure," Alicia shakes her head. "Once I've finished how will I get back?"
[20:00] <Kotono> "I'll even provide you with a scroll of teleport to return." After a moment, "Trust me, it'll be the least I can do."
[20:01] <Alicia> "You *really* don't want to go back there, do you?" Alicia aks suspiciously.
[20:02] <Kotono> Elle stands up, going to the scroll racks. Taking a scroll, she passes it to Alicia and places it against her chest. "Got it in one. Mystra listened to my prayers on this for once, glory be to her."
[20:03] <Alicia> "She's very receptive, it seems," Alicia notes dryly as she inserts the rolled up scroll into her bandolier. "Want to come along to my house so I can pick up my familiar and then send us on our way?"
[20:03] <Kotono> "Certainly. Let's be off," Elle stands up. OOC - Skip along?
[20:04] <Alicia> OOC: by all means
[20:04] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:04] <Kotono> OOc - Fire up the miko hate cannon?
[20:05] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@62.136.24.227) has joined #dunes
[20:05] * Alicia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[20:05] <Kotono> OOc - Fire up the miko hate cannon?
[20:05] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:05] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d100 --> 6,0[ 1d100=54 ]4,0{54}
[20:06] <Kotono> You appear on a long and narrow mountain path. The air is slightly thin, the afternoon winds whipping by with a surprising energy. It's cool up here - but you appear facing a long, tall and vast rockface on the side of the path.  Elle gestures towards it, "Just walk on in," she says. "Good luck."
[20:07] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia replies gracefully. She owes Elle, after all. "Hopefully I'll see you soon." And with that, she walks towards the wall, Marie giving a friendly wave as she follows her mistress.
[20:08] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:08] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d100 --> 6,0[ 1d100=46 ]4,0{46}
[20:09] <Kotono> Elle vanishes with a few arcane words! After, the two head right into the wall! It's like walking through air and into a cave. A tall and vast cave, a cave that goes on longer than you can see immediately, as it's rather dark. However, as you enter, you can hear a trumpet sound. Amid this, the the cavern is filled with light. Ahead thirty feet is a stone wall that blocks further progress. It's painted in bands of white and black. There's a do
[20:10] <Kotono>  It's painted in bands of white and black. There's a door set into it, and besides it there is a full body mirror. This mirror is held up on one side by an angel's statue and on the other side by a fiend's statue.
[20:11] * Alicia walks up to the door and pauses before opening it, taking a glance at the mirror which she half expects will show something not at all matching reality.
[20:12] <Kotono> The door has writing on it. Written in tiny black and white text is: Apperances are boring! Don't you agree? Let's all wear a mask and head forthright into a beautiful costume party! The mirror is a shiny glass mirror, though your reflections ar ea bit fuzzy on a glance. You'd have to squint and stare at the mirror to make them out.
[20:14] <Alicia> "We should probably play along," Alicia muses, though she finds that her familiar is way ahead of her, Marie having floated off her head and practically pressed her nose against the mirror as she tries to see her reflection more clearly.
[20:14] <Kotono> roll 1d100 Marie
[20:14] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d100 1,0Marie --> 6,0[ 1d100=85 ]4,0{85}
[20:14] <Kotono> roll 1d100 Alicia
[20:14] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d100 1,0Alicia --> 6,0[ 1d100=39 ]4,0{39}
[20:15] <Kotono> roll 1d100 Alicia reroll
[20:15] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d100 1,0Alicia reroll --> 6,0[ 1d100=52 ]4,0{52}
[20:17] <Kotono> In the reflection, you can see a tall Astral Deva pressing her nose into the glass. Behind her is a fair skinned human lass, with blonde hair like silk and a ponytail. Oddly after a moment, that's what's in front of the mirror too, as if it's reflecting the truth.
[20:19] <Alicia> "Hahaha!" Marie laughs uproariously at the change, while the once again youthened Alicia gives her a flat look.
[20:19] <Alicia> "You can forget any ideas about sitting on my head while you're looking like that," she tells her familiar primly.
[20:20] <Alicia> "I could give you a piggyback ride!" Marie goes on gleefully while Alicia just snorts and opens the door.
[20:22] <Kotono> The door opens with ease. As it does, you can hear a faraway laugh. "Come in, come in!" A old woman's voice calls, "We can have a lovely party today!" Past the door is a small room with a merchant's scale and several colored coins lying in front of it.
[20:23] * Alicia enters the room and briefly looks around for further exits before graviating towards the merchant's scale.
[20:23] <Kotono> There's a door to the west and it has a glass window set into it.
[20:25] * Alicia picks up one of the coins and inspects it while Marie strolls over to peek through the western window.
[20:27] <Kotono> There are eigh coins. A yellow coin, a blue coin, a green coin, a red coin, a violet coin, a rainbow colored coin, an orange coin and an indigo colored coin.  Engraved on the base of the scale is: I'm looking to balance the cost of the legendary spell against it's sum. Out the window, Marie can see what looks to be a water filled cavern. Swimming about on giant sea horses are sea elves, wielding little clubs and chasing each other.
[20:29] <Alicia> "Prismatic spray!" Alicia exclaims, promptly putting the rainbow coloured coin on one scale end and the remaining seven on its opposite. It's even a seventh circle spell.
[20:32] <Kotono> Click! On placing all the coins in place, the western door turns to solid stone! As it does, you can distantly hear, "What the deuce? We were up ten to seven, you blackguard!" One of the sea elves shouts out towards the vanishing door, the view of the water gone. The eastern wall melts away in the meantime, a cool stony fluid that dampens the floor. Ahead is a large room full of indigo colored mushrooms, with a door on the opposite side. A pl
[20:32] <Kotono> with a door on the opposite side. A plaque emerges up where the wall was through the floor.
[20:34] <Alicia> "You made them mad," Marie reprimands amusedly. "They even called you a blackguard," she adds with a snicker.
[20:34] <Alicia> "Well, I'm sure that was the right answer to the riddle," Alicia replies defensively, going over to read the plaque.
[20:35] <Kotono> It's quite a long plaque, reading the following, "REality is in the eye of the beholder? But you know what, I never liked that saying. To the Gehennan wastes with those eye tyrants! I shall ascend into heaven to deny their narrow mono-view of reality! Down with casuality! We shall have 13'oclock to spite the tyrants!"
[20:38] <Alicia> "Mono-view? But they're probably the most multi-viewed things around! Only hydras and horrible freakish gibbering creatures of pure chaos have more eyes!" Marie exclaims. "Still, spiting tyrants sounds good to me," she adds more reasonably.
[20:38] <Alicia> "Yes..." Alicia gives her familiar an odd look, deciding to cast detect poison on the mushrooms before advancing.
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1
[20:39] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{4}
[20:41] <Alicia> "Anyway, the mushrooms are poisonous, so don't eat them. Or touch them, for that matter." They could be contact poison, after all. Casting fly, Alicia floats a few feet over the mushrooms towards the far door, while Marie puts her new feathered wings to use in following.
[20:41] <Kotono> OOC - Would both of you make a spot check?
[20:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1 Alicia
[20:42] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+1 1,0Alicia --> 6,0[ 1d20=16 ]4,0{17}
[20:42] <Alicia> OOC: is Marie polymorphed or just illusioned into her new form?
[20:43] <Kotono> OOC: Illusioned. Use her default values.
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 Marie
[20:43] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+5 1,0Marie --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{6}
[20:46] <Alicia> "Hmm, wait a second. Does that look like a beholder's eye to you?" Alicia asks her familiar. "I wonder if we should do something with it before proceeding." Idly, she looks around for any clocks she might set to the thirteenth hour.
[20:47] <Kotono> Alicia doesn't see any clocks or anything around.
[20:48] <Alicia> "Well, we're ascending to the heavens, right? You've even got a beautiful deva to accompany you, so I'd say that part's satisfied," Marie points out. "I don't really know how to make causality go down or change the time, though."
[20:50] <Alicia> "Oh, I know - toss up a dancing light above the centre of the room but shift it a little bit down and to the left, like it's the sun an hour after noon, and the mushrooms can be a sundial of some sort. That way he can't fault us for not trying," Alicia asks her familiar, who dutifully complies, before the paladin goes to try and open the far door.
[20:54] <Kotono> The orb of light appears! As it floats over the mushrooms, it casts it's light down. However, this quickly becomes unrelevant! As it floats there, the mushrooms all seem to shudder! Their caps burst off as they gush clusters of spores upward! Everything a few feet above the mushrooms is covered in a momentary, fading burst of spores, whilst everything below that isn't even dusted.
[20:55] <Alicia> Well that probably covers Alicia's lower legs. And possibly Marie's if her deva legs are real. "I suppose that didn't work..." Alicia observes, floating a bit higher.
[20:55] <Kotono> OOC - Did you go outright into the field above, or had you hung back?
[20:56] <Alicia> OOC: I stopped when I noticed the beholder eye pattern, however far I got at that point.
[20:57] <Kotono> OOC: I'll say you didn't get into it then. Carry on.
[20:57] <Kotono> After a few moments, the caps on the mushrooms begin to regrow.
[20:59] <Alicia> "It looks like we need to do something else before it'll let us safely proceed," Alicia murmurs, eyeing the regrowing mushrooms. "But I have no idea what."
[21:00] <Kotono> The mushrooms regrow, regaining their caps. As you talk, there is a thumping against the western wall.
[21:01] <Alicia> "We could just try to fly right over the spores - I could even make them explode again at a low level with the dancing light so there's no risk of them hitting us," Marie suggests helpfully. She then glances at the other side of the room. "Sounds like someone's still mad at the blackguard."
[21:01] <Alicia> "Might as well do it, then," Alicia nods, having no clue what this riddle means and gesturing forward as Marie sticks a dancing light amidst the mushrooms just a few inches off the ground.
[21:02] <Kotono> The light appears in the pattern of mushrooms...but in the beholder's eye no spores gush forth. Meanwhile, there's another thump on the western wall. "You scalawag!" can be very distantly heard. "I bet you're stuck now!"
[21:03] <Alicia> Marie starts to slowly lift the light up a few inches at a time, stopping when it's at the same level as last time or when the spores explode, whichever comes first.
[21:04] <Kotono> At about the same level as last time, the mushrooms explode again! Spores come forth, filling the air above the mushrooms, but nothing going below that point.
[21:04] <Alicia> There is enough room to fly over them, right?
[21:05] <Kotono> There's plenty of room to fly over mushrooms, though you'd have to be in the radius where the spores just recently filled the air.
[21:06] <Alicia> *fly over the floating spores
[21:06] <Kotono> The floating spores go from a few feet above the mushrooms to the ceiling.
[21:08] <Alicia> "Okay, we're going- I'm going to have to crawl under them. You can go incorporeal, so go scoot over and open the door from the other side, will you?" Alicia asks as she gets down on her belly and proceeds to quickly shuffle towards the far door, while Marie turns incorporeal and zips straight through the spores and then the door, reverting to her deva form on the other side.
[21:10] <Kotono> This works well enough. No spores gush out and the door is opened! Ahead is a tiny room with two plaques on the wall, one hanging next to each other. Another door is ahead, with chains and locks all over it.
[21:12] * Alicia goes and reads both plaques.
[21:13] <Kotono> The first reads, "Did you figure it out? If you walked through the eye of the beholder, you're not so stupid! If you didn't, well, the hallucinations arne't permanent! Enjoy!" The second plaque reads, "A good entrance deserves an encore, don't you think?"
[21:15] <Alicia> "I didn't figure it out, but it seems like I avoided the bad end, anyway," Alicia casts a dubious look back towards the room. "But doesn't an encore just risk running things into the ground?" she then looks over the chained and locked door, wondering how easy it would be to kick down.
[21:15] <Kotono> It looks amazingly sturdy. It's of very thick wood and the chains are inches thick and made of solid steel at least.
[21:17] * Alicia looks around for anything else in this room that she might be able to interact with or use before tackling the door.
[21:22] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@62.136.24.227) Quit (betamax.dejatoons.net atarians.dejatoons.net)
[21:22] * Anastasia (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[21:22] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@62.136.24.227) has joined #dunes
[21:22] * atarians.dejatoons.net sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[21:23] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Anastasia Anastasia
[21:23] <Anastasia> There's nothing but the two plaques and the door on a glance. OOC - You can make a search or spot check if you wish.
[21:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1 why not
[21:23] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+1 1,0why not --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{5}
[21:23] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[21:24] <Alicia> "Maybe it wants us to go out then come back in?" Marie suggests. "We can try and get different disguises from that mirror!"
[21:25] <Alicia> "Well... okay, couldn't hurt," Alicia shrugs, heading back out and making sure to walk over the mushroom patch and ensuring her familiar does the same as they head back to the mirror.
[21:25] <Anastasia> Alicia looks about. She doesn't see anything else of note.
[21:25] <Anastasia> THus the two head back to the mirror! It stands there, blurry on first glance...!
[21:25] <Anastasia> roll 1d100 Alicia
[21:25] <Rei-chan> 6,0Anastasia rolled :6,0 1d100 1,0Alicia --> 6,0[ 1d100=3 ]4,0{3}
[21:25] <Anastasia> roll 1d100 Not Alicia.
[21:25] <Rei-chan> 6,0Anastasia rolled :6,0 1d100 1,0Not Alicia. --> 6,0[ 1d100=13 ]4,0{13}
[21:26] <Anastasia> In the mirror are two women. The one wearing armor and a double sword is now a dwarf woman, stumpy and stout. Besides her floats a little imp, pitchfork and all.
[21:27] <Alicia> "Um... lets try again?" Alicia suggests, gathering a rapid nod from her familiar.
[21:27] <Alicia> "Yes, lets!" the little imp agrees, the two turning away from the mirror by mutual consent and counting to five before they try examining it again.
[21:28] <Anastasia> roll 1d100 Alicia
[21:28] <Rei-chan> 6,0Anastasia rolled :6,0 1d100 1,0Alicia --> 6,0[ 1d100=75 ]4,0{75}
[21:28] <Anastasia> roll 1d100 Not Alicia.
[21:28] <Rei-chan> 6,0Anastasia rolled :6,0 1d100 1,0Not Alicia. --> 6,0[ 1d100=86 ]4,0{86}
[21:29] <Anastasia> Alicia now appears as a human woman with bright red hair and an adventuresome look on her face. Marie looks like an elf with hair of fire, a Firre to her knowing look.
[21:30] <Alicia> "Acceptable," Alicia nods.
[21:30] <Alicia> "We could be redheaded sisters, kinda!" Marie adds brightly, the two now heading back for an encore of their entrance.

[Corwin]

[18:42] <Alicia> [21:29] <Anastasia> Alicia now appears as a human woman with bright red hair and an adventuresome look on her face. Marie looks like an elf with hair of fire, a Firre to her knowing look.
[18:42] <Alicia> [21:30] <Alicia> "Acceptable," Alicia nods.
[18:42] <Alicia> [21:30] <Alicia> "We could be redheaded sisters, kinda!" Marie adds brightly, the two now heading back for an encore of their entrance.
[18:42] -thundarr.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
[18:42] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@70.114.129.129) has joined #dunes
[18:43] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[18:45] <Kotono> A bit of walking and a bit of crawling returns the three to the room with the chained door. The chains are stil there, the door still looking entirely stout.
[18:46] <Alicia> "Well, so much for the encore. Time for plan B," Alicia announces as she gives the door a good solid kick.
[18:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 strength check
[18:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 strength check and gets 23."12 [1d20=17]
[18:47] <Kotono> Alicia's foot kicks hard...and goes straight through the door. LIterally, as if it wasn't there.
[18:48] <Alicia> "Okay, illusions. Of course, should have figured that out earlier, but it just seemed rather lazy," Alicia admits as she steps through the door, Marie chuckling as she follows.
[18:50] <Kotono> Inside of the next room is a large room with three doors to the west, west and in the corner to the northwest. It's literally a corner door, folded right down the center to fit in.  Sitting against the wall by the  door that you passed through is an young boy. He has a knife out and he's whittling a bit of wood while whistling a merry tune.
[18:53] <Alicia> "Hello. Are you Sevren?" Alicia asks the boy. It can't hurt to ask, since he could theoretically look like anything from what Elle told her.
[18:54] <Kotono> "Nope, I'm not that oldie. Who's askin'?" He looks up, a leather cap shielding his eyes, which he idly takes off and tosses aside. "Oooh, a red head and a freaky elf. So I'm guessin' you're gonna go on since you're looking for Sevren?"
[18:56] <Alicia> "I'm Alicia, normally a brunette," Alicia responds easily. "This is Marie, she's normally a... purplette. And a lot shorter. We are looking for Sevren, though, yes." Marie, for her part, does not take exception to any freaky elf comments, since this isn't even her real form.
[18:58] <Kotono> "Ah, a bunch of freakshows. Figures." He snorts even more, "I hear you're a blackguard who likes rainbows, but isn't so hot on mushrooms or reptition. I gotta say I'd hope you'd be wearing less." He shrugs, working away on his half carved block of wood. "Anyway, do you want the clue for this room?"
[19:01] <Alicia> "Hit me," Alicia nods, deciding that there's utterly no point in getting offended.
[19:01] <Alicia> "She always wears the exact same thing, every day!" Marie nods in agreement with the young man, deciding that maybe Alicia needs to be offended. "I mean, sure, she carries it fairly well, but a bit of change sure would be nice once in a while, and it wouldn't kill her to show some skin now and then - keeping it covered up all the time can't be healthy."
[19:02] <Kotono> "Oh, you had a chance until the girlie here opened her mouth. Gave me an idea," Grinning now as he nods to Marie, "Maybe you're right. You kinda look a bit stuck up. I'm not sure I wanna give you the clue now unless you loosen up."
[19:04] * Alicia promptly whaps Marie in the back of the head. "Why don't you show him some skin if you think it's such a great idea?" she reprimands irritably. "I'm plenty loosened up, anyway."
[19:05] <Kotono> "Man, you two are sisters, aren't you?" Snickering to himself, "You act like it."
[19:07] <Alicia> "No, she's just a very bad familiar," Alicia replies with a brief glare at her far too mirthful companion. "What's your story, anyway? How'd you wind up in here handing out clues to visitors, of which I don't expect there's many.""
[19:08] <Kotono> "Aaaaaw...wait. You're a familiar? Damn." His attention turns to Marie. "Hey you. Marie, isn't it? How about you and I talk alone?"
[19:08] <Alicia> "Why? Are you a familiar, too?" Marie asks, blinking.
[19:09] <Alicia> "Maybe he just wants to get familiar with someone who has so few reservations," Alicia mutters under her breath.
[19:10] <Kotono> "Some of both," The boy sits up. "C'mon." He drops his stick of wood, grabbing Marie by the hand. "Hey you," he turns to Alicia, "Make like a cat and scram back a room."
[19:12] <Alicia> "That... doesn't even make any sense," Alicia gapes at the horrible simile. "But fine, I'll be just out there. Yell if you need me," she adds, stepping back through the illusory door and then pulling down her blindfold so she can keep an 'eye' on what's occuring on the other side of the illusion.
[19:12] <Alicia> "Wow, you really are forward!" Marie blushes as her hand is taken.
[19:25] <Kotono> OOC - Are you going to try and listen in or naything as well, Alicia?
[19:27] <Kotono> Once Alicia's gone, the boy lowers his voice to a whisper, "So is she really that stuck up?" he asks to Marie. "I can help fix that for you, y'know."
[19:27] <Alicia> OOC: I'm standing just to the side of the door on the other side, if I can hear then great, if not then I won't eavesdrop deliberately.
[19:27] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:28] <Alicia> "Really?" Marie does look somewhat interested. "How so?"
[19:30] <Kotono> "I got somethin' here," Patting his pocket, "She gets a whiff of this and she'll loosen right up to however you ask her. It's like all you say to her will be a suggestion spell. I bet you could get her to have a lotta fun with that." With a smirk, "I'll even give it to you a favor. Boring masters are a terrible burden."
[19:31] <Kotono> *to you as a
[19:32] <Alicia> "Oh, I could have so much fun with that!" Marie agrees in a gleeful whisper. "How long will it last for, and how powerful is it? She's pretty strong-willed." she then asks, leaning down towards her co-conspirator.
[19:34] <Kotono> "That's the good part. If you give her a big dose, she'll almost certainly fall victim to it. It lasts a good hour, too." He reaches into his pocket, taking out a small blue bag. "Refined Indigo Mushroom powder. It turns it's effects from mind altering to relaxing."
[19:35] <Alicia> "She does need to relax a lot more, yes," Marie agrees with a grin as all sorts of possibilities - not all of them related to Alicia directly - flit through her mind.
[19:36] <Kotono> "Good. It works best if it's dissolved in water and she drinks it. It's still effective inhaled, but it's more obvious and a bit less overwhelming that way. But here..." Pushing the bag into Marie's hands, "I wanna see her loosen up."
[19:38] <Alicia> "Well, I'll probably keep it for later," Marie admits, hiding the bag inside her arrow quiver, "Better to loosen up in the comfort of her own home than in such strange surroundings," she nods breezily.
[19:38] <Kotono> "Aaaaw. Damn." With a shake of his head, "I thought you were gonna give to her now!" He crosses his arms and gives Marie a cross look, glaring.
[19:40] <Alicia> "There's less potential for amusement, here," Marie replies. Besides which, she'd get kicked out on her ear if she actually did use it on Alicia and got found out. But this stuff could have dozens of other uses.
[19:41] <Kotono> "Oh well. I guess I'll have to get her to pay up for the clue," Snapping his fingers, "Is she cute under that armor?"
[19:42] <Alicia> "She's a bit too old to be cute, really," Marie admits honestly. "But I guess since right now she's transformed by that mirror, I can't say for sure."
[19:43] <Kotono> "Ack! She's an old hag underneath that!" This isn't a whisper, it's quite loud in fact. Too loud, it carries easily. The boy makes a horrified face, "I thought she'd at least not be OLD!"
[19:46] <Alicia> "Aww, now I feel unappreciated," Alicia deadpans loudly in reply. "And the word you're looking for is 'experienced', sonny," she adds with a bit more honest indignation.
[19:47] <Kotono> Glowering in Alicia's unseen direction, "You just ruined my fun! Wrinkly, liver spotted skin isn't fun to look at!" Glaring at Marie, and then lowering back to a whisper, "At least try to have her have some fun before she dies or gets too old to walk," he says.
[19:49] <Alicia> Marie covers her mouth to try and hold back her laughter as she nods in reply. "So, going to show some consideration for the elderly by giving her the clue?" she asks quietly.
[19:49] <Alicia> "Maybe when you're more mature you'll learn to appreciate the benefits of an older woman," Alicia replies back, trying to resist her own urge to laugh.
[19:51] <Kotono> "No thanks. I prefer it when they don't sag past your waist," The boy retorts, "Fine! Take the clue and get outta here! 'Rainbows breaks of red, yellow and green. The mismatch is unwelcome."
[19:53] * Alicia saunters into the room with a smug look on her face. "Not sagging at all, right now," she tells the boy smugly, briefly surveying the room for signs of the noted colours.
[19:54] <Kotono> The boy crosses his arms, "Hmph!" He turns away from the two women. On looking, one door has a red stripe, one has a yellow stripe and one has a green stripe. The strange corner door has the green stripe.
[19:56] <Alicia> OOC: how are the doors arranged?
[19:57] <Kotono> OOC: There are three doors on the west wall. The red door is more southern than the yellow door. The green door is pinned into the northwest corner, the middle point on the corner point and even turning into it.
[20:00] <Alicia> "Okay, red, yellow, green," Alicia points to each door in turn as she thinks aloud. "Rainbow breaks, though? What does that even mean?"
[20:00] <Alicia> "Maybe the break means the space between the doors?" Marie hazards, going over to tap the wall between the red and yellow doors.
[20:00] <Kotono> The boy snickers as Alicia taps the wall. It sounds solid enough to a casual ear.
[20:03] <Alicia> "Well... the rainbow goes red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, right?" Alicia starts along those lines. "So the break would be orange... but I'm not seeing anything orange around here. And there's no sign of blue onwards."
[20:03] <Alicia> "Maybe that's the mismatch!" Marie points out triumphantly. "It's unwelcome!"
[20:03] <Alicia> "So?" Alicia asks. "What does it being unwelcome really mean?"
[20:06] <Kotono> "I means that you're as dense as a brick?" The boy sing-songs back.
[20:07] <Alicia> "Well, I'm certainly not feeling very welcome," Alicia replies. "Oh well, the best I can come up with is that red is the break - since yellow and green follow sequentially but red has a gap before them, that means it's unwelcome. So the other two doors, logically, must be welcome, and therefore the ones we should use. So lets open door number two." At that, Alicia goes to open the yellow door.
[20:09] <Kotono> The yellow door opens. You hear a little pleasant chime as you do. The green door shudders and blends into the wall, vanishing. "Bah, you got lucky," The boy calls back.
[20:09] <Kotono> Ahead is a well lit yellow cavern. A pool of water lies in the center of the room, with no other doors noted.
[20:10] <Alicia> "Good job!" Marie beams approvingly as Alicia's logic wins the day.
[20:11] <Alicia> "Thank you, Marie. You just have to think these things through logically and rationally, and the answer should become clear," Alicia responds haughtily as she walks towards the pool. "Then when that fails just make something up that sounds good and guess," she adds under her breath.
[20:13] <Kotono> The pool is about twelve feet circular, plenty of space. The water is a pleasant blue, going deeper than Alicia can easily spot. There's writing around the circluar pool, which reads: 20 ft: Red Button; Plaque 1. 40 ft Orange Button, plaque 2. Repeat. One button opens the way.
[20:15] <Alicia> "He does like colours, doesn't he?" Alicia muses as she considers the message. "There's nothing to india
[20:15] <Alicia> OOC: blah
[20:16] <Alicia> "He does like colours, doesn't he?" Alicia muses as she considers the message. "There's nothing to indicate which button we're meant to press, though. Red and orange are sequential... we entered the yellow door to come here, and yellow comes after orange. Hmm..."
[20:17] <Alicia> "Maybe the plaques down in the water will explain more. Want me to go read them?" Marie offers, getting an agreement from Alicia before she turns into an incorporeal ball and dives down twenty feet into the pool.
[20:18] <Kotono> Twenty feet down is a red button and a plaque! Marie reads it: "There are eight buttons, one for each color and a combination button at the bottom. Only one is correct. Each button has a plaque besides it."
[20:19] <Alicia> Marie decides to quickly go and read every plaque before she comes back to report her findings to Alicia.
[20:22] <Kotono> The second plaque reads the following: 'The correct button is not the color of the mushrooms three rooms ago.' The third plaque reads, 'The previous doors have nothing to do with this puzzle.' The fourth plaque reads, 'Parts of the rainbow are direct and deal mere physical harm. These parts are undesirable for this. The fifth plaque reads: 'Don't make a mistake and push the wrong button, you'll regret it!'. The sixth plaque reads: 'Let's keep
[20:22] <Kotono> The sixth plaque reads: 'Let's keep this on this plane and ignore anything that can change that.' (More)
[20:23] <Kotono> The seventh plaque reads: 'I think combinations are best saved for special occasions. Diving isn't a special occasion, eh?'. The last reads, 'Good luck making it back to the top before you run out of air, unless you're cheating.'
[20:24] <Alicia> Marie flies all the way back and relays what she just read to Alicia.

[Corwin]

[19:53] <Alicia> [20:17] <Alicia> "Maybe the plaques down in the water will explain more. Want me to go read them?" Marie offers, getting an agreement from Alicia before she turns into an incorporeal ball and dives down twenty feet into the pool.
[19:53] <Alicia> [20:18] <Kotono> Twenty feet down is a red button and a plaque! Marie reads it: "There are eight buttons, one for each color and a combination button at the bottom. Only one is correct. Each button has a plaque besides it."
[19:53] <Alicia> [20:19] <Alicia> Marie decides to quickly go and read every plaque before she comes back to report her findings to Alicia.
[19:53] <Alicia> [20:22] <Kotono> The second plaque reads the following: 'The correct button is not the color of the mushrooms three rooms ago.' The third plaque reads, 'The previous doors have nothing to do with this puzzle.' The fourth plaque reads, 'Parts of the rainbow are direct and deal mere physical harm. These parts are undesirable for this. The fifth plaque reads: 'Don't make a mistake and push the wrong button, you'll regret it!'. The sixth plaque reads: 'Let's keep
[19:53] <Alicia> [20:22] <Kotono> The sixth plaque reads: 'Let's keep this on this plane and ignore anything that can change that.' (More)
[19:53] <Alicia> [20:23] <Kotono> The seventh plaque reads: 'I think combinations are best saved for special occasions. Diving isn't a special occasion, eh?'. The last reads, 'Good luck making it back to the top before you run out of air, unless you're cheating.'
[19:53] <Alicia> [20:24] <Alicia> Marie flies all the way back and relays what she just read to Alicia.
[19:53] <Alicia> [20:24] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[19:54] * tiredofthis (Taishyr@58.194.238.102) Quit (Ping timeout)
[19:55] <Alicia> "Hmm. Not indigo, then," Alicia nods straight away. "And not red, orange, yellow, or green, since they all do physical harm. Not violet, which plane shifts you. So, by a process of simple deduction, we conclude that the answer is blue. How deep was that button?" Alicia asks her familiar.
[19:58] <Alicia> "One hundred feet, it was the fifth button," Marie answers.
[19:59] <Alicia> "Okay, then, time to go for a swim - it's probably best if we're together when we press it, in case its a teleport thing," Alicia concludes, taking a deep breath before she dives into the water and quickly swims down to the requisite button, Marie following close behind in incorporeal form.
[20:00] <Blondezilla> OOC - How many rounds does it take you to get there? What's your swim speed?
[20:00] <Alicia> OOC: 40 (ring of freedom of movement go)
[20:01] <Blondezilla> Aided by freedom magic, Alicia is able to swiftly swim below. The two reach the blue button without incident.
[20:01] * Alicia pushes the button!
[20:03] <Blondezilla> Click! Spinning! Alicia is spinning! Marie is spinning! The entire pool is spinning like a whirlpool! After a moment, Alicia can tell why! The bottom of the pool has vanished and the water is being sucked down, like a bathtub's drain!
[20:03] <Blondezilla> OOC - Also.
[20:03] <Blondezilla> OOC - How many ranks do you have in sense motive and K:A?
[20:03] <Blondezilla> OOC - Er, spellcraft.
[20:04] <Alicia> OOC: 5 ranks in sense motive (skill mod of 6) and 4 in spellcraft (skill mod of 5)
[20:04] <Blondezilla> OOC - Make a sense motive check then.
[20:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 12."12 [1d20=6]
[20:04] <Blondezilla> OOC - Carry on.
[20:05] <Alicia> Funnily enough, Alicia and Marie are both utterly unbothered by the whirlpool on account of either being incorporeal or having freedom of movement active on them. Since she's confident she pushed the right button, Alicia gestures for Marie to follow her as she swims towards the new opening at the bottom.
[20:07] <Blondezilla> Thus the two swim down! AT the bottom they find it's a short drop, but one that the water buffers well! AS they fall, they land in a room. As they land, the water vanishes. It's strange...for Alicia finds her in her parent's house. The gray, rainy Kelaran sky can be seen out the windows. Sitting in their upstairs den is her mother and father, drinking tea and chatting away. Your brother and his wife sit there as well, as does your sister
[20:08] <Blondezilla> as does your sister. They seem to all be raptly discussing the weather. A beautiful maid meanwhile serves the tea - Antenora in particular, undisguised but not seeming to bother anyone.
[20:09] <Alicia> "Uh..." the mercifully now dry Alicia looks at this scene in confusion. "Didn't expect this," she admits openly. Is Sevren reading her mind to make illusions, now?
[20:09] <Blondezilla> "Oh, Alicia," Jessica looks over, "Come, your tea's getting cold. We were just talking about this dreary rainfall today."
[20:11] * Alicia decides she might as well play along for the moment, and walks over to join the group, briefly checking if she's returned to her normal appearance. Marie, meanwhile, switches back to her corporeal form and either walks or flies behind Alicia depending on what type of eladrin she is, now.
[20:12] <Blondezilla> Your illusions seem to be gone. Marie is a normal eladrin, not that the family seems to object. "Marie dear," your father says, "This rain must be a terrible burden on your wings. Antenora, would you pour the poor thing a little bit of tea?"
[20:13] <Blondezilla> "It is so dreadful," Alicia's Mother agrees. "This abominable rain is intolerable."
[20:15] <Alicia> "Well, it's just normal for Kelara, isn't it?" Alicia smiles inanely as she accepts a cup of tea.
[20:15] <Alicia> "Oh, no, I'm fine - the water just slides right off these," Marie assures with a flutter of her wings as she perches herself on Antenora's head with a somewhat smug look.
[20:16] <Blondezilla> "I do say," Alicia's brother agrees. "I do wish it would stop raining one of these days. I hear rainbows are delightful."
[20:16] <Blondezilla> "Of course, Mistress," Antenora doesn't seem perterbed at all by Marie, "Would you care for a tiny pillow as well?"
[20:17] <Blondezilla> "A rainbow..." Jessica sighs, "Sister, I've not seen a rainbow in as long as I can remember. Always this dreary rain."
[20:18] <Blondezilla> "Yes," Alicia's mother says a little sadly. "It's always rain, rain, rain. Tell me, does it rain so much in the Baronies, dear?"
[20:19] <Alicia> "Tiny pillow!" Marie repeats, a squeal of glee. "Oh, you're so cute I could just take you home!" she laughs, patting Antenora's head beneath her.
[20:19] * Alicia somehow manages to avoid rolling her eyes at her familiar's activities. "Not nearly as much as here," she replies to her mother, "Still, it'll soon be summer and then things should be dry." For a month and a half, anyway.
[20:19] <Blondezilla> Antenora produces a tiny silk pillow from her maid apron's pocket and places it atop her head. "As you wish, Mistress. Master says thes ame thing as well."
[20:20] <Blondezilla> "Yes, but..." A little sadly, she looks out the window. "I would give gold to see a rainbow now. Or even something just to liven up this dull day. Even the tea tastes dull."
[20:21] <Blondezilla> Your brother's wife snorts at this, "This entire house is dull today. Perhaps our visitor can help," A look at Alicia, slightly catty and challenging. "I do say."
[20:22] <Blondezilla> Your father coughs at Antenora's words. "Antenora, don't say such things in public. It sounds positively scandalous! What would the other families think! They're already jealous of not having an Erinyes servant."
[20:23] <Blondezilla> "Yes, let's not," Mother puts aside her tea and sends a very even look to Alicia's father. "I hear enought comments about immortal strumpets already."
[20:23] <Alicia> Marie hugs the pillow and laughs to herself at the absurdity of the situation, before she finally cottons on to the sharp look Alicia is giving her. "Oh, hey! Maybe we can make our own rainbow - I'll start!" she tosses up some dancing lights by the window. "Look, violet! That's one colour down, six to go!"
[20:24] <Blondezilla> "Ah!" Alicia's brother looks up at those colored lights, "I say, how pretty! Captivating, isn't it?It stands out so nicely against that grey sky."
[20:25] <Alicia> "Okay, for my contribution..." Alicia waggles her fingers, glad to move on from the creepy conversation about diabolical maids as she fires off a salvo of blue magic missiles that spiral across the room before spattering harmlessly into the window. "Blue! Anyone else want to try?"
[20:25] <Blondezilla> "That is nice, Marie," Jessica smiles warmly. "Alicia, you chose so well with her."
[20:26] <Blondezilla> "I do say," Alicia's mother nods. "Violet and blue. ...mmm. Perhaps I have some orange that would suffice?" Reaching into her pocket and taking out an orange kerchief, Alicia's mother tosses it at the window. "Not as impressive, I do say."
[20:27] <Blondezilla> "I would do it if I could it still, MIstress," Antenora bows her head again.
[20:28] <Alicia> "It's still something," Alicia nods approvingly to her mother. "Here, now for some red!" she casts another spell she recently learned, a crackling beam of deep red energy lancing out at the window where it harmlessly impacts.
[20:28] <Alicia> "That's alright, Anty, we love you anyway," Marie simpers from atop the erinyes' head as she covers the window in emerald faerie fire. "Green!" she adds brightly.
[20:29] <Blondezilla> "Yellow!" Father abruptly calls, tossing a few golden coins at the window.
[20:30] <Blondezilla> "We just need indigo now, Masters," Antenora says, "And I love you too, Mistress. I am here for whatever you wish."
[20:31] <Alicia> "A nice head to sit on is all I ask," Marie reassures Antenora as she puts up some slightly darker dancing lights. "Indigo is just slightly darker violet, anyway," she maintains.
[20:33] <Blondezilla> "I hear Alicia's pet does h-," Alicia's brother's wife snorts derisively, but has no chance to say anything else! When the last color is set, the rain vanishes! For a shining moment, the sky outside is a vast spray of rainbow! Then...Alicia and Marie stand in an em pty cavern. To the north is a rising stairway ascending upward.
[20:34] <Alicia> "Success," Alicia smiles brightly as Marie falls slightly from her now vanished perch before her wings take over.
[20:34] <Alicia> "What was that all about, anyway?" the eladrin asks.
[20:35] <Alicia> "I don't really know," Alicia admits. "Some of it was eerily true to life, but I've no idea what was going on with Antenora. Was her head everything you imagined?" she adds in a lightly teasing tone.
[20:36] <Alicia> "It was too easy. The real Antenora would be a more fitting challenge," Marie sniffs in reply. "We should totally get her one of those maid outfits, though, she really did look adorable."
[20:36] <Alicia> "You can be the one to suggest it," Alicia snorts as she starts up the stairway.
[20:38] <Blondezilla> The stairs are ascended! As you come up, you find yourselves in a vast cavern! Far ahead, the faint shillouette of a tower can be glimpsed...but! Near the stairs the young boy is standing. "Aaaaw, you made it out and this far?"
[20:40] <Alicia> "This seems like an appropriate opportunity to turn myself into a horrible old hag," Alicia muses, tapping a finger to her lips. "Oh, well, I suppose that particular secret is out. Got any more clues for us, young man?"
[20:42] <Blondezilla> "Nope. You're not going any farther...I never thought the first new person to come here would be so dedicated!" He laughs abruptly, "But I'm HUNGRY! See my true form and abadon all hope!" With a grand cry, the child is something else! IT looms over you, collosal and blocking everything ahead! It is a dragon! A dragon bigger than any other you've seen! It's scales are like a rainbow given form! "But you know what? You're gonna make a grea
[20:43] <Blondezilla> You're gonna make a great lunch!"
[20:45] <Alicia> "If that was your master plan then why didn't you do it back when we first met?" Alicia points out as she prepared to dispel the far too obvious illusion.
[20:46] <Blondezilla> "Um..." the grand dragon's face looks puzzled a moment, "B ecause I wanted to get you here where I had enough room! Yes!"
[20:48] <Alicia> Alicia can't help it. Perhaps its a weakness of her own character, but she actually feels sorry for the boy. Motivated entirely by pity, she decides to play along - this is probably the first amusement he's had in months, after all. "I should have realised! Oh no, please don't eat me oh grand and terrible wyrm of prismatic fury!" Okay, she's laying it on a bit thick, but it's hard to take it completely seriously.
[20:48] <Alicia> "... what?" Marie gives Alicia a very odd look.
[20:49] <Blondezilla> "That's right!" The dragon roars, the loud sound shaking the very air! "So the old hag has some sense after all! So take off that armor, I don't like metal in my meal!"
[20:51] <Alicia> "But I don't like being eaten!" Alicia replies as she cringes back. "Please, tell me how I might assuage your fury, oh mighty dragon!"
[20:52] <Blondezilla> "Grrrr!" Shaking it's head, "You offended me! Apologize for your actions!"
[20:52] <Alicia> "Alicia..."  Marie flutters alongside the paladin's head, whispering quietly as she blushes crimson. "This is embarrassing..."
[20:54] <Alicia> "It's just us here, be nice!" Alicia hisses back, before raising her voice and looking up at the wyrm. "A thousand apologies for offending your delicate sensibilities, you grand yet surprisingly sensitive lizardly titan."
[20:56] <Blondezilla> "Aaaahahahahahaha," The dragon laughs, "That's right!" The dragon hops up and down in glee, which is quite a sight. Really, it should be causing some damage, but it doens't seem to be. "You fell for it!"
[20:58] <Alicia> "No she didn't! She was totally making mmmfff!" Marie is abruptly cut off in her indignation as Alicia grabs her and muffles with a hand.
[20:58] <Alicia> "What do you mean, oh great and terrible dragon?" the paladin calls up innocently.
[20:59] <Blondezilla> The dragon vanishes. For a moment the boy is there, as his form changes. As it does, "You groveled before a cat!" it teases, before a black cat appears where the boy was. It meows loudly once and then runs off towards the faraway tower.
[21:01] <Alicia> Marie shoots daggers with her eyes at Alicia once she lets go. "See, now they're going to make fun of you!"
[21:02] <Alicia> "Who? A random stranger hidden away in an illusion guarded tower that no one ever visits?" Alicia counters. "Besides, anyone who can be fooled by that kind of acting isn't someone with an opinion that matters," she declares as she sedately follows the fleeing feline.
[21:05] <Blondezilla> the two walk on! It's a bit of a walk, but soon the tower is in sight! It's a simple four story tower, made of the same stone as the mountain. It has no fence or gate, just a single closed door to inside the first floor. However, said door has a plaque set into it.
[21:06] * Alicia briefly looks for a catflap before she studies the plaque.
[21:10] <Blondezilla> No catflap is visible. Written, "Welcome! Come in the top!"
[21:12] <Alicia> "If that's what you want..." Alicia shrugs and flies up to the top of the tower with her still running fly spell. Marie naturally follows.
[21:13] <Blondezilla> On the top of the roof, you find a curious sight. There is a table set out. Here a young looking elf is drinking a mug of ale, laughing. "Hi-ho!" he calls. "Welcome, fellow mage! I must say that you've been entirely entertaining!"
[21:15] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia bows with a flourish as she alights on the roof. "Your lovely friend Miss Stronger asked me to come as a favour, so she'll be pleased to know I provided some amusement. Sevren, I presume?"
[21:17] <Blondezilla> The large gorilla in front of you laughs. "That's right! What a fascinating person you are! Tell me, did you really tame an Erinyes? You're positively insane! It's so lovely that you came," The small dwarven woman stands up, tossing her mug of ale over the roof. "Elle chose well, and you even have a little fairy with you!"
[21:20] <Alicia> "Hi!" Marie waves cheerily.
[21:20] <Alicia> "I wouldn't really use the word tame, especially in her presence," Alicia temporises as gracefully as she can.
[21:21] <Blondezilla> The frost giant that towers over you laughs broadly. "Oh, maybe, but...Oh, before I forget. Here!" Sevren tosses a small bag to Alicia. "For Elle!"
[21:24] * Alicia reflexively catches the bag. "I'll be sure to deliver it," she promises, stowing it in her backpack without checking the contents. "I must say, the effort you've put into this place really shows. How often do you change the illusions and riddles on the way in?" she asks curiously, trying not to be bothered by the rapid changes even as she makes the effort of shifting her gaze to meet his/her/its eyes each time.
[21:27] <Blondezilla> The tiny little fairy flaps in the air, wobbling a bit as it appears instead of a frost giant. "It' sjust right! I try to keep changing it, but it's quite hard, you understand! You really have to lay down the law with illusions or they won't listen!"
[21:30] <Alicia> "To be honest, I'm not that familiar with illusions - this is about the extent of what I can do with them," Alicia admits, casting mirror image...
[21:30] <Alicia> roll 1d4+4
[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+4 and gets 8."12 [1d4=4]
[21:31] <Alicia> And then there were nine of her! "It's a useful spell, I've found, but it doesn't really compare to what you've accomplished by any stretch, does it?" the novemtuplets ask.
[21:32] <Blondezilla> "That's a classic!" The orc in front of you snorts loudly. "Hey, big bad warrior, choke on this!" Laughing away, Sevren goes on. "I've dedicated my life to this and isn't it lovely?" Now it's nothing more than a small dog, yipping instead of speaking at the moment.
[21:32] <Alicia> "Er, sorry, what was that?" Alicia asks, hoping he'll change to something capable of speaking common and repeat whatever that barking was.
[21:34] <Blondezilla> Next he's a human, a young, rather well set but clothed woman. "I said isn't it lovely? Illusions are the best way to relax and let go of your worries! You can change reality to whatever you want for awhile!"
[21:37] <Alicia> "Most certainly," Alicia agrees. "It's the perfect school of magic for someone with a strong imagination - the possibilities really are endless." Sure, he's insane, but he's clearly touched by Mystra in his own way, and that demands a certain respect.
[21:37] <Alicia> "Still, not everyone is as fun and relaxing as you are when it comes to using them - what do you do when someone else is using hostile illusions against you?" she asks, steering to the subject of True Seeing.
[21:39] <Blondezilla> "Oooooh yes, I know what you came for!" The little, unknown, two foot humanoid waggles it's finger at Alicia, "You want the remedy! You want the best way to stop magic! True Seeing! It takes the fun out of everything!" He crosses his arms, "What'cha going to use it for?"
[21:44] <Alicia> "There's a horribly nasty thing out there," Alicia gestures vaguely back the way she came. "I can't even say what it is, because it hides itself in illusions, pretending to be some sort of fallen angel. It wants to kill me, and I heard a story about what happened when some other people fought it, hundreds of years ago."
[21:44] <Alicia> "It defied all probability in how their spells and swords freakishly missed as it tore them all to pieces, but one clever wizard cast True Seeing, and in that moment the creature was powerless - he teleported away rather than pressing the advantage, sadly, and the creature proceeded to murder all of his companions."
[21:44] * Alicia looks briefly apologetic. "It would be better if I could cast the spell myself, but I can't count on this being giving me the time to advance my spellcraft to that level..."
[21:46] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[21:46] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Kotono Kotono
[21:46] * Blondezilla (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[21:46] <Alicia> [21:44] <Alicia> "There's a horribly nasty thing out there," Alicia gestures vaguely back the way she came. "I can't even say what it is, because it hides itself in illusions, pretending to be some sort of fallen angel. It wants to kill me, and I heard a story about what happened when some other people fought it, hundreds of years ago."
[21:46] <Alicia> [21:44] <Alicia> "It defied all probability in how their spells and swords freakishly missed as it tore them all to pieces, but one clever wizard cast True Seeing, and in that moment the creature was powerless - he teleported away rather than pressing the advantage, sadly, and the creature proceeded to murder all of his companions."
[21:46] <Alicia> [21:44] * Alicia looks briefly apologetic. "It would be better if I could cast the spell myself, but I can't count on this being giving me the time to advance my spellcraft to that level..."
[21:49] <Kotono> "Crafty little thing!" Sevren says in admiration, "Well then! What'cha got? Those scrolls aren't cheap!"
[21:50] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Screw storms. -=SysReset 2.53=-)
[21:51] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[22:20] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[22:20] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Kotono Kotono
[22:26] * Sierra_Workheck is now known as Sierra_Mikain
[22:33] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[22:33] <Alicia> "Well, I have some platinum on me, but... do you even need money?" Alicia can't help but ask, considering that he seems to be an insane hermit who probably doesn't trade much. Except with Elle. "What would you prefer to trade in, I mean?"
[22:34] <Kotono> "Magic," Rubbing his hands together, "Magic is wonderful!"
[22:37] <Alicia> "Okay," Alicia nods. "That I'm willing to part with, anyway... I have these gloves that bear a minor enhancement of dexterity," she holds up her hands. "And a few scrolls of my own - dimensional anchor, web, identify... any of that worth anything to you?"
[22:40] <Kotono> "Web! Ooooh, web! That spell is fun!" Rubbing his hands together, "Give me it! I love casting web, but it's so hard!"
[22:41] <Alicia> "With my compliments," Alicia takes out the rolled up scroll and hands it over. "Hours of sticky fun in there. Or minutes, at least."
[22:42] <Kotono> The now robed dwarf idly tosses Alicia a scroll. "You know what else I love," he says, taking out another scroll and tossing it hand to hand.
[22:43] <Alicia> "What?" Alicia asks as she smoothly catches the scroll.
[22:46] <Kotono> Coming over to Alicia, the sea elf whispers into her ear, "I can smell it on you like a thick musk. That magic fire that's crackling in your body. Give me just a little of it in healing form."
[22:49] * Alicia raises an eyebrow. "You really are perceptive, Sevren. You'll have to tell me how you figured it out," she replies, putting away her newly acquired scroll as she reaches up to put a hand on the being's shoulder, whatever form it happens to be in the moment, and bestow a single charge of spellfire into his/her/its body.
[22:49] <Alicia> roll 1d4+1
[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+1 and gets 5."12 [1d4=4]
[22:51] <Kotono> As Sevren is touched, he sighs. His body shimmers again, this time into the form of an old man, gnarled and tired looking. "Aaah..." he spreads his arms out and falls back, flipping the other scroll to Alicia. He lands on the rooftop, closing his eyes and starting to snore. "The Lady's own magic..."
[22:52] * Alicia reflexively catches the scroll but doesn't take the time to read it - she can do that later, after all. Instead she goes to crouch over by Sevren. "Have you felt Her touch before?" she asks softly.
[22:52] <Kotono> The only reply from the old man is a soft snore.
[22:54] <Alicia> "Oh, well. Sweet dreams, Sevren - until next time," Alicia gently pats his hand, rising up and going to rejoin Marie. "Time for us to depart," she decides, taking out Elle's gifted teleport scroll and using it to return home.
[22:54] <Alicia> roll 1d100
[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 29."12 [1d100=29]
[22:56] <Kotono> OOC - Going to do anything else here?
[22:57] <Alicia> OOC: check out the two scrolls I got. If Anty's around then Marie will point and laugh at her but refuse to explain further.
[23:01] <Kotono> The two teleport home! They arrive, finding Antenora in the kitchen. She's watching Jessica cook. "Now then..." Jessica continues, stirring a pot, "You leave it simmering about an hour and add spices every fifteen. It needs to simmer to cook off the excess liquid, but if you don't reseason it all the taste will steam away."
[23:05] <Alicia> "Hello, you two. Making lunch?" Alicia greets the pair upon arrival, taking out the two scrolls Sevren gave her so she can have a look. Marie, meanwhile, sidles up between them and smiles at Antenora.
[23:06] <Kotono> "That and I'm teaching Antenora to cook a little in case I'm busy and you need to eat," Jessica says happily. "Happy to see us, Marie?"
[23:07] <Kotono> Alicia sees that the scrolls are...somethin gelse. They're legible, but it's going to need some time to quite figure out the path of the magic on them.
[23:07] <Kotono> "What is it," Antenora looks down at Marie. "You're smiling entirely too much."
[23:09] <Alicia> "I'm not sure I'd trust a cook who refuses to eat anything, herself," Alicia comments dryly as she rolls up the scrolls - she can examine them in more detail later - and drops off most of her gear in the corner.
[23:10] <Alicia> "I'm just happy to see you," the eladrin simpers. "You know... if you're going to be cooking, you'll need an apron. So you don't mess up your clothes, I mean."
[23:10] <Kotono> Antenora raises an eyebrow. "I'm not cooking, I'm watching. And I agree, but preparing for an emergency isn't a bad idea."
[23:13] <Alicia> "Yes, but it doesn't hurt to look the part. Nice crisp and neat black dress, frilly white apron... oh, and one of those cute little frilled headbands! You'd be absolutely adorable!" the purple-haired little fairy exclaims happily.
[23:15] <Kotono> The breath Antenora takes out is long, as she rubs her forehead. "...Marie. Why are you telling me to dress up like a serving maid? Unless this is a favor for Alicia," Antenora raises her voice a little there.
[23:15] <Kotono> Jessica laughs a little, "That would be cute...strange, but cute. Where'd you get the idea, Marie?"
[23:18] <Alicia> "I'm pretty sure I'd be the one that would end up paying for this lovely uniform, so I'm not sure how much of a favour I'd call it," Alicia puts in while Marie pouts.
[23:18] <Alicia> "I was hoping for more of a reaction... we saw illusions of a bunch of people when visiting Elle's friend, and Antenora was a maid. I thought it'd be fun to tease her about..." Marie explains.
[23:20] <Kotono> Antenora smiles there, a strange little smile. She kneels down next to Marie. "Marie?" she asks quietly.
[23:21] <Kotono> "I'd chip in," Jessica says breezily. "Even if Antenora isn't showing any sense of humor about it."
[23:21] <Alicia> "Yes?" Marie asks, almost flinching as her danger senses start to tingle.
[23:23] <Kotono> Antenora's smile grows. "Good girl," Patting Marie on the head ever so softly, "You almost made me laugh. Almost. But really now, if I wanted to allure, I'd wear something a little more provocative than a cleaning girl's outfit. Besides," Her eyes narrow, "How many jokes an dideas were flittering through your brain when you thought of this?"
[23:24] * tiredofthis (Taishyr@58.194.238.102) has joined #dunes
[23:25] <Alicia> Marie looks confused at the head patting, but then responds to Antenora's question. "Well, I wanted to say something about the tiny pillow, but I don't think I could do it justice," she admits.
[23:25] <Alicia> "You really did have to be there," Alicia finds herself forced to admit, nodding sagely.
[23:26] <Kotono> "Now then," Antenora smiles, "You know where I'm going to go?"
[23:29] <Alicia> "Um..." Marie shrugs. "Off to find something provocative?" she hazards. "Although, really, there's a difference between cute and sexy that I don't think you're getting..."
[23:31] <Kotono> "No, no. Not for me." Smiling genially at Marie, "I think I'm going to see if Ic an find someone who'll do clothing for a nice little eladrin maid. That would make more sense, wouldn't it? You're so cheery and bright and you're always wanting to help Alicia. Plus, since you're so small and can fly, you'd be great at dusting all the corners and ceilings. Aaah, can you imagine Marie flying about, carrying plates single file from the drain to th
[23:31] <Kotono> Aaah, can you imagine Marie flying about, carrying plates single file from the drain to the cabinet, or bringing Alicia breakfast in bed one item at a time?"
[23:33] <Kotono> Jessica laughs again, "You know, they're older than us, but they're so childlike sometimes."
[23:34] <Alicia> "Oh, right!" Marie brightens. "That actually sounds fun! I'll even come with you so we can make sure they get my measurements right!" she briefly throws a scathing glance at Alicia who's currently sitting at the kitchen table and trying to hide her laughter. "One time Alicia bought me some doll's clothes and it was like wearing a tent, and the stitching was all rough and horrible!"
[23:35] <Kotono> "Good," Antenora chuckles warmly. "I'll even train you by having you help clean my room. Alicia, we'll be back later," Antenora stands up, "Come on, Marie."
[23:35] <Alicia> "In her defence, Marie is only twenty. Or so she claims," Alicia tells her sister as she fights the giggles, mostly successfully.
[23:36] <Alicia> "I don't mind that, I mean, I can't imagine you of all people would have an untidy room," Marie nods brightly as she follows the erinyes.
[23:37] <Kotono> Jessica watches them go, shaking her head. "Sister, what WAS that about?"
[23:39] <Alicia> "I... don't really know," Alicia admits, finally letting a few giggles escape now that the pair have left. "It's nice to see them getting along, at least."
[23:40] <Kotono> "I...I think Antenora subverted that? I think? I got the impression she wasn't hot on the idea of being a maid," Finishing with her stirring, Jessic agives into giggles of her own.
[23:43] <Alicia> "I think Marie was hoping to embarrass her, yes, but it's hard to embarrass someone with something they've never actually done - it was just an illusion, after all," Alicia agrees. "Marie will probably get bored of wearing a uniform after a couple of days, though. She's such a little clothes horse..."
[23:46] <Kotono> "Still." Chuckling now, "It's all the brighter when I think of everything else, Sister. Marie helps me forget that we're in danger every day. She even gets Antenora to shut up about it on occasion."
[23:49] <Alicia> "I like having her around, too. At first I was a bit unsure, but she's really grown on me," Alicia admits. "It beats having a cat for a familiar, anyway."
[23:50] <Kotono> "I don't know. A cat would be fine, too. I rather like cats," Jessica smiles. "Then again, cats don't protect you very well."
[23:53] <Alicia> "If you want to get a pet, feel free," Alicia offers graciously. "But yes, Marie is good for keeping watch since she never has to sleep, and she could probably hold off an attack against us even by herself for at least a little while. Although I'm glad it hasn't been necessary, yet."
[23:57] <Kotono> "Yet." Jessica folds her arms over her chest. "Sister...I've been thinking about asking Antenora for a bit of money. If I had a magical weapon in case I have to defend myself..." She trails off there. "I'm fairly sure she'd give to me if I told her why I wanted it."
[23:58] * Sierra_Mikain is now known as Sierra_Comatose
Session Time: Sat Jun 28 00:00:00 2008
[00:01] <Alicia> "So would I," Alicia points out, standing up and going over to join her sister by the stove. "If you're attacked it's probably better to run away, but I can hardly begrudge you if you want to defend yourself, Jessica."
[00:03] <Kotono> "Yeah." Glancing at Alicia, "Antenora's been on edge since she came back with you recently. Something about a devil stalking the Baronies, but she's not really wanted to talk about it. She's got me thinking."
[00:06] <Alicia> "Well, it's not enough just to have a weapon," Alicia points out. "You need protection both from physical blows and from magic. And you need the skill and the will to use your weapon. Otherwise you're just making it even easier for your attacker."
[00:06] <Alicia> Her tone is quite serious here, imposing the gravity of the situation on Jessica. She'd honestly hoped her sister would have a peaceful life, but if this is what she wants... "I can train you - help you remember your old skills, if you're serious about this."
[00:08] <Kotono> "A little, yes.  I think I'll sleep happier if I can defend myself better...and a few others will as well." Smiling now to Alicia, "I'm not scared of them. They already did their worst to me and it came out alright. But I can't pretend they aren't hostile, either. Not if they're half as nasty as Antneora thinks."
[00:10] <Alicia> "Alright then," Alicia nods, giving her sister a wan smile. "I'd hoped it wouldn't be necessary, but... well, if this is what you want, then I'll help you as best I can. Once Antenora and Marie come back we'll go visit Elle's shop and see if there's anything there you can use."
[00:12] <Kotono> "Alicia," Jessica smiles back to her, "Don't smile like that. I don't want you to turn all dour and worried about me."
[00:16] <Alicia> "I'll try not to be dour but I can't promise anything about my worries," Alicia replies in a more teasing tone. "Here," she pulls off her enchanted gloves, "These are probably a lot more use to you than me, so why don't you have them? They'll make you more nimble while worn."
[00:19] <Kotono> "Thanks," Jessica takes them, putting them on to try. "...oh. They do feel..." she murmurs. "But are you sure? You're fighting all the time and need the speed."
[00:21] <Alicia> "My armour gets in the way, but its more dependable than a little extra speed," Alicia replies, rapping her knuckles against the gleaming breastplate. "Besides, I fight with a heavy set of blades that relies more on my strength, while you used to favour lighter weapons where speed becomes more telling. They're overall more useful to you, I'd bet."

[Corwin]

[16:33] <Alicia> -----------
[16:33] <Alicia> [00:16] <Alicia> "I'll try not to be dour but I can't promise anything about my worries," Alicia replies in a more teasing tone. "Here," she pulls off her enchanted gloves, "These are probably a lot more use to you than me, so why don't you have them? They'll make you more nimble while worn."
[16:33] <Alicia> [00:19] <Kotono> "Thanks," Jessica takes them, putting them on to try. "...oh. They do feel..." she murmurs. "But are you sure? You're fighting all the time and need the speed."
[16:33] <Alicia> [00:21] <Alicia> "My armour gets in the way, but its more dependable than a little extra speed," Alicia replies, rapping her knuckles against the gleaming breastplate. "Besides, I fight with a heavy set of blades that relies more on my strength, while you used to favour lighter weapons where speed becomes more telling. They're overall more useful to you, I'd bet."
[16:34] <Kogone> "Mmm." Jessica thinks, "It's impressive. But..." Her eyes trail back up to Alicia. "I had another question I'd been meaning to ask you, too. Are you returning to KElara anytime soon?"
[16:37] <Alicia> "Possibly," Alicia replies, "I had planned on it, once Seira returned from wherever she's went off to, since teleporting's the only way to get there in any reasonable time frame. Though other recent events might take precedence..." she admits, thinking of her recently discovered new enemy.
[16:39] <Kogone> "Still worried about that angel?" Jessica asks gently.
[16:40] <Alicia> "I wouldn't call her an angel by any definition of the word," Alicia replies, sighing and leaning against the countertop. "But yes, she does worry me. Although I've picked up a few things that could help in dealing with her."
[16:43] <Kogone> "You know...sometimes I wonder. Why is OUR family a part of allt hese immortal squabblings? Devils, angels, eladrin...why us?" Jessica's smile is wistful, "Do they draw a few families out of some sort of planar hat and decide that they'll be the ones tangled up in this?"
[16:47] <Alicia> "I think it's just a series of unrelated events that happened to bring us to the attention of such beings, and then since we had the temerity to keep surviving it kept getting worse," Alicia sighs. "I mean, I lived twenty eight years without ever meeting an outsider, and you managed thirty. It all just started snowballing, last year."
[16:48] <Kogone> "Mmmm." Jessica's silent there, "Antenora says the devils aren't going to give up, ever, especially as long as she's here. That's true, isn't it?"
[16:49] <Alicia> "Probably," Alicia admits. "Maybe one day we'll be strong enough to frighten them off for good, but I wouldn't count on it. There's always someone stronger waiting in the wings."
[16:50] <Kogone> Jessica is quiet a little more, "When Antenora was really irritated about it, I asked her how it could stop. She said that you'd have to kill this Agares at the very least and hope that's enough. Even then, she said that anyone that kill sa Duke of Hell won't be forgotten by his superiors."
[16:52] <Alicia> "Exactly," Alicia nods. "Now we know this Martinet figure seems to be targetting us, and he's apparently above Agares and second only to a Lord of the Nine. Realistically, they won't give us any peace until we're able to deal with Asmodeus directly, and that's not exactly a realistic prospect. Still, neither is defeating the God King of the gnomes, so I suppose we'll see."
[16:54] <Kogone> "The older devils are supposed to be hundreds of thousands of years old at the least," Jessica's smile twists, "How co-" This stops as Alicia's door is knocked on.
[16:55] <Alicia> "Oh, I'll get that," Alicia sadly interrupts their rather maudlin conversation and goes to answer the door.
[16:56] <Kogone> A sweaty soldier salutes swiftly. "Ma'am, Captain Demedais requests your presence at the southern gate. There are giants there delivering some sort of statue."
[16:57] <Alicia> "Oh... I'll be right over," Alicia nods after a second, going to grab her sword. "Sorry, duty calls - I'll try to be back soon then we can go visit Elle's. Keep some stew on the boil for me," she asks her sister before departing.
[17:21] * Kogone is now known as Kotono
[17:59] <Kotono> Alicia returns home a little later. She finds Jessica there, making her a bowl ofs tew as she enters. "What was that all about? Trouble?"
[18:00] <Alicia> "Just the opposite, actually," Alicia returns with a smile, going to take a seat. "Remember those giants I talked about after that quest to redeem the orb of soul trapping? They came along to give us a gift, it seems they were that pleased with how things turned out."
[18:01] <Kotono> "Excellent." Jessica goes to sit as well. "It's nice to hear that instead of another devil slinking around."
[18:02] <Alicia> "Too often it's something bad, yes," Alicia agrees as she starts to dine on the meal prepared. "I take it the other two are still off clothes shopping?"
[18:03] <Kotono> "Or something like that. Who knows? Maybe they'll decide to go beat up an Ice Devil." With a light shrug of her shoulders. "The peace is kind of nice."
[18:05] <Alicia> "I wouldn't put it past them, but I hope they'll confine themselves to more sedate activities," Alicia chuckles over a mouthful of stew. "Though I suppose you're right, I should just be grateful for a respite from their incessant bickering."
[18:10] <Kotono> "Mystra works in mysterious ways," Jessica laughs a little herself. "I wonder if she's trying to instill some sort of inhuman patience to you."
[18:15] <Alicia> "I'm a lot more patient than I used to be, so it's probably paying off," Alicia is compelled to admit. "Still, I'd hope Marie might be gaining something from this experience as well, though she's hardly taking any of it seriously."
[18:17] <Kotono> "I know, but...I'm happy she's that way, too. She's so bright." Jessica smiles innocently at this.
[18:22] <Alicia> "I know, and I wouldn't want that to change," Alicia admits. "I suppose she really is fine just the way she is. Hmm... anyway, enough about those two," she leans on the table towards Jessica with a vaguely knowing look, "How have things been going with you and Roald?"
[18:23] * Sierra_Redead is now known as Sierra_Gruuuuuue
[18:27] <Kotono> Jessica blushes and looks down at the table. "Aaah..."
[18:28] <Alicia> "Come on, sister, that bakery's all the way on the opposite side of the city. Bread alone can't justify such a walk," Alicia encourages her to spill the metaphorical beans.
[18:35] <Kotono> Jessica's blush grows. "It's not that...we like each other a lot, but..." The blush creeps downward to her neck.
[18:35] <Alicia> "But?" Alicia prods, grinning at the noticable blushing.
[18:47] <Kotono> "Well, I'm older and well...not everyone calls me JEssica," she says.
[18:50] <Alicia> "Oh," Alicia deflates. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up something troublesome... I'd hoped by now people would have forgotten about that, but I suppose no such luck."

[Corwin]

[18:42] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> It's a fine, warm evening. Amid the radiant glow of the sunset painting the skies red and orange. However, it's when a page comes to Alicia's door. "Ma'am," he says dutifully, "The Commander needs you at the garrison on the triple."
[18:43] <Alicia> "I'll be right over. Did he say what it was about?" Alicia asks as she grabs her sword.
[18:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "About the black feather," h e answers. "That's all I know, ma'am."
[18:45] <Alicia> "That's enough," Alicia nods, her demeanour becoming more serious as she heads for the garrison at a brisk pace.
[18:45] * Infinite_Ko_Loop is now known as Kotono
[18:47] <Kotono> On reaching the meeting room of the garrison, Commander Oberuth awaits. A small stack of papers sits in front of him, loosely organized. "Well, we just heard from Malmuth." he says, gesturing towards a seat. "It's about Pallan and Almand."
[18:48] <Alicia> "They've vanished?" Alicia assumes as she sits down at the table.
[18:50] <Kotono> "Almand did. Pallan..." Oberuth's color isn't quite right, not nearly so florid as he usually is. "We know the start of the story - there's a black feather left behind and a few charmed guards. Almand's gone, but Pallan...somehow he got out of his chains. As near as they can tell, he rammed into the stone wall head first as hard as he could."
[18:53] * Alicia shudders at the implications. "Stronger will than I gave him credit for... did he ram his head hard enough?" It's a rather awful way of phrasing it, but she can't quite figure out how else it should be said.
[18:54] <Kotono> "Yeah." Oberuth licks his lips, "Gods rest his soul, whatever caused that." He lets himself look down, "That's no way to have to die."
[18:57] <Alicia> "He probably avoided a far crueler fate, for what it's worth... I think I was wrong about him," Alicia admits, her tone rather melancholy. "Though it's clear what happened to Almand."
[18:59] <Kotono> "Yes. Also, Queen Tant passes on word that they're going to get Claris or someone else over there and cast Speak with Dead on him. We won't hear about that for a little while longer yet, though." Leaning back, "We'll play along with that if they need Claris, it's to our benefit. Odds are that we'll cooperate with them as far as this matter goes. Queen Tant's most unhappy with what happened."
[19:06] <Alicia> "I don't blame her. A jailbreak is still a jailbreak, after all. On the brighter side, still on this subject, I have Elle working on some wards that protect from her aura of despair, and I've also learned that she has a vulnerability to the True Seeing spell - it's beyond the means of myself and Seira to cast normally, but I've got a couple of scrolls of it that I'll save for when we confront her."
[19:06] <Alicia> She then pauses slightly, "True Seeing may not be a perfect solution, however - from the devil in Parsifal we learned that she had slain a pair of erinyes, and while Antenora may be a notable exception, most such devils possess the power of True Seeing naturally. It's better than nothing, at least."
[19:09] <Kotono> "Mph." A nod to that as Oberuth thinks, drumming his fingers on the table. "I still wish we knew more of what was going on here. It was bad enough having an unpredictable enemy on our border, but now we have an unpredictable enemy in our very midsts."
[19:11] <Alicia> "For what it's worth, she seems to be focused on individuals rather than Balmuria itself. Still, I'd rather not give her the chance to strike first and put that theory to the test - once Seira returns from her travels I think it would be prudent for her to attempt to scry on her aunt Filetta."
[19:17] <Kotono> Drumming away as he thinks, "It would be. We might get lucky and get more information from the Speak with Dead spell soon as well. Because...even if they're just going after a few of you, theyr'es till going after the Crimson Guard. As far as we care, they're going after all of the Baronies."
[19:20] * Alicia smiles at the heartwarming affirmation of solidarity. "Kind of you to say, Hellman," she replies warmly. "As for what Pallan might know, I expect it will likely be a reiteration of what Christopher told us - I don't doubt he would have attempted a similar escape if he had the will, considering how terrified he was."
[19:22] <Kotono> "Probably. I'd like to think he saw something more if he was strong willed enough to do THAT." At these words, "Oh, and speaking of. Christopher's been laying very quiet. We have him in the most secure cell we have and he's...happy there. I've never seen a happy prisoner before."
[19:25] <Alicia> "The orb I had placed in the dungeons probably helps a bit with that, though I fear it's likely false comfort - our foe seems able to come and go as she pleases, and it's only her choice that keeps Christopher safe," Alicia admits with a trace of helpless bitterness. "We're going to have to take the offensive to have any hope of resolving this in our favour."
[19:27] <Kotono> "I heard your report...going to visit the angels, eh?" Oberuth lets a smile creep onto his face, "It sounds like you need to find her new base of operations. Any ideas there?"
[19:28] * Alicia shakes her head. "For someone who can teleport it really could be anywhere. That's why divination magic is our only real option - her followers are the weak link. If not Filetta we can always try and locate Almand. Perhaps even Olburt."
[19:29] <Kotono> "That's three. Do we know anyone else she might have? Anything?" Oberuth thinks, "Something that would be easier to scry?"
[19:32] <Alicia> "Not that I know of. She mentioned Filetta herself, I saw Olburt, and I got the names of Pallan and Armand from Christopher. Theoretically, I suppose anyone we've crossed swords - or even wits, considering Almand's inclusion - with is a potential recruit," Alicia replies, trying to think of anyone from her past who might merit potential inclusion.
[19:35] <Kotono> "One of the few good things we can say is that most of our serious enemies are no longer with us," Oberuth smiles with a certain coldness. "Febras, Irenes and Ferdi are all dust in the earth now. But..." Leaning back and rubbing his head, "It really could be anyone you've fought, offended or made an enemy."
[19:38] <Alicia> "That's the problem. If it was just mortal enemies then it would be a very short list, but if she'll take even the likes of Christopher and Almand, then it just becomes ridiculous. I'd hardly given a second thought to either of them, my dealings with them were so limited," Alicia concludes, sounding somewhat piqued.
[19:41] <Kotono> "You've made no shortage of enemies, either, just by executing your duties. That is if you interpret it that loosely." With a thought, "At least we haven't heard of Malmuthian die hards vanishing."
[19:43] <Alicia> "Ugh, if we start including people we've never met who just dislike us by reputation... this is a hole with no bottom, sir. Best to just focus on the ones we've confirmed. With luck we'll be able to interrogate those to learn more before we face our real foe," Alicia sweeps her hand across the table as she brings a halt to the speculation.
[19:48] <Kotono> "Agreed. Let's see...you, Seira and Demedais. The enemies Shamal, Lyselle and Berlioz made can be discarded." Thinking a moment, "Of those left...Febras is dead. Irenes is dead. Ferdi is dead. A good start. Olburt and Almand have been taken, while Pallan opted out. On our home front...there was Christopher. There's another of Irenes' lackies in prison here. It was before your time...but all but one worked it out and are serving their debt und
[19:48] <Kotono> but all but one worked it out and are serving their debt under Seira since they have some magical skill thanks to him. The one left hasn't been disturbed, if anything he's insane because of his ability."
[19:48] <Kotono> "Be-your sister's not a problem now either," Oberuth continues on. "Kondrux is dead as well."
[19:50] <Alicia> Alas, her intent to cease the speculation was ignored. "Lets just wait until we have something conclusive, sir. We'll just keep going in endless circles by guessing."
[19:52] <Kotono> "Alright." With that, "Go ahead then and go back home. There's not much to do for now but speculate and wait for more news to come in, or something to happen."
[19:54] <Alicia> "Yes, sir," Alicia stands up. "Thank you for letting me know, about Pallan and Almand."